Edge10 issue179 December 8-9, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

TOUGH CRITERIA. ASEAN master trainer Chef Rene John Custodio of IChef Davao examines one of the entries of Christmas inspired cake contest during the school’s Global Skills 2017 Culinary Competition held at the activity center of Abreeza Mall on Thursday. Lean Daval jr

TERMINATED

Davao City drops local peace talks with NPA

By JUDIE VEGA and ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO, JR.

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he Davao City Peace Committee (DC-Peace) is changing its name to Davao City Peace Development Committee after President Rodrigo Duterte signed a proclamation on Tuesday declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as terrorists.

In a press brie�ing, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio explained that members of the Davao City local peace committee (DC-PEACE) decided to discontinue with the negotiations.

“The policy of the government is never and not to negotiate with the terrorists,” she said.

She said the declaration of President Duterte is ‘very sensitive.”

“You will be put in a sensitive and dangerous situation if you talk to a terrorist because you will be labeled as sympathizers or supporters of terrorists,” she said.

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PAL JETS FOR DELIVERY. Two shiny new Boeing 777-300ER, fresh out of Boeing’s manufacturing plant in Seattle, Washington, undergo a series of tests and inspections prior to delivery to Philippine Airlines (PAL). They are

scheduled to arrive Manila on December 16 and 19. The spacious and luxurious 777 – fitted with state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system – is expected to delight passengers on PAL’s long-haul flights. (Boeing photo)

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

TOP GUN. President Rodrigo Duterte administers the oath of office of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Rey Guerrero during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday evening.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

NBI to resume PH soldiers undergo anti-drug ops urban warfare training J A ustice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to join the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement agencies in anti-illegal drugs operations.

In Department Order No. 778 issued Wednesday, Aguirre granted NBI the authority to conduct investigation and case build-up for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Acts of 2002”.

“The NBI through its Director, Atty. Dante Gierran is directed to submit a monthly report to the of�ice undersigned on its current activities related to implementation of this order,” Aguirre said in his order.

This order revoked DO 670 dated October 13, 2017 which directed NBI to leave to PDEA all operations against illegal drugs.

On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a memorandum ordering the

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round 40 Filipino troops, some of them veterans of the five-month fighting in Marawi City, are now undergoing urban warfare training with their military counterparts in Singapore.

Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson, Army spokesperson, said the training started Monday and would end on December 15.

He added the training would concentrate on these

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lice (PNP) or a Private in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and equivalent ranks in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Public Safety College, Philippine Coast Guard, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority from P14,834 to P29,668, representing a 100% increase in the Base Pay effective January 1, 2018.

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ing was emphasized during the �ive-month campaign to neutralize the Maute-ISIS terrorists in Marawi City.

Troops tasked to �ight the terrorists had dif�iculty in eliminating the lawless elements who hid in the city’s concrete and high-rise buildings and used those positions in sniping, setting up of booby traps and improvised mines against attacking soldiers. (PNA)

amounts not commensurate to their annual salaries.

“For instance, there is one that we are investigating—in 1996 his annual salary was P80,000, he was able to buy a lot worth P40,000. Then in 1997, he (reported that his) annual salary was P126,000, he was able to buy a lot for P150,000. His annual salary is not even enough to pay for that lot,” Agabin said.

RIPS executive director Ray Gilberto Espinosa said his of�ice adds at least 10 more personnel covered by lifestyle checks every month.

“So we started actively initiating investigations last

January, so we are targeting around 70 plus by the end of the year,” Espinosa said.

The RIPS, which is the anti-corruption arm of the DOF, forwards cases for further investigation and resolution to either the Of�ice of the Ombudsman or the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

From January to September 2017, decisions were promulgated by the Ombudsman and CSC �inding several employees and of�icials of the BOC and BIR guilty of Grave Misconduct and Serious Dishonesty and �inding anomalies regarding the accomplishment and �iling of

their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) reports, the RIPS said in a recent statement.

In the administrative cases �iled by RIPS, the penalty of dismissal from the service was imposed on two (2) BIR employees and three (3) BOC employees which carried penalties of forfeiture of bene�its, perpetual disquali�ication to hold public of�ice and a bar to taking the Civil Service Examinations.

Judith G. Pacana, Chief Revenue Of�icer IV of BIR Iligan City was guilty of Serious Dishonesty and Grave

DOF eyes 70 execs for lifestyle checks

House okays pay hike T for soldiers, policemen

he House of Representives on Wednesday passed on 2nd reading House Joint Resolution No. 18, which will modify the existing Base Pay of around 381,381 military and uniformed personnel nationwide, House Appropriations Committee Chair Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles announced today.

The measure speci�ically raises the monthly Base Pay of a Police Of�icer (PO) I in the Philippine National Po-

topics: -Train the trainers training; -Subject matter expert exchanges on urban training facilities; and -Subject matter expert

exchanges on urban operations curriculum design.

“The trainings are twofold, they are going to teach us but we are also sharing what we experienced and learned from Marawi campaign. Learning in this kind of environment, we will be able to enhance our capacity and capability,” Tiongson said.

The Army’s need for more urban warfare train-

he Revenue Integrity Protection Service of the Department of Finance is targeting lifestyle checks on at least 70 more employees in the main of�ice and its attached agencies such as the Bureaus of Customs and of Internal Revenue before yearend, in line with the Duterte administration’s goal of weeding out corruption in government.

According to DOF Undersecretary Bayani Agabin, who oversees the RIPS, the investigation covers of�icials and employees who have acquired real estate and personal properties with

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New trustees take DCCCII’s top posts

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OUR of five newly-elected members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the award-winning Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. are first-timers.

And except for the position of chairman to which incumbent Antonio T. dela Cruz was reelected, all of�icers of the DCCCII for the year 2018 are new, starting with Arturo M. Milan as president.

This was bared by Robert “Boyet” Quinto, chamber past president, who headed the election committee supervising both the election of members of the board of trustees (BOT) and later the of�icers Saturday, last week.

The new BOT members are Anastacio “Jun” D. Cubos Jr., a retired Aboitiz executive and now an entrepreneur in renewable energy, who topped the BOT election; Al D. Balagot, a certi�ied public accountant; John Carlo B. Tria, an entrepreneur and business consultant who writes a business column in Edge Davao and the Manila Bulletin; and Marilou W. Ampuan, owner of a travel and tour company, who is also a

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BALAGOT

MILLAN TRIA

DELA CRUZ

TORRES

CUBOS

AMPUAN

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4 NEWS

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P50-B DPWH budget cut scrapped: Nograles

H OUT OF MIND. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures as she announces the termination of local peace talks with rebel groups

Mayor bans employees from soliciting Xmas gifts

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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avao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio urged businessmen and individuals to report immediately to the police if they will be given Christmas solicitation by anybody using the name of any of�ices of city hall.

Duterte-Carpio said the act of an individual soliciting money using the name of any of�ice of the city government even if he is not a city employee is considered swindling.

“If the person is not a city employee but he or she solicits money… I suggest to the person who receives the solicitation letter, to report it to the nearest police station for a possible entrapment operation,” she said.

Businessman Louie Cabandes bared to reporters there were people who alleged-

ly distributed solicitation letters in the business establishments along Rizal St. Extension.

He said these people identi�ied themselves as garbage collectors of City Environment and Natural Resources Of�ice (CENRO).

Cabandes said he immediately took picture on the letter but the person �led when he saw what Cabandes was doing.

He showed the letter to reporters which said “This is to introduce to the garbage collector in the collection of garbage disposal of your garbage, waste and dirt to wet.”

“In view Christmas Season, any gesture of love extent to the hardworking collector will bring of Christmas,” the letter said.

ith Christmas rapidly approaching, a waste and pollution watch group today drew attention to what each and every person or household can do to lessen what it calls the enormous holiday trash or “holitrash.”

At an event held at the Quirino Elementary School (QES) in Quezon City, the EcoWaste Coalition pointed out that the tons of “holitrash,” if not kept in check, would end up being disposed of in streets, waterways, dumpsites, incinerators, or in the oceans, which are already choking with plastics and trash. The group chose “Christmasaya kapag walang aksaya” as the perfect theme for the occasion.

“The volume of waste produced is expected to soar as people shop, party, dine and have fun during the joyful season. Sad to say, the throwaway culture is at its worst as the birth of the Redeemer is recalled and celebrated. In Metro Manila, for instance, per capita waste generation during Christmastime is estimated to rise from 0.7 kilo to 1.2 kilo,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

The most discarded items during the extended celebration of Christmas and New Year include paper and plastic shopping bags; all sorts of packaging materials; party wares, including single-use paper and plastic

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Households asked to cut‘holitrash’ W

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during a news conference with local reporters at City Hall on Thursday.

Lean Daval Jr.

ouse appropriations committee chairman Karlo Nograles on Wednesday said the proposed P50-billion cut in the 2018 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways for right-of-way acquisitions was scrapped following a bicameral meeting to break the impasse.

According to Nograles, the DPWH and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) told lawmakers that the proposed funding cut may adversely impact the administration’s massive infrastructure program, “Build Build Build.”

“We came into an agreement that the budget cuts that

were done by the Senate particularly on DPWH will no longer push through based on our meetings so that will not carry in the Bicameral Committee version,” Nograles said.

“I think Monday, the DBM and DPWH were able to explain very well that these were part of the Build Build Build program of the Duterte administration. And doing those cuts... will really affect the infrastructure program of the DPWH and the administration,” he added.

Nograles said the PHP50-billion budget cut would be whittled down to just PHP4 billion.

P50-B, P10

UCPB donates P11M for rural youth scholarships U CPB and its thrift bank subsidiary, UCPB Savings Banks, have donated P11.0 million anew to the scholarship program for children of needy coconut farmers.

The donation will help send 200 more children of coconut farmers from various coconut provinces to college and to technical-vocational school next school year 2018-2019.

UCPB has been supporting the scholarship program since it was launched 2003.

To-date, the program has awarded grants to 2,857 children of coconut farmers from 63 coconut provinces, 1,852 of whom took college courses and 1,005 underwent technical-vo-

cational training.

The program is being implemented by the UCPB-CIIF Foundation. UCPB, together with United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Co., UCPB General Insurance Co, United Coconut Chemicals, Inc. and the CIIF Oil Mills Group, formed the foundation in 1987 to undertake developmental activities primarily in coconut communities.

“Our donation af�irms the UCPB Group’s commitment

HOPING FOR FAT HAUL. A Mamanwa tribe elder starts his day with a cup of coffee while sitting inside his makeshift shanty before going

UCPB President and CEO-Higinio Macadaeg to pursue its social mandate to empower coconut farming families to improve their living condition,” UCPB president and CEO Higinio Macadaeg, Jr. said.

Mr. Macadaeg said graduates of the program are now providing �inancial support to

their families not only for their household expenses but also for alternative income-generating livelihood projects and the education of their siblings.

More than half or 1,732 of the scholarship recipients have

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around downtown Davao City to ask for Christmas gifts on Thursday.

Lean Daval Jr.

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6 ECONOMY

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

DCWD explains water service interruptions in different sites

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avao City Water District explains that the emergency water service interruptions experienced in different city parts are caused by series of power interruptions that have affected its water facilities.

DCWD’s production wells serving Dumoy Water Supply System (WSS) were �irst affected by an emergency power interruption on November 30, 2017 that caused low water pressure to no water in Bangkal, Ma-a, Downtown, Bucana, Obrero, Agdao, Cabaguio, Buhangin, Lanang, Pampanga, Sasa, and Panacan areas from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Unfortunately, this emergency water service interruption happened before the scheduled water service interruption that has been announced by DCWD

to take place from 9:00 AM of December 2 until 1:00 AM of December 3 for the interconnection of pipelines along Mamay Road in preparation for the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project of DCWD. Affected areas of this scheduled water service interruption that was extended until 5:00 AM of December 3 due to leaking in one tapping point were portion of J.P. Laurel Avenue, NHA in Buhangin, Portion of Cabaguio Avenue, Angliongto/Mamay Road, some Lanang, Pampanga, and Sasa areas, and ICSAMA in Panacan.

While water pressure was recovering particularly in far north and elevated areas, DCWD’s production wells in Bago Gallera were affected by

High coal tax imperils manufacturing growth

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epartment of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said it would be more challenging for the local manufacturing sector to achieve more than 10 percent growth target in the next few years as higher excise tax on coal looms.

Lopez told reporters that if the Senate’s version of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill would be enacted into law, the manufacturing sector would face higher power cost.

Under the upper house’s TRAIN bill, it will hike excise tax

on coal to PHP300 per metric ton by 2020 from the current PHP10 per metric ton excise tax.

“It will be a challenge, obviously. It will be a much higher cost for the power,” he said.

A large portion of cost in manufacturing is power.

During the National Exporters Conference on Tuesday, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is also the chair of Senate Committee on Energy, said that the Philippines had the highest electricity cost for industry, commercial, and residential rates among the ASEAN-5. (PNA)

Aboitiz Power to install 500 MW capacity online

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boitiz Power Corporation is set to add some 500 megawatts of attributable capacity in 2018, coming from the completion of several hydro and baseload plants in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

In a brie�ing to analysts last Tuesday, AboitizPower President and COO Antonio R. Moraza said the projects are on track and should be mostly online in the �irst half of 2018.

“The entry of these plants will signi�icantly support the country’s energy reserves and will show that the Philippines is open for business and investments,” Moraza said. “We have one of the most diversi�ied portfolios in the country and we continue to be on the lookout for opportunities to push our balanced mix strategy.”

Meanwhile, Moraza said AboitizPower expects to be able to make a �inal decision

SUSTAINING SUPPLY. A trader is on his way to deliver ice blocks to his customers who are mostly sidewalk vendors along San Pedro Street in

DCWD, P13 Davao City on a warm Thursday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

within the year on its Aseagas biomass power plant facility in Batangas that is currently under an extended shutdown.

“We are currently continuing our technical evaluation, and a write-off is a possibility,” Moraza said.

AboitizPower, with its partner SN Power, recently completed construction of the 8.5-MW Maris Canal hydro project in Isabela, while wholly-owned subsidiary Hedcor is wrapping up construction of a 68.8-MW hydro plant in ManoloFortich, Bukidnon.

The company is also completing the 340-MW ThermaVisayasbaseload power plant in Toledo City, Cebu and the 400-MW Pagbilao 3 baseload power plant in Quezon.

Aseagas said Monday that it prepaid its outstanding loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines in the amount of PHP2.368 billion. (PNA)

Royal Mandaya plans 25-story Third Tower T

First hotel with helipad

he Royal Mandaya Hotel (TRMH) will soon construct its third tower featuring a helipad for VIPs. three level parking space and commercial space.

“We are now preparing the third tower,“ Benjamen “Benjie” J. Banzon Jr., TRMH general manager said on the side of the blessing and inauguration of the renovated Kamayo restaurant, VIP room and ballroom and Christmas-lighting ceremonies of TRMH last week.

Banzon said they are targeting to build a 25-story tower that will house the best hotel rooms in Davao. He said the tower will also address

one of the weaknesses of TRMH which is the parking area.

“Because we will be putting three �loors depending on the requirements of having the numbers of rooms against the available slot for the parking,” Banzon said.

Currently, TRMH has 181 rooms and with the building of the third tower, Banzon said they looking to complete at least 300 rooms all in all.

“No timeline yet as we are

still studying the project currently,” Banzon said.

Earlier in July this year, the Escandor Group of Companies acquired also Royal House Travel Inn and Suites owned by the Nograles family.

The property, which is now named Davao Royal Suites and Residences was turned over to the Escandor group on August 1.

In three years, the property will turn into a modern skyscraper and become one of the landmarks of Davao City.

It will be developed into a mixed-use property composed of a hotel, condominium and commercial spaces.

Banzon said the group will

real estate service provider sees a rosier property market in Metro Manila by 2018, saying outlook on of�ice, retail, residential, and industrial sectors remains high as these continue to expand.

Santos Knight Frank Chairman and Chief Executive Of�icer Rick Santos said outlook on Metro Manila’s real estate market is more optimistic next year as the government’s infrastructure projects are expected to be rolled out, improving the business environment here.

He added that higher business con�idence is seen as post-ASEAN hosting effect,

since the government was able to project the opportunities in investing in the country.

Likewise, infrastructure funding deals and other key agreements forged by the government and of�icials from other countries who attended the ASEAN Summit are also expected to drive economic opportunities in the Philippines.

This will lead to stronger demand in property market, according to Santos.

“With deeper cooperation between the Philippines and East Asian neighbors such as China and Japan, prospects for the Philippines’ property

sector are stronger than ever before. Enhanced infrastructure projects and access naturally attract more institutional and private investments that, in turn, lead to accelerated countryside development and growth of secondary cities,” he said.

“We anticipate the of�ice, residential retail, and industrial sectors to grow further in terms of supply and activity, thanks to stronger regional trade and infrastructure cooperation,” he added.

For this year alone, of�ice space take-up is expected to reach over 600,000 square me-

maximize the height limit and if allowed will go for a 35-�loor building.

“We are still on our timeframe for three years. Now we are reviewing and analyzing.

The original plan is a mixed use development a combination of hotel, commercial and condo. Since we already agreed on that particular project we are now determining how much space are we giving for the condo, space for the hotel and space for the commercial area,” he said.

If plans do not miscarry, Royal Mandaya will become the most aggressive homegrown property development company.

ters, led by the demand in the information technology and business process outsourcing (ITBPO) sector.

For residential sector, around 52,000 residential units are scheduled for turnover in 2018.

More than 182,300 square meters of retail space are slated for turnover by the end of the year.

Santos noted that e-commerce is not seen to drag the demand in retail spaces in the Philippines, unlike in the United States where market for retail space faces challenges in the age of e-commerce. (PNA)

Real estate market seen‘rosier’in 2018 A

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ECONOMY 7

BSP chief: Economy not seen to overheat

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he total picture of the economy , whether its overheating or not, cannot be discerned only through credit growth.

This was stressed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. on Wednesday following rising concerns that the Philippine economy is starting to show signs of overheating.

In a WhatsApp message to reporters, the central bank chief said that “overheating happens when the present demands on the economy signi�icantly exceeds its present capacity to provide.”

This is “easy to say but always hard to discern since our economy is complex, with many moving parts,” he said.

He said “the economic machine itself is constantly being improved through good investments” and is always “subjected to outside shocks” thus, “one cannot jump to a conclusion just by looking at one or two bits of information.”

Espenilla said BSP of�icials

“have to strategically examine a whole lot of information to tell us how the overall economy is doing and, no less important, how should we respond if at all.”

“I can tell you that BSP spends a lot of time understanding the economy at any given point of time, developing a dynamic game plan, and executing effectively. So the economy doesn’t overheat! And we do this systematically and regularly. Every six weeks,” he added.

The central bank chief was referring to the regular assessment and rate-setting meet of the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB).

Espenilla said the Board had a two-stage evaluation process, Stage 1 of which involves the analytical assessment using data from the central bank’s Economic Research, Market Operations, as well as Supervision and Payments divisions.

He said the “Formal Management discussion, to �irm up an evaluation and recommendation to the MB, takes about three hours.” (PNA)

resident Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Dec. 5 expressed con�idence that he can count on overseas Filipino workers to be partners of government in providing a comfortable life to Filipinos.

“I am con�ident that you will remain steadfast partners of government in promoting the Filipino’s greatness in the international community,” the Chief Executive said in his speech as he graced the 2017 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards held at Malacañan Palace.

He urged OFWs to work hand in hand with the government in the endeavor to provide a more prosperous and comfortable life for their family and for the future generations of Filipinos.

“By working together, we shall build a Philippines where opportunities abound and citizens are empowered to realize their aspirations,” he said.

During his speech, the President also discussed the measures he implemented to improve the plight of Filipinos working abroad. (PNA)

IN THE INTERIM. A Christmas lantern store owner relaxes on a hammock while waiting for customers on a slow Thursday afternoon,

exactly 18 days before Christmas Day, along Tionko Avenue in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

LTO to issue license plates in March 2018

PRRD sees OFWs Winning bidder to deliver license plates as partners of gov’t P T Domestic trade volume up double digit in Q3 ‹17

Q

uantity of goods traded in the domestic market in July to September period has increased by double digit this year compared to the same period in 2016.

Philippine Statistics Authority data released Thursday showed that volume of domestic trade in third quarter of the year grew 18.9 percent to 4.86 million tons from 4.09 million tons in Q3 last year.

Food and live animals were the most traded commodities in Q3 2017 sharing 1.16 million tons or 23.9 percent of the total domestic trade in the previous quarter.

On the other hand, total value of �low of goods in Q3 2017

also went up by 3.3 percent to PHP154 billion from PHP149.1 billion in Q3 2016.

About 99.85 percent of the total value of trade was transported across the country via water, and the remaining 0.15 percent was through air.

Machinery and transport equipment accounted for the highest value of commodities traded within the country in Q3 2017 at 34.4 percent amounting to PHP53.1 billion.

Flow of machinery and transport equipment goods in the country for Q3 2017 was higher by 12 percent compared to its PHP47.3 billion trade value in the same period last year. (PNA)

In a statement Thursday, the LTO said it has issued a notice of award to the winning bidder in the procurement of license plates worth P978.8 million last December 1.

The winning bidder Trojan Computer Forms Manufacturing Corporation and J.H. Tonnjes E.A.S.T. GmbH & Co. KG Joint Venture will provide the performance security with the initial delivery of license plates scheduled sometime in March 2018.

“The LTO assures the pub-

lic that the agency is doing the best it can, in compliance with existing laws and regulations, to deliver the license plates,” LTO chief and Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said in a statement.

The delay in the issuance of license plates was caused by the temporary restraining order of the Supreme Court (SC) in June 2016 preventing the LTO and then Department of Transportation and Communications

(DOTC) from distributing 700,000 license plates turned over by the Bureau of Customs after the plates’ supplier-importer failed to pay the required customs duties.

The 2013 procurement of motor vehicle (MV)/ motorcycle plates, which covers the supply of license plates from 2‎ 0142018, was questioned before the courts and the Commission on Audit which remains pending to date.

“Thus, when the present administration came in July 2016, there was no budget allocation for procurement of license plates for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Unconvinced that the procurement of license plates is dependent on the resolution of

he Joint Foreign Chamber in the Philippines on Wednesday urged Congress to complete legislation procedures that would resolve traf�ic and congestion crisis in the country.

“We urge Congress to complete its legislative procedures and approve the legislation on second and third reading at the earliest possible date, and recommend the President certify the measure as urgent to also speed up its passage,” JFC stated Wednesday.

It noted that both Senate

and House of Representatives have completed their reports and their bills are in line for discussion and approval in the plenary.

Aiming to resolve the worsening traf�ic in the country, particularly Metro Manila, the House of Representatives �iled House Bill 4334 or the Traf�ic Crisis Act of 2016 while the Senate proposed Senate Bill 1284 or the Traf�ic and Congestion Act of 2016.

“With the completion of the budget and the �irst tax reform package, the time to pass this important legisla-

tion is now,” the coalition of foreign business groups said.

“We are continually reminded of the very dif�icult traf�ic situation by the worsening congestion we experience daily during this Christmas month of December,” JFC added.

It also cited recent Uber report that Manila, along with Bangkok and Jakarta, has the worst traf�ic in Asia, while a Boston Consulting Group study showed that Manila is at risk of reaching standstill levels of congestion during peak hours by 2020, with a

he Land Transportation Office will start issuing license plates by March next year, assuring motorists it will proceed with the procurement in accordance with the law.

the cases involving the previous procurement, Asec. Galvante then requested for additional funds to be included in the LTO’s 2017 budget in the amount of PHP 400 million in order to proceed with the procurement of license plates,” the LTO said.

Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade approved the request and allocated PHP1 billion from the department’s budget for LTO’s procurement of license plates in November last year.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday urged Galvante to resign over the agency’s failure to release new license plates with an estimated backlog reaching 6 million. (PNA)

speed of less than 10 kilometers per hour.

JFC is composed of American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines, and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc. (PNA)

Congress asked pass law resolving traffic T

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

I

Early computer literacy

n this digital age, it is no question that computer literacy is a built-in advantage. The younger we learn, the better we go.

Children today grow up with gadgets as their constant companion. Today’s gadgets are the new toys to be exact. As long as kids can manipulate smart phones and tablets or play computer games, most parents allow them to just do their thing as if it’s the cutest and smartest thing kids can do. Give and take some disadvantages, the inevitable is that computers will dominate what today’s children will do when they grow up. Hence, we have to evolve with technology in a way that will develop the future generation in terms of computer literacy.

With this in mind, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is pushing for the Department of Educa-

EDGEDAVAO

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tion to include teaching code, also known as computer programming, in elementary schools which makes sense given the perception that the future will be driven by computers. From a mere “option” in senior high school under the Information and Communications Technology strand of the Technical Vocational Track, computer programming must be included as early as elementary and treated as essential as reading, writing, and arithmetic. According to Senator Pimentel, coding introduces children the important concepts such as logic and mathematics.

If teaching code to young children can be presented in a way that is both entertaining and educational, it develops a very vital life skill at an early age. By doing so, we produce graduates who are far better prepared to face the future.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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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) 09101864939 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 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

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hen we speak of evil Satan will be the pinnacle of it. In every culture and religion, we all believe that there is such a being which incite others towards hate and other ungodly actions. One of the beliefs that are shared between Christians and Muslims is the belief that there is such a being called Satan however, there are fundamental differences that are important for Muslims and NonMuslims to know about who Satan is and who he is not.

Satan is known in Islam as Shaytan or Iblis and they could be used interchangeably. The term may also denote the chief devil himself who tempted Adam and Eve or his followers from the demons as well.

SATAN IS NOT A FALLEN ANGEL A common belief among Christians especially is the belief that Satan used to be an angel until he disobeyed Allah.

However, this issue is clearer in the Muslim scriptures that Satan is not an angel because angels do not disobey Allah. Allah said in the Quran, “They do not disobey whatever they (the angels) are commanded to do and they only do what they are commanded to do.” Quran 66:6 Although sentient, Angels do not have their own free will. They were created to be very loyal to Allah and were given tasks that they do well without

C

ontrary to what most people think, there is enough food for everyone, according to the World Food Program. Unfortunately, one-third of all food is just wasted, said a study done by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

In the Philippines, for instance, we throw away 3.29 kilograms per year of food that could still be eaten. This was the �inding of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

In 2008 alone, the country wasted some 196,869 metric tons of rice. That total accounted for 12.2% of that year’s rice imports. The loss amounted to a whooping P7.3 billion. “With the same amount, more than 2 million Filipinos could have been fed,” someone commented.

Now comes a thought-provoking report from the Inter Press Service (IPS). It stated: “Believe it or not, the way to eradicate hunger from the face of the Earth is as feasible as it is handy. In fact, the current loss and waste of onethird of all food produced for human consumption would be just enough to feed the nearly one billion people who go to bed hunger every single night.”

As much as 1.3 billion tons per year of food is lost or wasted throughout the

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

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Satan deviating from it a little, so much more disobey. There are no bad angels so to speak. All of them are faithful servants of Allah from the Archangel Gabriel to the guardian of Hell, Malik, the angel of death, Malakal Mawt up to the last of the angels who are given different tasks.

So Iblis is something else. Satan is from the Jinn.

The Jinn are beings created by Allah who are also sentient and have their own free will as humans. The realm of the Jinn is that of the unseen and we do not know anything about them except what is revealed about them by Allah.

They have abilities which are different from humans but it does not make them superior to humans at all.

Because of having their own free will, the Jinn have the choice whether to be good or evil. And Satan is among the evil of the Jinn.

Allah said in the Quran, “And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves unto Adam.” So they prostrated themselves except Iblis (Satan). He was one of the jinn; he disobeyed the command of his Lord. Quran 18:50.

Islamic scholars said that it may be said that the �irst sin is pride and the �irst to develop pride is Satan himself.

In the past, Satan has been given a high degree among the Jinn until Allah created Adam and Allah has ordered the supply chain – from initial agricultural production down to �inal household consumption. And it is not just about losing or wasting food; it also implies a waste of resources used in production such as land, water, energy and inputs.

“Up to one third of all food is spoiled or squandered before it is consumed by people,” the FAO pointed out in a new report. “It is an excess in an age where almost a billion people go hungry.”

According to FAO, food losses and waste amounts to roughly US$680 billion in industrialized countries and US$310 billion in developing countries.

“Industrialized and developing countries dissipate roughly the same quantities of food – respectively 670 and 630 million tons,” it said.

Global quantitative food losses and waste per year are roughly 30% for cereals, 40-50% for root crops, fruits and vegetables, 20% for oil seeds, meat and dairy plus 35% for �ish, the FAO report said.

“Even if just one-fourth of the food currently being lost or wasted globally could be saved, it would be enough to feed 870 million hungry people in the world,” the report pointed out.

FAO de�ines food loss as “the decrease in quantity or quality of food.”

Food waste, a component of food loss,

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM

Mujahid Navarra

angels to prostrate to Adam and at that time Satan was with them. But Satan did not prostrate.

As you can see, Satan is not an angel. If he was, he would not have disobeyed Allah at all. And there never was nor there will be any angel who will disobey Allah and become a fallen angel.

Any mention of these is just plain �iction.

SATAN THE INCITER OF EVIL We’ve mentioned earlier that it was Satan who incited Adam and Eve to eat from the forbidden tree that made them expelled from Paradise.

Allah said in the Quran.

And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat

Food waste

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

is “any removal of food from the food supply chain which is or was at some point �it for human consumption, or which has spoiled or expired.”

According to FAO, food waste and losses in developing countries occur mainly at early stages of the food value chain and can be traced back to �inancial, managerial and technical constraints in harvesting techniques as well as storage and cooling facilities.

In the Philippines, the lack of modern agricultural technologies, resources and skills, infrastructure like irrigation systems and farm-to-market

therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.” Quran 2:35 But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that condition in which they had been. And We said, “Go down, all of you, as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time.” Quran 2:36 Allah knew that Satan was the culprit and he expelled him too but Satan was so willing to harm humans and he said, [Satan] said, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Quran 7:16.

This vow of Satan remains until the last day.

SATAN IS NOT THE KING OF HELL It is common belief among the people that Satan is the king of Hell.

Some are so deluded to believe it that they thought that it is most �itting to worship Satan instead because would be the abode of carnal pleasures and winning Satan’s favor will grant them a good place in hell. But this is again that is only born out of a creative mind. Allah said in the Quran, Allah said to Satan, “Go, for whoever of them follows you, indeed Hell will be the recompense of you - an ample recompense. Quran 17:63

As we can see, Satan will be there among those who will be punished and not as king who will have powers, privilege, and authority over anyone there. In fact, the angel Malik, the guardian of Hell is more �itting to be called King of Hell but there is no King of Hell except God himself because He is the one whose rule and power governs the events in Hell.

SATAN HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER HUMANS Satan can whisper evil to any human being. Satan could also cause harm through demonic possessions or their services being utilized by sorcerers through ‘kulam’ or black magic, but to sum it all up, Satan has no authority or power over humans especially the believers. Allah said in the Quran, Indeed, you have no authority over my believing servants. And suf�icient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs. Quran 17:65 With this regard, Satan is not to be morbidly feared. Allah is to be feared because everything is under His control. And that is why we should be obedient and subservient to Him alone and not to Satan.

For your questions, contact me via mujahidnavarra@gmail.com Please watch Mensahe TV at Cignal Channel 184 for more information about Islam.

roads, land tenure, support for research, innovation and agricultural workers have been found as contributing factors to food loss.

Where do those food waste go? In most cases, they are dumped in a land�ill causing odor as it decomposes and has the potential to add biological oxygen demand to the leachate. This must be the reason why those organic waste from New York restaurants are banned from land�ills since 2015.

In industrialized countries like United Kingdom and the United States, food scraps constitute around 19% of the waste dumped in land�ills, where it ends up rotting and producing methane, a greenhouse gas.

Methane is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas that is released into the air – after carbon dioxide.

Although methane spends less time in the atmosphere (12 years) than carbon dioxide, it’s more ef�icient at trapping radiation, according to some studies.

“Methane is 25 times greater to impact climate change than carbon dioxide in a 100-year period,” a study said.

For the information of the uninformed, methane gas is created naturally as a waste product of anaerobic bacteria (those living with little or

no oxygen). The digestive system of animals such as cattle, goats and sheep also contain these bacterial and produce methane gas. A single cow belches out 100 gallons of methane gas a day.

However, humans accounts over 60% of methane emissions globally.

A previous study, done in 2015 in Italy, found out that food waste from “farm to fork” emits nearly 4 million tons of carbon dioxide.

In the Philippines, some food waste in the restaurants are being collected by people and these are fed to swine. This has been practiced in not-so-urbanized cities and small towns.

In small households, food waste can be biodegraded by composting and reused to fertilize soil. “By redistributing nutrients and high microbial populations, compost reduces water runoff and soil erosion by enhancing rainfall penetration, which has been shown to reduce the loss of sediment, nutrients and pesticide losses to streams by 75-95%,” Wikipedia reported.

Another way of recycling food waste is through vermicomposting. The food scraps can be feed to worms who produce a byproduct called vermicast, which can be used as fertilizer for crops, ornamentals and even �ish raised in ponds.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

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TERMINATED... FROM 1 “You will be included in the list,” she added.

Atty. Elisa Lapiña, committee spokesperson, told reporters at the Davao City Hall on Thursday that in view of the declaration, the City Government is dropping all negotiations for local peace talks “There is an effect the proclamation of President Duterte and we are still waiting for an executive order, but the City Mayor still continue with efforts to bring development throughout the land,” said Atty Lapiña.

“The committee is no longer called as DC-Peace and it will be of�icially called as DC-Peace Dev.,” she said.

Lapiña added that this is a Davao city advisory community on peace and devel-

opment will concentrate on bringing peace and development to the city.

“City Mayor wanted to know the problem in every community and to pursue this goal we planned to go to the hinterland part of the city to talk with members of the communities and have a practical solution to bring peace,” she added.

According to City Mayor, that the new DC-peace will seek to address issue in the communities by asking them about their needs and problems.

“It’s not about changing the name but bringing peace to the entire land.

That’s what we want to see, peaceful community,” she said.

strong advocate of halal. Belinda “Belle” L. Torres, owner of a BPO company and basically an educator, is the only re-electionist.

The �ive later joined the other 10 incumbent BOT members to elect the chairman, president and other of�icers of the chamber for 2018.

Aside from dela Cruz and Milan, the new of�icers of the chamber are Yvonne F. Caba-

da, executive vice president; Teresita “Tess” M. Pascual, VP for agribusiness; Belle Torres, VP for industry; John Tria, VP for professional services and ventures; Jun Cubos, VP for trade and commerce; Jennifer V. Sazon, corporate secretary; and Al Balagot, corporate treasurer. BOT members are Roni Go, Boni Tan, Jocelyn A. Romero, Juanito Ricky M. Tagabucba and Antonio M. Ajero.

Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to rejoin the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Aside from the PNP and NBI, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs, and Philippine Postal Corporation will also provide active support to PDEA which will remain as the lead agency in the anti-drug war.

The new order supersedes an earlier memorandum issued by Duterte on Oct. 10, 2017, directing “NBI, PNP or any and all anti-illegal drugs task force to yield to the PDEA as the sole agency in the conduct of operations of all those who are involved in, or connected to illegal drugs.”

The issuance of the October memorandum aims to pinpoint precise accountability following allegations from some sectors that summary killings of anti-illegal drugs suspects have been perpetrated by law enforcement agencies, including the PNP. In ordering the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to rejoin anew in the war against illegal drugs, the President said that while PDEA has made signi�icant strides in the government’s anti-illegal campaign, the agency “has been seriously hampered in performing its huge mandate by lack of resources, speci�ically agents, and operatives who can penetrate drug-infested areas down to the municipal and barangay levels.”

“We’re �inalizing still but much of the PHP50.7-B cut will be restored. So we’re looking at probably, maybe P4 billion to be cut,” he noted.

Senator Pan�ilo Lacson has pushed for the PHP50.7-billion cut in the DPWH budget due to unresolved ROW issues, which he said was the “main culprit” for the huge underspending of the agency. This proposal resulted in a budget impasse.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said the House would take a hardline stance

on its version of the proposed 2018 national budget even with the possibility of a reenacted budget in the of�ing.

“The good news is it (impasse) has been broken,” Nograles said, noting that the two chambers must have the 2018 national budget rati�ied before Congress goes into a Christmas recess so that President Rodrigo Duterte may sign it on or before December 19.

“Passing the 2018 GAB before year’s end will avoid the scenario of a reenacted budget,” he added. (PNA)

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APPREHENSIVE. Passenger jeepneys wait for the go signal at the junction of Palma Gil and Ponciano Streets on Thursday. Drivers are worried of jobs lost once the government implements the

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For the other ranks, the increase in Base Pay will be calibrated resulting in an average increase of 58.70% for all ranks.

“This is in recognition of the critical role of the military and police in maintaining national security and peace and order, as they exercise their duty to ensure the safety of our citizens being exposed to various high peril environments and life-threatening risks, in the discharge of their functions,” Nograles explained.

As to the indexation of the pension of retired military and uniformed personnel with the Base Pay of those in the active service, Nograles explained that while the Joint Resolution suspends the indexation with respect to the Base Pay increase, the suspension of indexation will be automatically lifted on January 1, 2019.

“The notable amendment we did on the �loor is that the

suspension of the pension indexation will now only be up to January 1, 2019 or until a new pension reform law is passed, whichever comes earlier,” Nograles said.

“This temporary suspension, for a period of about one year, of the application of pension indexation of retired military and uniformed personnel is only in view of its huge �inancial implication,” Nograles explained.

The national government will tap P64.24 billion from its coffers to fund the salary hike, which President Duterte �irst promised in August 2018.

At the same time, Nograles said Congress is setting aside additional funds from the proposed P3.767-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2018 for the purchase of body-worn cameras for police of�icers in conducting anti-crime operations including anti-drug raids and sting operations. (PNA)

Misconduct by the Ombudsman in its Decision dated 06 June 2017, holding that “[Pacana’s] failure to disclose signi�icant number of her assets and liability, in several SALNs, which is required under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713, shows a clear intent to violate the law, and is a �lagrant disregard of established rule which constitute Grave Misconduct. More so, such act being repeatedly done, the same also amounts to Serious Dishonesty.”

In the case involving Ester Gra�il Sese, an Administrative Aide at the BOC who was only earning P 78,264.00 gross salary in the year 2012, the Ombudsman found that she failed to declare various

motor vehicles in her 2000 to 2010 SALNs; falsely declared the acquisition cost of her assets; failed to declare various �irearms in her 2012 to 2013 SALNs; and failed to declare a townhouse in her 2002 SALN. The Ombudsman in its Decision dated Oct. 26, 2016 ordered Sese’s dismissal from the service for Serious Dishonesty and Grave Misconduct.

In another case, Visitacion B. Difuntorum, Customs Operations Of�icer V of the BOC, was found guilty of Dishonesty for failing to declare in her SALNs various lands located in Quezon City and Catarman, Samar from 1995 to 2006. (DOF)

DOF... FROM 2

modernization scheme for public utility vehicles (PUV) where public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will be replaced with High Priority Bus System (HPBS). Lean Daval Jr.

already graduated including 125 who completed their college courses with academic distinction.

The program has so far produced two summa cum laude, nine magna cum laude, and 114 cum laude graduates, representing 14% of the total college graduates.

Based on the annual monitoring of the status of the scholar-graduates, nearly 80% are now earning incomes with seven in every 10 of them already earning enough to be able to provide regular �inancial support to their families.

Apart from inclusive and quality education, UCPB actively supports three other United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, namely health and well-being, sustainable forest management and poverty alleviation.

Last month, the bank brought medical volunteers of Operation Smile to Davao City operate on children with cleft

lip and cleft palate for free. The children’s medical charity organization, with UCPB’s support, has treated 32,000 Filipino children dis�igured by oral cleft since 1982.

The UCPB-CIIF Reforestation Program has reforested 33.3 hectares of denuded land inside the Upper Marikina watershed area. The site now provides a haven to 65 species of birds, 18 of which are endemic or found only in the Philippines; 6 species of mammal; and 7 species of amphibians and reptiles including the rare Diminutive Forest Frog.

The UCPB-CIIF Finance and Development Corp., which UCPB formed in 1994, has released P400 million in livelihood loans to coconut farmers as of end of November this year.

Over the past 22 years, the �inance company has pumped into the rural economy over P8.0 billion in loans directly bene�iting 500,000 coconut farming families. (UCPB)

A certain Simeon Escabarte signed the letter and identi�ied as operations engineer as well as Manuel Barnaha, the driver of the garbage truck.

There were eight names identi�ied in the letter divided into day and night shifts.

Reporters went to CENRO of�ice to con�irm if the names

who signed the letter are Cenro employees.

CENRO acting administrator Rosemarie Lozada said that the names in the letter are not employees of the of�ice.

Lozada said that there is an existing memorandum prohibiting all their employees from soliciting money this Christmas.

beverage and food containers; bags, boxes and wrappers for gifts; and tons of food waste, according to the group.

“The humongous ‘holitrash’ situation is aggravated by the poor segregation of discards at source, and the toxic byproduct waste from the lighting of �irecrackers and pyrotechnic devices,” he added.

“But the situation is not entirely hopeless. We can curb what we throw away by applying the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and by keeping Christ in the manger, an utmost reminder of the simplicity of Christmas, at the heart of the festive celebration,” he pointed out.(EcoWaste Coalition)

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INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

Connect to travel apps abroad for free with Smart’s RoamFree app

TRAVELING ABROAD is now a lot easier and more convenient with RoamFree, Smart’s groundbreaking app that lets you connect to your favorite travel services without data roaming charges.

tion, as well as the start and expiration of your subscription, so you can take full control of your roaming experience.

Designed as a one-stop portal, RoamFree gives you free instant access to up to 21 partner apps at your destination, even if you haven’t subscribed to a roaming data package.

With RoamFree, relevant travel information and services are right at your fingertips: you can easily check in your flights, reserve and confirm hotel accommodations, book rides, sign up for local tours, and check out top food spots, among many others, for a hassle-free getaway.

The app is now available for use in 26 destinations, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and United Kingdom. It is also accessible for free in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Albania, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates.

Smart’s biggest data roaming pack Smart World has also introduced GigaRoam, its biggest data roaming pack, providing 1GB data valid for 7 days for only Php999.

GigaRoam lets you enjoy all your online activities as you travel, whether its video streaming, downloading, surfing, or updating your social media accounts.

To give travelers utmost flexibility, the RoamFree App and the Data Roaming Manager also allow users to register to data roaming

One-stop travel portal without data charges To use the portal, simply download the RoamFree app on Google Play Store if you are an Android user, or iTunes if you have an iOS device.

Once abroad, just turn on your mobile data and open the RoamFree app to access your accounts on various partner sites and services – without worrying about data charges.

Through the app, you can sign in to your account and book rides on Uber, reserve your accommodations through AirBNB, Agoda, or Booking; and navigate your way around the city using Google Maps. You can also check in your flights ahead of time on PassnFly; get valuable local tips on Musement;

pore over recommendations from fellow travelers on TripAdvisor and Triip; or get together with locals who share your passions via Meetup.com.

You can also book tours on Klook and Tiqets; order food or reserve a table in top restaurants via Foodpanda, OpenTable, and TheFork; and snag deals on Groupon, KeyFlow, and Viator. You also have practical travel apps at your fingertips, such as Google Translate, XE Currency Converter, and ATM Finder.

Smart World for hasslefree getaways “Staying online while traveling abroad makes for a hassle-free travel experience, but unfortunately, many travelers still choose to go offline out of fear of racking up enormous data roaming charges. The RoamFree app addresses this by allowing you to freely connect to relevant content and services that make for a travel experience like never before,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, PLDT Global Corp.

President and CEO. “Working with key players in the digital travel space, we are able to deliver sponsored data to cater to the growing number of overseas travelers, and reinforce our thrust to connect Filipinos wherever they are. In the same way that we are expanding and improving our nationwide network, we are continuously enhancing our global services to give our subscribers the best mobile experience whether they are in the Philippines or abroad,” said Eric R. Alberto, Chief Revenue Officer of PLDT and Smart.

Track your online activities abroad

Among Smart World’s innovative solutions is the Data Roam Manager, a one-stop portal that lets you buy data roaming packs, and keep track of your data usage while on the go. Accessible to all Smart Prepaid and Postpaid subscribers traveling in over 130 countries, the Data Roaming Manager pops up when you open your mobile browser, such as Google Chrome or Safari, after turning on your mobile data and data roaming.

The Data Roaming Manager lets you monitor your active subscription, so you never have to worry about going over your set data package and racking up unwanted charges. It gives you specific details, such as your running data volume consump-

packs perfect for their needs – whether its GigaRoam, Surf Abroad or Chat Abroad.

Surf Abroad lets you enjoy 24-hour data roaming for a flat-rate of Php550 per day, while Chat Abroad, lets you stay connected to chat apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, WeChat, and Viber for only Php150 per day.

To know more about the Smart’s RoamFree app, Data Roaming Manager, and the data roaming packs perfect for your needs, visit smart. com.ph/world and follow Smart’s official account on Facebook (www. facebook .com/Smar tCommunications), Twitter and Instagram (@ LiveSmart). PR

EDGEDAVAO

A2INdulge!

TRAVEL

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

AN ISLAND WITH A GOOD VIEW

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

IF THERE’S AN ISLAND that I keep looking forward of going to, it’s none other than Buenavista (a combination of two Spanish words: “buena” for good and “vista” for view).

Located at the Island Garden City of Samal, it used to be known as Little Ligid Island.

After all, Buenavista is Davao’s version of Palawan’s Amanpulo (which means “peaceful island”). The good thing about Buenavista is that you can have it all for a night for you and nine others.

“In this island, we give a new dimension to the words privacy and exclusivity,” explains Brenda Ocampo, the resort’s marketing manager. “When we say that the island is private and exclusive, we mean you own the island for the period that you have it booked. There’s nobody else in the island except you and your companions – and of course some of the staff who will do the nitty-gritty chores like cooking your meals and fixing your beds.”

The island is only four hectares at high tide but approximately eight hectares during low tide. It may be small, but size is just a state of the mind.

Everything else is big – in terms of fun and memories!

The first thing you can do is explore the whole area. As you loiter, you can take refuge under the shade of coconut trees swaying now to gentle sea breeze then to howling winds.

Try to take off your slippers and walk over the fine white cottony sands.

On a clear day, you can go to at the gazebo and stay there while having a communion with n nature. Watch the adjacent Big Ligid Island while sip-

ping a cold pineapple juice or eating some Filipino delicacies.

As the day is set to end, take a glimpse of the pastel sunset. You can sit there and relax while gazing up to a velvet canopy of brilliant stars and silvery moon. You can even talk with Our Creator and marvel at His creations.

But most people come to the island because of its crystalclear turquoise waters, where they could swim to their hearts’ contents. However, currents around the island are very strong and the shallow waters suddenly drop to deep fathoms in some areas. Among the recommended areas for swimming are the lagoon on the southern side of the island and the part facing Davao City bounded by the causeway to the pier.

During the early afternoons, when the heat of the sun beats down on the pier’s side of the island, ideal swimming area is directly opposite this location.

But there’s a hitch: coral reefs are all over the place. If you go swimming, you better wear booties or sneakers to protect your feet from the sharp and

cutting edges of the corals.

If the salty waters is not your fancy, you can always go for freshwater swimming. There’s a swimming pool located just a few walks away from the pavilion, where most of the nonwater activities are done (sitting around, playing parlor games, entertainment, seascape viewing, or singing).

You can do more than just swimming; better still, do snorkeling. The best snorkel area is off the northwestern side of the island. Another best area is by the gazebo. If you’re lucky, you may get a glimpse of the Hawksbill turtle as it is a sanctuary for this endangered marine species.

“Any place is a good place for snorkeling,” Ocampo maintains. “There are floaters on the island’s side facing Davao City which allows for safe snorkeling, too. But we suggest you don’t venture out of these floaters as currents are strong.”

Another reminder: watch out for those black spiny sea urchins hugging the corals or resting on the sand. Your day will be completely ruined if you

step on them.

For certified divers, they can also do scuba diving. “We have numerous dive spots around the small and big islands,” Ocampo says.

Kayaking is another fun thing to do. “You can explore the amazing coral reefs without getting wet by using our kayaks,” Ocampo points out. “See our abundance of exquisite sea life that exists just below the water surface.”

Since it is an island, you can always do fishing. “It’s just amateur type of bottom fishing,” Ocampo clarifies. “Even if you don’t catch fish, you can still enjoy the pleasure of circling around the island in leisurely fashion.”

These are just of the few things you can do while in the island.

Since it is quiet and far from the madding crowd, Buenavista maybe the place where you can pen that romantic poem you have been wanting to write or start the first chapter of your autobiography. Or you may try your hand in taking those award-winning photographs.

There are four places where you can stay at the Buenavista.

First, there’s the Family Villa which can accommodate 13-15 persons. One of the most striking features is the see-through shower in the master’s bedroom (very good for newly-married couple).

There’s the Executive Suite, which is nestled in the beachfront. “Be overwhelmed by serenity and immerse yourself with the luxurious suite forgetting the concept of time,” the press kit described.

At the Island Suites, you get to experience peace and relaxation a few steps away from the beach.

There are six Beach Huts, an each hut can accommodate two persons. “These Balineseinspired huts promise true intimate and comforting luxury right beside the beach,” the kit stated.

Again, you can have this island for a fixed rate of P105,000 for ten persons for a night’s stay.

Inclusions include exclusive use of the island and its facilities and amenities, accommodations, round trip boat transfers, and three buffet meals and two snacks.

In excess of 10 persons, the rate is P5,200 per person. The maximum number of persons that can be accommodated is only 35.

There is also a tour package with a fixed rate of P38,000 for 10 persons. An additional of P2,500 per person in excess of ten. The maximum is only 70 people.

Going to Buenavista Island from Davao City takes about an hour. The boat will leave Waterfront Insular and travel all the way to the island. The travel is not boring since you get to see other resorts of Samal on the way.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

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ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

Maja Salvador does helicopter scene with no harness IT LOOKS LIKE Maja Salvador imbibed her “Wildflower” character Lily Cruz in her breathtaking helicopter scene from the hit primetime series that went viral last Monday (Dec 4).

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“Lily Cruz is known for her fearless attitude, so I think her strength and courage possessed me that day when we were shooting the scene,” Maja said.

In the behind-the-scenes video that made the rounds online, the “Wildflower” star is seen effortlessly hanging on to a helicopter in heels and wearing no harness.

“When I saw how the double did the scene, I said that maybe I could do it too. We are already in our fourth season, so I wanted to offer something new to the audience,” Maja shared.

“However, when I was already up high, I repeatedly prayed to the Lord and asked Him to protect me,” Maja added.

Aside from the helicopter scene, Maja was been praised by netizens for a scene where she fired a gun while riding a motorbike.

Twitter user @askjaysantiago said, “Maja Salvador raised the standard when it comes to action and drama scenes. She just did it with no stunt double. It’s one of the scenes I will never forget. I’m a proud fan.” #WildflowerPagtakas Meanwhile, @kyladejsus31 shared, “This is my first time tweeting about Wildflower since I’m not an active Twitter user. I

think Wildflower can contend as a Hollywood action movie, and this is why I love watching it every day. Hands down the episode was super epic!!”

“Maja looks like an action star! Go Lily Cruz!,” DenInTheLoop said.

In the said “Wildflower” episode, Lily exposed Helena Mon-

toya’s (Zsa Zsa Padilla) identity as big-time syndicate leader Red Dragon, but the latter successfully escaped authorities. Lily, however, saw it coming and teamed up with Diego (Joseph Marco) and the National Bureau of Investigation to catch Red Dragon.

How will Lily ensure Red Dragon’s capture?

Don’t miss “Wildflower,” weeknights before “TV Patrol” on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). For updates, follow @wildflowerabscbn on Instagram, @RSBDramaUnitNew on Twitter and like the show’s official Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/ wildflowerchannel2/. Catch its latest episodes on iwantv.com. ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

11 HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

Food for diabetics: What’s on the table?

TEXT AND PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

D

iabetes isn’t behaving the way it did in the past. Forget your former notions of the disease: that it strikes old aunties and the rich, or that it seldom kills. Diabetes no longer cares about class distinctions or age – it’s becoming as prevalent in slums as in mansions, and it’s ravaging the young like never before.

The numbers are staggering! From 177 million people with diabetes in 2002, the �igure is likely to surpass 300 million by 2025, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Paul Zimmet, director of the International Diabetes Institute in Victoria, Australia, predicts that diabetes “is going to be the biggest epidemic in human history.”

The Philippines is home to about four million diabetics, with more than three million

The Merck Manual of Medical Information.

Insulin, a hormone released from the pancreas, controls the amount of sugar in the blood. When you eat or drink, food is broken down into materials – including sugar – that the body needs to function. Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. Once inside the cells, sugar is converted to energy, which is either used immediately or stored until it is needed.

The levels of sugar in the blood vary normally throughout the day. They rise after a meal and return to normal within about two hours after eating. “Once the levels of sugar in the blood return to normal, insulin production decreases,” the Merck manual informs.

There are two varieties

not knowing they have the disease. “Many people still do not know that they have diabetes,” said Dr. Tommy Ty Wiling, president of Diabetes Philippines.

The Department of Health listed diabetes as the ninth leading cause of death among Filipinos today.

Long before Greeks found a word for it, diabetes (passing) was a plague in Egypt. In the world’s oldest known medical document, Egyptian physicians referred to the symptoms of the disease. The word “mellitus” (for honey) was added later by the Greeks, making the descriptive phase diabetes mellitus – “passing sweet” – to describe the sweet urine passed by diabetes.

“Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin,” states

of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes – sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes – results from a shortage of insulin.

Type 2 diabetes – also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes – results from the body’s inability to process the hormone effectively. About 90 percent of all diabetics have this form.

Medical experts say that a person who has Type 1 knows he has it: The pancreas producing insulin. Not surprisingly, the symptoms are severe and without regular injections to make up for the lack of insulin, the af�licted patient risks coma and death.

On the other hand, someone with Type 2 diabetes starts out with abnormally high levels of insulin and can go for years – even decades – without know-

ing he has the disease, because no immediate, life-altering symptoms occur.

Irrespective of what type of diabetes a person has, he must be aware that the disease is serious. Diabetes is associated with a range of complications that are largely related to damaged blood vessels and nerve cells caused by consistently high blood glucose concentrations. These complications include: retinopathy (eye problems, in some cases leading to blindness), nephropathy (kidney disease), neuropathy (nerve disease which can lead to the need for amputation), heart attack or stroke, frequent infections, and impotence.

Since Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, health experts are focusing more research on the said type. Dr. Gauden Galea says that effective management of Type 2 diabetes cannot be achieved without proper attention to diet and nutrition.

Dr. Galea, who is with the noncommunicable diseases of the regional of�ice of World Health Organization (WHO) in Western Paci�ic, advises that 20-30 percent of the total dietary energy should come from fats and oils. Protein should not exceed to more than 15 percent of the total energy required.

The bulk, however, should come from carbohydrates: 5565 percent of the total energy.

“Talk to your doctor or dietician to know the suitable diet for you,” advises Dr. Tham May Ked, senior medical of�icer of the Department of Health in Hong Kong.

Generally, diabetic patients are advised to eat most of the following: legumes, lentils, cereals, fresh fruits (non-sweet)

and vegetables.

What about rice?

“Rice is a traditional diet for Asians and provides a rich source of many essential vitamins and minerals,” Dr. Tham explains. “For diabetics, the key is moderation.”

Likewise, diabetics must have small serves of foods rich in protein like �ish, seafood, lean meat, skinless chicken, nuts, low-fat cheese, yoghurt, and milk. They must minimize eating foods and drinks that contain a lot of simple sugar, such as honey, sweets, cakes, soft drinks and beer, among others.

In recent years, some Filipinos are claiming ampalaya as nature’s answer to diabetes.

Some studies have shown that the bitter-tasting vegetable has been proven to be effective in lowering the blood sugar of people with Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Eduardo Gonzales, in his weekly column in a national daily, wrote: “A substantial number of scienti�ic studies on the effect of ampalaya on blood glucose levels have already been undertaken. The most compelling of these is a 10year trial, which was conducted by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) that compared ampalaya leaves with the anti-diabetes drug Glibenclamide.

The results of the trial showed that the blood sugar lowering effect of a 100 milligram per kilo

dose per day of ampalaya is comparable to 2.5 milligrams of the anti-diabetes drug taken twice a day.”

Ellie Rose, in an article which appeared in Reader’s Digest, reports that ampalaya contains high levels of charantin, which increases insulin

sensitivity and compounds that activate AMPK, a protein that regulates glucose uptake. “It also has a form of lectin (a sugar-binding protein) that lowers blood glucose and suppresses appetite,” she writes.

Most doctors tell their diabetic patients to cut sugar intake. “This is becoming a

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12 BIGGER PICTURE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

Get into holiday mode with a sale, shopping spree giveaways, and more at Abreeza Mall

A

breeza Mall shifts into holiday high gear this December with a mallwide sale, a week-long shopping spree blowout, a Christmas bazaar, and fun activities for kids to enjoy during the Christmas break!

Take part in the Holiday Rush Sale as it takes over Abreeza Mall on December 11 to 17, and score great deals and discounts mall-wide— perfect for this season’s parties and gift-giving gatherings.

Tight schedules and city-wide traf�ic taking up your shopping time? Get more time to shop with extended mall hours of up to 10pm from December 11 to 21.

Right as customers shop to their hearts’ content during the Holiday Rush Sale, Abreeza Mall and BPI reward them with big shopping blowouts worth P20,000. Through the 7 More Merry Shopping Days promo, customers get the chance to be one of seven winners to win a P20,000-worth shopping spree when shopping with a BPI Card. Plus, every winner gets to spread the joy—the partner cashier handling the winning transaction wins a P5,000-worth shopping spree, too. To join the raf�le, just present at the Main Concierge a same-day single receipt worth at least P2,000 from any Abreeza Mall store, Robinsons Department Store, or Robinsons Supermarket; along with a POS receipt re�lecting use of a BPI Credit, Debit, or Prepaid card; from December 11 to 17.

Unique gifts are always welcome during Christmastime, and shoppers will get to pick such one-of-a-kind �inds at the Mindanao Trade Expo Christmas Bazaar showcasing products from Mindanao’s micro, small, and medium enterprises from December 11 to 17 at the Activity Center.

Christmas carols are just so much merrier when heard live, which is why Abreeza Mall will bring in carolers to serenade shoppers from December 9 to 10 and from December 16 to 24 at the Christmas Village near H&M. For kids, Christmas ain’t complete without one-on-one time with Santa, so Abreeza Mall is treating them to a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus from December 16 to 25, 4pm to 6pm, also at the Christmas Village.

Keep kids excited and occupied over the Christmas break by taking them to The Mind Museum’s latest traveling exhibit, the Science Circus, from December 23 to January 7 at the Activity Center. At an entrance fee of P100 per head, kids and the entire family get to immerse in interactive setups that deceive the senses and boggle the mind, among them the perception room, the

anti-gravity illusion, the kaleidoscope sel�ie, and many more.

Christmas is not just about gifts; it’s about giving, too! Lend a hand to the HERO Foundation, a non-pro�it organization that seeks to bene�it the families of fallen Filipino soldiers, and get an exclusive Ayala Malls Christmas gift bag while you’re at it.

Just present a minimum single or accumulated receipt purchase of P500 from any Abreeza Mall store plus a P5

donation to the HERO Foundation at the Main Concierge to get your free Ayala Malls Christmas gift bag. This promo runs until December 31.

For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground �loor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook.com/ AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

Water interuption in Panacan areas D avao City Water District advises of a water service interruption on December 9, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM affecting these areas in Panacan: Vicente Pichon Subd., Doña Mercedes Village I, II and III, DPWH Depot, SAPAHA Village, St. John, Purok Bangoy, Sagrada, Panacan Avenue, Doña Caridad Subd., Delbros Village, De Guzman Village, Mercedes Village, Cabayugan I, II, and III, Doña Socorro Village, Landmark I and II, Nelia Ville Subd. I and II, BAT Compound, Airview Heights, SUHA Village, San Lorenzo Ruiz Village, Mahayahay Settlers, and portion of Davao-Agusan Road (from Panacan Avenue to DPWH Depot including NCCC Panacan, Macondray Plastics Inc., and Mindanao Corrugated Fiberboard Inc.) This water service interruption is needed for the tapping and installation of gate valve to the existing pipeline for the New Service Connection of Da-

mosa Fairlanes-Seawind along Km. 11 in Sasa.

On behalf of the DCWD management, general manager Engr. Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of the would-be affected customers. They are also advised to store water in clean and covered containers as water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www.davao-water.gov. ph) and of�icial Facebook page (www.facebook. com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates. Contact 09277988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 for other updates, complaints, queries, and matters pertaining to DCWD services.

(Camille Margarette U. Solon)

EDGEDAVAO

DCWD... FROM 6

FOOD... FROM 11 real problem, because many low-fat or fat-free foods now on the market have a lot of re�ined sugar added to make them taste good,” claims Dr. James Barnard, American professor of physiological science at the University of California, Los Angeles. “People with diabetes need to avoid most re�ined sugar. It really causes problems for them.”

But there is a natural sugar diabetics can consume: coconut sugar. It is derived from coconut sap or toddy, which contains 12-18 percent sugar in its natural form with important vitamins and amino acids.

“A natural sweetener and functional food, coconut sugar is a much welcome development for diabetics and hypoglycemics,” said the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar drops too low. Because keeping their blood sugar at normal levels requires quite a balancing act, diabetics are particularly prone to hypoglycemia.

Compared with re�ined cane sugar, coconut sugar has a glycemic index (GI) at 35.

This is much lower than the 54 GI, the level which nutritionists consider as safe for people who have to watch out their

glucose level.

GI is a measure of the rate at which carbohydrates as glucose enter the blood stream.

“The GI also indicates the rate at which carbohydrates break down during digestion in the small intestine into the simple sugars glucose, fructose and, sometimes, galactose,” explains Dr. Virgilio M. O�iana in his weekly column for a national daily.

“The glucose is the sugar that is rapidly absorbed and has a reference GI of 100 or greater,” Dr. O�iana writes.

“Both fructose and galactose enter the circulation at a slower rate and need to go to the liver for conversion into glucose: both, therefore, have lower GIs.” Sudden release of glucose into the bloodstream causes spikes of insulin that, if sustained for some time, is hazardous to health. “Having a low GI means that people who consume coco sugar will not experience sudden spikes in their blood glucose or blood sugar levels,” explained PCARRD, a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

“Diabetes is a killer and you should not be complacent,” urges Dr. Willie T. Ong, an internist-cardiologist and author of How to Live Longer.

“Visit your doctor soon.”

an emergency power interruption on the same day, December 3, which resulted to low water pressure to no water from 9:40 AM to 2:15 PM in Dumoy WSS areas. On the same day, another power interruption occurred in Bago Gallera that resulted again to low water pressure to no water in Dumoy WSS from 5:55 PM of December 3 until 12:40 AM of December 4. Another 10-minute emergency power interruption hit DCWD’s production wells in Bago Gallera on December 4 at around 6:00 PM. Similarly, an emergency power interruption affected DCWD’s Production Well No. 39 in Purok 6, Brgy. Baliok causing water service interruption in some Lubogan areas from 5:55 PM of December 3 until 2:40 AM of December 4. Earlier on December 1, DCWD’s Production Well No. 40 along Libby Road was affected by a power trip off that caused low water pressure to no water in Gulfview, Puan, Talomo Proper, Ulas, and Bangkal from 3:30 AM of December 1 until 3:00 PM of December 2.

DCWD general manager Engr. Edwin V. Regalado explains that recurrent power interruption results to longer recovery of DCWD facilities particularly the production wells that temporarily shut off whenever there is a power outage. Additional time is needed for re-switching of affected DCWD facilities, pressure build up and line delivery thus,

13 the frequent and longer the power interruptions in areas where DCWD facilities are situated, the longer for the water level in the pipelines and reservoirs to recover. This means that DCWD customers especially in far north and elevated areas continue to experience low water pressure to no water despite resumption of power supply.

As of press time, water supply in the different areas has already recovered except in far and elevated portions in some Lanang, Pampanga, Sasa, and Panacan areas.

On behalf of the DCWD management, Engr. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of the customers and apologizes for the inconvenience these water interruptions have caused. Likewise, DCWD advises customers to always store water for emergency use especially that information on emergency water service interruptions caused by power interruptions and other electrical problems, pipe bursts, and mainline leaks can only be disseminated as they happen.

For queries and further updates, the general public may visit DCWD website (www.davao-water.gov.ph) and of�icial Facebook page (www.facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293), 0927-7988966, 09255113293 and 0908-4410653.

(Jamae G. Dela Cruz)

14

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 179• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017

SPORTS FOR MARAWI. Mindanao State University (MSU) President Mr. Habib W. Macaayong and MSU officials paid a courtesy call to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William I. Ramirez on Wednesday. Along with PSC Commissioner Celia H. Kiram and Philippine Sports Institute Deputy Director for Grassroots Prof. Henry Daut, MSU officials Pamela Macaayong, Hannah Marquez, Normina Umpar,

Remer Tan, Muhaimen Umpat, Mamarinta Mauti and Ferdausi Radie discussed about the future endeavors of the University, as well as conduct of various sporting events in Marawi. MSU officials handed over a Marawi wooden chest to Ramirez as a symbol of their gratitude and appreciation for all the support and assistance provided by PSC. PSC-PSI photo

ON TO THE SEMIS PH belles advance to semis

PERFECT RECORD. The Philippines swept their bracket matches in Pool A with two more wins on Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the 10th Pacific School Games in Adelaide, Australia.

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

A

USTRALIA -- Ace hurler Glory Lozano sustained her no-relief job at the mound as the Philippines sustained its unbeaten run to advance to the semi�inals of the 10th Paci�ic Schools Games girls softball tournament at the Adelaide Shores Sports Complex on Thursday.

Alonzo’s arsenal of fastballs and sliders continue to dazzle the opposition as the 16-year old Bacolod

lass fanned six batters and allowed only two hits in the 4-0 spanking of Victoria in the �irst half of a doubleheader.

With no signs of fatigue, Alonzo came back hours after to strike out �ive from host South Australia’s batting line for a 5-2 victory for the Pinays. Those twin wins completed a sweep of the bracket matches as the country topped Pool A. They will meet either

Queensland or New South Wales in the semis today at 10 a.m.

“The girls did another outstanding job today and if they contnue to play in this form barring any injuries, they should be a force to reckon with for the gold,” said Commissioner Charles Maxey of the Philippine Sports Commission who was again on the bleachers to cheer for the team.

Coach Russel Hulleza’s

charges, who won silver in the World Little League Softball in Delaware, USA, last August, missed the services of top pitcher Kaith Ezra Jalandoni who was plucked to play in the Seniors team that placed second recently in Japan.

Alonzo has, by far, more than made up for the loss as she has sustained pitching 11 straight games in the tournament for girls aged under 17 years old.

Bokawachi, Valdellon top RPV Monthly Medal

G

emma Bokawachi dominated a predominantly male �ield to bag the Overall Gross title in the Rancho Palos Verdes December Monthly Medal played last November 30-December 2.

Bokawachi carded a gross four over par 76 to win the monthly plum while Vincent Valdellon took the Overall Net crown with a 62.

Kim Il Gyu took the Class A gross title with a 9 over par 81 while Alejandro So took the Class B gross title with an 8 over par 80. Francis Carlos emerged Class B net winner with a 67.

In Class C, Archie Moralizon won the gross title with a n 85 while Jomari Amad o r took

the net crown with a 64.

Mike Reid topped Class D gross with a 91 while Bob Lacaya took the net diadem with a 65.

Philip Hazlewood won the Seniors gross title with a 77 while Sam Satoh took the net title with a 67 with Ting Castillo �inishing runner-up with a 72. In the Super Seniors class,Susumu Ohnari grabbed overall gross honors with a 94 while Yuzuru Maruyama took the net title with a 75.

Rounding out the winners’ circle are Jefren Lumbo (72) with the Division 1 gross title, Ko Young Chan (87) with the net title, Ibrahim Zailon (76) with the Division 2 gross crown and Edward Braganza (72) with the net trop h y .

(NJB)

SAFELY OUT. Joe Marfori safely blasts out of the bunker during the Rancho Palos Verdes December Monthly Medal tournament.

Boy Lim

16

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 179 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8-9, 2017