Edge10 issue115 September 10-11 2017

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

WORTHY OF REPLICATION. President Duterte hands over the award to Udenna Corporation founder Dennis Uy who is merited as the lone Young Entrepreneur of the Year awardee during the Association of Southeast Asian

Nations (ASEAN) Business Awards at the Solaire Resort and Casino Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City on Wednesday night. The President, who led the awarding to the 30 awardees, is assisted by Trade and Industry Secretary Ra-

PHILCONSTRUCT overall event chairman Will Decena, Department of Finance assistant secretary Arturo Boncato Jr., Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 11 director Allan Borromeo and Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, to-

DCIPC: Investments value soars to P347B T he value of investments in Davao City as of August reached about P247 billion, or about P17 billion more than what was recorded in the whole year of last year, said Lemuel G. Ortonio, acting head of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center.

Ortonio said the �igure could even breach the P250-billion target as the Davao City Investment Incentive Board is reviewing four more projects, based on what the board reported to the city government, have a combined capital of about P400 million.

The board reviews projects that �ile for incentives. Although, he did not identify the companies that �iled for the application so that these projects will be provided with incentives, Ortonio said among these new projects is the expansion of a hospital, a new boutique hotel, a feed mill for �isheries and a low-cost housing.

Another project is an infrastructure development which will employ green technology, although he did not elaborate on the project.

“For the �ive years, the top capital providers in the city are still retail and services,” said Ortonio as both homegrown and outside companies have heavily been investing in malls, townships and other form of infra-

structure facilities.

Based on the registered businesses with the city, including those that have renewed their permits as well as the new ones, there were about 38,000 businesses in the city. At present, Ortonio said the city government, particularly the Business Bureau, has been reviewing its record as to the increase in the number of businesses in the city.

In 2015, there were only 32,000 businesses in the city.

“We also help these companies in processing their applications,” Mr. Ortonio said, adding that companies apply for tax breaks, particularly the exemption from a three-year business taxes and real property taxes if the projects are within the priority areas of investments.

During the �irst half of the year, the city government approved about P12 billion in new investments with among the projects approved included the bulk water project of Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc., the feedmill project of South Feedmill Corp. and the socialized housing project of Apo Highlands.

Meanwhile, the executive department is also pushing for the inclusion of parking facilities as part of its priority areas of investment.

Ortonio said the proposal, which has been �iled with the

DCIPC, 10

mon Lopez, Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, and Philippine ASEAN Business Advisory Council Council Members Tessie SyCoson and George Barcelon. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

gether with the organization’s other officials, lead the cutting of ribbon to mark the official opening of PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao and Manufacturing Technology Davao 2017 at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

Rapid growth snags bid to solve housing backlog

By ANGIE SAVERON

T

he rapid population growth is the No. 1 culprit that keeps on frustrating the government’s bid to provide affordable housing to Pag-ibig Fund members.

This was underscored by Cesar Bazan, Of�icer-in-Charge, Business Development Department, of Pag-ibig Fund at the Kapehan sa NCCC on Friday.

He said the other reason has been the inability of members to pay their housing loans.

“If you will ask me now if I could put up a unit on my own ang sagot ko hindi, lahat ng

members namin don’t have the capacity to instantly put up a house,” he said.

He said that in Davao region, Pag-ibig has a total of approximately 300,000 members.

But of the number only 30,000 members own their house. “We still have more than 200,000 members na walang bahay,” Banzan added.

He clari�ied that housing backlogs have been there prior to the implementation of the Pag-ibig housing funds. “From the start talaga may backlogs na siya that is why Pag-ibig housing

funds created this project na kailangan namin tumulong in the aquisition ng house ng mga members namin,” said Banzan.

Pag-ibig partnered with accredited house developers in order to provide affordable houses to its members. There are 97 accredited developers in Davao city alone. “We require the developer to put up a subdivision, develop it, put all the amenities needed and we’ll sell it to our members,” said Banzan. He said that they only needed to accredit these developers, set standards and assure them that the Pag-

ibig will �inance for its members.

Pag-ibig housing funds offers housing loans for low income earner where their income is 12,000 below. They offer them lower interest rates base don the special housing guidelines.

The low income members can borrow 450,000 and below and will only be charge of three percent rate for the �irst �ive years.

“Dapat kasi lahat ng Pag-ibig members ay ma-cater namin, that is why meron kami special housing project to address the needs of these income earn-

Thursday.

Cabunoc explained that Republic Act 493 prohibits civilians from wearing, using, manufacturing, and selling military uniforms, insignia, medals, and badges prescribed only for soldiers and policemen.

The suspects wore olive green t-shirts and camou�lage pants which frightened civilians, he said.

During the investigation they told Cabunoc they were hired by a company to secure an oil exploration project at the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao.

Many of them reside in Lutayan town in Sultan Kudarat, and others come from Tantangan in South Cotabato.

Cabunoc said the suspects “bastardized” the military uniforms as they

wore sandals instead of combat shoes.

“We are told to wear our uniform with pride. But these men wore Army uniforms with their sandals on,” he said.

The suspects were brought to the Tacurong City police station where they underwent further investigation and pro�iling. They were released two hours after. (Mindanews)

RAPID, 10

Group warned against wearing military gear

M

embers of a group calling itself the Royal Armed Forces have been warned they would be imprisoned if they will be seen wearing military uniforms again.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, said he warned 14 members of the group they accosted at a checkpoint along the national highway in Tacurong City on

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

4 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

Pulong, brod-in-law deny knowing‘Davao Group’

P

PHILCONSTRUCT overall event chairman Will Decena delivers the chairman’s report during the opening of PHILCONSTRUCT Mindanao and Manufacturing Technology Davao 2017 at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr

Court room in jail unveiled in Davao

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

S

ecurity threat is one of the reasons why there are delays in court proceeding especially on the part of high risk pro�ile suspects detained in jails.

This because the companions of these inmates might rescue them causing harm both to jail personnel and the public.

But in Davao City, it will not be a problem anymore because the Davao City Jail has already a court room inside its detention facility.

On Thursday, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 11, Davao City Regional Trial Court and the Rotary Club of

South Davao unveiled the court room inside the detention facility of Davao City Jail.

The said court room is donated by the Rotary Club of South Davao as part of their support to the community of the city.

BJMP 11 regional director Jail Sr. Supt. Amelia A. Rayandayan said that the project is a big help on their part since because it involves public safety since these people are considered as security threat.

“We know for a fact that we have been transporting them from jail to court and its quite risky, ” Rayndayan.

Solon says Mindanao needs new security plan after ML

S

urigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel is counting on the Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police to draw up a whole new security strategy for Mindanao to prevent a repeat of the Marawi City siege elsewhere.

“We cannot afford to expose another city or large municipality in Mindanao to a crisis akin to Marawi, or to the Zamboanga City siege in 2013,” Pimentel, a member of the House committee on national defense and security, said.

Pimentel is supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to enlist up to 20,000 new soldiers to build up the Armed Forces.

“Actually, compared to our peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, we really have fewer active military personnel to begin with,” Pi-

mentel said.

At present, the lawmaker said the Armed Forces have a total active troop strength of only 125,259 – with 85,825 in the Army; 22,771 in the Navy; and 16,663 in the Air Force – excluding 2,693 soldiers deployed to service support units.

“We still have pockets of insurgency in other parts of the country, so we cannot just pull out large forces from Luzon or Visayas and transfer them to Mindanao,” he said.

“The peril of opportunistic elements taking advantage of fewer troops stationed elsewhere due to redeployments is always there, so we really need the additional soldiers,” Pimentel said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier said that Malacañang may ask Congress to pass a supplemental appro-

SOLON, 10

Rayndayan said it will be easy on their part if the high pro�ile prisoners will be heard within the jail compound no need for them to be transported and the risk will be lessened.

She said there were incidents from the past that the inmates were rescued by their co-accused while on their way to court.

For Davao City RTC Executive Judge Emmanuel C. Carpio said the court inside the jail is a secure place for the high pro�ile inmates since they will not be exposed to the public.

“The travel time and the dis-

tance ... maybe a good chance for the inmate to escape or be rescued by some lawless elements,” he said.

Carpio said with the project donated to the jail, it is expect that less hassle and less expense on the part of all the parties.

“Hopefully, this will serve as one of the hallmarks and good project in Davao City,” he said.

The Executive Judge said the Davao City Jail court room might be the �irst in the Philippines.

On Friday, the �ive members of the Maute Group are the �irst high pro�ile inmates heard in the

COURT, 10

resident Rodrigo Duterte’s son and son-in-law on Thursday denied involvement in or knowledge of the “Davao Group” which has been alleged to have facilitated the release of the shipment of 604 kilos of shabu worth 6.4 billion pesos through the Bureau of Customs’ green or express lane in May. But Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Mayor Sara Duterte, admitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday (Sept. 7) that they know businessman Charlie Tan, the vice mayor saying he is his “kaibigan” (friend) and “kainuman” (drinking buddy).

In his privilege speech on August 23, Senator Pan�ilo Lacson named “Charlie Tan of Davao Group” as among the “alleged bribe givers or ‘players’ at the Bureau of Customs.”

Lacson also named the “Davao Group” as the number two among �ive “big players” in the Bureau of Customs which have been facilitating the release of “390 to 490 containers per day or 1,950 to 2,450 containers weekly.”

He said David Tan facilitates the release of 100 to 110 containers weekly, followed by the “Davao Group” with 80 to 100 containers.

Lacson said Customs �ixer Mark Taguba, who had worked on the release of the shipment that was later found to contain shabu, “belongs to this group.”

Taguba in previous investigations in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, had testi�ied he was introduced by a Jojo Bacud allegedly of the Bureau of Customs to a certain “Tita Nani” of the “Davao Group” when he was having problems with alerts on his shipment.

He said “Tita Nani” asked him to proceed to Davao City

A resident repairs his fishing boat before heading to Davao Gulf for a night of fishing on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

to pay P5 million “enrollment fee” to avail of the facilitation services of the “Davao Group.”

Taguba said a certain “Jack,” named by “Tita Nain” as the “handler of Paolo,” fetched him at the Marco Polo restaurant in Davao City on January 16 where they met with “Small” who turned out to be Davao City Councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera, Jr., the vice mayor’s friend and colleague at the City Council.

Abellera, “Jack” told Taguba, is the vice mayor’s friend who would arrange the meeting with him.

Taguba said he was instructed by “Tita Nani” to hand over the 5 million pesos to Abellera, one million pesos to “Jack” and that he was supposed to remit weekly at least a million pesos a week to the “Davao Group” at P10,000 per container van for about a hundred vans a week.

Abellera, who was a noshow at the Senate hearing on August 24, showed up on August 31 and denied having received 5 million pesos from Taguba.

He admitted having met with “Jack” whose family name he says he did not know but whose number he had on his phone, and a companion who was later introduced to him as Taguba.

Abellera claimed in his af�idavit that he told “Jack” and Taguba that he could not arrange the meeting with the President’s son “knowing that the Vice Mayor does not involve himself with such matters,” and that he left about �ive minutes later. He said he met Taguba only once.

Taguba, however, said, they met twice that day, at noon in a restaurant where he allegely gave the money just as Abellera was leaving in his vehicle and in the evening in a restobar that Abellera identi�ied as Casa de Amigos.

(Mindanews)

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

5

EDGEDAVAO

Building C and B

Filling of wall partition in Building A

8th floor construction

Aerial shot of Building C

Building A

Aerial shot of Building A

Esdevco releases latest Matina Enclaves construction updates

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

A

fter the grand inauguration of its �irst residential condominium building last month, Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) recently released the construction updates for two more buildings of its maiden project Matina Enclaves.

Project head Gerard Kent Garces bared the contractor’s report for the completion rate for Building C is now at 65 percent.

“We are satis�ied with the progress of the construction

works and so far we are right on target,” Garces said The latest update shows Building C’s current construction works include installation of electrical wirings, ongoing plumbing works, installation of water proo�ing, and �illing of wall partition. Construction is currently in the 8th �loor level and overall accomplishment is placed at 65 percent.

Another building in the Residences sector--Building A—also is currently moving on with ongoing micro pilling and has an overall accomplish-

ment rate of micro piles at 43 percent.

Last August 10, Esdevco turned over Building B with no less than President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurating the �irst condo of the Matina Enclaves’ Residences sector.

Matina Enclaves, located at Quimpo Boulevard along Ecoland, Davao City, is a sprawling gated residential complex. It is the maiden venture into real estate development of the homegrown Esdevco owned by the Escandor family.

jor undertaking of Philexport Davao will highlight the Cavendish and other banana varieties grown in the different parts of the country. Theactivity is aimed at gathering industry players and champions, namely, growers, exporters, traders, buyers, processors and allied sectors such as chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides companies. Other

support sectors like shipping, logistics, �inancing, academe and relevant government entities are also expected to grace the affair, he elaborated.

One of the objectives of the Banana Conference is to discuss innovative and priority strategic actions to meet the challenges and opportunities to warrant industry competitiveness and sustainability.

Likewise, crucial issues ranging from business security, market competition, technology improvement requirements, among others are expected to deliberated during the conference.

Mr. Maranon is extending its invitation to all banana industry stakeholders to take part in this major activity.

PhilExport Davao to host Banana Conference 2017

T

he Philippine Exporters Confederation (Region-IX Davao Chapter), Inc., will conduct the Banana Conference (BanCon) 2017 on October 12-13, 2017 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, Lanang, Davao City. This was learned from Ferdinand Y. Maranon, President of Philexport Davao.

The event which is a ma-

Philippine Export Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) president Ferdinand Marañon and executive director Marizon Loreto

6 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

DBM assures release of employees’bonuses

T

he Department of Budget and Management will continue to release the Performance-Based Bonus of eligible government employees, according to DBM Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno.

“There is no withholding of the PBB for FY 2017.

In fact, the FY 2016 PBB release is ongoing and the Memorandum Circular for the FY 2017 PBB was issued last March 9, 2017.

The PBB for FY 2017 will be released starting �irst quarter of FY 2018,” said Secretary Diokno.

The Budget chief further added that the PBB has been effective in increasing compliance to good governance standards, instilling �inancial discipline, and improving performance management.

“We were able to push compliance to budget, procurement, service standards, and SALN disclosures,” said the Secretary.

The DBM has in fact recorded improvement in compliance with good governance conditions: Transparency Seal increased from 87% in 2012 to 98% in 2016; Citizen’s Charter, from 79.8% in 2011 to 99.7% in 2016; PhilGEPS, from 32% in 2011 to 92% in 2016; and Report on Ageing of Cash Advances, from less than

30% in 2011 to 97% in 2016.

With the PBB, the agencies are now more conscious about budget utilization, as well as linking individual to of�ice performance.

However, Secretary Diokno explained that there is a need to review the PBB eligibility process.

“We must tighten the system of granting the PBB, simplify the validation and address the unintended consequences, like the tendency of agencies to under-target. In this way, we can push for excellence in performance in the bureaucracy,” said the Secretary.(DBM) The DBM and partner agencies are also studying the possibility of focusing the PBB for FY 2018 and FY 2019 on attaining process objectives and results rather than Major Final Output (MFO) targets, in keeping with President Duterte’s order to streamline frontline services and reduce administrative burden.

“We are also thinking of rewarding agencies for management improvements in planning procurement, and �inancial management to improve their absorptive capacity and deliver more services in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP),” added the Budget chief.

P30-B oil tax collections bound for social benefits

T

he government will implement its biggest social bene�its program yet once the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) is passed by the Congress in full, given that almost P30 billion or 40 percent of incremental revenues from the adjustments in oil excise tax collections estimated at close to P74 billion in 2018 will go to targeted subsidies for the poor and other social mitigation measures.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said that a key component of this social bene�its program is the targeted cash transfer (TCT), in which the poorest 10 million households in the country would be given bi-annual subsidies to shield them from the impact of the revenue-enhancing measures under the TRAIN. Updating Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on this tax reform package during a recent Department of Finance (DOF) executive committee meeting, Chua said that each household quali�ied to receive the TCT will get P1,200 in the �irst quarter of the year, and another P1,200 in May before the beginning of the school year, or a total of P2,400 for the

entire year as provided under the TRAIN. Under House Bill 5636 or the version of the TRAIN approved by the House of Representatives, the funds will be sourced from the additional revenue from the adjustments in oil excise taxes expected to reach P74.4 billion in 2018, the targeted �irst year of implementation of TRAIN. “This is the biggest social mitigating measure under the tax reform,” Chua said. “The TCT is a social protection investment.”

Chua said “the amount of cash transfer was calculated to fully offset the moderate but temporary increase in prices faced by the average household in the bottom 50 percent.”

Besides the TCT, the government will also implement the Pantawid Pasada or a social assistance project for commuters and public transport, and the jeepney modernization program to ease the impact of oil excise tax increases on commuters and the land transport sector; and the Pantawid Kuryente to help small power consumers in missionary electri�ication areas, Chua said.

A national ID, which will

P30-B, 10

A man maneuvers his bicycle which is overloaded with sponges that he will deliver to customers along R. Magsaysay Ave. in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr

NEDA says infra spending to jumpstart PH economy

T

he National Economic and Development Authority said Thursday that the government’s plan of sharply increasing public spending on infrastructure will boost the Philippine economy.

At the Second Annual Philippine Energy and Infrastructure Finance Forum in Makati, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said that growth of gross domestic productis expected to increase by an additional 1.4 percent annually on average over six years. Accelerated infrastructure development will also generate around 1.1 million additional new jobs every year.

The government has committed to increase spending on infrastructure from

5.32 percent of GDP this year to more than 7 percent of GDP by 2022.

Seventy-�ive (75) game-changing �lagship projects were identi�ied to be prioritized, approved, and implemented until 2022, of which 53 projects with cost estimates will make for a total cost of almost ₱1.6 trillion.

Of the 75 �lagship projects, 18 have already been approved by the NEDA Board.

Among these are the Malolos-Clark Airport-Green City Rail Project, New Centennial Water Source Project, Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway, the New Cebu International Container Port, and the Davao, Bohol, Laguindingan, Bacolod, and Iloilo Airports.

“Most of these projects are in the regions. This af�irms the government’s strategy to aggressively pursue rural and regional development, and to spread economic growth outside Metro Manila,” Pernia said.

The NEDA is likewise currently validating the Public Investment Program (PIP) 2017-2022, which contains at least 5,600 priority programs and projects of various national government agencies, including both hard and soft infrastructure, that would respond to the goals and strategies of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022. Many of these projects will be in the provincial towns and cities.

He added that various sectors and industries will

bene�it from the government’s massive infrastructure program.

In terms of gross value added, these are construction; wholesale and retail trade; food manufacturing; non-metallic mineral products; ownership of dwellings; electricity; wood, bamboo, cane, and rattan; communication; land transport; and petroleum and other fuel products.

On employment, these are construction; wholesale and retail trade; wood, bamboo, cane and rattan; forestry; stone quarrying, clay and sand pits; land transport; non-metallic mineral products; fabricated metal products; renting and other business activities; and maintenance and repair of motor vehicles. (PNA)

He said the plant will be reinforced by the 100-megawatt diesel-�ired Western Mindanao Power Corp., an Alcantara power subsidiary also based in Zamboanga City.

The diesel power plant supplies about 50 megawatts to the Zamboanga City cooperative.

He added that the new project, which will need about $300 million in funding and is expected to get completed within the next three years.

He added that being an embedded plant, the western city, also carrying the brand Latin city of Mindanao as some of its residents speak Chavacano, a corrupted form of Spanish language, will become another major growth centers of Mindanao. “We

need to take advantage of the growing demand for power brought about by new investments,’ he said.

He added that even when the distributing utility is in debt, it can eventually pay its debt as it will have enough power to maximize its revenues.

About two years ago, a proposal to have Zamcelco be managed by a private company came about as its debt at that time ballooned to about P1.3 billion.

As a result of the proposal, two initial biddings for the investment and management contract, but both bidding were declared not successful as those that expressed interest in running the cooperative backed out. Based on news reports, two big

companies in the power distribution business -Manila Electric Co. and Aboitiz Power Corp. – did not participate in the bidding processes after those drafting the terms of reference refused to input their proposals.

When the �irst bidding was declared unsuccessful for failure to attract participants, the government tried to solicit proposals from those interested companies.

The interested companies still backed out from the second bidding process after the proposals that they submitted were ignored, industry sources said. Among those ignored proposals is for the cooperative to turn over its management to the winning bidder.

Firm says 105MW plant to lift Zambo power need

T

he Alcantara Group of Companies has expressed hopes the 105-megawatt power plant it is building in Zamboanga City will ful�ill Zamboanga City’s energy needs through the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative.

“We are optimistic that the plant will serve as a catalyst in triggering the economy of Zamboanga City,” said Nicasio I. Alcantara, president of the group.

The construction of the power plant has been delayed for about �ive years.

With its resumption, Alcantar said his group is con�ident that the power plant will be able to ful�ill the power needs to hasten the economic growth of Zamboanga City.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 7

Inflation to remain manageable - DOF

I

n�lation will remain manageable in the coming months despite the acceleration in consumer prices to a three-month high of 3.1 percent from 2.8 percent a month ago, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said.

The faster in�lation was primarily driven by higher increases in the prices of food, transport, water, electricity and fuel.

The August print was also faster than the 1.8 percent a year ago. This brought in�lation in the �irst eight months to 3 percent, the midpoint of the target range of 2 to 4 percent for the whole year.

“In�lation rate for August increased to 3.1 percent, re�lecting DOF’s internal forecast. The uptick is driven both by food and non-food items. Vegetable prices increased due to recent weather disturbances and fuel price hikes also drove transportation price increases,” Beltran said in his Economic Bulletin on In�lation released today.

“Core in�lation of 3 percent indicates that headline in�lation for the next few months may be around that neighborhood. Nevertheless, this is still within the monetary target range, giving ample space for maneuver to address both domestic and external disturbances,” Beltran said.

DoF data showed that the core in�lation of 3 percent in August 2017 was higher compared to the 2.1 percent a month ago and 2 percent a year ago.

Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that the indices of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco increased by 6.3 percent; Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other fuels (2.8

percent); Transport (4.4 percent); Communication (0.3 percent); Recreation and Culture (1.4 percent); and Restaurant and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (2.2 percent).

The rest of the commodity groups either had slower annual add-ons or retained their previous month’s rates.

Food in�lation rose to 3.7 percent in August 2017 from 3.4 percent in July 2017. This was mainly due to faster price increases in vegetables, �ish, corn, �lour, bread, and other cereals.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said one cause for higher increases in food prices was Typhoon Jolina last month, which affected agriculture in Central Luzon, particularly in Aurora province.

Pernia, however, said in�lation was still expected to remain well within government’s target for the year of 2 to 4 percent despite accelerating for the second time in a row.

For his part, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the within-target path of in�lation provides the BSP with the �lexibility to assess its monetary tools to enhance further its responsiveness to the evolving requirements of the economy.

Standard Chartered Bank’s economist for Asia, Chidu Narayanan, said the manageable in�lation environment would allow the Bangko Sentral to keep steady its policy rates for the rest of the year.

But Narayanan shared Bangko Sentral’s view that in�lation could be faster in 2018 to be driven by the government’s proposed tax increases. (DOF)

Tourism stakeholders ink MOA to hone basic skills

S

takeholders of the tourism industry signed a memorandum of agreement for the strengthening of the industry , particularly in enhancing the skills of the human resources of the industry.

Tourism Undersecretary Alma Rita R. Jimenez said that the industry needs to intensify its activities particularly in addressing gaps in human resources to prepare the industry for the expected surge in visitors.

“It is the best time to do a spring cleaning,” said Jimenez.

She pointed out that local government units should be able to craft laws that address problems because “we are in a mood and period of obedience,” referring to the declaration of martial law.

The national government

has set aside P100 million for the training of about 40,000 employees this year.

The training program takes off from the initial run that started in 2014, at that time funded by the Asian Development Bank with the money coming from the Canadian government. The initial run of that project, which lasted until 2015, was piloted in the city, Bohol, Cebu and Palawan.

Tourism Regional Director Roberto P. Alabado III said that the region needs to be prepared even now because of the growing interest both from the local and international markets.

“We need to strengthen our local industry, our human resources,” said Mr. Alabado as he pointed out that the city is ex-

TOURISM, 10

A group of children pushes a public utility vehicle in exchange for loose coins at a flooded E. Quirino Ave. in Davao City on Thursday evening when majority of main thoroughfares in the city submerged in floodwater due to the heavy downpour. Lean Daval Jr

Investors in healthcare added boost to Davao

T

he entry of new players in the healthcare industry is poised to attract new investors and to boost Davao City’s potentials as a prime destination for tourists seeking medical attention.

Arturo M. Milan, trustee of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, underscored this on Friday, saying two new medical facilities, St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Lanang Premiere Doctors Hospital Inc. (LPDHI), will provide both local residents and visitors choices for their medical needs.

“The entry of new players strengthens our belief that the city has become an attractive place for new investments,” said Milan.

He said these new facilities will both attract visitors to the city and will create competition with the rest of the industry, particularly those tertiary facilities run by big companies. “We know that when new players enter and industry, they push the old players to make their presence still relevant.

Dr. Edgardo R. Cortez, president and chief executive director of St. Luke’s Medical Center, said that the

non-pro�it, non-stock institution will position itself as a top destination for medical interventions.

“We will bring to the facilities the latest interventions that we have in our main hospital; we are even looking at pioneering new ones once the project starts operations in the next four years,” said during the launching of Azuela Cove, a 25-hectare mixed-use joint venture development of the Alcantara and Ayala groups.

Cortez said the hospital will need about P5 billion in new investments, “more than double the initial bud-

get (of P2.79 billion) that we thought during our initial planning,” he said, adding that the plan is to put up a 250-bed capacity hospital which will be expanded to 350 beds if the need arises.

On the other hand, in March, the group of businessman Lemuel Podador announced the setting up of a P2.5 billion hospital at the 11-hectare Davao Park District of Megaworld.

The LPDHI will also have the same bed capacity in the 12 building compound that will be housed in a one-hectare part of the Megaworld development.

into the care and protection of the Preda home for abused children, that the seven year old youngest girl was also found to have been sexually abused. The horri�ic multiple rape of the children witnessed by his son led his son to rape them also.

When a female doctor conducted a child-friendly medical examination of the children, they were tested for HIV. This is new and necessary now because the spread of HIV is so contagious and rampant that the Philippines is now having an epidemic. It has the fastest-growing HIV-AIDS epidemic in the Asia-Paci�ic region with a 140 percent jump in new infections recorded, according to the Department of Health and the U.N. In 2010, there were 4,300 reported cases in the Philippines but by December 2016 there were as many as 10,500 reported cases.

The untold number of unreported cases will never be

known but the number of infections can be estimated by multiplying the known cases by ten.

While the most vulnerable are young men in relationships with other men, the 15 to 24 year old age range is the highest group with new infections.

Many of these are still considered children under 18 years old. The virus is present among sex workers and those men frequenting the sex bars. But the danger to children is now evident as the Philippines is fast losing its once long-held tradition of steadfast moral values. The belief in what is right and just is eroding as so many support the war-on-drugs where thousands have been reportedly killed, it seems.

The Philippine bishops are uncomfortable with the position of former conservative Pope Benedict allowing the use of condoms in circumstances where they could save the lives of HIV sufferers.

Pope Francis supported

the distribution of condoms to people prone to HIV infection especially when he supported the distribution of condoms by the Knights of Malta as a HIV prevention measure and as a family planning solution.

The progressive Philippine bishops and priests are doing their utmost to be heard and keep alive the moral values cherished by the Filipino people.

The majority of conservative bishops recently elected the Archbishop of Davao, Romulo Valles, a close friend of President Rodrigo Duterte to head the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. But there might be a watering down of the message when it comes to speaking on human rights and on behalf of the victims of the extrajudicial killings, the exploited women and children in the sex trade.

Disgustingly, the government allows it to grow and proliferate and issues permits to the sex bars.

The scourge of HIV, the internet, and sex tourism

I

t was a day of courage and resilience for Isabel, a 14-yearold child, who could not endure the pain and hurt and fear of sexual abuse by her grandfather any longer.

Despite threats against her and her sister, she told a classmate what was happening in the house of their grandfather. The classmate bravely told her mother and that mother knew what she had to do. She had attended a Preda Foundation child abuse preventive and reporting seminar and she sent a text message about the abuse to the Preda hotline.

Immediately, the Preda team was mobilized and went to the rescue of the children.

The grandfather was arrested on July 17 and detained. He was arraigned on Aug. 16 at the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo City for the alleged rape of his two granddaughters aged 11 and 14 years old.

It was later discovered, when the children were taken

THE, 10

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

EDITORIAL

Right against self incrimination

A

sking from a person an evidence that can be used against himself falls under the ambit of the right against self incrimination.

Reference to jurisprudence can be traced to the case of People v. Ayson which is one of the leading cases on the particular subject. In order to resolve this issue, it is important to determine the extent of a person’s right against selfincrimination.

A person’s right against self-incrimination is enshrined in Section 17, Article III of the 1987 Constitution which reads: “No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.”

The right against self-incrimination is accorded to every person who gives evidence, whether voluntary or under compulsion of subpoena, in any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding. The right is not to be compelled to be a witness against himself. It secures to a witness, whether he be a party or not, the right to refuse to answer any particular incriminatory question, i.e., one the answer to which has a tendency to incriminate him for some crime.

However, the right can be claimed only when the speci�ic question, incriminatory in character, is actually put to the witness. It cannot be claimed at any other time. It does not give a witness the right to disregard a subpoena, decline to appear before the court at the time appointed, or to refuse to testify altogether. The witness receiving a subpoena must obey it, appear as required, take the stand, be sworn and answer questions. It is only when a particular question is addressed to which may

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ANGELIE SAVERON BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Reporters MEGHANN STA. INES 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

the national association of newspapers

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance OREAL L. REAL Marketing Assistant

incriminate himself for some offense that he may refuse to answer on the strength of the constitutional guaranty.

The right against self incrimination also covers producing physical evidence not existing at the time like compelling a person to produce blood samples or submitting to a physical examination.

In the ongoing Senate investigation where Senator Antonio Trillanes IV asked a resource person in Vice Mayor Paaolo Duterte to strip and show a tattoo on his back falls under the provincce of the constitutional right against self incrimination.

Nevertheless, without further debating on whether or not the question is covered by the self incrimination rule, the question itself is clearly a �ishing expedition in an investigation conducted by the Senate in aid of legislation. The disregard for one's constitutional right based solely on an unveri�ied information is simply going overboard and has no place in a hearing of such nature. A resource person, whether or not a government of�icial or an ordinary citizen, cannot be subjected to such �ishing expedition.

Like the ordinary course of litigations, Senator Trillanes cannot just hurl accusations against a person as if he is shooting from the hip without having to produce before the body the established source of his information or where no dsclosure is allowed, at least �irst prove the veracity of such information.

That is very basic and that should be the proper course a prudent man must take.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City City JAMILA C. CANONIGO AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Cagayan de Oro Mobile: (Smart) 0948-823-3685 Tel: (088) 852-4894 Circulation Marketing Specialist

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 114 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

The tattoo conspiracy

I

f there’s one thing that turns us off so much about the Senate is that its penchant for calling congressional inquiry on just about anything that tickles its interest has become so deep a tendency it will definitely lower the people’s opinion of the upper chamber.

In aid of legislation, as senate hearings are supposed to be for, as been lost in the muck of useless politicking that brings no benefit except to try hard to push the lackluster fortunes of today’s political opposition.

For one, what meaningful legislation can we expect from Senators like Antonio Trillanes?

His attempt to link Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and brother in law Mans Carpio to smuggling by virtue of a witness who later apologizes, and

documents we all cannot believe, all turn the Senate into a messy gossip pit. Hearsay and bluff is a word now associated with the Senator.

The logical question brewing is: Why not summon this “Tita Nani” and “Jack” first? Were these aliases conjured merely to implicate? If it was really interested in the truth, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee should have probed these alleged personalities more deeply before implicating others, since they were doing the smuggling. Everyone else was a mere appendage to their nefarious activity, yet they both remain off the hook.

If we followed proper Senate legislative objectives, the hearing ought to have been set to know who the smugglers are in aid of legislation, to develop or refine

MY TWO CENTS’ John Tria laws that can tighten efforts against the illegal trade.

To force the issue of hauling Carpio and Duterte to a Senate hearing based on mere mentions

in text messages of aliased persons reminds us of an abusive senate in the mold of the House Committee on Un-American activities, where rabid anti communist senator Joseph MCarthy established a witchhunt against suspected Communists in the United States government, academia and show business realms.

These hearings therefore, have morphed into arenas meant to terrorize, rather than illuminate.

It therefore begs the question: will the Senate frame and make new laws based on gossip?

Worse, he tried to make political hay out of trying to force Duterte to show off a tattoo. Much good that did him though. This entire exchange turned the Senate into a circus, whetting people’s appetites for bare backs and half naked bodies.

What it may have done, was inspire a lot of new fans for Vice Mayor Duterte. Already, his picture with heartstickers are plastered all over social media, with netizens ogling over and swooning over his smooth demeanor belying claims of his supposed notoriety.

Trillanes, on the other hand, looked like the Grinch who stole Christmas, with deep eyebags bah-humbugging everyone who does not agree with him, further increasing people’s disgust at the former convict, with thousands of signatures more added to online petitions meant to unseat him.

If this is the Senate of the future, we will not need a circus.

If a tattoo is used to bring down a presidency, then I’d say we’re all doomed.

Public Enemy No. 1

M

osquitoes have been around for at least 350 years, the age of the oldest mosquito fossil. Beating their wings 300 to 500 times a second produces that distinctive whine that novelist D.H. Lawrence penned as a “small, high, hateful bugle” in his ear.

“Few animals on Earth evoke the antipathy that mosquitoes do,” wrote the National Geographic.

“Their itchy, irritating bites and nearly ubiquitous presence can ruin a backyard barbecue or a hike in the woods. They have an uncanny ability to sense our murderous intentions, taking flight and disappearing milliseconds before a fatal swat. And in our bedrooms, the persistent, whiny hum of their buzzing wings can wake the soundest of sleepers.”

There are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world, all of which live in specific habitats, exhibit unique behaviors and bite different types of animals. Though the average mosquito lifespan is only about three weeks, some varieties have been known to live as long as two months in laboratory conditions.

“Some mosquitoes have adapted perfectly to urban environments,” says Assistant Professor Richard Russell, head of the medical entomology department at the University of Sydney. “We unwittingly provide

abundant standing water, from the tin cans and saucers to clogged gutters, septic tanks and drainage ditches.”

Mosquitoes track people down by sensing their body odors and temperature, and the carbon dioxide human beings exhale.

“Only female mosquitoes have the mouth parts necessary for sucking blood,” notes National Geographic.

“When biting with their proboscis, they stab two tubes into the skin: one to inject an enzyme that inhibits blood clotting; the other to suck blood into their bodies.

They use the blood not for their own nourishment but as a source of protein for their eggs.”

After a female-sucking mosquito has bitten, some saliva remains in the wound.

The proteins from the saliva (called anticoagulants) evoke an immune response from man’s body. The area swells (the bump around the bite area is called a wheal), and people itch, a response provoked by the saliva. Eventually, the swelling goes away, but the itch remains until man’s immune cells break down the saliva proteins.

To treat mosquito bites, health experts advise that you should wash them with mild soap and water. Try to avoid scratching the bite area, even though it itches.

Some anti-itch medicines or overthe-counter cortisone creams

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

may relieve the itching. Typically, you do not need to seek medical attention (unless you feel dizzy or nauseated, which may indicate a severe allergic reaction to the bite).

But a more serious consequence of some mosquito bites may be transmission of certain serious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.

Malaria is caused by a parasite that grows in your bloodstream and can produce symptoms that develop anywhere from six to eight days to several months after infection.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection and is caused by one of four dengue viruses that

produce a range of illnesses, from viral flu to hemorrhagic fever. “The increase in dengue cases in recent years is the result of the expanding geographical distribution of the mosquitoes which carry the virus,” the WHO reports. “At the same time, the rapid rise in urban populations has increased the number of people exposed to the virus.”

Yellow fever, a disease that once plagued Europe and North America, has the potential to spread beyond its present range – into Asia, for example – wherever the mosquito vector exists. Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral disease with a high fatality rate. There are over 50,000 reported cases of the disease every year and approximately 4,000 deaths.

Mosquitoes are not only deadly, but they’re powerful, too.

They have been manipulating the course of human history since its very beginning. Around 323 B.C., Alexander the Great was felled by a mosquito, dying from malaria at the age of 33. His dream of a united Greek empire collapsed within a few years, and widespread malarial infection contributed to the decline of Greek civilization.

Mosquitoes spread yellow fever to halt a British expedition en route to attack the French in Canada. This was in 1960. In

1802, Napoleon Bonaparte sent troops to reinforce France’s claim to Louisiana and put down a slave rebellion in Haiti. Of the 33,000 soldiers, 29,000 were killed by mosquito-borne yellow fever.

Louisiana became part of the U.S. while Haiti became independent.

Bitten by a mosquito, Oliver Cromwell died of malaria in 1658, paving the way for the return of the British monarchy. In 1905, mosquitoes almost succeeded in halting construction of the Panama Canal, as panicked workers flee a yellow fever epidemic.

Meanwhile, what you can do avoid bitten by mosquitoes? There are several ways: Empty standing water in old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where “wrigglers” and “tumblers” live.

Keep swimming pools treated and circulating and rain gutters unclogged. Use mosquito repellents when necessary and follow label directions and precautions closely.

Use head nets, long sleeves and long pants if you venture into areas with high mosquito populations, such as salt marshes.

If there is a mosquito-borne disease warning in effect, be sure to stay inside during the evening when mosquitoes are most active.

There are several other ways.

But in the meantime, follow those reminders.

10

EDGEDAVAO

WHITE... FROM 1 not construction materials but thousands of sacks of rice from Thailand.

Alleging that the closure was illegal, Reta �iled administrative and criminal charges against Castigador and three other BOC of�icials, Alicodsaman Dimasicil, Acting Assistant Whar�inger and custom examiners Lerrie Natividad and Moctar Amir. As a result, the of�ice of the Ombudsman dismissed Castigador and Dimasicil from the service. The Ombudsman also suspended for six months examiners Natividad and Amir. The case verdict was appealed by Castigador to the Court of Appeals (CA) which upheld the Ombudsman’s ruling. Castigador �iled a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) sometime this year. The CA still has to rule on the MR as of this writing.

The criminal aspect of the case is still pending in a Regional Trial Court in Davao City.

The case of the x-ray machine in the DEA of Davao city said to be one of its kind in the country, was mentioned during this week’s hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee headed by Senator Richard Gordon. Lawyer Manaes Carpio, husband of Davao city Mayos Sara D. Carpio, said in the hearing it was the reason why he visisted former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon in his of�ice sometime ago. Carpio said he was a lawyer of Reta who wanted to bring Faeldon’s attention to the case of his container yard where the DEA and the X-ray machine is located.

Last Friday morning, Reta

told Davao Reportes that the BOC should reopen the DEA as it will be instrumental in increasing the revenue of the government and check the entry of cargo such as illegal drugs, guns, explosives and other illegal materials of terrorists.

Speaking through Ateneo de Davao college of law Dean, Manuel Quibod, one of his lawyers, Reta said he is open to settle differences with BOC of�icials and reopen the DEA to serve very important functions related to the President Duterte’s war on drugs and terrorism and the effort to increase revenues collected through the BOC. Reta was joined by his wife, Jessie, who said that government is wanting a lot of taxpayers money in mothballing the x-ray machine.

Reta said he started to incur the ire of some BOC of�icials and unscrupulous brokers when he kept on reporting anomalous transactions discovered by him as DEA private operator.

He said at the start the DEA’s role in increasing the revenue and checking contraband goods was well appreciated as evidenced by letters and verbal expressions of past BOC commissioners.

Reta, backed by anti-corruption groups, has formally proposed to a succession of BOC commissioners to reopen the DEA to be manned by civil society organizations in rotation in order to stop anomalous transactions and entry of illegal drugs and terrorist materials through the local customs area. AMA

AFFIDAVIT OF SURVIVING HEIR AND UNDERTAKING

I, MR. NESTOR NARSOLIS MAUHAY, of legal age, Filipino, married and a resident of 778 Ponciano Reyes St., Davao City, Philippines, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, do hereby depose and say: 1.

That I am the brother and a sole survivor or surviving heir of the late PO3 LEO N. MAUHAY under Commutation of Accumulated Leave Claims of Philippine National Police (PNP) Retirement and Benefits Administrative Service;

2.

That I am answerable for any future claims thereby, freeing Commutation of Accumulated Leave Claims, from any liability pertaining to such claims.

3.

That I am executing this document of my own free and voluntary will, and that I have this present after having read and fully understood its contents and effects.

4.

These statements and guarantees are given to support the claim filed by the undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto affixed our signatures this 8th day of September, at Davao City, Philippines.

NESTOR NARSOLIS MAUHAY Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 8th day of September, at Davao City, Philippines.

Doc. No. 101 Page No. 21 Book No. XLVII Series of 2017 Sept. 11, 12 and 13, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

A worker waters the newly constructed road along Davao-Cotabato national highway on Saturday. Construction of bridges and roads in the area causes inconvenience to the motorists and the riding public alike. Lean Daval Jr

RAPID... FROM 2

er,” said Bazan.

Pag-ibig housing fund was able to accomplish 3.2 billion of housing loans in Mindanao in the mid-year of 2017. The areas covered with this amount are Zambuanga, Cagayan and Davao.

“Among the three, Davao received higher amount,” said Ban-

zan. There are certain factors that are needed to be considered

by Pag-ibig before the member could apply loan such as the capacity to pay, loan to value ratio and the actual need. “ Kung alin ang pinaka mababa doon yun ang i-f�inance ng Pag-ibig,” said Banzan.

city council, came about after a company proposed to set up a parking facility in the city.

The proposal will provide a better incentive package to those who will invest in the parking facilities as the city government is also eyeing to implement a “no street parking policy.

“We want a longer incentives (in terms of exempting the company from paying business and real estate taxes) because setting up a parking facility is not only capital intensive, but the investor will have a longer return of investment,” he said.

also serve as a social welfare card, will help identify TCT bene�iciaries and diminish leakages in the program.

He said countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have carried out similar programs that have proven to be successful when they removed their oil subsidies, “which, in turn, created �iscal space to improve social services and infrastructure.”

Chua said the TCT program will build on the success of the conditional cash transfer

(CCT) initiatives of the previous administrations and the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS) or the Listahanan, an information system that identi�ies the poorest households and their locations.

“Under the Listahanan, some 4.4 million households are currently CCT bene�iciary-families. This means they can simply be provided a cash top-up similar to the rice topup now being given to existing bene�iciaries,” Chua said.(PNA)

pected to bene�it from the growing interest of foreign visitors as airlines have announced their plans to service international routes tapping the city’s airport as their hubs.

“We have to prepare them (both the tourism establishments and their employees) for this surge (in the number of visitors,” he added.

Jimenez pointed out that there is also the need to look at making the planning for the industry more inclusive by also focusing on the rural areas where access to trainings is wanting.

“Our goal is also to help the 50 poor provinces,” she said, adding that the target is to develop the skills of community-based tourism facilities so that they are able to respond to the industry needs.

She said there is a need to

undertake these trainings because the country, particularly with the integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will need to compete with the region not only in attracting visitors but also in recruiting skilled employees even when the country has a huge number of professionals capable of working in the industry.

She added that the country can even become a center of training in the Asean region.

Brenda A. Ocampo of Eden Nature Park and Resort said her company will focus on training on language, �irst aid and maintenance of its facilities. “This (program will) position employees to get the most of their dealings with their guests,” said Ocampo.

DCIPC... FROM 2

P30-B... FROM 6

TOURISM... FROM 7

SOLON... FROM 4 priations law for the rehabilitation of Marawi, the replenishment of the military’s weapons store, and the recruitment and training of up to 20,000 new soldiers.

“We are not overly concerned now, because Mindanao is still under martial law. But in the long term, we have to increase our investment in Mindanao’s security, mainly to protect population centers and vital installations,” Pimentel said.

“Besides, we are developing high-value infrastructure projects in Mindanao that will require extra security for deterrence,” he said.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is investing P36 billion from 2018 to 2022 to construct and complete Phase 1 of the Mindanao Railway Project – the 102-kilometer line linking the cities of Tagum, Davao and Digos, according to Pimentel.

The lawmaker said the DOTr is also investing P1.14 billion in 2018 alone to modernize 13 airports in Mindanao.

The DOTr is spending P425 million for the Don Carlos Airport inBukidnon; P221 million for the Zamboanga City Airport; P200 million for the Surigao City Airport; P192.2 million for the Ozamiz City Airport; P184 million for the Butuan City Airport; P182 million for the Dipolog City Airport; and P161 million for the Cotabato City Airport.

The department likewise is spending P100 million for the Sanga-Sanga Island Airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; P84.2 million for the Pagadian City Airport; P38 million for the M’lang Airport in North Cotabato; P30 million for the Jolo Airport in Sulu; P18.3 million for the Ipil Airport in Zamboanga Sibugay; and P9.5 million for the Bislig City Airport.

Pimentel said the airports in Ozamiz, Dipolog, Cotabato and Pagadian are currently being night-rated to enable them to handle evening �lights.

Congress in July granted the President’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year.

said courtroom inside the jail for the Roxas Night Market Bombing.

Suspects are identi�ied as TJ Macabalang, Wendel Apostol

Facturan, Musali Mustapha, Zack Villanueva Lopez and Jericho De Rome who are facing terrorism, multiple murder, and multiple attempted murder charges.

The church and government should do more to help drug dependents suffering from HIVAIDS as a result of drug taking and needle sharing. The addicts have psychological and health problems, they are not criminals. The rich and mighty drug lords are the criminals and they have, by and large, remained untouched and safe.

The spread of child abuse in cybersex dens is a daily common occurrence. Children are at risk, according to the Department of Health. They see that child rape and sexual abuse has grown hugely in recent years and children are prone to becoming infected with HIV. This and child pornography allowed to be freely accessible through Philippine internet serv-

er providers invite sex tourists from abroad to come and abuse the children on demand. This in turn convinces local men that it’s alright if the government allows foreigners to do it with impunity. So the rate of incest and child rape by live-in partners and pedophiles has increased and the testing of raped children for HIV infection will go on.

If there are any people with moral values and a conscience to help save the child victims, they must act and report abuse and help children. (UCAN) Irish Father Shay Cullen, SSC, established the Preda Foundation in Olongapo City in 1974 to promote human rights and the rights of children, especially victims of sex abuse.

COURT... FROM 4 THE... FROM 7

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115• SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

EVENT

Marco Polo for the Phl Eagle

Hotel chain raises Php1M for Phl national bird

By BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO

“WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE MARCO POLO DAVAO and Philippe Caretti for making it possible for the entire Marco Polo Hotels family to support PEF (Philippine Eagle Foundation).”, says Dennis Salvador, PEF Executive Director.

Marco Polo Hotels expressed its continued support to the endangered Philippine Eagle by handing over their 2016 donation worth PhP 1,156,000.00 to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) at the Marco Polo Davao Sarangani room last August 31, 2017.

“Realizing our many needs, they went out of their way to orchestrate a fundraising project which engaged both its guests, associates and members of the local community. In doing so, it enhanced public awareness about our national bird not just in the Philippines but other parts of the world. “, PEF Executive Director Salvador added.

Gracing the event were key personalities behind the foundation -- PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador, Mr. Philippe Caretti (Vice President for Operations – Wharf Hotels), Mr. Francis R. Ledesma (Halifax Davao Hotel Inc President), Ms. Dottie WurglerCronin (General Manager Marco Polo Davao) friends from the local media, business and tourism partners.

Marco Polo Davao’s eagle mascot, Pepe, also joined the turn over ceremony.

Also during the turn over, some of the hotel’s culinary highlights

were served -- such as the Malagos Cheese, Baked Mussel Rockefeller Style, Herb crusted grilled lamb rack, Chicken and chorizo paella, Anti-pasti board and other local delicacies were also served as pass-around cocktails.

Last January 14, 2016, Marco Polo Davao was also able to raise PhP 1,000,000.00 to the Philippine Eagle Foundation.

The Wharf Hotels together with Marco Polo Hotels and Niccolo Hotels continue to embark in

this noble cause as it turn over the donation gathered from its different properties from China, Hong Kong and Philippines.

Marco Polo Davao is the epitome and elegant realizations of comfort, warmth and space. Providing the ideal balance of versatility, technology and design, every room exemplifies utmost privacy for the guest. With a stunning view of Mount Apo or the Samal Island, you are sure to have the greatest of time at the Marco Polo Davao.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

UP AND ABOUT AIRASIA has won this year’s Asean Business Award for Priority Integration Sector - Tourism.

The award recognises outstanding performance in the Asean priority integration sector of tourism.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes accepted the award on behalf of the company at the Asean Business Awards (ABA) 2017 ceremony held in Solaire Resort and Casino here last night.

The award was presented

by Asean Business Advisory Council (BAC) Chairman Joey Concepcion, witnessed by Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, “Asean integration is about people as much as it is about policies. It’s not just about having a community on paper. It’s about experiencing first-hand how others live, it’s about creating new jobs in travel and tourism, it’s about forming new supply chains by connecting places that have never been connected. Air travel does this and more - AirAsia carried 13.4 million people within Asean last year - and we are proud to do our part to bring the region closer together.”

The ABA was created by the Asean BAC in 2007 to recognise outstanding Asean enterprises, serve as a platform to

AirAsia wins Asean Business Award for Tourism

spread information on the Asean Economic Community, and spotlight SMEs that have the potential of becoming global economic players in their respective industries.

In addition to tourism, Priority Integration Sector awards were given for achievements in

11 other sectors - fisheries, electronics, e-Asean/ICT, textiles, logistics, wood-based, rubber, agri-foods, healthcare, automotive and retail.

Also up for grabs were awards for SME excellence, women entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs and inclusive

businesses, as well as the Friend of Asean Award and the Legacy Award.

Keep updated with AirAsia’s latest promotion and activities via twitter (@AirAsiaFilipino), Facebook (facebook.com/ AirAsiaPH) and on Instagram (@AirAsiaFilipino).

L-R: Asean Business Advisory Council chairman Joey Concepcion, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez.

EDGEDAVAO KORONADAL PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

GenSan Partner Establishment

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

Advertise with

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Tel No. 082.221.3601/224.1413 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115• SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

ENTARTAINMENT

Gabby Concepcion wins big at Seoul Int’l Drama Awards THE KAPUSO NETWORK congratulates seasoned actor Gabby Concepcion for bagging the Asian Star Prize in the 12th Seoul International Drama Awards held yesterday, September 7 at the KBS Hall in South Korea.

Gabby flew to Seoul to personally accept the award. He was recognized for his outstanding performance in GMA Network’s top-rating Afternoon Prime series Ika-6 Na Utos.

The Kapuso actor is the only Filipino to win the award this year. He expressed his gratitude to the award-giving body for the recognition and dedicated the award to all his fans and supporters.

“I am deeply honoured and overwhelmed to receive the prestigious Asian Star Prize. Thank you very much to Seoul International Drama Awards for this recognition. I also thank all my Filipino supporters as well as the Korean viewers for recognizing my talent. It is indeed a blessing and I will surely treasure this award.”

Seoul International Drama Awards is an annual TV drama festival that celebrates the diversity and creativity of international scripted programming. It aims to be a universal hub for exchanging TV dramas worldwide and drives diverse ideas for where the industry should go.

Organized by Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee and Korean Broadcasters Association, Seoul International Drama Awards strives to achieve the following goals: continuous development of the Korean Wave, promotion of healthy participation in festivals and vitalization of tourism in Seoul.

The award-giving body is supported by The Ministry of Culture, Seoul Metropolitan Government, KBS, MBC, SBS, EBS, Corea Drama Production Association, Korean TV & Radio Writers Association and Korean TV Drama Producers Association.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

A HELPING HAND. AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) turns over donations to Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). In photo (L-R): Lou Jason Deligencia, TSI Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist; Dir. Romeo M. Montenegro, MinDA Deputy Executive Director; Datu Abul Khayr Alonto II, MinDA Chief of Staff ; Valentin Saludes III,

TSI Vice President and Plant Manager; Jason Magnaye, Manager for Reputation and Stakeholder Management; and Rhowena Panizales, Human Resources and Quality Manager.

Aboitiz Power employees send relief goods to Marawi City

T

he need to provide suf�icient evacuation provisions continues to grow as cities open their doors to more Muslim and Christian evacuees following the ongoing armed-con�lict

in Marawi. In a bid to help alleviate the living conditions of the evacuees, team members from AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) gathered donations in an employee-initiat-

ed relief drive since July this year. The pooled donations, comprised mostly of readyto-eat Halal food, clothing, sanitary kits, toys were turned over to the Mindanao Development Authori-

ty (MinDA) last 17 August 2017.

“TSI’s donation is very timely with the development of the situation in Marawi. Donor fatigue has started to set in, so we are

grateful for this donation that we can send to the evacuees,” said MinDA Deputy Executive Director Romeo M. Montenegro.

“With a lot of evacuees still displaced, there remains

a need to continuously support our Muslim and Christian fellows. We hope that more people will be spurred to extend help,” said TSI Vice President and Plant Manager Valentin S. Saludes III.

The issue of water rights is the last deterrent on the appeal of the Davao City Water District and Apo Agua Infrastructura to convert a six-hectare land in Gumalang, Upper Calinan from agricultural to industrial. This is as far as City Councilor Rene Elias Lopez is concerned.

Councilor Lopez, in an interview with the media last week, said that Apo Agua has not submitted as of last week a water right document from the National Water Regulatory Board.

DCWD General Manager Edwin Regalado in an interview with the Mindanao Journal however explained that under its mandate DCWD can assign its water rights to its Apo Agua to tap the Tamugan and Panigan river surface water. The twin river is seen as the alternate and additional source of water to supply barangays in District 2 and additional three barangays in District 1 on top of the present barangays that the water district already supplies.

Recently a number of subdivision houses in Caban-

tian and Panakan had already been served Dumoy water but many of these are still on rotation basis. This was possible with the commissioning of two additional production wells in the vicinity of Toril.

DCWD Board Chairman Ed Bangayan however cautioned that they cannot over-extract water in the city’s main aquifers in Dumoy and in the vicinity areas because salt water might intrude into the vital aquifers. He said that once this will happen it will be irreversible. “No technology yet had been invented to prevent saline water from intruding into the aquifers”, he warned.

Both Regalado and Bangayan said that they do not want Davao city to suffer the same fate as Cebu City and Metro Manila. Salt water had impacted on the aquifers of Cebu as it already penetrated over �ive kilometers inward.

Cebu is now looking at sourcing water from Bohol but authorities there are adamant to share their water resource to Cebu.

In the case of Metro Manila,

underground water extraction had been stopped and the two water utilities have to tap water from faraway dams and Laguna de Bay. With sources like that, water treatment and the delivery of water from the source become expensive.

Regalado said that Tamugan surface water has similar quality as that of Dumoy underground water. He said that the land in Gumalang which Apo Agua already bought has an elevation which will allow the �low of water from the treatment plant and main reservoirs by gravity. A mini-hydropower plant will also be located in the site to deliver raw water from the river from the uptake point to the water treatment facilities.

Once the Tamugan surface water bulk water project becomes operational and available, DCWD will shut-off most of production wells in Dumoy so that the aquifers will be recharged. This will insure the prevention of salt water intrusion into the aquifers which are just adjacent to the seashore.

DCWD assigns water rights to Apo Agua

EDGEDAVAO

12 SCIENCE

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

SAVING THE MEDICINE CABINETS OF THE

D

21ST CENTURY

r. Lourdes Cruz was among the more than 1,000 nominees worldwide for the award given annually to women scientists from �ive different regions of the world for their outstanding scienti�ic contributions and commitment. Fortunately, she was chosen by a jury composed of 18 eminent members of the scienti�ic community headed by the 1999 recipient of the Nobel Prize in medicine, Dr. Gunter Blobel.

Dr. Cruz was given the 2008 L’Oreal-Unesco Award for Women in Science “for her pioneering research on the venomous toxins of the cone snail, called conotoxin, which can produce a medication that is more powerful than morphine and can serve as powerful tools to study brain function.”

Conotoxin is just one of the chemicals found from the species inhabiting the coastal waters. Unknowingly, the ecologically-fragile coral reefs hold considerable untapped potential in medical science. So much that the US State Department said that half the potential pharmaceuticals being explored today come from the oceans, many from coral reef ecosystems.

“The sky is the limit,” Dr. Deborah Gochfeld, a senior research scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research of the University of Mississippi, told this author. “The oceans have a much broader diversity of chemical structures than are found in plants – which include uses for cancer, heart disease, and infections, among others – so it is likely that marine animals will include all of these options and more.”

Dr. William Fenical, director for marine biotechnology and biomedicine at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, echoes the same idea.

“Marine resources could be the major source of drugs in the coming years,” he pointed out.

Most of these marine resources thrive in coral reefs. “Many coral reef species produce chemicals like histamines and antibiotics used in medicine and science,” reports The Nature Conservancy, an organization whose mission is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities by protecting the

lands and waters needed for their survival.

“Coral reefs are sometimes considered the medicine cabinets of the 21st century,” says the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines being developed to treat cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, viruses, and other diseases.

“Some coral reef organisms produce powerful chemicals to fend off attackers, and scientists continue to research the medicinal potential of these substances,” it adds.

Coral reefs, touted to be the rainforests of the sea, are one of the most productive and biologically rich ecosystems on earth.

They extend across about 250,000 square kilometers of the ocean – less than one-tenth of one percent of the marine environment – yet they may be home to 25 percent of all known marine species.

“About 4,000 coral reef-associated �ish species and 800 species of reef-building corals have been described to date, though these numbers are dwarfed by the great diversity of other marine species associated with coral reefs, including sponges, urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, and many more,” Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle reported.

For centuries, coastal communities have used reef plants and animals for their medicinal properties. In the Philippines, for instance, giant clams are eaten as a malaria treatment.

“Unique medicinal properties of coral reef organisms were recognized by Eastern cultures as early as the 14th century, and some species continue to be in high demand for traditional medicines,” observes Dr. Andrew Bruckner, a coral reef ecologist in the US National Marine Fisheries Service’s Of�ice of Protected Resources in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In China and Taiwan, tonics and medicines derived from seahorse extracts are used to treat a wide range of ailments, including sexual disorders, respiratory and circulatory problems, kidney and liver diseases, throat infections,

skin ailments, and pain.

In Japan’s reefs – one of the most studied coral coasts in the world – there is a chemical called kainic acid, which is used as a diagnostic chemical to investigate Huntington’s chorea, a rare but fatal disease of the nervous system. Sea whips, a type of soft coral found throughout the Caribbean may hold the key to promising new painkillers.

Other coral chemicals have proved useful in research on arthritis and asthma. In Australia, researchers have developed a sun cream for a coral chemical that contains a natural “factor 50” sun block.

In addition, the porous limestone skeleton of coral is now being tested as bone grafts in humans. “If used properly, the reefs of the entire world can better serve humans with medicine rather than with food,” some researchers claim.

In an article which appeared in Reef Research, Dr. Patrick Colin, a marine biologist, clearly described the hopes that had led him to spend the 1990s collecting marine samples in the Paci�ic for the US National Cancer Institute (NCI).

“Over the years, the NCI has been screening terrestrial plants and marine organisms worldwide for bioactivity against cancer and Acquired Immune De�iciency Syndrome (AIDS), and has come up with a number of hot prospects, a

number of which are in clinical trials,” Dr. Colin wrote.

Already, the NCI has been screening each year about 1,000 species of oceanic invertebrates and plants, including sea slugs, sea squirts, sponges, and several other denizens of coral gardens.

“The marine environment became a focus of natural products drug discovery research because of its relatively unexplored biodiversity,” says the book, From Monsoons to Microbes.

According to the book, marine sponges are among the most proli�ic sources of diverse chemical compounds with therapeutic potential. Of the more than 5,000 chemical compounds derived from marine organisms, more than 30 percent have so far been isolated from sponges.

Chemicals with therapeutic potential can also be extracted from bryozoans, ascidians, mollusks, cnidarians and algae. Several strains of phytoplankton have been discovered to be exhibiting antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Since the mid-1970s, private and government-funded institutions from the United States and other industrialized countries have devoted varying levels of effort to the discovery of marine-derived pharmaceuticals.

Meanwhile, the use coral in bone grafts is spreading rapidly.

Pieces of coral set into a fracture

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

act as a scaffold around which the healing can take place. The implant eventually disappears, absorbed by the new growth of bone. Rates of rejection are much lower than with arti�icial grafting materials.

Unfortunately, coral reefs, which someone describes as “Eden beneath the waves,” are on the verge of extinction. Coral reefs in Asia as well in other parts of the world are disappearing fast.

“More than 60 percent of the world’s reefs are under immediate and direct threat from local sources – such as over�ishing, destructive �ishing, coastal development, watershed-based pollution, or marine-based pollution and damage,” Reefs at Risk reported.

In the Philippines, for instance, the Nairobi-based United Nations Environment Program reported that 97% of its reefs are under threats from destructive �ishing techniques, including cyanide poisoning, over-�ishing, or from deforestation and urbanization that result in harmful sediment spilling into the sea.

Climate change brought about by global warming is exacerbating the problem. “Tropical coral reef waters are already signi�icantly warmer than they were and the rate of warming is accelerating,” deplored Janice Lough, of the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

“With or without drastic curtail-

ment of greenhouse gas emissions we are facing, for the foreseeable future, changes in the physical environment of present-day coral reefs.”

Once these coral reefs are gone, they would be lost forever – including those that can serve as sources of medicines. “The loss of biodiversity represents lost potential medicines (as well as many other biotechnology products that enhance our lives),” says Dr. Gochfeld. “The alarming loss of coral reefs in recent years includes unestimated loss of species that could one day save lives from malaria, cancer, HIV, and many other infectious diseases.”

Coral reefs have to be protected and conserved. “We can expect future medical bene�its from chemical compounds in coral reef species and ecosystems,” says the World Wide Fund for Nature. “Just as with tropical forests, we may �ind the answers to medical problems in the coral reefs – as long as we can preserve them and keep them healthy.”

Meanwhile, the NOAA said that in the future, coral reef ecosystems could “represent an increasingly important source of medical treatments, nutritional supplements, pesticides, cosmetics, and other commercial products.”

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

PSL... FROM 15

Volleyball Confederation and a member of the International Volleyball Federation.

“This is a prestigious Thai tourney with world-class players. It gave our players a good exposure while displaying their talents for the international volleyball community to see. We’re glad and proud with this victory.”

PSL All-Star team head coach Shaq Delos Santos credited the players for their inspiring performance, claiming they were very motivated and ready to win.

“They came here in high spirit and very motivated to win,” said Delos Santos, the Petron mentor who steered the PSL stars to an impressive win over Rangsit University before dropping a pair of heart-breaking losses to Thai

powerhouse Bangkok Glass and PEA-Sisaket, which was composed of the nucleus of the Thai national team.

“We want to thank Mr. Tats Suzara for the trust and top AVC of�icials like (AVC secretary-general) Mr. Shanrit (Wongprasert) for the encouragement. We want to share this victory to the entire league and all Filipino volleyball fans.”

Aby Marano of F2 Logistics served as the team captain with Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Remy Palma, Bang Pineda, Frances Molina and Rhea Dimaculangan of Petron; Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chie Saet, Jheck Dionela and Tubino of Cignal; and Philips of Sta, Lucia completed the roster.

EDGE DAVAO is in need of

2 REPORTERS 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

AMENDED EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF THE LATE PETRONA CHAN REYES

Notice is hereby given that the estates with TCT Nos. T-247199, T-258547, T-258548, T-321638 of the late PETRONA CHAN REYES has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate executed among her heirs, per Doc. No.366; Page No.74; Book No. XIV; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC LOUELA LYNNE M. MEDIJA-ABELLERA.

Sept. 7, 14 & 21, 2017

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ANTONIO C. PALMES has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.155; Page No.33; Book No. X; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. BEETHOVEN L. ORCULLO.

Sept. 11, 18 & 25, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

RAFA... FROM 15

chorus of ‘’Ole, ole, ole, ole!

Del-po! Del-po!’’ for the popular Argentine, who would serve out that set, punctuating it with a forehand.

Maybe that woke up Nadal, who wouldn’t again relinquish a game until he owned the second set and a 3-0 lead in the third. The next time del Potro served, Nadal �inally earned his �irst break point with some fantastic defense, throwing himself to his left to somehow get back one massive forehand from del Potro, who - perhaps stunned that ball came back - sent his next forehand long.

By now, Nadal was pulling his own intimidating, topspin-lathered forehand up the line and attacking whenever del Potro left a ball short.

It was quickly clear that the only doubt remaining was what the �inal score would be. ‘’Just the �ight to be in the �inal, and have a chance to �ight for another title here, is so important for me,’’ Nadal

said.

Hours earlier, Anderson was so excited that he celebrated his semi�inal victory as if it made him the champion, stepping on a chair and then a �lower box to help him climb into his guest box in the stands. ‘’I don’t know if it’s appropriate,’’ Anderson said. ‘’It certainly felt the right thing to do.’’

Hip, leg and elbow injuries caused him to miss time this season. Ankle surgery, plus left knee, right shoulder and groin injuries were problems last year.

He is appearing in his 34th major tournament and took advantage of a draw depleted by withdrawals of several top players, including past champions Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. ‘’It’s nice that some of them gave us a bit of a shot to make a run in this tournament,’’ Anderson said.

SPORTS 13

HALL... FROM 16

Lobo and McGraw celebrated the growth of women’s basketball. McGraw became just the sixth women’s coach to be enshrined. ‘’I’m grateful for Title IX and the opportunities that it’s given to women like me, who dreamed of a future where we could do the same job as a man, where playing a game could lead to a 40-year career,’’ she said.

Lobo told a story about when her oldest daughter, Siobhan, was 5 years old and saw her father watching a UConn men’s game. She said to him, ‘’I didn’t know boys play basketball too.’’

Self, 54, told The Associated Press he feels a little uncomfortable being enshrined in the middle of his career, which includes nine 30-win seasons and an NCAA championship in 2008 ‘’I hope it doesn’t mean that I’m on my last leg yet,’’ he said. ‘’I think this will be motivation to try and validate it, always. I’ll work harder now

that ever to validate being thought of with these other fraternity members.’’

Self spent part of his speech listing the Kansas basketball coaching greats in the Hall of Fame. ‘’James Naismith, Phog Allen, Larry Brown, Roy Williams and me; what is wrong with that picture?’’ he joked.

Jernstedt, credited with overseeing the growth of the Division I men’s tournament and the creation of the women’s tournament, acknowledged to reporters that his class doesn’t include a superstar name like Michael Jordan or Shaquille O’Neal, but said he is impressed with what this class has meant to the sport. ‘’I didn’t know three of four of these people very well at all before, but the contributions they’ve made are so impressive,’’ he said. ‘’Hopefully now, more people will understand that and reach out and learn more about them.’’

14

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

Rafa crushes Del Porto O Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his win against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

PSL All-Star squad tabs bronze in tough Princess Sirindhorn meet

T

he Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Star team closed its campaign on a high note as it prevailed over Khonkaen Star Volleyball Club, 25-18, 25-22, 32-34, 25-22, for the bronze medal in 2017 Annual Princess Maja Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup yesterday in Sisaket, Thailand.

After a sizzling start, the PSL stars �lirted with disaster in the third set before unleashing a strong �inishing kick in the fourth to coast to their third place victory.

The win marks the �irst time for a foreign team to win a medal in the tough Thai tourney.

PSL Grand Prix champion Foton represented the country when the tourney was still known as Sealect Tuna Women’s Volleyball Championship last year, but the Tornadoes wound up sixth despite the presence of American im-

T

ports Ariel Usher and Lindsay Stalzer.

It was also the �irst time for the PSL selection team to win a medal after seeing action in the Thai-Denmark Super League in Thailand and FIVB Women’s Club World Championship in Philippines last year as well in the AVC Asian Women’s Club World Championship in Kazakhstan early this year.

PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara lauded the team for a job well done, saying this victory brings pride and honor to the country following the national team’s sorry performance in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

“I’m very proud of the team for bringing pride and honor to the country and the league as well,” said Suzara, a ranking executive of the Asian

his corner will continue to hammer on the deception and lies being perpetuated on the Filipino people, particularly on the millions of young sports fans by sports of�icials, particularly from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

I hate it when they stubbornly assert they are satis�ied with our 6th place �inish in the recent SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In truth and in fact, we were at the bottom of the list of six contenders for the crown because the last �ive countries (Myanmar, Laos, Timor-Leste, Brunei and Cambodia) were never in contention from the very start. They were, in street lingo, salimpusa lang.

Endowed with enormous gifts of athletic talent, the Filipino athlete is in a class of his own. In other words, the training and preparation afforded the members of the national delegation is mismanaged and mis-directed.

Please do not give me the silly argument that for as long as we continue winning the basketball title, it is alright for the Filipinos to lose in other fronts.

PSL, 13

nce Rafael Nadal went from passive to aggressive and got his uppercut of a forehand going, it didn’t take long for him to power into the U.S. Open �inal.

Closing in on a third title at Flushing Meadows and 16th Grand Slam championship overall, Nadal overcame a so-so start with an overwhelming performance the rest of the way Friday night, taking nine games in a row during one stretch to beat 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in the semi�inals.

No. 1 Nadal will be a signi�icant favorite Sunday against No. 32 Kevin Anderson of South Africa, who beat Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to become the lowest-ranked U.S. Open �inalist

since the ATP’s computer rankings began in 1973. The 6-foot-8 (2.03-meter) Anderson, who won an NCAA doubles title at the University of Illinois, is equipped with a big serve, certainly, but he only once had even been a quarter�inalist at a major until this week. He’s also lost all four previous matches against Nadal.

Plus there’s this: Nadal looked as good as ever over the last three sets against del Potro, further con�irmation of his return to the height of his powers. Nadal is again healthy and capable of excellence, after wrist and knee injuries dulled his effectiveness in 2015 and 2016 - the �irst seasons since 2004 in which he not only failed to win a Grand Slam trophy but didn’t even make a �inal.

‘’It’s been an amazing season, of course, after a couple of years with some troubles, injuries, tough moments,’’ Nadal said. ‘’So this year, since the beginning has been a very emotional year.’’

He reached the Australian Open �inal in January, losing to Roger Federer, then claimed his record 10th French Open championship in June.

Save for a less-than-dominant opening set Friday, in which Nadal had nine winners and 10 unforced errors, he barely missed his targets.

His numbers the rest of the way: 36 winners, 10 unforced errors.

Eventually, Del Potro’s �lat, fearsome forehand became less dangerous, as if he suddenly remembered just how weary he was.

Dealing with an illness, del Potro came back from a two-set de�icit to win his fourth-rounder in �ive sets, then got past 19-time major champion Federer in the quarter�inals in four. Maybe it was all too much for del Potro, whose one Grand Slam title came via wins over Nadal in the semi�inals and Federer in the �inal in New York eight years ago.

That was the last time Nadal lost in a major semi�inal ; he’s now won 15 in a row.

This time, the 24th-seeded del Potro actually edged ahead with the match’s �irst break, going up 3-2 in the �irst set when a backhand return caught the net tape and took a fortuitous roll over to Nadal’s side for a winner.

That was greeted with a

him for 10 rounds!”

De La Hoya even went so far as to suggest that he could �inish McGregor today if he stepped in the ring as the 44-year-old retired version of himself.

“Yeah,” De La Hoya responded when asked if he could beat Conor McGregor in a boxing match today with proper training. “It can’t go more than two rounds.”

He also suggested that it was convenient that Mayweather attempted to bet on himself to win in the 10th round, which is reason enough to believe that Mayweather carried his overmatched opponent.

For the record, Mayweather attempted to place a $400,000 bet that he would win the �ight in under 9.5 rounds and not spe-

ci�ically in the 10th. Nevertheless, De La Hoya’s assault wouldn’t let up.

Although, he expressed that he respected Mayweather’s ability, De La Hoya believes that his selection of opponent s is the reas o n why h e

won’t recognize him as the greatest boxer of all time.

“My question is this: when was Mayweather in a 50-50 �ight?” De La Hoya asked while suggesting that just about all of Mayweather’s opponents were either well past their prime (Mosley, Cotto, Pacquiao) or didn’t have the experience (Canelo) to present a real challenge.

“That’s my critique. Is he the best boxer we’ve had in recent years? Yeah. He’s obviously not the best. I think he would be top 10 of all time [but not top 5].”

RAFA, 13

De La Hoya says he could KO McGregor in 2 rounds

E

ven though Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor is in the past, that doesn’t mean that Oscar De La Hoya isn’t done trashing the super�ight.

The CEO of Golden Boy Promotions appeared on radio station Hot 97 in New York to promote the Sept. 16 bout between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, but couldn’t resist taking more shots at the �ight that he has consistently called a “farce.”

It didn’t take long for De La Hoya to go on the offensive and call out Mayweather-McGregor for being a disgrace to the sweet science.

“I was pissed because Mayweather knows better than that,” De La Hoya said while comparing the quality of the two �ights. “He’s one of the best boxers on the planet today that we’ve had in the past several years. But, come on, knock the guy out in two or three rounds! Don’t carry

Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya attends the Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin Press Tour at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Getty Images)

Deception and lies

Some basketball fanatics ate this �lawed reasoning hook, line and sinker.

Basketball is not everything, my friends.

I will ask you: Are you satis�ied with just 24 gold medals given the fact that the government – you, as taxpayers – spent P300M to prepare and train the athletes who represented the Philippines in the KL SEAG? I heard POC president Peping Cojuangco go on the air – in effect blaming the Philippine Sports Commission – that the nationals were inadequately given training logistics that is why they ended up grabbing just 24 gold medals.

I also heard him say that he will not resign regardless if there were voices calling for him to step down. “I don’t care,” he said.

But see this: NSA athletes are going around widely-watched media organizations – TV programs such as Eat Bulaga and Showtime – making guest appearances, showing off their gold medal triumphs obviously to drum up a deceptive perception that Pinoy athletes

SPECKS OF LIFE Fred C. Lumba did “very well” at the recent regional competitions in Kuala Lumpur.

Yes, I agree that we have to move on.

But where is the accountability?

Are not those who are the helm of the highest policy-making body of sports responsible for everything that happens in

its turf? Success or failure, POC of�icials led by its head honcho must be accountable.

Money don’t grow in trees, as the cliché goes.

But from all angles, one can readily notice that sports of�icials continue to rely heavily on government subsidy. They have become mendicants and literally beggars in the streets waiting for a kind-hearted man to drop loose coins in their tin cans.

POC and NSA of�icials are leeches masquerading as sports leaders. The standards they follow is the SEAG norm, the lowest and least competitive of all regional sportsfests.

This is the current mindset that the sports community – you and I – must change alongside with the reforms PRRD is trying to institute in the country.

We cannot remain in the status quo because it will sink us deeper into the abyss of discontent, disunity and divisive polarization.

Short of calling this a sabotage, I would implore PSC chair Butch Ramirez to stand his ground and invoke the right

of the people - the taxpayers – to demand a ROI (return on investment) from Cojuangco and his POC minions.

There oughta be a law like this in sports.

Otherwise, as you now can see, the abusive, the corrupt and thieves will continue their legacy in Philippine sports.

My friends, let me enlighten you.

Corruption is not only committed at the Bureau of Customs, DPWH, BIR, LTO, DepEd, DOTr, LTFRB and other notorious government agencies.

CORRUPTION IS ALSO WELLENTRENCHED IN SPORTS. Stop this chicanery and charade. We are not going anywhere.

I leave you this: Pure ambition corrupts. Power corrupts more.

Godlessness corrupts most. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Gal. 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

HALL OF FAME CLASS

T-Mac, Lobo, Self and McGraw

T

racy McGrady says his wife, Clerenda, has been trying to get him to say that he deserves to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The seven-time NBA AllStar and two-time league scoring champion couldn’t bring himself to do that, until Friday night.

He went to the podium during his induction pumping his �ists in the air as the crowd chanted ‘’T-Mac,’’ then celebrated his 15 years in the league. ‘’On this day, I can �inally say, ‘Yes I deserve to be here,’’’ said McGrady, who played for seven teams, starring with Toronto, Orlando and Houston. ‘’I am truly humbled. I’m grateful and proud to be in the class of 2017.’’

McGrady was among 11 basketball greats enshrined Friday night.

The class also includes former ABA and NBA star George McGinnis, former UConn and WNBA star Rebecca Lobo, Kansas men’s coach Bill Self, Notre Dame women’s coach Muffet McGraw, former Texas high school

coach Robert Hughes, former Harlem Globetrotters player and now owner Mannie Jackson, NCAA administrator Tom Jernstedt and former European star Nick Galis.

Former Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, and former Globetrotter and New York Rens player Zack Clayton were honored posthumously.

McGrady had earlier told reporters his celebration was being tempered by the impact of Hurricane Harvey on his family and neighbors in Texas.

His estate in Sugar Land, Texas, suffered only minor damage from the storm, allowing him and his wife to take in the families of �ive relatives and friends for three days after mandatory evacuations.

He also put on a Labor Day feast at a church in the Houston area for about 800 victims of

the storm. ‘’My sister was at the house, and I was trying to take her home and driving to her house. Just seeing cars under water and you don’t know if people are in there - it’s real,’’ he told reporters. ‘’I’m being as vocal and proactive as I can.’’

Other inductees were vocal about other issues Friday night.

Jackson talked about being born in a box car in Missouri and rising to become a player and later a successful business executive and owner of the Globetrotters. His was the most political speech of the night, calling for unity in a divided nation, saying he does not believe the country can endure if it does not cast indifference, hatred and bigotry aside. ‘’If basketball can be a showcase for non-discrimination, for integration, for performance-based emotions, why can’t we do that over in every part of our society?’’ he asked.

HALL, 13

Tracy McGrady, the seven-time NBA All Star and two-time league scoring champion, is among 11 basketball greats inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2017