Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 100 | Saturday, July 10, 2021

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City government to tap prominent personalities in vaccination drive STORY ON PAGE 2

Small boats pass by a coastal community near the main port of Dinagat Islands in the town of San Jose on Friday. The island is one of the most isolated provinces in Mindanao right now as the provincial government implements strict health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in its municipalities. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 100 • SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte does a fist bump with Japanese Embassy Economic Minister Masahiro Nakata during his attendance to the ceremonial turnover of more than 1-million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the government of Japan at the Bulwagang Kalayaan in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Thursday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

STAR POWER

City government to tap prominent personalities in vaccination drive

By MAYA M. PADILLO ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city government of Davao will be tapping on the star power of prominent personalities to fire up the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Davao City.

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Last month, photos of former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. getting vaccinated for his two doses in Davao City and then meeting with Mayor Sara circulated online.

When asked who are the

other personalities invited to be inoculated in Davao City, Mayor Sara said all national personalities who are willing to lend their ‘star power.’

“Invited tanan nga mga big national personalities na ipahulam ilang star power

diri sa Davao City as our campaigners or endorsers sa vaccination diri sa Davao City both for the first dose and especially very important the second dose,” the mayor said.

Despite increasing vaccine acceptance among Dabawenyos, there are still some who still refused to be vaccinated due to some reasons including beliefs and for fear of becoming zombies in September this year.

“When September comes around and we do

completed by August in time for the Kadayawan Festival.

“Basically, it will be a hub for culture and peace in Mindanao. Our different indigenous communities they can use that, our IPs if they have some activities or if they have some presentations or program, it can be used as a venue,” Alejandre said.

He said the Magsaysay Park amphitheater can complement the planned Arts and Culture hub being proposed to be put up in Mintal which is a project of the Department

of Tourism.

Alejandre said the enhanced amphitheater will enrich the existing Kadayawan cultural village put by the City Government.

“The amphitheater and the Kadayawan village can really make Magsaysay Park as a cultural village,” he said.

He said this is considered by the NCCA as a cultural amphitheater the first in Davao City.

The project was proposed

by Davao City in 2019 however it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(PIA XI/RG Alama)

not turn into zombies, ang kabaliktaran ana dapat katong mga nagtoo na mangahimo tang zombie magpabakuna pud sila.

Dapat ingon ana pud, dapat ingon ana inyong isulti, kung mag September gani unya dili mo mangahimong zombie magpabakuna napud mi.

Otherwise if you cannot guarantee na dapat dili mo mangampanya ana kay mawala inyong credibility.

If you say by September

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Duterte thanks Japan for over 1M AstraZeneca vax donation

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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for its donation of more than 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to the Philippines.

During the turnover rites of 1.124 million coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs developed

by AstraZeneca, Duterte thanked the Japanese government and Japanese Prime Minister for helping the Philippine government have an “equitable” access to vaccines.

“These more than one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will surely go a long way in our quest for herd immunity,” Duterte said in a speech delivered at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Duterte said the Philippines and Japan’s cooperation in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic

indicates the two countries’ “deep friendship.”

“Japan continues to be our strong partner in various development programs,” he said. “Again, I express my heartfelt gratitude to Japan for all of the assistance you have extended to our country during these challenging times.”

Duterte also thanked Japan for ensuring the “safe and efficient” delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines to the Philippines and preserving the jabs’ quality and integrity by providing cold chain transport and ancillaries.

The donation of the 1.124 million vials of AstraZeneca vaccine to the Philippines is part of the Japanese government’s initiatives to support Southeast Asian nations amid the pandemic.

Get vaccinated, public urged anew Following the arrival of

XI in Camp Catitipan.

ARENA XI, in partnership with the City Health Office (CHO), Department of Health Region XI (DOH XI), UP Mindanao, USEP-Obrero, PNP XI, and the local government of Davao City aims to vaccinate an estimated 15,000 government employees in different agencies through its 3 vaccination sites.

This initiative of ARENA aims to support the efforts of the national and local government in vaccinating the different sectors in the

community.

“With the support of volunteers coming from different government agencies and medical professionals, we were able to pool in the needed human resources to roll- out the vaccination program for government employees in Davao City”, said ARENA XI president and DOST XI Regional Director, Dr. Anthony C. Sales, CESO III. Dr. Sales urged the remaining government workers to register first through the CHO COVID 19

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Magsaysay Park’s amphitheater ARENA 11 leads vax of 2K gov’t gets P5-M enhancement grant employees for Resbakuna rollout

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he once derelict Magsaysay Park amphitheater is being renovated under a P5million grant coming from the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts.

Among the enhancements is the installation of the stage roofing. This will enable performances to be held in the amphitheater which is located in a corner of the three-hectare park adjacent to Sta Ana Port.

According to NCCA Executive Director Al Ryan Alejandre they are targeting the project to be

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total of 2,000 government employees from different government agencies in Davao City received their first dose of COVID 19 vaccine through the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region XI (ARENA XI) – led Resbakuna last June 30 to July 2, 2021 in three different sites, namely: University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao), University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP)-Obrero Campus, and Police Regional Office

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VOL.14 ISSUE 100 • SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

NEWS

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Rachel Maestro (in green) weeps as she embraces the flag-draped sealed casket containing the remains of her husband, Army Sgt. Butch Maestro, at the 4th Infantry Division gym in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

South African Covid-19 variant in Mati City is not a surprise: Rabat Mati City prepared for the worst: Rabat M

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city of Mati, capital of Davao Oriental, is preparing for the worst that will happen in the current coronavirus pandemic.

This was the statement of Mati City Mayor Michelle N. Rabat on the death of a Mati resident due to infection of South African coronavirus variant last May 17.

Mayor Rabat said “we can handle any new variant with the help and cooperation of our people.”

Following is the full text

of the city mayor’s statement: “The latest confirmation of the Department of Health on the presence of South African coronavirus variant that unfortunately led to the demise of one Matinian last May 17 was no longer a surprise to us.

“Since the beginning of this pandemic, we know that virus mutates and that it will get worse until such a time a vaccine is developed to fight against it.

“This is the reason

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C-130 plane crash victims identified through dental records return home

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ilma Monera of Maramag, Bukidnon wept as six military trucks bearing flag-draped white caskets rolled into the parking lot of the gym at the 4thInfantry Division headquarters here on Wednesday afternoon.

A military aide gently took her hand and guided her to the casket bearing the remains of her son, Army Private Vic Monera, 22, but when she tried to open the casket and was told gently that she cannot, she broke down in tears.

Rachel Maestro, wife of Army Sgt. Butch Maestro of Balingoan, Misamis Oriental also wept when she was told she could not open his casket.

Maestro just held on to the Philippine flag that draped her husband’s casket.

“Most were burned beyond recognition. That is the reason we have to seal the caskets,” Major Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said.

Monera and Maestro are

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ati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat (MNR) admitted on Friday the presence of South African Covid-19 variant in the Davao Oriental capital is not suprising.

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the presence of the deadly variant that led to the death of one Mati resident last May 17, 2021.

In a statement, Rabat said since the beginning of this pandemic, they know that virus mutates and that it will get worse until such time a vaccine is developed

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armers in Davao City are urged to plant more durian as exportation of the exotic fruit is gaining ground.

Candelario “Larry” Miculob, former president of the Durian Industry Council of Davao City (DICDC) and durian farmer, said this is based on the current inquiries he received.

Miculob said majority of the interested buyers are Chinese traders. He also said Japan market is now also interested.

“Export is gaining

to fight against it.

“This is also the reason why we have been making warnings to the public of possible new variants entering the city since last month. Because we are resigned to the fact that it will come to our city and it is only a matter of time.

But we are prepared. Our campaign for City Ordinance

No. 427 or the Disiplina Panahon sa Pandemya Ordinance is ongoing and have authorized our purok leaders and barangay tanonds to issue citation.

This is to instill discipline in our community,” Rabat said.

Mayor Rabat spoke in relation to the latest Covid-19 related deaths in Davao Oriental wherein one was detected positive with the South African Covid-19 variant, considered among the variants of concern.

According to health experts, the South African variant, also known as 501.

V2 or B.1.351 is result of a mutation of the COVID-19 virus.

The Provincial Information Office (PIO) announced on social media that based on the official report from the Provincial Epidemiologic Surveillance Unit (PESU), the swab specimen taken from a 63-year-old male resident who died on May 17, 2021 is positive of the new variant.

The results confirming the new variant came in late Thursday (July 8, 2021).

The deceased patient,

traction based on current inquiries,” he said.

He added that local market in Manila is also interested and even increased their volume for both fresh and frozen durian.

He said there is a need to plant more durian as farmers are expecting lower durian production this incoming season brought about by too much rainfall. The decline in production is estimated by 30 percent from previous year.

“There is a continuing effort to encourage farmers to plant more durian as

market is reacting fast than available productive durian trees,” he said.

Miculob added that supply must continue for the markets in the US and Australia.

“Kaya lang wala tayong supply at the moment,” he said.

In March this year, the initial shipment of two varieties of durian, the Puyat and the Duyaya, in whole pieces with shell and a tasting sampler pack arrived at the Port of Melbourne through a Melbourne-based

importer, Aus Asia Produce Pty Ltd. Aus Asia Produce is an Australian company that specializes in importing and distributing exotic tropical fruits, Asian vegetables, herbs and other products.

It can be recalled that in 2019, durian from Davao City has broken through the US market with an initial 300 kilos ordered by an Oregonbased blogger and importer, Lindsey Gasik, who has been travelling around Asia tasting different durian varieties. By Maya M. Padillo

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 100 • SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

Romeo Montenegro, assistant secretary Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), bates that the demand for electricity in Mindanao has significantly increased in the first semester of this year, driven by the “resurgence of economic activities”on the island. Edge Davao

Combined LBP-UCPB T assets to reach P3T T

Forex reserves still strong backing to peso: Diokno

he completion of the government-approved merger of Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) will result in combined assets totaling close to ₱3 trillion by the end of the year.

As the surviving entity in this merger, LANDBANK will further solidify its place as the second-largest bank in the country in terms of assets, representing a unified, stronger and more resilient institution for promoting in-

clusive and sustainable rural development.

“The merged assets will significantly grow LANDBANK’s loan portfolio directed at servicing the whole agriculture sector, especially coconut farmers, alongside

key development industries.

The synergy created by the merger will provide a much better position for us to respond to the evolving needs of our diverse clientele, especially the underserved and unbanked,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.

Pending the approval of relevant regulatory authorities, LANDBANK expects its acquisition of the shares of stock of UCPB and attendant absorption of its assets and li-

abilities will similarly expand deposits, loans and capital.

Due diligence was likewise conducted by LANDBANK and the transaction went through the review and approval by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Monetary Board.

Based on LANDBANK’s initial projections, the combined Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio by end-2021 will remain higher than the 11% regulatory requirement

In addition, the CGFD found Familyhan to have committed eight violations of Republic Act No. 3765, or the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), in relation to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 7, Series of 2011 (SEC MC 7), which outlines the rules on the Implementation of the TILA to Enhance Loan Transaction Transparency.

Familyhan violated the prohibition on unfair debt collection practices when it contacted persons in the debtor’s contact list other than those named as guarantors or co-makers of the loan agreement, according to the CGFD. “Notwithstanding the borrower’s consent, contacting the persons in the borrower’s contact list other than those

who were named as guarantors or co-makers shall also constitute unfair debt collection practice,” the CGFD explained, citing Section 1(h) of SEC MC 18.

Whether or not contacting third parties in the borrower’s contact list was standard operating procedure for Familyhan prior to the issuance of SEC MC 18, the CGFD noted that the company should have changed its collection practices the moment such was prohibited by the memorandum circular.

SEC MC 18 took effect on September 8, 2019, as part of the Commission’s response to several complaints for unreasonable, abusive, and unfair practices that lending and fi-

nancing companies employed to collect debt from borrowers.

“Enough time has been given to Respondent to adjust its collections procedure to conform with SEC MC 18,” the CGFD said. “This violation cannot, therefore, be overlooked.”

Meanwhile, Familyhan violated SEC MC 7 when it failed to disclose the net proceeds of the loan to its borrowers. “[I]t is clear that the net proceeds of the loan is one of the minimum information that needs to be disclosed by a creditor to its borrower,” the CGFD said. “Thus, missing such information, Respondent cannot contend that they have duly complied or substantially complied with the TILA.”

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SEC cancels Familyhan Corp.’s credit license

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revoked the Certificate of Authority (CA) of Familyhan Credit Corporation to operate as a lending company after the latter engaged in unfair debt collection practices and failed to disclose the true cost of loans extended to borrowers.

In an order dated April 13, the SEC Corporate Governance and Finance Department (CGFD) found Familyhan liable for three violations of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 18, Series of 2019 (SEC MC 18), which provides for the Prohibition on Unfair Debt Collection Practices of Financing Companies and Lending Companies.

he country’s large gross international reserves (GIR) remains a strong support to the local currency amid the latter’s recent weakening to the 49-level against the US dollar.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said the peso’s current depreciation against the US dollar is not unique, citing that several other major currencies have registered the same given the general strengthening of the US dollar.

“As you can see, our defense to the peso right now is our hefty gross international reserves and the steady flow of dollars brought about

by various sources like the overseas Filipino remittance, the business process outsourcing, and foreign direct investments,” he said.

As of end-May 2021, the country’s foreign reserves reached USD107.25 billion.

This level is equivalent to 12.2 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

On Thursday, the local currency ended the trade at 49.875 against the dollar, sideways from its 49.79 close in the previous day.

Diokno said the BSP continues to let market forces determine the foreign exchange rate since currency trading is affected by supply

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Over 31K borrowers benefit from gov’t’s interest-free loan

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ome 31,409 borrowers have benefitted from the zero-interest loan funded by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, or the Bayanihan 2, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship Wednesday, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said a total of PHP4.79 billion were already rolled out by the Small Business (SB) Corp. to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that were affected by the pandemic.

As of July 6, Lopez said nearly PHP4.57 billion

worth of loans were approved for 30,345 MSMEs under the Bayanihan CARES (Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises).

Under the CARES for Travel (Tourism Rehabilitation and Vitalization of Enterprises and Livelihood), in partnership with the Department of Tourism, SB Corp. approved 436 applications with loans amounting to PHP188 million.

Lopez said loan uptake from the tourism industry remains low as many tourism establishments are reluctant to borrow if their sectors are still closed.

“They are hesitant to

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EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY

5

It’s playtime for T’boli children in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Lake Sebu was one of the top tourist destinations in the province pre-pandemic. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ

DATA partners with Globe Business to help rejuvinate tourism industry

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avao Tourism Association the largest and also the oldest tourism organization in Mindanao has partnered with Globe Business to help DATA members in eventual recovery by providing connectivity and digital solutions.

The partnership will help micro, small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector adopt digital technologies to help pave the way for safe and steady recovery.

“Globe Business continues to be a partner to MSMEs as they restart tourism. Technology will play an important role in the tourism industry’s road to recovery and Globe

Business is here to guide and support businesses in their digitalization journey,” said Globe Business MSME Group, Strategy and Marketing Head Maridol Ylanan Under the year long Globe Business Safe Recovery campaign, partner tourism organizations will be offered top-notch digital solutions to help their busi-

nesses bounce back from the lingering effects of the pandemic.

They will also be provided access to learning sessions to increase their digital transformation capability and to platforms such as KonsultaMD and SGS Hygience Monitored Program to enable them to address consumer concerns on health and safety. These initiatives aim to help them manage their recovery in a way that is sustainable for their businesses and safe for their customers.

“DATA’s partnership with Globe Business will

year,” he said, citing payment of fees for clearances and tax payments as the main drivers for the facility’s utilization.

The facility also allows people to pay obligations to state colleges and universities, water districts, and local government units (LGUs).

Diokno said “digital payments are more important now than ever” given the movement restrictions set by the government to address the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Digital payments help people cope with mobility restrictions amid the pandemic. Said services also facilitate the smooth and efficient movement of funds under

the new economic environment,” he added.

Diokno said EGov Pay, which was launched in 2019, provides for “better government services to Filipinos.”

Digital payment transactions surged since the pandemic hit the country in the first quarter of 2020.

However, Diokno said the government has been on the right track before the pandemic, citing that around 63 percent of government payments have been in digital form since 2018 based on the survey done with the Better Than Cash Alliance.

He said the figure rose to 82 percent of total government payment transactions as of the first half of 2020.

help us realize our purpose of helping our members contribute to the development of Davao tourism especially since we are in the digital age,” said DATA President Gatchi Gatchalian. “We are looking forward to more collaboration as we digitally equip our members to face our current challenges and thrive in the new environment.”

Apart from DATA, Globe Business has partnered with Palawan Tourism Council (PTC), and Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu Inc. (HRRACI) in the campaign. (PIA/RG Alama)

Safety Seals restore consumer confidence

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he number of establishments applying for safety seals is growing as it aims to restore clients’ confidence by showing adherence to health and safety protocols against Covid-19.

The Safety Seal is issued by local government units to establishments that strictly comply with the Inter-Agency Task Force health guidelines and policies.

The certification standards include screening areas for customers, contact tracing procedures, and provision of handwashing and sanitizing stations.

Among those eligible for the Safety Seal are supermarkets, groceries, and membership shopping clubs; convenience stores; construction supply and hardware stores;

sugar, averaged 124.6 points last month versus a revised 127.8 in May. The May figure was previously given as 127.1.

On a year-on-year basis, prices were up 33.9% in June.

FAO’s vegetable oil price index plunged 9.8% in June, partly on the back of a fall in palm oil prices, which were hit by expectations of output gains in leading producers and a lack of fresh import demand. Soy and sunflower oil quotations also dropped.

The cereal price index dropped 2.6% in June month-on-month, but was still up 33.8% year-on-year.

Maize prices fell 5.0%, partly

because of higher-than-expected yields in Argentina and improved crop conditions in the United States.

International rice prices also fell in June, touching 15-month lows, as high freight costs and container shortages continued to limit export sales, FAO said.

Dairy prices dipped 1.0% on a monthly basis, with all components of the index easing. Butter recorded the largest drop, hit by a rapid decline in global import demand and a slight increase in inventories, especially in Europe.

The sugar index posted a 0.9% month-on-month

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More gov’t offices onboarding World food prices fall in June electronic payment facility eyed for first time in a year —FAO

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) target to onboard around 430 government offices under the EGov Pay this year is being boosted by the increased utilization of digital payment services.

In a virtual press briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said around 387 government entities are currently part of the electronic payment facility that allows individuals and businesses to pay their dues to the government through online mode.

“Amid the sustained rise in billers, the BSP is not far from onboarding 100 percent of the target number of government entities this

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orld food prices fell in June for the first time in 12 months, pushed lower by declines in vegetable oils, cereals and dairy products, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday.

The Rome-based FAO also said in a statement that worldwide cereal harvests would come in at nearly 2.817 billion tonnes in 2021, slightly down on its previous estimate, but still on course to hit an annual record.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 100 • SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021

On her challenge to newly-installed commander of Task Force Davao Col. Darren Comia to continue the implementation of the culture of security in Davao City:

Isa lang ang measure sa isa ka Task Force Davao commander dili na kaayo daghan na. Ang measure sa usa ka TF commander is kung dunay insidente, terrorism incident na mahitabo during his stint as TF Davao commander. He will be a failure kung naay mahitabo na terrorism incident diri sa atoang siyudad sa Davao. So mao rana ang measure because TF Davao was created because of terrorism incident particularly the twin bombing incident in 2003. So mao rapud na ilang trabaho gyud.”

Sara Duterte-Carpio Davao City Mayor

EDITORIAL

Ferrer, others vindicated

2021, after all, is a lucky year for Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, an eminent Dabawenyo diabetes expert and 10 other high-ranking officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), more popularly known by the acronym PhilHealth.

for Galicto. They alleged that the PhilHealth officials filed “baseless administrative cases” against them from Sept. 2017 until May 2019 for the purpose of oppressing and harassing them.

Dismissed by the Ombudsman were the alleged graft, grave misconduct, oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service due to insuffiency of evidence and failure (of the accusers) to prove that the PhilHealth officials “acted with intent to cause a wrong.”

Earlier, Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which investigated anomalies in PhilHealth tagged the regional vice presidents as the members of the “mafia” that is allegedly behind anomalous disbursements and corruption in the agency.

The Ombudsman recently cleared Dr. Ferrer and company from criminal and administrative charges lodged by the so-called “mafia” in PhilHealth.

Cleared of the charges were Dr. Ferrer, former PhilHealth Acting President, now an assistant secretary of the Department of Health, former Interim President Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna, Chief Operating Officer Ruben John Basa, Management Services Senior Vice President (SVP) Dennis Mas, Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group Shirley Domingo, Office of the Senior Vice President, Legal Sector SVP Rodolfo del Rosario Jr., Chief of Staff Raul Dominic I. Badilla, Health Finance Policy Sector SVP Israel Pargas, Angelito Grande, Lawrence M. Mijares and acting Senior Manager of the Operations Audit Department Leila Tuazon.

The complaints against them were filed by Miriam Grace G. Pamonag, Jelbert B. Galicto, Dennis B. Adre, William O. Chavez, Paolo Johann C. Perez, Khaliguzzman M. Macabalo and Valerie Ann H. Hollero, regional vice presidents, except

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He said that once threatened with the reforms that the new PhilHealth presidents will introduce, they would gang up on them and by filing cases.

Gordon said it happened to former PhilHealth president Dela Serna in 2018 and to former PhilHealth chief Ferrer, who introduced an automated system that detects fraud, and who wanted a revamp of the agency’s regional leaders.

Gordon’s committee report noted PhilHealth presidents are usually out after one to two years of service, while regional vice presidents remain in their areas of assignments for decades.

“Regional vice presidents are the kings of the regions. Whatever they say goes. They have their own kingdoms,” Gordon said.w ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

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

CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout

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

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In dismissing the charges, the Ombudsman said it “finds neither probable cause to indict respondents nor substantial evidence to impose sanctions against them.”

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VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

TACKLING BIODIVERSITY, CLIMATE CHANGE TOGETHER Climate change and biodiversity must not be tackled separately but instead both should be deliberated together if international efforts to address either are to succeed. Such is the proposal of the report written by 50 of the world’s leading experts on climate change biodiversity.

For the first time in history, two major international scientific groups – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Science Policy Platform on Ecosystem Services (IPBES) – have joined forces to find ways in solving the two environmental problems which the world is facing.

The report was a product of a workshop in preparation of the two major upcoming United Nations conferences, one focusing on biodiversity and the other on climate change.

“Until now, global collaborative efforts to address climate change, through platforms including the IPCC and the Paris climate agreement, have operated on a different track from efforts to address biodiversity, carried out through the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and other international organizations,” wrote Inside Climate News journalist Georgina Gustin, who covers agriculture for

the news agency.

“For far too long we’ve tended to see climate and biodiversity as separate issues, so our policy responses have been very siloed,” observed Pamela McElwee, one of the report’s authors and an associate professor in the Department of Human Ecology at Rutgers University. “Climate has simply gotten more attention.”

One of the key efforts which can contribute to both the preservation of biodiversity and controlling global warming is halting deforestation in the tropics, which would also stop the degradation of other carbon-rich ecosystems, including mangroves, peatlands, savannahs and wetlands.

According to the report’s authors, ramping up sustainable agriculture and forestry, while cutting subsidies to destructive industries, will also be critical.

“We are seeing multiple impacts of climate change on all continents and in all ocean regions. These increasingly add to the enormous human pressure on biodiversity,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner, a climatologist and previous IPCC author who cochaired the steering committee of the collaborative workshop.

“So far conservation efforts have not been sufficient. Human

society depends on the services that nature provides, but climate change has caused loss in natural resources, especially those that are overused,” he added.

Pörtner also pointed out that pandemics are linked to biodiversity loss because zoonotic diseases emerge from species that thrive when biodiversity declines.

“Climate change and biodiversity loss are threatening human well-being as well as society. They’re closely interwoven and share common drivers through human activity,” he said. “They’re reinforcing each other.”

Some efforts to address the climate crisis, the authors warned, could be detrimental to biodiversity. As such, they urged policy makers, governments and industries to avoid solutions that “could effectively backfire.”

These include planting monocultural, non-native trees or vast tracts of land with crops for bioenergy.

“There are a lot of things being done for climate change, especially around adaptation, and many of them can be negative for biodiversity,” pointed out Paul Leadley, a professor of ecology with the University of Paris Sud-France. “There’s a real risk that biodiversity can die from a

thousand cuts.”

Speaking of biodiversity, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recently identified two biodiversity-rich islands – Central Mindoro and Eastern Mindanao – as pilot areas to become “Biodiversity Corridors” under a Global Environment Facility (GEF) project.

The DENR’s Biodiversity Corridor (BC) – defined as “terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems that promote conservation of biodiversity with sustainable use” – will have multiple benefits of conservation of threatened species, reduced deforestation, infrastructure development, and jobs creation.

The two pilot corridors, according to the press statement, will strengthen management of 11 protected areas (PA) and cover 300,000 hectares. The $74.961-million venture is DENR’s biggest foreign-assisted project of which $12.26 will come from the GEF Trust Fund while the remaining $62.701 will be from various government agencies.

The identified PAs include the Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park, Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary, Agusan Marsh, Alamio, Buyaan, Carac-an, Panikian Rivers and Sipangpang Falls Water-

shed, Cabadbaran Watershed, Mainit Hot Spring, Mati Protected Landscape, Surigao Watershed, Mt. Hamiguitan, Andanan River Watershed, and Aliwagwag Protected Landscape.

The project will establish at least 200,000 hectares of key biodiversity areas that are now outside of the PA system through the management of indigenous people’s (IPs) groups.

This will benefit the environment with carbon sequestration of 44.3 million metric tons over 20 years.

“At least 65,000 individuals, 30% are IPs (belonging to 15,000 households) will directly benefit through sustainable natural resource management and livelihood improvement,” the project primer stated. “(It will result in an) increase of 15% in average economic benefit (at least 50% of beneficiaries are women, 25% are IP women).”

The two pilot areas were chosen based on importance as flora and fauna endemism, biodiversity threats, and economic significance. Other criteria include poverty incidence, vulnerability, extent of extractive industries and extent of land use conversion and infrastructure development, and land degradation.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

MOLAVE RESTAURANT Known as the first bistro to introduce greaseless fried chicken to Davao’s food rangers, Molave Hotel and Kitchenette showed up on the culinary scene in 1965, barely a year after its founder Carlos Millete, a native of Legaspi, Albay, his wife, and two daughters migrated to Davao.

The first foodhouse, named after a sturdy tree species, was sheltered in a building owned by the Tapia family, along Claveria (C.M. Recto) Street. It was a well-chosen location, and it was here that the diner started its journey to become one of the city’s enduring dining landmarks.

For two years it stayed there, gaining more adherents, and made its chicken recipe a byword. It also offered steaks, home-made bread, and culinary creations. Later, as patronage expanded, it moved to Matina, to a more spacious area where it launched the chic D’ Fabulous Molave Restaurant & Cocktail

Lounge.

Molave, as a stand-alone appellation, has since been associated with a chicken recipe that did away with greasiness without sacrificing taste, aroma, and elegance in dining. It has become a runaway leader in fine dining and in many respects the paradigm of a thriving business.

Despite the tenacity of the Millete family, Molave was not spared the brunt of martial law.

Patronage collapsed, dine-in customers reduced in numbers, and the burden of leasing a huge place started to take a toll on their pockets. Business was on a slump.

Unfazed, Millete, once a bistro manager, gave up the Matina location and transferred the chicken food house to Legaspi Street, which is friendly to diners. But tragedy struck again.

After renovating the new site for a princely sum, the edifice housing the eatery was gobbled up by a blaze. Still, despite the

challenges, he soon unlocked the Molave Restaurant at corner Rizal and Ponciano Reyes (Cayetano Bangoy) Streets.

In 1988, New Molave Restaurant was opened along MacArthur Highway, in Matina. Unlike previous engagements, the new chicken house was undeniably roomier. It had function rooms as well as ballroom-size dining chamber that could accommodate three hundred guests.

Through all the challenges, the diner evolved into a complete restaurant offering heirloom recipes, signature Pinoy dishes, and hosting functions for the affluent and the ordinary. Long before Sunburst and Max’s Restaurant invaded the city in the 1980s to offer their own version of greaseless chicken, Molave had already conquered the Davaoeño palate.

In 1995, the institution reinvented itself after moving to a new site at Jacinto Street. Its

old Molave Restaurant identity was changed to become the endearing Molave Family Diner.

Its present location, peripheral to a university, has become a darling of millennials and yuppies.

Molave has since branched out to other food tenders that places the iconic greaseless chicken at the vortex. It now offers two-faceted Hardwood Meals, the Malabulak (plus platter of pork lumpia and pancit canton) and the Narra (plus sizzling boneless bañgus and Mikee’s pork sisig).

On the side, the diner’s chefs have retained the rustic tastes and customary recipes but have mixed them with modern accents. Its sauté water spinach, cream dumpling, cob salad, and mojos complete the roster of gastronomic treats old and new patrons experience and remember.

This reminds us of a feelgood review of the establishment which goes: “The food is

simply great! The staff serves their customers with a smile!

The price is but fair! Overall, I recommend Molave... it is indeed a haven of good food.”

Ironic though it may sound but for all the good memories Molave’s greaseless chicken has given its patrons, the iconic family diner has yet to get the loudest clap and the biggest praise.

A forgotten chapter in the life of the food landmark is the contributions its late owner had shared to the city. Millete, a 1975 recipient of the Datu Bago Awards, was an unrelenting advocate of socio-civic involvement. He dedicated a good part of his time caring the street urchins, rehabilitating drug dependents and youth offenders, and pursuing the welfare of children and the youth. His cache of recognitions reflects his matchless energy; he was always a livewire; a figure so solid and durable as the Molave (Vitex parviflora) tree.

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AS ALWAYS when there’s something new, foodies are abuzz. The latest toast is an exciting concept of ready-toeat experience.

It’s called grazing.

Grazing is more of a pimped up version of charcuterie board most often consisting of a variety of meats, cheeses and fruits or nuts.

Essentially it is a meat and cheese board.

Malagos Food Inc. is leveling up the experience with Malagos Farmhouse Grazing Box, a ready-to-eat cheese arrangement, featuring the best of what Malagos Farmhouse has to offer, cheese!

In Malagos Farmhouse’s boxes, cheese is king!

Who doesn’t love cheese?

Come on, it is the reason why we break diets, grill and eat bread, bake macaroni, fry cheese sticks, bake soft and fluffy cheesecake, etc.

Olive Puentespina, managing director and cheesemaker of Malagos Food, Inc., said the company carefully curate the cheese selection so that the different families of cheeses are present so that everyone can find a variant that they like.

Malagos Farmhouse produces 30 different types of cheese or any combination of which can be found in different platters.

The box looks like an overflowing harvest of delicacies that all look so yummy you don’t know what to try first because Malagos

CRAZY FOR MALAGOS’

GRAZING BOX also include fresh and dried fruit, cold cuts, and its own jams and preserves made from local produce harvested during their peak season to complement the cheeses.

This eclectic idea of serving cheeses has been going on even pre-Covid-19 pandemic wherein Malagos will hold in-house tasting sessions in its flagship store, The Leon’s Lounge, in Puentespina Gardens in Agdao.

In these events, clients would come and enjoy the full spread of cheeses, paired with fresh fruit, fresh salad and jams, with their friends and family.

“We would also get questions on how people can enjoy the tastings from their homes,” Puentespina said.

So in 2018, the grazing boxes started as cheese platters that people could order and enjoy from the comfort of their own homes. At this point, the platters were based day-to-day lives including busion the client and the number of nesses, which are hardly hit by the their guests. pandemic.

Yet, Covid-19 has upended the “Come pandemic, we noticed that since people were not having big gatherings, the need for the big cheese platters has changed,” Puentespina said.

Against the backdrop of a pandemic that has changed the course of daily life, Malagos embraced the unexpected in a creative way by standardizing the platters to fit their clients’ needs.

Malagos is now offering three types of ready-to-eat arrangements, the Duo Platter (good for 2), the Standard Platter (good for 4-6) and the Grazing Box (good for 8-10).

There’s also the Farmhouse Tasting Kits so that clients can recreate the tasting sessions that they used to enjoy in Leon’s Lounge.

There’s small (good for 10 to 12 people) and large (for 12 to 15 people) cheese boards available for larger gatherings.

The platters can be used also as gift ideas for parties or gift to family and friends.

“A quick search on Facebook and Instagram will show many local entrepreneurs making their own grazing boxes. What sets us apart from them is that we use our own local artisan cheeses, made here in Davao City,” Puentespina said.

The company also put great

emphasis on ensuring that the products are made as sanitized as possible.

The company’s processing plant is Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles are strictly implemented in our production area.

“We do not compromise on the safety and quality of our products.

Like what we like to say, eat healthy, eat natural, support local. Also, the bulk of our boxes are the cheeses themselves,” Puentespina said.

Malagos Farmhouse also customizes it based on your favorite cheeses.

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AGRITRENDS

SO, YOU WANT TO RAISE

YOUR OWN BONSAI? Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

M

ost people who have watched the original The Karate Kid (1984) may think bonsai is a Japanese phenomenon as it featured Pat Morita (who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor) using bonsai in teaching Daniel (Ralph Macchio) the art of meditation.

“Think only tree,” Miyagi (Morita’s character) told Daniel. “Make a perfect down to last pine needle.

Wipe your mind clean everything but tree. Nothing exists whole world.”

Unknowingly, bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh, with accent at the end) is actually Chinese in origin, according to the late Serapion S. Metilla, touted to be the “father of bonsai in the Philippines.” He hailed from Bansalan, Davao del Sur (where this author was also born).

“It is highly likely that the Chinese were the first civilization to plant plants in pots because their paintings and scrolls, which date back before the 12th century, reveal images of plants in pots,” said Metilla in one of our interviews when he was still alive.

Wikipedia backed up his claim. “The Japanese art of bonsai originated from the Chinese practice of penjing,” the free encyclopedia stated.

Penjing, also known as penzai, utilizes traditional techniques to produce entire natural sceneries in small

pots that mimic the grandiose and shape of real life sceneries.

Similar versions of the art exist in other Asian cultures, including the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese Hon non bo.

It was during the Tang dynasty, when penjing was its height, that the art was first introduced into Japan.

“From the 6th century onward, Imperial embassy personnel and Buddhist students from Japan visited and returned from mainland China,” Wikipedia reported.

“They brought back many Chinese ideas and goods, including container plantings.

Over time, these container plantings began to appear in Japanese writings and representative art.”

That’s the reason why bonsai is now associated with Japanese art. Although the word “bonsai” comes from two Japanese words – bon, which means “pot” or “tray” and sai, which means “to plant” – it is actually a Japanese pronunciation of the original Chinese term penzai.

Originally, the Japanese

bonsai only attempted to produce small trees that mimic the shape of real life trees. Today, it has become an umbrella term in English, attached to many forms of potted or other plants, and also on occasion to other living and non-living things.

In The New York Times, journalist Stephen Orr observed: “The term (bonsai) should be reserved for plants that are grown in shallow containers following the precise tenets of bonsai pruning and training, resulting in an artful miniature replica of a full-grown tree in nature.”

In the most restrictive sense, “bonsai” refers to miniaturized, container-grown trees adhering to Japanese tradition and principles. But there’s an interesting story on how it became popular and even now equated with the noble.

Robert Perry, writing for the Science Notebook, wrote: “Someone became intrigued by the tiny gnarled trees he found growing in rock crevices high up in the mountains of Japan. The small trees eventually were cultivated in the emperor’s yard.”

As an art, bonsai is more than a thousand years old.

As a hobby, it is very much rewarding. As The Hobby Nerd wrote in his blog: “(Bonsai) is an art and hobby that is very much unlike most others. It takes time and patience but it can be

very rewarding as a hobby or pursuit.

“All you need is a few basic materials and some basic tools,” he added. “You don’t even have to buy an ‘official bonsai tree’ because there really is no such thing!

Bonsai isn’t a particular type of tree. It is the art of taking any type of tree or shrub and growing it and trimming it in ways so that it remains small yet has the proportions and uncanny look of its larger counterparts.”

Jose Mari Lacandula, a horticultural expert who used to write a weekly column for a national daily, puts it: “Bonsai pieces are living artworks which are heirlooms in themselves.”

Many kinds of trees are suitable for bonsai culture.

The most common ones, according to Metilla, are mulberry trees, prodocarpus, “kamuning,” “mulawing-aso,” “kalyos” (known scientifically as Streblus asper), “balite” family (Ficus species), candle tree (Parmentiera cereifera), “bignay” (Antedisma spp.), pines and junipers, cydas, boxwood, narra, and China holly (Malpighia coccigera).

The following fruit trees are also good for bonsai culture: rambutan, caimito, camachile, sampaloc, atis, and duhat.

Among shrubs, bushes and herbs, the following yield the best bonsai results: dwarf bamboo, “tsaang bukid” or Fukien

tea, variegated gumamela, bougainvillea, sampaguita, rosal, azalea, santan, lantana, oregano, and chrysanthemum.

Propagation of bonsai material may be done by seeds, cuttings, air-layering or marcotting, grafting/ budding and separation of runners or suckers. Seed propagation is the most common method used. “By seeds, it will take a longer time,” Metilla said.

Metilla, however, preferred cuttings, which come in four ways: stem cutting, heel cutting, leaf cutting, and rooting cutting. “For the propagation of materials for bonsai, the stem, heel and root cuttings are recommended,” he said.

“Look for cuttings which are not too old or too young, ranging in size like a coconut midrib to thumb-size, depending on the kind of plants,” Metilla said. “The base must be clean-cut slant-wise.”

According to Metilla, the use of cuttings has several advantages over other methods. For one, they look older than those grown from seeds and for another they come out true-to-type or form. The disadvantages: their rooting system might not be well-developed and that the tapering form will not be as nice as the specimen from seeds.

As for pots, choose those with good drainage (hole at the bottom). “Training pots

9

can be plastic bag planters, ice cream canisters, old plastic pails and basins, plastic jars, soft drinks and mineral water bottles (cut in half), and bonsai pots,” says Nolan Sison, an active member of the Bonsai Hobbyists of the Philippines.

For soil medium, Sison recommends river sand, particularly the coarse type.

“Coarse sand leaves air packets,” he says. “It is important to have air pockets inside the pot for robust root production, because developing roots thrive on nitrates which are formed from the air’s nitrogen and the soil’s carbon and nitrites. Coarse sand also has good drainage and prevents water clogging in your pot.”

Metilla, however, suggested a mixture of one part garden soil, one part river sand, and one part compost.

Aside from pots or trays, aluminum or copper wires are the important material in bonsai culture. “You can’t use ordinary GI wires,” says Sison. “The tension and resistance of GI wires are too much for bending and spiral wrap of branches. Branch breakage will surely occur.”

According to Lacandula, maintenance is the most difficult aspect in bonsai culture. After all, the care of bonsai requires daily grooming attention. It needs a sufficient amount of sunlight, air and water and a proper temperature. Bonsai plants reportedly are subject to many of the same pests and diseases as other plants. Their small size also makes them fragile.

While the plant is growing, the branches must be trimmed once every two weeks or a month, depending on the progress of their growth. “Study carefully the general form,” Metilla suggested. “Have the branches well-spaced through prop-

FBONSAI, P10

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usab nga pagpasalamat kadaadlawsatanangmga individualsandmgagroups whohaveexpressedtheir support for me to run for presidentofourcountry,”the mayor said.

Onhisend,Anthonydel Rosario,secretary-general ofHugpongNgPagbabago (HNP),saidinaninterview withnationalmediaoutlet thatMayorSarahasnotreally decidedyet,whethersheor

not will run.

“Secondly, she hasn’t alsodiscussedtothegroup withregardstoherchoice forpartner.WeheardMr. Teodoro,statingthatheis willingtobetheVicePresident ofMayorSaraifhedecidesto runforpresidentandwealso heard,Ibelieve,Congressman Romualdezsayingthesame thing.Butagain,tostatethere isnofinaldecisionyetaswho willbethePresident,”hesaid.

Apart from Teodoro, formersenatorFerdinand “BongBong”Marcosand sister Imee recently met MayorSarainDavaoCity.

“Atthispoint,theseare all friends of Mayor Sara.

Martinisfriend,Giboisfriend, Imeeisagoodfriendalso, soanythingispossible.As amatteroffactIamsurein thenextfewmonthswewill behearotherpossiblevice presidentialcandidates.I guessatthispointwereally waiting to see as to what decisionwillcomeastothe president before we can moveonforvicepresidential candidate,”delRosariosaid.

AstraZeneca vaccines in the country, Duterte renewed his call on his fellow Filipinos to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to stop its further transmission.

Duterte reassured the public that Covid-19 vaccines being delivered to the country are “safe and effective.”

“Let me assure everyone that throughout our vaccination rollout we will prioritize the safety and quality of all vaccines that we are distributing across the country,” he said. “I

therefore urge everyone to get vaccinated and help prevent the further spread of the virus.”

Duterte also reminded fully vaccinated individuals to continue following health and safety protocols amid the prevailing pandemic.

He likewise lauded the National Task Force Against Covid-19andtheDepartment of Health for ensuring the “successful” delivery, distribution and rollout of Covid-19 vaccines across the country.

vaccination pre-registration link and appear on the designated vaccination

site based on the schedule provided to each agency. (PRDOST XI S&T Promotion)

lucky their loved ones were identified immediately.

Brawner said only 19 of the 52 confirmed dead in the C-130 plane crash in Sulu on Sunday, July 4, were identified through their dental records.

The rest who could not be identified through dental records will be identified through DNA tests.

The 55-year-old Monera recalled how she pleaded with her son not to join the Philippine Army.

“I wanted him to join the maritime fleet. He did not

listen,” Monera said.

Vic, the eldest of her three children, was a graduate of Bachelor Science in Maritime Transportation and had plied the Cebu-Manila interisland route aboard a passenger ship but lost his job when the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year.

Her son came home to their two-hectare farm in Maramag, Bukidnon dejected.

“He said he wanted to help us. He also wanted to marry his girlfriend,” she said.

logistics service outlets; barbershops and salons; and service and repair shops.

The Department of Trade and Industry said once an establishment applies for the seal, inspectors will arrive anytime to monitor compliance.

The Safety Seal may also be revoked if the establishment will have cluster of Covid-19 cases or there is willful violation of protocols.

Fast-food chain giant McDonald’s on Thursday announced that 110 of its branches nationwide have been awarded Safety Seals.

Managing director Mar-

got Torres said the certification assures the public that their stores are compliant with the minimum public health standards.

The fast-food also integrated its contact tracing system with the government’s StaySafe.ph application.

“The Safety Seal is another way to show our commitment to safety, which has always been a part of our operating culture. We will continue to follow protocols across all branches to ensure the best and safest dining experience for our customers and a safe working environment for our crew and managers,” Torres said.

mahimo nana sila tanang mahimong zombie unya dili mi mahimong zombie, mawala inyong kredibilidad.

Dapat naa na silay kalakip na challenge to yourself,” Mayor Sara challenged.

Meanwhile,thepresence of national personalities in Davao City like Teodoro sparked possibility for a Sara-Gibo tandem in 2022 elections.Theformerdefense sectary even expressed support in case Mayor Sara decidedtorunforpresidency.

“Nagpasalamat ko kay sir Gibo sa iyahang trust and confidence sa akoa sama na lamang pud sa akong usab-

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who was admitted at the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) on May 9, 2021, died due to respiratory failure secondary to acute distress syndrome, secondary to Covid-19 pneumonia. He had also endured comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes.

Last month, the City of Mati announced that a possible Brazilian Covid-19 variant was identified in Davao Oriental samples submitted to the Philippine Genome Center on June 10, 2021.

From a total of 991 samples submitted by three Covid testing facilities to the PGC for genome sequencing, the result showed that samples from 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 were still pending.

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.

However, the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11) quickly

denied reports that a more virulent variant of Covid-19 has already reached the province of Davao Oriental.

In a letter to Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang dated June 22, DOH 11 regional director Annabelle Yumang clarified that identified Covid variants B.1, B.1.78, and A.4 are not identified as “variants of concern because current data are insufficient to determine whether the variant will require more appropriate and specific health action”.

Rabat said the City of Mati has been preparing for the worst and that the city can handle any new variants with the help and cooperation of the people of Mati.

“The fight against pandemic is far from over and we will forge on,” she said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Task Force COVID-19 advises the general public to strictly adhere to the standard health protocols and to abide with the current quarantine guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Task Force also advised the public to have themselves vaccinated to get protection against Covid-19.

why we have been making warnings to the public of possible new variants entering the city since last month. Because we are resigned to the fact that it will come to our city and it is only a matter of time.

“We are prepared. Our campaign for City Ordinance No. 427 or the Disiplina sa Panahon Pandemya Ordinance is ongoing and

have authorized our purok presidents barangay tanods to issue citation. This is to instill discipline in our community.

“The City of Mati LGUs has been preparing for the worst. And we can handle any new variant with the help and cooperation of our people. The fight against pandemic is far from over and we will forge on.”

of the BSP. Borromeo also emphasized that “LANDBANK is more than capable of absorbing the financial impact of the merger with UCPB. Our ratios will remain comfortably above the standards set by the BSP.” LANDBANK is requesting for regulatory incentives being granted by BSP to banks for mergers and con-

solidation. “These relief measures will provide the bank the flexibility to manage its capital, achieve operational efficiency, and minimize the expected impact of absorbing UCPB,” Borromeo said.

To encourage consolidation and mergers among banks, the BSP grants regulatory incentives under Memorandum No. M-2016-023 dated 21 December 2016.

and demand conditions.

“As you can see, almost all major currencies in the world depreciated vis-àvis the dollar. That means

that it is the dollaEconomic managers’ peso-US dollar assumption for 2021-2024 ranges between PHP48 to PHP53. (PNA)

gain, reaching its highest level since March 2017. FAO said uncertainties over the impact of unfavorable weather conditions on crop yields in Brazil, the world’s largest sugar exporter, pushed prices up.

The meat index rose 2.1% from May, with quotations for all meat types rising as increases in imports by some East Asian countries compensated for a slowdown in China’s meat purchases.

FAO said the slight fall in its estimate for world cereal production this year was principally triggered by

a sharp cut to the Brazilian maize production forecast as prolonged periods of dry weather weighed on yield expectations.

Global wheat production prospects also retreated this month, as dry weather in the Near East hurt yield prospects there. By contrast, the forecast for global rice output in 2021 edged up.

The forecast for world cereal utilization in 2021/22 was cut by 15 million tonnes from the previous month to 2.810 billion tonnes, still 1.5% higher than in 2020/21.

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er trimming, resulting in a tapering effect with a pronounced apex.”

Bonsai are classified according to size. The large ones measure twenty-fiveand-a-half to thirty-six-anda-half inches. Midway are the regulars, eight-and-ahalf to twenty-five inches.

The miniature or midget types called mame (pronounced Mah-may) measure two to no more than eight inches high.

“Bonsai are living works of art, some famous trees are hundreds of years old,” states the website, bonsaiempire.com. “These trees are priceless and when for sale, very expensive. Prices, however, tend to vary widely from shop to shop and from country to country.”

In the Philippines, the price of bonsai ranges from P1,000 to P50,000 – depending upon the planting material and form. The older the bonsai is, the higher the price is.

So far, the most expensive bonsai tree is the centuries old Pine, sold for 1.3 million dollars at the International Bonsai Convention in Takamatsu, Japan.

Although the art of bonsai is of recent introduction in the Philippines, history records show that it was already practiced in the country in the late 15th century. A book, Relacion de las Islas Filipinas, written by a Spaniard in 1590, chronicled: “The Chinese in Manila were fond of planting red balete trees in the holes and crevices of coral stones and laced these in basins with a little water. When the plants have established their roots, these were placed on their altars.”

Metilla agreed. “I think the Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to grow bonsai,” he said. “Bonsai was introduced here by the Chinese centuries ago, only we did not develop it until the 1960s.”

or not.

Thomas Bach, chief of the International Olympic Committee, reached Tokyo on Thursday to oversee the

preparations.

Japan to date has reported 811,712 coronavirus cases, including 14,897 deaths.

(Anadolu)

Madelyn Nugroho of Indonesia.

Eala and Nugroho, the 2020 Australian Open junior girls’ doubles champions, claimed their first round match in clinical fashion with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Erika Matsuda of Japan and Valencia Xu of the United States on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian pair will clash with Chelsea Fontenel of Switzerland and Ashlyn Krueger of the United States in the second round.

Eala, an ITF Junior Player Grants Programme recipient and Rafa Nadal Academy scholar, has won two titles in the first half of 2021.

Unlike the other Olympic games, however, only eight people including the flag bearers will be allowed to join the national team parade as part of the health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“Ang in-allow lang po sa parada ay anim na prime team officials (Only six prime team officials are allowed in the parade),” Tolentino said, adding that he will not join the parade.

The officials who will join Obiena and Watanabe in the opening ceremonies are Lani Velasco of swimming, Cynthia Carrion-Norton of gymnastics, Nonito Velasco of boxing, Daniel Bautista of skateboarding,

Dave Carter of judo, and Nonong Araneta of football, who is tasked as the Philippine team’s chef de mission.

Carter, upon announcing Watanabe’s designation as flag bearer, said the Philippine Judo Federation (PJF) “is very much honored” that she was chosen.

Carter added that the PJF is delighted with the news because it would be a historic one.

“This is the first time that judo was made flagbearer,” Carter said in a statement.

What makes this even more special is that Watanabe is the first female judoka to qualify for the Olympics for the Philippines.

borrow because there is no assured business income for them now to pay the loan,” he added in Filipino.

This is despite the CARES program allowing a bigger loan amount for tourism-related MSMEs. Average loan for the tourism sector is around PHP430,993, Lopez said.

Meanwhile, the trade chief is optimistic that the utilization of the budget for CARES for Travel loan will increase with the easing of restrictions in areas under modified general community quarantine.

The CARES program is

also extended to displaced overseas Filipino workers under the Bayanihan HEROES program.

Lopez said 628 OFWs got their loan approvals amounting to PHP35.57 million.

The DTI, through its financing arms SB Corp., rolled out the CARES program in mid-2020 to help existing MSMEs to recover from the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The CARES program offers zero-percent interest loans with a generous grace period.

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OVER... FROM 4

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Alex Eala, the no. 2 seed, squandered her chances of winning the prestigious tournament.

Eala ousted in second round T

Olympics to be held under virus state of emergency

A

mid persistent coronavirus cases, Japan announced on Thursday it will hold the much-anticipated Tokyo Olympics under a Covid-19 state of emergency.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced the 2020 games, which are being held this summer after they were delayed last year due to the pandemic, Kyodo News reported.

The world’s biggest games are set to begin on July 23 without any international spectators in attendance.

Rigorous health protocols are in place to prevent

any spread of the virus.

Tokyo and its surrounding provinces were already a under state of emergency, which has now been officially extended.

The extended state of emergency will come into effect next Monday and last through Aug. 22, well past Aug. 8, when the games are set to conclude.

Japan first imposed a Covid state of emergency in April 2020 and later extended it twice in some areas, including Tokyo.

The virus situation will decide whether the games will be held with spectators

FOLYMPICS, P10

he Wimbledon journey of Pinay teen tennis sensation Alex Eala is over.

The second seed ended her run at the girls’ singles tournament of Wimbledon after suffering an upset from juniors No. 27 Ane Mintegi Del Olmo of Spain, who prevailed in the second round, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, Thursday in London.

Their match at Court 4 of The All England Lawn Tennis Club lasted for 2 hours and 11 minutes.

Eala and Mintegi Del Olmo stayed focused to hold serve until the 8th game, where the Filipino nabbed a crucial break opportunity when the Spaniard hit a backhand forced error. Eala let out a forehand shot which led to another backhand er-

ror from Mintegi Del Olmo, giving Eala a 5-3 lead.

Serving for the set, Eala proceeded to lead the 9th game at 40-15. However, two consecutive double faults threw away her two set points. At deuce, Eala earned her third set point, but a forehand forced error squandered it.

Faced with a break point from Mintegi Del Olmo, Eala fired a forehand winner to save it. At their 5th deuce, two backhand forced errors from the Spaniard allowed Eala to claim the first set, 6-3, in 43 minutes.

Mintegi Del Olmo shrugged off her missed chances in the opening set

E EJ Obiena will be carrying the Philippine flag along with judoka Kiyomi Watanabe.

J Obiena and Kiyomi Watanabe have been chosen by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as the Philippine team’s flag bearers for the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremonies.

POC president Abraham Tolentino said on Thursday that Obiena, the world ranked number six male pole vaulter, and Watanabe, arguably the best Filipi-

by imposing a 3-0 advantage, sealed with a backhand volley winner. A forehand unforced error from Eala extended the Spaniard’s lead to 4-0. Eala managed to break then hold serve to trail at 4-2.

In the 7th game, Eala secured three break points with a backhand winner, and won the game with another backhand winner to inch closer at 4-3. A backhand unforced error from Mintegi Del Olmo allowed Eala to level at 4-4. Mintegi Del Olmo advanced to 5-4, then had three set points with Eala on serve. The Spaniard was able to break and force a decider, 6-4, courtesy of Eala’s backhand error at the net.

Mintegi Del Olmo kicked off the third set with a 3-1 lead until Eala caught up at 4-4. In the 9th game, Eala converted a break point due

to a forehand forced error from the Spaniard, allowing the Filipino to lead for the first time in the final set and serve for the match at 5-4.

The Spaniard refused to give up the match, breaking back to equalize at 5-5. The next game went to deuce, and a forehand forced error from Eala gave the lead to Mintegi Del Olmo, 6-5. With Eala on serve, the Spaniard soared to a 0-40 edge. Mintegi Del Olmo clinched the match, 7-5, with a backhand down the line return of serve on her first match point.

Eala, who marked her Wimbledon debut on Monday, defeated juniors No. 38 Solana Sierra of Argentina, 6-2, 6-4, in the first round.

She is also in the Junior Wimbledon doubles tournament as the No. 3 seed with Priska

na judoka right now, were tapped to wave the Philippine flag based on two major factors that would determine if they are free to bring the flag around the athletic oval on July 23.

“We based our selection on the availability--kung sino ang andoon na dahil ‘di tayo sabay-sabay darating doon (whoever is already there because everyone will not fly together there)--and

the schedule of their games and practice,” Tolentino said.

This is not the first time Obiena and Watanabe will be carrying the Philippine flag as they were also tapped as flag bearers for the Philippine team during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremonies at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

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FOBIENA, P10

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A lady fitness enthusiast works out with the spin bike at the Arcadia Fitness Gym amid the current health protocols.

CALLED OFF

A lady fitness enthusiast works out with the spin bike at the Arcadia Fitness Gym amid the current health protocols.

2021 Vietnam SEA Games postponed due to Covid-19

T

he 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games has been called off for this year.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino confirmed on Thursday that the biennial sports meet supposed to take place just before Christmas in Hanoi, Vietnam will not push through as scheduled due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) concerns.

“The SEA Games Federation unanimously decided not to hold the SEA Games this year due to Covid-19,” Tolentino said during an online press conference.

Talks of SEA Games postponement loomed largely over the midyear as Covid-19 cases in Vietnam spiked to record levels.

Tolentino, however, said the host country’s situation is

not the only reason behind the postponement but also those from other Southeast Asian nations.

“Medyo tumaas po talaga--nag-spike-sa Thailand, Indonesia, even the Philippines, and Vietnam (The cases are rising in Thailand, Indonesia, even the Philippines, and Vietnam),” he said.

He also clarified that the new dates of the SEA Games in Hanoi are still to be announced amid rumors that it might be moved to as late as July next year.

“Yan ang pag-uusapan pa ng NOC (national Olympic committee) ng Vietnam and their government (The NOC of Vietnam and their government will still talk about it),” Tolentino said. (PNA)