Edge Davao 10 Issue 5

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

NEWS

EO issued for more med, law scholars

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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AYOR Sara Z. Duterte has issued executive order No. 11 to further strengthen the educational assistance program of the City Government of Davao and to accommodate more students who wanted to study medicine and law.

“There is a need to expand and broaden the coverage of the Medical and Law Assistance Program to include not only those from members of the indigenous peoples of Davao City but also those who may want to avail themselves of financial assistance,” said Mayor Sara.

She added that in doing so, more qualified but underprivileged Davaoeños will be given the medical and law education they deserve.”

NIGHT SHIFT. Workers from the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) conduct their nightly watering of plants on the center island along R. Castillo Street in Davao City on Wednesday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

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DISOWNED Tadeco says it has nothing to do with Binag

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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AGUM Agricultural Development Company, Inc. announced on Wednesday that Cathy Binag, the partner of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr., is “not authorized to speak for and in behalf of TADECO and the Floirendo family.”

“Mr. Vicente R. Floirendo, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the TADECO, would like to make it clear that Ms. Cathy Binag is not in any way connected with TADECO or any of its affiliates in any manner,” said TADECO in a press statement.

It was previously reported that Binag last week said the conflict

between Alvarez and Floirendo, started “with me and the Speaker’s girlfriend, Jennifer Maliwanag Vicencio.”

Binag said she “had an altercation” with Vicencio during the opening of the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City last October 2016 which “spiraled out of control that led to one thing to another.”

She added that it would be a “petty” if Alvarez’ filing of graft charges against Floirendo is tangled with a “girls’ spat”.

TADECO said all her statements, whether verbal, written or expressed in any other form, are entirely her own opinions and are not sanctioned by TADECO, its affiliates

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INSIDE SPORTS

IT’S OFFICIAL

Horn gets shot at Pacquiao in Brisbane P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

FROM ONE LEADER TO ANOTHER. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte blows the candle of the birthday cake given by former President and incumbent Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Arroyo during the former president’s 70th birthday celebration at La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City on Wednesday night. The President celebrated his

Two more FA-50PHs join RP air force’s fighter fleet

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HE Philippine Air Force on Thursday formally accepted two additional South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” jet fighters, bringing to eight the total number of Mach 1.5 capable aircraft in its fleet.

An acceptance ceremony took place at the Haribon Hangar of Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga, with PAF chief of air staff, Maj. Gen. Rozzano Briguez in attendance, said Air Force spokesperson Col. Antonio Francisco.

Joining the FA-50PH fleet are jet planes with Tail Number 007 and 008, which arrived last March 29.

The first two FA-50PH

units were delivered on Nov. 28, 2015, the second batch on Dec. 8 last year, and the third batch last February 22.

The PAF’s 12-plane order from the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is worth PHP18.9 billion.

The remaining four KAImade FA-50PHs are expected to be delivered before the end of the year.

The FA-50PH has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or oneand-a-half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles, aside from light automatic cannons. (PNA)

AFP says its up to Duterte to act on SOMO bid by NDF

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EACTING to calls made by the National Democratic Front that it needs a 10-day suspension of military operations to facilitate the release of four military and police personnel, ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines officials said the rebel demand is an exclusive purview of the Chief Executive.

“SOMO is a prerogative of the President. If I may add, recently the New People’s Army (NPA) released two captives in

Davao Oriental without asking for a SOMO,” said Eastern Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Leonardo Guerrero.

The NDF, the political leadership of the NPA, is asking for a 10-day SOMO in parts of Bukidnon, Agusan Del Norte, Surigao Del Norte to facilitate the release of the military and police personnel they abducted last February.

Likewise, Guerrero said they will only conduct operations if there is a pressing need

for them.

“We only conduct focused military operations if there is a need for us to address atrocities or armed violent attacks being perpetrated by the NPAs against our troops and civilians,” he streesed.

Guerrero’s views were shared by 4th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Benjamin Madrigal.

“The declaration of SOMO is a prerogative of the President. In the absence of such

declaration, we continue in performing our mandate of protecting communities against terroristic attacks by the NPAs such as burning of equipment and extortion activities,” he said.

“As it happened in Davao, they were able to release their hostages there without any SOMO/SOPO (suspension of police operations) They can simply leave them to local officials without any funfare,” Madrigal pointed out. (PNA)

HE Philippine government and the National Democratic Front signed Wednesday an interim joint ceasefire agreement which will take effect upon the approval and signing of guidelines and ground rules.

“Just signed interim joint ceasefire but effective only when we approve the guidelines and mechanisms,” Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process told MindaNews in a text message from Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, venue of the fourth round of formal peace talks.

Asked when the guidelines will be approved, Dureza replied, “meetings will be held in between formal talks so

anytime when ceasefire committees go back home.”

The Agreement on an Interim Joint Ceasefire provides

that it will be effective “until a permanent ceasefire agreement is forged as part of the Comprehensive Agreement

on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces” or the Final Peace Agreement.

Gov’t.,NDF sign interim joint ceasefire agreement

PRRD gets briefing on T West PH Sea security

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte arrived in this city early Thursday afternoon to visit troops of of the different operational controller units of the Western Command (WESCOM) and to talk to them.

The President met in a closed door meeting with Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario and other officers of WESCOM, where he was given updates regarding security in the West Philippines Sea, the fight against illegal drugs, and even criminality, corrup-

tion, and other law enforcement issues and problems here and the whole Palawan.

After the briefing, the President will plant his tree inside the WESCOM Compound and will visit its new headquarters building.

He will then proceed to talk to the officers, and men and women of the Command, where he is expected to update them on government plans and concerns for soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

(PNA)

72nd birthday on March 28, 2017. Also in the photo are the president’s partner Honeylet Avanceña and the former president’s husband Jose Miguel Arroyo. ALFRED FRIAS/Presidential Photo

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SIGNED. Government peace panel chair SIlvestre Bello III (r) and NDF peace panel chair FIdel Agcaoili exchange copies of the signed Interim Joint Ceasefire Agreement Wednesday in The Netherlands. Photo courtesy of OPAPP

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Maguindanao backs DENR program in Liguasan Marsh

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ALL OVER. Environment Secretary Gina Lopez plants a tree at a marshy village in Pandag town of Maguindanao on Wednesday. Lopez was in the province for the launching of the Sustainable Agriculture Integrated Development program in Liguasan Marsh. KEITH BACONGCO

AGUINDANAO leaders have assured Environment Sec. Gina Lopez that they will fully support the agency’s greening program in the province.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu said Thursday that local leaders, mostly mayors, vowed to support Lopez’s greening program at the Liguasan Marsh.

Lopez led on Wednesday the launching of the Sustainable Integrated Area Development (SAID) program in Buluan town, which has an allocation of P21 million for massive bamboo and mangrove production around the 220,000-hectare marshland.

Lopez and Kahal Kedtag, environment secretary for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, led the program and tree planting in nearby

Pandag town, also in Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu said all the town mayors of municipalities around the marshland vowed to work for the success of the DENR program.

Lopez, who was elated by the presence of both soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the launching, said “it is better we work together and not shoot each other.”

“Every time I hear news about Maguindanao, it’s about Army and MILF firefight, now I see you together...so there is hope,” she said in Filipino.

Lopez said the agency hopes to make the marshland filled with bamboo to help preserve the wetlands and prevent floods.

“This is bringing devel-

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Cuy named as DILG OIC 4 Mindanao rehab centers

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ORMER undersecretary Catalino Cuy was appointed as the new Department of Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge after Ismael Sueno was removed from the post last Tuesday.

Cuy assured in a statement Wednesday that he will not betray the public’s trust.

He said he remained committed to overlook the day-to-day operations of the department and constituent agencies in the spirit of fairness, unity and dedication to public service.

The new secretary also pointed out he would pursue the President’s campaign against illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality. (PNA)

Zamboanga’s Jalosjos in list for Palace pardon

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ORMER Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo Jalosjos is one of the 36 applicants in the list for presidential pardon published by the Board of Pardons and Parole .

The 76-year-old former lawmaker is seeking absolute pardon for his statutory rape conviction.

Jalosjos was sentenced by the Makati City regional trial court to serve two life terms for raping a 11-year-old girl twice in 1996.

He was granted clemency in 2007 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through commutation of his sentence to 16 years.

Jalosjos was initially released from the New Bilibid Prison in Dec. 2007 after the grant, but was returned to incarceration after a month as he was found to have not yet completed his commuted sentence.

He was finally released from the NBP in March 2009 after serving the maximum sentence of 16 years, three months and three days, as commuted, including additional good conduct time allowance of one year, six months and 17 days.

Jalodjos joined the mayoralty race in May 2013, but was disqualified by the Commission on Elections.

The BPP, an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ), is tasked to screen the applicants for pardon and

submit recommendations for approval of the President.

The publication of the names officially started BPP’s vetting process for the eligibility of the applicants.

“Any interested party may send his/her written objections/comments/information relevant to the cases off abovenamed prisoners to the undersigned not later than 30 days from date of publication,” said BPP executive director Reynaldo Bayang.

Executive clemency is a power of the President to pardon any prisoner, provided for under Article VII, Section 19 of the Constitution and pertains to reprieve, absolute or conditional pardon with or without parole conditions and commutation of sentence.

Parole, on the other hand, is the conditional release of a prisoner from a correctional institution after he or she has served the minimum of his or her sentence.

Around 127 elderly inmates were granted pardon and 1,245 were granted parole under the first seven months of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he made the recommendations for presidential pardon upon endorsement by the BPP after reviewing the eligibility of the inmates in the list.

“This is in line with the President’s pronouncement

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scheduled for construction

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

S part of the country’s fight against illegal drugs, the Department of Health has announced the construction of four rehabilitation facilities in Mindanao.

The rehabilitation centers which will be located in communities in Calinan, Davao City, Malaybalay, Bukidnon,

A

Agusan del Norte and Sarangani Province have the capacity of up to 250-300 beds each.

The budget to be used for the building of the rehab centers were donations coming from private and public sectors. The rehab center in Calinan will be funded by Resorts World Manila, the one in Ma-

laybalay from Chinese Friends of the Philippines Foundation and for the Agusan del Norte and Sarangani Province, both from the Chinese Government.

DOH will be providing for the human resource, maintenance and operations aspect of the said centers.

Building of the rehab cen-

ters will strengthen the community-based rehabilitation program that the DOH is implementing.

“We need to strengthen the community-based rehabilitation program. What’s important especially for our drug surrenderees, may pinagka-

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System (PNP-ORAS).

PNP-ORAS will accept applications until April 28, the police regional headquarters here said.

The announcement reminded applicants to prepare digitized or scanned documents before applying online.

Applicants must be Filipino citizens with good moral character, 21 years old and above but not over 30 years, at least one meter and 62 centimeters tall for male and one meter and 57 centimeters for female, holder of a bachelor’s degree from any recognized

institution, must have civil service eligibility and have no pending cases.

Felix said those interested can also submit their application to the office of the Regional Personnel Human Resource Development Division (RPHRDD). (PNA)

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Police hiring 700 rookie cops for R13 HE Police Regional Office 13 has 700 slots for the position of Police Officer 1.

PRO-13 Director PCSupt.

Rolando B. Felix said those interested can apply through the Philippine National Police Online Registration Application

CURIOS. A young boy watches as progressive groups staged a rally along Quezon Boulevard in Davao City on Thursday to call on President Duterte to provide housing to the poor families nationwide. Lean Daval Jr.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

Investments in Surigao Norte expected to reach P2 billion

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

ENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island---The total investments in this island is expected to reach P2 billion with the entry of more foreign and local investors this year.

Mayor Jaime Rusillon told reporters Thursday that General Luna town is expecting new investments worth P500 million this year.To date, he placed the total investments in the island atP5 billion.

Among the new investments the island is expecting before the end of the year is the P100 million world-class resort venture of a Korean firm and its local partners in Barangay Malinao, Rusillon said.

“The Korean guy regularly visits Siargao Island, especially

General Luna. He fell in love with our town,” the mayor said.

He did not identify the Korean businessman for security reasons.

He said that the Korean group, through its Filipino partners, already purchased a land in Barangay Malinao for the proposed resort.

The group is set to begin the construction of the resort this year and expects to complete the project after one year, he added.

The mayor also reported that another group of Filipino investors plans to pour at least PHP100 million also for the establishment of a hotel resort in General Luna.

ILIPINO fast-food chain Jollibee Food Corp. unveiled in Boracay Thursday its 998th store in the country.

The new stand-alone Jollibee branch is located at the main road in Station 2 and will start regular operation tomorrow.

Winston Sia, Jollibee’s regional business unit head for Visayas, said the Boracay store aims to promote the Filipino brand to foreign tourists.

“It is not just our brand that we are promoting. We are promoting Jollibee as a Filipino brand,” Sia told reporters.

For their Boracay branch, Sia said they will abide with local regulations and will utilize more environment- friendly initiatives to protect the island, such as using reusable wares and paper packages.

With the expected vol-

ume of waste that they would produce, Sia said they have coordinated with the LGU on how to properly dispose their garbage.

The opening of the new branch will also benefit the locals due to the jobs that it will generate, added Sia. “We have initially hired at least 70 personnel who are mostly from Aklan,” Sia said.

Meanwhile, for their store opening tomorrow, Jollibee will offer free tricycle rides to locals and tourists from Friday to Sunday.

The first Jollibee store in Boracay, located at the CityMall, opened last February.

The new Boracay branch, with 356 seating capacity, is the 142nd branch in the Visayas region.

Sia said they are targeting to open Jollibee’s 1,000th store in the country this year. (PNA)

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Jollibee 998th store in Boracay Island F

STA. ANA PORT PROJECT. A worker guides a crane operator in hauling a container van onto a trailer truck at Sta. Ana Port in Davao City on Wednesday.

Construction to develop the port has started as the city government of Davao is positioning the area as a tourism destination starting next month. Lean Daval Jr.

Toshi Tim Land fetes top sellers, brokers

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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HE night was filled with black and gold as ladies and gents paraded the red carpet of Visayas ballroom during the first Toshi Tim Land, inc. Annual Awards held at Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City on March 28, 2017.

The homegrown company is the developer behind Oakridge Residential Estate, a mid-cost to high-end subdivision located in Indangan, Davao City.

The program was graced

by Toshi Tim Land, Inc. top officials, real estate broker partners, representatives from Asia United bank (AUB),

Chinabank, and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Also present was Davao City councilor and majorityfloor leader of the city council Bernard Al-ag.

Welcoming the guests, Toshi Tim Land, Inc. CEO Romualdo dela Peña expressed his gratitude and hopes on the success of the company and its partners.

The program highlighted the awarding of the company’s top producers for 2016 for sales representatives, unit managers, and brokers.

The top three sellers of the year are Anthony Leute-

rio who received P850,000, Robert O. Baste with P800,000 and Emily Jane Caliso with P150,000.

Aside from recognizing their partners, the program also featured its own version of runway modelling competition with Toshi Tim Land Next Top Model where Ryan Sayson in his black suit and gold tie bested the male category while Geraldine Cañada, flaunting her black jumpsuit, won among the females.

To add more fun and excitement in the program, a raffle draw was also held.

According to dela Peña,

the annual awards aimed not only to recognize their partners but to motivate and inspire them to perform even better in the years to come. He added, the project has already attained 50 percent sales out of 520 units.

The CEO also expressed interest in acquiring new properties to develop for residential projects. He said he is eyeing the Island Garded City of Samal as their next location.

“As of now, we are already 80 percent stable on sand grading,” his update on the project construction.

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Mt. Apo reopens April 12; damaged areas off-limits ADB: Investments continue to boost economic growth

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ESPITE oppositions from environmental groups, the Mt. Apo Natural Park-Protected Area Management Board (MANP-PAMB) is pushing through with the opening of Mt. Apo to trekkers on April 12 but vowed it will make the areas destroyed by the massive forest fire last year “off-limits” for rehabilitation.

In an interview Wednesday, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 11 Regional Director Ruth M. Tawantawan, who is a member of the MANPPAMB, told reporters that only the trails in Kidapawan City, Magpet in North Cotabato, and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur will be opened after after the respective local government units (LGUs) complied with the comprehensive plan that includes a control mechanism.

She said the trails in Makilala in North Cotabato and Digos City in Davao del Sur

I Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak. MindaNews file photo by Bobby Timonera will not be opened because the LGUs failed to submit a plan; the trail in Barangay Tamayong, Calinan District, Davao City has remained closed due to an executive order prohibiting trekking activities for its potential groundwater source for the city.

The Bansalan trail will be closed due to the insurgency problem, according to Joey Recimilla, Kidapawan City

Tourism Officer and chair of the MANP-PAMB ecotourism committee.

Tawantawan said the LGUs can submit their comprehensive plans but will be subject for review by the technical working group (TWG) of the MANP-PAMB. A MANP-PAMB resolution passed on March 23, 2017 approved “the reopening of the Mt. Apo Natural Park trails to

trekking/climbing activity” but “subject to the strict implementation of the Unified Trekking Policy of 2015, Camp Management and Masterplan of 2016.”

Joint monitoring stations of DENR and LGUs will be placed in all trails, including entry and exit points, and designated basecamps where the trekkers can camp out, she

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NVESTMENTS from both public and private sectors will be the main growth driver for the country’s economy in 2017 and 2018, the Asian Development Bank said in a briefing Thursday.

The Asian Development Outlook 2017, ADB’s flagship economic publication, forecast that the country’s gross domestic product growth for this year will rise 6.4 percent, and on a faster rate next year at 6.6 percent.

ADB Philippine Country Specialist Joven Balbosa noted that this growth projection is moderate compared to the 2016’s economic performance, coming from a high base of 6.8 percent GDP growth last year.

“The key drivers we are seeing in 2016, are the same themes moving forward,” said Balbosa.

He said investments would be the key driver of economic growth for this year and next year, with the government’s infrastructure projects as well as investment prospects from companies.

“Growth is expected to recover to 6.6 percent in 2018, as government plans to ramp up public investments in infrastructure as well as a second round effect of increasing fiscal spending. Fiscal policy will remain supportive to growth,” the economist said.

In 2016, both public and private investments had the largest share to growth following private consumption.

It was also the same year that the country hit the highest public investments to GDP ratio over a decade at 23.8 percent.

The contribution of in-

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

Surigao City needs 3 more years to recover from quake

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HE full recovery of Surigao City from the destruction wrought by the 6.7 magnitude earthquake in February will take up to three years, Mayor Ernesto Matugas said Thursday.

Matugas appealed to the national government to fasttrack the release of necessary funds to complete all the repair works in the city, which continues to experience tremors.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte, during his visit after the quake, promised to extend PHP2 billion to the city.

“I understand that there are procedures to be followed before the promised aid of the President will be released,” Matugas said, as he urged the national government to speed up the processes and release of the needed funds.

The quake damaged major infrastructures here, including roads, bridges, government buildings, the airport, seaport, business establishments and houses.

A total of 26,000 residents in Surigao City were directly affected by the quake, 403 houses were recorded totally damaged and 6,093 were listed partially damaged, data from local government said.

The quake’s damage was estimated at PHP1.7 billion, including government and private infrastructures and properties, the mayor said.

Matugas said he already made some follow-ups and wrote Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III for the release of the promised aid by the President.

Matugas said the local gov-

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ECONOMY 5

BRISK SALE. A vendor sells garland to an attendee of a recognition ceremonies at Palma Gil Elementary School along Quirino Avenue in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

DOE bats for coal-fired plants

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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NERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi called on investors to consider both conventional and renewable energy sources to address the country’s socio-economic needs.

In an essay published on the South China Morning Post

on March 22, Cusi said that a technology-neutral approach is required for the Philippines to find a balance between environmental mandate and socio-economic progress.

“Technology-neutral means that we shouldn’t be

constrained by rigid or arbitrary targets in sourcing our energy,” he said. “Both conventional and non-conventional sources must be considered, but this shouldn’t be equated with abandoning climate action.”

SSISTANT Secretary Paola Alvarez of the Department of Finance (DOF) said Thursday that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III had only performed a “routine ministerial duty necessitated by the change in administration” in giving the go-ahead to the loan agreement for a project that was actually implemented exclusively by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and approved in the past Aquino government.

Alvarez, who is DOF spokesperson, pointed out in a press briefing that as the finance secretary, “Dominguez had no recourse but to implement the loan agreement that was sealed by his predecessor, Cesar Purisima, with the Unicredit Bank Austria AG for Phase 2 of the Capability Building Program of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)—an agency attached to the DILG—before President Duterte took over last year.”

“However, the supply contract for this project, which involves the acquisition of 76 Rosenbauer fire trucks for deployment by the BFP in priority cities nationwide, is an entirely different thing altogether that was handled solely by then-Secretary Ismael Sueno and two of his subordinates—DILG Head Executive Assistant Josephine Leysa and

BFP Officer-in-Charge Chief Superintendent Bobby Baruelo—who had dealt directly and exclusively with the Unicredit Bank,” she said.

“The loan agreement and supply contract are two separate and distinct things,” Alvarez said. “As finance chief, it was Secretary Dominguez’s job to perform a routine ministerial act necessitated by the change in administration in giving the go-ahead to a loan agreement that then-Secretary Purisima had entered into with the Unicredit Bank— with the concurrence of the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Board chaired by then-President Aquino, the Monetary Board, and the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and of Budget and Management (DBM).”

“Neither Secretary Dominguez nor the DOF had anything to do anymore with the supply contract that Mr. Sueno had approved on his watch, on the basis of the loan agreement that the DOF had authorized because it was already approved in the past by Malacañang, the Monetary Board, the DOJ and DBM,” she said.

Alvarez recalled that it was President Duterte who had instructed Dominguez to inform Sueno about the loan package for this two-phase project that is a carry-over from the past administration.

Phase 1 of this BFP Capability Building Program was actually approved in 2011 by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and then implemented by his successor, Manuel Roxas II. Alvarez said that “in the absence of any legal obstacle to its implementation—as the DOF had already secured before the Duterte presidency the mandatory prior approvals of the appropriate government entities—Secretary Dominguez couldn’t just put the loan agreement on hold, let alone void it, without risking punitive legal action from the Austrian bank that could cost the Philippine government billions of pesos.”

According to the DOF spokesperson, the NEDA Board approved Phase 2 of the BFP’s Capacity Building Program on May 19, 2015, and the DBM issued the Forward Obligational Authority with the DILG as the implementing department on July 20, 2015.

Then-DOF Secretary Purisima was issued a Special Presidential Authority (SPA) to forge the deal with the Unicredit Bank on Feb. 11, 2016, and the loan agreement obtained a clearance from the Inter-Agency Committee for the Review of Foreign Loan Documents (IAC-RFLD) on March 21, 2016, Alvarez said.

Dominguez had nothing to do with DILG supply contract: DOF A

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He said conventional energy sources, like coal-fired power plants, can be made more sustainable. He cited approaches in China, India and Japan, which the Philippines is trying to replicate.

Considered one of the world’s most efficient coal plants, the Shanghai Waigaoqiao No. 3 power plant in Shanghai, China houses two 1,000-MW supercritical coalfired power plants that use 230,000 tons less standard

coal and emit 480,000 fewer tons of carbon dioxide annually. The plants’ sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions are reportedly well below national limits for coal-fired plants.

Japan, on the other hand,

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6 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

Subangan Museum ticket sales double T

HE influx of visitors during the week-long DAVRAA Sports Event in Mati City, Davao Oriental last month has doubled the Subangan Provincial Museum’s income for the month of March.

Manager Lyrna Padohinog said a total of 1,562 tourists from outside the province have visited the Museum, doubling its ticket sales.

“Featuring a sophisticated display of the province’s rich cultural and natural heritage, the Museum has been a great attraction especially on big events such as the DAVRAA,” said Padohinog.

From a total income of around P91,000 in February, the Museum’s total income in the month of March has reached P197,665.

“While the ticket sales were low in the month of February of only P91,539 in comparison to the previous month with ticket sales that reached P123,321,the arrival of guests during the DAVRAA meet has increased the Museum’s ticket sales,”Padohinog added.

A brainchild of the former governor, now 1st district Rep. Corazon Nuñez-Malanyaon, the Subangan Provincial Museum was formally opened to the public in 2014 and quickly became one of leading comeons for tourists here. Touted as the largest in Davao Region, the Museum has been generating additional source of revenue for the Provincial Government.

While the Provincial Government recognizes the tourism sector as one of the province’s large-scale sources of income and one of the main areas that propels the local economy, it also recognizes the economic opportunities that big events such as the DAVRAA Sports Event can open.

Seeing this, Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang is determined to pursue the former administration’s strides on

tourism development, not only in terms of site development but also in putting up big events that would potentially draw more tourists to come.

The Provincial Government is set to launch next year its first and only festival dubbed as the Kabilin Festival. However, determined to pursue activities for this year, members of the Kabilin Festival Council have agreed to pursue set of tourism activities slated on the month of May of this year dubbed as “Prelude to the Kabilin Festival”. Activities set for this event include caravan tours to various destinations in the province, cultural performances, and culinary exhibit, among others.

While the Kabilin Festival is a celebration devoted for the conservation of the environment, it will serve as a good vehicle for the province to gain recognition as a tourism destination and will help spur economic activities to benefit communities.

The said festival is also anticipated to draw more tourists to visit the province’s tourism sites including the Subangan Museum which has now become one of the favorite destinations of tourists here.

“Touring the museum is like enjoying the luxury of climbing the Mount Hamiguitan minus the sweat and the knee-cracking steep trail,” said Ermie Varquez from Compostela Valley Province.

“We were able to witness the rich biodiversity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary. No wonder it has captured the heart of every visitor”, he said.

Another tourist from Davao City, Irene Lumanas, said she was “impressed” with the various cultural heritage of the province, especially the Mandayan culture.

“What makes the mu-

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Cagayan de Oro City council adopts revised citizen’s charter

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HE city council of Cagayan de Oro has passed a resolution adopting the city’s revised citizen’s charter in line with Republic Act (RA) No. 9845, otherwise known as the “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.”

Vice Mayor Rainier Uy said Wednesday the citizen’s charter includes the procedures to obtain a particular service, the person or persons responsible for each step, maximum

time to conclude the process, documents to be presented by the customer and the amount of fees, if necessary, and the procedure for the filing complaints.

He said that the charter was intended to give impetus to RA 9845 as an act to improve efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape and preventing graft and

corruption.

RA 9845 also mandates all government agencies, including departments, bureaus, offices, instrumentalities, or government owned and/or controlled corporations, or local government or district units, to set up their respective service standards to be known as the citizen’s charter.

Uy said that the citizen’s charter would be disseminated

in a form of information billboards, which should be posted in the main entrance of the offices or in conspicuous places. Published materials will be written in either English, Filipino or in the local dialect.

He said that Resolution No 12659-2017 creating the citizen’s charted was adopted during the regular session of the city council last Monday.

(PNA)

line with her PAMILYA thrust.

With family at its core, PAMILYA stands for Poverty Reduction; Agriculture and Eco-tourism development and environmental management; Infrastructure and communication advancement; Livelihood and Education Provision; Youth, women, indigenous peoples and other marginalized sector empowerment; and Access to health and social services.

“In the next three years, we shall tread towards the

key challenges of our administration. The three-year profound term shall be dedicated at maintaining and sustaining development particularly those that benefit directly to our people,” she said.

She floated the slogan “Lambo PAMILYA, Uswag New Corella (Improvement for family, Growth for New Corella)” to push forward acceptance of the development direction that she sets for her hometown within her threeyear term as the municipal

mayor.

Meanwhile, she dubbed her first SOMA as “Lungsodnong Taho”. The report covered her accomplishments in agriculture, economic, environment, disaster preparedness, infrastructure, education, social services, health, empowerment of women and indigenous peoples (IPs), employment and livelihood, peace and order, barangay empowerment and governance. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

New Corella town anchors dev’t thrust on PAMILYA

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HE Municipal Government of New Corella will swing a banner of development agenda anchored on the thrust with an acronym, “PAMILYA’ng” New Corellahanon.

During her recent 1st State of Municipality Address (SOMA), New Corella Mayor Rhodora S. Alcoran revealed that an approved budget worth P152.500 million will fuel the rolling out of various programs and projects set to be implemented this year in

ARMM cultural office, NCCA work together to preserve Moro culture

T SUPPORT TO DRUG DEPENDENTS. Compostela Valley Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy together with Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Sec. Benjamin P. Reyes and other officials led the launching of “Oplan Liwanag” last April 4. The

program is a community-based transformative intervention program for drug dependents and users who voluntary surrendered to authorities to undergo reforms. (Maryel Lasaca/IDS ComVal)

O help preserve cultural properties in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the region’s Bureau of Cultural Heritage (BCH), in partnership with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), has started implementing a cultural mapping project for Muslim communities.

Leaders of both institutions met Wednesday for a consultative meeting in their bid to preserve the cultures and identities of the Moro people.

NCCA is the planning and policy making body of the government on the preservation and protection of cultures and arts.

Catholic priest Harold Rentoria, OSA, NCCA commissioner for cultural heritage, described cultural mapping as

a process of identifying, recording and using cultural resources and activities in building communities.

“Culture is like the soul of the country,” he said.

“Everything emanates from our culture; this is why we would like to preserve it for our identity as people of the ARMM, and as Filipinos,” Rentoria said.

Rentoria called on local government units in the region to support and take accountability on projects relating to cultural heritage. It is important, he said, to craft projects that will aid in their preservation and protection. ”Our progress and development should not only revolve on current issues but we need to include the past,” he

F ARMM, 11

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

SSS: P1T benefit Aboitiz Equity raising not a gov’t subsidy USD 600 M for expansion S SS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc clarified that the P6.2 billion released last March for the additional P1,000 benefit of pensioners came from the investment income and present member contributions of the pension fund and not from the subsidy of the national government.

“The news report was misleading. SSS does not receive any subsidy from national government. The P193.86 million fund cited as “subsidy” for the month of January was not used for the benefit increase enjoyed by our qualified pensioners since last month.

This amount is the share of national government in the Educational Loan Assistance Program (ELAP) which has been ongoing since 2012,” Dooc sad.

Dooc made the statement after a news report came out citing the P1,000 additional benefit as the reason for the P193.86-million subsidy received by the pension fund in Janu-

ary 2017.

Based on the latest Treasury report, SSS received the second highest subsidy in January 2017 with P193.86 million following the P1.697 billion received by the National Irrigation Administration.

Based on the Educational Assistance Fund Program (EAFP) rolled out in 2012, SSS was allowed to provide educational loan assistance to its members up to P7 billion. Of the P7 billion, P3.5 billion will be financed by the national government as approved by then President Benigno Aquino III and the other half from SSS. Loan beneficiaries can be SSS members, their legal spouses or children, while unmarried members can have their siblings, including half-brothers or half-sisters as beneficiaries.

As of March 2017, SSS has released about P4.53 billion for the EALP availments benefitting some 81,000 college student-beneficiaries.

Starmalls achieves double-digit growth

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TARMALLS, Inc., the commercial arm of Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., sustained strong double digit growth for the full-year 2016.

Rental revenues was at P4.5, or a 61-percent increase from last year’s P2.8 billion.

Net income posted a 71-percent growth to P1.55 billion from P0.90 billion last year.

“We remain optimistic about the retail industry’s outlook for 2017, as we continue to see continued growth in the disposable income of Filipinos, the rising middle class in the country, and sound Philippine macroeconomic fundamentals,” said Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr. “In addition, we are taking advantage of the synergies that we found as a result of our integration with Vista Land,” he added.

The company’s total consolidated assets at the end of 2016 amounted to P35.8 billion from P31.8 billion in 2015.

As of end 2016, Starmalls already had 17 commercial assets in its portfolio and is still continuing to expand its leasable space.

Company President Jer-

ry Navarrete said they were ramping up Starmalls’ expansion program and will deliver additional leasable space in the coming years as they develop their existing 46.9 hectares of commercial land bank and will be taking advantage of Vista Land’s over 600 hectares of land across the country that are suitable for commercial development as future expansion.

“The company’s strong growth rate was sustained as the additional commercial assets opened during the year are already contributing to our financial performance, in addition to the increased rental revenues from our existing malls brought about by higher rental reversions and increased occupancy,” he added.

Starmalls is a major developer, owner and operator of retail malls that target mass market retail consumers in the Philippines and is an early mover in this market segment, focusing on locating in densely populated areas underserved by similar retail malls and within close proximity to transport hubs and key infrastructure.

It also develops and operates business process outsourcing commercial centers. (PNA)

C

ONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) Inc. is looking to raise USD 600 million this year to fund mainly its power expansion projects.

AEV Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Manuel Lozano told reporters that the firm was looking at refinancing some of its existing power facilities.

“Depending on what terms we can get, we might consider refinancing…

Whether it is foreign, domestic banks, retail, we want to make sure we tap what is most appropriate,” he said.

Lozano said the firm was looking to sell retail bonds to raise funds for its expansion.

He noted its unit Aboitiz Power Corp. required more financing.

“So if they run into an opportunity over the next few months, then the retail will be quite good, (it) could be also used for refinancing.

What is nice now a days, with

the retail bonds, you can do the shelf (registration program), that’s great,” he said.

Lozano further said bank borrowings that would be used to meet financing needs of projects, also diversified the conglomerate’s sources of funds He said it was completing three power projects with attributable capacity of 568 megawatts this year.

These are the 200-MW Pagbilao expansion project, the 300-MW coal-fired pow-

er plant of its unit Therma Visayas Inc. and the 68-MW Manolo Fortich Hydroelectric Power Plant.

“We have a lot of projects that are completing within the next 12 months,” he added.

The conglomerate has earmarked P59 billion in capital expenditures in 2017 to be channeled toward various ongoing power projects, with the three projects comprising bulk of the amount.

(PNA)

Smart partners with IP, private groups to create educational app

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MART Communications is joining forces with an indigenous community in Davao City, as well as with private and nongovernment organizations, to develop an educational mobile application that is aligned with the IP group’s culture.

Smart signed a memorandum of agreement with the IP Education Council of Sitio Contract in the Marilog district of Davao City, Pamu-

laan Center for Indigenous Peoples Education, ACLC Davao, and Skeptron Business Solutions to create a localized app that teaches basic literacy to the children of the Matigsalug tribe in Davao City.

The multilingual app will use the tribe’s songs, dances, and stories to teach literacy skills to members of the tribe, and to serve as a resource for those interested in

the tribe’s culture.

In the photo, from left to right, are Mariefil Duran of ACLC Davao and Skeptron, Smart community partnerships head Darwin Flores, Datu Dionesio Siawan Sr. of the Sitio Contract IP Education Council, and Pamulaan founder Benjamin Abadiano.

The project is one of Smart’s efforts to digitize educational content in local languages to help enhance learn-

ing among Filipino youth.

These initiatives started in 2015 with Smart’s co-development of the Batibot app, the first app in the Filipino language that is aligned with the kindergarten curriculum of the Department of Education. The Android app, which can be downloaded for free, was developed in partnership with the Community of Learners Foundation and OrangeFix. (PR)

tests. However, Dizon admitted that up to now, the DOST-developed transport system still requires many safety tests before the public can actually benefit from it.

MIRDC said the AGT in UP has four coaches, and can carry 60 passengers per coach. About PHP18 million was used for the said prototype.

A bigger prototype that can be found at the DOST in Bicutan, Taguig City, costs P25 million. ”We have invested so much already, and yet we still can’t use it. We need to spend hundreds of millions for the tests,” he told PNA. Dizon said the development on this project will depend on the government’s priority. The private sector can also partner with the MIRDC to support the fund-

ing.

Like the other DOST-developed transport system -the road train, the AGT is said to be environment-friendly due to its reduced carbon emissions.

Tamayo also highlighted that since the AGT runs above ground level, accidents involving trucks, buses and other vehicles can be lessened.

Dizon said the MIRDC targets to make the AGT an alternative to the MRT, but noted that the AGT’s guideway is expensive to build.

Like the MRT, the AGT uses electricity to run, which means it will also stop when there’s power outage.

He explained that power generators can be used. Also, a battery can be put on standby.

“The battery can at least take the coaches to the nearest station,” he said. (PNA)

DOST seeks funding for Automated Guideway Transit System

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HE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) seeks funding for its Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) System -– a transport conceptualized and built by a team of Filipino engineers.

The funding will be used for the necessary safety tests that the AGT needs to undergo before the public can use it.

DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) Executive Director Robert Dizon told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that AGT’s conceptualization and design stage started in 2010, and it took two years before a prototype was developed and placed at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

It took another year for the AGT to undergo several

”This is why we are trying to reintroduce the AGT (today through this dialogue), for us to find out if we are going to push through it.

How badly do people need it?” he said.

An alternative mass transportation Primarily, the AGT targets to address the lack of mass transport in the country, Rodnel Tamayo, MIRDC project leader, said in a round table discussion held Wednesday at the DOST. He noted the AGT was designed to occupy marginal space, and is less expensive to build. ”This also makes the AGT to be cost-effective, because it requires smaller labor force to operate and maintain,” Tamayo added.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

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Where is the love?

E have to give it to our dynamic democracy. Never had there been in our history that freedom of expression and freedom of the press has been at the most liberal.

In fact, sometimes it goes beyond simply unbridled.

In this democracy, one can express one’s disgust to the government freely and at the same time express satisfaction. Both sides are having a field day. It shows in the mainstream and the social media--the emerging new platform for the free-flow of opinions.

That is one side of the story. The other side being the main subject of this democratic exercise of freedoms—that is no less than President Duterte. Not a day in all media platforms that there are hits and praises for the man. More of hits, to say the least.

The latest of this is his decision to give away a shelter project to those who squatted them away from their legitimate beneficiaries. While the group of illegal settlers celebrated over their ‘victory’, the President took some hits for doing so.

Oh what curse this man is getting. He does something for the poor and homeless, he gets criticized instead. He must have been asking himself: “What wrong have I done again?”

The man is 72 years old. At that age, he took a lot of time before giving in to the prodding of his supporters to run for the presidency. He

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knew the magnanimity of the task, but in the end gave in for his love of public service.

He launched a war to save the next generation. Bloody as it is, it pictured him as a slaughterer, a mass murderer.

He launched a war against corruption. Fired even his allies, his spokesperson and his big campaign supporter over reports of irregularities. He spared no one. Sad as it is to do this, he lost friends and allies along the way.

The man had lived a simple life. Never rode flashy cars, never owned a Porsche, never lived in a mansion, nor used his position and power for his own good. He did not change and hopefully will not.

Butthroughitall,thereseemstobenoloveforRodrigoDuterte,especially from his critics, political foes, some church people and some organizations.

All these lead to the question: is the man cursed because he simply loved to work?

Should this country be better off than somebody not Rodrigo Duterte?

Because if there is somebody out there the kind of a Messianic savior within the definitions of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV or of those all-knowing priests and bishops, then this man ought to get a well-needed rest or let him walk into a tranquil retirement.

This country is treating this man unfairly.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

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EDGEDAVAO

W

HEN Patrick Henry Frank, founder of Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), hit upon the idea of inventing a machine that would make hemp stripping easy, fast, and efficient, there was promise the abaca industry would further flourish.

On December 16, 1924, Frank, who also owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (CLPC), registered it with the United States Patent Office as Patent No. 1519579, and on March 17,1925 listed it in the Bureau of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines.

To make use of the patent and manufacture the machine in quantity, Frank established the Universal Hemp Machine Company, with William Henry Gohn, a thriving American planter in Davao, as one of the major shareholders. Together they introduced and convinced Luzon hemp growers the patented stripping machine that “can clean hemp satisfactorily and economically.”

But to their surprise, they belatedly discovered some enterprising Japanese were already using a similar machine, prompting them to file a case in the lower court docketed as G.R. No. L-38010. The defendant was G. Kosuyama, a Japanese.

The suit stemmed from the al-

I

N the past, not too many journalists write about environment because it is not sexy. So those who cover this particular beat try to use words to compete with others. Terminologies such as “virgin” (instead of untouched) forest and denudation (why not use devoid of tree cover?) came into existence.

Why am I talking all these? It’s because our forests are almost gone.

“A few hundred years ago, at least 95 percent of the Philippines was covered by rainforest; only a few patches of open woodland and seasonal forest, mostly on Luzon, broke the expanse of moist, verdant land,” wrote Dr. Lawrence R. Heaney, an American curator who was familiar with the country’s history.

By the time Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan “rediscovered” the Philippines on March 16, 1521, scattered coastal areas had been cleared for agriculture and villages.

Three hundred years later, rainforest still covered about 70% of the country.

I once heard (actually eavesdropping) a conversation between two old folks that to travel from Digos to Davao City during their time would take about two days. “There was still no road going to Davao,” one said. “We had to ride in a banca just to go to Davao.”

The two were in unison that the

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Legal battle over a patented machine leged infringement of the rights and privileges acquired by the Americans as a result of the patent, claiming the defendant was producing and selling machines that were similar to Frank’s invention.

The Americans sought from the court to order the Japanese to cease the manufacture and sale of machines similar to the patented, to render an accounting of the profits realized from the machines in question, to pay the patent owner and partner the amount of P60.00 as profit for every machine sold, to post a bond in case of failure or refusal to account, and to sentence the Japanese to pay the cost and damages due to the Americans.

Sadly, the court favored the defendant by dismissing the complaint and the P10,000 counterclaim sought by the Japanese, who did not appeal.

In the amended complaint, the Americans claimed the machine’s following characteristics: “A stripping head, a horizontal table, a stripping knife supported upon such table, a tapering spindle [the only feature cited in the original complaint, a rest holder adjustably secured on the table portion, a lever and means of compelling the knife to close upon the table, a pallet or rest whole place (where the road is built) was teemed with trees. “You can see a few houses along the shore,” the other recalled.

Those forests are now gone.

In the 1990s, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines warned against an ecological debacle in the country should deforestation continued unabated. No one listened; it was business as usual.

“Most of the (Philippines’) once rich forest are gone,” reported the Sustainable Forest Management published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “Forest recovery, through natural and artificial means, never coped with the destruction rate.”

Where have all our forests gone?

“A people without children would face a hopeless future,” American President Theodore Roosevelt said centuries ago. “A country without trees is almost as helpless.”

In a span of 15 years – from 1990 to 2005 – the Philippines lost roughly a third of its remaining forest cover, a lawmaker deplored.

Bad news for Philippine eagle, the country’s bird icon. A pair needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forest as nesting territory, according to FAO. “Deforestation is terrible,” decried Dennis Salvador, the executive

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa in the bottom of the table, a resilient cushion under such palletor rest.”

Citing its December 21, 1933 verdict, the Supreme Court summarized the trial court’s findings based on evidences presented for appreciation: “In constructing their machine the plaintiffs did nothing but improve, to a certain degree, those that were already in vogue and in actual us in hemp producing provinces. It cannot be said that they have invented the “spindle” inasmuch as this was already known since the year 1909 or 1910. Neither [can it] be said that they have invented the stripping knife

Forest gone

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

director of Philippine Eagle Foundation. “The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species because the loss of the forest had made it lose its natural habitat.”

But that’s only one endangered species. “More than 400 plant and animal species in the Philippines are currently threatened with extinction, including the Philippine eagle and the tamaraw,” the Washington, D.C.-based Population Reference Bureau reported.

Most of the country’s forest cover is located in the uplands, of which 60% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares are classified as such. Once these uplands are de-

and the contrivance which controls the movement and pressure thereof on the ground that stripping knives together with their control sets were already in actual use in the different stripping machines long before their machine appeared.

“Neither can it be said that they invented the fly wheel because that part or piece thereof, so essential in every machine from time immemorial, was already known and actually employed in hemp stripping machines… were in use for the benefit of hemp long before the appearance of the plaintiffs’ machines in the market. Much less can it be said that they invented the pedal to raise the knife in order to allow the hemp to be stripped to pass under it, on the ground that the use of such contrivance has, likewise, been known since the invention of the most primitive of hemp stripping machines.”

To support their ownership of patent, Frank and Gohn invoked the doctrine invoked in the case of Frank and Gohn vs. Benito (51 Phil., 712), where the defendant was found to have infringed upon the patent of the Americans. However, the high court argued: “[The] plaintiffs in the former and those of the latter case are the same and that the patent then involved

is the very same one upon which the present action of the plaintiffs is based. The above-cited case, however, cannot be invoked as a precedent to justify a judgment in favor of the [Americans] on the ground that the facts in one case entirely different from those in the other. In the former case the defendant did not set up the same special defenses as those alleged by the herein defendant in his answer and the plaintiffs therein confined themselves to presenting the patent, or rather a copy thereof, wherein the ‘spindle’ was mentioned, and this court took for granted their claim that it was one of the essential characteristics thereof which was imitated or copied by the then defendant.”

The high tribunal, with finality, declared “the [Japanese] cannot be held civilly liable for alleged infringement of the patent upon which the present action is based on the ground that there is no essential part of the machine manufactured and sold by him, which was unknown to the public in the Province of Davao at the time the plaintiffs applied for and obtained their patent for improved hemp stripping machines, the judgment appealed from is hereby affirmed.”

The Americans lost.

void of trees, soil erosion ensues.

The topsoil – which is formed at a rate of one centimeter every 100 to 400 years – is the world’s most precious natural resource. “Yet it is not valued as it should be,” observed Edouard Saouma, former FAO director-general. “Gold, oil, minerals and precious stones command prices which had led us to treat soil as mere dirt.”

Without soil, there would be no food for man’s existence– aside from those supplied by our waters. “The loss of topsoil affects the ability to grow food in two ways,” wrote Lester R. Brown and Edward C. Wolf in their collaborative book, Soil Erosion: Quiet Crisis in the World Economy. “It reduces the inherent productivity of land, both through the loss of nutrients and degradation of the physical structure. It also increases the costs of food production.”

The loss of forest cover also means water shortage. Experts claim that without vegetative cover, especially the trees, the land’s water absorption capacity is greatly reduced.

Patrick Durst, FAO regional forestry officer, once told me that the roots of trees provide pore space above that of normal soil texture for water to infiltrate into the ground.

This is the reason why local springs and streams maintain a healthy flow

when surrounded by protected micro-watersheds.

Again, without water, there would be no food. “Water for agriculture is critical for food security,” reminded Dr. Mark W. Rosegrant, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

For instance, to raise a ton of rice, a thousand gallons of water is needed, according to the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute.

“There is sufficiency for man’s need,” India’s Mahatma Gandhi once said, “but not for man’s greed.”

Heherson T. Alvarez, former head of environment department and a senator, can only lament. “We have laid to waste millions of hectares of forest land, as though heedless of the tragic examples of the countries of Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, where large areas have become barren, if not desertified. If we have not, in fact, reached this state, we are almost at the point of irreversibility.”

Dr. Ernesto Guiang, who has been trained in forest ecology and forestry economics and business management, echoed the same concern. “We are now at the eleventh hour,” he said. “We have to pay attention to the handwriting on the wall with respect to our forests.”

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

DISOWNED... FROM 1 and the Floirendo family.

Tadeco is one of the world’s biggest plantations propagating Cavendish bananas for export.

Earlier, Alvarez sought a probe on his colleague Davao del Norte Rep. “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. in connection with an alleged questionable land deal of the government and the banana plantation.

This after Alvarez filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against Floirendo for allegedly having alleged

unconstitutional “business interest” in a land deal of his banana firm Tagum Agricultural Development Inc. (Tadeco) while he was a congressman.

On Monday, in response to Alvarez’s request for legal opinion on the matter, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II announced Department of Justice will create a fact-finding team to probe the land lease agreement between the Davao Penal Colony (DAPECOL) and TADECO.

Signed on April 3, Executive Order No. 11 or is an order repealing item 20 of Section 2 on “General Qualifications,” and amending Item 24 of Section 2 and 4 on “Scholarship Benefits for Medical and Law Educational Assistance Program” of Executive Order No. 7, Series of 2014 otherwise known as an “Order strengthening the educational assistance program of the City Government of Davao.”

The order revokes the Item 20 of Section 2 on “General Qualifications” stated in EO No. 7 of 2014, under “Additional Qualifications for Medical and Law Educational Assistance Program” which states that to qualify for the Educational Assistance Program, one must belong to an indigenous tribe of Davao City as certified by the Deputy Mayor and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples of Office of the Muslim Affairs.

Furthermore, EO 11 of 2017 stated that in order to qualify for medical and law

school assistance, one must have been accepted by the Committee on Admission and/ or Enrolment (or the equivalent committee) into the college or schools offering medicine and law within Davao City.

Also, considering the increase in tuition the amount of tuition and matriculation fees, the EO stated the increase of the amount to be granted for the grantees.

“For Medical Educational Assistance: The grantee shall be entitled to a full scholarship consisting of tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, other fees that may be assessed by the medical school, and book allowance amounting to Php 20,000.00 per semester. For Law School Educational Assistance, the same shall be granted to the grantee with a book allowance amounting to Php 8,000.00 per semester,” EO 11 further states.

Executive Order 11 will take effect immediately and will be made available starting school year 2017-2018.

opment and empowering the people to preserve the natural resources of Liguasan marsh,” she later told reporters.

Visibly delighted with the DENR program, Butch Malang, MILF representative, said his group will support the greening program because it will

benefit their own people.

Lopez assured the MILF leader and the local officials that as long as guns are silent in the marshland, the DENR and the Duterte administration will provide funds for livelihood, conservation and preservation of the marshland. (PNA)

kaabalahan sila, may mag monitor para hindi sila maka access sa drugs,” DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said in a conference held at Royal Mandaya Hotel on Tuesday.

A P 3-billion budget is al-

located on drug rehabilitation for the year 2017, five times bigger than the budget in 2016 which is only 600 million.

The rehabilitation centers are expected to be realized in November or December of this year.

to decongest the high volume of PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), relatively bigger than what our prison facilities can accomodate and the prompt release of deserving prisoners for parole, pardon, and the end of sentence with correct com-

putations of good conduct and allowances,” Aguirre said.

The DOJ Chief indicated that those discharged on parole “shall be automatically released from prison upon the award of the papers to them.”

(PNA)

vestments to GDP is seen to continue, even surpassing the share of consumption -- the main growth driver for the country’s economy in the past years.

Moreover, ADB Philippine Country Office Economist

Aekapol Chongvilaivan said consumption is projected to ease this year due to external factors such as increasing oil prices and weakening of the Philippine peso that are pushing commodity prices to rise and affect domestic demand.

EO... FROM 1

Maguindanao... FROM 3

4 Mindanao... FROM 3

Zamboanga... FROM 3

ADB... FROM 4

AT THE SADDLE. Former undersecretary Catalino Cuy has been appointed as the new Department of Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge after Ismael Sueno was dismissed from the post last Tuesday. Cuy promised to pursue the President’s campaign against illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality.

Lean Daval Jr.

PIA bats for raising ASEAN awareness among Filipinos T

HE Philippine government is stepping up efforts to help Filipinos appreciate “what it means to be part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations community” by putting up information kiosks in public places and holding multi-sectoral forums.

Citing latest survey, Philippine Information Agency Deputy Director-General Gregorio Angelo Villar said that only 29% of the entire ASEAN population are aware of the significance of ASEAN to their lives.

“We refer (to) ASEAN as them, but it is supposed to be us, because we are part of it. It should be the same way that we are proud of talking about us being Filipinos. We should know that we are part of this bigger region, how we are citizen of a bigger region, and how we are dealing with our ASEAN neighbors,” Villar said during Thursday’s information kiosk launching at the Tacloban Airport here.

In the past few months, PIA, the government’s information arm, has been setting

up information kiosks to raise public awareness about ASEAN and the government’s flagship programs.

The kiosk, which is up for display in the entire year, contains information about ASEAN history, its priorities and endeavors, and its relevance to every Filipino. The agency also launched a similar kiosk at the Ormoc City bus terminal.

On Friday, there will be a one-day ASEAN forum at Robinsons Place Tacloban to be attended by heads of national government agencies in the

region, local government officials and private sector representatives.

“ASEAN offers opportunities to each and every member state and to every Filipino by opening doors to travel, learn and earn. It is a community of opportunity and something the PIA wishes to communicate to each and every Filipino,” Villar added.

The association’s economic integration allows free flow of goods, services, investments, capitals and skilled labor. (PNA)

“Relieved,” government peace panel chair Silvestre Bello III said of how he felt that the interim joint ceasefire was signed.

At the opening of the talks on April 3, NDF chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison and NDF peace panel chair Fidel Agcaoili said they want the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) signed first before a joint ceasefire agreement is forged, or both can be signed simultaneously.

NDF peace panel chair Fidel Agcaoili reiterated “the wisdom of securing the approval of the CASER ahead of any bilateral ceasefire agreement, unless both agreements can be signed simultaneously.”

Guidelines and ground rules The parties agreed to direct their ceasefire committees to “meet even in between formal talks, to discuss, formulate, and finalize the guidelines and ground rules” for the implementation of the agreement.

The fifth round of formal peace talks is scheduled on May 27 to June 2 in The Netherlands, Bello told MindaN-

ews.

The ceasefire committees of both parties will include in the guidelines rules governing the presence of armed units and elements of both parties in local communities and the creation of buffer zones; an agreement on what are considered as prohibited, hostile, and provocative acts; and ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanisms in relation to the implementation of the ceasefire and the handling of complaints and alleged violations.

The GRP and NDF also agreed that “matters regarding a single governmental authority and taxation shall be discussed and resolved in forging of the Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms within the framework of the proposed Federal Republic of the Philippines.”

The parties said the objectives of the joint ceasefire are to generate goodwill and trust in the GRP-NDF peace negotiations; encourage the forging of a more stable and comprehensive Joint Ceasefire Agreement, and provide an enabling environment for eventual and

early signing of the CASER. The interim joint ceasefire agreement was signed by GRP peace panel chair Bello and panel members Hernani Braganza, Rene Sarmiento, Antonio Arellano, and Angela Librado-Trinidad.

NDF peace panel chair Agcaoili signed for the NDF, along with panel members Benito Tiamzon, Coni Ledesma, Julieta de Lima, and Asterio Palima.

Signing as witnesses are Dureza, and NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison, and peace panel advisers Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan for the government and Luis Jalandoni for the NDF and third party facilitator Elisabeth Slattum for the Royal Norwegian Govenrment.

orders into a single unified bilateral agreement within 60 days” from August 26.

No bilateral ceasefire was forged at the end of 60 days.

The “indefinite” unilateral ceasefire, was lifted in February.

The proposed bilateral ceasefire is a major breakthrough in the three decades of peace negotiations across six Presidential administrations — Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Benigno Simeon Aquino and the President Rodrigo Duterte — as it will only be the second since 1986.

The last bilateral ceasefire was signed in November 1986, to cover a 60-day period starting December 10, 1986 but was not renewed following alleged violations by the military, as well as the massacre of protesting farmers in Mendiola in January 1987.

The NDF issued a statement on February 8, 1987 declaring it “cannot see any justification for extending.”

Both parties traded accusations of violating the ceasefire. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

Gov’t... FROM 2

Bilateral ceasefire The government and NDF each declared a unilateral ceasefire before the first round of formal peace talks in August last year, at the end of which they agreed that their unilateral ceasefire declarations will continue indefinitely as their ceasefire committees “reconcile and develop their separate unilateral ceasefire

INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

EVENT

LA TURNS 30

By EMILY ZEN CHUA Photos by GIANTIMAGES PHOTO STUDIO

IT WAS A NIGHT OF REMINISCING. For the first time since it was founded in March 18, 1987, Lakas Atenista celebrated its 30th founding year with a big bang.

On March 18, 2017, more than 200 Lakas Atenista (LA) members and law school residents gathered at Marco Polo Davao Ballroom to celebrate this momentous event with fellow LA members.

There were judges, lawyers, mayors, government officials, students, busi-

nesspeople – people from all walks of life – with only one thing in common, they are all members of Lakas Atenista.

The President of Davao Medical Inc., the maker of MX3 products, Gina Espejo, likewise graced the events together with MX3 doctor, Dr. Edwin

Former BIR Regional Director Atty. Franklin Ladores giving the opening remarks.

Bien.

LA started as a project of eight law school students of Ateneo de Davao University Law School, namely:Franklin Ladores, Dickson Go, Edgar Derecho, Eddie Castillo, Brieglo Pagaran, Ignatius Bajo, Luis Malanyaon and Alfredo Pagdilao, Jr..

They wanted to put up an alternative organization from the existing law school fraternities and sororities already established then. Through the years, LA has evolved.

It has been helping law students survive the academic-driven law school days by providing study guides, transcription of lectures by eminent law school professors, and assistance during the bar of exams of law students.

Today, LA even provides its members with an online study group where members can exchange notes regarding latest laws and jurisprudence.

Once a member of LA, you are an LA member forever. After law school, LA members and residents

(From L to R) Atty. Maceste Uy, Atty. Anderson Lo, Judge Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, Atty. Joy Gaisano with her husband John Gaisano, Atty. Vincent Paul Montejo and Atty. Roberto de Leon

also organize activities that promote social awareness and service among its members. For years, LA has been conducting free legal and medical clinics, feeding programs, and even social gatherings like Just Dance.

EDGEDAVAO

LEFT: Lakas Atenista Inc. Officers for 2017-2018. (From L-R): Atty. Martin Johnson Heje, Atty. Ryan Locsin, Ms. Algene Cutamora, Atty. Rollie Dumalag, Atty. Ma. Theresa Teves-Castaño, Provincial Prosecutor Norman Solis, Atty. Paul Ryan Ongkinco, Atty. Franklin Ladores, Prosecutor Rogie Verallo, Atty. Maria Luz Tupas-Floresta, Atty. Dina Joy Teñala, and Atty. Maceste Uy. RIGHT: LA member Judge Lorenzo Balo, singing “The Prayer” in Spanish and English.

LA founding members with Atty. Vincent Paul Montejo.

A2 INdulge!

ARTS AND CULTURE

EDGEDAVAO THEKATCLOSET A3

producing the patterns to be therapeutic and when I start, I always lose track of time. It’s such a good release for my pent up emotions. I even draw better or find inspiration when I’m angry or annoyed. I take out my frustration through my art and it enables me to process my feelings and then let it go,” the artist intimately shares. Tanya’s works reflect what she is going through and what she finds relevant. For example, her “Flexible Fatties” series started when she did yoga a couple of years ago. “Typical yoga poses but with an added twist of the subjects being larger than usual.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

It shows that yoga isn’t only for skinny, flexible or athletic people. Yoga is universal. I think I am most fond of creating human art forms, but women’s in particular—it is because the curves and lines that it innately posses are more attractive to me,” Tanya states. Truly, her repetitive lines in combination of her distinct patterns are further brought to life through the rhythm of her overall design—a juxtaposition of rigid geometrical strokes with the smooth rotational ones—a work of art that seem to look “busy”, but at the same time, still has a minimalistic application that is perfect for the modern space garnish.

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

ARTS AND CULTURE

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

PASSION IN PATTERNS IN RELATION TO ART, pattern is a combination of design elements and/or shapes that are arranged in a certain and repetitive method. Paradoxically, humans have been trying to perfectly imitate the natural patterns of the environment in all of its imperfections even before the emergence of Art Nouveau.

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In the mixed-media contemporary works of Tanya Gaisano-Lee, her art expressions impeccably encapsulates—not only the technique of her patterns—but the artistic application of repetition, rhythm, emotional concept, and art décor.

Growing up, Tanya has been more artistic than academic; even though she never had any formal art education, with the effective use of our social media, she does her own research and self-study— a pace that took twentynine years, but it was all worth the wait. “My favorite subject in school was art. In grade school, I was always excited to climb the wooden stairs to walk up to the art room.

In high school, I would always doodle during math class, but apparently, it

was called vandalism back then. In terms of artistic family background, my

mother was pretty creative; she did ikebana and liked arranging the furniture and decor at home,” shared Tanya. Audiences might identify the artist’s style with having similarities in aesthetic feel, structure and clean lines as that of Arturo Luz, but Tanya also likes to experiment on different patterns and color combinations. “I get a lot of inspiration when I travel. When I say travel,

I don’t necessarily mean scenic places in Europe or museums—you’d be surprised on the amount of “inspiration” I’ve gathered at tile factories in China.

They probably have the most number of patterns and colors amassed all in one place, which is extremely convenient,” the artist cheerfully shares.

Tanya’s pieces are very straightforward—what you see is what you get— and as I have been told, this is also how she is as a person. “Art has helped me by providing an output for my creativity. I find

THEKATCLOSET A2

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

Dominguez... FROM 5 She said that the Monetary Board gave its final approval to the loan’s terms and conditions on May 5, 2016, while then-DOJ Secretary Emmanuel Caparas issued on May 31, 2016 a legal opinion affirming the authority of the DOF (as the borrower) to forge the Concessional Credit Agreement with the UniCredit Bank (as the lender).

In a July 25, 2016 letter, DOF Undersecretary Maria Edita Tan asked then-Secretary Sueno to endorse to Dominguez the list of DILG officials, with their corresponding specimen signatures, authorized to “make, sign and deliver disbursement requests, withdrawal applications and/or other procurement/project related documents and reports necRepublic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

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

Case No.R11-EV-PJ2017-C-263 (2007-XI-00263)

JANE FRANCES A. JUICO, Petitioner

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

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ Dual Ordinary Regular service on the route: PANACAN VIA BUHANGIN/ILUSTRE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE(1) unit, which Certificate will expire on July 30, 2017.

In the petition filed on March 30, 2017, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on APRIL 25, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

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

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

WITNESS the Atty. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ, Chief Transportation Development Officer/Officer-In-Charge, this 31st day of March 2017 at Davao City.

Atty. CATLEYA B. ACAYLAR Attorney IV

essary to facilitate the implementation of the said Agreement,” for submission to the UniCredit Bank, said Alvarez.

On Oct. 10, 2016, Alvarez said that Sueno sent a letter with their specimen signatures to Dominguez, through Tan, informing the DOF that he (Sueno) along with Leysa and Baruelo would be the ones to deal with the Austrian bank.

“The undersigned confirms that all acts and deeds that will be undertaken by the said DILG officials by virtue of the authority granted herein, shall be in accordance with the subject Loan Agreement and applicable Philippine laws, rules and regulations,” said Sueno in his Oct. 10 letter to Dominguez.

As a result of Sueno’s

letter, Dominguez wrote an “Evidence of Authority” letter to the UniCredit Bank on Oct. 26, 2016 informing the bank that Sueno, Leysa and Baruelo would be dealing with the bank with regard to the loan agreement for the BFP Capability Building Program Phase 2.

Section 20 Article VII of the 1987 Constitution authorizes the President to contract or guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines, after consultation and with the prior concurrence of the Monetary Board.

The Monetary Board approved in principle the loan’s terms and conditions on Sept.

23, 2015 and then gave its final approval to this loan on May 5, 2016.

In 2016, the company hit an annual sales of P153 million, marking a 300 percent increase from P45 million in 2015. The company attributed this success not only to their partners but to the election to presidency of then Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Last year, the company’s peak season was in August, the Kadayawan Festival season where most Davaoenos come home to celebrate with their loved ones.

Toshi Tim Land, Inc. is a housing developer based in Davao City. It is owned by

Filipinos and Japanese entrepreneurs. The company originated from its international import-export business based in Japan. With its vision to provide Dabawenyos more housing options, Toshi Tim Land joined the real estate arena.

The company’s first project is strategically located at Indangan, Buhangin District, Davao City called Oakridge Residential Estate. The subdivision is conceptualized as a Japanese-themed community reflected on its house model designs.

said in Filipino. ”We have a lot of studies done and success stories written. If we can preserve our heritage, this will be really good for our socio-economic development as well,” Rentoria said.

Marites Manguindra, BCHARMM executive director, was

very optimistic in her office’s partnership with NCCA. This is not the first time the two agencies worked together, but Maguindra said that stronger ties with the NCCA is very beneficial for the ARMM since BCH has limitations in resources. (PNA)

said.

Tawantawan said they are contemplating whether to make these monitoring stations functioning 24/7 to ensure that there would be no erring climbers who would sneak into the trails without the permission from the LGUs. The environment official said among the control mechanisms include strictly no camping on the peak area, limit the number of trekkers to 50 a day, and closure of all entry points at 9 a.m. even if the number of trekkers is below maximum.

“This is solely a PAMB [decision],” Tawantawan said.

“It’s the policy-making body, the administering body, they are the stakeholders who live there,” she said, adding that the PAMB will have to take the consequences of whatever decision it made.

Tawantawan said all trails of Mt. Apo will be closed to climbers during El Niño so that last year’s massive fire incident that destroyed 115 hectares – of which, 20 hectares were forested with century-old trees – and endan-

gered the adjacent Mt. Talomo will not recur.

She acknowledged that the “enforcement” aspect of the MANP-PAMB is weak as compared with the PAMBs of other provinces, which are receiving funding support from the LGUs. “We are hoping that there will be changes in the implementation as well as on the enforcement of the recommendations. Hopefully, there will be changes. There will be a lot of things that we shall be doing. We will give our best on what should be done for Mt. Apo via the PAMB,” she said.

According to the MANPPAMB resolution, Manobo tribal leader Datu Rogelio Manapol was the one who raised a motion to reopen Mt. Apo and duly seconded by Datu Samuel Asicam.

She said the IPs requested that the trails be opened for “socio-economic” reasons.

Tawantawan said they are planning to include Mt. Apo in the five-year enhanced greening program that will be endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11.

Toshi... FROM 4

ARMM... FROM 6

Mt. Apo... FROM 4

NEWS 11

EDGEDAVAO

Investments... FROM 4

The project, he added, will be implemented in partnership with the Matugas family in Siargao Island this year.

“It was Representative Bingo Matugas who introduced these Filipino investors here,” Rusillon stressed, adding that the proposed project will be

established in one of the properties of the Matugas family.

Bingo Matugas currently represents the first legislative district of Surigao del Norte in the House of Representatives.

The town of General Luna is known as the “surfing capital of the Philippines” as two

major world surfing events are held in the town every June and September.

With more investments, Rusillon said they can provide jobs to the people and increase the income of the local government with their tax payment.

(PNA)

ernment of Surigao City, with the support of private groups and individuals, has provided initial support to the affected families.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development also gave relief assistance to 26,000 affected families he said.

“I know that the initial funds released to the affected people were not enough,” he pointed out.

He said the families whose

houses were totally damaged were initially given PHP6,000 each.

Matugas said that his office is now coordinating with the DSWD national office for the release of PHP30,000 to each of the 403 families whose houses were totally damaged and PHP10,000 each to families whose houses were partially damaged by the quake.

The funds, he added, will come from the agency’s shelter program.

The local government has released funds for the procurement of 30 tents that will serve as temporary classrooms for students, he said.

“The tents will be provided to schools where repairs will continue even during the opening of the school year in June,” he said.

Matugas appealed to his constituents to bear with government procedures in the release of funds and other assistance. (PNA)

has also allowed investments into ultra-supercritical coal plants that require less coal to produce energy, generate less carbon dioxide, and meet emission standards.

Cusi pointed out that renewable energy, particularly for a developing country like the Philippines where there are no subsidies, remains unaffordable, compared to con-

ventional energy sources.

The inherent intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, on the other hand, creates risks of power outages that hinders progress and turns off investors, he said.

“In Asia where one in seven persons lack access to basic electricity, the balance between promoting socio-economic growth and combating

climate change is an extremely fine one for governments,” he said.

He said that governments have a responsibility to the people to reduce poverty and encourage investments while allowing further economic growth, and one way to achieve these goals is to prioritize reliable and affordable power.

seum attractive are the displays of its people’s unique Mandayan culture”, she said.

She also added that the museum’s center piece, the 53-feet sperm whale, as well as the exhibits of the diverse flora and fauna from mountains to seas remind every visitor to take care of the environment.

In a bid to position the province as the new premiere ecotourism destination in Mindanao, the Provincial Gov-

ernment of Davao Oriental has also been showcasing its wondrous and unique ecotourism destinations through its tourism promotion and through organizing different events.

Governor Dayanghirang has said that “the very reason our province has hosted this year’s DAVRAA Meet was to promote and show to the people from across the region the various improvements here in our province. Indeed, we were

able to attract tourist and generate income for the people not just through Subangan Provincial Museum but also through other tourist destinations like the Amihan sa Dahican, among others.”

He also noted the income generated by both small and big local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, transport sector, and markets, among many others. (Riza M. Golez/ PIO DavOr)

The MANP-PAMB’s decision raised the concern of environmental groups.

Mylai Santos, executive director of the Ecoteneo of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), suggested that all stakeholders must agree on common standards and capacitate the tripartite monitoring team in collecting data on the progress of the rehabilitation works at Mt. Apo. “I agree. Instead of discussing number on how many people, let’s talk about standards,” she said.

Santos lamented the brief implementation of the “indefinite closure” that was approved by MANP-PAMB on March 31, 2016 to allow Mt. Apo time to recover.

“We are not saying to close forever. The main reason why PAMB decided to close the areas is that, are those concerns addressed already?

We don’t want a repeat of such incident,” she said.

“We are ready. We conducted the training for the porters. We have conducted the training of the guides – ongoing right now for three days – we have met and had a consultation and dialogue with the tribal people, the barangay people, and all other stakeholders, including the habal-habal drivers, vendors and everything, so we are set,” he said.

He said they are installing signage, checking the trails, and placing the comfort rooms in designated areas.

He said the LGU in Kidapawan trains their porters and guides on search and rescue, and jungle survival.

Recimilla said that some people apparently look at things wrongly. “The trek to Mt. Apo is an ecotourism activity,” he said. “You don’t damage anything,” he claimed.

He urged environmental groups to compare if trekking causes more environmental damage than the banana plantations and vegetable farming activities in Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

Surigao... FROM 5

DOE... FROM 5

Subangan... FROM 6

‘Off-limits’ She said all LGUs agreed that trekkers will not be allowed entry to the damaged areas to ensure that the healing process will not be disturbed by trekking activities.

Tawantawan said special monitoring stations will be established in strictly prohibited portions of Mt. Apo. In the Davao Region side, one will be placed near the crater adjacent to the burnt area, which is connected to Sta. Cruz and Digos trails, while in the Soccsksargen side will be at Lake Venado that connects to the Kidapawan and Makilala trails.

Firemen and volunteers took almost three weeks before the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 11 placed the fire under control on April 15, 2016, after an aerial thermal assessment conducted by the Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) of the Department of Science and Technology showed no signs of active fire and validated by ground evaluations.

Ready Recimilla added that the Kidapawan trail is ready to accept trekkers on April 12.

12 PROPERTY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

Matina Enclaves’ bares February Top Sellers

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

A

S a fitting tribute to another productive sales period, the Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) treated its Top Sellers and Top Producer Realties for the month of February.

The month’s topnotchers were the stars of the regular Top Sellers Banquet held at the Kamayo Cafe of The Royal Mandaya Hotel on March 27.

“Another smashing period passed and we owe it to our sellers who did an outstanding job at the sales. ESDEVCO would like to thank them for the hard work in selling the Matina Enclaves,” said Gerald Kent Garces, project head of Matina Enclaves.

The Top Sellers of the month are first placer Ofelia Genodepanon of Furog Realty, followed by Angelica Tabin of Alegado Realty in second, Veljean Villaraiz of Three V Realty in third, Solomon Bañez of Bañez Realty (4th), Belinda Morales of Morales Realty (5th), Fara Irmina Fajaro of Leuterio Realty (6th), and Aileen Balugo of Leuterio Realty (7th).

The Top Realties are Furog Realty (1st), Leuterio Realty (2nd), Alegado Realty (3rd), Fullworth Realty (4th),

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

and Davao Dragon Vibe (5th).

Matina Enclaves is a prime mixed use real estate development by the Davao-based Esdevco which is owned by the Escandor family, known for its diverse business in security services and hospitality.

At the moment, the project has sold five residential condominiums with Building 1/B nearing completion.

(NJB)

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

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

New, mobile-friendly DOT website to be launched soon

A

NEW, mobile-friendly website for the Department of Tourism (DOT) is expected to be launched sometime this year, a Tourism official said.

“We are soon going to bid it out and we are putting up a new website. It will combine all existing website that we have,” Tourism Asst. Secretary Frederick Alegre told reporters in a press conference.

Alegre said the agency target to launch the mobile-friendly website before mid-year.

He said that it will also contain information on accredited tourism agencies, operators, establishments and the like to

help travelers steer clear of fake ones.

The DOT earlier warned travelers of fake tourism agencies and operators selling bogus travel packages.

Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation (TRCRG) Alma Rita Jimenez said that customers should observe due diligence in choosing the right tour operator and package.

To verify the legitimacy of a travel agent, travelers may first check if the travel agency is accredited by DOT through their websiteaccreditationonline. tourism.gov.ph. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 13

SoCot enlists 2,362 surfacing drug personalities for treatment, rehab

T

HE provincial government of South Cotabato has enlisted an initial 2,362 surfacing drug personalities in parts of the province for drug treatment, rehabilitation and other related interventions.

Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, said Wednesday these comprise the surfacing Personalities Involved on Drugs or SPIDs in the area who completed their screening and assessment last month.

He said they specifically used the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screen-

ing Test or ASSIST developed by the World Health Organization for the assessment.

ASSIST was introduced to screen drug users on methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and other substance abuses, he said.

“The screening focuses on determining the severity of mental health conditions of drug users,” said Aturdido, who heads the local government’s technical working group on interventions for the SPIDs. The official said they have so far screened about 36.4 percent of the 6,490 drug users and

NEW TOURIST SITE. General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and Elsie Villanueva, assistant city agriculturist, recently visited the Banla Eco Tourism Farm, one of the emerging tourist destinations in the city. The farm

pushers who had surfaced and voluntarily surrendered to authorities within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

He noted that the program’s implementation was hampered by the reluctance of some personalities to submit themselves to the screening process.

As of the end of March, 10 of the area’s 11 local government units have adopted and implemented the ASSIST. Polomolok town posted the most number of screened personalities with 744, followed by Koronadal City with 383, Sto. Nino with 367, Tantangan with

211, Tboli with 168, Surallah with 144, Lake Sebu with 131, Tupi with 104, Norala with 64, and Tampakan with 46.

Based on the results of the severity test on the use of shabu, a total of 76 individuals or three percent were found at severe risk level, 677 or 29 percent at moderate risk, and 1,609 or 68 percent at low risk.

In terms of wellness and recovery, he said those in low risk levels only need general interventions such as health education, social and spiritual support and other related interventions.

(PNA)

will host the upcoming Gensan Summer Youth Camp 2017 on April 28-29.

It is also a transit point on the way to Sanchez Peak. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/ Russell Delvo)

14 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

Foods that make you more beautiful

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

E

VER heard of the “fountain of youth”? It is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted across the world for thousands of years, appearing in writings by Herodotus, the Alexander romance, and the stories of Prester John.

Stories of similar waters were also evidently prominent among the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean during the Age of Exploration, who spoke of the restorative powers of the water in the mythical land of Bimini.

Whether the “fountain of youth” is true or not, the fact remains that water is one open that can make a person younger – and more beautiful. Next to air, water is the element most necessary for survival. Water makes up more than 60 percent of our body weight. In comparison, proteins make up only 18% while fats encompass 15%, minerals 4%, carbohydrates 2% and vitamins less than one percent.

Our brain contains 74% water, blood contains 83% water, lean muscle has 75% water and bone has 22% water. A lack of water affects everything from your digestive tract to your immune system.

It also helps regulate your body temperature.

A person needs at least 24 liters of water daily or one liter per hour. Dr. Willie T. Ong, an internist-cardiologist, considers water as one of the 10 foods that can

make a person more beautiful. “Just as a dehydrated person will have deep-set eyes and wrinkled skin, so will a fully hydrated person exhibit a normal and firm skin tone,” Dr. Ong explains.

The recipient of the Outstanding Filipino Award given by the Department of Health suggests that a person drinks 8-10 glasses of clean water every day. “Drinking lots of water,” he says, “will help flush out toxins from your body.”

In his book, “Stay Younger, Live Healthier,” which he co-authored with his wife, Dr. Liza Ong, he also recommends drinking green tea.

Quoting studies done by Dr. Michael Roizon and Dr. Mehmet Oz, he says green tea contains polyphenols that may prevent sunlight damage and improve the elasticity of the skin’s outer layer. “Studies show that green tea may prevent various cancers, including skin cancer, because of the high concentration of catechins,” he says, adding that a person should drink one to two glasses of green tea each day.

Dr. Ong also endorses milk and its by-products. “Low-fat milk products are good for your heart, bones and skin,” he says. Cottage cheese contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and selenium. The latter is a potent antioxidant, which can help promote a more beautiful skin. “But don’t eat too much cottage cheese because they can be fatty, too,” he warns.

Nuts – like pili, cashew,

“Tell them dear, that if eyes were made for seeing, Then beauty is its own excuse for being.”

– From “The Rhodora”

by Ralph Waldo Emerson and peanuts – are also highly recommended. “The rich oil in nuts helps moisturize the skin while its vitamin E component may protect your skin from damage and premature aging,” Dr. Ong explains.

Dr. Ong considers nuts as “nutritional powerfoods” as they are packed in protein, minerals, and fats. “Yes, they’re fatty but don’t worry,” Dr. Ong says. “The fats founds in nuts are the good fats – monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.”

Peanuts and cashews nuts are good but if you can buy the more expensive walnuts

and almonds it would be good as they “are specially packed with healthy oils.” Word of warning: “Some nuts are salty and high in uric acid. So, just eat a handful as a snack.”

What about soybeans? “(They) contain proteins, which breaks down into smaller amino acids upon digestion,” Dr. Ong says. “The amino acids, in turn, help repair the skin cells and collagen beneath the skin. In addition, soybeans contain essential fatty acid that helps moisturize your skin naturally.”

Soybeans are also rich in

calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. “Hence, they’re good for your heart, bones, and digestion,” Dr. Ong says. “You can add soybeans in your diet by drinking soya milk or adding tofu to your soups, stews, and salads.”

Speaking of omega-3 fatty acids, you can also get them from oily fish. Endorsed by the American Heart Association, oily fish like sardines, tuna, mackerel and salmon, are filled with healthy omega-3 fatty acids – a type of fat that makes your blood less likely to form clots.

Salmon, in particular, contains astaxanthin, which is a carotenoid that improves skin elasticity. A 2005 study in the “Journal of Lipid Research” shows that fish oil can limit skin damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Fish oil may also alleviate condition such as psoriasis, eczema, and dry and flaky skin. To get the full health benefit, fresh oil fish is better than canned fish where omega-3 levels are reduced.

Vegetables are the world’s most natural foods,” says Dr. Ong. “Vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, and thousands of other plant chemicals known to provide health benefits. Lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and broccoli are all very healthy. Green leafy vegetables contain varying amounts of fiber, potassium, calcium, folate, iron and vitamins A, B, and C.” One of the most affordable green leafy vegetable is malunggay. Nutritionists aver that 100 grams of malunggay leaves yield the following: 75 calories of energy (higher than ampalaya, squash, tomatoes, or carrots), 5.9 grams protein (higher than cauliflower, lettuce, or mustard), 12.8 grams carbohydrate (higher than okra, papaya, or watermelon), 353 milligrams calcium (higher than gabi leaves, mung beans, squash, and camote tops), 3.7 milligrams niacin (higher than

other vegetables analyzed).

And for thiamin, phosphorus, and ascorbic acid, malunggay is at the top of the list.

Although considered a fruit in some countries, tomato is still a vegetable in the Philippines. A German study finds that tomato paste with olive oil helps participants prevent sunburn within ten weeks of taking it.

“Tomatoes are extremely high in antioxidants, especially carotenoids like beta-carotene and lycopene,” Dr. Ong says. Studies show that lycopene may help slow down cellular damage from free radicals. Lycopene is readily released by cooking tomatoes and better absorbed with a little oil added.

Dr. Ong recommends three fruits that can make your more beautiful: avocado and watermelon.

On avocados, the noted doctor wrote: “Avocados are packed with the B vitamins, which help nourish your skin.

Vitamin B3 (called niacin) acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and may help smoothen reddish and patch skin. One avocado contains 3.8 milligrams of niacin, which fulfills 27 percent of your daily needs.”

As for watermelon, its beneficial effect comes from it component citrulline, which is converted to arginine in the body. “Arginine helps flush out ammonia and other toxins from the body,” According to Dr. Ong, you need to select the deep-red watermelon as it contains the pigment lycopene, which helps counter the bad effects of free radicals circulating in the body. “Once we reduce these free radicals, we can theoretically slow down aging and gain a healthier-looking skin.”

In the long run, just remember the words of Martin Buxbaum: “Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.”

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

11 PH athletes to train in Brisbane

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LEVEN athletes, led by long jumper Marestela Torres-Sunang and hurdler Patrick Unso, are scheduled to leave for Brisbane, Australia to prepare for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Kuala Lumpur this August.

Sunang currently holds the SEA Games record of 6.71 meters she established in Palembang, Indonesia in 2011. In the same tournament, Unso set a new Games record of 14.58 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles.

Also joining the trip are Edgardo Aleja Jr. (400m), Mervin Cuarte (800m/1500m), Marco Vilog (800m/1500m), Christopher Ulboc (3000m), Immuel Camino (3000m), Mark Harry Diones (long jump), Julian Reem Fuentes (long jump),

Ariel Toledo (decathlon) and Hesson Agravante (marathon).

Most of the athletes won medals in recently-held Philippine Open International Track and Field Championships hosted by Isabela province.

While the 11 athletes are in Australia, the rest of the national team will be supervised by a foreign coach and other local coaches.

Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena has already left for Italy to attend a training program under topnotch coach Vitaly Petrov of Ukraine.

Petrov, who is running the Pole Vault Centre in the Italian town of Formia, has produced world champions Sergei Bubka of Ukraine, Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia.

Petrov also coached Bra-

MARISTELLA TORRES-SUNANG (Long Jump) zilian Fabiana Murer, who won the gold medal in the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea and the World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar in 2010.

The 21-year-old Obiena holds the national record of 5.55 meters.

While in Italy, Obiena will com-

pete in local tournaments to further enhance his skill against European pole vaulters.

Obiena, whose father Emerson is a former Philippine pole vault icon, first trained under Petrov at the Spala Olympic Training Center in Warsaw, Poland in 2014. (PNA)

PATRICK UNSO (Hurdles)

Davao, 7 other squads get nod for PFL

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AVAO and seven other corporate football clubs across the country got an approval from the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) to participate in the Philippine Football League (PFL) which kicks off on April 29.

The Davao franchise will be known as Davao Aguilas.

The other football clubs are Ceres Negros, Global Cebu, ILocos United, JPV Marikina, Kaya Football, Stallion Laguna and Loyola MeralcoSparks.

The Club Licensing Regulations of PFF has issued the license for these clubs to play in the country’s premiere professional football competition.

PFF President Mario Araneta said in a press statement, “The success of the national league is very important for further growth of Philippine football. I thank all the stakeholders, including the upcoming sponsors,private club investors,sponsos, stadia owners,players and football fans in keeping faith with us

in the PFF to have this professional football league.”

According to PFF, Red Card Global was instrumental in paving the way for the commercialization of the PFL and its financial model. This marketing sports agency based in Singapore has a six-year exclusive commercial agent rights of PFL. The PFL is set to sign television rights with stateowned People’s Television Network -PTV 4 for the “Freeto-Air” of the event. (PNA)

CLOSE GUARDING. Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort is shadowed by Ginebra San Miguel’s Scottie Thompson during the GlobalPort Ginebra game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Ginebra won this match last Wednesday night. PBA Media Bureau

James dominates in showdown vs Celtics

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EBRON James had 36 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers ran past the Boston Celtics 114-91 on Wednesday night to move back into first place in the Eastern Conference.

The teams had identical records entering their final regular-season matchup, but Cleveland (51-27) now has a one-game lead over Boston (50-28) with only four games to play. Cleveland also holds the tiebreaker with the Celtics for the top seed, if needed.

Kyrie Irving added 19 points and five assists.

The Cavaliers played without starting center Tristan Thompson, who was out with a sprained right thumb. But they made due without him, surging at the start of the second quarter and taking as much as a 29-point lead in the third quarter. They also outrebounded Boston 51-38.

Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 26 points.

James’ output has increased noticeably over the last week as the regular season winds down. He entered Wednesday coming off backto-back triple doubles in Sun-

After Horn, Koncz said he was still hoping to set up a Pacquiao fight with Khan in either the Middle East or the Philippines in October or November.

Pacquiao, who has been hailed as a virtual national hero in his home country,

briefly retired early last year and then ran and won a seat in the Philippine senate.

But the retirement was short-lived as Pacquiao, who said he missed the ring, made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November.

IT’S OFFICIAL... FROM 16

day’s double-overtime win against Indiana and a blowout win over Orlando Tuesday, while logging 89 minutes over those two games.

He played another 39 minutes Wednesday, finally going to the bench with 4:04 remaining.

The Celtics came out of the gate stale offensively.

Thomas went 5 of 9 from the field in first quarter, while the rest of his teammates were just 3 of 12.

Cleveland seized on Boston’s sluggishness at the start of the second quarter, outscoring the Celtics 22-4 over the first 6:40 of the quarter.

James was active on both ends during the run, exploding to the rim for several easy baskets. He also did it on the defensive end, notably stuffing Marcus Smart with a two-handed block.

Even with Thompson out, this was the healthiest Cleveland team Boston had seen since the teams’ first meeting in November.

DAVAO AGUILAS. The Davao Aguilas FC is one of the 8 teams competing in the inaugural Philippine Football League season.

Westbrook misses triple double but OKC wins

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USSELL Westbrook just missed breaking a tie with Oscar Robertson for the NBA single-season triple-double record. The Oklahoma City star did knock down a late 3-pointer to seal a victory Westbrook fell a rebound short of an historic triple-double, but scored 45 points, including the Thunder’s final five points to lead Oklahoma City to a 103-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

The guard, who also had 10 assists with the nine rebounds, nailed a 3-pointer - his eighth of the game - with 14 seconds left to extend the Thunder’s lead to 101-97. Two free throws in the final second provided the final margin.

Westbrook remained tied with Robertson with 41. The point guard couldn’t help but be aware late in the game that he

was a rebound away from sole possession of the mark Robertson set in the 1961-62 season. ‘’The crowd was screaming it, so yeah I heard it,’’ Westbrook said.

Oklahoma City solidified its hold on the Western Conference’s sixth seed, holding a 3 1/2-game lead over the Grizzlies. And while there was plenty of talk about the triple-double mark, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said the win was priority. ‘’With our team, we are just wanting to do what we need to play better,’’ Donovan said. ‘’Once the regular season ends and the playoffs start, it’s not a topic of conversation anymore.

So, there’s only about six more days of this.’’

Marc Gasol led Memphis with 23 points, and Zach Randolph had 20 points and nine rebounds.

Memphis was without starting point guard and leading scorer Mike Conley, who suffered a gash over his eye Tuesday night in San Antonio.

The game pretty much became the backdrop for Westbrook’s triple-double watch.

Each statistic recorded by the Thunder guard drew a check to see if he was approaching the record. ‘’I’m happy to get the win. I think that’s important, especially for us to get ready for the playoffs,’’ Westbrook said.

Oklahoma took the lead to 10 in the third quarter, but the teams were tied at 95-all before Doug McDermott connected on a 3-pointer with 1:24 left, earning Westbrook his 10th assist. Oklahoma City never relinquished the lead as Westbrook recorded the Thunder’s final five points.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

IT’S OFFICIAL Horn gets shot at Pacquiao in Brisbane

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FTER previous speculation that Philippine world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s next fight would take place in the UAE – before that notion was quashed – his next scheduled fight has now been confirmed to another once-rum o u re d affair.

Pacquiao is to fight u nd efeate d Jeff Horn o n Horn’s h o m e

LOCKING HORNS WITH PACMAN. Jeff Horn finally gets a shot at Manny Pacquiao at home on July 2.

turf in Australia, Pacquiao’s camp said Wednesday.

The announcement of the July bout ends months of speculation on who the 38-year-old Filipino dubbed “Pac-Man” would face next as he seeks to prolong a stellar career that saw him win world titles in eight different weight classes.

“We signed the Jeff Horn contract this morning. Fight is July 2 in Brisbane, Australia,” Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told AFP by text message.

Koncz s a i d Pacquiao

would be staking his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Horn, 29.

He declined to say what the prize money would be.

Pacquiao’s American promoter Bob Arum had been originally pushing for the

Filipino to face Horn in Australia but in a surprise development, Pacquiao and British boxer Amir Khan announced separately in February that they would fight on April 23.

But the deal spectacularly fell through with Arum describing the reported $38 million UAE fight to the Los Angeles Times as “pie in the sky”.

F IT’S OFFICIAL, 15

VOL. 10 ISSUE 5 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 7 - 8, 2017