Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 40 | Saturday, May 1, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

PEARL FARM: WHERE FUN MEANS SAFETY

Serving a seamless society

PARTIAL CLOSURE

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

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RIATF approves partial closure of the borders of Davao Region STORY ON PAGE 2

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Laborers prepare the metal foundation of a building being built along Chavez Street in Davao City on Friday. The whole nation commemoratares today the creation of the labor movement and the social and economic achievements and contributions of Filipino workers.

Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

A public utility bus driver undergoes swab test at the drive-thru swabbing area at the Davao Crocodile Park in Ma-A, Davao City. 72 of the 5,582 swabbed individuals under the community surveillance swab testing of the city government of Davao from March 31 to April 26 are positive of Covid-19. Edge Davao

PARTIAL CLOSURE

Pygmy slow loris rescued in Tawi-Tawi

By JANINE DELA CRUZ, Ateneo de Davao Intern

RIATF approves partial closure A of the borders of Davao Region

By MAYA M. PADILLO he Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) has approved the appeal of the city government of Davao to partially close down the borders of Davao Region to ensure that only essential travelers can enter the region.

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Department of Interior and Local Government 11 (DILG 11) Regional Director Alex Roldan announced that RIATF has approved Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s request for the partial closed down and small things are need-

ed only for this to be implemented.

“Ang resolusyon katong guidelines gyud are subject for comments sa local government units kay sila man ang mu-implement,” Roldan said in an interview with PTV4.

All passengers entering Davao Region are now required to present a 72-hour negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result.

On the other hand, Dr. Ashley Lopez, acting head of the City Health Office (CHO), said the partial closed down of borders is expected to start next week.

In last week’s broadcast interview with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR), Lopez disclosed that the city

he Department of Transportation (DOTr) targets to complete the acquisition of the road right of way (RROW) for the 102-kilometer phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project by the third quarter of 2021.

During the virtual news conference on 2020 economic performance of Davao Region on Thursday, Maria Lourdes Lim, regional director of National

Economic Development Authority-Davao, said the negotiation for the acquisition of RROW for the depot and stations sites of the Tagum City-Davao City-Digos City (TDD) segment of the railway project is ongoing with the property owners.

She said acquisition rates vary in Tagum City, Carmen, and Panabo in Davao del Norte, Santa Cruz and Digos City in

Davao del Sur, and Davao City.

Once completed, Lim said actual construction of phase 1 is expected to begin by the fourth quarter of this year or only months away before President Rodrigo R. Duterte steps down on June 30, 2022.

“However, the loan negotiation between governments of Philippines and China – this is an ODA (official development as-

government of Davao is expected to implement “test before travel” to Davao City which will require passengers to present a 72-hour negative RT-PCR test result upon arrival at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT).

“Atong i-implement ang test before travel among passengers particularly those non- APOR (authorized persons outside residence). Kansang muadto lang ug resorts, mubisita ug parente. Even returning residents,” Lopez said.

sistance)-funded project – is still being perfected,” she said.

The cost of the TDD segment is pegged at P81.7 billion, according to DOTr. The TDD segment is the first phase of the 1,550-kilometer MRP that aims to connect the key cities of Davao, Butuan, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga and General Santos.

DOTr says RROW acquisition for phase 1 of Mindanao railway completed by Q3 of 2021

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Philippine slow loris was rescued from its malnourished condition while under the care of a local resident in Tawi-Tawi, the Bangsamoro Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (Menre) said.

Locally known as “Kokam”, the animal was found in a malnourished condition in Barangay Mandulan, Bongao municipality after being held captive for a few months, the Menre added.

It did not elaborate further but it said it took the animal in its custody and was closely being monitored.

“The slow loris is now being monitored to determine if it has any diseases or if it is already capable of acclimatizing to its natural diet and habitat,” Tawi-Tawi 1st District Community Enre Officer Saido Espiliro said.

The Tawi-Tawi Enre Office and the Police Provincial Office in Baywalk, Pahut, Bongao jointly conducted the rescue.

Lorises belong to a family of primates known as Lorisidae, in which there are nine genera and over 25 species, according to the Vietnam-based Endangered Primate Rescue Center. The family includes the Loris of Asia and the galagos and pottos of Africa.

The eight species of Loris currently recognized range across India, Sri Lanka, and the Southeast Asian mainland up to southern China, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

The EPRC said that “like every other primate, a Loris’ fingers and toes have nails although their second toe has a claw. This characteristic allows the Loris to climb trees quite skillfully despite their slow movement. However, they don’t prefer to travel on the ground and they need a closed tree canopy for an easy walk. Lorises love to eat insects and tree sap for which they can forage themselves by drilling holes into tree bark and extract the tree sap with their relatively sharp teeth” In 2015, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified it as vulnerable due to their decreasing population caused by human encroachment into their natural habitat for pet trade.

The Bangsamoro information Office quoted Emerson Sy, executive director of the Philippine Center for Terrestrial and Aquatic Research, as saying this was the second time a Philippine slow loris was rescued from captivity in the last

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Davao City’s Covid-19 cases continue to drop

By SABRINA PANGILINAN, Ateneo de Davao Intern

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Senator Ronald “Bato”dela Rosa says he is against defunding the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), warning that this would just benefit communist rebels. Edge Davao

LTFRB 11 assists in enforcement of strict regulations at city’s borders

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he enforcement team of the regional office of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB 11) is assisting Davao City in enforcing Covid-19 regulations at the Task Force Davao checkpoint in Toril, Davao City in preparation for the city’s plan of partially closing down the borders of Davao Region from non-essential travelers. allowing only necessary travelers such as emergency, medical, and other “humanitarian consideration” to enter the city due to the preparation of a semi-closed border.

“Ginapadala namo ang enforcers sa border in coordination with the Highway Patrol Group,” said Nonito Llanos III, regional director of LTFRB 11, in a text message.

Llanos requested operators and drivers to always follow the government’s health and safety protocols in order to help deter the spread of Covid-19 in the region.

The strict implementation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines was taken into consideration while traveling public utility vehicles (PUVs) entered and exited the border.

This came after the recent discovery of new Covid-19 variants in neighboring provinces in Mindanao, as well as a rise in Covid-19 cases in some areas of the region.

LTFRB 11 reported three public utility buses (PUBs) apprehended for breaching health and safety guidelines owing to the lack of social distancing between travelers, as part of a national anti-colorum campaign.

The second had a defective UV Dash-cam with no Barrier attached, and one (1) UVE was intercepted due to its expired registration.

veteran lawmaker who is the current national chairman of the 17,000-strong Philippine Councilors League (PCL) appealed to the country’s senators to reject a much ballyhooed proposal to defund the National Task Force to End Local Communist (NTF-ELCAC) as the task force is a wise move to finally end the 50-year old insurgency in the Philippines.

Davao City Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang,

PCL national chairman, in a statement said there is wisdom in the issuance by President Rodrigo R. Duterte of Executive Order 70 providing for a whole-of-nation approach in defeating the Local Communist Terrorists Groups.

“This EO has synchronized well all the government resources to make this endeavor implementable,” Dayanghirang said, adding “I am totally against the realignment of ELCAC funds.”

He said that “it is only

under the Duterte administration that we have a lot of surrenderees because this program allows them to reintegrate back into the mainstream of society with full support of the government.”

“If there were misgivings along the way brought about by certain personalities, I think sincere apologies is enough, then we move forward and continue our joint effort in nation-building,” the PCL leader said.

“Removing the budget

would just put everything to perdition, and the enemies of the state will be celebrating at the expense of the Filipino people who voted for us to lead them,” Dayanghirang said.

He said, ”let’s give the Armed Forces of the Philippines and this government the privilege to execute in full this innovative approach to end communism which has brought so many deaths and destruction to our society.” (With reports of DAISY ENCABO-DCD Info Unit)

he first shipment of 15,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines has left Russia and is now on its way to the Philippines, Ambassador Carlos Sorreta said in a Facebook post on Thursday night.

Sorreta said the vaccines versus COVID-19 would arrive "by May 1."

Logistical issues have delayed of the trial order which was supposed to arrive on Wednesday.

The Russian vaccines

need to be stored at -20°C, thus the trial order. The rest of the vaccines from Russia will consist of 480,000 doses.

The 480,000 doses was initially scheduled to arrive on Thursday along with 500,000 Sinovac doses, which arrived as scheduled.

The Palace said among the “challenges” for the delivery of the vaccines were the absence of direct flights from Russia to the Philippines, and the required

temperature for the vaccine's storage.

At a Palace news conference, the government’s vaccine czar said an initial 15,000 Sputnik V doses are expected to arrive on April 25.

Galvez said 195,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine from the COVAX Facility might arrive by the end of the month.

The Philippines is set to receive 1 to 2 million Sputnik V shots in May and 2

million in June, he added.

"First shipment of Sputnik V vaccines (15,000 doses) left today, 29 April, from Moscow and should be in Manila by 1 May. More to come in the next weeks and months," Sorreta said.

"Thank you to President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov and Foreign Ministry officials, the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Gamaleya Institute for their cooperation, patience and understanding," he added.

In its Facebook Page, LTFRB 11 stated that this was requested by the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), the enforcement team of LTFRB 11 operated at the Task Force base in Toril,

Dayanghirang to senators: Don’t defund NTF-ELCAC

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15,000 doses of 'trial order' Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccines on their way to PH

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he city government has recorded a declining number of Covid-19 infection here, as well as a decreasing positivity rate within the past two weeks.

“We are lower than the WHO (World Health Organization) threshold of 5 percent, which only indicates that we have a relatively low transmission for Covid-19 here,” City Health Office Chief, Dr. Ashely Lopez, told the Covid -19 Alert program on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Davao City has recorded between 35 to 40 cases daily, a sharp drop from the 100 or more cases recorded during the local surge early this year. By April, the number of cases were in the vicinity of 20, and declining. A daily Department of Health monitoring shows 27 new cases on April 14, going down to 20 the week later on April 20, and further down to 12 new cases on April 27.

Lopez said that for the past two weeks, the city’s average Covid-19 positivity rate stood at 3.8 percent, below the WHO threshold of 5 percent.

Also, he said, the city has relatively lower death rates compared to the previous months. On the selected monitoring dates by the DOH, there was only one death recorded, on April 20, and none on the other two sample monitoring days.

“The low death rate is an indication of the city’s efficient Covid-19 response and the efficient utilization of care and treatment facilities,” Lopez said.

However, the death of Covid-19 patients may be likely due to underlying health conditions or co-morbidities.

The hospital’s critical utilization rate has also decreased by 50 percent.

Lopez said that due to the low occupancy rate at the country’s largest government hospital, the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) could now accommodate more patients with moderate, severe and critical cases.

Lopez cautioned however, that “because of our intensified activities in contact tracing and mandatory testing, it is not surprising that our positivity rate will rise, although, it is not that significant”.

He attributed the city’s improved Covid-19 situation to stricter implementation of Covid-19 policies and regulations. It included stricter contact tracing and surveillance activities to continue the downward trend of positive cases in the city.

This month, the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) classified the city at “minimum risk” and was now at “low risk.”

Youth workers make 5-point call to action amid Covid-19 pandemic

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n celebration of the Labor Day on May 1, the Associated Labor Unions (ALU)-Associated Philippine Seafarers Union (APSU) Youth called on national leaders to protect young workers who have been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Young workers aged 15-34 made up 45% of the Philippines’ labor force in 2019. They are employed in wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food service activities, construction, and transportation and storage. These are sectors hardest hit by the pandemic.

One out of six young people in the world has stopped working since the start of the Covid -19 crisis according to the International Labour Organization in May 2020. In April 2020, the Philippines reached its highest unemployment rate of 17.7%, of which 60% were young workers.

ALU Southern Mindanao Region Education and Information Officer, Melba Tampakan said “young workers are the first to experience job insecurity, income reduction or loss, and precarious work arrangements. The pandemic also disrupted education and training.”

ALU National Education and Information Officer Geraldine Grace

Hoggang added that these impacts on young workers also affected their mental well-being.

“The fear of contracting the virus, work-life imbalance caused by new work arrangements, and economic losses have caused stress and anxiety among young workers, affecting their mental well-being.

Young workers are also more vulnerable to violence and harassment,” Hoggang said.

The young workers’ five-point call asks for the government to: 1. Preserve employment and create new jobs especially those that respond to the public health crisis; ensure just transition to a green economy; and expand opportunities in science and technology, engineering, math, and other fields that address the impacts of Industry 4.0.

2. Enforce labor standards especially on wages and wage-related benefits, safety and health, social protection, and uphold rights to organize and collective bargaining to protect workers, especially young workers against exploitation, unsafe work conditions, unfair labor practices, and red-tagging.

3. Effectively prevent, detect, isolate, treat, and control Covid-19 in-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

Davao City is considered as the main trade, commerce, and industry hub of Davao Region and Mindanao. The Philippine Statistics Authority-Davao has reported that Davao Region’s gross regional domestic product decreased by 7.6 percent in 2020 from a positive growth rate of 7 percent in 2019 due mainly to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Edge Davao

Davao Region GRDP T shrinks by 7.6% in ‘20

Landbank releases P60-B to UCT beneficiaries

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avao Region’s gross regional domestic product contracted by 7.6 percent in 2020 from a positive growth rate of 7 percent in 2019 owing to the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to Philippine Statistics Authority-Davao director Ruben Abaro Jr. During the virtual news conference on the 2020 economic performance of the region on Thursday, Abaro said the region’s economy was estimated at P832.1 billion, lower by P68.8 billion as against P900.9 billion reported in 2019.

Of the 11 major industries, he said the “other services,” which include recreation, gambling, and personal services, incurred

the biggest contraction at 38.2 percent. This was followed by accommodation and food services activities as well as transportation and storage at 34.7 percent and 34.5 percent, respectively.

But Abaro said there were industries that performed positively last year such as the financial and insurance activities with an expansion of 7.9 percent,

public administration with 6.4 percent, and information and communication with 3.9 percent.

In terms of share to the economic growth, the services accounted for 58.8 percent of the total regional economy while the share of industry and agriculture, fisheries, and forestry accounted for 24.2 percent and 18.9 percent, respectively, he said.

However, the official reported that the services and industry sectors, which posted negative growth rates of 3.9 percent each, had pulled down the overall GRDP growth of Davao Region for last year. The agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sector was the only one that reported positive growth at 0.2 percent.

He said the region emerged as the fifth biggest economy in the country and the biggest in Mindanao by the end of 2020. The National Capital Region emerged as the biggest nationwide while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was the smallest.

Before lockdowns were imposed in the second quarter of last year, National Economic Development Authority-Davao said the region ushered the year 2020 with “hope and optimism” that it would continue to be one of the fastest economically growing regions in the country.

“There was good reason to believe so because the region grew by 7 percent in

“What we want to do is learn to walk first before running so we want to get as much experience as possible before we consider more players in the market,” he said.

To date, BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) has approved the digital bank license of Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank), a subsidiary of the state-owned Land Bank of

the Philippines (Landbank) after the latter acquired the Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PPSB).

OFBank initially had a thrift banking license and started operations in June 2020 to cater to overseas Filipinos. It received its digital banking license from the BSP on March 25, 2021.

Diokno said the other applicants for digital banking license are two thrift

banks that want to convert their license and a new player.

He said the applicants are given a year upon the approval of the MB of their applications to complete the requirements for digital banking operations.

Diokno said the existing banks are expected to start operations within the second half of this year while the new players, by 2022.

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BSP sets limit on pioneer digital banking players

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angko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said they are limiting the initial batch of digital banking players to five as the central bank has received four license applications.

In a virtual briefing Thursday, Diokno said they put a cap on the initial players because they want to observe first the operations of these entities.

he Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has released PHP60.36 billion in unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) as of December 2020 to beneficiary-households of the Duterte administration’s social mitigation program under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN).

These disbursements were from the program funds for the UCT program released from March 2018 up to December last year, Landbank president-chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo said in a statement Thursday.

From March 2018 to December 2020, a total of PHP22.53 billion was disbursed by the Landbank to UCT beneficiaries from the UCT program funds under the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) Another PHP23.71 billion under the FY 2019 UCT program funds was released from July 2019 to December 2020, and PHP14.12 billion from the 2020 UCT program fund in December last year.

Borromeo submitted her report on the usage of the UCT funds transferred by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) to Landbank to Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Finance Secretary and Landbank chairman Carlos Dominguez III was fur-

nished a copy of the report.

Under the TRAIN, up to 30 percent of the incremental revenues from the law is earmarked for social mitigation measures, such as the UCTs, while 70 percent is earmarked for President Duterte’s centerpiece program “Build, Build, Build.”

Republic Act (RA) No. 10963 or the TRAIN Law, which also slashed personal income tax (PIT) rates for 99 percent of salary earners, was implemented starting January 2018.

RA 10963 benefits salary earners because the hefty cuts in their PIT tax payments translates into extra income for these taxpayers equivalent to about a onemonth take-home pay.

This law also adjusted the excise taxes on fuel, which prompted the inclusion of the social mitigation program to ease the initial impact of the adjustments on the poorest 50 percent of the population.

For 2018, the law provided a UCT of PHP2,400 each for some 10 million targeted households.

For the succeeding years of 2019 and 2020, each beneficiary-household received PHP3,600.

The UCT fund for 2018 of PHP24.488 billion covered the PHP24 billion in cash grants for 10 million beneficiaries.

While PHP22.53 billion in UCT funds were disbursed, around PHP1.47

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ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

IMF says PH economy could grow by 6.9%

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VIRTUAL JOBS FAIR. A representative of a private company conducts an online job interview on an applicant during the Mati PESO (Public Employment Services Office) virtual jobs fair held at the Mati City Hall

on Friday, March 30. Out of the 28,000 applicants only 400 were catered for the online interview of which 10% will be hired on the spot. (CIO MATI)

House bill granting President power to procure pork filed

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lawmaker at the House of Representatives has filed a measure authorizing the President to directly procure pork in times of emergency to effectively and immediately address any crisis situations that disrupt the supply of pork.

In filing House Bill 9256 or the Affordable Pork Act of 2021, Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo said only the government would have the ability to “buy high” from local producers and “sell low” to consumers.

Quimbo said allowing government to directly procure meat ensures that any tariff reduction will translate to lower pork prices in the market as it becomes the source of competition for importers.

“With government acting as the “middleman,” it can ensure that pork is bought from local hog raisers at a reasonable price, then sold at a retail price that is competitive with imports. In effect, government provides a price support to local producers during the crisis, while also ensuring consumers can buy pork at the lowest possible prices,” she said in a separate statement on Thursday.

She said the bill also allows local importers to be insulated from threats of

competition while it transitions to more efficient production methods and better protection against the African swine fever (ASF).

“The bill authorizes the President to directly procure pork in times of emergency in order to sell in the market. In the current situation, local producers must be able to sell their supply at a price that is high enough to help them recover costs,” she said.

To help those impacted by the recent calamities and to facilitate the development of the local hog industry, the measure provides that all tariff revenues from pork imports for the next six years shall be earmarked towards a swine competitiveness enhancement fund (SCEF).

“Gagamitin ang SCEF para palakasin ang local hog industry. Popondohan nito ang bakuna kontra ASF, subsidies para sa transportation ng pork meat, development programs, pautang sa mga hog raisers, at insurance

(The SCEF will be used to strengthen the local hog industry. This will fund protection against ASF, subsidies for transportation of pork meat, development programs, credit assistance for hog raisers, and insurance),” she said.

To facilitate more efficient investigation and prosecution of cases of anti-competitive behavior in the pork supply chain, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs to provide the Philippine Competition Commission with necessary information to evaluate the pork meat industry.

She said higher penalties will also be imposed on smugglers of pork meat, suffering the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of thrice the fair value of smuggled pork products and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties, and other charges avoided.

Finally, to ensure that minimum access volume (MAV) allocations and the benefits from lower tariff rates are maximized, the measure proposes that import permits shall be deemed approved if an agency fails to act on the same within the prescribed period.

“Ang layunin ng panukala ko: protektahan ang local hog industry, pati na rin ang consuming public.

With HB 9256, magiging

mas mababa at patas ang presyo sa merkado, at titibay din ang industriya ng baboy (The goal of my bill is to protect the local hog industry, as well as the consuming public. With HB 9256, the price [of pork] would be fairer and lower in the market, and the hog industry would be strengthened),” she said.

Executive Order 128, 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.

Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the EO is an emergency measure targeted to ensure an 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)

to pursue the GPDP 2 that will help in developing the country’s natural gas sector.

Under the partnership, the UPSCRFI will provide technical assistance and research to the DOE that will help the agency to formulate policies that will attract investments in the natural gas sector in the country.

“A robust natural gas industry is crucial to ensuring a secure and sustain-

able energy future for the Philippines,” Cusi said.

Before this, the DOE and UPSCRFI partnered for the first phase of GPDP implemented from September 2018 to January 2020.

Through the GPDP 1, the DOE was provided with technical assistance to implement the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation.

“We were able to craft an investor’s guide, finan-

cial and technical recommendations for review of applications, and the research study on market profiling with emphasis on the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power economic zones,” Cusi said.

The project is also supported by the United States Department of State through its U.S. Asia EDGE (Enhancing Development and Growth through Ener-

DOE, UP foundation continue partnership for gas policy dev’t

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he Department of Energy (DOE) and the University of the Philippines Statistical Center Research Foundation, Inc. (UPSCRFI) have renewed their partnership to continue the second phase of the Gas Policy Development Project (GPDP 2).

On Thursday, DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi and UPSCRFI president Gervacio Selda Jr. signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA)

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he International Monetary Fund has upgraded its Philippine economic growth forecast this year to 6.9 percent from 6.6 percent but warned of downside risks due to uncertainties brought by the pandemic.

The upgrade was attributed to the stronger than expected fourth quarter gross domestic product growth and “expansionary” fiscal policy stance, IMF resident representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang told ANC. Unused funds from the 2020 budget and the emergency response Bayanihan laws, which will be carried over to 2021, can boost fiscal stimulus this year, he said.

“Taking these two factors, we thought there is ground for upgrade in the forecast. But of course, since then things have changed quite rapidly. This is a significant downside risk that we will take into account going forward,” Yang said.

“Overall we’re facing uncertainty and any forecast should be viewed that way and be revised as new information comes in,” he added.

The government on Wednesday announced that Metro Manila and 4 adjacent provinces would

remain under modified enhanced community quarantine for 2 more weeks or until May 14.

Experts have said quarantine restrictions could negatively affect growth, but improved global prospects could serve as a boost, the IMF official said.

When asked if the worsening COVID-19 cases in India could affect the Philippines’ growth prospect, he said “direct impact maybe not huge partly because there is relatively smaller trade between Philippines and India compared to large countries.”

The IMF noted the country’s healthy gross international reserves that hit $109.08 billion by the end of February.

Economic managers have been reiterating that the country’s solid macroeconomic fundamentals have helped speed up COVID-19 response and have mitigated overall pandemic impact to the economy.

The Asian Development Bank earlier said the Philippine economy could grow by at least 4.5 percent this year, while Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua earlier said the government approved a growth forecast of 7.5 percent this year.

Mati LGU holds virtual job fair

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he City of Mati LGU thru its Public Employment Services Office held a one-day virtual job fair on April 30.

Mati PESO head Pauline Olita said their oneday virtual job fair is in partnership with the Region 11 Department of Labor and Employment.

Five companies participated in the job fair held a day before Labor Day namely Alfalink Total Solution Corp., Mars Agri Ventures and Commodities, Pryce Gases Inc., Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc., and VXI Global Holdings

B.V. PESO conducted a pre-registration days before the job fair wherein about 28,000 applied.

However, out of the 28,000 only 400 applicants were catered and invited for online interview by the five companies.

The online interviews were held at the Executive Conference Room of Mati City Hall from 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon of March 30.

Olita said that they aim to hire 10% of the applicants on the spot.

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DOT urges tourism players to avail of interest-free loans from government

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ntrepreneurs in the tourism sector should avail of interest-free loans from the P6 billion loan package offered by the government as the travel industry continues to reel from the COVID-19 crisis, a tourism official said Thursday.

The P6 billion COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises for Tourism Rehabilitation and Vitalization of Enterprises and Livelihood (CARES for TRAVEL) is provided under the country's second coronavirus response law also known as the Bayanihan 2.

However, only P145 million has been applied for and released, DOT Director for Tourism Standards and Regulation Virgilio Maguigad told reporters in an online briefing.

"There is an existing P6

billion fund...it's a loan program to give interest-free loans for our MSMEs and we'd like to take this opportunity for our enterprises to access this fund," Maguigad said.

The loans, seen to help tourism businesses stay afloat, won't come with an interest but only with a one-time service charge, he said.

The government has also earmarked P3 billion for tourism workers nationwide estimated to be at 110,000, excluding the indirect workers, he said.

Despite the pandemic, some hotel players continue to operate by serving as isolation, quarantine facilities as well as temporary shelters for healthcare workers.

Hotel operator Reddoorz said out of its over 220 hotels nationwide,

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

On the opening of classes in August 23, 2021 Kung talagang talaga ba na sa August 23, it is the President who will determine the opening of schools. We are recommending to the President August 23 as far as we can stretch the legal requirement for the full opening but we are also aware that on the conditions of our emergencies”

Education Secretary Leonor Briones

EDITORIAL

A never-ending task

One of the reasons that Davao City and neighboring communities attract so many tourists are the rare and beautiful sights that behold visitors.

But of course, there are now so many amazing places to go and see, on earth, beyond what we were taught to be the Seven Wonders of the World in our grade school days.

The multi-trillion dollar travel and tour industry is responsible for assigning many more sights to see and enjoy. Yes, “ a thing of beauty is a joy forever,” as John Keats, the short-lived British poet, romanticized in his poem “Endymion.”

And so it is that it has become customary of government to preserve and protect what it calls heritage sites. Heritage being an official location where pieces of political, military, cultural, or social history have been preserved due to their cultural heritage value. (It may be any building, landscape, site or structure that is of local, regional or national significance).

Ergo, Mt. Apo, the undisputed highest peak in the country, is a heritage site. Likewise the amazing Island Garden City of Samal, as seen from the city. Dava Oriental’s Mt. Hamiguitan, which harbors a dwarf forest and the sleeping dinosaur of Pujada Island in Mati City are in this category.

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

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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

It is therefore not surprising that a Davao City ordinance numbered 92, bans the construction of advertising signboards that obstruct the view of heritage sites.

The constitutionality of this ordinance has been upheld in a recent decision of the Supreme Court.

Now, proposed amendments to this piece of legislation are being tackled by a committee headed by Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang.

The amendments involve other sites where giant billboards are prohibited in order not to block the view of the heritage sites. The fate of the amendments will be known anytime when the City Council lawmakers vote on them.

One thing is certain - - preserving the view of heritage sites would be a never-ending task. The building boom in Davao City would make it so.

This is so because some structures being built now are sure-fire candidates to be sites of political, historical, and even cultural significance.

These big-ticket projects are the first road tunnel of the country (part of the Davao By-pass Road), the Davao-Samal Island connector bridge, the Mindanao Railway and the fantastic Davao Coastal Road about to be completed.

And so, in less than five years, there would be need for additional amendments to the ordinance.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

FRANK A. CROWHURST, BRITISH PLANTER Prior to joining the abaca industry in Davao, British Frank A. Crowhurst was a correspondent for the London Times until he took interest in the prospects the Philippines offered following the U.S. takeover from Spanish rule. After deciding to settle in the subdistrict of Mampising, in the village of Tagnanan, Mabini, Davao de Oro, he organized the Moro Plantation Company in 1906 in California, with him as general manager.

Why Crowhurst, the second foreigner to open a plantation in Davao during the American Occupation, chose Moro as the name of his firm is unclear. He could have been inspired by another plantation, the Moro Improvement & Trading Company, which was based in Tagnanan.

That same year, he joined the newly organized Philippine Hemp Machine Company in Manila. The firm,

registered under the laws of the Philippines, had a capital of P150,000 and counted among its incorporators M. A. Clarke, J. S. Gillies, Franklin G. Colby, Benito Legarda, John Gibson, M. L. Stewart, W. T. Anderson, John W. Haussermann, D. R. Williams, James F. Macleod, Charles A. Reynolds, and Maj. George P. Ahern.

The company promoted the Gillies machines, weighing about 90 kgs when equipped for artificial power and about 45 kgs for hand-power, which was used to extract the abaca fiber.

Crowhurst’s estate, covered under Application No. 979-3815, was a 783.9932-hectare property with a 1.6-km seafront and extended inland to around 1.6 km. The soil was light sandy loam and sub-irrigated. It had a deep layer of rich mold resulting from heavy forestation. Water was available anywhere in the plantation

within three to four feet.

The plantation, under a 25-year lease, hosted some 70,000 hemp hills and planted to Maguindanao, Bangulanun, and Tangounan abaca varieties. Intercropped were few coconut trees, and labor was handled by Mansaka, Moro, and Visayan workers, each assigned with parcels to cultivate. Plants like spices and coffee were also introduced in the farm on experimental basis.

To his credit, Crowhurst, just years after starting his company, became president of Davao Planters’ Association (DPA), which promoted the interests of plantation owners and the entire district at large. In the Feb. 15, 1911 issue of The Tacoma Times, a newspaper based in Washington, D.C., he was described as a man “who with admirable skill molded the [DPA] which bids fair to become the chief agricultural authority of

the Philippine Islands.”

As DPA head, he had to deal on issues ranging from incursions of Kalagan lands to Moro slavery contained in an anonymous letter and caught the attention of groups like the Asemblea Filipina (Filipino Assembly) and the Voz de Mindanao (Voice of Mindanao). In a June 25, 1908 letter published in The Mindanao Herald, Crowhurst denied the charge of slave labor, stating: Regarding slavery, a mere effectual stop has been put to this since the American occupation than at all previous times during Spanish occupancy. The Moro is absolutely free to come and go the same as other wild men. The only cases that the writer knows of where slaves have been known to exist during the last two or three years has been where they have been held by the Moro datus, the slaves being taken from the neighboring tribes.

Meanwhile, assisting Crowhurst in the company operation was his wife, described as ‘representative of… our Revolutionary fathers [who] keenly feel the pangs of separation and who today strengthen the bond of friendship between nations.’

She was respected and trusted and was the person native women approached for guidance and coaching.

Crowhurst’s role in the hemp industry of Davao added another alien flavor beyond what was introduced by the Americans and the Japanese. He was persistent in his ambition and was successful in bringing diversity to the laborers that made his plantation lucrative.

He died in 1919 and his remains are buried at the Davao American Veterans and Masonic Cemetery, beside the Roman Catholic Cemetery, at Wireless, Davao City.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

HERE’S HOW TO MEND A BROKEN HEART During my college days, one of my favorite American singers was Kenny Rogers. One of the songs I liked was “A Love Song.” The memorable lines go this way: “Why do people cry when they hear the word goodbye in a love song? Tears are sure to fall when you know they gave it all in a love song.”

Another stanza has these words: “Each of us know there’s no guarantee we’ll ever find love. And in the songs that we share, the heartache is there to remind us.”

More often than not, being broken heart is real. Some people have a hard time moving on after love has ended. There are those who still long that love will rekindle again for both of them. For some it may happen but for most, it won’t.

Helen Reddy’s song comes to mind: “I can’t say goodbye to you no matter how I tried.

You’re such a part of me without you, I would die. Deep in the heart of me, I know that you and I were meant to be together, I can’t tell you goodbye.”

Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz once wrote: “Why can’t we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together?

I guess that wouldn’t work.

Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes.”

For many people having a broken heart is something that may not be recognized at first, as it takes time for an emotional or physical loss to be fully acknowledged. “Human beings are not always aware of what they are feeling,” Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson points out.

“Like animals, they may not be able to put their feelings into words.”

This does not mean we have no feelings. Well-known psychologist Sigmund Freud once speculated that a man could be in love with a woman for six years and not know it until many years later. Such a man, with all the goodwill in the world, could not have verbalized what he did not know.

He had the feelings, but he did not know about them.

It may sound like a paradox—paradoxical because when we think of a feeling, we think of something that we are consciously aware of feeling. As Freud put it in his 1915 article The Unconscious: “It is surely of the essence of an emotion that we should be aware of it.

Yet it is beyond question that we can ‘have’ feelings that we do not know about.”

Even the Holy Bible has a passage on the subject: “Insults have broken my heart and left me weak, I looked for sympathy but there was none; I found no one to comfort me” (Psalm

69:20. In this verse, King David explains that insults have broken his heart, not loss or pain. It is also a popular belief that rejection, major or minor, can break an individual’s heart.

This heartbreak can be greatly increased if rejected by a loved one or someone whom you respect.

So, how do you mend a broken heart? Having been broken-hearted several times over, I can say I am an expert on the subject. Here’s what you can do: Accept it. No matter what you do, it is the end of a beautiful relationship. If there is a beginning, there is always an ending. You cannot control the feeling of the other person. When it comes to love, two hearts must combine to beat as one. If there’s only one that beats, then it is not love at all. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, be glad that you were part of the other person’s life before.

It’s not the end of the world. Just because you won’t see the person you loved the most anymore, the world hasn’t ended. The fact is: the wind will continue to blow, the sun to shine, and the sea waves to rush to shore. Your friends and enemies may talk about the failed relationship you had but that’s part of life and growing up. You are still in control

of your life. You can even sing the Every Brothers’ song: “I’m through with romance, I’m through with love. I’m through with counting the stars above.”

Move on. It’s okay to think of your beloved for a day or a week. But after that, move on.

Count your blessings. That person may not be the right person for you. I have known a lot of people who said, “I should have not married early in life.”

Or you might be singing the song of Ogie Alcasid: “Bakit ngayon ka lang dumating sa buhay ko.” The break up might be a sign that someone out there is much better than your previous love.

Find another love. It might be easier said than done. I am sure you have heard it before: “I won’t find another love but you.” What they really meant is that they won’t open their heart again for a new love. Instead, listen to your heart. Love will find a way. “I believe for everyone who goes astray,” Tom Jones sings, “some will come to show the way.”

These rules are not foolproof. There are those that despite what they do, they continue to be brokenhearted.

And although “heartbreak” is usually a metaphor, there is a medical condition—appropriately known as broken heart syndrome—where a traumatizing incident triggers the

brain to distribute chemicals that weaken heart tissue.

Broken heart syndrome is clinically different from a heart attack because the patients have few risk factors for heart disease and were previously healthy prior to the heart muscles weakening. The recovery rates for those suffering from “broken heart syndrome” are faster than those who had heart attacks and complete recovery to the heart was achieved within two weeks.

The symptoms of a “broken heart” can manifest themselves through psychological pain but for many the effect is physical. Although the experience is regarded commonly as indescribable, the following is a list of common symptoms that occur: a perceived tightness of the chest, similar to an anxiety attack; stomach ache and/or loss of appetite; partial or complete insomnia; anger; shock; nostalgia and apathy (loss of interest).

Other symptoms include feelings of loneliness; feelings of hopelessness and despair; loss of self-respect and/or self-esteem; medical or psychological illness (depression, for example), suicidal thoughts (in some cases); nausea; fatigue; constant or frequent crying; a feeling of complete emptiness; the thousand-yard stare; and in extreme cases, death.

8

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

EDGEDAVAO LIFESTYLE

PEARL FARM:

WHERE FUN MEANS SAFETY Excited to be with nature again?

Now that the travel restrictions are slowly being relaxed, people, who were locked down in their homes for months, can’t wait to stretch their legs, spend time outdoors, and see something other than a screen.

For some, a dip in the pool is blissful but for others nothing can replace the smell of the sea and the tropical paradise feel that await at Pearl Farm Beach Resort.

What makes Pearl Farm such an irresistible allure is the 5-star experience it gives to the guests, breathtaking scenery, unlimited vista of the Davao Gulf, the iconic parola and it is a family-friendly resort making it the perfect choice for a familyoriented staycation.

“One of the biggest advantage with Pearl Farm is, it

is outdoor and there is nothing safer in this kind of set up. You just open a door and you are in a room and open a sliding door and you are outside already.

Refreshing natural ventilation.

The risk is minimal when you are with nature,” said Josu Mikel Villaverde, vice president and general manager of Pearl Farm.

Currently, staycation is the popular holiday trend and more luxury resorts and hotels are designing best staycation offerings.

In January this year, Pearl Farm was granted with Staycation Certificate by the Department of Tourism, which enables the resort to operate even during the general community quarantine (GCQ).

It means Pearl Farm is the best place to be to relax, stay, and enjoy during the pandemic.

“We were rated 5-star citation by the DOT and we know how to do our job,” Villaverde said.

Pearl Farm balances fun and safety in the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic. Aside from the stunning resort options and perfect beach, the 5-star resort made safety a priority.

Pearl Farm is a 45-minute boat ride from Davao City where guests will surely enjoy watching both the ever-changing

skyline of Davao City and the lush greenery of Samal Island. It has a vast area to explore where crowding and social distancing won’t be a problem.

The resort is now also employing technology to ensure safety while keeping the fun alive and gives guests the best experience.

This cool feature dubbed virtual concierge is a contactless transaction to prevent physical interaction while at the resort.

Guests just have to scan the QR code provided in the rooms to access the hotel’s services.

“We started the applications and goes online for the online concierge to prevent physical interaction. Using a QR code for a contactless transaction and we started with our menu.

We put our menu to a QR code for our guests to be accessed by scanning the QR code available in the rooms. Once they clicked, they see all the options. You can choose four items in every single meal. The process is very well explained,” Villaverde said.

The resort made it as extensive to what any concerns that the guests have in the room.

Instead of asking for personal assistant, guests just need the hotline virtual concierge.

“Our people in the restaurant with a tablet can provide all the requests of the guests,” Villaverde added.

For Villaverde, utilizing technology is one of the good things that this pandemic bring, in fact, in a couple of months the resort progressed technologically.

The staff members are staying in the premises and are deployed in batches to avoid crowding and ensure safety.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

HEALTH

9

Low-cost yet effective wound patch for people with diabetes

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO iabetes is the sixth leading cause of death among Filipino, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Over six million Filipinos are diagnosed to have diabetes, the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation reports.

D

Described as a chronic disease, diabetes is “characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood because of inadequate production and/or action of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels,” DOH explains.

Minor wounds, cuts and burns are an unfortunate but unavoidable part of life.

But among people with diabetes, these injuries can lead to serious health issues. “When a person has diabetes, wounds can take longer to heal,” says Medical News Today’s Zawn Villines.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with diabetes experience complications caused by infected wounds. “An infection can spread to tissue and bone near the wound or more distant areas of the body,” Villines writes. “In some cases, and without emergency care, an infection can be life-threatening or may even be fatal.”

According to Villines, factors that may increase the risk include impaired sweating, dry and cracked skin, toenail infections, and foot abnormalities. Other ways diabetes might affect wound healing include: reduced production of growth and healing hormones, decreased production and re-

pair of new blood vessels, a weakened skin barrier, and reduced collagen production.

“Even small cuts on the feet can develop into diabetic foot ulcers – chronic, non-healing wounds that are vulnerable to infection,” states the website of the US National Institute of Health.

“Diabetic foot ulcers are a major cause of lower limb amputation, disability, and death in people with diabetes.”

But there’s good news.

A Filipino innovator develops wound patches specifically for people with diabetes made from coconut.

It’s called Vitro Engineered Restorative Microcellulose Absorbent Covering (VERMAC).

Credited for developing VERMAC is Denver Chicano, a registered nurse who worked in the burn unit of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). It was while he was with PGH that the idea came.

In 2007, Chicano saw patients who cannot afford the expensive medications and medical supplies to treat burn injuries. In most instances, these victims weren’t able to complete their full treatment regimen for financial constraints.

“Many of the patients in the PGH Burn Unit came from indigent or low-in-

come families,” reported the website, emergency-live. com. “He also observed how painful and limited the healing effectivity is of the current and available treatment.”

This made him study the treatment protocols. He found out there was lack of a moisture barrier, lack of flexibility in the materials used in the dressings (thus resulting in open spaces or pockets), and inadequate coverage of the wound area.

Chicano “also noted that for dressings using traditional gauze material, the regular changing of the dressings would result in some of the fluid exudates and wound tissues would bind with the gauze and would end up being physically removed along with the gauze dressing. This would result in the healing process being disrupted.”

During his off hours, he tried a dressing material that was not only effective but less expensive as well.

VERMAC was the end product of such experiments.

“VERMAC is produced using coconuts as the main ingredient of a readily available local crop that helps to maintain its low cost,” emergency-live.com reports. “Its physical properties allow the material to conform to the size and shape of the wound thus reducing the occurrence of exposed wound areas and

small pockets. In addition, the material has been observed to exhibit bacteriostatic properties thus aiding the prevention of secondary infection.”

If VERMAC can be used for burn injuries, it can also be applied for diabetics having wounds to heal faster and better. “Because of the result of narrowed blood vessels, diabetic wound healing is impaired because there is less oxygen that reaches the wound that results in slow healing,” states a press release from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The DOST saw the great potential of the invention of Chicano. Through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), DOST supported the initiative to develop the technology of producing a perforated wound patch made out of coconut for diabetic persons.

During the recent department’s weekly report aired at DOSTv, Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña expressed his appreciation

with the PatchMed Cosmetics Trading, the company established by Chicano that is behind the innovation.

“Nakakamangha itong company na ito dahil nakita ko kung papaano sila umangat sa kanilang ginagawang produkto. Noong una gumawa sila ng wound dressing mula sa coconut o niyog – na tinatawag nilang cocopatch. Ngayon ay mayroon na naman silang bagong produkto na ipapakilala,” the science secretary said.

According to Chicano, PatchMed Cosmetics Trading got familiar with the technicality of their products thanks to DOST. Their products, he admitted, actually started without bioequivalence throughout the world.

“From a seed idea to an actual product, the DOST SETUP project helped us with the machines we need to manufacture our products,” Chicano pointed out.

Not contented with just developing the product, Chicano has now diversified from producing wound

dressing products for burns and wounds to establishing the first wound care clinic in the Philippines called Alphacell Wound Clinic.

“With the establishment of our clinic, we saw a problem with the diabetic patients na iba-iba ang ginagamit na standard for ointment at gasa. Because of this, we came up with perforated cellulose which has better moisture control and autolytic debridement for diabetic wounds,” Chicano said.

Chicano added that they also developed a product to be used as an alternative to povidone-iodine. The anti-bacterial spray gel for wound care for kids has coconut-based components as the active ingredient.

According to the press release, the technology has been recognized around the world and won several awards, including the UP-PGH Recognition, Tatak PGH Nurse Innovator Award, Most Promising Intellectual Property Award by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Philippine Green Innovation Product 2014. It was also declared the Creative Design Category Regional Winner during the National Invention Contest and Exhibits organized by the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute.

PatchMed Cosmetic Trading products are now supplied to the different hospitals and wound care clinics in the country and are also available for online delivery through their Facebook page. (Photos courtesy of DOST)

10 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

PYGMY... FROM2

decade. The first was in 2019 in the municipality of Simunul, also in Tawi-Tawi province.

The Menre Tawi-Tawi has eyed Bud Kabugan as a release site to ensure the animal’s safety.

The information of-

fice said the capture of the nslow loris was an opportunity for Menre “to launch a community-wide ecological awareness campaign to gain residents’ commitment to not hunt, collect, harm, and trade said wildlife species”.

fections; and address the challenges in the country’s medical and health systems and infrastructures to save lives and for the economy to recover.

4. Include young workers’ representation in decision-making structures and processes, including in Covid-19 response and recovery planning, monitoring and evaluation.

5. Promote gender equality and end gender-based violence by ratifying the ILO Convention 190.

Aside from calling on

leaders, APSU Industrial Relations Officer Mark Angelo Tolentino also reminded that young workers should also organize into unions which would help them protect their rights.

“We call on employers, managers and government officials to heed and act on these demands for a better normal. More importantly, we call on our fellow young workers to unite and stand up. Join the trade union movement and amplify young workers’ issues and influence change,” Tolentino said.

gy) Initiative.

“We are hopeful that this particular undertaking will be the beginning of more collaboration with the US government to further solidify our partnership, with our American friends helping us attain our energy goals for the country,” the DOE chief added.

Meanwhile, Selda reiterated UPSCRFI’s support to the DOE in crafting policies that will boost the LNG

industry.

“UPSCRFI aims to continue providing technical guidance and research to the DOE and other partner government agencies to support the formulation of standards, policies, and roadmaps which are envisioned to usher in more investments, facilitate healthy competition in the LNG industry, and ultimately provide long-term energy security for the country,” Selda said. (PNA)

Olita added that due to the new normal mode of working, employers are prioritizing computer literate applicants to satisfy the qualifications of the offered positions.

For more updates on job openings and oppor-

tunities, follow and visit the Facebook page of PESO MATI. PESO’s virtual jobs fair is separate from the Labor Day jobs fair offered by the Department of Labor and Employment Region 11 on May 1. (CIO MATI)

the said competition. She became the seventh Filipino to qualify in Tokyo.

Her teammates Vanessa Sarno, Mary Flor Diaz, Elreen Ando, and Kristel Macrohon also gave admirable performances in the said competition adding to the total medal haul of the team.

The fencers, on the other hand, secured a bronze medal through Samantha Catantan at the women’s foil event of the Asian-Oceanian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Uzbekistan.

She was joined by teammates Nathaniel Perez, Jylyn Nicanor, Noelito Jose, Hanniel Abella, and CJ Concepcion.

Prior to leaving for Tashkent, PSC approved granting of assistance of over Php 4.9 million pesos for airfare, hotel accommodation, allowances, and other travel expenses of the weightlifting team.

The PSC also approved P1. 2 million financial assistance for the fencing nationals to cover expenses for their competitions.

gustung-gusto ng lahat na makapasok sa (The tryouts were organized properly, firstly because it was batch by batch and many attended. You will see that everyone wants to be in the) national team,” de Guzman said.

He lauded the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) for making sure that health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic are being followed.

Only nine missed out

on the tryouts, one of which being Bryan Bagunas, who is completing a 14-day quarantine after arriving from Japan after his stint there.

Following a breakthrough silver medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Games in Pasig, the Philippines is now looking to go for gold in Hanoi later this year.

The tryout series will culminate on Friday with the beach volleyball tryouts for both the senior and the junior divisions. (PNA)

YOUTH... FROM3

Phoenix expands loyalty rewards program to ‘quarantine heroes’

A

fter its launch in Metro Manila in September 2020, Phoenix Tsuper Club (PTC)-Lalamove loyalty rewards card is now available to Lalamove Partner Drivers in Cebu.

A variation of the PTC card, the PTC-Lalamove card offers exclusive Phoenix fuels and lubricants discounts to its cardholders at 15 participating Phoenix stations.

“We are thrilled by the strengthening partnership between Phoenix and Lalamove through this expansion. After the successful launch of the PTC-Lalamove card amidst the pandemic, more Lalamove Partner Drivers in the country will

enjoy more savings, this time in Cebu,” Phoenix Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Strategies Celina Matias said. “ These frontliners have been serving communities despite the daily hurdles and added restrictions, can really be seen as quarantine heroes, and Phoenix is proud that through this program, we will be able to help and support their means of living, and in a way, be part of the service that they offer to customers,” she added.

Aside from the discounts, active members also get redeemable rewards, basic insurance coverage for personal accidents, and special privileges such as

exclusive promos, raffle, and giveaways.

The PTC-Lalamove card also gives its ever active member a Tsuper Hero Advantage, which automatically qualifies the rider to join the Pinoy Tsuper Hero—a one-of-a-kind program that aims to bring out the ‘superhero’ in every driver and promote driving as a noble profession.

“We, at Lalamove, share the same values with Phoenix in empowering 'quarantine heroes' through our services. With this partnership, our Cebu partner drivers will have access to the affordable products and services of Phoenix, giving them the opportunity to

save more and take home more earnings for their families,” shares Dannah Majarocon, Managing Director of Lalamove Philippines.

In Cebu, the PTC-Lalamove card is accepted at Phoenix Babag, Phoenix Tintay, Phoenix V. Rama, Phoenix Pitogo, Phoenix Tayud 1, Phoenix Tayud 2, Phoenix Gabi Cordova, Phoenix Buaya, Phoenix Gun-ob, Phoenix Pajac, Phoenix Soong, Phoenix Suba Basbas, Phoenix Liloan, Phoenix ML Quezon (Maguikay), and Phoenix Minglanilla.

For registration instructions and updates, follow Phoenix Petroleum’s official Facebook page.

Lim said the Chinese government will still have to identify three shortlisted Chinese bidders that will participate in the “tendering process for the actual construction of the railway TDD segment.”

Although the entire phase 1 may not be fully operational by the end of Duterte’s administration, DOTr secretary Arthur

Tugade promised “partial operability” of the TDD segment, she added.

Last February, DOTr assistant secretary Eymard Eje said the government hopes to operationalize the section between Panabo City and adjacent Carmen town in Davao del Norte.

The “flat terrain” along the Panabo-Carmen line is

a good launching pad for the highly-anticipated railway project, he said.

The two areas, along with Tagum City in Davao del Norte, Mudian, Davao Terminal, and Toril in Davao City, and Santa Cruz town and Digos City in Davao del Sur, will host stations of the railway.

DOTr said the TDD segment will reduce trav-

el time from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours between Tagum and Digos Cities and will provide “passengers safe, fast, and reliable transport options on the TDD commuter line.”

It is expected to serve approximately 134,000 riders a day by 2022, up to 237,000 by 2032, and 375,000 by 2042. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

2019, placing us 3rd fastest growing region in the country, higher than the national average of 6% and the biggest economy in Mindanao,” she said.

But the pandemic dis-

rupted the growth momentum as the immediate concerns had shifted to containing the spread of the virus while keeping the economy afloat, she said.

Despite the decline,

Lim said the region’s GRDP remained better than the negative 9.6 percent growth rate of the Philippines last year.

She said lesser business activities and work

interruptions were blamed for the decline in GRDP, as mobility of people was restricted in order to contain the spread of the virus. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

billion has yet to be distributed because the Landbank is still waiting for the submission by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of the remaining payroll files of beneficiaries under the UCT program.

Under the 2019 national budget, the UCT fund amounted to PHP36.488 billion, of which PHP6 billion

have yet to be downloaded by the BTr to Landbank, leaving it with PHP30.488 billion for the implementation of the program.

Of the PHP30.488 billion, PHP23.71 billion was released to UCT beneficiaries.

About PHP6.29 billion in funds have yet to be disbursed, pending the DSWD submission of the beneficia-

ries’ payroll files.

A total of PHP5.5 billion of this UCT fund was transferred to the BTr on April 1, 2020, to help fund the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response programs, and was returned to the fund on December 29, 2020.

For 2020, the total UCT fund under the GAAs was PHP36.488 billion, of which

PHP13.19 billion have yet to be downloaded to the Landbank.

The downloaded sum of PHP23.3 billion covered the PHP14.12 billion disbursed so far to UCT beneficiaries in December last year, while PHP8.9 billion have yet to be released pending the submission by the DSWD of the beneficiaries’ payroll files. (PR)

133 were accredited by the DOT. At least 44 were approved for use by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Reddoorz Philippines country manager Miguel Capistrano III. Capistrano said the

company is working on its digitalization efforts such as contactless service to cater to the demand once the pandemic is over.

"The pent-up demand that will happen when everything is safe. We believe

there will be high demand for travel," Capistrano said.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in February said the country lost an estimated P400 billion in potential revenue from international tourists

last year.

Despite the recurring surges in infections and the mobility restrictions that follow, the DOT is preparing destinations for the time when travel returns to normal, Puyat earlier said.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 40 • SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

Nets pounce on A depleted Pacers

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National lifters, fencers arrive to a warm welcome by PSC

I

NDIANAPOLIS — Kevin Durant scored a season-high 42 points, including 22 in the third quarter, and the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets glided to a 130-113 victory over the depleted Indiana Pacers on Thursday night (Friday, Manila time).

Playing without Kyrie Irving and James Harden, the Nets built a double-digit lead by the second quarter and were never seriously threat-

ened.

Durant hit 16 of 24 shots and had 10 assists in his eighth start since being sidelined for nearly two months with a hamstring

Pelicans glide through Thunder, stay in hunt for play-in tourney

O

KLAHOMA CITY — Zion Williamson scored 27 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 109-95 on Thursday night (Friday, Manila time).

Williamson also had eight rebounds and six assists. Brandon Ingram added 24 points for New Orleans.

The Pelicans are in the hunt for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference and a berth in the play-in tournament. They had lost six of eight and were coming off a 114-112 loss to Denver on Wednesday.

Lu Dort scored 17 points, Theo Maledon added 16 and Moses Brown

grabbed 18 rebounds for the Thunder. Oklahoma City was coming off a win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday that snapped a Thunder record-tying 14-game losing streak.

The Pelicans closed the first half on a 19-3 run to take a 60-43 lead. Williamson scored 16 points and Ingram added 15 in the first half to help New Orleans shoot 51%.

The Pelicans took a 7968 lead into the fourth quarter.

New Orleans took full control in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. Jaxson Hayes' fast-break dunk put the Pelicans up 90-73. The Thunder got no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

injury. It was the All-Star forward’s third game of 30 points or more since his return, which was also interrupted for three games by a thigh injury.

The Nets are 29-8 since Feb. 10, best in the league, and have clinched a playoff spot.

Alize Johnson had 20 points and 21 rebounds for Brooklyn.

Caris LeVert scored 12 of his 36 points in the first quarter for the Pacers, but the Nets still led

35-28 after one behind Jeff Green’s 12 points in the period. Brooklyn’s advantage reached 66-52 by halftime.

Edmond Sumner added 16 points and Doug McDermott scored 15 for the Pacers, who lost point guard Malcolm Brogdon in the second quarter with a sore hamstring.

The Pacers dropped to 11-19 at home. At 29-33, they’re on track for their second losing season since 2011.

Zion Williamson scored 27 points to lead the Pelicans.

warm welcome from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) awaited the national weightlifting and fencing teams upon their return from their respective stellar qualifying tournaments in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last night.

“Despite the imposed lockdowns and curfews in Metro Manila, we wanted to honor our athletes who made the country proud, within boundaries of the safety protocols of course,” shared PSC Chairman William Ramirez.

The sports chief wanted a bigger welcome for the athletes but mindful of the quarantine restrictions, arranged what they can within the

guidelines. Very strict protocols are allowed at the airport being a port of entry, so the PSC team stationed themselves at the driveway of the quarantine hotel drop-off and check-in point.

After an astounding performance taking home two gold, six silver, and three bronze medals at the Asian Weightlifting Championships, winning women lifters are set to receive incentives under Republic Act No. 10699, or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.'' 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz also formalized her fourth appearance in the Games by placing fourth in the 55kg category of

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31 face-masked spikers attend men’s volley tryouts for SEA Games

T

he Subic Bay Gymnasium was filled with spikers all day long on Thursday as 31 men’s volleyball players took part in the national team tryouts for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

With a huge contingent joining the tryouts, the session was divided between a morning and an afternoon session.

Longtime Philippine team captain Vic de Guzman led the morning session aspirants.

Also participating in the morning sessions were Mark Alfafara, Jao Umandal, JP Bugaoan, Kim Dayadante, Anthony Ekwenugo, Mark Enciso, Alche Gupiteo, Noel Kampton, Kim Malabunga, Chumson Njigha Jr., Leo Ordiales, Ish Polvorosa, Jian Matthee Salarzon, Ricky Marcos, and Manuel Su-

manguid.

Meanwhile, former Ateneo stars Rex Intal and Ysay Marasigan headlined those who tried out in the afternoon.

Also in attendance were Nico Almendras, Leo Aringo, Lloyd Josafat, Joeven dela Vega, Jack Kalingking, Louie Ramirez, John Mark Ronquillo, Kharyl Parce, Rayver Sison and Francis Saura.

“Maayos ang tryouts, una kasi batch by batch ang tryout at sobrang dami ang nag-attend.

Makikita mo din na talagang

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