Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 127 | Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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Container vessels are docked at Sasa Port in Brgy. Sasa, the main port in Davao City. The country’s economy emerged from recession after the gross domestic product grew by 11.8 percent in the second quarter of this year. Edge Dava

JABBED BUT...

38 fully vaccinated SPMC personnel but still tested positive for Covid-19

STORY ON PAGE 2

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VOL.14 ISSUE 127 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021

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. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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Use face shields, masks: Duterte

38 fully vaccinated SPMC personnel but still tested positive for Covid-19

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) disclosed that there are 38 personnel who tested positive for Covid-19 and are now undergoing isolation have received full dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr. Ricardo Audan, officer-in-charge of SPMC, said the 38 personnel, who were among the 69 personnel of SPMC who tested positive for Covid-19 that ran until

July 26, are composed mostly of nurses, several doctors and medical technologists.

Among them two were fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca, 35 with Sinovac, and one

with Pfizer vaccines.

“Medyo marami ang 35 (personnel) sa Sinovac, but it’s not because weak ang Sinovac, it’s because marami ang Sinovac na-accommodate naming sa mga employees compared to Pfizer and AstraZeneca,” Audan said on Monday.

Audan added that of the 69 personnel, 48 were brought to the the Covid area

of SPMC for quarantine while 21 were isolated at the city’s Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs).

Based on his presentation dated July 29, 2021, 23 positive personnel were admitted and 16 were already discharged.

Audan affirmed that majority of the personnel of SPMC already received their anti-Covid vaccines.

antine (GCQ) measures.

He acknowledged that Zumba activities, which is included in the mass gathering restrictions, are essential to some residents in terms of maintaining good health and fitness.

The mayor said the matter has already been tabled for discussion by the City Inter-Agency Task Force (CIATF) for the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases and the subject of upcoming consultations.

He said they need to discuss the matter with Zumba instructors in the city to ensure that strict compliance to the health protocols will be maintained during public workouts.

“We might allow it through the CIATF but there will be guidelines that should be implemented,” he said in a radio interview.

The local government partially lifted starting the weekend the three-month total liquor ban in the city following clamors from

owners and workers of local bars and other establishments serving and selling liquor.

The move was provided for in Executive Order (EO) No. 34 issued by the mayor last Friday, amending EO 32, which placed the city under GCQ until Aug. 31.

Rivera said the liquor ban will only be observed during the “no movement” or “stay-at-home Sundays” and the curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

GenSan eyes easing curbs amid COVID-19 surge

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he city government is looking at easing more restrictions in the coming days as it continues to balance its response against the soaring cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with the area’s economic situation.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said on Monday they are considering the possible lifting of the prohibition on public Zumba workouts and other related activities under the city’s prevailing general community quar-

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ace shields should be used with face masks as a precaution against Covid-19, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on Monday, saying the public should follow his “advice” because they voted for him as the country’s leader.

He said there are “sectors” that insist that face shields are not necessary, but noted that he wanted to keep the face shield requirement because he cared about the health and safety of Filipinos.

“Sundin lang ninyo ako.

Tutal binoto ninyo akong presidente. Milyon-milyon ang naglike sa akin, ika nga (Just follow my order. You voted for me after all. There are millions who like me, as they say). So ito it’s a[n] advice I’m giving you because I love you as Filipino,” he said in his pre-recorded public address.

Duterte said because it is still unclear how Covid-19 would enter a person’s body, it is best to have an additional layer of protection from infection.

He recognized that using face shields is “inconvenient”, but noted that it is better to be safe than sorry.

Besides the use of face shields, he also emphasized the importance of frequent hand-washing after interacting with other people.

“It is not discourteous nowadays to wash your hands in public after shaking the hands. It’s not bastos

(rude) because that is really the measure that is needed by the times,” he said.

Get vaccinated Duterte encouraged the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19, saying the virus “cannot really prosper” once more people get their shots.

He warned the public of the risks that go with refusing to follow minimum public health standards.

“Kung ayaw ninyo, well pag nahawaan kayo, lalo na itong Delta (If you don’t want to and get infected with the Delta variant), I think you can say goodbye to the world kasi (because) it’s very aggressive, very violent virus that enters your body at uubusin yung lungs mo, pati heart mo (and it’s going to destroy your lungs and heart),” he added.

The plan to beat Covid-19, he said, will not succeed without people’s cooperation.

“We’re trying to control the spread of the virus but we can only do so much.

Kailangan kayong mga tao, magsunod talaga sa utos ng gobyerno kasi ito para sa kabutihan ninyo. Hindi ito para sa kabutihan namin (You should really follow government orders because this is for your own good. It’s not for our own good),” he said.

As of Monday, health authorities reported 8,900 new Covid-19 infections, bringing the total cases to

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NEWS

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Catholic churches in Davao City are planning to take part in the vaccination efforts of the city government of Davao. Edge Davao

Archbishop Valles calls for support to parish-based vaccination activity Two more Delta cases reported in Davao Region

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he regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11) reported two additional Delta Variant cases in Davao Region. The new cases are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) workers from Saudi Arabia and Zambia, Africa.

Dr. Rachel Joy Pasion, unit head of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao), affirmed to date there are already

eight confirmed Delta variant cases in the region. The first case was tagged in Davao City while the other is tagged in Davao del Norte.

The first of the two cases is a 25-year-old, Filipino, female who was from Saudi Arabia and arrived in Manila last July 6, 2021. She tested negative for RT-PCR before her flight going to Manila and upon arrival, she was quarantined at Manila Subic Time College.

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DOH 11 intensifies PDITR strategy as Davao City is on alert level 4

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he Department of Health 11 clarified that Davao City is expected to intensify the implementation of the PDITR strategies or the Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, Reintegrate and Vaccinate following the inclusion of Davao City declared by the DOH as under alert level 4.

DOH XI Head of Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Dr. Rachel Joy Pasion explained that the alert levels are measured inorder to identify areas and their alert levels and the different strategies that need to be done. “ There are four alert lev-

els and these are measured through the two-week or one-week growth rate of COVID19 cases and we have been using this in determining risk classification”, Dr. Pasion said.

The DOH on Saturday announced that Davao City is included in the 37 areas in the country which are under alert level 4 or areas which have risk classification that is moderate to critical and the bed utilization rate is more than 70 percent.

Pasion further explained that areas under alert level 4 will have to continue and

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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Health Office (CHO).

Valles also said the archdiocese will prepare place/ venue of the vaccination site complete with rooms, chairs, and tables and will also campaign for other volunteers to do the work of ushering, registration, validation of vaccine-related documents, screening, and counselling.

The group will also prepare meals and snacks and

other items like bottled water for the volunteers; and to borrow computer laptops, electric fans, etc. to be used during the actual vaccination.

Earlier this year, the archdiocese has expressed willingness to be of assistance city government and CHO to bring vaccination to as many people as quickly as possible.

Last 31 July 2021, a parish-based vaccination was conducted at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Obrero, Davao City wherein 686 people were vaccinated.

Valles is endorsing the efforts of the priests in the parishes and the parish staff in organizing the parish-based vaccination activity.

“I also appeal to our parishioners, our friends and benefactors to assist the parish in terms of helping out in the campaign for needed volunteers mentioned above and to assist in seeing to it that the material items mentioned above will be available and ready for the vaccination to be conducted in the parish,” Valles said in the statement.

di Asanulla, Pvt. Stephen Maglacion, Pvt. Cyrille De Castro, Pvt. Ryan Tagubar, and Pvt. Christian Banug were previously admitted to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) but later transferred to CPH to continue their recovery.

LtGen. Almerol, along with his wife Mrs. Lynette Cumara Almerol and CPH Commanding Officer LtCol. Nerio Simbahan, visited the survivors to personally see their conditions and assess what other assistance could

be done to help them to assure their full recovery. LtGen. Almerol had handed over the financial assistance to the five troops while his wife also extended grocery supplies on behalf of the AFP Officers Ladies Club.

Another crash survivor named Sgt. James Miguel Ybañez, who is still confined at SPMC to undergo an operation, also received the same assistance through his brother-in-law Sean Listher Baynosa.

“Unang-una po nag-

papasalamat po ako sa panginoon dahil binigyan niya ako ng pangalawang buhay. Nagpapasalamat din po ako kina President Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor Sara Duterte, LtGen. Almerol at sa Philippine Army sa mga tulong na kanilang binigay sa amin,” survivor Pvt. De Castro expressed.

The rest of the survivors, likewise voiced out their gratitude in separate statements to God for the second life and to all those who have extended

he Archdiocese of Davao will mobilize volunteers as it gears up for churchled parish-based vaccination activity.

Archbishop Romulo Valles has made the call for volunteers especially those in the medical field to take part in this effort.

In a statement, Valles stated that the said professional medical volunteers like doctors, nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, and others will undergo orientation and training that will be facilitated by the vaccination team of the City

EastMinCom commander visits 5 C-130 crash survivors, extends financial aid

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astern Mindanao Command Commander LtGen. Greg T. Almerol visited five survivors of the C-130 mishap who are currently recuperating at Camp Panacan Hospital (CPH) on August 7 and extended financial assistance to them.

As we recalled, the crashed C-130 aircraft in Patikul, Sulu last July 4 carried cargo and 96 AFP personnel wherein 50 soldiers died and 46 others survived.

Survivors Sgt. Bensau-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Megaworld chief strategy officer, Kevin L. Tan (right), formally turns over the P14-million, fully furnished two-bedroom residential condominium unit gifted to Filipino Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. The unit, located at One Eastwood Avenue in Eastwood City, is a gift from tycoon Dr. Andrew L. Tan and property giant Megaworld. Among the centerpieces inside the unit is a commissioned charcoal painting done by 21-year old John Ken Gomez showing Diaz’s historic Olympic moment.

Moody’s Analytics eyes 0.6% PH GDP growth in Q2 of 2021

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oody’s Analytics forecasts an 0.6-percent expansion for the Philippine economy in the second quarter of 2021, an improvement from the -4.2 percent in the first quarter.

The economic research subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation earlier said it expected a strong rebound for the domestic economy this year, with the full-year growth projected at 5.3 percent, with the phase of recovery largely dependent on pandemic-related developments and the government’s vaccine rollout.

The government is scheduled to report the sec-

ond quarter 2021 figure on Tuesday.

Economic managers are confident of an economic rebound for the country this year, with the full-year gross domestic product (GDP) target set between 6 percent to 7 percent.

Continued vaccination program rollout against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and increased infrastructure spending are

seen to lift the economy from the 9.5-percent contraction last year.

These measures are expected to counter the effects of the movement restrictions, economic managers said.

They also vowed to keep the economy as open as possible to ensure that economic activities remain robust.

Amidst the continued easing of quarantine levels around the country, the government implemented a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and four nearby provinces namely Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite, col-

he Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday urged the private sector employees to report employers who are implementing “no vaccine, no work policy”.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said it is important for workers to report to the department those companies that are compelling their workers to get vaccinated.

“Yes, that is right just in-

form us and we will tell the employer. Mr. employer, employee letter A, is complaining that he is not allowed to work because he is not vaccinated. Can you please allow him to report to work?

If the employer does not agree, then we will issue an order directing the employer to allow the employee to report. If he refused, we will consider the employee as having reported to the office and then for entitlement for

the payment of his salaries,” he said in a virtual forum.

Bello said the DOLE will then issue a compliance order to allow the workers to report to the office and if not complied, “we will tell them okay, don’t let them in, but as far as DOLE is concerned, they are present”.

“They should be paid, that will be our disciplinary action there,” he added.

Asked on what are the specific violations can be im-

lectively called the NCR Plus bubble, from March 29 and then a modified ECQ until May 14 to address the surge in Covid-19 infections.

Another ECQ is now being implemented in Metro Manila that started last Aug. 6 and will run until Aug. 20 to address the rising infection cases, following the discovery of Delta variant-related local transmissions.

The strictest quarantine level was also implemented for several weeks in the Iloilo province and Iloilo City, as well as in Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City until Aug. 7 due also to the surge in Covid-19 cases. (PNA)

posed on employers, Bello said, “The right of the worker to report to work that is a basic right of an employee to report to work.”

“You cannot prevent the employee from reporting to work just because he is not vaccinated,” he added.

He said the obligation of an employer to their employees regarding vaccination is to encourage them to get inoculated but the former has

PH economy grows 11.8% in Q2 of ‘21

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he Philippine economy emerged from recession after its gross domestic product grew by 11.8 percent in the second quarter, the state statistics bureau said Monday.

The figure is higher compared to the revised 3.9 percent contraction in the first quarter and the 8.3 percent drop in the fourth quarter of 2020 which reflected the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This was the highest since the 12 growth in fourth quarter of 1988,” National Statistician Dennis Mapa said.

The high growth figures take into account low base effects. The economy contracted by 17 percent in the second quarter of 2020.

Last year, the GDP suffered from its worst contraction at 9.6 percent, its lowest level since the end of World

lobe Telecom Inc. has decided to defer its plans to sell its cellular sites, as it said tower companies first need to scale up their operations before this can be reconsidered.

The Ayala-led company has built some 641 cell sites across the country in the first half of 2021, but it said the sites developed during the period were not much, in relation to the partnerships made with seven pro-

viders.

“We have paused in terms of looking into selling our towers,” Globe chief finance officer Rizza Maniego-Eala told reporters in a virtual briefing.

Pangilinan-led PLDT Group, Globe’s main rival, said it is now mulling possibilities regarding the towers and talks have been made with a number of international banks for the possible

Report firms imposing ‘no vax, Globe defers plans no work policy’, workers told to sell cellular sites T G FREPORT, P10

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EDGEDAVAO

The SM Foundation through The SM Store continues to support medical partners in the community in the fight against COVID-19. This week, 10,000 surgical masks, 13,000 PPE sets, and a ventilator unit were donated to Southern Philippines Medical Center. Medical director Dr. Ricardo Audan (2nd from right) welcomes the support from SM. In photo during the turnover (L-R): The SM Store Lanang Assistant Branch Manager Marinette Poliquit, SPMC

DTI urges MSMEs to embrace digital transformation amid the new normal

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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has urged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to embrace digital transformation amid the “new normal”.

At the virtual event of Small Business (SB) Corp.

Monday, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said adopting digitalization will help businesses and the country to recover from the pandemic.

He said along with the promotion of financial technology, digitalization will empower MSMEs towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“The Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has forced all of us to rethink the way of doing things and this has resulted in major transformations in the way we do business -including business models and processes,” he added.

According to DTI e-Com-

merce Group’s survey last September, 73 percent of MSME respondents said they need capacity-building related to digitizing their business.

Lopez said among the top needed skills of MSMEs in adopting digitalization include financial, marketing, content management, basics of e-commerce, and starting an online business.

“Another thing to consider -- especially during the pandemic -- is that digitalization ensures that MSMEs’ business activities can continue safely. For example, restaurants and hotels can do this by conforming to the minimum health protocols through QR (quick response) codes, as well as utilizing smartphone applications so that customers can order food or request for delivery,” he added.

The DTI chief urged

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ECONOMY 5

Materials Management Head Catalina Bersabal, SM Supermalls Regional Operations Manager Engr. Jonathan Nick Santos, The SM Store Director Ruben Bangayan, The SM Store AVP for Operations Peter Sam, and SPMC Strategic Management Office Head Dr. Fitzgerald Arancel. (SM PR)

P12-M loan released to 200 De Oro MSMEs A bout 200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Davao de Oro have already availed of loans for their businesses under the Bayanihan COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program of the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp) since last year.

According to Atty. Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here, the amount of loans granted to the said local entrepreneurs already reached around Php12 million pesos, as of June 2021.

Based on the figure pro-

vided by the SBC personnel stationed at DTI-Davao de Oro, Php3.5 million of the loaned amount was released during the first semester of this year to the 36 MSMEs from all over the province.

Last year Php7.7 M was availed of by 161 MSMEs in Davao de Oro.

The Bayanihan CARES is an interest-free and collateral-free financing program that aims to assist MSMEs recover from the adverse effects of the pandemic.

The MSMEs that have been operating for one year may apply for a loan amount of at least Php10,000 to Php5.0 million. They may also enjoy a flexible payment scheme wherein they will be provided with a grace period of up to 12 months, with no collateral required, plus zero interest.

To apply for the Bayanihan CARES loan, those who have no Financial Statements filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

to invest in the RDBs. The RDBs will be the first onshore United States (US) dollar-denominated bonds to be issued by the BTr in amounts as low as USD300, National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon said.

De Leon said the RDBs “will provide small investors a tool to diversify their investment portfolio aside from the usual Peso Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) and Premyo Bonds.”

“We are planning to make the RDBs available to individual investors at a minimum amount of only USD300,

significantly lower than the minimum amount for investing in traditional Philippines’ US dollar-denominated bonds of USD200,000,” de Leon said in her report.

Aside from offering the RDBs at a small minimum investment amount, she said access to such bonds will be much easier as these will be available through the BTr’s online ordering facility, Bonds.

PH mobile app, and the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) mobile application.

To offer the RDBs to the widest investor base possible, de Leon said the BTr will

be introducing two accounts for people to invest in this instrument -- the straight US Dollar and PesoClear options.

Those who wish to invest in RDBs through the straight US Dollar method would need to open US dollar accounts with a local participating bank that will serve as the cash settlement account where the interest earnings and the principal repayment at maturity will be credited to the investor, she said.

Aside from waiving the usual requirements on the opening of dollar accounts,

must have a government-issued ID, bank or electronic money account, 2019 and 2020 barangay or mayor’s business permit, three pictures and one video showing the financial condition and assets of the business.

All these documents should be scanned for an online application.

To apply online, the loan applicant should create an account in the SBC website http://www.BayanihanCARES.phand supply the required personal details.

Balleque shared that the loan applicants must strictly follow the instructions provided in the website or

de Leon said several banks have committed to making it easier and safer for investors of the RDBs to open US dollar accounts without having to physically go to their branches.

As for the PesoClear option, investors who do not have US dollar accounts can use their existing Philippine bank accounts to purchase the RDBs. In the initial investment, the investor will pay the peso equivalent of the face amount of the RDBs based on the prevailing market ex-

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BTr ties up with banks on retail dollar bonds for small investors

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he Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) has teamed up with the country’s leading banks to let small investors buy at easy terms retail dollar bonds (RDBs) that the government is planning to issue this year to fulfill part of its domestic financing requirements for 2021.

In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the BTr said several banks have expressed support for its issuance of RDBs, and agreed to set the minimum initial deposit and average daily maintaining balance requirement to zero for those

who would want to purchase these US dollar-denominated securities.

The issuance of RDBs is part of the government’s efforts to diversify sources for funding its operations and is in keeping with President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal of financial inclusion for all Filipinos.

This plan to democratize dollar-bond investing means that banks would do away with their current practice of requiring depositors to open dollar accounts with a minimum balance of USD500 to USD1,000 before being able

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On 38 SPMC personnel fully vaccinated but tested positive for Covid-19:

Medyo marami ang 35 (personnel) sa Sinovac, but it’s not because weak ang Sinovac, it’s because marami ang Sinovac na-accommodate naming sa mga employees compared to Pfizer and AstraZeneca.”

Dr. Ricardo Audan SPMC, Officer-in-charge

EDITORIAL Tax-free incentives The big predicament besetting athletes receiving cash and property rewards for their achievements are the taxes, charges and fees that come with the bonanza.

Newly-minted Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who stands to receive a windfall close to P50 million, will have to deal with that.

Unless, a law is passed exempting athletes’ incentives from being taxed.

As an offshoot to Diaz’s Olympic triumph that ended 97 years of fruitless campaign in search of that elusive Olympic gold, our legislators gave the measure exempting the rewards, bonuses, and emoluments for national athletes and coaches who compete or win international sports competitions from all taxes, fees, and charges the much-needed support in the committee level at the House of Representatives.

In a virtual meeting on Monday, the House Committee on Ways and Means approved the unnumbered substitute bill for the pro-

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Salceda noted that this was the first gold medal for the Philippines since it joined the Olympics in 1924, adding that the country also won two silvers courtesy of boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and one bronze won by another boxer Eumir Marcial for its strongest ever Olympic performance.

The bill’s author believes that while the tax exemptions are one thing, “public investment” is the greater need, citing that “the best Olympic performance of this country corresponded with the largest public investment in our Olympic program, ever.”

True enough, athletes who receive incentives for their effort and sacrifices shouldn’t be burdened with taxes, charges and fees.

It will encourage many more to be the next Hidilyn Diaz of this sports-loving nation.

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

posed Hidilyn Diaz Act of 2021, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act. The base bill was filed by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Committee Chair Joey Salceda in light of the historic gold medal win by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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!

A MATTER OF CHOICE LIFE is a matter of choice.

I recalled the story of Joe, an American who inherited a million dollars from his grandfather. The will, however, stipulated that he had to accept it either in Chile or Brazil. He personally picked Brazil. Had he chosen Chile, he would have received his inheritance in land on which uranium, gold, and silver had just been discovered.

Once in Brazil, Joe had to choose between receiving his inheritance in coffee or nuts. He chose nuts. Too bad! The bottom fell out of the nut market and coffee went up to US$1.50 per pound, wholesale. Poor Joe lost everything he had to his name.

Joe went out and sold his gold watch for the money he needed to fly back home. It seems that he had enough for a ticket to either New York or Boston. He chose Boston. When the plane for New York taxied up, he noticed it was a brand-new 747 super-jet with all the latest technology. The plane for Boston arrived, and it was a 1928 old Ford tri-motor with a sway back.

It was filled with crying children and tethered goats and sheep. It seemed like it took all day to get off the runway.

Over the Andes, one of the engines fell off. Joe then made his way to the captain. Remembering the story of Jonah – the prophet who was swallowed by a big fish – he told him, “I’m a

jinx on this plane. Let me out if you want to save your lives. Give me a parachute.”

The captain readily agreed.

But he added, “On this plane, anybody who bails out must wear two parachutes.” Joe did not ask why as he jumped out of the plane. As he fell through the air, he tried to make up his mind which ripcord to pull. Finally, he chose the one on the left. It was rusty, and the wire pulled loose. So he pulled the other handle. The chute opened, but its shroud line snapped. In desperation, Joe cried, “Saint Francis, save me!”

A hand reached out of heaven and grabbed Joe by the wrist and let him dangle in mid-air.

Then a gentle but inquisitive voice asked, “Saint Francis Xavier or Saint Francis of Assisi?”

Well, Joe’s answer was not as good as mine.

“When you have a serious decision to make, tell yourself firmly you are going to make it,” a statement from a magazine once advised. “Do not expect it will be the perfect one. Some of those ‘againsts’ may never be canceled out. You must simply try to make the best decision you can, having taken all the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ you can discover into account.”

It adds: “Try not to be hurried by others, or by your own panic, into a snap decision, before you have weighed matters and informed yourself ful-

ly… Whether we like it or not, making a choice is part of being human and we do not think too highly of those who throw away this right – always needing someone else to make up their minds for them.”

If you decide not to decide, then it’s already your decision.

As William James puts it: “When you have to make a choice and you don’t make it, that itself is a choice.” Pat Riley adds, “There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either in or out. There’s no such thing as a life in-between.”

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher also said, “Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.”

If only Ronald Reagan – a movie actor who later became the president of the United States – heard this advice when he was still a young boy. A kind aunt had taken him to a shoemaker to have a pair of shoes custom-made just for him. The shoemaker asked, “Do you want a round toe or a square toe?”

Young Ronald couldn’t make up his mind. So the cobbler said, “Come back in a day or two and tell me what you want.”

A few days later, the shoemaker showed Ronald on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” the boy answered.

“Very well,” said the shoemaker, “your shoes will be ready for you to pick up tomorrow.”

When Ronald picked up the shoes, he was astonished: one had a round toe and the other a square toe.

Before a group of friends, when he was already the president of the United States, he pondered: “Looking at those shoes taught me a lesson. If you don’t make your own decisions, somebody else makes them for you.”

Peter Drucker observed, “Every one of the most effective presidents in American history had his own method of producing the disagreement he needed in order to make an effective decision. Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman – each had his own ways. But each created the disagreement he needed for ‘some understanding of what the decision is all about.’ Washington, we know, hated conflicts and quarrels and wanted a united Cabinet. Yet, he made quite sure of the necessary differences of opinion on important matters by asking both Hamilton and Jefferson for their opinions.”

“Stay committed to your decisions; but stay flexible in your approach,” Tony Robbins pointed out. Two which Philip Brunstetter added: “There are no born decision-makers. The most successful decision-makers follow a set of rules that help them select the best alternative

under the circumstances.”

According to Brunstetter, the basic rules of decision-making involve six steps. These are: (1) State the apparent problem or situation you face. (2) Gather the facts. (3) Organize and interpret the facts. (4) State the real problem or situation. (5) Develop alternative solutions.

(6) Select the most appropriate alternative.

Murphy’s Law states, “If anything can go wrong, it will.”

But someone argued, “Murphy was an optimist.”

In 1916, Georgia Tech University in Atlanta played a football game against Cumberland University, a tiny law school.

The Tech team was a mighty football powerhouse and rolled over Cumberland by a score of 222 to 0. Tech pretty much beat the Cumberland players to a pulp, too. Toward the end of the game, Cumberland quarterback Ed Edwards fumbled a snap from center. As the Tech linemen charged into his backfield, Edwards yelled to his backs, “Pick it up! Pick it up!”

Edward’s fullback, seeing the monsters rush in who had battered him all day, yelled back, “Pick it up yourself. You dropped it!”

Peter Marshall reminds, “Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

D. F. CARRILLO, CONCON DELEGATE Known as the Davao luminary who asked the Supreme Court to declare void the 1973 Constitution, Dominador F. Carrillo, a cop turned judge, was a lively persona. Always ready with his infectious smile, he was a prominent activist who graced the anti-Marcos landscape in Davao region, confronting and attacking in public rallies the dictatorship without hesitation.

Born on January 18, 1933 in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, he was the son of Nicolas F. Carrillo, a native of Argao, Cebu, and Maximina Miraduentes Fiel, of Sibonga, Cebu. He took up primary at Ganiangan Elementary School, in Tangub, finishing as class valedictorian, and completed elementary at Pagadian Central Elementary School, in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. He earned high school diploma from Holy Child’s Acade-

my in the same city.

As a Rotary, Lions, and Jaycees scholar, he took up tertiary education at Mindanao Colleges (now University of Mindanao), where he earned two degrees, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws, finishing both courses with distinction. For his achievements, he was bestowed twice the UM Institutional Award, the highest honor given to an alumnus and as Law Graduate with Distinction by his college alma mater.

After passing the Bar, he promptly taught Law at Mindanao Colleges, became junior partner of Angeles Maskariño and Associates Law Offices (1963-67), and later opened Carrillo and Associates Law Offices (1967-89) while on the side taught Law at Cor Jesu College in Digos City.

Carrillo’s only high-profile political engagement was as delegate to the 1971 Constitu-

tional Convention, representing Davao del Sur and Davao City.

He chaired the Subcommittee on Agriculture and was elected vice-chairman of Constitutional Bodies and was awarded four times as Outstanding Con-Con Delegate. On the side, he helped organize the Abasolo, Carrillo & Associates Law Offices in Manila.

As a college student, Carrillo worked as police patrolman in Padada, Davao del Sur, for a year before joining the Davao City Police Force as police-detective (1956-63). He also dabbled as newspaper columnist (Digos Times and Davao Star) and radio commentator (DXMC, DXWW, DXDC, and DXOW), and was police instructor at the National Police Commission, Davao City.

On March 1, 1991, then Supreme Court chief justice Marcelo Fernan appointed him

executive judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Digos City.

His productive stint in the judiciary earned him the distinction as Most Outstanding Judge from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Davao del Sur chapter, on January 16, 1992. He later became president of the Regional Trial Court Judges’ Association of Region XI (Southern Mindanao).

His other engagements, many low-profile, included as founder of the Crusaders for Good Government, in Davao City; chairman of the Liberal Party (LP) legal panel for the Osmeña for President Movement; stint as legal counsel of Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) in Davao del Sur; and chairman of the Committee on Complaints, Grievances, etc. of the Davao del Sur Sugarcane Planters Association. He was Sen. Benigno

S. Aquino Jr.’s inseparable companion when the Tarlac icon campaigned in Davao in 1971 for a Senate reelection.

Carrillo tried joining mainstream politics by running as candidate for Davao del Sur assemblyman (1978) and governor (1980) but failed in both attempts. While in self-exile in the United States, he taught at Blitz Language School at Rockefeller Center, New York, and was legal researcher at Feliciano Law Offices, in the same state. In private life, he was a farmer and sugarcane planter.

Carrillo was married to Fe Ocañada, of Mambaling, Cebu with whom he had two children: Dominador Maphilindo, a UP Law alumnus who joined the Bar in 1989, and Jane Care C. Witt, a UP Business Economics graduate who later studied at the University of Florida, USA.

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HIDILYN DIAZ RECEIVES HER GIFT: A P14-M FULLY-FURNISHED CONDO UNIT IN EASTWOOD CITY THE PHILIPPINES’ first and only Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, can now officially call Eastwood City her home.

The 30-year-old Diaz today received her P14-million, fully-furnished two-bedroom condominium unit gift at the 47-storey One Eastwood Avenue from tycoon Dr. Andrew L. Tan and property giant Megaworld, days after returning to the country following a successful stint at the just concluded Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan.

The unit, which was specially curated by Megaworld’s in-house interior design team, comes complete with furniture and fixtures as well as appliances.

“All that Hidilyn and her family need to do is just bring their clothes and other personal effects, and they are good to stay in the unit. We are excited to welcome her and her family and loved ones to Eastwood City, particularly in this newest residential condominium tower in our first-ever township. She has brought so much pride to our country and she deserves all these rewards for her hardwork in raising our flag so high in the Tokyo Olympics,” says Kevin L. Tan, chief strategy officer, Megaworld, and son of the real estate magnate.

Also lending a nostalgic feel

to Diaz’s new space is a commissioned charcoal painting by 21-year-old fine arts student, John Ken Gomez, which captured two images of Diaz’s historic and emotional moment at the Tokyo Olympics, and a special message from Megaworld that says, ‘Thank you for lifting our country up high.’ This is prominently displayed in the unit’s living room.

“The story of Hidilyn’s victory is a great source of inspiration for Filipinos. I hope every time she looks at that artwork, she will be reminded that she is a symbol of hope and pride for all of us,” Gomez shares.

A winning township lifestyle As an owner of a condo unit, Diaz and her family can enjoy the first-class amenities of One Eastwood Avenue, which include a badminton court at the roofdeck, landscaped gardens, a lap pool with pool seat jets, paved sunbathing lounge and seating area, and a bar with indoor and outdoor lounge. There are also skygardens located on the 8th, 18th, and 28th floors of the tower.

Other amenities include a kiddie pool and a wading pool, male and female shower and changing rooms, kids’ playground, children’s playroom, reflexology path and meditation garden, a yoga and Pilates room, function rooms, an outdoor chess area, game room, and a fitness center – where Hidilyn can spend time to practice her sport.

Since One Eastwood Avenue is in a township setting, malls and commercial centers, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, banks, pet shops, retail stores, hotel, and even a church are just walkable and easily accessible without driving or commuting.

“It will be a very convenient lifestyle for Hidilyn and her family. In fact, there are other celebrities and renowned personalities who have also chosen Eastwood City as their home for many years now because of this,” adds Tan.

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PHILIPPINE OLYMPIC MEDALS: SOME RECORDS

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

MB, CNN and spin.ph

he modern Olympic Games – more popularly known as Olympics – got its idea from the ancient Olympic Games which was held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.

It was Baron Pierre de Coubertin who founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894 which led to the first modern games that was held in Athens in 1896.

Since then, the games have grown so much that nearly every nation is now represented.

The Philippines joined the competition since the modern games debuted. In 1896, the Philippines was part of Spain. From 1900 to 1920, the Philippines competed as part of the United States.

In 1924, when the Summer Olympic Games debuted, the Philippines joined and became the first country from Southeast Asia to compete. It sent only one participant – in the person of David Nepomuceno.

The country has competed in every edition of the Summer Olympics except when it participated in the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. Before that, it also decided not participate at the 1940 Summer Olympics before the games was ultimately can-

celled due to the outbreak of World War II. All in all, Filipino athletes got a total of fourteen Olympics medals. Boxing is the top medal-producing sport, with eight medals (four for silver and four for bronze).

Both athletics and swimming produced two bronze medals each. Weightlifting managed to get two medals (one for gold and another for silver).

Now, let’s take a closer look at those who won Olympic medals for the Philippines: The first Filipino athlete to win an Olympic medal was Teofilo Yldefonso, when he won a bronze for swimming at the Amsterdam Games (the Netherlands) in 1928.

When he returned in 1932 at the Los Angeles Games (United States), he bagged another bronze medal. This made him the first Filipino to win two in a row.

At the 1932 Los Angeles Games, two other Filipinos won. Simon Toribio also won a bronze medal in athletics. This made him the first to accomplish the feat.

Jose Villanueva earned another bronze for boxing becoming the first boxer to win an Olympic medal.

When the Olympics was held in Berlin, Germany in 1936, Miguel White won a bronze medal in athletics. He became the second and the last to win such a medal for the Philippines. He also became the first Filipino-American to score an Olympic medal; his mother was a Filipina while his father was an American.

In 1964, Jose Villanueva’s son, Anthony, won the country’s first silver medal for boxing. Curiously enough, the Games was held in Tokyo, Japan. This is the first and last time a father and son ever snatched Olympic medals.

At the Seoul Olympics Games in South Korea in 1988, Leopoldo Serantes won a bronze medal in boxing. This made him the second Filipino athlete to accomplish the feat.

Another bronze medal for boxing was won by Roel Velasco at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in Spain. Four years later, when the Games was held in Atlanta (United States), Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco almost managed to get a gold medal. He holds the record as the second boxer to win a silver medal. Roel and Onyok are the only sib-

9

lings to have won Olympic medals.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Olympics Games, Hidilyn Diaz made history by becoming the first Filipina to win a medal for weightlifting. She scored a silver medal. And at the 2020 Tokyo Games, she became the first Filipino to have ever won a gold medal, still for weightlifting. Her feat also made her the second Filipino to win back-to-back medals.

Also, at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Nesthy Petecio became the first female boxer to win an Olympic medal – a silver at that! She’s the third Filipino boxer to win a silver medal.

Another silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Games was Carlo Paalam. He is the third male – and fourth Filipino – boxer to accomplish the feat.

At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Filipino athletes scored four medals – shattering the record that was accomplished at the 1932 Los Angeles Games (when three bronze medals were won). Garnering a bronze medal in boxing was Eumir Marcial, thus making him the fourth boxer to do such honor for the Philippines.

All four Olympic medalists have one thing in common; they came all from Mindanao. Both Hidilyn Diaz and Eumir Marcial are from Zamboanga. Nesthy Petecio is from Davao del Sur while Carlo Paalam is from Cagayan de Oro City (although he was born in Bukidnon).

Another common thing about the four Mindanao medalists is that they all grew up in poverty.

The fifth child of a tricycle driver who later became a farmer and fisherman, Hidilyn grew up in Zamboanga wanting to become a banker.

FPHILIPPINE, P10

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“Concerned establishments are now allowed to accept customers at 30 percent capacity. We still have a liquor ban but it’s now more relaxed,” he said.

The city was among the areas in the country that were placed by the Department of Health last week under Alert Level 4 due to the high number of COVID-19 cases.

Areas under such alert status have healthcare utilization rates that are higher

than 70 percent and classified as moderate- to critical-risk.

The COVID-19 infections in the city have surged anew in the past several days, with the active cases reaching 857 as of Sunday night, the highest in Region 12 (Soccsksargen).

The confirmed cases in the area since March last year already reached a total of 8,244, with 262 related deaths and 7,125 recoveries. (MindaNews)

1,667,714.

Recoveries climbed to 1,560,106 after 7,937 more

people got well while the death toll reached 29,128 with six new deaths. (PNA)

On July 13, 2021, she was swabbed via RT-PCR and tested positive. She was isolated for 10 days. On July 24, 2021, she arrived at the Davao International Airport (DIA) and transported to Carmen, Davao del Norte via bus and was quarantined at a TTMF in Carmen, Davao del Norte. The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Carmen re-tested her on July 26, 2021 and yielded negative RT-PCR result.

“Because of the intensified surveillance in Davao del Norte meron na siyang negative RT-PCR before siya na discharged,” Pasion said.

On the other hand, the second case is a 51-yearold male from Zambia, Africa and arrived in Manila last July 6, 2021. On July 12, 2021, he was swabbed and tested positive. He was quarantined in a hotel in

Makati until July 16, 2021 but on July 17, 2021, he was advised to isolate for another seven days in Mabini, Manila. And on July 24, 2021, he was released from the isolation center flew in Davao City.

Pasion affirmed both cases already recovered.

A total of eight Delta variant cases were already reported in Davao Region.

On Aug. 3, Pasion revealed four Delta variants detected in Davao Region: three in Davao City and one in Tagum City. All four cases have recovered.

On August 6, 2021, DOHDavao announced two new Delta variant cases. Pasion said these were local cases upon initial investigation.

One local case was tagged in Davao City while the other was tagged in Davao del Sur.

By Maya M. Padillo

to provide the vaccine.

“It is only a question of appealing to them that if possible if the vaccine is available, get vaccinated,” he said.

Bello reiterated that the no vaccine, no work policy has no legal basis.

“There is no legal basis for the employers to compel their workers to be vaccinated. In fact, it is a violation of the freedom

of choice of our countrymen as guaranteed by the constitution. You cannot compel anybody to do something against his will,” he said.

“Nobody, not even the government, could compel anybody to undergo vaccination. More so it is not legal for any employer to require a worker to be vaccinated for him to go to work,” he added. (PNA)

MSMEs to embrace digitalization of their businesses as this can increase their productivity, reduce costs, diversify products and services, improve competitiveness, and increase sales by managing transactions at a distance.

“Lastly, the adoption of digitalization in all sectors of the economy sup-

ports DTI’s innovation agenda. Despite limitations in our technology infrastructure, more MSMEs are conducting their businesses online amidst the pandemic -- which is why their digitalization plays a crucial role in developing an inclusive and sustainable economy,” Lopez said. (PNA)

change rates.

During the life of the RDBs, the investor’s settlement bank will automatically convert the quarterly interest payments and principal repayment at maturity into pesos and credit these to the Philippine account of the investor, all at the market exchange rate during the transactions.

Given these structures, the BTr has started its financial literacy sessions to discuss the risks in this

new instrument, especially foreign exchange risks, and ensure that investors understand the risks to their investments before purchasing RDBs. To date, the BTr has already hosted webinars for overseas Filipinos from 20 countries in coordination with the Philippine embassies. More financial literacy webinars will be scheduled by the BTr in the coming weeks, de Leon said.

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intensify genome sequencing, testing, contact tracing, triage management, treatment, and vaccination.

“Case surveillance and contact tracing must be intensified and we should prioritize the F1 and asymptomatics. Aggressive community testing is very important”, she explained.

Another strategy that is expected to be done following the identification of an area under the highest alert level is the prioritization of these areas to get more vaccine supplies as compare to areas under low risk alert level.

The DOH also identified action points that may possibly be done to increase

address the increasing case data and high hospital utilization rates.

Action points include granular lockdowns; active case finding; for areas with local Delta variant cases, rapid antigen test can be utilized; urgent need to increase hospital beds; and health care capacity issues must not only be addressed on an LGU level but on a regional and national level.

Davao City is the only area in Region XI identified under alert level 4 while it is joined by Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, and General Santos City in the entire Mindanao.

(PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)

their support and assistance.

The EastMinCom Commander lauded the courage and strength shown by the survivors after their sudden brush with death.

“The Command, together with Armed Forces of the Philippines, stands ready to provide the necessary needs of the survivors in our own little ways to help our brave

men as they recuperate,” LtGen. Almerol said.

“We continue to have them in our thoughts and prayers. We will see to it that we will be there at their side in every step of the way. We also urge the people to continue praying not only for the survivors but also for the loved ones and families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident,” LtGen. Almerol added. (PR-EMC)

War 2.

Before the recent surge of COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the new Delta variant, economic managers have said the economy could grow by 6 to 7 percent this year.

However, gains could be tempered by the enhanced community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila from Aug. 6 to Aug. 20.

The hard lockdown will likely have an impact on the third-quarter numbers,

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Benjamin Diokno earlier said.

The economy is poised to lose at last P150 billion each week that Metro Manila is under lockdown, government estimates showed.

Mobility restrictions will also likely increase unemployment to over 600,000 individuals and the number of poor Filipinos by about 250,000, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said.

sale of the assets.

Eala said the company started looking into selling towers in February 2018, but this will have to be pushed back.

“Even as we speak, we feel that the tower companies really need to set up their operations properly in the Philippines and also need to scale up,” she said.

“There could be delays on their end, whether it could be regulatory or also caused by the pandemic, but as we speak, as I mentioned, really, the ability to scale for us is not yet there,” she add-

ed.

those sent to their email. He likewise encouraged the interested MSMEs to contact their office, or the nearest Negosyo Center, for loan application assistance.

Apart from facilitating the loan application of the local entrepreneurs, DTIDavao de Oro has been assisting them as well in other areas, such as in product development and branding improvement.

“Even before the pandemic, we were already conducting several training programs for them. We had extended a hand, too, when it comes to honing their managerial skills. Our approach is really anchored

on holistic development. We want to equip them in whatever way we can,” Balleque noted, adding that with the global health crisis, they have become more innovative in assisting the MSMEs in the province.

“We really assess their needs and from there, we can already identify the kind of assistance we can give them,” the provincial DTI head said.

From January to June this year, the office has already assisted a total of 2,532 MSMEs. In the meantime, it has already conducted 66 trainings, benefitting 1,391 local entrepreneurs.

DTI-DDO

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The company targets to install 2,000 new cell sites this year, with a threepronged strategy for its network upgrades and expansion.

This includes aggressive cell site builds, upgrading sites to 4G/LTE using different frequencies; and expediting the fiberization of Filipino homes across the country. ?Shares in Globe Telecom closed Monday at P1,980.00 apiece, down by P5.00 or 0.25% from last Friday’s finish of P1,985.00.

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But then, her cousin, Allen Jayfrus Diaz, taught her the basics of weightlifting and it changed everything.

“Diaz took up the habit herself and started her weightlifting journey at just eleven years old,” wrote Asia Tatler’s Lauren Golangco.

“During these early years, her lifting equipment did not consist of typical barbells and plates – rather, she fashioned her own version using ipil-ipil sticks, cement weights, and jeepney mag wheels.”

On the other hand, Nesthy Petecio was born in Tuban, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. She was only seven when she started boxing thanks to her father, Teodoro.

She devoted her life to boxing because she wanted to uplift the standard of living of her family. “The reason I chose boxing is because I can help my family and study for free,” she pointed out. “There are a lot of opportunities for me in the sport. At first, it wasn’t my choice. It was more for self-defense only.”

Meanwhile, Eumir Marcial, the youngest among five siblings, was also trained by his father, Eulalio, when he was still seven. He started boxing in 2008 in his hometown in Zamboanga. However, it was his older brother, Eliver, who motivated him to make boxing a career. At age 39, Eliver, who was married and with kids, died. His untimely death drove him to win a spot in the Olympic Games in Tokyo and hoped to use his boxing career to help support his brother’s six

children.

“He was very supportive of me, he got married at a young age despite our (family’s financial) situation, he still wanted to help me, give me money to go to the school,” he was quoted as saying. “When we had a tournament, he gave his support… I can help his family have a better life.”

Finally, Carlo Paalam was only six when his mother left them. His father brought the children to Cagayan de Oro City for better opportunities.

To help the family, he worked as a scavenger at a landfill in the city.

He won his first boxing match at age 7 and used his winnings to buy rice for his family. He was discovered by local officials after watching him in the local Boxing at the Park tournament in 2009.

Two medalists fought against the invading Japanese. After the Olympics, Teofilo Yldefonso became part of Philippine Scouts and he fought against the Japanese in Bataan. Miguel White was killed during the initial landing of Japanese troops into the Philippines in 1942.

Likewise, there were two medalists who joined the show business after both received Olympic medals. Anthony Villanueva appeared in such movies as Malakas, Kaliwa’t Kanan and The Pancho Villa Story. Onyok Velasco did several television shows like Ok Fine Whatever, Kool Ka Land, Maynila, Everybody Hapi and Show Me Da Manny.

tional Training Director of the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) for over five years, is the dynamic arm of the PSC in sports science and high-performance training.

From 2004-2008, Velasco headed the Strength and Conditioning Unit of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine of the PSC now known as the Medi-

cal Scientific Athletes Services Unit (MSAS). He also served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach and Consultant of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (2008-2013) and Hong Kong Rugby Union (20152016). Velasco was also part of the team behind the success of Hongkong’s Olympic medalist Lee Wai Sze

He highlighted the need for sports academies in the regions to deepen the bench of eventual national athletes.

“Support has to be endto-end. The tax exemption

on prizes is very important and timely, but if we want to keep winning, we have to invest in our athletes when they are still preparing to win,” Salceda said.

(PNA)

fans, and aspiring athletes that indeed, we Filipinos can compete and win against the best in the world in the Olympics.”

Ang hopes that the Philippine team will continue to sustain its newfound success in the world’s biggest sports stage.

“This is just the beginning. We have the momentum. We can only get stronger in the succeeding Olympics,” he said. “We can build on these successes to develop stronger sports programs and produce more Olympic winners like Hidilyn, Carlo, Nesthy, and Eumir.”

Ang will be giving PHP10 million to Diaz, PHP5 million each to Petecio and Paalam, and PHP2

million to Marcial as part of his pre-Olympic pledge.

Meanwhile, one of SMC’s popular products, Ginebra San Miguel, revealed a special label as a tribute to the Philippine team.

“This tribute label is our way of recognizing their ‘Bagong Tapang’ (new courage) and never-say-die spirit,” says Ginebra San Miguel Brand manager Paolo Tupaz.

On whether the tribute label will literally be in the gin bottles like what Ginebra did to its special label last year featuring the medical frontliners remains to be seen, although the Tokyo Olympic edition label went viral on social media when it was posted there. (PNA)

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OLYMPIC MEDALISTS. (From left to right) The Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Monday (Aug. 9, 2021). The Philippines, represented by 19 athletes, was the best in Southeast Asia after bringing home the country’s first-ever gold medal (Hidilyn Diaz), two silvers, and one bronze medal. (PNA photos by Avito C. Dalan)

Cash incentives to non medalists from PRRD

Velasco on PSC and Philippine sports in NSS final session

P

hilippine Sports Commission Chief of Staff and NSS Project Director Marc Edward Velasco will take the place of PSC and Philippine sports in the twenty-fifth and final session of the online National Sports Summit 2021 this Wednesday.

“We’re now down to our final session and with that, we want to give our participants, our partners in developing sports programs in the country, a chance to see what the PSC does in the whole scheme of things in the sports community.” said PSC

Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez who, along with Velasco, supported and witnessed the historic and best-ever performance of our national athletes in the 2020+1 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Ramirez said that it is important to the PSC board for the agency’s stakeholders to understand the mandate and role of the PSC as this can help them know “where we can help them” in their own efforts for sports in their areas and own capacities.

Velasco, also the Na-

FVELASCO, P10

WIN-WIN-WIN’. Members of the Philippine boxing team pose for a photo shortly upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Monday (Aug. 9, 2021). Coming home from

P

resident Rodrigo Duterte will be giving P2 million each to silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, while Eumir Marcial receives P1 million following their successful campaign in the Tokyo Olympics.

President Duterte made the announcement during a virtual courtesy call shortly upon the arrival of the three boxers to Manila from Japan on Monday afternoon.

Not just for medalists The Chief Executive also said boxer Irish Magno and the rest of the Filipino athletes who didn’t win a medal in the just-concluded Olympiad will also be

given P200,000 each courtesy of his office.

The incentive is on top of the cash reward as indicated under Republic Act 10699 where Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalists, receive P10 million, P5 million, and P2 million, respectively.

“You went to Tokyo to fight and I say that you did your best. The Filipino people appreciates it especially bringing honor to

the country,” said the President.

Duterte also honored the non-medalists who also competed as part of the 19-man athlete comprising the Philippine contingent.

“Those who participated in all events brought honor to the country. I don’t care about winning, that is why they will receive P200,000,” Duterte said.

measure exempting the rewards, bonuses, and emoluments for national athletes and coaches who compete or win international sports competitions from all taxes, fees, and charges has hurdled committee level at the House of Representatives.

In a virtual meeting on Monday, the House Committee on Ways and Means approved the unnumbered substitute bill for the proposed Hidilyn Diaz Act of 2021, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act. The base bill was filed

by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Committee Chair Joey Salceda in light of the historic gold medal win by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Salceda noted that this was the first gold medal for the Philippines since it joined the Olympics in 1924, adding that the country also won two silvers courtesy of boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and one bronze won by an-

other boxer Eumir Marcial for its strongest ever Olympic performance.

“As promised, we did it this week. There are still some issues to reconcile with the Committee on Youth and Sports, such as whether we want to include local sports competitions. But we’ll do that probably on the House floor. As for the duty of the Committee on Ways and Means, we have already dispensed it,” Salceda said.

He stressed that while the tax exemptions are one thing, “public investment” is the greater need, citing that “the best Olympic performance of this country corresponded with the largest public investment in our Olympic program, ever.”

He said under President Rodrigo Duterte, the budget for Philippine sports is at PHP944 million for this year, which is almost four times the budgets under past presidents.

“Investment really makes a difference. I hope we can invest in training, facilities, nutrition, and conditioning,” Salceda said.

Bill exempting tax for athletes’ rewards hurdles House panel A

a successful stint at the Tokyo Olympics are (from left) Irish Magno, silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

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12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

SILVER OLYMPIAN. Olympic silver medalist boxer Carlo Paalam takes a selfie with Senator Christopher Lawrence“Bong”Go and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Monday (Aug. 9, 2021) shortly upon his arrival along with fellow boxers from Tokyo, Japan. Paalam took home the country’s third Olympic silver in boxing. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

HOME HEROES

PH boxing team returns home from successful Olympiad

VOL.14 ISSUE 127 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021

Eumir Marcial (left) and Carlo Paalam (right).

T

he remainder of the Philippine delegation in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics has finally returned home after attending the Games’ closing ceremony.

The last batch of the Olympic squad, which is mainly composed of the entire boxing team that won three medals during the final week of the event, flew in via Philippine Airlines flight PR427 and arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at around 5 p.m. Monday.

Senate committee on sports chairman Bong Go and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea personally welcomed silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, and medal contender Irish Magno.

Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief, Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes, also welcomed Airman First Class Marcial and the rest of the boxers.

The Philippine boxing team had its most fruitful Olympics yet, scoring multiple medals for the first time ever.

The boxing team was accompanied by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino who earlier promised to give PHP3 million cash reward for an Olympic gold medal, PHP2 million for silver medal, and PHP1 million for bronze medal as well as house and lot for medalists.

The most bemedaled boxing team later paid a virtual courtesy call on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who gave them additional cash rewards on top of the incentives provided by law.

Duterte said Petecio and Paalam each will receive

PHP2 million while Marcial will get PHP1 million. He also said other Olympians who did not win medal will receive PHP200,000 each.

Based on Republic Act No. 10699 or An Act Expanding the Coverage of Incentives Granted to National Athletes and Coaches, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will get PHP10 million for winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, Petecio and Paalam will receive PHP5 million each, and Marcial will take home PHP2 million.

‘Hope and inspiration’ for Filipinos Earlier in the day, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president Ramon Ang expressed his gratitude to all the Filipino medalists for giving the Philippines good news in these trying times brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“The message of this Olympic campaign for us Filipinos is clear. We are resilient in the face of challenges and we do not back down from adversity. This pandemic is perhaps one of the greatest challenges in our lifetime. Thank you Hidilyn, Carlo, Nesthy, and Eumir for giving us hope and inspiration during this critical time.

You showed us that nothing is impossible,” Ang said. “As a longtime partner and supporter of Philippine sports, I’m so happy for our athletes.

All their hard work paid off.

They’ve opened the eyes of so many Filipinos sports patrons,

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