Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 62 | Saturday, June 25, 2022

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BASTE’S TURN A barista conducts a coffee brewing demonstration using a V60 manual drip machine at one of the stalls in the ongoing World Food Expo at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center on Friday. Edge Davao

DCPO set security measures for Baste’s oath taking, PRRD’s attendance on Monday

STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte hands over the certificate of award to one of the awardees representing the 640 beneficiaries of Madayaw Residences units at Kadayawan Homes in Bangkal, Davao City on Thursday.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

BASTE’S TURN T

USeP launches extension campus in Paquibato Dist.

DCPO set security measures for Baste’s oath taking, PRRD’s attendance on Monday

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Davao City Police Office (DCPO) bared that security measures are already in place for the inauguration of incoming Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on Monday, June 27, 2022.

The security will be intensified due to the expected attendance of President Rodrigo Duterte at his son’s oath taking.

The Mayor Baste’s oath taking will be administered

by Judge Loida Posadas-Kahulugan at the Sangguniang

Panlungsod (SP) session hall at 2:55 p.m. and will proceed to give his speech outside the City Hall Building.

DCPO spokesperson Police Major Maria Teresita Gaspan, in an interview with the Davao City Disas-

ter Radio on Friday, same security operations during the oath taking of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte on June 19, 2022, will be implemented for the incoming mayor’s inauguration.

She said 941 security personnel from the security cluster will be dedicated to providing full-security coverage during the oath taking. This will be composed of the security cluster from the Davao City Police Office, the city government

resident Rodrigo Duterte led the awarding of 640 housing units to qualified government employees here on Thursday afternoon.

“I proudly congratulate the National Housing Authority (NHA) for completing the project despite the challenges faced during the

Covid-19,” President Duterte said.

Providing low-cost housing is one way of giving back to the uniformed personnel and public servants, he said.

Marcelino Escalada Jr.,NHA general manager, said the 640 units in Madayaw Residences come in two

options– one has a floor area of 42 square meters, while the other has a floor area of 36 square meters.

Among the qualified applicants are personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and

of Davao, Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), Central 911, Task Force Davao, and the Philippine Army.

She also reminded the public that pointed objects as well as jackets, backpacks, and alcoholic drinks are prohibited.

“Magpadayon gihapon atong mga restrictions, tong atoang mga ginabawal. Naa’y entry points masinati pa nato dinha sa San

other regular government employees both from local and national offices.

Escalada said all disposed units are duplex-type that have two bedrooms, two toilets and a bath, living, dining, kitchen and garage area.

The Madayaw Resi-

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NHA turns over 640 housing units to Davao gov’t workers P

FNHA, P10

he University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), in partnership with the City Government of Davao through the Peace 911 anti-insurgency program, launched the University of Southeastern Philippines-Malabog extension campus in Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

The launching of the USeP Annex was attended by incoming Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, USeP President Dr. Lourdes Generalao, Commission on Higher Education Regional Office XI Director Dr. Maricar R. Casquejo, Malabog Barangay Captain Jessielito C. Areja, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) Head for Ata IPs Tumanuran Boyson Anib Jr., and other stakeholders.

Along with promoting accessible education to farflung areas in Davao City, establishing a tertiary education institution in the once conflict-torn territories of Paquibato District is also another way for the City Government of Davao to prevent insurgent entities from re-establishing a foothold in the area by educating the youth against its recruitment.

Two courses are currently offered on the campus: Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship. These courses were deemed suitable for the agricultural district of Paquibato; with the aim to arm residents, especially

indigenous people, with the knowledge to further promote growth and development in the once conflict-wrought area In his speech, Duterte congratulated USeP and Paquibato District for the launching of the annex and its offered programs and stressed the importance of education as a prerequisite to progress.

“Kabalo gyud ta nga unsa ka crucial gyud ang education in terms of developing ang isa ka lugar.

Karon, mao ra ni ginagmay lang, pero pag abot sa panahon na mu-materialize na gyud ang atong mga goals sa pagdungag og college dinhi saa taoang lugar dinhi sa Paquibato (We know how crucial education is in terms of development.

For now, we start small but time will come when we achieve our goals of adding a college here in Paquibato),” the acting mayor said.

In an interview with the City Information Office, Areja said that with Paquibato’s history of armed conflict, the USeP extension campus will serve as a means to shepherd young people towards peaceful and orderly living. He said that education is the best defense the young can possess to avoid indoctrination into insurrectionist ideologies and life of armed violence.

“Apil ni siya sa programa nato sa ending sa insurgency kay mga bata man gyud tong kasagaran gina-recruit. Pero karon

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

NEWS

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Outgoing National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. assures the public that the next administration will continue to support the Barangay Development Program (BDP). Edge Davao

Dive tourism potential source of income for coastal communities NSA Esperon assures continued BDP support

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utgoing National Security adviser Hermogenes Esperon has assured the continued support for the Barangay Development Program (BDP) during the next administration.

In an interview with the Davao media, Esperon raised high hopes that President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr would hold true his earlier released statement to “expand the NTF-ELCAC, that means more support for the barangays”.

Created through Executive Order No. 70 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the NTF ELCAC or the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has come up with the Barangay Development Program (BDP) through which barangays “cleared” of insurgency influence are granted substantial funding for development projects identified in a consultation, by the barangay residents.

“We hope that President Marcos dahil sabi nya susuportahan pa rin nya ang NTF ELCAC, ay ganun din ang mangyayari lalo na ngayon na ‘yon palang farm-to-market road na component at livelihood,

ay connected na connected sa agrikultura, na kinuha ng ating Pangulo ngayon na in-coming,” he said in a media interview at the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) Headquarters in Panacan, Davao City.

Esperon revealed that cleared barangays which were supposed to get only P4 million funding support for year 2022, would equally be given P20 million same with the BDP beneficiaries during the initial year of BDP implementation in 2021.

“From 20 million ay naging (PhP) 4 million,” he said. “Pumasa na sana sa House of Representative pero may gustong mag-tapyas sa Senado.

Ang excuse nila ay kailangan sa ibang projects.

Okay. Pero ang ginawa ng ating Pangulong Duterte ay ibinalik ang (PhP) 16 million sa bagong National Expenditure Program.

4 +16, 20 parin,” he explained.

Esperon and incoming Secretary of National Defense, retired general Jose Faustino Jr attended the Eastern Mindanao Command presentation of its accomplishment and its accomplishment for NTF

FNSA, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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cuba diving has become an immensely popular leisure tourism activity in Davao Region and over the years, the region welcomed tourists exploring the numerous dive sites, particularly in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS).

Samal remains the top destination with 14 dive sites, but new sites are also available in Davao Oriental, Davao De Oro, and Davao del Sur. Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11) regional director Tanya Rabat-Tan said dive tourism is not just a crucial driver for marine life conservation

and awareness but it also has the potential to be a sustainable source of income for the coastal communities in the Davao Region.

“Like other tourism activities, diving is a service-intensive sector.

From equipment and boat rentals, services of professional divers and guides,

assistance and support of host dive communities, food and transportation suppliers, and more these are just some of the people who will benefit from revenues from dive and other dive-related activities,” she said during the opening of the Davao Dive Expo at SM Lanang Premier on Friday.

Rabat-Tan also mentioned the recent Samal Dive Festival held in IGaCoS last May 25 to 29, 2022, which was participated by diving enthusiasts from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

She said the festival was not just a showcase of Samal Island’s rich marine biodiversity and unique seascapes but also to jumpstart adventure activities such as diving, to lure back visitors and restore the livelihood that our communities have lost during the course of the pandemic.

“Aside from being a year-round diving destination, divers prefer our region for our coral gardens, underwater caves, reef edges or walls, shipwrecks, marine sanctuar-

at the City Tourism Operations Office located on the fourth floor, Davao City Tourism Investment and Promotions Building, Palma Gil St., Davao City.

Each representative of the Obo Manuvu, Bagobo-K’lata, Matigsalug, Iranun, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Ata, Kagan, Sama, Tausug, Maranao, and Maguindanaon should be endorsed

by their respective communities. As such, tribes will have to conduct their own selection process to choose their representatives.

A tribe’s `hiyas’ should be female, at least 18 years old; single and never been married; a resident of Davao City for at least two years.

All candidates are re-

quired to attend all rehearsals, photo and video shoots, guest appearances, performances, and other activities.

Candidates will be judged according to their knowledge of their culture (30 percent), cultural skill (25 percent), personality and stage presence (25 percent), community proj-

FDIVE, P10

Davao City’s search for ‘Hiyas’ 2022 is on

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rganizers have opened the submission of entries for the muses, representing the 11 tribes of Davao City, who will vie for the coveted Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2022 title.

Interested participants only have until 4 p.m. on July 19, 2022, to submit the official entry form and other requirements

FDAVAO, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

A garland vendor haggles with family members who are preparing for the college graduation ceremony at Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City on Thursday, 23 June 2022. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

PEZA, DENR identify 7 new lands for ecozone dev’t

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zones will be located in Agusan del Norte, and one each in Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. “We aim to restore back the once major industry of wood and put order in the utilization

of the raw minerals processed into many other products in Caraga, which has the biggest timber and mining lands,” PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said.

The PEZA currently has 23 agro-industrial zones across the country.

These newly identified lands for development are offshoot of the memorandum of understanding between PEZA and DENR signed last May that aims to spur economic growth in the countryside.

“Under the MOU, PEZA and DENR have agreed to pursue the establishment of special ecozones in potential areas within the jurisdiction of the DENR that are suitable for development as agro-industrial, agro-forestry, mineral processing, and eco-tourism. We hope to truly implement these partnerships in the coming years under the administration of President-elect Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” Plaza said. (PNA)

Bain & Company Philippines partner and office head Patricia Buenaventura Nichol said the country maintains strong economic fundamentals and remains an attractive market for companies to establish and expand their operations despite the economic challenges that global and domestic markets are facing due to the pandemic, geo-

political tensions, rising oil prices, and weakening local currency.

“The Philippines has strong underlying fundamentals. We’re (a) big economy today, we are third largest in Southeast Asia. We are populous, second largest population.

We are English-speaking.

And when you look at the growth opportunity in the

Philippines, we have sound growth fundamentals in the Philippines,” Nichol said.

Prior to setting up a physical office here, Bain & Company was serving Philippine-based firms from different industries through its Singapore and Hong Kong offices in the past 25 years.

Bain & Company Philip-

he Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have identified at least seven new locations in Mindanao as viable lands for economic zone development.

In a statement Thursday, PEZA said these lands viable for agro-industrial, agro-forestry, mineral processing, and eco-tourism are located in the Caraga Region.

It said four of the proposed special economic

Global consulting firm expands in PH amid strong fundamentals

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global consulting firm believes that the Philippines still offers huge opportunities for companies despite global economic challenges.

Bain & Company on Thursday officially launched its first physical office in the country, which is located in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

In a press conference,

FGLOBAL, P10

PRRD adviser to form health, economy advisory group

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residential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion has initiated an advisory group composed of health and economy experts that will help the private sector on “possible pathways” to transition to normalcy.

In a statement Thursday, Concepcion said he will be meeting key experts in health and business sectors who were also critical in providing advice and outlook in the past two years amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“We’ve seen over the past two years how important it is to have experts from all fields guiding us through the pandemic. Experts have credibility with our citizens, and they give advice based on science and data,” he said.

He cited names of experts “who have lent their

insights for Go Negosyo’s pandemic response efforts”. They are National Task Force Against Covid-19 Special Adviser Dr. Teddy Herbosa; Covid-19 Technical Working Group chairperson Dr. Nina Gloriani; Vaccine Expert Panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante; UP Manila Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology director Dr. Edsel Salvaña; Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Maricar Limpin; health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon; OCTA Research fellows Dr. Michael Tee, Prof. Ranjit Rye, Dr. Guido David, and Fr. Nic Austriaco; economist Romy Bernardo; and Go Negosyo lead advisor Josephine Romero.

These experts will meet on Friday and discussions will focus on the alert level system, the wearing of face masks, and Covid-19 vaccines.

FPRRD, P10

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ECONOMY

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Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11) director Tanya Rabat-Tan (rightmost), Philippine Commission on Sports-Scuba Diving executive director Marco Angelo Ancheta (center) and SM Lanang Premier assistant mall manager Precious Legario lead the cutting of the ribbon to mark the opening of the first Davao Dive Expo at the mall’s atrium on Friday. Edge Davao

Peso’s performance vs. US dollar still within gov’t assumptions: BSP BSP hikes rates anew by 25 bps as inflation pressures mount

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nother 25 basis points increase has been announced for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates on Thursday after monetary authorities noted price pressures extending further to 2023.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said higher global nonoil commodity prices, domestic fish supply constraints, and transport fare hike petitions are expected to keep the domestic rate of price increases elevated for some time.

These are expected to be countered by projected weaker-than-expected global recovery and the possible reimposition of movement restrictions as coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections post increases, he said.

“Given these considerations, the Monetary Board believes that a follow-through increase in the policy rate enables the BSP to withdraw its stimulus measures while safeguarding macroeconomic stability amid rising global commodity prices and strong exter-

nal headwinds to domestic economic growth,” he added.

The rate hike this week follows the same increase in the BSP’s key rates last May, which was made to help address the upticks in the inflation rate while leaning on the impact of the continued recovery of the domestic economy.

Thus, effective June 24, 2022, BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate is at 2.5 percent, the overnight deposit rate at 2 percent, and the overnight lending rate at 3 percent.

Diokno said the MB, which he chairs, “reiterates its support for the carefully coordinated efforts of other government agencies as part of a whole-of-government approach in implementing non-monetary interventions to mitigate the impact of persistent supply-side factors on inflation.”

“In line with the ongoing normalization of its monetary policy settings, the BSP is prepared to take all necessary policy action to bring inflation

FBSP, P10

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within the 51-53 level to a US dollar assumption of the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) for the year.

“We can see that the recent weakening of the peso, along with the other currencies in the region, is due to the more aggressive monetary policy normalization in advanced

economies,” he said.

Asked if he sees the peso touching the 55-level, Dakila said “the currency exchange rate is something inherent and diffident to predict.”

“As there are forces that tend to weaken not just the peso but also other currencies in the region, there are other factors that provide support to the currency and these are structural sources of foreign exchange, including our very resilient remittances,” he said.

Dakila said money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) proved its resilience after

posting minimal contraction during the pandemic.

Remittances is expected to grow by 4 percent this year.

Cash remittances grew by 5.1 percent year-onyear as of end-2021 while these rose by 2.7 percent as of last April.

Another source of structural dollar inflows for the Philippines is the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, Dakila said.

Authorities forecasts the BPO sector to grow by around 8 percent this year.

Dakila said exports

projections.

Abad said diesel prices may be increased by at most “a little more than P1” per liter while kerosene’s expected price increase will be less than P1/liter.

Abad cited peso depreciation in the past couple of days as reason why there will be no rollback yet in the prices of diesel and kerosene.

“Ngayong week buma-

ba ang ating trading prices ng gasoline, diesel at kerosene. Unfortunately, in a matter of five days, halos piso ang itinaas ng ating peso compared to US dollar,” Abad said.

“So when we computed, unfortunately, ang ini-expect natin if not baka hindi pa ito magko-cause ng rollback. Pero ang gasolina may chance ng konting rollback o walang adjustment.

Yun ang tinignan natin,” he added.

On Thursday, the Philippine peso lost 23 centavos to close at P54.7:$1 versus Wednesday’s finish of P54.47:$1 -- its worst performance since November 21, 2005, when it closed at P54.74:$1.

Referring to the peso’s recent depreciation, Abad said, “Yan ang bagong factor na pumapasok.”

he peso has been depreciating for days now but a ranking Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said its level remains within the government’s assumptions and traced this development to general strengthening of the greenback.

The local currency finished Thursday at 54.7 against the US dollar, down further from its 54.47 close a day ago, which is near its 17-year low.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said the peso’s average against the US dollar to date is at 51.98,

FPESO’S, P10

Price hike seen for diesel, kerosene next week due to weak peso —DOE

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otorists should brace for another increase in the prices of diesel and kerosene next week due to the Philippine peso’s current performance against the US dollar.

Gasoline prices, meanwhile, may stay the same or be rolled back a bit, according to Atty. Rino Abad, director of the Energy Department’s Oil Industry Management Bureau, citing

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

On scuba diving tourism as potential sustainable source of income for the coastal communities in the Davao Region:

Like other tourism activities, diving is a service-intensive sector.

From equipment and boat rentals, services of professional divers and guides, assistance and support of host dive communities, food and transportation suppliers, and more - these are just some of the people who will benefit from revenues from dive and other dive-related activities.”

Tanya Rabat-Tan Regional Director, Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11)

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

OCEANS CRY OUT FOR HELP “Why should I care about the ocean? People don’t drink salt water. I can’t swim, I don’t eat fish, I don’t like boats and – I get seasick. If the ocean dried up tomorrow, what difference would it make? Who needs the ocean?”

A young reporter from Australia posed this question to Dr. Sylvia Earle, a well-known oceanographer and founder of Deep Ocean Exploration Research.

At first, Dr. Earle was indignant, then she glimpsed a suppressed smile and played along.

“Okay,” she told him. “Get rid of the ocean and what would Earth be like? Probably a lot like Mars.

Cold, barren, inhospitable.”

Oceans, where life first evolved 3.5 billion years ago, cover more than 70% of the world’s surface (70.8% to be exact). They wrap around the planet like an insulating blanket, making it possible on Earth today.

The world’s oceans include the coastal zones and the marginal and semi-enclosed seas.

Separate names are used to identify five different areas of the ocean: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic), and Arctic.

“Oceans are the engines that drive the climate, defining

weather and storing huge quantities of solar energy,” explained Don Hinrichsen, a noted American environmental journalist.

“They also make up the liquid heart of the planetary hydrological cycle, enabling roughly 430,000 cubic kilometers of water to evaporate every year.”

Despite their “limitless” expanse, oceans are under human assault. “Today,” remarked Hans Jonas, the great philosopher who developed the ‘Principle of Responsibility,’ “mankind is a bigger threat to the sea than the sea has even been to mankind.”

News magazine Time reverberates: “Without healthy seas, humanity would be doomed. Yet, we keep on destroying our most precious resource before we even know what we are losing.”

For ages, the sea seemed to be beyond man’s power to alter it in any way. Lord Byron said it best when he wrote: “Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean – roll!

Man marks the earth with ruin – his control stops with the shore.”

Not anymore. “The facts are clear,” said then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan during the World Environment Day celebration in 2005. “The world’s seas and oceans are becoming increasingly tainted by

untreated waste water, air-borne pollution, industrial effluent and silt from inadequately managed watersheds.”

“Once thought to be so vast and resilient that no level of human assault could damage them, the oceans are now crying out for attention,” said the Washington, D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute.

The statistics are astounding.

An estimated 21 million barrels of oil run into the oceans each year from street run-off, effluent from factories, and from ships flushing their tanks, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reported.

“Over the past decade, an average of 600,000 barrels of oil a year has been accidentally spilled from ships,” UNEP pointed out. That’s the equivalent of 12 disasters the size of the sinking of the oil tanker Prestige in 2002.

Unknowingly, eighty percent of all pollution in seas and oceans comes from land-based activities. Forty percent of the world’s population lives within 60 kilometers of a coast. Most of these people consider the oceans as their common sewer.

“Many parts of the world have no sewerage systems, and

beaches or open water courses are used as toilets,” noted the World Resources Institute (WRI), also based in Washington, D.C. “Even where sewerage systems are available, the untreated wastes are usually piped into the rivers or the sea, often with industrial effluents and storm runoff added.”

As a result, harmful algal blooms – caused by an excess of nutrients – have created nearly 150 coastal deoxygenated “dead zones” worldwide, ranging from one to 70,000 square kilometers.

Algal blooms are oftentimes deadly. Take the case of the red tide, which scientists thought to be entirely natural events. In the Philippines, the red tide phenomenon was first reported in 1983.

But since then, it keeps coming back. Medical experts call it paralytic shellfish poisoning.

“The increase in blooms and their toxicity has created problems for fishers and consumers of sea products,” says Nicholas Lenssen, author of the Worldwatch report. In the Philippines, implicated transvectors include mussels, oysters, clams and other local varieties.

Every time the red tide returns, it decimates the shellfish and fishing industry. This phe-

nomenon, experts claim, is “basically a symptom of a greater problem (that) we, as a nation, must address – the problem of environmental pollution.”

Marine litter is killing up to a million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals and turtles each year.

Thanks to plastics. “Plastics persist for up to 50 years and, because they are usually buoyant, they are widely distributed by ocean currents and wind,” the WRI notes.

Another threat that may destroy the future productivity of the seas: overfishing. “More than 70 percent of the world’s marine fisheries are now fished up to or beyond their sustainable limit,” said Klaus Toepfer, former UNEP executive director.

How can we solve the assault of the Earth’s only life-support system?

“The only way to stop the degradation of the marine environment… is to share the solutions, just as we share the oceans,” recommends former American vice-president Al Gore. “We are all accountable for our own actions. The way in which we live today affects the way in which we live tomorrow, and the resources that sustain us are finite…”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

THE INIMITABLE RAMON ALI Known for his defense of indigenous domains, Ramon Ali staged a revolt in 1980 against land grabbers in barangay Tapak, Paquibato District, Davao City. With help from fellow Matigsalogs numbering 2,000, he led a pocket rebellion armed with crude flint guns known as the surit-surit.

The uprising was a contentious political issue that merited attention. Even local and na-tional periodicals treated the event as front-page story, and correspondents of foreign wires also carried brief accounts of the unrest, which lasted for some time.

The revolt was only resolved after Ali yielded to Davao City mayor Luis T. Santos and Datu Lorenzo Cawilan, chief of the Matigsalog tribe. He was fetched in his mountain lair by a military helicopter that brought him

to Magsaysay Park, where Task Force Agila was based, for medical tests. He was later presented to the press for an interview. Consequently, Ali be-came head of the Civilian Home Defense Force (CHDF) of Tapak, his village.

Ali was appointed barangay leader of Tapak, then a newly formed barangay, succeeding Datu Giamala Onsilag, its first village chief. That same year, he was appointed first teniente del barrio and joined the city-sponsored Araw ng Barangay with the concurrence of his ba-rangay kagawads.

After his headline-hogging jaunt, Ali surfaced again years later as a kidnap victim of heavily-armed insurgents belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA).

He was abducted in his barangay in the morning on September 15, 1985, along with five CHDF

militiamen.

Generoso Bangunan, then officer-in-charge of the Office of Southern Cultural Communi-ties (OSCC) in Region XI, first reported the incident after Ali’s son escaped from the captors.

Reports reaching local publications three days later through military informants and in-termediaries disclosed that up till that point Ali, now 42 years old, and his still-unnamed companions, were still recorded as missing.

Rodolfo, Ali’s 14-year-old son who escaped his captors, told authorities they were hiking towards sitio Lobo to take a ride for the city proper to follow up on certain government pro-jects when a band of eighteen heavily armed men appeared from the thickets and ordered them to lay down their arms. Surprised and

outnumbered, the datu and his escorts did not resist.

He recounted that while his father and companions were disarmed, he scampered in a clear direction towards a forested area and got lost. Some of the abductors tried giving a chase but failed. Luckily, they did not fire their weapons. He surfaced in town two days later with his mother to report the incident to City Hall which had Elias B. Lopez as the new mayor.

Details of the kidnap were kept under wraps while the city government and the military officers with jurisdiction over the incident area mapped out plans to defuse the situation and, hopefully, arrive at a peaceful arrangement with Ali’s abductors.

Backdoor negotiations, political intervention, and tribal involvement saved the day for

Ali who survived the ordeal unharmed. He returned to his barangay where he remained an el-der and adviser. He was the go-to guy for city leaders seeing partisan and electoral support from his constituents. His other kidnapped companions were apparently released as well.

Decades later, Ali’s name surfaced again, As Special Operations Group bagani long range platoon leader, he was elected National Indigenous People’s Council for Peace and Develop-ment (NIPCPD) chairperson during the February 1918 summit hosted by the Eastern Minda-nao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

(Additional source: Bong S. Dizon and Joel Martin, “Ex-rebel, barangay captain, 5 CHDF kidnapped,” People’s Daily Forum, September 28, 1985, 1 & 8.)

8

EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Aeon Towers units have become a better option for homebuyers.

The fun goes on and living one’s dream continues.

Something to celebrate for those who needed great homebuying options as Aeon Towers is extending its Rent-to-Own Program option for homebuyers.

This Rent-to-Own program was launched by Aeon

Towers to give chance for aspiring clients who wish to acquire a prized unit at the property through monthly rental and it comes with as much as 10% discount on their purchase. The previous promotions and activities that took place last year have contributed in making

Aeon Towers a desirable mixed-use development home seekers would love to invest or live in.

Rent-to-Own Homes: How the Process Works If you’re like most homebuyers, you’ll need a mortgage to finance the purchase of a new house.

To qualify, you must have a good credit score and cash for a down payment. Without these, the traditional route to homeownership may not be an option.

There is an alternative, however: a rent-to-own agreement, in which you rent a home for a certain amount of time, with the option to buy it before the lease expires. Rent-to-own agreements consist of two parts: a standard lease agreement and an option to buy.

Here’s a rundown of what to watch for and how the rent-to-own process works. It’s more complicated than renting, and you’ll need to take extra precautions to protect your interests. Doing so will help you figure out whether the deal is a good choice if you’re looking to buy a home.

Key Takeaways A rent-to-own agree-

ment is a deal in which you commit to renting a property for a specific period of time, with the option of buying it before the lease runs out.

Rent-to-own agreements include a standard lease agreement and also an option to buy the property at a later time.

Lease-option contracts give you the right to buy the home when the lease expires, while lease-purchase contracts require you to buy it.

You pay rent throughout the lease, and in some cases, a percentage of the payment is applied to the purchase price.

With some rent-to-own contracts, you may have to maintain the property and pay for repairs.

About Aeon Towers Aeon Towers is the iconic and flagship mixeduse development of FTC

Group of Companies housing not just premium condominium units but also commercial spaces and soon a 5-star hotel and serviced apartments. The hotel component is eyed to be the next choice of accommodation for residents and visitors in the coming years as tourism in Davao City will be on full swing once more.

“We are very excited now that the pandemic is at ease here in the city and we are able to cater more clients in and out of Davao who are eager to invest at Aeon Towers. Rest assured we will support the city’s efforts in promoting Davao City as a venue for tourists and MICE activities,” Aeon Luxe Properties President and CEO Ian Cruz said.

Message us at www. facebook.com/AeonLuxeProperties to know more details about the promo.

bile x-ray that gives significant contribution to the Radiology Team frontliners in doing the chest x-ray needed for patients having signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

“2020 is a challenging year for us, and also for others, but we were able to overcome these challenges with our team. During the pandemic we immediately shifted and adapted online marketing scheme and offer healthcare and product solutions for Covid19 patients,” said Ryo Nagaoka, president of Fujifilm Philippines.

FUJIFILM Corporation expanded the product lineup through the acquisition of Diagnostic Imaging-related Business of Hitachi, Ltd in 2020, covering CT, MRI in addition to X-ray, ultrasound systems, endoscopy, in-vitro diagnostic systems and Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS).

Fujifilm Philippines has also started offering these products in the local market, giving the much-needed service and medical equipment to the country.

Moreover, Fujifilm Philippines recently secured Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for two of its key products that have aided healthcare workers in responding to COVID-19 cases.

The FDR nano, a mobile dig-

ital X-ray system that allows medical professionals to diagnose COVID-19 signs and at the same time aid in reducing COVID-19 infection risks; and the FUJIFILM COVID-19 Ag Test Kit, a testing kit that provides quick screening for COVID-19, got FDA’s nod.

Both products are expected to help in the government’s heightened efforts to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fujifilm will continue to supply various products and services that meet the needs of the medical frontline to contribute to the advancement of medical care around the world, and the maintenance and promotion of human health.

In line with its Global Branding Campaign “NEVER STOP”, Fujifilm aims to realize a sustainable society and contribute to social issues by creating new value in a wide range of business domains through innovation in products, services, and technological development. The campaign also seeks to promote a better understanding of Fujifilm’s broad range of businesses and its entry to new fields.

Fujifilm will continue to proactively engage in researching and developing new technologies. As a technology-oriented company, Fu-

jifilm will never stop taking on the challenge of leveraging on its core technologies to create outstanding new products, build new businesses, and grow the company as a whole.

Fujifilm Philippines was established in 2012 as a sales subsidiary of Fujifilm regional headquarters in the Asia Pacific. The company caters to quality products and services for the Philippine market in electronic, photo imaging, industrial products, graphic and medical systems.

Solidifying its position as a global leader in photographic imaging, Fujifilm Philippines has introduced and popularized a diverse range of game-changing products such as the X-series mirrorless digital cameras and instax or instant cameras.

The company opened its first branch in Cebu in 2019 to respond to the growing demands and monitor the quality and consistency of its products and services in the Visayas and nearby Mindanao provinces.

In its 10th year in the Philippines, Fujifilm has continuously served people’s needs through a diverse range of innovative consumer and business products, including solutions and services.

Fujifilm Strengthens Healthcare Services in the Philippines

FUJIFILM, one of the most trusted companies in the world, strengthens its healthcare services in the Philippines as it ushers in a new decade amid challenges in the continuing global pandemic. The Japanese brand continues to make significant contributions to society by offering products and services in a wide range of businesses utilizing unique technologies that have cultivated and evolved in the photographic business. The company offers a variety of products and services in to four segments of: Healthcare

(products and services like medical equipment and producing pharmaceuticals); Materials (provides industry efficiency like graphic systems, inkjets, semiconductor materials and recording media); Business Innovation (digital color multifunction devices and printers for office use and services for

business solutions); and Imaging (photo and electronic imaging such as mirrorless cameras and photo printing services).

While Fujifilm has long been synonymous with superior-quality photographic films, Fujifilm Philippines as a company has evolved into so much more. Fujifilm leveraged on its expertise in pushing healthcare, and business innovation growth.

Throughout the years, Fujifilm Philippines has created businesses providing total solution in multiple high-tech fields and has come to be known as a technology-ori-

ented company.

Fujifilm Philippines steadily penetrated and made significant contributions in enhancing the local healthcare industry. As a global pioneer in diagnostic imaging and information systems for healthcare facilities, Fujifilm’s Healthcare segment has helped address the country’s most pressing challenges. Its Healthcare technology and Medical Business Systems has contributed in the pursuit of operational efficiency of the local healthcare system.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Fujifilm Philippines continued its support towards the local hospitals. The company installed FDR Go PLUS at various hospitals in the country. The FDR Go PLUS is a digital mo-

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

ENVIRONMENT

9

After deforestation: Once a forest is devoid of trees, several consequences like erosion and siltation happen.

FOREST GONE:

“I

was a shabu (crack or poor man’s cocaine) dealer for six years,” admitted Bagut, who’s from Agusan del Sur. “I was also in prison and even there, shabu dealing continued. I operated here in the Agusan marsh area. But I realized that it was almost like killing people and their families as well, even with all the money I earned.

“I did not realize that I was killing them, I just sold shabu so I could have money, but I never knew that I was also killing their families. It really has a great effect; it shouldn’t have been my business. I promised myself then that I would not do anything that harmed other people, so I shifted to chainsawing.”

Bagut was one of the 53 people featured in the book, Forest Faces: Hopes and Regrets in Philippine Forestry, published jointly

by the regional office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC).

“It’s been two years since I stopped (selling shabu) and I went into the chainsaw business last year,” he said. “I have expanded and I have a mini-sawmill and a bandsaw now. But what I am doing is illegal because I don’t pay forest charges, I have no permit, I have no license. But that’s only

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

Cutting trees for lumber: At one time, the Philippines was a wood importer, now it is a “wood-pauper.”

Motorcycle logging: In the past, carabao logging was rampant. In some parts of Davao region, motorcycle logging is common.

where I am illegal, because of the government and what it requires of me.

“But my work with people is legal,” he continued, “because this is how they source what they need to be able to eat. It may be illegal now, but I’m not harming anyone. I keep people alive, and I’m providing a livelihood to people.”

Farmers who live

around three kilometers away from his mini-sawmill supply him the wood, mostly lauan. “They got their wood from their kaingin areas,” Bagut was quoted as saying in the book. “They cut the trees so they can plant rubber.

This is what we call salvaging, this is the purpose for cutting the trees and then they will plant rubber trees after.

“I don’t tell them to cut the trees so that I can buy their wood; this is theirs, they are cutting down the trees so they can plant rubber,” he continued. “Sometimes, they also plant falcatta, but it is mainly rubber.”

Bagut doesn’t choose any kind of wood as long as it’s not rotten. He sells the woods mostly for house construction. When asked if he is damaging the forest because of his business, he replied negatively by saying, “I do not disturb the forest.”

Bagut also supplies for free the coffin demand in the municipality where his sawmill is located. He doesn’t make the coffin himself but just supplies the wood needed. “The coffins cost around P5,500 but I donate this to the town for free,” he said. “That’s

my contribution, So, even if I don’t have a permit nor a license for my business, my work is needed. And I don’t abuse.”

“Today’s degraded forest reflects a history of logging and abandonment,” wrote Peter Walpole, ESSC’s executive director, in his introduction of the 242-page book, which is full of photos and quotable quotes.

The first nationwide forest inventory was completed in 1969 and only 10.4 million hectares of forest were left out of the 17 million hectares that used to occupy the country’s land area of 30 million hectares.

By 1980, only about 7.5 million hectares of forest were left. At the end of 1990, only 6.64 million remained. Most of those considered “old growth forest” were confined to steep and very steep areas and were not often accessible.

In 1995, the country barely had 5.6 million hectares (less than 19% of the land area) of forest cover. “For at least 20 years now, we have this forest crisis which has been getting worse every year,” Dr. J.A.V. Revilla, then a visiting professor at the For-

FFOREST, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO BASTE’S ... FROM2

Pedro. Naa gihapon atong pag-inspection sa kada tao og unsa ilang mga dala.

Ang concept nato sa operation ani three-tiered layer gihapon ‘no. Didto sa inner layer didto sa sulod mismo sa event kung asa

pagahimuon ang oath-taking. Tapos sa middle layer aduna tay nakalatag na kapulisan and other counterparts, and sa outer layer naa ta’y mag-manage sa traffic og mag-conduct sa checkpoints,” she said.

dences, he said, is the first low-rise government-constructed residential building outside Metro Manila.

Monthly amortization is as low as PHP5,000 for the first year and payable within a maximum of 30 years, depending on the applicant’s age.

“Owning a dream house is now a reality for our homeless government

workers. We hope and pray that blessings will be poured into your family as you live in these units,” Escalada said.

In Region 11, Escalada said there are six Government Employees Housing Programs being implemented– three are in this city, and one each in Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur. (PNA)

ang mga bata makaskwela na kay aduna’y opportunity, so mawala na ‘tong recruitment sa mga bata kay mabalhin na man ilang attention sa pagskwela (This is part of our anti-insurgency program because the youth are the most susceptible to recruitment. But now, they have the opportunity to go to college so their attention will be diverted to their education),” Areja

said.

The USeP Annex building is currently housed at the Paquibato National High School. The land development and academic building construction budget of P54 million for the Malabog campus is funded by the City Government of Davao while human resources, training and development will be administered by USeP. CIO

pines chairman Jean-Pierre Felenbok said “There are stages of development of markets, and I see compared to 30 years ago, the market is actually much more open, ready, and matured in terms of the type of consulting services we can provide... which come

with the certain level of development of the markets.”

Bain & Company managing director Wade Cruse added the firm’s Philippine operation is a big part of its growth in the Southeast Asian region in the next five years. (PNA)

are also seen to boost the Philippines’ structural flows this year, citing in particular electronics exports, which is seen to benefit from increased demand for technology-intensive mode of working.

During the same briefing, BSP Department of Economic Research Man-

aging Director Zeno Ronald Abenoja said foreign direct investments (FDIs) are seen to post higher growth this year to reach around USD11 billion.

He said travel receipts are also expected to post higher growth this year as domestic and foreign travels are now allowed.

(PNA)

toward a target-consistent path over the medium term and deliver on its primary mandate of price stability,” he added.

During the same briefing, BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said the latest average inflation projection for this year has been revised to 5 percent from 4.6 percent last May. For 2023, the figure is now at 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent, while for 2024 is within the government’s 2-4 percent target range at 3.3 percent.

Dakila attributed these revisions to the May 2022 inflation turn-out, which rose further to 5.4 percent after surpassing the government’s target band in the previous month at 4.9 percent;

expectations for further acceleration of inflation rate for June 2022; and the approved provisional jeepney fare hikes due to continued upticks in fuel prices.

He said inflation is expected to average at 5.6 percent in the second half of this year due to continued increases in global commodity prices and second-round effects on domestic goods and services.

He said the inflation outlook both for 2022 and 2023 are tilted on the upside before balancing out in 2024.

The BSP now sees crude oil prices for 2022 averaging at USD106.3 per barrel, USD95.30 per barrel for 2023, and USD84.10 per barrel for 2024.

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VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

DIVE ... FROM3

ies, or simply taking photographs of our unique micro critters,” she added.

To sustain the momentum and in celebration of the Ocean Month, DOT 11 in partnership with SM Lanang Premier, will showcase the dive destinations not just on Samal Island, but in sites across Davao Region.

“We will be showcasing our different dive sites through the lens of our underwater photographers with a photo exhibit to give our mall

visitors a peek into our colorful underwater realm. We are also inviting everyone to our series of talks in our goal to create awareness and appreciation in marine wildlife protection and other dive-related issues to be led by various experts on the said fields starting this afternoon until Sunday,” she said.

The expo will run until the 26th and all the activities will be held at the atrium of SM Lanang Premier.

ELCAC. They were briefed on the neutralization of high value individuals, dismantling of guerilla fronts operating in Eastern Mindanao, and on the declaration of Davao Region provinces as insurgency-free. Davao del Norte was part of the briefing being the first

province in Davao Region to have been declared as insurgency-free.

Aside from the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division and EMC high-ranking military officials, Davao del Norte Edwin I. Jubahib was there to welcome Esperon and Faustino.

(PIA XI/Jeanevive Duron Abangan)

ect proposal (10 percent), and deportment (10 percent).

The Hiyas sa Kadayawan titlist will take home a cash prize of P100,000 while the runner-up Hiyas sa Panaghiusa will claim P80,000, and the third placer Hiyas sa Kalambuan will pocket P60,000. The eight non-winners will each receive P25,000 each and the Hiyas sa Kaliwatan (Tribal Gems) titles.

The Best in Cultural

Presentation (talent) will earn P10,000.

The coronation night is set at 6 p.m. on August 17, 2022, at the RMC Petro Gazz Arena.

Contact the Davao City Tourism Operations Office at landline number (082) 285-5752, mobile number (0968) 223-0613, or email ctoo@davao city.gov.ph.

For the full general

“People are confused as to what advice to follow. Is it safe to wear masks outdoors? What conditions warrant the raising of alert levels?

How come Covid vaccines are not available at the pharmacies? These are very simple questions but there seems to be a need to present a clearer picture of what we can and cannot safely do now,” the adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said.

Concepcion said the country should maintain its gains in health and economic recovery over the past two years.

“It has been more than two years since our lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by this pandemic. I think it is now time to set a clear path for how the country must transition into a state of normalcy, and encourage people to take charge of their own health,” he said. (PNA)

Cup qualifiers.

In March 2021, Sotto announced he was joining Australian NBL club Adelaide 36ers, then a year later he declared for the NBA Rookie Draft.

Ahead of the Draft, he worked out with the Orlando Magic, the Indiana Pacers, and the Sacramento Kings, where Gilas legend Jimmy Alapag is an assistant coach.

Shakhtar got a direct qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage and Dynamo Kyiv will face Fenerbahce in a second qualifying round in the Champions League.

Also, the UEFA Champions League Final, originally scheduled in Saint Petersburg, was canceled and

reorganized at the Stade de France in Paris.

Nearly 4,600 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Russia.

Over 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including more than 7.7 million that have fled to other countries, according to UN figures.

(Anadolu)

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TEAMS ... FROM11 FIFA... FROM11

guidelinesandmechanics of the contest, click https://bit.ly/3NaC7kN. CIO

FOREST... FROM9

estry Development Center of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), told a conference organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology.

“At the rate we are re-establishing forest cover during the last 20 years, it would take us 250 years to reforest (the country),” Dr. Revilla deplored. “That is assuming that forest cover loss stops immediately and that we finally become effective in our reforestation efforts.”

In the past, forest resources helped fuel the country’s economy. In the 1970s, the Philippines was touted the prima donna among world timber exporters. Today, it is considered “a wood-pauper,” to quote the words of multi-awarded journalist Juan Mercado.

Aside from logging (whether legal or illegal), other causes of deforestation in the Philippines are forest fires, “kaingin” farming (slash-and-burn agriculture), and mining operations. Volcanic eruptions have also devastated some of the country’s tropical rainforests. Ditto for typhoons, which have devastated considerable hectares of forest areas.

Surging population has compounded the problem.

There were only 19 million Filipinos, according to the 1940 census. Today, the population has surged to more than 100 million people.

“Poverty, lack of jobs and wages, and absence of farm lots in the lowlands have forced some people to invade the forest,” commented the late Senator Heherson Alvarez, who served as environment secretary during the administration of Corazon Aquino.

Spreading cities have also contributed to decimation of forests. “Asphalt is often the last harvest for many forests,” said the late national scientist Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali.

The outcome: food crisis, devastation of lands and water resources, biodiversity facing extinction. “The productivity of the country’s agricultural lands and fisheries is declining as these (forest) areas become increasingly degraded and pushed beyond their capacity to produce,” said Population Reference Bureau’s Kathleen Mogerlgaard.

The removal of forest cover has bolstered soil erosion in the uplands.

“Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” reminded Harold Ray Watson, another Ramon Magsaysay recipient (1985 for international understanding). “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land.”

As a result, food production is jeopardized.

“The loss of nutrient rich soil reduces crop yields and contributes to the expanded use of chemical fertilizers – a practice that

can, in turn, pollute water resources,” said Jethro P. Adang, the director of Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center.

“Rivers and streams also carry eroded soil to the coasts, where it interferes with fish nursery areas.”

But that’s not all. “Extensive soil erosion has resulted in the siltation of waterbeds, reservoirs and dams, and in the process shortening their productive life spans,” said Dr. Germelito Bautista, of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Magat Dam reservoir, for instance, has been reported to cut its probable life span of 100 years to 25 years. The Ambuklao Dam reservoir has had its life halved from 60 to 32 years as a result of siltation.

Water crisis is looming.

“There has been a drop of 30% to 50% in the country’s water resources in the past 20 years or so,” pointed out Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero, a scientist with the National Academy of Science and Technology.

“Rapid forest loss has eliminated habitat for unique and threatened plant and animal species,” Mogerlgaard observed.

“At the rate our forests are getting destroyed, many species may no longer be around when we need them,” Adang added.

More than 400 plant and animal species found in the country are currently threatened with extinction, including the Philippine eagle, waling-waling, and tamaraw, the World Conservation Union contends.

According to studies, more than 60% of the world’s people depend on plants for medicine. Relatively few of the 250,000 kinds of plants in the world have been fully examined, so it stands to reason that the remaining species contain many unknown compounds of probable therapeutic importance.

Trees are one nature’s most efficient weapons to tie down steep hillsides, check the growth of big gullies, stabilize unsteady stream banks and screen cultivated fields from harmful winds. But the country’s mountains are bald in large patches almost everywhere.

“The illness of our forest is complicated – and cannot be cured – with one-stop prescription of a single medicine,” Alvarez reminded.

Dr. Percy Sajise, when he was the director of the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Agricultural Graduate Studies (SEARCA), said the deforestation problem cannot be solved unless the root cause – man’s greediness – is addressed.

“Past lessons showed that if only the technical and economic aspects were to be considered and the spiritual dimension would be missed, efforts would not last but fail,” Dr. Sajise said. “No matter how beautifully written the (government) policies and the programs are, if the inner man does not change, then they will be of no use – they will fail later on.”

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

SPORTS

11

Paolo Banchero is the surprise top pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.

FIFA extends option for foreign players to leave Russia, Ukraine

F

IFA has extended a window allowing foreign coaches and players to suspend deals with their clubs in Russia and Ukraine through June 30, 2023.

In a statement, the worldwide governing body of football said on Tuesday that the decision followed regulations introduced in March with the aim of “effectively assisting players, clubs and coaches impacted by the war in Ukraine.”

The provisions give foreign players and coaches the right to “suspend their employment contracts with their clubs until 30 June 2023,” should their Ukrainian or Russian sides not reach a “mutual agreement” with them by June 30, 2022, said the statement.

“These provisions give

players and coaches the opportunity to train, play and receive a salary, while protecting Ukrainian clubs and facilitating the departure of foreign players and coaches from Russia,” it explained.

Since the war began, Russian competitors and teams have been barred from competing in a variety of sports, leagues, and competitions, with Russia also banned from hosting such play.

In April, the Ukrainian Premier League was terminated without naming a season champion due to the war that began on Feb. 24.

Shakhtar Donetsk were the leaders with 47 points from 18 matches, while their nearest opponents, Dynamo Kyiv, were two points behind.

FFIFA, P10

Teams pass up Kai at NBA Rookie Draft

K

ai Sotto – along with his countrymen – would have to wait a little while longer to fulfill his NBA dreams after teams passed up the big man at the Rookie Draft on Friday (Manila time).

With his size, Sotto appeared to be the one who would break through and become the first homegrown Filipino to be drafted in the league.

He had been thought of as a late second-rounder.

But the night came and went at Barclays Center in Brooklyn without

Fil-Am son of Bulls legend signed by Raptors

R

on Harper Jr., the son of five-time NBA champion Ron who played 15 years in the league most notably with the Chicago Bulls, was signed to a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors at the conclusion of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN made the news as the Rutgers guard immediately found a home after going undrafted Friday (Manila time) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Harper, whose mother Maria is Filipina, was one

of the few bright spots for players of Asian descent who tried their luck in the annual rookie selection proceedings.

Vietnamese-American big man Jaylin Williams was the only player picked, with Arkansas product was selected in the second round, going to the Oklahoma City Thunder at 34th overall.

Two other Fil-Am aspirants in Remy Martin of Kansas and Boogie Ellis of Memphis also went undrafted during the event.

Kai Sotto, who attempted to be the first homegrown Filipino to be drafted in the NBA, also wasn’t called up to the stage.

Vietnamese-American playmaker Johnny Juzang of UCLA was also undrafted but agreed to a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz.

Other aspirants of Asian lineage were also snubbed, among them Korean shooter Lee Hyun-jung of Davidson and Chinese forward Fanbo Zeng of NBA G League Ignite.

Sotto’s name being called.

“I can’t explain the feeling, but it’s not a good feeling obviously,” Sotto said in a “Playitright TV” interview immediately after the Draft.

“I know I really worked hard and I really did my best to get here.”

Joel Bell, Sotto’s agent, said the 7-foot-3

center will return to Manila.

“I’ve already gotten several Summer League invites for him, but Kai’s decided to play with the Filipino national team.

That’s his commitment,” Bell said in the same “Playitright TV” interview.

“So he’s gonna pass up Summer League.”

The former Ateneo high-school standout left the Blue Eagles program in March 2019 and flew to the US hoping to sharpen his skills and prepare for a career in the NBA.

Kai Sotto – and Philippines – await his fate in NBA Draft, as history looms He signed up with The Skills Factory in Atlanta, before moving to the G League.

But his stint on the Ignite team composed of some top NBA prospects – which included Houston Rockets All-Rookie Team member Jalen Green – never resulted in any meaningful action, as he left the squad to join Gilas Pilipinas for the Asian

FTEAMS, P10

Fil-Am Ron Harper Jr. was signed to a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors at the conclusion of the 2022 NBA Draft.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 62 • SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

TO THE BIG STAGE

SwingderElla makes it to IMG US Junior Girls Championships

Ella Nagayo shows off her USGA plaque.

By NEIL BRAVO

I

t’s on to the big stage for SwingderElla.

Hey, this is real. No fantasies.

Alessandra “Ella” Nagayo will take her golf shoes, not made of glass though but definitely had heaps of championship marks along with her bag to the 73rd US Junior Girls Championship from July 18-23, 2022 at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Camper Alessandra “Ella” Nagayo from Davao City became the second Filipina to qualify to the 73d US Junior Girls Championship from July 18-23, 2022 at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

“Probably one of the best days of my life. Super happy to have qualified for the 2022 USGA Junior Girls Championship! Can’t wait to play with the best junior golfers around the world!!

So excited to play big tournaments this July! CaliforniaKentucky,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

The 18 year old Ontario-based Dabawenya, daughter of lawyer-former city councilor Rachel Zozobra-

do-Nagayo, now a Labor Attache for the Philippine Embassy, punched her way to the premiere girls event by finishing third at the US Junior Girls Championship qualifiers at the Timber Ridge Golf Course in Brighton, Ontario, Canada on June 22, 2022.

“I am so proud of her. She made it to her dream stage,” said the elder Nagayo to this writer in a message.

Nagayo carded the thirdbest round of 2 over par 73 in the par 71 course anchored on two birdies against four bogeys to book her ticket to the championships. Nagayo is a verbal commit to attend Kennesaw State University in Georgia in the Fall of 2023 on a full ride scholarship.