Edge10 issue99 August 18-19 2017

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 18-19, 2017

FOR MARAWI REHAB.President Duterte witnesses the turnover of the deed of donation by actor Robin Padilla to Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday evening. The P5-million donation is intended for the immediate psychosocial intervention for the children affected by the hostilities in Marawi City. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Villa Abrille heads AmCham chapter

P

ROMINENT lawyer and grizzled businessman-civic leader Leoncio “Nonoy” P. Villa Abrille was elected new president of the 29-year old American Chamber of Commerce of Mindanao (AmCham Mindanao) during a supervised election of 11 members of the board of directors at the Sarangani Hall of Marco Polo Hotel Davao last August 7.

The election was conducted by a committee headed by Cedric Caterio, partner of the Reyes Ta-

NBI exec denies extortion charge

A

ranking official of the National Bureau of Investigation regional office has denied accusation that NBI agents are extorting money from the owner of a night bar in the city.

At Wednesday’s AFPcandong & Co. accounting PNP Press Corps at Royal firm, with Marilou Sian, Mandaya Hotel, NBI assischief of party of the Louis tant regional ExVILLA10 zel Hernandezdirector said there was no attempt to ask money from the owners of Plaza Roman KTV Bar Miguel Efren Aquino and his

floor manager when it was raided last August 7.

“We never asked money. We just implemented the law without fear or favor,” Hernandez said, but refused to further discuss the issue because a case has been filed against the bar owners and four of the agency’s personnel are now under investigation.

Hernandez said he learned about the incident when NBI central office Internal Affairs team came to Davao to investigate the

accusation.

He also denied knowledge about the alleged PHP5,000 weekly payola as protection money from the bar owners.

Hernandez believes the issue can be addressed legally. “The truth shall set us free and that our moral is high, and we treat such as part of our job,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said NBI is not affected by the issue as this is part of the humps or hiccups in the

NBI’s role.

“We remain focus on our job,” he told reporters.

The NBI regional office is in the center of controversy after its Regional Director was accused of asking P500,000 reportedly as bribe in order that a case against the Aquinos will not prosper. Rosales reportedly took the money from the Holiday Spa after the raid.

Rosales has denied the allegation. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA

Eastern Mindanao said that they have invited VADM Ronald Joseph Mercado, Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy to attend the said event. There are also pre-anniversary activities conducted by the NFEM, these are the Ecological Solid Waste Management that happened in Pedro S. Carriedo Elem.

School in Buhangin last August 10, 2017; Mangrove Tree Planting & Coastal

Clean-up Drive Activity that took place in Br. Cagangohan, Panabo City; The Health Care Fair at camp Panacan Station Hospital and Dental Care Fair which will be benefited by the AFP Logistics Command Elementary School students at AFPLC on August 17, 2017; Coral Reef Preservation and Restoration Activity at Purok Sea Side, brgy.

Bago Aplaya Davao city on August 24, 2017; Fun Run

(5k) at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan and on August 30, 2017 there will be a NFEM Feeding Program together with the stakeholders at Tambongon Elem. School Lasang Davao city.

All the floating assets of the NFEM are conducting marine security patrol along Samal Island. There is also a quick reaction team on stand-by under the Naval Operations Group.

PH Immigration Act hurdles House panel Naval Forces turn 26 on September 4 A T measure seeking the creation of a Commission on Immigration has hurdled the committee level at the House of Representatives.

The House committee on justice has unanimously approved the unnumbered substitute bill, titled “Philippine Immigration Act”, which seeks to apply and administer the country’s immigration policies, rules, and regulations in the promotion of domestic and external interests of the

country.

Under the bill, the proposed Commission on Immigration shall be principally responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Philippine Immigration Act. The commission shall also be in charge of the implementation of all laws, rules, regulations or orders of any competent authority concerning the entry and admission into, stay in, and the departure

By: ANGIE SAVERON

he Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) will be celebrating its founding anniversary on September 04, 2017. Prior to that date, there will be series of events that include stakeholders’ engagement will be conducted as an introduction to the 26th Founding Anniversary of NFEM. Lt. James B. Reyes, Public

PH,10 Affairs officers Naval Forces

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4 NEWS

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Palace vows impartial probe into Bulacan raids

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CONSISTENT THEME.A worker installs decorative plastic Waling-waling flowers at the main entrance of Kaondayawan, a food and musical festival, along Palma Gil Street in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

alacañang on Thursday vowed that investigations into the simultaneous Bulacan raids that killed 32 alleged drug offenders would be impartial, even as it downplayed skepticisms over a large number of suspects killed in the police operations.

“There will be a fair and impartial investigation on the recent Bulacan raids,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

The Bulacan raids, as it is popularly known, were a series of simultaneous police anti-illegal drug operations that were conducted in a 24hour period, from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday (August 15) to 12:00 a.m. Wednesday (August 16).

A large number of deaths was met with criticisms and several sectors have called out for an investigation on the matter.

However, Abella at-

tributed the number of deaths to the wide scope of the operations and to the violent response of the suspects.

“The Bulacan raids, we have to underscore, are not the result of a single action, but a wide ranging simultaneous police operations against illegal drug offenders conducted in the whole province of Bulacan,” he said.

“Local authorities were met with violent resistance as evidenced by the recovery of firearms, grenades and live ammunitions,” Abella said.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bulacan raids consisted of 66 anti-drug operations where 20 armed encounters were reported.

Besides the death of 32 suspects, the raids resulted in 109 arrests and the recovery of about PHP1 million worth of illegal drugs and 34 firearms. (PNA

epartment of Education Secretary Leonor Briones is requiring all schools in Mindanao to post streamers indicating that they are a “peace zone”.

“This school is a peace zone” should be written in the streamers, according to Briones.

Briones said this in light of the ongoing Marawi crisis, and as the agency strongly advocates for the signing of the Declaration of Schools as Zones of Peace.

“Whatever happens to our country, education must continue. Learners should not wait, “ she pointed out.

Last June, days after the Marawi crisis started, DepEd has reiterated the need to adhere to the Declaration of Schools as Zones of Peace.

Briones noted that schools worldwide are treated neutral zones in areas where there is armed conflict. Schools must be free from armed combatants, she added.

In March, during the 2nd International Conference on Safe Schools in Buenos Aires, Argentina, DepEd expressed its desire for the government to sign the Declaration to protect schools and children from armed conflict. (PNA)

schools required DA says ban on fowls Mindanao to post peace zone streamers D extend to game cocks

By: ANGIE SAVERON

T

he temporary ban on fowls from Luzon extend to game cocks in a bid to prevent the spread of Avian Influenza to the Davao region and other parts of Mindanao.

Dr. Dannie Apelo, veterinarian and spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture said the ban was contained in a memorandum issued by Dr.

Erinco P. Garzon Jr. , assistant secretary for livestock and acting director of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

The memorandum issued on a temporary ban on the movement of live domestic and wild birds including their products such as poultry meat, day old chicks, egg including the balut semen and manure from Luzon Area to

Visayas and Mindanao, until such time that no new cases are reported 21 days after the depopulation o the affected areas.

“This circular memorandum is effective nationwide,” said Apelo.

He said this intensive biosecurity protocol is implemented because there is no specific treatment for the Bird Flu. All livestock and poul-

ployees”.

The respondent’s case stemmed from untruthful statements contained in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) for 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Records showed that Sabal misrepresented the contents of his SALNs as he failed to disclose his ownership of five real estate properties located in Doña Luisa and Buhangin in Davao City; and in Cotabato City.

The Ombudsman said that “the non-disclosure in respondent’s SALNs of the aforementioned real properties constitutes Serious Dishonesty as the acts were done fraudulently and were

ERRING DRIVER.A personnel from the Anti-Smoke Belching unit of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) issues a citation ticket to a public utility vehicle driver after violating Ordinance No. 0280 or the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Thursday.

Lean Daval Jr.

Town exec dismissed for serious dishonesty

T

he Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed from the service Talitay, Maguindanao Mayor Montasir Sabal for serious dishonesty.

Sabal was also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

The mayor is facing charges before the Sandiganbayan for three counts each of perjury, violations of Section 7 of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”, and Section 8 of RA No. 6713, or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Em-

TOWN,10

try products are banned from entering all the airports, seaports and roads coming to Visayas and Mindanao. In region 11, the Department of Agriculture is conducting surveillance and monitoring activities. There are five hot spot areas for migratory birds in Davao region, including two in Davao Oriental (Banay Banay and Lupon), Davao

VOL. 10 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 18-19, 2017

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

S

Wrong job

enator Antonio Trillanes IV should start to realize what his job really is. There is just too much hate in him that his existence in the Senate has rendered him like a man possessed with running after President Rodrigo Duterte, the President’s family and his allies.

That, fr sure, is not the reason why he is there in the Senate. That, for sure, is not the reason why Filipino elected him to office in 2013.

Trillanes is just consumed with proving himself against the country’s leadership whom he took his party’s cudgels of bringing down the then popular presidential candidate during the campaign of 2016. With the Liberal Party failing to stop the Duterte train, Trillanes is taking it all up to the Senate and in every occasion that he has, he bombards the President.

The latest tirades were in the Senate probe of the illegal drugs smuggling in the Bureau of Customs where he

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pummeled on a hearsay testament of customs broker Mark Taguba. It’s a shame that Trillanes had to dig deep into the statements of Taguba in his dire effort to link presidential son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte to the smuggling in the BOC. Trillanes has failed to prove his past allegations with the alleged millions of President Duterte, failed in linking the President to the so-called Davao Death Squad and now, added another failure to his adventurous journey in the Senate.

Trillanes should be reminded that he exists for the Filipino people who gave him the mandate in the legislative body tasked primarily to make laws relevant to the times which will address to the needs of the country and its people.

It appears Trillanes is engulfed by his motives--or that of his party collectively--and this is exactly what makes him undeserving of his job at the Senate.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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

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EDGEDAVAO

I

t was known then as Mindanao Rural Development Project (MRDP). But other provinces outside of Mindanao are experiencing the same problems.

So, the project seeks to include them and is now called Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

PRDP is a six-year development platform of the national government. It started in 2014 and will end in 2020. The project seeks to partner with the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector in providing key infrastructure, facilities, technology and information.

A total of P27.5 billion has been allotted, of which 74.64% comes from the World Bank, 12.99% from the national government, 11.32% from LGUs and the remaining 1.5% from the Global Environment Facility of the United Nations Development Program.

Of the 81 targeted provinces, 75 have already submitted their proposed projects, according to the PRDP national accomplishments project report. Only five provinces have no proposed project yet: Batanes, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Rizal and Sulu.

N

ow nearly devoid of its once verdant forests, Davao used to be a botanical garden, drawing scientists into its fold and inspiring adventurers to write travelogues and books that have become important sources of information of flora that then thrived in the region.

Dr. William Henry Brown, an American plant physiologist teaching Botany at the University of the Philippines, was one of those who extensively documented Davao’s plants.

In an article titled Minor Products of the Philippine Forests, published in the Bureau of Forestry’s Bulletin No. 22 in 1920, he cited the characteristics of plants found in Davao, including species that grew in mangrove swamplands and the variety of palms endemic to the region.

Known to Davao natives as bangkau or bakhau among Visayans, the Rhizophora candelaria is described as “leathery in texture green and shiny, and oblong-elliptic in shape. The apex is pointed or ends in a thornlike prolongation of the midrib. The stalks of inflorescences are found in the axils of fallen leaves and are shorter than the peoples of the leaves.”

Another mangrove species is the Avicennia officinalis Linn., locally known as the api-api or piapi. Found mostly on the outer sector of the swamp, the tree’s

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Improving standard of living in rural areas “Davao Occidental is the newest province in Davao region,” said Araceli M. Morano, deputy project director, during a press conference.

“But it is interested to send its proposal on black pepper.”

As of April 2017, the top supported commodities under the PRDP are coconut (P4.28 billion), abaca (P3.31 billion), banana (P1.92 billion), rubber (P1.77 billion), coffee (P1.45 billion), dairy (P1.09 billion), cassava (P877.05 million), mango (P768.28 million), rice (P626.57 million) and aromatic/ pigmented rice (P575.22 million).

The implementation of the project in Mindanao has increased the income of the beneficiaries by 24% – from an average of P194,741 to P247,567. At the farmer’s level, there was a 64% in income per hectare (from P55,584.00 to P90,958.00). An increase of 27% has been reported in household net income and 26% in production of targeted beneficiaries of enterprise development.

The figures were bared in the briefing paper, “Mindanao Cluster Initial Achievements on Project Development Objectives Indicators,” which was circulated during the

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

press conference.

An increase of 11% in volume of marketed outputs has also been noted – from 17 metric tons to 18.8 metric tons. Due to the establishment of farm to market roads, about 76% decrease in transport losses has been reported.

“Reduction in transport losses is also one of the factors that contribute in the increase in marketed outputs,” the briefing paper said.

Farm to market roads are under

the I-Build component. “An average of 38 minutes without the project and was reduced to an average of 14 minutes with the project at an average distance travelled of 6.2 kilometers,” it said.

Still under the I-Build component, a 19% decrease in hauling cost for agricultural products has been noted. The average hauling cost per sack was reduced from P36.94 to P29.91.

In the past, fish traders lost around P51,000 because of the poor road condition. With the project implementation, the losses had been converted to income.

Under objective three of the project, at least 22,594 households have been seen to have improved access to agrifishery services. The services refer to rural infrastructures, potable water systems and enterprise development subprojects, social and economic services, improved drinking water and sure market of produce.

In fetching water, for instance, a decrease of 22% has been observed. Without the project, fetching time was 45 minutes; it was reduced to 15 minutes with the

implementation of the project. The distance ranges from 100 meters to one kilometers from the household location.

There are actually four components of the project. The other three are I-Plan (getting a budget of P789 million), I-Reap (P6.93 billion), and I-Support (P1.23 billion). I-Build gets the biggest pie of the budget: P18.54 billion.

The objectives of PRDP is “to increase and enhance farm and fishery productivity in the targeted areas by supporting smallholders and fishers to sustainably increase their marketable surpluses, and by improving access to markets.”

RPDP envisions to have 5% increase at least per year in household incomes of farmers and fisherfolk and 7% increase in value of marketed outputs.

The project also looks forward of getting 20% increase in number of farmers and fisherfolk with improved access to the services rendered by the Department of Agriculture.

More importantly, PRDP aims to have 30% increase in income for targeted beneficiaries involved in enterprise development.

231 kilos per square centimeter.

Brown also identified Artocarpus elastica Reinw., known locally as the tugup, as endemic to Davao region and was exported to Java and Europe. In 1902, the bast of the plant was sold at 60-70 cents in Holland and some were later exported to Rotterdam. The plant “is a stately tree [whose] leaves are alternate, crowded, obtuse a both ends, occasionally lobed towards the apex...

The seeds are embedded in a whitish, more or less gummy pulp of a delicious tart flavor. They are about the size of peanuts, are eaten roasted, and in flavor almost resemble peanuts.”

The malibago, known scientifically as Hibiscus Tiliaceus Linn, is a muchbranched tree with fibrous materials made into fairly strong ropes. Farmers used its fiber for tying cattle or making hog traps. It is easily propagated by means of cuttings, has leaves that are alternate, hairy, and somewhat rounded, and flowers that are yellow with a purple center.

Known as the silk cotton tree, the kapok, or Ceiba Pentandra (L.), has seed pod fibers that “are very extensively used for stuffing pillows and mattresses… and are employed in making life preserves.” From 1917 to 1199, Davao exported 56,632 kilos of kapok valued at PhP20,194.

Kleinhovia Hospita L., known

in Davao as tamanag or bitan-ag to Cebuano migrants, is best known for use in tying bundles, tethering carabaos and horses, or making halters.

It is a “medium-sized tree with large, alternate, heart-shaped leaves which have toothed margins,” with “flowers that are small, pink, and are borne in panicles terminating in the branches…

The young leaves are eaten as greens.”

Popular among the natives as kabislak, the Pterospermum diversifolium Bl. has a bark that can be used for dyeing, and its bast is colored pinkish cinnamon. Its “leaves are alternate, hairy, oblong, heart-shaped at the base, abruptly pointed at the tip… The flowers are white… and occur either singly or in pairs in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a woody, fiveangled capsule about 15 centimeters long.”

On the other hand, the Sterculia Foetida Linn., known in Davao as kurumpang, has seeds that are edible and can be eaten as purgative. The oil it produces can be used for lighting and culinary purposes. Its seeds are found in large, red capsules; the wood is colored gray; and the flowers dull yellowish or purplish. Rounding up the count is Davao’s aligpagi, scientifically known as Phaleria Perrottetiana, a small tree with bright red fruits, and a bark that’s good for ties

Davao as botanical garden

“bark is usually light or brown and rather smooth but finely checked by small cracks… The wood is hard, heavy, brittle, but difficult to split, having an exceedingly crossed spiral grain.”

In the 1960’s, this plant thrived in a mangrove area separating Soliman Street, Davao City, from the secondary road known to old-timers as Rosemarie, named after a popular hair salon. Usually, it grew alongside the ubiquitous pagatpat, scientifically known as Sonneratia apetala.

Known to botanists as Actinorhytis calappaia Wendl., the Bagobos call this palm plant as tangalo. The tree has “a handsome, tall slender, pinnate-leafed palm, widely distributed in the Malay archipelago.” It was first introduced in Davao, then a district.

The Bagobo tribe calls this palm species ungang. Scientifically known as Plectocomia Elmeri Becc., the plant is a large climbing palm with yellowish green matured stems and found in the dense woods on the southeast part of Mount Apo at an elevation of 1,000 meters.

The Guadua Philippinensis Gamble, a rare bamboo species with culms that are thin-walled. The kuman of the Bagobos, meanwhile, is known scientifically as Gnetum Gnemon L., a tree with a height of 10 meters, has a bark that can made into a rope, and has fruits that are edible when cooked, in the same way that its cooked

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa young leaves are eaten as vegetable.

Known in Davao region as the pandan or Pandanus tectorius Soland, the plant is abundantly found along the seashore and adjacent areas but not very far inland. It is comparatively of little economic value save for its leaves that can be split into strips and made into mats and baskets, and, when bleached, for weaving mats.

The natives called it liba, but botanists call it scientifically as Allaenthus Glaber Warb. It is a mediumsized tree with a height of 30 meters, and has rounded leaves at the base. The young leaves and flowers are cooked for food while its fibrous materials are made into ropes that are more durable than average and having a tensile strength of

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10 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

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Aboitiz scholars get financial aid T

wo of the scholars of the Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) wanted to be an accountant and a teacher or a journalist.

Bai Zehan B. Kalim, of Barangay Rosary Heights 3, Cotabato City and Ace Christen Tanghal, Grade 12 pupil of Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, both studying at Cotabato City National High School (CCNHS-main campus), wanted to be a certified accountant and a teacher/journalist, respectively.

Kalim and Tanghal were among the 35 scholars of Cotabato Light who received P7,000 monetary allowance for school year 2017-2018.

“I am good in numbers and I wish to be a certified accountant someday, thanks to the Aboitiz scholarship,” Kalim, a consistent honor student since grade 6, said.

Kalim said she valued education more than anything else. “This is the best I can do to repay the sacrifices of my parents,”

she said. Her mother is a sidewalk vendor while her father is sick and stayed at home.

Tanghal said the monetary allowance she received would help her finance school projects.

“This is very helpful for me because we have a lot of projects that I need to comply,” Tanghal said in Filipino as she opened the envelope that contained the monetary allowance.

Kalim said the scholarship grant “gave me the opportunity to excel both in and off school.”

Anna Lee Natano, Cotabato Light’s media affairs department, said students need to maintain an 88 percent average grade per year level to stay in the scholarship project.

Speaking during the turnover of cash assistance, Natano urged the students “to continue to excel in your studies.”

“Cotabato Light is only a catalyst for your success,” she told the pupils. “This is for your future, soar high, continue dreaming,” she said.

(PNA

Davao City tourist arrivals picking up T

he number of tourist arrivals in Davao City is picking up after suffering losses in May, the City Tourism Operations Office reported.

City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson said most hotels are fully booked since the early days of the month, which is a very welcone sign.

Tecson said the city has about 10,000 rooms, including accommodation in pension houses and similar other categories.

Of the total rooms, about 3,200 are accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In comparison to arrival in 2016, Tecson said the city has more arrivals this year. The city’s target arrival for 2017 is two million.

During the first half of the year, she said arrivals already accounted to 930,136 or an increase of 3.6 percent compared to 896,983 in the same period last year.

She admitted however that there was a drop in June when martial law was declared but the arrivals has started to pick up starting July maybe because there is confidence to trav-

el here is back.

The city has also beefed up tourism promotions even putting billboards bearing Davao events, activities and destinations in Manila, Bacolod and Cebu.

This is part of the Kadayawan Festival promotional campaign. The holding of conventions has also been put on schedule.

Tecson said she is happy with the increasing number of visitors and hopes this will continue.

As foreign visitors comprise only about 10 per cent of the total figure, she is hoping foreign tourists will visit Davao City especially when the Kuala Lumpur-Davao direct route of AirAsia starts in December.

Tecson said that the tourist both domestic and foreign spends about P7,000 per visit for 3 days and 2 nights stay.

Meanwhile, Tecson welcomed the visit of a group of millennials from Manila who worked as software engineers in Taguig’s McKinley area for a multinational IT company.

The group is now seeing a different perspective about Davao City after ending a four-day visit here this week.(PNA)

NATIVE PRODUCTS. Park-goers choose from a collection of handcrafted native coin purses made by Klata tribe being sold at Kadayawan village inside Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Filipinos getting savvy on e-payment: survey F

ilipinos are becoming tech-savvy in their payment attitudes, an official of a global payments technology said, as he sees strong opportunities for banks to make leaps in terms of delivery of payment-related products.

Results of the 2016 Visa Consumer Payment Attitudes Survey showed a big improvement on Filipinos’ appreciation of the electronic payment system, with six out of the 10 respondents saying they prefer electronic payments

rather than paying in cash.

This number translates to a 57 percent outcome, up from 46 percent during the similar survey done five year ago, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam Stuart Tomlinson said in a briefing Wednesday.

The survey was done online and participated in equally by about 3,000 persons aged 18-55 years old from six Asian countries namely the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Results for the Philippines alone showed that 49 percent of Filipinos are carrying more cards and 29 percent carry less cash since they consider e-payments safer than carrying cash.

It also showed that 71 percent of Filipinos shop online at least once a month, up 11 percent compared to the previous year, as digital shopping attracts more people.

Most of these online transactions involve bills payments and purchases of personal electronics, fashion

and accessories, travel and beauty and cosmetics.

Data from the VisaNet showed that e-commerce in the Philippines is growing above 30 percent year-onyear.

“This indicates strong electronic payment opportunities in the future,” Tomlinson said.

The Visa official said that although e-commerce continues to rise in the Philippines, e-payments only account for about nine percent of consumer spending.

(PNA)

dious but still managed to terminate it after nearly 6 hours of interpellation by members of the appropriations panel. A total of 53 congressmen listed to interpellate Villar and other DPWH officials on issues ranging from big ticket projects lined up for funding, down to parochial concerns like missing street lights.

“It’s a blockbuster hearing. It’s probably one of the biggest so far since we began our hearings three weeks ago in terms of the number of interpellators. Nevertheless we managed to terminate the hearing and did not have to stay until the wee hours ,” Nograles said.

“I think that our colleagues are largely satisfied with the presentation and explanations of Secretary Villar and the DPWH and this means

that we remain on track with our schedules,” Nograles said adding that except for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Information and Communications Technology which were deferred for additional hearings, all the other budget presentations of the other departments have terminated and are ready for pre-plenary deliberations.

Nograles noted that with at least P8 trillion in public works funds being eyed to be spent from 2017 to 2022, the Philippines is expected to fully modernize its infrastructure such as road networks, mass transport facilities, flood control systems, educational facilities, tourism hubs and other focus areas of the DPWH in line with its “Build Build Build” program.

Nograles said that his panel is committed to support President Duterte’s vision to modernize Philippine infrastructure but it still has to scrutinize the DPWH budget to make sure that funds are used properly and judiciously.

“The devil is in the details so we will go through the smallest item in the DPWH budget to really make sure that the president’s Philippine Development Plan is not only adequately funded but also properly implemented,” Nograles said.

He noted that after so many years of being left with crumbs, Mindanao is finally getting its fair share of infrastructure funds with a total allocation of P174.130 billion for 2018.

This represents 33% of the total public works spending programmed by the DPWH.

Panel wraps up blockbuster DPWH budget presentation

H

ouse Appropriations Chair Davao City Karlo Nograles today said his panel is committed to ensuring the availability of funds to support President Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) because this would have cascading effects on the country’s economy and the people’s overall well-being.

In its budget presentation Wednesday, DPWH officials led by Secretary Mark Villar provided the members of Congress a glimpse of the Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure plan to usher in the golden age of infrastructure.

The DPWH is asking for P643.252 Billion budget for 2018.

Nograles said that the hearing was long and te-

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Rosy growth seen to continue: BSP B

HIGHLIGHT. Huawei Philippines marketing director Corinne Bacani provides details of Huawei P10’s features during the company’s ‘Behind Portrait Photography’ workshop in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

Prof: Infrastructure to lure more foreign investments T

he Philippines needs to build structures to attract more foreign investments particularly from China, in potential sectors of energy, resources and small businesses.

Alvin Camba, a professor at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University, underscored the country’s need to build infrastructures “quickly” given the traffic problem especially in Metro Manila.

“A lot of economists actually argue that the Philippines is in good

shape like macroeconomically… Infrastructures actually are business opportunities as well in terms of like having investments… That will eventually help other businesses,” he said in a forum.

Austin Ong, a professor at the De la Salle University where he teaches courses on China Modern Economy and Globalization, said investors are looking for long-term investments with more stability.

“Long term policy planning is also very important for them

(and) security also,” he said.

Camba, who specializes in Chinese investments in the Philippines, noted that these developments can attract investments, particularly from China, in three potential sectors.

“First energy, we have not really developed that so much. So coming in for them and developing energy infrastructure is something that can happen,” he said. “This is something that China did, for example, in Laos that Laos right now is ex-

porting energy instead of importing energy.”

Camba also identified resources as another sector with huge potential to attract Chinese investments.

He recalled that China invested in Indonesia’s resource sectors in 1990s, and Indonesia now is one of the biggest exporters of resources in the world. “(Third are the) retail and small businesses. The Philippines is a big domestic consuming economy, that’s a potential for them to earn,” he added. (PNA)

of its accelerated spending on infrastructure as well as on human capital formation and social protection for the poor and other vulnerable sectors.

“This is solid proof that the year-old Administration has been making the right moves at the right time in pursuit of President Duterte’s socioeconomic agenda on high—and inclusive—growth,” said Dominguez in response to the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA)’sannouncement today (Aug. 17) that the GDP grew by 6.5 percent over the April-June 2017 period.

According to the PSA, the second quarter growth is slightly up from the 6.4 percent expansion in the first quarter of this year, and

is faster than Vietnam’s 6.2 percent and Indonesia’s 5.0 % percent during the same threemonth period.

“With the upturn in state spending beginning in the year’s second quarter, President Duterte’s unparalleled investment strategy anchored on the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program has started to pick up steam,” said Dominguez, thereby raising hopes that the government could well meet its growth targets of 6.5 to 7.5 percent this 2017 and a higher 7 to 8 percent in 2018.

“We are optimistic that the accelerated state spending and project implementation would keep the Philippines in the club of Asia’s fastest-growing economies as it sustains

the momentum for the government-set expansion rate of 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year and a higher 7 to 8 percent in 2018 and onwards,” he said. “‘Build, Build, Build’ is seen to induce the multiplier effects on the domestic economy of more jobs, greater investments and improved connectivity across the regions.”

Under its expansionary fiscal policy, the Duterte administration aims to raise infrastructure spending from an equivalent of 5.4 percent of GDP this year to 7.3 percent of GDP by 2022.

It has set aside P1.097 trillion in 2018 to support the “Build, Build, Build” program alone, from the adjusted level of P.858.1 billion this year. (PNA)

High, inclusive growth plan picks up steam-Dominguez

F

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Gross Domestic Product expansion of 6.5 percent in the second quarter is “solid proof” that the government’s “unparalleled” investment strategy anchored on the ‘Build, Build, Build” program has started to “pick up steam,” and is on course to steering the Philippine economy towards a growth path of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2017.

Dominguez expressed the hope that the Senate would help the government meet this high growth target by passing soon enough—and in full— its own version of the comprehensive tax reform package, which would help spell the financial sustainability

angko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. is optimistic the Philippine economy will continue to grow in the medium term following its 6.5 percent expansion in the second quarter of 2017.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday reported faster domestic expansion, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), in April to June this year from the 6.4 percent growth in the previous three months.

Growth for the quarter was driven by the manufacturing, trade, real estate, renting and business activities.

Year-ago GDP, however, was higher at 7.1 percent.

The latest GDP level resulted in a 6.4 percent output in the first half of the year, near the lower end of the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent growth target for the year.

Espenilla, in a message to reporters Thursday, said domestic output in the second quarter this year “confirms our view that the Philippine economic expansion remains robust.’

“The agricultural sector rebounded while industry, particularly manufacturing,

recorded strong growth,” he said.

PSA data show that the agriculture sector rebounded and grew by 6.3 percent in the second quarter this year from two percent decline a year ago.

Industry rose by 7.3 percent, the fastest among the sectors.

Domestic expansion in the second quarter this year, Espenilla said, “is in line with the BSP’s expectations and is consistent with the within-target inflation forecast for this year.”

The central bank expects robust domestic growth to continue but does not expect this growth to bring in inflationary pressures.

In the first seven months of the year, rate of price increases averaged at 3.1 percent, slightly above the midpoint of the government’s two to four percent goal for 2017 to 2020.

“The firm economic momentum during the first half of the year alongside favorable business and consumer sentiment should augur well for the expansion of the economy over the near to medium term,” Espenilla said.

BIR files new tax raps vs. Richard Gutierrez

T

he Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed another criminal complaint before the Department of Justice against actor Richard Gutierrez.

In its complaint, the BIR specifically accused Gutierrez with one count of “knowingly using or submitting falsified annual income tax return for 2012 and six counts of knowingly using or submitting falsified quarterly value added tax returns for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2012” adding that the actor made it appear that he or his representative filed his annual ITR and quarterly VAT returns.

“Respondent Gutierrez case fake and falsified tax returns to secure the dismissal of the tax evasion case filed against R Gutz Production, Corp. He resorted this scheme to evade payment of taxes/ fees imposed by NIRC (National Internal Revenue Code) of 1997 thereby defrauding the government of much-needed revenues,” read the complaint.

The BIR also sought the indictment of Gutierrez for two counts of perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code for lying in his counter-affidavit.

“The attached returns were deceptively made to appear to have been stamped received by Revenue District Office No. 42 - San Juan City.

Revenue District Office No. 42 - San Juan City and the Document Processing Division of BIR Quezon City both certified that R Gutz Production Corp. had no VAT returns filed for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of taxable year 2012,” the BIR alleged.

Based on the complaint filed by BIR last April, Gutierrez and his production company, R Gutz Production Corporation, where he sits as president, faces two counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat the payment of Income Tax (IT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) covering taxable 2012 and for deliberate failure to file IT Return (ITR) and 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter VAT returns for taxable year 2012.

“As a consequence of their acts and omissions, R Gutz and its president, Richard Gutierrez, were assessed an estimated aggregate deficiency tax liability for taxable year 2012 in the total amount of PHP38.57 million, including surcharges and interest, broken down into IT -- PHP27.45 million; and VAT -- PHP11.12 million,” the BIR said.

Gutierrez and his company declared PHP311,111 in sales in 2012. However, their clients said they bought PHP39.9 million from the entertainment firm during the same period, based on a list of purchases.(PNA)

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Abreeza Mall’s Kadayawan celebration: A fusion of art, culture, food, and fun

T

he Kadayawan frenzy came early to Abreeza Mall, with a flurry of local fashion and nighttime fun kicking off Abreeza Mall’s celebration via the recently held Fashion Weekend Davao and the launch of Chill Out Nights at the Roof Deck. As Abreeza Mall gets into the thick of things this Kadayawan season, it launches even more exciting events to keep its shoppers feeling festive all August long.

On August 14-20, Abreeza Mall holds the annual Kadayawan Sale, which offers shoppers up to 70% off at their favorite shops mallwide. Shopaholics can take advantage of extended mall hours of up to 10pm on August 18 and 19.

In its dedication to celebrate the diversity of local cultures every Kadayawan, Abreeza Mall once again hosts the Mindanao Trade Expo, which showcases products and services by Mindanao’s micro, small, and medium enterprises at the Activity Center and the Supermarket Hallway until August 20. Abreeza Mall also shines the spotlight on Muslim Mindanao culture through Manāra: An Interactive Moro Art Installation, ongoing until September 8 at the Ground Floor near Fully Booked.

This Ayala Foundation project brought to life by esteemed artists Toym Imao and Lilliana Manahan hopes to shed light on the richness and diversity of Moro culture and serves as a call for peace and unity among Filipinos—regardless of the diverse backgrounds from which they come.

Another visual treat not to miss is Rody Duterte: Ato Ni Bay!, a photo exhibit by Rene Lumawag which gives Davaoeños a glimpse into President Rodrigo Duterte’s life in office until August 21 at the Ground Floor Fashion Hallway.

As Davao City’s Kadayawan fever hits its peak on August 19 and 20, so do the festivities at Abreeza Mall. Shoppers get to witness the Tunog Kadayawan Songwriting Competiton on August 19, 4pm, and a performance by the Indak Indak sa Kadalanan dancers on August 20, 3pm. Both events will take place at the Activity Center.

Abreeza Mall also brings in month-long activities to sustain the Kadayawan thrill throughout August. On all Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of August at the Roof Deck, revelerys can grab great eats from food merchants while grooving to great beats by Davao’s DJs and bands at Chill Out Nights in partnership with Manic Nightnings Productions. Another month-long Kadayawan staple is the Abreeza Mall Kadayawan Volleyball Tournament organized by Balebolista de Dabaw, which takes over the Open Court at 3pm every Saturday and Sunday.

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

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EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 10 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 18-19, 2017

DAVAO... FROM 1 first top urbanized cities for economic dynamism while General Trias City, Cavite; San Fernando City, Pampanga; and Naga City led the race for component cities.

Also under the economic dynamism pillar are the top 1st-2nd class municipalities that included Cainta and Taytay, Rizal and Santo Tomas, while leading the 3rd-6th class municipalities were Mambajao, Tayug and Dumanjung, Cebu.

Under the government efficiency pillar, Manila

was the most competitive, with Quezon City as second and Muntinlupa City as third. For component cities, Naga City led the ranking followed by Cotabato City and Antipolo City.

For 1st-2nd class municipalities, Cainta, Rizal ranked first followed by Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and Taytay, Rizal. For 3rd-6th class municipalities, Cardona, Rizal ranked first followed by Bauko, Mountain Province and Baras, Rizal. (JKL with stories from PNA & PDI)

Berger Group, Philippine Branch; Maribel Chua, general manager of Millennium Cars Mindanao (Ford Davao); and Pamela Mae Pitts, president of Eunica Development Philippines as committee members. The election was witnessed by Chairman Emeritus Abdullah C. Aquino.

The first six elected members of the board will serve for two years, while the remaining five will serve for one year.

The 11 elected board directors then convened and elected among themselves the officers.

The other elected officers aside from Villa-Abrille are: Luis C. Bonguyan, manager partner of L.C. Bonguyan & Co., CPA’s, first vice president; and Ferdinand Y. Maranon, president and CEO, Sagrex Corporation, second vice president; Geraldine Q. Tiu of Quimosing-Tiu Law Office, secretary; Rossauro C. Luga, AVP of Davao Light and Power Co., Inc., assistant secretary; Dr. Jocelyn B. Catampo, general manager of Doc Joy Consultancy Services, treasurer; and Dottie Wurgler-Cronin, general manager of Marco Polo, assistant treasurer.

The elected directors are Ricardo F. Lagdameo, vice president of Damosa Land Inc.; Benirando

D. Claudio, president and CEO of Sarangani Land & Property Corp. of General Santos City; Joaquin Q. Tan, president of Glowing Motor Parts Corp.; and Elpidio M. Paras, president and CEO of Parsat Cable TV, Inc. of Cagayan de Oro City.

Immediate past president Philip S. Dizon, president of Davao Crocodile Park, will sit as ex-officio member of the board of directors.

The newly proclaimed officers have tentatively set Sept. 22, 2017 as the date of installation of the 2017-2018 officers and directors of AmCham Mindanao.

The American Chamber of Commerce of Davao (AmCham), forerunner of AmCham Mindanao, was founded on Sept. 8, 1988 by the late Congressman Manuel M. Garcia who served as charter president from 1988-1989. He was followed by Abdullah “Nonoy” Aquino from 1989 to 2011; then by Sonny Dizon, from 2012 until the AmCham Davao was reconfigured this year to include the whole of Mindanao, with General Santos and Cagayan de Oro businessmen readily embracing the idea.

There are also AmCham chapters in Cebu and Subic in Central Luzon.

from the Philippines of all persons.

The proposed immigration body, which shall be administered by the Board of Commissioners headed by the Commissioner as Chairperson, will be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice.

The bill seeks to grant the Board of Commissioners both quasi-judicial and rulemaking powers.

The bill further grants authority to the Board to retain and use every year 50 percent of its collec-

tions from immigration fees, fines and penalties, and other income that may be collected by the Commission.

An Immigration Trust Fund (ITF) shall be created which can be exclusively used for the following: 40 percent for the modernization of equipment, facilities and offices of the Commission; 30 percent for the payment of employees benefits provided in this Act; 30 percent for the further professionalization of employees. PNA

VILLA... FROM 2

PH... FROM 2

NEWS 15

EDGEDAVAO

ICONIC. Mall-goers check out some of the most iconic old and new photographs of President Duterte by Rene Lumawag during the second day of the veteran photo journalist’s “Rody Duterte Ato ni Bay!” photographic exhibition at the ground floor of Abreeza Mall on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

DA... FROM 4

Del Sur (municipality of Malalag), Davao Del Norte it in Carmen and DuJali. The monitoring in these areas is through the collection of blood samples and getting oforopharyngeal swabs from the poultry. These monitoring is also done during the Fly-In (September) and the Fly- out (March) of the Migratory birds to ensure that they do not carry the virus.

There will be checkpoints in barangay Talomo, Calinan and Tugbok in on August 24, 40 at September 4 2017 to enforce veterinary and quarantine regulations.

This is in coordination with the PNP/AFP and the different line agencies and the Local Government Unit (LGU); the DA Vet Quarantine Services Office (BAI)-LGU’s- line agencies.

The Regional AI Task Force is composed of surveillance team, lab diagnosis team, public information team, data base team, animal movement

control team and the vaccination team. The Regional AI Task force includes the Department of Health (DOH) , Office Of Civil Defense XI (OCD) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Education (DepEd), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and private sectors. They already had a meeting with regard on how to address the issue at hand.

“If there will be a positive Bird flu case in the region then definitely the bird watching activity will be restricted,” said Apelo . They cannot compromise the safety of the people that might get affected. “All migratory birds they carry this bird flu virus,” Apelo added.

committed several times.”

“The respondent also violated Section 7 of R.A. No. 3019 and Section 8 of R.A. No. 6713 for failing to make a complete disclo-

sure including the residential lots owned by his wife and son as the law also requires him to acknowledge such property,” it added. (PNA)

TOWN... FROM 4

Armed men abduct police officer in North Cotabato

U

nidentified armed men abducted on Wednesday a member of an intelligence police unit assigned in Makilala town in North Cotabato, a police official said.

Chief Insp. Joyce Birrey, spokesperson for the Cotabato Provincial Police Office (CPPO), identified the victim as Police Officer 3 Bristol Catalan, resident of Purok 3, Barangay Katipunan here and assigned as head of the intelligence and investigation unit of the Makilala PNP. Birrey, citing reports from police stations of Makilala and Kidapawan City, said Catalan was on board his motorcycle together with his two children when a still unidentified gunman emerged in an area at Purok 4, also in Barangay Katipunan, around 7 a.m.

She claimed the suspect pointed a gun to the victim’s head and ordered him to disembark from his motorbike while his children were told to stay put.

Catalan was overpowered and outnumbered as nine of the suspect’s companions came out from another area in Purok 4 and also pointed their guns on him, Birrey added.

The CPPO spokesperson hinted the New Peoples’ Army could be be-

hind Catalan’s abduction.

She, however, refused to name the leader of the group that masterminded it.

Earlier reports said a certain Commander Choi of the NPA Front 53 was holding Catalan as prisoner of war (POW) and brought to the mountainous area located along the boundary of North Cotabato and Bukidnon provinces.

As of press time, the NPA has not issued any statement as regards Catalan’s case.

The policeman’s abduction came two weeks after the arrest of a rebel commander in North Cotabato.

On August 3, elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion and the Makilala PNP raided the house of Sergio Rebuta alias “Siring” of the Yunit Militia (YuMil) of the NPA Front 51 and recovered from his possession an improvised explosive device that weighed 10 kilos, three high-powered guns with ammunitions, and subversive documents.

Birrey, however, said they have yet to determine if Catalan’s abduction and the arrest of Rebuta are linked to each other. (Malu Cadelina-Manar / MindaNews)

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BRING IT ON SEAG 2019 hosting pushes through T

HE country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019 is a go as announced by Secretary Peter Cayetano of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Peping Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez.

The decision was reached after a meeting between Cayetano, Ramirez, Presidential Special Assistant Bong Go and Executive Secretary Salvador

Medialdea.

During the press conference called this morning, Ramirez expressed that the PSC Board of Commissioners headed by himself and Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Celia Kiram, Arnold Agustin and Charles Maxey, welcomed the development and unanimously approved the decision in their board meeting yesterday.

“As a former athlete and coach I do not look at medals as a standard of winning. The

teamwork, unity, cooperation and Filipino spirit is the real victory for me,” remarked Ramirez.

During the announcement, Cojuangco said that “the SEAG is not only for Sec. Cayetano or Ramirez, this is for the whole country,” adding that he is very happy that we can �inally proceed with preparations for the said event.

“There will always be something that divides us,” commented Cayetano citing that we have the Filipino spirit

that binds and unites each one.

Cayetano will replace Sen. Migs Zubiri as Chairman of the local organizing committee.

The POC shall con�irm the hosting when they meet with the SEAG Federation Council on August 18.

It will be recalled that the government, through the PSC, decided not to pursue the hosting saying that there are plans to use the budget for the rehabilitation of Marawi City and other areas in Mindanao.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez happily announces the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. PSC

ONE FOR ALL. Philippine officials led by PSCChairman Butch Ramirez, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, POC president Peping Cojunagco show off the fist sign of the President to signal the country’s go of the 2019 SEA Games. PSC

PH opens SEAG stint with 3 medals T HE Philippines collected its �irst medals three days before the formal opening of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.

The men’s chinlone squad won a silver for the Philippine contingent’s �irst medal before archer Paul Merton Dela Cruz followed suit with a bronze in the individual compound event.

With one silver and one bronze, the Philippines is currently in fourth place in the medal tally with Indonesia taking the �irst spot with a 2-0-0 gold-silver-bronze output and host Malaysia at second with 1-1-2.

Myanmar is in third place with one gold.

The team of Alvin Pan-

gan, Emmanuel Escote, Joeart Jumawan, John Jeffrey Morcillos, John John Bobier, Regie Reznan Pabriga, Rhemwil Catana, and Ronsited Gabayeron �inished second behind host Malaysia in the linking event.

Dela Cruz, meanwhile, won over Zulfadhli Ruslan of Malaysia in a shootoff to capture the bronze medal in the �irst day of the archery competitions at the Synthetic Turf Field.

In other results, the women’s netball team suffered its second loss with a 69-32 blowout at the hands of Brunei.

The men’s water polo squad was beaten by host Malaysia, 8-7, to fall to a 1-1 win-loss slate in the round-robin tournament.

WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES. The Philippines’ PNP-B Lady Patrollers squad composed of PO1 Jessan Tano and PO1 Cassandra Ledda and coached

by SPO3 Rosenda C. Quiao bowed out in the quarterfinals of women’s beach volleyball in the 2017 World Police and Fire Games to the Russian Dynamo Police 16-21. Tano is stationed at Tugbok Police Station and a member of the Davao SWAT of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) while Ledda is from Police Station 11, NCRPO of the Manila Police District. Another Philippine squad PNP-A won the gold medal beating Brazil Police Force-A.

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