Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 277 | Saturday, February 12, 2022

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SURGE NOT OVER Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson delivers a speech during a campaign sortie held at the Panabo Gym in Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Friday. Lacson was joined by his runningmate Senate President Vicente Sotto. Edge Davao

TF Davao warns city still not surge-free despite moderate risk status STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 277 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

A biker pedals past a Uniteam tarpaulin erected outside the political party’s headquarters at Aeon Towers along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Bajada, Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

SURGE NOT OVER R

Yakap Bayan program launched in SoCot town

TF Davao warns city still not surgefree despite moderate risk status

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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percent positivity rate covering last week compared to the 60 percent positivity rate when the surge started early this year.

“Remember pag surge niabot ta sa 50 percent positivity karon naa nata sa 19.7 percent nalang covering

last week. Kung mag-continue pagbaba makaingon gyud ta na we have been freed from the surge. Pero gaya ng ginabalik-balik nato even if nagbaba ang atoang positivity rate this much ang atoang acceptable positivity rate would still be 5 percent. Diha gyud ta makaingon nga wala nay surge,” Schlosser said.

She reiterated that the surge in the city may end next month based on the epidemiological study.

Meanwhile, Schlosser

cited the city’s strategies for the dwindling of Davao City’s positivity rate of Covid-19.

She said that among the factors that are considered in the decreasing cases are the strategies that the city has been implementing amid the pandemic and these include the Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treat, and Reintegration (PDITR), issuance of executive orders, campaign on minimum public health

James Jimenez announced in a tweet on Thursday.

Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, the ponente in the petitions, and Commissioner Marlon Casquejo are members of the Comelec’s First Division.

“Contrary to Petitioners’ assertion, the penalty of perpetual disqualification by reason of failure to file income tax returns was not provided for under the original 1977 NIRC (National Internal Revenue

Code). Both Petitioners Ilagan et al. and Akbayan et al. cited Section 252 of the 1977 NIRC, which upon Our verification, is a provision pertaining to the “’Falsification, or counterfeiting, restoration, or alteration of documentary stamps; possession or use of false, counterfeit, restored, or altered stamps,” the 45-page resolution read.

It added: “However, a further review of the 1977 NIRC would belie Peti-

tioner’s claim; while there was indeed a provision on perpetual disqualification, the same is applicable only on unlawful possession or removal of articles subject to specific tax without payment of tax. To be clear, the penalty of perpetual disqualification came into force only upon the effectivity of P.D. No. 1994 on 01 January 1986. Thus, the penalty cannot be made to apply to Respondent’s tax

avao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser reminded Dabawenyos that Davao City is not yet Covid-19 surge-free even though the city is placed under “moderate risk” as its positivity rate has lowered.

Based on the previous reports, Davao City is placed on “moderate risk” for having a “low” two-week growth rate and “high” average daily attack rate.

Schlosser reported that Davao City is now at a 19.7

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Comelec 1st division dismisses DQ cases vs Bongbong Marcos

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he Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division voted 2-0 to dismiss the consolidated disqualification cases against presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for lack of merit.

“The consolidated petitions of Ilagan v. Marcos Jr., Akbayan v. Marcos Jr., and Mangelen v. Marcos Jr. have been dismissed for lack of merit, by the COMELEC’s 1st Division,” Comelec spokesperson

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eforming drug users or persons who used drugs (PWUDs) in Surallah, South Cotabato who want to return to the fold of society can now avail of the benefits offered by the Yakap Bayan Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 12 (Soccsksargen).

In a statement Friday, DSWD-12 representative Vincent John Balmaceda urged stakeholders to actively do their roles in the care program so drug surrenderers could succeed in their rehabilitation and rejoin mainstream society.

The program was launched by the DSWD12 in the municipality on Thursday after a series of meetings and orientations for its implementation.

“We are all in this together,” Balmaceda said.

Surallah is the first and lone local government unit (LGU) in South Cotabato to implement the program.

Municipal social welfare officer Rhoda Leag Catoto has expressed her appreciation to the DSWD for granting their request to implement the program even if Surallah was not initially part of the pilot areas in the region.

Meanwhile, Surallah Mayor Antonio Bendita said he believes the program would lead the drug surrenderers back to the right path.

As a lawyer, he said,

everyone, even those who are at fault, deserves to be heard.

“We have to start it right, doing the right thing in the first place so that in the end, we’ll have the right outcome,” Bendita said.

Vice Mayor Pinky Divinagracia, likewise, said the Yakap Bayan is vital for drug surrenderers in Surallah who have graduated from the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program.

She said the program could also be a good example for other LGUs. “The Yakap Bayan program could be replicated by other LGUs in the region once it will succeed here in Surallah,” Divinagracia said.

The highlight of the program launch was the signing of the pledge of commitment of all stakeholders headed by the officials of Surallah.

In 2017, the DSWD formulated the Yakap Bayan Framework of Intervention, a cyclical rehabilitation and reintegration framework for the strategic and coordinated provision of services to recovering PWUDs, their families, and communities.

It aims to converge readily available resources from national government agencies, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups to provide former drug users with psychosocial, livelihood, and spiritual services, among others.

(PNA)

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NEWS

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The city government of Davao announces that Dabawenyos manifesting influenza-like illness (ILI) or acute respiratory illness (ARI) and to those who are exposed to Covid-19 positive individuals can avail of free swab test at the People’s Park and Crocodile Park every Monday to Friday from 8AM to 1PM. Davao City Covid-19 Task Force reminded Dabawenyos that the city is not yet Covid-19 surge-free even though the city is placed under “moderate risk”as its positivity rate is now at 19.7 percent. CIO

No campaign paraphernalia on highways, trees: Comelec Lacson claims DavNor is Partido Reporma bailiwick

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residential aspirant Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson cited Davao del Norte as bailiwick of Partido Reporma, his political party.

“Alam nation yung mga ginawa nila Speaker Alvarez at Governor Jubahib dito are unparalleled and we will replicate ang mga programa because it really prioritize the common farmers,” Lacson said in an interview during the Partido Reporma sortie in Panabo Gym, Panabo City, Davao del Norte, on February 11, 2022.

According to Lacson’s running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III Reporma has provided assistance and established programs in Davao del Norte such as the cityhood of Tagum City and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS).

If elected, Lacson promised to find solution in the lingering problem of the banana industry of the province, the fusarium wilt, by establishing a national laboratory for banana diseases in Davao del Norte.

“Bakit tayo import ng import ang dami nating talent and researchers na hindi napondohan.

Ang problema natin ang research natin laging google. Every time may budget deliberation lagi namin dinadagdag for research and development.

Alan nyo ba na ang portion ng budget na nilalagak sa research and development ay 0.4 percent ang ideal ay 2 percent ang layo nation,” he said.

Lacson, chairman and standard-bearer of Partido Reporma, is advocating for the upliftment of the livelihoods of the farmers and fisherfolks.

Meanwhile, Lacson and Sotto we’re joined by senatoriables Emmanuel Piñol, Monsour del Rosario, Dr. Minguita Padilla, Davao Del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez during the sortie.

The Lacson-Sotto presidential duo is backed by three political parties in the country namely, Partido Reporma, which Lacson chairs; the Nationalist People’s Coalition chaired by Sotto; and the National Unity Party headed by their campaign manager, former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

By Maya M. Padillo

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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tatives. Ang ilahang mga representatives here they will have to be notified na ipatanggal at their expense,” said Lawyer Gay Enumerables, spokesperson and assistant director of Comelec 11 in a virtual presser.

Enumerables called on the candidates and their supporters to strictly follow the guidelines on campaign materials and

other activities.

She said based on campaign rules materials and signages should not be plastered on trees, electric poles, schools, sidewalks, traffic signs, barangay halls, terminals, and public shrines as they are outside of the Comelec-designated common poster areas.

“Puwede lang magbutang if its inside a private property, but if in a private property it has also had consent sa tag iya sa property,” she added.

Enumerables also said candidates and representatives should follow the prescribed poster size wherein the maximum

size is 2′ x 3’.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez reportedly reminded national candidates that printed campaign materials must conform to Fair Elections Act regulations as to the size and location of posting.

This is based on the new Comelec Resolution 10732 for safe, in-person campaigning amid the pandemic wherein Section 6 cites posters and tarpaulins considered “lawful” are cloth, paper, or cardboard posters, whether framed or posted, with an area not exceeding 2 x 3 feet and streamers not exceeding 3 x 8 feet in size.

spokesperson of the Maguindanao provincial police, said the improvised explosive device (IED) bomb was found by a janitor near the Magelco’s main office at past 2 p.m.

“He noticed electrical wiring and a mobile phone attached to a box and suspected it was a bomb,” Cana said.

Members of the Army’s bomb disposal unit safely defused the IED using a water disruptor.

Cana said the explosive was fashioned from a 60mm mortar round with a mobile phone as a triggering mechanism.

Police probers are digging deeper into the matter since the Magelco

compound, being a vital utility, is supposedly well secured.

Cana said investigators are looking into other possible motives for the attempt.

The component and power of the explosive clearly showed that it was meant to kill or harm people, he said. (PNA)

n official of the regional office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates that putting up political posters and campaign materials on highways, electric posts, and trees, violate the campaign rules in relation to the May elections.

Political campaign materials are already visible on the streets and highways in Davao Region even before the campaign period started on February 8, 2022.

“Daghan nata ug nakita dinha ug dagko kaayo na mga signages along the highway. Ang atong mga election officers really are mandated to notify the candidates or represen-

Bombing attempt at Maguindanao power compound foiled by helper

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n alert utility worker of the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco) here prevented what could have been a bloody Thursday afternoon at work after he found a bomb and alerted authorities about it, police said.

In an interview Friday, Capt. Fahyed Cana, the

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Fishermen prepare to sail out to fish at the Davao Gulf. The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expecting the sufficiency level of the fishery resources in the country to hit 92 percent this year as it undertakes efforts to boost local production.

Edge Davao

PH reopens borders to foreign tourists after nearly 2 years

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he Philippines welcomed some 398 foreign tourists on the first day of its reopening to fully vaccinated international leisure travelers, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Thursday, marking the end to the country’s nearly two-year closure due to pandemic restrictions.

A large chunk of this number came from the United States and Thailand, with 109 and 93 passengers, respectively.

Other countries with more than 10 arriving tourists also include Malaysia, Canada, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Australia.

“Masaya kami, lahat ng stakeholders, na nagbukas na tayo today (We are happy, all stakeholders, that we have opened today).

The bulk coming from the US, pangalawa (second is) Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia. So talagang naghintay sila ng February 10 para lang makarating na

rito (They waited for February 10 to come here),” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a Laging Handa briefing.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said counters had been set up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to cater to the arriving travelers. Additional personnel were also deployed to assist.

In the afternoon, Romulo-Puyat personally welcomed the passengers at NAIA Terminal 3.

One of them was British national Keith Saunders, who arrived from Thailand.

Elated to be able to

finally visit the country, Saunders said he’s planning to make his first stop at the thriving coastal town of Subic, one of the nearest beach destinations from Metro Manila.

“I’ve been in Thailand for three months waiting for the Philippines to open up and we are here now. It’s been a long journey of 18 months away from my girlfriend,” he said in an interview. “Everybody had been trapped for two years, you know.”

No further information has been shared yet regarding the destinations of the

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FDIs to PH seen to rise further after 96% jump

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n economist forecasts sustained expansion of foreign direct investments (FDIs) to the Philippines given the continued improvement of domestic fundamentals.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday reported that FDIs to the country rose by 96 percent year-on-year to USD1.1 billion in Novem-

ber 2021. This brought the 11-month net inflows to USD9.2 billion, up 52.5 percent year-on-year.

In a report, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said FDIs remain among the bright spots for the domestic economy’s recovery given its double-digit rise in

he Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is requesting the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) to extend the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement for information technology business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) locators until September 12 this year.

The PEZA said it recommended to the FIRB to allow implementation of such arrangement without

the 10 percent onsite requirement and diminution of fiscal incentives.

In a statement Thursday, it said these temporary measures will help registered businesses in investment promotion agencies (IPAs) like PEZA to recover from the adverse impacts of the pandemic.

PEZA cited Rule 23, Section 3 of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR)

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wants WFH setup for Financial conglomerates-focused PEZA IT-BPO locators until Sept. supervisory college starts in Q2 T

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n inter-agency cross-sectoral supervisory college for financial conglomerates is scheduled to start its pilot run in the second quarter of 2022 as regulators bid for closer collaboration and further align supervisory practices with international standards.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Bangko Sentral

ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said financial conglomerates account for around 60 percent of the domestic financial system.

“Given the systemic importance of these entities, FSF (Financial Sector Forum) members felt the need to further strengthen supervision for a more effective discharge of their

mandates under their respective charters,” he said.

Diokno said members of the FSF inked last January 25 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the establishment of the Supervisory College for Financial Conglomerate Supervision.

He said the supervisory college will be a forum for regulators to “discuss

emerging significant risk issues, carry out impact analysis of the conglomerate risks, and come up with a supervisory plan.”

The MOU, Diokno said, will help the regulators “to mitigate not only risks within the conglomerate but also the intra-conglomerate risks.”

“We promote financial

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ECONOMY

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San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC’s) P10-billion advanced cement manufacturing facility in Darong, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. SMC is eyeing to double the capacity of its cement plant, which aims at reducing reliance on imports and avoiding delays in delivering critical infrastructure projects in the region. Photo courtesy of Southern Concrete Industries Inc.

SMC targets to expand P10-B Davao cement plant’s capacity DBP to fund seedbank for native tree species

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tate-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to launch the DBP Seedbank Project, a corporate social responsibility initiative that seeks to preserve the genetic diversity of Philippine native trees, a top official said.

DBP president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Herbosa said the initiative would organize and establish plant nurseries that will conserve, propagate, and cultivate native trees and

flora to help restore upland watersheds and forest cover.

“As a bank for the environment, DBP recognizes the importance of supporting initiatives that promote ecological restoration and climate change mitigation,” Herbosa said. ‘’This project envisions to develop viable small-micro-medium forests and encourage the establishment of agri-enterprises to jumpstart rural economies.’’

DBP is the fifth largest bank in the country in

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iversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is eyeing to double the capacity of its P10-billion advanced cement manufacturing facility in Davao.

The expansion of the company’s cement plant’s capacity is aimed at reducing reliance on imports and avoiding delays in delivering critical infrastructure projects in the region.

In a statement on Thursday, SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang said that the company’s cement unit, Southern Concrete Industries Corp., previously Oro Cemento Industries Corp., is eyeing to work immediately on an expansion plan for the new cement grinding plant, which started commissioning activities late 2021.

Full commercial oper-

ations are expected by July 2022.

Ang said that the cement grinding plant, which can produce up to two million metric tons of cement per year, equivalent to some 50 million bags, is designed with a provision to readily expand capacity to 100 million bags.

The facility, which started construction in 2018, uses the latest technology and world-leading brands in cement grinding as well as in pollution abatement.

The facility was recently granted fiscal incentives by the inter-agency Fiscal

Incentives Review Board (FIRB), chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. “We are grateful for the support of the government and our communities in Darong, Davao del Sur, who immediately saw the many benefits and advantages of this modern cement facility,” Ang said.

“This plant was built to support infrastructure development and investments in Mindanao--to help sustain economic development, growth of local industries, and the creation of jobs. We will make sure we will hit the ground running when we start operations

by July this year,” he added.

The SMC chief said that the company’s focus will

be to immediately serve the needs of the Mindanao region and “to fill in supply gaps, especially the demand for local cement.”

“Right now there is heavy reliance on imported cement. But our government’s goal is to lessen our dependence on imports, especially since supply, price, or quality issues directly impact, disrupt, or delay critical infrastructure development. That is why we will look right away at doubling the capacity of the plant,” he said.

Apart from the plant, SMC also invested in building its own pier facility, which can receive clinker, gypsum, and limestone.

The pier is also seen

being in a “state of constant fear” due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, the country should be ready for a transition.

“I think Filipinos want to move on. Nobody wants to stay in a pandemic mindset and live in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety. We must make a clear transition from being afraid to be hopeful,” the Go Negosyo founder said.

As OCTA Research expects daily new cases to drop to around 1,000 to

2,000-level by the end of this month, Concepcion said the country should de-escalate to Alert Level 1, which should also be called the “new normal”.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s adviser also listed measures that will help the government in gaining economic momentum while managing the Covid-19 cases.

These include: -- placing areas with a

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DA expects PH’s fishery resource PH should be ready for transition, sufficiency rate reach 92% in ‘22 focus on economic momentum

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he Department of Agriculture (DA) expects the sufficiency level of the fishery resources in the country to reach 92 percent this year as it undertakes efforts to boost local production.

However, the DA said actual fish supply is dependent on conditions that are currently beyond control.

“Ang (Our) security level natin ay pangkasulukuyan lang (can only depend on present circumstances).

We do not inherit agricul-

ture from our past and neither will we be recipients of the future so gusto po natin sustainable kaya po tayo may mga closures (we want it to be sustainable, that is why, we implement the closed fishing seasons),” DA director for operations Ariel Cayanan said in a press briefing on Thursday.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the closed fishing seasons in coastal waters aim to allow fingerlings to thrive and get to their adult phase before the

fishers are allowed to catch within their breeding areas.

The DA gave a go signal to import 60,000 metric tons of small pelagic fishes, such as round scad (galunggong) and mackerel to meet the demands in the market for the first quarter of the year.

For the first quarter, the DA fish supply outlook data showed the sufficiency level of the fishery resources is projected at only 85 percent.

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residential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said the country should put its focus on continuing the upward trend of the economy as OCTA Research Group sees “smooth sailing” conditions in the first six months of 2022. “...So we should sail while the sun is shining. Let’s get enough momentum to push for growth in the first half of the year,” Concepcion said in a statement Thursday.

He added that instead of

vaccination rate of at least 70

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 277 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

In declaring that Davao del Norte is Partido Reporma’s bailiwick:

Alam natin yung mga ginawa nila Speaker Alvarez at Governor Jubahib dito are unparalleled and we will replicate ang mga programa because they really prioritize the common farmers.”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson

Presidential candidate

EDITORIAL First test Elected government officials need to show example of how to be law abiding citizens.

posters on trees.

It is important that as they seek the mandate of the electorate and before they enter into public office, they display fine example of following the laws. One such example is the law on keeping their campaign materials within the bounds of environmental laws.

Putting up tarpaulins and streamers on trees using iron nails could also damage the condition of trees.

They must practice what they preach, they must walk their talk.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has reminded all national and local candidates as well as their supporters to refrain from posting their campaign

EDGEDAVAO

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Let’s see who follows and who ignores the law. A good leader should cascade to his followers the responsibility of following the law.

Now, that’s the first test people should look out for in choosing their next government officials.

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

According to election laws, campaign materials should only be posted at the poster areas designated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

TREATING HEMORRHOIDS ARE you suffering from hemorrhoids? Don’t panic; you’re not alone.

Hemorrhoids or piles (almoranas in Tagalog) are among the most common forms of all health ailments, striking an estimated eight out ten of us throughout our lifetimes. Twotime Oscar winner Elizabeth Taylor had them. So did Alfred the Great and German philosopher Karl Marx.

According to pristyncare. com, the following also have hemorrhoids: George Clooney, Whitney Houston, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, David Livingstone, Napoleon Bonaparte and Ernest Hemingway.

Indeed, hemorrhoids are so common they’ve been with mankind for centuries. No one, it seems, is spared from the pain and discomfort they bring.

Hemorrhoids are the most common disorder affecting the rectum (the last part of the large intestine) and the anus (the opening from the rectum).

They occur when hemorrhoidal veins become swollen, irritated, or clotted, often the result of prolonged local back pressure such as that caused by a pregnancy or a job requiring long hours of sitting.

“Hemorrhoids can bleed,

typically alter a bowel movement, producing bloodstreaked stool or toilet paper,” explains The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “The blood may turn water in the toilet bowl red. However, the amount of blood is usually small, and hemorrhoids rarely lead to severe blood loss or anemia.”

Hemorrhoids, according to The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments, are classified into two general categories: internal and external.

“Internal hemorrhoids are far enough inside the rectum that you can’t see or feel them,” explains The Medical Advisor.

“They don’t usually hurt, because there are few pain-sensing nerves in the rectum. Bleeding may be the only sign of their presence. Sometimes internal hemorrhoids prolapse, or enlarge and protrude outside the anal sphincter.

“If so, you may be able to see or feel them as moist, pink pads of skin that are pinker than the surrounding area. Prolapsed hemorrhoids may hurt, because the anus is dense with pain-sensing nerves. They usually recede into the rectum on their own; if they don’t, they can be gently pushed back into

place.”

External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, “lie within the anus and are usually painful.

If an external hemorrhoid prolapses to the outside (usually in the course of passing a stool) you can see and feel it. Blood clots sometimes form within prolapsed external hemorrhoids, causing an extremely painful condition called thrombosis. If an external hemorrhoid becomes thrombosed, it can look rather frightening, turning purple or blue, and possibly bleeding.

“Despite their appearance, thrombosed hemorrhoids are usually not serious and will resolve themselves in about a week. If the pain is unbearable, your doctor can remove the thrombosis, which stops the pain.”

Researchers are not certain what causes hemorrhoids.

“Weak” veins – leading to hemorrhoids and other varicose veins – may be inherited. It’s likely that extreme abdominal pressure causes the veins to swell and become susceptible to irritation. Sources of this pressure include obesity, pregnancy, standing or sitting for long periods, liver disease, straining from constipation or diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, vomiting,

and holding one’s breath while straining to do physical labor.

Diet has a pivotal role in causing – and preventing – hemorrhoids. “People who consistently eat a high-fiber diet are unlikely to get hemorrhoids, whereas those who prefer a diet high in refined foods can expect them,” says The Medical Advisor.

“A low- fiber diet or inadequate fluid intake causes constipation, which contributes to hemorrhoids in two ways: It encourages straining to have a bowel movement, and it also aggravates the hemorrhoids by producing hard stools that further irritate the swollen veins.”

The Mayo Clinic says mild, swelling and inflammation of hemorrhoids can be relieved with some home treatments: Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Doing so softens the stool and increases its bulk, which will help you avoid the straining that can worsen symptoms from existing hemorrhoids. Add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.

Use topical treatments. Apply an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, or use pads containing witch hazel

or a numbing agent.

Soak regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath. Soak your anal area in plan warm water for 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a day. A sitz bath fits over the toilet.

Take oral pain relievers. You can use acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen temporarily to help relieve your discomfort.

However, if you don’t get relief after using the above treatment for about a week, see your doctor or sooner if you have severe pain or bleeding.

“If a painful blood clot (thrombosis) has formed within an external hemorrhoid, your doctor can remove the hemorrhoid, which can provide prompt relief,” the Mayo Clinic states. “This procedure, done under local anesthesia, is most effective if done within 72 hours of developing a clot.”

For persistent bleeding or painful hemorrhoids, your doctor might recommend one of the other minimally invasive procedures available. “These treatments can be done in your doctor’s office or other outpatient setting and don’t usually require anesthesia,” the Mayo Clinic says.

Only a small percentage of people with hemorrhoids require surgery.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DAVAO CITY’S EXACT FOUNDING DATE On November 25, 2018, the House of Representatives, through the chamber’s committee on revision of laws, declared March 1 of every year as a special non-working holiday in Davao City to celebrate its foundation day, instead of the March 16 date.

The initiative substituted House Bills 8215 and 8261, authored by deputy speaker and Davao City Rep. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano and Davao City Rep. Alberto Ungab, respectively and was filed to rectify what a historical error that has been perpetrated since Republic Act 7551 was approved in 1992 changing the city’s official date of inauguration.

Also, under Republic Act 7685, approved in 1994, the ‘Araw ng Dabaw’ celebration was moved to March 16 for no reason at all. Its approval con-

travened Resolution No. 25, which the City Council of Davao City adopted in 1973, amending and changing the date of the city’s founding from March 16 to March 1 of every year.

Historically, the elevation of Davao town to a city was by virtue of Commonwealth Act 51, filed as House Bill No. 609 and authored by then Davao assemblyman Romualdo C. Quimpo.

Signed by President Manuel L. Quezon on October 16, 1936, it created Davao as a chartered city.

Its inauguration, however, was contained in Proclamation No. 132, which Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon signed on January 23, 1937.

The proclamation, in part, declared that “March 1, 1937, as a day for the inauguration of the City of Davao, and declaring it a special public holiday for

the Province of Davao.” It adds: “In order to provide full opportunity for the people of Davao to participate in the celebration of the inauguration… so that the day may be fittingly observed.”

Secretary of the interior Elpidio R. Quirino represented the President during the inauguration.

Strangely, on February 23, 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law RA 7685 “declaring March 16 of every year a special nonworking public holiday in the City of Davao, to be known as ‘Araw ng Dabaw.’ The edict is an offshoot of a similar initiative passed two years ago in Congress.

Records in Congress show the Albano-Ungab bill began in the lower chamber, passed in the House of Representatives on October 8, 1993, and on November 25, 1993, in the Senate.

Senate Bill 2090, the counterpart version, was filed by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara on November 23, 2018, RA 7685, which has no factual basis, also raised a furor in certain sectors who were surprised with the passage of an ahistorical initiative. In the City Council and in the press, the statute was placed under the microscopic, prompting the passage of a legislation in Congress to rectify the error. Rep. Ungab, in explaining House Bill 8216 that he authored, wrote: “On March 6, 2018, the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Davao City adopted Resolution No. 1946-18 Series of 2018, informing the Congress of the Philippines that the ‘Araw ng Davao’ or the foundation day of Davao City is on March 1, 1937 and not on March 16, 1936, and that there are markers or his-

toric landmarks, particularly in the City Hall, that indicate that Davao City was inaugurated on March 1, 1937 and not March 16, 1936.”

For her part, Rep. Albano, in filing House Bill 8215, argued that the early endorsement of her measure, would “correct a historical inaccuracy in Davao City’s evolution as a major urban center of the country and arguably the seat of power in this era of the country’s history.”

On August 22, 2019, Republic Act 11379, “an Act declaring March 1 of every year a special working holiday in the City of Davao, Province of Davao del Sur, to be known as ‘Araw ng Dabaw,’” was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The statute repeals RA 7551, approved on May 22, 1992, and RA 7685.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

Tara, everyJuan! Sama-Summer together with Cebu Pacific!

The country’s leading airline, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), is once again inviting everyJuan to show one love for the Philippines as travel protocols continue to ease with borders opening up, right in time for the much-awaited summer season.

Coming from the success of its ‘Juan Love’ campaign last year, CEB is reviving this initiative with one goal in mind – and that is to encourage everyJuan to come together and support the Philippine tourism industry by exploring local destinations, one flight at a time. And what better way to inspire everyJuan to fulfill their desire to travel than by enabling them through seat sales that CEB is famous for.

CEB guarantees that passengers can safely travel together with their friends, families, and loved ones as it offers a special PHP88 one-way base fare to all domestic destinations on sale, such as Bacolod, Bohol, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, and Tacloban, among others. Promo runs from today up until February 28, 2022, with travel period from now all the way up to July 31, 2022 – making those “sama-summer together” moments possible, even beyond!

“We are very happy to bring this campaign back as we continue to see the further easing of restrictions for travel within the Philippines, not only for Filipinos but even foreign tourists alike. This time around, we aim to encourage every single juan to do what they can to work together for the faster recovery of the industry and economy as a whole,” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing & Customer Experience.

Passengers are encouraged to make use of their existing travel funds to conveniently book new flights and purchase necessary add-ons. CEB also offers other modes of payments such as credit and debit cards, payment centers, and e-wallets (GrabPay, GCash, Paymaya).

Aside from showcasing tourist des-

tinations and native delicacies, this campaign will also highlight the importance of supporting local businesses as it calls on tourism stakeholders to come as one.

Safety continues to be CEB’s topmost priority as it implements protocols to ensure the health and protection of everyJuan all throughout their journey. The airline has been rated 7/7 stars by airlineratings.com for its COVID-19 compliance through its multi-layered approach to safety which includes daily extensive cleaning and disinfection protocols for all aircraft and facilities. This is on top of its contactless flight procedures and the presence of hospital-grade HEPA filters in its jet fleet, known to eliminate viruses with 99.9% efficiency.

Crew members are likewise all fully vaccinated and wearing proper PPEs so there is an added layer of protection and confidence for everyone, passengers and crew alike.

To avoid any inconvenience, passengers are reminded to check any LGU travel requirements before proceeding to the Airport. These may include vaccination cards, S-Pass registrations, hotel and transportation permits, and negative COVID-19 test results.

“The recent positive developments signal the imminent recovery of the tourism industry. We can see everyone starting to prepare for the eventual transition to COVID becoming endemic and we remain cautiously optimistic as we look forward to ramping up our network once demand picks up,” added Iyog.

2022 will be a year we make more meaningful moments happen. As the world opens up, a trip together with family and friends could be the perfect opportunity to ignite that sense of normalcy once again. The airline assures to safely fly passengers to their desired destinations, so they can experience the country’s beauty once more. Kaya, tara everyJuan! Sama-summer together!

Book now on cebupacificair.com

SSS refunds 2020 loan payments of pension loan borrowers

The Social Security System (SSS) announces that it started refunding one to two months of loan payments collected from its pension loan borrowers under the Pension Loan Program (PLP) in 2020 effective January 20, 2022.

PLP was launched in September 2018 to help retiree pensioners with their short-term financial needs by offering a loan at a low-interest rate of 10% per annum with a maximum loanable amount of P200,000.00 payable in 6, 12, and 24 months.

The pension loan payment refund is based on Circular No. 2022-002 in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. Under the said law, banks, quasi-banks,

financing companies, lending companies, and other financing institutions, both public and private, were directed to give a 30-day grace period for borrowers’ loan payments without incurring any interest on interest, penalties, fees, and other charges. The provision covered loan payments with dues that fall within September 15 to December 31, 2020.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said that the pension fund will refund P105 million worth of pension loan payments to 25,231 pension loan borrowers.

“We understand the predicament faced by our PLP borrowers which is why they opted to file their loans to SSS to further finance their medical and imme-

diate financial concerns brought about by the current pandemic,” Ignacio explained.

Ignacio added that PLP offers financial assistance to retiree pensioners for their short-term needs and the refund of their pension loan payments will greatly help them cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible SSS retiree pensioners are those who are currently amortizing as of the implementation date and those who started their monthly amortization in October 2020. They will receive loan payment refunds for their loan payments in October and November 2020.

For pensioners who started their monthly amortization in November 2020, they will get a

refund for their loan payments in November and December 2020 while those who only started paying their loan amortizations in December 2020 will only get a onemonth refund for December 2020.

“We advise our pensioners that they no longer have to visit SSS to apply for the said refund. Like the refund of the April and May 2020 loan payments last December 9 and 10, 2021 under Bayanihan 1, these pension loan payment refunds will automatically be credited to qualified pensioners through their respective SSS UMID-ATM card or Union Bank QuickCard savings accounts where they already received the proceeds,” Ignacio added. said.

In addition, SSS

would also extend the pensioner’s loan payment term by one or two months without any additional interest or penalty. Suppose a pensioner’s loan payment term is until September 2021 and received a twomonth refund; their payment terms will be until November 2021 without any interest or penalties.

Likewise, their pension loan will remain insured without any additional premiums until the end of the extended payment term.

Pensioners may also renew their applications after the expiration of their original loan payment term. However, the remaining balance from the pensioners’ previous pension loan will be deducted from their current or new loans.

For example, a pen-

sioner’s original loan term is until September 2021, but the refund extended it until November 2021. The pensioner can already renew his pension loan by October 2021, wherein any outstanding balance from the pensioner’s previous loan will be deducted from his new pension loan.

From January to December 2021, the SSS has released P3.09 billion worth of pension loans to 69,111 pension loan borrowers.

For more information, visit the uSSSap Tayo Portal at https://crms. sss.gov.ph, follow the SSS on Facebook at “Philippine Social Security System - SSS,” Instagram and YouTube at “mysssph,” Twitter at “PHLSSS,” or join its Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates.”

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he country’s food security will be greatly affected if the continuous increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is not curbed. That is the assessment of a group of Filipino experts to localize science-based climate action.

Rice and fish are the staple foods of Filipinos and both are most vulnerable to climate change, according to the National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE) formed recently by the Climate Change Commission (CCC).

During a recent media briefing convened by the Department of Finance (DOF) via Zoom, salt intrusion has been cited as one of the effects of climate change, defined as “a longterm change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates.”

In the island province of Bicol, a study was done on salt intrusion and it has been found that it could jeopardize food security. “The immediate effect of saltwater intrusion is more of the reduction in the production of rice,” says Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, an agricultural engineer specializing in land and water

Rice production

management.

Rice is the staple food of Filipinos. On average, Filipinos consume 114-120 kilograms of rice per capita per year. That’s almost double the world average of 65 kilograms per capita per year, according to Dr. Eufemio Rasco, Jr., former director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute.

Engr. Merriam M. Santillan, dean of the College of Engineering and Geosciences at Caraga State University in Butuan City, agreed with the observation of Dr. Alibuyog said that salt intrusion can be attributed to excessive groundwater extraction and sea level rise.

“Studies show that saltwater intrusion has significant effects on the growth of rice as it decreases the protein content of rice, among others,” she pointed out.

Dr. Ramon Lorenzo R. Guinto, a staunch planetary health advocate and practitioner, reaffirmed the negative effects of saltwa-

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Aquaculture

RICE, FISH THREATENED

BY CLIMATE CHANGE Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Fish for sale

Deforestation

ter intrusion and added, “In terms of health impacts, we did a very rapid review of evidence from around the world, and out of nearly 30 papers we have seen, there is already growing evidence

about the impacts of intake of water high in salt.”

Based on his study, Dr. Guinto said that intake of water high in salt can lead to several health problems including hypertension, miscarriage, problems among pregnant mothers, and kidney stones. “These are just some of the effects that we should actually be monitoring,” he said.

Most Filipinos are not so concerned about biodiversity loss, another consequence of climate change.

“A rise in the temperature can be detrimental to the area, some will move out of the area,” says Dr. Wilfredo L. Campos, chair of the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of the Philippines Visayas.

Again, biodiversity loss boils down to food security, citing the current situation in the open seas of Mindanao and Tawi-Tawi. “(These

waters are) one of the most productive areas for fishing because of its oceanography,” Dr. Campos explains.

“Thus, any changes to the oceanography will affect the species, fishery production and the industry sector as a whole.”

Right now, the weather in Tawi-Tawi is “relatively stable.” There have been no recorded typhoons for the past year that can damage fisheries. But as far as biodiversity is concerned, “illegal fishing is still rampant, especially in remote areas,” said Dr. Richard N. Mualil, a marine scientist and director of Continuing Education and Extension Services at the Mindanao State University in Tawi-Tawi.

Fish shortage is alarming as fish is the country’s second staple food. On average, every Filipino consumes about 98.6 grams of fish and fish products, ac-

cording to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

Most of the biodiversity loss is taking place in tropical forests. Experts claim the country lost most of its forest in the past 50 years.

In Mindanao, most of the remaining forests can be found in the regions of Caraga and Davao.

In recent years, flooding has become a big problem in most parts of the country.

A case in point is Pampanga, whose river basin is the second largest river in Luzon.

As such, flooding in the area can be inevitable. In July last year, “more than 20 barangays were submerged in floods due to rains brought by the southeast monsoon that was strengthened by Typhoon Fabian.”

The NPTE members said that climate change impacts also play a key role in the phenomenon. “Only

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standards, isolation, swabbing, quarantine, and the opening of the Covid-19 Cluster Clinic.

“Multifactorial ang pag achieve nato sa paspas nga pag control sa surge nato. Those are the factors that we see na nakatabang ug dako,” she said.

Schlosser also cited Dabawenyos’ cooperation with the said strategies.

“Dako og papel ang coop-

eration and sense of responsibility sa mga tao sa Davao City. Grabe ang katas-on sa vaccination rollout that could be one of the factors. Dako ug papel nga naay sense of cooperation and sense of responsibility ang mga tao kay compared to other LGUs ang Davao City grabe ang atoang efforts sa vaccination rollout,” she said.

violations, which were committed before the effectivity of the said law, in accord with the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws.”

As for the penalty of imprisonment of more than 18 months and the conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, the Division also ruled in favor of the respondent.

“Was respondent meted with the penalty of imprisonment of 18 months? Similar to the imposition of perpetual disqualification, We also find that the penalty of imprisonments was absent in the Court of Appeals (CA) decision,” the decision read.

“Whether or not a crime involves moral turpitude is ultimately a question of fact and frequently depends on all the circumstances surrounding the violation of the statute.

After carefully examining each argument of the parties and the circumstances surrounding Respondent’s failure to file income tax, We find to rule in Respondent’s favor. To determine if a crime involves moral turpitude, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that it must be approached on a caseto-case basis,” it added.

The First Division said the failure to file tax returns is not

inherently wrong “in the absence of a law punishing it.”

“The said omission became punishable only through the enactment of the Tax Code.

Moreover, even the 1977 NIRC recognizes that failure to file income tax is not a grave offense as the violation thereof may be penalized only by a fine. Though there was the penalty of imprisonment, the 1977 NIRC gave the court the discretion to either impose a fine, imprisonment, or both,” it said.

The Comelec division said Marcos was only meted with the penalty of a fine for his failure to file his income tax returns.

It added that the disqualification as cited by the petitioners under Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code, contemplates only three instances when a person may be disqualified to hold public office, “to wit: 1. declared by competent authority insane incompetent; or 2. sentenced by final judgment for subversion, insurrection, rebellion or for any offense for which he has been sentenced to a penalty of more than eighteen months; or 3. sentenced by final judgment for a crime involving moral turpitude.”

stability by ring-fencing the financial conglomerates. Ultimately, the real economic benefits from the stability of the financial sector and vice versa,” he added.

Diokno said the supervisory college is also targeted to bring to international level the country’s standards on principles for the supervision of financial conglomerates, which is published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision; the principles for cooperation in regulation, published

by the International Organization of Securities Commission; and the principles of groupwide supervision, published by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors.

FSF is composed of the BSP, the Insurance Commission (IC), the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Diokno said the supervisory college will discuss a microprudential approach on risks and how to address these.

to help decongest the Davao

vered in our goal of completing it as safely and as quickly as possible. This way, by the time our country is in full recovery and build-back-better mode, Mindanao will also be fully ready,” Ang said.

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commercial port.

“As with any project, we also encountered many challenges in finishing construction of the project during this pandemic. But we never wa-

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Dar earlier said the supply has been reduced due to damages brought about by Typhoon Odette to the fisheries sector last December.

Cayanan said the sufficiency level is projected at 106 percent in the second quarter as the coastal waters

will be opened for fishing by that time.

However, the DA projects a decrease of 89 percent for the third quarter and 87 percent for the last quarter, bringing the annual sufficiency level stabilizing at around 92 percent. (PNA)

percent under “new normal”; -- imposing of minimum public health protocols and mandatory wearing of face mask instead of mobility restrictions; -- strict implementation of minimum health standards during political rallies amid the ongoing campaign period; -- requiring vaccination cards at indoor business establishments; -- replacing primary vac-

cination cards with ‘booster cards’ as a requirement for entry in establishments; -- prioritizing those who get their primary vaccines first for booster shots; -- starting face-to-face classes by June for fully vaccinated students with no unvaccinated household members; and -- return of employees to workplaces to boost economic activities in transport, food, and retail.

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first batch of tourists in the Philippines, but Romulo-Puyat said it might include some of the staples such as Boracay, Palawan, Batangas, Bohol and Baguio City.

Meanwhile, she reiterated that minimum health and safety standards would remain in place even with the removal of quarantine protocols for the vaccinated foreigners. “[N]gayon marami na sa ating mga tourist destinations ay 100 percent vaccinated na and ongoing na iyong tourism program, so hindi lang iyong health and safety protocols, we make sure na iyong ating mga tourism workers na mga nasa tourist destinations ay bakunado at magkaka-booster shot (Many of our tourist destinations have 100 percent vaccination coverage and our tourism program is ongoing, so it’s not only the health and safety protocols, we make sure that

our tourism workers are inoculated and boosted),” she said.

Proof of vaccination Travelers from visa-free countries are now allowed to enter the Philippines but they must present proof of vaccination, negative RT-PCR test results taken within 48 hours prior to departure, and outbound tickets to their country of origin or next country of destination.

As of this posting, the Philippines recognizes the national Covid-19 vaccination certificates issued by 39 visa-free countries, including Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and Timor Leste.

“Visa-free entry of foreign nationals to the Philippines starts today, February 10, 2022. All arriving foreign nationals are reminded to carry/ present ‘proof of vaccination,’” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said Thursday.

recent months.

Ricafort said the November 2021 FDI figure is the highest since the USD7.3 billion in September last year.

The continued positive jumps in the FDIs, he said, is expected to “lead to more business/economic activities, as well as leading the creation of more jobs/employment as the economy reopened further towards greater normalcy.”

“Thus, FDIs remain one of the bright spots and one of the major pillars of the economic recovery program from Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” he added.

Aside from the continued reopening of the economy, Ricafort cited additional factors that drive FDI inflows, includ-

ing the expansion in exports, remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), manufacturing, and employment, as well as the passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, amendments to the Public Services Act, and the Foreign Investments Act. “Near record low shortterm interest rates and the recent rising trend in local/ global long-term interest rates prompted more global companies to be more aggressive in borrowing and other fund-raising activities to finance new investments and expansion projects, including more FDIs into the Philippines,” he said.

of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law, which allows IPAs to implement temporary measures under exceptional circumstances that include pandemic, epidemic, war, armed conflict, state of national health emergency, outbreak of diseases, international or regional financial crisis, major disaster such as volcanic eruption, earthquake and super typhoon, or analogous circumstances.

“The proposal of PEZA is merely temporary in consideration of the ongoing pandemic,” PEZA director general Charito Plaza said.

However, the PEZA has yet to receive the formal notice on FIRB’s decision regarding the IPA’s recommendations, Plaza

added.

“PEZA-registered companies are coping with or recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. If it’s supposed to be a relief measure, we should not penalize the companies; rather, we must continue to assist our registered companies as much as possible given that protecting (the) livelihoods of millions of Filipinos is an important national interest,” she said.

Aside from extending the WFH arrangement, PEZA also proposed to the FIRB “to allow movement of IT equipment and assets as long as the same is covered by surety bond and appropriate PEZA permits” and to authorize the IPA to craft its own guidelines for WFH for the sector.

terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy –infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.

BPI is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) tasked to collaborate with plant industry stakeholders to ensure the availability of high-quality seeds and advanced farming technologies, maintain the safety and integ-

rity of plant food, and support the export industry through proactive biosecurity.

Under the project, Herbosa said DBP would grant funds to eligible local government units or national government agencies, cooperatives or organizations for the payment of native seeds or wildings, as well as for their germination and propagation, while BPI would provide the technical expertise for site identification and development.

was on Joel Embiid, Daryl

going to be great to see Simmons back on the court, playing for a team who is competing for a title.

But, there will be dramas from a basketball sense - and maybe an off-court sense along the way that could make for fascinating viewing.

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Morey, Doc Rivers, and the 76ers.

But, there is no guarantee that a marriage with Durant, Irving, and Brooklyn/New York media is going to be any smoother.

At the end of the day, it’s

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37 percent of the river basin is classified as timber land or forest land, so that is one thing that should be looked into, for the possible reason of flooding in Pampanga,” Engr. Santillan said, adding that restoring the channel width of the river, including the tributary rivers and letting flood waters occupy their floodplains can help.

“Deforestation can be minimized and resolved through an ecosystem-based solution if we provide the local government units the responsibility and space to really take part, providing them the authority,” suggests Dr. Eduardo O. Mangoang, a professor and director of the Regional Climate Change R&D Center of Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte.

Logging policies also need to be revisited, especially because selective log bans perpetrates illegal logging, adds Dr. Susan P. Mercado, an international public health and food security expert.

Those were some of the issues raised during the Zoom meeting. Actually, the NPTE has identified the top 10 hazards the country faces as a result of climate change. These are: rising sea levels, coastal erosion, flooding, increasing frequency and severity of tropical cyclones, extreme rainfall, extreme drought, temperature increase and rising urban heat index, wind patterns, climate-influenced diseases and biodiversity loss.

All these hazards, the experts claim, “require urgent climate action.” But “it will be difficult to pinpoint which issue is a most urgent hazard per region as it depends on the area’s topography and geography.”

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has singled out the Philippines as “the country most vulnerable to climate change.”

“Between 1958 and 2014, the Philippines experienced a 0.62°C increase in yearly average mean temperature, with the rate of change increasing over time,” said IEP in its 2019 report.

The Philippines is among those countries which has contributed to the emission of GHGs like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and industrial gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride).

Dr. Emma Porio, a professor of sociology at the Ateneo de Manila University, said “the Filipinos’ consumption-driven lifestyle” and the fast rate at which the planet is consuming natural resources as the reason why the global weather is changing rapidly.

Citing one author of the United Nations’ Intergov-

ernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), she said that “at the rate we are consuming the Earth’s resources, and extracting, we would need three Earths to sustain our lifestyle as of now.”

Rising sea levels is one of the most-feared effects of climate change. “Rising sea levels will inundate different regions in varying degrees,” the NPTE says. “This means that sea-level rise will affect or flood some areas more severely than others.”

As such, NPTE suggests that a consolidated database of studies should be done “to come up with analytics for different impacts on a specific location.”

Engr. Santillan reported that a rapid risk assessment was done on sea level rise in Dinagat, Siargao, Bucas Grande, and Surigao del Norte.

For half a meter rise in sea levels, the study found out, Siargao Island can be inundated by 30%. In comparison, the same measure of sea-level rise can inundate Dinagat Island by only 6%.

During the Zoom meeting, one issue that was raised was regarding the country’s draft national policy for nuclear energy. Should it be included in the country’s energy mix?, participants asked.

Although the NPTE still did not have an official stand on the issue, some experts offered their insights.

Dr. Jihan H. Adil, environmental planning and engineering expert specializing in wastewater and climate change from Zamboanga City, believed the country is ready to include nuclear energy as studies have shown that 88% of accidents are caused by acts of people, 10% by unsafe actions and 2% by acts of God. Thus, a well-designed, correctly located and properly operated nuclear facility will not only contribute significantly to the reduction of carbon emission from the energy sector; it can also contribute to economic development.

Climate change could have an impact on the country’s energy supply, along with increasing energy consumption due to increased demand for air conditioning.

The CCC is the principal policy-making organization on climate change issues, as established by the Philippine Climate Change Act. It said that NPTE Fora are regularly organized to foster knowledge exchange and stimulate discussions between and among the government, scientific community, and the general public in recommendations in improving climate-change-related policies and practices.

competed in Sapporo 1972.

The cousins set the tone for more Filipinos seeing action in the Winter Games and to date, the country has the most participation in the quadrennial competitions among Southeast Asian nations at six—Sapporo, Calgary 1988, Albertville 1992, Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang and Beijing.

Thailand’s next at five (2002, 2006, 2014, 2018 to 2022), Timor Leste three since Sochi and Malaysia in Pyeongchang and Beijing.

Besides the four Southeast nations, there are 14 tropical nations from South America and Africa continents which has athletes in these Games.

(PR)

to the high moment because there isn’t one.

But the commonality seems to be, when someone is ready to leave the party, everyone knows it long before the music stops.

Harden was arguably one day away from furniture moving in the locker room in Houston before being sent to Brooklyn, and his hamstring has tightened up at precisely

the right time this year — exactly when whatever joy he’s played with has been replaced by a forlorn look of disengagement and desperation.

He stomped his feet, grabbed his hammy and went home. Even if his discontent came from a sliding scale of rule application concerning Irving’s in-out-in status, he benefited from that power structure many times before.

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The Brooklyn Nets traded James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday before the NBA trade deadline. (Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

Brooks sees no reason why Pacio wouldn’t fight him next

J

arred “The Monkey God” Brooks only has one goal in mind -- to be the ONE Strawweight World Champion. So much so that he’s willing to do everything, even light a fire under the reigning titleholder Joshua “The Passion” Pacio, just to get what he wants.

“I don’t think he wants to fight me anytime really soon. I think he probably wants to fight me in like July or something like that.

But he can take as much time as he wants to prepare, like I said, I think I can beat Joshua Pacio right now,” Brooks said.

Brooks is riding high after his stellar unanimous decision win over Hiroba Minowa at ONE: ONLY THE BRAVE as the no. 3-ranked contender has definitely made a strong case at be-

ing the next in line for a title shot.

And he’s not waiting for anyone to tell him otherwise, directing sharp words towards the Filipino champion after the match as he continues to fan the flames and put Pacio on notice.

“He’s super tough, and I got to give him kudos for holding the belt as long as he has. But he’s gotten beat by people like [Yosuke] Saruta,” Brooks said.

“He has gotten better, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not Saruta and I’m not these other guys. Like I said in my rap, you can beat Lito Adiwang, Alex Silva, but guess what? I’m Jarred. I’m somebody that is willing to put my heart in my mouth on the line and I don’t say anything that I don’t do.”

Nets experiment ends in failure

T

he Brooklyn experiment ended mercifully, almost abruptly. The long dalliance with the Philadelphia 76ers finally consummated with a trade that could rank among the best in recent history considering the star power.

James Harden forced his way off the team after forcing his way to Brooklyn one year ago. Kyrie Irving keeps himself as a part-time player, which no doubt rankled Harden in the process. Kevin Durant, the man this re-

volves around, has watched his grand plan blow up in smoke, and was no doubt weary of Harden no longer being onboard.

Getting Ben Simmons — depending if Simmons’ mind, body and soul are right —

seems like the best possible consolation prize, and make no mistake, the Nets don’t make this move without Durant’s blessing or urging.

They would’ve been better off choosing the Knicks. Perhaps it would’ve been just as predictable and combustible, but at least it would’ve been memorable and under the backdrop of Madison Square Garden.

Scary hours? Meet nightmare on Broad Street.

Championships, fun times and reformed repu-

tations were supposed to be how this played out. Instead, there was no depth or consistency and flaky characters playing true to their histories.

This venture ended with Nets coach Steve Nash publicly claiming till the last minute Harden would be a Net, even though Harden seemed to have long checked out of this franchise. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it all went downhill, but we can’t point

FNETS, P10

Will Simmons flourish in Brooklyn?

S

o, Ben Simmons is now in Brooklyn as a member of the Nets during a stunning day in the NBA. But, is this an optimal landing spot for him and is it an optimal combination for a Brooklyn team that is reeling?

Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, along with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two firstround draft picks, with James Harden and Paul Millsap heading back to Philadelphia.

First things first, Simmons and his team have not handled this situation well at all.

Holdouts such as the one Simmons executed just don’t happen in the NBA. So that’s why it was so

jarring to see an All-Star player like Simmons sitting out for the first 50+ games of the season over perceived slights from last season.

Wonder how Simmons and his team feel about heading to Brooklyn.

He will have to play in Philadelphia twice a season and could very well find himself matched up against his former team in a playoff series, as early as this season.

Will Ben Simmons play point guard at the Nets?

Simmons is also in a situation where instead of being the number one, or even the 1b, he is behind Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the offensive pecking order. Does he even

play point guard when Kyrie plays?

The Nets also have Seth Curry and Patty Mills who can handle the ball.

So, while Simmons didn’t like his situation in Philly and reportedly wanted an opportunity to be the man, his chances of doing that have fallen dramatically.

Was it worth holding out, sacrificing millions of dollars in fines to head to Brooklyn?

I’m sure Simmons will tell us it was and this is the fresh start he needed, and I’m sure he is right to a degree.

The situation in Philadelphia was toxic, some of it was Simmons’ fault, some

FWILL, P10

Ben Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, along with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round draft picks, with James Harden and Paul Millsap heading back to Philadelphia.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 277 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2022

ICE GOLD

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra in flle photo during a basketball clinic in the Philipines.

Miller, Asean bets out to chase first Winter Olympics medal

T 202.

he Philippines’ Asa Miller is chasing for the Philippines’ first Winter Olympics medal in Beijing

YANQING, China – It’s not only Asa Miller who’s chasing for the Philippines its first Winter Olympics medal in Beijing 2022, but there are seven more from Southeast Asia—a fully tropical region on this side of the planet.

Timor Leste, Thailand and Malaysia are represented in these Beijing Games with most of their athletes competing alongside the Filipino-American Miller in alpine skiing.

Miller’s on his second consecutive Games, but someone else from the region has campaigned in three straight editions.

Yohan Goutt Goncalves, a French-East Timorese, has been chasing his Olympic dream since Sochi 2014 and looks at Sunday’s men’s giant slalom with a potential shot at the podium just like the Portland-based Miller.

Thailand has the most qualifiers with four—Zanon Nicola (men’s alpine skiing) Jaiman Mida Fah (women’s alpine skiing), Mark Chanloung (cross country skiing) and his sister Karen (cross country skiing).

Alpine skiers Jeffrey Webb and Aruwin Salehhudin— who are also going after Malaysia’s first-ever Winter Games medals.

All are, for obvious reasons, based outside of the region where there are only the wet and dry seasons with no snow at all.

With Southeast Asian blood in their veins, Goncalves and Miller have bonded together.

“We trained together and I think he [Miller] is a very good skier,” Goncalves said. “I believe he could be faster than me but let’s see on the race day.”

The 27-year-old Goncalves was 43rd in slalom in Sochi but didn’t finish in Pyeongchang. Like Miller, the chase for a medal here remains a dream.

“We are still very far from a medal but what is important is that Timor Leste is represented here,” he said.

The bond extends to the Malaysians.

“We really support each other … with the Malaysian skiers too,” he said. “We train, we give advice to each other and stay together.”

Nicola is also competing in men’s giant slalom and slalom events, hoping to bounce back from a forgettable DNF performance in Pyeongchang.

“It’s nice to meet someone like you from Southeast Asia. This is my second time in the Olympics and I hope to do my best this time,” said the 25-year-old Thai-Italian skier based in St. Bernardo, Italy, during a break in training on Thursday at the Athletes’ Lounge of the National Alpine Skiing Centre.

He will be competing in men’s giant slalom and slalom events on Sunday and Wednesday while teammate Webb will be racing only in slalom.

Mark and Karen Chanloung already competed in cross country skiing but failed to advance in the 15 km +15 km skiathlon, men’s sprint free qualification and women’s sprint free events.

Karen Chanloung, however, competed in the women’s 10-km classic event on Thursday, while alpine skier Jaiman Mida Fah did not finish in the women’s giant slalom and slalom events last Monday.

Salehhudin, who is based in Colorado Springs, finished a respectable 38th out of 82 participants in the women’s giant slalom ruled by Swedish Sara Hector early this week.

Salehhudin, however, didn’t finish in Wednesday’s women’s slalom.

The Philippines prides itself as the first fully tropical country to participate in the Winter Olympics when alpine skiers Ben Nanasca and Juan Cipriano, who are cousins,

FICE, P10