Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 118 | Saturday, July 31, 2021

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THREE VARIANTS DOH detects cases of Alpha, Beta,

VOL.14 ISSUE 118 • SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021

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Delta variants in Davao Region

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A man pushes the wheelchair carrying his father who will undergo swab testing at Sta. Ana Health Center in Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

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President Rodrigo Duterte inspects the newly constructed Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Project in Makati City before attending the inauguration on Thursday. Accompanying the President are Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

THREE VARIANTS A

Sarangani civilians yield 99 loose firearms

DOH detects cases of Alpha, Beta, Delta variants in Davao Region

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Department of Health (DOH), University of the Philippines Philippine Genome Center (UPPGC), and the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) revealed the detection of different variants of Covid-19.

The DOH-UP PGC-UP NIH team reported 11 cases of Alpha variant, 25 cases of Beta variant, and two cases of Delta variant in Davao

Region.

In a statement released on July 30, 2021, variants in Davao Region are part of the detected 97 Delta

(B.1.617.2) variant cases, 83 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 127 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and 22 P.3 variant cases in the Philippines based on the latest batch of whole genome sequencing results.

DOH reported that of the 97 new cases of the Delta variant, 88 were local cases, six were Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), and three are being verified if they are local or ROF cases and of the

six ROFs, two were seafarers of MT Clyde and Barge Claudia, currently anchored off in Albay, and four were crew members of MV Vega that arrived from Indonesia.

Ninety-four cases have been tagged as recovered and three were fatalities.

The DOH is coordinating with the respective local government units to determine other information, such as exposure and vacci-

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total of 97 loose firearms were surrendered to government troops by civilians in a simple ceremony held at the Municipal Gym of Maitum, Sarangani early this week.

Col. Eduardo Gubat, commander of the Philippine Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade (IB), said that the surrendered firearms included 94 homemade shotguns with bullets; two M79 grenade launchers; and a homemade pistol.

According to Gubat the guns came from various personalities some of whom are believed to be members of the ‘Militiang Bayan’ under New People’s Army’s Platoon West Musa of Far South Mindanao Region.

He said the surrendered firearms resulted from the community support pro-

gram and sustained focus military operations conducted by the ‘We Clear Troops’ since June 9, 2021 in the barangays of Zion, Batian, Upo, and New La Union, all of Maitum, Sarangani.

This is a clear manifestation that the communist terrorist group (CTG) is weakening in Sarangani Province as 38IB intensified its campaign against loose firearms and continues to pursue the remnants of the communist terrorists in the province, Gubat said.

6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central commander Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy applauded the efforts of his men to continuously protect the residents of Sarangani Province and create an environment conducive for sustainable development and lasting peace.

ulang, all recovered on July 15; and a Barangay Canitoan resident, who recovered on July 18.

“All (eight cases) of them were certified recovered when DOH-10 released their swab samples.

They will be extracted and placed immediately in isolation again while contact tracing is ongoing by our teams at the City Health Office (CHO),” Moreno said.

Acting CHO head Dr. William Bernardo said the eight were certified recov-

ered when they received the results of the swab samples.

“All of them were at their homes when we called them for re-isolation and they were cooperative.

We will test them again after two weeks while contact tracing is ongoing,” he said.

CHO medical officer Dr. Ted Yu said contact tracing has been expanded to include third-generation contacts.

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P2-B cash grants released to 4Ps Eight CDO Delta variant patients recover, close contacts contained beneficiaries in Soccsksargen

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he Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released around PHP2 billion in cash grants in the first six months of the year to beneficiaries of the government’s flagship conditional cash transfer program in Region 12 (Soccsksargen).

Restituto Macuto, DSWD Region 12 director, on Thursday said the grants were directly disbursed to 194,960 poorest of the poor households in the region that are covered by the ini-

tiative known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps. He said these were released in regular payouts every two months through the cash cards of the recipients.

Macuto assured that the beneficiaries are properly validated by their personnel and the grants were given based on their compliance with the program’s conditions.

These include keeping school-aged children in schools; regular pre-and

post-natal care for mothers; regular and preventive checkups for children aged 5 years old and below; deworming for children aged 14-years-old and below; and, attendance to the monthly family development sessions.

For the enrolled children, he said they should post an 85 percent attendance record and mothers should have completed their scheduled checkups in the health centers.

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ight patients of the Delta variant of the coronavirus here have recovered and their close contacts contained.

The eight were confirmed after the Department of Health (DOH) informed the city government of the report of samples taken by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), Mayor Oscar Moreno said in an online press briefing on Thursday.

They are seven family members in Barangay Bal-

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NEWS

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About a month ago, the crowd that gathered here for the first dose of their vaccine was half the size of the July 28, 2021 crowd. Health workers manning this vaccination center at barangay Rosary Heights VI in Cotabato City acknowledge that the demand for vaccines is steadily increasing. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ

City exploring to penalize false info on vaccination NPA leader, 6 other rebs surrender in Mis Oriental

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high-ranking official and six members of North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) laid down their weapons and surrendered to government troops in Barangay Poblacion, Claveria, Misamis Oriental early this week.

Philippine Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion (IB) Civil Military Operation Officer 1st Lieutenant Jefferson Mariano identified the NPA leader as Alias Kerwin, vice-commander of Platoon Madar of the NPA’s NCMRC, 24, a resident of Barangay Kalabuan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. Also surrendered to members of the 58th IB are three NPA couples, alias Aba, 24, and his wife Angie; alias Douglas and his 17-year old wife Kimyan; alias Maman and wife Marga. These NPA rebels are all residents of Misamis Oriental.

The rebels surrendered an M16 rifle; homemade shotgun; one AK47; and one KG9.

According to Mariano, the surrenderers wanted to quit the organization for a long time due to the hardships and hunger they endured, but they were always stopped by their leaders. When the opportunity to flee presented itself, they took it without hesitation.

He said alias Douglas opted to surrender because his wife is pregnant and they can no longer bear the exhaustion and hunger.

“It was really tough for us to survive in the highlands. And we’d been thinking of surrendering for a long time now, but they never let us, we had to jump and run till we could ask for help,” Douglas said in the vernacular.

Lt. Col. Ricky L Canatoy, commanding officer of 58IB, lauded the surrenderers for their decision, praising them for their bravery and courage in leaving the revolutionary movement.

Canatoy said he hopes that the remaining NPA members in Misamis Oriental would do the same.

“Come down right now

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By MAYA M. PADILLO he city government of Davao is exploring on penalizing Dabawenyos sharing materials or campaigning against Covid-19 and vaccination.

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Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said there had been discussions with the Sannguniang Panglungsod on the possibility of legal actions against those spreading false information regarding Covid-19 vaccines and to those spearheading the campaign in dissuading

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he European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC) disclosed that the Swedish business community are looking for business opportunities in Davao City.

Tony Peralta, chairman of the ECCP-SMBC, told Edge Davao that the potential business opportunities are seen in the areas of smart

the public from being vaccinated particularly on claims of some Dabawenyos that a person who is fully vaccinated will soon become a “zombie” in September.

“Gi-refer ko na, that was discussed last weekend with Dr. Joselle Villafuerte, Health Committee chairper-

son dinha sa Sangguniang Panglungsod to explore and study if these can be made punishable ang kanang paghatag ug materials ug pagpangampanya kontra sa COVID-19 ug pagpabukana,” the mayor said.

Early this month, the mayor assured that none of those who have received the vaccines has become a “zombie”. She also assured residents the vaccines are safe and effective against Covid-19 and urged the pub-

lic to ignore the misinformation about the vaccination, and instead educate themselves about the vaccine.

“You have your right. Sa imuhang beliefs, sa imuhang opinions, sa imuhang pagtoo, sa imuhang pagsabot with regard to vaccines kunyari dili ka magpabakuna.

But it is wrong to say to other people mga ayaw mo pagpabakuna based on your beliefs, on your assumptions, in your opinion, and what

city development, expansion in business process outsourcing operations, the manufacture of consumer durables, industrial machinery and parts distribution and dealership.

This was announced during the recent online Davao City Investment Promotion online roadshow organized in partnership with ECCP, Embassy of Sweden in Manila, Philippine; Embassy in Stockholm, and the

Department of Trade and Industry through its Philippine Trade and Investment Center (DTI-PTIC) in Stockholm that was attended by 60 participants including Swedish entrepreneurs, investors, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Peralta said additional Swedish investors will increase the presence of Swedish products and services here in Davao City such as the Volvo distribu-

torship, recent acquisition of Awesome OS by Transcom, which is a Swedish Company; the presence of Atlas Copco branch here, H and M store in Abreeza Mall, and the Swedish Philippine distributor for HUSQVARNA Group that sells industrial and transportation products like KTM Motorcycles.

Meanwhile, the roadshow dubbed as “NOW (New Opportunities Wait-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Cebu Pacific announces that it is giving 25 free flights to every members of the Philippine delegation to the Tokyo Olympics. Edge Davao

Delta variant, another challenge to PH financial stability: BSP exec T he possible implementation of stricter quarantine measures to address the threat from the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is another challenge to the financial stability of the country.

In a virtual briefing on Wednesday, BSP Assistant Governor Johnny Noe Ravalo said the threat from the Delta variant is “another turn in the road” and monetary authorities “try to expect the unexpected”.

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ncertainties remain, especially with the threat of the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), but economic recovery is clear, an official of an investment management and trust company said on Thursday.

During the virtual launch of Sun Life Investment Management and Trust Corporation (SLIMTC), its president, Michael Gerard Enriquez, said opportunities abound now amid the uncertainties in the market as the government has been doing a “good work” in ensuring that the economy should be poised to

“But in terms of financial stability, all of these, what could be, are part of our scenario analysis,” he said.

The threat of another lockdown looms after health authorities reported the local transmission of

recover.

“I think there are more optimists now despite this Covid-19 Delta variant, which again creates some short-term uncertainty.

Nevertheless, we expect the economy to start recovering,” he said.

Last year, the economy contracted by 9.5 percent because of the pandemic.

However, economic managers are positive for the revival of domestic output to between 6 percent to 7 percent this year given the continued reopening of the economy and the increase in government spending, es-

Covid-19 infections caused by the Delta variant.

Medical experts and a business group have backed the implementation of a lockdown in August to prevent further rise of infections since experts have said the Delta variant is more contagious than other Covid variants.

In his speech for the same event, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said while recovery is expected for the domestic economy this year,

pecially on social protection programs and infrastructure.

These measures boost investors’ optimism, which make the launch of SLIMTC very timely, Enriquez said.

He said investors are now “assessing their portfolios and risk tolerance” after the pandemic hit last year.

“From 2020, last year, until probably now, we are more confident, and the sentiment has been turning more positive towards the recovery of the economy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Enriquez said SLIMTC was launched to fill the gap between the

“recent estimates suggest that Covid-19 has taken away some of the opportunities that we expected prior to the pandemic”.

He said uncertainties for the future remain thus, risk aversion among investors is expected.

Diokno said international agencies have noted economic recovery but this varies among countries.

“This divergence is an essential element of what

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needs of individual investors and institutional investors, such as retirement funds.

“We envision SLIMTC to be more on offering solutions to clients rather than coming up with specific products and offering it to institutional clients,” he said.

He added they intend to know more about what their would-be-clients want, specifically to determine the strategies to implement.

Since SLIMTC is part of a multinational company, Enriquez said they would be able to offer not just domestic assets but also those being offered offshore.

CebPac giving free flights to PH delegation in Tokyo Olympics

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ebu Pacific is giving free flights to members of the Philippine delegation to the Tokyo Olympics, the airline said on Thursday.

“Each member of the Philippine delegation will receive 25 flights for free, to commemorate the airline’s 25 years of enabling everyjuan to fly,” said Cebu Pacific.

The airline said the free flights will be given to Eireen Ando, Kurt Barbosa, Hidilyn Diaz, Margielyn Didal, Luke Gebbie, Kris Knott, Eumir

Marcial, Irish Magno, Cris Nievarez, EJ Obiena, Carlo Paalam, Bianca Pagdanganan, Juvic Pagunsan, Nesthy Petecio, Remedy Rule, Yuka Saso, Jason Valdez, Kiyomi Watanabe, and Carlos Yulo.

“All our athletes have uplifted the country’s spirits amid this challenging time.

We are grateful to them for going above and beyond, and we know they all have respective support teams behind them – this is why

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Economy can’t bear another massive lockdown: DTI chief

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epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez has thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for approving the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to put Metro Manila and nearby provinces under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions.

“The economy cannot bear another massive

lockdown. We lose around PHP30 billion for a twoweek lockdown. Many lost their jobs, livelihood, most of them are micro (and) SMEs (small and medium enterprises),” Lopez said during the Laging Handa public briefing Thursday.

He said the recommendation of placing National Capital Region (NCR) Plus under GCQ with heightened restrictions is in accordance with the IATF’s consulta-

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ECONOMY 5

Fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) says it is forming a joint venture company that will operate its stores in West Malaysia, which covers the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Edge Davao

BAP urges public to be more vigilant vs. cybercriminals

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he Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) has urged the public to heed financial institutions’ advice regarding best practices on how to protect themselves against cybercriminals.

In a statement on Thursday, the BAP cited the rising online fraud like phishing and other cybercrimes, especially since the pandemic hit in 2020.

“We ask the public to remain vigilant against these schemes. Today, cybercriminals are creating more methods to defraud the public. We would like to remind the customers that banks regularly communicate the best practices that the public can utilize to ensure their cyber safety. We call on everyone to be aware

of these reminders and apply them so that cybercriminals will fail in their attacks,” it said.

The BAP also assured the public that all banks have rigorous protocols when it comes to investigating cybercrimes for these criminals to be apprehended and penalized.

It said the industry also continues to make investments related to cybersecurity to protect clients’ personal data at all times.

“Ensuring everyone’s security in cyberspace must be a joint effort between banks and their clients. We would like to reiterate the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ call for collaboration among stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies, regulators, the banking indus-

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Protecting fiscal health to boost gov’t’s pandemic response

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rotecting the government’s financial health provides it flexibility to make decisions regarding pandemic-related developments, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

In a Viber message to journalists on Wednesday, Dominguez recalled his observations in 2020 “that this contagion would most likely not disappear quickly and that sometimes we may have to take a step backwards after taking two forward (steps), to protect our gains achieved in combating the virus.”

“I believe the new variant has forced us to do exactly that,” he said.

The government has taken steps to ensure that while it protects the vulnerable sector from the pandemic through subsidies, the government’s fiscal health would remain stable.

Some sectors have questioned the government, saying that it is not providing enough financial aid to the affected sectors.

However, economic managers have repeatedly said that a balance between the need to provide stimulus and ensure that government finances remain sustainable is important.

Budget allocated for

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Gov’t eyes 1-day business processing by year-end

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he government targets end-to-end processing of business applications in one day before the year ends, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

During the Laging Handa public briefing Thursday, Lopez said this heeds the call of President Rodrigo Duterte during his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) to end queuing in government offices to avail of public services.

Lopez encouraged en-

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he International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday maintained its global economic growth forecast at 6 percent for 2021, calling attention to widening gaps in global recovery and warning of downside risks amid vaccine inequality.

In its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO), the IMF said the global growth forecast for this year is unchanged from April’s outlook, but the composition has changed, as it upgraded forecast for advanced economies and downgraded that for emerging market and de-

trepreneurs to process their business applications through the Central Business Portal (CBP) that streamlines processes in getting permits and licenses.

The CBP, launched early this year, contains applications for Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and at least 18 cities and municipalities.

The online platform is still in its initial phase.

Lopez said the CBP has shortened the process to three to five days. It was reduced from 33 days.

“Before the end of the year, we are targeting oneday processing,” the DTI chief said.

Lopez said that with the ease of doing business,

he expects more Filipinos would engage in livelihood activities.

During the Kapihan sa ARTA (Anti-Red Tape Authority) Thursday, Lopez said automating government services is an effective way to eliminate queues in government offices.

“We’ve all seen how the pandemic has wreaked havoc to our lives, to the economy, and to our health systems. That’s why we need to contribute to reviving the

veloping economies.

The intensifying divergences largely stem from unequal vaccine access and varying capacities to provide policy support, according to IMF economists who have called for first and foremost, multilateral action to ensure rapid and worldwide access to vaccines.

Two-track pandemic The latest IMF projection showed that growth prospects for advanced economies this year have improved by 0.5 percentage point to reach 5.6 percent, while those for emerging market

and developing economies are downgraded by 0.4 percentage point to 6.3 percent.

These revisions reflect to an important extent of differences in pandemic developments as the Delta variant takes over, according to the WEO. Close to 40 percent of the population in advanced economies have been fully vaccinated, compared with 11 percent in emerging market economies, and a tiny fraction in low-income developing countries, IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath told a virtual press briefing Tuesday.

“Faster-than-expected vaccination rates and return to normalcy have led to upgrades, while lack of access to vaccines and renewed waves of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases in some countries, notably India, have led to downgrades,” she said.

Gopinath said divergences in policy support are a second source of the deepening divide as advanced economies continued to roll out sizable fiscal support with USD4.6 trillion of announced pandemic-related measures available in 2021 and beyond.

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DAVAO 6 EDGE VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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In prospects of an increase in the number of second dosers with AstraZeneca vaccine during the first week of August:

Fortunately, though, this coming first week of August we will be rolling out second dose of AstraZeneca, hence we will expect the rise in the number of second jabs with this brand.”

Dr. Michelle Schlosser

Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson

EDITORIAL Fire them, if…

President Rodrigo Duterte is reportedly expecting the Department of Justice to see to it that personnel of the Bureau of Immigration involved in the “pastillas” bribery scandal are dismissed from the service.

This, after the President said in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday that he had fired 43 BI personnel due to corruption accusation hurled against them. Unfortunately, it was later found out that the controversial personnel have been allowed to go back to work, pending the results of the investigation.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque later admit-

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Guevarra added that the criminal charges against the BI personnel are still pending before the Office of the Ombudsman, while separate administrative cases are still under review by the DOJ. Whatever, the DOJ should not tarry in resolving this case.

Still we expect that in the end, this faux pas will be resolved in favor of the Filipino people.

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

ted that the President might not have been informed that the involved personnel are still very much around.

No less than Justice Secretary Manardo Jimenez confirmed that the 43 employees are already back at work after a six-month suspension without pay.

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)

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

CONTROL YOUR TONGUE While checking my Facebook account recently, I came across a very interesting story posted on the wall of my friends. Below is the story: Once upon a time, an old man spread rumors that his neighbor was a thief. As a result, the young man was arrested. Days later, the young man was proven innocent. After he was released, he sued the old man for wrongly accusing him.

In court, the old man told the judge: “They were just comments, didn’t harm anyone…”

The judge, before passing the judgment, told the old man: “Write all the things you said about him on a piece of paper.

Cut them up. On the way home, throw the pieces of paper out.

Tomorrow, come here to hear the sentence.”

The following day, the judge told the old man: “Before receiving the sentence, you will have to go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you threw out yesterday.”

The old man said: “I can’t do that! The wind spread them and I didn’t know where to find them.”

The judge then replied: “The same way. Simple comments may destroy the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it. If you

can’t speak well of someone, rather don’t say anything. Let’s all be masters of our mouth, so that we won’t be slaves of our words.”

The lesson of the story: Gossips are worse than thieves, because they still steal another person’s dignity, honor, reputation and credibility which are impossible to restore. So remember this: when your feet slip, you can always recover your balance; but when your tongue slips, you cannot recover your words.

Gossip is one of the favorite pastimes of Filipinos. Someone commented: “In the olden times, gossip were resorted to normalize and re-inforce moral boundaries in a speech-community; foster and build a sense of community with shared interests and information; entertain and divert participants in gossip-sessions; retail and develop stories and even legends; build structures and social accountability; and reflect unvarnished and spontaneous public opinion.”

In modern times, however, “gossip” has taken a new level. It simply means “spreading of rumor and misinformation, often through excited conversation over scandals.” Mostly, people don’t admit they are in-

volved in gossip. Someone may say, “I don’t mean to talk about her, but…” and what comes next is a litany of untruth facts. The more interesting the gossip, the more likely it is to be untrue.

Sometimes, gossip takes the form of a false sympathy. “I really took pity on my neighbor who is being beaten by her husband once he goes home drunk.”

Others start the conversation with a question: “Is it true that the 17-year-old daughter of our school principal is pregnant?”

Gossips have been catalogued in three different types: vest-button type (always popping off), vacuum-cleaner type (always picking up dirt), and liniment type (always rubbing it in). Which of these are very familiar to you?

“Gossip is one of the socalled ‘little’ sins that even Christians are often unable or unwilling to avoid,” said William McElroy. “It is, to be sure, a common sin, but can it truly be called ‘little’? Gossip can destroy reputations, disrupt families, divide neighbors, and cause widespread heartbreak, and all to no purpose except the satisfaction that some find in passing on idle or malicious tales.”

The person who brings those malicious talks is not the

only one who does the gossiping. Even the person who listens commits the same mistake.

“There cannot be a noise unless there is an ear to hear it,” explained Dr. Charles L. Allen, author of God’s Psychiatry. “A noise is caused by the vibrations of the ear drums. And neither can there be a bit of gossip without an ear to hear. The law holds the receiver of the stolen goods as guilty as the thief.”

Oftentimes, people who gossip about other people don’t mean to hurt those people.

They think of tale-bearing as a bit of harmless pastime. But by talking of what those people have done, the gossiper is already judging them. And what Matthew 7: 1-2 said: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The person who talks about one who sins is worse than the one who actually commits the sin. That idea came from the mind of Dr. Allen. To prove this, he cited the situation that happened to Noah and his three sons in Genesis 9:20-27.

Noah was chosen by God to save man from total destruction. While it is a disgrace to be drunk in public, it is a double

shame for someone who wears the royal purple of the prophet.

Noah lay in his tent drunk and disgracefully naked.

The Bible states: “Ham saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father’s nakedness.”

Many generations later, when the author of Hebrews writes of the great men of faith, he tells of Noah’s mighty work and does not remember his fall against him (Hebrew 11:7). Undoubtedly, God forgot it also.

But what happened to the three sons? “Shem and Japheth were blessed by God and they prospered,” Dr. Allen pointed out. “But Ham, the son who told of his father’s nakedness, was cursed and was condemned to the life of a servant.

“Maybe, after all, he who actually commits the sin comes out better than he who tells about it,” Dr. Allen concluded.

Stop spreading the bad news. Proverbs 26:20 reminds, “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

NEVIN H. DUCKWORTH, TAGUM PLANTER Least mentioned among Americans planter in Davao, Nevin H. Duckworth was regarded as a giant in the Philippine business landscape, maintaining low profile and was successful in his numerous ventures. His entrepreneurial engagements ranged from hemp estate management to owning the most lucrative mining company in the country.

Duckworth, a former president of the Davao Chamber of Commerce, was a director of Mindanao Agency Company, a firm engaged in buying, selling, and managing agents. The business, registered on December 9, 1922, had a capital stock of P5,000, a paid-up capital of P1,000, and its incorporators were N. H. Duckworth; wife Rosalind Winchester Duckworth, Ladislao L. Dimaliuat, Charlotte Winchester, and Fitch A. Winchester, as treasurer.

He was also a director of Mindanao Development Company, an agricultural enterprise. It was subscribed for P20,000, had a paid-up capital

of P5,000 and a capital stock of P100,000. His co-directors in the firm were his wife Rosalind, Charlotte H. Stevens, Charlotte Winchester, and Fitch A. Winchester, as treasurer. He owned a rubber plantation in Davao Occidental.

In late 1920s, as general manager of the Davao office of the International Harvester Company (IHC), Duckworth found himself managing the 928-hectare O’Dell Plantation Company at Madaum, Tagum City, and the 1,022-hectare Utley Plantation Company (named after IHC’s Manila head), which was adjacent to the 292-hectare Barrett Plantation. Both lands were developed simultaneously. Utley also owned the Madaum Sawmill.

Turning the two estates into lucrative investments was half the challenge Duckworth had to endure, the other was to ensure the IHC’s business interests. Walter Robb, in an article (‘O’Dell Plantation’) in the November 1931 issue of The American Chamber of Com-

merce, described in detail the immense challenge faced by Duckworth in developing the estates: Among the first tasks was the draining and filling of a site for headquarters and the building of a road from the landing inshore to this place. Then the building of plantation railways and roads. The tractor came into use from the beginning; half-under, the tracklayers plowed through the muck, dragging cargo sleds behind them.

Dredgers, too, drive ditches to the sea. Buildings could soon be erected on drained grounds.

Pictures of the tractors and dredges working in the swamps are unbelievable—there they are, transforming the dense and fetid jungle into tilled fields and open, ventilated spaces. A pier was built, of course and a motorboat put on the gulf that makes the trip between Davao and Madaum at the speed of a fast train. Wireless and water communications were establishment.

Fourteen months after the

abaca hills were planted, O’Dell Plantation, managed by Duckworth and his deputy Joseph Schwartz, started producing hemp fiber using the Corona decorticated stripping machines. Moro labor and the use of railways were important aspects in the agricultural estate’s development.

To his credit, Duckworth also developed the machine for splitting stalks while serving as IHC manager. He applied for a U.S. Patent Office registration on January 31, 1031. The tool carried Serial No. 509,668 and was patented on February 27, 1934 as the 1,948,905th invention.

After investing in plantation projects, Duckworth turned to mining. He organized the Mineral Exploration and Development with him as president, with the other controlling interest in the venture belonged to the Elizaldes. 1933 records show the mining company had an authorized capital of P250,000 and 2.5 million in number of shares permitted to

be sold.

During the 1939 annual meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Manila, Duckworth, was elected by the membership as a director.

The other directors were E. M. Grimm, J. L. Headington, and J. C. Rockwell. He eventually owned Benguet Mining Company, a firm organized in 1903 and was engaged in gold, nickel, and non-metallic mineral production.

Duckworth’s hardly known contribution to Davao’s progress is the prewar introduction of the railway system in his plantation. At O’Dell Plantation, railways ran through the abaca grounds “with portable branch lines at distances of 200 meters,” indicating a useful and fast-track transport system.

Years later, a three-kilometer railway system was introduced

by Gen. Paulino Santos, then national prisons director, at Davao Penal Colony to facilitate the transport of labor and produce from the farmsteads cultivated by inmates.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

AEON TOWERS’ RTO HOMES

best option for homebuyers

R

emember that day in your childhood when parents or teachers ask the big question—What’s your dream life?

You probably answered the most commonplace lines -- a great career, financial stability and of course

a home where you could spend quality moments with your family.

Owning your dream

Insular Life names new Chief Operating Officer

I

nsular Life (InLife), the country’s largest Filipino life insurer, has appointed Efren C. Caringal, Jr. as Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the rank of Sr. Executive Vice President.

As an insurance professional, Efren has handled executive roles in the Middle East, Germany, Ireland and Singapore before coming back to Manila when he was appointed Chief Finance Officer & Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer at a multinational life insurer.

He was a former Regional Risk head of a multinational life insurer in Singapore.

Before that, he was Chief Risk Officer in Dublin and Munich, and head of both life products and risk management at a life insurer in Manama in the Gulf region.

“Efren has built a strong life insurance experience gained from both domestic and international life insurance companies.

He will work closely with the Board of Trustees and top

management in formulating and implementing business strategies,” said Insular Life President & CEO Raoul E. Littaua.

As COO and one of the Group heads, Efren will have oversight on strategy and financial management, insurance operations, actuarial, investment management, real property, information technology including digital transformation, and information security and data privacy.

FINSULAR, P10

home could take so much of one’s time to hustle especially when you don’t have that capital for investment.

But wouldn’t it be great if there’s a deal that can let you have your dream home now and pay it in the com-

ing years?

That’s why property developer Aeon Luxe Properties Inc. decided to launch a Rent-to-Own Program as an option for aspiring condo owners who look forward to experience upscale

living in a community like Aeon Towers.

What’s great about this promo is that one can acquire of the ready for occupancy units at no reservation fee and pay rental terms up to 15 years. On top of that, clients can also avail the 13% discount on the total list price. It gets even more exciting where you can enjoy breathtaking views in your condo unit with privileges to an exclusive access to Club Aeon amenities at the sixth floor of the building—fitness gym, kid’s playroom, bar & lounge, led-lit swimming pool, jogging path, meeting room and events hall.

Aeon Towers is situated at the heart of Metro Davao

where you can get easy access to mostly everything making it an iconic landmark everyone is eyeing for. It’s condo unit sizes are above standard, it is Smarthome ready and has high-quality materials imported overseas like blum technology. Plus, the safety of every families are ensured in the entire building with the assistance of the security personnel at post 24/7.

What more could you ask for from this great deal?

Know more about this promo by simply getting in touch with Aeon Towers Business Unit Heads or visit www.facebook.com/ AeonLuxeOfficial for more details.

FILREIT’s BPO locators expect steady demand for office space

S

ome multinational information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) companies headquartered in the Grade A office buildings of Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILREIT) expect steady demand for highquality office space despite the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Showing resilience amidst the lingering impact of COVID-19, the Philippines’ office demand grew by 22.5% to 109,000 square meters in the first quarter of 2021 versus the fourth quarter of 2020, according to Leechiu Property Consultants’ first-quarter 2021 Market Update. The report found the IT-BPM sector as the single largest driver of office demand, especially as Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO) activity has flatlined and investor sentiment is expected to pick up with the vaccine rollout. “There are 266,000 sqm of office leasing requirements that want to be transacted in 2021,” the Leechiu

report stated.

With the growth of the industry, I don’t expect the need (for office space) waning. While some companies will offer a percentage of work-from-home arrangements, others may offer a hybrid model. I expect the need for business continuity planning to keep the space,” said Erick Carcamo, vice president of Majorel’s Southeast Asia Operations.

Majorel, an international service company specializing in customer experience and BPO services for global brands, which currently leases in two Grade A buildings in Northgate Cyberzone in Filinvest City, Alabang, to support more than 2,000 of its employees in the country.

Benefiting from the pandemic-resilient IT-BPM sector, Northgate Cyberzone is home to the first campus-style IT park in the Philippines and one of the first Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) accredited IT parks in the country. The 18.7-hectare property has been attracting high-quali-

ty tenants, in addition to its Grade A (highest quality) office buildings, range of support facilities, rental rates that are competitive with other central business districts (CBDs), and the solid reputation of its developer, Filinvest Land Inc., as a trusted developer with over 50 years of experience.

SLK Global Philippines, a global provider of digital platforms and business process solutions across industries, has been operating in Northgate Cyberzone for five years now. Japjit Sobti, company president, said “world-class infrastructure, proximity to local transport, redundant talent pool, low to no flooding, competitive rentals, and the safety of our employees are the key factors” that made the BPO choose the location after a long due diligence. “Operating in a Grade A building checks all the boxes for SLK Phils., as we are able to provide 24/7 operations efficiently, build comfortable workspaces for employees, and create value for our cus-

tomers.”

Majorel’s Mr. Carcamo also emphasized the importance of providing high-quality office space for employee wellness. “Grade A buildings possess high quality infrastructure, basement parking, great access, and are professionally managed. All these things provide a great experience for our employee base, which at the end of the day is our main priority,” he said.

In addition, “Northgate remains an ideal location due to its nearby transportation hubs, allowing us to pull from various locations such as Sucat and towns in Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and parts of Cavite which would otherwise take employees over two hours to get to Makati to work. The huge labor pool of fresh graduates from many universities and colleges makes it rich in recruitment capabilities.”

The same accessibility in location influenced the decision of Dearborn Motors Company, Inc., which handles Ford dealerships local-

FFILREIT’s, P10

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Photos of golden rice: IRRI

GOLDEN RICE NOW READY

FOR COMMERCIAL PLANTING Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

E

xpect Filipino farmers planting golden rice in their farms as the genetically modified crop has already been approved for commercial production – more than two decades after it was created.

“Filipino farmers will become the first in the world to be able to cultivate a variety of rice enriched with nutrients to help reduce childhood malnutrition,” announced the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

The announcement came after a biosafety permit was issued by government regulators, thus paving the way for the rice to be grown by farmers across the country. The permit stipulates that golden rice has “undergone satisfactory biosafety assessment pursuant to Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and Department of Interior and Local Government Joint Department Circular No. 1, Series of 2016.”

Of the issuance of the permit, IRRI Director General Dr. Jean Balie said, “This milestone puts the Philippines at the global forefront in leveraging agriculture research to address the issues of malnutrition and related health impacts in a safe and sustainable way.”

Golden rice was first conceived by Professors Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer in the late 1980s. IRRI, which became the first licensee of the scientists’ work in 2001, spent two decades working with the Philippine Rice Re-

search Institute (PhilRice) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“The regulatory success of golden rice demonstrates the research leadership of DA-PhilRice and the robustness of the Philippine biosafety regulatory system,” Dr. Balie added.

Golden rice is a type of rice that contains beta carotene (pro-vitamin A, a plant pigment that the body converts into vitamin A as needed). This compound is what gives this grain its yellow-orange or golden color, hence its name.

Golden rice is a production of biotechnology, particularly genetic engineering.

“While ordinary rice does produce beta-carotene, it is not found in the grain,” IRRI explained. “Thus, scientists used genetic engineering to add the compound to the grain – a minor tweak that improved the grain’s nutritive value.”

The beta-carotene in golden rice, which was made possible by the addition of two new enzymes, is identical to the beta-carotene found in green leafy (malunggay, for instance) and yellow-colored vegetables (carrot and squash), orange-colored fruits (mango and papaya), and even in many vitamin supplements and food ingredients.

While golden rice is an enhanced version of ordi-

nary rice, it comes without any additional cost or difference in taste.

“While golden rice is expected to cost and taste the same as regular rice, its beta-carotene content makes it a valuable asset in the battle against vitamin A deficiency (VAD),” IRRI said. Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for growth, development, and keeping the body’s visual and immune systems healthy.

VAD is one of the most important issues in terms of global public health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). VAD weakens the body’s resistance to diseases and infections, causes blindness, and may even result in death if left untreated.

One million of the 1.5 million blind children in the world live in Asia, according to a WHO study. “Each year, there are half a million new cases, 70 percent of which are due to vitamin A deficiency,” the authors wrote in 2001. At that time, the authors estimated that a child went blind somewhere in the world every minute.

Worst of all, the study points out, the majority die within 12 months of losing their sight.

In the Philippines, VAD incidence continues to be a significant health issue affecting almost 17%, or 2 million children under the age of 5. This figure is based on the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey of Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

IRRI is very much aware that there are other ap-

proaches – such as vitamin A supplementation, food fortification, diet diversification, and promotion of optimal breastfeeding – which have made successes in combating VAD. “However, more work is necessary to address the needs of certain target populations, especially those in remote areas,” IRRI stated.

“Additionally, millions continue to suffer from VAD to this day.”

In Asia, where rice is a staple food, golden rice is one of the best ways to cut the prevalence of VAD. A simulated analysis study suggests that beta-carotene rich rice could improve vitamin A intake and could reduce the prevalence of VAD among women and children.

“It is clear that multiple approaches are required in fighting VAD. An additional tool in the toolbox such as golden rice – one that can be seamlessly integrated into the everyday lifestyles of even the poorest sectors of society – can be a concrete, sustainable solution to ensure proper nutrition,” IRRI said.

Just like other genetically engineered foods developed under strict regulation by experts, golden rice is safe to eat.

“Before any genetically modified foods become available in the market, they must pass rigorous safety assessments and must not demonstrate a high likelihood of putting human health at risk,” the IRRI explained.

In the case of golden rice, it had to go through a series of rigorous testing and regulatory procedures. To ensure

that golden rice is safe for the environment and health, the planting materials used were subjected to confined field-testing in fenced and isolated areas for at least 2 cropping seasons in 3 different locations in the country.

“During the tests, any discrepancy or variation from the original variety in terms of appearance, and any unusual disease, pest, or weed incidence at the sites were carefully assessed,” said Dr. Reynante Ordonio, the PhilRice senior science research specialist.

The Biosafety Committee of the DOST that provides overall supervision along with scientist representatives and members of the local community who jointly form the Institutional Biosafety Committee of each site, see to it that biosafety guidelines are strictly followed.

Among these guidelines is preventing the intentional or unintentional release of viable seeds or plants from the site, and the proper disposal or transport of transgenic materials.

Once the 5 best-performing lines of the planting materials are identified, these are to be forwarded to a season of field trials under the supervision of the DA-BPI as stated in the Joint Department Circular No. 1 Series of 2016 pertaining to the handling and use, transboundary movement, release, and management of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Aside from the two government agencies, other departments involved are the DENR, DOH, and DILG. This collaborative assessment further ensures the safety of

golden rice.

Golden rice has the support of the vast majority of respected scientists with and without expertise in agricultural biotechnology. So far, 157 Nobel laureate scientists backed golden rice for human consumption.

Global health authorities and government agencies around the world have also overwhelmingly endorsed the safety of GMOs. “In countries where GM foods have been approved, there have been no scientifically proven negative effects on human health due to consumption of GM foods,” IRRI said.

For Filipino farmers, the good news is: golden rice does not require any special cultivation practices. Like ordinary rice, golden rice “has the same yield and agronomic performance,” IRRI assured.

Russell Reinke, IRRI outcome theme leader of improving health through safe and nutritionally enhanced rice, said that “limited quantities” of golden rice seeds could be distributed to Filipino farmers in selected provinces next year.

For its part, PhilRice has started working with local partners to identify market- and program-based approaches for bringing golden rice first to selected communities with a high prevalence of VAD and other associated micronutrient deficiencies.

“We are committed to ensuring the highest quality of seed for farmers and a safe and nutritious food supply for all Filipinos,” said Dr. John de Leon, PhilRice executive director.

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nation status.

The total number of Delta variant cases is now 216.

Meanwhile, of the additional 83 Alpha variant cases detected, 68 are local cases and 15 are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases. Based on the case line list, one has died and 82 cases have been tagged as recovered. This brings the total Alpha variant cases to 1,856.

DOH also reported that of the additional 127 Beta variant cases, 106 were local cases and 21 cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF. Based on the case line list, one remains active, three have died, 121 cases have been tagged as recovered, and two cases whose outcomes are being verified.

The total Beta variant cases are now at 2,146.

It can be recalled that DOH – Davao Center for Health Development confirmed on July 25, 2021 through a press release posted on its Facebook page the detection of Variants of Concerns (VOC) in Davao Region from a total of 593 samples sent by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) to the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center from June 3, 2021 to July 1, 2021.

With these 593 samples, there were identified 79 with VOC. The identified two Delta Variant cases were from Davao City and Tagum City. Both were tagged as recovered already but still need to isolate due to pending repeat reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests

“Every loose firearm surrendered paved the way to save innocent lives and

to secure a better future for the next generations”, Uy added.

“They only get the full grants if they complete these conditions,” Macuto said in a press conference.

Last year, the national government increased the monthly grants of the 4Ps beneficiaries, with the full implementation of Republic Act 11310, which strengthened and institutionalized the program.

Children in the elementary level are entitled to grants of PHP300 a month, PHP500 for those in high school, and PHP700 for the college level.

The household beneficiaries also receive PHP750 for the health incentive and PHP600 monthly rice subsidy.

Macuto said they provide support interventions to the beneficiaries to improve their livelihood status and enable them to eventually become self-sufficient.

He said they enroll the qualified households in the Sustainable Livelihood Pro-

gram (SLP) to provide them with viable livelihood opportunities.

“4Ps beneficiaries cannot stay in the program forever.

The law only allows them to be in the program for seven years so we’re providing them all the necessary interventions to transform them into productive citizens during the period,” he said.

SLP is a community-based capacity-building program that provides startup seed capital for the livelihood projects of qualified poor families.

The 4Ps and SLP, which are among the agency’s flagship initiatives, focus on helping alleviate the standard of living of poor individuals in the country.

The DSWD central office had approved a budget of PHP122.2 million this year for the livelihood support and other related needs of qualified families in the region under the SLP. (PNA)

“All swab samples of the eight cases were sent to the PGC last July 7 and their results were released last July 25,” he said.

Lockdowns unnecessary Meanwhile, Moreno said extreme lockdowns while the city is under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) would only result in fatigue and burnout among police and medical personnel.

The Inter-Agency Task Force first placed the city under ECQ on July 16. The status has been extended until August 7.

“The police are already working 24/7 patrolling the city’s streets to ensure strict compliance to health

protocols and with their limited numbers, some people would think the police can cover (every corner of the city’s 80 barangays). What’s important is for all of us to help each other instead of just saying lockdown, lockdown,” Moreno said.

He said even when the city was under modified general community quarantine, he issued 36 executive orders imposing localized containments in certain areas of the city, starting with Sitio Pinikitan, Barangay Camaman-an in April last year after a Covid-19 patient’s death.

“But we found it’s better to simply isolate the patient and his/her personal contacts,” he added. (PNA)

lies ahead. It creates spillovers that put the smaller economies at a disadvantage.

This means that new risks may arise as we recover from older risks. We must address this before it becomes systemic,” he said.

Diokno said clear signs of

stability remain “but market conditions remain very fluid.”

“Vigilance is required as we protect our gains while mindful of any further vulnerabilities. Systemic risk management has always been a whole-of-market agenda,” he added. (PNA)

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you think you know dinha na point mali na siya. Because you need to allow other people to research on, to read on and inform themselves kung unsa ni nga bakuna and to make them decide on their own kung magpabakuna ba sila or dili. So we respect kung unsa ang inyuhang pagtoo pero it is wrong to impose them on other people. So let’s allow each individual to read on, to study, to do their own research about sa bakuna and to decide on their own,” the mayor said during an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on June 21, 2021.

It can be recalled that the city government of Davao will try to tap on the star power of prominent

personalities to fire up the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Davao City like former defense secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. getting vaccinated for his two doses in Davao City and then meeting with Mayor Sara circulated online.

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

“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.

ing) in Davao: Investment and Opportunities for the Swedish Business Community”, was participated by Ambassador Harald Fries of Sweden and Philippine Ambassador to Sweden Ambassador Maria Lumen Banzon Isleta.

The event was organized in line with the international investment promotion campaign of DTI “Make It Happen in the Philippines” focusing on promoting Davao City as an investment hub for Manufacturing, Technology, Agribusiness, and Tourism.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio welcomed the Swedish business community and hopeful that the said investors will find Davao City as a very favor-

able business environment with highly skilled workforce, affordable overhead rates, abundant supply of raw materials, and vast land areas for development.

Christian Cambaya, head of the Investor Assistance and Servicing Unit of the DCIPC, discussed the 10 Priority Investment Areas of Davao City and the local fiscal and non-fiscal incentives available for qualified investors.

DCIPC, ECCP, and SGV & Co. are ready to assist the Swedish business community whether they want to expand their businesses, explore the wide array of investment opportunities, or avail of the incentives waiting for them here in Davao City. By Maya M. Padillo

and take advantage of the government’s programs and services. This is for your own welfare as well as the future of your family. Return to the folds of the law and begin living in peace within your communities,” Canatoy added.

Canatoy assured that the surrenderers will be provided with all the benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) for a better future with their families.

SLK Global Philippines, a global provider of digital platforms and business process solutions across industries, has been operating in Northgate Cyberzone for five years now. Japjit Sobti, company president, said “world-class infrastructure, proximity to local transport, redundant talent pool, low

to no flooding, competitive rentals, and the safety of our employees are the key factors” that made the BPO choose the location after a long due diligence. “Operating in a Grade A building checks all the boxes for SLK Phils., as we are able to provide 24/7 operations efficiently, build comfortable workspaces for employees, and create value for our customers.”

Majorel’s Mr. Carcamo also emphasized the importance of providing high-quality office space for employee wellness. “Grade A buildings possess high quality infrastructure, basement parking, great access, and are professionally managed. All these things provide a great experience for our employee base, which at the end of the day is our main priority,” he said.

tions with reliable health experts.

“We really take a balance, a holistic approach,” he added.

Lopez underscored that the IATF enforces restrictions amid the threats of the more infectious Covid-19 Delta variant.

But the restrictions are focused on ‘super spreader’

activities like mass gatherings, while lockdowns will remain a granular lockdown approach, the DTI chief said.

He also called on businesses to create their own health and safety committee that will ensure minimum public health protocols are being monitored and maintained in their respective establishments.

try, and the public at large to gather and share knowledge about cyber threats. This will allow for swift creation

of measures that would prevent these threats from harming Filipinos,” it added.

(PNA)

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EXTRA... FROM 11 “We’re taking a lot of extra precautions now,” Capistrano said. “We’re bringing our own alcohol to Edogawa Stadium, where EJ practices, and we are the ones who wipe down whatever surfaces he will be in contact with. We can never be too careful anymore.”

Capistrano has also commissioned a van to bring the team to practice, saying he won’t allow Obiena to

ride the athletes’ bus or any of those Olympic-accredited taxis anymore.

The team, which includes sprinter Kristina Knott, had earlier decided to stay at Conrad Hotel instead of transferring to the Athletes’ Village, which may have saved the athletes from potential contamination.

“We’re lucky we decided to stay here,” Capistrano said.

struggled in the opening stage, just finishing even-71, good for a tie for 41st place.

Second seed Collin Morikawa had a slightly better performance than his

fellow American, finishing two under-par 69 following two straight birdies in Holes 5 and 6 and another in Hole 15 that canceled out his bogey at Hole 12. (PNA)

Efren is a BS Mathematics graduate of the University of the Philippines. He also completed an Actuarial Science Postgraduate Diploma with merit from the University of Leicester in

the United Kingdom. He is a fellow of Life Management Institute (LOMA) and Life and Health Claims (ICA), as well as an Associate member of the Actuarial Society of the Philippines (ASP).

ly, to move to Filinvest City a few years ago. Ford Alabang is the biggest Ford dealership in the country and one of the biggest across the ASEAN region.

“The growth in the area was really fast. We did see potential, especially (as) the Skyway is actually in front of the dealership. One of the largest communities of vehicle owners is just right behind us, which is Ayala-Alabang. Because of the location we were in and the easy access, we were able to keep business going (during the pandemic),” said Jonnel Borromeo, chief corporate planning officer at the dealership.

In addition to offering a strategic location, FILREIT also boasts of having a sustainability-themed portfolio. Northgate Cyberzone is located in Filinvest City, the country’s first CBD and the largest in Southeast Asia to receive a LEED® v4 Gold for Neighborhood Development Plan certification.

Its buildings are cooled by the country’s largest district

cooling system that reduces carbon emissions and energy consumption, the result of Filinvest’s partnership with Engie, a world leader in developing sustainable technology solutions.

Sixteen office buildings in Northgate Cyberzone form part of the 17-building portfolio of FILREIT (formerly Cyberzone Properties, Inc.) FLI’s real estate investment trust (REIT) arm. FILREIT plans to raise up to ₱12.58 billion from an initial public offering of 1,634,187,850 common shares at an offer price of ₱7.00 per share. The offer period is from July 23 to August 3, 2021, 12 noon, Manila time, with a target listing on August 12, 2021. Apart from the 16 office buildings in Northgate Cyberzone, FILREIT’s portfolio also includes one office tower with a retail component in Cebu Cyberzone, also a PEZA-registered economic zone located in the gateway to Cebu IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City. These properties have a total gross leasable area (GLA) of 301,362 square meters.

we want to have them and their loved ones enjoy free flights from us,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president.

She said the free tickets may be used for any domestic and short haul destination in the Cebu Pacific network.

Athletes can also gives the tickets to family and friends, the airline said.

Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines earlier awarded free flights “for life” to Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medal winner.

Philippine economy to generate jobs and reduce poverty. We believe that through more efficient services, especially through automa-

tion, government agencies and local government units can help in reviving economic activity,” he added.

(PNA)

pandemic-related expenses, included in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, amounts to around PHP450 billion.

These funds are the source for the PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 cash aid distributed to around 80 percent of the population affected by the en-

hanced community quarantine (ECQ) both in 2020 and this year, as well as the hiring of additional medical workers and equipment.

Economic managers have also continued the reopening of the economy to revive economic activities and ensure recovery despite the calls of some sectors against it.

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All-Star guard Russell Westbrook (guarding Lebron James) has been acquired by the Lakers reportedly from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell.

Lakers acquire Westbrook in blockbuster trade: Report

Extra caution for PH bets as top US athlete out due to Covid-19

T

OKYO— The team leader of the athletics delegation in the Tokyo Olympics here is adding a lot of extra precautions for pole vaulter EJ Obiena on Thursday after two of his rivals, including world No. 2 Sam Kendricks of the United States, tested positive for COVID-19.

Terry Capistrano, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association

(Patafa) secretary-general, who heads the two-athlete delegation, is not leaving anything to chance when it comes to the safety of the athletes, particularly Obiena since it was his rivals who were struck off at the start list because of the positive tests.

Also out of contention is German Chiaraviglio of Argentina.

FEXTRA, P10

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he Lakers are trying to close a deal to acquire All-Star guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell, according to two people with knowledge of the situation who are not authorized to speak on the matter.

The Lakers would also send their 2021 first-round draft pick, No. 22 overall, to the Wizards. There have been discussions about Washington sending Los Angeles a future sec-

ond-round pick.

Having Harrell exercise his contract option worth $9.7 million for next season helped the Lakers move along the deal for Westbrook.

Some details have to

be worked out for the deal to be completed, which can’t become official until Aug. 6 when the salary cap is established, but Westbrook being acquired by the Lakers to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis is close to happening.

Westbrook, a local standout from Lawndale Leuzinger High and UCLA, has yearned to return home and help the Lakers win another championship, according to the people with knowledge of the situation.

J The Philippines’Juvic Pagunsan shot a five under par 66 to tie for 5th after the first round.

uvic Pagunsan had a solid start to his campaign in the Tokyo Olympics men’s golf event, finishing just outside of the Top 3 after the first round of competition on Thursday.

Pagunsan, the reigning Mizuno Cup champion, finished five-under-par 66, tying Joachim Hansen of Denmark and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela for fifth place.

The three golfers are three strokes off leader Sepp Straka of Austria, who finished with an eightunder-par 63.

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand is second with

He averaged a triple-double last season of 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists.

The deal for Westbrook would mean that he would be the starting point guard and Dennis Schroder would no longer be needed. Schroder turned down a four-year, $84-million deal from the Lakers last season to become a free agent.

Westbrook has two years left on his contract, $44.2 million for next season and $47 million for the 2022-23 season.

seven-under-par 64, while Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico are tied for third with sixunder-par 65 with three rounds to play.

It was a near-flawless performance for Pagunsan in Round 1, beginning his stint with a birdie in the Par 4 Hole 1.

He also birdied Holes 6, 8, 11, 13, and 16.

Only a bogey in the Par 4 Hole 4 kept Pagunsan from moving closer to the top spot.

American golfer Justin Thomas, the top-seeded player for the event,

FSOLID, P10

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

HIGH PICK H

OUSTON — The Hous- ond overall pick in Thursday ton Rockets selected Ja- night’s (Friday, Manila time) len Green with the sec- NBA Rookie Draft.

VOL.14 ISSUE 118 • SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver congratulates Jalen Green.

Fil-Am Green drafted No. 2 overall by Rockets Green joins a team that is rebuilding after sinking to an NBA-worst 17-55 last season after James Harden forced a trade to Brooklyn to end a streak of eight consecutive playoff trips.

Green is Houston’s first first-round pick since the Rockets selected Sam Dekker with the 18th pick in 2015 and their highest pick since they took Yao Ming first overall in 2002.

The shooting guard comes to the Rockets after going straight from high school in California to the NBA G-League with the Ignite. The 6-foot6, 186-pound Green averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game for the Ignite last season.

The 19-year-old was a McDonald’s All-American in 2020 after averaging 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and five assists a game as a high school senior at Prolific Prep.

Harden’s trade came after Houston shipped Russell Westbrook to Washington in December for John Wall and future draft picks.

The Rockets dealt one of their last remaining veterans in March when they traded P.J. Tucker to Milwaukee in a swap that netted Houston the No. 24 pick in this year’s draft. Houston had back-to-back picks late in the first round as they also have the 23rd pick, which the team got from Portland in a trade for Robert Covington in 2020.

It’s the first draft for general manager Rafael Stone, who was promoted from within the organization after Daryl Morey stepped down to take a job with the Philadelphia 76ers in October.