Edge Davao 10 Issue 69, July 7-8, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 7 - 8, 2017

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REFRESHER LTO staff to undergo anti-red tape re-study A EDGEDAVAO ll personnel of the Land Transportation Office will undergo a refresher on the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) following the arrest of an agency driver for his illegal activities as “fixer”.

Serving a seamless society

This was disclosed Wednesday

by LTO XI regional director Gomer Dy, who said the refresher would remind all employees on the provisions of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Law.

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FIT TO SERVE. BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), a Philippine Navy frigate, is being towed by a tugboat at Sasa Wharf in Davao City as it prepares to sail for the Philippines-Indonesia border coordinated patrol at the common boundary of the two countries in the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Children’s Games sparks Unesco interest in PH P15

SWINGDERELLA SURGES

Ella Nagayo shines in two Melbourne tournaments, now ranked 11th

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EDGEDAVAO Sports

BTC set to submit draft BBL July 18 T HE Bangsamoro Transition Commission will submit its draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on July 18, a month and two days after completing it and six days before the President delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he is expected to certify the bill as urgent.

BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar

said he does not know if the President will still review the draft as he had repeatedly said he would, or hand it over immediately to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on the same day it is submitted to him in Malacanang.

“That we don’t know. Depende na sa President yan” (That depends on the President), Jaafar, concurrent 1st

Vice Chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) told MindaNews in a text message.

The submission of the draft BBL was initially set for June 28 but Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process told MindaNews on June 23 that it was reset because Pimentel and Alvarez would not be available by then. The plan, he said then, was “after PRRD receives it

(draft BBL), he hands it over immediately to Congress.”

“We should not commit the mistakes of the past. We should learn from them,” Dureza told MindaNews.

Dureza explained that the lesson learned from the previous administration was: “dili gipasa ug dili pud gidawat sa Bangsamoro ang Palace-tweaked version” (the

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

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‘BATO’ IN MARAWI. PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa, during a press conference at the Lanao del Sur capitol Thursday afternoon (6 July 2017), assures reporters that the erring policemen from Mandaluyong City who were sent to Marawi for disciplinary action “will become the best cops” after their stint in the embattled city, as Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra smiles. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

Drug offenders seen to fill SoCot jail beyond capacity

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UE to the intensified drug operations in South Cotabato province, inmates are crowding the provincial jail here, with the facility expected to house more than its capacity at the end of the year as authorities vowed to step up the war against drugs.

Juan Lanzaderas, Jr., chief of the South Cotabato Rehabilitation and Detention Center, said the facility is currently housing at least 1,451 inmates.

From January to March 2017, there were 1,318 detainees at the provincial jail, which has a capacity of 1,500 inmates, he added.

“We are expecting 1,800 inmates at the end of the year, mostly on drug –related offenses,” Lanzaderas said in a

statement yesterday.

Of the 1,451 detainees, he said that 1,343 are males and 109 are females.

The congestion rate at the provincial jail increased by 27 percent to 212 percent in the second quarter of the year from 185 percent in the first quarter, he said.

Lanzaderas attributed the increase in the number of detainees to the anti-drug operations conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police.

“Most of our inmates are accused of violating the anti-drug law,” he noted.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an all-out war against drugs after he assumed office last year.

Duterte to Reds: Show sincerity in peace talks P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte encouraged the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, on Wednesday, July 5, to show its sincerity to continue the peace talks between the government and the communists.

“I have to talk to the communists but this time I hope you do it in a modality that is sincere,” the President said during his visit to the 64th founding anniversary of Hagonoy in Davao del Sur. President Duterte highlighted that the communists and the government must

stop threatening each other.

“We are all Filipinos…you know every time I see a dead soldier or a dead NPA, I feel sorry because we’re Filipinos and we are fighting an issue as a matter of principle,” he said.

The Chief Executive underscored that nothing beneficial would come out of the exchange of threats between the government and the insurgents.

“You do not just withdraw because we cannot agree on a certain agenda in the --- You sulk and then disappear, and

then come back wanting to talk. Hindi ko naiintindihan.

Ang raming problema,” he said.

President Duterte meanwhile reassured the public not to fear the implementation of martial law in Mindanao as he “would not allow” abuses by security forces.

“Rest assured there will be no abuses in times like this.

I will not allow it,” the President said.

The Chief Executive said the crisis in Marawi made him declare martial rule to eradicate terrorism which is “much

worse” than the communist insurgency.

“Although the fighting is winding up, maybe we need more time to clean the place,” Duterte said.

President Duterte added that the public could rely on the military and police who are “well educated and well aware of their duty to the Republic and the Filipino people.”

The President meanwhile encouraged the local government of Davao del Sur to make its province more competitive. (PNA)

wealth accumulated by respondents Purisima, his wife Ma. Ramona Lydia Purisima, sons Rainier Van Albert, Eumir Von Andrei, Alan Jr. and Jason Arvi.

Likewise, Morales ordered the filing of charges for nine counts of perjury against Purisima for willfully and deliberately failing to disclose all of his properties in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 2006 to 2014.

In the parallel administrative case, Purisima was found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and acquisition

of unexplained wealth and was ordered dismissed from the service.

In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to the respondent’s salary for one year.

Records show that during his stint at the PNP, Purisima received salaries, allowances and other benefits in the total amount of P9,550,621.44 for 14 years from 2000 to 2014.

His wife, Maria Ramona, received a gross total compensation and other income of P6,382,530.84 as an employ-

ee of the AFP Mutual Benefits Association, Inc. for the same period.

Thus, their combined lawful earnings amounted to P15,933,152.28 only.

Likewise, Purisima declared business interests and financial connections with RAS Construction from 2000-2006 as partner; I@Link Computer Center from 2002 to 2006 as proprietor; Aliakbar Hauling and Trucking Services from 2008 to 2014; and EALRAJ Corporation, a family owned general merchandising corporation, from 2012 to 2014. (PNA)

DepEd mandated to provide Ex-PNP chief rapped raps for P29M ill- gotten wealth quality education for all: exec

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HE Constitution mandates the state to protect and promote every citizen’s right to quality education, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones said Wednesday.

She said this is something that she has personally fought for as an activist, years ago when a large chunk of the national budget was allocated to the military.

During the “1 with the 99: Tax Reform Forum”, held at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Man-

daluyong City, Briones cited the “cost drivers” or the factors why DepEd needs a big budget.

First, she said, is the sheer size of the country’s student population -- 27 million learners enrolled at the start of Academic Year 2017-2018, which is estimated to balloon to 28 million by 2022.

The second is the government’s commitment to upgrade the quality of education.

“The Constitution says quality education for all,” Bri-

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HE Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has ordered the filing of a petition before the Sandiganbayan to initiate forfeiture proceedings for the recovery of the unexplained wealth of former Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and his family amounting to P29.2 million.

In a consolidated resolution dated July 4, 2017, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered that forfeiture proceedings be initiated under Republic Act No. 1379 for the recovery of the unexplained

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Taguig offers P1.5M aid to war-torn Marawi

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PRELIMINARIES. Philippine Navy personnel and his Indonesian counterpart hoist the flags of the Philippines and Indonesia as they prepare to sail for a joint border coordinated patrol at common boundary of the two countries during a ceremonial send-off at Sasa wharf in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

HE city council of Taguig has passed a resolution approving the release of P1.5 million for calamity assistance for Marawi City which has been plagued by ongoing clashes between government troops and the Maute terrorists.

The resolution said the local council of Marawi declared the city under a state of calamity through Resolution No. 60, after “terrorist attacks” that saw the Maute Group and the military engaging in gunfights in Barangay Basak Malutlut on May 23.

It added that over 30,000 families or 140,000 individuals were displaced as a result, while properties were “severely damaged.”

“We are very eager in helping our brothers and sisters.

We want them to feel that they are not alone in this battle. We want this simple act to give them hope in their hearts,” Mayor Lani Cayetano, who primarily urged the council to provide the needed assistance to Marawi, said.

The mayor also asked everyone “to include the restoration of peace in Marawi City in their prayers,” as she enjoined everyone to do what they could to help.

Fighting with the Maute Group terrorists started shortly after attempts by the military to apprehend Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, a staunch ally of the lawless elements, last May 23.

HE recapture of Dansalan College from the hands of the Maute Group terrorists early this week means that lawless elements are now losing their grip on Marawi City.

This is because the school, which was captured by the terrorists early in the May 23 attack, is located in an elevated area and overlooks the surrounding areas making it ideal for sniper nests.

“Dansalan College is a strategic area (as) it sits on an elevated area and has a good vantage point and it has a lot of (well built and tall) buildings that are defensible (thus making its recapture a neccesity in the ongoing campaign),” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig.

Gen. Restituto Padilla during Wednesday’s “Mindanao Hour” briefing.

He added that troops tasked for its recapture make careful preparations for its recapture as its strategic location made it very difficult for attacking troops to sneak

in unseen.

However, efforts of government troops proved successful as they were able to capture the facility and recover a .50 caliber machine gun and 14 other high-powered weapons aside from seeing the remains three fallen Maute Group terrorists.

Efforts are ongoing to clear the various buildings of possible improvised explosive devices and mines laid by the beaten enemy.

“Initially, they said it was (the) remains or that could be the remains of the foreign fighters and allegedly a Singaporean but we don’t have yet enough proof to validate the information and we’re working to do that along with the police,” Padilla stressed.

As of Wednesday, the number of terrorists killed is placed at 343 along with 85 government troops and 44 civilians executed.

Number of captured firearms is placed at 420 and rescued civilians at 1,722.

(Priam F. Nepomuceno/ Gilbert Villaruz & Jayvee H. Castro (OJTs)/PNA)

Recovery of Dansalan College major blow to Maute terrorists

Coastal patrol intensified T along R12’s coastal areas S

ECURITY patrol in the coastal areas of Region 12 has been intensified to thwart the possible entry of terrorists in the area, an official said Thursday.

Supt. Romeo Galgo, Police Regional Office-12 spokesperson, said the Philippine Navy has been patrolling the waters off Region 12 after the alleged sightings of armed men.

“We have been closely coordinating to avert the entry of lawless armed groups

in the region using the sea as part of our proactive security measures,” he said in a radio interview.

Galgo said the Philippine Marines have been closely watching the seas off Sultan Kudarat province, particularly the towns of Lebak and Kalamansig, as possible entry points of terrorists in the region.

Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kuda-

rat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces have coastal areas while South and North Cotabato are landlocked provinces. The cities of General Santos and Cotabato are also coastal areas.

The outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters is known to operate in Region 12, which is also known as

Soccsksargen region. The BIFF, which is based in Maguindanao province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, recently attacked the town of Pigcawayan in North Cotabato and desecrated a chapel there.

In the past, members of the Abu Sayyaf Group have been reported to enter Sultan Kudarat province through the sea.

On the other hand, the coastal town of Maasim in Sarangani

J

ment Order No. 460 dated July 4, 2017 ordered fact-finding committee to investigate the alleged corruption and other anomalies in relation to the operation conducted by members of the said offices against the owners and employees of Intellcash International Inc., DataCentric Corporation and

Delta Clout.

The fact-finding committee is composed of DOJ Undersecretary in Charge of the NBI Raymund L. Mecate, as Chairperson of the Committee; DOJ Assistant Secretary Juvy R. Manwong as Vice-Chairperson; with NBI Internal Affairs Services Head, Eric B. Distor;

DOJ Office of the Cybercrime OIC-Director Jed Sherwin G. Uy and Atty. Noel O. Adriatico as members.

“This probe is one way to separate the good from the bad. The bad and the undesirable elements must be severed before they infect and taint the

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Probe of NBI staff in raid of 3 IT firms ordered

USTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the conduct of a probe on corruption allegations against operatives of National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Unit and Digital Forensic Laboratory hurled by three local IT solution firms.

Aguirre issued Depart-

MMDA sacking traffic constable for extortion

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HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Thursday affirmed its earlier decision to dismiss a traffic enforcer who extorted money from a motorist for a lane violation in Quezon City in exchange for cancellation of the traffic ticket issued against the latter.

The MMDA-Legal and Legislative Affairs Staff (MMDA-LLAS) subsequently denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Traffic Constable Rolando Cervo, saying that the sworn affidavits of the complainant, Dr. Rommel

Torres, is sufficient to bolster the grave misconduct case against him.

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said the affirmation of the decision by the agency’s legal body only proves that the agency will not condone misconduct of its personnel.

“We vow to cleanse our ranks of bad eggs and we are staying true to our word. May this case and others like this one be a wake-up call to those who might have lost their paths and strayed in rendering public service,” Lim said in

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TIDYING UP. A tugboat crew cleans up the ship while waiting for a next vessel to be towed at Sasa wharf in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

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PH fiscally secure: DOF’s Dominguez F

TEAMWORK. Workers guide a forklift operator as he loads a 40-foot container van onto a trailer truck at Sasa wharf in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Kidapawan City pours P6M for tourism project T

HE city government here poured P6.5-million for tourism infrastructure projects, launched this year to boost eco-tourism industry of this city.

Joey Recimillia, city tourism officer said the project will represent the local government unit’s commitment to revitalize tourism and improve the potential tourists’ destinations in Kidapawan City.

The projects included P5-million Mt. Apo rehabilita-

tion and development project which aims to improve current trails to ensure safety and convenience to all trekkers.

This will include the installation of hanging bridges, restrooms, multi-purpose buildings and bathing area.

The remaining P1.5-million fund is allotted for the development of Paniki Falls and Eco-river Park in the forest-covered area of Barangay Perez. The cost will fund the construction of cottages and

rest rooms; and trail-opening.

“We will offer the best that we have, which will hopefully lift tourism opportunities that will push progressive economic activity in the city”, Recimilla stressed.

Meantime, the local tourism office is closely coordinating with the Department of Natural Resources (DENR12) to accord certain environmental policies enclosed in the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

“We will comply all

pre-requisite requirements and adhere environmental policies at all time”, Recimillia noted. Kidapawan City is one of the top tourist destinations in Region 12, registering some 500,000 tourist arrivals in 2016.

The city was recently recognized by the Guinness Book of World Record to hold the title as “Largest Chachacha” with 14,727 participants, outpaced the record-holder Singapore. (John Andrew G. Tabugoc/PNA)

people from the domestic expansion and limits the country’s competitiveness, among others.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, in his speech during the 1 with the 99 Tax Forum in EDSA Shangri-La Wednesday, said reforms in the tax system targeted to slash poverty incidence rate in the country to 14 percent by 2022.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show that poverty incidence among Filipinos is estimated at 21.6 percent as of end-2015, lower than the 25.2 percent in 2012.

Subsistence incidence, or share of those with incomes below the food threshold, was estimated at 8.1 percent in end-2015, down from the 10.4 percent in the previous three years.

How will the government ensure that more Filipinos have money to finance even their basic needs?

Dominguez said this could be done if more people would be able to go to school, healthy and eventually find quality jobs, which in turn would be provided by higher investments on infrastructure.

The current government

targets to spend at least PHP8 trillion until 2022 for its massive infrastructure program, called “Build, Build, Build!”.

Domiguez said the government’s “ambitious” infrastructure program aimed to “allow the economy to be as efficient as the economies of our progressive neighbors.”

“We have called our infra program “Build, Build, Build!” to emphasize the urgency of addressing the congestion and inefficiency that threaten to choke our economic expansion. Bad infra can only contribute to economic exclusion,”

OPEC exported 25.92 million barrels per day in June, up 450,000 barrels per day from May and 1.9 million barrels per day more than a year earlier, according to the data.

A stronger U.S. dollar also weighed on green-back denominated oil, making it more expensive for buyers in

other currencies.

The dollar traded higher against most major currencies on Wednesday, after the Federal Reserve released minutes from June meeting.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, increased 0.14 percent at 96.348 in late trading.

The West Texas Intermediate for August Delivery lost USD1.94 to settle at USD45.13 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for September delivery decreased USD1.82 to close at USD47.79 a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (Xinhua)

Addressing poverty seen key to inclusive, sustainable growth

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NCLUSIVE growth means more people benefiting from the expansion of the economy, not only the rich accumulating more wealth.

With the strong growth of the Philippine economy in the last six years, with average growth rate rising to around 6.2 percent from about three percent in the past, it is sad that more people still live in poverty.

Thus, the Duterte administration has proposed several tax reforms, citing that the current tax system in the country have lots of loopholes, which hampers the inclusion of more

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Oil prices fall on rising OPEC exports

IL prices settled lower on Wednesday after data showed rising oil exports by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Oil exports by the OPEC climbed for a second month in June, Thomson Reuters Oil Research data showed on Wednesday.

INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday the Philippines is now “fiscally secure” and its government ready to fund its ambitious infrastructure program that will sustain the economy’s growth momentum and dramatically bring down poverty incidence to 14 percent by 2022.

From the time President took over in July 2016 to May 2017, revenue collections increased 7 percent higher than the same period in the previous year to P2.09 trillion, in part because of the administrative reforms put in place in the Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR) and of Customs (BOC), Dominguez said.

He said the approval by the Congress of the Duterte administration’s first tax reform package—the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN)--will ensure a steady revenue flow for the government’s massive infrastructure buildup and guarantee a “breakout growth rate” of above 7 percent that will be sustained over the medium term.

This robust pace of growth will, in turn, enable the government to pull down the poverty rate from 21.6 percent today to a significantly lower 14 percent by the time President Duterte leaves office in 2022, making the benefits of growth inclusive for all Filipinos, Dominguez said.

“Even at this earlier stage

in our reform effort, you can distinctly hear the tiger roar.

We are on the path towards a modern, investment-led and trade-driven economy,” said Dominguez at a Malacanang press briefing where he highlighted the first-year accomplishments of the Duterte administration on the fiscal and economic fronts.

Dominguez thanked the House of Representatives for its overwhelming support for TRAIN, which was approved by the chamber with a 246-9 vote last May 31.

The bill’s approval by a vast majority of the House members “shows how seriously they consider the tax reform because it benefits the far majority of Filipinos, and everyone wants to see the economy grow and benefit them in the coming years,” Dominguez said.

“This is an important milestone signaling a strong possibility that this package may be enacted into law shortly after Congress resumes this July,” the finance chief said.

He said the administration and its partners in civil society and the private sector will work hard to ensure that the Senate passes a tax reform package consistent with the proposal endorsed by the Department of Finance (DOF) after the Legislature reopens its session on July 24, especially after the President certified the bill as an urgent and prior-

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FMIC sees PH economy to grow 6.5 to 7% in‘17

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IRST Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC), the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, expects the Philippine economy to grow 6.5 to 7 percent this year on the back of sustained robust domestic demand and investments.

“We see that that the domestic demand has been robust. Investment growth has been double-digit despite the slowdown in the first quarter,” said Victor Abola, economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), during the FMIC economic briefing.

Abola said they were also banking on strong capital goods imports and heavy infrastructure spending with the Duterte administration’s “build, build, build” program.

He considered investments in infrastructure a driver of growth in the government side.

The economist thus underscored the need to implement the right-of-way (ROW) law, as he identified ROW as the major obstacle to infrastructure development.

FMIC said the country’s economy would remain strong

and also underpinned by steady increase in foreign direct investments, resurgence of manufacturing, the steady expansion of overseas Filipino workers remittances, business process outsourcing (BPO) sector and tourism.

FMIC president Rabboni Francis Arjonillo said the economy was expected to grow at a slower pace should government spending failed to accelerate before the end of the year.

“However, if the Build Build Build campaign of the Duterte administration, which is expected to increase the productive capacity of the economy, create jobs and strengthen the investment climate would move at a faster pace, we would still be able to reach the earlier forecast of above 7 percent growth,” he said.

Arjonillo added the implementation of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) would also “give the economy a push.”

For his part, FMIC chairman Francisco Sebastian said infrastructure created capacity, particularly in tourism and agriculture sectors. (PNA)

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Budget hotels seek expansion in Davao D AVAO City is being eyed for expansion by hotel and operators as inquiries on the city’s business environment continue to pour in.

This was disclosed by Jane Salanga, assistant manager for Property Investments, Acquisition and Disposal of Prime Philippines, saying five hotel operators and developers from the Asean-member countries are exploring possibility of joint venture or partnership with local capitalists.

“There is a rise in the hotel industry and not just acquisition for land but from hotel operators wanting to locate here under a joint venture partnership,” she said.

But Salanga did not disclose the name of the investors, however five of them placed inquiries with their office about Davao. In fact, one investor will be coming next month to look at locations and feel the market.

Prime Philippines,

which is a commercial real estate consultancy firm, makes feasibility studies for their clients, market situation briefings, conducts market study, provides other data including pricing and ideal location for investments.

Salanga noted that property inquiries are moving up again despite the declaration of martial law.

She added that prices of real property has increased which is a good sign.

Based on our study, she said there will be more projects by the end of the year.

“We are positive with the real estate industry here and the spike in land value is a good sign too” she said.

Salanga said inquiries from Business Process Outsourcing investors are high not just for new locators but also for those already operating here looking for more spaces for future development. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)

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DTI backs new coffee cupping lab in DavSur Facility to obtain quality graded coffee T

HE Department of Trade and Industry fully supports the newly-launched coffee cupping laboratory in Digos City, Davao del Sur. The facility, the first of its kind in Davao Region, is designed to obtain quality graded coffee to meet the increasing demand of coffee processors in the region and the country as a whole.

Coffee is among the priority industries the agency has been supporting for years now.

DTI has already implemented a number of initiatives and partnered with various stakeholders for product development and marketing.

The cupping lab, a joint project of the Southern Philippines, Agri-Business and

Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-supported international development nonprofit organization Agricultural Cooperative Development International-Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), was launched last June 28 at the SPAMAST- Digos City grounds.

The total project cost reached PHP1,713,056 -PHP467,961 for the equipment and cupping lab apparatus and PHP1,245,095 for the building. The cost for the equipment is a grant from ACDI/VOCA, while SPAMAST shouldered the construction of the facility.

DTI-Compostela Valley provincial director Lucky Sieg-

fred Balleque noted the interventions the office has been carrying out for the coffee industry.

“In DTI, we provide interventions across the value chain. This means that from production to marketing phase, the office is there to support,” said Balleque, who is also the regional champion for coffee of the agency.

He added that DTI gives technology training and equipment through the Shared Service Facility project.

“As we all know, there is great demand for coffee. So, growers don’t worry, there is a huge market for coffee,” he said.

Based on the latest available data, the local demand alone is already at 75,000 metric tons annually. However,

the country is only producing around 25,000 MT. At the global trading arena, the International Coffee Organization reported that total production by all coffee producing countries was pegged at 151,624,000 of 60-kilogram bags in 2016. The world coffee consumption, though, was already at 155,713,000 between 2015 and 2016.

“We have been doing everything for our growers, producers, and even exporters.

Rest assured that DTI is really doing its best to tap the highest potential of the industry,” Balleque said.

Meantime, SPAMAST head Dr. Irvin Generalao emphasized on the importance of science and technology in the success of any business endeavor.

DOF may give subsidy for buyers of socialized housing

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HE Department of Finance is eyeing the possibility of giving direct subsidy to buyers of socialized housing or those units priced at P450,000 and below, DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua told the Philippine News Agency.

In a phone interview following the 1 With the 99 Tax Reform Forum Wednesday, Chua said the subsidy system for socialized housing is better than the value-added tax exemption as it will directly provide the benefits to the deserving families.

This move is part of the broadening of VAT base under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), wherein the government eyes to repeal around 80 special laws that provide VAT exemptions.

The special law granting VAT exemption on socialized housing and lowcost housing, which prices range above 450,000 to PHP3 million, will also be included.

“Under the House Bill, the socialized housing -- that’s the P450,000 per unit and below -- will be VATable once there is a voucher system for the poor. The benefits would change from tax exemption

to a subsidy system,” Chua said.

The DOF official noted that this is one of the solutions to address the country’s housing backlog of 5.7 million.

“For low-cost housing P450,000 to P3 million, the buyers will be the income taxpayers who benefit from lower income tax,” Chua, on the other hand, mentioned.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act will also reduce personal income tax of 99 percent of the country’s taxpayers.

“That’s enough to accept the slight increase in housing prices,” the official added.

But Chua noted that the effect of the 12-percent VAT on low-cost house prices will only be 4.0 percent.

“The VAT is 12 percent, but it’s not true that the increase (in prices) would be 12 percent; only around 4.0 percent,” he stressed.

“If the housing is VATable, the developer can pass the input VAT to consumer.

If exemption, they cannot pass it so they will just increase the price per unit. So that’s what’s really happening. Only the additional VAT on top of the input VAT will be passed on, that’s why it’s 4.0 percent,” he explained.

(PNA)

RELIABLES. Street food vendors cook and serve ‘ginang-gang’ or grilled skewered bananas brushed with margarine and sprinkled with sugar to their regular customers along Bonifacio Street in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

Court junks TRO petition versus CIC credit data file

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HE Baguio City Regional Trial Court junked the petition for a temporary restraining order filed by Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperatives and Development Center (NORLU CEDEC), a cooperative federation in the city, against the Credit Information Corporation (CIC), seeking to stop the latter from collecting the required basic credit data of its members.

In its decision released last June 28, the court ruled that cooperatives’ submission of the basic credit data of their members did not violate the autonomy of cooperatives.

Under Republic Act No. 9510, otherwise known as the Credit Information System Act, banks, quasi-banks, their subsidiaries and affiliates, life insurance companies and other companies that provide credit facilities, including cooperatives, are required to submit the basic credit data of their members/borrowers to the CIC. The court also ruled out the group’s argument which states that cooperatives are not included in the list of entities that are required to submit credit data to the CIC; and that the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 already repealed R.A. No.

9510.

Cooperatives remain autonomous, even as they submit the required credit data to the CIC, and remain free to chart and govern their own affairs, the court said, adding that there is a presumption of constitutionality in favor of the CIC because there was no clear and unequivocal breach of the 1987 Constitution.

It also said that cooperatives are not exempted when it comes to the application of laws designed to promote the common good, such as the law that created the CIC. Also, the RTC stated that cooperatives

are covered by CIC since cooperatives also provide credit facilities and participate in lending activities that are similar to that of banks and financing companies.

CIC President and CEO Jaime P. Garchitorena, in a statement, lauded the court’s decision.

“We are pleased with the court’s denial of the TRO for several reasons. First, the cooperatives have long fought to be recognized for their rightful place in the credit ecosystem and their role of making credit available to the underserved.

(PNA)

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EDITORIAL

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Harnessing Davao Oriental’s potentials

AVAO Oriental recently celebrated its golden founding anniversary on July 1 along with the other two Davao provinces. Davao Oriental was one of the three provinces created when the mother province was divided into three in 1967.

The two other provinces are Davao de Norte and Davao del Sur. While President Duterte came to personally speak before officials and residents in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur, he was conspicuosly absent in Davao Oriental but his message reverberated to the people reminding them of the rich potentials of the province.

It was Acting DILG Secretary Catalino Cuy who delivered the President’s message. Cuy was once police provincial director of the province during the term of then Governor Maria Elena Palma Gil. In his message, President Duterte advised the leaders and citizens of Davao Oriental to focus on developing eco-tourism and agriculture to accelerate growth and and sustainable development. The President also heaped praises for Davao Oriental for the province’s “bountiful lands and unspoiled natural attrac-

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tions.” Mr. Duterte believes Davao Oriental should maximize opportunities in agriculture and eco-tourism, which are its greatest assets. Using these resources well and managing them responsibly will be the key to its continued growth and bright future.

Davao Oriental has more than 140 tourist destinations in various stages of development, including the Mount Hamiguitan Rage Wild Sanctuary UNESCO-declared Heritage Site, the incomparable Aliwagwag Falls Eco Park and Dahican Beach, a worldclass surfing destination. It is likewise the country’s top producer of coconut.

Once regarded as a sleeping province left behind by the other Davao provinces, Davao Oriental has slowly but surely ‘awakened’ to its potentials and is now growing steadily. Given better road and port linkages, this province can break out from the long doldrums and spur economic growth in this part of the region.

Fierce political rivalry in the past has notably stagnated the growth of Davao Oriental but it now looks like political maturity has overriden the political squabbles. With a rather harmnious political landscape, the province should only get better.

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9

Tax reform and building the “robust middle class”

HE reform package will end decades of unjust taxation that polarized wealth rather than distributed it. It will help us build a robust middle class to ensure stability and sustainability in our nation’s progress,” declared Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez in a tax forum streamed live to the world.

Why this bold assertion matters is simple: A nation with a high number of poor citizens cannot sustain a strong base of consumers that will buy locally produced goods and services. Without people to buy your products, you can kiss your employment generating investments goodbye.

Consider this: our poverty levels have remained generally the

T

VANTAGE POINTS

HE title of this article is tricky for those who know well that HONESTY, not sincerity, is the best policy according to what the great quote suggests. But let me catch your attention on this one and read on how important sincerity is as one of the virtues of a Muslim has to have most of all.

I’ve decided to write about sincerity in this column since I’ve just been to a relief operations organized by volunteer organizations who went to the evacuees themselves dedicating their precious time, effort and money to alleviate the pain of the already suffering Maranao people who are unfortunately in an involuntary diaspora to different cities and municipalities in Mindanao escaping the conflict. This is timely to each and every one to be sincere and not make popularity, reputation or material gains the motive for such noble actions.

Prophet Muhammad said, “All actions are judged according to intentions and indeed each person will get according to what he intended.” Narrated by Imam Al Bukhari.

This saying of the Prophet Muhammad is always being taught and preached as the most important saying of all because of its utter importance. In fact, of all the religions there is, Islam is the only religion that puts much stress on the importance of sincerity. Most religions will teach

same at about 23% as when PNOY took office in 2010. Any improvement is therefore marginal and insignificant. The lack of equality was pointed out by many international donors and rating agencies as a dark spot as the past government wound up its term in 2016.

Compared with our immediate ASEAN neighbors, the picture is even more damning: Indonesia’s poverty levels are at 12%, Malaysia at 2%. Singapore’s is, well, below 1%. We cannot claim to have stronger economies than them if our poverty levels remain this high.

In this country, wealth has been concentrated in the hands of the same classes and families for too long. Its effects on stifling growth are clear. Economic

MY TWO CENTS’ John Tria growth cannot be sustained without increasing equality.

Thus, inequality is not just a political concern, it is an econom-

ic question. What is political is the matter of how inequality can be reduced. It is therefore the role of the state to assure income equality over time.

The State has the power to tax and revise systems of taxation when these are unable to serve the purpose of funding important state expenditures that create opportunity and fight inequality.

It has the duty of plugging loopholes and exceptions that only make administration more complicated and difficult. These inconsistencies also make a tax system less just, allowing tax cheats to proliferate.

This is the reality which the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), in the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion

Act (TRAIN), which was approved by an overwhelming majority of the House of Representatives as House Bill 5636 is being proposed and explained.

The proposed TRAIN, he said, will also end the country’s complex tax system that has become vulnerable to evasion and leakages by transforming it into a “simple, just and efficient” structure.

This makes paying taxes more acceptable to a bigger number.

As this happens, more people will pay the right taxes.

With this, it is hoped that as inquality is reduced, and like our more affluent ASEAN neighbors, a new “robust” middle class will emerge, one that will sustain growth, and power our development.

ACTION Sincerity will definitely make your good deed rewarded and the opposite of it will invalidate it automatically. Such happens when you pray for the purpose of being seen by your boss or you make your prayer look better so that others will say that you are a pious person. Showing off is a thing that lingers in the mind and spirit and should be fought while the Muslim is engaged in good deeds because Satan is always tempting humans to show off in order to have their deeds invalidated.

If the Muslim successfully wards off any whispers from Satan to commit showing of, he may still have his reward intact but if let it settle, he has all his actions invalidated due to this. Prophet Muhammad said about three people who are known to have performed the best deeds in this life and yet they will be the first to be thrown into the Hellfire. One of them is Quran reciter, the second is a Muslim soldier and the third is someone who gives alms and donations. All of them will be the first amongst people to be thrown into the hellfire because the Quran reciter used to read so that the people will say that he is a good reciter, the soldier fought so that people will say that he is brave while the person who gives alms did it so that the people will say that he is generous.

SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR PREACHING WHAT YOU DO NOT DO Preaching that which you do not do is one of the fruits of lack of sincerity. Allah said in the Quran about the Jews who used to do acts of worship for show off and do not practice that they preach, “Do you order piety upon the people while you forget yourselves. Do you not think?” Quran 2:44.

In the hereafter, the person who does not practice what he preaches will be on hellfire walking around in circles like a donkey dragging his intestine which is hanging from his stomach. The people will ask him about why he is like that when he used to preach goodness to people and he would only say that I did not do what I used to teach you.

Sincerity is the best policy because everything else comes after it. You will become truly pious when you are sincere and only work for the pleasure of Allah.

Honesty also comes after when you know that Allah sees whatever you do even if people do not see you.

Watch Mensahe TV via Cignal channel 184. You may send to us your questions, comments and suggestions to mensahetv@ gmail.com.

Mensahe TV is the first Islamic TV Channel in the Philippines and our message is Mercy to Mankind.

Sincerity is the best policy

moderation, piety, and reverence, but only Islam has put much attention to sincerity that it is a basic doctrine and much literature has been written on the subject. Furthermore, showing off, which is the opposite of sincerity as much as doing good deeds for ulterior motives is shunned in Islam as much as our Filipino culture shun what we call the, Banal na Aso Santong Kabayo (Holy dog, saintly horse) which is a popular idiom we use for contempt against people who do not practice what they preach which are driven by their lack of sincerity to the religion or cause they adhere to.

That is why we laugh at stories of those politicians who swear much to bring benefit to the people of put his name in every public project he initiated using public funds as if it was his money. Add to that how we laugh at the stories of religious leaders, the Padre Damasos or Pastor Hokage as we call them, who may show the face of an angel during the mass but who was actually the devil themselves in private.

SINCERITY IS A CONDITION FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF GOOD DEEDS Each religion is known to promote good and prohibit evil. In whatever religion you are, there is a universal sense of morality that we should be honest or not to kill or rape but little is being

UNDERSTANDING ISLAM

Mujahid Navarra

said about being sincere. In Islam, sincerity is so important that if you did something for showing off, that deed is automatically invalidated. In Islam, all good deeds must be done for the pleasure of Allah and not for any material benefit. Sincerity and the other condition on the acceptance of good deeds which is doing the righteous deed according to the proper Islamic methodology are two conditions on the acceptance of good deeds.

Because of these, Muslims are taught not to brag about their accomplishments or religious service. There is a certain degree of stoicism or asceticism that should accompany one’s conduct before, during and after doing one’s deed.

SHOWING OFF WILL INVALIDATE A RIGHTEOUS

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”Mukhang nakalimutan na ng mga tao (It seems they –employees, already forgot the law),” Dy told reporters during the AFP- PNP Press Corps briefing at Davao City Police Office.

It may be recalled that the driver of LTO XI was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation XI in an entrapment operation inside the transportation regional office on Friday, June 30.

NBI operatives arrested Mamerto Tumpag, reportedly the driver of Dy, for violation of the Anti-Red Tape Law. The entrapment operation was conducted by NBI following complaints from commuter van operators about the activities of Tumpag, who allegedly collect P1,500 to P5,000 as fee to expedite vehicle registration.

There were also complaints that Tumpag reportedly demands P200 for every trip of vans operating outside the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal along Ecoland. The vans number to about 30-40 units.

Dy said Tumpag was not his personal driver. He is only one of the drivers of LTO. Dy said a case was already filed against Tumpag. He is out on bail and has taken a leave of

absence from LTO. Dy said he was not aware of what happened as he was out in a meeting during the entrapment operation.

He however confirmed there were already reports about some employees involved in illegal activities prompting him to seek the assistance of the police to look into the reports. However this resulted to nothing as there was no probable cause to track persons engaging in illegal activities.

LTO even conducted its own investigation led by the administrative officer and the Assistant Regional Director but this also resulted to nothing.

But reports of illegal activities were persistent prompting him to seek the assistance of the NBI and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as they have the expertise to conduct investigation.

Dy said he sent a letter to NBI regional director Rosales sometime in April and May to help them in the investigation.

He lamented that the implication of one employee to illegal activity has affected the entire organization. Dy however, assured that LTO is also tracing the people who are involved in Tumpag’s activity.

(Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

draft law was not passed and the Bangsamoro did not accept the Palace-tweaked version.”

The then 15-member BTC under the Aquino administration, chaired by MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal, submitted its draft BBL to the Office of the President on April 22, 2014 since the OP said it will review it first before its submission to Congress.

The review took two months and when handed back to the MILF-led BTC, it rejected the Palace version of the BBL, claiming it was a “watered down version” that would render the future Bangsamoro less autonomous than the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that it sought to replace.

A series of meetings followed between the government and MILF peace panels but they ended in an impasse until then Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa took over in August 2014.

Another series of meetings ensued between the team of then BTC chair Mohagher Iqbal, concurrent MILF peace panel chair, until an “agreed version” was finalized in the first week of September 2014 and submitted to Senate President Franklin Drilon and tSpeaker Feliciano Belmonte in the presence of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on September 10, in rites held in Malacanang.

The original draft BBL sub-

mitted to Aquino in April 2014 was a 97-page, 18-article document. The “agreed version” submitted to Congress in September that year was a 119page draft law containing articles and an additional threepage appendix on a proposed ordinance providing for the “parliamentary districts composing the provinces, cities, municipalities and geographic areas of the Bangsamoro.”

After the committee hearings, the Senate and House committees tackling the draft BBL submitted substitute bills both titled “Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region” or BLBAR. The two BLBARs were also criticized for rendering the future Bangsamoro less autonomous than the ARMM. Congress adjourned under the Aquino administration without passing the Bangsamoro law.

The new draft BBL crafted by the BTC chaired by Jaafar, consists of 114 pages and 18 articles.

Duterte had earlier said he would wait for the submission of the draft BBL, study it along with the draft amendatory law of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under Nur Misuari. Misuari’s faction has a separate five-member peace implementing panel but the faction headed by Yusoph Jikiri (formerly by Muslimin Sema) has three representatives in the current BTC. (Mindanews)

he said.

The Finance chief said bringing the country’s infrastructure and logistics backbone at par with other

Asian countries and aligning tax rates to regional average would enable the country to be among the high-income economies by 2040. (PNA)

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BELIEVER. A Catholic faithful lights a candle after offering a prayer at San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

DepEd... FROM 2

ones said, noting that upgrading means reaching the ideal classroom-to-student and teacher-to-student ratios; and providing adequate facilities, such as water and sanitation, Internet access, computer classrooms at the elementary level, laboratories and libraries for all public schools. ”Not all of our public schools have libraries,” Briones lamented.

The third cost driver, which is why the required inputs for DepEd are higher, is the

K-12 basic education program where kindergarten is compulsory, along with two additional years for senior high school, which is free in public schools, she said.

The education chief further cited climate change and natural disasters as the fourth cost driver, since the country is frequently visited by calamities that have intensified in strength through the years, raising the costs for rehabilitation and repair to damaged infrastructure and equipment. (PNA)

ity measure before the end of the first regular session of the 17th Congress.

“We take heart at the fact the passage of the tax reform measure was welcomed by nearly all stakeholders: businesses, international development partners, credit rating agencies and, most of all, wage earners,” Dominguez said.

He said “The package accomplishes the dual goals of increasing disposable income for our workers and increasing spending for the poor” and is “a win-win package for our people.”

Dominguez cited the GDP’s robust 6.68 percent growth rate for the first nine months of the Duterte administration, which is faster than the expansion rates in all other previous administrations; the growth in investments spurred by low and stable interest rates; the average inflation rate of 2.64 percent in the first 11 month of the Duterte presidency, and the decline in the debt-to-GDP ratio from 43 percent as of the end-June 2016 to 41.9 percent by the end-March 2017 as among the key factors showing that the government is on track to meet its economic targets.

As a comparison, GDP growth for the first nine months was 4.69 percent in the presidency of Corazon Aquino and 2.10 percent under President Ramos. For the same period, it was 0.17 percent under President Joseph Estrada; 3.0 percent, Gloria

Macapagal Arroyo; and 5.98 percent, Benigno Aquino III. “We are on our way towards achieving the growth breakout our strategy aspires for,” he said.

“The broader economic strategy is bearing fruit. GDP grew by 6.68 percent during the first 3 quarters, faster than all other administrations. We expect to grow close to the targeted 7 percent through the year,” Dominguez said.

In the first 9 months of the Duterte administration, T-Bill rates averaged 2 percent, the lowest of all previous administrations despite the start of rate normalization undertaken by the US Federal Reserve, while the average inflation rate for the first 11 months stood at 2.64 percent, also the lowest registered in all previous administrations, Dominguez said.

He said the reduced debt load will allow the government “enough flexibility to pump prime our economy” when complemented by a tax reform package that will provide funds for the Duterte administration’s planned unprecedented spending on infrastructure, education, health and social protection for the poorest of the poor.

The TRAIN bill approved by the House slashes personal income tax rates for 83 percent of Filipinos to enable them to increase their disposable income, which, in turn, will drive the growth of the domestic market. (DOF)

PH... FROM 6

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careers of the still many good men and women of the NBI,” Aguirre said in a statement.

The fact finding committee was also tasked to determine the administrative and criminal liabilities, that has been incurred by the members of the NBI’s personnel and other component offices who

participated in the operations.

“Corruption has no place anywhere in the DOJ family. It has no place at all in Government service. The President’s marching orders to me when I was appointed was clear and simple. We will relentlessly enforce that order,” Aguirre note.

province was identified as the base of the dismantled local terror group Ansar al-Khilafa Philippines, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS. In the face of the attack of the ISIS-linked Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf Group in Marawi City, security in Region 12 has been raised to red alert in a bid to prevent a spillover of the hostilities here.

Clashes between government forces and the local

terrorist groups erupted in Marawi on May 23, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law.

The clashes displaced more than 200,000 civilians.

Government data showed that at least 336 terrorists have died in the ongoing clashes in Marawi and 84 on the part of state security forces as of last Monday. A total of 39 civilians were also killed by the terrorists, it said. (PNA)

a statement.

The MMDA-LLAS maintained that “the sworn statement of complainant in this case may be admitted and appreciated in evidence in lieu of his direct testimony in finding substantial evidence.”

In his motion, Cervo merely denied the allegation against him by Torres, the MMDA-LLAS added.

“Respondent Cervo never contended, but in fact admitted that he was the duty officer at the time on the date and place of the incident. He likewise did not challenge the fact that he was identified as the person who apprehended and demanded PHP500 from complainant,” the MMDALLAS said in the comment on Cervo’s motion. (PNA)

Games initiated by non-government units (NGOs) in other countries, only Philippines has a Children’s Games program initiated by a government agency through the PSC. The Children’s Games was conceived initially as an answer to the challenge of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte “to make sports available to all,” and it has proven to be a positive presence of the government in a non-conflict set-up as it gives children aged 12 years a taste of friendly competition as well as an opportunity for fun and play.

The first Mindanao Children’s Games was launched

during the first term of PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez held sometime in 2008 in Davao City following the success of the Sports for Peace program in Midsayap, North Cotabato where hundreds of children of Moro International Liberation Front (MILF) fighters were housed and played together with Christian kids at Notre Dame of Midsayap College.

However, it was only when Ramirez returned as Chairman during the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte that the Children’s Games is restored and will be replicated around the country. PSI

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Long & Freddie Boy Pineda, Atty. Rose Cabaguio, Baby Montemayor, Bebot & Bien Estanislao.

Angela Soriano Diano and Nicole Ilagan Bian.

Cong. Jericho Nograles, Sec. Ernie Abella, Atty. Neil Dalumpines, Cong.

Karlo Nograles.

The 53rd

HIJOS DE DAVAO BALL

53rd Hijose Muse -Anette Josephine Salonga Tionko with Escort- Robertino Soriano Roque.

IN THE NEAR PAST, Davao was considered by many as the “wild south” of the Philippines, but the sleepy riverside village grew into the bustling city that is is today thanks to the efforts of pioneering families from Luzon and the Visayas who took root and flourished in the area. This is the story of the families who are part of Hijos de Davao.

Toffee, Marissa, Anette, JB, Vince Tionko.

Now celebrating 53 years, the annual Hijos de Davao Ball is a celebration of the pioneering spirit of these, now, Dabawenyo families. This year’s celebration was made even more memorable as Dabawenyos who are making a mark in changing and moving the Philippines forward were part of the event.

As much as it was a party which raises money for the education of indigent children, the Hijos de Davao Ball serves as a way to remind the current generation of who the neighbours of there forefathers were and how their parents and grandparents strived hard to make Davao a beacon of development.

Ramona Scott, Lynne Sotto, Belle Carriedo, Josie Tionko, Annie and Benny Salonga.

Asec. Paola Alvarez, Usec. Karen Singson, Usec. Antonette Tionko, Catherine Tan, Standing- Enrique Chan, Dir. Richard Uy, Sec. Carlos Dominguez, Dir. Anita Aquino.

Cong. Jericho Nograles, Sec. Ernie Abella, Atty. Neil Dalumpines, Cong.

Karlo Nograles.

Jackie Dizon, Atty. Rose Cabaguio, Rochell & Arianna del Rosario, Meg Roque, Jing & Baby Rabat.

Baby & Binggoy Montemayor, Sec. Sal Panelo, ES Bingbong Medialdea, Cong. Mylene Garcia- Albano, Sonja Garcia, Edgar Ang, Asec. Ricky Alegre.

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Putting their mission above Martial Law

Fenixia Foundation serves special needs families in Philippines

July 7, 2017 only

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DESPITE AN ACTIVE INSURGENCY AND ONGOING STATE OF MARTIAL LAW, a team of pediatric therapists from the Bay Area-based Fenixia Foundation has conducted a successful 10-day outreach mission to help special needs children on the Philippines island of Mindanao.

Led by Fenixia founder, Lisa Valerio, the mother of a child with autism, the team included an occupational therapist, speech pathologist and behavioral technician.

Security concerns forced last minute planning changes, but the group was able to provide assessments and treatment recommendations for over 70 children, and conducted seminars that reached more than 150 parents, special education teachers, and aspir-

ing therapists. The group also distributed wheelchairs and assistive communication devices to children in need.

Three brothers with Muscular Dystrophy, the sons of a fisherman, were connected with an orthopedic specialist for the first time in their lives. Fenixia has partnered with Philippinesbased groups to provide long-term therapy and

possible surgical intervention to manage the boys’ degenerative condition.

The group concluded their mission by donating the toys and games used for their assessments to the House of Hope Children’s Cancer Center.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Fenixia Foundation (feni x ia fou ndat ion.org)

provides assessment and support services for special needs children and their families. The organization also provides training programs for parents, teachers and pediatric therapists. The foundation is named for a flower found only in Mindanao that is a member of the daisy family, found worldwide. The organization’s goal is to “help every flower bloom.” PR

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MX3 delights at the Kapuso Mall Show INDEED, a blast just happened in Robinsons Place Tacloban last June 22, 2017 when the casts of Mulawin VS Ravena namely, Kiko Estrada, Derrick Monasterio, Miguel Tanfelix, Bianca Umali and Martin del Rosario visited the Taclobanons and brought about jawdropping performances.

Prior to that, MX3 first gave away gift packs to 10 lively players who participated in the game called MX3 Hooray wherein each player had to follow the Game Master whether he says M, X or 3 and they have to spell these out with a body language. Cheers and shouts were heard from the crowd as they enjoyed watching the players having fun with the game too.

It’s really a joy to share life, wellness and of course MX3 products to our fellowmen in Tacloban. Beautiful city, beautiful waray people. PR

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DOST bares winners in RICE celebration

By ANGIE SAVERON

T

HE Department of Science and Technology in Region XI announced the winners for the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (RICE) held July 3-5 at the NCCC Mall that gathered under one roof the cream of this region’s inventors, innovators and creative thinkers.

The RICE opened up with the theme “Invention & Innovation for People”.

This year’s RICE was organized as a part of the National Science and Technology Week Celebration with the theme “Science for People”.

RICE is an event that is open for both to public and private sectors inventors and

researchers within the region and is a regional qualifying competition for the National Invention Contest Exhibits that happens every two years.

According to Arnel Rodriguez, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST, RICE aimed to give an avenue for inventors, innovators, creative thinkers and creative researchers throughout the country. This is the kind of competition that would help them test and showcase the capability of their inventions.

There are six categories in this competition namely: Invention (Tuklas Awards), Utility Model, Industrial Design, Creative Research (

Likha Award),Student Creative Research (Sibol Award) for High school and college.

This year, the DOST Region XI added a new category, The Student Creative research (Butil Award) for elementary students which aims to encourage young minds to create innovative researches and models. However, only the students from region XI are allowed to compete.

The judges for this year’s RICE are Engr. Roderick S. Dayot, Dr. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan and Dr. Richar T. Mata.

The criteria in determining the winners for the Sibol Award (Outstanding Student Creative Research) included

ducted the study did their research in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They found out that even “a tiny amount of oxybenzone-containing sunscreen can damage corals,” to quote the words of Dominique Mosbergen, a senior writer of The Huffington Post. Or as the Washington Post noted: “the equivalent of a drop of water in a half-dozen Olympicsized swimming pools” was sufficient to cause harm.

Across the world each year, up to 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotions are discharged into coral reef, and much of it “contains between 1 and 10 percent oxybenzone,” said the authors, who estimated that “at least 10 percent of reefs at risk of high exposure.”

Coral reefs, which occupy just 0.17% of the ocean floor, have been touted as “Eden beneath the waves.” The NOAA describe them as “some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth.” “Essential life-support systems” necessary for human survival is how the World Conservation Union considers them.

Reefs are crucial to the well-being of other marine life as they are home to perhaps one-quarter of all marine species. The biodiversity of reefs is also “considered key to finding new medicines for the 21st century,” NOAA said. “Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses and other diseases.”

Unfortunately, coral reefs are on the verge of extinction. This is particularly true in the Philippines, whose coral reef area -- estimated at 26,000 square kilometers -- is the second largest in Southeast Asia.

But there is bad news. The Inventory of the Coral Resources of the Philippines in the 1970s found only about 5% of the reefs to be in excellent

condition, with over 75% coral cover (both hard and soft).

Another study conducted in 1997 showed only 4% of reefs in excellent condition (75% hard or soft coral cover), 28% in good condition (5075% coral cover), 42% in fair condition (25-50% coral cover), and 27% in poor condition (less than 25% coral cover).

Some years back, leading marine scientists ranked the coral reefs in the Philippines as among the most threatened in Southeast Asia. Among those listed as culprits were overfishing, destructive fishing, sedimentation, and pollution.

“Although coral reefs have always been subject to natural disturbances – disease, predator outbreaks, and climatic disruptions such as hurricanes and the El Niño – natural damage is now being compounded by human-induced disturbances,” noted Coral Reefs: Valuable but Vulnerable,” a discussion paper published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

There are three major types of coral reefs, according to Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. These are fringing type (those found on the edges of islands and which constitutes 30% of the country’s coral reefs); the barrier type (best exemplified by the Dajanon Reef of Central Visayas); and the atoll (of which the Tubbataha and Cagayan Reef in the Sulu Sea are ideal examples).

According to the new study, the chemical that blocks ultraviolet rays, causes “gross deformities” on coral polyps. It also damages the DNA aside from acting as “endocrine disruptor.”

The coral reef is the world’s most diverse marine ecosystem, and one of its most productive. It is home to some 4,000 species of fish, along with a vast array of other life forms – mollusks, crustaceans,

sea urchins, starfish, sponges, tube-worms and many more.

In the Philippines, for instance, more than 40 million people live on the coast within 30 kilometers of coral reef. Approximately, two million people depend on fisheries for employment, with about one million small-scale fishermen directly dependent on reef fisheries. The country’s reefs yield 5 to 37 tons of fish per square kilometer, making them very important to the productivity of fisheries.

“Despite considerable improvements in coral reef management, the country’s coral reefs remain under threat,” said Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Philippine government made and introduced many laws in an attempt to protect the natural environment on the islands and in the national territorial waters.

But the government cannot do it alone; help from individuals are also needed to save the reefs from total annihilation.

“We are the stewards of our nation’s resources,” said Rafael D. Guerrero III, former executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development, “we should take care of our national heritage so that future generations can enjoy them. Let’s do our best to save our coral reefs. Our children’s children will thank us for the effort.”

And yes, we need to start rethinking about using sunscreen lotions.

In the United States, the National Park Service recommends that instead of using sunscreens that contain oxybenzone, people should apply “reef-friendly” sunscreen made with titanium oxide or zinc oxide.

ENVIRONMENT... FROM 14

originality, creativity, market potential and presentation while the criteria in the Likha Award revolved around originality, creativity, market potential and presentation The winners of the 2017 RICE in Region XI are the following:

SIBOL Award (Student Creative Research for High School) Regional Winner Title of Student Research: Pectin-carboxymethylcellulose biocapsul for potential colon targeted oral drug delivery Name of the Researcher/s: Felix Arthur C. Diosco; Jeramae Aira M. Moderno; Coleen A. Quirim Name of the Adviser/s: Dr. Rochelle Papasin / Mr. Michael Casas Name of School: Philippine Science High School- SMC 1st Runner –up Title of Student Research: Pozzolanic Effect of corn cobs ash (CCA) and corn husk ash (CCa): Potential Admixtures on the Strength of blended cement for higher performance concrete.

Name of Researcher/s: Diescyl Fame Daroy; Mae Hasmien Makol; Jeremiah Malalis; Sairel Demegillo Name of the Adviser/s:

Zennifer S. Otig Name of School: Asuncion National High School

2nd Runner-up Title of Student Research: Sea-Water extracted Chanos Chanos (Bangus) Fuel Name of Researcher/s: Abigael Ann J. Quintana; Christa L. ramos; Juvanniel M. Chavez Name of the Adviser/s: Mr. Rex Cañete Name of School: Panabo National High School SIBOL AWARD (Student Creative Research for College) Regional Winner Title of Student Research: TAMLA: A mobile app for crime scene fingerprint matching with latent search capability Name of Researcher/s: Charles Bryan Abella; Carlo C. Lagura; Bernard Ranola Name of the Adviser/s: Mr. Randy S. Gamboa Name of School: University of Southeastern Philippines

1st Runner-up Title of Student Research: Natural Disaster Alarm System with self- regulating Circuit Breaker Name of Researcher/s: Waffa Latiph; Gerry Tenpre; Alvin

Junan; John Michael Jikirany Name of the Adviser/s: Engr.

Ronan Viernes Name of School: MATS College of Technology

2nd Runner-up Title of Student Research: Stovematic- Design and Development of Nano Power Coal plant Using Thermoelectric Modules Name of Researcher/s: Renz Sandy r. Buit; Alleza Mae Guatno; Roland N. Trana Name of the Adviser/s: Engr.

Ricardo Forbes Abear Name of School: University of Southeastern Philippines LIKHA AWARD (Creative Research) Regional Winner Title of the Research: Alcasol Pure Organic Antibacterial & Antifungal Disinfectant Name of Researcher/s: Aezer Cajegas

1st Runner-up Title of the Research: Aqualevator Ram Pump Name of researcher/s: Nicolas T. Wijangco

2nd runner-up Title of the Research: The Mononoo Name of the Researcher/s: Nicolas T Wijangco

‘Dutertenomics’reaches Germany

A

T the Asia Pacific Forum on 5 July, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez showcased the benefits of investing in the Philippines under the Dutertenomics paradigm of economic resurgence and inclusive growth.

The Forum gathered around 400 from German business chambers and some companies, which continue to trade and invest in the Philippines.

According to the organizers, this has been the largest gathering so far for an Asia Pacific Forum that features a partner country.

‘We have grown from strength to strength in the past decade, not only undergoing an economic boom but also becoming a prime investment location for foreign investors, said Sec. Lopez.

In 2016, the Philippines’ GDP growth rate was 6.8%,

ORO DEL SUR PAWNSHOP, INC.

2006 Rizal Avenue, 8002 Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines Telefax: (6382) 553-2258; E-mail: ospimain@yahoo.com NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items the redemption grace periods of which lapsed on or before June 30, 2017, which have not been redeemed or renewed will be sold at public auction at the offices shown below from 8:30 A.M to 5:30 P.M.

Branch

Auction Date

Telephone No.

Head Office, 2006 Rizal Avenue, Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines

July 20, 2017

(6382) 553-2258

Davao San Pedro Branch, Fuentes Bldg., July 20, 2017 San Pedro St., Davao City, Philippines

(6382) 224-5616

Digos Market Branch, Jose Abad Santos July 20, 2017 Public Market, Digos City, Davao del Sur Davao Ilustre Branch, Dr. 4 Milagros July 20, 2017 Bldg., Ilustre St., Davao City, Philippines

Davao Panabo Branch, Grageda Bldg., Quezon Ave., Panabo City, Davao del Norte

July 20, 2017

(6382) 553-7169 (6382) 225-5615

(6384) 628-4089

All valued clients whose pawns redemption grace periods have lapsed on or before June 30, 2017 are enjoined to redeem or renew their pawns before the aforementioned auction date.

THE MANAGEMENT July 7, 11 & 13, 2017

higher than 2015’s 5.9%, while the net foreign direct investment inflows has steadily been going up to USD 7.9B in 2016 or 41% higher. The country sustains a double digit growth of 17% for the first quarter of 2017, indicating confidence on the economic prospects under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Business confidence are at high levels at 43% coming from low 30s and 20s in earlier periods, while latest consumer confidence tracks 13% from what used to be negative territory.

The Philippines ranks 19th in the worldwide list of top investment destinations of multinational enterprises (MNEs), as noted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Top ratings agencies of the world— Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s—have sustained “investment grade” status up to first quarter this year.

“Bolstering our economy’s obust performance is our administration’s Dutertenomics¸ which sums up President Duterte’s 10+1 socio-economic and peace and order agenda that will widen development gains, address inequality and uplift the quality of life,” he added.

12 COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL. 10 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 7 - 8, 2017

Abreeza Mall partners win awards at 19th Ayala Malls Merchant Rewards

A

YALA Malls recently held its Merchant Rewards program, an annual tradition that recognizes merchant partners nationwide for their innovativeness, marketing savvy, and business leadership. Now on its 19th year, Ayala Malls pulled out all the stops with an awarding extravaganza that not only gave credit to merchants that have exhibited excellence in various categories, but also treated them to an invigorating escape to one of the country’s most exciting new tourism destinations.

From June 15 to 16, the Ayala Malls Merchant Festival took place at Lio Tourism Estate in El Nido, Palawan, a new masterplanned development by Ayala Land that boasts a mix of hotels and resorts, tourism and commercial establishments, and res-

idential communities. Here, merchants from Ayala Malls all over the country enjoyed fun and wellness activities while basking in a relaxing, breathtaking locale.

Gracing the Merchant Festival Awards Night on June 15 were members of the Zobel family; namely, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Land, Inc., and mother-and-daughter cultural advocates Bea Zobel de Ayala, Jr. and daughter Paloma Zobel.

Also present were model LA Aguinaldo, Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza, and Zalora’s Paolo Campos and Colliers’ Richard Raymundo, who both delivered talks in learning sessions held earlier in the day. Singers Markki Stroem and Rachel Alejandro hosted the celebration and serenaded attendees with stunning song numbers.

Abreeza Mall merchants that took home major awards at the Merchant Festival Awards Night were T’nalak Home for Christmas Decor Hall of Fame; Penong’s for Most Promising Retailer; Res|Toe|Run, GEOX, and Shoe Salon for Store Operations Excellence; and Lacoste for Store of the Year.

Prior to the Merchant Festival, on June 13, the Ayala Malls Merchant Forum took place at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 2 in Makati. The forum offered learning sessions by Gino Borromeo, Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer of McCann Worldgroup Philippines; Merlee Jayme, Chairmom and Chief Creative Officer of Dentsu Jayme Syfu; Balagopal Kunduvara, General Manager of Singapore Airlines; and Eva Maureen Claravall, Research Director of

Kantar TNS Philippines. Special awards were also handed out at the Merchant Forum, with the following Abreeza Mall merchants bagging honors: Artwork for Visual Merchandising (Fashion), Nail-aholics for Visual Merchandising (Specialty), Gingersnaps for Visual Merchandising (Christmas Decor - Fashion), T’nalak Home for Visual Merchandising (Christmas Decor - Specialty), R.O.X. for Marketing Excellence, and Italianni’s and Mango for Marketing Partners.

For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 7 - 8, 2017

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

REFRESHER LTO staff to undergo anti-red tape re-study A EDGEDAVAO ll personnel of the Land Transportation Office will undergo a refresher on the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) following the arrest of an agency driver for his illegal activities as “fixer”.

Serving a seamless society

This was disclosed Wednesday

by LTO XI regional director Gomer Dy, who said the refresher would remind all employees on the provisions of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Law.

F REFRESHER, 10

FIT TO SERVE. BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), a Philippine Navy frigate, is being towed by a tugboat at Sasa Wharf in Davao City as it prepares to sail for the Philippines-Indonesia border coordinated patrol at the common boundary of the two countries in the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Children’s Games sparks Unesco interest in PH P15

SWINGDERELLA SURGES

Ella Nagayo shines in two Melbourne tournaments, now ranked 11th

P16

EDGEDAVAO Sports

BTC set to submit draft BBL July 18 T HE Bangsamoro Transition Commission will submit its draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on July 18, a month and two days after completing it and six days before the President delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he is expected to certify the bill as urgent.

BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar

said he does not know if the President will still review the draft as he had repeatedly said he would, or hand it over immediately to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on the same day it is submitted to him in Malacanang.

“That we don’t know. Depende na sa President yan” (That depends on the President), Jaafar, concurrent 1st

Vice Chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) told MindaNews in a text message.

The submission of the draft BBL was initially set for June 28 but Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process told MindaNews on June 23 that it was reset because Pimentel and Alvarez would not be available by then. The plan, he said then, was “after PRRD receives it

(draft BBL), he hands it over immediately to Congress.”

“We should not commit the mistakes of the past. We should learn from them,” Dureza told MindaNews.

Dureza explained that the lesson learned from the previous administration was: “dili gipasa ug dili pud gidawat sa Bangsamoro ang Palace-tweaked version” (the

F BTC, 10

VOL. 10 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 7 - 8, 2017

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

REFRESHER LTO staff to undergo anti-red tape re-study A EDGEDAVAO ll personnel of the Land Transportation Office will undergo a refresher on the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) following the arrest of an agency driver for his illegal activities as “fixer”.

Serving a seamless society

This was disclosed Wednesday

by LTO XI regional director Gomer Dy, who said the refresher would remind all employees on the provisions of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Law.

F REFRESHER, 10

FIT TO SERVE. BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), a Philippine Navy frigate, is being towed by a tugboat at Sasa Wharf in Davao City as it prepares to sail for the Philippines-Indonesia border coordinated patrol at the common boundary of the two countries in the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Children’s Games sparks Unesco interest in PH P15

SWINGDERELLA SURGES

Ella Nagayo shines in two Melbourne tournaments, now ranked 11th

P16

EDGEDAVAO Sports

BTC set to submit draft BBL July 18 T HE Bangsamoro Transition Commission will submit its draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on July 18, a month and two days after completing it and six days before the President delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he is expected to certify the bill as urgent.

BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar

said he does not know if the President will still review the draft as he had repeatedly said he would, or hand it over immediately to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on the same day it is submitted to him in Malacanang.

“That we don’t know. Depende na sa President yan” (That depends on the President), Jaafar, concurrent 1st

Vice Chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) told MindaNews in a text message.

The submission of the draft BBL was initially set for June 28 but Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process told MindaNews on June 23 that it was reset because Pimentel and Alvarez would not be available by then. The plan, he said then, was “after PRRD receives it

(draft BBL), he hands it over immediately to Congress.”

“We should not commit the mistakes of the past. We should learn from them,” Dureza told MindaNews.

Dureza explained that the lesson learned from the previous administration was: “dili gipasa ug dili pud gidawat sa Bangsamoro ang Palace-tweaked version” (the

F BTC, 10

VOL. 10 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 7 - 8, 2017

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

REFRESHER LTO staff to undergo anti-red tape re-study A EDGEDAVAO ll personnel of the Land Transportation Office will undergo a refresher on the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) following the arrest of an agency driver for his illegal activities as “fixer”.

Serving a seamless society

This was disclosed Wednesday

by LTO XI regional director Gomer Dy, who said the refresher would remind all employees on the provisions of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Law.

F REFRESHER, 10

FIT TO SERVE. BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), a Philippine Navy frigate, is being towed by a tugboat at Sasa Wharf in Davao City as it prepares to sail for the Philippines-Indonesia border coordinated patrol at the common boundary of the two countries in the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Children’s Games sparks Unesco interest in PH P15

SWINGDERELLA SURGES

Ella Nagayo shines in two Melbourne tournaments, now ranked 11th

P16

EDGEDAVAO Sports

BTC set to submit draft BBL July 18 T HE Bangsamoro Transition Commission will submit its draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on July 18, a month and two days after completing it and six days before the President delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he is expected to certify the bill as urgent.

BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar

said he does not know if the President will still review the draft as he had repeatedly said he would, or hand it over immediately to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on the same day it is submitted to him in Malacanang.

“That we don’t know. Depende na sa President yan” (That depends on the President), Jaafar, concurrent 1st

Vice Chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) told MindaNews in a text message.

The submission of the draft BBL was initially set for June 28 but Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process told MindaNews on June 23 that it was reset because Pimentel and Alvarez would not be available by then. The plan, he said then, was “after PRRD receives it

(draft BBL), he hands it over immediately to Congress.”

“We should not commit the mistakes of the past. We should learn from them,” Dureza told MindaNews.

Dureza explained that the lesson learned from the previous administration was: “dili gipasa ug dili pud gidawat sa Bangsamoro ang Palace-tweaked version” (the

F BTC, 10

VOL. 10 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JULY 7 - 8, 2017

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

REFRESHER LTO staff to undergo anti-red tape re-study A EDGEDAVAO ll personnel of the Land Transportation Office will undergo a refresher on the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) following the arrest of an agency driver for his illegal activities as “fixer”.

Serving a seamless society

This was disclosed Wednesday

by LTO XI regional director Gomer Dy, who said the refresher would remind all employees on the provisions of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Law.

F REFRESHER, 10

FIT TO SERVE. BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), a Philippine Navy frigate, is being towed by a tugboat at Sasa Wharf in Davao City as it prepares to sail for the Philippines-Indonesia border coordinated patrol at the common boundary of the two countries in the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Children’s Games sparks Unesco interest in PH P15

SWINGDERELLA SURGES

Ella Nagayo shines in two Melbourne tournaments, now ranked 11th

P16

EDGEDAVAO Sports

BTC set to submit draft BBL July 18 T HE Bangsamoro Transition Commission will submit its draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on July 18, a month and two days after completing it and six days before the President delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he is expected to certify the bill as urgent.

BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar

said he does not know if the President will still review the draft as he had repeatedly said he would, or hand it over immediately to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on the same day it is submitted to him in Malacanang.

“That we don’t know. Depende na sa President yan” (That depends on the President), Jaafar, concurrent 1st

Vice Chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) told MindaNews in a text message.

The submission of the draft BBL was initially set for June 28 but Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process told MindaNews on June 23 that it was reset because Pimentel and Alvarez would not be available by then. The plan, he said then, was “after PRRD receives it

(draft BBL), he hands it over immediately to Congress.”

“We should not commit the mistakes of the past. We should learn from them,” Dureza told MindaNews.

Dureza explained that the lesson learned from the previous administration was: “dili gipasa ug dili pud gidawat sa Bangsamoro ang Palace-tweaked version” (the

F BTC, 10