Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 121 | Wednesday, August 04, 2021

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GOLD

Nesthy Petecio throws a left jab at Japan’s Sena Irie.

Davao’s Petecio loses to Japan’s Irie in final, settles for silver

STORY ON PAGE 2

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VOL.14 ISSUE 121 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 04, 2021

SHINES LIKE GOLD

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on Monday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Davao’s Petecio loses to Japan’s Irie in final, settles for silver

BY NEIL BRAVO

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added to the Olympic program for the first time.

Petecio’s silver was the first for Philippine boxing in the Olympics since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco clinched the same color of a medal at the Atlanta 1996 edition.

It was also the second for the country in these Olympics after Hidilyn Di-

az’s gold in women’s -55 kgs of weightlifting last July 24.

“This means a lot to me,” Petecio told a well-attended press conference, the first for the Tokyo Olympics boxing competitions. “I dedicate this fight to my country, my family, and my best friend, who died last February.”

“But most especially, I dedicate this silver medal to my coach, Coach Boy [Nolito Velasco] for his tireless effort to bring me to where I am now,” she said.

Petecio was in tears while praising her tormen-

tor and couldn’t hold her tears back during the medal ceremony.

In the same press conference, Petecio said she won’t give up on her Olympic dream.

“Tuloy pa rin ho,” she said. “Kagaya ni champ Hidy [Diaz], nag-silver siya sa Rio and nag-gold siya dito at 30, kaya tuloy ang laban.”

The fight was marked with a lot of clinching, and that was a discomfort for Petecio.

“Ayaw ko ng ganung laro, hawak ng hawak,” she said.

forcement Agency (PDEA) 11 spokesman Noli Dimaandal identified the suspects as Roy Matulac Matabiog alias Poloy and Ranulfo Angoy Sacayan Jr. alias Ron. They are residents of Panabo City.

The two were arrested for conspiring with each other to sell a small heat sealed transparent plastic

sachet of suspected shabu weighing more or less two grams worth P11,000 to PDEA agent who acted as poseur buyer.

The suspects will be charged for violation of Section 5 and Section 11 of Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

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OKYO—Dabawenya pride Nesthy Petecio yielded to Japan’s Sena Irie via unanimous decision on Tuesday at the Kokujikan Arena to settle for a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

The native of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur out up a strong stance against Irie but fell short of giving the Philippines its second gold medal in the Games.

She tried to match Irie punch-for-punch but the Japanese were the quicker fighter, escaping with the win in the division that was

P7.6-M shabu bust in Panabo drug operation; 2 men arrested

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total of 510 grams of suspected shabu worth P7.6 million were seized from two suspected “bigtime” shabu pushers in a buy-bust operation in Purok Tambis, Barangay Cagangohan, Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Sunday afternoon (August 1).

Philippine Drug En-

Sulu cop serves as ASG logistic officer arrested

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olice operatives arrested an active non-uniformed personnel (NUP) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned at Banguingui Municipal Police Station, Sulu Provincial Police Office for allegedly serving as finance and logistics liaison officer of Dauwla Islamiya-Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as Masckur Adoh Patarasa who is also carrying the names of “Makong” and “Omair Sali Taib.”

Patarasa, according to Eleazar, is a brother-in-law of the late Isnilon Hapilon who provides for the Abu

Sayyaf Group.

Eleazar said Patarasa was arrested in an intelligence-driven police operation in Barangay Asturias, Jolo, Sulu on Friday night (July 30) during an intelligence-driven police operation launched by the joint police and military.

Patarasa has warrants of arrests issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), 9th Judicial Region, Branch 1, Isabela City, Basilan for seven separate cases of kidnaping and serious illegal detention.

Police records revealed that Patarasa was also included in the Martial Law Arrest Order No. 1 during the Marawi Siege in 2017.

on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the City of David Foundation, as part of the development of the National Park.

According to the directors of the excavation, Dr. Filip Vukosavović of the Ancient Jerusalem Research Center and Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf on behalf of the

Israel Antiquities Authority: “The city wall protected Jerusalem from a number of attacks during the reign of the kings of Judah, until the arrival of the Babylonians who managed to break through it and conquer the city. The remains of the ruins can be seen in the archaeological excavations.

Missing section of wall of Jerusalem uncovered

rchaeological excavations in the City of David National Park have uncovered the remains of the city wall, which was built during the Iron Age the days of the First Temple in the Kingdom of Judah, to protect Jerusalem from the east. The excavations are conducted at the City of David National Park

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NEWS

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103-year-old Genoveva Yuson Lanutan“Lola Bebang”receives her second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine at the Mabini Elementary School on Tuesday. CIO

NEDA 11, JICA tackle completion of requirements for projects

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he National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office 11 and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently discussed the feasibility of the Metropolitan Davao Sewerage and Septage Master Plan and the completion of the pre-Feasibility Study (FS) for the Davao City Sewage Treatment projects highlighted in the Infrastructure Modernization for Davao City (IM4Davao).

IM4-Davao focused on transport projects, water supply projects, wastewater management projects, and solid waste management project.

The completion of the said pre-FS will lead to the development of a fullblown Feasibility Study or Master Plan for sewerage

development in Davao City and the rest of the Metro Davao LGUs. “The city government of Davao is requesting FS for section 1 of the sewerage project. Metro Davao is requesting sewerage study for LGUs within Metro Davao. All these requests for assistance for fs, will be submitted for consideration,” said Ivan Chin Cortez, head of the Davao City Planning and Development Office (DCPDO) and who was present during the discussion.

Cortez said JICA will consider the request but they have to relay it first to the office of the Prime Minister. He also said there is no firm identified yet to do the study.

Meanwhile, the online meeting was attended

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Don’t ostracize Covid-19 patients: TF spokesman

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avao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser is appealing to Dabawenyos not to ostracize those individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.

This is in relation to the statement of Dr. Rachel Joy Pasion, head of Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESUs) of the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11), that those patients manifesting the signs and symptoms of Covid-19 and hesitant to go to the hospitals or seek medical help contribute to the fatality rate in Davao

Region.

Schlosser said some of those positive for Covid-19 are afraid to come out and seek medical help because people might ostracize them.

“Manawagan ta sa mga tao not to ostracize those that are positives because at this point in time there is really no reason for pointing fingers. Wala nagapasabot kung nag-positive sila, sala nila ug nagtinanga sila or irresponsible sila, ang atong kalaban dili nato makit-an, so even if no matter how much careful we are, naa gyud chance na

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Davao City LGU sets up mobile vaccination for senior citizens

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao is setting up a mobile vaccination for the senior citizens particularly those who cannot go to their respective vaccination sites for various reasons.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said that a mobile vaccination team will seek out cluster areas where there are still unvaccinated senior citizens in Davao City.

“We organize a mobile vaccination exclusive for senior citizens para pangitaon nato ang mga senior ug ngano wala ni sila nanggawas sa balay. Or duna bay rason like bedridden or nagsakit.

So sila ang pangitaon sa ba-

kuna, di na sila ang mangita sa bakuna,” the mayor said on Monday via Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).

The mobile vaccination is expected to increase the number of senior citizens to be inoculated. Based on the record of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) the city has around 200,000 to 300,000 senior citizens.

Mayor Sara said the city

is still short of vaccination for senior citizens. Currently, there are 76,472 senior citizens who had their first dose.

The mayor said that senior citizens may refuse the available vaccine but they can wait for the schedule and the availability of their preferred vaccine.

The mobile vaccination is an additional option for senior citizens apart from public vaccination in the designated City Health Office-run vaccination sites per district. Not only senior citizens were given options for vaccination. The essential workers or A4 can also choose whether to be vacci-

nated in public vaccination sites or sector organized vaccination sites.

Mayor Sara assured that as long as there are vaccines, the city is open to partnership with organized groups for their sectoral vaccination.

The city is targeting to achieve herd immunity of 1.2 million by November this year.

“Definitely, target nato na dapat nato ma-achieve tanan na we are 1.2 million first doses by November puhon. Assuming na continuous ang supply sa vaccines na mag-abot,” the mayor said.

sure that these are operated safely, without harming public and national security, and in a way would protect areas of national, historical or of natural importance thereby obliterating possible threats to the safety and security of the city,” the Drone Ordinance stated.

Henceforth, drones and all other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles must now be registered with the Mati City Public Safety Office in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in accordance with Republic Act 9497 or the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008.

Originally, drones weighing seven kilograms

(15 pounds) or more must secure a certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) before they can operate. But Mati’s Drone Ordinance specifically mandates that “all drones must be registered, regardless of weight, purpose and specifications.”

“This is to make sure that the air space of Mati is being used for good purpose and not for criminal or terrorist intent,” the ordinance stated.

Before registering drones, owners must undergo orientation to educate them on the restricted zones or “no-fly zones”, the aerodrome that is more or

less eight to ten kilometers away from the airport, and other regulations to be implemented.

Among the ordinance’s highlights are the following: 1. Requiring all drones, whether for hobbyist or commercial use, to be clearly marked with the name, contact number, and address of the owner.

2. No person shall be allowed to operate a drone at 400ft and above and over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people, including spectators, bystanders or any person not associated with the operation.

Drones now regulated in Mati City

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he City of Mati Sangguniang Panlungsod has passed City Ordinance No. 489 Series of 2021 otherwise known as the Drone Regulation of the City of Mati.

The ordinance was passed on July 13, approved

by Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat and is set to be enforced upon approval of its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

The said ordinance regulates the use or operation of drones whether for commercial or recreational purposes within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Mati.

“There is a need to en-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Medical professionals from the Red Cross Davao Chapter volunteer in the frontlines of the mall worker vaccination program of the City Government of Davao and SM in SMX Davao last weekend. SM Lanang Premier works with medical volunteers in the community to contribute to the country’s efforts in achieving herd immunity. SM Lanang Premier has vaccinated over 3,000 workers so far. SM PR

Unemployment steady in June, but underemployment rises J

Jollibee opens 2 new stores in California

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he Philippines’ unemployment rate was steady in June but the underemployment rate was higher, the state statistics bureau said on Tuesday.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said unemployment was at 7.7 percent in June, the same rate recorded in May. But the PSA also said the number of jobless Filipinos was higher in June at 3.76 million, compared to 3.73 million in May as more workers joined the labor force.

The underemployment

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said that the higher underemployment

rate in June was also due to higher labor force participation, as easing mobility restrictions allowed more people to look for work.

“Yung nakikita naman natin mula noong 2020 yung labor force participation at yung employment rate and of course yung counterpart yung pagbaba ng unemployment rate ito talaga ay function ng restriction,” Mapa said.

(What we have been seeing since 2020 is that labor force participation, employment, and its counterpart decrease in the un-

employment rate is a function of restriction.)

EFFECT OF NEW LOCKDOWN Mapa said unemployment may rise with the impending lockdown of key areas this month to curb the local transmission of the more contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.

He noted that the highest unemployment rate recorded was in April last year when mobility restrictions were most stringent.

“Nakikita natin na tuwing tayo’y nagkakaroon

ahead of the pandemic, which enabled it to continue functioning effectively during the lockdowns and collect almost all income taxes through electronic means.

Complemented by a relentless drive against tax cheats and an enhanced tax amnesty program, Dominguez said the BIR’s digitalization initiatives helped prop up the country’s fiscal position ahead of the pandemic, an unprecedented global health and economic crises that subsequently forced the government to spend big on coronavirus disease 2019

(Covid-19) response.

Dominguez said the pandemic, which has proven to be a tough foe, will continue to test the Philippines’ fiscal stamina as the government will be spending even more to strengthen the healthcare system while funding long-term economic investments and paying down the debt that the country has incurred to support the national budget at this critical time.

“In other words, there is no room for our revenue efforts to fail. To win this battle for our economic recovery,

everything depends on the Bureau’s success in raising much-needed revenues,” Dominguez said in his message during the BIR’s anniversary program.

“Therefore, this is my marching order to the men and women of the Bureau of Internal Revenue: go for the gold. I urge the agency to not just meet, but exceed its collection targets this year and beyond,” he said.

Dominguez said that like how the Philippines’ sports hero Diaz had trained long and hard for her Olympic victory, the government

rate meanwhile climbed to 14.2 percent in June, up from 12.3 percent in the previous month. This meant that there were 6.41 million Filipinos who found work but were still looking for more work.

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ollibee Foods Corp said Monday it opened 2 new stores in California as part of its “accelerated growth plan” in North America.

It opened Jollibee stores in Bakersfield and in Torrance, JFC said in a statement.

Jollibee Bakersfield is located at 5520 Stockdale Highway while the Torrance store is at 20100 Hawthorne Boulevard, the country’s largest restaurant operator said.

“We are excited to bring our delicious menu offerings to our loyal fans and curious new customers who live, work and play in these cities. California is where

we first opened our doors in America more than 2 decades ago, and we look forward to continue building our presence in this beautiful region,” said Maribeth Dela Cruz, president of Jollibee Group North America, Philippine Brands.

JFC said it opened its first Jollibee US store in Daly City in 1998.

JFC said it is “on track” to reach 500 restaurants throughout North America in the next 5 to 7 years.

The Jollibee Group aims to become among the top 5 restaurant operators in the world. Currently, it operates in 33 countries with a network of 5,400 stores.

came fully prepared to meet the global crisis head-on through years of fiscal discipline and prudence.

He said the Duterte administration’s tax reforms and improved tax administration initiatives set the country on a stable fiscal footing before Covid-19 struck last year and allowed the government to deploy all that was needed to respond quickly to the pandemic.

“The economic downturn translates into decreased revenues. At the same time, the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant

means that the government needs to spend more for public health, including the procurement of booster shots,” Dominguez said.

Amid this protracted battle against the pandemic, Dominguez said he is confident that the BIR’s dedicated workforce “will rise to the challenge and lift our country to faster economic recovery.”

“The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s victory means a secure fiscal future for the country and better economic outcomes for the Filipino people,” he said.

BIR encouraged to ‘go for gold’ in exceeding tax collection goals

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ‘go for the gold,’ like the extraordinary feat achieved by Filipino gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz in the Tokyo Olympics, by surpassing its tax collection targets for this year and beyond.

In his message on the BIR’s 117th anniversary on Monday, Dominguez commended the agency under the leadership of Commissioner Caesar Dulay for embarking on a comprehensive digitalization program

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ECONOMY 5

A group of fishermen arrives at a coastal community in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur from a day of fishing. The fisheries sector urged for the creation of more aquaculture economic zones to boost production of processed and value-added aquaculture products for both domestic and export market and generate local employment. Edge Davao

FICCO opens 1ST digiCOOP-enabled business center in Mindanao

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ARMEN, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As part of its end-to-end digitalization roadmap, First Community Cooperative, Inc. (FICCO, led by its CEO Edgardo Micayabas, launched the first of 10 digiCOOP business centers in Mindanao on July 8, 2021. The opening of the first business center, which is located in Carmen, coincided with the cooperative’s 67th founding anniversary.

The new center’s name – digiCOOP – is an amalgamation of the words “digital” and “cooperative” and references to the name of the online platform being used by FICCO. With its plan already in

motion, FICCO is set to be the first community cooperative in the Philippines to provide its members access to a full array of digital services. At the pilot’ business center in Carmen, individual-members can now easily avail of FICCO’s numerous financial and non-financial services. They can register (as a new member), pay utility bills or loans, send money, e-load their prepaid/ postpaid cellphone cards, purchase insurance plans, among others.

Since the business center connects to the digiCOOP platform, FICCO has upped its ante by also offering individual-members – partic-

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PH, Singapore record growth in manufacturing index in July

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he Philippines and Singapore are the only countries in Asean that recorded improvement in manufacturing index for July 2021, the IHS Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reported Monday.

Due to the resurgence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the region, the manufacturing score of Asean fell to its 13-month low to 44.6.

PMI measures the health of the manufacturing sector, with scores above 50 reflecting improvement, while below the neutral score means deterioration.

Of the seven Asean countries monitored by IHS

Markit, Singapore recorded the biggest improvement of 56.3.

The Philippines’ manufacturing score last month settled at 50.4, slightly lower than June 2021’s 50.8 index.

“Although the Philippines manufacturing sector recorded another improvement in operating conditions during July, latest data revealed domestic demand and production levels were still impacted by the pandemic. Meanwhile, case numbers have moderated somewhat from earlier on in the year, but are far from under control causing some restrictions to persist,” IHS Markit economist Shreeya Patel said.

Filipino-owned fisheries, more aquaculture ecozones urged

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he fisheries sector urged for the establishment of more aquaculture economic zones to boost production of processed and value-added aquaculture products for both domestic and export market and generate local employment.

The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 provides fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as tax holidays and simplified import-export procedures to businesses located inside such zones.

Based on 2017 Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) data, there are 379 operating ecozones, 22 of which are agro-industrial zones. The incentives available include tax free importations of capital equipment, construction materials, specialized office equipment and vehicles, professional instruments.

In addition, industries in the ecozone are exempt from national and local taxes on their importation as well as tax credit for import substitution.

PEZA industries also enjoy income tax holidays.

Aquaculture and fisheries enterprises will get at least six years as these are essential to achieve the country’s food self-sufficiency program.

Despite these incentives, the uptake for locating or establishing export processing zone for aquaculture and

fisheries appeared to be limited. While tuna, seaweeds and shrimps remained as the country’s top export commodity, accounting for 63 percent (153,667 metric tons) of the total export volume which is 226,821 metric tons (MT) and 58 percent (USD531,333 million) of the total export value of USD909 million, no tuna or shrimp related industry is PEZA registered.

Of the 22 agro-industrial zones, only Shemberg Biotech Corporation and Alsons Aquaculture Corporation are PEZA-registered enterprises. Shemberg is into seaweeds processing while Alsons is involved in the production of feeds, fish, shrimps and other aquaculture farm species for export.

It will be recalled that in 2019, PEZA and the Department of Agriculture (DA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) intended to industrialize agribusiness.

PEZA Director-General Charito B. Plaza has said the agreement will promote domestic production, manufacturing, and exports -- as well as reduce import de-

pendence.

DA Secretary William D. Dar earlier said both agencies hope to improve farm incomes and generate rural work opportunities.

“Both DA and PEZA recognize the need for cooperative effort in promoting and supporting investments to agricultural-oriented activities through the granting of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives and development of agro-industrial, aquamarine, and agro-forestry special ecozones,” he said.

“This is now the time to bring investors to hubs where they can set up rural industries that will unlock the potential of agriculture and agribusiness for the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, Norberto Chingcuanco, Feedmix Group vice president for planning, said that stakeholders in the fisheries sector can become a dominant exporter while still caring for and providing gainful economic growth to local communities.

At the same time, with the recent approval of the interagency task force on the coronavirus on the increase of domestic sales allowance to 50 percent from the previous 30 percent, “we can ensure that our local consumers will not be deprived of sufficient fish protein source,” he said in a virtual press briefing.

Chingcuanco said that lo-

cal producers are more than capable of addressing the country’s need for accessible and affordable food. Local producers just need facilities and systems that support production and post-harvest facilities.

“With government support and provision of fiscal incentives, the fisheries and aquaculture industry can generate more jobs. We are ready to venture into the promotion of consumption of processed commodities both domestically and internationally. This will definitely contribute to more job creation,” he said.

While there are aquaculture companies willing to invest in the processing and export of commodities, Chingcuanco said there is a need for enhanced technical support from different agencies especially that some documentary requirements for PEZA registration include favorable endorsement from the DA, environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and endorsement from local government units (LGUs), among others.

“We’re confident that the Philippine aquaculture industry can be competitive globally. We have the untapped natural and human resource and technical expertise which can propel our growth in the international arena,” he said. (PR)

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On the city’s target to achieve herd immunity of 1.2 million by November this year:

Definitely, target nato na dapat nato ma-achieve tanan na we are 1.2 million first doses by November puhon. Assuming na continuous ang supply sa vaccines na mag-abot.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIAL Mindanao pride In the cusp of winning another gold medal as we write this, four Mindanaons have achieved unprecedented feats by far in the history of Philippine sports and that it to win a medal in the Olympics.

Mindanao, USA fencer, whose mother is from Tagum City, has won a gold medal in the foil event of fencing.

Dabawenya Nesthy Petecio could follow Diaz to the Hall of Greatness if she makes it at noon on Tuesday against hometown girl Sena Irie of Japan.

The truth is that the Philippine government, through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has employed a unique strategy to elite athletes and that is to hire a team--from dietician, trainer, sports psychologist, coach--to assist them in their quest for gold.

Zamboanga City’s golden girl Hidilyn Diaz started it all in weightlifting last week, landing the first ever gold medal for the Philippines in its 97-year history of competing in the quadrennial sports conclave. An Olympic gold is considered as the Holy Grail of sports.

And then there’s boxers Eumir Marcia, another Zamboanga native, and Carlo Paalam of Cagayan de Oro. Marcial, who has been very impressive by far, is fighting in the semifinal, where he can turn his bronze into something more, on Thursday, August 5, at 2:03 p.m. against Ukrainian world champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak.

Paalam is also a win away from a medal.

If we add a non-Philippine athlete but who also traces her roots in

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It is annoying that while we are not even finished in our Olympic mission, so many day-after sports geniuses have surfaced. Too many pretenders in the name of politics.

It is not politics that deserve our attention now. What is deserving of a celebration is the rise of athletes from the provinces and rural areas of this country, Mindanao to be specific. Under a President from Mindanao and the PSC Chairman from Mindanao.

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

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

Amidst all these triumphs, the ugly head of politics is still trying to ruin what we have achieved in the sporting arena. The issues of lack of government support and funding is on social media again, recycled and resurrected by those who try to cloud what this present government has achieved and that is produce Olympic medals.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

REJECTION SLIPS, ANYONE? Most writers, particularly those who write fiction, essays, poems, and biographies, are bound to receive rejection slips -- whether they like it or not!

But instead of being feared, rejection slips should serve as an inspiration. It means that the editors are reading what you have written. It also gives you an idea that you have to do more in order to meet their standards. More importantly, it is a way of a reminder that you are not perfect when it comes to writing.

“I love my rejection slips,” wrote Sylvia Plath. “They show me I try.” Plath is credited with advancing the genre of confessional poetry and is best known for her two published collections, The Colossus and Other Poems and Ariel. In 1982, she won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for The Collected Poems.

She also wrote The Bell Jar, a semi-autobiographical novel published shortly before her death in 1963.

In an article which appeared in Glamour, Elinor Klein remembered the first time she met Plath. The former thought of her as a much-heralded published writer. She thought Plath never received any rejection slip. “I’ve

got hundreds (of them),” Plath said.

She was not alone; there were legions of them. I was still in college when I submitted a feature I wrote for a national magazine. Luckily, it was published. I thought I was lucky.

So, I decided to write more features and submitted them to various publications. Unfortunately, all the subsequent materials were rejected by the editors. “We are very sorry, we cannot use the article you sent us,” they wrote in their rejection slips.

Many novice writers have their writing careers abruptly ended by the rejection slip. They take the rejection of their story personally, get discouraged and give up. But what these wouldbe writers don’t know is that the editors (bless their souls) are not rejecting them. The editors are rejecting pieces of paper with ink on it.

Again, history is replete with famous authors whose first ventures in writing were greeted with rejection slips.

Before he became a best-selling author, Stephen King admitted that he hammered a nail into the wall when he was younger, and kept all his

rejection slips there, until he reached 100. In his On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, he wrote: “When you get to 100, give yourself a pat on the back... You’ve arrived.”

Editors and publishers have their own way of criticizing an author’s work; while some of them are indeed creative, most however write horrendous comments. The www.literaryrejections.com listed some of them: “Frenetic and scrambled prose.” That was how one editor commented on Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Viking Press, however, disagreed and so it published what became one of the most influential novels of all time. Since 1957, the novel has regularly sold at least 60,000 copies every year.

On rejecting The War of the Worlds, a publisher wrote: “An endless nightmare. I think the verdict would be ‘Oh don’t read that horrid book.” The author, H.G. Wells, submitted it to other publishers. In 1898, it was published and has been in print ever since.

When Herman Melville submitted his novel Moby Dick, it was completely rejected by the publisher. “Our united opinion is entirely against the book. It is

very long, and rather old-fashioned,” the publisher wrote.

However, Harper & Brothers released a first print run of 3000 copies. Only 50 of these sell during the author’s lifetime but D.H. Lawrence considered it “the greatest book of the sea ever written.”

After reading The Great Gatsby, an editor wrote in the rejection slip: “An absurd story as romance, melodrama or record of New York high life.” But when it was finally published, the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel became a best-selling classic. In fact, it has been adapted to movie screen several times, including the most recent that starred Leonardo diCaprio.

Rejected by leading publishers, Mary Shelley, then 21 years old, finally persuaded a small publishing company, Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, to take a chance on her debut. They agreed only if they didn’t put her name on the cover.

This was in 1818 and only 500 copies were printed; booksellers only bought 25 of them.

Despite having a named credit in 1822, sales did not improve. In 1831, a third edition was published by Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley. Word of

mouth combined with some of the finest prose ever written in the genre, finally saw Frankenstein by Mary Shelley become a best-seller.

Some novels, which became bestsellers, were rejected not only twice but several times.

Kathryn Stockett on the worldwide best-seller, The Help: “It was rejected 60 times. But letter number 61 was the one that accepted me. Three weeks later we sold the book to Amy Einhorn Books.”

After five London publishers turned it down, the little book finally finds a home: Life of Pi by Yann Martel. In 2002, it won the Man Booker Prize.

When Ang Lee brought it to the big screen, it received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Twenty-four literary agencies turned down The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. The Thomas Berryman Number by James Patterson was rejected by 31 publishers. Sixteen literary agencies and 12 publishers rejected A Time to Kill by John Grisham. 100 literary agents and publishers reject Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace.

Unfortunately, most writers today don’t get rejection slips anymore.

DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG KULE

VACCINE PATENT WAIVERS IN THE TIME OF COVID19 PANDEMIC Patent waivers for vaccines became one of the interesting issues involving intellectual property rights during this COVID-19 pandemic .

The intellectual property (IP) waivers aim to allow countries to choose not to enforce, apply or implement patents and other exclusivities that could impede the production and supply of COVID-19 medical tools, until global herd immunity is reached.

The waiver would send a crucial signal to potential manufacturers that they can start producing needed COVID-19 medical tools without fear of being blocked by patents or other monopolies.

As part of a bid to widen access to COVID-19 vaccines and address supply constraints, the rationale is that by forcing manufacturers to share their intellectual property for vaccines with other manufacturers they can also start to produce them, thereby increasing supply.

Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds such as copyright, trade-

mark, patent, utility model, and industrial design.

IP rights give the creator an exclusive right over the use of one’s creation for a certain period of time, ensuring that he is given due recognition or remuneration for his effort.

The governing local law is Republic Act No. 8942, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

The IP Code defined patentable inventions as any technical solution of a problem in any field of human activity which is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable shall be patentable. It may be, or may relate to, a product, or process, or an improvement of any of the foregoing. The law likewise gave an enumeration of non-patentable inventions.

The right to a patent belongs to the inventor, his heirs, or assigns. When two (2) or more persons have jointly made an invention, the right to a patent shall belong to them jointly.

The Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB) law offices is considered as one of the

front-running law firms in the country engaged in intellectual property prosecution, maintenance, licensing, and enforcement.

The forty five (45) years of existence of SVBB law offices, during which it witnessed episodes of political turmoil and economic crisis, are a testament to the sterling character and resilience of the partners, lawyers and staff of the firm.

Established on August 1, 1976, the heart and soul of SVBB was forged by the vision and leadership of its founders, classmates Eugene A. Tan and Ignacio Sapalo, both of the Ateneo School of Law. Aside from intellectual property law, SVBB later evolved into a full service law firm with diversified practice areas in Philippine law, including corporation/taxation, litigation and labor (specifically seafarers’ claims) with branch offices in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro. “Serving with a heart; driven to master change” is SVBB’s motto that captures succinctly what the firm is, its culture and

values in the protection of the clients’ interests with sensitivity, care, and attention.

“When the world has put a stop to this pandemic, it will usher in many changes, hopefully to make the world better.

Our firm’s motto, “Driven to Master Change”, should come into play. This pandemic drove home the lesson that to stay safe, we need everybody to stay safe. In plain language this means that we should not only think of our own interests but also those of others,” says Atty.

Sapalo, managing partner on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the SVBB law firm.

Recognized as the “Father of the IP Code”, Atty. Sapalo was the former Director of the then Bureau of Patents, Trademarks, and Technology Transfer (now the IPOPhil) who worked on the passing of the IP Code in 1998 which aligned Philippine intellectual property laws with international standards and practices.

Atty. Sapalo stressed that on the lawyer’s shoulders fall the challenging task of ferreting out the truth in every case

they handle, carefully balancing contending interests to reach fair and just results, and always staying within the bounds of the rule of law.

Given the important role of Filipino seafarers, SVBB also remains to be one of the leading movers advocating seafarers’ rights through initiatives showcasing its commitment to the principle of social justice.

As the life of a seafarer is not a walk in the park, the SVBB cooperates with various stakeholders, such as the churchbased Apostleship of the Seas (AoS)/ Stella Maris Philippines, in ensuring better protection and more benefits for seafarers.

SVBB is committed to perform the noble task of upholding justice with excellence and professionalism, for the good and interest of society, especially the poor and underprivileged.

(Atty. Dennis Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786.)

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LIVING

VIRTUAL PARTY IDEAS WITH TOY KINGDOM

HAVE an amazing virtual party with Toy Kingdom’s creative celebration ideas for kids.

While will still look forward to the time when we can gather together for children’s parties, this is the next best thing with Toy Kingdom’s wide selection of partythemed decorations to keep every virtual party celebration cherished and memorable. Here are some fun ideas for birthdays and beyond.

• An Arts and Crafts Party. Set up big balloons in primary colors and decorate paper lanterns and garlands. Let your budding artist paint virtually with friends with art activity set that you can give as party kits.

• Tropical Flamingo. Have a splash with a tropical pool party at home with a giant Flamingo inflatable on the garden.

Add some floral cutouts and Hawaiian fringes on the backdrop to have an endless summer tropic vibe at home.

• A Mermaid’s Tale. Girls can have fun under the sea with a mermaid themed party – complete with tails, plushies, and more.

• A Royal Princess Celebration.

Give your little princess a storybook celebration with fairy lights, balloon bouquets, and tiaras. If your kids love Disney Princesses, let them dress the part with tiaras, feather boas, gloves and magical wands.

• Magical Unicorn Tea party.

Enjoy an underthe-sea adventure with a Dreamy and Dazzling Mermaid party.

Create a Magical Unicorn Wonderland in your home.

Unicorns are real and they’ll bring their joy and magic to your kids’ rainbow themed party.

• Safari Virtual Scavenger Hunt Party. Bring the Safari adventure to your home with jungle animal foil balloons and green, brown and orange accents.

Hide animal plushies in your

Make your girl’s fairytale dream come true with Toy Kingdom’s Princessthemed party accessories. home and let your preschooler find and identify the animals.

You can also host a virtual safari tour in Africa and explore the wild while staying at home.

Presents perfect are part of every celebration, and Toy

Kingdom’s Gift Registry makes gift-giving easy, delivering gifts right in your doorstep.

Visit Toy Kingdom at SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier or register your wish list via Toy Kingdom’s Call to Deliver services at 0917.5578797 and have personal shopper assist your kids to select virtually their favorite toys. Check out the Toy Kingdom’s Let’s Party Catalog at www.toykingdom. com.ph. Follow ToyKingdomPH in Facebook and Instagram.

KZ AND TJ RELEASE LULLABIES “DODONG”, “INDAY”

SINGERS and real-life couple KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde have released endearing Bisaya songs, “Dodong” and “Inday,” respectively dedicating each tune to each other.

Poles apart from the usual sound of the Asia’s Soul Supreme, “Dodong” is a certified lullaby that translates as KZ’s ode of gratitude for TJ’s great love for her. It also brings a message of eternal affection no matter what life may bring to the couple.

“I wrote ‘Dodong’ two years ago.

It was my first time writing a Bisaya lullaby, but I never meant for it to

be released. It was so TJ would have a song he can listen to when he finds it hard to sleep,” KZ said, who named it “Dodong,” a Bisaya word referring to a young man.

Hesitant to release the song as a single because it was ‘too personal’ for her, the Kapamilya singer was convinced by none other than her husband, TJ, who said, “Don’t worry! I’ll write a song about ‘Inday’ so ‘Dodong’ doesn’t have to be released alone.”

Meanwhile, TJ shared that he wrote the song “Inday”—which refers to a young lady in Bisaya—as

a song of reassurance for the one and only Inday in his life, KZ. “Dodong” and “Inday” are now part of the “Simula” playlist available on Star Music’s YouTube channel.

The new playlist from the Bisaya couple also includes their collaboration “Can’t Wait To Say I Do,” which the couple launched after they got married in 2020, as well as the titular track “Simula.”

A multi-awarded singer-performer, KZ hails from Davao del Sur and is currently part of Star Music’s roster of artists, while the equally-talented TJ, a recording artist of PolyEast Records, is from Cagayan de Oro. Listen to KZ’s “Dodong” and “TJ’s “Inday,” out now on music streaming platforms, and make sure to check out the “Simula” playlist on YouTube. For more details, like Star Music on Facebook (www. facebook.com/starmusicph) and follow it on Twitter and Instagram (@StarMusicPH).

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wenty-five-year-old Michelle was totally devastated when her obstetrician told her she had hepatitis B. She was not ready to receive the bad news as she was in the ninth month of her first pregnancy.

“Your family physician sent me over copies of your blood tests,” her obstetrician said. “As she told you, the tests show that you carry the hepatitis B virus. Fortunately, the tests of your liver function are totally normal, and there’s no indication that there’s been any significant damage to your liver.”

“That’s great,” she answered sarcastically. “But most of my family members have died of liver disease or liver cancer. And what about my baby?” she wondered.

“Will I give my baby the disease, too?”

Michelle is not alone in her dilemma. Worldwide, hepatitis B is one of the major diseases of mankind and is a serious public health problem. In Southeast Asia, more than half the population becomes infected with

the virus. In the Philippines, around 8.5 million Filipinos are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus, according to the estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Hepatitis B is endemic in most countries in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region with carrier rates between 5 and 35 percent except in Australia, New Zealand and Japan where the average carrier rate is 2 percent,” disclosed Prof.

Ding-Shinn Chen, a medical professor and head of the gastroenterology division at the Department of Internal Medicine in the National Taiwan University Hospital.

The word hepatitis simply means “inflammation of the liver”. Oftentimes, doctors use it to refer to the diseases caused by hepatitis

HEPATITIS B: UNDERSTANDING THE HIDDEN EPIDEMIC

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO viruses. If a physician tells a patient, “You have hepatitis,” he means that the person has a viral disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver, and not necessarily that he has an inflamed liver.

So far, medical scientists have discovered six different kinds of hepatitis: A, B, C, D, E, and G. A different virus causes each of these. Five types cause disease in the liver while one (hepatitis G) lives in the blood without causing any apparent illness. All five disease-carrying viruses are responsible for more than 98 percent cases of viral hep-

Getty Images

atitis. The most important among the five viruses in terms of public health is hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Unknowingly, “hepatitis viruses cannot live outside a cell,” points out Professor John S. Tam, of the Department of Microbiology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “They only come alive when they are given the right conditions such as the necessary nutrients from inside a cell. At room temperature, they do not last very long maybe 10 minutes. Once the blood dries, infectivity decreases.”

Like most hepatitis viruses, HBV is all too easy to catch. It is more common than the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the microorganism that causes the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and far more infectious – HBV is 50-100 times more infectious than HIV. “While 90 percent of the people who get hepatitis B recover spontaneously with their body’s defenses, the 10 percent who maintain the infection for six months or longer and who do not produce an effective antibody response are considered chronic carriers,” explains Dr. Ernesto Domingo, head of the Liver Study Group of the University of the Philippines in Manila.

A small percentage of

these chronic carriers will serve 30-40 years later, ultimately developing cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer. “Hepatitis B virus is the most common cause of liver cancer around the world,” says Professor MeiHwei Chang, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei.

“Although hepatitis C virus is the most prevalent cause of liver cancer in some countries where HBV infection is not prevalent, HBV is still the most prevalent cause worldwide.”

The HBV may be found in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and saliva. It is transmitted the same way as HIV. That is, through sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal), use of contaminated needles, unsafe blood transfusion, and from mother to child.

There are reports that HBV may also be transmitted by puncturing the skin with sharp instruments – such as those used for acupuncture, dental, and medical procedures, even for ear piercing and manicures – that have been contaminated. “But the most effective means of transmission is sexual contact other than kissing,” says Dr. Dominic Garcia, an infectious specialist based in Manila. “The scary thing is that a lot of people don’t know they

have it.”

Intravenous drug users are among the most susceptible people to HBV “because of their exposure to other people’s blood,” points out Prof. Tam. Also high risks of developing the disease include institutionalized children or adults, sexually active people, and men-having-sexwith-men, among others.

People with kidney diseases that require dialysis and those undergoing treatment of leukemia are also at high risk of contacting HBV. In some developing countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, newborns may be infected if their mothers are chronic carriers. “HBV is transmitted mainly from mother to child during birth,” explains Prof. Tam. “When infants get infection early in life, the chance of them being a carrier, if not controlled, can be as high as 95 percent.”

The United Nations health agency estimates that 400 million people are now infected with HBV, and that the number of new infections will keep increasing until vaccination of infants is a universally established practice.

Contrary to common belief, there are no documented cases of hepatitis B being transmitted by a person be-

FHEPATITIS, P10

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However, not everything was destroyed, and parts of the walls, which stood and protected the city for decades and more, remain standing to this day. “ The new section that was exposed connects two sections that were previously excavated on the eastern slope. In the 1960s, British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon uncovered a section of the wall in the northern part of the slope and dated it to the days of the Kingdom of Judah. About a decade later, archaeologist Yigal Shiloh uncovered a long section of the wall, in excavations in the southern part of the slope. Over the years, claims have been made that despite the impressive nature of the remains, these remnant stone structures should not be seen as wall remains.

However, with the uncovering of this new section that connects with these past discoveries, it seems that the debate has been settled, and that this was unequivocally the eastern wall of ancient Jerusalem.

Reconstruction of the sections that were dismantled during previous excavations in the early 20th century, makes it possible to trace almost another 30 meters of the surviving wall to a height of 2.5 meters

and a width of up to 5 meters. In the book of 2 Kings, 25:10, there is a description of the conquest of the city by the Babylonians: “The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.” However, it looks like the Babylonians did not destroy the eastern wall, possibly due to the sharp steepness of the eastern slope of the City of David, which slopes towards the Kidron Valley at over 30-degree angle. The findings of the destruction can be seen in the building that stood next to the wall and were exposed during the previous excavations: inside the building, rows of storage jars were discovered, which were smashed when the building burned and collapsed. The jars bear “rosette” stamped handles, in the shape of a rose, associated with the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. Near the wall, a Babylonian stamp seal made of stone was unveiled, depicting a figure standing in front of symbols of the two Babylonian gods Marduk and Nabu. Not far from there a bulla (a stamp seal impression made in clay) was found bearing a Judaean personal name “Tsafan”.

mag flip siya it is the reason why dili gyud nato maging lenient ta,” Schlosser said on Monday.

She said this is high time to be more emphatic to those who turned out positive for Covid-19.

“Kung mahitabo na mag positive kita please let us avoid ostracizing or kanang atong pandirihan, i-judge, tsismihan ang mga taong nag-positive. In reality lisod sad kaayo na sa ilaha, emotionally, physically lisod na sa ilaha. This is high time to be more emphatic ug sabton ang sitwasyon at the same time mas suportahan ang mga taong who turned out positive instead of ostracizing them,” she said.

Schlosser also said that in partnership with DOH 11, the city government of Davao is strengthening contact tracing activities to immediately isolate individuals who fall for the criteria of Delta variant and mitigate the risk of transmission of the said variant.

“Lahat from now on, pag nag-fall siya (patient) dun sa criteria even if wala pang result from the genome sequencing we will be treating that a case of Delta para po outright ma-contact trace natin at

saka ma-isolate na natin ang close contact even before the result comes to us. Matagal kasi yung turn around of result ng Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). We will be doing that para mas mabilis ang ating pag-isolate at mitigate ang risk of spread out of that particular variant,” she said.

On the other hand, Pasion affirmed that the fatality rate is seen to be high if patients seek medical help late.

“Ang tendency man gud ang atong mga pasyente karon dili gyud muadto ug hospital hangtod gahangak na. For example yung patient natin severe na or critical na pumunta sa hospital, mas risk ang tendency na namamatay ang mga patients na ito,” she said.

Pasion said it is important to strengthen the risk communication drive in Davao Region for the patients to know who to call like the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), district health officers or municipal health officers the moment the patients manifest the signs and symptoms of Covid-19. By Maya M. Padillo

ng lockdown --ECQ, MECQ-may impact talaga sa ating unemployment numbers.”

(We see that each time we have a lockdown like enhanced community quarantine or modified enhanced community quarantine, there’s an impact on our unemployment numbers.)

Joblessness has been declining since the record plunge last year as the government eased lockdowns

meant to check the spread of COVID-19.

The Asian Development Bank however noted that the new jobs created amid the pandemic were of lower quality.

Businesses and analysts however say the new lockdown to curb the local transmission of the more contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 will again impact the economy.

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ANOTHER ... FROM 12 an issue when the youthful fighter climbs the ring in the semifinals against home hero Ryomei Tanaka, “Walang dapat alalahanin,” said Chavez.

What should be a bigger fear is over a bum decision in the August 5 semifinal against Tanaka, who was outclassed by Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez Rivas in their quarterfinal but still emerged with a 4-1 decision.

But for now, Paalam and can savour his victory over the popular Zoirov, who tried to take control of the fight early but instead was taken aback by an aggressive young fighter who outmaneuvered him inside and often beat him to the punch.

“Pilit po n’ya akong kinukuha sa first round, pero sabi po ni Coach Ronald, dapat makuha mo yung first round para sila ang ma-pressure sa ’yo,” said Paalam. “‘Yun nga po, nakuha ko ang first

round, tapos pine-pressure niya talaga ako.

“Sabi ng mga coaches ko, ilabas ko lang daw ‘yung laro ko.”

Paalam was still dominating the fight when the accidental clash of heads happened midway through the second round.

The ring doctor let the fight continue after taking a look at Paalam’s cut but recommended that the fight be stopped upon seeing the ghastly cut Zoirov suffered above the left eye.

“We are overjoyed with Carlo’s wn over the Rio gold medalist. It was an upset that the coaching staff told me was imminent, but we were still concerned until Carlo came out smoking in the first round,” said Alliance of Boxing Associations of the Philippines president Ricky Vargas.

“He truly looked like a champion.” (SPIN.PH)

by NEDA regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim and JICA-Philippines chief representative Azukizawa Eigo together with senior representatives Kuronuma Kenji and Ebisawa Yo and other staff from the JICA Philippine Office and JICA Headquarters Office in Tokyo.

The meeting focused on the status of implementation of the projects included in the Davao City Infrastructure Development Plan and Capacity Building Project or the IM4Davao, and the planned expansion of JICA’s assistance to cover the Metropolitan Davao area through the formulation of a Comprehensive and Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan for Metropolitan Davao, as well as, on the Formulation of the Metropolitan Davao

Sewerage and Septage Master Plan.

The Comprehensive and Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan for Metropolitan Davao shall cover land use planning, agri-ecotourism and urban greening, Davao Gulf coastal resource management, and joint delivery of urban facilities and services (transport and traffic; housing; solid waste and wastewater, digital connectivity, water, energy, public security, disaster risk reduction – flood control).

The formulation of the proposed Metro Davao Master Plan is timely with the reported progress on the institutionalization of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) at the Senate Committee level. By Maya M. Padillo

3. No person shall be allowed to operate drone within 10 kilometers radius of any Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP).

Corresponding penalties apply for non-registration, or transfer, falsification, alteration of issued registration: For 1st offense a fine of

P1,000; and for 2nd offense and succeeding offense a fine of P3,000 and confiscation of the drone.

For operation in no-fly zones, or prohibited or restricted airspaces, violators will be penalized with P5,000 and immediate confiscation of drone. (CIO MATI)

ularly those who prefer to stay home during the pandemic - access to the same services online. The platform is available to members with internet connections by using the browser or downloading the application software from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

“In this time of a pandemic, we have turned to digitalization so that members can continue to avail of our services while observing the government’s directive to avoid unnecessary travel [so as to prevent clustering of Covid-19 cases],” said Micayabas during the conference with the local press at the launch.

“We enjoin members, especially or officers, to embrace FICCO’s move toward digitalization, as this is in-

evitable. We, too, have to be in step [with technological innovations],” added FICCO Director Rosario B. Ferrer in the vernacular during her welcome address. Ferrer also underscored that while the cooperative’s services do come with transaction fees, the rates are more reasonable that those offered by money transfer operators.

Nine other business centers will be opened this year in the following locations: Valencia (Bukidnon), Malaybalay (Bukidnon), Municipality of Opol (Misamis Oriental) Maranding (Lanao del Norte), Gingoog City (Misamis Oriental), Davao City, Butuan City (Agusan del Norte), Bayugan City (Agusan del Sur), and Iligan City (Lanao del Norte).

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HEPATITIS... FROM 9 ing breathed on by someone

with the illness, catching it from an insect bite (mosquito, for instance), or getting it through contaminated water.

What about kissing? “Although hepatitis B virus can be detected in very low concentration in tears and saliva, both are not important routes of transmission for hepatitis B virus. They can be infectious only when infected persons’ gastrointestinal tract or skin have wound. Therefore, the chance of infection though this route is very low,” says Dr. Chang. The most high-risk condition for kissing to transmit HBV is due to oral wounds.

If you care to know, hepatitis B is not transmitted casually. As such, the virus cannot be spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging or eating food prepared by someone who is infected with HBV, according to the UN health agency. Also, you cannot get HBV from mosquitoes. Prof. Tam explains: “All viruses which are transmitted by a mosquito must go through a replication before sufficient viruses are available for infection. HBV does not grow in mosquitoes.”

“The hepatitis virus is very durable,” points out Dr. Alan Berkman, author of Hepatitis A to G: The Facts You Need to Know About All the Forms of This Dangerous Disease. “It can remain infectious on environmental surfaces for at least a month if left at room temperature. Most people who get it fight off the infection by themselves, but the virus antibodies will be present in their blood for the rest of their lives.”

The WHO says that the incubation period of the HBV takes a long 45 to 180 days usually without any manifesta­ tions or symptoms. Thus, people infected with hepatitis B may not even realize that they have it until the latter stages of the disease. And even when symptoms are present, they are vague, often mimicking other, less life-threatening diseases.

“Sometimes, people infected with HIV have what looks like the flu, with symptoms including loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fever, and weakness,” explains Dr. Berkman. “They may also develop symptoms more directly related to their livers: abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the eyes and skin. That kind of hepatitis B infection is usually harmless, even if it can be a little unpleasant for a period of time.”

But, as stated earlier, about 8-10 percent of people who are infected develop chronic hepatitis B. “There are two forms of hepatitis B, one acute and the other chronic,” says Dr. Berkman. The acute disease is very unpleasant, but if you recover from it you are likely to be immune from then on.

Unfortunately, sometimes the acute disease progresses to the chronic form. A blood test can determine if you have the acute form of the disease.”

What happens to a person infected with HBV? “When a person becomes infected by hepatitis B, the virus travels to the liver where it enters individual liver cells,” said Prof.

Nancy Leung, consultant and honorary associate professor and chief of hepatology at the Prince of Wales Hospital in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “Here, it replicates and may reenter the bloodstream or reinfect other liver cells.

Symptoms of initial infection with hepatitis B result from the body’s attempt to defend itself against infection.

Prof. Leung continues: “Those individuals with the

most severe of symptoms are therefore most likely to eliminate the virus from their body while those with no symptoms or have very mild complaints – typically children – are most likely to retain the virus and become long-term carriers.”

Prof. Leung added that the HBV may remain in some individuals after the initial infection and the patients are said to be chronic hepatitis B carriers when part of the surface of the virus remains in the blood for more than six months. “The result of long-term carriage of the HBV is continuing inflammation of the liver, which may lead to serious liver damage and cancer,” she said.

Liver cancer is almost always fatal, and usually develops between the age of 35 and 65 years of age, when people are maximally productive and are trying to raise their own children. It occurs more commonly among Asians. In Singapore, for instance, liver cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cancer among males. “The risk of liver cancer increases with smoking and consumption of alcohol,” says Prof. Chang.

Like the dreaded AIDS, hepatitis B is incurable. However, it can be prevented with active or passive immunization. In active immunization, the person develops long-term protection against a new infection as a result of production of antibodies. These antibodies may develop either naturally when he or she is infected with HBV or artificially after receiving a vaccine.

In passive immunization, the person develops shortterm protection against a new infection. Passive protection can develop when an unborn child receives antibodies from the mother or the newborn baby gets antibodies from colostrum, the first breast milk secreted by the mother after delivery; or when a vaccine containing antibodies is injected in the body.

There are two types of vaccines currently available for active immunization against hepatitis B. One is the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, which offers long-term protection against infection.

The vaccine, synthesized from yeast cells, provides about 90 percent protection against hepatitis B. Example of this vaccine is Interferon (sold as Intron A), which boosts the immune system of the patient to kill hepatitis virus. However, it is only effective in 40 percent of patients. Injections have to be done thrice a week for 6 months. Another is Lamivudine (sold as Epivir-HBV, Zeffix, or Heptodin), an oral antiviral drug that directly inhibits HBV. The drug must be taken daily for one year.

The other vaccine currently used is the hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG). The vaccine, which is as safe and effective as the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, is a preparation made from human blood plasma that contains a significant amount of the antibody for the hepatitis B virus.

“Immunization against hepatitis B is currently recommended for all newborns and for people at high risk of developing the infection,” says Dr. Rakesh Aga, gastroenterology expert at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.

“One injection of the hepatitis B vaccine is given in the muscles of the upper and outer parts of the arm at birth, at the age of one month and at six months.” A booster dose is recommended when the child turns five

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SPORTS 11

Carlos Yulo

Yulo barely misses out on medal T OKYO – Carlos Yulo came tantalizingly close to a medal when he placed fourth in the men’s vault finals following a total score of 14.716 in the Summer Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre here

Yulo’s 14.866 score in his second and last vault attempt called Dragulescu, a handspring double front move with half turn, was even better than the 14.833 of eventual gold medalist Shin Jeahwan (total 14.783) of Korea, but the Filipino gymnast’s 14.566 in the first vault, dragged his total

score to 14.716 at fourth place.

This was just a hairline short of the 14.733 total of bronze medalist Artur Davtyan of Armenia, who had scores of 14.800 and 14.666.

“Wala na po tayo magagawa doon. Sobrang lapit ko na po. May chance

po na makakuha ng medal kung hindi po ako lumagpas (There is nothing we can do about it. I’m too close. I have a chance to get medal if I did not cross the pad),” said Yulo, referring to his first vault, where his right leg went outside of the pad during landing.

“Nakakahinayang lang po kasi ang ganda ng second vault ko (It’s just disappointing because my second vault is beautiful),” added the 21-year-old Yulo, who was hoping to redeem

himself in the vault after failing to advance to the finals of his favorite men’s floor exercise.

Russian Denos Abliazin finished runner-up to the Korean with a total of 14.783 The Korean and the Russian posted matching average scores of 14.783 in a tie that was broken by the gymnast with the higher score of the two vaults before the average for the final score, giving the gold to Shin.

Davtyan, who earned an

average of 14.733, was also the winner of a tie-break with the Yulo.

Russian Nikita Nagornny, Yulo’s main rival in the floor exercise, only placed fifth with 14.716.

Turkey’s Adem Asil had the best single score of 15.266 in the first vault, but a 13.633 in his second had him slipping to no. 6.

Yulo, disappointed by his failure to win a medal in these games, however, vowed to come back strong.

“Gusto kong magpalakas. Feeling ko po may igagaling pa ako (I want to be strong. I feel I can still do better),” said Yulo, who is competing in the All-Japan Seniors next month.

“Hindi po muna ako makakauwi sa Pilipinas dahil may competition po ako next month. Gusto ko na nga pong bumawi (I can’t still go home to the Philippines because I have a competition next month. I really want to get it back),” Yulo said. (PR)

Yuka grouped with tough rivals as women’s Olympic golf starts

T

he Philippines’ Yuka Saso will open her campaign in an elite company with Lexi Thompson of the US and Brooke Henderson of Canada for the first two rounds of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games women’s golf championship at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.

The group is set to start at 8:25 a.m. (7:25 a.m. Manila time) on Wednesday in the women’s individual stroke play on Wednesday.

Eyes will be on the 20-year-old Saso, a Filpina-Japanese who won the US Women’s Open in June.

Incidentally, on her way to winning the major last June, Saso overcame a one-shot deficit to Thompson entering the final round to take the championship and beat Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in a playoff.

Bianca Pagdanganan, meanwhile, starts with Leona Maguire of Ireland and Matilda Castren of Finland at 7:52 a.m.

(6:52 a.m. Manila time).

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States, winner of the Women’s PGA Championship this year, is in a group with No. 2 Ko Jin Young of Korea and Hataoka.

Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan see action in women’s golf.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 121 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 04, 2021

Carlo Paalam stunned Olympic, world and Asian champion Shakhabidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan on Tuesday atoning for the loss of Dabawenya Neshty Petecio in the women’s finals.

ANOTHER MEDAL

Paalam stuns defending champ Zoirov to reach flyweight semis

T

OKYO - Cagayan de Oro’s Carlo Paalam is through to the semifinals after he stunned Olympic, world and Asian champion Shakhabidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan on Tuesday in the boxing competition of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the Kokugikan Arena.

Undaunted by a fighter he only previously watched fight on YouTube, Paalam, 23, won via split technical decision for leading in four of the judges’ scorecards after an accidental headbutt caused cuts on both fighters’ heads.

When the referee was forced to stop the fight at the 1:44 mark of the second round, the Bukidnon-born former street scavenger from Cagayan de Oro was leading in the scorecards of four judges while the other had it tied at one round apiece.

“Magaling din po ‘yung kalaban ko eh, may experience din talaga,” said Paalam of the 28-year old multi-titled Uzbek. “Sabi nga nila 50/50 daw, pero nagbigay lang ako ng tiwala sa sarili

ko, at nakinig ako sa mga coaches ko.”

The 4-0 decision guaranteed the Philippines its fourth medal in what already stands as its best finish ever since the country started competing in the Olympics in 1924, surpassing its three-bronze finish at the 1932 Los Angeles Games.

It also assured the fourman boxing team of a third medal, with Nesthy Petecio gunning for gold in the women’s featherweight finals later in the day and Eumir Marcial competing in the middleweight semifinals on August 5.

Philippine coach Ronald Chavez also dismissed the small cut in Paalam’s forehead, saying it won’t be

FANOTHER, P10