Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 14 | Tuesday, March 30, 2021

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Young boys show off their diving skills while enjoying an afternoon swim at the beachfront in Times Beach, Ecoland, Davao City on Monday. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has ordered the closure of beaches,

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Apo View Hotel ceases operation temporarily STORY ON PAGE 2

resorts and inland resorts in Davao City during the Holy Week. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 14 • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque lashes out at critics who slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly pretending to be poor during his birthday celebration over the weekend. Roque said the President has never pre-

tended to be poor and always been known as simple that is why he did not have guests on his birthday. Edge Davao

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Apo View Hotel ceases operation temporarily

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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po View Hotel, the oldest hotel in the city at over 70 years, has decided to cease its operation temporarily effective March 31, 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The hotel management made the announcement on Monday through the hotel’s Facebook Account where it posted “as the risk of the pandemic is continuously rising, the management has decided to temporarily cease its operation effective March 31, 2021 until further notice as we continue to support the nation’s effort to combat the spread of Covid-19”.

Hotel Manager Leah Adolfo in a text message said hotel operations will resume once the situation will improve from the pandemic.

The management also thanked their patrons

and clients for being part of the hotel’s journey while expressing hopes to cross paths again in the future.

Last year, Apo View Hotel kept its rooms open for health workers who are at the frontline of the fight against the spread of Covid-19. The hotel’s management firm, Global Comfort Group Corp., which is behind the Eurotel and Icon hotel brands, has also opened more than 400 rooms in other parts of the country to frontliners.

In 2014, Global Comfort Group Corp., took over the operations of Apo View Hotel.

Approval of CIDCA loan to precede SIDC design and build contract

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n official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed that the implementation of the Design and Build Contract for the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project depends on the approval of the loan negotiation between the Department of Finance (DOF) and the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).

Engineer Lilibeth Rico, project manager for operations for the Design and Build Contract implementation of the SIDC Project, reported during the 3rd General Membership Meeting of DCCCII on Friday that the loan

processes is still ongoing between DOF and CIDCA and is being evaluated with the help of the China Eximbank.

Rico said the Ambassador of China assured that the Chinese government is giving 100 percent loan funding while the Government of the Philippines through DPWH will cover the taxes of the funding.

She added that the implementation Design and Build Contract is targeted to start in March 2021 but the Notice to Proceed is contingent with the approval of the loan negotiation.

It can be recalled that the procurement for the Design and Build Con-

tract was carried out from October 2020 to December 2020 and the Notice of Award was issued on Dec. 14, 2020 and was conformed on Dec. 16, 2020 by the winning bidder China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

The signing of the Design and Build Contract agreement was conducted on January 14, 2021 and DPWH submitted the following day the Design Contract Agreement to head start the loan negotiation.

“During the loan negotiation project, the loan application submitted by DOF is now being evaluated by China Eximbank and CIDCA after

we have submitted the required supporting documents such as the final Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Assessment report,” she said.

The project is a twoway four-lane 3.86-km bridge in southern corridor to connect the Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City across the Pakiputan Strait. The main bridge is 1.62-km long and will be designed in a cable-stayed structure with the twin towers and double cable planes. The construction duration is estimated to last 60 months.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to pro-

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Not minding physical distancing protocols, devotees gather outside the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro at 3 p.m. on Palm Sunday 28 March 2021. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

Sara orders beaches, resorts closed during Holy Week Construction of Mindanao train faces major hurdles

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onstruction of the Mindanao Railway Project: TagumDavao-Digos segment (MRP:TDD) will be delayed as it faces major hurdles.

Christense Denise Geonzon, public communication officer for the MRP, cited among the reasons include the delay of the Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong Ltd.'s

submission of documents needed by the Project Management Office (PMO) to commence the Right-Of-Way (ROW) and site acquisition specifically for the project’s appraisal reports, structure plans, subdivision plans, and ancillary plans.

“The consequences of this is the delay of the acquisition of the ROW and the delay of the start

of the construction. The PMO resolution is to relentlessly pressure our contractor to complete all their tasks,” Geonzon said.

Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong Ltd. is also the consultant for the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project.

The second major issue is the delay of the

submission of the shortlist of bidders for the Design and Build Contractor.

“The consequence of this is the negotiation for the loan agreement and finally the delay of the construction,” Geonzon said.

She said the PMOs resolution to this is to clarify the Chinese Em-

as future New People’s Army combatants.

Staff Sgt. Norkaya Dica of the Police Regional Office-Region 11, an investigator under Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, told the Philippine News Agency that the March 19 activity at 4 Sisters Beach Resort in Barangay Tagnanan, Mampising also strengthened the children’s ties with their families.

“The minors had videoke and parlor games with their parents. They

also enjoyed the beach as most of them said it was their first time to go swimming,” she said.

At first, Dica said, the children were hesitant to join their parents. After undergoing psychosocial interventions, they became more open.

“Now, they are already interacting. We allowed them to go home to their families for two days last week and we have not seen any problems so far,” she said.

The minors are currently housed at the Mu-

nicipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Talaingod town.

Dica said they cannot immerse yet with their communities as they will still have to join trainings to be conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Next week, Department of Education personnel will also meet with the children to talk about their studies.

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Rescued Davao Region 11 IP minors rediscover family ties

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he 13 of the 19 indigenous peoples (IP) minors rescued in Cebu City will receive livelihood and educational assistance after finishing a family reintegration program in Mabini, Davao de Oro, a police official said Sunday.

The IP children from Sitio Kamingawan, Talaingod, Davao del Norte were rescued on Feb. 15 at the University of San Carlos Retreat House Talamban Campus while allegedly undergoing revolutionary training

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the closure of beaches, resorts, and water inland resorts during Holy Week.

Through Executive Order (EO) No. 19 or an order for the closure of all beaches and resorts on April 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Davao City to prevent drowning incidents and mass gathering.

“Ngano man? There have been successive incidents of minors in violation of general community quarantine who drowned while swimming in bodies of water. Naa ta duha ka insidente ana. There is a need to prevent these incidents ang mga minors manggawas ug maligo ug mangamatay kay nangalumos during the long holiday of classes. Likely ang mga ingon ana manggawas sila kay wala sila klase,” the mayor said.

Mayor Sara said the Prevention Enforcement Group of Davao Covid-19 Task Force is

now working hard to prevent a second wave of Covid-19 cases following the surge of Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Cebu City.

“Ang mass gatherings kabalo nata ana mao na ang ang magcause ug paspas na takdanay sa Covid-19. We need to prevent mass gatherings and inland water resorts during the long Holiday weekend for Holy week,” she said.

She added that the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) seeks the assistance of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to implement the said order.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO Hog raisers to stop operations if gov’t cuts pork import tariff: industry group EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.14 ISSUE 14 • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

og raisers will stop their operations if the government cuts the import tariff for pork, an industry group said Sunday.

There is also no need to increase the minimum access volume (MAV) to 350,000 metric tons on pork imports, the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork) said in a statement.

"Other raisers will stop their operation because of the effects of importation at lower tariff, volume which is equivalent to 8,000,000 heads of hog and continuous spreading of ASF (African swine fever) in the country," ProPork president Nicanor Briones said.

"If we want to import pork, our present system allows importers to import pork...Any importer can import pork using the out quota tariff of 40 percent. There is no quantitative restriction."

The group earlier sought a declaration of a state of emergency after the government extended the price cap for pork and chicken until April 8.

It also called on the government to compensate ASF-hit pork producers and subsidize the transportation of pork.

LandBank retail bond sales reach P124.39B

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tate-run Land Bank of the Philippines generated P124.39 billion in sales from the Retail Treasury Bonds offering concluded earlier this month, the lender announced over the weekend.

LandBank said sales accounted for 27% of the total P463.32 billion raised by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) from the issuances closed on March 4, at a coupon rate of 2.375% per annum.

Broken down, LandBank sales were composed of P78.82 billion in new money, and P45.57 billion through the switch offer where holders of previously issued bonds exchanged their holdings.

A total of P78.80 bil-

lion from the new sales were facilitated over the country, while P20.17 million was transacted through the lender's online channels.

"Despite being a universal bank, LandBank is a also a retail bank that serves the diverse needs of retail investors for affordable and low-risk investment instruments," said LandBank President and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia Borromeo.

"We will continue to support the national government's financing strategy by making government securities more accessible, including to Filipinos abroad," she added.

The recent bond offer's proceeds of P463.32

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A Cebu Pacific aircraft is about to land at the Davao International Airport in Davao City. Cebu Pacific has announced that its domestic and international flights will push through as scheduled, although only essential travel will

Cebu Pacific to push through with domestic, int’l flights despite ECQ

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ebu Pacific said its domestic and international flights will push through as scheduled, although only essential travel will be allowed as Metro Manila and nearby provinces go under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday until Easter Sunday.

‘Lockdown is not the answer’: PCCI

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he Philippines is in a "far worse" situation than it was when it went on lockdown last August, the country's largest business group said Monday as it urged government to allow private firms to assist in COVID-19 tracing and vaccination efforts.

Metro Manila and nearby provinces have formed the NCR Plus bubble and were placed under a weeklong enhanced community quarantine, the strictest in a 4-step measure, beginning Monday.

Government needs to intensify COVID-19 testing and tracing as "lockdown is not the answer," said Benedicto Yujuico, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(PCCI).

"We are in a far worse situation today than we were in the beginning of this year and far worse than we were in August," he said.

"The Philippines has had the longest lockdown in the world, our GDP (gross domestic product) dropped the most.

You can see from there that lockdown is not the answer. Other countries that did not do the lockdown, their GDP did not drop that much but they’re recovering now."

There is "never a good time" to go on lockdown as people this week might have been off work due to public holidays but they had plans to go on vacation, Yujuico said.

"We need to trace very carefully where it’s

be allowed as Metro Manila and nearby provinces go under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday until Easter Sunday. Edge Davao

coming from and where the COVID is going to. I think we need to improve a lot in the area of tracing as well. This is where the private sector definitely can help," he said.

"The basic things we have to do, all of us, we have to observe the basic protocols...Other than that we need to make sure people are employed, people have money. It is so regrettable to die from COVID, but it is unforgivable to die of hunger."

Yujuico also suggested that the Philippines "set up their own vaccine production facility."

"So that when this happens again we will have our own supply," he said.

He reiterated the

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"Passengers who wish to postpone their travel during this time may select their preferred option through the Manage Booking portal on the Cebu Pacific website (https://bit.ly/CEBmanageflight) up to 30 days from date of departure," Cebu Pacific said in its announcement.

"This is a developing situation. We may adjust flights depending on government regulations. We will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available."

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved placing areas in the NCR Plus bubble under ECQ from Monday, March 28,

until Sunday, April 4, due to the new surge in COVID-19 cases, Malacañang said Saturday.

Despite the ECQ, the Palace said road, rail, maritime, and also aviation transport will also continue to operate per the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) health protocols.

IAC for the extension of the compliance period for the cars program participants will be issued before end of June of this year,” Rodolfo said.

Under the CARS program, participating carmakers have six years to comply with the minimum volume target sales of 200,000 units each for their enrolled car models for them to get their incentives.

Toyota enrolled its Vios model and Mitsubishi listed Mirage under the CARS program.

Signed in 2015, CARS program is set to expire this year.

“We, of course, do un-

derstand the challenging unforeseen circumstances including the impact of the pandemic on the automotive demand,” Rodolfo said.

He added that the government does not need to come up with a new budget even with the extension of the CARS program, as the program was crafted with notional budget, under automatic appropriations of the General Appropriations Act. Rodolfo said participating carmakers have not yet received any of the fiscal incentives from the government.

Toyota and Mitsubishi can still enroll their in-

EO on 3-year extension of CARS program eyed

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he Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) on Automotive Industry Development is working on the issuance of an executive order (EO) to extend the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program for three years, a trade official said.

In a virtual chat with trade reporters Friday, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the IAC recommends extending the time for compliance without relaxing the volume requirement.

“We are confident that an executive order on the recommendation of the

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VOL.14 ISSUE 14 • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

Young girls sell leafy green vegetables in the streets of Tampakan, South Cotabato on Monday morning, 29 March 2021. (MindaNews photo by BONG S. SARMIENTO)

Tampakan seeks lifting of SoCot provincial ban on open-pit mining Labor coalition urges PRRD to certify Pandemic Leave Bill as urgent

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labor coalition over the weekend called on President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the Pandemic Leave Bill, which provides a 14-day paid quarantine leave to workers, as this provided relief amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the NAGKAISA Labor Coalition cited the need for the bill to be passed into law as cases continued to rise to record-highs a year into the lockdowns imposed in the Philippines.

"We hold that the adoption of a quarantine leave in times like a COVID-19 pandemic is the best thing for workers and businesses, and to keep all of us safe," Manuel Payao, chair of the Tade Federation 8, Federation of Free Workers (FFW) hospital and education unions, said.

"One can't save herself or himself alone in

a pandemic, the House Labor Committee had already adopted a bill on quarantine leave, both houses of Congress need to take this seriously, with urgency and dispatch; and to emphasize that we don't want people to report for work sick," added Payao, who also serves as the president of the UERM Employees Union-FFW. The House Committee on Labor and Development in December approved the measure seeking to mandate a 14-day paid pandemic leave for private-sector employees during a declared global pandemic. The measure is authored by the representatives from the Makabayan bloc.

In the same statement, NAGKAISA also pushed for the listing of COVID-19 as an occupational disease under the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).

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he Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Tampakan in South Cotabato has passed a resolution seeking the lifting of the provincial ban on open-pit mining, which has been blamed for allegedly hampering for a decade now the development of the Tampakan project, Southeast Asia’s largest known undeveloped copper and gold minefield.

Vice Mayor John Mark Baldon, presiding officer of the SB or the municipal council, said the body is urging the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato to revisit its Environment Code, passed in 2010, particularly Section 22 which provides that “open-pit mining shall not be allowed in the Province of South Cotabato.”

“The ordinance is now ripe for review (due to) the fact that it is now in (sic) its 10th year since its passage,” he said. June 9, 2021 will be the 11th year since the Code’s passage.

The municipal board approved Resolution No. 589 urging the provincial

board to revisit the Environment Code on March 15, a copy of which was obtained last Friday.

Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) has been pursuing the Tampakan project, with the mammoth deposits best extracted, according to the company, using the open-pit mining method.

The landowners under Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title 108 have already perfected the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) opening their lands to mining operations, the resolution said.

Currently, all requirements for the mining operations to proceed have been completed, except

for the ban on open-pit mining, which continues to impede the realization of the Tampakan project, it added.

In August 2020, the Tampakan SB terminated the municipal principal agreement (MPA) with SMI. The deal was supposed to be reviewed and updated every four years, but this hasn’t been done since 2009, the municipal board said in a resolution.

There were attempts to review the MPA, but the mayor and other municipal representatives were excluded from the negotiations, it added.

“After scrutiny, there are provisions in the MPA that are considered vague, disadvantageous to inhabitants of Tampakan and unduly tie the hands of the local government unit [LGU] of Tampakan,” the council said in the resolution approved on August 10, 2020. “As such, the LGU cannot sit and fold its arms not to intervene in

any action initiated by its people if, indeed, their rights have been violated contrary to some provisions of the agreement.”

The MPA was already a done deal rather than negotiated with the government, the resolution said.

SMI had declined to comment on the matter.

The municipal board, however, stated that it is open to negotiate a new MPA with the company.

Rene Pamplona, advocacy officer of the Convergence of Initiatives for Environmental Justice Inc., noted that the moves to lift the open-pit ban have failed in the past.

“In 2015, the provincial board, despite strong lobbying by pro-mining groups, reaffirmed the validity of the Environment Code and the ban on open-pit mining method,” he told MindaNews on Sunday.

Last October, Judge Vicente Peña, acting presiding judge of Regional Trial Court 11th Judicial

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 14 • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

On the declaration of some areas under ECQ due to the increase of Covid-19 cases: For our countrymen affected, just a little bit of patience. The government that always cares about you will never abandon you.

Let’s just continue to sacrifice ourselves to ease the hardship that the whole community is going through. Your cooperation and concern for others can save the lives of our fellow Filipinos.”

Sen. Bong Go

EDITORIAL

Sacrifice and obedience

The Christian world celebrates the observance of Holy Week beginning with Holy Thursday and ending on Easter Sunday. As the religious tradition have been, the Holy Week is a crowd-drawing religious commemoration which means that in this time of the threatened second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, mass gathering is a potential threat to infection.

The Archdiocese of Davao has made the announcement that for the second straight year, observance of the Holy Week will be digital in order to avoid physical gathering. However, knowing the penchant of people to risk everything in the name of faith, there is more to the announcement and changes in the religious rituals. This means, unless the church doors are closed, there will be people

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Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

going to places of worship in these days.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has reinforced the Archdiocese’s order by issuing an advisory for Dabawenyos to stay in their homes as the potential risk of going out and crowding churches is imminent.

For once, Dabawenyos must heed the call of both the church and the local government. It is this one significant common stand and reminder from both entities that must be the overwhelming order to everyone concerned.

The Holy Week or the Lenten season for that matter, culminates with Easter Sunday or the day of the resurrected Christ. We can all make Lent meaningful if we observe ‘death’ in sacrifice and resurrection in obedience.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 14 • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

NATURAL WONDERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES The Philippines is a country that comprises 7,107 islands.

The places worth visiting are so numerous that tourists can only hope to see a few of them. But people who want to see only those that are truly unique to the country then we suggest the Banaue Rice Terraces, Taal Lake , Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Saint Paul Subterranean River National Park in Palawan, and Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, Davao Oriental.

Banaue Rice Terraces: Up in the northern Cordillera region, the rice terraced landscape captivates the visitors with its majestic appeal. It was carved out of the hillside by Ifugao tribes some 3,000 years ago without the aid of machinery to provide level steps where the natives plant rice.

What is even more surprising is that this is the only marvel of antiquity that is still being used today. Actually, the rice terraces stretch like stepping stones to the sky – some reaching an altitude of 1500 meters. If the terraces were laid end to end, it is about 13,500 miles long, or about half the world’s circumference and ten times the length of the Great Wall of China .

No wonder, it has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. “In justice, (the rice terraces) should be called the first (wonder of the world),” argued an article which appeared in Clarin-Revista, a widely-circulated publication in Buenos Aires

, Argentina . “For beside it, the pyramids of Egypt , the gardens of Babylon , or the Roman aqueducts are simple attempts at minor engineering.”

The Banaue Rice Terraces was named as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1995. In 2001, it was in-scripted to the list of world heritage in danger as dangers of deforestation and climate change threatened to destroy the terraces.

Taal Lake: A lake is a lake while a volcano is a volcano. But where can you find a lake and volcano together? Located south from Manila , Taal Lake is lying in the crater of a vast volcano.

Within the lake is a smaller volcano containing a small lake in its 406-meter-high crater. The volcano is described as “a crater within an island within a lake” because it stands as an island at Taal Lake .

Taal Lake was formed after the volcano, which used to be much larger, collapsed. The ridges around Tagaytay City , which overlooks the lake, are believed to be part of the crater of the old volcano. The ridges now serve as the border of the 18-mile diameter Taal Lake and stretch 32 kilometers from Mount Batulao to Mount Sungay .

Chocolate Hills: Actually, it is a rolling terrain of haycock hills – mounds of general shape which are conical and almost

symmetrical. Estimated to be at least 1,268 individual mounds to about 1,776, these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually made of grass-covered limestone.

The domes vary in sizes from 30 to 50 meters high with the largest being 120 meters in height.

During the dry season, the grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate brown. This transforms the area into seemingly endless rows of “chocolate kisses.” The branded confection is the inspiration behind the name, Chocolate Hills.

“The Chocolate Hills are best observed at dawn or dusk,” wrote Jun Binamira in a travel guide on Bohol . “At these times, the sun is low and throws dramatic highlights and shadows onto the hills, making them leap out of the background in bold relief. Dawn is especially breathtaking. Usually, there is a thick white mist which lingers around the base of each hill. This magical moment lasts only seconds.”

Legend has it that the hills came into existence when two giants threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted for days. When they were finally exhausted, they made friends and left the island, but left behind the mess they made.

For the more romantically inclined is the tale of Arogo, a young and very strong giant who fell in love with an ordinary mortal girl called Aloya. After she died, the gi-

ant Arogo cried bitterly. His tears then turned into hills, as a lasting proof of his grief.

However, up to this day, even geologists have not reached consensus on how they were formed.

The most commonly accepted theory is that they are the weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of an impermeable layer of clay.

Underground River: Wonders await for those who see the famous Saint Paul Subterranean River National Park , a massive white rock mountain which rises 1,028 meters above sea level and stretches towards Cleopatra’s Needle. Its main feature is the underground river, with its 8.2 kilometers of labyrinthine caves carved by rainwater and the waves of South China Sea .

Reputedly the world’s longest, the Subterranean River is a maze of intricate caves and endless wonders. Once inside, you can enjoy seeing a myriad of rock formations which resemble real things: giant mushrooms and jellyfish, a huge madre de cacao, a man and his dog, skeletal and pipeline structures, fragile stalactites that look like filigrees.

The most awe-inspiring, however, is the so-called St. Paul ’s Cathedral where you can actually find a gigantic candle with wax dripping at its sides and the Holy Family of Joseph; Mary and Baby Jesus in his crib. Farther up is an angel perched on a limestone

pedestal.

Aliwagwag Falls: Located in the middle of a tropical rainforest, Aliwagwag Falls is considered as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country with its breathtaking cascading water.

The “stairway to the sky” is how some people called it.

Hydraulic engineers touted Aliwagwag Falls as the country’s highest. Actually, it is a series of 84 falls appearing like stairways with various heights among the steps ranging from six to 110 feet.

Aliwagwag Falls has been recognized as a terrestrial biodiversity corridor for eastern Mindanao . For one, it is a habitat of the endangered Philippine Eagle.

About 40 species of birds, five species of mammals, three species of reptiles, and two species of amphibians have been identified to exist in the watershed that encompasses a total area of 10, 491 hectares.

Aliwagwag Falls is “way off the tourist map and are known mostly to locals and intrepid adventurers. It is not even listed in international guide books, maybe because it is located in Mindanao and many foreigners are discouraged from going to this part of the island even though it is relatively safe.”

Truly, the Philippines is a unique country. You can’t find these natural wonders in other parts of the world. Only in the Philippines !

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING “The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.” - Albert Einstein. ***** Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) was an American minister and author who popularized in 1952 the concept of positive thinking, especially through his best selling book “The Power of Positive Thinking.” Wikipedia says Peale served as the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York.

He was a personal friend of Pres. Richard Nixon and several other US presidents and was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor by Pres. Reagan in 1984.

Peale’s philosophy and thoughts should jibe with the country’s fight against our economic collapse brought about by the evil CoVid 19 virus from Wuhan, China.

The Philippine has been in a lockdown for more than

a year since March 15, 2020 when the pandemic caught just everybody with their pants down.

NEDA Sec. Karl Chua reported during the Cabinet’s IATF meeting that the Philippines cannot afford NOT to open its economy because of continuing huge losses in income and production due to the alarming threats of mutation and new variants evolving.

Chua suggested strongly that the government must manage the risks that CoVid19 has been wreaking havoc into our fragile economy but there is no stopping us from uplifting the economy which is where we naturally are going.

Chua’s encouraging words tell us about the power of positive thinking that Peale introduced which is to take a step forward when faced with challenges instead of retreating and cowering in fear. For one full year, the Filipinos cowered in fear because the IATF, fol-

lowing orders from the World Health Organization, continuously bombarded them with news of the deadly infectious transmission of the pathogen and that they (people) should better stay home for their own safety even at the cost of having to lose income opportunities.

Thus, businesses closed and thousands and thousands of households lost earnings and income and people just did not know how to go about resuming their normal lives.

Among the countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines suffered most because we were caught napping in fear rather than in vigilance and diligence.

I recommend that every Filipino official, employee and worker in government should have a personal copy of Peale’s immortal book for their easy reference.

More than ever, this book emphasizes the merging of godliness and the natural ways

of the world injected with spiritual fervor and motivational thoughts.

This thought crossed my mind when I listened to Sec. Chua’s report to the President, encouraging the Chief Executive not to be daunted by the risks but more with affording every Filipino the opportunity to make a living despite the risks and the threats of contamination.

The NEDA chief must be an apostle of Peale’s positive thinking and an advocate of Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” mantra. He was the first Cabinet member to have voiced out this unsolicited bold approach and response to the pandemic while the rest quietly rode piggyback on the wishes of the President, scared perhaps of displeasing him.

I think we are on our way to economic recovery. We are also on our way to reliving our lost sanity. This, even considering that the vaccine rollout has

not been that efficient.

Did I hear somebody say: “Aanhin mo pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?”

The country’s greatest asset is its human resources.

Millions of OFWs are sweating it out in various regions and countries of the world in search of green pastures. Without their annual contribution and remittances, our government would have sunk deeper.

Since the start, the IATF had the DOH as its voice and spearhead, enumerating the numbers of infected victims, recoveries and deaths.

It is high time, the President - with due respect - appointed Chua as head of the IATF economic cluster which will design and issue policies and approaches on the country’s economic recovery and re-engineering.

God is good all the time.

(Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

8

LIFESTYLE

8

A

fter staying at home for one year due to Covid-19 pandemic, it is time to book your staycation. At Seda Abreeza, a safe stay at the property is a promise that will never be broken.

Because “safety first” is the new name of the game, Seda Abreeza welcomes back guests assuring them that the hotel is safe and secure, and their health and well-being are paramount.

With restrictions and protocols started easing up, Seda Abreeza took serious steps to mitigate risks to both employees and guests by promoting safe staycation.

Everywhere in the hotel, from the public areas and guestrooms, safety protocols are in place to help keep the guests safe whenever they visit: a wellness screening and temperature check at the front door, social distancing signages are displayed throughout the hotel and only a number of furnitures are available at the lobby to discourage congregating, and riding the elevator is limited only to four guests.

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Safe staycation at Seda Abreeza The hotel also

provides guests in-room personal safety kits stocked with alcohol and disinfectant.

Breakfast at Misto Restaurant has turned to a la carte buffet as guests are not allowed to move in line and hover over the serving table while trying to figure out whether or not they want something but instead a waiter, wearing face shield and face mask,

will get your choice of food and give or serve it to you.

Some items in the room that are difficult to disinfect are missing, including decorative pillows, bed scarves, notepads, pamphlets and pens- this is part of Seda Abreeza’s commitment to provide a safe environment for all who enter its

doors.

A stay in Seda Abreeza may be a bit different now but the management makes sure

that every guest’s staycation is memorable like a good night’s sleep under fluffy sheets.

Long for water? Seda Abreeza's swimming pool is a dream come true when you wish to cool off.

Seda Abreeza Hotel Manager Ken Kapulong said, although, the situation in Davao City is not yet stable he is optimistic that the confidence of the market in Davao Region to stay in the hotels again is now returning.

Kapulong said this is based on the current good number of occupied rooms per day at Seda. He said several of their guests are returning local guests who are staying at the hotel for business travel, and government meetings.

Seda Abreeza is among those accommodation facilities in Davao City issued with certificates to operate by the Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11) during the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) last year.

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Although deadly, colon cancer is treatable - if discovered early W

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

hat do Hollywood actor Chadwick Boseman (who is Oscar nominated for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), singer Roel Cortez (of “Nakapasakit Kuya, Eddie” and “Baleleng” distinction), and President Corazon “Cory” Aquino had one thing in common? All three died of colon cancer.

covered early. “Colorectal cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of death by around 70%,” says Dr. Ruiz, adding that the campaign for CRC screening around the world started in the United States in 2000.

March is the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Yet, only very few Filipinos are aware of this, much more of the campaign for CRC screening. “This fight against the world’s second deadliest cancer is an uphill battle in the Philippines,” Dr. Ruiz deplores.

“The lack of national population-based CRC screening program and the big financial burden of CRC screening on the patient are barriers to this campaign,” he laments.

“In addition, several local health maintenance organizations still refuse to pay for CRC’s screening strategies. There is also an apparent lack of awareness among the primary health providers of the screening guidelines for colorectal cancer screening.”

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely challenged the provision of routine health care, including CRC screening. It’s happening not only in the Philippines but in most parts of

In the Philippines, colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer, according to Dr. Jun R. Ruiz, a gastroenterologist at The Medical City. “Despite it being one of the most treatable and preventable cancers,” he points out.

Colon cancer is always associated with rectal cancer; thus medical science calls it colorectal cancer (CRC). Among gastrointestinal cancers, CRC is now the number one; it has already overtaken liver cancer.

Data from the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) showed over 3,000 new cases annually. Of this figure, over 2,000 die. That’s only based on reported cases, pointed out PSG’s Dr. Frederick Dy. “Among cancers, colon cancer stands out as a disease that can be largely prevented, but few people believe it will happen to them,” says Dr. Ruiz, who is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology and of the Philippine College of Physicians in Internal Medicine.

Recent studies show CRC is preventable and treatable. “If it is early stage and localized within the colon, the cure is 100 percent,” says Dr. Ruiz. “If it had spread to lymph nodes or distant organs, the 5-year survival rate is much lower.”

Preventive and treatment measures can only be initiated if dis-

the world as well.

“These screening programs throughout the world ceased operating primarily due to fear of SARS-CoV2 transmission and from decreasing health care resources,” Dr. Ruiz assumes. “There is a real risk of spreading and being infected during an endoscopy examination, due to the potential aerosol-producing nature of these procedures.”

As a result of the interruption of CRC screening and surveillance procedures, diagnosis of CRC, possibly in a more advanced stage, is delayed. “Published articles have shown that delaying colonoscopy by 9 months after a positive Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) can lead to increased risk of CRC and advanced stage CRC,” Dr. Ruiz says.

Until now, no one knows what causes CRC. “But there are certain risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of getting and dying from this type of cancer,” says the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS). “Some risk factors for CRC cannot be controlled, such as having a family history of this cancer type, age and ethnicity.

“A person with a history of chronic in-

flammatory bowel disease also has a higher risk for developing CRC,” PCS says. “However, some lifestyle habits that increase the risk may be managed such as avoiding a diet high in animal fat and low in fiber, couch potato lifestyle with no exercise, drinking alcohol, obesity and smoking.”

According to the Johns Hopkins Colon Cancer Center in Baltimore, Maryland, there are symptoms that could indicate colon cancer. If you’re over 50, don’t wait for these symptoms to develop before you get a screening test: Change in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days; feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so; rectal bleeding or blood in the stool; cramping or steady abdominal (stomach area) pain; decreased appetite; weakness and fatigue; and jaundice (yellow-green discoloration of the skin and white part of the eyes).

Other conditions such as infections, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel disease can also cause these symptoms. But

it is important to talk to the doctor since finding CRC early makes successful treatment more likely. It is also possible to have colon cancer and not have any symptoms. If the doctor suspects colon cancer, more tests will need to be done.

“Almost all of CRCs start as abnormal growths in the lining of the colon and rectum called polyps,” Dr. Ruiz says. “These polyps grow slowly and it may take around 10 years for some polyps to develop into cancer. However, not all polyps progress to cancer. The removal of these polyps reduces the risk of developing cancer.”

In the United States and most industrialized countries, CRC screening is recommended for average-risk people starting the age of 50. Screening at an earlier age, usually at 40, is advocated in first-degree relatives of patients with CRC, and in those with other additional risks.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for CRC screening as it can detect and remove pre-cancerous polyps. “The procedure involves a flexible fiber-optic scope with a camera that is inserted through the rectum and is carefully advanced to visualize the colon under mild anesthesia,” explains Dr. Ruiz.

In the Philippines, colonoscopy can cost between P15,000 to P30,000, depending on the hospital.

Some patients may not want to have an invasive test. A stool test called FIT is a good screening alternative and is not expensive (it costs less than P500). “(FIT) detects only human blood and is specific for bleeding in the colon,” Dr. Ruiz states. “The test is repeated every year if the initial test is negative. If the test is positive, a colonoscopy is needed to rule out the presence of cancer.”

As the lead advocate for CRC screening of the Augusto P. Sarmiento Cancer Institute of The Medical City, Dr. Ruiz recommends a screening colonoscopy in persons between 50 to 75 years of age who are healthy and in whom the complications are low.

“If the patient does not want to start with a colonoscopy, I suggest starting with FIT,” he says. “After a discussion with his physician, the patient can choose his preferred screening test.”

As stated earlier, colon cancer is treatable when discovered early. But if the cancer has already invaded other tissues, it may be too late.

Emmy-winning American comedian and actor Milton Berle was told he had a cancerous colon tumor in 2001 but he refused surgery; he died in Los Angeles, California the following year.

10

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APPROVAL... FROM2 vide a resilient and reliable transportation link between Metro Davao and Samal Island, reducing the transportation time and enhancing internal mobility and external linkage to support the economic and tourist growth potential of the local region. It will also increase the economic activities and improve the livelihoods of the local people who have long dreamed of having such a bridge.

The multi-million project will be financed thru China Eximbank Of-

ficial Development Assistance (ODA).

China and the Philippines signed the commercial contract of the China-financed approximately $400 million project on Jan. 14, 2021.

The project, which is one of the key G-to-G cooperation projects between China and the Philippines and a flagship project under the "Build, build, build" program, is expected to break ground in the first half of 2021 and will be implemented from 2021 to 2026. Maya Padillo

is over 15 times oversubscribed from the initial size of P30 billion. This will be used to partially fund the 2021 national budget.

LandBank is mandated to promote countryside development while

remaining financially viable. It implements the comprehensive agrarian reform program (CARP), provides assistance to small farmers and fisherfolk, and serves as an official depository of government funds.

group's call on government to allow private firms to import COVID-19 vaccines directly.

"Please allow the private sector to import vaccines without restrictions. Sabihin nila very clearly ano 'yung guidelines na dapat sundin ng private sector so they can in fact import vaccines directly. It can help mitigate itong lack of vaccines natin," he said.

(They should state very clearly what are the guidelines the private sector needs to follow so they can import vaccines directly. It can help mitigate our lack of vaccines.)

"We are in an emergency here. We should

not look at whether a company is producing beer, etc, people are dying. If you can import and follow the guidelines, go ahead because the country needs vaccines."

The country's economy last year registered a -9.5 percent growth, its first contraction since 1998's 0.5 percent decline due to the Asian financial crisis.

The economic downturn was also worse than the 7 percent contraction recorded in 1984, making it the steepest postwar slump in Philippine history, using available PSA data dating back to 1947.

"If Covid-19 is successfully listed as an occupational disease, workers would not be asking for alms through mere assistance, we will be getting employees compensation for work days missed while battling Covid and trying to get better," said Vilma Garcia, president of the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute Employees UnionFFW. Metro Manila and nearby provinces -- collectively tagged as NCR Plus -- will be under ECQ starting midnight March 29 until Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Before the announcement of the ECQ, the government banned the non-essential entry and exit into and out of the NCR Plus bubble during the same period. The

bubble covers Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) earlier said another two-week modified enhanced community quarantine -- one notch lower than the ECQ -- would bring about P2.1 billion daily losses, raise the number of hungry Filipinos by 58,000; and increase unemployed Filipinos by 128,500.

The latest quarantine measures were announced a year into the lockdowns in the Philippines, the world's longest lockdown.

On Sunday, the Philippines reported 9,475 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. This includes 105,568 active cases; 603,154 recoveries; and 13,170 deaths.

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Sara reconstitutes city’s housing board technical working group

D

avao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte beefed up the technical working group (TWG) of the Local Housing Board

to formulate the city’s local shelter plan.

Duterte signed Executive Order (E.O.) No. 15, known as “An Order Re-

bassy on their intent to submit their shortlist of the Design and Build Contractor. She said the Department of Transportation (DoTr) is now looking for other prospect bidders and financing sources.

Geonzon said target completion of ROW acquisition is December 2021.

She said Project Management Consultant for procurement is targeted to be awarded this month while the Design

and Build Procurement is targeted to be published this month also.

She added that the loan negotiation will start immediately after the procurement of the Design and Build.

The project was supposedly set to begin construction in January 2019. Its partial operability covers the 100.2-kilometer Tagum-Davao-Digos segment and its final operation is targeted to start in June 2023. Maya Padillo

Prior to the family event, the participants had to quarantine after one minor tested positive for Covid-19.

“They are all safe now, showing cooperation and

trusting their Philippine National Police handlers who have been with them all along the process of their quarantine and isolation,” Dica said. (PNA)

Region Branch 24, ruled against a petition to revoke the prohibition, saying the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato not only remained valid but was also deemed legal and consistent with the provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

Pamplona, a resident of Tampakan, is confident the “same thing” will befall the latest move of the municipal council urging the lifting of the openpit mining ban, stressing the strong anti-mining stance of the Diocese of Marbel and other environment groups in the country against the Tampakan project.

Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas spearheaded the revival last year of the Tampakan Forum to ignite a “systematic and sustained” opposition against the Tampakan Project.

This, after learning that the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) of SMI, which was canceled by the late Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, had been restored by the Office of the President.

Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), developer of the mammoth S5.9 billion Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato, has “reacquired” its environmental compliance certificate (ECC), one of the requirements

needed to proceed to the commercial production phase, a senior environment official said.

Omar Saikol, Environmental Management Bureau – Region 12 (EMB12) director, said the SMI “reacquired” its environmental compliance certificate (ECC) which the late Environment Secretary Gina Lopez canceled on February 14, 2017.

“The ECC of SMI was reinstated by the Office of the President on May 6, 2019,” Saikol, reading from a prepared document, told reporters on July 9, 2020.

The local Catholic church has been consistently opposing the Tampakan project since its discovery in the 1990s on concerns over the environment, food security and human rights of the affected Lumad (Indigenous Peoples) communities.

Last September, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) issued the certification precondition (CP) to SMI. CP is a certification that the affected IP community has given consent to the mining venture within their ancestral domain and that the FPIC process has been satisfactorily complied with by the company.

Bae Dalena Samling, chieftain of the Danlag

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constituting The Technical Working Group Of The Local Housing Board For The Formulation Of The Local Shelter Plan Of Davao City,” which was released on March 23.

E.O. 15 cited Davao City Ordinance No. 014-17, Series of 2007, otherwise known as “The Shelter Code of Davao City”, creating the Davao City Housing Board or Local Housing Board and its composition, and directing it to craft the Local Comprehensive Shelter Plan.

Section 22 of the Shelter Code of Davao City, which states that the formulation of the Comprehensive Shelter Plan (CSP) shall be done in coordination with the City Housing Office, was also cited.

However, with the inexistence of the City Housing Office, the Housing and Homesite Development Division under the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator currently undertakes the functions of the City Housing Office.

Duterte’s E.O. 15 also cited Section 17 of “The Shelter Code of Davao City”, which states that representatives of other agencies

Tribal Council in Tampakan, lauded the NCIP for granting SMI the CP for the Tampakan project, noting that the FPIC process had taken 10 years to complete.

“This mining project will change the lives of Indigenous Peoples for the better,” she said.

The CP and the ECC are crucial approvals – including the endorsements from LGUs covered by the project — needed by the mining company to start commercial production.

The Tampakan project, which straddles Tampakan in South Cotabato, Columbio in Sultan Kudarat and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur, has the potential of yielding per annum an average of 375,000 tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold in concentrate within the 17-year-life of the mine.

If developed, the Tampakan project “has the potential to make a significant contribution to the economic prosperity of the Philippines and enable a better future for the people of southern Mindanao,” SMI said on its website.

SMI has lately been recruiting employees with expertise on land acquisition, land settlement and resettlement, among others. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

and institutions can be invited as resource persons or as members of the Technical Working Group formed by the Housing Board in aid of policy, program development, and implementation, as well as Executive Order No. 25 Series of 2016 created the members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Local Housing Board (LHB).

“In order to effectively carry out its mandate, there is a need to reconstitute the members of the Technical Working Group of the Local Housing Board,” Duterte said in her order.

The LHB TWG, according to E.O. 15, shall be composed of the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator, City Engineer’s Office, City Assessor’s Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Budget Office, City Legal Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Committee on Housing, Rural and Urban Development, while representatives from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Housing Authority, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples may be invited or consulted to provide inputs to the Local Shelter Plan (LSP).

E.O. 15 directed TWG members to name two respective alternate permanent representatives who shall take their place in case of their absence.

The TWG is also ordered to gather available data and process information relevant to the preparation of the LSP; ensure policy coordination and uniformity in operational directions for shelter planning; ensure that LSP is in line with the national and local policies and standards; establish or maintain linkages and seek substantial inputs from government agencies, civity society organizations, and private sector in all stages of the local shelter planning and development; initiate community validation and consultation; and formulate the LSP for the approval of the LHB. (CIO)

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vestments for the modification of Vios and Mirage as long as they have not yet reached the budgeted fixed investment support for the enrolled car models, the trade executive added.(PNA)

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11

Free agent center Andre Drummond could fill the void in the absence of injured Anthony Davis and Lebron James.

Drummond to sign with Lakers F ree agent centre Andre Drummond “intends to sign” with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Sunday, citing Drummond’s agent.

According to the US sports broadcaster, the Lakers have worked hard to lure Drummond with star big man Anthony Davis still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury and superstar LeBron James

out indefinitely with a high right ankle sprain.

Drummond should also mesh well with the Lakers’ top duo when they return, providing protection at the rim as well as an explosive of-

of the eight-team tournament as the top team in Group B, will next face either Mexico or Canada in Tuesday’s final.

Group A winner Mexico and Canada are playing in Sunday’s second semi-final to determine the other team that represents North and Central America and the Caribbean at the July 23-Aug. 8

Tokyo Olympics.

As both semi-final winners qualify for the Olympics, the final qualification match is essentially an exhibition.

The eight-team tournament was originally scheduled to be held in March 2020 but was postponed because of COVID-19.

Honduras beats USA to qualify for Tokyo Olympics

H

onduras punched their ticket to the men’s soccer competition at this year’s Tokyo Games with a 2-1 semi-final victory over the United States at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sunday.

Los Catrachos, who finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics after falling to hosts Brazil in the semi-finals, went ahead on goals by American-born Honduran Juan Carlos Obregon and Luis Palma before the U.S. pulled one back in the 52nd minute.

Honduras, who have qualified for four consecutive Olympics, opened the scoring in the final seconds of first-half stoppage time when Obregon bundled the ball home after Denil Maldonado headed it across the face of the goal.

Disaster struck for the Americans in the 47th minute when goalkeeper David Ochoa got caught in possession and his pass was swiftly blocked

by Palma and bounced straight into the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

The United States, who have not qualified for the Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Games, got on the board when Jackson Yueill rifled in a shot from outside the area.

Honduras, who reached the semi-finals

Jackson Yueill of the U.S. and teammates form a defensive wall. Reuters

fensive presence that has seen him finish with more than 100 dunks in six of his eight NBA seasons.

Drummond, 27, averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in 25 starts this season with Cleveland but

hasn’t played a game since February 12 as the Cavs promoted Jarrett Allen.

He agreed to a buyout after the Cavaliers failed to trade him before last Thursday’s deadline.

Nuggets win in Gordon’s debut

J

aMychal Green scored a season-high 20 points, Nikola Jokic had 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Atlanta Hawks 126102 on Sunday night.

Jamal Murray added 17 points, Michael Porter Jr. had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Will Barton scored 12 for Denver.

Aaron Gordon got the start and finished with 13 points in his Nuggets debut. Gordon was acquired from Orlando on Thursday along with Gary Clark for Gary Harris and R.J. Hampton.

Trae Young had 21 points, seven assists and seven turnovers, Danilo Gallinari scored 14 points, John Collins added 11 and Clint Capela finished with 10 for Atlanta, which lost for just the third time in its last 12 games.

The Hawks were 6-for-9 on 3-pointers in the first quarter to hold a four-point lead after 12 minutes. They were up 49-45 midway through the second before Denver made a run to close the

half.

Gordon and Jokic each hit two buckets, Porter made another and then fed Gordon for a 3-pointer during a 13-0 run, and the Nuggets took a 65-55 lead into intermission.

They kept up the surge at the start of the second half. The teams traded baskets to start, Porter was fouled on a corner 3-pointer and made the free throw and Murray scored the next six points to put Denver ahead by 20.

Young hit two long 3-pointers, fed Capela for a dunk and then scored on a layup during a 10-3 run that got Atlanta within 80-67. The Nuggets responded, going ahead 89-71, and after the Hawks got within 14 Denver closed the third with an 8-4 run to lead by 18 heading into the fourth.

The Nuggets continued to build on the lead at the start of the final period. Green made three free throws and hit his third 3-pointer of the night to make it 105-80 with nine minutes left.

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PSC suspends national team ‘bubble’ training

National athletes in training.

T

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has put on hold the national team training in the “NCR Plus” bubble after it was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal have been placed under ECQ from March 29 to April 4 due to rising COVID-19 cases.

Consequently, all indoor and outdoor training of national team members within the affected areas are suspended during that period, the PSC announced on Sunday.

The agency encouraged all national sports associations (NSAs) to "practice online individual training." It also emphasized that "no group activities shall be conducted."

"All national training pool members must ensure proper compliance with relevant precautionary measures of the Department of Health and IATF-issued health and safety protocol at all times," the PSC also said.

National team members who have qualified or are looking to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics were given clearance to train earlier this year.

In January, the taekwondo, karate, and boxing national teams entered the Inspire Sports Facility in Calamba, Laguna for a training camp. The boxing team has since gone to Thailand, while the karate

team is in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team pool is also at the Inspire facility, where they are training for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in June.

Meanwhile, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) also announced that professional sports training will be limited to individual activities indoors from March 29 to April 4.

Professional sports competitions and group training in areas under ECQ are also prohibited.

Several pro teams -- including squads from the PBA and the Premier Volleyball League -- have received clearance to hold small group training sessions in preparation for their upcoming seasons. With the current restrictions, however, those practices are now suspended.

As of Sunday, March 28, the Philippines has a total of 105,568 active cases of COVID-19. There were 9,475 new cases on Sunday, the third consecutive day that the country logged more than 9,000 new cases.