Edge Davao 10 Issue 65, July 2-3, 2017

FORETOLD Duterte saw ISIS crisis in speech last year VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

W

AY before Marawi City was seized by Maute, an ISIS-sympathizing group currently at war with government forces, President Rodrigo Duter-

te had already mentioned a looming problem involving the said extremist organization in the Philippines.

This was pointed out by Sec. Ernesto Abella during the

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Mindanao Hour Press Briefing held in this city Friday, in response to critics saying that the administration has overlooked terrorism problems in the country due to its focus on

illegal drugs.

“Let me remind you that as early as August last year or one-and-a-half months after PRRD assumed the presidency, the president already told

the Philippine military to be ready with ISIS and warned that the country would be plagued with the ISIS disease,” Abella said.

He quoted the president’s

speech at the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army in Zamboanga del Sur, dated 10th of August last year saying, “Busy na unta ta

F FORETOLD, 10

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

COLD TREAT. A young boy visibly can’t contain his excitement as he waits for a vendor to hand him his scoop of ice cream he bought along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Sports

HEAD ON F Gilas pitted vs China in FIBA Asia Cup opener

FB to help filter out fake news

ACEBOOK INC. said Friday it has made an update available to help “reduce low-quality links in News

Feed”.

The update, apparently an effort to filter out spam and fake news, is based on the so-

cial media network’s research findings that there is a tiny group of people who routinely share vast amounts of pub-

lic posts per day, effectively spamming people’s feeds.

“Our research further

F FB, 10

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

PARTNERS. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and GMA TV Department OIC Oliver Amoroso lead the signing of partnership between the city government of Davao and GMA Network for ‘Kean Gabriel Hotline Information Drive’ at The Marco Polo Davao on Friday afternoon. Also present during the event are City Information Office (CIO) head Jeffrey

Mismatch in ASEAN schools on curricular programs bared

A

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Los Banos Filipino student, elected as the first President of the newly formed Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) University of Student Council, is calling for education leaders in the region to resolve the issue on mismatch of some curricular programs in various colleges and universities in its member states thereby causing delay in the studies of some exchange students.

In an interview, John Derick Ordonez, a 19 year old second year Development Communication student, said some subjects were not credited when they transferred or study abroad for a one or two year educational program due

to the misalignment in the curriculum of various schools in the ASEAN region.

Some of the subjects taken are either not credited here or abroad. Because of this problem, it causes delay in the completion of studies of students and their graduation, especially those in the undergraduate levels.

“With regards to the curricular problems, I think the education ministers should look into this,” he said. Particularly, he said, it was observed that there were problems of misalignment in social science subjects with more on business and economic subjects that were only accredited by colleges or universities here and in other countries.

F MISMATCH, 10

Tupas (leftmost), City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) chief Maria Luisa Bermudo (2nd from left) and GMA TV Davao station manager Mariles Puentevilla (rightmost). Lean Daval Jr.

E. Mindanao safe from terrorist attacks: AFP

T

HE Armed Forces of the Philippines has assured that all areas under the Eastern Mindanao Command remain safe from any diversionary retaliatory attack by local terrorist groups as martial law in the region entered its 38th day.

“After 38 days of martial law, the EMC under the leadership of Lt. Gen. (Leonardo) Guerrero, who is also the Martial Implementor in EMC, has continuously prevented the spillover and spread of the Marawi crisis in its AOR (area-of-operations),” spokesperson of the EMC martial law

implementor, Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, said in a statement Friday.

The conflict in Marawi City began when government security forces attempted to arrest Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, tagged as the ISIS “Emir” in Southeast Asia, last May 23.

An estimated 303 Maute Group terrorists have so far been killed, along with 82 soldiers and police officers and 44 civilians, in the clashes that have entered the seventh week.

Gapay said the EMC has shielded Eastern Mindanao

by preventing terrorists from leaking into the area.

“So far, EMC remains generally peaceful, safe and secure.

This is largely attributed to the tighter security measures being implemented by the Command. As of today (Friday), 17,494 checkpoint operations have been conducted, wherein the EMC has apprehended 31 violators, and confiscated 15 firearms and 11 illegal drugs,” he said.

Curfews have been imposed in 129 cities and municipalities in coordination with local government units.

Some 1,742 security/vi-

cinity patrols have also been made to secure vital installations, critical infrastructure and places of convergence, such as churches, malls and mosques, Gapay said.

This is complemented by 54 maritime patrols as part of maritime law enforcement operations and intelligence coverage of threat groups.

“Likewise, the Martial Law Special Action Group has been activated to effect arrest included in the arrest order issued by the Martial Law Administrator. As of today, 16 terrorist supporters have already been arrested in Davao City,

UTHORITIES seized a total of P82.52 billion worth of illegal drugs during the first year of the Duterte administration compared to P4.8 billion seized during the last year of the Aquino administration, Director General Isidro Lapeña of the The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Friday at the Mindanao Hour Press Briefing here.

Of the total drugs seized, the PDEA chief said police confiscated 2,446 kilos of shabu valued at P12.62 billion compared to 820 kilos valued at P940 million seized during the last year of President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s term.

Lapeña attributed the increase in confiscations to the intensified anti-drug campaign of the current President who

vowed to address the drug problem of the country “in three to six months” during the campaign for the May 2016 Presidential elections.

Duterte in September extended his self-imposed deadline to another six months and later said the campaign would go on until the last day of his term. Duterte’s term ends on June 30, 2022.

As of June 28, Lapeña said the drug war resulted in 64,397 police operations which nearly doubled from 36,466 operations of the previous President’s last year in office.

Lapeña said authorities recorded over 1.3 million drug addicts surrendered and arrested 86,984 drug suspects and 302 government workers involved in illegal drugs.

He said the authorities discovered nine clandestine laboratories, including two mega shabu laboratories, and dismantled 152 drug dens.

Lapeña reported 57 policemen were killed and 150 were wounded during operations.

Despite criticisms from different human rights organizations here and abroad, the PDEA chief said they will continue the Duterte administration’s drug war, noting that at least 48 percent, or equivalent to 20,126 barangays out of the total 42,036 barangays in the country have been affected by drugs.

He said National Capital Region has the highest drug affectation at 97 percent of its barangays but they have cleared 3,677 barangays of

drugs in the region.

“Of course these are the figures, what we want to do is to be able to accomplish these figures… translated into something our people will feel in the grassroots. We have shifted to barangay clearing program because this is where the drug problem thrives,” he said.

He also pointed out that the government’s law enforcement agencies are trying to address the demand side of the drug menace.

He said Duterte administration’s Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs has created a four-cluster approach in dealing with the drug problem – enforcement, justice, advocacy, and rehabilitation and integration.

He said this is a better

Gov’t retains Tier 1 ranking PDEA chief: Gov’t nets P82.5 billion worth of illegal drugs in war vs. human trafficking A

D

ESPITE criticisms and allegations of human rights violations, the Duterte administration happily reported that the Philippines has retained its Tier One status in the fight against human trafficking.

“On the Philippine Trafficking In Persons 2017 ranking, the U.S State Department, in its annual report entitled Trafficking In Persons (TIP 2017), cited the Philippines for maintaining its Tier 1 ranking,” Sec. Ernesto Abella announced during the Mindanao Hour Press Briefing FRiday.

“Meaning, the Philippine government has fully met the minimum of the trafficking victims’ protection acts and standards for the elimination

of trafficking,” he said.

According to the report, the government has demonstrated exceptional efforts and operations to convict human traffickers and identify human trafficking victims, even expanding to Filipinos working abroad.

“From July 2016 to June 2017 a total of 1,567 victims were served and 44 convictions were secured, putting 44 traffickers behind bars,” the Presidential Spokesperson said.

Abella added that the government would continue its good practices against human trafficking.

“As the Duterte administration enters its second year,

F GOV’T, 10

F PDEA, 10

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

3

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

Fil-Am lawyer to Pinoys: Rally behind gov’t in war versus terror

A

URBAN ASSAULT. Davao City Police Office simulates an urban assault as part of the 15-day Special Weapons and Tactics training under the Davao City Police Office on Friday, June 30. Photo courtesy of Keith Bacongco

VISITING US-based Filipino-American lawyer has called on all freedom-loving Filipinos to rally behind the government’s war on terror, warning that if left unchecked, the tentacles of terrorism will engulf the entire Asia-Pacific region.

During the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Forum in Quezon City on Friday, Atty.

Arnedo Valera, executive director of the Migrant Heritage Commission MHC) based in Washington, DC, said all Filipinos -- both Christians and Muslims -- must give their unconditional support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s all-out war against the Maute terror group that has been laying siege to Marawi City for more than a month now.

The forum was hosted by journalist Eric San Juan. Valera warned that “the threat, if left unchecked, is certain to engulf the Asia-Pacific region, and worsen the threats of terror-

ism in the rest of the world.”

He defended President Duterte’s action to declare martial law in Mindanao for 60 days last May 23 when some 500 Maute militants attacked Marawi City while Duterte was in Moscow for an official visit.

The President had to cut short his visit and return to Manila immediately to attend to the national security problem.

Valera said Duterte’s declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao region following the siege in Marawi City is in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.

The fighting in Marawi, now on its 39th day, has so far killed 303 Maute terrorists, along with 82 soldiers and police officers and 44 civilians.

Earlier, Valera asked Filipinos “to pray for our military troops in Mindanao and their families, as well as the civilian families, and those engaged in

HE military said Friday that the skirmishes in the municipality of Pikit and in nearby Aleosan, North Cotabato was triggered by land dispute involving Moro armed groups.

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, the long standing land dispute flared up the other day when Abdulrashid Ali of the 105th base command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) harassed a group of Moro para-military forces stationed in Barangay Bualan, Pikit, North Cotabato. ”It was not an organizational fight, the conflict was more of personal, triggered by land conflict,” Encinas said.

Soldiers have been deployed as peacekeeping force and did not engage the group of Ali, also Commander RP, in a firefight in deference to the on-going peace process between Manila and the MILF. Encinas said Army units in Pikit and Aleosan are now guarding the conflict-stricken village to prevent a repeat of the incident.

Soldiers under the 602nd Infantry Brigade are now securing the communities in the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao to prevent attacks by outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) like what the group did in Malagakit, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato. (EOF/PNA)

Duterte thumbs Land dispute triggers armed conflict in NC down self-rating T

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte remained a self-effacing leader when asked about the successes during his first year in the presidency, leaving the Filipino people to give the score card.

“You can rate me good, very good, excellent or very poor, I don’t mind,” Duterte said in a press interview after talking to the troops at the Police Regional Office 11, Thursday night.

“I am not a guy who would want to rate himself.

It is up for the people to do that,” the President added.

Even when he was mayor of Davao, Duterte was not keen on self-rating.

He said that he is just doing his duty to protect the country from the harms of illegal drugs in the society. The President has been criticized for his war on illegal drugs.

“If I make you happy, good, if I make you sad, well, I’m sorry,” he said.

Duterte reiterated that his campaign against illegal drugs will remain and

Conservation groups press charges over bear protections

A

GROUP of conservation nonprofit organizations announced Friday that they would sue the Trump administration to block its plan to remove federal protections for grizzly bears living in and around Yellowstone National Park.

According to a report of National Public Radio, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the United States and WildEarth Guardians together filed a 60-day notice of intent to block the move by suing the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

That step was required under the Endangered Species Act and was intended to give the agency a chance to address the groups’ concerns before they file a lawsuit, the report said.

Grizzlies have been listed as endangered and protected species under the Endangered Species Act since 1975, when only 136 of them lived in the Yel-

lowstone region. However, the US Interior Department said last week the population of bears living there recovered to about 700, meaning they no longer require protection.

But advocates for Yellowstone National Park’s grizzlies say they are not out of trouble yet.

They argue that the high-elevation whitebark pines, whose seeds are an important food source for the bears, have been severely impacted by disease, insects and climate change, causing the animals to consume more meat.

The conservationists said that even though bear-human conflicts do not pose a threat to the Yellowstone grizzly bears now, stripping federal protections would leave grizzlies living in and around Yellowstone National Park in danger due to the fact that the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have opened the door for limited hunting.

he would not care about the comments of any human rights groups.

“I cannot simply find wrong with a statement, if you destroy my country, I will kill you. What is wrong with that,” he said.

Duterte said that he will not let the next generation to be victimized by the harms of illegal drugs since these are the future of country.

“As a matter of fact, it is my duty to destroy people who will destroy my country,” he said.

On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that President Duterte has unleashed a human rights calamity on the Philippines in his first year in office.

“The government’s murderous “war on drugs,” drug-related overcrowding of jails, and the harassment and prosecution of drug war critics has caused a steep decline in respect for basic rights since Duterte’s inauguration on June 30, 2016,” the report said. (Armando Fenequito/ PNA)

F FIL-AM, 10

BRACING UP FOR THE BIG ONE. Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) training officer Lyndon Leovic Ancajas announces the upcoming 1st Davao Citywide earthquake and tsunami drill slated on July 14 during Connect media forum at SM Lanang Premier on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

KING’S FOOD. Marco Polo Davao general manager Dottie Wurgler-Cronin (3rd from right) and sales and marketing director Pearl Peralta-Maclang (2nd from left), together with Indonesian Consul General Secretary Berlian Napitupulu (center), Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Ronald Go (rightmost), MPD executive

BSP forecasts June inflation to range between 2.4, 3.2%

R

ISKS from fuel prices and electricity rates are seen to be lower in June 2017, thus, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) projects inflation for the month to stay within 2.4-3.2 percent.

In a text message to reporters Friday, outgoing BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said the drop in domestic oil prices along with the same trend for electricity rates in areas being serviced by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) “could lead to lower price pressures for the month.”

“Moving forward, the BSP will continue to monitor evolving price conditions and adjust policy setting appropriately to ensure price stability conducive to balanced and sustained economic growth,” he added.

In the first five months of the year, rate of price increases averaged at 3.1 percent, slightly above the mid-point of

the government’s two to four percent target for this year until 2020.

Last May alone, inflation decelerated to 3.1 percent after hitting 3.4 percent in the previous two months.

During the rate setting meet of the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) last June 22, the Board slashed the central bank’s average inflation forecast for this year to 3.1 percent from 3.4 percent on account of the expected lower path of inflation, inflation expectations that remain in-line with the target, robust domestic economic growth, liquidity and credit conditions that remain supportive of growth, and improving global economic prospects.

The three percent average inflation forecast for 2018 was maintained while the 2019 forecast has been set at three percent. (Joann Santiago/PNA)

chef Alex Destriza (leftmost) and guest chef Baupha from Marco Polo Hong Kong, lead the launching of the hotel’s Thai Food Festival at Café Marco on Friday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

PH travel goods to enter US duty-free starting July S

Travel goods to include apparels and bags

TARTING July 1, Philippine-made travel goods such as bags and wallets, can enter the United States market with zero tariff.

This after the Office of the US Trade Representative approved the Philippine government’s petition to expand the US Generalized System of Preferences (US-GSP) program.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, in his Twitter account, said that “travel goods are now included under GSP”.

The US-GSP Program expansion is effective starting

Saturday, July 1.

“US Trade Representative (USTR) approved our application for expanding GSP coverage. Meaning these products will enter US market duty-free. From what’s current range of 6 to 20 percent tariff duty, now down to zero,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters in a text message.

Lopez mentioned that there are 23 new tariff lines added in the expansion of GSP Program which include travel goods such as apparels, bags, wallets, backpacks,

national government in May. “We told NPC that even if we collect they will still be left with sufficient cash for their operations,” Tionko said.

Dominguez said earlier that the DOF’s target is to collect a total of PHP114 billion in arrears from government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), including the NPC, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC).

The bulk of these arrears are due from five GOCCs, namely, the PDIC with unpaid dividends of PHP46.5

billion; PSALM, PHP29.87 billion; NPC, PHP20.66 billion; Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), PHP6.89 billion; and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), PHP6.31 billion.

Under Republic Act 7656, GOCCs are required to declare their annual income after tax and other deductions, and to remit 50 percent of their net income to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr).

“There are arrears with PDIC, PSALM, NPC, PCSO and CAAP. But, fortunately we are making progress in these dividends,” Dominguez said.

NPC agrees to pay P3.44B in arrears

T

HE National Power Corp. has committed to remit an additional PHP472 million more in dividend remittances for 2016 and another PHP2.97 billion in arrears for the 2012-2015 period payable in five years, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the DOF’s Corporate Affairs Group (CAG) said the NPC had agreed to remit PHP594 million per year, starting this third quarter of 2017 for its unpaid dividends from 2012 to 2015 totaling PHP2.97 billion, on top of the regular dividends

due the national government for the forthcoming years.

Along with NPC’s commitment to pay PHP472 million in additional remittances which is due this month, the government stands to gain, starting this year and for the next four years, an additional PHP3.44 billion in revenues that will be spent for infrastructure and social spending, said Undersecretary Antonette Tionko in her report presented during the latest DOF Executive Committee meeting presided by Dominguez.

Tionko, who heads the CAG, said the NPC had remitted PHP333 million to the

luggage, and sport and travel bags.

Before the expansion of GSP Program started, tariff rates of luggage entering the US market range from 6.0 to 8.0 percent; handbags, 9.0 to 18 percent; pocket goods, 6.0 to 18 percent; and backpack, sports and travel bags, up to almost 20 percent.

“This expansion will boost the local manufacturing industry and eventually provide more employment opportunities for Filipinos, creating 70,000 new jobs and increasing our GDP to 0.5 percent,” the trade chief

noted.

In the first five years of the expansion of the program, Philippine exports to US is expected to increase USD100 million annually.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which make handbags made of recycled materials, leather, water lilies, and other local materials can also be competitive in the US market with zero tariffs the expanded GSP Program.

The country filed the petition in October 2015 under Section 204 of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015.(PNA)

Laoag welcomes ASEAN China Center delegates

A

BOUT 12 delegates from the ASEAN China Center (ACC) and Chinese media were warmly welcomed at the Laoag International Airport on Friday afternoon for a two-day Ilocos familiarization tour.

Led by ACC Secretary General Yang Xuiping, the Chinese delegates will be visiting famous landmarks and heritage site destinations in Ilocos Norte and the new wonder city of Vigan in neighboring Ilocos Sur province.

Upon arrival at the Laoag airport, representatives from the Department of Tourism Laoag sub-office approached the visitors with leis and handed them tokens as an expression of

friendly cooperation.

Consul Wang Jianqun of the Laoag Chinese Consulate Office also met the group at the airport.

As the Philippines is hosting this year’s 50th anniversary of the ASEAN, the ACC is looking forward to strengthening communications and exchanges between the two countries through the conduct of familiarization tours here.

Laoag, being the tourism and investment gateway of Luzon, is expected to host more Chinese tourists this year with ongoing discussions on the re-opening of direct chartered flights to Laoag. (Leilanie G. Adriano/PNA)

6 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

FDA warns vs. use of BSP seen in good hands unlisted eye product with new appointments T A HE Food and Drug Administration on Friday advised the public not to purchase or use the unregistered eye product, “Dok Apo Better Vision 15 ml”, which is circulating in the market.

Dok Apo Better Vision eye drops is being marketed as being able to prevent or cure cataract, sore eyes, eye irritation, and retinitis, among others.

“FDA post-marketing surveillance activities have verified that the drug product has not gone through the registration process of the agency and has not been issued with proper authorization in the form of Certificate of Product Registration,” FDA director general, Nela Charade Puno, said in

FDA Advisory No. 2017-182.

Puno also advised the public to be vigilant against products that might not be duly registered with the FDA, saying the agency cannot guarantee their quality and safety.

“All concerned establishments and/or entities are warned not to distribute the said violative drug product, otherwise, regulatory actions and sanctions shall be strictly pursued,” she said, citing Republic Act No. 9711 or the FDA Act of 2009.

To check if a product is registered, the public may visit www.fda.gov.ph and click the search feature or check the registration number at the product label. (LSJ/PNA)

Oil prices rise on falling US rig count

O

IL prices ended higher on Friday as data showed the number of US oil rigs fell for the first time since January.

Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said in its weekly report on Friday that the number of active US rigs drilling for oil declined by two to 756 rigs this week.

Oil rig numbers had

LONGSIDE President Duterte’s appointment of Nestor Espenilla as the incoming Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor, his selection of Antonio Abacan Jr. and Peter Favila as the new members of, and the retention of Felipe Medalla at, the Monetary Board will keep the central bank “in good hands” over the medium term, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

Dominguez welcomed the President’s decision to retain Medalla in, and name Abacan and Favila to, the Board at a time when both

continuity and reforms are needed to maintain the country’s resilient and stable fiscal environment.

“They were carefully chosen by the President to ensure that we continue with fiscal policies that would help sustain our growth momentum and attract more investments. I am certain that Messrs. Medalla, Favila and Abacan will carry on the great service set by their predecessors,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said Medalla, Favila and Abacan will serve a fixed term of six years each as provided under the New

Central Bank Act. “Alongside the appointment of BSP deputy governor as the next governor of the central bank, the President’s selection of Favila and Abacan as the new members of the Monetary Board will keep the BSP in good hands over the medium term,” Dominguez, also an MB member, said.

Abacan and Favila replaced Armando Suratos and former Development Bank of the Philippines chairman Alfredo Antonio who are scheduled to step down this year.

The newly announced

appointments complete the membership of the board, which includes Dominguez, Juan De Zuniga Jr., and Valentin Araneta, and its would-be chairman, incoming BSP Gov. Espenilla who will assume office on July 3.

Favila returns after three years to the Monetary Board where he earlier served as its member from 2008 to 2014.

Besides serving as former DTI chief from 2005 to 2010, Favila was once president of the Allied Banking Corp. and president-CEO of the Philippine National Bank.

F BSP, 10

climbed for 23 weeks in a row, the company said.

The West Texas Intermediate for August Delivery added USD1.11 to settle at USD46.04 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for August delivery gained USD0.50 to close at USD47.92 a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

(Xinhua)

Bicolanos unite to support ASEAN in Roadshow

T

HE Presidential Communications Operations Office and Department of Interior and Local Government have brought to Legazpi City the “2017 Roadshow on the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)” which is being hosted by the Philippines this year.

DILG-Bicol Elouisa T. Pastor welcomed delegates to the event on Friday which she said was an “impressive display” of the Bicolanos’ unity in support of ASEAN which is celebrating its 50th founding anniversary this year, deemed as a “milestone” celebration for the country.

She said the roadshow hoped to increase awareness among the people on how the Philippines as a member of the ten-nation regional organization can benefit from being part of ASEAN which is deemed as a “Community of Opportunities.”

Pastor added that it aims to help Bicolanos fully understand the impact of ASEAN in their lives, how they could benefit from the political alliances among the member countries and the economic integration of the Philippines into the global economy.

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara led the delegates that included municipal mayors from Bicol provinces, regional

directors and representatives of national government agencies and presidents of state colleges and universities.

Members of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, DILG directors from the six Bicol provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes, as well as media representatives showed up to lend their support to the event held at the Legazpi City Convention Center.

According to DILG Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing, becoming a part of the ASEAN Economic Community means that the country can have access to the free flow of goods and services among the member-states of the organization.

“Without the ASEAN Economic Community, the market (for the Philippine products) will only be for the 105 million Filipinos,” he said.

Densing cited that ASEAN membership promises access to a market of 617 million people that comprise the population of the ASEAN member states.

The 10 ASEAN member countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam (PNA)

INTERNATIONAL LINK. Mercedita Lim, one of the owners of newly opened RAM Travel Agency, bares her plan to tie up with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for easier access to all IATA airline members. Lim led the opening of RAMS Travel Agency J.P. Laurel branch located at the ground floor of D’ Leonor Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

Foundation University is fully solar-powered

F

OUNDATION University in Dumaguete City is now fully powered, resulting in a more than 50 percent savings in its monthly electric bills.

FU president Victor Vicente Sinco made the announcement during a press conference pn Friday as it gears up for its 68th founders’ day anniversary celebration starting next month.

According to Sinco, the university’s monthly bill of about

PHP1 million has dropped to PHP300,000.00 after solar panels were installed around the campus.

The university plans to install additional solar panels to further bring down their monthly power bill to as low as P50,000.00, Sinco added.

Foundation University describes itself as “the reigning most-eco-friendly and sustainable school nationwide”.

It has invested in the in-

stallation of solar panels since three years ago and runs on 300k power off grid.

The university “aims to reduce its carbon footprint and be able to contribute its role in environmental damage to the community.”

Solar energy is a reliable and renewable source of power that helps address environmental issues while admitting that there are other alternative clean energy sources like wind

power, Sinco said.

“The only thing right now that seems to be feasible for us is solar and what I intend to do is increase the number of panels” to bring down the monthly electricity bill, he said.

Meanwhile, the Foundation University president stressed that the effectivity of its iPad program for students would not be on the gadget but on the change of education.

(PNA)

tric and Hybrid Vehicles Summit held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Friday.

In a department news release, Pulido said the industry must ensure the operation of adequate recharging stations and after-sales support if e-vehicles are to take the place of vehicles running on fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel.

“The industry should be bent on continuing to improve the performance, mileage

and durability of EVs, so that these vehicles develop over time both in capacity and reputation that will match and stand toe-to-toe — or wheelto-wheel — with their petroleum-powered counterparts,” he said.

Pulido detailed the government’s efforts to provide the industry incentives, as well as the programs being implemented by the Bureau of Investments for nascent indus-

tries such as EVs. The DOE, he said, has drawn up an Alternative Fuel Roadmap, which embodies the country’s immediate and longterm strategies concerning the industry.

Last May, the DOE, in partnership with the Japanese government, turned over the “next-generation vehicles” to selected government agencies, especially in the ‘Yolan-

DOE backs development of electric vehicles in PH

T

HE Department of Energy fully supports the development of electric vehicles in the country as they are the future of motoring, an official has said.

“Through a concerted effort, we have to develop a conducive, open-access and non-discriminatory environment for EVs to thrive and settle into the mainstream,” Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido III said during the ASEAN Elec-

F DOE, 10

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

DOLE XI joins Q2 nationwide simul earthquake drill

DRILL EXECUTION. DOLE XI officials and staff during the 2nd National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill. KMGL/LCO-DOLEXI

PICE gives P1.7 million aid to Marawi IDPs

R

ESPONDING to the call of President Duterte to rebuild Marawi after six weeks of intense gunfight and air strikes against the invasion, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. (PICE) headed by its national president, DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral immediately draw P1.5 million to support the government efforts in helping the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons affected by the conflict.

Usec. Cabral said that the donation is part of the members’ collective commitment to the PICE’s vision and mission that is above all social responsibility and to be a key player and a dynamic force in

nation building.

To likewise respond to the call of service, the PICE Davao City Chapter on its part acted with promptness of adding P200 thousand more to the fund for assistance to IDPs of Marawi.

The two checks totaling P1.7 million is personally handed to Ms. Mercedita P. Jabagat, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development XI in Davao City by the members of the PICE National Board from Mindanao led by its 2nd National Vice President Engr. Erdsan Rene S. Suero, National Auditor Engr. Angel T. Torrejon, and PICE Davao City Chapter President Engr. Cary H. Beatisula.

FPICE, 11

D

AVAO CITY - Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI officials and staff join together to do the duck, cover, and hold position in its participation during the conduct of the Second Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on Thursday, June 29, 2017.

With Davao City as one of the key areas chosen by the National Disaster Risk Reduc-

tion and Management Council (NDRRMC), DOLE XI headed

by Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante joined the drill execution at 2 p.m. that day.

Director Agravante joined other directors and heads of offices during the opening program at University of Mindanao in Bolton Street, the main staging area of NSED in the city while DOLE XI officials and staff back in its Dacudao Avenue Office also conducted

the drill execution.

Scenario played was a magnitude 7.0 earthquake from the West Davao Fault Zone which resulted to damages to structures and establishments in the city.

After the execution of the drill, pool of evaluators coming from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Reserve Officers Legion of the Philippines and Kabalikat gave DOLE XI an outstanding rating.

“We are very pleased to join the conduct of the 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill. Other than doing our daily work in ensuring the safety of our employees in the private sector, we also want to serve as a role model to them in giving importance to disaster preparedness in times of natural calamities,” Director Agravante said.

Kriztja Marae G. Labrador/ DOLEXI-LCO

DUCK, COVER, AND HOLD. DOLE XI Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante joins other directors and head of offices during the drill execution on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at Bolton St. in Davao City. KMGL/LCO-DOLEXI

TOYCON returns to celebrate pop culture this 2017

F

ANS of pop culture will soon unite for The Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention (TOYCON), Asia’s biggest and longest-running convention for collectibles, toys, anime, comics, cosplay, and gaming. This

year’s run will be held from June 30 to July 2, 2017 at the SMX Convention Center, and Globe will be a proud sponsor for the event.

Customers and guests can drop by the Globe Postpaid booth where they will get to

learn more about the all-new GoWATCH399, a service that dedicates 10GB worth of data for streaming on popular platforms Netflix, YouTube, Tribe, HOOQ, NBA, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel Apps.

Guests may also play the vari-

ous booth activities to win premium items.

At TOYCON, attendees can participate in celebrity live panels, join games, check out exhibits, and watch musical performances from local and

citing their accomplishment as this year’s Gawad Saka champion.

“DA will always be there to help you [farmers] in boosting your production through mechanization,” he adds.

Among who received the intervention of a hauling truck worth P1.4 million is the Rehoboth Association in Panabo, Davao del Norte.

Lolita Pinoon, chairman of Rehoboth Association thanked DA for the assistance in their cacao production and marketing project.

“Thank you DA family for

the help we received. The truck is a big help for our association to be more productive and successful,” Pinoon said.

Governor Anthony del Rosario also lauded the interventions extended by DA to the farmers in their province.

For Davao del Sur, eight hand tractors worth P109,800 each were given to eight Irrigators Associations (IAs), eight floating tiller worth P83,500 each were given to eight IAS, two open source pumps worth P64,937 each were given to two IAs. A rice thresher worth

P109,537 is turned-over to the municipality of Padada, one combine harvester worth P1.2 million was given to Magsaysay Farmers Cooperative and two hauling trucks worth P1.4 million each were given to Pambansang Mananalon, Mag-uuma, Magbabaul, Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (P4MP) of Padada and Balutakay Coffee Farmers Association (BACOFA) in Bansalan respectively.

The series of turnover undertaken by DA is in line of the 10 point agenda under the Duterte Presidency which points out to the need to mod-

ernize the country’s farming sector through provision of farm machineries.

In his previous interview, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said there is a need for mechanization since the absence of rice harvesters and efficient rice processing facilities account for at least 20% of the post-harvest losses.

“Through mechanization farmers can improve efficiency in production as well as reduce postharvest losses and eventually increase their incomes,” Piñol added. (Che D. Palicte DA-11)

F TOYCON, 10

DA turns over P11 M worth of farm equipment to 2 Davao provinces

T

HE Department of Agriculture has turned-over P11 million worth of support interventions to the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur just in time for their founding anniversaries.

Six million pesos worth of farm machineries was turnedover to the Davao del Norte while P5.2 million in Davao del Sur. In Davao del Norte, Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. and Governor Anthony del Rosario led the turnover ceremony of the farm machineries such as pump and engine set, hand

tractor with implements, combine harvesters with transport trailer, rice threshers, floating tillers, plastic crates and hauling truck to the 34 farmer cooperatives and associations in the province.

These assistance aims to help local small farmers produce high-quality crops particularly high value crops and rice.

Oñate said the interventions given to the Dabaonon farmers is also a way of extending the department’s gratitude for their exemplary contribution to the agriculture sector

Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. (2nd L) lead the turnover of the P1.2 million worth combine harvester to An array of farm machineries to be turned-over to farmer cooperatives and associations in Davao del Norte. Magsaysay Farmers Cooperative. Also in photo is Municipal Agriculturist Officer (MAO) Helen Carampatana (Photo by Che D. Palicte DA-11) (extreme left). (Photo by Ronell Tangonan DA-11)

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

EDITORIAL

T

Celebrating 50 years of Davao provinces

HE three Davao provinces marked their 50th founding anniversary on July 1.

Republic Act No. 4867 officially divided the then one Davao province into three provinces--Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur-- on May 20, 1967.

All three provinces marked their celebrations with activities that pay homeage to their rich heritage and successes. Davao del Norte’s theme was “Bulawanong Paghinumdum, Bulawanong Panlantaw (Golden Commemoration, Golden Vision)”; Davao Oriental’s was “Celebrating Golden Heritage towards Sustainable Inclusive Progress”; and Davao del Sur “Bulawanong Gugma ug Panaghiusa Alang sa Malambuong Probinsya (Golden Love and Unity for a Progressive Province).”

The three provinces are the lifeblood of Mindanao’s economic development especially in the area of agriculture. Davao del Norte is one of the biggest source of the country’s banana export while Davao

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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

the national association of newspapers

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance RICHARD C. EBONA Marketing Supervisor

del Sur produces mango and Davao Oriental as the coconut capital of the country. Through all these years, the three provinces are enjoying sustained economic growth and are seen to develop further with improved connectivity in Mindanao and the influx of investments to the region.

However, heaps of work needed to be done in the area of peace and order. Insurgency issues still hound the three provinces with the terrain in these areas a haven to communist rebels and this is what turns away worthy investments that should have come to this corridor.

As the three provinces enter a new age in their respective history, it is incumbent upon the leaders of these provinces to bring about inclusive growth and provide more opportunities for employment. It is likewise high time for the national government to train its sights towards these areas and further enhance agriculture development.

Simply put, the national government need to throw in more budget to these long ‘neglected’ parts of Mindanao.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

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

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

EDGEDAVAO

W

ORLD War II was a major issue that led to the collapse of the abaca industry in Davao. Nearly all prewar plantations were flattened by aerial bombs. Some of the farms were intentionally cut down and transformed into runways, their warehouses converted into hangars.

The condition of this once-flourishing Davao industry further worsened in the absence of government support. To populate Mindanao and revive its thriving economy, proclamations were issued encouraging migrants to settle in the region and open new agricultural ventures in areas the state had declared as alienable and disposable.

On April 2, 1951, President Elpidio Quirino signed Proclamation No. 247, which excluded a 1,023.8574 hectares from the Davao Prisons and Penal Farm (Dapecol) estates in favour of Tagum Agricultural Development Company (Tadeco).

Tadeco, registered and incorporated on December 20, 1950, is owned by the late Don Antonio O. Floirendo and his family. To Floirendo’s credit, the lands covered by the proclamation were cultivated and developed into a flourishing abaca plantation, arguably the most productive and the largest in the post-war period. In fact, the prestigious Fortune magazine dubbed it as the “single biggest abaca plantation in the world.”

T

he kind of democracy that we live in and at work came from western minds.

As you can see, we traditionally look towards the US for anything that affects our government and governance. In fact, millions of Filipinos have migrated there and became American citizens.

I recall there was a “crazy” time in the past when unofficial surveys showed more Filipinos are inclined to vote for the Philippines to become the 51st state of the USA. The US is the progenitor of capitalism. We inherited its’ capitalist system, copied the same economic principles but went too far short in their application.

The Americans grew strong as a nation and as a people united.

They police the world, don’t they?

While capitalism worked extremely well for them, it did not for the Filipinos. In America, their forefathers trail-blazed the building of a strong middle class while its succeeding generation of leaders sustained their inheritance by allowing the cit-

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Abaca trading in Davao, circa 1951 While Floirendo saw golden opportunities in abaca, the rest of Davao region was pessimistic. The state was scrounging for funds and there was virtual breakdown in public finance.

Foreign exchange income coming from Davao hemp was choked due to the difficulty of transporting abaca fibers from farms due to bad roads for which the government had no funds for repair.

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal dated February 1951 reported that after the Liberation, there was low abaca production in Davao, which affected the income of the province.

The report said: “This low production, brought about by the destruction of the war, the over-stripping of what was left, and the lack of new plantings, is being rapidly, and one may say, triumphantly, overcome by wide-spread new plantings, fostered, to no small degree, and to its credit, by the Central Government.”

The problem of over-stripping, which also affected abaca farms of Dapecol, translated into losses for the government. This went on for years and created uncertainty in the industry. For Tadeco, the stockpile of excess abaca stalks was a good source of profit.

Using his good business, Floirendo, on May 16, 1956, through his agricultural firm, signed a contract with the Bureau of Prisons (now Bureau of

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa Corrections), represented by Director Alfredo Bunye, to decorticate the surplus abaca stalks on a 60-40 sharing basis in favour of the government. The deal was approved by then acting Executive Secretary Catalino Macaraeg, Sr. The journal made a clear take on how the mounting abaca stalks, unless processed into marketable fibers, would affect the economy, explaining that: “When abaca cannot be marketed, it naturally is not stripped, but this does not merely postpone the harvest.

If the stems, as they mature, are not stripped, they rot, and the waste is truly heart-rending to those brave pioneers who have labored so mightily to bring wild virgin forests under cul-

tivation. The work involved is perhaps the hardest in the world.”

Before the conflict, the journal reported, “the bulk of the abaca in the province was grown in areas close Davao City; the hauls were short, the roads good. These old plantations, even those not destroyed, or ruined by overstripping, or badly infected by the mosaic disease, are now slowly going out of production because abaca cannot be advantageously grown for more than perhaps from 15 to 30 years on the same land.”

Beyond harvesting the stalks and decorticating them into hemp, the issues of preparing the lands, clearing them of trees, securing hills for planting, and cultivating the abaca until they are ready for harvest are only some of the challenges a plantation owner had to face. Floirendo’s ordeal in transforming the lands granted to his company was best depicted by the journal: “The dense forest jungle is first cleared of underbrush, which, afterward, may or may not be fired, depending on the amount of the cut brush which in places may lie many feet deep. Then, surprising enough from the city man’s point of view and his ideas about forest-clearing, the hemp plants are planted in rows, the correct distances apart, with the towering forest trees still standing. Only after the planting of the hemp, are the trees hewed down.

“The trees are allowed to lie where they fell and the stumps are not uprooted. In a few years, what with the heat and the rain, the ants and other insects, molds and fungi, all this wood has rotted away, the substance adding to the fertility of the soil. Oddly enough, too, the ground on which a great forest once stood and now bearing countless rows of abaca plants, is seen to be fairly level, almost as level as it would have been had it been plowed and rolled and harrowed.

“There is also the very hard work of ditching to obtain the necessary drainage, for hemp growers say that while abaca requires rain the year around, it should be planted on a permeable and well-drained soil because it does not like ‘wet feet’. Then there is the further hard work of plantation road-building, and, of course, the weeding that must be kept up until the abaci plants are high enough not to be overwhelmed by returning jungle-brush.

“It is estimated that it costs around P1,000 a hectare to bring a new abaca plantation into production, which, in Davao, because of the wonderfully rich soil and the plentiful rainfall, will begin in around 18 months from the time of planting.” (Paragraphing mine) Today, it costs hundreds of thousands to lucratively develop a hectare of abaca, and nearly PhP2 million to cultivate, from clearing to packaging, a hectare of banana ready for export.

tify.

Look around us. Compare the economic lifestyles in the West and those in Asia, Africa and South America. The disparity in wealth cannot be explained by the cultural differences alone.

It appears, from our historical past, that we could not shake off the constricting influence of America and capitalism even when decades of experience will tell us to look outside of the West for the answers.

The poor and the proletariat have nobody to turn to. They can either choose to go to the mountains and launch a “revolution of the masses” or give peace a chance by using the power of the ballot.

I would urge them to pick the latter. They can then throw the bad eggs out of the government, re-create the production and distribution of wealth via the cooperative system and install the deserving, honest and qualified candidates to lead us “out of Egypt” into the promised land. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

John 3:16 GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

Is capitalism working for us?

izens more than adequate leeway to own properties, homes, real estate lots and establishing entrepreneurial businesses of their own.

Conversely, we were the exact opposite.

Few citizens own the lots where their houses stand. Few still have established businesses of their own.

Majority are peddlers; they are ambulant vendors who earn a meager profit daily to survive. They are even chased by the police authorities for their so-called illegal style of earning a decent living.

Since communism is generally dead, we can only compare capitalism to socialism, the kind of government that is based on shared ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Because only less than one percent of the Philippine population owns and runs the country’s economy, I spitefully snicker at this stark circumstance as do the rest of the Filipino people.

Greed, avarice and selfish preservation are the terms I can ascribe

SPECKS OF LIFE Fred C. Lumba to my view of capitalism, Philippine-style.

Not more than fifty filthy-rich families belong to the elite one percent described above, out of the more than one hundred million population.

This is the ugly discrepancy that capitalism brings and breeds.

This is the capitalism that prevails in our society which our present-day “democratic” set-up cannot justly rec-

I would like to assume that this is also the same view of the current tenant in Malacanang, given his propoor stance in his public pronouncements.

This is the primary reason why thousands of poor, homeless, KADAMAY members commandeered a housing project built by the National Housing Authority in Pandi, Bulacan.

The inequality and social injustice that capitalism bred in our system is just too much to bear, don’t you think so?

I am not exposing the evils of capitalism in our country to lay the blame on the Americans.

I am finding fault with our national leaders – past and present – who turned and veered away from the ideals of the true democratic system that was designed for the people, by the people and of the people.

Capitalism per se is not bad. The element of free enterprise (laissez faire) in capitalism motivates people to use their initiative and God-given talents to soar and succeed.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

FORETOLD... FROM 1

pag-atubang ni aning problemaha na-a pa gyud droga and I see a looming problem.

Tan-aw nako within three to seven years from now magka-problema ta sa ISIS.” [We’re already busy with the problem on drugs and I see a looming problem. I think within three to seven years from now, we will have a problem regarding ISIS.] President Duterte revealed at that time that Arab ISIS members have entered some parts of Mindanao as missionaries whose real purpose is to indoctrinate into Moros, the convoluted ideals of the international extremist organization.

“Mao na’y kahadlukan kay sama sa mga komunista, pag humana na og ma-clear na nila ang lugar, nakit-an nila maayo mosulod na ining ilang political officers,” the president said last year.

“Kanang may delikado kay ang gina luto ana ang utok.

Anaay problema diri sa Muslim insurgency and we must arrest them before dili sila, ang atong mga kaigsuonang Moro, dili ma-contaminate sa ISIS disease.”

[That’s troublesome because similar to communists, when they’re done with the place and they see that it’s clear, that’s when their political officers come in. That’s dangerous because they are messing with the mind.

There’s a problem here on Muslim insurgency and we must arrest them before, not them, our Moro brothers, that they don’t get contaminated with the ISIS disease.]

Abella pointed out that President Duterte had already started receiving intelligence about the ISIS’s plans to take over the Muslim communities in Mindanao as early as last year, thus, the issue on terrorism had never been overshadowed by the government’s war on drugs. (PNA)

shows that the links they share tend to include low-quality content, such as clickbait, sensationalism, and misinformation,” said Facebook, which claims to be “always working to improve people’s experience in News Feed by showing more stories that we think people will find informative and entertaining”.

“As a result, we want to reduce the influence of these spammers and deprioritize the links they share more frequently than regular sharers.

Of course, this is only one signal among many others that may affect the ranking prioritization of this type of post. This update will only apply to links, such as an individual article,

not to domains, Pages, videos, photos, check-ins or status updates.”

By taking steps like this to improve News Feed, Facebook claimed it would be able to surface more stories that people find informative and reduce the spread of problematic links, such as clickbait, sensationalism and misinformation.

Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the technology company headquartered in Menlo Park, Northern California, announced earlier this week that it reached a new milestone Tuesday with 2 billion people worldwide connecting to Facebook every month. (Xinhua)

providing humanitarian services”.

“Likewise, join me in a prayer for President Rodrigo Duterte and all government officials,” he said.

Valera stressed the importance of prayer “for Divine protection to the Filipino troops fighting against rebellion and terrorism in Marawi City, and to bless their mission that it

may lead at last to enduring peace, and prosperity to the entire region”.

He also asked God to “keep the soldiers safe from harm and bring them safely back to their families”, as well as for strength and increased faith for the families of the troops, as well as the civilian families, as they go through their ordeal.

(PNA)

He served as a consultant to the BSP and CDC Holdings Inc. and was chairman-president of the Philippine Stock Exchange from 2001 to 2005.

Favila obtained his Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Banking and Finance from the University of Santo Tomas and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Abacan also held several high-level positions in the banking industry--president of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) from 1993 to April 2006 and of the Philippine Savings Bank and Unibancard Corp. from 1988 to 1991. He is currently the group vice chairman of the

Metrobank Group.

Medalla, who first served in the MB in 2011, was the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) from July 1998 to January 2001. He also served as director of the PNOC-Exploration Corp., and as independent director of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

A professor and former dean at the School of Economics of the University of the Philippines (UP), Medalla also served as president of the Philippine Economics Society and as chairman of the Foundation for Economic Freedom. He was also a director of the Asia United Bank Corp. (PNA)

FB... FROM 1

Fil-Am... FROM 4

BSP... FROM 6

SPECIAL EVENT. SM Lanang Premier mall manager Therese Lapena Manalo promotes the mall’s upcoming ‘The Great 3 Day Sale’ slated on July 14 to 16 during Connect media forum at SM Lanang Premier on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

PDEA... FROM 2

approach because it will deal with drug problem on all fronts, from supply to demand side.

He said the cluster on rehabilitation and reintegration will be handled by the Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare and Development where they are treated and trained on new skills “so that they can be provided with jobs, become

productive citizens of the society and join the mainstream society.”

He said the advocacy will be handled by the Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency, and Department of Education to reach out to the vulnerable sectors in the communities like the youth in schools and barangays. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

today, rest assured that the well-being of the Filipinos would be of paramount importance,” he said. “And we will safeguard and protect them

from any threat violence and exploitation through strict implementation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking In Persons Act of 2012.” (PNA)

international acts. Fans of cosplay can join or watch CosFanX, an international cosplay competition, while comic book aficionados can visit Artist Alley, where local and international artists will be present for custom sketches, signing and art critiquing, or the Collectors Fine Art Exhibit for the best in collectibles.

Attendees can also meet celebrity guests, like Kevin McNally from Pirates of the Caribbean, Charlie Bewley from Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, Lindsay McKeon from Supernatural, Stefan Capicic from Deadpool, Cas Avnar from Assassin’s Creed, and Karen Fukuhara from Suicide Squad.

The highlight of the event is the toys and collectibles gallery, where avid collectors and pop culture fans can admire the mini-museum of the country’s top toys and collectibles.

Those who wish to start or expand their collection can visit the 250 exhibitors and ven-

dors selling pop culture merchandise and memorabilia.

“Globe has always been at the forefront of pop culture, and we have given our customers the chance to experience the best in movies, TV shows, music, and games,” says, Issa Cabreira, Globe SVP for Consumer Mobile Business. “Our participation at this year’s TOYCON aims to show how they can get access to the latest in pop culture happenings ahead of everyone else” Cabreira added.

TOYCON began in 2002 and quickly became one of the biggest and most-anticipated events in the country and the region. Last year, it moved to the SMX Convention Center to accommodate a larger crowd.

An estimated 35,000 people visited the convention.

TOYCON is partnered with PopLife Entertainment and the Salt Lake City Comic Con, the third largest comic convention in the United States of America.

Gov’t... FROM 2

TOYCON... FROM 7

Mismatch... FROM 2 This is one of the first two problems identified by the participants during the sharing of students coming from the member states in the recently concluded First ASEAN Student Mobility Forum held in Pasay City, where the ASEAN , the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the European Union (EU) joined forces to organize . The move was aimed to capture and promote the benefits of student mobility in the ASEAN region.

About 200 students and alumni attended the two-day forum early this June to discuss the impact of student mobility has on individuals’ stud-

ies, employability and careers, as well as on societies and on the ASEAN region as a whole.

Various current pressing problems including issues on economy, environment, the peace and order situation of the country and its member states, were tackled during the forum.

The second problem identified is the occasional delayed financial assistance such as the supply of allowances, stipends and budgetary problems of students abroad.

They are forced to struggle to survive when they run out of funds while studying in a foreign land when the help is not there yet, he said. (PNA)

da’-stricken areas, for practical testing and operation, research and development, and technical familiarization.

It also formulated with the help of various stakeholders the Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program, which aims to ensure that all

energy-consuming products, including light vehicles, will meet the set energy performance requirements for consumer benefit.

Pulido asked EV stakeholders to raise public awareness of the benefits of using e-vehicles. (DOE-PR)

gay Pampanga.

In April this year Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno was quoted by a national business daily that “the bridge from Davao to Samal Island that will be constructed starting this year”.

Diokno’s quote was made during an ambush interview of a business reporter at the sideline of the Mindanao Trade and Investment Forum organized by the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines at the Marco Polo Davao.

The secretary also said then that the FS and the source

of funds for the Davao-Samal Bridge “was being finalized”.

It is end of the first half of the year now and talk about the Samal Bridge seems to be not a-buzzing these days.

Councilor Charles Ligan, on the other hand, said that the IGACOS City Council and the Davao City Council would still have to make a joint session to approve the final location of the Davao City end of the bridge.

But if it would be Panabo City, then the island’s City Council would have a joint session with the Panabo City Council.

Cha Monforte, Correspondent

DOE... FROM 6

Samal... FROM 11

INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

TRAVEL

EDGEDAVAO

One of the hanging bridges you can see while on the Dapitan River Cruise.

By OLAN EMBOSCADO IN PART ONE of my feature on Dapitan City, I talked about the more popular places to see and experience. Part two tackles the natural part of Dapitan as well as the civic and heritage wonders of the city.

CAVING, WATERFALLS AND MANGROVE TOURS I was wrong when I thought that Dapitan is just all about Rizal and Dakak. Truth is, this Shrine City of Mindanao is home to a number of natural wonders that is truly something that Dapitan can boast. It has long coasts, majestic waterfalls, pristine cave system and rivers that remain untainted to this day. In Baao, the Kamanganon Cave is a must visit. It is about 20 minutes trek from the jump off area passing through series of streams and waterfalls that make the whole experience more exciting and fun.

The city is also home to a vast mangrove reserve. In fact mangrove trees thrive everywhere and have become sanctuary for marine life. River cruising can also be experienced here. It is something one should experience when visiting Dapitan away from the usual tours.

HERITAGE TOUR As a Spanish settlement, Dapitan is a home to a number of heritage sites in Mindanao.

Being Jose Rizal’s official home in Mindanao, Dapitan boasts of its rich heritage roots tracing back pre-Spanish times. The City Poblacion boasts of its rich heritage sites that until now are carefully preserved not only by the City Government but even by the people. Some of these heritages sites are already marked

DAPITAN CITY

More than just a Shrine City

Part Two

Dapitan’s iconic city hall.

At the city’s poblacion. as National Historical Site by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Meeting the world’s shortest man alive.

DAKAK GOLF CLUB INCORPORATED Dapitan will soon become one of Mindanao’s Golf Destination. This is courtesy of Dakak Championship Golf Club being developed in the vast acre of Dakak Park Complex. The golf course is eyed

to become one of the best Golf Courses in the Philippines and in Asia. The nine hole championship golf course is designed by no less than Greg Norman, an Austrailan golfer who used to be world’s number 1 Golfer. My favorite area is the Balete Hole with an amazing view of Dakak Park and the Sulu Seas.

DAPTIAN A4

A2 INdulge!

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

GMA network and Davao City partner against child abuse ABUSED CHILDREN IN DAVAO CITY NOW HAVE A VOICE with the Davao City Government’s Kean Gabriel Hotline. A brainchild of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in memory of Kean Gabriel Agustin, a fouryear-old child who dies of abuse at the hands of his guardian last August 2016, the hotline aims to strengthen the local government’s fight against child abuse.

“Kean’s tragic death betrayed the urgent need to confront the violence experienced by hapless children in their homes - from the hands of the very people who are supposed to provide them with care and love,” said Mayor Sara. “We were guided by the objective to provide immediate help to children who are victims of abuse and neglect from their own parents or guardians. The hotline 0918-818-4444 operates 24/7 and the center is run by social workers, lawyers, police officers, and other professionals who are trained to conduct the most needed interven-

tions, including rescue.”

Understanding the need to raise awareness of the hotline, GMA Network partnered up with the City Government of Davao to launch a massive information drive for the hotline, the agreement of which was signed and attended to by GMA Network’s top executives and Mayor Sara.

“We congratulate Mayor Inday Sara for creating the Kean Gabriel Hotline and for paving the way for the public to be more vigilant against child neglect and abuse,” said GMA Regional TV Department Officer-in-Charge Oliver Amoroso. “We are also honored that the Mayor

chose GMA Davao as the first local station to have this partnership. GMA fully supports any initiative that protects and upholds the rights of a child,” he added.

“Through this partnership, we aim to help the City Government of Davao communicate to the public the importance of the community’s involvement in protecting our children,” shares GMA Davao Station Manager Mariles Puentevella.

“All of us are responsible in ensuring that our children grow up in an environment that is conducive to their well being.”

From October to November last year, the Kean Gabriel Hotline received 24 reports of child abuse of which, 14 children were rescued. In December, 5 children were rescued. In January, seven; February, three; five in March and four in April. Last month, 7 children were rescued and last June, 13 chidren have been rescued from 35 phone calls.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Jackie Chan-produced film ‘Reset’ opens NOW SHOWING

June 30 – July 4, 2017

RESET Yang Mi, Wallace Huo Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

R13

1:00 | 3:10 | 5:20 | 7:30 | 9:40 LFS

TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

PG

1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 LFS

DESPICABLE ME 3/ *WONDER WOMAN Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

PG/*PG

Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig/ *Gal Gadot, Chris Pine 12:25 | 2:25 | 4:25 LFS/ *6:30 | 9:20 LFS

OVERDRIVE/ *EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING

Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

R13/*PG

Ana de Armas, Scott Eastwood/ *Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson 12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 LFS/ *6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

EXPER IENCE THE ACTION, DRAMA, AND THRILL as one woman goes back in time to keep her son alive in the Jackie Chan-produced film “Reset,” exclusively distributed by Star Cinema in cinemas nationwide.

Topbilled by Asian superstars Yang Mi and Wallace Huo, “Reset” follows the journey of Xia Tian (Yang Mi), a young mother who just cracked the mystery behind time travelling.

Her discovery, however, comes with a price, as terrorists led by Tsui Hu (Wallace Huo) want to get a hold of the time travel formula she unlocked. They then kidnap her son and demand that she hands over the formula capsule as a ransom. Xia Tian succumbs to their demand and steals the capsule, only to have her son killed by the heartless terrorists.

To bring him back to life, Xia Tian goes back

in time and does everything to prevent his son from suffering the same fate. Will she succeed in her mission?

“Reset” promises to take viewers on a heartstopping action adventure with exploding skyscapers, car stunts, mind-blowing special effects, and stylish combats. Adding to that are several unpredictable twists that got the Chinese movie community abuzz weeks before the

movie’s release.

Aside from “Reset,” Star Cinema also distributed foreign movies such as “The Last Word” starring Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine, and “Kung Fu Yoga” starring Jackie Chan in local cinemas early this year.

Catch “Reset” exclusively distributed by Star Cinema in cinemas nationwide. For more information, visit http:// starcinema.abs-cbn.com/ movies/reset.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

TRAVEL DAPTIAN A1 SHORTEST MAN ALIVE It’s not hearsay. It’s a record and it’s a Guinness World Record. The shortest man alive is in the Philippines and now lives in Dapitan.

He is Junrey Balawig from Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte. He is 23 years old now and stands 69.93 centimeters (23.59 inches) tall. He was declared the shortest man alive during his 18th birthday. Junrey the record of Khadendra Thapa Magar of Nepal who is 0.67 meters tall.

With the help of former Congressman Nonong Jaloslos, Junrey and his family now live in Dapitan City and resides at the Heritage House, the building occupied by the City Tourism Office.

THE NEW CITY HALL OF DAPITAN Among the cities and towns that I have visited in the country, I find Dapitan’s New City Hall as one of the most impressive. It perfectly sits in an area that commands a perfect view of nearby river and the bridge that connects the City to the mainland.

For me, I consider it a

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

perfect sight as a welcome treat to people entering Dapitan City.

The City Hall is a newly constructed building. It houses the office of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor and the Sanguniang Panglungsod and the key offices government officer of the city.

FOOD TRIPPING IN DAPITAN If you’re on a gastronomic journey, Dapitan City will never fail you.

With a good number of restaurants and cafes scattered in the different areas of the city, Dapitan is a delectable choice for you. Seafood is one of the city’s specialties.

Some of Dapitan’s good food choices can be found at Gloria’s Fantasyland complex.

These are just among the many spectacular sights to see in Dapitan. There is more to see and more to experience in this city that was once loved and nurtured by no less than our National Hero Jose Rizal. And like Ka Pepe, if given a chance, I want to be exiled here – a sweet beautiful exile.

After all, Dapitan City is more than just a shrine city – it has everything one is looking for in a destination.

An idyllic scene along the Dapitan River.

Fod tripping in Dapitan.

At Dakak Golf Club.

EDGEDAVAO KORONADAL PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

Advertise with

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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

11 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

Samal-Panabo bridge proposal not scrapped

P

ANABO City as an area where the other end of the long-dreamed Samal Bridge would connect has not yet been totally discarded.

In fact, there are already two designs of the Samal Bridge, one prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the other prepared by a Chinese entity.

This emerged from the discussions of the Island Garden City of Samal City Council in its

regular session Tuesday.

During the privilege hour, Councilor Ruel Bantillo informed members of the City Council that he learned from Ang Tulay ng Pangulo’s engineer Elmer Bacus about the approved budget of the Office of the President for the bridge subject for presentation to city officials.

Bantillo also mentioned about Bacus bringing the design of a Chinese entity, which

ferry or take the bridge going to Panabo in case they don’t want traffic,” Amit said.

He said that if the international airport project would be bagged by Tagum City and considering the much funded Davao City-Panabo City bypass road project, Panabo City looks like the ideal location for the island’s bridge to connect to.

But Amit added he does not really know the position of the people of Samal on the issue of

will compete with another connection that would connect the island to Davao City particularly along the Coaco coastal area in Barangay Pampanga.

But Vice Mayor Orly Amit asked Bantillo if Bacus has written request to the city council to present the bridge’s budget.

Bantillo replied it was only a verbal request, to which the vice mayor said “the city council is not yet part of it, (while) we recognize the intention of Bacus

to talk with the mayor.”

The vice mayor reminded Bantillo that the last he knew was the funding of the fullblown feasibility study for the Samal bridge project and that there was also a design of the bridge prepared by the JICA. “There was also a discussion in the NEDA to connect the bridge to Panabo City considering the traffic in Sasa area.

In that, there are two options, either the people will take a

RINCESS Annalea Abbas Cader is celebrating her sixth birthday at the evacuation center in Buru-un on Friday, June 30 and her only wish is: “I want my rabbits back.”

Princess left behind her rabbits “Bait” (Good) and “Saway” (Naughty) when they fled Barangay Mapandi in Marawi City on May 26, Day 4 of the Marawi Crisis, and the second day of massive aerial bombardment.

Her mother, Jaslia Mambuay, recalled that Princess kept crying, nudging her to return home when she saw some fellow evacuees carrying their pets with them in that long walk to the neighboring town of Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur. “Bakit dala nila yung animals nila?” (Why did they bring their animals?) asked Princess, a gifted child who was supposed to return to school on June 6 as a Grade 2 student at the Philippine Muslim Teachers College (PTMC) Laboratory School.

“Medyo na-guilty rin ako” (I somehow felt guilty), Jaslia told MindaNews at the evacuation center inside the National School of Fisheries compound in Barangay Buru-un last Monday.

“Dapat sana nilagay namin sa basket. Di ko naisip dahil sa taranta at lakas ng bomba

BIRTHDAY WISH GRANTED. Princess Annalea Abbas Cader got what she wished for on her 6th birthday on 30 June 2017: a pair of rabbits. The child evacuee from Barangay Mapandi in Marawi City, now staying at the

connecting the bridge to Davao City or Panabo City.

However, Mayor Al David Uy said that as far as he knew the decision was already to connect to Davao City.

He quipped, “it’s either the bridge would be constructed by Japanese or Chinese.”

Uy earlier said that the location of the other end of the bridge in Davao City is somewhere in Coaco area at Baran-

F SAMAL, 10

Marawi rehab won’t be Birthday wish of Marawi child evacuee:‘I want my rabbits back’ like‘Yolanda’--Sec. Villar P

T

HE government won’t repeat in Marawi City the mistakes of the past administration in handling the rehabilitation program for areas hit by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, Public Works secretary Mark Villar.

Villar, in a press briefing in Malacañan Palace Thursday said the rehabilitation plan for Marawi will be more sensitive to the needs of the affected residents.

He said rehabilitation will start right after the fighting between government troops and Maute Group ends.

“Well the President is very clear on this and he was… He expresses his disappointments in the facilities for Yolanda before and definitely hindi na po mauulit iyong nangyari (definitely, it will not happen again),” he said.

He assured a resettlement site should be near a water source and electricity.

Villar said the government is already working on the upgrading of facilities at the evacuation centers.

“In fact, even with the tent cities we’ll be assisting them with the basic amenities for the tent cities but of course that’s part of the short term. That’s within—for the next 6 months,” he said.

The long-term plan, he said, will include new areas for civilians.

He said the Department of Budget and Management is prepared to release the budget for the rehabilitation and assistance for the evacuees.

He did not disclose details of the masterplan, as work on it is still ongoing in coordination with Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra.

But he assured the government will be ready to immediately implement rehabilitation works as soon as the Marawi crisis ends.

“It was done by experts and it will be utilizing all the latest, in terms of urban planning. In terms of urban planning, it will be very … it will be very efficient.

And I’m sure it will be an improvement also,” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

Director Jabagat said that she is not only delighted to note that professional groups like the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers will get down to her office to be among the

firsts to offer help for the victims of Marawi siege but she also felt elated to take a more active role in delivering the needed services to the people of Marawi.

PICE... FROM 7

umuuga na yung lupa” (We should have placed them in a basket. But I could not think of that anymore as we were rushing to leave and the explosions were so loud the ground was shaking), narrated Jaslia.

At the evacuation center, Princess, youngest of four children and the only daughter, would repeatedly tell her mother they should return to Marawi to get her rabbits.

Jaslia does not know if they still have a home to return to. She believes “Bait” and “Saway” are dead but could not tell her daughter.

She said she left the rabbits some food and water.

Like thousands of evacuees from Marawi, Jaslia thought the fighting would be over in a few days. Authorities had also repeatedly assured displaced Meranaws that it was only a matter of days, and that it would be over by June 12.

June 12 came and passed and they are still in the evacuation centers.

The gifted Princess is presently out of school because even as the Department of Education has announced that school requirements are

Marawi to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office XI Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat (center) while DPWH ARD Zenaida T. Tan (4th), City Engineer of Davao Joseph Dominic Felizarta and the rest of PICE Davao City Chapter directors and DSWD COA staff look on.

waived for Marawi evacuees, the school nearby would not accept a five-year-old-goingon-six in Grade 2, her mother said.

Jaslia said a representative of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process had assured her they would pass on to the Department of Education her appeal for her daughter to enrol in Grade 2. The schoolyear opened on June 5.

Princess was in Kinder 2 at the PMTC Laboratory School and was accelerated to Grade

F BIRTHDAY, 13

Tagumenya beauties reign supreme in Bb. DavNor 2017

A CASH DONATION FOR MARAWI. The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) represented by its 2nd National Vice President Engr. Erdsan Rene S. Suero (5th from left), National Auditor Engr. Angel T. Torrejon (7th), National Director and PICE Davao City Chapter President Engr. Cary H. Beatisula (8th) turned over the P1.5 million check for the Internally Displaced Persons of

evacuation center in Buru-un Iligan City, left behind her two rabbits when they fled their village on 26 May 2017.

Contributed photo

FTER more than a decade since its last edition, the search for Binibing DavNor this year crowned two Tagumenyas as the fairest in the province.

Mary Joy De Castro, a beginner in the world of pageantry, bested 17 other hopefuls in the glitzy search, claiming the crown, the 200,000-peso cash prize and the title to represent Davao del Norte in the next instalment of Binibining Pilipinas.

De Castro was followed

by Chariss Manuel, also representing Tagum City, as first runner-up.

In the first part of the Question-and-Answer round, De Castro convinced the crowd that she has what it takes to become Bb. DavNor, stressing that

her “moral compass dictates her to be a woman for others” and that if given the chance she will use the crown not as a mere accessory but an opportunity to inspire others.

De Castro likewise earned the nod of the judges and the cheers of the crowd in the second part of the Q&A portion, where the candidates were cut to five, after she delivered her interpretation of the province’s tagline: “Basta DavNor, the Best!”

“A lot of things come to my mind but I’ve come to realize that it’s not the beautiful beaches in Samal nor the lush forests in Talaingod. It’s not even the establishments in Tagum, it’s actually the cultural diversity of

F TAGUMENYA, 13

12 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

Alzheimer’s disease: Lest you forget

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO (Last of Three Parts)

“Most people with Alzheimer’s live for seven to 10 years after diagnosis, spending five years under vigilant care.” – Dr. Socorro Martinez, an internal medicine practitioner who specializes in neurology

A

T the age of 83, Hollywood actor Gene Wilder died at his home in Stamford Connecticut last year.

Jordan Walker-Pearlman, the “nephew/child” of the legendary actor, read this statement for the world to know: “It is almost unbearable for us to contemplate our life without him.

“The cause was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, with which he co-existed for the last three years. The choice to keep this private was his choice, in talking with us and making a decision as a family.

“We understand for all the emotional and physical challenges this situation presented we have been among the lucky ones – this illness-pirate, unlike in so many cases, never stole his ability to recognize those that were closest to him, nor took command of his central-gentle-life affirming core personality. It took enough, but not that.”

“Every age has its own way of dying,” wrote Lev Grossman in an article which appeared in “Time.” “The 19th century had consumption, the 20th century had the heart attack, and the 21st century will be the age of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Recent studies show there are about 18 million people around the globe who are suffering from Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia, an umbrella term for several symptoms related to a decline in thinking skills.

Asians seem to have lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those living in Western countries based on studies done in China and Taiwan. But when Asians move to Western countries, they are most likely to develop the disease. For instance, Alzheimer’s is more common among Japanese living in Hawaii than those living in their mother country.

“About 5 percent of men and 6 percent of women over 60 years of age are affected with Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Wang Xiangdong, who was adviser of the mental health and control substance abuse program of the regional office of World Health Organization (WHO) when interviewed by this author some few years back. “With the ageing of populations, this figure is projected to increase rapidly over the next 20 years.”

Despite the advance of medical science, there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s. The current “treatment” is still making the remaining years of someone with Alzheimer’s comfortable. But unlike in industrialized countries, nursing homes or hospital facilities are not available in most parts of the country.

Health experts say the basic responsibility for management of the patient with Alzheimer’s rests with the family. “Alzheimer’s is a long-term illness that requires a lot of care and love from family members,” says Dr. Paul Pasco, a neurologist working with the Philippine General Hospital.

For someone having Alzheimer’s disease, the family is the microcosm of the whole world. The family has to become aware of the condition and how it is likely to progress.

In the beginning of the disease, family members must choose among themselves who will be responsible for taking care of someone with the disease.

Actually, Alzheimer’s has two victims: the patient and the caregiver. In most cases, Alzheimer’s is more agonizing for the caregiver than for the patient. It is not only physically demanding but also emotionally draining. In most instances, a caregiver experience stress which usually manifest through denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, sleeplessness, irritability and lack of concentration.

“The family seeks help usually when the caregiver is under stress looking after the elderly,” suggests Professor Kua Ee Heok, a consultant psychiatrist from the National University of Singapore.

Studies done in the United States found that caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients – compared to other people their age – have 70 percent more physician visits, are 50 percent more likely to suffer depression, and use 40 percent more medications.

Every now and then, family members should give appreciation to the caregiver to ease the agony. Listen to the words of Miyuki Tanaka, a Japanese daughter-in-law, who has been taking care of her husband’s mother having Alzheimer’s: “The most painful thing for me now is that in spite of what I have done, no one is grateful to me.

She further wrote: “My husband is busy with his work and could not even say thank you. He has a younger sister who comes to visit her mother once in a while. Before leaving and without saying thanks, she usually say, ‘Please be kind to mother.’ I am not asking for much. I only want a word of gratitude.”

The caregiver should not neglect his health. “The Alzheimer’s patient can’t change the course of his disease, but the caregiver must learn to take care of himself,” advises Dr. Pasco. “He must not neglect his health.”

For instance, Prof. Heok suggests that caregivers should be given a break by taking over caregiving responsibilities for a few days. “We sometimes advise the caregivers to bring those with Alzheimer’s to a day care center where trained nurses could take care of them,” he says.

EXTRA JUDICIAL PARTITION WITH WAIVER

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late SERGIO LAZAGA died on June 11, 1988 at Babak, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines has been the subject of an EXTRA JUDICIAL PARTITION WITH WAIVER executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.71; Page No.15; Book No. I; Series of 2001, of the NOTARY PUBLIC MARDOCHEO S. CAMPOREDONDO. 7/3,10,17

Gene Wilder (Wikipedia)

In most instances, families may also benefit by joining selfhelp groups or support groups.

If there is no support group in the area, families may wish to start a new group. “Psychosocial interventions – including education, support, counseling and respite care – are extremely important in Alzheimer’s, both for patients and family caregivers,” reminded Dr. Xiangdong.

Charles Colton, British churchman and writer, wrote: “Body and mind, like man and wife, do not always agree to die together.” Such is the case of Alzheimer’s. Until today, science is still baffled why the brain dies before the body, leading to the mind-snatching disease.

Although there is still no cure, or way to prevent the onset of the disease, there are those who believe some level of cure is possible. As Dr. Manolete Renato Guerrero, chairman of the Department of Nuerosciences at the Davao Medical School Foundation, puts it: “There will come a time when Alzheimer’s disease will become a thing of the past.”

(Photos taken from the net)

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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

Accounting Clerk Qualifications: • BS Accountancy Graduate • Female • Can work with minimum supervision • Experience of at least one year

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

FORETOLD Duterte saw ISIS crisis in speech last year VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

W

AY before Marawi City was seized by Maute, an ISIS-sympathizing group currently at war with government forces, President Rodrigo Duter-

te had already mentioned a looming problem involving the said extremist organization in the Philippines.

This was pointed out by Sec. Ernesto Abella during the

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Mindanao Hour Press Briefing held in this city Friday, in response to critics saying that the administration has overlooked terrorism problems in the country due to its focus on

illegal drugs.

“Let me remind you that as early as August last year or one-and-a-half months after PRRD assumed the presidency, the president already told

the Philippine military to be ready with ISIS and warned that the country would be plagued with the ISIS disease,” Abella said.

He quoted the president’s

speech at the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army in Zamboanga del Sur, dated 10th of August last year saying, “Busy na unta ta

F FORETOLD, 10

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

COLD TREAT. A young boy visibly can’t contain his excitement as he waits for a vendor to hand him his scoop of ice cream he bought along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Sports

HEAD ON F Gilas pitted vs China in FIBA Asia Cup opener

FB to help filter out fake news

ACEBOOK INC. said Friday it has made an update available to help “reduce low-quality links in News

Feed”.

The update, apparently an effort to filter out spam and fake news, is based on the so-

cial media network’s research findings that there is a tiny group of people who routinely share vast amounts of pub-

lic posts per day, effectively spamming people’s feeds.

“Our research further

F FB, 10

FORETOLD Duterte saw ISIS crisis in speech last year VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

W

AY before Marawi City was seized by Maute, an ISIS-sympathizing group currently at war with government forces, President Rodrigo Duter-

te had already mentioned a looming problem involving the said extremist organization in the Philippines.

This was pointed out by Sec. Ernesto Abella during the

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Mindanao Hour Press Briefing held in this city Friday, in response to critics saying that the administration has overlooked terrorism problems in the country due to its focus on

illegal drugs.

“Let me remind you that as early as August last year or one-and-a-half months after PRRD assumed the presidency, the president already told

the Philippine military to be ready with ISIS and warned that the country would be plagued with the ISIS disease,” Abella said.

He quoted the president’s

speech at the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army in Zamboanga del Sur, dated 10th of August last year saying, “Busy na unta ta

F FORETOLD, 10

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

COLD TREAT. A young boy visibly can’t contain his excitement as he waits for a vendor to hand him his scoop of ice cream he bought along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Sports

HEAD ON F Gilas pitted vs China in FIBA Asia Cup opener

FB to help filter out fake news

ACEBOOK INC. said Friday it has made an update available to help “reduce low-quality links in News

Feed”.

The update, apparently an effort to filter out spam and fake news, is based on the so-

cial media network’s research findings that there is a tiny group of people who routinely share vast amounts of pub-

lic posts per day, effectively spamming people’s feeds.

“Our research further

F FB, 10

FORETOLD Duterte saw ISIS crisis in speech last year VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

W

AY before Marawi City was seized by Maute, an ISIS-sympathizing group currently at war with government forces, President Rodrigo Duter-

te had already mentioned a looming problem involving the said extremist organization in the Philippines.

This was pointed out by Sec. Ernesto Abella during the

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Mindanao Hour Press Briefing held in this city Friday, in response to critics saying that the administration has overlooked terrorism problems in the country due to its focus on

illegal drugs.

“Let me remind you that as early as August last year or one-and-a-half months after PRRD assumed the presidency, the president already told

the Philippine military to be ready with ISIS and warned that the country would be plagued with the ISIS disease,” Abella said.

He quoted the president’s

speech at the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army in Zamboanga del Sur, dated 10th of August last year saying, “Busy na unta ta

F FORETOLD, 10

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

COLD TREAT. A young boy visibly can’t contain his excitement as he waits for a vendor to hand him his scoop of ice cream he bought along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Sports

HEAD ON F Gilas pitted vs China in FIBA Asia Cup opener

FB to help filter out fake news

ACEBOOK INC. said Friday it has made an update available to help “reduce low-quality links in News

Feed”.

The update, apparently an effort to filter out spam and fake news, is based on the so-

cial media network’s research findings that there is a tiny group of people who routinely share vast amounts of pub-

lic posts per day, effectively spamming people’s feeds.

“Our research further

F FB, 10

FORETOLD Duterte saw ISIS crisis in speech last year VOL. 10 ISSUE 65 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JULY 2 - 3, 2017

W

AY before Marawi City was seized by Maute, an ISIS-sympathizing group currently at war with government forces, President Rodrigo Duter-

te had already mentioned a looming problem involving the said extremist organization in the Philippines.

This was pointed out by Sec. Ernesto Abella during the

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Mindanao Hour Press Briefing held in this city Friday, in response to critics saying that the administration has overlooked terrorism problems in the country due to its focus on

illegal drugs.

“Let me remind you that as early as August last year or one-and-a-half months after PRRD assumed the presidency, the president already told

the Philippine military to be ready with ISIS and warned that the country would be plagued with the ISIS disease,” Abella said.

He quoted the president’s

speech at the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army in Zamboanga del Sur, dated 10th of August last year saying, “Busy na unta ta

F FORETOLD, 10

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

COLD TREAT. A young boy visibly can’t contain his excitement as he waits for a vendor to hand him his scoop of ice cream he bought along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Sports

HEAD ON F Gilas pitted vs China in FIBA Asia Cup opener

FB to help filter out fake news

ACEBOOK INC. said Friday it has made an update available to help “reduce low-quality links in News

Feed”.

The update, apparently an effort to filter out spam and fake news, is based on the so-

cial media network’s research findings that there is a tiny group of people who routinely share vast amounts of pub-

lic posts per day, effectively spamming people’s feeds.

“Our research further

F FB, 10