Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 93 | Wednesday, July 29, 2020

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PHILIPPINE EAGLE FLIES FREE ON WORLD NATURE CONSERVATION DAY INDULGE P5

CALLING OUT

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

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Sara to LGUs: Send people to pick up arriving residents

By MAYA M. PADILLO STORY ON PAGE 2

Task Force Davao personnel mans Davao City’s entry point from the north in Lasang.

TF Davao intensifies security measures in all of the city’s checkpoints after it has intercepted 116 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs), who tried to use a different airport or traveled by land to return to Mindanao to bypass the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) requirement. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

CALLING OUT Sara to LGUs: Send people to

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives Complex in Quezon City on Monday afternoon. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

pick up arriving residents

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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so that pag-kahuman ug tests kung tinuod jud na sulti sa tao nga kini siya taga probinsya sa pikas region, naa na dayon ang ilahang kasakyan para dili na sila mag-stay sa atong holding facility ug didto na sila mag stay sa quarantine facility sa ilahang LGU. Atoa na lang i-email sa ilaha ang ilahang test results,” said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

All arriving LSIs have to undergo a swab test that has been required by the city for all returning residents. A holding area was established at DIA for the passengers while waiting for their test results. Some of the quarantine facilities are also being used as holding area to accommodate the passengers.

The city government has designated six (6) quarantine facilities in the city to cater to Covid-19 cases with a total of 285bed capacity, of which, 72 beds are still available.

“Kung mag- istorya ang mga doctors, musulti jud sila nga kulang ni, so we need to produce more

facilities. Actually, daghan kaayo ta ug beds but ang uban atoa pang gi-allot sa pagkakaron sa mga arriving airplane passengers,” she said.

Mayor Sara mentioned that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will assist the city government of Davao in putting up holding facilities of 300 slots for passengers to decompress the city’s existing holding facilities.

“Once ma-up ni nato, this is about 300 slots, magamit na ni as temporary treatment and moni-

vincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office-Operation Center in Mati City, where they were fetched by the vehicles of their respective LGUs. As per standard protocol, these LSIs will be transported straight to the quarantine centers of their respective LGUs where they will undergo mandatory quarantine and RTPCR swab test.

Those who will test

negative are still required to undergo a 14-day home quarantine while those who will test positive and who are asymptomatic or mild cases will be treated at the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF) of the LGU. Upon arrival, the LSIs were assisted by the personnel from the PDRRMO and partner agencies.

The LSIs also received food packs from the De-

partment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Social Welfare and Development Officer Mr. Reynante Cruz distributed the food packs to each LSI containing 6 kilos rice, 8 canned goods, and 6 sachets of coffee. This food assistance is intended for a family of 5-6 members good for three days.

Meanwhile, Provincial Task Force on COVID-19

ue to the surge of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) via Davao International Airport (DIA) and Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT), quarantine and holding facilities in Davao City are now among full that is why the city government of Davao is reaching out to various local government units (LGUs) to send people everyday to pick up arriving residents.

“We have reached out to local government units nga kung puwede mag-padala sila ug sundo kada adlaw sa ilahang mga arriving plane passengers

FCALLING, P10

2nd batch of LSIs arrives in Davao Oriental

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he second batch of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) has arrived in the province of Davao Oriental yesterday, July 27.

Aboard 5 buses, the 94 LSIs who are arrived from Manila are among the latest beneficiaries of the national government’s initiative Hatid Tulong Program in coordination with the local government units.

These LSIs were dropped off at the Pro-

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PDEA backs Duterte’s call to reinstate death penalty

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he Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday expressed full support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the revival of death penalty for drug-related offenses.

In a statement, PDEA chief Director General Wilkins Villanueva underscored that the absence of capital punishment is favorable for drug peddlers who continue their illegal drug activities despite being detained.

“We have intercepted drug transactions perpetrated by convicted high-profile inmates while inside the national penitentiaries. They have found ways to communicate with the outside world one way or the other, and give direct orders to people involved in the illegal drug trade,” Villanueva said.

For Villanueva, the return of the death penalty should depend on the quantity of the seized illegal drugs. He said death penalty by lethal injection should be for big-time drug traffickers and not for street-level drug pushers.

“I strongly suggest that seized drugs weighing one kilogram or more should be the threshold amount,” Villanueva said.

He believes that tougher penalties would send a clear message and force drug traffickers to think twice before smuggling and trafficking illegal drugs.

“They have the luxury to operate in our country without worry because the maximum penalty on our laws is less harsh,” Villanueva said.

In his 5th State of the Nation Address on Monday, Duterte renewed his call for the passage of the death penalty for crimes provided under the 2002 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The proposed death penalty bill has yet to gain support both in the House and the Senate.

For its part, the Commis-

sion on Human Rights said reinstating the death penalty would mean violation of the country’s commitment under international law.

Hatid Tulong sends home at least 4.5K Mindanawons stranded in Manila A total of 2,753 Mindanawons stranded in Manila were sent home by bus or boat from July 25 to 27 while another 1,800 will leave Manila on Tuesday, the chief of the Hatid Tulong Initiative (HTI) said.

Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), head of the HTI, in a telephone interview told MindaNews on Monday that a total of 1,903 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) were sent home by boat or bus on Saturday and Sunday: 724 bound for Region 12 (Soccsksargen), 517 in Region 11 (Davao region), 316 in Caraga and 246 in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao).

Encabo said 850 LSIs from Caraga boarded a ship bound for home Monday evening while on Tuesday, 900 more bound for Caraga will leave Manila and another 900 bound for Region 9 (Western Mindanao), by boat.

HTI is a project of the Office of the President and the Department of Transportation and Communications to provide transport for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who want to return home.

Due to social distancing, Encabo said, boats can accommodate only 1,000 passengers out of what would have been 1,900 capacity while buses can accommodate only 20 to 23 passengers each.

The LSIs bound for Mindanao comprised the bulk of those who waited for their ride home in the jampacked Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Photographs of the peo-

FPDEA, P10

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

Globe heeds PRRD’s call to improve poor service

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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Bus Number 1 bound for Davao City from Manila. Passengers are locally stranded individuals returning home to their provinces. Photo courtesy of PIA-11

House commits to pass SONA priority measures

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he leadership of the House of Representatives on Monday committed to pass the legislative priorities outlined by President Rodrigo Duterte in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a statement, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez described the President’s mission as a three-fold strategy, “Kabuhayan, Kaligtasan, at Kaunlaran”, aimed at helping the country and its people recover from the effects of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Romualdez said the strategy includes protecting the Filipino nation from hunger and poverty caused by the pandemic; saving precious human lives from the viral disease, and ramping up budgetary measures

needed to fully implement a responsive and sustainable recovery plan.

“We, here in the House of Representatives, are ready to face the challenges spelled out by our President in his SONA. As partners in nation-building, we commit ourselves to the realization of the state’s concrete plans and the passage of the priority legislative measures provided by the President,” Romualdez said.

In delivering his fifth SONA, Duterte asked Congress to pass the Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2) bill, which contains a stimulus package to revive the country’s economy in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis.

Duterte also stressed the need to fast-track the passage of the Corporate

Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) bill and the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) bill to help the country recover from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

Romualdez said in this Covid-19 war, the President has clearly laid out the “battle plans” for the country to emerge “victorious” in the end.

“In this fight of our lifetime, each of us is given specific theaters of war to attend to. Everyone is being called to be part of the whole of government response to combat the pandemic,” he said.

“I pray that all Filipinos will heed the clarion call of the President for every

tributed to all corners of the country and push sustainability in urban centers, particularly Metro Manila. He also cited the statements of the government’s economic cluster that investments in infrastructure will help start up the economy which will benefit the people.

“Our economic managers have seen infrastructure investment as an effective tool to help spur high growth, attract investments, create jobs, and achieve financial inclusion for all Filipinos,” Duterte said.

Duterte said the Department of Public Works and Highways has resumed the construction of some key infrastructure projects such as the North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link, the NLEX-SLEX

Connector, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, the R-1 Bridge Project, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Project, and the Subic Freeport Expressway Project, among others.

Duterte said the government is set to release a report of the accomplishments under ‘Build, Build, Build’.

“We have accomplished significant infrastructure projects under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ Program. I will not dwell lengthily on the nitty-gritty of our infrastructure accomplishments now lest I bore you. Instead we will release a comprehensive written report on our collective milestones and the details of accomplishments

PRRD says B3 infrastructure projects are economic benefits

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he government’s massive infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program are not only starting point for the country’s swift recovery after the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic but are also economic

benefits.

Speaking in his 5th State of the Nation Address Monday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said, “To realize the maximum benefit from the country’s investments, the infrastructure projects under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ Program, which are labor and capital intensive, are not mere springboards for the country’s swift recovery [post]-pandemic. They are economic benefits --- economic benefits to be dis-

inutes after President Rodrigo Duterte called out the attention of the telecom companies and ordered to improve their services before December 2020 in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Globe Telecom quickly responded with a statement heeding his call.

Globe said in the statement that the firm has poured investments to improve services, but admitted challenges remain citing the long drawn permitting process across local government units (LGUs), homeowners associations (HOAs) and national agencies including the Department of Health (DOH) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have hampered building of cell site and laying down of fiber to homes system.

The company expressed optimism that the recently signed Joint Memorandum Circular 01s.2020 spearheaded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) with other national agencies to fast track builds of telco towers will finally lead the way to a more robust connectivity in the country and provide internet services to every Filipino.

Globe said the service performance and increased consumer demand for data are the key reasons why the company has been investing billions of dollars to upgrade and improve its network.

This year, Globe earmarked 1.2 billion US dollars in capex, majority of which goes to network and capacity builds and these substantial investments are paying off. Today, Globe network is running at 4G/LTE. Last year, the company

launched 5G for Globe At Home and soon it will be launching mobile 5G services in the country.

Amidst the pandemic, Globe said it has actively supported public and private hospitals, quarantine facilities, and frontliners and is working with the Department of Education to assist the sector through low cost data plans and devices as well as teacher training, online platforms and mental health support.

Globe was also able to provide over P1.3 billion in combined services and assistance package for COVID-19 benefitting customers through services and promos, monetary and in-kind donations.

In his SONA, the President called Smart and Globe telecoms to improve lousy services or the government will be forced to take on steps to address the service that the public is getting from them.

The President is firmed to talk to Congress and find a way in addressing the poor services of the telecoms.

“Itong Smart at itong Globe, ilang taon na ito.

Kung ganon lang naman ibigay niyo sa amin, we are a republic sovereign country because the patience of the Filipino people is reaching its limit and I will be the one to articulate the anger of the Filipino people and you might not want what I’ll do to you. Improve your services before December. I want to call Jesus Christ to Bethlehem, better have that line cleared,” he said.

“I have been a citizen of this country for a long time.

May pera kayo? Use it. Wala kayong pera? Umalis kayo dito. You give us lousy service and ang tao nagbaba-

yad. Tell us now if you cannot improve on your service

by December. I have two years and the next two years will be spent improving the telecommunications of this country,” added.

The President has threatened to close them and revert back to line telephone if they will not improve their services.

“Sometimes we are pictured to be a weak and incompetent because we cannot impose our mandate.

Huwag niyo kami paantayin ng sampung taon to experience the services that other countries experience. If it’s just added capitalization, go and look for it. Maghanap kayo, if you are not ready to improve, I might as well close all of you and revert back to the line telephone at kukunin ko yan sa gobyerno,” he said.

Meanwhile, Antonio Peralta, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC) lauded the President for calling out the attention of the telecom companies.

He said as businesses will adapt the new normal and the increased demand for internet services as businesses are migrating to online transactions, fast internet connection is a must.

“The consistency of providing online services however is a concern given the dismal state of our internet services. Strong monitoring from the stakeholders (i.e. business community, academe and the government) on the services rendered by these telcos with service ratings on them published regularly. These telcos are getting away with very bad service at our expense,” he said.

FHOUSE, P10

FPRRD, P10

A store owner’s image is reflected from a mirror that are displayed inside the establishment along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

AboitizPower posts P3.7 billion in first-half earnings

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Market goers are seen at the vegetable section of Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City. Brgy. 5-A cheiftain Edgar Ibuyan annonced that the latest positive cases in his barangay involves a family of four. Edge Davao

PH in good fiscal position to beat pandemic: PRRD

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resident Rodrigo R. Duterte is optimistic the domestic economy will be able to surpass the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In his fifth Stateof-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, the President said the government’s “fiscal position is strong, our economic fiscal management prudent, and our banking system ro-

bust”.

“We are in a better position to weather the crisis caused by Covid-19 global pandemic,” he said.

The government’s strong fiscal position allowed it to have savings, which were tapped for its Covid-19 response.

Having strong macroeconomic fundamentals are among the reasons behind the country’s achievements on its credit rating.

President Duterte said that Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCRA) upgraded its investment grade ratings on the Philippines from BBB+ to A-, with stable outlook, while Moody’s Investors Service affirmed its Baa2 ratings, with stable outlook.

JCRA’s decision was made last June 11 while Moody’s last July 16.

Aside from these two ratings actions, the country also re-

ceived affirmation of its credit rating from Fitch Ratings at BBB despite the change in outlook from positive to stable last May 7.

S&P Global Ratings also affirmed its BBB+ rating with a stable outlook on the country last May 30.

“We received a BBB+ credit rating despite ASEAN credit rating downgrades and negative revisions worldwide,” the Chief Executive added. (PNA)

emand for loans in the second quarter of 2020 declined to levels last seen in 2009 and banks tightened their credit standards given their outlook on the economy due to the pandemic.

In a virtual briefing Monday, BSP Department of Economic Research (DER) acting Deputy Director Lara Romina Ganapin said results of the second-quarter 2020 Senior Bank Loan Officers’ survey (SLOS) done from June 1 to July 7, 2020 showed that demand fell primarily due to borrowers’ outlook on their ability to pay and the need for loan per se.

Respondents said demand for loans among firms declined due to the latter’s business outlook on account of the pandemic, the decline in inventory financing needs and working capital requirements, and delay in investment plans for plants and equipment.

Meanwhile, the drop in households’ loan demand was attributed to lower household consumption

and housing investments.

Respondents, however, expect loan demand from enterprises to recover in the third quarter but loan demand from households is expected to still post a net decrease which, Ganapin said “largely reflected lower housing investment and household consumption.”

The result of the latest SLOS showed a large number of bank officers who reported tighter credit standards, a first after 44 consecutive quarters of unchanged credit standards.

Ganapin said the tightening of credit standards applies to all types of loans for enterprises and households.

“Respondent banks attributed the tightening of over-all credit standards to less favorable economic outlook, deterioration in the profile of borrowers and profitability of banks’ portfolios and an overall risk tolerance of banks, among other factors,” she said.

During the same briefing, BSP Assistant Gover-

nor Illuminada Sicat said the drop in loan demand in the second quarter this year was similar to what happened in 2008 during the global financial crisis.

She said this development shows borrowers’ weak sentiments.

“The decline in loan demand reflects the uncertainties,” Sicat said, citing also an improved outlook for the third quarter.

Asked about the impact of the central bank’s measures targeted to ensure healthy economic activities amid the pandemic, Sicat said a huge amount of liquidity has been infused into the economy as a result of the BSP interventions.

These measures include the total of 175 basis points cut in the central bank’s key policy rates, the 200 basis points reduction in universal and commercial banks’ (U/ KBs’) reserve requirements, and the decision to allow small banks’ lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as reserve requirement compliance.

These measures are said to have released about PHP1.3 trillion worth of liquidity into the system.

During the same briefing, BSP DER Director Dennis Lapid said there is more than enough liquidity released into the system for the needs of households and businesses in terms of credit.

“I think the question now is whether households and businesses are feeling the pressure from some of the containment measures being implemented. So that suggests that there could be a need for measures that directly support demand on the part of households and businesses,” he said.

Lapid said these measures cannot lean solely on monetary policies but also fiscal measures like fiscal stimulus and direct support on workers, such as the social amelioration for households and relief to businesses, as well as health measures to protect the public and help workers go back to work.

(PNA)

Loan demand drops in Q2 of ‘20, banks tighten credit standards

D

boitiz Power Corporation reported a net income of ₱3.7 billion for the first half of 2020, 57% lower versus ₱8.6 billion recorded last year.

The company recognized non-recurring gains of ₱224 million during the relevant period, compared to non-recurring gains of ₱121 million during the same period last year, due to net foreign exchange gains on the revaluation of dollar denominated liabilities.

Without these one-off gains, the company’s core net income for the first half of 2020 was ₱3.5 billion, 59% lower than the ₱8.5 billion recorded during the same period in 2019. This was also the result of lower earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) due to lower demand resulting from the enforcement of COVID-related community quarantines and outages.

The company also had additional tax expenses following the expiration of the income tax holiday incentives of Therma South, Inc. (TSI), and GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co. (GMCP) and additional interest expense from the company’s bond and loan that were availed during the fourth quarter of 2019.

“As the nation continues to face challenges posed by the pandemic, we are optimistic about our growth strategy and we remain fully committed to supporting economic recovery and delivering value to our customers and stakeholders, now and for the longer term,” said Emmanuel V. Rubio, AboitizPower president and chief executive officer.

Generation and Retail Electricity Supply AboitizPower’s genera-

tion and retail supply business recorded EBITDA of ₱14.8 billion in the first half of 2020, 17% lower than the ₱17.8 billion recorded last year.

This is mainly due to the reduced demand resulting from COVID-related community quarantines, as well as forced outages in the first half of the year involving Pagbilao units 1-3, TSI Unit 2, and GMCP Unit 2.

These reductions offset the decrease in purchased power costs during the first half of 2020, and revenues from Therma Visayas, Inc. (TVI) and Therma Mobile, Inc. (TMO), which were both online since January of this year, as opposed to the second quarter of last year. Moreover, EBITDA for the first quarter of 2019 also included income from the Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism and Incremental Currency Exchange Rate Adjustment, which were not available as income during the first half.

Capacity sold increased by 12% to 3,388 megawatts (MW) from 3,035 MW in the same period last year.

This was due to increased contracting levels driven by the new capacity of TVI and TMO. Because of the lower demand brought by the pandemic and forced outages, energy sold declined by 6% to 10,764 gigawatt-hours (GWh) from 11,460 GWh. Distribution AboitizPower’s distribution business recorded EBITDA of ₱3.7 billion, 0.5% lower versus the same period last year. Energy sales also decreased by 7% to 2,629 GWh from 2,842 GWh. This was driven by lower energy consumption from the commercial and industrial customer segments because of community quarantines.

President Rodrigo Duterte warns online scammers that the government will go after them as it intensifies consumer protection. Online transactions including online scamming surged since community quarantine measures were implemented in March. Edge Davao

5 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

LIVING

PHILIPPINE EAGLE FLIES FREE ON WORLD NATURE CONSERVATION DAY

ON JUNE 7, a Philippine Eagle was seen being chased by about 20 large-billed crows by residents of Barangay Kesante, Makilala, North Cotabato. Exhausted, the eagle allegedly spent the night perched near a house and was found on the ground the next morning. Concerned citizens Artemio Hemilo, Joel Arombo, and Jeofrey Rodica then caught and restrained the eagle and brought it to their barangay officials. The eagle was temporarily placed inside the barangay prison cell awaiting response from DENR XII and the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

The PEF had organized a rescue team and by noon of June 8 took custody of the bird with assistance from DENR XII representatives. After routine physical examination, the female eagle, around 3 to 4 years old, was found to be uninjured.

For further health check, she was brought to the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) where she was also provided with nourishment. Upon arrival in Davao City, the eagle was examined through X-ray and there were no bone fractures, internal injuries, or gun pellets found.

While at the PEC, the eagle was also tested for the New Castle Disease and Avian Influenza. The results of both tests came back negative. Animal keepers at the PEC observed that the eagle was alert and responsive with a healthy appetite. After more than a month in rehabilitation, the PEF assessed the eagle was fit for release back to the wild.

The eagle is named “Makilala Hiraya” after the Municipality of Makilala where she was found and “Hiraya” a name that means dreams and aspirations given by PEF conservation partner Energy Development Corporation (EDC). On “World

Nature Conservation Day” on July 28, 2020, “Makilala Hiraya” will be released back in her forest home within the Mount Apo Natural Park boundary in Makilala. EDC CSR-PR Head Atty. Allan Barcena says, “EDC fully supports the protection and conservation of the Philippine eagle. We continue to work with the PEF and our local governments towards protecting the eagle and its natural habitat by increasing and maintaining forest cover.”

According to PEF Director for Research and Conservation Dr. Jayson Ibañez, releasing rescued eagles like “Makilala Hiraya” is important in keeping

the wild population thriving.

“Protecting the existing wild population is as significant as breeding the eagle in captivity to add new birds in our forests.

There is also an opportunity to discover other Philippine eagles in the area in monitoring this eagle after its release,” says Dr. Ibañez. The PEF will monitor “Makilala Hiraya” for the next six months.

DENR OIC, Assistant Secretary for Climate Change and concurrent Director of Biodiversity Management Bureau, Ricardo L. Calderon says “Philippine eagle “Makilala Hiraya’s” rescue and release today call for more robust conservation action as the threats to the survival of the King of Philippine forests has yet to be won over. There is no pretending that conserving the species and its forest habitats is easy.

However, we have proven time and again that the joint efforts of the DENR, the PEF, and the local communities are gaining grounds in alleviating the plight of the Philippine eagle and the condition of its forest habitats. Though we continue to

be faced with many obstacles in our efforts towards the conservation of the Philippine eagle and biodiversity at large, with a united front, we can ensure that Makilala and her kind shall flourish, soar the skies and claim the forests as their home once more.”

The release will be streamed live on the PEF’s official Facebook Page @phileaglefdn. It will be the first Philippine eagle release that the public can view in real time via the Internet.

“Amid the grim situation of the pandemic, we hope that freeing this eagle will inspire optimism amongst Filipinos and everyone who will witness the release” says PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador.

“Despite bigger challenges, we cannot abandon the work in saving our national bird and its forest habitat as this secures our health and livelihood not only today but for the future of our people,” he adds.

The release and monitoring of “Makilala Hiraya” is in partnership with the DENR, the Municipality of Makilala, and EDC.

GMA PINOY TV HITS 1 MILLION FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS

GMA Pinoy TV ushers its 15th anniversary celebration by reaching another milestone as GMA Network’s flagship international channel hits 1 million followers on Facebook.

Continuously providing top-notch entertainment and news content for Pinoys across the globe, the GMA Pinoy TV Facebook page has shown a tremendous increase in followers this year after breaching the

500K mark in July 2019.

GMA Pinoy TV’s social media pages have become an avenue where they get to engage and listen to their audience – the Kapuso abroad. This, in turn, has been a significant part in offering the best programming abroad.

The GMA Pinoy TV team has been consistently growing their social media presence to communicate GMA Network’s new-

est program launches, exclusive promos for carriers, monthly specials, and exciting social content such as trivia posters, behind-the-scenes, stories and videos of Kapuso abroad, and other content that aim to bring positive value to their audience.

Fittingly, this milestone proves how the Filipino community continues to find ways to unite and feel closer to home amid the challenges the world

has been facing.

“We are much grateful to all our Kapuso abroad for their continued support and for sharing their wonderful stories with us. As we navigate through these uncertain times, we are more driven to work harder in bringing Serbisyong Totoo not only on-air, but also online. Makakaasa po kayong kaming lahat dito sa GMA Pinoy TV ay buong puso para sa Pinoy abroad,”

expressed GMA Network First Vice President for International Operations Joseph T. Francia.

Filipinos abroad can enjoy Kapuso shows by subscribing to GMA Pinoy TV. To see the list of carriers in your area, visit www.gmapinoytv.com/ subscribe.

For more updates, follow GMA Pinoy TV on Facebook as well as on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

On the surge of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) arriving via Davao International Airport (DIA) and Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT):

We have reached out to local government units nga kung puwede mag-padala sila ug sundo kada adlaw sa ilahang mga arriving plane passengers so that pag-kahuman ug tests kung tinuod jud na sulti sa tao nga kini siya taga probinsya sa pikas region, naa na dayon ang ilahang kasakyan para dili na sila mag-stay sa atong holding facility ug didto na sila mag stay sa quarantine facility sa ilahang LGU. Atoa na lang i-email sa ilaha ang ilahang test results.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

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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

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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

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

GOVERNOR GENEROSO BRIDGE Before it became known as Generoso Bridge, that spans over Davao River was, during American rule, a military-type pontoon bridge, a floating platform with barges to support the bridge deck. Though it was considered temporary and fast to disassemble, it served the purpose of allowing automobile and commuter traffic to cross the river with ease.

At the initiative of the national government, the truss bridge was upgraded and named in honor of Sebastian Generoso, whose first term as Davao governor was in 1925.

On September 14, 1930, the bridge was inaugurated. Curiously, the reasons cited to justify the naming of the span after a politician are vague given that Generoso, as governor, was reprimanded, suspended, and eventually dismissed from public service.

Some online ‘copy and paste’ entries, meanwhile, have erroneously attributed the name of the bridge to Arman-

do Generoso, purportedly the governor’s son who died while defending the span during World War II. Take note that the bridge was built in 1930, eleven years before Davao region was sucked in the global conflict on December 8, 1941.

During the war, the span, known also as Bankerohan Bridge, was partially destroyed after it was bombed. Lt. Col. James Olivier, son of Flora Carbonell, a school supervisor in Davao City in the 1930s, wrote in his autobiography, My Wars and In Between: A Memoir (2016): “[According to our lawyer Raul O. Tolentino] the partial destruction of the Bankerohan Bridge [was done] by his father, a member of the US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

Raul’s father had orders to bomb the Bankerohan Bridge if an armed enemy unit approached the bridge. When the Japanese military force neared the bridge, the senior Tolentino went into action but was

not able to complete his job because he had run out of explosives. He had not been provided sufficient dynamite or other explosives to successfully finish the job as directed. He just used what he had available and left the bridge in disrepair but not completely taken down.”

Interviewing survivors of the war, Craig B. Smith, in Counting the Days: POWs, Internees, and Stragglers of World War II in the Pacific (2010), wrote about the experiences the prisoners suffered, the iconic Davao span and the landmarks found not too far from it: “Traveling southwest out of the city, one finds the Davao River and the rebuilt Generoso Bridge that Hugh Wills and others scuttled on December 20, 1941. A few miles past the bridge, on the MacArthur Highway is the site of the Happy Life Blues Cabaret. The camp was razed after the war. Later the La Suerte cockpit was built on the site.”

Wills, a mine operator at

Davao Gold Mine, with wife Jane and daughter Ida (in some accounts Trudi), fled Davao at the height of the conflict and sought refuge in Bukidnon under the Del Monte group. The mining firm he worked with was owned by the Elizaldes with claims in Hijo, then part of today’s municipality of Maco, Davao de Oro. In later decades, a parallel bridge, aptly called Generoso Bridge I, was built to ease traffic. It accommodated nearly the same volume of transport and greatly helped ease traffic flow from the northern and southwest sectors of the city.

With the growing vehicular traffic pouncing the bridge daily due to the development boom engulfing Davao City, the old bridge, also known as Generoso II, which is also accessible from the western sector, collapsed in 2007.

With a budget of P216 million from the national government, through the public works and highways department, the

renovated bridge, which took over five months to complete, was inaugurated on June 9, 2008 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Years later, a narrow suspension bridge was built between two Generoso bridges. It was constructed by the Davao City Water District to hold its huge supply pipeline that distributes potable water to the city proper. Adding glamor to the metal suspenders serving as guy wires are the bright lights that illuminate the premises and the water on either side of the bridges.

In 2019, as part of its maintenance and rehabilitation, the twin bridges undertook waterproofing on its decks as protection barrier against contaminants like water, road de-icing salts, and destructive chemicals that corrode reinforcement bars inside the concrete. Asphalt overlay, thermoplastic pavement markings, and painting of bridge railings were also applied.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WRITTEN IN THE STARS SIR Francis Bacon believed in it. So did Queen Elizabeth I, Charles de Gaulle, Ian Fleming, Galileo Galilei, Sylvester Stallone and Dame Edith Sitwell. Yes, all of them – at some time of their lives - had faith in astrology, according to The Book of Lists.

Influenced by French royal astrologers, the scientist Bacon became a practicing astrologer and advocated a “purification” of the science of astrology. Later in life, however, he renounced stargazing. On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth I had, as her personal astrologer, the famous seer Dr. John Dee, who utilized a crystal ball. As a reward for his occult services, she installed Dee as the chancellor of St. Paul’s in London.

One of De Gaulle’s earliest horoscopes, done before World War II when he was a French army captain, foretold that he was destined to rule France.

Throughout his life, he occasionally consulted professional astrologers and palmists.

Although the creator of James Bond denounced occultism in public, Fleming had one of his first horoscopes cast during World War II while serving in the British Intelligence Service. He was very concerned about the date of his death, which his astrologers never revealed to him.

Meanwhile, Galilei prac-

ticed astrology but was not always able to ascertain correct information from the stars. In 1609, he prepared the horoscope of the Grand Duke of Tuscany and predicted that he would have a long life. The duke died a few weeks later.

The mother of Stallone was an astrologer, and she predicted her son would be a writer (he did and won an Oscar for writing the script of Rocky). Stallone himself believes in astrology strongly that he and his first wife, Sasha, planned the birth of their son, Sage, according to the stars.

Although Dame Sitwell sought astrologers to do her horoscope, the English poet always lied concerning her date of birth. She claimed half a dozen signs as her own, so it is doubtful whether she ever had an accurate horoscope chart.

The word “astrology” comes from the Greek words astron meaning “star” and logos, which mean “study.” Actually, astrology is the study of how events on earth correspond to the positions and movements of astronomical bodies, particularly the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Astrologers believe that the position of astronomical bodies at the exact moment of a person’s birth and the subsequent movements of the bodies reflect that person’s

character and, therefore, destiny. For many years, scientists have rejected the principles of astrology. However, millions of people continue to believe in or practice it.

Nobody really knows when astrology started. As one 20th-century writer, Don Cameron Allen, has put it, “The literature of astrology is as vast as the history of man. No one scholar can possibly hope to untangle all of its intricately woven strands.”

Historical records show that astronomical observations were carried out by Chaldean priests for thousands of years.

These observations, which probably started before 2300 B.C, recorded the shape and relative brilliance of the constellations, their rising and setting, and the motion of the planets.

“Because of their knowledge of celestial reckoning and their occasional success with divination, the Chaldean priesthood gained political power in Babylon, and by 650 B.C. they had great influence throughout the city-state,” reports The Book of the Bible.

The early Hebrews were familiar with some aspects of astronomy, probably because of the need to be familiar with celestial navigation while in the desert and because their calendar was based on the lunar

month.

Throughout the Bible, astrology and divination are treated with suspicion or outlawed altogether. To resort to divination or to be an “observer of times, or an enchanter,” was to partake of the “abominations” of other nations (Deuteronomy 18:12). In Isaiah, those who do not believe in God are scornfully told: “Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon them” (47:13).

Astrology, however, was a strongly held belief in ancient Babylon (now Iraq); it spread to the Mediterranean world and was used by the Greeks and Romans. It exerted a powerful influence in the Middle Ages.

Chinese astrology is based on a 60-year cycle and a lunar calendar. Its signs change annually and are named after animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. “Differing forms of astrology developed in China and India, as well as among the Maya, but in the West the coming of Christianity forced it to the sidelines,” notes the World Facts, a micropedia.

Astrologers create charts called horoscopes, which map the position of astronomical bodies at certain times, such as

when a person is born. A horoscope is illustrated by a circle, called the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the plane on which the earth orbits around the sun in a year. It is divided into twelve sections, called the signs of the Zodiac, which include Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Astrologers assign every planet (which in astrology includes the sun and moon) with a particular sign, depending on where that planet appears on the ecliptic at the time for which the horoscope is cast. Each planet represents basic human drives, and each sign represents a set of human characteristics.

When astrologers designate a person as a certain sign – a Leo or a Pisces, for example – they are referring to the person’s sun sign – that is, the sign that the sun occupied at the time of the person’s birth.

The horoscope also is divided into twelve houses, which make up the 24-hour period during which the earth rotates once on its axis. Each house deals with certain areas of a person’s life, such as marriage, health, work, travel, and death.

Astrologers make predictions by interpreting the position of astronomical bodies within the signs and houses of the horoscope.

8 SCIENCE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

Radiation-Grafted Abaca can help clean up polluted water

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

P

ollution comes in different forms: air, water, soil and even noise. In the Philippines, one of the most pressing problems is water pollution, according to the Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA).

The effects of water pollution cost the Philippines approximately P67 billion annually.

These include P3 billion for health, P17 billion for fisheries production, and P47 billion for tourism.

“Large amounts of water pollution have caused an overall depreciation of public health in the Philippines,” wrote Gabriella Andrews in her study that was published in Pepperdine Policy Review. “Poor health reduces labor efficiency while simultaneously decreasing life expectancy, thus creating a health-induced poverty trap.”

Pass administrations, including the current one, have passed several water-related laws but their enforcement seems to be weak and beset with problems. “The government continues to try to clean up the problem, implementing fines to polluters as well as environmental taxes, but many problems have not been addressed,” Borgen magazine observed.

There are several ways of skinning a cat, so goes a popular saying.

In like manner, there are various methods of solving the water pollution the country is now facing.

One of those that scientists have identified as another solution to the worsening water pollution is abaca.

Glimmer of hope By using abaca, the country is literally hitting two birds with one shot: helping solve the water pollution problem and encouraging farmers to

plant more abaca, which is endemic in the country.

In a study conducted by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), researchers used radiation techniques to modify abaca-based fabric into a material that can filter heavy metals from wastewater.

Among the heavy metals identified were lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, mercury and arsenic. All these metals, which are highly-soluble in water, harm human health and the environment.

“The danger that these heavy metals pose to living things make it necessary to treat wastewater before discharging it to the environment,” the PNRI said in a press statement.

“To trap toxic metals, the research team used radiation to graft an abaca-based non-woven fabric with super tiny filters that can separate or remove the dissolved toxic metals from the wastewater,” wrote Framelia G. Viernes-Anonas, PNRI’s supervising science research specialist.

The institute’s Electron Beam Irradiation Facility provided the radiation used in the study.

“Radiation can modify and graft various materials with advanced properties,” explained Dr. Jordan Madrid, head of the PNRI’s Chemistry Research Section.

The research team found that radiation-modified nonwoven fabric is at par, if not better, than commercial resins which are traditionally used in filtering heavy metals.

More importantly, the abaca fiber is cheaper and reusable.

Aside from its potential use as an effective filter for pollutants, the researchers are also exploring other applications of the radiation-treated abaca fabric such as in recovering precious metals and as a catalyst for producing biodiesel.

The technology’s potential in helping clean up the environment was recognized when it bagged the utility model award in the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits-National Capital Region held last year. It was also named the Outstanding Utility Model in the National Invention Contest and Exhibits early this year.

The technology is a collaborative work among three DOST agencies. Aside from PNRI, which provided the applied radiation technique to the nonwoven abaca fabric, the two other agencies involved were the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), which funded the project and the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), which provided the abaca/polyester nonwoven fabric.

“When adopted by local governments and private institutions, this technology can likewise bolster the country’s status as the world’s leading abaca producer, contributing 84% of the world’s production and earning P4.7 billion for the country annually,” Anonas wrote.

Abaca fiber mask Abaca also made news recently when it was reported that face masks made from abaca fiber have a filtration rate seven times better than cloth masks and have lower water absorption than

the N95 mask. This was based on a study conducted by the DOST Region 10.

Wearing a face mask is one of the health protocols recommended by the World Health Organization from being infected by the SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The 7XB face mask, as it is called, a product of the Salay Handmade Products Industries, Incorporated (SHPII). This artisanal company based in Misamis Oriental has been producing worldclass stationery products for the last three decades.

“We have this strong, tear-resistant, and water-absorbent paper material that was introduced to us about five years ago,” SHPII’s Neil Francis Rafisura was quoted as saying

by The Philippine Star.

“We experimented by applying this strong material to make face mask or face cover. The material is based from 100% abaca fiber, the strongest fiber in the world.”

According to Rafisura, the face masks are done manually. “The raw abaca fiber undergoes at least 15 processes before they are cut and sewn into face covers,” he explained. “It also has three layers: two layers of abaca-based filters in 90 to 220 grams per square meter and one layer of cloth.”

Another good thing about the abaca fiber mask is that it is environment-friendly. “Derived from a native plant, the fiber is renewable and biodegradable,” said Flordelyn Alaga-Saavdera, a lady from Davao City who works with cooperatives in Mindanao. “Once it’s thrown away, decomposition is faster as it’s made of abaca fiber, no chemicals were used so it will not harm the environment.”

Endemic crop Abaca used to be called “Manila hemp,” but it is not actually a hemp.

Unlike the Russian hemp or American hemp, both of which are derived from Cannabis sativa, abaca is a member of the banana family.

“Abaca has been grown in the Philippines for centuries, long before the Spanish occupation,” reports the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFida). “When (Ferdinand) Magellan and his companions arrived in Cebu in 1521, they noticed that the natives were wearing clothes made from the fiber of abaca plant, noting further that the weaving of the fiber was already widespread in the island.”

However, it was not until 1685 that abaca was known in the Western world. Then, in 1820, John White, an American Navy lieutenant brought abaca fiber samples to the US. A cargo of abaca was sent to Salem, Massachusetts under the label “Manila.” The Americans later became the largest abaca importers as the port of Manila was opened for international trade in 1834.

“The Japanese also took keen interest in abaca for naval use,” wrote Ernesto Lawagan in an article which appeared in the defunct Mod. “They improved the method of production introduced by the Americans and put the abaca industry in the Philippines to a higher level of efficiency.”

It was in the 1920s when the Philippines monopolized the world production of abaca fibers, which are obtained from the plant leaves. “In 1921, the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to cultivate abaca in Central America, particularly in Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras, using the most outstanding Philippine abaca varieties. Much of these resulted in failure,” Lawagan wrote.

After World War II, Furukawa Yoshizo, one of the prewar abaca plantation owners in Davao,

started field-testing and successfully cultivating abaca in Ecuador. “Today, Ecuador is the only other country commercially producing abaca in the world,” Lawagan noted.

“Costa Rica, on the other hand, is now developing modern harvest facilities as studies indicated that its land could accommodate high yields of the crop.”

In later years, on the onrush of modern technology, abaca was no longer given importance and was relegated to the background. “The advent of oil-based synthetic fibers in the mid-1950s, which rapidly replaced the traditional usage of natural fibers, displaced abaca as prime cordage material and precipitated its almost total collapse,” Lawagan wrote. The Philippine abaca industry suffered a slump as prices hit rock-bottom that several farmers eventually phased out their plantations.”

Stages a comeback But thanks to the global shortage of many natural resources and the pollution being wrought by synthetic products on the environment, abaca stages a comeback. “Significant breakthroughs in technology and processes took place in the ‘60s that brought about development of new uses for abaca, particularly in the use of pulp for the production of specialty paper products,” PhilFida reported.

Agriculturists say the country’s agroclimatic conditions are perfect to grow abaca, which many people still mistake for banana plants.

In the Philippines, abaca has been found growing in virtually all types of soils and climate. But it is found most productive in areas where the soil is volcanic in origin, rich in organic matter, loose, friable, and well-drained, clay loam type.

Abaca is prized for its great mechanical strength, resistance to saltwater damage, and long fiber length – up to 30 meters. The best grades of abaca are fine, lustrous, light beige in color and very strong.

These days, most abaca fibers are pulped and processed into specialty papers. This includes: tea and coffee bags, sausage casing paper, currency notes (the country’s Central Bank is using 20% abaca for peso bills: 200, 500 and 1,000), cigarette filter papers, medical/ food preparation/disposal papers, high-quality writing paper, vacuum bags and more.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT REGION 11

PAUNAWA Ipinagbibigay-alam na ang PRIMA CASA LAND & HOUSES INC. ay naghain sa Tanggapang ito ng sinumpaang aplikasyon para sa pagbebenta ng mga BAHAY AT LOTE sa LUMINA TAGUM ( SOCIALIZED & ECONOMIC HOUSING) na matatagpuan sa Purok Maharlika, Brgy. Cuambugan, Tagum City at sinakop ng LOTS 2 & 3 PCS-112319-006182; LOTS LOT 435-A to E, PSD-11-145141 sa ilalim ng TITULO BLG. TCT Nos. 142-2019020380, 142-2019020381,142-2020001828, 142-2020001833,142,2020002118, 1422020001914,142-2019010146.

Ang nasabing proyekto ay ginagamit ang LUMINA TAGUM SOCIALIZED HOUSING na matatagpuan sa Purok Maharlika Brgy .Cuambugan, Tagum City bilang pagtupad sa Seksyon 18 ng Batas Republika Blg. 7279 na sinusugan ng RA 10884.

Lahat ng mga kasulatan kaugnay nito ay maaring suriin ng sinuman na nagtataglay ng legal na interes ditto matapos humiling ng pagsusuri at magbayad ng kauukulang halaga sa tanggapang ito.

Kapag walang sagabalna legal, ang proyektong nabanggit ay ituturing na rehistrado at maari nang bigyan ng sertipiko bilang katibayan nito, pagkalipas ng limang (5) araw mula sa huling paglalathala.

Lungsod ng Dabaw, Pilipinas, ika-27 ng Hulyo 2020

ATTY. ROBERTO MAURO MIGUEL T. PALMA GIL OIC, Office of the Regional Director

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT REGION 11

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that PRIMA CASA LAND & HOUSE INC. has filed with this office a sworn registration statement for the sale of HOUSE AND LOTS in LUMINA TAGUM(SOCIALIZED & ECONOMIC HOUSING) located at Purok Maharlika, Brgy. Cuambugan,Tagum City and more particularly described as LOTS 2 & 3 PCS-112319-006182; LOTS LOT 435-A to E, PSD-11-145141 containing an area of 218,619 sq.m. and covered by TCT Nos. 142-2019020380, 142-2019020381,142-2020001828, 1422020001833,142,2020002118, 142-2020001914,142-2019010146.

The foregoing project is utilizing LUMINA TAGUM (SOCIALIZED HOUSING) located at Purok Maharlika, Brgy. Cuambugan, Tagum City as its compliance ursuant to Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7279 as amended by RA 10884.

All papers relative thereto shall,upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon.

Absent any legal impediment,the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith be issued after (5) days from the last days of application Issued this 27th day of July 2020, Davao city.

7/29,8/05

ATTY ROBERTO MAURO MIGUEL T. PALMA GIL OIC Office of the Regional Director

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATEWITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late SPOUSES JULIAN C. ALBIOLA and MARTA O. ALBIOLA has beenthe subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE leaving the following real and personal properties described as follows: ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. P-7601 executed among their Heirs-Vendor, per Doc. No 441; PageNo.90; Book No.11 Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FERDINAND M. TAGLUCOP

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATEWITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late SPOUSES JULIAN C. ALBIOLA and MARTA O. ALBIOLA has beenthe subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE leaving the following real and personal properties described as follows: ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. P-7412 executed among their Heirs-Vendor, per Doc. No 442; PageNo.90; Book No.11 Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FERDINAND M. TAGLUCOP 7/29,8/5,12/2020

9

PBA... FROM11 back into game shape in hopes of either resuming or starting their seasons as early as September.

“Hopefully, dire-direcho na tayo (Hopefully, we can move forward),” Marcial said.

The PFL already kickstarted its gear-up for the return to practice by having all its players and team staff undergo the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction testing.

PFF secretary general Ed Gastanes said in the July 16 edition of the Usapang Sports forum that all the 155 individuals who underwent testing are now cleared to return as they got negative results.

Before that, Stallion Laguna and Kaya Iloilo already announced that all their players and team staff have tested negative for Covid-19.

On the other hand, Marcial said that he will now order the PBA teams to undergo another Covid-19 testing within the week. They will have to be re-tested every 10 days.

(PNA)

10 EDGEDAVAO

CALLING... FROM2

toring facilities. These are holding facilities because dinha lang mag-stay ang mga tao samtang nag-hulat sila sa ilahang results,” she said.

The arriving flights in Davao City are categorized as follows: sweeper flights carrying OFWs by the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA); Hatid Tulong and Hatid Probinsya initiatives of the interagency national government; and the regular commercial flight passengers.

“We also have land travelers na LSIs na nakuha nato sa checkpoints and regular land travelers. Ang mga regular flight passengers gina-testing nato. Ang

mga OFWs very recently nag intervene ang DOLE ug OWWA, sila na ang naga-house ug naga test.

Naga-assist na lang ta sa pag-abot sa airplane ug sa pag- process nila,” Mayor Sara said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is establishing a Covid-19 testing laboratory to augment the city’s testing capacity for air passengers.

“Dunay expression of support and commitment ang DOT for a Covid-19 testing laboratory for air passengers. That will come after the City Health Office pa siguro because they will start from zero,” Mayor Sara said.

to remind us that perseverance, patience and determination will help us move forward even in the most difficult of times,” he added.

From 2017 to 2022, the

government will be building roads, bridges, airport, railways among others, with a total budget of PHP8 trillion, under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program. (PNA)

Case No. R11-EV-TX-2020-7-766 (2011-XI-00766) HONORIO C. DELA CRUZ, Petitioner.

Case No. R11-EV-TX-2020-6-363 (2015-XI-00363) ANTONIO B. PANGUBATAN, JR. Petitioner.

PRRD... FROM3

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITION TAXI Service.

x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIR CONDITIONED UV EXPRESS service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY AND FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN REGION XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 12, 2019. In the petition filed on January 28, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 20th day of June 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Honorio C. Dela Cruz Counsel, Atty. Randolf P. Esparagoza

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITION UV EXPRESS Service.

Doing Business under the name & Style “PRINCESS ALONA VAN TRANSPORT

x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIR CONDITIONED UV EXPRESS service on the route: DAVAO CITY - CATEEL (DAVAO ORIENTAL) VIA TAGUM AND VICE VERSA with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on June 11, 2020. In the petition filed on June 18, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/ or oral evidence.

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 15th day of June 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Antonio B. Pangubatan Counsel, Atty. Placido A. Garde, Jr.

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

2ND... FROM2

PDEA... FROM2

Action Officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo said that the province is expecting “more positive cases over the course of the next few days” due to the arrival of the LSIs. However, he assured that the province and the LGUs are well-prepared to accommodate them.

While the Task Force is expecting another wave of LSIs to be transported in the coming

weeks, it has requested the national government to provide the LGUs ample time to prepare in order to prevent congestion of the TTMF and quarantine centers at the LGUs. The first batch of LSI consisting of 83 individuals who benefited under the Hatid Tulong initiative arrived in the province last July 9.

(PIO)

able-bodied citizen to join the people’s war against Covid-19. There are no spectators in this fight. We need to link arms, and win as one if we are to survive as a nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, House Ways and Means chair Joey Sarte Salceda assured that both the CREATE bill and the second stimulus package under the Bayanihan 2 will be enacted as soon as possible.

Salceda also thanked

President Duterte for requesting the passage of the FIST bill, more credit access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), regulatory relief for small businesses, and the road toward digitalization.

“Digital processes are crucial – if not absolutely essential – for doing businesses in the new normal.

We thank the President for directing government agencies to make this happen,” Salceda said.(PNA)

Case No. R11-EV-PJ-2020-5-360 (2001-XI-00360) ANGELES N. ARGUELLES, Petitioner.

Case No. R11-EV-TX-2020-6-305 (2013-XI-00305) FELICIANO M. VILLAPAZ, JR. Petitioner.

Case No. R11-EV-PJ-2020-6-432 (2016-XI-00432) EUGENIO L. LIMLAO, Petitioner.

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an PUJ DUAL ORDINARY REGULAR service on the route: CALINAN AND FOR CARGOES AS DUAL SERVICE FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN REGION XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on May 10, 2021.

In the petition filed on May 29, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 1st day of June 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIR CONDITIONED service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY AND FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN REGION XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 31, 2020. In the petition filed on June 24, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 25th day of June 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an PUJ DUAL ORDINARY REGULAR service on the route: ECOLAND SUBDIVISION (SM CITY OF DAVAO) AND FOR CARGOES AS DUAL SERVICE FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN REGION XI with the use of TWO (2) unit, which Certificate will expire on June 22, 2021. In the petition filed on June 16, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/ or oral evidence.

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 18st day of June 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

HOUSE... FROM3

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an PUJ DUAL ORDINARY REGULAR Service.

x----------------------------------------------------x

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Ageles N. Arguelles Counsel, Atty. Placido A. Garde, Jr.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITION TAXI Service.

x----------------------------------------------------x

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Feiliciano M. Villapaz Counsel, Atty. Randolf P. Esparagoza

ple waiting on the bleachers without social distancing raised fears of widespread infection of COVID-19.

Encabo said they “accept and recognize” the criticisms but explained that they were able to address the problem of social distancing hours later.

“The snapshot of a picture does not tell the entire story,” he said.

Encabo said the photographs published in the newspapers and social media show a jampacked sports complex but from afar, some of the boxes and bags “mura mag tao” (looked like people). He claimed the bags were used by the people as “shield” to maintain distance.

Encabo explained that they decided to allow the people to enter the sports complex because of the heavy downpour. Instead of letting them stay out there on the streets, the passengers were allowed inside the complex “to give them shelter … the shade of the stadium,” particularly for the elderly, children and pregnant women.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an PUJ DUAL ORDINARY REGULAR Service.

x----------------------------------------------------x

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Eugenio L. Limlao Counsel, Atty. Alejandro A. Cobol

He said social distancing would have been defeated also out on the streets as the people will still gather in one area to seek shelter from the rain.

He added that people entering the sports complex were sprayed with alcohol and were required to wear masks.

Rapid tests Before boarding the vehicles for home, passengers are made to undergo rapid tests. Those who test negative can proceed to travel while those who test positive are swabbed for the confirmatory Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test and are sent to a quarantine facility.

Asked why the passengers are not administered RT-PCR tests to ensure those who are positive of the virus will not spread the disease elsewhere, Encabo replied that the HTI Technical Working Group has no budget for RT-PCR testing, hence the resort to rapid tests.

RT-PCR is the gold standard for COVID-19 testing.

The local government units nation that will receive the LSIs home are mandated to swab the arrivals and ensure that they follow the 14day quarantine period. The RT-PCR testing, he said, will be at the cost of the receiving LGU. He said a number of LGUs informed them they would only accept a certain number of LSIs as they have limited quarantine facilities.

In Hatid Tulong’s “first wave” of send-off on July 4, rapid tests were also conducted before the passengers boarded the ship that would take them home.

Four hundred Mindanawons bound for Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi were among the passengers of a 2Go vessel that offloaded them in Cayan de Oro on July 7 instead of Zamboanga City. When the 405 were swabbed for RT-PCR testing upon arrival in Sulan Kudarat, Maguindanao in the early hours of July 10, a total of 120 tested positive for COVID-19.

“Pabaon” Encabo said passengers who test negative are given a medical certificate and a travel pass and are given 2,000 pesos each by the Office of the President as “pabaon” (travel allowance).

Meals during travel, he said, are provided for by Hatid Tulong.

Those who take the bus to Mindanao, for example, stop in designated areas where packed food is handed over to the bus conductor who then distributes the meal inside the bus, he said.

According to Encabo, those who were not able to leave during this “second wave” of send-offs because of the cut-off number given by the LGUs, were brought to a housing facility of the National Housing Authority, there to await their schedule of departure. He said Hatid Tulong “will also provide them assistance like food.”

He said they will try to schedule their departure “within one month’s time.”

He said this would depend on the availability of transport resources. “We have to consider the turnaround time,” he said, for the ships to return to Manila and undergo maintenance.

For the buses, he said, the bus drivers and conductors have to undergo a 14day quarantine when they reach Manila. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

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11

PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez with Philippine Paralympic Committee President Michael Barredo (right).

PSC holds webinars for para athletes

T

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hosted a week-long webinar for national para-athletes and coaches, in celebration of the National Council on Disability Affairs’ (NCDA) 42nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Dubbed as “Para sa PARA-Athletes: Isang selebrasyon ng pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa mga

natatanging Filipino Para-Athletes,” the PSC Sports Rehabilitation Unit partnered with the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) to conduct a series of online seminars to the differently-abled.

“Our goal is to raise social media awareness about para-sports, para-athletes and persons with disabilities, and recognize their achievements

for the country,” said PSC Sports Rehabilitation OIC Rico Barin.

Both PPC President Mike Barreto and Secretary-General Walter Torres thanked PSC Chairman William Ramirez and the Sports Rehabilitation Unit for this initiative.

“We thank Chairman Ramirez for making sure that our para-athletes are educated on sports psy-

chology programs like this to reinforce their training and skills,” said Barredo.

“This tribute given to our para-athletes during the NDPR week is a boost in their morale self-esteem, especially at times like this when the pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of sporting events,” added Torres, who is also a former Olympian fencer.

Over 300 para-athletes

PRRD values role of sports academy to sports dev’t

P

resident Rodrigo Duterte on Monday recognized the importance of the establishment of the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in the development of sports in the country.

“I appreciate the law of establishing the National Academy of Sports,” Duterte said during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11470 or an act establishment NAS in his hometown in Davao City last June 9.

The NAS, set to be built inside the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, was the landmark congressional act designed to develop sports future sports heroes.

The academy will cater to chosen student-athletes who will be given quality education and state-ofthe-art sports training that will kickstart their journey to become fu-

ture national athletes.

“We can now give our deserving student-athletes the training and the support they need to excel in their chosen field of endeavor,” Duterte said.

Under the new law, the NAS is tasked to implement a secondary education program that is integrated with a special curriculum on sports to help young Filipino athletes develop further their sporting skills.

RA 11470 grants full scholarship to qualified student-athletes.

The creation of NAS, will be attached to the Department of Education (DepEd), was one of the the priority legislative measures mentioned by the President in last year’s SONA as recommended by Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go. During his penultimate SONA, Duterte also took the opportunity to thank the legislators as well as the executive department, particularly the Phil-

from athletics, sitting volleyball, football, swimming, chess, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, dancesport, triathlon, bowling, powerlifting, badminton, table tennis, goalball and boccia, took part in the week-long program from July 17 to 23.

Topics on body and postural mechanics, proper mobilization and transfer strategies for para-ath-

PBA, PFF welcome GAB order on training resumption

T SPORTS DEVELOPMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fifth state of the nation address at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday (July 27, 2020). Duterte recognized the creation of the national academy of sports through a law he signed last June in the country’s sports development. (Presidential photo)

ippine Sports Commission, for the successful hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

The Philippines won the overall championship of the biennial meet with 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.

“Our athletes prevailed. More than that, we fostered pride, patriotism, genuine sportsmanship, and camaraderie in our Southeast Asian brothers and sisters,” Duterte said. “Indeed, we won as one.” (PNA)

letes, as well as online zumba session were conducted by PSC’s Physical Therapists’ Arryl Puchero, Maya Angelou Mel, Jaja Antonio, Riggs Poblete, Christine Magtibay, and Fatima Pereyra.

Barin added that the sports rehab unit is “looking to conduct more sports specific webinars that may be able to help para-athletes and coaches.”

he Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) expressed their gratitude to the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for finally releasing the joint administrative order (JAO) that will allow professional athletes to resume their training amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa gobyerno dahil napayagan na tayo magsimula.

Meron nang JAO. (I would like to thank the government because we are finally permitted to start.

The JAO is finally here),” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said on Monday.

“We thank the Games and Amusements Board, chaired

by Mr. Abraham Mitra, Philippine Sports Commission, led by Chair-

man William Ramirez, and the Department of Health, under Secretary Francisco Duque III, for signing the JAO which allows professional teams to train,” added PFF president Nonong Araneta, whose agency is managing the Philippines Football League (PFL).

“We look forward to the clubs to prepare for the PFL 2020 season,” Araneta said.

While the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the resumption of professional sports practices last month, the PBA, PFL, and even the Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3x3 teams remain stalled due to the absence of the JAO. Now that the administrative order has finally been released, the clubs are cleared to get

FPBA, P9

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SPORTS JAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

PSC, GAB, DOH issue guidelines on conduct of physical activity and sports

A

Joint Administrative Order between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and the Department of Health (DOH) was released Monday providing a guideline on the conduct of physical and sports activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez expressed relief that the JAO has been finalized after over a month of collaboration with both agencies.

“We all recognize the importance sport plays in building one’s strong immune system, what we just wanted to ensure was that they keep safe and away from the virus while they are doing it,” explained the sports chief.

Ramirez, signed the joint issuance along with GAB Chairman Abraham Mitra and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III. It covers non-professional sports under the jurisdiction of the PSC, professional sports under the GAB, profes-

sional and non-professional persons in sports like athletes, coaches, trainors, promoters and other parties involved in the conduct of sports like venue management, local government units, schools and workplaces.

Conditions and requirements for the conduct of sports are given for five risk severity ratings we now observe from high risk (enhanced community quarantine or ECQ) to areas considered low risk or those classified under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco, the agency’s technical working group lead to this tripartite partnership said that while all parties worked towards getting the guidelines fine-tuned, they expect to update these guidelines as developments happen in this volatile health crisis in our hands. “It is a work in progress, but we are happy that we finally have an official issuance which recognizes the im-

The JAO on Sports covers non-professional sports under the jurisdiction of the PSC, professional sports under the GAB, professional and non-professional persons in sports like athletes, coaches, trainors, proportance of sport in this pandemic. This will help hasten our moving forward.”

Presently, the PSC is mid-way its online consultations with the different national sports

moters and other parties involved in the conduct of sports like venue management, local government units, schools and workplaces.

associations (NSAs) to help them craft a guideline this time for the return of training of the

national team, specifically those who are gunning for, or have qualified for the Olympics.