Edge10 issue106 August 29, 2017

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

Governor Emmylou Talino-Mendoza (right), Senator Cynthia Villar (center) and Department of Tourism (DOT) 12 director Nelly Nita Dillera lead the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Market-Market sa Kapitolyo Cotabato

DCPO chief believes Maute pa had vital info

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he chief of police in Davao City regrets the death of the patriarch of the Mautes as he could have the vital information on the Marawi siege launched in May. Davao City Police Of�ice (DCPO) Director, Chief Inspector Alexander Tagum said it was unfortunate Cayamora Maute, the father of brothers Abdullah and Omar who led the attack on Marawi City in May, died.

Tagum said in two days that Cayamora was held in

Davao City before his immediate transfer to Manila, he was not cooperative with the police authorities during the investigation.

“He was not cooperative.

There was no voluntary information,” Tagum said in an interview Monday.

But Tagum still believes the Maute patriarch was obviously the main solicitor for support to the ISIS. He said Cayamora even sent his children for foreign training.

Cayamora had previous af�ili-

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Missing kids could be among Maute hostages

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Facebook post from ARMM Vice Governor Al Haroun Raschid Lucman, Jr. late Friday night has given focus to yet another dimension in the now 96-day war in Marawi City: young boys alleged to have been recruited by the Maute Group and photographed brandishing �irearms could be children kidnapped years ago or reported missing since the �ire�ight between government forces and the IS-inspired terror group began on May 23.

Lucman’s post showed two photographs -- a toddler

wearing a white sando and a young boy in black, carrying a long �irearm.

“A mother posted this in the FB saying the toddler on the left side was her son who went missing several years ago. She felt the child combatant on the right side is strikingly similar to (her) missing son... IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO CAN HELP, IF EVER HE IS STILL ALIVE, PLEASE DO..

Please share so that it will hopefully reach those who can help..,” Lucman said.

A post from the Facebook

MISSING, 10

Agro-fair opening in time for the 103rd Founding Anniversary of Cotabato Province and 7th Kalivungan Festival at the Basket Provincial Pavilion in Amas, Kidapawan City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Law agencies to hold awareness campaign

By PAULA KIM FELICIANO

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aw enforcement agencies are bringing their awareness campaign to campuses and communities around Davao City.

The reaching out activities are part of the celebration of the “23rd Crime Prevention Week” which will be observed on September 1-7.

National Police Commission(NAPOLCOM), Of�icer-in-Charge of the Board Atty. Randy Babao said in Monday’s Kapehan sa Davao

in SM Ecoland that the agency will be holding several activitires like symposiums, inter-school basketball tournaments, barangay and city jail visitations, distribution of whistles for the general public and radio guestings. All these are aimed at strengthening the dissemination of information on crime prevention.

Also part of the highlight of the week-long celebration is the creation of the Regionwide Student Crime Preven-

tion Committees (SCPCs), which are designed to encourage students to be “the eyes and ears” of the police patrols against all forms of criminality that could possibly occur inside campuses.

Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum, Davao City Police District Director, said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be implementing an integrated and rejuvenated operation on neighborhood watch, in line

with the crime prevention week celebration.

“The intensi�ied integrated patrol system, backed up with support of our 900 volunteers and auxiliary policemen, working alongside with our police patrols who are manning the security of our streets, is a very strong counter measure against any form of criminality or terrorism attempts to enter Davao City.”

Tagum said.

in Cebu on Thursday.

The Chief Justice added that out of the 274 eCourts, 159 are conducting automated hearings, where courts issue their orders within minutes after their hearings, cutting trial time by at least a month because the orders need not go through snail mail to reach the lawyers and litigants.

“In other words, when you begin your careers as lawyers, you can litigate your

cases by just looking at your smartphones and laptops. It will be justice at the tip of your �ingers,” she noted.

The eCourt system was pilot-tested last 2013 in Quezon City.

The E-courts, as a case management system, record all incidents in an information system that shows the age of each case and highlights pending incidents that require action.

It also noti�ies judges of

deliverables and deadlines, and provides them with templates for orders and decisions to fast-track their orders immediately after the hearing, target aged cases, and ultimately reduce case backlogs.

The E-courts which not only help in the speedy resolution of cases but also make the courts less prone to corruption since it provides for random electronic sampling and raf�ling of cases, the con-

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298 courts to go hi-tech this year: SC

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lose to 300 courts nationwide will have the eCourt system in place this year, Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno said.

“By 2017, eCourts will be deployed in 10 cities, including Cebu City, or a total of 298 courts. As of August 2017, eCourts have been deployed to 274 courts, while the remaining 24 courts are undergoing training” Sereno said during the Ulat sa Hudikatura

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NEWS 3

Ozamiz judge inhibits from Parojinog cases

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ne of the two judges of the Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court (RTC) inhibited from handling the criminal cases �iled against Ozamiz City Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and her brother Reynaldo Jr., due to her compulsory retirement this month.

“On the ground of compulsory retirement from public service of the Presiding Judge of this court this month — August 2017, having no more time to hear or try the cases or motions in connection thereof which require or need immediate action as well

as for reason of delecadeza in order to preclude doubt or suspicion from both parties concerned …the undersigned hereby inhibits from handling the same,” Ozamiz City RTC Branch 35 Judge Salome P. Dungog said in a one-page order dated August 8, 2017.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the �iling of criminal charges against the Parojinog siblings in connection with the July 30 anti-drug operations that resulted in the death of their father Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 13 others.

n line with the country’s observance of National Heroes Day, the Philippine Army (on Sunday handed over PHP68 million in checks to the families and loved ones of 68 troopers who died in the ongoing efforts to liberate Marawi City from the clutches of Maute Group.

The turnover ceremony took place at Ricarte Hall, PA Of�icers Club, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto said.

Families and loved ones of the fallen troops were given PHP1 million check each.

The money was initially donated by an anonymous

donor to the Armed Forces of the Philippines who then forwarded it to the PA, Ileto added.

The number of bene�iciaries of this unnamed philanthropist has now climbed to 76.

Family members of the remaining Army fatalities will be given the same assistance once their documents and other requirements are processed.

“The Philippine Army is grateful for the support extended to the families of our fallen soldiers. This will surely serve as an inspiration to our troops still �ighting in Marawi City,” Ileto added. (PNA)

OZAMIZ, 10

Patron gives P68-M to slain army soldiers Remains of 10 missing US I ICONIC HOSPITAL. St. Luke’s Medical Center president and chief executive officer Dr. Edgardo Cortez (2nd from right) talks about the institution’s plans and programs on the upcoming SLMC hospital which will be built at Azuela Cove in Lanang, Davao City in a news conference during the formal announcement held at Marco Polo Davao on Saturday evening. Dr. Cortez was

joined by SLMC-Global City senior vice president and head for medical practice group and medical director Dr. Arturo Dela Pena (leftmost), Rafael Solis and SLMC-Quezon City senior vice president and head for medical practice group and medical director Dr. Jose Moran. Lean Daval Jr.

sailors from warship found

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ll 10 missing sailors from the USS John S. McCain were con�irmed dead as their remains had been found aboard the ship now docked at the Singapore Changi Naval Base, the US Navy said Monday.

The destroyer collided with oil tanker Alnic MC in waters off the eastern side of Singapore last Monday.

Of the 10, six were elec-

tronics technicians, two interior communications electricians and two information systems technicians, aged between 20 to 39.

Two bodies were identi�ied last week, according to the US Navy.

The search and rescue operation at sea for the unaccounted was suspended last Thursday after the US Navy decided to focus on recovery of the warship it-

self.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Singapore-coordinated search and rescue efforts with the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia covered 5,524 square km and involved more than 300 personnel from various Singapore agencies.

The collision was the second involving a destroy-

er from the US 7th Fleet in two months.

Head of the US 7th Fleet Joseph Aucoin, who was scheduled to retire next month, was removed from his post last week.

In June, the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with Philippine container vessel ACX Crystal, killing seven sailors and injuring three others. (Xinhua)

pecting the Maute Group remnants to resist as the latter are forced to consolidate into much smaller positions which they will use in �ighting to the end.

“Formerly, they (Maute Group terrorists) were spread out (but with the capture of the Marawi City police station and Grand Mosque) they are now consolidating their remaining �ighters and positions,” Año said in Filipino.

He also declined to give the date or timeframe for this

so-called “one big battle” preferring that the ground and tactical commanders decide and plan on the operation.

As of this writing, military units in Marawi have so far neutralized 603 terrorists and recovered 665 weapons.

Government losses were placed at 130 troops along with 45 civilians executed or killed by the terrorists.

Rescued civilians totaled 1,728 while 1,270 improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnances have been recovered so far. (PNA)

apparently uninformed or ill-motivated persons in the case of Kian Delos Santos’ death is so untrue,” Aguirre said in a statement.

“I am on the side of the truth and of the rule of law.

That is my only bias,” the Justice Secretary said.

Kian, 17, who was killed during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City last August 16, was laid to rest on Saturday.

During a Senate investigation on the matter last week, Aguirre said Kian’s death is a tragedy.

“A death is a death. The

violent taking of the life of our youth is deplorable it simply cannot be allowed to go unpunished and I give my solemn reassurances to everyone that the ones responsible for this dastardly act will be punished to the full extent of the law,” he said.

“As a father and a parent myself, I condemn the killing of Kian Delos Santos. I condemn the killing in the same way that I condemn the brutal killings, the rape and the dehumanization of infants and children, of grandmothers and grandfathers, of moth-

AFP braces for big battle in Marawi

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fter regaining the Marawi City police station and the Grand Mosque last week, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año said the military is now preparing for the “one big battle” that will liberate the locality from the clutches of the remaining Maute Group terrorists.

This is possible as the area, where the terrorists are holed in, have grown much smaller, the AFP chief said Monday.

He added that he is ex-

Aguirre on Kian case:‘I am not biased’

J STREET COMMODITY. Passersby are reflected from a knock-off sunglasses being peddled by hawkers along C.M. Recto Avenue in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

ustice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday denied allegations of various groups tagging him as ‘biased’ on the case of the policemen involved in the death of Grade 11 student Kian Loyd Delos Santos.

“I am not biased in the Kian Delos Santos case. It is farthest from the truth. Any act of murder perpetrated against any Filipino deserves condemnation and I will work to bring the ones responsible for such acts to get the full measure of our penal laws. The allegations of bias hurled against me by some

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Davao City eyes more eco-friendly programs

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he city government is eyeing more eco-friendly programs after it launched Friday the Biodiesel Fuel Project with the help of the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA).

This was revealed Sunday by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, saying she is looking for more eco-friendly programs to bene�it not only Davao but the rest of the regions in the country.

Protecting the environment is one of the top socioeconomic agenda of the mayor.

The biodiesel plant alone would bolster her environment thrust.

Last Friday, the city government launched a threemonth test run of 30 public utility vehicles and garbage collection trucks of the City Environment and Natural Resources Of�ice (Cenro) to determine the viability and sustainability of using recycled cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.

The biodiesel project is an initiative of the city government with the help of the JICA using the technology of recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. It is the technology offered to the city government for free by Biomass Japan Inc. and Shinozaki Transport Warehouse Co. Ltd. The test run will be conducted from September to November.

The mayor said using biodiesel fuel would bene�it consumers and even the city

government in terms of fuel expenses.

Under the project, the city government piloted the collection of used cooking oil from households and establishments from 10 barangays in the �irst district as collection points. It will not only protect the environment but de-clog canals given that used cooking oil is being dumped into canals.

According to Shegito Mizumoto, the trainer from Japan Biomass, the Davao city government is the sole LGU recipient of the biodiesel project. JICA chose Davao as a pilot area for this project because of its ef�icient enforcement of local legislation.

Mizumoto said Biomass Japan will provide the training and the technology which costs about PHP10 million but the technology is given to the city for free. Biomass Japan will install the facility and train operation and maintenance staff of CENRO. The machine can produce 3,000 liters of biodiesel per day. The 1,000 liters used cooking oil is equivalent to 900 liters biodiesel fuel.

Duterte-Carpio said the facility, which harnesses technology to transform used oil to biodiesel fuel, is a welcome development -- especially since waste management is one of the key priorities of the city government.

The mayor remains steadfast in preserving the environment amid the fast growing development in the city.

alaysia-based AirAsia has expressed interest in expanding its services in the Philippines to include �lights from Davao City to key cities in China, Korea and Malaysia.

In his courtesy call on Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said the lowering or scrapping of the airport or departure tax in small airports will help in realizing the airline’s expansion plans in the Philippines.

Dominguez, in turn, said he will look into this possibility to help slash travel costs and boost trade and tourism.

The �inance chief also broached the possibility of airports selling or leasing gates to airlines at different rates depending on the landing times, in lieu of imposing airport taxes.

“I have asked the DOF (Department of Finance) representatives in the airports to tell them to consider this differential pricing, selling gates, rather than a �ixed tax,” Dominguez told Fernandes.

Fernandes raised the issue of either removing or lowering the rates in small airports to encourage airlines to put in more �lights as he welcomed Dominguez’s proposal for airports to sell or lease gates as a viable alternative to the airport tax.

The AirAsia CEO said the low-cost airline is interested in expanding its existing Davao-Singapore �lights to include routes from Davao City to China, Korea and Malaysia.

“There’s a big population here. There’s a good business here. We met some farmers who wish to send their cargos directly to these places,” Fernandes said.

Fernandes said there is a “massive opportunity” in expanding the tourism sector in the Philippines once the costs of air travel in coming here are made more affordable by budget airlines whose pricing will depend on how much they are charged for the use of airport terminals.

“The President mentioned the islands here and when I checked it, I said wow,

AirAsia to expand Philippines’services M

AIR, 10

NOT JUST ENOUGH. A fruit vendor prepares to open a Durian fruit for his customers at Magsaysay fruit stand on Monday. Durian fruit is sold from P100 to P150 per kilo at Davao City’s markets due to supply shortage. Lean Daval Jr.

Ayala-Alcantara to put up P25B Azuela Cove in Davao

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he Aviana Development Corporation, a joint venture partnership between real estate giant Ayala Land and homegrown The Alcantara Group of Companies, will invest P20 billion for the development of Azuela Cove, a 25-hectare waterside development in Davao City, that would generate 13,000 jobs during its construction period.

In a media brie�ing Friday, Ayala Land assistant vice president Enrique Manuel Jr. said the construction of the Azuela Cove will help further “boost the growth of the local economy, serve as a steward of Davao’s environment, and ultimately enrich the lives of more Dabawenyos.”

“Azuela Cove will be a new master-planned estate, unlike any that we have designed before. It will offer the residents and visitors of Davao, a unique waterside experience, in a naturally beautiful setting

enhanced by world-class design,” he said.

Azuela Cove is where the Alcantara family’s plywood manufacturing plant once stood.

Manuel said they made the decision to expand to the city, following its real estate boom and its growing demand for commercial and residential spaces in Davao which is “poised to become one of the most vibrant city centers not only in the Philippines, but also in Southeast Asia.”

The mixed-use project facing Davao Gulf and Island Garden City of Samal will be completed within eight to 10 years, Manuel said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who graced the launching of the Azuela Cove late Friday afternoon, said He said the joint venture of Ayala Land and the Alcantara Group of Comapnies Azuela Cove will not only bring more jobs for

the people of Davao City and its neighboring areas but “will further de�ine the city as a thriving hub in Mindanao.”

“I assure our private partners that the government has taken measures to ensure that you can do business with ease. We intend to establish an environment that is more conducive for new investments to prosper and for existing businesses to expand and grow,” he said.

Manuel said the entire property comprises residential towers, retail centers, corporate towers and support infrastructure that would “create harmonious environment to support Davao’s economic growth and promote a better quality life for more people.”

The Ayala Land Premier (ALP) Condominiums and the country’s premier hospital St. Luke’s Medical Center will rise within the property and will be complemented with

commercial spaces and event areas such as retail shops and convention facility with a 1,500 seating capacity, Manuel added.

Ayala Land made its entry in the city about nine years ago with its �irst premier mall, Abreeza Ayala Mall, followed

by Seda Hotel, Alveo and Avida residential towers, and corporate center.

The partnership between the two developers came about when the Alcantara family offered to partner with Ayala to develop the waterside property.

“The prospect of growing another thriving commercial and lifestyle district in the middle of the city, less than �ive kilometers away from the airport, and facing the Davao Gulf, inspired us with its vast and exciting possibilities,” he said.

The the Makati Central Business District, Bonifa-

said, referring to the outgoing director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency who will take his oath on Tuesday as the new BOC commissioner.

“There’s no point in wasting billions of pesos to double the number of Customs staff,” said Atienza, former threeterm mayor of Manila.

The lawmaker said the BOC has been “set up to fail” in its mission to protect the country against illegal shipments and to collect the exact import duties and taxes.

He said rotten BOC of�icials and employees themselves do not want the bureau to succeed in its job.

“They want the BOC to

stay inef�icient because they thrive on inef�iciency – because corruption thrives on inef�iciency. The day the bureau becomes truly effective at its job is also the day corrupt examiners and agents lose their lucrative rackets,” Atienza said.

He said the only viable intervention left is for Congress to require the prior screening overseas of all shipments destined for the Philippines.

“Once we have pre-shipment inspection, the BOC will actually need fewer staff, because the bureau will be performing less work,” Atienza said.

In the proposed

P3.767-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2018, the BOC is seeking to spend an additional P4.2 billion every year to �ill up 3,233 vacant positions.

At present, only 3,031 of the bureau’s 6,264 authorized positions have been �illed up.

“As long as we have systemic corruption at the BOC, of�icials and staff there will continue to �ind ways to circumvent reforms,” Atienza warned.

He cited as an example the P6.4-billion worth of shabu from China that was intentionally diverted to the BOC’s express “green lane” at the Port of Manila to avoid inspec-

AYALA, 10

Solon seeks scrapping of P4.2B more fund for BOC

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ouse senior deputy minority leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza has asked his colleagues in Congress to scrap the extra P4.2 billion annual funding requested by the Bureau of Customs to �ill up more than 3,000 vacant positions, dismissing the spending as unnecessary.

Atienza instead pressed for the passage of a new law requiring the pre-shipment inspection abroad of all imports bound for the Philippines.

“Nobody can �ix the rampant corruption and gross inadequacy at the BOC. Not even Isidro Lapeña,” Atienza

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5 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

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Plant bolsters Mayor Sara’s envi thrust

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he city government’s agenda to provide a better environment for its people got a boost after Mayor Inday Sara Duterte led the inauguration of the Biodiesel Fuel Plant in Ma-a on Friday.

“I am congratulating and thanking Biomass Japan Inc., the Japanese government, Japan International Cooperating Agency (Jica), Cenro and other government agencies for all your efforts to install this facility and to bring this project to fruition,” Mayor Inday said during the blessing of the plant located at the City Environment and Natural Resources Of�ice (Cenro) composting facility.

Mayor Inday said the facility, which harnesses technology to transform used oil to biodiesel fuel, is a welcome development - especially since waste management is one of the key priorities of the city government.

While still mayor of the city in 2015, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive order No. 32, which mandated the proper storage, treatment, transport, export, processing, reprocessing, recycling and disposal of used cooking oil, with Cenro as the lead implementing agency.

Since then, the city through Cenro along with Biomass Japan, Inc. and Shinozaki Transport Warehouse Co., Ltd in cooperation with the Japanese government and JICA, started the project with the aim of transforming used oil into bio-

diesel fuel.

Solid waste management is also among Inday Sara’s Top 10 priorities. The others were poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, health, education, agriculture, tourism, transportation planning and traf�ic management, peace and order, and disaster risk reduction and mitigation.

Even as the city has taken on the challenge of urbanization, Mayor Inday said Davao remains steadfast in preserving the environment. This makes this biodiesel plant timely and appropriate, she added.

“With this project we hope to encourage all Dabawenyos to take on a more active role in preserving the environment,” she said. “Nature’s gifts are priceless, jewels worn by this planet that we can never redeem once sold to industrialization.”

While modernization is at hand, Mayor Inday said, the city can at least reduce its repercussions with the biodiesel fuel plant.

“Truly Japan loves Davao and the Philippines,” she added.

Meanwhile, the mayor said she is looking for more eco-friendly programs to bene�it not only Davao but the rest of the regions in the country. CIO Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte graces the launching of the government-run facility, that will convert used cooking oil to Biodiesel. The facility was donated by the government of Japan thru JICA.

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ready connected to the NPA/ CPP/NDF in North Cotabato who’s holding Catalan right now. We’re now waiting for results. We hope it’s positive,” he said.

Catalan, assigned in neighboring Makilala town in North Cotabato, was seized by at least six NPA members on board two motorcycles on August 14 and reportedly brought him to the hinter-

lands of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. Bagaforo assured Catalan’s family that the Diocese will exert all means possible to “grant the desires of their hearts.”

He also asked the NPA to respect Catalan’s right to life and assure that he be protected from torture or any form of harm. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)

plaints, someone who has expanded the base of PDP in the House of Representatives from three to 123 members cannot be said to have done or be doing acts inimical to the party,” Pimentel said in a press statement.

Pimentel further said that Alvarez has “strengthened” the party with members and was crucial in the passage of “laws that forward the Change” the party advocates.

He, meanwhile, urged Cuntapay to respect the party’s processes and submit his complaint to PDP’s arbitration procedure.

The senator also asked Cuntapay to cease from performing “actions inimical to the Party’s image and morale, or be subject to Party discipline.”

He expressed hope that Cuntapay and Alvarez can mend fences for the good of the party or he will not hesitate to expel Cuntapay.

“We can only achieve our goals if we present a united front to the world. By providing ammunition to those who seek to sow divisions within the Party, Mr. Cuntapay is harming PDP, and can be expelled should he so continue with these actions” Pimentel said.. (PNA)

Surigao city mayor, 12 others face raps

he Of�ice of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has ordered the �iling before the Sandiganbayan of graft charges against Bislig City, Surigao del Sur Mayor Librado Navarro and 12 others in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of a hydraulic excavator in 2012 worth PHP14.75 million.

NPAs asked to release cop

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ishop Colin Bagaforo of the Diocese of Kidapawan has asked the rebel New Peoples’ Army holding Police Of�icer 1 Bristol Catalan to release him immediately.

Bagaforo, who was approached by Catalan’s family for help, said he has tasked three of the priests under his diocese to negotiate for Catalan’s freedom.

“Our priests have al-

PDP did not declare Alvarez ‘persona non grata’: Koko

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enate President and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Friday denied that the party has declared House Speaker and PDP Secretary General Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez “persona non grata.”

Pimentel released this statement after a group, led

by PDP members Rogelio Garcia and Cesar Cuntapay, earlier claimed to have a resolution declaring Alvarez as “persona non grata”.

The senator said that Garcia and Cuntapay’s group does not represent the party.

“Whatever their com-

The Ombudsman found probable cause to charge Navarro with one count of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”.

Also facing trial for violation of Section 3 (e) of RA No. 3019 are Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman

CharlitoLerog (City Administrator), and BAC members, namely: City Treasurer Roberto Viduya, City Planning Development Coordinator Aprodecio Alba Jr., General Services Of�icer Felipe Sabaldan Jr., City Budget Of�icer-in-Charge (OIC) BelmaLomantas, OICCity Engineer Lorna Salgado, and City Legal Of�icer Daisy

Ronquillo; Technical Working Group (TWG) members City Accountant Raquel Bautista, Gilbert Abugan, LailaManlucob, and Estefa Mata; and Cesar Ner of RDAK Transport Equipment Inc. (RDAK).

The case stemmed from the questionable purchase by the city government of a Komatsu crawler-type. (PNA)

6 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

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he biggest come together for the biggest construction show PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao continues to showcase the biggest brands in the industry joint by its co-presenter, Paci�ic Paint Boysen Philippines, and together with its sponsors: Holcim Philippines, International Elevator & Equipment, Inc., Ohighland Machinery & Equipment, Inc., Panasonic Philippines, Republic Cement Corp., Isuzu Philip-

pines and other participating brands. The companies ensure a grander event by displaying an interactive and special designed booth that will surely capture each visitor’s eye.

Back-to-back with HVAC/R Mindanao, expect a bigger and better tradeshow on September 8 to 10 at the SMX Conventer Center Davao, SM Lanang Premier.

Entrance to the exhibition is free. Visitors may pre-register at www.philconstructe-

vents.com.

Philcostruct Mindanao to feature Heave equipment outdoor display The organizers have revealed that this year will be the launch of their newest highlight: an outdoor exhibit packed with massive heavy machineries and equipment display. Expect a pavilion of the biggest construction vehicles, machineries, and equipment from Archon Special Machineries, Inc., Hussar Enterprises, Pilipi-

nas Taj Autogroup, Inc., United Asia Automotive Group, Inc., and a lot more which will be strategically located at the open parking of SM Lanang.

Witness all these and more from September 8 to 10 at the SMX Convention Center Davao, SM Lanang Premier. Entrance to the exhibition is free. Visitors may pre-register at www.philconstructevents.com.

Philiconstruct Mindanao: Providing continuous

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learning platform for industry professionals A series of technical seminars and workshops, Technoforum Mindanao, will be featured at Davao’s biggest construction tradeshow - PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao. Timely topics including Authorized Managing Of�icers (AMO) Seminar and more will be discussed by the biggest and most trusted associations in the industry such as the Davao Constructors Asso-

ciation Center, Inc. (DCACI), Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors (ACEL) and the like. For inquiries on Technoforum schedule and registration rates, contact the DCACI Secretariat at (082) 222-5859 or email dcaci98@yahoo.com.

PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao will be held on September 8 - 10 at SMX Convention Center Davao, SM Lanang Premier. Visitors may pre-register at www. philconstructevents.com.

edia giant GMA Network makes history once again as its regional arm, Regional TV, launches the local news program One Mindanao beginning Monday, August 28.

Anchored on the tagline ”We are One. We are Mindanao.

We are one Mindanao,” thelocal news program will air from Monday to Friday, at 5 p.m. it will be simultaneously broadcast in key cities and provinces in Mindanao thru GMA Network’s local channels in Mindanao: GMA 5 Davao, GMA 35 Cagayan de Oro City, GMA 8 General Santos City, GMA 12 Jolo, Sulu, GMA 9 Zamboanga City, GMA 12 Cotabato City, GMa 2 Tandag City, GMA 10 Surigao City, GMA 26 Butuan City, GMA 4 Dipolog City, GMa 3 Pagadian City, GMa 5 ozamiz City, GMA 11 Iligan City, and GMA 12 Bukidnin.

One Mindanao will feature comprehensive and in-depth delivery of news and information in the region that only GMA Network – widely regarded as the most respected and internationally-awarded Philippine broadcast network- can deliver.

A local news program made

by Mindanaoans, One Mindanao is anchored by seasoned TV journalist Tek Ocampo, reputable TV host and news presenter Sarah Hilomen-Velasco, and experienced news correspondent Real Sorroche. Joining them are the various local news teams based in Northern and Southern Mindanao and news stringers across Mindanao.

GMA vice president and

head of Regional TV Oliver Amoroso underscores the significanceof One Mindana. “Close to the Network’s heart is for Mindanaoans to have access to reliable, accurate, and impartial local news and information regardless of race, ethic and religious background, and economic status. With the full support of GMA’s chairman and CEO Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon and president COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., we are happy and proud of this pioneering local news program produced by Mindanaoans for Mindanaoans,” he said.

GMA Davao and GenSan Station manager Mariles Puentevella avers: “At this point in the nation’s history, when Mindanao has taken center stage, it is imperative that Mindanaoans have access to have access to fair and balanced information vital to growth and progress as a united community.”

“There’s a lot happening in Mindanao. It is also best that everyone in Mindanao will know about it,” says GMA Cagayan de Oro station manager Armi Sobremisana. “We believe this is the right time to bring One Mindanao at the core for a timely delivery of information. This way, Cagayan de Oro and the rest of Mindanao will have a better understanding of what’s going on and can, therefore, proactively contribute to building a uni�ied and peaceful Mindanao,’ she added.

From all part of Mindanao, expect One Mindanao to deliver topnotch news stories from Monday to Friday.

PH tapestry turns M heads in Canada I baloi fabric, Abaca, Piña, T’nalak, Inaul, Yakan, Mindanao Silk and Pis Syabit are only some of the fabrics expected to turn heads in a Philippine tapestry fashion collection in Canada this week.

Organized by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the fashion show will showcase the best of Filipino tapestry, including a collection of Renee Salud, an acclaimed ambassador of

Philippine fashion.

The DOT said at least eight beauty queens of Filipino heritage will showcase the collection to advocate cultural awareness and national pride for the proudly locally-crafted products.

The fashion collection is the highlight of the Mabuhay Philippine Festival (MPF) 2017, a twoday event in line with the Balikbayan Program of the DOT and TPB targeting overseas Filipinos longing to come back to the Phil-

ippines and millennials eager to trace their roots.

MPF, which is organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), attracts the participation of various Filipino community associations and the Filipino leaders in Canada.

In each leg of the Mabuhay Philippine Festival, there will be booths to feature the country’s popular destinations targeting thae North American market.

DOT Secretary Wanda Teo arrived in Toronto Aug. 23 to

personally grace the fashion show, featuring indigenous textiles of the country.

During her visit, Teo is expected to meet tourism stakeholders in Canada, such as The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA), Flight Centre Canada and the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO).

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and �irst lady Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau are also expected to drop by the event. (PNA)

lose to 3,000 LTE sites now utilizing 700 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz Globe Telecom is accelerating deployment of LTE sites in Visayas and Mindanao amid continuing initiative to enhance network capacities for better mobile customer experience.

According to Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Governance, Network Technical Group, the company has already deployed close to 3,000 LTE sites, covering almost 60% of its physical sites in the region.

“Our customers in Visayas and Mindanao are now enjoying the bene�it of a more pervasive LTE network in the region following accelerated deployment of LTE sites using various frequencies. We expect customer experience to continue improving moving forward as we step up deployment of LTE sites,” Agustin said.

He explained that deployment of LTE sites addresses growing customer demand for bandwidth amid swelling consumption of multi-media content. Globe mobile data traf�ic

surged 85% to 280 petabytes at the end of the �irst half from 151 petabytes a year earlier.

Emphasizing that the use of various frequencies bodes well with burgeoning data consumption, Agustin explained that while lower frequencies such as the 700 MHz band provide better signal penetration and offering stronger indoor coverage, the higher frequencies, such as the 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands, provide additional capacity for data.

In addition, utilizing the 2600 MHz provides additional

capacity layer over existing 3G and LTE capacity layers, providing customers with additional capacity and improving their internet experience as data traf�ic carried on other frequencies are off-loaded, he added.

As part of the company’s aggressive bid to roll out LTE sites, Globe is also expanding its network infrastructure, such as cell site. For many years now, however, cell site build is being hampered by circuitous permitting process involving at least 25 permits and taking at least 8 months to complete.

Globe accelerates LTE deployment in VisMin for better customer experience C

GMA Regional TV launches‘One Mindanao’

7 LOOKING BACK EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

Don Antonio O. Floirendo: Datu Bago Award’s first recipient

A

lthough there were six of them who were recognized as honorees during the inaugural conferment of the Datu Bago Awards, Davao City’s highest recognition, Don Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. was �irst on the prestigious list and the most iconic among his peers.

Born on November 20, 1915, in Bauang, La Union, to parents Esteban Floirendo and Tarcilla Ocampo, Don Antonio, like any child in a typical Ilocano family, took up his early education in his hometown, struggling each day to be part in his parents’ arduous efforts to provide decent upkeep for the family and the brood.

During his high school years, news of successive discoveries of gold in Baguio and Benguet areas became talk of the town, weaving stories of small-scale miners becoming overnight toasts of the village. The parents who heard about this evolving development were inspired to convince their children to take up careers related to mining. True enough, after �inishing secondary course, Don Antonio proceeded to Adamson University in Manila where he eventually earned an engineering degree in Mining.

On the side, Don Antonio decided to try his luck in the big city by engaging in the distribution of Baguio vegetables to dealers in several markets in Manila. To transport the perishable items, he hired wooden pushcarts and contracted helpers who loaded the farm produce from trains stationed at Tutuban. During the war, he decided to start a family and married Nenita del Rosario.

War intervened and Don Antonio was forced to stop his thriving trade.

Business sense Floirendo’s fortune was not an offshoot of mining nor did it start with farming. After the war, as a Manila-based trader, he joined a group of Filipino war-surplus entrepreneurs led by the late Manila Hotel owner, Emilio Yap, in Guam. The exposure to the nuances of lot bidding opened his mind to the idea of trying his luck in second-hand articles, especially in the buy-and-sell of used war materiel.

In one of his Guam sorties, Floirendo met by chance

retired American army Colonel Gerry E. Shingledecker, later the Ford Motor Company’s (FMC) manager in Manila, who broached the idea of opening a dealership in the Visayas or Mindanao.

Don Antonio did not allow the opportunity to pass; he promptly told Shingledecker about his interest in the idea.

Months later, Floirendo got a letter from Shingledecker informing him that FMC had agreed to let go of Mindanao and the Visayas from the restricted Philippine franchise of Mantrade, then known as the Manila Trading and Supply Company, then owned by a group of Manila-based American traders.

When the Floirendo-owned Davao Motors Sales (Damosa) Showroom opened on April 14, 1948 at Bankerohan Public Market, Shingledecker, originally based in Detroit, Michigan, USA, but by now stationed in Manila, personally graced the event.

Evolving fortune Don Antonio’s wealth was largely a product of his commitment to diligence and perseverance. Two years after Davao was liberated, he opened on February 11, 1947 his �irst �irm, the Mindanao Motors Corporation, which pioneered in car distribution in Southern Philippines while at the same time importing imported semi-knocked down cars and truck parts for distribution.

A year later, encouraged by the emerging automotive industry, he founded Davao Motor Sales (DAMOSA) and established a Ford Motors reassembly plant at Bankerohan Public Market, the �irm’s main of�ice. Two years later, with enough pro�its to �inance a venture into agriculture, he acquired a sprawling 60-hectare land at Marapangi, Toril, which he called Nenita Stock Farms, after his wife’s name. At its height, the farm, with 25,000 heads of hogs in its sties, was

Asia’s largest piggery, with its own processing plant that was rated Triple ‘A’.

Success continued to smile on Don Antonio. On December 20, 1950, he formed Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO), then dubbed by the prestigious Fortune magazine as the “single biggest abaca plantation in the world.” The following year, on April 2, 1951, President Elpidio Quirino signed Proclamation No. 247 excluding 1,023.8574 hectares from the Davao Prisons and Penal Farm (DAPECOL) estates in the name of TADECO. But the mining engineer turned agriculturist wanted to explore new �ields of investment. On March 18, 1953, he founded the Panabo Hemp Company, Inc., which was into abaca �iber production using the state-of-the-art spindle machine. For being the leading planter in the region, he was installed president of the Davao Abaca Producers Association (DAPA).

Interestingly, on February 1, 1956: President Ramon Magsaysay met with Frank Metcalf, vice-president of the New York-based Columbian Rope Company; Merle Robie, vice-president and general manager of Columbian Rope Company in the Philippines; and Don Antonio at Malacanan. Floirendo informed the President

the price of abaca had gone up and suggested the government set aside 50,000 hectares in Davao and Agusan for the exclusive cultivation of hemp. In response, the President promised to take action toward increasing the Philippine abaca production.

The lure of abaca It was President Quirino’s invitation to the youth to seek their good fortune in Mindanao, dubbed as the ‘land of promise,’ that encouraged Floirendo to explore the potentials of Mindanao. After a short visit to Davao to familiarize himself with the potentials of the area, he decided to venture into agriculture.

True enough, on May 16, 1956, TADECO, represented

by Don Antonio, entered its �irst contract with the Bureau of Prisons, represented

by Director Alfredo Bunye to process excess abaca stalks in the 2,800-hectared DAPECOL plantation. The deal was approved by acting Secretary Catalino Macaraeg, Sr..

The business partnership, signed on July 11, 1969, became the stepping stone that led the two parties to agree on a joint venture agreement (JVA). Akin to the original accord, the new contract authorized the Floirendo �irm to decorticate abaca stalks from the Panabo sub-colony plantations using the old 60-40 percent

sharing.

A major provision, though, was introduced in the new agreement which required Tadeco to report to the bureau lands no longer pro�itable for abaca cultivation. In this case, the unproductive farms were planted to sorghum and other marketable crops as part of the government’s food production program.

As the popularity of synthetic �iber started to eat up the abaca demand in the world market, Don Antonio decided to shift to another venture, i.e., the cultivation of banana for export, which was in demand on the dining table worldwide.

Visitors’ hub The Tadeco agricultural estate, in the 1950s, was recognized by the prestigious Fortune Magazine as the “single biggest abaca plantation in the world,” a plaudit that earned even bigger attention from the slew of visiting dignitaries and authorities.

On September 20, 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay and his party, after visiting Madapo Hills, in Davao City, where he laid the cornerstone of the Davao Metropolitan Waterworks (now Davao City Water District), he went to Tadeco plantation to hold a conference with Don Antonio, who was also the president of the Davao Abaca Producers Association (DAPA).

Months earlier, on February 1, 1956, Magsaysay conferred at breakfast with Frank Metcalf, vice-president of the Columbian Rope Co. of New York, Merle Robie, vice-president and general manager of Columbian Rope Co. in the country, and Floirendo. Metcalf told the President about the U.S. pressure in reviving the abaca plantations in South America as source of hemp for US consumption because the supply coming from the Philippines was insuf�icient.

During the meeting, Don Antonio informed the President the price of abaca had gone up and suggested the government set aside 50,000 hectares in Davao and Agusan for the exclusive cultivation of hemp. In response, the President promised to take action toward increasing the Philippine abaca production.

Not so long thereafter, a special department was created to oversee the distribution of the 100,000 hectares the government set aside for abaca-planting in Davao, Bicol and Leyte. The agency wanted the land divided into 100 hectares each, as op-

posed to the 1,000 hectares recommended by experts.

This was with the presumption Congress would block the bigger partition because this would bene�it only the moneyed class.

Going bananas Decline in the demand of Manila hemp in the world market compelled Don Antonio, who was known as ‘White Hair’ for obvious reason, to look for other pro�itable venture. He wanted the Tadeco estate to remain a lucrative source of income.

His belief in agriculture that it could generate employment for people was unwavering. He redirected his energies to planting banana (Musa acuminate) which, at the time, had already a growing demand in countries where it could not be productively grown.

The rise of Tadeco as one of the world’s largest family-owned banana farms was not easy sailing. To get the acceptance of importing countries, the �irm had to adopt measures and follow stringent customs regulations. It would take years before the Cavendish bananas the plantation produced would reach Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Middle East, and other territories.

Interestingly, the Floirendo undertaking survived shifts in regimes and administrations.

Surviving the odds In the decades to come, the original JVA would undergo several amendments.

On July 10, 1973, two new signi�icant provisions were introduced, namely: (i) the appointment of a representative from the prisons bureau to be part of the Tadeco management team and (ii) the use of colony inmates or prisoners, including those who have completed their sentences, as workers in line with BuCor’s mandate to rehabilitate prisoners. Under this new implementing agreement, the BuCor gave Tadeco another 1,000 hectares for cultivation under the 1969 JVA. Between 1975 and 1979, three more adjustments were made in the JVA. On March 21, 1975, a supplemental contract was signed, which allowed Tadeco to cultivate an additional 500 hectares for rice, corn, and sorghum farms. Three years later, on July 17, 1978, an addendum was signed adding 100 hectares from the Kapalong sub-colony for banana farming, and another 95 hectares from the Panabo sub-colony for planting of rice, corn, sorghum, and oth-

DON ATNONIO, 13

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

EDITORIAL

His personal reassurance

I

n the presence of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Public Attorney’s Of�ice chief Persida Acosta, and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman Dante Jimenez, President Rodrigo Duterte has met with the parents of slain teenager Kiaan delos Santos.

The President met Saldy and Lorenza Delos Santos on Monday two days after the burial of their son. This meeting was at the request of the boy’s parents. The intimate meeting reassured the Delos Santoses that the President will make sure that those responsible for the killing of the Grade 11 student will face court. In order to quash any assumptions on the boy’s death, the President elected not to attend 17-year-old Delos Santos’ wake.

According to him, doing so would fuel speculations including a validation that the police involved are guilty

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of murder.

The President had spoken on the case of Kian. He said it is possible that there was an abuse by the police and vowed those who are responsible, if proven guilty, will rot in jail.

While hundreds of protesters marched alongside Delos Santos’ cof�in during his funeral procession last Saturday, August 26 and have called for an end to Duterte’s drug war, the meeting made by the President with the boy’s parents is an action that is most humbling and reassuring.

Perhaps, the Delos Santoses will most welcome the full investigation of the case and realize that their son’s death has become the living symbol of vigilance against abuses in carrying out a legitimate operation to curtail a very legitimate national concern.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

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Richard C. Ebona | Product Development officer Cellphone number: 09169558559 / 09085486859 Email Address: edgedavao@gmail.com

EDGEDAVAO

L

ong after the Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese had packed their things and returned home, foreign in�luence in the country, especially in the �ield of politics, has remained largely unchanged.

This effect comes in form of lobby money, diplomatic ties, or even economic favors.

All told, alien power affects the nation’s social policies, foreign affairs, and trade relations.

Over sixty-�ive years ago, Rep. Ismael L. Veloso, the lone congressman of Davao, raised the warning against foreign intervention in a commencement address he delivered on July 2, 1950 before the Davao Business School.

Offering the Philippines as “a blessed heaven… and one full of promise,” he described the archipelago as “�lowing with honey so freely that the covetous eyes of imperialists the world over has set in our country a foothold bridging us to their in�luence.”

The lawmaker’s pent-up anger was anchored on the unabated Chinese control of the local economy, which was understandable. He chastised Filipinos for yielding to the Sino traders by becoming dummies, and in working for the interest of aliens even if such effort would be to the detriment of the country and the Filipinos.

He asked graduating students, saying: “Have you noticed that during the last political campaign [in 1949] foreigners contributed to the political funds of the party in power? Are you aware that today

S

ince 2008, the Philippines observes April as the “National Hemophilia Awareness Month.” Proclamation No. 1478 states: “Nationwide awareness of hemophilia in the country will immensely help in educating the public that Filipinos with hemophilia deserve to live normal lives.”

The law also said: “Filipinos with hemophilia deserve the dignity and respect from everyone and need the States mantle of protection against abuse, violence, public indifference and discrimination.”

Four years ago, it was reported that Davao City had 142 cases of hemophilia.

“Most of the patients diagnosed are those who are below �ive years old since that is the time when most of the patients manifest the symptoms of the disorder,” Dr. Jennie Ong, a hematologist with the Mindanao Hemophilia Center, was quoted as saying.

The World Hemophilia Federation reported that about 10,000 Filipinos have hemophilia and another one million are suffering from von Willebrand’s disease and other bleeding disorders.

Unfortunately, not too many know they have the disease. The data from the Philippines Hemophilia Foundation has only 1,500 registered cases of hemophilia and 30 of the von Willebrand’s disease.

Hemophilia and von Willebrand’s disease are classi�ied as bleeding disorders. They are called as such because

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106• TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Lawmaker’s pitch vs foreign influence foreigners are helping in the shaping of policies and, in fact, almost dictating the program of government of our country? In government, in business, and in almost all sorts of enterprise the foreigner is there.

This is, to my humble opinion, a national tragedy.”

In particular, he lambasted the inclusion in the 1935 Constitution of the provision granting United States citizens the right to dispose and utilize natural resources under the Parity Rights provision, which was amendment to the Charter based on a congressional decision dated September 18, 1946. A plebiscite to formalize the inclusion of the provision was held on March 11, 1947. Disgusted, the congressman told his audience: “You may ask, ‘Why is the foreigner a factor in our national existence?’ My friends, the answer is simple. He is there because we allowed him to co-exist with us and because we shared with him our political ventures of independence and self-government. We allowed the changes in our Constitution to accommodate him; and in our daily lives, in our customs and traditions, we took him as a factor to imprint such a revolting in�luence.

“Have you forgotten how we allowed the Americans to share with us in our political and economic life? Have you remembered that the Liberal [Party] administration accepted the Parity Rights thereby giving the Americans as much right as the Filipinos in the exploitation

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa of our natural resources? In a plebiscite our people, through political fraud, was made to accept the terms and conditions of the Parity Rights which, in spirit and substance, is a disparity by purpose and value, and against our national freedom?”

Rep. Veloso’s rage against foreign manipulations in the country’s immigration laws was even more impassioned and abhorrent, accusing the leaders of the land and the Americans of connivance in promoting corruption through traf�icking. Fuming, he said: “Again, we tampered with the strict provisions of our immigration laws.

Some of our Liberal leaders traf�icked in immigration quotas and in numerous

scandals dealing with foreigners. In short, we have shaken the foundation of our national tradition and morality as to sell their values to these foreigners. Now, what is left of our country and people should these forces liquidate their investments in terms of money and imperialistic in�luence? What is the residue?”

Then and now, the issue of aliens coming and going through immigration doors continues to haunt the country.

Over the decades, foreigners, with the help of scalawags in the foreign affairs of�ice, have violated Philippine immigration laws and get only ‘slap on the wrist’ penalties.

This, in the eyes of Rep. Veloso, is the face of corruption.

“Corruption in the highest magnitude comes to use—indeed, it is right with us now! The ideals of our illustrious martyrs and patriots are dimmed by the great shadows of graft and corruption. The government becomes a dumping ground of unmoral traf�ickers of our national patrimony and pride, corrupted by capital imperialism.

“Of�icials and employees only move to act when you give them ‘red tapes’ for acts which are their duty to perform.

They make the of�ice as an agency enriching themselves at the expense of the taxpayers. There is nothing left of the patrimony that he won’t traf�ic for money and in our national morals that he won’t trade in or barter for an opportunity to get rich. His continuance, in the moral spirit of

existence, is a vulture eating up the �lesh of our national pride and goading within and without the spirit of Filipinism.”

Mincing no words in attacking corruption in the bureaucracy, Rep. Veloso also dwelt on the neglect experienced by the civil service system which is contaminated by political patronage, including the venality affecting the credibility of the Judiciary. He declarerd: “Look around you and see how disregarded is our civil service system.

Civil service employees are not safe in their jobs. The administration had disregarded protecting their independence and our Constitution providing for their ef�iciency and protection has… become a sham.

Political protégées substitute [them] at will, and unjusti�ied dismissals are ordered without the least regard for his ef�iciency and eligibility—all in the charge of alleged disloyalty to the administration.

“Even our Judiciary is corrupted.

They are in�iltrated by politicians and stooges, all having concentrated fear for disfavor and dismissals… Teachers are made to campaign and will someday perhaps be allowed, through executive orders, to deliver political speeches, there is nothing that the administration has spared; everyone, everywhere, has been corrupted.”

Candidly, it looks like nothing in the bureaucracy has really changed after the war ended.

As such, hemophilia is considered an X-linked (or sex-linked) disorder.

Generally, it is the mother who is the carrier of the disease but most of those diagnosed with the disease is the son.

“Women have the XX chromosome, and in this disorder one of the X chromosomes is affected,” Dr. Ong explained. Since boys have XY chromosomes, majority of them are affected by the disorder. If it is a girl, they are most likely to become a carrier, too.”

Girls can have hemophilia only if the father has the disease and the mother is a carrier. “This is very uncommon,” Dr. Ong said. “In rare cases, a person can develop hemophilia later in life. The majority of cases involve middle-aged or elderly people, or young women who have recently given birth or are in the later stages of pregnancy.”

Treatment depends on the type of disorder. It may include: factor replacement, fresh frozen plasma transfusion, platelet transfusion, and other therapies.

As bleeding disorders are rare, treatment is very expensive. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shoulders P2,000 per treatment session of its hemophiliac members.

“We are appealing to PhilHealth to consider the bene�its for people with hemophilia,” urges Andrea Echavez, a member of the Hemophilia Advocates

(Philippines) who has a bleeding disorder herself and her daughter, too. “The existing rate has no impact on the expense of these patients.”

According to Dr. Flerida Hernandez, of the Hemophilia Association of the Philippines for Love and Service Foundation (HAPLOS), the blood factor clotting components used to treat the disease cost around P4,000 to P5,000 per 250 IU (international unit) vial. A patient needs around 1,500 to 2,000 IU of blood factor if the bleeding persists since the treatment only last for 12 hours.

Senator Grace Poe, who �iled Senate Bill No. 2343 which aimed to assist persons with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, said that “a mild bleed can cost between P15,000 to P50,000 and a complete treatment until active bleeding stops could entail hundreds and even millions per episode.”

By the way, how will you know you have a bleeding disorder? Here are some signs, according to healthline.com: unexplained and easy bruising, heavy menstrual bleeding, frequent nosebleeds, excessive bleeding from small cuts or an injury and bleeding into joints.

“Schedule an appointment with your doctor right away if you have one or more of these symptoms,” the healthline. com urges. “Your doctor can diagnose your condition and help to prevent complications associated with certain blood disorders.”

When bleeding is not normal

blood can’t clot properly. “For blood to clot, your body needs blood proteins called clotting factors and blood cells called platelets,” explained the website, healthline.com.

“Normally, platelets clump together to form a plug at the site of a damaged or injured blood vessel. The clotting factors then come together to form a �ibrin clot.

This keeps the platelets in place and prevents blood from �lowing out of the blood vessel.”

But with those bleeding disorders, the story is different. “The clotting factors or platelets don’t work the way they should or are in short supply,” healthline. com says. “When the blood doesn’t clot, excessive or prolonged bleeding can occur.

It can also lead to spontaneous or sudden bleeding in your muscles, joints or other parts of your body.”

Our body, medical experts say, produces 13 clotting factors. Factor II, V, VII, X or XI de�iciencies are bleeding disorders related to blood clotting problems or abnormal bleeding problems, which can either be mild, moderate or severe.

On the other hand, von Willebrand’s disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. It develops when the blood lacks von Willebrand factor, which helps the blood to clot.

According to medical science, bleeding disorders may be caused by a low red blood cell count, a vitamin

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

K de�iciency, side effects from certain medications, and medications that can interfere with the clotting of the blood.

But mostly, bleeding disorders are inherited, which means they’re passed from a parent to their child. Let’s take the case of hemophilia, which can either be an A, B or C. “Everyone has two sex chromosomes, one from each parent,” the Mayo Clinic explains. “A female inherits an X chromosome from her mother and an X from her father. A male inherits an X chromosome from his mother and a Y chromosome from his father.”

Unfortunately, the genes for hemophilia are on the X chromosome.

10

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

FLY... FROM 1 but to all establishments that have a problem with odor and �lies.

He said the concoction is an organic product made from organic and natural materials. It will cost P125 per liter. This product was developed this February by Sangutan himself long before the Avian In�luenza �lu made its presence felt.

He said the product can be sprayed directly to where the odor emanates from.

Animal waste sprayed with the product will no longer emit bad odor and will no longer attract �lies.

He said the product is ideal for chicken Farms, animal farms, Dump sites, slaughter house and public markets.

He said his group is ready to supply the community with the product.

At the same time, he said the government should include the Davao Inventors Association in addressing the issues in the community.

“The Davao investors and innovators organization of the Philippines which is I am also the chairman is here to help address the issues present in our community,” said Sangutan. Sangutan said the he will give priority to the Davao clients because he is a Davaoeño. He invested around 300,000 to make this product possible. The budget covers the research, the experiments, and packaging.

ations with Islamic groups.

He reportedly led the Maute group during his younger days. It may be recalled that Cayamora together with three family members were arrested by Task Force Davao after they were intercepted at the Sirawan checkpoint in Davao City on June 6.

Cayamora was nabbed along with his second wife Kongan Alfonso-Maute, daughter Norjanna Balawag-Maute, son-in-law Bensarali Tingao, and the van driver Aljon Salazar Esmael.

During his arrest, Cay-

amora concealed his identity by sporting a clean cut image (no more beard), and body and face covered with malong, prompting them to hold the family for further veri�ication.

When Cayamora was asked to remove the cover of his face, the soldier suspected him to be one of the persons in the gallery of the Maute terrorists.

Posters of the Maute terrorists are posted in all checkpoints, police and army vehicles since the declaration of Martial Law.

page “This Kid is Missing” set up by Rohanisa Abdul Jabbar, sought help after seeing a photograph of three boys brandishing long �irearms, smiling and posing for the cameras, allegedly in Marawi City, one of whom had facial features similar to her son who was kidnapped on July 4, 2010, when he was three years old.

“Pa help naman,” (please help), Rohanisa wrote.

“Kamukha ba sya ni Ramram ... nahirapan ako kilalanin ang Anak ko Nahiwalay sa akin nang pitong taon.. Kung Ganun.. ISIS NA pala sya kung gnaun?? ALLAH KNOWS kung saan tlaga sya naroroon” (Does he look like Ramram?

It’s hard to recognize my son who has been missing for seven years now.. he is now with ISIS? Allah knows where my child is),” the mother wrote (see other story). She appealed to readers to share the post so it could reach the show of a famous television personality.

The Facebook page also showed an announcement of a reward offered for information on the missing Ram-Ram Abdul Jabbar Cabugatan, also known as Azramie Mangondacan as recorded on his birth certi�icate.

Rohanisa told MindaNews in a telephone interview on Saturday morning that she may have found her son, if indeed that boy carrying a

�irearm was her missing son, but she may have lost him to the Maute Group. (see other story) In another Facebook post, Dman Tomawis Rasuman wrote that the boy on the right side of the photograph, is his nephew whom he last saw on May 24 in Marawi City.

Rasuman, a businessman and a Tabligh, denied the boy was a member of the terrorist group. “Pamangkin ko po yan at hindi po yan ISIS or MAUTE” (He is my nephew and he is not a member of the ISIS or Maute).

He said the boy, around 11 years old, knows nothing about guns or what the war in Marawi is all about. “Wala po yng alam sa baril at wala din yang alam sa pakikipag digmaan,” he said.

“Maawa kayo at matagal ng pinaghahanap yan” (Please have pity, we have been looking for that boy), Rasuman said, as he identi�ied the boy as Alinor “Mayor” Usman.

“Pls tulungan nyo po sya na maka alis sa grupo ng ISIS or MAUTE ako na po ang maggagrantiya sa kanya na hindi nya gawain or lehitimong membro ng ISIS or MAUTE plsss HELP US!” (Please help rescue him from the ISIS or Maute. I will guarantee he is not a member of the ISIS or Maute. Please help us,” Rasuman said.. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

DPO... FROM 2

MISSING... FROM 2

NO LETTING UP. PSSUPT. Alexander Tagum assures the City of Davao that they are focused in their anti-criminality campaign and in maintaining the peace and order. Photo taken on August 28 at Sm Ecoland during the Kapehan sa Davao Press Forum. Angie Saveron.

LAW... FROM 2

Tagum likewise baed that the crime trend in Davao city is going down.

“Basically the picture can be compared to a slope of a hill, pababa po tayo.” He added.

With regards to the participation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

(PDEA), Deputy Regional Director Joel Plaza said, that the agency will also take part in conducting lectures, however, they will be focusing more in crime prevention and anti-illegal drugs operations in the barangay level.

tinuous trial system and the use of judicial af�idavits in lieu of taking of direct testimony of witnesses.

Under this set-up, witnesses need not go to the court

for their testimony since they just execute af�idavits though they will have to be present during the cross-examination by defense lawyers.

ers and fathers, of sons and daughters by drug addicts.

We cannot call ourselves truly Filipinos when we engage in selective condemnation of the war on drugs,” Aguirre added.

On Monday, student leaders Kathleen Benavidez from

the University of the Philippines Law School and Millenials Against Dictators co-convenor Karla Yu described Aguirre’s pronouncements regarding Kian’s case as malicious.(PNA)

tion and detection.

Atienza earlier �iled House Bill 6220, which calls for the compulsory pre-shipment inspection or advance clearance of all foreign cargoes headed for the Philippines.

Under the bill, the exact nature of all imports, to include their quality, quantity and prices, would have to be checked and veri�ied at the country of origin. (PNA)

298... FROM 2

AGUIRRE... FROM 3

SOLON... FROM 4

OZAMIS... FROM 3 Echavez was charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 speci�ically Section 11 for possession of dangerous drugs and

violation of illegal possession of �irearms and ammunition under Section 28 of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.. (PNA)

cio Global City, Nuvali Evoliving in Laguna and Abreeza Estate in Davao, among the Ayala Land projects in 55 growth centers and 22 estates in the Philippines.

According to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the Ayala is “is engaged in the planning and development of large scale, in-

tegrated estates having a mix of use for the sale of residential lots and buildings, of�ice buildings and commercial and industrial lots, leasing of commercial and of�ice spaces and the development, operation and management of hotels and resorts.” (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

it’s really amazing and we are not worried about Marawi and all that because we think tourism is tourism.

People want to come here at a right price,” said Fernandes who earlier paid a courtesy call on President Duterte.

On the issue of

privatizing airports, Dominguez told Fernandes that the government is bidding out the operations and maintenance for six airports while the rehabilitation of others could be done through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

(PNA)

AYALA... FROM 4

AIR... FROM 4

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EVENT

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106• TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

Geeks on the beach SOME 400 PARTICIPANTS from the government and the private sector, including successful technology entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia and Silicon Valley, has gathered in Puerto Princesa, Palawan as Geeks on a Beach 2017 starts today.

For two days, participants will get to listen to valuable insights from big names in the startup and technology community.

There will be keynotes, panels, and discussions with separate breakout tracks in between.

Successful FilipinoAmericans Yobie Benjamin and Aldo Carrascoso lead the list of the world’s prominent names in the field of startups and technology who arrived at the Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa Hotel in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Navigating startup ecosystem The first day opened with keynote speeches by Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron, Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Monchito Ibrahim, Voyager Innovations Vice President and Managing Director Dindo Marzan, and Token.io and ClickSWITCH.com Chief Technology Officer Yobie Benjamin.

This was followed by the panel “How Founders Can Navigate Treacherous Seas; Path to potential Unicorns in the Philippines” where technopreneurs from Tokien. io, ClickSWITCH.com, GlycoProX Biosciences, Veem, Jukin Media & Verego, Plug and Play Technology Center, InnoVantage, Inc., StartUp Village, and MobKard will display the story of their success.

Another panel entitled “Startup Ecosystem - How to increase # of successful startups in the Philippines” will highlighted speakers from the DICT, Department of Science and Technology PCIEERD, Department of Trade and Industry, TechTalks.ph, IdeaSpace Foundation, and the Philippine Software Industry

Association (PSIA).

An investor panel which brought together tech, design, and startup entrepreneurs to brush shoulders with the world’s biggest venture capitalists and investors in the tech world meanwhile featured Greylock Ventures, North Ridge Partners, Plug and Play, Hatchd Digital, Endeavor Philippines, and Anthill Ventures.

The first day will included the presentation “Startup Nation - The Israel Story” by Sagiv Massad who is the Director of Technology and Cybersecurity for Business Profiles Inc. and Director of the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines”. Jojo Flores of StartupPH.org also presented “State of the Nation’s Startups: How Competitive can PH Startups Get?”

Corporate Digital Transformation The second day will kicked-off with keynotes by DOST-PCIEERD Engr. Russell Pilli, Center for International Expositions and Missions Executive Director Clayton Tugonon, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce Engr. Ramon Escueta The panels for the day included “Corporate Digital Transformation: Becoming Victorious in a Collision between Businesses and Today’s Challenging Digital Forces” featuring Dragonpay Corporation, BlastAsia & Xamun Inc., PLDT Inno-

lab, Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Payoneer, and the Puerto Princesa Chamber of Commerce, “The way of Creatives: Establishing a Sustainable Niche in a Disruptive Economy” with creatives startups GrupoMM, CreateCebu, 22 Tango Re-

cords, and Altum, and “Role of Incubators and Accelerators in Growing Mature Startups” with the BNEFIT, NICP, IdeaSpace Foundation, Muru-D Singapore, UP Enterprise, QBO, ASEAN Centre of Entrepreneurship, and MaGIC

Malaysia.

There were also talks on “Boosting FilipinoTrailblazers in Gaming and Animation” by Synergy88 Digital Inc. Managing Director and Co-Founder Jacqueline Chua, “Cultivating Creativity in the Circular

Economy” by Altum Director Carlo Delantar, and “Chinese Tech Investment into ASEAN and How Startups in the Philippines Can Leverage On It” by EnterPH Interviews President Atty, Rocky Chan and KayMok Ku of GobiVC.com.

First staged in 2013, GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, powered

by Sym.ph, branding by Happy Garaje, and pr by PRWorks. For further details, visit www.GeeksOnABeach.com, follow on Twitter/Facebook Geeks On A Beach, or contact hello@GeeksOnABeach. com

A2INdulge!

TRAVEL

By OLAN EMBOSCADO DAVAO CITY’S PREMIER HOTEL, the Apo View Hotel, continues to prove its legacy as Davao’s true home of heritage and hospitality as they carry on their tradition of celebrating the city’s grandest festival that pays tribute to the rich and colorful culture of the Dabawenyos, the bountiful harvest and everything that is good in the City.

Year after year, the Apo View Hotel showcases the best of what Kadayawan Festival has to offer by bringing in all the colorful sights, lively sounds and the blissful vibe of the festivities inside the premises of the hotel. Hotel guests who stayed and dined at the Apo View during this week-long celebration were treated with in-house festivities to feel the vibe and spirit of Mindanao’s grandest Festival.

Upon entering the premises of the Apo View Hotel, guests are welcomed by a beautiful centrepiece adorned and filled by the symbols of Kadayawan Season – the bountiful harvest, the fresh fruits and the colorful flowers.

Think of anything about Kadayawan, they’re all there. These are sights and

MVT Bridges Philippines, Purok Malakas, General Santos City for more Information Please contact Cellphone Number 09460154748. Look for Shane S. Liquit Marketing Consultant

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106• TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

The Kadayawan spirit at

The Apo View

sounds depicting the festive colors, cheerful sound and jovial spirit of the celebration – all gathered inside the hotel.

Being Davao’s premier and the second oldest hotel in the Philippines, Apo View Hotel’s own version of the Kadayawan Festival embraces the city’s invaluable effort in honoring, preserving and promoting the artistry and rich culture not just the bustling City of Davao but of the Island Mindanao as a whole.

For many years now,

Apo View Hotel’s celebration of Kadayawan Festival has always been a favorite among its valued guests and loyal patrons. At one point, it is renowned being the only hotel in Davao with such festive and most colorful event every Kadayawan Festival season. And being situated in the heart of the city, the city’s premier hotel is just walking-distance to the different venues of the various events made in line with the celebration of Kadayawan Festival.

Kadayawan Festival has always been the city’s grandest celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living. And kudos to the Apo View Hotel for continuing its tradition of bringing the festive colors, cheerful sounds and jovial spirit of this celebration inside their walls and unto the hearts of their valued guests.

Indeed, Apo View Hotel

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106• TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

GMA Regional TV makes history with ‘One Mindanao’

August 26 – 29, 2017

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MEDIA GIANT GMA NETWORK makes history once again as its regional arm, Regional TV, launches the local news program One Mindanao beginning Monday, August 28.

Anchored on the tagline “We are One. We are Mindanao. We are One Mindanao,” the local news program will air from Monday to Friday, at 5 p.m. It will be simultaneously broadcast in key cities and provinces in Mindanao thru GMA Network’s local channels in Mindanao: GMA 5 Davao, GMA 35 Cagayan de Oro City, GMA 8 General Santos City, GMA 12 Jolo, Sulu, GMA 9 Zamboanga City, GMA 12 Cotabato City, GMA 2 Tandag City, GMA 10 Surigao City, GMA 26 Butuan City, GMA 4 Dipolog City, GMA 3 Pagadian City, GMA 5 Ozamiz City, GMA 11 Iligan City, and GMA 12 Bukidnon.

One Mindanao will feature comprehensive and in-depth delivery of news and information in the region that only GMA Network—widely regarded as the most respected and internationally-awarded Philippine broadcast network —can deliver.

A local news program made by Mindanaoans for the Mindanaoans, One Mindanao is anchored by seasoned TV journalist Tek Ocampo, reputable TV host and news presenter Sarah Hilomen-Velasco, and experienced news correspondent Real Sorroche. Joining them are the

various local news teams based in Northern and Southern Mindanao and news stringers across Mindanao.

GMA Vice President and Head of Regional TV Oliver Amoroso underscores the significance of One Mindanao. “Close to the Network’s heart is for Mindanaoans to have access to reliable, accurate, and impartial local news and information regardless of race, ethnic and religious background, and economic status.

With the full support of GMA’s Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon and President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., we are happy and proud of this pioneering local news program produced by Mindanaoans for Mindanaoans,” he said.

GMA Davao and Gensan Station Manager Mariles Puentevella avers: “At this point in the nation’s history, when Mindanao has taken center stage, it is imperative that Mindanaoans have access to fair and bal-

anced information vital to growth and progress as a united community.”

“There’s a lot happening in Mindanao. It is also best that everyone in Mindanao will know about it,” says GMA Cagayan de Oro Station Manager Armi Sobremisana. “We believe this is the right time to bring One Mindanao at the core for a timely delivery of information. This way, Cagayan de Oro and the rest of Mindanao will have a better understanding of what’s going on and can, therefore, proactively contribute to building a unified and peaceful Mindanao,” she added.

From all parts of Mindanao, expect One Mindanao to deliver topnotch news stories from Monday to Friday.

For more regional updates, follow GMA Regional TV at www.facebook.com/gmaregionaltv and on Twitter and Instagram via @gmaregionaltv.

EDGEDAVAO

A4INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106• TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

11 MOTORING

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

J

D Power just released their 2017 Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study with some surprising results. According to their survey, if you want the car with the perfect seats? Try the Audi A3.

The US-based survey rates vehicles based on the quality of their seats and seat belts with respect to whether owners have experienced defects/malfunctions or design problems during the �irst 90 days of ownership.

The study then awards 7 segment awards based on the JD Power vehicle segment designations: mass market compact car; mass market compact SUV/ MPV; mass market midsize/large car; mass market midsize/large SUV; mass market truck/

Best seats?

Audi A3 wins van; luxury car; and luxury SUV. For each segment, the award for Highest Quality Seats is based exclusively on the total seat problems per 100 (PP100) score (seat quality within segment).

Awards are then presented to the seating system supplier.

While the Audi A3 scored a perfect 0.0 score (zero problems per 100 units) to lead the Luxury Car segment, the US-market second-generation Chevrolet Cruze won the highest award in the Mass Market Compact Car category followed by the Honda Civic. Meanwhile, in the Mass Market Midsize/ Large Car, it was the Kia Cadenza that scored the best.

In the SUV category,

Audi stablemate Porsche garnered an impressive score of 0.8 which makes it lead the Luxury SUV category. The 2018 Ford Escape was judged the best Mass Market Compact SUV/MPV followed by the Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V while in the Midsized/Large SUV it was the Ford Edge that won. The Toyota Tundra had the best seats in the Mass Market Truck/Van category.

The 2017 Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study is based on responses from more than 77,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-year cars and light trucks registered in November-December 2016 and January-February 2017. The study was �ielded from February through May 2017.

Are you tough enough for the Subaru Challenge?

M OTOR Image Pilipinas is opening the registration to the 2017 Subaru Palm Challenge. The battle of wits and endurance happens on Saturday, September 9 to Sunday, September 10 at the 9th Street, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City.

The 2017 Philippine Leg of the Subaru Palm Challenge will be on Saturday, September 9, wherein more than 125 slots will be opened for challengers who are willing to slug it out to

be able to qualify and represent the country. The Final 10 contestants to last in the Philippine leg will be �lown to Singapore this October to serve as the Philippine Contingent in the Regional Palm Challenge.

Should this �inally be the year for the Philippines to win the Regional Palm Challenge, the lucky contestant will be taking home a brandnew 2017 Subaru Impreza.

Plus, September 10 marks the second year of the Collegiate Edition of the Sub-

aru Palm Challenge, wherein students from different universities in Manila will undergo this test of endurance.

The winning team will take home grand prizes for their respective college or university.

For those who think they have the discipline, will, and determination to outlast hundreds of others from several countries in Asia, it’s your time to prove yourselves by registering on the Subaru Palm Challenge Of�icial Website.

12 BIGGER PICTURE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

Ending violence against women

‘

At least one in �ive women has been physically or sexually abused by a man at some time in her life.

’

– World Health Organization

By Henrylito D. Tacio

I

n one of the most popular movies of Robin Padilla, the actor said: “Ang babae, minamahal ‘yan, hindi sinasaktan.” (A woman is to be loved and not to be hurt.)

But the reality is: women are still being miffed, abused (sexually and verbally), abandoned, exploited and battered. Feminists, health volunteers and social workers call it violence against women (VAW).

The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (199 3) de�ines VAW as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

In the Philippines, Republic Act 9262, more popularly known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children, was passed

in 2004. It broadened the de�inition of abuse to include physical, emotional and economic harm. It also made violence by an intimate partner (anyone with whom a woman has a sexual relationship) a public crime, and made it possible for anyone – not just the victim – to �ile a case against a perpetrator.

Intimate partner violence refers to “behavior in an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviors.”

Sexual violence is “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traf�ic, or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting.” It includes “rape, de�ined as the physically forced or otherwise coerced

penetration of the vulva or anus with a penis, other body part or object.”

Every year, the world commemorates the 18-Day Campaign to End VAW; this year, it starts on November 25 and will end on December 12.

In a press statement, Senator Loren Legarda – who authored various laws on the protection of women, said that the responsibility to end VAW does not only lie with the government but also with everyone in the community, starting with the family.

“We all have signi�icant women in our lives—mother, wife, sister, daughter, or even a close friend. We all have to support this cause if only to ensure that the women in our lives would not be helpless, discriminated, or abused and

would have the strength to �ight for their rights. We can only stop VAW through our collective efforts,” the senator pointed out.

In Davao City, the of�ice of the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched the commemoration at the People’s Park the advocacy “Orange Your Icon,” with the theme, “Violent-free community starts with me.”

In a speech delivered before a group of people who attended the launching, tourism of�icial Eden Josephine David said: “DOT, being the lead in hospitality industry, ensures that respect for women and children’s rights is upheld and more importantly laws for equality of gender is observed.”

But what is alarming is that the Integrated Gender

and Development Division of the Mayor’s Of�ice is receiving �ive cases of VAW each day. According to of�icer-in-charge Lorna Mandin, about 980 cases had been recorded in the �irst semester of this year alone. The �igure was higher compared to 600 cases posted in the same semester last year.

In 2011, the regional division of�ice of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) singled out Davao City as having “the most number of victims of violence against women in all age brackets” in Davao region.

Quoting data from the Philippine National Police Region Regional Command XI, NSCB said VAW cases such as rape, physical assault, acts of lasciviousness in the city, increased from 2009 to 2010. In 2010 the reported cases of VAW increased by 46.5% mostly in terms of RA 9262. When combined with rape cases, the reported cases of 48.6% increased by 84.5%.

“These increases may be attributed to: either more women are being raped; physically, sexually, psychologically harmed or economically abused in Davao City or more Davaoeñas are willing to come out and report on the gender based abuses committed against them,” the NSCB surmised.

VAW is happening not only in Davao City but in most parts of the country as well. The 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey showed that one in �ive women has experienced physical violence since age 15. Some 6% have experienced sexual violence.

About 30% of women sought assistance after being physically or sexually abused while 4% experienced violence while pregnant.

The same survey showed that one-fourth of ever-married women experienced emotional, physical or sexual violence from their husbands. One in every 10 women is frequently accused by their husbands of being unfaithful. Two in every 3 ever-married women got abused by their alcoholic husband.

But adult women are not the only ones who experienced violence; girls under 18 are not spared. In 2014, the division of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that handled child abuse cases recorded 3,168 girls who experienced abuse. Some 131 of them were babies under 12 months.

About 1,149 girls were abandoned and neglected.

On the other hand, 1,157 girls were sexually abused.

At least 448 cases involved incest.

The Department of Health doesn’t consider VAW as just a crime but also a gross violation of human rights. “It does not affect women’s physical and reproductive health, but especially their mental and emot i o n a l state,” the health department explained. “VAW limits human development and curbs their capacity to participate in social development.”

The London-based Panos reported that VAW causes more death and disability among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traf�ic accidents or even war. “Women are more at

risk from their husbands, fathers, neighbors, or colleagues than they are from strangers,” it pinpointed.

According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), only 3 of 10 women sought help to stop the violence.

“Many victims of abuses choose not to report these incidents due to lack of awareness about their legal rights.

We have diligently toiled to enact pieces of legislation to protect the rights of women and promote their welfare.

The greater challenge is to effectively implement these laws and educate women on their rights. Women around the country should be aware that they are suf�iciently protected under various laws,” Legarda said.

Aside from RA 9262, there are other Philippine

All photos were taken from the net

laws that protect women’s rights. These include: Anti-Discrimination Against Women Act (RA 6725), Women in Development and Nation Building Act (RA 7192), Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act (RA 8505), Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), and the Anti-Traf�icking in Persons Act (RA 9208) and its expanded version (RA 10364).

Although many Filipinos are now aware of VAW, there are still cases that go unreported. The reason: these people believe violence against women is accepted.

“There is too much tolerance of violence in our culture,” explains Tet Balay-on, the knowledge management of�icer of Women’s Crisis Center.

“Men think it is part of being a man, women think it is part of being in a relationship.”

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

DON ANTONIO... FROM 7

er grains.

Moreover, on February 8, 1979, another supplement was signed, this time giving Tadeco additional 750 to 800 hectares for cultivation as a banana farm subject the conditions already stipulated in the original JVA signed.

That same year, the 1969 agreement was extended by another twenty-�ive (25) years.

A decade later, on the recommendation of then justice, now labor, Secretary Silvestre Bello III, BuCor and Tadeco signed a consolidated joint venture agreement (CJVA) on July 11, 1989, covering 5,212.46 hectares.

Six years later, both parties agreed to an addendum expanding he area of coverage under the merged JVA to 5,284.98. Under the renewed JVA signed on May 21, 2003, the hectarage under the CJVA was expanded to 5,308.36.

Since the 1973 Implementing Agreement was introduced in the 1969 BuCor-Tadeco joint venture agreement (JVA), the issue of rehabilitating prisoners while serving sentence inside the Dapecol was already a key proviso in the partnership. In which case, the parties involved agreed to adopt two new elements in the contract.

First, the BuCor was imbued with the task to

prevent the illegal entry or trespass of squatters, or unauthorized settlers, and with the “full cooperation” of Tadeco to take legal actions, either by ejectment or prosecution, against the violators. This provision, in part, takes into account the role the private company plays in ensuring the territorial integrity of the penal colony is not undermined by unwarranted incursions.

And, second, the BuCor, to safeguard it from any form of monetary risks or �iscal disincentives, has no obligation when it comes to contributing funds for the development of the farms but only allow the cultivation of its land assets in return for emolument, services, and any assistance that redound to the uplift of the colony and the rehabilitation of its inmates.

Legacy Floirendo’s agricultural ventures actually went beyond abaca and banana.

During the Marcos leadership, he invaded the global sugar market by owning Sucrest, one of the largest sugar factories abroad. Roberto Benedicto, the sugar baron during the martial law years (1972-86), supplied most of the raw sugar consumed by the re�inery, while the remainder came from exports approved by the Philippine Sugar

13

EDGEDAVAO Commission (now Sugar Regulatory Authority). The venture, unlike previous business triumphs, failed to take off.

Don Antonio’s success in agriculture earned him the moniker of ‘banana king.’ At the time of his death on June 29, 2012, at age 96, he cemented his name as one of the most prosperous Dabawenyos to venture into agriculture. He left behind a list of successful businesses and a legacy that always links him to the world’s banana history.

In life, aside from winning the prestigious Datu Bago Award in 1969, Don Antonio was honored as ‘Most Outstanding Alumnus’ of his Alma Mater, Adamson University, in 1958; ‘Outstanding Son of Bauang, La Union’ in 1965; a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International; an incorporator of the Community Chest Council of Greater Davao; and a Knight of Malta, which was conferred on March 25, 1995. He built a business empire literally from scratch and was, for decades, the inspiration of many struggling entrepreneurs.

Keeping his memory and inheritance alive are his wife, Nenita, and children Linda F. Lagdameo, Antonio Jr., Maria Cristina F. Brias, Maria Theresa, Ricardo and Vicente.

Riders freak out on the Viking Pirate ride at the carnival in Cagayan de Oro Thursday (24 August 2017) as the city celebrates the Higalaay Festival with the parochial fies-

ta, in honor of St. Augustine, approaches. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

DAVAO EDGE is in need of Serving a seamless society

REPORTER

Submit application letter and resume to: Mr. Antonio M. Ajero, Editor-in-Chief or Mr. Jimmy K. Laking, Associate Editor Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City Or email at edgedavao@gmail.com

EDGEDAVAO

14 AGRITRENDS

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

A glimmer of hope for abaca

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

f there’s one crop that needs total support from the government, it’s abaca!

Aside from being endemic in the country, it has a ready commercial market, both national and international.

The Philippine Fiber Development Industry (PhilFIDA), in its latest data, showed that abaca production grew 3.17% to 31,877.725 metric tons in the �irst half – from 30,898.0 metric tons a year ago.

Export receipts also increased by 7.2% – from $22.307 million in January to February last year to $23.902 million in the same months this year, reported PhilFIDA, which is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

Two European countries – the United Kingdom and Germany – were the top 2 importers of local abaca pulp.

China, on the other hand, was the top importer of abaca �iber, followed by United Kingdom.

Because of the importance of abaca in the international market, PhilFIDA is asking the Department of Budget and Management to give a higher budget of P3.2 billion next year. “Our budget this year is P300 million so the total budget proposal for next year is more than 900%,” said Kennedy Costales, PhilFida executive director.

According to Costales, his agency is “now pursuing the proposed abaca tuxy buying project which will be implemented all over abaca producing provinces.” It is a deviation from the traditional process of the abaca, which has 12 steps: topping, tumbling, tuxing, stripping, sun drying, sorting, hanking, bundling, carrying, storing, transporting and trading.

“Farmers are shying away from the plantation plant,” Costales said. “They no longer want to do abaca since it’s very tedious. I have already presented it to most

regions. It’s a matter of them to organize themselves into cooperatives.”

Costales must invest in abaca production before it’s too late. “Our abaca industry will be dead in less than a decade if we don’t act now,” he said, adding that the local demand for abaca at present is about 90,000 metric tons and is expected to grow at around 12% per annum in the next �ive years.

The Philippines, which contributes about 85% of the world abaca supply, manages to produce only 55,000 metric tons. “Abaca is a tertiary crop in the Philippines,” Costales was quoted as saying. “About 95% of our abaca is just intercropped with coconuts, rubber, fruit-bearing trees and other species. The abaca is shaded, resulting in this crop’s weak growth. We’re lucky to even harvest twice a year.”

In Davao City, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte encourages farmers to intercrop their farms with abaca.

“The demand for abaca is very high so whoever has a nursery of the abaca will surely earn from it,” he pointed out.

Abaca (scienti�ic name: Musa textilis) is known internationally as “Manila hemp.” It is grown in almost all provinces of the country, except for Ilocos Region, Central Luzon Region, Cagayan Valley, Cavite and Batangas.

You can �ind various products made from abaca.

If you happen to attend a wedding, you get to see one of the principal sponsors wearing an ornate abaca fabric barong out�it. Try going to a shipyard and you will see those strong abaca �ibers used by mooring aids for docking sea vessels.

Now do this. Pick out one of the peso bills from your wallet and stare at them. Do you know that 30% of the paper materials for Philippine currency are now made from

abaca �ibers?

Some studies have shown that abaca �ibers can attain a tensile strength of up to 970 Mpa (megapascal).

Megapascal is a metric pressure unit and equals to 1,000,000 force of newton per square meter which is a pascal.

“The very durable nature of abaca is not the only quality of this natural �iber that makes it in demand in the market,” a report read. “It’s environmentfriendly and biodegradable nature makes manufacturers, especially those in Europe, to use abaca over synthetic �ibers.

“Coffee cups and tea bags are among the products that make use of abaca. These food containers highlight abaca �iber’s sanitary nature,” the report added. “Many European institutions had already adopted a policy of turning away from nonbiodegradables like plastics.”

Abaca has many other uses aside from those mentioned already. For one, the �iber is used for many things including handicraft, high quality bags.

“Our sinamay is used as blade for wind mills,” said Dr. Editha O. Lomerio, project leader of Abakayamanan, a project that combines farming of abaca with other crops like coconut.

Sinamay is a natural fabric made from abaca.

Roots may be converted into fertilizer and feeds. The roots of abaca are of primary shallow root compared to hardwood trees which have deep roots. These may be uprooted more easily and may be chopped down to be made into fertilizer and feed.

Other products are electrolytic condenser paper, high grade decorative paper, Bible paper, coffee �ilter, meat and sausage casings, special art paper, cable insulation paper, adhesive tape paper, lens tissue, mimeograph stencil base tissue, carbonizing

tissue, currency paper, checks, cigarette paper, vacuum cleaner bag, abrasive base paper, weatherproof Bristol, map, chart, diploma paper, nonwovens, and oil blotting paper.

Unknowingly, abaca has also food values. Abaca leaves, for instance, can be used as growing material for mushroom.

Coconut extract may be used as soap as it can heal psoriasis. The �lower of abaca may be used as hamburger material. “We want to promote it as a zero waste crop,” said Dr. Lomerio.

“Abaca has been grown in the Philippines for centuries, long before the Spanish occupation,” PhilFIDA reports.

“When Magellan and his companions arrived in Cebu in 1521, they noticed that the natives were wearing clothes made from the �iber of abaca plant, noting further that the weaving of the �iber was already widespread in the island.”

However, it was not until 1685 that abaca was known in the Western world.

Then, in 1820, John White, an American naval of�icer, brought few abaca �ibers for testing to the United States.

It proved to have superior tensile strength over any other known cordage, especially under sea water.

“The Japanese also took keen interest in abaca for naval use,” wrote Ernee Lawagan in an article which appeared in the defunct Mod. “They improved the method of production introduced by the Americans and put the abaca industry in the Philippines to a higher level of ef�iciency.”

It was in the 1920s when the Philippines monopolized the world production of abaca �ibers. “During those times, wars were won by countries with superior navies and considering that cordage was vital to naval operation,

the Philippine monopoly in abaca production alarmed the Americans,” reported Lawagan.

“In 1921, the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to cultivate abaca in Central America, particularly in Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras, using the most outstanding Philippine abaca varieties.

Much of these resulted in failure,” Lawagan wrote.

After World War II, Furukawa Yoshizo, one of the prewar abaca plantation owners in Davao, started �ield-testing and successfully cultivating abaca in Ecuador.

“Today, Ecuador is the only other country commercially producing abaca in the world,” Lawagan noted.

“Costa Rica, on the other hand, is now developing modern harvest facilities as studies indicated that its land could accommodate high yields of the crop.”

In later years, on the onrush of modern technology, abaca was no longer given importance. relegated to the background. “The advent of oil-based synthetic �ibers in the mid-1950s, which rapidly replaced the traditional usage of natural �ibers, displaced abaca as prime cordage material and precipitated its almost total collapse,” Lawagan wrote.

The Philippine abaca industry suffered a slump as prices hit rock-bottom that several farmers eventually phased out their plantations.”

But thanks to the global shortage of many natural resources and the pollution being wrought by synthetic products on the environment, abaca stages a comeback.

“Signi�icant breakthroughs in technology and processes took place in the ‘60s that brought about development of new uses for abaca, particularly in the use of pulp for the production of specialty

paper products,” PhilFIDA reported.

But despite the good news, bad news still looms.

The future of Philippine abaca industry is challenged by three complex virus diseases: bunchy top, mosaic and bract mosaic. “Of the three viruses, bunchy top is the most destructive – reducing �iber yield by 13% to 70%,” said Dr. Antonio. C Lalusin, a researcher from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB).

In 2011, large stands of abaca have been devastated by these viruses. In Leyte and Southern Leyte, more than 19,000 hectares out of 43,498 hectares devoted to abaca farming were infected.

“Control of these viruses is dif�icult since they are transmitted by aphids.

“Farmers tried growing abaca in other regions, but this method did not diminish the number of infected plants.

Instead, it only widened the spread of the virus because the varieties they used were susceptible to the virus,” Dr. Lalusin said.

As this developed, the researchers at the Institute of Plant Breeding, Crop Science Cluster of UPLB tried to strengthen the abaca varietal program in 2006. Using the abaca collections of the UP College of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant Industry in the 1950s, the researchers were able to identify the qualities desired as breeding materials.

These abaca hybrids, as they are called, “are currently planted and evaluated through multilocational trial in eight abaca planting regions in the country,” Dr. Lalusin reported. “Aside from UPLB, seven state universities and colleges are participating in the multilocational trials and in the mass production of 2.5 million tissue cultured materials of these promising abaca hybrids.”

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

PH heading to poor finish GOLD MEDALISTS. Carlo Biado in billiards and John Colin Syquia in equestrian.

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UALA LUMPUR — Colin Syquia won gold in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in the show jumping individual competition on Monday at the 3Q Equestrian Centre in Rawang.

Riding Adventure E, Syquia scored 37.63 to beat Malaysia competitors for the gold.

The Philippines last won gold in equestrian in 2011 courtesy of Diego Lorenzo in the same event.

Syquia’s gold is the 23rd for the Philippines in this edition of the SEA Games.

PH HEADED FOR DISASTER

C

The Philippines raised its gold-medal output to 23 golds after winning four on Sunday and one on Monday but remained well off targets with two days to go until the end of the 29th Southeast Asian Games.

Carlo Biado and Chezka Centeno swept the 9-ball singles gold medals for the Philippines while Samuel Morrison of taekwondo and Mariya Takahashi of judo followed suit, leaving the Philippines seven short of its worst output in 2015 in Singapore and 2013 in Myanmar.

The Philippines also has 28 silvers and 54 bronzes to stay in sixth place in the overall tally, which is no small consolation considering it lags well behind host Malaysia (94 gold medals), Vietnam (52), Thailand (50), Singapore (48) and Indonesia (31).

The close to 500-strong contingent is also nowhere near the 50 gold medals which chief de mission Cynthia Carrion predicted it is capable of winning.

Billiards once again became a source of solace for the Philippines as Biado beat Duong Quoc Huan of Vietnam,

9-5, while Centeno won over compatriot Rubilen Amit, 7-6, to complete a sweep of the 9-ball singles gold medals.

The women’s gold in 9-ball also mirroed the accomplishment of the men’s and women’s triathlon team for its 1-2 �inishes in their respective events.

Morrison beat Indonesia’s Dinggo Ardian Prayogo in the men’s lightweight �inal in taekwondo while Takahashi, a 16-year-old new recruit of the national judo team based in Kobe, Japan, upended �ivetime SEA Games champion Surattana Thongsri of

The UFC star visibly made life dif�icult for one of boxing’s greats in the early rounds of his �irst professional outing in the squared circle.

However, Mayweather pounced as

McGregor fatigued in the middle rounds and the �ight was stopped after a �lurry of blows in the 10th to take the American to a record-breaking 50-0 record.

McGregor was disappointed with the referee’s decision, saying in the ring: “I took the early rounds pretty handy.

“He had to change his style, fair play he did it. He’s composed, he’s not particularly fast, he’s not particularly powerful but he’s composed, he was making me throw, gotta give him nothing but respect.

“I had a bit of fun on this side, hopefully I entertained the fans.

“I thought it was a little early on the stoppage, I get like that when I’m tired, I get �loaty. He should have let me keep going I thought.

“I’ve been strangled on live TV and come back so I can let it go. It was some buzz, to get in there in the squared circle it was so different, it was so fun.”

CMG: Ref shouldn’t have stopped it

ONOR McGregor was left annoyed by the timing of his stoppage defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their Las Vegas mega�ight, but paid “respect” to his rival’s composure.

In a memorable bout at T-Mobile Arena, McGregor made light of the pre-�ight predictions of a comfortable Mayweather victory.

TKO. MMA champion Conor McGregor was stopped in the 10th round by boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather.

Thailand in the women’s -70kg.

Winter Olympian Michael Martinez failed in his bid to win a gold in the SEA Games debut of �igure skating, �inishing second to a Malaysian opponent, while Arben Alcantara bagged a silver in the men’s featherweight division in taekwondo in a controversial fashion.

Pauline Lopez also got a bronze in taekwondo in the women’s lightweight class, while Johann Chua settled for a bronze in men’s 9-ball in billiards. Sydney Sy took third place in judo in the women’s

-78kg class.

Jason Huerte, Rheyjey Ortouste, and Mark Joseph Gonzales copped a bronze in the sepak takraw men’s doubles, as Emerson Villena and Lester Troy Tayon also took the bronze in the international 470m event in sailing.

The rhythmic gymnastics group single apparatus team of AJ Melgar, Jean Caluscusin, Katrina Drilon Loretizo, Marian Nicolle Medina, and Shieldannah Sabio wound up with the bronze medal, as did Elmer Abatayo in the men’s singles lawn bowls.

Doubts cast on Pac-Horn rematch

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EFF Horn’s camp has hit out angrily at suggestions boxing great Manny Pacquiao could renege on a rematch with the Aussie boxer in November.

The Daily Telegraph spoke with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who said while the Filipino still wants the �ight, it may have to wait until next year.

Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan was less than impressed with the news and suggested the Aussie would seek a �ight with someone else if Pacquiao isn’t available in November.

“To say he’s having second thoughts is pissing me off,” Lonergan said.

“If he carries on again, it would be my advice to move on and forget about him.

“We’ve already booked the venue for November 12.”

Arum says Pacquaio has to weigh up his duties as a senator in the Philippines but would seek clari�ication when he meets with the boxer this week.

“That was a very physical

�ight and he may feel like he needs more time to get ready,” Arum said.

“Whatever happens we’ll do a title defence for Jeff in November against a top welterweight in Brisbane.

“Jeff is a young guy and we have an obligation to him to have him earn money and keep him active.

“If it’s not Manny you adjust prices and maybe do it at a smaller venue.”

The idea has clearly infuriated Horn’s camp, who seem frustrated by the constant uncertainty surrounding the blockbuster rematch.

In a statement later released by Lonergan, the promoter explained the chain of events that has led to this current impasse.

“Two weeks ago Manny Pacquiao con�irmed to Bob Arum of Top Rank that he wanted to exercise his option to rematch with Jeff Horn for the WBO world welterweight championship,” the statement read.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 106 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

FOR MARAWI Hunat Dabaw 5 Run to raise funds for Marawi City

HUNAT DABAW. The Royal Mandaya Hotel president and CEO Glenn Y. Escandor (left photo, front) and wife Michelle Escandor (back), vice president Gerome Y. Escandor (right) in action during last year’s Hunat Dabaw Run. TRMH

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

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AST year Mt. Apo, this year Marawi.

The much-anticipated The Royal Mandaya Hotel Hunat Dabaw 5 Run will hit the streets anew on September 10 but more than that, it hits hardest on Filipino hearts particularly in war-torn Marawi City.

Fast emerging as one of the most successful local running events in Davao City, HDR5 will be staged this year with the theme “Run to Rebuild Marawi.”

“Part of the race proceeds will go to helping rebuild Marawi City,” said TRMH general manager Benjie Banzon.

Half of the net proceeds will be donated to GMA Kapuso Foundation to help rebuild Marawi City while the other half will be for The Royal Mandaya Hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibilty (CSR) – Emilio Escan-

dor Community Outreach Program (EECOP).

Last year, the run helped rehabilitate the �irerazed Mt. Apo. HDR5 is a Color-Foam Fun Run for a Cause held in partnership with GMA Kapuso Foundation. The race categories are 3K, 5K and the premier 10K. Special awards and raf�les will also be given out.

“It’s something for the entire family and we offer the usual free buffet breakfast for every registered runner,” said race coordinator Meg Jolejole of TRMH. Some 5,000 runner are expected to take part in the event. Registration fee is pegged at P390 for 3K, P440 for 5K and P490 for 10K. The freebies include a singlet, race bib, race certificate, buffet breakfast and raf�le coupon.

HDR5. The Royal Mandaya Hotel general manager Benjie Banzon announces the staging of Hunat Dabaw Run 5 on Sept. 10. Jimmy Javier photo