Edge10 issue185 December 16-17,2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 164 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY,DECEMBER NOVEMBER17-18, 17-18,2017 2017

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO

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Serving a seamless society

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, together with Malagos Agri Ventures managing director and Cacao Development Council (CDC) 11 chair Charita Puentespina and CIDAMI executive director Val Turtur, plants a cacao seedling

during her farm visit at Malagos Garden Resort in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr

TAXI HAILING Mayor Sara, Delgra to grace media launch

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axi operators and other stakeholders, together with officials of the city government and a concerned national government agency, will launch on Tuesday, December 19, in Davao City the country’s first taxi hailing application called HIRNA during a press conference at the City Hall conference.

The launching will pave the way for taxi operators to come up with a mobile hailing/booking application similar but not the same with Uber and Grab before the year ends.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will be joined in the launching by Martin Delgra, chairman of the Land Trans-

portation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB); Rogelio Largo, president of the Metro Davao Taxi Operators Association (MDTOA); Francisco Mauricio, president of Transwealth Fleet Management Corp.; and Meanne Quiambao, Globe Enterprise

TAXI,P10

Kiwanis International President visits Davao

NEWS

Tourist influx

With 170,000 tourists seen to visit Davao PG2

EMC not sure if NPAs weakened by desertion PG4

To meet President Duterte

By ERNIE C. BALUYOT

K

iwanis International President James M. “Jim” Rochford is slated

to arrive in Davao today, December 17, 2017, to start an of�icial visit to the Philippines

South District with Davao City as venue of the various activities prepared for him.

FULL STORY, P3 James M. Rochford

An evening of GOLDEN friendship

INdulge A1

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING. President Rodrigo Duterte serenades members of media with his favorite songs during a Christmas party for Davao City media practitioners handpicked by the Office of the President held at Malacanan of the South in Panacan, Davao City on Friday evening. Lean Daval Jr

3 fishermen missing as thousands flee homes

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hree �ishermen from Eastern Samar province have been reported missing while thousands �led their homes as Tropical Storm Urduja continues to batter Eastern Visayas region Saturday.

In a report from the Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council, the three missing �ishermen were identi�ied as Alfredo Berroja from Balangiga town, Rogelio Gamalo from La-

waan, and Pepito Gacho, Jr. also from Lawaan town.

The �ishermen went off to sea on Dec. 13 despite advice from the Philippine Coast Guard.

Of�ice of the Civil Defense Regional Director Edgar Posadas said there has been no contact from them for three days.

Flooding and landslide have displaced 94,904 persons in Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Samar provinces, according to RDRRMC. (PNA)

Tourist infl ux 170,000 tourists seen to visit Davao

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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he Davao City Tourism Operations Office is expecting more tourist arrivals in the city this Christmas.

CTOO head Gene Rose Tecson told EDGE DAVAO the city is targeting around 170,000 tourists who will be coming to the city to celebrate Christmas.

“We know that our fellow Davaoeños are the ones who invited their friends and relatives to experience the celebration of Christmas here in the city, “ she

She said the tourists can experience the activities of the Pasco Fiesta sa Davao such as the Kaan sa Davao which is a food festival along Palma Gil Street.

Tecson also said the tourist might want to experience the different indigenous food of the tribes in the city at Kan-anan sa

Tribo at the Kadayawan Village inside Magsaysay Park.

“We want them to experience how we celebrate as people. Despite our differences of our culture and traditions we still unite and that’s out difference from other places, “ she said.

She said the visitors might also enjoy the lantern parade in the city as well as the choral competition at City Hall. Tecson said during the last year’s Christ-

mas season, the city has recorded around 160,000 tourist in�lux based on the hotel occupancy.

“We are really targeting last year’s arrivals. We’ve seen the trend that after the declaration of Martial Law our tourist arrivals decreased,” she said.

“However, it was surprising that in July our tourist arrivals increased and during Kadayawan, that was really terri�ic because there are many people who came to Davao,” Tecson added.

Eastern Visayas.

At least 1,322 vessels, 52 rolling cargoes and 33 motor bancas cancelled their trips as “Urduja” unleashes its wrath over the Eastern Visayas region this weekend.

State weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its latest weath-

er bulletin, said that “Urduja” continues to move westward closer to the northern-eastern Samar area and is expected to make landfall on Saturday afternoon or evening.

Tropical cyclone warning signal (TCWS) no. 2 has been hoisted over the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate including Burias, Ticao Islands, Northern Samar, East-

ern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.

TCWS no. 1 is raised over Southern Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Northern Negros Oriental, Cebu, Northern Bohol, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands. (PNA)

said.

Samar placed under a state of calamity 11K passengers stranded in ports due to‘Urduja’

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he provincial government of Northern Samar has placed the entire province under a state of calamity Thursday night as heavy rains dumped by Tropical Storm Urduja �looded several villages.

Provincial disaster risk reduction and management of�icer Rei Josiah Echano said �looding has affected 131 villages and forced 10,669 indi-

viduals to �lee.

“With the way the storm was traversing the place, it would take two to three days before evacuees would be allowed to return to their homes,” Echano said.

Severe �looding has been recorded in the towns of Catubig, Gamay, San Jose, Laoang, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, and Mondragon.

(PNP)

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he Philippine Coast Guard said more than 11,000 passengers were stranded in seaports across the country as Tropical Storm Urduja continues to move closer to the northern-eastern Samar area Saturday.

In its latest advisory, the PCG said that 11,101 passengers were stranded in ports in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, and

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

Kiwanis International President visits Davao To meet President Duterte

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iwanis International President James M. “Jim” Rochford is slated to arrive in Davao today, December 17, 2017, to start an official visit to the Philippines South District with Davao City as venue of the various activities prepared for him.

President Rochford will be accompanied from Manila by Kiwanis International President-elect Florencio C. “Poly” Lat of the Philippine Luzon district and ASPAC Chair, Past Governor Trinidad “Toto” Gonzales of the Philippine Luzon District.. With Kiwanians of Divisions seven and eight as hosts, members of Kiwanis clubs headed by District Governor Ivan Nemenzo are all set to give a warm welcome to the International President right upon his arrival in the morning.

President Rochford will then be ushered to the nearby Kiwanis Welcome Marker for ribbon cutting, where a welcome plaque is mounted in appreciation of his visit. Erected in 2011 alongside the exit

road of Davao International Airport as a project of Division seven clubs, the marker serves as a symbol of the active presence of Kiwanians in Davao City.

It being a Sunday, President Rochford’s movement will be limited with a TV interview with ABS-CBN, a welcome lunch and a special district board of trustees meeting.

Signi�icantly, by 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, President Jim Rochford, his wife Debra and the entire entourage from the Philippine Luzon District, Philippine South District of�icers and members headed

by District Governor Ivan G. Nemenzo will have the honor and privilege as a courtesy visit, to meet the President of the Republic of the Philippines Ro-

drigo R. Duterte in Davao City.

Finally, Rochford’s visit will be highlighted with a fellowship dinner program at the Waterfront Insular Davao Hotel where Rochford will formally recognize some 10 newly organized clubs from Visayas and Mindanao divisions.

A lawyer by profession, Rochford has been a member of Kiwanis Club of Peoria, Illinois, USA for 36 years. He is a certi�ied Kiwanis trainer and is a George F. Hixson and Walter Zeller fellow of the Kiwanis International Foundation. He has served in Kiwanis district leadership functions and has been advisor for high school Key Clubs and university Circle K clubs. He has personally invited 1,500 new members to Kiwanis and has opened 105 new Kiwanis clubs. Outside of Kiwanis, Rochford is founder and president of the Peoria Irish AAU basketball program.

He has been a Tri-Country Citizen of the Year and a recipient of the JC Penny/ Golden Rule

KIWANIS,P10

NEWS 3

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

Peace zone

ML extension to promote peace

By ANGIE SAVERON

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he implementation of the extension of martial law in Mindanao will redound to the attainment of peace.

“Mindanao will not be a war zone as all our efforts will be towards peace,” said Major Ezra Balagtey, public information of�icer of the Eastern Mindanao Command on Thursday.

He said the EMC’s pro-

grams and activities will not be directed to creating chaos but in strengthening the peace in the communities.

He said that the people will expect an intensi�ied security operation and he assured the people that these operations is in respect of the human rights, international humanitarian law and safety of the community.

PEACE, P10

Davao population swells to 4.89 M

By JUDIE VEGA

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he Davao region population hit the 4.89 million mark based on the latest survey results of the 2015 Census of Population released by the National Statistics Of�ice.

The Philippine Statistics Authority on Friday reported that the total of the 2015 population of the region is higher by 424,755 compared with the population of 4.47 million in 2010, and by 1,217,155 compared with the population of 3.68 million in 2000.

The PSA revealed that the of�icial population of the region reached 4,893,318 as of August 2015 and the population of Region XI increased by 1.74 percent annually, on average, during the period 2010 to 2015. By comparison, the rate at which the region’s population

grew during the period 2000 to 2010 was higher at 1.97 percent.

Among the �ive provinces comprising the region, Davao del Norte had the biggest population in 2015 with 1.02 million, followed by Compostela Valley with 736,000, Davao del Sur (excluding Davao City) with 633,000, and Davao Oriental with 559,000. Davao Occidental had the smallest population with 316,000.

On the same information, Davao City is growing at an average annual population growth rate of 2.30 percent. If the current annual population growth rate of the city continues, the population of Davao City is expected to double in 50.6 years.

Davao del Sur (excluding Davao

DAVAO, P10

SEASON DÉCOR. A mobile patrol belonging to San Pedro Police Precinct is decorated with Christmas lantern while on a routine patrol

along Magallanes Street in Davao Cityon Saturday, exactly nine days before Christmas Day. Lean Daval Jr

EMC not sure if NPAs weakened by desertion D

By ANGIE SAVERON

espite the increasing number of New Peoples Army fighters who have surrendered, the spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command said he cannot say with certainty if the NPA is weakening.

“But de�initely, it will have an effect on the strength and capability of the NPA,” Maj. Ezra Balagtey told the AFP-PNP press conference on Thursday.

“Hindi lang naman plus

and minus ang ginagawa natin jan as far as sa pag monitor, it will undergo a thorough assessment and we will be having our year end assessment in the next few days,” he said.

“Since na cut ang ating peace talks with the CPP-NPANDF with the directive of the commander of Eastern Mindanao Command na si Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal we have to intensify our security operations to prevent the atrocities sa ating mga communities,” he added.

Based on the EMC’s areas of responsibility (AOR) he said that since November 23, 2017 until December 13, 2017 there

were a total of 10 encounters between the terrorist group New People’s Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

During those encounters, the military were able to discover 10 encampments and to kill about 14 members of the terrorist group There are three captured and 118 surrendered.

EMC recovered 12 �irearms, and 41 �irearms were

EMC, P10

PRRD nixes power sharing with Reds P

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

The new Ambassador of Japan to the Philippine Koji Haneda hosts a reception in celebration of the Birthday of His Majesty The Emperor at the SMX Convention Center Davao. Ambassador Koji Haneda (in Barong Tagalog) and his Lady together with Consul-General and Director Tomoko Dodo, Consular Office of Japan in Davao (in black gown),

are shown with from left, lawyer Leoncio Villa-Abrille, American Chamber Mindanao President; George Walter Misa, President, Davao Horse Club; and Ferdinand Marañon, 2nd VP of American Chamber Mindanao. Photo by Annie Quitay.

resident Rodrigo R. Duterte revealed on Friday that he rejected a coalition government proposed by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines - Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army.

Duterte said the idea hit him after he read the discussion paper of the previous rounds of peace negotiations.

“Somehow, at the end of the day, I summed it up, simple arithmetic would tell me that they wanted a coalition government, “ he said.

The president said with the coalition government the rebels want, there would be power sharing on the sovereignty in the Philippines.

“I cannot give you the fourth or half of the fourth of that sovereignty,” he said.

“I cannot share what I do not own,” Duterte said. He said based on the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the politician who will exercise the power of sovereignty should be elected in a Republican Form of Government.

“Sovereignty, according to the Filipino people, by the force of the constitution and the �lag, says it is to be exercised not owned by anybody or any politicians, “ he said.

The President said that he already gave the leftist people to be part of his cabinet which somehow made the military

PRRD, P10

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

ANZ sees increase in 2018 BSP rates

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NZ Research projects a hike in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates starting the �irst quarter of next year on expected uptick in prices of some commodities as a result of the proposed tax reform program.

In a report, the Australia-headquartered �inancial �irm considers the proposed hikes of excise taxes on some commodities to “exacerbate demand pull prices pressures”.

“Robust domestic demand has been entrenched and will get a further boost from the government’s renewed push for infrastructure. Our take is that these adjustments will push 2018 in�lation above the upper bound of the central

bank’s target range,” it said.

The study noted that average in�lation in the last eight years has not gone beyond the upper end of the government’s target range.

As of November this year, rate of price increases averaged at 3.2 percent, within the government’s 2 percent to 4 percent target for this year until 2019.

Last November alone, in�lation decelerated to 3.3 percent after hitting its highest so far this year of 3.5 percent, hit last October.

In its eighth and last meeting this year, the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) kept the central bank’s key rates and average in�lation projections for 2017-19 steady.(PNA)

Bello says ID backed by overseas workers

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epartment of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that so far, they have not received any negative reactions from overseas Filipino workers regarding the watermark image of President Rodrigo Duterte printed on the OFW Identi�ication card.

In a press brie�ing, the DOLE chief said based on hundreds of text messages he received, the majority of them are supporting the issuance of the ID and on how it was printed.

“Based on the 500 messages I received from OFWs, their reactions are favorable,” he said.

5 ECONOMY

Bello added, “There was also one text message that says, he is happy that his picture is placed next to Tatay Digong.”

Bello urged the public and members of the media to report or send to him any message from only “certi�ied OFWs” complaining about the new OFW ID. “We want to listen to the sentiments of ‘true’ OFWs,” Bello added.

At the same time, he expressed belief that those who are complaining or criticizing the IDs just want to discredit the project.

The DOLE has started distributing OFW IDs to returning OFWs. (PNA)

CRAFT. A vendor makes earrings made of aluminum wires at his makeshift stall where he sells handmade accessories along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

ADB okays $380-M loan for Mindanao road project

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the transport system better deal with the effects of climate change through features such as elevated pavements, enhanced slope protection and better drainage.

The road project is expected to bene�it women by improving their access to basic infrastructure, social services, and economic or

�inancial resources or opportunities.

Communities will also bene�it from road safety awareness campaigns to be conducted under the project.

All project roads will be geotagged with information accessible on the Internet, so the public can monitor road investment projects throughout the project life cycle, including procurement and construction.

Additionally, the assistance will help �inance the detailed design of 300 kilometers of national highways in Mindanao, which will be constructed through other

projects.

Institutionally, it will help the Department of Public Works and Highways improve the long-term planning, �iscal accountability, and human resource management in the transport sector in Mindanao and the rest of the country.

“Improving roads in Mindanao will support the development of economic opportunities in areas such as agribusiness, ecotourism, and logistics, and improve access to markets, jobs, education, and health facilities,” said Jeffrey Miller, Principal Transport Specialist at ADB’s Southeast Asia Department. (PNA)

oughly inspected prior the boarding,” Transport Undersecretary for Maritime Felipe Judan said in a statement Friday.

The sector, which consists of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), will strictly implement their respective contingency measures from Dec. 20 until January 5, 2018.

Maritime personnel were likewise directed to provide regular updates on the status

of incidents via text message or e-mail to their superiors.

Furthermore, a consolidated written report on the occurrences/non-occurrences of incidents should be sent through e-mail to their superiors and immediate supervisors at 7 a.m. daily.

Maritime authorities will also relay necessary public advisories such as safety tips, documentation requirements, prohibited items and safety regulations at seaports.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier

reminded transport of�icials and personnel to assure not only the commuters’ security but also their comfort while in various public transport hubs.

“May I once again reiterate the great importance of maintaining and assuring the safety, security and comfort of the riding passengers and the public. Accordingly, please continue implementing and improving our security and safety measures to protect people, facility, structures and equipment and the like,” Tugade said. (DOTr)

he Asian Development Bank has approved a $380-million loan to help the Philippine government finance a project meant to improve the road network and spur economic development in Mindanao.

The Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project, ADB’s biggest infrastructure investment in the island region, seeks to improve about 280 kilometers of national roads and bridges in Mindanao.

The project, also ADB’s �irst Mindanao-speci�ic loan granted in 16 years, will help

Cemex unit gets DENR nod Maritime sector to boost security for the holidays

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subsidiary of listed cement manufacturer Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. has gotten the green light from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the proposed expansion of its production line in Antipolo City, Rizal.

CHP told the local bourse that it has been granted an environmental compliance certi�icate (ECC) by the DENR, covering the proposed expansion of the cement production line of Solid Cement Corp., which will pave the way for

the expansion of its production capacity by about 1.5 million metric tons per year.

It said the ECC amends the certi�icate previously issued for its existing cement plant.

CHP produces and markets cement and cement products, including ready-mix concrete and clinker, through direct sales, using its extensive marine and land distribution network.

It is one of the largest cement manufacturers in the country based on installed annual capacity. (PNA)

T

he maritime sector will activate next week its “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos!: Kapaskuhan 2017” to ensure the safety of the riding public during the Christmas season.

“Maritime personnel are expected to implement several safety measures and contingency plans, such as activating the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Passenger Assistance Counters, ensuring that all ships and other sea vessels are properly inspected, and all passengers, bags and cargoes are thor-

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

BSP re-writes PH balance of payment

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy-making Monetary Board has revised down the expected de�icit in the country’s balance of payment position for 2017 to USD1.4 billion from USD500 million last June.

In a brie�ing, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said higher importation by the Philippines was the main factor for the revision of the BOP assumption.

“Because the economy continues to grow, imports have sustained their momentum, particularly on the imports of raw materials and intermediate products.

In the sense, that actually contributed to the decline in the trade-in-goods position,” he said.

He, however, said that this factor is expected to be countered by the sustained robust growth of remittance in�lows from Filipino workers overseas, the income of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, and other trade-in services.

The BSP on Friday released the third-quarter BOP �igures, which showed a de�icit of USD662 million, a turnaround from the previous quarter’s USD289 million surplus and year-ago’s USD1 billion surplus.

The central bank, in a statement, said the current account improved and registered a USD554 million in the third quarter this year from year-ago’s USD30 million de�icit but it was not able to offset the large out�lows in the �inancial account after some investors withdrew some of their portfolio investments.

For the whole of 2017, the �inancial account is seen to register a net out�low of USD500 million from USD800 million as of end-September this year.

The net out�low is “re�lective of the anticipated higher net out�low of foreign portfolio investments following possible series of rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, as well as the higher-than-expected prepayments down by both the public and private sectors”.

The current account is seen to register a USD1 billion de�icit this year, about less than 0.1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), lower than the earlier projections of USD600 million “to re�lect the improvement in the trade balance”.

Exports are seen to recover and grow by 11 percent this year, better than the earlier projection of 5 percent. (PNA)

‘Urduja’grounds flights, sea trips to Surigao City

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ncoming and outgoing �lights on Thursday in this city and Siargao, a tourist destination, were canceled due to tropical depression “Urduja”, an of�icial said.

Surigao del Norte provincial board member Marlon Coro said that Surigao-Cebu-Surigao, Manila-Siargao-Manila, and Cebu-Siargao-Cebu �lights were canceled.

Vessels plying the Surigao-Southern Leyte and Surigao-Cebu routes also remained at port, city information of�icer Annette Villaces said.

Meanwhile, the power sector in Caraga Region braced for the 21st storm to hit the country this year.

“Power system operator and transmission service provider National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has implemented the necessary preparations and precautions to minimize the impact of Tropical Depression Urduja on transmission operations and facilities,” said Glory Rebleza,

corporate communications of�icer of NGCP She said preparations included ensuring the reliability of communications equipment, availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damages to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work.

“NGCP’s Integrated Disaster Action Plan prescribes these and other procedures to ensure the readiness of all power transmission facilities expected to be affected by the passage of the weather disturbance,” she added.

Local power utilities in the provinces Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands were preparing too for the impact of “Urduja”.

“As expected we will prepare for any eventualities,” said Engr. Narcisco I. Caliao Jr., general manager of Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative..

(Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)

A resident sells handcrafted religious products made by Matigsalog tribe along the highway in Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City on Saturday.

Lean Daval Jr

LRT shifts to LED for lighting system T

he Light Rail Manila Corporation is investing P20 million for all stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) to shift to light emitting diode systems as part of efforts to improve passenger safety.

The LRT-1 operator has installed LED systems at six stations, namely, Doroteo Jose, Abad Santos, R. Papa, Gil Puyat, Pedro Gil, and UN Avenue with its complete installation on all stations expected by end of 2018.

“More than the bene�its of lower energy cost and the elimination of mercury-containing �luorescent lights, the LED lighting marks a big improvement in illumination quality and thus enhances safety for our passengers,”

LRMC Chief Operating Of�icer Rodolfo Chansuyco said in a statement.

“The lighting system replacement shift is in line with our Biyaheng Better Everyday commitment to the LRT-1 passengers—a step towards a safer and better riding experience for the commuters. This is also our way of ensuring that LRT-1 stations run under environment-friendly operations, with the signi�icant reduction in toxic elements emis-

sions,” he added.

Meanwhile, LRT-1’s 106 light rail vehicles (LRVs) will also be retro�itted with the LED system starting 2018.

LRT-1 this year received the ISO certi�ications Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001:2015), following a two-year, company-wide program to improve operational ef�iciencies in Manila’s oldest light rail system.

the boarding,” Transport Undersecretary for Maritime Felipe Judan said in a statement Friday.

The sector, which consists of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), will strictly implement their respective contingency measures from Dec. 20 until January 5, 2018.

Maritime personnel were likewise directed to provide regular updates on the status of incidents via

text message or e-mail to their superiors.

Furthermore, a consolidated written report on the occurrences/non-occurrences of incidents should be sent through e-mail to their superiors and immediate supervisors at 7 a.m. daily.

Maritime authorities will also relay necessary public advisories such as safety tips, documentation requirements, prohibited items and safety regulations at seaports.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier

reminded transport of�icials and personnel to assure not only the commuters’ security but also their comfort while in various public transport hubs.

“May I once again reiterate the great importance of maintaining and assuring the safety, security and comfort of the riding passengers and the public. Accordingly, please continue implementing and improving our security and safety measures to protect people, facility, structures and equipment and the like,” Tugade said. (DOTr)

Maritime sector to boost security for the holidays

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he maritime sector will activate next week its “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos!: Kapaskuhan 2017” to ensure the safety of the riding public during the Christmas season.

“Maritime personnel are expected to implement several safety measures and contingency plans, such as activating the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Passenger Assistance Counters, ensuring that all ships and other sea vessels are properly inspected, and all passengers, bags and cargoes are thoroughly inspected prior

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

7 SUBURBIA RISING

Day 1 of the nine-day Misa de Gallo on December 16, 2017 at the Ascension of Our Lord Parish at the GSIS Heights Subdivision, Matina, Davao City. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS

Zamboanga City workers receive P25-K CNA incentive

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AMBOANGA CITY -- Each of the 2,000 city government employees will receive PhP25,000 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive this year.

City Budget Of�icer Ferdinando Alvarez on Wednesday said local government employees — regulars, casuals and contractuals including department heads and elected city government of�icials are entitled to receive the CNA. Alvarez said they must be in the city government service

for a period of four months and still in the service as of October 31, this year, to qualify for the CNA incentive.

He said this year’s CNA incentive totaled to PhP50 million.

The source of funds for the CNA incentive is from the savings of the city government expenses, such as traveling, communication, repairs and maintenance, transportation and delivery expenses, supplies and materials, and utility.

(PNA)

Suspects in murder of Magpet barangay secretary identified

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IDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 16 December) — Authorities have identi�ied suspects in the killing Friday of a barangay secretary in Magpet, North Cotabato.

But Chief Inspector Rommel Constantino, chief of Magpet Police, said they already have the pro�iles of the suspects but cannot as yet divulge their identities.

Joel Ecnad, secretary of

Barangay Manobisa in Magpet town, was gunned down, at around 11:20 a.m. on Friday in a thickly populated community in Poblacion, Magpet, by one of the two armed suspects who wore black bonnets.

Police said that after the gunmen made sure their target was dead, they withdrew to an unknown direction on board a black SkyGo motorcycle without a plate number. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)

DENR-ARMM taps private firms to resolve land boundary conflict

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documents about land ownership.

Hadji Kahal Kedtag, DENRARMM regional secretary, said his of�ice has entered into contract with Sobreviñas Engineering Services and the BAC Sur-

veying and Titling Services to do land demarcation surveys.

DENR-ARMM’s Free Land Survey and Titling Project or (FLSTP) aims to address conclusively real ownership of vast tracts of lands in the province.

“Through this project, we can also help look on border con�licts among barangays,” Kedtag told reporters after representatives of the survey �irms signed the contract at the DENR-ARMM of�ice.

Kedtag said the project aims to extend to stakeholders free land survey and titling services.

“The FLSTP will address

land ownership issues and it has the support of big Muslim clans,” he said.

The project would be �inanced by the Php42 million budget from ARMM’s Regional Planning and Development Of�ice.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu welcomed the development and said his of�ice is ready to extend interventions needed to hasten its implementation.

In Maguindanao, the governor noted that more than 80 percent of the clan wars were triggered by land dispute.

(PNA)

surrendered with his ri�le to the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion in Arakan, North Cotabato, according to Capt. Silver Belvis, 39th IB spokesperson.

Until he decided to yield, Andip served the Squad Finance Logistic Of�icer of Squad Abe, Front Committee 53. He held the post for more than one year.

Andip revealed that a cer-

tain “Jecko,” his NPA commander, has been pocketing the cash that were promised to them when joining the NPA. Andip added that the budget for food supplies was not enough despite the huge amount of revolutionary tax the group had been collecting from multi-national �irms.

“The NPA leaders inculcat-

ed in us that the government is corrupt when in truth the NPA leaders are the true vultures,” he told Army of�icials.

A tribal leader in Arakan town facilitated Andip’s surrender after previous �ighters turned themselves in and avail of the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP). (PNA)

OTABATO CITY -- As a major solution to family feuds that have disrupted for decades the peace and order of Maguindanao, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM) tapped on Wednesday private surveyors to set boundaries on disputed lands.

Many of contested lands in Maguindanao’s 36 municipalities were traced as root cause of family feud involving Muslim clans who prefer to settle boundary con�lict with the use of force in the absence of legal

Disgruntled NPA supply officer surrenders

K

IDAPAWAN CITY -- A discontented member of communist New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the hinterlands of North Cotabato yielded to military authorities, claiming the group was tainted with corruption, a military spokesperson said Wednesday.

Danny Lauda Andip, also known as “Berni”, voluntarily

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

EDITORIAL

Justice for oppressed athletes

R

amon Fernandez, the former PBA 3-time most valuable player turned Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), unearthed what perhaps have been a long injustice in Philippine sports.

Commissioner Fernandez on Friday revealed on social media the misappropriation of athletes’ training allowances. He is pointing at the head of the sports associations (NSAs) under the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by its long-staying President Jose “Peping” Cojuanco.

Showing documents of the approved appropration as allocated by the PSC Board of which he is a member, Commissioner Fernandez accused the NSA head and coach of the Philippinne Karatedo Federation (PKF) of shortchanging members of the national karatedo team during their 20-day training in Germany last year prior to the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. Instead of receiving roughly P90,000, the athletes

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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

received a measly P24,000 based on the documents posted by Comissioner Fernandez. That means P66,000 was deprived of the athletes in their training. That is money that has been allocated for them while they train overseas. In Germany, food does not come cheap. So a little over P1,000 daily would not suf�ice. How on earth the athletes survived on this meager allowance is unimaginable, hence their poor performance.

The karatedo team included two Dabawenyos--Miyuki Tacay and Rexor Tacay. While Commissioner Fernandez’s claims are still allegations, the truth remains that only these athletes can prove if indeed they received only a fraction of the budget allocated for their allowances.

Courage is needed, so these athletes can rise for their rights and once and for all pave the way to an end to the long injustice they have been receiving from some scheming sports leaders.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

‘The jungle queen’

A

mong commercial growers, this wild�lower, known locally as waling-waling, is best described as the ‘queen of cut�lowers.’

Appropriately, it is the ‘queen of the jungle.’

Scienti�ically, it is known as the Vanda sanderiana, a member of the orchid family and named after Henry Frederick Conrad Sander, a British orchidologist. It was actually German botanist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach who it Vanda sanderiana.

Endemic to Davao and adjacent regions, the �lower is worshipped as a god by the early Bagobos, even calling it diwata. But beyond science and ethnology, the waling-waling has taken its immortal place in arts and poetry, at times the substance of a lover’s gift to an inamorata.

A painter, expressing his emotions on canvas, once called the Davao orchid as the ‘fairest of the rare’ and the ‘one choice for the fair.’

In the 1938 records of the Bureau of Forestry, a total of 2,149 waling-waling plants were exported from Davao and 790 from the province of Cotabato, with exorbitant prices

C

an tilapia in a pond be all-male?

Yes, it’s possible, according to Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, an academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology and former executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development.

And it could be done through the so-called “sex reversal technique” or SRT. Dr. Guerrero explains: “SRT is the process by which genetic female tilapia fry are converted into functional males through hormone manipulation.”

Although it is not an endemic �ish in the country, the Philippines is now one the world’s largest producers of tilapia.

In the past, tilapia was considered a nuisance �ish because it reproduces so quickly and doesn’t grow to size consumers like.

“Tilapias are early-maturing and proli�ic breeders,” said Roy C. Alimoane, the director of Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center, a non-government organization based in Kinuskusan, Davao del Sur. “The �ishes become sexually mature at two to three months and females are capable of spawning a hundred to a few hundred eggs, depending on size.”

Sexes are differentiated externally by examining the structure behind the anus. The male has only one opening in the structure while the female has two openings. Male tilapias, Alimoane claims, grow faster than females.

ranging from PhP5.00 to PhP200, the equivalent of US$100, or roughly US$1,030 in today’s exchange rate.

An observer noted that in 1949, when Davao’s population was 127,000, not even ten percent owned a single waling-waling plant.

This orchid was also a valued gift.

American poet and satirist Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) was one of those who received the expensive plant, prompting her to write a poem which goes: “Say it with Waling-waling/Love for thy neighbor/Love for the one you adorn/Love for the suffering/Say it with waling-waling/A feeling of admiration/A feeling of inspiration/A feeling—eye, on �irst meeting/Say it with waling-waling.”

But nothing is more emotional that the poem written by Msgr. Fernando Buyser y Aquino, who wrote a book titled ‘Kasingkasing sa Magbabalak: Pungpong sa mga Bulak ni Floripinas’ (Heart of a Poet: Wreath of Flowers for Floripinas) in 1938. One of the entries was the ‘Waling-waling’ (Tanslation mine).

Sa taliwala sa akong paghinuktok

Nga walay kahumot nga nanimaHangtod kan-uman ka adlaw mahabilin, Dili mapungis sa kusog sa hangin, Ang kaputli niya labaw pa ka dato.

(Unlike the waling-waling �lower, without odor to smell, endures for sixty days and cannot be turned away by the wind; his purity is even more expensive.)

Apan, ikaw dili ka gayud mabalhin Kay ang baho mo mao lang gihapon, Kay sa Makagagahum ka gigahin, Sa kaaghop sa pamatasan salamin, Kay sa kaanyag mo walay makatupong.

(But you don’t change because your scent remains. It was God who set you aside; your meekness is the mirror of behaviour; your beauty cannot be surpassed.)

Iwagi Bulak and tibuok nga yuta Sa suga nga balaanon sa imong kaanyag, Ang kahayag mo sa dayon musuta, Sa buling sa sayop nga hunahuna Ug sa ginharian sa ‘vicio’ mulaglag.

(Enlighten, Flower, the whole land with the sacred lustre of your loveliness. Your glow will discover the sin of a �ilthy mind and bring down the realm of vanity.)

Palina-is sa imong baho ang katilingban Aron sa kahilayan paghingilin, Kay mamalik ang maayong pamatasan Nga sa mga bag-ong tubo buot igihan Ug laksi-on sa among mga kasingkasing.

(Use your scent as incense of the community so they shy away from pleasures so the good traits tthis new generation abhors will be back, and tear away [the vices] from our hearts.)

What should have been the highlight of the journey of the waling-waling was the approval of Senate of House Bill No. 5655, which declared it a national �lower in 2013 but it was vetoed. The �lower would have joined the sampaguita, the country’s original national �lower declared by Governor-General Frank Murphy through Proclamation No. 652 on February 1, 1934.

technology is that it does not cause deposit of harmful chemicals onto the soil of the pond, which is common in using the standard sex hormone.

“Using the natural product contributes to improving management and standard practices of tilapia culture,” Dr. Velasca wrote in a report published by Bridge, a compilation of success stories collected by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Pine pollen are the male part of the pine tree. A raw pine pollen, it has been discovered, contains the richest seedbed of male hormone, the testosterone derived from plants. “The male and the female reproductive organs are found in the same tree,” Dr. Velasca said.

Pine pollen is easily absorbed by tilapia when taken in powder or in liquid form dissolved in alcohol.

In the CLSU study, the young tilapia �ingerlings with no identi�ied sex is fed with different concentrations of pine pollen dissolved in alcohol for 28 days.

“For example, 40 milligrams of pine pollen are added and soaked with 62.5 millimeters of alcohol. After seven days of soaking, the �iltered liquid is added to 125 grams of commercial feed, fry mash,” Dr. Velasca said.

The feed with the pine pollen solution is air dried and fed to the young �ish for 28 days. The feed with pine pollen solution is give 6-8 times per day. After the 28th day, the �ish fed with pine pol-

len solution is transferred to a bigger area and allowed to grow bigger.

“We check the number of males by visually looking at the hole in the belly,” Dr. Velasca said. “In cases it is hard to identify the sex by just looking at the belly, we cut the belly and check the reproductive organ under the microscope.”

But are these tilapia given pine pollen solution safe to eat?

Dr. Guerrero said the oral treatment with methyltestosterone in tilapia is only for 3-4 weeks during the sexless stage of the fry or what he calls as “the stage of sexual differentiation.”

“After withdrawal of the treatment,” he assured, “there are no residuals left in the system of the �ish after 92 hours. Since the fry are grown for at least 3-4 months for market and human consumption, it is very safe.

There can, therefore, be no side effects if there is no synthetic hormone left in the systems of the �ish.”

The use of methyltestosterone for tilapia sex reversal is generally accepted throughout the world except in Europe which has a strict organic (no synthetics) policy. “So far, since its application more than 30 years ago, there is no negative or harmful effect on humans reported,” Dr. Guerrero said.

If synthetic sex hormone is safe to eat after 3-4 months, how much more for the natural pine tree pollen?

ho,

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa Misantop lamang sa akong panumduman, Nga ang bulak nga maayag ug mahumot Madali nga abuton sa mga kadaut Kay sa mga Alibangbang pasipad-an.

(While in a pensive mood, it came to my mind a �lower that is beautiful and fragrant; it is easily damaged because it is abused by the butter�ly.)

Dili ingon sa bulak sa Waling-waling

Transsexual tilapia

Tilapia’s high production rate oftentimes results in overcrowded ponds and stunted �ish. In the past, hand sexing – separating males from females – was the only solution being used. But doing so takes times.

That’s why Dr. Guerrero developed SRT. “With mix-sex (male and female) stocks, the �ish matures early and breeds frequently resulting in stunted growth due to overpopulation in ponds,” he explains. “By growing all-male tilapia produced through hand-sexing (manual separation of sexes), hybridization (crossbreeding of two appropriate species) or sex reversal, the yield of largesized tilapias is signi�icantly increased by 30% to 50% because of the faster-growing males compared to females and the control of reproduction.”

In his study, he used a tilapia sex reversal feed – called SR Premix – which he himself formulated. For his effort, Dr. Guerrero received several citations from different award giving bodies. In 2004, he was conferred the Mgr. Jan D.F. Heine Memorial Award by the International Tilapia Foundation.

Today, more than 20 countries around the world are applying the technology commercially.

But instead of using the commercial methyltestosterone (a man-made form of testosterone), pollen from pine trees may do the same trick, according to a study of the Central Luzon State Univer-

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

sity (CLSU).

“The use of pine pollen in its unprocessed condition enables the change of sex of young �ishes used for breeding, turning in 84.59-90.46% males,” said Dr. Ravelina R. Velasca, of CLSU’s Freshwater Aquaculture Center, who headed the study.

Unprocessed condition means the pollen still has a protective cover.

“The use of pine pollen technology in tilapia sex change eliminates health hazards associated with all-male tilapia production,” she added. “It is an environment-friendly approach and could be an alternative to the use of high-priced standard hormone in sex change.”

One good thing about pine pollen

10 NEWS TAXI... FROM 1

Group Sales head, during the launch.

HIRNA is a close collaboration between Avis Global, Avis Philippines and the MDTOA. It is the �irst taxi hailing application that unites the most number of taxis under one app.

Lawyer Largo, president and chair of the board of the Maro conveyance, said, “taxi operators realized the need to level up by coming up with a common/single hailing/booking app that will make Davao taxi services comparable to, if not better than, those of Uber or Grab vehicles.”

Largo, who is also the newly-inducted president of the Davao City chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), said 80 taxi operators attended a

recent Taxi Operators Forum in response to Mayor Carpio’s plan for the city’s transport sector.

The forum was also attended

by LTFRB chairman Delgra and LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada who gave updates on the latest developments in the public transport sector.

Earlier in her State of the City Address, Mayor Sara encouraged the taxi operators association to launch a single taxi app and an of�icial taxi complaint site to keep the taxi industry “relevant and ef�icient.”

“We do not want more alternative modes of transport in the streets because this would mean more vehicles on the streets and create further congestion,” Duterte added.

“Why do we operate kung ang ating pag operate naman ay magkakaroon ng kaguluhan? Nag ooperate tayo para mag karoon ng safe environment,” he said.

He said the recruitment of new members by the terrorist group New People’s Army is based on the exploitation of issues in society such as social injustice, development and neglect.

“But if you look at it, ang gobyerno naman natin ay tinitignan na ito, kaya andoon young

inclusivity program ng President,” he said. .

He said that some of the units are converted in order to conduct the community support program.

The AFP has the community support programs where in they assist the people in the community in bridging their concerns to the national agencies or local agencies concern in order to address their problem.

Balagtey said that the additional power and troops will great-

PEACE... FROM 4

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

He said in as far as the armed component is concern, that is the reason why we have additional units, but then again if you look into the problem in a nationwide perspec-

tive, it will not only fall in the military operation but other agencies are also included in advocating the whole nation approach in solving the insurgencies.

“The might of the military will go against the armed threat, but our program is not only towards the armed group but also to ward the issues that is causing con�lict in the communities this is where we are conducting our programs, activities and operations,” he said.

City) was the fastest growing province in the region with an average annual PGR of 1.84 percent during the period 2010 to 2015. It was followed by Davao Oriental with a PGR of 1.47 percent, Davao Occidental (1.42 percent), and Davao del Norte (1.38 percent). Compostela Valley posted the lowest provincial PGR of 1.32 percent.

The PSA noted that among the �ive provinces comprising the region, Davao del Norte had the biggest population in 2015 with 1.02 million, followed by Compostela Valley with 736 thousand, Davao del Sur (excluding Davao City) with 633,000, and Davao Oriental with 559,000 Davao Occidental had the smallest population with 316,000.

The Davao region is composed of one highly urbanized city, �ive component cities, 43 municipalities, and 1,162 barangays.

Davao City posted a record of

1,632,991 persons in 2015 and was among the four highly urbanized cities that surpassed the one million population mark in the country.

Among the cities (excluding Davao City) and municipalities in the region, the largest in terms of population size is the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte with 259,444 persons. It was followed by the City of Panabo, Davao del Norte (184,599) and the City of Digos, Davao del Sur (169,393).

Boston in Davao Oriental is the least populous city/municipality in Region XI with 13,535 persons. It was followed by Sarangani in Davao Occidental (24,039) and Tarragona, Davao Oriental (26,225).

Of the 1,162 barangays in Davao Region , the largest in terms of population size is Bucana in Davao City, Davao del Sur with 83,964 persons. It was followed by Buhangin (Pob.) with 65,461 per-

ly help the EMC in achieving the objectives they have set.

“Kung pag usapan natin yung armado, kaya with the force given to us, lalo na may dagdag kaya natin yan but again kailangan nating pigilan ang recruitment,” he said.

DAVAO... FROM 4

sons and Ma-a with 59,803 persons, both in Davao City, Davao del Sur. A statement from PSA-Davao chief statistical specialist Rosendo

Aya-ay said, the statistical data is important because it measured a wide range of indicators for a community.

surrendered in a total of 63 �irearms. There 54 improvised explosive devices that were captured.

The additional forces to EMC are the 88 infantry battalion under 4th Infantry Division, 89 infantry battalion under

10th infantry division, the 15 infantry division and the second scout ranger battalion from Marawi.

“We have additional forces to carry out our mandate of securing Eastern Mindanao,” Balagtey said.

people to doubt on him.

“The other appointees from left, the Commission on Appointments would not allow them in simply because they are allies

with the communists. Unfortunately, I shared the power of appointment with some of the House of Representatives and Senate,” he said.

Award.

In line with this year’s Kiwanis theme “Eye of the Tiger” and Kiwanis motto, “Serving the Children of the

World,” President Rochford ‘s visit will serve to encourage all Kiwanians to put more focus for committed service to more children of the communities. ECB

EMC... FROM 4

PRRD... FROM 4

KIWANIS... FROM 3 Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Of�ice No. XI Davao City

Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. R11-EVPJ-2017-12-1595 (2003-XI-01595)

FLORO D. CRISOLOGO, Petitioner.

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ Ordinary Regular service on the route: TORIL and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on October 1, 2018. In the petition filed on December 7, 2017, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 9, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of local circulation.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Atty. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ , Regional Director, this 8th day of December 2017 at Davao City.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR Attorney IV

Petitioner, Floro D. Crisologo Counsel, Atty. Marvin G. Camino

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Of�ice No. XI Davao City

Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI Service.

Case No. R11-EVTX-2017-12-1309 (2003-XI-01595)

ADNAN C. BIRUAR, Petitioner.

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 31, 2018.

In the petition filed on December 11, 2017, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 9, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of local circulation.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Atty. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ , Regional Director, this 13th day of December 2017 at Davao City.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR Attorney IV

Petitioner, Adnan C. Biruar Counsel, Atty. Ibrahim K. Silongan

INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

THE CONSULAR OFFICE OF JAPAN IN DAVAO recently celebrated the birthday of Japanese Emperor Akihito with a grand reception last December 14 at the SMX Convention Center.

The event was hosted by the new Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, Mr. Koji Haneda, and was attended by the consular corps of Davao, members of the Davao City council, various Japanese business groups in Davao, and civic organisation heads.

In his welcome remarks, ambassador Haneda shared that he was no stranger to the Philippines as he was stationed in the country before. “It is like a home coming to me,” he revealed.

“Japan and Philippine relations have never been better. Building on past achievements and aiming for higher goals, I could not agree more when President Duterte recently stated in Tokyo that our two countries are entering a golden age of strategic partnership.” he said. “This year has been an eventful and significant one for Japan and Philippine relations.”

On Japan’s support to Davao and Mindanao’s growth Mr. Haneda said that Japan strongly supports the development of Mindanao including Davao City. “When Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Davao City last August, he emphasised our willingness to support the infrastructure of Davao and other regional Cities which includes the Davao City Bypass Construction Project, Davao City Infrastructure Development Plan and Capacity Building Project.”

“We view Mindanao as a very crucial area in

the peace, security and development of the entire Philippines,” he added “Thus we remain strongly committed to support Mindanao under the Japan Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction Development or JBIRD Initiative.”

Ambassador Haneda also noted the enhanced people-to-people exchanges between the two countries in the past years through employment, education, cultural events and tourism with more than 300,000 Filipinos visiting Japan and 535,000 Japanese tourists coming to the Philippines and rising.

He also shared his meeting with City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio where they discussed ways to attract more tourist and investments to Davao. “We welcome the first tourism and investment roadshow held in Japan by the Davao city government held last October, This paved the way for enhanced linkages in investment, trade and tourism between Davao and Japanese cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto and Osaka.”

“I am also delighted to know that Mayor Sara herself visited Japan last month and signed a

An evening of GOLDEN

FRIENDSHIP

memorandum of understanding for Green CitySister City cooperation with Kitakyushu-shi.

Under the MOU, the two cities have forged cooperation in the fields of resource cycling, capacity building and other endeavours to promote the green city development concept.”

“Indeed, these exchanges we have at various levels and fields demonstrate that the relationship we have only gets better with time,” noted Ambassador Haneda.

His speech ended with a celebratory toast to the good health of the Emperor of Japan and to President Rodrigo Duterte.

EDGEDAVAO

A2INdulge!

FOOD

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

A celebration of shapes and colors

HOL I DAY S MEAN TRADITIONS and also a special reminder that we are here for something else -besides ourselves.

It signifies a most wonderful time to spend with the family, friends and of course, significant others. What better way to do so than to celebrate a feast -- a delectable feast prepared with love and your palette in mind.

Park Inn by Radisson Davao urges you to celebrate in style -- end the year with a smorgasbord of delectable gastronomic favourites and welcome the coming year with a splash of edible shapes and colors.

Christmas Eve plans?

Huddle everyone and have a blast with Park Inn’s sumptuous dinner

buffet that will surely have you craving in an instant.

Sweet or savoury? That should not be the question. With them, you get to satisfy all your sweet cravings with their display of anything your

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tummy desires.

From savoury dishes, meaty mains to decadent cakes and assorted pastries, saying goodbye to your calorie counting ways is a necessity even before you have your first bite. Not to mention, the feasts includes Filipino faves of crispy lechon and traditional holiday ham.

Includes free flowing of juices.

Christmas eve Dinner Buffet is available on December 24 2017 at 990 pesos net person. Buffet begins at 6:00pm.

Looking forward to 2018 means looking at beautifully crafted gastronomic delights that will let you experience the many shapes and colors of the holiday season even before the clock strikes 12. Celebrate with style as Park Inn prepares for a fantabulous eve of upbeat tunes performed live by the city’s popular live band as the countdown to another amazing year begins.

Indulge in the many dishes prepared and let go of any inhibitions -all you need to do is eat, be merry and all else will fall into place. Adding excitement to the night is a line-up of amazing raffle prizes. New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet is available

on December 31, 2017 at 1,888 pesos net per person. Festivities begin 6pm to 1am.

Annual get-togethers,

corporate parties or family reunions on the list for the holidays? Park Inn

by Radisson Davao has prepared beautiful party

venues with three exciting and sumptuous party packages to choose from.

Each package comes with Christmas themed centerpieces, holiday music and attentive service. Package rates for a minimum of 50 guests starts at 850 pesos net per person.

Extend the holiday cheer and spend a leisurely morning with the family on December 25 and January 1 with a filling breakfast buffet to go along with your caffeine or hot chocolate fix.

Nothing beats starting a new day with the fambam.

Breakfast buffet is open from 6am to 11am and priced at 600 pesos net per person.

‘Tis the season with a basketful of delectable gifts and gourmet surprises including selected pastries and wine. Holiday hamper is available on pre-order basis and beautifully wrapped for your convenience. Priced at 1,999 pesos.

Indulge and get the family into the holiday spirit and make your reservations now . Call 082 272 7600 or email f b.manager@parkinn. com.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

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INdulge! A3

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

NEWS 11

EDGEDAVAO

Malagos Garden Resort and Malagos Agri Ventures managing director and Cacao Development Council (CDC) 11 chair Charita Puentespina has requested

Senator Cynthia Villar to come up with a fertilizer program and trainings for cacao farmers during their meeting on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr

‘Urduja’ grounds flights, sea trips to Surigao City

I

ncoming and outgoing flights on Thursday in this city and Siargao, a tourist destination, were canceled due to tropical depression “Urduja”, an official said.

Surigao del Norte provincial board member Marlon Coro said that Surigao-Cebu-Surigao, Manila-Siargao-Manila, and Cebu-Siargao-Cebu �lights were canceled.

Vessels plying the Surigao-Southern Leyte and Surigao-Cebu routes also remained at port, city information of�icer Annette Villaces said.

Meanwhile, the power sector in Caraga Region braced for the 21st storm to hit the country this year.

“Power system operator and transmission service provider National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has implemented the necessary preparations and precautions to minimize the impact of Tropical Depression Urduja on transmission operations and

facilities,” said Glory Rebleza, corporate communications of�icer of NGCP She said preparations included ensuring the reliability of communications equipment, availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damages to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work.

“NGCP’s Integrated Disaster Action Plan prescribes these and other procedures to ensure the readiness of all power transmission facilities expected to be affected by the passage of the weather disturbance,” she added.

Local power utilities in the provinces Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands were pre-

paring too for the impact of “Urduja”.

“As expected we will prepare for any eventualities,” said Engr. Narcisco I. Caliao Jr., general manager of Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative.

Engr. Sergio Dagooc, general manager of Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative and Siargao Island Electric Cooperative, said they have prepared all necessary equipment.

Surigao del Norte area and parts of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte suffered days without power when tropical depression “Auring” made landfall in these provinces last January destroying several NGCP towers in Agusan del Norte.

In 2015, residents of Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte and parts of Surigao del Sur celebrated New Year without power when NGCP towers were toppled in Remedios T. Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte.(Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)

or 290,000 square meters in Spratlys and in the Paracels within 2017.

Cayetano said he is aware of reports about “certain activities” in the strategic waterway, but assured that the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are always on a close watch.

Cayetano guaranteed that on a bilateral level, this subject will be addressed, particularly during the Chi-

na-Philippines bilateral consultative meeting expected to be held in the �irst quarter of 2018.

“If it’s brought up in multilateral, ‘di tayo aatras (we will not back off) from discussing it and coming up with a solution,” he added.

He revealed that in old areas where claimants already constructed infrastructure in the past, countries are “still building.

(PNA)

PH to tackle reported developments in South China Sea

M

ANILA -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday assured that the Philippines would raise the issue of reported Chinese developments in the South China Sea in an upcoming bilateral consultative meeting with China.

Cayetano said this when asked about the recent Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative report, which said China has completed or began working on about 72 acres,

EDGEDAVAO

12 ENVIRONMENT

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

Saving Philippine eagle from extinction (Second of 3 parts) TEXT AND PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

V

isitors, both foreigners and locals, who come to Davao City for the �irst time almost always include the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan District as one of their itineraries. Some 30 kilometers northwest and about an hour’s drive from downtown Davao, the center is home of the endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

The center is managed by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), the prime mover in eagle conservation, breeding, rehabilitation and education in the country. About 35 eagles can be found at the center.

“The great Philippine eagle is not only our �lagship species for wildlife conservation but also the best indicator of the forest ecosystem’s health,” said Dennis Joseph I. Salvador, the PEF’s executive director.

A pair of Philippine eagles need 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of rainforests to survive, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

In the past, Philippine eagles abound in the forests of Mount Apo and other parts of Mindanao. They can also be seen �lying over in the forests of Sierra Madre in Luzon and Samar and Leyte in the Visayas.

Today, Philippine eagles inhab it those places but their number has dwindled.

In fact, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Re-

sources has declared the Philippine eagle as “critically endangered species.”

The Philippine eagle was ranked No. 8 in the list of the world’s most endangered birds, according to Current Biology. “This is truly a dubious distinction for our national bird,” Salvador commented.

In a feature which was carried by “Scienti�ic American,” the country’s bird icon is described as such: “With its shaggy bronze mane and proud white chest, the Philippine eagle is about as majestic as a bird can get.

Capable of growing to more than a meter long and 8 kilograms in weight, this stunning creature is the largest eagle in the world, in terms of length.”

On why the Philippine eagle is nearing extinction, the publication surmised: “One of the big hurdles in conserving the Philippine eagle is that each breeding pair requires a range up to 40 square kilometers to adequately feed and rear their offspring, which makes it particularly vulnerable to deforestation.”

This is the reason why the efforts of PEF should be supported by Filipinos.

A private, non-pro�it, nonstock organization, it is dedicated to saving the endangered bird. “The Philippine eagle is the largest predator we have,” Salvador said. “By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their

habitat.”

According to Salvador, PEF is committed to promote the survival of the Philippine eagle, “the biodiversity it represents, and the sustainable use of our forest resources for future generations to enjoy.”

The Philippine eagle is found nowhere except in the country. “The Philippine eagle represents a rare product of evolutionary creation,” PEF said in its website. “Based on recent genetic studies, it has no close relatives left among the living species of eagles in the world.”

PEF came into existence in 1979 after the founders of Films and Research for an Endangered Environment (FREE) left the country.

FREE was established by Peace Corps volunteer Robert S. Kennedy and Vaughn and Lorenne Rundquist.

When they returned to the United States, they created PEF to continue the work they have started.

Primarily a research facility, the Philippine Eagle Center is nestled at the rolling foothills of Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak.

Its work, however, is divided into two components: in situ and ex situ conservation. In situ is the raising of birds in its original habitat while ex situ is the method of propagating the species in captivity.

PEF has now more than three decades of experience in the development of technologies for the captive propagation of Philippine eagle. These include infrastructure design, breeding techniques, incubation and hatching procedures, and the assessment of health and nutrition requirements.

The foundation has also �ield operations program involving two components: �ield research and community-based resources management. Research activities include habitat assessment, prey counts, monitoring of nests in the wild, veri�ication of eagle sightings and retrieval operations.

“All these are geared towards protecting wild populations and mitigating the

impacts of human activities,” Salvador explained, adding that more studies are still needed to effectively manage wild eagle populations.

PEF also has worked closely with the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), a line agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Both agencies are working in tandem on captive breeding “to promote a greater understanding of the eagles’ biology, food habits and survival.”

This collaborative effort has open opportunities for research on eagle breeding behaviors “that will substantially increase our understanding of their ecology and biology,” said the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in its website.

In 1988, PEF opened its facility to the public as an education center. “The eagle center is probably the biggest tool we have in educating the people,” Salvador said. “The facility enables us to bring the Philippine eagle and other wildlife closer to our people.”

According to Salvador, most of those who visit the eagle center never had the opportunity to see the forest and the animals that live in the forest.

“The eagle center provides our visitors and guests with a small glimpse of that world, a world which they

have increasingly become detached from. We make good use of this opportunity to let them know how the forest relates to their own lives – even if they live so far away from it,” Salvador said.

Christy Ullrich, in an article which appeared in National Geographic, reported that several steps are currently going in the country to save the Philippine eagle from oblivion. “Certain conservation measures are already in place to help protect the comparatively scant number of surviving eagles. Legislation has been passed to prohibit hunting and protect nests, as well as to survey the birds’ habitat, create public-awareness campaigns, and step up captive breeding.”

But the biggest threat – deforestation – continues. “Habitat loss – due to destruction, fragmentation or degradation of habitat – is the primary threat to the survival of our wildlife,” the BMB pointed out. “When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activities – such as agriculture, oil and gas exploration, commercial development or water diversion – it may no longer be able to provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise their young.

“Every day, there are fewer places left that wildlife can call home,” it added.

-- (To be concluded)

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

13

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

NO SWEAT

BUNKER SHOT. Patrick Tan blasts out of the sandtrap in this bit of action during the recent Apo Golf and Country Club Monthly Medal for December at the AGCC. Boy Lim

Davao fighters walk through QFinals

S

even �ighters from the Davao City boxing squad made their way to the quarter�inals withoout breaking a sweat in the Mindanao leg of the inaugural PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup which kicked off today at the Robinsons Place in General Santos City.

Supervising technical su-

A

pervisor Rogelio Fortaleza of the organizing Philippine Sports Commission said all Davao �ighters drew a bye and will now see action in the Quarter Finals set on February 10 and 11 in Kidapawan City.

Advancing for Davao City are Emmanuel Canubas (jr. boys 44-46 kg.), Reymond Albupera (jr. boys light �ly 48 kg.),

nywhere there is a billiard competition – here and abroad – this guy is expected to be mostly among the hordes of aspiring participants.

Carlo did not become a byword until he beat anyone of the big three in Philippine billiards: Efren “Bata” Reyes, Django Bustamante and Ronne Alcano who, not incidentally became respected champions of the World 9-ball tournaments.

The 34-year old Pinoy cue artist received an avalanche of Christmas blessings when he defeated countryman Roland Garcia, 13-5 in an All-Filipino �inal to capture his �irst World 9-ball Championship in Doha, Qatar last Thursday.

He went home with $30,000 or a whopping P1.8M, which by Philippine standards is way, way up the prize money ladder.

Biado’s victory was an ener-

Cyril Ivan Revilla (jr. boys 50 kg.), John Ednoel Prevendido (Youth boys light �lyweight 4649 kg.), Curt Nnelgy Manigsasa (Youth boys �lyweight 52 kg.), Joshua Padual (Youth boys 56 kg.) and John Alvin Gonzales (youth boys lightweight 60 kg.).

Only three bouts were held as of press time on opening day.

James Errol Gahaton of Brgy.

Labangal-Gensan was �ighting Kim Jade Sagrado in the Jr. boys 44-46 kg. followed by Ben John Rey Yagahon against Alvin John Sumodalayon in the jr. boys �lyweight 48 kg.

The last �ight pits Alfred Gomez of Malungon against Jayson Brillo of Sultan Kudarat (jr. boys �lyweight 48 kg.).

Hail Carlo Biado!

gy-boosting shot in the arm because it has been seven long years – considered a drought in Philippine billiards colorful history – since the coveted championship was captured in 2010 by Franciso “Django” Bustamante.

That he won the trophy in a foreign shore speaks volumes of Biado’s consistency, courage and temerity.

In GenSan where Manny Pacquiao has hosted several caliber contests including two international editions, Biado was always in the thick of the �ight, giving everyone a run for the money. (If my memory serves me right, he won one Pacquiao-sponsored tournament held at the SM Mall of GenSan a couple of years ago.)

I know not so much personally of the new 9-ball world king. The good -looking cue artist does most of his talking on the billiards table and is not scared to meet any of his esteemed old-

SPORTS KEN Fred C. Lumba er counterparts, including those coming from foreign shores.

I watched Carlo’s uncanny style in

Ancajas thrilled over US debut

D

abawenyo world champion Jerwin Ancajas takes his act before the rich American boxing market for the �irst time when he defends the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight title two months from now against Israel Gonzales of Mexico in what should be a slambang 2018 start for the rising Filipino world champion.

The February 3 bout at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas marks the U.S. debut of the 25-yearold pride of Panabo, Davao del Norte, who at this early, is already being hailed by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum as the ‘next Manny Pacquiao.’

a Pacquiao-sponsored tournament in GenSan executing dif�icult but accurate shots and one is easily reminded of the heroic exploits of his predecessors.

From afar, I would concede that Biado has the makings of another great champion who will carry on the colors of the Philippine �lag anywhere in the world.

The guy is calm, cool and collected.

I wish I had asked him his secret for maintaining such a demeanor even when facing the most dif�icult odds.

But you see, all cue artists worth their salt will tell you that presence of mind – or focus - is what one must have every moment you get into a contest.

I see that one does not take for granted whoever is the fellow holding the cue at the other end.

In billiards, you can be swept off your feet with even just the slightest mistake.

International match maker Sean Gibbons made the of�icial announcement Saturday in a press conference held at Island Cove in Cavite in the presence of Ancajas, trainer manager Joven Jimenez, Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Baham Mitra, and Jo Ramos of MP Promotions.

“Excited po na maipakita kung ano meron ako (as a boxer) sa Amerika,” said the soft-spoken champion as he looks forward to his �irst U.S. �ight.

Training for Ancajas’ fourth title defense has already in its early stage, according to his trainer, and will go full blast once the Christmas season is over. (SPIN.ph)

In this sense, one must have the killer instinct.

Meaning, don’t give your foe even the slightest opportunity to make another cue shot on the table.

Today, our heretofore unknown neighbors in the Southeast Asian region are already giving us a headache as many of their youths are taking up the sport in lieu of football, badminton, lawn and table tennis, karate cycling etc.

This is because billiards can be played right at home.

No longer the heir apparent but the heir himself, Biado has unwittingly transformed himself as the new paragon of Philippine billiards.

Congratulations, Carlo. May your tribe increase! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Psam 118:5.

“In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.” 9GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 185 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 17-18, 2017

ALL NEW SEARCH Ramirez opens PSC-Pacquiao Boxing Cup

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez formally opened the inaugural staging of the

COLLABORATION. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez tours Senator Manny Pacquiao at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on Tuesday, Dec. 12. (PSC PHOTO

country’s brand new boxing talent search PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup. T h e ambitious nationwide boxing search of�icially kicked off at Robinson’s Place on Saturday.

Ramirez said the General Santos City leg serves as the inagaural launch of the j o i n t grassroots boxing program of the PSC and Senator Manny Pacquiao in coordination with the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) and Amateur Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap).

Ramirez and Pacquiao, in a recent press conference in Manila, both have high hopes that boxing can bring home the country’s �irst Olympics gold medal.

The PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup eyes to discover promising amateur boxing talents in the periphery, which is the mantra of

President Rodrigo R. Duterte who directed the PSC chief last year to bring grassroots sports to the countryside.

“The PSC, through the PSI, is focused on grassroots sports although PSI is also helping elite athletes in their high performance training with PSI national training director Marc Edward Velasco spearheading the special ops for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” Ramirez said during last month’s annual assessment with PSI coordinators at PhilSports Complex.

Qualifying rounds will be held from Dec. 16 to April 7 in different venues. Preliminaries will be held on April 14 and 15 in Mandaluyong City while the quarter�inals is slated April 21 and 22 in Bo-

hol next year.

Tagum City in Davao del Norte will host the semi�inals on April 28 before the program returns to General Santos City for the �inals on May 5, 2018.

National champions will have the opportunity to be training in the national team or developmental pool.

Meanwhile, General Santos City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) member Alberto D. Pacquiao will welcome participants during the opening rites while Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera will share a message of support to the program. ASBC 2015 best boxer Criz Sander Laurente will lead the oath of sportsmanship.

Senator Manny Pacquiao is expected to witness some of the bouts during the twoday competition. (PSCPSI)