Edge Davao 10 Issue 151, October 31, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

FAKE MONEY As BSP issues advisory how to distinguish fake money

By ANGIE SAVERON HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas called on the public to be attentive to the money they receive, especially this Christmas season.

The BSP warned it maybe fake money.

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“Every week in average there are two people who turn over fake money to BSP,” said Dorothy Joy Diaz Bank Officer II, BSP during the Kapehan sa Dabaw On October 30, Monday.

She said the fake bills, from P20 to P1000 bills, have been turned over by the banks with some individuals showing up to turn over fake money.

Most fake bills are in the P1,000 denominations.

Diaz it always pays to double check the money handed over by the cashier or the customer especially when it is a big amount.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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STRESSING A POINT. President Duterte gestures while answering queries from the media in a news conference at the Davao International Airport prior to his departure for a two-day official visit to Japan on Sunday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

Clan vendetta eyed in 2 students killing EDGEDAVAO Sports T MARCHING ON

By ARMANDO FENEQUITO JR. WO high school students in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur were killed while seven others were wounded after being ambushed by unidentified suspects in Baran-

gay Kimlawis on Sunday night.

Investigators are looking at pangayaw, or clan vendetta as the motive behind the killing Victims identified by Kibla-

wan Municipal Police Station as Jimboy Linkanay, 16, who was immediately killed right after the ambush while Neilbert Malason who was confined at Southern Philippines Medical

Center in Davao City, died after suffering complications due to serious injuries he sustained.

The wounded suspects were

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HCDC Crusaders bag PCCL Escandor Cup

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

SEASONAL JOB. Residents hire the services of cemetery workers to clean and paint their departed relative’s tomb ahead of the observance of Undas at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Madapo Hills, Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Solon warns of crisis from marijuana use

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UHAY Rep. Lito Atienza has urged his colleagues in Congress to throw out the bill legalizing medical marijuana, warning that the measure is bound to create a public health emergency here, just like the opioid crisis in America.

“What is happening now in America, which is reeling from the widespread abuse of opioids, is guaranteed to happen here once we allow medical marijuana to be prescribed

by Filipino physicians,” Atienza, the House senior deputy minority leader, said.

US President Donald Trump has declared a public health emergency over the

growing misuse of and addiction to opioids that claim the lives of 91 Americans every day.

The crisis has been attributed to the over-prescription of opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl as pain medication, causing uncontrolleddependency and fatal overdoses among users.

Here at home, Atienza warned that the bill that seeks to authorize physicians to prescribe medical marijuana, once enacted, would “open the floodgates to abuse and addiction.”

“The measure will create new demand for marijuana.

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EXTENDED ANEW

Bangko Sentral extends deadline for bank notes replacement

By ANGIE SAVERON

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HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has announced the extension of the exchange and replacement of the new design series (NDS) bank notes with the new generation currency series (NGCS) in response to public clamor.

“The monetary board established a new deadline on December 29, 2017 for this purpose. The replacement or exchange of the NDS bank notes shall be accommodated without charge at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,”

said Dorothy Joy Diaz, BSP Bank Officer II at the Kapehan sa Dabaw press conference on October 30, Monday.

BSP shall allow the exchange of the monetary NDS in cash to a maximum amount of P 100,000 per transaction and will have an outright exchange. “For those with larger amount they may also be allowed but payable only by check or direct credit to a bank account,” said Diaz.

BSP in Davao City is located at Corner E. Quirino Avenue and Tiongko Street, and

is open on Monday to Friday except on holidays. The bank will transact business from from nine in the morning to two in the afternoon.

Since July 2017 the BSP Davao received approximately more than 50 individuals who requested for extension excluding similar requests through phone calls.

The BPS official said the people were not able to exchange their NDS for several reasons.

One reason given is that they did not know that there

are hidden money in the old bags or old cabinets, while some said the money are from their grandparents who did not have bank accounts.

Another reason given is that they were organizing old things of their late grandparents when they stumbled on money while are from the OFW’s savings abroad that were not registered online.

This was the third extension BSP has given to the public after the deadline last December 30, 2016. The first

that Retes allegedly shouted at them when she refused to serve him liquor.

“Nigawas ko kay naglubo naman gud kay gibunal na niya ang isa ka case sa Red Horse.

Tapos tong akong gipangutana, iya kung gidukol ug giingnan ko nga ngano palag ka? (I went out of the store when he banged a case of Red Horse beers and when I asked him what’s, he hit me in my head), ” the employee said.

Due to behavior shown by Retes, she was forced to serve

liquor. She explained that the establishment was supposed to stop serving liquor at 9:30 p.m.

She alleged that Retes showed his pistol tucked in the waste and menacingly told the employees.“Niingon pa siya nga balikan tamo ah, inig balik nako dapat sarado name. (He told us that our store must be closed when he returns),” she said.

The employee said somebody took a video recording of

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Two Indon warships Drunk town cop chief relieved after incident in GSC goodwill trip

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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WO active warships of the Indonesian Navy arrived here on Sunday for a two-day goodwill and cooperation mission.

The two Sigma class corvettes docked at the Makar Wharf Sunday morning amid a rousing welcome facilitated by the city government, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao and Philippine Navy reservists.

Lt. James Reyes, public affairs chief of the Naval

Forces Eastern Mindanao, said the visit of the Indonesian warships is part of a continuing cooperation between the naval forces of Indonesia and the Philippines.

He said it was aimed to showcase the landing platform dock capability and other features of the Indonesian warships — KRI Sultan Hasanuddin (366) and KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (367).

As part of the visit, the

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HE acting chief -of-police of Bansalan Municpal Police Station (MPS) was reportedly relieved from his post and is now facing investigation after he created a scene in Digos City and recording of the incident went viral in social media.

Supt. Deozar M. Almasa, Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office (DSPPO) deputy provincial director for administration, told reporters that Sr. Insp. Florante Retes is now under their custody, saying that Chief Insp.

Jamilla De Castro resumed being the station commander of Bansalan MPS. De Castro went on leave due to her scheduled schooling.

Retes who was drunk last Firday night, went to Sunshine 24/7 Mini Mart and Bibingka Specialty in Digos City and allegedly harassed the employees there after he was not served liquor.

An employee of the establishment, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, told Davao reporters

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Student dead, 9 others hurt in DavSur ambush

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15-YEAR-OLD student was killed while nine others were wounded when an undetermined number of armed men ambushed a barangay-owned truck loaded with passengers at Sitio Quarry in Barangay Kimlawais, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur on Sunday night.

In a report to the Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office, Superintendent Deozar Almasa, acting chief of Police of Kiblawan Municipal Police Station, said 40 students of Kimlawis National High School (KNHS) on board the Sadam Truck owned by Barangay Kimlawis were on their way to Kiblawan Gym to perform Maral de dalan, a street dancing event, for the three-day Damsu Festival.

While they were about 150 meters away from Barangay Kimlawis proper, unidentified armed men fired at Sadam Truck resulting in the death of 16-year-old Jimboy Linkanay, who was declared dead upon arrival at Gregorio Matas Dis-

trict Hospital in Davao del Sur. Wounded in the attack were James Paul Sarno, 18 of (out patient); Mildred Linkanay, 15 (out patient); Jiv Cris Malalay, 17, (admitted at Davao Sur National Hospital Digos City); Jimboy Sumali, 25, (admitted Davao Sur National Hospital Digos City); Nibert Malanson (admitted at Southern Philippines Medical Center SPMC Davao City); Marlon Malanson, (SPMC); Mark Gil Tol, Sadam Truck Driver (SPMC); and, Aries Caluyan, 15 (SPMC).

Davao del Sur chief of police Sr. Superintendent Samuel Gadingan said all victims suffered gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Gadingan said the incident is still under investigation by the Kiblawan municipal police while a municipal search and rescue team has been deployed to barangay Ihan in Kimlawis to scour the area and track the armed men. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

Trouble looms if Congress fails to pass BBL —PRRD

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HE country is “headed for a trouble” if Congress would fail to pass soon the Bangsamoro Basic Law, President Rodrigo R. Duterte warned.

In a media briefing in Davao City on Sunday night before leaving for Japan, Duterte urged Congress to expedite the passage of the new BBL that was drafted by the 21-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).

“If we do not act on it expeditiously, I think that we are headed for a trouble. We must continue to talk and I will urge Congress to fast-track it because they are getting im-

patient. And I told them of the wages of how to negotiate peace,” he said.

“Sandali lang but we will comply on our side what we have promised,” he said.

Duterte assured that he would fulfill his commitments to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro Naitonal Liberation Front, and vowed they would work for a transition from a unitary to a federal form of government.

“Eh that is a commitment eh. Not even a promise but a commitment to the Moro people,” he said.

The President reiterated

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

Media groups pushed to support federalism

By JIMMY K. LAKING

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ESPECTED business leader and known President Duterte supporter Ronie Osnan called on the various media groups from Mindanao to rally behind the shift to federalism.

“We may not agree with each other but we can agree on being united behind President Duterte’s determination to bring about federalism,” Osnan said during the Mindanao-wide media summit held at the SMX Lanang on Saturday.

“Kung ang media kasi ang magpasimuno sa adhikain ng federalism, siguradong mapapabilis ang dissemination sa sambayan,” said Osnan, a respected business leader.

He urged media groups to highlight the programs of the Duterte administration to include peace and order, the war against illegal drugs and terrorism, and the campaign for a shift to a federal form of government.

“Let us be part of this rare opportunity in our lives to

Respected business leader and known President Duterte supporter Ronie Osnan help bring about change,” he said.

The summit brought together tri-media organizations and personalities from Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Tandag City,

General Santos City, Cotabato City and Davao City and the Davao provinces.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Joel Egco, the guest speaker, spoke about

aims to alleviate child malnutrition through a sustainable feeding program and health and wellness education.

“We are doing this run by back to the community, we have our partner school here in Davao in partnership with the Department of Education in the Adopt-A-School Program,” said Leni Olmedo, Am-

way’s country manager.

Amway renovated the library of Lacson Elementary School and they also do story telling campaign.

“We just wanted to make sure that the kids, aside from learning the usual reading, writing, arithmetic, we also wanted them to learn values, the story books are all about values, to

Health Run fund to help feed Calinan school kids

By ANGIE SAVERON

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HE proceeds of Amway’s 5th Nutrilite Health Run in Davao City on Sunday will be used to sustain the feeding program of the Lacson Elementary School located in Calinan district.

This is through the Amway’s Corporate Social Responsibility program and Power of Five campaign which

Davao International Airport where the president will deliver a speech prior to his departure for a two-day official visit to Japan on Sunday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

build up their love for country, love for family and love for community,” said Olmedo.

There are other five schools which benefits from this nationwide program. The Francisco Benitezz Elementary School in Makati City, South City Central Elementa-

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Solon warns v. garbage crisis

A NEW BOSS. Newly-appointed Presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque (left) is greeted by Philippine Information Office (PIA) 11 director Efren Elbanbuena as they wait for the arrival of President Duterte at the

the need to decriminalize libel which is generally seen as a form of harassment on the part of authorities or by individuals out to silence media practitioners.

The PCOO official also inducted the officers of the newly-formed media organization. Osnan spoke as chairman of the summit hosted by the Mindanao Federation of Fourth Estate.

Osnan said the newly-organized Mindanao-wide media organization will assist media outfits in terms of livelihood assistance.

“The livelihood assistance will not be given individually but to media organizations in their localities,” he said, adding it is high time media organizations think of coming up with entrepreneurs to improve their livelihood.

The media summit was conducted in a bid to unite all media groups in Mindanao to work together in bringing about federalism.

PART from traffic, Samar Congressman Edgar Mary Sarmiento today warned that Metro Manila would have a garbage crisis in five years time unless Congress decides to amend existing environmental laws to impose a mandatory waste segregation on all households and all commercial and industrial establishments and allow the use of state-of-theart and strictly regulated “waste-to-energy” incineration plants.

Sarmiento said that although there are still raging debates on the possible closure of the Quezon City Sani-

tary Landfill which is popularly known as the Payatas dump site, it is already expected to reach it capacity limit by December this year although the Metro Manila Development Authority estimates that it could still be used until 2021.

Other Metro Manila sanitary landfills such as the Navotas Sanitary Land Fill and the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfills are also nearing critical capacity. The MMDA estimates that the Navotas landfill can only be useable until 2026 while the one in Rizal can last until 2037, which could be drastically shortened if all oth-

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EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

DavOcc investor chided for false facts on $24-B project

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SPOTTING THE FAKES. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) bank officer II Dorothy Joy Diaz holds old bank notes while announcing the extension of the exchange and replacement of the New Design Series (NDS) bank notes with

the New Generation Currency Series (NGCS) during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Model rice farm eyed for Marawi To help bring message that there’s hope

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ROVINCIAL agriculturists within the Lanao del Sur are now identifying a contiguous land area in irrigated lands for the model-demonstration farm in Marawi, the biggest city in Lanao del Sur. The model farm eyed is relatively big and may require a production cost of around P30,000 per hectare. Traditionally, technology demon-

stration sites only cover one to two hectares. However, in Marawi City, a bigger model farm appears to be necessary in relation to the despair and destruction of the city after going through the ravages of a five-month war, believed to be the longest in the country.

“We want to bring the message to the people of Marawi that there’s hope. SL Agritech will put in the money for this

techno-demo to inspire hope,” said SL AGritech Corp. Chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong.

SLAC is carrying out the hybrid rice planting in coordination with Go Negosyo, the city government, and the Department of Agriculture.

“Go Negosyo has asked SL to participate in the economic rehabilitation,” Lim said.

Marawi City, also known as a summer capital of the South,

has predominantly cooler weather because of its higher elevation.

It is not much of a rice farming location, but there are farmers growing traditional rice varieties. The company sees its role in Marawi’s rehabilitation as an expansion of an earlier agricultural investment in likewise conflict-affected Maguindanao where it also put up a model farm. (AMA)

aware that the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) mandates the government to sell its capital-intensive power generation assets, but he believes it should make an exception for the Agus-Pulangi HEPP in the interest of Mindanao stakeholders.

“I am hoping that Agus and Pulangi will become government-owned and controlled but under the care of Minpocor,” Masongsong said at the sidelines of the 38th Annual General Membership Assembly of the Misamis Oriental II Electric Cooperative, Inc. Masongsong pushed for the creation of Minpocor during his stint as represen-

tative of the 1st Consumer Alliance for Rural Energy (1CARE) partylist in the 16th Congress together with his fellow Mindanao lawmakers.

While their consolidated legislation passed in the Lower House, it failed to get support from their counterparts in the Senate, prompting Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat to refile the same under House Bill No. 122 last year.

Masongsong is hopeful the refiling of their proposed measure will generate enough votes for its enactment to finally maximize the potential of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complexes, which are pivotal in keeping electricity rates affordable in Mindanao.

“Agus-Pulangi has a potential of 982 megawatts (MW) but it is only generating between 300-400 MW at the moment so we have a loss of around 600MW. This is why we are pushing for the government to fund this rehabilitation project through Minpocor so that Mindanaoans will operate and manage this HEPP,” The NEA chief said.

At this point, the fate of the Agus-Pulangi rests with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM), which has been tasked by the Joint Congressional Power Commission to determine the best available option for its impending privatization. (PNA)

NEA chief backs rehab of Agus-Pulangi plant

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ATIONAL Electrification Administration chief Edgardo Masongsong expressed optimism that the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plant (HEPP) as embodied in the proposed measure creating the Mindanao Power Corporation (Minpocor) will gain traction in the 17th Congress.

Speaking to reporters in Misamis Oriental last Saturday, Masongsong said electric cooperatives in Mindanao are actively pushing for both facilities to remain under state control through a new corporate entity instead of giving them up for privatization.

The NEA administrator is

HE provincial government of Davao Occidental chided a Hong Kongbased firm eyeing to develop the USD24-billion Marina and Industrial Park project in this town for misleading its clients into believing that the site has legal and land use plan inconsistencies.

The firm, Pionaire Finance Limited, had scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony on October 27 but later announced the termination of the project through its executive assistant Maydeeh Libago in a press conference at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City on Friday.

Libago alleged that legal and land use plan inconsistences triggered the project cancellation.

But Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista, through his lawyer Atty. Caesar Europa, was surprised that Pionaire had scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony without the knowledge of the provincial government.

Europa told reporters in a press conference Saturday afternoon that the governor finds it strange that Pionaire was pushing with the groundbreaking when the conversion of the land from agricultural to industrial is still being worked out.

Europa pointed out that the planned industrial park has the pre-qualification approval of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

“Hindi naman siguro kami aabot ng ganun kung walang prior qualification (We could have not reach such if we have no prior qualification),” Europa said.

Europa said the documents for the land conversion were submitted to the national government. He said the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has the authority to approve the land conversion.

“Di puwede ang (It is not allowed) groundbreaking because a single shovel of land for other purposes would be illegal,” Europa said.

Until all the requirements for land conversion are met, the province cannot start the development of the land into an industrial park.

The USD24-billion Marina and Industrial park project in Malita, Davao Occidental will compose of a 1,200 megawatt (MW) liquefied natural gas (LNG) combined cycle power plant, chemical industrial park, water-generation manufacturing facility, LPG & Storage Terminal, 20 million metric tons refinery, Petrochemical Complex, and a storage facility together with an associated Terminal and International Port and Cargo Terminal.

Before Friday’s announcement of Pionaire, the provincial government already cut ties with the firm by terminating the Memorandum

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Max’s Group to build more Mindanao stores

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ISTED casual dining chain operator Max’s Group Inc. plans to open more stores in Mindanao following the end of Marawi conflict, as it seeks further expansion opportunities here and abroad.

MGI President Robert F. Trota said the company has already 15 branches in Mindanao, including those in Zamboanga, General Santos City and Cagayan de Oro. “Now that the Marawi siege is over, again there’s more opportunity I believe for us to grow the business…

I think the economy of Mindanao is growing and we would like to be able to open more stores,” he said in an interview this week.

Trota noted that even with the Marawi conflict, the company has been looking to put up Max’s Restaurant and Pancake House branches in Iligan City.

“It never stops us from looking at Mindanao to grow the business,” he said.

MGI has allotted this year

up to P800 million in capital expenditures mainly for the rollout of 60 to 70 new branches primarily among core brands Max’s Restaurant, Pancake House, Yellow Cab Pizza and Krispy Kreme.

“We are on track to meet that number. Some might open around December already but we will meet that target of opening 60 to 70 stores.

We should be about 50 plus (branches) already,” added Trota.

The company has set a goal to establish 1,000 outlets, including 200 international, by 2020.

Trota said the local market comprises 90 percent of company’s total revenues, while the remaining 10 percent is shared by its overseas stores.

MGI is continuously expanding across the Philippines and in the Middle East, North America, Canada, Singapore, China, and Vietnam, he said.

Trota further said the company is looking to open more stores overseas. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

MICC to review mine operations every 2 yrs

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INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has lauded the interagency Mining Industry Coordinating Council for starting the “fact-finding and science-based” review of mining operations across the country for the first time since the inception of this multi-sectoral oversight body five years ago.

Dominguez pointed out that since the MICC was reconstituted in 2012 under Executive Order No. 79, the body has failed—till now—to perform one of its main tasks under this law, which is to carry out a multi-stakeholder review of mining operations once every

two years.

“I have to congratulate all of you because this group was set up in 2012. It’s the first time ever that we are going to do this review,” Dominguez said at the recent MICC meeting.

Dominguez recalled that the first time the MICC met under the Duterte administration and began to discuss the conduct of a multi-stakeholder review was last February. “So after that, we got things done.

Congratulations to everybody,” he told his fellow members in the Council during their latest meeting last Oct. 24.

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ECONOMY 5

DavOcc guv calls for unity to trigger road to progress

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S Davao Occidental concluded the successful holding of the province’s second year founding anniversary, Gov. Claude Bautista called on his constituents to unite and trust the government for province’s road to progress.

Bautista ended the province’s five-day founding anniversary celebration on Saturday at the provincial capital of Malita with hopes for the people to liberate the province from poverty.

He said the success of the

founding anniversary is only short-lived and what is more important is to continue working for the people to have jobs, livelihood and good education for the children.

The governor wants to see the province rise to progress as what it has envisioned when it separated from Davao del Sur province on June 30, 2016.

In making the province progressive, Bautista does not mean building beautiful barangay halls and other aesthetics, but to lift the lives of

the people from hardship.

Despite being a young province, Bautista said he has provided some assistance to alleviate the poor people’s financial needs especially for the schooling of their children.

The province provided school materials to children whose parents have difficulty raising money for notebooks, among others.

“Gamay ran a nga pamaagi pero dako na nga impluwensya sa ginikanan (It is a small way but it is a big help to the parents),” he said in his mes-

Trade, security issues high in Duterte’s Japan agenda

T HEARTY EXCHANGE. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez (left) shares a light moment with Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (center) and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr prior to their departure with President Duterte for a two-day official visit to Japan at the Davao International Airport on Sunday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

Tilapia threatens Australia’s flourishing seafood industry

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USTRALIA’S multi-million dollar seafood industry could be under threat from an invasive species of fish, biosecurity authorities in the far north of Queensland State confirmed Monday.

Spotted tilapia have been found in the Walsh River, a waterway which connects to the Mitchell River catchment flowing into the Gulf of Carpentaria where much of Australia’s barramundi and prawn industry thrives.

The noxious species could pose a significant threat to “native fish and plants,” the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) told Xinhua.

“Tilapia have successfully invaded and dominated many freshwater habitats due to their highly efficient reproductive strategy and ability to thrive in a variety of conditions.”

The pest is known to be-

have aggressively when competing for habitat and food.

“They disturb plant beds when building nests and also destroy native fish habitats,” QDAF said.

Although it’s not known how the fish made its way into the river, one theory is that it may have moved along an irrigation channel from Tinaroo Dam on the Atherton Tablelands.

“They may have well come down that catchment in flood events, where they might have got around the screens that are there to stop them coming down, but we just don’t know and we’ll never know I presume,” Biosecurity Queensland general manager John Robertson explained to local media.

But the dam’s operator Sunwater has denied these claims, saying in a statement that they perform daily tilapia

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sage.

Bautista rallied the people to continue uniting regardless of race, culture because the people have also the responsibility to make the province progressive.

“Salig ko sa inyoha Sugod pa lang ta ikaduhang tuig.

Hiusahon nato atong kusog, panghunahuna ug paningkamot (I have trust in you. We are just starting our second year. Let us keep our strength, mind and endeavors together),’’ Bautista urged. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

RADE and regional security are high on the agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte’s three-day visit to Japan to meet with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Japanese officials.

Duterte, who left for Japan on Sunday night through the Davao International Airport (DIA), said regional and global threats would be the main agenda in his meeting with Japanese officials.

“We had been in discussion, together with the rest of peace-loving neighbors and even I had the chance to talk to Secretary Mattis (United States Defense Secretary Jim),” he said referring to the recent ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) that convened in Clark.

Duterte said the main agenda of the meeting with Prime Minister Abe would be on how to deal with the regional security problem.

He said terrorism and extremism occupy a lot of space during talks with world leaders. “We are all committed to destroy this ideology which knows nothing except to destroy and kill,” he said.

In his departure speech, Duterte said he will also discuss the advancement of the rule of law in the relations between [and] among nations to support greater stability and security in the region.

Duterte also thanked the Japanese government for its timely assistance in addressing the threat of terrorism and

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Japan asked to lower tariffs for RP bananas

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HE executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association hopes President Rodrigo Duterte will be able to encourage the Japanese government to relax if not lift the imposition of hefty taxes on Philippine bananas during his two-day working visit in Japan.

Duterte and his economic team will leave Davao City for Japan Sunday evening y and will return home on Tuesday.

PBGEA Executive Director Stephen Antig said he hopes Duterte can at least negotiate with the Japanese to lower the tariffs to encourage more shipment of Philippine bananas.

Antig said said exporters pay 18.4 percent tariff rates during winter (December to February) and 8.4 percent during summer (June to August).

“That will definitely increase volume of bananas going to Japan and give the indus-

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joins Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he interacts with the pupils before entering the Malacañan Palace on January 12, 2017. ING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo try a breathing space,” he said.

He appealed to government to expedite the negotiation as their global competitor, Ecuador, is eating into the country’s market share not only in Japan but also in South Korea and Middle East.

Based on the 2016 report

released by PBGEA, Japan was the biggest buyer of Philippine bananas at 550,079 metric tons, followed by Middle East 403,259 MT, South Korea 224,192 MT, and China 107,489 MT. “The competition now is no longer company versus

company but country versus country,” he said.

Speaking on the first day of the Banana Congress at SMX Convention Center Davao on October 6, Dole Asia Holdings chair David DeLorenzo said the Philippines’ market share in Japan dropped to 81 percent last year from 93 percent.

“Just as worrisome as the Philippine lost market share, however, or perhaps more worrisome, is the overall drop in consumption in Japan. The total market dropped by 24 percent (per capita consumption),” he said.

He said the culprit to the decreasing per capita consumption of bananas in Japan was the exchange rate, or the devaluation of Yen against the US dollar, that discouraged the Japanese market from consuming bananas due to price elasticity. (MINDANEWS) “To gain back the consum-

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6 SUBURBIA RISING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy attended the Provincial Cooperative Day on October 20, 2017 at Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives, served as the guest speaker of the event. (Albert Dayao//ids comval)

Comval Gov. Uy highlights ‘planet’ or environmental governance in SOPA

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OMPOSTELA Valley Province- “To preserve victory, we crafted the idea of One Comval, One Vision,” this was part of the opening message of Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy during his 1st State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall, Provincial Capitol on October 18, 2017.

He summed up the provincial government’s accomplishments for a year into Planet, People, Prosperity and Peace with several of his platforms highlighted.

The “planet” signifies environmental governance as he encouraged every individual, as stewards in protecting the environment.

Mainly, the programs and projects are lodged at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and Provincial Di-

D

saster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).

Through the PENRO, the office leads in the advocacy on Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which includes, among others, the proper segregation of wastes. Tree-planting and growing activities also continue with a total area of 6,477 hectares. To date, the total dispersed and planted trees reached to 5,505,864 hills of assorted forest and fruit trees to 5,784 farmers.

The governor also expound on the Mining and Quarrying Development Program that facilitate on responsible mining, small-scale mining and the issuance of several sand and gravel.

On the other hand, the PDRRMO highlights its Disaster Preparedness.

From 2016-2017, the government invested a total

amount of P41 Million on capacity building activities, production of information and education campaigns, completion of Provincial Disaster Operation Center and the purchase of disaster response vehicles.

“Pinaagi sa mga trainings nga nahatag sa amoa, ang ‘impact is more capacitated’ na ang mga constituent sa Monkayo, ang awareness sa community labi na tong naa sa high risk area mas na aware na sila unsa pag manage kung dunay mga disaster nga muabot sa among lungsod,” attested Alicia Cabunoc, MDRRMO of Monkayo.

In the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the province invested P28.3 Million Pesos for this program. “This is where we get the funds for climate change adaptation and mitigation projects for food security...

This proactive measure will provide great support especially to families living in flood and landslide prone-areas and ensure everyone that there will be sufficient supply of food in the event of disaster,” Gov. Uy said.

Finally, P35.5 Million is also allotted for the Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation program which includes repair of roads, bridges, dike and seawalls, and other damaged government infrastructures.

Guided by the “One Comval, One Vision,” this will serve as the motivator for every sector in the province to work together with a common vision, highlighting a better life for children, a clean and green environment, and a growing economy in a peaceful province. (Jazel N. Sarte// ids comval)

lion pesos cash prize, a plaque of recognition, and the prestigious Green Banner Award.

The awarding ceremony took place at SMX Convention, Lanang, Davao City last Thursday, October 26, 2017.

Mayor Allan L. Rellon received the award, together with Hon. Jan Dmitri Sator, the City Nutrition Action Officer.

The prestigious award was given by the National Nutrition Council Region XI led by Dr. Maria Teresa Ungson, the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator.

Stressing that implementing the city’s nutrition program is a cycle, Councilor Sator said that achieving a great feat like this one doesn’t mean one must stop already.

“Kining nadawat nato nga

award, magpamatuod lamang kini na dapat magpadayon kita sa pagbuhat sa mga maayong bulahaton sa nutrisyon aron ang programa mapadayon, ma-maintain nato ang nutritional status sa atong katawhan… Atong kanunayon kay dili kini siya isa ka programa kausa lang. Kini nga programa atong dapat ipaabot sa musonod na henerasyon sa atong siyudad sa Tagum.” (The award we received is a pure testament that we’re on the right track. We must continue our programs to also maintain the nutritional status of our constituents… We will do this not just once, but always. We must implement programs for the future generation of Tagum city.)

Mayor Rellon received rec-

ognition as well for his zealous support to the city’s nutrition programs. Likewise, Barangay Visayan Village Captain Dionesio Labastida was also given a plaque of appreciation for his commendable management of the Barangay Nutrition Program in his area of responsibility.

After the awarding ceremony, the National Nutrition Council launched its Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) which will kickoff this year until 2022. The six-year project would focus on reducing the stunting and wasting problem among children; deficiencies in vitamin A, iron, and iodine; hunger and food insecurity; overweight and obesity, among others.

Ziyarah Manalo/CIO Tagum

Tagum City cited for gains in nutrition

AVAO CITY—Tagum City is acclaimed as the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) awardee for 2017 by the Regional Nutrition Council of the Department of Health for its significant achievement in implementing its nutrition programs that benefited the children and youth of the city.

For three consecutive years, Tagum City proved its exemplary management of nutrition programs which improved the nutritional status of Tagumenyos, thereby being bestowed with the CROWN recognition, the grand-slam feat that used improvement in nutritional status of a place as its success indicators.

The city received 1 mil-

Zamboanga peace council wants martial law to stay

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HE Regional Peace and Order Council-9 (RPOC9) remains supportive to President Rodrigo Duterte in his continuous implementation of martial law in Mindanao even as the fighting in Marawi City has ended.

Duterte declared that Marawi City has been liberated after the death of Maute group leader Omar Maute and Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon following an intense gun battle in the morning of October 16.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, RPOC9 chair, said they would take the cue from President Duterte with regards to the implementation of martial law.

The President has implemented martial law throughout Mind-

anao when the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23.

The Maute group members went berserk and occupied several establishments after government forces on May 23 raided the hideout of Hapilon, who pledged allegiance to the ISIS. “We awaited for the order of the President regarding (the implementation of) martial law in Mindanao,” Salazar said.

Meanwhile, this city is expecting the arrival of troops on Monday from their triumphant mission in quelling the five-month Marawi siege.

The end of the fighting paves the way for clearing and rehabilitation of Marawi City. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr /PNA)

Zambo to set up health stations in cemeteries

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HE City Health Office will establish health stations in public cemeteries to respond to cases of emergency during the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days in this city.

Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, on Saturday said these health stations will be handled by physicians and other medical staff of his office. They will be equipped with ambulances.

Agbulos said that they will be assisted by person-

nel from the police, Bureau of Fire, Philippine Red Cross, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Puericulture Center and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

“We encourage private cemeteries to come up with their health team since our focus will be on public cemeteries,” he said.

He advised the public to bring gears to protect them from the scorching heat of the sun while visiting their departed loved ones in cemeteries. (R. G. Antonet Go/PNA)

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

The face that launched a thousand doors

F

OR most of us, riding an elevator is as easy as one, two, three. We even tend to get pissed off easily when it’s not working properly (simply put, it’s just taking too long).

But that’s not the case for Diosdado Mampao, whose elevator ride last October 2 was one for the books. “Buhay pa ako! (I’m still alive!),” he thought when the elevator finally stopped and the door opened.

Diosdado was among the three datus of the Matigsalug tribe who came all the way from Davao City to join the Mindanao Trade Expo on October 2-5 in Makati City. With the help of AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the datus and their tribe brought their products and their culture to Manila and to the world for the first time.

The Matigsalug is a river-dwelling tribe living near the borders of Bukidnon and Davao City. For three years now, they have been partners of AboitizPower in its carbon sink management plan which will rehabilitate around 1,000 hectares of ancestral land.

The trees planted in this area are designed to offset the carbon emissions of Therma

South’s thermal power plant in Davao City.

“Part of the assistance of AboitizPower and Therma South is empowering the mostly women Matigsalugs so they can design and produce products that are marketable,” Jason Magnaye, community relations manager of Therma South, said.

For Datu Dado, little did he know that the experience would be so much more than selling their products such as handwoven bags, baskets, and fashion accessories, among others.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala na nakarating ako dito sa Maynila (I couldn’t believe I would be able to come here in Manila),” Datu Dado said and his face lit up as he recalled the very first time he set foot in the city. “Sabi ko sa sarili ko, ganito pala ang Maynila. May mga nakikita akong building sa Davao pero iba dito, malalaki sila at maraming marami (So this is Manila, I said to myself. I have seen buildings in Davao, but here, these are taller and far greater in number).”

Datu Dado’s eyes even glistened with tears as he wholeheartedly expressed his gratitude to the partners of the Matigsalug Council of Elders Marilog District, Davao City, Inc. (MACOEMADDACI).

The Matigsalugs have long been into handweaving and have been selling their products in their small community in Davao City, but it was with the help of their partners that they were able to sustain their livelihood and even create a brand for their products,

which they called “Nasabeka”, a Matigsalug term for unity.

“Nakalakhan na namin ang hanapbuhay na ito na nagpapakita ng kultura namin, kaya masayang masaya kami na maipagpapatuloy namin ito at maipamamana sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng aming

tribo (We grew up with this livelihood that reflects our culture, so we are very happy that we are now able to sustain it for the next generations of our tribe),” Datu Dado said.

Indeed, “Nasabeka” opened doors for Datu Dado and his fellow Matigsalugs - el-

evator door, airplane door, hotel room door, and whatnots.

Datu Dado and his tribe’s story is a testament to the many growth opportunities that abound when communities and businesses, like AboitizPower, work together towards a better future for all.

RESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte is set to visit Japan from October 29 to October 31 to discuss with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe matters of mutual interests to both countries.

Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said President Duterte’s second visit to Japan is an evidence of the strong and deep bonds between the two countries.

Aside from Prime Minister Abe, President Duterte is also scheduled to meet other high-ranking Japanese government officials and influential captains of industry, Bolivar said.

He added that discussions are also expected to include regional; developments, including peace and stability in the region, particularly in the Korean Peninsula.

Bolivar said among the Cabinet members who will be accompanying the President to Japan include DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano,

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and the economic team.

“We want to reinforce the Japan-Philippines economic partnership,” Bolivar said.

For his part, Deputy Chief of Mission Takehiro Kano said Japan in considering the way forward, [particularly on how it can support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi City.

“So far, we have already provided some humanitarian assistance with the international organizations. But now, we are in a different phase.

And then we are in close contact with the Philippine government,” he said.

“I think there are various kinds of needs of it such as the reconstruction of human resources and getting the people back to the communities and so forth. So based upon the needs assessment and information provided by the Philippine government, we are looking to what we can do,” he added. (PCOO News Release)

undertakes 6 Filipino youths wins ASEAN Data President working visit to Japan science explorers national finals P • Data analytics competition co-organised by the ASEAN Foundation and SAP recognized the best ideas proposed by Filipino students to help drive ASEAN’s sustainable future • Students leveraged data

from ASEAN and SAP Analytics Cloud to derive meaningful insights, which led to their ideas • Top country winner to represent the Philippines in the regional finals in November

ASEAN Data Science Explorers National Finals 1st place winners, Miguelito Tolipas and Alexis Glenn Espina (Team VizziePeople) from UP Diliman; 2nd place winners, Adelyn Labine and Laurenth Krishte Roxas (Team Neophyte) from Malayan Colleges Laguna; and 3rd place winners, Jay Mark Butalon and Tristan Gabriel

T

AGUIG CITY, Philippines — Following the completion of the ASEAN Data Science Explorers Philippines National Finals, six local students were awarded with the top three awards for their insights and ideas on driving a sustainable future for ASEAN.

Bal from Mapua University School of Information Technology; together with, representative of the ASEAN Foundation, and the guest panelists/ judges: Carlos Mayorico Caliwara, Secretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); Mark Rivera, Vice President of Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association

The six students, who represented three teams comprising two students each, were among the top 10 teams who were selected to pitch their ideas in the national finals, held at SAP Philippines office in Taguig City.

F6 FILIPINO, P11

(PYEA); Dr. Josefe Santarita of University of the Philippines; and Reynaldo Parangas,Customer Solution Director of SAP Philippines; during the awarding ceremony of the competition held recently at the SAP Philippines office in Makati City.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

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Liberizing telco

HESE days, business is driven by internet speeds. One very important economic driver the Philippines does not enjoy.

Take it from no less than billionaire online entrepreneur Jack Ma. The Alibaba founder tested the country’s internet speed the moment he stepped into the country last week and shook his head. It is not slow. It is very slow.

But that is nothing new. It does not take a Jack Ma to know the internet speed in the country is crawling. Every Juan knows it but there seem to be no solution in sight. Unless we liberalize the telco sector and end the grip of Smart and Globe as the only internet providers.

No less than Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. believes liberalizing the domestic telecommunication

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

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sector will further improve delivery of financial services in the country. Espenilla sees “a lot of value” in opening up the telco industry to more players. The central bank has several programs that promote the use of technology to further improve the banking industry like the National Retail Payment System (NRPS), which is aimed to fast track growth of electronic payment system in the country from the current one percent to around 20 percent of total payments by 2020. Opening up the telco services to more players will provide more competition and will result to better service delivery. Doing so will benefit the whole financial system.

There is no question that the country’s telco sector has the capability to provide the services but the issue is not capability but reliability. And that is where freeing up the telco sector to other providers will open up new services.

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 Reporter 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

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE Richard C. Ebona | Product Development officer LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts.Address: 04 Orilla St. Purok 4B Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Specialist Cellphone number: 09472652969 General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City JAMILA C. CANONIGO AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Email Address: edgedavao@gmail.com Mobile: (Smart) 09104501042 Tel: (088) 852-4894 Circulation Marketing Specialist

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

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

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UNNING a small but growing business has expanded my insight on the prevalent mediocrity of a general class of workers, Filipinos, and human beings. It is almost interesting how applicants come to job interviews with their sob stories and tales of oppression and ask for the opportunity to turn their lives around. Sadly, majority of them waste their opportunity by being too comfortable, dishonest, and lazy to adhere to set standards. It seems that the mentality of poverty consumes the very Filipinos who need to get out of poverty.

This poverty mentality may manifest from the small to big things. Poverty mentality is manifested in the inability to be punctual for work or any appointment in life for that

“E

VERY true story,” Ernest Hemingway said, “ends in death.”

Jesus Christ died in a cross.

Princess Diana perished in a car crash. Both Jesse Robredo and John Denver died in plane crash.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Breast cancer snatched the lives of Marilou Diaz Abaya and Ingrid Bergman.

There are those who died in some strange ways. King John of England was such a glutton that he eventually died of dysentery, caused by too much fruit and cider. Atilla the Hun died of a bloody nose. Flamboyant dresser Isadora Duncan broke her neck when she went for a ride in a sports car and her long scarf got caught in one of the rear wheels.

French composer Jean-Baptiste Lully was conducting his orchestra so vigorously that he stabbed himself in the toe with his baton. The injury became infected, but he would not allow his doctor to amputate the toe. After a few weeks the doctors told him they would have to amputate his entire leg in order for him to survive, but he refused that as well. He died soon after.

What where the words spoken by some of the world’s fa-

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Unapologetic capitalist matter. Time is a very valuable and important resource that all of us possess. This is the most basic thing we are supposed to manage whatever our social, financial, or physical status. It is interesting to note that when we have meetings with business or corporate people, they are rarely or never late. Meetings with a number of government entities, NGOs, and a few advocacy groups, however, are another story. Poverty mentality is manifested when one operates with the “pwede na” mindset. If one can get away with it, whatever this may be, then it is fine. Poverty mentality is especially manifested when one wants easy money without putting in the hard work. It is stealing and doing shortcuts without thought for the long-term vision. It is also

mous people before they died?

“I am not the least afraid to die,” said scientist Charles Darwin.

“I’m bored with it all,” whispered British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Before he closed his eyes, Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Josephine…”

When she woke briefly during her last illness and found all her family around her bedside, Lady Nancy Astor wondered: “Am I dying or is this my birthday?” Dramatic Eugene O’Neill was more dramatic: “I knew it. Born in a hotel room – and God damn it – died in a hotel room.”

Generally, writers had creative words to say before exiting this world. Victor Hugo said, “I see black light.” James Joyce asked, “Does nobody understand?” Edgar Allan Poe begged, “Lord help my poor soul.” Emily Dickinson stated, “I must go in, the fog is rising.”

H.G. Wells urged, “Go away. I’m all right.” Jane Austen had given up: “Nothing, but death.”

American president Andrew Jackson was sure of what would happen to him: “Oh, do not cry – be good children and we will all meet in heaven.” Showman Florenz Ziegfeld commanded: “Curtain! Fast music! Light!

Ready for the last finale! Great!

CATNIP

Vida Mia S. Valverde using illness (LBM and dysmenorrhea seem to be favorite excuse) and family problems as go-to reasons for being unable to work or show up.

These indicators seem trivial, but they are very telling of the person and the quality of work he gives.

At the other end of the spectrum, I know of young wan-

Dead end

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

The show looks good!” Thomas Alva Edison seemed to agree: “It is very beautiful over there.”

But to those who are still alive, death is not a welcome visitor. “No matter how ready a person seems to be, death provokes anxiety,” notes Dr. Ma. Jocelyn G. Gayares, an adult psychiatrist.

Even Jesus Christ himself was afraid that he requested for company as he faced death.

Matthew 26:37-38 recorded: “He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

Stay here and keep watch with

nabe entrepreneurs who can afford to dream up big, seemingly impractical businesses because they have wealthy parents who can foot the expensive bill. Nothing wrong with getting that jumpstart in life as long one puts in the hard work that could really be drudgery at times. This hard work in starting and growing a business entails diligent study of the market, networking, manual labor, hiring and firing, applying for loans (especially when no one from the family can help), and a whole lot of praying. The problem usually comes in when one thinks having huge capital resource is enough to make a business thrive and succeed. It cannot be denied that it takes money to make money. For those of us who were not born or married

into a wealthy family, building a business takes a lot more fire, fitness, and creativity. Failures can be harder but when success comes, it is also so much sweeter.

Recently, a colleague at the academe told me, “ Kapitalista ra kayo imong pang-utok, Vida.” To which my kneejerk response was, “Unapologetically, Sir.” I know of the theories of global justice which assert that the structures of society are what make injustice and poverty happen. True to a certain extent. But I also know and experience that individuals have to earn their place under the sun by showing up (on time and on many different levels) and having a sense of personal excellence regardless of any extrinsic and practical reward.

me.’”

Indeed, death is a mysterious thing. It’s one of those subjects that most people don’t want to talk about. “People are always serious about death,” Bob Harrington quipped. “I never met what you call tough people when they were dying.”

To which American winning actor-director Woody Allen argued, “It’s not that I’m afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”

“Even in psychiatry, death is an unknown occurrence,” said Dr. Gayares. “No one knows his time of death nor what happens after death. Waiting for death could be like waiting for the result of a licensure or board examination. One experiences sleeplessness, anxiety, shortness of breath and various body pains. The unknown always elicit fear and anxiety.”

Is death the end of life itself? Baron de Montesquieu reminds, “We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death.” Death, after all, is part of the equation called life.

“Around us everyday we see many examples of death bringing forth life,” Frank Mihalic points out. “A kernel of corn is buried and it grows into a tall cornstalk. The ice cube dis-

solves and it cools the water. A match burns itself out to light a fire. Water gets itself dirty to clean you. A battery goes dead giving you music and light.

Wood burns itself out to cook your food. Animals and plants die to give you your food. By dying, all these things rise to a higher life.”

But if a man dies, the patriarch Job asked, will he live again? Christians believe they will. The apostle Paul promises in I Corinthians 15:52: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

The poet John Donne defies death by proclaiming, “Death be not proud, though some have called thee… / One short sleep past, we wake eternally, / And death shall be no more; death thou shalt die.”

In a cemetery in England, this epitaph was written: “Remember man, as you walk by, / As you are now, so once was I, / As I am now, so shall you be, / Remember this and follow me.”

To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone: “To follow you I’ll not consent, / Until I know which way you went.”

10 NEWS

THE AIR WE BREATHE. Airshed focal person Melvin Dapitanon (center), together with Ambient Air focal person Jeperneo Ylagan (left) and Virginia Pusod of City Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro), says currently Davao City ‘s air quality is at good to fair level and is better compared to

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Clan... FROM 1

other highly-urbanized cities in the country. Dapitanon made the statement during the during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

172 shabu labs, drug dens dismantled: PDEA

A

UTHORITIES have dismantled a total of 172 clandestine shabu laboratories and drug dens in the country as part of the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

This was bared by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the official agency tasked to provide the “real numbers” operations

and arrested personalities in line with the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs drive.

In its monthly update on “#RealNumbers”, PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said from June 2016 up to October 25, 2017, 163 drug dens and nine clandestine shabu laboratories were dismantled while different illegal drugs

Basic techniques in checking the money is to Look-TiltFeel.

The feel should be rough and not smooth because the money used is a special security paper with an embossed print. Secondly, in the look technique, there should be a watermark it can be seen if you look at the money against the light.

There should also be a security fiber which is the blue and red fiber. There should also be a security thread. In P20 and P50 bill the security thread can be seen in inside if placed against the light. “If there is no security thread then the money has no value,” said Diaz.

She said that store owners should not be relying alone on the UV light money detector because it will need electricity and it is expensive. “They should be familiar with the security features of the money,” said Diaz.

BSP has a campaign that will entice the people to report those people who make

fake money by giving them monetary reward. “They can be tipster, they can call the BSP to report, their identity with be withhold and from there the BSP will coordinate with the PNP to conduct raid said Diaz.

BSP also conduct lectures if there are interested people who wants to know how to determine the fake money and the real ones. This lecture also covers what they are going to do if they receive fake money.

“If the money is true then BSP will replace it, but if fake then we will issue a certificate that will indicate that the money submitted is counterfeit,” said Diaz.

She said that there were no cases of fake money manufacturer here in the city .

“There are some cases in other parts of Mindanao but here in the Davao region there were no reports of raid due to manufacturing of fake money,” said Diaz.

BSP is hoping that there are no individuals who are making fake money here in the region.

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were seized worth PHP18.85 billion, with an increase of PHP11.57 million compared to last month.

As of October 25, 2017, a total of 2,509.22 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as “shabu,” with an estimated street value of PHP12.91 billion were seized, posting an increase of PHP11.38 million compared

to 2,506.93 kilos seized last month with an estimated street value of PHP12.9 billion.

PDEA said authorities also arrested 117,044 individuals involved in illegal drugs from July 2016 to October 25, 2017.

Included in the total figure are 420 government workers - 181 of them elected officials, 36 uniformed personnel, and

two warships were opened for public viewing and tours from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Monday and Tuesday. The “open house” is free and open to the public.

On Monday, key officers of the 177-person Indonesia crew met with city officials led by Mayor Ronnel Rivera and Vice Mayor Shirlyn Banas-Nograles at the city hall here.

“We have also scheduled goodwill and traditional games between the Indonesian crew and local counterparts,” Reyes said.

He cited personnel from the Philippine Navy and reservists, Philippine National Police Maritime unit and the Army-led Joint Task Force-GenSan. KRI Sultan Hasanuddin and KRI Iskandar Muda are the second and third ships of warship type and destroyer guarded controlled Sigma class of the Indonesian Navy.

The modern corvettes, which were built by Dutch shipyard Schelde, serves as

patrol boats with surface anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft capabilities.

KRI Sultan Hasanuddin was commissioned in 2007 and the KRI Iskandar Muda in 2009.

Berlian Napitupulu, consul general of the Indonesian Consulate in Davao City, said the visit shows Indonesia’s commitment to strengthen traditional ties between the two countries.

He specifically cited areas adjacent to Mindanao like the port cities of Bitung and Manado in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Aside from maritime security, he said efforts are underway to draw these areas together through trade and tourism exchanges.

“We’re working to promote trade and tourism in these areas. We’re discussing how to open tourism routes between Bitung, Manado and General Santos because these areas are really close,” he said. (MindaNews)

Two... FROM 2

F172 SHABU, P11

identified as James Paul Samo, 18; Mildred Linkanay, 15; Jiv Cris Malalay,17; Jimboy Sumali,25; Marlon Malanson; Mark Gil Tol, truck driver and Aries Caluyan, 15.

Kiblawan MPS acting commander Senior Insp. Erich Von C. Requilman bared that around 8:00 p.m. of October 29, his station received a call on the incident happened in area, as the truck that conveyed the students from Kiblawan Proper was allegedly ambushed.

“Ang mga estudyante sa Kimlawis National High School, nag apil sila sa Maral de Dalan or Street Dancing sa B’laan para sa Damsu Festival diri nga three days (These students of Kimlawis National High School joined the Maral de Dalan or Street Dancing in B’laan for the three-day Damsu Festival of the town),” he said.

Requilman said that after 150 meters away from Kimlawis Propers there group of men fired on the vehicle that conveyed the students. “According sa mga katigulangan diri nga B’laan kay mostly mga B’laan adunay Pangayaw nga dugay na na kaso nila (According to the B’laan elders here, there is a Clan War already existed in this town. Most of the victims belong to the B’laan tribe),” he said.

Requilaman said that based on his interview on the

National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) the clan wars and family feud within the B’laan tribe already existed in different barangays in the town.

He said although the most of the victims were students, the police could not point out that they are targeting someone but maybe one of the students is a member of the family who has feud with other clan.

“Maybe, one of the families of the victims involved in Pangayaw and the suspects took vengeance on these students,” he said. In an interview at Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital, Jimboy Sumali told reporter that they were surprised with the gun burst when they were about to reach the area.

Sumali said that during the ambushed they did not notice the suspected because the area was so dark. He said after the suspects successfully turned-down the truck, they immediately fled from the area.

For his part, Balansina Linkanay, father of Jimboy, confirmed that the ambush was really a Pangayaw.

“It hurts me that my son is not at fault on this” he said.

He said that the one who ambushed him before are maybe the group who ambushed the students that killed his son.

And when there is demand, supply will come in. Even our farmers will start cultivating marijuana, since they will be assured of a lucrative market by a rapidly growing number of addicts,” Atienza said.

The House committee on health earlier recommended the passage of the proposed Act Providing Filipinos Right of Access to Medical Marijuana, or House Bill 6517.

Floor debates on the bill are expected to begin when the House reconvenes on Nov. 20.

Atienza said the susceptibility to abuse far outweighs any and all of the unproven benefits of allowing prescription marijuana.

“Marijuana is a poison. No amount of sugar-coating will make the illegal drug less toxic,” he said, adding that even the US Food and Drug Administration has rejected medical marijuana.

After performing a scientific and medical evaluation, the US FDA declared that marijuana does not meet the criteria for currently accepted medical use in treatment, that there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision, and that it has a high potential for abuse.

As a result of the US FDA ruling, marijuana remains a prohibited drug at the federal level in America.

Here at home, the Bureau of Food and Drugs tends to follow US FDA standards in that most if not all pharmaceutical products approved for use in America are also allowed for use in the Philippines.

The Philippine Medical Association, the professional organization of Filipino physicians, is categorically opposed to the passage of HB 6517, saying it runs counter to the State’s policy to protect the well-being of its citizenry.

extension was last March 30, the second was last June 30 and finally this is the third one.

BSP is the only authorized establishment to conduct the exchange. In Mindanao there are six BSP offices, there is one in Davao City, General Santos City, Cotatbato City, Butuan, Zambuanga,

Osamis and Cagayan De Oro City “Here in BSP Davao, because of the instructions the person who wants to exchange NDS to NGCS is they need to present identification card and they could also show the money because it is a part of our risk mitigating measure of BSP,” said Diaz.

Solon... FROM 2

EXTENDED... FROM 2

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WITH OVER LESS THAN TWO WEEKS to the second leg of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour (PSCT) in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, let’s quickly go back and relive the memorable highlights from the first leg of the PSCT, the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup. Last week, we relived the highlights from the first four days of the competition. Now, let’s rewind and enjoy the awesome highlights from the last two days.

Day Five The intensity was felt at the Cloud 9 tower during every heat yesterday as spectators cheered for their favorite surfers throughout Rounds 4 and 5 of the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup. At the end of Day 5, 8 surfers remained for the manon-man quarterfinals and afterwards, a champion will be declared by the day’s end.

Quarterfinalists are as follows: Heat 1: John Mark Tokong vs Martin Taniegra Heat 2: Piso Alcala vs PJ Alipayo Heat 3: JayR Esquivel vs Edwardo Alciso Heat 4: Carlito Nogalo vs Philmar Alipayo When the buzzer signaled the start of Heat 3 of Round 4, Piso Alcala instantly took control, executing flawless barrel rides, powerful snaps and cutbacks against fellow Siargaonons Warren Figuron and Glenn Figuron. Alcala ended up posting a combined heat score of 17.50 (out of a possible 20 points), the best combined heat score total of Round 4 and the highest of the contest so far.

Alcala has been preparing himself for this year’s National Surfing Cup by doing cardio workouts and stretching every morning and afternoon. Another local favorite, overall nice guy and last year’s National Champion John Mark Tokong wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in his heat against John Louie Farinas from Zambales in Round 5. Tokong posted a score of 11.50, his overall best average so far, to secure his spot in the Quarterfinals, by taking to the air on numerous occasions while Farinas struggled to find any big scores.

In a battle of East Coast versus the West Coast, regular footer Neil Sanchez from Baler (Aurora) versus goofy footer Jay-R

Esquivel from San Juan (La Union) put up remarkable performances during their Round 5, Heat 5 match-up.

Esquivel took advantage of the Cloud 9 lefthander by scoring a deep tube ride and then some well executed turns. Sanchez battled back with barrels and aerials on his forehand, impressing the judges with his performance. However, during the final minute of their heat, Esquivel used his priority status to hold off Sanchez who just needed a small score to progress.

Esquivel ended the heat with a 10.90 total to Sanchez’s 8.80 total, securing himself a spot in the Quarterfinals.

Finals Day Philmar Alipayo, despite nursing a previous back injury emerged as the champion in this year’s 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup. This writer got the opportunity to talk to Philmar before his heat started and he said frankly, that he wasn’t too excited because of his back injury.

“My performance could be dampened by the injury.” he added. Injuries aside and wishing him the best, we watched him walk down the legendary boardwalk to the lineup for a free surf session.

The final day of the competition started off in the morning with the Quarterfinals, where Philmar started off his campaign for the top spot on the podium in Quarterfinal 4, having a face off with local surf legend Carlito Nogalo. The horn had barely quieted after sounding the start of the heat when Philmar nabbed the first set wave and locked himself into a long, deep barrel then exited cleanly and added a roundhouse cutback and

Making Waves

in Phl Surfing History

a few more turns to earn a whopping 9.0 score from the judging panel.

He then prowled the lineup catching waves under Carlito’s priority and soon had Carlito needing a combination of scores to overtake him, which Carlito never did, so when the horn signaled the end of the heat, Philmar won with a score of 16.00 points (out of a possible 20) against Carlito’s 8.00 point score total.

“The waves were small so when a set comes, you really need to get it. I was really lucky I got that wave. I was already eyeing that one even while Luke was still announcing the sponsors so right when the heat started, I was able to get it. It’s a big advantage when you catch a good wave like that at the start of the heat.), said Philmar.

It was a battle between north and south as La

Union pride Jay-R Esquivel and local favorite Eduardo Alciso put on an amazing heat, exchanging aerial after aerial, tube ride after tube ride and power snaps in between, exchanging the lead multiple times.

At the 5 minute mark with Eduardo in the lead and Jay-R holding priority, Jay-R spotted a clean wave coming towards him so he took off, gained speed and then launched

a 180 pop shuvit, switching his foot stance in the middle and landing cleanly. The judges rewarded Jay-R with an excellent 8.00 wave score (out of a possible 10 points) which was just enough for him to regain his lead and win the heat.

After a four-hour break, the first semifinal heat started with Piso Alcala against John Mark Tokong, followed by Jay-R Esquivel versus Philmar Alipayo. Spectators were starting to line up along the boardwalk and fill the Cloud 9 tower to witness the best Filipino surfers battle it out for the finals.

When the horn sounded the start of the first semifinal, Piso Alcala posted a massive 8.25 score after getting deeply pitted in a clean barrel, and then John Mark Tokong took the second wave, throwing snaps and roundhouse cutbacks.

After regaining his priority, Piso played the waiting game against John Mark,

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UP AND ABOUT

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

Huawei launches Nova 2i

By BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO THERE’S LITERALLY NOTHING THAT CANNOT BE DONE. In all fairness, at this day and age, everything becomes possible. And this extends to smartphones — more than just a mode of communication, smartphones have become a lifestyle that covers more than just the basics.

Introducing the bigger, better and faster Huawei Nova 2i. Last October 16, 2017, friends from the media were given first dibs on Huawei’s newest addition to their growing mobile phone selection. In cooperation with Wiltelcom, biggest distributor of tech and mobile supplies, the unboxing was greeted with a resounding oohs and aahs of amazement.

The Media Launch provided everyone a chance to use and experience the Huawei Nova 2i. From taking selfies to groufies, everyone saw the many reasons why the Huawei Nova 2i is one formidable smartphone to watch for.

Borderless Display

The Huawei Nova 2i has a 5.9” FHD+ IPS display. In other words, a full view display that extends display and gives the user full screen view despite its small body and frame.

With such, user has more area to play, browse and an even better screen resolution in one glance.

Also perfect for readers, writers and anyone whose daily grind involves the use of a mobile phone.

What’s more, the bigger display allows for an additional section for more apps.

Four Cameras: Dual Camera and Flash for front and back It has four cameras!

Yes, that’s right. With four cameras, you get a

natural Bokeh effect — meaning, an accurate blurred edge for that perfect captured moment every single time. With the Huawei Nova 2i, capturing photos like a professional is now easy. With its quad camera, it can take good photos even in low light conditions.

High Performance: Huawei Kirin 659 and Machine Learning Algorithm The Huawei Nova 2i has a Kirin 659 and Machine Learning Algorithm thus making it more powerful, faster and more responsive than any other smartphones on the market. With this, it

has an impressive performance that ensures that your phone runs smoothly with lower power consumption.

The phone’s Kirin 659 helps the device to ensure phone battery lasts longer while MLA allows the customer to enjoy the best multitasking experience.

With Huawei’s fast

and innovative perspective, their new addition to their roster of excellent mobile phones is surely something you’d want to have. More than just a phone, it goes beyond your basic needs and provides for a plethora of features not available in any other brand of mobile phones.

PEF receives land donation from generous family

Skreme for more this October

DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES -- The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) recently received a 23-hectare land in Moncayo, Compostella Valley. This property was donated by the Yap family to honor the memory of their parents, Sammy and Alice Yap. The Yap family is based in Iloilo.

For years, the family had been wondering what to do with their property and how to leave a lasting legacy for their parents. Watching a documentary (Agila: Laban ng Lahi) about the Philippine Eagle and the people who are working to save it made up their minds.

Soon the family made contact and turned over the property.

The Yap family’s only caveat was that the land be put to good use in pursuit of Philippine Eagle conservation. Melanie, Sammy and Alice Yap’s grandchild, added, “may the land serve its God given purpose and its residents or those who dwell in it continuously give God the glory.”

The new property is seen to be the Foundation’s future satellite breeding facility.

Philippine Eagle Foundation Executive Director, Dennis Salvador stated, “Given current threats to captive populations such as disease outbreaks and natural calamities, this new asset will help

address our plans to secure and isolate breeding populations not only of Philippine Eagles but other endangered raptors. We are truly grateful to the Yap family for this generous donation.”

The Philippine Eagle Foundation currently houses 34 eagles and 14 other species in the 8-hectare area of the Philippine Eagle Center.

HALLOWEEN IS CREEPING UP and there’s no better companion than your favorite doughnut! Starting October 20, visit the nearest Krispy Kreme store and “If you declare with your bring home Pumpkin, Green Frankenstein, Worms, mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe Skeleton, Spider Web and the Halloween Sprinkle! in your heart that God raised him While indulging in that bite, join in the fun at all of from the dead, you will be saved. Krispy Kreme’s Halloween activities from October 28 For it is with your heart that you to 31. On October 29, visit Krispy Kreme at Bonifacio believe and are justified, and it is High Street for a Halloween Trick or Treat. with your mouth that you profess For more details on all the activities, visit Krispy your faith and are saved. As Scrip- Kreme’s social media accounts. Make sure to share ture says, ‘Anyone who believes in your #KrispyKremeMoment and #KrispysKremes him will never be put to shame.’” with us. Tag us on our social media accounts and who knows...we might just have a surprise for you!!

Romans 10:9-11

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who badly needed a 7.35 score to take the lead. But the rising tide and lack of waves worked against him, so when time ran out, Piso won the heat by posting a total heat score of 14.00 against John

Marks 12.60.

Piso Alcala and John Mark Tokong have both been winners in past national and international Siargao surfing competitions. Back in 2014, Alcala won the National surfing contest, while

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EDGEDAVAO Tokong was still in the Junior division. In 2015, Alcala and Tokong went head-to-head during the WSL WQS Siargao International Surfing Cup and Tokong came home the winner.

The second semifinal heat saw a pitched battle of goofy footers, with JayR Esquivel from La Union up against Siargao’s top surfer Philmar Alipayo.

Esquivel, who was also in the semifinals last year, had a good start during the heat, scoring a 5.75 in his first wave, while Philmar Alipayo, having the home court advantage, was waiting for a wave to answer back.

The intensity of the heat came when Philmar scored a 6.75, utilizing his backside power on the righthander to jump into the lead. Esquivel replied back with combinations of turns on his next wave, regaining his lead with less than 10 minutes left.

Philmar then exploded into action with a series of hard-hitting snaps then following it up with a huge frontside 360 air.

In the dying minutes of the heat, Esquivel took off and tried one of his patented 180 pop shuvits but failed to land it. Philmar won with a total score

of 13.25 against Jay-R’s 12.60.

The finals went down under gloomy and drizzling afternoon skies with Piso Alcala and Philmar Alipayo, the last two surfers remaining out of 186 competitors registered for the first Philippine Surfing Championship Tour leg, gunning for the top spot on the podium, a milestone for the two best surfers in the country.

Philmar started out aggressively initiating a paddle battle against Piso to jump into the lead. Piso tried to answer back but failed to complete his maneuvers, so Philmar went back to work with several high flying aerials on the

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left hander of Cloud 9 to leave Piso struggling to catch up.

Philmar was on fire, later raising the tempo even further by landing a massive 180 pop shuvit going left, earning him with an almost perfect score of 9.35 (out of a possible 10 points), the highest single wave score of the competition, sealing his victory with a final combined heat score of 17.85 against the 13.25 held by Piso.

“I never thought that I would be able to complete the last trick but I just trusted that I would.

Thank you to all my supporters, my friends and PSCT. See you next in

Lanuza.” said Philmar.

Patterned after the World Surf League, the PSCT is the country’s first-ever and only professional surfing tournament where surfers from all over the Philippines will gather and tour around different surf spots to earn points and battle for a spot in the national ranking.

More than competition, PSCT hopes to unite surfers from Luzon to Mindanao and promote a sense of “ohana” in the Filipino surfing community. Only through working together can we make the dream of making world champions a reality.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

NEWS 11

AFP issues alert anew Phoenix Petroleum to acquire vs ISIS movement

T

HE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has alerted all military units to monitor the presence of Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired groups in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

This was disclosed on Monday by Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, newly-installed AFP chief-of-staff, citing terror threat still exists in the country.

Guerrero was here for his

first command visit after he assumed as the new and 49th AFP chief-of-staff on Thursday, October 26.

“Before the Marawi (fighting broke out), we have already monitored that they are moving around the country,” Guerrero disclosed.

“It is highly possible that they have been able to go around to other areas as well,” he added. (PNA)

203 government employees.

Around 77,468 anti-illegal drugs operations were conducted by joint law enforcement agencies during the period.

As of October 25, 2017, the consolidated report showed that 3,967 drug suspects have died during operations while 86 were killed in action and 225 wounded from the law enforcement agency during the anti-illegal drugs operations.

Aside from PDEA, agencies involved in the anti-illegal drugs operations are the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) among others.

Law enforcement agencies rescued 589 minors during anti-illegal drugs operations from July 2016 to October 25, 2017.

According to the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD), those rescued minors, after court proceedings, will be endorsed to the Bahay Pagasa centers of local government units (LGUs) within eight hours of police custody, before turning them over to the DSWD centers to undergo counselling to help reform them back to society.

Since they are minors, DSWD said they would not be put in prison together with hardened criminals.

After being designated

by President Duterte as the lead agency in the ongoing war on drugs, Aquino said PDEA will focus on high-value and high-impact targets as it strengthens its resolve to win the country’s war against illegal drugs.

Aquino called for an intensified campaign against the drug menace by conducting quality anti-illegal drug operations through the arrest of priority high-value targeted drug personalities.

The PDEA chief said that all operating units were given instructions to observe the following operational thrusts: 1) identification and dismantling of clandestine shabu laboratories; 2) arrest of high-value targets; 3) prioritization of court duties; ensuring conviction and incarceration of drug

personalities; 4) bolstering competencies and capabilities of PDEA personnel; 5) strengthening of agency’s internal cleansing program; and 6) reformation of drug users.

“One of the agenda would be the strengthening of PDEA’s internal cleansing program through continued internal counter-intelligence efforts and lifestyle checks among our ranks to maintain the Agency’s integrity and moral ascendancy,” Aquino said in a statement.

PDEA is also pushing for the establishment of community-based drug reformatory centers as after-care shelters for thousands of drug surrenderers nationwide.

“We need to establish refuges to usher thousands of drug surrenderers on the road to recovery. These centers have the capacity to rebuild their shattered lives and make themselves whole again,” he said.

Aquino said PDEA is cognizant of the challenges posed by the enormity of the country’s drug problem in the Implementation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002.

“Though undermanned, underequipped and inadequately funded, PDEA will deliver tangible results, even more than is expected of us,” the PDEA chief noted.

The PDEA chief assured a less bloody anti-drug war and adherence to the rule of law in performing its mandate.

“From body-worn cameras to accompanying media presence, these would ensure a culture of transparency in our day-to-day operations in the streets,” he said.

With only 1,038 agents, Aquino said the agency would coordinate with the DILG and local government units for the continuation of drug-clearing efforts in barangays.

“The obvious lack of personnel is indeed a point of concern since our presence is only on the regional level and with some skeletal provincial offices. But we will closely link up with the barangays for the continuation of the barangay drug-clearing program,” he said. (PNA)

172 shabu... FROM 10

Philippine FamilyMart P

HOENIX Petroleum Philippines, Inc. (PSE:PNX) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire Philippine FamilyMart (PFM), the third largest convenience store brand in the country.

The MOU was signed on October 30, 2017 between Phoenix Petroleum and SIAL CVS Retailers, Inc. (a joint venture between ALI Capital Corp. of Ayala Land, Inc. and the SSI Group, Inc.), FamilyMart Co., Ltd.,

and Itochu Corporation, for the planned 100% acquisition of PFM. The acquisition will be subject to the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission.

Phoenix Petroleum’s potential acquisition of PFM complements its retail fuel business, with 518 stations nationwide, and marks its entry into the fast-growing domestic convenience retail market.

“Philippine FamilyMart has built a reputation for convenience and fresh,

quality offerings. We are pleased to have it as a strategic addition to the group as we broaden our products and services and offer greater convenience to our customers,” said Phoenix Petroleum President and CEO Dennis Uy. PFM is engaged in operating convenience stores under the trademark “FamilyMart” in company-owned and franchise-owned formats in the Philippines. It offers a range of products and ser-

vices including ready to eat or fast food items, convenience store items, auto-loading, bills payment, and ATM services. PFM currently has 68 stores in Luzon.

Phoenix Petroleum is the leading independent oil company in the Philippines, engaged in the trading and marketing of refined petroleum products, including LPG, and lubricants, operation of oil depots and storage facilities, hauling and into-plane services.

violent extremism during the Marawi crisis.

“Japan was most understanding of the challenges that we faced back then, and we appreciate their timely assistance in addressing the threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” he said.

The President will also tackle with Abe ways to significantly advance the strong and strategic bilateral partnership between the Philippines and Japan, especially on matters in-

volving socio-economic development, peace and progress in Mindanao, and the build-up of modern infrastructures in our country.

Discussion will include the tariff on the Philippines products exported to Japan.

The President wilI also be meeting Japan’s business and industry leaders in Tokyo.

Duterte is counting on Japanese investors’ significant interest in the country’s efforts to sustain growth. (PNA)

er, and increase per capita consumption, we have, and will need to further lower our prices in Japan. We probably can’t lower our costs by 40 percent, although higher productivities will help, as will a weaker peso on this end,” he said.

“The real silver bullet, however, will be to get the Japanese import duties on Philippine bananas reduced,” he said.

In his Facebook post on Saturday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol said among the issues that will be taken up between Duterte and Abe is the request of fruit producers from the country to lift all tariffs on banana, pineapple and mango.

Among the issues expected to be discussed by President Duterte with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is

the request of Filipino fruit producers for Zero Tariff for banana, pineapple and mango.

“However, Ecuador, a major banana producing country, has been given Zero Tariff for its bananas exported to Japan allowing it to eat into the market share of the Philippines,” he said.

Piñol added the Philippines used to dominate the Japanese banana market but Ecuador is making “inroads into the Japan banana market because of the Zero Tariff privilege it earned.”

“While Japanese consumers, according to surveys conducted, prefer Philippine bananas, trading companies are starting to shift to Ecuadorian bananas because of economic considerations,” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

the park) and Hanoi, Vietnam (visited the famous Halong Bay, a World Heritage).

Other international conferences brought me to Bogor, Indonesia (where I had to fly to Jakarta first), Siem Reap, Cambodia (an opportunity of going to the famed Angkor Wat), and Phuket, Thailand (a city that was once

devastated by tsunami).

“You are living the dream which most of us want to experience,” my friend, Gabriel Paolo Morales told me the other night (that conversation led me to write this piece). “It’s not so often that someone like you will ever experience the kind of opportunity you have.”

The competition, which is co-organised by the ASEAN Foundation and multinational software company SAP, is aimed at promoting awareness and appreciation of the ASEAN community amongst young people through digital literacy. Students who registered for the program earlier in 2017 were given access to ASEAN data as well as SAP Analytics Cloud platform, which allowed them to better analyze the data and derive meaningful insights. The initiative encourages participants to deliver data-driven insights which highlight issues in ASEAN across six United Nation Sustainable Development Goals, namely (1) good health and well-being, (2) quality education, (3) gender equality, (4) clean water and sanitation, (5) decent work and economic growth, and (6) sustainable cities and communities.

“This is the inaugural year in which we are conducting this competition, in partnership with SAP, and we are pleased to see high rates of registrations and submissions of ideas from students in Philippines. Following a stringent judging process, both the ASEAN Foundation and SAP selected the top 10 teams from the Philippines to present at the national finals held today.

Many of the ideas proposed to us today were interesting and insightful, and I hope that these youths will continue to develop their passion and ideas to drive the ASEAN Community towards a sustainable future together,” said Elaine Tan, the Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation.

Team “VizziePeople,” comprising students Miguelito Tolipas and Alexis Glenn Espina from University of the Philippines College of Business Administration in Diliman, bagged the national finals champions title for the Philip-

pines. Meanwhile, Team “Neophyte,” composed of Laurenth Krishtel Roxas and Adelyn Labine from Malayan Colleges in Laguna; and Team “D’Papis” composed of Jay Mark Butalon and Tristan Gabriel Bal from Mapua School of Information Technology came in second and third, respectively.

“Our presentation focused on the development of sustainable cities and communities. We decided to delve on this topic because we believe that there is still so much to be done to achieve it. Getting the necessary insights on how we can help make cities more sustainable is vital not just for the Philippines, but for all of ASEAN,” said Miguel Tolipas of the winning team. “SAP Analytics Cloud platform allowed us have a macro perspective to better appreciate this issue. With the insights that we gained, we were able to come up with concrete recommendations to the Philippine government that can also be applied to other countries in the region.”

“I am happy to serve as one of the judges for the ASEAN Data Science Explorers National Finals. This initiative is a good exposure for our students to experience the rigors of international competition while learning the discipline of data analysis and reporting.

Students are also able to tackle very relevant issues that impact the development of countries in the entire region and around the world,” said Carlos Mayorico E. Caliwara, Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff, Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Team “VizziePeople” will represent the Philippines in the ASEAN Data Science Explorers Regional Face-Off in Jakarta on November 23, where they will compete with the national winners from nine other ASEAN member states.

Trade... FROM 5

Japan... FROM 5

BIGGER PICTURE... FROM 14

6 Filipino... FROM 7

12 NEWS Health... FROM 3 ry School in Cagayan De Oro, Carreta Elementary School in Cebu City, Urdaneta South City Central Elementary School in Pangasinan City, Highway hills Integrated Elementary School in Mandaluyong City and in Rafael Palma Elementary School in the City of Manila.

Amway has budgeted millions in organizing the health run. “As you see we are the most affordable Fun Run because we are not here for profit, it is not about profit it is about creating awareness for healthy, active lifestyle, creating awareness for the Power of five, as a matter of fact some of the proceeds of this fun run will go to the Power of Five campaign,” said Olmedo.

There were only two leg for this year’s health run. The Manila health run happened last October 15 and was participated with more than 12,000 people. Here in Davao there we have about 2,000 which is a pretty good number is considering the martial

law.

screenings in order to stop the pest.

At the moment, authorities are scrambling to find a

Tilapia... FROM 5

Amway wants to promote awareness of having a healthy active lifestyle. In this year’s health run it covers four categories - 1k, 5k, 10k and 21k respectively for both Manila and Davao. “You choose your run, so if you’re just starting out to have a healthy, active lifestyle you can start with 1k,” said Olmedo.

This is the first time that Amway’s health run has 21k because they are celebrating their 20th anniversary. “we wanted to make sure that for those you ran 10 k with us last time, if they wanted to stretch it like me I also stretched (the number of kilometers), it is my first time to run 21k,” said Olmedo.

In organizing the event, Amway said the challenge was ensuring the safety of the people. Amway didn’t push through with the Cagayan de Oro Health Run this year for safety reasons.

“We decided that if we

were going to partner with any company at all that is already known for conducting safe runs and for making sure that people are enjoying the runs as well then we decided to partner with Run Rio because this is the first time that we will do a 21k run,” said Olmedo.

They also tapped the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Task Force (TF) Davao, City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (CTTMO) to ensure the safety of the participants. “ It is actually a part of the safety and security protocol of a Fun Run and we have been actively partnering (with them) ever since we conducted the Health Run,” said Olmedo Meanwhile, Amway is planning to have a Christmas campaign for Marawi. “ We will have our Christmas campaign for the refugees from Marawi. If it is safe then we will go in Marawi if not then we will go to Iligan to conduct

(our Christmas campaign),” Olmedo.

They already have funds allocated for Marawi, and they also started to provide for Marawi. “But for December this will be our big thanks giving or our Christmas initiative with them,” said Olmedo.

Meanwhile, Nutrilite is exclusively distributed by Amway Philippines. “This year we have launched the power of five of Nutrilite, so our campaign for our CSR is moving from one by one campaign to the power of five,” said Olmedo.

The Power of five is a realization that the most critical age for children to get the full nourishment to grow and develop properly is their first five years of childhood. “So if you don’t have the appropriate balance of micro nutrients, their growth will stagnate so there is an attention or the focus to provide proper nutrition to the first five years,” said Olmedo.

solution before the summer wet season when there’s a high chance the tilapia will increase their numbers.

“Biosecurity Queensland staff are working with local landholders and stakeholders to first assess the extent of the

spotted tilapia population in the Walsh River, which will inform practical control options,” QDAF said. (Xinhua)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

BINOS LENDING CORPORATION, -versus-

EDGEDAVAO

EJF-REM CASE NO. 16,472-17

LEOPOLDO A. ALIA and VEVENCIA Y. ALIA, Mortgagor/s.

X--------------------------------------------------------------------------------X NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF Davao City

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROV’L SHERIFF: (Sgd.) TERESITA M. CEBALLOS Sheriff IV Noted by: (Sgd.) ATTY. FRANCISCO M. CAMPANER Clerk of Court V OIC - Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (Edge Oct 24, 31 and Nov. 7, 2017)

Jaafar, who is also MILF 1st vice chair, said that if the draft BBL gets approved

by Congress, “it will erase the doubt on the peace process” and counter the “extremism” that feeds on the the frustration of the Moro people.

He added that the BBL reflects the diversity of interests of the Bangsamoro people, non-Bangsamoro indigenous people and secular communities, and is the new formula to attain elusive peace in Mindanao.

“The recent tragedy in Marawi City can only lead to isolation and public hatred over the extremists. We believe that what they have done to the people of Marawi City, they did it out of frustration. What our people need is a just and dignified peace. They need the promises of peace that the BBL offers,” he said. (MINDANEWS)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF Davao City

REXY B. MORTA married to JOSEPHINE A. MORTA Mortgagor/s.

X--------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

Davao City, Philippines, OCTOBER 18, 2017.

he will give the Moro people “the territories that they want and the kind of framework and governance that they expect with a reformation of all the things in the Philippines.”

The BTC, which comprises 11 members from the MILF and 10 from the government, submitted to the Palace on July 17 the new BBL draft which was transmitted to Congress on August 14.

During the turnover ceremony in Malacañang on July 17, BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar said the new draft BBL is the “best antidote of the violent extremism” in light of the Marawi siege that started on May 23 and ended five months after.

“We humbly submit this new proposed BBL. This is the best antidote to violent extremism that has wrought havoc in many parts of the Bangsamoro,” Jaafar said.

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JIMYMA M. JOVENAL (SINGLE), Mortgagor/s.

X--------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the above- described real property and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

take down the video because it will ruin the reputation of their family.

If found guilty of the charges, Retes could be suspended or dismissed from the service, Almasa told reporters.

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND OR PAG-IBIG FUND, EJF-REM CASE NO. 16,443-17 Mortgagee, -versus-

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND OR PAG-IBIG FUND, against JIMYMA M. JOVENAL (SINGLE), with postal address at LOT 28, BLK. 38, DECA HOMES SUBD., BARANGAY CABANTIAN, BUHANGIN, DAVAO CITY, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness in the total amount of Php=748,402.42, Philippine Currency, inclusive of the interest and penalty charges as of June 15, 2017, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to 10% of the total indebtedness and other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale, the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on OCTOBER 26, 2017 at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City, to the highest bidder to CASH or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property mentioned and described below together with all the improvements found thereon, to wit:

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on DECEMBER 21, 2017 without further notice.

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the incident and uploaded it to Facebook. The recording went viral with 3,000 shares.

However, they removed the recording later after the wife of Retes went to their store and appealed to them to

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND OR PAG-IBIG FUND, EJF-REM CASE NO. 16,438-17 Mortgagee, -versus-

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended filed by the above-mentioned mortgagee against LEOPOLDO A. ALIA and VEVENCIA Y. ALIA, with postal address at PUROK 18, VERINO VILLAGE UPPER MINTAL, DAVAO CITY, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of August, 2017, the mortgagors has an outstanding balance of THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P300,000.00), Philippine Currency, still unpaid, plus attorney’s fees and liquidated that may then be due and remaining unpaid, but in no case to be less than 25% or Two Thousand Five Hundred (2,500) whichever is higher and other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of Regional Trial Court, Davao City; will sell at public auction on NOVEMBER 23, 2017 at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City, to the highest bidder for CASH and/or Manager’s Check and in Philippine Currency, the real property with all its improvements found thereon particularly described below, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 146-2009000022 “A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 25-C-1-E, PSD-11-061190,)XXX, SITUATED IN THE BARRIO OF TAKUNAN, CITY OF DAVAO, ISLAND OF MINDANAO. XXX CONTAINING AN AREA OF THREE HUNDRED (300) SQUARE METERS, MORE OR LESS.”

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 146-2011004104 “A PARCEL OF LAND (LOT 28, BLK 38, PCS-11-002129,XXX), SITUATED IN THE BARANGAY OF CABANTIAN, CITY OF DAVAO, ISLAND OF MINDANAO. XXX CONTAINING AN AREA OF EIGHTY ONE (81) SQUARE METERS, MORE OR LESS.”

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on NOVEMBER 23, 2017, without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the herein-above described real property/ies and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

FOR THE EX.OFFICIO PROV’L SHERIFF: (sgd.)ROBERT M. MEDIALDEA Sheriff IV

NOTED BY: (sgd.)ATTY. FRANSISCO M. CAMPANER Clerk of Court V

OIC-Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Prov’l Sheriff

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended filed by the mortgagee HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND OR PAG-IBIG FUND, against mortgagor/s Rexy B. Morta, married to Josephine A. Morta with residence and postal address at 482 Lopez Jaena St., Davao City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 1, 2017, amounted to (Php975,226.76) Philippine Currency, inclusive of the interest and penalty charges and other legal expenses incident to foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on OCTOBER 26, 2017 at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City, to the highest bidder to CASH or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property mentioned and described below together with all the improvements found thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 146-2015006982 “A parcel of land (LOT 22, BLK 3 of the subdivision Plan Psd11-107053 being a portion of lot 49, PCS-3076 AMD.), situated in the Barangay of Tacunan, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao, xxx Containing an area of Eighty Two (82) SQUARE METERS, more or less, xxx.”

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on NOVEMBER 23, 2017, without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the herein-above described real property and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017.

FOR THE EX.OFFICIO PROV’L SHERIFF: (sgd.)JAY C. ESPERANZA Sheriff IV

NOTED BY: (sgd.)ATTY. FRANSISCO M. CAMPANER Clerk of Court V

OIC-Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Prov’l Sheriff

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

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er wastes from the other landfills are diverted to this site.

Sarmiento said the inevitable closure of the Payatas dumpsite would mean an estimated 2,700 metric tons of solid wastes that need to be dumped elsewhere every day.

“That’s the amount of solid waste that goes to Payatas alone but Metro Manila actually generates at least 8,400 to 8,600 metric tons of garbage every day. That amount of garbage represents 25 percent of the solid waste that are actually collected all over the country per day. That doesn’t include the amount of garbage that end up in our rivers, creeks and streams, most of which find their way at the Manila Bay,” Sarmiento said.

(House of Representatives) Sarmiento said that Metro Manila’s garbage problem should already prompt Congress to impose stricter penalties against litterbugs and un-

segregated waste disposal and consider lifting the complete ban on the use of incinerators.

Sarmiento said that the ban against incinerators was imposed under the Clean Air Act on the basis of the old thermal treatment technologies but with the advent of more advanced incinerators that actually converts wastes to energy, Congress take a second look on this policy.

“We really have very little option when it comes to waste management. While the so-called ‘triple R’, which means reuse, reduce and recycle, remains the most effective solution to our garbage problem, we would still need some place to put our garbage. In the end, it’s a choice between excavating our mountains and turn them into sanitary landfills or embrace new technologies on waste management including the use of waste-to-energy incineration plants,” Sarmiento

said.

Sarmiento said the use of efficient and modern incinerators could also aid in President Duterte’s war against illegal drugs. These facilities are convenient tools in disposing seized illegal drugs and reduce the possibility of drug recycling which is allegedly a practice among rogue anti-drug operatives.

Sarmiento said that apart from providing an easy solution to Metro Manila’s garbage problem and an easy disposal tool for seized illegal narcotics, Sarmiento said that these “waste-to-energy” incineration plants could be turned into power generators and bring down the cost of electricity.

“We will be able to dispose our garbage without destroying our water table and at the same create power plants that can supply us with cheap electricity, “ Sarmiento said

The MICC is co-chaired by Dominguez and Secretary Roy Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The first batch of mining operations covered by the review are the 26 sites arbitrarily ordered either closed or suspended by the previous DENR leadership.

Considering that the MICC is mandated to conduct a review of mining operations every two years, Dominguez told his fellow members in the Council that they should start discussing in January next year the review plan for 2019, which should cover a different set of mine sites.

He projected that “after two or three cycles,” the MICC would

have already covered the review of all mining sites in the entire country.

“Because it took quite a bit of time to plan for the implementation of this (first review), and because we are mandated to do this every two years, I think, in January we should already be planning what we will do for 2019,” Dominguez said.

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NEWS 13 Lt. Gen. Guerrero orders troops to finish off remaining threats

EDGEDAVAO

N

EWLY-APPOINTED Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero ordered all troops to eradicate all threats to peace and security in the country.

In a statement Sunday, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said this move echoes President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to eliminate lawless elements following the liberation of Marawi City from the hands of the Maute group.

“Lt. Gen. Guerrero welcomes his new responsibilities with strong momentum from his leadership of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC), a similarly tall order given the area’s susceptibility from terror threats and insurgency,” Arevalo said.

Guerrero, who is concurrently EMC Commander, was

tasked to dismantle New People’s Army (NPA) bands that are concentrated in the Davao Region, Caraga Region, and Northern Mindanao.

At the same time, he was also tasked to curb the spread of violence and terrorism in his area of responsibility, especially during the Marawi City siege.

“The priorities in the area of peace and security are clear: finish the remaining terrorist groups, neutralize the communist insurgency threat, and support law enforcement against lawless armed groups,” Guerrero said in his assumption speech during the AFP change of command ceremonies on Thursday (October 26).

He also vowed to continue reform programs in the military, improve its capability, and revisit war-fighting doc-

trines in light of new “battlefield environments.”

“We will aggressively implement our modernization program and fast-track the procurement of advance weapons systems that provide cost-effective and precise target engagement, longrange and high-endurance unmanned systems, and modern air and naval platforms,” he said.

The new AFP chief also seeks to “refine internal processes including improvements on services and transparency and accountability of transactions”.

“My gratitude knows no bounds, and I think that the best way to show our President and our countrymen is to serve our country with selfless dedication and to lead the AFP with purpose,” Guerrero added. (PNA)

of Understanding (MoU) entered between the provincial government and Pionaire on August 2, 2017.

“Let me clear a few things.

The province has terminated relationship with Pionaire for several reasons,” Europa said.

Europa said the province

sent the notice terminating the MOU to Pionaire on October 25.

In an irrevocable notice sent to Pionaire with office address in Hong Kong and the Israel-based Watergen firm, Gov. Bautista stated that the province has no more interest

to pursue a definite agreement and/or incorporate a joint venture with Watergen and Pionaire.

Bautista asked both firms to desist from making unauthorized or warrantless representations for and on behalf of the province. (PNA)

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14 BIGGER PICTURE EDGEDAVAO

Living the dream

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

At Angkor Wat

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

B

REATHES there a man with soul so dead who never dream of going to various places in the world. To dream is one thing; to go those countries you dream is another.

But living the dream is the ultimate level.

I was still in high school when I have this itch of going abroad. I really wanted to see those places which I can only dream of. But I grew up in a middle-class family; my father is a mechanic while my mother is a homemaker. All in all, there are nine siblings.

So, it was impossible for me to go abroad – in those days. But the dream kept on coming. So much that when I was 25, I got my passport without any intention of going to another country.

Then, like a thief in the night, it happened. I was already working for a non-government organization where some of the staff where going to other countries to train farmers and interested groups of agricultural systems which earned my boss the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding (touted to be the Nobel Prize of Asia).

I was attending a journalism workshop at Los Baños, Laguna when the much-talked about journalist Juan Mercado approached me. He was one of the resource persons and head of the Press Foundation of Asia (another recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award).

During a break, Mercado asked me: “Do you have a passport?” I was totally surprised by his question but I quickly replied, “Yes, I have.” (Two months earlier, I got my passport.) Hearing those, he again asked, “Would you like to go Bangkok for another seminar?”

Don’t ask me what my answer was. A month later, I was already in Bangkok, Thailand – my first trip in another country.

I was already 26 years and I had the opportunity of going abroad and attending press briefing on food security in the region with other journalists from other countries.

I returned to Bangkok the second time when I was invited by the German embassy to attend a business expo. It was during October and one of the much-awaited events was the Oktoberfest. All invited journalists were requested to attend.

Before the party ended, there was a raffle contest for all visiting journalists. When my name was called, I got my prize: a winter jacket. How will I use it, I asked myself. I am from a tropical country! But just the same, I brought it home.

Without knowing it, I would be able to use it two months later. A week after my arrival,

I got an e-mail from my friend, award-winning journalist and author Don Hinrichsen, who asked me if I could co-author a paper on water and population.

To do it, it’s either he come to the Philippines or I go to the United States. Without hesitation, I begged him if we could do the latter. He approved.

Without much trouble getting my US visa, I was on my way to the land of milk and honey one December. My destination: New York, the city that never sleep!

Imagine yourself: a journalist who grew up in the Philippines without any idea on what winter was all about!

When we touched down at the JFK International Airport, I immediately joined the queue of foreigners at the immigration area. After asking some questions, the immigration official stamped my passport, gave it to me and said, “Welcome to the United States!”

Manhattan was a dream come true – a place that has been featured in several Woody Allen movies. The people are dressed to kill – as if they come out from a pictorial for fashion magazines.

The Central Park, Times Square, Radio City and that huge Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center – name it, I had seen them all.

After a week in Manhattan, I was on my way to my sister’s place. They picked me at the airport in Saint Paul and went straight to the Mall of America (yes, the biggest mall in North America). It was so huge that it takes about three days to roam around it.

I never had an opportunity of seeing snow in Manhattan (experienced only very cold while walking along the busy street), but staying in the house of my sister’s sister-in-law in Minneapolis was totally engrossing. I peeped from the glass window of the room where I was sleeping and I could see the pile of snow in the neighborhood (a scene I only saw before in Hollywood movies).

I stayed with my sister’s place in Hibbing (the city where Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan grew up) for more than a month.

In the morning of December 25, we woke up very early as we had to spend the Christmas in the place where her mother-in-law lived. While we were on our way, I could see the snowflakes dropping from the air. As if I could hear Bing Crosby crooning, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…”

Actually, it was my second encounter with winter. The first one happened in Durban, South Africa the previous year. I was attending the 13th International Conference on AIDS, where I had the pleasure of meeting two well-respected dignitaries: Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela and Hollywood actor Danny Glover.

Having no idea about Africa, I was totally surprised when I learned that South Africa has four seasons. I got to know it only when I read a magazine where it stated: “Winter Issue.”

So, when I got out together with my Filipino companions for a dinner, we were totally shocked with the kind of cold we experienced.

Winter is great but only for taking pictures and selfies. Seeing snow also get you of an idea of what white really is; it must be the reason why the Holy Bible used the words: “as white as snow.” If only winter is only for a week!

If you think I abhor winter, I like autumn better. It’s not so cold; it’s just like you are inside an air-conditioned room. Plus, seeing the various colors of the leaves: from green, they turn to yellow, then orange, then red and finally brown. “Are those leaves painting,” my niece asked me when she saw the pictures I took.

The best autumn experience I had was in Montreal, Canada, where I attended an international gathering of science journalists from all over the world.

It was October and maple trees were all over the city. And the trip going to Quebec was totally exhilarating as I saw the hues of colors along the lanes.

Aside from the Durban experience, I also attended two AIDS conferences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (yes, I scaled the Twin Towers) and Melbourne, Australia (where I visited its famous zoo).

Three International Coral Reef Symposiums brought me to Bali, Indonesia (ah, those famous beaches and noted Hindu temples), Fort Lauderdale, Florida (did some diving at the Biscayne National Park), and Cairns, Australia (who has never heard of Great Barrier Reef?).

As part of the prize in winning the competition of Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards, I was able to visit Beijing, China (I found out the scaling the Great Wall is not a walk in

FBIGGER PICTURE ,11

Autumn in Ohio

Scaling Great Wall of China

Winter time

With the famed New York City landmark

VOL. 10 ISSUE 151 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

CMO-Team Duterte tops Anflocor

C

MO-TEAM Duterte topped Anflocor, 81-58, in the resumption of its basketball friendly series following a long break on Saturday at the Genesis 88 Gym. Sec. Christopher “Bong” Go scored 35 points as the CMO-Team Duterte notched its ninth win in 14 games of the series.

The sweet-shooting special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte bullied the Anflocor defense with his

pull up jumpers and running jumpshots on top of seven baskets from behind the arc.

The win stretched CMOTeam Duterte’s series lead, 9-3. Two games ended to a draw.

Skipper To-Ong paced Anflocor with 22 points as Vistal and Plando had 13 and 11.

Eugene Labor chipped in 11 as Joel Aberilla and JR Rosal combined for 14 to help CMO-Team Duterte.

Real Madrid outplayed by Girona

G

IRONA fought back from a goal down to claim an astonishing 2-1 win over Real Madrid, inflicting serious damage on the capital club’s title defence.

The result means Zinedine Zidane’s side are now eight points adrift of pacesetters Barcelona at the top of the Liga table, but Real can have no complaints. Girona were the better side from start to finish, with goals from Christian Stuani and Portu giving the Catalans a famous win.

Isco gave the visitors an early lead, finishing from close range after Cristiano Ronaldo’s initial shot had

been fumbled by the goalkeeper. But Girona gathered themselves and were unfortunate not to equalise before the break, striking the woodwork twice as they pressed and probed for a breakthrough.

And it eventually came with a quick fire double in the second half, with Stuani firing home before Portu flicked home a clever backheel just moments later. From there, Real Madrid panicked, with Zidane shifting his team into an unfamiliar formation which only seemed to choke their creativity. This could prove to be a big moment in the 2017/18 La Liga season.

Girona players celebrate after scoring against Real Madrid

Hamilton takes fourth F1 title

A

N ecstatic Lewis Hamilton became Britain’s first four-time Formula One world champion on Sunday after fighting back from last place following an opening-lap collision with arch-rival Sebastian Vettel at the Mexican Grand Prix.

In a race won by 20-yearold Dutch prodigy Max Verstappen, in a Red Bull, the 32-yearold Mercedes driver finished ninth to cement his place as his country’s most successful driver of all time.

Vettel, the only man who could have delayed the seemingly inevitable, ended up fourth after starting on pole position and then dropping to 19th following a pitstop to replace a broken front wing.

Hamilton has an unassailable lead of 56 points with two races, worth a total of 50, remaining in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

“It doesn’t feel real. That’s not the kind of race that you want but I never gave up. I kept

going right to the end,” said a jubilant Hamilton, the British flag proudly draped over his shoulders.

He had raised both hands to his helmet as he took the chequered flag, with the crowd rising to applaud.

“Lewis has done a superb job all year and deserves to win the title,” said Vettel. “Congratulations to him. It is his day.”

Sunday’s race was both the best and worst of afternoons for the sport’s biggest star, who ended up sprinting down the pitlane chased by fans.

A winner nine times this season, including five of the six before Mexico, ninth was his lowest placing of the campaign and he did it despite having a badly damaged car at a track where overtaking is difficult enough anyway.

Hamilton’s team mate Valtteri Bottas finished second at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen third.

SHARPSHOOTER. Sec. Bong Go fired 35 poinbts for Team Duterte-CMO.

Helterbrand retires after 17 years in PBA H ALF of Ginebra’s famed “Fast and Furious” backcourt is set to hang up his sneakers.

JayJay Helterbrand has decided to retire after 17 highly successful years in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), all of them spent with the Ginebra franchise.

Helterbrand told CNN Philippines on Monday that Ginebra’s Game 7 triumph

against the Meralco Bolts last Friday, which clinched them the PBA Governors’ Cup title, marked his last game in the league.

“That would be my last game as a player,” he confirmed.

“I’ll still be around, and hopefully I can maybe have a spot as an assistant coach or something, but that’s later on down the line,” he added.

Enes Kanter of the New York Knicks dunks during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers (AFP Photo/Jason Miller)

A six-time PBA champion who won Most Valuable Player honors in 2009, Helterbrand teamed up with Mark Caguioa to form an exciting backcourt partnership for the Gin Kings.

His minutes have been steadily dwindling during the past couple of seasons, however, though he and Caguioa still receive ecstatic ovations whenever they enter the court.

The Finals MVP in Gine-

bra’s 2006 All-Filipino Cup win, Helterbrand said he has the full support of their management and even received business offers from their bosses. However, he intends to take a brief break from basketball.

Helterbrand signed with Ginebra in 2000 as a direct hire after a very brief stint with the Batangas Blades of the Metropolitan Basketball Association.

IM Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis combined for 66 points Sunday as the New York Knicks stunned the struggling Cavaliers 114-95 in Cleveland.

The Knicks notched their first win over the Cavs since October 30, 2014, ending a 10-game losing streak against the NBA Eastern Conference powerhouse.

Hardaway scored 34 points and Porzingis added 32 with 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who handed LeBron James and the Cavaliers a fourth defeat in eight days.

A day after falling to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Cavaliers looked lethargic as they fell behind by 18 points in the third quarter.

They trimmed the deficit to 94-88 on a James layup with 8:20 to play before the Knicks regained control.

Kevin Love again led Cleveland with 22 points and 11 rebounds. James added 16

points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Derrick Rose returned after four games sidelined by a sprained left ankle and scored 15 points against his former team.

In Indianapolis, Victor Oladipo drained the game-winning three-pointer with 10.3 seconds remaining as the Indiana Pacers downed the San Antonio Spurs 97-94.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points to lead perennial Western Conference contenders San Antonio, who have lost two in a row.

The Pacers led much of the game before the Spurs rallied to take a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“We just stayed poised,” said Oladipo, who finished with 23 points. “It’s a long game, there’s a lot of ups and downs. It’s a game of runs.

You’ve just got to lift each other up. We did a good job of that.”

Knicks stun Cavs T

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.10 10ISSUE ISSUE151 151••TUESDAY, TUESDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER31, 31,2017 2017

MARCHING ON HCDC Crusaders bag PCCL Escandor Cup

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

P

ROHIBITIVE favorite Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Crusaders marched on to the Mindanao Finals of the 2017 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) after coming through with a masterful 9270 conquest over the Agro Industrial Foundation College Sailors on Monday in the finals of the PCCL Escandor Cup city eliminations at the Davao City Recreation Center (Almendras gym).

The Crusaders, essaying the game plan mapped out by coach Isaias Gravador, went wire to wire in the winner-take-all finale opening with a 25-10 burst then coasted along to victory with a

comfortable margin unscathed.

The Crusaders actually did nothing special. They simply went for quality shot selection for a hiigher shooting percentage. With their shots falling, the Crusaders went to the locker room holding a 40-29 advantage at the half then cruised to a 71-45 gap after three quarters.

A mild rally got the Sailors to 60-83 early in the fourth but the Crusaders quickly doused cold water on the fightback with an 8-0 to practically shut down Rod Conda’s charges.

Quarterback Patrick Quidato led the Crusaders with 15 points and the tandem of Ian dela Cruz a n d wingm a n

Mark Francisco finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

The Crusaders thus punched a ticket to the Mindanao Finals on November 23-26 at the Davao City Recreation Center (Almendras gym). The team is composed of Renzo Galdo, Jhayston Oquias, James Linares, Almar Quiabang, Loy Unson, Bernard Guitierrez, Miguel Dumadag, Jim Yap, Kenn Gudes, CJ Gonzales and assistant coach Caloy Salvador.

The Sailors settled for second place and were led by Archi Escalantes’ 21 points and Jong Labastida’s 19.

The Royal Mandaya Hotel vice president Gerome Escandor awarded the trophies after the match.

In the battle for third, STI College of Davao took the third place trophy after a no-show Ateneo de Davao University.

TIGHT DEFENSE. A Holy Cross Crusader applies pressure on AgroIndustrial Foundation College playmaker.

Lean Daval Jr.

Warriors fall to Pistons

S

TEPHEN Curry believes the Warriors are close to being their old, dominant selves again, even if so much seems to be going wrong so far.

One night, it’s offensive rebounds surrendered. Another, it’s turnovers. Or, an all-out foul fest.

The defending champions are showing some serious flaws - and coach Steve Kerr is calling out his team to be far more composed.

Curry and Golden State got handed a second home defeat at this early stage of the season, falling 115-107 to the Pistons on Sunday night as Avery Bradley scored 23 points for Detroit. ‘’It just has to matter enough. Right now it just doesn’t seem to matter. Our guys are lacking in energy and focus and discipline,’’ Kerr said. ‘’We finally started caring with six minutes left when we were threatened and we immediate-

ly cut it to three because we cared. But the right team won, karma was in the right place tonight.’’

Tobias Harris hit a 3-pointer with 1:27 remaining that all but sealed it after Kevin Durant fueled a late Warriors rally.

Durant hit consecutive 3-pointers to get Golden State back within 101-94 then dunked the next time down to make it 103-96 with 4:40 to go before finding Thompson for a 3 on the next possession.

NO MAN’S LAND. Holy Crross of Davao and Agro-Industrial Foundation College players battle intensely inside the paint. Lean Daval Jr.