Bullish in making Davao City as a premier real estate investment hub of the country, the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) wants a private company with the right expertise to do the job.
The DCIPC said the city government, represented by Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste” Duterte, is set to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with professional real estate consultancy firm Interactive Marketing Enterprise Realty Corporation (PRIME Philippines).
Christian D. Cambaya, inves-
tor assistance unit head of DCIPC, said the MOA is now up for the mayor’s signature.
Based on the agreement, the signatories to the deal are Mayor Duterte and PRIME Philippines president Jettson P. Yu.
The MOA will call for the consultancy firm shall to perform marketing initiatives to promote
The predominantly Ata-Manobo Municipality of Talaingod, this province has achieved high coverage rate in the supplemental immunization activity (SIA) dubbed as “Chikiting Ligtas” catch-up vaccination campaign in May 2023.
Davao City investment and trade with existing networks of local and foreign investors.
The consultancy firm will also promote Davao City as the best destination for new and expanding businesses as well as promote the city as a premier real estate investment hub. Its mission is also to educate businessmen and investors regarding real estate trends, opportunities, and upcoming projects in the city.
“We believe that Davao City is really an investment destination of the country based on studies,”
Some 1,120 displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers, mostly farmers, received on May 31, a total of PhP 4.96 million cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD), the beneficiaries for PhP 4,430 each
as payment for their emergency employment.
DOLE Davao de Oro provincial director Niel Allan Baban encouraged the beneficiaries to also help themselves to improve their living condition.
“Magtinabangay ta. Dili tanan panahon naa ang goberno. Kamo pud ang motabang sa inyong kaugalingon,” he said. (We should
help each other. The government will not be there (for you) at all times). You should also help yourselves.)
The payout was conducted at the Children’s Park Pavilion of the Davao de Oro Provincial Capitol Compound.
Aside from the TUPAD payout, 21 local farmers’ associa-
Data from Talaingod Municipal Health Office (MHO), published online by Talaingod Information Office, showed that Talaingod MHO tops in accomplishment rating for Measles, Rubella, Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR OPV SIA).
Based on MHO data from May 1 to 15 alone, Talaingod already registered 95.64% overall SIA coverage, of which 103.13 percent was achieved for OPV and 102.62 percent for Measles-Rubella vaccination.
Dr Joeffrey S. Mambucon of MHO Talaingod had optimistically projected this accomplishment during the regional launch of Chikiting Ligtas done in Talaingod on April 28.
He said his team would be able to cover all and could even go beyond the 3,000 targeted children because MR OPV vaccination already gained acceptance among Ata Manobo communities.
“For us, sa mga Manobo people dito, noon sobrang hirap, pag punta sa bundok, nagtatago yong mga parents, nagtatago yong mga bata dahil natatako sa bakuna. pero ngayon, after sa outbreak in 2017 and 2018 na tigdas, … ngayon sila na mismo
ang lalapit sa mga health centers at kung alam nila na para sa habas o tigdas ang bakuna, tatanggapin nila. (For us Manobo people here, it was very difficult before to cover the mountainous communities. Parents were hiding; children were hiding. But now, after the measles outbreak in 2017 and 2018, they are the ones going to health centers. If they know that these are for measles, they accept it),” he explained in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Parents, guardians and grandparents from various Ata-Manobo communities of Talaingod warmly received the Chikiting Ligtas campaign as shown in the number of who those who turned out for the vaccination launch done at the Balimba Hills in Barangay Sto. Niño, Talaingod.
Expecting only 400, the Department of Health (DOH) XI generated some 800 participants including community health workers.
“Hindi ko masabi na surprised ako but i was amazed of the attendance. I am glad yong kanilang awareness is very high now. If we can recall, ang ating mga IPs ay most difficult community dahil napakalayo nila, kulang ang kanilang impormasyon,” said DOH Undersecretary Abdullah B. Dumama, noting the high turn-out of IP participants to the regional vaccination launch. (JMDA/PIA XI)
Afisherman died after he was struck by lightning during the heavy rains on Monday night.
Sasa Police Station reported identified the victim as Sofronio Pal Taneo, 65 years old, fisherman, and resident of Sitio Bolakan, Brgy. Aquino Agdao, Davao City.
Davao Central 911 received a report at 11:45 p.m. on Monday about the incident that transpired near Lanang Aplaya Beach Resort in Lanang, Brgy. Hizon, Davao City.
Armand Alcociba Adriano, who witnessed the incident, told police investigators that he was in his house situated near the said resort when he saw the victim directly hit by lightning prompting him to call his brother and a friend to rescue the victim from the sea.
They brought the victim to the shore and tried to revive him by conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The responding police personnel from the Mobile Patrol Unit (MPU) and the search and rescue team from Davao Central 911 led by Peter Jun Grado also tried to revive the victim but failed and eventually declared the victim dead.
By MAYA M. PADILLOMeanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported on Tuesday that no casualties, deaths, or injuries during Monday night’s heavy downpour that caused massive street flooding in various main thoroughfares in the city.
Majority of streets and areas hit by flood were in the Buhangin and Poblacion Districts.
In Buhangin Districts, affected areas were Laverna Hills, C.P. Garcia Highway, Barangay Cabantian; the main road of NHA Buhangin, Buhangin Proper; Talisay Street, Buhangin Proper; Watusi Street, Buhangin Proper; New San Isidro, Buhangin Proper; Sandawa, Spring Valley, Buhangin Proper; Underpass, Diversion Road, Buhangin Proper; Carpenter Street, in Barangay Leon Garcia Sr.; and Old San Isidro. Buhangin Proper.
The affected streets in Poblacion District were R. Magsaysay Avenue corner Suazo Street, Barangay 30-D; Pelayo Street corner Bonifacio Street, Barangay 3-A; Torres Street corner Jacinto Street, Barangay 11-B; V. Mapa Street, Barangay 12-B; and J.P. Laurel Street FLIGHTNING, P10
Fromthe target of 27,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for the year, the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) has assisted 8,496 (31 percent) MSMEs as of April.
MSMEs belong to the category of enterprises with a capitalization of P100 million and below.
“For this year we would like to highlight that we have an annual target year of 27,000 for MSMEs assisted. From 27,000 MSMEs, as of April naa natay natabangan nga 8,496 or 31 percent of the total. Kung muingon ta ug assisted lain
lain ang atoang interventions nga gihatag sa ilaha,” said Jenny Grace M. Mendoza, regional information officer and knowledge management coordinator of DTI 11 during Wednesdays media forum at Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall.
DTI 11 offers free seminars, product development training, and assisting MSMEs in terms of
developing their own labels and packaging materials.
“Because we believe na dili lang magfocus hangtod didto sa production lang apan hangtod sa promotion and marketing. We have several MSMEs in Davao Region who have graduated na, kung musulti ta ug graduated nakasulod na sila sa export market ug wala lang sila nagfocus sa local market apan naa na pud sila sa international trading arena na,” Mendoza said.
Meanwhile, DTI 11 has accomplished 53 Negosyo Centers (NCs)
FMSMEs, P10
The amendments being made to the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 11291 or the Magna Carta of the Poor will significantly bolster the government’s efforts to uplift the lives of millions of impoverished Filipinos, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said on Wednesday.
In a news release, Go said he
believes the move aims to align the law’s IRR to the poverty reduction plan of the Marcos administration.
“Para ma-guarantee natin ang karapatan ng mahihirap nating mga kababayan pagdating po sa sapat na pagkain, disenteng trabaho, edukasyon, at pabahay upang mas maging akma ito sa panahon ngayon. Kailangan
pong mai-harmonize po itong anti-poverty program (To guarantee the rights of our poor countrymen when it comes to enough food, decent jobs, education, and housing so it fits with the current times. This anti-poverty program should be harmonized),” he said.
“Bilang senador, suportado ko po ang anumang hakbang o FAMENDMENTS, P10
TheNayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) is training some 50 tourism ambassadors from the Davao Region in preparation for the official launch of the “Philippine Experience” project in the area later this month.
The “Philippine Experience” is the new promotional project of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that heralds the country’s rich heritage, arts, and culture through a series of caravans this year. It involves the development of caravans featuring culture, heritage, and arts unique to each region.
The tourism ambassadors, composed of tourism officers,
guides, and planners, will train from June 6-8 for leadership roles in cultural heritage protection and sustainable tourism.
Through the training, NPF executive director Gertie Duran-Batocabe hopes to increase the appreciation of Filipino culture among locals and foreigners alike.
“Our goal is to train tourism ambassadors to be more appreciative of their culture. An ex-
ample of this is our tour guides, they only focus on what they see, but this time, they will also focus on the identity – the cultural heritage,” Batocabe said in an interview.
One of NPF’s flagship programs, the Cultural Leadership Institute (CLI) Intensive Course, was developed in 2019 to produce cultural leaders who shall be at the forefront of Philippine cultural heritage protection, promotion, and development.
“Cultural heritage is very important and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants us to have a Filipino branding service excellence that he wanted to
The government will continue to ramp up efforts to make the basic commodities “more affordable” for Filipinos, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.
Marcos made the commitment, as he attributed the continued decline in inflation rate to the effective implementation of government economic strategies.
“Unti-unti nating nakakamtan ang kaginhawaang ito sa pagbaba ng inflation rate sa apat na sunod-sunod na buwan at ngayong Mayo ay nasa 6.1 percent na (We
are gradually experiencing relief, with the inflation rate dropping for four consecutive months. And this May, [inflation] is at 6.1 percent),” he said in a Twitter post.
“Batid namin ang inyong hangarin na magkaroon ng mas maginhawang pamumuhay, kaya’t patuloy nating pinalalakas ang mga pang-ekonomiyang hakbang ng pamahalaan (We are aware of your desire to have a more comfortable life, so we continue to strengthen the government’s economic measures),” he added.
Headline inflation clocked
Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) subsidiary Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light), together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Carmen and the Department of Energy - Region XI, energized over sixty households in the four sitios of Barangay Magsaysay, Carmen, Davao del Norte as part of the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP).
istration targets to achieve full electrification by 2028. Davao Light has helped energized sitios since 2018, and has also conducted public safety campaigns like electrical safety and conservation tips, including the dos and don’ts to avoid fire incidents.
in at 6.1 percent in May, down from 6.6 percent posted in April, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Marcos expressed confidence that his administration is on the right track to manage the prices of goods in the country.
“Tanda ito ng patuloy nating pagtahak sa tamang direksyon para sa mas abot-kayang presyo ng mga bilihin (This is a sign that we are heading in the right direction to provide more affordable
“We thank Davao Light and the Department of Energy because there won’t be much progress [in Carmen] without electricity,” Jerry Nalupa of the LGU of Carmen said. “Every business — whether industrial or small — and each home needs electricity.”
“Before, students would need to go to the library or to an internet shop in the energized parts of the municipality when they needed to research their assignments,” Head of Barangay Peace and Order Benedicto Nalzaro added. “Now, they can use their cellphones and connect to the internet at home.”
According to the Energy department, about 1.1 million households remain without electricity as of end-2021. The National Electrification Admin-
“We are really happy that we now have electricity. We feel more at ease in our homes because it’s well-lighted,” Nalzaro shared. “The residents of Barangay Magsaysay — both young and old — are very happy to have electricity here.”
“Most of the residents in Barangay Magsaysay work in big companies, banana plantations, and farms. There is really a big difference now that the streets are well-lighted. Residents feel more at ease when going to and from work,” he added.
This SEP covers the areas of Puroks 4A, 4B, and 4B - Area 2. Davao Light, along with its partners, continue to empower the communities it serves through the SEP and other electrification projects.
“Thanks to the support of the LGU of Carmen, we were able to fast-track the Sitio Electrifica-
Top listed companies operating critical information infrastructure (CII) may lose PHP6.15 billion in revenues per day due to cyber attacks, an information and communications technology (ICT) advocacy group estimated.
In a media seminar hosted by the United States Embassy here, Secure Connections ICT policy analyst Mary Grace Mirandilla-Santos said the number is based on the assumption that these CII companies are compromised at the same time.
“It’s unlikely, but who knows. [There are] so many things are possible in these days,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Largest losses per day are in the energy sector with potential daily losses of PHP2.8 billion, followed by banks at PHP1.5 billion, telecommunications at PHP1.06 billion, transportation at PHP631 million, water at PHP115 million and healthcare at PHP40 million.
Aside from these sectors, CII operators are also in business process outsourcing (BPO), broadcast media, emergency
Balance of risks to domestic inflation remain on the upside but the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Tuesday that monthly rate is still expected to slow to within-target levels in the last quarter of the year without any shocks.
all assessment that inflation will remain elevated over the near term before gradually decelerating back to target range in Q4 (fourth quarter) 2023 in the absence of further supply-shocks.”
services and disaster response and government.
Mirandilla-Santos said this figure is only a fraction of the potential damage to the economy due to cyber attacks, as the number only counted firms listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
She said cybersecurity incidents have cascading effects that also compromise and cause damages to other sectors depending on CII operators.
“If there is no alternative to critical infrastructure, then it makes the cost much bigger,” she added.
Mirandilla-Santos cited some gaps in protecting CIIs in the country, including the lack of a national directive mandating government agencies with jurisdiction over critical infrastructure to promote information security, the poor awareness and adoption of minimum information security standards and the lack of clarity in institutional arrangements on cybersecurity.
To address these challenges, Secure Connections is urging
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported earlier in the day another slowdown in the country’s inflation rate last May to 6.1 percent from the previous month’s 6.6 percent, the fourth consecutive month of deceleration.
The average inflation in the first five months of the year stood
at 7.5 percent, still higher than the government’s 2 to 4 percent target band.
The BSP forecasts inflation to average at 5.5 percent this year.
In a statement, the central bank said the May 2023 inflation print is within the central bank’s 5.8 to 6.6 percent forecast for the month “consistent with the over-
“The balance of risks to the inflation outlook for 2023 and 2024 remains tilted to the upside owing to persistent constraints in the supply of key food items, the potential impact of El Niño on food prices and utility rates, as well as the effects of possible additional adjustments in transportation fares and wages,” it said.
FBSP, P10
Economists from the academe and financial markets on Tuesday urged the government to set its sights back to pre-pandemic targets now that the economic effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) contagion have waned.
Roberto Galang, dean at the Ateneo de Manila’s (ADM) John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSM), said the government needs to “refocus efforts on fundamental problems that were glossed over by the pandemic.”
“The Philippines has fully recovered from the pandemic and has returned to a comfortable growth path,” he said in an interview.
Galang said high on the administration’s “to-do list” should be the rehabilitation of the country’s congested transport infrastructure.
“Manila airport (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) is suffering from intense congestion, which three years of limited travel has allowed us to forget,” he said.
More investments are needed
in power plants and bulk water supply, which were also put in the backburner during the pandemic, he added.
Galang, a noted expert on agricultural logistics, also called for a revitalization of the agricultural sector, by stimulating more investments in better farming technology and building a more efficient system for moving produce from the farm to consumers.
“The country’s economic outlook for the rest of the year is pos-
On Senate Bill No. 2116 which seeks to amend Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10699 or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act” expanding benefits for athletes with disabilities to make sports development more inclusive to all:
“Para athletes overcome tremendous challenges and display remarkable determination and skill to compete at the highest level of international sports competitions. However, their exceptional accomplishments often go unrecognized or are overshadowed. I have filed a bill to increase the incentives of medalists in international para competitions to be at par with other international competitions of the same caliber.”
I have written several features about coral reefs. In fact, one of them earned me a prize in the annual Science and Technology Journalism Awards in the late 1990s. Some of the articles I wrote were also cited in some technical papers.
The reason why I am writing this is because the international community is observing June as the National Oceans Month (although the Philippines also observes May as the Month of the Ocean).
To kick off the celebration, the world observed World Reef Awareness Day last June 1. It was a special occasion that brought together individuals, organizations, and communities around the world to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our precious coral reefs.
The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) posted some facts about coral reefs in its social media account.
“Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth,” it said. “It only covers less than one percent of the world’s oceans, but staggeringly houses over a quarter of all identified marine species.”
The Philippines is located at
the center of the Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity. It is a coral-rich region that also encompasses the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor Liste, and Papua New Guinea.
The Philippines “is believed to have both the third largest reef area and the most diverse coral reefs in the world, containing nearly 1,800 species of reef fish,” the NMP said.
Coral reefs are the marine equivalent of rainforests and considered one of the planet’s essential life-support systems. They are constructed by millions of minute animals called coral polyps, each of which lives inside a protective limestone skeleton.
Our country is estimated to have about 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs within a 15- to 30-meter depth. In 1991, about 70% of these reefs were considered to be in “poor or fair condition,” and only five percent were in “excellent condition.”
Today, the situation is getting worse. This is bad news, indeed. An estimated 10-15 percent of the fish we consumed come from coral reefs.
“Coral reef fish yields range from 20 to 25 metric tons per square kilometer per year for
healthy reefs,” the late Dr. Angel C. Alcala told us during the Ninth International Coral Reef Symposium held in Bali, Indonesia.
If you don’t know it yet, there are three major types of coral reefs. These are the fringing type (those found in the edges of the island and which constitutes 30% of our coral reefs); the barrier type (best exemplified by the Dajanon Reef of Central Visayas); and the atoll (of which the Tubbataha and Cagayan Reefs in the Sulu Sea are ideal examples).
The Philippines is home to over 400 local species of corals, which is more than what is found in the famous Great Barrier Reef of Australia. No wonder, our country is right in the middle of the global center of marine biodiversity that is also denoted as the Amazon of the Seas.
Aside from being a habitat for various types and species of fish and other marine organisms, coral reefs also provide excellent protection against erosion since they grow across the seabed, help stabilize the ocean floor, and prevent large swathes of land from shifting.
“Like many wonders of the marine biosphere, coral reefs
play an essential role in the ecosystem,” the NMP said. “While you may not have seen corals often, it impacts your life unimaginably.”
Unfortunately, most of our coral reefs are on the verge of extinction. The decline is thought to be due primarily to destructive human activities.
Destructive fishing methods –ranging from dynamite blasts to cyanide poisons – are destroying vast areas of reef.
Also contributing to the destruction of our coral reefs are sedimentation from erosion of soil from deforestation; the quarrying of coral reefs for construction purposes; pollution from industry, mining, and municipalities; and coastal population growth.
“The degradation of coral reef ecosystems in the Philippines and other places could have dire consequences,” says State of the Reefs distributed during the International Coral Reef Initiative that was held in Cairns, Australia which I also attended.
So, how can we save our coral reefs from completely vanishing in our waters? “The only way to save coral reefs from extinction and restore their productivity is
to limit access to them,” suggests Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez, a world-renowned marine scientist who has published extensively on coral reef resource management and ecology. “This is no mean task, but it seems it is the only means we can save our coral reefs from disappearing in this part of the world.”
My friend, Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, a fishery expert, urges every Filipino to save the remaining coral reefs from total annihilation.
“We are the stewards of our nation’s resources; we should take care of our national heritage so that future generations can enjoy them,” says Dr. Guerrero. “Let’s do our best to save our coral reefs. Our children’s children will thank us for the effort.”
Again, here’s what the NMP said: “Protecting our coral reefs is every Filipino’s responsibility. It is our responsibility to make sure that this underwater ecosystem will survive for decades to come. Remember, when our reefs are not protected, communities will be affected and livelihoods will be lost. We must take the utmost care of our reefs for the future generations to reap the rewards of and enjoy!”
FAST BACKWARD
Freemasonry in Spain was known to flourish centuries after the Crusades. Its arrival in the islands dates only to the time when Spanish military officers and administrators started overseeing the affairs of the islands as a colony.
In Davao region, Masons practiced the craft privately, aware of the anti-Masonic posture of the Church. Although the clergy stood by the Catholic teachings, they did not confront di-rectly the supposed evils associated with the fraternity. Some church leaders did not even find conflict with the craft if conversions were not done in public. In fact, several soldiers as-signed as military-police commandants in the district were members of Masonic lodges in Spain.
Masonic doings in Mati started in 1892 or 1893, giving rise to a cluster of three Masons forming
a bloc or triangulo known as Diwata Lodge No. 65, the oldest in Davao, with Pedro Serrano Laktaw as worshipful master. This makes Mati the seat of Freemasonry in the region.
This initiative finds support in a 1920 account citing the plan to expand Masonic activities throughout the islands but failed to generate public interest given the strong Church influ-ence. Of the total number of fraternities created until 1893, thirty-five were Masonic lodges, nine in Manila. In July of that year, the craft started accepting women as members of appendant bodies.
Missionary chronicles provide sketchy details of Masonry in the region. In a letter dated November 7, 1898, from Sigaboy, Fr. Manuel Rosello, S.J., invoking God’s blessing and guid-ance for the converts, sought protection for the priests to be freed “from
the claws of the common enemy, Masonry, the filibustering, as well as the Yankee hordes,” referring to the American colonizers.
Fr. Rosello cited in his letter an incident when a gang of “robbers and revolutionaries… had wanted to imitate the Tagalogs [who revolted in Luzon] and destroyed the peace all over the district [Davao] but especially in Mati where the government office used to be,” adding that “in Mati everything became a race… trenches… barricades and panic, fears that the re-bels would appear from either side.” He was referring to the September 23, 1898, uprising in Baganga led by Don Prudencio Garcia, a Mason and a captain in the guardia civil. The dissent was an offshoot of the supposed corruption committed by the governor of Davao but not a rebellion against Spain. As extensions of the Spanish
government, Col. Manuel Garcia y Neilla, then chief of the Mati police, and Don Ricardo Rodriguez, commandant of Mati, coordinated to arrest the in-fantryman but had to yield to the mediation of Fr. Mateo Gisbert, S.J., then parish priest of Baganga. As an aftermath, Garcia peacefully surrendered and allowed himself to be brought to Mati.
Despite the bad reviews the missionaries had about the Masonic activities in the Davao region, Don Prudencio’s rapport with the Church and colonial officials was a bright note in his link with the priests. In fact, while in Mati, upon learning that the Gonzales family of Su-rigao had rounded up the Jesuits after the Spanish forces were beaten in the mock Battle of Manila Bay, he dispatched a team of 25 men to Surigao to seize power on March 24, 1899, and free the missioners.
A month later, on April 23, the colonel ordered the arrest of Juan Gonzales and his two sons, Simon and Wenceslao, a Mason and Katipunan member. The Gonzaleses, while escorted to Baganga on a boat, were shot and killed at Kabawan, Cortes, Surigao del Norte. As the Philippine revolution spread to Visayas and Mindanao, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, him-self a Mason, installed Garcia as commander of the 3rd and 4th districts of Mindanao with the rank of brigadier general. To Gen. Aguinaldo’s dismay, he sided with the Americans os-tensibly to save lives.
In a letter dated January 17, 1895, to the Jesuit superior general in Rome, Fr. Juan Ricart, once assigned in Davao, reported that peace and order conditions in the countryside had worsened, blaming colonial officials for the spread of “subversive activities”
The Securities and Exchange Commission (commonly known as SEC) is the government agency in-charge with the registration and supervision of corporations and securities, as well as capital market institutions and participants in the Philippines.
To us, lesser mortals, SEC is totally a different world. It’s difficult to decipher this world unless you are involved in corporations and capital market institutions.
It so happened we know of someone who is connected with SEC. In fact, he is a SEC commissioner in the person of Atty. Kelvin Lester K. Lee.
His position may be intimidating but in person, if you meet him personally, he is kind and generous with his time. He is straightforward when he talks about his opinion; he always thinks first before opening his mouth.
Atty. Lee has a sense of humor, too, but oftentimes, he talks with sense. He looks straight at your eyes when he wants to emphasize something. He smiles if he thinks the situation is somewhat intense.
He was appointed as SEC Commissioner in 2019 by no less than then President Rodrigo R. Duterte. “I was honored that the president chose me for this position,” Atty. Lee said.
As Commissioner, he is given the task to supervise the markets and securities regulation department, the information and communications technology department, the PhiliFintech (Philippine financial technology) innovation office and the international affairs and protocol division. He is also in-charge of the capital markets, sustainable finance, Fintech and information technology, and international affairs.
Those herculean tasks could make someone to experience vertigo. But not to Atty. Lee. “It is perhaps the best job I have ever had,” he admitted. “I enjoy being able to make a positive change in the sector I am handling. I enjoy pushing innovations and encouraging improvements in the finan-
courtesy
cial sector and capital markets.”
Being a SEC Commissioner is a great responsibility. This is the reason why he has become more cautious, he said. “I am more careful in my public statements, for instance, as any statement I make could affect the stock market,” he stressed.
When it comes to his family, he does not talk much about them as he is worried about their safety. “Back in 2019, I recalled that the chairperson and a few commissioners (myself included) received death threats in relation to some enforcement actions we authorized against investment scams,” he explained. “It was difficult experience because I hadn’t expected I would get such threats as a commissioner.”
Threats aside, Atty. Lee said the most challenging task being a commissioner is getting particular projects out in a certain time. He cited the time when he was overseeing the roll out of SEC’s digital services such as the Esparc (SEC registration program), the Efast (the online submission tool), the Epaysec (the online payment portal) and the SEC App, among others.
“Getting those out during the pandemic and having them operational within a specific timeframe was very, very challenging,” he said. “I am happy to say that with the collective efforts of the people in the SEC, we were able to successfully roll those out and now you can incorporate a company within minutes, online. In fact, you can access a full suite of online services of
the SEC from end to end now, making the SEC one of the more advanced government agencies when it comes to digital transformation.”
As a SEC Commissioner, Atty. Lee is doing his job well. In fact, he recently received two international awards for his leadership in promoting fintech innovation in the country. Out of more than 800 nominations across the region, he clinched the Gold Stevie Award for Thought Leader of the Year at the 10th Annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.
“It feels great,” he said of getting the prestigious award, which could be confirmation of his exemplary performance. “It’s always wonderful to be recognized for all the hard work and changes you are pursuing at a government agency. And I was quite surFPORTRAIT, P10
Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines, the trusted multinational consumer goods company with products that promote health and hygiene recently held a two-day tree planting activity in Lemery and Calatagan, Batangas, respectively. Over 100 P&G employees participated and planted 2,000 mangrove seedlings in the coastal areas.
Considered a natural climate solution, mangroves act as natural barriers against storms, floods, and erosion common in coastal areas. Mangroves also serve as a habitat for various marine species and support the livelihoods of coastal communities by providing food and raw materials for handicrafts and construction.
As part of P&G’s Ambition 2023 commitments, P&G has committed to make nature and biodiversity conservation as a focus pillar in its environmental sustainability efforts. The company is committed to
investing in protecting, improving, and restoring ecosystems which include investing in Natural Climate Solutions that support the longterm health of ecosystems critical to people, the planet, and its business.
In the Philippines, mangroves are under threat due to human activities such as deforestation, land conversion, and pollution. According to a study by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the country has lost 69% of its mangrove forests since 1918.
Aligned with its dedication to protecting, restoring, and improving natural resources, P&G has partnered with Nature Awareness and Conservation Club Inc. to contribute to the restoration of mangrove forests in the region. This tree planting activity serves as a pilot project for an upcoming initiative focused on nature and mangrove protection and restoration,
FIf one could encapsulate the power that new-generation tech enthusiasts look for in one brand, it would be POCO.
An independent brand from the Xiaomi Corporation, POCO has established itself as a global consumer technology brand as it entered more than 35 international
markets in just three years. Its philosophy is “Everything you need, nothing you don’t,” which was built on its commitment to providing innovative technology and user-friendly experiences that empower consumers.
During the local launch event of the POCO F5 Series last May 10, POCO Head of Marketing Angus Ng met with guests to talk about how the brand grew in the Philippines and also gave a rundown of its newest “hyper powered” smartphone line.
Resonating with the Filipino market
In the Philippines, many people are loyal to certain smartphone brands, which becomes a challenge for market newcomers to gain the trust of potential fans. According to Ng, POCO took this as an opportunity to build trust in the Filipino market by giving them what they needed and were looking for in a smartphone.
POCO also partnered with local retailers and e-commerce platforms to increase its visibility and make itself more accessible to the wider Filipino market. The smartphones also come in a range of competitively priced options that appeal to budget-conscious customers who are looking for high-end features.
“All these contributed to the warm acceptance of the Filipino consumers since our launch of POCO F1, where we were able to sell 2,000 units in 30 minutes on its first day of sale,” said Ng.
“POCO has made significant strides in establishing itself as one of the most promising smartphone
brands in the Philippines and Southeast Asian markets in a relatively short period,” he added. “Today, POCO is continuously the best-selling smartphone brand in e-commerce platforms in the country.”
Ensuring quality in every POCO smartphone
POCO takes several steps to ensure that it’s putting out a high-quality product, taking into account the latest technological trends and smartphone users’ needs. Ng explained that the brand conducts extensive market research, analyzes market data, and even collaborates with industry experts and partners to gather feedback and insight.
“POCO’s user-centric approach means involving our community in the design and development of our products,” he said.
This commitment to quality is evident in every flagship series that the brand releases. The latest POCO F5 Series is a testament to this as it boasts unparalleled speed and powerful charging. Both the F5 and F5 FINSIDE, P10
Chai Abaya, regional operations consultant of PRIME Philippines, told Edge Davao.
PRIME Philippines shall also perform marketing initiatives to promote Davao City investment and trade such as invitations to the existing network of local and foreign investors and preparation and conduction of city tours and site visits that shall feature major residential, commercial (office and retail), industrial, hospitality and infrastructure developments together with representatives from the Investors’ Assistance and Servicing
tions, cooperatives, and business establishments displayed their in the said area through a one-day ‘Kadiwa sa Pangulo para sa Pilipinong Manggagawa.’
Among the products displayed were agricultural produce like vegetables, fruits, fish, and dairy; local delicacies; textiles and garments. (PIA Davao de Oro/MLU)
spread throughout the country,” Batocabe explained.
Noel Daquioag, the Davao del Norte provincial tourism officer participating in the training, said the CLI has a great impact in guiding them on how to promote not only tourism but culture as well.
“In the Philippine brand of service, culture must be on top. With this course, we will be able to institutionalize culture and tourism,” he said in a separate interview. (PNA)
These factors, the BSP said, are expected to be countered by the weaker-than-expected recovery of the global economy, among others.
The central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) will include the latest inflation report, along with the macroeconomic outlook, in the assessment of the latest developments during the rate setting meeting of the MB on June 22.
“The BSP stands ready to adjust the monetary policy stance as necessary to prevent the further broadening of price pressures as well as the emergence of additional second-order effects. The BSP also supports for the timely and effective implementation of non-monetary government measures to mitigate the impact of persistent supply-side pressures on inflation,” it added.
Last May 18, the MB kept the BSP’s key rates steady, the first since rate hiking cycle started in May 2022, after noting the deceleration of inflation rate and possible slower print in domestic output based on demand indicators.
Since May 2022, the BSP’s key rates have been hiked by a total of 425 basis points from the record-low 2 percent for the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) during the pandemic.
The gross domestic product (GDP) exceeded expectations when it grew by 6.4 percent on an annual basis in the first three months of the year.
GDP growth in the first quarter of this year was slower than the previous three month’s 7.1 percent but authorities and analysts traced this to base effects of last year’s high growth levels. (PNA)
in the Davao Region as of April this year. DTI 11 has maintained 53 NCs and assisted 10,223 clients.
These NCs conducted 300 pieces of training attended by 7,205 participants 5,012 were females (70 percent of the total number of participants). Of these training, 37 percent or 110 were classified as entrepreneurial, 16 percent or 49 were skills, 19 percent or 58 were productivity, 9 percent or 27 were regulatory, 7 percent or 21 were financing, 6 percent or 17 were livelihood/product development, 5 percent or 16 were learning visits/ techno demo/forum, and 1 percent or two were from trade training.
Also in April this year, DTI 11 conducted the launching and orientation of the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) and Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Program via Zoom that was participated by 51 mentees from the Davao Region.
KMME is a program that aims to help MSMEs scale up their business thru coaching and mentoring.
prices of goods),” he said.
The latest inflation rate was discussed in a meeting convened by Marcos at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday morning, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in a Palace press briefing.
Pascual said the government intends to remove the bottlenecks to further tame inflation.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, in a separate statement, said the Marcos administration would continue implementing economic strategies to keep the inflation rate well within the target.
Marcos on May 26 signed Executive Order (EO) 28, creating the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO) to improve the coordination and action of government agencies in managing inflation and mitigating the effects of rising commodity prices on the Filipino people. (PNA)
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set to launch in the coming months.
With over 87-years of presence in the Philippines, P&G recognizes its role not only in building the nation as an economic driver, but also in protecting, improving, and restoring its natural resources. As P&G continues to bring the comforts of home to every Filipino household through its products, the company is also committed to advancing responsible sourcing, pioneering environmental safety science, and protecting, improving, and restoring ecosystems through its sustainability initiatives.
Pro are equipped with high-end Snapdragon® processors, AMOLED displays with high refresh rate, and large battery capacity.
“The POCO F5 Series distinguishes itself from earlier POCO products and other smartphone brands in the market with its innovative and exciting new features,” said Ng. He added that this series would make a great gaming phone because of its power and speed, and a superior camera phone thanks to its advanced imaging capabilities.
“[We’ve made] significant improvements to design and build quality, ensuring that they not only perform well but also look and feel premium.”
Shop the POCO F5 Series on Shopee. For more information, visit the official POCO Facebook Page.
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programa ng gobyerno na mapapabuti po ang kabuhayan ng mga kababayan nating Pilipino lalung-lalo na po ang mahihirap
(As a senator, I support any step or program of the government that aims to improve the lives of our countrymen especially the poor).”
Signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2020, RA 11291 aims to provide a comprehensive framework for addressing poverty-related concerns.
The National Anti-Poverty Commission expects to finish the amendments on the law’s IRR by the end of the month. It will specify details on its implementation under the National Poverty Reduction Plan and the local government units’ Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans.
The Marcos administration sees the implementation of RA 11291 as a means to bring down the country’s poverty incidence from 18.1 percent in 2021 to 8.8 to 9 percent by 2028. (PNA)
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corner Sta. Ana Avenue, Barangay 30-C.
CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran reported that a family of seven from New San Isidro, Barangay Buhangin Proper sought shelter at the Barangay Gym as the water level in their house reached waistdeep. They were able to return to their house when the water subsided after few hours.
the Office of the President to issue an executive order mandating information security standards for CIIs.
To address cyber threats on CIIs in the long-term, the group is pushing for the Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act (CIIPA).
Five Senate bills and three House bills were already filed in the Congress on CIIPA. (PNA)
5
itive, although the risk of food inflation remains possible due to El Niño,” he said.
Galang’s appeal came on the heels of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) latest projection on the country’s medium-term inflation path.
“The May 2023 inflation outturn of 6.1 percent is within the BSP’s forecast range of 5.8 to 6.6 percent, consistent with the overall assessment that inflation will remain elevated over the near term before gradually decelerating back to target range in fourth quarter of 2023, in the absence of further supply-shocks,” the BSP said in a statement on Tuesday.
Alan Tan, chair of ADM’s economics department, said “the economy is poised to grow at its average pace of 6.5 percent this second quarter. This is supported by softening inflation and lowering global oil prices.”
Meanwhile, market analyst Astro Del Castillo, president
prised to get the Gold Stevie Award, which is the highest level of the award for thought leadership. I feel so honored!”
In addition, Atty. Lee was also recognized as an exceptional FinTech Regulatory and Innovation Leader by the Asian FinTech Academy.
“I also am quite happy to receive this award,” he admitted. “It’s significant as this was the first fintech award I received this year and which recognizes all the fintech policy work we do in the sector. It is often very hard to know if you are doing the correct thing when it comes to regulations and policy work, especially in a field as dynamic as fintech.”
With all the thrills, the challenges, and the awards he received of being a SEC Commissioner, will he still pursue the like of life he has now? He answered affirmatively but added, “However, I would definitely make one major change in my life – and that is to lose weight!”
Atty. Lee has indeed come a long, long way. To think, he dreamed of being a scientist when he was a kid growing up in Davao City. “I never thought I would become a lawyer, much less a government official,” he said.
He graduated at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2000. “I took Legal Management because at the time I had started becoming interested in doing business but I thought it best to have some legal background so it would be easier to get into business,” he said. “I never imagined it would help lead me to becoming a lawyer, years later.”
As fate would have it, he attended Ateneo School of Law and graduated in 2008. “The best part was learning all these interesting laws,” he recalled. “I found law fascinating as it opened up a whole new realm of knowledge. And for someone like me, I really enjoy learning new things.”
The worst of becoming a lawyer was the pressure. “The pressure to excel, much less pass the bar, was very, very hard,” he said. “And I honestly am not sure I could do it again today. That’s why I have the utmost respect for bar examinees. The challenge of getting through a bar exam is always hard.”
Atty. Lee took the bar in 2008. While waiting for the results of the bar exam, he worked with the Siguion Reyna Montecillo and Ongsiako Law Office in Makati City. When the results came out the following year, he stayed and worked with the same law office.
“I only left Manila when my family and I decided to go home to Davao,” he said. This was around 2013. He decided to stay in Davao City for good but then Rodrigo R. Duterte became the president of the Philippines.
Executive Secretary Salvador Me-
and managing director of First Grade Holdings, said he is more optimistic about the second semester of the year because “the worst of the inflation surge is now behind us.”
With all the pandemic restrictions gone, he said, the economy is once again poised to resume its forward momentum.
However, Del Castillo warned that food security and the energy situation in portions of the country must be addressed sooner rather than later.
It was noted that provinces like Occidental Mindoro, and to a lesser extent, Oriental Mindoro, have been suffering from rotating brownouts since the onset of the dry season.
Del Castillo said the government should lay the groundwork to enhance domestic food production to avoid situations like the recent onion supply crisis, which began late last year and extended to the opening weeks of 2023. (PNA)
dialdea invited him to join his office as an assistant secretary, which he accepted.
“It was great,” he said of his stint at assistant secretary of the executive secretary. “I learned a lot from him, on how to deal with problems and issues of a national scale, and how to handle crisis, among others.”
But there were other important things he learned from Sec. Medialdea. “Among those I learned from him were how to stay calm under pressure, to get as much information you can, and assess all the evidence and perspectives before you make a decision,” Atty. Lee said. “To have a leader panic during a problem does no one any good. I try to apply those lessons even now as a SEC Commissioner.”
Despite all the hectic schedules he has, he still has a time working as a law professor at the Rizal Memorial College School of Law.
“I started teaching back in 2019, and I focused on Corporate Governance and later on in Corporate Law for Commercial Law Review,” he recalled. “I usually teach one to two days a week over zoom. And it is very difficult to manage the time considering my busy schedule as a SEC Commissioner. But I consider teaching very important, so I try to make the time.”
Talking of time, he said that time is the hardest part of being a law professor. “Time management,” he said. “Balancing the time between work and teaching and of course family, is very, very hard.”
So much so that for the 2023 school year, he said he had to take a break “as the demands of the office have been a bit too much, especially with the many meetings.”
As part of his job as SEC Commissioner, he is also oftentimes invited to be a guest or invited speaker. He also does lectures.
“Making the topic interesting to the audience,” he replied when asked on what makes lectures challenging. “I usually lecture on very complex topics such as corporate law, corporate governance, fintech policy and sustainable finance. So, it is often a challenge to keep the attention of the audience for an extended period of time on such difficult topics.”
Ten years from now, Atty. Les still sees himself working in law, and perhaps technology. “I hope to still work in government and trying to make a difference,” he said. “But more importantly, I foresee I will still be a happy family man, with a supportive wife, wonderful kids, great mom and siblings and a very fulfilling life.
His final words: “Working in government can be quite fulfilling. I encourage young lawyers and professionals to enter the arena and work in government to try and make a positive difference.” .
hind Indonesia’s Figo Saputra (23.39) and Firza Listianto (24.00).
Dino clocked 23.55 seconds to settle for the third place in the men’s 200m T47 event.
Nur Ferry Pradana of Indonesia won in 22.36 while his compatriot, Rizal Bagus Saktyono, was second in 22.78.
In the men’s javelin throw F55, Joel Balatucan finished fourth (22.05m) behind Kieu Minh Trung of Vietnam (27.00m), Riadi Saputra of Indonesia (25.69m) and Shar Haji Juma’at of Brunei (22.16m).
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tion Project to three months,” said Engr. Jerome Ryan Deleonio, Head of the Distribution Services Department of Davao Light. “That’s how fast electrification is now.”
Shocked? You bet. I was in the middle of my afternoon round of golf with buddies, topnotch Architects Omar Payumo and Benjie Panganiban, when my phone went wild with that familiar twitter sound because of the latest golf buzz in town. I’m surprised as with the rest of the golfing world caught unaware with the “SUDDEN” merger of which nobody knew it coming.
I am in the process of writing my column on another subject but due to this sudden turn of events, I find it too much to resist since this has been my pet subject for the past months. LIV golf.
Business. Profit. The color of money. This more or less sums up the biggest turnaround in golf and most likely the top candidate for the “GOLF NEWS of the year 2023”. After creating much animosity and divisiveness in the golf world when LIV started, this merger I bet will create more questions than answers in the coming days.
“I recognize everything I’ve said in the past in my past positions. I recognize that people will call me a hypocrite” says PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan as he releases the cat out of the box. Or as one of my golf buddies would say. “At the time he said things in the past he didn’t know how much or didn’t imagine what they could personally gain financially from a merger”.
But what about Rory, Freddie Couples and the other mouthpieces of PGA who made war of words against their colleagues in their profession, against the stars of LIV like Lefty Phil, Patrick Reid, DJ and the rest? Poor fellas they need to swallow back the bitter words they have uttered in the past against their LIV counterparts.
All litigations related to LIV and PGA Tour, DP world tour
would be cancelled. This was one of the features on the merger of which details are still on the process. All legal animosity is now all water under the bridge.
All LIV golfers can now re apply for PGA and DP World Tour after the 2023 season ends. Wow and wow. But the million dollar question is, “will LIV accept furthermore applicants from the PGA and DP world Tour?”
The big leap of pro golfers from the PGA and DP world tour to LIV is a business decision above all. They knew their world ranking would be affected. They knew it would have an impact in their participation on the majors. They knew their status in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and other “exhibition” tournaments rep-
resenting their countries would be jeopardized. But as things are shaping up now, these LIV golfers are most likely smiling as they peeked at their accounts at the bank. It seems they had their cake and ate it to.
The defection of Cameron Smith and Mito Pereira suddenly appear as brilliant career moves but same cannot be said with the case of Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Victor Hovland rumored ready to make their leap of faith but stick just like the others who choose the PGA out of loyalty and shun the million bucks the LIV is dangling for all newcomers. What about the case of PGA and DP World tour players who will now knock on the door of the LIV?
Very obviously, Jimmy Butler is the heart and soul of Miami in the same manner Nikola Jokic is for Denver.
Butler is a journeyman who has worn uniforms for New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Before coming over to the Heat franchise, he had battled Spoelstra and his platoon in the EC in the past and had once muttered that he won’t ever play for Miami.
Today, he has sworn “over his dead body” that the Heat jersey will be his last in the NBA.
Dam Adebayo has been sing-
Well, with the sudden turn of events, the matter has not yet been discussed by the merger unlike the accommodation they have accorded to the LIV golfers. For one, they don’t have yet a name for the entity of this merger, its structure, their plans, and direction. What is only clear is the merger which they announced to the world in haste that caught everyone unaware. Does the pressure of financial sponsors of the PGA and DP World tour have something to do with this sudden turn around? Maybe.
As for Sergio Garcia, Brooksie , DJ and especially Phil, this is a very positive development. The first three can now have a big fighting chance for inclusion in the Ryder Cup with this merg-
er but the same cannot be said with the animosity with the other players when they are now gathered in the locker room after the war of words. Only time will tell if the wounds would heal fast. How about the captaincy of Team USA for Ryder Cup to Lefty?
As everyone have started to settle down, I see one blond hair fellow smiling, with that familiar cowboy hat with a shark logo on it riding on his horse in his ranch in Australia. After months of parrying and exchanging blows with the gods of PGA and DP world tour, the shark can now concentrate in running the affairs of LIV golf.
Only time will tell if this short fairy tale would have the usual happy ending… and they LIV happily ever after?
ing paeans to his buddy who has uncharacteristically blown hot and cold from the playoffs up to the best of seven championship setto against their Denver counterparts.
The Heat and Nuggets will cross swords anew today in Game 3 in Miami in what experts like to describe as “the pivotal” match. Pivotal because whoever wins the third match takes the momentum while the loser is faced with utmost pressure.
Considering that Miami stole Game 2 as the Heat were visiting Mile High City, Butler and company
will happily cherish how beating the Celtics in Boston twice (Games 1 & 2) was the saving grace that they are now in the finals. Going 2-1 will be each coach’s objective.
As this is the Nuggets’ first NBA finals appearance in several decades, the loss they suffered at home - the first since Denver’s successful run in the quarterfinals and semifinals - to a certain extent, may have sapped their collective or individual optimism.
If you carefully review Game 2, Malone was outcoached by Spoelstra in a subtle kind of way.
The latter rested Butler, paced Adebayo and Robinson and gabe Vincent for the critical fourth period swing.
Spoelstra did not send back Butler, his ace gunner, till the 8-minute mark of the fourth where Miami’s tiny lead was being threatened to be overcome.
From the beginning, Spoelstra’s rotation ably rested his starting five and his inclusion of Kevin Love as a starter added more firepower and presence in the middle to counter the hulking Serbian star’s dominance.
Thus, Adebayo’s load was less-
ened and eased somewhat, giving him the opportunity to produce 21 pts (alongside Butler’s similar output).
Denver must find someone who can stop Heat guard Duncan Robinson whose lethal sniping from beyond the arc stymied the Nuggets’ offense.
The Nuggets were initially able to limit Butler’s prolific scoring in Game 1 but there are more headaches coming up for Malone. Still a fifty-fifty though, if you ask me. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
Angel Mae Otom and Ernie Gawilan, and thrower delivered one gold each on Wednesday as Team Philippines remained fifth overall with 21 gold medals at the 12th Asean Para Games here.
Otom claimed her third gold medal at the Morodok Aquatics Center with a stunning victory in the women’s 50m butterfly S5 event where she set a new Games record of 47.33 seconds, shattering her 48.07 performance last year in Indonesia.
Vietnam’s Thi Sari Nguyen settled for the silver medal in 1:17.31.
Gawilan, on the other hand, triumphed in the men’s 200m Individual Medley SM7 with a time of 2:50.29 to claim his second gold medal.
Vietnam’s Hoang Nha Nguyen (2:56.96) and Quang Thoai Han (2:57.25) were second and third, respectively.
Gawilan also pocketed the silver medal in the 50m buttterfly (34.72), finishing second to Singapore’s Wei Soong Toh (30.78).
Vietnam’s Nguyen Hoang Nha (34.84) was third.
Double-gold medalist Gary Bejino placed second in the men’s 50m butterfly S6 event won by Thailand’s Aekkarin Noithat (34.48). Boonyarit Payungsakul, also from Thailand, was third (39.02).
Carbonel topped the men’s discus throw F11 in 25.67 me-
ters, beating Brunei’s Awang Raduan-Awang Haji Mataha (20.99) and Cambodia’s Vann Chamroeun (14.92) at the warm up area of the Morodok Techo Stadium.
Meanwhile, Jesebel Tordecilla got the silver medal in the women’s javelin throw F55 with an effort of 13.62 meters .
Vietnam’s Ngo Thi Lan won the gold medal (14.27m) while Myanmar’s Htet Htet Aye secured the bronze medal (11.68m).
Andrei Kuizon registered 19.03 meters in the men’s javelin throw F34-54 to finished second behind Vietnam’s Vovan Tung (21.33m). Malaysia’s Taufik Nasirdin (13.19m) was third.
Athletics also delivered three bronze medals coming from Cendy Asusano, Jerome Fernandez and Arman Dino.
Asusano, another double-gold winner, finished third in the women’s discus throw F54 with an effort of 13.46m.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy won the event in 14.43m while her compatriot, Tran Thi Tu was third (13.84m).
Fernandez (24.43) ranked third in the men’s 200m T46 be-
