Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 168 | Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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VOL.14 ISSUE 168 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

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A Philippe Army personnel gases up an armored personnel vehicle at a gasoline station in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat before heading home to a military detachment in Ampatuan, Maguindanao over the weekend. A few days before the start of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs), local aspirants in Maguindanao, announced alliances and their desire to run for the 2022 national and local elections. Edge Davao

SARA ON LEAVE Mayor Sara to take another leave of absence from October 5-8 STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 168 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

President Rodrigo R. Duterte urges those who have yet to receive vaccines to get inoculated as the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines is expected to reach 100 million doses by the end of October. Edge Davao

SARA ON LEAVE T Mayor Sara to take another leave

Rep ‘Pulong’ gives rice, cash aid to traffic men

of absence from October 5-8

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed on Monday that she will officially go on leave from October 5 to 8, 2021.

“It’s the same lakaw. It’s something that I need to,” the mayor said.

In April this year, the mayor announced that she will be on leave next month.

“And sa April na pud su-

nod tuig puhon,” she said.

It can be recalled that the mayor flew to Singapore for health reasons from April 6 to 10, 2021.

In a statement, Mayor Sara clarified that she was

in Singapore for “personal health management.”

“I have a travel authority to Singapore from the DILG. The reason is personal health management,” she said.

The mayor also took a seven-day medical leave last year from September 28, 2020, to October 5, 2020 to travel outside the

city.

Based on a memorandum, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte assumed the duties and responsibilities as acting mayor as mandated by law and oversee the overall operations of all city government/departments/ officers, and perform such other duties as may be directed from time to time.

nation have received the full dose of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine as of September 24.

A report by the City Health Office (CHO) showed that 14,021 senior citizens were given the first dose as of that day.

Officials in this city have said they hope to inoculate 70 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity in Gensan either in October or November. CHO statistics

showed that as of Sept. 24, only 72,091 have been given full doses out of the about 800,000 population.

Mendoza believed that the limited number of vaccines being allocated by the Department of Health is the main reason why there is low turnout among the elderly getting vaccinated.

He also noted that some elderly residents are reluctant to get inoculated be-

cause of the wrong information they have been getting about the vaccines.

Among this information, he said, are misconceptions about the negative effects of vaccines, sowing fear among many elderly.

Mendoza said they already mobilized their chapter leaders in various areas of the city, “especially in the far-flung villages,” to prop-

Senior citizens in Gensan reluctant to get COVID-19 vaccine, exec says

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he head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) here noted a slow turnout among elderly residents in the ongoing drive to inoculate the highly vulnerable sector against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) OSCA Gensan head Celso Mendoza said only about 30 percent or 10,500 of the current 35,000 senior citizens already listed for vacci-

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he office of First Congressional District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte distributed on September 27, Monday afternoon, sacks of rice and cash assistance to all traffic enforcers of the city.

The office distributed around 948 pieces of 10 kilograms of rice and cash assistance to the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) – from the first district to the third district – personnel among Davao's frontliners.

Rep. Duterte also sup-

ports those on the front lines aside from giving the same assistance to his constituents and those in need of emergency assistance due to COVID-19 pandemic. The traffic enforcers are among the frontliners who work to ensure everyone’s safety on the road.

The lawmaker's office assured that not a single policy of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has been violated during the distribution of the rice and cash assistance.

PRRD urges public to get jabbed as vaccine delivery to hit 100M

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resident Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday urged the public to get vaccinated as the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines is expected to reach 100 million doses by the end of October.

“I now encourage you-those who have yet to receive vaccines--to get inoculated,” Duterte said in his taped Talk to the People.

Duterte said the government may expand the vaccination program to the general population “and hopefully also, our children within October.”

The Philippines has so far received 69,699,340 doses from various Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers.

He said the government

is targeting to administer at least 55 million doses of Covid-19 by the end of October.

“I am pleased to report that over the past several days, the number of new Covid-19 cases have been declining and the reproduction rate has also been decreasing. Maybe the last two days, there was a light spike, but overall all, over the entire country--it is decreasing,” he said.

Duterte cited positive developments in the pandemic situation in the Philippines.

“I do not want to advance this theory. But under the police power of the State, everybody can be compelled to be vaccinated,” he said.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 168 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

NEWS

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An elderly woman records on a tablet her COVID-19 inoculation on Monday, 27 Sept. 2021, in Lagao, General Santos City. Many elderly residents are reluctant to get inoculated because of the wrong information they have been getting about the vaccines. MindaNews photo by ROMMEL G. REBOLLIDO

5 schools recommended for face-to-face classes City approves 1,593 cases of Covid-19 for home isolation

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Monday that as of September 26, 2021, there are a total of 1,593 cases of Covid-19 approved for home isolation.

It can be recalled that the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the City Health Office (CHO) came up with guidelines for home isolation amid the surge of cases in the city to address the overwhelming number of positive patients inside healthcare facilities.

“Challenges karon the same when there is a surge ug dili parehong adlaw same ang number sa spaces and also the contact tracing is in the memory and honesty and the patients. We still have challenges in tracing and isolation while in the hospitals kakulangan sa nurses and allied services. Two years of this pandemic we still have unsolvable challenges,” the mayor said.

“Atong gina-entertain ang home isolation sa atong

mga Covid positive individuals only for a while nga naa tay surge and persistent ang pagtaas sa atong,” said Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force.

She added that such an option was taken into consideration to decongest the hospitals and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF) in the city and help prioritize those in dire need of medical assistance.

Schlosser also clarified that that based on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Guidelines on the stricter conduct of home quarantine for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, positive patients are only allowed to be isolated at home provided that the patient has his/her room.

Also, the patient must have his/her bathroom and there are no household members vulnerable or have co-morbidities (senior citizens, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women). By Maya M. Padillo

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ive schools in Davao City were recommended to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes for the School Year 2021-2022.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city government of Davao already sent a letter to DepEd recommending the five schools namely for national high schools with senior high school program: Dalagdag National High School in Brgy. Dalagdag, Calinan District; J. Tajo National High School in Brgy.

Lampianao in Calinan District, and Saloy National High School sa Brgy. Saloy also in Calinan District.

For elementary schools

with Kindergarten are Mabuhay Elem. School sa Brgy. Mabuhay in Paquibato District and Gumitan Elem. School in Brgy. Gumitan in Marilog District.

“Mao ni siya atong gisubmit sa Deped for pilot face-to-face for their approval if allowed. Mao ni siya atong napili based sa ranking sa risk assessment,” the mayor said.

The schools were selected based on the recommendation of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force

to allow one school each out of the 182 barangays in Davao City.

The mayor said the planned restart of faceto-face classes for select schools was discussed during the Covid-19 Task Force meeting after the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd 11) reached out to the mayor requesting a list of pilot schools in Davao City for the face-to-face classes.

“The Department of Education reached out to my office with regards to the pilot face-to-face classes in public schools, so we were asked to submit a list of public schools where face-to-face classes will be

rolled out. This was discussed in our Covid-19 TF meeting, the agreement is, out of the 182 barangays, they will be ranked according to risk assessment, and the last three barangays in terms of risk assessment will be selected for pilot face to face. Dili tanan schools didto sa ilang barangay ang mag-open, our initial submission is one school per barangay,” Mayor Sara said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sara also bared that she sent a letter to DepEd ensuring that teaching or non-teaching personnel on the schools submitted for pilot face-to-face classes

band Jayson Escaner, 31; Mary Jane Barcenilla, 48; and Juanito Tolemia, 55.

Local disaster personnel believed that the car occupants from Davao City were victims of food poisoning. They are now confined at the Albutra Medical Hospital in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

“They are in stable condition according to attend-

ing doctors,” Cadiding told reporters.

Cadiding said the victims were heading to Tacurong City after visiting relatives in Midsayap, North Cotabato when they stopped by the road to buy food.

Residents, however, found them unconscious inside a red Toyota Vios car in Barangay Tunggol at about 1 p.m.

Vanessa Escaner, who regained consciousness but was still dizzy, said they were eating while traveling when all of a sudden they suffered abdominal pain and passed out.

“Probably they were poisoned by the food they ate, that is our suspicion but let us wait for the physician’s findings,” Cadiding said. (PNA)

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4 found unconscious inside parked car in Maguindanao

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our persons found unconscious inside a parked car in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao on Monday afternoon are now recovering in a hospital.

Balumol Cadiding, Datu Montawal municipal disaster management officer, said Tuesday the four persons were identified as Vanessa Escaner, 39; her hus-

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 168 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

A surf instructor prepares the long boards ahead of the arrival of tourists that will take surfing lesson at Cloud 9 boardwalk in General Luna, Siargao Island. Some governors of provinces around the country are“open”to easing restrictions for domestic air travel for the fully vaccinated to boost tourism activities. Edge Davao

Tourist destinations ‘open’ to removing RT-PCR tests for domestic travelers

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overnors of provinces around the country are “open” to easing restrictions for domestic air travel for the fully vaccinated to boost tourism activities, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said Tuesday.

Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have been calling for lesser quarantine days for international arrivals and more open domestic travel by way of removing RT-PCR tests for fully vaccinated.

“We have to start allowing mobility for our tourism site, we met with our governors, mayors of the top tourists’ destinations,” Concepcion said.

“We’re asking them to waive the PCR tests that’s a very expensive test.

They’re open to the idea of allowing airlines to fly passengers without PCR tests anymore,” he added.

Unvaccinated passengers who are allowed to travel will still need to get an RT-PCR test under Concepcion’s proposal.

Shortage in supply will no longer be an issue for those willing to get the jab against COVID-19 since 60 million doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca alone are expected to arrive in the next 2 months,

he said.

Concepcion said he also asked the coronavirus task force to reduce quarantine days for international travelers coming from North America as well as vaccinated overseas workers.

He said quarantine could be reduced to 5 days instead of 10 days.

Airlines are also pushing for the lifting of the arrival cap for international travelers, currently set at 2,000 per day.

Over half of large firms maintain, hike employment amid pandemic

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survey conducted by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), and the Makati Business Club (MBC) showed that large firms have maintained or even increased their headcount amid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The survey, conducted from April 6 to May 16, found out that despite 61 percent of companies reporting a drop in revenues, 55 percent did not reduce the number of their workforce and even continued their hiring activities.

“A key objective of

businesses is to create jobs and in a crisis like this, business’ top priority is to protect jobs and the health and safety of our people,” MBC chair Edgar Chua said in a statement released Monday.

According to the survey, 99 percent of businesses have given support to their workers amid lockdowns in the first year of the pandemic.

Forty-five percent of the 200 surveyed executives said they have continued to pay for non-reporting regular employees, 31 percent of them were still paying for non-reporting contractual employees, while 30 percent continued pay-

ing for agency-hired employees.

The survey said 43 percent of companies also provided special financial assistance, advances, and loans for regular employees; 27 percent of firms have given the same assistance to contractual personnel; and 25 percent of the surveyed enterprises extended the assistance to agency employees.

Fifty-one percent of companies said they have also provided support for clients and customers like advanced payments, waived fees or obligations, material, and other support.

For suppliers and contractors, 34 percent

of firms said they have assisted them in terms of extending payment terms, discounts, and waived payments and rents.

A huge chunk of large firms at 73 percent said they have provided support to healthcare workers during this pandemic through donating personal protective equipment, meals, and accommodation, as well as providing Covid-19 test and quarantine and isolation facilities.

About 69 percent of firms also gave donations to low-income communities, and 33 percent said they supported organizations through donations.

(PNA)

BAP supports greater mobility for fully vaxxed individuals

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ank executives have backed the move to grant fully vaccinated individuals greater mobility, citing its contribution to the domestic economy’s recovery from the pandemic.

“With more than 50 percent of the population vaccinated in the metropolitan and adjacent areas where most business activities are situated, spurring economic activity can be best achieved,”

the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) said in a statement issued on Monday.

The BAP said the mobility of Filipinos who have received full doses of vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) “will encourage spending on various goods and services.”

It said this will especially boost recovery bids for the affected sectors

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PH official dev’t assistance hits $30.7 billion in 2020

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he Philippines’ active official development assistance (ODA) portfolio reached USD30.7 billion last year, a 46.6 percent increase from the previous USD20.9 billion in 2019, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported Monday.

Based on NEDA’s recently released ODA Portfolio Review Report for CY 2020, the active ODA portfolio consisted of 30 program loans, 76 project loans, and 251 grants.

Among these, 59 loans and grants were signed in 2020, consisting of 20 program loans (USD8.2 billion), 14 project loans

(USD2.9 billion), and 25 grants (USD140 million).

The governance and institutions development sector recorded the highest share in last year’s ODA portfolio, amounting to USD5 billion (45 percent). This was followed by the social reform and community development sector (31 percent).

Meanwhile, the infrastructure development sector, which historically accounted for the largest share, only came third (16 percent).

The report said ODA was secured to augment the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response, such

FPH, P10

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VOL.14 ISSUE 168 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

ECONOMY

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A porter pulls a wooden cart full of vegetables and fruits, which he will deliver at Bankerohan Public Market, on Tuesday along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City. Edge Davao

PH pushed to become key player in $17B global bamboo industry GCash now has 60,000 T cash-in partners firm

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eed to send money, buy prepaid load, or order food, but your GCash funds are running low? Now, it’s easier to cash in to your GCash account as the country’s undisputed no. 1 e-wallet app, expands its network of merchants to a total of 60,000 active cash in doors nationwide.

To reach more Filipinos nationwide, GCash has recently partnered with 9 more leading brands to establish additional cash-in kiosks at these companies’ branches: ExpressPay, DA5, Panalo Express, SouthStar Drug, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, The Marketplace, Robinsons Easymart, and No Brand.

In addition, customers may conveniently cash in their GCash wallets through top outlets, such as SM, Palawan Pawnshop, Villarica Pawnshop, Ministop, Puregold, and Cebuana Lhuillier.

“Our goal is to make Filipino lives better every day,” said Martha Sazon, GCash president and chief executive officer. “Our cash

in outlets is one of the essential solutions that GCash offers consumers, especially during the pandemic With 70 percent Filipinos still unbanked, it’s always been our goal to expand our partner merchants to house more cash in outlets all over the Philippines, making topping up GCash wallets accessible to more Filipinos.”

With more cash in partners all over the country, GCash users will have lesser trouble in finding the closest outlets to them — giving them an opportunity to enjoy the many useful services on the app. For instance, for all their lifestyle and essential needs, they can browse through GLife, the e-commerce feature within the GCash app that allows users to shop exclusive deals from 35 brands across retail, food, gaming, entertainment, and transport.

GCash also aims to add more Cash In Doors in the future. Previously, GCash

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he Philippine economy is widely seen to benefit from more investments in the nascent local bamboo industry with more markets for the sustainable crop opening up in the US and Europe.

In a webinar organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), environment assistant secretary Joan Lagunda said, aside from helping the country achieve a more sustainable economic growth model, bamboo can also help address social and environmental concerns.

“Bamboo is one of the Philippines’ most economically important non-timber forest products. Bamboo’s global market was valued at $7 billion in 2006 and was expected to grow to $17 billion by 2020,” Lagunda explained.

Among the applications of bamboo, she said, are in

the construction of houses and some infrastructure, while its fiber can be used by other industries like paper, charcoal, and textile or clothes.

That’s why she said, “the country can tap bamboo as a major resource to replace the reduced supply in the Philippines given the restrictions in cutting timber.”

Lagunda noted, bamboo plants can grow by around three inches per day and fully mature in up to two years, while hardwood trees take 30 years until maturity.

She also cited studies

that bamboo plantations can capture carbon from the atmosphere and help in the fight against the climate crisis. Likewise, bamboo can also produce 30 percent more oxygen compared to other tree plantations.

Agripreneur and Architect Jed Michael de Guzman is also pushing for more investments in the local bamboo sector.

He said, aside from the construction industry, this can also be used in eco-tourism and the production of food products from bam-

“Ang DA mismo, kasama ang NEDA at ng buong economic team ng Malacañang, sila ang dapat bumili ng palay ng magsasaka sa tamang presyo ng P19 per kilogram (dry) at P16 (fresh harvest),” the emailed statement read.

[DA itself, along with NEDA and the Malacañang entire economic team should buy palay from farmers at the correct price of P19 per kilogram for dry and P16 for fresh harvest.]

The DA, along with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and other economic managers, pushed for the rice competitiveness which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019.

The measure effectively removed the quantitative restrictions on rice, and imposed a 35% tariff on imports from neighbors in Southeast Asia.

With the law, SINAG

cited the difficulty of local millers or traders to buy fresh harvest palay at P16 per kilogram or P19 per kilogram for dry.

This would translate to an operating cost of P32 per kilogram, versus P23 per kilogram landed cost for imported rice.

“Hindi naman pwede ang sagot lang ng DA ay ipaubaya na lang nila sa local government units ang pagbili ng palay,” SINAG said.

“Alam naman ng lahat

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Farmers’ group wants DA to buy palay at P19/kg

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he Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Monday called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to buy palay or unmilled rice from local farmers, citing the low farmgate prices due to the increase in imports of the commodity.

In an emailed statement, SINAG said farmgate prices of palay have plunged to P10 to P13 per kilogram, way below the production cost of P15 per kilogram.

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 168 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

On her leave of absence from October 5 to 8, 2021:

It’s the same lakaw (travel). It’s something that I need to.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIAL Incentives to vaccinees The city government of Davao is planning to give incentives to individuals who finally decide to be vaccinated with the first dose after a period of hesitation.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the incentives will soon be announced as a step to encourage all Dabawenyos to be protected against Covid-19.

The mayor said this was discussed during a meeting last week after a backlog of 438,000 for the first dose was reported.

The mayor said it was assessed that these are the people who will not go to the vaccine centers, people who do not believe in vaccines, and the people who are daily wage earners whose work is more important to them.

EDGEDAVAO

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We encourage our city authorities to think of as many effective strategies that would result in inoculating a percentage of people that will enable the populace to achieve herd immunity against the pandemic.

One such strategy proven effective is the roll-out of the “Bakuna Nights” recently. Droves of people went to two designated vaccination centers to have themselves vaccinated. The key here, it seems, was the schedule.

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

The plan to incentivize the vaccination drive could be an effective one. It could be expensive, it could be cheap.

What is important is that it could be worth the expense, and effective in increasing tremendously the number of Dabawenyos vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

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)

VOL.14 ISSUE 168 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO CROP PRODUCTION DROPS DUE TO SOIL EROSION When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit the country in early 2020, one of the things that most Filipinos complained about was not about community quarantine but the lack of food available in the market.

Most farmers stopped going to their farms as they feared they might be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus which is a distant cousin of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

What most Filipinos don’t know is that the problem has been there even before the pandemic happened. The reason why food production decreased is not just because of the growing population but it is also due to soil erosion.

I may not be a soil scientist but Lester R. Brown and Edward C. Wolf are experts on the matter. They are the authors of the book, Soil Erosion: Quiet Crisis in the World Economy, published by Washington, D.C.based Worldwatch Institute.

According to the two authors, the loss of topsoil affects the ability to grow food in two ways. For one, soil erosion reduces the inherent productivity of land, both through the loss of nutrients and degradation of the physical structure.

For another, soil erosion

increases the costs of food production. If you’re at loss how this happens, the two authors elaborate: “When farmers lose topsoil, they may increase land productivity by substituting energy in the form of fertilizer. Hence, farmers losing topsoil may experience either a loss in land productivity or a rise in costs of agricultural inputs. And if the productivity drops too low or agricultural costs rise too high, farmers are forced to abandon their land.”

Topsoil is related to the earth much as the rind is related to an orange. It is the link between the rock core of the earth and the living things on its surface. It is the foothold for the plants we grow. Therein lies the main reason for our interest in topsoil.

In simpler terms, topsoil is the single most important resource on farmland, which is built up over time. Experts claim it takes 200 to 1,000 years to form 2.5 centimeters of rich topsoil. Yes, that long!

On the average, farmlands are losing 2.5 centimeters of topsoil every 16 years, or 17 times faster than it can be replaced.

“No other soil phenomenon is more destructive worldwide than is soil erosion,” wrote Nyle C. Brady in his

book, The Nature and Properties of Soils. “It involves losing water and plant nutrients at rates far higher than those occurring through leaching.

More tragically, however, it can result in the loss of the entire soil.”

Some years back, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that Batangas and Cebu had lost 80-85% of their topsoil to erosion. In Mindanao, the following provinces had more than 50% of their topsoil eroded: Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Norte.

“Soil erosion is now the most serious environmental problem,” observed Dr. Eduardo Paningbatan of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna.

There are wars and there are wars. In the Southern Philippines, there is a battle between the New People’s Army and the government’s military troops. In most cases, people will declare war against those who will invade their country.

Unknowingly, soil erosion is not only invading our lands but even possessing it without

us knowing it. Little by little, soil erosion encroaches our lands – even in broad daylight.

No one seems to care at all.

“Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” said Harold R. Watson, an American agriculturist who used to be the director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Watson said those words when he received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award – the Nobel Prize of Asia – in 1985.

According to Watson, soil erosion makes farmlands infertile every year.

Studies show that loss of a few centimeters of topsoil can reduce the productivity of good soils by 40% and poor soils by 60%.

“Once (the topsoil is) destroyed, it is gone forever,” declares the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

If a nation has to survive in the next century, it has to stop soil erosion now. “A nation without soil is effectively bankrupt,” FAO surmises. “A nation with appropriate landuse patterns and farming

techniques, where erosion has been controlled and contained, is poised on the springboard of development.”

The good thing is that the Philippines has a sustainable farming technique called Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT). Developed by Watson and his Filipino counterparts at the MBRLC, it has proven that SALT can minimize soil erosion.

A study conducted at the MBRLC showed that a farm tilled in the traditional manner erodes at the rate of 1,163.4 metric tons per hectare per year. A SALT farm, on the other hand, erodes at the rate of only 20.2 metric tons per hectare per year.

The rate of soil loss in a SALT farm is 3.4 metric tons per hectare per year, which is within the tolerable range.

Most soil scientists place acceptable soil loss limits for tropical countries like the Philippines within the range of 10 to 12 metric tons per hectare per year.

In comparison, the nonSALT farm has an annual soil loss rate of 194.3 metric tons per hectare.

“Soil is made by God and put here for man to use, not for one generation but forever,” Watson pointed out.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

‘MARCA PRINCESA’ VETSIN Monosodium glutamate (MSG) was not commercially available in Davao City until 1960 when couple Domingo Vergara, originally from Katipunan, Catanduanes, and wife Leticia, of Jagna, Bohol, moved from Cagayan de Oro to establish Vergara Food Products in Davao City and introduce repacked condiments, noodles, and spices.

Except for the products añil (indigo-based cloth whitener) sold as Ultramarino, and sotanghon (transparent rice noodle), which carried the Silver Cup label, the company’s misua (wheat vermicelli), paminta (pepper), and panakot (spice) products carried the brand Marca Princesa.

Vergara started retail business as a student of Far Eastern University in Manila. He bought

goods from Divisoria and repacked them in his Paco, Manila, boarding house, an activity that would expand years later.

Along with brothers Jose and David, the first MSG retail packs were launched at Tres Martires, Cebu City under Jose’s name; it was a roaring success.

David, the youngest, migrated to Cagayan de Oro where he opened his retail enterprise with Domingo.

Finding his siblings reaping success, Domingo and his family moved to Davao City where he launched his own line of retail products. He set up his factory at the junction of Jacinto-Artiaga (before relocating to 666 Aurora Street) and introduced MSG to the Davaoeño palate wrapped in white packets inserted in blue-colored, thin plastic cellophane.

Domingo bought his MSG supply, which was contained in drums, from Manila, sourcing these from Union Merchandising Co., importer of the pioneering Japanese-brand Ajinomoto, and Tien Chu Ve-Tsin Mfg. Co. Ltd., from whom the common name ‘vetsin’ was borrowed.

Marca Princesa’s success among Davao customers can be attributed to several factors, such as novelty of the product, lack of competition, brand recall, good pricing, and absence of commercials offering alternatives. So popular was the product that even the Ajinomoto brand failed to penetrate the local market.

During this time, soap operas on radio and television did not carry ads on food ingredients. Most adverts about toiletry (soap, toothpaste, skin

whiteners, cologne, etc.), milk, cigarette, apparels, movies, and shoes. This was the period when Zenith was the top television and radio brand, and people were agog about things vaudeville or stateside.

Marca Princesa vetsin, after over a decade of success, finally closed shop in 1972 due to a crippling labor strike that hit the repacking unit.

Historically, MSG or ve-tsin, which occurs in mushroom, cheese, molasses, grapes, and other fruits, was first commercially produced in 1908 by Suzuki Pharmaceutical Co. of Japan as Aji-No-Moto before this was introduced in Taiwan and China. Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese inventor, discovered it in seaweeds. The food condiment reached Philippine shores in 1921 but it was exclusively sold

in Manila by Japanese stores.

Two years later, the brand name Ve-tsin of Tien Chu VeTsin Mfg. Co. Ltd. of Shanghai and Hong Kong debuted in 1923; it was sold abroad as Vetsin Gourmet Powder. In Manila, it was exclusively distributed

by Ow Yong Pun Shek as early as 1930s, carrying the Tien Chu Vet-Sin brand; it even won a Gold Prize at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, USA. After the war, in just a short period, the Japanese brand ruined all competitors and became the undisputed king of MSG. It was sold as food seasoning and glutamic acid, but consumers, even today, started to call it vetsin. Ve-tsin’s success gave rise to postwar copycats, such as Markang Manok (Hen Brand), distributed by Agricom Development Co., Inc.

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EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

BAKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

What was supposed to be a pastime has now become a business for popular Dabawenyo designer Erwin Lee Tan.

For the love of baking, Erwin opened bakery shop Adela’s by Erwin Lee Tan. Tan’s profession is mainly in designing clothes but his passion for pastry prompted him to diversify and in the middle of the 2020 pandemic, he opened his little bakery known as “Adela’s”. Named after his mom, Adela’s is located inside K Davao (formerly Kasuotan).

In this time of the pandemic, it takes enormous hard work and dedication to get a bakeshop off the ground and Tan just did it because it is something he loves and it is where he finds the energy.

Because of his determination and dedication,

Tan made Adela’s Davao City’s newest address for Japanese cheesecake, super soft and fluffy pilipit, overload fruitcake, Durian brazo de mercedes, very soft ensaymada overloaded with cheese, siopao, durian muffin, cheese roll, overload Durian super moist cake, Durian baked cheesecake, creamy Durian tart, Durian super moist butter loaf, Durian super moist muffins, and Durian butter cookies.

So what made him decide to transform a passion into a rewarding career?

“Five years ago nagaral ako sa Japan ng baking dahil balak kong magtayo dito ng authentic Japanese bakeshop.

Last year, nag start ang lockdown at nag-start din ang akong anxiety.

One of my friends told me to be productive and one day nag-bake lang ako ng ensaymada and

I gave one to a friend.

I let him sampled my ensaymada. Wala akong balak magbenta, pero may gustong bumili ng dozens kasi nasarapan at araw araw ng bumibili sa akin. Laki ng tulong niya sa akin para ma promote ang bread ko. Kasi yung mga nabigyan niya bumibili na sa akin. Noon ang oven ko pangbahay lang ngayon malaki na ang oven ko. One customer bought a dozen at pinatikim ang kanyang mga nieghbors sa Ladislawa na eventually naging

clients ko din, so bumili ako ng malaking oven,” Tan said in an interview.

His love for Japanese bread prompted Tan to share this with the Dabawenyos through Adela’s by offering Japanese brioche Hokkaido milky dinner rolls, Japanese Hokkaido milky keto Wheat loaf, Japanese Hokkaido milky loaf, Japanese cinnamon roll, Japanese Kani Mayo sandwich, and Japanese coffee roti.

“Masarap kasi ang bread ng Japanese. May ibang ingredients na

binibili ko sa Japan yung ibang ingredients ko dito na binili,” he said.

They say that turning a hobby into a successful business can be easier than expected if you have the correct business plan and investors and Tan just did that.

“Akala ko nuon laro-laro lang ang aking baking ngayon ginawa ko na siyang full-time due to the demand,” he said.

Tan is among those designers in Davao City whose hearts are broken as Covid-19 pandemic puts a strain on wed-

ding fever. It is common knowledge that the wedding industry was also one of the industries badly affected by the pandemic.

What was the usual traditional wedding, with its overflowing buffets and hundreds of guests has transformed into a small and socially distanced affair.

“Ang business ngayon ay matira ang matibay.

Meron pa ding wedding at debut pero hindi na ganon ka extravagant.

Ang venue maliit na lang.

Minimalist na wedding gown na lang kumpara dati na tag 10 kilos ang gown kasi train pa lang ilang meters na. Lumiit na rin ang bilang ng entourage kasi dati 12, may maid of honor, senior maid of honor, flowers girls. Ngayon isang maid of honor and isang brides maid na lang and 20 guests na lang ang allowed. Ang ninang at ninong noon tag 10 pairs, ngayon isa-isa na lang.

Talagang malaki ang naging effect ng pandemic sa fashion industry,” he said.

Tan, however, sees a beacon of hope that everything will slowly return to normal as the majority of Dabawenyos have had the anti-Covid jab.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

9

Commercial Arcade space at Aeon Towers now open for lease D avao’s premier iconic building Aeon Towers is opening a few available spaces for businesses at the Commercial Arcade located at the Ground Floor.

Sizes of the available spots range from 114 to 200 square meters ideal for mini grocery stores, flower shops, drug stores, coffee shops, restaurants and other small businesses alike. The spaces are located near the existing locator Premier Samgyupsal.

Opening up a business at Aeon Towers is a great choice because

Aeon Towers is opening a few available spaces for businesses at the Commercial Arcade located at the Ground Floor.

of its prime location at the J.P. Laurel Avenue (Bajada) and its easy access to homeowners at the condo residences and guests from the upcoming 5-star hotel including its neighboring establishments within Metro Davao.

The arcade hallway is now on free trial for small-scale businesses who wants to showcase their products and services at a limited time only.

For inquiries, call Jester at 0917-3197513 or 0917-5529818 or message www. facebook.com/AeonLuxeOfficial.

Bajaj: Ang Bagong Biyahe sa

Zamboanga Peninsula

Z

amboanga Peninsula found its cream of the crop transportation vehicle five (5) years ago – a unique, symmetrically arranged three-wheeler that is powerful, safe, comfortable, and durable in Bajaj RE.

Trimotors, the exclusive distributor of Bajaj Three-wheelers in the Philippines continued its initiative in changing the landscape of the last-mile transportation nationwide by catering to the market’s need for updates and upgrades. With an outstanding availability in 800+ authorized dealer stores and more than 700 widely accessible parts and service shops, Bajaj RE stayed in its position as “Ang No. 1 Three-wheeler” and came through with its new advanced features: Sleek Dashboard w/ MP3 Player, Rear Seat Metal Doors, and Symmetrical Transparent Hood during an online launch last May 2021.

From the usual pampasada - Bajaj RE, Trimotors launched an addition

of its three-wheelers through Bajaj Maxima series which offers every Zamboanguenos’ a tool and partner in achieving their busi-

ness diskarte. This upgrade has bigger and better features powered by 236.2 CC DTS-i engine, Heavy-duty CV Shaft that can carry heavier loads and Dual Front Fork Suspension which continuously absorb shock and harsh motions.

The Bajaj Maxima series is available in two

(2) different models: The New Bajaj Maxima Z is the best for both transporting passengers and carrying loads due to its flexi-seating advantages with 60:40 foldable seats offering multi-purpose features tagged as “Ang multi-purpose partner sa Negosyo”.

And Bajaj Maxima Car-

go, a three-wheeler intended for hauling and delivering cargo loads now promises to deliver powerful solutions not just for the SMEs but fleet managers and public servants.

Trimotors continue to expand its product categories and market availability through one of its partner

dealers, Emcor, Inc. It is also the initiative to simultaneously bring progress to the locals of Western Mindanao. Continue to experience quality and comfort in a much preferred last-mile mobility – Ang Bagong Biyahe in Zamboanga Peninsula with Bajaj Three-wheelers.

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PH, China boost cooperation against transnational crimes T

Voter registration period likely extended, says Comelec spox

T

he voter registration period, which ends Sept.

30, is likely to be extended following a clamor from various sectors, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the Commission en banc is set to announce the decision after its scheduled session on Wednesday.

“The matter of extension of voter registration will be taken up by the en banc tomorrow, the 29th of September 2021,” he said in a statement.

“After consultation with Comelec officials, and in consideration of the public clamor, it is likely that an extension of the period of voter registration will be granted.”

Top Comelec officials discussed in a management committee on Monday the clamor to extend the registration period

beyond the deadline.

After the consultation, the committee had submitted its recommendation to the poll body’s seven-man panel.

On Monday night, the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously approved a measure seeking to extend the voter registration deadline for the May 2022 national and local elections for another 30 days.

With 193 affirmative votes, the chamber approved House Bill 10261, which proposes to fix the last day of registration of voters for the 2022 polls.

The bill was approved unanimously third and final reading by the Senate and House of Representatives.

The Senate has adopted the version of the lower house, extending the registration period for 30 days. (PNA)

Mati’s Covid-19 active cases down from over 600 to 131

T

he City of Mati LGU has recorded a remarkable decrease on the number of active Covid-19 cases for the month of September.

The number of COVID 19 cases continued to decline for the past 2 weeks with only 131 active cases remaining as of September 27. This is a 55% decrease compared to the previous week.

Weekly deaths have continued but is shown to have also gone down to 2 from 12 the previous week. Case fatality rate is still 2.8%. Almost all of the patients who died were unvaccinated and with comorbidities.

The city’s isolation facilities occupancy rate is under 35% at present wherein 69 individuals, or 42% of the active cases, are on home quarantine under granular lockdown.

About 27,437 (25%) of our target population are now fully vaccinated and 8,079 (7%) have been given their 1st dose.

Granular lockdown (household level) implementation has been ob-

served to be effective with the people’s cooperation and coordination among agencies from the barangays to the City LGU. Few incidents of breaches were quickly managed and no transmissions were noted from the incidents.

The Mati Incident Management Team said that containment and control are due the cooperation of the public in terms of public health and social measures, and the ongoing vaccination.

Next year’s priorities in terms of health are the following: 1. Covid 19 Response Operations (oxygen, Covid meds, PPE) and access to sustained vaccination 2. Strengthen the city’s Response Capacity to emergencies like institutionalizing the granular lockdown to the city’s strategic preparedness and response plan 3. Renew efforts to achieve Sustainable Developments Goals for the city (Universal Health Care for the City). (CIO MATI)

he Philippine and Chinese governments have vowed to deepen mutual trust and cooperation to crack down transnational crimes, including cross-border gambling, cybercrime fraud and kidnapping.

The Philippine and Chinese governments have vowed to deepen mutual trust and cooperation to crack down transnational crimes, including cross-border gambling, cybercrime fraud and kidnapping.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS)

PEREZ... FROM 11

recently held talks and agreed to continue their regular meetings and law enforcement capacity building to address crimes and other illegal activities.

Both sides also reached a consensus to enhance technical cooperation in drug control and counter-terrorism.

China reiterated its opposition to all forms of gambling and

mates Mo Tautuaa, six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, and Chris Ross, Meralco’s Mac Belo, Alvin Pasaol, Allein Maliksi, and Bong Quinto for the weekly honor being handed out by the group regularly covering the PBA beat.

Magnolia’s Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang, Northport’s Robert Bolick, Barangay Ginebra’s Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger were also considered for

the weekly citation.

Overall, Perez stamped his class in the league anew as he landed at no. 6 in the race for the Best Player of the Conference award, averaging 17.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals at the end of the eliminations while teaming with Ross in filling up the roles of the injured Cabagnot and Terrence Romeo at different stretches of the tournament. (PR)

erly inform the senior citizens there and their families about the vaccines.

In the adjoining town of Malungon in Sarangani, several church ministers were reported to have been discouraging their members from getting inoculated “as this goes contrary to the teachings of the bible.”

Farmer-businessman Edmundo Cejar of Barangay Nagpan, Malungon town, said several pastors are actively campaigning against the COVID-19 vaccine, convincing their flock to put their faith in prayers, “even saying, it is Jesus and your prayers that will protect you and not the vaccines.”

Cejar said the pastors also “scare the wits out of their churchgoers,” who are mostly members of the indigenous communities, that the vaccines will allow “a

chip to be injected to their body and serve as an identification code for 666, the number of the beast in biblical terms.”

The farmer-businessman said he is worried that unvaccinated residents may eventually cause harm in their community and urged the local government in their town to do something about it, “so much so that vaccination in their place is also sluggish.”

Mendoza said the elderly must be made to understand that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is more dangerous than what they are being misinformed about.

On Sept 26, this city listed an accumulated 13,150 COVID-19 cases, the second highest in the region as reported by the DOH. (Rommel G. Rebollido / MindaNews)

are vaccinated.

“Clear atong gisulat sa DepEd whether you are IP or non-IP, whether you are teaching, non-teaching personnel of the

school which was submitted for pilot testing, if you are unvaccinated, we requested that you are not allowed to report to work,” she said.

SENIOR... FROM 2

5 SCHOOLS... FROM 3

prohibited anew its nationals in the Philippines from participating and investing in any gambling activities by Chinese entities or individuals.

“The Chinese side pointed out that gambling not only damages the normal financial order and economic security of a country but also causes vicious crimes such as kidnapping, illegal detention, robbery, drug trafficking and other illegal activities, which seriously endanger legitimate property and personal rights,” the embassy said.

LET’S... FROM 11

Both sides expressed concerns over the increasing number of kidnapping cases involving Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

“At present, MPS and PNP are strengthening mutual cooperation in clues investigation, information sharing and case transfer, so as to strengthen joint efforts to crack down on such crimes,” the embassy said.

The PNP and MPS both maintain liaison offices in Beijing and Manila through designated official police attaché. (PNA)

the proposed budget,” he said.

Go also pushed for a higher budget for sports development since the funds given to sports agencies have been uti-

lized properly this year.

“This year, I am sure that our agencies will likewise utilize the budget prudently and wisely for the benefit of our nation,” he said. (PNA)

finish my degree. Someday or next year, I hope I will get my own degree),” Diaz said.

She urged the learners to be consistent with what they are doing to achieve their dreams.

“Sumunod sa teachers kasi alam nila kung alin ang tama (Follow your teachers because they know what is right). Then, surround yourself with people that will help you, ‘yong may good influence sa ‘yo (those who have good influence to you)...

Then, trust God. Trust in yourself and trust the people behind you,” she added.

Nesthy Petecio, the country’s first female Olympic silver medalist in boxing, said the 2020 Olympic stint gave her a chance to prove herself to everyone that she could be on the podium through hard work.

“Sobrang blessed po na binigyan ako ni Lord ng pagkakataon na ipakita sa lahat na kung ano ang kaya kong gawain, [at] kung ano ‘yong kaya kong patunayan hindi lang sa sarili ko kundi sa lahat ng tao kaya sobrang saya ko po at proud po ako [na i-represent ang Pilipinas] (I am so blessed that the Lord gave me a chance to show to everyone what I can do, what I

can prove not only to myself but to everyone and I’m so proud to represent the Philippines),” Petecio said.

Boxing Olympic silver winner Carlo Paalam and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, finalist Carlos Edriel Yulo (gymnastics), Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), and EJ Obiena (pole vault), and Paralympic swimmer Gary Bejino also related the journey of their respective careers.

The Pinoy Sports Heroes activity is a collaboration project of the Bureau of Learner Support Services’ School Sports Division and Youth Formation Division under the administration strand of Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua to motivate learners and student-athletes amidst the pandemic.

“Speaking of worldclass athletes, with the recent accomplishments of our country’s delegates to the Tokyo Summer Olympics, particularly the medalists who made history and gave the Philippines its best Olympic showing ever. The youth for sure would be inspired with their experiences and stories, from their humble beginnings to their success in their respective sports,” Pascua said. (PR)

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SPORTS

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The success of the Philippine campaign in the Toyo Olympiad prodded lawmakers led by Sen. Bong Go to support the sports budget.

Let’s invest in sports: Go PH Olympians urge learners to pursue dreams amid pandemic

W

eightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, and other members of the Olympic team in Tokyo provided inspiration to aspiring student-athletes during the recently-held Pinoy Sports Heroes: The Ultimate Balik-Eskwela Pinoy Sports Con of the Department of Education (DepEd).

During the virtual sports convention, Diaz imparted how sports changed her life while encouraging learners to continue pursuing their dreams amid many challenges, including the prevailing Covid-19 pan-

demic.

“Gusto ko lang pong sabihin sa lahat ng mga estudyante na alam kong mahirap, mahirap ang pinagdadaanan natin.

Learn to adopt. Estudyante rin po ako [ngayon], at nahihirapan din po ako pero ako kasi hindi ako sumuko [sa mga pagsubok] kasi gusto kong magkaroon ng degree. Someday or next year, sana magkaroon na ako ng degree (I would like to tell to our students that the life we are going through is really difficult. Learn to adapt.

I’m also a student, I’m struggling but I did not give up because I want to

FOLYMPIANS, P10

S

enator Christopher “Bong” Go, committee on sports chairperson, on Monday said investing in sports will keep the youth away from harmful vices, including illegal drugs.

Go made this remark as he expressed his full support to the proposed 2022 budgets of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).

“Suportado ko po ang pagbigay ng kaukulang budget sa (I am supporting the granting of appropriate budget to) PSC at GAB. As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports and as a passionate advocate for sports devel-

opment in the country, I believe that investing in sports will not only allow our country to develop more world-class athletes who can bring pride, honor, and medals to our country, but will also help us in keeping our youth away from illegal drugs and other harmful vices,” Go said during the budget hearing of the two government sports bodies on Monday.

Go asked Senate Committee on Finance chair-

man Sonny Angara to approve the proposed budgets, including the PHP211.5 million for PSC. “Mr. Chair, let me point out that the PSC and GAB need budgetary support from us now, more than ever, as they are finding it difficult to keep our sports program afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Go said.

Go, one of the vice chairpersons of the Senate finance committee also urged the rest of his colleagues to support the PSC and GAB budget proposals as the Philippines looks to continue its sports renaissance anchored upon the 2019 Southeast Asian Games

overall championship and the historic gold medal conquest in the Tokyo Olympics.

“Through our efforts, the Philippines became the top-performing country in Southeast Asia in the recent Tokyo Olympics. Kaya naman po hinihimok ko ang ating mga kasamahan na suportahan ang budget ng PSC at GAB para tuloy-tuloy lang po ang sports development sa ating bansa (That is why I am calling on my colleagues to support the PSC and GAB budgets for the continuous sports development in our country). For these reasons, I have no objections to

bounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals in the Beermen’s last two wins which ended dramatically behind the game-winners of veterans of Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot.

Behind his steady numbers, Perez, a native of Pangasinan, was adjudged the Cignal Play–PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Sept. 22-26, bridging the tail-end of the eliminations and the start of the quarterfinals.

Perez is seeing action in his first playoffs appearance since emerging as the top pick in the 2018 draft.

The third-year pro topscored in San Miguel’s 101100 win over Alaska with 20 points, six rebounds, four steals, and three as-

sists, including the clutch corner swing pass to Lassiter for the game-winning trey.

The win sealed the Beermen’s spot in the upper bracket of the standings at No. 4, putting themselves in the prime position of reclaiming lost glory after an early quarterfinal exit in last year’s all-Filipino conference.

In the Beermen’s thrilling 88-87 win in Game 1 of the playoffs over fifth seed Northport behind Cabagnot’s clutch game-winner, Perez also made his mark with 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists as they moved on the cusp of a semifinals return.

Perez beat out team-

FLET’S, P10

Perez named PBA Player of the Week

San Miguel Beermen forward CJ Perez drives against Robert Bolick of Northport. PBA

S

an Miguel Beer is one win away from a return trip to the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, and though it had a number of capable closers to thank for, a neophyte silently and steadily stepped up to bring it closer to a place once familiar to the team.

Playing his first conference with the Beermen, quick-fire guard CJ Perez did not disappoint and served as the quiet but lethal operator for the team’s resurgence after being dethroned in the Clark bubble last season.

Perez, the two-time scoring champ from Terrafirma, averaged 17.0 points on 44 percent clip from three-range, 6.0 re-

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Senate Committee on Sports Chair Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, in his manifestation, said that the budgetary support he pioneered, and the senators supported had borne fruit with the success of the Philippine delegation in the Olympics.

FULL SUPPORT Senators rally behind PSC on budget

S

enators expressed their support for the 2022 budget allocation of the Philippine Sports Commission and called for higher allotment for the agency.

Sen. Joel Villanueva who led the Senate Committee on Finance hearing recognized the PSC for discovering champions and sports heroes at a time when the country needed hope and inspiration.

Senate Committee on Sports Chair Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, in his manifestation, said that the budgetary support he pioneered, and the senators supported had borne fruit with the success of the Philippine delegation in the Olympics. “Investing in sports will not only allow our country to develop more world-class athletes who can bring pride, honor, and medals to our country, but will also help us in keeping our youth away from illegal drugs and other harmful vices,” he said.

Aside from Senator Go, Majority Leader Sen. Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Pia Cayetano, and Sen. Francis Tolentino proposed to approve the budget for plenary presentation “with reservations to increase the budget of PSC as requested to ensure that the momentum for next year international competition will not be prejudiced or compromised.”

The PSC is thankful to members of the Senate for their support and call to increase the agency’s allocation for 2022.

PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez expressed his gratitude to the senators for their recognition of the vital role the PSC has played in achieving the country’s historical triumph at the Tokyo 2020+1 Olympics.