Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 252 | Friday, January 14, 2022

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Children wearing face masks and face shields wait for public utility jeepney with their parents at a sidewalk near a shopping mall in Davao City. Children are no longer allowed going to the malls unless they will obtain essential services from dentists and clinics as the city is placed under Alert Level 3 from January 14 to 31, 2022. Edge Davao

HIGHER RESTRICTION Davao City reverts Alert Level 3 status STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 252 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

A health worker administers vaccine against Covid-19 to a resident in the ongoing Bakuna Booster by the Sea at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Lanang Davao City on Thursday. CIO

HIGHER RESTRICTION T

CAAP bans entry of unvaxxed passengers to GenSan airport

Davao City reverts Alert Level 3 status

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ith the current spike of Covid-19 cases, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) will place Davao City under Alert Level 3 status beginning January 14 to 31, 2022.

Acting Presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles made the announcement evening of January 12, 2022.

From October 20 to October 31, 2021 Davao City was placed under higher restrictions due to the surge of Covid-19 cases.

Under Alert Level 3, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed subject to reasonable restrictions based on age

and comorbidities, as may be determined by the local government units (LGUs), which should not be stricter as those prescribed under Alert Level 4 and subject to the oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of their respective RIATF. Individuals below 18 years old, and those belonging to the vulnerable population, shall be allowed access to obtain essential goods and services, or for

work in permitted industries and offices following existing labor laws, rules, and regulations.

Individual outdoor exercises shall also be allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.

The following establishments and/or activities characterized as high-risk for transmission shall not be allowed to operate, or be undertaken in areas classified under Alert Level 3: face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education, except those previously approved by the IATF and/ or the Office of the President; contact sports, except

those conducted under a bubble-type setup as provided for under relevant guidelines adopted by the IATF, Games and Amusement Board, and Philippine Sports Commission, and approved by the LGU where such games shall be held; funfairs/peryas and kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides; venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters; casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops,

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he Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has temporarily banned the entry of unvaccinated persons to the city international airport in the wake of the threats posed by the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a memorandum issued on Tuesday, city CAAP and airport manager Joel Gavina ordered the strict enforcement “effective immediately” of the “no vaccination card, no entry policy” at the airport’s premises.

He said the move is in response to the “alarming” surge of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and other areas that are believed caused by the highly contagious Omicron strain.

It is also in anticipation of the emergence of possible variant cases in the city and the neighboring cities and regions “that could affect the operation” of the city airport,

he said.

Under Airport Memorandum No. 001-2022, all airport and airline employees, as well as passengers, visitors, guests, and other clients, are required to present and wear or display their COVID-19 vaccination cards or certificates at all times.

“Only [persons] with vaccination cards or certificates are allowed inside the airport,” Gavina said.

CAAP designated an advance checkpoint at the main gate to conduct inspections on all those entering the airport.

Gavina said all those entering the airport’s premises are required to undergo temperature check and strictly follow the health protocols, specifically the wearing of face masks and observance of safe physical distancing.

He said arriving passengers who are partially

entitled to receive, provided that the deceased state prosecutor is eligible to retire optionally at the time of death.

Members of the NPS shall include all prosecutors in the Office of the Secretary of Justice, the Regional Prosecution Offices, and the offices of the Provincial and City Prosecutors.

RA 11643 refers to “dependent” as a legitimate, illegitimate, or legally adopted child who is chiefly dependent on the said deceased member of the NPS.

They should be aged 21 and below, unmarried and not gainfully employed, or regardless of age, is incapable of self-support because of any mental or physical defect or condition.

Under the law, the surviving legitimate spouse shall continue to receive during their lifetime said retirement benefits until such spouse remarries, provided that the surviving spouse and dependent children shall each equally share the

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NPA to preserve manpower, launch Law granting benefits to deceased offensives after PRRD term: ex-rebel retired state prosecutors’ kin inked

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AA former cadre of the New People’s Army (NPA) revealed during a press conference that the communist armed wing will just have to survive the ongoing series of military focused operations until the end of the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, wherein they plan to launch mass offensives.

“There is a revelation that the NPA will launch several offensives after June 2022 once PRRD steps down from presidency

dahil gusto nilang ipahiya ang (because they want to humiliate the) Duterte Administration that it fails to defeat the CPP-NPA,” bared Joy James Saguino alias Ka Amihan, former secretary of the Sub Regional Command 1 (SRC 1) of the Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC).

Saguino said that the revelations come from the documents they gathered in Davao, Tacloban, and Cagayan de Oro, wherein he attended conventions with

former rebels.

Even after the death of top NPA leader in Mindanao Menandro Villanueva alias Bok, Saguino doubted that the SMRC will launch tactical offensive calling it ‘unscientific.’

“Highly demoralized jud karon ang SMRC kaya very vulnerable for errors and mistakes (to launch offensives) kay emotional sila,” he said. (The SMRC is highly demoralized now, that is why launching offensives

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resident Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law an act granting survivorship benefits to the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of a deceased retired member of the National Prosecution Service (NPS).

Republic Act (RA11643 mandates the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of said deceased member to be entitled to receive all the retirement benefits that the deceased was receiving or

FLAW, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 252 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

NEWS

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The city government of Davao issues Executive Order No. 1 Series of 2022 extending the modified guidelines on liquor ban and the lifting of urfew within the city until June 30. 2022. Edge Davao

Modified guidelines on liquor ban, lifting of curfew extended Davao Region voters climb despite pandemic: Comelec

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n official of the Commission on Elections 11 (Comelec 11) said the number of voters in Davao Region has increased despite the pandemic.

Lawyer Gay Enumerables, spokesperson and assistant director of Comelec 11, said on Wednesday that there are a total of 3,236,928 registered voters in Davao Region this year. Of these number, 992,538 are voters from Davao City; 457,750 from Davao del Sur; 192,420 from Davao Occidental; 690,248 from Davao del Norte; 508,221 from Davao de Oro; and 395,751 from Davao Oriental.

Enumerables did not provide comparative data of voters from the previous years in Davao Region.

She believes that the increase in the number of voters is due to the extension provided in the last registration.

“In the previous registration period kung mag extend mi wala’y tao, but for this recent extension of last registration period nagdaghan gihapon ang mga tao. I guess gusto

lang gyud nila mu-participate sa election,” she said during the AFP-PNP Press Corps Media online briefing.

Meanwhile, Enumerables said a resolution was provided to ensure that health protocols will be followed during the election that includes each seat being one meter away from the other to ensure social distancing and allowing 10 people in the room/polling precinct to cast their votes.

“Meron tayong resolution for that on election day naa gyud ng observance of health protocols such as the arrangement of the classroom dapat ang chair ay may one-meter distancing, maximum of 10 people depende sa kadako sa room/polling precinct,” she said.

She added that an IPP or isolation polling place in each voting center will be set up for those voters with feverish or high temperatures.

“Kung walay classroom na mahimong IPP, maghimo ug tent para himoong IPP. IPP is for voters with high temperature (fever-

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte- Carpio extended the modified guidelines on liquor ban and lifting of the curfew within Davao City starting January 16, 2022 until June 30, 2022.

Through Executive Order (EO) No. 1 Series of 2022 issued on January 13, 2022, Mayor Sara extended the said modified guidelines banning the selling of liquors from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day as well as prohibiting person or entity to sell liquor

or any alcoholic beverages within this period.

On October 25, 2021 Mayor Sara signed EO No. 59-A, otherwise known as “An Order Providing for the Modified Guidelines on Liquor Ban and the Lifting of Curfew Within the City” which took ef-

fect on October 26, 2021 until January 15, 2022.

The order prohibits the serving of liquor for consumption in bars, restaurants, sari-sari stores, palengke (wet market), videoke, and other business establishments.

The EO also ordered the drinking of liquor in all public places including but not limited to streets, alleys, pathways, and outside of the gates are not allowed.

Mayor Sara ordered that liquor may only be served and consumed inside private properties.

Meanwhile, the EO also retains the lifting of curfew time in all public places.

Currently, Davao City is at 95.52 percent for first doses and 90.24 percent for second doses of its target number of inoculated individuals as reported by the Davao City task Force on Covid-19 on January 10, 2022.

tion aside from what was specified in Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 2018, to perpetually ban people from building houses and other permanent structures in highly dangerous locations.

“Saksi naman ang lahat na sa kada panahon ng tagulan at lalo na kung may malalakas na bagyo, nagkukumahog tayong iligtas ang mga kababayan natin na nakatira sa mga baybayin at

peligrosong lugar. Mailigtas man natin sila, sira at giba naman ang kanilang kabahayan at ibang ari-arian,”according to Escudero, who headed the Senate Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources in the 15th Congress.

“Sa pagbibigay ng tuldok sa ganitong mga eksena at pangitain tuwing may bagyo, hindi lamang dapat nakatuon ang pansin sa pagtatayo ng permanenteng evacuation center. Mas importante at higit na kail-

angan ng mga taong nasa baybayin at delikadong lugar ang permanente, matatag at ligtas na tirahan kung saan sila rin ay may ikabubuhay,” added Escudero, who is running for Senate in the May national elections.

Escudero noted that other than the identified “no build” zones in the regions devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, the government has yet to come up with a comprehen-

Chiz: Build permanent, safe homes for residents in danger zones, not just permanent evacuation sites

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n the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette that has displaced thousands of people, Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero is pushing for the provision of permanent and safe houses for residents living along the coastlines and danger zones to protect them and their properties, particularly in times of natural calamities.

At the same time, Escudero is proposing to the government to declare as “no build” zones areas it deemed unsafe for habita-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 252 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the banking industry have been urged to issue a moratorium on the collection of online money transfer fees amid the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases. Edge Davao

Odette damage to agri T nearing P13 billion: DA T

Truckers seen to save P1.9B with Unified Logistics Pass

he damage to the agriculture sector caused by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette is currently worth nearly P13 billion, according to the latest tally released by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The damage and losses due to the calamity stood at P12.7 billion as of January 12, 2022.

The typhoon affected 396,585 farmers and fishers, with volume of production loss at 267,809 metric tons (MT) and 443,419 hectares of agricultural areas in CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern

Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

Commodities wiped out

by Odette include rice, corn, high value crops, coconut, sugarcane, abaca, livestock, and fisheries.

Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machineries and equipment, the DA said.

“These values are subject to validation. Additional damage and losses are expected in areas affected

by Odette,” it said.

The DA earmarked P2.9 billion worth of readily-available assistance to be provided to farmers and fisherfolk affected, broken down as follows: P1 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas P828 million from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers P500 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for 20,000 farmers and fisherfolk at P25,000 each

P314 million worth of rice seeds, P129 million worth of corn seeds, and P57 million worth of assorted vegetables P47 million worth of assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) P6.6 million worth of animal stocks, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry 15,000 coconut seed nuts and available funds from Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) The DA said its Regional Field Offices (RFOs) are conducting assessment of

ary 11, the SEC announced that all applications for company registration, submissions of reportorial requirements, and other transactions in its main office in Pasay City and former headquarters in Mandaluyong City will be processed through its online portals, email, courier, and other remote means.

The adoption of the zero face-to-face setups is in compliance with Republic Act No. 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business Law, as the Commission seeks to effectively avoid further spread of Covid-19 in the workplace.

For the registration of domestic stock and nonstock corporations and for

the recording of partnerships and licenses to do business for foreign corporations, applicants may use the electronic simplified processing of an application for registration of company at http://esparc.sec.gov.ph/ application.

Applicants may also use the one-day submission and

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SEC implements zero F2F setup amid Covid-19 surge

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is implementing a zero face-to-face transaction policy in its offices in Metro Manila starting January 13 until further notice, in light of the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country.

In a notice issued Janu-

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he logistics industry is expected to save some PHP1.92 billion with the streamlining of applications and fees for truckers.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) launched on Wednesday the Unified Logistics Pass (ULP), a single-window application and payment for trucking companies for all passthrough fees of ports, local government units (LGUs), and economic zones.

Citing the study of the World Bank, ARTA Deputy Director General Ernesto Perez said the current system costs the industry PHP2.23 billion for registering with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and getting passthrough stickers from different LGUs and ecozones where truckers ply.

But with the streamlining of all applications and fees, the cost for the logistics industry will be at around PHP378.8 million.

Perez said that through the ULP, the number of steps for processing the pass-through passes will be reduced by 73 percent and time of processing by 87 percent.

Under the ULP, truckers will be given a QR (quick response) code which can be easily scanned by port authorities, ecozones, and LGUs. In this way, varying and separate ecozone stickers and LGU passes among others will be eliminated.

“This unified and streamlined process will be highly beneficial to the private stakeholders and to concerned government authorities alike as it is poised to streamline requirements for a unified QR code which shall facilitate easier movement and ease port-entry restrictions,” Perez said.

He added trucking companies will get the unified QR code once they apply for a certificate of public convenience from the LTFRB. The Department of Transportation and the LTFRB will be the key implementing agencies of the ULP, with support and coordination from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

ARTA’s development partners for the ULP are the Department of Science and Technology, USAID Grantee Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development, World Bank, and DevCon. Its cooperating partners are the Asian Terminals Inc., Manila Harbor Center, International Container Terminal Services Inc., and Manila North Harbor Port Inc. (PNA)

ECONOMY 5

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A couple chooses from the display of used shoes sold at an “ukay-ukay” makeshift stall along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City Thursday. Edge Davao

Davao City LGU surpasses target tax collection in 2021 PH financial institutions get improving outlook this year

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itch Ratings has included its rated Philippine financial institutions (FIs) as among the 12 percent of its 141 rated firms globally that have improving outlooks for 2022.

In a report emailed Wednesday, the debt rater said 80 percent, or 113 issuers, have neutral outlooks while 8 percent, or 11 institutions, have a deteriorating outlook.

“The vast majority of financial institution (FI) sector and subsector outlooks are Neutral for 2022, reflecting the expectation for a continued, albeit slowing, global economic recovery and improvement in operating environments for banks, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and (re)insurers,” it said.

The report said loan asset quality for banks and NBFIs are expected to deteriorate “as fiscal and policy support wane.”

“However, we believe banks will offset these reductions with improved pre-impairment profitability and the reduction of loan loss allowances and excess capital buffers

accumulated through the pandemic,” it added.

The report said the rated NBFIs’ “solid capital levels and improved funding profiles should help mitigate a moderate pick-up in credit costs.”

“NBFI operating performance is also expected to be supported by gradually rising interest rates,” it said.

Fitch Ratings expects the monetary policy tightening around the globe “to be supportive of life insurers’ returns” but added, “the negative impact of historic low rates on profitability will remain for some time.”

This, as low rates have resulted in an increased allocation to higher-risk alternative investments by life insurers, as well as a structural shift toward more capital-light models.

“The economic recovery should result in volume growth in non-life business lines, with pricing discipline expected to continue. Claims are expected (to) normalize, but costs should rise with inflation,” it added.

(PNA)

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espite stricter movement restrictions in 2021 when the coronavirus disease hit worldwide, the Davao City government still surpassed its tax collection target by 32 per cent.

Based on the data from the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), the city collected Php3,434,827,366.83 in 2021, exceeding the target of Php2,587,240,000.00.

Of the total collection in 2021, business taxes contributed the highest with a total collection of Php1,983,359,957.43,

followed by real property tax (basic) at Php782,983,058.99, and the real property transfer tax with a total collection of Php224,129,555.88 While the city exceeds its 2021 target, this remains lower compared to 2020 with a total collection of Php3,788,826,722.66 which

is 353,999,355.84 higher in amount compared to 2021 collection.

Compared to 2020, the city has decreased collection in amusement tax, business tax, community tax, franchise tax, tax on printing and publication, real property transfer tax, and, tax revenue for fines and penalties.

However, the 2021 collection record shows the city government increased collection in professional tax, real property tax- (basic), special levy on idle

land, tax on delivery trucks and vans, tax on sand, gravel, and other products, and other taxes (environmental tax).

The 2021 tax collection remains high despite the closures of some business establishments at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the Business Bureau remains bullish based on the high number of business renewal applicants on the first week of OneStop-Shop Business Renewal compared with the same period last year. CIO

Passenger car sales rose 22.4 percent to 85,260 units in 2021 compared to 69,638 units sold the previous year.

On the other hand, commercial vehicle sales grew 18.9 percent to 183,228 units from 154,155 units a year ago.

“Looking back at last year’s performance, the automotive industry has remained remarkably resilient with an overall growth of 20 percent compared with the same performance a year ago —that is no small feat indeed,” CAMPI president

Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.

The industry targets to sell 295,400 units, including imported vehicles.

As of September 2021, the group of car importers registered a total of 43,957 units for the first three quarters of 2021.

This means the entire industry has surpassed the 300,000-mark sales for last year.

Gutierrez added car sales in December last year were the highest since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandem-

ic struck in March 2020.

Automotive sales last month reached 27,846 units, up by 0.9 percent compared to 27,596 units in December 2020, and higher by 5.3 percent compared to November 2021’s sales of 26,456 units.

“The industry remains optimistic for a continued recovery this year from the Covid-19 pandemic downturn as progress on inoculation has provided hopes for a better outlook for the wider economy, but ‘business as usual’ is still unlikely as challenges remain at hand,” Gutierrez said.

Local auto industry ends 2021 with 20% growth

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he local automotive industry has registered a 20-percent increase in sales for the full year of 2021, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported Wednesday.

Local car assemblers ended last year with 268,488 unit sales from 223,793 units sold in 2020.

Both passenger car and commercial vehicle segments recorded double-digit growth.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 252 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

In expressing his support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to amend Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010:

Dapat, one-step ahead tayo sa gobyerno dahil hindi natin alam kung kailan magkakaroon ulit ng mga krisis at sakuna katulad ng hinaharap natin ngayon.”

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO SERAFICA J. WEIS THINK ON THESE! IBP DAVAO CORNER

THE HUNGER GAMES Climate change, which has been in the news lately as it has been cited as one possible cause of the super typhoon Odette, is touted to be “a major challenge for agriculture and food security.”

Those words were the mouth of the late Dr. Randy A. Hautea, who was then the global coordinator and Southeast Asia Center Director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA).

In his presentation during the regional workshop on biotechnology and biosafety for food security and sustainable agriculture in Bogor, Indonesia, Dr. Hautea cited the following reasons for coming such statement: • It has the potential to undermine advances in poverty reduction and sustainable development • It will greatly affect the health and productivity of crops, livestock, fish and forests, and dependant rural livelihoods • It will increase hunger and malnutrition; by 2080, an additional 5 to 170 million people are at risk of hunger.

“Population growth is going crazy,” deplored Dr. Frank A. Shotkoski, the director of Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II. “From 2 billion in 1935, it doubled to 4 billion in 1975. By 2000, the world was home to 6 billion. In 2030, there will be about 8 billion people inhabiting this planet.”

Is there a likely solution in sight for hunger? Biotechnology might be the answer. “Biotechnology is a modern technology that makes use of organisms (or parts thereof) to: make or modify products; improve and develop microorganisms, plants or animals; or develop organisms for specific purposes in a more precise manner,” explains a fact sheet circulated by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

The tools used in biotechnology include gene cloning, tissue culture, microbial culture, DNA-marker technology, and genetic engineering. The latter is the most controversial as it is the method used in developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

A GM/biotech or transgenic

crop is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, according to the SEARCA fact sheet.

“GM technology can address problems that cannot be solved through conventional crop improvement methods,” the fact sheet informs. “It enables plant breeders to bring together in one plant useful genes from a wide range of sources, not just from within the crop species or closely related plants.

“This powerful tool allows plant breeders to attain a desired trait combination faster and address urgent concerns like the development of crops that are resistant to biotic (diseases and pests) or abiotic stresses (drought and waterlogging), and with increased yield and improved food and nutrient quality,” the fact sheet adds.

But the big question is: Are GM-crops safe to eat? Although the health risk of eating transgenic food is yet unknown, there are signs that it could cause allergies, resistance to certain medicines and possibly

even affect internal organs.

An estimated 60 percent of all processed foods contain at least one genetically engineered component, writes Jon Luoma in Mother Jones magazine. In the Philippines, Filipinos may be eating transgenic foods, such as potato chips, corn cereals, or soya milk.

“Love it or loathe it, transgenic food is set to become a bigger part of what we eat,” someone noted.

And consumers need not worry. Experts say biotech crops are rigorously tested for safety prior to commercialization. In fact, biotech crops are among the most extensively tested foods in the history of food safety.

There is widespread agreement from scientists and international health organizations, including the World Health Organization, that biotech crops, foods, and feeds are as safe as conventionally-bred crops, foods, and feeds.

In addition, over 3,200 renowned scientists worldwide have signed a declaration in support of agricultural biotechnology and its safety to humans,

animals, and the environment.

The 2010 report of the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation on GMOs GMOs noted: “The main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research, and involving more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology, and in particular GMOs, are not per se more risky than conventional plant breeding technologies.”

While writing the book God Species in 2011, in which he attempted to become consistent in his position on the science of climate change, environment, and food production, Mark Lynas came to a realization that GM is the answer to food shortage problems.

Meanwhile, the battle continues between GM activists and GM advocates. Who will emerge the winner? No one knows but there are always losers – the hungry. One sage puts it in this perspective: “A man who has enough food has several problems. A man without food has only one problem.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

IDES OF MARCH, 1985 Historically, the Ides of March is associated with bad luck; in particular, it highlights the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 B.C., in front of the Roman Senate. ‘Ides’ actually means ‘middle’ and persons identified with it are also associated with superstitions.

March 1985 will go down in infamy as far as Davao history is concerned. Based on media assessment, it was ‘the bloodiest month ever recorded with assassinations, summary executions, ambush, [and] encounters.’

An article that appeared in the April 3, 1985, edition of People’s Daily Forum, reported that 113 shooting incidents were registered in March alone, 93 killed and twenty injured. In all cases, guns were used! Compared with the previous months, January recorded 66 casualties while 77

were listed in February, all of them victims of shooting. Forty were wounded in January while ten were injured in the month that followed. Most of the victims were civilians and military servicemen.

Committed by assassins identified with the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) of the New People’s Army (NPA), the killings, committed almost daily (except March 4), took place mostly in known insurgent hotbeds, i.e., Agdao, dubbed as ‘Nicaragdao,’ and Buhangin.

Though Buhangin was not as critical as Agdao, its Diversion Road, now a very busy traffic artery, became the favorite dumping ground of bodies that were apparent victims of extrajudicial killing. Notable among the incidents in the area was the killing three young men identi-

fied by the military establishment as ‘subversive elements.’

‘The hair-raising incidents in Buhangin,’ the reported added, ‘have virtually created fear and terror.’ The daily radio reports chiefly drawn from police and military were also attestations to the gruesome incidents that turned March 1985 into a date of disrepute.

Among the victims of the March killing spree were Rolando S. Dizon, a stringer for the community paper, Davao Star.

He was picked up by six unnamed armed men in New Mahayag, near Belisario Heights, Lanang but was later found dead from Armalite rifle shots.

On the other hand, Ireneo de Jesus, manager of Filipinas Port Services, Inc., was killed near the gate of his residence while about to press the doorbell.

Reporting on the murderous situation of Davao City and its environs, The Washington Post, in a report written by William Chapman on May 19, 1985, titled ‘A Philippine Laboratory of Revolution,’ painted a gruesome picture on how the killings had evolved over a threeyear period: ‘The NPA has transformed Davao into the bloodiest killing ground of the revolution.

In the last three years, literally hundreds of police, soldiers, informers, gangsters and para-military gunmen have been shot to death. In 1984 alone, more than 80 policemen were murdered, many of them on busy streets in daylight hours.

In the typical encounter, an NPA “sparrow unit,” a two-or three-man assassination squad, emerged from a crowd, fired

a single bullet into the policeman’s head, grabbed his pistol and merged back into the crowd. Frightened police have abandoned routine patrols and ceded the streets to the rebels.’

Among the poor, the killing of abusive police and military was a consent, even calling the rebels ‘nice people around.’

Some sectors extended help in form of food, cash, and shelter. ‘ Poor residents of Davao,’ Chapman observed, ‘regarded NPA guerrillas not as invaders but as protectors who killed the bad cops, mean soldiers and thugs who preyed on their communities’ while the military were ‘accused of torturing civilians, executing suspected guerrillas without trial and performing hated dragnet operations that disrupt entire communities in the middle of the night.’

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GAME CHANGER

VOL.14 ISSUE 252 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

ROSSEL ‘SHANTAL’ DIMAYUGA: Fearless businesswoman powering through the pandemic

When Charles Perrault wrote Cendrillon in 1697, he probably had no idea that girls worldwide would become enamored by the story of a poor girl who, with the help of her fairy godmother, beats all odds, goes to a ball and captures the heart of a prince. Bibbidi bobbidi boo.

A lot of us wish it were that easy to make our dreams come true. For one woman, who had the odds stacked against her growing up, making her dreams come true was perhaps harder than it was for the rest of us, but that did not stop her from seeing difficulties as merely challenges to overcome while on the path to success.

Ms. Rossel Dimayuga, Shantal to her family, friends, and peers, talked about life, her goals, and the advocacy that is very close to her heart.

Ms. Dimayuga has this innate glow in her. When you walk into a room, she will be hard to miss. She had just had a photoshoot so she was dressed to the nines with flawless hair and makeup. She was a little intimidating at first, but you will be put right at ease the moment she started talking. Her voice had a trace of humility, perhaps because of her humble background, but once she started talking about her passions, which are business, people empowerment, and extending help to children, the trace of humility in her voice was replaced with authority.

Ms. Dimayuga grew up in a low-income family in Batangas. They were not destitute. They were able to get by but there was very little wiggle room for more than the basic necessities. Her father was very strict and expected her to be home thirty minutes after her classes had ended. The same thing happened after college once she had started working. She doesn’t come from wealth nor a family of entrepreneurs, but somehow after college, she realized she would never achieve financial freedom by staying as an employee.

Like a lot of people who grew up in the province, she dreamed of working in Manila. Her eyes glistened with pride when she stated how she landed a job at the Manila Ocean Park, and how excited she was to come home to show her family with all of the aquarium’s promotional brochures. “This is where I work,” she told her parents as she proudly showed them the brochures. She also worked as a Beauty Consultant for a major beauty brand then subsequently, she came to work as a Building Administrator. Although these working experiences thought her a lot, she had a realization that she wanted to push herself even more in to achieving her dreams.

With this, she mustered up her courage and she started to venture in to her own business.

Ms. Dimayuga did not shy away from actual work.

She knew she needed a stable job to eventually make her dreams come true, so while she was working full time, she decided to start an online business selling cell phones on Facebook. “I realized that you can actually start a business without any capital,” she said. What she did was she contacted a supplier who would provide the phones, and posted the pictures of the products online.

The cell phones had already been paid for in full plus shipping even before they left the store.

It is this business smarts that led her to much bigger endeavors. Eventually, she had enough money to open a laundromat. She said she had been naïve to think that hiring someone to operate it would be the best thing to do because her full-time job prevented her from being one hundred percent hands-on. The business tanked but failure did not faze her. “Failure is always a good thing because with it come life lessons,” she said.

Her experience in handling small businesses, despite the failures, has made her realize that people could achieve financial freedom if they had their own businesses. This realization was further emphasized with the onset of the pandemic. She saw countless people queuing up outside government offices waiting under the scorching sun just for ayuda. Most had been laid off work or poor with or without a global pandemic. “If those people only had a business to call their own, they probably wouldn’t have suffered as much. We have seen how the business community has thrived despite the

pandemic. Yes, we’ve seen a lot of restaurants, stores, etc. close down, but somehow, they bounce back.”

This is just one of the things that Ms. Dimayuga aims to do. She aims to educate Filipinos about the importance of Small and Mid-size Enterprise (SME) – that one does not have to be rich to start their own business. “It’s not just about making money, it’s also about not having to worry about food security, your children’s education, or if something unexpected happens like a pandemic.”

Another goal of hers is to start a foundation called Yakap Kalinga, which aims to help underprivileged children by providing them with shoes, supplements, and other necessities every start of the school year. This project is already ongoing but the foundation will be formally launched next year.

To date, Ms. Dimayuga owns a manpower agency, a security agency, a finance company, a trading company, a textile and garments manufacturing company, and most

recently, One Genki Corporation, the sole distributor of Genki diapers from Japan. She has come a long way from being the young, innocent girl from Batangas, who always felt restricted with time. She is the embodiment of the term “self-made” for she can truly claim all her successes as hers.

At thirty-two, she is the Chief Finance Officer of Bright One Glorious Star Inc. and One Genki Corporation, CEO of RadCorp, President and CEO of Promptus Trading Inc., President and CEO of Nobles One Solutions Agency Inc., President of Bagwis Security & Investigative Services Inc., and President, and CEO of Empress Textile and Garments Manufacturing Corp.

Every now and then we come across a person who is truly inspirational. She made us realize that one cannot and should not wait for an outside force to make one’s dreams come true. In a way, Ms. Dimayuga is her own fairy godmother.

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“V

olcanoes are awesome manifestations of the fiery power contained deep within the Earth.” – National Geographic

As you read this article, somewhere, around the world, about 20 active volcanoes are erupting. That’s according to the website, universetoday.com.

No one knows when a volcano will erupt. The last time Mount Pinatubo erupted was about 450 years ago. For a long span of time, people in Zambales province had almost forgotten that there was a volcano lurking to explode in their vicinity.

No one can blame them.

The Pinatubo mountain was lush and teeming with trees. Farmers were planting various crops as the soil was fertile. Some people lived on the slopes of the mountain, but most settled in the nutrient-laden flatlands.

Then the sleeping giant was awakened from its deep slumber and the eruption completely changed the lives of the people living

near the volcano. Mount Pinatubo stood at 1,780 meters before it erupted on June 9, 1991. After the eruption, the volcano was reduced to only 1,400 meters. A chunk of more than 300 meters was sliced off the top.

During the picturesque eruption, volcanic ash and hot sand rained down in thick sheets over many towns, blanketing the rooftops of houses. But most of the vented materials were deposited on the slopes of Mount Pinatubo – waiting for another disaster to happen.

What was expected to happen, really happened.

Dislodged by rain, lahar (volcanic ash) washed away bridges and engulfed more lands. More than four thousand people have been killed by mudflows since the volcano erupted.

Mount Pinatubo is just one of the 200 volcanoes

ENVIRONMENT

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VOLCANOES: LIKE GHOSTS AND MONSTERS Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

found in the Philippines.

The country is located in what scientists call the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a halo of seismic hotspots around the Pacific Ocean.

“In a large 40,000-kilometer horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and plate movements,” Wikipedia points out.

Fortunately, only 21 volcanoes are considered active.

Scientists say a volcano is considered active if it has erupted sometime within the last 600 years. If a volcano has not erupted in 600 years, it is regarded as inactive (dormant).

There are also volcanoes which are considered extinct. “It is difficult to dis-

tinguish an extinct volcano from a dormant one,” an American volcano expert explains.

Extinct volcanoes are those that scientists consider unlikely to erupt again, because the volcano no longer has a lava supply. Examples of extinct volcanoes are those located in Hawaii.

The Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is famously located atop an extinct volcano.

Aside from Pinatubo, the active volcanoes in the country, according to the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) are Mayon in Legazpi City; Taal in Talisay, Batangas; Canlaon in Negros Oriental; Bulusan in Sorsogon; Smith, Didicas, Babuyan Claro and Camiguin de Babuyanes, all in Babuyan Island Group; Cagua in Cagayan; Banahaw in Laguna/Quezon; Iriga in Camarines Sur; Biliran in Biliran; and Iraya in Batanes.

In Mindanao, the active volcanoes are: Ragang and Matutum, both in Cotabato; Hibok-Hibok in Mambajao, Camiguin; Calayo in Valencia, Bukidnon; Bud Dajo on Jolo Island; Musuan in Bukidnon; and Makaturing in Lanao.

The Philippines is home to some of the most beautiful volcanoes. Mount Mayon in Albay is world famous for its near-perfect cone.

It has erupted almost 50 times. Its most violent and destructive eruption was in 1814, its ash and mudflows burying villages and towns around it.

With an altitude of 2,954 meters (9,692 feet), Mount Apo is indeed the country’s highest moun-

tain. “A potentially-active volcano” is what some experts called Mount Apo. The date of its most recent eruption is unknown, and none are verified in historical times.

Among the most historical volcanoes in the country are Mount Canlaon and Mount Hibok-Hibok.

Mount Canlaon, the only active volcano in the Visayas, has erupted 14 times. Its last eruption was during June to September 1978.

Mount Hibok-Hibok (it is called such because, people say, the ground shakes when you step on it) is also known as Catarman. Its most recent eruption was on December 4 and 6, 1953.

Earlier eruptions were reported in 1897 and during 1848-1852.

The word “volcano” is derived from the name of Vulcano, a volcanic island in the Aeolian Islands of Italy whose name in turn originates from Vulcan, the name of a god of fire in Roman mythology.

Wikipedia shares this bit of information: Many ancient accounts ascribe volcanic eruptions to supernatural causes, such as the actions of gods or demigods. To the ancient Greeks, volcanoes’ capricious power could only be explained as acts of the gods, while 16th/17th-century German astronomer Johannes Kepler believed they were ducts for the Earth’s tears.

One early idea counter to this was proposed by Jesuit Athanasius Kircher, who witnessed eruptions of Mount Etna and Stromboli, then visited the crater of Vesuvius and published

his view of an Earth with a central fire connected to numerous others caused by the burning of sulfur, bitumen and coal.

Actually, a volcano is a vent in the Earth from which molten rock (called magma) and gas erupt. The molten rock that erupts from the volcano (known as lava) forms a hill or mountain around the vent.

The lava may flow out as a viscous liquid, or it may explode from the vent as solid or liquid particles.

Magmas with high gas and high viscosities are usually more explosive than those flowing from shield volcanoes. In many instances, these gas-rich magmas, experts say, are blown high into the air during an eruption. The magma falls as volcanic bombs, which accumulate around the vent and form steep-sided but relatively small cinder cones.

Most of the tallest volcanoes are composite volcanoes or stratovolcanoes.

These form from a cycle of quiet eruptions of fluid lava followed by explosive eruptions of viscous lava. The fluid lava creates an erosion-resistant shell over the explosive debris, forming strong, steep-sided volcanic cones.

While volcanoes can be dangerous, they are not always destructive. After several years, volcanic ashes and other materials ejected in an eruption become fertile soil. The land then becomes a good area for farming.

“Remind me that the most fertile lands were built

FVOLCANOES, P10

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and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President.

Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household are also prohibited under Alert Level 3.

Other salient features of Alert Level 3 are: - The following establishments, or activities, shall be allowed to operate or be undertaken at a maximum of 30 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity: - Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE); permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers; visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like; amusement parks or theme parks; recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues; cinemas and movie houses; limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-vocational education and training; in-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the Covid-19 deceased; licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF subject to the health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF; dine-in services in food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols; personal care establish-

ments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options, subject to the sector-specific protocols of the DTI; fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise and sports, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols.

- Provided, that all workers/employees of these establishments are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and minimum public health protocols (MPHS) shall be strictly maintained. Provided further, that there is no objection from the LGU where these activities may take place.

- Provided that patrons/ clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and that no group activities are conducted; and film, music, and television production, subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE, and the DOH. - Agencies and instrumentalities of the government shall remain to be fully operational and shall adhere to at least 30 percent on-site capacity while applying work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.

In December last year, the city was placed under Alert Level 2 with a more relaxed movement restriction.

Meanwhile, other areas in Mindanao that will be under IATF’s Alert Level 3 are Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City, Agusan del Sur and Cotabato City.

On the other hand, based on the Regional Situation Update on Covid-19 in Davao Region as of January 12, 2022 DOH Davao Center for Health Development reported 335 new cases of COVID-19 in the region bringing the total number of active cases to 1164.

Of these 335 cases, 243 were from Davao City; seven were from Davao de Oro; 35 from Davao del Norte; 40 from Davao del Sur; one from Davao Occidental; nine from Davao Oriental.

e-registration of companies under the eSPARC (electronic simplified processing of an application for registration of company) for the registration of domestic stock corporations, which may be one person corporations or corporations with two to 15 incorporators, board of directors, and stockholders.

Meanwhile, all submissions of annual financial statements (AFS) and general information sheet (GIS) must be done through the electronic filing and submission tool (eFAST) at https:// cifss-ost.sec.gov.ph/. eFAST also accepts submissions of sworn statements for foundation/ nonstock, non-profit organizations forms, general form for financial statements, special form for financial statements, affidavit of non-operation, to be filed with the AFS/GIS, and affidavit of non-holding of

annual meeting, to be filed with the GIS. Other reports, documents, and communications not covered by eFAST may be submitted through email at ictdsubmission@sec.gov. ph.

Clients who wish to request SEC documents may do so through the SEC Express System at http:// www.secexpress.ph.

The documents will be delivered to the mailing address of the applicant through courier within 10 to 15 days.

Meanwhile, the public may avail of online and cashless payment options through the electronic system for payment to the SEC (eSPAYSEC) at https://espaysec.sec.gov.ph/.

The system accepts payments for registration and other transaction fees, as well as penalties, using debit and credit cards, digital wallets and other cashless payment options.

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would be very vulnerable for errors and mistakes because of their emotions.)

Saguino said that adding to the low morale in the movement are the killings, capture, and surrender of top leaders of the NPA like Jorge Madlos alias Oris, Danny Juit alias Bosyong, and Anna Sandra Reyes alias Kaye.

“Pero (But) there are regions that even before June, they plan to engage militarily on some soft targets pero hindi sa Mindanao (but not in Mindanao),” he stressed.

Saguino added that these plan depends on the capacity of the NPA in the region.

Meanwhile, Noel Legaspi alias Ka Efren, former deputy secretary of the NPA’s Far South Mindanao Region, expected that same with the death of Madlos, there will be a mass surrender after Villanueva’s death.

Villanueva, the head of the National Operations Command of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and the Secretary of the Komisyon Mindanao (KomMid), died in an encounter with the 1001st Infantry Brigade troops on January 5, 2022 in Mabini, Davao de Oro. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

vaccinated or only received the first dose of the vaccine are required to present valid reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results taken within 72 hours before arrival.

They should be registered with the S-PaSS or Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage system to facilitate travel to their respective destinations, Gavina said.

He said children aged 12 years old and below are temporarily not allowed to enter the airport unless they are airline passengers.

Violators “will be given appropriate reprimand and/ or penalty in accordance with the existing local or national laws” related to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Dr. Sulpicio Henry Legaspi, assistant director of the Department of Health-Region 12, said they fully support the implementation

of such policy based on a mandate from the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“That’s for the common good and at the same time aimed to protect [the unvaccinated individuals],” he told reporters in Koronadal City.

He said data showed that most of the severe COVID-19 cases involved individuals who are unvaccinated and partially vaccinated.

Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has remained under low-risk status but new COVID-19 cases in this city have been increasing since late last week.

The City Health Office reported a total of 147 active COVID-19 cases here as of Tuesday night, increasing by 374 percent from the 31 cases on Jan. 5. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)

sive list of high risk places in the country that should not be inhabited by the population.

Pending the completion of the list as well as the full execution of RA 11038, which prohibits construction of permanent structures within 40 meters from the coastline of protected areas, the national government and local government units should begin identifying relocation sites for families to be affected and set aside budget for the construction of houses.

In Sorsogon, a province frequently visited by strong typhoons, Escudero said the provincial government has prioritized the development of relocation sites for his constituents who used to live in flood prone and danger zone areas. The sites also accommodated other informal settlers.

Since he became governor in 2019, Escudero said relocation sites have been developed in Bacon, which is now hosting 83 households; Casiguran, 550; and Donsol, 50. The beneficiaries were given lots and financial assistance for building their houses.

The former senator also urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the

agency tasked by the law to enforce RA 11038, to hold consultative dialogues with the National Housing Authority (NHA), local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders to address the relocation and housing issues of residents living not only in protected areas but also in locations frequently affected by storm surges and floods.

President Duterte has said he is favor of relocating residents along the “nobuild” zones.

“Huwag nating isugal ang buhay at kabuhayan na mga mamamayan tuwing may mga bagyong tulad ni Yoland at Odette dahil sa kulang at kapos ang paghahanda,” Escudero said.

Super Typhoon Odette has damaged more than 500,000 houses in regions of MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga and BARMM, affecting more than 4 million people and costing at least P8 billion in damage to agriculture.

Odette, the strongest typhoon to enter the Philippines in 2021, also claimed the lives of more than 400 people.

ish) dili na sila paadtuon sa precinct to vote but in IPP,” she said.

Enumerables also

said that voting hours are also extended from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. By Maya M. Padillo

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by the fires of volcanoes,” Andrea Gibson wrote in The Madness Vase.

Recently, volcanic areas have become important sources of geothermal energy. In fact, the Philippines is one of the very few countries in the world which use geothermal power plants.

Next to the United States, the Philippines has the second highest geothermal power capacity in the world right now.

Although geologists are known to study the Earth, they also observe volcanoes. With the aid of seismographs and other instruments, they can predict volcanic eruptions weeks or even months ahead.

Phivolcs, a line agency of the Department of Science

and Technology (DOST) is the government agency dedicated to provide information on the activities of volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, as well as other specialized information and services primarily for the protection of life and property and in support of economic, productivity, and sustainable development.

“Like ghosts and monsters, volcanoes can be scary when they erupt.

They rumble, shake and spit out fire, steam, ashes, and rocks. But unlike ghosts and monsters, volcanoes are of this world. As such, they can be studied and understood,” said Dr. Raymundo S. Punongbayan, who headed Phivolcs from 1982 to 2003.

an 8-0 run and then scored the first five points of the third quarter.

Fox fueled another big run later in the third when Sacramento scored 15 straight and led 92-79.

MONK LOVES THE KINGS Monk has had some of his best games this season against the Kings. In four games versus Sacramento, Monk has put up 88 total points for a 22.0 average – 10 points better than his overall average of 12.0.

PLAY OF THE GAME After Trevor Ariza blocked a shot by Fox, James grabbed the rebound and fed the ball to Monk sprinting down the right

side of the court. Monk drove toward the basket and laid the ball high off the glass for James, who was cutting through the lane and dunked.

TIP-INS Lakers: James has scored 31 or more in 11 of his last 12 games. … Carmelo Anthony was held out because of lower back tightness. Sekou Doumbouya was signed to a two-way contract.

Kings: Richaun Holmes has cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocol and is working on his conditioning before rejoining the team. .,. Tristan Thompson did not play because of a non-COVID-19 illness.

and is barred from suiting up in New York due to the city’s mandate.

But Durant dominated over 30 minutes and finished with nine assists.

Harden hit five 3-pointers.

Patty Mills scored 21 and nailed of 6 of 8 from beyond the arc, helping Brooklyn come out on top after losing five of seven.

The Nets also avoided a three-game sweep by the Bulls.

Zach LaVine scored 20. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points. But Chicago lost for the second time in three games after winning nine straight to match their best run since the

end of the 2010-11 regular season. The Bulls also had their nine-game home win streak snapped.

The Nets outscored the Bulls 39-19 in the third to turn a two-point halftime lead into a 101-79 advantage.

Durant had 10 in about a two-minute span, including a 3 to make it 99-79 before Irving drove for a layup in the closing minute.

By then, the Nets were well on their way. They took control midway through the third with an 18-4 run to break open a game that was tied at 71, a 3-pointer by Mills making it 89-75.

retirement benefits.

The amount necessary for the immediate implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The benefits provided in this Act shall also be granted to the surviving spouse and dependent children of the member of the NPS who died one year prior to the effectivity of this Act.

RA 11643 was signed

by Duterte on Tuesday but was released to reporters on Thursday, This act is a consolidation of House Bill No. 9087 and Senate Bill No. 2373 was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines on November 29, 2021 and November 8, respectively.

(PNA)

damage and losses in the agri-fisheries sector.

“The DA continuously coordinates with concerned national government agencies, local government units and

other disaster risk reduction and management-related offices for the impact of Odette, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance,” it said.

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SPORTS 11

Lakers bow to Kings LA star LeBron James drives against Marvin Bagley of the Kings.

Some Covid-19 protocols in Beijing Winter Olympics bared

P

hilippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has bared some details about the health and safety protocols to be implemented for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics.

Tolentino, a House representative of 8th district of Cavite province, said just getting cleared to enter the bubble is already stringent enough.

“As we come from the outside, we will be having two RT-PCR (tests before leaving, 96 hours before and 72 hours before).

That’s what I’ve learned.

Then when you arrive, [there will be] another RT-PCR test,” Tolentino revealed on Wednesday when he guested in the Kamuning Bakery Cafe Pandesal Forum.

He also bared that those who would test positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will be isolated in different areas depending on whether they have symptoms or not.

Asymptomatic patients will be billeted in a dedicated hotel, while the symptomatic ones will be heading to a hospital for treatment.

“After 3-4 days, you will be out if you’re negative,” Tolentino revealed how Covid-19 patients would only be cleared.

He also said “we are going to have twice-a-

day Covid tests everyday,” which is stricter than last year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where the delegation only got to be tested once per day.

Tolentino even said local citizens in Beijing are not allowed to help if the official transportation of the athletes needs to be fixed on the road.

Bones Floro, who has been named chef de mission for Asa Miller’s bid to give the country an Olympic medal in back-to-back years, somehow summarized everything in one statement.

“Once we enter, we cannot leave,” Floro, the grandson of former Crispa Redmanizers owner Danny, said in jest.

Turning serious, the National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general added, “We have to protect ourselves and the Chinese people. They’re gracious enough to host it, and we are all guests in their country, so we have to do our part.”

Miller, who will compete in two alpine skiing events, will arrive in the Chinese capital on Jan. 30 and will quickly enter the designated bubble for the sport in the city’s Yanqing District once cleared for action.

Miller will first compete in the men’s giant slalom event on Feb. 13 and will return on Feb. 16 for the men’s slalom. (PNA)

S

ACRAMENTO, California — De’Aaron Fox scored 20 points, Chimezie Metu made a clutch 3-pointer with 46.7 seconds remaining and the Sacramento Kings ended their longest losing streak of the season by beating the Los Angeles Lakers, 125-116, on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time).

Harrison Barnes added 23 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who had dropped five straight games. Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points and 10 assists.

LeBron James had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Lakers.

Malik Monk scored 22.

The Lakers trailed by 10 but cut it to 118-116 following a layup by James. Fox

came back with a 12-footer near the right elbow and, after Russell Westbrook missed a 3-pointer, Metu made his big shot from the top of the arc.

Avery Bradley missed a 3 for the Lakers, and Haliburton made a pair of free throws to finish the scoring.

LA lets it slip away The Lakers repeatedly built sizeable leads but then let them slip away. They led by six at halftime before the Kings took control in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 40-23.

Sacramento didn’t trail after that, sending the Lakers to their second consecutive loss after winning four in a row.

Los Angeles led most of the first half.

James made four straight shots and then fed Austin Reaves, who was fouled while dunking and converted the three-point play. Reaves later made a 3-pointer that put Los Angeles ahead 51-39.

Trailing 67-53, the Kings closed the first half on

FLAKERS, P10

Nets overpower Bulls in showdown of East leaders

C

HICAGO — Kevin Durant scored 27 points, James Harden added 25 points and a season-high 16 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets rolled to an easy win over Chicago, beating the Bulls, 138-112, on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time) in a matchup between the Eastern Conference’s top two teams.

Durant had 17 points in the third. The second-place Nets outscored East-leading Chicago by 20 in the quarter to silence a raucous crowd and came away with the win with all three superstars in the lineup for just the second time.

Kyrie Irving scored nine in his third game. The seven-time All-Star has refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine

FNETS, P10

James Harden posts a huge double-double in his return from a one-game absence due to a hyperextended left knee. PHOTO: AP

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 252 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

Pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena (File photo)

THROUGH THE PROCESS PATAFA formally enters mediation

T

he Philippine Athletics Track And Field Association (PATAFA) has formally confirmed its participation in a mediation process called by Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez to resolve the national sports association’s row with pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena.

In a letter sent to Ramirez

by PATAFA board of trustees member Datu Yusoph Mama on Tuesday, PATAFA president Popoy Juico, legal counsel Aldrin Cabiles, and Alfonso Sta. Clara will represent the national sports association in the mediation.

In his letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday, Mama also reiterated PATAFA’s earlier decision to defer the sanctions it is supposed to slap on Obiena, including being taken out from the national team and charged with an estafa complaint, until Jan. 19.

Obiena has yet to confirm

his participation in the mediation, although he said in a letter sent to Ramirez that he is willing to undergo the process.

Obiena underwent knee surgery to repair a small tear in his meniscus, which probably delayed his formal entry to the mediation.

However, a person privy of the situation told the PNA that he has been given 15 days to make his final decision on the mediation.

Ramirez sees the mediation process as the only way to resolve the feud between Obiena and PATAFA, which stems from a liquidation issue. (PNA)