Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 38 | Thursday, April 29, 2021

POVERTY IS NO HINDRANCE TO SUCCESS

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VOL.14 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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Motorcycle owners flock to check the motorcycle accessories sold at the sidewalk along Dacudao Avenue in Davao City on Wednesday. The area is being frequented by dozens of motorcycle riders everyday who hardly observed social distancing. Edge Davao

Foreign chamber says “careful balancing act” needed on partial border closure

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VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

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European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Southern Mindanao Business Council chair Tony Peralta is recommending for a careful balancing act in the decision of partially closing the borders of Davao region. Edge Davao

Foreign chamber says “careful balancing act” needed on partial border closure

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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n official of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC) is recommending for a “careful balancing act” in the decision to partially close the borders of Davao region.

Tony Peralta, chairman of the ECCP-SMBC, said a careful balancing act is needed between the manner in which partial border closures and business operations are

done and the preserving the low infection rates from escalating given the limited number of hospital beds relative to Davao Region’s population.

Peralta cited two

aspects that are important to understand: secure Davao City from increasing infections that are being experienced in other areas as Davao City’s Covid-19 infection trends are lower than previous months; and the adverse impact on business given the partial closure of the region’s borders.

“Businesses are likely to get affected as their supply chains and operations are likely to experience contractions and

disruptions. The impact on businesses will be less if the partial closures are for a shorter time period,” Peralta told Edge Davao.

Peralta also recommends that a consultation between the local government units (LGUs), city government of Davao, foreign chambers, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., (DCCCII) and the private sector must be conducted as the partial

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Dad urges Holcim to plant trees in quarried areas

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veteran city councilor yesterday encouraged a cement factory to fasttrack massive replanting of trees in areas of Bunawan District, Davao City where the company has quarried for limestone as component in cement-making.

In a letter to Samuel O. Maniosa Jr of Holcim Philippines, Inc., Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang said that planting of trees in quarried areas will mitigate recent frequent flooding in Bunawan.

Councilor Dayanghirang also wrote Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel A. Evasco of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 11, asking for the agency's help in addressing the problem.

Holcim, which was known as Bacnotan Cement Industries before, had been quarrying in many sites in limestone-rich barangays of Bunawan District for more than half a century now and

takes pride in having done massive replanting in its quarry areas for the last five decades.

Dayanghirang told Maniosa that Holcim's action now " will go a long way in protecting our land from the perils of flood.&quot.

On the other hand, the councilor also informed DENR 11 RED Evasco about his request to Holcim and another letter to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) authorities to revisit the flood control program in the area to find out if there is any adjustments needed.

He said the DENR official, with his mandated authority, can see to it that concrete measures are done to address the frequent occurrence of flood in the district. He said residents of the district have complained that flood occurs even just after a light rain.

(With reports from DAISY ENCABO -DCD Info Unit)

sa Abril wala ta’y patay bahin sa Covid. There were several days na one to five cases lang sa Abril na naa ta’y patay. This is a very good news for Davao City,” he said.

Lopez attributed this development to the decreasing cases of Covid-19.

“Nevertheless, dili gihapon ta magkumpyansa

ug dili ta mag-relax.

Ingon pa sa atong head sa DRRMO nagsugod pa lang ang atong war sa Covid-19 ug kinahanglan andam gihapon ta,” he said.

Based on the case bulletin report submitted to CHO, 6 p.m. of April 27, 2021, Davao City has recorded 12 new cases.

There are a total of 272

Mindanao volunteer nurses City records ‘very low’ deaths reinforce NCR’s hospitals of Covid-19 in April: Dr. Lopez

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s the long drawn out COVID-19 pandemic continues to overwhelm hospitals in the Philippines’ National Capital Region+, assistance from the MVP Group’s Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. (MPHHI) is coming in as volunteer nurses from Mindanao brave the risks to help fellow medical front liners

save more lives. Three hospitals in Mindanao have sent 16 nurses from their own rosters to reinforce their big sister hospitals in the nation’s capital.

West Metro Medical Center in Zamboanga City and Manuel J. Santos Hospital in Butuan City sent four nurses each from their pool to Makati Medical Center (Makati Med).

Meanwhile, St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City flew eight nurses to help Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Twenty-two-year-old Raven Saavedra from West Metro said he and his three colleagues volunteered to be temporarily assigned at Makati Med when the hospital group was looking

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cting head of City Health Office (CHO) Dr. Ashley Lopez announced on Wednesday that the city has recorded very low death rate of Covid-19 in the month of April.

“Good news almost one month or almost the whole month of April ang atong deaths is zero to one, majority sa mga adlaw

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Wearing of face mask and face shield are minimum requirements in Davao City’s public places like in the‘bagsakan’area of Bankerohan Public Market. The City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) has reported that the agency has collected more than P3.9 million from the violators of face mask ordinance in Davao City. Edge Davao

CTO collects more than P3.9M from face mask violators in Davao City Israel Embassy launches I 1 st Hebrew book in Filipino T

Ambassador Harpaz invites Filipinos to get a copy and read the first Hebrew to Filipino book translation entitled:“Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto”

he Embassy of Israel in the Philippines launched the first Hebrew to Filipino book translation entitled: “Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto” by revered Israeli author, Etgar Keret.

“Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto”, known for its English version as “Suddenly, a Knock on the Door”, is a collection of short stories

by Etgar Keret – a leading voice in Israeli literature and cinema. His five bestselling story collections have been translated into 46 languages.

During the book launch held via Zoom on 26 April 2021, Etgar Keret expressed his hope that the Filipino readers will relate more to the short stories now that they are translated to their local language. He also encouraged the Filipino caregivers working in Israel to read the “Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto” book.

“This is another milestone that demonstrates the strong

By MAYA M. PADILLO

t turns out the volume of face mask violators are way too high that it netted the city government a whopping P3.9 million in fines.

relations between Israel and the Philippines. This book is one of the many areas of cooperation between our countries in literature, culture, and arts. We hope that many Filipinos, especially the young generation, will get a copy and read the book that is a product of good friendship,” Ambassador Rafael Harpaz said.

The Filipino translation of “Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto” was done by Mr. U Z. Eliserio of the Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas, Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura of the University of the Philippines.

“During this pandemic, and with many of us staying at home, books have been a great source of entertainment, comfort, and escape. Etgar Keret’s stories provide these,” Ms. Alexandra Ramos-Padilla, Head of National Book Store and Anvil Publishing said in a video message.

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The City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) said it has collected more than P3.9 million from violators of face mask ordinance in Davao City.

CTO head lawyer Lawrence Bantiding reported during the 16th regular session via Zoom of the 19th City Council on Tuesday that the city has collected a total of P3,955,000 from payment of fines of 7,910 violators of the Ordinance No. 0307-20 or the Face Mask Ordinance.

The collection covers from December 1, 2020 to April 20, 2021.

In terms of sharing, P729,300 from the barangays while P3,225,700 from the city.

“It is because 69.27 percent of the total collections are apprehended by the police while only 30.73 percent of the total collections are apprehended by the barangay officials,” Bantiding said.

Out of the 182 barangays, there are 159 with paid apprehensions.

The top 10 barangays with the most apprehensions are 76-A Bucana, Calinan

Proper, 5-A, Wilfredo Aquino, Tibungco, 2-A, Sto. Niño, Buhangin Proper, Bago Aplaya, and Sasa.

The Face Mask Ordinance took effect into law on July 23, 2020 and Section 3 of the ordinance states that all persons shall, at all times, wear face masks in public places during the Community Quarantine and/or until after the State of Public Health Emergency is lifted as part of the precautionary and safety measures adopted by the city government of Davao against Covid-19.

Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio has been urging Dabawenyos to strictly follow health protocols, especially wearing masks, as it is the most basic weapon against Covid-19.

The mayor emphasized that the wearing of mask is basic in this time of Covid-19 pandemic because the virus is present in the saliva and when it is inhaled, another person will be infected.

She reminded that the public should not spread the virus and should not be infected so they need to cover their nose and mouth.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

Despite her age, Hja. Sinulan Silongan, 77, of barangay Masigay in Datu Piang municipality in Maguindanao, continues to weave colorful mats made of dyed buri leaves. She learned weaving, a tradition and art that she hopes her grandchildren will learn, from her mother. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ

DOF open to alternative policies against pork supply constraints D

DOF chief eyes return to normal fiscal deficit level next year

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epartment of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III is open to any options that will address pork supply problems in the country, citing that Executive Order (EO) 128 is a temporary measure targeted to address the constraints.

“Again, our minds are not closed. We want to achieve together our goal of making sure that there is a reasonable and affordable pork and other feedstock for our consumers, our inflation rate is not damaging to our economy in the long run, and

that definitely there is support to the pork-producing industry,” he said during the virtual hearing of the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.

The hearing was held to discuss EO 128, which temporarily cuts import duty on fresh, chilled, or frozen

SEC cancels registration of Eco Hatchery and Trading Corp

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revoked the corporate registration of Eco Hatchery and Trading Corporation for soliciting investments from the public through a Ponzi scheme.

The SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) issued the order on April 23 after finding that Eco Hatchery has been offering and soliciting investments without the necessary secondary license from the commission.

Eco Hatchery committed an ultra vires act under Section 44 of Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, the SEC said.

The company’s activities also constituted serious misrepresentation

as to what it can do, to the great prejudice of or damage to the general public, a ground for the revocation of a corporation’s certificate of registration under Presidential Decree No. 902-A, the order read.

The SEC has warned the public against investing in Eco Hatchery as early as Feb. 3, 2020 through an advisory. The company did not react to nor refute the advisory.

Eco Hatchery entices the public to invest with the promise of earning 15 percent every 15 days in a span of four months.

A capital of PHP500,000 would earn PHP75,000 every 15 days, or a total of PHP1.1 million after four months, inclusive of the initial investment.

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swine meat for a year to help address supply issues brought about by the African swine fever.

The EO, which President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed last April 7, reduces levy on pork imports under the minimum access volume (MAV) from 30 percent to 5 percent for the first three months upon the EO’s effectivity, and 10 percent in the succeeding nine months.

Tariffs of pork imports outside of MAV were proposed to be reduced from

the current 40 percent to 15 percent for the first three months, and 20 percent for the succeeding three quarters.

Dominguez said the EO is an emergency measure targeted to ensure adequate supply of pork in the country and to help stabilize pork prices.

This as prices of pork has risen to over PHP300 a kilo from around PHP200 before the supply issues and has contributed to the elevated domestic inflation rate. (PNA)

epartment of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III sees a return to the normal deficit level by 2022 as pandemic-related spending and ensuring implementation of the infrastructure program resulted in hikes in the government’s budget gap.

In an interview with CNBC television Tuesday, Dominguez said the fiscal deficit remains manageable despite the higher spending level to address the impact of the global health crisis.

“We are pretty sure that by 2022, we will begin to return to (the) normal fiscal deficit we have of about

3.4 to 4 percent,” he said.

Data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Tuesday showed that the budget gap last March rose by 167.34 percent year-on-year to PHP191.4 billion.

This after expenditures posted higher expansion compared to revenues during the period.

Total revenues in the third month this year amounted to PHP216.2 billion, 17.37 percent lower than year-ago’s PHP261.6 billion.

On the other hand, total expenditures reached PHP407.6 billion, up by 22.33 percent compared to

emailed questions from the Philippine News Agency.

The AMLC Secretariat said the AMLC, under Section 10 of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, or Republic Act (RA) No. 10168, has been authorized to investigate either on its own initiative or at the request of the Anti-Terrorism Council any property or funds that are related to financing of terrorism or acts of terrorism, and any property or funds of any person or persons in relation to whom if “there is probable cause to believe that such person or persons are committing; attempting or conspiring to

commit; or participating in or facilitating the financing of terrorism or acts of terrorism.”

“In addition, law enforcement agencies (such as the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines) and other government agencies also make referrals to the AMLC if there are results of their initial investigation or if there have been cases filed against the subjects,” it said.

Amid allegations that some of these community pantries are being used as front by leftist groups, the AMLC Secretariat said it analyzes financial information and disseminates fi-

nancial intelligence reports to law enforcement offices and other financial intelligence units (FIU) here and overseas.

“The AMLC also releases proactive risk assessments, studies, and reports, which have become tools to inform stakeholders, such as law enforcement, supervising authorities, and the private sector, on the risks to money laundering and terrorism financing of certain sectors and to guide decision-makers in crafting policy initiatives,” it said.

It also “investigates suspicious transactions; covered transactions deemed suspicious; money launder-

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AMLC further beefs up fight vs. laundering, terror financing

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he Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) will continue to be on guard against any money laundering and terrorist financing activities, and is closely coordinating with various government agencies for any assessments and reports.

This, after a police officer and a government executive recently questioned the motive of a community pantry organizer, claiming that Patricia Non is linked with leftist groups.

“Incidentally, we cannot disclose whether the AMLC checked the financial transactions of the subject,” the AMLC Secretariat said Tuesday night in a reply to

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ECONOMY

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Hogs from Calinan, Davao City are sold at the livestock area of Agdao Public Market in Davao City. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive allowing more pork imports at lower tariffs for a temporary period is an immediate and practicable response to protect Filipino consumers from price spirals that could further drive up inflation amid the pandemic. Edge Davao

PH economy seen to grow by 4.5% in ‘21: ADB report

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he Philippine economy is foreseen to grow by 4.5 percent this year and 5.5 percent in 2022, according to an Asian Development Bank report released Wednesday.

Public spending on infrastructure and social assistance, better pandemic response, substantial progress in vaccination rollout and a steady recovery in global economy will boost growth this year and the next, according to the Asian Development Outlook 2021.

The Manila-based lender, however, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic “can pose risks to growth prospects” such as the emergence of new variants, global vaccine supply shortage as well as extended local quarantines, it added.

Addressing employment impact and boosting productivity and investments could offset the negative effect, said ADB Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird.

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by -9.6 percent in 2020, its worst since the end of the World War 2, after imposing one of the world’s strictest and longest lockdowns.

“Our 4.5 percent growth forecast is at the lower end of economists’ estimates, so there are upsides to this projection,” Bird said.

“Priority should be given to addressing the scarring effects of the pandemic on private sector

employment.

Programs supporting workers and firms impacted by labor market adjustments and reforms to boost productivity growth and investment will help counter the negative effects of the pandemic on employment over the medium term.”

The ADB said the country’s fiscal program and “accommodative monetary policy” would push the economy’s “firm recovery path” in the second half of 2021.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier reduced the reserve requirement for banks and has kept key policy rates at its lowest level of 2 percent, injecting trillions in the economy and allowing banks to provide consumers and businesses easier access to capital.

The recent enhanced community quarantine imposed late March, which was lowered to modified ECQ until end of April, won’t have the same impact on employment compared to last year since transport and businesses were allowed to operate, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua earlier said.

In line with BSP’s inflation forecast, the ADB said the consumer price index could settle at 4.1 percent in 2021 due to supply side factors caused by the African Swine Fever. The forecast is above the government target of 2 to 4 percent. Inflation is seen to ease to 3.5 percent in 2022, it added.

DTI-DavOr holds post-audit of health protocols adoption

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ith the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the past weeks, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here has intensified its promotion of the minimum health protocols to ensure that the province will continuously protect its area of jurisdiction.

DTI-Davao Oriental OIC-Provincial Director Sylvia D. Ordiz said that with the huge leap in the recorded cases nationwide, there is a need to ensure that all establishments strictly comply with the mandated health protocols by the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

“One of the many places that people go to are retail establishments, such as grocery and hardware stores, restaurants and other food establishments, service providers like barber shops, salons, pawnshops and remittance centers. There are also those who frequent tourism-re-

lated establishments, such as hotels and beach resorts.

By being part of the localized task force, we actively monitor these public places,” she said.

As of March this year, DTI-Davao Oriental has already conducted a Post-Audit Assessment and Monitoring in 73 establishments all over the province. This was part of their initiatives to make sure that the health protocols are being implemented; thus, ensuring the safety of both employees and customers. These mandatory guidelines include the proper wearing of face

masks (plus face shields, when necessary), frequent and proper disinfection, and appropriate physical distancing, among others.

Of the 73 establishments monitored, 60 or 82% have been found compliant with the health protocols, while 13 or 18% were non-compliant.

Ordiz explained that the non-compliant establishments will be revisited and if during this follow up visit they are still violating the health protocols, they shall be endorsed to the local government unit (LGU) for the administration of appropriate sanction. DTI-DO

Davao, jobseekers are advise to regularly check the official Facebook page of DOLE-Davao for the complete list of vacancies and the link for online application.

The online conduct of the Jobs Fair was to help initiatives in preventing the spread of COVID-19 as traditional face to face job fairs attracts a crowd of

people.

DOLE-Davao Regional Director Ofelia Domingo advised jobseekers to review the job qualifications and descriptions in choosing the positions that best fit them.

Only shortlisted jobseekers from the pre-registration will be accommodated on the virtual jobs fair.

DOLE-XI will also be holding labor day activities such as Mobile Service (Renewal of Licenses) Competency Assessment, programs and services on education/scholarship assistance, SO1 training, and workshop on the use of social platforms and digital technology. It will also be held via Zoom.

DOLE-Davao to conduct virtual jobs fair on May 1

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he the Department of Labor and Employment-Davao Region (DOLE-Davao ) will be conducting a virtual job fair on May 1 in the occasion of Labor Day. There will be 1.800 job opportunities sourced from 19 employers who will be joining the online jobs fair.

According to DOLE-

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DAVAO 6 EDGE VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

On the partial border closures in the Davao Region as a response to possible Covid-19 surge:

Businesses are likely to get affected as their supply chains and operations are likely to experience contractions and disruptions. The impact on businesses will be less if the partial closures are for a shorter time period.”

TONY PERALTA

Chairman, European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC)

EDITORIAL Looking for a lasting solution?

Flooding is a pestering, and sometimes deadly, problem that has never left mankind since the great deluge narrated together with Noah’s Ark in the Golden Book.

It is a problem that has also bedeviled Dabawenyos since the beginning of time.

And while local inundation subsides in a matter of hours unlike the great flood, its frequency has increased lately even with a light rain, no thanks to the erratic weather pattern usually blamed on climate change.

But our floods in Davao are no less destructive. They are even deadly sometimes, like when Matina Pangi River overflowed its banks and drowned 28 people, in a wide swath of areas in the suburban enclaves of Matina and Talomo in 2011.

This week, and the week before two floods visited the city once again. The first one inundated mostly streets in the city’s central business district, grounding early evening motor and human traffic to a halt.

The other night non-stop downpour for five hours submerged Panacan, Bunawan and many other Second District barangays under knee-deep floodwater that destroyed many household appliances among other damages.

Following the flooding of numerous streets in the CBD, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the City Engineer’s Office to conduct an investigation into the first flooding, specifically the observed clogging of the city’s drainage systems.

City Engineer Joseph Dominic Felizarta came back with a report that illegal settlers on top of drainage canals among other blights contributed to the floodings. The

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On the other hand, Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, ever sensitive over the issue of water, whether lack of potable water or flooding in the Second District, moved to ask the assistance of two government agencies and a multinational company on the flooding of his district. He wrote officials of Holcim, Inc. to plant more trees in their quarried areas as it would mitigate flooding among other advantages.

He also requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel Evasco to institute measures addressing the street flooding and asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to revisit the flood control program of the Second District and introduce needed changes.

Holcim has not only re-greened its former limestone quarries, it also transformed some of them into tourist spots. This ought to be encouraged by government, which can offer a package of assistance to make the replanting more sustainable and even profitable for Holcim and other compliant companies and similarly-situated business establishments.

Aside from squatters, the litany of problems includes denudation, adverse effects of climate change, clogging of drainage canals and outdated flood control programs. The proposed solution should consider all these plus some innovative ideas.

With these, probably we will find a more lasting solution to this problem of flooding in the city.

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

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

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

immediate solution is for the squatters to posthaste demolish their illegal structures.

Atty. Felizarta’s survey identified 13 streets and areas which were flooded last week.

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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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WHY YOU SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH “Truth is always strong, no matter how weak it looks, and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks.” – Phillips Brooks

*** In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde commented, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” To which Alexander Solzhenitsyn contends, “We do not err because truth is difficult to see.

It is visible at a glance. We err because this is more comfortable.”

“Truth is tough,” pointed out Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Professor at the Breakfast Table. “It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch, nay, you may kick it all about all day like a football, and it will be round and full in the evening.”

In his book, Reminiscences, General Douglas MacArthur – known in the Philippines for his famous quote, “I shall return!” – recalled a classroom experience he had as a West Point cadet.

His class was studying the time-space relationship, which the great genius Albert Einstein later called his “Theory of Relativity.”

The text was very complicated and Cadet MacArthur

could not figure out what it was all about. So, he just memorized the pages concerned.

When he was called upon to recite, he dutifully reeled off almost word for word what the book said. The instructor looked at him in a puzzled sort of way and inquired, “Do you understand his theory?”

It was a bad moment for the young cadet, but he stood up straight and answered bravely, “No, sir.”

Hearing his answer, everyone in the class seemed to stop breathing. You could have heard a pin drop. The young MacArthur braced himself and waited. Then, the instructor said very slowly, “Neither do I, Cadet MacArthur. The class is dismissed.”

“Truth is generally the best vindication against slander,” wrote American president Abraham in a letter to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. To which one sage added, “Truth is not always popular, but it is always right.”

There is also truth to this statement by Arthur Schopenhauer: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

“So, what was it then ex-

actly this truth-telling?” asked Graham Swift in Mothering Sunday. “It was about being true to the very stuff of life, it was about trying to capture, though you never could, the very feel of being alive. It was about finding a language.

And it was about being true to the fact, the one thing only followed from the other, that many things in life – of so many more than we think – can never be explained at all.”

“Truth exists,” someone once said, “only falsehood has to be invented.” After all, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened,” dismissed Sir Winston Churchill.

And Filipinos should listen to the words of Edith Sitwell: “The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.” According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.”

“Telling the truth isn’t always easy; that’s one of the reasons people lie – it’s easier at that moment than telling the truth,” wrote Bill Vossler in his article, “12 Reasons to Tell the Truth.”

I am sure you have not heard of it and so allow me

to share some passages from Vossler’s article: 1. Truth is always right.

“Lying is wrong,” he said. “It’s that simple. Every culture and religious system recognizes and teaches this moral truth.”

2. Lies will come back to haunt you. “You can’t hide from your lies; you can sweep them under the rug for a while, but in an hour, a day, a month or a year, they will wiggle back out on the floor into daylight for everyone to see.”

3. Lies weigh you down.

If you lie to someone, you feel bad. You wonder what he knows and whether he’ll confront you or not. “In a way, you become a fugitive, running from the lie you told.”

4. Lies prevent you from developing as a person. “You might easily spend time, energy and worry on lies instead of concentrating on friendship, learning, joy and having fun.”

5. Truth enhances your reputation. “If you work hard at telling the truth, other people will notice. They will also respect you for it, because they know how difficult telling the truth can sometimes be.”

6. Truth will make true friends for you. “Friendship is built in shared interests caring for each other, and honesty, or

telling the truth, among other things.”

7. In truth, you will feel better about yourself. “Truth is a gentle, healing sponge that keeps your conscience clean and spotless, and you happy.”

8. Truth makes you a better person. “If you choose to tell lies, then you will probably begin to choose other wrong directions in life.”

9. One truth-telling makes the next one easier. “Telling the truth requires practice. Each truth-telling strengthens you for doing the right and truthful thing the next time.”

10. Your truth makes it easier for others to tell the truth. “Your being truthful makes it easier for others to be truthful with you, and it is through knowing these truths that you can make changes to accomplish many of the things you want to accomplish in life.”

11. You’ll be different.

“Truth-tellers are few and far between.”

12. You have to live with yourself. “Because of being human, everyone falls short of always telling the truth. But if you try hard, and are gentle and kind and caring when telling the truth, you’ll gain friends, fame, and riches in your personal life that you can’t now imagine.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

CLINICA HILARIO From 1907 to 1967, a span of six decades, Davao’s primary healthcare needs were served by only three medical institutions, namely Davao Mission Hospital (now Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries, Inc.), Davao Public Hospital (now Southern Philippines Medical Center) and Hospital de San Pedro (now San Pedro Hospital).

There was also the Davao Maternity Hospital, now defunct, run by the Davao Nurses Association. It was only in 1967 when the Davao Doctors’ Hospital (DDH), started operating. DDH’s conception was out of necessity at a time when medical specialization was inexistent. Many of the doctors were in general practice and were opening clinics adjacent to where apothecaries and pharmacies were situated. It was an arrangement that favored both the doctors, who prescribed medicines, and the boticas sold the drugs.

In 1961, Dr. Leonardo Sicam, who finished neurosurgical specialty inthe U.S., traveled to Davao in the hope of coming

up with something productive.

Through the wife of a classmate, he connected with Davao City mayor Carmelo Porras and wife Lorenza Moralizon. Obviously, the meeting was engaging such that the young doctor, profuse with optimism, decided to settle at a Chinese hospital along San Pedro Street to start his journey.

At the time, Dr. Honorio Hilario and pharmacist-wife were managing the family-owned Botica Villa, which had multiple branches, with its main office at a two-story structure at 254 Claveria Street. It was a drugstore that also sold farm products, and housed a radio shop, a fruit growers’ marketing office, and a medical-dental clinic occupied by brother Dr. Eufracio Hilario, and partner Dr. Edmund Chiong. The structure, though, was not fully utilized. To maximize the use of the space, Dr. Luisito Guanlao was invited to share the clinic.

Dr. H. Honorio’s clients later expanded to include the Angala, Floirendo, and Santos families.

Politics, in a way, also extended his connections when Rep. Lo-

renzo S. Sarmiento (godfather of brother Herminio), also from Bulacan like him, engaged him as campaign cashier.

Meanwhile, Dr. Guanlao started his campaign for medical practitioners to form a group in 1962. This led to the building of an annex that would accommodate more clinics for doctors.

Later. Dr. Herminio Villano resigned as resident surgeon of San Pedro Hospital to join the band, followed by urologists Benigno Magpantay and Juan Belisario, and internist Dante Escalante.

The following year, Dr. Leonides Sicat brought in X-ray machine, which added more inspiration to the formation of a multi-specialty group practice that same year, Dr. German Castillo of the Medical Center Manila started a lab at Botica Villa, which led to the establishment of diagnostic facility known as Clinica Hilario Laboratory. More doctors joined as partners, many of them specialists from other medical institutions.

As the space for the clinics and lab started to constrict,

Dr. Jose Gantioqui offered his 1,196-square-meter land and that of surveyor Roman Joaquin’s two adjacent lots collectively measuring 789 square meters (in exchange for shares) as hospital site. Another 508-square- meter owned

by Gov. Celestino Chavez was acquired for P85,000. More subscribers joined in, such as South Bay Lumber for lumber; L.S. Sarmiento Corp. for plywood; Mariano Nasser for water supply; lawyer Willy Escudero for legal services; and Apolinario Bundalian for architectural services. Other physician-investors took loans from the bank with their properties as collateral.

Dr. Guanlao, due to perseverance, was able to persuade the core group to put on track the hospital plan as more doctors expressed interest to join. With the roster complete, Dr. Guanlao drafted the registration papers.

On July 1, 1966, with P400,000 in initial capitalization, Clinica Hilario was incorporated. Its pioneers were doctors Augusto Abela, Juan Belisario, Jr., Rodrigo

Casiño, Valeriana Castillo, Honorio dela Cruz, Jose Gantioqui, Luisito Guanlao, Honorio Hilario, Benigno Magpantay, Gerino Pangan, Crisostomo Serrano, Sr., Leonides Sicat, Pacita San Vicente, Herminio Villano, and Amador Villanueva.

The first stockholders’ meeting and election officers were held on June 10, 1967. Elected were Dr. Jose Gantioqui, as chairman and president; Dr. Honorio Hilario, as vice-president; Dr. Johnny Belisario, as secretary; Dr. Benigno Magpantay, as assistant secretary; and Dr. Valeriana Castillo, as treasurer. Two months later, on August 9, 1967, the construction of a three-story building known as Davao Doctors’ Hospital, was made official, with the first floor devoted to doctors’ offices and the second and third floors for in-patients.

In 1969, the hospital raised its capitalization to P2 million and secured more funds through public offerings. In August 1969, the hospital, with a 50-bed occupancy, opened its doors.

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EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

DINING OUT ON SUNDAYS AT DUSIT D2

Dusit D2 Davao’s all-day dining restaurant, Madayaw Café.

SINCE the start of the pandemic, my stove and basic cooking skills were my best friends when it came to having a meal.

While what I create at home are good for daily needs, there are times when I want to cook up something more sophisticated or complex but the huge amount of preparation, ingredients, and cleaning up can literally be a drag, especially during weekends.

Enter Madayaw Cafe’s Sunday offerings at the Dusit D2 Davao, a Sunday Brunch Special during the day and Roast and Salad Sundays for dinner, Madayaw Café gives diners a much-needed Sunday break,

offering a delectable feast that families and friends will love on first taste.

I recently got to experience the Roast and Salad Sunday offerings and it was definitely a welcome change from the usual dinners at home and is definitely a good way to cap off the weekend. Seriously, nothing is as special as a perfectly cooked

Chicken Cacciatori.

Just a part of Madayaw Café’s assisted buffet spread for Roast and Salad Sundays.

The star of the meal, Madayaw Café’s Roasted US Beef Chuck Roll.

Roasted US Beef Chuck Roll, plus all the Filipino staples

Lechon Roll.

like Lechon Belly and Roast Chicken, cooked to perfection and complete with all the sides and sauces one desires, all of course served with health and safety protocols in place.

The carving station is accompanied by a generous salad bar stocked with various leafy greens, sweetcorn, fresh tomato, cucumber, turnips, fried eggplant, black olives, sliced guava, fresh mango, peach halves, poached chicken breast, garlic shrimps, julienne smoked ham, thousand island dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, ranch dressing, croutons, cheese, boiled egg, red beets, and bacon bits.

Aside from the roasts and

The buffet also features Thai favorites. salads, the buffet also features many of Madayaw Cafés favorite dishes like Green Shrimp Curry, Fish Fillet, Bacon Wrapped Tuna Belly, Pizzas, and various desserts and pastries that are sure to bring a bit of sweet happiness, even to the most picky of eaters.

Sunday Brunch at Madayaw Café is priced at Php 1200 net per person, from 10:30AM – 2:30PM while Roast and Salad Sunday is priced at Php 888 net per person, and is open from 5PM – 8PM. To book a table or inquire for reservations, guests may e-mail Dusit Davao at fb.reservations@ dusitdavao.com or call (082) 27 7500.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

GAME CHANGER

9

POVERTY IS NO HINDRANCE TO SUCCESS

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“P poverty.”

overty is a source of motivation in itself. You can become creative in finding ways to get out of

That statement comes from the mouth of Atty.

Nicolas “Nick” M. Caraquel, a former resident of San Isidro, Davao Oriental who was named as one of the recipients of The Outstanding Filipino in America (TOFA) in 2018. “(He) is an immigration lawyer who understands the challenges and complexity of obtaining legal status in American, having gone through the process himself,” said the press statement. “He acquired a work visa within weeks of applying and a green card after a year. He is licensed to practice law in the Philippines and New York, and has handled more than 100 immigration cases.”

Also in 2018, Caraquel was one of the 11 Pamana ng Pilipino awardees, who were honored during the Presi-

dential Awards for Filipino individuals and organizations overseas. He received the medal from President Rodrigo R. Duterte during the awarding ceremony at the Malacañang.

“A sought-after immigration lawyer based in New York who broke out of poverty through his determination and hard work. He assists in facilitating the family reunification process among Filipinos in the United States,” the press statement said.

“Do not look at poverty as a reason or excuse to stop dreaming big then work hard to make those dreams a reality,” Caraquel summarized his secret of success. “I know it is not easy; there are times that you will feel like giving up. When that time comes, seek for something or talk to someone who inspires you,

when the burden gets tougher kneel down and pray. Rest if you may, but don’t give up.

Chase that dream and have faith!”

Caraquel is a lawyer – a famous lawyer at that! – and yet he still believes in prayer.

He believes that what is impossible to man is possible to that Someone Up There, who is just a prayer away.

“Prayer is the gymnasium of the soul,” says Samuel M. Zwemer. “Prayer is more than verbally filling in some requisition blanks,” Billy Graham states. “It’s fellowship with God! It’s communion with the Lord through praising Him, rehearsing His promises, and then sharing our needs.”

Caraquel, grew up in San Isidro, Davao Oriental, in a family with seven children.

“My father earns a living as a barber. My mother was once a seamstress turned businesswomen. My family taught me the value of hard work, prayer, faith and determination to find ways to get

out of poverty,” he says in an exclusive interview.

The family was in abject poverty that when he was in third grade, his parents requested him to stop going to school. To help both ends meet, they asked him to help them by selling banana cues in the bus terminal. He was saddened; he wanted to continue his studies but he had no choice. “I prayed that someday I would understand God’s reason why He allowed it,” he said.

But Caraquel, who believes in education, was able to finish elementary. And it came to pass that when he was graduating from high school, the government offered for the first time the State Scholarship Program (SSP) to poor but deserving students in private schools.

He took the qualifying exams and was awarded as one of the 13 SSP scholars in the country, representing Region XI. The scholarship was his ticket to enroll at the Ateneo de Davao University, where he took BS Industrial Engineering. “I felt like I didn’t have to study much with numbers. It’s embedded in my system,” he explains on why he took the course. “I thought that being an engineer would put me in a better position to financially support my parents and younger sister’s education.”

After graduation, he worked in one of the world’s top food manufacturing companies and was assigned to Cagayan de Oro City. However, his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer beckoned. With the money he

saved, he decided to fulfill his dream. He pursued law at Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) and passed the bar in 2003.

On why he became a lawyer, he explains: “Generally, people look down on people who were economically challenged. We have the tendency to judge that they have no hopes especially in the province.”

Caraquel saw that through his mother’s experience. “I cannot forget how my mother tried to encourage me while she herself was hopeless. Oftentimes, I saw her in a state of malayo ang tingin wala namang tinatanaw. I wondered what she was thinking. Was it the hardship, the hopelessness or the treatment of some people around her?

“That significantly influenced me in dreaming to become a lawyer – to defend my family if someone will mistreat them, to uplift their spirit so that we can rise from poverty and to financially support my family.”

After passing the board exam, he worked for a company and it was just a matter of time that he was promoted and assigned in the headquarters in Makati. But after 10 years of lawyering in the country, he had enough and went to the United States.

This was in 2007. “I needed a vacation to relieve me from work stress,” he admits.

“I was a victim of corporate politics after working for 10

years. I asked for a month’s vacation. While waiting for my flight, the thought of me wanting to become a US immigration attorney came up,” he recalls.

Three weeks after his arrival, he asked his friends to pray for him with a specific request. He recalled: “If God has better plans for me in America, the Nestle USA will call my friends’ landline the following Monday at 9 am.”

True enough, at 9 in the morning that Monday, the phone rang and the company called. He was hired.

In 2012, Nick decided to work as a full-fledged lawyer in New York City. With only three weeks approved vacation from his work, he concentrated on 13 out of 21 subjects for the 2-day New York bar examinations. The first day was the toughest; it had the NY Bar five essay questions.

Before he left the hotel, he asked God to give him at least one topic he could focus on. Should that selected topic be one of those that will come out, he assumed that with God’s guidance, he would pass the bar exam. Out of nowhere, someone whispered in his ears to concentrate on libel and defamation.

The 100-multiple choice federal law portion and the first 2 essay questions were covered in the morning session. The afternoon session started with the third essay question and lo and behold

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VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

closure will certainly affects businesses.

“The consultations between the LGUs and private sector not only the local chamber but also with foreign chambers must be done,” he said.

Peralta also said that the exclusion of foreign chambers from consultations sends a bad signal to the foreign investors and at a time where there are competing countries for investments such as Vietnam.

“We need to have better coordination and transparency to ensure that the decision of government is attended to. What we know are only confined to what the city’s website tell

us and whatever comes out in the newspapers,” he said.

Peralta said business stakeholders need to know the impact of the closure on businesses and to prevent the folding up of other investors in Davao Region.

He cited two Japanese investors including Nakayama Technology Corporation in Digos City, which opted to permanently stop its operation due to unclear policies that were implemented.

“This will benefit both the LGUs and members of foreign chambers. In other places there is better coordination as there is clarity in the way measures are being implemented,” he said.

for nurses willing to fly to the nation’s capital. “I want to be part of this historical undertaking. I would like to help the people of Metro Manila especially at a time when COVID-19 cases are surging. Even if there’s this constant fear of getting infected, we are prepared for this. We are ready to help,” said Raven who expressed confidence that his experience in dealing with the coronavirus infection last year has prepared him for the challenges he will be facing at Makati Med. “We don’t just manage their symptoms. We also have to relieve their stress and anxiety because they’re afraid of what will happen next.”

Elviro Firmalino, Jr. of St. Elizabeth is no stranger to this effort as he also joined the augmentation team last year which was deployed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Santa Mesa, Manila. When the 39-year old Infection Control nurse was asked by the hospital to fly to Manila one more time, he did not hesitate.

“Of course, we’re also worried about COVID-19 especially now that there are more transmissible new variants. But we need to step up because no one else will. I’m doing this because I want the pandemic to end not just for me but for my parents because they are already senior citizens,” he said. Elviro is banking on his training in safe practices and procedures at St. Elizabeth Hospital to pull him through his assignment at Cardinal Santos.

Early this month, Augusto Palisoc, Jr., MPHHI

President and CEO, called on the whole hospital group if they could come to the aid of embattled sister hospitals in Metro Manila, struggling with the surge of COVID-19 patients. Heeding the call, the three said hospitals revisited their rosters to see how they would be impacted if they decide to send some of their nurses to NCR. The three facilities are also designated COVID treatment centers and continue to admit c o ro n av i r u s - p o s i t ive patients.

SEHI Nursing Directress Aster May Magno-Aso said that despite the danger, she is proud of her nurses for having the courage and determination to help out in these very uncertain times. “Before flying to Manila, we equipped them with additional courses on donning and removing PPEs (personal protective equipment), as well as more intense trainings on infection control measures.” She added, “We’re also thankful for the cooperation of our remaining staff nurses who agreed to cover for their colleagues who volunteered to be reassigned in Manila.

MPHHI, an affiliate of the Manuel V. Pangilinanled Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), has been working together to serve Filipinos during these extraordinary times.

Support for the group’s frontliners is part of the ongoing efforts of Tulong Kapatid—the consortium of foundations, companies and affiliates under the leadership of MVP.

Anvil Publishing, Inc. is the official publisher and distributor of the book. “Bigla, May Kumatok

sa Pinto” is available in National Bookstores and online shopping platforms for only PHP 395.

period. Blake Griffin scored 17 points off the bench, while Joe Harris added 16 points and four 3-pointers.

Brooklyn shot 48.2%, hit 18 3-pointers and handed out 30 assists.

Toronto was in action

less than 24 hours after beating Cleveland 112-96 in Tampa on Monday. Backto-back sets of games have been a problem all season for the Raptors, who are 2-12 on the second night of consecutive games.

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active cases admitted at the city’s temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs), isolation facilities, and Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

Out of the total 14,391 reported cases since the first case of Covid-19 was reported in Davao City in March 2020, there are a total of 13,434 recoveries.

“Taas-taas nata ug recoveries compared to the national. Kay tungod for the past week ang atong namatay related to Covid-19 isa lang that is why na-maintain nato ang 685 deaths. Ang forecast nako aning death rates kung wala nato na control nag-surpass nata sa 1,000 deaths. Na-maintain nato ang fatality rate to 685.

The total recoveries are accounted at 98.1 percent.

Ingon ana na lang kagamay ang atong kaso. Pero dili gyud ta dapat mag kumpyansa,” Lopez said.

Lopez also attributed the decline of cases to the implementation of the heightened surveillance and intensified contacttracing.

“This is way better than

the previous where we have around 300 to almost 400 dili to katingalahan kay mao to pagsugod sa pagimplement sa heightened surveillance and intensified contact tracing, naa gyud na mugawas na positive.

Lucky for Davao City as this is a proof na gamay lang ang atong kaso despite taas atong testing nga 1,400 per day ang atong average positive rate for Davao City is at 2.38 percent,” he said.

The drive-through surveillance swab testing for PUV drivers, courier service, and food delivery drivers is ongoing at the Crocodile Park along Ma-a, Diversion Road.

The surveillance RTPCR testing, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Monday to Saturday and will run until May 8, 2021, is supported by the mayor’s Executive Order (E.O.) 22, known as “An Order Providing for Heightened Surveillance and Response of Covid-19 Cases in Public Ground Transport and Delivery Services in Davao City”, that was signed on April 22, 2021. By Maya M. Padillo

ing and terrorism financing activities; and violations of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws, rules, and regulations.”

It added the Council has adopted an inverted triangle approach to supervision since 2017, with it on top followed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Insurance Commission (IC) at the middle level, and the covered persons like banks, trust entities, and pawnshops, at the bottom.

“In other words, the

AMLC partners with supervising authorities and appropriate government agencies to ensure covered persons under their respective jurisdictions comply with AML/CTF (anti-money laundering/ counter-terrorism financing) matters,” the AMLC Secretariat said.

However, it said “covered persons, such as banks and financial intermediaries, is the first line of defense in executing AML/ CTF preventive measures as they have direct contact with their customers.”

(PNA)

The virtual Labor’s Day Jobs Fair is held in partnership with DOLE-Regional Coordinating Council – the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPC), Technical

Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), and Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (RTIPC), Industrial Tripartite Councils (ITCs), and Malayan Colleges Mindanao. (PIA/RG Alama with reports from DOLE Davao)

tea-owned franchise, which is currently looking for a new local government partner after CDO begged off.

Mac Baracael and JR Cawaling, who starred for Far Eastern University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines during the late 2000’s, are set for a reunion as they will lead the way for Brew Authoritea.

Reil Cervantes, who last month was revealed to be the new main man of the CamSur Express in the National Basketball League, was also confirmed to be joining Brew Authoritea.

Completing the lineup are Ronjay Buenafe, Joseph Sedurifa, Paul Sanga, Lucas Tagarda, Ralph Salcedo, Francis Munsayac, Mark Sarangay, Brylle Meca, Andro Catipay, Andoy Estrella, and John Gonzaga.

Vis Valencia will coach Brew Authoritea, reuniting him with Estrella, who was his player with the Quezon City Capitals in the MPBL. Dale Lacorte and Leo Avenido will backstop Valencia in the coaching staff, while Nino Valenzuela has been named as the team manager. (PNA)

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the PHP333.2 billion same period last year.

As of end-March this year, total revenues amounted to PHP696.5 billion, 8.73 percent lower than year-ago’s PHP763.1 billion.

Expenditures rose by 19.86 percent to PHP1.017 trillion against year-ago’s PHP849.2 billion.

This resulted in a budget gap of PHP321.5 billion, 273.11 percent higher than the PHP86.2 billion last year.

In 2020, the government registered a PHP1.371-trillion budget gap, higher than year-ago’s PHP660.2 billion deficit but lower than the PHP138 trillion ceiling set by economic managers during the 178th meeting of the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on Dec. 3, 2020.

This year, the project-

ed budget gap is PHP1.78 trillion while it is PHP1.641 trillion for next year.

Dominguez said while the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) law will cut government revenues by around PHP1 trillion over a period of 10 years, economic managers still pushed for this reform.

“We think that this is the time to do it. The businesses need a fiscal stimulus, number one, and secondly, that it will attract more investments into our country over the long period of time,” he added.

Under Republic Act 11534, otherwise known as the CREATE Act, corporate income tax of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) was reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent while it was cut to 25 percent for other corporations. (PNA)

The company also claimed that it operated a hatchery in Quezon province, as well as a physical office in Quezon City.

The EIPD said Eco Hatchery’s compensation plan partakes of the nature of securities, particularly an investment contract, wherein a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits primarily from the efforts of others.

As a form of security, investment contracts must be registered with the SEC before they can be offered or sold within the Philippines, pursuant to Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code.

However, records of the commission show that Eco Hatchery is not authorized to solicit investments from the public as it has not secured the prior registration and/or license for such activities.

The EIPD said Eco Hatchery’s main strategy is actually to earn from the recruitment of new members or investors, presented in the guise of running a prawn, shrimp, crab, and fish farm.

“Necessarily, this scheme is unsustainable,

as it must rely on a continuous inflow of new investors in order to make payouts to earlier investors,” read the order. “(T)he scheme being offered by Eco Hatchery/ Eco Hatchery and Trading Corporation is clearly in the nature of ponzi scheme where the profits or payouts shall be taken from incoming investors or additional pay-ins of existing members-investors considering that it does not have any underlying legitimate business from where it could source its promised return on investments to its investors.”

The EIPD also said Eco Hatchery’s Articles of Incorporation explicitly stated that it “shall not solicit, accept, or take investments/placements from the public neither shall it issue investment contracts.”

The EIPD found Eco Hatchery to have committed fraud in the procurement of its registration, as its stockholders/directors/ incorporators Jose Marie Baquiran, Symphony Mondragon, Abner Pacheco, Lorenzo Mendez, and Stephen Cervantes provided wrong addresses in its Articles of Incorporation. (PR)

the topic was -- hold your breath! -- about libel and defamation. It was then that he knew he would pass the bar exam. And he did.

A few months later, Nick was in a quandary whether he would stay in the US or be back in the Philippines, although deep inside him, he wanted to stay. Again, he prayed asking that if his plans aligned with His plan for him,

he will receive his American citizenship notification on or before April 2 (Thursday).

And, yes, it happened as he had requested.

“All my life,” he says now, “I am guided by prayers in every major decision I make.

It’s a trait I learned from my mother. I always ask for God’s sign to give me confidence that the decisions I make are aligned with His.”

record 35 points in his team’s win on Saturday night against Tabogon, Pari Llagas had 20 boards

and 18 markers alongside three dimes and one steal for Tubigon, which dropped to 1-7.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

11

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second quarter at Chase Center. Reuters

Mandaue clinches VisMin Cup semis spot

M

andaue became the second team to book a ticket to the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Visayas leg semifinals after waylaying Tubigon, 80-50, on Tuesday at the Alcantara Civic Center in Cebu.

Mandaue banked on its solid defense in the middle quarters to pull away as it held Tubigon to less than 10 points in both the second and the third periods.

Tubigon was eventually held to the lowest scoring output so far in the young league, lower than the previous record of 53 the same Mandaue squad conceded to Tabogon on April 16.

Actually, the real previous league low was 46 from Siquijor during its opening night defeat to Mandaue, but the infamy was scratched off the record books following the expulsion of Siquijor from the VisMin Super Cup due to game fixing allegations.

“That’s getting to be

our identity as a team in the VisMin Cup, limiting our opponents and playing good defense. Kung hindi din ako nagkakamali, kami din ang nakapagbigay din ng lowest output of Talisay (If I am not mistaken, we were also the team that held Talisay to its lowest output so far),” Coach Mike Reyes said.

Reyes was referring to Mandaue’s first round meeting with Talisay in which despite the blowout defeat, the latter only made 77 points, the only time so far in the season that Talisay was held to less than 80.

Shaq Imperial led Mandaue, which moved up to 6-2 in the standings, with 15 points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block.

Gileant Delator had a perfect game of 4-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line for 13 points with five assists and one steal.

After dropping a league

FMANDAUE, P10

Doncic outplays Curry as Mavs pound Warriors

L

uka Doncic outscored Stephen Curry for the first time in five career head-to-heads and Dallas ran off 28 consecutive points bridging the first and second quarters as the Mavericks pounded the Golden State Warriors 133-103 on Tuesday night.

Doncic had a game-high 39 points on the second half of a back-to-back, helping the Mavericks (34-27) win the season series 2-1 over the Warriors (31-31) and go 3 1/2 games up in their duel for playoff position in the Western Conference.

The blowout was Dallas’ third straight in the twoyear history of San Francisco’s Chase Center. The Mavericks, who have never lost in the building, blitzed the Warriors by 20 and 27

points last season.

Curry, who had scored 57 points the last time the teams met in Dallas in February, finished with a teamhigh 27. He shot 5-for-9 on 3-pointers, while his teammates combined to go 11for-34.

Curry’s second 3-pointer of the game gave the Warriors, seeking a third straight win, a 12-11 lead in the fourth minute before the Mavericks began their total domination at both

ends of the court.

Tim Hardaway Jr. hit a pair of 3-pointers among 11 points and Dallas shot 5-for7 on 3-pointers in the first quarter, during which the Mavericks ran off to a 36-12 lead.

Jalen Brunson added a sixth 3-pointer to increase the margin to 27 before Jordan Poole ended a 9:40 Golden State drought with a trey, just the Warriors’ fifth hoop of the game’s first 13 minutes.

The 28-0 blitz was the longest for the Mavericks since a 26-0 run at Houston on Nov. 25, 2009.

The nationally televised game was never competitive after Golden State drought, with Dallas extending its lead to 62-29 by halftime before both teams

emptied the bench in the second half.

Doncic shot 15-for-23, helping Dallas finish at 52.2 percent for the game.

Hardaway (13), Nicolo Melli (13), Dorian Finney-Smith (13), Brunson (12) and Maxi Kleber (10) also scored in double figures for Dallas, which won for the fourth time in its last five games.

Mychal Mulder added 26 points, Andrew Wiggins 15, and Poole and Kelly Oubre Jr. 10 apiece for Golden State, which was held to season-lows for a quarter (12 in the first) and a half (29 in the first).

The Warriors had put up 147 and 132 points while splitting their first two meetings with the Mavericks in Dallas.

3-pointer with 1:47 remaining and glared at the Toronto bench after putting his team up 111-101.

Kyrie Irving finished with nine points, six rebounds and four assists while making just 3 of 13 shots. But the other seven Nets who played all finished in double figures on the night Brooklyn became the first Eastern Conference team to lock up a postseason berth.

The Nets won for a third straight time and the fourth

time in five games to prevent Toronto from pulling off the season sweep. The Raptors, who were led by Kyle Lowry’s 24 points and six 3-pointers, had their fivegame home winning streak end. One of those victories was a 114-103 defeat of the Nets in Tampa last week.

Newly signed guard Mike James scored all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Nets rallied from an 83-80 deficit to start the final

Nets secure playoff berth with rout of Raptors

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Kevin Durant scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

AMPA, Florida —Kevin Durant scored seven of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, Jeff Green had 22 points and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Toronto Raptors, 116-103, on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time) and clinched a playoff spot.

Durant, who was playing his second game after returning from a thigh injury, added 10 rebounds in 33 minutes for his eighth double-double of the season. Durant hit a

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12 SPORTS

VOL.13 ISSUE 262 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 VOL.14 ISSUE 38• THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

STAR POWER Actor Gerald Anderson in file photo.

Actor Gerald Anderson joining VisMin Cup

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he Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao leg just got some star power.

Actor and former reality show star Gerald Anderson is joining the team formerly known as the Cagayan De Oro Rafters for the Mindanao leg scheduled to tip off on May 25 pending the clearance from the Games and Amusements Board.

The 5-foot-11 guard, who still got to play high school hoops in his hometown of General Santos and last played for the Imus Bandera in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), signed up with the Brew AuthoriFSTAR, P10

FHAIL, P10