Edge Davao 10 Issue 31

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

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Leni urges crafting of law for IP reps

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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ITH the controversy haunting indigenous peoples’ representation in government bodies, Vice President Leni Robredo batted for the crafting of a new law that should make mandatory the allotment of more spaces for IP leaders in development and legislative councils.

“Sa ngayon, walang batas na nagma-mandate na dapat silang [IPs] mag-participate sa local development council, local legislative council at sa ibang mga sectoral groups,” she said in Davao City on Monday.

The Vice President said that Department of Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2010-119 issued by her late husband, then DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo was not enough.

The circular ordered the mandatory representation of indigenous cultural communities in policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils in accordance with the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act. “Kung department order lang, pwede siyang mapalitan sa pag change ng administration, gusto natin ma isa-batas na kapag di siya nasunod, may penalties.”

Robredo also stressed that it is important that the IPs should be the ones to represent themselves to draft policies that are in accordance with their needs and should not be dictated by non-IPs since they are the ones who know what they need.

“Gusto nating i-advocate talaga is yung empowerment. Empowerment in the sense na bigyan natin sila ng representation sa decision-making bodies ng gobyerno saka mga policy-making bodies. Kahit saan kami pumunta, yung mga reklamo pare-pareho lang. Paminsan, yung batas na para sa kanila, yun pa yung nagagamit para maapi sila. Tingin ko, kailangan i-review yung IP laws, yung mga programa ng mga IP. Pati yung mga NCIP pinu-push natin para malaki talaga yung actual involvement nung mga IPs para mapapakinggan yung boses nila.”

PILING IT UP. Parents gather the sacks filled up with trash which they were able to collect during the nationwide launching of this year’s ‘Brigada Eskwela’ at Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Elementary School in Davao City on Monday.

Lean Daval Jr.

F LENI, 12

COLORUM Group says 50% of real estate brokers unlicensed I NVESTORS and property developers have been advised to do business only with licensed real estate practitioners to avoid further complications and to ensure transactions are above board.

“We are addressing this to all investors and developers especially those in mortgages and joint ven-

tures,” said Hardinado Patnugot, Jr. , president of the Davao Board of Realtors Foundation.

The foundation has a total of 120 members in Davao City.

He warned that one pitfall emerging from dealing with unlicensed practitioners is that investors and property developers later discover they were not paying the proper taxes.

“The practice is rampant,” he conceded. “Hence, the first step is to determine if the practitioner has license so that there will be no regrets later.”

Roy C. Rabor, national vice-president of the Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards for Mindanao estimated that about 50% of current-day real estate practitioners do not have license

He said unfortunately a lot of investors and real estate developers are not aware of this act.

“Hence, we are reaching out to them to do business only with accredited or licensed real estate brokers and appraisers,” Rabor told the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday.

The two organization officials said they were raising the alarm on

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

HIGH GEAR. Cabinet members of the Duterte administration hold an open forum on ‘DuterteNomics’, President Duterte’s strategy for economic governance, at the Grand Hyatt Beijing Hotel on Monday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Reds‘losing support, resorting to kidnapping’– Army general

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HE rebel New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is “losing the support of the people that it is now resorting to kidnap-for-ransom,” a top military official based in Camp Evangelista said Monday.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr., commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division here, said that suspected NPA rebels allegedly kidnapped a businessman in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur last Saturday and were demanding ransom money from his family in exchange for his freedom.

Madrigal identified the victim as Carzon Ceasar C. Lademora, a businessman engaged in gold mining in San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur. He said the alleged NPA rebels led by a certain “Monic,” of the NPA’s Front 14, also

ransacked the mining tunnel of Lademora in the village of Anuling, Bayugan 3, Rosario, Agusan Del Sur. ”It is very clear that the NPA is ‘losing the support’ of the people, particularly the businessmen, that they are now resorting to kidnap-for-ransom activity,” Madrigal said.

He said the NPA’s action has sown fear and apprehension on the stable business environment in Agusan del Sur and elsewhere in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region.

Madrigal said that the “NPA has now resorted to banditry.”

He urged the business community to be wary of the communist rebels, “whose actions clearly destabilize the peace process.”

(PNA)

CBCP backs ID system for RP

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N official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) expressed support on the proposal for a national identification system.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP-PAC Executive Secretary said the public should not be afraid of divulging pertinent informations about themselves as they also providing such details to some institutions.

“I am for it. There is nothing to fear about such an ID system since many of us have been giving info of ourselves to some other institutions and it would be the same info we will give,” he said.

But, the Catholic priest

noted that the proponents of the measure should ensure that it would serve its purpose, noting that it must not be a duplication of other IDs issued by other government agencies.

“But the government should be more prudent in determining its usefulness since it may just be a duplication of the different IDs we have from the many public institutions such as Commission on Elections, Social Security System, Land Transportation Office, Government Service Insurance System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, etc.,” Secillano said.

He added, “Why not simply access info. from these institutions and let those not registered yet be ID’d?”

Firm up education for IPs: VP Robredo

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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ICE President Maria Leonor Robredo on Monday batted for the strengthening of education as a means to uplifting the general condition of indigenous peoples nationwide.

The Vice President underscored this at the ongoing “Gracing the LEAP V: 2017 National Indigenous Peoples Education” festival at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Mintal Campus. The festival ends on May 17.

Robredo encouraged IP leaders and educators to value the role of education in uplifting the IPs in the Philippines, saying it plays a vital role in helping the voices of indigenous people to be

heard.

“Progress requires us to embrace innovation—to welcome the unfamiliar and to adapt to it. Kung hindi po natin gagawin ang mga iyan ay baka mapag-iwanan tayo ng mundo,” she stressed.

“But members of our IP communities, especially the young ones need to value their roots and preserve their unique traditions some of which are ill-matched with modern-living,” she added.

VP Leni also addressed IP educators that education is the best way to find the balancing act between heritage and progress and between tradition and modernity.

“Each and every time you

devote your skill and time to your students, you are helping to shape the minds of future leaders who can bridge tradition and progress. These leaders will bear the wisdom of cultural heritage, as well as use that wisdom for our people’s good.”

Furthermore, the vice president said that through education, the IPs would be empowered because they would have a better understanding of the existing laws, especially those crafted to protect them and those that are used against them.

The Local Educators Advancement Program was organized as a venue for continuing education for learn-

ing facilitators and educators from various indigenous community schools and public schools in the Philippines.

LEAP seeks to gather IP Educators, IP leaders and IP education implementers and advocates providing them an opportunity to reflect and share on their rich experiences in their engagements for the advancement of IP education.

This year, with LEAP is on its 5th phase, it particularly aims to harness and celebrate the gains of IP education for the last five years after the adoption of the National IP Education Policy Framework or DepEd Order No. 62, s.

2011.

Sangutan was joined by Dennis Mercader, founding president of Inventors, Scientists and Innovators of the Philippines, and Josefino Tupas, president of Davao Inventors Cooperative, during the press conference.

He said that inventors during the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos were in “high morale” due to Republic Act (RA) 3850, which provided incentives to inventors and innovators.

RA 3850, also known as the “Philippine Inventors In-

centives Act,” was enacted in April 1964. It also created the Philippine Inventors Commission that was under the supervision of the former National Science Development Board.

The commission, Sangutan added, provided technical, financial and legal assistance to inventors and innovators in the Philippines.

Unfortunately, he said, RA 3850 was repealed during the time of the late President Corazon Aquino through the issuance of Executive Order

128.

The repeal of RA 3850 abolished the commission tasked to look at the welfare of inventors and innovators in the country, Sangutan said.

“An enabling law must be instituted to provide full support to Filipino inventors,” he pointed out, adding that his group already sent letters to President Duterte and the leadership of both houses of Congress to prioritize HB 928.

HB 928 was filed in 2014 and since its filing, was not yet deliberated. (PNA)

Group urges President to create inventors’commission

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GROUP of inventors and innovators urged President Rodrigo Duterte and Congress Monday to prioritize House Bill 928, which seeks the creation of a commission for inventors and innovators in the country.

In a press conference at SM City here, Virgilio Sangutan, chairperson of United Inventors Organization of the Philippines, said it is time for the government to extend full support to inventors and innovators in the country by enacting the proposed measure.

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EDGEDAVAO

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SO THE PUBLIC MAY KNOW Tagum Agricultural Development Co., Inc. has caused the publication of the substance of the opening statement of its President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Anthony Alexander N. Valoria delivered during the hearing of the House Resolution 867, calling for the inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the allegedly grossly disadvantageous contract entered into between Bureau of Correction (BuCor) and TADECO. TADECO aims to provide the public on the truth about the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between BuCor and TADECO involving 5,308.36 BuCor lands, which has been the subject of attack by detractors in the past few months.

The answers to the core issues raised in the House Resolution are summarized as follows: 1. The Speaker alleges that the JVA is grossly disadvantageous to the government. He points out that the BuCor is paid P26,541,809 per year; whereas prevailing lease rates in the area are at P25,000 per hectare. The Speaker thereby calculates that the government is prejudiced by P106,167,191.

The truth: Last year 2016, Tadeco actually paid the BuCor a total of Pl42,719,662. This is in the records of BuCor and equates to P26,900 per hectare. Thus the allegation of the Speaker that the government is prejudiced is totally incorrect. Tadeco paid to BuCor not only the Guaranteed Annual Production and Profit Share but also the Inmates Farm Training Support, Stipend and Support Program, and Training Subsidy. The financial benefits paid by Tadeco from 2004 to 2016 amounts to P1,620,549,230. But the JVA is not only about money; the more important aspect to it is its core purpose of the rehabilitation of the inmates which has been a proven success. The benefits to thousands of ex-inmates, their spouses and children, and finally to the communities they eventually settled into are immeasurable.

Aside from the inmates, the banana operations under the JVA create 30,000 jobs in direct, indirect and ancillary roles. This translates to the secure livelihood and future of at least 181,000 Filipinos. The JVA is also responsible for P438,179,008 paid in taxes and fees to the Philippine government in 2016 alone.

2. The Solicitor General issued a statement that the JVA violates the Public Land Act. The article has the Solicitor General saying: [quote] “Under the Public Land Act, agricultural public lands such as the Davao Penal Colony may be disposed of only through homestead, sale, lease, or confirmation of imperfect title. It should be noted that the BuCor and Tadeco entered into a Joint Venture. Clearly, a Joint Venture is not one of the modes by which agricultural public lands may be disposed” [end of quote].

The Truth The provision that the Solicitor General refers to does not apply to the lands under the BuCor. The provision he stated refers to alienable and disposable lands in the public domain. The land of the BuCor is government reservation and therefore is inalienable public land. As such, it cannot be the subject of occupation, entry, sale, lease, or other disposition. And indeed there is no disposition of the land from the BuCor as the agreement between the BuCor and Tadeco is a joint venture.

3. The Speaker and his Solicitor General describe the JVA as a Lease.

The Truth: It cannot be a lease as the principal objective of the JVA is the rehabilitation of the inmates of the DPPF. The other provisions in the JVA are appurtenant to this principal objective and its success. The subject matter of the JVA is part of a government reservation; hence, it is inalienable land of the public domain. Such being the case, it cannot be a proper subject of a lease agreement under the Section 3, Article XII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The Solicitor General even stated himself that the agreement between BuCor and Tadeco is in fact a joint venture.

As mentioned earlier, the statement of then SOJ Juan Ponce Enrile back in 1970 is noteworthy. In Secretary Enrile’s memorandum to Senate Blue Ribbon Committee dated June 29, 1970, he summarizes as follows: [quote] “We are firmly of the belief that the Bureau of Prisons-Tadeco contract established a joint venture between the parties. Aware, as we are, that the law prohibits the Bureau of Prisons from leasing any portion of the Davao Penal Colony, and that, even if a lease could be entered into, such a contract would not bring any direct benefits to the Bureau because the rental to be derived therefrom would accrue to the National Treasury, not to the Bureau of Prisons which was sorely in need of additional income to improve the lot of its 21,000 wards, we would not have approved the Bureau of Prisons-Tadeco contract if it did not clearly create a joint venture relationship between the parties.” [end of quote] 4. The Speaker questions the lease period of 25 years [quote] “instead of the reported prevailing practice of leasing with a term of just (10) ten years” [end of quote].

The truth: It is not a lease but a joint venture. But for discussion’s sake, there is no such thing as a prevailing practice in land leases. There are leases that go up to 75 years.

5. The Speaker maintains that the FOB price of bananas is $12 per box.

The truth: The spot prices for the China market do swing wildly. Reaching $9 per box for some weeks but for the greater part of the year is rock-bottom. Tadeco has 12,000 employees and their families to take care of. Thus, TADECO takes a longer view and more stable approach, careful not to subject itself to a feast or famine type of market. That would be a recipe for commercial disaster.

6. And finally the Speaker raises the allegations that the workers are ill-treated and exploited.

The truth: This is the most hurting of all the allegations. It is well known that Tadeco is one of the best employers in the agricultural sector. Of course, a person can always be found who is willing to be convinced to speak badly about a company or person – and indeed we are aware that there have been operatives moving around our nearby communities looking for such persons.

Tadeco has received multiple awards from various government agencies evidencing a motivated and well-cared for labor force. Among other awards and citations, Tadeco has received the national citation given by the Philippine League of Labor-Management Cooperation Practitioners Inc. (PHILAMCOP), in coordination with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), for its outstanding Labor-Management Cooperation for Industrial Peace.

Tadeco was the first banana company to obtain GlobalGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification from abroad that is extremely difficult and costly to obtain.

Tadeco is audited yearly by foreign auditors in order to maintain that GlobalGAP certification. Similarly, Tadeco is the first and only banana company to obtain PhilGAP certification from our own Department of Agriculture.

These certifications prove that TADECO’s banana farm and labor management practices are at par among the best banana producing companies in the world, not only in terms of quality and productivity, but also in food safety and sustainability, environmental protection, and occupational safety and health for workers.

Its workers enjoy the highest salaries and benefits in the agricultural sector, such as medical coverage for the entire family, elementary and secondary schools, chapels, a hospital, recreation center and facilities as our communities in Tadeco are very sports oriented, something that the management supports very strongly.

TADECO assures the public, its workers, and our business partners that the JVA it entered into with BuCor is above board and in accordance with law.

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Police chief in‘hot water’ for‘viral video, harassment’

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HE police chief of Ozamiz City is in “hot water” for a viral video that allegedly showed him hitting a drug suspect and for purportedly harassing a local government official there.

The video clip showed Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, the city police director of Ozamiz, allegedly repeatedly slapping a male individual inside a police precinct last March. The video came out on social media a few days ago.

Senior Superintendent Lemuel Gonda, police regional office spokesperson, said they would conduct an investigation into the incident.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption earlier called on the Philippine National Police to look into the incident.

Last week, Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog also complained that the city police chief and some of his men showed up near her house late night on May 4.

Parojinog said the policemen were heavily armed and had surrounded her residence in Barangay San Roque, also known as “Lawis,” a few meters away from where his father, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., lives.

The vice mayor said her brother called her up and told her Espenido and his men was outside her house.

It was a good thing, she said, that her residence was installed with CCTV cameras that captured the incident.

“I was really disturbed,” the younger Parojinog told reporters in an interview, adding that she found no reason why policemen would surround her home. “Unsa may akong sala (What’s my violation)? Why were they acting that way?”

She then called up her uncle, Octavio Parojinog, and asked him to talk to Espenido. Moments later, the police pulled out.

THEIR SCHOOL TOO. Parents join hands in cleaning the school grounds during the launching of the 2017 ‘Brigada Eskwela’ at Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr.

F POLICE, 12 Elementary School in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Leni says radio program not due to dip in ratings A

Woman accusing Trillanes of bribery meets DOJ chief

Downplays initial bashers as a minor concern

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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ICE President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo clarified that her new radio program BISErbisyong LENI did not come about to counter the recent decrease in her trust ratings.

“Yung radio program, matagal na niluluto at ngayon lang natuloy,” said VP Leni on an interview with reporters on Monday. “Ito ay isang attempt

na ma-reach pa yung mga ordinaryong mamamayan.

On Mother’s Day last Sunday, her new one-hour radio program with Ely Saludar broke to the air for the first time.

According to Leni, her radio program aims to reach out to unorganized groups or ordinary citizens who are staying at home.

“The radio program hopes to reach out to groups lalo na yung mga nanay na nasa bahay lang, di nakakapag-engage, di nakaka-participate, mabigyan ng boses.”

The vice president said that as of first airing yesterday, the program has been receiving a number of responses from listeners.

Leni downplayed initial

bashers relating to the airing of her new radio show.

“Yang bashing, very minor lang yan compared sa mga benefits na magagawa ng program.”

VP Leni’s radio program will be aired at 9 a.m. every Sunday over RMN-dzXL 558 kHz with simulcast over RMN-Cebu, RMN-CDO, RMNDavao and RMN-Naga.

Alejano faced grilling over his lack of personal knowledge in the material allegations he made in the complaint.

Alejano sought the ouster of Duterte for his state policy on illegal drugs which resulted in a spate of summary executions and extrajudicial killings; his alleged links in the vigilante killings by the Davao Death Squad; and his alleged PHP2.2 billion hidden wealth.

Alejano also filed a supplemental complaint regarding Duterte’s failure to assert the country’s sovereign and maritime rights over disputed territories with China including Benham Rise, Panatag Shoal and the rest of the West Philippine Sea. Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas raised the issue of verification in Alejano’s complaint, which reads: “I/We

hereby confirm and affirm that the material allegations made therein are true and correct of my/our own personal knowledge and as culled from authentic records.”

Fariñas asked Alejano if he has personal knowledge over Duterte’s alleged hand in the extrajudicial killings and summary executions of more than 8,000 drug suspects as a result of the administration’s anti-drug campaign, as well as the 1,400 vigilante killings by the DDS. Alejano admitted that he has not witnessed the killings, but insisted that he has personal knowledge based on authentic records from open sources, policy statements, and media pronouncements of the President.

“I have personal knowledge based on the testimonies

and affidavits of witnesses,” Alejano said.

Fariñas said Alejano “clearly has no personal knowledge” on the material allegations he made in his complaint, noting that it is riddled with “complicated quadruple hearsay”.

“The material allegations, kung hearsay lang e, sasayangin mo lang ang panahon namin dito,” said Fariñas.

The majority leader warned that Alejano might face an ethics complaint and a perjury case because of his hearsay allegations.

“You are producing statements under oath which are not your own, bawal po yan,” Fariñas said.

“You are now coming to us and in fact I am warning you, you may be subjected to ethics case here,” he added. (PNA)

House junks impeachment complaint versus Duterte

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HE House justice committee on Monday voted to reject the impeachment complaint lodged against President Rodrigo Duterte for insufficiency in substance.

While the justice panel found the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo Rep Gary Alejano sufficient in form, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon and Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro moved to declare the complaint “insufficient in substance”.

Leachon and Castro’s motion was approved with a total of 42 votes.

The panel, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, will then submit its report to the House within 60 session days, and the House calendars it within 10 session days.

B U S I N E S S WO M A N from Davao City who accused Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of bribing her to testify against President Rodrigo Duterte met Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday.

Guillermina “Grace” Barrido Arcillas, accompanied by lawyer Bruce Rivera, appeared at Aguirre’s office in Manila and talk to him about her plans to press charges against Trillanes.

Arcillas said it was only today that she, with the help of Rivera, was able to secure an appointment with Aguirre to discuss the matter, adding that she was forced to hide due to numerous death threats she received after revealing Trillanes’ act.

She claimed that one of the Senator’s staff made the offer which allegedly involve her

receiving PHP500,000 as initial downpayment and another PHP500,000 after a case is filed against Duterte before the International Criminal Court.

She said it was Trillanes whom she suspected as the one who is behind the threats.

“Wala na pong iba kundi si Senator Trillanes (There is no one other than Senator Trillanes),” she said when asked who she suspected of being behind the threats though she did not present evidence to back up her claim.

Asked why she became a fake witness against President Duterte, she answered “unang una, nahirapan na po sila na maghanap rin, lalo na po sa DDS (Davao Death Squad).

Tapos yun po sakin, kaya gusto po nila sa akin, kasi ang isa po sa City Councilor’s office sa Davao City, relative ko. Kaya

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DND signs letter of intent with Chinese arm exporter

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HE DEPARTMENT of National Defense, representing the Philippine government, has signed Monday a letter of intent (LOI) for the purchase of weapons and other equipment from China’s arms exporter, Poly Group Corporation.

This was confirmed by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana saying this is separate from the USD14 million grant given to the Philippines last year.

“Yes, I signed a letter of intent with Poly Group. No specific equipment or arms yet. We’ll let the services decide what they went to acquire from China. This is not the

USD14 million grant. It is a separate deal,” he said.

Signing on behalf of Poly Group Group was it’s president, Zhengao Zhang.

When asked whether it is in the interest of the Philippines to acquire Chinese-made weapons when most of the equipment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is Western made, the DND chief said it will not be a problem.

“Weapons (nowadays) are all similar. They are used the same way. They can also be tailor-made for our specific requirements. Doctrine and training is peculiar to an Army so it won’t be affected,” he said.

(PNA)

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PH economic managers set to drum up ‘Dutertenomics’ A SENIOR economic manager of the Duterte administration has revealed plans to bring to the international scene the economic and social development blueprint called “Dutertenom-

ics” in future visits abroad, with high hopes to attract and boost foreign investments.

This, after “Dutertenomics” successfully debuted in the international stage in Cambodia during the visit of

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte for the World Economic Forum last week.

“We really want our socio-economic agenda be understood by the world... Pres.

Duterte’s programs are not

just about drugs,” Trade and Industry Sec. Ramon Lopez said at a press briefing Sunday evening at Grand Hyatt Hotel here.

“Dutertenomics” and the massive trillion-peso in-

frastructure plan dubbed as “Build, Build, Build” will be presented anew to foreign businessmen on Monday (May 15), at the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum here.

Launched prior to the

Human resources help APEC become economy driving force

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FIRMING UP THE RANKS. Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards, Inc. (PAREB) Davao Board of Realtors Foundation, Inc. president Hardinado Patnugot Jr. (left) and vice president for Mindanao Roy Rabor talk about the Anti-Kolorum drive against illegal real estate agents called YAKAP (Your Anti-

Kolorum Advocacy Program) while they were promoting the organization’s 57th founding anniversary yesterday during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Mitsubishi Bank backs PH infrastructure plan

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NE of the world’s largest private financial institutions has expressed its support for the Philippines’ development agenda, particularly in the Duterte administration’s unprecedented infrastructure program.

In a meeting here with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on the sidelines of the 50th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank, officials of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group said the institution “will help further expand the development of the Philippines.”

Led by Takayoshi Futae, its managing executive officer and CEO for Asia and Oceania, MUFG officials said they “want to work together” with the Philippines as it embarks on its multitrillion-peso infrastruc-

ture buildup.

Dominguez, for his part, welcomed the assistance offered by the MUFG officials and asked them to help in formulating “hedging” strategies for the Philippines to optimize its investments and reduce risks in its accelerated infra development plan.

“We also want to develop medium-sized companies by encouraging them to partner with equally sized Japanese companies for more inclusivity in our development strategy,” Dominguez told MUFG officials.

The other MUFG officers at the meeting were Yasutaka Suehiro, CEO and Head of Asia; Frederic Cabay, head of financial institutions, Asia and Oceania Corporate Banking Division for Asia and Oceania

No. 2; Augusto King, managing director, head of Capital Markets Group, Asia; and Yoshio Urabe, executive director, Debt Capital Markets Division, Investment Banking Business Unit.

According to Futae, the Japan-based MUFG is the world’s largest project finance bank with investments in largescale infrastructure such as railroads and airports.

MUFG’s global network spans 50 countries across the globe. With approximately $2.6 trillion in assets, S&P Global Intelligence lists it as the world’s fifth biggest bank in terms of assets.

In the meeting, Dominguez also informed MUFG of the Philippine government’s planned big-ticket infrastruc-

Philippines participated in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which was officially opened Sunday by Xi. In his speech, Xi described his flagship Belt and Road as a “bridge for peace, a road to prosperity, a way to boost inclusive growth and balanced development, and to promote equality.”

“The Philippines was pleased to hear that the Belt and Road Initiative is meant to help developing countries create more opportunities for growth and uplift the lives of people, which is also the

thrust of the Duterte administration,” the DFA said.

During the two day-meet, President Duterte and his economic managers will get the chance to exchange ideas with their counterparts, explain the administration’s economic vision for the Philippines, and see how it can be aligned with the Initiative “on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual benefit”.

The government also welcomed the overarching goal of the initiative which is to complement other countries’ respective development

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PH lauds Xi for Belt & Road initiative success

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HE Philippine government lauded Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping for the success of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, a high-profile economic event here attended by 29 world leaders including President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs described the Belt and Road Initiative as a “bold and fresh undertaking” and said the Philippines shares Xi’s view of the need for a “peaceful environment” to achieve developmental goals.

For the first time, the

FPH, 12

ASEAN 30th Leaders Summit in Manila late last month, “Dutertenomics” aims to accelerate poverty reduction and transform the Philippines into a high- to middle-income country by 2022. (PNA)

S a dynamic region with rapid economic growth for many decades, the Asia-Pacific region has become a primary driving force for the global economy thanks to its abundant human resources with high skills which are effectively combined with quality institutional frameworks and close collaboration among member economies, Vietnam News Agency reported a Vietnamese official as saying.

In his opening remark at the 42nd Plenary Meeting of the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG), Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep said the high quality human resources are increasingly important for the development of each country since both the world and region is experiencing huge changes under the impacts of the fourth industrial revolution, especially digital technology.

“Our urgent task is to promote regional cooperation, study and make timely assessments on the impacts of digital technology on human resources development, based on which proposing pioneer solutions to increase the adaptability of the labour force in the digital age,” he said.

Diep hoped that the meeting would focus discussion on the Framework of Human Resources Development in the Digital Age for consensus.

If approved, this will be the outcome document of the APEC High-level Policy Dialogue on Human Resources Development in the Digital Age, with significant contributions to the development of high quality human resources, enhancement of job quality and connection among people in the APEC region, he added.

The Deputy Minister went on to say that this also contributes to creating a new driving force for building a shared

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DTI working on LGUs competitiveness index

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GOVT. MANTLE SOUGHT. United Investors/Innovators Organizations of the Philippines interim chair Virgilio Sangutan (left), together with Inventors, Scientists and Innovators of the Philippines founding president Dennis Mercader, says the inventors organizations in the country are pushing to the Office of the President and House Senate the new proposed bill to restore

Globe 1Q revenue growth at record level P31.1 billion; up by 4% on-year

G

LOBE Telecom closed the first three months of 2017 with record-level consolidated service revenues of P31.1 billion, 4% higher than same period last year’s P30.0 billion, and P62 million higher than prior quarter’s alltime high revenues.

The sustained solid revenue growth across all data-related segments, as well as the continued subscriber expansion for both mobile and broadband, led to this period’s strong performance. This was likewise aided by the company’s game-changing initiatives including a digital lifestyle play, innovative offers, and content partnerships with iconic global brands, backed by robust 3G and 4G networks nationwide.

“We are seeing encouraging improvements this quarter, despite the temporary setback on profits as we continue to lay down the foundation to secure sustainable growth in the future. Our continued aggressive network modernization and upgrades using the latest technologies are all geared towards enhancing our internet services, so that our customers can have a wonderful and seamless connectivity,” Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said.

Mobile revenues stood at P23.8 billion as of end-March 2017, up 3% year-on-year, from the P23.1 billion reported a year ago. This was mainly attributed to the continued strong data consumption as more customers adopt the digital lifestyle. TM, the company’s mass-market brand, registered 7% revenue growth from last year, while Globe Prepaid revenues posted 3% improvement from 2016. Globe Postpaid revenues on the other hand, was flat year-on-year. Globe Telecom’s mobile subscriber base reached 58.6 million for the first three months of the year, up 2% from the 57.3 million subscribers reported in the same period of 2016.

On a product perspective, mobile data remains the biggest contributor to total

mobile revenues, now reaching 42% as of the first three months of the year. Mobile data service revenues registered close to P10.0 billion for the three-month period just ended, or 8% higher than the P9.2 billion reported a year ago. Mobile data traffic grew 84% from 71 petabytes (PB) in the first three months of 2016 to 131 petabytes (PB) this period, as smartphone penetration now reached 63%. The continuous ramp up of data traffic and smartphone penetration only proves that Globe remains to be the network of choice of mobile data users.

Mobile voice declined by 3% year-on-year while SMS increased by 3%.

The Globe home broadband business likewise showed consistent growth year-on-year, registering a total of P3.8 billion revenues as of end-March this year, up 9% from the P3.5 billion reported a year ago. Home broadband’s robust revenue performance was boosted by the continued subscriber expansion, which now reached 1.19 million as of the first three months of 2017. This was likewise aided by the strong take-up of home broadband’s latest plans and bundles which caters to the growing demand for lifestyle and entertainment-driven connectivity requirements such as video, gaming, information, commerce, shopping, and banking.

Globe Telecom’s corporate data business improved by 7% at P2.5 billion as of end March this year, higher from the P2.4 billion posted in the same period of 2016. This was mainly attributed to the rising demand for data connectivity, impacting customer base expansion, circuit count increase and higher usage. Traditional fixed line voice revenues however, posted a decline of 2% from same period last year.

The company’s record-level consolidated EBITDA stood at P13.3 billion, up 2% from same period last year. Total operat-

FGLOBE, 13

the Philippine Inventors Commission. Sangutan said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday a commission was already created during the time of President Marcos through Republic Act No. 3850 but was abolished by President Cory Aquino. Lean Daval Jr.

HE Department of Trade and Industry XI, in coordination with the National Competitiveness Council, is now in the fifth round of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index or CMCI 2017.

As an annual competitiveness ranking for all the local government units of the Philippines, CMCI 2017 carries a greater challenge for LGUs, since it will have an additional pillar - the Resiliency Pillar.

The previous rounds of the index only required three pillars, namely: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, and Infrastructure with only 28 indicators. However, the Resiliency Pillar alone already has 10 indicators plus the two

additional indicators to the Economic Dynamism making it to 40 indicators for this year’s round of the index.

The Resiliency Pillar of the CMCI embodies the capacities of the LGUs to continuously function, so that the people living and working in that specific community, particularly the poor and vulnerable, survive and thrive no matter what disasters they will encounter.

The earlier three pillars vents Economic Dynamism on productivity as it matches the output of the local economy with local resources; Government Efficiency as the quality and reliability of government services and government sup-

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‘Attacks, weak policies to kill banana industry’ U

DAR’s Mariano, other factors blamed

NRELIABLE government policies that disregard established practices and contracts, extreme weather phenomena and the continuing attacks and extortion activities of communist insurgents in Mindanao are among the factors that could further weaken the banana industry, which was once

one of the strongest drivers of the country’s economy.

Stakeholders in the export fruit industry have expressed growing concern over the atrocities committed

by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels against banana and other fruit plantations in Mindanao, despite a much-ballyhooed temporary ceasefire

reportedly forged between government and communist peace negotiators in the Netherlands.

They have also lamented the attempts by officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to scuttle legitimate and valid agribusiness venture deals between banana plantation developers and

agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), in blatant disregard of President Duterte’s policy of honoring all contractual obligations of the government.

“We used to be the world’s second largest banana producer and exporter next to Ecuador. But today the Philippines has been edged

BOITIZ Power is set to open three new power plants in the country to meet the increasing demand for power due to industrialization, according to Erramon I. Aboitiz, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) President and Chief Executive Officer.

In a press conference shortly before AEV annual stockholders’ meeting Monday at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, Aboitiz said the 68.8 megawatts (MWs)-Manolo Fortich hydroelectric plant; the 340MW Therma Visayas

coal-fired power plant in Toledo, Cebu; and the 400MW expansion of the Pagbilao coalfired plant in Quezon province, were scheduled for commissioning by next year. ”Aligned with the country’s continued economic growth, the Aboitiz’s Group’s own growth journey remains promising and purpose-driven. We are going to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities through various products and services that our business units provide. If you look at

our strategic goals we set we will be at about 4,000MW by 2020,” Aboitiz said.

The company expects to increase to 800MW by 2020 its present contestable market of close to 400 MWs. In the area of renewable energy, Aboitiz Power Renewables Inc. (APRI) inaugurated the restored 6 MW Binary Plant, Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal Project located in the provinces of Laguna and Batangas last April 27.

Acquisitions are still part of Aboitiz Power’s strategy

along with regional expansion.

The company is looking at a couple of hydro projects but these are developing projects from scratch so it may take several years before they can actually break ground. ”There are limits to how much capacity we can generate. Once that limit has been reached, we either wait for the capacity of the country to grow or we have to go outside which is why we started looking outside, primarily Indonesia and secondarily, Myanmar,” Aboitiz said. (PNA)

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Aboitiz to hike generation capacity by 2020 A

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AEON TOWERS. Construction of the 33-level Aeon Towers high-rise mixed use project of FTC Group of Companies go round the clock. The projected property turnover is set from December of this year to January next year. The project costs P3.1 billion and is poised to become Mindanao’s tallest building.

Renovated Veterans Bank in Davao City inaugurated W

Six-hour power outage hits Western Mindanao

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HILIPPINE Veterans Bank recently its newly renovated Branch last Friday, May 5, 2017 in time for the 72nd anniversary of the Liberation of Davao on May 3, 2017. The Bank’s invited special guests Atty. Sonia S. De Los Reyes - BSP Regional Director and Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Davao Post President Florentino Babila and VFP Region X Post President Teofilo Gamutan. On the side of the Bank, PVB Chairman & CEO Roberto F. De Ocampo, OBE and Pres-

ident and COO Nonilo C. Cruz will lead the inauguration rites.

The centerpiece of the renovated branch is its World War II History Wall – 4 panels that tell the story of World War II in the Philippines with several of the panels dedicated to local WWII events that have happened in Davao.

The branch also has two (2) display cases that contain artifacts, paraphernalia, and memorabilia from the war which combined with the history wall, make a visit to PVB

Davao almost like a trip to the museum. The history wall also has a panel with a display monitor that continuously screens WW2 documentaries and photos.

Davao City has a significant history during World War II mainly because of the heavy Japanese presence in its pre-war civilian populace.

During the Liberation period, close to 4,500 Japanese of the 100th Division were killed in the outskirts of the City by the Allied Forces 24th Division.

The Battle lasted from April to

mid-June 1945 and paved the way for the complete liberation of Mindanao.

PVB Davao, located along PVB Building CM Recto Street, Davao City, also sports a new façade with a large “V” that is not only a nod to the bank’s stockholders – the over 300,000 Filipino World War II veterans – but also a symbol of the aggressive outlook that the bank has of the city. This aggressiveness is easily dispelled once inside the branch as the interiors convey a sense of comfort and homeliness.

ESTERN Mindanao was plunged into darkness Sunday for more than six hours due to a massive power outage.

The power outage started at 8:38 p.m. Sunday and was fully restored at 3 a.m. Monday.

In an advisory Monday, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines blamed landslides and floods in Lanao del Norte, triggered by continuous heavy rains, for the power interruption.

“An eroded coconut tree hit the conductors between towers along Abaga-Aurora 138-kilovolt (KV) line in Barangay San Vicente, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. Continuous heavy rains prevailed in the area causing flash floods and landslides,” it said.

Elizabeth Ladaga, NGCP spokesperson, said the incident left two other lines, the Agus 5-Aurora 138-kv and Baloi-Aurora 138-kv, to trip due

to power overloading.

Sunday night’s incident was the second major power interruption to hit the entire Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental and parts of Lanao del Norte this month.

The first was on May 4 that affected the Agus 5-Aurora 138-kv line and Baloi-Aurora 138-kv line due to “maliciously planted trees.” These lines connects Western Mindanao to the Mindanao grid Ladaga told the Philippines News Agency that “unbridled tree vegetation underneath power lines” had been a perennial problem, especially in Lanao areas.

The trees, during strong or stormy winds, can topple NGCP transmission and cable lines, especially those in mountainous areas.

For its part, the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) immediately requested Western Mindanao

F SIX-HOUR, 12

Thousands troop to‘Brigada Eskwela’in Soccskarsargen

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PVB DAVAO INAUGURATION. In the photo above (LR) PVB President & COO Nonilo C. Cruz; Deputy Director Erma Latasa –BSP Davao Region; PVB Chairman and CEO Roberto F. De Ocampo ; AVP Tranquilino Morante – Area Head PVB Mindanao Branches ; Regional Director Atty. Sonia S. De Los Reyes – BSP ROXI ; Post President Florentino B. Babila – Tugbok Post Davao ; Post President Teofilo A. Gamutan – Premier Post Davao ; SVP Vilma A. Noche – PVB Branch Banking Group Head and PVB Director Percianita G. Racho.

Photo on left: (L-R) Post President Florentino B. Babila – Tugbok Post Davao (leftmost); Post President Teofilo A. Gamutan – Premier Post Davao (3rd from Left)pose with PVB Chairman and CEO Roberto F. De Ocampo and PVB President and COO Nonilo C. Cruz.

HOUSANDS of school personnel and community stakeholders trooped to various public schools in Region 12 on Monday to join the start of the annual “Brigada Eskwela.”

Anton Maganto, information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Region 12, said all public elementary and secondary or high schools in the region have opened for the week-long activity, which is in preparation for the scheduled opening of classes on June 5.

Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

The region’s nine school divisions have a total of 1,746 public elementary and 499 secondary schools.

Maganto said local schools

have reported a significant turnout of volunteers from various sectors for the initiative, which is slated until May 22.

He said the volunteers comprised parents, local government officials and employees, Army and police personnel, workers of private companies and members of community groups and non-government organizations.

The area’s school divisions initially reported an average participation rate of 94 percent from parents and other local stakeholders, he said.

“The response has been overwhelming so far and we expect more volunteers to join us in the coming days,” he said in a phone interview.

Brigada Eskwela, which is also known as the “National Schools Maintenance Week,” is a voluntary initiative that brings together teachers, parents and the community to do

F THOUSANDS, 12

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EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

10 VANTAGE

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

EDITORIAL 10-year passport

A

FTER a Senate measure increasing the validity of the Philippine driver’s license to five years, Congress is now looking at lengthening the life span of a Philippine passport which makes good sense.

The proposed Philippine Passport Act wants the Department of Foreign Affairs to begin preparing to issue Philippine passports valid for up to 10 years, or double the current five. Barring opposition, the new passport could take effect by January next year. The House of Representatives has already passed the measure on third and final reading on February 13 and the Senate has approved it on second reading. It is expected to approve it on third and final reading before Congress adjourns on June 2.

The measure likewise allows the DFA to lessen the period of validity for minors or whenever warranted by the national interest.

With the designation of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Foreign Affairs secretary, who originally pushed for the 10-year

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passport when he chaired the Senate foreign relations committee, the new passport effectivity cuts down the bureaucratic process and allows Filipinos working overseas some leeway in renewing passports. An OFW renewing a passport needed to go back to the country for renewal in the absence or distance of an embassy or consular office in the country where the OFW is working.

The DFA is admittedly one of the busiest agencies to transact business with. One has to endure long queues and cutoffs to process a passport. For the record, the number of passports issued by the DFA is increasing by an annual average of 29.3 percent since 2010. In 2016 alone, the DFA processed a total of 3,123,004 applications for new passports, renewals or replacements.

With the expanded effectivity, the bulk of renewals should be dramatically reduced in the next five years and pave the way for faster processing of new applications.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

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

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TRAVEL

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FUNtastic Boracay!

BORACAY. A word that simply means fun under the sun. It could also mean vacation.

And yes, Boracay will simply take your breath away. Nevertheless, Boracay, on its own, won’t be an ultimate holiday haven without Azalea Hotels & Residences Boracay.

My recent trip to the island where it’s always summer was one for the books. For someone who opts the shade than the sun, it was me getting out of my comfort zone and making up for lost time under the sun.

What made it even more memorable was the people I was with. Exploring Boracay like a first timer, the trip proved to be more than just activities that involved the sun, sand and sea.

Azalea Hotels & Residences Boracay is Boracay’s first 4-star quality serviced apartment hotel that is both luxurious and comfortable at the same time. With its lavishly modern and playful interiors, Azalea Boracay is

of luxury and functionalities of home. It’s not just a place to sleep in; Azalea Boracay has spacious suites that will have you wanting to stay indoors as much as being outdoors -- choose from a Deluxe Hotel Room, One Bedroom Suite, Two Bedroom Suite or a Three Bedroom Suite.

Perfect for groups,

chic, sexy and definitely the unicorn of all hotels in the country’s sunniest place to be.

Many hotels and residences claim to be located on the beach front or that they have an amazing view of the sea.

When looking for solitude amidst the hustle and bustle of the island life, many of the world’s most beautiful beach hotels are not directly located on the beach front or charges exceptionally for the privilege to see the sun set.

At Azalea Boracay, you would be treated to the modern day comforts

business travellers and family vacations, each room is complete with living and entertainment facilities, full kitchen amenities, separate living and dining areas, spacious toilet and bath and one of the most comfortable bedrooms you’ll ever stay in.

“Foremost, we have the space, location (we are located in the middle and not on the beach front hence making you feel at home), kitchen amenities that you can use for light cooking, excellent customer service and a promise of holiday with our holiday concierge

who can plan and assist you in your activities.”, explains Adrian Ramirez, Group Marcomm Manager.

True to their promise, Azalea Boracay lets you choose your holiday and they will take care

of your stay. They will help you create memories from the moment you arrive up until the moment you wave goodbye to the island. And with 284 hotel rooms and apartment suites, you always have a place here – 365 days of

the year.

With just a few minutes away from the beachfront, you will have no reason to stay under the shade. Go ahead and explore Boracay’s plethora of water activities. Go island hopping and snorkeling with the fish. Brave enough for a jump? Then cliff diving with your peers is your best bet.

Want to explore the island aboard a party boat?

Boracay’s SunCruiser is the best way to explore the island without getting wet -- unless you take the plunge from their inflatable slide straight to the sea.

Don’t want to get wet?

Trekk the island’s highest peak with an ATV or pair up on a Buggy and enjoy the majestic view from the top. And yes, it definitely feels good to be on top!

Any Boracay trip won’t be complete without spending some time with the Ati Komunidad (Ati Village). The outpour of happiness is incomparable. Seeing them smile and hearing their laughter is enough to make you experience genuine happiness. Don’t forget to take something home with you though -- I love the coconut & vanilla and peppermint soap.

And YES, I am so coming back.

After all these, don’t forget to take a breather and let your toes marry with the white sands of the island as you scout for a gastronomic place to suit your palate. There’s a mammoth of choices -all you need is your appetite, your wallet and you are good to go.

As the sun sets, the coast of Boracay becomes a golden panorama ready to take you on its arms.

The sun may have set but the Boracay fun is yet to begin. Embrace the island vibe with Boracay’s party scene. Go from one bar to another – never missing a beat as you go. People watching on the coast line is as epic as the beach too.

Expansion wise, Azalea Hotels & Residences’ plan to conquer the many beautiful islands of the country is on its way. “As of now, we are looking at Cebu and Clark. Iloilo and Bacolod in the near future. Davao is definitely in the drawing board. We are taking it one destination at a time”, Ramirez said.

At Azalea Hotels & Residences Boracay, you not only get a paradise – you get an ultimate holiday haven beyond your expectation.

Dreaming of a sunny and wet getaway right about now? With AirAsia’s newest flights from Davao, you’d never have to dream! #chasingwonders

A2 INdulge!

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

Sun, sand and fun in Samal THE VISIT DAVAO FUN SALE (VDFS) took to the blue waters of the Davao Gulf and the white sand beaches of Samal last May 7 as the Island Garden City of Samal hosted back-to-back activities.

The day started bright and early as beautifully decorated non-motorised sailboats called paraw lined up at the Villarica dock in Babak to join the Bigiw Regetta. After a quick send off ceremony, the sixteen participants were off, making their way south slowly along the western coast of Samal eventually ending at the public white sand beach of Kaputian.

Going home with the victory was RMPC Beach Resort and Training Center manned by Reneboy Aballe. VDFS Cebu Pacific manned by Felipe Cabase andVDFS BPI Cards piloted by Rodelo Miras came in second and third respectably.

Kaputian Beach was also the venue of the Samal Sand Sculpting Competition which was clearly a crowd drawer.

Fourteen teams participated creating intricate masterpieces from the fine white sand of the beach.

Taking home first place was team Warriors ‘03 with their castle creation featuring the Disney movie “Frozen”.

Team Island Boys and Island Scrapers came in second and third respectively.

The VDFS is a sixweek long, region-wide sale featuring discounted tours, fabulous hotel stays, spa treats, a citywide sale as well as exciting happenings until May 31. You can check out Visitdavaofunsale.com for more details.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

TRAVEL

INdulge! A3 Walking by the boulevard during sunset is the best way to the view around town.

LANUZA DREAMS

I’VE BEEN DREAMING (AND WRITING) ABOUT LANUZA FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. During my second visit to the town last month, it was still the swell season and with a low pressure area (LPA) around the waves were always pumping in all the spots.

The only problem was to find a spot that wasn’t too challenging for me to surf in. I think I had a solid three days surfing in the spot in front of Mami’s Surf Camp. If you made the sections, it would result in a long ride up to the shore and very near the left-hander break.

One of the miracles I realized when I was able

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to stay on a wave I took.

My stoked face was so evident, smiling from ear to ear with my tongue sticking out on the paddle back to the lineup.

That got me really hooked. I craved to get the same long ride every time I’d try to catch that wave. I can’t remember how many times I almost got to ride that long but I never stopped trying... until I got scared by a crazy wipeout and had my face touch the reef bottom. Almost too sweet.

More wipeouts than epic long rides but I loved every bit of the moment spend surfing in Lanuza in different weather.

There would be a few times that the sun would come out to shine especially after the storm disappeared after almost half a week of rain and gnarly waves.

It was also during my second visit in Lanuza, I stayed for a week and didn’t surf for 2 days. The waves were too big and the current too strong for me. I wanted to but decided against paddling out because I didn’t want to risk myself and dam-

Part 2

This rocky shore just a little walk in front of Mami’s Surf Camp in Lanuza has old washed-up concrete chairs that are now damaged by the sea but is a great spot to take photos and look at people surfing. Photo by Lisa Caldini.

aging my board.

We had a 9 foot longboard cut cleanly in half during that trip so it was THAT big. Not to mention how strong the current was at that spot that day, I was contented watching from the safety of the shore.

Aside from a wide assortment of different surf spots, the town of Lanuza has one of the best barbecues I’ve ever tried. On my third visit, I actually craved eating barbecue out from Bam-Bam’s place. If you’re wondering where this is, you can

ask the locals. Everybody knows everybody since it’s a really small town.

Aside from barbecue worth remembering, there’s only one local fish ball and kwek-kwek vendor that sells street food during the weekdays. It’s a blue stall near the market and terminal.

I’ve tried eating locally made fish balls in Davao City, Tandag City, Dipolog City and Kidapawan City.

So far, for me Lanuza’s fish balls taste the best and it only costs PHP 1 per piece. The last I re-

member eating was as much as 15 pieces in one standing! Maybe it was their batter and sauce that made it flavorful compared to the other local vendors in other places.

I haven’t explored the entirety of Lanuza and the nearby municipalities where I’ve heard of great spots too. I’m crossing my fingers and am consistently on the lookout for another excuse to come back here. Don’t forget to check out my blog: www. millennialmermaid.com for more stories!

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The view of the waves in front of Babak Bungalows when there was an LPA.

Babak Bungalows in Lanuza serves the best garden salad and pasta in the whole town! Big servings to fill that empty stomach after a good surf session in front of the resort.

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“M

ENTAL healthcare should be delivered as an integral part of our primary healthcare system amid the growing number of mental illnesses that are left untreated due to lack of mental facilities and of physicians who are sufficiently trained to handle and treat mental conditions,” said Senator Loren Legarda in a recent press statement.

The lady senator was so happy that the Senate approved on third and final reading the Mental Health Bill under Senate Bill No. 1354, which seeks to provide affordable and accessible mental health services to Filipinos with mental disabilities.

Legarda, co-author of the proposed bill, said that the enactment of the said measure would usher in a new chapter in mental healthcare policy and service delivery in the country as it would integrate mental health in all health services and policy initiatives.

Let’s take a closer look at the statistics in the Philippines. According to the Department of Health (DOH), one in 5 Filipino adults has some form of mental illness, topped by schizophrenia, depression and anxiety.

Unknowingly, depression is hard to detect among Filipinos. “People confuse depression for normal sadness,” Dr. Randy Dellosa, a psychiatrist, was quoted as saying.

“Depression is a devastating illness that affects the total being – physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” wrote Frank B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier in their book, Happiness Is a Choice. “The emotional pain of depression is more severe than the physical pain of a broken leg.”

T

HE first telephone lines installed in Davao arrived just as the Americans started taking over the various townships in the region. With telephony, there were telegraph lines that improved the communication channels between the town of Davao and the remote regions.

Established on November 28, 1928, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) eventually became a giant in local communications following the passage of Act 3436 and its approval by American Governor-General Henry L. Stimson. The American company General Telephone & Electric Corporation (GTE), with four phone companies under it, was sold and became PLDT. As part of its franchise requirements, PLDT was given a maximum of four years to implement its system so much so that by the 1930s the country was already linked by fixed-line network to the outside world through radio telephone services.

In 1931, prior to the Commonwealth era, an exchange was put up in Davao.

The local link registered only thirty-five phones, which was a disappointment.

Instead of using landlines, the patrons turned to messenger service in transacting business with the government. By October 1, 1938, from an initial of 175 patrons, phone subscription more than

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

11

State of the mind “After anxiety, depression is the most common mental health disorder, ” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Statistics show that 10% of people who see their doctors for what they think is a physical problem are actually experiencing depression.

“People who become depressed typically do so in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, although depression can begin at almost any age,” the Merck manual points out.

“Depression affects a number of children and adolescents.”

An episode of depression typically lasts about 6 months if untreated, but sometimes it lasts for 2 years or more.

“Episodes generally tend to recur several times over a lifetime,” the Merck manual notes.

Medical experts say that about a third of people with depression don’t know they have it. And two-thirds don’t seek treatment at all. “With proper treatment, most people with serious depression improve, often within weeks, and can return to their normal daily activities,” says the Mayo Clinic.

Based on a survey conducted in 2000 by the National Statistics Office, mental illness is the third most common form of disability in the country – after visual and hearing impairments.

For every 100,000 Filipinos, about 88 of them suffer from mental illness due to heredity, psychosocial development and substance abuse.

It is not surprising why suicide cases in the country has been growing over a period of 20 years. The Geneva-based World Health Orga nization (WHO) reported the Philippines has suicide rates (per 100,000) of 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women as of 1993.

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

“Further adding to the woes of those afflicted with mental health illnesses is the shortage in qualified mental health professionals,” Legarda pointed out.

At present, there are only an estimated 490 psychiatrists and 1,000 nurses working in psychiatric care, and even less general practitioners trained in early assessment and management of common mental health problem in the community.

“The number of addiction specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, guidance counselors and social workers are extremely inadequate to meet the mental health needs of 100 million Filipinos,” Legarda deplored.

According to Legarda, there are only two mental hospitals, 46 outpatient facilities, four-day treatment facilities, 19 community-based psychiatric inpatient facilities and 15 community residential (custodial home-care) facilities in the entire country.

Most of these facilities are not in the countryside. “Almost all mental health facilities are in major cities,” Legarda said. In the National Capital Region, the only mental hospital houses only 4,200 beds.

Dr. Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte, a medical doctor who once studied psychology at the St. Paul University Manila, considered mental health as a vital part of a person’s total health. “The problems on mental health contain not just the traditional mental health diso rders but the issues of target populations susceptible to psychological risks caused by extreme life experiences such as disasters, neardeath experiences, heinous and violent crimes, internal displacement brought about by religious and civil unrests as well as the psychosocial matters of daily living like preserving a sense of well-being in these complicated times,” she said.

Under Senate Bill No. 1354, the Philippine Council for Mental Health shall be established as an attached agency under the health department, to provide for a coherent, rational and unified response to mental health problems, concerns and efforts through the formulation and implementation of the National Mental Health Care Delivery System.

Legarda said the system shall constitute a quality mental health care program, through the development of efficient and effective structures, systems and mechanisms that will ensure equitable, accessible, affordable, appropriate, efficient and effective delivery of mental health care to all its stakeholders by qualified, competent, compassionate and ethical mental health professionals and mental health workers.

“Many of the health problems we

encounter arise from mental conditions.

Our physicians see a significant proportion of common symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, and back pain for which they don’t find a cause. If we will be able to identify patients’ psychosocial stressors and common mental and behavioral conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance use, we can understand more about what drive these symptoms and be able to give appropriate care and treatment,” Legarda said.

In Davao City, Dr. Villafuerte – who is a councilor of the third district – has filed an ordinance entitled “Mental Health Code of 2016.” She explained the policy will “uphold the right of the people to mentalhealth and encourage mental health consci ousness among them.”

The ordinance has eight objectives.

The first four are: promote a shift from a hospital-based system to a strengthened community-based mental health care delivery system; reorient and modernize the existing mental health facilit ies; integrate mental health care in the general health care delivery system; and promote, prevent and manage mental health at all levels and treat and rehabilitate persons with mental disability.

The remaining four objectives are as follows: provide access to comprehensive health care and treatment to ensure a well-balanced mental health pr ogram in the community and hospital; establish a multi-sectoral joint network of mental illness or disability and the management of mental health problems among vulnerable groups; protect and promote the mental health of the people through a multi-disciplinary approach; and provide adequate support and follow-up mechanisms for the discharged.

argued the installation of a telephone system would result in the illegal spending of public funds and prejudice its rights “as prior owner and operator since 1931 of a city-wide telephone system.”

Moreover, PLDT argued the city “has no power to establish and operate a telephone system” and must “first secure a certificate of public convenience and necessity” from the PSC. In Resolution No. 644, the City Council held that “it will be to the advantage of the people and [city] government… if the automatic telephone system proposed… should be owned and operated by the City Government of Davao, not only because of its profitable nature, but because of the need of expanding it to a minimum of 3000 lines which is actually the immediate requirement in order to satisfy long standing requests for telephone connections.”

Moreover, it argued the project would “include… the establishment of microwave telephone system for the Districts of Calinan, Tugbok, Mintal, Daliao, Toril, Talomo, Panacan, Tibungco, Bunawan and Lasang and pave the way for better control of peace and order and emergencies arising from the occurrence of fire and epidemics.”

In rebuttal, PLDT said the “Davao City’s telephone system cannot be justified under general welfare clause provi-

sions because said telephone system is commercial in nature and, therefore, not the proper subject of the exercise of police power,” adding the city’s “entry as another and new telephone operator in the area covered by petitioner’s franchise would violate its vested rights as prior operator.”

But the Supreme Court, in its decisions, said “A municipal corporation is not prevented from constructing and operating a competing plant, although a franchise had been granted a private company for a similar public utility, provided the franchise is not exclusive.”

The high tribunal, in responding to the issue of whether the city must first to secure a certificate of public convenience and necessity, cited the Public Service Act which exempts all government entities from the said requirement.

Section 13 (a) of the Act states: “That public service owned or operated by government entities or government-owned or controlled corporations shall be regulated by the [PSC] in the same way as privately-owned public services, but certificates of public convenience or certificates of public convenience and necessity shall not be required of such entities or corporations.”

PLDT lost the case but the DCTS, decades later, would close shop, overtaken by the developments obtaining the global telecommunications industry.

Telephone war goes to court

doubled in the first half of 1939 to 375, with PLDT charging PhP5 and PhP11 for homes and offices, respectively.

It was in 1963 when the city government of Davao decided to establish its own phone company, which it named Davao City Telephone System (DCTS), with the help of ITT Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of an American communications outfit. This was made possible when the Davao City Council, on August 7, 1963 and December 27, 1963, passed Resolutions Nos. 664 and 2015, respectively, “authorizing the establishment and maintenance of a city-wide telephone system, owned, maintained and operated” by the city.

The following year, on February 26, 1964, the city signed a contract with ITT Philippines, Inc. “to install and deliver the telephone system” amounting to P3,587,000.00. Three months later, on May 29, 1964, the city released a downpayment of P717,000, hopeful the project would be finished in eighteen months or until November 29, 1966.

But PLDT opposed the telephone project by filing a prohibition and mandamus against the city and the Public Service Commission (PSC) on June 23, 1964 and sought to order the city from fulfilling its contract with ITT Philippines, Inc. and to force the PSC to require the city to “first obtain a certificate of public convenience

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa and necessity.”

In response, the PSC, on July 15, 1964, filed its answer while the city submitted its response on August 11, 1964. For its part, the ITT Philippines, Inc. “filed a motion to intervene… and an answer in intervention on August 7, 1964.” The legal battle would eventually reach the Supreme Court as case G.R. No. L-23080, which was decided en banc on September 20, 1965.

The petitioner, meanwhile, responded to the answer in intervention on October 15, 1964 and twice applied for preliminary injunction but was denied. PLDT

12 NEWS Colorum... FROM 1

the proliferation of unlicensed practitioners considering the sharp increase of real estate development in Davao City and elsewhere in the region.

They said their organizations have opened their doors to associate members in a bid to entice those without license to apply for membership.

“We have amended our bylaws to enable them to come in as associate members,” said Patnugot.

Both real estate officials said the licensing of practitioners has fallen completely under the supervision and authority of the Philippine Regulatory Commission as embodied in Republic Act 9646.

Before July 30, 2009, real estate practitioners were accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry. The new law has since transferred this function solely to the PRC. (JKL)

The vice president gave a keynote address during the LEAP V: 2017 National Indigenous Peoples Education

Festival at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Mintal, Davao City on May 15.

She said she also heard that Espenido allegedly threatened to burn the whole Lawis if they cannot catch the suspected drug dealers in the area, and even advised the Parojinogs to move elsewhere so they will be spared.

“Why would we leave this place? We’ve been here even before he set foot in Ozamiz. Besides, there are more law-abiding people living here than those who are engaged in illegal drugs,” she said.

She said she is considering on filing a formal complaint against Espenido and his fellow police officers who were there on the night of May 4.

Gonda said they will investigate Espenido on the

allegations. He advised the complainants to file a formal complaint to the PNP-10 regional office at Camp Alagar in Barangay Lapasan.

As of this writing Monday, Espenido could not be reached for comment, but in previous interviews with journalists in Ozamiz, Espenido was said to have denied saying such statement.

Before his assignment in Ozamis City last year, Espenido was the former police chief of Albuera, Leyte, the hometown of suspected big time drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa whose father, former town mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., was killed inside a prison facility in that province last year.

(PNA)

po sa ginawa nila na affidavit, kunwari may relasyon yung Tita ko with the President, para mas kumbinsido.”

Arcillas who claimed she is a relative of a Davao city councilor said she also did not have any communication with President Duterte.

“Actually, kahit sa Presidente, hanggang ngayon, wala pa naman kaming contact.

Wala naman kaming communication (Actually, even with the President till now, I have no communication with him.

We have no communication),’ she added.

But Arcillas eventually declined an offer by the DOJ chief to be placed under the Witness Protection Program.

“We went here to talk to Secretary Aguirre and to tell the Secretary about her case.

She wants to file a case. She was offered witness protec-

tion, but we didn’t want to, at this point, since we don’t want this thing to be colored by politics. We just have to make sure that she was properly secured,” Rivera told reporters in a chance interview after the meeting.

But he said he doesn’t know yet what cases will Arcillas file against Trillanes since he is not her lawyer.

“I don’t know what cases since I’m not her lawyer. She has a lawyer in Davao City who will handle everything. I’m just here to help her out in talking with Secretary Aguirre, and deciphering for everyone on how we are going to do about it,’ Rivera added.

He said he and Arcillas only met on Facebook where she asked for her help in getting time to discuss her plans to file cases against the senator.

(PNA)

port for effective and sustainable productive expansion; and Infrastructure as the physical building blocks that connect, expand, and sustain a locality and its surroundings to enable the provision of goods and services.

Davao City prime movers on CMCI 2017 toughened the process of their data collection as one of the contenders of this year’s Highly Urbanized Cities Category. The City’s Planning, Research and Development Group exerted their utmost ef-

forts to be among the top performing LGUs nationwide.

Last year, Davao City was named as 5th Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines. Tagum City was also ranked as the 9th Most Competitive Component City in the Philippines.

DTI-Davao Regional Director Maria Belenda Ambi is optimistic that a number of LGUs from the region will still be among the country’s most competitive cities and municipalities. (PNA)

Leni... FROM 1

Police... FROM 4

Woman... FROM 4

DTI... FROM 6

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

Fighting malnutrition in Davao City T WO of the longest running and most successful supplementary feeding programs in the country have once again come together to bring hope to even more families in need – this time working together to combat malnutrition in the Durian Capital of the Philip-

pines - Davao City.

Launched last May 10, 2017, Mead Johnson Nutrition Philippines’ “Feeding Hope” Supplementary Feeding Program and Unilever Philippines’ “Lutong Nanay” Nutrition Program, through the support of the City Government of Davao City; Hon-

From Left to Right: Ed Sunico - VP for Sustainable Business and Communications; Atty. Jay Melchor Quitain - Councilor District 1, Davao City; Vicky Wieneke - President Kabisig ng Kalahi; Atty. Zuleika Lopez - City

Human... FROM 5 future of a dynamic, cohesive and prosperous APEC community as well as constructing Asia-Pacific partnership for sustainable and comprehensive development in the 21st century.

Speaking to VNA on the sidelines of the meeting, Christina Maria Schonleber, Vice Director (International Secretariat) of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), said the fourth industrial revolution will benefit the labour market, especially in the digital age, and create opportunities for skill development with the assistance of new technol-

ogies.

The development of the digital age will lay a foundation for development in the future, she said, adding that the labour market needs to develop further, particularly enhancing transnational connections and expanding vocational training.

Established in 1990, the HRDWG has conducted work programmes on developing human resources, touching on issues ranging from education to labour and capacity building. In addition, the HRDWG has responsibility to help build cultural awareness and promote gender quality. (PNA)

strategies.

“The Philippines hopes that the One Belt One Road Initiative could be one of the international cooperation initiatives that will contribute to our shared benefit,” the statement read.

The Philippines’ participation in the initiative complements the administration’s massive trillion-peso infrastructure program dubbed as “Build, Build,

Build” that would usher in the country’s “golden age of infrastructure” in the next five years.

“For the Philippines, connectivity projects should complement and support Philippine development priorities, the Philippine Development Plan, the President’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda, and the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity,” it added. (PNA)

Power Corporation (WMPC) to provide Zamcelco 50 megawatts (MW) to provide temporary relief to local power consumers.

The WMPC of the Alsons Power Group owns a 100-MW diesel power plant in Barangay Sangali, this city.

Engr. Edgardo Ancheta, Zamcelco general manager,

said in a separate interview that they also utilized the 16 MW generators of the cooperative.

“Fortunately, the power demand on Sunday night was around 50 to 60 MW,” he said.

The average daily power demand of this city is around 103 MW. (PNA)

PH... FROM 5

Six-hour... FROM 7

orable Mayor Sarah Duterte; City Councilor Atty. Jay Quitain; the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); and NGO lead Kabisig ng Kalahi, will benefit 360 wasted or severely malnourished children from three barangays of the city’s 1st District.

The two programs will run simultaneously for 120 feeding days and are expected to rehabilitate the children beneficiaries back to the normal state of nutrition. In the process, the mothers of the beneficiaries will also be given training on nutrition and values formation.

Administrator, Davao City; Mila Llorin - Corporate Affairs Director, Mead Johnson Nutrition Philippines; and Dr. Josephine Villafuerte - City Health Officer Davao City.

Mitsubishi... FROM 5 ture projects under its P8.4 trillion “Build, Build, Build” program, among them, the Clark-Manila railway, the Manila-Calamba commuter railway, and the Mega Manila Subway, which will be funded with possible development assistance from Japan.

“The projects we have proposed to the Japanese government are really aimed at decongesting Metro Manila,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez also updated MUFG officials of the other projects funded with Japanese assistance, among them, a 4.9 billion yen five-year project that aims to jumpstart agribusiness investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas in the South.

The project, called the Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST) is designed to help create an enabling investment environment in the ARMM and oth-

er conflict areas in Southern Philippines to help rev up the economy and raise incomes in these communities, Dominguez said.

The Land Bank of the Philippines and the government of Japan recently signed the loan agreement for the HARVEST project.

Last month, the first meeting of the Philippines-Japan Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation was held in Tokyo to discuss the details of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s commitment to deliver a 1 trillion yen (about $9 billion) financing package to the Philippines.

Dominguez and other Philippine officials were in Yokohama last week to attend the 50th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors and other related meetings.

The finance secretary assumed the chairmanship of the ADB Board of Governors ahead of this financial institution’s 51st Annual Meeting in 2018 that will be held in the Philippines.

cleanup and repairs in public schools to prepare the facilities for the June school opening.

Undertaken in all public schools every third week of May or two weeks before classes begin, it is participated in by private organizations, individuals, national and local government agencies, local businesses, and international organizations and founda-

tions, among others.

Volunteers paint classrooms, repair furniture and clean up the school grounds, with materials and supplies donated by the parents or by private businesses and foundations.

Prior to the start of the activity, Maganto said the region’s school divisions held caravans to drum up support from stakeholders. (PNA)

Thousands... FROM 7

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

Attacks... FROM 6

out by Costa Rica. Ironically, this could be the best time for us to recover because of the increasing demand from large markets like China, but unpredictable state policies are pulling the industry down,” said Antero Sison, Jr., president of Marsman Estate Plantation Inc. (MEPI).

Worrisome statistics The country’s export earnings from banana plunged to $440 million in 2015, down by about 60 percent from $1.1 billion in 2014.

“We can learn to cope with extreme weather phenomena like the El Niño and the La Niña by applying and developing climate-resilient technologies,” Sison said. “But no technological application can be developed against the inconsistency of DAR policies,” Sison said.

Hernando Rivero, a member of the Davao Marsman Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Cooperative (DAMARBDEVCO) said “DAR officials, whether deliberate or not, have been contributing to the decline of the banana industry, which has helped tens of thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries significantly improve their living standards and that of their families.”

The DAMARBDEVCO has

forged an agribusiness venture agreement with MEPI, which donated the land cultivated by members of the cooperative.

Agribusiness venture agreements (AVAs) betw een cooperatives formed

by ARBs and banana plantation developers are among the most successful partnerships in the agriculture sector. The AVAs have enabled banana growers to earn more than farmers planting rice or other crops.

DAR secretary blamed Sison said the DAR appears to be unconcerned over the plight of banana ARBs when its head, Secretary Rafael Mariano, ordered a blanket review of all AVAs or leaseback agreements despite these deals already upheld as legal, fair and aboveboard by government authorities and the courts.

The DAR has been after the cancellation of the AVA between MEPI and DAMARBDEVCO. “It saddens us to think that the DAR doesn’t care whether our ARBs and other workers in our plantation lose their jobs. Their officials are indifferent to their plight and couldn’t care less if our farmers and their families go hungry,” Sison said.

EDGEDAVAO Extortion Hernani P. Geronimo, spokesperson of Lapanday Foods Corporation (LFC) said that “the DAR’s move to break legitimate AVAs that have enabled many ARBs to earn better than decent wages and that have provided well for their families, doesn’t just violate the non impairment clause contained in Section 10, Article III of the Constitution, it also apparently has emboldened the communist insurgents to continue with their extortion activities and attacks against banana plantations.”

He said “the attack launched by this lawless armed group last April 29 against two of LFC’s packaging plants and a farm, all in Davao City, did not only leave almost 1,000 workers jobless, but it also displaced allied businesses that relied on the operations of our packaging plants.

It also deprived Davao City and the national government of taxes that contribute to the well being of the nation.”

“This lawless armed group appears to be mocking President Duterte because many of the atrocities were committed in his home city of Davao. The attack on our plants will affect the export capability of the Davao region, as pointed out by Maria

Lourdes D. Lim, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) REGION XI director, since Lapanday is one of the biggest producers of Cavendish bananas in Davao,” Geronimo said.

“To make matters worse, when a group claiming to be ARBs earlier camped out outside our farm with the intention to forcibly entering them, there were indications that the local DSWD was indirectly abetting them as there were reports that they were provided food that were allegedly bought with government money,” Geronimo added.

Political whims Alex Valoria, president and CEO of the Tagum Agricultural Development Co., Inc. (TADECO) said on top of contending with NPA atrocities and unpredictable policies, the banana industry also has to deal with political concerns.

Valoria was referring to the quarrel betwe en Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., which has dragged TADECO, owned by the Floirendo clan, into the mess. Alvarez’s feud with Floreindo has prompted him to brand the joint venture deal between TADECO and Bureau of Corrections as illegal and demanded that the Department

NEWS 13 Globe... FROM 6

ing expenses and subsidy grew by 5% year-on-year to reach P17.8 billion from P17.0 billion last year, as Globe continued to invest in its data networks and support the growing subscriber base. EBITDA margin was at 43%, lower than the 44% margin reported a year ago but still higher compared to the 40% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Despite the sustained topline and EBITDA growth, the impact of higher interest expenses and depreciation charges from its network infrastructure investments, as well as the company’s share in equity losses and spec-

of Justice investigate the agreement.

TADECO and the BuCor have a decades-long joint venture agreement to develop the Davao Prison and Penal Farm into a banana plantation primarily to help rehabilitate inmates and prepare them for reintegration into society.

“Our joint venture agreement with BuCor is a successful model for rehabilitating inmates who get to earn decent incomes that help them provide for their families while serving their sentences. This is a legally binding agreement that has proven to be aboveboard by the Congress, the Executive Branch and the courts.

This arrangement would

trum amortization related to the SMC telco asset purchase, weighed down Globe Telecom’s net income. Net income for the period declined 13% to only P3.8 billion from the P4.3 billion reported in the same period of 2016, as the charges related to the SMC telco asset purchase were not present in last year’s levels. The company’s core net income, which excludes the impact of non-recurring charges, and foreign exchange and mark-to-market charges, likewise declined by 12% year-on-year to reach only P3.7 billion from P4.2 billion in the first quarter of 2016.

not have lasted this long if it has not been proven to be beneficial for all the parties concerned — the government, TADECO and the inmates being rehabilitated inside the Davao penal farm,” Valoria said.

“Now, all of a sudden, the JVA is being branded as void and illegal based on some legal hocus-pocus meant to satisfy political whims,” he said.

“We cannot accomplish our goal of maintaining the global competitiveness of our banana industry if the government itself is the one sabotaging us. Investors can just pack, leave and relocate elsewhere. The ultimate losers here are the workers and their families,” Valoria added.

14 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

Cancer-proof your diet Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

prostate cancer. There are several theories. It may alter sex hormone levels in the blood.

The culprit could be carcinogens formed when animal fat is cooked. Or fatty acids found in meat may interfere with cell functions.

T

HERE’S another reason to eat less fat, at least for men: it might reduce the risk of developing life-threatening prostate cancer, American researchers say.

Eating animal fat, especially from red meat, seems to promote the growth of small, latent prostate tumors, making them more likely to become dangerous, a study at Harvard’s School of Public Health found.

According to the study, there’s a mounting evidence that a fatty diet increases cancer risks, notably for breast, colon and prostate cancer. “It says, just like other studies, high fat is bad,” pointed out Dr. Kenneth J. Pienta, a cancer researcher at Wayne State University in Detroit who is familiar with the study.

However, researchers still don’t know whether cutting back on fat will help man prevent advanced prostate cancer.

But the recent study suggests it might help. “It’s a safe recommendation because if you cut down on fat you live longer, you get less heart disease and less chance of other diseases,” Dr. Pienta said.

In the Philippines, the number of prostate cancer cases continues to increase, claiming one person every hour, leading health experts think so. In fact, prostate cancer is now the third leading cause of death among Filipino men.

In 2010, records from the Department of Health showed that around six million men over the age of 50 were at risk of developing prostate cancer.

Half of the men aged 50 and above, the health department said, are likely to develop urinary and prostate problems as they get older.

Unfortunately, most men don’t know they have it or will have it. “Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly and may take decades to produce symptoms,” says The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “Thus, far more men have prostate cancer than die from it. Many men with prostate cancer die without ever knowing that the cancer was present.”

The bad news about is that “one out of 5 prostate cancers will result in death within five years.” That’s according to Dr. Jason Letran, urologist at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, University of Santo Tomas, and Chinese General Hospital.

The prostate gland lies just under the bladder and

Vegetables surrounds the urethra. It produces the fluid in the semen that nourishes sperm. Pili nut-sized in young men, the prostate gland enlarges with age. Three common disorders affect the prostate: benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer, and prostatitis.

Although life-threatening, prostate cancer is among the most curable cancers – when it is detected early. Roger Moore, known for his James Bond movies, was successfully treated with surgery in 1993.

In 2003, Colin Powell underwent surgery for early-stage prostate cancer and also made a full recovery.

Cancer risks Until now, medical science is still vague what exactly causes prostate cancer, although a number of things can increase a person’s risk of developing the condition. These include age, family history, obesity, exercise, and diet.

The Harvard study found that men who ate red meat as a main dish five or more times a week

Fried peanut

were 2.6 times as likely to suffer advanced prostate cancer as men who ate red meat only once a week or less.

“The risk went down as the intake decreased,” reported Dr. Edward Giovannucci, who headed the study. “Even eating red meat three times a week rather than five times a week, you did get some benefit.”

Vegetable fats don’t increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer, researchers found. In fact, another Harvard study found that vegetable fats may even fight early stage prostate cancer.

“Study participants who ate the largest amount of vegetable fats were less likely to die from prostate cancer – or any other cause – than men who consumed the most animal fats,” wrote Daniel Pendick, former executive editor of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. Most of the vegetable fats consumed by the men came from oils in salad dressings and nuts.

“The men who consumed the most vegetable oil lived longer, in part because their cancers were less likely to spread beyond the prostate gland,” Pendick wrote.

“That suggests, but does not prove, that a diet rich in ve g e t a b l e oils can slow the progression of the prostate cancer.”

Scientists still don’t know how animal fat acts to promote

Two forms Fat comes in two forms, saturated or unsaturated. The difference lies in the chemical structure of each fat molecule, specifically the number of hydrogen atoms. The more complete the addition of hydrogen atoms, the more saturated the fat is. Some foods high in saturated fat include beef and veal, pork, butter, chicken, chocolate and milk and cream.

When there is room for more hydrogen in the molecule, the fat is unsaturated, which can either be monounsaturated (examples: almonds, avocados, peanut oil, peanuts, and margarine) or polyunsaturated (corn oil, sesame oil, mayonnaise, soft margarine and soybean oil).

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, animal fats are more saturated than vegetable fats.

Saturated and unsaturated fats function as carriers of the fat-soluble vitamin A, D and E. And unsaturated fat provides linoleic acid, a fatty acid considered essential for good nutrition.

Health experts recommend that the total fat in our diet be limited to 30% of calories. This recommendation is applied both to saturated and unsaturated fats. For reduction of risk to cancer, the recommendations have not focused on individual kinds of fat. Instead, a reduction of total fat intake that has been the principal recommendation.

Thus, a practical goal of solving the problem of fat-laden diet would be to reduce total fat intake.

Also, to equalize the portions, experts recommend that saturated and monounsaturated fats be substituted with polyunsaturated fats “as much as possible.”

The American Cancer Institute explains that the degree of saturation of fats has nothing to do with the number of calories. “Saturated and unsat-

urate d fats contain the same number of calories (about 100 per tablespoon), so you’re not decreasing calories by eating margarine instead of butter. However, you will decrease your consumption of saturated fat if you make that switch,” it says.

Pork

General hints Nutrition experts share the following hints on how reduce dietary fat: • Use less spreads on breads and pastries.

• Use approximately onefourth to one-third the amount of oil recommended in the average recipe.

• Eat no more than 6 ounces of meat a day.

• Read food labels. Just because a product contains low or no cholesterol does not mean that it has no fat. The ingredient label lists the amount of fat.

• Bake, broil or boil foods instead of frying them.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of Lay-out Artist Qualifications: • Male / Female • Knowledgeable in Adobe Photoshop and Indesign application • Willing to work under pressure

Accounting Clerks (2) Qualifications: • BS Accountancy Graduate • Female • Can work with minimum supervision • Experience of at least one year

Account Executive Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate • Male/Female • With pleasing personality Send your application letter and resume to: Ella P. Tingzon HR/Admin Supervisor Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City Or email at edgedavao@gmail.com or ella_tingzon@yahoo.com

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 31 • TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017

IMITATING. Australian contender Jeff Horn (left) spars with a southpaw Liam Paro who simulated Pacquiao’s movements.

NO LET UP. Manny Pacquiao hits the mitts with trainer Buboy Fernandez.

HARD IN TRAINING G

Bornea stops Arizala, takes WBF title

Manny back in the gym, Horn works out with southpaw

M

ANNY Pacquiao is planning a five-hour training session in Manila on Monday after taking the weekend off from preparing for Australia’s biggest-ever fight against Jeff Horn at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 2.

Horn’s belief that Pacquiao is underestimating him seemed to be borne out when the eight-division world champ broke his training camp on Saturday to spend two days with his wife and five children at an exclusive coastal resort 100km south of Manila.

According to the Filipino website philboxing.com, Pacquiao called off his training

schedule and instead joined wife Jinkee and children Jimuel, Michael, Princess, Queenie and Israel at the Pico de Loro Beach Resort in Nasugbu.

“Jinkee and the children have been (there) the past week and I have been training the past five days so I decided to call it a day,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao’s assistants were surprised by his sudden decision to stop training and head off on vacation, though one told the website that with Pacquiao his family always comes first.

Pacquiao went through 37 rounds at the Elorde Gym in Manila on Friday, including

nine of the focus mitts with assistant coach Buboy Fernandez. He showed his trademark hand and footspeed and is concentrating on slipping Horn’s jab and using sharp angles to counterpunch.

The world welterweight champ said he would log 76 rounds in the gym on Monday, adding that he would concentrate on regaining his punching power he said had been lost in his six months out of the ring since his last fight, a points victory over Jessie Vargas.

Pacquiao regained the World Boxing Organization welterweight title in that fight and will be defending it against Horn.

Wright and Terrence Romeo each had 12 apiece.

Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy each chipped in 10 points apiece as the superior Gilas Pilipinas faced a gutsy opponent in Malaysia.

The Filipinos trailed for the first time in the entire tournament after Malaysia scored the game’s first basket.

But Gilas Pilipinas countered with a 13-0 attack. Despite that, the Filipinos had a sloppy opening period, committing four turnovers in the

first few minutes of play–almost half of their nine per game average.

They also gave up two straight open layups at one point as the visitors executed some plays that caught Gilas Pilipinas off-guard.

Malaysia also hit a total of 11 triples, the same number Gilas Pilipinas made in the game.

But Gilas Pilipinas’ sheer talent was just too much for the Malaysians. The hosts’ biggest lead stood at 57 points.

Gilas mauls Malaysia by 55

T

HE Philippine national men’s basketball team continued its dominance in the 2017 SEABA Championship, pounding Malaysia, 106-51, for its third straight lopsided victory on Sunday night at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Andray Blatche scored 13 points and eight rebounds to lead six Gilas Pilipinas players who finished with at least 10 points.

Troy Rosario also had 13 markers, while Matthew

A

HA!

That, my friends, was my initial reaction at the murderous rampage coach Chot Reyes’ boys gave the visiting Myanmar quintet at the opening of the SEABA championships last Friday.

It wasn’t an expression of surprise as you would normally understand but more of a kneejerk reaction to an already preconceived result. So, what?

You see, Myanmar was pretending its squad was a national platoon bravely meeting their counterparts in the ASEAN region.

No, the Burmese played more like a barangay-level selection if you look at the 107-point difference, 107-40, in favor of Andre Blatche and

The Brisbane boxer will continue his preparations today by sparring Mackay southpaw Liam Paro.

Horn’s preparations were curtailed last week by a head cold that forced the cancellation of a sparring session on Thursday.

Horn, 29, is adamant that Pacquiao, 38, is underestimating him, believing that the undefeated Fighting Schoolteacher does not have the experience to cope with a boxer who has won 11 world championships across eight divisions and amassed an astonishing half a billion dollars in prizemoney and endorsements over the last 22 years.

ENERAL Santos City’s Jake “D’ Twins” Bornea stopped Renerio Arizala via a technical knockout in the 8th round to claim the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental super flyweight title on Friday night at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Pavilion.

Bornea, fighting out of Sanman-Amoy Boxing Stable, bombarded Arizala with a barrage of left-right combinations in the second round that earned him a 10-8 score from international judge Hubert Minn from Hawaii and identical 10-9s from two other judges Bruce Mctavish of New Zealand and Jaime Mata of Davao City.

But Bornea slowed down in the next two rounds before coming back strong again in the 7th round. Bornea finally knocked down Arizala near

the ropes with stinging punches that forced international referee Tony Weeks from Las Vegas, Nevada to stop the fight in 2:11 of the 8th round.

The 21-year old Bornea improved his record to 12 wins against two losses while Arizala suffered his 7th loss with 13 wins and one draw.

Bornea, a native of Arakan, North Cotabato received a golden belt awarded by boxing patron Naris Singwangcha from Thailand and WBF supervisor Lito delos Reyes.

Also present were Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra and Commissioners Fritz Gaston and Eduard Trinidad.

The 12-round championship fight was the main event of the Davao Boxing Showdown held as part of the 3-day Philippine Boxing Convention at the Marco Polo Hotel.

SLIPPERY. Jayson Castro (17) sails in for a layup against Malaysia in the ongoing SEABA Cup. The Philippines won 106-51.

Cocky Gilas 5 bombs Myanmar

company.

Wow, I could interject that even with Sec. Bong Go’s Davao team, they could overwhelm easily the visitors with the same amount of effort and intensity Gilas displayed.

I thought coach Reyes should have held back his horses as a protocol strategy to a foreign squad who is just beginning to learn the rudiments of the game.

I tell you, if that were football, the results would have been far different.

Frankly, I did not appreciate Reyes’ statement after the game.

“I just like the way we went out and did the little things,” he said wryly, to over-emphasize the point that Gilas got the

SPORTS KEN

By RED C. LUMBA

talent. Rubbing salt over the wound, huh?

Just for the record, the SEABA championship is the weakest of all regional sports events in this part of the world. All the members concede that the Filipinos are unbeatable in this qualifying event to the World Cup. Many basketball armchair

observers still believe that Gilas could have just gone through the motions, instead of literally manhandling a neophyte Myanmar roster to pieces. Gilas ruthlessly embarrassed a visiting team that already conceded defeat even before the opening jump ball.

Recall this to mind some decades ago when the Chinese blew past the Robert Jaworski-mentored RP team by 60 points in the 1990 Asian Games, what did you and the millions of Filipino basketball fans and followers feel? Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets wasn’t even in that line-up yet.

I was among those who felt sick about the setback and thought about inflicting revenge someday. I supported

through my sports columns in a national broadsheet the efforts of the then BAP and the PBA in the formation of a truly-talented RP five that would enable the country to enter back into the Olympics basketball contest.

Unfortunately, as the years wore on, the harsh reality finally dawned on me that even gathering together the best basketball talents there are today (including the hiring of a “capable” foreign coach and naturalizing a tall, well-equipped ex-NBA player) would not be enough nor equal to the foreign competition as they are likewise better improving.

It is just like Don Quixote fighting the windmill.

Sports authorities and pol-

icy makers are well advised to turn their eyes on games and disciplines that would provide Filipino athletes an equal chance to excel in the world stage.

Basketball, I’m sorry to say, cannot give us the gold medal in Asia for as long as China is around. The Olympic gold is a much more difficult goal. It is an impossible dream.

So, what is Chot Reyes, in effect, saying? That his present Gilas 5 are ready to take on the world?

It’s been a promise that every national coach has made but has never been fulfilled. A broken vow. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.10 10ISSUE ISSUE31 31••TUESDAY, TUESDAY,MAY MAY16, 16,2017 2017

HUGE HARVEST

AAK Davao bets grab 3 golds, 5 silver 1 bronze in KL tourney

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

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NOT THIS TIME. Atsuko Kaiyel Tan does her routine in the kata competitions. She finished with a silver medal.

njb@edgedavao.net

SSOCIATION for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao hauled 9 medals at the close of the 14-nation 18th Milo International Open Karate Championships at the Cheras Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.

John Paul Ponce made it back-to-back gold medals in the tournament that attracted 814 entries reigning supreme in the above 55-kg 12-13 boys division.

Ponce, a standout of Precious International School, followed up his bronze medal finish in another Malaysia tournament—the Kota Kinabalu Open last March.

University of Immaculate Conception’s Kyzzhia Pauline Navarro and rookie John Philip Cagandahan also had breakthrough gold medal finishes to give AAK Davao an impressive harvest of 3 golds, 5 silvers and 1 bronze.

Navarro, who won a silver in Kota Kinabalu, took the gold in the girls kumite 10 to 11 yrs old below 45-kg division while Cagandahan snatched the gold in his first try in the below 55-kg boys 12 to 13 yrs old class.

The three-gold bounty negated the loss of three-peat seeking Atsuko Kaiyel Tan to her bigger Malaysian foe in the 6-7 yrs old girls kata to settle for the silver.

Also winning silvers were Jam Ramirez in the below 63-kg cadets kumite, Seth Michael Navarro in the boys kumite, and the troika of Ponce, Cagandahan and Ramirez in the team kata.

Seth Michael Navarro also added a bronze in kata.

Janna Ramirez and Marcus Arellano, the other members of the team, reached the quarterfinals of the tough annual tournament.

The 7-year old Tan, daughter of AAK Davao chapter manager and head coach Rommel Tan, won a gold and bronze medal performance in her last international

stint in the 3rd Kuala Lumpur Open last December. In the 2015 and 2016 editions of the tournament, the child prodigy bagged the kata gold medal in the 6 years old category.

Ponce and Jam Ramirez, who like Tan have won the prestigious So Kim Cheng Athlete of the Year award, became multi-winners of the event with their recent podium finishes.

The team is backed up by Beefit Gym, Davao City Sports Council, Engr. Celso Manaois, Jay Ramirez, Miguel Ramirez, Randy Magallanes and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

GOLD. John Philip Cagadahan of AAK Davao receives his gold medal during the awarding ceremonies of the recent 18th Milo Malaysia Open Karatedo Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.