Edge Davao Issue 14 No. 21| Friday, April 9, 2021

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Acting Mayor Baste orders mandatory swabbing of persons in close contact with Covid-19 positive patients STORY ON PAGE 2

President Rodrigo Duterte registers an overall approval rating of 65 percent and 55 percent trust rating, according to an independent non-commissioned survey conducted from March 20 to 29, 2021. Malacañang said this would certainly motivate and inspire the President. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 21 • FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021

MAKING SURE

Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go shares a photo of him and President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang. Duterte’s scheduled talk to the nation on Monday was moved to Wednesday night but he was forced to reschedule anew his address to the nation after many members of the Presidential Security Group tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Bong Go)

Acting Mayor Baste orders mandatory swabbing of persons in close contact with Covid-19 positive patients

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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cting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has ordered the mandatory swabbing of persons in close contact with confirmed Covid-19 positive The mandatory swabbing will last until December 31, 2021.

Through Executive Order No. 2 signed on April 6, 2021, the acting mayor states that there is a need to expand the testing of contacts beyond the F1 category as an attempt to control the transmission of the virus.

Section 1 of the EO mandates all F1, F2 and F3 contacts of an RT- PCR confirmed positive case to undergo swab testing and the date of swabbing shall be determined by the contact tracing team or the District Health Office.

Those who fail to follow the provisions of the said

EO will be pursued and penalized.

In a statement shared by the City Information Office (CIO), the acting mayor sees the need to recalibrate strategies to prevent and control Covid-19 transmission in Davao City amid the surge of cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other areas of the country, and also the emergence of new Covid-19 variants.

The vice mayor is designated as acting mayor from April 6 to 10 as Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio filed a leave for health reasons.

Meanwhile, a surveillance testing at targeted areas in the city is ongoing.

“Sa pagkakaron, we will

test as much as we can. Mao na siya ang atoang direction. The challenge karon is paunsa nato ma convince ang mga tao nga magpatesting bisan wala pa man sila gibati nga symptoms.

Since kaniadto, bisan karon, duna gihapoy resistance ang mga tao nga mag patesting,” Mayor Sara said.

She also said that increase testing and faster contact tracing remain a priority to control the spread of Covid-19 in Davao City amid surging of cases particularly at NCR. The city has stepped up its surveillance testing in areas that are monitored and reported with high exposure and cases of Covid-19.

According to the mayor, this is one of the measures to prevent the clustering of cases and the potential mega surge of Covid-19 cas-

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PRRD ‘safe, in good health’: PSG chief

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resident Rodrigo Duterte remains “safe” and “in good health” even after many of his security aides have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III said.

“At the least, our PSG personnel who got infected are not directly or closely detailed with the President and are all asymptomatic without experiencing any adverse symptom. Hence, rest assured that the President is safe and in good health,” Durante said in a press statement.

He gave the assurance after over 100 PSG personnel have contracted Covid-19.

Durante, in an interview with state-run PTV-

4, said a total of 126 PSG members have been infected with Covid-19.

To date, there are 45 active Covid-19 cases in the PSG, he added.

Durante said most of the infected security personnel are those manning the gates within the Malacañang compound and exposed daily to the people.

He said the PSG personnel’s exposure to Covid-19 is “inevitable” because they “protect our VIPs [and] guard the PSG compound, the residence and the whole Malacañang Complex 24/7.”

“As the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise in our country, the Presidential Security Group is not spared from the virus as our personnel continue to perform our mandate during presiden-

tial engagements and routine security operations,” he said.

Durante said the PSG would only recommend the resumption of Duterte’s activities, once Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila subside.

“We will not take the risk,” he said. “We will minimize all possible exposure that might jeopardize our President’s safety.”

Durante said PSG’s established protocols will continue to be enforced to make sure that Duterte is “kept safe and secured from all forms of threats at all times.”

He said the PSG Task Force Covid-19 and its medical staff continue to manage the situation by ensuring that Duterte’s security aides who tested positive for Covid-19 fol-

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

The iconic Bongao Peak remains a beauty in Tawi-tawi on Monday, 6 April 2021. The province is the domain of the Sama people. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ

Davao records downtrend, high Covid-19 recovery rate B

BJMP 11 jail facilities in Davao COVID-free

By MAYA M. PADILLO he city government of Davao reported a downtrend of Covid-19 cases and high recovery rates despite fears of possible mega surge.

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Davao City Health Office Chief Dr. Ashley Lopez said based on the report of the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11), as of April 6, 2021, there are 15 new cases reported for Davao City making a total of 297 active cases out of the 13,849 total Covid-19 cases reported since the start

of the pandemic in March 2020.

Lopez said the downtrend of cases can be attributed to high recovery rate in Davao City at 12,873 total recoveries with 22 new recoveries that accounted for about 93 percent of the total cases.

“Everyday our recov-

ery rate is increasing and I hope it will be sustained.

Naga-slow down pud atong deaths right now at 4.9 percent with 679 total deaths out of the 13, 849 total cases. Unta dili ta makaabot ug 5 percent,” he said.

Lopez said all strategies are being applied by the Davao Covid-19 Task Force to control and lower down the cases in the city.

“Wala ta nag-pabaya. We have the Covid Task Force nga naga-monitor ug gabuhat ug plano. Almost every

week ga-miting mi to address the issues, concerns, and problems. We meet on a weekly basis ug ginatutukan nato,” he said.

Lopez also said that despite the downtrend of cases, the Covid Task Force continuously working hard to control the possible mega surge in Davao City.

“Dili gyud nato gusto na mahitabo sa atoa sa nahitabo karon sa NCR and Visayas, although, dako kaayo ang posibilidad. If

atic para ma-test. Nangadto pud sila sa matao na mga lugar like public markets ug ilang gi-assess kung naa ba symptomatics sa maong lugar,” said Dr. Raquel Montejo, operations chief of Covid-19 Vaccination Program.

On April 3, 2021, the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has classified Davao City as ‘low risk’ LGU

based on two indicators: low 2-Week Growth Rate (2WGR) and the Average Daily Attack Rate (ADAR).

The “low risk” classification as shown on the Community Quarantine Decision Matrix is slightly higher compared to the previous week’s “minimal risk” classification.

“Dapat i-strengthen gyud ang surveillance system nato and maximize testing capacity and the contact

tracing. Diri sa Davao City again as an example naa gyud sila up to level 3 dili lang sa second generation giapil na pud ang third generation,” Montejo said.

It can be recalled that Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio emphasized increase testing and faster contact tracing remain a priority to control the spread of the coronavirus disease in Davao City amid surging Covid-19 cas-

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DOH 11 lauds city’s surveillance efforts

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n official of the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11) lauded Davao City’s surveillance efforts and for being classified as “low-risk” local government unit (LGU).

“Sa Davao City naa sila’y maayong istratehiya na gihimo in terms of surveillance.

Ilahang gi-capacitate every district ug ang ilahang local epidemiology surveillance unit nangita ug symptom-

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ureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 11 announced Wednesday that all of its 11 jail facilities across Davao Region are now COVID-19 free.

Captain Edo Lobenia, spokesperson for the BJMP 11, said the bureau has tightened security protocols in all jails to protect the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) and BJMP personnel against the virus.

“The management of COVID -19 cases inside the jail facilities can also be considered a success.

As of now, all jails are COVID-19-free and are continuously monitored by our Health Service Division, headed by our Regional Physician, Jail Senior Inspector Daniel David,” Lobenia said.

He said each facility has jail nurses to cater to the medical needs of PDLs. “Since last month BJMP facilities in the region are all free from COVID,” he added.

According to him, one measure of the bureau to ensure a COVID- free facility is the implementation of ‘e-dalaw (electronic visit) in lieu of physical

visits to PDLs due to the pandemic.

Since last March 2020, visits at the jail have been suspended amid concerns over the spread of the virus.

“Jails were locked down, and many activities were prohibited,” he said.

Apart from this measure, visitation privileges were also cancelled and jail officers were forbidden to go in and out of their respective units for almost a month during their tour of duty, Lobenia added.

“Everyone has been troubled by this pandemic. However, raising the white flag is not an option.

With a bit of sacrifice and cooperation, this problem will come to an end,” Lobenia pointed out.

As of todate, the total jail population of the entire region has reached 4,720, way above the total ideal capacity of 1,617.

Currently, congestion rates of each facility are as follows Digos City District Jail-Mail Dormitory (MD) 481 percent, Digos City District Jail-Female Dormitory (FD) 74%, Davao City Jail-MD 252%, Davao City Jail-Annex 495%,

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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A market goer buys special cuts of dressed chicken at Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao

BIR accommodates taxpayers as ITR deadline approaches A

SRP on imported pork, chicken effective Apr. 9

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he Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Office (RDO) 112 has made adjustments to accommodate taxpayers in filing their income tax return as the deadline on April 15, 2021 approaches.

During the Pakigsayod on April 7, 2021, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Officer, Mary Ann B. Cervantes, revealed the adjustments made in the RDO 112 office at Tagum Capitol which intends to bring comfort to taxpayers transacting at the office.

She said that in the RDO 112 office, with the help of

Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib, there is now a well-ventilated extension in the taxpayer’s lounge allowing capacity of more than 200 people with social distancing. With this, people no longer have to wait outside in the heat when doing transactions.

In addition, BIR RDO 112 Compliance Section

Chief, Jenneffir Anne Macalinao, announced that the office is open on Mondays to Saturdays for taxpayers to pay for their income tax return until the deadline of April 15, 2021.

“Isa pa kung dili sila maka adto diha sa atong office, pwede pud sa atong mga authorized agent bank. Dili man sila mag abre ug sabado pero extended ang ilang banking hours to 5:00pm (As well, if they can’t come to our office, they can also go to our authorized agent banks. They may not be open on Saturdays but their banking hours are extended to 5:00pm),” she added.

These banks are the Landbank of the Philippines in the Tagum highway and capitol branches, as well as the Nabunturan, Panabo, and Samal branches. Also, the Philippine National Bank in Tagum and Panabo branches; Chinabank in Panabo; RCBC; DBP; Metrobank; and PBCOM. Furthermore, people who prefer to file online can do so through the E-BIR forms package that they can download from the www. bir.gov.ph and install in their computer where they can proceed their filing.

Macalinao added that

the value of a country’s imports exceeded export receipts, while a surplus indicates more export shipments than imports.

The trade in goods gap resulted from the -2.3% drop in exports and 2.7% growth in imports.

Broken down, the Philippines’ exports amounted to $5.3 billion, lower than the $5.43 billion recorded in the same period last year as three of the country’s major commodity groups recorded annual decreases led by cathodes and sections of cathodes, of refined copper at

- 24.8%, followed by machinery and transport equipment at -4.1%, and other manufactured goods at -2.2%.

The year-to-date export earnings from January to February amounted to $10.83 billion, lower by -3.6% than the export value earned in the same period last year.

By major trading partner, exports to the United States of America comprised the highest export value amounting to $895.74 million or a share of 16.9% to the total exports during the month.

Completing the top five major export trading partners with their export values and percent shares to the total exports were: Japan, $880.59 million (16.6%) Hong Kong, $659.22 million (12.4%) People’s Republic of China, $639.42 million (12.0%) Thailand, $260.24 million (4.9%) Sought for comment, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said, “Faster economic recovery in some

s the price ceiling on pork and chicken will end Thursday, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar said a suggested retail price (SRP) on imported pork will take effect on April 9.

In a virtual press briefing Wednesday, Dar said this measure is part of the government’s effort to stabilize food prices.

“The price cap ends tomorrow, that’s under EO (executive order) 124. So April 8 will be the last day for the price cap -- the existing one, and there will be no extension. But we have decided with consultations again with various stake-

holders, with DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), and others that we will impose a suggested retail price for imported pork,” he said.

Starting Friday (April 9), imported pork kasim shall have an SRP of PHP270 per kilogram and PHP350 per kilogram for imported pork liempo.

Dar added that importers should comply with hygienic handling as well as proper packaging and labeling of imported pork products.

The DA chief said imported pork will be distributed also in wet markets in

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DOF chief calls for meeting of board under CREATE law PH trade deficit widened by 16.5% to $2.29B in Feb.: PSA review inance Secretary Car- on April 11, or 15 days after

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he Philippines’ balance of trade in goods posted a wider deficit in February on the back of a steep contraction in exports and strong recovery in imports during the period, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed Thursday.

The country’s balance of trade in goods, the difference between the value of exports and imports, stood at a deficit of $2.29 billion, 16.5% wider than the $1.968-billion trade shortfall in February 2020.

A deficit indicates that

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los Dominguez III wants the newly reconstituted Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) to meet at the earliest possible time to discuss the body’s expanded functions under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act once this law takes effect this month.

CREATE was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte as Republic Act (RA) No. 11534 on March 26, and published in a national newspaper on March 27, which makes it effective

publication in the official gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

RA 11534 will actually take effect on April 12 because the 11th falls on a Sunday.

The law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) is being finalized by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Tax Research Center (NTRC).

“I want to call a meeting right away,” Dominguez told Assistant Secretary Juvy Danofrata during a recent DOF executive committee

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EDGEDAVAO

Container vans are being unloaded from cargo vessels are docked at Sasa Port in Brgy. Sasa, Davao City. The Philippines’ balance of trade in goods posted a wider deficit in February on the back of a steep contraction in

ECONOMY 5

exports and strong recovery in imports during the period, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Edge Davao

PRRD reduces import P duty for pork products

Vegetable prices drop 50%, goods stable

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ith 70 percent of its customers in its latest UK stores now being locals, homegrown restaurant brand Jollibee is further expanding its reach to local European customers by growing to 50 stores in that continent in the next five years.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday issued an executive order (EO) temporarily modifying the rates of import duty on pork products to address the impact of the African swine fever (ASF) on the country’s hog

industry.

Under EO 128, Duterte stressed the need to take immediate steps to allow the domestic swine industry to “fully recover and attain sufficient local pork production.”

Hence, Duterte approved the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) proposed temporary reduction of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rates on fresh, chilled, or frozen pork products.

“There is an urgent need to temporarily reduce the Most Favored Nation tariff rates on fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine to address the existing pork supply shortage, stabilize prices of pork meat, and minimize inflation rates,” the EO read.

EO 128 reduces tariff

rates for both in-quota and out-quota imports of pork to boost pork supply in the country and tame prices of pork products.

Duterte’s latest EO reduces the MFN tariff rate on pork imports within the minimum access volume (MAV) to 5 percent for the first three months upon the effectivity of the order and to 10 percent for the fourth to 12th month from the current rate of 30 percent.

On the other hand, pork imports outside MAV will be

night (Philippine time) from 6.6 percent in the WEO issued last January.

But IMF Resident Representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang said the lender kept its 6.5-percent gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the country for 2022.

In a reply to emailed questions from the Philippine News Agency, Yang attributed the hike of IMF’s growth forecast for the country this year to the “stronger-than-expected growth in the fourth quar-

ter.”

“This good momentum signals a stronger recovery this year,” he said.

The domestic economy posted an 8.3-percent GDP contraction in the last quarter of last year, an improvement from the previous quarter’s -11.4 percent.

Full-year print reached -9.5 percent.

Yang said higher fiscal stimulus under this year’s national budget “should also help boost economic activity”, citing the additional fund from unused Bayani-

han 2 funds that will be disbursed this year.

However, he said the latest growth forecast for the country “is subject to substantial uncertainty” given the risks from Covid-19 infections “as tightening quarantine measures could dampen economic activity.”

Other downside risks to the growth outlook include slower-than-expected vaccinations, geopolitical and trade tensions, and potential volatility in global financial markets, he said.

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rices of vegetables have dropped significantly while prices of non-agricultural products remain stable, chiefs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

“Our (vegetable) prices are significantly lower at an average of 50 percent, much lower compared to February,” DA Secretary William Dar said in an online press briefing Wednesday.

Dar said since it is already in season, the supply of vegetables is abundant and prices are low.

For non-agricultural products, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said there have

been no price increases for basic necessities and commodities since September 2019.

“But notably, we are studying some requests given the increasing cost in the world market of their cost items,” Lopez said in the same briefing.

Both officials vowed to monitor the movement of prices and supply of food products in the domestic market to ensure that Filipinos would not be burdened with higher food prices while struggling amid the pandemic.

Inflation in March this year eased to 4.5 percent from the 26-month high of 4.7 percent in February.

Macro support to reduce scarring effects of pandemic: IMF official PH lowers 2020 economic

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n International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive has underscored the importance of strengthening coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) containment measures in the Philippines and ensuring macroeconomic support to address the pandemic’s impact on the economy.

This, after the multilateral lender hiked its 2021 growth projection for the country to 6.9 percent based on the updated World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update released Tuesday

growth rate to -9.6%: PSA

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he Philippine economy contracted by 9.6 percent instead of 9.5 percent in 2020, according to the revised estimates released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Thursday.

Fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2020 was kept at -8.3 percent, the PSA said in a statement.

"Revisions on the estimates are based on the updated data submissions/releases by the data source agencies," the PSA said in a statement.

Revisions are also based on policies consistent with international standard practices on national accounts revisions, it said.

The -9.6 percent contraction is the country's worst economic data since the end of World War 2.

Economic activities including business operations, jobs and earnings as well as personal consumption were hindered by the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 21 • FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021

On Davao City’s surveillance efforts and for being classified as “low-risk” local government unit (LGU): Sa Davao City naa sila’y maayong istratehiya na gihimo in terms of surveillance. Ilahang gi-capacitate every district ug ang ilahang local epidemiology surveillance unit nangita ug symptomatic para matest. Nangadto pud sila sa matao na mga lugar like public markets ug ilang gi-assess kung naa ba symptomatics sa maong lugar.”

Dr. Raquel Montejo

Operations chief, Covid-19 Vaccination Program

EDITORIAL

Fairness to the essential

Davao City councilors last Tuesday approved a resolution asking the city government to review the city’s tax code and possibly ease the burden of food delivery service riders in terms of fees and taxes imposed on these lowly workers by the city and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The resolution which was sponsored by First District Councilor Pamela L. Morada wanted the review in order to be fair to the riders whose service has become popular among citizens who need to order food and other essentials without leaving their homes because of the lockdowns amid the pandemic.

The resolution pointed out that requiring food delivery riders to pay garbage fee for instance may be unfair because unlike companies, business establishments, malls and others, these riders do not accumulate trash that need to be collected by the city’s garbage trucks and thrown to a garbage dumpsite. They are likewise made to pay fees to the Bureau of Fire Protection just like business establishments.

The riders actually suffer a double whammy in that they

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

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

CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL GRACE M. BORDIOS Layout/Cartoons

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

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JASPERSOLANI V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising SpecialistGeneral Manager Finance JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

are not considered employees by delivery service firms like Grab and other mobile apps operators. They are treated as mere business partners, freelancers and /or independent contractors, instead of employees and therefore do not have fixed wages and social protection.

The position of the app operators who enjoy the benefits of a sunshine industry is clearly stated in a letter to the Davao City Council by Grab Philippines-Mindanao Operations Manager John Paul Manapat pleading that the riders be exempted from business or occupational permit.

On the other hand, if the mobile apps operators were to be required to apply for an occupational permit for their riders, this arrangement should not mean recognizing the rider as employees, Manapat said.

Amid the pandemic and the socalled new normal, there is a general agreement that food delivery drivers are essential.

The more reason authorities should find a way to be fair and just to them.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

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VANTAGE POINTS

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EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

GMA REGIONAL TV’S ‘KAPUSO BARANGAYAN ON WHEELS’ CONTINUES TO TOUCH FILIPINO LIVES GMA Regional TV remains committed to providing unparalleled community service to Filipinos in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao via its Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels, which to date, has benefitted 11,850 families.

The Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels was launched in May 2020 as a mobile version of GMA RTV’s Kapuso Barangayan, which was originally a community activity held in different barangays across the regions. With the community quarantine, GMA RTV introduced ‘Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels’ to reach more communities and directly provide residents the assistance they urgently need. The areas covered include North Central Luzon, South Luzon, Central and Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Southern Mindanao.

“It has been almost a year since we transformed our Kapuso Barangayan into a mobile activity to benefit our fellow Filipinos during this pandemic,” said GMA Regional TV and Synergy First Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso. “No one has been spared and many families are still struggling to cope—most especially our Kapuso in the regions who have lost their sources of income during the pandemic.

Nananatiling kasama po ninyo ang GMA Regional TV. We thank our partners in the local government and private sectors for joining us in this regional initiative. We are now on our fourth leg and we will continue

51-year old beneficiary Merlita Lausa of Brgy. Kinawitnon, Samal Island, receives food packs from GMA Regional TV. to work hand in hand with the government and private sectors as we face these difficult times because of the COVID pandemic,” he added.

Just recently, the Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels won an Excellence Award in Communication Management under the Corporate Social Responsibility Division 1 category at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards.

The Philippine Quill is considered one of the country’s most prestigious awards programs in the field of business communications. It also received a Special Citation merit at the 42nd Catholic Mass Media Awards in the Best TV Ad-Public Service category.

GMA RTV has already rolled out three legs of the said re-

gional initiative. The first wave was held from May to August in 2020 with a total of 2,610 family beneficiaries. This was followed by the second Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels which saw 4,200 families gaining assistance from August to December. From December 2020 to March 2021, a total of 5,040 families were served by Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels. The fourth leg is set to be conducted this April.

In North Central Luzon, 2,120 families benefited from the Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels during the first three legs that were rolled out. One of the recipients is Sonia Delfin, a sidewalk buko vendor who was affected by community quarantine caused by the COVID-19

Pandemic. She is grateful that GMA RTV reached her barangay.

Meanwhile, during its first Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels in the Bicol region, GMA RTV has already reached 840 families. In Barangay Pipian in San Fernando, Camarines Sur, the team met 26-year-old Cyril Flores. The wife of a farmer and mother of three kids said that the Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels was very timely for they are having a hard time trying to make ends meet during this pandemic.

In Central Eastern Visayas, a total of 2,450 families were assisted. One of them is 65-year-old Juanito Perez of Brgy. Inayawan in Cebu City.

Perez has been providing for his family as a waste picker at the Inayawan dumpsite. Another recipient is Gloria Jumalon of Brgy. Ibo in Lapu-Lapu City.

The 72-year-old woman lives in a small house while taking care of her 22-year-old grandchild with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

On the other hand, GMA RTV was able to assist 2,620 families in Western Visayas during the three legs of Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels.

Here the team met 28-year-old Ronald Hollera and 65-yearold Nelly Piagola. Hollera, who hails from Brgy. Trapiche in Oton, Iloilo, has been paralyzed after being hit by a motorcycle last 2015. Nanay Nelly, on the other hand, is from Brgy. Bitoon in Jaro, Iloilo City. She is taking care of her 16-year-old granddaughter who was diag-

nosed with bone cancer.

In Northern Mindanao, a total of 1,680 families were the recipients of food packs and grocery items. One of them is the family of 49-year-old Castor Aranjuez of Barangay Canitoan, Cagayan De Oro City. Aranjuez, despite being an amputee, continues to practice his craft of welding metal to produce plant stands, dog cages, and the likes—his way to make ends meet and sustain his family.

In Southern Mindanao, GMA RTV was able to serve 2,140 families, including Merlita Lausa of Brgy. Kinawitnon, Island Garden City of Samal.

The 51-year-old widow has been supporting her five children by offering laundry and mowing services.

On top of distributing essential items to thousands of families across the country, GMA RTV led various brief and relevant lectures on proper health and safety protocols. To further instill hope in the hearts of the beneficiaries, each pack of Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels items included notes with messages of encouragement from the anchors and hosts of GMA RTV’s newscasts and morning programs. https://webmail.gmanetwork.com/OWA/14.3.513.0/ themes/resources/clear1x1.gif Get updates about Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels and other GMA RTV shows and projects by visiting www.gmaregionaltv.com. Follow GMA Regional TV on www.facebook. com/GMARegionalTV and on Twitter and Instagram via @ GMARegionalTV.

BDO WINS PHILIPPINE QUILL AWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY COMMUNICATIONS BDO Unibank’s efforts to keep its clients and the general public informed have been recognized with six Excellence and Merit awards at the recently held “Arise: The 18th Philippine Quill Awards”, which “honor exemplary communication research, programs, skills, and creative work.”

The Quill Awards was organized by the Philippine office of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), a global membership association whose members rep-

resent various communications discipline including public relations, media relations, corporate communications, public affairs, government relations, community relations, to name a few.

BDO received an Excellence Award in the Social Media Programs category for engaging with TikTokers, an emerging set of online influencers, to start conversations about its BDO Remit videos on the social media platform as well as help bring joy to overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries at home.

The BDO Remit videos starring endorser Piolo Pascual were launched last year. To bring them

closer to customers, the bank partnered with Star Magic’s Rise Artists Studio to have Piolo guest

on its “We Rise Together” online show, and get support from its online influencer network. This strategy gave BDO an Excellence Award in the Media Relations category.

Meanwhile, the bank’s “Kabayan, Kasangga, Kasama” campaign, which created awareness for its BDO Remit videos bagged a Merit Award in the Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication category. The campaign culminated in one of the first virtual presscons in the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 21 • FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Datu Erick Perez, representing the indigenous cultural communities of Tagum, signs the memorandum of agreement formalizing the royalty fees to be paid by quarry operators in Hijo River. Louie Lapat/CHCO

Tagum tribes along Hijo River to get royalty fees from quarry operators

M

ACO, DAVAO DE ORO (APRIL 6, 2021) — The indigenous cultural communities of Tagum living along the banks of the Hijo River will be receiving royalty fees from quarry operators as a tripartite agreement governing this latest development was inked.

This agreement, strongly supported by the City Government of Tagum, facilitates the royalty payment to the Indigenous Cultural

Communities through a recognized organization for a period of 25 years, and is considered to be a landmark act that formally recognizes the rights of the indigenous cultural communities over their ancestral domain.

Under the agreement, a total of 17 legitimate entities with commercial sand and gravel permit agree to pay a fixed amount of 200 pesos per truckload and 50 pesos for a mini dump truck to

SSS reports P6.23 billion in disability benefits in Q4 2020

T

he Social Security System (SSS) recorded P6.23 billion in disbursements for disability benefits in 2020, lower by 12.6 percent from the previous year. The amount covers payouts to 118,755 beneficiaries.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio attributed the decrease due to the limited mobility of members and pensioners since March 2020, when the government implemented strict community quarantine throughout the country.

“We facilitated the use of the dropbox system to minimize face-to-face transactions to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our top priority is the health and safety of our transacting members and our employees,” Ignacio said.

“We have pushed for the digitalization of all our services amid the pandemic. However, we are already working on disability and death benefits to be included in the pipeline soon for the safety and convenience of our members,” Ignacio added.

There are now around 25 online services available at the My.SSS portal. In addition to online applications for Calamity Loan, Pension

Loan, Retirement Benefit (subject to qualifying conditions for online filing), Unemployment Benefit, and Funeral Claim, members may also submit their requests for Member Data Change for simple corrections, while employers can submit Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Applications of their employees.

Members and employers can also get a Real-Time Processing of Loans Payment Reference Number (RTPL-PRN), which will be mandatorily implemented on May 1, 2021; Benefit Re-disbursement Module, and improved Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM).

Moreover, the SSS enhanced its online SS Number Application facility and provided members with access to the Remittance Transfer Company/Cash Payout Outlet (RTC/CPO) Reference Number Inquiry.

They can also access other virtual services, including viewing contribution and loan records; and inquiring on the status of their benefit claims and eligibility for benefit programs, among others. In addition to the My.SSS portal, this information may also be accessed using the SSS

FSSS, P10

the organization composed of the tribal communities of both Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte that dwell along Hijo River who formed themselves as the Kagan-Tipanud Institutionalization Program Operation and Networking (KATIPON).

In the case of Tagum, the indigenous cultural communities of Madaum, Magugpo East, Apokon, Magdum and Pandapan also formed themselves into an association,

which will receive the 30% share of the monthly collection paid by the quarry operators to KATIPON. The 30% share will be utilized by the cultural communities to fund their association’s various programs focused on capacity, cultural, economic and social development programs and projects, respectively.

Davao de Oro tribes will get the lion’s share of the royalty fees since their ter-

Matanao Mayor Vincent F. Fernandez (2nd from right) and LANDBANK Davao del Sur Lending Center Department Manager Arnel M. Caalim (rightmost) lead the ceremonial signing for a P200-million financial re-

ritory was recognized by the state as an ancestral domain.

Despite this, the tribal leaders of Tagum expressed gratitude to their counterparts in Davao de Oro for integrating them in this landmark development by making them as co-managers of the Hijo River.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the Tagum tribes was Datu Erick Perez of Barangay Apokon.

This major development

was a product of extensive years of lobbying by the leaders of the tribal communities in both Davao de Oro and Tagum City with the assistance coming from the local governments and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

The Hijo River has long ties with the history of both Tagum and Maco, with its riverbanks being the dwelling sites of tribal communities. (Louie Lapat/CHCO)

covery loan package, witnessed by Matanao Vice Mayor Alfredo O. Panerio (2nd from left) and LANDBANK Bansalan Branch Department Manager Raquel U. Dela Cerna.

Matanao inks P200-M LandBank loan for some recovery projects

M

ATANAO, Davao del Sur – Recovery efforts of this 2nd class municipality against the ongoing health crisis, as well as natural calamities such as frequent earthquakes that rock the region, will receive crucial financial support from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) as the Municipality of Matanao signed six (6) term loans totaling P200 million on March 15, 2021.

The Matanao local government unit (LGU) availed of the financial recovery package under the RISE

UP LGUs (Restoration and Invigoration Package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for LGUs) Lending Program, designed to provide the necessary funding requirements of provincial, city, and municipal LGUs to revive their local economy and recover from the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We continue to encourage our LGUs to utilize their borrowing capacity to bolster local healthcare services and economic recovery programs. The LANDBANK RISE UP LGUs

Lending Program provides for responsive and accessible financing for these requirements,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.

Part of the loan will be used by Matanao to bolster its healthcare services, which include maintenance of COVID-19 isolation and monitoring units, as well as temporary treatment facilities for residents suspected or have tested positive with the virus.

The loan will also replenish funds used by the LGU to procure food and

medical supplies that are distributed to the poorest and most affected members of the community who are mostly engaged in rice farming and banana cultivation.

Under Republic Act No. 11494 or the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act,” loans availed by LGUs during this time for such purposes will receive an interest subsidy until December 31, 2022 or until the total P1-billion subsidy fund under the Act is fully utilized.

For his part, Matanao

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AGRITRENDS

9

A second look at the country’s fish icon Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

B

angus (known in the science world as Chanos chanos) may be the country’s national fish but it’s unofficial.

There is no law that states it is, unlike those of sampaguita (flower), Philippine eagle (bird), and narra (tree).

But despite this fact, the sleek and silvery milkfish (as it is also called) is still the most favorite fish among Filipinos.

Bangus is the most preferred fish because of its mild, sweet flesh, and its melt-in-the-mouth belly fat.

The popularity of bangus can be gleaned in such recipes as bangus en tocho (fried bangus served with a sauce of any of the following: tahure, tokwa, or tausi), bulanglang na bangus (with eggplants, ampalaya, sitao, malunggay, onion, tomatoes, rice washing and bagoong), rellenong bangus (formerly a party dish; now available even in school cafeterias and malls), and bangus lumpia.

The popularity of bangus even extends to other countries. The Philippines has been exporting bangus to the United States, Middle East, England, Canada and Japan. It exports bangus in different forms such as smoked, dried, marinated, frozen and canned products.

“We export bangus to countries where there are a lot of Filipinos and overseas foreign workers,” said Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, former executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD).

For a very long time, the Philippine aquaculture industry was virtually synonymous with bangus culture as it was introduced into the country 400 to 600 years ago. “The backbone of Philippine aquaculture” is how bangus farming has been regarded by most fishery experts.

The Philippines is one of the top bangus producers in the world, along with Indonesia and Taiwan. Bangus can be raised anywhere in the country. It is farmed in brackishwater, freshwater and marine water.

Bangus is most closely related to carps and catfishes. It occurs in the Indian Ocean and across the Pacific Ocean, tending to school around coasts and islands with reefs. A warm water species, it prefers water temperatures between 20-33 degrees Centigrade.

Bangus is one of the most studied fish in the world. Scientists have found that they

spawn only in fully saline water.

Females spawn up to 7 million eggs, which hatch in about 24 hours. Spawning and fertilization take place at night. The frequency of spawning per year is still unknown.

Eggs and larvae are pelagic up to two to three weeks. In nature, the larvae seek out clear coastal and estuarine waters warmer than 23°C with 10-32 parts per thousand salinity and abundant phytoplankton. Incubating eggs and newly hatched larvae are transported to the shore by currents where they are gathered by people in brackish waters such as shallow sandy areas, mouths of rivers, and lagoons.

Older larvae migrate onshore and settle in coastal wetlands (mangroves, estuaries) during the juvenile stage, or occasionally enter freshwater lakes. Under natural conditions, larvae and fry migrate to tidal pools and settle in them for one month until they become juveniles, then migrate into lagoons, lakes and shallow waters until they reach adolescence before returning to the sea for further growth and sexual maturation.

Raising bangus can be done employing different production systems in freshwater and in brackishwater. “Depending on the available resources and level of management, the culture methods can vary from the traditional or extensive system, the modular or semi-intensive to the intensive system,” according to Milkfish: A Basic Domestic Need Commodity, a primer published by PCAMRD. The semi-intensive system is an improvement of the traditional system where fingerlings are stocked at a higher density.

With natural and artificial feeds, bangus fingerlings are stocked at densities of 6,000 to 12,000 per hectare.

With dependence on natural food in the traditional system, low stocking densities of 1,000 to 3,000 fingerlings per hectare are applied. In this method, the culture period is longer thus allowing only one or two croppings a year. The modular pond system, on the other hand, allows a continuous oper-

ation and makes possible four to six croppings per year.

To make fishponds and fish cages productive throughout the year, adequate supply of bangus fingerlings is necessary. “Historically, milkfish fry abound in the country, especially during the fry season,” the PCAMRD primer states. “During recent years, the number collected has been dwindling.”

Normally, bangus fry appears in different places and various seasonal peaks. Areas

The collected bangus fry are placed in well-ventilated containers, preferably wooden vats or big earthen jars filled with clean brackishwater. The containers are kept in cool areas. Overexposure to sunlight is avoided or the fry dies. Also, the fry are brought to the concessionaires’ buying stations without delay.

The lack of fry and fingerlings was cited as one of the many problems that beset bangus production in the country.

like Southern Leyte, Western Samar, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Occidental, Antique, and Iloilo have two peak seasons: March to July and October to November. Provinces like Cotabato and Zamboanga del Sur have fry available year-round.

Livelihood Options for Coastal Communities, published by the Silang-based International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, says peak gathering days occur during high tides after two or three days following a new moon or a full moon. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) or peak-spawning season of bangus starts in March to June and drops in August to September.

During the breeding season, the rising GSI value coincides with rising seawater temperature. Spawning regularly occurs among five- to seven-year-old female breeder (sabalo) in the wild. Fertility is about 300,000 to one million eggs per kilogram weight of sabalo.

Several bangus fry collection methods are practiced in the Philippines. This includes fry barriers or fences, seine nets and “bulldozer” nets.

To save the bangus industry from downfall, some have imported fingerlings from Taiwan and Indonesia; although others thought this option was not practical as the fry were very expensive.

Enter Finfish Hatcheries, Inc. (FHI), the first and largest commercial fry hatchery in the country. It sells bangus fry and fingerlings, among others. “We have been in the bangus fry production business since 1997,” points out Rene B. Bocaya, FHI’s assistant vice-president for sales.

Its hatchery is in barangay Lun Masla of Malapatan in Sarangani Province. Here, more than 10,000 breeders are maintained and managed to produce bangus eggs on a daily basis throughout the year. The eggs are collected, cleaned and hatched. The hatchlings are grown to the marketable sizes in 18-21 days in larval ponds.

During the growing period, they are fed with a mixture of planktons and commercial feeds.

The breeders are 50% males and 50% females. Sexing is a tedious work as male and

seven kilos of eggs in one year.

And one kilo consists of 750,000 eggs.

Bangus spawns in ponds in frenzy at night. The sabalo release the eggs while the males discharge the milt. Fertilization happens externally in the pond water. There is no need for hormone induction for mature breeders. The eggs are collected in nets in the early morning.

They are cleaned and placed in the larval ponds immediately.

The bangus eggs hatch in the ponds within 24 hours. The hatchlings feed on the yolk sac for about 2-3 days. They undergo morphological transformations. As first feeds, the larvae are supplied natural food in a mixture of zoo- and phytoplanktons. Commercial feeds are provided in the last quarter of the production.”

According to FHI, more

females have to be chosen carefully and tagged. Some breeders have already reached the age of 25 and yet they are still breeding in groups.

It takes 5 years for a bangus to mature sexually. FHI selects breeders for commercial production only when they are 8 years old. A sabalo can produce

Filipino farmers are now seeding their ponds and cages with bangus fry being sold by FHI, which has major dealers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It maintains sales offices in Makati, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Alabel, Sarangani, its head office. For further details, readers can visit its website: www.saranganifry.com.

10 EDGEDAVAO

MAKING... FROM2 es in the city.

“We try na unahan ang clustering of cases. Makita nato didto sa contact tracing kung asa nagtrabaho or unsa’y exposure sa isa ka-tao, didto ta naga-target og surveillance swabbing and test-

ing. Example, ang palengkes are known to be areas diin asa daghan usually ang naay exposure,” she said.

The city has conducted swab testing to the vendors of Agdao Public Market and Bankerohan Public Market.

low quarantine protocols.

“Likewise, all health and safety protocols are strictly enforced and implemented to all PSG personnel and their dependents. Despite the challenges posed by the virus, PSG continues to perform its mandate,” he said.

Duterte was supposed

to hold his weekly public address on Wednesday night but decided to move it to next week due to the spike in Covid-19 cases, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Duterte is currently at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

(PNA)

(Execom) meeting.

Danofrata, who heads the Strategic, Economics and Results Group (SERG) of the DOF, said the meeting of the FIRB can be held as early as the week of April 12 given the effectivity of the law.

Dominguez said the new menu of generous corporate tax incentives to be offered under CREATE will enable the government to attract the right kind of investors to do business in the country, particularly those offering quality jobs and technology

transfer, and introducing new industries that would allow the economy to flourish.

Dominguez chairs the reconstituted FIRB under the CREATE law with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez as co-chairman.

CREATE is the largest fiscal stimulus program for the private sector in the country’s history, providing an estimated PHP1 trillion worth of tax relief to enterprises over the next 10 years.

Davao City Jail-FD 57%, Panabo City District Jail 156%, Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) District Jail 459, Tagum City JailMD 110, Tagum City Jail-FD 613%, Montevista District Jail 18%, Lupon District Jail 106%, with a total congestion rate of 192%.

He said the congestion problem of their facilities is now being addressed with the continuous of jail build-

ings which are about to be completed in the next quarters.

Some new buildings are already utilized like those in IGACOS City Jail, Lupon District Jail, Tagum City Jail -MD, and in Davao City JailFD, he added.

Meanwhile, up to 145 jail officers in the region have already received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Mayor Vincent F. Fernandez said the LGU will strive to keep Matanao as one of the most competitive municipalities in the Davao Region.

“We are very thankful to LANDBANK for immediately responding to the urgent request of the LGU for assistance. Thank you for a decade of partnership.

We hope that through this financial package with concessional terms, we can recover faster, not only from the damages brought about by the recent quakes, but also from this pandemic," said Mayor Fernandez.

He added that one of the term loans will be used to reconstruct the Municipal Hall building—previously financed by the Bank in 2013—after it was severely damaged by earthquakes in 2019 and rendered unusable.

Another term loan will be used to acquire heavy equipment for the ongoing development of road net-

works and other infrastructure prospects within the Municipality that will pave the way for the enhanced mobility of people and goods.

Moreover, the loan package will also fund the construction of a public market building that will benefit small farmers and fishers, as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Interested LGUs may contact the nearest open LANDBANK Lending Center or Branch nationwide, or call LANDBANK’s customer service at (02) 8-405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 1-800-10-405-7000.

Updates are regularly posted on the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@ landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and in Viber Community (@LANDBANK), or in the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).

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you review the trend last year before nag-surge ang Davao nauna ang Manila then Cebu ug pagka-October nigawas ang mga kaso sa Davao. There is a trend on the manner of the infection pertaining in the islands of the Philippines that is why kung pangutan-on ang mga experts dili gyud imposible

na mahitabo sa Davao City labi na karon na niabot na sa Visayas. Dili imposible na magka-surge pud sa Mindanao particularly kanang daghan kaso reported ang Region 10 and Region 11, muabot gyud ang time na maka-experience na ug possible second or third surge,” he said.

es, especially in the National Capital Region.

Meanwhile, Acting Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste” Duterte issued Executive Order No. 20 Series Of 2021 expanding the testing of contacts beyond the F1 category as an attempt to control the transmission of the virus.

Section 1 of the EO mandates all F1, F2 and F3 contacts of an RT- PCR confirmed positive case to undergo swab testing and the date of swabbing shall be determined by the contact tracing team or the District Health Office.

Based on the LGU Risk Assessment Map as of April 3, Davao City has one ba-

rangay under Critical Risk, which is Brgy. Sirawan in Toril wherein two cases for the barangay reported last week increased to nine cases the past one to two weeks.

There were also four barangays classified as High Risk barangays namely Brgys. 7-A, 19-B, 20-B, and Tigatto, and 15 other barangays are classified as Moderate Risks: Brgy. 9-A, 16-B, 34-D, 35-D, 38-D, Bago Gallera, Bucana, Catalunan Grande, Catalunan Pequeño, Gov. Vicente Duterte (Agdao), Indangan, Langub, Lubogan (Toril), Manambulan (Tugbok) and Talomo Proper. Maya Padillo

Mobile App and Text-SSS. Members can also view their membership information, list of PRN payments, addresses of SSS branches; file for Salary Loans; submit Maternity Notifications (for self-employed, voluntary, and overseas Filipino worker members); generate PRNs for contributions; and update their contact information through the My.SSS Portal and SSS Mobile App. By using the My.SSS Portal, members can set an appointment with an SSS branch, send a request for SSS records, enroll in the Personal Equity and Savings Option (PESO) Fund or Flexi-fund, use a simulated retirement calculator, and view details of their Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Card or SSS ID, as well as change their account password. With the SSS Mobile App, they can also pay contributions using

PayMaya and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

For employers, they may also view employees’ contribution and loan records, the status of payments, and benefit reimbursement claims and update their contact information. Likewise, they may also update their contact information, facilitate submission of Employment Reports (R-1A), Loan Collection Lists (ML2), Contribution Collection Lists (R3), sickness notifications, maternity notifications, and generate PRN, as well as certify the loans or claims of their employees.

Announcements and other information are posted on the official SSS accounts on Facebook and YouTube at “Philippine Social Security System,” Instagram at “mysssph,” Twitter at “PHLSSS,” and SSS Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates.”

slapped with a lower tariff of 15 percent for the next three months and 20 percent for the succeeding nine months from the current 40 percent, based on EO 128.

EO 128, which is effective for a period of one year, takes effect immediately upon its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

“The government recognized the need to immediately address the current shortage in swine meat, and endeavors to strengthen food supply to ensure that Filipinos have equitable access to food, particularly meat,” according to the order.

Last month, Duterte

asked Congress to approve the proposed increase in pork imports to 250,000 metric tons from the present 54,210 MT to address the rising food prices and boost the supply of pork in the country.

On Feb. 1, Duterte signed EO 124, which imposes a price ceiling of PHP270 per kilogram for pork kasim and pigue, PHP300 per kilogram for pork liempo, and PHP160 per kilogram for dressed chicken until April 8.

DA has also submitted to Duterte a draft proclamation declaring a state of national emergency in the country to address the severe impact of African swine fever on the hog industry. (PNA)

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for people living in the Municipalities, they don’t have to go to the office as there are Revenue Collection Officers (RCOs) assigned in each Municipality “nga maoy pwede nila tagaan sa return para dili na kailangan ang mga taxpayers mu adto sa mga bangko or diri sa atong office diri sa capitol… pwede ra gihapon sila didto mag bayad (whom they can give the return so that the taxpayers won’t have to go to the bank or to the office here in Capitol…they can just pay there).”

Cervantes emphasized that there is no extension to the deadline of filing which is on April 15, 2021. However, people may amend or make changes to their filed return without penalty until May 30, 2021. Otherwise, taxpayers may face penalties such as 25 percent surcharge, interest, and compromise penalty

“I encourage you to increase your voluntary compliance to help augment the collection of Revenue District Office (RDO) 112 Tagum, so that we can help the government projects and programs especially the provision of our well-being to afford COVID19 vaccines,” she said.

For workers under the Job Order or Service Contract Agreement contracts, there is a webinar on April 8, 2021 on how to file income tax return. These workers may access the Google Meet webinar by visiting the ‘Bureau of Internal Revenue RDO 112 Tagum’ Facebook Page.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Officer 112 covers taxpayers from the Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro provinces. (Jan Vincent Leuterio/PIA-XI

Metro Manila, particularly for retailers with freezers or chillers.

But for those without freezers or chillers, Dar said the DA will be providing a grant of PHP45 million to buy 2,500 freezers that cost PHP18,000 each.

Each freezer has a storage capacity of 150 kilograms, Dar said.

The rise in inflation rate in the past months was mainly driven by higher prices of meat due to continued supply deficiency brought by African swine fever (ASF).

In February this year, inflation settled at 4.7 percent. This slowed down to 4.5 percent in March.

Dar said the implemen-

tation of a price cap on pork and poultry products has been helpful to slow down inflation rate, but imposing price ceiling and SRP alone will not solve the problem of higher prices of meat.

He added that easing rules on imported meat such as raising the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork and lowering its tariff will address the supply issue in the local market.

Dar said that from February to March this year, a total of 38 million kilograms of imported pork arrived in the country.

Of the said importation, 18.2 million kilograms were through the MAV and 19.7 million kilograms were outside MAV.

developed countries that are major export markets of the country especially where COVID-19 vaccine rollouts are much faster could support faster recovery in exports as seen in recent months.”

“But could be offset by slower economic recovery prospects in other countries amid lockdowns and travel restrictions amid the surge in new COVID-19 cases partly due to the new coronavirus variants that are more contagious,” he added.

Imports, meanwhile, grew to $7.6 billion from $7.4 billion in February last year.

“The annual increment of imported goods in February 2021 was due to the increase in seven of the top 10 major commodity groups which was led by telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (23.2%). This was followed by other food and live animals (13.7%); and plastics in primary and non-primary forms (8.8%),” the PSA said.

The cumulative import value from January to February amounted to $16.00 bil-

lion, representing a decline of -5.6% from the import value of $16.96 billion in the same period of 2020.

The People’s Republic of China was the country’s biggest supplier of imported goods valued at $1.90 billion or 24.9% of the total imports in February.

Completing the top five major import trading partners with their corresponding import payments and percent shares to the total imports were: Japan, $693.19 million (9.1%) Republic of Korea, $680.96 million (9.0%) Singapore, $560.16 million (7.4%) Indonesia, $513.85 million (6.8%) “The tighter quarantine restrictions/stay-at-home orders/ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) in NCR Plus since late March 2021 in an effort to curb new COVID-19 cases from among record highs recently could still slow down the recovery in imports and in the broader economy,” Ricafort said.

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11

After arriving in Connecticut, Jerwin Ancajas will now have to focus on shaving off the excess weight in time for the weigh-in on Friday (Saturday, Manila time).

Ancajas’ next focus is to make the weight

D

abawenyo world champion Jerwin Ancajas has set foot in Uncasville, Connecticut Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) for his world junior bantamweight mandatory title defens e against Jonathan Javier Rodriguez.

According to his camp, the Panabo City native has spent months in Los Angeles preparing for the much awaited fight, which was postponed twice already.

Ancajas will now have to focus on shaving off the excess weight in time for the weigh-in on Friday (Saturday, Manila time).

"Focus na lang kami

timbang," said Ancajas' coach Joven Jimenez in a report by ABS CBN Sports. "Sa ngayon nasa 117 pounds na lang siya."

The junior bantamweight limit is 115 pounds.

Jimenez said weight cutting is easy for Ancajas since they have religiously been following the program of their nutrition coach Jeaneth Aro. "Nakakakain pa rin na

The NBA expects to have arenas packed full of fans when the 2021-22 season begins, with the chances of it happening increased by a deal with a COVID-19 screening company, ESPN reported.

With vaccine distribution in full swing, the NBA will look toward the airport screening company Clear to provide COVID-19 screening technology at home venues around the league.

Each team will be allowed to determine how the screening technology will best serve its fan base.

The league will not require teams to use it, however.

Teams such as the Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks already are using Clear's technology to allow a limited number of fans back into games. As many as two-thirds of teams already have welcomed fans back to games on a limited basis.

kanin, ulam at kaunting gulay si Jerwin. Kasi nasa tamang target naman kami," said Ancajas' boxing trainer.

Ancajas will be meeting Rodriguez at the Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in one of the supporting bouts of the Jaron Ennis-Sergey Lipinets fight.

Ancajas wanted to impress, now that he's included under Premier Boxing Champions. A dominant victory could land him more lucrative fights in the future.

Fight analyst Nissi Icasiano said the "Pretty Boy" of Panabo City, Davao De Norte will have to bank on his experience to beat Rodriguez.

Ancajas totes a record

of 32-1-2, 22 knockouts, while Rodriguez carries a 22-1 record with 16 knockouts.

"Jerwin has to play to his strengths," he said. "On paper, his opponent looks phenomenal. But the Mexican hasn't fought someone of the same caliber as Jerwin."

Icasiano said Ancajas is the craftier fighter of the two and this should give him the edge over Rodriguez.

"The Filipino southpaw is coming into the fight with the better footwork that provides him advantageous angles and the championship experience which the Mexican doesn't have at the moment," he said.

FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation

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ARACHI, Pakistan – Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on Wednesday suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) due to "third-party interference which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes."

In a statement, the global body said the situation was prompted by the recent "hostile takeover" of the PFF headquarters in the northeastern Lahore city, and ousting a FIFA representative.

Taking notice of a rift between rival PFF groups, the world body, in September 2019, appointed a "normalization committee" to mediate and hold fresh elections to resolve the long-running dispute.

However, a group led

by Ashfaq Hussain recently stormed the federation's headquarters and seized control

from the committee headed by Haroon Malik.

The group claimed it won the elections held under the supervision of the country's apex court.

The world body gave a deadline until March 31 to vacate the headquarters else Pakistan could be suspended from its membership. The notice, however, was ignored.

"As this situation remains unchanged, the Bureau of the Council has decided to suspend the PFF," FIFA said. "This suspension will only be lifted once FIFA has received confirmation from the normalization committee of the PFF that the PFF’s premises, accounts, administration, and communication channels are again under its full control and it can continue to carry out its mandate without further hindrance."

When Clear's system is in place leaguewide, fans would first be asked to load information pertaining to COVID-19, like test results or vaccination information, into a Clear app. Then a selfphoto would be entered.

Upon arriving at the arena, fans would then give access to information in the app, take another selfie to verify their identity and answer health survey questions. A red or green notification light will

let fans know if they are eligible to enter the arena.

Private health information is not revealed.

Only necessary COVID-19 related info will be used to operate the system.

Another plan in the works is for teams to have sections for fully vaccinated fans who still must adhere to state and local safety requirements, that may or may not include masks and some social distancing requirements.

NBA expects to have full arenas for 2021-22 season

Boston Celtics fans watch from their seats as the Celtics take on the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter at TD Garden in Boston.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 21 • FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte with Philippine national team members.

(File photo)

JABS FOR ATHLETES POC to vaccinate SEAG athletes after given green light by PRRD

P

hilippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino has expressed gladness about President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to allow private entities to procure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.

POC, being a private group, can now procure vaccines for the national athletes, especially those who will compete in this year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi.

"This is good news for Filipino athletes who will be competing in the Hanoi SEA Games," Tolentino said on Wednesday, which was echoed by SEA Games chef de mission Ramon Fernandez.

He added that the Olympic Council of Asia has allotted USD40,000 (around PHP1.95 million) to POC as vaccine subsidy.

"Once they get inoculated, they can train with very little fear of getting infected," Tolentino said.

Tolentino, meanwhile, assigned POC first vice president Al Panlilio as the chair of its task force on vaccine procurement.

He said the task force will decide on when the POC can start vaccinating athletes and which brand to use.

"Whichever is the first available vaccine that will be allowed for procurement, we will get. We cannot choose," he said.

Currently, only two brands

of vaccines are available for the Filipinos, the Sinovac’s CoronaVac and the AstraZeneca shots.

The Philippines has so far secured around 2 million Sinovac vaccines and some 525,600 AstraZeneca vaccines.

Business tycoon Enrique Razon earlier said he is committing to procure Moderna vaccines for POC. Based on recent studies, a Moderna vaccine, which is to be inoculated twice 28 days apart, has been proven to be 94.1 percent effective in preventing Covid-19.

However, Tolentino said the Moderna vaccines may only arrive by either late May or early June.

Among the six athletes who have qualified in the Tokyo Olympics and are also cinches to lock in spots for the Philippine team in the Vietnam SEA Games, only boxer Eumir Marcial has been inoculated so far.

Marcial, who recently turned pro, got vaccinated in Las Vegas, which is home to many epic boxing matches. (PNA)