Edge Davao 10 Issue 46, June 6, 2017

NEWS

NGOs appeal to PRRD: Act on envi issues

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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N celebration of this year’s World Environment Day yesterday, a number of representatives from non-government groups appealed to President Duterte to resolve the worsening environmental issues that continue to threaten the country.

“As we know, Philippines is very rich in terms of ecological and anthropological diversity. However, there are certain human activities that would threaten its richness,” according to lawyer Ian Gencianeo of Philippine Misereor Philippines, Inc. – Davao Region Cluster (PMPI-DRC) during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday.

Gencianeo appealed to President Duterte to address the issues through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other enforcing agencies of the government, Top priority should be given to a declaration of moratorium in mining operations, pending .

“The mining moratorium should be declared to protect the remaining pristine forest we have left and save those that have already been damaged.”

He also added that all mining activities should

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

USUAL SCENE. A kindergarten student looking for his mother cries inside the classroom during the first day of school at Vicente Hizon Sr. Elementary School, in Barrio Pampanga, Davao City on Monday.

More than 26 million public and private elementary and high school students nationwide returned to school on Monday.

Lean Daval Jr.

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ANOTHER BLOWOUT Warriors whip Cavs 132-113, take 2-0 lead

Sports P15

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

Waking Up the Sleeping Dinosaur

TUITION HIKE HIT Students slam CHED: Increases sans consultations

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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TUDENT leaders in the Davao area slammed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for approving petitions to increase tuition rates and school fees to 32 colleges and

universities in Region 11.

In a joint statement issued yesterday, the Kabataan Partylist Mindanao represented by its Vice President Paul Dotollo, National Union of Students in the Philip-

pines Davao Coordinator Romen Wabina and the League of Filipino Students-Davao City Chapter Spokesperson Omar Mañigo said that the approved increases by CHED lack consultation of school

administrators in Davao City to the students and parents which makes the CHED memorandum “toothless.”

They added that according to

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

BORED? Two elementary students can’t stifle a yawn as they attend the flag raising ceremony during the first day of school at Vicente Hizon Sr. Elementary School in Barrio Pampanga, Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Surigao solon calls for tougher gun controls

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URIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel has called for tougher gun controls in the wake of the use of a high-powered assault rifle by Jessie Javier Carlos, the one-time government tax specialist and lone gunman who sowed the June 2 bedlam at Resorts World Manila that caused the deaths of 38 people, including the attacker.

“In the interest of public safety, we really need stronger gun control measures,” Pimentel, a member of the House committee on national defense and security, said.

“While Carlos may not have used his firearm to kill people, he did use the weapon to try to raid the casino cashier’s cage and to sow the

mayhem that took a lot of innocent lives,” Pimentel said.

The authorities have yet to ascertain where and how Carlos obtained the M4 carbine assault rifle that he used to shoot up and barge into Resorts World in his attempt to loot the casino.

It has now become clear that Carlos concealed his identity from beginning to end because he intended to escape, had he succeeded in robbing the casino, or had he not been gravely wounded, according to Pimentel.

Carlos donned a ski mask and avoided facing CCTV cameras directly when he stormed the casino.

That Carlos tried to incinerate himself beyond recog-

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New BBL draft for submission to President 3rd week of June

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ANGSAMORO Transition Commission (BTC) will submit the new draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to President Rodrigo Duterte by the third week of this month.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) first vice chair and Chair of the 21-member BTC Ghazali Jaafar said they are into the finalization of the draft BBL. The BBL, once it becomes a law, will chart the future of the Bangsamoro government in the Bangsamoro ancestral homeland.

”Halos patapos na ang pagsulat ng mga honorable commissioners Bangsamoro Transition Commission sa batas (The honorable commissioners are almost finish in writing the draft law). Maybe in few days time the BTC will finish its work,” Jaafar said during a press conference after the breaking of the fast on Saturday night.

Jaafar said the draft BBL enshrines the legitimate aspiration and interests of the Muslims, Christian settlers, Moro and non-Moro Indige-

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Lunhaw expands, opens to youth, gov’t sectors

By REBECCA ESPERA

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HE Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) is once again calling the attention of the environmental advocates to participate in the 6th staging of Lunhaw Awards.

Lunhaw Awards is an award-giving body that recognizes environment enthusiasts. On their first five years, they accommodated individuals, organizations from academe, private sectors and CSOs. But now on their 6th

year, Lunhaw Awards opened doors to youths including to barangay and government sectors, which was expressed as a need by one of the co-organizers, Leo Leuterio who is the City Agriculturist Office OIC. Chinkie Pelino-Golle of IDIS on Monday, June 5, said “We will also be recognizing the Barangay and Government Agency-led initiatives that contribute to environmental protection and management”.

Golle said that the nominees must have an engagement in any environmental advocacy and must have leadership to such efforts for at least three years.

Nominees under youth category must be aged 30 years and below and the adult category must be 31 years old and above.

Providing that Lunhaw Awards has opened its door to barangay and government agencies-led initiatives, they

were encouraged to be a role model in raising awareness about environment and create an environment-friendly programs and practices that to be benefited by the City.

Lunhaw Awards is co-organized by the City Agroculture Office (CAO), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS), Davao City Water District (DCWD), and IDIS.

Israel to help Davao enhance public HS curriculum

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EPRESENTATIVES from the City Government of Davao and Department of Education-Davao City Schools Division visited Israel late April for a partnership on education cooperation and enhancement with a non-profit organization.

The partnership project aims to adopt a public high school in Davao City and turn it into a center and role model of excellence in technology and methodology with the incorporation of Innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics or iSTEAM curriculum.

ORT Israel, a leading educational network in Israel for science and technology edu-

Representatives from Davao City together with the faculty and students of ORT Givataim, one of the public high

F ISRAEL, 10 schools visited by the delegation during the visit in Israel for the education cooperation partnership.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Davao millennials smoke, drink, have sex early : IPO

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LMOST half of the youths in Davao City, also known as millennials, aged 13 to 24 years, drink, smoke and engage in sex some with multiple partners as 15.

These are some of the negative findings of a survey conducted by the University of Mindanao’s Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO).

In a briefing during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex at Ecoland Subdivision, Dr. Adrian Tamayo, a stalwart of the IPO, said that the survey was conducted May 24 to 30 among 264 youth respondents.

He said “this survey aims to describe the Davao youth relating to their association, what is important to them, who bear large influence on them. “

He said the sample was obtained using a 3-percent margin of error and 95-percent confidence level, adding that the intention is to overlap child-bearing years, working years, and school years of the commonly ascribed as youth.”

The survey reveals 4 in 10 Dabawenyo smoke cigarettes.

They started smoking at age 12, though common age to start smoking is 18. They said they are influenced by friends (97 percent) while others are influenced by their own relatives (3 percent).

Drinking came somewhat accessible to the youth, 5 in 10 youth drink. Some said started drinking as early as when when they were 12 years old.

Common age to have started drinking is 18 years old.

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SURVEY ON YOUTH. Dr. Adrian Tamayo, University of Mindanao’s Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO) specialist on economics, government, and political issues, briefs media practitioners on the result of the organization’s latest

survey on the Youth Situationer in Davao City during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Breastfeeding drive W still faces problems

Donations for Marawi crisis IDPs pour in

By REBECCA ESPERA

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ACK of appreciation of its benefits and the continued dumping by giant Western companies of infant formula products to Third World countries are just two of the challenges that continue to bug the decades-old campaign of the country to embrace breastfeeding among mothers.

This was revealed by Dr. Maria Theresa “Terry” Ungson, regional coordinator of the National Nutrition Council, an agency attached to the Department of Health (DOH).

These, despite the current positive action of government offices and business establishments, including shopping malls, in providing breastfeeding stations for

working mothers, she said.

She lamented that many Filipina women still continue to entertain a misconception that breastfeeding will destroy their bodies. This is exacerbated by husbands who are just as ignorant of the benefits of breastfeeding to the wife, baby and the family in the long run.

Dr. Ungson said this is one reason why the NNC is holding a nation-wide photo contest that showcases the beauty and beneficial concepts of breastfeeding in cooperation with the Davao Photographers Club.

Dr. Terry Ungson stressed the importance of breastfeeding given that it could give full nutrition to

the child in which formula milk could not provide. “The mother would just have to let the baby suck [in order for the breast to get stimulated and provide milk] because it is the purpose of the breast of a woman [to lactate]” Dr. Ungson said.

“A single woman can even lactate, a lola (grandmother) can also relactate” added Dr. Ungson.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Constantine Agustine explained to reporters attending Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Ecoland annex yesterday, Monday, that the Davao Photographers Club which he heads will handle the technical aspects of the photo contest, including the rules and mechanics, the

screening and final judging of the competition.

The nationwide photo contest will accommodate professional, commercial and hobbyist photographers. The photo must be submitted online and should be in accordance to the theme “Breastfeeding: Epitome of Mother’s Love Towards a Strong Nation.”

Due the role played by the photographers club ias a co-sponsor and event organizers, its members are disqualified from joining the contest.

For those who are interested to join the contest, details and mechanics are available at the Facebook page of Davao Photographers Club.

HILE the number of evacuees continues to rise due to the on-going law enforcement operations in Marawi City, donations from various individuals and organizations are pouring in to help ease the plight of those displaced by the hostilities.

These relief efforts include young men and women in this city that hosts the regional offices of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Amino Sahabuddin, 20, has initiated a donation drive with his classmates and urged his professors to do the same. He added that people in Marawi and Lanao del Sur need humanitarian help noting even small donations will make a difference.

“We cannot help them all, but at least we could help some. Kahit ‘yung isang araw na maitawid mo ang gutom ng (isang evacuee) ay malaking bagay na,” Sahabuddin said. He collects small amounts of mon-

Constantine Agustin’s Davao Photographers Club during this week’s edition of Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

The center generally receive food such as rice, canned goods, noodles, dried fish, coffee, sugar, milk powder, biscuits, juice powder, bottled water, eggs and fruits. Non-food items are also donated such as hygiene kits, used clothing, diapers, baby

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Tagum dads okay Children’s Festival M

NUTRITION STATUS. National Nutrition Council Region 11 regional coordinator Dr. Maria Teresa Ungson discusses the nutrition status of Davao City and the agency’s upcoming photo contest in collaboration with lawyer

ey and gathers food packs and used clothing. These donations are delivered to the operation center of the ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency and Action Response Team (ARMMHEART) here.

Myrna Jo Henry, ARMMHEART information officer, said most of the donations come from private individuals, small organizations and government offices from all over Mindanao and the rest of the country.

These donations are distributed by the ARMM-HEART to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are staying either in homes of relatives, or in designated evacuation centers.

EMBERS of the Tagum City Council approved last week an ordinance on the holding of a yearly Children’s Festival in Tagum City during the 46th regular session of the lawmaking body.

Senior City Councilor lawyer Eva Estabillo had pushed the legislative matter which is basically an amendment to Section 2 of Article IV of City Ordinance No. 383 that was approved way back in 2009, providing for a comprehensive children’s welfare code of the children, including the holding of a Children’s Congress.

The Children’s Congress was defined as as an activity of “children who primarily come from the grassroots and out-

of-school youths” who would have their Children’s Congress in October every year. The congress would be “a venue for the children to express their views relevant to the policies of the Local Government of Tagum City.”

The amended Ordinance No. 803-S-2017 authored by Councilor Estabillo stipulates that the Children’s Congress is replaced with a Children’s Festival giving more exciting provisions. The Children’s Festival would now be “a week-long interactive and educational fair every 2nd week of November”, “an annual gathering of every Tagumenyo child from ages four to not more than 18

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DOF confirms Carlos a former employee dismissed in 2014

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HE Department of Finance (DOF) has confirmed that Jessie Javier Carlos was a former employee of the DOF who was dismissed from the service in April 2014 on orders of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Carlos was a former Tax Specialist I of the One-Stop Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center of the DOF. He was sued by the DOF’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) for failure to disclose truthfully all his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities Net Worth (SALN), records show.

“In a 17-page Decision received on April 25, 2014, the Ombudsman dismissed Carlos for Grave Misconduct and Gross Neglect of Duty for not declaring his house and

lot in Manila in his 2003 to 2006 SALNs, his Toyota Innova SUV in his 2007 SALN and his business interest in his 2010 SALN,” according to a statement posted on the RIPS website.

“Carlos, whose total income from 2001 to 2011 grossed P2,460,156.00 was found by the Ombudsman to have purchased, in cold cash, two (2) farm lots in Tanauan City, Batangas for P4,000,000.00 in 2010,” it said.

“The Ombudsman also took note of Carlos’ huge loans,” an official news release issued by the DOF-RIPS on May 7, 2014 and posted on its website read.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by RIPS in December 2011 against Carlos.

has been a key factor in creating jobs and revving up the economies of their respective communities.

The JVA between BuCor and Tadeco involves the development of a banana plantation inside the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) with the primary goal of rehabilitating inmates housed inside the

prison compound.

The legislative bodies of Panabo City, and of the municipalities of Carmen, Sto. Tomas, and Dujali were among the LGUs that have cited the countless economic and social benefits that the JVA has brought to their respective localities.

Last May 29, the Sanggu-

niang Panlungsod of Panabo adopted a resolution “earnestly supporting the joint venture agreement” between TADECO and BuCor, which it said has a “vast contribution to the economy of the neighboring cities and municipalities within the Davao Region.”

Sec. Lopez reported that based on the monitoring, prices of goods in Iligan City remain stable. He reiterated that with Mindanao still under Martial Law, any upsurge in prices in the region is considered illegal and therefore violators and profiteers will face appropriate sanctions.

According to the initial report, PhP 100.00 per kilo of rice, whose price monitoring is under the Department of Agriculture (DA), is being sold in Marawi City and adjacent areas, amidst the ongoing encounter between state forces

and Maute-ISIS group.

Sec. Lopez reiterated the importance of consistent price monitoring for both basic and prime goods under DTI and for rice under DA, as well as the sustained flow of supply to prevent price increases in Iligan City.

Iligan City instantly cradles refugees from Marawi City. There are reportedly 130,000 Marawi refugees, who currently stay in Iligan City.

Sec. Lopez also called on state forces based in Marawi City to urgently report any-

one, who intend to take advantage of the situation and sought help for the safe delivery of rice supply.

Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia, meanwhile, called on sectors for help, especially for those directly affected by the crisis situation.

DTI coordinates with DA and the National Food Authority to ensure rice supply in areas near Marawi City, including Baloi and Tamparan.

DTI also confirmed that Cagayan de Oro also has normal supply and prices, and within the price freeze levels.

EAGLE SELFIE. An employee of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 takes a selfie with Thor, a preserved Philippine Eagle, during the 19th Philippine Eagle Week activity held at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Davao City’s Philippine Eagle is among the city’s most iconic tourism symbol. Lean Daval Jr.

Expert lauds fuel marking plan in tax reform bill

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RECOGNIZED global expert on energy security has lauded the government’s plan to introduce a fuel marking and monitoring system in the local downstream oil industry as a way to curb fuel smuggling that has been costing the government an estimated P26.9 billion to P43.8 billion in foregone revenues each year.

Dr. Ian Ralby, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, said at a congressional hearing that oil smuggling not only leads to billions of pesos in lost revenues, but also could be the second largest source of funding for criminal operations, second only to narcotics trafficking.

“There’s a lot of things now that people have tried, and we’ve seen what has been successful and what has failed. There are a few quick wins that are proving to be successful,” said Ralby at a recent hearing of the House ways and means committee chaired by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua. “The first and foremost among them is fuel marking, and that is why I commend the Philippines for taking on this initiative, and I think that is exactly the right thing to be focused on,” Ralby said.

The implementation of the fuel marking system was proposed by Cua and the Department of Finance (DOF) as a key provision of House Bill No. 5636, or the proposed Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) Act. TRAIN, the first package of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), was approved by the House of Representatives by a 2469 vote with one abstention last May 31 before the Congress’ sine die adjournment.

This bill, which had consolidated the DOF’s original proposal—HB 4774—with

54 other tax-related measures, seeks to make the country’s tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient by slashing personal income tax rates and, to fill up the consequent revenue loss, by adjusting excise taxes on certain products and broadening the Value Added Tax (VAT) base.

Fuel marking has been made mandatory under HB 5636.

HB 5636 was passed after President Duterte had certified the bill as urgent, given that it was designed to help provide a steady revenue stream to his government’s ambitious high—and inclusive—growth agenda anchored on record spending on infrastructure, human capital and social protection for the poor and other vulnerable sectors.

In his letter to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, President Duterte said, “The benefits to be derived from this tax reform measure will sustainably finance the Government’s envisioned massive investments in infrastructure thereby encouraging economic activity and job creation, as well as fund the desired increase in the public budget for health, education and social programs to alleviate poverty.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who had earlier asked the President to certify the tax reform bill as urgent, said in his memorandum to the Chief Executive that this TRAIN bill is “expected to help reduce poverty rate from 21.6 percent in 2015 to 14 percent in 2022, lifting some six million Filipinos out of poverty, and helping the country achieve upper middle-income country status where per capita gross national income increases from $3,500 in 2015 to at least $4,100 by 2022.”

Davao LGUs back Tadeco-BuCor JVA Say accord key jobs generator, economic engine S

EVERAL local government units (LGUs) and organizations in Davao del Norte have expressed their full support to the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc.(TADECO), given that the accord

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Lopez: with Martial Law in effect, prices in Iligan City should remain stable

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LIGAN CITY—In response to a report that prices of goods, specifically rice, have suddenly doubled, reaching almost PhP 5,000.00 per 50 kilograms, National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) Chair and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, DTI Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Ted Pascua and DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau officials immediately conducted ground inspection and price monitoring in Iligan City on Monday (5 June).

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ECONOMY 5

Progressive auto tax plan won’t affect industry growth

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HE domestic automobile industry will continue to thrive and sustain its growth momentum amid the Duterte administration’s plan to make the excise tax system more progressive, by among others, replacing the current four-bracket system with a five-tier structure that will impose higher rates on the pricier luxury-car segment, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua noted that in other ASEAN economies such a Indonesia and Malaysia, automobile excise tax rates go as high a 125 and 105 percent, respectively, yet their luxury car markets continue to thrive.

Reforming the excise tax system for automobiles is among the provisions of House Bill No. 5636 or the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) now pending before the Senate.

This measure, which is the first package of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), also aims to lower income taxes and to make up for the consequent revenue loss by plugging tax leakages, limiting Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions and adjusting excise taxes on fuel, among other measures.

HB 5636, or the TRAIN, was approved by a 246-9 vote with one abstention last May 31 by the House of Representatives before the Congress adjourned sine die.

The TRAIN is a consolidation of the original tax reform bill—HB 4774—filed by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua with 54 other tax-related measures.

Chua noted that in Malaysia, luxury car sales grew by 3.9 percent in 2016, while in Indonesia, the luxury car manufacturer BMW recently expanded its model list and local car assembly, both for the domestic Indonesian and export markets, because of high demand despite the high tax rates.

The same is true in the Philippines, where Satoru Suzuki, president of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently told the media that the company is not revising its production output for 2017 even if it anticipates an initial drop in vehicle sales because of the looming car price increases under the tax reform package, because he believes demand will pick up again soon enough.

Chua said TRAIN aims to make the tax system more efficient, simpler and fairer by transforming it into a more progressive one where the rich, rather than the poor, bear the tax burden.

PHOTO OPS. Members of the Philippine Army have their photo taken in front of the customized jeepney, which is the centerpiece of SM City Davao’s ‘Tabang PaEskwela sa Tribo’ decoration at the Annex on Monday. ‘Tabang

Martial Law no effect on Davao biz: Ortonio B

USINESS activities in Davao City remain unaffected by Martial Law -- with no establishments terminating their operations

Insurance Commission eyes placing Provident Plans under conservatorship

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HE Insurance Commission (IC) is “inclined to place” the capital “impaired” preneed firm Provident Plans International Corp. under conservatorship to protect the interests of its 38,000 plan holders if no clear improvements are seen in its financial condition by mid-June.

Provident Plans is among the companies that the IC has found to be financially deficient after the regulation of the pre-need industry was placed under the Commission in 2010 under Republic Act 9829. Pre-need firms were previously under the supervision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa said that while Provident Plans has manifested before the IC in February and March this year that it has a “white knight” investor to cover up its capital impairment and trust fund deficiencies, it has yet to receive any concrete plan or Letter of Intent from this supposed investor.

“Thus, this Commission has ordered Provident Plans to submit a concrete plan and letter of intent from its proposed investor or to cover up its capital impairment and trust fund deficiencies within sixty (60) days from receipt of the directive (dated April 12, 2017) or until June 17, 2017.

Otherwise, this Commission will issue a Cease and Desist Order and place the company under conservatorship,” Funa said in his

report to Dominguez.

Provident Plans has three product lines focused on life/ memorial plans, education plans and pension plans, but 70 percent of its clientele are life/memorial policy holders.

In his report, Funa cited four circumstances that led the IC to consider placing Provident Plans under conservatorship. These are: • Provident Plans’ financial woes were already existing before the enactment of the PreNeed Code and the transfer of supervision of pre-need companies to the IC; • The primary cause of its capital impairment and trust fund deficiency is the unrecoverable investment with its previous trustee bank, the Export and Industry (EIB), and the neglect by its new trustee bank, the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), in protecting the trust fund; • The IC has already given sufficient time and opportunity for the company to infuse cash and/or additional assets to address its financial problems, which it had failed to do; and • The IC needs to protect the interest of Provident Plans’ policy holders as it cannot allow the company to continue to operate under its present condition.

After the pre-need sector was placed under the regulation of the IC seven years ago, Provident Plans was found to be capital impaired when its books were examined in 2011. The IC’s exam-

PaEskwela sa Tribo’ is a project of the National Commission on indigenous Peoples which aims to provide the needs of IP children in the region for school supplies. Lean Daval Jr.

ination showed the company had a capital impairment of P316.33 million, a liquidity reserve deficiency of P78.54 million and a trust fund deficiency of P263.46 million.

The primary reasons behind these deficiencies was the “disallowance of the unrecoverable/ unqualified trust fund investment made by EIB as a trustee bank of Provident Plans, in its own bank in the form of time deposits in 2005,” said Funa in his report.

That year, EIB invested Provident Plans’ trust funds in a seven-year “double-your-money” time deposit. But in December 2008, Provident Plans’ Investment Group recommended the withdrawal of the trust fund deposits because of the following: (1) the resignation of key officers of EIB’s trust department; (2) EIB’s 2006 and 2007 audited financial statements showed the bank incurred losses of P2.7 billion; and (3) the suspension of EIB from stock trading.

EIB was ordered closed and placed under receivership by the BSP in 2012 over its failure to meet its maturing obligations, insufficient realizable assets and its inability to continue business without inflicting losses on its depositors and creditors, Funa said.

Funa said Provident Plans told the IC that it has regularly met with its new trustee bank— UCPB—but the latter apparently did not do anything to protect the trust fund investment of the preneed firm in EIB.

or investors backing out, the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) said.

DCIPC head Lemuel Or-

tonio admitted that businessmen had earlier expressed some concerns related to the 60-day implementation of Martial Law. However, these

concerns had already been addressed and clarified with the stakeholders.

“We already have clarified

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Comval ‘Oplan Liwanag’ ends C

OPLAN NABUNTURAN. About 125 Voluntary surrenderers for reform (VSR) signed up for Nabunturan MANAT Cluster as part of the Oplan Liwanag program where during the 2-month period, they will undergo weekly counseling, community services, family and marriage enrichment activities, life and skills training, exercise and many other daily activities. (photo: M. Lasaca/IDS Comval)

Security remains tight as martial law enters 3rd wk

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ECURITY has remained tight in Region 12 as imposition of martial law in the entire Mindanao entered the third week.

Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., public information officer of the Police Regional Office-12, said Monday they have implemented tighter security measures in the region in line with the provisions of General Order No. 1 issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The order, which was signed by the President last May 30, puts into effect Proclamation No. 216 or the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Galgo said their intensified security operations are ongoing and they are closely monitoring all areas in the region for the presence or movement of any armed group linked to the local terror group involved in the ongoing siege in Marawi City.

He said checkpoints set up at the entry and exit points of key cities and towns in the region are operating on 24-hour basis.

Police mobile teams are also on conducting regular patrols at the community levels in coordination with the barangay peacekeeping teams.

The police official said Chief Supt. Cedrick Train, PRO-12 director, also ordered all chiefs of police in the area to immediately respond to reports on sightings of armed men and related activities within their areas of responsibility.

He said several local police units have received reports on these sightings

but they all turned out negative so far.

“Until now we have not monitored any confirmed presence or movements of terror group in the region,” Galgo said in an interview over radio station Brigada News FM. He credited such accomplishment to the cooperation of local community stakeholders and the media.

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

In terms of possible human rights violations in connection with the implementation of martial law, Galgo said all police units have assigned human rights officers who are trained to handle such cases.

Train earlier noted that the martial declaration, as cited in the order, does not suspend the operation of the Constitution and is focused mainly on preventing and suppressing acts of rebellion and lawless violence in Mindanao.

He said the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus is intended to members of suspected terror groups and related elements.

“It’s not a takeover of military authority over civilian functions. The Constitution remains operational, especially the provision on the Bill of Rights, and its our job to protect that,” he said. (AVE/PNA)

OMPOSTELA Valley Province---The provincial government of Comval through the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) chaired by Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy conducted series of culmination program in the 4 municipalities of the province for the “Oplan Liwanag.” A total of 241 Voluntary Surrenderees for Reform (VSR) finally “graduated” and made it to the Oplan Liwanag Program of the province.

The series of culmination program were held in the municipalities of Montevista on May 24 with 79 VSR, New Bataan with 58 VSR and Pantukan with 69 VSR both culminated on May 30, and Maragusan with 35 VSR on May 31.

The Oplan Liwanag is a community-based transformative intervention program for

the VSRs with the 4 municipalities of the province who have thus far successfully concluded the program.

The 241 graduates of the Oplan Liwanag program are now called as Reformed Voluntary Surrenderers (RVS) who received their certificates as well as their National Certificate – II (NC-II) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and other certificates issued by the provincial government and other partner implementing agencies.

Mario Angelo Sotto - PADAC action officer expressed his gratitude to the graduates and the full support of the municipal officials as well as the barangay officials and action team for the success of the program.

Sotto added that they are

OPLAN NEW BATAAN. Around 58 Voluntary surrenderers for reform (VSR) in New Bataan hold their culmination program after a 2-month period undergoing various enrichment activities on May 30, 2017 along with

now finalizing the after-care program in partnership with barangay officials and spiritual leaders on how to sustain the program of the RVS. “Kung unsa man ang inyung nahibal-an ug nakat-unan panahon sa atong gihimong rehabilitation program, we hope and pray nga dili na unta mo mamalik,” said Sotto.

Meanwhile, due to the lack of rehabilitation centers in the province, the PADAC implemented a different activity for Oplan Liwanag good for 2 months that will serve as a community rehabilitation program to cater the drug dependents of the entire province.

With this, the Barangay Officials will be at the forefront in the implementation of the program, in partnership with the Philippine National Police and with the support of the Munic-

ipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and the PADAC as well.

“Salamat sa sa mga ahensya nga natagamtaman namu ang supurta sa programa nga kami matabangan sa gobyerno nga libre aron sa pag-usab sa among kaugalingon, pagbalik ug paglig-on sa spiritual and moral recovery, sa pagbutang kanamu sa mahinugdanong kahibalo sa paglaban batok sa ginadili nga bisyo ug sa pag develop sa among physical aspect.

Habang may buhay may pagasa,” said one of the RVS. During the 2-month period, the RVS in the said municipalities underwent weekly counseling, community services, family and marriage enrichment activities, life and skills training, dance exercise and many other daily activities.

(Rey Antibo, IDS Comval)

69 VSRs in Pantukan who also “graduated” on the same day. This is under the Oplan Liwanag program which is a community-based transformative intervention program in Comval. (photo: M. Lasaca/IDS Comval)

PRRD:‘I can end Marawi crisis in 24 hours, but...’

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AGAYAN DE ORO CITY -President Rodrigo Duterte said he can end the conflict in Marawi City in just a day, but not without inflicting heavy losses on both properties and civilian lives.

Faced with this tough choice, Mr. Duterte said he would rather leave it up to government forces to flush out the terrorist Maute group at their own pace, with the least collateral damage.

On top of this, Mr. Duterte pointed out that the government has moral and legal obligations to the international community, both as a member

of the United Nations and a signatory to the Geneva Convention, which seek to protect individuals, specially civilians, who are not taking part in hostilities during times of armed conflict.

With hundreds of civilians still trapped in the city, the President said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been restricted to launch a full-blown aerial attack.

“I can end this war in 24 hours. All I have to do,” he said, “is bomb the whole place (Marawi) and level it to the ground,” Duterte said during his visit Saturday to the Phil-

ippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division headquarters at Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Barangay Patag, this city, to visit soldiers wounded in action in the Marawi skirmishes between the local terror group and the armed forces.

The injured soldiers were among those hit in the “friendly fire” in one of the military’s airstrikes intended for Maute members.

The air-to-surface assault killed 11 soldiers in the process. The Department of National Defense is still investigating what caused the botched bombing.

During his visit, the President gave out medals, .45 caliber handguns, PHP100,000 checks, and smartphones for wounded soldiers. He said the soldiers can use the phones to get in touch with his office for concerns.

The wounded soldiers are from various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division.

He said the WIAs were airlifted from Marawi. (Jigger J. Jerusalem/PNA)

and high school students.

But Natividad said the drug testing for non-teaching personnel will be compulsory while teachers and students will undergo random testing.

He said the conduct of drug testing will be held in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH).

The DepEd-central office will determine as to the number of teachers and students

who will undergo random drug testing.

Local DepEd records showed that there are 6,500 teachers and 120 non-teaching staffs under the City Schools Division.

There are 58,232 Junior (Grades 7 to 10) and 9,470 Senior (Grades 11 and 12) high school students for school year 2017-2018 in this city.

Natividad said teachers

and non-teaching staffs found positive for drug use will be dismissed from the service while students will be required to undergo psycho-social intervention and rehabilitation.

“The purpose of [the conduct of] random drug testing is for remediation or rehabilitation, it’s not [intended] for administrative discipline on the students,” Natividad said.

(RGAAG/PNA)

Zambo teachers, studes to undergo drug testing

Z

AMBOANGA CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to conduct drug tests on public school officials and high school students to ensure that local schools are drug-free.

Dr. Pedro Melchor Natividad, City Schools Division superintendent, on Monday said those who will undergo drug tests will include the non-teaching staff aside from teachers

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

SSS disburses over P15M annual incentive benefit to OFWs in 2016

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HE Social Security System (SSS) said over the weekend that the annual incentive benefits (AIB), disbursed to qualified Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in 2016, jumped by 18.1 percent to P15.5 million from the P13.15 million provided in the previous year.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said the number of qualified OFWs with active accounts under the SSS Flexi-fund program benefited from the AIB disbursed in 2016 increased by 7 percent to 43,035 from the 40,216 in 2015.

“The number of OFWs enrolled in our Flexi-fund program is really inspiring.

This is an evidence that our OFW-members are starting to invest more for their future, when the days of working far from their families is over and done, rest assured that the SSS is here to assist them to achieve their long-term financial security,” Dooc said.

The Flexi-fund program is a voluntary provident fund program which serves as mechanism for OFWs to save a portion of their income abroad and maximize returns of their investment. It is offered exclusively to OFWs and is designed to supplement the benefits under the regular SSS program.

Under the Flexi-fund, savings are sourced from payments not lower than P200, paid in excess of the required regular SSS contributions.

Amounts are invested in fixed income securities and the interest rates are based on the average rates of SSS’ shortterm placements or 91-day Treasury bill, whichever is higher, re-priced quarterly.

SSS said members’ equity as of end-2016 amounted to P606.91 million while actual investment income for the same year reached P28.5 million, of which P11.25 million was already credited to members’ accounts as guaranteed earnings.

The combined AIB and guaranteed earnings increased the total amount credited to individual Flexi-fund accounts to P26.78 million in 2016, a 25 percent-increase from the P21.37 million credited in 2015.

The AIB was launched in 2012 to encourage OFWs to maintain and increase their retirement savings with SSS. It is granted to members with no full Flexi-fund withdrawals and benefit claims within the applicable year.

“The AIB amount depends on the Flexi-fund’s year-end net investment income and is distributed based on the individual equity shares of all qualified members. Thus, members with higher Flexi-fund savings get bigger AIB amounts,” Dooc explained.

The maximum AIB credited to a member’s account in 2016 reached P136,498 while the average AIB per individual is P361.

OFWs can view their AIB amount, Flexi-fund account status, and other SSS membership records by registering at the My.SSS online service portal at the SSS Website (www. sss.gov.ph).

They may also inquire more about the Flexi-fund with the SSS OFW Contact Services Section through service hotlines (632) 364-7796 and 364-7798 or by e-mail at ofw. relations@sss.gov.ph.

ePLDT, Inc. cited as 2017 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year for PH

E

PLDT, Inc., an industry-leading enabler of digital business solutions in the Philippines, today proudly announced it has won the 2017 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award for the Philippines. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

“This award reflects our unwavering commitment to our customers, and our drive to provide global-class expertise for ICT solutions in the Philippine market,” said Nerisse Ramos, ePLDT Group Chief Operations Officer. “This accolade underlines the importance of productivity in the workplace, which we are truly proud to deliver with excellence to companies that are on their digital transformation journey.”

Jovy Hernandez, PLDT / SMART SVP & Head of Enterprise, meanwhile added, “We in PLDT Enterprise always put our customers at the forefront of our business. We value their

trust and as such ensure to provide only the highest standards of service and experience for them. This award is a manifestation of this mindset, and we will continue to be partners in enabling their digital transformation.”

Awards were presented in several categories, with winners chosen from a set of more than 2,800 entrants from 115 countries worldwide. ePLDT was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services, as well as representing excellent subsidiary engagement in the Philippines.

The Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Awards honor partners at the country level that have demonstrated business excellence in delivering Microsoft solutions to multiple customers over the past year. This award recognizes ePLDT as succeeding in effective engagement with its local Microsoft office while showcasing innovation and business impact, driving customer satisfaction, and winning new customers.

“We are honored to recog-

F EPLDT, 11

Davao Region to celebrate nd 22 Migrant Workers’ Day D

AVAO CITY – All is set for the region’s celebration of the 22nd Migrant Workers’ Day on June 7, 2017. With this year’s theme: “Magkasangga Para sa Kapakanan, Kabuhayan at Kalusugan ng mga OFWs”, the event will be held at the Kadayawan Hall, NCCC Mall, Mac Arthur Highway, Maa, Davao City from 12:00 p.m to 5:30 p.m. The celebration is in pursuant to R.A .8042 otherwise known as Magna Carta for OFWs which was enacted June 7, 1995 and was recently amended by virtue of R.A. 10022 declaring every 7th day of June as the Migrant Workers’ Day which aims to recognize the immense contributions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to the national economy.

In line with this objective, the regional office resolves to undertake various activities to honor and empower our migrant workers. One of the highlights of the program is the awarding and recognition of Outstanding PESO Managers of the entire Davao Region for the unwavering support in the promotion of OWWA programs and services through various empowering initiatives for the OFWs and their families, Recognition awards shall likewise be given to outstanding OWWA Scholars, Outstanding OFW Family Circle (OFC), and Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship. Grantees of OWWA’s Balik-Pinas Balik-Hanapbuhay Program will also be awarded with livelihood starter kits

Joining Secretary Lopez at the mock up are the members of the Go Lokal! team, from left: DCP Designers Lotti Galicia, Cristine Nazareth, OASIPG Coordinating Officer Rosario T. Liwanag, OASIPG Technical Asst Krystle Fernandez, DCP Designers Kate Añoso, Janine Piguerra, PDP-DCP Head Jinel Valdecañas, Design Center of the Phils., Executive Director Rhea Matute, Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions Director Rhodora Leano, Product Specialist Team head/Creative Director Stanley Ruiz, TIPG-DTI Consultant

T

during the program.

Free medical check-up and medicines from PNP-PRO XI will be provided to all participants who want to avail themselves of the services.

Free head and back massage will also be available courtesy of the certified massage therapists of Arlyn L. Basquez Academy of Beauty and Wellness.

Likewise, various products of the OFW Family Circles will be displayed at the trade fair area while cash prizes and gift items await the winners of the raffle draw.

On the other hand, partner government agencies like POEA, DSWD, DTI, TESDA, NBI, PHILHEALTH, Pag-IBIG and SSS will provide substantial information on its various programs and services.

A modest attendance of

eight hundred (800) OFWs and their families who are either members of the OFW Family Circles or permanently returned Migrant Workers in Davao region will join the event.

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, 3rd District Councilor Antoinette G. Principe-Castrodes, and DOLE XI Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante are expected to grace the event.

This year’s celebration is made possible through OWWA’s social partners: NCCC Mall Davao, Land Bank of the Philippines, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Paramount General Insurance Corp., PagIBIG Fund, PNP-PRO XI, and Arlyn L. Basquez Academy of Beauty. (Maricel T. Sarabillo,LCO, OWWA-RWO XI)

Leon Flores, DTI Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Rowel S. Barba, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Go Lokal! Curator and Designer Ito Kish, Trade and Investments Promotions Group Asst. Secretary Rosvi Gaetos , Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions Asst. Director Marievic Bonoan, DCP Designers Wataru Sakuma, Rey Soliven, Rachel Danganan, Ramon Pabillon, Ivan Limjoco and Mark Romualdo.

GO LOKAL! and the Design Team

HE Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez led the ocular inspection of the Go Lokal! concept store@DTI in Makati City in preparation for the Model Store launch slated for the end of this June.

The Go Lokal! Stores project is the brainchild of the en-

ergetic Secretary which provides a free marketing platform for the country’s MSMEs with cool modern products that have high market potential.

Aware of the constraints encountered by MSMEs, the DTI offers Go Lokal! as an opportunity for the country’s en-

trepreneurs to go mainstream and access the lucrative local consumer market.

MSMEs who are interested to join Go Lokal! as a Supplier must offer new, never-been-in-the-market products or be willing to undergo product development with the Product Specialists and

Designers from the Design Center Of the Philippines.

The Go Lokal! Project Management Office partnered with the Design Center of the Philippines to deploy a team of Product Specialists to help MSME’s develop a new line of products and a fresh collection for the Go Lokal! Stores.

del Sur Electric Cooperative.

As this developed, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATSEF) reported today (June 5) that the power situation in Lanao del Sur province has yet to fully normalize as 15 municipalities are still without power and only 20 percent of Marawi City is energized.

The second district with 16 municipalities is fully energized according to the Task Force based on the report by LASURECO on the current

power supply in its franchise area as of 9:00 am on June 5.

Power supply in the three towns of Lanao del Norte remains normal.

With regard to power generation, the National Power Corporation Mindanao Generation (NPC MinGen) reported that the Agus-Pulangi power plants are operating normally, with Marawi Lake elevation at 701.292 masl and Lake Lanao discharge at 160 cms.

The National Grid Corporation Transmission also

reported normal operations in its transmission facilities.

Mindanao State University, which is directly connected to the transmission lines, has been energized as of 12:34 pm last Saturday (3 June).

Meanwhile, the IATSEF has expanded its membership to include the Department of Finance, Philippine Information Agency and the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.

The task of the group is to secure all energy facilities in the entire country.

DOE to lead inter-agency effort to rehabilitate Marawi’s energy facilities

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AGUIG CITY - ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi has created an inter-agency group to come up with options on rehabilitating Marawi City’s energy facilities in the aftermath of damage inflicted by the Maute terrorist group that laid siege on the city last month.

Members of the group are the Department of Energy, National Power Corporation, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, National Electrification Administration and the Lanao

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

EDITORIAL

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Social media as tool against terror

MIDST the series of terror incidents across the globe, even the highly advanced nations like the United States, Great Britain and Australia have expressed extreme concern.

In Southeast Asia, countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines are battling growing terror concerns.

It’s no laughing matter. Even on social media. One cannot just underestimate terror. The presence of threat is around us whether we like it or not.

In Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Monday said internet platforms need to crack down on extremist material being published by their users as he joined his British counterpart Theresa May in emphasising the role of social media giants in the spread of terrorism.

The cyberspace has evolved into a veritable homeground for terrorism. In the wake of the weekend’s London terror attacks, UK’s PM has called for global regulation of cyberspace to prevent social media platforms being “safe spaces” for extremist material and urged improved moderation of such content.

Make no mistake about it. There is just too much tolerance of extremist material on social media and for PM Turnbull, change required

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cooperation from United States-based internet providers.

The so-called “five eyes” intelligence-sharing community -- composed of US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand -- has bonded together to compel multi-national organisations to take a “more responsible” approach to extremist material.

Tolerance of extremist material on social media requires cooperation from the big social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter which are arguably the most popular platforms. Their common denominator is that both are American businesses. Another platform is the global social media messaging companies like Whats App and Apple iMessage which can assist in providing access to encrypted communications which are used by billions of people.

The world of social media has indeed gone too far and wide that it has become a bedrock of terror which, for sure, is not what it was really intended.

Although for some netizens it could be an intrusion to privacy, the right is not always absolute and it is high time somme sort of safety nets and access to encrypted information be made available.

The bottomline is, if you are not into terror, there is nothing to hide.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

M

ANY quarters have been concerned that inflation , or the increase in prices of commodities may spiral out of control following the martial law declaration.

So far, the srock markets trading volume has been improving, and no panic bying has ensued.

Inflation, however should not be seen as particularly bad.

Moreover, inflation reflects the presence of an uptick in economic activity, such as the increase in buying capacity of buyers, or a decrease in production output of producers.

Either way, these fluctuations are, and always will be temporary so long as economic fundamentals are steady.

Chartered Financial Analyst Adam Hayes writing in the eco-

I

F IT is still abundant, you never pay attention to it. But once it gets scarce, you start to notice its importance. When it is beyond reach, you seem to run out of words to describe the feeling.

Such is the case of water. For four straight days, we don’t have any water gushing from our faucet in our barangay. For our drinking water, we have to buy mineral water. Even for washing dishes and cooking, we use mineral water.

Yesterday, I received a text from my sister that she had to go far south to wash clothes in the river. My other sister has to go to Digos City just to take a bath.

I pity my other who does the cooking and washing the kitchen utensils, plates, spoons and forks after we have eaten.

At first, I never complained.

Because in the past, we experienced the same thing. But we had water on the second day.

But this time, it’s a different story. For four days without water – and there seems to be no sight of having water in the next few days.

How will I managed to take a bath in the morning? How can I wash my clothes (yes, I do my own laundry!).

The right to water is a basic human right. “A person can survive only three to five days without water, in some cases people

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

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Inflation matters because.... nomics website investipedia. com deepens our discussion: “There is no single theory for the cause of inflation that is universally agreed upon by economists and academics, but there are a few hypotheses that are commonly held.

Demand-Pull Inflation – Inflation is caused by the overall increase in demand for goods and services, which bids up their prices. This theory can be summarized as “too much money chasing too few goods”.

In other words, if demand is growing faster than supply, prices will increase. This usually occurs in rapidly growing economies. This theory is often promoted by the Keynesian school of economics.

Cost-Push Inflation – Inflation is caused when companies’

have survived for an average of one week,” says thewaterpage. com. “Once the body is deprived of fluids the cells and organs in the body begin to deteriorate.

The presence of water in the body could mean the difference between life and death.”

Studies have shown that Filipinos consume about 310 to 507 million cubic meters of water each day. “A household of five needs at least 120 liters per days to meet basic needs – for drinking, food preparation, cooking and cleaning up, washing and personal hygiene, laundry, house cleaning,” wrote David Satterthwaite and Gordon McGranahan in their collaborative report published in the State of the World a few years back.

Life, as we know it, cannot exist without water. As Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize winner for medicine, puts it: “Water is life’s mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.”

Thomas Fuller once said: “We never know the worth of water, till the well is dry.” But time and again, we take water for granted.

Water covers 75% of the earth’s surface and the amount that exists is already fixed: some 1,400 million cubic kilometers.

Most of this, that is, 97.4%, is salt water; another 2% is locked away in ice caps and glaciers.

MY TWO CENTS’ John Tria costs of production go up. When this happens, they need to increase prices to maintain their profit margins. Increased costs can include things such as wages, taxes, or increased costs of

Without water

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

This leaves only 0.6%, or 8.4 million cubic kilometers, of which some 8 million cubic kilometers are stored underground.

Put it another way, if all the earth’s water were to fit in a gallon jug (4 liters), the available fresh water would be just over one tablespoon.

Although our country is surrounded by water, we still experience water crisis. Statistics showed there are eight million Filipinos who lack access to safe water and 26.5 million lack access to improved sanitation.

Eighteen Filipinos die daily from diarrhea and other water-borne diseases; 55 Filipinos die daily from diseases caused by lack of proper sewerage and sanitation facilities.

While the government and some private institutions are try-

natural resources or imports.

Monetary Inflation – Inflation is caused by an oversupply of money in the economy. Just like any other commodity, the prices of things are determined by their supply and demand. If there is too much supply, the price of that thing goes down.

If that thing is money, and too much supply of money makes its value go down, the result is that the prices of everything else priced in dollars must go up! This theory is often promoted by the “Monetarist” school of economics.” (http://www.investopedia. com/u niversity/inflation/inflation1 .asp) With this, the Deparrment of Finance has announced that the increase in consumer prices would likely move at a much

slower pace this month as food costs, particularly of vegetables dropped from 8.1% to 4.7%, forcing food inflation down from 4.2% to 3.8% causing over-all inflation to slow to a 3.2 percent annual rate in May from 3.4 percent in the previous month.

On a year-on-year basis, the May inflation forecast accelerated from 1.6 percent previously, but a respite from the upward trend in the first three months that brought rate to a 28-month high of 3.4 percent in March.

With this, we hope that inflation is managed carefully, and that the continuing rise in purchasing power may boost the economy further.

For reactions: facebook. com/johntriapage

ing to address these problems, the country still faces with new challenges.

“Water stress, amplified by climate change, will create a growing security challenge. In fact, the Philippines will likely experience severe water shortage by 2040 due to the combined impact of rapid population growth and climate change,” Senator Loren Legarda said.

For a country that is likely to experience severe water shortage, “we must give utmost priority to improving our water security,” Legarda urged. “We need to craft a roadmap for sustainable water use and consolidate all water agencies to address issues such as overlapping and fragmented regulation of water supply services.”

According to Legarda, water security is not only about the provision of sufficient water for the needs of our people and our economic activities, it is also about having healthy ecosystems and building resilience to water-related disasters, including storms, floods and droughts.

“Extreme weather events, such as intense or more frequent rains and increasing number of hot days, along with weak resource management are factors that lead to low water security,” she said.

In the past, water was considered an infinite resource. This

thinking was exemplified by Adam Smith who pointed out in his classic work -- The Wealth of Nations -- that unlimited supply of fresh water explained why it cost nothing, even though it was vital to all life.

But it’s not the case anymore.

“Unlike the energy crisis, the water crisis is life threatening. The level of suffering and misery is almost beyond comprehension,” deplored Klaus Toefer when he was still the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program.

Water is free when it’s flowing in a river or splashing against rocks, but it isn’t as soon as people start using it. “It costs money to make good quality water available from taps and then return it to the environment after being treated,” writes Cristina L’Homme in article which appeared in UNESCO Sources. “And the consumer doesn’t always pay for it directly when local authorities or the government are responsible for supply.”

We have pay attention to our water now – more than ever.

“Although water is a renewable resource, it is also a finite one,” reminded Sandra Postel, author of Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity. “Nature makes only so much available in a given region each year – and supplies can drop considerably below average in times of drought.”

10 NEWS TUITION... FROM 1

the annual financial reports submitted by tertiary schools to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), some of the country’s top private higher education (HEIs) already show a steady increase in their profitability.

They also said that the increment is “a complete turnaround of President Duterte’s statements last year of free education for college students, betraying the hopes of students and parents who are burdened with paying five-digit tuition fees for six months.”

“Commercialization of education is depriving millions of students of their right to education, and it affects the future of our country with students not able to attain higher education. We challenge the Duterte administration to change this system where good education comes with a price-tag.”

On May 30, CHED approved an average increase in tuition of 4.65 per cent or P20.08 per unit and 4.81 per cent or P22.14 per unit for other school fees in Region 11.

Among the colleges and universities that have been approved to increase were Ateneo de Davao University, Davao Doctors College, Davao Medical School Foundation College, DMMA College of

Southern Philippines, Holy Child College of Davao, Holy Cross Academy of Sasa, Holy Cross College of Calinan, Holy Cross of Davao College, Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation, Jose Maria College, Philippine College of Technology, Philippines Women’s College of Davao, Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary, Saint Peter’s College of Toril, San Pedro College, STI College of Davao, University of Mindanao and University of Immaculate Concepcion.

Other schools outside Davao city also include Arriesgado College Foundation, Assumption College of Nabunturan, Cor Jesu College, General Baptist Bible College, Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship Inc., North Davao Colleges-Panabo, Polytechnic College of Davao del Sur, Saint Mary’s College of Tagum, Serapion C. Basalo Memorial Foundation College, St. Mary’s College Baganga, St. Thomas More School of Law and Business, Tagum Doctors College, Tecarro College Foundation, and Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology.

To protest against the tuition and school fees hike, the student leaders will be having a State of the Youth Address on the second week of July.

be temporarily stopped pending the assessment of all the requirements provided in the law.

He also called for the strict implementation of Executive Order No. 23 or “Declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force.” According to Gencianeo, illegal logging continues to happen because of lack enforcement.

Another issue given emphasis is regulation and monitoring of monocrop plantations expansion as most monocrop plantations do not follow the provisions provided in their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), particularly the establishment of buffer zones.

“Buffer zones are required to minimize fertilizers and pesticides contamination. If we fail to strictly regulate this, it will pose a higher risk in air and water contamination.”

The last issue was on the

regulation of the use of synthetic chemicals and pesticides as farm inputs in line with the Republic Act 10068 or the promotion of organic agriculture in the country, to protect and promote the right to health of the people and to instill health consciousness among them.

PMPI-DRC stressed that the national government should maximize the presence of communities and people’s organization to properly monitor these activities by delegating its authorities to the local government units as mandated by law.

“These are the issues we’d like the government to address, considering that the effects, if ever there’s neglect or lapses in their implementation, will cost great effects not only to the present times but also to the future generation.”

This 2017, with the theme “Connecting people to nature,” will be the 45th year of the celebration of the World Environment Day, since its first in 1972.

nition may suggest he did not want to shame some people, possibly his loved ones, in the event he failed to get away, Pimentel said.

Pimentel credited National Capital Regional Police Office for immediately solving the attempted heist.

“Still, it saddens us very deeply that the robbery attempt claimed so many lives in the process,” Pimentel said.

Carlos, 42, was despondent because he had a lot of bank as well as gambling debts, according to his family.

Carlos was ordered dismissed from the Department of Finance’s One-Stop Shop Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center in 2014 for failing to disclose all his assets in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

He was found guilty of grave misconduct and neglect of duty for not declaring his house and lot in Manila in his SALNs from 2003 to 2006, his Toyota Innova in his 2007 SALN, and a business interest in his 2010 SALN.

NGO... FROM 1

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

MINING VIEWS. Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) acting executive director Chinkie Pelino-Golle (center), who is joined by Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. Davao Region Cluster’s lawyer Mark Penalver

(left) and lawyer Ian Gencianeo, discusses the organizations’ environmental concerns and the call to the government to issue a moratorium against mining operation. Lean Daval Jr.

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cation, invited the delegates from Davao City to observe the implementation of its iSTEAM curriculum for public high schools in Israel.

The curriculum envisions to raise students’ curiosity for iSTEAM related subjects, to prepare them for academic studies, careers and research opportunities, and to foster the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, top engineers and responsible social leaders.

The delegation visited ORT Israel’s Research Center, three public high schools, and one college to observe the implementation of the curriculum and innovative methods of teaching in Israel’s public high school system.

DepEd-Davao City Schools Division has identified Davao

City National High School, F. Bangoy National High School, and Mintal Comprehensive National High School as the pilot schools for the project.

The visit was organized through the assistance and coordination of the Israeli Embassy in the Philippines and non-profit organization PassItForward.

The delegation was composed of Assistant City Administrator for Operations Atty.

Lawrence D. Bantiding, Davao City Investment Promotion Center Officer-in-charge Lemuel G. Ortonio, and Mintal Comprehensive High School Principal Johnito Galan.

Education is among the priorities included in Mayor Inday Sara’s 10-point agenda and one of the priority investment areas of Davao City.

They drink once a week (71 percent). Strongest influence is friends, 98 pecent of them revealed.

Survey found that 23 in 50 Dabawenyo youth are engaged in sex. A small margin indicated that they started having sex as young as 10 years old (1%).

Most common age in having sex is 18 years old. Of those who had sex, 45% mentioned that it was not in a formal relationship. Average partner they have had is 2.2, a maximum of 15.

Family structure, time, and sources of information. The sample was largely composed of 16 years old (18 percent ), 24 years old (16 percent).

Of the 16-year-old youth, 74 percent are females, 15 percent males and 11 percent LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.) Among the 24 years old, 64 percent are males, 27 percent females and 9 percent LGBT. The structure of Davao family remains intact with 41 in 50 youth revealing that they have strong and intact family On the other hand, 17 percent reveal that they are from a broken family, nine in 50 youth are from a broken family. By gender incidence, it was observed to be higher among females: 5 of them are females, 3 are males and 1 LGBT. Davao youth spend most

time with family. Characteristically, family time is resting time. A Davao youth spends an average of 8 hours per day with family. On average, they spend 5 hours per day with friends and 4 hours in the internet.

Their recreation time such as playing games (online or otherwise), watching movies or going out takes 3 hours per day. Indicatively, their friends’ time is a combination of the internet time and recreation.

However, they allot 2 hours for physical development such as fitness and health including that for improvement of the mind.

Their most common source of information is TV where they spend an average o f 4.67 hours per day and on social media with 4.38 hours. They also listen to radio though at much lesser time with 1.6 hours and newspaper with 1.14 hours average per day.

Their membership span from sports to environmental groups: 49% of youth are members of sports and recreation; 29% are members of church and religious; 20% into civic organizations; 1.2% as members of socio-political and 1.1% in environmental (1.1%).

Then they are asked if they go to church, 87 in 100 are churchgoers, 3 don’t go to church while the other 10 did

Davao... FROM 3

clothing, praying materials and mats, toys, and other items such as trapal, mats, malong, medicines, cadaver bags, and jerry cans.

ARMM’s employees have also been active in raising donations since the crisis started in the third week of March. Employees of the region’s Department of Natural Resources recently delivered various items including dried goods, used clothes as well as cash donations that could support at least 25 families.

“The ARMM departments are committed to giving aid to the families displaced by the Marawi crisis,” Albashir Saiden, DENR-ARMM executive assistant, said. Although many donations are pouring in, Henry underscored that the relief goods needed most by the IDPs are bottled water, halal food,

hygiene kits, kumot (bedding), kulambo (mosquito net), banig (mat), and products babies need.

ARMM-HEART has distributed a total of 20,000 bottled water and almost 10,000 relief packs to evacuees in Iligan City during the early days of the crisis. So far, a total of 26,082 families, or 130,410 individuals, have been provided with food and non-food items. As of 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 4, evacuees total 47,116 families comprising 235,580 individuals.

“Hanggat may IDPs, patuloy and pagbibigay natin ng relief goods,” ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said. While the regional government continues to call for donations, it has also earmarked P100 million in relief assistance to families adversely affected by the crisis. (Bureau of Public Information)

not indicate an answer. Those who do not go to church are mostly males.

Of the 87 churchgoers, 60 of them visit the church once a week, 18 of them visit once a month, and only 8 come to church every day, 1 either goes to church once every 3 months or once a year.

Most important. The youth were asked of what they value; they are asked to rate using a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 as highest. The Dabawenyo youth’s most important thing is family (9.3), country (8.5), physical health (8.5), mental skills or abilities (8.2) as extremely important. These are those that they hold very dearly, the most values treasures. These are those that they will not give up whatever circumstances are.

Their belief in a God (7.8), money (7.6), friends (7.4), neighbors (7.1) and ownership of gadgets are those they view as important to them. These are those that they could turn to when they have nothing else to do. These are also important but are of lower intensity when it comes to keeping them as valued treasures.

While education (5.9), venues to express views (5.7), their boyfriends and girlfriends (5.5), and basic necessities (4.8) are those that are somewhat important. These are those that they can forego

given circumstances in life.

Concluding remarks The Dabawenyo youth generally have functioning family. In fact, family is the most important to them. They obtain information from the TV and the social media. Radio and newspaper are less attractive to them. They prefer sports and recreation for an organization, others are into religious groups. 9 in 10 youth go to church but very minimal does it daily.

However, there is the trouble of the youth at the doorstep. Alcoholic drinks are most accessible to them. After getting drunk, there is potential of sexual activities. This is evident in the average sexual partners they had; they had more than 2 sexual partners who are outside of formal relationships.

At greater instances, their friends influence them to smoke and drink alcohol, and at times into sex. This poses health risks, and reduction of values and virtues among the youth. It was noted that this usually happen at age 18.

This brings into question how the elder members of the household spend time with the younger members. A family time well-spent reduces the influence of friends and increases values of the youth.

REBECCA ESPERA

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

Agriya breaks ground

By BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO

IT IS SAID THAT ARCHITECTURE IS VISUAL ART and the buildings speak for themselves (Julia Morgan). With Agriya, it is more than just buildings. Agriya cultivates inspiration and responsibility through the creation of exciting adventures. Agriya enhances the way of life through top-class amenities and innovation.

An 88-hectare mixeduse development project

by Damosa Land Inc. (DLI for brevity), Agriya is the first Agrotourism city in Asia. A modern agropolis (agricultural metropolis), it comprises of Residential (9 hectares), Commercial (24 hectares), Agri Tourism (9 hectares) and Institutional (9 hectares) components located in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

DLI is the real estate arm of Anflo Management and Investment Corp.

DLI has brought in the services of Palafox Associates for the design of Asia’s first ever Agrotourism city. Masterplanned

by Architect Jun Palafox, Agriya capitalises on the agricultural development of the region. The confidence, expansion and cooperation is what will give this project its edge amongst others.

Palafox Associates Managing Partner and Urban Planning Head Karima Patricia Palafox emphasized that what they have planned for DLI’s Agriya cores upon agriculture, with the banana plant as inspiration, as the foundation of economic growth. She added, “Open space for tourism, agriculture and ecotourism. Specifically,

build it with what’s on the site. The subdivided clusters are then all selfsustaining.”

During the groundbreaking event, DLI Vice President Ricardo F. Lagdameo said, “There are 3 phases -- residential, school and commercial.

Half of the land is included in the first phase.

Of which, construction for the Residential (component) is scheduled to start within the third quarter of the year while the Agri-tourism (component) is targeted to be completed within the next two years.”

Partnership amongst the UPLB, ANFLOCOR and DAMOSA Land, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed last 30 January 2017. UP PSAE will be offering off-campus mode the Master of Science in Plant Pathology. Additional graduate programs will be offered each succeeding year.

Short courses and trainings will be announced as they become available.

UPLB Chancellor Dr Fernando Sanchez Jr shared, “UPLB’s presence can now be enjoyed in the 3 islands of the country”. With the partnership, he added, “We aim to continue to inspire all of us to better serve Filipinos”. Dr Sanchez fur-

ther stated, “We are not here to compete; we are here to capacitate -- help capacitate the resources.”

It has been a long time dream of UPLB to touch the lives of Mindanaoans.

With Agriya, the dream is slowly becoming a reality. UPLB will be offering Graduate School programs -- dependent on the needs, at first and

slowly adding other programs as necessary. The total roll out of development of UP PSAE, both in infrastructure and campus program, will be spread over the next seven years.

Of the phases, the commercial arcade is expected to begin its initial development in the last quarter of 2019. Locators

will be dominantly made up of Food and Beverage concepts to cater to the residential community.

More so, a majority of the traffic expected will come from guests of the agri tourism component.

Within the commercial arcade, an affordable boutique hotel concept will service domestic and foreign tourists. Pegged

as “NATURETAINMENT”, said project capitalises on the agricultural heritage of Mindanao with a diverse mix of exciting adventure and recreational activities with an educational twist. DLI Vice-President Cary Lagdameo added, “It will be a combination of both; an adventure zone.”

Panabo City Mayor James Gamao cannot contain his happiness as he witnessed the groundbreaking and lowering of the capsule of Agriya in Panabo City. He stated, “ This is symbolic of being an industrial gateway to the world. Signifies strong nation building efforts, the City of Panabo takes pride that Anflocor has been very, very supportive in terms of development and employment opportunities and of industrial development.

Also, an added boost on tourism.”

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The jump-off point in Brgy. Badas was the curve on the road with the bulalo carinderias which serves delicious and piping hot halang-halang and bulalo dishes that cost around PHP 45 and up. All of us made a mental note to have breakfast here after the trek.

At the start of the trail, there was a PHP 5 entrance fee collected by the local private owners of the area. They were very friendly and smiling, almost made me wonder if they were betting among themselves if we would actually finish the whole trail.

We didn’t finish the whole trail because after an hour of covering only around ¼ of the trail, we could see the rain from Pujada Bay slowly making its way to us. Being inexperienced trekkers and mermaids, we decided to just take as many photos of the scenic views that resemble a little of Lake Holon and Mt. Pulag (because of the scrawny grasses on the trail).

The Surf Villlage Hostel groms were agile little athletes running the length of the whole trail and back again and again because they got a little

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

bored waiting for us to finish taking photos of every beautiful sight we laid our eyes on.

The Sleeping Dinosaur trail is so beautiful and raw. I wished it would stay like that. I rarely saw trash around although I noticed the trail was intentionally burned, probably because a fun run recently happened here during the

Summerfrolic season.

Half-heartedly turning our backs from the trail we had yet to complete, I told my friends that we should get fit enough to finish the trail next time.

I was curious to see what was at the end of the Sleeping Dinosaur. Who knows? We could wake up with our noise if we finally finish the trail.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO

WAKING UP THE SLEEPING DINOSAUR

THE ONSET OF THE HABAGAT SEASON WAS UPON US. What this would mean for surfers is the dreaded flat season where the once raging waves of Dahican would turn into a placid lake; perfect for those looking to go snorkeling and enjoying the beach without getting mauled by the waves.

Me and my friends were enjoying the last few swells of the season and since the tide was more shallow than usual, we could only surf during the high tide. This meant we had the whole afternoon or early morning vacant to do things other than surfing.

I’d be the least person who would ever suggest to try trekking up a land mass but since the rest of the group was eager to try the Sleeping Dinosaur trail, I had no choice. I could go and try my best not to fall or miss out on taking beautiful photos with my crew.

Originally, we planned to do a sunset trek but we were all so tired from surfing the whole morning, we failed to wake up and leave by 4:00pm and it was too late to go. The whole group decided to have a sunrise trek instead since half of us were to go home the following day.

As a morning person, it was my sole duty to wake up everybody each day as long as the high tide was early in the morning. Millennials can be known to be quite challenging to force out of bed. It was necessary that I had around 30 minutes’ allowance for my friends come to grips with reality – snooze time is over.

INdulge! A3

Probably the only trail I would be glad to do because I could still see the sea while fumbling up and down the slopes. Photo by Boom Balili.

Never go without water. The trail looks deceivingly easy but it was quite steep and slippery. Make sure your shoes have spikes to help avoid slips.

Readying the coffee at cycle with Mark, one of 4:00am which was the the local boys who lived established daily routine, in Dahican.

I walked around Surf VilRiding the motorcycle lage Hostel waking up the was always special, more local groms (young surf- so this time because we ers) who were going to ac- got to see the sun rise and company us to the Sleep- paint the sky pretty pasing Dinosaur. tel colors. After a while Whenever I’m in Da- it dawned on us that ridhican or anywhere near ing the motorcycle up to the beach, I love riding Sleeping Dinosaur was a with the wind in my hair. bad idea.

Since we wouldn’t fit in The Sleeping Dino was the Charisse’s sedan, I located in the hilly Brgy. opted to ride the motor- Badas, more than 5 ki-

Surf Village Hostel crew who were originally our surf buddies and now tour guides. lometers from Mati City ing this I am completely destination hyped up by proper where you had to fine and have learned social media, it was albrave steep concrete roads my lesson: no motorcycle most natural for us milwith the occasional huge rides up to Brgy. Badas lennials to want to see buses and trucks. Not ex- anymore. with our own eyes what actly the picture I had in The Sleeping Dinosaur Sleeping Dinosaur was mind when I decided to is a natural attraction and really like. We opted not ride the motorcycle. already an icon of Mati to bring anything to eat Boom, also a Mati local City in Davao Oriental. because we didn’t want who drove the motorcy- Part of the major tour- the hassle of throwing cle, was thankfully skilled ism development areas anything around. Also, enough to get Mark and of Davao Oriental, the we wanted to avoid unI safely to the jump off Sleeping Dino has a total necessary littering in the point of the Sleeping Di- land area of about ap- area. nosaur trail in Brgy. Ba- proximately 579 hectares.

MERMAID A2 das. Mama, if you’re readAn emerging trekking

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nous Peoples of the Bangsamoro.

He said it has been the aspiration of the Moro people to establish a government that is “genuinely asymmetric in relationship with the central government, and consistent with their belief and historical experience.”

He said the BBL does not contravene to the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

According to Jaafar, the interests of the Bangsamoro people are well reflected in several articles that clearly establish its powers over political and fiscal matters, including the control over the exploration, development and utilization of resources.

Jaafar said the Preamble and Articles 1 up to VIII essentially vest the Bangsamoro government with powers that make it more autonomous than the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) while Article XII and XIII make the Bangsamoro government less dependent on the central government in revenue generation and control over the use and disposition of the natural resources.

He said the draft BBL also reflects the interests of the Christian settler communities for the protection of their rights and welfare. These are reflected in the general principles and polices and in the article of basic rights.

It also guarantees their participation in governance as well as the no-Moro IPs with the reserved seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

They are also guaranteed of their human rights and vested property rights.

As for women, youth, traditional leaders and other sectors, which are not identified, Jaafar said they will have the right for participation in governance even in the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA) and the Bangsamoro government. Traditional leaders will be represented in the Council of Leaders, which will be created once the BTA is formed.

These are indicated in the articles of intergovernmental relations, Jaafar said.

Jaafar also emphasized on several other articles in the BBL the respect for fundamental and sacred rights of Muslims, Christians or IPs. He said the BBL is truly

democratic because it will undergo a process of ratification wherein all affected residents of the core territories and contiguous areas shall be asked to freely join the new political entity. This is indicated in Article XV, the Preamble and Article 1 while Section 2 or Article V speaks of the democratic political system.

Without the BBL, Jaafar emphasized that there can be no implementation of the negotiated political settlement to the issue of the Bangsamoro.

Jaafar said the BTC is committed to submit the proposed BBL as mandated by President Duterte, who assured them that the BTC is not affected by the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

The expanded BTC is created by an Executive Order tasked to draft the enabling law in establishing a Bangsamoro government in Mindanao.

It is composed of eleven members from the MILF, including the chair of the BTC while 10 of its members are nominated by the government. Three of the government’s nominees are from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

nize ePLDT of the Philippines as a Microsoft Country Partner of the Year,” said Ron Huddleston, corporate vice president, One Commercial Partner, Microsoft Corp. “ePLDT is a

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The Microsoft Partner of

the Year Awards recognizes Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions over the past year.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

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To assure the smooth implementation of the ordinance, it provided a 19-man Local Steering Committee chaired by the City Mayor and co-chaired by the City Mayor, with the committee members led by the chairperson of the Sangguniang Panglungsod’s committee on gender equality and development, children and family welfare and social services.

The City Tourism Office and the Local Council for the Protection of the Children will provide technical, secretariat and administrative support to the steering committee.

Estabillo’s latest ordinance provided a funding mechanism requiring the City Mayor to allocate an amount of not less than P500,000 beginning the year 2017 and every year thereafter.

It is definitely going to be exciting for the city’s children during the Children’s Festival with its newly approved ordinance.

The lady legislator, now on her second term, has authored several landmark and important local legislations since her

first term, a few among which are the LGBT’s Tagum Pride Festival ordinance, libreng sine ordinances for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, solo parents rights ordinance, P5,000 burial assistance ordinance.

She reviewed several anachronistic ordinances or provisions of old ordinances and pushed corresponding amendments relevant to the times and most beneficial to present city clientele.

In the 2016 polls, Councilor Lingling Estabillo landed Top 1 in the councilors’ race making her as the Senior Councilor of the current 7th City Council. CHA MONFORTE, CORRESPONDENT

some of the concerns of the business sector like the lockdown or if we have a curfew here,” Ortonio said. “There was an initial reaction but eventually, we have cleared it up,” he added.

Ortonio said the interest of investors in Davao City did not wane.

In fact, he said the DCIPC receives at least two investment inquiries each week.

Among those who recently inquired about potential areas of investment in the city were businessmen from China and Korea.

In the case of foreign investors, DCIPC constantly updates

on the security situation in the city.

“We constantly update them of our security situation here, they have also realized that the implementation of Martial Law is also for their own benefit since it will ensure their safety once they visit Davao City,” Ortonio said. CIO

In its resolution, the Sangguniang Panlungsod said the TADECO-BuCor agreement “had [been] reviewed and approved by no less than Six (6) Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretaries, namely, Juan Ponce Enrile (19681970), Vicente Abad Santos (1970-1979), Ricardo C. Puno (1979), Catalino Macaraig Jr. (1979-1981), Sedfrey Ordonez (1987-1990), Simeon Datumanong (2003), and Raul Gonzales (w004-2007).”

“It has also passed through fourteen (14) Secretaries of Justice who upheld its validity,” the Sanggunian also said in its resolution.

The resolution pointed out that “inmates had job opportunities provided by the said JVA that helped them realize their goals and made their lives more useful to their families and the community.”

Mayor Virginia Perandos of the municipality of Carmen pointed out that “TADECO has been playing (a major role)

in the development of the entire province of Davao del Norte in general, and brought quality standard of living for the people with its employment opportunities, including many of the BuCor inmates.”

A resolution unanimously adopted by the Sangguniang Bayan of Carmen on May 23 expressed its support to the JVA, and said the “presence of banana companies including Tadeco boost the economic activity not only of the Municipality of Carmen, but throughout the Davao Region.”

The resolution likewise noted that TADECO and the other banana-producing farms in Davao helped transform Carmen into a first-class municipality in the province.

The Liga ng mga Barangay of Carmen has also adopted a separate resolution backing the BuCor-Tadeco JVA. “Fifty percent of our labor force are working [in companies like TADECO, Dole Philippines

and other agro-industrial establishments in the locality and other neighboring cities and municipalities,” the Liga said in its resolution.

Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Bayan of Braulio E. Dujali pointed out in its Resolution dated May 25 that besides creating jobs, providing revenues for the municipality, and constructing roads and other infrastructure, TADECO has also regularly conducted medical outreach programs for the town’s “poor communities through the Antonio O. Floirendo Foundation” and helped the town realize “its electrification program which benefited a good number of households and even those located in the outskirts of this town.”

The Braulio E. Dujali chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay have also come out in support of the JVA, stating in its unanimously adopted resolution that “Tadeco is one of the highest-yielding banana plantations in the world that provides employment to thousands of workers.”

The Sangguniang Bayan of Sto. Tomas said in a separate resolution adopted on May 22 that it is backing the BuCor-Tadeco accord “so as not to displace the thousand workers and its contribution to the economic development of the communities and country.”

Its resolution likewise stated that Tadeco “contributed to the development of the economy in Mindanao through its huge plantation of Cavendish banana that provided employment to thousands of workers, more particularly from the Municipality of Sto. Tomas and other adjacent municipalities and cities within the Province of Davao del Norte.” (Pooled reports)

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Davao... FROM 4

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MIGUEL R. ABELLANA has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement with affidavit of claim with waiver of rights executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.261; Page No.53; Book No. XXX; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. RICHARD D. TUMANDA.

12 SCIENCE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

Biotechnology to prevail despite misinformation Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

A

N orchestrated misinformation campaign by well-funded lobby groups is the reason why biotechnology is not moving fast in the Philippines, according to a former professor of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Min).

Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr., when asked why biotechnology is very slow in the country, replied: “Misinformation from well-funded lobby groups.” He added that whether we like it or not, “biotechnology is already here, mostly in medicine.”

Dr. Rasco has a doctorate in plant breeding from the Cornell University in the United States. He is also an academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). His decades in research and public education at the UP-Min have inspired him to address young minds’ curiosity toward plant biotechnology and other scientific farming practices Biotechnology, particularly in the field of agriculture, “is beneficial to farmers and consumers alike, pointed out Dr. Rasco, who once headed the Institute of Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños in Laguna. “(Biotechnology) will prevail in spite of misinformation,” the scientist who wrote The Unfolding Gene Revolution: The Ideology, Science and Regulation of Plant Biotechnology added.

That’s what the new report from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is also telling. In fact, the Philippines now ranks as the twelfth biggest producer of biotech crops in the world.

“Biotech/GM corn production in the Philippines rebounds in 2016 as the country remains to be the top grower of biotech or genetically modified (GM) crops in Southeast Asia,” said the report, Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016.

In 2016, an additional 110,000 hectares have been added to the previously 702,000 hectares planted to biotech corn in 2015. The 16%

Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr., when asked why biotechnology is very slow in the country, replied: “Misinformation from well-funded lobby groups.” He added that whether we like it or not, “biotechnology is already here, mostly in medicine.” increase was “due to favorable weather conditions, and high local demand for livestock and feed stocks.”

Adoption rate of biotech corn also increased from 63% in 2015 to 65% in 2016, when the number of small, resource-poor farmers, growing on average, 2 hectares of biotech corn in the Philippines was estimated to be over 406,000.

According to the report, the farm level economic benefit of planting biotech corn in the country from 2003 to 2015 is estimated to have reached US$642 million, and for 2015 alone, the net national impact of biotech corn on farm in-

come was estimated at US$82 million.

Aside from corn, there are others crop events that have been approved for food, feed, and processing cultivation: alfalfa, rapeseed, cotton, potato, rice, soybean and sugar beet.

Current research and development efforts on biotech/ GM crops include products from the public sector: fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt eggplant, biotech papaya with delayed ripening and papaya ring spot virus resistance, Bt cotton, and golden rice.

Biotechnology, which existed since ancient times, is defined as “any technique that uses living organisms to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses.”

Examples include bagoong, patis, lambanog and tapuy. Spirulina, one of the oldest forms of life on earth, is believed to be what the ancient Israelites of the Old Testament called “manna from heaven.”

The modern era of biotechnology, however, had its origin in 1953 when American biochemist James Watson and British biophysicist Francis Crick presented their double-helix model of DNA (de-

oxyribonucleic acid).

DNA, the genetic material of all cellular organisms and most viruses, carries the information needed to direct socalled “protein synthesis” and “replication.” Protein synthesis is defined as “the production of proteins needed by the cells or virus for its activities and development.” Replication, on the other hand, is “the process by which DNA copies itself for each descendant cell or virus, passing on the information needed for protein synthesis.”

In 1973, American geneticist Stanley Cohen and American biochemist Herbert Boyer removed a specific gene (a piece of genetic material that determines the inheritance of a particular characteristic, or group of characteristics) from one bacterium and inserted it into another using restriction enzymes.

This event marked the beginning of recombinant DNA technology, commonly called genetic engineering. Generally, it is “the alternation of an organism’s genetic, or hereditary, material to eliminate undesirable characteristics or to produce desirable new ones.”

In recent years, genetic engineering has been used to increase plant and animal food production, to diagnose disease, improve medical treatment, produce vaccines and

other useful drugs and to help dispose of industrial wastes.

“Modern techniques in biotechnology have vastly increased the speed at which nature could be manipulated to serve society’s needs,” said Dr. Felimon Uriarte Jr. when he was still the head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). “Biotechnology, in conjunction with other emerging technologies, will undoubtedly be a major source of innovation and growth in the next millennium.”

Biotech crops have been seen as the most possible answer to hunger. “All possible tools that can help promote sustainable agriculture for food security must be marshalled,” suggested Ismail Serageldin when he was still the vice-president of World Bank, “and biotechnology, safely developed, could be a tremendous help.”

But despite its safety records, several organizations are still against biotech crops.

So much so that in 2016, several Nobel Laureates issued a statement in support of biotechnology and condemning critics in their critical stance.

“Biotech crops have now had an unblemished record of safe use and consumption for over 20 years,” the ISAAA report claimed. It was in 1996 when a biotech crop was first

commercialized.

Slowly but surely, the Philippines is on its way. “As citizens of this country, I think it is our duty to help spread the truth about things that have the potential to make cheap and safe food available to our people and to inform them of things that endanger their health and welfare,” said former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. said during the opening of the 12th National Biotech Week at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management last year.

“I think it is time that we make full use of the advances of biotechnology – where applicable – and use it to help free our people from hunger – and from ignorance – so that they in turn may not only be receivers, but sharers of the wealth of the nation with those in dire need of it,” the former senator from Mindanao pointed out.

But there are still those who are against the commercialization of biotech crops.

One sage, however, put dilemma into this perspective: “A man who has enough food has several problems. A man without food has only one problem.”

Leading Roman lyric poet Horace dismissed it mildly: “Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things.”

13 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

Lunhaw Awards expands to youth, government sectors

D

AVAO City’s annual awards for environmental initiatives brings the spotlight to the youth and the government sector this year, recognizing their critical role in the long-term success of environmental efforts in the city.

Lunhaw Awards, now on its 6th year, has added youth category for its Green Champion Award and encouraged barangay-led and city government-led efforts for the LGU-initiatives Award. The past five years recognized individuals and organizations from the academe, private sector and CSOs. “The success of Lunhaw Awards is measured in the replication and continuation of the environment-friendly practices so we can achieve our vision of a greener and sustainable Davao City. And what better way to ensure this than involving the young people, the next generation of environmental advocates, and the government sector, who has the legal mandate to protect our environment,” explained IDIS Acting Director Chinkie Pelino-Golle.

Investing in the youth has been repeatedly emphasized in this year’s meetings of both Lunhaw Organizers and the Lunhaw Network, composed of past winners and finalists.

City Agriculturist Office OIC Leo Leuterio expressed

the need develop Lunhaw to a wider spectrum audience such as the youth, possibly tapping students below 18 years old.

Environmental advocate Rick Obenza likewise articulated to his fellow awardees and finalists the need to invest in young people and the value of educating them early.

Encouraging barangay and government agencies to set the example in implementing environment-friendly programs and practices is a strategic way to promote outstanding and replicable green initiatives in the city.

The Lunhaw Awards’ evolution into a program to be adopted by the City Government, beyond being an awards body, is also aimed at ensuring sustainability.

For environment advocates, whether youth or adult, to be considered for the Green Champion Award, the nominee must demonstrated at least 3 years leadership and action for the protection of the environment. The nominee will also be vetted by award organizers to ensure that s/he is not engaged in environmentally-destructive activities like mining, quarrying, logging and the like.

For barangay or local government environmental initiatives, the entries should be in compliance with existing local

F LUNHAW, 14

Members of the Watershed Multipartite Monitoring Team inspect the polishing pond, the last stage in the waste water treatment facility of Maharlika’s peking duck plant. The polishing pond was found to have large

debris, dark water and had strong foul odor. It is improper to dispose waste water in this state to Davao river, the source of drinking water of communities in the second district.

Envi group monitors duck plant disposal A

WATERSHED advocate group raised the concern that Davao River is more at risk to pollution with the waste water treatment facility of a peking duck plant within the watershed not “functioning properly”.

The Watershed Multipartite Monitoring Team recommended the company to do “corrective measures in their

wastewater facility and secure an updated wastewater discharge permit”, as stated in their report submitted to the Watershed Management Council.

This came as a result of an ocular inspection conducted by the team at Maharlika Agro-Marine Ventures Corporation at Sitio Lower Tamugan, Marilog District last May 12,

2017.

“The polishing pond for waste water was cloudy, dark in color, had big debris, and foul odor. There was also no fish in the water which was the indicator that the water is safe for discharge to Davao river,” explained Forester Christopher Asibal of City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

City Health Office (CHO) Representative Curtis Lazarraga also relayed to Maharlika’s staff that the Davao river is now being used as source of drinking water for the communities of the second district through HelpMate Inc. “If waste water is disposed as is, its seepage will eventually reach and contaminate the

F ENVI, 14

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

RSA enters BMW as director B

USINESS tycoon Ramon Ang is entering into Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC) as a director and shareholder. This was all but confirmed after both Ang and ACC Chairman Jose

“Pepito” Alvarez spoke to media today.

The exclusive distributor of BMW automobiles and motorcycles in the country since 2009, Alvarez said that ACC is confident that the BMW busi-

ness “will be in good hands” thanks to Ang’s entrance as a company director. Alvarez also pointed out the potential synergies ACC will have with Ang’s other businesses under diversified conglomerate

San Miguel Corporation; this includes the number one fuel refinery and retailer in the country, Petron.

No further details were given about this shakeup in ACC’s operations.

NEW DIRECTOR. Business tycoon Ramon Ang (middle), show here with President Rodrigo Duterte and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, has entered the BMW conglomerate.

S

Subaru XV safest car ever made

HOWING their unparalleled commitment to safety, Subaru Corporation announced that the all-new Subaru XV is the safest car ever made. This was judged by the Japan New Car Assessment Program or JNCAP after the Subaru XV went through a

battery of crash tests including frontal, offset, side impact, side impact pole, rollover, and pedestrian safety.

The all-new 2018 Subaru XV scored a 199.7 out of a possible 200 points in crash tests making it the safest car ever tested by the orga-

nization. Subaru says this score was achieved thanks to the highly rigidSubaru Global Platform (SGP) as well as its myriad of airbags (7 + 1 pedestrian airbag). An additional 8 points were

added for the seatbelt reminder system which means the Subaru XV scored 208 points all in all.

Thanks to its outstanding crash safety as well as enhanced active and prec r a s h safety

Envi... FROM 13

20 feet wells drilled as water source in the second district,” Lazarraga said.

The team called for the plant’s management to prioritize and ensure quality maintenance of the waste water facility.

“We went here in April and it was still okay, which means if you do not regularly maintain the facility, it’s very fast for the biodegradable matter to overload and decomposition process will not take place properly,” Forester Asibal explained.

Davao City Water District representative Edmarson Sola also expressed his concern on the findings in light of Maharlika’s declaration that there has been no production recently since the ducks have not yet reached the minimum weight required for the market. Hence, there has been a reduction in manpower.

“Even without operation, the odor was bad, how much more if the plant is in full operations?” Sola said. The plant went into full operations in 2014 despite being in the watershed area.

IDIS Acting Director Chinkie Pelino-Golle clarified that the plant’s status in Ta-

mugan watershed is “existing non-conforming” meaning the company was allowed to operate because the infrastructures were already existing.

“But they committed to ensure that their waste water will be treated before it reaches the river,” she said.

Lazarraga reiterated the importance to protect Davao river, which is the management’s responsibility and the team’s role, otherwise he said, “we are all guilty to the people of Davao city.”

The team has been tasked to monitor operations and activities within watershed areas to ensure Davao city’s water quality by virtue of the City Ordinance on the Watershed Code. The Watershed Multipartite Monitoring Team is composed of different agencies including CENRO, CHO, City Planning and Development Office, City Administrator’s Office, and Davao City Water District.

The Interface Development Interventions Inc. (IDIS) also participated in WMMT’s monitoring activities, given the organization’s advocacy for healthy watersheds and initiatives that led to passage of the City’s Watershed Code.

and national environmental policies and can be supported by appropriate local ordinances. Entries, just like in other categories, will be judged according to its sustainability, innovation and replicability.

The Lunhaw Awards official categories remain and includes Organic Agriculture, Green Building, Forest-based Initiatives, Marine Resource Management, Education and

Advocacy, Pollution Control, and Energy or Water Conservation.

Lunhaw Awards is co-organized by the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS), Davao City Water District (DCWD), and the Interface Development Interventions (IDIS).

to the fans while back on the sideline for the first time since Game 2 of the first round against Portland on April 19 because of pain issues stemming from complications after 2015 back surgery.

Curry provided Kerr more than a glimpse of his greatness from up close after the coach had been watching games from the locker room while speaking to his players beforehand and at halftime.

On that third-quarter drive, James had little help as Love got there late.

“At that point I was a little bit more composed than earlier in that possession,” Curry said.

“I was just kind of like a chicken with my head cut off, just running circles.”

Curry wore his emotions for everybody to see, willing the unblemished Warriors even when Cleveland went on a third-quarter run after that play.

Now, Golden State is headed to Northeast Ohio needing just two more — yet don’t count on anybody considering this series close to done. The Warriors squandered a 3-1 lead to the Cavs a year ago to miss a repeat.

“Well, it’s been a great run but none of that matters unless we can finish the job with this series,” Kerr said. “Trust me, we

know. It was 2-0 last year, we lost.”

Curry made all 14 of his free throws. He and Durant combined for 66 points and 18 assists in the opener, then dominated again while the supporting cast shined.

Curry was upset by his eight turnovers as Cleveland vowed to put more pressure on the ball and keep Durant from driving and dunking untouched as he did so many times in Game 1.

It didn’t matter in the end.

Having Kerr there sure did — the Warriors felt whole again.

“We love his presence. We love his voice,” Curry said. “And we’re a full group when he’s out here, so that means a lot.”

Lunhaw... FROM 13

ANOTHER BLOWOUT... FROM 15

technologies including the EyeSightsystem, the Subaru XV and the Imprezahave already been awarded with Japan’s Grand Prize for Crash Safety Evaluation. In the US, the Impreza was already awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with its Top Safety Pick, a feat that the 2018 Subaru XV is expected to replicate.

The all-new Subaru XV is expected to launch in the Asian region very soon with aPhilippine debut around the third quarter of this year.

TIP-INS Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson scored his first points of the series on a driving dunk midway through the first quarter. ... Cleveland shot 3 of 20 on 3s in the first half and 8 for 29 total.

Warriors: The Warriors had their first 40-point quarter in the Finals since scoring 41 in the first quarter of Game 6 in 1967 against the 76ers. ... Curry’s 10 first-quarter free throws equaled Paul Pierce for most in a Finals quarter. ... Thompson played in his 78th postseason, most in franchise history.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

ANOTHER BLOWOUT Warriors whip Cavs 132-113, take 2-0 lead

S

TEPHEN Curry dribbled every which way and ran a circle around LeBron James, then drove left through the paint and beat him to the rim for a right-handed layup over the star’s outstretched arm in a move reminiscent of his recent MVP magic.

Steve Kerr got a front-row seat again for the show, delighted to be back on the bench witnessing those signature moments he has seen so many times before.

Kerr watched his Golden State Warriorsgrab a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals by downing the Cleveland Cavaliers 132-113 Sunday night in another rout, returning to the sideline with a warm welcome from the sellout crowd after a six-week absence.

Their leader and reigning NBA Coach of the Year assuming his usual courtside seat, Curry received a special request from Kerr: “to play with passion and play with joy,” Curry shared.

“That’s what everyone wants to see, some of the best players in the world go against each other,” Klay Thompson said. “Steph made a great

move, got by him and finished. That’s what he does.”

Curry and Kevin Durant tagteamed the Warriors within two victories of another championship. Curry recorded his first career postseason triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, while Durant contributed 33 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and five blocks and is suddenly on the cusp of his first ring.

Golden State improved to 14-0 this postseason and is trying to become the first group to go unbeaten all the way to a title.

James was equally spectacular with his own triple-double of 29 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds, but yet again didn’t get nearly enough help to keep up with the Warriors’ depth. Kevin Love had 27 points and Kyrie Irving 19.

James tied Magic Johnson for most NBA Finals triple-doubles with eight, and this marked the first time in NBA history more than one player had a triple-double in the same Finals game.

“I thought for the most part with the game plan that we had we tried

SPORTS 15 WELL DONE. Teammates Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, who combined for 65 points, swap high fives as Draymond Green lets out a wide grin after another win in Game 2.

to execute it as close as possible,” James said. “Much more physical today than we were in Game 1. And we forced them to 20 turnovers and they still beat us pretty good, so we’ve got to be much better, too.”

Thompson emerged from a postseason-long shooting funk to score 22 points with four 3-pointers while playing more stellar defense and pulling down seven rebounds for the Warriors, who shot 18 for 43 from deep.

The bestof-seven series now shifts to Cleveland for two games, with Game 3 Wednesday.

Kerr returned to the bench to a rousing ovation, waving

F ANOTHER BLOWOUT, 14

ELUDING JAMES. Klay Thompson of Golden State gets a layup off the defense of Lebron James of Cleveland in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. (left photo) SLIPPERY. Golden State guard Steph Curry dribbles around Kyrie Irving of Cleveland.

Foton opens campaign Duno battles Tinampay in June 10 Gensan card in PSL All-Filipino today T Games on Tuesday (FilOil Flying V Center)

5 pm – Foton vs Cherrylume 7 pm – Cocolife vs Generika-Ayala

T

HE champions of last year – F2 Logistics and Foton – march to the battlefield with high expectations when the Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference erupts this Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Cargo Movers will be parading the core of reigning UAAP champion De La Salle University while the Tornadoes will come up with a revamped roster in this prestigious club tourney bankrolled

by Rebisco, Belo, Asics, Mikasa, Senoh and Grand Sport with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

With star blocker Mika Reyes now playing for a different team, all eyes will be on UAAP Most Valuable Player Majoy Baron as she gets a big-

ger role in the rotation of the Cargo Movers, who ruled the PSL All-Filipino last year.

The 5-foot-11 Baron will be backed by her La Salle teammates led by star libero Dawn Macandili, Desiree Cheng, Tin Tiamzon, Aduke Ogunsanya, Carmel Saga and another former MVP in Kianna Dy. Veterans Aby Marano, Cha Cruz, Kim Fajardo and Ara Galang will remain the anchors on offense while Cherry Nunag, Fritz Gallenero and Shawna-Lei Santos were also inserted for additional power.

Unlike the Cargo Movers, the reigning queen of the Grand Prix – Foton – will fashion a new look.

With more than half of their champion team gone, the Tornadoes recruited Nica Guliman, Heather Guino-o, Kyle Negrito, CJ Rosario and Roselyn Doria to back National Team star Jaja Santiago, Maika Ortiz, EJ Laure, Ivy Perez, Jen Reyes and veteran playmaker Rubie de Leon.

HE hard-hitting Romero Duno has a new opponent for his homecoming fight on June 10 at the Robinsons Mall Atrium in General Santos City.

Duno will be challenged

by Jason Tinampay in the freeto-the-public card dubbed as “Brawl at the Mall: The Homecoming.”

Duno, who is off to a 13-1 (win-loss) start highlighted by 12 knockout victories, was supposed to face Jovany Rota for his first fight since scoring a sensational second-round knockout victory over the erstwhile unbeaten Christian Gonzalez last March 10 at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

But Duno’s handler, Jim Claude Manangquil, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Sanman Promotions, wanted to give Duno a tougher test and replaced Rota with Tinampay.

The Bohol-native Tinampay sports an 8W-4L-1D card with seven of his victories coming by way of knockouts.

Duno, whose win over Gonzalez netted him the WBC Youth

HARD-HITTING. Romero Duno and his team celebrate after his win against Christian Gonzalea last March 10 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Intercontinental lightweight title, will fly to the United States after the June 10 card as he had been signed by the Golden Boy Promotions.

“The June 10 card will be Duno’s last fight in the Philippines as he will already start his campaign in the US under his US promoter Golden Boy Promotions,” said Manangquil.

Rota (9W-10L, 6KOs), on

the other hand, will instead face Rimar Metuda (10W-7L-O, 5KOs) in one of the undercards.

The card will also pit Aston Palicte (22W-2L-0D,18KOs) versus John Mark Apolinario (18W-8L-3D,4KOs); Markquil Salvana (12W-3L-0D, 6KOs) against Alvin Bais (15W-8L-1D, 4KOs); and Muhamad Farkhan (3W-0L-0D, 3KOs) versus Marlon Alta (12W-7L-0D, 9KOs).

Spicing up the boxing extravaganza are four-rounder battles featuring Dave Apolinario vs. Prince Canonero; Mark Antonio vs. Rusty Padua; Garren Diagan vs. Ryan Makiputen; Jagear Bereno vs. Rudy Salaton; Ar-jay Recopelacion vs.

Rio Golipatan; Yoben Lementillo vs. Mark Erick Menor; and Jayson Francisco vs. Elizer Ambon. (Philboxing)

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

GETTING IN PEAK FORM. A sharper Manny Pacquiao hits the mitts in training.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 46 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

BOLD PREDICTION. Undefeated Australian lightweight George “Feroceous” Kombosos, Manny Pacquiao’s chief sparmate, said his counntryman Jeff HOrn does not stand a chance against the Filipino fighting senator.

SIX ROUNDS Aussie sparmate says Manny will KO Horn

A

USTRALIA’S ferocious George Kambosos is Manny Pacquiao’s ace card in the world welterweight champ’s preparation to break Jeff Horn’s heart in front of 55,000 people at Suncorp Stadium on July 2.

The tearaway Sydney fighter, now Pacquiao’s chief sparring partner, says the Filipino senator is hitting so fast and hard in the gym that Horn won’t last six rounds.

With less than four week before the biggest fight ever in Australia, Kambosos joins Pacquiao’s three other star sparring partners putting the finish touches on the world welterweight champ’s preparation.

Kambosos, the No. 9 lightweight in the world, went through three blistering rounds with Manny Pacquiao hits the training pads in Manila.

Pacquiao in sparring on Friday before the world champ decided to move his training camp from Manila to his hometown of General Santos City, 1600km to the south.

The 23-year-old Sydney fighter is coming off a big points decision over another promising Aussie, Melbourne’s Qamil Balla, who won the first of three amateur fights with Horn in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympics where Horn made the quarter-finals.

“Manny (Pacquiao) is the best in the world, an 11-time world champion, so fast and there’s a big level of difference (with Horn),” Kambosos told The Manila Times.

“Horn is a hungry fighter and I know Manny knows it.

“But I think Manny will knock Horn out within six rounds.

Horn won’t last. He can’t get away from Manny’s

shots.’’

Kambosos is undefeated in 12 pro fights and the No.9 ranked lightweight in the world.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach cut Pacquiao’s training session short on Friday and explained since the champ was well advanced in his preparations he had earned a break.

George “Ferocious” Kambosos, right, says Jeff Horn doesn’t stand a chance against Manny Pacquiao.

“We believe we have already covered all the bases in our build-up program,’’ Roach said.

“So we decided to cool things over in the coming few days to give Manny a break and at the same time allow us time to review where exactly we are now and find solutions where we missed,” Roach told philboxing.com.

As well as Kambosos, Pacquiao has been sparring Mexican Adrian Young and two Filipinos, Leonardo Doronio and Sonny Katiandagho.

The Filipinos are not making the trip to Pacquiao’s new training camp, though, after suffering injuries from Pacquiao’s fists during their gym wars.

Kambosos says he has no qualms about helping Pacquiao beat his fellow Australian.

“I’ve got that bad boy look anyway in Australian boxing, the haters are going to hate anyway,” he said last month “(Horn) is a Queenslander, I’m a NSW boy, it is what it is.”

Horn begins sparring with Melbourne based Filipino Czar Amonsot this afternoon and has, on standby, Kostya Tszyu’s old rival Zab Judah, from Brooklyn.