Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 60 | Tuesday, May 25, 2021

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A group of boys tries to earn some cash by collecting garbage from households and establishments along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City on Monday. Edge Davao

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Sara prohibits non-essential government events STORY ON PAGE 2

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VOL.14 ISSUE 60 • TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

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Department of the Interior and Local Government 11 (DILG 11) director Alex Roldan discloses that the agency’s is looking to implement vaccine pass as travel requirement. Edge Davao

Sara prohibits non-essential government events

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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on-essential government events are declared banned in Davao City to prevent Covid-19 transmission.

Through Executive Order (EO) No. 31 Series of 2021, Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio prohibited starting 12:01 a.m. of May 26, 2021 the conduct of the following

face-to-face non-essential government events until the lifting of the State of Calamity: inaugurations, anniversary, thanksgiving, ribbon-cutting, turnover,

launching program, photo opportunity, retirement honors, welcome honors, testimonial program, outing, teambuilding, salosalo, birthdays, and all other similar activities.

“These are absolutely prohibited ug guilty tanan ani mga opisina sa

gobyerno. Buot pasabot dili na gyud ni puwede samtang naay State of Calamity,” the mayor said in a live broadcast with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

It is an order prohibiting all barangay, local, and

Oriental expressed her struggles in this pandemic.

“It is indeed difficult to cope with the pandemic, especially that I lost my passion for teaching. I love teaching and it is my only way to prevent aging,” said Consuelo Dela Salde, 76, a retired college professor in St. Mary’s College.

Being an educator for 42 years, the senior citizen has spent almost half of her life doing the thing she

loves, only waking up one day to find that she could no longer do it freely.

Many senior citizens around the world continue to find their balance amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While others were able to adjust to the ‘new normal’ and stay in the comfort of their own homes, some have to leave their homes to make a living.

Senior citizens on the global scale have their

fair share of lockdown experience and for Filipino elderly, they did not hide their disdain or disgruntled agreement with the lockdown and restrictions.

Barely felt At 65, Estrella is living with her husband, Franklin Batilo, 60, and two children, Jalter, 38, and Jennifer, 34, who are all unemployed.

The first three months of intensive lockdown last year have been difficult for

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GenSan hospitals 100% full; surge in cases traced to family gatherings

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esidents here may just have to forgo celebrating family milestones as part of an effort to fight the spread of the dreadful coronavirus (COVID-19).

Authorities today reported that all seven major hospitals in the city are already 100 percent full, 83.33 percent of which are COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 69 percent are from this city while the rest are from nearby towns in South Cotabato and Sarangani.

A COVID-19 monitoring report says that 89.5 percent of the 23 ICU beds are now in use while the only 14 mechanical ventilators in the city, 42 percent are being used.

Officials have already considered tighter health and safety measures, including the revocation of permits earlier issued for mass gatherings after daily new cases of infection

doubled since four days ago.

On Wednesday last week, the local health monitoring unit listed new cases of COVID-19 at 65, another 69 new cases on Thursday, another 68 on Friday and 63 on Saturday.

Total active cases now stand at 533. Previous to May 19, the numbers were hovering at only over 20 daily new cases.

Apparently alarmed by the new development, a group of physicians here urged local health authorities to come up with more strict measures to avert the seemingly fast spread of the coronavirus in the city.

Dr. Fidel Peñamante, president of the Gensan Medical Society, said the local Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious diseases (IATF) needs to further strengthen its anti-COVID-19 measures

her family that survived only on selling banana cue. Food and medicine maintenance for her diabetes were barely met as customers declined. The increased prices of goods and services added burden to her situation.

“It’s tiring and difficult to make money. I cannot just go out because I’m a senior. It’s difficult to have something to eat and maintain my medicines due

to low income. If it was hard then, it is harder now,” she expressed.

Despite conceding to the Philippine government’s Covid-19 strict regulations, she expressed dismay with what she described as the government’s “lousy” plans and programs for senior citizens like her.

“Not everyone was granted assistance from the government’s Social

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Elderly grows older at home, others go out amid Covid-19

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ilipino banana cue vendor Estrella Batilo, from Barangay Bagong Lipunan, Buhangin, Davao City has to grapple with everyday survival.

Desperate to feed her family, Estrella took the risk of going out of her house to sell banana cue in front of Cariedo Elementary School just to survive each passing day.

Also, another senior citizen from Baganga, Davao

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 60 • TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

NEWS 3

Not a soul in sght in this park usually brimming with Sunday churchgoers and families as General Santos City implements a no-movement Sunday to help avert a rise in COVID-19 cases in the city. GenSan authorities eye possible penalties like community service for violators of health protocols and ordinances following a noted daily surge in new Covid19 cases. MindaNews Photo by ROMMEL G. REBOLLIDO

Vaccine pass may be required for travel: DILG 11

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n official of the Department of Interior and Local Government 11 (DILG 11) is studying the possibility of implementing vaccine pass as travel requirement to accelerate people’s acceptance to vaccination to achieve herd immunity.

DILG 11 director Alex Roldan told Edge Davao, that there is a possibility that this will happen.

“Dili layo ang posibilidad nga himoon na siya. It could be a possibility tungod kay other countries are already implementing it. Naa’y mga countries nga gi-require nila nga musulod sa ilaha na mga tourists nga dapat kompleto ang vaccination,” Roldan said in a phone interview.

Roldan said this is one of the areas that they are looking at not only at the local level, but at national

level to accelerate utilization of the vaccine to enable the government to achieve herd immunity.

“Wala pa ni gi-istoryahan, posibilidad pa lang ni siya.

We are not looking at it at a local level this might become national. I am not sure but this is one of the areas being discussed now unsaon pagaccelerate sa utilization sa vaccine because one thing if we cannot reach the 70 percent vaccination mulinger man ang Covid ug ang atong mga hospitals mu-stressed out man siya, could you imagine ang atong mga nurses mag atubang ug tagpila ka pasyente every now and then, I don’t know kung makalahutay na sila for the next three years sa ingon ana na mga conditions. It is very important na ma-attain nato tong to the point isa sa

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12 arrested in simul raids of 2 drug dens in Tagum

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peratives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police provincial office of Davao del Norte busted two drug dens and arrested 12 suspects in a simultaneous serving of search warrants in Purok 7, Tarubang, Barangay Apokon, Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Friday, May 21.

PDEA 11 Information Officer Noli Dimaandal said that six drug personalities were the subjects of the search warrants.

He identified them as Redin

Tipas, Geralde Macopa, Randy Lumanta, Rodel Morito, Benzar Ampong, and Anthony Dulay.

However, according to Dimaandal, only Tipas, Macopa, Lumanta, and Morito were collared as Dulay and Ampong were able to elude arrest.

Also arrested during the operation were “visitors” of the drug dens Rene Sagnay, Arnold Lagunsay, Rayman Capitan, Dandy Lumanta, Ruel Ampong, Nur Maito, Sandrix Salasa, and Edmund Subido.

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Davao City has region’s most number of rising Covid-19 cases, says DOH 11

By MAYA M. PADILLO ajority of the areas in Davao Region with continuing surge cases of Covid-19 from May 16 to May 22, 2021 are in Davao City.

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According Department of Health (DOH) regional director Dr. Annabelle Yumang, the Top 10 areas with continuing surge of Covid-19 cases in Davao Region are: Tagum City in Davao del Norte, Buhangin District in Davao City, Talomo North, Talomo South, Talomo Central, Sasa, Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte, Digos City in Davao del Sur, District C in Davao City, and Bunawan District in Davao City.

“Nakita nato nga duna’y pagtaas sa atong mga kaso karong Mayo pa lang.

Majority sa Top 10 areas naa diri sa Davao City. Sa pagkakakaron alisto gihapon ang atong mga kagamhana sa pag sugpo niini ug daghan na sila initiatives gihimo aron maundang or malikayan ang pagdaghan sa atoang kaso dinhi sa Region 11,” Yumang said in a virtual presser ln Monday.

She said the factors the contributed to the

spike of cases in the region are gatherings-physical distancing not observed especially during meal time, number of participants exceeding the set maximum limit, and face mask and face shield not properly worn at all times; and hospitals-exposure to a Covid-19 positive case, improper wearing of PPE, handwashing/disinfection not performed at all times, and increased complacency of health care workers (HCWs) due to Covid-19 vaccination status.

Based on the presentation, surge of cases arealsoduetotransmissionof Covid-19 in the government

establishments (police station, government offices, airport, and public market) as physical distancing not observed, unavailability of handwashing area or hand sanitizers at entrances, unscreened symptomatic employees inside the workplace, sharing of table and food during break times, proper floor plan not imposed (with one meter distance between desks), inadequate ventilation (presence of exhaust fans and windows), face mask/ face shield not properly worn at all times, and minimum health protocols not properly observed during meetings/ conferences.

for me when it comes to doing research to learn more about the lesson. I don’t have a gadget, especially that I live in the rural area),” he said.

Onas is a student of Don Don Amancio Bendigo Sr Inawayan Extension Class National High School in Toril district, some 20 kilometers west of downtown.

Alliyah Kayla D. Comiso, a seventh grade student from Binugao Central school of the same Toril district finds it exhausting too. “My only opinion on this system is that it is exhausting, making

me less motivated to learn anything,” she said.

But she has to comply to the module system “as not everyone has the means to attend online class”.

Marhiel Q. Echon, a 10th grade student from Dona Carmen Denia National High School in this city said the difficult part is when they are introduced to new topics. “We are unable to comprehend it because it is self-learning. And some teachers don’t even answer our questions, making it even more difficult for us to

grasp the content” she said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the education system from face-to-face learning to a distance learning approach. Public schools have opted for the module system because many students struggle with internet connectivity and many families do not have gadgets at all not have the capacity to participate in online classes.

Aside from that, public school students still struggle to keep up with the system

Covid-19 woes: Poverty, technical glitzes hound public school learning

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ight-grader Ambas Onas particularly finds it difficult to understand his math modules as he struggles with the modular system in a rural setting, already fraught with built-in lack of communication and social services infrastructure.

“Meron naman kaming natutunan ngunit konti lang dahil kapag may research na gagawin wala kaming pupuntahan. Wala kaming mga gadget sapagkat nakatira kami sa rural area o bukid (I am still able to learn something, but it is difficult

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 60 • TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

An oil refinery in Brgy. Sasa, Davao City. Oil firms announce that they will increase pump prices of gasoline by P0.15 per liter and diesel by P0.25 per liter, while rolling back those of kerosene by P0.15 per liter starting today. Edge Davao

PH eyes New Zealand expertise to upgrade BOC, SSS services T

Agri, fisheries e-Learning program up for review in PeLS virtual conference

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell have discussed possible bilateral cooperation arrangements that would allow the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Social Security System (SSS) to tap New Zealand’s expertise on modernizing their respective processes and services to better serve the public.

Kell said during a recent virtual meeting with Dominguez that New Zealand can get involved in the ongoing BOC modernization project as a consultant and advisor.

He added New Zealand can provide training and the services of its experts to assist the BOC in capacity building and modernizing its trade facilitation and border protection functions.

New Zealand is also finalizing the financing component of a project with the SSS to redesign the pro-

cessing of social security pensions and other benefits, which aims to improve the approval system and procedures for SSS members applying for these claims.

Dominguez expressed his deep appreciation for New Zealand’s offer of assistance and assured the ambassador of the support of the Department of Finance (DOF) for both initiatives.

Kell also thanked Dominguez for the DOF’s assistance to the Development Academy of the Philippines

(DAP) in the preparation of a project proposal on establishing the DAP’s competency framework.

This DAP project will be implemented with technical assistance from New Zealand.

Kell also informed Dominguez of the significant progress made in the discussions between New Zealand and Philippine officials on a project that will continue New Zealand’s support to Mindanao’s agriculture sector and agribusiness enterprises.

The ambassador said he looks forward to working closely with the Philippines as New Zealand hosts this year the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, which are expected to focus on discussions on how to overcome the global economic impact of the lingering coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In partnership with the United Nations Internation-

al Organization for Migration (IOM), the New Zealand government has extended about PHP64.25 million in assistance to support the Philippine government’s response against Covid-19, particularly in providing assistance to vulnerable communities in Mindanao.

New Zealand and the IOM have also donated 35 cold storage units necessary for the efficient delivery and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the New Zealand government has also continued to assist Mindanao’s agriculture sector with a USD2.69 million project to support agriculture-based livelihoods and agribusiness enterprises in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. (PR)

‘Billionaires’ Club,’ an elite circle of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) that have remitted billions of pesos in dividends to the national government.

Since 2016, CAAP, as ordered by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, has consistently remitted over billions of pesos in dividends year after year.

The whopping PHP21 billion in total remitted dividends is broken down as follows: PHP5.4 billion (2017), PHP6.2 billion (2018), PHP3.5 billion (2019), and

PHP6 billion (2020). This is remarkably higher than the total dividends remitted in the past eight years before the Duterte administration took office in 2016.

For 2020 alone, CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco said the agency was able to remit a total of PHP6 billion in dividends despite the aviation industry being among the hardest-hit sectors by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Year 2020 has been a rough year for the aviation sector, to say the

least. With nations closing borders, airlines facing bankruptcy, to employees getting laid off – we can say that the industry has been on life support. But that did not hinder us from performing our obligations.

While we are greatly challenged by a raging global crisis, we remain committed to practice accountability, transparency, and good governance as mandated by the good Secretary,” Sydiongco said in a news release on Sunday.

CAAP remits P21B in dividends under Duterte administration

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he Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) remains steady in its strong fiscal performance after remitting more than PHP21 billion in dividends to the National Treasury from 2016 to 2020.

For the same period, CAAP, an attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), remitted almost 20 times, eclipsing the PHP1.3 billion it remitted from 2008 to 2016.

This feat has solidified CAAP’s membership in the

he strategies in implementing the e-Learning Program for Agriculture and Fisheries especially in the new normal will be one of the highlights of the parallel presentations in the 15th National e-Learning Conference spearheaded by the Philippine eLearning Society (PeLS).

The program has been an alternative means of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in the delivery of capability-building activities for the agricultural extension workers and farming enthusiasts during the pandemic. With its increased efforts in promoting access to the program’s free online courses at the start of the community lockdowns has resulted in the surge of number of users and enrollees.

Joeven Calasagsag, chief of the e-Extension Management Section of the ATI-Information Services Division, is set to deliver the presentation on the e-Learning program, highlighting its success in reaching out to more agri-fishery clientele amid the health crisis.

PeLS is the country’s premier organization that leads the advancement of eLearning in academic, corporate, government, and non-profit institutions through professional development opportunities and collaboration.

This year, the PeLS conference will be held virtually due to the limitations during the pandemic. With the theme “Reaching the Unreachable: Traversing the Future of Flexible Education”, the event aims to draw up practical solutions to address the gaps when it comes to eLearning education.

Likewise, the event will

serve as a venue for free discussions on the most crucial and pressing needs in the education sector while navigating the new normal. Recommendations will also be discussed in light of the need to redesign a better system of education to meet the needs of all stakeholders and for timely policy reforms for a future-proof education system.

Issues such as mental health, accessibility, social divide, and educational inequality brought about by the ongoing global health issues will also be tackled.

Parallel and plenary sessions, high-impact Ice Talks, and interactive workshops will be held to showcase the transition of education from traditional to flexible learning.

The virtual conference will happen on May 29, 2021, Saturday, from 8AM to 5PM while the interactive workshops will be on June 5, 2021.

In this year’s conference, the ATI is the only government organization to join the PeLS conference. For years, the Institute has actively collaborated with PeLS to further enhance its e-Learning Program for Agriculture and Fisheries.

PeLS encourages stuents, eLearning professionals, and organizations to join the conference to discuss the issues, challenges, and opportunities in eLearning. Participants that will register and attend the conference will automatically become a member of the organization. Registered members will have the opportunity to join the eLearning events that will be offered by the organization all year round.

EDGEDAVAO

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ECONOMY 5

Pedestrians walk by a Jollibee outlet in Davao City. Jollibee Food Corps is planning to launch six more stores across the UK before the end of 2021, after customers trooped during the opening of London’s West End branch. Edge Davao

Mindanao Power Forum showcases two EU-funded energy programs Jollibee to launch 6 more stores across UK before end of 2021

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ollibee Food Corps would launch 6 more stores across the UK before the end of 2021, after customers flocked during the opening of London’s West End branch where over 4,000 Chickenjoy were sold.

In a statement over the weekend, the homegrown brand said it would further expand its footprint in the UK to tap its GBP 1.2 billion fried chicken market.

Jollibee earlier said it plans to open as many as 50 stores in Europe in the next 5 years as part of its bid to be among the top 5 restaurant companies globally.

Jollibee in London West End, which opened last May 20, exceeded opening day sales records from its Leeds, Leicester City and Liverpool openings, and sold over 4 thousand pieces of Chickenjoy on the first day alone, the operator said.

Chicken-lovers from London lined up as early as 3 a.m. or 7 hours before the doord opened, JFC said.

About 300 people were in line by 9:30 a.m., it said.

“It is heartwarming to see the long lines of cus-

tomers at Jollibee’s London West End opening.

We are excited to welcome our British customers along with our Filipino guests to our latest restaurant, where they can enjoy our unique and popular food offerings,” Jollibee Group CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said.

“We also look forward to continuously expanding our brand footprint in UK’s GBP 1.2 billion fried chicken market as we open more stores in the country and the rest of Europe,” he added.

The Jollibee group said half of its customers were locals.

It also launched its UK exclusive Spicy Chicken Burger marinated using a special spicy recipy “coated with fiery breading for extra-hot crunch,” it said.

The Jollibee Group operates in 33 countries with over 5,800 stores with branches in the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People’s Republic of China, United Kingdom, Italy, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Panama, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and India.

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Mindanao Power Forum slated on May 25 will showcase two energy projects directly contributing to the sustainable and resilient power industry.

Among the projects to be showcased is the Renewable Energy for Tawi-Tawi Seaweeds (RETS) Project.

The RETS project aims to promote Renewable Energy (RE) strategies and systems on energy efficiency, innovations to support livelihood for poor off-grid and un-electrified households, particularly in the seaweed producing communities in the Island Municipalities of Sitangkai and Sibutu.

A Solar PV-Diesel Hybrid Energy Generation Technology with a total estimated installed capacity of 1.65 MW will be implemented in the said areas providing electrification

to more than 3000 new household connections The RETS Project is a partnership between MinDA, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - the Philippines, the Tawi-Tawi Electric Cooperative (TAWELCO), the Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi, the Association of Isolated Electric Cooperatives Inc. (AIEC), Island Light and Water Energy Development Corp. (ILAW), and the BARMM Government and is funded by the EU-Access to Sustainable Energy Program ( ASEP).

Another EU-funded

program to be launched during the forum, the Integration of the Productive Uses of Renewable Energy for Sustainable and Inclusive Energization in Mindanao (I-PURE Mindanao), on the other hand, is focused on bringing inclusive and sustainable economic and social developments in Mindanao, particularly to families in marginalized and disadvantaged communities through the use of RE solutions for their livelihood activities and household energization.

Both projects are supported by the European Union – Philippines’ Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (EU-ASEP).

MinDA, the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Administration have jointly partnered with the EU to promote, im-

plement, and monitor the Mindanao rural electrification projects funded under the ASEP. “We are looking forward to showcase the success stories from these projects during power forum that we have co-organized with our partners in our pursuit for a reliable, sustainable, and affordable power for Mindanao,” said MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Piñol also noted that the Mindanao Power Forum would serve as a promising avenue for the energy family to address the continuing challenges in the power sector, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The forum will also provide a platform to discuss Mindanao’s way of building back a better Mindanao that is sustainable and more resilient.

messenger RNA (mRNA), a drug and vaccine technology that has also become the recent focus of the European Union’s procurement negotiations.

The mRNA approach has been validated by the wide use of coronavirus vaccines developed by pioneers BioNTech and its partner Pfizer, as well as by Moderna, in Eu-

rope and North America.

But more volumes will be needed to boost lagging immunization coverage in Europe and potentially for repeated booster shots.

“We hope for approval in the course of the second quarter,” the newspaper quoted the spokeswoman as saying in comments released on Sunday. “We are working

to further expand production capacity with a growing network of partners.”

The Nasdaq-listed firm, which is backed by investor Dietmar Hopp, GlaxoSmithKline as well as the German government, has said it aims to produce up to 300 million doses of the vaccine in 2021 and up to 1 billion in 2022.

CureVac works to boost production capacity ahead of expected approval

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ermany’s CureVac expects European approval of its COVID-19 vaccine in June at the latest and is working to expand production capacity, the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper quoted a company spokeswoman as saying.

Since starting out in 2000, the biotech company has focused on so-called

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 60 • TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

In banning non-essential government events in Davao City to prevent Covid-19 transmission:

These are absolutely prohibited ug guilty tanan ani mga opisina sa gobyerno. Buot pasabot dili na gyud ni puwede samtang naay State of Calamity.”

PERALTA

MAYOR SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO

EDITORIAL Davao commuters’ woes Among the difficulties that Dabawenyos have to endure when Davao City streets are flooded is the lack of public utility vehicles to ferry them home.

This complaint is being heard more often now that heavy downpours usually occur in the afternoon, followed by inundation of city streets.

Commuters used to be all praises when the city government fielded big commercial buses to bring them home for free. When the laudable move was stopped, the commuters were dismayed not only because the freebie was removed but more because the buses were nowhere to be found when they need to go home after work.

It seems that the buses are no longer inspired to help the passengers unlike before.

We suggest that the authorities look into this situation for the good of

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There is also an irony somewhere. Aboitiz’s amazing e-buses, almost a dozen of them in all, suffer from lack of passengers even if the service is for free.

A check with some passengers revealed that the reason behind the lack of patronage is that many of them do not know how they can take advantage of the freebie. Commuters do not know that they have to download an app in order to avail themselves of this unique service. This suggests that Aboitiz and the city government conduct a massive information campaign.

Another common problem that commuters encounter when streets are flooded is the rampant trip-cutting practice of jeepney drivers. This should also be looked into, pronto.

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 ANA MARIE G. SILPAO 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

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

PROTECTING ECOSYSTEMS CAN CURB BIODIVERSITY LOSS “With the dangerous decline of species coupled with the devastating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has been linked to wildlife, the world is compelled to rethink and examine humanity’s relationship with nature,” announced Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim during the Endangered Species Day last May 21.

Dr. Lim is the executive director of ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) based at Los Baños, Laguna. ASEAN stands for Association of South East Asian Nations composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Liste, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In her statement released to the media, Dr. Lim hoped that the commemoration “will bring further attention to the status of these important biological resources and encourage positive actions to halt biodiversity loss.”

According to her, the ASEAN region hosts almost 20% of the world’s known plants and animals. Yet, they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Quoting a report in 2019, she said that the region has a “high number of species on the brink of extinction.”

This is true in the Philippines, considered as one of the countries with the highest degree of biodiversity in the world. “The Philippines is one of the 18 mega-biodiverse countries of the world, containing two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity and between 70% and 80% of the world’s plant

and animal species,” said the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) of the country profile of the Philippines.

“The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the world’s flora,” the CBD added. “Species endemism is very high, covering at least 25 genera of plants and 49% of terrestrial wildlife, while the country ranks fourth in bird endemism.”

When it comes to biodiversity and conservation, most people think of eastern Africa, the Amazonian rainforest or Madagascar. But “on a per unit area basis, the Philippines probably harbors more diversity of life than any other country on the planet,” the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said in its website.

Unfortunately, the Philippines is also considered as “one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.” In fact, some environmentalists have listed the entire Philippine archipelago as among the world’s “hottest of hotspots.”

“This is because the Philippines continues to experience an alarming rate of destruction of these important resources brought about by overexploitation, deforestation, land degradation, climate change, and pollution, among others,” deplored the BMB. Of the 207 identified species of terrestrial mammals, 42 species are considered threatened. At least 29 threatened species have been reported of the 419 reptiles found in the country. About 14 species of the 120 amphibians

identified are also reported to be threatened.

Some 984 species of wild flora are threatened: 179 are critically endangered, 254 endangered, and 406 vulnerable. There are about 145 other threatened species.

A species is considered extinct when it is no longer found in the past 50 years. Endangered species are those that have been reduced in number to a critical level or whose habitats have been damaged or altered or reduced.

Threatened is a general term used to describe the animal or plant species which could be in the status of “endangered” and “insufficiently known.” In the Philippines, among those listed as endangered are the Philippine eagle, Philippine tarsier, tamaraw and waling-waling.

The CBD contends the threats to biodiversity in the country “differ from one ecosystem to another.”

Habitat destruction is cited as the primary culprit. “The encroachment of human populations on several plant and animal species’ natural habitat has been a primary agent for the loss of biodiversity,” the Foundation of Philippine Environment (FPE) stressed.

“Displacement from one’s habitat leaves species vulnerable to harsher new living conditions, predation from other species, and scarcity or inaccessibility of resources required for survival.”

This is particularly true in the case of vanishing forests. By the definition of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the country’s forest cover should be 24%

of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares. “Between 2000 and 2005, the Philippines lost 2.1% of its forest cover, representing the second fastest rate of deforestation in Southeast Asia and seventh in the world,” the CBD reported.

Unknown to many, the Philippines is part of the center of diversity of rice, coconut, mung bean, taro and yam, as well as the center of origin and diversity of bananas in Southeast Asia. “Yet this agricultural diversity is nowadays experiencing general decline, as is the land devoted to these activities,” the CBD pointed out.

In inland water biodiversity, the same trend is happening.

Most findings indicate “a decreasing trend in water quality, fish, biodiversity and cultural value in the country’s largest lake (referring to Laguna de Bay) and its tributary rivers,” the CBD reported.

The marine ecosystems are not spared from destruction. “Marine habitats such as coral reefs are being destroyed by way of irresponsible and unsustainable fishing and aquaculture is harming marine habitat ecosystems all over the country,” the FPE observed.

The exploitation of the country’s natural resources and wildlife has also contributed to the fast disappearance of biodiversity.

“What started out as mere ‘subsistence hunting and gathering’ among traditional societies have been exacerbated into far less sustainable practice upon the advancement of international economic relationships,” the FPE said.

“Wildlife trade is a lucrative business,” observed Dr. Lim, adding that the region is regarded as the “source, transit and destination markets” for wildlife species and products for both legal and illegal trade. For legal transactions, it brought about $107 billion. As an illegal trade, it is worth $7-12 billion annually.

In the Philippines, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reported that the most traded species in the Philippines are Philippine forest turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Southeast Asian box turtle, Asian leaf turtle, Palawan pangolin, bluenaped parrot, Palawan hill mynah, and tokay gecko. The latter suffered from a frenzy of over-collection because of a rumor that they cure HIV/AIDS and could be sold for thousands of pesos.

“The value of illegal wildlife trade is estimated at US$10 billion to US$23 billion per year, making wildlife crime the fourth most lucrative illegal business after narcotics, human trafficking and arms,” said ADB in its publication, Addressing the Illegal Wildlife Trade in the Philippines.

Biodiversity, coined in 1985, refers to “the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms and all its interactions,” explains Damian Carrington, the environment editor of The Guardian. “If that sounds bewilderingly broad, that’s because it is. Biodiversity is the most complex feature of our planet and it is the most vital.”

“Without biodiversity,” said Oxford University Professor David MacDonald, “there is no future for humanity.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

AMERICAN STREET NAMES OF DAVAO In preserving the past, Americans are not fond of renaming places. Even in honoring the dead, bestowing recognition does not come at the expense of altering native names. When they took over Davao region and governed it for decades, this orientation did not change.

In the forty-two years (189941) that Davao was under US control, there were only three instances when roads were named after Americans, namely Gen. George Washington (1732-99), first US president; Frank W. Carpenter (1871-1945), former governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu; Lt. Edward Robert Bolton, the assassinated district governor of Davao.

These roads honored with American names were all named out of necessity and convenience.

Gen. George Washington, leader of the Patriot forces that

won the War of Independence, served as first US president for twelve years (1789-97). A statesman and founding father of the United States, he presided the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which formed the U.S. Constitution and the federal government. Washington originally referred to a road linking Magallanes (Pichon Sr.) Street to Quezon Blvd. up to Magsaysay Park; it was opened as a short route to Santa Ana pier via the laborer’s village called Piapi (then known as Bonifacio).

Prior to his appointment as governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu on Dec. 16, 1913, Carpenter, the first civil governor of the department, first worked in the national government as executive secretary. His governorship was a success due to his affability in convincing the

Moros to lay down their arms and accept American rule. After the war, the road was renamed in honor of Leon Maria Garcia, Sr., a former Davao City mayor.

On the other hand, Lt. Edward R. Bolton, a veteran of the 1898 Spanish-American War, was assigned in the district of Davao under the fabled 17th Infantry. He was the first quasi-civil military governor of the province but was hacked to death by a Tagakaulo ward on June 6, 1906 in Lacaron, Malita, Davao Occidental. (Barangay in Malalag, Davao del Sur, is named after him.)

In the case of Col. Thomas E. ‘Jock’ Clifford, Jr., at times dubbed as ‘the liberator of Davao,’ he is not honored with a street; rather, a park and a movie house once bore his name. As for Jericho, which was given by American Jerry Roscom to Agdao, it was a

personal choice A similar case was the informal call given to the short road between the old Jones Circle and Ponciano Reyes Street (now Cayetano Bangoy), which commuters once called Jones Street.

Gen. Douglas R. MacArthur, meanwhile, entered the roster of city streets only after the war, in deference to his contribution in the liberation of Davao from the Japanese juggernaut.

MacArthur Highway, as it is now called, was the main route of the American liberators on their way to delivering the city.

On the other hand, Boston, a town in Davao Oriental named after a county in Massachusetts, U.S.A., was picked as the place’s alternative name due to the American soldiers’ difficulty in pronouncing its old name, Dacungbanua. The new moniker

stuck and gained currency. Since the early 1910s, the locality has been known as Boston even in official records.

The Libby Airfield of Ulas, Davao, was known for its involvement in the final chapter of the war when Americans servicemen and Filipino guerrillas joined hands in bringing down the Japanese steamroller. It was named after Roy Libby, a hemp planter killed in the 1909 Philippine Constabulary mutiny staged in Davao by disgruntled Filipino soldiers employed in the Philippine Constabulary (PC).

(On the claim that Times Beach has an American provenance, this assertion is false. It got its name after the journalists working for Mindanao Times who, in the 1960s, frequented this littoral area for drinking bouts when it was still uninhabited and pristine.)

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

Aeon Luxe hosts blessing of condo, comm’l components of Aeon Towers

N

ew homes are blessings, and with that Filipino homeowners traditionally get their homes blessed before moving in.

That in mind, Aeon Luxe Properties, Inc. hosted the blessing of the finished condo and commercial components of Aeon Towers on May 12, 2021 at the Events Hall, 6F Club Aeon, Aeon Towers, Bajada, Davao City.

This traditional ceremony started with a liturgical mass led by Sacred Heart Parish priest Fr. Emmanuel Gonzaga together with Fr. Christopher Conception, BFP Chaplain Fr. Randy Baluso and Army Chaplain Fr. Cecilio Bermudes then a si-

multaneous blessing of all the condo and commercial floors including the basement parking areas with the assistance of the Execom, assigned employees and engineers.

Presiding over the blessing rites were ALPI team were CEO and President Mr. Ian Cruz with Vice President for Finance Mrs. Lesley Ann Cruz-Arquiza, Mr. Mark Arquiza, Vice President for Sales & Marketing Ms. Almira Mariano, Chief Finance Officer Ms. Almira

Añonuevo, Property Manager Arch. Mitch Casado & Security Manager Mr. Johnny Abadilla.

A banquet was served after the ceremony at the Events Hall together with the employees, invited bank partners and some of the sales team prepared by Club Aeon and Todkip Finger Foods. To welcome good luck and prosperity at Aeon Towers, candies, coins and chocolates are also given away to guests.

Aeon Towers ensures all health and safety protocols such as the wearing of face mask, temperature check upon entry and sanitation are followed all throughout the event.

ALPI CEO & President Mr. Ian Cruz and VP for Finance Mrs. Lesley Ann Cruz-Arquiza with Fr. Emmanuel Gonzaga.

COVID-19... FROMP3

and most of the time they still need internet access because some schools distribute modules through the email and messenger. And students need to research certahin topics to further understand the lesson.

Rural infrastructure While the modular system would still need occasional Internet access to supplement learning, students have a bigger problem than connectivity alone. Electricity alone is a big desire.

“Since nakatira ako sa rural area na walang kuryente at wala kaming sapat na mga kagamitan, nagtipon tipon ang aming mga guro upang ibahagi ang mga printed outputs na kailangang sagutan na galing sa mga lumang libro ng mga old students dati sa aming paaralan (Since I live in a rural area, sometimes there is no electricity and we don’t have enough material resources. All of our teachers gathered to share the printed outputs from the old books from the old students for us to answer it),” he said.

Kim Mendoza, a 11th grade student from Santa

Cruz National High School here, said self-learning is an uphill grind, with some questions in the modules confusing her “as there are not enough substantial explanations and the printed texts are not clear enough”.

“There are even activities that require a laptop, in which not everyone can afford,” she added.

For those with power supply, connectivity comes as another scourge.

“Slow internet connection is my greatest enemy since I always search in google whenever I’m in a pinch in doing my modules” Alliyah Comiso said.

Bothersome Poverty also rears its ugly head to disrupt a conducive learning environment for pupils and students.

“Nakakulong lang ako sa bahay at nakaka stress minsan dahil pinagsasabay ko ang aking pag aaral sa trabaho at gawain sa bahay.

Mahirap rin ito dahil minsan nawawalan ako ng oras sa modules dahil tambak ang mga gawain sa bahay (I am always staying inside the house and it made me stress because while I am studying

my lessons, at the same time, I do some household chores.

It’s really hard to do it and sometimes I do not have time for my studies because of my chores)” Onas said.

On top of that, some teachers give extra assignments and projects outside of these modules that may require money.

Comiso disclosed she was given an assignment where her teacher asked her to make a video about a house tour and a handwashing video.

Marheil Echon, who enrolled in a creative arts program, was assigned a project which needed her to paint on a canvas, and she said that the materials needed were expensive.

A taxi driver here said the teachers of his two children asked them to buy a pair of jogging pants for a dance demonstration. “That is P160 per pair times two.

It’s stressful because I earn only 300 a day these days.

Sometimes the school would give them two projects in a week. Hope the Department of Education would tell these teachers to spare us of these projects,” he said.

Ms.Debbie Borces, a MAPEH teacher from Ula National High School has been cautious when it comes to assigning extra tasks to her students because she sticks to her philosophy of “no learner left behind”.

Students should be able to keep up with the lesson first, she said.

“I always give options whenever the needed resources for a task are not available. For example, they are asked to submit a video for their performance task in PE [physical education] presenting a folk dance, since not all of them have internet, those who can’t send a video online will be writing/enumerating/ describing the dance figures” she said.

Wish “My only wish for the upcoming school year is that the school will officially announce face to face classes because to be honest I preferred listening to lectures rather than always working on some sheet of paper” said Alliyah Comiso.

Onaswishedgovernment to provide internet connection and electricity

in the countryside “so that I can gather more relevant information about our activities and assignments since we only rely on copies of our textbooks provided by our school”.

“I suggest that more textbooks are at least provided so that it would be better and easier for us students to gather information about the tasks

given by our teachers and it can prevent students from copying one student’s work,” he added.

“I suggest that the schools include precise introductions of the lessons or give us an understanding about the task before we can answer it,” Kim Mendoza said. (Shaine Andrea Marie Go and Cyrlill Jess C. Astronomo/ADDU interns)

system,” Dr. Laquihon says.

“Once it is downloaded, patients can search for all the medicines available in their local pharmacy including the brand and prices of each medicine. No travel expenses and no time wasted.”

Right now, Reseta QRx is alpha tested in Kidapawan City, where Dr. Laquihon is based. Beta tests will be done in the whole Cotabato province. “Once the system is fully tested, it will soon be available in Davao Region, General Santos City and Cagayan de Oro City. Cebu City and Metro Manila will also benefit the Reseta QRx app,” he says, adding that a group of young doctors and information technology

practitioners are forming a new tech company that will spearhead the launching of the innovative app.

“In this difficult period of pandemic, economic and social disruption causes devastation to all of us,” he concludes.

“Health issues and non-COVID 19-related diseases blow out of proportions. These problems, constraints and difficulties on the other hand provide opportunity to improve our health system and technology.

This drives innovation. Reseta QRx app provides us with a tool that has the power to improve our health by just a touch of our fingertip.” Photos courtesy of Dr. Neil Humprey Laquihon

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MEDICINES AT YOUR FINGERTIP Dr Laquihon and his family.

I

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

melda S. thought something was wrong with her. So, she went to a clinic and told the doctor about her health problem. Several minutes of history taking and physical examination, the doctor gave his diagnosis and prescribed medications.

Immediately, Imelda went to a nearby pharmacy but the medicine was not available. She went to another pharmacy but the medicine was out of stock. She had been to other pharmacies but the same story happened.

There were two remaining pharmacies she had not been to. She was hoping that the prescribed medicine would be available. It was and so she bought some. When she went to the other pharmacy, it was also available and much cheaper.

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hit the country, it changed the way of Filipinos living, particularly when it comes to health.

For one, there is limited access to prescribing doctors for prescription medicines.

For another, there is no online access to ordering of medicine in a local offline brick and mortar pharmacy.

In addition, patients and doctors have no information on available medicines in the local pharmacy in the community. More importantly, patients and doctors have no access to information of the different prices of medicines in different local pharmacies.

One possible solution to this problem is Reseta QRx. “(It) is a web app comparable to Facebook and Shoppee,” explains Dr. Neil Humprey O.

Laquihon, the man behind it. “Doctors can prescribe medicines and patients can order the medicine through the Reseta QRx just like you do with Shoppee/Lazada direct to the pharmacy. Patients can pay online by GCash, debit card or credit card. They can also do it by cash on delivery or pick up for convenience.”

Reseta QRx is composed of three words. The word reseta comes originally from Spanish receta which means “medical prescription.” QR stands for Quick Response code while Rx is the symbol for a medical prescription.

Dr. Laquihon, who developed Reseta QRx, is an internist and occupational medicine practitioner. He is also the chief executive officer and president of Winearch Ventures Corporation. The idea and innovative system was put into reality by the development team headed by Alvin Pacot, web application developer and founder of Panday Digital (which developed numerous web applications like jobtensor. com, timetracker.mesasix. com, and crm.bizzooke.com and www.resetaqrxcom).

Dr. Laquihon used Reseta QRx as QR code in his clinic for easy access and portability.

This was in the early January 2020 when the pandemic was just starting. Since it was still in its initial stage, it

ran into a lot of issues. He thought it should be pivoted to a more comprehensive multi-sectoral approach that includes doctors, patients and pharmacies.

This led to the creation of the present Reseta QRx. “(It) is a game changing app which innovates the process by integrating the doctor, patient and pharmacy,” Dr. Laquihon says. “Through this platform, the patient can search for doctors in Reseta QRx Doctors directory and can virtually consult.

“With Reseta QRx app, prescription is made so much easier,” he continues. “No more handwritten prescriptions, no more taking photos of prescriptions, and less hassle typing. Doctors can make prescriptions with a touch and swipe on their cellular phones.

“Once the patient has the prescription in their app, they can order medicines directly to the Reseta QRx,” Dr. Laquihon adds.

One good thing about the Reseta QRx app is that it doesn’t charge consultation fees. “Consultation fee is directed to the prescribing physician in real time through GCash, debit/credit card or actual clinic payment upon the request of the health provider.

Consultation fee charge depends on the actual rate of the physician,” he explains.

According to Dr. Laquihon, Reseta QRx supports the local delivery service in the area hence delivery fee is not included when paying in the pharmacy. “Delivery fee will be directed to the third-party delivery service,” he says.

All over-the-counter (OTC) and non-OTC medicines can be ordered via Reseta

QRx. “OTC can be ordered and purchased directly to the local pharmacy,” he says. “But non-OTC medicines such as antibiotics need a prescription from your doctor. Prescribed medications from your doctor as well as instructions of the medications are saved in your app. Reseta QRx will automatically show the nearest pharmacies which have the available medications in your prescriptions.”

For restricted medicines, Reseta QRx can show which pharmacies have the prescribed medicines.

“Ordering and purchasing, on the other hand, should be actual since it needs an Actual Special Yellow Prescription Form to be filled up by a licensed S2 physician,” he explains.

True to its tagline, “quick response medications,” Reseta QRx does not take days or hours to order. “It will only take a click of your mobile phones just like ordering your medicine in real time,” Dr. Laquihon says.

“Waiting time is cut short by the Reseta QRx system since medicine is directed in your local pharmacy,” he continues. “Delivery depends on your location to the nearest pharmacy of your choice. You may opt to personally pick up your pre-purchased medicine at your local pharmacy or you may choose a hassle-free delivery by your local delivery service provider.”

According to Dr. Laquihon, all licensed medical doctors can join and use the Reseta QRx app. They can download it for free. “Ten out of 10 doctors whom Reseta QRx was introduced for alpha testing agreed to use it,” he

Dr. Neil Humprey Laquihon.

Alvin Pacot says. “More and more doctors are willing to use the system for the beta testing.”

On the other hand, all authorized pharmacies in the locality with business permit, license to operate and licensed pharmacists are allowed to use the Reseta QRx app.

Again, 100% of the pharmacy in the alpha test agreed to use the system because it is hasslefree, no prescription errors and pharmacy operation is not limited by time and location.

“Everyone can download the Reseta QRx app patient

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national government offices including governmentowned and controlled corporation events.

“Hunahunaon sa ninyo kung gobyerno ba ni ang akong event o dili? Pag ang tubag dili, then this does not applied to you ug ayaw na ninyo hunahunaa ang EO. This is to be applied to all barangays, local, national government offices, agencies and instrumentalities including government-owned and controlled corporation example SSS, PhilHealth, GSIS, GOCCs na sila,” the mayor added.

The mayor emphasized that even if it is to be participated by less than 25 participants, it is still prohibited. However, if it will be held online, there is no problem.

“Bisan pa man isa na lang kabuok ang tao, bawal gihapon ni siya. Of course because Covid, tao-totao lang ang Covid. Kung online ang inyong platform wala na’y problema. Kung virtual ang ilang program then wala ta’y problema because wala na’y Covid transmission,” she said.

Section 3 states that trainings and seminars are suspended until August 31, 2021.

“Daghan mananghid sa atoa nga magpahigayon ug trainings diri, operation tuli, medical mission, gupitan are suspended August 31, 2021. All non-emergency activities pananglitan training o seminar, are allowed kung naka-online siya. Wala ta’y problema sa Covid-19 kung virtual ang atong program,” Mayor Sara said.

Mayor Sara said allowed activities are all disaster and emergency activities including distribution of financial, food, non-food items.

She added that distribution of food and non-food items that are not related to disaster or emergency event should be distributed house-to-house in the form of contactless delivery by the organizers or in a distribution system where no mass gathering is conducted.

“Pananglitan adto mo didto ibilin sa gawas sa gate, lakaw na dayon. These activities include but is not limited to distribution of livelihood kits, information materials, distribution of govenrment’s aid, community pantry and food and all other similar activities-kani dapat i-house-to-house,” she said.

by first looking into how the coronavirus appears to be spreading fast.

In a meeting Friday by the IATF attended by different sectors, the sudden surge in daily cases were “contact traced” to family gatherings over the past weeks, including Mother’s Day celebration, birthdays, weddings and baptism events which normally gather

relatives from other places to celebrate their milestones.

It was noted that 70 percent of the new cases COVID-19 in the city were close contacts of earlier confirmed cases. A report by the City Health Office said 48 of the 68 new cases on May 21 were close contacts of an infected patient, possibly a kin or friend.

mga requirement mga mutravel,” he explained.

He cited that even other countries are requiring tourists to present vaccination documents before entry.

“Kung muadto bitaw ta sa other countries, dili man ta mu-reklamo kung pangayuan ta ug vaccination portfolio una ta maka-enter.

Mao man na ang common na requirements even sa mga OFWs kung wala ka’y bakuna sa polio, bakuna sa TB ug uban pa nga mga bakuna. So ngano magpabakuna man?

This is already accepted depende sa sitwasyon lang.

Sa pagka-karon, I think over democratic ang atong sitwasyon, dili nato gusto masiklo ang mga tao but these are all possibilities that we are looking into para ma-

accelerate ang acceptance sa pagbakuna sa mga tao para ma-achieve ang herd immunity level,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Annabelle Yumang, regional director of the Department of Health (DOH 11), said preparation for the Priority Group A3 or those individuals 18 to 59 years old.

“Sa atoang preparasyon sama gihapon sa atoang pag prepare sa A1 ug A2 na groups. Duna ta gihapon mga masterlist na pagahimoon sa tagsa-tagsa ka mga local government units (LGUs) para mahibal-an nato kung pila gyud tanan ang atoang mga A3 group or katong mga 18 years old to 59 years old nga dunay comorbidities.

Kinahanglan naa gihapon ang atoang masterlist,” she said. By Maya M. Padillo

Dimaandal said the suspects yielded a total of 65.6 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P984,000 and some drug paraphernalia.

Authorities also recovered eight pieces of caliber .38 revolvers.

The PDEA is asking the public to help the government attain its vision for a drug-free Philippines

by reporting to the people who are involved in drug trafficking activities, he added.

The suspects will face charges for violations of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2013.

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Amelioration Program.

Some seniors received assistance, a few have not, and others were only chosen,” Estrella said, who asked for clarifications from officials.

Republic Act 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” provides that any resident citizen of the Philippines at least 60-years old are entitled to the following benefits and privileges: employment, education, health, social services, housing, access to public transport, incentive for foster care, social pension, Philhealth coverage, and social safety nets given that they have proof of their senior citizenship.

However, many senior citizens still protest that benefits and privileges for them were barely felt.

Boredom Consuelo admitted to feeling lonely in the first few months in quarantine and being frustrated at times for being disallowed to go out. Her family bought her a cellphone to kill lockdown boredoms.

“My grandmother was really discouraged since the pandemic. That’s why we bought her a cellphone and taught her how to use Facebook,” her granddaughter, Allison Dela Salde said.

The elder Dela Salde shared how the pandemic affected their family, most especially their livelihood and lifestyle.

“I don’t have high blood pressure before because I’m still actively teaching. Now, I don’t have anything to do at home. Sometimes, I am the one who cooks so that I have something to get busy with,”

she said.

She receives her teacher pension every month, and if not enough, her children give her money.

As a regular Church mass-goer, she would complain about church restrictions against going to mass and the leniency towards mall operations allowing shoppers inside.

“I don’t like their restrictions on going to church while they can open the malls,” she said.

Filipino elderly abroad In the United States, since Texas Governor Greg Abott issued an executive stay-at-home order in March last year, the smell of baked goods would take over the Aligno household in the city of Corpus Christi.

Medalia Aligno, the 71-year-old Filipino American followed the regulations with no hesitation. She delved into baking and trying new recipes during the strict lockdown. From banana bread to coffee cake, she spent countless hours in the kitchen baking the time away.

She also honed her craft by creating homemade Filipino dishes.

Her specialties during the stagnant time were fresh lumpia and menudo.

Knowing that she and her husband could not even begin to finish all her cooked dishes, she called the members of the Corpus Christi Filipino Catholic Community (CCFCC) to drive by her home and pick up portions for their own families.

Due to the pandemic, Medalia did not allow any visitors in her home.

She packed the extra portions into containers

and disinfected them as a precaution.

The members of the community would drive by her mailbox, where she placed the container of food, and pick it up for their own families to enjoy.

Medalia also began to immerse herself into caring for houseplants. She constantly researched the topic of botany through reading online forums and browsing social media.

She had no problem adjusting to the lifestyle that came with the lockdown and strict protocols given by the city government.

“The strict lockdown was fine. To be honest, it was good. It was needed to lower the cases in the city,” Medalia said.

Her husband Pat, 73, shared the same sentiment.

He spent his time in lockdown tuning up his bike and going out on solo rides out in the open with no one near him to ensure his safety.

“I liked the lockdown because it was peaceful,” the husband said. “You just need to find something to pass the time.”

The Aligno couple has been living in Corpus Christi for over 40 years after immigrating from Davao City.

The seniors are the parents of five children who are all above 35 years old and grandparents to 11 children.

Speed up vaccination The Aligno couple’s biggest challenge during the lockdown was being unable to see their loved ones face-to-face. However, technology aided in easing the said burden.

Finances were not a problem for the couple during strict lockdown.

Their pension checks were proved to sustain them through and through.

Medalia said her children were on standby if they needed anything. On top of that, the CCFCC members continuously checked up on the family and delivered their groceries.

Back home in the Philippines, when asked if she believed in Covid-19, Consuelo said yes. What she does not believe is the government’s Covid-19 response.

“Sometimes I think that they just want our money.

They fabricate other cases to have a budget. But who knows?” she expressed.

Consuelo and Estrella urged the government to speed up the Covid-19 vaccination program and provide equal and enough financial assistance to senior citizens. They also called on the IATF to loosen up their guidelines a bit.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) identified senior citizens among the list of vulnerable and priority groups to be vaccinated.

As of now, Medalia and Pat are fully vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine. The senior couple continue to follow health protocols such as wearing face masks and social distancing.

While there have been zero deaths due to coronavirus in the past two weeks in Corpus Christi, as of May 6, there have been a total of 1,080,172 recorded COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. Of this number, 83,931 are cases involving senior citizens. (By Janine Dela Cruz and Euneece Angella Olbes/ADDU Interns)

ing NBA champion.

It was an eventful first half that saw the Suns take a 53-45 lead.

Phoenix had a 32-25 lead after the first. But the festive atmosphere in Phoenix turned to a stunned silence early in the second quarter when Paul bumped into teammate Cameron Johnson and fell to the floor in obvious pain while holding his right shoulder. He was down for a couple minutes — surrounded by players from both teams — before slowly walking off the floor with a towel over his head.

The 36-year-old star returned a few minutes later to a huge roar from the crowd, but didn’t look right. He was dribbling mostly with his left hand and missed the only shot he took before halftime.

Booker had 17 points before the break on 8-of14 shooting and Ayton added 14.

The Lakers needed to beat Golden State on Wednesday in the play-in tournament just to earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. But they still came into the series as the slight betting favorites over the second-seeded Suns, according to FanDuel.

PAUL’S SHOULDER Paul said he “heard a

crack” when he suffered his shoulder injury but is confident he’ll be good for Game 2.

Williams said he talked with Paul for a minute after the game about his shoulder. The coach said the point guard assured him that he’d be OK going forward.

“He was OK and he’ll be OK going forward, but he was pretty sore when he came back,” Williams said. “Him playing today gave us a lot of juice, lot of energy. It was inspirational.”

GETTING VAXXED Vogel said his team expects to reach the 85% COVID-19 vaccination threshold Monday. He added that he didn’t expect much to change other than the team’s restaurant options might be expanded.

LOTS OF FOLKS The Suns announced capacity for Sunday’s game was 11,000, but it felt like more were in an arena that holds a little more than 18,000. It was the first time there was more than 10,000 allowed in the newly-renovated arena.

“I was like ‘Holy smokes. This is pretty cool,” Williams said. “I had to get myself under control emotionally.”

booked a spot in the Tokyo Olympics after ousting Pakistan’s Haroon Khan in their own semifinal duel, 32-26.

Meanwhile, Kirstie Alora settled for the bronze in the plus-67 kilogram division after beating Mokhru Khalimova of Tajikistan, 7-5, in their third place match.

Alora’s bronze medal win was a consolation after missing out on a second straight Olympic appearance following a 27-5 domination of Uzbekistan’s Svetlana Osipova in their semifinal match.

The country has now nine athletes in the Tokyo Olympics with Barbosa joining 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Caloy Yulo

(gymnastics), EJ Obiena (pole vault), Cris Nievarez (rowing), and Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno Carlo Paalam (boxing).

“I would like to confirm that as of last night, we have already nine athletes who already made it to Tokyo Olympics,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said in a radio DZBB interview on Sunday. “We’re hoping more will qualify next month.”

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, are scheduled to be held between July 23 and Aug. 8 this year. The Paralympics will follow from Aug. 24 to Sept.

5. (PNA)

lead to 78-68.

Memphis led by as many as 17 points in the fourth, going up 94-77 on a jumper from Tyus Jones, before the Jazz rallied late.

Utah experienced a dry spell on offense through much of the first quarter. The Jazz made a single basket over a seven-minute stretch while committing six turnovers.

The Jazz committed eight total turnovers in the quarter.

Memphis went ahead 1714 on a three-point play by Dillon Brooks, but could not

gain further ground against the Jazz defense.

The Grizzlies missed 14 straight shots over a seven-minute stretch spanning the first and second quarters.

It opened the door for Utah’s 15-0 run, highlighted by backto-back baskets by Gobert for a 29-17 lead.

Memphis answered with a 31-7 run, starting late in the second quarter and went ahead 53-43 early in the third.

Brooks and Morant combined for six baskets and 17 points to fuel the spurt.

LAKERS... FROMP11

PINOY... FROMP11

GRIZZLIES... FROMP11

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 60 • TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

SPORTS 11

Lakers stars Anthony Davis and Lebron James were a disappointment in Game 1 vs Phoenix.

Lakers drop playoff opener

Pinoy Taekwondo jin clinches Olympic spot

T

aekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa became the ninth Filipino athlete to earn a spot in the Tokyo Olympics after securing a top two finish in the Asian qualifiers in Amman.

The former University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ Most Valuable Player delivered a furious comeback to stun hometown favorite Zaid Al-Halawani, 50-49, in the under-58 kilogram semifinals on Saturday.

Barbosa let a solid start that saw him leading, 14-11, after Round 1 slip away as a dominant second round from Al-Halawani pushed him ahead, 28-24, entering Round 3.

Al-Halawani looked to pull away as he stretched his lead to 15, 41-26 lead with

1:22 to go.

However, Barbosa slowly came back and cut the lead down to four, 48-44, with 21 seconds left.

Al-Halawani thought he found breathing room after a Barbosa foul put him back up by five, 49-44, with 12 seconds remaining.

But three straight twopoint hits pushed Barbosa upfront with only two seconds remaining, and Al-Halawani failed to answer as time expired.

Barbosa quickly celebrated after completing the huge comeback.

Barbosa is battling Thai rival Ramnarong Sawekwiharee in the final as of this posting.

Sawekwiharee also

FPINOY, P10

P

HOENIX — All-Star guard Chris Paul was grimacing in pain early in the fourth quarter, playing essentially with one shoulder. Cameron Payne had just been ejected. Players had to be separated and emotions were heated.

Phoenix coach Monty Williams had warned his young Suns there would be moments like this in the NBA playoffs, especially against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s safe to say they passed the first test.

Devin Booker scored 34 points, Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 16 rebounds and the Suns won their first playoff game in 11 years, beating the Lakers 99-90 on Sunday. For Booker, his long awaited appearance in the postseason lived up to the hype.

“The intensity’s different, the physicality is different,” Booker said. “And

it’s only one game.”

It was the first playoff appearance for several Suns players, including Booker, Ayton and Mikal Bridges, but they didn’t look like postseason rookies against LeBron James and the Lakers. They helped Phoenix offset a tough game for Paul, who didn’t look healthy after a right shoulder injury in the second quarter.

The Suns led 86-70 early in the fourth, but the Lakers quickly cut it to 8677 with 9:02 left.

That’s about the time things got a little rowdy. L.A.’s Alex Caruso and Payne got into an altercation near the sideline after

Payne knocked Caruso to the ground. L.A.’s Montrezl Harrell jumped into the fray and both teams had to be separated. Caruso and Harrell were each given a technical foul, and Payne was given two technicals and ejected.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about as a team and a staff,” Williams said. “There’s going to be a moment in the game where you’re going to have to regulate your emotions.”

Added Bridges: “Times get tough, we don’t separate. We’re going to fight through it together.”

The Suns did. Booker kept making shots and Ayton was a force on the glass, finishing with eight offense rebounds and shooting 10 of 11 from the field. The Lakers never got within striking distance in the final minutes. “(Booker) is a scoring machine, puts a lot of pressure on our defense to

cover him in a lot of ways,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “When we double team him, he’s got Ayton in there. We didn’t do a good enough job but if we hold this team to 99 points in Game 2, I feel good about our chances.”

James finished with 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Anthony Davis shot just 5 of 16 from the field and had 13 points. The Lakers shot 7 of 26 (27%) from 3-point range.

“I missed a ton of shots.

We missed a ton of shots as a team,” Davis said. “There is no way we are winning a game, let alone a series with the way I played. This is on me.”

Game Two is Tuesday night in Phoenix. The Lakers have been in this spot before — they lost Game 1 in the first two series last season before rallying to win and eventually becom-

points. Jonas Valanciunas chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Kyle Anderson added 14 points.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 20 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Jazz.

Mike Conley had 22 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds.

Rudy Gobert added 15 rebounds and 11 points, and Derrick Favors finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Bogdanovic hit five free throws in the final minute to help Utah cut Memphis’ lead to 110-109 with 6.4 seconds left. Brooks made a layup at the other end, and Bogdanovic missed a 3-point try with 1.9 seconds left that

would have forced overtime.

Donovan Mitchell was a late scratch from the lineup while rehabbing his sprained right ankle. He has not appeared in a game for the Jazz since April 16.

The Jazz struggled to generate consistent offense in his absence. Utah shot just 12 of 47 from 3-point range.

Utah cut a double-digit deficit to 60-59 following a layup by Bogdanovic. Then, Brooks took over. He scored 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the third quarter. Brooks capped off his scoring flurry with back-to-back baskets that extended the Grizzlies’

FLAKERS, P10

Grizzlies send No. 1 seed Jazz crashing S

Dillon Brooks had 31 points and seven rebounds.

ALT LAKE CITY — Dillon Brooks had 31 points and seven rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 112-109 on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time) in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.

The eighth-seeded Grizzlies put the Western Conference top-seeded Jazz in an early hole. Game 2 of the series in Wednesday night.

Brooks set a single-game franchise scoring record for a Memphis player making their NBA playoff debut, surpassing the 24 points scored by Marc Gasol against San Antonio on April 17, 2011.

Ja Morant added 26

FGRIZZLIES, P10

12 SPORTS

“As a business person, I just thought that it was too risky.

Hopefully, they come out okay with Pacquiao and Spence but it’s risking a lot of money to do”-- Bob Arum.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 60 • TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

TOO RISKY

Pacquiao-Spence is a big business risk: Arum

T

he boxing world was seemingly minding its own business before Manny Pacquiao dropped his seismic size news upon it.

The former eight-division world champion announced this past Friday that he will be taking on unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 21st.

All along, promoter Bob Arum continually stated that he was attempting to lock in a deal of his own with Pacquiao to face WBO welterweight star, Terence Crawford. That, of course, failed to materialize. Now, with Spence Jr. and Pacquiao a reality, Arum isn’t upset with the way things shaked out. All in all, he believes he did all he could.

“We tried to do Pacquiao and Crawford over in Abu Dhabi because the money is huge for that fight,” said Arum during an interview with ESNews.

While Arum claims that he wanted to stage Crawford vs. Pacquiao overseas due to financial reasons, Pacquiao vs. Spence Jr. is happening stateside. Considering the risk that came along with attempting to do the same, Arum reveals that he simply wasn’t willing

to pull the trigger.

“As a business person, I just thought that it was too risky,” explained Arum. “Hopefully, they come out okay with Pacquiao and Spence but it’s risking a lot of money to do.”

Pacquiao, 42, was last seen in the ring in 2019 against Keith Thurman. After scoring a firstround knockdown, Pacquiao took home a split decision win on the night. As for Spence Jr., the powerful southpaw made it look easy against Danny Garcia in December of 2020, beating him mercilessly over the course of 12 rounds.

The moment Pacquiao decides to hang up his boxing gloves, the next stop for him will be the boxing Hall of Fame. As his former promoter, Arum nestled into his ringside seat for numerous years to watch Pacquiao destroy his opponents. Despite that, he has a hard time giving him the edge this time around.

“I would never count out Manny Pacquiao but you would have to make Spence the big favorite.”