Edge10 issue 205 January 17, 2018

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

Serving a seamless society

ADJUSTMENTS. Trader Martina Bentayao repacks fish crackers at her stall inside Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City on Tuesday. Business owners said they are planning to raise the prices of their goods to offset higher prices of raw materials and transportation cost due to the government’s implementation

Mayon’s lava flows trigger evacuations T he number of families affected by the series of phreatic explosions and lava �low spawned by Mayon Volcano has now climbed to 5,318 families which is equivalent to 21,823 persons as of 2 a.m.

Tuesday.

This was disclosed by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad in the above-mentioned

update.

The affected families are from 25 barangays in Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Daraga, Tabaco City and Malilipot.

Families being served in 18 evacuation centers are now placed at 4,134 which is equivalent to 16,887 persons while families being aided outside these facilities are at 1,184 or 4,936 individuals.

Pagasa’s 26th hatchday

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of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, which reduced personal income taxes but increased taxes on cars, tobacco, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fuel. Lean Daval Jr.

STATE OF THE AR T Crime lab to serve whole of Mindanao

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he new Regional Crime Laboratory Office building and its newly acquired state-of-the-art crime lab equipment will ensure faster delivery of forensic services not only within the Davao region, but also in the entire Mindanao.

This was bared by President Rodrigo R. Duterte during the inauguration of the building and facilities on Monday afternoon.

Duterte said with these enhancements, the police regional of�ice and the regional crime laboratory of�ice would be able to address capability

gaps. “ I am con�ident that our PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel in the Davao region will now be able to perform their duties more effectively,” President Duterte said.

PNP chief Director Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa was elated with the new building and facility of RCLO 11.

“This is a dream come

true for Mindanao policemen,” Dela Rosa said in his speech.

Dela Rosa said the facilities of RCLO 11 will cater to the forensic needs not only Davao Region but also the rest of Mindanao islands.

“Through this facility, the police will no longer have to travel to Camp Crame to perform laboratory examina-

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

UPHOLDING TRADITION.President Rodrigo Duterte shows a gesture of respect to Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Gonzaga after the latter led the blessing of the new Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO)11 Building during

Penalties await violators of city park regulations

By ANGIE SAVERON

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enalties for violation on the rules and regulations imposed in all parks in the city will be imposed based on the speci�ic law violated.

“The violations will depend on existing city ordinance violated, for example when we say no smoking, there is a corresponding sanction based on our anti-smoking ordinance,” 2nd District Councilor, Al Ryan Alejandre explained during the Pulong Pulong ni Pulong press conference at City Government on January 16, Tuesday.

The rules and regulations governing the parks are approved by the Davao City Parks Board and will apply to all parks in the city.

“We did that because we saw that some of the people going to People’s Park or some other parks are violating the standard park rules,” he said He said that in any parts of the world and in the country there are park rules and regulations.

“Here in Davao, medyo silent tayo djan but for now

its inauguration in Davao City on Monday evening. Also in the photo are Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

‘Glow in the dark’ ordinance pushed

As safety feature for establishments

By JUDIE VEGA

C 4 dead as landslides, PENALTIES,P11

flooding hit ComVal T he intermittent rains caused by the tail end of the cold front resulted in landslides and �looding in the towns of Compostela Valley (ComVal) province, leaving four persons dead and displacement of 269 individuals.

In a report to Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy Monday, Special Operations Of�ice Raul Villocino reported four persons died when a landslide occurred on Sunday night at Purok Bulawanon, Barangay Tandik, Maragusan, ComVal.

The landslide happened after three days of continuous rains in the area.

The casualties were identi�ied as Raymund Magallanes, 20; Rowena Sajulan, 23; Hazzel Magallanes, 3; and, Joey Magallanes, oneyear-old. Rowena’s brother, 11-year-old Alvin Tiin survived the incident.

Villocino said the landslide happened at around 8:30 p.m on Sunday but the bodies were recovered after two hours by the barangay rescuers.

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ouncilor Mabel Sunga- Acosta has proposed an ordinance requiring establishments to install glow-in-the-dark or photo-luminescent paint to guide people towards the exits in case of emergencies.

“The installation of glowin-the-dark paint would save valuable seconds for people unsure of where the nearest possible exits are and guide them toward safety without having to fumble around in the dark,” she said.

Acosta said this feature should help in preventing unnecessary deaths as what happened in the NCCC blaze last December.

Acosta is the chair of the city council’s committee on peace and public safety.

“The recent incident has shown that Davao City needs to be proactive in implementing disaster-preventive measures,” Acosta said.

Acosta said the photo-luminescent signs may be painted in areas leading to stairwells, pathways and all emergency exits to guide people especially when power goes out.

She added that it should not be a burden among establishments since “this option is electricity free, requires min-

imal maintenance, is longer lasting, and can illuminate a wider area than regular emergency lights.”

She pointed out that the measure could help save lives in cases of �ires, after several witnesses reported the fourth �loor of the mall being surrounded by smoke in the initial moments of the �ire.

She added that the proposed resolution be considered urgent.

Her proposed ordinance

2 a.m. Tuesday.

This was disclosed by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad in the above-mentioned update.

The affected families are from 25 barangays in Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Daraga, Tabaco City and Malilipot.

Families being served in 18 evacuation centers are

now placed at 4,134 which is equivalent to 16,887 persons while families being aided outside these facilities are at 1,184 or 4,936 individuals.

Also, Jalad said the

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Families affected by Mayon unrest now at 5K

T

he number of families affected by the series of phreatic explosions and lava �low spawned by Mayon Volcano has now climbed to 5,318 families which is equivalent to 21,823 persons as of

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

City needs more tour guides: DOT

By ANGIE SAVERON

T

he Department of Tourism XI is encouraging people to pursue tour guiding as a profession.

Towards this purpose, the DOT has planned to conduct trainings and workshops for tour guiding because the city is lacking of tour guides who can speak Russian, Japanese and Chinese.

“We will create a workshop or trainings for those

Rescuers end search for slide victims

T

he rescue team has completed on Monday night the retrieval of all four bodies buried by rain-induced landslides in the city’s Quarry district.

The two-day retrieval operation concluded around 6 p.m. on Monday after the recovery of the last two bodies buried by collapsed wall and landslide debris on Saturday night.

The last retrieved was Alejandro Mayolargo’s body. Minutes earlier, the team also unearthed the body of his common-law wife Sherry Jane Amancio, the village secretary. Surviving children identi�ied the two fatalities.

On Monday noon, the team retrieved the body of Amancio’s daughter Zoe Hernandez. The body of Delia Carson, the head of village watchmen, was the �irst to be recovered predawn on Sunday.

The team temporarily stopped their search on Sunday night as tail end of a cold front dumped heavy rains in the regional capital.The city government here lauded the members of the team who helped in the retrieval operations.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Of�icials (CDRRMO) chief Ildebrando Bernadas and Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasain appreciated the determination of the team members to retrieve those who perished despite the bad weather.

“You never give up until the last body is found because in Tacloban we

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who want to be a tour guide, kasi kulang tayo ng Chinese at wala tayong Russian and Japanese speaking tour guides,” said Davao city council chair for tourism and beauti�ication, Al Ryan Alejandre during Pulong Pulong ni Pulong press conference

VANTAGE VIEW. An ironworker is silhouetted by the setting sun while working on the metal structure of a condominium building along C.M.

CITY,P11 Recto Avenue in Davao City on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

ONLY IN DAVAO. A total of 26 Mitsubishi patrol vehicles were turned over by the Japanese Government to the Philippine National Police at the Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO)-11 in Davao City on Monday

City Council okays PRRD ‘IclinicSys’in RHU’s

By JUDIE VEGA

T

he 18th Davao City Council on Tuesday passed on third reading an ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health Region that would pave the way for the implementation of the integrated clinic information system “iClinicSys” in rural health unit/ health centers or other primary care facilities.

The ordinance proposed

by Davao City Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, chairperson of the committee on health was approved on third and last reading after it received positive vote from two thirds of the councilors’ population.

Prior to the approval, Councilor Bonifacio Militar asked the proponent as the bene�its that the City would derive from the ‘iclinicSys’.

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MinDA renews call for extension of feed-in-tariff in Mindanao

W

ith the ending of feed-in-tariff (FIT) awarding last year, the Mindanao Development Authority through the inter-agency power monitoring body has recommended the extension the FIT program for hydro and biomass in Mindanao.

MinDA has put forward the recommendations through the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC), which it cochairs with the Department of Energy.

This is also in support to the recent announcement

of DOE on the possibility of FIT to be extended for three more years. According to MinDA Chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, the agency has already submitted the recommendation in order to further encourage the entry of renewable sources in the Mindanao grid.

“We need to mitigate the anticipated electricity price spikes given that Mindanao’s power capacity will be primarily based on fossil fuels. This can signi�icantly add up �inancial burden of the residential consumers,” Alonto said.

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night. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa in receiving the donation from Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

to DCPO: ‘Take care of new patrol cars’

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

P

resident Rodrigo R. Duterte reminded the Davao City Police Office to take care of the new 26 patrol cars donated by the Japanese Government.

The president gave the reminder during the inauguration of the new Regional Crime Laboratory Of�ice 11 and turn-over of new Mitsubishi Montero patrol cars on Monday afternoon.

He said when he was the mayor of the city, he is ‘very emphatic with the maintenance’ since the ‘serviceability’ of vehicles

will depend on the maintenance.

Duterte said the DCPO director should have personnel who will look on the regular maintenance schedule of these police vehicles so that it will last long.

“They are not cheap.

They are had to buy in the lifetime of the city and the

ones given to you are almost a luxury car to us.

Montero for the average Filipinos is a luxury car,” he said.

The president said he expects that these vehicles should last for a long time with proper maintenance.

“It should not be used for personal errands of any of�icer,” he said.

Duterte said the new police vehicles should be used for peace and order purposes only.

He said the city has al-

lotted budget for the hiring of drivers of these new vehicles so that the police will concentrate on patrol operations.

“Those who do not know how to drive, you should not use that as a practice car,” he said.

Duterte also thanked the people and government of Japan for donating the patrol vehicles to DCPO. “These units will allow our police to more competently perform their duties

lomatic remedy in getting a pardon from the king,” Raul Dado, executive director for DFA-Of�ice of Migrant Workers Affairs Of�ice said in a phone interview.

According to state-run Bernama, Malaysia’s Federal Court on January 15 upheld the decision of the Court of Appeals, which meted death on the nine Filipinos last year for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over the Lahad Datu intrusion in 2013.

“We are of the view the convictions against them were safe,” Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif was quoted as saying.

The nine involved were Datu Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, 54, son of the late Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram; Julham Rashid, 70; Virgilio Nemar Patulada Mohamad Alam Patulada, 53; Salib Akhmad Emali, 64; Tani Lahad Dahi, 64; Basad H. Manuel, 42; Atik Hussin Abu Bakar, 46; Al-Wazir Osman, 62, and

Ismail Yasin, 77.

Throughout the trials, Dado said all accused had been assisted and represented by Datuk Sivanathan, an International Criminal Court-certi�ied lawyer.

Asked when the delegation is scheduled to request the Malaysian ruler’s audience, Dado said no information was provided yet but assured they still have “a lot of time within the month.” (PNA)

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PH to appeal case of 9 Filipinos meted death in Malaysia

M

ANILA -- With Malaysia’s Federal Court upholding death sentences of nine Filipinos accused of waging war against its monarch, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said they were now initiating the appeal for clemency, the country’s “highest diplomatic appeal.”

“Right now, we have a delegation from the Philippine post and they are going for the dip-

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

SM P20-B bond offer gets high credit rating

S

M Prime Holdings, Inc. on Monday said its proposed bond issue of up to PHP20 billion received the highest credit rating from the Philippine Rating Services Corp. (PhilRatings).

PhilRatings assigned a rating of PRS Aaa to its bond issue, denoting that such obligations are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk and that the issuing company’s capacity to meet its �inancial commitment on the obligations is extremely strong.

FULL STOCK. A sidewalk vendor displays freshly-harvested vegetables at her stall in Bankerohan in anticipation for the influx of people who will go to the market on Tuesday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Incentives eyed for park spaces

For Davao land owners to invest in parking

T

he City Council will deliberate on Tuesday the passage of an ordinance that will grant special tax holidays to properties that will be developed into parking spaces to address traffic congestion in the city.

The six-page proposed ordinance, a copy of which was released to the media on Monday, seeks to encourage property owners in the city to develop and use their properties, when feasible, as parking spaces or parking buildings to address the lack of parking space with the booming tourism industry in the city.

It said the city has noted an “increasing number of activities and in�lux of tourists has

introduced challenges to the existing traf�ic stream.”

Tourist arrivals, according to a press statement from the City Tourism Of�ice, surpassed the two-million target for 2017 when it noted a total of 2,009,879 visitors, 1,835,798 of them domestic tourists.

Once legislated into law, the incentives will cover all properties within the territorial jurisdiction of the city classi�ied as commercial zones

and all zones allowed based on the city’s 2013 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance; properties to be developed and/or used exclusively as parking spaces/ buildings; and properties with updated payment of real property taxes.

Under Section 5, it states that the newly-developed parking spaces will be granted with two-year exemption from real property tax for land; �ive-year exemption from real property tax for parking building; and a �ive-year exemption from business tax for parking spaces.

The proposed measures provides that parking buildings must be at least two stories and used exclusively as a

onal valuation of land in Philippines will be at par with international standards once lawmakers approve the third package of the Duterte administration’s tax reform program.

“BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) already has a valuation of the land, which we applied for sales, zonal value, so we are going to suggest in the law is the NG (national

government) provides the assessments on the value which is more or less going to be the zonal value,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

The Finance chief said of�icials of local government units (LGUs) currently have the power to decide on tax rates of real estate and its improvements.

He explained that LGU of�icials will still have the au-

thority to decide to either or not follow the rates to be set by the NG under the proposed tax reform.

He said local of�icials are hesitant to increase real estate taxes because these will be questioned by their constituents.

“If they want to apply it high or they want to apply it zero it’s up to them. So the principle of local autonomy is

parking space for a period not less than �ive years, otherwise the tax exemptions will be lifted should the property owner introduce another use to the structure prior to the �ive-year lock in period.

The measure, however, excludes those parking spaces required under the Republic Act 6541, or the National Building Code of the Philippines, for the property or building owners/ developers and those existing parking spaces of establishments that the law requires but approved by the City Building Of�icial.

It also prohibits alteration of the approved building plans.

(Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

still maintained because they are the ones who will determine what rate to be applied to that valuation,” he said.

Dominguez said package three of the tax reform will be revenue neutral for the NG but not the LGUs. “For the local governments, it might be revenue positive. But it really depends on them, how they will use that tool,” he said. (PNA)

Upgrade of PH zonal land value underway Z

SM Prime told the local bourse that the issuance, with maturities of �ive years and seven years, is part of the PHP60-billion shelf registration of �ixed rate bonds approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in July 2016.

The company said the rating for its PHP70-billion outstanding bonds was also maintained at PRS Aaa. PhilRatings assigned a stable outlook for the ratings of the proposed and outstanding bonds. (PNA)

P2-B budget for Marawi livelihood projects asked

T

he Department of Trade and Industry has sought about P2 billion to fund its initiatives to bring back livelihood activities in Marawi City and its nearby areas.

DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, in a brie�ing Monday, said the department has asked for about PHP2 billion as budget to roll out various projects in Marawi City being part of the Task Force Bangon Marawi.

Maglaya cited the department’s initiatives to help traders in Marawi City and its peripheries as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to Marawi crisis. These include shared service facilities (SSF), mobile rice mills, tricycles, and micro�inancing facilities.

She noted that DTI has earmarked PHP50 million for SSF projects in Marawi.

She added that these SSFs aim to revive industries

in Marawi such as weaving, woodworking, and brasswares among others.

SSF Program provides technology, machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills, and knowledge under a shared system to MSMEs for them to improve the quantity and quality of their products services in order to increase their competitiveness in both domestic and international market.

Maglaya said that around 6,000 tricycle units are needed in Marawi for mobility of people and commodities in the area.

DTI’s �inancing arm Small Business (SB) Corp. is also looking into availing loans to �inance the needs in Marawi such as acquisition of tricycle units, the trade of�icial noted.

The DTI also eyes to provide more mobile rice mills in Marawi. (PNA)

Tax-take from sugary drinks seen to hit P52B

M

ANILA - Expected revenues from excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is seen to contribute some PHP52.03 billion to government coffers this 2018.

Department of Finance (DOF) data showed that based on the medium-term revenue program, excise tax from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is the fourth largest revenue contributor among excise taxes in the country.

Under Package 1 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), otherwise known as Republic Act (RA) No. 10963), drinks using sugar and arti�icial sweeteners will have an excise tax of PHP6 per liter while it is PHP12 per liter for drinks that use high fructose corn syrup.

Exempted, however, from this law are all kinds of milk, 3-in-1 coffee products, natural fruit and vegetable juices, and medically-indicated beverages.

SSB excise tax is not part of the revenues set under the medium term program.

DOF, in an explanation on its website, said the excise tax on SSB “will help promote a healthier Philippines” since it discourages the public from consuming sugar-sweetened beverages that boost their chances of being obese or have diabetes or worsens the situation of those who already have the disease.

“This is a measure that is meant to encourage consumption of healthier products, to raise public awareness of the harms of SSBs, and to help incentivize the industry to develop healthier products and complements,” it said.

Total excise taxes expected to be collected this year amount to about PHP300.208 billion.

Bulk of these were programmed to be collected from tobacco products, PHP126.969

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

DOTr update on jeep modernization sought

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he Department of Transportation should submit its report on latest developments regarding the jeepney modernization program to avoid “confusion,” a senator said Tuesday.

Senator Grace Poe reminded the DOTr to enlighten the public on the latest developments regarding the jeepney modernization program amid its planned roll out this year.

Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said that all the details should be laid out on the table because for ordinary jeepney drivers, it is their livelihood at stake.

“We want to know what has happened to the modernization program. Has the DOTr come up with clear guidelines

on how to implement this?

There are still many things to be ironed out,” Poe said in a statement.

She, meanwhile, appealed for sobriety among jeepney operators and drivers mulling to hold street protests following the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s implementation of the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” program, which some groups are linking to the modernization program.

“The lack of transportation hits the commuters hard and disrupts work and classes,” Poe said.

Last December, Poe, in a hearing with transport of�icials and jeepney drivers and operators, recommended the conduct of a pilot test of the

Company exports T non-agri product

DOTR,P12 THE LOAD IS THE LIMIT.A man piles up merchandise on a vehicle which he will deliver to customers around Davao City on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

More beneficiaries for DTI programs pushed

From Anflo export zone in Panabo City

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hilDutch Polymer Inc., a joint venture between a homegrown company and Dutch entrepreneurs and one of the first locators in the Anflo Industrial Economic (AIE) zone in Panabo City has just made its first export shipment of a non-agricultural product.

Frank R. Jaeckel , the Dutch partner of Ferdinand Y. Marañon of Sagrex Corporation, told reporters about 10 tons of resin granules (equivalent to one container) was

exported during the launch to main markets in China, Vietnam and Asia, where there are more plastic end-users.

Maranon, who is the president of the Phil Export

AMBASSADOR JOINT MEETING. Pillars of the Ambassador Club Philippines headed by lawyer Rufino “Boy” Mijares, national president (third from right), and Ambassador Club Davao led by Dr. Ma. Lourdes G. Monteverde (second from left) discuss national and international activities lined up for 2018 during a joint dinner meeting at the Bistro Rosario in

–Davao, said the partnership targets to ship out an estimated 40 to 50 containers a month.

The �irst manufacturing plant in AIE-PEZA Panabo City, with a �loor area of 4,500 square meters, PhilDutch is the �irst PEZA non- agricultural exporting company located in Davao Region as common export products in the region are banana, fruits, and other agri-products.

Started operating last

November, PhilDutch Polymer is a processing plant for engineering polymers predominantly acrylic, polymites, nylon, and polyester.

“It’s a processing of plastic polymers but our raw material is resin but we have to segregate it �irst. When already pure you can already make tables, chairs, switches, TV screen,” he said, adding “later on tutunawin yan through extrusion sa aming

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Davao City. Also present in the gathering were (from left), Ambassador Robert Yu of Manila, lawyer Antonio “Ony” Partoza Jr., outgoing Davao president; lawyer Leoncio “Nonoy” Villa-Abrille, past national president; former Vice Mayor Luis “Louie C. Bonguyan, past national president; and Jean Imperial, Dr. Monteverde’s secretary. LALA BULACLAC.

he Department of Trade and Industry aims to reach more Filipinos this year with its training programs to promote entrepreneurship.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday the department will continue to strengthen its mentorship initiatives this 2018 by conducting more trainings and tapping more mentors to coach micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and those who would like to start their own businesses.

Lopez added that in 2017, DTI has conducted 121 Kapatid Mentor ME with a total of 28,202 attendees.

Of the total attendees, some 2,663 have graduated from Kapatid Mentor ME sessions.

Some 3,983 trainings were also rolled out under its SME Roving Academy (SMERA) with 138,942 participants.

For 2018, DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group Zenaida Maglaya said the department targets to increase those graduating from Kapatid Mentor ME sessions to 20 percent of total attendees last year or to more than 5,000 mentees.

She added that there are now about 460 mentors under the Kapatid Mentor ME program of DTI. Under the Kapatid Mentor ME, large enterprises provide mentorship seminars to MSMEs. Maglaya also said DTI targets to double the participants of SMERA this year to around 300,000.

“As we bring our services throughout the country, and they get to know more of our services, the demand [for our services] has increased. We make sure that we address their demands and deliver,” Maglaya said. (PNA)

onths after going on continuous shutdown, AboitizPower Corporation announces that the biomass plant in Lian, Batangas operated by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aseagas Corp., will permanently cease operations.

Aseagas earlier suspended its commissioning due to unavailability of the supply of organic ef�luent wastewater from its supplier, Absolut Distillers, Inc. AboitizPower also took the opportunity to assess the plant’s other issues, and after a full assessment decided to make the plant shutdown per-

manent.

“Our top consideration now is to balance the interests of all our stakeholders, including that of Aseagas’ employees,” AboitizPower President and Chief Operating Of�icer Antonio R. Moraza said.

AboitizPower earlier disclosed that Aseagas has prepaid its outstanding loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) in the amount of PHP2.368 billion.

Total value affected as a result of the closure has been estimated at PHP3.7 billion, which represents Aseagas’

AboitizPower shuts down Aseagas plant M

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EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 7

Microwavable ‘saba’ to reach ME market H

Sagrex expanded exportation starts April

omegrown Sagrex Foods Incorporated is eyeing to penetrate market in Middle East by exporting microwavable “saba” (banana) starting April this year under the brand name First Tropical Foods Corporation under Sagrex.

In an interview at the PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority)-certi�ied An�lo Industrial Economic (AIE) in Panabo City, Gregory Maranon, vice president of Sagrex, said exporting microwavable banana of the “saba” variety is part of the �irm’s expansion plan this year to cater to its growing market and to meet the demand for “saba” by overseas Filipinos, indicated last year when their company started exporting in a more consistent way to the MIddle East such as in Dubai, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

“We want to develop the Middle East market which is still underserved and under penetrated by our business,” he said.

Maranon said they have been selling “saba” under Golden Saba brand with Sagrex Foods in the US, Australia and Canada.

Maranon said the Middle East market has been not fully matured but somewhat developed already but in terms of growth. He said they see a

faster growth in the Middle East because it’s what they’re targeting to tap.

“In the MIddle East all the foods are imported there and the price of fresh saba which is more expensive so we see a big potential, adding that the market is growing tremendously because of the hype of a number of Filipino overseas workers there.

“As you know Filipinos are very familiar with saba and it’s something that they crave for of some food items from home,” Maranon said.

Currently, Sagrex is setting up a food factory inside the An�lo Industrial Economic (AIE) zone for this frozen “saba” for export.

As AIE’s second locator (First Tropical Foods), this company is registered to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) leasing 2,000 square meters from An�lo.

In the upcoming facility they will be processing, peeling, freezing, and steaming the saba that would be

DCWD turns over water supply system to Barangay. Marilog

D

avao City Water District turned over a water supply system to Brgy. Marilog on December 19, 2017 after one year of operation and extensive capacity building.

This activity was done through a simple ceremony attended by DCWD representatives headed by assistant general manager for administration Alfonso E. Laid, Brgy. Marilog council and residents, Brgy. Katipunan council, Katipunan-Ladian-Marahan Water System Association (KALMAWASA) of�icers, and Obu-Manuvu Ancestral Domain Tribal Council of Leaders and El-

ders, Inc. Highlighting the ceremony was a padugo, a tribal ritual using the blood of an animal to bring prosperity and express gratitude for the gift the community received.

This ritual was facilitated

by Lipatuan Datu Joel Unad.

The KALMAWASA of�icers also took their oath accepting their new duties and responsibilities in sustaining the water supply system.

The project which costs PhP2.5 million provides access to safe drinking water to the 234 households in Sitio Marahan and 116 households in Sitio Ladian. Classi-

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Brgy. Marilog receives water supply system from Davao City Water District. DCWD representatives headed by assistant general manager for administration Alfonso E. Laid (2nd from L) and the community heads represented by Marilog barangay captain Purificacion A. Suyko (3rd from L) and Obu-Manuvu chairman Mahabbok Datu Luis Lambac (3rd from R) hold the pot filled with water as part of the tribal ritual conducted during the turn over ceremony.

exported mainly in the Middle East as well as US, Canada,and Australia.

Maranon said they are targeting to start their operation by the end of April this year. He said most of their equipment are here already so its just a matter of installing them and some a little renovation on the property.

He said they are leasing the building as an empty warehouse standard with hazard certi�ication and an ISO for food safety and enviroment and quality standards.

E said they’re expecting to spend around over a million dollars for the equipment, renovation, and installation.

“The building is a warehouse type but we are converting it into a factory that will house our food storage facility,” Maranon said.

First Tropical Foods’ sister company which is Sagrex Foods that has a factory in Tibungco has been operating for eight years and is 100% utilized in terms of capacity.

Gregory Marañon

Three-year FIT delay in Mindanao pressed

W

To boost entry of renewable sources

ith the ending of feed-in-tariff (FIT) awarding last year, the Mindanao Development Authority through the inter-agency power monitoring body has recommended the extension of the FIT program for hydro and biomass in Mindanao.

MinDA has put forward the recommendations through the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC), which it co-chairs with the Department of Energy.

This is also in support to the recent announcement of DOE on the possibility of FIT to be extended for three more years. According to MinDA

Chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, the agency has already submitted the recommendation in order to further encourage the entry of renewable sources in the Mindanao grid.

“We need to mitigate the anticipated electricity price spikes given that Mindanao’s power capacity will be primarily based on fossil fuels. This can signi�icantly add up �inancial burden of the residential consumers,” Alonto said.

From about 58% in 2010, renewable energy (RE) capacity in Mindanao is down to 36% in 2017, and is expected to be dominated at 70 percent by fossil technology.

“This is part of the reasons

why MinDA had been pushing for increased deployment of RE technology, in line with our long-term target of bringing energy mix back to the ideal energy mix by 2030,” Alonto said.

He however assured that there are more than enough natural resources for RE found geographically in Mindanao.

Hydropower capacity tops Mindanao’s potential renewable energy source at 1,945 MW. Being the country’s food basket, the island-region also has a potential for Biomass Energy development, which is roughly around 146.65 MW potential capacity as of December 2016.

In the recommendation submitted by the National Renewable Energy Board, developers can �ill the remaining allocation for biomass and run-of-river plants until 2020.

“We are requesting for �ive-year extension exclusively for Mindanao so that our developers will have enough time to catch-up and get the most out of the FIT allowance, considering that Mindanao has a unique challenge in a sense that we currently do not have a Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, yet,” said MinDA Deputy Executive Director Romeo Montenegro, who also sits as the TWG co-chairman of the

mployees of regional operating headquarters (ROHQs) need not worry about the veto of the provision under the �irst tax reform package that allows them to continue enjoying the 15 percent preferential withholding tax rates because they will bene�it from lower income taxes in general.

This was pointed out by Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tiongco, who said the

veto on such provision affects only few employees of ROHQs, which are mostly companies belonging to the business process and outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Tiongco said almost 90 percent of ROHQ employees will bene�it from the cut in personal income tax set under the �irst package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act. “In fact the ones that qual-

ify for the 15 percent rate are those earning PHP975,000 and up (who are the) high-earning people and they enjoy lower rates,” she said.

The Department of Finance of�icial said high earning individuals who hold managerial positions are the ones who are questioning the veto.

She explained that employees of ROHQs, which were previously called RHQs, were given preferential rates be-

cause these entities were not supposed to have incomes.

She said RHQs previously served only as coordinating centers and did not earn income.

However, these have evolved with some BPOs now structured as RHQs, thus the change in name to ROHQs and the change in tax rate of their employees for the government to properly tax them.

(PNA)

THREE,P12

DOF clarify tax issues for ROHQ employees E

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

EDITORIAL

T

It’s not about press freedom

he decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoking Rappler’s registration should not be made into a press freedom issue. The reason being the decision is based on the constitutional limits of nationalization of media organizations.

Be that as it may, the Department of Justice (DOJ) will be looking at the company’s possible criminal liability in allegedly violating the Anti-Dummy Law. Commonwealth Act Number 108 or the Anti-Dummy Law penalizes “evasion of the laws on the nationalization of certain rights, franchises or privileges.”

The SEC en banc found Rappler’s issuance of a Philippine Depositary Receipt (PDR) to foreign entity Omidyar Network a violation of the constitutional requirement that all media companies should be 100% Filipino-owned. However, Rappler maintains it is wholly Filipino-owned believing that PDRs do not indicate ownership. It says its foreign investors, Omidyar Network and North Base Media do not own Rappler. The

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two foreign entities invested but do not own Rappler.

This issue should focus on the essential issues and that is primarily the possible violation of the Anti-Dummy Law and the provision on full ownership of media organizations by citizens. The constitutional right to freedom of the press cannot be made as a shield for violations of the equally essential limitations on ownership. People must stop turning this into an affront on press freedom because that is tantamount to veering away from the primary issue of the case.

There is clearly no argument here. Article 16 Sec. 11 talks about ownership of media organizations while Art. 3 Sec. 4 talks of press freedom. Nothing in Art. 16 abridges freedom of speech and the press. For as long as any media organization satis�ies the nationalization requirement, there is no trouble doing business.

The bottomline is that what is prohibited here is not the publication of news but the engagement of business like selling advertisements.

And that is what Rappler should answer squarely.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ANGELIE SAVERON BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO JUDELYN VEGA MEGHANN STA. INES Reporters ARMANDO B. FENENQUITO JR. 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

the national association of newspapers

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE Richard C. Ebona | Product Development officer LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts.Address: 04 Orilla St. Purok 4B Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Specialist Cellphone number: 09472652969 General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Email Address: edgedavao@gmail.com Mobile: (Smart) 09101864939 Tel: (088) 852-4894

EDGEDAVAO

Y

esterday’s resignation of CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan is part of a long round of resignations of various public of�icials accused of, among other things, “excessive foreign travel”, corruption and the exercise of undue in�luence.

Before passing judgment on whether these travels are indeed excessive, it must �irst be clear that most heads of agencies serve at the pleasure of the President, and are appointed to their agencies to achieve governance mandates and obtain results. That said, they can be �ired or replaced anytime.

On the other hand, reg-

H

istory is replete with evidence about how nations are built.

The world’s civilization did not come about from man’s desire to institutionalize himself but to survive man’s inhumanity to man; from the ashes and ruins of war, from the avalanche and acquisition of knowledge that revolutionized the market of ideas and the evolution of culture, all these became integral to the development of a nation.

Our beloved country is no exception.

After going through nearly 400 years of repressive Spanish colonization that enslaved the people, the Philippines attempted to bring about a new way of life under the cloaked tutelage of imperialist America.

Then, the Filipinos again had to struggle and repel the invading hordes of Japanese marauders that eventually taught us the true meaning of unity and independence.

Today, as the Duterte government navigates its way through the maze of unhealthy polemics and political swords-play, Filipinos from all walks of life begin

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Resignations ular state employees enjoy security of tenure. Removing them from of�ice will require the necessary due process by �iling the necessary cases at the Civil Service Commission or the of�ice of the Ombudsman.

Thus, whether foreign travels are excessive must �irst depend on whether they are necessary to begin with. Their activities and travel expenses require public scrutiny.

But the deeper matter this brings out in my view, is whether the public of�icial during his or her tenure has achieved the results worthy of the of�ice and mandate.

How has the of�icial per-

MY TWO CENTS’ John Carlo B. Tria formed to achieve performance targets. Has the of�icial led the agency to meet or exceed them? Has there been a “whiff” of corruption,

malfeasance or chicanery?

The spate of resignations requires us to examine these questions more thoroughly for both the appointed heads of agencies and the tenured rank and �ile personnel. This is because the high expectations people have placed on this government demand that performance be achieved for all public of�icials.

More than at any other time in history, the people demand answers and performance. They make their voices clear, and will not be muf�led. They now have tools at their disposal- the internet, the cameras in their phones and social me-

dia.

This demand goes for the heads of agencies to the lowest ranked state employee, including frontliners such as public school teachers and police personnel and airport baggage handlers. Their tenure or job security should not protect them from the scrutiny of the people and should not be a cloak for the nefarious or corrupt activities of some.

Thus, we need to be vigilant to monitor performance. Those who cannot perform should either resign or be �ired.

For reactions: facebook. com/johntriapage

under bamboo curtains while going through a mass-based revolution. Its’ leaders grappled with sensitive concerns to cultivate the Chinese peoples’ own brand of nationalism after driving away the Kuomintang. When it opened its doors to the West, China was a proud nation ready to battle and meet the challenges of the times.

South Korea likewise.

And then here comes Vietnam. Torn asunder by a long, violent and bloody civil war, the Vietnamese are surging ahead of us many respects of our national life.

Where have we fallen short?

The answer – (or answers) – lies in our people.

Filipinos are resistant to change.

Like a mango tree that was planted on a recline, Filipinos have become inured to that reclined position and don’t want to straighten up.

Filipinos continue to elect many unquali�ied politicians because they sell their rights to votes. They claim it is poverty that drives them to do so.

Filipinos have willingly

accepted their lowly mendicant status because the government is itself inducing them to accept dole-outs.

Thus, when the delivery of basic social services become short, people moan and join the parliament of the streets oblivious that they are being used as instruments to de-stabilize the duly-constituted authority.

A nation un-disciplined as we are cannot escape from material poverty because we are possessed of a corrupt mindset.

A nation divided as we are cannot stand as one because we are not supportive of positive reforms. We do not have a sense of time and urgency.

To conclude, an English monk wrote: “If history records good things of good men, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) Prov. 16.7: “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

The costs of nation-building

to witness the unfolding of a new era.

It is not too dif�icult to understand why the nation is currently undergoing painful and rigorous changes. The inertia that preceded the incumbent administration’s objective to implement system and mindset change has, to a certain degree, negatively affected the people’s consciousness.

As a French proverb said: “You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.”

There are sacri�ices we need to make.

Our national leaders – without exception - must show sterling examples of good and clean living. Filipinos like to emulate what people in authority usually do which greatly in�luences the lifestyle and culture evolving today.

Corruption has been a perplexing issue since way, way back. It has imbedded itself in the moral tissues of our nation where our people are now trying to wiggle themselves out of its degenerating effects. It is now the single most important concern of every government in the face of the earth.

SPECKS OF LIFE Fred C. Lumba Because of this, a leadership vacuum consequently arose. Pseudo-politicians have emerged, masqueraded and presented themselves as the country’s next leaders which is now blindsiding the people and the electorate.

What a tragedy.

But to our consolation, we say: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

America did not achieve its superpower status in one fell swoop.

Japan prospered economically despite two A-bombs that were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

China for centuries hid

EDGEDAVAO

10 SUBURBIA RISING

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

Alleged NPA leader, wife yield in South Cotabato G

ENERAL SANTOS C I T Y (MindaNews / 16 January) – An alleged ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) and his wife surrendered to government troops based in South Cotabato province on Monday after a series of negotiations.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Leander, commanding of�icer of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion (IB), said Tuesday NPA-Far South Mindanao or Valentin Palamine Command spokesperson Noel Legaspi alias Ka Efren and wife Wendy decided to yield after serving the rebel movement for around 26 years.

He said the surrender was facilitated by the 27IB based in Tupi town in South Cotabato in coordination with provincial of�icials led by Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes.

“This is the result of continuing collaborative efforts aimed at convincing more NPA rebels in the area to surrender and return to the folds of the law,” he said in a radio interview.

Leander said Legaspi is considered as among the top leaders of the NPA-Far South Mindanao, which operates in parts of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North

NPA fighters in formation. MindaNews file photo Cotabato, Maguindanao and Davao del Sur provinces.

Legaspi was a long-time spokesperson of the group and had granted media interviews in the past regarding NPA activities in the area.

His wife, Ka Wendy, had served in the NPA unit’s medical staff.

Citing talks with Legas-

pi, the Army of�icial said the latter and his wife decided to surrender as they could no longer endure the dif�icult situation in the mountains.

“They wanted to lead normal lives and end the long years of hiding from authorities,” Leander said.

South Cotabato board member Agustin Dema-ala

said they will continue with their efforts to convince more NPA rebels to surrender.

He said they expect that more rebels will yield and lay down their �irearms in the coming days as a result of such development.

In Sultan Kudarat province, over 100 alleged NPA rebels already surrendered

since last year through the provincial government led by Gov. Datu Pax Mangudadatu.

Dema-ala assured that surrenderers will get various assistance through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program or CLIP. The program, which started in 2014, aims to facilitate the mainstreaming

of former NPA rebels as productive citizens; enhance capacities of LGUs and national government agencies in the implementation and sustainability of the CLIP; and compensate and remunerate all surrendered �irearms, including those coming from the NPA. (MindaNews)

ENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 16 January) — The city government is working on the establishment of processing facilities for medical wastes and plastics recycling at its sanitary land�ill complex.

City Councilor Elizabeth Bagonoc, chair of the city council’s committee on environment and climate change, said the two projects are already in the pipeline and awaiting funding from the local government.

She said these were not included in the city’s approved budget for this year but City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has committed to fund and implement them.

The proposed projects cost a total of P30 million or P20 million for the medical waste treatment and processing facility and P10 million for the plastics recycling facility, she said.

Bagonoc said the establishment of these facilities were provided for in separate ordinances passed by the city council last year.

She said the plastics recycling facility requires the installation of a machine that will process plastic wastes into other items.

“It will be able to convert plastic wastes into recycled items like planter pots, tables, chairs and other materials,”

Creation of 8th town in Sarangani gets House committee’s approved G

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 16 January) — Sarangani of�icials expect the passage by the House of Representatives before yearend of a bill that seeks the creation of another municipality in the province.

Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao said House Bill 1013 or “An Act Creating the Municipality of Malandag in the Province of Sarangani” has already been approved by the House committee on local government.

The bill seeks the conversion of Barangay Malandag in

Malungon town as the province’s eighth municipality.

“This has long been the clamor of the people in the area. We expect that it will be passed this year,” he said.

Pacquiao �iled HB 1013 on July 4, 2016 and was referred to the House Committee on Local Government on Aug. 1.

The committee, which is chaired by South Cotabato �irst district Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr., passed the bill on “condition that (the proponents) secure a certi�ication from the Land Management Bureau

that there is no boundary problem between General Santos City and Malungon town.

Under the measure, 12 of Malungon town’s 31 barangays would be carved out to compose the proposed municipality of Malandag.

These are Barangays Malandag proper, Alkikan, Atla-e, Banahaw, B’laan, Datal Batong, Datal Bila, Datal Tampal, Kibala, Kiblat, Malabod and Nagpan.

Pacquiao said Malandag and the 11 other barangays have passed the require-

ments in terms of population, land area and income as provided for in Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Act of 1991.

As of the December 2017, Malandag alone listed a population of around 15,000 and Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of P9.2 million.

Based on the 2015 census, Malungon has a population of 103,604 and was the eighth most populous locality in Region 12.

It is one of the biggest towns in the region in terms

CREATION,P12

GenSan eyes processing facilities for medical wastes and plastics

GENSAN,P12

INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

STYLE

EDGEDAVAO

All dolled out

THE MOMENT Barbie doll was introduced to the world, a fashion icon was born. Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has served as a model and muse to most worldrenowned names in fashion and the arts.

She provides the ultimate canvas for their imaginations, to identify and play out their dreams.

The Barbie Loves Plains & Prints collection is a celebration of her iconic style throughout the years, reinventing vintage Barbie looks into the sartorial ethos of Plains & Prints, through bold prints, classic colours, and modern silhouettes making it perfect for the today’s stylish woman.

A2INdulge!

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

Pagasa’s 26th hatchday IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS OFF NEW YEAR DAY CELEBRATIONS but that January 15, 1992 was an even bigger celebration at the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) Conservation Center as it witnessed the first hatching of a Philippine Eagle in captivity. The landmark event was welcome news for the critically endangered national bird as it meant years of hard work and research paid off. Fast forward to the present day and Pagasa, as how that chick was called, has now turned 26.

Ever since that momentous day, January 15 has been celebrated by the PEF as Pagasa’s Hatchday and this year’s celebration at the PEF Conservation Center at Malagos was a tribute to the brave men and women who believed in saving the Philippine Eagle and making a stand for the environment.

“From our success in hatching Pagasa, the center has hatched more than 28 Philippine Eagles.” said PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador “Pagasa is also now part of our artificial insemination breeding program and is now a father with the hatching of Mabuhay in 2013” Pagasa’s hatchday this year was filled with environmental seminars as well as fun and games where participants learn more about the plight of the Philippine Eagle as well as the many endemic animals of the archipelago. last year’s celebrations featured an educational raptor immersion but unfortunately this year, due to the threat of bird flu, the PEF bird ambassadors had to be on lockdown for the time being for their own protection. The day ended with an environmental fair in the afternoon also held at the PEF center.

Congratulations to the Philippine Eagle Foundation for the courage and strength to save not just our national bird, but also in taking a stand in saving the environment through education and action. Again, happy hatchday Pagasa, may the symbolic light of environmental protection in you shine brighter.

Pagasa in his enclosure.

Blowing Pagasa’s hatchday cake.

PEF research and conservation director Jayson Ibañez.

There were talks on the Philippine Eagle and the programs of the foundation.

Mabuhay.

Councilor Marissa Abella representing the city mayor and PEF executive director Dennis Salvador.

Guests arriving for Pagasa’s 26th hatchday.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

11

EDGEDAVAO

MAYON... FROM 1 Also, Jalad said the NDRRM Operations Center was placed on ‘blue alert’ effective 8 a.m. Monday for possible contingencies.

As this develops, NDRRMC spokesperson Mina Marasigan said that evacuation of all civilians from the seven-kilometer danger zone had been completed.

This includes livestock

thus, alleviating the need of residents to go back. She added that only police of�icers are inside the seven-kilometer danger zone to prevent looters and other criminal elements from entering.

Law enforcers were also at hand to prevent evacuees from returning, she added. (PNA)

tions,” he said.

The PNP chief said the RCLO 11 has the same capabilities like in their national of�ice because of its state of the art facility.

Dela Rosa said the crime laboratory has the automatic �ingerprint identi�ication system, DNA laboratory, bullet comparison microscopes for �irearms identi�ication,

among other major capabilities.

He also thanked Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano for the P50 million allotment used in the construction of the building.

Dela Rosa said the budget allotment came from the country-wide development fund of Cayetano when he was still senator.

we want to implement those park rules and regulations,” he added.

The park rules are no littering, no smoking, no illegal drugs, no discharging of �ire arms and bringing of deadly weapon, no vandalism, no gambling, no alcoholic beverages, no loud playing of music, no selling, no pedding of any sort, no form of any indecent acts, no spitting, no picking of �lowers, no climbing of trees and sculpture, no destruction of public property, no bringing of breakable items, no charging of electronic gadgets.

No Posting of bills and any other advertisement, no motorcycling, bicycling and skating, no playing of ball games and any remote controlled toys and devices. No sleeping of lying down anywhere in the premises, no unauthorized events demonstrations, rallies and other unauthorized gathering and

no unauthorized entry of students during class hours.

Feeding of animals in the park is also prohibited because of the complaints that the animals are over-fed and some died because the people who are feeding them food that is not suitable to the animals.

“We will coordinate with the proper agencies on how we will do it (feeding of animals), but for now this is the existing parks regulations created by the Davao City Parks Board,” he said.

Bringing of pets in the park is also prohibited. Alejandre said that there will be a park to be built in the area of coastal road for pets.

“Meron po i-create na park yung bagong coastal road natin jan may ibibigay ang Department of Public Works and Highways na area na gagawing park, that will be identi�ied as the pet park in the city,” he said.

Meanwhile, a total of 269 individuals or 72 families have been evacuated by the government to �ive schools as evacuation centers located Nabunturan town.

A pre-emptive evacuation was implemented by the local government on Sunday and suspended classes in all levels in the municipalities of New

Bataan, Nabunturan, Mawab, and Compostela due to bad weather conditions.

Villocino said Montevista town has already activated its Incident Management Team while other municipal disaster teams of the local governments continue to monitor the situation. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

was passed on �irst reading.

The proposed measure is scheduled for committee hearings.

Once approved, the proposed ordinance would re-

quire establishments such as malls to install the glow-inthe-dark paint signs leading to stairwells, pathways, and all available emergency exits.

always make sure that no one will be left behind,” Yaokasin said.

Retrieval teams who helped in the two-day retrieval operations are personnel

from the city rescue units, city engineers of�ice, traf�ic operation management and enforcement control of�ice, Bureau of Fire Protection, Army engineering battalion,

STATE... FROM 1

PENALTIES... FROM 2

4... FROM 2

GLOW... FROM 2

RESCUERS... FROM 3

MAKING DO. A woman on a bicycle with her daughter in tow uses the pedestrian lane as she crosses a busy street along McArthur highway in Davao City on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr. business chamber �ire rescue unit, Delta Green Rescue, Delta Orange Rescue, UNTV Rescue Group, and radio communication groups.

“We are thankful that we have this team in this time of emergency. We continue with our objective as emergency responders and volunteers.

This is our extreme manifestation of our volunteerism,” Bernadas said.The incident should serve as a lesson among the city’s residents and of�icials to intensify preparedness and be more proactive, according to Bernadas.

(PNA)

Councilor Villafuerte clari�ied that the City Health Of�ice will able to submit its reports to other government agencies like DOH, and PhilHealth through the system.

Villafuerte added that there will be exchange of data among the government agencies concerned through the system which could be made available to patients or clients.

With the ordinance, the city government will work on centralizing patient data coming from primary health care centers, such as health

centers and rural health units, through a program called iClinicsys throughout the city’s 182 barangays.

According to Villafuerte, iClinicsys is a support program that could be implemented in health units in other local government units.

The program “provides a systematic way to manage patient records and generates standardized reporting requirements both at the local and national level,” according to the DOH.

NDRRM Operations Center was placed on ‘blue alert’ effective 8 a.m. Monday for possible contingencies.

As this develops, NDRRMC spokesperson Mina Marasigan said that evacuation of all civilians from the seven-kilometer danger zone had been completed.

This includes livestock

thus, alleviating the need of residents to go back. She added that only police of�icers are inside the seven-kilometer danger zone to prevent looters and other criminal elements from entering.

Law enforcers were also at hand to prevent evacuees from returning, she added.

(PNA)

From about 58% in 2010, renewable energy (RE) capacity in Mindanao is down to 36% in 2017, and is expected to be dominated at 70 percent by fossil technology.

“This is part of the reasons why MinDA had been pushing for increased deployment of RE technology, in line with our long-term target of bringing energy mix back to the ideal energy mix by 2030,” Alonto said.

He however assured that there are more than enough natural resources for RE found geographically in Mindanao. Hydropower capacity tops Mindanao’s potential renewable energy source at 1,945 MW. Being the country’s food basket, the island-region also has a potential for Biomass Energy development, which is roughly around 146.65 MW potential capacity as of December 2016.

In the recommendation

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submitted by the National Renewable Energy Board, developers can �ill the remaining allocation for biomass and run-of-river plants until 2020.

“We are requesting for �ive-year extension exclusively for Mindanao so that our developers will have enough time to catch-up and get the most out of the FIT allowance, considering that Mindanao has a unique challenge in a sense that we currently do not have a Wholesale Electricity Spot

Market, yet,” said MinDA Deputy Executive Director Romeo Montenegro, who also sits as the TWG co-chairman of the MPMC. In a data released by the committee, Mindanao only has a 3.6% share of the total FIT-All availment while Visayas and Luzon has 26% and 70.4%, respectively.

FIT is a government mechanism to entice renewable energy projects by providing �ixed returns to developers for 20 years. #

at City Government on January 16, Tuesday.

He said that as of now there is still no guidelines as to given by the DOT but interested applicants can coordinate with DOT XI. This workshop will be funded by DOT and the training will be conducted by batch of 25.

When asked about when

this training will start he said “Anytime, if there will be interested applicants willing to undergo the training.”

The nationalities that belong in the top four visitors of Davao city are Korean, Japanese, Americans and Chinese this is based for the tourist arrivals in the city last year.

as well as enable the Police Regional Of�ice 11 to ensure peace and order in the Davao region,” he said.

DCPO city director Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum vowed the patrol cars will be maintained properly.

“When we heard that we will be receiving patrol cars from Japanese government, my �irst request to Mayor Sara Z. Duterte is to give us drivers who are civilians, professionals and dedicated to their jobs,” Tagum said.

Tagum said these drivers will ensure that these vehicles will be handled properly and maintained well because if the police of�icers will drive these vehicles, the regular maintenance will not be followed. “ Because the primary duty of the police is to maintain peace and order,”

he said.

Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda said the vehicles are donated to DCPO, to enable them in responding crimes.

Haneda said that in Japan, being a police of�icer is one of the most admired jobs by Japanese children.

“We sincerely hope that these 26 patrol cars will not only enable the Davao PNP of�icers more capably respond when the need arises.

But also, attract more Davaoeño kids as possible to this honorable profession and to make them become honorable of�icers,” he said.

Haneda said that with the president’s ‘rigorous’ campaign on peace and order, the Japanese government is ‘delighted’ to help the country to attain it.

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12

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GOV’T... FROM 5 billion; followed by alcoholic products, PHP56.23 billion; and tobacco products, PHP52.282 billion.

SSB excise tax was programmed to have the fourth largest collection followed by those from automobiles, PHP7.029 billion; fuels and oils, PHP5.398 billion; miscellaneous, PHP158 billion; cosmetic procedures, PHP100 million; and tobacco inspection fee, PHP11 million.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has repeatedly stressed this con�idence to collect the programmed revenues as major collecting agencies – the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which collects around 70 percent of taxes, and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), regis-

tered big improvements in their collections in most of 2017.

He earlier disclosed that based on preliminary �igures, BIR’s 2017 collections rose 12.5 percent year-on-year while BOC’s increased by 17 percent.

BIR was tasked to collect PHP1.829 trillion in 2017 and BOC PHP468 billion.

Bureau of the Treasury data showed that BIR collected PHP1.567 trillion in 2016 while BOC’s revenues during the same period amounted to PHP396.4 billion.

For 2018, BIR revenue goal was set at PHP2.039 trillion, about 11.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), while BOC’s target is PHP627 billion. (PNA)

extruding machine that will turn it into sheet,” Maranon said.

At present, he said the company’s workers are selecting the pure granules manually as they are still waiting for their extrusion machine from China. They source their raw materials from Europe and these materials will be re-exported to China.

In sum, Maranon bared the �irm will be producing raw material for plastic producers who make the end product such as tables, plastic parts for automotive, parts for household appliances. The plant serves as a compounding and re-processing hub.

By April, the �irm will be on their next processing stage that is converting plastics to other products. He said within the year they will be converting and combining different plastics into still a raw material for the plastic industry with focus more on compounding and converting raw materials into sheets to granules again using grinders and extruders. These granules will be exported.

Jaeckel said very soon they will start putting up their processing line. The factory will be fully operational in March 2018 including all the equipment.

“We’re not yet �inished completing the structure that will hold most of the equipment. We will employ about 75 people but as we grow, we might employing more people from Mindanao,” Mr. Jaeckel said.

The company will import raw materials across the globe from Europe, USA, Canada, a little bit from Mexico and Asia predominantly Korea and Japan and will be exporting predominantly in China, Malaysia, and Thai-

land, Europe.

“This is a PEZA zone and as a PEZA rule you have to be 70% of your production will be for export,” said Gregory S. Maranon, co-owner.

He said they already have contracts with three companies in China.

The young Maranon said Davao is a preferred it is very proximate to the port, referring to the An�lo-owned Davao International Container Termina, which is a logistical advantage. Most of the plastic producers in the Davao area are targeting the domestic market mainly catering to banana industry,” he said.

Jaeckel, the Dutch partner, has been producing plastics in China for several years but China has become more problematic and eventually closed its doors, prohibiting anything for re-processing.

“I have to �ind another place to do the same what I was doing there (China) and I’ve been traveling around in Cambodia, and came to Mindanao for just a friendly visit,” he said. About �ive years ago, Jaeckel visited the city and met with some members of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Industry asking them (of�icials) if they can help him for a potential business venture with local partner.

“One potential partner I met was Mr. Ferdie Maranon,” he said.

The project has made possible with the collaboration of Sagrex and PEZA with the help of AIE. The company is being managed by co-owners Jaeckel, the Maranons (Ferdie and Gregory), and another Dutch investor Eric Mol. PhilDutch Polymer Inc. is located at Phase 2, Block 1, Lot 4 AIE in San Vicente Panabo City.

modernization program amid the absence of clear guidelines and lack of consultation with the transport groups.

She suggested that the DOTr test the program on speci�ic areas, and focus �irst on

doable tests, such as compliance to safety, road worthiness and smoke emission.

The DOTr vowed to have a continuing dialogue with PUV organizations, operators and employees.(PNA)

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

WARRIORS... FROM 15 most in �ive games as he returns from a hip injury.

It was Golden State’s second straight win over Cleveland, which has dropped eight of 10 dating to a loss to the Warriors on Christmas Day. The Cavs were down just 93-91 entering the fourth, but missed 17 of 19 shots to open the period, and Golden State throttled away. ‘’It seemed like the rim just got smaller and smaller,’’ James said. ‘’But I like our effort. If we continue that going into our next few games, then I like where we are.’’

The teams have met in the Finals each of the past three years. And while there’s no guarantee there will be a fourth matchup, at this point only one of them looks prepared in January for June.

Durant, though, expects the Cavs to improve as they incorporate Thomas. ‘’Everyone knows it’s going to take a while to get into a comfortable groove here,’’ he said. ‘’It’s a new system, so I don’t think this game was any indication of what’s going to happen with this team down the line. They’ll be much better than they are right now and we all know that.’’

Cleveland was home after going 1-4 on a road trip that included blowout losses in Minnesota and Toronto.

For three quarters, the Cavs matched the Warriors shot for shot. But with Durant and Curry on the bench, a Golden State lineup of Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, David West, Klay Thompson and Shaun Livingston

stretched the lead. ‘’That unit, they won us the game with their energy and their effort,’’ Durant said. ‘’They pushed the basketball and they set us up well to kind of end the game in the last three or four minutes.

That’s what a well-rounded team does.’’

Despite their recent struggles, the Cavs remain a con�ident bunch, and they showed some early swagger.

After he and his teammates were introduced to ‘’Gloves Are Comin’ Off’’ by rapper 7kingZ, James came out swinging.

He was in attack mode from the start, scoring 16 points in the �irst quarter and setting the tone for the Cavs.

Later in the half, James retreated down the lane for a huge block on Durant, blasting the ball off the glass to trigger memories for Cleveland fans of his famous chase down on Iguodala in the closing minutes of Game 7 of the 2016 Finals.

DUNK CITY Curry threw down a two-handed dunk in the third quarter that surprised his teammates. ‘’It was like a dream,’’ Curry said. ‘’I thought I was going to wake up and I was going to be back in my bed in the hotel, but it actually happened.

Somebody said it was like a unicorn sighting. It was pretty cool for me to get a dunk in that situation.’’

After being asked several times about the play, Curry said, ‘’Seven dunk questions.

This is crazy.’’

MPMC. In a data released by the committee, Mindanao only has a 3.6% share of the total FIT-All availment while Visayas and Luzon has 26% and 70.4%, respectively.

FIT is a government mechanism to entice renewable energy projects by providing �ixed returns to developers for 20 years.

(Mindanao Development Authority)

of land area, which was measured at 750.92 square kilometers.

Pacquiao noted that “the people of the 12 barangays have been clamoring for the creation (of their area) into a separate municipality to develop and improve their economic and social condition.”

As a separate municipality, he said its expected shares in the IRA as well as in local and real property taxes will allow it to effectively and ef�iciently deliver various basic services.

It will enable the barangays to chart their own development plans and programs to promote public health, safety and general welfare, he said.

Malungon Mayor Maria Theresa Constantino said the local government fully supports the conversion of Malandag into a separate municipality.

She acknowledged that

the town’s IRA share would be affected by the move but would bene�it in the long term in terms of economic development.

The mayor said Malandag has tremendous potential in terms of development as it is presently the preferred destination of investors entering the area.

Compared to the town center of Malungon, which is situated amid rolling hills, she said the village has vast plains that could host various business ventures.

The Sarangani provincial board had also backed the proposed creation of the Malandag municipality, which took off from a bill �iled in the 12th Congress by then Sarangani Rep. Erwin Chiongbian.

It was re�iled in the 16th Congress by then Sarangani representative and now Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao but was not enacted. (MindaNews)

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CITY... FROM 15 all should be done, “ he said.

He said there is also changes on the swimming event made by the organizer, Sunrise Events to avoid drowning incidents just like the previous.

“Naay mga ilalom na mga divers nga nakaatang sa ilaha, naa puy ibabaw to see to it nga kung naa may malunod, naay mga divers nga mo-respond (There will be divers on the water stage who will look on the participants to ensure that if someone who will be drowned on the swimming event, there is an immediate response),” he said.

Alejandre added that the participants will swim on the water stage by batch and by seconds interval to avoid crowding on the event. “Dili sila magsabay og dumog sa dagat kay lisod. Imagine, 1,800, unsaon nimo na pagtan-aw (They should not swim together be-

cause it is really hard for the organizer.

Imagine 1,800 participants, how will you take care of that),” he said. He said the the organizer has already hit the 1,800 target participants who will join the most prestigious triathlon event.

Alejandre said the organizers told them this event is �irst time to happen in the city but this is the highest turn-out because majority of the �irst time event in other places would only took 500 registered participants.

He said, with the turnout, the city might expect for around 2,000 participants or more.

Alejandre said the event is one of the good venues to promote the city since there will foreign players who are known in the world of triathlon, will participate in the event.

�ied as Level II, the water supply system is a piped system with a communal water point serving around four to six households within 25 meters. Aside from rehabilitating the water supply system, DCWD constructed a water treatment facility, laid pipelines, and installed communal faucets.

DCWD also assisted in preparing for the turn over through the conduct of various community-organizing and capacity building activities, all geared to equip the

community with skills to run their own water supply system including plumbing, �inancial management, among others.

This project is under DCWD’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Gender and Development programs which have been designed to aid marginalized communities and promote the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goal No. 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation.

(Katrina Belen M. Roble)

she said.

Bagonoc said the medical waste treatment and processing facility will utilize the pyroclave system adopted by existing facilities in South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.

“It will mainly process or burn wastes coming from our hospitals and medical facilities,” she said in an interview over Brigada News TV. The of�icial said the city’s sanitary land�ill currently has no capacity to handle wastes disposed by hospitals and clinics, which could contain some contaminants.

Bagonoc said the law requires hospitals and medical facilities to adopt and implement their own solid waste management programs under the supervision of the Department of Health.

She said hospitals in the city are currently facing dif�iculty in disposing their wastes due to the lack of available processing and treatment facilities in the area.

Some local hospitals have been delivering their wastes to the treatment facility of the provincial government of South Cotabato in Tantangan town that is equipped with two pyroclave machines, she said.

The city has at eight major hospitals, including one operated by the local government, and several clinics.

Bagonoc said the operationalization of these facilities will generate additional income for the local government through fees from clients and sales of recycled products.(MindaNews)

“Maybe. Maybe not. Don’t they get eaten in the end,” Federer asked.

On Tuesday night, it was Bedene doing all the running.

The 28-year-old, who previously represented Great Britain before switching back to his country of birth this year, could only fashion two break point opportunities all night.

Ahead 2-1 in the second set, he had two chances to break the legendary Swiss at

15-40.

Federer replied with an unreturnable serve out wide and an outrageous downthe-line forehand to close the idea down.

Federer’s net play was particularly strong, winning 26 points coming forward.

He hit 12 aces to deny Bedene a �irst win at Melbourne Park.

In losing, Bedene – the world No.51 – posted his sixth-straight �irst round Australian Open loss.

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NEWS13

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

CORAL... FROM 14

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda (2nd from L) turns over 26 Mitsubishi Montero units as police patrol cars to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (3rd from L) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa as Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (R) and Republic of the Philippines City of Davao AFFIDAVIT –SAME IDENTITY I, SANDEEP RANI JOSHI, of legal age, married , Indian Citizen, and a resident of V.P.O Bhaini Baringan, Teh.Raikot.Dist. Ludhiana, Punjab, India, and now residing at Cattleya St., Landmark III, Sasa, Davao City , Philippines, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law hereby depose and say that: 1.

I was married to RAJ KUMAR JOSHI on April 23, 2000 at Ghuman, Teh Raikot ,District Ludhiana, Punjab, India under Hindu rites. This is evidenced by our MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE issued by the Office of the Hindu Marriage Registrar.

2.

However, in my Indian Passport, my name was inaccurately registered as ‘SANDEEP RANI”. The inaccurate entry of my name included also those in other official documents issued in the Philippines, such as my Philhealth ID, LTO Driver’s License, Bank records, etc:

3.

Such discrepancy in my name may be due to human errors committed by third persons under circumstances beyond my personal control;

4.

I hereby certify that I, SANDEEP RANI JOSHI, compared to that person named “SANDEEP RANI” refer to one and the same person.

5.

That I am executing this affidavit toattest to the truth of the foregoing facts, to apprise the concerned authorities of the matter, and for other legal purposes it may serve, having been read and interpreted to me in a known language or dialect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ihave hereunto set my hands on this 12th day of January 2018 in the City of Davao, Philippines.

SANDEEP RANI JOSHI Affiant Passport No. H2343064 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me on this 12th day of January 2018 at Davao City, Philippines, affiant exhibiting to me her sufficient evidence of identity as stated above.

PER Doc. No. 132, Page No. 28, Book No. 91 ,Series of 2018 of the NOTARY PUBLIC KENNETH L. DABI

Davao Region Police Chief Manuel Gaerlan (2nd from Right) look on in a ceremony during the inauguration of the PNP’s Regional Crime Laboratory in Davao City on 15 January 2018. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate with OCT NO. P17783 of the late ROMEO LUMBAY SABIO has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.415; Page No.83; Book No. XC; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC VICTOR D. SEDERIOSA. 1/17,24,31

sponges, and several other denizens of coral gardens.

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. Chemicals from sea sponges collected off the coast of Florida have been used in developing a new drug, Ara-C, used to treat acute myelocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The antiviral drug called Ara-A is used for the treatment of herpes infections.

Al Gore, when he was still

the vice-president of the United States, spoke out on the issue: “To conserve these natural treasures, we must reduce human impacts on coral reefs by immediately controlling pollution, reducing over�ishing, increasing protection and sustainable use of our valuable coral reef resources,” he suggested.

“By working together - from local communities to regions and internationally - I believe we can, and must, reverse the tide of destruction and conserve the world’s precious coral reefs,” he added.

said event,” said CICAD Chairman Salvador “Jun” Paholio Jr..

The event is also supported by the Solid Duterte Supporters Group (SDSG) D’ Original Nationwide-Tapang at Malasakit Para Sa Pagbabago Movement headed by its president Commissioner Mar “Kapitan” Masanguid.

The �irst Tapang at Malasakit Bike Fun Ride was held last March 13, 2016 and was

participated by more than 800 bikers.

Registration for this year is still free. Participants, however, are still required to �ill up a registration form to qualify for the raf�le.

Also present at the meeting were CICAD president Dino Carpio, vice-president Ruso Guaves and Directors Nepthalie Sipacay, Joselito Drama and Krister Jay Nacua.

invested equity of PHP3.45 billion and the company’s estimated remaining obligations of around PHP250 million.

Moraza said AboitizPower is still on track to add some 500 megawatts (MW) of at-

tributable capacity, mainly from baseload and hydropower plants in 2018, pushing the company closer to its 2020 target of 4,000-MW net attributable capacity. (Aboitiz PR)

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14 ENVIRONMENT

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

Coral reefs soon to be shadow of their old selves TEXT and PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“To lose coral reefs is to fundamentally undermine the health of a very large proportion of the human race.” – Dr. Ruth Gates, director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology Underwater, coral reefs provide a fascinating sanctuary for a multitude of marine species, but destructive human activities are threatening this valuable resource. Nowhere is this more true than in the Philippines, touted to be the Pearl of the Orient Seas.

Although the alarm over the degradation of coral reefs in the country has been raised for years, destruction still continues unabated.

As early as 1970s, the EastWest Center in Hawaii reported that more than half of the country’s reefs were “in advanced states of destruction.” It added that only about 25% were considered to be “in good condition” while only 5% were “in excellent condition.”

Though several laws were passed, the deterioration lingered. For instance, a survey conducted in 1991-1992 by the Regional Fishermen’s Training Center in Panabo City at Sarangani Bay and Davao Gulf had shown that most of the shallow or inshore coral reefs “were totally damaged because they are exposed to greater pressure.”

Another study, done in the

early 2000s by researchers from the Mindanao State University’s School of Marine Fisheries and Technology, showed dead corals accounted for 50% of the town’s coastline in Naawan, Misamis Oriental.

This is bad news for Filipinos whose main source of protein is �ish. Coral reefs, which have been called “the rainforests of the ocean,” are the earth’s most diverse ecosystem. As many as 3,000 species may live on a single reef.

In the Philippines, an estimated 10% to 15% of the total �isheries come from coral reefs.

About 80-90 per cent of the income of small island communities come from �isheries. “Coral reef �ish yields range from 20-25 metric tons per square kilometer per year for healthy reefs,” says Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former environment secretary.

As coral reefs deteriorate, �ish and other marine life cannot be as productive as they were before. “This will have a domino effect,” the International Marinelife Alliance-Philippines explained.

“Fishermen will have fewer catch and lower income and there will be less �ish and marine products

for everyone.”

“We are running out of �ish and running out of time. For a country known for marine biodiversity, there are very few �ish left to catch,” deplored Vince Cinches, oceans and political campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

This is true in the case of Davao Gulf, Southern Mindanao’s �ishing ground. A recent study showed that 45-50% of the total �ish caught daily by most of the �ishermen in the gulf are juvenile – too young, not marketable and, therefore, wasted.

Dr. Anthony Sales, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), attributed the dwindling �ish catch in Davao Gulf to the destruction of coral reefs and other �ish habitats.

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

The Philippines is home to over 400 local species of corals, which is more than what is found in the famous Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Unfortunately, most of these species are now gone and others are facing extinction.

“Nowhere else in the world are coral reefs abused as much as the reefs in the Philippines,” deplores Don E. McAllister of the Ocean Voice International.

The decline is thought to be due primarily to destructive human activities. “Many areas are in really bad shape due largely to unwise coastal land use, deforestation and the increasing number of �ishermen resorting to destructive �ishing methods,” says marine biologist Por�irio M. Alino of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (MSI).

Destructive �ishing methods – ranging from dynamite blasts to cyanide poisons – are destroying vast areas of reef. Fishermen blast reefs with dynamite to stun the �ish. When �ish �loat to the surface, �ishermen scoop up large quantities at once. Heavily dynamited reefs produce only 2.7 to 5 metric tons per square kilometer per year compared to 30 metric tons for healthy reefs.

The damage caused by dynamites to reefs goes beyond the shattering impact of the explosion itself. After a blast, algal growth quickly smothers the coral because the shoals of grazing �ish that would normally keep it under control have been decimated.

In many parts of the world, natural poisons have long been used in �ishing without apparent damage. But such is not the case of sodium cyanide. In the Philippines, 80% of the exotic �ish destined for pet shops and aquariums throughout Europe and North America are captured using cyanide. There is also a growing demand for live �ish at upscale restaurants.

According to the US-based Coral Reef Alliance, an estimated 330,000 pounds of cyanide is sprayed on Philippine coral reefs each year. “These practices are criminal,” decried Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who once visited Palawan to examine reefs destroyed by cyanide �ishing. “They attack the natural productive environment which allows the renewal of marine resources. Destroying coral today is destroying tomorrow’s �ishes.”

Another equally destructive �ishing method is the “muro-ami,” a drive-in net used for �ishing in coral reefs. While he admitted that “muro-ami” is an effective

�ishing gear, Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III cited some disadvantages.

“The problems related to “muro-ami” �ishing are its employment of minors (young boys) for �ishing, their exposure to health hazards (like the “bends” or narcosis) and the destruction of coral reefs because of the weighted scarelines,” explained Dr. Guerrero, former executive director of Philippine Council for Marine and Aquatic Resources Research and Development.

At one time, there was a report about one company who ran 40 “muro-ami” ships, each carrying up to 300 boys which together may “have destroyed one square kilometer of reef a day.”

Coral mining has also depleted the country’s reefs. In fact, an estimated 1.5 million kilograms of corals are harvested annually as part of the international trade in reef products.

Also contributing to the destruction of coral reefs in the Philippines are sedimentation from erosion of soil from deforestation. “Sedimentation of waters in reef areas is the number one cause of damage,” said Dr. Edgardo G. Gomez, former MSI director. “This happens when rain water washes off sediment or silt from eroded land and carries it to the sea.”

Other causes of the deterioration of coral reefs in the country: the quarrying of coral reefs for construction purposes; pollution from industry, mining, and municipalities; and coastal population growth.

“If asked what the major problem of coral reefs is, my reply would be: ‘The pressure of human populations,’” Dr. Gomez said. A visit to any �ishing villages near a reef will quickly con�irm this. “There are just too many �ishermen,” he pointed out. “They over�ish the reefs, and even if they use non-destructive �ishing gear, they still stress the coral reef ecosystem.”

Aside from human activities, natural causes of destruction among coral reefs also occur.

These include extremely low tide, high temperature of surface water, predation, and the mechanical action of currents and waves.

Extremely low tides usually expose corals to sunlight and to freshwater runoff, both of which are said to be lethal over several

hours of exposure.

High temperature of surface water is exacerbated by abnormal low tides which leave shallow reefs exposed to sunlight, rainfall and freshwater �lowing.

Then, there’s coral bleaching. This occurs when corals turn chalky white and begins to die.

Coral bleaching happens when corals are under stress because of extreme sea temperatures or pollution. Corals evict their algal tenants and turn white as a result, explains Worldwatch Institute’s John C. Ryan.

The government is doing its best to save the country’s remaining coral reefs by passing several laws. PD 1198, for instance, amends PD 1219 and limits permits to gather in limited quantities of corals for scienti�ic or educational purposes only. FAO 163, SERIES OF 1986, prohibits the operation of “muro ami” and “kayaks” in all Philippine waters.

But all those laws seem not enough. “Despite considerable improvements in coral management, the country’s coral reefs remain under threat,” admitted Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the environment department.

There’s more to reefs than just �ish. “The extensive destruction of Philippine coral reefs has constricted the development of tourism in the country’s coastal areas,” contends McAllister.

“If the coral reefs recover, there will enormous growth in coastal tourism. Today, with most of the coral reefs in a poor state, it is not an exaggeration to say that the country has lost one-third of its potential as a tourist spot in Asia.”

Another reason why coral reefs should be saved from extinction: they would be the sources of many new medicines in the 21st century. “Marine sources could be the major source of drugs for the next decade,” says Dr. William Fenical, a natural products chemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California.

Some years back, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) reportedly spent one-third of its research budget to screen about 1,000 species of oceanic invertebrates and plants each year, including sea slugs, sea squirts,

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SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

MONTHLY MEDAL. Ibrahim Zailon watches his putt roll during the monthly medal tournament of the Apo Golf and Country Club over the weekend. Boy LIm

City All set for Federer breezes IronMan 70.3

through opener T

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

R

oger Federer has continued the longest �irstround winning streak in tennis, easing past Slovenian Aljaz Bedene to make it 19 successive tournament-opening wins at the Australian Open.

The world No.2 and title favourite went unbroken in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win on Rod Laver Arena in just one hour and 39 minutes.

The reigning champion next faces German Jan-Lennard Struff in his quest to win his 20th major, and his sixth at Melbourne Park.

Federer was untroubled on Tuesday night, returning to the scene of his remarkable comeback win last year for

T

he Davao City is now 80 percent ready for the hosting of IronMan 70.3 triathlon this coming March.

This was bared by city council’s committee on tourism chair councilor Al Ryan Alejandre.

“We are �inalizing and we iron out the smooth �low of the traf�ic and the coordinations to the participants,” Alejandre said.

Alejandre said the city government already conducted the coordination meeting last week

the �irst time.

“I was thinking back a lot about what happened last year because it was my favourite tournament last year hands down,” he said after the win.

“Walking out here ... being back here in Melbourne is an amazing feeling and hopefully I can keep it going a little bit longer.”

His trickiest adversary might have been a cringeworthy post-match engagement with actor Will Ferrell.

In his famous Anchorman persona of newsreader Ron Burgundy, Ferrell asked the 36-year-old if he felt like a young gazelle on court.

FEDERER,P12 OPENING BREEZE. Roger Federer celebrates his win. Photo: JOE CASTRO

ciation of Davao (CICAD) at Jaltan’s Magallanes.

The fun ride will start and end at the Rizal Park.

The bikers will proceed to San Pedro St., turn right to Tomas Claudio (Qurino Avenue), turn left Bajada (Gaisano Mall), J.P. Laurel Ave-

CITY,P12

Warriors topple rival Cavs

T at M bikefest route bared

HE of�icial route for the “2nd Tapang at Malasakit Para sa Pagbabago Bike Fun Ride” slated on March 11, 2018, Sunday at 5:30 a.m. was �inalized on Tuesday during the meeting of the organizing Citywide Cycling Asso-

with the local governments of Panabo City, Tagum City and the town of Carmen in Davao del Norte where the routes biking will take place.

He said there will be series of re-routing to be done since there are road closures from Azuela Cove in Lanang to Tagum City. “We are also coordinating with DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) that all of the road constructions before March 25,

nue, Lanang, turn back at Old Davao Airport rotunda in Sasa, Lanang, R. Castillo St., Aurora Boulevard, Quimpo Boulevard, turn right (Lions Rotonda) McArthur Highway, Matina, Bankerohan Bridge, turn right Magallanes St. and �inish at

Rizal Park.

Expected to join are more than 800 bikers of different types of bikes.

“Our beloved City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has already signi�ied her support and presence to attend the

T,P13

C

LEVELAND (AP) -- Once the lead swelled to 14, Kevin Durant waved both arms like a boxing referee stopping a �ight.

Another knockout on the road for these Warriors.

Durant scored 32 points, Stephen Curry added 23 and Golden State extended its road winning streak to 13 with a 118-108 Martin Luther King holiday victory Monday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, their struggling NBA Finals foes.

Durant scored 16 in the third quarter for the defending champions, who clamped down on defense and pulled

away in the fourth to remain unbeaten outside Oracle Arena since Nov. 22. It’s not that they play poorly at home, but Durant said the Dubs take a different identity when they travel. ‘’At home, we just relax a little bit,’’ Durant said. ‘’This is who we are when we’re on the road.’’

LeBron James scored 32 points and Kevin Love 17 for Cleveland, which had its home winning streak stopped at 13. Isaiah Thomas, getting his �irst taste of the Warriors-Cavaliers rivalry, had 19 points in 32 minutes - his

WARRIORS,P12

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 205 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 , 2018

KING IN KL Davao’s Dimakiling Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

tops KL chessfest F

ilipino International Master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling pocketed the top honors in the 2nd KIMMA Open Chess Championship 2018 held at the Belakang Haniffa Departmental Store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.

The Davao City native Dimakiling collected seven points in seve n outings.

D i makiling scored victories over Siti

(WC) Safura Jaafar of Malaysia in the �irst round, Teh Wee Zhun of Malaysia in the second, Yusof Kamaluddin in the third, FM Zhuo Ren Lim of Malaysia in the fourth, IM Mas Ha�izulhelmi of Malaysia in the �ifth, IM Mok Tze-Meng of Malaysia in the sixth and IM Yeoh Li Tian of Malaysia in the seventh and �inal round.

IM Haridas Pascua of the Philippines placed second overall with 6.5 points on sixth wins and a draw.

IM Mas Ha�izulhelmi of Malaysia and FM Nelson Villanueva of the Philippines were tied at 3rd to 4th with 6.0 points each.

IM Yeoh Li Tian of Malaysia led the huge group of 5.5 points in the company of Ian Cris Udani of the Philippines, FM Zhuo Ren Lim, FM Sumant Subramaniam, Francis Tan, Evan Timothy Capel and Julian Navaratnam of Malaysia.