Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 61 | Friday, June 24, 2022

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VOL.15 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

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RUBBISH VIOLATORS A young girl takes a sip from a community drinking fountain to quench her thirst during a very warm afternoon in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.

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Apprehension of improper trash disposal continues: CENRO

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go says the “no booster, no policy” should not be imposed as mandatory even as he called for the strengthening of the vaccination drive in the country. Photo from Sen. Bong Go’s FB page

RUBBISH VIOLATORS Apprehension of improper trash disposal continues: CENRO

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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“Gapadayon ang apprehension sa mga pataka lang ug labay sa basura na wala sa oras ug wala gi-segregate,” said Orly B. Limpangog, Information Education Campaign Unit Environmental Waste Management

Division of CENRO over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).

Limpangog said the Pollution Management Section of CENRO also continued to conduct random ocular inspections of the manufac-

turing sites, piggeries, and poultry farms in Davao City.

“Kung nag-implement gyud sila sa tanan existing ordinances nato related to environment ug kato tanan national laws pertaining to environment. Kung wala maka-comply maisyuhan sila ug citation ticket,” he said.

Among ordinances in Davao City regarding the conservation and protection of the environment

he “no booster, no policy” should not be imposed as mandatory, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said Wednesday even as he called for the strengthening of the vaccination drive in the country.

“It is so hard to push for it and make it mandatory.

We have the right [not to

get it or to have it]. Instead, we should intensify the vaccination drive,” Go said in an interview.

In April this year, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion sought the presentation of booster cards as a requirement in entering enclosed establish-

ments starting this month.

Concepcion said this would encourage more people to get their booster shots against the coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19).

Go, the Senate Committee on Health chair, said other equally-effective measures can be imple-

n official of the City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) warned the public that the apprehension of improper trash and waste disposal continues in Davao City.

include City Ordinance No. 0361-10 which is known as “Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2009”, “Anti-Littering. Ordinance” of the City of Davao, and City Ordinance No. 0280-06 or the “Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance of Davao City”.

Rubylyn Dela Cruz Baraquero, Information Education Campaign Unit Environmental Waste Man-

mented, such as the delivery of vaccines to more farflung areas.

“Let me remind our fellow Filipinos that the vaccines are available. Only 150 million doses were utilized, and we have a total of 245 million doses,” he said.

Go also expressed con-

FRUBBISH, P10

‘No booster, no entry policy’ should not be mandatory: Go T FBOOSTER, P10

Davao City ranks 3rd in PH with most kidney diseases

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abawenyos should look after their health and take care of their kidneys, as the city continues to rank third in the country with the most number of kidney diseases since 2017.

Dr. Theresa Bad-ang, chairperson of the Renal Transplant Section of Nephrology of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), gave this advice during a press briefer Wednesday, in line with the National Kidney Month in the Philippines.

“The life that we have is dependent on the organs that we take care so kidneys (are) one of those organs na matiisin (kidneys are one of the organs that are patient).

Hindi sila umiimik until sira na sila (They do not budge until they are worn-out),” Bad-ang said.

For ages 35 and below, Bad-ang said, kidneys are performing at 100 percent health, but “the time you reach 36, each year means less than one percent functionality.”

Therefore, by age 55, people would have lost 20 percent of kidney’s functionality, she said.

Those who are hypertensive lose two percent of functionality of their kidney

each year, while those who are diabetic lose five percent of their kidney’s functionality per year.

“There are so many people who are in dialysis right now. In fact, PhilHealth has released some PHP2 billion for patients in dialysis during the pandemic. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the most vulnerable group are the patients (with) kidney (diseases),” Bad-ang said.

However, Bad-ang made it clear that “kidney diseases can be prevented. We are making this awareness drive because PhilHealth releases a lot of its budget to treat patients with kidney diseases.”

Bad-ang said PhilHealth spends over PHP2,000 per session for a dialysis patient.

On average, a patient receives dialysis treatment 90 days per year but the approved payment of benefit claims for hemodialysis services have recently been maxed to 144 sessions, as stated in the PhilHealth Circular 2021-0009.

This means that PhilHealth spends PHP185,000 per person per year for those who sought 90 sessions annually and

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

NEWS

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Incoming Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte promises that his administration will continue the efforts and governance style of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte and declares that he will make sure that no Dabawenyo will be lacking food during his term as mayor. Edge Davao

Completion of Davao coastal road project expected in early 2024 Agusan court reverses ruling, orders rearrest of Dr. Castro

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he Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Bayugan City has ordered anew the arrest of Dr. Maria Natividad Castro, community health advocate and human rights activist, after it reversed its ruling for the dismissal of her kidnapping and serious illegal detention case.

In his eight-page ruling, Judge Ferdinand Villanueva, executive judge of RTC Branch 7, granted the motion for consideration filed by Prosecutor Genesis Efren, agreeing there was no denial of the

procedural due process and the Court acquires jurisdiction over Castro.

The decision reads: “The Motion for Reconsideration is granted. Let an E-warrant of arrest be issued against the accused, Dr. Maria Natividad Castro.”

Castro, who spent at least two decades in community health work in Agusan and was former secretary-general of the human rights group Karapatan Caraga, was arrested in her home in San Juan City in Metro

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Skirmishes leave 3 NPA rebels dead in Caraga

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hree New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas were killed in two separate encounters early this week in Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur provinces, authorities said Thursday.

In Agusan del Norte, the Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade (402Bde) said in a statement that troops from the 23rd Infantry Battalion (IB) clashed with some 15 NPA rebels Tuesday in Barangay Consorcia of Las Nieves town.

The encounter left two NPA insurgents dead, lat-

er identified by authorities as Rey Torregosa, 24, of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur; and Juliven Badbaran, 41, of San Luis, Agusan del Sur. Torregosa was a member of the NPA’s Sub-Regional Committee 3 (SRC3) while Badbaran is the former commanding officer of the same rebel unit, 402Bde said.

“The NPA rebels in Agusan del Norte are suffering from losses with the continued focused military operations,” Brig.

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) bared that the completion of the whole 17.352-kilometer Davao City Coastal Road Project is expected in early 2024.

Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of DPWH 11, told media that in terms of percentage the project is at 53 percent complete.

“The whole coastal road we are seeing its completion early 2024. Yung alignment natin ay from Bago Aplaya hanggang Jerome Agdao,” Ortiz said in an interview during the turnover of the Gulf View esplanade on Tuesday.

The Davao Coastal Road began its construction in 2017. The coastal road extends from Bago Aplaya in the South to R. Castillo in the North. The Davao City Coastal Road project is composed of four segments: Segment A: Bago Aplaya – Times Beach; Segment B: Times Beach – Roxas Avenue; Segment C: Roxas Avenue – Sta. Ana Wharf; and Segment D: Sta. Ana Wharf

– R. Castillo.

The Davao coastal road aims to provide an alternative route to the Pan-Philippine Highway in the southern part of the city, which has been experiencing heavy traffic congestion. It will also serve as a diversion road for inter-provincial and regional transport movements.

Meanwhile, incoming Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who led the turnover ceremony said the establishment of the esplanade is good for the mental and well-being of the Dabawenyos, specially after the pandemic.

“This is something big

for the Dabawenyos and para ma-enjoy pud nila ang lugar, not only nga nagatukod ta ug dalan pero nagtukod pud ta ug place for leisure,” he said in an interview.

Ortiz said the Gulf View esplanade covers 5.5 hectares including the esplanade in Bago Aplaya with bike lanes, walkways, playground, dog park, and skate park.

“What we have just done right now is to turn over these facilities to the steward of the city government of Davao,” he said.

Another esplanade is being developed in the Times Beach area.

ment of the Interior and Local Government and other government agencies.

The collaboration of the agencies and the operationalization of the center was sealed in a Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed after the unveiling.

PDEA-XI Director Anne Lovitos and Malalag Mayor Peter Paul Valentin led the signing of the MOU and manifesto of commitment held at Malalag gym-

nasium.

Jessie Ann Delos Reyes, Balay Silangan focal person of PDEA XI, said that the reformation center offers alternative interventions for drug dependents with the provision of livelihood trainings, aftercare, community and social programs.

It is a collaborative program that gives second chances to drug dependents in a compassionate way, Delos Reyes empha-

sized.

Rev. Fr. Lito Doguiles who officiated the blessing of the center, said that this endeavor provides opportunities for new beginnings with God as the center, not only for drug dependents but also for the people behind the Balay Silangan.

The reformation center is the first in Davao del Sur and third in Davao Region. (PIA XI/Razhina Bruce)

DavSur’s ‘Balay Silangan’ opens services for drug dependents

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he Balay Silangan Reformation Center of Malalag, the first halfway house for drug dependents in Davao del Sur, has been inaugurated on Tuesday (June 21, 2022), and now ready to provide free services.

The creation of the reformation center is spearheaded by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region XI in collaboration with the municipal government of Malalag, Depart-

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) chief Generose Tecson expresses her approval on the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) Board ordinance. Edge Davao

BOC Davao assures seamless Customs Clearance of Bangsamoro Barter Trade

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he Bangsamaro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) shall soon be boosting the Bangsamaro Barter Trade activities.

In the recent Bangsamoro Barter Trade Council Technical Working Group Meeting held on June 8, 2022 with the Bangsamoro stakeholders where this Collection District actively participated, this Port discussed the customs policies and procedures on the lawful

entry of goods.

During the meeting, BOC Davao, Collection District XII, District Collector, Atty. Erastus Sandino B. Austria, represented by his Sub-port Collector in Parang, Atty.

Mohammad M. Ben-Usman, discussed several customs policies spe-

cifically the registration and accreditation of the importers and exporters as well as the needed requirements for customs clearance, the calculation of customs duty and taxes, and the types of importations and exportations.

The said meeting was facilitated by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and was attended by the barter traders in Cotabato City and in BARMM and by

itch Solutions has revised downwards its budget gap forecasts for the Philippines for this and next year, citing the likely continuation of fiscal consolidation and improvement in government revenues.

In a report dated June 21 and released on Wednesday, the unit of Fitch Group now sees the government’s budget deficit to account for 7.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2022 and 6.2 percent for 2023.

Its previous forecast

was 8.1 percent of GDP for this year and 6.7 percent of domestic output for 2023.

In 2021, the government’s budget gap accounted for 8.6 percent of GDP after amounting to PHP1.67 trillion.

The report said its 2022 budget deficit as a share of GDP projection is lower than the government’s 7.6 percent assumption “due to slower economic growth assumption” while the forecast for next year is higher than the 6.1 percent approved by economic man-

agers “as we expect expenditure to exceed the official target.”

“Nevertheless, we still believe that the Philippines is still on track for a gradual fiscal consolidation over the coming years as strong revenue growth, alongside a recovering economy and positive tax reforms, will likely offset expansionary fiscal spending,” it said.

Based on the National Budget Memorandum issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) last June 8, reve-

various concerned government agencies such as the BARMM-MARINA, the BARMM - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, the BARMM Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism, the Philippine Coastguard, and other stakeholders.

BOC Davao is committed to provide full assistance in the smooth implementation of policies and principles on Mindanao Barter Trade.

nues are expected to reach PHP3.304 trillion this year, higher than the PHP3.005 trillion last year, and accounts for 15.2 percent of GDP. For 2023, revenues are projected to rise further to PHP3.632 trillion and PHP4.062 trillion in 2024 and PHP4.548 trillion in 2025.

Disbursements, in turn, are expected to amount to PHP4.954 trillion for 2022, PHP5.085 trillion for 2023, PHP5.392 trillion for 2024, and PHP5.723 trillion for 2025.

Fitch Solutions cuts ‘22, ‘23 budget gap forecasts for PH F

Dar confident BBM will address agri smuggling

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griculture Secretary William Dar said Wednesday he is confident President-elect and incoming Agriculture chief Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will act on agricultural smuggling issues that harm the value of local production.

In the Laging Handa public briefing, the outgoing chief said they are intensifying efforts to collect evidence to ensure corrupt personnel are held liable.

“Dapat iyon po ang isang pagtuunan po. Yes, malaki po ang tiwala natin (That should be the focus. Yes, we have high trust [on president-elect Marcos]),” he said.

Dar made the statement as Senate President Vicente Sotto III handed over the “list of [people] allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling” to the incoming chief executive.

He also mentioned the Department of Agriculture’s investigation is still ongoing to trace those behind these malicious practices, even imposing preliminary actions against some personnel.

“It has to be kung ano iyong report ng Senate and the House, pananagutin kung dapat sinong managot (what should be in the report of the Senate and the House, must

be held accountable). Number two, we continue to do our collection of evidence, kasi (because) we need to really have evidence to nail down our people. Mayroon na kami (We already have).

Meanwhile, we have reassigned some of these people doon sa areas na hindi nila maituloy iyong (so they cannot continue their) malpractices nila,” he added.

Earlier, the DA said smuggling is done technically when violators subject themselves to legal procedures of acquiring an import permit or accreditation, but misuse or misdeclare products.

Dar, meanwhile, disagreed with the widely criticized “special importation” approach of the department, which allegedly harmed the local production of goods.

“Wala pong katotohanan iyong ganoon na policy direction.... pinapatupad po natin ang (There’s no truth to that... we are implementing the) food security goal. We boost the productivity of various commodities in agriculture the best we could, based on the limitations of budget and the like. So kung anuman iyong pagkukulang (So whatever the deficiencies), then you have to augment that,” he said.

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ECONOMY

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Locally produced vegetables are on display at a stall inside Agdao Public Market in Davao City. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar said he is confident President-elect and incoming Agriculture chief Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will act on agricultural smuggling issues that harm the value of local production. Edge Davao

Gov’t budget deficit narrows to P146.8B PH withdraws from EITI on ‘biased’ validation

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he Philippines has withdrawn from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on the back of questionable metrics and procedures for assessing the compliance of implementing-countries with the international organization’s transparency requirements.

In a June 20, 2022 letter addressed to EITI chairman and former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III called EITI’s Validation –a quality assurance assessment process– “subjective, biased and unfair.”

“We find that the manner by which the EITI Board undertakes its validation is unduly subjective, biased and unfair.

The Philippines has no confidence in the ability of the EITI to undertake an impartial, transparent,

and evidence-based validation process,” Dominguez said.

The Department of Finance (DOF) chairs the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI), a multi-stakeholder body that governs the implementation of the EITI in the Philippines.

EITI prescribes a standard for transparency and accountability in the mining, oil and gas industries.

Extractive companies in implementing-countries are engaged to publicly disclose data on taxes, royalties and other payments they make to the government and their host-communities.

In his letter, Dominguez said the country has been treated unfairly by the EITI Board by using irrelevant metrics and relying on unvalidated

FPH, P10

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18.99% or P107.5 billion from P566.2 billion in the same period in 2021.

Total revenues for the month increased by 18.91% to P304.9 billion from P256.4 billion, driven mainly by tax collections — Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

collections up 17.91% to P216.6 billion and Bureau of Customs (BOC) collections up 36.35% to P66.3 billion.

Year-to-date revenues increased by 15.46% to P192.4 billion to P1.437 trillion, with P1.289 trillion coming from tax collections and P146.7 billion from non-tax revenues.

The BTr’s income for the month fell by 28.22% or P3.5 billion to P8.9 billion, bringing the year-todate collection to P83.4 billion.

Collections from other offices jumped by 8.35% to P10.4 billion, driving the year-to-date total up by 18.49% or P10.0 billion to P64.2 billion yearon-year.

Government spending for the month was P451.7 billion, reflecting a 1.10% or P5.0 billion decline from P456.7 billion. Year-to-date spending increased by 4.69% to P1.895 trillion.

Primary spending fell by 2.32% or P9.9 billion to P417.9 billion, while

Administration, should actively inspect warehouses to address the issue, United Sugar Producers Federation president Manuel Lamata told Teleradyo.

“Ang dami dating sugar nasa bodega ng traders, walang shortage po,” Lamata said.

(There is a lot of sugar

supply in the warehouses of traders, there is no shortage) He said sugar production was not disrupted even with the recent typhoons.

Lamta said those proven to be hoarding supply should be charged with economic sabotage.

“They should file a case

against unscrupulous [traders] who are constricting the market. Tinatago nila, kunwari walang supply kaya sobra-sobra ang akyat ng presyo, hindi na tama ‘yan,” he added.

(They’re hiding it, making it appear that there is no supply. The price hike is too much, that’s wrong.)

he Philippine government narrowed its budget deficit in May as revenues posted double-digit growth while spending posted a decline, data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Thursday showed.

The national government budget deficit stood at P146.8 billion in May, reflecting a 26.72% decline from the P200.3 billion recorded the same month last year.

The year-to-date shortfall was recorded at P458.7 billion, down by

A

sugar farmer group on Thursday urged the government to curb the alleged hoarding of local traders that causes an artificial shortage and the surge in retail prices.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, as well as the Sugar Regulatory

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

On the establishment of the Gulf View esplanade as good for the mental and well-being of the Dabawenyos:

This is something big for the Dabawenyos and para ma-enjoy pud nila ang lugar, not only nga nagatukod ta ug dalan pero nagtukod pud ta ug place for leisure.”

Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

TYPHOON AND FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK Every third week of June, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) observes the Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week. This is to emphasize “on the importance of early warning systems and early action in strengthening disaster action and preparedness to ensure the safety of communities during calamities.”

“Mahalaga na prepared tayo at alam natin kung ano yung magiging action kapag inilabas na ng PAGASA ‘yung mga early warning systems,” said Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, PAGASA’s Deputy Administrator for Research and Development. (“It is important to be prepared and we know what actions we will do once PAGASA releases the early warning systems.”)

This year’s theme is “From Forecast to Action Towards a Typhoon and Flood Resilient Community.” It supports the weather bureau’s mandate in providing advanced information against hydrometeorological hazards and utilizing scientific knowledge as tools to ensure the safety, protection, well-being, and resiliency of the people and the whole nation.

Aside from PAGASA, anoth-

er agency that releases warning messages during calamities is the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Both are frontline agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

To further help communities better understand the early warning messages on typhoon and flood being released by the frontline agencies, Project #MAGHANDA was launched last March 16 in partnership with DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOSTSTII), Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Local Government Academy.

The Project #MAGHANDA levels up awareness and capabilities of the disaster risk reduction managers at the local level in understanding warning messages. In addition, it enables them to translate those information into better response action among its stakeholders particularly those from vulnerable communities.

Project #MAGHANDA (which stands for Meteorological And Geological Hazard Advisories, Warning and Notifications for Decisive Action) will be implemented in all 17 regions across the country, including the Bang-

samoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“With improvements of monitoring tools and services from both agencies and the impact of climate change, there is a need to upgrade the understanding and knowledge of our local government partners and media as well as first responders,” said Dr. Vicente B. Malano, PAGASA Administrator.

Malano also noted that because there is the possibility that the information was not understood by the people, this initiative will address the need to re-educate the LGUs, specifically local officials, disaster managers, and the media on the latest hazard information systems.

Records show an average of 20 out of 36 tropical cyclones enter the country’s area of responsibility. “There is no month in the Philippines which is free from typhoons,” PAGASA says.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines typhoons as “a type of large storm system having a circular or spiral system of violent winds, typically hundreds of kilometers in diameter.”

When storms occur in the Western Pacific, they are called typhoons. But when these

storms happen in the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific, it is called a hurricane. In the Indian Ocean, they are known as tropical cyclones. In other words, all three are the same weather phenomenon.

Among Filipinos, they’re known simply as bagyo, a term that came into existence after a 1911 storm in Baguio which had a record rainfall of 46 inches within a 24-hour period.

“About 95 percent of the tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines originate in the Pacific Ocean while the rest come from the South China Sea,” PAGASA says.

According to PAGASA, typhoons usually occur from the month of June to November. Most, however, occur in the months of July and August “though other months outside of this period are not entirely free from tropical cyclones.”

During the early part of the typhoon season, PAGASA claims, tropical cyclones pass the northern regions of the country. In the latter part (from October to December), the central and southern parts are more prone to the passage.

The weather bureau considers tropical cyclones as “the

most commonly occurring natural hazard in the country.”

A flood, on the other hand, is an overflow of water that submerges land which is normally dry. Given the location and the topography of the country, the Philippines experiences five weather-causing phenomena which can bring floods. These are: thunderstorms, cold front, monsoons, intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), and tropical cyclones.

“Floods are due to the complex combination of weather, climatic and human activities,” explained Rosalie C. Pagulayan, PAGASA weather specialist II during a seminar workshop convened by the Department of Science and Technology in Davao City recently. “Most floods occur as a result of moderate-to-largescale rainfall events.”

As floods are common throughout the country, the weather bureau has launched the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) capacities. It has five basic elements: prediction, detection, communication, decision-making, and mobilization.

“In any disaster of a given magnitude, the first line of defense is still awareness of the communities at risk,” reminded Pagulayan.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

THE THOMPSONS AS FOUNDERS Though closely associated with the Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines, its first missionaries in Mindanao, couple Rev. Arthur and Dr. Evelyn Thompson, both Americans, have left a legacy in Davao’s academia by founding a school that bears their name.

The Thompsons arrived in the Philippines in 1955 and stayed in Manila and Zamboanga for a year for the much-needed preparations, both cultural orientation and linquistic briefings, before their deployment to the countryside.

In January 1956, upon arrival in Davao City, they rented a storefront at Mount Apo Street and used its second floor as an official residence. Hardly knowing any Visayan word, the lingua france in town. Evelyn made her daily Bible preaching in front of the shop, which became the

home of Davao City Foursquare Church, the first in the region, and in a short period succeeded in converting a number of Christians to the sect.

Ater six months, the couple, still facing linguistic difficulty, opened a Bible school with some twenty students. That same year, the couple founded an elementary institution known as Christian Day School, which was registered with the Bureau of Private Schools (BPS).

On June 12, 1961, following its approval, the school’s name was changed to Halls of Life Christian Day School.

But the remaining only created confusion given that the congregation’s Bible school was also known as Halls of Life. To resolve the mix-up, the school, upon the advice of the BSP superintendent, was again renamed Thompson Christian

School on August 31, 1964, in honor of its founders. It was the school’s Board of Trustees that gave and approved the new identity.

On March 31, 1965, the school was incorporated and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), earning a separate and independent juridical personality from the congreation. It was, however, operate by the Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines. The original incorporators were the Thompson couple. Veronico T. Suan, Ariston Laurente, and Ramon Pizarro Sr. while the five-member Board was constituted by Leonardo del Rosario, Adriano Manglicmot, Ederlina Suan, Gloria del Rosario, and Vicente Jickain.

The institution later acquired property along Lopez Jaena Street, Davao City, and part of it

was developed into a campus.

Over time,, adjacent lots were bought on installment to host new classrooms and buildings realized through the congregation’s fund-raising initiatives.

The missionary pursuit of the Thompsons, inspired by successes, expanded to Liboac, in Elizalde, Maco, Davao de Oro, in the 1960s, where they preached to the Mansakas. The first Foursquare Church in the area was promptly established with Gavino Perlas as its first pastor. Over a decade later, another Thompson Christian School, the Masara branch, was opened in Liboac.

Over the years, as part of its expansion, the school started to open a high-school department in both its main campus and branch. In September 1986, the school was required by the SEC to submit its by-laws in confor-

mity to the Corporation Code of the Philippines, it was registered on March 5, 1987. The original Articles of Incorporation which did not contain the corporate life of the school, was amended to give the institution a fifty-year corporate lifespan.

A testament to the school’s growing contribution to academic development is itsmembership with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI),Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU), PrivateSecondary Administrators Association of the Philippines (PRISAAP), Private SchoolAdministrators Association of Davao(PRISAAD), Coordinating Council of PrivateEducation Association (COCOPEA), and the Philippines Foursquare Association ofChristian Schools (PHILFACS).

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EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

IT WAS the first lit party since Covid-19 and based on the number of revelers who came, people missed the Sarangani Bay Festival event.

Touted as Mindanao’s grandest and ultimate summer beach party, the festival has attracted partygoers from the different towns and regions in Mindanao for its nightly concerts, adrenaline-packed sports events, and family-oriented activities.

After two years of snoozing because of the Covid-19 restrictions, the festival was reignited on May 25 to 29, 2022 with the theme “Wake Up SarBay.” With the situation and restrictions currently improving, the Sarangans thought its time to slowly wake up SarBay. On the first night of the festival, San Miguel Brewery (SMB) steered the outdoor chill spot area of Coco Beach where partygoers gamely jammed with Jeffrey’s Angels and Diarya band while enjoying their bottles of San Miguel Beer.

“SarBay citizens” (Sarangans/partygoers) packed the Coco Beach.

All were having a blast because after two years they were able to experience the fun and excitement brought by the SarBay Fest.

As a precaution, the organizers made sure standard health protocols are followed. Compared to the previous festivals pre-pandemic

SARBAY FEST REIGNITES

time wherein it will be difficult to enter the venue because of the long queue of vehicles and people waiting to enter the beach resorts where the party take place, this year the crowd was limited to only around 10% of the usual partygoers years back.

This did not dampen the spirit and excitement of the crowd as they jammed, danced, and rocked the house down.

Although, SarBay Fest is synonymous to dancing, singing, drinking

and having fun, it is also a beach party for a really good cause. Just like the previous festival, its main goal is to spread awareness on how to protect the environment and the marine life. This year, the celebration was highlighted with the series of Crown of Thorns (COT) collection activities by diving volunteers from various government agencies and private groups to save the reefs of Sarangani which have been infested with COT since the last quarter of 2021.

This year’s festival was capped with a clean-up activity.

The fest may be limited and mellowed down in terms of the size of the crowd, but its purpose has been achieved and that is to awaken and reignite the spirit of SarBay Fest.

Hopefully, next year’s celebration will be much bigger.

SMB, a long time supporter and partner of the festival, extends its appreciation and congratulation to the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and the Province of Sarangani for successfully waking up SarBay Festival and keeping it fun and festive, yet safe and environmentcentered.

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ENVIRONMENT The Philippine eagle has become an endangered species because of the lost of their natural habitat.

FOREST GONE: WHERE DID ALL OUR TREES GO? (First of Two Parts) Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

V

isitors, both foreigners and locals, who come to Davao City for the first time are almost always attracted to the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan. Some 30 kilometers northwest and about an hour’s drive from the heart of the city, the center is the transient home of the endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

Here, more than a dozen male and female are being induced to breed in captivity by the staff of Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Inc. A private, non-profit organization dedicated to saving the eagle from extinction, PEF is the acknowledged leader in

Only a few patches of forests remain in Mindanao

raptor and wildlife management in the country today.

“By using the Philippine eagle as the local point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat,” says Dennis Salvador, PEF’s executive director.

Salvador adds that his institution, primarily a research facility, is committed to promote the survival of the Philippine eagle, “the biodiversity it represents, and the sustainable use of our forest resources for future generations to enjoy.”

But he believes what they are doing is “only a scanty step in the long process of restocking eagle population” for it is necessary to renew the forest habitat before artificially-bred eagles can be released in the wild.

“If time comes that we have enough stocks, where shall we release them,” he wonders. “And how will the eagles sighted in the wild survive if factors which threaten their lives continue to haunt them?”

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considered the Philippine eagle as critically endangered, which means it is a just a matter of time that it will become extinct. So far, only 400 pairs of Philippine eagle exist.

In Mindanao, most of these eagles can be found in their natural habitat in

Mount Apo Natural Park, Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve, Pasonanca Natural Park, Mount Kitanglad Range, and Mount Malindang Natural Park.

In the Visayas, a few of these eagles can also be seen in Samar Island Natural Park. Most of the eagles in Luzon are sighted in the untouched eastern border of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

The Philippine eagles are threatened by several factors but the loss of its habitat is the primary culprit. According to PEF, the natural habitat of the Philippine eagle is mainly dipterocarp lowland forest where it is known to nest almost exclusively ranging from 100 to 1,000 meters above sea level.

“Deforestation is terrible,” deplores Salvador, who was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 2000 for wildlife conservation. “The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species because the loss of the forest has made it lose its natural habitat.”

“In each territory, the eagles are faithful to their nests and they like to live in large and old growth trees,” Salvador says. “Unfortunately, based on deforestation data since the early 1900s, when nearly everything was green, now we are left with few old growth forests.”

Studies conducted by the regional office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said that a pair of the Philippine eagles needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forest as a nesting territory. “If Filipinos don’t get their act together for the cause of the endangered bird, it shall be doomed to die,” Salvador says.

“We have lost most of our forest of old over the past 50 years and, along with them, many of the ecological services they provide,” deplores Peter Walpole, executive director of the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC).

In 1934, forests comprised more than half (54%) of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares.

In 2010, the forest cover had gone down to 23% or about 6.8 million hectares, according to a report compiled by the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO).

Based on the 2010 satellite images released by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), open forests accounted for 68% (4.595 million hectares) of the country’s total forest cover, 28% are closed forests while the rest are mangroves.

Most of the remaining mangroves can be found in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Caraga Region has the highest total forest cover in Mindanao, with 683,112 hectares. Davao Region is closely trailed with 428,716 hectares. The rest of the regions: Northern Mindanao (377,858 hectares), ARMM (301,894 hectares), and Zamboanga Peninsula (176,918 hectares).

“Where have all our forests gone?” asked Jethro P. Adang, director of the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC). “Why are we losing our trees at a very fast rate?”

At the time when he was still the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Atty. Fulgencio Factoran

FFOREST, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO RUBBISH ... FROM2

agement Division of CENRO, said the schedule for garbage collection in the Poblacion area is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

She also reminded that there is no trash collection on Sundays.

Meanwhile, Limpangog reminded Dabawenyos not to throw their used cooking oil in the waterways but instead urged them to save it to be processed into biodiesel through the city’s oil refinery.

“Gina-awhag namo ang mga residente nga ang inyuhang mga used oil ayaw ilabay sa atoang mga waterways or kanal tiguma na ninyo kay adunay programa ang CENRO mao na ang Biodiesel Fuel Plant na ang tanan used cooking oil sa tanan fastfood chains diri sa Davao City ato ng ginakolekta ug gi-process into biodeisel fuel na maoy ginatubil sa atong mga garbage trucks,” he said.

CENRO is once again collecting used cooking oil at the barangay level for the production of biofuel.

Aside from this, about 10 percent of the collected oil is used as raw material in breaking down biodegradable wastes into compost.

This program also aims to reduce the presence of cooking oil in the city’s waterways and canals, which can coagulate and worsen flooding in the city.

Barangays Hizon, Mintal, and Sasa already established their own used cooking oil collection system.

The city’s biodiesel fuel plant, which was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has produced almost 200, 000 liters of biodiesel since its launch in August 2017 up to April 2022. It has been providing fuel for the city’s compactor trucks and other vehicles used for waste collection and management.

cern that only 20 percent of fully vaccinated individuals got their booster shots.

“Let’s not be complacent, Covid-19 is still here.

Every time we shift to Alert Level 1 we became complacent. Let us not wait for the cases to rise again,” he said.

Meanwhile, the senator said President Rodrigo Duterte is urging Filipinos to continue to wear their

face masks until he ends his term on June 30.

“Beyond June 30, I don’t know what would be the decision of the next administration, but I know they will do everything for the interest of the Filipinos,” he said.

Go is in this town to distribute various types of assistance to low-income residents. (PNA)

PHP288,000 per person per year for those who acquired 144 sessions annually.

According to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), one Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour or about 120 Filipinos per million population every year.

Latest estimates show

that around 2.3 million Filipinos have chronic kidney disease (CKD). In 2016, more than 36,000 patients were on dialysis treatment which reflects a 15 percent increase in the number of patients in just one year.

Bad-ang said SPMC is holding an organ donation awareness campaign for the entire month. (PNA)

reports in assessing the status of civic space in the extractives sector.

The DOF repeatedly sought the details of alleged issues on civic space to enable the government to address the same.

The EITI, however, has not supplied the requested details.

Dominguez called out EITI for its lack of due process and for imposing actions on the Philippines that violate the country’s sovereignty.

“We refuse to be taken hostage by unverified allegations from foreigners and people who have no mandate from the electorate,” he said.

The Philippines has been implementing the EITI since 2013.

In 2016, the EITI recognized the country for its impactful implementation.

EITI implementing-countries undergo validation every three years.

In 2017, the Philippines was declared the first among more than 50

countries in the world to have achieved satisfactory progress in meeting the EITI requirements.

Over the years, the country has demonstrated innovation and best practices in the areas of contract and beneficial ownership transparency, and social, environmental, employment, and gender data disclosures.

The Philippines has also sustained and broadened stakeholder engagement amid extreme situations, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Despite the withdrawal from the EITI, Dominguez said the Philippines has the process, systems and manpower to ensure transparency in the extractives sector.

“The government will continue to champion better resource and revenue management, and ensure that resource utilization remains open, accountable, and responsive to the needs and aspirations of Filipinos,” he added. (PR)

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Manila evening of February 18 this year for her alleged involvement in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of a paramilitary man in Sibagat town, Agusan del Sur on December 29, 2018.

The military and police claimed Castro is a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines central committee and head of New People’s Army’s National Health Bureau.

Castro was the class valedictorian of High School Class 1986 in St. Scholastica’s College, was among 100 honored as its outstanding graduates in the last century along with the late President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino; graduated Cum Laude, BS Zoology at the University of the Philippines; and finished medicine at the UP College of Medicine in 1995.

After passing the medical board exam, in 1996, she pursued a vocation as a community doctor, public health practitioner and human rights activist in the two Agusan provinces.

In his argument, Efren said the dismissal ruling in the case of Castro has no factual and procedural grounds because a subpoena was issued to the then respondent whose lawyer failed to submit any countervailing evidence.

He also cited in his motion for reconsideration that Castro was not denied her substantial right to due process because there was a preliminary investigation.

As part of the ruling, Villanueva cited the supplemental affidavit of kidnap victim Bernabe Salahay, a paramilitary man, who alleged that it was Castro who accompanied the abductors, talked to them while in

captivity, and assured them that he would not be hurt.

The Provincial Prosecutors Office at the left wing of the provincial capitol in Prosperidad town received the court dismissal ruling on March 30 this year around 11:30 a.m. Two hours later, they submitted to the court the motion for reconsideration.

Judge Villanueva granted the motion on June 16, and Provincial Prosecutor Ceferino Dino Paredes received a copy of the ruling on June 20.

Judge Fernando Fudalan of the same sala dismissed Castro’s case on March 25 on the grounds of denying her rights to due process and its lack of jurisdiction over her.

Fudalan immediately ordered authorities to release her from detention at the Provincial Jail inside the provincial capitol complex.

“Without the probable cause, the court did not acquire jurisdiction over the accused, which warrants the dismissal of the case,” the decision read.

Fudalan was the same judge who issued the warrant against 468 persons linked to the alleged kidnapping.

The case against Castro and others for kidnapping and serious illegal detention was filed on January 14 last year, less than a month after the alleged incident occurred in Sibagat town in Agusan del Sur on December 18, 2018.

An information was filed in court on December 18, 2019; a subpoena was issued on January 17, 2021; the doctor was arrested on February 18 this year; and her lawyers filed a motion to dismiss a few days later, on February 22. (Chris V. Panganiban / MindaNews)

Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, the 402Bde commander, said.

In Surigao del Sur, an encounter between the troops of the 36IB and a dozen NPA rebels Tuesday in Madrid town also resulted in the death of an insurgent.

The Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SSPPO), in a separate report Thursday, said the five-minute encounter also led to the recovery of an M16 rifle.

The SSPPO is still verifying the identity of the slain NPA rebel, report-

edly belonging to the NPA Guerrilla Front 30.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)

totalinterestpayments increasedby16.93%or P4.9billiontoP33.8billion.

The national government recorded a P113.0-billionprimary deficitinMayexcluding interestpaymentsfrom expenditures,indicating

a34.09%orP58.4-billion decline from last year.

Theyear-to-dateprimarybudgetdeficitwas P238.2billion,reflectinga 38.54%orP149.4billion dropfromtheP387.6-billionprimarydeficitinthe comparableperiodlast year.

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said, “Failure to protect our remaining forest would mean a great loss of the country’s rich repository of biodiversity for all time, including the scientific and economic benefits derived from the known and those still undiscovered species.”

“A forest is more than just trees,” said the late national scientist Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali. “It is a community throbbing with life – an ecosystem of plants, animals and their surroundings; an all-embracing web of life woven into soil, water, and air. These elements interact with each other. They all are essential parts of a whole system.”

Umali said that tampering any one of these elements disrupts the balance of the ecosystem. “In nature,” the Ramon Magsaysay laureate pointed out, “there are no rewards and punishment; there are only consequences.”

Philippine eagles are among those that will likely disappear from this part of the world should the forest cover continue to dwindle. “The Philippine eagle’s presence in the forests is intrinsically connected to the web of life and resonates in the everyday lives of our brethren katutubos,” said former Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, referring to indigenous people’s groups.

In fact, the Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has declared the Philippine eagle as “critically endangered.”

According to PEF, an estimated number of only 400 pairs are left in the wild.

The estimation came from a formula created by science experts. The formula

is based on the eagle’s nesting density in the Philippine forests.

“We do not have a record of their exact number because we do not have the means to monitor every head,” admitted Maria Lourdes Almeda, ecosystems research specialist of DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and Philippine eagle conservation focal person.

“We have attached global positioning system tracking devices to the birds to monitor where they are and their forest habitats, but some of the gadgets fall off after a while because they are very much mobile,” she added.

Efforts to save the Philippine eagles started in 1965

by Jesus A. Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro S. Rabor, another founding father of Philippine Conservation efforts.

American aviator Charles Lindberg, who described the Philippine eagle as “the world’s noblest flier,” spearheaded a drive to save the bird from 1969 to 1972.

Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed.

In July 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos signed Proclamation No. 615 naming the Philippine eagle as the country’s national bird (thus dislodging maya). He said that the eagle is found only in the Philippines and as such should be a source of national pride.

Echoing the words of Salvador, Ramos said then: “If the national bird dies, so will all the country’s efforts at conserving its natural resources and treasures.” (To be concluded)

boxing-rich nation in January when he outpointed longtime champion Gary Russell Jr. to capture the 126-pound title on SHOWTIME. The 26-yearold earned the opportunity by knocking out former champion Julio Ceja in the 10th round of a fight he trailed on the scorecards in August 2021. Magsayo is trained by Freddie Roach in Southern California and owns 12-round decision victories over Shoto Hayashi and Ramiro Robles, in addition to a sixth-round stoppage of former title challenger Chris Avalos.

“I am very thankful to my team for giving me the opportunity to defend my title in San Antonio,” said Magsayo. “I’m excited to be fighting in the same venue where my idol Manny Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera. That was the first fight I ever saw and the reason I started boxing. We are preparing for a strong Mexican fighter in Rey Vargas. Everyone knows what the Philippines vs. Mexico boxing rivalry brings to the ring and I’m excited to display my talents for the boxing fans in Texas and watching around the world.”

The former WBC

122-pound world champion, Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs), returned from a layoff due to injury to score a near shutout decision victory over Leonardo Baez in his featherweight debut in November 2021 on the undercard of Canelo vs. Plant.

The 31-year-old went on the road to the U.K. to capture his title in 2017, winning a decision over previously unbeaten Gavin McDonnell. A native of Mexico City, Vargas made five successful defenses of his title, defeating top contenders Oscar Negrete, Ronny Rios and Azat Hovhannisyan. His fifth successful title defense came via unanimous decision over former world champion Tomoki Kameda in July 2019.

“This fight on July 9 will be a great battle against the Filipino warrior Mark Magsayo,” said Vargas, who trains under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristáin. “This is going to be exciting combat from start to finish. We know that he has great power, but we’ll be ready to counter that, and anything else he brings to the ring. This is going to be a magnificent fight and I can’t wait to step in there and compete.”

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SPORTS

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Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson is ganged up

by NLEX defenders. PBA Images

Ginebra rallies to edge NLEX

B

arangay Ginebra returned from a 19-point deficit to stun the NLEX Road Warriors, 83-75, in their PBA Philippine Cup meeting on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Ginebra took over in the final 18 minutes of the game to steal the victory from NLEX, which was earlier thought to be on its way to a blowout win.

Behind a solid first half, NLEX opened a 55-36 advantage with 7:11 left in the third period, but Ginebra

finished the quarter on a 19-5 run before outscoring its opponent, 25-12, in the final canto to complete the comeback.

Japeth Aguilar led the Gin Kings, who bounced back from their loss to the Magnolia Hotshots and moved to second place in the team

standings at 3-1, just behind the unbeaten San Miguel Beermen, with 20 points, seven rebounds, one assist, three blocks, and a steal.

Arvin Tolentino caught fire late and added 17 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Kevin Alas chipped

in 16 points, four assists, and one steal, while Calvin Oftana added 15 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block for the Road Warriors, which dropped to a tie with the NorthPort Batang Pier and Phoenix Fuel Masters in sixth place at 2-2. (PNA)

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

ARCHIE MOORE, LONGEVITY, RETIREMENT, ETC. Many young sports fans, I’m certain, never heard of Archie Moore.

Born Archibald Lee Wright, he was one of America’s venerable boxing legends who reigned longest in the light heavyweight division..

He saw the light of day on December 13, 1913 in Benoit, Mississippi and fought the best from 1935 to 1963, a good 28 seasons.

Nicknamed “The (old) Mongoose,” Moore lost by KO to Muhammad Ali - then popularly known as Cassius Clay - in 1962 in the latter’s first pro fight in the heavyweight class.

Moore was 36 years old when

he became light heavyweight king and fifty when he hung up his gloves.

His record stood at 220 fights (186-23-10 (win-loss-draw, 1 no contest) with 132 KOs. Wow! If I faintly remember, the 5-11 orthodox boxer fought once here in the Philippines at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in the late 50s.

Though only a light heavyweight,at 175 lbs, Moore would add more meat to his physique to challenge the heavyweight champions the likes of Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Ezzard Charles and Floyd Patterson.

If you compute the regularity of Moore’s fighting stints, he gets into the ring 8 times a year or once

every 50 days or so. He did this to earn enough money because he grew up poor.

Anyway, I am recounting Moore’s boxing odyssey in relation to Nonito Donaire’s embarrassing second round knockout loss to Japan’s Naoye Inoue recently.

Donaire is already 39. By today’s boxing standards, that is a retirable age. While his boxing experience and the opponents he fought are difficult to compare to Moore’s because they are not of the same era, the latter’s list of opponents were the outstanding fighters at that time.

Moore died of heart failure in 1998 in San Diego, California.

When he retired, he handled the training of Ali, George Foreman and James Tillis.

As an unsolicited advice to aging boxers who feel in their hearts that they still have it within, I would ask them to read biographies of boxing’s Hall of Famers.

Ali, for all his colorful career and excellent skills in the squared platform, suffered from Parkinson’s, a disease attributed to the bruising sport he made more popular during his prime, Boxing is so cruel that a fighter must hurt his opponent and force him to submission by raining heavy blows on the head and body to get the win.

However, there is no legal leg-

islation or impediment that disbars a fighter who is considered too old if he can pass the required physical and mental exams.

That is why Moore, Foreman, Larry Holmes, Roy Jones and Hopkins were still allowed to box even when they were in their late forties.

In the end, the physical punishment absorbed by the boxer’s body (and to the head) may surface only in later years as is usually the case among those who have retired.

To leave a lasting legacy is to quit while one is on top, hale and healthy. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

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WBC Featherweight World Champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo will take on former world champion Rey Vargas in a battle of unbeatens that headlines action live on July 9.

BATTLE OF UNBEATENS Magsayo faces ex-champ Vargas in Texas on July 9

S

AN ANTONIO, T.X. – WBC Featherweight World Champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo will take on former world champion Rey Vargas in a battle of unbeatens that headlines action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, July 9 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The Showtime Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature hard-hitting former world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa taking on Carlos Castro in a WBC Featherweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event, plus the Derrick James-trained, unbeaten lightweight contender Frank Martin battles Panama’s power-punching Ricardo Núñez in the 10-round telecast opener.

“Saturday, July 9 will be topped by a showdown between champions as the Philippines’ Mark Magsayo makes his first title defense against the unbeaten Mexican, Rey Vargas, who will be looking to become a two-division champion at Alamodome on July 9 in San Antonio,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This card will also see the return of one of the sport’s most exciting young stars, as all-action Brandon Figueroa steps back into the ring looking to make his mark in the featherweight division, beginning with a world title eliminator against the always tough

Carlos Castro. Kicking off the action will be the highly-skilled rising lightweight contender, Frank Martin, in a tough test against the hard-hitting Ricardo Núñez.”

Additional coverage will include a pair of bouts streamed live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The action will see unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis facing Argentine Olympian Alberto Palmetta in a 10-round duel, plus San Antonio’s own Ramon Cardenas battling Venezuela’s Michell Banquez in a 10-round bantamweight attraction.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and are available through Ticketmaster. com. The Martin vs. Núñez bout is promoted in association with Man Down Promotions.

The Filipino sensation Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) fights out of Pasig City, Metro Manila by way of Los Angeles, Calif., and became the latest champion from the

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