Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 84 | Tuesday, June 22, 2021

GEOTHERMAL POWER: TAPPING ENERGY FROM DOWN UNDER SPORTS P9 VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021

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SEND IT ON TIME Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio reiterates that she had no plans of joining a national political party and will remain with Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP) and Hugpong Sa Tawong Lungsod.

Edge Davao

DOH 11 asks testing facilities to submit ‘real time’ swab results STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy Robert E.A. Borje personally hands over the letter of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on June 20, 2021. The letter was received on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan by Saudi Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Waleed bin Abdul Karim Al-Khuraiji. The Special Envoy discussed the contents of the President’s letter, aimed at further enhancing special Philippines-Saudi Arabia ties. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOS

T SEND IT ON TIME DOH 11 asks testing facilities to

2 drug suspects killed; P1.3-M shabu seized in Davao del Sur

submit ‘real time’ swab results

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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“For the late reporting, because there are mga clamors na saying sometimes hindi daw nag sasubmit yung mga facilities natin. However, we really address this one already.

We have already provided an advisory to our testing facilities so that hindi nila ikukumpol ng isahan lang

na pag-submit at naka-fluid ang numbers natin and then real time dapat na maibigay nila ang mga test results in Davao Region,” said Dr. Rachel Joy Pasion, head of Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESUs) of DOH 11, in the online “Usapang Pangkalusugan” on Monday.

Pasion said the data management team of DOH 11 would really like to capture as much as possible the real picture of Covid-19 cases in the region.

“Within 3 p.m. on this day, pinapa-submit natin ang ating testing facilities and cut-off na 3 p.m. and we will collate everything,” she said.

This is in line with the report DOH Davao Center for Health Development, wherein based on the Regional Situation Update on COVID-19 in Davao Region on June 16, 2021, there were a total of 725

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PDEA 11 Information Officer Noli Dimaandal identified the suspects as Leo Maiso Castro, 34, and Roldan Escuadro Morera , both residents of the barangay.

Dimaandal said Castro is listed as number 6 in the city target list while

Morera is number 7 in the list by PDEA. The suspects were arrested after selling a plastic sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover PDEA agent.

Confiscated from the duo were a total of 5 grams of suspected shabu worth

he regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11) has advised testing facilities in Davao Region to submit “real time” swab test results to avoid late reporting of Covid-19 cases.

new cases of Covid-19 in the region bringing the total number of active cases to 7,415.

Of these new cases, 397 were from Davao City, 125 from Davao Oriental, 120 from Davao del Norte, 41 from Davao de Oro, 30 from Davao Occidental, and 12 from Davao del Sur. However, Dr. Ashley Lopez, acting head of the City Health Office (CHO), clarified that the 397 cases of Covid-19 for Davao City was an accumulated test results from June 10 to June 15, 2021.

P75,000 and buy-bust money.

Criminal complaints for violation of Sections 5 and 11 in relation to Section 26, Article Il of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) are being prepared against the suspects.

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2 drug suspects nabbed in Panabo wo drug suspects listed as city target level by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were arrested following an anti-illegal drug operation in Purok Via Vida, Barangay Datu Abdul, Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Friday (June 18).

wo drug suspects were killed and another one arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted in Digos City, Davao del Sur on Saturday (June 19).

Digos City Chief of Police Lt. Col. Vici Anthony Tababa said the two slain suspects resisted arrest and fired atthe police officers, prompting them to retaliate during a buy-bust operation in Purok 9, Barangay Aplaya, Digos City in the said province.

The slain suspects were only known as alias Ato, 30 years old, and an unidentified male person.

Authorities were also able to arrest alias Sheka, 23 a resident of the said barangay.

Recovered from the crime scene were a .38

revolver; live bullets; fired cartridge cases; and deformed fired bullets.

Also seized were 32 pcs. of transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu, weighing about 90 grams with an estimated value of P1.350 million; other drug paraphernalia; cash money; and other belongings.

The arrested suspect and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the station while appropriate criminal complaints against her are now being prepared for filing in court.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar commended the successful police operation in Digos City.

“I commend the police

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PDP-Laban can back Sara for president, says Nograles

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uling party PDP-Laban can back Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio for the 2022 presidential election even if she is not a member of the party, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday.

The party earlier adopted a resolution urging President Duterte to run for vice president in next year’s elections.

His daughter, however, said there would be no Duterte-Duterte tandem in 2022.

“It’s not unusual for parties to support somebody

from a different party. If ‘yan ang magiging decision ng partido to support Mayor Inday Sara kahit ‘di naman siya member ng PDP-Laban basta ‘yung partido can adopt her or support her,” Nograles said.

(If that will be that decision of the party to support Mayor Inday Sara even if she’s not a member of PDP-Laban, the party can adopt her or support her.)

“You don’t have to be a member for the PDP-Laban to support you. She’s not required to join the party.”

FPDP-LABAN, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

NEWS

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Consul General Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General of Davao says Philippines-China Hour at LPU-Davao is a platform for promoting understanding between the two countries, especially among young people. It is for sharing views on topics of interest, as well as a gathering for education exchanges and cooperation. Edge Davao

Curfew violator stabs cop several times

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police officer was stabbed several times by an individual he arrested for violating curfew in Barangay Poblacion, Monkayo, Davao de Oro, Sunday dawn.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 identified the victim as Janry Cabrera Rabe, 27, assigned in the said province as a member of the Revitalized-Pulis Sa Barangay (R-PSB).

Rabe accosted the suspect De-Jun Ruyana Melindo, 29, a resident of

the barangay for allegedly breaking the curfew, which triggered a verbal altercation between the two..

Melindo then stabbed the police officer in different parts of his body.

The suspect was arrested inside his mother’s house where he hid when being pursued by the police.

The victim is now recuperating inside the Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital (Photo credit to Police Regional Office )

Sara stays with local party

By MAYA M. PADILLO

M

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reiterated that she has no plans of joining a national political party and will remain with Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP) and Hugpong Sa Tawong Lungsod.

This after some members of PDP-Laban or any national political party expressed support for her presidential bid.

“I have no plans of joining a national political party as I said I will stay with Hugpong ng Pagbabago sa Davao Region and Hugpong

sa Tawong Lungsod of Davao City,” the mayor said in a live broadcast with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

Mayor Sara also repeated President Rodrigo Duterte’s reaction in line with the clamor for the DuterteDuterte tandem for 2022

elections.

“Nag-ingon na si Presidente Duterte di ba na presidency is not a woman’s job particularly not for me. Kung mudagan si President Duterte ug vice president, do not expect na ako ang iyang kuhaon na president,” she said.

The mayor also affirmed that there are politicians who talked to her on vice presidency.

“For vice president yes daghan nakipag-istorya sa akoa, pero dili nako sila matubag because I

don’t have final answer.

Ug alliances ang nahibalan nako is governors.

Officers of HNP are talking to a lot of people, mao na akong nabibalan,” she said.

Mayor Sara also thanked those who expressed support to her as a person and public official.

“Sa tanan na nagpakita ng suporta sa akoa, magpasalamat ko sa inyong trust and confidence sa akoa as a person and as a public official,” she said.

envisioned to harness independent thinking and opinion and act as a think tank for promoting friendly co-operations between China and the Philippines.

“It is a platform for promoting understanding between the two countries, especially among young people.

It is for sharing views on topics of interest, as well as a gathering for

education exchanges and cooperation,” said Consul General Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General of Davao in a text message.

Lin said there are already three meetings on different topics with the last online meeting was the introduction of a Chinese traditional music instrument by a Chinese performer Yang Sijia and attended by Deputy

Consul General Liu Qian.

In her message posted on the Facebook Page of the Consulate, Liu stated that the Consulate General has fulfilled the procurement of books for LPU Davao which introduce Chinese culture, history, people’s livelihood and more, and the arrangement for donation of these books is currently underway.

LPU-Davao hosts ChinaPhilippines Hour platform

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he Lyceum of the Philippines-Davao (LPU-Davao) is hosting the PhilippinesChina Hour, a platform aiming to sustain cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The PhilippinesChina Hour at LPUDavao aims to provide a comprehensive study of the two countries, for academic exchanges and collaboration. It is

FLPU-DAVAO, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

Food delivery riders troop to an outlet of a popular food chain in Matina, Davao City to claim their clients’BTS-inspired meal orders on Monday. Food deliver riders said there’s a major increase in their delivery orders due to the particular meal. Edge Davao

‘Build, Build, Build’ delivers, sets up infra foundation for the future

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residential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects Vince Dizon, who is also president and Chief Executive Officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), assured that while “Build, Build, Build” continued to make progress, it is also setting up the foundation in terms of infrastructure for the next administration and beyond.

“We only have less than one year left in the Duterte administration. Whoever the next president will be, it is incumbent upon the next administration to not only continue, but to fast-track all the good work that has been done under the lead-

D

epartment of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi has expressed his support for local businesses in Siargao who are struggling to process their documentary prerequisites to operate and will help them in extending their temporary lighting permits.

Business owners and investors in the town of General Luna, Surigao del Norte have sought help from Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary

ership of President Duterte,” Dizon said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), both of which implement the majority of the infrastructure pipeline,

joined Dizon in presenting the status of their projects in a press conference at the ongoing Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Project in Makati City. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua joined the event via video conferencing.

“A total of 6.5 million workers made ‘Build, Build, Build’ a reality. We are confident that President Duterte’s promise of decongesting EDSA by 2022 will become a reality.

In one month, we will open the Pantaleon-Estrella Bridge which will connect Makati and Mandaluyong within 12 minutes. Before the term of the President ends, we will complete

the construction of several big-ticket projects, including the Kalayaan Bridge linking Taguig and Pasig, Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, Mindanao Avenue Extension, Katipunan Avenue Extension, and the NLEX-SLEX Connector project which will connect Skyway Stage 3 and NLEX Harbor Link,” said Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, chair of the Cabinet’s infrastructure cluster.

Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, meanwhile, said, “Since 2016, the Department of Transportation has completed a total of 212 airport projects and working on 102

Martin Andanar on the sidelines of the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Program launched in Siargao Island last week.

The Siargao Island Business Organization (SIBO) met with Andanar on June 12, about their concerns on the red tape in the processing of permits in setting up their businesses.

On June 18, Andanar handed over the letter of appeal of the SIBO to

Cusi, outlining their concern over the approaching termination date of their temporary lighting permits, which the group has appealed for an extension on this.

Their temporary lighting permits granted by the Siargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO) are expiring on July 17, 2021 and yet their building permits are yet to be issued despite complying with the LGU’s documentary requirements.

More than 200 busi-

ness owners and investors in General Luna are in a predicament because of this. The issuance of a building permit is required to process permanent electrical lines.

SIBO also raised their concerns on the required high-priced minimum electrical rate for those establishments that have bought their own transformers to have permanent electrical lines.

According to the letter, these businesses have to pay their monthly bill

F’BUILD, P10

Final deadline of voluntary return of SBWS slated end of this month

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he Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) Program Task Force (SPTF) has resolved to allow the voluntary return of the subsidies until June 30 this year in response to requests from employers and employees who were still unable to give it back despite previous extensions of its deadline to return subsidies.

The Task Force had previously announced through a resolution dated May 28, 2020, further amended last June 13, that a return of the

subsidy must be made by employers or employees, as the case may be, for: -- employers who failed to maintain the employment status of all employee beneficiaries before the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in 2020 and throughout the SBWS or misrepresented in their application material facts relevant to the eligibility of their employees; -- employees who resigned during the period of ECQ and modified ECQ

“starting from PHP25,000 up to PHP80,000 and more” even if they have not consumed much electricity for that period.

They are also seeking clarifications for the correct process for applying for permanent electrical lines.

During the meeting, the two Cabinet officials responded positively to their appeal, saying they will be coordinating with SIARELCO on the matter.

“Makakaasa po kayo na sa tulong ng DOE, gagam-

panan po agad namin yan at sisiguraduhin po namin na hindi na po kayo magkakaroon ng abala (We assure you that DOE will help. We will immediately respond to this and make sure you won’t have any problem regarding this),” Cusi said.

Meanwhile, Andanar assured business owners that the government is ready to aid them as they recover from the pandemic.

“Itong mga establisye-

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FUNHAMPERED, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

ECONOMY

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Pedestrians browse“ukay-ukay”jeans on display along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Sunday afternoon. Edge Davao

Local tailors, dressmakers tapped to produce PPE gears

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an Miguel Corporation (SMC) packaging unit San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation (SMYPC) has begun local production and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets for the medical sector, tapping community-based tailors and dressmakers to assemble the protective suits using medical fabric produced in its woven products facility in Malaysia.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang underscored the importance of having sufficient supply of locally-produced PPE and isolation gowns given the current pandemic when such protective gear are indispensable in hospitals as well as in industrial facilities.

“It has only been a year so it’s still very fresh in our minds what happened last year at the start of the pandemic when there was a worldwide shortage of PPEs. We want to help ensure our medical workers and hospitals can source protective wear locally,” Ang said in a statement Sunday.

“At the same time, we’re providing much-needed livelihood for our local artisans whose small sewing businesses have also been affected by the pandemic,” he added.

For over eight decades now, SMYPC has provided a wide range of packaging solutions to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries not just in the Philippines, but throughout Asia-Pacif-

ic, Australasia, the Middle East, Africa and the United States.

While the business is primarily centered on the production of glass, metal, composites, plastics, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and corrugated paper packaging, the company also provides services like packaging research and testing, packaging development, graphic design, and contract packaging and trading.

It will be recalled that when the pandemic struck in mid-March last year, the Ang-led SMC was among the first to respond to the needs of both the medical sector and poor communities.

Apart from reconfiguring its liquor operations to produce and donate disinfectant alcohol and mounting a nationwide food donation drive, SMC was also first to secure over 40,000 PPE gears from abroad and fly these home via a chartered Boeing 777 aircraft, for donation to hospitals nationwide.

This was at the height of fierce global competition for supplies of PPE. Recognizing the continuing needs of the health care sector, SMYPC developed and is now bringing in material from one of its facilities in Malaysia, which can be used to make PPE. The protective wear will be put together by local tailors based in Pasay City, Quezon City, and Imus, Cavite.

Mati City fishport breaks ground

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he much-anticipated construction of the modern fishport in the City of Mati breaks ground today, June 19, as the city celebrates its 14th Cityhood Day and 18th Pujada Bay Festival.

The Mati City Fishport is located at the old fishport in Purok Calagundian in Madang. The proposed 5-hectare modern fishport is expected to make the City of Mati a major hub in Mindanao’s fishing industry.

The project was initial-

ly funded by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) with P150 million to be divided into two P75 million multi-year implementation project.

In Saturday’s groundbreaking ceremony, Vice Mayor Glenda Rabat-Gayta represented Mayor Michelle

Nakpil Rabat in the said occasion, along with officials from the City Agriculture Office and the PFDA. The fishport project aims to strengthen the fish supply in Mindanao along with Gensan and Davao as mother ports in Davao Region together with Malalag, Panabo, Mati and Tagum.

Aside from the P75 million initial funding from PFDA, Congress has also allocated additional P225 million for the Mati fishport project thru the Bayanihan

3 budget proposal which is now pending approval by the Senate and eventually

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

With the possibility of an additional budget, Mayor Michelle said that the Mati Fishport will be a modern one that would include wharf, storage facility, as well as food processing, packing and canning to ensure food security not just for Mati City but for other neighboring regions as well.

(CIO MATI)

noting that the RTC “did not act arbitrarily, capriciously or whimsically”. “(I)t cannot be concluded that the court, in granting the TRO to momentarily stop the DBP from obtaining possession of the foreclosed property acted with grave abuse of discretion that amounted to an excess of jurisdiction”.

The lower court issued the TRO in favor of New Wishing Star Co. and its

president, Jacky Ching, after default on payments on a PHP30-million credit line obtained from DBP in 2010.

The company offered two parcels of land as collateral.

After DBP instituted foreclosure proceedings, the public auction sale was conducted on August 28, 2012 and the properties were sold to DBP as the lone bidder.

New Wishing Star,

through Ching, then filed a petition for declaration of nullity of sheriff’s certificate of sale, damages, and sought a temporary restraining order against DBP. New Wishing Star’s main allegation was that it was not yet in default of its obligation to DBP when the properties were foreclosed. It also claimed not receiving any notice regarding the foreclosure proceedings.

TRO on DBP acquisition of mortgaged property stays

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he Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) lost its petition to lift a temporary restraining order that stopped it from taking over a mortgaged property that had been the subject of a foreclosure proceeding.

In a nine-page decision, the Court of Appeals (CA) Special Sixth Division denied DBP’s petition against the Santiago City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35,

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

On the Department of Health (DOH 11) advise to testing facilities in Davao Region to submit “real time” swab test results to avoid late reporting of Covid-19 cases:

For the late reporting, because there are mga clamors na saying sometimes hindi daw nag sa-submit yung mga facilities natin. However, we really address this one already. We have already provided an advisory to our testing facilities so that hindi nila ikukumpol ng isahan lang na pag-submit at naka-fluid ang numbers natin and then real time dapat na maibigay nila ang mga test results in Davao Region.”

DR. RACHEL JOY PASION

HEAD, DOH 11 REGIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE UNITS (RESUS)

EDITORIAL Trusting the system Despite several setbacks in the international front, basketball remains as the all-time favorite sport among Pinoys. This is evident in the latest FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, the prelude to the World Cup, where the country hosted the latest window in a bubble environment in Clark.

As we have been used to raiding the ranks of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in past tournaments as the easiest method to build a “strong” line up, this time, the country’s basketball officials took a leap of faith gambling with a young unit composed mostly of amateurs and young professionals.

By now, every basketball fanatic in the country would have been celebrating after the Gilas side took two wins over bitter rival South Korea and one from regional rival Indonesia. Those three wins gave the Philippines a clean 6-0 record in Group A

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The change of basketball philosophy from the old “last minute” PBA system to the youth-laden Tab Baldwin system is proving to be a big revelation. The new Gilas crew, young as they may, infused new energy and a different style of play most of the opposition have been used to. The fluidity of the plays and the unpredictability of the line-up makes the team hard to scout.

Now that we have found a new potent weapon under a newfound system, there must be no more going back to the old formula. We need to adopt this one and trust the process. It may not be always successful as it is not perfect at all but at the very least it is a good departure from the usual band aid solution.

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

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

and a sweep of the eliminations thereby booking ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup.

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 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

DOST THROUGH THE YEARS From suka (vinegar) and toyo (soy sauce) to technopreneurship, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has gone a long, long way. On its 63rd year, the DOST is now one of the government’s highly respected executive departments.

The DOST is responsible for the coordination of science and technology-related projects in the Philippines. It is responsible for the formulation of policies and projects in the fields of science and technology in support of national development.

During a light conversation in a special online chat called “Coffee Chat with Sec Boy” commemorating the department 63 years of existence, Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said that DOST used tobe “chided as S&T, Suka and Toyo.”

Today, the DOST is no longer just for suka or toyo but in reality, it has soared high with its many accomplishments through the years. In fact, the DOST is behind most of the big-ticket research and development (R&D) activities in the country.

DOST’s forerunner was the National Science Development Board (NSDB) formed during the administration of President Carlos P. Garcia , the chief executivefrom the province of Bohol, on June 13, 1958. Dr. Frank Co Tui, who was tasked by Garcia to conduct a survey regarding the state of science and technology in the country, recommended establishing a science body. As a result of that recommendation,

a law was passed in Congress establishing NSDB. On March 17, 1981, the NSDB was reorganized and given broader policy-making and program implementation functions.

Thus, the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) came into existence.

Six years later, on January 30, 1987, at the time when Corazon C. Aquino was the president, the NSTA was elevated to cabinet-level status with the signing of Executive Order 128 and renamed Department of Science and Technology.

During the online chat, De la Peña relayed how the two decades of DOST were devoted to the Human Resource Development program. He also recalled the year 1958, which marked the start of collaborative research that was done in Sta. Barbara with the Department of National Defense on cloudseeding. That very same year, the country started its geothermal energy research by the Commission on Volcanology, the predecessor of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

In later years, some agencies from other departments were added to DOST. These include the the Forest Product Research Institute that was originally part of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) , the Metals Industry Research and Development Center and the Philippine Textile Research Institute, which were earlier parts of the Department

of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“In the 80’s, this was the time that I joined DOST, and saw the transition from the NSDB, becoming the NSTA, which already has administrative supervision over several institutes,” said de la Peña who had been serving the agency for 40 years already.

That decade, two more sectoral research councils on industry and energy, and health were created. Prior to that, the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research was established in 1978.

“That was the time that we started contract research and adopted the ‘demand-pull’ strategy for R&D,” recalled De la Peña.

Now known as Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), it is a research strategy where R&D institutes and develops technologies based on what sector it serves.

“This was the time when products that are not really hightech(nology) but are useful to the people,” said De la Peña. “I remember, they were sort of chiding us by saying that S&T is suka and toyo (vinegar and soy sauce) because we were promoting, at that time, because people needed that, we were processing their agricultural products.”

So many have changed through the years since DOST first existed.

“From 2011 to 2016, ang R&D funding ng DOST increased from P1-billion to P7-billion,” said Dr. Rowena Cristina

L. Guevara, Undersecretary for Research and Development.

She disclosed that since the implementation of the Science for Change program, the country had established 35 Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D, which enables Higher Education Institutions to develop their own R&D initiatives to spur developments in the regions through the technologies developed under the program.

Because of this thrust, the country’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index improved in 2020, ranking 50th among the 131 economies from rank 100th in 2014.

“We are considered as efficient innovators,” pointed out Guevara. “Kasi ang input natin ay hindi gaano kalakihan pero grabe naman ang output natin.”

In recent years, the country also forayed in space science that enabled Filipino scientists and engineers to develop and deploy into space the Philippines’ first microsatellites Diwata 1 in 2016 and Diwata 2 in 2018. With the success of the first two microsatellites, the DOST once again sent into outer space the first nanosatellites called Maya 1 in June 2018 and Maya 2 last February this year.

These encouraging achievements led to the eventual birth of the Philippine Space Agency, the government agency mandated to promote and develop the country’s space technologies, capabilities, and applications. The agency is now headed by the former director of the Advanced Science

and Technology Institute of the DOST. “The Advanced Science and Technology Institute has ventured into environmental surveillance, that is how good the Filipinos are? Before, fairies can only be found in the forest, now fairies can now be found in space (referring to the Diwata 1 and 2 satellites) and a sparrow (Maya bird) that fly low from the ground but now it hovers over space as the Maya satellite),” said Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. He also shared the many developments over the years as DOST, through its attached institutes PHIVOLCS and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), have efficiently forecasted and monitored various natural disasters through the use of knowledge products and weather and geohazards forecasting technologies.

“Today, PHIVOLCS can now remotely monitor volcanoes,” Solidum pointed out. “We have near real-time volcano monitoring stations, where we can monitor all the volcanoes in our facility in Quezon City,” revealed by the country’s premier ‘fault finder’.”

As the science department marks its more than six decades of serving the people through science, technology, and innovation, the thousands of men and women of science continue to pledge their full support and dedication to improving the lives of every Filipino in the future beyond the new normal. --

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

J. L. BURCHFIELD, PIONEER PLANTER A native of Madisonville, Kentucky, USA, Capt. James L. Burchfield was a trooper (1876-81) in the 8th United States Cavalry at Fort Clark, Del Rio Post, and Fort Duncan in Mexico. He asked for discharge to enjoy life in more peaceful places as a young man.

He volunteered as captain of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, arriving in Davao on December 20, 1899. His ‘I’ Company was stationed in Davao town of Davao under Capt. Hunter Liggett as commander and was discharged from military service on July 3, 1902.

On April 1, 1901, he invested $5,000, then a huge amount, in developing a hemp estate in the region. By January 1, 1906, he was conservatively worth $66,000 in assets. This declaration did not include income from his coconut farms and money invested in small hemp farms. To his credit, he was the first American to own an abaca plantation in Davao.

While managing his proper-

ties, he forged friendly ties with expats in Davao, and joined socio-civic events sponsored by the Davao Planters’ Association and the American Club. But his peaceful lifestyle would be disturbed on June 6, 1909 after 23 native constables from the Second Company of the Philippine Constabulary staged a revolt.

His role in the mutiny is well chronicled. He and former American servicemen repulsed the horse-riding renegades in the plan to take the town. They staked along the route of the mutineers and assaulted them while taking the main road to the church site. For his effort in defending the convent inside the San Pedro Church grounds, Capt. Burchfield sustained a wound.

On January 8, 1910, Burchfield was appointed as justice of the peace of Davao town.

Burchfield’s first farm was the 100-hectare Daliao Plantation at Toril district, which he managed for over a decade. In 1914, due to a

juicy offer, he sold his farm to Japanese investors for a princely sum of P200,000, the first transaction of its kind in Davao. With so much profit from the deal, he opened a new estate and named it Piso Coconut and Cattle Ranch, Inc. It was situated at Piso, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, and was chiefly classified as a coconut plantation.

He also owned a launch he used in the transport of products to the port of Davao.

Like the first venture, his new farm was also flourishing, hosting roughly 100,000 palms, and highly regarded. Once again, the Japanese trooped to make offers. This time, as a middle-aged gentleman, he accepted the tender, moved to Manila, and purchased Luneta Hotel. But staying behind the desk while waiting for hotel guests bored him. So, he decided to dispose his venture and returned to Davao in 1920 and bought another plantation.

Capt. Burchfield’s third farm, the 367-hectare Talomo Planta-

tion Company, was owned by E. M. Barton of Bay Hotel View, in Manila; it was managed by Percy C. Libby, brother of Roy Libby who was killed during the 1909 PC mutiny. Unlike the thriving Piso estate, this new acquisition was a mixed farm with 1,200 coconuts and 350,000 hills of abaca.

While his son David was finishing business school in the U.S., Burchfield was joined by his wife in managing the plantation. Upon completion of his studies, David rejoined the family in Davao and ran the general store, the Mercantile Corporation of Davao (MERCO). Overall, he owned three agricultural estates and a general store. He also invested lucratively in small hemp farms which gave him clear profits that provided him material comfort in his retirement years.

Now in his sixties, Capt.

Burchfield disposed his assets.

David, for his part, returned to the U.S. to marry, accompanied in his journey by his mother, who was

asked to enjoy her senior years in California. Consequently, Capt.

Burchfield retired in Manila, reconnecting with old friends, and again actively involved in the activities of his fellow Knight Templars.

On February 22, 1927, Jim, as he was fondly called, died from stomach cancer at the Sternberg General Hospital, originally named as United States Military Hospital and retitled as Brig. Gen. George Miller Sternberg, an Army physician known as ‘father of American bacteriology.’

Under the auspices of Spanish and other foreign war veterans, his funeral was held at the Masonic Temple, along Taft Avenue, in Manila, two days later. A Freemason all his life, his remains were interred at the Cementerio del Norte (North Cemetery) in Manila. Prelate emeritus Milton E. Springer, highest official of Freemasonry in the country at the time, read the elaborate service.

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EDGEDAVAO

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LIFESTYLE

CELEBRATE LIFE IN STYLE THE PANDEMIC forced us to forego big plans and keep celebrations within the safety of our own bubble. With guidelines and protocols implemented to protect the welfare of the general population, a traditional gathering could be off the cards until situations improve. Over time, people learned to embrace this as part of the reality we have to live with, at least for now. Families eventually found creative ways to make every milestone fun and colorful, with some semblance of the “old” norms—even with just your household in attendance.

Aside from connecting with loved ones through virtual platforms for trivia and games, catch-ups, a short program or entertainment, decorating and styling your place can definitely add life to your intimate occasions. You can choose to have the setup wherever you want at home—the garden or garage, the den or main dining, or maybe in the living room or lounge. A dash of color, a bunch of flowers, garlands, embellishments, cut-outs and banner instantly transform any corner into an attraction that’s worth a thousand snaps.

As a mom, she knew how challenging it is to put together a festive setup without enough help, more so in the time of lockdown. The idea of party vignette packages came to mind and, after much deliberation, she decided to give it a go.

Dyan and her team started taking orders for prefabricated backdrop panels and maintained contactless transactions and safe physical distance during deliveries and installations.

“This is the only way we can continue offering styling services without exposing our clients and team to any kind of risk.”

Her decision to update their packages proved to be a wise move, as the demand for custom decor grew over time.

Practical solutions On the plus side, making do with your available space motivates you to be resourceful and to tap into your artistic side. If you have lots of time to spare, you can go all-out DIY. You can also curate a display of your available decor to set the mood and tone.

If you’re running on a tight schedule, you can, instead, order a themed backdrop or vignette that’s easy to install.

This option gives you room for customization minus the laborious hours pumping balloons and building panels. Should you find this more convenient, Bluefairy-Davao is ready to help make your dream setup come true.

Event background Bluefairy-Davao saves you the hassle and worry of taking your inspiration past the vision board. The team even helps you brainstorm pegs and ideas and you can leave all the details and tasks in their able hands. With over a decade of experience in styling events, Bluefairy-Davao gained a reputation for their classy and modern takes on set design.

“We first started out offering balloon decor and party essentials,” says the owner, Dyan Nuere-Te, also a mom of two. “We ventured into events styling when it became popular, thanks to Pinterest. I discovered how much I love working on different concepts and themes.”

Adapt and customize

The pandemic upended several businesses and the events industry is among the hardest hit by the crisis. Dyan had to find ways to keep the business afloat. She streamlined their services to adapt to the current needs and conditions.

“We started catering to intimate celebrations in private residences. We accepted orders for balloon arrangements, used as either display or gift, customized according to the client’s preference.”

Design panel There were clients who asked Dyan and her team to execute barn and garden themes.

On other occasions, they created vignettes for open-air spaces, transforming these areas into a café, ice cream shop, patisserie, and more.

Bluefairy-Davao can work on whatever concept you have in mind. They can produce small and large-scale installations, ranging from one to multiple panels, complete with balloon arrangements, centerpieces and other foreground elements. All these are meticulously designed to set the scene for a fun and festive celebration.

“We’ll source and prepare the materials ourselves,” explains Dyan. “We also work around your conditions and dimensions and customize the decor according to your concept.”

Package rates vary depending on the scope and size of the project. Brainstorming sessions and coordination meetings are done virtually, to make sure the design and execution fit your concept and space requirements. “We maintain all our transactions online. Moreover, our team strictly adheres to all safety protocols and sanitation guidelines.”

Follow Bluefairy-Davao on Facebook and Instagram to inquire, order, or view their other works.

All photos courtesy of Dyan Nuere-Te.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

ENVIRONMENT

9

GEOTHERMAL POWER: TAPPING ENERGY FROM DOWN UNDER Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

B

y 2030, global energy consumption is projected to be 55% higher than it is today due to population growth, continued urbanization, and economic expansion. The largest share of this growth will almost certainly occur in the developing world, with most of the additional energy currently projected to come from fossil fuels.

But renewable energy technologies are now ready for use on a large scale and have the potential to meet world energy demand many times over, according to Janet Sawin in a commissioned report for Worldwatch Institute.

“Renewable energy offers tremendous potential and, combined with improvements in energy efficiency, could fuel the economy of the future,” explained Sawin, director of the energy and climate change program at the Washington-D.C.-based institute. “Renewable energy can generate electricity, can heat and cool space, can do mechanical work such as water pumping, and can produce fuels – in other words, everything that conventional energy does.”

Among the renewable energy sources available

in the Philippines today, geothermal shows to be the cheapest and most economically attractive energy source. This is owing to its location along the Ring of Fire zone of Pacific volcanoes.

After the United States, the Philippines is the second largest producer of geothermal electricity. In 2010, the US produced about 3,093 megawatts (MW) from its geothermal power plants, while that of the Philippines was 1,904 MW, the International Geothermal Association reported.

Electric power is measured in units called watt.

A watt is equal to one joule (the quantity of energy that can be generated from a fuel such as oil or gas) per second. The total generating capacity of a power plant is measured in kilo-

watt (KW) for 1,000 watts, and megawatt (MW) for one million watts. One MW can meet the power needs of about 800 homes.

There are three types of geothermal power plants: dry steam, flash, and binary. Dry steam facilities use steam vented from the ground to drive turbines that generate electricity.

Binary power plants use cooler steam to heat a volatile fluid, which vaporizes and spins a turbine. Flash steam pumps hot water into areas of relatively low pressure where it becomes steam.

The Philippines has seven major geothermal sites.

Only the Mount Makiling-Banahaw (Makban) in Laguna uses two types: flash and binary. The remaining six sites are all flash plants: Bacon-Manito (Bacman) in Sorsgon, Tiwi and Manito-Lowland in Albay, Maibarara in Batangas, Palinpinon and Nasulo in Negros Occidental, Tongonan and Mount Cabalian in Leyte, and Mount Apo in North Cotabato.

Currently, these geothermal fields supply about 12% of the country’s energy needs, “with a longterm plan to nearly double capacity by 2040,” according to the website of Think Geoenergy.

The Department of

Energy has set targets for geothermal power generation capacity additions: 183 MW in the short-term (2016-2020), 900 MW in the medium-term (20212025), and 288 MW in the long term (2026-2030).

“Geothermal energy, potentially the largest – and presently most misunderstood – source of energy,” wrote former American vice president Al Gore in his book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis (2009).

Geothermal energy is considered a renewable energy source since its supply is considered inexhaustible. The word “geothermal” comes from the Greek roots geo, meaning “earth,” and thermos, meaning “heat.”

The inner core of the earth consists of a molten mass that acts as the source of geothermal energy. In some areas of the Philippines and throughout the world, the intense heat within the earth occurs near the earth’s surface and heats underground water, forming hot water or steam.

If these reservoirs are close enough to the surface, wells can be drilled to tap the steam and hot water.

The steam and hot water is used to produce electricity with generators. (Geysers

occur where these reservoirs of steam and hot water naturally break through the surface.)

History records showed that the world’s oldest geothermal district heating system is located in Chaudes-Aigues, France, which has been operating since the 14th century. But the earliest industrial exploitation began in 1827

with the use of geyser steam to extract boric acid from volcanic mud in Larderello, Italy.

A Wikipedia report said a deep geothermal well was used to heat greenhouses in Boise, Idaho in the United States in 1926, and geysers were used to heat greenhouses in Iceland at about the same time. Since

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Presently, there are 11 testing facilities in Davao Region that can cater a total of 4,251 specimens per

day if running daily while for government-owned laboratories, a total of 1,751 specimens catered daily.

team that conducted the operation in Digos City which resulted in the neutralization of two suspected drug personalities and the arrest of their alleged cohort,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“Milyong halaga na naman po ang nasamsam ng mga operatiba sa operasyong ito. Patunay ito na tuloy-tuloy ang ating operasyon kontra droga sa kabila ng pandemya. We will remain relentless in our operations until we arrest all these drug traffickers, cut off the supply of illegal drugs

to the country, and ensure that our barangays are drugfree,” he said.

Eleazar said that further investigation is being conducted to determine if the suspects were part of a big-time drug syndicate.

“Patuloy nating inaalam kung miyembro ba ng malaking sindikato itong 2 suspek na napatay at iyong kasamahan nilang babae na naaresto ng ating kapulisan,” he said.

“Tinitingnan po natin kung saan galing itong shabu na narekober sa kanila at kung saan nila ito dapat ididistribute,” he added.

She also echoed Lin’s belief that the China Hour at LPU-Davao will be a forum for SinoFilipino friendship, and Philippines-China society of LPU-Davao and will become a platform for comprehensive study of the two countries, for academic exchanges and collaboration, to share independent thinking and opinion and a think tank for promoting friendly co-operations between China and the Philippines.

She also expressed her appreciation for LPUDavao’s commitment and doctrine that closely

reflects the devotion to family and country of the Chinese people.

“As the pandemic has impacted the bilateral interactions between the two countries, the virtual dialogue between ancient Chinese music and Filipino folk music is one way of sustaining cultural exchanges in the new normal,” she stated.

The online cultural presentation was attended by almost 200 members of the Philippines-China Society of LPU-Davao and officials of the city government of Davao. Maya M. Padillo

more. This 2021, we are set to inaugurate various completed airport projects in Clark, Catarman, Butuan, Busuanga, Zamboanga, Siquijor, General Santos, and Bicol. Across the archipelago, we have also completed a total of 446 seaport projects, while 117 more are ongoing.

New railways are also being built and existing rail lines are getting much-needed upgrades. In fact, this month, we will finally inaugurate the LRT-2 East Extension, and before the year ends, the massive rehabilitation of the MRT-3 and the Common Station will be completed. To date, we have a total of 1,090 kilometers of railway length with ongoing project implementation. To decongest EDSA, we have established the EDSA Busway, and built Bike Lanes to promote active transport.”

“Are we finished? Hindi ‘ho. Dahil hindi tayo titigil sa pagtatayo at pagsasa-ayos ng mga airport, ng mga pantalan at mga infrastructure projects na magbibigay ng kaginhawahan sa mga Pilipino (Not yet.

Because we will not stop building at rehabilitating airports, seaports, and infrastructure projects that will benefit Filipinos),” Tu-

gade said.

When asked why the government is investing more money for infrastructure amid the pandemic, Chua said, “We are investing in a wide range of infrastructure projects.

They are not only roads or airports but also health facilities, also digital infrastructure--one of them is the National ID. All of these are needed during this pandemic and our move to the new normal.”

The “Build, Build, Build” program is the Duterte administration’s ambitious infrastructure development plan that is composed of thousands of projects to be implemented all over the country.

In the briefing, the Cabinet secretaries reported that 212 airport projects, 446 seaport projects, 10,376 flood mitigation structures, 26,494 kilometers of road, and 5,555 bridges have already been completed under the “Build, Build, Build” Program.

A total of 102 airport projects, 117 seaport projects, 1,090.30 kilometers of railway, 2,587 flood mitigation structures, 2,515 kilometers of road, and 1,020 bridges are currently under construction.

mentong ito, kagaya din ng ibang negosyo, ay apektado din ng pandemya kung kaya hanggat kaya ay bigyan natin ng tulong. Paraan din para tulungan na makabangon ang ekonomiya (These

establishments, like other businesses, are affected by the pandemic as well. That’s why as long as we can, we should help them. This is also a way of helping the economy recover),” he said. (PR)

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It is up to the President as national chairperson to recommend who the party will field as presidential candidate but the decision would go through party procedure, Nograles said.

“To simplify everything, the resolution is that the President - it is for him to decide. We’re giving him the discretion kung sino ang palagay niya for president (who he wants to run for president). Whatever decision it is, it will pass through the party process,” he said.

“Dadaan sa partido ‘yan kaya importante na magattend ang party members and not refuse to attend and say bawal ang ginagawa.”

(It will go through the party’s process so it’s important that members attend, not refuse and say what we’re doing is prohibited.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the party’s acting president, did not attend the executive council

meeting that Duterte called last May 31. His camp had questioned the council meeting, saying only the party chairman and party president can convene one.

The PDP-Laban is set to hold a national council meeting on July 16 and national assembly on July 17, Nograles said.

Asked if Pacquiao would be voted out, he said: “I don’t know about being voted out.

If technically speaking, if you go by party rules, if we need to ratify officials who are in acting position, it has to pass through the body. If it’s not ratified, somebody has to get elected.”

Malacañang earlier said Duterte and Pacquiao remain allies despite supposed infighting within the ruling party.

Pacquiao has been vocal about his plans to run for president next year, while Duterte said his former close aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, also wants to succeed him in Malacañang.

but only trailed 81-77.

Gallinari then connected on a trey to close the Hawks within one.

When Young drove to the basket and scored with 5:11 left, the Hawks took an 86-84 lead.

Embiid responded with a jumper with 4:14 remaining to tie the game at 86.

Young drained a deep 30-foot trey with 2:31 to go and the Hawks led 9387.

The Sixers went on a 5-0 run to close within one with 1:09 remaining.

Huerter was then fouled on a 3-pointer and dropped in all three for a 96-92 lead with 54 seconds left.

Ricardo Ratliffe, playing through an undisclosed minor injury, made his first six field goals before finishing with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists.

Indonesia ends campaign on high note Indonesia’s FIBA ACQ stint ended on a high note with an 86-69 rout of Thailand in the first game of a triple header in the final day of the Angeles bubble.

The Indonesians pulled away from the Thais for good in the second quarter after outscoring them, 28-

14, to open a 49-32 halftime lead.

Indonesia sustained its dominance for most of the second half to seal the blowout.

Lester Prosper led Indonesia, which will host the FIBA Asia Cup main tournament in August, with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, 11 rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.

Andakara Dhyaksa added 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal for Indonesia, which moved up to 2-4.

imposed in Luzon and other parts of the country in 2020; and -- employers of the beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) Adjustment Measures Program (DOLE-CAMP) who received the full amount of the second tranche of the SBWS. According to the SPTF, the amount of the subsidy to be returned should cover the first and second tranches of the SBWS. However, DOLE-CAMP beneficiaries who received the full amount of the SBWS second tranche shall only return the amount equivalent to the DOLECAMP benefit received.

The procedure for voluntary returns is contained in SPTF Resolution No. 2, which may be found on the SBWS page of the DOF website: https://sites. google.com/dof.gov.ph/ small-business-wage-sub-

sidy The SPTF had previously extended the SBWS voluntary returns deadline, which was originally set on June 15, 2020, multiple times through several resolutions, to allow employers and employees time to return the subsidy.

However, the SPTF decided to set a final deadline more than a year after the initial deadline because of the impending liquidation of the SBWS funds.

Through the SBWS program, the government provided two tranches of cash aid amounting to PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 each, as a subsidy to qualified employees of small businesses who were dislocated during the height of the community quarantines imposed last year to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The government allocated PHP46 billion for this subsidy program that benefitted more than 3 million employees of small businesses.

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more interesting is that it has different categories— women frontliners, women open category, girls open, and LGBT--with the winner per class receiving P30,000 and second to third places P20,000 and P10,000, respectively. A total of 10 special prizes worth P3,000 each will also be given away.

“It is believed that the need to infuse fun in exercising is highly critical to ward off the brewing

anxieties, and for some, the state of depression,” said Kiram.

“But all in all, we just want to encourage Filipino women and girls to maintain an active lifestyle and boost health by regularly exercising even at home any time.”

For inquiries or more details, interested participants may visit the event’s Facebook page, just search for Rise Up and Shape Up.

1943, Steam and hot water from geysers were used to heat homes in Iceland.

The 20th century saw the rise of electricity, and geothermal power was immediately seen as a possible generating source. Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the first geothermal power generator on July 4, 1904, at the same Larderello dry steam field where geothermal acid extraction began. It was a small generator that lit four light bulbs. Later, in 1911, the world’s first geothermal power plant was built there. It was the world’s only industrial producer of geothermal electricity until 1958, when New Zealand built a plant of its own.

The first commercial geothermal heat pump was designed by J.D. Krocker to heat the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon in 1946. Two years later, Professor Carl Nielsen of Ohio State University built the first residential heat pump two years later. The technology became popular in Sweden as a result of the 1973 oil crisis, and has been growing slowly in worldwide acceptance since then.

In 1967, Dr. Arturo P. Alcaraz and his team lit a light bulb using steam-powered electricity coming from a volcano near the town of Tiwi in Albay. This was the first geothermal power generated in the Philippines.

Through the hard work of Dr. Alcaraz – who touted to be the Father of Geothermal in the country – the first geothermal power generating plant with a three megawatt capacity was opened in Leyte in 1977. By 1980, the geothermal plants in Tiwi and Mt. Makiling-Mt. Banahaw were each capable of producing 220 megawatts, and in the first half of 1982, when another 110 megawatts were added at Tiwi, the Philippines attained the second highest geothermal generating capacity in the world.

(In 1982, Dr. Alcaraz was bestowed the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service “for scientific perspicacity and selfless perseverance in development of Philippine geothermal energy”.)

Aside from the United States and the Philippines, geothermal electricity is also generated in Iceland, Italy, Germany, Turkey, France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, New Zealand, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Russia, Indonesia, China, and Japan. At least 70 countries use some geothermal energy for heating.

Geothermal power is environment-friendly. It re-

quires no fuel and is therefore immune to fluctuations in fuel cost. In fact, the production of the electricity by geothermal plants is cheaper than the electricity produced in plants by using natural gas and coal.

“Geothermal power plants produce electricity consistently, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” explains Erin Tulley in a feature she wrote for the US Department of Energy. “The power output of a geothermal power plant is highly predictable and stable, thus facilitating energy planning with remarkable accuracy.”

Electricity coming from geothermal provides one of the lowest carbon footprints of energy sources.

“Drilling level is low compared to shale gas extraction and takes place only at the creation of the heat reservoir,” United Kingdom’s Greenmatch stated. “On average, industrial projects involve drilling of only 2-3 wells whereas shale gas extraction requires extensive drilling.”

Geothermal has minimal land use requirements; existing geothermal plants use 1-10 hectares per MW versus 5-12 hectares per MW for nuclear operations and 25 hectares per MW for coal power plants.

On the negative side, geothermal power still creates some environmental problems. Studies have shown that geothermal fluids drawn from the deep earth may carry a mixture of gases with them, notably carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.

When released to the environment, these pollutants contribute to climate change, acid rain, and noxious smells in the vicinity of the plant. According to some studies, existing geothermal electric plants emit an average of 90-120 kilograms of carbon dioxide per MW hour of electricity. But this is just a small fraction of the emission intensity of conventional fossil fuel plants. In some parts of the world, some geothermal power plants are equipped with emissions-controlling systems that reduce the exhaust of acids and volatiles.

In addition to dissolved gases, hot water from geothermal sources may contain trace amounts of dangerous elements such as mercury, arsenic, and antimony which, if disposed of into rivers, can render their water unsafe to drink. Geothermal plants can theoretically inject these substances, along with the gases, back into the earth, in a form of carbon sequestration.

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SPORTS 11

Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter (3) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) and guard Seth Curry (31) during Game 7 of the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Reuters

Suns beat Clippers in West finals Game 1

D

evin Booker posted his first career triple-double Sunday afternoon, when he scored 40 points and collected 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the host Phoenix Suns outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers, 120-114, in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Booker scored 16 consecutive points for the Suns in the third quarter and 29 in the second half for second-seeded Phoenix, which was without All-Star point guard Chris Paul (health and safety protocols). Deandre Ayton scored 20 points with nine rebounds while Mikal Bridges (14 points), Jae Crowder (13 points), Cameron Johnson (12 points) and Cameron Payne (11

points, nine assists) also got into double digits.

Paul George scored 34 points and dueled with Booker throughout the second half for the Clippers, who played the first conference finals game in franchise history. Reggie Jackson had 24 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 11 points off the bench.

Kawhi Leonard missed his third straight game with a right knee injury.

Neither team led by more than five points in the first half, during which there were 18 lead changes and eight ties, before George (16 points) and Booker (18 points) put on a show in the third quarter, when they combined to score almost half the combined points generated by both teams.

Hawks upset No. 1 seed 76ers in Game 7

K

evin Huerter scored a playoff career-high 27 points, Trae Young added 21 points and 10 assists and the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks stunned the host Philadelphia 76ers, 103-96, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday.

The Hawks will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Young shot 5 of 23, but made a couple of clutch shots down the stretch.

John Collins had 14 points and 16 rebounds,

while Danilo Gallinari had 17 points and Clint Capela 13 for the Hawks, who reached the conference finals for the first time since 2015. The Hawks won three games at Philadelphia in this series.

G Dwight Ramos passes to Isaac Go.

ilas Pilipinas got the better of South Korea again on Sunday through an 82-77 win in the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.

With the victory, Gilas, which already booked a place in the FIBA Asia Cup proper in Jakarta this August, completed a 6-0 sweep of Group A play.

Despite South Korea clicking with its wellknown perimeter game, Gilas responded with crucial field goals of its own.

The big moment hap-

Joel Embiid led the top-seeded Sixers with 31 points and 11 rebounds yet committed eight turnovers. Tobias Harris added 24 points and 14 rebounds, Seth Curry had 16 points and Ben Simmons contributed 13 assists.

The Sixers haven’t reached the conference finals since 2001.

The Hawks led, 48-46, at halftime, thanks in large part to Huerter’s 12 points.

Young shot just 1 of 12 in the opening half.

Embiid had 15 points but committed four turnovers and appeared to tweak his injured right knee

shortly before halftime.

The game was tight throughout the third as the Hawks moved out to a 64-63 advantage with 4:45 left after a tough jumper by Huerter.

He was fouled as well but missed the free throw.

Matisse Thybulle scored four late points in the period, but the Hawks closed the third strong and led, 76-71.

Embiid scored the first five points of the fourth -- a jumper and a 3-pointer -to tie the game at 76 with 10:37 to go.

The Hawks missed their first nine shots of the fourth

pened with 31 seconds left in the game when Will Navarro saved Gilas’ play despite South Korea nearly forcing the steal, finding Balti Baltazar for the slam dunk that put Gilas’ lead at four, 79-75.

Ricardo Ratliffe responded with a quick layup to cut the lead down to two, 79-77, with 25.5 seconds remaining.

However, Lee Dae-Sung was whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul while trying to stop SJ Belangel from getting the inbound.

Belangel, who nailed the game-winning three-pointer for Gilas against South

Korea in their first meeting on Wednesday night, somehow kept South Korea in the game this time as he only made a split from the free throw line.

In the extra possession, Dwight Ramos also went 1-for-2 from the free throw line, but he grabbed the offensive rebound off his own second charity miss, leading to another split from the stripe for the final tally.

Ramos led Gilas with 19 points, three rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

RJ Abarrientos, Kai Sotto, and Jordan Heading each added 10 markers.

FHAWKS, P10

FGILAS, P10

12 SPORTS A lady fitness enthusiast works out at Arcadia Fitness Gym with mask on as regulations as still in place in Davao City.

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 84 • TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2021

PSC Zumbarangay to help Pinoys get moving

T

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has recently launched a program to promote Filipino women’s physical and mental wellbeing dubbed the “Zumbarangay Pilipinas” or Solo Exercise On Cam Challenge.

PSC commissioner Celia Kiram, in charge of the agency’s Women in Sports programs, has spearheaded the national awareness campaign through this online competition amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The PSC believes the current COVID-19 pandemic is now impacting women’s mental and physical health and global studies find women and girls gained weight during the lockdown and research further

shows even short term physical inactivity has long-lasting repercussions,” said Kiram.

“For this, we at the PSC mounted a campaign to encourage women and girls to rise up and shape up by way of solo exercising through dancing,” she added.

The contest is open to all Filipinas who can come up with a dance workout for two minutes minimum. What makes it

FACTIVE, P10