Edge10 issue 211 January 25,2018

www.edgedavao.net

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

EDGEDAVAO

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Serving a seamless society

UPGRADING. Taxi units form a long queue as the drivers wait for passengers outside a shopping mall along J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City on Wednesday. The Metro Davao Taxi Operators Association, Inc. (MED-

TOA) has started to install cellular phone units to taxi units for use in the implementation of the Hirna taxi hailing app project which is scheduled to be launched next month. Lean Daval Jr

NO LET-UP

‘Double Barrel’drive vs drugs despite lack of body cameras

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he Philippine National Police bared on Wednesday their campaign against illegal drugs dubbed as Oplan Double Barrel will continue despite the absence of body cameras as of the moment.

This was underscored

by PNP operation’s chief Po-

lice Director Camilo Cascolan during Wednesday’s AFP-PNP

Press Corps media brie�ing in Davao City.

Cascolan said even if the use of body cameras has been s stipulated on the new guidelines for double barrel, it is still not yet a requirement for the members of DEU in the absence of body cameras issued.

Eco-composting pushed in Davao To process all biodegradables including diapers

By JUDIE VEGA

T

he Baguio City-based Dragon�ly Eco Compost Corporation has expressed interest to operate a

composting facility in partnership with local government units in the Davao region.

Fred Fangonon said the

CRIB eco-composting technology can process all biodegradables, from market wastes to

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“On the availability of body cameras, it stated that it is encouraged, why, because the fact that we don’t have still government issued body cameras.

We cannot force our people to use body cameras of which we haven’t issued them,” he said.

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INASAL CENTRAL

Installation of Hirna app in 5,000 taxi cabs starts

By JUDIE VEGA

T

he Metro Davao Taxi Operators Association (MDTOA) has started installing cell phones with “Hirna” taxi hailing app into the a targeted 4,000 to 5.000 taxi units in Davao City to help improve the cab service in the city.

Rogelio Largo, MDTOA chairman said that Smart Communication became the new partner telecom-

munications company of the taxi hailing app instead of Globe Telecom due to a perceived con�lict of interest, as Globe has a partnership with Grab, a similar taxi hailing app.

The Hirna project was launched during a well-attended ceremony at City Hall early December with a Globe regional of�icer declaring support for Hirna in

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 , 2018

PERPECT HOST. President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with Ambassador-Designate of Yemen to the Philippines Adel Mohamed Ali Ba Hamid as the President gives a token after the latter presented his credentials at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Philpost‘Love Police AFP to unveil Express’bared anti-terror simulation

By ANGIE SAVERON

P

hilippine Postal Corporation (PHILPOST) is now accepting reservation for Love express which is PhilPost’s Valentine Harana and delivery promo.

Fresh �lowers or cakes are available to be delivered on doorsteps on Valentine’s day.

Limited Slots are available for PHILPOST’s Harana Package which will be on February 13-14. Bookings will be catered until slots have been �illed out.

Those who want to place

reservations and inquiries can contact 0956-692-1299.

“I am inviting you to book in our Love express service of Philpost, I guarantee you that your delivery and serenade will be on time based on your booking,” said marketing assistant of area seven Eastern Mindanao, Llylyn Mendoza during the AFP PNP Press Corps Southern Mindanao Press Brie�ing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.

The packages for �lower

n overstaying American national convicted of illegal drugs and gun possession who is wanted by authorities in California for parole violation was apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration fugitive search unit in Pangasinan province last week.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identi�ied the foreigner as Larry John St. Clair, 45,

who was arrested in Dagupan City last January 20.

St. Clair’s arrest was the �irst apprehension of a foreign fugitive this year.

He added that the American, an ex-convict out on probation, was issued an arrest warrant by a US district court in eastern California for violating the conditions of his release and �leeing to the Phil-

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By ANGIE SAVERON

T

‘The simulation exercise will be named Southern Storm because we are in Mindanao,” said police director Camilo Pancratius Pascua Cascolan during his speech at the City Council of Davao on Tuesday.

The 5-day simulation exercise will be participated by units from the maritime, local police and the AFP as well as stake holders and the community.

This project is described as a priority program of

President Rodrigo Duterte and chief, police director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa which will be piloted here in Davao City.

“Why are we doing this in Davao? Well we know for a fact that this is the heart of the President, Davao City is the heart of the President.

Not only is it next to NCR (National Capital Region), this is where the President stays.

Secondly is the level of threat in Mindanao is very high, and we still have the Martial Law here in Mindanao,” he said.

avao health of�icials have been immunizing children across the city following the sudden rise in measles, with 224 suspected cases and four deaths since last November.

Of the total suspected measles cases, 93 percent or 221 had been admitted and 17 were con�irmed as of January 23.

The children who died

of pneumonia complications were a seven-month-old from Barangay 24-C, a two-yearold from Catalunan Pequeno, a one-year-old from Matina Crossing, and a six-month-old from Sto Nino, Tugbok. All were male.

The measles has spread fast in 38 barangays and the worst hit was Barangay 23-C, with 60 suspected cases.

On Monday night, the City

Health Of�ice (CHO) declared a measles outbreak although health teams have been going around the barangays, focusing on the 38 affected areas, to conduct the Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI).

The health teams have vaccinated 13,000 children aged �ive months to 59 months since the �irst measles case was reported two weeks ago, along with 16 call center

he Philippine National Police together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines will conduct a series of anti-terrorism simulation called Southern Storm in order to deter terroristic activities in the country in the second week of February.

The simulation exercise will challenge the strategy that PNP has implemented in Davao City as it would also include crisis emergency response of the aviation security group, the maritime law enforcement exercise, the communication exercise and the PNP hopes that the Bureau of Fire Protection will be able to join them in this program.

The crisis emergency response exercise will be at the airport, there will also be at

workers who tested positive for the measles virus.

During the Pulong Pulong ni Pulong Tuesday, Councilor Joselle Villafuerte, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Health, has called on the people to submit children to measles immunization.

Villafuerte also raised the alarm before the City Council during its regular session. She

American fugitive nabbed in Dagupan City acts to stop measles outbreak A D AMERICAN,P10

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Caravan to underscore internet safety of kids

By JUDIE VEGA

T IBP’S TAKE ON OFWS. Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Davao City chapter president lawyer Rogelio Largo talks about the organization’s legal aid mission for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Singa-

Tagum says DCPO welcome simulation

By ANGIE SAVERON

D

avao City Police Of�ice Director Alexander Tagum said that the men and women in uniform in DCPO welcome the Southern Storm Simulation because this will be a learning experience for them.

“I hope the people of Davao City including our leaders and all personnel in Davao City will gain a lot of learning experience in the SIMEX (Simulation Exercises) that will conducted in the city,” he said at the sides during the regular session of the City Council on January 23, Tuesday.

Tagum said that they still have a lot of room for improvement and there were situations in the past wherein they could have done better than

what transpired.

“We accept the fact that because we are only human and some of our people are still learning, we have to continue learning, we have to continue to innovate, learn new trainings for us to be more capable and highly ef�icient police of�icers, not only police of�icers because this also includes the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Health) and Bureau of Fire Protection so that our responses in the likes of the NCCC mall incident, Vinta disaster will be improved some more,” he said.

He said that they are all adapting positive outlook in life so expect that all his people will consider this development in a positive manner.

New commissioner wants PCUP audit T

pore on January 21 which was attended by 250 OFWs and participated by 39 Davao lawyers. Largo graced this week’s Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza mall.Lean Daval Jr

rend Micro Inc., is unveiling a three-day series of ‘Click Right’ art caravan collaborated with the three schools in Davao City that aims to raise awareness on internet safety among kids and families.

Trend Micro is undertaking the activity in partnership with the JCI Duwaling, an all-female chapter of the Junior Chamber International Philippines, according to Trend Micro Director for Technology Marketing Myla Pilao.

The company will hold the �inal leg at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School on January 24; Davao Wisdom Academy on January 25 and Sta. Ana National High School on January 26 with the theme

of “What’s Your Story? Art Caravan”.

According to Trend Micro, the art caravan visits different schools to encourage students to create digital or traditional art aimed at promoting Internet safety, in line with Trend Micro’s pursuit of a world safe for exchanging digital information.

For the 2017 edition, participants are asked to create art around the theme, “If you could change one thing about the Internet, what would it be?”

“Trend Micro envisions the Internet to be a safer and more secure place for every Filipino to exchange digital information. The ‘What’s Your

need to be updated on the new processes to align the procedures,” she said.

Arendain urged medical representatives and the family to immediately submit the certi�icate of live birth of newborns within 30 days to their of�ice for registration, to check the draft and assure the entry of data to avoid errors.

“It is advisable to all parents to choose simple names

for their child, so that he or she will not encounter dif�iculty relating to his or her name in the future, “she said.

According to Arendain, Republic Act 9048 covers the clerical error of names in the birth certi�icates, while the Republic Act 10172 covers the change of �irst name, the gender, and day and month of the birthday in the registered

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CRO to hold birth registration clinic

By JUDIE VEGA

T

he Davao City Civil Registrar’s Office will conduct a reorientation for the birthing clinics and hospitals on the procedure of birth registration of newborn babies to avoid clerical error of names in the birth certificates.

CCRO Birth Division acting head Shirley Arendain said that the event aims to enhance the medical representatives, hospitals, clinic and maternity

or lying-in clinic clerks.

“This includes the persons who are in-charge in the preparation of the registration of newborn babies, so they

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By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

he newly-appointed commissioner of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) wants a special audit of the commission to know its past operation prior to his assumption.

Commissioner Norman Baloro said he already told his fellow new commissioner Randy Halasan about the audit idea on because it is not advisable to assume the position if they do not know the past operations.

“The problem of the past administration might be slapped on us if there was any in their past operations,” he said.

Baloro said he also wants to know about the �inancial status of the of�ice before starting their work as soon as the three commissioners and the chairman will be completed.

Last December, President Rodrigo R. Duterte �ired the commissioners of PCUP including its chairperson Terry Ridon, due to “unnecessary junkets.”

He said upon their assumption, he will suggest the PCUP focusi on procurement of lands to be used as relocation areas of the informal settlers in urban areas.

“I think the problem of PCUP is the procurement of

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FILLING THE GAPS. Personnel from the Davao City Police Office’s (DCPO) bicycle patrol unit traverse along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao

City on Wednesday. Bike-riding personnel constantly patrol the streets to intensify visibility of the authorities in the city. Lean Daval Jr

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Firms bled dry of P2.48B by NPAs B

AFP says plantations, mining companies hard hit

usinesses in four regions to attacks and extortion Army (NPA) last year, (Eastmincom) commander Lt. said on Tuesday.

Madrigal told reporters at the sidelines of the Mindanao Business Brie�ing at Seda Hotel here that the NPA got P1.48 billion from mining and agricultural companies in Eastern

of Mindanao lost P2.48 billion activities by the New People’s Eastern Mindanao Command General Benjamin R. Madrigal

Mindanao, covering Regions 11 and 13 and parts of Regions 10 and 12.

He said that with P1.48 billion the NPA could buy 23,333 AK47 ri�les or 31.1 mil-

lion rounds of ammunition.

For the same period, rebel attacks caused P1 billion in damages to businesses the bulk of which was sustained by the box plant of the Loren-

zo family-owned Lapanday Foods Corporation in Mandug, Davao City which the NPA burned on 29 April 2017, he said.

Madrigal urged businesses to stop giving in to the demand for so-called revolutionary taxes of the NPA, saying it would only worsen the insurgency.

“They (NPA) will continue

to ask if some will continue to provide also,” he said.

He stressed that they intend to prevent the recruitment of new NPA members by deploying more security forces in communities where there are reported extortion activities.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, delivers his inaugural address as the 10th commander

Landbank board okays PDS shares acquisition

T

he Board of Directors of Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) on Tuesday has “approved in principle” the proposal for the government �inancial institution (GFI) to buy at least 66.67 percent stake in Philippine Dealing System Holding Corp.

(PDS).

“LBP Board just approved in principle to acquire at least 66.67 percent common shares of Philippine Dealing System Corporation subject to compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements,” Landbank President and CEO Alex Buenaventura said.

Buenaventura earlier said

his recommendation to the Board on the shares purchase was aimed at helping increase the bank’s pro�it.

“The objectives are to increase Landbank pro�its and to accelerate development of capital markets in the country,” he said.

In his January 16, 2018 letter to the Landbank Board of Directors, Buenaventura said his proposal was based on the fact that the bank currently had a 1.56 percent stake in PDS “through the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP).

He said BAP signed a Share Purchase Agreement on June

15, 2017 that allowed the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to acquire 1,488,902 common shares equivalent to 23.8 percent of PDS’s total outstanding stock for PHP 476,448,640 or at PHP320 per share.

“This implies a valuation of PHP2 billion for PDS and a PE (price earnings) ratio of 8.10x based on 2016 PDS earnings,” he said.

PE ratio is the proportion of a company’s share price visà-vis its per-share earnings.

This valuation, he said, is however, lower than it should be and noted that “research on the �inancials of comparable market infrastructure enter-

prises in the region and globally show that such businesses trade at an average LTM (last twelve months) PE ratio of 34.1x and 35.8x, respectively.”

“This indicates that at a price of PHP320 per share, PDS is undervalued and purchasing PDS shares could be a pro�itable investment for LBP,” he said.

The Landbank chief said the bank “will bene�it from stable recurring cash �low from the various fees PDS charges to market players as the country’s central securities depository and �ixed-in-

Under the leadership of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the BIR and BOC stepped up their joint drive to expose Mighty’s use of counterfeit tax stamps through separate raids of its leased warehouses in Bulacan, Pampanga, General Santos City and other locations in the �irst quarter of 2017.

A total of 239,724 mastercases or close to 120 million

packs of cigarettes bearing Mighty’s brands were seized by the BIR and BOC in several operations nationwide.

After the BIR �iled three separate criminal complaints before the Department of Justice against Mighty for its widespread use of counterfeit tax stamps, the �irm offered in July last year to shut down its operations and settle its tax liabilities. To implement

this, Mighty’s manufacturing and distribution assets were sold to Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI) for around US$ 1 billion. As a conditionality, Mighty paid around P30.4 billion (roughly equivalent to US$ 600 Million) in taxes, comprised of previous tax liabilities and transaction taxes, to settle its obligations to the Government.

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P30-B haul from Mighty tops DOF tax fraud drive

T

he Department of Finance made history in 2017 by collecting from cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corporation a total of P30 billion, the biggest sum on record raised by the government from a tax settlement, which was the result of a heightened joint campaign by the Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR) and of Customs (BOC) against tax cheats.

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DOF mulls reform on so-called sin taxes

O

ON THE LOOK-OUT. A grass cutter at the Davao Memorial Park shrugs aside the scorching heat as he goes the rounds to look for customers on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

of the Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City.

Madrigal added that they will hold regular meetings with companies to explain to them the consequences of paying “revolutionary taxes” and to inform them how and where to report if NPA members would harass them.

He assured they would

f�icials of the Department of Finance are set to submit to Congress by end-January 2018 the proposed Package 2 plus aimed at raising taxes on tobacco, alcohol, mining, coal and casinos.

This was announced by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III in his speech during the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) 68th inaugural meeting in Shangri-La at The Fort Tuesday.

The hike in sin taxes, or those for tobacco and alcohol, was included in the �irst package of the proposed tax reform program but was not part of those approved.

In 2012, lawmakers approved the reform in the country’s sin taxes, with excise tax on cigarettes alone to increase to PHP12 per pack in 2013, PHP15 in 2014, PHP18 in 2015, PHP21 in 2016 and PHP30 in 2017.

By 2018, tax rates on cigarettes are mandated to rise by four percent every year

through revenue regulations issued by the DOF Secretary.

In an interview by journalists after the MAP event, the Finance chief explained that increasing sin tax rates is really part of the plan.

He said sin taxes “were supposed to be reviewed in toto but actually what they only adjusted is the cigarette tax.”

“So there is still the alcohol tax that has not been reviewed.

And according to the original sin tax law that should have been reviewed by the Congress,” he said.

Dominguez said there are currently two bills in the Senate aimed at increasing cigarette taxes.

He was referring to the measures �iled by Senate Manny Pacquiao, who wants to increase cigarette tax from PHP30 per pack to PHP60 per pack and hike annual excise tax from four percent to nine percent; and that of Sen. JV Ejercito, who wants to raise the tax to PHP90 per pack. (PNA)

P2-B allotted for MSMEs dev’t

M

alacanang announced on Tuesday that PHP2 billion fund has been allotted for the development of the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

During a Palace press brie�ing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the money will be used for two programs that the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) has designed to develop the MSMEs. “This is to inform our entrepreneurs or those who wish to open small business that a total of PHP2 billion will be allotted two programs of the DTI,” Roque said.

Roque said PHP1 billion will go to “Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso” micro loan program while the other PHP1 billion will be used for shared facilities, equipment project of the DTI for MSMEs.

He said the DTI noted that the PHP1 billion allocation for micro loan program aims to generate more loan packages for micro entrepreneurs.

The ‘Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso’ is the DTI’s �lagship micro loan program with the goal of reducing 5-6 lending scheme.

President Rodrigo Duterte had pledged support for MSMEs which comprise at least 95 percent of the country’s business establishments.

Meanwhile, Roque announced in the same media brie�ing that the country’s agriculture product has recorded an increase of 3.95 percent in 2017.

He said the crops subsector contributed the highest percent in the total production of 51.20 percent followed by followed by livestock subsector with 17.78%, and poultry subsector with 15.4%. (PNA)

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of Treasury Federalism shift will not Bureau awards 3-yr T-bond affect projects: Pernia T

M

ANILA -- The country’s chief economist expects continuous implementation of the government’s priority infrastructure projects over the next three years even amid the proposed shift to federalism.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia believed that the shift to

federal form of government would not hinder the implementation of projects under the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program of the Duterte administration.

NEEDED REST. A vendor who seems to be very exhausted falls asleep beside the bins of commercial rice inside Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City on Wednesday. Prices of commercial rice in the market

“I don’t think it will be a stumbling block. It will take time to implement federalism. Lots of preparations are needed,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

The NEDA chief also believed that federalism would not be implemented in the next two to three years.

“Maybe toward the end of the administration,” he said.

Pernia said members of the economic team had yet

to do some calculations and economic exercise of the possible impacts of federalism.

The Duterte administration aimed to spend PHP8 trillion in infrastructures until 2022.

Pernia further said the “Build, Build, Build” program would boost the country’s economic growth, which was expected to increase to 7 to 8 percent this year.

(PNA)

remain stable despite the implementation of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN). Lean Daval Jr

he Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) auction committee on Tuesday made a partial award for the newly-issued three-year Treasury bond after banks asked for high yields.

Coupon of the debt instrument was set at 4.25 percent, higher than the 4.1750 percent the same tenor fetched at the secondary market Tuesday morning.

BTr offered the paper for

PHP20 billion and banks tendered a total of PHP319.107 billion. The auction committee accepted PHP14.891 billion.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said they made a partial award to moderate the jump of interest rates.

She traced banks’ preference for short term securities to rate hike expectations both from the Bangko Sentral ng

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NYC sues drug companies for $500M opioid epidemic

T

he US’ biggest city, New York City, on Tuesday sued big drug companies that make or distribute prescription opioids, blaming them for their part in the city’s ongoing deadly opioid epidemic.

The lawsuit aims to recover half a billion US dollars in current and future costs that the New York will incur to combat this epidemic.

“More New Yorkers have died from opioid overdoses than car crashes and homicides combined in recent years. Big Pharma helped to fuel this epidemic by deceptively peddling these dangerous drugs and hooking millions of Americans in exchange for pro�it,” said NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement Tuesday.

According to the statement, more than 1,000 people in NYC died in drug overdose, which involved an opioid in 2016, the highest year on record. More New Yorkers died from opioid overdoses last year than from car accidents

and homicides combined.

The charges that manufacturers’ misrepresentations of the safety and ef�icacy of long-term opioid use and distributors’ oversupply of opioids that enable diversion to the illegal market continue to fuel the crisis and signi�icantly contributed to creating and maintaining a public nuisance in the city.

The lawsuit alleges that the opioid crisis caused by manufacturers’ deceptive marketing, and distributors’ �looding of prescription painkillers into NYC has placed a substantial burden on the city through increased substance use treatment services, ambulatory services, emergency department services, inpatient hospital services, medical examiner costs, criminal justice costs, and law enforcement costs.

NYC now joins hundreds of municipalities across New York State and the nation as it seeks to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable for their illegal actions.(PNA)

ANILA -- An of�icial of newly-established digital transaction platform is targeting to widen the company’s presence in all the 42,000 villages in the Philippines in a bid to tap the micro and small businesses as payment centers to help even the people in far-�lung areas.

In a brie�ing during the launch of the POSIBLE.NET in Makati Wednesday, its President and CEO JG Puzon said they did not have speci�ic target for 2018 alone but wanted to be present in all the villages in the country in two to three years.

“Our end goal is to be present in all barangays (villages) so you’re talking of 42,000 barangays nationwide,” he said.

POSIBLE.NET taps micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as real-time payment conduits through the use of a device that is around the same size of landline

phone and uses internet connection.

Among the services provided through this platform is acceptance of payments for utilities, select government fees, money services, micro-insurance, prepaid mobile phone loads, online gaming credits, and bus ticketing for select provincial bus lines.

Puzon said that since starting their operations in 2016 they now had more than 1,600 retailer-partners nationwide, who, in turn, had registered nearly PHP2 billion worth of transactions.

He is con�ident of the success of this business, citing its convenience to people who can pay their bills and conduct other transactions through the neighborhood stores instead of going to the malls or banks.

“I believe that now is the perfect time to tell everyone about how we are empower-

ING Bank sees 6.7% GDP growth in 2018 Exec eyes digital payment platform in all PH villages A M n economist of ING Bank Manila projects a 6.7 percent output for the country in 2018, the same as in 2017, and sees household and government spending to drive economic growth.

“Household spending should continue to bene�it from 4Q remittance growth and a moderately weaker exchange rate,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a research study.

In the last quarter of

2017, household consumption grew by 6.1 percent yearon-year and government consumption by 14.3 percent.

Domestic consumption is continued to be powered by in�lows from Overseas Filipino Workers , among others, which is among the primary growth drivers of expenditures.

As of the end of November last year, cash remittances went up 4 percent year-onyear to USD25.318 billion.

On the other hand, the peso is seen to remain at 50-

51 level to a greenback this year, due in part to expected strengthening of the dollar on expectations for more Federal Reserve key rate hikes.

Domestic consumption is seen to remain robust this year as more Filipinos would have additional funds due to the implementation of the tax reform program, Package 1 of which exempts workers’ �irst PHP250,000 annual income from paying taxes.

Cuyegkeng also said government expenditures were seen to grow further this year

“as the 2018 budget targets a 16 percent increase this year from the programmed 14 percent growth in 2017.”

Among the main programs that will be �inanced are infrastructure projects, as the Duterte government targets to spend at least PHP8 trillion on building of roads, bridges and other infrastructure until the end of its term in mid-2022.

The research said state infrastructure spending is targeted to grow by 40 percent this year. (PNA)

brie�ing Wednesday.

The economist said the government’s infrastructure program was also expected to be among the main growth driver in the medium term but pointed out that further increase in its contribution to the economy’s expansion depends on the pace of the projects’ implementation.

“As of now the 6.7 percent (growth) is still very strong and positively driven domes-

tically… (Domestic growth) is less driven by exposure to the global economy,” he said.

In 2017, the economy grew, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), by 6.7 percent while it stood at 6.6 percent in the 4th quarter.

It was driven by the industry sector, which expanded year-on-year by 7.3 percent; services, 6.8 percent; and agriculture, which rebounded and grew by 2.4 percent.

Government consumption registered the highest share on expenditures in the last quarter of 2017 after it grew 14.3 percent, followed by exports, 18.6 percent; imports, 17.5 percent; capital formation, 8.2 percent; and household consumption, 6.1 percent.

With the sustained robust expansion of the economy,

Standard Chartered Bank economist eyes 6 .7% GDP for 2018

M

ANILA -- An economist of Standard Chartered Bank foresees that government infrastructure program and investments will drive the economy to a growth of 6.7 percent this year.

“We expect a lot more from the infrastructure plan coming on board, which would be the biggest driver of growth,” Chidu Narayanan, Asia economist, said in a

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Mayor to rent house for kin of Mawab DRMC patients

M

awab Mayor Ruperto “Rupet” Gonzaga III said the municipal government will rent a house near the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Apokon, Tagum City where relatives of con�ined patients from Mawab would stay- free board and lodging, with kasambahays in air-conditioned rooms.

The unique program will be launched on February 1, in time for the start of the love month, he said.

“Municipal personnel assigned to the rented house will help in doing household chores such as cooking, cleaning of the house and would assist in following up the needs, medicines and referrals

for the patients con�ined in the hospital,” the mayor bared.

It has been observed that relatives and concerned persons of con�ined patients especially the poor and those from faraway places have a dif�icult time looking for sleeping quarters outside the congested, open staying area at the corner of the compound of the hospital which has a policy of allowing only one watcher for one patient in wards.

Mayor Gonzaga said that the program will be supported by his brother Congressman Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, who has a congressional medical and hospital assistance program.

The mayor said there

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Panabo City asks LTFRB: Clarify memo on terminal T

he local government unit of Panabo City has proposed the holding of for a clarificatory forum with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) about its directive disallowing colorum vehicles from using the city’s off-street terminals.

The proposal from the LGU was made through Nemesio “Boy” Rasgo Sr., Panabo City economic enterprise manager.

“We have a terminal for Paquibato District of Davao

City with only two buses but the LTFRB has not opened a franchise for the route,” said Rasgo.

“If we disallow the buses for Paquibato , automatically transport service for the

route stops. People in far-�lung villages would not be able to transport their goods to the city,” he added.

He said he received a copy of LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2017-030 last Jan. 8, 2018.

It contains guideline for offstreet terminal operations.

Off-street terminal is de�ined as “an off-street area where passengers board and alight usually located at the start and art the end of a route.”

Violators, either public or

private terminal operators, would be �ined with P5,000 per violation per day from date of non-compliance after reprimand to comply within 60 days.

Amounts of penalty per type of colorum vehicle per unit are: P50,000 for PUJeep/ Filcab, P120,000 for taxis, P200,000 for UV Express Vans, and P1 million for PUBus. LTFRB approved the memo circular Dec. 1, 2017.Cha Monforte, Correspondent

Maute widow nabbed in Cotabato barangay

C

OTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 24 Jan) – The police arrested an alleged widow of one of the top commanders of the Maute group during a raid here Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Insp. Allan Uy, spokesperson of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM), said Najiya Dilangalen Karon-Maute was included in arrest order number 2 of Department of National Defense issued June 5 last year for violation of Article 134 (rebellion or insurrection) of the Revised Penal Code.

Initial investigation revealed she is the widow of one of the slain top commanders of MauteISIS, Mohammadkhayam Maute.

She was arrested in her house at 23 Nayon Shariff, Barangay Rosary Heights 3, past 2 p.m. Tuesday by joint forc-

es of the Police Regional Of�ice-ARMM, Cotabato City police, and CIDG-ARMM operatives.

Uy said the Maute widow is undergoing tactical interrogation as to her role in the terror group.

Families and lawyers of the arrested Maute visited her but kept mum.

The Maute brothers of Lanao del Sur, together with the Abu Sayyaf group and some foreign terrorists, launched the Marawi siege May 23 last year supposedly in their aim to install a regional Islamic caliphate in Asia.

The urban war lasted six months and claimed more than a thousand lives from the rebels, government troops, and civilians. The military wiped out most of those involved in the siege, including their leaders.

(Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)

UST to start full development of General Santos campus

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 24 Jan) – The University of Santos Tomas (UST) will start next month the full development of its expansion campus here in preparation for the projected opening in 2020.

Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, UST rector, said preparations are underway for the start of the construction works for the 79.93-hectare university campus in Barangays Ligaya and Katangawan.

“We will start our development as early as second or third week of February,” he told reporters.

He said the initial preparatory phase at the site already started last year “but now it will be a full blast development program.”

UST completed last year the requirements for the development of the campus site and

secured the local government’s approval for the location and clearance for its road networks and drainage canal.

The initial works were implemented by geodetic engineers from UST and its contracted �irm, DCCD Engineering Corp.

Citing its development plan, Dagohoy said they are targeting to start the actual construction of the buildings and other facilities “towards the end of the year.”

These include the university’s main administration building, chapel, gymnasium, faculty’s residence and school buildings.

Dagohoy said most of these structures are due for completion in two years or by 2020, which is the projected start of the university’s operations.

“Initially, we are planning to offer programs on information and computing sciences, busi-

UST,P11

LOOKING FOR CORN BORER. Asiatic corn borer is one of the pests that attack corn. Yield losses are greatest when damage occurs at the

reproductive stages. In the Philippines, corn plants are detasselled as a control measure against corn borer. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

ARMM provides health-related infra in conflict-affected Maguindanao towns

C

otabato City (January 24, 2018) – The regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been providing health and social protection assistance to communities in Maguindanao, the most con�lict-affected province in the region, through the construction and enhancement of health facilities.

As of November 2017, over P216 million was allocated for such projects, which are implemented through the ARMM’s Humanitarian and Development Action Plan (HDAP). The HDAP-ARMM is a project of Hataman administration that implements various government initiatives in

con�lict-affected areas of the region.

These initiatives include relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of both horizontal and vertical infrastructures and provision of livelihood programs that will promote peace and help the situation in calamity-affected communities speci�ically in 15 towns of Maguindanao.

The projects include 34 Barangay Health Stations, with 86.45% physical accomplishment, constructed in the different towns in Maguindanao namely: • Brgy. Poblacion II, Tapikan and Satan in Shariif Aguak; • Brgy. Ganta, Pusao

and Linantangan in Shariff Saydona Mustapha; • Brgy. Talisawa and Sugadol in Datu Abdullah Sangki; • Brgy. Tambunan and South Binangga in Talayan; • Brgy. Kabingi in Datu Saudi Ampatuan; • Brgy. Bakat in Rajah Buayan; • Brgy. Labu Labu II and Tuayan in Datu Hoffer; • Brgy. Lusay and Pidsandawan in Mamasapano; • Brgy. Tanuel , Lower Capiton, Ambolodto and Sibuto in Datu Odin Sinsuat; • Brgy. Midtimbang, Tulunan and Muslim in Datu Anggal Midtimbang; • Brgy. Mileb, Mac-

adayon and Pageda in Talitay; • Brgy Malangug and Brgy. Kyamko in Datu Unsay; • Brgy. Butilanin, Pandi, Andavit and Pindetan in Datu Salibo; • Brgy. Damabalas in Datu Piang; and • Brgy. Macasampen in Guindulungan.

Meanwhile, three Rural Health Units (RHUs) were expanded in the municipalities of Mamasapano, Talitay and Datu Piang, while the RHUs in Talayan and Datu Salibo are yet to be constructed.

Fifteen (15) deep wells with elevated water tanks worth P7.5 million and 15 communal toilets worth P3.75

ARMM,P10

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

A

Deserving Randy

ward-winning public school teacher Randy Halasan has been elevated to the position of Commissioner for Urban Poor by the President.

In 2014, Randy won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emerging Leadership with his dedicated service with the Matigsalog tribe in Sitio Pegalongan in the outskirts of the city reachable in around seven hours of travel traversing two dangerous rivers.

Edge Davao ran Randy’s story before he made it to the Ramon Magsaysay laureate--the Asia equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Randy met President Duterte in 2014 shortly after winning the award and the two chatted for �ive minutes at Marco Polo Davao. We remember Randy asking the former Davao City

EDGEDAVAO

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OLIVIA D. VELASCO General Manager

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 , 2018

Mayor just one thing--a bridge for Pegalongan. Randy knows the dangers of crossing the river. Lives have been lost there especially when waters rise up. Randy continued to work for the people of Pegalongan whom he embraced as his family.

Calamity struck Pegalongan later but this did not faze Randy who spearheaded �inding resources and relief for the rehabilitation of the damaged classrooms.

Now, Randy is in a better position to help more lives and embrace more people as his own. Randy has a heart bigger than a mountain and knows no obstacles in the name of community service.

As a proven community hero, we are con�ident Randy is the best �it to be one of the commissioners of the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor.

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

D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS Finance Advertising Specialist 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

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

VANTAGE POINTS

9

The score on our Foreign Direct Investments (Part 2: Plugging loopholes and overloaded incentives)

H

aving had a banner year in Foreign direct investments (FDIs) surpassing previous year’s achievements, we have moved into 4th place in ASEAN surpassing Indonesia and Vietnam. As I have written previously, this is despite labor and power rates in these two countries being lower than ours.

Thus, attracting foreign investment is always a challenge for any developing country. To combat long standing poverty, the different southeast Asian countries have always been in a race to attract the most investments what will boost their economic growth by bringing in capital, technology and oth-

A

mong commercial growers, this wild�lower, known locally as waling-waling, is best described as the ‘queen of cut�lowers.’ Appropriately, it is the ‘queen of the jungle.’

Scienti�ically, it is known as the Vanda sanderiana, a member of the orchid family and named after Henry Frederick Conrad Sander, a British orchidologist. It was actually German botanist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach who it Vanda sanderiana.

Endemic to Davao and adjacent regions, the �lower is worshipped as a god by the early Bagobos, even calling it diwata. But beyond science and ethnology, the waling-waling has taken its immortal place in arts and poetry, at times the substance of a lover’s gift to an inamorata.

A painter, expressing his emotions on canvas, once called the Davao orchid as the ‘fairest of the rare’ and the ‘one choice for the fair.’

In the 1938 records of the Bureau of Forestry, a total of 2,149 waling-waling plants were exported from

er resources that can help spur economic activity and generate employment.

That said, the role played by granting of �iscal and non-�iscal incentives do a lot to encourage or discourage the entry of foreign investors to the country.

Fiscal incentives include tax breaks and other perks that allow a higher �inancial margins especially at the startup of business operations when costs are normally higher and ef�iciencies have not been attained.

“Policy overload” turns off investors What investors have been complaining about for a long time are confusing rules that, well, confuse them, resulting in

MY TWO CENTS’ John Carlo B. Tria a policy overload . The Department of Finance (DOF) has underscored the need to institute reforms that would correct the

“policy overload” in the country’s �iscal incentives system as a result of too many laws offering tax and duty exemption privileges to businesses in economic zones and in sectors listed in the government’s investment priorities list.

This proliferation of laws create redundancies and have led some investors to “double dip” and avail themselves of perks in more than one law. With 14 investment promotion agencies (IPAs) granting business incentives that do not complement each other, the system has turned into a complex and confusing set of rules in which investors compare various laws governing these IPAs

and choosing the best package for them.

According to Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua, incentives complicate tax administration and encourage businesses to employ transfer pricing and pro�it-shifting schemes in which related companies subject to different tax regimes transfer pro�its to another entity enjoying tax holidays and shift expenses to an entity subject to tax so that they get to reduce their tax payments.

While this may result in fat contracts for some accounting �irms, it only makes accounting more complicated, and therefore, the risk of statutory violations and penalties higher.

Dili ingon sa bulak sa Waling-waling Nga walay kahumot nga nanimaho, Hangtod kan-uman ka adlaw mahabilin, Dili mapungis sa kusog sa hangin, Ang kaputli niya labaw pa ka dato.

(Unlike the waling-waling �lower, without odor to smell, endures for sixty days and cannot be turned away by the wind; his purity is even more expensive.)

Apan, ikaw dili ka gayud mabalhin Kay ang baho mo mao lang gihapon, Kay sa Makagagahum ka gigahin, Sa kaaghop sa pamatasan salamin, Kay sa kaanyag mo walay makatupong.

(But you don’t change because your scent remains. It was God who set you aside; your meekness is the mirror of behaviour; your beauty cannot be surpassed.)

Iwagi Bulak and tibuok nga yuta Sa suga nga balaanon sa imong kaanyag, Ang kahayag mo sa dayon

musuta, Sa buling sa sayop nga hunahuna Ug sa ginharian sa ‘vicio’ mulaglag.

(Enlighten, Flower, the whole land with the sacred lustre of your loveliness.

Your glow will discover the sin of a �ilthy mind and bring down the realm of vanity.)

Palina-is sa imong baho ang katilingban Aron sa kahilayan paghingilin, Kay mamalik ang maayong pamatasan Nga sa mga bag-ong tubo buot igihan Ug laksi-on sa among mga kasingkasing.

(Use your scent as incense of the community so they shy away from pleasures so the good traits tthis new generation abhors will be back, and tear away [the vices] from our hearts.)

What should have been the highlight of the journey of the waling-waling was the approval of Senate of House Bill No. 5655, which declared it a national �lower in 2013 but it was vetoed. The �lower would have joined the sampaguita, the coun-

‘The jungle queen’

Davao and 790 from the province of Cotabato, with exorbitant prices ranging from PhP5.00 to PhP200, the equivalent of US$100, or roughly US$1,030 in today’s exchange rate.

An observer noted that in 1949, when Davao’s population was 127,000, not even ten percent owned a single waling-waling plant.

This orchid was also a valued gift. American poet and satirist Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) was one of those who received the expensive plant, prompting her to write a poem which goes: “Say it with Waling-waling/Love for thy neighbor/ Love for the one you adorn/ Love for the suffering/Say it with waling-waling/A feeling of admiration/A feeling of inspiration/A feeling—eye, on �irst meeting/Say it with waling-waling.”

But nothing is more emotional that the poem written

by Msgr. Fernando Buyser y Aquino, who wrote a book titled ‘Kasingkasing sa Magbabalak: Pungpong sa mga Bulak ni Floripinas’ (Heart of a Poet: Wreath of Flow-

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa ers for Floripinas) in 1938.

One of the entries was the ‘Waling-waling’ (Tanslation mine).

Sa taliwala sa akong paghinuktok Misantop lamang sa akong panumduman, Nga ang bulak nga maayag ug mahumot Madali nga abuton sa mga kadaut Kay sa mga Alibangbang pasipad-an.

(While in a pensive mood, it came to my mind a �lower that is beautiful and fragrant; it is easily damaged because it is abused by the butter�ly.)

10 NO... FROM 1

EDGEDAVAO

“If it becomes a requirement it will be deterrence for them to operate,” Cascolan added.

He said the PNP only has 100 body cameras available ‘for the meantime’ that will be only given to the priority areas where the illegal drug trades are really porous. The priority areas that he bared are the National Capital Region and some parts of Luzon.

Cascolan said the PNP needs more than P300-million budget in order to distribute body cameras to all police stations in the country as well as their system.

He said as soon as the cameras will be distributed to its anti-illegal drugs operatives, the PNP wants to be connected to a centralized system in their provincial or city police of�ice for monitoring of their operations.

“That system would able us to see in real time the operations of all the drug enforcement units from the

stations, districts, provinces and region,” he said.

Cascolan also said the PNP National Of�ice will inter-connect to the systems installed in every provincial, city, district and regional of�ices for their monitoring.

He assured that despite the absence of body cameras, the anti-illegal drugs operations of the police will not be prone to corruption from the erring of�icers because there is a constant evaluation and monitoring of the members of DEU. “They will be properly vetted on a periodic basis, quarterly and semestral basis. They will be reviewed of their performance so that we would be able to deter them from corruption,” he said.

Cascolan said anytime, the members of DEU will be replaced once there are complaints from the civilian with regards to the implementation of Oplan Double Barrel.

baby diapers and turn them into high-grace compost.

Fangonon batted for the ‘low-cost but high-ly-effective’ indigenous technology on Wednesday at the Habi at Kape in Abreeza Mall..

Fangonon said that with crib-like structure used to compose biodegradables has no need for shredding, enzymes or turning over.

“And since it compost big volume, it can help mitigate climate change because it produces no methane or leachate and no foul smell.

Fangonon said the CRIB is a self-aerated and it is so designed it ensures drainage of excess water, preventing the formation of methane gas and leachate.

“Organisms (to include �lies, maggots, earthworms) in the CRIB work harmoniously together in different stages during the composting to ensure all materials thrown into the structure are composed in due time” Fangonon said.

He said that maggots are

the primary composters that dwell mostly on the top layer of the compost pile where fresh waste is thrown.

“They eat waste that normally produce a bad odour as it rots, but smell disappears as soon as the maggots consumed the waste,” he said.

He added that Maggots do not become �lies in the CRIB since they are preoccupied with eating garbage and die as maggots, becoming themselves a rich part of the compost.

Fangonon said that earthworms are the second composters that process the garbage left by the maggots, they eat the garbage that is in advanced stage of decomposition and they leave the compost heap as the amount of waste reduce.

“Nature has provided macro and micro organisms for the composting process.

When these organisms �inish their task, the compost is clean and ready for growing plants,” he said.

a speech.

Largo said that Hirna could have been started last Christmas but Globe’s change of mind caused the slight delay.

“There is some issue that we are unable to address because of the need to launch app as demanded by LFTRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) so we need to look to another partner, Smart which is ready and willing to engage in this undertaking,“ he said.

Largo clari�ied that the taxi operators are not saying that Globe Telecom declined there project, it’s all because they cannot simply agree to what they want and were unable to �inalize the hailing app project in utilization of internet, and mode of payment for the internet access.

“Smart readily accommo-

dated our request as opposed to Globe,” according to Largo, who bared that Smart will provide the cellphones with unlimited Internet data.

However, Globe in a statement emailed to Edge Davao last Saturday, January 20, denied having backed out of the Hirna project.

“We wish to clarify our position on an article that came out in Edge Davao stating that Globe Telecom has backed out of the Hirna taxi hailing app project. Contrary to what was written, we were invited by Avis Philippines to be a partner for the project.

Currently, Globe and the Hirna proponents – Avis Philippines and Metro Davao Transport Operators Association (MDTOA) are in the process of negotiating the terms of the project. As such, both parties have

ECO... FROM 1

INSTALLATION... FROM 1

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 , 2018

RAISING THE BAR. TrendLabs marketing communications director Myla V. Pilao discusses her company’s advocacy, Click Right, which has an objective of educating and helping children to be empowered when using the internet. Pilao said during Wednesdays @ Habi at

Kape at Abreeza mall that they are conducting lectures and forums in different high schools in Davao City from January 24 to 26. Lean Daval Jr

not arrived at any conclusion regarding the agreement.

“We were surprised to learn that Smart was announced to be the new partner for the Hirna proponent through the Edge news report.

While this came out quite suddenly for us, we respect the decision of the partners even as we remain open for any collaboration in the future.

“Globe deeply values the trust of its partners and clients so we always make sure that we uphold our commitments to them.”

Largo also added that they are planning to of�icially launch Hirna during the �irst

week of February.

The MDTOA president that urrently there are 5,600 taxi units in Davao City and about 4,000 to 5,000 taxi units are targeted to be installed with Hirna hailing app.

“We will be targeting about 90 percent of tsxis to avail of this hailing app,” Largo said.

He bared that 90 percent of the big taxi operators in the city are set to be installed with Hirna, citing names of the taxi companies such as Maligaya, Midvalley, Ma-ro, Krizzia and Holiday to mention a few.

stemmed from the revocation of his passport by the US government.

On the other hand, FSU chief Bobby Raquepo disclosed that St. Clair had been hiding in the country since June 2015 or four years after the California court approved his petition for supervised release.

However, the court cancelled his probation a few months after his release when authorities reported that he continued to engage in criminal acts, such as grand theft of several properties and stealing the dog of a neighbor.

“He was also the subject of a blacklist order issued by the BI for possession of counterfeit visa extension stamps,” the BI intelligence of�icer said.

Information provided by the US embassy also revealed that in 2009, the California court convicted St. Clair of possession of a �irearm in furtherance of drug traf�icking, manufacture of 100 marijuana plants, and possession and transportation of stolen explosives.

He was sentenced to 64 months in prison but became eligible for parole after serving his term for 36 months. (PNA)

delivery range from P400.00 to P1,350.00 depending on the �lowers and its arrangement.

The Packages for the serenade and �lower with delivery would range from Php. 750.00 to Php. 2,000.00 with deliveries within Davao City Proper.

The client can request two songs of their choice.

Another activity is the Salamat Po which encourages the students in high school and elementary to write letter to their parents, teachers or for their relatives abroad. This activity will be available until February 28, 2018.

“So we are encouraging them to go back to the old ways of writing letters, because the message is much felt when it is written in compared to sending your message through text messages,” she said.

In participating in this ac-

tivity, three student and the school the students are representing will have the chance to win P3,000 each in area draw which will be on February 28 and for the national draw one student from Mindanao will have the chance to win P10,000.

Sending of letters locally will only cost P 12 while sending of letters internationally will have different cost depending on the zone; Zone one which covers countries in Asia will cost P45.00, zone two which covers Middle East will cost 50.00, zone three covers the America will cost P55.00 and zone four will cover countries in Africa will cost P60.00.

She said that in 2017 Salamat po service has gained total revenue of 240,000 in Davao City and she hopes to have it increase this year.

ippines.

“He (St. Clair) is the �irst 2018 casualty of our relentless campaign to �lush out wanted foreign criminals using the Philippines as a sanctuary to evade prosecution and sentence for their crimes,” the

BI chief said in a statement Wednesday.

Morente said that aside from being a fugitive who poses a risk to public safety and security, St. Clair would also be deported for being an undocumented alien, which

the shorelines of Davao City which is the Maritime law enforcement exercise, the counter insurgency exercise which will be done together with the AFP, and the law enforcement operation exercise in the heart of Davao City.

“This time we want to involve the whole community, we want to involve all the stake holders but how?

We would not put them immediately on that exercise.

We want them to see what is being done during the crisis situations, we want them to take note of the witness and the lapses, because we will be including also the weaknesses in this exercise so that they will identify in the end, we will have a debrie�ing they would be able to ask us why did you do that why di d you this,” he said.

PNP operation strategy focuses on regular law enforcement, the security measures that will be given focus on the exercises, target hardening, border control, social investigation, community partnership and deployment of troops and equipment.

This also includes home defense security which will

lead us to one community defense security concept leading to operational strategy of the Philippine National Police.

He said they will conduct the same exercise in NCR, Cebu and other part in Mindanao which is yet to be identi�ied.

Unlike other simulations conducted by the PNP this one is announced because they want the local government units, the members of the city council, the other mayors and politicians in Mindanao will be invited for them to see what should be done if they were in the same situation and they want the public to see it as well. The PNP and AFP involved will only be solving problem hoping they will be able to solve it.

“We will be role playing the local government members, the honorable members of the council, the mayor the vice mayor even us. The regional director of the PNP here, those who will be involved are the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) and almost all stake holders,” he added.

PHILPOST... FROM 2

AMERICAN... FROM 2

POLICE... FROM 2

INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211• THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

EVENTS

EDGEDAVAO

Damosa Land:

Looking Back and Looking Forward

To say that Damosa Land has been in top form in the past year would be an understatement. The homegrown real estate company reached its targets, added more items to its roster of accomplishments, and earned a number of accolades to culminate 2017. From its residential developments, to its commercial, industrial and agricultural properties, Damosa Land is as steadfast as ever.

Award-winning Developer

Homegrown

On May 4, 2017, awards were given to Damosa Land for its two residential developments at the prestigious 5th Annual PropertyGuru Philippine Property Awards 2017. The internationally acclaimed event was organized

by Asia’s leading online property group and where leading Philippine developers from all over Manila, Cebu, and Davao were recognized.

Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI) earned the top spot for Best Residential Development in Davao for Damosa Fairlane, its first venture into residential development. Damosa Fairlane was likewise highly commended for Best Residential Landscape Architectural Design.

Seawind, DLI’s 6-tower condominium venture, also took home a Highly Commended Award under the Best Residential Development in Davao category.

Another honor was given to DLI in 2017, this time to its Vice President Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo as he was nominated for the Injap Sia Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (ISOYEA) during the 43rd Philippine Business Conference of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in October of last year. Lagdameo was among those who were chiefly recognized above all other Filipino young entrepreneurs who have remarkably contributed to the economic development of the country through their exemplary approach in their products and services in their respective fields.

The commendations did not stop there. Adding to the list of highly esteemed awards is the SGV Foundation, Inc.’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 where Lagdameo

Damosa Fairlane

was among the finalists, representing Damosa Land alongside other 19 industry entrepreneurs.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines is a biennial program in search for the country’s entrepreneurs that have inspiring success stories to share.

5th Annual PropertyGuru Philippine Property Awards 2017

It’s Good to be Home Damosa Land’s residential ventures have been the most bullish all throughout the year.

Its maiden development, the modern mid-century themed subdivision Damosa Fairlane, a stone’s throw away from its home base Damosa District, is already 80% complete in terms of construction for its 1st and 2nd phases. The development of Phase 3 has also been completed and will soon start construction of houses for its incoming residents.

On one hand, construction in DLI’s Seawind condominium in Sasa Onse is also in full swing.

After opening its first tower to its residents, this resort-themed condominium development is preparing to welcome its residents for the second tower, while it is on the process of completing the next two towers. To date, 106 Seawind units have been turned over to their owners and 10 have already moved in. Turnover is ongoing for the remaining Tower 1 units.

Industrial Gateway After opening its third warehouse for business to a new locator on the first quarter of 2017, the Anflo Industrial Estate (AIEC), Damosa Land’s rising industrial park in Panabo City, also celebrated the first export shipment of its first locator, the Filipino-Dutch plastic manufacturer, PhilDutch Polymer. The 63-hectare self-sus-

S G V Foundation, I n c . ’ s Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Philippines

SGV Foundation, Inc.’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Philippines taining ecozone, is at the moment on its phase 1 development and can now accommodate potential clients on site, too, with its newly established administrative office in the area.

Damosa District As Damosa Land’s property development success can be earlier attributed to the Damosa commercial district, it is no surprise that commerce here is equally booming.

For one, one of its most recent business locators is in great business. The Regus at the Damosa IT Park has already reached 96% occupancy rate. The world-renowned multinational company gears up in continuously providing flexible workspaces in its first center in Mindanao, in partnership with Damosa Land.

The year 2017 also saw the birth

of the immensely successful and very popular Damosa Food Fest.

Originally an offshoot of the occasional Damosa bazaars, DLI answered to the call for the current food exhibit trend in Davao.

The Damosa Food Fest was officially launched in the summer of 2017 and became a record-breaking success, with 15,000 attendees as its largest food traffic.

Damosa will continue to cook up exciting food and leisure fests in the coming months to excite the Davaoeños and satisfy their craving for food and other good bargains.

In Prospective Now that a new year has begun, Damosa Land is capitalizing into giving the public the quality projects that it is known to produce.

DLI is looking forward to the further developments of its latest

Bridgeport Seaside Leisure Township

DAMOSA A4

Agriya Naturetainment

A2 INdulge!

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211• THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

MOST OFTEN, we find comfort in the most minute of things -- the familiarity, sensical attachment and memories associated is what makes anything comfortable.

Of course, that includes food. And that is what makes it even more exciting -- treating your palate to a memory triggering taste that will take you to memory lane in an instant.

Take Picobello Ristorante Italian. This has been around for years.

Flocked and loved by many, this Italian gem of a dining restaurant has the magnificent flavours of Italy on their repertoire of dishes down to a T. And their menu is not at all complicated -- it’s simple yet has that blatantly subtle effect to make you anticipate in an instant.

Used to be located inside a mall at heart of the city, their transfer to a bigger space proved to be a positive one. Now, everyone can come in, take a breather and enjoy their sumptuous dishes without having to wait for a table. What’s more, the added al-fresco dining overlooking the streets and wonderful houses across is but a pleasant scene to see.

Of course, Picobello has, is and will always be known for their pizza. Thin crust and generously topped, theirs are all handmade and cooked in a pugon. Wood fired oven, that is. The chargrilled effect intensifies the taste of the crust itself and of course, the toppings. Also, its aroma never fails to entice the senses. Personally, pizza cooked inside a pugon is the only pizza. No more, no less.

From the most basic of pizza toppings to the meatiest of them all, Picobello’s pizza selection has everything you need that will take you to the streets of Italy in an instant. Keep it simple with the bold and nude flavours of Margherita. Go take a plunge with the flavours of the sea with their pizza Del Marinaio. Stuffed pizza? Calzone is the only way to go. In the mood for Italian sausage, pepperoni and salami? If yes, then take a bite off their pizza Al Salsiccie.

Pasta is also a must at Picobello. Let your palates indulge on a plate of al dente pasta all day long. Their selection includes Fettuccine Carbonara, Linguine Aglio Olio, Lasagne and my personal favourite, Ravioli.

Also on their menu are appetizers, risotto, steaks and chops and a delectable array of mains -- ranging from salmon to shrimps to chicken. And of course, dessert -- tiramisu is love -- to cap your Italian palate adventure.

TRC Speaks: Picobello has always been a staple during my college days. The familiarity and comfort is but inevitable. Their menu, just like before, is just as fascinating as the taste of their buy 1, take 1 pizza (at that time). Years and a new location after, they are still the same. You still taste Italy in every bite. Oh and yes, the ravioli has, is and will always be a favourite!

Picobello Ristorante Italian is located at 2F, The Shoppes at Woodlane, Diversion Road, Ma-a, Davao City For my latest food finds, follow me on Instagram @ iamleebai and Facebook @theroyalchefeats.

Happy eating, royalistas!

Flavours of

MEMORY LANE

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211• THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

FOOD

INdulge! A3

The man himself Joel “JT” Torre.

GRILLED CHICKEN STALLS are everywhere in Durianburg mainly because is grilled chicken is one of the most affordable comfort foods one can get. From the Roxas Night Market, to the barbeque stalls beside city hall, and even at the fast food joints and fancy restaurants in the malls, one is sure to find a place that serves great tasting grilled chicken in Davao.

Every establishment has its own delicious version of grilled chicken but my favourite though would be the Inasal. Biting into a properly cooked inasal, one is greeted by a slight crunch of the skin followed by a taste of its juicy and tangy meat. So imagine my excitement when JT’s Manukan Grille finally opened their first store in Mindanao here in Davao.

Established as a small kiosk in 2003 by multiawarded actor Joel Torre and his wife, Cristy, JT’s Manukan Grille is Joel’s homage to his birthplace of Bacolod where Inasal was born. “My family used to be in the food service business in Bacolod and I can no longer do shootings that go all night long, so JT’s Manukan Grille was born” said Joel.

The restaurant’s branch, located at Damosa Gateway, is a bright and cheery spot with some alfresco

tables. Inside is bench seating for families with the walls of the restaurant covered in posters of the many movies Joel starred in.

Taking my first bite of JT’s Inasal, I was instantly taken back to the first time I tasted Inasal in Bacolod. The chicken was full-flavored and tender and dripping with orange annatto oil, the skin was crisp but not burnt, yes, this is as close to Bacolod one can get here in Durianburg.

“What makes Inasal different from the typical Filipino grilled chicken is in its balance of flavor,” shared Joel, “The chicken is marinated in spices and tuba (coconut vinegar), and

Chicken getting basted with some annatto oil.

INASAL CENTRAL Piping hot, Inasal. should not be sweet. It should be tangy, crisp on the outside but juicy on the inside.”

Aside from Inasal, JT’s Manukan Grille also serves many Ilonggo favourites such as Batchoy, and Kansi (Beef shank is a sour and fruity soup). “I wanted to bring Ilonggo flavours to the restaurant to complete the dining experience” Joel added.

Add to the package all the rice you can eat and JT’s Manukan is sure to be on the radar of every hungry Dabawenyo.

JT’s also serves grilled liempo.

Inside JT’s Manukan Grille.

Enjoying some Kansi.

A4INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211• THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

Shopping is a family affair JHEANA MAE TAN believes that shopping brings her family closer—it’s a time to unwind and to enjoy well deserved gifts from a day’s hard work.

Tan is a winner of The SM Store’s “Shop.

Win. Enjoy. P100,000 Shopping Spree” promotion. To celebrate, the stylish mom of Catalunan Pequeno went on shopping date with her

clothes and accessories from Levi’s, Nike, and Spyder. Tan’s equally stylish daughter Gianina Franchezca enjoyed her My Little Pony haul from Toy Express.

Just like Tan, you and your family can win a shopping spree, too!

Every P3,000 singlereceipt transaction using a Philippine-issued Mastercard at The SM Store entitles shoppers to an electronic raffle en-

daughter and husband last January 12 in SM Lanang Premier.

Tan shared that she is an avid shopper of The SM Store and her prize delighted her even more.

“The wide range of style choices offered in The SM Store makes shopping more enjoyable,” she said. She shopped for jewelries (her investment and collection) while husband Francis Ian bought

try for a chance to win a P100,000 shopping spree. This 2018, a total of 100 lucky winners nationwide can instantly win—on the spot! There will be winners every day from January 15 to March 31, 2018.

Get shopping and start winning in The SM Store with Mastercard. Follow @smlanangpremier and @thesmstore in social media for more exciting promos and events.

EVENTS DAMOSA A1 major project in Panabo City, the 88-hectare master-planned township development, Agriya, after it broke ground in May of 2017.

Agriya will feature residential villages, a commercial arcade, an institutional-zoned area, and an agro tourism component. Billeted to be the first agritourism city in Asia, Agriya will pioneer the concept of a modern Agropolis (agricultural metropolis) in the Davao region. This year, we will expect Agriya to launch its residential offerings.

One of Agriya’s placemaking features is Naturetainment, an expe-

Damosa Food Fest riential learning playground with activity zones that have diverse and exciting recreational approaches of learning through fun, immersive, and interactive activities. This 2018, DLI will introduce the Agriya Exposition, which will give the public an appreciation of the farming and activity components of the project.

Furthermore, Agriya’s institutional component, the University of the Philippines Professional School for Agriculture and the Environment (UP PSAE) is also an expanse to be enthusiastic about. A public-private-partner-

ship (PPP) amongst UPLB, Damosa Land, and ANFLOCOR, the UP PSAE will offer graduate programs and short courses in its extension campus in Panabo City.

The establishment of UP PSAE in this township project capitalizes on the agricultural heritage of the area by providing an accessible hub for knowledge sharing in agriculture and related disciplines.

Another breakthrough project that Damosa Land is excited about is Bridgeport, a mixed-use development project in Caliclic, Babak District, IGACOS that

is designed to have low-density condominium parks, limited premium open lots, hotel and resort, commercial and dining areas, and an exclusive marina.

Taking advantage of the proximity of the Island Garden City of Samal and Davao City, one of the most dynamic growth centers in Southeastern Philippines, Damosa Land designed a project that affords its clients the privilege of a vacation home away from the hustle of a bustling city but also a stone’s throw away from the dynamic and busy business districts of the city

across the strait.

The vision for Bridgeport is to offer quality resort-living within close reach from the urban city of Davao. Damosa Land envisions a strong business, tourism, and leisure link between two cities across Pakiputan Strait.

On one side there’s a link to the

main business enterprises, retail, and entertainment spots while on the other is a whole new different world of comfort, privacy, leisure, and luxury. Bridgeport Seaside Leisure Township brings its clients just that – a link to both world, a cozy get-away just within reach.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 , 2018

CITY... FROM 2

also intends to coordinate with the Department of Education to monitor children who exhibit signs and symptoms of measles, such as runny nose, bloodshot eyes, fever, and rashes in the face and neck.

Villafuerte, a physician, said the measles virus could be transmitted through droplets. Its complications include pneumonia, and diarrhea, which could lead to dehydra-

tion.

According to her, several factors could have triggered the sudden increase in measles cases in the city - for one, the increase in transients or migration of people from other places.

Villafuerte recalled that more than 460 families had �led to Davao City after the Marawi siege, of which majority are in the city center. (PNA)

Story? Art Caravan’ aims to encourage the youth to take part in that mission,” Pilao said.

“The growing number of online crimes such as phishing scams, cyber bullying, identity theft, and sexual harassment shows the need to be more cautious online.” she said.

Pilao provide a survey by Turner Broadcasting System Asia-Paci�ic, revealed that 93% of Filipinos aged four to 14 and living in Metro Manila use the Internet. Of the 500 respondents, 86% access social media.

“As the world becomes more interconnected than ever, we commit to helping build a generation of responsible Internet users, who understand the importance of cyber security and contribute to achieving it,” Pilao said.

Pilao added that “What’s Your Story” is just one of the programs that Trend Micro implements to create awareness and advance discussions on cyber security at homes and businesses alike.

Pilao said that the art competition is open to three categories of entrants: primary, secondary and tertiary students. Participants will have to create and submit A4-sized artworks in portrait orientation using oil, pastel, charcoal, pencils, crayons, markers or watercolor.

“Trend Micro will announce a winner for each category in every leg of the caravan. Winners will receive P20,000 each at the end of the contest on February 14, 2018, “ she said.

birth certi�icates.

She said that the �iling fee of such corrections entails P1,000 for petition for correction of clerical error, while the P3,000 for the petition for correction of the �irst name, gender and day and month of the birthday.

Arendain reminds the parents to check documents �irst before signing it or passing it to civil registrar to avoid errors.

“Parents should check that before they sign the document they will �ill it up �irst

and that they may review the spelling,” Arendain said.

“Once the document is submitted, and once the document is already entered into the computer system, then errors seen afterwards will require a petition for correction of clerical error,” Arendain added.

She also denied a report that the petition for correction of clerical errors is now free, as it is stated in the implementing rules and regulations that it requires payment.

lands, if it was legitimately done? If it went to right process and have an appropriate price,” he said.

Baloro said it is important to relocate the informal settlers far from the danger zones in urban areas because it’s part of the PCUPs mandate to provide decent homes for the urban poor.

He said upon demolition of these people in the urban areas, authorities should apply “just and humane” demolition and their basic human rights also be observed.

“Con�lict management during demolition should be applied,” he said.

Baloro also said he will also formulate programs on the livelihood of the urban poor for them to improve their lives.

“Our programs and initiatives should always be anchored on the mandate of PCUP,” he said.

Baloro and Halasan took their oath of of�ice before Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco on Tuesday morning.

strengthen military presence in con�lict-affected and resources-rich areas to put a dent on extortion activities.

The military has beefed up security measures in Mindanao since the May 23 declaration of martial law in the island by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in response to the

attack launched by Islamic State-inspired militants in Marawi City.

Martial law is still in effect in Mindanao after Congress approved Duterte’s request for another extension, from January to December this year, citing as basis the communist insurgency.

CARAVAN... FROM 4

CRO... FROM 4

NEW... FROM 4

FIRMS... FROM 5

11

EDGEDAVAO Madrigal, who assumed as head of Eastmincom on November 13, 2017, said they have come up with measures to reduce or eliminate extortion and burning incidents.

He said the measures include the deployment of

new members of the Specialized CAFGU Active Auxiliary in con�lict-affected and resource-rich areas.

He said they will step up security in Davao Region by deploying 25 CAFGU companies. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

He said valuation of the local unit had improved and was now considered trading at a level that was its fair value unlike before when it was considered overvalued.

He said weakness of the peso was not really bad since this continued to be posi-

tive on the money being sent home by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as well as consumption.

“Imports has been quite strong. In that kind of environment you don’t really want a strong currency,” he added. (PNA)

come exchange.’

He said more than 70 percent of PDS’ income comes from “provision of services as a depository, registry, and �inancial intermediary and over 20 percent of revenues come from trading services, the latter an area of opportunity as the local bond market

matures.”

He explained that PDS “has an asset-light business model and consistently registers healthy EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margins above 45 percent and wide net pro�it margins above 25 percent.” (PNA)

would be rice, noodles, canned goods in the rented house for consumption of the temporary boarders.

The unit would have six double-deck beds and those taking temporary shelter are encouraged to also do their share in cooking, cleaning just like in

the family, he said.

The program is now being �inalized at this writing, with the mayor soliciting for a �itting name for the project .

It’s a Valentine’s treat of the Gonzaga brothers for their Mawab constituents. - Cha Monforte, Correspondent

“Mighty Corporation was forced to sell its business to pay for a settlement of its obligations, which was around $600 million. This resulted in the biggest tax settlement ever.

The favorable settlement signi�icantly improved revenue collections in 2017. The acquisition of Mighty’s tobacco business by JTI substantially

improved sin tax collections,” Dominguez said.

The �inance chief said that every month for the �irst three months since JTI took over Mighty in September 2017, collections from the Mighty operations of JTI have increased by an average of P2.5 billion a month. (DOF).

Pilipinas (BSP) and US’ Federal Reserve this year.

Analysts expect the BSP to raise key rates by as much as 50 basis points this year starting in the second quarter while the Fed is expected to increase its rates by around 75 basis points.

De Leon said there were also some economists who raised the issue of the do-

mestic economy’s overheating, which might result to further rise of in�lation rates.

Monetary of�icials, however, have kept on assuring the public that the economy is not overheating since macroeconomic fundamentals continue to improve and sustained growth of the economy is being met by rising demand.

(PNA)

ness management and some basic programs in the sciences,” he said.

Dagohoy said the university would later open graduate school programs to “help the region in terms of human capacity undertakings.”

Mayor Ronnel Rivera reiterated the local government’s full support to the development of the UST campus, which will be the university’s �irst in Mindanao.

The Regional Development Council of Region 12, which he heads, had also endorsed the project.

The mayor said that based on his discussions with UST of�icials, investments for the development of the university campus could reach around P6 billion.

“This will de�initely bring tremendous impact to the city economy-wise since it

is a big school that is very famous,” he added.

UST initially acquired the proposed university site for P96 million in 1997 but its development was marred by land classi�ication problems.

It sought for the conversion of the site, which is classi�ied as agricultural land, to institutional and received initial approval from the Department of Agrarian Reform in 2003.

DAR issued another order in 2008 “extending the development period of the site until 2013,” according to UST’s of�icial publication, Varsitarian.

The city council intervened in 2013 by passing Ordinance No. 15 that revised the zoning classi�ication of the university site from agricultural to institutional. (MindaNews)

ing the Filipinos MSMEs,” he said.

Data from the central bank show that about 36 percent of towns and cities around the country still do not have access to banks, thus, Puzon is con�ident that their platform will help more Filipinos as well as the government’s

bid to include more Filipinos in the formal banking system.

“We are working to make the technology readily available to all barangays and community stores so that they would be able to do digital transactions and spur economic growth,” he added. (PNA)

Narayanan discounted the overheating of the economy.

“Not yet. No. We think Philippines growth would probably be faster than it is now (thus, preventing overheating),” he said.

Overheating of an economy happens when its productive capacity is unable to meet robust demand.

Narayanan said services were also seen to support domestic growth this year.

In�lation is projected to go up in the �irst half of the year but to average this year at 3.5 percent.

This expected faster rise of in�lation rate was what would prompt Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) of�icials to hike key rates in the �irst quarter and third quarter of the year, the economist said.

In�lation, which is seen to peak in either June or July this year, is not expected to rise

above the government’s 2 to 4 percent target until 2019.

Aside from the rate of price increases, the other reason for the possible key rate hike in the third quarter was the high credit growth, which had been running nearly 20 percent in recent months, he said.

“But we don’t expect massive rate hikes...it will not really be tightening but to make it less accommodative,” he said.

For this year, the economist also sees exports to rise between 6 and 8 percent; imports by 10 percent; and remittances between 4 and 6 percent.

Also, Standard Chartered Bank foreign exchange strategist Divya Devesh, during the same brie�ing, forecasts the peso to end the year at 50.5 to a greenback and to remain supportive of domestic growth.

million were also constructed in the municipalities of Rajah Buayan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Hoffer, Sharrif Aguak, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Talitay, Shariff Saydona, Guindulungan, Datu Piang, and Mamasapano.

On April 21, 2017, a ceremonial groundbreaking was conducted for the construction of the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital - Datu Piang Annex, which has a 25-bed capacity and would be worth over P46 million. As of November 2017, the project has 38.86% physical accomplishment.

The provision of support package equipment for the hospital is still under bidding,

while the personnel salary for operations will be covered by a memorandum of agreement upon the completion of the hospital building.

HDAP-ARMM aims at establishing a well-coordinated and systematic approach to address and mitigate effects of disasters and calamities. It also aims at addressing the needs and at providing immediate interventions to families affected by violent encounters between the military and the rebels.

To ensure that the projects are properly implemented, the HDAP-ARMM’s Project Management Of�ice is strictly supervising and monitoring these projects.(Bureau of Public Information)

said. ‘’I’m looking forward to the moment when I can be done with the game and I can sit back with my family and my friends and we can drink some wine and talk about all the accomplishments that I had and feats I was able to accomplish.’’

Murray’s effort helped San Antonio push past Cleveland in a battle between teams entangled in turmoil.

The Spurs denied reports that injured superstar Kawhi Leonard is unhappy with how

the team is handling his right quadriceps tendinopathy and wants to be traded.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, acknowledged reports that they held a team meeting to address Kevin Love’s early exit due to illness from a blowout loss at Oklahoma City and his subsequent absence from the following day’s practice. The airing of grievances eventually focused on the team’s poor play, which included a 148124 loss to the Thunder on Saturday.

LANDBANK... FROM 5

P30-B... FROM 5

BUREAU... FROM 6

EXEC... FROM 6

EXEC... FROM 6

MAYOR... FROM 7

UST... FROM 7

ARMM... FROM 7

JAMES... FROM 15

EDGEDAVAO

12 ENVIRONMENT

Methane: Climate change’s second culprit

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 , 2018

First of Two Parts

TEXT and PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“Methane is far more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, capturing more of the sun’s relative force, but it persists for less time in the atmosphere.” – A news report Because environmentalists, activists, politicians, and even scientists themselves give more emphasis on carbon dioxide as the primary culprit of climate change, methane has been placed in the sideways.

“Methane has no direct effects on the climate or the biosphere (and) it is considered to be of no importance.”

That was what stated in the �irst survey in 1971 on the possibility of inadvertent human modi�ication of cli-

mate.

Likewise, the gas was not mentioned in the index of the major climatology book of the time, H . H .

Lamb’s “Climate Past, Present and Future.”

It wasn’t until in 2001, when the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) submitted its report that methane was given much attention. “One of the most potent greenhouse gases on Earth,” the report said.

“Methane absorbs heat 21 times more than carbon dioxide and it has 9-15 year life time in the atmosphere over a 100-year period,” said Dr. Constancio Asis, Jr., a recipient of the 2011 Norman

E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Award.

A bad news: “While carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased steadily, methane concentrations grew relatively slowly throughout the 2000s, but since 2007 have grown ten times faster. Methane increased faster sill in 2014 and 2015,” said a report published in www.theconversation.com.

Another bad news: “Remarkably, this

growth is occurring on top of methane concentration that are already 150% highe r

than

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Of�ice No. XI Davao City

Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. R11-EV-PJ-2018-1-367 (2012-XI-00367)

SWEET JOVEL M. LEE, Petitioner.

at the start of the Industrial Revolution (now around 1,834 parts per billion),” the report added.

Both carbon dioxide and methane are considered greenhouse gases (GHGs), which also include c h l o ro � l u o ro carbons (CFCs) from air conditioners and refrigerators, and the nitrogen compound, nitrous oxide, from burning fossil fuels and fertilizers. Ground-level ozone, produced by burning fossil fuels, is also considered a greenhouse gas.

“Even if we were able to stop them tomorrow, these greenhouse gases will continue to have an effect for centuries,” Secretary-General Michel Jarraud of the UN World Meteorological Organization said in a statement quoted by the Agence France Presse (AFP).

In 2015, the IPCC said methane accounted for about 16% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In comparison, carbon dioxide accounted for more than three-quarters of plant-warming emissions.

“What has fueled the rapid rise of methane from an obscure trace gas to a

major factor in past, present and future climate change?” wondered Dr. Gavin Schmidt, a research scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia University in New York.

First some basics: methane was �irst scienti�ically identi�ied by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta in 1776. He collected some “�lammable air” from the marsh straddling Italy and Switzerland. It wasn’t until in 1778 that he was able to isolate the pure gas. The person credited for naming it as “methane” was German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann who derived the name from methanol.

Today, everyone know that methane is a very simple molecule (one carbon surrounded by four hydrogen atoms) and is created predominantly by bacteria that feed on organic material. “In dry conditions, there is plenty of atmospheric oxygen, and so aerobic bacteria which produce carbon dioxide are preferred,” explained Dr. Schmidt.

But in wet areas such as swamps, wetlands and in the ocean, there is not enough oxygen, and so complex hydrocarbons get broken down to methane by anaerobic bacteria. “Some of this methane can get trapped (as a gas, as a solid, dissolved

or eaten) and some makes its way to the atmosphere where it is gradually broken down to carbon dioxide and water vapor in a series of chemical reactions,” Dr. Schmidt said.

Culprits An article written by William F. Ruddiman explores the possibility that methane emissions started to rise as a result of anthropogenic activity 5000 years ago when ancient cultures started to settle and use agriculture as a primary food source.

The Global Methane Budget thinks so, too. “The increase is largely driven by the grown in food production,” it says.

One example is rice production. In fact, the IPCC considered rice cultivation as a major contributor to global warming. “An estimated 19% of world’s methane production comes from rice paddies,” admits Dr. Alan Teramura, a botany professor at the University of Maryland. “As populations increase in rice-growing areas, more rice – and more methane – are produced.”

Although not all rice is grown in �looded conditions, 90% of rice land globally is at least temporarily �looded.

On average, the soil is fully waterlogged for about four months each year.

“Rice is a plant that

METHANE,P13

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ Ordinary Regular service on the route: INAWAYAN (TORIL) and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on February 14, 2018. In the petition filed on January 18, 2018, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of the said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 7, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of local circulation.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Atty. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ , Regional Director, this 19th day of January 2018 at Davao City.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR Attorney IV

Petitioner, Sweet Jovel M. Lee Counsel, Atty. Victorio U. Advincula

13

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 211 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 , 2018

A barangay health worker administers anti-measles vaccine to a child in Isla Verde, Barangay 23-C, Davao City on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

The City Health Office launched vaccination drive following the outbreak of measles in the city recently. MINDANEWS PHOTO

METHANE... FROM 12

grows best in wet soil, with its roots �looded,” explains L. Hartwell Allen, an American soil scientist at the Crops Genetics and Environmental Research Unit in Gainesville, Florida. “But �looded rice crops emit substantial amounts of methane to the atmosphere.”

Cattle Livestock are another major contributor of methane. In 2006, the amount of methane emitted by farm animals alone exceeded that of the iron, steel, and cement industries combined. “Livestock are one of the most signi�icant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems,” said Henning Steinfeld, a senior UN of�icial.

President of the National Academy of Sciences Ralph Cicerone has indicated the contribution of methane by livestock �latulence and eructation to global warming is a “serious topic.” Cicerone, an atmospheric scientist, said: “Methane is the second-most-important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere now. The population of beef cattle and dairy cattle has grown so much that methane from cows now is big. This is not a trivial issue.”

The digestive system of ruminant animals such as cattle and goats contain anaerobic bacteria and thus produce methane gas. A single cow belches out 100

gallons of methane gas a day.

The raising of these animals along with sheep, carabao, and swine has contributed to the methane production in the Philippines.

Among these animals, cattle are by far the largest contributors to global enteric methane emissions, as they are the most numerous and have a much larger body size relative to other species such as sheep and goats.

A recent study showed that emissions of methane from livestock are larger than previously thought. An AFP report said: “Revised calculations of methane produced per head of cattle show that global livestock emissions in 2011 were 11% higher than estimates based on data from IPCC.” Prof. Dave Reay, from the University of Edinburgh, was quoted as saying: “As our diets become more meat- and dairy-rich, so the hidden climate cost of our food tends to mount up.” He added: “Cows belching less methane may not be as eye-catching as wind turbines and solar panels, but they are just as vital for addressing climate change.”

To which Nicholas Stern, author of the 2006 Stern Review on Climate Change, also suggested: ““People will need to turn vegetarian if the world is to conquer climate change.” – (To be concluded)

Coalition pushes RA 9003 implementation v. Dengue

A

s the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy rages, the EcoWaste Coalition today urged the nation’s local government units to enhance the enforcement of Republic Act 9003 to keep dengue-causing mosquitoes away and save children’s lives.

Also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, R.A. 9003 provides the legal framework for systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that will ensure the protection of public health and the environment.

The law, which marks its 17th anniversary on January 26, provides for essential waste

prevention and reduction strategies, including waste segregation at source, reusing, recycling and composting for cleaner and healthier communities.

“Our LGUs, particularly the barangays, have a special role to play in keeping our communities dengue-free by ensuring that discards do not collect water and serve as breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

“Indiscriminately disposed of beverage and food containers, used tires, and even garbage bins can hold water where these dreaded mosquitoes can lay eggs,” he warned.

EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ANATALIO ORTEGA TORRES with special power of attorney has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.7; Page No.2; Book No. 11; Series of 2018, of the NOTARY PUBLIC CHERYL T. LIMBING 1/18,25,2/1

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YOUNG GUNS Labrador, Pondias top AGCC jungolf

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

BOYS CHAMPION. Lloyd Labrador hits from the tee. Boy Lim

L

loyd Labrador anf Liana Fe Pondias shone brightest among the up and coming junior golfers in Davao City with big wins in the recent Apo Gof and Country Club junior golf tournament.

The long-hitting Labrador topped the Boys 15-17 years old division after carding a �ive over par 77 in the January 20 tournament at the AGCC. Labrador beat Joshua Insao who scored an 81 and Edmar Salvador who �inished with an 83.

Pondias, meanwhile, topped the Girls Division after scoring a 91. She

bested Ashley Manuta who had a 102 and Anci Galicia who carded a 104.

Jelina Jesu Villorente won the 9-10 years old division with a 95.

Jia Feliz Villorente won the Below 8 years old division with a 54. Charlie Potter �inished �irst runner up with a 59 while Youki Gastos took second runnerup honors with a 67.

Edison Tabalin topped the Boys 11-12 division with a 91 while Alec Tan took the 13-14 division with identical 91. Felix John Abandos scored a 93 to �inish behind Tan.

GIRLS CHAMPION. Liana Fe Pondias hits from the fringe. Boy Lim

WINNERS ALL. The winners of the recent Apo Golf and Country Club junior golf tournament. Boy Lim

PSC-Pacquiao Cup Luzon leg in Sorsogon Jan. 27-28

F

rom its roots in Mindanao to Luzon.

The 2018 PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup Luzon Preliminaries will be held on January 27-28 at the Sorsogon National High School in Sorsogon City.

Supervising tournament director Rogelio Fortaleza said the winners will advance into the Quarter Finals slated on February 24 and 25 in Lucena City.

The Luzon Semi-Finals will be on March 17 in Pangasinan while the Luzon Finals on April 7 in Baguio City.

The winners of the Luzon Championships will next see action in the National Championship Preliminaries set on April 14-15 in Mandaluyong City.

It will be followed by the National Quarter Finals on April 21-22 in Tagbilaran City and National Semi-Finals on April 28 in Tagum City.

The National Finals will go back to General Santos City on May 5.

The grassroots development program is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the of�icer of Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

It formally opened also in Gensan last Dec. 16-17 with the Mindanao Preliminary held at the Robinson’s Place.

PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said that cash incentives will also be given to the gold, silver and bronze medalists - P6,000, P4,000 and P2,000.

“The outstanding boxers will also be joining join the national training pool in Baguio City,” said Ramirez.

This nationwide competition is open to all amateur boxing clubs, organizations, teams and local government units.

The categories in the Junior Boys and Girls Division (15 to 16 yrs. Old are the Pinweight (44-46 kg.), Light �lyweight (48 kg.), Flyweight (50 kg.), Light Bantamweight (52

kg.) and Bantamweight (54 kg.) while in Youth Boys (17-18 yrs. Old) are Light �lyweight (46-49 kg.), Flyweight (52 kg.), Bantamweight (56 kg.), Lightweight (60 kg.) and Light Welterweight (64 kg.)

The Youth Girls (17-18) only has four weight categories – Light Flyweight (45-48 kg.), Flyweight (52 kg.), Bantamweight (54 kg.) and Featherweight (57 kg.).

James gets 30,000 but Cavs lose to Spurs

S

AN ANTONIO (AP) -- LeBron James became the youngest player ever with 30,000 career points, then got upstaged by the youngest player on the court.

Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray - a friend and mentee of James - had 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals to lift San Antonio over the slumping Cleveland Cavaliers 114-102 on Tuesday night. ‘’He’s fearless, he’s not impressed,’’ Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the 21-yearold. ‘’He really sets the pace for us. He’s a �ine defender. He’s learning how to play the game and doing a �ine job.’’

Murray, making his second start since replacing a healthy Tony Parker, needed that fortitude while battling James in the fourth quarter.

He soared for a tip follow, then

rose to disrupt James’ driving layup, which led to a 3-pointer

by Danny Green that gave the Spurs a 105-94 lead with 4:20 remaining. ‘’(Murray) was great,’’ said LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 30 points for San Antonio after being selected as an AllStar reserve earlier in the day. ‘’He’s very athletic and he brings something at that position that we haven’t had in a while. I was proud of him down the stretch. I thought he kind of grew up tonight.’’

James had 28 points while becoming the seventh member of the 30,000-point club, yet he couldn’t keep the Cavaliers from dropping their 10th in 13 games. ‘’I don’t ever fully appreciate what I do anytime I accomplish something, no matter if it’s a win or a loss,’’ James

JAMES,P11

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