Edge Davao 10 Issue 38

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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PRO-PEOPLE Gaerlan says Martial Law will protect people

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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Six PSC officials trapped in siege Commissioner Maxey backed out at the last minute

By JIMMY K. LAKING

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PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said those caught inside the city when violence struck on Tuesday comprised of five women and one man.

The PSC officials were in Marawi City for the conduct of a barangay sports education seminar when violence erupted.

Ramirez did not give

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HE police regional office of Davao assured the public that today’s Martial Law as declared by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will be pro-people, to differentiate it from a 1972 edition imposed

by former President Ferdinand Marcos.

The president declared Martial Law while he was in Russia, Tuesday at around 10 o’clock in the evening.

PRO head Chief Supt.

Manuel Gaerlan of Police Regional Office XI said there should be no cause for worry because the declaration of Martial Law was for the protection of the people against terrorism.

“We have learned our lessons from the Martial Law during the time of Marcos. As

ADDED FIREPOWER. A resident walks by a light armor vehicle of Task Force Davao stationed in front of the Davao City Hall after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered to lockdown the city following the declaration of President Duterte that the entire Island of Mindanao is under martial law due to the terror attacks in Marawi City. Lean Daval Jr.

IX officials and personnel of the Philippine Sports Commission found themselves trapped in Marawi at the height of the violent skirmishes between security forces and the local terrorist Maute group, with residents and visitors alike unable to leave the city.

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

names pending their extrication from the city.

He said the group was as of Wednesday seeking clearance from military authorities to leave the city for Iligan City on its way to Davao City to join an ongoing PSC-backed barangay sports program seminar.

“It was sad as it was

shocking considering that the incident (and the declaration of Martial Law) will affect the whole of Mindanao,” he said.

He added that the group was shocked because it came after it visited Lake Lanao and “was full of appreciation and praise.”

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Irving leads Cavs to Game 4 win

EDGEDAVAO Sports A taste of the Silk Road

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

HARSH IT WILL BE. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on May 24, 2017, reiterates that his response to those who sow terror will be harsh thus, he has declared a state of Martial Law in Mindanao. The President then echoed that his sole purpose of declaring Martial Law is to protect and preserve the country. He also assured that there will be no abuses committed by the law

Guidelines for Dabawenyos for the period of martial law: GENERAL 1. We will implement a “Hold and Secure” method in ensuring the security of our people.

2. Call 911 immediately to report suspicious-looking persons, materials and actions by group of persons.

3. Exercise prudence in planning your activities.

TRAVEL 4. Travel to and from Davao City is discouraged, as well as in other places in Mindanao, unless there is an urgent matter that needs to be attended to.

5. Do not leave your residence if you do not have business or matters to attend outside.

6. Travelling via motorcycle convoys is discouraged.

CROWDED PLACES, CHURCHES AND CONCERTED ACTIVITIES 7. Avoid crowded places.

8. Religious activities are encouraged to be conducted during daytime. Muslims observing Ramadan are encouraged to hold their activities inside mosques and residences.

9. All rallies and largegroup activities should have permits from the local government.

CHECKPOINTS 10. Ensure that you have updated vehicle registration papers, and driver’s licenses.

11. Ensure that you have valid and existing licenses

for your guns [License to Own and Posses Firearm (“LTOPF”) and Permit to Carry (“PTC”)].

12. Cooperate with the AFP and PNP personnel conducting checkpoints.

13. Familiarize yourself with the contents of your own baggage. Do not accept baggage from strangers.

14. In the conduct of checkpoints, turn off your headlights and turn on your overhead lights during inspection.

15. Allow the inspectors to smoothly make the inspections.

16. Always bring a valid personal identification document.

MINORS and EVENINGS 17. Minors are extremely discouraged to go out of their residences except when accompanied by adults.

18. Avoid going out late at night and consuming excessive alcohol.

19. Buddy system is encouraged to those who work at night especially during travel to and from work.

20. We encourage that you conduct your personal activities in the daytime.

21. Loitering in all areas is discouraged.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS 22. Do not leave bags and other personal belongings unattended.

23. Do not leave your cars unattended for a long time.

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enforcers during the period of the Martial Law in Mindanao. The President had to cut his official visit to the Russian Federation short as he had to oversee the terror crisis which has erupted in Marawi City. He then thanked Russia President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation government for giving him and the Philippines’ delegation a warm welcome. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Sara issues ‘hold and secure’ order Guidelines to ensure safety of residents

By REBECCA ESPERA

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AYOR Inday Sara Duterte issued a set of guidelines Wednesday that will effectively put Davao City under a “Hold and Secure” status in place of the ‘locked down’ order she had earlier ordered in conformity with the declaration of martial law President Rodrigo Duterte.

“This changes the situation from the previous lock down we issued,” said Mayor Sara.

In a press conference held Wedenesday, Mayor Sara said that the guidelines for Davaoenos for the duration

of Martial Law were issued to ensure safety of every Davaoenos in the conduct of their day-to-day activities.

City residents have been cautioned to be more prudent in planning their activities.

They were also advised to avoid crowded places.

According to the guidelines, traveling via motorcycle convoys is also discouraged.

The travelling public are also advised to ensure that their vehicle registration are updated. Those carrying firearms must have valid licenses to show as well, as permits to carry them. Cooperation by

the travelling public in checkpoints established by the AFP and PNP personnel is expected. The public are enjoined to bring with them identification documents at all times.

Minors are extremely discouraged from going out at night, except when accompanied by adults. Consuming excessive alcohol is also discouraged.

Tourists in Davao City are advised against going to areas that are not included among the main tourism areas of the city. They must always bring with them their passports and other proofs of identifi-

cation.

The guidelines were issued as a response to the declaration by President Rodrigo Duterte of martial law for the whole of Mindanao. Said declaration came after terrorist group clash with government forces in Marawi City. Security concerns in Sulu, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mndanao and the Davao Region have been raised prompting the President Duterte to place the entire Island of Mindanao under martial law. The declaration of martial law is effective for sixty (60) days, accordingly.

nior Supt. Jose “Chiquito” Malayo, announced that President Duterte, through PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, has offered a P2Million reward for any information leading to the arrest “dead or alive” of the seven policemen suspected involved in the kidnapping and robbery extortion incident in Malabon City.

Dela Rosa is included in the official delegation of President Duterte’s state visit in Russia from May 22-26, 2017.

The seven at-large suspects were identified as PO3 Luis Hizon, Jr.; PO2 Michael Huerto; PO2 Jovito Roque; PO2 Michael Angelo Solomon; and PO1 Ricky Lamsen, who are all members of the Malabon City police; SPO2 Jerry

Dela Torre, of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG); and PO2 Bernardino Pacoma, of the Civil Security Group (CSG).

Their alleged co-horts, the four operatives of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Malabon City were arrested on Monday for kid-

Duterte offers P14M bounty for 7 cops linked to crimes

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte has offered a P2-million reward for each of the seven policemen suspected involved in a kidnapping and robbery incident in Malabon City.

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday, Philippine National Police Counter-Intelligence Task Force commander, Se-

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Task Force Davao firms up security

By REBECCA ESPERA

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HE Task Force Davao has called on city residents to cooperate in the midst of tight security in the city that arose with the declaration of Martial Law by President Duterte.

The Task Force Civil Military operations officer Maj. Mario A. Tena said the declaration was due to violent activities of the Maute group and its

Duterte asks Putin for arms in PH’s fight vs. terrorism

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has requested Russian President Vladimir Putin for a soft loan for weapons which will be used by the Philippine government in its fight against terrorism.

President Duterte made this request during his bilateral meeting with the Russian leader at the Grand Kremlin Palace here Tuesday evening (early Wednesday morning in Manila).

It was made after President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, as Islamic State-backed Maute terrorist group besieged Marawi City and clashed with government troops.

The bilateral meeting of the two leaders was initially scheduled on Thursday but President Duterte decided to fly back to the Philippines early Wednesday morning here. The meeting was moved to around 10 p.m. of Tuesday here -- past 3 a.m. Wednesday in Manila.

President Putin was not in Moscow on Tuesday but decided to return to Kremlin to meet President Duterte before his trip back to Manila.

“As you probably know, I spent this day away from Moscow in one of our regions. And that I have seized the chance to see you in person,” President Putin said.

“My colleagues and myself definitely understand quite well that you do have to come back to return to your motherland,” he added.

The Russian leader also expressed his sympathy to those affected by the terrorist attack in Marawi City.

“And let me express hope that the conflict that you have just mentioned will be resolved as soon as possible and with minimal losses and casualties,” Putin said.

He also assured that the full package of bilateral documents will be signed -- a defense cooperation is included in the package of bilateral documents.

In an interview with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana here, he said Russia can help the Philippines in fighting against terrorists, particularly preventing the ISIS to spread in the country.

(PNA)

allies in Marawi City.

Tena said that TF Davao is still waiting for specific guidelines from higher headquarters regarding the 60-day imposition of Martial Law in Mindanao, adding that the declaration was relayed to them verbally by City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The city mayor has given instruction to intensify in-

spection of baggage, especially those that are city-bound.

The task force is doing away with profiling checkpoint but its inspections will not exempt trucks and light or private vehicles.

Maj. Tena said did not discount the possibility of the city as a prime target of terroristic activities, considering that it is the hometown of President

Duterte himself.

Tena said the TF Davao has added personnel comprising of two platoons to secure the city.

He added their intelligence-monitoring group has its eyes glued on the presence of suspected terrorists bound for the city, including their ‘eyes and ears’ among the local population.

The task force has also enlisted the assistance of Muslim community leaders in ferreting out suspected terrorists or their supporters.

The TF officer said the security group has been on the receiving end of threats since when President Duterte assumed office but that there were no threats related to the Marawi incident.

“But this is no reason to be complacent even as we seek the cooperation of the public in securing the city,” he said.

Tena said the task force has also intensified its foot and mobile patrol as well as the continuation of random checkpoints in such areas like Toril, Lacson, Lasang, vital installations and in converging areas.

4 NEWS

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

Duterte sends his sympathies to Manchester bombing victims

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BRIGHT PROSPECTS. UNIQLO chief operating officer Katsumi Kubota says the company chose to put up its new branches in Davao City due to the city’s positive business environment. Kubota graced UNIQLO’s media and VIP event

on Wednesday ahead of the grand opening of its SM Lanang Premier branch tomorrow. Lean Daval Jr.

T

I(IISIS), have left his city.

Gandamra said the tension in the city is still there but gunshots have subsided.

“The situation as of 8 a.m. has been under control. Tension is down but I cannot say that the members of the Maute group and ISIS are gone. I was told some of them left the city

toward the towns surrounding the city,” he said in a radio interview.

The mayor said that residents are leaving the locality towards Iligan City, causing traffic jam along the lone road to Saguiaran town in Lanao del Sur, the next town from Marawi City en route to Iligan.

Gandamra said he and personnel from the Marawi City police are holed up at the city hall.“We will not allow them to come in,” he said.

The mayor said they are still validating the number of civilian fatalities.

In Maguindanao, all mili-

tary official said in Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID), said that the military and the regional police command

in Northern Mindanao have beefed up security in the borders of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon provinces.

The police and the military have also reinforced the checkpoints in the boundaries

of Luga-it in Misamis Oriental and Iligan City in Lanao Del Norte, Madrigal said.

He said that while the 4ID has enough troops, the “sending of reinforcement to Mara-

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday sent his ‘deepest sympathies’ to the families of the victims of an apparent suicide bombing attack at a pop concert in the English city of Manchester and expressed the Philippine government’s solidarity with the United Kingdom in the war against terrorism.

“Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte sends his deepest sympathies and concern to the families of the dead and wounded in the Manchester incident, as well as appreciation for the excellent handling by security forces,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement sent to reporters.

Duterte is currently in Russia for a state visit. ““We are in solidarity with the United Kingdom in addressing and combating violent extremism,” Abella said.

The attack, which the UK government is treating as a terror incident, happened Monday night when a suicide

bomber struck while thousands of fans were streaming out of Manchester Arena after a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.

Manchester police said that at least 22 people were killed in the attack, including some children, and another 59 were reportedly wounded following the explosion.

In the meantime, Philippine security forces assured the security of international events being held in the country following the Manchester incident.

Grande is set to perform in Manila on August 21 although it is now not clear if the event will still push through.

Meanwhile, the Philippines, which chairs this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is hosting various high level regional meetings which will culminate in a November summit between ASEAN and its partner countries that include the US, China, Russia, Japan, the European Union and India among others. (PNA)

Tension in Marawi City PNP asks court to move subsides, says Mayor Dumlao to regular jail ENSION in Marawi City brought by the Maute terror group dwindled Wednesday morning, City Mayor Majul Gandamra said.

The mayor, however, could not say if all the members of the Maute group, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

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Army, PNP secure Northern Mindanao M

ILITARY and police forces have secured the boundaries in Northern Mindanao to prevent the possible escalation of hostilities in Marawi City to its neighboring areas, a top mili-

SC orders Mindanao courts to open despite declaration of martial law

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N view of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao for 60 days, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday directed all courts in the island to remain open and all judges to report to their respective stations as far as local circumstances may allow. ”All judges stationed in Mindanao are directed to report their current and continuing status to the Office of Court Administrator through their Executive Judges,” Sereno said in its advisory posted on Supreme Court’s Twitter account @SCPh_PIO. In an advisory on Wednesday, Marawi City executive judge Wendy Papandayan ordered the suspension of work in all courts in the city.

Papandayan said this is to protect employees, mostly

non-Muslims residing in Iligan City, from the dangers of coming to the city.

“I cannot risk the lives of court employees especially non-Muslims coming from Iligan City. I will be the most stupid judge if I will require them to report,” Papandayan said in a Facebook post.

Late on Tuesday, President Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao due to attacks carried out by the Maute terror group in Marawi City.

“In order to suppress lawless violence and rebellion and for pilic safety it is necessary to declare Martial Law in the entire island of Mindanao, including Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi for a period of 60 days,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press conference in Mos-

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ON HOLD. Yuri Lim of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 11 discusses the controversial Anti-Distracted Driving Act which was suspended recently by the Department of Transportation after drawing flak from lawmakers and

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HE Philippine National Police has asked a Pampanga court to transfer former anti-narcotics operative Supt. Rafael Dumlao III, one of the accused in the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, to a regular jail.

In a motion filed before the Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 58, PNP Custodial Service Unit Headquarters Support Service head Supt. Arnel Jamandron Apud said Dumlao should be detained at a jail facility in Pampanga.

Apud added that Dumlao should not be treated like a “sacred cow” as doing so

would be discriminatory and a violation of the equal protection clause.

“It is worth pointing out that, at present, while being detained at the PNP Custodial Center, accused Dumlao enjoys the perks and privileges of a VIP (very important person) detainee considering the relatively spacious cells and convenient ambiance unlike other detention prisoners at any BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) facility, all at the government’s expense,” the motion said.

“The fact that he is a police officer and a public ser-

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motorists. Lim graced the AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

Faster internet speed traced to active evolution cell sites

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LOCAL HIT. A street vendor prepares banana cue, a popular snack among Filipinos, at his family’s makeshift store in Brgy. 23-C, Quezon Blvd., Davao City on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

DOF eyeing multi-scheme funding for flagship projects T

HE Department of Finance is looking at three sources of initial funds for the flagship infrastructure projects that President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration targeted for implementation.

These sources are the national budget, official development aid (ODA) and hybrid public-private partnerships (PPPs), noted DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

“We must use a combination of schemes,” he said Tuesday (May 23) at a forum in Metro Manila.

Chua noted the amount of ODAs and PPP investments for infrastructure will vary.

For 2017 alone, however, he said government targets spending P800 billion from the national budget to jump-

start infrastructure-building activities in the country.

Approval of DOF’s proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) will enable government to raise such amount by some PHP200 billion annually, he said.

The proposed CTRP consists of income, corporate, property, capital and environmental taxation packages, said Chua.

He said government targets initially collecting, through CTRP, about P366 billion in revenues.

“That’s the end goal in maybe two years,” he said.

He noted CTRP’s income taxation package alone can net revenues totaling around P157 billion during its first year of implementation.

Chua said DOF is open to

studying other revenue-generating schemes to help bring forth infrastructure’s golden age in the country.

Tapping government-owned and -controlled corporations for such purpose is something DOF can explore, he said.

Earlier, Chua said the proposed CTRP will enable government to either build or improve 44,000 kilometers of national and local roads, construct more local hospitals and improve existing ones while enhancing public services.

DOF also said targeted for CTRP funding are the Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Center Link Road Project; UP-Miriam-Ateneo Viaduct along C-5/ Katipunan Avenue; Metro Manila Priority Bridges

Electric Cooperative (LASURECO) feeder remained normal.

Only 5 megawatts (MW) are being drawn compared to the normal 12 MW loading, it said.

The company noted that it has monitored tripping affecting Marawi City caused by a disturbance at the Mindanao State University (MSU) loadend switching station. Trans-

mission line personnel however could not inspect and fix the affected facility due to the lockdown in the area.

The NGCP assured that the rest of Mindanao is experiencing normal power supply and its personnel are safe.

The company said it is preparing its contingency plans for the next 60 days. (PNA)

suspension of the law’s full implementation following public confusion and backlash.

The law penalizes the use of communication devices and other electronic entertainment and computing gadgets while driving on roads.

However, transport authorities have seemingly “expanded” the law to cover even rosaries and other accessories.

Poe cautioned that this

may open opportunities for extortion by unscrupulous enforcers.

“Paglabas ng regulasyon parang lumabis ito sa nasasaad sa batas. Nandoon na tayo na dapat ligtas pero hindi pwedeng sumobra sa kung ano ang pinapayagan ng batas (When the regulations came out, it seems like it exceeded what was stated in the law. We should prioritize safety but

NGCP says Mindanao power situation normal

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HE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Wednesday announced that as of 7 a.m., its operations in Mindanao were normal following the lockdown and the declaration of Martial Law at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

In an update, the NGCP said power from the Agus 1 Hydro Plant to the Lanao del Sur

Senate panel to review IRR on anti-distracted driving law

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SENATE panel is set to review the implementing rules and regulations of the anti-distracted driving law on May 30 to resolve several issues raised by motorists particularly on what items are prohibited while driving.

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said the decision came after several senators called for the temporary

F SENATE, 10

Seismic Improvement Project (Guadalupe Bridge and Lambingan Bridge); and Widening/ Improvement of Gen. Luis St.-Kaybiga-Polo-Novaliches Road. (PNA)

MPROVED mobile Internet speeds may be attributed to Globe and Smart’s continuing activation of long-term evolution cell sites making use of the 700 MHz spectrum.

National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios, when asked to comment on the latest AKAMAI report, said both telcos started co-using the frequency in May 2016.

“Improvements in fixed line internet are also expected to happen as the government, thru the Department of Information and Communications Technology, finalizes its roll-out plans for the country’s national broadband network,” Cabarios added.

AKAMAI, a leading content delivery network services provider for media and software delivery, and cloud security solution, recently came out with its State of the Internet Q4 2016 Report.

The Philippines’ internet performance yielded marked improvements in several areas in the report - most notable of which was that the country’s average connection speed (IPv4) for mobile internet topped the Asia Pacific region for two consecutive quarters.

For the past three quar-

ters of 2016, the AKAMAI State of the Internet Report showed a consistent improvement in the Philippines’ average mobile connection speed.

In the second quarter of 2016, the country’s average mobile connection speed was pegged by AKAMAI at 8.5Mbps. In the third quarter of the same year, the outfit reported that the country’s average mobile connection speed increased to 13.9Mbps.

AKAMAI then reported that the Philippines mobile internet speed clocked at 14.3Mbps in the fourth quarter of 2016.

On the table presented in AKAMAI’s State of the Internet Q4 2016 Report, the Philippines’ average mobile speed of 14.3Mbps came in fastest in the Asia Pacific cluster – topping the speeds of Australia (13.8Mbps), Japan (13.3Mbps), South Korea (12.7Mbps), New Zealand (12.5Mbps), Taiwan (12.0Mbps), Singapore (9.9Mbps), Indonesia (9.8Mbps), China (7.4Mbps), Hong Kong (7.2Mbps), Thailand (7.1Mbps), Sri Lanka (5.8Mbps), India (4.8Mbps), Vietnam (4.3Mbps) and Malaysia (3.9Mbps).

The report also cited the Philippines’s improvements in other categories.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

Putin sees opportunities for PH, Russia to improve economic ties

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USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has seen opportunities for Russia and the Philippines to improve their economic cooperation, as two-way trade between the two countries remains low.

In his bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte at the Grand Kremlin Palace Tuesday evening (early Wednesday morning in Manila), Putin mentioned that despite more than 40 years of diplomatic ties between Russia and the Philippines, their “mutual trade exchanges are not too high”.

“We have very many promising and interesting areas of cooperation, including on energy machine building, transport and infrastructure,” the Russian leader told President Duterte.

“And I think we can cooperate in many different technical sphere.”

President Putin however noted that two-way trade jumped by 25 percent at the start of the year.

Data from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) showed that in January to February 2017, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to USD59.1 million.

Imports from Russia reached USD50.4 million while Philippine exports only amounted to USD8.7 million.

During their first meeting in Lima, Peru on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last year, President Putin committed to President Duterte that Russia will buy some USD2.5 billion worth of agriculture products from the Philippines.

Despite President Duterte’s early departure on Wednesday morning after declaring Martial Law in Mindan-

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NOT A RARE SIGHT. Dozens of water gallons waiting to be filled up are lined up in front of a store selling potable water at a coastal community in Davao City on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

DOTr to fund 5 regional A airport projects via ODA T

Including one project in Davao

HE development of five regional airports in the country will be pursued through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) or General Appropriations Act (GAA) as the original plan for a public-private partnership procurement process was earlier cancelled, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday.

The projects involve the development, operations and maintenance of Bacolod-Silay, Davao, Iloilo,

S

Solon says REAP assures employment for rural poor

Laguindingan and New Bohol (Panglao) airports.

“The expansion and upgrading of the airports via the GAA make the projects cheaper as cost of money is lower, thus more beneficial to the public,” DOTr OIC Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Antonio Tamayo said in a statement.

“Further, this would help avoid legal issues with concessionaires that may cause regrettable delays,” he added.

The regional airport

projects, estimated to cost around PHP108.9 billion, were originally approved under a bundled structure by the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) and the National Economic Development Authority during the Aquino administration.

The present administration decided to unbundle the project and bid out the airports individually to fast track the PPP selection and awarding.

Ayala Corporation,

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, San Miguel Corporation, Megawide and Filinvest expressed interest to bid for the PPP project.

The Transportation Department assured that payments for the invitation documents shall be refunded to companies that previously prequalified for the bundled projects and bidders for the unbundled projects at the soonest possible time. (Aerol B. Patena/PNA)

DOF: netizens back tax reform

OME 160 netizens have gone online to express their support for the speedy congressional approval of the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill that aims to lower personal income tax (PIT) rates and institute other reforms in the current tax system to make it fairer, simpler and more efficient.

A majority of those who posted comments on the Department of Finance official and Better Buwis Facebook pages clamored for the reduction in PIT rates and backed the entire tax reform package.

Many of them also backed the DOF proposal to adjust

fuel and automobile excise taxes.

Lito Simba said Package One of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program is “good for the country” because it will “standardize and simplify the tax system.” He said the CTRP “should be easier to comply” with and “less cumbersome.”

Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, the chairman of the House ways and means committee, sponsored the TRAIN measure—House Bill 5636— for second reading before the House plenary on May 23.

HB 5636 contained moderate modifications to HB 4774, the original TRAIN bill authored by Cua. Besides Cua, over 100 congressional

representatives have co-authored HB 5636.

Many of those who posted comments online said the bill should be implemented soon and asked when the Congress would be able to finally approve the measure.

“We hope and pray this will be passed and gets implemented very soon. Thank you for working on this Department of Finance! God bless!” said Junel Compuesto Balid.

Gary Tongco said the PIT cuts “is good for the masang Pilipino who are just ordinary workers and earning less than PHP250,000.”

“Hope DOF through the leadership of (Carlos) Dominguez will push through and fight for this. Baka sa gan-

itong paraan, mararamdaman na ng maraming Pinoy ang ginhawa ng buhay given that they don’t change their lifestyle but address all basic needs.”

Sherwin Pascual Conjurado commented: “Thank you for pushing and lobbying this tax reform. Worker sector is, most often than not, always the last priority even if we are giving more to the government coffers. I am hoping that tax reform will be realized and implemented and enacted into law this year.”

Jally Narasid said: “Sa anong state na po ang ating bill? Sana maipasa na po ito sa lalong madaling panahon.

Ako ay nagagalak na marinig ang balitang ito.” (PNA)

KO Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe said House Bill 530, otherwise known as the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP), that will guarantee jobs for the rural poor, has been approved and submitted for plenary debate by the House Committee on Rural Development.

He said the bill was already approved on third reading during the previous Congress but there was no time to submit it for plenary discussions at that time because of the 2016 elections.

“We are happy that the House (has now) fasttracked this program’s approval,” said Batocabe.

He said the bill, which had gained full support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other stakeholders, is envisioned to be part of successive safety net measures to cushion the impact of the current administration’s pending tax reform package.

“The proposal to levy excise tax on petrol would have a substantial impact on the lives of Filipinos,” he added.

Batocabe said that since the tax reform program would allow the government to expand its tax base, he is confident there would be enough funds from the government treasury to be allocated for the Employment Assistance and Skills Training Fund (EASTF) that is provided for in REAP. He said REAP is “one way for the government to render social services to our very own taxpayers.”

“If REAP is implemented, our rural poor will have additional household income that will neutralize the negative effects of high fuel prices aside from enhancing economic activities and infrastructure in our rural communities,” he said.

Batocabe said that the services to be rendered by REAP beneficiaries may

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Energy chief convenes IATFSEF to secure Mindanao power plants

E

NERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Wednesday assured the public that his department is on top of the power situation in Marawi City and the Mindanao region.

“I have convened the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATFSEF) and have written a letter of request to the Secretary of National Defense to help us secure energy facilities — power plants, transmission tower, distribution facilities, oil depots and other power facilities in Mindanao and other vulnerable areas nationwide,” Cusi said in a statement sent to reporters.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night declared the entire Mindanao island under martial law following clashes between government troops and members of the Maute Group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The violence began Tuesday afternoon after the military conducted operations to flush out Isnilon Hapilon, a top terrorist suspect, from his hideout in Marawi City.

Several facilities had been torched by the terror group, including St. Mary’s Church, the city jail, the Ninoy Aquino School, and Dansalan College.

(PNA)

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

SSS reduces retirement age for surface and underground mineworkers

T

HE Social Security System has reduced the age for optional and technical retirement of both surface and underground mine workers from the previous retirement age of 55 years old to 50 years old in compliance with Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE) Department Order (DO) No.167 S-2016.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said that the new policy from SSS reduced the optional retirement to 50 years old and the technical or compulsory retirement to 60 years old for both underground and surface mineworkers.

“We deemed it necessary to include both underground and surface mineworkers to ensure that social security protection is given to all kinds of mineworkers. We understand the danger of their work and we want them to enjoy the fruits of their hard-earned money as early as possible,” said Dooc.

The DO is the order from DOLE implementing Republic Act 10757 otherwise known as “An Act Reducing the Retirement Age of Surface Mine Workers from Sixty (60) to Fifty (50) Years, Amending for the Purpose Article 302 of Presidential Decree No. 442, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the “Labor Code of the Philippines.”

Based on the guidelines, surface mineworkers include only mill plant workers, electrical, mechanical and tailings pond personnel while underground mine workers are those employed to extract mineral deposits under-

ground or whose workplace is beneath the ground.

To qualify for the SSS retirement benefit, the surface or underground mineworker must have paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.

If the mineworker will retire at the age of 50, he should ensure that he has stopped working.

“If the mineworker-member chooses the optional retirement of 50 years old, he must be separated from employment or has stopped working at the time he files his claim. Otherwise, he will not be allowed to file for retirement benefit or if his retirement claim is already granted, it will be suspended by SSS,” said Dooc.

Aside from the number of contributions, the mineworker should have been employed and certified as underground and surface mineworkers by his employer who must be duly registered with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. The certification must also include the workers position title and his job description.

At the time of filing for retirement claim, the mineworker must have worked for at least five years, whether continuous or accumulated prior to the semester of retirement but the actual date of retirement should not be earlier than April 27, 2016— the date of effectivity of reduced retirement age.

“We hope that with this new policy, the SSS will be able to extend the benefits that our members need as

DCWD supports DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela 2017 D

AVAO City Water District donated water tanks and gallons of paint to be used for the repair and maintenance of facilities in some public schools in Davao City in support to the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela 2017 from May 15 to 20, 2017. The donations were spearheaded by DCWD’s Com-

di-an, and Pichon elementary schools and E. J. Estipona, F. Bangoy, F. Bustamante, Crossing Bayabas, Marahan, Marilog, and Davao City national high schools. The water tanks and paint will be used to help improve some of the facilities of the recipient schools.

DCWD’s support to DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela 2017

is in line with the Adopt-aSchool Act of 1998 which allows various agencies to help, upgrade, and modernize public schools in the country. Also, the water utility’s participation in the program is among its initiatives to contribute in the development of its stakeholders and partner schools and communities. (Winston C. Ajero)

Davao City Water District supports DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela 2017. DCWD donates paint to Marilog National High School in preparation for the school year

F SSS, 11 2017 - 2018.

8 Great Reasons to Love the Dyson V8

1

Powerful suction Conventional cordless vacuums rely on big, clunky motors that produce weak suction. The Dyson V8 offers powerful, fade-free suction thanks to the compact and powerful Dyson digital motor V8 – it spins at 110,000rpm, five times faster than a Formula One car engine.

2

Versatility If you’ve tried using a regular cordless machine to clean raised surfaces, you’ll know exactly what we mean. Because regular machines are middle and bottom heavy, it is near impossible and just impractical to clean anything other than the floor.

The weight of the Dyson V8 however, rests right in the palm of your hand. This makes the machine easy to manoeuvre, and much easier to lift and clean those high and hard to reach places.

It also comes with different cleaner head attachments that snap on and off

munity Relations Division and Environment and Watershed Protection Division.

DCWD has provided a water tank each to Baracayo and Tungkalan elementary schools and Bernardo Carpio and Tungkalan national high schools and at least five gallons of paint each to V.L. Aliongto, Bankas Heights, J. Bastida, La-

effortlessly, so you can get the job done quickly without breaking a sweat. There is a tool for every surface.

3

Double the battery life compared to its predecessor The Dyson V8 offers improved battery runtime of up to 40 minutes, as compared to 20 minutes in previous generation machines.

Now who said there is a trade-off between suction power and run time?

4

Excels at picking up both large debris and fine dust particles at the same time Due to their design, many conventional cleaner heads are unable to suck up fine dust and large debris simultaneously.

In order to suck up large debris, a large gap is required between the cleaner head and the floor. This gap can allow suction to escape, and fine dust is left behind on the floor surface and in

crevices.

To remove fine dust from the floor surface and crevices, a cleaner head needs a tight seal with the floor to prevent suction power from leaking. A tight seal means that large debris is pushed along the floor.

Frustrated with the limitations of conventional cleaner heads, Dyson engineers went back to the drawing board to design a new kind of cleaner head that was effective at picking up both fine dust and large debris at the same time.

Instead of a brush bar with bristles, the Dyson V8 Fluffy cordless vacuum has a roller covered entirely in soft woven nylon. This traps large debris, whilst four rows of anti-static carbon fibre filaments remove fine dust.

5

Whole machine HEPA filtration The Dyson V8 cord-free vacuum captures and retains more dust using patented 2 Tier Radial™ cyclones. 15 cyclones, arranged across two

tiers, generate powerful centrifugal forces to spin dust and dirt out of the airflow.

Any remaining particles are captured by the post motor filter - including allergens and bacteria as small as 0.3 microns.

And because the entire system is engineered to be sealed, the air that leaves the machine is cleaner than the air you breathe.

6

Hygienic dirt ejector The Dyson V8 features a new bin emptying mechanism, eliminating the need to handle the dirt directly. As the bin is emptied, a rubber collar slides down the shroud, scraping dirt off. This enables the user to hygienically drive out trapped dust and debris in a single action.

7

50% quieter

Dyson invests heavily in optimising

the acoustics of its technologies. Where more power typically translates to more noise, the Dyson V8 purrs despite the powerful suction.

N o worries about waking t h e kidd i e s when you’re up bright and early vacuuming your home!

8

It’s tough Strong materials with durable and lightweight properties were chosen in the construction of the Dyson V8. The polycarbonate clear bin is made from the same durable material as riot shields.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

EDITORIAL

Martial Law safeguards

W

ITH the declaration of Martial Law over entire Mindanao by President Rodrigo Duterte following the skirmishes in Marawi City, many have put on genius robes again and sat like armchair analysts. That’s the danger of going on kneejerk reaction or plain and simple being not so educated with the law and the issues. Or for some, simply engulfed in their politics.

But this is not the time for kneejerk reactions and for being panicky. The phrase Martial Law always brings about horror-ful images to most of us especially those who lived during the dark ages of the Marcos era Martial Law. It is best to remain calm but steadfast. Being informed rather than being over-reacting.

The most informative and settling statement to have come within 24 hours of the declaration was the statement of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines National Board of Officers, which represent the community of all lawyers in the country. It read in part: “The Constitution, under Article VII, Section 18, is very clear on the authority of the President to declare martial law, the extent of the authority, and the remedies and safeguards against the abuse of that authority.

In view of what has happened in Marawi City, the imminent danger of the escalation and spread of the hostilities to other parts of Mindanao, and the existence of other terrorist groups operating in Mindanao that can take advantage of the unrest and cause criminal acts and disorder, the national leadership of the IBP sees no reason to question the declaration at this time.

The public may rest assured that the Constitution is very clear on the fact

EDGEDAVAO

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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REBECCA ESPERA KENNETH IRVING K. ONG JECIA ANNE OPIANA BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Reporters MEGHANN STA. INES NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle CHA MONFORTE LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents Cartoons Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: D. TACIO G.•DELIGERO • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VIDAGOTIANSE-TAN MIA S. VALVERDE•• NICASIO FRED C. LUMBA • ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA BORBONHENRYLITO • MARY ANN “ADI”• GREGORIO C. QUISIDO LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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that the declaration will not result to any diminution of their rights and that civil and judicial authorities will continue to function except in places where the continuation of such functions has been rendered difficult.

In fact, the Supreme Court has already issued a directive to all Mindanao judges and court personnel to keep the courts open and to continue to perform their duties and functions.”

Let us remember that President Duterte’s authority to declare Martial Law over a specific area, not the entire country, is founded on the Constitution itself--specifically, the 1987 Constitution under the President Corazon Aquino administration. The declaration is basically aimed at curtailing the ongoing aggression put on by the Maute Group in Marawi City. Why Mindanao? Because its not far- fetched that the aggression could spread in other parts of Mindanao and it is reasonable enough to lockdown the entire area than to do patchwork solution.

In the midst of this situation, the armed forces and government agencies must ensure that they wield power with caution and exercise regard for the rule of law. We have had enough of the abuses during the first experience with Martial Law. This declaration should put to test the strength of the Martial Law safeguards embodied in the 1987 Constitution as well as our democracy and its fundamental freedoms.

Ultimately, we look forward to ending the lawless aggression of the Maute Group in Marawi City and to keeping the rest of Mindanao safe.

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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EDGEDAVAO

A

N interesting part of abaca lore in Davao was the fiber’s trip to Washington here it became the center of discussion before the National Defense Commission (NDC) in 1940 with Joaquin M. Elizalde, the National Abaca Corporation and Other Fiber Corporation (NAOFC) resident commissioner, appearing as representative of the Philippines.

In part, the Philippine Free Press, in an article penned by James G. Wingo, which appeared in its November 30, 1940 issue, said: “[Elizalde] appeared before the [NAOFC] to protest against the federal classification of Davao fiber for the manufacture of Manila rope, for this would exclude the fibers produced in other provinces. [He] pointed out that there no longer was any necessity for the specification of Davao fiber since the recently created [NAOFC] had taken steps to ensure the production of only quality fibers, which meet the federal rope specification.”

Additionally, the commissioner “tried to dissipate U.S. officials’ fears about the country’s supply of hemp by promising Philippine cooperation in laying aside sufficient abaca stock for U.S. emergency needs.”

The investigation was an offshoot of reports that abaca fibers sources from other provinces were similarly grade with Davao’s, creat-

N

EVER underestimate the power of smile. At one time, I was mad as hell when someone took the book I bought. I left it on top of my table before I left for work. When I returned home, it was gone. I really don’t have any problem with it if the person who took it just left a note that he was borrowing it.

At least, with a note I can always ask the person if he is already done with the book.

But what really got my nerve this time was the fact that I had some scribbled notes on the said book which I inserted. I was afraid that whoever took the book might just throw away the notes I had written.

I was about to give up when my niece came to my room. “I am very much sorry, uncle,” she said. I was surprised; what had she done to me, I asked myself. She took something from her bag and with a big smile, “Here’s your book which I took without your knowledge. I forgot to leave a note.”

It didn’t matter if the book was lost. What mattered most was the fact that here was my niece and with a broad smile eased all those worries.

“A smile is central to our evolution and one of the most powerful tools of human behavior,” explains Dr. Cacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Davao fiber goes to Washington ing apprehension among ropemakers, especially those serving U.S. defense requirements, who used only hemp produced in Davao region.

There were report of substitutions that reached the authorities that ignited them to make a probe.

The Journal of American Chamber of Commerce, in its January 1941 edition, made a clear manifestation on how hemp was graded based on quality, and grading the product accurately.

“Hemp is bought by quality, not by arbitrary grade. No entity, not even the government, gets by n a grade mark. Buyers ascertain whether the assertions as to grade are phonies or not. Reputable grading is therefore the crux of trading in fibers… Where they could use Davao G, they might use Luzon I, or S2, if they use the Luzon output at all; the thing is that when in the market for Davao G they want fiber of that general quality, and Luzon G is not invariably the answer, or not the answer at all. Where substitutions are not possible, Luzon is not bought.

“Calling a fiber G does not make it G. Accurate grading does. The big buyers for the rope mills abandoned Luzon and went to Davao many years ago, yet long after the government inspection and grading went into force, because Davao proved to be the better source of actually standardized fiber, and was riding all the

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa time in quantity grown. Davao strips chiefly by machine, Luzon strips altogether by hand.”

But there was an underlying factor that could have encouraged some traders to shortchange the U.S. buyers, foremost of which was the insistence of American traders to bring down to the ground the prices of hemp, short of dictating the movement of the local market.

As a result of this undercurrent, the government decided to establish the NAOFC under Commonwealth Act No. 332, approved on June 18, 1938, to regulate prices of hemp fiber.

The objectives of the NAOFC, in its original form, were to insure a permanent, sufficient and balanced

production of abaca and other fibers for the requirements of the local industry and for exportation; to check all speculation tending to promote a decrease in the prices of abaca and other fibers and to stabilize said prices at a level sufficient to cover the cost of production plus a reasonable profit; and to assist in preventing a shortage as well as an excess production of abaca and other fibers and in either case serve as regulating organ in order to avoid a disorganization of this important activity of the national economy and its consequences, such as suspension of work, unemployment, and other social calamities.

In fine, the NAOFC also carried the following functions: to buy, sell, export, barter, and deal in any other manner in abaca and other fibers; to buy, sell, assign, own, operate, rent or lease merchant vessels, rails, railroad lines, and any other means of transportation, stripping machines, presses, warehouses, buildings, and any equipment and material for stripping, warehousing and everything linked to the proper handling of abaca and other fibers; to act as agent, broker, commission merchant, or representative of the producers, merchants, pressmen or other dealers in abaca and other fibers and the products derived them; to grant loans to planters when it deems it advisable, on reasonable

terms, on account of abaca and other fiber crops.

Moreover, it also was imbued with the authority to borrow, issue bonds or raise funds for carrying out the objects of NAOFC whenever there was need for the industry; to enter into, make and execute contracts of any kind necessary or incidental to attain its purposes, with any person, firm or public or private company, or with the Philippine government or any foreign sovereignty; to have an office or offices outside of the Philippines and transact business and exercise its powers in any part of the Philippines or any foreign country, state or territory; to do everything directly or indirectly necessary or incidental to, or in furtherance of the purposes of the corporation; to perform all acts which a co-partnership or natural person is authorized to perform under the laws now existing or which may be enacted later.

But the Americans opposed the purpose of NAOFC, which is “to lay floor under abaca prices much as America herself lays a floor under cotton prices.” This position, the foreign traders were firm in saying, was “quite at contraries with the America’s intention to buy fiber as cheap as possible,” a practice that had been eased a bit only with the adoption in recent decades of free trade agreements and special trade privileges.

There are several reasons but those reasons are not enough to let yourself not to smile.

Here’s one poet said, “If at times you feel you want to cry and life seems such a trial. Above the clouds there’s a bright blue sky, so make your tears a smile. As you travel on life’s way with its many ups and downs, remember its quite true to say one smile is worth a dozen frowns.”

The poet continues: “Among the world’s expensive things, a smile is very cheap. And when you give a smile away, you get one back to keep.

Happiness comes at times to all but sadness comes unbidden and sometimes a few tears must fall among the laughter hidden. So when friends have sadness on their face and troubles round them piled, the world will seem a better place and all because you smiled.”

A smile can make a woman more beautiful. I have not seen a beauty contest where the contestants are not smiling. “Beauty is power; a smile is its sword,” Charles Reade pointed out. And someone commented, “I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.” (Frank) Gelett Burgess also said, “Thinking a smile all the time will you’re your face youthful.”

After all, a smile, according to

Charles Gordy, “is an inexpensive way to change your looks.” George Eliot surmises, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. American humorist Mark Twain also stated so: “Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.” Just a reminder: It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown.

If you can smile, why don’t smile at all. How unfortunate a person is, if he can’t smile anymore. Twice in his adult life, Ross Main had has his face paralyzed by Bell’s palsy, a disorder in which the seventh cranial never becomes inflamed, probably from a viral infection. “I could only smile with half my face, and the result was this weird grimace,” he says.

Looking for peace between a husband and wife, or between enemies? The answer to that question is a big smile. As Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.” A smile, nonetheless, is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it.

“Today,” urged H. Jackson Brown, Jr., “give a stranger one of your smiles.

It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.” A poet puts it more succinctly. “Smiling is infectious; you can catch it like the flu. Someone smiled at me today and I started smiling too.”

Behind that smile

the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied the importance of facial expression – including the variety and impact of smiles.

In 1872, Charles Darwin proposed in his book, The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals, that facial expressions are biologically based and universal among humans.

However, the celebrated anthropologist Margaret Mead thought the smile was a cultural behavior that varied between societies.

There are several reasons why a person smiles. One indicator is that he or she is in love. Barry Manilow, referring to his beloved, croons, “I can’t smile without you.”

“A smile costs nothing but gives much,” someone once wrote. “It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.”

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

“Smile and others will smile back,” Jean Baudrillard thinks.

“Smile to show how transparent, how candid you are. Smile if you have nothing to say. Most of all, do not hide the fact you have nothing to say nor your total indifference to others. Let this emptiness, this profound indifference shine out spontaneously in your smile.”

But more often than not, people stop smiling. It seems they are carrying the whole problem of the world.

Even in the early morning, when they should face the new day with gladness, they are already frowning.

10 NEWS PRO... FROM 1

the regional director, I will make sure that there will be no abuses,” he said, adding it is useless to declare Martial Law if it would be disadvantageous to the people.

“Ang purpose ng pang impose ng ating Martial Law ay pangalagaan ang ating mamamayan, hindi i-harrass, hindi i-suppress,”Gaerlan told reporters on Wednesday.

He also assured the public that the PNP will not tolerate any abuses from the authorities with regard to the rights of the citizens.

Security in Davao Region While awaiting the general guidelines from the office of the president, Gaerlan expressed that the Philippine National Police is ready to implement the general rules of Martial Law in Davao by working closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Eastern Mindanao Command and the 10th Infantry Division.

He has advised unit commanders of Region XI to beef up security measures to make sure of the safety of the people. He also said that checkpoints and control points will be placed in different areas, which includes major routes in and out of the city.

Gaerlan also called for the cooperation of the citizens to the military in implementing baggage and vehicle inspections.

“The checkpoints will be conducting thorough search.

If there is a need to request, or order the occupants to get off, please submit yourselves for inspection. We need to inspect packages, bags, cargo boxes if necessary. Cooperate lang po. We expect delays in movement by land, by water or by sea,” he said.

He also mentioned that the airports will have tighter inspections to prevent the movement of possible terrorists going in the city.

Gaerlan revealed that he has requested the office of the Chief of Police the suspension of all permit to carry firearms outside residence in the whole of Davao Region and awaits for its approval.

PNP... FROM 4

vant whose duty is to save and protect lives already leaves a bad taste in the mouth considering the charges against him,” it added.

The motion said that it would be practical to transfer Dumlao, citing expenses for transporting him from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City to Angeles City to attend court hearings and risk on his life and police escorts. “[T]he distance from the place of detention to the court logically and necessarily presents an opportunity for threat

On human rights and freedom of expression The Police advised citizens to contact any persons in authority should there be any violation of human rights.

Gaerlan holds firm to his statement that today’s Martial Law will be different from the first one. He said that in the first Martial law, Republic Act 1700 or the Anti-Subversion act was imposed and was later repealed.

“Mere membership of CPP-NPA or any subversive organization is not illegal as of this time. Kahit ipagmalaki niya na miyembro siya ng Communist Party of the Philiipines, it’s not illegal.”

As for the rallies to be initiated, it will depend on how the activity would affect safety and security of the people.

“If the safety of a particular place or the general sec of the state is threatened by certain mass actions, then I think that will be covered by the provisions of enforcing martial law.”

On the issue of the warrantless arrests, Gen. Gaerlan clarified that they will still be based on evidence.

“Kung mayroon kang ginawa, we can implement warrantless arrest. If you possess firearm, we can arrest you. If you do something illegal at the presence of the military, pnp or there is a probable cause to arrest you, we will.”

He also encouraged media practitioners to be responsible in delivering news and spreading information while waiting for the president’s guidelines with regard to Martial Law. “Hindi lahat ng nakakalap ninyong balita, totoo. Please verify the information first before spreading them.”

Martial Law, a temporary solution Gaerlan said that Martial Law is only a temporary solution to the problem of Mindanao.

Martial law is declared due to some conditions and circumstances and is not permanent solution. 60 days nga lang, and still our constitution shall be enforced. and hazard,” Apud said.

Angeles City is almost a two-hour drive from Quezon City.

Dumlao and four others are set to be arraigned on May 31, 2017 for the kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR) with homicide case in relation to Jee’s killing on Oct. 18, 2016.

He is also facing charges for carnapping, kidnapping and serious illegal detention in relation to the abduction of Jee’s housemaid Marisa Morquicho who was eventually freed. (Perfecto T. Raymundo/PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

SHIP ON CALL. Lieutenant James Reyes, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), announces today’s arrival of BRP Gregorio Del Pilar after it participated in the International Maritime Defense

Exhibition in Singapore. Reyes made the announcement during AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

Six... FROM 1

Duterte... FROM 2

Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey said he has planned to join the PSC officials in Marawi City on Tuesday but backed out because of the birthday of his son.

Ramirez said his office was seeking guidance from Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on whether or not it was advisable to push through with the Summer Children’s Games 2017 that are schedule to kickoff Thursday at the Rizal Park.

The summer games form part of the PSC’s Sports for

Peace program conceptualized by Ramirez himself.

The 30 barangays, representing the three congressional districts of the city, will field two teams each in the boys 12-under 3-on-3 basketball, one team each for girls 12-under volleyball and 10 participants each for Larong Pinoy.

Games will be played at the Rizal Park, Davao City Police Office court and Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center. (30)

24. Do not retain large sums of money in your residences.

27. Do not retain large sums of money in your premises.

28. Schools are encouraged to implement tighter security measures by properly screening guests.

Guidelines... FROM 2 BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS AND SCHOOLS 25. Business establishments and schools are required to create emergency plans for their respective premises.

26. Business establishments and schools are encouraged to invest in private security, modern security equipment and fire extinguishing equipment.

SC... FROM 4

cow, Russia.

On Tuesday afternoon (evening in Manila), President Duterte conferred with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go on the declaration of martial law in southern Philippines due to attacks carried out by ISISbacked Maute terror group in Marawi City.

In an interview, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the Philippine News Agency that the clash in Marawi City is focused on neutralizing Isnilon Hapilon, former leader of the kidnap for ranson Abu Sayyaf Group

TOURISTS and TOURISM ACTIVITIES 29. Tourists are discouraged from going to areas that are not included among the main tourism areas of the city.

30. Always bring with you your passports and other proofs of identification. (City Information Office)

(ASG) which had pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

Hapilon was believed wounded when the military bombed his hideout in Lanao del Sur last January.

“They are already there.

In fact the leader in Basilan, Isnilon Hapilon, is actually, I think, he is the anointed leader of the group there,” Lorenzana said on PNA Exclusive.

He added that Hapilon transferred to central Mindanao and organized the Maute Group.

The clash occurred Tuesday afternoon in Marawi City as the military received information that Hapilon is hiding in the area.

napping and robbery.

The suspects were identified as SP02 Ricky Pelicano, P02 Wilson Sanchez, P01 Joselito Ereneo and P01 Frances Camua.

Malayo said the four arrested policemen were already charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with carnapping, robbery, kidnapping and planting of evidence.

The arrest of the four suspects arose from the complaint of the family of alias “Norma”, who was abducted by said police officers in Quezon City after she visited her boyfriend Raymond Bongabon at the Medium Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Ten DEU operatives allegedly detained Norma and demanded PHP2 million which was later lowered to PHP1 million after negotiations in exchange for her liberty.

The group also allegedly instigated the complainant to transact with her Chinese contact for one kilo of shabu which was picked up in a hotel in Novaliches, Quezon City.

The DEU operatives then contacted Bongabon to produce the PHP1 million for the release of the victim.

However, the payoff did not push through and the suspects decided to file a case against the victim with the shabu presented as evidence.

(PNA)

tary personnel are on alert for the possible spillover of the hostilities, Major General Arnel dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division commander, said Wednesday.

“You have nothing to fear, the government is on top of the situation,” Dela Vega said.

He said elements of the 6th ID based in Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur have put up more

checkpoints along the Marawi-Cotabato highway to stop the spillover of the Marawi City incident.

He added that checkpoints have also been put up along major highways in Maguindanao, where the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters , which is allied with the Maute group, operates. (PNA)

wi City is not necessary at the moment.”

Madrigal also said that the military is still waiting for the implementing guidelines after President Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Russia,

declared martial law in the entire island of Mindanao Tuesday night, hours after government troops and members of the Maute terror group clashed in Marawi City.

(PNA)

not exceed what is allowed by the law),” Poe told reporters in an interview.

“May mga bagay na kailangang linawin natin sa pagdinig kasi hindi naman tayo pwedeng magbigay ng regulasyon na mahirap ipatupad at pangalawa kung ipinatupad man ayaw naman natin itong maging sanhi ng pangongotong (There are issues we need to clarify in a hearing because we cannot make regulations

that are difficult to implement and if are being implemented could be a cause for extortion),” she added.

On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III called on the Senate public services committee to “exercise its oversight functions” in reviewing the law’s enforcement as it may have “crossed the line” on its original intent.

His speech was referred to Poe’s committee. (PNA)

Tension... FROM 4

Army... FROM 4

Senate... FROM 5

INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

A taste of the Silk Road THERE IS NOTHING MORE COMFORTING TO ME THAN HAVING A WARM BOWL OF NOODLES. Be it a piping hot bowl of chicken mami or a super savoury serving or ramen, sipping on warm soup and chewing on perfectly cooked noodles always keeps me warm and comfortable.

I sometimes sneak in a bowl or two of instant ramen into my hotel room whenever I go on a staycation, never mind the havok it can wreak on my diet. At least right now, for my staycations at the Marco Polo Davao, I don’t need to pack bowls of instant noodles anymore as they introduced six new and exciting in-room dining noodles. The new items include Wanton Noodle Soup, Nanjing Beef Short Rib Noodle Soup, Chongquing Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup, Pancit Bihon Guisado, Pancit Palabok, and Pancit Egg Noodle Canton Style, a truly diverse selection that spans the Philippines through to coastal and central China similar to the ancient Silk Road.

“Executive Chef Alex Destriza actually trained in China to bring the authentic flavours of the dishes to the Marco Polo Davao,” said Marco Polo Davao’s PR officer Sarah Mama.

From my first sip of the soup to savouring the flavours of the toppings, the taste of the dishes is as authentic as it gets. The Nanjing Beef Short Rib Noodle Soup was a masterpiece with delicious broth and tender-cooked beef that literally melts in the mouth.

Spice fanatics, me in-

cluded, are sure to fall in love with the Chongquing Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup that is spiced with Szechuan pepper and lots of dried chili pepper.

Those who are sensitive to spice may want to try the clean flavours of the

Wanton Noodle Soup instead.

“All six noodle dishes are available ala carte for in-room dining while some noodle dishes will be available on rotation at Cafe Marco’s breakfast buffet,” added Sarah.

After the hearty meal, tea was served. In another nod to the Silk Road, Marco Polo Davao also rolled out a new selection of teas for all of its restaurants as well as the Continental Club Lounge.

“We have partnered

with premium tea supplier, Althaus, to give our guests the best afternoon tea experience,” said Sarah “All of the teas that are available at all of the hotel’s outlets are curated to match with the food the outlet serves.”

From the green teas, black teas, flower and fruit infusions. There was a cacophony of teas to choose from. My favourite of the lot would be the Grün Matinee, a refreshing flavoured green tea that mixes Japanese Sencha leaves with rose, cornflower, and sunflower petals. Another interesting tea, was Althaus’ Manila Mango fruit infusion which offers a juicy tropical mix of hibiscus flowers, mango, pineapple, apple, grapes, and marigold flower petals.

Truly the Heart of Davao lives up to the legend of Marco Polo the traveller, bringing various flavours and tastes from across the silk road for its guests to enjoy and appreciate.

Follow me on my Instagram account at @ kennethkingong for more travel tips and foodie finds in, around, and beyond Durianburg.

A2 INdulge!

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO ROYAL CHEF A3 complements the slices of lengua without overpowering the star of the dish.

As mentioned, Roadhouse Cafe serves a mean plate of crispy shrimps that super delish. The dish is basic -- very simple even -but there’s something that will have you munching on them unconsciously.

A personal favourite is their bowl of Kare-kare.

Yup, I am but a kare-kare lover who cannot forego ordering kare-kare anywhere I may be. I love how theirs is nutty and creamy but is not, again, umay. This saucy dish goes well with their bagoong that’s not super alat. Again, something worth ordering.

Any Roadhouse Cafe experience is not complete without ordering their sizzling brownie la mode. The hot, thick chocolate sauce, cold vanilla ice cream and room temp gooey brownies makes the perfect meal ender. I love how they complement each other, allowing for a more textured dish that is balanced and sweet at the same time.

The gooey chocolate sauce will have you licking your spoons in no time.

Roadhouse Cafe also serves the most delish Steak rice, fried chicken and Pancit Guisado. Also

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

a must try is their Bouillabaisse soup and Fried Rice.

And YES, we are all foodies for life. Why? Because we EAT and love the fact the we EAT. You can visit Roadhouse Cafe’s original restaurant along the national highway at Bagontaas, Valencia

City, Bukidnon, or closer to the city at SM City Davao, Quimpo Blvd., Ecoland, Davao City.

Want to know my latest food finds? Follow me on Instagram @iamleebai and my blog theroyalchefeats. wordpress.com.

Happy munching, Royalistas!

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

“

A recent trip with my peers rekindled my longing for a plate of sizzling hot beef strips and sizzling brownie ala mode that only Roadhouse Cafe has.

INdulge! A3

From the road to your palate

BEING A FOODIE IS NEVER EASY. One, you never get satisfied. And two, you always get hungry. There’s a constant chase that lures you like a magnet -- without you actually knowing. And you only become aware when you cannot fit into your clothes. Do we stop? Of course...NOT! That’s the beauty of being a foodie -- finding balance. (This is something I really, really need to learn!)

Recent trips allow for the foodie to be satisfied.

Recent trips also enables the foodie to update one’s list of gastronomic places.

Personally, I keep a mental list of places I’ve been to, food finds I’ve tasted and gastronomic places I need to visit. This way, I have a reason to reminisce, day dream and alibi for another trip.

Speaking of which, Roadhouse Cafe is one of the most delicious foodie places I’ve had the opportunity to visit both in Davao and Bukidnon. A recent trip with my peers

rekindled my longing for a plate of sizzling hot beef strips and sizzling brownie ala mode that only Roadhouse Cafe has. Not to mention, their plate of crispy fried shrimps with

sweet and sour sauce perfect for munching. So, what’s a foodie to do? Eat. And eat more.

What used to be a Bukidnon gastronomic secret is now a Davao favourite. Since opening their branch at the SM City Davao, a number of people have discovered the secret that lies within. With a menu that enumerates

classic favourites and fusion inspired dishes, you would surely have a blast trimming your choices.

Though not entirely exhaustive, the hard part becomes obvious when you cannot decide between a plate of sizzling pochero and a bowl of nutty karekare. Yes, for a meat lover (like I am), it’s always a struggle to shrug one dish

and choose.

Aside from their tender, meaty and juicy beef dishes (their steak is a must try!), Roadhouse Cafe also serves a delightful bowl of Sinigang na Lapu-Lapu and Lengua Estofado.

Personally, I am not a big sinigang fan (or fish dishes with sabaw) but theirs made me refill my bowl without hesitation. The

clear soup tastes clean with just the right hint of spices.

More so, I love the crunchy veggies.

Lengua, though still a beef dish, is very savoury.

Not umay savoury but perfectly savoury. The lengua is so soft -- it literally melts in your mouth. The mushroom gravy/ sauce verily

ROYAL CHEF A2

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

Advertise with

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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

11 SUBURBIA DOH readies medical aid to victims of Marawi clash EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

HE Department of Health assured Wednesday the readiness of its medical teams and logistics to respond to the medical needs of victims of the clash between government forces and the Maute Group in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.

T

“We have medical teams on standby and ready to come in anytime the military and police give us the go signal.

The hospitals around the areas, including the LGU (local government unit), are ready to receive patients who are referred to them from Amai Pakpak or direct from the

include development of agriculture-based livelihood assets that were destroyed due to natural disasters.

He said these services include the rehabilitation and development of public markets, bridges, farm-tomarket roads, irrigation canals, paddy dikes and improvements on water impounding and post-harvest facilities.

Batocabe said the rural poor may also be employed in mangrove planting and rehabilitation which are also disaster mitigation measures.

He said REAP’s beneficiaries will be identified by DSWD through its “Listahanan,” which is also known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or NHRA-PR. Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are nationwide.

Batocabe said that as REAP secures employment for the rural poor, the latter’s income will increase and economic growth will be hastened in the countryside. (PNA)

early as possible. We want our mineworkers to feel that we care for them and we want them to enjoy the money they saved with SSS,” said Dooc.

For more details on the

retirement claim application for underground and surface mineworkers, members may call the SSS Call Center at 9206446 to 55 or email member_ relations@sss.gov.ph.

Solon... FROM 6

SSS... FROM 6

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11th Judicial region BRANCH 14 Davao City

R-DVO-17-00907-SP IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR: I. THE CANCELLATION OF THE SECOND-DOUBLE REGISTRATION OF BIRTH OF EDRIAN JAY BAGUHIN SERAPIO (A.K.A. EDRIAN JAY DELIGERO BAGUHIN) UNDER CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH BEARING LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY NO. 2002-11864; II. THE CORRECTION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF EDRIAN JAY BAGUHIN SERAPIO (A.K.A. EDRIAN JAY DELIGERO BAGUHIN) UNDER REGISTRY NO. 96-1, 293 BY: CHANGING HIS NAME FROM: “EDRIAN JAY DELIGERO BAGUHIN” TO “EDRIAN JAY BAGUHIN SERAPIO” EDRIAN JAY BAGUHIN SERAPIO, Petitioner, - versus EDGARDO T. SERAPIO AND THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTAR OF DAVAO CITY,

Respondents, X--------------------------------------------------------xx ORDER OF HEARING A VERIFIED PETITION dated March 2, 2017 has been filed by petitioner Edrian Jay Baguhin Serapio through counsel, praying that after due notice and hearing, an Order be issued: (a) Cancelling the second Certificate of Live Birth of the petitioner under Registry No. 2002-11864; (b) Adjudging that the first and original Certificate of Live Birth of the petitioner with Registry No. 96-1,293 be retained as the official and only record of his birth; (c) Adjudging further that the name of the petitioner in the Certificate of Live Birth with Registry No. 96-1, 293 be changed from “EDRIAN JAY DELIGERO BAGUHIN” to “EDRIAN JAY BAGUHIN SERAPIO”; and (d) Directing the Local Civil Registar of Davao City to cause the aforementioned changes in the Certificate of Live Birth with Registry No. 96-1, 293.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, this Court hereby sets the same for hearing on June 21, 2017 at 8:30 in the morning. Let this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Davao, once a week for THREE (3) consecutive weeks.

All interested persons may appear before this Court on or before the aforesaid date of hearing to show cause if any, why the said petition should not be granted.

Furnish a copy of this Order to the following: the City Prosecution Office, Davao City; the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City (together with a copy of the Petition); the Office of the Clerk of Court, Cebu City; Philippine Statistics Authority (National Statistics Office); counsel for the petitioner, as well as petitioner herself.

The petitioner through counsel is hereby directed to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General a copy of this Petition.

SO ORDERED Given this 20th day of MARCH, 2017 at Davao City, Philippines.

JILL ROSE S. JAUGAN-LO Presiding Judge

community,” Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Ubial added that all logistics, including medicines, are in place as part of the department’s preparation for eventualities such as this. ”Mental and psycho-so-

cial debriefing (teams) are on standby too,” she added.

The health chief however said they are still awaiting further instructions from the military and police authorities undertaking efforts to put the situation under control.

“We cannot go on if not cleared by military and po-

lice,” she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night declared the entire Mindanao island under martial law following clashes between government troops and members of the Maute Group in Marawi City.

The violence began Tuesday afternoon after the mili-

tary conducted operations to flush out Isnilon Hapilon, a top terrorist suspect, from his hideout in Marawi City.

Several facilities had been torched by the terror group, including St. Mary’s Church, the city jail, the Ninoy Aquino School, and Dansalan College.

(PNA)

NO TO MARTIAL LAW. Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Southern Mindanao say no to martial law during a protest rally at the Freedom Park in Davao City Wednesday (24 May 2017). MindaNews photo

Sarangani cancels‘SarBay’festival in support of ML

T

HE Sarangani provincial government cancelled Wednesday the 12th edition of its famed Sarangani Bay Festival (SarBay) following the declaration by President Rodrigo R. Duterte of martial law (ML) in the entire Mindanao late Tuesday night.

Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon and other top provincial officials decided to scratch the event before noon today, a day ahead of the scheduled opening of the three-day festival at the white sand beaches of Barangay Gumasa in Glan town.

In a statement, the provincial government said it “fully

supports and undertakes to fully cooperate” with President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao that was made following the terror attacks staged by members of the Maute group Marawi City on Tuesday.

It assured that the police and military are doing their jobs as mandated by the laws and the Constitution.

The statement said this year’s festivity, dubbed “SarBay Paradise,” is all set but organizers decided “to rest the event for this year, in light of our brothers and sisters’ current plight in Marawi.”

The decision to cancel the SarBay fest was made by

the provincial government, festival organizers and their partners.

“The more prudent and moral choice of action is to sympathize in prayer instead of pursuing the day and night activities of SarBay fest 2017,” it said.

The provincial government urged everyone to unite with them in prayer for peace in Mindanao and the people of Marawi, “in the spirit of national unity and in support of President Duterte’s (martial law) declaration.”

Sarangani officials had expected another huge crowd of beach party-goers in this year’s SarBay festival, which is

so as to prevent terror activities from happening in the city, which is Mindanao’s most populous component city.

He also cited that this is crucial especially that big events will be hosted by the city this year, top-billed by the 6th ASEAN Scout Jamboree in November.

Both the AFP and PNP, as ordered by Mayor Rellon, will be jointly assisted by the team from the local government’s Security Management and Traffic Management Offices, respectively.

On their part, the Task Force Tagum—a special unit assigned by AFP to secure the city—remains on a high alert status and is in direct coordination with the Philippine National Police in the monitoring of actions of suspicious per-

sonalities as well as the confiscation of firearms with no legal documents.

This was the off-shot of the special joint meeting of the City Peace and Order Council, City Anti Drug Abuse Council and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council convened by Mayor Rellon last May 24, 2017 where they discussed the mechanisms in place to secure the city as well as to allay fears of some citizens regarding the declaration of Martial Law. Authorities ensured that the civil rights of the citizens is still their highest priority despite the declaration of martial law.

Atty. Randy de Gala, the city legal officer, pointed out that Tagumenyos should dismiss their fears regarding

dubbed as the “biggest beach party in the southern Philippines.”

The SarBay crowd peaked at around 150,000 last year after reaching 126,000 during its 10th year in 2015.

The provincial government launched SarBay in 2006 to promote awareness on the protection and preservation of the Sarangani Bay, which was declared a protected seascape in 1996 through Presidential Decree 756.

The Sarangani provincial board or Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution “making SarBay a tool for environmental awareness.”

(PNA)

Tagum’s multiple entry points to have intensified checkpoints

M

AYOR Allan L. Rellon ordered local authorities Wednesday to intensify local checkpoints on all entry points of Tagum City, in a swift pre-emptive measure following the siege of the Islamic City of Marawi which prompted the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaking before an urgent meeting he convened today, Mayor Rellon ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to augment personnel manning the city’s entry and exit points.

Taking cue from other security measures deployed by other cities in Mindanao, the local chief executive ordered local authorities to heighten their pre-emptive measures

Martial Law, stressing that the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall apply only to persons judicially charged for rebellion or offenses inherent in, or directly connected with, invasion.

They also called on civilians to be very vigilant and to immediately report to them any suspicious personalities in their respective areas.

Meanwhile, the City Government of Tagum extended its full support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, saying such is necessary and justified to combat terrorism and defeat rebellion. It condemned the terror acts of lawless elements in Marawi which prompted the president to place Mindanao under the state of Martial Law.

12 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

Impaired glucose tolerance: What’s that?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

N an article which appeared in Reader’s Digest, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was one of the 10 diseases that most doctors miss to diagnose.

“It is the same problem as diabetes but in a milder form,” explains Dr. Gauden Galea, a public health physician who has worked at the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1998.

IGT is considered as pre-diabetes stage. In fact, people with untreated IGT has a 50% of developing diabetes. Citing a commissioned study, Dr. Ruby Go of the Philippine Lipid Atherosclerosis Society said unlike the normal diabetes, pre-diabetes has no symptoms.

It could only be detected through a blood sugar test.

Cu r re n t ly, about 200 million people have IGT worldwide, more than half of them in Asia. “The total figure will blow out to about 400 million by 2025,” deplores Professor Paul Zimmet, director of the Melbourne-based International Diabetes Institute.

You eat in order to live.

“After you eat, various foods are broken down in your gut into sugars,” explains Diabetes UK. “The main sugar is called glucose which passes through your gut wall into your bloodstream. However, to remain healthy, your blood glucose level should not go too high or too low.”

The blood glucose level literally refers to the

amount of glucose in the blood. A normal blood glucose level ranges between about 4 and 8 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Blood glucose levels may be at the higher end of the range after eating and at the lower end of the range first thing in the morning.

“When your blood glucose level begins to rise (after you eat), the level of a hormone called insulin should also rise,” Diabetes UK says. “Insulin works on the cells of your body and

makes them take in glucose from the bloodstream. Some of the glucose is used by the cells for energy, and some is converted into glycogen or fat (which are stores of energy).”

In instances where the blood glucose level begins to fall (between meals), the level of insulin also falls.

Some glycogen or fat is then converted back into glucose which is released from the cells into the bloodstream.

Insulin, according to the

American Diabetes Association, is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows the body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the food that a person eats for energy or to store glucose for future use. Insulin helps keeps the blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).

Insulin is a hormone that is made by cells called beta cells. These are part of little islands of cells (islets) within the pancreas. Hormones are chemicals that are released into the bloodstream and work on various parts of the body.

IGT happens when the

“Losing weight, exercising more and eating a healthy, balanced diet all help to treat IGT (Impaired Glucose Tolerance),” notes Diabetes UK.

blood glucose is raised beyond normal levels, but not high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. But IGT, a person faces a much greater risk of developing diabetes.

In fact, “one to three out of every 4 people with IGT will develop diabetes within a decade,” notes the Diabetes. co.uk, the global diabetes community.

In the Philippines, one out of every five Filipino adults has either diabetes or at risk of IGT. Diabetes is the eight leading cause of death.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 percent of all cases in the country.

Aside from diabetes, people with IGT also face a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure (hypertension), increased cholesterol levels, and being overweight or obese.

Among those who are most likely to develop IGT are those who are overweight or obese, have a family history of diabetes (this refers to a close family member with diabetes - a mother, father, brother or sister), do little physical activity, and have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.

A woman who has polycystic ovary syndrome (a condition in which a woman’s high levels of testosterone prevented her ovaries from releasing eggs, which then became cysts), overweight or developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy is a candidate for IGT. Because IGT has no

signs or symptoms, sufferers may not know they have it. If symptoms occur, they are similar to the mild early symptoms of diabetes, which include excessive thirst and appetite, increased urination, weight loss, and fatigue.

How will you know if you have IGT? Here how a person can discover it. Before coming to a clinic, he must fast himself first. At the clinic, the doctor conducts glucose tolerance test (GTT), where he measures the blood glucose of the patient. A standard glucose drink is given (containing 75 grams glucose for adults).

Blood glucose is again measured at two hours after the test. “Someone with IGT will get higher levels of glucose over a longer period,” says Dr. Galea.

According to the Geneva-based United Nations health agency, a person is said to have IGT if he has a fasting blood glucose of less than 7 mmol/L, and a blood glucose of 7.8 mmol/L or more but less than 11.1mmol/L after a twohour oral GTT. “If your blood glucose is measured by a blood test when you have not been fasting, this is called a random blood glucose level,” explains Diabetes UK. “If your blood glucose is measured after you have been fasting, this is called a fasting blood glucose level. A normal fasting blood glucose level is less than 6 mmol/L.” “There is increasing evidence that if impaired glucose tolerance is treated,

F HEALTH, 13

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

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

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NEWS 13

EDGEDAVAO

Putin... FROM 6

ao, President Putin said the bilateral documents that are set to be signed by the Philippines and Russia will be pursued.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, who is also in Russia, said President Duterte has instructed him and Foreign Affairs

Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to continue with the planned official program that can be implemented at the ministerial level, including meetings with counterparts, and the signing of agreements.

“For DTI, we shall proceed

with the meetings with Russian business groups and the business fora in Moscow and St. Petersburg that will be attended by delegates from the Russian business community and the Filipino business delegates,” Lopez said. (PNA)

the progression to diabetes can be prevented,” says the website, patient.co.uk. “Also, it may be possible to prevent cardiovascular disease from developing. So, it is important to know if you have impaired glucose tolerance and to treat it in order to reduce your risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

Treatments that have been suggested include lifestyle changes and treat-

ments with medicines. “Losing weight, exercising more and eating a healthy, balanced diet all help to treat IGT,” notes Diabetes UK. “Stopping smoking, sticking to the recommended weekly alcohol limits and keeping blood pressure in a normal range all help to lower the risk of IGT developing into type 2 diabetes.”

There are also drugs prescribed by doctors to treat IGT. “Medicines that have

been, or are being, trialed include metformin, acarbose, a group of medicines called ACE inhibitors and another group of medicines called angiotensin-II receptor antagonists,” Diabetes UK reports.

Meanwhile, an estimated 8 million Filipinos are not aware that they are already entering the stage of “pre-diabetes,” according to health experts. (Photos taken from the net)

squad.

Morale is high for the team which will be led by 6-foot-5 Jaja Santiago who, despite being just 21 years old, is easily the most decorated player here, including stints in last year’s FIVB World Clubs held in Manila.

“We are ready for the competitions,” said Santiago of Philippine Superliga’s Foton.

“We know this is a tough competition but we are excited to go out there and play against

the best teams.’

Match will be at 10:30 am (12:30 pm Manila time).

Thailand and Iran collide next at 1:30 pm local time, to be followed by Vietnam-China tussle at 3:30 pm. Host Kazakhstan sees action against Chinese Taipei at 7 pm following the opening ceremony.

The Philippines will face Vietnam on Friday before rounding up its Group B games facing China on Saturday.

Rachel Anne Daquis is

team skipper of the club also made up of solid A-listers like Mika Reyes, Aby Marano, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Denden Lazaro and Kim Fajardo. Also making up the team are Bia General, Lourdes Clemente, Maika Ortiz, Gen Casugod, Ces Molina, Aiza Pontillas and Rhea Dimaculangan.

Rebisco PSL-Manila is also composed of team manager Anna Tomas, assistant coaches Brian Esquivel, Ronald Dulay and Emmanuel Calipes.

HEALTH... FROM 12

Rebisco-PSL... FROM 15

14

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

KYRIE-MARKABLE. Kyrie Irving scored 42 points for Cleveland in Game 4.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

Irving leads Cavs to Game 4 win K

YRIE IRVING gritted his teeth, tightened up his left sneaker and hopped to his feet.

T h e p a i n couldn’t s t o p him.

The

Celtics

couldn’t either.

Irving took over in the second half and finished with 42 points despite playing on a tender ankle, LeBron James added 34 and the Cleveland Cavaliers moved within one win of an almost inevitable third date in the NBA Finals with Golden State by rallying to beat Boston 112-99 on Tuesday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

With James in foul trouble,

Irving was forced to do more than ever and he delivered, scoring 19 in less than five minutes and 33 in a 19-minute stretch. ‘’The kid is special,’’ James said. ‘’I was happy to sit back and watch him. He was born for these moments.’’

The defending NBA champions, who shot 71 percent in the second half, opened a 3-1 lead in the series and can wrap up their third straight conference title - and a ‘’threematch’’ against the Warriors - with a win in Game 5 on Thursday night in Boston.

But if Games 3 and 4 are any indication, it won’t be easy.

Fighting to keep their season alive, the Celtics aren’t giving an inch despite playing without All-Star guard Isaiah

Thomas, who may need surgery on a hip injury.

The Cavs, meanwhile, wouldn’t be on the cusp of the Finals without Irving.

With Cleveland in jeopardy of dropping its second game in a row after James followed an 11-point Game 3 debacle by picking up four first-half fouls, Irving put on a breathtaking one-man show.

Freezing Boston defenders with his dribble and driving to the basket whenever he wanted, Irving made six layups, two 3-pointers and a free throw in a dizzying span of 4:48. He capped his blistering 19-point outburst with a 3 in the final second of the quarter and celebrated at mid-court by pretending to put two pistols back in his holster.

compete in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle and 200-meter butterfly events while Lacuna will join the 400-meter freestyle, 400-meter butterfly and individual medley events.

The swimming association has submitted 40 names to the SEA Games Task Force.

Lim said the list will be

trimmed down to 20 and the final number of athletes joining the KL trip will be finalized after the Philippine Swimming Open that is slated to be held at the Trace College in Laguna on June 2-4.

Alkhaldi and Lacuna, who both competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, will attend a three-month training

camp in Italy before competing in the World Swimming Championship in Hungary this July.

Lim is hopeful that potential talents, such as Palarong Pambansa standout Sacho Ilustre, will be given the chance to compete in the SEA Games. (Jean T. Malanum/ PNA)

Alkhaldi, Lacuna banner PH SEAG swim team

Rebisco-PSL Manila debuts vs Japan in AWCC

U

ST-KAMENOGORSK, Kazakhstan — Philippine representative Rebisco-PSL Manila buckles down to work today (Thursday, May 25) against Japan at the start of the Asian Women’s Club Championships at Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace here.

National team coach Francis Vicente said Japan, which normally has an import it hardly uses, would be a suitable opponent for the Filipinas who are here to tune up for the August Southeast Asian Games.

“One of the models we are looking at is that of Japan because of its speed and dis-

J

EFF Horn may not be a household word in boxing but I can say he is no patsy.

As some would picture him to be, I would rather describe the Aussie pro as a hungry fighter in search of some recognition.

Amir Khan, who was earlier tagged as a possible opponent of Pacquiao to replace Horn, said it’s going to be a walk-over match for the Pacman.

Of course, disgrasya lang ang talo ni Pacquiao.

He is the overwhelming favorite but don’t forget accidents happen every now and then.

The Australians are very happy to host the title fight in their own real estate proper-

cipline,” said Vicente of the squad backed up by Rebisco, Asics, Grand Sports and Turkish Airlines. “We will be out there fighting with all we’ve got.”

The team worked on foot and leg drills at the lobby of the Shiny River Hotel because it was drizzling all Wednesday morning which sent temperatures to drop to 14-degrees from Tuesday’s high 30 degrees.

The Filipinas also had practice Tuesday night, hours after a tiring flight from Manila, although it hardly showed in the faces of the team whose core will form the SEA Games

F REBISCO-PSL, 13

O

LY M P I C veterans Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jesse King Lacuna will spearhead the Philippine swimming team in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur this August.

Coach Archie Lim said Tuesday Alkhaldi will

EXCHANGE OF NOTES. Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez (center) listens to the discussion between PSC commissioner Charles Raymund Maxey (left) and City Sports head Mikee Aportadera

during the opening of Barangay Sports Education seminar held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

Horn no patsy but unpredictable

ty. According to our indefatigable managing editor, the overjoyed boxing fans out there will troop to the coliseum like crawling ants.

They will certainly come overflowing like floodwaters - the crowds I mean - as this is the most exciting boxing championship to be staged yet Down Under in many, many years.

Why am I not underestimating Horn?

Well, he has two hands.

They are not tied so he remains a dangerous foe, hungry as he is for recognition.

He will grab this once-ina-lifetime opportunity, granted that many boxing quarters do not think very highly of him.

Remember Chris Algieri?

SPORTS KEN

By RED C. LUMBA

He stumbled six times over during his match against the Pambansang Kamao but he displayed a kind of mettle that somehow we, boxing fans, have to appreciate.

Maybe we could expect the same to happen but over-confidence should not get into Pacquiao’s mindset.

I was told rather confidentially that, when Pac-

quiao got kayoed by Juan Manuel Marquez in their 4th meeting in the dying seconds of that fateful 8th round, it was this overconfidence that got him into trouble.

Heavily bruised and already black and blue from the pounding Marquez was getting, Pacquiao was described by my confidant that finishing him right there and then would end the fight. His impatience caught the better of him, though.

As record now show, that lethal right hand Marquez delivered which Pacquiao ran smack into was the “accident’ I am talking about.

At 39 and much, much more matured and excellently equipped with ring savvy, the senator-boxing champion

from Sarangani will not allow himself to be stricken by lightning twice.

Coach Freddie Roach and Promoter Bob Arum are actually preparing their prized Hall of Famer (soon) for a much bigger “despedida”, a surprise big money fight with either the new toast of the boxing world Terence Crawford or the (un)retired Floyd Mayweather.

Horn will have to endure the unsavory write ups about him by many boxing sportswriters, notably from the USA side.

He will let his fists do the talking.

Pacquiao is diligent with his training regimen in keeping with his campaign pledge to be a full-time senator. Now

a learned multi-tasker, the former GenSan pandesal delivery boy has educated himself from his rollercoaster life experiences.

So, don’t bet on Horn.

Better yet, don’t bet anymore.

Pacquiao should win this setto but it won’t be a walk in the park.

I leave you, dear readers, this quote from 1968 US Open tennis champion Arthur Ashe, the first black player in history to win the trophy in the Open era: “You are never really playing an opponent.

You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 38 • THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017

DOMINATION AAK-Davao bets rule SM Milo Super Karate Kids

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

PERFECT FORM. Janna Ramirez in her gold medal kata routine in the girls 1214 division. Dodong Bacalla

I

T’S one dominating performance AAK Davao did not expect to achieve right at their homefront. But so much with hospitality, these Davao kids left warm friendships right outs i d e the

mat.

The medal basket says it all—15 golds, 13 silvers and 12 bronzes.

“What more can I ask for? They surpassed our targets,” said a beaming Rommel Tan, head coach of AAK Davao after his team outclassed 8 others in the 2017 SM Milo Super Karate Kids tournament at the SM Lanang on Monday night.

To begin with, Tan’s daughter veteran internationalist Atsuko Kaiyel Tan swept the kata and kumite gold medals in the girls 6 to 7 years old division asserting her no. 1 status in that category in the entire country.

The other double gold medalists are Kyzzhia Navarro, John Paul Ponce, Janna Ramirez, and Dar-

lene Maramara. Also winning golds are Robert Avancena, Seth Michael Navarro, Daryl Sulla, Lanz Banda and Vince Banda.

Nine teams took part in the two-day tournament including AAK Megamall, AAK JRU, Shorei Kan Bukidnon, Tabal, Slug Karatedo Bukidnon, PKL Panabo and UM Tagum.

The double silver medalists are Jam Ramirez, Sofia Agullo, and Christopher Cagandahan while the silver medalists are Frea Davis, John Philip Cagandahan, PJ Bacayo, Daryl Sulla, Anna Cornejo, Sam Cartagena and Adi Solon.

Ian Pascual and Aldren Solon won two bronzes while Craig James Infiesto, Marcus Arellano, Dodong Cornejo, Sam Cartagena,

John Philip Cagandahan, and Lanz Banda had one each.

A training camp was held at the Dojo Torres Street by former Philippine team member and World Cup silver medlaist Chino Veguillas, Asian games medalist Richard Lim and World Cup gold medalist Sonny Montalvo. The camp was backed up by SM Lanang, Beefit Gym, Jay Ramirez, Claudia Villaluna, Ihana Suites, Homitori and Dabaw City Sports Council Inc. Officiating the tournament are Manila-based referees Edward Ponce, Bernard Alvarina, Chino Veguillas, Richard Lim, and Sonny Montalvo, Davao’s Cris Campomanes, and Bert Apas and Bukidnon’s Meds Bacunawa.

WONDERGIRL. 6-year old Atsuko Kaiyel Tan scores against her opponent in the finals of girls 6-7 yeard old kumite.

Dodong Bacalla

SCORE. Seth Michael Navarro scores with a hook kick en route to a god medal. Dodong Bacalla