Edge Davao 10 Issue 61, June 27, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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LONELY CITY PCL exec describes how Marawi looks like today

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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HE chairman of the Philippine Councilors League described Marawi City as a “lonely city” after a three-hour visit on June 24, affirming that was depicted on TV was the actual situation.

“It indeed looked like parts of Syria,” said Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chair of the PCL. The PCL chairman led a 17-vehicle to Marawi that brought relief goods and assistance to victims of the ongoing conflict.

Dayanghirang said his group visited ground zero, which was more or less 300 meters from the war zone.

His group consisted of councilors, Muslims and Christians, from Region XI and Region 12 who joined the caravan “to show that Muslims and Christians are one.”

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UPCOMING GYMNASTS. A young boy spends the holiday playing chasing game with his peer on the metal structure of a canopy at Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

LTFRB firm on ban of UV Express vans EDGEDAVAO Sports Big 3 is on, D Iverson’s team wins opener ESPITE protests from utility vehicle express drivers on the suspension of their operations in Davao City, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board remained firm in its decision to ban north-bound UV Express vans temporarily.

In an interview on Monday, LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra

said that he understands that UV Express drivers’ source of income would be affected but lives of the riding public.

“I know that they have been complaining na ang hanapbuhay daw nila naapektuhan. Ang sagot naming dyan, ‘buti sa inyo hanapbuhay. Ang amin, buhay na mismo ang naapektuhan.’”

This was following the road

mishap between an overspeeding UV Express van and a truck on June 15 along KM 21., near crossing Mahayag-Buhisan that took the life of 11 passengers and injured other 9.

Delgra said that the LTFRB had to hold the problem by the neck and address the same considering that a lot of lives were lost in the accident.

He also clarified that in their decision in temporarily banning the UV Express operations in Davao, they have ensured that there is enough buses to cater to passengers going north.

“The reason why we are doing this is not because we are against UV operators but

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P15

BATTLECRY Pacquiao says he will go

home with title intact P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

SLEEPY. A young Muslim girl yawns as she participates in a morning prayer during the celebration of Eid al-Fitr at Tionko Football Field on Sunday. Lean Daval Jr.

House okays proper use of Philippine flag T HE House of Representatives has approved on final reading a bill which seeks to strengthen the rules on the use and display of the country’s national symbols, as well as the proper rendition of the national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang”.

With 212 votes on the affirmative, the lower chamber unanimously approved House Bill 5224, expressly repealing Republic Act No. 8491 or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines”.

HB 5224, or the proposed “Revised Flag and Heraldic Code”, confirms the official design of the Philippine flag -- blue, white and red with an eight-rayed golden-yellow sun and three five-pointed

stars -- which must be consecrated and honored by the people.

The bill mandates that the Philippine flag be hoisted all throughout the year in front of government institutions and other places such as the Malacañang Palace, Senate, House of Representatives, Supreme Court, and the Rizal Monument in Luneta, among others.

The bill declares as Flag Days the period from May 28 (National Flag Day) to June 12 (Independence Day) of each year.

During the Flag Days, all government offices, business establishments, learning institutions, and private homes are

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Don’t discriminate against displaced Maranaos: solon

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SENATOR on Monday appealed to the public not to discriminate against internally displaced persons from Marawi that seek temporary shelter from nearby cities amid the ongoing conflict in their city.

“I appeal to the public not to stoke the flames of Islamophobia. Discrimination breeds hate. It builds walls.

It sustains unjust wars,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a statement coinciding with the

celebration of Eid’l Fitr.

Hontiveros made this appeal citing reports that a number of Maranaoans have complained of discrimination noting that some house and apartment owners in nearby provinces have refused to rent out their properties to them.

She said that she understood the public’s security concerns, but warned them not to mistake discrimination for vigilance.

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Dabawenyos offer care packages for troops F

ROM hygiene items to expensive water filter gadgets, Dabawenyos have continued to offer “care packages” and “lifestraw” items for the government troops fighting against terrorists in Marawi’s war zone.

The items are their response to the donation drive initiated by the civil society organizations and the business community in collaboration with the Philippine Army.

The campaign dubbed: “One Love, One Mindanao,

Support our Troops Caravan” has collected more than P100,000 worth of “care packages” on Sunday, the second day of the event. The campaign runs from June 24 to June 30, 2017.

A care package is a small parcel containing items that are needed by the soldiers deployed in the field. These products are hygienic items, operational items like undergarments, pain relief patches and comfort items like chocolates, cigarettes, among others.

Lt. Col. Ronaldo Valdez, commanding officer of the 10th Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Mawab, Compostlea Valley, said the Support for Troops campaign is only one of the series of donation drives launched by the CSOs and the business community.

On June 3, Valdez said they already sent an initial delivery for the soldiers and the displaced civilians in Marawi.

This was followed on June 12

wherein the concert for cause resulted to more donations from the public.

He said three truckloads of various goods to include banana, chocolates, rice, water were delivered to the conflict zone. The goods were unloaded at the 103rd brigade based in Lanao del Sur. “We delivered them straight to the conflict zone,” he stressed. Other civilian and humanitarian groups deliver relief in Iligan through the local

Upong, 20. by the Maute Group during the humanitarian ceasefire declared by the military and reciprocated by the Maute Group on Sunday, 25 June 2017, in deference to Eid’l Fitr. A policewoman carries two-year old Joana Albasite. MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH B. CABRERA The team included four Muslim religious leaders who dialogued with the Maute Group for some 90 minutes on how to end the crisis, the emissary told MindaNews.

The Marawi Crisis entered Day 34 on Sunday.

The emissary, a prominent Maranao whose name

has been withheld by the GPH-MILF Peace Corridor for security considerations, was the same emissary who negotiated with the ISIS-inspired Maute Group to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire on June 4.

The four-hour “humanitarian pause” then led to the rescue of at least 134 residents.

The emissary told MindaNews late Sunday night that Maute had set a condition for the release of Fr. Chito but agreed to free some hostages who were located nearest to their meeting place. The five happened to be the nearest.

Fr. Suganob in the viral video posted in the Facebook account “Native A Mranao,” who

credits it to Datumasa Khalid.

The video had over 161,000 views and 3,527 shares as of 9 p.m. Tuesday (30 May 2017) The emissary said the condition set by Maute for the release of Fr. Chito as well as the results of the dialogue with the religious leaders have been relayed to Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermoso of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the government’s focal person in the GPH-MILF Peace Corridor. Hermoso, a retired Army Colonel and a member of the government’s Peace Implementing Panel for the GPHMILF Peace Accord, told Min-

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Maute holds on to priest; but releases 5 hostages

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HE Maute Group on Sunday declined to release hostaged Catholic priest Fr. Teresito “Chito” Soganub but freed five hostages, including a two-year old girl during the 10-hour humanitarian ceasefire that government declared and was reciprocated by the Maute Group on Eid’l Fitr, the end of the month-long Ramadan.

Freed by Maute Group leader Abdullah Maute to an eight-member team led by an emissary of the Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF) Peace Corridor were Lando Albasite, 47; Moen Albasite, 27; Joana Albasite, 2; Jane Palacio, 22; and Joy

F MAUTE, 10

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Urban terrain, IED make Marawi fight hard: Padilla

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FROM MARAWI AND BACK. Philippine Councilors League (PCL) chairman Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang talks about his group’s recent humanitarian trip to Marawi to deliver P200,000 worth of relief goods and assistance to

victims of the ongoing conflict. Dayanghirang graced the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

ILIPINO soldiers have made significant headway in clearing Marawi City of the remaining Maute Group remnants but fighting in urban terrain with an enemy well versed in the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines and snipers has certainly posed significant challenges to the liberating military forces.

Adding to the difficulties is the presence of civilian hostages whom the terrorists have no qualms of using as human shields if they get cornered by troops, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said over the weekend. “(Things) are difficult because of the urban terrain (which is the worst form of battlefield) and we are doing this (clearing operations) very carefully because we have compounding issues which are presence of hostages, residents who refused to leave their homes, continued discovery of IEDs (which necessitated) the door-to-door clearing operations being practice by our

troops,” Padilla stressed.

These factors have made combat in Marawi City very complicated, he said.

These same factors are also present in most Mideast engagements with ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorists and these contributed greatly to the length of time to neutralize them.

“In the case (in) the Battle of Mosul (in Iraq), it is still ongoing up to now, (having) started October 2016, and it not finished yet (despite) been going on for eight months. In Libya (which conducted operations against) ISIS/Daesh (terrorists) the battle started May 12 and ended only last Nov. 6, so it lasted over six months; in the Battle of Ramadi where American and Iraqi militaries combined to fight the ISIS terrorists, the operation started April and ended only in November 2006 and during the Second Battle of Fallujah (where the Iraqi, American and British forces combined) against Al-Qaeda terrorists, operations lasted Nov. 7 up to Dec. 23, 2004,” he added.

(PNA)

EPARTMENT of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana took exception to reports made by some leftist groups claiming that women in Marawi City are fearful of being raped by troops now deployed there to neutralize the remaining Maute Group terrorists.

“I question the motives and credibility of certain leftist groups and individuals in coming up with a dubious report that Marawi women residents allegedly fear that they will be raped by soldiers in the ongoing military operations in Marawi City,” he said in a statement Monday.

Lorenzana also called these efforts counter-productive as these factions are apparently out to worsen the

almost six-week conflict with unproven and spurious reports.

Fighting in Marawi City erupted when military forces tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, the “Emir” of ISIS in Southeast Asia, last May 23.

As of this posting, the death toll in ongoing fighting is placed at 268 Maute Group terrorists, 70 soldiers and police officers and 26 civilians.

“While the nation continues to suffer from the havoc wrought by the ongoing rebellion in Marawi and atrocities in various parts of Mindanao, some factions obviously have a lot of free time on matters other than helping improve the situation,” he added.

Maranao deputy exec DND says reports on troops appeals for help, unity Dthreatening rape unfounded

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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N line with the celebration of Eid Mubarak, Maranao Tribe Deputy Mayor, Randy Usman asked for unity and help for his brothers and sisters in Marawi who were affected by a current war.

Usman also asked his fellow Filipinos not to judge his tribe since only a few Maranaos are members of the ISIS link, Maute group.

He said that the people in Marawi need help and understanding from everybody.

Usman said that they have set up several evacuation centers for the victims of the Marawi siege who seek

refuge here in Davao City.

Most of them stay in their relatives for the meantime while the war continuous in their place.

At least 6 barangays in the city have received evacuees from Marawi since the war erupted last May. “For those who would like to help, they can go to their barangay hall to give their donations. Anything will do, foods, clothes and even prayers, we hope for everybody’s understanding and not categorize the Maranaos as terrorist,” he said.

City Social Services and

Solon proposes creation of national dengue program

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PARTYLIST lawmaker at the House of Representatives has filed a bill seeking the creation of a National Dengue Prevention and Control Program to reduce the incidence of dengue cases in the country.

AKO Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe filed House Bill 3730 to control and eliminate the proliferation of dengue dubbed as the “Anti-Dengue Act”, as he warned against dengue fever with the onset of the rainy season.

According to Department of Health (DOH) data, a total of 35,973 dengue cases were recorded nationwide from January 1 to May 20 this year, which is 31.8 percent lower compared to the 52,780 dengue cases recorded within the same period last year.

“This policy measure is in cognizance with the current efforts of the Department of Health to reduce the cases of dengue fever cases and approach the problem in a much more rudimentary level,” Batocabe said.

“Most dengue fever cases are transmitted among family members, mainly due to poor waste collection and incorrect practices of water storing,” he added.

Under the bill, the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program shall implement various component activities, such as regular clean-up drives in barangays, schools, and government offices.

It shall also conduct programs on dengue awareness, self-protection, and preven-

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Development Office head Maria Luisa Bermudo said that their social workers are currently making a master’s list to monitor the needs and whereabouts of th evacuees during their stay here in Davao City.

“Our assessment is still ongoing since we still receive evacuees, as of now, we are giving them immediate food assistance,” Bermudo said.

Bermudo said that the city will also assist on the education of those who enrolled here in Davao City.

She said that they will coordinate with the Depart-

ment of Education (DepEd) and even the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the college students.

“We will coordinate with other agencies to help the evacuees, some signifies their intention to transfer here in the city permanently, we will also look into that,” Bermudo said.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the city of Marawi will be needing at least P10 billion to bring back the normality there that was devastated during the war.

PLAY TIME. A Muslim teenager tries to outmaneuver other bicycle enthusiasts during a day out at Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

LTFRB meets van operators, drivers over reckless driving

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STARTING EM’ YOUNG. A Badjao girl helps her mother earn money for breakfast by peddling used shoes to park goers at Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

AboitizPower firm bags ‘The Asset’s’ top award For renewable energy deal of the year

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HE P4.1-billion project notes facility for AboitizPower’s Hedcor Sibulan hydro power plant bagged the Renewable Energy Deal of the Year-Hydro award in the Hong Kongbased finance publication, The Asset.

“This award is a testament that we remain true to our mission to provide Filipinos a better future by delivering reliable and reasonably priced power,” said Emmanuel V. Rubio, AboitizPower COO for Generation Group.

The SEC registration-ex-

empt Peso Denominated Fixed Rates issuance, which was also evaluated by the Philippine Rating Services Corporation (PhilRatings) and received a credit rating of PRS Aa+, indicating AboitizPower and subsidiary Hedcor’s obligations are of high quality and subject to a very low credit risk.

The project notes issuance will be used to finance the redemption of a portion of preferred shares in line with AboitizPower’s capital management program to pay issue-related expenses and for

general corporate purposes.

This is the second to the highest credit rating with stable outlook from PhilRatings and the first in First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC, Issue Manager) to structure this type of fundraising. It is also the first for AboitizPower to refinance through fixed rate notes offered to Primary Institutional Lenders (PILs) in accordance with the Securities Regulation Code.

“We will continue to be committed to our obligations, build trust with our stakeholders and initiate projects

that lead to the sustainability of our operations, our environment, and the advancement of our communities,” Rolando Pacquiao, vice president for Operations of Hedcor, said.

Hedcor manages and operates 22 hydropower plants and supplies the country with 185 MW of clean and renewable energy. With almost 40 years of experience, Hedcor is the leading run-of-river developer in the Philippines, which adheres to the guidelines of multiple international standards. (PR/PNA)

address injustice and inequality.

We all have to contribute what we can to building our nation while the government’s role is to redistribute resources to ensure that those who have little will have more. No one needs to be left behind,” Jo-Ann Latuja Diosana and May-i Fabros of the AER said in a column in BusinessWorld.

According to these AER officials, the TRAIN, which comprises the first package of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), is no different from the Sin Tax Reform Law, which was similarly met with public opposition at first amid efforts by its critics to portray it as a revenue measure that will hurt the poor in terms of higher-priced cigarettes and alcoholic drinks.

“We only need to rise above the noise of those who are opposing in the guise of protecting the poor,”Diosana said in a state-

ment released during a recent tax forum.

“In the case of the Sin Tax Law, they let the poor farmers compete with the sick and the dying. Now with the pending TRAIN, they are once again hinting at how the middle class will be liberated at the expense of the poor,” they said.

Today, however, the public recognizes the importance of the Sin Tax Reform Law and its benefits, and views it not just as a revenue generating measure but a policy that helps us make healthier lifestyle choices for ourselves and our families, the AER officials said.

They said that TRAIN’s popular proposals, such as the lowering of personal income tax rates and the lifting of bank secrecy laws are easy to support. But the bill’s other provisions that aim to raise more funds for infrastructure and social services are usually met with divergent views.

Diosana and Fabros said retaining the economic status quo will enable the country to survive but will also mean lost opportunities in significantly improving the lives of ordinary Filipinos and rescuing more of our countrymen from poverty.

“If we desire to pull more of our impoverished countrymen out of poverty; if we dream that more Filipino families need not be separated just so some of their members can find work abroad; if we envision a Philippines that is more inclusive, with its islands and provinces closely linked by roads, bridges, and trains, the more vividly we will see that all we need to sacrifice is loose change,” they said.

‘We lose when we refuse to participate and push for the passage of a measure that can slowly shape our communities to be healthier and more sustainable and raise the much needed rev-

Advocacy leaders urge support for“win-win”tax reform plan

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CTION for Economic Reforms, a policy advocacy group, is urging Filipinos to vigorously support the Duterte administration’s proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) now pending in the Congress that aims to dramatically raise public investments in the country’s future, instead of allowing themselves to be swayed by groups that wrongly oppose badly needed reforms “in the guise of protecting the poor.”

According to AER, the Philippines is now at a “critical juncture” in which the government has a “win-win” measure that will allow it at lass to spend big on the people’s welfare by adopting a holistic approach to tax policy and administration reforms.

“The holistic approach of connecting the sources of financing to the use of funds makes the tax reform a win-win measure to

FADVOCACY, 10

HE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will be meeting Tuesday, June 27, the commuter van operators and drivers over issues and problems over complaints of reckless driving and speeding ans other issues to their operation.

It is eyeing the lifting of suspension of the operation of UV Express Service operating in Davao City and towns in Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and other neighboring provinces or the northbound vans.

However, the lifting of the suspension will depend on the result of the final findings on their operation and consultation with all operators, driver of the UV Express Service and other public utility vehicles today at Linmarr Inn. In a chanced interview Monday, LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra said it is not only simply lifting the suspension but they have to address the problems on the operation of the commuter vans given that they have been receiving many complaints on reckless driving and speeding since last year.

“Our attention has been called and we have to respond to it,” Delgra said, adding that complaints also came from congressmen. He said LTFRB and traffic officials will sound off all problems and address all issues during the consultation.

It may be recalled that LT-

FRB issued a Board Resolution asking UV Express Service to cease and desist operations on June 15 following the deadly road accident wherein a UV Express van from Montevista, Compostela Valley rammed an Isuzu forwarder truck along the Davao-Agusan Highway in Bunawan, Davao City. The accident left 11 persons dead and seven others badly injured.

The accident pushed the LTFRB, which takes charge of the franchises and operations of all public utility vehicles to look into the operation of the UV Express Service.

The accident also prompted Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to ask for a crackdown on illegal passenger vans plying between Davao City and neighboring provinces.

Delgra said they will not only address the issues facing the northbound but also others. He said their decisions will not only cover UV Express in Davao but also cover nationwide of the same operation.

At the same time, LTFRB will also conduct vehicle tagging to determine which are illegal and legally operating.

“If you’re not in the database, then you are illegal,” Delgra said.

Delgra explained the suspension should be taken as government’s opposition to their operation but a decision to protect and ensure safety of the riding public. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

BFAR strengthens Bantay Laot to curb illegal fishing

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HE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources XI continues to strengthen its Bantay Laot Program to curb illegal fishing in Davao Gulf by providing incentives to fisherfolk.

On Sunday, some 578 registered fisherfolk from 23 barangays in Davao City under the Bantay-Laot Program received cash incentives amounting from P1,000 to P2,000 as sea watchers.

They are from barangays 21C, 23C, 31D, 76A, Bago Aplaya, Bunawan, Centro, Daliao, Dumoy, Duterte, Hizon, Ilang, Lapu-lapu, Lasang, Leon Garcia, Lizada, Matina Aplaya, Pampanga, Panacan, Sasa, Sirawan, Talomo, and Tibungco.

BFAR Director Fatma Idris underscored the program’s successful implementation in Davao Region, which became the pilot area under the supervision of BFAR National Director Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona.

Idris said the program is an initiative of the Department of Agriculture-BFAR that also protects threatened

marine and aquatic species aside from deterring illegal fishing in the municipal waters.

The program includes capacitating subsistence fishers, particularly the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), as sea guardians or sea watchers during closed season in nationally-declared Fishery Management Areas (FMAs).

Idris said the program is anchored on the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

This provides support to local goverment units, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils and municipal fisherfolk to include assistance in the training of Bantay-Dagat Task Force.

Idris said this is also a realization of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol’s commitment when he turned over 300 fiberglass boats to 600 registered fisherfolk in the Philippine Fisheries and Development Authority (PFDA) XI in Toril last year.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

ECONOMY 5

Vista Land bullish on retail business V

ISTA Land & Lifescapes, Inc. is bullish on its retail unit, All Value Holdings Corp., with the expansion of the company’s commercial spaces and available lots within residential developments.

Vista Land and All Value Chairman Manuel Villar Jr. has told reporters that the company will grow its retail business in the pace of expansion for Vista Land malls.

Villar said the company will be building 12 malls, with 10 of these to be operational by 2018, while the remaining malls will be opened by 2019.

Currently, Vista Land has 17 malls.

All Value’s retail chains include AllHome one-stop-shop home improvement depot, AllDay Supermarket, AllDay

Convenience Stores, AllToys toy stores, AllShoppe department stores, Bake my Day bakeshops, and The Coffee Project coffee shops.

Villar said it will put up AllHome stores in each mall it will develop, and will be part of the first phase of the development. Other retail concepts will follow in the second phase.

“AllHome is doing very well. Right now, there are only 13 branches. We paused for a while but we are set to resume the opening of stores and we will ramp it to 25 by next year,” he added.

He said within Vista Land’s residential developments, the company allotted spaces for future commercial needs.(PNA)

Lower VAT rate seen if gov’t plugs tax leaks

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LOWER value-added tax (VAT) rate on goods and services -- now pegged at 12 percent -- is possible once the government is able to clean up the tax system and plug leakages arising from the myriad of exemptions from this consumption tax, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said Thailand, which has a VAT of 7 percent, collects the same amount of revenues from this tax as the Philippines does despite its lower rate because of fewer exemptions.

Thailand, he said, has only 35 lines of exemptions while the Philippines has 59 lines of exemptions in the tax code and 84 special laws with VAT exemptions.

The revenue share as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the VAT is the same at 4.2 percent for both the Philippines and Thailand despite the former’s higher tax rate, he added.

“Our proposal really is to clean up the VAT system.

Over time, once we have addressed the exemptions, we may reduce the VAT rate. We will do it step by step,” Chua said at a recent Senate hearing of the ways and means committee on the DOF’s proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).

“Our strong belief is that the moment we have exemptions and a multitude of exemptions, it multiplies the opportunity for discretion, and therefore corruption and tax evasion,” Chua said.

Chua said that because Thailand has already done the basics of making its tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient, it can afford to provide its citizens lower tax rates, and corporate investors the tax incentives that would entice them to relocate there.

“Thailand can afford this because it has done the basics many years ago but we have not,” said Chua. (DOF)

FIRM ON SUSPENSION. Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Martin Delgra III says his agency will conduct a dialogue with UV Express operators to discuss the planned crafting of new policies

No region should be left out from P8T infra-solon Said spending should create economic opportunities

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HE P8.4 trillion that President Rodrigo Duterte plans to invest in new public infrastructure should be distributed evenly countrywide to foster balanced economic growth across all regions, House senior deputy minority leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said Monday.

“Development planners should see to it that the money is spent prudently, and spread out as fairly as possible so that all Filipinos will enjoy the economic benefits. No region should be left behind,” Atienza said.

“We really have to renew our aging infrastructure, so we are all behind the President’s highly aggressively strategy,” Atienza, former three-term mayor of Manila, said.

He said the enormous spending should create new economic opportunities for less developed areas and help stem resettlements in highly urbanized and congested districts.

“People will go to where the money is, and to where the jobs are, so every region should get its fair share,” Atienza said.

He said the huge investment in new roads, bridges, railways and airport improvements is expected to spur a multitude of recurring construction-related jobs that would immediately benefit low-income households.

“Construction workers come mostly from underprivileged families. They also tend to spend their money in a

alco-controlled generation companies?”, Rep. Zarate asked.

The seven (7) PSAs that Meralco awarded without bidding to Meralco-controlled generation companies will oblige Meralco customers to pay at least P91 billion in generation charges every year. Information about these staggering amounts can be gleaned from the PSA applications themselves.

Over the 20- to 21-year duration of the contracts, Meralco customers will be paying almost P2trillion in generation charges. The staggering amount excludes other

costs to customers, such as distribution and transmission line charges.

The ongoing congressional inquiry, under House Resolution No. 566 filed by Bayan Muna on 21 November 2016, aims to review and determine whether the PSAs for 3,551 MW are for the interest of the Filipino consumers. Specifically, the probe aims to determine if: 1) the PSAs are disadvantageous to consumers; 2) Meralco engaged in illegal or improper self-dealing; and 3) such actions were facilitated by the ERC in violation of its own rules and procedures.

Bayan Muna alarmed over ERC ok of controversial Meralco unit project

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AYAN Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate today expressed alarm and indignation over the reported decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve the construction of a P1.7-billion transmission line for a power plant project of a subsidiary of Manila Electric Company that is under investigation for possible improprieties inimical to consumers.

The approval of the transmission line comes even before the ERC has completed its review of the power supply contract between Meralco and the power plant in question.

“The approval suggests

that the approval of the PSA, which is being questioned in various fora -- including the House of Representatives, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Supreme Court, and even Malacanang itself-- is a foregone conclusion,” Rep. Zarate said.

“Does the decision to approve the transmission line project for the 1,200-megawatt project of Atimonan One Energy Inc. (Atimonan One) mean that ERC has already approved the supply agreements (PSA) not only between Meralco and Atimonan One, but, also between Meralco and six (6) other Mer-

which will ensure the welfare of the commuting public. Delgra interacted with members of the media at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

manner likely to benefit other disadvantaged households,” Atienza said.

“Chances are, they will buy their food and other basic necessities from the nearest street vendor, carinderia or sari-sari store, and not from Jollibee or 7-Eleven,” he said.

The administration’s push for a “Golden Age of Infrastructure” calls for big projects throughout Duterte’s six-year term, including the country’s first underground electric railroad.

The proposed P227-billion Mega Manila Subway promises to take commuters from Quezon City to Taguig City in just half an hour.

Atienza favors the subway project. “Since we can no longer widen most roads in Metro

Manila, we have to either build tunnels, or put up more elevated trains,” he said.

Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are set to ink in November a deal that would pave the way for the construction of the subway system, which will be funded in part by official development assistance from Tokyo.

The administration plans to boost annual investments in infrastructure until it reaches an amount equal to 7.4 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of Duterte’s term in 2022.

At present, annual government spending for infrastructure amounts to just 5.4 percent of the total value of all goods and services produced by the country in a year.

Senator hopeful PNR has solid plan for maintenance

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ITH the Philippine National Railway set to implement a P3 fare hike on July 1, a senator on Monday expressed hope that the management would also prepare a solid plan for maintenance of trains and other related facilities.

“With its fare hike, I’m hoping that the PNR has a solid plan for its maintenance. Be mindful that the passengers of the train are forking over their hard-earned money for convenience,” detained Sen. Leila de Lima said in a statement.

De Lima noted that the

fare hike is the only immediate solution to shoulder the maintenance of the trains, but PNR management should be able to produce measurable and satisfactory results with the hike.

She previously authored Senate Bill (SB) No. 370, which seeks to provide the rehabilitation and revitalization of the PNR system.

The neophyte senator, meanwhile, stressed that the amendments to the existing PNR law would address longterm gaps, which cannot be

F SENATOR, 10

6 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

Marawi children‘not as traumatized as adults’

C HAPPY MEAL. Child evacuees enjoy a Happy Meal from McDonald’s at the Buruun Gym evacuation center in Iligan City on Eid’l Fitr (Sunday, 25 June 2017), which marks the end of Ramadhan. MindaNews photo by AUBREY ROCIN LLAMAS

Tagum, a progressive yet green city—Sen. Angara

S

ENATOR Sonny Angara on Monday said Tagum City is a stark contrast to the common picture people think about progressive cities, underscoring that despite its development the city’s environs are still visibly clean and green.

“When you think of a city ang iniisip mo ma-traffic, madumi, may basura, ito ang exact opposite” Sen. Angara said in an interview with the City Information Office.

Sen. Angara is the guest of honor and speaker at the city’s celebration of the 156th birth

anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal held in Busaon Integrated School (BIS) last June 19, 2017.

“Very progressive, very nice surroundings, very green and very clean, hindi ‘yong pangkaraniwang city,” the senator remarked.

Sen. Angara likewise emphasized during the program that was organized by the City Government of Tagum Rizal’s “peaceful resistance” to foreign rule which became one of the foundations of the Filipino nation to achieve independence.

He also urged the Tagumenyo

Peace advocates hold peace, solidarity missions in Marawi

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EACE advocates and civil society organizations, in partnership with local peace groups, have conducted over the weekend solidarity and peace missions to families displaced by the Marawi armed hostilities now housed in temporary shelters in Iligan City and nearby areas.

Dubbed “Kambabid-babid,” a Maranao term for “intertwining” or “Kapit-bisig” which means the essence of neighbors reaching out to one another in trying times, civil society from Mindanao, Luzon and the Visayas, composed mainly of peace and human rights organizations, conducted a solidarity and peace mission over the weekend to express empathy and listen to the untold stories of affected communities and evacuees.

Initiated by the Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW) with its allied peace partners Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc (BALAY), Maranao people Development Center, Inc

(MARADECA) and the Ranao Rescue Team, the 70-member peace mission expressed solidarity to the people of Marawi through a variant of what they call “Duyog Ramadhan” — a traditional solidarity activity among non-Moro peace advocates to promote interfaith, cultural understanding and dialogue during Ramadhan.

The mission engaged in conversations with residents from the displaced communities now seeking refuge in Iligan and Cagayan De Oro. According to reports, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to swell with more than 300,000 IDPs scattered in evacuation camps and relatives in Lanao del Sur. “We did not bring any rice, sardines, canned goods, noodles or anything. What we bring is our presence, our ears, our hearts, our love and our lives to share with the affected communities,” MPW secretary general Gus Miclat said.

crowd to get involved in collaborative endeavors as way of spurring growth and development.

“We can achieve great things kung magsama-sama tayo at hindi natin iniiwan ang isa’t isa sa ating komunidad,” the senator said.

Sen. Angara led the wreath laying ceremony at the school’s monument of heroes to honor Dr. Rizal. He was joined by Mayor Allan Rellon and some members of the three local chapters of the Order of the Knights of Rizal and Kababai-

hang Rizalista.

After the program, Sen. Angara and Mayor Rellon distributed school supplies to some 500 students of Busaon Integrated School (BIS). The former also led the induction of the student-officers of the Kabataang Pangarap ni Rizal (KAPARIZ) of BIS. It was the first time for Barangay Busaon to be visited by a senator and the first for Tagum City to celebrate the birth anniversary of the country’s foremost hero. Roy Banias/CIO Tagum

OTABATO City – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is reiterating its call for evacuees to register using the Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card (DAFAC), which is issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“The evacuees should be registered, to have access to services and resources we are providing,” ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said. As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, a total of 40,753 families, or 193,952 individuals, have been displaced since the clashes in Marawi City started a month ago.

The delivery of services to displaced families has become harder in recent days as many Marawi residents did not register with DSWD as evacuees, especially those who are staying at their relatives’ houses in neighboring

towns and cities. Only 970 families, or 4,691 individuals, are in designated evacuation centers, while 39,783 families, or 189,261 individuals, are home-based.

The regional government has utilized the DAFAC system to ensure equal and timely distribution of relief packs for the evacuees.

The system is applied by the DSWD-ARMM to validate the status of families affected by the crisis, which will serve as a reference in the provision of appropriate interventions.

The DAFAC, Sec. Alamia noted, will also be used in future rehabilitation and recovery programs for Marawi City. She said some evacuees went to Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Socsksargen (Region 12), and Davao (Region 11); while some have gone to as far as Visayas and Luzon.

“They could go to their

HILD evacuees from Marawi City aren’t as traumatized as their elders, a volunteer for a humanitarian group on Saturday said.

Jasmine Pado, one of the Maranao volunteers who are facilitating psychosocial interventions for Marawi residents displaced by the ongoing clashes between government forces and the Maute Group, said the children can cope easier “due to their playfulness”.

Child evacuees from Marawi City while away the time coloring images at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buruun, Iligan City on Saturday (June 24, 2017). MindaNews photo

by H. Marcos C. Mordeno “So far, we haven’t met someone who showed signs of deep trauma,” she noted.

Pado said they are attending to over 300 school-aged children from Marawi, many of whom have stopped formal schooling after leaving their homes.

“Some are enrolled in various schools in the city,” Pado, interviewed at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buruun, said.

Most of the younger children could not communicate in Cebuano that’s why those who are rendering psychosocial assistance to them are all Maranaos, she explained.

Aside from group plays, Pado’s group holds image coloring sessions for the children. She would reward them with a piece of lollipop for every image that they finished coloring.

Pado said other nongovernment organizations and schools from as far as Davao City have sent their own

teams of volunteers to help in psychosocial activities for the evacuees.

Jasmine Pado, a volunteer psychosocial therapist talks to child evacuees at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buruun, Iligan City on Saturday (June 24, 2017). MindaNews photo

by H. Marcos C. Mordeno Inside a classroom-sized tent beside the spot where Pado’s group stayed, an NGO called Child Friendly Space (CFS) was giving a lecture on children’s rights for children aged 13-17.

More children arrived as the lecture was going on but appeared hesitant to go inside the tent.

A CFS volunteer asked them to write their names on an attendance sheet and join the session but refused at first. Three of them admitted they could not write their names. The rest just shied away.

Outside the tent, Macmilad Humaba stood in silence, listening to the lecture. He said he didn’t go inside because he’s already 22.

Asked about his educational attainment, he said he only finished grade six.

“Marami akong pangarap ngunit lampas na ang panahon para ako ay mag-aral (I have many dreams but time has passed me by in terms of schooling),” he said.

“Seguro pupunta na lang ako sa Maynila para doon maghanapbuhay, o hihingi ng tulong sa mga kamag-anak ko dito sa Iligan para makapagnegosyo (Maybe I’ll go to Manila for a living, or ask help from my relatives here in Iligan to start a business),” he said.

municipal, or city, social welfare officer to register using DAFAC so that the city government of Marawi will be able to monitor its residents, especially when rehabilitation starts,” Sec. Alamia added. The regional government has already spent roughly P35 million in urgent assistance to victims of the Marawi crisis.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said the aid is aimed at meeting the growing humanitarian needs of communities struggling with the current situation. Marawi is one of only two cities in the ARMM. The governor said current funds from the regional government can still respond to the needs of the evacuees noting the government has so far allocated about P77 million for the victims of the crisis.

Latest update from the ARMM’s crisis management

committee showed the regional government served relief packs to 197,232 evacuees and provided medical services to 5,284 individuals. An operation center has also been set up in Malabang town in Lanao del Sur, and in Iligan City in Lanao del Norte to coordinate and manage the region’s response to the ongoing crisis in Marawi City.

The ARMM crisis management committee has been active since May 24 in gathering information as well as in assessing and monitoring the situation on the ground to help keep track of the needs of the affected families. Information gathered and verified help the committee in decision making, in planning actions, and in taking steps to continually ease the plight of evacuees, stranded individuals, and missing Marawi residents. (Bureau of Public Information)

ARMM renews call for Marawi evacuees to register for relief, rehab programs C

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

Rizal Memorial Colleges reopens law school

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FTER a long hiatus, the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) has reopened its school of law, which will start classes on July 3.

Prominent lawyer Ramon Edison C. Batacan, managing partner of the Batacan Montejo Vicencio (BMV) law firm, has been appointed dean of the school.

Batacan, a law professor of the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) of long standing , is a past Davao City chapter president and eastern Mindanao governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Batacan said RMC recently received notice from the Legal Education Board (LEB) that its application to offer a law course has been favorably considered.

8 law schools With the reopening, there are now a total of eight colleges offering legal education in the Davao Region – four in Davao City, three in Tagum City, Davao del

Norte and one in Digos City, Davao del Sur. They are Ateneo, University of Mindanao (UM), RMC and Jose Maria College in Davao City; UMTagum, St. Mary’s College and St. Thomas Moore in Tagum City, Davao del Norte; and Cor Jesu Colleges in Digos City, Davao del Sur. Six of the schools recently produced more than 100 new lawyers who successfully hurdled the 2016 Bar examinations, the area’s biggest “harvest” on record.

Admitting it is the biggest challenge of his professional life, Batacan said being dean of the newest law school is a gargantuan task. “However, I have no doubt I can hurdle the challenge with the tremendous support of the school management,” referring to Leo A. Magno, RMC chairman of the board, and his mother, Evelyn Abellera-Magno, its president.

New building Upon formal receipt of the LEB certificate, RMC will

Ramon Edison C. Batacan, dean also break ground for the construction of a four-story building to house RMC’s schools of law and business.

Batacan, who is also RMC’s corporate board secretary, said the new law school will adopt the mentoring style of teaching, deviating from the traditional Socratic system, wherein the law professor as the sole authority in the classroom lords it over the learning process like a dictator. In the “mentoring” system, he

Evelyn Abellera-Magno, president said, there is open communication between professor and students and they are encouraged to form themselves into groups to freely discuss the subject matters, instead of the professor spoon-feeding and sometimes “terrorizing” the students.

RMC’s law alumni Before its closure in the 80’s, RMC had produced some of the most prominent lawyers in Davao and

3 Dabawenyos win‘Ulirang Ama’awards

Leo A. Magno, chairman

elsewhere in the country, according to Raul Tolentino Sr., a law practitioner for five decades now and who had studied in RMC from Grade 1 to second year Law until he transferred to San Beda College, the alma mater of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Tolentino, whose three children are also lawyers, two of them judges, identified some of the RMC law school alumni as Judge Roberto “Kid” Q. Canete, Judge Guillermo Clarin, Judge Jose

Majaducon, Judge Antonina Escovilla, Cabinbanan Mamukid (retired regional director of the Office of Muslim Affairs), Jose Goyo, Vidal dela Cruz, Irineo Benavides, Eddie Laurente, Ramon Garay, Romeo Tomas and Reynaldo Nolasco.

The last dean of the old RMC college of law was the late Jose Arro, retired judge of the Court of First Instance, forerunner of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Tolentino said.

Governor Miranda Bridge Butch Ramirez, Capt. Go, Exec. Secretary Medialdea honored in Davao Norte now open

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HREE prominent Dabawenyos were cited as “model fathers” during a well-attended awarding ceremony at the Centennial Hall at the iconic Manila Hotel in Manila in time for the national celebration of Father’s Day last June 18.

The “Ulirang Ama” awardees are Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medial-

dea, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” I. Ramirez and Capt.

Ronald Anthony C. Go, incumbent president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII).

Medialdea and Ramirez received the Ulirang Ama awards in public service, while Capt. Go, the Ulirang Ama in business and industry.

The “ulirang ina, ama awards” is administered by a foundation.

During the awarding rites done during a breakfast gathering, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno spoke as chairman of the Ulirang Ama awards, while Justice Angelina S. Gutierrez also talked as chairperson of the Ulirang Ina awards.

Another prominent person from Mindanao, Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri of Bukidnon, was also cited as model father, together Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara of Luzon.

Movie and television director Edgar Mortiz was also an awardee for the Ulirang Ama category in arts and culture.

Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea

Capt. Ronald Anthony C. Go, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. with father, retired General Cesar de Leon Go and eldest daughter, Camille Francesca Chairman William “Butch” I. Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Cruz Go. Commission

D

EPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar announced that the newly-widened Governor Miranda Bridge II is now formally open to vehicular traffic.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the inauguration of the Miranda Bridge II which connects the Municipality of Carmen and the City of Tagum in Davao del Norte.

“The opening of the Governor Miranda Bridge is only the start of the Duterte administration’s Build Build Build program. We are committed to building more bridges throughout the country,” Villar said.

“Located along Daang Maharlika that has an average daily traffic of over 26,000, Governor Miranda Bridge II serves as the main access of motorists from Davao City going to other

parts of Davao Region and vice versa,” he added.

Secretary Villar said the new bridge is seen to provide inter-regional linkage without hampering flow of traffic even during flooding occurrences in low-lying areas, thus encourage growth in investment and tourism.

“DPWH has widened the 650-lineal meter bridge from two (2) lanes to four (4) lanes with 18 spans and higher elevation at a costs of P757 million to protect the travelling public from the dangers of flooding in the area,” Villar said.

The new bridge was also designed to carry heavy load, which means it can accommodate more heavy cargo trucks carrying agricultural products that frequently ply along the major trunkline of Daang Maharlika.

FAGOVERNOR, 10

Located along Daang Maharlika that has an average daily traffic of over 26,000, Governor Miranda Bridge II serves as the main access of motorists from Davao City going to other parts of Davao Region and vice versa.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

EDITORIAL A tragedy called Trillanes

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ENATOR Antonio Trillanes’ live interview with “Hardtalk” on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was talk of the town last week--from coffeeshops to social media.

It was, to many, the worst 24 minutes of their lives. Maybe not for the opposition lawmaker who must have floated on cloud nine getting global attention.

The tragedy that is the Trillanes interview exposed his one-sided view on important issues as well as his misappreciation of the Filipino people’s grasp of matters that concern their daily lives. The moment Trillanes opened his mount to the world, he showed how crooked his views are and his doomsayer’s wish of a Duterte downfall.

Trillanes was fed with questions that are not even of factu-

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al backdrop, mostly assumptions and second hand unverified information by the host Stephen Sackur. However, instead of correcting the host, Trillanes assumed the premises as factual and made his replies. The result was disastrous.

Did Trillanes gain in the interview? Most definitely, he made a fool of himself and that did not help the cause of the anti-Dutertes like him.

Add to this, with his declaration that he is a member of the Nacionalista Party which supports the President, it is now a question whether what his party will do now with the damning statements he made.

Trillanes, who had two failed coup attempts against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, just did himself in with that latest misadventure.

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HERE is no mistaking that the latest escapade of Sen. Trillanes re “faulty” BBC interview was designed to create a news furor internationally.

He might have made himself into a laughing stock as his bumbling statements showed but his guesting in the British talk show HardTalk – good or bad - somehow attracted global attention to the on-going political situation in the country.

At a time when Filipinos needed to link arm in arm against the barbaric onslaught of the ISIS-inspired, Isnilon Hapilon-led Marawi uprising, here comes Trillanes’ unmistakably treasonous act, given the fact that as a senator of the republic, he swore to uphold and protect its constitution.

If the highest officials of the land are impeachable, is there a mechanism to remove elected senators for gross violations committed against the Filipino people?

Is the Comelec-approved recall procedure applicable if the electorate

A

VERY drunk man sits down with the ladies having some têteà-tête. He was talking aloud which disturbed the ladies. One lady, who could not hold her temper, told the man blankly, “If you were my husband, I would poison you.”

The man, embarrassed by what he heard, stood up. He faced the lady and without much ado told her: “Ma’am, if you were my wife, I would drink the poison.”

Here’s another one. At a dinner party one evening, there was a heated exchange between British statesman Winston Churchill and a female member of the parliament. At the end of the argument, the lady said scornfully, “Mr. Churchill, you are drunk.” Replied Churchill, “And you, madam, are ugly. But I shall be sober tomorrow.”

That’s what criticism is all about.

Actually, criticism is the practice of judging the merits and faults of something or someone in an intelligible (or articulate) way. According to Wikipedia, criticism can be: directed toward a person or an animal; at a group, authority or organization; at a specific behavior; or at an object of some kind (an idea, a relationship, a condition, a process, or a thing).

Criticism can also be personal (delivered directly from one person to another, in a personal capacity), or impersonal (expressing the view of an organization, and not aimed at anyone personally). It can be delivered in verbal (expressed in language) or non-verbal (expressed symbolically, or expressed through an action or a way of behaving).

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

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Is Trillanes a CIA boy? called for a people’s initiative?

Very clearly, Sen. Trillanes is following a script.

It is a script made not for the movies but a template that has been tested and tried for removing duly-elected authority. It begun with EDSA 2 and the poor Erap Estrada did not even know what hit him.

Don’t you smell something?

His arrogant, asinine actions and insolent braggadocio lead us to suspect that something or somebody very powerful and influential is behind Trillanes.

Surely, he could not have acted on his own.

Unlike well-rooted politicians of note, Trillanes is still wet behind the ears. May gatas pa sa labi. Despite not having a solid following from among the masses, he stubbornly continues to flail away at PRRD, whose ouster from Malacanang he has sought since Day One of the Duterte administration, within the constitutionally-allowed processes or even outside of it.

SPECKS OF LIFE Fred C. Lumba His LP allies, obviously agitated by ominous threats of jail terms and convictions for corrupt practices, have stepped up their attacks, questioning the declaration of martial law in Mindanao instead of condemning the deathly abominable killings spawned and authored by the rebellious ASG-Maute Group.

Trillanes’ actions are at the least despicable.

As a former soldier, he capitalized on his military upbringing and background to bring about his present elected position which he owes to us.

His one-day coup attempts against the government of the unpopular GMA earned the sympathy of the Filipino people.

Today, Trillanes’ tirades against the current government borders on insecurity and political preservation.

By 2019, he will be a private citizen or if he so desires, may run for a congressional seat or party-list in Magdalo.

Whether we like it or not, his political suasion may then diminish in which case he might become a lesser entity.

The anti-Duterte mainstream media is obviously cuddling the wild-swinging senator. His press conferences are well-attended and given more than adequate space in the both the print and broadcast media.

That is, if the incumbent regime does not charge him for offenses com-

mitted against the government and the Filipino people.

If you add two and two together, one will come up with a reasonable clue that the powerful, world-wide Virginia-based agency may just be where the senator is depending on for logistical support and more.

If we look back to the Estrada years, we might just be able to trace who, what, where, when and how EDSA 2 started and eventually succeeded.

I pray the intelligence community is wary about this evolution of an idea.

Doesn’t PRRD’s word war with the then outgoing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg come to mind? The grapevine was rife with speculations that the former envoy hated the former Davao City Mayor’s guts and that a blueprint for PRRD’s ouster has been put out for implementation.

Real or imaginary, it feeds the creative mind. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

ing.” He titled the article as “Bull in the Afternoon.”

Shortly after the piece had been published, the two men happened to meet in the office of Maxwell Perkins, Hemingway’s editor. Here’s what transpired, according to The Book of Lists (The ‘90s Edition): “The results of that meeting were not revealed until years later, when a copy of Eastman’s Art and the Life of Action was put up for auction. It was autographed not by Eastman but by Hemingway and Perkins. According to the catalogue, on page 95 of the book there was a spot where it had hit ‘Mr. Eastman’s nose when Mr. Hemingway struck him with it in a gesture of disapproval.’”

Here’s another story from The Book of Lists. After the premiere of Arms and the Man (1898), Irish author George Bernard Shaw took the stage to make a curtain speech. When the applause subsided, there was a solitary boo from London critic Reginald Golding Bright.

Shaw looked directly at Bright and said, “My dear fellow, I quite agree with you, but what are we two against so many?”

English author Samuel Johnson is one person who would get even with those people who would exploit him.

When he was completing his dictionary, a London journal published two anonymous “previews” of the book. The articles were favorable but superficial.

When he learned that the wealthy Earl of Chesterfield had written them, he was furious.

After all, he had applied to him repeatedly for patronage while writing the dictionary, but the earl had been cheap,

giving the poverty-stricken writer no more than ten pounds (about US$250).

Now, Johnson felt, he was trying to take credit as a patron. In the dictionary, he defined patron as “commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is paid with flattery.”

Critics should never mess with children of famous people. In 1950, the daughter of American president Harry S. Truman, Margaret, gave a public singing recital in Washington. Her performance, however, was attacked by the Washington Post’s music critic, Paul Hume.

The Book of Lists said Truman wrote Hume a letter. “I have just read your lousy review buried in the back pages,” the American president penned. “You sound like a frustrated old man who never made a success, an eight-ulcer man on a four-ulcer job, and all four ulcers working. I have never met you, but if you do you’ll need a new nose and plenty of beefsteak and perhaps a support below.”

Surprisingly, Hume published the letter. As expected, it caused an uproar.

However, most Americans approved of Truman’s fatherly behavior. Years later, Margaret wrote, “Dad never felt the slightest remorse about sending it. He always insisted that he had a right to be two persons – the President of the United States and Harry S. Truman, father of Margaret, husband of Bess Wallace. ‘It was Harry S. Truman, the human being, who wrote that note,’ he said.”

Russell Lynes reminds: “The only graceful way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can’t ignore it, top it; if you can’t top it, laugh at it; if you can’t laugh at it, it’s probably deserved.”

The fine art of criticism

In some instances, criticism can be explicit (the criticism is clearly stated) or implicit (a criticism is implied by what is being said, but it is not stated openly). Oftentimes, it is the result of critical thinking or spontaneous impulse.

Wikipedia explains: “To criticize does not necessarily imply ‘to find fault,’ but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice or disapproval. Often criticism involves active disagreement, but it may only mean ‘taking sides.’ It could just be an exploration of the different sides of an issue. Fighting is not necessarily involved.”

Take the case of what had happened when British Royal Princess Margaret met with a London-born actress Elizabeth Taylor. The “Hollywood royal” was decked out with one of the biggest diamonds in the world that had cost British actor Richard Burton over US$1.1 million dollars.

According to some accounts, here was what happened. On clocking the 69.42-carat diamond, the Princess Margaret was ‘gob smacked’ and quipped to Elizabeth: “Is that the famous diamond?

But it’s so large – how very vulgar!”

“Yes,” the two-time Oscar winning actress replied. “Ain’t it great?”

Then Elizabeth – who was well known to have connections with people who enjoyed the ‘high life’ – asked her to try on the huge diamond. When Princess Margaret was wearing the 69.42-carat diamond, the actress made a saucy comment: “It doesn’t look so vulgar now, does it?”

Revenge is a deceiver – it looks sweet but is most often bitter. The fol-

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

lowing anecdote appeared in the journal of the English clergyman, Augustus Hare. It has been told to him by his old friend, the Honorable Augusta Barrington.

“George IV, as Prince Regent, was very charming when he was not drunk, but he generally was. Do you remember how he asked Curran to dinner to amuse him – only for that? Curran was up to it, and sat silent all through dinner. This irritated the Prince, and at least, after dinner, when he had had a good deal too much, he filled a glass with wine and threw it in Curran’s face, with ‘Say something funny, can’t you?’ Curran, without moving a muscle, threw his own glass of wine in his neighbor’s face, saying, ‘Pass His Royal Highness’s joke.’”

In Bennett Cerf’s 1944 book Try and Stop Me, he tells about author-critic Max Eastman commenting that Ernest Hemingway’s just-published novel Death in the Afternoon was an example of the “false-hair-on-the-chest school of writ-

10 NEWS LONELY... FROM 1 “When we entered, it’s a very lonely city. Soldiers are just sitting down and you see a lot of military equipment, air and land assets coming in and out, including ambulances. You can also hear the gunshots from the capitol.”

In the spirit of unity and friendship at times of calamity, the Philippine Councilors League together with Deputy Mayor of Maranao Tribe in Davao City and Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce brought clothing, medicines and relief goods on Saturday, June 24, for the victims of the Marawi siege.

PCL National Chairman Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said that among those who went to Marawi were Maranao Tribe Deputy Mayor Randy Usman, and other Muslim councilors from Regions IX, X, XI and XII. “We want to show that Muslims and Christians are one. That we are all united, we are all Filipinos and we are brothers. Thus, we visited

Marawi with our fellow Muslim councilors,” he said on Monday during the Kapehan sa Dabaw.

According to Councilor Dayanghirang, they brought with them P200 thousand pesos worth of relief goods, including prayer mats and clothing like malongs and hijabs and basic medicines donated by the office of the Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

The PCL National Chairman also stressed that councilors are united to denounce and go against extremism and drugs and that the said activity was to show the public that Christians and Muslims are one for peace and development.

“We want to sustain, expand and intensify our good relationship with our Muslim brothers.”

He said that they were able to enter the area through coordination with the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process (OPPAP).

because we are protecting the interest and safety of the riding public. Having said that, we have ensured that there is enough public transportation system to cover the short fall of public transportation in the absence of UV Express. There are more than enough buses for passengers going north.”

Delgra said that they will meet with 200-250 operators

and other planning and traffic management officials from Panabo, Tagum, Nabunturan and Mati that are affected with the ban and address their concerns on June 27.

He also said that the LTFRB will suggest to do vehicle tagging in order to properly monitor public vehicles that are registered or not. JECIA ANNE OPIANA

obligated to display the Philippine flag and observe proper ceremonies.

As for private buildings and residences, the Philippine flag shall be displayed during the following events: Araw ng Kagitingan -- April 9; Labor Day -- May 1; National Flag Day -- May 28; Independence Day -- June 12; National Heroes Day --- last Monday of August; Bonifacio Day -- November 30; and Rizal Day -- December 30.

All government offices and educational institutions shall observe the flag-raising ceremony every Monday morning and the flag-lowering every Friday afternoon.

HB 5224 also seeks to expand the coverage of government officials wherein the flag shall be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning on the day of the announcement of the death of the following officials: President or a former President; incumbent and former Vice President; Chief Justice; Senate President; and House Speaker on all buildings and places where the deceased held office.

Furthermore, the flag shall also be flown at half-mast on the day of the official announcement of the death of an incumbent public school teacher on Department of Education (DepEd) schools or district offices where the deceased was assigned to teach.

Meanwhile, the national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang” shall be committed to memory by all students of both public and private educational institutions, and rendered during the flag ceremony.

The bill prescribes the rendition of the “Lupang Hinirang” in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe, in 2/4 beat when played; and within the range of 100 to 120 metronome, in 4/4 beat when sang.

HB 5224 also prescribes the national motto, national coat-of-arms, and the great seal.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines shall be responsible for the strict enforcement of the proposed law.

“We see farmers benefiting from this project as agricultural lands abound in the area particularly banana and coconut plantations,” said Secretary Villar.

Governor Miranda Bridge II was first constructed in

2004 as an alternative route of travelers when the oldGovernor Miranda Steel Bridge becomes impassable due to flooding. The old bridge built in 1956 will beremoved eventually. ANNA MAE LAMENTILLO/PIA

LTFRB... FROM 1

House... FROM 2

Governor... FROM 7

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

CREATIVE ARTS. Manila Bulletin bureau chief Jonathan Santes and marketing head Cindy Dumapias announce the publication’s upcoming Sketch Fest slated on July 8 at SM City Davao. The announcement was made during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Dabawenyos... FROM 2 government units.

But unlike other donation drives, Valdez said they do not accept cash although two donors insisted on cash - PHP15,000 and PHP30,000 leaving the money to their discretion. “We bought the items for the soldiers,” Valdez said.

The One Love, One Mindanao is a partnership with Robinsons where a donor can buy items available at the space provided at the Robinsons in Abreeza, pay them and drop at the designated box.

Aside from Robinsons, CSOs also launched the LifeStraw for a Hero. Lifestraw is an award winning technology that makes microbiologically contaminated water safe to drink. It filters 1,000 litres to 0.2 microns without the method of pumping and no chemi-

cals added.

This technology is useful to soldiers in the field but it is scarcely used due to limited availability and expensive for an ordinary soldier.

Valdez said a donor can buy the item at R.O.X Philippines, which under the partnership should make the items available.

So far, Valdez said all donation drives are working for their soldiers. “We are lucky we are stationed here (Davao).

This is our way of showing solidarity to them. And CSOs wanted to help our troops,” he said.

Hopefully, Valdez said, the Marawi crisis will end soon. If not, Valdez said they are still committed to support their comrades in the field. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

“This is the time for unity and solidarity. Amid these challenging times, we should not give in to our fears and prejudice. Let us not play into the script of the Maute terrorists, who want to sow fear and hate between Christians and Muslims,” she said.

The neophyte senator also urged appropriate government agencies to look into alleged cases of discriminatory practices against people displaced by the Marawi crisis, particularly Filipino-Muslims.

“The Duterte government must ensure that the well-being of all internally displaced

persons are taken care of, including their protection from all forms of discrimination.

They have suffered so much.

Let us not add to their pain,” added.

Hontiveros, meanwhile, lauded the eight-hour truce implemented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Marawi City in observance of the celebration of the end of Ramadan.

She also commended the AFP for its decision to spare mosques from military attacks despite reports that some mosques are being used by the Maute group as hiding places.

(Azer N. Parrocha/PNA)

resolved through a price hike.

“A vehicle toward economic progress, the PNR does not only serve as a railroad and transportation system. It is an indispensable element to infrastructure connectivity.

Its rehabilitation will impact not only the daily lives of Filipino commuters, but also the whole country,” De Lima said.

She also urged her colleagues in Congress to sup-

port her proposed measure seeking the rehabilitation of one of the oldest operational train systems in the country.

“Before even choosing to hike the fare, let us instead revise the governing law of the PNR to fast-track the rehabilitation and revitalization of the train infrastructure,” De Lima said noting that Congress is in the best position to help the PNR.

Don’t... FROM 2

Senator... FROM 5

Maute... FROM 2

daNews Monday morning that he had relayed the information to their chair, Irene Santiago.

Santiago told MindaNews Monday morning that these matters would be discussed with Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

President Rodrigo Duterte is hosting an Eid’l Fitr dinner on Tuesday, June 27, in Malacanang, for the peace implementing panels of the MILF, MNLF and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

MindaNews first learned about the release of hostages from Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

When MindaNews clarified his use of “hostages” in his text message, Galvez replied they were, indeed, hostages “kasi kasama sila Maute and Maute rin nag-turn over sa negotiators” (because they were held by the Maute and Maute turned them over to the negotiators).

MindaNews verified with the emissary on the status of

the five rescued and he confirmed they were hostages and that they were handed over to them because Maute had declined to release the Catholic priest.

“Yung nakukuha namin yun ang trapped civilians” (What we have been getting are trapped civilians, Galvez said, adding ‘trapped civilians’ are those who were “nakapagtago at nakalabas at hindi naging under custody ng Maute” (able to hide and flee and were never under the custody of the Maute). He said 45 civilians were rescued on Saturday.

Galvez said they actually extended the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. “humanitarian pause” for four more hours or until 6 p.m. for those already inside the conflict zone but the emissary’s team “returned at 4 pm. with five hostages and a cadaver of an Imam, so we lifted the humanitarian pause at 4 p.m.”

The Imam was identified as Hassan B. Ali. The emissary said the Imam passed away apparently due to illness several days ago.

tion, dengue consultation in health centers, and information and education campaign on the prevention and control of dengue.

The bill mandates the DOH through its National Center for Disease Prevention and Control to spearhead the implementation of the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program.

Furthermore, the Department of Science and Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education,

Metro Manila Development Authority, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall aid DOH with the dengue-related component activities and conduct ancillary projects to combat dengue.

If the bill is enacted into law, a fine of PHP2,000 shall be meted to households, business establishments, government offices, and schools that would fail to reduce the dengue breeding grounds in their areas. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)

enue for development programs that are known to jump start addressing poverty and inequality education, health, infrastructure and social protection,” they said.

“We are at a critical juncture.

We now have the opportunity to not just spend for the present,

but also invest for the future. The question is ‘How much are we willing to invest and how much are we willing to risk?’ All investments have risks. The bigger the investment, the bigger the risk; but also, the bigger the returns,” they said. (DOF)

Solon... FROM 3

Advocacy... FROM 4

INdulge!

School time flatness

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

TRAVEL

EDGEDAVAO

Part 2

IT’S THE LAST WEEK OF JUNE. School is well into the routine of those observing the traditional academic schedule and for those out of school, June can mean the start of the rainy season. Meanwhile for those who depend on waves for enjoying life, the upcoming months signal the onset of the flat season.

Last week, we talked about activities like skimboarding and mermaiding or free diving to still be able to enjoy the beach even during the flat season. Since we live in the tropics, the beach is always a good idea for a weekend getaway or a holiday escapade. Here are more ideas to get you going and start living that endless summer: Island Hopping This is easiest and most convenient recreational activity a mermaid can do while stuck in the city. Nearby Samal Island and Talicud Island in IGACOS can already satisfy your need for a saltwater adventure.

Easily finished within a day, island hopping is a staple water-oriented activity that is inexpensive and fun. There a lot of tour operators to choose from that are based in Davao to hold your island hopping. Options to rent a whole boat exclusively for your party or join a package tour with other guests which is a more inexpensive option to spend the day.

Important to have with you are life jackets, sunscreen, cap and sunnies for sun protection as the sun can be quite glaring due to the water’s reflective characteristic. If you’re aiming to have Instagram-worthy photos, try renting those popular adult floatation devices in a shape of a unicorn, pizza or doughnut.

These are like a glammed-up, adult version of our ‘salbabidas’.

If you’ve grown tired of the same underwater scenes, you can try either driving up north to Kopiat Island in Mabini, Compostela Valley or driving down south to Sarangani province where you can enjoy a whole new underwater experience.

Scuba Diving While you’re out enjoying the views during your island hopping, most operators offer scuba diving as a package. Rates vary depending on the number of guests availing of this package and depending on your location whether you’re in Davao or Sarangani.

Even if you don’t know how to swim and have never tried scuba diving before, you can still enjoy an introductory dive at around 25 to 30 feet with a dive master. As I’ve said, for water activities like this it’s always important to go with a buddy.

Scuba diving is different from free diving because you use a self-contained

underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) which is completely independent of surface s u p ply, to breathe u nderwater.

Y o u d o n ’ t have to head back to the surface to breathe. You can stay as long as your air supply allows you.

Kayaking / SUPs There is a growing island hopping operators or resort owners that rent out kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) for guests on island hopping tours or for their beach activities.

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. Modern kayaks are made out of lightweight and heavyduty material that floats so well on water.

Wikipedia defines SUP is an offshoot of surfing that originated in Hawaii. Unlike traditional surfing where the rider sits until a wave comes, stand up paddle boarders stand on their boards and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water.

These two are wonderful ways of exploring the island and reaching a deeper part of the beach to snorkel around.

Again, always have a buddy with you who knows a thing or two about paddling around the beach. Know before you go.

Make sure to ask the locals around or the life guards about the currents and tides around.

The worst that can happen is you lose control of your kayak or SUP and drift further away from shore. Always be on the look out for these things but also don’t forget to enjoy! It’s usually safer to go horizontal along the beach rather than vertically, from shore to the deeper portion.

There are still a lot of things to do to enjoy the beach even if it’s the flat season!

Head over to my blog: www.millennialmermaid.com to read more flat season stories!

EDGEDAVAO

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FOOD

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

Fresh sweet offerings at Pizzaiolo WATERFRONT INSULAR HOTEL’S PIZZAIOLO RESTAURANT features a new selection of sliced and whole cakes to satisfy every bit of your dessert cravings.

Created by Executive Chef Victor Barangan and Pastry Chef Roche Audeji, each item has more than enough components to create different tastes and textures in every bite.

Tablea Moist Cake Devilishly decadent, their signature take on this classic treat is definitely a must-try for the chocolate lover. The tablea, with hints of salted egg and caramel, lends a deeper flavor to an otherwise ordinary chocolate cake. This seven-inch cake recipe is also one that’s especially moist and tastes even more delicious when warm.

Chocolate Delite A word that connotes something delicately pleasing, the Chocolate ‘Delice’ is dark and dreamy, and combines the perfect blend of chocolate, coffee mousse and rum. Layered with chocolate-y goodness, its texture is fudgy and chewy at the same time, with a bittersweet, glossy finish.

Dulce de Leche Its name translating to “sweet from milk”, ‘Dulce de Leche’ is a caramel sauce made by simmering milk and sugar until

the mixture thickens into a spread. While one can use it as a dip or a pastry filling, having this caramel topping on layers of vanilla is pure decadence.

Durian Cream Cake Davao is home to many local fruits and using them in culinary recipes is a great way to highlight local delicacies. For instance, this basic sponge cake becomes soft and fluffy with an added mixture of durian mousse and filling. It’s light and it simply melts in the mouth, giving you a guilt-free pleasure while you’re at it.

Strawberry Cheesecake You can never go wrong with cheesecake and a Strawberry Cheesecake recipe makes a great dessert for just about any occasion. Light and fresh, this layered mixture of cream cheese sits on top of a soft crust and finishes with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberries.

Blueberry Cheesecake There must be a reason why every cafe has this on their menu. The mixture of rich, velvety cheesecake combined with plump, sweet blueberries makes for one of the most delectable desserts you’ll ever devour. The best part? The double shot of delicious berry flavor on top.

Mango Float Cheesecake Another cheesecake

wonder, the Mango Float Cheesecake is a fruity, delicious treat. This consists of the same soft cream cheese on hard biscuit crust, only coated with cracker crumbs, layered and topped with mango glaze and plump, ripe mangoes.

Next time the craving hits, you might want to swing by for a treat. The cakes are available to take home or to enjoy with a

warm cup of brewed coffee or tea. What’s more, all cakes will be offered at 20% off when you purchase from 7:00 p.m. onwards, starting this July.

Pizzaiolo opens daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. to offer the best pizza choices and a variety of freshly baked cakes and pastries. For inquiries and reservations, you may call (082) 233 2881 to 83 local 8704.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

NCCA, DOT launch KulTOURa mobile travel guide THERE IS A NEW MOBILE APP that can help tourists enjoy their stay in the country by giving them a better appreciation of Philippine culture and history. As a bonus, it’s great for students too.

This is the Kultoura Philippine travel guide app which the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched today in collaboration with PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications and InnoPub Media.

The Kultoura app features information on heritage sites, historic schools and churches, nature parks, popular attractions, famous landmarks and other must-see places in various parts of the country. The app also contains colorful details of the history of selected cities and provinces, including their famous personalities, delicacies and other interesting trivia.

Available as a free download for Android and iOS devices, the app is continuously being updated to provide more relevant content and encourage travelers to explore the country.

It will soon offer other services such as a chat bot, which can give automated travel advice; allow users to take virtual tours; and enable purchases via a digital marketplace.

Though initially designed as

Representatives from Smart, NCCA, DOT and InnoPub sign the memorandum of agreement for the KulTOURa app at Rizal Park Visitors Center. an aid for tourists, the mobile app is also a handy resource for students. The comprehensive information found on the app can help them gain a better understanding of the rich culture and history of the country.

“The Kultoura app was developed to help tourists and students learn more about Philippine culture and heritage. It may also be useful to foreigners who are interested in the rich history and beautiful destinations in our country,” said NCCA Chairman Virgilio Almario.

“We want to help travelers really enjoy and experience the Philippines by seeing for themselves the rich culture and heri-

tage of our people,” said PLDT and Smart Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto. “Innovations such as the Kultoura app are part of Smart’s efforts to enable foreign and local tourists to travel like never before.”

To enhance the tourist experience, Smart will also provide high-speed Wi-Fi and install quick response (QR) codes and NFC (near-field communications) chips on markers in selected areas to enable access to additional travel information via phone scan.

The Kultoura app, the tourist markers and the provision for high-speed connectivity are part of the Digital Tourism program, which was launched by

InnoPub and Smart in 2012 in partnership with local government units. The Digital Tourism program aims to harness mobile technology to promote tourism and the preservation of cultural and heritage sites. It has been implemented in destinations such as Baguio, Bohol, Albay, Dapitan, and Davao.

“Our mobile phones are our constant travel companion. It serves as our messaging device, camera, map, and tour guide.

With the Digital Tourism program, important historical, cultural and heritage information are now more widely available to tourists through mobile devices,” said InnoPub Media co-founder Max Limpag. “The

Kultoura app and markers contain information directly sourced from the NCCA. It is a comprehensive effort among partners to make Philippine history and culture interactive.”

The deployment of highspeed Wi-Fi at tourist hubs, meanwhile, complements Smart’s continued LTE rollout.

It is available at airports, seaports, and transportation terminals all over the country, as well as in hangout places such as food parks, providing even more connectivity to mobile users on-the-go.

In cooperation with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Smart recently launched carrier-grade Wi-Fi service at MRT stations and along EDSA to benefit the commuters traveling across the country’s busiest highway.

Present during the launch were NCCA Chairman Virgilio Almario, DOT Undersecretary for Oversight Function for Legislative Matters Falconi Millar, PLDT and Smart Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto, Smart AVP/Head of Community Engagement and Partnerships Gabby R. Cui, InnoPub Media co-founder Max Limpag, and representatives from the National Parks Development Committee and the six attached cultural agencies.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11

The entrepreneur Maranao ‘bakwit’

E

VEN during these hard times, it is difficult to dampen the Maranao entrepreneurial spirit.

Take the case of Norania Cadalay-Bangon, a resident of Barangay Tuca Marinaut in Marawi City who left for Iligan in a hurry after the Maute attack last May 23.

She, along with her family,

has since sought refuge at an evacuation center inside the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buru-un.

Norania, a 40-year-old housewife with eight kids, soon felt the pressure of supporting her family.

But then something happened last Tuesday, June 20

– President Rodrigo Duterte visited the evacuation camp.

At the end of his speech, he held a thick wad of thousand-peso bills, saying he would give it to the evacuees so they could party.

Apparently, instead of holding a party, someone distributed the money.

Noranaia and her sister,

who stays a few bunks away from her, got P1,000 each.

It wasn’t clear if they got the money from the President or from the Department of Social Welfare and Development because Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, during a press briefing in Malacañang two days later, also announced they have given P1,000 to all the families

HE Development Academy of the Philippines has forged partnerships with two Russian universities as part of its efforts to explore and initiate academic exchange and cooperation with academic institutions in Europe and other regions while strengthening relations with similar groups and organizations in the international community.

The partnerships were forged through a memorandum of understanding signed during a recent visit made by DAP President and Chief Executive Officer Elba S. Cruz and Institutional Marketing Center Managing Director Merliza M. Makinano in Eu-

rope. The understanding was reached with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), which is based in Moscow, Russia, and with the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping of St. Petersburg, Russia.

that evacuated as assistance during the time of Ramadhan.

Norania and her sister pooled in their money and bought goods in nearby Linamon municipality, just across the river, and sell these for retail to their fellow evacuees.

The sisters now have a small sari-sari store inside the evacuation camp selling ba-

sic food items like salt, sugar, eggs, cooking oil and spices to fellow evacuees. They also have dried fish and the favorite Maranao condiment, the palapa.

Their store may not answer all their needs, but at least it now helps them make both ends meet. (Manman Dejeto / MindaNews)

60 teachers in Visayas DAP forges partnership with 2 Russian universities train on cybersecurity T

S

IXTY teachers in the Visayas will undergo cybersecurity awareness training and certification through the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT) on June 30 and July 1 here.

The two-day activity will be conducted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-Negros Occidental Office.

BNEFIT executive director Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said the training, developed by the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and EC-Council (ECC), would target to reach 240 teachers from

strategic locations across the country.

She added that the NICP would initially act as the authorized training center (ATC) partner to facilitate and support in the delivery of ECC courses.

The ECC, a global leader in InfoSec Cyber Security certification programs, is exclusively represented by Wissen International Singapore in the Philippines and other Asean markets.

In the first phase, selected teachers will undergo the Certified Secure Computer User Train The Trainer program in four areas. (Erwin P. Nicavera/PNA)

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Collaboration sought The MOU with MGIMO University intends to promote collaboration between the two institutions that is designed to “enrich (their) intellectual environment” and to “provide opportunities for contact and exchange among individuals” leading to “fostering mutual understanding and collaboration.”

This would be done through academic exchange and collaboration, opportunities for which the two parties agreed to identify; mutual assistance in the preparation of seminars, conferences and workshops; facilitating the reception of authorized officials in order to develop a cooperative mechanism and expand areas of cooperation; and other forms of cooperation that they agreed to later identify.

Signatories The MOU was signed by Dr. Cruz and Artem Malgim of MGIMO, with Ms. Makinano and Dr. Victor Sumsky, director of the ASEAN Centre, acting as witness.

The partnership with the Admiral Makarov SUMIS, meanwhile, similarly intends to “promote collaboration” between the two institutions

Dr. Cruz shakes hands with Victoria Marich, Vice Rector for International Relations of the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, after their MOU signing as Aleksandr Nikitin, head of the school’s International Cooperation Department, looks on. to achieve parallel goals as identified in the MGIMO partnership.

Both institutions wish to seek areas of common intellectual interest and potential collaboration, with the detailed terms and conditions in pursuing the activities related to this being separately determined and agreed upon by the two parties.

Dr. Cruz also signed the MOU for the DAP while Victoria L. Marich, her school’s Vice Rector for International Affairs, did it for the Admiral Makarov SUMIS. Both partnerships have a duration of five years.

13,000 trainees annually The Admiral Makarov SUMIS houses the famed Makarov Training Centre, which annually provides training for more than 13,000 cadets,

seafarers, pilots, VTS operators, oil spill rescuers, MRCC personnel as well as maritime professionals through a team of “highly dedicated, reliable and competent” professionals.

Founded in 1809, the university has gone through various changes and mergers throughout its 200-plus-year history. The university is now considered the oldest and the largest center of shipping industry personnel education and training in the Russian Federation and now includes four institutes, 76 research chairs as well as 10 branches located in various regions of the country. It has a total of 13,000 students, 9,000 of which are from the main campus in St. Petersburg, and counts with 20,000 students trained under its professional development programs.

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

DAP President and CEO Elba S. Cruz (fourth from right) is shown with Artem Malgin, Vice Rector for General Affairs of MGIMO University (to Dr. Cruz’s right), DAP IMC Managing Director Merliza M. Makinano and other

MGIMO officials as well as Filipino businessmen after the signing of a memo of understanding for collaboration between the school and the DAP.

12 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

Countdown still on for vanishing wildlife Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

HE Philippines, touted to be the Pear of the Orient Seas, maybe abundant of natural resources but these may soon be gone if Filipinos will not work together to save them from extinction.

“We have an abundance of natural resources. But all this wealth is at great risk,” said Senator Loren Legarda in a speech delivered during the First National Biodiversity Congress recently.

The Philippines is very fortunate to be one of the world’s megadiverse countries, and also the center of the center of biodiversity, as proven in various expeditions where scientists and researchers have been able to discover new and endemic species in the country.

Dr. Terry Gosliner, of the California Academy of Sciences, led an expedition on the Verde Island Passage – a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro – in 2015 and discovered more than a hundred species that are likely new to science.

“The Philippines is jampacked with diverse and threatened species – it’s one of the most astounding regions of biodiversity on Earth,” media quoted Dr. Gosliner as saying in a press conference.

The following year, an expedition in the mountains of northeast Mindanao was done by Dr. Rafe M. Brown of the University of Kansas’ Biodiversity Institute . The team discovered a total of 126 species, including 40 frogs, 49 lizards, 35 snakes, a freshwater turtle and a crocodile “The terrestrial biodiversity of the Philippines is amazing, and this part of Mindanao is the center of the center of that diversity,” commented Dr. Brown, a herpetologist who is interested in understanding evolutionary processes of diversification in island archipelagos.

Facing extinction Unfortunately, these rich repositories of natural wealth are being threatened.

“Development activities, land degradation, overgrazing and deforestation, pollution, overfishing, hunting, land-use change, and the overuse of freshwater, have pushed ecosystems to the limit,” Legarda pointed out. “Our country has become one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, with a large number of species threatened with extinction.”

In 2012, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released the 48-page report, Communities in Nature: State of Protected Areas Management in the Philippines.

Since 1992, 113 have been declared through Presidential proclamations as protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). However, only 13 protected areas have finally proceeded to be legislated as such in the more than 20 years since the NIPAS Act was enacted.

Endangered ecosystems Although the country has been active in protecting its biological diversity, much has to be done. “Many scientists have expressed the concern that despite the significant gains in protected areas management, the Philippines is still losing its remaining forest and coastal ecosystems at an alarming rate,” the DENR report said.

In 2010, it was reported the Philip-

pines has 6.84 million hectares of total forest cover, or about 23 percent of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares. An earlier study showed the country was losing an average of about 150,000 hectares of forest cover annually over the last 100 years.

The country’s coastal and marine resources are not spared. From its original area of approximately 450,000 hectares in 1918, the mangrove areas went down to 140,000 hectares in 1991. It decreased further in 1994 to 120,000 hectares.

In 2002, some of the top leading marine scientists ranked the country as the number one (according to the degree of threat) among

An earlier study showed the country was losing an average of about 150,000 hectares of forest cover annually over the last 100 years.

the world’s top ten coral reef hotspots. The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, compiled by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), reported that 97 percent of reefs in the Philippines are under threat from destructive fishing techniques, including cyanide poisoning, over-fishing, or from deforestation and urbanization that result in harmful sediment spilling into the sea.

“At the rate our ecosystems are getting destroyed, many species may no longer be there when we need them,” deplored Samuel Peñafiel, who said those words when he was still the director of the DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (now called as Biodiversity Management Bureau or BMB).

Tremendous wildlife resources According to the BMB, the country has the highest rate of discovery in the world in terms of wildlife species. The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plants species and maintains 5% of the world’s flora and ranks fourth when it comes to endemic birds.

“The Philippines has tremendous wildlife resources,” wrote Jesus B. Alvarez Jr. in a 1981 position paper. “We have unique and beautiful birds which are in

great demand, both here and abroad. We also have rare interesting mammals. Most outstanding are the tamaraw and the Philippine eagle which could be placed alongside the world’s finest species.”

The Philippines is home to about 170,000 faunal species, most of which are insects and are mostly unidentified, according to the environment department. Twelve thousand plant species and 960 animal species are found in the country’s forests. Of the identified animal species, over 500 are birds and 167 are mammals.

Out of the 500 known coral species in worldwide, about 488 coral species in 78 genera are found in the Philippines. There are only about 50 species of seagrasses in the world. A total of 16 species can be found in the country, and this is the second highest diversity that exists in one country; only Western Australia has more – with 17 species.

At least 2,000 fish species are found in the Philippines.

Almost 100 mammal species are endemic to the Philippines. In recent years, experts have discovered more than a dozen species of mammals in the country seen nowhere else on the planet.

“The number compares with other countries like Brazil,” noted Philippine fauna specialist Dr. Laurence Heaney of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

“But compare their sizes, for such a small area, the Philippine rockets ahead.”

Brazil has a total land area of 3,286,488 square kilometers while the Philippines has a total land area of only 115,800 square kilometers.

On the other hand, Indonesia – another biodiversity-rich country – has a total land area of 741,101 square kilometers.

“Hottest of the hotspots” While its biodiversity is

among the highest, the Philippines’ ecosystems are among the most threatened. In fact, the US National Cancer Institute lists the entire Philippine archipelago as among the five biogeographical areas in the world considered to be the “hottest of the hotspots,” a hot spot being an area whose high biodiversity is gravely threatened.

In 1990s, Dr. Seymour Sohmer of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii concluded in a study that the Philippines has already lost 40% of its endemic flora, including waling-waling. The Convention for International Trade of Endangered Species listed 46 wildlife species that were either rare, threatened or endangered. Included in the list were Philippine eagle, Philippine tarsier, and Cebu black shama.

“A few decades ago, the wildlife of the Philippines was notable for its abundance; now, it is notable for its variety; if the present trend of destruction continues, Philippine wildlife will be notable for its absence,” commented Dr. Lee Talbot, who was once a member of the Southeast Asia Project on Wildlife Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Noted Filipino wildlife expert Dioscoro Rabor echoed the same sentiment. “It is about time that we, Filipinos, stop making ourselves internationally blind to the real status of our wildlife resources,” he said. “We should face the fact that our country is no longer rich in forests and consequently, of wildlife which used to be a normal component of our forests.”

The environment department cites deforestation, illegal trade, lack of political will, and negative attitude toward conservation as among the causes.

“Biodiversity loss is caused mainly by habitat destruction and wildlife trade.

The full force of the law must be applied on all wildlife smugglers, while treading the sustainable development path would help preserve species and natural habitats,” said Legarda.

Protecting biodiversity As such, Legarda urged the government to intensify efforts in protecting biodiversity by integrating biodiversity conservation into the country’s development policies and agenda, recognizing eco-tourism’s potential role in sustainable development.

“Protecting ecosystems which involves rehabilitating

F ENVIRONMENT, 13

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13

EDGEDAVAO

Probe eyes probe on Boracay’s pollution, overpopulation issues

S ENVIRONMENT... FROM 12 our forests, cleaning our rivers, and stopping pollution, among other actions, requires action by all sectors and stakeholders including the civil society, the academe and the private sector. Multidisciplinary approach is essential in developing integrated solutions to these challenges,” the staunch environmentalist senator stressed.

She lauded, however, the approval on third and final reading the proposed Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS), which she principally authored, during the International Day for Biological Diversity last May 22.

“The proposed ENIPAS Law will secure the remaining

protected areas in the country through strengthening access to funding and prosecution of prohibited acts. I hope the House of Representatives would also pass their version of the bill so we can move forward in our efforts to conserve our degrading ecosystems and protect our precious biodiversity,” Legarda said.

Meanwhile, Delfin J. Ganapin, Jr., who used to be DENR undersecretary, shared this thought: “Conserving wildlife is an arduous task.

This cannot be accomplished by one or two government agencies alone. The continued existence of our wildlife rests on the support and cooperation of our people.”

AMAR Congressman Edgar Mary Sarmiento today said there might now be a need for the government to strictly regulate the development and the influx of tourists on some of the country’s major tourism spots such as Boracay to ensure their long-term sustainability.

Sarmiento said that while Boracay and other popular tourism destinations in the country are bringing a lot of revenues for the people and the government, there is a need to protect these places from over development and overcapacity which is the main cause of pollution.

Sarmiento said that Congress now needs to intervene so he filed House Resolution 1087 which urges the House Committee on Tourism to conduct an inquiry “into the roadmap, programs, projects and action plans of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that aim to regulate tourists spots in order to promote sustainability.”

As it is, Sarmiento noted that the DOT’s thrust only seems to be centered on how to generate tourists but not on how to protect the country’s tourist destinations.

He noted that when the members of the House of Representatives embarked on the so-called “ Western-Eastern National Highway Expedition” which was a brainchild of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas,

he immediately noticed the rapid degradation of Boracay Island which is one of the country’s top tourism spots.

“The members of the House have also observed what several news agencies have reported, specifically, that there is an abundance of algal growth which may be related to pollution and the presence of waste matter surrounding the island,” Sarmiento said in his resolution.

Sarmiento expressed concern that overdevelopment and overpopulation is now causing too much stress on Boracay which has attracted 1.7 million visitors in 2016 alone and has long been considered as one of the best islands in the world.

“Several studies have shown the detrimental environmental impacts that tourism has cause Boracay, such as poor water quality, beach erosion, and decrease in coral cover. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also found out that some areas around Boracay are too dirty to swim on,” Sarmiento’s resolution said.

“The massive influx of tourists and the explosive population growth in the island places it at the risk of destruction. This is highly detrimental as our citizens are reaping numerous benefits from the thriving tourism industry in the area. Moreover, the environmental degradation is a proof of the State’s failure to preserve our natural resources,” Sarmiento lamented in his resolution.

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

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DENR now requires cars to be Euro 4 compliant

I

NTERESTED in getting a new Isuzu mu-X or D-Max or Mitsubishi L300 or Adventure? Better get them now. Apart from the looming excise tax increase, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has set a December 31, 2017 deadline for the initial (new car) registration of these vehicles and other non-Euro 4 compliant ve-

M

2 models. That extension expires at the end of 2017.

Beginning January 1, 2018, the DENR will no longer accept Euro 2 Certificates of Conformity (COC) as a basis of initial registration with the Land Transportation Office or LTO. Simply put, new vehicles which haven’t been registered and do not meet Euro 4 emissions standards cannot be registered

any more.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the COC is that little sticker on your vehicle’s front windshield stating that it has passed the mandatory emissions requirements.

This ruling has no effect on vehicles already purchased and are already registered with the LTO. The Euro 2 emissions standard will be used for renewal registration for vehicles purchased before January 1, 2018. All other vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2018 will have to be Euro 4 emissions compliant to pass the mandatory emissions test.

For their part, both Mitsubishi and Isuzu said that they are on track to offer a line-up of Euro 4 emissions compliant vehicles by the time the government deadline arrives.

Mitsubishi PH to have new CEO

ITSUBISHI Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) is set to have a new President and CEO come August 1.

F

hicles in the country.

Although the country has shifted to Euro 4 emissions standard last January 1, 2016, the DENR has given carmakers a bit of a respite. With carmakers citing “long-term production planning of OEMs” and requiring a “significant vehicle technology shift within the model life”, the DENR gave 2 years for carmakers to phase out existing Euro

Mr. Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) will succeed Mr. Yoshiaki Kato as President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation

(MMPC).

Meanwhile, Mr. Kato will move on to MMAL as its Chief Executive Coordinator.

“We are strengthening and diversifying our management team around the world, ensuring that we seize future growth

EcoBoost engine is offered with 100-horsepower, 125-horsepower, and 140-horsepower outputs.

The frugal three-cylinder engine was named “Best Engine Under 1.0-liter” by a panel of 58 automotive journalists, from 31 countries. First introduced to the Ford Focus in 2012, the innovative engine has continued to dominate its segment, faced with growing competition in a category popular with car buyers and important to carmakers. This year, the sub1.0-liter award category featured 35 engines, nine more than in the 1.0-liter EcoBoost’s debut year.

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost

engine featuring cylinder deactivation technology is now being rolled out starting with the 2018 Fiesta.

It is designed to deliver reduced running costs for customers by automatically stopping one of the engine’s cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising.

The other winners of the 2017 International Engine of the Year are as follows: • Overall Winner: Ferrari 3.9-liter Bi-Turbo V8 (Ferrari 488 GTB/Spider) - 251 points • Porsche 3.0-liter Turbo F6 (Porsche 911) - 216 points

opportunities in important markets such as the Philippines and Australia. I look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Oshikiri and Mr. Kato in their new roles,” said Mr. Osamu Masuko, Chief Executive Officer of MMC.

Ford Ecoboost wins Int’l Engine of the Year

ORD’S 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine has been voted 2017 International Engine of the Year “Best Engine Under 1.0-liter” for the sixth year in a row, meaning the compact and powerful three-cylinder petrol engine remains undefeated in its category since launch in 2012.

Judges praised the engine’s combination of performance, fuel-efficiency and technology. The 1.0-liter EcoBoost has now won 10 International Engine of the Year awards including overall winner a record three times, and “Best Newcomer”.

The Ford’s 1.0-liter

• BMW 1.5-liter Gasoline-Electric Hybrid (BMW i8) - 151 points • Audi 2.5-liter Turbo I5 (Audi RS3, TT RS) - 139 points • Ford 999-cc Turbo I3 (Ford Fiesta, EcoSport, Focus) - 136 points • Tesla Full-Electric Powertrain (Tesla Model S, Model X) - 135 points • PSA Peugeot Citroen 1.2-liter Turbo I3 (Peugeot 208, 308) - 131 points • Porsche 2.0-liter Turbo F4 (Porsche 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman) 128 points • Ferrari 6.3-liter V12 (Ferrari F12) - 113 points

F2 spikers... FROM 15 kasi ng first two sets, medyo nagre-relax na sila at nawawala ang respeto sa kalaban.

Ayaw na nilang mag-isip at dumepensa. Sabi ko hindi tayo mananalo kung maghihintay lang tayo ng errors ng kalaban.

Kailangan irespeto natin sila.”

The Cargo Movers were actually leading by two, 4-2, in the early stretch of the fourth set before Baron unloaded a series of bombs from the service box to rip the game wide open with a 15-4 edge.

As if the damage wasn’t

enough, Aby Marano and Ara Galang made their presence felt for an 18-6 lead before Kim Fajardo delivered a beautiful pass to fellow setter Shawna-Lei Santos to seal the victory.

Janine Navarro, Rialen Sante and MJ Phillips tallied eight points apiece for the Lady Realtors, who notched a 2-4 mark and could be stacked against heavyweight Petron in the quarterfinals pending the result of the final day of the preliminaries.

The game has gimmicks Lewis made the first 4-point shot and teams had 14 seconds to shoot. Team names included 3’s Company and Killer 3s and some players wore nicknames on their jerseys, with Jerome Williams going with ‘’Junk Yard Dog’’ on his.

Cube vowed the games would be competitive - players are vying for a revenue share based on final league standings. There was pushing and shoving in the post and a few hard fouls, and the physicality and trash talk appeared to heat up as the games went on.

With hand checking allowed, the games looked nothing like today’s NBA game. ‘’Some people like that style, some people don’t,’’ Trilogy’s Kenyon Martin said. ‘’So we’re here to fill that void for the people that appreciate the way the game has been played forever, you know what I’m saying? Basketball is a contact sport.’’

The eight-team league will play on 10 weekends, culminating with the Aug. 26 championship in Las Vegas. Games are shown on Monday nights on Fox Sports 1.

making the free throw to finish the game.

Lewis finished with 27 points and former No. 1 pick Kwame Brown had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the 3 Headed Monsters. Ricky Davis led the Ghost Ballers with 23 points.

Big 3... FROM 15

3 HEADED MONSTERS 62, GHOST BALLERS 60 The 3 Headed Monsters blew a late lead after Williams went down and the Ghost Ballers went ahead 60-59 before Lewis scored and drew a foul,

POWER 62, TRI STATE 58 Stevenson finished with 20 points for the Power, making five 3-pointers. Maggette scored 15 and Cuttino Mobley had 14.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 18 points for Tri State, coached

by Hall of Famer Julius Erving.

Mike James had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

3’S COMPANY 61, BALL HOGS 51 Andre Owens had 20 points and 15 rebounds for Iverson’s team. DerMarr Johnson added 14 points and Al Thornton scored 13.

Iverson finished 1 for 6 with two assists.

Rasual Butler made six 3-pointers and scored 22 points for the Ball Hogs. Derrick Byars chipped in 19.

TRILOGY 60, KILLER 3’s 45 Al Harrington scored 25 points as Trilogy cruised in the final game of the day. James White added 16.

Reggie Evans scored 18 and Stephen Jackson 17 for the losers.

SPORTS 15

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

IP GAMES. Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioners Charles Raymond Maxey and Celia Kiram along with participants to the first ever Ifugao Indigenous Games in Lagawe, Ifugao. At right, one of the intense competition in the local version of tug-of-war.

F2 spikers blast Sta. Lucia Games Tuesday (June 27): (Baliwag Star Arena)

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

F

2 Logistics hammered Sta. Lucia from the service box before unleashing a strong finishing kick to seal a 25-18, 25-16, 18-25, 25-10 victory in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night at the Batangas City Coliseum here.

Majoy Baron came up with a dominant performance for the Cargo Movers, who stretched their winning streak to four in this prestigious club league bankrolled by Rebisco, Gold’s Gym and Belo with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

With the win, F2 Logistics shut down its campaign in the preliminaries on top of Pool D with a 4-2 mark to enter the quarterfinals of this tourney that also has Senoh, Mikasa, Mueller and Grand Sport as technical sponsors on a high note.

Foton is still battling Petron as of press time to for-

I

N the light of the devastating tragedy that has befallen Marawi, it is high time the government – the Dep-Ed in particular – re-focused its educational thrusts as far as the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao is concerned.

Pursuing the constitutional mandate of nurturing the physical well-being of the ARMM citizenry by impressing the vital importance that sports play in the lives of Muslim youths and those in the grassroots level might be a good starting point.

Like any youths, the young Muslims need to channel their inexhaustible energies to fruitful endeavors.

Getting involved in worthwhile activities like games and sports inside the school premises can unearth the hidden gifts and talents of these innocent kids.

malize its claim of the top spot in Pool C and the right to face either Cherrylume or Cocolife in the quarterfinals.

The Iron Lady Warriors and the Asset Managers will figure in the final day of preliminaries on Tuesday at the Baliwag Star Arena in Baliwag, Bulacan.

Baron, the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player for De La Salle, had a fantastic all-around performance with 12 kills, three blocks and seven aces for game-high 22 points while Kim Dy had 12 markers for F2 Logistics, which slowed down in the third set before going for the kill in the fourth.

But F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus wasn’t completely happy, especially in the third set where they surrendered to the strong net defense of the Lady Realtors.

“I told them that it seems that we never learned our lesson in our first few games,” said de Jesus, who dropped their first two matches to powerhouse Cignal and Petron.

“Kapag nakakakuha

Big 3 is on, Iverson’s team wins opener

A

LLEN Iverson plans to be more spectator than scorer in the Big3.

The Iverson of old might be the only thing Ice Cube’s new 3-on-3 basketball venture can’t deliver.

The rapper-actor’s league of former NBA players got off to a strong start Sunday, with the first two games both decided on winning shots i n front o f 15,177 fans.

Iverson’s team won the third game, though as player-coach he only put himself in for 9 minutes. At 42 years old, the former NBA MVP said he doesn’t expect to be playing heavy minutes in the 10-game season. ‘’But I think the best part about this game here tonight and all the other games, it was exciting all throughout,’’ Iverson said. ‘’It didn’t need Allen Iverson the player, per se.’’

The quality of play was spotty, as players had to shake off sometimes years of rust. But it was certainly competitive. ‘’I think it’s going to be incredibly good.

The games are exciting, the

PLAYING COACH. Allen Iverson calls the shots for 3’ Company.

F F2 SPIKERS, 14

players are still talented and they’re fun to watch,’’ said Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who coached Power to a 62-58 victory over Tri State in the second game on DeShawn Stevenson’s 3-pointer.

Entertainers such as LL Cool J and NBA All-Star James Harden were in the crowd for the first two games before Iverson, the main attraction among players, took the court following a concert.

He may be the biggest name in the league, but his role on the court will be minor. ‘’I signed up to be a coach, player and captain. Coach part is going to go on throughout the game,’’ Iverson said. ‘’Playing part is not going to be what you expect. ‘’You’re not going to see the Allen Iverson of old out there.’’

He can’t be blamed, given the risk of injury for players

Sports focus on Muslim youths

Dep-Ed today reserves only some 45 minutes for physical education per week.

This goes to show that sports – where discipline is much valued – is paid less attention in the elementary level and in the formative years of a school child.

Starting ‘em young is the policy of most Western and highly sports-developed countries that is why they easily produce potential Olympic gold medalists and winners.

Today, I am not sure if I have read a prominent athlete coming from the ranks of the Muslims, if ever there is one. In the sixties and early seventies, several outstanding Muslim athletes proudly wore the national tricolor and shone brightly in international competitions primarily in the Asian sphere.

I can still recall a few

SPORTS KEN

By RED C. LUMBA

names - Mona Sulaiman (athletics, gold medalist, 1962 Asian Games, women’s 100 meters); Amman Jalmaani (swimming, quarterfinalist, breaststroke, 1968 Mexico Olympics); Jairulla Jaitulla (swimming, silver/bronze medalist, 1970 and 1974 Asian Games); Abdulkadir Guiapar (gold medalist, 400m hurdles, 1973 Asian Athletics Championships); and Tokal Mokalam (RP athletics champion, 100 and 200 meters). They were a byword

in the Philippine sports community then.

After them, I do not remember having come across Muslim standouts who have followed their footsteps. I was told by a peer in the sports fraternity that Jalmaani lives in Zambo City and drives a tricycle for a living. Sad, isn’t it?

Mona is a good friend of mine. I don’t know her whereabouts now although a decade ago I heard she was a consultant at the Philippine Sports Commission.

Most of these Muslim standouts came from Sulu, Basilan and Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao.

They were products of the old Public Schools Interscholastic Athletic Association (PSIAA), the forerunner of today’s Palarong Pambansa.

From all appearances, the Muslim youths of today have

been disconnected from the mainstream sports realm.

While authorities at the PSC may have hatched a sports program geared for the Muslims, it is still in the Dep-Ed where the greater responsibility rests.

A special academic and PE program for the ARMM different from the present curriculum in the public schools is necessary, not so much as to intentionally produce gifted and talented Muslim athletes for the Philippine team as to enable them to discover their own individual potentials.

More sports competitions should be organized within the ARMM. Sports infrastructure must complement the program. Indigenous games should be re-introduced for pre-school boys and girls to get them enjoy the fun and love what they are doing.

way past their primes. Jason Williams, the flashy point guard nicknamed ‘’White Chocolate,’’ went down with a right leg injury late in the opener, and Corey Maggette had to come out of the second game. Both were expected to be OK. And that might not stop more players from wanting to play. Recently retired Paul Pierce was in the crowd and Andre Owens, the star of Iverson’s 3’s Company, said Kevin Garnett might want to play. ‘’Sky’s the limit. Obviously you see the debut,’’ Iverson said. ‘’I didn’t even expect it to be like this, and then obviously guys that’s retired now, to see the outcome of this situation right here, probably are going to get that itch.’’

Games are played to 60 points but teams have to win by two, and getting to 60 wasn’t enough in either of the first two games.

In the opener, Rashard Lewis made a three-point play with his team facing game point as 3 Headed Monsters edged Ghost Ballers 62-60.

F BIG 3, 14

Water sports (swimming, diving and water polo), athletics, football, martial arts and gymnastics are some of the Olympic events that Muslim youths could get attracted to and excel in.

I would even suggest that sports high schools in all capital towns in the ARMM be established to facilitate sports development and growth in the area. Of course, qualified coaches and sports mentors must also be in the list.

As the whole island of Mindanao has been neglected by previous administrations through the years, the introduction of a special academic and PE program by the DepEd might yet do the trick.

Sports is a universal language. It might help lead to peace and solidarity. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao leaving the Worship Centre Christian Church in Brisbane after attending service yesterday. The WBO welterweight champion will be defending his belt against unbeaten Australian Jeff Horn at the Suncorp Stadiumon Sunday.EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 • TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

BATTLECRY

Pacquiao says he will go home with title intact

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RISBANE -- Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao arrived in Australia ahead of his title fight with Jeff Horn and declared: “I will be going home as world champion.”

The “Pac Man” touched down in Brisbane yesterday from Manila with a large entourage for his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight title bout at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday.

“In all my years of boxing, I have never been as motivated and fired up as this fight,” he told reporters at the airport.

“My team is very happy with my preparation. I am looking forward to this and I will be going home as world champion.”

Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 knockouts) is a clear favourite against Horn, although he has not stopped an opponent since his 12th-round technical knockout of Miguel Cotto in 2009.

The eight-weight world champion has said that he is using the bout as an opportunity to prove he remains a global force at the age of 38 as he juggles boxing with a fulltime job as a senator in the Philippines.

“I’m so thankful for this great opportunity to be here in Australia and fight here, and the warm welcome of the people here,” Pacquiao said.

“I think this is one of the biggest crowds that I’m going to fight to. I love the fans shouting and cheering for me, or for Horn. I like that, it’s exciting.”

Pacquiao, who retired briefly early last year before making a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November, will need to be on song against the unbeaten Horn, who has won 16 of his 17 fights with one draw.

A relatively unknown physical education teacher, the 29-year-old Australian has been dubbed the “Fighting Schoolteacher” by promoters, who say the 50,000-capacity Suncorp Stadium is almost sold out.

“I consider him a tough opponent,” Pacquiao said.

“I never underestimate my opponent.

He’s undefeated, he’s young.

I like aggressive fighters.”

HEADLINE. Jeff Horn was in the front pages of most Australian dailies on Sunday.