Edge10 issue109 September 1-2,2017

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 109 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

ENCOURAGEMENT. President Duterte, in his speech during the 23rd anniversary celebration of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority at the TESDA Complex in Taguig City on Wednesday, urges the workers of TESDA to

continue empowering the unemployed, out-of-school youths, persons with disabilities, returning OFWs, the poor, and the marginalized to become successful in their respective careers. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

BSP to cut 28-day Sta. Ana harbor area term deposit offer T

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has cut the volume of the 28day term deposit facility (TDF) that will be offered for auction next week from PHP140 billion to PHP110 billion.

The 28-day TDF has been offered at PHP140 billion since May 3.

The move will be the second time for the central bank to cut the 28-day TDF offering this year.

“The decision to reduce the volume offering for the 28-day TDF is based on the recognition that the sustained economic expansion has also given rise to higher demand for credit,” BSP Deputy Governor Diwa

Guinigundo said.

Guinigundo added that the volume of offering was also based on BSP’s liquidity forecast, which is consistent to its inflation and growth projections.

“Banks are now lending more to their clients instead of placing their excess funds with the BSP. Corporates are also using their peso funds in the banks to buy FX for their import requirements; some of them have also been investing outside the Philippines. Some are pre-paying their external obligations.

Thus, it is the excess liquidity of the banks that has declined recently and not the domestic liquidity per se,” Guinigundo said.(PNA)

eyed as night market

By ANGIE SAVERON

W

ith the number of vendors increasing in the Roxas night market, City Hall is looking towards the Sta. Ana Port area as a night market site considering its spacious area.

“We are aware of the bidding pero depende sa final say niya (Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio) kung ma approve niya or dili,” said the Chief of Ancillary service Rhodelio Poliquit on I-speak on August 31, Thursday.

He said Bolton and Illustre streets were also eyed as

night market sites but these streets could not pass the requirements because the technical working group would not allow it. “Kung naay mga vendors diha dili na gyud maagian kay gamay man ang lugar,” said Poliquit.

Poliquit said except for the bombing of the Roxas Night Market in September 2 last year, nothing untoward has happened since.

“With the presence of Task Force Davao, Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel ang atong safety

and security maayo gyud,” said Poliquit. Though there are still small arguments by the vendors with regard the locations of their stalls. Part of the security and safety of the night market is the implementation of entrance and exits gates.

The first three months since the bombing there were less people going to the market. Today, the business is back to its usual operation.

“We have to consider the peak season of the market like Araw ng Dabaw, Kaday-

awan and Christmas Season and there are times na hinay na sila” said Poliquit.

There are a total of 438 vendors in the Roxas night market this includes the food, clothes and accessories vendor. Each stall has to pay approximately P763 a month, which will give the city an income of approximately P334,194. “for the new set of vendors we are finalizing he arrangement in the market,” said Poliquit. There are 13 slots available for raffle.

ouse Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday welcomed President Duterte’s announcement that the Marcos family is willing to return part of their alleged ill-gotten wealth to the Philippine government while expressing hope that they hand it over in its entirety.

“Well, magandang development yan, ano? Pero sana yung ‘wag sana yung kapiraso lang, sana yung buo na,” Alvarez said in an ambush interview when asked for a reaction on the purported proposal of the Marcoses.

Alvarez took a swipe at the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for its failure to pursue and determine the full amount of Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth.

“Yun nga ang problema ng PCGG. Hanggang ngayon eh.. andami pa ring kaso na walang nangyayari eh. At in fact ako ay nag-file din (ako) ng bill ay yung PCGG ay gawin nang sa ilalim nung Office of the Solicitor General, para may mangyari naman,” Alvarez said.

Earlier, Alvarez, together with Majority Leader Rodolfo

Fariñas and House justice panel chairman Reynaldo Umali, has filed House Bill 5233 seeking to abolish the PCGG and Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) and transfer all its authorities and responsibilities to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

The bill, which will become the OSG charter, proposes to authorize the solicitor general to grant immunity from criminal prosecution to any person who provides information or testifies in any investigation previously con-

ducted by the PCGG or future cases investigated by the OSG involving ill-gotten wealth.

President Duterte, during his speech after the mass oath-taking of newly-appointed government officials in Malacañang, said that the Marcos family is willing to “open everything” and “return” to the government some wealth in question, including a few gold bars.

“The Marcoses -- I will not name the spokesman -- sabi nila na they’ll open everything and probably return ‘yung nakita lang,” Duterte said. (PNA)

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Donated blood positive Marcos family pressed to return ill-gotten wealth of HIV bared in Zambo H

T

he Blood Bank of the Philippine Red C ro s s -Z a m b o a n ga Chapter has discovered three bags of donated blood were positive of Human Immunodeficiency Virus while another three are still subject to confirmatory test.

The bags of contaminated fluid were among those donated to the PRC Blood Bank since January this year.

Nimfa Linao, PRC Blood Bank medical technologist,

on Wednesday disclosed the bags of blood were found to be contaminated with HIV through laboratory analysis.

The Department of Health’s (DOH) Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) already confirmed this while the results of the other three have yet to be released.

Linao added that all bags of donated blood are being tested for HIV, Hepatitis B

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 109 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

Urban warfare training for PH troops pushed

A CLEANSING. A young Maranao boy washes his face and other parts of his body before attending the afternoon sambayang at a mosque in Brgy. 23-C

Mini-Forest, Quezon Blvd., Davao City on Thursday, a day before the celebration of Eid’l Adha. Lean Daval Jr.

ll Filipino combat troops must be given more training and orientation on urban warfare to make them more capable of neutralizing terrorists planning to conduct attacks in cities and highly populated areas.

This is one of the lessons learned by the military in the ongoing campaign against Maute group remnants in Marawi City, said Joint Task Force Ranao deputy commander, Col. Romeo Brawner on Wednesday.

This is to ensure that Filipino soldiers are capable of dealing with terrorist threats and not only on the insurgency menace. Fighting in the city has reached its 100th day on Wednesday.

The conflict started on May 23 after government troops

tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon and his cohorts.

Originally, only specialized troops like the Light Reaction Regiment, were given training on urban warfare while the rest were only trained on jungle warfare to counter insurgency, Brawner said.

With terrorism is becoming a growing concern worldwide, more Filipino troops must be trained on urban warfare to counter the threat.

The Light Reaction Regiment is only a battalion-sized military formation which was expanded shortly after the Zamboanga City Siege Crisis in 2013 to ensure that a premier unit can be deployed to deal with urban warfare scenarios. (PNA)

hief Inspector Jovie R. Espenido is now officially assigned at the Police Regional Office in Region 6 (Western Visayas) following his stint at the Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao.

PRO 6 spokesperson Gilbert Gorero said Special Order 8834 from the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) dated Aug. 29 relieved Espenido from his previous post and reassigned him to PRO 6.

The order was received

by PRO 6 Tuesday evening.

“His designation will follow after his courtesy call on PRO6,” Gorero said in a text message.

Iloilo City Police Office

director, Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso, was also relieved from his post and was promoted as chief directorial staff (CDS) of PRO 6 by virtue of Special Order 8833.

He will replace Senior Superintendent Nolasco K. Bathan as CDS who, in turn, will be assigned to PRO Calabarzon as acting deputy regional director for operations (DRDO).

Canieso’s relief has nothing to do with the transfer of Espenido as he personally asked for a transfer as a prerequisite to a higher position during the visit of PNP chief, Director-General Ronald Dela Rosa on Aug. 14, Gorero said.(PNA)

IP leaders lament Espenido now assigned in Iloilo end to peace talks C

By PAULA KIM FELICIANO

S

everal leaders of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) expressed their grief towards the cancellation of the peace process between the Government and the reds, since they are hoping for a ceasefire, primarily for peace and safety of their people.

Representative and member of the Supreme Council Timuay Justice and governance, Alim Bandara said, that whenever the armed conflicts between the military and the rebels occur in their ancestral lands, the IP communities are also intensely affected.

Thus, IP leaders are calling out for the establishment of a

peace sanctuary.

“There were discussions before na susubukan gagawin ng mga katutubo lalapit sila sa OPAPP halimbawa and then itong IP peace panel i-present yung conept para kung magka giyera man at least may mga areas na puwedeng safekeeping ng IP communities, dun sila atleast ma-secure.”

Bandara said.

Bandara explained that the IPs are continuously talking with the Local Government Units and the afp-pnp to establish their cooperation and hopefully provide this peace sanctuary within their ancestral domains despite the alleged

Military claims priest still held hostage in Marawi

T

he vicar-general of the Prelature of Marawi and several other Catholic hostages taken by militants inspired by the so-called Islamic State are still alive after more than three months of fighting in the southern Philippine City.

At a press conference announcing the retaking of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Major General Carlito Galvez, commander of government forces in Marawi, denied social media reports that terrorist gunmen may have spirited Father Teresito Soganub out of the city.

The military presented gold-plated religious items including chalices and crucifix recovered by

troops from the cathedral, which rebels abandoned on Aug. 25.

Some of the items were damaged when the terrorists stormed the church on May 23, the first day of the conflict.

Marilyn Suganob- Ginnivan, a younger sister of the priest, said the family was glad to hear the information.

“We are continuously praying for his safety and the other hostages. May God spare them [from death],” she told ucanews. com in a text message.

“In two or three weeks’ time,” Galvez said the military expects the city to return to normal, as the battle zone has narrowed

MILITARY,10

“infiltrations” of some armed groups in their communities.

“Alam namn natin, sa media sabi nila is 75 percent sa forces of NPA are coing from lumads. So kakausapin ng mga lumad leaders kasi kilala man nila yung mga NPA dyan na pwede silang magusap on their own, outside muna yung tungalian between the state pwede magtrigger ito later magkaroon ng malaking role ang IPs pano ipush through itong usapan ng pangkapayaan kasi ang tinatamaan ng bawat conflict is yung lumad communities sa ngayon.”

Bandara added.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

Secretary Jesus Dureza said on the other hand that, the peace zones are actually not through the initiative of the local government. “peace sanctuaries are initiated by themselves by the lumads and then they see to it that they will find the mechanisms to make it work in their own indigenous way.” Dureza said.

The IP leaders remain positive and eager in being the key to settle the current conflicts in their core area and expressed their willingness to cooperate with suggested mechanisms that would result to a lasting peace.

MAKING DO. People applying for National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance gather outside a small makeshift stall which offers NBI online application services at Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 109 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

DOE eyes new process to hasten EEZ projects

T

he Department of Energy wants energy projects and explorations in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to be expedited promptly and efficiently for the country to move forward in line with the government’s “Ambisyon 2040”, Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

In a recent interview with reporters in Taguig City, Cusi said past explorations contracted under the Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR) simply took too long with an average turnaround time of two years.

He said a new process will be implemented and will be known as the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCE-

CP), whereby willing investors can propose and determine the area they want to explore within the Philippine EEZ. The PCECP will cover oil, natural gas and coal.

With the DOE administering the PCECP, the energy chief said proposals and bids for future explorations submitted by investors will then be published and subjected to a Swiss challenge to determine if any other investor can better the offer as part of transparency.

“This will facilitate exploration because there will be no need for a long wait,” Cusi said.

Meanwhile, the DOE is already conducting public consultations “with a sense of urgency”.(PNA)

PH contact center jobs to grow despite AI entry E

ven as the contact center industry moves towards artificial intelligence, jobs in the local contact centers will continue to grow with the bulk of work leaning to mid- to high-complex

type.

In a press conference Wednesday, Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) Chairman Benedict Hernandez said the industry would not be losing jobs to AI

as demand in the global market would continue to grow with the country maintaining its significant share in the global mart.

From a total of 751,000 direct employment in 2016, jobs in the domestic

contact center industry is forecasted to reach 1.18 million by 2022.

This means the industry will add around 70,000 jobs annually, according to Hernandez.

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China’s Jiangxi TV seeks ties with PH, ASEAN channels

J

iangxi TV, one of the top 10 urban television channels in China, has expressed intention to expand cooperation with counterparts in the Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.

Li Jianguo, deputy director of Jiangxi TV, said cooperation with ASEAN countries is necessary under the Belt

and Road Initiative, a major economic integration initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

He said Jiangxi TV has existing cooperation with some Asian countries like Japan and South Korea in making documentaries and films.

“So far, we are making progress in co-production

PRIME PRODUCTS. An elder woman displays authentic Maranao products at the exhibit area in the ongoing Market-Market sa Kapitolyo/Cotabato Agro-fair

CHINA’S,10 at the Basket Provincial Pavilion in Amas, Kidapawan City. Lean Daval Jr.

DA financing scheme unveiled in Guimaras

A

new financing scheme introduced by the Department of Agriculture (DA) will initially cover 1,000 hectares of rice land in Guimaras.

The scheme that will be implemented under the “Kaibigan at Kaagapay: AdoptA-Farm Program” will have four players to include DA as facilitator, private sector financiers, seeds/fertilizer companies and farmer/ irrigators associations. It will start during the second cropping.

“This program is aimed at providing seeds and fertilizer support to farmers,” said Agriculture Sec-

retary Emmanuel Piñol on Wednesday afternoon.

It is used to address the lack of financing for farmers.

Piñol explained that DA has an approved budget of only PHP60 billion of its PHP220 billion proposal for 2018.

DA will look for investors/financiers to shell out PHP15 million for the target 1,000 hectares. Farmers are entitled to a maximum loan of PHP15,000 per hectare.

The fund will be coursed through through a private financier to the farmers/irrigators associations which in turn will lend the money to their members with a six percent interest per annum.

The interest will go to the irrigators association.

Meantime, hybrid seeds and fertilizers will only be acquired from the accredited companies. The financier will be tied up with seed companies where they can earn from the mark up on sales.

However, the price must not exceed the prevailing market price.

“It’s in the agreement that it will be the prevailing market price,” Piñol assured as he revealed that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be signed between parties involved.

(PNA)

he Department of Finance is now coordinating with the School of Economics of the University of Philippines and the University of Makati to explore possible tie ups in establishing the country’s first Philippine Tax Academy .

DOF Undersecretary Gil Beltran said the PTA, which is scheduled to open in January next year, will be funded from the excess income of the Bureau of Treasury (BTr), as recommended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“We are now meeting with officials from the UP

School of Economics for a possible partnership in establishing the PTA alongside our existing one with UMaK,” Beltran said in his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III at a recent DOF Executive Committee meeting.

Beltran said the DOF has also began receiving entries for the PTA Logo Making Contest, in which the winner will get a cash prize of P10,000.

The winning logo should convey simplicity, should be future proof, and easily memorized and recognized as the symbol of the PTA,

Beltran said.

“The logo should symbolize the entire identity and brand of the PTA,” he added.

According to Dominguez, the PTA will provide revenue and customs authorities a learning institution dedicated to their continuous training and study on improving tax collection competence and efficiency.

Republic Act No. 10143, which was signed into law almost seven years ago during the 14th Congress, enables the DOF to set up the PTA to provide continuous training and education to personnel

DOF eyes UP-UMAK tie-up on tax academy

T

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8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

N

Start from scratch

ow it has come to pass again. Another Philippines’ debacle in the regional Southeast Asian Games--the entry level to international sports competitions leading up to the Oympics.

The most recent results show the steady decline in the performance of the national contingent to the SEA Games which the country lorded over way back in 2005 when the Games were held in Manila. Prior to that, the country came in second in 1991 and is just within the top three most of the time. Until lately--in the last 12 years to be exact--that we have nodsedived to the bottom, overtaken

by Vietnam and Singapore who used to be the Philippines’ favorite whipping boys.

With a P300-million warchest, the country finished a dismal sixth with 24 gold medals to show--a measly below 50 percent of the bold prediction made by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Now, without owning up to the debacle and merely blaming the poor showing to poor officiating and “hometown decision”, our sports officials from the POC want everyone to unite and move on and look forward to hosting the meet in 2019 at home.

Whaaat? Just like that? Forget, move on and spend heaps of money again?

This time, there has to be an end to the delusion of sports officials that we will perform better at home because that is how the tradition of the biennial games go--always favoring the hosts.

It’s a lame excuse that should have no more place in our society. The POC, the organization which should have the task of developing the Filipino athletes and keeping them battle-ready and in medal-potential form, is not doing its job. Worse, the leaders of these sports associations have been sitting there for a while and ensuring that their boss--Jose “Peping” Cojuangco--continues to stay at the helm of the organization like it’s their main mission for existence.

Not the athletes’ interest, but their very own.

The POC receives funding from the International Olympic Committee

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(IOC) and that is not coursed through the government. It goes straight to their bank account to their free disposal. The POC also receives subsidy during the Olympic Games and gets funding to send a certain number of athletes to the quadrennial showpiece. That also goes straight to their bank account.

And now, for the Manila hosting of the Games, the POC will also take money from government to prepare the athletes and to run the show. That goes straight to their bank account. The last time they did in 2005, the POC has yet to liquidate and some of the officials who did not liquidate the people’s money are still around including Cojuangco himself.

So what can the country expect from this kind of sports leadership?

Embarassment. Worse, it’s a costly embarassment at the expense of the taxes people paid.

When will this stop?

Cojuangco and his cohorts for sure will never stop. They love their positions.

Not necessarily their job. They love the perks. Not the pressure to produce results.

Mary Joy Tabal, the Cebuana who priduced the country’s first gold medal, was not supported by this leadership. Not a part of her training was even supervised or funded by the POC. And she was even scratched off the delegation until the intervention of the govvernment sports agency Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). That is a fine example of how stinky this sports leadership is.

With this present crop of sports officials, save for some who are in the other side of the POC’s current leadership, the Philippines is now the sickest sporting country in all of Southeast Asia and it’s not the fault of our Filipino athletes.

The Philippines deserves a radical change in the sports landscape and before the country even builds new structures for the next games, it is est to start by ridding Philippine sports of corrupt and overstaying sports officials.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO PAULA KIM T. FELICIANO ANGELIE SAVERON MEGHANN STA. INES Reporters NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle CHA MONFORTE LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents Cartoons Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: D. TACIO G.•DELIGERO • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VIDAGOTIANSE-TAN MIA S. VALVERDE•• NICASIO FRED C. LUMBA • ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA BORBONHENRYLITO • MARY ANN “ADI”• GREGORIO C. QUISIDO LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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lthough he was a prewar migrant from Zamboanga City who moved to Davao region in 1926, Pantaleon Pelayo, a brilliant lawyer, is one of the least remembered local icons in the pantheon of upright public servants.

While he was not Davao-born, his scintillating career in the fields of public service, politics, and the judiciary have brought him extensive honors and, during the war, he stood up against the Japanese Imperial army in order to resist their incursions. Through and through, he was consistent with his pro-Filipino stance and he ably defended the rights of laborers.

Pelayo’s first high-profile achievement was in the halls of the 1934 Constitutional Convention assembly as one of two Davao delegates. (The other elected delegate was Atty. Rafael Castillo, grandfather of former House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles).

Though he was a Zamboangueño by birth, he raised the issue of the Japanese owning vast landholdings and expanding their interests at the expense of the poor residents of Davao region. His fight was significantly recognized by the assembly with the adoption of the provision in the 1935 Constitution, which limited land ownership to Filipinos only.

D

eveloping countries – and that includes the Philippines – can benefit from GM crops by being able to increase food production, lower production cost and food prices, improve food quality and preserve the environment.

The statement comes from a booklet published by the Lagunabased Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). GM stands for genetically modified and it’s a product of biotechnology.

Dr. Rhodora R. Aldemita, senior program officer of International Service for the Acquisition of AgriBiotech Applications (ISAAA) defines biotechnology as: “any technique that uses whole or part of a living thing to make new products, improve or develop plants, animals and other organisms for specific use.”

In her lecture during the Biotechnology 101 at the Pinnacle Hotel in Davao City, she added: “It is the use of biological processes, organisms or systems to manufacture products intended to improve the quality of human life.”

The SEARCA booklet said that tools of biotechnology can be used to make products for agricultural, industrial, medical and environmental applications. Since it is too broad, let’s focus more on agricultural crops.

“Biotechnology allows scientists to precisely introduce a desired

VOL. 10 ISSUE 109• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1-2, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

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Pelayo’s pro-Filipino stance In a landmark speech delivered on September 22, 1934, he told the ConCon delegates of the prevailing condition affecting insular, provincial, and municipal officials in Davao who were conniving with the Japanese in the alienation of Philippine agricultural lands.

With his uprightness gaining fame outside Davao region, Pelayo, in 1940, got the surprise of his life when President Manuel Quezon, who was in Davao to inaugurate the Sayre Highway, announced, without prior notice, his appointment as the next city mayor of Davao; he was, in fact, the youngest to assume the post since Davao became a town under colonial rule.

When war broke out, as expected, he was on top of the list of high-profile luminaries wanted by the Japanese.

To eschew arrest, he went to the hills where he continued to do his job as mayor in exile. On January 3, 1942, the invading forces, however, installed Engr. Alfredo Oboza as his replacement.

As a guerrilla, he was also the civil affairs officer of the 10th Military District, under Lt. Col. Wendell Fertig, commander of the US Forces in the Philippines (USFIP).

This violent development, though, only toughened his resolve to continue the fight against the foreign invaders.

He took over as acting governor under character of being able to insert only specific genes into a plant,” the booklet explained. “Traditional crop improvement entails a long process of hybridization and selection. It involves numerous combinations of traits that require a large population to be able to select a plant with the desired trait.”

So, how come scientists were able to do this? Simple. All plants, animals and living organisms have cells, the basic unit of life. “Within cells are hereditary materials generally composed of deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA),” the booklet said. “These hereditary materials (that determine a trait) are called genes. Through biotechnology, the gene fragments can be inserted from one organism to another, within related and unrelated species, to improve specific traits.”

There are several tools used in biotechnology.

First, there’s gene cloning, where specific DNA fragments are identified or isolated and introduced into a self-replicating genetic element so that the fragment can be reproduced and expressed in the target organism.

Then, there’s tissue culture, which involves culturing plant parts and animal cells under laboratory conditions. Microbial culture, on the other hand, is a method of multiplying microbial organisms.

DNA-marker technology involves the identification of DNA fragments associated with a certain desired

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa the Free Davao movement up to the end of the conflict after Gov. Romualdo Quimpo yielded the position to the Japanese who chose and installed Ricardo Miranda as acting war-time governor.

Pelayo’s dedication to public service and his constituents was nowhere more pronounced than after the war when he returned to his office to reorganize the city government.

Without let-up, he reconstituted the local bureaucracy only to yield months later to the order of President Sergio Osmeña to rehabilitate and rebuild Zamboanga City, which was in ruins.

Not so long thereafter, he was appointed

Biotech 101

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

trait and its uses. Finally, there’s the controversial genetic engineering, defined as “the manipulation, introduction and expression of specific genes or DNA in the target organisms.”

This is the method used in developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Among the products that have been genetically modified include soybean, squash, corn, potato, tomato, canola and cotton. In the Philippines, the only biotech crop commercially available is corn.

“Most of the GM crops currently in the market have an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against

mayor of the city of his birth.

After Quezon and Osmeña, another chief executive was also impressed at the way Pelayo was leading the cities placed under him. Not only was he a good lawyer, he was also a good leader. On January 13, 1954, President Ramon Magsaysay appointed him undersecretary of labor at a time when there was no labor secretary yet appointed. For about two months he was acting labor secretary until the position was filled up by Eleuterio Adeveso on March 22, 1954.

While still at the labor department, President Magsaysay, on February 17, 1954, ordered justice secretary Pedro Tuazon and Pelayo to draft a bill to reorganize the Court of Industrial Relations (CIR), created under Commonwealth Act No. 103 on October 29, 1936; it is now known as the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). The mandate, in many ways, was an expression of confidence the chief executive showed by virtue of his good track record in government.

But Pelayo stayed only briefly in the labor department, citing political pressure as reason for his resignation.

Nevertheless, he is best remembered for his pro-poor statement, which goes: “Any doubt in the interpretation of the Labor law should be resolved in favor of the working man because the

Minimum Wage Law was enacted for his benefit.”

Not wanting to waste his talent and yielding to his intention to join the judiciary, the President, on June 21, 1954, appointed him judge of the 11th Judicial District, with jurisdiction over Iloilo and Iloilo City, 4th Branch. He held the position until 1963.

Born on August 31, 1901 in Zamboanga City, Pelayo took elementary and high school in Zamboanga City; he was class salutatorian during his secondary years. He pursued law at the Philippine Law School and earned his diploma in 1925, the same year he passed the Bar exams.

A year later, along with his wife, he migrated to Davao where he set up a law office. Given his competence and integrity as an attorney, he was endorsed by the Nacionalista Party to run as candidate for delegate in the 1934 Constitutional Convention.

Pelayo was married to former Luz Valderosa of Bacolod, who died in 1982.

Their marriage produced a brood of six, namely: Pantaleon Jr., a lawyer, Davao City councilor and director of the National Police Commission in Region XI; Benjamin, a Regional Trial Court judge in Pasig City; Ramon, a lawyer; Natividad Pelayo Ong; David, a lawyer; and Victoria Pelayo Gestuvo.

plant pests and diseases caused by insects, viruses or other pathogens.

Others have an increased tolerance towards herbicides,” the booklet said.

The booklet provided more information: “Insect resistance is achieved by incorporating the gene for toxin production from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into the crop. This bacterium has been widely as conventional microbial insecticide in agriculture since the 1930s.

“GM crops that permanently produce this toxin have been shown to require lower quantities of insecticide in specific situations, that is, where pest pressure is high. Several Bt corn varieties are already propagated and marketed in the Philippines.

“Virus resistance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from certain disease-causing viruses.

Virus resistance makes plant less susceptible to these viral diseases.

Papaya ringspot virus resistant papayas are already being cultivated and consumed in the United States and China.

“Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. This allows herbicides to be used to control weeds without harming the crop. Around 75% of the global area devoted to soybean is planted to GM soybean.”

There are some people who are worried that transgenic crops

may wipe out and replace varieties from traditional breeding. Will this happen in the future? The booklet said negatively.

“GM crops will not replace varieties from traditional breeding because genetic modification is only conducted to introduce important genes to the already established and bred varieties,” it explained. “Genetic modification is conducted to further improve the already existing popular and high-yielding varieties.”

Most people consider traditional foods – those that have been eaten for thousands of years – are safe. The question often asked is: Are GM foods safe for human consumption? “Foods produced using genetic modification is as safe as foods produced using conventional breeding techniques,” assures the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Genetically modified foods are as safe as other foods available on the market.”

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) declared that different GM foods go through the global food safety process called Codex Alimentarius Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology under which these foods are not found to be risky to human health.

“GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health,” said the UN health agency in a statement.

10 ECONOMY

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money outflows GSC opens tuna festival Hot reach USD297 million to showcase fish industry M

T

he city government is all set for the grand 2017 Tuna Festival that will showcase the area’s thriving tuna industry as well as efforts for advocacy and promotion of peace in Mindanao.

City Councilor Shandee Llido-Pestano, city tourism council chair, said they have finalized the preparations and lined up activities for the 19th edition of the festivity, which is slated on Sept. 1 to 5.

“Everything is set and we’re ready for the grand opening on Sept. 1,” she said.

The event, which is co-organized by the Philippine Fisheries and Development Authority, will pay homage anew to the city’s multimillion tuna industry through fresh and traditional activities.

These include the usual crowd drawers tuna float parade, “sugbahan sa dalan,” and the grand fish fest at the city fishport complex.

Pestano said this year’s celebration is giving special attention to the city’s aspirations for the resolution of the conflict in Marawi City and lasting peace in the en-

tire Mindanao.

She said such advocacy inspired this year’s theme: “A PEACEtival of fun — Bida sa Saya, Bida sa Tuna!”

“This year, we considered what has been happening in our neighboring areas so we also made the event as a celebration of peace,” she said.

For the first time, Pestano said the Tuna Festival will be a standalone celebration after the local government moved its charter anniversary celebration to June 15 from the previous Sept.

5.

June 15 was the day the city’s charter was officially signed into law while Sept. 5 previously celebrated its belated inauguration.

Luisito Correa, 2017 Tuna Festival director, said the other highlights of the celebration are the 2nd Dragon Boat Race, 2017 Bancarera, Ms Tourism Coronation Night and the 5th Mayor Rivera Shooting Cup. He said some of the events and activities, among them the flea market and grand carnival, already started last Aug. 15 and will end on Sept. 15. (MindaNews)

DURIAN FEAST. A group of teenagers enjoys eating Durian fruit at a fruit stall at Magsaysay fruit stand in Davao City on Thursday. Price of Durian fruit is expected to lower as supply starts to flood the markets in the city. Lean Daval Jr.

Palawan village plucks regional nutrition award

F

or its outstanding nutrition programs on children, a southern Palawan village won the 2016 Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee award in the recently held Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony in the Mimaropa region.

The award was given to Barangay Panacan in the municipality of Narra.

A media bulletin quoted

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Rachel Paladan as saying that Barangay Panacan was recognized for its “outstanding leadership in the implementation of nutrition programs on children.”

Data from the Provincial Nutrition Office show that the town of Narra is second to San Vicente that has the lowest malnutrition prevalence rate (MPR) at 4.59

percent.

The award was received

by Barangay Chairman Ferdinand Zaballa with Mayor Lucena Demaala and Paladan at Acacia Hotel in Muntinlupa on August 22.

The northern Palawan town of San Vicente also received an award for qualifying as a finalist in the 2016 Outstanding Municipalities Green Banner Award along with the selection of Rosie

Asuela as one of the finalists in the Outstanding Regional Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS).

The regional award on nutrition is a program under the National Nutrition Council and the Department of Health (DOH), where health employees, institutions, and local leadership are recognized for efforts against malnutrition in their areas. (PNA)

v.v . PHP1446 DVO-TAG v.v. PHP1439 Sales/Ticketing : 01-15 Sep 2017 Travel Period: 15Sep - 10 Dec 2017 with black out periods 2. Philippine Airlines

also now offers direct flights from Davao. Effective November 1, PAL flies direct from: DAVAO TO CAGAYAN DE ORO DAVAO TO TAGBILARAN DAVAO TO ZAMBOANGA

PAL bares ’Buy 2 Get 1 Free’promo

T

he Philippine Airlines announced yesterday its latest sales promo-

tion.

1. Enjoy PAL’s ‘ Buy 2 Get 1 Free Promo’ for Domestic PR and 2P Codeshare Flights for as low as the fares below per person.

DVO-CEB v.v. PHP1439 DVO-CRK v.v. PHP1639 DVO-CGY v.v. PHP1426 DVO-MNL v.v. PHP1826 DVO-ZAM

ANILA -- Volatilities in the financial market as a result of the uncertainties overseas continue to result in net outflows of foreign portfolio investments in the Philippines as of the week ending August 18, 2017.

Data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Thursday showed that total inflows of foreign portfolio investments, otherwise known as hot money due to the speed it comes in and out of an economy, as of the third week of August reached USD10.405 billion, lower than the USD10.701 billion outflows.

These figures resulted in a USD296.58 million net outflow.

During the week ending Aug. 19, 2016, total hot money inflows amounted to USD11.979 billion, higher than the inflows to date while total outflows reached USD9.921 billion, thus resulting in net hot money inflows of USD2.06 billion, a big reversal from the latest figure.

Monetary officials have set a USD900 million net hot money outflow assumption for 2017.

In 2016, the country registered a USD404.43 million net hot money inflow. (PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO

ARTS AND CULTURE

A Dabawenya artrepreneur “ IT IS COMPLETELY AMAZING TO ME, that in less than ten years, Davao City has grown exponentially in terms of infrastructure, the local economy, and unfortunately but unavoidably, highway traffic— due to a high influx of new residents in this gem of a city in Mindanao.

With its accessibly remarkable sea to summit location, our beloved city is able to balance an urban lifestyle and the peacefulness and safety of rural living. What was once a socially desolate place where people hardly ever eat out and the streets are quiet by 9PM, have become the latest hub for local and international cuisine and for art and culture events. I, for one, am very excited and pleased that the art community is finally shooting off the charts through productivity, participation, support and activities. And a little known fact, numerous of our local artists were already international exhibitors and award-winners even before the proliferation of art in the city. It is truly well overdue that the whole nation should know the artistic talents that Davao City has and

that the major art share is not only in Metro Manila.

What is most great about any form of art is that anybody can do it with or without formal education—whether it’s some sort of crafting jewelries or pottery, performance art, and/or painting—plus, you can make a living out of it eventually! One of those talented people that turned “just doodling” into a financial favor is Dabawenya, Reanne Ramos-Bote.

“I’ve never had any-

This “artrepreneur” is a home-based online worker since college, which makes the job compatible to her lifestyle.

one teach me how to draw. Even in high school my classmates knew I sketched and doodled a lot and so whenever there were drawing tasks needed in school, they would request me to draw something for them. Since I do it all the time, it is like my pen is already an extension of my arm.

It was only just recently that I had the chance to be taught the basics of oil and classical drawing

by Sir Alfred Galvez— a well-known artist in Manila as well as now in Davao, and I am really grateful to pick up a lot of new things from him,”

Reanne shares.

This “artrepreneur” is a home-based online worker since college, which makes the job compatible to her lifestyle and allows her to focus on her art right after she clocks-out on her computer. My side art “rackets” involve custom murals and paintings from friends and referrals.

“My very first mural exposure was in Sales Bar Tekanplor where I started to love painting on walls and the long, long process for it. The time put into it and the physical

THE KAT CLOSET A3

EDGEDAVAO

A2INdulge!

EVENT

FIVE STUDENTS from Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Iloilo have been named finalists of #AirAsiaCreateCamp, the airline’s social media reality search for young, aspiring, and creative individuals who will showcase their best photography and videography skills to become part of AirAsia’s community of online storytellers.

The competition, which aims to develop and empower young Filipino talents by providing mentorship programs, technical know-how, and support, opened the search in July with over 500 entries received online. After an initial judging period, participants were narrowed down to 50 with select panel of judges declaring top 5 entries based on creativity, originality, and quality of storytelling.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said, “We are amazed with the quality of work from these young talents and this competition highlights just how much talent and skills are just out there waiting to be discovered, supported, and be given a platform to shine. We

are proud to bring finalist from Northern Luzon, Manila and Visayas to compete for the firstever social media reality show.”

Paul Garrido from Mapua Institute of Technology; Raymond Baguilat from University of Baguio; Beatrice Paragas from University of the Philippines; Angela Cara Durano from De La Salle University in Cebu; and John Paul Saluba from University of Iloilo were named #AirAsiaCreate Camp finalists today at a press event held in Makati City.

The five finalists will travel to Bohol, Palawan, Tacloban, and the Cordilleras region and shall undergo rigid trainings and workshops over a month long period. Their journey will be docu-

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

VOL. 10 ISSUE 109• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

AirAsia’s reveals CreateCamp finalists

mented and shared in AirAsia’s social media platforms and the public can vote for their favorite

finalist. They will also be mentored by AirAsia storytellers namely, Patrick Martin, Kyrke Jaleco,

Nella Lomotan, Ayen dela Torre, Rachel Halili, Javi Cang, Enzo Cruz, Benj Ramos and Paolo Cuarteron.

The grand winner will receive over 1million pesos worth of prizes composed of AirAsia Philippines flights to domestic and international destinations, Apple Macbook Pro 13, Nikon D5600, fully sponsored three days two-night stay at Amorita Resorts in Bohol, and will become an official member of AirAsia Storytellers community.

Keep updated with AirAsia’s CreateCamp search via #AirAsiaCreateCamp and #CreateCamp or go to www.airasiacreatecamp.com.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 109• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

ARTS AND CULTURE

EDGEDAVAO

THE KAT CLOSET A1

August 18 – 22, 2017

AWOL Gerald Anderson, Dianne Medina Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

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challenges I had to do, like standing on three stacked tables just to paint on this high wall (while holding a tie box for “safety”), I found was well worth the experience and passion put into it! For other big-scale artworks, I also did the roses and vines on the glasses of Royal Bread Haus and have painted a couple of Crossfit gyms in Davao and in Panabo, and I gladly did a safari theme for the Panabo Medical Hospital Children’s Ward to brighten up the patients’ day,” Reanne triumphantly says.

Whether her projects are big or randomly small, like requests for customized guitars, ukulele, masks, and phone cases, the artist is able to feel a certain connection to people through their appreciation and trust that makes each and every project challenging yet fulfilling.

To inquire and know more about the featured artist’s portfolio and pricing, please visit her Facebook page: “Strokes and Sheet Art Gallery”.

Through each and everyone’s support and local appreciation, Davao City’s art life is here!

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 109• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

Pediatric nutrition’s latest breakthrough

By BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO LAST AUGUST 17, 2017 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao, Tore Jesper Andersen, leading MFGM expert, and Dr. Lourdes Bernadette “Tippy” Sumpaico-Tanchanco discussed about the newest buzzword among child care experts -MFGM or milk fat globule membrane.

MFGM (Milk Fat Globule Membrane) is the membrane surrounding lipid droplets during their secretion in the alveolar lumen of the lactating mammary gland. MFGM is a tri-layer complex rich in bioactive components that has been proven in studies to support in the cognitive development of infants. Moreover, a study reveals that MFGM contributes in the behavioral or EQ development of children.

It has been known that the first five years of life defines a child’s formative years -- every triumph becomes a learning milestone worthy of a celebration. Why? It basically gives us a

glimpse of the many talents and skills a child has thus letting us see into his future.

That is why most parents exert great efforts to provide proper nutrition that can help with their child’s physical and mental growth. This is especially during the early stages of life when 90% of brain development happens.

And the latest breakthrough in pediatric nutrition may just offer parents the help they need.

MFGM has been successfully extracted and reintroduced into

supplemental milk formula for infants and children -- making it closely similar with the gold standard in pediatric nutrition.

Tore Jesper Andersen, an MFGM leading expert, said that the naturally-occurring milk component will forever change the landscape of pediatric nutrition. “This is not just about replicating one of the crucial milk components. It is about successfully extracting MFGM and introducing it to milk formula to maximize its efficacy for the

development of our children,” Andersen added.

Dr. Niklas Timby of Umea University in Sweden published a study that further corroborated the positive effects of MFGM on cognitive development among infants. The study highlighted that infants fed with MFGM-enriched milk had significantly higher cognitive scores compared to infants who were fed a formula without MFGM. Further, said cognitive score was not different from re-

sult report for breastfed infants.

Dr. Timby further studied on the effects of MFGM. Said study showed that the compound is likewise beneficial to strengthening children’s immune system. It was found that milk formula added with MFGM fraction have reduced incidence of acute otitis media and episodes of bloody diarrhea in infants.

On the other hand, a different study on MFGM was conducted by Genevieve VeeremanWauters. Said study established that children who consumed formula enriched with MFGM demonstrated significantly improved parent-reported scores for behavioral regulation as compared to children receiving control formula without MFGM enrichment.

Indeed, MFGM is a golden breakthrough that parents should consider. The benefits that MFGM provide truly ushers in a new era in pediatric healthcare and nutrition thus giving parents and pediatricians more ways of helping prepare and protect children for tomorrow’s challenges. Today, MFGM has brought pediatric nutrition closest to the gold standard of nutrition.

NEWS 11

VOL. 10 ISSUE 109 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

JAPAN... FROM 1 help out in meeting local officials of these cities as well as business groups,” he said.

The first time Davao City sent a delegation to a foreign country for a similar mission was in 2012 when it fielded a 40-man team to Singapore.

“In Japan, we are hoping to re-connect with Japanese businessmen who had been to Davao City,” he said.

“Hopefully, they will help in promoting our city to other Japanese business groups.”

Ortonio said Davao City’s economic dynamism has been validated by the number of big investments that increased by 6.0% percent between the 2015-2016 period.

He said investments for the first half of 2017 reached P247Billion compared to P230Billion for the whole of 2016.

He said the city continues to provide fiscal incentives to investors, including tax exemption for the first three years of operation.

He did not provide figures but asserted that the cost of doing business in Davao City is also much better compared to other cities in Mindanao.

The Davao City delegation is comprised of local officials, business persons, representatives of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and the City Information Office.

and C, Syphilis and Malaria.

Last year, eight bags of donated blood were found positive of HIV. “We screen the donor while the blood is being checked to determine it is

free from diseases,” Linao said.

Linao said the donor of HIV-positive blood was immediately referred to the City Health Office Wellness Center for medication and counseling. (PNA

These slots were formerly used by the vendors who are now blacklisted due to violations. “Naa tay guidelines for and policies na wala masunod, kanang usahay ang maka bunot mao’y

una mutinada and then dili na sila,” said Poliquit. The successive absence from the stall is also a reason. There are also eight vendors who are Internally Displaced People.

to just “400 to 600 square meters.”

Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of Joint Task Force Marawi, said the cathedral needs repairing after many bullets struck the building.

“It’s not totally wrecked. There was damage to the walls [from bullets],” she added.

Earlier, IS-linked websites released a video showing fighters toppling over statues and desecrating icons before trying to set fire to the cathedral.

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Pena condemned the desecration of the cathedral, branding it a “blasphemous” act.

The military also on Aug. 25 announced the retaking of Marawi’s Grand Mosque and Islamic Center hours before President Rodrigo Duterte arrived to visit troops.

Three soldiers were wounded advancing on the mosque, officials said.

The military reported no enemy casualties but on Aug. 28 said troops had discovered three booby traps, one suicide bomb suit, two rocket propelled grenade launchers; and a black flag with the IS insignia.

Soldiers also found a tunnel inside the mosque, which rebels could have used to store ammunition.

(UCAN)

“Fortunately, our market globally is growing.

And fortunately, the share of the Philippines in the global market will continue to grow. So there’s enough growth for us. We are not also going to decline in terms of industry size. We’re going to keep growing. The contact center sector, over the next six years, is forecasted to add 70,000 jobs a year,” he said.

“But the 70,000 people are different. You’re not anymore of the same profile requirement we used to recruit before because now the complexity is going up,” Hernandez noted.

Mid- to high-complex types of work currently share 53 percent of the total jobs in the contact center industry. This is expected to climb to 73 percent by 2022.

“The number of jobs that are simple are actually shrinking,” he added noting that the simple type of work will be done by AI, in which companies are now investing into.

Hernandez said the country needs to scale up its human resources for the contact center industry as bulk of the opportunity for growth will be from mid- to high-complex types of work.

(PNA)

DONATED... FROM 2

STA... FROM 2

MILITARY... FROM 4

PH... FROM 5

An ironworker cuts a V shaped angle steel bar using an iron cutter which will be used for a renovation project of a building along in an alleyway along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

CHINA’s... FROM 5 of documentaries but of course, we hope to expand such cooperation because ASEAN countries are participants of Belt and Road Initiative,” Li said in a recent interview with foreign journalists.

“We hope to expand cooperation in entertainment program, documentaries and reality shows to represent the similarities and differences. These are something that we are interested,” he added.

Li said many companies and enterprises in Jiangxi have businesses in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office

in June 2016, the relations between China and the Philippines made tremendous progress particularity in the field of trades and investment and people-to-people exchanges.

With this, the Philippine government is hoping to increase the Chinese tourist arrivals from more than 600,000 in 2016 to one million this year.

“Many tourists of both Jiangxi and the Philippines are visiting each other,” Li said.

He said more than 100,000 tourists from Asian countries particularly from Japan and South Korea come to Jiangxi every year.

of the Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR), of Customs (BOC) and of Local Government Finance (BLGF).

Beltran earlier said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has expressed its intent to assist the DOF and its attached revenue agencies in

identifying the training programs to be offered at the Tax Academy.

Dominguez said a proposal by BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to set up a Customs Academy would be tied up with the PTA that will be operational by next year at the UMaK. (PNA)

DOF... FROM 5

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER AND/OR RELINQUISHMENT OF RIGHT

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MARTINIANO MERILLO CASTILLON, SR. who died on April 23, 1997 at Davao City has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER AND/OR RELINQUISHMENT OF RIGHT executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.178; PageNo.35; Book No.XXIX; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC BANSALAN B. MATILLA.

9/1, 7, 14

12 SCIENCE EDGEDAVAO

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Climate change threatens food production TEXT AND PHOTOS BY HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Earth – the home of people and touted to be the “green planet” – has been warming since prehistoric times. But man’s tampering with the environment has made the temperature change faster.

W

hile human activities during the past century have damaged a long list of nature systems, most of these problems are local or regional in scope and can be reversed in years or decades if sufficient effort is exerted,” wrote Christopher Flavin in his book, Slowing Global Warming: A Worldwide Strategy. “Changes to the earth’s atmosphere, on the other hand, are global and – for all practical purposes – irreversible not only in our lifetimes but in our children’s and grandchildren’s as well.”

Dr. James W. Hansen of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration first raised the problem of climate change. In 1988, he told a US Senate hearing that “the greenhouse effect is changing our climate now.”

In an article published by Reader’s Digest, author Robert James Bidinotto, explains greenhouse effect in this manner: “When sunlight warms the earth, certain gases in the lower atmosphere, acting like the glass in a greenhouse, trap some of the heat as it radiates back into space. These greenhouse gases, primarily water vapor and including carbon dioxide, methane and manmade chlorofluorocarbons, warm our planet, making life possible.

“If they were more abundant, greenhouse gases might

trap too much heat. Venus, for example, has 60,000 times more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere than Earth, and its temperature averages above 800 degrees Fahrenheit. But if greenhouse gases were less plentiful or entirely absent, temperatures on Earth would be average below freezing.”

In recent years, concentrations of greenhouse gases have been steadily increasing. As a result, the world’s temperature surged considerably.

“The last median annual global record for cold was set in 1911, that is, the average temperature of the whole planet over a full year was lower than any year since temperatures were reliably recorded from the 1890s,” wrote Comboni missionary John Converset in an article which appeared in World Mission. “But global heat records are ever more numerous. Fifteen of the 16 warmest years on record have occurred in this 21st century.

The last three years have all set new global heat records.”

There is no turning back when it comes to global warming. It is for real and it is happening right now. In 2008, during the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dr. Simon Donner of the University of British Columbia embarked on a metaphor for climate change.

“The climate is like this

big ship. We are all on this big ship and the problem is once you hit the brakes it takes a long time for the ship to actually slow down and stop,” Dr. Donner told the participants.

“In our case the ship is the Titanic and we are going to hit the iceberg. It is going to be almost impossible for us not to hit the iceberg at this point.

What we need to do is everything we can to put the brakes on, to slow the ship down and move the iceberg a little bit.

The time for emission reductions isn’t so much now as it was 20 years ago.”

With over 7,500 islands and situated in the so-called Ring of Fire, the Philippines

has to bear the brunt of climate change. The “Global Climate Risk Index 2015” listed the Philippines as the number one most affected country by climate change.

“This is in part to its geography,” wrote the EcoWatch in its website. “The Philippines is located in the western Pacific Ocean, surrounded by naturally warm waters that will likely get even warmer as average sea-surface temperature continues to rise.”

Food crisis For one, more Filipinos will go hungry. “Despite the technological advances in the second half of the 20th century, agriculture remains to

be one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change,” notes Apple Jean C. Martin in a policy advocacy.

“Climate change is more disastrous to the agricultural industry of the Philippines and its neighboring countries than in other parts of the world,” warned Dr. David Street of the US Argonne National Laboratory.

According to agriculture scientist Julian Gonsalves, agriculture and climate change are closely linked. “The agriculture sector is expected to suffer the most serious impacts of climate change, and food security, nutrition and livelihoods will be affected if

we don’t act soon,” he told SciDev.Net. The Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRR) said climate change can reduce rice yields. A study by the institute showed that rice plants could benefit from higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but an increase in temperature by up to 4 degrees Celsius would “nullify any yield increase.”

Rice is the staple food of Filipinos. “If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino,” the late food columnist Doreen Fernandez once said. From 1980s to 1990s, a Filipino consumed an av-

erage of 92 kilograms. The consumption went up to 111 kilograms from 2008 to 2009.

From 2009 to 2010, it even increased to 119 kilograms.

The World Bank report said that in 2010, the annual damage to agriculture from typhoons, droughts and floods has already reached P12 billion, equivalent to 3% of total agricultural production.

When it comes to agriculture, water is very important.

But water resources are also vulnerable to climate change.

“In a warmer world, we will need more water – to drink and to irrigate crops,” said the London-based Panos Institute.

“The link between water and food is strong,” says Lester R. Brown, president of Earth Policy Institute, based in Washington, D.C. “We drink, in one form or another, nearly 4 liters of water per day. But the food we consume each day requires at least 2,000 liters to produce, 500 times as much.”

This explains why 70% of all water use is for irrigation.

An estimated 40 percent of agricultural products and 60% of the world’s grain are grown on irrigated land. “Agriculture is by far the biggest consumer of water worldwide,” IRRI said in a statement. For instance, to raise a ton of rice, a farmer needs a thousand gallons of water.

Empty nets Rice and fish are the staple food of Filipinos. It is but alarming that fish caught from the oceans are also affected by the warming of the waters. A study released by the Worldwide Fund for Nature in 2015 considered climate change as “one of the main reasons for the decline of marine species in the last 30 years.”

“Climate change is already having a profound effect on life in the oceans,” the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says.

“Marine species tend to be

highly mobile, and many are moving quickly toward the poles to stay cool as average ocean temperature rise.”

In the Philippines, an estimated 10-15 per cent of the total fisheries come from coral reefs. About 80-90 per cent of the income of small island communities comes from fisheries. “Coral reef fish yields range from 20 to 25 metric tons per square kilometer per year for healthy reefs,” says Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former environment secretary.

More than 50 percent of the world’s coral reefs, including those in the Philippines, could die by 2050 because of bleaching caused by higher ocean surface temperatures, based on climate projections by international scientists. A new threat that will most likely cause havocs among coral reefs is ocean acidification, again as a result of climate change.

Less fish is bad news for Filipinos as they are among the world’s biggest fish consumers. After all, fish provides more than half of the protein requirement of the people.

Each year, a Filipino consumes almost 30 kilograms of seafood.

“We still have enough fish now but with global warming we may have problems in the next five to ten years unless we do something about it,” warns Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, a fishery expert and an academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, the climate change continues to wreak its havoc around the world. “Climate change is taking place before our eyes and will continue to do so as a result of the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which have risen constantly and again reached new records,” deplored Michel Jarraud, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization.

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NEWS 13

House ready to tackle federalism: Karlo H

ouse Appropriations Committee Chairman Davao City 1st district Rep. Karlo Nograles hailed Wednesday Malacañang’s go signal for lawmakers to go full blast on amending the Constitution and shift to federalism.

The green light and apparent marching orders came during Tuesday night’s LEDAC-Execom meeting that President Rodrigo Duterte himself presided over.

“Now that we’re just

about done with passing the proposed P3.767-trillion budget for next year, both Houses of Congress can focus its collective powers on effecting true change via federalism,” said Nograles, noting that Duterte had been a hardcore advocate of federalism even during his days as Davao mayor.

The Nograles panel led the House of Representatives’ (HOR) scrutiny on the proposed national budget during the whole month of

The Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish in Barangay Maria Cristina, Balo-i, Lanao del Norte has become the temporary seat of the Prelature of Marawi due to the ongoing siege in Lanao del Sur’s capital which marked its 100th day on Wednesday, 30 August 2017, the day this photo was taken. Militants belong-

August. It is expected to be signed into law by November.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Wednesday that the House and Senate are set to discuss when they would convene into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) for the purpose of tweaking the 1987 Constitution.

Alvarez, who was at the Palace meeting, said the ConAss could come to fruition early next year.

The switch to federalism was among the 27 legislative

measures branded as priority by the Duterte administration during the LEDAC-Execom meeting.

Nograles said that through federalism, the country’s future federal states would be given the necessary leeway to solve the various problems specific to their region. He believes that this will help solve longstanding problems, such as insurgency, terrorism and even poverty.(House of Representatives)

ing to the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group burned the St. Mary’s Church in Marawi, which housed the prelature, and kidnapped Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob and other hostages at the start of fighting. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

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EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 10 ISSUE 109 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER1-2, 2017

SPORTS

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Team Duterte-CMO notches 12th win

C

HALK up a dozen W for Team DuterteCMO. The Execs cruised to their 12th win against IBP with a 86-78 decision over the weekend in their basketball friendly series at the Genesis 88 Gym. The win kept Team Duterte-CMO undefeated in 14 games with two outings, Game 7 and 10, ending in a standoff.

Sec. Christopher “Bong” Go scored 29 points to lead the charge anew for Team DuterteCMO. The sweet-shooting special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte shot seven treys and made significant plays to get his teammates on the groove en route to its fourth win in a row since Game 10 draw.

Glenn Escandor and John Flores put up a combined 18 points to

help Team Duterte-CMO. IBP dished out its usual game playing a more balance attack with five players finished double digits.

But it turned out deficient to pull off a victory for the Davao lawyers who remained winless in the series.

Armand Dioso led all scorers with 19 baskets.

Chok Cadiogan made 15 as Ongkiko, Paguican and Ciudadano had 14.

Team Duterte-CMO’s 12th win came few days after a deadlock game with IBP-Bulacan.

IBP-Bulacan, the national IBP league champions, visited this city and played Team Duterte-CMO to a 75-all.

IBP-Bulacan played superb basketball to the admiration of Team Duterte coaching staff, fellow lawyers and the game observers.

SPORTS LEADERS. Atty. Mans Carpio with RMC president Leo Magno during SPORTS LEADERS. Atty. Mans Carpio with RMC president Leo Magno during the recent Kadayawan Basketball Tournament. Boy Lim the recent Kadayawan Basketball Tournament. Boy Lim

5 Davao FC players named to Azkals pool N FAMILIAR FACES. James and Phil Younghusband of Davao Aguilas FC banner the Philippines national squad in the Asian Cup qualifier.

EW Davao Aguilas FC acquisition Phil and James Younghusband headline five Davao players who composed the new Philippines Azkals pool for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier match against Yemen on Sept. 5 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Joining the siblings are Dylan De Bruycker, Nick O’Donnell, and Simone Rota.

Two new faces also made it to the Azkals training pool--Tyler Matas and Harry Foll.

Matas, who has become a key player for Meralco Manila especially when the Younghusband brothers departed for Davao, was called to the 23-man pool.

Also making it to the pool is Foll, 19-year-old midfielder who plays for German third division side Hansa Rostock.

On the other hand, Ceres Negros, which is called Panaad home in the PFL, has eight representatives to the training pool, namely, Carli De Murga, Josh Grommen, Kevin Ingreso, Junior Muñoz, Manny Ott, Iain Ramsay, Luke Woodland, and Patrick Reichelt.

Also having five players called to the Nationals is Global Cebu, which will be represented

by Misagh Bahadoran, Patrick Deyto, Pika Minegishi, Paul Mulders, and Dannis Villanueva.

Completing the national team pool are Neil Etheridge (Cardiff), Mike Ott (Angthong), and Stephen Palla (Wolfsberger). (PNA)

Sports demands apology from DLSU, FEU players

By Angie Saveron

T

HE head of the City Sports Development Office (CSDO) has demanded a written apology from two Manila schools involved in the free-for-all that marred the Kadayawan Festival Invitational Basketball Tournament last Friday.

Michael Denton Aportadera, CCSDO chief, deplored the conduct of players from the De La Salle Green Archers and FEU Tamaraws saying this behavior will not be tolerated in the city.

FEU and DLSU were both thrown the book by the Samahang Basketbolista ng Pilipinas (SBP) technical director Atty. Francis Calatrava.

“In behalf of the City Sports Development Office, mangayo lang mi ug pasaylo sa nahitabo although it was beyond our control but we will make sure that this will not happen again

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ter said.

It cited cases of several potential boxers who are affected by the regulation.

They also appealed to GAB to give more consideration to female boxers, who are just very few in the Philippines.”

“As long as it is not mismatch, we believe the Filipina fighters should be allowed to fight abroad, regardless of their records, as long as they pass all the medical clearances and that the bout is not a mismatch,”

because we will not allow it as a one city, we do not allow behavior like that in Davao City,” said Aportadera.

“There were a lot of students watching the game this was the second time that these young people are exposed to the UAAP team. Perting daghana jud sa mga studyante na nag tanaw.

Kini sila mga idols ni nila and we do not get that much of exposure to UAAP Teams,” said Aportadera.

Aportadera added that his office, which organized the event, would want to implement stricter rules and policies to make sure that the incident will not happen again.

“I understand that the UAAP is the avenue of all universities to play in unity and harmony so I don’t think so that the UAAP will tolerate that also,” said Aportadera.

the letter said.

They are confident that GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra will help them with their request given the many good things he gave to boxing like the extension of the licensure and the recent approval of the free medical and CT scan for professional boxers. GAB also gave a free registration to all the participants of the highly-successful 3rd GAB Philippine Boxing Convention held in Davao City last April. (PNA)

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NO OVERSEAS FIGHT. Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo (left) incurred two losses and has to be barred from further fighting overseas.

Sabillo, 63 other boxers barred from overseas fights

M

erlito “Tiger” Sabillo, once a top prospect for a world title, led 64 Filipino boxers ranked by the Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) who are barred from fighting overseas after a regulation came out requiring a boxer to score at least two wins of his last three fights.

Aside from the reigning Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) flyweight champion Sabillo, who dropped his last two outings, the other rated boxers are current Philippine

featherweight champion Randy “The Master” Braga (lost-win-lost), Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) lightweight champion Rosekie “Kapre” Cristobal (winlost-lost) and former WBF Asia Pacific featherweight champion Rimar “Terminator” Metuda (win-lost-lost).

“We have formally written a letter requesting the GAB to reconsider the 2-of3 rule for the boxers to fight abroad,” said international promoter-manager-matchmaker Brico Santig of La

Trinidad, Benguet.

The letter, which was received by GAB main office in Makati, has been signed by almost 250 boxing promoters, managers, matchmakers, trainers and professional boxers from all over the Philippines.

These include the country’s top promoters and managers Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. of Paranaque, Jim Claude Mananquil, Dexter Tan and Art Advincula of Gen. Santos City, Dino Olivetti of Binan, Juan Monis of Valenzuela, Jun

Gandez of Batangas, Jennifer Javellana of Iloilo, Wowie Lalanto of Cagayan de Oro, Troy Agustin Jr. of Tarlac and Joven Jimenez of Cavite.

“We would like to inform GAB that we are now deeply affected by 2-of-3 Rule,” they said.

Part of letter stated that “the Philippine ratings of the 64 boxers are useless because they still cannot fight abroad and so they lost their opportunity to earn money or become an international or world champion. To cite

an example, the loss-loss-win card in the last three fights which is within the 2-outof-loss and maybe given a chance to fight for a regional or even world championship by a governing body for sport. It really depends.

In such case, since the 2-of3 rule is in effect, we have thrown away the big opportunity for Filipino boxers.”

“In the world bodies of boxing, the top 15 rated boxers are qualified to fight for the world, international or regional championship belts.

They don’t use the 2-of-3 Rule and only needed rated boxers to qualify to fight,” the letter said.

The signatories urged GAB to be more objective, rather than subjective on the matter.

“If the record of the boxer, who is being invited to fight overseas, looks inferior, maybe your committee on the matter may evaluate the opponent of the boxer. There are many ways to see if the fight is not lopsided,” the let-

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