Edge10 issue195 January 3, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

YEAR OF THE DOG. A sales attendant fixes a display of Earth Dog figurine at a stall inside SM City Davao on Tuesday. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2018 is the year of the Dog. Lean Daval Jr

50 HOUSES RAZED

Fire starts at 12:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day A NEWSP3

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T least 50 houses were gutted down when fire broke out at Barangay Wilfredo Aquino, Agdao, Davao City 15 minutes after the break of New Year’s Day last Monday.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) investigators initially reported that the blaze, the very �irst �ire in 2018 in Davao City originated in a residence near the corner Lakatan and Marang streets, Jereza Subdivision.

Barangay captain Leo Aquino said the residents

were in the middle of the New Year revelry when the �ire took place.

Aquino quoted purok leader Neneng Guerra as having reported that the residents were enjoying their New Year parties singing and dancing to the tune of jumpy songs when some-

body noticed smoke and �lames coming out from the second �loor of one of the houses in the area.

Aquino said responding �iretrucks arrived in 10 minutes, however, the �ire spread very fast in the neighborhood where most of the houses were made of light materials.

BFP Davao City of�icer-in-charge Chief Insp.

Joycelyn Grant said the �ire reportedly started on the second �loor of the house of a certain Flora Rodriguez.

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“There’s a fire here … no matter what happens, Ma, I love you” “Mang, nay sunog dire. Mang, nay sunog dire. Mang, kung ano matabo, mang, palangga ko kamo (Ma, there’s a fire here. Ma, there’s a fire here. Ma, no matter what happens, Ma, I love you).”

RHENZI MUYCO

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

LAID TO REST. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles blesses the remains of SSI call center agent Rhenzi Nova Muyco before she was laid to rest at Forest Lake in

Ma-a, Davao City over the weekend. Archbishop Valles officiated the mass for Muyco who was one of the victims of NCCC fire on December 23, 2017. Lean Daval Jr

Only 8 violated 5 fire officers relieved firecrackers’ban pending NCCC probe

By ANGIE SAVERON

A

total of eight persons, three of them minors, were caught violating the �irecrackers ban the entire Christmas season from December 1, 2017 up 8 a.m. yesterday, January 2, 2018 in the Davao area.

Police said the three minors whose names were not revealed were “rescued” in Bunawan, Davao City. One of

them, a 14-year old teenager was caught in the act of lighting an improvised bamboo canon locally known as “Lantaka” at 12:05 a.m. New Year’s Day, while the two other aged 16 and 17 were caught lighting �irecrackers at 12:20 a.m.

They were rounded up by police of�icers under the supervision of PCI Estrello B.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

HE district fire marshal and four other ranking officers of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Davao City pending the results of the investigation of the December 23 fire at the NCCC Mall Davao which claimed ONLY,P11 the lives of 38 persons, mostly call center agents.

Honey Fritz Alagano, Talomo �ire station commander Insp.

Renero Jimenez, Senior Fire Of�icer 1 Leo Lauzon, Fire Of�icer 2 Joel Quizmundo, and Senior Fire Of�icer 1 Roger Dumag.

BFP 11 regional director Fire Sr. Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu disclosed that he signed an order on Sunday relieving the �ive of�icers “pending the results of the investigation.”

Kwan Tiu begged off to disclose details of the reasons for the relief saying that it is

the inter-agency Anti-Arson Task Force to talk about the December 23 after completing its probe. .“Hindi na kasi kami pwedeng magsalita pag about sa sunog, kailangan po yung task force (We are not allowed now to give information since the Task Foce is already there),” he said.

It was earlier reported that the Anti-Arson Task Force is

no �irecrackers and no “Torotot Festival” to welcome the New Year.

But for 17 years now since the passage of the city ordinance banning �irecrackers and pyrotechnics in 2002, Dabawenyos have mastered how to celebrate the New Year safely.

Davao City maintained its record of zero casualties during New Year’s revelry.

At the stroke of midnight on January 1, Dabawenyos

welcomed the year by blowing horns, playing loud music, banging pans and pots, honking of cars and tying small cooking pots and tins to their cars as they moved around the neighborhood.

The Torotot Festival and other major Pasko Fiesta activities were deferred by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio after two tragedies hit Davao City -- the �looding on the night of December 22 when the Davao River over�lowed in

25 barangays due to Tropical Storm “Vinta” and the �ire that gutted the city’s home-grown New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Mall on December 23 that left 37 dead and one still missing.

Davao City has been holding aTorotot Festival every December 31 since 2013.

Duterte-Carpio said the cancellation of the activities is the Dabawenyos way of sympathizing with the victims of

Probers rule out arson in mall fire Davao Region records zero casualties in NewYear’s revelry Relieved starting were Davao City �ire Marshall Supt.

T

he special multi-agency task force investigating the December 23 �ire incident that hit the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Mall here is ruling out arson, as strong evidence points to the electrical short circuit as the cause of the �ire.

Even if arson is a remote possibility, Sr. Superintendent Jerry Candido, spokesman of the Task Force, said that burn debris and ashes were still

submitted for laboratory test.

Based on the initial investigation, Candido said the electrical wirings that were taken from the scene where the �ire started strongly manifest there was an electrical short circuit.

The ocular inspection of the affected area where the �ire started also manifest electrical problems.

He said something fell from the ceiling to the com-

PROBERS,P11

D

avao Region has recorded zero casualties during the New Year’s revelry.

The Police Regional Of�ice (PRO) 11 reported that as of 9 a.m Monday, PRO 11 recorded “negative” incidents of stray bullet, indiscriminate �iring, and �ire or burning incident due to �irecrackers.

There were no reported major injuries in relation to use of �irecrackers.

In Davao City, there were

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

NEWS 3

‘Agaton’-affected families now at 301 A total of 301 families have been affected by inclement weather brought by Tropical Depression Agaton in Central Visayas and CARAGA, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its update Tuesday.

The affected families, liv-

ing in 10 barangays in both regions, are equivalent to 1,287 persons, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said.

Of the �igures, 285 families or 1,208 persons are currently being served in eight evacuation centers, while 16 families or 79 individuals are aided outside. (PNA)

Military ops vs NPA resumes

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ilitary operations against New People’s Army (NPA) are set to resume unless President Rodrigo Duterte orders otherwise.

This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong when asked on whether government forces can go on the offensive with the conclusion of the Yuletide truce effective midnight Wednesday.

“As far as the rules of engagements are concerned, when the cease�ire lapses tonight (Tuesday) at 11:59 p.m. then that automatically means that we will resume offensive combat operations unless the Commander-in-Chief orders otherwise,” he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) implemented a unilateral cease�ire during the Yuletide Sea-

son which started 6 p.m. of December 23 to 6 p.m. of December 26 and 6 p.m. December 30 up to 6 p.m. until 11:59 p.m. this January 2.

Andolong added that the government is determined to resolve the insurgency threat as its solution is critical for national development.

“It is really a national priority, our peace and order situation is critical to achieving national development, we have areas (where) local economies are not prospering because of the activities of the terrorists, especially those engaged in kidnapping, arson, extortion and it is of paramount importance and in fact as far as DND is concerned, it is part of the policy guidance of the SND (Secretary of National Defense Del�in Lorenzana) to conduct focused operations so that this may be achieved,” he added.

(PNA)

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio late Saturday night, Deember 23, 2017 on the fire that struck NCCC Mall Davao at around 9:30 a.m.

“There’s a fire here … no matter what happens, Ma, I love you”

K

aren Angelie Mae Muyco said these were the last words of her sister Rhenzi (nickname: Jade), breadwinner of the family, when she called their mother on Saturday morning, December 23, the day the four-story NCCC Mall Davao caught fire.

PH, eight other countries to benefit from $100-M UN emergency fund

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he Philippines is among nine states to bene�it from a United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) amounting to USD100 million or about PHP5 billion.

This was announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the �irst allocation round to neglected crises, during the annual CERF high-level pledging conference for 2018 early December.

The UN said the allocation, to be outsourced from the 2017 CERF, would help people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Haiti, Mali, Pakistan, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Of the total amount, the Philippines will be sharing with Mali USD13 million to strengthen relief efforts in response to internal con�licts.

In Mali, UN accounted that insecurity and con�lict has spread from the north to the center leaving an estimated 3.8 million people in need of urgent life-saving help.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, armed con�lict in Marawi City displaced an estimated 350,000 people, the majority of whom remain at evacuation centers or with host communi-

ties as basic services have not been restored.

“In all these crises, CERF funds will enable UN agencies and their partners to carry out essential life-saving activities, and contribute to longer-term resilience and stability,” the Secretary-General said, reinforcing the important role CERF plays as a lifeline for people trapped in crises.

According to UN, the Emergency Relief Coordinator twice a year allocates a combined one-third of the annual CERF funds through Underfunded Emergencies (UFE) grants for life-saving activities in protracted or neglected humanitarian crises where funding is low but vulnerability and risk levels are high.

The focus of this UFE round is to support critical humanitarian interventions in nine ongoing protracted and neglected crises affected by con�lict, displacement, food insecurity and malnutrition.

UN gets USD383-M pledge In the annual high-level pledging conference, 36 donors pledged USD383 million for the 2018 CERF to ensure urgent humanitarian aid reaches people in need whenever and wherever crises hit.

In 2017, the UN set aside

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Saturday and was still raging more than 12 hours later. The fire has been put under control but “fire out” has not been declared as of 9:30 a.m. Sunday. JOEY DALUMPINES / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Karen wished she could have responded, “I love you, too,” but she was overtaken by panic upon hearing her sister cry and several others screaming on the other end of the line.

The 25-year old Rhenzi had been working as a call center agent at the Survey Sampling International (SSI) on the fourth �loor of the mall in the last 20 months.

She was asked to report early Saturday and she rushed to work even if it was her day off.

As the breadwinner, Rhenzi, who was considered among the best performing agents at the SSI, did not mind working on her day off for the extra pay.

Her family had planned to celebrate the birthday of their mother, Carolina, the following day, December 24.

Except for Michelle Patani, the eldest of six siblings who is now based in Koronadal as a guidance counsellor at the Notre Dame of Marbel University, the Muyco family was complete as their father came to the city from their hometown in South Cotabato to join the celebration.

Rhenzi wanted to cook the “spaghetti package” given by a friend in the of�ice and get her mom the usual birthday cake.

Karen recalls how their father tirelessly waited outside the mall from the time

Rhenzi Muyco, 25, one of 38 workers who perished in the fire at the NCCC Mall Davao on 23 December 2017. Photo from her FB account

“Mang, nay sunog dire. Mang, nay sunog dire. Mang, kung ano matabo, mang, palangga ko kamo (Ma, there’s a fire here. Ma, there’s a fire here. Ma, no matter what happens, Ma, I love you).” they received that call from Rhenzi but the �ire and the thick black smoke only grew bigger as the minutes turned to hours.

There was no Rhenzi in

sight.

At around 3 a.m. on Sunday, families burst into tears as President Rodrigo Duterte announced at the Aposento

THERE,P11

Continuous response to soften the blows of disasters

I

t was a challenging year for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which had to provide non-stop assistance to Filipinos left vulnerable by disasters, both natural and man-made.

“Very challenging ang 2017 para sa DSWD. We had a change of leadership in the middle of the year,” said Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco, who took over as department of�icer-in-charge after Judy Taguiwalo’s ap-

pointment was turned down by the Commission on Appointments in August.

Taking up where Taguiwalo left off, Leyco continued implementing the department’s programs and services for those hit hard by calamities and the armed con�lict in Marawi City, as well as its regular programs for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and disadvantaged children.

Storms and quakes In a report, the DSWD

said they provided PHP1.16 million in aid to those affected by Tropical Depression Auring in Central Visayas and CARAGA in January; PHP2.23 million when the tail end of a cold front affected 131 barangays in Davao and CARAGA in February; and PHP366,250 to families affected by Tropical Depression Crising, which became a low-pressure area after its landfall in Central Visayas in April.

The department also dis-

tributed PHP444,600 worth of assistance to Tropical Storm Maring-affected areas; and PHP298,485 to families struck by Severe Tropical Storm Odette that devastated the Cordillera region, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon in October.

Quite recently, it channeled aid worth PHP72.54 million to areas ravaged by Tropical Depression Urduja; and PHP9.11 million in areas devastated by Tropical Storm Vinta.(PNA)

4NEWS

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Solon renews call to hold off new coins to avoid confusion

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) should delay the issuance of new coins until April 2018, a senator said Tuesday noting that the new PHP5 coin resembles the old PHP5 coin and could cause confusion.

Senator Nancy Binay urged the BSP to �irst launch an information campaign about the changes to the new coin through mass media which will give the public enough time to prepare for the changes.

BSP is set to release other coin denominations of the New Generation Currency (NGC) series on Jan. 18, 2018.

“What we’re asking is only four months of public information drive to avoid that

head-spinning head-scratching ordeal for consumers and merchants. Let’s attend to the small change to hold off a big headache,” Binay said in a press statement.

“There should be posters in all stores, tricycle and bus terminals, markets, supermarkets, karinderya, jeeps, canteens, vending machines, and all establishments,” she added.

Binay pointed out that the PHP5 coin directly affected commuters particularly people who have “low-vision issues.”

Moreover, she said that incompatibility with coin-operated machines particularly ticket vending machines (TVMs) for the beep cards could affect riders. (PNA)

PNP credits drop in New Year injuries to EO 28, public support

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ublic vigilance and President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 28 played a key role in reducing �irecracker casualties this year, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Tuesday.

“I would also like to thank the public for your unwavering support to the PNP and to our President for issuing Executive Order No. 28 that lead to the peaceful celebration of the New Year,” he added.

Under the EO, the use of �irecrackers shall be limited to community �ireworks displays, which must be under supervision of a trained individual while pyrotechnic devices may still be used outside of community �ireworks display areas.

Firecracker-related casualties for 2018 only totaled to 191 people compared to 350 recorded the previous year.

This year’s �irecracker casualties is 68 percent lower compared to last year’s number of �irecracker casualties,” the PNP chief added.

“I am happy to announce that the PNP recorded zero casualty on stray bullet incident and an all-time low record in �irecracker injuries in our campaign for a peaceful and safer celebration of the holiday season under ‘Ligtas Kapaskuhan 2017”,he said.

In line with this, Dela Rosa said 26 persons were arrested for illegal discharge of �irearms (20 civilians, four PNP personnel, two from the AFP); 74 were arrested for illegal possession of �irecrack-

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LIBERATED SIDEWALKS. Pedestrians can now freely walk on the sidewalk along Ilustre Street in Davao City on Tuesday as vendors

removed their makeshift stalls on the walkway after the New Year celebration. Lean Daval Jr

Licensing one-stop shop moved to Almendras Gym 41,000 firms to apply for permit renewal

By JUDIE VEGA

T

he Davao City’s Business Permit and Licensing Division of the City Mayor’s Offic, or simply Business Bureau, has transferred its one-stop shop (business permit renewal ccnter) to the Davao City Receation Center, also called Almendras Gym, from its former location at the Kadayawan Hall in NCCC Mall of Davao which was burnt to the ground due to a fire last December 23.

Lawyer Marissa Marasigan-Torentera, head of the business bureau, announced the transfer starting yesterday, saying most services rendered in the burnt location will be available in the new site at the DCRC. Torentera however said those who will renew their health permits can proceed to Felcris Centrale located at

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PCOO to establish PCO Net in Davao provinces

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URBAN SCAVENGER. A woman scavenges for vegetables at a dumpsite in Bankerohan’s vegetable bagsakan on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr

Quimpo Boulevard just a few meters away from DCRC instead of at City Health Of�ice because it is more convenient to get it from Centrale.

Renewal of permits is completed within just a day.

Last day for renewal of permits is January 20th. However, application for business permit by new businesses

AGUM CITY, Davao del Norte -- The Presidential Communications Operation Of�ice (PCOO) will establish the Provincial Communications Of�icers Network (PCO Net), a network of government communicators to ensure the ef�icient �low of information to the communities.

PCO Net, which is already established in several provinces like Surigao, Agusan, General Santos, Sarangani, Pangasinan, Cordillera, Siquijor, and Dumaguete, will be launched in other areas in Mindanao.

Virginia Agtay, Director of the News and Information Bureau (NIB), said PCO Net will be established in Compostela Valley sometime next year.

She said PCOO has been going to the provinces to launch the network.

The PCO Net is one of the

PCOO’s initiatives to ensure that plans of the Duterte administration are communicated to every Filipino. This is also with the help of the members of media.

“We all play a vital role in cascading information to the grassroots,” she said, adding, “We are instruments in making or breaking the future.”

Agtay highlighted the PCOO’s aim to upgrade all provincial stations next year and build a Mindanao communications hub.

PCOO, she said will ground break the Mindanao hub which will house the stateowned Radyo Pilipinas, PTV, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the Philippine News Agency (PNA), a bureau under NIB. She announced that Davao

PCOO,P12

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

SORTING CACAO. Cacao beans are meticulously sorted by a worker in a chocolate factory at Malagos farm in Davao City. Chocolates from Davao City is seen to continue dominating the chocolate industry in the country this year. Lean Daval Jr

2 KMME graduates share success T wo graduates of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program have shared their success following the interventions under this initiative.

Kristine Mae Flores of Khit’s Homemade Products and So�ia Tricia Zosa of So�ia’s Home Baked Goodies are currently doing good in marketing their products since their graduation from KMME last December 5, 2016. They are among the 232 KMME graduates, as of December 2017.

The meat processor started her business on July 07, 2014. She narrated that the trainings and seminars she availed of from DTI and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have helped her improve her pork longganisa, pork tocino, pork embutido, chicken longganisa, chicken tocino, chickenembutido. Some of them also gave a boost to her skills in running her business.

“From then on, I

applied all the learning in running my business. By doing so, I have really felt the difference,” Flores said.

She further noted that she has been able to slowly build the con�idence needed in marketing her products. Her network of potential customers has also increased because her co-participants in the KMME program have become her customers as well. Only after �ive months since graduation, she added new products - chicken and pork tocino.

She said the Mentor ME program of DTI was very timely and a blessing for her.

“I am indeed so lucky to be one of the mentees of the pioneering batch of 2016, which nurtured me with the right mindset and the business skills to help me manage my business well,” she said.

For her, the program is like a short course on entrepreneurship,yet a very comprehensive one. Par-

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More stock market gains seen in 2018 despite higher tax

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he local stock market ended the year on record high and is expected for another strong year in 2018 as the country undertakes new initiatives to attract more investors.

“In 2017, the market did very well. It has been a very pro�itable year I guess for the investors,” said Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) president Ramon Monzon.

After posting losses for two years in a row, the benchmark PSE index for the �irst time

closed at a record high on the last trading day of the year on Dec. 29, rising by 23.33 points or 0.3 percent to 8,558.42.

Share prices closed in 2016 at 6,840.64.

This was the 14th time that the main index closed at an alltime high this year.

For 2017, the PSEi gained 25.1 percent.

Daily average value turnover rose 3.2 percent year-todate at Php8.06 billion.

Monzon is optimistic that gains in stocks will be sustained next year on the back of the passage of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).

The tax reform law, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 19, is the �irst package of the government’s proposed Compre-

hensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP). It was expected to generate additional revenue to fund the country’s investment requirements.

“We are banking, hoping to see higher market levels with the passage of the tax reform so we are looking forward to that.

We are very optimistic about 2018,” said the PSE chief.

Monzon said the PSE is embarking on new initiatives to attract more investors into the stock market amid the increase in stock transaction tax.(PNA)

ments and deployment of facilities for �ixed line and wireless businesses.

“This partnership will enable PLDT Group’s wireless services under the brands PLDT, Smart, Sun and TNT to become much more agile, ef�icient and resilient in developing and delivering a growing array of digital services,” PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a statement.

Under the agreement, Huawei will improve Smart Communications’ online

charging platforms and electronic loading for prepaid subscribers for 15 months through consolidating similar applications for different brands under one system and streamlining business processes through a uni�ied platform.This will enable PLDT to offer bundled wireless services ef�iciently and quickly resulting to improved customer experience.

“By leveraging deep understanding of PLDT and our worldwide experience, Huawei proposed our industry

leading OCS (online charging system) and eLoad Solutions to accelerate PLDT’s evolution in the Digital Market through this Transformation Program,” according to Wilson Wang, President of Huawei Revenue Management product line.

Huawei Revenue Management Software Solutions, including OCS and eLoad, enable the services of more than 1.7 billion subscribers at over 190 communication service providers across 107 countries. (PNA)

PLDT partners with Huawei to improve wireless services delivery

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ANILA -- Telecoms and digital services provider PLDT and its mobile unit Smart Communications have announced Tuesday its USD28.5 million partnership with Huawei Technologies to improve the delivery of wireless services to its customers.

The initiative is part of PLDT Group’s capital expenditure program for 2018 amounting to more than PHP50 billion that will be used for network improve-

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BSP, bank execs mull 3rd TDF tenor

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ANILA -- Regulators and bank of�icials are currently in talks over the possibility of introducing a third Term Deposit Facility (TDF) tenor.

This as the 28-day facility remains undersubscribed, especially ahead of the Christmas season, which made the central bank stop offering it for auction.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said central bank of�icials understand why banks offered less bids for the longer-term TDF. “We know that banks have alternative use for their money instead of just putting their (funds) with the BSP,” he said.

The central bank executive said banks needed the money to service their clients’

higher liquidity needs during the holidays.

He, however, stressed that this situation “does not prevent us from considering other tenors”.

Aside from the 28-day facility, the TDF also has a seven-day tenor.

Guinigundo said bank of�icials had suggested a third tenor “probably between seven and 28 days”.

“Whatever that is, it is something subject to discussion between the BSP and the banks,” he added.

Operations of the TDF facility began in June 2016 as a central bank measure to provide banks another option for their excess liquidity.

BSP of�icials said they were satis�ied with how the TDF had been serving its purpose. (PNA)

BANANA ECONOMY. Traders prepare the bananas at their makeshift store in Bankerohan’s vegetable bagsakan which will be picked up by

retailers and will be delivered to the different public markets around the Davao City on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr

1st package to correct ‘long-standing inequity’ in PH tax system M ANILA -- After more than 300 presentations about the gains of tax reforms, efforts of Department of Finance (DOF) officials were not wasted.

Before 2017 came to a close, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law the �irst package of the tax reform program, which is for implementation by January 2018.

This package gives workers’ annual income tax-free rate for the �irst PHP250,000.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, thus, dubbed the signing of the measure as the Duterte administration’s “biggest Christmas and New Year gift” to Filipinos.

He said the approval and eventual signing into law of this

measure “is a sign of maturity for our country”, noting that it materialized without pressure from any entities overseas.

Prior to this, the country’s tax system was adjusted in 1997 as a requirement for the country’s exit from the supervision of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that year.

The �irst of the �ive-package tax reform program “will, once and for all, start �ixing the structural problem with our tax system that has been less than ef�icient,” Dominguez said.

He said the package “cor-

rects the long-standing inequity of our tax system by reducing income taxes for 99 percent of income tax payers.”

“This tax reform will also raise revenues needed for us to have a positive change for every Filipino’s lives,” he said.

While estate revenues will be hurt by the reduced income tax collection, this impact will be countered by hikes in excise taxes of several items like fuel and vehicles.

Uptick in oil prices will hurt the lower income families but the government has decid-

ed to give out a one-year targeted cash transfer to the lower 50 percent of the society, to be funded by higher excise taxes.

Bulk, or 70 percent, of the income tax reform gains, however, will be used to fund the infrastructure program called “Build, Build, Build”, which has a programmed budget of at least PHP8.4 trillion until the end of the current government’s term in mid-2022.

Other gainers from the tax reform bid are the education, health and social services sectors.

In the coming months, DOF of�icials will �ile the second tax reform package, which involves the cut in corporate income tax through the rationalization of

tate-run Social Security System (SSS) announced that the replacement fee for the Uni�ied Multi-purpose Identi�ication (UMID) card was reduced to P200 from the current rate of P300.

SSS President and Chief Executive Of�icer Emmanuel F. Dooc said members who opt to replace their old SSS ID cards or those who have lost their UMID cards can now enjoy the P100-reduction for the replacement of their IDs. “We are happy to announce to our members that the proposal to reduce the replacement fee to Php 200 was already approved by the Social Security Commission (SSC) headed by Chairman

Amado D. Valdez,” Dooc said.

Based on SSC Resolution No. 604-s.2017, the Commission approved the reduction of the cost of UMID card replacement since the cost of data capture service as well as the card production with the ID card provider were also reduced.

Dooc said the reduced replacement fee took effect on Dec 11, based on SSS Of�ice Order 2017-066.

Dooc also noted that the reduced fee also applies to members who wish to have amendments in their identi�ication cards.

Based on SSS Of�ice Order 2017-067, the reduced fee shall be charged for the

replacement of the UMID card or old SS ID due to correction or change of name, correction of date and place of birth, gender, replacement of old or damaged card, change of home address, updating of member photo and change of specimen signature that is printed on the card.

He also reiterated that members who are applying for initial issuance of SSSUMID cards are not required to pay any amount.

Likewise, members will not be charged of the replacement fee if the erroneous encoding of data was on the part of SSS including erroneous screening and

capturing of previous card application.

Payments for the reduced UMID card fee will be accepted by SSS partner banks.

SSS earlier announced that some 34,000 members may now withdraw proceeds of their social security bene�its and loans through automated teller machines using their UMID-ATM cards.

Dooc said the rollout of the program enables faster payment of disability and retirement bene�its, maternity and sickness claims for self-employed and voluntary members, as well as disbursement of salary and calamity loans.

�iscal incentives.

Dominguez said the second package would ensure that the tax system is fair to all tax payers.

“We will simplify the corporate income tax system to make it easier to comply for small corporate,” he said.

Aside from changes in the tax system, other measures that economic managers will pursue include administrative reforms, implementation of national identi�ication and rice tariff, right-sizing of employees in government and further improvement in ease of doing business.

“With the people’s support and understanding all these reforms will result in more and

better jobs, lower prices and brighter future for every Filipino,” Dominguez said.

DOF Undersecretary Gil Beltran said measures towards improving ease of doing business in the country involve the participation of various government agencies.

For one, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to launch the national single window to connect 76 agencies to BOC’s system.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also fully operating the credit information system to have the needed details on businesses’ credit scores.

DOF recently spearheaded

asalukuyan nang inaayos ng bank at non-bank remittance agents ang kanilang mga sistema para sa implementasyon ng real-time processing of contributions (RTPC) na magsisimula sa Enero 16, 2018.

Sinabi ni SSS President and Chief Executive Of�icer Emmanuel F. Dooc na nagsama-sama ang bank at non-bank collection partners noong Nobyembre 28 at tinalakay ang mga karagdagang polisiya, sistema at patakaran na kailangan para sa RTPC. “Upang siguraduhin na maayos ang implementasyon

ng mga pagbabago sa aming sistema, kailangang hikayatin ang lahat ng may kinalaman sa programang ito na gamitin ang bagong process �low ng aming electronic collection system (eCS),” sabi ni Dooc.

Sa ilalim ng RTPC, inaatasan ang mga collection partners na i-encode at tingnan kung tama ang employers’ at members’ Payment Reference Number (PRN) sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng validation request sa SSS system.

Matapos ang kumpirmasyon, maaari na nilang tanggapin

1ST,P12

partners ng SSS, ikinakasa na SSS reduces UMID card replacement fee Collection ang kanilang sistema para sa real-time processing ng contribution payments S K

COLLECTION,P13

7 SUBURBIA RISING

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

FEEDING DOVES. A young girl feeds the doves near the statue of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal at Rizal Park along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Saturday. The whole nation celebrated the 121st anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Rizal on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

AFP, PNP launch manhunt vs. BIFF in Maguindanao roadside bombings

S

HARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -- Joint police and military forces are hunting down an IS-linked Moro armed group who set off two separate improvised roadside bombs that left one police of�icer dead and seven other government forces injured on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The separate improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks came at 8 p.m. on December 31 and at 7 a.m. on January 1.

Killed in the 8 p.m. Sunday roadside explosion was Senior Police Of�icer Max Kaibat.

He expired while undergoing medical operation at Maguindanao Provincial Hospital situated few meters away from blast site.

Injured and undergoing treatment in same hospital are P03 Jalison Abdullah, P01 Archie Ansare Amelista, PO1 Ricardo P Almonia, P01 Alimodin K Nuphay and P01 Zainoden Abdullah, all members of Shariff Aguak town police force.

Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said in a report that a police car loaded with police personnel were conducting security patrol during the New Years’ Eve revelry in Barangay Poblacion Mother when the IED went off.

Police believed the attack was perpetrated by the IS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who

AFP,P13

ARMM strengthens PLEB

C

OTABATO CITY - Report police abuses or wrong doings to the Peoples Law Enforcement Board (PLEB).

This was the advice of Nomaire Madid, director II of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) to the region’s constituents.

The DILG has been strengthening the PLEB, a mechanism for check and balance organized at the municipal and city level, Madid said.

Normally, he said, victims of abuses by police only report the matter and �ile complaint before the local police

of�ice but not before the PLEB. This is the DILG’s support to the anti-drug war of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“PLEB is giving ordinary citizens the power to complain against law enforcers who abuse their authority,” Madid told PNA in an interview.

To ensure the mechanism’s successful implementation, DILG-ARMM has just conducted Capacity Enhancement Training of People’s Law Enforcement Boards in Maguindanao on board members in 18 towns.

The next batch will follow early next year. (PNA)

Region 12 war on drugs successful in 2017 C Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzales, speaking for the Police Regional Of�ice No. 12, said in a statement that the success of police anti-drug campaign could be attributed mainly to the public’s cooperation and peoples’ con�idence on the police as well as other

law enforcement agencies in the region.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 12 also cited cooperation from major sectors in the success of the anti-drug campaign, one of the banner programs of President Rodri-

go Duterte.

The rise of prices of illegal stuff was noted beginning early in 2017 and its supply has gone limited, the PDEA said.

“Prices of meth (shabu) have gone up it would be dif�icult for ordinary folks to secure one, simply a law of demand and supply applies,” PDEA-12 Director Valente Fortunato Cariño said in a radio interview here.

Since July this year, the police had conducted 2,043 anti-drug operations in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat,

OTABATO CITY -- Forty-three persons were hurt in �irecracker-related incidents in Region 12, the regional health department reported Tuesday.

Jenny Ventura, focal person of the region’s Department of Health (DOH) “Iwas Paputok” program, said as of Tuesday (January 2), a total of 43 persons were injured by �irecrackers despite massive information campaign against its use.

Ventura, however, said that the number is 10 percent lower as compared to the same period last year.

Monitoring started on Dec. 21 and will end Jan. 5.

South Cotabato has the highest number of �irecracker victims during the period with 31 followed by North Cotabato with �ive, Sarangani with four, Gen. Santos City with two and Sultan Kudarat with one victim.

Ventura said that of the total number of victims, 39 were men and four were women. Of the number, 26 were children and 17 were adults.

She added that most of the victims sustained inju-

ries inside their homes, 14 had it on the street and �ive in other areas.

Of the 43 victims, 29 were active users or they were the ones who set off the �irecracker while 14 were passive or not involved but were nevertheless hit.

According to Ventura, the cases of eye injuries were limited to 12 victims which indicated that the �irecracker exploded close to the victims’ faces.

One victim had an amputated toe due to serious injuries.

Ventura said 17 of the

OTABATO CITY -- The war on drugs in 2017 in Region 12 or the SOCCSKSARGEN area could be considered largely successful with the supply of prohibited drugs getting scarce, a police official said.

South Cotabato, Sarangani and North Cotabato, including the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong and Gen. Santos.

In such operations conducted in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, 2,625 persons were placed behind bars after their arrest during drug buy-bust operations and serving of search warrants.

Unfortunately, 131 of the drug personalities perished for resisting arrest or shooting it out with lawmen during anti-drug operation.

victims used legal �irecrackers while 26 used the illegal ones like “kwitis,” “fountain,” “piccolo,” “5 star,” “boga,” and “triangle.”

Fourteen of the victims used “piccolo.” Thirty-two of the victims were sent home, one refused admission, four were admitted and six others were referred to bigger hospitals.

Dr. Frank Mateo, DOH12 assistant regional director, said that this year’s victims were still lower compared to the same period last year with 50 �irecracker victims. (PNA)

43 firecracker-related injuries in Region 12 C

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

Justice for the heroes

HE investigation into the Dec. 23, 2017 �ire at the NCCC course awaited with baited breath by Dabawenyos who have

Mall Davao has started. It is being conducted jointly by a been horri�ied most especially by the loss of 38 lives who were composite team called Anti-Arson Task Force involving all in their prime and were mostly the breadwinners of their re-

mainly the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), spective families. which has supervision and control over the Bureau of Fire Pro-

We think of them as the heroes whose lives unnecessarily per-

tection, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and ished in that terrible tragedy in their desire to help their famithe National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

lies and be productive members of society. We, Dabawenyos, can

As of yesterday, �ive of�icials of the BFP have been relieved easily relate to them because their lives are familiar to us. They

pending completion of the investigation by the task force. This are our hardworking neighbors; they may even be our relatives. came about because the probers will need to look into the actu-

It is our hope and prayer, therefore, that part of the resolution

ations of the �ire of�icials in so far as the mall’s compliance with of the case would be a just reparation to the terrible loss of the �ire safety requirements stipulated by law.

young victims’ lives and restoration of the ruin to their loved

Whatever would be the outcome of the ongoing probe is of ones’ future.

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

I

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

VANTAGE POINTS

9

‘The Japanese in Davao’

n the July 1930 issue of the Philippine Magazine, its editorial (also the title of this column) was reacting to a call from certain quarters to close the Davao port only few years after it was declared open through the efforts of the Davao Chamber of Commerce.

The primary reason for this surprising move was to punish the Japanese investors who, at this time, were indisputably gaining upper-hand in controlling the hemp production in town and was becoming a very dominant socio-economic force. The article opens with a censure: “It has been suggested in responsible quarters that Davao, now an open port, be closed, and the reason given for this step is to put obstacles in the way of the Japanese who have extensive interests there. Stating it thus baldly, in itself condemns the plan as unjust to an important element of the population and as short-sighted as an economic policy.

“There are two sides to the question whether the Japanese should be actively encouraged by the Government to settle in the Philippines, although there can be no question from the Philippine viewpoint that the building up of Japanese “colonies” here would’ be disadvantageous. But such Japanese as are here should not be discriminated against.

They are peaceful and pay their taxes and are entitled to fair treatment.

“Closing Davao as a customs port would be a serious blow to the prosperity and further development of Davao, which would involve not only the Japanese, but all other interests; and, while other nearby ports, like Zamboanga, and the inter-island shipping companies might pro�it temporarily, ultimately all of Mindanao and the shipping interests and the economic interests of the entire Philippines would suffer.”

The write-up rationally argued the impact the closure move and underscored the damage it would make on the national interest at a time when hemp export was contributing much to the country’s economic indicators.

“The whole country must prosper as a unit. There can be no real prosperity of the whole at the expense of a part of the country.

The Japanese in Davao contribute to the advancement and prosperity of the entire Philippines. It would be the height of folly to attempt to segregate the various racial or national elements in the country and expect to advance the general interests by damaging the interests of some.

“However, the suggestion to close Davao as a customs port would never have been made and would not have received such serious attention after it had been made, were it not for the existence of certain conditions in Davao province which naturally

“Heroes are more than just stories, they’re people. And people are complicated; people are strange. Nobody is a hero through and through, there’s always something in them that’ll turn sour... you’ll learn it one day.

There are no heroes, only villains who win.” ― Joel Cornah in The Sea-Stone Sword Melvin Gaa never thought of himself as a hero when he was still alive. But Davao media called him as such when it was learned that he was able to help bring down the 83 surviving employees of SSI and an estimated 700 personnel of the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Mall which was engulfed by �ire two days before Christmas last year.

“Melvin had already brought down several Survey Sampling International (SSI) employees and was already seen having safely existed from the building at the ground �loor. But instead of remaining downstairs, he went upstairs again to try to save more people,” said Thea Padua, NCCC Mall spokesperson.

But the member of the NCCC Emergency Action Team failed this time. When the �ire ended the following day, Melvin was one of the 37 dead bodies recovered by the Bureau of Fire Protection personnel near the lobby of the SSI of�ice on the mall’s fourth �loor.

“Is there a possibility he tried (to rescue some of the trapped people)?” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio asked during the press conference. “I think, yes, from the location he was found, maybe he went upstairs because everybody is asking for help, that is my opinion.”

“I am not a hero,” Miep Gies was quoted

as saying by “The New York Times.” “I just did what any decent person would have done.”

It was the beginning of World War II. Gies, who was a Christian, worked as a secretary in the food chemicals business owned by Otto Frank, who happened to be a Jew. To escape the Nazis, Frank, his family, and four other Jews moved into a secret apartment above the business. Gies was one of �ive people aware of their hideout and took food to them daily.

“The New York Times” recounted: “After the Jews were discovered and taken away to concentration camps on August 4, 1944, Gies de�ied Nazi orders to stay out of the nolonger-secret apartment. There she found strewn across the �loor the handwritten diary pages of Frank’s younger daughter, Anne. At great personal risk, she retrieved and kept them.

“After learning that Anne had died in Bergen-Belsen, Gies gave her diary to Otto Frank, the only member of the family who survived the camps. Otto arranged for its publication in 1947, and ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ became an extraordinarily poignant and important document of Nazi oppression.”

“What’s a hero?” asked �light attendant Uli Derickson in the March 1994 issue of ‘People’ magazine. “I didn’t even think about it.”

Working on TWA Flight 847 from Athens to Rome, which was hijacked for seventeen days by Lebanese terrorists in 1985, she persuaded the hijackers to spare the lives of all but one person on board and

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa lead to such a suggestion being put forward and considered, unwise as it may be.

“It is not to the advantage of any country to allow the formation of a colony of aliens owing allegiance to a foreign government.

According to reports, the Japanese planters of Davao are a clannish lot, marrying among themselves, sending their children to Japanese schools, importing their foodstuffs and other necessities from Japan, and dealing with their own grocers and bakers, employing Japanese labor, using Japanese transportation companies, Japanese banks, etc., etc. It is said that the average Japanese in Davao will not

ride in an automobile driven by a Filipino chauffeur if he can help it, nor buy a pair of Philippine-made shoes, even though they must pay more for the shoes of poorer quality imported from Japan.”

Even more appalling, the editorial said, it would create a kind of discrimination because the proposal would be directing affecting only the Japanese. It is of no argument that outside them the Chinese were also making trade headways in town that would be affected if the Davao port closes its operation to mercantile traf�ic.

“Such attitudes and policies are not conducive to getting along well in a foreign country, and must inevitably lead to measures against them on the part of the people who have become unwilling hosts. Although this applies toall foreigners in a country, it applies less to the mercantile and professional classes than to the agricultural classes who acquire ownership of land and therefore a foothold of more or less permanent tenure. No country can afford to grant such an advantage to incorrigible aliens. No country can afford to entertain a large and growing group of foreigners who might, at any time, become an actively hostile body in their very midst.

“Unlike the Chinese, the Japanese are not excluded by the immigration laws, but are admitted on a quota basis, the only

direct prohibition being against the entrance of contract labor. It is stated that a large percentage of the Japanese now in Davao have gained entrance illegal under this prohibition, and also that considerable land is held illegally under the land laws of the country.

“The Japanese in Davao, not being citizens of the Philippines, have no vote.

But it is reliably reported that they take a considerable part in local politics by furnishing the sinews of war-funds-to candidates they favor because the candidates favor them. This would tend to indicate that if any control is to be exercised over the situation it must be done by the Insular Government.

“It seems unquestionable that a situation now exists and has existed for some time in Davao that should be looked into. But any unfairly discriminating legislation is a confession of failure of statesmanship. The solution might lie along lines prohibiting the sale of lands, public or private, to aliens, and of compulsory school attendance laws for naturalized citizens.”

If there’s one indisputable reason for the move to close the Davao port, it was political in nature, something the colonial administrators did not want to face squarely given the economic implications of the proposal.

daily newspapers.”

In “Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War,” Mary Roach wrote: “Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.

Sometimes a chicken can save a man’s life.”

“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom,” commented American singer Bob Dylan, who recently received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver �ive minutes longer,” noted Ralph Waldo Emerson. But de�initely, to quote the words of John Barth, “Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story.”

Indeed, it is very hard to de�ine what a hero is. Suzy Kassem, in “Rise Up and Salute the Sun,” wrote: “This is where people misunderstand war. When you attack another country for its resources, you are the pirate. But when you protect your country from the pirates, you are the hero.”

In movies, heroes abound. In fact, there are super heroes (Superman, Spiderman and Captain Barbel to name a few) and super heroines (like Darna and Wonder Woman). Again, how can you become a hero or heroine?

“It does not take a great supernatural heroine or magical hero to save the world.

We all save it every day, and we all destroy it – in our own small ways – by every choice we make and every tiniest action resulting from that choice,” Vera Nazarian pointed out.

“The next time you feel useless and impotent, remember what you are in fact doing in this very moment. And then observe your tiny, seemingly meaningless acts and choices coalesce and cascade together into a powerful positive whole.

The world -- if it could -- will thank you for it. And if it does not... well, a true heroine or hero does not require it,” she wrote.

There are no heroes, if there are no villains. Your boss, for instance, can either be a hero or a villain. It depends upon which perspective you see him. If he develops you to be like him in the future, then he can be your hero but if he keeps belittling in front of visitors and subordinates, then the boss can be your villain.

How does a hero differ from a villain?

When screenwriter Ben Hecht arrived in Hollywood for the �irst time, his fellow screenwriter Herbert Mankiewicz told this secret: “In a novel, a hero can lay ten girls and marry a virgin for a �inish. In a movie, this is not allowed. The hero, as well as the heroine, has to be a virgin. The villain can lay anybody he wants, have as much fun as he wants cheating and stealing, getting rich and whipping the servants. But you have to shoot him in the end.”

That’s why everyone wants to be identi�ied with the hero. “The thing about a hero,” said Joss Whedon, “is even when it doesn’t look like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, he’s going to keep digging, he’s going to keep trying to do right and make up for what’s gone before, just because that’s who he is.”

In search of a hero

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

maintained calm throughout the ordeal.

Rejecting the “hero” label, she insisted that she was only doing her job.

No one aspires to be a hero. But anyone can be a hero. “A man can be a hero if he is a scientist, or a soldier, or a drug addict, or a disc jockey, or a crummy mediocre politician,” says American feminist critic Andrea Dworkin. “A man can be a hero because he suffers and despairs; or because he thinks logically and analytically; or because he is ‘sensitive;’ or because he is cruel.

“Wealth establishes a man as a hero, and so does poverty,” Dworkin further said.

“Virtually any circumstance in a man’s life will make him a hero to some group of people and has a mythic rendering in the culture—in literature, art, theater, or the

10 COMMUNITY SENSE PAL Year-Ender 2017 EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

To be 5-star, focus on the passenger At the 76th anniversary in March, employees with Buong Pusong Alaga stories were featured in a heartwarming coffee table book.

T

PAL Express VP Capt. Edgardo Diaz leads the send off ceremony for the inaugural Basco-Clark service.

ransformation from world-class to five-star airline characterized year 2017 for Philippine Airlines. The flag carrier shifted to high gear on initiatives to raise its rating by airline/airport rating company Skytrax to four stars in 2018, and eventually to five stars by 2020.

The goal is not a quick �ix but a multi-year top-to-bottom re-invention of the airline.

Singular focus is the passenger – an unceasing effort to extend total passenger care at every customer touch-point, while managing expectations every step of the journey.

PAL maintained its threepronged strategy of �leet up-

grades, route expansion and service innovation to achieve the goal.

New planes, new routes Seven airplanes were delivered in 2017 – �ive Bombardier Q400 turboprops for inter-island �lights and two Boeing 777-300ERs for long-haul routes.

On June 13, the �irst of eight

New Business Class seats for the reconfigured A330s, redefining cabin comfort.

Filipino dishes like chicken inasal delight even the discriminating passengers.

Two Boeing 777-300ER fresh out of the Boeing assembly plant in Seattle await delivery to PAL

recon�igured, tri-class Airbus A330s was unveiled, featuring one of the most luxurious cabins in the sky.

This A330 �irst �lew to Honolulu, followed by Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo Haneda and other routes. From July to November, �ive dual-class, 86-seater Q400 were delivered.

Its �irst commercial �light was

Cebu-Caticlan in August.

Meanwhile, on December 15, a PAL 777 made the �irst trans-polar �light for a Philippine carrier – a 16.5-hour, non-stop Toronto-Manila �light – preceded by the upgrade of several routes from one-stop to non-stop in 2017: Manila-Doha, Manila-Auckland, Manila-Kuwait and Manila-Jeddah.

PAL’s complete �leet of ten 777s now �ly to North America and London.

Additional airplanes enabled PAL to open new routes out of Cebu, Davao and Clark.

On January 2, PAL operated its �irst international �light to Clark with the arrival of an A321 from Seoul. Other new routes include Seoul-Tagbilaran, Chengdu-Kalibo, Chengdu-Cebu, Manila-Kuala Lumpur, Cebu-Beijing and Cebu-Bangkok.

From having no Clark service in 2016, PAL vaulted to become the largest airline operator at Clark airport by the close of 2017, with �lights from Clark to Bacolod, Basco, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Masbate, Puerto Princesa, Tag-

bilara n , Virac and Seoul.

From Davao, PAL opened three new routes (Davao to Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga) using the new Q400s.

Ten domestic routes were opened from Cebu – Siargao and Camiguin (new PAL destinations) as well as to Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Surigao, Tacloban and Tagbilaran.

Product innovations PAL introduced a new Premium Economy product on its A330s (and soon A350s), offering all-new seats and amenities in a private cabin. A key service innovation is in�light connectivity – ensuring more passengers stay connected while �lying, through wi-�i or mobile phone connection.

PAL also introduced new in�light menus, including signature Filipino dishes. The SwingAround Tour Packages were resumed, offering affordable travel packages.

In February, PAL introduced the �irst-ever nationwide crowd-sourced in�light safety video featuring nine of the best Philippine tourist destinations.

PAL likewise enhanced its website and improved an array of check-in, transit, transfer and boarding procedures.

In 2017, the �lag carrier proposed to build a NAIA Terminal 2 Annex that can accommodate up to 17 million passengers annually, with parking for up to 15 aircraft.

Different companies took notice of PAL’s transformation.

Awards were given including 4th Best Airline Worldwide for Best Cabin Service, 6th Most Improved Airline, 2017 Subic Eco-Tourism Festival Award and Best Asia-Paci�ic Treasury Team.

Corporate Social Responsibility Projects The PAL Foundation continued extending travel assistance to airlift relief goods to disaster-stricken areas. More than 15 tons of donations were �lown to Cagayan de Oro for displaced Marawi residents, while seven local children �lew to Manila to be resettled at an orphanage in Cavite. PAL Chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan donated P2 million cash intended for soldiers who fought in Marawi.

Habitat for Humanity was given 750,000 miles that were converted to tickets to support its housing advocacy for indigent communities. A total of 149 indigent-patients (and their escorts) �lew PAL to get emergency medical assistance.

Recently, more than 13 tons of donations were airlifted to Davao for victims of typhoon Vinta in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.

Passengers at Tagbilaran board the Q400 for the inaugural flight to Davao in November 2017.

Filipino athletes – from tennis and table tennis players to �igure skaters – competed abroad �lying PAL to represent the country under the PAL Foundation’s �lagship program #RPRSNT Pinoy.

In September, 132 Filipinos were repatriated on a special PAL �light from Puerto Rico just before Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean island.

PAL employees actively participated in ecological projects such as the International Coastal Clean-up and tree-planting in a farm in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

Looking Forward to 2018 PAL looks forward to opportunities in 2018, when it introduces new Airbus A321 NEOs (February) and A350s (June) that will allow PAL to mount non-stop �lights to Brisbane, India and the US East

TO,P12

INdulge!

Marco Polo Hong Kong’s Deluxe Suite offers a lot of space and modern comforts plus a spectaclar view of Victoria Harbour.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

TRAVEL

Memorable travel experiences 2017

LOOKING BACK AT 2017, I can say that I have travelled quite a bit and making travels more exciting and memorable are the experiences one gets when going to and exploring a destination. Although I had many fun experiences in the past year, here are a few which I feel are really worth mentioning.

A Hong Kong tradition I find it nice to slow down whenever I travel.

From a visit to a park or a museum, to sitting down and having some tea of coffee, this break from the travel rush allows me to observe the city I am visiting. For Hong Kong, it always has to be afternoon tea and the most iconic afternoon tea is at the Peninsula Hotel.

For many years, me and my travel buddy Otoi have tried to have afternoon tea at the Peninsula but the long queue dissuaded us from doing so, until this year. Going on a rainy Monday afternoon, the line was just four people long and we were seated in no time.

Sitting in the middle of the lobby and enjoying afternoon tea was an experience that is different from having afternoon tea at the 102nd floor of the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong. The

lobby, decked in all its traditional British colonial grandeur was a sight to behold and the scones and pastries that accompanied the tea were absolutely divine.

A room with a view Hotel stays are always memorable when one travels. From the comfy bed when you return from exploring a city, to the views outside its glass windows. This year, my most memorable hotel

URBANISSIMO A3 Enjoying afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.

EDGEDAVAO Enjoying a glass of refreshing craft brew at Baguio Craft Beer.

A2INdulge!

TRAVEL

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

Another first for me! My first professionally taken photo in surf action. (I know a ride would have beenbetterbutIdon’thavecopies).

Photo by Gringgo Urbiztondo.

IT’S THE START OF A NEW YEAR. We’ve just begun saying hello to 2018. There’s just something about beginnings that I really love. In lieu of the season, I’ll continue the stories about my recent trip to La Union next week. For now, it’s only right that 2017 gets a proper farewell.

Looking back at the 12 months that passed, I realized the emerging theme that dominated the year. 2017 was the year of chasing dreams. There were so much firsts for this year!

First time to actually life the lifestyle of surfing. To chase the waves (literally) wherever they may be. And a lot of firsts in surfing new spots.

Beginning January 2017, I found myself in my first ever surf trip around Mindanao. I’ll always be grateful to the crew I was with (shout outs to Joven, Alex, Lisa, Bhrett and Sandy – you guys are awesome!). This first surf trip definitely created a lot of chapters in my book.

It was my first time to venture outside of my homebreak, Dahican, in Davao Oriental.

Starting from Dahican in Mati City, we drove upwards towards the norther municipalities in Davao Oriental, stopping by in Caraga, Baganga and Cateel.

I will never forget the endless possible surf spots that I saw along this east coast drive or the beautiful natural attractions of each municipality.

The goal was to drive up north and go to the major surf spots along the east coast of Mindanao. We weren’t able to visit all of them but the usual spots (that I haven’t been to prior to this trip) were Lianga and Lanuza in Surigao del Sur, and finally, Siargao up in Surigao del Norte.

It was my first time both in Lanuza and Lianga. It was love at first surf. I realized from this trip, as I write this here in Lianga; I’ve always been com-

ing back to these places. This year alone, I’ve been to Lanuza thrice and Lianga, five times! I had to keep checking back the dates on the photos I took because it seemed so long ago, I actually thought that I visited Lianga first last year!

Siargao Island was the last stop of the trip. Though it wasn’t my first time there, it was my first time to go there just purely for surf and with a group of surfers (who were so much better than I was at surfing).

I got to the taste the lifestyle that accompanied the surf culture in Siargao Island and I was quite taken aback that the island was almost about half partying and half surfing. Oh, and eating in between since there were just so many restaurants, cafes and food holes that sprouted in the last years. Siargao Island then made it on my list of foodie places.

My surfing tapered down with the onset of the flat season where I realized I really have to look for places with waves. I lost the muscle and stamina that I built by surfing almost everyday for the first three to four months of the year. This is one of my goals for 2018, to never commit the same mistake by being idle during the off season in the usual breaks that I surf in.

The onset of Amihan season was met not only with waves but with a lot of trips and firsttime experiences. My favorite was being part of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour (PSCT), albeit a very small role in writing about the tour and the happenings around it.

The PSCT brought me back to a few of my favorite surf spots as well as new spots that I would never have thought I would be able to visit this year (hello, Elyu). I didn’t make it to the full four stops of the tour since I had a prior travel commitment during the stop in Baler, Aurora.

Next year, I’m planning to go experience more surf spots in Luzon as well in Visayas. I’m

Real struggles of traveling with your surfboard. Taken in Siargao, September 2017.

Aloha, 2018!

This is with my Dahican crew, Dahicabebes.

One of our favorite photos taken after surfing and freediving.

One of the upsides of remote work is that you can work anywhere.

Throw shakas for my constant Lianga crew, local surfers Joey and Wang! Taken December 2017. Photo by Mottie Santos. crossing my fingers that PSCT came out at just the right time adds more surf spots this 2018. to warm us up when it was I love how unintentionally starting to get really cold. Add surfing started and ended 2017. a hundred of fishes, a dozen On the last day of 2017, I was seagulls and two arching rainable to surf one newer spot in bows, my companions (Joey, Lianga and I was blown away by Toto and Uncle Bob) paddled the quality of waves found here. back to the shore.

I didn’t expect to surf lefthander When new and old friends waves since most of these were exclaim about how I’m ‘living righthanders. the life’, I noticed (this is a late I was blown away. The last realization for the year though) day of 2017 was ending per- how I always downplay these fectly as I wrapped up the day’s remarks. It dawned me that two surf session with shoulder to years ago, I would have died head high waves that gave you to live this kind of life where I enough speed and face to play could bring my work anywhere around with. Despite the rain (as long as there’s internet) and and gloomy weather, the sun ergo, surf as much as I can.

This is not to brag or create a rift that this kind of lifestyle is better than corporate or better than other alternative lifestyles but this is to make the point that dreams can come true. We can chase our dreams and turn them into reality yet once we’re there, it’s hard to realize that it’s actually true at the moment. I have this gut feeling that it’s still a long way to go for me, there’s still so much to write about, to discover and experience in the journey of searching for the elusive (and hopefully) never ending stoke.

The doors are wide open and the pages are blank. 2018 is going to be an awesome year, I can feel it. Happy new year to everyone and cheers to new beginnings!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

TRAVEL URBANISSIMO A3 stay is at the Marco Polo Hong Kong’s Harbour View Rooms.

With over 60 square meters of space, Marco Polo Hong Kong’s harbour View Rooms allow travellers to relax and spread out

in style and comfort with its own dIning room, seating room, pantry, walk in closet, and separate shower and bathtub. The main draw to the suite though is the spectacular billiondollar views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island from its windows.

EDGEDAVAO Aside from the room, Continental Club access is also part of the suite experience, giving guests a more private breakfast area as well as afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

Atching Lilian Borromeo holding a wooden mold for her San Nicolas cookies.

A different cool at Baguio Craft Beer I have always considered myself a wine person but a visit to Baguio Craft Beer in Baguio literally changed the way I viewed beer. From floral to hoppy, to bitter and sweet, the specialty beers at Baguio Craft Beers are like various wines with their own tasting notes.

This experience was a surprise for me as it had been decades since I last visited Baguio. Cool and full of character and history, Baguio Craft Beer is much like the famed City of Pines.

Dinner with Atching Lilian Of the many kinds of cuisines in the Philippines, one of the most famous and sophisticated is said to be the cuisine of Pampanga. A fusion of native and Chinese techniques fused with Spanish influence created a flavor profile and dishes that are unique to that Philippine province.

On my trip to Clark on

INdulge! A3

Shopping at Tumon Sands.

AirAsia’s maiden voyage, I was fortunate enough to have dinner at the Mexico, Pampanga abode of Atcheng Lilian Borromeo. A gatekeeper of Pampanga’s heirloom recipes, meeting Atchen Lilian was

fascinating as she shared the origins and history of many Pampangueño dishes which include, sisig, bringhe, and others.

It was also fascinating to watch he make her famous San Nicolas cookies using

traditional centuries-old wooden moulds, bridging the past with the present.

The shopping paradise of Guam Although Hong Kong may be more popular when it comes to the “shoppingera” scene, the small US territory of Guam is no push over when it comes to shopping as I discovered on a trip with the Guam Tourism Board and Cebu Pacific.

An island in the West Pacific, Guam is a shoppers paradise with almost every major US retailer setting shop on the island. From outlet shops to luxury boutiques, there is always something for someone to buy, especially since Guam enjoys a sale tax free status. Even more appealing are the shopping hours on the island with premium outlet stores open until 11 in the evening and even some going 24/7.

Shopping in Guam is also more relaxed as there are shorter queues thanks to lesser rowdy mainland Chinese crowds, as well as Filipino staff who are more than happy to point out the best deals around.

That is it for 2017, I look forward to more adventures this 2018! Cheers and happy new year!

A4

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

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Grant said a witness identi�ied as Lauro Lim reportedly saw the �lames in the house of Rodriguez at the time when most people in the community were having their street parties to welcome the New Year.

Stories circulating in the community that illegal �ireworks had caused the �ire will be looked into by arson investigators, Grant told reporters.

“Kung sino man ang responsable, kakasuhan natin (Whoever is responsible will be properly charged in court),” she said.

Grant said there were no recorded fatality or in-

jury in the �ire, which was placed under control in about 45 minutes at about 1:02 a.m.

The incident came eight days after the December 23 NCCC Mall Davao �ire wherein 38 persons were killed and P1.6-billion worth of property and merchandize went up in smoke.

The NCCC mall is now being investigated a task force composed of the BFP, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Ramiso. A total of two �irecrackers and one “Lantaka” were con�iscated by the peace of�icers and are now under the custody of Police Station 6.

The minors were turned over to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) and were later released in good physical condition.

Meanwhile, a total of four cases of violations of Executive Order 28 (Limiting Use of Firecrackers) and City Ordinance 060-02 (Firecrackers ban) were also recorded against adults since January 1-2 2018 in the areas of Calinan, Talomo, Buhangin and Bunawan.

Noel Acero Bainticulo, 39, a resident of Purok 4-A Km 24, Bunawan Amplaya was caught in possession of 17 sticks of �irecrackers and one pack of sparklers, while Rizan Roca Gofrero,30, Barangay Wangan Calinan, was caught lighting up a Lantaka. Aliza Gracyl Pocot Beldia, 27, of Phase 1 blk. 4 S.I.R Davao City was caught in act lighting one pearl �lower pyrotechnic. Also arrested were Michael Libre Sistual, 36, resident of Purok

11 Barangay Communal, Buhangin and Nick Ontolan Flores 31 years old, resident of Mutual homes barangay Communal Buhangin District in act lighting a pyrotechnic fountain (Paguda small brand) at Mutual Homes in barangay Comunal.

Meanwhile, PO2 Ilaco, PO1 Bandigan and PO1 Tabasa of Mobile 21 recovered one improvised tin can canon around 10:30 p.m. on December 31 along Father Selga St. Davao. It was left behind by unidenti�ied suspect. Later at around 11:45 p.m. of the same date, the group of PO2 Acaso, PO2 Geronilla, PO2 Langason, PO2 Tugade, PO2 Cabang and PO1 Tabasa also of Mobile 21 under the supervision of PCI Ramil Macarampat recovered �ive improvised tin can cannons, three improvised PVC pipe cannons at Dapsa, Barangay76- A Davao city.

They were left behind after the suspected violators scampered away to different directions after noticing the approaching mobile police car. The items were brought to Police Station 2 located at San Pedro Station.

bustible parts on the third �loor.

“Yan po ang sinusundan natin sa imbestigasyon ngayon (That is what we (investigators) is pursuing),” Candido said in a phone interview.

Candido con�irmed the �ire started in the ceiling of the third �loor of the furniture section of the NCCC department store. He explained that a �ire triggered by an electrical short circuit spreads fast immediately.

He said the investigating team coming from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as lead agency, BFP national of�ice, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted an evaluation of the electrical installations of the NCCC mall and the Survey Sampling International (SSI).

Candido hinted at few illegal practices that caused dam-

age to electrical installations of the NCCC Mall.

Candido said the probers are detailing all evidence and �indings because they are expecting a court battle.

Liabilities Probers will be focusing on the liabilities of the people involved, including the NCCC Mall and SSI, which allegedly found to have lapses in complying with the Fire Code.

Candido said probers are careful in naming persons for now until they get testimonies of the witnesses from the NCCC Mall and SSI who were present when the incident happened.

He added that investigators from the NBI and CIDG have conducted the oral interview and what is needed now is the testimony of the interviewed witnesses to clear everything.

“We have a timeline…kailangan matapos in a week (we need to �inish in a week),” he said..(PNA)

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SHORT CIRCUIT. Fire Sr. Supt. Jerry Candido, who is director of logistics at the Bureau of Fire Protection, and one of the lead investigators into the NCCC fire, says short circuit was the cause of the mall blaze that claimed 38 lives and ate up P1.6-billion worth of property and

merchandize, during an interview over the weekend. Five BFP Davao officials were relieved from their post as recommended by the Interagency Anti-Arson Task Force pending results of the investigation.

Lean Daval Jr

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tice for her sister.

Michelle added that they are awaiting results of the investigation conducted by the interagency task force comprising the Department of Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11.

“We will wait for the result of the investigation. As of now, we need to calm down.

If it shows there’s lapses in the mall management, we need to �ight,” she said.

Her sister’s remains were laid to rest on Sunday.

Withdrawn Mayor Sara Duterte assured the city government’s support for families of the victims.

She said the city government, NCCC Mall and SSI will give the families �inancial assistance.

The city government has vowed to shoulder the expenses for the wake and the burial of the victims; SSI will help match families for livelihood packages with the Department of Labor and Employment; and NCCC will include the children of those who died, in their scholarship program.

Mayor Duterte, an endorser of Choice Mart, a company under NCCC Supermarket, had earlier withdrawn the city

government’s participation in the ongoing investigation after her “integrity and impartiality” was questioned.

In a statement on December 28, the mayor said her impartiality has been questioned and there have been suggestions that she should inhibit herself from the investigation of the NCCC mall �ire because of an endorsement contract.

“For the record, I am not part of the investigation team.

I have never presented myself to investigate the mall �ire and under normal circumstances, a City Mayor does not sign �ire investigation reports of the BFP. Also, I am not an endorser of the NCCC Mall, but I have a commitment with Choice Mart, which is another company of NCCC supermarket,” she said, adding “nobody can question how I did my work as Mayor in helping the family of the victims, the BFP, the NCCC, and SSI of�icials.”

In a statement released on December 30, NCCC spokesperson and public relations manager Thea Padua said the 660 workers displaced by �ire will be absorbed in the other NCCC branches.

“As early as the �irst day of the tragedy, top management already decided that the affected workers would not be displaced and will instead be absorbed in our other operations,” said Padua. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

USD2.4 million to the Philippines, or 0.59 percent of its USD418.2-million funding.

“Since CERF was launched in 2005, humanitarian needs have increased from USD5.2 billion to over USD24 billion today,” said Guterres.

“Con�lict and early warning indicators show that in the next year, 2018, protracted crises are likely to continue, while the impact of climate change is likely to grow in intensity and in impact. There is no sign of a

let-up in humanitarian needs,” he added.

To that end, the General Assembly in 2017 adopted a resolution calling for an expansion of CERF’s annual funding target from USD450 million to USD1 billion.

Guterres has noted that the global humanitarian funding gap also stands at USD11 billion as of November 2017 and humanitarian response plans are funded at an average of just 60 percent. (PNA)

the �lood and �ire incident.

It was, however, unfortunate that a �ire broke out in Barangay Aquino in Agdao District at the height of the New Year’s revelry.

The �ire incident which started 12:10 a.m, displaced 51 homeowners, 25 renters, 29 sharers and 20 boarders.

The rest of Davao region also registered negative in casualties.

This year, President Rodrigo Duterte issues Executive Order 28 regulating the use of �irecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

Aligned with the law, most municipalities in Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley have not totally banned the use of �irecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices but they had designated areas for �irecrackers and �ireworks display.

Other Davao local government units have copied Davao City’s law like Sta. Cruz and

Hagonoy in Davao del Sur; Sto. Tomas, Carmen, B.E Dujali and Panabo City in Davao del Norte.

Police authorities factored in the cooperation of the people for the zero casualties.

“Our goal is to have a safe and peaceful celebration of the New Year, and this would not be possible without the dedication among our personnel together with the local government units and other agencies like Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government,Bureau of Fire and of course public’s cooperation,” said Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, the Director of PRO 11.

Gaerlan, however, announced the PRO 11 still maintains its high alert status and will continue to monitor and provide overall security to maintain safety and peace and order for the whole region. (PNA)

restobar that there was “zero chance” of survival for the trapped victims under such condition.

Day of Grief What was supposed to be a day of celebration on Sunday, December 24, turned out to be a day of grief and disbelief as authorities began the �irst day of the search and retrieval operation for the bodies of the 38 missing, including Rhenzi’s, inside the burning mall.

In those harrowing hours of the search, Carolina could not sleep, wondering where her “inexpressive yet sweet and generous” Rhenzi was and wishing she was elsewhere alive.

The dreadful moment came when Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 11 director

Wilberto Rico Neil A. Kwan Tiu announced that the 36 bodies were recovered at the lobby of the call center on December 25, Christmas Day. Kwan Tiu said the bodies were recovered just a few steps away from the stairwell, where a group of SSI survivors had come down moments earlier to escape the burning mall.

Karen said Rhenzi had so many dreams in her life, including returning to school by June 2018 and �inishing a degree in Psychology at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) here.

“We could not believe that this would happen to her, not even her friends who would just like to think that she had just gone on vacation,” she said.

Karen said she wants jus-

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ers, and a total of PHP390,229 worth of illegal �irecrackers were con�iscated.

Aside from public support and Duterte’s EO 28, the PNP chief said other factors that contributed to the decrease of �irecracker casualties are the following: •The LGU’s support in implementation of EO 28 by designating a total of 3,495 community �ireworks display zones •The public vigilance against indiscriminate �ir-

ing

is accepted the whole year.

Earlier the business bureau head told reporters aa total of 41, 164 permits of existing establishments are expected during the period. She said that while a number of old establishments will apply for retirement or stoppage of business but they will be replaced by about 6,000 new applicants this year. She said an increase o about 10 percent in the number of new business establishment is expected every year in Davao City.

She reminded applicants that documentary requirements for renewal are Barangay Clearance and Income Tax Returns.

“Additional documentary requirements as set by the Revenue Code of Davao are previous Mayor’s Permit, previous receipts of payments, notarized List of Employees, Community Tax Certi�icate,

Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for Single Proprietorship, Board/Partnership Resolution, Secretary’s Certificate for other types of organizations,” she said.

She said representatives from different regulatory of�ices involved in the processing of the renewal of the business permits will man the one-stop shop.

She also reminded the government workers to observe the “No noon break” policy under the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.

The one-stop shop schedule started yesterday with extended of�ice hours on selected dates (January 3-6, January 9-13, January 16-19) and ends January 20 from 8 am to 12 midnight at the SP building. The last day of renewal at the DCRC will close at 10 pm.

•The PNP’s 100 percent deployment during Christmas and New Year’s Eve •The PNP’s intensi�ied campaign against illegal manufacture and selling of �irecrackers.

“I would like to congratulate our police personnel for the effective operation and campaign on illegal �irecrackers which resulted to an ‘all-time low’ incidents and casualties,” the PNP chief concluded. (PNA)

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City is being positioned to be the broadcasting hub of Mindanao with a state of the art broadcasting facility.

During the Press–ComVal Information Of�icers Assembly dubbed “strength in Convergence” on Friday night held in Big 8, Tagum City, Agtay, who represented Presidential Secretary Martin Andanar, also highlighted the rebirth of PNA in October.

PNA also launched the �irst webcast -- English daily newscast which provides a public rundown of stories.

All initiatives of the PCOO, Agtay said is in line with the government’s transparency policy.

“Transparency will always become the cornerstone of this government for the people,” she stressed.(PNA)

led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP) an the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as members.

Uncon�irmed reports indicated that the task force had recommended the relief of the �ive Davao City �ire personnel due to some alleged doubts on the �ire safety compliance of the mall.

Task force spokesperson Fire Sr. Supt. Jerome Candido said Lauzon was the one responsible in inspecting the SSI call center of�ice.

Candido said when the said inspector accomplished the after inspection report, he noted that SSI had no violation except the lack of conduct of �ire exit drill however, the task force reportedly saw many other violations.

Also, Quizmundo who inspected the NCCC mall reportedly noted that there was no

violation except the conduct of �ire exit drill but the task force has noted several violations in the fourth �loor, the third �loor as well as in the entire mall.

Candido said the probe team is also into the mall’s alleged shortcomings such are the mall’s automatic fast sprinkler system and �ire exits alleging that some of them have no �ire door.

Lawyer Darry Gallego, assistant vice president for corporate services of NCCC, earlier denied rumors that the water sprinklers and smoke alarm systems of the establishment were not working during the 31-hour �ire.

Gallego assured that NCCC mall is �ire compliant since the city has very stringent requirement before getting permit to operate.

However, he said that the management will still wait for the �inal investigation report before making public statements.

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EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF FRANCISCA A. TOKUNAGA WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

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Coast (via the polar route).

The �lag carrier will continue promoting its network through campaigns anchored on the “Heart of the Filipino” theme – e.g., Fly the Way You Deserve, More Heart, Experience the Heart of the Filipino, Stories from the Heart and Hu-

got Lines – and developing its “Buong Pusong Alaga” service philosophy.

The whole PAL organization is primed and ready to deliver a major boost in service that “comes only from the Heart of the Filipino” in a serious bid to become a �ive-star airline.

ticularly, she learned the technical de�initions, concepts and principles about running a business through lectures by experts and successful entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the Business Improvement Plan (BIP) presentation,as a requirement for graduation, has given her a clear picture of her target market. She is about to celebrate her fourthanniversary in the business with new markets and an increase of 75 percent in her production.

“I would like to emphasize among the young aspiring

entrepreneurs that as long as you have dreams and you believe that they will happen, in God’s grace, they will surely happen at the right time.

Dream big and aim high!” she said.

On the other hand, Zosa started her online business at the age of 16. She described it as accidental since it began when an “online friend” asked her to deliver 100 pieces of cupcakes.

“It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, actually,” she said.DTI11/MRMS/ jmm

the launch of the Philippine Business Database System, which will be linked to SEC’s automated corporate registry system.

Beltran said they are also hopeful for the eventual passage of the proposed national warehouse receipt law, which would be implemented by the SEC and is now being deliberated by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Automation of all local government units (LGUs) is also underway, he said.

DOF is still determining the number of LGUs that is not yet automated but Beltan said priorities are the big ones of the around 1,800 nationwide because of bulk of transactions they handle.

“All these things will contribute towards a better ease of doing business,” he added.

(PNA)

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EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF MAXIMINA A. ORBEN WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late FRANCISCA A. TOKUNAGA has been the subject of an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Special Power of Attorney executed among her heirs, per Doc. No.408; Page No.106; Book No. I; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC HAZEL BETH D. ORCULLO of Davao City, Philippines with the acknowledgements:

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MAXIMINA A. ORBEN has been the subject of an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Special Power of Attorney executed among her heirs, per Doc. No.298; Page No.79; Book No. I; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC HAZEL BETH D. ORCULLO of Davao City, Philippines with the acknowledgements:

* Acknowledgement per Doc. No. 211, Page No. 44, Book No. XX; Series of 2017 of the NOTARY PUBLIC MANNY V. GRAGA of Quezon City, Philippines.

*Acknowledgement per Doc. No. 2417001538, Service No. 14829, Series of 2017, O.R. No. 7779929 of the VICE CONSUL DOMINI N. FAÑGON-KITADE of Tokyo, Japan.

*Acknowledgement per Doc. No. 2416003823, Service No. 39830, Series of 2016, O.R. No. 7511904, of the VICE CONSUL DOMINI N. FAÑGON-KITADE of Tokyo, Japan. *Acknowledgement per Doc. No. 2416003904, Service No. 40240, Series of 2016, O.R. No. 7512202, of the VICE CONSUL DOMINI N. FAÑGON-KITADE of Tokyo, Japan. * Acknowledgement per Doc. No. 2881, Page No. 22, Book No. 02, Service No. 2881, Series of 2016, O.R. No. 7447832, of the VICE CONSUL DOMINI N. FAÑGON-KITADE of Osaka, Japan.

*Authentication per Doc. No. 8349-M, Page No. 107, Service No. 269, Series of 2016, O.R. No. 4891, of the VICE CONSUL RAINIER J. CASIS of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. * Acknowledgement per Doc. No. BN-Not/Misc-08442016, Service No. 4588, Series of 2016, O.R. No. 7269343, of the CONSUL ADRIAN ELMER S. CRUZ of Berlin, Germany. * Acknowledgement dated Aug. 24, 2016, Series of 2016 of the NOTARY PUBLIC JENNIFER CLEAVELAND from the State of Texas.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

COLLECTION... FROM 6 ang contribution payments at ipadala ang payment con�irmation sa SSS upang i-post ito kaagad.

“Ipinamahagi din namin ang technical speci�ications para sa RTPC upang isaayos ang kanilang sistema na kagaya sa SSS e-CS,” dagdag ni Dooc.

Simula Disyembre 1, 2017, ang lahat ng employers at individually-paying na miyembro gaya ng self-employed, non-working spouse, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at boluntaryong miyembro ay kinakailangang gumawa ng sarili nilang accounts sa My.SSS portal na nasa SSS website.

Matapos magrehistro sa My.SSS facility ay gagawa ng electronic collection lists (e-CL) para sa employers at electronic statements of account (e-SOA) para sa individual members.

“Maaari din i-access ng employers at miyembro ang e-CL

at e-SOA kung nais nilang suriin at i-update ang impormasyon gaya ng mga bago at kakaalis lamang na empleyado pati ang piniling panahon ng pagbabayad ng kontribusyon at halaga ng kontribusyon na ipapasok sa SSS,” dagdag ni Dooc.

Matapos suriin at kumpirmahin ang e-CL at e-SOA, magbibigay ang SSS online facility ng Payment Reference Number (PRN) na gagamitin sa pagbabayad ng kontribusyon sa automated tellering systems ng SSS branches at ipa pang payment channels ng bank at non-bank collection partners.

“Habang sinisimulan ng SSS ang mga reporma sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo, Hinihiling namin ang pag-unawa at buong kooperasyon ng lahat lalung-lalo na sa aming employers, miyembro at collection partners,” sabi ni Dooc.

Ang mga bangkong kabil-

ang sa implementasyon ng RTPC ay Asia United Bank (AUB), Bank of Commerce (BOC), Banco de Oro (BDO), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), China Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank), Philippine National Bank (PNB), Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Security Bank, United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) at Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank).

Samantala, ang mga nonbank remittance partners gaya ng BancNet, CIS Bayad Center, G-Xchange Inc., iRemit Inc.,Lucky Money Inc., Pinoy Express Hatid Padala Services, Sky Freight Forwarders Inc., SM Mart Inc. at Ventaja International Corp., ay nagpakita din ng suporta sa RTPC.

had been the subject of offensives since Christmas Day. Police probers initially theorized the two bombing incidents as a retaliatory attack by the BIFF.

Earlier today, a roadside bomb was set off while an Army truck loaded with soldiers was patrolling Barangay Limpongo, Datu Hofer, Maguindanao, leaving two soldiers

injured.

Hit by shrapnel were Privates First Class Nelmar Acaso and John Mark Roquero, both members of the 57th Infantry Battalion.(PNA)

exploited Melindo’s waning offense to penetrate with his blows invading the Filipino’s vulnerable defense.

Another bang of heads cut Melindo this time over his

right eye in the sixth round.

This paved the way for the 31-year-old Taguchi in controlling the succeeding rounds.

Melindo momentarily recovered in the ninth, sending

jabs and connecting punches to the body. In the heat of the action, their heads clashed again, this time it was Taguchi’s forehead which was gashed.

AFP... FROM 7

MELINDO... FROM 15

NEWS13

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EDGEDAVAO

14 HEALTH

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

Beating dengue without a vaccine (Last of Three Parts)

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

E

very year, more than 36 million symptomatic cases of dengue occur, the majority in developing countries. “Up to 500,000 of these cases are severe enough to require hospitalization,” says Professor Donald Shepard of the Heller School’s Schneider Institutes for Health Policy.

It’s the deadly form, called dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), that worries health experts. Up to �ive percent of DHF cases are fatal; without proper treatment, the rate increases to 15%. Most of those who die are children under the age of 15, but adults are at real risk, too.

Dr. Dante Comedido has seen �irsthand the devastating effects of DHF. An 18-yearold construction worker was brought in the hospital where he was working at that time; the patient was suffering from recurring fevers for seven days.

When blood tests con�irmed the teenager had DHF, Dr. Comedido administered blood and plasma transfusions. On his third day in hospital, the patient’s condition deteriorated sharply – he commenced gasping for breath, bleeding heavily from his nose and vomiting blood.

The doctor performed an emergency transfusion, but within three hours, the teenager was dead.

One of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the fatality of dengue is through a vaccine.

“Many biotechnological ap-

proaches have been used in attempts to develop dengue vaccines candidates, including live attenuated vaccines, infectious clone-derived vaccines, recombinant live vector systems, subunit vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines,” pointed out the “State of the World’s Vaccines and Immunization” in 2002.

There are several reasons why dengue vaccine is very hard to produce. Doctors said that patients who recover from dengue develop antibodies that provide immunity. But there are four distinct viruses, so a person can develop four infections in a lifetime. Often, infection with a subsequent strain results in a more serious illness, though experts are unsure why this happens.

It is for this reason why dengue vaccine is elusive.

“The dengue vaccine must cover for all four strains because if there is a strain not included, it can become a dangerous vaccine that may give potential harm than good,” explained Dr. Richard T. Mata, a pediatrician from Panabo City.

Although there is now a dengue vaccine available, its potency is still in question. As

such, the best way to �ight dengue is still to get rid of the host of the virus – the mosquitoes.

“Mosquitoes generally acquire the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person,” explains the World Health Organization (WHO).

“After virus incubation for eight to 10 days, an infected mosquito is capable, during probing and blood feeding, of transmitting the virus for the rest of its life.”

And it looks the dengue-carrying mosquito has found its match in the ovicidal/larvicidal trap (oltrap) – a simple yet lethal device recently introduced by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Health.

The device is used to control the population of the Aedes mosquitoes. The oltrap has three important parts: a black container, a paddle measuring 1” by 5” for mosquitoes to lay their eggs on, and a larvicide solution to kill the mosquito larvae that will hatch in the strip of wood in the solution.

What makes the oltrap work is the solution. Its scent invites female mosquitoes to the trap where they lay eggs on

the stick and on the solution itself. The stick, moistened by the solution through capillary action, is highly attractive for mosquitoes to lay eggs on.

As the eggs and the hatched larvae (also called “wrigglers”) get exposed to the solution, they die. The oltrap’s ovicidal and larvicidal effects prevent the next generation of mosquitoes from reaching adulthood, thus curbing the Aedes mosquito population.

“The technology is simple and effective, safe, cheap and makes use of a natural plant material,” the DOST said in a statement. More importantly, the larvicide solution is not poisonous to humans and pets.

Meanwhile, the health department is still promoting the 4 o’clock habit to control dengue. The website of the DOH gives the following pointers on how to undertake the 4 o’clock habit: “It is the back-to basics STOP, LOOK & LISTEN approach. The preliminaries include mapping out high risk areas in a locality, organizing teams that will undertake

critical response activities and establishing a system of communications for better coordination and sustained cooperation.

“STOP means ‘dropping’ everything and shifting current task for mosquito control.

LOOK means that around 4 o’clock and until next hour, assigned teams carry out systematic ‘search and destroy’ activities that will identify and eliminate mosquito-breeding sites.

“LISTEN entails heeding the instructions from local authorities, community leaders, or work supervisors for synchronous implementation of the 4 o’clock habit. This can be done on a daily basis, or at least on a weekly basis based on institutional capacity and prevailing resources.”

Meanwhile, there are several things a person can do to avoid being bitten by dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

These are: Eliminate breeding sites.

The breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes are never far from habitation.

Keep containers outside the home and gutters dry. Discard

items that collect rain or runoff water, especially old tires.

Change the water in outdoor birdbaths and pet and animal water containers once a week.

Avoid hanging clothes in dark corners as these serve as hiding places for mosquitoes.

Control wrigglers in ponds by keeping larvae-eating �ish like gold�ish. Insist that public health of�icials safeguard your community by eliminating stagnant water sites in construction and wastewater treatment areas.

Protect yourself from bites. When outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. When indoors, stay in air-conditioned or screened areas. Attach screens to all windows and doors. Warn children not to play near still water. Use mosquito nets to protect children, old people and others who may rest during the day.

Now, if you think you are beaten, seek immediate treatment. See a doctor if you have any �lu-like symptoms accompanied by fever and a rash.

Encourage anyone suspected of having dengue to contact the nearest health center.

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

15

Thomas finally debuts for Cavs

C

LEVELAND (AP) -- The agonizing wait to play again is over for Isaiah Thomas. Vengeance on the Celtics is still on hold.

Thomas, sidelined with a hip injury since last season’s Eastern Conference �inals, will make his debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.

After months of rehab, the All-Star point guard will take the �loor for the �irst time with the Cavaliers, who acquired him last summer in the blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Celtics. ‘’It’s been a long process for me,’’ Thomas said Monday following practice. ‘’It’s been a frustrating and tough process, but at the same time you got to trust it. I just attacked it every day to try to get better and now that day is here. I haven’t played in so long, so man it’s going to be a weird feeling tomorrow, but I’m happy. I’m happy it’s here.’’

Coach Tyronn Lue said Thomas will come off the bench and initially will play limited minutes.

Also, he will not play in back-to-back games as he builds up strength, which means he won’t face the Celtics on Wednesday

I

night in Boston.

Thomas was deeply hurt by Boston’s decision to trade him, and he would like nothing more than to show his former team what it gave up.

However, as much as Thomas would like to play against the Celtics, he knows the smarter move is to put his health �irst. ‘’It won’t be that tough,’’ he said about sitting out the second meeting this season between the rivals. ‘’I know where I am right now and I wouldn’t want to put myself out there to just try to force it. But I can wait until February.

I think we play them in February again, so I can wait and put on a show then.’’

The Cavaliers and Celtics will square off on Feb. 11.

Thomas has slowly worked his way into game shape, scrimmaging �irst against the G-League Canton Charge and then with his teammates a few days ago.

While he’s in good physical shape, his game still needs some

conditioning. ‘’My hip is better, but I have no rhythm,’’ he said. ‘’I have no feel for the game right now. I’ve been out for so long it feels like I lost my powers.

So even w h e n w e ’ r e out there scrimmaging I can move around and do what I want, but I just don’t have my powers yet.

So, with the games coming, it’s going to give me an opportunity to get my rhythm back, get my feel back. And it might take some time but at the same time, the progress that I’ve made is all good and positive progress, and I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to get out there and compete.’’

The Cavaliers are eager to incorporate Thomas, who averaged nearly 29 points last season, into their offense. He gives the team another proven scorer who can take some of the pressure off LeBron James.

There are bound to be some growing pains as the Cavs get comfortable with Thomas and vice versa. But Thomas isn’t worried about not �itting in. ‘’I’m a scoring guard so I know how to put the ball in the basket,’’ he said. ‘’They traded for me for a reason and that was to play the game that I know how to play and that’s make plays, try to make the right play each and every time down and score the ball. And, I mean, those guys have welcomed me with open arms and they’ve always said, even when we’re scrimmaging today, like: ‘Stop passing, man. Be you and be aggressive and look to score.’ So that always makes you feel comfortable that they want me to be who I am and that’s

BACK IN ACTION. Isaiah Thomas of Cleveland will suit up today against Portland.

Harden out Melindo loses world title for 2 weeks

t was a sad New Year for Milan Melindo as he failed in his pursuit to unify all the junior �lyweight championship belts as he endured a unanimous decision defeat to Ryoichi Taguchi last night at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Taguchi (27-2-2, 12 KOs) annexed the IBF junior �lyweight belt to his WBA strap CONNECTION. A hard right by Taguchi lands LOSING THE TITLE. Milan Melindo connects with a left as he successfully defended it on Melindo’s face. on Ryoichi Taguchi during their unification fight Sunday for the seventh time. Taguchi night in Tokyo, Japan. won the verdict 117-111 twice and 116-111 on the third. He the earlier rounds, delivered Budler last September, where tery in the next rounds as Mealso conquered the vacant blows to the body of the Japa- cuts affected Melindo’s perfor- lindo was disturbed by a cut Ring junior �lyweight title with nese champ and was so effec- mance, as blood kept �lowing over his left eye in the third. the triumph. tive with his jabs. But it was from his wounds above both The ALA Gym boxer began The 29-year-old Melindo a repeat of the split-decision eyes. to slow down, which Taguchi (37-3, 13 KOs) commanded win over South African Hekkie Taguchi af�irmed his masMELINDO,P13

H

OUSTON (AP) -Rockets star James Harden will miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain.

The team announced Monday that the NBA’s leading scorer has a grade 2 strain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Harden was injured on a missed layup late in the fourth quarter of Houston’s 148-142 double-overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. He said after the game that he didn’t think the injury

was serious, but the guard was walking with a pronounced limp.

The Rockets have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind Golden State at 26-9, and Harden leads the NBA with his scoring average of 32.3 points per game. He also is averaging 9.1 assists, ranking third in the league.

Harden, who has played every game this season, has been extremely durable during his career, missing just two games since the start of the 2014-15 season.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports NEW IMPORTS. Former Ginebra import Justin Brownlee and San Miguel Beermen import Renaldo Balkman will.now reinforce Tanduay Alab Pilipinas.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 195 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 , 2018

FRESH START Alab signs up Brownlee, Balkman

N

ew year, new Alab.

Charlie Dy, the Tanduay Alab Pilipinas club’s top of�icial, announced early Monday that the Asean Basketball League’s (ABL) Philippine team signed former PBA imports Renaldo Balkman and Justin Brownlee as its new world imports.

“Tanduay Alab Pilipinas welcomes Justin Brownlee and Renaldo Balkman,” Dy said via Instagram.

Brownlee and Balkman will replace Reggie Okosa and Ivan Johnson ahead of the resumption of ABL play on Wednesday night, when Alab hosts Malaysia at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Brownlee was among the main catalysts of Ginebra’s back-to-back PBA Governors’Cup titles the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, Balkman was a �irst round pick in the US National Basketball Associa-

tion (NBA) Draft and notably played for New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets in the NBA before eventually landing a spot in the PBA as San Miguel’s import.

However, that

stint was marred by a confrontation between him and Arwind Santos that even saw the latter getting held on the neck by the former.

The incident led to a ban slapped on the Puerto Rico national team player.

(PNA)