Edge Davao 10 Issue 7

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

NO IN-FIGHTING Rody denies internal squabbles among cabinet members, allies

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, before his departure for a state visit to Saudi Arabia at the Davao International Airport in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

RESIDENT Duterte denied reports of rifts among the members of his cabinet and close allies.

In his departure message at the Davao City International Airport on Monday afternoon, April 10, the President said he just want corrupt people to go out from the government service.

The President will be off for official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar until April 12, Wednesday.

He clarified that the dismissal

from service of a high official of the Department of Agriculture was related to her work, and not on the rumoured in-fighting among the officials of his administration and allies.

“I just don’t want people who are corrupt,” he added.

The President dismissed from her post DA Undersecretary Maria Chiara Halmen Reina Valdez for overruling the earlier decision of National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino to suspend

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PH eases out India from BPO industry A

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

2016 report has confirmed that the Philippines has dislodged India as the frontrunner in terms of the voice business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

This was bared by Belinda C. Torres, president of JoBS eSolutions, Inc. who identified

the survey conducted by consultancy firm Tholons dubbed, “Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations” which was published by Oxford Business Group in 2016 on their online platform.

“It is a survey conducted by a certain consultancy group

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ON A ROLL Injury-plagued Blue Knights turn back rival ACD for fourth straight win SPORTS 16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

FOR BLESSING. A Catholic devotee chooses from the different designs of palms being sold by children outside Saint Joseph Parish Church in Sasa, Davao City during Palm Sunday celebration. Lean Daval Jr

3 killed, 11 hurt in new clashes in Basilan

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HREE militiamen were killed while 11 others, including six soldiers, were wounded after government troops clashed Monday with suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sumisip town, Basilan province.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson, clarified a report earlier in the day that a soldier was killed during the encounter.

The first gunfight occurred when troops of the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion encountered a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits while

conducting security patrol at around 7:15 a.m. in Barangay Cabcaban, Sumisip.

The battalion had just established a detachment in the village following a request from the municipal government.

At around 7:45 a.m., the engaged troops were reinforced by the 1st Special Forces Company, who were fired upon by the withdrawing bandits as they were traversing the temporary patrol base in Barangay Cabcaban, Petinglay said.

Of the 11 wounded, eight

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New logo for ‘Davao Life Is Here’unveiled

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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NEW Davao logo was chosen to become the new face to embody why “Life Is Here” in the city.

According to Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, the winning logo was a standout, noting it perfectly captured the spirit and vision of Davao as a city of life, diversity, harmony, and unity.

Last January, through

the City Tourism Operations Officer Gene Rose Tecson, announced the search for entries for the new logo design, which should be versatile in its application and must embody the essence of why “Life Is Here.”

The original logo, along with its tagline was crafted by the late artist Rey “Bai” Manginsay in 2011.

The artist behind the new logo was Rosch Patricio, who received P 50,000 for his winning entry.

The logo has the famous icons known to exemplify Davao, namely the Philippine Eagle, Mt. Apo, the lumad people, Durian and Waling-waling.

According to Patricio, the different colors in each letter

represent the diversity that we have here in Davao and the Davaoeños. He also added that although there are differences, there is still harmony and peace when all are brought together.

The new logo will officially represent the brand of the city as a preferred destination for tourists and investors in the Philippines.

Villanueva was born on July 21, 1918 and resides in Sibacan, seaside village of Balanga City.

“Ipagpatuloy mo ang iyong gawain, tama yan, ayos yan,” he told the Chief Executive and the present administration.

Villanueva is a government pensioner receiving P5,000 monthly pension from the Government Service Insurance System and P6,700 a month as WWII veteran.

“Hiling ko sa gobyerno, pensiyunan ako ng malaki dahil ang mga kasama kong kinilala, tumatanggap ng P45,000 a month,” the old

man said when asked what he wanted from government.

Apparently, he was referring to veterans recognized by the United States government.

“Ako ang chief P6,700 lamang pero ang mga mababa sa akin P45,000 kaya tinatawanan ako,” Villanueva said.

He was staff sergeant under Colonel Federico Lumbre of Orani and Col. Monico Dominguez of Samal, both in Bataan under “C” Company/ Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment of Bataan Military District attached to 38th Infantry Division, USA. “Nabingi ako dahil sa

putok ng kanyon, sa pagsasaksak ng bala sa kanyon,” he said.

He evaded joining the Death March from Bataan to Capas in Tarlac or a distance of 160 kilometers.

“Mula sa Orion, Bataan naglakad ako papunta sa Manila Bay. Tumakas ako para hindi mapasama sa Death March,” Villanueva said.

A high school graduate, he worked as supervisor of the Bataan National Park during the Martial Law years.

He has 10 children, one a former chief of police and another a supervisor of the Department of Education. (PNA)

AFP certain of neutralizing Abu Sayyab before June 30 deadline 99 year-old WWII veteran says Duterte the best president ever

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HE Armed Forces of the Philippines remains confident of neutralizing the Abu Sayyaf Group within the six-month time frame set

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The AFP is on the right track and is confident it can meet the timetable of six months within which the Commander-in-Chief, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the ASG defeated,” military public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement Sunday.

This confidence was further bolstered by AFP chief-ofstaff Gen. Eduardo Año’s visit to the officers and enlisted personnel of Joint Task Group Sulu

last April 6.

He went on to urge soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen of the unit to work harder and double time so that the campaign to eliminate the bandits can meet its June 30 deadline.

“The AFP is midway in its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf, General Año inspired them to operate at full speed, double or increase the operational tempo some more. The AFP has proven its capacity to inflict heavy casualties against the terrorist group,” Arevalo stressed.

As this developed, Año said that the bandits proved

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99-YEAR old World War II veteran who lost his hearing due to cannon fires during the war on Sunday described President Rodrigo Duterte as the best president the Philippines ever had.

“Sa 16 presidente, ang tunay na presidente si Duterte. Bale wala ang iba, pinakamagaling si Duterte. Matapang, maayos, itinatapon ang mga mapagsamantala sa gobyerno. Nakatapat tayo ng Presidente, ng magaling na presidente na matapang, makatuwiran, ayos,” Daniel Villanueva said.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

DOLE issues pay rules for Araw ng Kagitingan, Holy Week holidays

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PREPARED. Davao City Overland Transport Terminal head Aiza Yusoph discusses security measures and other issues being undertaken by her office in time for the celebration of the Holy Week when the number of passengers is expected to increase. Yusoph graced the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

DCOTT warns passengers vs. overpricing porters

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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HE Davao City Overland Transport Terminal warned passengers against porters who tended to overprice their services now that the terminal will be expecting a lot of travellers for the Holy Week.

During the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday, DCOTT Manager Aiza Yusoph said that the rate of every 50-kilo baggage

has been steady at P 25.00.

Unfortunately, the said is yet to be amended since it was based on the porter association’s agreement way back 2007.

“To those passengers who will be travelling, I advise you to report to us in the terminal if there are porters who overcharge you. Better to get the number of the porter para ma trace talaga kung sino yung

porter na ‘yun,” Yusoph said.

During the Holy Week celebration, DCOTT expects a 10 to 30 per cent increase in passengers or about 30,000 to 35,000 pax and more or less 1,000 trips a day for north and sound bound buses. Because of the expected influx of passengers, DCOTT will be extending the operating hours of the passengers’ lounge from 6:00 o’clock

in the morning until 10:00 o’clock in the evening.

Furthermore, Yusoph announced that three bus companies, Metro Shuttle, Yellow Bus Line and Land Car Incorporated (LCI) will not be having their operations on April 14, Good Friday.

A total of 14 bus companies is currently operating at DCOTT, eight bound for north and six bound for south.

Chief Inspector Ivan Viñas, the police investigator, identified Monday the fatalities as Ronnie Abreu, 46, and his three children - Kenneth, 10, Sophia, 7, and Stiffany, 5; Vanessa Tadlas, 29; May Buñor

and Vivien Nacaya, a transgender.

Viñas said that the victims were on board separate vehicles when a wayward cargo truck with plate number YDY 562 running at breakneck

speed hit them along the highway in Baloy, a village east of here Sunday evening.

He said that Abreu and his three children were on board a motorcycle, which was side-

7 killed in Cagayan de Oro road mishap S

EVEN people, including three children, were killed while four others were injured in the worst road accident in this seaport capital of Northern Mindanao in recent years.

PRRD visit to Gulf to boost morale of OFWs

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CATHOLIC prelate is convinced that the week-long visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to three countries in the Middle East will greatly boost the morale of the overseas Filipino workers working there.

“It will be a source of strength for our OFW and sign of solidarity with them when our President sees and speaks with our OFWs,” said Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos.

The chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) is also hoping that Chief Executive will help those Filipino workers who are suffering in jail.

“Witnessing the sacrifices and sufferings of OFW will surely move our president to intercede for compassion to the plight of our OFW and clemency to those who are imprisoned,” he said.

Santos added, “Knowing the kindness and justified intervention of the president about tanim-bala and unduly opening of balikbayan boxes, we CBCP-ECMI believe that our president will intercede to host countries of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Bahrain and Qatar for promotion and respect for rights of OFW, and just and fair labor practices.”

At the same time, the CBCP-ECMI head has offered prayers for President Duterte’s safe and fruitful trip to the Middle East. (PNA)

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HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued pay rules for the scheduled holidays this month.

In Labor Advisory No. 3, Series of 2017 signed by DOLE Acting Secretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III, prescribed the proper payment of wages for the three regular holidays and a special (non-working) holiday this week.

The three regular holidays are: April 9, Sunday, which is Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor; April 13, Maundy Thursday; and April 14, Good Friday.

The special (non-working) day is April 15, Black Saturday.

In a statement, Lagunzad urged private sector employers to observe proper pay rules, noting that it encourages productive and efficient workers.

“Compliance with labor laws, including correct payment of wage during holidays, promotes workplace harmony and excellence, which redounds to the productivity and competitiveness of businesses,” he said.

The pay rules are as follows:

For the regular holiday: If the employee did not work, he/she shall be paid 100 percent of his/her salary for that day computed at [(Daily Rate + COLA) x 100%]; For work done during the regular holiday, the employee shall be paid 200 percent of his/her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours computed at [(Daily Rate + COLA) x 200%]; For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/ her hourly rate on said day.

Computation: [Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x number of hours worked]; For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on a rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily rate of 200 percent. Computation: [(Daily Rate + COLA) x 200%] + [30% (Daily rate x 200%)]; and For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a regular holiday that also falls on his/her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/

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Task Force Davao drive gains vigilant citizenry

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HE anti-terrorism campaign of Task Force Davao is gaining positive results “in creating a well-informed and more vigilant citizenry,” its commander said.

Col. Bernard Neri, Task Force Davao commander, said Saturday afternoon that after the September 2016 explosion that ripped through the Roxas night market here, they received over 100 calls and tips from concerned citizens regarding unattended bags or suspicious personalities.

He stressed this is “an indication of a vigilant citizenry.”

On Friday, Task Force

Davao joined a private motoring group and public utility van operators in putting stickers to all public utility vans plying between Davao City and southern parts of Mindanao like South Cotabato, Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

The Task Force targets 100 stickers bearing “Let us Fight Terrorism – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte” to be posted on vans and other private vehicles. In the city’s bus and transport terminals, the Task Force also posted streamers on anti-terrorism.

Neri said the people must know that security is everybody’s concern. (PNA)

UPBEAT. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) vice president Belinda Torres of Jobs ESolutions, Inc. talks about the upcoming Investment Conference and the impact of the BPO industry in the business market today. Lean Daval Jr

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

DepEd: Firm’s tax liability can fund tutor, classroom backlogs

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SOARING. Eric Manalastas of NextBPO Solutions, Inc. says the workforce in Davao City connected with Information Technology Business Process Management now reached 35,000. Manalastas was among the guests of Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

Dominguez pushes for ASEAN resources sharing, IG policies F

INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has called on movers and shakers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to implement policies that would allow the sharing of resources within the regional bloc and make growth inclusive among its peoples to help counter the effects of emerging protectionist policies and a possible trade war between the United States and China.

Dominguez said the ASEAN should learn from the world’s experience with globalization, which “has been a great source of increasing wealth, [but] a very poor tool for spreading it.”

He also said the ASEAN should prepare its workforce to adapt to changes brought about by “disruptive technology,” referring to innovations that create new markets and jobs but eventually displaces existing ones, so that the region could “ride out the tide of

change” while coping with the rising popularity of protectionism and other “inward-looking” trade policies.

“We must really focus ourselves on policies that make sure that the wealth that is created by globalization is shared by all,” Dominguez said at the 12th session of the ASEAN Finance Ministers Investors Seminar (AFMIS) held in LapuLapu City last week.

The AFMIS, which preceded the April 7 meetings held separately and jointly among the ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors, gathered ASEAN’s finance chiefs and investors to discuss ways to further expand investment opportunities in the region amid the current global uncertainties.

Dominguez said that along with other ASEAN member-economies, the Philippines views potential “inward-looking” policies and the possible trade war between economic

powerhouses US and China that could emerge from such policies “with great concern.”

The impact on the ASEAN of a possible US-China trade war was discussed at the AFMIS open forum as Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump met face-to-face for the first time last week and wrapped up talks on a wide range of issues in Florida.

Dominguez said the ASEAN can help fend off the adverse effects of these “inward-looking” policies by implementing measures to speed up regional integration and the sharing of resources among their economies.

“So I think the lesson for us there is we have to integrate our economies a little more.

We have, as I mentioned, a 650-million market. We are lucky we have a young population, we have a population that is trainable, and many of us in ASEAN need infrastructure. So

sharing of resources within us will help alleviate any problems of a trade war or a protectionist policy,” Dominguez said.

He said that in the Philippines, the government is countering the adverse effects of globalization and the emerging inward-looking trade policies across the globe by investing heavily in infrastructure, education and health as such investments create jobs and disperse the benefits of growth to the countryside.

“With us, we are countering these inward-looking policies by heavily investing in infrastructure, which we are really far behind the rest of ASEAN,” he said. “It will create better jobs in the areas outside of the main business areas; it will create connectivity between the outlying farming areas to the main markets in Manila. So infrastructure is a main tool.”

“So we are moving to-

facilities.

The construction of a new world-class passenger terminal, including all related facilities, will be able to serve both domestic and international flights.

The new structure and the ongoing renovation of the existing terminal are seen to make Mactan-Cebu the world’s first resort airport.

The transportation secretary also inspected the New Panglao Airport in Bohol province which is projected to accommodate 1.9 million passengers annually and due to be completed in June 2018.

The new airport is being constructed by the Department of Transportation

through the technical and financial assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Authority (JICA).

It will replace the existing Tagbilaran Airport which is the 11th busiest airport in the country serving 871,383 passengers, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

The transportation secretary reiterated that the construction of new structures should not hinder renovations and repairs in existing airports.

“The construction of Panglao Airport should not be a reason to delay the repairs of Tagbilaran Airport,” Tugade told airport officials.

Furthermore, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago reported to Sec. Tugade the completion of the rehabilitation of the Port of Tagbilaran and the start of the construction of Passenger Terminal Building 2 in Tagbilaran, Bohol.

The DOTr is part of an inter-agency initiative called “Build, Build, Build” (BBB), which seeks to deliver big-ticket and high-impact infrastructure projects. The government will allocate PHP 8 trillion to increase infrastructure spending to 7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 5 percent within the term of President Duterte. (PNA)

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DOTr ensures no delays in infra projects implementation

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HE Department of Transportation (DOTr) vowed to ensure the timely completion of key infrastructure projects in the country in line with the vision of the Duterte administration for a ‘Golden Age of Infrastructure’ in the Philippines.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade inspected the construction of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 which is expected to be completed by middle of 2018.

The project involves the construction of a new worldclass passenger terminal building in MCIA, with a capacity of about eight million passengers per year; and the operation of the old and new

HE Department of Education (DepEd) has joined the campaign of the Department of Finance (DOF) against Mighty Corp., whose estimated tax liabilities of at least P9.5 billion could either feed 4.4 million school children or help close the perennial backlog in classrooms, teachers and learning materials in the public school system.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said last month’s criminal complaint against Mighty Corp. covered the alleged non-payment of P9.5 billion in excise taxes on cigarettes seized from one warehouse alone, and does not yet take into account the three other raided warehouses leased by the firm where the Bureau of Customs (BOC) had found 90 percent of Mighty cigarettes with fake internal revenue stamps.

In a note to Dominguez, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said that in the first complaint alone involving P9.5 billion in unpaid taxes, the government could have built 7,600 classrooms for elementary and junior high school learners or 3,800 buildings for senior high school students.

The same amount could have also helped feed 4.4 million school kids for 120 days

under the DepEd’s Schoolbased Feeding Program that aims to address undernutrition and short-term hunger among public school learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6, Briones informed Dominguez.

Briones likewise said that P9.5 billion could have also procured computer packages for 3,800 public schools or set up 3,800 science laboratories.

Moreover, P9.5 billion of Mighty’s initial tax liabilities could have also hired 34,966 public school teachers, Briones said.

Last March 22, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed a P9.6 billion criminal complaint against Mighty Corp. before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for unlawful possession of articles subject to excise tax without payment of the tax, and for possession of false, counterfeit, restored or altered stamps.

The use of fake tax stamps was uncovered during a series of surprise BOC inspections on warehouses strong cigarette brands belonging to Mighty Corp.

In a recent interview, Dominguez said the BIR had filed the “first of probably four or five” complaints for possession of fake cigarette stamps

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PH to implement JICA projects on drug rehab

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HILIPPINE officials have assured their Japanese counterparts that Malacañang is working fast to ensure the speedy implementation of Japan-funded projects in support of the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs and promotion of agribusiness investments in Mindanao.

In a recent meeting here with top officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Tokyo, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Philippine government expects to immediately begin construction of drug rehabilitation centers through a JICA grant amounting to 1.85 billion yen.

Another JICA-funded initiative—the Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST) Project in Mindanao—is now on the final stages of securing all the requirements necessary to formalize a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Finance (DOJ) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), which will implement this project.

“We are grateful that Japan is also supporting our campaign against illegal drugs by providing a JICA grant to the Department of Health for the treatment and rehabilitation of illegal drug users,” Dominguez said in the meet-

ing with JICA officials.

The JICA side was led by its president Shinichi Kitaoka and senior vice president Shinya Ejima.

“We hope to immediately implement the 1.850 Billion yen grant to construct drug rehabilitation centers,” Dominguez added.

Dominguez said the grant, equivalent to US$16 million, “is the first of its kind from Japan to the Philippines that is of a budgetary support in nature.”

The 1.85 billion yen grant forms part of the 3.8 billion yen (US$33 million) JICA grant to support the Duterte administration’s programs to win the war against illegal drugs, improve public security and its counterterrorism efforts, and forge lasting peace and development in Mindanao.

On the Mindanao-HARVEST Project, Dominguez told JICA that “we are now finalizing the LBP-DOF memorandum of agreement and we expect to secure all requirements for the MOA to take effect by middle of next month.”

Dominguez, on behalf of the Philippine government, thanked Japan for its financial assistance to these programs.

The LandBank and the Japanese government signed a loan agreement worth almost 5 billion yen to fund the five-year HARVEST project in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

ICT experts seek city’s help to produce quality workers A

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

PROPOSAL has been submitted by a group of information and communications technology (ICT) specialists to Davao City government asking for its help to address the demand for quality workers.

The Business Process Outsourcing Association of Davao, Inc. (BPO-ADI), member of ICT Davao which is composed of information

technology-business process management (IT-BPM) companies, believe the current number of BPM workers in the city will not suffice to meet the demand of the industry for the next five years.

“The problem is not finding the right talent but finding the right number of talents,” stressed Eric Manalastas, president of Next BPO Solutions, Inc. and official

representative of BPO-ADI. Belinda C. Torres, president of JoBS eSolutions, Inc. said the proposal, dubbed SWIT (Skills for Work in IT) 2017 was filed earlier this year to the LGU which calls to invest on the training of 700 to 1,000 individuals in the fields of software development, online education, call center, and animation.

According to Torres,

SWIT has already kicked off in 2014 with 680 trainees but only 300 completed the training.

“We are looking at about PhP6 million. The reason for this is for software development, it would take them (trainees) about eight months to train,” she said.

For this year, BPO-ADI

has proposed to forward the budget to the trainers instead of the trainees to assure that it will be fully-utilized since it is “very expensive to train high-level type of IT competencies”.

She added, the trainers will be coming from the industry and not from TESDA because there are certain level of competencies that cannot be learned from a TESDA

Additional rice needed for country’s buffer stock

T FOR PROTECTION. A vendor peddles hats, sunglasses and other sun protection items to beach-goers outside the Sasa Ferry Wharf in Km.11 Sasa, Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

school.

“However, the requirement will be based on TESDA requirements,” she said.

Meanwhile Manalastas, said that based on the 2022 roadmap for BPO, the demand for competitive industry service providers will double.

As of 2016, there are 35,000 BPO workers in Davao City.

HE government, through the National Food Authority (NFA), needs to secure an additional stockpile of rice in preparation for the calamity-prone lean months of July to September.

“At present, the NFA needs an additional 490,800 metric tons or 9.8 million bags of rice to meet the mandated volumes for food security.

Much as we would want this additional stock to come from local produce, we cannot compete with the private traders who are offering prices much higher than the government’s P17/kilogram support price,” NFA administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino said.

NFA’s field monitoring shows that traders are buying palay from the summer har-

vest at an average of P18-P20/ kg across the country.

The Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) has mandated the NFA, as food security watchdog of government, to maintain a rice buffer stock good to last for 15 days at any given time and for 30 days at the onset of the lean months, based on the daily consumption requirement of 32,150 MT or 643,000 bags.

Aquino stressed that at this point, the only way NFA can fill the deficit in its rice buffer stock requirement is through importation. “It’s always better safe than sorry especially when dealing with our people’s basic staple. If the government does not

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

Siargao to host international women’s surfing cup in May

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EARTHQUAKE DRILL. Employees of the local government of Kiamba town in Sarangani province participate in the 1st Quarter Earthquake Drill of 2017 as their way of showing support to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s project for disaster preparedness themed Bida ang

State U to complement DavOr’s tourism program

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HE Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology’s impending conversion into a State University will boost the province’s bid to become a premiere tourism destination in Mindanao.

Dr. Edito B. Sumile, DOSCST President said that the college envisions integrating the college as part of the province’s tourism development.

“That is why in our own little way we also preparing ourselves to complement the province’s development,” says Dr. Sumile in a media forum on Thursday, April 6 at the Provincial Capitol.

“As an academic institution we should always bring the brand name of the province,” he added, noting the State College’s noticeable changes as far as infrastructure and facility modernization is concerned, which has been drawing a lot of enrollees. From onlyabout 4,000 students in 2011, the college’s population ballooned to 9,800 in 2017, prompting the college to make way for groundbreaking improvements that will complement its bid to become a State University.

This influx of freshmen students is attributed to the affordable tuition fee and various curricular programs offered.

He revealed that they are planning to offer doctorate degree on Education and Philosophy.

This year, 3,782 students are set to receive their diploma. He said that this number of graduates of degree and non-degree programs is notably high and marks another milestone of his presidency in the college.

Aside from drawing enrollees and producing more graduates, the college’s progress has also been enticing funding institutions’ support for the college’s further development.

Dr. Sumile said that these developments were made possible through the Normative Financing Scheme of the Commission on Higher Education where the college avails higher budget in relation to the huge numbers of accomplishments under its flagship program.

This year, the college is working on a P 300 million budget which includes its internally generated income.

Currently, the college has been fast tracking the construction of a three-story administration building and a three-story library building. A three-story dormitory for its graduate program students is also being eyed to be put up within the college. In terms of facilities, the college flaunts its electronic library, among many others, where students can readily access information through the Internet.

While ‘physical appearances do matter’, Dr. Sumile said that the college is also mak-

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T least 30 professional women surfers are expected to converge in General Luna town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte capital for the International Women’s Surfing Cup slated on May 2 to 6.

Siargao Island is considered the surfing capital of the Philippines.

“We are now working on the preparations for the event. Some organizers are already here as part of the overall preparations,” said General Luna Mayor Jaime Rusillon.

A guaranteed prize of US$ 10,000 awaits the winners of the surfing cup, but Rusillon is optimistic the money for

the prizes will increase as more business groups and companies continue to signify their intention to help in the sponsorship and promotion of the event.

Aside from women surfers from the Philippines, professional players from Thailand, Japan, the United States, Australia and Taiwan have already communicated with the organizers they will participate in the event.

Rusillon said the international cup will be sanctioned by the World Surfing League and the Asian Surfing League.

The event will also serve as one of the qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Ja-

pursue relentlessly the program and its successful implementation. Under the “Aksyon Comval” mantra, the provincial government immediately responded to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call on the fight against illegal drugs.

“I have always believed that the Philippines has called us to serve and that the government is here to work for the people,” the governor said.

Comval applied a twopronged approach with the efforts of the Police Force, in cooperation with the Philippine Army, and the support of the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council down to the municipalities (MADAC) and barangays (BADAC). With this, the PADAC lead the implementation of the Oplan Liwanag with the active participation of other key stakeholders.

After the initial success of the pilot barangays, the first of which is in Banlag, Monkayo, kick-off ceremonies were held from among the different municipalities. Initially, the province has already conducted 2 culmination programs in Monkayo and Nabunturan with 140 VSRs who graduated from the program.

“With the support of the

MLGUs and BLGUs, some were employed and are now starting a new life. Indeed, we can be an instrument who could give these kind of people, a new beginning,” Gov. Uy said.

The governor also expressed his gratitude to all local and national agencies, and other stakeholders who

every day.

The number of visitors arriving at the Enchanted River per day is alarming given that the spot has only limited space and the structures built are not enough to accommodate them, she said.

Based on a study commissioned by the DOT, the carrying capacity of Enchanted River is only 147 visitors per day.

To protect Enchanted River, Camarin said the local government of Hinatuan is now working with the Regional Eco-Tourism Committee chaired by the DOT, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Economic and Development Authority, to come out with a comprehensive plan to pro-

tect and further develop the river.

Among the priorities that the committee will implement is to limit the number of daily visitors, the removal of unnecessary structures and regulations in the swimming area, Camarin said.

“We need to sit down and determine what structures are fit and necessary inside the place. This is part of our overall aim to protect the Enchanted River and at the same time make it the top destination site in Hinatuan and the province of Surigao del Sur,” sheadded.

A PHP1 million fund has been allocated for the planning and programming of the area, she said.

“The committee is expect-

ed to come up with a comprehensive development plan for the Enchanted River,” Camarin said.

Camarin also told reporters that Hinatuan town still has an unreleased fund amounting to PHP10 million for tourism development from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zones Authority (TIEZA).

She said that one key requirement for Hinatuan to access the fund is to come up with a tourism development site in the area.

She said the DOT and the Hinatuan local government unit are working to come up with tourism programs and projects to utilize the PHP10 million fund from TIEZA. (PNA)

Handa. In this activity on March 31, government employees ducked, covered, and held just like they would if a real earthquake had happened. Emergency rescuers showed proper procedures for evacuating an earthquake victim.

(Avery Rotciv Valois Camposano-JP Belmonte/KIAMBA INFORMATION OFFICE)

F SIARGAO, 10

ComVal launches ‘Oplan Liwanag’anti-drug drive “W

E strongly desire transformation in Comval…we want as much as possible to craft proactive programs that will address pressing societal issues especially the one connected with crime and illegal drugs,” Comval Gov. Tyron Uy shares this during the Oplan Liwanag launching on April 4, 2017 at the provincial capitol.

The “Oplan Liwanag: Community-based Transformative Intervention Program for Voluntary Surrenderers for Reform (VSRs)” is a 2-month program which aims to rehabilitate and reform the VSRs. Activities include lectures and workshops on spirituality, psychosocial, health awareness, marriage and family enrichment, life skills and livelihood training skills.

The governor vows to

F GOV, 10

Efforts on to protect Hinatuan’s Enchanted River

T

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) in CARAGA region is now working on a community-based tourism program for Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur to protect the town’s top tourist destination - the Enchanted River.

Mary Jean Camarin, DOT Caraga officer-in-charge, emphasized the need to institute a program for Enchanted River to save it from destruction and degradation.

“There is no planned program and structure being implemented inside the Enhanted River to ensure its sustainability. The river has gone beyond its carrying capacity,” Camarin said.

Based on their record, the Enchanted River roughly receives 687 tourist arrivals

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

BOC Northern Mindanao collects P1.266 B in taxes

T

LIBERALIZING REGIONAL TRADE. The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) led by Chairman and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (left) met recently (6 April) with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) and METI Minister Hiroshige Seko during the AEM Roadshow in Japan to discuss the initiatives of ASEAN, Philippines, and Japan to stimulate continuing globalization and freer trade by limiting protectionism.

Secretary Lopez, along with the other ASEAN Economic Ministers, also pushed for liberal regional trade through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to spur a bigger market for ASEAN companies,

while pushing for greater innovation that can reach MSMEs to make them more competitive and achieve growth that is more inclusive. During the discussion, Lopez extended President Durtete’s well wishes to PM Abe, who then replied how he enjoyed his visit to Manila and the home of President Duterte in Davao last January. The vibrant and continuing dialogue of ASEAN and the Philippines with Japan signals a good indication for the recognition for the RCEP. The ASEAN Economic Ministers will continue their discussions with Japan today (7 April) on trade and investment cooperation. (DTI Photo)

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Saturday said that the Northern Mindanao district of the Port of Cagayan De Oro has collected a total of P1.266 billion for the first quarter this year from January to March 2017.

The amount represented actual collections from duties, taxes and fees at the port. It does not include yet the value of smuggled items that were intercepted during the same period.

Also, the amount was 44 percent more than the P879.3 million goal BOC earlier set, customs officials said.

The Port of Cagayan De Oro is part of the BOC district in Northern Mindanao which has been waging a relentless anti-smuggling campaign since 2016 up to the present.

As a result, the district here is one of the 17 customs

districts nationwide that has exceeded its collection targets for the first quarter this year.

The Bureau of Customs cited the Manila International Container Port as the top revenue collector with an P11.721 billion, or 3.7 percent more than its intended target; followed by the Port of Batangas (P8.50 billion or 3.7 percent more); Port of Cebu (P1.680 billion or 4.8 percent more); Port of Davao (P1.321 billion or 24.1 percent more); Port of Clark (P131 million or 5.4 percent more); Port of San Fernando (P244 million or 30.2 percent more); Port of Legaspi (P77 million or 276.1 percent more); Port of Iloilo (P219 million or 8.7 percent more); and Port of Zamboanga (P32 million, or 128 percent more from its target during the three month period). (PNA)

Environmentalist group bats for Pinoy anglers top10th Siargao eco-friendly Holy Week break World Game Fishing Cup A

S the Holy Week is observed, an environmental group exhorted the faithful to give Mother Earth a well-deserved break from garbage and pollution.

The EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for zero waste, issued its plea for a low carbon Holy Week on the eve of Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of the week leading to Easter.

“The Holy Week provides a good occasion for Filipinos, especially the devout Catholics, to observe low-emission, climate-friendly and trash-free practices for the sake of our Mother Earth,” said Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

“We can use the holy days to perform acts that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, while conserving our diminishing natural resources,” she said.

The group echoed the words of Archbishop Socrates Villegas who recently exhorted

Filipinos “to act together to protect the planet from the impacts of climate change.”

“The right to a healthful ecology that the Constitution guarantees us all will soon become hollow words when our wells run dry, our fields become arid as wastelands, our air, heavy with lethal pollutants,” warned Villegas who is also the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“We are one with the church in calling for ecological conversion amidst the changing and warming climate, and many, we hope, will find the Holy Week an opportune time to make environmental amends,” Tolentino said.

Towards a low carbon, zero waste Holy Week, the EcoWaste Coalition reiterated the following eco-friendly reminders: 1. Abstain from, or permanently give up, acts that tend to degrade and dirty the environment such as plastic bag use,

littering, waste burning, etc.

2. Walk, bike or take the public transportation to the churches for the Visita Iglesia (church visits).

3. Use recycled materials for makeshift huts for the reading, chanting or singing of the Passion of Christ (Pabasa). If painting is desired, use leadsafe decorative paints.

4. Serve food for the penitential “Caridad” (food sharing) in reusable containers that can be washed and reused all over again.

5. Take part in making the penitential “Alay-Lakad” to Antipolo City on Maundy Thursday litter-free.

6. Pick up the trash along the route as part of the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) rites in the neighborhood.

7. Adorn floats for the Santo Entierro (Holy Interment) on Good Friday with longer-lasting mercury-free LED lamps and with locally-sourced flowers and plants.

houses and major infrastructures, including energy facilities.

Among others, Cusi suggested that a periodic check for earthquake hazards posed by appliances that could move and cause rupture of electrical or gas lines. Following a similar check should be done before using those appliances.

Cusi also said fire hazards and flammable fluids, such as kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), solvents or cleaning products should be stored properly.

In addition, Cusi reminded the public to prepare their own earthquake emergency kit at home that could include, food, water, medicine, flashlight, whistle, as well as plan to communicate with their family in times of emergency or disaster.

Meanwhile, Cusi bared that Department of Energy- Energy Policy and Planning Bureau (DOE-EPPB) is drafting a policy on resiliency planning and programs in the energy industries which include the power, upstream and downstream oil, energy resource development and renewable energy sectors, among others.

He said the energy resiliency plan aims to strengthen existing infrastructure facilities to withstand adverse weather conditions, incorporate mitigation improvements into the restoration of infrastructure damaged by adverse weather conditions so that recurrence will cause less damage; and improve operational and maintenance standards and practices to ensure expeditious resto-

DOE tells public to adopt energy disaster safeguards

D

EPARTMENT of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi reminded the public to adopt safety precautions in using energy to avert possible danger to lives and property amid a series of earthquakes that rocked Batangas, Mindoro and other adjacent areas over the week.

“We want to remind everyone to adopt appropriate safety precautions and be prudent in their energy use to ensure their family is safe when a disaster, such as an earthquake, strikes,” Cusi said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported that between 3:07 p.m. and 3:09 p.m. yesterday (April 7) successive earthquakes with a magnitude 5.6 and 6.0 respectively joltsed Mabini, Batangas affecting

F DOE, 12

8. Celebrate the Salubong at dawn on Easter Sunday without lighting firecrackers and fireworks.

9. Ensure that Easter fun games and activities are simple and not wasteful.

10. Gather old and used items in good condition and donate to “Segunda Mana,” the special donations-in-kind program of Caritas Manila.

11. Quiet down and opt for “staycation” at home for a meaningful bonding time with family members.

12. For those going for out-of-town vacation, please take the following eco-mantra to heart: “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.”

“Please do not throw or abandon your discards on the road, park, beach and churchyard. If there are no bins available, kindly bring your discards home for composting, recycling or proper disposal,” the group emphasized.

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

F

adlopez0920@gmail.com

ILIPINO anglers have proven their mastery into game fishing as they dominated most of the categories of the recently-concluded 10th Siargao World Game Fishing Tournament here that started last April 6 and officially closed on Sunday afternoon, April 9 in Pilar town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.

The event was joined by at least 60 professional anglers from around the world, to include participants from the USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, UK, Mexico, Germany and Spain.

Filipino angler Rico Gueco had the highest overall catch in the three-day tourney garnering a total of 93.20 kilos of catch.

He received the cash prize of P30,000.

Gueco’s catch included a 23.15-kilo sailfish, 17.50-kilo tuna, 6.20-kilo wahoo, 5.00kilo wahoo, 10.85-kilo tuna,

HYDROPOWER PLANT RESTORED. Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi witnessed the start of the first concrete pouring and remedial works of the spillway plunge pool area of the 435 megawatts San Roque Hydropower plant and dam. This hydropower plant rehabilitation is facilitated by construction firm

5.40-kilo Dorado and 25.10kilo sailfish.

In the main category – the Biggest Sailfish Category, it was Filipino angler Elmer Causing who won the trophy and cash prize of P60,000.

Causing’s sailfish catch reached 31.95 kilos; followed

by Ryan Damaso with 30.30 kilos; and Emil Santos with 29.40 kilos.

Rico Elimano, Causing’s boatman also received a separate prize of P30,000.

As a rule, every angler must find and contract a local fisherman from Pilar town who will serve as boatman and guide while on fishing in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.

In the Biggest Giant Trevally (Talikitok) Category, it was Filipino angler Leo Yosalina who came out victorious with his 6.20-kilo talakitok catch; followed by American angler

F PINOY, 11

D. M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI). In photo, Sec. Cusi is being briefed by San Roque Power Corporation President Kenshi Iseri, Former DTI Secretary Peter Favila and San Roque Power Plant Operation Personnel during his visit at the said hydropower plant and dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan last week. (DOE Photo)

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

EDITORIAL

I

What is Lascanas afraid of?

N legal parlance, flight is an indication of guilt.

migration officials as well as the reporter who apparently served

It may not squarely be so in the case of retired policeman as part of the entourage further deepening the highly suspicious

and President Rodrigo Duterte’s accuser Arturo Lascanas. role of this media organization from the politically-flavored dra-

In his case, he is the accuser, not the accused.

Lascanas, the Davao cop who admitted being a Davao Death

ma.

What is Lascanas afraid of in the first place if he was telling

Squad hitman, left the country for Singapore for fear of being the truth. If he is indeed telling the truth, there is nothing to fear. arrested or killed. He admitted to a reporter from a national

Leaving the country is an entirely different thing. Most espe-

newspaper that he knew he will get charged, arrested or killed cially if one’s reason is fear of arrest and prosecution. In fact,

if he stayed in the country any longer after recanting from a Lascanas is safer in the country than elsewhere. Overseas, noprevious statement before the Senate on the alleged existence body can look after him, unless his ‘handlers’ will provide him of the DDS. He also pinpointed the President as the man behind round-the-clock security.

Flight is an indication of guilt in criminal cases. In Lascanas’

the DDS.

Now, Lasacanas is gone. He popped out of the country and case, flight coupled with fear are an indication of wicked inten-

went off to Singapore but his exit was well documented by Im- tions.

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EDGEDAVAO

W

E have so much time in our hands that we often hardly notice that time has eclipsed us by.

Truth is, the issue is not how much time we have but what we are doing with the time that we now have in our hands.

Get the point?

So much of our lives is preoccupied with fancy stuff because these things are easier to secure, convenient and pleasurable. For as long as they get what they want, people just don’t bother anymore about the ethical behavior that governs the conduct of good and normal human existence.

The interest of people particularly lies in the contention that the material things we love in our earthly life, however fleeting, are available now and are considered achievable.

Riches and wealth, love, satisfaction, happiness, power and passion are usually in this order of

“L

IFE is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

– Lao Tzu *** Change.

One word but it has several meanings. It can be a verb or it can be a noun. As a verb, it is used to make the form, nature, content, future course of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone. It also means to transform or convert, to substitute another for others or exchange for something else, to give and take reciprocally, and to give or get an equivalent amount of money in lower denominations in exchange for.

As a noun, change is the act of fact of changing, a transformation or modification, a variation or deviation, the substitution of one thing for another, variety or novelty, or the passing from one place, state, form or phase to another.

The word came to mind when Miss Universe host Steve Harvey asked Maxine Medina last January during the international beauty tilt this question: “What is the most

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

What’s driving your life? human consciousness. These are etched in the menu of their minds although, arguably some may not agree to the letter.

As recently made public that only eight men out of the six billion plus population have amassed material riches comparable to half of the world’s wealth, this known fact emphasizes just exactly what really drives men to climb the Mt. Everest of their ambitions.

Why is this so?

Because most of us are content to watch the events of our lives as they pass by. Most of us are either half-interested or absent-minded, much that we allow misery and suffering to swallow us, to lull us into a cloaked confidence. Most are merely half-engaged in their fields of endeavor that they fail to notice the key points and circumstances that needed to be fulfilled. We do not fight back the evils of negativism.

And so, we fail.

significant change you’ve seen in the world in the last 10 years?”

The country’s representative replied, “In the last 10 years of being here in the world, is that I saw all the people bringing in one event like this, Miss Universe. And it’s something big to us that we are one, as one nation we are all together.”

That answer failed to impress the judges (even Filipinos who watched it in their television sets).

Medina, along with Miss Kenya and Miss Thailand, were dropped from the top three, with Miss France winning the coveted crown and Miss Haiti and Miss Colombia as first and second runner-ups, respectively.

Some think that she was under a lot of stress that she wasn’t able to take a grasp of the question being thrown at her. Others believe she could have been in winning three had she used the interpreter at her disposal.

But whatever is the reason, it never changed the fact that she made it to the top six.

Perhaps she has forgotten that during the time when President Rodrigo R. Duterte was campaigning, the mantra being used was: Change is coming!

Change is the law of life, so

SPECKS OF LIFE Fred C. Lumba Ignorance - we need to admit - oftentimes engulf the many who seem lost in the Sahara of their unconscious being. This reveals a lot about us who cannot differentiate foolishness and folly from wisdom and discernment.

Most live lives trapped in illusion and imagery. Others exist phil-

Winds of change

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

goes a saying. After all, the only permanent thing in this world is change. “Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future,” someone pointed out. “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

Former American President Barack Obama believed change will not come to us “if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

That’s what four-time Oscar

osophically.

Life is not copyrighted to be made for the movies. Life is not about capturing moments in a series of cinematographic reels.

Life is not about the ego. No selfies, please.

Life is about the supreme consciousness that molds a human being into what he/she should ideally be. It is the mantra of well-being, a noble awareness of a higher intelligence, that propels men to heights of greatness, accomplishing the purpose of their creation, to do acts of goodness and kindness to their fellowmen, to be what they ought to be.

What is most certain is that all of us will encounter storms in our lives. Everyone will experience hardships. No one can avoid – and escape from - the difficulties we humans must undergo as we pass thru every single episode of our lives. There is no exemption nor exception.

Like death and old age.

Absolutely, these twin facets of human mortality accompany us in our journey.

Reality declares that each of us has roles to play in the stage of human experience. Therefore, we need to feel reality here - now, today and every moment. We must also learn from it and form positive conclusions.

Brendon Burchard, a much-acclaimed personal development motivator and best-selling author of the “The Motivation Manifesto”, wrote: “With enlightenment comes the realization that the natural foe to life is not a distant death, but a detachment from living.”

What are we scared of, anyway?

Be reminded of the psalmist who inscribed: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

winner Katharine Hepburn thinks so, too. In her autobiography, Me: Stories of My Life, she wrote: “We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It’s never your fault. But it’s always your fault, because if you wanted to change you’re the one who has got to change.”

A few years ago, singing sensation Madonna said these words: “No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change, become a better version of yourself.”

The reason why I am quoting her statement is because of the story shared by H.K. Gee in the book, 1,000 Stories You Can Use. In the church where he worshipped, there was this lonely old man named Thomas. He had outlived all his friends and hardly anyone knew him. When Thomas died, Gee had a feeling that there would be no one to go to the funeral so he decided to go so that there was at least someone to follow the old man to his last resting place.

There was no one else and it was a wild, wet day. The funeral reached the cemetery; and at the gate thee was a soldier waiting. He

was an officer, but on his raincoat, there were rank badges. The soldier came to the graveside for the ceremony; when it was over, he stepped forward and before the open grave swept his hand to a salute that might have been given to a king.

Gee walked away with this soldier, and as they walked, the wind blew the soldier’s raincoat open to reveal the shoulder badges of a brigadier.

“You will perhaps be wondering what I am doing here,” the brigadier told Gee. “Years ago, Thomas was my Sunday School teacher; I was a wild lad and a sore trial to him. He never knew what he did for me, but I owe everything I am or will be to old Thomas, and today I had to come to salute him at the end.”

Thomas completely changed the brigadier without the old man knowing it.

To end this piece, allow me to quote the worlds of Andy Warhol: “When people are ready to, they change. They never do it before then, and sometimes they die before they get around to it. You can’t make them change if they don’t want to, just like when they do want to, you can’t stop them” (Andy Warhol in His Own Words).

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

PH... FROM 1

DEVOUT. Roman Catholic faithful in Sasa, Davao City troop to Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church to celebrate Palm Sunday. Lean Daval Jr

NO... FROM 1

the importation of rice as harvest is ongoing in the country.

“Valdez approved the rice importation,” the President said.

He emphasized that the government must prioritize buying rice from the farmers, not from other countries.

“Why import rice? It will kill our farmers. We will not compete with our rice farmers,” the President pointed out.

In his speech on Monday,

President Duterte called on the NFA to start buying rice from the farmers.

“If the allocations are available, the National Food Authority may start buying the produce of rice farmers in the country as harvest season is already ongoing,” he said.

He added that he personally visited farmers in parts of Luzon last week and was informed of the ongoing rice harvests in the area.

no match to the AFP due to its ability to adopt new tactics and maneuvers to defeat them.

“We have actually perfected the art of combined and joint operations. We saw the interplay among major services, and the interplay of each ground troops to deliver in different lines of operation, the maneuvers, the fire support and the combat leadership,” he added.

Also on April 6, Año along with senior AFP commanders visited the officers and enlisted in Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista in Sulu.

He also awarded new Glock pistols to the officers who led the successful oper-

ations against the ASG that resulted to the recovery of 77 high-powered firearms -- the biggest haul so far in the period of less than two months.

Año lauded the troops of the JTF-Sulu for their sacrifices and hard work in implementing his six-month campaign against the terrorist group. “(In the past three months) the AFP leadership did not hear a single complain; everyone did his and her best in the job. We are very proud of all the soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines who continue to perform their tasks in line with our thrust against the Abu Sayyaf and other local terrorist groups,” he added. (PNA)

pan in 2020, he added.

“We will work hard to bring the first Olympic gold for the Philippines through surfing,” the mayor pointed out.

He said Siargao Island has the “best surfing players in the country, both men and women.”

The international surfing cup for men is slated in Sep-

tember this year and will also serve as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics, he added.

Aside from the local government of General Luna, the upcoming event in May is also supported by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte, 1st District Rep. Bingo Matugas and the Department of Tourism in Caraga region.

(PNA)

supported the program but admitted that there’s more to be done. “We are really in need of help in terms of food and medicine provision, opportunities and trainings for our VSRs and logistical support as this would never be an

easy 2-month program.”

“It’s our call to provide a future for our people, we don’t have time to procrastinate, the time to win the war against illegal drugs is now!, Gov. Uy ended. (Fe F. Maestre/ IDS Comval)

AFP... FROM 2

Siargao... FROM 6

Gov... FROM 6

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

3 killed... FROM 2 were taken to the Westmincom’s Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city while the other three were brought to a hospital in Basilan province.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, said there has been a clamor from the local government of Sumisip to establish a detachment in Cabcaban due to security threats from the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

As of posting time, he said

the firefight was still raging in the town of Sumisip between soldiers and the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

The military will continue to secure the area and work with the local chief executives to contain the Abu Sayyaf bandits, Galvez said.

“This incident will not stop us from doing our mandate.

We will free the community from the terror these bandits are causing,” he added. (PNA)

swiped by the speeding delivery truck owned by “El Raro Trucking” driven by Freddie Talisayan, 31. The other victims were on board a “Motorela” (public utility motorcycle with sidecar) and another motorcycle.

Viñas did not immediately identify the injured, although he hinted that some of them were only slightly wounded.

During the initial investigation, Talisayan told the police that he did not know what happened because he was dead drunk after downing several bottles of liquor with his co-workers in a motor pool compound in Baloy, where several delivery and cargo

trucks were parked.

“We were running at 100 kilometers per hour. My younger brother did not care although I warned him that several motorcycles had already been sideswiped while the police were already on our tail,” said Felix Talisayan, the truck helper.

Felix said that the vehicle stopped only when it rammed at a concrete aisle of an ongoing road upgrading project along the highway heading toward the city’s downtown.

Viñas said the brothers will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and multiple injuries and damage to properties. (PNA)

ing holistic improvements for the college, including capacity building for its instructors and professors as it aims to be at par with other colleges and universities in the country and even other neighboring Asian countries. Sumile said that there are more than a hundred teaching staff who were sent for a doctorate and master’s degree scholarship under the K+12 transition fund.

Dr. Sumile underscored the “huge help of the Provincial Government who has been a vital partner in achieving all these accomplishments” in pursuant to the college’s aim to contribute to the development in the lives of the people in Davao Oriental and beyond.

“It is always our aspiration to level up, to convert the

college into something that is worth for the generation to cherish, to be of help to the tourism sector which is one of the sources of the province’s revenue,” he said.

The House Bill 4218 which bears the proposed conversion of the State College into Davao Oriental State University is currently deliberated at the House of Representatives. Sumilesaid he is positive that the bill will be passed into a law within this year as DOSCT’s academic programs are accredited into Level III. He added that the college is now on its way to level IV accreditation since it has gained the approval of the CHED on October at the Regional level and will soon get the approval at the National Level. (Riza M. Golez/PIO DavOr)

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wherein they will evaluate the outsourcing companies worldwide and Philippines in terms of voice remains number one, in terms of outsourcing destination, Manila is number 2, I think, number 8 or 7 ang Cebu, and Davao is number 66,” she said.

In the country, BPO industry consists of 80 percent voice and 20 percent nonvoice.

Eric Manalastas, president of Next BPO Solutions, Inc. said in terms of first touch customer support, foreign clients “would rather want to talk to the Philippines”.

“They (India) used to be number one because of the volume that they have but at the moment, when somebody talks from the US or Europe, to pick up the phone and dial customer support, that would probably be routed in the Philippines,” he said.

Manalastas added, aside from India, Philippines has also surpassed other countries with BPO industries Russia, Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, and some in Latin America.

Davao City as center of excellence As Davao lands on the 66th spot of Tholons’ “Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations”, Torres said it means the city is now doing very well considering it stands third in the list after Manila and Cebu.

“We’re now a ‘center of excellence’. We’re no longer the ‘next wave city’ but we’re now a center of excellence,”

she said.

In 2016, the Information-Communication Technology-Davao, a nongovernment organization turned over to the city government the Center for Excellence Award for Information Technology-Business Process Management operations.

The city now stands as excellence hub for information technology and business process outsourcing alongside Manila, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, and Bacolod.

Prior to the excellence award, Davao was named one of the “Next Wave Cities” which were assessed based on big talent pool, presence of infrastructures, good business environment, and cost competitiveness.

According to Torres, with the city being declared as a center of excellence, ICT companies now enjoy the benefits offered by Bureau of Investments (BOI) and the city investment office in terms of tax incentives and PEZA accreditation.

Despite these developments, both Manalastas and Torres believe Davao City’s BPO industry must gear up towards responding to the demands of competent workers in the near future.

“Based on the BPO Roadmap 2022, the projection on the demand for talents will double,” she said.

As of 2016, there are 35,000 BPO workers in Davao City.

her hourly rate on said day.

Computation: [Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked].

For the special (non-working) day on 15 April 2017: If the employee did not work, the “no-work, no-pay” principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day; For work done during the special (non-working) day, he/ she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Computation: [(Daily Rate x 130%) + COLA]; For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/ her hourly rate on said day.

Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage X 130% x 130% x number of hours worked); For work done during a special day that also falls his/ her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 50 percent of his/her daily rate on the first eight hours of work. Computation: [(Daily Rate x 150%) + COLA]; and For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a special day that also falls on his/her rest day, he/ she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the his/her hourly rate on said day. Computation: (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 150% x 130% x number of hours worked).

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Proclamation No. 50 declared the said holidays on August 16, 2016.

(PNA)

and other conflict-affected areas in the southern Philippines during the official visit of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Philippines last January.

The 4.93 billion yen loan deal for the HARVEST project was signed by LandBank president and CEO Alex Buenaventura and JICA chief representative to the Philippines Susumu Ito. This JICA loan will mature in 25 years, inclusive of a seven-year grace period with an interest rate of 1.4 percent.

On top of the proposed loan, JICA intends to provide a technical grant of about $6 million (about P290 million) to support the capacity building of eligible beneficiaries of HARVEST and LandBank’s management of the project.

HARVEST, which will be implemented by the LandBank from 2017 to 2022, aims to open a lending window for agribusiness ventures and other related investments in ARMM and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

(PR)

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PUSAN POINT

Where the sun rises first in the Philippines

I’VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS PLACE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. People who ask me if I’ve been here already are utterly surprised that I haven’t yet.

I know, I surf too much. Now that I’ve got the opportunity to go, I was so excited! I didn’t know what to expect.

I intentionally did not google anything about Pusan Point because I wanted to have a pair of fresh unexpecting eyes when I arrive.

Being the most easternmost land point in the Philippines, you’ll be the first to see the sun rise here. It’s not official but they say the sun rises around 3 minutes earlier here than other areas in the Philippines. Of course, the exact number of minutes would depend on where you are in the country.

On our second day during the Visit Davao Fun Sale Davao Oriental Tour, we packed up and said goodbye to Dahican Beach and traveled for a little over an hour and a half up north from Mati City.

Passing by the provinces of Tarragona and

“

Being the most easternmost land point in the Philippines, you’ll be the first to see the sun rise here.

Manay, we turned right just before Kuta Bridge in Brgy. Santiago in the municipality of Caraga, 82 kilometers away from Mati City.

It was quite a steep uphill drive passing through a barangay and finally reaching Pusan Point.

The familiar fuschia and white theme welcomed me and I immediately noticed we were actually on a cliff overlooking the sea!

My favorite display inside the Science Discovery Center in Pusan Point! There are other interactive displays that are With safety as the utmost precaution, if you’re wearing shoes and can brave the aren’t only Instagrammable but are also informative and jagged limestone rocks, you can see a little bit more of the ocean at the viewing deck at Pusan Point. Photo by Elli Pangue fun. More of these in my blog!

Running towards the 40-foot high rock formations that the Pacific Ocean waves were pounding on, I was ecstatic! This was amazing!

I never imagined that I’d see something like this in the Davao region.

The last time I saw rock formations like this was in Laswitan in Cortes, Surigao del Sur way back in April 2015. Though in Laswitan, you couldn’t really climb up to the top of the rock formations because it was too dangerous.

In Pusan Point however, there is a viewing deck right beside the concrete Jubillee Cross which was built to add to the park’s attractions.

Aside from the modernlooking white lighthouse that greets you as you enter the park’s premise, there’s also another lighthouse inside which was built way back in the early 1900s.

I found myself staring at the older lighthouse and wondered if it could speak, what stories would it tell? I imagined crazy

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storms and capsized boats or ships that have hoped to live another day at sea.

Or maybe the strongest waves that have ever existed around in the Pacific Ocean?

Maybe on my next visit, I could ask the locals around here in Brgy.

Santiago for stories about Pusan Point. Aside from the two lighthouses here, there are meditation kiosks are also strategically built around the area as well as an amphitheater that can seat 100 people.

Other facilities here include a 200-square-meter swimming pool, a sundial and a two-story building that holds the Science Discovery Center featuring

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

a planetarium and other science-themed interactive sections.

I went crazy with the Science Discovery Center!

I loved that this was intentionally made to educate tourists about the natural world. Every inch of the displays inside the center was thoughtfully curated.

Aside from having the breaktaking Pusan Point, Caraga, is also home to pristine beaches and waterfalls, as well as one of Mindanao’s oldest churches, the San Salvador del Mundo parish church at the town center, which was built by the Spaniards during the late 19th century.

Read more at www.millennialmermaid.com The mandatory group photo with the Visit Davao Fun Sale team, Davao Oriental LGU, travel bloggers and local media.

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Options for the ones who can’t fly THE LONG HOLY WEEK HOLIDAYS are just around the corner and for many Filipinos it means time to take a break and travel. But for many Filipinos who were not able to plan way ahead to book their tips like me though, there is no need to despair as there are many options within Durianburg to choose from.

SEASIDE BLISS Families looking into having a splendid respite amidst a tropical city oasis may take advantage of the Waterfront Insular Hotel’s discounted room rates for stays from April 1 to 15, 2017. Rates start as low as Php3,400 and include buffet breakfast, use of hotel facilities and free mall transfers. In the same duration, the hotel promotes its Easter chocolate confections where part of the proceeds from every Easter Chocolate Egg purchased will be

given to the House of Hope Foundation.

URBAN RETREAT For those who want to spend time in urban so-

Cozy urban bliss at Seda Abreeza. phistication, Seda Abreeza offers rooms starting from Php5,300 nett for an overnight stay from April 9 to 16. The room package includes buffet breakfast for two, Php 500 worth of F&B credits, complimentary WiFi for your Netflix binge watching, plus pool and gym access.

CITY OASIS Families who want to be just within the city but away from the hustle and bustle, then a stay at the Marco Polo Davao is perfect for the long break. The 5-star hotel The Waterfront Insular Hotel’s iconic pool is a welcome summer respite. at the heart of Durianburg is offering rooms at Php 4,000 that comes with breakfast for two, hi-speed Wifi, as well as pool and gym access.

Kids will also get a free special amenity to celebrate Easter.

Those who need to relax and unwind can take a break at the Marco Polo Hotel’s Lazuli Spa where one can experience some the best relaxing treatments and pampering Durianburg can give.

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COOL RUNNINGS If the city or beach side is too hot to handle, then maybe a mountain escape may be more to your liking if Eden Nature Park and Resort offering a various mountain cottages and rooms surrounded by a forest of pine trees. One can also take some time out while taking a stroll along Eden’s mountain trails, parks, and fields.

Kids and the kids at heart might also want to join the resort’s Easter Sunday Easter Trolls Egg hunt on April 16 at the Poolside.

Registration

Lost on one of Eden’s cool mountain trails. and face painting will start at 12 noon. Tickets are priced at Php 300 per child inclusive of plated snacks, and free use of the swimming pool. The guardian may avail of the Regular Day Tour Package.

So clearly, there are still options for fun during the long break, even when one was left without a plane ticket to fly.

Rejuvinate at the Marco Polo Davao’s Lazuli Spa.

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and untaxed cigarettes against Mighty, as it is easier to prove in court than tax evasion.

“We filed only a case in one warehouse, and [Mighty] owes us P9 billion. We haven’t filed the cases in the other three warehouses yet. Every warehouse we raid, 90 percent of the stamps is unpaid,” Dominguez said.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) also backed the DOF’s campaign to expose, and run after, tax cheats in the cigarette industry, in which just an additional P1 billion in unpaid taxes could have been spent to procure medicines and pay for the medical treatment of some 5.7 million indigent Filipinos afflicted with hypertension and diabetes.

According to DOH Secretary Paulynn Ubial, the Department’s initial calculations show that P1 billion can be used to pay for daily maintenance medicines, laboratory work and medical care for deadly diseases caused by tobacco use. With an augmentation of a mere P1 billion to the DOH program, the Department would be able to treat 3,975,421 patients with hypertension, and 1,705,030 with diabetes, Ubial has said.

Describing Mighty’s tax liability as a “double whammy,” Ubial said that “although the cigarette company had already earned staggering amounts

of money over the past few years by distributing products that support unhealthy habits, Mighty Corporation has also hurt the Filipino people by failing to pay the legally prescribed taxes that are meant to support efforts to promote the health of the least privileged in society.”

Dominguez has welcomed the DOH’s expression of support, and assured Ubial that Mighty Corp. would get no special treatment from the DOF, BOC or BIR. “The rule of law must be applied equally. All kinds of crime must face swift and sure justice, and Mighty Corp. is no exception. These fraudulent tax stamps represent billions of pesos worth of theft from the Filipino people,” Dominguez has said.

“The current sin tax law was passed to help devote more resources to health care.

It is alleged that Mighty has evaded P9 billion worth of taxes, if not more. Imagine how many hospitals, how many surgeries, how many vaccines, how many prescriptions could have been administered with that money and how many lives could have been saved,” Dominguez said.

“Rest assured, we are pursuing this case in consideration of the magnitude of what has been deprived from the Filipino people,” he added. (PR)

possess the right volume of stocks when the lean months come, who would provide for the needs of calamity victims? Surely not the private businessmen who will never transact business at a loss,” he explained.

Initially, the NFA is seeking approval from the NFA Council for the immediate

government-to-government importation of the balance of 250,000 metric tons out of the 500,000 MT rice imports approved for 2016. Ideally, the whole volume should arrive in the country within April to allow the NFA to preposition the stocks, especially in calamity-prone areas across the country. (PNA)

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ABC MEETING. Sarangani province Vice Governor Elmer T. De Peralta gathers municipal ABC presidents with the presence of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon and the chief of staff of Congressman Ruel Pacquiao, Atty. Ryan Ramos,

NEWS11

to discuss the ongoing projects and programs of the Vice Governor’s Office VGO) for the seven municipalities on March 30. (Quenny D. Dandan /VICE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)

UNIQLO continues to expand in the Philippines with new stores set to open in Mindanao from May

J

APANESE global apparel retail brand, UNIQLO, announced it will open new stores in Mindanao beginning May. The first round of store openings will add over 3,000sqm of new shopping space in three locations, bringing the UNIQLO LifeWear shopping experience to Davaeonos and Kagay-anons.

Following a period of sustained success since first commencing operations in the Philippines in 2012, this milestone marks the growing commitment and strengthening position for UNIQLO across the country.

“We at UNIQLO are thrilled to open our first

three stores in Mindanao at SM Lanang Premier, SM City Davao and SM Cagayan de Oro Downtown Premier,” said Katsumi Kubota, Chief Operating Officer, UNIQLO Philippines.

“We are committed to growing our business in Mindanao, and look forward to delighting our customers in this region for years to come. We aim to make the lives of Filipinos better through our innovative and high-quality UNIQLO LifeWear pieces.”

The first new store will open in SM Lanang Premier, Davao City on May 26. The store will be situated in the fashion zone on the upper ground floor and boasts a strategic location very near

the main mall entrance, positioned right in front of the main drop-off point.

This will be followed by the opening of the second store on June 2, in SM City Davao. The store will be located on the first floor of the Annex building where the world’s premier global brands are situated, right beside the mall entrance. In addition to these two stores, UNIQLO will also open its doors to customers in Cagayan de Oro by the end of June.

The stores in Mindanao will all showcase a full and colourful line-up of UNIQLO LifeWear: innovative, high-quality clothing that is universal in design and com-

fort and made for everyone, everywhere. The stores will carry ranges for men, women, kids and babies, with product offerings that include UNIQLO shirts, pants, jeans, denims, dresses and UNIQLO Sport items. Also available will be the full range of world-renowned UNIQLO proprietary technology clothing lines, such as AIRism and HEATTECH. For more updates, customers can visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ uniqlophofficial).

wards that, we are moving towards investments in our people, in education. We are moving towards investment in health to make sure that our populations feel the benefits of the growth through globalization,” he added.

The Philippines’ Department of Education, Dominguez said, is also moving towards training students and graduates to be “more adaptive” to enable them to cope with disruptive technologies that would require them to learn something new every five years or so.

“Our education minister just told me that they are moving towards training people to be more adaptive because she says whoever graduates from college now, in probably five years he will have to learn something new. So it’s preparing our people to be more adaptive,” Dominguez said.

“If there’s going to be inward-looking policies, we have to change ourselves. Again, it’s retooling our young staff for the change, and preparing ourselves for the new jobs in the future,” he added.

In the open forum held fol-

lowing the AFMIS plenary session, Dominguez also said that: • the Philippines is open to investments in anti-pollution and climate-resilient technologies. “We are very open to investments, especially in technologies that reduce pollution.”

• the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are currently implementing measures to improve the financial literacy of Filipinos so that the 80 percent of the country’s population that are currently “unbanked” can be encouraged to access, and take advantage

of, the services offered by the banking and insurance sectors.

“Over 80 percent of our people are unbanked, and our central bank as well as the DOF are working very hard to increase the percentage of our population that are in the formal sector,” he said. “And we are not only talking of banking but insurance as well. There are many methods we are doing that, particularly increasing the number of branches we have, making sure that people have access to microcredit and certainly moving towards even microinsurance.” (PR)

Noli Manas with 5.55 kilos; and Dave Karl Kintanar of the Philippines with 4.20 kilos.

Yosalina received P40,000 prize while his boatman, Juan Bosito, received P20,000.

In the Biggest Giant Tanguige Category, it was Filipino angler Marfin Tan who was declared winner with his 12.95kilo catch; followed by Jovy Ancheta, also of the Philippines with 9.50 kilos; and Carlos Kintanar with 8.30 kilos.

Tan received P40,000

prize while his boatman, Lanie Blacanda received P20,000.

In the Biggest Dorado Category, Marfin Tan was again declared winner with 12.30kilo catch; followed by Richard Sharpe of Canada with 5.65kilo catch; and Rico Gueco with 5.40 catch.

Tan’s boatman, Blacanda, again received a separate P20,000 prize for the category.

In the last category dubbed as “Biggest Others” that exclude shark, stingray,

popper fish, dolphin, lumba and turtles, Jeaza Gonzales from the Philippines came out as winner with 17.90-kilo catch; followed by Rico Gueco with 17.50 catch; and Mico Kawai of the Philippines with 15.30-kilo catch.

Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas extended her congratulations to the winners of this year’s event.

She also commended the local government of Pilar and the organizers for the success-

ful conduct of the international event this year.

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Pilar LGU are headed by Mayor Maria Liza G. Resurreccion and Vice Mayor Luis T. Gonzales who also served as the tournament director.

Matugas also expressed gratitude to the anglers from other countries for their participation and encouraged them to come back next year for another round of international game fishing.

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Whole-of-government approach needed in mental health: WHO

T

he World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday cited the need to take on a whole-of-government approach in tackling mental health.

In his opening speech during the celebration of World Health Day at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, the organization’s regional director Dr. Shin Young-soo called on the government to strengthen its health services for people with mental illnesses.

Shin stressed that mental health is not strictly a health issue but is also a societal issue. ”We encourage the adoption of what we call a whole-of-government approach. This is because properly addressing depression and the hurtful stigma associated with it requires all sectors of government and all of society involved,” he added.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Ubial, in a press conference after the event, said a total of PHP1 billion has been allocated for upgrading and developing 12 mental health centers across the country. ”For so long, these facilities have not been improved and only this year have we allocated PHP1 billion to actually improve these facilities,” Ubial said.

She said the DOH is already gearing more toward depression prevention rather than treatment, as it tries to scale up its “preventive-promotive strategies” for mental health. ”We’re trying to address the issues of mental health and depression by actually moving into the prevention rather than the treatment because we know that prevention is better than cure. It is more cost-effective,” Ubial

said.

The health chief highlighted inter-agency efforts on preventive-promotive mental health programs, such as teaming up with the Department of Education to incorporate emotional resiliency in the curriculum on life skills, as well as implementing workplace-based interventions together with the Department of Labor and Employment.

Furthermore, the health department also has a community-based mental health program that capacitates front-line health workers to detect possible mental issues among the population and provide mental health first aid.

“These are the things that we are doing, and we are improving also in terms of health promotion. (We are) trying to remove the stigma of mental illness so that people will come out and access services,” she added. (PNA)

ration of energy supply after adverse weather conditions.

While the earthquake caused power interruptions, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) reported it fully restored at 3:45 p.m. yesterday (8 April 2017) all transmission facilities in areas affected by the tripping of gen-

eration plants due to the earthquakes that occurred at 3:08 p.m. of the same day.

According to the NGCP’s report, the Batangas-San Lorenzo Lines 1-2 were affected with an initial report on a toppled tower; and the switchyard at the San Gabriel Natural Gas Power Plant was also damaged

due to the earthquake.

The report also stated a generation loss of 2,584 megawatts, which affected the power supply and services of various provinces in Luzon, including Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. (PR)

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

Accounting Clerks (2) 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

13 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

Fish swimming into oblivion Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

U

NLESS Filipinos help protect and manage their coastal ecosystem, the country may don’t have fish to feed its growing population. Already, the resources that provide the “poor man’s source of protein” are already strained to the limits.

“Like the other vital resources such as forests, Philippine fisheries are about to collapse – a victim of the almost unabated plunder of the commons,” deplores Roy C. Alimoane, the director of the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC).

As defined, the “commons” encompasses unoccupied land and all waters which are considered God-given set of resources for all people to consume as much as needed. In Genesis 1:29, God said: “They will be yours for food.”

But what God had given appear to have been abused to the point of exhaustion. Despite the country’s vast marine resources – 220 million hectares of coastal and oceanic territorial water area – the Philippines is now a shortfall in fish supply.

Fish is a staple food of Filipinos. “Fish and seafood represent an important source of protein for the average Filipino, at around 41%of animal protein intake,” reports the Kuala Lumpur-based World Fish Center.

In 2008, the Philippines ranked sixth in global fish and aquaculture production. Twenty-three years earlier, in 1985, the country was listed number four.

Next to China, the Philippines was the second largest seaweed producer in the world.

Five years later, the country ranked seventh worldwide in terms of fish production, according to Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

In 2014, it produced 4.69 million metric tons of fish valued at P237.71 billion.

“These figures suggest we are rich in fisheries and coastal resources as a nation,” said Senator Loren Legarda in a speech.

Fish shortage During his time, French novelist Jules Verne (the man behind “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”) suggested that when the world reached the limits of food production on the land, man could turn to the oceans. That was what most countries had been doing over the past several decades.

“Between 1950 and 1989,

Fishing near mangroves

the fish catch expanded more than four-fold, climbing from 22 million tons to 100 million tons,” Lester R. Brown reported in his feature, “Facing Food Scarcity.”

“During the six years since then, the catch has leveled off. Contrary to the prognosis of Jules Verne, we reached the limits of the oceans first.”

This is true particularly in the Philippines, a country with more than 7,000 islands. “A major fishing ground, Lingayen Gulf,

Harvests getting smaller

Tuna

Tuna harvesting reached its maximum sustainable yield more than 20 years ago,” claims a report released by UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “The fishery now has four times the optimum effort for the available fish stocks. Catch rates in the gulf are only one-fifth of what they were 15 years ago, compelling fishers to invest more time and money in dwindling catches.”

In some areas, not only has the volume of catch been reduced, but also quality. The FAO report cites Central Visayas as a case in point. “There has been an overall shift in catch composition, away from coastal pelagic to oceanic pelagic species and away from demersal to pelagic species,” it says.

In the Davao Gulf, the volume and quality of the fish have been found to be in constant decline since 2000, according to a decade-study conducted by the World Fish Center. The study looked at the volume and quality of the harvests of 10 commonly fished species in the gulf: “matambaka,” “tamban,” “moro-moro,” “caraballas,” “bilong-bilong,” lapu-lapu, “danggit,” “molmol,” “talakitok” and “maya-maya.”

Except for “maya-maya,” the harvest numbers for the species

have been falling. At the current rate of decline, the “caraballas,” “bilong-bilong,” “molmol” and “danggit” may all disappear completely from Davao Gulf within a decade.

Fishery experts claim that all fishing activities depend on a fragile resource base which, if mismanaged and overexploited, can easily collapse.

“The past three decades have seen the rapid decline of the Philippine coastal ecosystems,” Legarda admitted. Coastal ecosystems refer to mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs.

“Coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves are among the world’s most important and most endangered ecosystems,” writes Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, a marine scientist and the first Filipino to receive the prestigious International Biwako Prize for Ecology.

“They are also the major life-support and protective ecosystems of the coastal zone.”

Coral reefs Coral reefs are the marine equivalent of rainforests. “Our coral reefs, together with those of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, contain the highest number of species of plants and animals,” says Dr. Helen T. Yap, also a ma-

rine scientist whose expertise is the ecology of coral reefs. “They lie at the center of biodiversity in our planet.”

The Philippines has 27,000 square kilometers of coral reef area within a 15- to 30-meter depth, one of the largest reef areas in the world. Almost 55% of the fish consumed by Filipinos depend on coral reefs; 10%-15% of the total marine fisheries production comes from coral reefs.

“One of the greatest natural treasures, they are habitats for rare species, including some 488 species of corals, 971 species of benthic algae, and 2,000 species of fish,” Dr. Fortes says. “A single reef may contain 3,000 species of corals, fish and shellfish.”

In the Philippines, coral reefs are already endangered. “Our coral reefs are highly stressed,” Dr. Yap observes, “but I would not say yet they are about to go extinct.” Speaking like a true marine scientist, she adds, “Much can still be done to save them.”

“Reefs are tough,” says Dr. Clive Wilkinson, a biologist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. “You can hammer them with cyclones, and they’ll bounce right back. What they can’t bounce back from is chronic, constant stress.”

The kind of stress, in other words, that is being applied by humans. Dr. Yap agrees. “A very widespread and notorious problem is fishing with the use of explosives and cyanide,” she says.

“Dynamite shatters everything on the reef surface. The trauma of the impact is such that corals and other organisms never recover.”

Unfortunately, dynamite fishing is still rampant. “Almost every coastal area in the Philippines has that problem,” Dr. Yap says.

Cyanide fishing also contributes to the obliteration of coral reefs. Each year, an estimated 330,000 pounds of cyanide is reportedly sprayed on Philippine coral reefs. “Cyanide is a metabolic poison,” Dr. Yap explains. “It dissolves in water, and squirted directly onto corals by fishermen who free-dive underwater. The cyanide is meant to stun the fish hiding among the coral colonies so they can be collected easily.

But since corals are living creatures, they die quickly from the cyanide. So do all plants and animals within effective reach of the poison.”

However, Dr. Yap believes that the most single cause of reef degradation is still sedimentation, resulting from deforestation, destructive agriculture and mining, among others. “I would highlight deforestation more,” says the scientist who was named one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) in 1998.

The disappearance of the coral reefs does not only destroy the habitats of fishes and other marine creatures but jeopardizes the discovery of future medicines.

“Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines being developed to treat cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, heart disease, viruses, and other diseases,” says the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Some coral reef organisms produce powerful chemicals to fend off attackers, and scientists continue to research the medicinal potential of these substances.”

Some of them have already been unearthed. “Didemnin, derived from sea squirts, is active against a broad range of viruses which cause colds, herpes, or meningitis; coral reefs have also yielded potential anti-cancer drugs,” Dr. Fortes reports.

Mangroves Mangroves – communities of trees in the tidal flats in coastal waters, extending inland along rivers where the water is tidal, saline or brackish – are not spared from denudation. According to Legarda, 70% of the country’s mangroves are already destroyed.

“All over the country, whatever coastal province you visit, you

see the same plight – desolate stretches of shoreline completely stripped of mangrove cover and now totally exposed to the pounding of the ocean’s waves,” an environmentalist observes.

According to Dr. Fortes, there are 25-30 species of true mangrove trees and an equal number of associated species. “In 1918, the country’s mangrove forests were estimated to cover 5,000 square kilometers,” he writes.

“By 1970, they had dwindled to 2,880 square kilometers and to 2,420 square kilometers a decade later.”

By 2012, only 117,000 hectares remained, the BFAR reports. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) says that most of the remaining vegetated mangrove areas in the country today are second growth, containing other than the original species.

The most rapid decrease of mangroves happened during the 1960s and 1970s when government policies encouraged the expansion of aquaculture in various parts of the country. The expansion occurred largely during a period when real prices for fish and shrimp were steadily increasing.

Mangroves are very important to marine life. They are home to 68 species of fish (including bangus, kitan, tilapia, eel, and mullet, to name a few), 54 species of crustaceans (shrimps, prawns, and crabs), and 56 species of gastropods.

“Fish use the spaces under the mass of prop roots of mangrove trees as ‘delivery rooms,’ and the offspring of many marine species spend their growing period in the mangrove swamps before moving on to the open said,” says Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, former director of the Philippine Council for Marine and Aquatic Resources Research and Development.

Seagrasses With the rampant mangrove denudation and coral reef destruction, seagrass beds – those discrete communities dominated by flowering plants with roots and underground stems – have become the “last frontier” of the country’s coastal resources.

“The whole central portion from low tide to the reef is inhabited by seagrass,” says Dr. Anitra Thorhaug, an American biologist who pioneered efforts in restoring seagrass habitats in the Philippines. “Yet corals and mangroves have reserved areas, seagrasses none.”

In Southeast Asia, most coral reefs are associated with seagrasses, according to Dr. Fortes.

“These two ecosystems could potentially supply more than one-fifth of the fish catch in the region,” he writes. “A total of 1,384 individuals and 55 species

F ENVIRONMENT, 14

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

What to do when driving during an earthquake

A

S emphasized by the tremors that shook Batangas just a few days ago and felt in Metro Manila, earthquakes can strike anytime. And since there have been warning that the Philippines, particularly those in the capital, should brace for the “big one” what should you do when an earthquake strikes? Sure, earthquake drills—drop, cover, and hold on—have been repeated time and time again, but what if you find yourself on the road?

Some day that driving during an earthquake is like driving with four flat tires. So keep these tips in mind to keep you and your passengers safe.

• Don’t panic and slow down gradually, as sudden braking may

catch other drivers by surprise and cause an accident.

• Find a place to stop, preferably away from traffic and away from tall structures such as buildings, bridges, overpasses, underpasses, utility posts, and trees.

• Once you found a clear and safe place to park, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelts on. If you have to park your vehicle in a potentially dangerous environment, make sure you leave the area and search for a safer place to wait.

• While almost everyone relies on the internet and social network sites for news nowadays, these services may get disrupted.

Turn on the radio and listen for updates. Regular radio programming will most likely switch to emergency broadcast so listen for any instruction the government may have.

• Stay off the phone (as not to congest the mobile network), unless you must report injuries, casualties, or impassable roads in your area.

• Drive only when the authorities have declared it safe to do so.

• If it cannot be helped, drive with caution.

Avoid bridges or overpasses or ramps that might have been damaged by the quake.

Look for cracks, breaks, or obstructions on the roads or surrounding struc-

tures as you drive.

• Do not drive over a fallen electrical line.

• Don’t forget about aftershocks.

• Always have an emergency kit in your car.

Items you can put in there include: first aid kit including prescription medicine you may be taking, blanket, flashlight, handheld radio, spare batteries, dry food such as biscuits and crackers, and bottles of water. A fire extinguisher is also a good thing to have handy.

• Finally, remember that your safety and that of your passengers take priority over your vehicle. Never insist on staying inside your vehicle when it’s clearly unsafe to do so.

Ford PH records sales jump in March F

ORD Philippines today it delivered an all-time record monthly performance in March with retail sales jumping 37 percent yearover-year to 3,754 units, led by Ford’s Big Three nameplates: Ranger, Everest, and EcoSport. Demand is also strong across its lineup of vehicles.

“We got things back on track in March and were able to process a record number of customer orders, particularly for our

three best-sellers,” said Lance Mosley, managing director, Ford Philippines.

“Healthy demand for our North-American import models, the Explorer, Expedition, and Mustang also contributed to the record month.”

The Everest led the charge in March, achieving a record monthly total for any Ford nameplate in the Philippines with retail sales increasing 28 percent year-over-year to 1,471 vehicles.

Meanwhile, the EcoSport continued its streak in March as one of Ford’s top-selling vehicles in the Philippines with retail sales rising 60 percent from last year to 1,070 vehicles. This helped drive its year-to-date sales up 35 percent to 2,467 vehicles.

The segment-defining Ranger achieved March sales that rose 50 percent year-over-year to 1,042 vehicles.

Year-to-date sales of the Ranger, the

number two pickup truck in the market. have risen nearly 22 percent to 2,153 vehicles.

Ford’s North American-built models delivered strong sales in March, helping drive the record sales month. The Explorer premium mid-size SUV recorded March sales of 83 vehicles, the Expedition full-size SUV saw sales of 17 vehicles, and the iconic Mustang had its best month of the year so far with 24 vehicle sales.

ENVIRONMENT... FROM 13

from 25 fish families have been identified from five seagrass sites in the Philippines alone.”

In terms of seagrasses in the world, the Philippines has the second highest number of species. Western Australia has more than 30 species of seagrasses while the Philippines has 18 species thriving along its coasts.

“Many plants and animals live in seagrass beds, which are rich in nutrients and whose physical structure protects young marine life from predators,” Dr. Fortes notes. “The major invertebrates found in the beds are shrimps, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, crabs, scallops, mussels, and snails. The major vertebrate species include fishes, reptiles and mammals.”

Seagrasses in the country covers an area of 27,282 square kilometers. They are widely distributed throughout the country – from Bolinao Bay (Pangasinan) in the north, Palawan and the Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor area to the center, and Zamboanga and Davao in the South.

“Seagrass beds are declining worldwide,” says Fortes. In the Philippines, 30%-50% of seagrass has been lost in the last 50 years.

The rapid disappearance of seagrass in the country is due to the increasing population’s multiple demands upon the country’s marine environment as source of food, avenues of transportation, receptacles of waste, living space and source of recreation and aesthetics pleasures.

The seagrass ecosystem is likewise adversely affected by mining of industrial minerals; oil spills caused by accidents, operational shipping and refinery activities; dredging and illegal associates.

“Huge tracts of these productive habitats are being dredged, filled, polluted, exploited, converted to other coastal uses or simply being destroyed, all in the name of economic development,” Dr. Fortes deplores.

Population and overfishing The rising number of Filipinos has contributed to the destruction of the country’s coastal ecosystems. Based on projections made by the Commission on Population using data from the Philippine Statistics Office, the will Philippines will be home to 105,758,850 by the end of the year.

“The continuing increase in population is due to relatively high fertility rates of Filipino women which is 3 children on average; however, 11 of the 17 regions show higher fertility rates than the national average,” said a report by the state-run Philippine News Agency.

As a result of the rapid increase of population, there are too many mouths to feed. “Life in the Philippines is never far from the sea,” wrote Joan Castro and Leona D’Agnes in a report published by Population Reference Bureau. “Every Filipino lives within 45 miles of the coast, and every day, more than 4,500 new residents are born.”

Dr. Robert Ginsburg, a marine scientist working with the Rosenstiel School of Marina and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, said that human beings have a lot to do with the rapid destruction of coastal ecosystems. For instance, “in areas where people are using coral reefs or where there is a large population, there are significant declines in coral reefs.”

Result of too many people: overfishing. “Overfishing is the primary cause of dwindling fish

population,” writes Peter Weber in his report, Net Loss: Fish, Jobs and the Marine Environment.

In Southeast Asia, where the Philippines is located, “nearly all waters within 15 kilometers of shore are considered overfished,” deplored Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez, who used to be the director of the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines at Diliman.

As fish become scarce, only those moneyed people can afford to buy them. When there are too many people who demand fish and the supply is limited, the price automatically goes up.

That’s what the law of supply and demand is all about.

Aquaculture One possible solution to the problem is aquaculture, the raising of fish in lakes, ponds and other bodies of water. In 1995, one in four food fish consumed by humans came from aquaculture.

But these bodies of water, where fish are farmed, are also experiencing some problems.

Take the case of Laguna Bay, a 911-square-kilometer body of water into which 21 river tributaries drain. It reportedly supplies 30 to 40 percent of the total fish requirement of Metro Manila.

In the past, 23 endemic fish species inhabited the lake, including the monetary-valued white goby, grunt and catfish.

Today, only six varieties of fish thrive in its water. Also at one time, 13 kinds of aquatic plants grow above the water. Now, only the lowly kangkong and the resilient water lily have survived the heavily polluted waters.

“From all indications, Laguna Lake is destined to become another classic case of ‘the tragedy of the Commons,” wrote Celso Roque in a foreword for Laguna De Bay: Problems and Options.

Saving coastal ecosystems Before he ran for president, Rodrigo R. Duterte was quoted as saying: “Illegal fishing must stop.

The bounty of our seas and waters is not or us alone. We must leave something for the future generation.”

But the question is: can it be stopped? Can the coastal ecosystems be restored to its former glory? Fortunately, there is still a glimmer of hope – that is, if Filipinos will work together.

“The degradation of our marine ecosystems has always been a gut issue as it pushes poverty deeper in the coastal communities through loss of livelihood, vulnerability to natural hazards, hunger and even health problems,” Senator Legarda said. “We must all work together to bring back our coral reefs and the whole marine ecosystem to excellent condition so that our seas can benefit us in a sustainable manner.”

Alexandra Cousteau, an ocean explorer, filmmaker and conservation advocate, who recently came to the Philippines also urged Filipinos to work together to save the marine and coastal ecosystems before it is too late.

“Getting the right people engaged is a huge part of it,” Cousteau said. “We have to make sure small-scale fisherfolk are represented; they’re not the ones plundering the ocean. We have to stop illegal commercial fishing; we have to source the fish responsibly. It’s been done before, it’s not a magic formula. Increase the marine protected areas, stop bycatch, stop illegal fishing – et voila!”

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

Cavs bow to Hawks in OT

A

NOTHER day, another shocking loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Even so, LeBron James isn’t too concerned about the Cleveland Cavaliers with the playoffs about to start. ‘’Obviously, the last 10 games we’ve been 5-5,’’ he said. ‘’We had some good moments and we had some not-so-good moments today. The best thing for our team is we want to go down the stretch, be healthy and put a game plan together.’’

Paul Millsap scored 22 points and the Hawks took advantage of Cleveland’s fourth-quarter collapse to overcome a 26-point deficit and stun the Cavaliers 126125 on Sunday.

Kyrie Irving scored 45 points for Cleveland, and James had a triple-double with 32 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists before the four-time

MVP fouled out in overtime.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 points to help Atlanta beat Cleveland for the second time in three days.

The defending champion Cavaliers dropped into a tie with Boston atop the Eastern Conference. Both teams have two regular-season games remaining. If the Cavs and Celtics finish with the same record, Cleveland will get the top seed for winning the season series.

The Hawks wiped out a 26-point deficit in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cavs 44-18 in the period and forcing overtime on Millsap’s baseline jumper at the buzzer.

Millsap hit a 3 with 1:12 left in overtime to make it 118-116 for Atlanta’s first lead of the game. Mike Muscala’s 3-pointer from the right corner put the Hawks back up by one with 35 seconds left.

SPORTS15

Pinay footballers inch closer to Asian Cup berth T

HE Philippine national women’s football team is on the cusp of history as it moved within reach of qualifying for the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The Filipinas have so far dominated their group in the qualification stage being played in Dushanbe, Ta-

jikistan, winning their first three matches. They only need one victory to assure the country’s first-ever appearance in a top Asian-level football tournament.

Team Philippines, composed of varsity players from the UAAP and American schools, opened its campaign last Monday with

a 4-nil rout of United Arab Emirates.

The Filipinas followed it up with a 4-nil beating of Iraq last Wednesday, and an 8-0 demolition of host Tajikistan last Friday.

The wins put them on top of Group A with nine points to show, tying Jordan which is already qualified for

next year’s Women’s Asian Cup as hosts. Only the No.1 team in the bracket will advance–but if Jordan finishes at first place, the runner-up will also move on.

Team Philippines only needs to win its match versus Bahrain on Monday to formally book a spot in the Women’s Asian Cup.

Westbrook sets triple double record

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IRST, Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s record for most triple-doubles in a season. Then, he broke the Denver Nuggets’ hearts.

Westbrook’s 36-foot dagger at the buzzer gave Oklahoma City a 106-105 victory, eliminating the Nuggets from playoff contention and capping an historic Sunday afternoon in which he scored 50 points to go with 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

Westbrook’s 42nd triple-double is one more than the ‘’Big O’’ had for the Cincinnati Royals in 1961-62, a mark that many in the NBA had considered unbreakable until Westbrook’s incredible run.

The crowd gave Westbrook a standing ovation after he broke Robertson’s record with his 10th assist with 4:17 remaining.

Then, those same fans stood in stunned silence after watching Westbrook score his team’s final 15 points, including the game-winner after Steven Adams took the inbounds pass from Kyle Single with

W

HEN this piece was being written, Filipino-bred GM Wesley So was in the driver’s seat in the on-going US Chess Championships. (He defeated young GM Jeffrey Xiong in the ninth round for his third win against 6 draws with two matches left in the tournament.)

Now an American citizen (though he considers himself a true Filipino by heart and mind) after transferring his membership to the US Chess Federation, Wesley, from just being rated among the world’s top 50 best pawn-pushers, has soared to number two, just slightly behind Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, the current FIDE world champion.

His most glittering individual triumph came at the Tata Steel tournament in Netherlands September last year where he bested some of his strongest rivals and peers who were among the

2.9 seconds left and dished to Westbrook, whose long jumper ringed through the iron as the horn sounded. ‘’It was a good defense,’’ lamented Nuggets guard Gary Harris. ‘’He’s had a hell of a season. I think he might have just locked up the MVP with that one right there.’’

Westbrook insisted his buzzer beater wasn’t a low-percentage prayer. ‘’I practice that shot everyday pregame,’’ he said.

Same spot. And, he said, usually the same result. ‘’So, I definitely feel confident in shooting that shot,’’ he said.

DO-IT-YOURSELF Westbrook had a double-double by halftime but didn’t get his triple-double until feeding Semaj Christon in the right corner for a 3-pointer that pulled the Thunder to 101-91 with more than four minutes left.

With his 10th assist and his record in the books - after four tries at that final assist - Westbrook took care of the scoring himself the rest of the way.

CLOSING IN. The women’s Philippine national team.

Horn says he has‘big edge’over Pacquiao in Brisbane

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IGGEST fight in Australia?

That’s a given. But Jeff Horn’s camp want to make his impending bout with Manny Pacquiao the best fight of the year as they hatch plans to help the former schoolteacher unseat one of the sport’s legends.

In what can only be described as a dream scenario for Brisbane’s aspiring world champion Horn, Filipino great Pacquiao will fight on the afternoon of July 2 at Suncorp Stadium, putting his WBO welterweight belt on the line in the process.

It’s a bout he has accepted through gritted teeth but that matters little to Horn, the unassuming 29-year-old London Olympian who now finds himself in the middle of the highest-profile bout ever staged on Australian shores. Even now, it’s bordering on the surreal.

Promoters Duco Events expected the 52,500-seat stadium to be full for a winter’s afternoon bout that will be beamed at prime time into the United States, while Pacquiao’s fights are essential viewing in his na-

tive Philippines, where he sits as a senator.

Horn (16-0-1) will start as a distant outsider but insists he won’t enter the ring like a deer in the headlights against the eight-division champion and former pound-for-pound kingpin.

And for all of the Pacquiao camp’s suggestions that they are here for little more than a flying visit, knocking out Horn in between signing a few autographs, nobody surrounding the Australian prospect believe for a

WS, in a manner of speaking, travelled an already wellpaved chess route. Unlike in Torre’s time when Filipino chess players scrounged for available printed chess books and other reading materials, Wesley had only to press buttons in his laptop and voila! – the learning stuff he needed to hone his skills are right there.

But whatever is said and written, So appears to be Torre’s second coming of sorts.

It has been a global practice to identify potential world class athletes while they are in their formative years, train and develop them. WS started very young, as a wide-eyed prep grade schooler, taking active part in many chess competitions for kids, emerging as national winner in the Shell Kiddies tournament.

He had been a very patient young man, listening to wise counsel as

well as feeling his own pulse. He cultivated a strong positive confidence in his capability and honed it through diligent practice, study and devotion to his chosen craft.

While WS, 23, is imbued with an undying personal ambition to become what he wants to be, his feet remain glued to the ground.

He is foremost a God-fearing man who puts his faith and trust in the Lord. There were prior unkind circumstances that happened beyond his control but these did not deter WS from moving on, from moving forward and zeroing in on his quest.

In another bright development, in the last chess Olympiad, WS helped the US squad cop its first championship, garnering a gold on board three in the process. Among those in the US men’s team were Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, both world championship contenders.

Wesley So – Youth role model and sports icon

top ten GMs. Since bringing home that bacon, WS has not lost a game in his last 65 outings, reports our colleague Eli Tumbaga who regularly and religiously monitors chess developments here and around the globe via his FB social media Chess News and Views account.

This is a record of sorts where this winning streak is compared to those who previously held the record – past world titleholders like Mikhail Tal, Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and the legendary Bobby Fischer.

So’s prodigious climb to world prominence does not, however, set aside the shining achievements of the first Filipino grandmaster, Eugene Torre who, also as Asia’s first GM, trailblazed the difficult path to the world championship cycle by breaking the Russians’ tradition-

SPORTS KEN

By RED C. LUMBA

al stranglehold, barging into the Candidates Matches in the late 70s.

Make no mistake about it.

Wesley and Eugene lived, played and shone in different chess eras.

Eugene, along with his peers, enormously profited from the eventual rise of the late Florencio Campomanes to the FIDE presidency whose executive leadership and endearing fatherly manners programmed the former to earn the elusive GM title.

moment the 38-year-old will be taking shortcuts.

Horn said he would press often and early and welcomed an all-action affair against Pacquiao (59-6-2), who hasn’t stopped an opponent since his 12th round TKO stoppage of Miguel Cotto back in 2014.

“I keep picturing myself winning. I keep picturing my style upsetting him throughout the fight. And I can see myself landing those big punches. And I think that’s what is going to happen,” Horn said on Sunday.

It might, to a degree, disappoint young chess fans in the Philippines to know that WS’ victories in the global arena cannot be out-rightly claimed by his countrymen. As is now customarily written in chess circles, the flag he waves during tournaments and competitions is the banner that has fifty stars spread out on its matted form, not the one originally sewn with a sun surrounded by eight rays in red, white and blue colors.

At this stage, and with his confidence a-building, WS appears headed to his first US Chess Championship crown after three attempts.

WS, who unabashedly wear the Pinoy barong in chess events, continues to twit in his FB page: “ I am very much, every inch a Filipino by heart. Salamat po!”

(Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

ON A ROLL Injury-plagued Blue Knights turn back rival ACD for fourth straight win

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

S

njb@edgedavao.net

HORT-HANDED but cold-blooded. Oh yes, add to that, hot-handed.

Bucking the absence of three key players, Ateneo de Davao University survived a determined Assumption College of Davao 80-74 on Sunday, April 9, to notch their fourth straight win in the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) 4th Emilio Escandor Memorial Cup at the Goldstar Gym. The Blue Knights played s a n s

two of its prolific scorers in Ion Angeles and Axel Doromal and bruising center Josh Barrientos but came up highly-charged against the upset-thinking Warriors.

Wearing a vengeful gameface after losing to the Blue Knights in the SM NBTC Finals last February, the erstwhile undefeated Warriors came t o t h e match with a

STEPPING UP. Dariel Manliguez also stepped up dfor Ateneo with 14 points. Lean Daval Jr.

INSPIRED GAME. Christian Bacalso led Ateneo with 19 points. Lean Daval Jr.

mindset of turning the tables around. They had the gameplan all cut out for them with Ateneo go-to-guy Francis Gabriel Escandor treated with a VIP-type two-man defensive entourage.

With Escandor shackled with only 11 points in the game, Christian Bacalso stepped up big time with 19 points in his best stint by far.

Dariel Manliguez also caught fire with 14 for Ateneo which improved to 4-1.

ACD dropped to the same record after tasting their first defeat.

Unable to explode on offense, the 6-foot-two Escandor vented his ire on defense and teamed up with Lex Blanco and Kenneth Batilo to shut down the lanes and force the Warriors to take low percentage outside shots.

Newly-installed Ateneo coach Enzo Nitorreda credited his boys’ intensity for the morale-boosting win.

BJ Sumagat and Cris Vistal paced ACD with 16 points apiece on a losing effort.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP).

SHACKLED. Francis Gabriel Escandor of Ateneo was fully covered all game long but still escaped with 11 points. Lean Daval Jr.