Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 85 | Wednesday, June 23, 2021

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Covid-19 cases in Davao Region mostly asymptomatic or mild: DOH 11 STORY ON PAGE 2

Dabawenyos wearing facemasks and face shields endure the heat brought by the afternoon sun while waiting for public utility jeepney in Matina, Davao City on Tuesday. Acting on the advice of health experts and in view of the Delta variant, President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the wearing of face shields, both indoor and outdoor, is still mandatory. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte is assisted by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go during the meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Monday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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Congresswoman leads YMCA jubilee awardees

Covid-19 cases in Davao Region mostly asymptomatic or mild: DOH 11

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ou have it but you don’t feel it.

That is mostly the case with Covid-19 positive patients in the Davao Region according to records by the Department of Health regional office.

As Covid-19 cases in Davao Region continue to surge, majority of these cases are either asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) or mild.

Dr. Rachel Joy Pasion, head of Regional Epidemiology and

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he more virulent lineage of B.1.1.28 variant of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified in nine samples from Davao Oriental submitted to the Philippine Genome Center on June 10, 2021.

A total of 991 samples were submitted by three Covid testing facilities to the PGC for genome sequencing. The result showed that samples from

Surveillance Units (RESUs) of DOH 11, bared that the breakdown of cases in the region show majority of cases as being asymptomatic and mild case, while 1.7 percent are severe cases and 0.1 percent are in critical state and are now at

different intensive care units (ICU) of the hospitals in the region.

Pasion reported that based on the Covid-19 situation in Davao Region as of June 20, 2021, there are a total of 36, 956 cases in Davao Region wherein 8,600 are active cases.

For the provincial breakdown, Davao City has a total cases of 21,524 with total active cases of 4,669 cases, followed by Davao del Norte with a total of 6,986 cases; Davao de Oro with

2,781 cases; Davao del Sur with 2,773 cases; Davao Oriental with 2,362 cases; and Davao Occidental with 480 cases.

“There is a decline in mortality rate since we can see there is really an enhanced testing here in the region. Although, these are the statistics for our active cases, we should always bring emphasis doon sa ating severe and critical cases kasi ito po yung naghahamper or pumupuno ng

Davao Oriental have nine B.1.1.28. One has the B.1 variant, another one has B.1.78, and one more has the A.4 variant while 69 are still pending.

The P.1 variant or the Brazilian variant is a branch off the B.1.128 lineage. The P.1 lineage contains three mutations in the spike protein receptor binding domain: K417T, E484K, and N501Y.

Experts said that there is evidence to suggest that some of the mutations in the P.1 variant may affect its transmissibility and antigenic profile, which may affect the ability of antibodies generated through a previous natural infection or through vaccination to recognize and neutralize the virus.

Mati Incident Management Team

commander Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr. said the new variant could be the reason why there is surge in the number of new cases not just in the City of Mati but in all other areas of the country as well.

Catbagan said that they have observed faster transmission and severe symptoms from the new cases which are all traits of the new variants of

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ep.Corazon NuñezMalanyaon of Davao Oriental’s First Congressional District led 127 golden jubilee awardees of the Young Men’s Christian Association-Davao during its 50th Founding anniversary.

A lawyer-certified public accountant, who used to be Davao Oriental’s provincial governor, is one of the YMCA Davao’s 21 past presidents who were cited “for a life of altruism, love and compassion for others, dedicated to the molding of the young into Christcentered and enlightened leaders of men.”

Ms Malanyaon’s YMCA presidency in 1992 was specically lauded “for trailblazing feminine involvement in the heretofore maledominated monolithic world organization. ” She is the first and still only elected woman president of YMCADavao, even decades ahead of the world YMCA whose

Covid-19.

As of June 20, the City of Mati has 91 active cases which is 70% higher compared to the month of May. Four deaths have also been reported so far for this month compared to last month’s two Covid fatality.

There are also 12 clustering cases recorded mostly from health facilities, offices or work places, and family gatherings.

first woman president is Patricia Pelton elected only in 2019.

PP Cora started a trend in YMCA-Davao which now has four prominent lady civic leaders as members of the association’s 15 - strong board of trustees.

According to Ms Sylvia L a to r re - P i e d a d , Y M C A Davao general secretary , trustees who are women are Miriam R. Baloyo, former chairman of the multi-billion Tagum Cooperative Inc., Ma. Lita A. Montalban, owner of the Emar Environmental and Humanitarian Colleges and national president of the Philippine Private Schools Athletics Association (Prisaa), Saida E. Wong, proprietor of Solar Street Lights, and Lourdes M. Mission, president of the Mindanao Technical Vocational Association,Inc. Other past presidents who received the golden jubilee awards were Atty.

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Surprisingly, there are zero cases of infections coming from LSIs and ROFs including tourists.

Catbagan said that the past months, all new cases are from local transmissions.

Due to the surge of cases, the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center have already reported more than 100% occupancy of their Covid-19 beds.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy to Saudi Arabia Robert E. A. Borje meets with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf to discuss strengthening cooperation between the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the realization of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s promise of Kalinga at Malasakit for Overseas Filipino Workers across the globe.

NEWS

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Accompanying PAFA Borje, during a courtesy call on the GCC Secretary General at the GCC Secretariat Office in Riyadh, KSA on June 21, 2021, were Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Arriola, Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto, and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Enrico Fos. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOS

733,150 doses of Covid-19 vaccines rolled out in Davao Region by DOH

300 public schools ready face-to-face classes: DepEd

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epartment of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday that 300 public schools across the country including 18 in the Davao region are ready to implement limited face-to-face classes for 2021-2022 school year if approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Briones told reporters at a virtual press conference Monday to mark DepEd’s 123rd founding anniversary that out of 60,000 public schools nationwide, only 300 learning institutions have passed the criteria set

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he suspected mastermind of a series of bombing and arson of the Yellow Bus Line (YBL) in North Cotabato this year killing innocent civilians, was arrested by security forces during a joint law enforcement operation.

A report from the 6th Infantry Division (ID) identified, the suspect wa identified as Ali Akbar who was arrested in a joint operation by elements of the military

by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) ready for pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes.

“Originally, there were 1,900 schools approved by the Regional Directors to run for the pilot face-to-face classes but the Senate said it was still too many, and then we reduced it further again to 600,” she said.

The education chief added they reduced the number to 300 schools to ensure that stringent implementation of this move will be in place, adding that this might change

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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administered.

For the segregation of priority group, for A1 or the health care workers, there are a total of 88,755 masterlisted eligible population wherein

80,401 were vaccinated with the first dose and 57,416 vaccinated with the second dose.

For A2 or senior citizens, there are a total of 367, 350 masterlisted eligible population wherein 120,979 were vaccinated with the first dose and a total of 10,551 vaccinated with the second dose.

For A3 or individuals with comorbidities, there are a total of 101,696 masterlisted eligible population wherein a total of 57,974 were

vaccinated with the first dose and 1,962 were vaccinated with the second dose.

For A4 or essential workers, there are a total of 29,015 masterlisted eligible population of which a total of 2,565 were vaccinated with the first dose.

Pasion said there is no advisory from the DOH to vaccinate below 18 years old with Pfizer vaccine.

“We are having a lot of queries regarding sa pagbabakuna ng Pfizer

process of procuring digital thermometers and pulse oximeters.

“Kini sila ihatag sa mga tawo nga naa pa sa mga balay and wala pa sila na pick up because waiting in line pa sila sa pick up or puno na ang mga facilities. We are preparing the care kits para sa ilaha didto sa ilang mga balay. It includes mga instructions kung unsa ilang kinahanglang buhaton,” said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in a live broadcast interview with Davao City Disaster

Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

Mayor Sara added that those waiting for pick up in their homes are asymptomatic and with mild symptoms since all severe and critical cases are already in hospitals as they would be needing oxygen and ventilators.

She added that Covid-19 positive patients at home can also avail of the services of the city’s telemedicine doctors who can guide them on what to do.

Meanwhile, the city is

also eyeing to add 250 more isolation beds to help boost the city’s Covid-19.

“We are working on four more isolation facilities. Pero kining isa mao ni pinakadako ang sa DPWH pero dili kaayo mi optimistic ani because duna syay mga kulang ngadto before magamit. So, we have three, isa is good for 50, another is good for 150, and another is good for 50 so we have 250 out of the 650 na gina-ready nato karon na kahibalo na ma-open sya

r. Rachel Joy Pasion, head of Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESUs) of the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11), reported that as of June 20, 2021, a total of 733,150 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been distributed to the various local government units (LGUs) of the region.

For the first dose, a total of 423,025 while 261,919 have already been administered. For the second dose, total of 310,125 while 69,929 have already been

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and police at Purok 3, Barangay East Patadon, Kidapawan City at around 5 a.m.on monday (June 21).

According to Brig.

Gen. Roberto Capulong, commander of Philippine Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, Akbar is a bomb and improvised explosive device (IED) expert and an extortionist belonging to the Dawlah Islamiya (DI)-Hassan Group.

He said Akbar was

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s part of the city government of Davao’s efforts to cater more Covid-19 cases in Davao City, the Covid-19 Task Force response cluster is readying care kits to be distributed to Covid-19 positive individuals who are still waiting to be picked up from their homes.

Each care kit will have a digital thermometer, pulse oximeter, 10 tablets of vitamin C, five tablets of paracetamol, disposable face masks, and alcohol.

The city is still in the

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

Dozens of second hand rubber shoes are displayed at a sidewalk along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Sunday. The shoes are sold very cheap by hawkers belonging to the Bajao tribe. Edge Davao

Reliable power system to boost economic recovery: DOE exec A Department of Energy (DOE) official has urged stakeholders in the power sector to abide by the policies set by the agency to ensure reliable supply of electricity in the country.

During the Laging Handa public briefing Monday, DOE Undersecretary William Felix Fuentebella said the department has issued various orders requiring generation companies, distribution utilities, and the system operator to secure sufficient supply of power and reserves to avoid yellow and red alerts.

“If everyone complies and will comply, we will definitely have a better power system to support our economy, our recovery of our country from Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” Fuentebella said in mixed English and Filipino.

He added the insufficient power supply and reserves will lead to higher

electricity prices that go up to PHP7 to PHP9 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from the usual price of PHP3 per kWh. “What we are saying is, we should have everyone comply to avoid this surge in prices,” he said.

Fuentebella cited that DOE ordered distribution utilities from 2018 to contract electricity in accordance with their demand forecast, and also replacement power.

In 2019, the DOE directed the system operator, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

(NGCP), to contract sufficient ancillary services on a firm basis.

Last year, the department issued an order to generation companies to follow the preventive maintenance schedule and the grid and maintenance program.

Generation companies are not allowed to schedule their preventive maintenance in months of April, May, and June when power demand is high.

“The policy of DOE has never changed. It just needs to be fulfilled,” Fuentebella said. (PNA)

Strong macro-fiscal foundation key to dealing with pandemic: NEDA

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strong macro-fiscal foundation is vital for economies to weather shocks, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

“When building a house, we first need to ensure its structural integrity, or else its walls, roof, and windows will be blown away when a storm comes, and its dwellers will become vulnerable. In the same

way, economies need to strengthen their macro-fiscal foundation to prepare them for the rainy days ahead, such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said during the virtual 2021 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting hosted by New Zealand last week.

Chua said the Philippine experience demonstrates this very well.

“We entered the Covid-19 crisis with a solid macroeconomic foundation. Our resolve to save lives from the virus and improve our health system capacity led to the imposition of community quarantines, which temporarily disrupted our growth momentum,” he said.

The government’s progress in its 10-point socioeconomic agenda -which includes the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, the Ease of Do-

ing Business law, the Universal Health Care law, the Rice Tariffication law, and the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) act -- contributed to the poverty incidence falling by around 7 percentage points between 2015 to 2018, the biggest decline in the country’s history.

With these reforms, Chua said the Philippines was also on track to becoming an upper middle-income country by 2020 prior to the pandemic.

BSP seen to hold rates steady at its June policy meeting

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ragile economic situation in the Philippines due to the pandemic is expected to be the reason for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep rates steady at record-low 2 percent to date.

In its Asia Pacific Economic Preview issued on Monday, Moody’s Analytics forecasts unchanged policy decisions from the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) during its rate-setting meeting on Thursday.

“The near-term pros-

pects remain worrisome for the Philippines as the country copes with an intense domestic outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), which has necessitated the extension of restrictions in the capital city and nearby provinces until the end of June,” it said.

The report added that “although the central bank has responded to the crisis with rate cuts and substantial liquidity easing measures, it is expected to

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FTAs open more overseas prospects for PH construction industry -- DTI

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epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the country’s free trade agreements (FTAs) have opened more opportunities overseas for Philippine construction industry.

During the virtual conference of the Philippine Overseas Construction Board (POCB) Monday, Lopez said through the FTAs, the government has secured liberal arrangements in foreign markets for local construction services.

These liberal arrange-

ments in the construction sector include 100-percent foreign equity participation in construction activities, such as general construction work for buildings and civil engineering. “(T)he Philippines participation in free trade agreements is providing an avenue to allow greater economic activity and job creation, especially with the construction industry.

FTAs offer a more stable, predictable, and fair environment for Filipino businesses

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VOL.14 ISSUE 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

ECONOMY

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The road construction along San Pedro Street in Davao City brings misery not only to motorists and commuters but also to the business establishments in the area. Edge Davao

Wilcon Depot unfazed by entry of IKEA, says CEO

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ilcon Depot is “not that worried” about the entry of Swedish furniture maker IKEA in the Philippines despite some overlap in some product lines, company president and CEO Lorraine Belo-Cincochan said Monday.

IKEA sells space-saving furniture and Scandinavian-inspired home furnishing while Wilcon Depot offers home and construction supplies and also caters to home builders and contractors with tiles, sanitary wares and even appliances among its offerings.

“We’re also pushing our hard lines and in-house brands. We’re not that worried by IKEA,” Belo-Cincochan told reporters in a virtual stockholders’ meeting.

Hard lines, which include tiles and sanitary wares, contribute over 50 percent of the business with furniture and homewares comprising only about 8 percent of the business, Wilcon Depot senior executive vice president and COO of Wilcon Depot Rosemarie Bosch Ong said.

“We will have some overlaps, for furniture I guess...But what we have is very much different,” she said.

“And I guess our core items would really be very much different from what they offer. And yes we welcome competition,” she added.

Wilcon Depot will also have an advantage on reach since it operates 66 outlets in the country. Ong

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Kwikinsure Corp. partners with Starr Insurance to roll out services for OFWs

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hilippine online insurance marketplace Kwikinsure Corp. has teamed up with Starr Insurance Philippines to expand services and cater to overseas Filipinos.

The partnership will allow some 12 million overseas Filipinos to purchase Starr Insurance products online, bypassing the need for them to come home to avail of services.

Among the services offered under the partnership are health, accident, and vehicle insurance policies, along with those for COVID-19.

Under Starr Hospital Protect, overseas Filipinos will be given a daily hospital income should they or their loved ones be hospitalized.

Meanwhile, Starr Critical Protect will provide a lump sum cash benefit upon diagnosis of any of 51 critical illnesses in the company’s lineup. “[W]e’re heading in the right direction by simplifying the purchase journey for clients online which is a valuable step in bridging the insurance gap among Filipinos both here and

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World Bank OKs 2nd tranche of USD450-M funding for DA

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he Department of Agriculture– Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) on Monday said it has received the confirmation from World Bank (WB) for the USD280-million support for programs that will benefit farmers and fisherfolks.

The amount represents the Second Additional Financing (AF2), or the second tranche of the USD450-million financing from the WB that was approved in 2016.

The AF2, according to a DA statement, was retrofitted to complement the agency’s initiatives on food security and other ef-

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ebu Pacific is cautiously optimistic as it adds more domestic flights in preparation for recovery, an official of the airline said.

Starting today, June 21, Cebu Pacific said it will fly 5 times a day to Boracay, while flights to Bohol will also operate daily.

“We remain cautiously optimistic as we prepare for the bounce back and will do everything that is within our control to support and aid that,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for mar-

forts related to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

DA Secretary William Dar expressed his gratitude to the WB and PRDP for their commitment to improve the lives of beneficiaries and for a progressive agri-fishery sector in the country.

“The approval of the AF2 with the European

Union (EU) co-financing grant is a huge step towards the realization of a better future for our farmers and fisherfolk as we gradually assist our beneficiaries in recovering after the pandemic. I am truly thankful to the World Bank for granting us the AF2, and to everyone at the PRDP for their hard work in enhancing communities, and expanding opportunities,” Dar said in a statement.

DA-PRDP said that the signing of the loan agreement and related documents for the DA-PRDP AF2 will happen not later than July 15, 2021.

PRDP National Project

Director Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said the AF2 gives the DA-PRDP a wider and more targeted form of assistance to its intended beneficiaries.

“As we continue to increase the rural income of our beneficiaries all over the country, the approval of the AF2 by the World Bank marks a new chapter for the PRDP in enhancing and intensifying its support to its partners and stakeholders throughout the country. Let us continue to work hard,” he added.

DA-PRDP’s interventions will significantly expand to farmers and fish-

keting and customer experience.

“With the arrival of more vaccines and the pace at which vaccines are being rolled out, we are hopeful that in due time our networks will recover to pre-pandemic levels,” Iyog added.

The air travel industry has been badly battered by the COVID-19 pandemic as countries, as well as regions within countries imposed strict quarantine measures to check the spread of the virus.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) earlier said carriers’ operating conditions will continue to depend on their domestic travel markets as travel restrictions shift with nations rolling out mass vaccinations.

“Over the last months, the recovery of air passenger demand has been mainly driven by domestic markets that have mostly remained unaffected by travel restrictions. In the meantime, international travel was re-

stricted by most countries and governments are only starting to relax those restrictions as they vaccinate their populations and stabilize the epidemiological situation,” the IATA said.

Cebu Pacific posted a net loss of P22.2 billion last year as the pandemic crashed air travel demand.

The Gokongwei-led airline however announced last month that it has raised P40.5 billion in funds to sustain operations and prepare for recovery.

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

On the most recent Covid-19 situationer in the Davao Region: There is a decline in mortality rate since we can see there is really an enhanced testing here in the region.

Although, these are the statistics for our active cases, we should always bring emphasis doon sa ating severe and critical cases kasi ito po yung nagha-hamper or pumupuno ng ating mga hospitals. This one is a very important na data here in our regional situationer.”

DR. RACHEL JOY PASION

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

EDITORIAL Not Yet Despite the surge in Covid 18 infections, the Davao City government is not yet thinking of upgrading the City’s lockdown status to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

This was the clarification made by City Mayor Sara Duterte – Carpio herself. The mayor made the statement in response to a comment of Dr. Butch Ong of the Octa Research during an interview with station DXDC of Radio Mindanaw Network about the City’s high daily number of infections. In that interview with RMN, Dr. Ong said that if the numbers will not go down, Davao City and Western Visayas may consider upgrading to ECQ. Almost instantly, radio stations and social media were

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Inday Sara’s statement should calm the nerves of her constituents. She reminded Dabawenyos that OCTA is not a government agency and that city authorities would listen only to the direction of the Inter-agency Task Force.

Still, the most important task of the city must be how to bring down the number of infections now that the deadly foreign variants of coronavirus are suspected to be here in the country. The Department of Health is at heightened alert.

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

abuzz with rumors and speculations about an impending ECQ. Not a few Dabawenyos were disturbed by the talks knowing as they do how restrictive an ECQ status would be to movement of people and goods.

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 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 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. Now, in 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. In addition, 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 its existence, Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said that DOST was “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.

The DOST was formed as the National Science Development Board (NSDB) during the administration of President Carlos P. Garcia 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 the Congress establish-

ing 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 was renamed Department of Science and Technology.

During special 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, including the Forest Product Research Institute that was originally part of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Metals Industry Research and Development Center and the Philippine Textile Research Institute, which were part 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 and became 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 develop technologies based on what sector it serves.

“This was the time when products that are not really high-tech(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, at a time 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. Ro-

wena 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 Tech-

nology 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.

DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG KULE

MY FATHER IS A HOARDER AND A COLLECTOR I am the son of a hoarder and a collector.

People wonder why we have several stuff in our house which my father did not want to dispose, especially the shoes.

Papa justified this by saying that while he was growing up, he never had the luxury of owning new ones since both he and my mother came from a family with very modest means.

He tried to instill on us to value small blessings.

Long before ukay-ukay became famous, we were already wearing second-hand clothes and shoes, sleeping on beds, sitting on chairs and sofas that Papa bought from the shops in Bangkal, Makati.

Bangkal is known for the rows of dusty segunda mano shops selling hundreds of castoffs—a wild mix of furniture, artworks, home décor, dinnerware, glassware, antiques, and anything under the sun, many of them vintage and all pre-owned.

Seldom did we wear brandnew clothes, except maybe during Christmas when our aunties bought us clothing on an install-

ment basis - one Tita would buy us pants while another took care of the shirts. The shoes were usually sourced from Bangkal.

We became the real-life models for ukay-ukay in the 1970s until 1990s.

The term ukay-ukay is derived from the Cebuano verb ukay, which means “to dig” or “to sift through” respectively.

It is synonymous with the verb wagwag, an act of dusting off a piece of clothing by taking hold of one end and snapping it in the air, and shaking the item to dust it off.

All throughout their more than thirty years of marriage, we never saw our parents engage in physical fights.

Although we were accustomed to Mama’s mataray lines, we knew that was just how they expressed their emotions: only through words and eye contact.

Papa will always say that before Mama would be mad at him, he already forgave her. Papa would just step back. He would not overreact to the emotions of mama.

They had a reverse role: Mama took care of the financial

well-being of the family while Papa was in charge of the spiritual and emotional needs of the children.

Mama was the breadwinner and Papa was the family caretaker.

He would tell us stories of life, how proud he was of us, his children. He often stressed that he had nothing to give to us but our future.

Two of his sons entered the priesthood, Fr. Philip Welthy and Fr. Stephen Melvin.

Upon the death of Mama last May 17, 2002, Papa chose to seclude himself from the outside world and just stayed home.

He would just linger in our library and arrange several items according to their commonalities (like old toothbrushes, pencils, tools, toys, office supplies, and other house stuffs) and put them inside plastics or cartons, either hang them or put them one on top of the other inside the library.

One year and six months later, when my father died on November 16, 2003, we spent a lot of time sorting out the humungous stuff inside the library and the disposal of the unnecessary ones.

Some may call it a hoarding

disorder, which studies identified as a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them.

A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items.

Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.

Perhaps my father is both a hoarder and a collector.

My father was also fond of collecting valuable items like vinyl records, lamps, figurines, phonographs, books, and cameras, many may be considered vintages nowadays.

He was also fond of saving our memoirs growing up like toys and photos.

Both hoarding and collecting involve assigning special value to possessions, often value that goes beyond the physical characteristics of the object.

In general, collectors have a sense of pride about their possessions and they experience joy in displaying the items to others who appreciate them. They usually keep their collection organized, feel satisfaction when add-

ing to it, and budget their time and money.

In most hoarding cases, like my father’s, they save items that they feel they may need in the future, are valuable or have sentimental value. Some may also feel safer surrounded by the things they save.

While hoarders often save things others would consider trash, they save useful or valuable things in excess as well.

I also have my set of collections of frog items, which have been featured in some shows (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=NzptUkzRPH4) I have currently more than a thousand of them which I started collecting in December 2001, they are scattered all over my house and office , a frog memorabilia museum of sort: toys, toiletries, plates, pillows, vases, incense holders, candles, mugs, keychains, wood crafts, figurines, jars, socks, chimes, and several others made out of varied materials such as terracotas, wood, glass, clay, cement, plastic, and ceramics.

Trash to others may be a valuable collectible item to someone.

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LIFESTYLE

THREADING MEMORIES

THE love for crafting is innate to some and acquired to others. There are people who pursue their crafting dreams with every fiber of their being since childhood, while some only grow an interest in any craft halfway through adulting or in the midst of busyness.

In the case of full-time mom Antonette Urot, her knack for needlework flourished out of a need to add color to her daily routine. This former accounting associate claims she never thought she had a creative bone in her body until she tried embroidery—mainly as a breather from work and mom life.

As she puts it, “Life in an accounting office was not particularly thrilling for me. Sure, dealing with balance sheets may seem empowering. But, for some reason, I wanted to do something other than staring at numbers on the screen all day.

Being a big fan of Jane Austen, I thought, ‘how can I bring some of that cottage vibe into my 9 to 5?’ Embroidery was the answer to that question.”

Antonette began stitching to fill in spare time and to de-

stress. Not too long after, in the thick of the pandemic—where practically everything shifted to remote working and learning—she ended up with more time on hand to improve her craft and work on unfinished projects.

One of her first embroidered works was a personal gift. This came as revelation to her friend, who was surprised to see such craftsmanship from someone who didn’t express much interest in arts and crafts. Her friend was so thrilled with the gift that she commissioned Antonette to make another piece for the Little Potato Heads, a children’s accessory line. That commissioned piece got a lot of attention and this opened the

floodgates to business opportunities, particularly through Instagram.

“Sew” on and “sew” forth “As the pandemic put everything to a halt, other moms turned to plants and banana bread. I decided to stitch,” Antonette shares. “Embroidery helped me make sense of what’s happening around me and make the most out of where I

am this season.”

She officially began her creative venture in June 2020 and launched her Instagram business profile @antonette. stitches. Her portfolio includes a couple of embroidered replicas of special moments, from engagements to weddings and family outings.

“I just said yes to everything—whether it’s your baby’s name, your dog’s face, your favorite family portrait—I took them all head-on. Some of my clients shared the memories and stories behind their photos and images, which made each embroidery project more meaningful to create.”

“I love embroidery because it takes me to a space where I can focus on one thing. Nobody can tell me what I’m doing is wrong. Even if I did make a mistake, I could start again and nobody would even know what happened.

My needlework style evolved with every wave of projects that came in. If you scan through the pieces I did from day one up until recently, I can say, with a bit of confidence, that a lot has changed. It has only been a year since I took on this creative journey, and my style can still use some polishing.”

“Needle” little love A lot of energy and love goes into every project Antonette makes. She stitches each image as how one would with paint, paying close attention to the layers and shades.

“I first start with a pattern.

Then, I match the thread with colors on the photo references.

Next, I trace and outline the forms on the fabric and stitch in colors and accents to the rest of the space. The length of the process depends on the complexity of the image.”

Asked to name three of her most memorable projects, she says the one showing a couple kissing in New York Times Square is at the top of her list.

“It just looks magical to me, and I’ve always loved the New York vibe and aesthetic.”

Next on the list is the embroidered replica of a baby’s sonogram. “I love the depth and texture,” she beams. “It also has that once-in-a-lifetime feel.”

The one with the Taipei 101 in the background is also memorable to Antonette. “This piece led me to take a crash course on color theory. I had to learn how to blend colors.”

“Threading” along This embroidery artist also dreams of connecting and growing a community with other craft enthusiasts. “I’d measure my progress not solely by the amount of work that I do and complete, but also by how many people I can inspire and rope into this beautiful hobby.”

“My ultimate goal, I guess, is to open a craft shop where people can just be their creative self and work on embroidery, macrame, cross-stitch, and other thread-based crafts. I’m also thinking of creating a YouTube channel. I think that will help grow a community of thread heads until we can finally meet in person and share inspiration with one another.

For now, I have kits available— all designed for those interested to practice embroidery.”

Follow @antonette.stitches on Instagram to inquire, order, or view her other works. All photos courtesy of Antonette Urot.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

AGRITRENDS

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HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS FOOD PRODUCTION Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

J

une 1998 was a historic month.

Penny Marshall’s Big premiered in the United States on June 1 (the film earned Tom Hanks an Oscar nomination). Five days later, George H. W. Bush made a campaign promise to support reparations for World War II to Japanese-American internees (the promise was broken in May 1989). Many were killed at a demonstration against General Ne Win in Rangoon, Myanmar on June 21.

June 23, 1988 marked the date on which climate change became an international issue. In a landmark testimony before the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Dr. James W. Hansen told the audience that “with 99% confidence” the recent sharp rise in temperatures was a result of human activity.

“Global warming has reached a level such that we can ascribe with a high degree of confidence a causeand-effect relationship between the greenhouse effect and observed warming… In my opinion, the greenhouse effect has been detected, and it is changing our climate now,” said Hansen, then the director of National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Institute for Space

Studies.

Greenhouse effect Robert James Bidinotto, in a Reader’s Digest article, explains the greenhouse effect in this manner: “When sunlight warms the earth, certain gases in the lower atmosphere, acting like the glass in a greenhouse, trap some of the heat as it radiates back into space. These greenhouse gases, primarily water vapor and including carbon dioxide, methane and man-made chlorofluorocarbons, warm our planet, making life possible.

“If they were more abundant, greenhouse gases might trap too much heat,” he continues, citing the case of Venus which has 60,000 times more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere than Earth, thus its temperature averag-

es above 800 degrees Fahrenheit. “But if greenhouse gases were less plentiful or entirely absent, temperatures on Earth would average below freezing.”

Because concentrations of greenhouse gases have been steadily rising in recent years, many scientists are concerned about climate change. In fact, the 2020 report from the World Meteorological Organization noted that concentrations of the major greenhouse gases continued to increase in 2019 and 2020, with the global average for carbon dioxide concentrations having already exceeded 410 parts per million.

Almost two-thirds of over 1.2 million people surveyed around the world by the United Nations Development Program say that climate change is a global emergency, urging greater action to address the crisis.

Greatest challenge The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, is one of the most affected countries when it comes to climate change.

Situated in the Ring of Fire, the country is already suffering from natural calamities like earthquakes, typhoons, floods, landslides, droughts, and volcano eruptions. Climate change will further aggravate these disasters.

“We are facing the greatest environmental challenge of our generation,” states the

Climate Change Commission (CCC), a government body affiliated with the Office of the President.

One of those that will be greatly affected by climate change is food production.

Agriculture, one of the country’s main economic sectors, contributes 14% of the gross domestic product and employs over a third of the population.

“Agriculture in the country could be severely affected by temperature changes coupled with changes in rain regimes and patterns,” says the state-run Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). “Crops have been shown to suffer decreases in yields whenever temperatures have exceeded threshold values and possibly result in spikelet sterility as in the case of rice.”

Crop production Rice, grown under both irrigated and rainfed regimes, is the single most important agricultural crop as it serves as the basic food staple for over 80% of the population. On average, Filipino consume 114-120 kilograms of rice per capita per year, according to the Department of Agriculture.

“In areas where rain patterns change or when extreme events such as floods or droughts happen more often, grain and other agricultural produce could suffer shortfalls in the absence of

effective and timely interventions,” the country’s weather bureau said.

“Tropical cyclones, particularly if there will be an increase in numbers and/or strengthen, will continue to exert pressure on agricultural production,” PAGASA added. The country lies in the world’s most typhoon-prone region, averaging 19-20 typhoons each year, of which 7-9 make landfall.

Take the case of Laguna, which was hit by tropical storm Ondoy in 2009. It left P200-million worth of damage in agriculture as rice fields and vegetable crops were submerged in floodwaters.

Three more typhoons hit the same province in 2009, affecting an entire rice cropping season. “Some farmers tried to save their rice crop by harvesting them before the typhoon came, but even their harvest was washed out

by floodwaters,” wrote Maria Emilinda T. Mendoza, author of “Faces of Vulnerability: Gender, Climate Change, and Disaster.”

“Livestock were also affected,” Mendoza further wrote. “There were incidents of pigs and ducks being washed out, while those that survived suffered from diseases. Consequently, some duck raisers in the municipality of Victoria closed their businesses.”

Fish production Fish, like rice, is a staple food of Filipinos. Like rice, fish production will also be affected by climate change. A study released by the Worldwide Fund for Nature in 2015 considered climate change as “one of the main reasons for the decline of marine species in the last 30 years.”

“Climate change is already having a profound effect on life in the oceans,”

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ating mga hospitals. This one is a very important na data here in our regional situationer,” Pasion said.

For the critical care utilization rate of all designated Covid-19 beds in the region, Pasion reported that based on the daily situational report at regional level 90.4 percent of ICU beds in the region have been already occupied, 59.9 percent of isolation beds have been occupied while ward beds are in 68.3 percent occupied already.

She added that out of 54 mechanical ventilators in Davao Region, there are only 24 ventilators available for the entire region.

Pasion attributed the increasing number of cases in the region to the increasing number of specimens being tested or individuals being tested wherein 3,000 to 4,000 specimens a day are being tested compared to 300 specimens a day tested at the start of the pandemic last year.

“Here in Davao City, tenisting nila ang lahat, surveillance testing not only for F1 but also increasing

their testing capacity for F2 and F3. Also the private sector and some agencies are doing the testing in their establishments, if there is one positive, tine-test nila ang lahat ng kanilang mga employees,” she said.

She also said in line with the vaccination roll out, people are now lenient and started going out even if they have only been vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

“Makikita din po natin na sa vaccination roll out, nagiging lenient ang mga tao and they are most prone parang mas gusto nilang gumala na kasi nabakunahan na kahit na first dose pa. That is why we really to reiterate gaya ng paulit ulit na sinasabi ng DOH or medical experts that vaccination is just one way to protect ourselves from Covid-19 and it could not hinder us from being Covid-19 positive pero ito hindi lang po maka-severe sa atin, so we should practice the minimum health standard protocols pa rin in spite of being vaccinated,” she said.

Referral of moderate to severe Covid-19 patients to the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City is also delayed due to surge in their facility.

As a result, the Alternate Care Site in Milagrosa and other Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities in the City of Mati are forced to accommodate moderate Covid-19 cases, those who are symptomatic with pneumonia, due to the limited bed allocations of referral facilities.

As part of the risk management interventions by the Mati IMT, they have began utilizing the Davao Oriental State University (DORSU) Dormitory as an extension isolation facility as of June 20, 2021.

At present around 15 confirmed mild cases have already been admitted at the facility.

The City of Mati LGU also rented private dormitory facility in Barangay Dahican which will serve as isolation facility for Rapid Antigen Test positive or probable cases while awaiting RT-PCR confirmatory tests.

The City Extension Quarantine Facility located in Barangay Central will

continue to serve as temporary quarantine quarters for ROF/LSI/LT who have no RT-PCR test results upon entering the city.

While all Barangay Isolation Units will also continue to serve as back up isolation/quarantine facilities for ROF, LSI, LT, close contacts of confirmed cases and tele-med patients exhibiting influenza like illnesses while waiting testing.

Thus, Catbagan said, it is important for the people to strictly observe the health protocols like the wearing of face mask and/or face shield, physical distancing from others, avoiding of crowded places, and hand washing.

The Mati IMT said strict implementation of the health protocols is needed while the vaccination campaign is being sustained.

Catbagan said that at present, 7% coverage of the target population of 92,685 are already achieved. The Mati IMT aims to reach 10% by September, 40%

by December 2021 and hopefully 70% next year if supplies are adequate. (CIO MATI)

apprehended based on the warrant of arrest issued by Branch 23, Regional Trial Court, 12th Judicial Region for double murder and multiple frustrated murder.

Seized from Akbar were two improvised explosive devices (IEDs); one blasting cap, several IED components, and an ISIS flag.

To recall, a bomb went off beside the YBL unit on January 27, 2021, at Tulunan, North Cotabato resulting in the killing of a fruit vendor. On June 3 this year, another YBL unit was burned in M’lang in the said province, killing three

passengers.

6th ID commander Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy vowed to continuously pursue and hunt down the remnants of the terrorist group.

“They do not have a place in our community and with the help of the residents and local government units in Central Mindanao, we will defeat them ultimately,” Uy said.

Earlier, several provinces and municipalities in Central Mindanao declared the BIFF and DI terrorist groups as persona-non-grata.

The provinces of North Cotabato and Maguindanao

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IldefonsoP.Cafugauan(1986), Jose B. Custodio (1979), Dr, Alvin M. Garduque, (1990), Vicente R. Bañez Jr. (2003), Atty. Ricardo V. Villegas (20042005), Gregorio Magnaye (2006), Atty.Antonio B. Partoza; Jr. (2011-2012), Atty. Leoncio P. Villa- Abrille (2013-2014), Engr. Fernando S. Ongkingco, Jr. (2015-2016), Engr. Mariano R. Alquiza (2017-2021).

Also honored posthumously were the late Atty. Martin T. Suelto (2009), Atty. Alfonso L. dela Victoria (2010), Atty. Jose C.Sevilla (2000-2002), Efren J. Veneracion, Sr. (1995-1998), Judge Jose B. Lopez, (1985), Atty. Peregrino Andres (1991), Inocencio Malones, (1984), Atty. Nicanor A. Magno (1999- 2000), Atty.

Rodolfo R. Magnaye (19801983). Carlito L. Llavore (2007-2008) and Ricardo Cruz (1975-1978).

According to Piedad, three of the past presidents--Suelto,

Partoza and Villa Abrille are Datu Bago awardees, three--Malanyaon, Magno and Suelto were members of the Davao City Council, and another three- - Suelto, Custodio and Sevilla are past presidents of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII).

The late Rudy Magnaye was director of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Atty. Lopez was a judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), while Greg Magnaye and Atty. Villegas became regional directors of the Commission on Audit; Magno was a former Davao City chapter president and Eastern Mindanao governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Atty.Cafuguan was a regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry, Alquiza was regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways and now Assistant Secretary of the Dept. of Labor and Employment. (DOLE)

sa mga 16 years old since yung ating Emergency Use Authority lang po 18 years old lang talaga for

Pfizer. Right now, there is no advisory na nagsasabi that we can vaccinate those below 18 years old,” she said.

depending on the behaviour of COVID-19.

“Kung ano ang behavior ni COVID-19 will largely affect whether we will have extensive face-to-face or not in certain places, but not necessarily for all the regions,” she said.

According to Briones, these schools have met certain criterias for them to be allowed to run for limited face-to face-classes including the readiness of the facilities to ensure that social distancing can be followed, there is water, and medicine supply is available.

The school is near a health unit approved by the Department of Health and IATF. There should also have an approval from the Local Government Unit (LGU), as well as a parent’s consent

from participating students, she added.

“Yong mga businesses, enterprises giving services like yong mga tricycles, jeeps, canteens, uniform suppliers, they will have to be complying with the health standards protocols,” she said.

Meanwhile, in Region 11 or Davao Region, as of June 21,2021, there are 18 out of 2,181 public schools eyed to implement the limited inperson learning.

DepEd 11 spokesman Jenielito Atillo said Fort that these schools have passed the necessary requirements to resume face-to-face classes.

“The list is good as of today, June 21, 2021 but is always subject to change, it can be reduced or raise the number depending on COVID

very soon,” the mayor said.

Currently, the city has 2,408 Covid-19 beds and 873 are still available but the mayor, however, said not all of these are exclusive for isolation use as some

are holding facilities or intended for probable cases.

Of the 1,957 isolation beds, 638 are still vacant while 227 of the 443 quarantines are available. By Maya M. Padillo

retain ammunition for now and delay further action until restrictions are eased and sectors can respond to new stimulus.”

The BSP slashed key rates by a total of 200 basis points in 2020 in a bid to help buoy the domestic economy from the virus-induced pandemic.

Economists said the

central bank has carried bulk of the weight in ensuring that the domestic economy remains afloat amidst the global challenges.

Last year, the economy contracted by 9.5 percent but authorities are confident of a recovery this year, with the target set between 6-7 percent.

and investments, including those in the construction and related engineering sector,” Lopez said in his keynote message.

The Philippines has free trade deals with Asean member states (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,

Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and South Korea.

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the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says. “Marine species tend to be highly mobile, and many are moving quickly toward the poles to stay cool as average ocean temperature rises.”

PAGASA confirms. “Migration of fish to cooler and deeper waters would force the fisher folks to travel further from the coasts in order to increase their catch,” it says. “Seaweed production, already being practiced as an adaptation to climate change in a number of poor and depressed coastal communities, could also be impacted adversely.”

Speaking of coastal communities, they will be greatly affected by climate change as a result of sea level rise.

“Sea level has risen by nearly double the global average rate over certain parts of the country from 1993 to 2015,” the CCC reports. “Projections show that sea level is expected to increase by approximately 20 centimeters by the end of the 21st century.”

Doing something now Agriculture scientist Julian Gonsalves of the Cavitebased International Institute Rural Reconstruction urged to do something now before it is too late. “Agriculture sector is expected to suffer the most serious impact of climate change, affecting food security, nutrition and livelihoods, if we don’t act soon,” he pointed out.

Agriculture and climate change go hand in hand.

“The role of agriculture in climate change is better appreciated in relation to the value agriculture contributes to the global economy,” said a briefing paper published by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Agriculture (SEARCA).

The 2010 World Development Report, drawing on analysis from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, calculates that agriculture directly accounts for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide equivalent and indirectly accounts for another 17% of emissions from land use and conversion for crops and pasture.

“As agriculture is highly sensitive to climate change,

maintaining the right balance is critical to a stable and productive agricultural activity, which is the foundation for food security and by extension the alleviation of poverty,” the briefing paper stated.

Climate-smart technologies In time, climate-smart agriculture came into existence as a response to the problems brought about by climate change.

“Climate-smart agriculture addresses the wider issues faced by agriculture in the face of global environmental change – the need to increase global food production by 60% by 2050 and to meet greenhouse gas emission reductions,” the briefing paper said.

Climate-smart agriculture is anchored on three pillars in the context of local stakeholders and focusing on sustainably increasing farm productivity and income, strengthening resilience to climate change and variability, and mitigating the contribution of agricultural practices to climate change.

Another SEARCA briefing paper compares climate-smart agriculture to sustainable agriculture and conservation agriculture practices “but puts additional stress on low-carbon agriculture and the use of plants that can reduce vulnerability to climate change.”

According to SEARCA, the unique role of agriculture in development – the primary food source, significant potential for greenhouse gas mitigation and its sensitivity to climate change – entails that innovations in technology and practice be enabled and diffused locally and appropriately to respond to climate change.

“Innovative technologies and practices may come from reinventing indigenous knowledge to suit the times or using new widespread and accepted media,” it pointed out. “The possibilities of potentially relevant agricultural technologies are extensive and there is a vast pool of yet undiscovered technologies and practices that may be crucially important for agriculture in a globally changing environment.”

said they plan to grow the network to 72 stores by the end of the year.

For 2020, net sales dropped 7.5 percent to P22.6 billion while net income fell 31.8 percent to

P1.4 billion, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first quarter of 2021, net income jumped 84 percent to P604 million.

erfolk in supporting food productivity, promoting enterprise activities, and the upscaling of logistics to link production areas directly to the market.

The AF2-EU is expect-

ed to benefit more than 300,000 farmer and fisherfolk households, as well as create more than 70,000 additional jobs from rural infrastructure sub-projects and enterprise activities.

abroad,” said Starr Insurance Philippines Country Manager Derick Narvacan.

According to Kwik Founder and Chief Executive Officer Hamilton Angluben, the online platform was launched in March and recorded traffic from Filipi-

nos abroad.

“OFWs are our modern-day heroes who sacrifice a lot to provide for their loved ones. Not only do they have a huge impact on their families, but to the Philippine economy as a whole,” he said.

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SPORTS 11

WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire will meet compatriot John Riel Casimero in a unification fight.

Donaire battles Casimero in all-Filipino unification bout N R Religion, ethics, sports tackled in NSS eligion, ethics, and sports take center stage at the 19th session of the National Sports Summit 2021 (NSS) on Wednesday with redemptorist brother and renowned author Br. Carlito “Karl” Gaspar CSsR. Gaspar, a Doctor of Humanities at Xavier University, will spotlight the relationship of sports and religion, and its most pronounced impact on the philosophy of modern sport through the various beliefs across nations.

The Davao City-native also gives a glimpse on new developments that helped

create a shift which brought sports and religious practices together, and the development of the ethical value in promoting sports especially in terms of promoting fair play, sportsmanship while building the moral character and leadership of youth.

“This is a good topic for the Summit, as it will give us a better understanding of how sports and religion can peacefully coexist with each other and be tools for development and unity,” expressed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez.

Br. Karl has written more than 20 books on ethnographic studies of Indigenous People, peacebuilding in Mindanao, and Mindanao history and theological discourses. His book ‘Manobo Dreams in Arakan’ won the National Book Award for Social Sciences in 2013.

He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement award as author by the Cardinal Sin Catholic Mass Media Awards, and was given the Parangal ng Sambayanan award by Ateneo de Manila University, and the Datu Bago Award by Davao City in 2017.

ESPN said Monday that Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell also declined the opportunity to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, instead choosing to use the time to rehab a right ankle injury.

Durant is a two-time veteran of Team USA, which has won the past three Olympic gold medals. Durant and Harden played in London in 2012, with Durant a headliner of the 2016 team in Rio de Janeiro.

Green (2016) is the only other member of the reported Tokyo roster to have Olympic experience. His teammate Curry never has played in the Olympics, and it was believed he might compete this year.

The Nets’ season ended Saturday night with a

loss in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Harden was limited by a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the playoffs and will need to make a quick recovery.

Team USA will begin training camp July 6 in Las Vegas. The United States opens play in the Tokyo Olympics on July 25 against France.

The only player among those on the reported roster still competing in the playoffs is Booker, whose Phoenix team has a 1-0 lead on the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference finals. Should the Suns win the series and advance to the NBA Finals, Booker would not be available for the start of the camp.

Durant, Harden commit to US Olympic team

B

rooklyn Nets teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden are committed to playing for the United States Olympic basketball team, but Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is out, The Athletic reported Monday.

They become the biggest stars on what is shaping up to be a star-laden team. While USA Basketball has not confirmed the 12-man roster for coach Gregg Popovich’s squad, it reportedly includes Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) and Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors).

onito Donaire and John Riel Casimero will clash in what could be the biggest all-Filipino world boxing title bout.

Both Donaire and Casimero have agreed to unify the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titles in their showdown scheduled for Aug. 14.

Donaire, the reigning WBC champ, first announced the news on Sunday.

“My team does magic.

Thank you to Richard Shaefer, Rachel Donaire, PBC (Premier Boxing Champi-

ons), TGB [Promotions], and Showtime,” Donaire said.

Casimero, the current WBO champ, confirmed the development by simply tweeting two Philippine flag emojis with the letter X in between symbolizing Philippines vs.

Philippines.

Donaire’s wife Rachel then relayed in her Facebook post how both camps agreed on the all-Filipino battle.

“The invite was from Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions to Nonito: ‘Nonito Donaire, you want some of this, it’s here for you.’ So I just pressed to the invite.

Me and Richard talked and worked,” the female Donaire shared the initial negotiations.

The 38-year-old Nonito Donaire (41-6 with 27 knockouts) took the WBC title from Nordine Oubaali last month with a huge fourth round knockout win and became the oldest bantamweight champion ever.

On the other hand, Casimero (30-4 with 21 KO’s) has been holding the WBO title for two years already.

(PNA)

Brooklyn Nets shooting guard James Harden (13) points to Nets power forward Kevin Durant (7) in this file photo.

Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 85 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021

Ernie Gawilan (in file photo) has punched a ticket to the Tokyo Paralympics.

ERNIE IS IN

It’s on to the Tokyo Paralympics for Ernie Gawilan

By NEIL BRAVO

E

rnie Gawilan, Davao’s para swimming hero, is going to Tokyo.

Needing only a splash in the pool in the ongoing World Para Swimming World Series in Berlin, Germany, the Dabawenyo Torpedo did more than that. He won a bronze medal on Sunday in the men’s 400m freestyle and made his ticket to the Tokyo Paralympics even more worth celebrating.

Gawilan placed third in the men’s 400m freestyle with a time of 5:03.74.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) congratulated the Samal-based swimmer, born with underdeveloped extremities, through a statement on social media.

“Congratulations Ernie Gawilan for qualifying to the Tokyo Paralympic Games, and winning the bronze medal in the 2021 IDM Para Swimming in Berlin, Germany,” the PSC said in a post.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) awarded Gawilan as early as February last year a Paralympic berth fol-

lowing his record-setting showing in the Asian Para Games after clocking in 4:51 in the 400m freestyle.

However, Team Para Philippines chef de mission Francis Diaz said Gawilan needed to participate in Berlin to officially nail his Paralympic spot as he had to undergo a classification process set by the IPC. The Tokyo stint will serve as the second straight Paralympics for the 28-year old swimmer who also competed in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Gawilan will see action in the 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke, and 400m freestyle.