Edge10 issue 124 September 22-23, 2017

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

Serving a seamless society

THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE. A group of women carries white umbrellas written with a phrase ‘Never 4Get’ during a protest organized by progressive groups to air their grievances against the Duterte administration in time

for the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law at the Freedom Park along Roxas Avenue in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

THUMBED DOWN

City Hall bars protest groups from Rizal Park

By Angie Saveron

M

ilitant groups and protestors failed to conduct their rally at the Rizal Park on Thursday as part of the ‘national day of protest’ after Davao City Mayor Sara thumbed down their request for a permit.

“But they were allowed to conduct their mass rally in Freedom Park and People’s Park,” said Davao City Police City Director Alexander Tagum.

He said the city mayor has rejected the militants’ request for a permit because Rizal Park is

the center of the city government in Davao City.

The 10 identified crucial entry point going to Rizal park were barricaded and guarded by security forces.

Tagum said that they are expecting 300 to 1000 protestors and he assured that the security forces are ready for any untoward incident during the mass rally.

“We should respect the rule of law kung gusto nato mahimong peaceful and orderly ang atong panginabuhi diri sa Davao,” said Tagum.

The Davao City Police

Office deployed more than a thousand security officers in augmentation of Regional Public Safety Battalion, Police Regional Office XI,Task Force Davao other security forces based in Davao City.

“We are in control of the ground, we have the initiative, so wala po tayong dapat ikabahala dahi lang ating security forces were able to manage the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tagum said that they will abide by the directives of the city government with regard the call of Philippine

National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to recruit volunteers to be assigned in Caloocan City.

He said that it boosted their confidence and he told his comrades not to put to shame the mayor’s name because of the trust she has given them. “ Naga respeto mi sa mas taas nga pang huna huna sa atong mga lider, pero kung sa tan-aw ni mayor na mas kinahanglan mi niya dir isa Davao City tungod mao ni lugar sa atong presidente mahimo na siyang basehan,” said Tagum.

EDGEDAVAO Sports STANDING STILL RPV, Apo mired at 5th and 8th, Pradera is virtual champ

SPORTS P20

ECONOMY

Ang, Chinese partners to start aquaculture project in Gulf Manulife bullish on PH economy

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

Probe sought on fatal hazing of law student

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SETTING THE TONE. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio speaks before the participants and guests of the 19th Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) at SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

Bill postponing barangay, SK elections approved ML proclamation cited as one reason

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he Senate on Wednesday passed on third and final reading a bill postponing barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth) elections to May 2018 instead of holding it next month.

With 17 affirmative votes, one negative vote and zero abstention, Senate Bill No. 1584, authored by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senator Richard Gordon was approved.

Cited by Sotto and Gordon as a reason for postponing the elections are recent

events, including the armed conflict in Marawi City, the proclamation of Martial Law in Mindanao, and the prevalence of illegal drugs.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros was the lone senator who voted against the bill citing reasons such as her belief that she had confidence that Filipinos would use their right to vote to choose the leaders who will serve them best.

Hontiveros said postponing polls for second time held hostage the exercise of the democratic rights of citizens

and youth to choose their barangay and youth leaders.

She added that her no vote was because she had faith in the capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to contain any attempt by armed groups to disrupt the holding of peaceful and orderly elections.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, who was among the senators who voted for the postponement, meanwhile, said that this second postponement should be the “final” one.

“It should be a non-extendable deferment. If we scrap again the elections in May, it will constitute a strike three against democracy,” Recto said.

On September 11, the House of Representatives approved the postponement of village and youth polls to May 2018. At least 213 lawmakers voted to approve the measure, while 10 lawmakers voted against it.

Both versions of the bill will be tackled in the bicameral conference for consolidation. (PNA)

senator on Wednesday filed a resolution calling for a probe into the death of Horacio Tomas “Atio” Castillo III, a 22-yearold freshman law student who was allegedly killed due to hazing during fraternity initiation rites.

Under Senate Resolution No. 504, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri wanted to investigate Atio’s “gruesome” death noting that no parent deserves to lose a child due to hazing.

Zubiri, in a privilege speech, said that he personally visited the wake of Atio Tuesday night and had the chance to speak to his father, Horacio Jr., who was his grade school and high school classmate in Colegio San Agustin.

He also extended condolences to Atio’s family. His sister and aunt were present during the Senate plenary session on Wednesday.

The senator added that the action of Dean Nilo Divina of the UST Faculty of Civil Law in suspending members of the frat, Aegis Juris, and preventing them from attending classes or entering the school premises is “high-

ly suspicious.”

He said it will give investigators a hard time locating the members.

The senator, meanwhile, challenged Divina and other faculty members of the UST Faculty of Civil Law to cooperate in the investigation.

He also urged the Bureau of Immigration to place the frat members under watch list or on hold departure order following reports that some members were told to leave the country or that some have left the country.

Meanwhile, he added that he “cringed” at the thought that the current Anti-Hazing law has become just a law in the paper, ineffective in regulating and preventing deaths from hazing.

“Clearly, regulating hazing as specified in the current law, is a failure,” Zubiri said.

“It is about time that we prohibit hazing. We need to pass a new law that will not only regulate hazing but prevent it outright,” he added.

Both Zubiri and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian have filed bills repealing the Anti-Hazing Law. (PNA)

he taxi driver, who was allegedly robbed by slain former University of the Philippines student Carl Angelo Arnaiz, is now under the protective custody of National Bureau of Investigation.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tomas Bagcal, 54, accompanied by his family, representative of the Commission on Human Rights , and a representative of Rise Up arrived at the NBI main office in Manila around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

He presented himself before the office of NBI Deputy Director Antonio Pagatpat.

Bagcal is one of the respondents in the double murder complaint filed by the relatives of Carl Angelo Arnaiz and 14 year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman DOJ. Bagcal said he is very much willing to cooperate in the investigation and share what he knows about the death of Arnaiz and de Guzman.

“We look at it as a most welcome development in our search for justice for the victims,” Aguirre said.

“What happened today proves that our countrymen can trust the agencies of the government. They can trust the NBI, they can trust the DOJ, they can trust us,” he added.

Bagcal, who is is under the custody of the group Rise Up for Life and Rights -- a network of church people and human rights advocates dedicated to working with poor families affected by drug-related extra-judicial killings.

Earlier, Aguirre said once Bagcal comes out and talks to the NBI, he will be provided protection under the Witness Protection Program.

The DOJ earlier included under the provisional coverage of the WPP the parents of Arnaiz and Kian Loyd Delos Santos who was allegedly killed by members of the Caloocan police last month.

Arnaiz was allegedly killed by members of the Caloocan police after he reportedly robbed Bagcal of his earnings also last month.

Last week, Bagcal faced the media where he said Arnaiz did rob him last August 28 along C3 Road, Caloocan City.

He said he sought the help of concerned citizens who caught up with Arnaiz and mauled him.

He added Arnaiz was alive when he brought him to the police station.

The policemen brought him and Arnaiz to C3 Road where he later heard gunshots and learned that the latter was already dead. (PNA)

Cabbie in Arnaiz slay now in NBI custody T

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Fratman in death of law student left PH O ne of the suspects in the death of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio Castillo III due to alleged hazing has left the country for Taipei, Taiwan, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed on Thursday.

“A certain Ralph Caballes Trangia (DOB 10 Nov 95) departed 19 Sept 2017 on board Eva Air flight BR262 bound for Taipei,” said BI Spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang in a text message.

Trangia, along with 15 other members of the Aegis Juris

fraternity, was included in the immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) issued by the Department of Justice on Wednesday.

The order has instructed all immigration officers in the country’s airports and seaports to be on the lookout to prevent attempts of the 16 “persons of interest” to leave the country.

Aside from Trangia, the other members of the fraternity included in the ILBO are: Arvin R. Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Marc Anthony Ventura, Axel Mundo

FFRATMAN, 15

Restoration of CHR budget deemed as people’s victory

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embers of the Liberal Party on Thursday welcomed the decision of a House of Representatives to restore the original budget of the Commission on Human Rights, describing it as “the people’s win.”

“The restoration of the CHR budget is the people’s win. It is a win for human rights, for collective action, and for truth and reason,” the LP said in a press statement.

LP said the restoration of the CHR budget on Wednesday was timely, noting that it was a celebration of victory a day before the 45th year of the declaration of martial law on Thursday.

The party added that there was a great number of Filipinos that expressed their outrage against what they described as a “jarring decision” of the House to grant the CHR a measly budget of P 1,000.

“Thousands of citizens called, emailed, tweeted, messaged their representatives asking for an explanation of their vote,” the LP said.

Moreover, the party said many, including young people, emailed their senators asking for support against the budget cut.

Senators also expressed their opposition and vowed to correct the unacceptable ap-

FRESTORATion, 15

ALL IN ONE. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. officers, past presidents, past chairmen and members of the board of trustees do the traditional group photo with guests of honor led by Davao City Mayor Sara

Duterte-Carpio during the opening of the 19th Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) at SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

PH signs ban on nuke weapons

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he Philippines has signed a United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons, as it called on other member states to join the international community in making the world a safer place.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano signed Wednesday the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on the sides of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“We call on Member-States

that possess the world’s largest nuclear arsenals to sign on to the treaty,” he said after signing the instrument.

“The world will only be safe if we eliminate all weapons of mass destruction.”

Cayetano said the treaty presents a unique opportunity for nuclear weapon states to demonstrate that they remain committed to their own cause of nuclear disarmament and the UN Charter.

The Philippines is among 121 UN member-states that ad-

opted the treaty, the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons with the goal of leading towards their total elimination.

The treaty, adopted last July at a UN conference in New York, prohibits a full range of nuclear weapon-related activities, such as undertaking to develop, test, produce, acquire, possess, stockpile, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.

“As a signatory, the Philippines stands ready to contrib-

ute to the work ahead,” the DFA chief added.

“Our signing of the treaty today affirms our unequivocal commitment to put nuclear weapons firmly on the path of extinction, a cause of the highest priority embodied in our country’s constitution.”

The Philippines has been consistent in its nuclear disarmament advocacy. It contributed to the effort when it presided over the 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (PNA)

4 economy EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

SCot new tourism brand: ‘Land of Dreamweavers’

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he provincial government of South Cotabato has adopted the tagline “Land of the Dreamweavers” as the official brand for its tourism promotion and marketing campaigns.

Cesar Sulit Jr., South Cotabato senior tourism operations officer, said Wednesday the move is mainly aimed to enhance the local government’s continuing efforts to develop the province as a top cultural and ecotourism destination in the country.

He said the new brand is a tribute to the province’s tribal “dreamweavers” and the famed T’nalak fabric.

T’nalak is a traditional craft of the T’boli tribe, which is based in the municipalities of T’boli and Lake Sebu, featuring unique designs inspired by the dreams of women weavers.

The province holds the T’nalak Festival every July as part of its foundation anniversary celebration.

To complement the tourism brand, Sulit said they also adopted “South Cotabato, Our Home, Now Your Destination” as official slogan.

The new tourism brand and slogan were conceptualized by the local govern-

ment’s arts, culture, tourism and museum promotions unit, he said.

“These represent the core of our tourism promotion and marketing campaign as well as what our province wants to achieve for the tourism sector,” Sulit said.

He said they have initially prepared audio-visual presentations and other related materials to help mainstream the new tourism brand and slogan.

These will be included later on in the province’s official communication and tourism promotional materials like brochures and posters, he said.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, who had endorsed the new tourism brand and slogan, expressed hopes that they would help bring the province’s tourism campaign to new levels.

She acknowledged that the local government needs to strengthen its tourism campaigns to offset the impact of the continuing conflict in parts of Mindanao.

“We need to strive more because of martial law and with the negative perception about our place,” she said.

(PNA)

Japan remains PH’s top ODA loan source in 2017

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he Government of Japan remained the country’s top Official Development Assistance development partner, in terms of loans, for the first half of 2017.

Loans from Japan, administered through the Japan International Cooperation Agency had the largest share of 44.83 percent in the total ODA loans portfolio, amounting to USD4.84 billion, the National Economic and Development Authority said during the 62nd Project Implementation Officers’ Meeting held at the Department of Public Works and Highways last Monday.

“Japan has been our long-time development partner and we have established a strong relationship with them. They have one of the best loan terms,” NEDA Undersecretary for Investment Programming Rolando Tungpalan said.

He explained that loans from JICA particularly under the Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) have a payment period of 40 years with a 0.1 percent annual interest rate for civil works and 0.01 percent for consulting services.

The World Bank came in second with USD2.948 billion (27.31%) while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) ranked third with USD 2.174 billion (20.14%).

As of the first half of

2017, the country’s total ongoing ODA loans amounted to USD10.797 billion, consisting of 54 project loans (USD8.197 billion) and 7 program loans (USD2.6 billion).

In terms of financial performance, the country’s disbursement level slightly decreased to USD802.95 million from the USD861.04 million in the first semester of 2016.

Meanwhile, the disbursement rate increased to 86.68 percent for the first half of 2017 from 71.38 percent in the first half of 2016.

Among implementing agencies, the DPWH and Department of Transportation had the highest loan count with 16 and 11 loans, respectively.

Tungpalan highlighted the contribution of ODA loans toward implementing priority projects of the Duterte Administration, stating that 23 of the 35 approved projects by the NEDA Board will be funded by ODA loans.

“35 projects have already been approved by the NEDA Board amounting to PHP1.235 trillion, majority of which will be funded by ODA in the amount of PHP1.074 trillion. Last September 12, the NEDA Board approved the Metro Manila Subway Project, amounting to PHP355.588 billion, to be funded by Japan,” he said.

Among the priority proj-

FJAPAN, 15

ENCOURAGING WORDS. Department of Agriculture assistant secretary Waldo Carpio gives an inspirational speech during the opening of the 19th Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) at SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

Davao tourism conference

‘Sulong Turismo Davao’is confab theme W ith the success of the recent Kadayawan festival and the launch of new direct flights to and from this city, a one-day Davao Tourism Conference or TCON will be held at the Pinnacle Hotel today to strategize ways to capitalize on these opportunities to draw more tourists and spur more tourism businesses.

With the theme Sulong Turismo Davao, the TCON is organized by the Davao Tourism Association (DATA)

with the support of the Department of Tourism and the City Tourism Operations Office. More than 200 tourism businesses and stakeholders from all over Davao City and neighboring provinces are expected to attend.

According to DATA President Gatchie Gatchalian, the event is meant to push the city’s tourism industry further and higher, to enable it to draw more tourists in the future.

“With recent positive de-

velopments like new direct flights, we hope to develop and map out strategies for our tourism stakeholders to increase our tourist arrivals,” Gatchalian said.

According to Gatchalian, the developments in better connectivity with other cities and the possibility of new direct flights to Kuala Lumpur and China encouraged stakeholders to create ways to maximize on these opportunities.

With this, he says, tour-

ism businesses will grow, enabling more residents to obtain gainful employment and income for local business.

Gatchie said tourism players will endeavor to identify six elements of the region’s tourism agenda so that all players in the private sector and government agencies, represented by the DOT and local government units (LGUs) can work on them during the next five years. John Carlo B. Tria

She noted the PDP, the Philippines’ blueprint for development, creates the foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society and a globally competitive knowledge economy.

Federalism, on the other hand, is a proposed type of government characterized by “semi-autonomous states with a central government” and comprises “multiple interacting governing units, each with its own preferences and decisions to make.”

Edillon said that the roadmap should prepare the country for a number of challenges once federalism is in place, starting with challenges “at the roots.”

“Is it really possible to make it work given our peace and security problems? Our vulnerability to disasters? For the former, we would need a strong

and nimble military able to move swiftly from one state to another,” she said.

She added the Philippines must be able to pool resources to help a state or sub-state in case of an emergency situation.

On revenue collection, Edillon said a bigger concern is the transfer pricing or the setting of a price for goods and services sold between and among entities under an enterprise.

“Will federalism also result in a ‘race to the bottom’ where states, wanting to attract the most investments, will offer the sweetest package of incentives? Or, the opposite: will states, in a bid to quickly beef up their fiscal resources, impose more regulations, thus increasing the cost of doing business?” she said.

Another concern would be human capital at the

highly technical level of governance for deployment to different states, she said.

But despite the challenges, Edillon said federalism is a “long-term endeavor requiring a sustained commitment.”

She compared these questions on federalism with the Philippines’ initial skepticism toward the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Area (AFTA), the trade bloc agreement among members of the Asean of which the Philippines is a founding member.

“But just like the ASEAN macro-model study that showed that the benefits of the Philippines from the AFTA was close to nil, we proceeded because we knew, deep down, that openness to trade will eventually turn for the good for us,” Edillon said. (NEDA)

NEDA pushes roadmap to pave way for federalism

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he National Economic and Development Authority suggested the crafting of a roadmap, aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2017– 2022, for the Philippines’ possible transition to a federal type of government.

Speaking at the Third Annual Public Policy Conference of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies on Tuesday, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon highlighted some of the challenges that may arise should the Philippines pursue federalism.

“That is what I hope we would have – a roadmap to prepare us for this change, to ensure that we get the most benefits, to minimize the cost of transition. And always, not losing sight of what we want to achieve – a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat,” she said.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

Villar’s mall in Tugbok gets Council’s approval

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he plan of the Villar group to put up a mall near its subdivision in the Third District has started taking shape as the city council approved the proposal for second reading last week.

Based on the document from the city council, the planned Vista Mall of Communities Davao Inc. will be built on a three hectare lot near the 15-hectare Cerritos subdivision of Camella in Tugbok. Both companies are subsidiaries of the Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc.

The city council action came about after its subcommittee on housing, rural and urban development for highend projects recommended the project for approval after Mario V. Santos, senior manager of Communities Davao Inc., presented the requirements before the local legislators.

Among the requirements presented before the city council were the certifications from Davao Light and Power Co. and Davao City Water District. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau

FVILLAR’s, 10

Manulife bullish Ang, Chinese partners to start on PH economy M

ANILA -- Manulife Asset Management and Trust Corporation is banking on the rising number of Filipino middle class and the large number of millennials to boost its newly-formed business.

In a briefing Wednesday, Manulife Philippines president and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Charland said the rising number of millennials need a lot of help in terms of how they will invest their funds.

He, however, clarified that their Unit Investment

The t’nalak cloth during South Cotabato’s T’nalak Festival in Koronadal City. MindaNews file photo by BOBBY TIMONERA

Trust Funds (UITF) products -- namely Manulife Stable Income Fund, Manulife Income Builder Fund, and Manulife Equity Wealth Fund, also cater to those who have already invested in various assets but want to diversify their portfolio. Minimum investment is PHP5,000.

He explained that some individuals want to invest in certain types of financial products that do not have personal insurance-related offering.

“We needed to offer some-

FManulife, 15

aquaculture project in Gulf

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BUSINESSMAN and his Chinese partners are starting an aquaculture project that will be expanded in the entire Davao Gulf.

Davao Marinatuna Corp. chief executive officer Domingo O. Ang said that the joint venture will start within this month implementing a 1,000-square meter model farm for the project where 40 four-feet by four-feet fish

cages will be deployed.

“The Chinese investors are arriving in the city this week,” Ang said, adding that the investors will bring with them grouper and lobster fingerlings that will be cultivated in the model farm.

He said the success of the model farm will pave the way for the venture to expand it to initially 100 hectares as “the long-term plan is that we will help the

fisherfolk along the Davao Gulf.”

He said the plan is to provide fisherfolk in the Davao Region with boats and other implements so that they can grow high-value aquaculture products which he will buy from them and in turn sell these in the Chinese market.

He said that for the grouper alone, it is “very expensive in China” at about

P2,000 to P3,000 a kilogram.

He said the two companies signed the agreement in April following the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to China in October last year. Ang, a close friend of the President, joined the presidential delegation in the China visit.

He said he and his partner have agreed to launch

FANG, 15

6 SUBURBIA RISING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

Maco, Comval proud of Negosyo Center

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arely days after the first anniversary of the first-established LGU-based Negosyo Center in Compostela, Compostela Valley, the municipality of Maco in the same province also opened their own Negosyo Center on September 18, 2017 adjacent with the Maco Municipal Hall building.

The Maco Negosyo Center located in a spanking newly renovated building just behind the municipal building is the fifth Negosyo Center in the province and the first to be established this year. It is now to open to provide services to the local businesses, especially MSMEs. Business registration including DTI Business Name Registration and the LGU Business permit registration are among the frontline services of the Negosyo Center in Maco. Business consultancy, business information services, and entrepreneurship trainings are also regularly provided.

The municipal mayor Maco, Dr. Alvera Veronica Rimando, said that the establishment of Maco Negosyo Center is the fruit of the strong partnership of the local government with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the common desire of strengthening the business sector in the locality.

She added that the establishment of Maco Negosyo Center is a clear indication that the business sector is one of the priority sectors of the LGU in its thrusts of attaining the development goals in the municipality. This year also saw the institutionalization of the Business Chamber of Maco after a collaborative effort between LGU Maco, DTI and the provincial government of Comval.

Atty. Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, DTI Compostela Valley Provincial Director, said that the significance of the Negosyo Center in Maco do not end in the establish-

FMARCO, 15

Cops in Cotabato town under NPA threat-exec

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police officer in Makilala, North Cotabato has disclosed that his men are under threats of abduction by the New People’s Army.

Chief Insp. Johnny Rick Felongco Medel, Makilala police station chief, said he based his report from the information he gathered from the intelligence community.

“We have been receiving reports that some members of the Makilala Police would be the next target of the NPA,” he said.

To counter this, Medel has heightened security alert among his men.

He said he doesn’t want a repeat of what happened to his subordinates, PO1 Bristol Catalan, who was abducted by NPA rebels last August 16 in a remote village in Kidapawan City.

Catalan, up to this writing, is still being held captive by the NPA despite calls from Kidapawan Bishop Colin Bagaforo and local officials from Makilala and Kidapawan City.

Bagaforo said he has sought the help of three priests from the Diocese of Kidapawan and a pastor from another religious con-

Fcops, 15

NorCot ‘most wanted’man killed

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orth Cotabato’s most wanted fugitive and suspected gun-for-hire was killed in Carmen town around 10 p.m. Wednesday, a village official said.

Killed was Nasser Omar, also known as Commander Derby, who was believed behind the killing in 2010 of Pol Dulay, vice-mayor of Kabacan, North Cotabato.

Nestor Salama, chair of Barangay Batongkaya in Montawal, Maguindanao confirmed Omar’s death in an interview Thursday with radio station DXND.

Salama said that Nasser, who carried a P2.5-million reward money on his head, was killed in Barangay Nasapian, Carmen by his close-in bodyguard whom he refused to name for his “security”.

In 2010, the municipal government of Kabacan offered a P1.5-million reward for his arrest or death after witnesses tagged him as Dulay’s killer.

In May 2017, another P1-million reward was dangled for his capture after he led the escape of at least 157 inmates

from the North Cotabato District Jail on January 4, 2017.

Omar was allegedly hired to take Melvin Casangyao out of NCDJ. Casangyao is an alleged drug lord operating in North Cotabato and neighboring provinces, reports from the police said.

But Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, provincial director of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, said he wants proof of Omar’s death.

Also, Inspector Pandulo, chief of Pagalungan

Modern tech vs wanted persons, lawless elements

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Young girls have fun trying to climb a pole on Monday (18 September 2017) at the evacuation center in Barangay Sta. Elena, Iligan City where they are

staying along with hundreds of other evacuees from Marawi City. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

(Maguindanao) police, said he would only believe the report if he he saw Omar’s body.

But Salama said the fugitive was already been buried on Thursday morning in keeping with Islamic tradition.

He said Omar was shot while sleeping inside the house of his mother-in-law in Nasapian.

His wife and son were also hit but survived the attack. Both were being treated in a hospital in Kabacan, a town next to Carmen. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)

OTABATO CITY -- Security measures in the city have improved with the acquisition of a high technology gadget that could identify lawless elements and wanted persons, officials said.

Officers and men of Joint Task Force Kutawato, a police-military unit tasked to ensure safety of city residents against lawless elements and crime offenders, including those involved in illegal drugs, are now equipped with Facial Recognition System (FRS).

Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi personally turned over the equipment to Colonel Jesus Sarsagat, Task Force commander during simple ceremonies held at the unit’s headquarters.

The equipment is capable of identifying faces of law offenders, wanted terrorists and lawless elements when

they are in the city or passing

by Army and police checkpoints.

Present during the turnover ceremony were National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA-12) Director Everly Tajanlangit, 5th Special Forces Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel James Uri and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEAARMM) Director Juvenal Azurin.

With the gadgets, Sayadi assured city residents the government is doing its best to ensure public safety.

A day earlier, the city government established five boat docks manned by JTFK personnel to monitor movement of lawless elements coming with people entering the city through several waterways.(PNA)

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

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8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

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Sports tourism

avao City is going to host one of the biggest sports tourism events next year and that is the 2018 Ironman 70.3 Triathlon which usually attracts thousands of participants including those from other countries around the world.

Triathlon being a very popular endurance sport, the event will surely boost Davao tourism as it generates interest beginning the day the event was announced on Wednesday. People will start looking at bookings for flights to Davao and hotel accommodation as well.

That is the positive impact of sports tourism to emerging urban centers like Davao. Subic and Cebu used to host the event for years with high turnouts in attendance from participants to their families and even enterprising individuals.

The sport of triathlon does not require very

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complicated sports infrastructure. In fact, one reason it is poopular is because it uses available natural venues for its three phases--water for the swim phase and roads for the bike and run phases.

Davao City has all the trappings of a good venue. It has beaches for the water stage and nice rolling roads for the land stages. Another advantage the city has is its 911 system which could be put to great use in terms of communications, directions, emergency and traffic.

The event is sure to fire up the sports tourism industry here which at a time was suffering from the lack of standard sports facilities. It could also signal the start of many big ticket sports events in the city which is going to see some world-class sports facilities now under construction as the future sports hub of the country.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

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KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ANGELIE SAVERON BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Reporters MEGHANN STA. INES NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle CHA MONFORTE LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents Cartoons Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEñA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: D. TACIO G.•Deligero • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VidaGOTIANSE-TAN Mia S. Valverde•• NICASIO Fred C. Lumba • Antonio V. Figueroa BORBONHENRYLITO • MARY ANN “ADI”• GregORIO C. QUISIDO LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

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iabetes is now the eighth leading cause of mortality in the Philippines, according to a handout circulated by The Diabetes Store.

In 2000, about 35.6% of Filipinos were diagnosed with diabetes. The number of Filipino diabetics are expected to double by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts.

The Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation, Inc. – also known as Diabetes Center – discloses that 50% of those suffering from diabetes do not know they have the disease.

As a result, “many patients die because it is already too late to remedy the situation,” to quote the words of Dr. Ricardo Fernando, director of Institute for Studies and Diabetes Foundation in the Philippines.

Diabetes, as defined by the Merck Manual of Medical Information is “a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin (the hormone released from pancreas).”

Actually, there are two types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs in only 10-15% of all cases and tends to occur in people under the age of 30. Type 2 is the most common form; it accounts for about 90% of all cases.

“About 95% of Filipino diabetics have Type 2 diabetes, mainly caused by lack of exercise and poor diet,” wrote Irene M. Villaseñor and Juane Marco B.

O

ne of the most common misconceptions of Christians about Islam is that some believe that Muslims worship a God that is other than the God in the Bible. The reason for this is that Muslims call Allah in his personal name, Allah. Unlike Christians who call god simply as God or Lord while Muslims call him as Allah. This leads to Muslims being seen by most Christians as strange.

But as far as Islam is concerned, The God who sent the prophets and the Lord who created the heaven and earth is the same God known by Muslims. In fact, there is no religion closer to Christianity in belief than Islam. Islam is actually closer in belief to the Christian compared to how near the Jewish, Hindu or Buddhist belief is to the Christians. Allah said in the Quran, “You will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, ‘We are Christians.’ That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.” Quran 5:82.

COMMON GROUND In fact, you will find that both Muslims and Christians believe in the same God, they also both believe in Angels, Revelations, Prophets, and Messengers, Afterlife and Destiny that is chosen for us by God. Muslims believe in Jesus, Mary, Paradise, Hellfire, Judgment day and others. Christianity and Islam are very close to each other if one will

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VANTAGE POINTS

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Alternative drugs against diabetes Gonzales, authors of a paper published by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Diabetes is a common disease among Filipinos. “Beyond its prevalence, its complications add to its complexity,” pointed out Dr. Jose V. Nevada, a medical doctor who is with the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. “From people having their foot amputated, to those who become blind; from patients undergoing dialysis to those who had heart attacks or stroke – these horror medical stories are real. The medical cost of diabetes is expensive; and the loss of lives, enormous.”

Direct costs to individuals and their families include medical care, drugs, insulin and other supplies. Patients may also have to bear other personal costs, such as increased payments for health, life and automobile insurance.

“With continued rise of diabetes incidence, there is an urgent need to develop more alternative yet effective anti-diabetic drugs for Filipinos especially those who do not make ends meet,” wrote Villaseñor and Gonzales.

When it comes to alternative medicine against diabetes, ampalaya comes to mind. Dr. William Torres, former director of Bureau of Food and Drugs, came up with this conclusion after reviewing several studies done on ampalaya: “Ampalaya fruits, leaves, seeds and other parts, when used as dry powders, extracts, decoctions, fresh

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

or cooled, have clearly demonstrated hypoglycemic activity.”

Researchers have identified the key compounds present in ampalaya, notably polypeptide-P, a plant insulin found only in the ampalaya. Similar to animal insulin, polypeptide-P lowers elevated blood sugar levels. Dr. Torres maintains that ampalaya, when taken regularly, helps to increase glucose tolerance and “potentiate insulin.”

Even ampalaya leaves have some blood sugar lowering effect among diabetics, according to Dr. Eduardo G. Gonzales, of the College of Medicine at De La Salle University. “This effect is noticeable regardless of how the leaves

are prepared — boiled then eaten, or in the form of extract, tea, capsule or tablet.”

These days, Filipino researchers are also looking at malunggay. Recent studies have found malunggay extracts can significantly reduce blood sugar in mice. Because of this finding, Villaseñor and Gonzales were doing studies on the “super plant.”

“Our goal is to isolate an antidiabetic compound from malunggay and to formulate a less expensive, alternative drug against diabetes for the consumption of diabetic Filipinos,” the two researchers from the University of the Philippines in Diliman said.

The researchers and their team were able to do so. “With the help and support from the government and the hard-earned money of the taxpayers, our group managed to isolate an antidiabetic compound from malunggay leaves,” the two wrote in their paper.

The discovered compound, however, is still to subjected to further tests before it is released in the market for Filipino diabetics in need of less expensive, alternative maintenance drug.

“We still have a long way to go to develop such drug, but the important thing is, not only have we begun the journey; we have gone a long way,” the two researchers said.

Dr. Portia Mahal G. Sabido, also from UP Diliman, is conducting a study

on peptide-based substances which can block the breakdown of large sugar matter in the body and lower blood sugar levels. These substances will be produced and developed as antidiabetic drugs.

Currently, there are four main classes of antidiabetic drugs available for blood sugar control: sensitizers, secretagogues, incretin analogs, and alpha-glucodasidase inhibitors.

Dr. Sabido’s research will develop antidiabetic drugs of the alphaglucosidse inhibitors class.

“Peptides are naturally occurring substances that can be described as short chains of amino acids,” Dr. Sabido explained. “They are smaller versions of proteins, since proteins are also biological substances considering of long chains of amino acids.”

In her project, “we will merge the natural with the artificial (peptides) in order to create a more potent antidiabetic drug,” she said. “We will produce chemically the natural peptides that have been reported to exhibit alpha-glucodasidase inhibition, attach them with the small molecules which are also reported to have alphaglucodasidase activity, and determine to combination which has the most potential as a drug that can be used for the treatment of diabetes.”

Meanwhile, the quest for alternative drugs for diabetes continues.

the servant of Allah.

FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE Although we have mentioned basic similarities, let’s mention about the fundamental difference between Islam and Christianity which we may say comprises a small part of the doctrines of each respective which I wish to elaborate more in order for you to understand Islam clearly. These, I say with all due respect to our Christian readers and my intention is simply a comparison.

- The divinity of Christ, Mary and the Angels and Saints: Muslims believe that all acts of worship should be dedicated to Allah alone. Prayers, Fasting sacrificing animals, religious vows, having religious festivals in their memory, and others cannot be dedicated to Jesus, Mary, the angels or the saints. Muslims believe that Jesus is merely a human prophet like Adam and others in spite of his miraculous birth. He is not the son of God. Muslims don’t believe that he is the human incarnation of God or that Jesus and God is one and the same.

- Worship of Statues and Idols: Although idol worship has been forbidden in the Ten Commandments, modern interpretations of Christianity allow the worship or gaining religious inspirations from statues, crucifixes, and others. Islam prohibits any form of idolatry.

- Belief in the Crucifixion of Jesus: Muslims believe that Jesus did not die on the cross. Rather he was brought up by

Allah to Heaven alive only to come back to Earth when Judgment day is near in order to enforce the laws of Allah and disavow any acts of worship for him and he will order the annihilation of pigs which is originally forbidden to be eaten by Christians and Jews but was made lawful using his name.

- Belief in Superstitions: Although the Catholic Church itself denies any belief in superstition, the common Christian will find no difficulty in believing in good luck and bad luck, fortune telling and others. Islam finds these as opposing their belief that Allah is the only one who is managing the affairs of His creatures and good things and bad things do not happen because of an amulet, talisman, black cats or lucky charms.

The stricter Moral sense in Islam: We Filipinos are considered more conservative than most Western countries but there has been some decline in the way people look at moral issues of how to dress in public, sex, marriage, vice, and others. Some simply shrug this off as being in tune with the times. But in Islam, laws are eternal. It does not change in time or place you are in.

This is our article for today. If you want to know more about Islam, watch Mensahe TV via Cignal channel 184 or visit www.mensahetv.com. If you have questions feel free to email me at mujahidnavarra@gmail.com.

Have a nice day.

Christianity and Islam

compare the fundamental teachings of Christianity in forbidding adultery, fornication, theft, lying, vice, and others.

Both uphold the virtues of filial piety, honesty, integrity among others. This is the reason why many Muslim reverts who are from Christianity didn’t find it difficult at all to accept and live by the teachings of Islam.

As far as Muslims are concerned, Allah is the same God who sent Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Noah and all the other prophets. Allah said in the Quran, “Indeed, We have sent messengers to all nations so that the people will worship Allah alone without partners and so that they stay away from worshipping other gods.” Quran 16:36.

This means that it was Allah who sent all the prophets from the first prophet Adam up to the last prophet Muhammad – may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon his prophets and messengers.

Muslims believe in Allah according to a doctrine known as Tawhid which is also known as Allah’s oneness. The first part of Tawhid is Allah’s oneness in His divinity.

No one deserves to be worshipped except him. In fact, anyone who wants to become a Muslim must first verbally say the Shahadah, or testimony of faith that there is no god worthy of being worshipped except Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

Muslims believe that Allah alone is the Lord or the Creator and Sustainer that

Understanding Islam

Mujahid Navarra

the Christians and Jews know about. He is the creator of the heavens and the Earth.

He is the sustainer of life and the One who manages every affair of his creation. He has knowledge of what He created and nothing happens to His creation except that He knows of it and that He has approved it.

Thirdly, Muslims believe that Allah possesses names and attributes that are special to Him alone. There is no one in creation that could be compared to Him in any way in his names and attributes.

It is not allowed for a human to name his newborn child as Allah rather he should name his child as Abdullah, which means,

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Davao player urges gov’t to finalize Halal standards

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Halal promoter in the Davao Region has urged the Philippine government to release the national standards on Halal certification to allow the country’s industry to compete globally.

Marilou Ampuan, president of the United Islamic Center Foundation, said the national standards on Halal certification scheme that the certifiers have been waiting for must be given importance by the government. Otherwise, she said the government is not ready for the industry.

She, however, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-led team is already conducting massive consultations around the country for the Implementing Rules and Regula-

To bring his harvest to the lowlands, a farmer lets the river’s current bring his coconuts downstream effortlessly in hinterland Barangay Bonbonon in Iligan City Thursday afternoon (21 September 2017). MindaNews photo by BOBBY TIMONERA

P5B sought for livestock, poultry industry for 2018

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he Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), is pushing for a P5- billion budget for 2018 to cover programs designed to support the livestock and poultry industry.

This was disclosed by Undersecretary Enrico Garzon during the opening of the Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE)

T

2071 Thursday, saying the proposed allocation is aimed at assisting programs related to poultry and swine and other related stocks.

Aside from the regular program on prevention and control services, Garzon said this will also cover establishment of post-harvest facilities and slaughterhouses.

“We will be putting up

he workplace has gone through many changes over the past few years. There have been advances in technology, distributed teams and locations, increasing freelance/ contractor mixes, rising real estate prices and more millennials arriving in professional roles.

This evolution is not going to stop and it’s clear that the office of the future will be a very different place.

Our experience, as well as recent studies into the way workplaces are changing, give us a good picture of what these offices might look like.

In the coming years we can expect firms consolidating their offices for more efficient use, greater staff density, satellite offices and agile working increasing. There will also a growing need for collaborative spaces.

Let’s look at some of those things in a bit more detail.

Work environments Distributed teams across multiple cities, countries and conditions is becoming the norm. The mix of contract and temp staff vs full-time employees is growing. Ultimately the way performance is measured under these new trends is undergoing a transformation. All of this impacts the how workspace may be designed and used in the future.

small-scale slaughterhouses in fifth and sixth class municipalities,” he said.

Garzon cited in particular the establishment of an P80-million slaughterhouse in the hinterland district of Calinan, some 30 kilometers away from the Davao City poblacion.

During the agri-trade event, Garzon also reported that DA has continued to sup-

port backyard hog raisers in terms of educating them on sanitation, disease prevention and good agricultural practices.

Garzon said the products of backyard hog raisers comprised of 60 percent of the country’s supply and complement the 40 percent produced by commercial growers. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)

Future of the Office

In many cases daily use of a traditional office is not required.

Employees may need to simply drop in for key meetings, have access to remote locations and a network of business environments around the world when and where they require.

Technology and work culture are changing quickly to support these new flexible demands and we will explore these new concepts in the upcoming articles.

Consolidation Demand for office space in Metro Manila has grown rapidly over the past two years, with the current vacancy rate in Metro Manila at an all time low of four percent1 coupled with the rising real estate prices across Metro Manila, office space will need to be used more efficiently to manage costs effectively. For most companies, this means empowering staff with flexible working solutions, as well as fewer offices in expensive city centres.

Satellite office The government’s ambitious infrastructure plan consists of a number of high-impact projects that will boost economic growth, and address bottlenecks that hamper economic growth in order to unlock

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AirAsia launches world’s 1st freedom flyer programme

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EPANG, 8 September 2017 - AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline, today unveiled the world’s first Freedom Flyer Programme aimed at making it easier, faster and better for loyal guests to earn AirAsia BIG Points.

The overhauled loyalty programme, powered by AirAsia BIG Loyalty, is based on a unique membership status system determined by how often guests fly - the more guests fly with AirAsia, the faster they will earn BIG Points, regardless of how much they spend on fares.

The four-status system starts with Red status for guests who fly 13 or fewer one-way short-haul flights in the preceding 12 months, through to Gold and Platinum, and all the way

The plan to move national government offices out of Metro Manila is expected to significantly contribute to decongesting Metro Manila. The new government district in Clark is expected to move about two to three million people out of Metro Manila, and result in countryside development, particularly in the provinces of Pampanga and Bataan.

The development of urban centres in those areas will spur the economic development of Northern and Central Luzon. Also, building full-fledged urban centres in the countryside will diversify the geographic drivers of economic growth.

Agility Country Manager, Regus PH Increased workplace density and better technology will mean that the country’s growth potential. As employees are no longer expected to urban transport networks continue be tied to one desk and, as a result, to expand, a central location will no agile working will become more longer be essential. Infrastructure commonplace. Business professionals projects are underway from Mindanao will be given the option to work to Clark, with a particular emphasis remotely (either from home or based on metros and railway systems. within a client’s office). Hot desking These will give talent and clients will also become a regular occurrence. based further afield easier access to Staff members will be able to base emerging business hotspots. As real themselves from the head office or estate is often less expensive in such a satellite office, depending on the areas, firms can invest in small satellite demands of their day. offices where people can drop in as Collaboration required.

The rise in agile working will

Lars Wittig

tions (IRR).

She also said the Davao Halal Industry Council will be meeting next week and wanted to know about the content and the formulation of the Halal national standards.

Ampuan, who is also the Halal committee chair of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said DTI is the lead agency in Halal Board, created in accordance with Republic Act No. 10817, an Act Instituting the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Program. The Board is chaired

by DTI and the National Commission on Muslim Filipino (NCMF) as vice chair.

While the halal standards are still being finalized, Am-

up to Black for those who fly 50 or more times with AirAsia.

For every PHP125 spent, Red Members can earn up to 20 BIG Points, Gold up to 40, Platinum up to 70 and Black up to 120.

Long-haul and Fly-Thru flights count as two one-way short-haul flights for status calculation purposes, making it doubly rewarding to travel with AirAsia X. The Freedom Flyer Programme was launched by AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia X Group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and AirAsia BIG Loyalty CEO Dato’ Eddy Leong earlier today at AirAsia’s RedQ in Sepang, Malaysia.

Fair, 15

increase the need for collaborative workspaces. As more professionals work remotely, the need for faceto-face meetings will be greater.

In recent years, the growth of the flexible workspace segment in the Philippines has been undeniable.

With the estimated total stock of flexible workspaces in Metro Manila at 228,000 sq m (2.5 million sq ft), Colliers expects this number to grow by 10% annually in the next three years, as demand for co-working spaces is spurred by a millennialdominated labor force.

Today, the Philippines had more than 60 operators of flexible office spaces at end-2016, with pioneer Regus opening its first site in 1999 with almost 3,000 sq.m. at The Enterprise Center.

As the government and businesses look for ways to drive business growth, providing the ideal work environment for employees to work efficiently and productively while keeping costs low is key.

If I were to sum this all up, I’d say the key themes of the office of the future are efficiency, flexibility and creativity. To meet the demands of the future, workforce management will need to think outside the box in terms of real estate investment.

COMMUNITY SENSE 13 EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

TRMH, DASIA hold medical-dental mission

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

C

onsistent with its corporate philosophy “Business With A Heart”, The Royal Mandaya Hotel along with sister company Davao Allied Security and Investigation Agency (DASIA) held its annual community outreach program on September 16, Saturday, at Barangay Sirib in Calinan District.

Dubbed as Emilio Escandor Community Outreach Program (EECOP) 2017, officers and employees of the two firms extended medical and dental mission to the indigenous community of Barangay Sirib.

The EECOP activity is the highlight of the 19th anniversary of The Royal Mandaya Hotel and the 45th anniversary of DASIA. The event was graced

by Michelle D. Escandor, TRMH Corporate Secretary and Benjamen J. Banzon, Jr., Trmh General Manager.

Part of the medicines were donated by Department of Health.

The team was composed of seven medical doctors headed by Dr. Henry D. Derla and two dental doctors headed by Dr. David G. Villagomeza. The participating doctors were Dr. Jean Somera-Avenido, Dr. Jose P. Naval, Dr. Janalyn D. Campos, Dr. Fritz Janila C. Morales, Dr. Amalia V. Lualhati, Dr. Micah I. Villagomeza and Dr. Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte, City Councilor of the 3rd District.

Four volunteer nurses also joined the team headed by Ian Birth R. Galido, Angelica June B. Elma, John Martin S. Miciano, and Rachel Ann N. Gatapia.

Assisting the team are 15 Brgy. Sirib Barangay Health Workers (BHW).

The medical mission served around 170 medical patients and 25 dental patients.

For other services, 30 were given free haircut, 90 received used clothing.

Some 250 residents of Brgy. Sirib were also recipients of the feeding program.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

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NEWS

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FRATMAN... FROM 3 Hipe, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Jason Adolfo Robiños, Ranie Rafael Santiago, Danielle Hans Mattew Rodrigo, Carl Mattew Villanueva, Aeron Salientes, Marcelino Bagtang, Zimon Padro, Jose Miguel Salamat and John Paul Solano.

A person subject of an ILBO can still leave the country subject to conditions and requirements including clearance from the DOJ. On Sunday, the law student’s body bearing bruises and burns was found dumped along a street in Balut, Tondo, Manila. (PNA)

propriation.

“All these combined pressured the Lower House to restore the budget of the CHR,” the LP said.

“This is how democracy works. This is People Power, millennial version in the age of social media,” the party added.

The House earlier reduced the budget of the three agencies to just P1,000 each as lawmakers expressed their displeasure over the offices’ performance. Originally, the CHR has a proposed 2018 budget of P649.484 million.. (PNA)

ects with funding from JICA are the PNR North 2 (Malolos-Clark Airport-Clark Green City Rail), Cavite Industrial Area Flood Management Project, Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Phase II, and the recently approved Metro Manila Subway Project.

He further explained, however, that the Philip-

pine Development Plan 2017-2022 states that the government’s investment program for infrastructure will be based on an optimal mix of ODA, government domestic financing (General Appropriations Act), and private capital (Public-Private Partnerships).

(NEDA)

also issued a “certification for possible geohazard and recommended mitigating measures.”

Based on the initial plan, the mall will have three stories and that about 20% of the area of 2.6 hectares of the mall.

About five years ago, Marlon Nino B. Escalicas, manager of Camella Davao, said that his company will provide a

commercial components to its residential projects to provide residents with easy access to grocery and other supplies that they needed in their homes.

Escalicas made the announcement at that time when the company was first setting up Cerritos, a subdivision named after a place in Southern California. MFS

the project before the end of the year when Chinese officials visit the city.

Ang also discussed with Tony Fernandes, chief executive officer of budget airline Air Asia, the possibility of servicing the Davao-China route so he can bring the products to the China market. The airline can also tap

the Chinese tourists as its passengers when its aircraft returns to the city.

Fernandes earlier said his company, which will start serving the Davao-Kuala Lumpur route in December, is considering 10 international routes using the city as its hub in three years. MFS

ment of it alone but in the performance of its function in delivering services to the entrepreneurs. Balleque added that while Negosyo Center in Maco is certainly among the most striking Negosyo Center established so far, it could also be the best Negosyo Center if it can sustain operations and perform its function with the best it could be offer.

DTI Comval has established 4 LGU-based and 1 DTI-based Negosyo Centers since 2015. After the successful launching of Maco Negosyo Center, another 3 LGU-based NCs are targeted to be established this year in Pantukan, Maragusan, and Laak towns.

KimEvangelio/DTI Comval

gregation to negotiate for Catalan’s safe release.

On August 26, Bishop Bagaforo recorded his urgent appeal addressed to the leaders of the NPA, Communist Party of the Phil-

ippines, and the National Democratic Front operating in the provinces of North Cotabato, Davao del Sur, and Bukidnon for Catalan’s release. (MindaNews)

RESTORATION... FROM 3

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ANG... FROM 5

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BEYOND FORGETTING. Members of progressive groups stage a mass protest to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law along C.M. Recto Avenue in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

MANULIFE... FROM 5 thing that is pure investment as opposed to those that have insurance-links,” he said.

He declined to give assets under management (AUM) value target but said officials of the asset management firm, which received from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) its certificate of authority to operate trust and other fiduciary business only last June, said their ambition is “to be a significant player in this country.”

“I think we have the position to put a dent on the industry,” he said.

He said 3,000 of their 10,000 financial advisors have received their training and are ready to cater to prospective clients.

He said five to six additional products are in the pipeline but declined to give a timeline when these will be launched.

Manulife Asset Managment and Trust Corporation is the global asset management arm of Manulife and its officials are positive for a strong growth for its business in the Philippines given the improving economies of countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Charland said the political noise in the country is not unique in the Philippines, thus, the focus on the demographics, which, he said, is “absolutely tremendous.”

“A lot of people are working and consuming. OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) and BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing) continue to remit in record amounts so I’m quite bullish on the economy,” he said.

Michael Dommermuth, head of Manulife’s Wealth and Asset Management in Asia, during the same briefing, said the company considers ASEAN as a “non-stoppable asset force” and is forecast to eclipse the European Union and Japan by 2050 through the help of Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

“We’re throwing the ball where we see the receiver will be,” he said.

Dommermuth explained that officials of Manulife’s asset management arm are of the belief that the Philippines will play a big role in the company’s core strength in the coming years, with the help of their large number of financial advisors. (PNA)

Also present were AirAsia Malaysia CEO Aireen Omar, AirAsia X Malaysia CEO Benyamin Ismail, AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador, AirAsia India CEO Amar Abrol, AirAsia President of China Kathleen Tan and AirAsia Group Chief Commercial Officer Siegtraund Teh AirAsia Co-Founder and AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said, “I am pleased to introduce the world’s first Freedom Flyer Programme.

AirAsia is about freedom. When my partner Datuk Kamarudin and I started AirAsia, we dreamed of democratising air travel so flying would no longer be a luxury only a few could enjoy. We wanted to give everyone the freedom to fly. This new and improved loyalty programme is the latest in our continuing quest to give our guests the freedom to live the rewarding

life they’ve always dreamed of.”

AirAsia Co-Founder and AirAsia X Group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said, “This is our way of saying thank you to our loyal guests for flying with us. By making AirAsia X the airline of choice for longhaul travel, our guests can achieve top status in the Freedom Flyer Programme twice as fast and enjoy abundant rewards and privileges while exploring our network, which stretches from Japan to Australia and the Middle East, all the way to Hawaii.”

AirAsia BIG Loyalty CEO Dato’ Eddy Leong said, “Our Freedom Flyer Programme is the first of its kind in the world that is designed specifically for everyone. No matter who you are and what you do, our Freedom Flyer Programme is our way of saying thank you for making AirAsia great. This is for you.”

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hard for next year’s tournament,” Lopez said. “But it would probably take us three years to contend against Pradera.”

Southwoods collected 146 points with Sunshine Baraquiel pacing the team with 50 points.

Other scorers were Loralie Roberto and Samantha Dizon with 48 points apiece. Samantha Bruce did not count with Samantha Bruce.

With Pradera virtually settling the matter in the championship division, attention now shifts to the battles in the three other divisions.

Manila Southwoods Legends seized the lead in the Founders division after scoring 130 points that brought its total to 383, six points ahead of Alabang.

Maria Singson led Legends with 48 followed by Laurea Duque 44 and Yong Mi Kim 38.

Alabang posted 122 behind Jona Magcalayo 46, Finina Gorres 39 and Eun Sil Jang 37.

A far third was Negros Occidental Team A with 369 points after scoring 135 in the third round.

In the Friendship class, Wack Wack retained a 24-point lead over Iloilo despite a measly 94 points.

Iloilo rallied with 104 points for 299 while Manila Golf took third spot with 283.

This year’s PAL Ladies Interclub sponsors are Primax Broadcasting Network, Mareco Broadcasting Network, Fox Sports, Travelife Magazine, People Asia, Asian Air Safari, Airbus, Travel Now Magazine/

TouchPay, Bombardier, PLDT and Mastercard.

Support also comes from TFC, Rustan’s Commercial Corporation, Asia Brewery Inc., Alaska Corporation, Eton Properties, Trinity Insurance and Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

Day 3 Results: CHAMPIONSHIP: Pradera Verde 489 (167-166-158), Manila Southwoods Masters 443 (144-153-146), Cebu Country Club 422 (140-133-149) FOUNDERS: Manila Southwoods Legends 383 (124-129130), Alabang Golf 377 (126129-122), Negros Occidental Golf 369 (117-117-135), Del Monte Golf 363 (124-112127), Lady Eagles Australia 342 (134-114-94), Mactan Island Gold 332 (104-122-106), Valley Golf North 311 (106110-95), Alta Vista Golf 300 (100-102-98).

SPORTSWRITERS: Eagleridge 337 (107-110-120), Sta Elena 335 (103-117-115), Camp Aguinaldo Team A 334 (111-115-108), Pueblo de Oro 332 (114-105-113), Tagaytay Highlands 314 (105-105-104), Rancho Palos Verdes 309 (97111-101), Camp John Hay 279 (80-111-88), Apo Golf 269 (8488-97).

FRIENDSHIP: Wack Wack 323 (113-116-94), Iloilo 299 (93-102-104), Manila Golf 283 (97-96-90), Alabang 2 259 (83100-76), Cebu Country Club B 254 (87-82-85), Guinhalaran 234 (87-69-78), Bacolod City 225 (76-78-71), Camp Aguinaldo B 211 (81-53-77), Victorias 200 (69-68-63)

puan said the board has extended the role of the certifiers to two more years.

These certifiers included three NCMF-accredited certifiers and the other two which were appointed by the DTI. The five certifiers are the Islamic Dawa Council of the Phils, the Halal Development Institute of the Philippines, Mindanao Halal Authority, Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, and the Halal International Chamber of Commerce.

Ampuan said the countries like Thailand and Malaysia only

have one certifier. She voiced concerns that once Philippines adopts only one certifier for the country there might be resistance from the existing certifiers given that these have been in the business for a long time.

These certifiers went through complying several requirements and investments for their accreditation and already known in the international market, she said.

“It will depend also whether they will qualify to the standards set by the DTI,” she said.

(Digna D. Banzon/PNA)

DAVAO... FROM 12

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

MOTORING 17

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

Why you should tint your car

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here’s no doubt about it: tinting your car’s windows make it look better. But did you know that aside from mere visual appeal, there are many other reasons why you should consider applying high-quality tint or window film to your car’s windows? Here are 4 reasons why you should have your car tinted.

1. Protects against fade The unrelenting heat and UV rays from the sun can turn your car’s interior into a mess in just a

few years. All this can be prevented by applying professional window films that block up to 99 percent of UV rays while also significantly reducing heat.

For instance, Nano-Tech Clearsky 9060 allows 73 percent visible light transmission, while blocking out 94 percent of the sun’s infrared heat and 99 percent of UV rays. Blocking these two primary causes of fading will help you protect your interior from cracking and warping.

2. Cuts eye strain and

glare With traffic adding hours to the daily commute, one commonly overlooked muscle that gets a lot additional strain are the eyes. Whatever the cause— direct sunlight, headlights, reflection from water or surrounding buildings, glare isn’t just annoying but it can also make your eyes tire quickly. In more extreme causes of glare, it can even cause temporary blindness! Though investing in good sunglasses may do the trick, your passen-

gers may not be so lucky especially if you always have children or the elderly with you. Going for a quality window film does an excellent job of gutting glare for everyone onboard.

3. Cools the interior With the right window film, you can drastically reduce the heat inside your car, especially during the scorching summer months.

By controlling hotpots and unwanted interior heat from the sun, high-quality tints can create a more comfortable driving expe-

rience while also reducing the strain from your car’s air conditioner. The Nano-Tech Charcoal Film for instance cuts out 96 percent of heat and thanks to its nano-ceramic technology, it provides the maximum level of protection with the best clarity.

4. Adds security and privacy The safety benefit of installing window film on your car cannot be underestimated. Tinting gives you additional protection by keeping valuables away

from prying eyes. Going further, the Nano-Tech Automotive Security Film has the ability to hold shattered glass together, increasing the time and effort it takes for a would-be thief to enter your vehicle.

This acts as a great deterrent to “smash-and-grab” theft.

It’s pretty obvious that installing a high-quality window film or tint greatly adds peace of mind that protects not only your vehicle, but all those who travel in it as well.

18 SCIENCE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

Coral reefs as future source of medicines Text by Henrylito D. Tacio Photos by Seaweb

Growing up in the Philippines, Baldomero Olivera – nicknamed Toto by a cousin who could not pronounce “Totoy” – recalls that cone snails were sold by the kilo in local seafood markets. As a child, however, he was unaware of the impact the predatory cone snail (scientific name: Conus magus) would have on his life’s work.

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oday, he is known for discovery of many cone snail toxins important for neuroscience. These molecules, called conotoxins led to a breakthrough in the study of ion channels and neuro-muscular synapses.

In the early 1980s, he and his colleague, Michael McIntosh, discovered Ziconotide, a drug to bring relief to people in chronic pain. It was developed into an artificially manufactured drug by Elan Corporation.

It was approved for sale under the name Prialt by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by the European Commission in 2004.

In 2008, Dr. Lourdes Cruz bested more than 1,000 nominees worldwide for the award given annually to women scientists from five different regions of the world for their outstanding scientific contributions and commitment. She was chosen by a jury composed of 18 eminent members of the scientific community headed by the 1999 recipient of the Nobel Prize in medicine, Gunter Blobel.

Dr. Cruz was given the L’Oreal-Unesco Award for Women in Science “for her pioneering research on the venomous toxins of the cone snail, which can produce a medication that is more powerful than morphine and can serve as powerful tools to study brain function.”

Conotoxin is just one of those chemicals found from the species inhabiting the coastal waters. Coral reefs, for instance, hold considerable untapped potential in the science of medicine. In fact, the US State Department said that half the potential pharmaceuticals being explored today come from the oceans, many from coral reef ecosystems.

“The sky is the limit,” says Dr. Deborah Gochfeld, a senior research scientist at the Nation-

al Center for Natural Products Research of the University of Mississippi. “The oceans have a much broader diversity of chemical structures than are found in plants – which include uses for cancer, heart disease, and infections, among others – so it is likely that marine animals will include all of these options and more.”

Dr. William Fenical, director for marine biotechnology and biomedicine at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, echoes the same idea. “Marine resources could be the major source of drugs in the coming years,” he points out.

Most of these marine resources thrive in coral reefs.

“Many coral reef species produce chemicals like histamines and antibiotics used in medicine and science,” reports The Nature Conservancy, an organization whose mission is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities by protecting the lands and waters needed for their survival.

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

Coral reefs, touted to be the rainforests of the sea, are one of the most productive and biologically rich ecosystems on earth. They extend across about 250,000 square kilometers of the ocean – less than one-tenth of one percent of the marine environment – yet they may be home to 25 percent of all known marine species.

“About 4,000 coral reef-associated fish species and 800

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species of reef-building corals have been described to date, though these numbers are dwarfed by the great diversity of other marine species associated with coral reefs, including sponges, urchins, crustaceans, mollusks, and many more,” said the book, Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle.

For centuries, coastal communities have used reef plants and animals for their medicinal properties. In the Philippines, for instance, giant clams are eaten as a malaria treatment.

“Unique medicinal properties of coral reef organisms were recognized by Eastern cultures as early as the 14th century, and some species continue to be in high demand for traditional medicines,” observes Dr. Andrew Bruckner, a coral reef ecologist in the US National Marine Fisheries Service’s Office of Protected Resources in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In China and Taiwan, tonics and medicines derived from seahorse extracts are used to treat a wide range of ailments, including sexual disorders, respiratory and circulatory problems, kidney and liver diseases, throat infections, skin ailments, and pain.

In Japan’s reefs – one of the most studied coral coasts in the world – there is a chemical called kainic acid, which is used as a diagnostic chemical to investigate Huntington’s chorea, a rare but fatal disease of the nervous system. Sea whips, a type of soft coral found throughout

the Caribbean may hold the key to promising new painkillers.

Other coral chemicals have proved useful in research on arthritis and asthma. In Australia, researchers have developed a sun cream for a coral chemical that contains a natural “factor 50” sun block.

Also, the porous limestone skeleton of coral is now being tested as bone grafts in humans. “If used properly, the reefs of the entire world can better serve humans with medicine rather than with food,” some researchers claim.

In an article, which appeared in Reef Research, Dr. Patrick Colin, a marine biologist, clearly described the hopes that had led him to spend the 1990s collecting marine samples in the Pacific for the US National Cancer Institute (NCI). “Over the years, the NCI has been screening terrestrial plants and marine organisms worldwide for bioactivity against cancer and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and has come up with a number of hot prospects, a number of which are in clinical trials,” he wrote.

Since the mid-1970s, private and government-funded institutions from the United States and other industrialized countries have devoted varying levels of effort to the discovery of marine-derived pharmaceuticals.

“I think there are about a dozen marine drugs in early clinical development (that is,

Phase 1 and Phase 2 human trials) that show good promise in cancer assays,” reports Dr. Gochfeld. “Many more are being studied at the level of academic institutions like ours – but still years away from development, but with exciting potential.”

Meanwhile, the use coral in bone grafts is spreading rapidly. Pieces of coral set into a fracture act as a scaffold around which the healing can take place. The implant eventually disappears, absorbed by the new growth of bone. Rates of rejection are much lower than with artificial grafting materials.

Unfortunately, the ecologically-fragile coral reefs which someone describes as “Eden beneath the waves,” are on the verge of extinction. Coral reefs in Asia as well in other parts of the world are disappearing fast.

“More than 60 percent of the world’s reefs are under immediate and direct threat from local sources – such as overfishing, destructive fishing, coastal development, water-

shed-based pollution, or marine-based pollution and damage,” Reefs at Risk reported.

Climate change brought about by global warming is exacerbating the problem.

“Tropical coral reef waters are already significantly warmer than they were and the rate of warming is accelerating,” deplored Janice Lough, of the Australian Institute of Marine Science. “With or without drastic curtailment of greenhouse gas emissions we are facing, for the foreseeable future, changes in the physical environment of present-day coral reefs.”

Once these coral reefs are gone, they would be lost forever – including those that can serve as sources of medicines. “The loss of biodiversity represents lost potential medicines (as well as many other biotechnology products that enhance our lives),” says Dr. Gochfeld. “The alarming loss of coral reefs in recent years includes unestimated loss of species that could one day save lives from malaria, cancer, HIV, and many other infectious diseases.”

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

SPORTS 19

EDGEDAVAO

DAVAO’S PRIDE. Para athletes swimmer Ernie Gawilan (extreme left, left photo) and chess player Henry Lopez (extreme left, right photo) won gold medals in the ongoing Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PSC welcomes PRRD’s challenge to widen its scope nationwide

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HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) welcomed the challenge of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to make sports accessible to the countryside as the national sports agency is already living up to it since the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) was relaunched in January this year.

President Duterte, in his speech during the awarding of cash incentives to Filipino ath-

letes who won medals in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last September 13 at Malacanang Palace, posed the challenge to the PSC in line with the country’s hosting of the 30th SEA Games in 2019.

The hosting, according to the president, is an opportunity to look for talented Filipino athletes all over the country.

“I enjoin PSC to widen its scope and recruit nationwide.

Look for them in non-traditional places and include members of the indigenous tribes and the out-of-school youth. Let’s give them a chance to hone their talents and live up to their fullest potentials “ Duterte said.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, for his part, said the mantra of the President is to give equal opportunities to all Filipino athletes.

The PSC chief said, “This

means making sports accessible to the periphery, to the communities, especially to the needy, destitute, out-ofschool youth and to the indigenous and Muslim communities and even those in despair.

That’s the center of our grassroots sports program.”

Thus, Ramirez urged that all sports associations “must cooperate with PSC’s clear policies and vision to succeed in the elite development”.

“In terms of numbers, if you are going to judge rallies by numbers, then siguro you can say that it is not (successful). But remember, revolu-

tions start not in great many people.

It starts with one person,” says former PSC chairman Aparicio Mequi.

Spin.PH photo

Protesters want Peping out of POC

WINNING TEAM. AAK Davao led by head coach Rommel Tan.

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AAK Davao bags six golds

AK (Association for the Advancement of Karatedo) Davao came home with six golds, two silvers and two bronze medals in the recent 2017 Milo Olympics Karatedo competitions held last weekend at the Lim Ket Kai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.

AAK Davao’s golden performances came from Seth Michael Navarro (Grade 3 and 4 Boys Kumite) and Kyzzhia

Pauline Navarro (Grade 5 and 6 Girls Kumite) of University of Immaculate Conception, Aldren Solon (Grade 5 and 6 Kumite) and Ian Carlos Pascual (Secondary below 63kgs Boys Kumite) of Lifestream Academy, Craig James Infiesto (Secondary above 63kgs Boys Kumite) of Apo Learning and Janna Alexandrea Ramirez (Secondary below 54kgs Girls Kumite) of Precious Academy.

Davao Christian High’s Atsuko Kaiyel Tan fell short for a golden award, settling a silver finish in the Girls Grade 1 and 2 Kumite to go along with John Paul Ponce of Precious Academy in the Boys below 63kgs Kumite.

AAK Davao’s bronze finish saw Joseph Angelo Ramirez of Brainworks in the Grade 5 and 6 Boys Kumite and John Philip Ca-

gandahan of University of Immaculate Conception in the Secondary below 57kgs Boys Kumite.

Team AAK Davao was joined by city chief instructor Rommel Tan along with their respective parents and guardians.

Some 54 schools from all over the country took part in the one-day event which saw a total of 150 entries.

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GROUP calling for the ouster of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco held a protest at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, confident it can sway other officials in the national Olympic body to join their call.

At least 100 persons joined the protest rally led by disgruntled officials Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) president Edgardo ‘Boy’ Cantada and Philippine Swimming League (PSL) chairman and former Senator Nikki Coseteng.

Also in the protest were PSL secretary general Susan Papa, Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) president Marcia Cristobal, and former Philippine Football Federation (PFF) official Johnny Romualdez.

Meantime, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Ramon Fernandez, a staunch critic of Cojuangco, organized a separate protest in Cebu.

Former PSC chairman Aparicio ‘Perry’ Mequi, who spearheaded the protest in Manila, is confident the group will be able to gain support from other sectors, even though he admitted the rally may not be successful in terms of numbers.

“In terms of numbers, if you are going to judge rallies by numbers, then siguro you can say that it is not (successful). But remember, revolutions start not in great many people.

It starts with one person,” said Mequi.

Mequi added they will continue to call on the government to charge Cojuangco, who under his leadership was allegedly unable to liquidate government money from different projects including the country’s hosting of the 2005 SEA Games.

“We will keep pressuring anybody, POC and the PSC, but we are going to pressure the government to file charges against Peping Cojuangco,” said Mequi.

20 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 124• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2017

STANDING STILL RPV, Apo mired at 5th and 8th, Pradera is virtual champ C

EBU CITY – Davao’s best bets still couldn’t make the go-ahead round which could swing their fortunes as Rancho Palos Verdes and Apo Golf were held in their 5th and 8th positions in 12th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships with one round to go at the Cebu Country Club Thursday.

Rancho Palos Verdes scored a combined 101 for the third round to sit at 5th with 309 total (97-111101) while Apo Golf had its tournament

TOP SCORER. Nicole Abelar of Pradera Verde makes her putt.

Lakers bare 20-man pool

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he Los Angeles Lakers have officially announced their 20man training camp roster for the 2017-18 season after the final addition of veteran center Andrew Bogut, who they recently signed to a one-year, veterans minimum contract.

Bogut’s contract is partially guaranteed, but if he can prove to be healthy coming off his broken leg, he is the clear favorite to land the 15th and final spot on the roster.

That would leave the other four players the Lakers brought in on partially guaranteed contracts, V.J. Beachem, Vander Blue, Briante Weber and Stephen Zimmerman competing for the final two-way contract.

The two-way contract is a new concept in the NBA, and it allows teams to have two players going back and forth between the NBA and G-League as they are needed. Point guard

Alex Caruso earned the Lakers first two-way contract after his impressive play during the Las Vegas Summer League.

The Lakers roster consists of just four players over the age of 25 in Bogut, Corey Brewer, Luol Deng and Brook Lopez, so second-year head coach Luke Walton will have his hands full this season trying to develop this young roster that also includes four rookies.

While the roster is set, there is still a lot to be decided during training camp and the preseason in regards to who will be playing what roles.

The starting lineup of Lonzo Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Lopez is pretty much set.

But other than Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. off the bench there are still a few rotation spots up for grabs.

best round of 97 but still couldn’t squeeze out of the 8th and last postion with a 269 total (84-88-97).

All told, the two Davao clubs will be needing huge miracles to move up higher on final day as the battle in the Sportswriters division is expected to go down on the last putt.

Only three points separate defending champion Eagleridge, Sta. Elena and Camp Aguinaldo Team A going into the final round.

Eagleridge, riding on Soon Hak Jung’s 45 points, scored a division-best 120 points to seize the lead with 337, two points clear of Sta. Elena and three ahead of overnight leader Aguinaldo.

Sta. Elena also collected 45 points from Maria Therese Dabao to end the day with 115 points while Aguinaldo

struggled with just 108 points.

Newcomer Pradera Verde Golf Club has all but wrapped up the title with one round to go following another explosive performance.

After posting 167 and 166 points in the first two rounds, Pradera cooled off with 158, but still built an insurmountable 46-point lead over Manila Southwoods Masters, winner of this event the last six years.

Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso shot the day’s only sub-par round, a two-under par 70, to anchor the all-teen Lubao-based squad.

That was worth 56 points in the Molave scoring system, assuring the 18-year-old long hitter the individual title. She scored 59 points in the opening round.

Nicole Abelar backed up Saso with 53 points while Michela Effendie rounded out scoring with 49.

Annyka Pineda Cayabyab, the youngest member of the team at 13, did not count with 48.

Pradera’s domination signalled a shift in the balance of power and the rise of the brat pack.

“This is good for the event and the sport in general,” said Southwoods coach Bong Lopez, whose team lost a number of key players who have turned professional.

Lopez noted the rise of young golfers.

“Although we would have been happy winning our seventh title, this can only mean that we have to prepare

FSTANDING, 15