Edge10 issue94 August 11-12

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

DIVERSE ETHNICITY. Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2017 candidates from the 11 tribes of Davao City pose for the traditional group photo during a media presentation held at Star Hotel in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

TFD helps evacuees in‘KALIPAYapaan’ D

By PAULA KIM FELICIANO

espite being known for their strong and tough image, men of Task Force Davao have hearts; they are tough only the outside but soft in the inside.

Like men and women in various civic organizations who are busy in conducting charitable services to evacuees from Marawi City, the Task Force Davao also got their hands full in assisting displaced children and women while ensuring the safety and security of the “KALIPAYapaan” event at the Almendras Gym on Thursday.

Col. Erwin Neri, Task Force Davao command-

er, said that witnessing first-hand the struggle of the Marawi evacuees has ignited the military to actively participate in organizing the event.

Neri said that with their concern for Muslim brothers and sisters, they too are after the security of the entirety of Mindanao, making sure that none of the members of the terrorist groups from Marawi, slip through their thorough identity scanning, most especially in big events in the city.

Neri pointed out that Davao City is now considered as an alternate seat of the Duterte government,

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LGUs told: No smoking areas in schools, hospitals

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ocal government units must ensure that there are no designated smoking areas in public places such as schools and hospitals as well as in other recreational facilities for minors, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government .

A DSA refers to an area of a building or conveyance where smoking may be allowed, which can be an open space or separate area with proper ventilation, subject to specific standards.

In a directive, the DILG said that LGUs must strictly observe and comply with the provisions of Executive Or-

der 26 which categorically states that no DSAs should be established in public places.

Executive Order 26, which was penned by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in May this year and took effect last month, provides the establishment of smokefree environments in public and enclosed places.

Under EO 26, there should be no DSAs in centers of youth activity such as playschools, preparatory schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels and recreational facilities for minors.

DSAs should not also be

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Security men tripled for Kadayawan 2017

BY ANGIE SAVERON & GRACE L. PLATA

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ompared to the security of Araw ng Dabaw celebration last March, the security is tripled for Kadayawan Festival Public Safety and Command Center Ret. Gen. Benito De Leon said on I-Speak Thursday.

“We have involved for this celebration not only the offices in Davao city but also other national and regional security offices to help us secure the Kadayawan Festival,” said De Leon.

He said the city Mayor ordered them to over-prepare to ensure the tight security for the Kadayawan. “There are 23 agencies (securing the celebration) including the Armed Forces of the Philip-

enator Grace Poe on Wednesday called on authorities to conduct a no-nonsense investigation on the recent killing of two journalists in Mindanao even as she expressed condemnation of the act.

She further sought for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

The latest victims of attack against journalists were identified as radiomen Rudy Alicaway of Zamboanga del Sur and Leo Diaz of Sultan Kudarat.

“The incidents bring to fore the violence and culture

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pines (AFP) , Philippine National Police (PNP) , National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Coast Guard and all other units that have come together,” De Leon added.

The security of Kadayawan this year has been heightened not only because of martial law but also because of the number of security forces deployed. “We could not sacrifice security

for the people to enjoy the celebration and to ensure the success of the festival,” De Leon added.

The Executive Committee is hoping that the number of people coming for the festival will continue to go up. According to Generose Tecson, Davao City Tourism Operations Officer, the occupancy rate of the hotels from August 17 onwards is 85 percent.

“We are hoping that if hindi man mapantayan yung number of arrivals from last year which was around 160,000 and sana masobrahan natin,” Tecson said.

She said promotion has been in Visayas and Mindanao area because these areas

can understand the situation in Davao, though nationwide promotion is underway.

Billboards and schedule of activities is being put up to encourage the people to join the celebration.

The security plan is under improvement to ensure the safety of the people. The security concerns of the event organizers are also taken into consideration. From the very beginning the Executive Committee worked hand in hand with the Security Forces in fact they are also a member of the Executive Committee. “So everytime na nag pplano pa lang ni rereffer lahat sa kanila.” said

of impunity in the attacks against Filipino journalists,” Poe said in a statement. “The people are counting on the police and law enforcers to keep our streets safe -- that criminals will be immediately hunted down and prosecuted,” she added.

Alicaway, 46, was on his way home on August 6 in Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur when he was shot by two motorcycle-riding gunmen.

Alicaway was a radio anchor of Tigmo-Tigmo program at DXPB 106.9 (Radyo ng Bayan Molave).

He was reportedly also a

village councilman of Miligan in Molave. On the other hand, Diaz, 60, was driving his motorbike near his house when shot at around 8:40 p.m.

Monday in Barangay Kalanawi 2 in President Quirino, this province.

Police said Diaz, his son Cris Jay and a female relative were riding with him, but they escaped unhurt. Diaz died from multiple gunshot wounds. Diaz was a reporter of Radio Mindanao Network, columnist of Sapol Newspaper and a correspondent for Manila Bulletin.

Poe, advocate and spon-

sor of the Freedom of Information bill at the Senate, said journalists should be able to work freely in an environment free from danger.

“They should be able to raeport stories and issues relevant to the Filipinos, and we know that journalists have risen to the occasion despite the odds,” she said.

Aside from the police, the senator also called on the Presidential Task Force on Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Members of the Media to act with dispatch on the cases. (PNA)

Number of agencies involved in preparations

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Senator presses probe on journalist’s killing S

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Espenido to narco-pols: Resign or face sanctions

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zamiz City Police Chief Insp. Jovie Espinido on Thursday warned local officials involved in illegal drugs to resign from their post or face prosecution.

Espenido led the anti-drug operations in the city last July 30 which resulted in the death of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 14 others.

While he has yet to know his next assignment, Espenido stressed he will abide by orders from the leadership of the Philippine National Police .

“Kung saan ako malagay, resign na lang, kung involved (in illegal drugs),para humaba buhay,” Espenido told reporters at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday.

Espenido went to DOJ to check the complaint filed against him and his men in connection with the encounter with Martilyo Gang members in Ozamiz City in July.

“Nagvisit kasi may subpoena sa office natin sa mga tao natin, walang attachment kaya (we clarified) sa office ni Fiscal Bollordon na bakit walang attachment hindi macounter kung walang attachment. June 1 na nangyari sa Ozamis na nakuha natin member ng matrilyo gang wanted persons, so may subpoena dito galing kaya pumunta para makareply naman PNP side.

Espenido was among the awardees as the PNP celebrated its 116th founding anniversary Wednesday.

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HIYAS ACTIVITIES. City Tourism Office head GeneRose Tecson provides details of upcoming series of Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2017 events during I-Speak media forum at Star Hotel on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

CHED lifts freeze on Villar bats for balanced college field trips T lifestyle in BNS confab

BY ANGIE SAVERON

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enator Cynthia Villar batted for balanced meals and exercise to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of care,” Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture, told the national conference of Barangay Nutrition Scholars at the SMX convention center on Wednesday.

She also encouraged the Department of Education to continue the school based feeding program to address the malnutrition and short

term hunger among public school children which is also under the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition as one of the nutrition sensitive programs.

She said all schools are asked to maintain a vegetable garden as a source of ingredients for the feeding program to address the malnutrition.

She revealed that she is building Farm Schools supported by TESDA in every barangay in the Philippines.

As of today there are 900 farms schools in the country.

“Ang pangarap ko po ay 1600

(farm schools), one farm school in every town in the Philippine,” Villar said.

In these institutions, the people will learn how to grow vegetables for consumption and for business.

She also suggests to conduct a contest on vegetable gardening to encourage people to plant and grow vegetables.

The National Nutrition Council in partnership with the LuzViMin BNS Federation Inc. organized the event.

It was organized to renew the commitment of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars to defeat

malnutrition through the convergence and advancement of good practices for nutrition improvement.

The Mindanao Cluster of BNS is comprised of Zamboanga Peninsula, Nothern Mindanao, Davao Region, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, General Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN), Caraga and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Around 900 BNS from all over Mindanao gathered on the said event to reaffirm the vision of

VILLAR,10

he Commission on Higher Education on Thursday announced that it has lifted its moratorium on off-campus activities in public and private colleges and universities in the country, but stricter regulations would be put in place to assure the safety of students.

In a Palace briefing, CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera III said the moratorium was lifted through Memorandum Order No. 63 that sets the new guidelines to be followed during field trips and all other off-campus activities.

CHED earlier issued the moratorium on all field trips in February following a deadly crash in Tanay that killed

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Young Mandaya artist at Museo Dabawenyo

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Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Marawi City benefit from a community outreach program called ‘Kalipayapaan’ initiated by Task Force Davao led by Colonel Bernard Neri at the Davao City Recreation Center on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

15 persons, mostly students, and injured 40 others.

“The CHED has lifted the moratorium on off-campus activities of higher education institutions. We’re issuing these guidelines and the moratorium is lifted effective August 8,” De Vera said.

He said the new guidelines -- which was crafted over a five-month period in cooperation with various government agencies, local government units, and educational institutions -expanded the coverage to include not only field trips but all other activities that involve students to leave their schools.

hearing-impaired lass hailing from the municipality of Caraga is the latest artist to open an exhibit in Davao’s Museo Dabawenyo. She is the first artist from Davao Oriental to do so.

Sharmi Angelique Sayman Capina, only 23, went to regular school despite her handicap and the arts became her ally since childhood as an avenue to express herself fully. Her talents further developed as a Fine Arts student at the Philippine Women’s College of Davao.

Sharmi had her first exhibit in 2015 during INALIMA, one of the events celebrating the Araw ng Davao Oriental, centered on historical and cultural subjects. In 2016, she showed another set of works inspired by the Indian Mandala during Caraga’s Founding Anniversary.

The same year, Sharmi was also featured during the Regional Festival of Talents held in Tagum City.

Her current work featured in Museo Dabawenyo called “Inawas ng Muna” meaning Cultural Heritage, shows scenes in the life of the Mandaya tribe.

In message read by Museo Dabawenyo Officer-in-Charge Orly Escarilla, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the exhibit is timely as the city will be celebrating the Kadayawan sa Davao next week. “[This] is a recognition of the invaluable contributions of our indigenous people in shaping Davao City,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“With the artworks on exhibit until September, I trust that more people -Filipinos and our foreign visitors

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

Manufacturingposts double-digit growth T he manufacturing sector grew by an average of 10 percent in the first six months of 2017 due to sustained domestic and improved external demand, according to the National Economic and Development Authority.

This growth was backed by increased production in food manufacturing, basic metals, transport equipment, fabricated metal products, non-metallic mineral products, and export-oriented products. This is higher than the 9.0 percent average growth during the same period last year.

The figures are based on the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) for June 2017 of the Philippine Statistics Author-

ity, a NEDA-attached agency.

For June 2017, the volume of production index (VoPI) and value of production index (VaPI) for manufacturing increased by 8.1 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, from their June 2016 levels.

The said increases were mainly driven by the continuous increase in construction-related and export-oriented products, food manufacturing, transport equipment, and petroleum products.

The increase in production of basic metals, fabricated metal products, and non-metallic mineral products boosted the construction sector.

Leather products and footwear led the increase in production of export-oriented goods. (PNA)

LOCAL TASTE. Two young Filipino British girls buy ‘taho’ from a vendor in a subdivision in Sasa, Davao City on Thursday morning. Lean Daval Jr

investors explore Top real estate marketplace Japanese Davao aggie opportunities offers help to Davao brokers A

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he Philippines’s largest real estate online marketplace, Lamudi, has offered help to Davao City-based licensed brokers by gearing them up for digitization and promote the promising real estate industry here.

Lamudi Group managing director Bhavna Suresh Chathambeth told reporters Wednesday that she believes the online marketplace can provide the licensed brokers another way of reaching out to their target market in a more convenient manner.

“We constantly educate our brokers and partners by sending them information about how to get more queries and the way to get more queries is to make sure your listings are the best. Only the very good quality listings can

come out on the page,” she said.

Chathambeth said that Lamudi makes “history by gradually shifting the industry from its traditional practices towards easier, faster and more convenient real time transactions.”

She said Lamudi also educates buyers and gives them more liberty to make choices.

“Doing this hand in hand with the Davao government signals that the Davao property sector is certainly looking at very bright prospects in the years ahead,” she said Chathambeth said between 100 and 120 professional brokers have so far been registered by Lamudi.

She said they are strengthening their presence in the city, owing to the fast-grow-

ing real estate industry here brought about by the increasing demand from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

A Lamudi briefer said its 2016 onsite search data analysis found out that the page-views for Davao City properties averaged 48,000 per month, while the monthly average for the first half of 2017 registered 53,000.

It added that the real estate website predicts search traffic for Davao City properties to grow 2.41 percent per month over the next 12 months.

Chathambeth added that Lamudi employs its own vetting process before brokers can post their listings online.

“It is very important to vet. What we know and what we are completely sure about is that

if the property is of bad quality, they will never come back,” she said Lamudi subscribers can also report to the quality control team for any bogus listings, and they will immediately deny brokers access to the website.

Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) chief Lemuel Ortonio encouraged the brokers to go online because it widens their market reach not only domestically but also internationally.

“Ultimately, it can help the entire industry because they can reach a wider range of buyers,” he said.

He said it will also be easy for investors to make an inquiry on the available spaces they can rent out or buy in the city. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

“These are what you would call ‘patriotic’ bonds to help augment the funds that the government has set aside for Marawi’s rehabilitation,” Dominguez said at a recent DOF executive committee (Execom) meeting.

Dominguez asked National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon at the Execom meeting to study the tenor or length of maturity of the bond, which could possibly be for 20 years.

In a separate statement, Department of

Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government would release at least PHP15 billion to rehabilitate Marawi in the next two years. The allocations would form part of the proposed budget of the Marawi reconstruction masterplan spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“The initial fund of PHP5 billion for 2017 will be sourced from the 2016 and 2017 NDRRM (National Disaster

Risk Reduction and Management Council) fund with a combined remaining balance of around PHP7.4 billion, and the 2017 contingent fund with a balance of almost PHP3.35 billion, both as of July 2017,” Diokno said in his statement.

For the NDRRM fund for 2018, PHP25.5 billion has been allocated, of which PHP10 billion had been allotted for the Marawi recovery and rehabilitation program, according to Diokno. (PR/PNA)

DOF eyes P30B bond float for rehabilitation for Marawi

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has directed the Bureau of Treasury to study the possible issuance of PHP30 billion-worth of debt securities to fund the planned massive rehabilitation and reconstruction effort for Marawi City.

Dominguez said the “Marawi” bonds would appeal to the “patriotic” sense of duty of citizens, who would like to help rebuild the lives of their fellow Filipinos in Marawi.

group of Japanese businessmen came to Davao City Wednesday to explore investment opportunities in the city’s thriving agriculture sector.

Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) chief Lemuel Ortonio said in an interview that the investors came to his office to discuss their purpose.

He said one of them signified an interest in throwaway pineapple crowns from the city that they said can be processed as one of the key ingredients for “pet food.”

He said they asked him to arrange a tour around the vast plantations in the suburbs of the city upon their return tentatively set for next month.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority, Davao City recorded the highest production of pineapples in 2016 at 25,794 metric tons (MT), or 98 percent of the overall production of Davao Region at 26,300 MT. Production volume of Davao del Norte last year was 207.96 MT, Davao del Sur 28.36MT, Davao Oriental 159.33 MT, and Compostela Valley 110.77MT. He said they also offered to Japanese business executives to invest in areas that are classified in top 10 priority investment areas — agriculture, tourism and recreational facilities, light manufacturing and assembly, property development, health and wellness, educational, and sports facilities, environmental protection and green projects, information and communication technology, generation of new sources of energy, transportation and infra-

structure, and public-private partnership projects.

The visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie, in Davao City, the hometown of its former mayor and now President Rodrigo R. Duterte, last January 13 was seen to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the Philippines and Japan.

The DCIPC registered around 4,600 businesses in the second quarter of 2017, a two-fold increase compared to 2,110 businesses registered and renewed during the same period last year.

Ortonio described the impact of the martial law on the economy of Davao was almost negligible, saying his office continues to receive several inquiries from investors.

He said the increase can be attributed to the “ease of doing business” here.

“There is ease of doing business in the city, there are measures to make it easier to open business here. And then with martial law comes with heightened security and it’s possible our investors have seen their investments are safe here,” he said.

Duterte declared a 60day martial law in Mindanao starting on May 23, the same day that clashes broke out between government forces and the Maute Group in Marawi City.

But on July 22, supposedly the last day of martial law and suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus was to end, Congress approved Duterte’s request for extension until December 31, 2017. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

Gatchalian orders NEA to probe long power problems in Palawan

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enator Win Gatchalian has ordered the National Electrification Administration to check into the legal responsibility of stakeholders in the spate of persistent power outages that have scourged Palawan since the beginning of this year.

In a media release sent to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) by his office Wednesday afternoon, Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy, said NEA has until August 11 “to conduct and submit its findings and recommendations.”

“Being the over-all regulator of electric cooperatives, NEA must help identify the root cause of the power interruptions and determine the liability of the PALECO (Palawan Electric Cooperative) for not being able to immediately address the issue,” Gatchalian said during a formal dialogue with Palawan energy stakeholders recently held at the Senate.

The dialogue was initiated by Gatchalian’s committee in the center of growing consumer complaints against PALECO due to frequent and long power interruptions in Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan.

Complaints, he said, have been recorded from PALECO’s franchise areas, which include Puerto Princesa City, the municipalities of Dumaran, El Nido, Roxas, San Vicente, Taytay, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Narra, Quezon, Rizal Sofronio Española and Aborlan, and the island municipalities of Agutaya, Araceli, Cagayancillo, Cuyo, Magsaysay and Balabac.

Data collected by the

energy committee showed a maximum of 18 hours of System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), or the length of power interruption experienced by consumers, in the PALECO-covered areas, with a frequency of at least nine times a month since January this year.

“It is the responsibility of the NEA to ensure that all covered areas of electric cooperatives get reliable power,” Gatchalian said, adding “In this case, PALECO’s customers are experiencing serious problems of power outages. NEA needs to step in now; let’s not prolong this problem further.”

He explained that internal internal investigation by the energy committee showed that the power problem was provoked by the failure of independent power producer DMCI Power to deliver the 25 megawatt Guaranteed Dependable Capacity (GDC) in its Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with the PALECO, and what appears to be the electric cooperative’s indecisiveness on the violation of its contract.

Gatchalian chided DMCI Power for the breach of its contractual obligation and gave it until August 11 to submit a plan of action and schedule on how it will accomplish the 25MW power supply requirement under its interim PSA. Also, Gatchalian urged the PALECO leadership to review all of its existing PSAs with its IPPs and find out if they are complying with their power supply commitments. These are DMCI Power, Palawan Power Generation Inc. (PPGI) and Delta P.

DOE moving towards 100% objective one step at a time

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s the country moves toward its golden age of industrialization, Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has urged the power sector to fast-track projects due to the importance of electricity in achieving this goal.

In an interview with the People’s Television Network (PTV) on Wednesday, Cusi acknowledged that 10 percent of the population is still without stable energy sources.

“Our thrust is to have 100 percent energization of identified households. As of now, only 90 percent of the country is energized, meaning, there are still close to 10 million people out there without light and that is what we want to address and extend our assistance to,” he said.

Currently, the DOE is collaborating with the Liter of Light foundation in bringing lighting to remote areas that are not part of the national

grid.

“What we are doing here among the kids is creating consciousness on the importance of energy for our economic growth. We must use energy efficiently and effectively... and we must get our youth involved in our undertakings,” the energy chief pointed out.

Meanwhile, the department is also considering other viable options, such as the establishment of a distributed generation system independent of the national grid or micro-grid that is already being done in Panglao, Bohol.

“We chose Panglao to show our neighbors that this is the Philippines and Panglao is a proud jewel of our country for tourism, which is why we chose to showcase this here first. I just finished inspecting Pamiliacan Island, which has the same concept of a micro grid that we are trying to replicate in remote areas,” Cusi said. (PNA/File photo by AAA)

NOT ONE TO GIVE UP. Despite his disability, a physically challenged person sells candles to Catholic faithful outside San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City on Thursday earning a living for the family. Lean Daval Jr

International congress on cacao set in Davao

To learn inputs in enhancing production A s the country needs to upgrade its cacao industry to be able to compete in the global market, the Philippines will be hosting another international cacao congress in Davao City in December.

Philippine Cacao Industry Council chairperson Valente Turtur said they will be inviting more traders from other countries as the local industry needs current updates and inputs from these foreign players on how to enhance the production and move up to the international market.

Turtur made the statement on Wednes-

day as they wrapped up the National Cacao Congress at the Grand Convention Center here.

“We need to be in the global competition, that’s why we need more inputs from global players,” Turtur said. “We need to penetrate the international market.”

Turtur said they will be inviting participants from new players in the Middle East and France along with previous delegates from Europe, the United States, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, among many other countries.

Over a thousand del-

egates from different countries are expected to converge in Davao for the International Cacao Congress on December 5-6.

Department of Trade and Industry National Cacao Cluster coordinator Engr. Edwin Banquerigo said in 2007 only a few were farming cacao, but now there are 30,000 farmers in the country as the price of cacao is less prone to severe fluctuation.

“While the prices of agricultural commodities normally fluctuate and go down during peak season, the price of cacao is high during peak

season, which is from October to late January,” Banquerigo said. “The peak season for cacao is coincidentally the inventory period for the Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, and gift-giving seasons in some non-cacao growing countries like China and Japan.”

This is among the reasons why the local cacao industry needs upgrading, especially because cacao beans can be harvested every two weeks, said Banquerigo.

“If coconut is the tree of life and coffee is the tree of peace, cacao is the tree of love,” Banquerigo said in parting. (PNA)

EDSA Shangri-la on Wednesday.

In order to make government transactions faster, Pres. Duterte said he wants to group government offices in one building.

“If you cannot group together, I will force the online,” he said. “If I said 15 days, do it 15 days,” he added in Filipino.

Pres. Duterte ordered for faster processing of documents in government offices

as he emphasized that making it harder for businesses and individuals to transact make the government “useless”.

During the event, one of the recommendations from the private sector is to further ease doing business by converging different agencies, including local government units.

It was also in last year’s Sulong Pilipinas that the 10-point socioeco-

nomic agenda of the Duterte administration was presented.

In the latest Doing Business Report of the World Bank, the Philippines ranked 99, moving up four notches from rank 103 in the 2015 report.

However, the same report noted that in Starting a Business indicator, the country’s ranking declined by six spots, from 165th spot to 171st spot. (PNA)

Duterte to government agencies: Cut red tape

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resident Rodrigo Duterte has reminded government agencies dealing with businesses to cut red tape and urged businessmen to report those who are engaged in corruption.

“Corruption is really one I don’t like,” Pres.

Duterte said during his keynote address to businessmen at the 2017 Sulong Pilipinas, a Philippine Development Forum at the

EDGEDAVAO

6 SUBURBIA Rookie cop brings honor to Armm A

rookie police officer has given honors to police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-Armm) by returning P20,000 cash he found in a Land Bank automated teller machine booth, a police official said on August. 10 Thursday. ”The amount is immaterial, what is important is the honesty showed by PO1 Zorilla,” Chief Supt. Reuben Sindac, police regional director, said of PO1 Jose Angelo Zorilla.

Zorilla, assigned with the Armm Regional Public Safety Battalion, has been battling the Islamic terrorists in Marawi City since May 24 and was on vacation here when his honesty was tested.

Last week, Zorilla went to the Land Bank-Cotabato City branch to check on his salary when he found the money at the ATM cash dispenser window.

Nobody in the ATM booth and Zorilla did not notice anyone leaving before he arrived. In the ATM receipt outlet he found the transaction slip showing the amount withdrawn. ”May be the owner thought the ATM was offline or it did not dispense cash so he or she left,” Zorilla theorized. ”It never entered my mind I will take the money that is not mine, honesty was instilled in me by my parents,” he said in Filipino.

Zorilla decided to hand over the cash to the Land Bank cashier and did his own transaction. “May be the owner was a police, soldier, teacher or any government worker checking on his/her pay like me,” he said.

Zorilla has two siblings both in the military, one as

member of the Philippine Army and the other at the Philippine Air Force.

Sindac was very elated he would confer commendation to Zorilla who is now back in Marawi City after his threeday break he spent with his family in Cotabato City.

Zorilla’s colleague have all but good words for him.

“Aside from the air of honesty and integrity, P01 Zorilla is another police officer leaving life within his means and making both ends meet for his family,” his colleagues at PNP-Armm headquarters in Parang, Maguindanao said of his good act.

“Never will I keep it, I can earn such amount through hard labor,” said Zorilla whose parents are public servants. His mother is a teacher and his father is a retired soldier.

Nurtured in a catholic school, Zorilla was thought to be God-fearing and enrooted in his system is the importance of doing good deeds.

He recalled that in 1995, his father assigned in 39th ID once saved the passengers of a bus from the hold-uppers. “So helping others run in the blood,” Zorilla said.

Same thing with his reason of joining the Philippine National Police, he wanted to continue the legacy of his father of being a reputable public servant.

“His gesture makes a positive impact to the rightful owner of the money, this may also inspire his fellow police officers to do good to others. Doing good deed no matter how small or insignificant they may seem; does make a difference,” Sindac said. (Edwin Fernandez/ PNA)

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

The remains of provincial journalist Leodoro Diaz after he was gunned down by still unidentified gunmen in Pres. Quirino Sultan Kudarat on August 7, 2017. (EOF)

Bounty put up for killer of Sultan Kudarat journalist A

P100,000 reward has been offered for information that could identify and eventually prosecute the gunmen who shot dead a provincial radio-print journalist on Monday in Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, a police official said Wednesday.

Mayor Azel Mangudadatu of President Quirino has raised the bounty to immediately resolve the murder of journalist Leodoro Diaz, .of Barangay Katiko, President Quirino, according to Senior Supt.

Raul Supiter.

Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police director, said Diaz,

60, columnist for Gen. Santos City-based Sapol tabloid and provincial correspondent of Manila Bulletin and Balita tabloid, was driving his motorbike going to Tacurong City with his son Cris Jay and a lady relative when two men riding tandem on motorbike opened fire on him in Barangay Kalanawi 2, Pres. Quirino.

He died instantly due to multiple gunshot wounds from .45 cal. pistol in the head and body.

Supiter said he created a multi-sectoral task force to help in the investigation and determine the motive

HONEST COP. PO1 Jose Angelo Zorilla is now back in Marawi City to help liberate the city from terroristS. He just did a god act, returning money he found in a Land Bank ATM booth. (Photo from PRO-ARMM)

of the attack against Diaz.

He said police are hunting down the perpetrators based on the statement issued by the victim’s son. ”We are digging deeper, we have some leads and we are following it 9without let up,” Supiter said. He refused to provide specific details on the investigation.

Chief Inspector Joan Resurrecion, Pres. Quirino town police chief, said Diaz’ son Cris Jay and a lady relative were riding with him but they escaped unhurt.

Supiter said police are

determining if the murder was work related or triggered by personal grudge. Even the victim’s son could not say if it was work related, saying his father has no known enemies.

However, Supiter said Diaz was a hard hitting newspaper columnist discussing illegal drugs and corruption in his daily column.

Supiter also appealed to anyone who has information about the Diaz murder to help the police locate the perpetrators.

(Edwin Fernandez/PNA)

drug suspect was killed after he tried, but failed, to set off a hand grenade on police officers during anti-drug operation in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police director, said Wednesday the suspect, Gilbert Golingay, was inside his home at Sitio Lawa, Barangay Saripinang when the police, armed with search warrant, arrived.

Supiter said the police were to implement search warrant for illegal drugs and gun possession against Golingay, a farmer.

But Golingay, Bagumbayan’s most wanted

drug personality, resisted arrest and tried to pull the safety lever of a hand grenade he was holding.

Police were quick to open fire on him before he can pull the safety pin.

Police found six sachets of suspected illegal drugs, a hand grenade and several bullets.

Golingay, Supiter said, had voluntarily showed to police station and admitted he was into drug pushing during the implementation of “Oplan TokHang” in Bagumbayan.

He vowed to reform and do away with illegal drugs and illegal activities but police learned he was back to his old business. (Edwin Fernandez/ PNA)

Drug suspect resists arrest, shot dead A

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

‘One-stop-shop’proposed for help to Marawi bakwits

By PAULA KIM FELICIANO

O

Sweet tooth of Pinoys boon to Indon products Orientation and training of STARBOOKS to the staff of Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose

Kopiko coffee, Oreo cookies, name it, Filipinos love it

By PAULA KIM FELICIANO

K

OPIKO coffee is not the only Indonesian product that Filipinos love. A total of 72 Indonesian export products are a hit among Pinoys, according to Davao City-based Consul General Berlian Napitupulu of the Republic of Indonesia.

Speaking to newsmen attending the launch of the first-ever “Budayaw” festival of culture and the arts by member-coun-

tries of the BIMP EAGA (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) in General Santos City, September 20-24, Congen Napitupulu said the secret of success of the export products from his country is the Filipinos’ sweet tooth, idiomatic term for loving sweet-tasting food.

The diplomat said that among the long list of products widely accepted by the Philippines are Kopiko coffee products, Oreo cookies, Kopiko 78, Extra Joss Energy Drink C-1000, Energen, and Tiger Biscuits.

“The phenomenal success of Indonesian products, mostly food and beverages, is mainly due

to the Filipinos’ love for all things sweet,” the consul general said during the Habi at Kape media forum at Abreeza Mall last Wednesday morning.

He however said that Indonesian products also experienced failure in the beginning before researchers found the Filipinos’ weakness for sweet-tasting products.

Aside from food and beverages, Napitupulu bared Indonesia can offer several other export products, saying his country can export building materials such as floor tiles and cement as Mindanao begins to embark on a massive infrastructure development under the so-called “Build, build, build” program of Presi-

dent Duterte.

“Instead of buying from other countries, why not buys these materials from your neighbor?”

Congen Napitupulu said.

He said he is optimistic that the upcoming Budayaw culture and arts festival will increase the understanding of both Indonesians and the Filipinos of their national culture and the arts and open their eyes to so much partnering opportunistic between their two countries.

Budayaw and similar events in the future will open doors for more products to be exported by both both countries to each other, he said./edited by AMA

System”, otherwise known as STARBOOKS, in its area at the South Bus Terminal building.

STARBOOKS is DOST’s nation-wide project aimed at making S&T information accessible and available to our citizens especially those in the countryside. This self-contained computer system serves as a one stop shop digital compendium of S&T information gathered from local and foreign sources.

The digital information kiosks, which are also now

installed in various educational institutions around the country, are repositories for science and technology and livelihood information that could be digitally accessed by users offline.

DOST-7 installed, for educational purposes, more than 150 STARBOOKS in different schools in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Region 7.

The cooperative sought the installation of STARBOOKS in its office to help its farmer-members improve their livelihood opportuni-

ties by enabling them to access to the livelihood video contents of the digital information system.

This project is undertaken by the cooperative in partnership with DOST 7 as part of the former’s livelihood and employment program.

As farmers now have access to the information system that could provide them better income opportunities, STARBOOKS is expected to positively impact on the agricultural sector in terms of livelihood enhancement. (Licinio Gingoyon, DOST7)

Farmers to use starbooks for livelihood

F

or the first time, STARBOOKS will be used for livelihood purposes as the Department of Science and Technology 7 inked a deal with a multi-purpose cooperative to provide the latter’s farmer-members useful livelihood information through the digital information kiosk.

The Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative is set to launch on August 3, 2017 its operation of the “Science & Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk

ver 40 non-profit organizations led by the Humanitarian Organization for Peace Engagements (HOPE), collaborated to launch “KALIPAYapaan,” a one-stopshop for medical aid, legal assistance and educational talks for Marawi evacuees at Almendras gym on Thursday.

According to HOPE President and founder, Hope Fernandez, their expected turnout was a small event, but turns out that more and more concerned Davao constituents and NGOs wanted to extend their help to our fellow Filipino evacuees from Marawi.

“A lot of the participating organizations are first time partners, this is why we have carefully scanned these NGOs to make sure that they don’t have any underlying political agendas”, Fernandez explained.

The one-stop-shop event offered Medical and Dental services, Legal assistance from Muslim lawyers and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Informative talks from the

Department of Justice on Human Trafficking, all, free of charge.

Basing on the City Social Services and Development Office’s data, the event’s organizational team expected around 1,300 evacuees to attend the said event, however, a little over 200 evacuees showed up, given that majority of the evacuees are employed teachers and needed to go back to Marawi and teach, despite the current conflicts.

Task Force Davao were also visible in the event, and aside from their usual duties of ensuring the safety and security of the people, they have actively participated in assisting the people, even selling shirts to help raise funds for the events to follow.

With the uncertainty of acquiring funds, Fernandez remains positive and trust that the “Bayanihan Spirit” shall make it possible to have a series of events alike, as concerned citizens and organizations will always be ready and willing to help secure the welfare and wellness of our fellow Filipinos in need.

DOST-FPRDI boosts help to indigenous peoples

I

n support of the Duterte administration’s socio-economic agenda that underpin rural development, the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) has intensified its technology assistance particularly to the country’s tribal community.

Last July 18-20, 2017, FPRDI’s Training and Manpower Development Services Section (TMDSS) held a lecture-demo on some bamboo processing technologies for Batak Craft — a livelihood development project for the Batak tribe in Palawan.

Led by its founder Ms. Lara Frayre, Batak Craft sought FPRDI’s help in improving handcrafted baskets made mainly from “buho” bamboo. Among the topics covered were bamboo preservation, drying, handicraft making and finishing.

According to Ms. Frayre, their long-term plan is to develop a sustainable livelihood for the indigenous tribe and to set up a bamboo craft industry in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. As of now, Batak Craft is exploring ways on how best to utilize buho, which abounds in Batak communities A similar training on bamboo handicraft production was also conducted for the B’laan tribe of Koronadal City

on June 27-29, 2017. Members of the Oluclufe B’laan Landcare Association – Farmers (OBLA) were taught to make bamboo lampshades, amplifiers, candleholders, and wind chimes.

The training was made possible thru the collaboration of DOST-FPRDI, DOST-Region 12, Provincial S&T Center-South Cotabato and the local government of Koronadal City. FPRDI’s Dr. Ma. Cielito G. Siladan, For. Zenaida R. Reyes and For. Moreno L. Santander Jr. coordinated and facilitated both trainings.

Numbering about 11 million today, the indigenous peoples are among the poorest sectors in Philippine society. According to a study by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, they suffer from “lack of equal access to basic social services, compounded by a long history of discrimination and prejudice”.

“We wish to be of help to our indigenous communities thru our technologies that are suited to their needs and the resources that abound in their areas,” said DOST-FPRDI Director, Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan. He added, “With a holistic plan and strong partnership with other government agencies and people’s organizations, we are optimistic that we can help better the lives of the IPs and other marginalized sectors in the country.’”

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

Playing victim’s role

A

fter the explosive revelation of the wife of Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista of the latter’s undisclosed wealth amounting to billions, the plot has thickened and the play up of emotions becoming more and more dramatic.

There is eary silence on the camp of the opposition and even the usual crusaders against corruption and pro-women advocates.

Patricia Bautista is protraying herself as a strong-willed woman who braved the consequences of her expose including putting her family in public humiliation and scrutiny. Her children primarily the hardest hit. But she braved it all. It’s just uncanny that she is not getting the backing of women groups in the same fashion as

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jailed Senator Ĺeila De Lima.

On the other hand, Bautista has taken to television interviews and breaking into tears aided by friendly camera works. He has filed cases against his estranged wife whom he accused of infidelity and extortion.

The beleaguered election chief is obviously playing the victim’s role, treading into emotions to save his ass from impending impeachment and possibly, a storm of legal battles. He will also be at the forefront of an inevitable probe into the linkages of his wealth and the liasons surrounding his money.

Bautista is in deep trouble. This emotional play won’t save him. Only the truth can save him. Or sink him.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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EDGEDAVAO

I

n the early part of the 17th century, Spanish religious missionaries founded a small settlement which was called Abre de Ilog (coming from the Spanish verb, “abre,” which means “open” and Tagalog noun, “ilog” for “river.” Later on, it was renamed as “Abra de Ilog” (its present name), a Chabacano-like terminology which is loosely translated as “bucana ng ilog” or “opening of the river.”

Abra de Ilog is one of the eight municipalities of Occidental Mindoro.

Although it is far from Davao City, I am highlighting it here since the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) conducted a coral mapping project, which the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute implemented. Davao region might be interested to know the findings of the study.

The projected did some “detailed underwater surveys and mapping in the shallow euphotic reefs and deep mesophotic reefs” of the town, according to Rose Anne M. Aya and Ronald Olavides, authors of the report.

Euphotic reefs are those corals found at 1-30 meters depth; they have been extensively surveyed by many marine researchers and conservation managers using conventional survey methods.

The mesophotic reefs, on the other hand, are corals located at 30-150 meters depth. They are considered at the “twilight zone” and among the least studied environment due to the technical limitations and personal risks involved in deep surveys.

“The project aims to document the occurrence and biodiversity of mesophotic reefs, provide detailed seafloor maps and hydrodynamic models,” the two authors

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Coral reefs “Twilight zone” wrote.

Abra de Ilog is among the first sites in the country that has been surveyed quantitatively for its mesophotic coral reefs and fish communities.

“The reefs surveyed were severely disturbed by sedimentation,” the report said. “Many dead and live corals were covered in silt. Live hard coral cover in euphotic zone was poor with 21% cover, and even more so in the mesophotic zone with only 4%. Dead coral cover was 29% in the euphotic and 26% in the mesophotic.”

Despite this fact, the researchers found out that the place is teemed with biodiversity. “The area is surprisingly biodiverse, considering the poor coral condition, high turbidity, and heavy siltation,” the report said. “These indicate that the mesophotic reefs should be included in conservation priorities and that they are also vulnerable to large-scale impacts like sedimentation.”

As they differ in depth, the kinds of corals thriving in both zones. Shallow reefs were dominated by boulder-like massive and branching corals while the upper mesophotic was home to flattened encrusting forms.

“There are more gorgonians, black corals, sponges, invertebrates, and fishes in the mesophotic that remain largely undocumented,” the report pointed out.

A total of 66 fish species from 15 families were recorded during diverbased surveys. Forty-one species from 13 families were found in the euphotic zone and 45 species from 15 families were in the upper mesophotic zone.

A total of 39 coral genera was also recorded, all of which were found in

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

the euphotic zone, and 25 genera in the mesophotic zone.

“Despite poor reef conditions in the site, overall fish community biomass was high and averaged 54 metric tons per square kilometer,” the report said. “The mesophotic zone had six times more fish biomass than the euphotic zone: 92.5 metric tons per square kilometer.”

Target fishes and benthic carnivores were particularly more abundant in the mesophotic zone, the study found.

Starting at the edge of the forereef, the most dominant fish species is the banana fusilier (Pterocaesio pisang). At 30-35 meters deep, golden damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) occurred in schools along with smaller groups of squarespot anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia), which are iconic species in the upper boundary of many mesophotic reefs in the country.

“A flurry of wrasse, surgeonfish, unicornfish, angelfish and butterflyfish species also occurred,” the report said.

“However, the lack of large predators like the groupers, snappers, trevallies and sharks is symptomatic of overfishing that places selective pressure on these highvalue fishes.”

There are three major types of coral reefs, according to Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

These are fringing type (those found on the edges of islands and which constitutes 30% of the country’s coral reefs); the barrier type (best exemplified by the Dajanon Reef of Central Visayas); and the atoll (of which the Tubbataha and Cagayan Reef in the Sulu Sea are ideal examples).

Unknowingly, corals are the dried and bleached skeletons of soft-bodied animals that live in the warm, sunlit waters of tropical seas and look more like plants and rocks than animals.

The main part of the real coral is the polyp – the extraordinary flowerlike animal with a tube-like body and finger-like tentacles. “Coral polyps get nutrition in two ways,” explains Lindsay Bennett, author of globetrotter island guide, Philippines. “They catch their food by means of stinging tentacles that paralyze any suitable prey – microscopic creatures called zooplankton – and also engage in a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae that live within the polyp structure.”

Coral polyps reproduce in two ways: asexually (by the division of existing individual polyps) and asexually (by combining egg and sperm from two

different polyps). “This results in a freeswimming polyp that will be carried by ocean currents to find a new colony and commence a new reef,” Bennet writes.

The coral reef is the world’s most diverse marine ecosystem, and one of its most productive. It is home to some 4,000 species of fish (approximately one-quarter of all marine fish species), along with a vast array of other life forms – mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, starfish, sponges, tube-worms and many more.

In the Philippines, for instance, more than 40 million people live on the coast within 30 kilometers of coral reef.

Approximately, two million people depend on fisheries for employment, with about one million small-scale fishermen directly dependent on reef fisheries. The country’s reefs yield 5 to 37 tons of fish per square kilometer, making them very important to the productivity of fisheries.

“The Philippines is a major supplier of fish to the live reef food fish trade, a billion-dollar industry in the Asia-Pacific region,” noted Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle, a publication published by the Washington-based World Resources Institute (WRI). “In 2007, the Philippines exported at least 1,370 tons of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), one of the trade’s most important species in terms of volume, which fetched an estimated retail value of about US$140 million.”

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

will be able to go home. But when?

After this, we would mark every Holy Month as a reminder that our city was once bombed until nothing was left, that it became the graveyard of so many lives unceremoniously buried under the rubble, and that many of my people have no place to go back to anymore.

After this, people would once again associate us with terrorists, forgetting the fact that it was our city that terrorists destroyed in the first place.

I always thought people who feel bad for every single person, like my Mom is, are weak because the world will always be a nasty place and it would do no good to keep giving your heart away.

Every single time. I was wrong.

It takes a really strong heart to feel hurt for every ‘bakwit’, for every person in need. It takes a strong heart to endure the constant breaking of the heart. That is why people who help bakwits in any way are the real heroes.

The world is a horrible place but it brings out the good in humanity. This realization made me a little less cynical

than I used to be. I used to worry if and when I can go back to school. Not anymore. I just brace myself to have my heart broken again. And again.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. OUR MARAWI is open to anyone who wishes to share his/ her thoughts on what is happening in Marawi City, the country’s lone Islamic City. Elinisha Rojan C. Guro, 17, longs to return home, to Marawi City where she will be in Grade 12 at the Mindanao State University-Marawi Senior High School. Elinisha describes herself as a “poet, debater, editor, essayist, fictionist, painter, graphic artist, public speaker, Singkil dancer, environment and cultural activist, chef and–youth leader.” Exposed in local, national and international multicultural settings, she is a driven and sometimes overly confident individual with equally strong passion for animal rights. She has used her various skills and talents to volunteer and sometimes spearhead in many organizations here and abroad whose advocacies she supports. She strongly believes that with great and many talents come the many windows to help and reach out)

OUR MARAWI: Every Holy Month will be a reminder that our city was once bombed until nothing was left

D

owntown Marawi City one sunny afternoon circa 2004, before all the devastation due to the fires and the aerial bombings no thanks to the still ongoing skirmishes between government forces and the Maute Group that caused the evacuation of most of the city’s population. MindaNews photo

by BOBBY TIMONERA DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 10 July) — I have often fantasized my future trip to Davao City where my father works as a humanitarian worker when I happen to space out. I dreamt of visiting as a tourist or as a youth volunteer or sometimes as a scholar… but never as a ‘bakwit.’

I feel very detached to the word ‘bakwit.. I have seen so many tragic events in this country that I have become indifferent to the term. When you are used to seeing bakwits, you often lose a touch of sympathy. After all, feeling hurt for their sake over and over again would destroy your heart eventually and completely. At least that’s what I thought.

Now, I am one of them. The place where I used to watch unfortunate

events has been ravaged. The safe haven that protected my people from storms, typhoons, and earthquakes was annihilated until it resembled Aleppo, the city I used to watch in horror from afar. Who would have thought?

To add salt to injury, the tragedy happened in the month of Ramadhan, the month where Meranao families feel the happiest. We were supposed to put up Ramadhan specials and devour food feast during Iftar. We were supposed to spend our nights with aching legs because the Imam recited a really long Surah during Tarawee. I used to hate that after several days, but now, how I wish we had Tarawee in Marawi and I would not have minded if it lasted until the following morning.

Instead, we left all the fruits of our hard work behind in the hopes of saving the lives of our family, praying every night that the war would stop.

I was fortunate that I didn’t have to spend my days huddled in an evacuation center, wishing for relief goods to sustain me. Davao City welcomed my sister and me and although I had spent

By ELINISHA ROJAN C. GURO time exploring the city like a tourist, always at the back of my mind, the thought of Meranaws sleeping on the cold, stone floor would remind me that I am no tourist. I am just a Meranaw bakwit who left home to avoid spending sleepless nights listening to loud and limb-shaking bombs falling.

I already had enough difficulties evacuating my two beloved cats, Snowbell and Roger. Their vet has kindly taken them in while we are still bakwits and are unable to go back home. Whenever I miss them so much, I comfort myself with thoughts of other fellow bakwits. I can only imagine how much more difficult it is for single parents with ten children, orphans, old people, pregnant women, handicapped individuals… the list goes on and on.

Sometimes I feel guilty when I think of my cats more often than bakwits like me. But how do you explain to cats that they were not abandoned, that I will someday come and get them? They will not know until I come for them and we

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

AMSCOR... FROM 1 as the Philippine’s sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 and declared as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2016.

Dayanghirang said there is already a provincial ordinance banning mining operations in the province. However, he was informed there are at least five active mining applications.

The governor lamented that fact that the provincial and municipal local government units are not being consulted before an ECC or MPSA is approved.

The province is also contesting the approval of another application of another mining company in Pintatagan, Banaybanay town.

Dayanghirang said he

was informed the said mining firm’s bidding is still with MGB but it is allegedly quarrying minerals in the area.

Dayanghirang led provincial officials, employees and residents during the ASEAN landmark lighting at Mt. Hamiguitan, which is the first and only mountain range in the Philippines inscribed in the world heritage list.

“This early, we have identified Mount Hamiguitan as among our competitive advantages, and we will build on it. Our children and their children deserve to experience this paradise too. It is like being in paradise when we enter Mount Hamiguitan’s bonsai fields,” he said in his speech. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

“The circular now expands coverage to other off-campus activities where students go on competitions outside their school, when they attend conferences and symposia, when they do immersion programs and when they go on sports activities,” De Vera said.

The circular sets several requirements that higher education institutions should follow during such activities, he said.

“We will require them to have insurance for students, check the registration, insurance, franchise, and road-worthiness of vehicles used in the transportation of students and coordinate with local government units,” De

Vera said.

MO 63 also requires higher education institutions to make sure and be accountable that when they send their students outside the university, there are faculty or persons in charge that will monitor what the students are doing.

“So we are requiring written consent of parents and if needed, medical clearance for students that go on field trips and other out-of-school activities and to make sure that universities provide alternative activities for students who cannot attend off-campus activities,” the CHED official said.

“By this circular, we want to make sure that the student’s safety is protected,” De Vera said. (PNA)

seen in elevators and stairwells, as well as in locations in which fire hazards are present including gas stations and storage areas for flammable liquids, gas, explosives or combustible materials.

Likewise, DSAs should not be established within the buildings and premises of public hospitals, medical, dental and optical clinics, health centers, nursing homes, dispensaries and laboratories as well as food preparation areas.

According to the DILG, the LGUs are expected to implement the standards, specifications and putting-up of signages for DSAs for the efficient and effective implementation of EO 26.

Among such stan-

dards are the following: -- DSAs shall not have an opening that will allow air or cigarette smoke to escape to the smoke-free area of the building except for a single door equipped with an automatic door closer; --DSAs shall not also be located in or within 10 meters from the entrances, exits or any place where people pass or gather, or in front of air intake ducts; -- DSAs shall have “Smoking Area” signage; graphic health warnings on the effects of tobacco use; and prohibition on the entry of persons below 18 years old; and -- The ventilation system of DSAs other than in an open area and for the Buffer Zone shall be independent of all ventilation systems servicing the rest of the building. (P

He bagged the PNP’s Individual Award for Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation.

Espinido thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his wholehearted support to the PNP. Such trust has greatly boosted the morale of the 190,000-strong police force, he

added.

During Wednesday’s anniversary where he was the guest-of-honor, Duterte said he will do everything to protect them in the ongoing crusade against illegal drugs as long their actions are above board and legal. (PNA)

CHED... FROM 3

LGUS... FROM 2

ESPINIDO... FROM 3

DEVOTION. A Catholic devotee holds the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary while offering a prayer at the newly refurbished bell tower of San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

SECURITY... FROM 2

Genrose Tecson from the City Tourism Office. During their last ExeCom meeting they presented their plan to the security forces for them to make a security plan but to their surprise the security forces already had something ready. Hon. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the ExeCom to ensure the safety before anything else.

Aside from the official events that the city will be

hosting, there also other events that such as parties and rave so to ensure the safety of the people that will be attending this events they required the organizers to present their security plans and hire extra guards, this is to guarantee the people that the security forces of the city won’t be stretched out. The Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSCC) will approve their security plan.

a malnutrition-free Philippines “As public servants, we support the goals of the department of health and the national nutrition council carried out by you,” Villar said.

Villar said that according to the study of the United Nation’s food and agricultural

organization “Pag hindi natin pinag patuloy ang pag tatanim ng ating mga small farmers sa ating rural areas magugutom tayo 33 years from now or year 2050.” She said that we need to learn how to grow vegetables so that our future generation will not starve.

alike - will get to know more about the Mandaya, their traditions and beliefs and their way of life, so that we may all have a greater understanding of our history, and forge deeper connections with the people whose forebears came before all of us, in an effort to help them pre-

serve their indigenous culture”, she added.

Sharmi, on the other hand, said she just wants to show the world how beautiful the Mandaya culture is through her eyes.

“I do not want to become great. I just want to be remembered,” she said. (GLP)

all the more reasons to maintain the heightened alert in the city.

As commander of the Task Force, Neri added

that along with his men, they are all willing to assist and volunteer in events dedicated to ensuring the welfare of the people.

YOUNG... FROM 3

VILLAR... FROM 3

TFD... FROM 2

Kerwin brod-in-law shot dead in Davao T

he brother-in-law of suspected drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. was shot dead in his hideout during a joint police operation in Barangay Bato, Toril District, Davao City Wednesday morning.

Killed in the operation conducted by elements of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 8 and 11 and Toril Police was Leonardo dela Cruz also known as Jake Bolanio dela Cruz, Leonard Bolanio dela Cruz and Daot.

Dela Cruz is the husband of Marie Espinosa, who is the sister of suspected druglord Kerwin Espinosa and daughter of slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Toril Police Station commander Chief Inspector Ronald Lao said the operation was launched to serve four warrants of arrest against Dela Cruz. But Lao said Dela Cruz engaged the police in a shootout. An Ingram firegram was taken from Dela Cruz.

The joint operation was conducted by the RIU 8 and 11 teams, Regional Drug Enforcement Units of Region 8 and 11. According to Lao, Dela Cruz fled to Davao City from Leyte in September last year. Dela Cruz, who hails from Sitio Tinago, Barangay Beholho, Albuera, Leyte,

have settled as transient in Barangay Bato, Upper Piedad, Toril, this city.

Lao said Dela Cruz could have settled in Davao because he reportedly has many relatives who are residing in Barangay Daliao, Toril. Dela Cruz was suspect in the murder of two police officers in Albuera and a municipal councilor of the same town.

He was considered as a high value target of RIU 8.

Dela Cruz was facing a string of cases for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8294 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) with Criminal Case No. B-11-0440 issued by Judge Clinton Nuevo of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Baybay, Leyte; RA 9165 (Dangeorous Drugs Act) with Criminal Case No. 16,785 issued by Judge Sisinio Virtudazo of RTC 4 of Tagbilaran City; RA 10591 with Crim. Case. Nos. R-ORM16-00625-CR and R-ORM16-00626-CR; a murder case with Criminal Case. No. R-ORM-16-00635 issued by Judge Girlie Yu of RTC 35 of Ormoc City; and, another murder case with Criminal Case no. B-17-01-03 issued

by Judge Carlos Arguelles of RTC 8 of Baybay, Leyte.

Police authorities are still conducting a follow up investigation. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA

INdulge!

CELEBRATING TWO DECADES of success in the business is not easy. The learnings, perseverance, and challenges, are some of the fundamentals on how to achieve sustainable growth in the company.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), recently celebrated two decades of success following the gathering of its biggest event for their recognized Isuzu clubs; Team Isuzu Pilipinas, Team Isuzu Car Enthusiast and mu-X Owners Philippines.

Dubbed as “Isuzu Big Meet,” the event, which was held at Megatent in Libis, Quezon City, was made to promote camaraderie between Isuzu vehicle owners, as well recording the biggest gathering of Isuzu club members in one place.

More than 300 Isuzu owners with their vehicles joined the grand meet, which displayed Isuzu’s current light commercial vehicle line-up, namely the Crosswind AUV, DMAX pick-up and mu-X SUV, alongside its iconic models like the Hi-Lander, Fuego pick-up and Alterra.

To make event more exciting, IPC held its first car show for stock and modified Isuzu vehicles. Open for all clubs are categories such as Best AUV, Best Pick-up, and Best SUV. Meanwhile for the modified categories, Isuzu clubs competed on Best Engine Set-up, Best Sound/Entertainment System Set-up, and Best 4x4 Vehicle Setup.

Judged by IPC executives and members of the motoring media, champions emerged from each club; Victor Candelaria (Best AUV), Dr. Roman Remo (Best Pick-up), JT Lerma (Best SUV), Ivan De Castro (Best Engine Set-up), Deni Von Amatorio (Best Sound/Entertainment) and Vic Makimkim (Best 4x4 Set-up).

Each of them received cash prize, trophy, and premium Isuzu merchandise; as well as cash prizes and premium merchan-

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

Isuzu PH holds ‘Isuzu Big Meet’ Event is biggest Isuzu customer meet up in Phl

dise to the first and second runner-up winners.

Moreover, the owners of the Oldest Isuzu Model and the Highest KM Mileage in attendance, were also given recognition and prizes, Oldest Model awards was given to Alex Cabungal for his 1976 Gemini. Chito Villanueva from Team Isuzu Pilipinas took the highest mileage award for recording 998,628 kilometers on his Isuzu Hi-Lander.

Part of the giving thanks to its loyal customers, IPC provided

an exclusive 20-percent discount to all event participants applicable to all Isuzu merchandise, parts and accessories displayed during the event.

The afternoon session was filled with fun games like the burger and hotdog eating contest participated by all clubs, and band entertainment by IPC Band, Pub Forties and PUPIL. IPC President Hajime Koso expressed his elation over the success of the program, saying that the event is a true testament on the reliability and

trustworthiness of the brand with Filipinos motorists.

“We are thankful for the trust that you have continually showed us over the course of the years. We value this partnership and rest assured that we will continue to provide utmost quality and topnotch service every time you would seek our service,” Koso said.

“Just like car clubs, we want everyone to join hands and be united not just on meets, but also on the road,” he added. PR

EDGEDAVAO

A2INdulge!

EVENT

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

ASEAN landmark lighting at Mt. Hamiguitan World Heritage Park

THE MOUNT HAMIGUITAN RANGE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mindanao situated in the town of San Isidro in the Province of Davao Oriental, was among the 50 destinations in the country chosen by the Department of Foreign Affairs to host the nationwide ASEAN LANDMARK LIGHTING CEREMONY. With its theme “Under One Light, We Are One ASEAN”, this landmark lighting project is considered as one of the highlights of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN 2017 coinciding its Golden Anniversary.

Being an ASEAN Heritage Park, Mount Hamiguitan World Heritage Park is a perfect venue for this occasion. In Davao Region, aside from Davao Oriental, the City of Davao also hosted this historic Landmark Light-

ing event.

The Lighting of the ASEAN Lanterns was led by Governor Nelson Dayanghirang and other Provincial Government Officials. Mayors from the different Municipalities of Davao Oriental were also present. Mayor Tina Uy of San Isidro expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the ASEAN Organizers for choosing Mount Hamiguitan World Heritage as part of this momentous event.

Governor Dayanghirang in his speech also

MVT Bridges Philippines, Purok Malakas, General Santos City for more Information Please contact Cellphone Number 09460154748. Look for Shane S. Liquit Marketing Consultant

thanked the ASEAN for giving the Province the opportunity to showcase at a larger stage the Province’s crown jewel which is the first and the only mountain range in the Philippines inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. He also emphasized the importance of the preservation not only of the natural heritage but also the cultural heritage for the next generation.

Aside from Davao Oriental, other LGUs in country participated in this event - from the historic site in Laoag city, Ilocos Norte to the Cordilleras; from Metro Manila to battle of Legaspi Monument in Albay Province; from Plaza Independencia-Fort San Pedro, Cebu City; to Balangiga in Eastern Samar.

By OLAN EMBOSCADO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Experience a festive Mindanao in SM Supermalls -vibrant celebrations abound malls in the region THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST, SM Supermalls in Mindanao will be home to festive celebrations of key cities, highlighting food, music, arts, fashion and people of this colorful island.

This will happen through a regional campaign by SM aims to shine a brighter light on the south’s tourism potential by establishing malls as the new cultural centers: Festive Mindanao.

Through this campaign, SM hopes to put emphasis on the already colorful festivals that Mindanao celebrates to create a renewed interest and awareness about the fun and festivity in the island at this time of the year.

Festive Mindanao is based on the idea that there is much to rediscover in the region. Tourists and locals do not have to look far to experience Festive Mindanao— there are SM Supermalls in key cities in the island!

With the exciting line of activities under this campaign, the celebrations cement the idea of SM as a cultural venue and Mindanao as an enduring tourism destination.

Festive Mindanao will involve all five SM Supermalls in Mindanao: SM City Davao, SM Lanang

SM Supermalls in Mindanao launched the Festive Mindanao campaign last Monday with the Kadayawan executive committee. (L-R) SM Supermalls group brand manager Aron Dalaza, Davao City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson, Kadayawan executive committee co-chair Capt. Ronald Go, and SM Supermalls AVP for marketing in Mindanao Russel Alaba.

Premier, SM City General Santos, SM City Cagayan De Oro, and SM CDO Downtown Premier. The celebrations are mainly categorized

into six components that cover retail, food and music, trade fairs, performance art, entertainment, and fashion.

EDGEDAVAO

A4INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

11 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

Mitsubishi to launch new MPV

M

itsubishi has finally revealed the name of their next-generation MPV. Dubbed “Xpander”, this new next-generation 7-seater is specifically made, in Mitsubishi’s words, “xpand” Mitsubishi’s market presence through “xpanded” design, “xpanded comfort”, “xpanded e-convenience”, and “xpanded performance.”

Bad puns aside, the allnew Mitsubishi Xpander will be produced at Mitsubishi’s assembly plant

located in Bekasi Prefecture. Churning out at a rate of 80,000 units annually, it will be available for sale by the third quarter of this year in Indonesia and other markets in ASEAN, including the Philippines, by early 2018.

For the Indonesia market, the Xpander is powered by a 1.5-liter 16-valve gasoline engine fitted with MIVEC. Generating 105 horsepower, Mitsubishi promises punchy and dependable performance (even when climbing up steep hills at

full load) as well as low fuel consumption and emissions. Mated to the engine is either a 5-speed M/T or 4-speed A/T.

Since this engine is specially designed to meet Indonesian car taxes, there might be a chance that Mitsubishi will fit a different engine for other markets (no official word on this though).

The front-wheel drive Xpander features a unibody construction that provides high levels of comfort and driving sta-

bility. Yet, the generous 205 millimeters of ground clearance allow for an extra layer of confidence in traversing unpaved roads or going through floods.

Already promising the best interior room in its segment, the Xpander features a highly flexible interior fitted with an abundance of storage spaces including 16 bottle holders. The second row seats fold in a 60/40 split while the third row goes down 50/50. Both rows fold flat creating a wide and large cargo area. Careful consid-

eration was also done to make the interior quieter.

The Xpander uses thick, soundproof glass (laminated with an extra sound-absorbing layer).

Some of the creature comfort features include a dual aircon system with 8-power settings for the front and 4-power settings for the rear), Keyless Operation System with push-button start/stop, and a full-color LED display in the center of the instrument cluster with an eco-drive indicator.

Mitsubishi has already announced the pricing for

the 2018 Xpander which starts at 189,050,000 Indonesian Rp. (~ P 718,000) for the base GLX M/T and goes up to 245,350,000 Indonesia Rp. (~P 932,000) for the Ultimate A/T. 2018 Mitsubishi Xpander Overall Length: 4,475 mm Overall Width: 1,750 mm Overall Height: 1,700 mm Ground Clearance: 205 mm Engine: 1.5-liter MIVEC DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder Maximum Power: 105 horsepower Drivetrain: Front engine, Front wheel drive

tribution,” shared Steven Tan, president and CEO of BAP. “Our total sales performance since January 2017 is the best it has ever been since BAP began its operations. We are looking forward to a continuous push for the second half of the year as we aim to again exceed our targets. Our latest Kodo: Soul of Motion-inspired and Skyactiv Technology-equipped models launched only recently have been instrumental in reinvigorating the Mazda badge and establishing our position as the premium Japanese brand.”

Since their public reveal at the Manila International Auto Show last April, both CX-5 and CX-9 premium crossovers have attracted much attention and reservations. Boosted by strong demand, the incoming shipment of CX-5s will increase starting this August, reaching a total of more than 800 units by the month of November. Moreover, Mazda Corporation Japan has increased this year’s

Philippine allocation of the new CX9 to more than 300 units, also to be delivered by the same month. This ensures ample supply to meet the high demand for the premium Skyactiv 2.5-Liter Turbocharged 7-seater crossover.

Mazda Philippines also unveiled the much-anticipated MX-5 RF twoseat, retractable fastback sports car last April 2017.

Since January of this year up to July, the company has shipped 113 MX-5 sports cars, 85 of which are the RF Retractable Fastback variant.

The top-selling Mazda2 sub-compact sedan and hatchback line was also updated with G-Vectoring Control and 2017 design specifications only this June. All Mazda dealerships continue to run the ZoomFest promotion for select models up to August 31, 2017 offering noteworthy discounts and deals for select models in cooperation with EastWest Bank.

Mazda PH sets record sales B

ermaz Auto Philippines (BAP), the official distributor of Mazda vehicles and parts in the country, today reported another record-setting feat, this time for the month of July, as it carries on with a strong year-on-year upward trend in total sales performance for the first seven months of 2017.

July’s sales figure of 418 units was the 6th month beginning January this year that Mazda Philippines has broken its own monthly sales record since 2013 when BAP took over the distributorship of the brand. BAP has also exceeded its quarter-over-quarter sales performance this year.

Year to date, July sales of 2,521 units is 14.5 percent better over the same period last year, and is the best sales period year-over-year for the company.

“We are encouraged by the market’s continuous strong demand for Mazda vehicles this 2017, as in the past years since Bermaz took over the dis-

EDGEDAVAO

12 HEALTH

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

Vasectomy: Fatherhood Interrupted

(Photos taken from the net)

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“Vasectomy is one of the most effective methods of birth control; about 33 times more effective than oral contraception and about 90 times more effective than condoms but not immediately.” – Dr. Charles Davis, a clinical professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

H

ealth authorities in Davao City batted for vasectomy in men as an alternative to achieving ideal family size,” wrote Rita Valdez in a recent news report published in EDGE Davao.

Another reason for having vasectomy, according to Jeff Fuentes, the division chief of the City Population Office, “is also to unburden women.”

For his part, Dr. Mike Ababon, the district health officer of the City Health Office, said that vasectomy should not be equated to being impotent or what locals called as “kapon.”

Another thing: vasectomy is very safe. “Vasectomy is a safe and highly effective method of birth control accepted by many couples throughout the world,” assured the Atlanta-based US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A form of permanent contraception, it “can prevent pregnancy by blocking the transport of sperm out of the testes.”

While it is common in the United States – where almost half a million of vasectomy procedures are performed each year – vasectomy is unpopular in the Philippines. Most Filipinos, according to a study done by

the Department of Health (DOH) confused vasectomy with castration, which is the surgical removal of the testicle(s).

There are those who believe that once a man goes through with vasectomy, he would become effeminate and gentle. Others think that the procedure will make a man not to enjoy sex anymore as he used to.

Vasectomy is the most effective permanent form of birth control available to men. Contrary to what most people believe, vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization.

During the procedure, the tube (vas deferens) of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner so that the sperms are prevented from entering into the seminal stream (ejaculate).

A vasectomy is usually performed in a physician’s office or medical clinic.

“My vasectomy was a piece of cake,” said Noel, a 35-year-old businessman who had undergone the procedure. “I was as nervous as anyone about it. The worst part of the whole thing was thinking about it for a month after I made the appointment.

It really was no worse than getting a filling at the dentist. I had no pain

to speak of afterwards, and no swelling.”

Here’s an explanation why a man can no longer get a woman pregnant once he undergoes vasectomy from medicinenet.com: “Sperm are made in the two testicles, which are inside the scrotum.

Sperm is stored in a tube attached to each testicle called the epididymis.

When a man ejaculates, the sperm travel from the epididymis, through the vas deferens, and then mix with seminal fluid to form semen. The semen then travels through the urethra and out the penis.

Before a vasectomy, semen contains sperm and seminal fluid. After a vasectomy, sperm are no longer in the semen. The man’s testicles will make less sperm over time, and his body will absorb any sperm that are made.”

Just because you have undergone a vasectomy procedure, you can immediately have sex with your partner. Wait, if you must. “It usually takes several months after a vasectomy for all remaining sperm to be ejaculated or reabsorbed,” WebMd. com informs. “You must use another method of birth control until you have a semen sample tested and it shows a zero sperm count. Otherwise, you can still get your

partner pregnant.”

In fact, there is still a small risk that the vasectomy will fail, which can lead to unintended pregnancy.

According to medicinenet. com, among 1,000 vasectomies, 11 will likely fail over 2 years; and half of these failures will occur within the first 3 months after surgery.

The risk of failure depends on a number of factors. For example, some surgical techniques are more likely to fail than others. In addition, there is a very small risk that the two ends of the vas deferens will grow back together. If this happens, sperm may be able to enter the semen and make pregnancy possible.

While it is true that vasectomy is safe and highly effective, there are some problems that could occur after surgery and over time, according to medicinenet.com.

“After surgery, most men have discomfort, bruising, and some swelling, all of which usually go away within two weeks,” the website points out. “Problems that can occur after surgery and need to be checked by a health care provider include hematoma (bleeding under the skin that can lead to painful swelling) and infection (with fever

and scrotal redness and tenderness as signs).”

Now regarding whether vasectomy will affect a man’s sex life, medicinenet. com has this answer: “Vasectomy will not affect your sex life. It does not decrease your sex drive because it does not affect the production of the male hormone testosterone. It also does not affect your ability to get an erection or ejaculate semen.

Because the sperm make up a very small amount of the semen, you will not notice a difference in the amount of semen you ejaculate.”

There are men who don’t want to undergo vasectomy procedure because some studies showed it will increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. In an article which appeared in What Doctors Don’t Tell You, it was noted that “the risk of developing prostate cancer after vasectomy jumps from seven per 1000 men per year to 11 per 1000 men per year - an increase of more than 60 per cent. The researchers confidently concluded that there was a genuine connection between prostate cancer and vasectomy, as the odds of these two findings being chance results were thousands to one

against.”

However, several studies later contradicted that study.

In 1994, a very largescale Danish report on every vasectomy case in Denmark over a 12-year period (nearly 75,000 men) compared their prostate cancer risk with the rest of the Danish male population – “and found no connection at all.”

The most recent study comes from New Zealand, a country with the highest rate of vasectomy in the world – and apparently meticulous cancer records. It compared more than 900 men with prostate cancer with about 1200 healthy men, and found no difference in prostate cancer rates.

Now, the inevitable question: Can vasectomy be reversed? Yes, it can!

WebMd.com has this information: “Surgery to reconnect the vas deferens is available. But the reversal procedure is difficult. Sometimes a doctor can remove sperm from the testicle in men who have had a vasectomy or a reversal that didn’t work. The sperm can then be used for in vitro fertilization.

Both vasectomy reversal and sperm retrieval can be expensive and may not always work.”

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

NEWS 13

EDGEDAVAO

Hundreds of PNP personnel charged for illegal drug use A

s the campaign against illegal drugs is intensified, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said similar efforts are done to eliminate rogue policemen as 247 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel were charged for illegal drug use.

Dela Rosa said all of these individuals were charged immediately after being found positive for drug use during a series of random narcotics tests. “(And our efforts to clean the

PNP), we remain ruthless as well in our campaign against scalawags within the PNP organization,” he said during the PNP’s 116th founding anniversary Wednesday.

He said the PNP Internal Affairs Service has also filed 1,835 administrative cases against PNP personnel involved in illegal drugs activities.

A total of 284 personnel were dismissed from service for grave offenses -- 160 drug-related offenses and 124 other offenses such as murder, AWOL (absence without leave) robbery/extortion and kidnapping,

among others.

Efforts to clean the police ranks gained momentum with the creation of the PNP Counter Intelligence Task Force to go after erring police personnel involved in illegal activities.

“The challenges of the past year have been tremendous and overwhelming, but because we had only the best interests of the community in our hearts, we prevailed and will continue to prevail against challenges that may still emerge ahead,” Dela Rosa said. (PNA)

EDGE DAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of

LAYOUT ARTIST

A motorcycle rider passes through Bumbaran town in Lanao del Sur, en route to Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, 07 August 2017. Travel time from Cotabato City to Cagayan de Oro City has been cut short from seven to

four hours, passing through Libungan, Alamada and Banisilan towns in North Cotabato, Wao and Bumbaran in Lanao del Sur and Talakag in Bukidnon. MindaNews photo courtesy of NAGUIB SINARIMBO

Submit application letter and resume to: Ella Tingzon, HR Department Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City Or email at edgedavao@gmail.com

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

Former rivals Reyes, Valdez relish PH’s good teamwork B

INAN City, Laguna — First-time teammates Mika Reyes and Alyssa Valdez were proud to see the star-studded Philippine team display total teamwork in defeating Hong Kong to the start the 19th AVC Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championships on Wednesday at Alonte Sports Arena here.

Valdez was on attack mode early in the game, firing her signature powerful cross court hits, while Reyes was solid at the net in the Philippines’ 25-21, 25-16, 25-17 victory.

But it was not just the two of them that stood out as 6-foot-5 do-it-all spiker Jaja Santiago proved unstoppable, Ces Molina also delivered her strong attacks, setter Kim Fajardo scored a couple of points while dishing out excellent combination plays, lefty opposite spikers Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Jovelyn Gonzaga showed their deadly form and libero Denden Lazaro played superb even with an injured hamstring.

“It’s really a team effort talaga lahat nagcontribute and everybody really wants

BOUNCING BACK. Jason Day, now no. 7 in the world, wants to climb back to no.1.

to win.

G o o d game for everyone,” said Reyes, skipper of the RP team.

Valdez, who topscored the team with 14 points, was glad that their 17-day training camp in Japan paid off.

“It’s really the para sa bayan talaga ‘yung game today,” she said. “We really wanted to show everyone what we’ve been preparing and trying to do in Japan.

Although it was a good win to start the tournament, Reyes pointed out that they still need to focus as they face Kazakhstan on Friday.

A win by the Pinay Spikers over the Kazakhs or a Kazakhs win over Hong Kong in Pool A will earn them a slot in the AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup next year.

“We’re very happy kailangan lang namin taasan pa ‘yung kumpiyansa and intensity ng laro namin,” said Reyes.

FIRST TIME MEAMMATES. Former UAAP rivals Mika Reyes (5) and Alyssa Valdez (2) now play together for the national squad.

Fil-Aissie Day back with swag C

HARLOTTE, N.C. — Jason Day’s swagger — and his motivation — have returned.

“I’m hungry again — and I’m looking forward to trying to beat these guys,” Day said on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) on the eve of the 99th PGA Championship.

Day is in the midst of what he called a “very poor season” with only two top 10 finishes and no wins in 15 starts. But the world’s former No. 1 player feels like he’s about to turn the corner after finishing tied for 24th last week at Bridgestone.

He’s also drawing confidence from his past success at the PGA Championship, winning at Whistling Straits in 2015 and finishing second last year to Jimmy Walker at Baltusrol. His renewed confidence may not be good news for the rest of the field this week. Jordan Spieth is aiming for a career grand

slam.

“I’m motivated now,” said Day, who withdrew from a tournament in March to be with his cancer-stricken mother.

His best finish this year is second at the AT&T Byron Nelson, where he lost a playoff to Billy Horschel.

Day entered the season as the top-ranked player but has since dropped to No. 7 — something that he says “annoys and motivates me at the same time.”

He made it clear his goal is to get back on top — and anticipates that will start with a strong performance this week at Quail Hollow.

The 29-year-old Australian said his passion waned late last season after getting “burned out.” Looking back, Day felt like he spread himself too thin trying to fulfill obligations and spending less time practicing and relaxing.

“I was trying to do too

many things,” he said.

By the time the end of last year rolled around, Day said he was exhausted after spending nearly a full year as the top-ranked player.

That pressure, along with his mother’s lung cancer surgery in March, led to a rough start to the 2017 season. He tearfully pulled out of the Match Play Championship six holes in, too distraught to play, to join her ahead of the surgery.

“It was difficult for me to be on the golf course and even think about actually playing at the time,” Day said.

On the course, his driving deteriorated and his normally reliable short game eluded him. In short, he felt like his game plateaued.

“You’re not panicking or anything, you’re just wondering why,” Day said.

“You’re up at night thinking about, ‘OK, what do I need

to do to get back to that winning room?’”

If Day does get back to No. 1, he’s vowed to handle things differently. In some ways, he’s already done that.

He didn’t arrive in Charlotte until Tuesday night and checked in to the tournament on Wednesday morning so he could spend more time at home in Ohio away from distractions.

Day refuses to call this a lost season.

Sure, he’s finished out of contention at the Masters (tied for 22nd), the US Open (cut) and the British Open (tied for 27th), but he believes his putting and driving are coming back.

And he harkens back to 2014 when he finished the year strong, which served as a springboard for two incredible seasons.

“I want to win again,” Day said. “So I’m excited about that.”

SPORTS 15

IT AIN’T OVER VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

Win against China avenges past defeats, but campaign is far fom over

B

EIRUT (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - Two years after their infamous Final loss in Changsha-Hunan, the Philippines dealt sweet vengeance against perennial tormentors China.

The Philippines have had a painful history facing China at the continental level, and by all indications, today’s game was supposed to be another notch in China’s favor. Entering this matchup, China had won 6 of their last 9 meetings with the Philippines at the senior men’s level.

The Chinese were bigger, deeper and had significantly longer preparation as they entered the Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut. With 2015 All-Star Five member Guo Ailun leading the way, China were heavily favored against Gilas Pilipinas, who were without prized naturalized player Andray Blatche and who recently lost key center June Mar Fajardo to injury.

As soon as the opening tip of today’s pivotal encounter, though, the Philippines were in overdrive. Coach Chot Reyes’s wards looked every bit like the favorites. They were throwing triple-teams at China, forcing turnovers, running in transition and hitting their three-point bombs.

T h e Filipinos channelled all the

pent up frustration of the past and turned it into energy that they used to the hilt.

The duo of Jayson Castro and Terrence Romeo proved to be magical again for the Philippines, with Asia Cup newcomers Matthew Wright, Raymond Almazan and Christian Standhardinger also holding their own. Castro had 13 points and 7 assists, while Wright drained 2 triples en route to 12 points. Aguilar, for his part, was a defensive dynamo, recording 5 blocked shots.

This result pushed the Philippines as favorites to top Group B, and it will be interesting to see how they approach their next matches against t h e Qatar a n d Iraq.

CELEBRATION. Jayson Castro celebrates with teammates after the conquest of defending champion China at the FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday night. FIBA photo.

TEAM EFFORT. Matthew Wright leads the Gilas in acknowledging the highly appreciative crowd.

HEAD-TO-HEAD AGAINST CHINA:

BIG GAME. Pointguard Terrence Romeo had a monster game with 26 points.

Asian Games China beat Philippines, 92-51 FIBA Asia Championship Philippines beat China, 79-74 (group Philippines beat China, 78-76 (classification) FIBA Asia Championship China beat Philippines, 75-60 FIBA Asia Challenge China beat Philippines, 71-68 FIBA Asia Challenge Philippines beat China, 80-79 Asian Games China beat Philippines, 78-71 FIBA Asia Championship China beat Philippines. 78-67 FIBA Asia Challenge China beat Philippines, 75-65

2002:

2007: phase) 2011: 2012: 2014:

2014:

2015: 2016:

Norwood, Aguilar come up big STANDOUT. Gabe Norwood, a late addition to the line-up, came up big in defense along with Japeth Aguilar.

DEFENSE. Calvin Abueva (8) and Raymond Almazan (20) stood their ground against the Chinese giants. Abueva got an ejection early in the ballgame.

H

ow exactly did Gilas Pilipinas scale the ‘Great Wall’ that is Asian powerhouse China in its Fiba Asia Cup debut in Lebanon on Wednesday?

The obvious answer is Terrence Romeo.

With a dazzling display down the stretch, Romeo kept Gilas’ head above water after China erased a 17-point deficit in the fourth. The spitfire GlobalPort star scored eight of his game-high 26 points in the closing minutes to lead the Filipino cagers to a vengeful 96-87 win.

But there’s more to the Gilas victory than Romeo’s breathtaking takeover.

With no Andray Blatche and June Mar Fajardo, Gilas caught China by surprise in relentlessly attacking the paint and taking advantage of its edge in speed, putting the

Chinese dribblers in penalty early including two quick fouls on star guard Guo Ailun. The Philippine team went on to take a 2616 lead, bucking the ejection of Calvin Abueva, after the first quarter.

Still, the Chinese team would eventually mount their comeback from a deficit that was as high as 17 with a furious fourth quarter rally, taking the lead momentarily before Romeo took charge.

The undermanned and undersized Gilas squad also played exceptional on both ends of the floor, hanging tough with China’s strengths while dominating in other aspects of the game.

The Philippines went toe-to-toe with China in rebounding and three-point shooting. The Chinese squad knocked down 12 triples compared to the

Philippines’ 10, while they also grabbed 39 boards with the Filipino cagers just nine rebounds behind.

Standhardinger kept Gilas’ frontline afloat despite the absence of Blatche and Fajardo, grabbing six rebounds to go with his 15 points. Roger Pogoy also had six boards while Norwood added three.

But what took down China is the Gilas efficiency on offense, and dominance on defense. China managed to have a 45% clip from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc, not bad numbers but far off compared to Gilas. The Philippines shot a jaw-dropping 58% from the field, and almost 59% from deep (10-of-17).

The defense, led by Japeth Aguilar and Gabe Norwood, stood out as well.

Aguilar had a game-high five swats, while Norwood

got three steals and the same number of blocks.

The Philippine team had nine blocks and the same total for steals, compared to China’s four and six on those respective categories. And the Gilas defenders also forced China to more turnovers (15 compared to 12 by the Filipino cagers).

Gilas’ aggressive play also led China to commit nine more fouls and led to 11 more free throw attempts for the Philippines.

With Gilas’ 81% shooting from the stripe compared to China’s 44% clip, the Philippines managed to keep control.

Finally, the bench mob for Gilas delivered the killing blow. With Romeo leading the charge, the reserves gave the Philippines a 46-35 edge in bench scoring. (SPIN.ph)

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 94 •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 11-12, 2017