Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 86 | Saturday, July 23, 2022

EDGEDAVAO BLAMING THE COPS Serving a seamless society

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VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

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Netizens vent ire on DCPO after Pepino walks free on P180T bail STORY ON PAGE 2

A lifeguard scoops out leaves from Talisay trees and picks up plastics and other refuse materials out of the beach as part of a daily cleaning up routine at Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in the Island Garden of Samal (IGaCoS). Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

Vice President Sara Duterte praises the Boholanos for their united efforts to bring the province back from the devastation of Typhoon Odette during the province’s 168th founding anniversary celebration at the Bohol Cultural Center in Tagbilaran, Bohol on Friday. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President

BLAMING THE COPS Netizens vent ire on DCPO after Pepino walks free on P180T bail

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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hat is reputed to be the most trusted police unit is now the center of public outcry.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) received a storm of reactions and criticisms from netizens following the resolution of the City Prosecutor’s Office (CPO) on Wednesday downgrading to homicide the murder charges filed against Dr. Marvin Rey Andrew Pepino, suspect behind the shooting of 19-year-old Amierkhan Pulalon Mangacop on July 2,

2022, at the parking area of Lugar Bar in Davao City.

Several netizens vented their ire on DCPO after Pepino was released on bail on Thursday after posting P180,000 for his temporary liberty. The release of Pepino coincided on his 32nd birthday.

The outcry by netizens stems from their opinion that the police bungled the

investigation that would have pinned down the suspect for murder charges.

“How mighty has fallen.

DCPO nakakawala ng respeto sa inyo. Your division is one of the best in the country pinaka matinong mga pulis, and now this? If push comes to shove when it comes to your colleague you will still circle the wagon,” Tony Demaguil commented on the post of Edge Davao relating to the statement of DCPO concerning the CPO’s resolution.

Aga Arangcon com-

mented on the page of DCPO, “netizens are angry because of the downgrade of the case from murder to homicide due to “lack of probable cause”. People are asking why charge with homicide only when not just one, not two, not three but seven bullets on the victim’s body had been fired. I think DCPO has a lot of explaining to do to the public than just the mere statement of “let the judicial process take its course,” However, DCPO is appeal-

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Ex-NPA accept Jesus Christ as personal savior, abandon ideals of communism

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ormer rebels who used to be members of the Communist-Terrorist New People’s Army have restored their Christian faith by offering their hearts back to Jesus in baptism.

On Monday, July 18, a day before their graduation from the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), ten former rebels were baptized in a simple water baptism ceremony facilitated by a team of vol-

unteers from the Lighthouse Church of Mati.

Immersed in a small water-filled inflatable tub, the former rebels declared their enormous faith, signifying their complete surrender to the Lord.

The former rebels, who decided to lay down their weapons a few months ago, say having themselves baptized is a testament to their sincerity in abandoning the ideals of Communism and transforming their lives for

the better.

29-year-old Red (not his real name) says he is thankful for being allowed to change as he vowed not to waste this “rare opportunity.” “Salamat kay natudluan mi og puro kaayo ug kabag-ohan sa kaugalingon nga nagwagtang sa kasuko ug pagdumot. Salamat nga nabag-o ko,” Red said. (We are grateful for being taught about goodness and transformation. The hatred and grudges in our hearts are

now gone, and I am truly thankful I have changed.)

Dodong, also known as Ahos, who used to work in the white areas of the Communist movement, urged his former comrades to be genuinely transformed and embrace the life of peace.

Pastor Ruben Colmo, who heads the Lighthouse Church and facilitator of the provincial government’s Moral Recovery Program, said, “Spiritual aspect is a sig-

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Councilor proposes Davao City Arts and Culture Office

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City Councilor is proposing the establishment of an arts and culture office for the City Government of Davao.

“I talked to the Mayor Sebastian Duterte already I told him we need to create an office for arts and culture kasi as of the moment the tourism office is handling the arts and culture sector in Davao City so it has two functions,” City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre said.

According to the second district city councilor who chairs the tourism committee at the City Council in some areas there is a dedicated office for arts and culture that can focus on that

particular sector.

“The Mayor is ok with it,” Alejandre describes Mayor Duterte’s response to his proposal.

The councilor said this is the right time for Davao City to have a arts and culture office as the City has a rich arts and culture scene.

“We will have to focus on strengthening the arts and culture sector in Davao City,” Alejandre said.

Aside from the setting up of an office for arts and culture, Councilor Alejandre is also proposing the expansion of the Davao City Arts and Culture Council by adding new members making the council well represented.

UP-Min experts train BARMMMHSD in CLUP technical skills

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niversity of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao’s Prof. Isidoro Malaque III led a team of architects and environmental planners to help capacitate planners of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with technical skills for the formulation and updating of Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP).

Mr. Abdulhamid Alawi, Jr., chief of the Policy Development and Coordination Office of the BARMM Min-

istry of Human Settlements & Development (MHSD), introduced the MHSD Laboratory app, which contains information on the local government units, to the UPMin team upon their arrival.

The team then visited the planning and development coordinators (PDCs) of Cotabato City, Parang, and Sultan Mastura towns in Maguindanao province to discuss practical tasks in formulating and updating their respective CLUPs.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

NEWS

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Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza says in her speech the during the opening of the Provincial Veterinary Quarantine Services Center in Old Bulatukan, Makilala, Cotabato Province that the quarantine center will help the province in preventing African Swine Fever (ASF) and cushion its impact on the hog sector. Edge Davao

Teacher newest casualty of diarrhea outbreak Cotabato Province strengthens ASF quarantine measures

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he Province of Cotabato is intensifying quarantine measures to control and prevent the entry of African Swine Fever (ASF) by opening its Provincial Veterinary Quarantine Services Center in Old Bulatukan, Makilala, Cotabato Province.

Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza of Cotabato Province led the inauguration of the facility.

The quarantine center will be operating with disinfection equipment and foot baths, and conduct mandatory inspection of buses and other vehicles passing through with meat products from different nearby provinces. The checked-in and hand-carried luggage of the passengers will be inspected also.

Mendoza said the quarantine center will help the province in preventing ASF and cushioning its impact on the hog sector.

“Hope that we can save other livestock that is still alive. We need to protect our farmers and hog raisers considering that we are an agricultural province and this is the backbone of our economy. Konting sakit lang maapektuahn ang ating mga produkto, pananim,

hayop, apektado kitang tanan,” Mendoza said.

The establishment of the said quarantine center was spearheaded by Provincial Board Member Loreto Cabaya who sponsored an ordinance regarding veterinary quarantine services titled Provincial Ordinance No. 558 Series of 2015 also known as the “Veterinary Quarantine Ordinance of Cotabato Province.”

It was in 2017 when the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the said ordinance was crafted by the Veterinary Quarantine Services Coordinating Council as mandated by the said ordinance that was signed and approved by Mendoza.

The proposed building for the Veterinary Quarantine Service Center was funded in 2018 and will be located in Old Bulatukan, Makilala, Cotabato.

A letter was to the Department of Public Works and Highways 12 (DPWH 12) to allow the Provincial Government of Cotabato to establish the center along the national highway.

A Deed of Usufruct between property owner Jack Sandique and the Provincial

FCOTABATO, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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and tapioca. Upon the onset of the symptoms, the patient was admitted to St. Felix Hospital in Toril and diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis with moderate dehydration.

“This is a 32-year-old male teacher, no comorbidities, no high blood, who lives in Lubogan Toril ug diri nagtudlo. On July 15, 2022, he manifested with vomiting five times and LBM with watery stool five times. Medyo nagluya na ang pasyente, dili na siya kakaon ug magsige na ug suka ug kalibanga. The patient was admitted for four days and on July 20, murag dili na makaya the patient was not improving but getting worse. there was

already an indication that he should be transferred to a medical center so he was transferred to SPMC. Because of electrolyte imbalance wala niundang ang kalibanga ug daghan na losses sa electrolytes sa iyahang lawas. On July 21 the patient succumb to death,” he explained over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Friday.

The victim is from Lingig, Surigao del Sur but

Babante also cautioned the mortality figure this year could increase in the coming months if residents remain complacent in adhering to anti-dengue measures.

Dengue fatalities this year include two children and three adults, she said.

Last year, the mosquito-borne disease killed seven residents.

“We hope that it will not

increase anymore. We are intensifying our campaign in the dengue hotspot areas,” Babante said.

Babante said villages considered dengue hotspots include Buhangin Proper, Talomo Poblacion, Baliok, Bucana, Matina Pangi, and Catalunan Grande.

“We went to the barangays and if there are confirmed cases we focus our interventions there for six

months. However, if there is a lone case, we conduct residual spraying in the households,” she said.

She added that dengue awareness programs and distribution of information campaign materials are ongoing in the villages.

“If a certain barangay has numerous cases, then we conduct fogging operations to stop the transmis-

32-year-old male public teacher died due to acute renal failure from incessant vomiting and loss of bowel movement (LBM) rresulting in electrolyte imbalance on July 21, 2022, at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

Dr. Ashley Lopez, head of the City Health Office, said a day before he manifested symptoms of diarrhea, the victim went to the street food market in Rasay Street, Toril, and ate “isaw”

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Dengue kills 5, infects 969 in Davao City

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ive died while 969 others were infected by dengue from January to July this year, the City Health Office (CHO) reported Friday.

In an interview, Melodina Babante, head of CHO’s tropical diseases prevention unit, said this year’s 959 cases are higher compared to the 928 recorded during the same period last year.

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

A man withdraws money from an automated teller machine (ATM) at a branch of Bank of the Philippine Island along Monteverde Street in Davao City on Friday. The bank said its second quarter net income hit P12.5 billion, up 82.9 percent. Edge Davao

PH banks seen to remain robust vs. recession, rate hike shocks P ADB raises this year’s hilippine banks remain generally strong to the impact of the rising interest rates and a possible recession but smaller ones need policy support due to their vulnerability to shocks, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said.

In a commentary issued on Thursday, the regional macroeconomic surveillance organization said results of the stress test it did on 17 domestic banks showed that the majority will remain robust to shocks.

“Despite the Philippine banking system being

quite resilient against the shocks, a few small and medium-sized banks may be vulnerable to shocks, given their lower capital adequacy ratios,” it said.

Results of the stress test showed that baseline non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of the banks would

be around 2.93 percent, while capital adequacy ratio (CAR) would be around 16.56 percent.

Taking into consideration the recession shock, NPL ratio is seen to increase to 4.04 percent while CAR would decline to 16.05 percent.

It also showed that one bank failed the test.

In terms of interest rate shock, NPL ratio is expected to be around 3.24 percent while CAR will increase to 16.40 percent.

For combined shock, NPL ratio will be around 4.46 percent while CAR will

slip to 15.85 percent. A bank also failed the test.

The commentary said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has identified banks considered as systematically important to address any systemic risks in the domestic banking sector.

“However, small-andmedium-sized banks need more attention as they have less buffers and are less resilient to shocks, with relatively vulnerable balance sheets.Therefore, the BSP can consider strengthening the resilience of small and medium-sized banks by pro-

taxpayers. Yung mayroon pang mga may manual receipts, sabi nga, wala na yung validity ng five years, of course pwede pa iyan gamitin,” Guillermo told veteran journalist Malou Mangahas.

(The e-receipt and invoicing that we launched was piloted for 100 large taxpayers. Those who still have manual receipts, which they say, no longer have the five-year validity, of course that can still be used.)

“But kapag successful na yung pilot namin ng

e-receipts and invoice, we are towards mandating the use of receipts electronically, para wala ng mga papel,” she added.

(But when the pilot of e-receipts and invoices is successful, we are towards mandating the use of receipts electronically, so that we would no longer use paper.)

Guillermo said that the use of the electronic invoicing system is expected to be expanded by next year, but stressed that the bureau should be ready with

the infrastructure needed to maintain such system.

Due to the clamor of some taxpayers, the BIR has earlier extended the validity of receipts and invoices, doing away with the five-year validity period.

The BIR said some taxpayers clamored that they incurred additional costs in printing new sets of manual receipts or invoices once the five-year validity already lapsed despite the remaining inventory of the said receipts and invoices.

FPH, P10

BIR piloting e-receipts system T

he Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said that it is piloting the use of an electronic invoicing system and issuance of e-receipts for select 100 large taxpayers.

In the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews, BIR Commissioner Lilia Guillermo said the move will help them fast track the invoice and receipt for business and taxpayers.

“Yung e-receipt at invoicing na ni-launch pang-pilot muna namin sa 100 large

PH growth forecast

T

he Philippine economy is forecast to grow faster than initially expected this year, following the relaxation of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) mobility restrictions in the country, the expansion of the coronavirus vaccination program, and a rebound in investment and household consumption, according to a report released Thursday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2022 Supplement bared the Philippine economy will grow at least 6.5 percent in 2022, up from the bank’s April forecast of 6 percent. The growth projection for 2023 remains at 6.3 percent.

Downside risks to growth in the second half of 2022 may come from sharper-than-expected slowdowns in major industrial economies, possible sustained elevated global commodity prices, and tighter financial conditions.

“The Philippine economy’s growth momentum has accelerated close to its ideal growth path,” said ADB Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird. “Strong domestic demand supported by a pick-up in employment and remittance inflows, private investment expansion, and large public infrastructure projects will underpin the country’s recovery from the economic impact of the pandemic.”

Wider Covid-19 vaccination coverage, with adolescents among those getting inoculated, and relatively mild health impacts from the Omicron variant have allowed the government to relax restrictions starting in the first quarter of the year.

This, in turn, spurred a resumption in expanded operations for most private businesses, with the unemployment rate falling to near pre-pandemic levels.

The unemployment rate was at 6 percent in May 2022, down from 7.7 percent a year earlier.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

ECONOMY

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MSME WEEK. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the provincial government of Davao de Oro checks the venue of this year’s provincial celebration of the MSME Week on August 8 to 12. DTI

DTI-DavOro, Prov’l Investment Office partner for MSME Week celebration BIR chief: Everyone should give his fair share to gov’t

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ilipinos should give their “fair share” to the government by paying correct taxes, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Lilia Guillermo said.

Guillermo made the remarks in the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews when she was asked how she would convince all Filipinos to pay their taxes amid unemployment problems and dozens of government projects funded by the people’s money that have remained unimplemented.

“Maaari nating sabihin sa mga citizens natin, ‘everyone should do a fair share for the government’ kasi yung fair share na yun ibig sabihin lahat tayo may obligation na at least pag nag-earn tayo ng income, part of that should go to the government and so mayroong panggastos ang gobyerno para sa needs nila,” she said.

(We can tell our citizens, ‘everyone should do a fair share for the government’ because that fair share means we all have an obligation that if we earn income, part of that should go to the govern-

ment for it to have funds for its needs.)

“Andito kami para alagaan ang pera ninyo, pera nating lahat ‘yan.. pera ‘yan ng mga citizens.

Pera mo ‘yan, pera natin.

Part of that came from income na pinaghirapan natin and ang BIR narito para alagaan po yan. Para ipunta sa treasury natin.

Nandyan po ang pera. ‘Yan po ang pwedeng masabi sa tax-paying public. We want to do this fairly, accurately and with integrity,” she added.

(We’re here to take care of your money, of our money… That’s the money of all citizens, part of the hard-earned income. The BIR is here to take care of that and transfer it to the treasury. That’s what we can tell the tax-paying public. We want to do this fairly, accurately and with integrity.)

Guillermo worked for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for almost 40 years prior to being appointed to the BIR. She vowed to uphold the bureau’s mission and vision to assure the public of excellent and transparent service under her leadership.

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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here has partnered with the Provincial Administrator’s Office-Investment Division of Davao de Oro in celebrating this year’s provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Week on August 8 to 12.

The week-long celebration is an annual event composed of a series of programs and activities specifically focused on enriching the MSMEs. These are likewise aimed at developing their potential to become successful; hence, they are provided with an additional avenue for them to upskill themselves and upscale their businesses.

Apart from the MSME Week, the provincial trade office has also incorporat-

ed in the celebration the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) to highlight the sector’s contribution in economic development.

DTI-Davao de Oro provincial director, Atty.

Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, shared that the planned activities for entire week are in line with the theme “RISE MSMEs in the Digital Economy: Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable, and Empowered”. Accordingly, this underscores the MS-

MEs’ resilience and how the pandemic highlighted the vital role of e-commerce in their entrepreneurial journey.

“We are glad that Mr. Jake Caiman, the head of the PAO Investment Division, is supporting us in this endeavor. In fact, his office has initiated a product showcase as well to feature different local products,” Balleque said, adding that this will be done on August 8 to 9 at the capitol lobby.

The local trade chief further explained that this will not just be a simple product showcase alone since this is also a vehicle for promotion, encouraging consumers to buy and patronize local brands.

The collaboration meetings between DTI and

ormer Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Thursday said the ratification of the country’s membership in the mega trade deal Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will attract investments to the Philippines.

In an online forum with the Association for Philip-

pines-China Understanding (APCU), Lopez underscored the importance of the RCEP, noting that it will lead to market access in several countries participating in the RCEP. The RCEP, a trade accord that involves the 10-member ASEAN along with China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia,

and New Zealand, was approved by the Palace in September last year and brought to the Senate for concurrence.

Treaties or international agreements entered into by the government require Senate concurrence.

“In fact, 50% of global manufacturing output they are all in these RCEP

the PAO-Investment Division last June 27 and July 15 paved way to arrive at sound agreements needed for a successful two-day product showcase.

“We are yet to meet again to finalize everything and ensure the preparedness of the venue. We must thresh out all concerns days before the said event to ensure that it will run smoothly and we can really achieve our objectives,” Balleque said.

On behalf of DTI, the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro together with the PAO-Investment Office, invited everyone to join in the province’s celebration of the MSME Week.

“Let us buy local, support local to keep our economy afloat,” he said.

areas and what it does really help, [it] promote not only market access to this RCEP participating countries but remember if you have these market access which is really what many countries are just trying to be part and it is good [to be] part of these countries [in] RCEP partnership or agreement,” Lopez said.

RCEP inclusion will bring in more investments: Ex-DTI chief Lopez F

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

On the public outcry over the downgrading of charges from murder to homicide and the release of Amierkhan Mangacop shooting suspect Dr. Marvin Rey Andrew Pepino on bail:

We encourage everyone to refrain from giving baseless conclusions and speculative comments that would incite the bereaved family as well as the public to lose trust in our justice system, and can add further emotional pain that the family is suffering.”

DAVAO CITY POLICE OFFICE

EDGEDAVAO

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ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WATCH OUT: DIARRHEA CAN KILL! One disease that continues to take its toll among Filipinos is diarrhea.

Last July 19, a 10-year-old boy died due to severe dehydration (incessant vomiting and loss of bowel movement) three days after he was admitted at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). He was a victim of a diarrhea outbreak that happened in Toril District.

The boy reportedly had eaten “isaw” (grilled chicken intestines) and drank water from a food stall in Toril. He was among the seven patients who were brought to the SPMC for treatment. About 212 cases of diarrhea were recorded by the City Health Office.

Two days earlier, a diarrhea outbreak also happened in barangay Tulalian in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte. At least 47 people were confined in various public and private hospitals. A 58-year-old male resident, who experienced loose bowel movement, stomach pain, and vomiting, failed to survive.

In April, when a diarrhea outbreak happened in Laak, Davao de Oro, three people perished with 33 others brought to the municipal health centers and nearby hospitals.

Almost always, diarrhea outbreak has something to do

with water, which is becoming scarce – even in rural areas.

A 2013 study conducted by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) listed the Philippines as one of the 37 Asian countries that is “either suffering from low levels of water security or have barely begun to engage in the essential task of improving water security.”

“Water is life,” the old proverb insists. After all, water is one of those basic necessities in life. “It is a grave moral shortcoming if people cannot drink water without courting disease or death,” Worldwatch Institute’s Sandra Postel once penned.

It was the physician Hippocrates, the ancient innovator of medical ethics, who advised that polluted water be boiled or filtered before being consumed.

“About 80 percent of all diseases and more than one-third of all deaths in developing countries are caused by contaminated water,” deplored Elizabeth Dowdeswell when she was still the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program.

“At any given time, an estimated one-half of people in developing countries are suffering from diseases caused either directly by infection through the

consumption of contaminated water or food, or indirectly by disease-carrying organisms that breed in water,” the United Nations said in a press statement.

Diarrhea is one of those diseases. In 2008, the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) listed diarrhea as the fourth leading cause of deaths among children less than five years old and the third leading cause of illness among the children. “If the trend continues,” the United Nations health agency surmised, “it is expected to cause 10,000 deaths every year.”

Most cases of diarrhea, however, are self-limited but they sometimes can lead to serious complications. The Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic states: “Diarrhea can cause dehydration (when your body loses large amounts of water), electrolyte imbalance (loss of sodium, potassium and magnesium that play a key role in vital bodily functions) and kidney failure (not enough blood/fluid is supplied to the kidneys).

“When you have diarrhea, you lose water and electrolytes along with stool. You need to drink plenty of fluids to replace what’s lost. Dehydration can become serious if it fails to re-

solve (get better), worsens and is not addressed adequately,” the Cleveland Clinic adds.

Actually, there are three clinical types of diarrhea, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). When it lasts several hours or days and is accompanied with cholera, it is considered acute watery diarrhea.

Acute bloody diarrhea is also known as dysentery. When it lasts for 14 days or longer, it is called persistent diarrhea.

“Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of child mortality and morbidity in the world, and mostly results from contaminated food and water sources,” the United Nations health agency stated.

Dehydration is the most severe threat posed by diarrhea.

“During a diarrheal episode, water and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium and bicarbonate) are lost through liquid stools, vomit, sweat, urine and breathing,” the WHO explained.

“Dehydration occurs when these losses are not replaced.”

The degree of dehydration is rated on a scale of three. It is considered severe dehydration when two of the following signs are present: lethargy/ unconsciousness, sunken eyes, unable to drink or drink poorly,

and skin pinch goes back very slowly.

Some dehydration is noted if at least two or more of the following signs are observed: restlessness, irritability, sunken eyes, and drinks eagerly or thirsty. When a person has not enough signs to classify as some or severe dehydration, the patient is identified as no dehydration.

According to WHO, one of the key measures to treat diarrhea is rehydration with oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution.

ORS is a mixture of clean water, salt and sugar. ORS is absorbed in the small intestines and replaces the water and electrolytes lost in the feces.

In case of severe dehydration or shock, rehydration with intravenous fluids is highly recommended.

Zinc supplements also reduce the duration of a diarrhea episode by 25% and are associated with a 30% reduction in stool volume.

The patient should also be given nutrient-rich foods. “The vicious circle of malnutrition and diarrhea can be broken by continuing to give nutrient-rich foods during an episode, and by giving a nutritious diet to children when they are well,” the WHO said.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

SARANGANI, CARAGA AS PLACENAMES Adjacent to the Davao region, or Southern Mindanao, there exist two recognizable placenames used as official titles of a province and a region, namely Sarangani (created under Republic Act 7228) and Caraga (constituted under Republic Act 7901), respectively.

Geographically, Sarangani also refers to a municipality of Davao Occidental while Caraga denotes a town in Davao Oriental created sometime in 1609.

Under RA 7228, Sarangani Province embraces the towns of Alabel, Glan, Maasim, Maitum, Malapatan, Malungon, and Kiamba, former lands of the province of South Cotabato.

The Caraga Region, on the other hand, which is in the northeastern sector of Mindanao, consists of the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao

del Norte, and Dinagat Islands, and the cities of Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao, and Tandag.

Caraga as placename dates to the early Spanish period. It was applied, according to historian Fr. Peter Schreurs, MSC, in ‘Caraga Antigua’ (19789), “to one continuous region from approximately Gingoog and Butuan via Surigao down to eastern Davao.” He argues, however, the term was most likely used exclusively for the region directly facing the Pacific given that the survivors of Magellan’s crew failed to reach Butuan after they lost in the battle of Mactan.

There are two ‘schools of thought’ as to how ‘Caraga’ originated. First, it could have come from the ‘Calagan’ cited in Venetian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta’s account of the Magellan voyage, and second, it

refers to the Kalagan or Kagan (Hispanized orthography of Cagan) tribe.

Anthropologist Emmanuel Nabayra, in ‘Cosmology of the Mandaya’ (2014) explains that Caraga principally refers to a river and the people living near it, chiefly the precolonial Mandayas who alternately called themselves by that name.

“The Kalagan,” he explains, “must have derived their ethnic name from the same Austronesian root word, karagan.

The words kagayan, karayan, and karagan are metastasized versions of the same Austronesian word, which means ‘river’” and that “the Mandaya in upper Caraga River Valley or Cagan Valley identify their river Kallagan, and refer to themselves as Mangallagan, or simply Kallagan.” He also noted that double L (‘ll’) in Mandaya is pronounced

among the Mansakas as R, from which the word Caragan has evolved.

The Mandaya tribe, then and now, is dispersed in many coastal areas of the eastern seaboard of Mindanao, places that are now under the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. This coheres with Fr. Schreurs’ hypothesis.

Sarangani, meanwhile, originally referred to the general area surrounding the bay of Sarangani, which includes the cluster of islands with the same name. Etymologically, it is attributed to two theories: (i) ‘salangane,’ the swiftlet, an avian species that is the source of the expensive edible bird’s nest and (ii) a Sangil loanword for ‘sarang-ine,’ which means “this is our territory’ or “we stop here.” (A pound of bird’s nest

cost over US$4,500.)

The earliest mentions of Sarangani (misspelled as Sarangan) were on a 1554 woodcut and 1563 copperplate made by Venetian cartographer Giovanni Battista (1885-1557). It was a Dutch territory by 1682 and slave center and gunrunning hub in 1862, during the postDavao conquest.

Though Sarangani is a precolonial appellation with a strong historical foundation, the town that bears its name was only created under Presidential Decree 1550 on June 11, 1978, fifty-seven years after the territory was formed as a municipal district, then known as Batulaki, the place where the remnants of the Magellan crew sought shelter on October 26, 1521, after they met a tempest on their way to the Spice Islands in Indonesia.

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EDGEDAVAO EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

UPMIN HOLDS FIRST FACE-TO-FACE GRAD EXERCISES IN THREE YEARS Three batches marched in limited F2F graduation rites (class of 2020, 2021, and 2022) The batch includes the first group of K-12 students, the Class of 2022 Chancellor Murao looked back on UPMin’s early days, now collaborating with government and the private sector against the COVID-19 virus Chancellor Murao challenged graduates to reshape education according to current times For the first time since the pandemic, the University of the Philippines Mindanao held limited faceto-face commencement ceremonies, producing 269 graduates from the university’s 15 undergraduate, graduate, and baccalaureate programs.

This year’s graduation rites consisted of students from three batches: 88 from the class of 2020, 38 from the class of 2021, and 143 from the historic class of 2022 who are the pioneering batch of students under the K-to-12 education.

The 24th Commencement Exercises were held on July 19 morning at the

constituent unit’s atrium at its campus in Mintal, Davao City.

In her investiture speech, UPMin Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao challenged the graduates from three batches to use their UP education responsibly to serve the country.

“The brand of education you received has prepared you well, not just as employees but also as employers and contributors to national development. We trust that you can mobilize your knowledge, skills, attitude, and values to become responsible, engaged, and responsive global citizens and leaders,” Murao said.

Murao stressed the importance of adapting to inevitable changes through collaboration and innovation, especially in reshaping education, which was impacted by the pandemic.

“We need to be fully engaged in shaping a genuine Mindanao narrative.

Let’s keep the spirit of culture and the arts alive by incorporating evolving pluralistic narratives that immortalize and enrich the Mindanawon heritage.

Let’s help the public discern

from the tons of information or misinformation on emerging platforms. Let’s reshape education to make it attuned to the current times,” said Murao.

Chancellor Murao recalled her own failures as an iskolar in UP Diliman as the start of her own journey to becoming a virologist who would eventually form a team assisting frontliners during the pandemic. She described her first Chemistry exam failure as the impetus to pursue virology.

This pursuit was further emphasized by the sudden pandemic. When she started Philippine Genome Center (PGC)-Mindanao in UPMin, she “never imagined that a pandemic would thrust us into the frontlines.” The PGC’s molecular diagnostic services became one of UPMin’s collaborations with local governments around Mindanao during the pandemic.

With the migration of teaching and learning into online modalities due to the pandemic, Murao further emphasized the idea of reshaping education.

“Reshaping education demands deviating from what

is traditional and popular, to create a democratic space for critical and creative thinkers, and an education system that is aware of social realities and technological trends,” she said.

In closing, Murao asked the graduates to take a final glance at the Oblation to remind them to always remember who they are as Iskolar ng Bayan.

Among these Iskolars is UP Mindanao’s second summa cum laude Klarisse Cruzado from BS Food Technology who overcame mental health struggles and eventually triumphed as the Class of 2022’s Valedictorian. With all her academic achievements, she struggled dealing with the pressures and expectations of others. In her valedictory address, she told her fellow graduates that even if they do not live up to the expectations of others, they should remind themselves that they are “a work in progress” and each of them “has the potential to become a better person.”

The Class of 2020’s BS Architecture Class Valedictorian and magna cum laude Hazel Jumawan also

Concentrix hosts largest Family Day hybrid-style and gives back to community

Concentrix Corporation (Nasdaq: CNXC), a leading global provider of customer experience (CX) solutions and technology, and the nation’s largest private employer, held the biggest Family Day event in “hybrid” format, leveling it up with a give-back to the community. Called #CelebrateAnywhere, the event aired in July with simultaneous live feed from 9 locations nationwide.

As the finale of monthlong activities that rewarded thousands of staff, families and communities with prizes worth over Php 9 Million, Concentrix pulled off a hybrid culmination where over 6,000 staff and loved ones attended in-person across event venues in Quezon City, Taguig, Baguio, Clark, Naga City, Cebu, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Davao; while approx.

701, 000 public viewers watched the stream at Concentrix’s Facebook page.

According to SVP and Country Leader Amit Jagga, “Family Day is among the

most important annual traditions for Concentrix as part of our culture of being fanatical about our staff. It continues to transform and adapt to the needs of our 100,000-strong team, like our effort to do a combination of virtual and physical celebration spread in 9 cities. It also demonstrates that our advocacy for hybrid work arrangements and corporate citizenship are reflected in our staff engagement, in our appreciation for the families who are behind our staff, and inclusion of the communities where our people live and work.”

Concentrix staff and family members performed in the talent competitions and played games for a cause, with Php 100,000 given to the Autism Society of the Philippines and another Php 100,000 to the Philippine Accessible Disability Services. The choice of NGO beneficiaries underlines Concentrix’ focus on diversity and inclusion by empowering and enabling underserved sectors like

PWD. The company also did a “Pay It Forward” activity by having its staff go around the cities to randomly select 40 families to provide with free groceries and medicines.

It wouldn’t be the biggest #CelebrateAnywhere Family Day without celebrities in each of the 9 venues.

The event was hosted by Robi Domingo, with performances from musical artists Katrina Velarde, Daryl Ong, EZ Mil, JM Bales, Michael

Pangilinan, Bugoy Drilon, AC Bonifacio, Janine Berdin and Sofronio Vasquez. Check out all the event highlights here: https://www.facebook.com/ConcentrixPH/ posts/1642191499473255/ Concentrix Philippines is a recipient of “Highly Commended” recognition for Excellence in Employee Experience in the global Gartner Communication Awards 2022 and is among Asia’s Best Employer Brands for 2 years in a row.

The Class of 2020’s BS Architecture Class Valedictorian and magna cum laude Hazel Jumawan also joined this year’s face-to-face graduation.

joined this year’s face-toface graduation. She now prides herself as a striving architectural intern at BER SAB ARC Design Studio in Davao City. In 2015, she delivered the speech on behalf of freshmen students after attaining the highest UPG among her batch. When she graduated virtually in 2020, she delivered another speech on behalf of the graduates and to her, this accomplishment was such a privilege as she repre-

sented her batchmates.

Bruce Gamad, a BS Biology cum laude graduate of Class of 2022, spent most of his years in UP Mindanao as a student leader. He is the recipient of the Dean’s and Chancellor’s Award for Leadership. After years of preparing for medical school, he was accepted in Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Cebu Institute of Medicine, and West Visayas State University College of Medicine.

Seoul Vibe

Release on August 26th with Popping Visuals and Music Car action blockbuster Seoul Vibe will release on August 26th, a Netflix movie revolving around the investigation of a VIP’s slush fund during the 1988 Olympics by a crew socalled “Sanggye-dong Supreme Team.” With a powerful cast ensemble featuring Yoo Ahin, Ko Kyung-Pyo, and more, Seoul Vibe will deliver a package of stylish action, visuals, and music.

The ‘88’-shaped skid marks in the released poster imply the 1988 setting and exhilarating car actions the movie will behold.

Seoul Vibe features classic vehicles from 1988 together with trendy contemporary music, providing fans with a treat for both the eyes and the ears.

The stylish “Sanggye-dong Supreme Team” will be composed of the best drifter Dongwook (by Yoo Ah-in of

Hellbound), the sentimental DJ John Woo (by Koh Kyung-Pyo of Reply 1988), navigator Bok-nam (by Lee Kyoohyung of All of us Are Dead), versatile biker Yoon-hee (by Park Juhyun) and youngest-ofthe-group Joon-gi (by Ong Seong-wu).

The team will go up against the main money mover Director Lee (by Kim Sung-kyun), and the right hand of the VIP President Kang (by Moon So-ri).

Prosecutor Ahn (by Oh Jung-se) will carry on the informal investigation together with the “Sanggye-dong Supreme Team” under the supervision of the Chief Prosecutor (Jung Woong-in).

From popping visuals and music to the unique setting revolving around the 1988 Korean Olympics, Seoul Vibe will be globally released on August 26, only on Netflix.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

“L

REDISCOVERING THE

Chocolates come from cacao plants.

ife is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” When Tom Hanks delivered those lines in the Oscar winning Forrest Gump, most of the chocolate aficionados readily agreed.

Chocolates come from cacao trees. They have been cultivated for at least three millennia in Central America and Mexico. Although Christopher Columbus came to know the beans, it was Hernando Cortes who brought it to Spain.

In the Philippines, cacao has been cultivated since the 17th century when Spanish mariner Pedro Bravo de Lagunas planted the crop in San Jose, Batangas. Since then, cacao growing flourished in different parts of the country.

In the 1950s, commercial cacao farms were established and cocoa beans production expanded into an industry in the following decade as processing facilities were put up by a group of Filipino investors. The industry started to take-off in the mid-1980s as more investments were poured on commercial farms and on grinding facilities.

However, the growth of the industry ceased when the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) took effect in 1988, which resulted in the breakdown and redistribution of the commercial farms into small farm units. In addition, the outbreak of the cocoa pod borer pest was unchecked causing some plantations to be wiped out and abandoned.

These factors resulted in the degradation of the cacao regions and a serious decline in the cacao industry.

But in recent years, cacao growing is making a

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comeback. This is due to the intense demand for chocolates around the world. In fact, chocolate consumption worldwide has been growing at 3% percent annually, recent studies have shown.

“Though the majority of cacao is consumed in North America and Europe, demand is growing more rapidly in Asia where strong economic growth, particularly in India and China, is resulting in more people being able to afford luxury foodstuffs such as chocolate,” said a position paper written by Adam Keatts and Christopher Root.

Global consumption of chocolate has been rising with new market demand growing steadily in countries like Central Asia and Eastern Europe, India and various states of the Russian Federation. In addition, there is a ready market waiting to be tapped in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and China. There is also a big local demand for cacao beans in the country.

Curiously enough, the Philippines is located in what experts called “Cocoa belt.” A band between 10 to 20 degrees north and south of the equator, it is the ideal location where cacao grows best. This band covers Central and South America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.

“Our country lands in this band, together with our neighbor, Indonesia,” says the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap.

Most of the cacao trees

POTENTIALS OF CACAO Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

At the Chocolate Museum, you can make your own chocolates.

are grown mostly in Mindanao as it has two advantages: good rainfall and good soil. “But cacao would grow anywhere in the country,” says Jethro P. Adang, the director of Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. He adds that other areas where cacao is suited for planting are Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Palawan.

Ninety percent of the total cacao production in the country is mostly sourced from Mindanao, according to the data from the Department of Agriculture’s High

Value Commercial Crops Development Program. The Davao Region contributes about 80% of the total production.

Cacao is highly prized because of its beans. Because of their intense bitter taste, they have to be fermented to develop the flavor. After fermentation, the beans are dried, cleaned, and roasted, and the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs. The nibs are then ground and liquefied, resulting in pure chocolate in fluid form: chocolate liquor.

The liquor can be further processed into two compo-

nents: cocoa solids and cocoa butter.

Pure, unsweetened chocolate contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of the chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, combining chocolate with sugar. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk.

Chocolate has recently been included in the A-list of antioxidants – up there with soybeans and green tea.

Antioxidants, or flavanols, help protect the body from

damage caused by pollution, pesticides, smoking, and processed foods.

“Chocolate and health do not seem to fit together but it is a very interesting proposition: if I can eat something I like and it is good for me, that is great,” said Hans Vriens, chief innovation officer of Barry Callebaut, which conducted a study. “Chocolate is probably at the bottom of the list when you think about making food healthier.”

Cacao was first cultivated by the Mayas around the 7th century A.D. They carried the seed north from the tropical Amazon forests to what is now Mexico. In the 16th century, the Spanish planted cacao across South America, into Central America, and onto the Caribbean Islands. In the 17th century, the Dutch transported the cacao to other places around the globe like Java, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, New Guinea, and the Philippines.

Studies have shown that cacao contains 0.5% to 2.7% theobromine, 0.25% caffeine, and other methylxanthine alkaloids. Cocoa contains the antioxidant catechin. Theobromine has weaker stimulant effects than caffeine but is a more potent diuretic, cardiovas-

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VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

DAVAO CITY WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF WATER SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS IN SOME CALINAN WSS AREAS

JULY 27 to 28, 2022

Davao City Water District advises the public of a water service interruption from 10:00 AM of July 27, 2022 until 10:00 AM of July 28, 2022 affecting some areas served by Calinan Water Supply System.

Specifically, affected are entire Upper and Lower Lacson: Purok 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 and entire Gumalang area: Purok 4 and 5, Sto. Niño, and Gumalang.

Water supply has to be temporarily shut off in the affected areas to give way to the interconnection of Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc.’s off-take point to DCWD’s existing pipeline as part of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project.

The DCWD management asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be-affected customers and advises them to store enough water prior to the schedule. Water supply may be restored earlier if Apo Agua’s work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

DCWD conducts flushing after service works are completed. However, once water is restored, customers are advised to open all faucets and allow water to run for at least two minutes. Do not drink tap water immediately but if needed, boil water beforehand as a safety precaution.

For the latest water service updates or any DCWD-related concerns, the general public may contact DCWD’s 24-hour call center hotlines at 235-3293, 244-6767, 0927798-8966, 0925-511-3293, or 0908- 441-0653 and chat support in the DCWD’s website (www.davao-water.gov.ph) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/officialDCWD). (Camille Margarette U. Solon)

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ing to the public in a statement to respect the rule of law and let the judicial process takes its course.

“We encourage everyone to refrain from giving baseless conclusions and speculative comments that would incite the bereaved family as well as the public to lose trust in our justice system, and can add further emotional pain that the family is suffering,” it said.

DCPO confirmed receipt of the CPO’s Resolution dated July 19, 2022, in the complaint for murder filed against Pepino.

It stated that the DCPO filed a complaint for murder and violation of Section 31 of R.A. 10591, however, as per the resolution of the preliminary investigation, the City Prosecutor downgraded the complaint from murder to homicide under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code, and found probable cause for Violation of Sec 31, RA 10591.

“The outcome of the preliminary investigation solely depends on the Panel of Prosecutors’ appreciation of the result of the investigation and the pieces of evidence gathered and submitted by both the DCPO and NBI 11. Nevertheless, this office will continue coordinating with NBI in pursuit of truth and justice for Mangacop Family,” it said.

Not everyone though were unhappy of DCPO’s handling of the case.

Some netizens likewise expressed support for the police.

Cy V Gal posted: “the DCPO and NBI have done its part and the Office of the Prosecutor, in their competence and independence, downgraded this to homicide. The justice system is working. Now let’s trust the court in its wisdom to decide the matter at hand.”

“I believe PNP did their job. Arrest the suspect and file

the case. It’s now at the courts level. Justice served. Walang pinipili ang batas,” Mark Abril Janolino posted.

In a signed Joint Resolution by Assistant City Prosecutors Armand D. Tirol, Daniel M. Fernandez, and Irene Joy P. Tala as recommended by Prosecutor Sharuddin Roberto Sencio and approved by City Prosecutor Jhopee S. Avanceña and as received by the Mangacop family stated that there is “no probable cause exists to charge the respondent (Pepino) for murder”.

The prosecutor’s office ruled that no probable cause exists to charge Pepino with the crime of murder based on the evidence submitted by the investigating authorities, particularly the CCTV footage of the incident. In the same manner, it found probable cause to charge Pepino with homicide under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code.

nificant factor for these former rebels since they were brainwashed against the government and God when they joined the Communist movement. He stressed that complete restoration also involves rebuilding the spiritual aspect.

He said the former rebels are now ready to return to their families and contribute to their communities by becoming living testaments of God’s goodness and the government’s sincerity in helping them.

He said they could also con-

tribute by serving as an example to young people who are the most vulnerable to Communist recruitment.

“They are changed and have been transformed and can now become tools of transformation,” said Pastor Colmo.

Government of Cotabato was agreed.

In 2018, the project was implemented and completed 2019.

On July 4, 2021, a dry run for the operation of the said center was conducted through the collaborative effort of the Office of the Provincial Veter-

inarian (OPVET), Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other stakeholders.

“We are the first in Region 12 to craft a quarantine ordinance. We are always the first.

From that ordinance other provinces and towns followed and then IRR, funding, imagine

we funded this in 2018 as mentioned constructed in 2019 and it is only now that they operationalized this,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza is hoping that the military and the police will give their share by imposing the policy of the ban on pork meat and by-products from outside the province. By Maya M. Padillo

“We are impressed with the MHSD Lab application. It is good that the local government unit profiles and the status of their respective CLUPs are now in your MHSD Lab database,” said Prof. Malaque, the chairperson of the UP Mindanao Department of Architecture (DA) and team leader.

“You already have the knowledge; we have the tools,”

said Asst. Prof. Minerva Rosel, the coordinator of UPMin’s Diploma and Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning (DURP/MAURP) programs.

Arch. Ryan Songcayauon and Engr. Micah Amor Yares, both assistant professors, completed the UPMin team during the July 12, 2022 visit.

“This is our academic extension offering for the

BARMM, which our chancellor, Prof. Lyre Murao, asked of us,” said Prof. Malaque, referring to the UP Mindanao chancellor’s plan of reaching out to the BARMM. “As our chancellor and UP Mindanao aimed for a target number in our extension programs in the BARMM, this might count as one,” he said. (PR/ UP Mindanao)

sion of the mosquito virus,” she said.

Dengue virus is spread to people through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. The Aedes mosquitoes are the same types that spread Zika

and chikungunya viruses.

Babante urged city residents to help prevent dengue by implementing the enhanced 4-S strategy in their households.

4-S stands for “Search and destroy” mosquito-breeding

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sites, employ “Self-protection measures”, “Seek early consultation”, and “Support fogging/ spraying” only in hotspot areas where an increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak. (PNA)

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cular stimulant, and coronary

dilator.

There are three types of cacaos: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario.

The Spaniards brought Criollo to the Philippines in the 18th century. It is very susceptible to most pests and diseases of cacao. However, it is the most sought-after and expensive variety of cacao because of its quality and rarity. The variety, which can be found only in Ecuador and the Philippines, is also known as “porcelana cacao” because of its seed’s white color. When provided the proper attention and care, it can yield an average of 1.5 to two kilograms per tree under Davao condition.

Forastero was introduced to the country in the early 1990s by the Americans. This variety is known for its sturdiness and wide adaptation. It shows varying degrees of reactions to the pests and diseases of cacao, ranging from highly susceptible to resistant.

Trinitario reportedly comes from Trinidad, credited for hybridization between Criollo and Forastero plants. Many Trinitario selections produce high quality beans (from the Criollo parents) and possess the resistance and vigor of the Forastero parent.

For those who want to plant cacao in their farms, here are some tips from The Philippines Recommends for Cacao, published by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD): • The use of seeds is the best method of planting cacao.

Seeds must be selected carefully and must come from big pods obtained from trees which are highly productive, regular bearers and free from pests. Seeds must be planted immediately since their viability is limited.

• Seedlings to be retained

in the nursery for 3-4 months must be raised in polyethylene bags. The seedlings are shaded both above and at the sides for protection against strong winds. Coconut palm fronds can be used for this purpose.

• Transplanting can be done when the shoots become mature and the leaves become hard and dark green. Utmost care is necessary in transporting as the seedlings are very prone to transplanting shock.

• Care should be taken to remove the polyethylene container with minimal disturbance. Seedlings are to be planted at the same depth as they were in the polyethylene bags. Topsoil is poured into the hole a few centimeters at a time and then carefully pressed down.

In Mindanao, more and more farmers are planting cacao in their farms. The profitability of cacao production has convinced Ramon T. Ubando, a handicapped farmer from Opao in Dapitan City, to go into cacao farming. Because of a severe vascular disease he acquired since childhood, the middle of his right hip and knee in his right leg had to be amputated.

When he was in his 40s, he became interested in farming.

He raised some livestock in his backyard to make both ends meet. His farm was augmented by his inquisitive efforts of seeking crops and technologies that alleviates the economic status of his family.

That was how Ubando discovered cacao growing; thanks to a six-month training conducted by the Department of Agrarian Reform. Equipped with technical skills and enthusiasm, he started a 100-hill cacao budwood garden in onefourth of a hectare in his farm.

He propagated and maintained five different cacao clones. “Cacao puts cash into my empty pocket,” he pointed out.

The Davao region is touted

to be the Cacao Capital of the Philippines with Davao City as Chocolate Capital. Davao City’s Malagos, Calinan District is where the famed 65% Malagos Dark Chocolate Bar comes from.

Lester V. Ledesma, in an article which appeared in an inflight magazine, described the chocolate in these words: “It’s a deliciously bittersweet candy.

The flavor is reminiscent of local tablea but it’s more intense and velvety. The morsel goes down smoothly like a finely made chocolat suisse. It’s the kind of chocolate that delivers a shot of adrenaline.”

Although cacao has been grown in the region for several decades now. But it was only in recent years that cacao has caught the attention of the international market.

It all started in 2009 when Shawn Askinosie, whose Missouri-based confectionery produces the world-famous Zingerman’s Deli, ordered some high-quality fermented cacao beans from Puentespina Farms.

“It was the first ever cacao bean export in the country after several years,” recalled Charito Puentespina, a former orchid grower who is now engaged in cacao farming. She added that it was Mars Chocolates that helped her tie up with Askinosie.

“Dry, like a full-bodied well-aged red wine,” was how Askinosie described the Davao chocolate. So, he ordered more and from the said shipment, he created the first batch of the now-famous Askinose 77% Davao Dark Chocolate Bar. Due to the success story of Puentespina, other farmers in the region are following suit.

“Today, select beans from Davao reach customers in the US and Europe through huge, high-end chocolatiers like Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut and commodity brokers like London’s Armajaro,” Ledesma wrote in his article.

working as a teacher in a public school in Toril and resides in Lubogan, Toril.

The teacher is the third casualty of the diarrhea outbreak in Toril with the 10-year-old boy who died due to acute renal failure also the first death and the 67-year-old.

Lopez also said that from about 30 to 40 average new patients in a day in the past seven days, on July 21, 2022, there were only around 13 patients admitted.

“Hinaut magpadayon,” he said.

He added that total active cases (regardless of the patient still admitted or discharged) are already at 186 while total recoveries are already 19 as of July 22, 2022.

The total barangays affected are still 21 with 18 barangays coming from Toril and three outside Toril. Case per barangay: one in Alambre, five cases in Bangkas Heights, one in Baracatan, 14 in Bato, six in Binugao, three in Camansi, two in Catigan, 34 in Crossing Bayabas, 47 Daliao, two in Da-

liaon Plantation, three in Eden, 34 in Lizada, 37 in Lubogan, three in Marapangi, five in Mulig, five in Sirawan, 38 in Toril Proper, two in Tungkalan, and one case still pending verification by the epidemiologic surveillance unit.

“This is regardless whether the patient is new or na-discharge na or recovered already,” Lopez said.

Outside of Toril, the barangays of Bago Aplaya, Baliok, and Dumoy have also recorded diarrhea cases but they got the disease from Toril. It has been validated that patients from these areas had visited Toril before they manifested symptoms.

Anda Riverview Medical Hospital, Adventist Hospital and Saavedra Clinic are the three additional areas of confinement for the patients.

Three evaluations are being conducted to determine the source of infections namely water analysis, food sampling, and rectal swabbing.

These evaluations are being conducted by three agen-

cies namely the Davao City Water District (DCWD), CHO, and the Department of Health (DOH) epidemiologic bureau from Manila.

“They will come up with an independent investigation and analysis aning outbreak sa Toril. As not to disrupt the activities ongoing and investigation including the analysis, we decided not to announce any partial or any inconclusive na mga results until such time that we could get a definite final conclusive reports consolidated from among these agencies that is the time na makahatag ta ug information,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, results for rectal swabbing and food sampling are still pending.

On July 17, 2022, the city government of Davao confirmed through a statement the diarrhea outbreak in Toril District.

On July 19, 2022, the city government of Davao suspended the operations of food stalls in Toril District until further notice.

ects will also help buoy the smaller banks, it said.

Other possible aids to the banks include policies that will help the financial institutions absorb potential losses and allow them to have sufficient provisioning.

“To deal with potential credit losses, the BSP can stand ready to enforce regulations on those banks, such as by increasing retained earnings and restricting dividend distribution, so as to maintain a higher capital adequacy ratio until

pandemic-related uncertainties dissipate,” it said.

AMRO also cited the importance of strengthening the role of a credit bureau to “enhance banks’ ability to conduct a comprehensive assessment of leverage.”

“In conclusion, while the stress-test shows that the Philippine banking system is quite resilient to shocks, there is room for more policies to support small and medium-sized banks as well as enhance the banking sector’s risk assessment and management,” it added. (PNA)

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PH... FROM4

viding guidelines and support for their recovery and potential resolution,” it said.

It added some banks are also concentrated on specific sectors like trade and tourism thus, are more vulnerable to shocks.

The commentary said the central bank “can offer help in designing a recovery and resolution plan for small and medium-sized banks.”

Liquidity and financial tools like access to investment in green and sustainable proj-

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The recent performance of Gilas in the international competitions raised eyebrows among many Filipino fans.

SBP urges stakeholders to unite for Gilas Pilipinas

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raised eyebrows among many Filipino fans.

SBP president Al Panlilio admitted that the ninthplace finish of the team in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup was disappointing, noting that this was the first time in 15 years that the Philippines

missed the Top 8 in the competition.

He said the lack of training time and player availability have been the problem of the national team and should be addressed in the forthcoming competitions.

Gilas will be playing in three FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying windows lined up for August, November, and February; the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia on May 5-16, 2023; and the FIBA World Cup in August 2023.

While head coach Chot Reyes offered no excuse for the dismal showing, he not-

ment.

“After the conclusion, I did agree to meet with (FIDE President Arkady) Dvorkovich and (FIDE Director General Emil) Sutovsky from FIDE to talk a little bit,” he said. “I did not have any demands or suggestions for that meeting. They did have a couple of suggestions, but the gist of it was that I was there to tell them that I would not defend my title in the next World Championship match, and we had a small discussion. They had some suggestions, some of them I liked, some of them I did not.”

International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Arkady Dvorkovich confirmed to TASS later in

the day Carlsen’s decision to withdraw from the match for the world champion title.

“It is not fake news about Carlsen. However, there is no deadline yet for his decision,” Dvorkovich said.

When reached by a TASS correspondent, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Chess Federation, said he regretted Carlsen’s decision to quit.

“Indeed it is very regrettable for us. It does not flatter Carlsen,” Peskov said.

“Anyway, we will be rooting for Ian (Nepomniachtchi) and waiting for him to bring the chess crown to Russia.”

he Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) called on the country’s basketball stakeholders to unite in supporting the Gilas Pilipinas as the organization tries to form a competitive squad for the FIBA World Cup in 2023.

The Philippines clinched a ticket to the World Cup as hosts of the biggest basketball tournament in the world in August next year.

However, the recent performance of Gilas in the international competitions

ed that the outcome could have been different had Dwight Ramos and naturalized player Ange Kouame suited up for the team.

He said that Gilas only began practice last July 6, a week before the Philippines’ first game against Lebanon.

Poy Erram, the only active PBA player on the roster on the other hand, attended only thrice.

“As FIBA secretary-general Andreas Zagklis mentioned, it’s been nearly 25 years since Greece hosted a world basketball event,” said Panlilio. “We really have to give it full support from all basketball stakeholders.”

For PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, the stakeholders should act together as the Philippines hosts the event for the first time in nearly five decades.

“The World Cup will never happen again in Manila in our lifetime… It took 45 years to bring the World Cup back to Manila. Dapat laban na, all out. We need the best to play and be allowed to play. We call on all stakeholders to unite for the flag and country,” Vargas added.

The SBP has scheduled a general meeting of stakeholders on August 1 where they will lay out the time-

table in the run-up to the World Cup. Panlilio said FIBA will assist in securing clearance for Gilas players from foreign leagues. The PBA will play only two conferences next year and clear its calendar starting in May up to the end of the World Cup. Drafting players for the three upcoming windows, however, is a concern. Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson is sure to play in the World Cup and will likely join Gilas in the fourth window against Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia at the MOA Arena on Aug. 29.

5-time world champ Magnus Carlsen will not to defend title

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OSCOW – Norwegian Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen decided against defending his world champion title in a match for the world chess crown against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi, the chess24.com web portal announced on Wednesday.

“I am not motivated to play another match,” Carlsen said.

“I simply feel that I don’t have a lot to gain, I don’t particularly like it, and although I’m sure a match would be interesting for historical reasons,” Norway’s fivetime chess world champion was quoted as saying.

Carlsen is currently in Madrid for the conclusion of the Candidates Tourna-

James Harden will sign a deal worth slightly over $68 million, paying him about $33 million this season and with a $35 million player option for the 2023-24 season.

Five-time world champ Magnus Carlsen.

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HUNGRY TEAM

VOL.15 ISSUE 86 • SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2022

144-man Team Philippines ready for 11th Asean Para Games

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aring and eager to spring into action, 144 athletes in 11 sports aim to make the flag and country proud in the 11th Asean Para Games scheduled from July 30 to Aug. 6 in Surakarta, Indonesia.

The 12-man swimming team is led by Ernie Gawilan, who has won seven golds in the regional showcase for para athletes.

The list of the national squad bound for Indonesia was finalized last weekend, Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo said, announcing the composition of the contingent on Thursday.

“This is a hungry team, a fighting team that is eager to showcase their skills and talent after being deprived of international competition for over two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Barredo said in a news release.

“I would not be surprised at all if many of our national para athletes will strive harder than ever before in making the most of this opportunity to bring honors to our country in the 11th Asean Para Games,” he said.

The PPC chief was grateful for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in enabling the national para athlete to train intensively inside a bubble for over a month at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City to gear themselves for the regional meet.

“We would like to thank the PSC’s support for our national para athletes in their bubble training at the PhilSports Complex for over a month without any distractions,” Barredo said.

“This training has armed

them well for the action ahead in Indonesia,” said Barredo, who is optimistic that the PH campaigners would surpass their 20 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze medals, good for fifth overall, in the last 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The track and field team has the biggest number of entries with 24, led by Tokyo Paralympic Games veterans, thrower Jeanette Aceveda, and wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, who was named skipper of the PH athletic contingent.

Next is the 22-man chess team, bannered by 2017 Malaysia Asean Para Games triple gold medalist and FIDE Master Sander Severino, while the 12man swimming team is led by Ernie Gawilan, who has won seven golds in the regional showcase for para athletes.

Archery has nine members, badminton (8), boccia (4), goalball (6), judo (5), powerlifting (8), sitting volleyball (10), table tennis (13), while men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball has 12 and 11 members, respectively.

Fully funded by the PSC, Barredo will head the 212man delegation scheduled to leave on a chartered flight for the Java provincial capital of Surakarta on July 26. (PR)