Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 295 | Saturday, March 5, 2022

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A vendor display vegetables at a stall inside Agdao Public Market in Davao City on Friday. The country’s inflation or the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services remained flat at 3 percent in February due to varying movements in the prices of commodities, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported. Edge Davao

GAINING GROUND Metropolitan Davao signals emerging Mindanao metropolises

STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 295 • SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022

A Dabawenyo receives his vaccine against Covid-19 at the vaccination center inside People’s Park in Davao City. The city’s Covid-19 Task Force is reminding the public that all Davao City vaccination hubs for adults are still operating and urged unvaccinated Dabawenyos to get inoculated as soon as possible. Edge Davao

GAINING GROUND I

Illegal drugs transported thru courier services, PDEA says

Metropolitan Davao signals emerging Mindanao metropolises

By MAYA M. PADILLO

A

Romeo Montenegro, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Executive Director of MinDA, said the agency is closely keeping track of the progress of the MDDA

in Congress, particularly in the Senate, which later on will have the mandate of pursuing planning and development undertaking with the Metro Davao area.

“We are seeing this as aligning with our long-term assumption of how metropolis is going to evolve and emerge in Mindanao in the next few years,” he said.

On January 18, 2022, the Senate approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 8930 seeking the creation of the MDDA. The MDDA shall have jurisdiction over the core LGUs, namely, cities of

ew Davao Region Police Regional Office (PRO-11) chief Brig.

Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr. on Thursday vowed to further improve the police service in the region.

“The basic principle of leadership, especially in this kind of vocation is to

continue whatever projects, programs, activities that will help improve the police service here in PRO-11. It is my obligation to further improve and innovate it,” Silo said in his speech during the turnover ceremony at Camp Quintin Merecido here.

He replaced Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal who was reassigned to Area Police Command-Eastern Mindanao.

Silo emphasized the importance of courtesy among the PNP members and basic skills particularly in the investigation of

n official of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) expressed optimism that the bill creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) aligns with the premise of emerging metropolises in Mindanao.

Panabo, Tagum, and Island Garden City of Samal (IGACoS) in Davao del Norte; Digos in Davao del Sur; and highly urbanized City of Davao; and the municipalities of Carmen in Davao del Norte, and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. It can be recalled that on March 25, 2021, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 8930,

high-profile cases.

He also affirmed PRO11’s support to the government’s National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and showed appreciation to the PRO’s Revitalized-Pulis sa Baran-

FGAINING, P10

New Davao PRO chief vows to ‘innovate’ police service N

FNEW, P10

llegal drugs are now being transported through some courier services, said IA III Julius A. Magdadaro, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Davao Del Norte Provincial Director.

Magdadaro confirmed in a radio guesting today that there are cases of transportation of illegal drugs to the province by means of some courier service companies.

The statements of the apprehended persons from legit buy-bust operations validate the new modus operandi of smuggling drugs to the province.

“Sa mga modus karon, naa napod, nag-evolve napod sila kay during sa mga apprehensions namo sa interview sa arrested persons, naa mi nakuha nga information nga through courier services na nila ginapadala ang uban. Dili pod tanan no (courier services) pero naa pod uban. Didto gina conceal ang drugs ug ginapadala,” (In the new modus operandi now, the selling of illegal drugs is also evolving now as evidenced by the statements of the arrested persons during interviews where illegal drugs are now being transported through courier services. Not all courier servicing companies are involved but some are. They conceal the drugs in the items in the packages), Magdadaro explained.

He also explained that these shipments are from other regions.

“Kana siya gikan sa mga other regions according sa mga suspect na nainterview nato,” (According to the suspect we interviewed, these drugs came from other regions), he added.

Magdadaro also cited one case from 2021.

“Last year is naa sa Panabo, during sa buy-bust namo. Then gi-interview namo ang suspect so mao to gi-divulge niya thru courier services.,” (We had one case of this last year in Panabo City during a buy-bust operation. The suspect divulged that the illegal drugs were sent thru courier services during the interview), he cited.

Intelligence Officer II, Dennis Paguinto of PDEA Davao Del Norte also shared one case in Tagum City.

“Then naa pod 1 case diri sa Tagum ginapadala siya thru courier services mao na ginapakusgan pod namo ang pagmonitor nato sa atong local courier deliveries,” (We also have one case here in Tagum City where the drugs were also sent through courier services that’s why we strengthened our monitoring mechanisms on local courier servicing companies), Paguinto explained.

Paguinto also said that the Provincial Government of Davao Del Norte took immediate action regarding the problem.

“Na brought-up pod ni nato kay Kuya Gob mao tong gipatawag pod ang mga su-

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NEWS

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Foreigner tourists like this woman frequent the Roxas Night Market for its wide array of local street food and beverages before it was closed down due to Covid-19 pandemic two years ago. The city government of Davao is discussing the possible reopening of the night market following the downgrading of the city’s alert status to level 1. Edge Davao

City mulls guidelines for Roxas night market vendors

SEC Davao warns public on double-your-money scams

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he Securities and Exchange CommissionDavao Extension Office (SEC-DEO) has reminded the public to be mindful in investing their hard-earned resources following reports from Davao City residents that there are new illegal double-your-money (DYM) schemes coming out in the city.

Based on reports reaching some radio stations, a new scheme is coming out in the southern part of Davao City promising a double-your-money scheme where someone who invests P1,000 will get P2,000 after 30 days.

“We are coordinating with the Davao City Anti-Scam Unit to look into these reports and prevent this DYM scheme from getting out of hand and from victimizing more individuals,” the office said.

An investment scheme is illegal if an individual or entity is taking in investments from the public without a secondary license from the Commission.

Aside from the absence of a secondary license, the public must also employ the use of Howey Test. Under this, there is an investment contract when there

is an investment of money in a common enterprise with expectation of profits primarily from the efforts of others or from recruits.

“One telling reason for the public to shy away from this investment is that, based on the reports, this new DYM scheme is strictly implementing a no refund policy,” the office added.

Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8799, or The Securities Regulation Code, provides that securities shall not be sold or offered for sale or distribution within the Philippines, without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the SEC. A maximum fine of P5 million or imprisonment of 21 years or both await those who act as salesmen, brokers, dealers or agents of entities engaged in unauthorized investment schemes, for violation of Republic Act No. 8799, or The Securities Regulation Code Securities Regulation Code, among others.

The Commission also encourages the public to report unauthorized investment solicitation activities to its Enforcement and Investor Protection Department through email at epd@sec.gov.ph.

By MAYA M. PADILLO

W

ith the planned reopening of Roxas Night Market, the city government of Davao is mulling of establishing proper regulations and guidelines that will be properly observed to ensure the safety of the vendors and night market goers.

“Initially, we had a discussion kasi Roxas Night Market is typical na murag restaurant lang siya but kana leaning towards positive outcome because dili man kaayo high-risk ang area, ventilation is given, outdoor man siya but the Business Bureau and the prevention team

expressed na kinahanglan naay proper na guidelines ang mga vendors as well as clienteles of the Roxas Night Market. Leaning towards opening the market basta naa lang proper implementation of the guidelines na ma-follow gyud,” said Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson

of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force on Friday.

Schlosser clarified that there is no schedule yet when Roxas Nigth Market will reopen.

“The directive of the city is economic recovery. If we will be opening all the establishments na 100 percent, dako ug chance kay open market man siya (Roxas) and at the same time under Alert Level 1 na ta allowed na tanan establishments mag-operate and that include Roxas Night Market,” she said.

Meanwhile, Schlosser

said the city government may adopt the latest Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ mandatory requirement to present the vaccination card in establishments in areas placed under the Alert Level 1 areas.

Davao City is currently on Alert Level 1 status until March 15, 2022.

She added that the city is already preparing an Executive Order that will specify the allowed activities and restrictions under Alert Level 1.

are still open for the first, second, and booster doses of the anti-Covid vaccines to eligible adult groups.

“Wala pa man ta’y giclose na mga vaccination hubs for adults,” Schlosser said.

The operational vaccination sites in Davao City are Magallanes Elementary

School, F. Dizon Elementary School, Abreeza Mall, Davao City National High School, SM City Ecoland, Matina Aplaya Elementary School, Mabini Elementary School, SM Lanang Premier, Buhangin Elementary School, TESDA Korphil in Bunawan, Philippine Ports Authority-Sasa, Malabog Elementa-

ry School, Malagos Elementary School, Calinan Central Elementary School, Marilog Elementary School, Gmall Toril, Don Juan Elementary School-Toril, and Mintal Central Elementary School.

The city also opened special vaccination sites at Almendras Gym, San Roque

Vax hubs for adults are still open: Covid-19 TF

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avao City Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser on Friday told the public that no adult vaccination sites have been closed and urged unvaccinated Dabawenyos to get their jabs.

She said all other vaccination hubs in Davao City

FVAX, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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A worker pedals by dozens of sacks of rice grains at a rice mill in Digos City. The Agriculture department believed the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) contributed largely to the Philippines’ food security amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Edge Davao

Inflation steady at 3 F percent in February

BIR, taxpayers’ support key to post-pandemic recovery

I

within target for the first half of 2022 before slightly overshooting the 4 percent band in the second half, he said.

“Inflation is seen to accelerate over the near term due to higher oil prices as well as the impact of positive base effects,” Diokno said in a statement following the inflation data re-

lease.

“The recent increases in global crude oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict have raised global and domestic macroeconomic uncertainty over the near term,” he added.

Diokno said the BSP would continue monitoring emerging risks for inflation and would remain vigilant against possible second-round effects and supply-side pressures.

Analysts have agreed that inflation could rise in the near term to reflect the

impact of the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

PNB Vice President and Head of Research Alvin Arogo said they would revise their initial annual inflation forecast of 3.4 percent to near 4 percent due to the ongoing crisis.

“Our forecast as a baseline will be revised close to 4 percent but it doesn’t completely rule out the possibility of an inflation above 4 percent,” he added.

Russia is among the

statement.

Out of the total, 30.4 percent was sourced externally while 69.9 percent were domestic borrowings, it added.

Domestic debt amounted to P9.37 trillion for the month, which is 2.4 percent higher compared to December 2021, the agency said.

External debt was at P3.66 trillion, which is 2.9 percent higher compared to the previous month, it added. The increment in external debt for the month was attributed to the impact of peso depreciation, among others.

The Philippines borrowed heavily in the last 2

years to fund its COVID-19 war chest.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno however said the higher debt-to-GDP ratio should not be a cause for concern due to loans’ medium and long-term repayment schemes and low interest rates.

nflation in February remained unchanged at 3 percent despite the Ukraine crisis, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday.

The consumer price index rose 3 percent, within the government’s 2 to 4 percent target range.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said inflation could remain within target as long as the price of Dubai crude does not rise above $95 per barrel.

Inflation could remain

FINFLATION, P10

PH debt hits P12.03 trillion in January 2022 T

he national government debt has reached P12.03 trillion as of the end of January, the Bureau of Treasury said Friday.

Total NG debt rose by P301.12 billion or 2.6 percent due to the net availment of both domestic and external debt, BTr said in a

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday investing more in infrastructure, social services and climate action to stimulate growth as the government begins the urgent task of outgrowing its pandemic-induced debt are “doable” with the support of the nation’s taxpayers and the sustained strong performance of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

During the kickoff of the BIR’s tax campaign, he underscored the critical role played by taxpayers in helping ensure the country’s rapid and sustainable economic recovery.

The BIR, meanwhile, should continue making progress in its digital transformation programs, Dominguez said, as he encouraged all taxpayers to make use of electronic channels to file and pay their taxes this year.

“To the men and women of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and our most loyal taxpayers, remember that all of you are not just producing revenues. All of you are the shock troops leading in this historic moment of rebuilding our nation into one that our children and their children deserve. You are all creating a better future for the Filipino people,” he said at the event held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Dominguez said the new generation of entre-

preneurs and emerging businesses in the new economy should be reminded of their duty “to ensure that our country moves forward through their prompt and correct payment of taxes.”

He congratulated the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Caesar Dulay for launching this year’s tax campaign kickoff.

“Your dedication, your professionalism, and your patriotism helped the bureau consistently meet its annual collection target to help build a prosperous future for the Filipino people,” he added.

Dominguez said the game-changing reforms started by the Duterte administration helped transform the Philippines into one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, resulting in historic low unemployment and underemployment rates and a country poised to attain upper-middle-income status by 2020 before the pandemic struck.

He said the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) was merely a temporary setback that the Philippines was able to overcome owing to the tax reforms and enhanced tax administration that helped it gain the financial strength to weather the worst of the crisis.

As a result of the unexpected costs of Covid-19

FBIR, P10

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ECONOMY

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A resident of Mati City showcases his skimboarding skills at a beachfront in Dahican. The Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11) said as the tourism sector is on the verge of recovery, the agency is seeing the the surge of tourists coming to Davao Oriental. Edge Davao

DOT-11 sees great potentials in DavOr

DOF chief highlights need for continued modernization in BIR

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has highlighted the need to continue modernization in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), citing gains from earlier measures that helped address needs during the pandemic.

In his speech during the BIR tax campaign kickoff 2022 on Thursday, which was streamed through the bureau’s Facebook page, Dominguez said BIR’s digitalization program has allowed improvement in tax collection.

Along with the comprehensive tax reform program, he said these combined efforts “have widened (the) tax base and simplified the process of revenue collections.”

“The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s comprehensive shift to digitalization even before the contagion hit allowed us to continue functioning effectively. The rev-

enues we collected mostly through digital channels funded our additional emergency and health measures to defeat the pandemic. Our enhanced revenue performance enabled us to properly maintain fiscal discipline despite a larger spending program,” Dominguez said.

He said improvement in revenue collections provided the needed financing for social protection and infrastructure programs, which boosted the domestic economy’s capacity.

Had it not been for the virus-induced pandemic, Dominguez said the economy would have achieved another feat –to be in an upper- middle income status in 2020.

Although this goal will be delayed for a time, he said this remains doable since the economy has started to recover.

FDOF, P10

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avao Oriental shows a very promising tourist destination. We have many established sites and maganda ang circuit offerings, DOT-XI Regional Director Tanya Rabat Tan describes the province during her guesting at the inaugural Tourism Talks held on Feb. 25 at SM Lanang Premiere.

The province located at the eastern side of Davao region is known for its beaches, seascapes, lush mountains, waterfalls along with

historical sites. Among the famous sites include Dahican beach in Mati City, Mt. Hamiguitan in San Isidro, Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, the old

San Salvador del Mundo church in Caraga, Cape San Agustin in Governor Generoso.

The DOT-XI recently held a validation trip along several attractions in the province. The regional tourism office created a video alongside several destinations in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao City, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental. The video was shown during the recent International Travel Fes-

S

Philippines and co-founder of Zalora Brian Cu, got funding from Openspace, Susquehanna International Group (SIG), Global Founders Capital (GFC), Saison Capital, JG Digital Equity Ventures, and Foxmont Capital Partners.

In a statement Thursday, Cu said the fresh funds aim

to expand SariSuki’s operations in the Philippines, particularly its coverage and product portfolio.

“SariSuki offers Filipinos value grocery products at extremely affordable prices that meet their daily needs.

We are also empowering community leaders to be

tival held in Cebu City.

RD Rabat Tan said to prepare for the surge of tourists coming to Davao Oriental they will be discussing with the local government and the national government agencies to address their varied concerns.

“I think which is really important is to sit down with the various national agencies regarding sa mgaconcerns ng destination nila,” RD Rabat Tan said.

strong micro-entrepreneurs that will help propel the country’s economic growth from the grassroots level,” he added.

Cu, who is also the chief executive officer of SariSuki, said founders of the e-commerce startup have a wide

PH e-commerce startup raises $10.7-M from foreign sources eeing the potential of the country’s e-commerce, a Philippine-based e-commerce startup has raised USD10.7 million from regional and global investors to expand its business.

SariSuki, a virtual sari-sari store startup founded by former president of Grab

FPH, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 295 • SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022

On ensuring that there will be no disruptions in the delivery of government services to overseas Filipino workers as the agencies currently in charge of OFW-related matters are gradually absorbed by the Department of Migrant Workers under a two-year transition period:

Tuluy-tuloy na po ang pagbuo ng bagong departamentong ito na siyang magbibigay ng agarang serbisyo sa ating OFWs na napakalaki ng ambag sa ating ekonomiya,” said Go. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

EDITORIAL Selfish sports association Only in the Philippines.

That hackneyed phrase is still very much alive. The latest one is the case of Filipino world no. 5 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena whose request to be endorsed to compete in the World Indoor Athletics Championships was refused by the very national sports association handling Obiena’s sport.

Obiena was denied his request by the Philippine Track and Field Association (PATAFA) for his refusal to submit to sports mediation with the sports association stemming from moneys given to him for his training expenses overseas specifically for his coach’s salary. Patafa, which is under the country’s Olympic body Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has been declared persona non grata by the latter for mishandling the Obiena issue to the detriment of the athlete. The accusations go to and fro without a conclusion seen in the near horizon.

So the Philippines will be denied of its best bet in the elite competitions all because of the unbending stand of the association. We re-

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So in this mess, Obiena’s only hope is for the Philippine government to pursue his participation before the independent body. The case with the World Indoor Championships is that it is run by the International Track and Field Association which recognizes only the PATAFA. Hence, there is now way the government can intervene as these “like-minded” sports bodies will try to protect each other.

Poor Obiena and the Philippines will be denied of the chance to take part.

Now, where’s the sense of nationalism of PATAFA?

It doesn’t even deserve the country’s name attached to it.

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

call that in the last Olympics, Russian athletes were allowed to compete under a special Olympic squad after the country was penalized with a ban due to alleged government-sanctioned doping. Before that, Timor Leste was also allowed to compete under a special IOCbacked delegation.

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!

NUCLEAR POWER AS ENERGY SOURCE One of the news reports that caught my attention recently was that from the Daily Tribune. The headline said: “Cusi: Phl signing nuclear power study deal.”

The opening lead read: “The Department of Energy (DoE) is set to sign a cooperation with its partner in the United States this week for the development of nuclear energy as a viable power source in the Philippines, Secretary Cusi has told Daily Tribune.”

“We are pushing for the inclusion of nuclear energy in our energy mix and we have already prepared all the frameworks.

All we need now is to get the approval of the President to have it in our energy mix,” Cusi was quoted as saying.

According to the report, “the DOE submitted the results of the study conducted by the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) to the Office of the President in December 2020.

Following the submission, the DoE has opened the door to potential collaborative opportunities with the international nuclear energy community.”

Some years back, in another news report, Cusi described nuclear power as a “cheap and reliable” source of energy.

It must be recalled that Ambassador Zenaida Angara Collinson, the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, reported that many of the future nuclear power plants will be set up in Asia.

“They (the countries) can no longer get it from biomass, solar. The solar wind, the renewables, they are fluctuating and we cannot use them as baseload,” Collinson told Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“The country is joining more than two dozen other countries looking to add nuclear power to their energy mix, including neighbors Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand,” a Reuters report said.

I have seen nuclear power plants up close twice: in the United States (while driving from Detroit going to Columbus, Ohio) and in China (while riding a bullet train from Beijing to Ningbo City).

During the time of Jericho L. Petilla as energy secretary, he was also contemplating nuclear energy as an option for the country as a power source.

“We’re looking at it on a longterm basis,” he said. “We’re counting on (nuclear as an option). At the same time, we have

to look at the technical side, and then recommend later on if studies show that it’s good for the country.”

According to Petilla, social dimension — or the possible non-acceptance of nuclear energy by the public — was the limiting factor why the government is excluding it from its energy mix.

It must be recalled that Westinghouse Electric built the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in the Philippines during the time of Ferdinand Marcos at a cost of US$2.2 billion. Started in 1976, it was finished in 1984.

“The facility never started generating electricity after it was declared unsafe because it sits on a major earthquake fault line and lies near the Pinatubo volcano, which was dormant at that time,” Reuters wrote.

“Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption had no effect on the Bataan plant, 70 kilometers away, but the project was mothballed in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986,” Reuters added.

During the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, proponents wanted the BNPP rehabilitated. But the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan renewed concerns about safety.

Nuclear power is the use

of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity.

But there is an ongoing debate about the use of nuclear energy. Proponents, such as the World Nuclear Association, the IAEA and Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions.

But environmentalists and militant groups see it differently. The Economist said nuclear power “looks dangerous, unpopular, expensive and risky,” and that “it is replaceable with relative ease and could be forgotten with no huge structural shifts in the way the world works.”

“Nuclear power is beset by problems that go well beyond its propensity for occasional accidents,” noted Christopher Flavin, of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute. “Technologically, economically, and politically, nuclear power faces a series of obstacles that will prevent it from coming close to displacing fossil fuels to significantly delay global warming.”

Flavin, who wrote the 1987 Worldwatch paper entitled Reassessing Nuclear Power: The Fallout from Chernobyl, cited an analysis done by the Rocky Mountain Institute in Colora-

do. It has developed a nuclear scenario that reduces global warming by 20 to 30 percent by the middle of the 21st century through the substitution of nuclear plants for all coal-fired plants.

“Analysis at the Rocky Mountain Institute found that this would require the completion of one nuclear power plant every one to three days during the next 40 years,” Flavin wrote.

“Many countries would be almost blanketed by nuclear plants, and the cost would run to as much as $9 trillion.”

A nuclear power program of this scale, Flavin said, would require not just a reversal of a worldwide trend, but a program of nuclear construction that is 10 times as large as any the world has seen. “Such an effect is unthinkable, both economically and politically,” he said. “Indeed, a democratic government that tried it would most likely soon be voted out of office.”

On the brighter side, nuclear power has caused far fewer accidental deaths per unit of energy generated than other major forms of power generation. In comparison, energy production from coal, natural gas, and hydropower have caused far more deaths due to accidents.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

THE DUMOGHO KILLING One of high-profile assassinations that jarred Davao del Sur in the dying years of martial law was the killing of a political leader who, in his years as a law enforcer, was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP).

Maj. Salvador B. Dumogho, then the provincial chairman of the opposition party PDP-Laban, was the campaign manager of human rights lawyer Douglas Ra. Cagas, who was running for a seat in the regular Batasang Pambansa, representing Davao del Sur. At the time, he was also director for student services of Cor Jesu College and barangay chairman of Zone 2, in Digos City.

A reserve Army officer and municipal coordinator of the United Opposition of Davao del Sur, Dumogho was walking the last few meters towards his res-

idence along Roxas Street, in Digos City, when two armed men shot him pointblank in front of his terrified wife and 11-yearold son, Salvador IV. He had just visited his brother-in-law when the gruesome incident took place.

The shots fired did not escape Dumogho’s relatives who were at his brother-in-law’s domicile. They rushed out of the place moments and ran in the direction where the shots were coming. What met them were the shouts of the victim’s wife and son who were asking for help. Apparently unperturbed by the commotion triggered by the shooting, the gunmen calmly fled on foot along with two other companions who served as lookouts.

The crime’s scene was 100 hundred meters away only from the place where former Digos

mayor Nonito Llanos, Jr. was killed on March 26, 1982.

Angry with the brutal death of his trusted leader, Cagas issued a strong statement, saying: “I condemn the system that breeds and promotes hatred among men. I condemn that system that leads Filipino to kill their brother Filipinos. I want the truth: Who killed Major Salvador B. Dumogho? And why?

My family and I mourn his death.

The people of Digos mourn his death.”

Observers had a suspicion the killing had a political angle to it given the vocal anti-Marcos stance Cagas adopted. Nothing, however, came out of the police probe. Even after Cagas became as officer-in-charge of the province of Davao del Sur in 1986 following the collapse of the Marcos regime, the perpetrators and their mastermind remained

anonymous.

People in the know suggested the Dumogho was ideologically motivated; the slay was later blamed on the New People’s Army and could have been related to the victim’s work while still in active duty as a policeman.

All the while, Cagas wanted his friend’s untimely death avenged.

After taking over the governorship from Leonardo Suario, then perceived as left-leaning, Cagas promised to free the province from the communist menace. He openly “declared an all-out war against communism, with his constituents as frontliners.”

Carol O. Arguillas, in an article (“Fighting Rebels the ‘Peaceful’ Way”) that came in the March 5-11, 1987, issue of Veritas, wrote: “Calling himself the very first supporter of the NPA in his prov-

ince, Cagas now busies himself implementing the brainchild of Provincial Commander Lt. Col. Jesus Magno, the NAKASAKA (Nagkahiusang Katawhan Alang sa Kalinaw or United People for Peace). […] Immediately after the ceasefire [with the NPA] expired, [they] began making the rounds of the sitios to organize the residents into joining the organization by launching into Red scare speeches at a pulong-pulong or barangay assemblies.

The speeches dwell on the evils of communism and the atrocities committed by the NPA, and the dire fate that awaits the country if it falls into the hands of communism.”

With the Dumogho assassination still unresolved, the NAKASAKA, however, contributed a lot in forcing the communist insurgents to flee from the population centers to the countryside.

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DAVAO EDGEDAVAO EDGE

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

LANDBANK, TESDA unite anew to back tech-voc grads

LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (left) and TESDA Director-General Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña (right) lead the virtual signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the LANDBANK-TESDA partnership program that aims to provide credit assistance to Technical Vocational Education and Training

(TVET) graduates.

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) renewed their partnership program to finance the livelihood needs of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.

Initiated in 2019, the

LANDBANK-TESDA partnership program was extended through a virtual signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) led

by TESDA Director-General Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña and LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo on 15 February 2022.

“LANDBANK is fully committed to support

TESDA graduates in taking the next steps in their employment journey by extending available credit facilities to help them establish their businesses,” said President Borromeo.

Under the Agreement, LANDBANK will offer credit assistance to eligible and TESDA-endorsed TVET graduates, Trainees’ Associations, and

Trainees’ Cooperatives for their livelihood and business endeavors.

“I have no doubt that through this partnership, we shall be producing more entrepreneurs and creating more jobs, which shall ultimately lead to a revived economy,” said Secretary Lapeña.

The partnership program is part of LAND-

BANK’s thrust to generate more employment opportunities to spur the nation’s ongoing economic resurgence.

The collaboration will likewise facilitate capacity-building trainings to identified beneficiaries to improve their entrepreneurial skills and business competency, especially under the new normal.

ping up in teaching your children to take care of the environment. Thank you for encouraging them to make a positive change in our society by giving back to Mother Nature and making life more sustainable. Let us continue nurturing the environment with our children,” she shared.

SDO - Marikina Schools Superintendent Sheryl Gayola also pointed out the outstanding talents of their students and the importance of experiential learning in ensuring the application of the lessons they learned beyond academic fulfillment.

Visit knowledgechannel.org for more educational materials and the latest updates on Knowledge Channel.

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Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) helped inspire over 6,000 children to take care of the environment for a cleaner and brighter future through the “Eco-Squad: Kilos Kabataan Para sa Kapaligiran (KKK)” project with Breeze and the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office – Marikina.

The project engaged 17 elementary schools in Marikina City to educate the youth on the importance of environmental protection and conservation through film showings on nature, pollution, and recycling, among others.

The children also applied what they learned via KKK’s Eco Planters contest, where each student planted their seedlings on creative planters and monitored its weekly progress and their realizations through their Eco Diaries. Knowledge Channel’s resident art educator and “Art Smart” host, Teacher Precious Gam-

boa, taught the children to make a planter out of recycled materials.

Three students were chosen as winners based on their eco achievements, with Allyza Nichole de Jesus of Malanday Elementary School winning the Supremo Award (first prize), followed by Given Rich Claciete of Concepcion Elementa-

ry School for the Bayani Award (second prize), and Lois Nicolette delos Santos of L. Victorino Elementary School taking the Kawal Award (third prize). Apart from the top prize, Allyza also received the most likes online for her eco achievement, receiving the Sikat Award.

They were awarded cash prizes and tablets, and laptops for their respective schools. The finalists also received tablets loaded with Knowledge Channel video lessons to support their online learning.

KCFI president and executive director Rina Lopez-Bautista expressed gratitude to every parent, educator, and student who took part in this collaborative effort.

“Thank you for step-

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VOL.14 ISSUE 295 • SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022

“T

he land of milk and honey” — that is how most Filipinos think of the United States of America (USA). For trivia buffs, the term “America” was coined in the early sixteenth century after Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer and cartographer.

Filipinos have been immigrating to the United States since 1906, the time when they were contracted to work in Hawaii’s sugar cane fields when it was still a US territory. Individual Filipinos, part of the extraordinary confluence of people that was California in the early 1800s, came even earlier than that.

In a paper, The Diversity of Filipinos in the United States, Daisy C. S. Catalan reported that the Filipinos are among the largest Asian immigrant groups in the US. “They have settled in all the fifty states with the largest concentration in California, Hawaii, Illinois and the New York/New Jersey areas,” she wrote. “There are other large communities in the state of Washington, the Midwest and the eastern

states in Pennsylvania and New England states.”

However, the most recent online Wikipedia encyclopedia entry on ‘Filipino Americans’ has this note: “In 2019, there were 4.2 million Filipinos, or Americans with Filipino ancestry, with large communities in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Texas, and the New York metropolitan area.”

Some people believe that the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965 played a significant role in Filipino immigration. “The Immigration Act of 1965 opened the doors for many Filipinos to migrate to the United States and make new lives for themselves, but it had also opened the doors for Filipinos to experience the true reality of life in America,” wrote one histo-

FEATURE

9

LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

rian.

Yes, there are so many Filipinos now living in the US, including my two sisters and an aunt. I also know some friends who have opted to stay there forever. I am sure many more will be going there in the years to come.

But life in the US is not a bed of roses, so to speak.

Allow me to share these thoughts shared by one Filipino – let’s call him Juan – who now lives in the US for good: “Many people living in the Philippines think that if you live in the United States, you have lots of money. The truth is, you have lots of credits, since you are using a credit card to purchase

those things you need in life.

You have to use credit cards so that you will have a credit history. You see, if you don’t give any money to anyone or have no credit line, no Americans will trust you. If you don’t have any credit card, it means that you don’t have the capacity to pay.

“They think you are rich because you have a car. The truth is, if you don’t buy a car in the US, you have to walk several kilometers under the heat of the sun or the coldness of the snow. There are no jeepneys or tricycles.

“They think our lives here in the US are very pleasant. The truth is, you have to work hard because if you don’t work, you have no money to pay for your car bills, credit cards, electricity, water, insurance, and house, among many others. You just can’t linger in the house of our neighbors since they are also very busy working to pay their own bills.

“They think you are happy because you send them pictures taken in Disneyland, Seaworld, King’s Island, Six Flags, Universal Studios, Volcano Bay, and many other attractions. The truth is, you have to smile since you have paid more than US$70 just to get there.

The cost of the ticket is about 10-hour work.

“They think your salary is high because it is in dollars. The truth is, it’s higher if you change it to pesos, but you also spend dollars in the US. In other words, you may earn dollars but you also spend dollars. The sardine that costs P20 in the Philippines is one dollar in the US. One pack of cigarettes in the Philippines is about P40 but it’s US$6.50 in the US. House rent in the Philippines is only P10,000 but in the US it’s more than US$1,000. Go figure that out!

“They think you are a millionaire because you have a beautiful house and car. The truth is, you also owe millions of dollars. For your new car, you have to pay the company for five years. Your house has to be paid for 30 years. In simpler terms, you are a slave of your house and car.

“A lot of Filipinos want to go to the United States, especially nurses. It’s too hard to be a regular employee in the Philippines. You are always tired and the compensation is not that good. At the end of the month, your salary is just enough for your own food. But that happens also

FLIVING, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO GAINING... FROM2

“An Act Creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), Defining Its Powers and Functions, and Providing Funds Therefor”, which was authored by Congressman Isidro T. Ungab of Davao City’s Third District.

Montenegro said MDDA will aid Mindanaoans in terms of identifying specific strategies that had to be pursued in certain areas in Mindanao.

“As we have always highlighted through the Mindanao Corridors, there is no ‘one size fits all’ strategies in Mindanao and everything is incumbent with

the peculiarity of the area and the nuances of the localities and therefore if we are looking at specific development directions and planning for Metro Davao, iba ito sa development direction that we should also be looking at the rural areas in Mindanao,” he added.

The said bill is also one of the initiatives of the Metropolitan Davao Development Coordinating Committee (MDDCC), which is a special committee under the Regional Development Council 11 (RDC 11) that is being chaired by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

gay Program initiated by Escobal.

Silo reminded the men and women of PRO-11 on the mandate of PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos not to engage in online sabong and other illegal activities.

He was born in Galas, Quezon City, and hails from Balanga, Bataan. He took his master’s in Public Administration at Ateneo de Davao University and Philippine Christian University.

(PNA)

pervisors ug managers sa mga courier services,” (We also brought this up to Kuya Gob (Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib) that’s why the supervisors and managers of these companies in local branches were called out), he explained.

“Ngayon po we are conducting random inspections to courier services. Before po Tagum - Panabo lang pero ngay-

on po nag-rereach out na po tayo sa different LGUs nato basta may courier serives diha,” (As of now, we are conducting random inspections to courier services. We are only looking at Tagum City and Panabo City before but recently, we have also extended our monitoring schemes to neighboring LGUs. (PIA XI Davao del Norte/jmda/ Ezri M. Coda, Jr.)

understanding of the local market and are optimistic about the growth of the business.

Founded only in May 2021, SariSuki’s gross merchandise value has grown 36 times in the past nine months.

It is now serving over 60,000 consumers in the Greater Manila Area, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and some parts of Rizal and Pampanga.

“We are a set of founders that grew up in the Philippines and have an understanding of our market. This, combined with our background in scaling up large tech companies in the region, made us realize we can do more by increasing efficiencies in our supply chain

infrastructure,” Cu said.

SariSuki adopts a community group buy model.

Those who sell their products on the platform are called Community Leaders or KaSari. SariSuki serves as a consolidator of grocery items of KaSari.

This business model has enabled SariSuki to offer supermarket-quality products at wet market prices.

SariSuki also buys fresh produce from local farmers and offers these to local communities at discounted prices.

The startup firm sees the opportunity in the local market as only 3 percent of the grocery and retail industry adopted e-commerce to sell their products despite the pandemic. (PNA)

Dominguez said the government’s budget gap and the ratio of debt to gross domestic product (GDP) increased because of pandemic-related spending “but these remain manageable and we are determined to return quickly to fiscal consolidation.”

He said a primary factor in the fiscal consolidation program “is the improvement of our revenue collections to meet our expenditure requirements.”

“This year will be critical.

We need to begin outgrowing our debt by restoring our high growth,” he added.

Dominguez underscored the need to increase spending for infrastructure modernization, public health system and social

services, and “to rebuild the communities damaged by severe weather events caused by climate change.”

“It is therefore important to focus this year’s tax campaign on the bureau’s continued modernization efforts and the critical role taxpayers play in our nation’s recovery and progress,” he said.

The DOF chief also cited the importance for taxpayers to realize their “duty to ensure that our country moves forward through their prompt and correct payment of taxes” and for the bureau to “continue making progress in applying digital technologies to all its processes for greater transparency and convenience for our clients.”

(PNA)

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Elementary School, V. Hizon Elementary School, USEP Gym, People’s Park, and Ma-a National High School.

The city also reminded those who want to get the first dose to bring DQR, valid ID, and ballpen while for the second dose and booster shots, to bring the vaccination card.

There are also mobile

vaccination sites in the barangays run by the councilors and the door-to-door vaccination by the Office of the Vice Mayor.

Meanwhile, drive-thru vaccination at Crocodile Park and the drive-thru vaccination for senior citizens and persons with disabilities are still open at the People’s Park.

world’s largest oil producers while both Russia and Ukraine are top exporters of wheat which is milled into flour.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES Although food inflation decelerated for the month due to measures placed to ensure sufficient supply, the inflation for electricity, gas and other fuels for households rose 12.8 percent while private transport inflation increased to 29.8 percent, data showed.

The government will continue its efforts to increase food supply by improving farmers’ productivity and importing, if necessary, Socioeconomic

Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said.

The government is also providing subsidies to the public transport sector which is hit by the rising crude oil prices.

“Prices of commodities, such as oil, wheat, and corn, are going up as demand outpaces supply. That is why we need to proactively manage the impact on the people through these two measures,” Chua said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved a P3 billion subsidy and discount for drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk to mitigate the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

and lower revenue collections during the pandemic-spawned economic slowdowns, the country’s budget deficit and debt-toGDP (gross domestic product) ratio rose temporarily, but these remain manageable, he added.

Dominguez also assured the public anew that President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team

has already formulated a program to limit the deficit and improve the debt-toGDP ratio as part of the fiscal consolidation plan that it will turn over to the next administration.

Essential to this fiscal consolidation program is the improvement of revenue collections to meet the government’s expenditure requirements, he said. (PR)

on, naturally, an and-1 conversion. He followed that with, yup, his step-back 3 to give him five fast points.

There was much more to showcase.

He scored 13 points in the second quarter and had fans shooting video on their phones.

Philly’s hype for the new arrival rivaled the anticipated first games over the last 25 years of Terrell Owens (Eagles) and Bryce Harper (Phillies). The Wells Fargo Center was jammed with 21,333 fans and tickets for a top seat — not far off from rapper Meek Mill’s courtside view — were sold for thousands on the secondary market.

Even director M. Night Shyamalan attended for the city’s biggest happening on the sports scene.

“It felt like a playoff atmosphere,” Embiid said.

“I’ve given a lot of credit to Philly fans over the years and they’ve always come through, win or lose.”

The masks came off — and the beards went on. With Philadelphia dropping the indoor mask mandate, Sixers fans had faces clear to buy the $5 fake beards in team merchandise stores. The Sixers seemingly could have paid Harden’s salary on the amount of his gear sold alone before tipoff.

Fans packed the stores and stands and picked up the

new No. 1 jerseys, socks and T-shirts emblazoned with Harden’s image.

Sixers fans wore his jersey as they hanged over the tunnel to the locker room and waited for Harden to run out onto the court. With about an hour left in warmups, Harden emerged to a big ovation.

He shot 3s and joked with coaches and teammates, oblivious to the expectations ahead.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers has built winners with Hall of Famers and All-Stars on his roster and understands the need to shut out the frenzy that followed Harden’s debut.

“I do the same job, the same work. It’s just that more people notice,” Rivers said. “I think when you get a guy like James and Joel together with what we have, with all of our other guys, our guys sense it, too. Not the hoopla, though. It’s that they have a real shot. You don’t get many of these.”

The Knicks, losers of 13 of 15 games, led at halftime and kept the lead early in the third. Embiid twice hit 3s that brought the Sixers within one. Then Philly got going. Maxey scored 11 points in the quarter and the Sixers outscored the Knicks 38-19 to finally grab the lead for good. Embiid, Maxey and even Georges Niang each hit two 3s in the quarter.

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in other countries like the US. It doesn’t mean that if you earn dollars, you will become rich. You have to work hard in order for you to live in another country.”

I wondered if the thoughts above were true.

So, I asked some friends who are now living in the US for their feedback.

“Yes, for the majority of Filipinos who immigrate to the US and are able to take jobs that pay only near the minimum of around $7 per hour, America indeed is not a ‘bed of roses,’” one friend wrote back. “Life for these people can be, to borrow the words of Thomas Hobbes, ‘short, nasty, and brutish.’”

However, for those who are working with white collar jobs, it’s a different story.

The friend explained, “For thousands of Filipino doctors and nurses who are here now, life in America can be a real ‘bed of roses.’ These are the kind of immigrants who routinely are able to achieve the ‘American Dream.’

Another friend told me: “AMERICA is not really a place but a STATE of mind.

But I am certain you know that in your heart and I really do not hold that against you! The grass seems to be always greener at the other side of the fence. All we truly need is to learn to appreciate what we have.”

Now, here is the rebuttal of a Filipino working in California of Juan who complained about his condition in the US. On credits, the Californian guy rebuffs: “The key here is to be wise with money. I use my credit card to pay for everything but I pay everything every time my bill comes in. That way, I have a good credit score and now I can get good rates for loans and other stuff. It makes sense that those with good credit scores get the better deals because it also shows that you are a responsible person. In the Philippines, it is very difficult to buy a car because assessors need to do some background check and even go to your house and assess your capacity to pay based on what he sees.

Here in the US, they just look at your credit score and that’s enough to know if you can be trusted.”

On paying those different bills, the guy explained: “My question is: Are water and electricity in the Philippines free? Are houses free or if you are renting an apartment? You also have to work hard but the bad thing is even if you want to work there are no jobs available or if you work hard your salary is not enough to pay all those bills.”

On visiting those tourist attractions, the guy advised: “It’s a matter of choice. If you don’t have the money, don’t go. Anywhere in the world you go, you need to shell out a good amount from your pocket if you want to go to quality places. If you don’t have money, there are parks that are very clean and safe to hang out. It’s definitely worse in the Philippines.

Even with a whole day’s salary, you cannot take you and your family to the Enchanted Kingdom. I know some of our kababayans earn within the low-income bracket and it’s true that they might have to work 10 hours for the Disneyland ticket but many Pinoys are also good earners.”

On renting houses, the Californian guy opined: “If you live in the countryside here in the US, rents are very cheap. Well, it’s a matter of choice again if you want to live close to the city, then you have to pay more. Just like in the Philippines, if you want to rent cheap, there are places where you can rent cheap houses or apartments. If you want to rent in Makati or Valle Verde, then you have to pay more. That’s just fair.”

The guy’s final words: “You have to work hard if you want to get the things you want. At this point in my life, I still would like to go back to the Philippines when I retire. Nothing can be as good as living in the Philippines. But it’s just wrong to complain about living in the US. Our family has the good fortune to make it here in the United States and we never regretted coming here and love all the things that the US has to offer to those who work hard. No complaints at all.

“With that in mind, I might as well ask why he should waste his time here in the US if he keeps on complaining. Nobody’s stopping him from taking a one-way trip back to the Philippines.

I’m not saying that life here is a bed of roses but it’s just plain wrong to make it appear that life here is no better as compared to the Philippines. I still prefer living in a country that gives you a lot of opportunities for personal growth. Here, what matters is what you know rather than who you know.

I still prefer the country where most citizens respect traffic rules, where people don’t just slam the door behind them, where people are more polite and civil, and most importantly where people still trust that they will find justice when they are wronged.”

I rest my case, your honor!

with due process, to hold anyone responsible for violation of professional boxing rules in the boxing matches, if, at all, these matches can indeed be established as truly professional events. Otherwise, professional licensees participating in the shows, which if found to have not secured proper permits from other local sports governing bodies, will be sanctioned accordingly.

It will be recalled that

GAB, through its GAB-DOH Free Medical Program, has been advocating safe boxing, as most of the injuries or deaths of boxers here in the country were from mismatches and lack of medical services. “We will suspend the boxers or trainers, or if not, take away their licenses if these boxing shows and their organizers are reasonably found to be exhibiting illegitimate fighting activities,” Mitra added.

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World-class pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena (Obiena’s FB page photo)

POC slams Patafa for refusing to endorse EJ

T

he Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on Thursday howled over the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association’s (Patafa) refusal to endorse world-class pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena in four major international competitions—including the World Indoor Championships in Serbia later this month.

Obiena, the Asian record holder in men’s pole vault, wrote the Patafa on February 24 seeking his endorsement for the world indoors in Belgrade (March

18 to 20), 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi (May 12 to 23), World Championships in Eugene (Oregon, July 15 to 24) and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou

(September 12 to 25).

But the Patafa denied Obiena’s request in a letter signed by Patafa Training Director Renato Unso on Monday.

“Again, how many more gold medals or what more achievements does EJ need to get Patafa’s endorsement?” POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino asked. “He’s the best in Asia and his numbers have been rising consistently, but still he’s bound to be denied more medals for the country.”

Masks off, fake beards on as 76ers celebrate Harden arrival

P

HILADELPHIA — James Harden saw the fake beards dangling from chins, oversized cutouts of his head waving above outstretched arms and heard 76ers fans shouting from the stands that they loved him.

Harden knew from his first step on the court that his nearly 14-month, threeteam journey — that he in large part orchestrated — brought him exactly where he wanted to play.

“I just wanted to come out there and show my love back,” Harden said.

Much like the bushy beard that defines his im-

age, Harden has grown on the 76ers.

Harden had a packed house in a frenzy from the moment he was introduced as “making his Philadelphia home debut,” then flashed his MVP form with 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 123-108 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time).

Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds.

Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points.

“We all just fit together,” Embiid said.

But the night belonged

to the Beard.

The Sixers moved to 3-0 with Harden in the lineup and his dynamic duo hookup with Embiid has suddenly stamped the Sixers as legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference.

“I feel like you can put me anywhere in the room and I can fit in,” Harden said. “Here is no different.

Just see what you have and try your best to fit in. Be the best James Harden I can be in every aspect.”

Harden needed time to warm up to the new digs.

His first points came with 5:32 left in the first quarter

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Obiena’s rift with the Patafa has reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport after association president Philip Ella Juico filed a complaint against the Tokyo Olympian and the POC last February 11.

The rift revolves around Obiena’s liquidation of his coach Vitaly Petrov’s salaries that evolved into the athlete’s accusation of harassment by his national sports association.

Obiena leaped to 5.81 meters in two competitions in Poland last month—winning gold medals in both

and making him eligible for the world championships.

“My 5.81m jump in my two title wins in the Orlen Cup (February 13) and the Orlen Copernicus Cup (February 23) both in Poland officially made the standard required for the 2022 World Indoor Athletics Championship and 2022 World Athletics Championship,” Obiena said in his letter to Parafa he addressed to the federation’s board.

“It is also better than my 2019 SEA Games gold medal standard and the 2018 Asian Games Gold medal

James Harden goes 8 for 13 in 36 minutes of action.

PHOTO: AP

standard.”

The Patafa denied his request citing the non-completion of mediation procedures.

“By authority of the Patafa Board of Trustees, please be informed that the Patafa Board of Trustees will not act on your letter … pending completion of the mediation process being conducted by the Philippine Sports Commission,” the Patafa said in its response.

The POC reiterated its effort to help Obiena compete in international competitions. (PR)

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GAB is looking into the legitimacy of the ‘Battle of the YouTubers (BOTY)’ – a boxing event, aired over YouTube channels and organized by certain individuals on what appears to be staged or scripted boxing matches.

UNDERGROUND BOXING?

GAB to look into ‘Battle Of The Youtubers’ boxing event

S

ince its inception in the 1950s, GAB has been faithfully fulfilling its mandate to ensure orderly, safe, and health-mindful professional sports events placed under its supervision and regulation.

Very recently, in its usual vigilance to address issues and concerns within professional boxing, particularly those related to the integrity of the sports as well as the health and safety of fighters, GAB is looking into the legitimacy of the ‘Battle of the YouTubers (BOTY)’ – a boxing event, aired over YouTube channels and organized by certain individuals on what appears to be staged or scripted boxing matches.

In the videos, the organizers are seen pitting individual fighters into boxing matches, which were broadcasted and viewed by about 2.6 million subscribers and non-subscribers alike. These paying patrons seemed to have enjoyed watching the bouts in the shows either as a kind of entertainment or real fight, hence appearing to be either staged or real; but from which the group appears to earn money.

GAB, however, is now keen on investigating whether the group’s boxing shows can rightly be claimed by organizers, not as professional matches, hence outside the agency’s regulation.

“We always value not only the safety of our boxers but also the integrity of boxing as sports. Rest assured that we will investigate these boxing fights, and appropriate sanctions will be meted to those who will be found responsible under our existing rules and regulations,” said GAB Chairman Baham Mitra.

To date, GAB is determining whether BOTY fighters participate in the matches for a reward of sum of money or simply for the sake of some sort of acting. The shows also seem to be claimed lacking some elements of a highly-structured real professional boxing match, such as the involvement of complete ring

officials, including judges, timekeepers, and ring physicians.

The boxing shows also have no more than 3 rounds as opposed to professional fights with a minimum of 4 rounds. Likewise, no weigh-in is conducted before the event to determine if the contestants are of the same weight category. And more importantly, the shows consist of fighters/athletes who did not undergo proper medical procedures and clearances (hence licensing from GAB) before the match.

However, such boxing events, whether they appear or not to be scripted for entertainment purposes, have not been following the required health and safety procedures/protocols and the rules for professional boxing, if at all, is indeed a professional event. Otherwise, if the shows were meant to be amateur boxing matches, they should have gotten official permission from the appropriate amateur boxing bodies, i.e. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) or the Amateur Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP).

Meantime, aside from an email from one professional boxing fan, whom GAB is still trying to officially communicate and get in touch with through his physical address (though this has not been provided yet by the concerned writer, as of this writing, despite GAB’s request) to gather relevant information about the event, concerns were also aired by some professional boxing followers that the organizers might be making fun or mockery of professional boxing and basketball alike.

Chairman Abraham Mitra, however, assures everyone that GAB is now doing its part, in accordance

FUNDERGROUND, P10