Edge10 issue 216, February 1, 2018

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

Serving a seamless society

NEW ARMY CAMP. President Rodrigo Duterte leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the military camp at the Old City Hall in Marawi City on Tuesday afternoon. Joining the ceremony are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Department of Interior and Local Goverment Officer-in-Charge

Eduardo Año and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo del Rosario.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

LOCKED UP 2 cops maul 3 minors inside barangay hall

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he Davao City Police Office has placed two police officers under detention after they were pinpointed as responsible for the mauling of three minors on January 20 inside the Bacaca barangay hall.

This came about after Mayor Sara Duterte ordered DCPO director Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum to investigate the incident involving the police of�icers after the city mayor got wind of the incident reported it to her of�ice.

“I have ordered Davao City Police Director Alexander Tagum to investigate the allegation and to mete out the appropriate sanction, if the policemen involved are found to have violated rules on apprehension,” Duterte said in a

statement.

The mayor said she expects that the DCPO will make it right for the complainants, even if they are children in con�lict with the law. “Minors who are committing crimes should be taken into custody, but force should not be used unless police authority is ignored or lives are in danger because of the actions of the minors,” Duterte said, adding human rights abuse cases against the Davao City PNP are

LOCKED,P10

Surrender of Anak Pawis chair lauded T

INDULDGE A1

By ANGIE SAVERON

he commanding of�icer of the 28th Infantry Battalion described as signi�icant the surrender of Davao Oriental Anak Pawis chair Gemma Borgos Quiroga as it showed ‘the connection between the legal front and the red area.’

Madami na tayong natanggap na surrenderees pero itong si Quiroga ay naiiba dahil sa position niya,” said Lt. Col. Ramon Zalaga, commanding of�icer of the 28th Infantry Battalion. .

SURRENDER,P10

See food diet with

SEA FOOD

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

UPGRADING. The Davao International Airport is set for renovation this year. GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, a consortium managing the terminal operations and other related areas of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, is seeking a partnership with the government on its projects of developing airports including Davao International Airport. Lean Daval Jr

Taxpayers urged to seek Tagum pushes for DCPO expansion clarity in TRAIN discussion T T

By ANGIE SAVERON

By JUDIE VEGA

he Bureau of Internal Revenue in the region has urged taxpayers to participate in discussions for the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10963, otherwise known as the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).”

Cherry Mae Santos, revenue of�icer of BIR said that they are urging all taxpayers to read the provisions of the law and to participate in public consultations and brie�ings conducted by the BIR where they can air their views, comments, and recommendations.

“In anticipation of the law’s

tax, percentage tax, and documentary stamp tax,” she said.

implementation last January 1, the BIR is set to issue various revenue regulations on income tax, withholding tax, value-added tax (VAT), excise tax on petroleum, excise tax on automobiles, excise tax on mineral products, excise tax on tobacco, excise tax on sweetened beverage, cosmetic procedures, estate and donor’s

Santos said that the RA 10963 was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte but vetoed certain line items in the law. Thus, the law must be read together with the Veto message of the President,” Santos said.

“The taxpaying public is likewise enjoined to make clari�ications of certain provisions of the law with the BIR National, Regional, and District Of�ices to help the various Committees established by the Bureau’s implementing rules and regulations,” Santos said.

According to Santos they have started to conduct brie�ings seminars and trainings to their BIR personnel for the new adjusted income tax rates and update tax reform under the TRAIN law.

“The members are also set to conduct internal and external brie�ings every Wednesday for the hassle-free implementation of the law,” she said.

The Bureau is also set to conduct public consultations on the proposed implementing rules for Income Tax, Excise Tax (Sweetened Beverage Tax), Value Added Tax, and Excise Tax (Cosmetic Procedures) in their of�ice.

rangay Baas, Lamitan City, Basilan.

Supt. Christopher Panapan, Lamitan City police of�icer-in-charge, identi�ied the fatalities as Basit Daimun and Ahzhar Dakis, both truck mixer operators of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Wounded were Mitoy Estajal and Abdul Sarabin,

also employees of the DPWH-ARMM. Investigation showed the victims were aboard a dump truck traveling to Lamitan City coming from Ungkaya Pukan town when the Abu Sayyaf bandits attacked them.

The dump truck, which veered to the side of the road, was also damaged during the ambush.

Panapan said the motive

of the ambush was extortion.

Soler Undug, DPWH-ARMM Basilan district head, revealed the Abu Sayyaf bandits had threatened to harm the DPWH-ARMM workers if and when they would not give in to their demands.

Uy said the bandits �led towards northeast direction after they ambush the dump truck of the DPWH-ARMM. (PNA)

he Davao City Police Of�ice has lobbied for the support of the City Council to support its position paper to expand the DCPO, according to police director S/Supt. Alexander Tagum on Tuesday.

Tagum said the position paper addressed to the PNP’s national headquarters and the National Police Commission needed the endorsement of the Sanguniang Panglungsod.

“The suggestion from higher headquarters is to get the endorsement of the city council, the city peace and or-

der council and the regional peace and order council,” said S/Supt. Alexander Tagum.

He said that Councilor Mabel Acosta assured him the she will be supporting DCPO in the request of addition police force for the city.

He said that it about time to increase the number of police station in the city because the current number of police station is outdated.

“I think it’s about time, kay ang karaang sistema ang karaang set-up sa Davao City Police

TAGUM,P10

Foreigners reminded 2 gov’t workers killed, 2 others hurt in Basilan to make annual report

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wo government employees were killed while two others were wounded in an ambush staged by the Abu Sayyaf bandits along the circumferential road in Basilan province, of�icials reported Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed that the ambush happened at around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Ba-

T

he Bureau of Immigration reminded anew registered foreigners in the country to proceed to any �ield of�ice of the agency and make their annual report on or before March 1.

In a statement Wednesday, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente warned those who fail to comply may be meted a �ine or prosecuted for violating

the country’s alien registration law.

He said that the period for the annual report was non-extendible.

At the same time, Morente advised foreigners who had not yet made the report not to wait for the deadline rush in order to avoid inconvenience.

He also encouraged aliens to report and remit their pay-

FOREIGNERS,P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

NEWS 3

PH, SKor want closer trade and infra links S outh Korea aims to strengthen its cooperation with the Philippines to partner with the Duterte administration’s infrastructure projects as well as to boost two-way trade between the two nations.

In a press conference Tuesday, Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul Hernandez said there are huge opportunities for Korean companies in the country, especially at this time when the government focuses on its Build, Build, Build Program.

Hernandez said the Philippine government is aggressive on its mission to inform Korean �irms on their potentials in investing in the country as massive infrastructure projects are in the pipeline.

“We are trying to make sure that Koreans will be able to participate in this infrastructure bonanza,” the Philippine envoy to Korea noted.

ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) Secretary General Kim Youn-sun said that the South Korean delegation visiting

the Philippines went to Clark Monday, looking at opportunities in Clark Freeport Zone, particularly the New Clark City project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Kim added that South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been pushing for the “New Southern Policy”, which aims to strengthen Korea’s relations with Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines.

He noted that South Korea coined a new term for “VIP”, which stands for Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines as countries which can offer huge potential for the East Asian nation.

He said Moon’s new policy also emphasized infrastructure projects in areas of transportation, energy, information and communications technology, and water management, among others.

Kim added that South Korea and the Philippines can cooperate on value-adding industries and digital economy.

(PNA)

Palace insists Carandang still has to respond to suspension order

M

ANILA -- Malacanang on Wednesday maintained that Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang has to �ile his answer on a 90day preventive suspension slapped against him by the Of�ice of the President (OP).

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made this reaction following Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales’ refusal to implement the suspension order against Carandang.

“The Of�ice of the President has given Overall Dep-

uty Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang 10 days to �ile his answer on the “Resolution and Order,” Roque said in a press statement.

Roque insisted that it is “incumbent upon” Carandang to submit his answer within the 10-day period which is set to end on February 9.

“After the lapse of the period provided, the Of�ice of the President shall decide on the matter,” Roque explained.

The Of�ice of the Executive Secretary had charged and suspended Carandang

PALACE,P10

DIRECT FLIGHTS. AirSwift Transport commercial head Rolando V. Nuñez (right) and commercial manager April Peachy Payumo (center) entertain inquiries from a travel agent during Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) sales mission held at Waterfront

NOT ONE TO SKIP OVER. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio orders the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to conduct an investigation on the alleged mauling by policemen of three minors on January

21. The mayor on Tuesday said appropriate sanction shall be meted out if the policemen involved are found to have violated rules on apprehension. Lean Daval Jr

CTO bares 36% hike in business permits

By JUDIE VEGA

T

he City Treasurer’s Office revealed a significant increase of 36 percent collection from business permit renewals for the period January 2 to 20, 2018.

Business Bureau of�icer-in-charge attorney Marissa Torentera said on Tuesday that the of�ice has recorded P1.2 billion of collection.

The business per-

mit renewal period was conducted on Jan. 2-20 on two locations that served as one-stop shops.

According to the data provided by the business bu-

Insular Hotel Davao on Wednesday. AirSwift Transport announced on Wednesday that it will launch an El Nido-Davao direct flight on March and a Davao-El Nido direct flight on May. Lean Daval Jr

reau, for the same period last year a total of 40, 499 registered businesses with combined capitalization of P272 billion. This increased from 39,000 businesses, which had total capitalization of P230 billion in 2016.

Torentera said that there are also a total of 56 new business establishments that were able to acquire new business permits.

She said that the agency

has recorded almost 20,000 businesses had completed their business permit renewal process.

“By the end of the entire business permit renewal and application this month, the business bureau targets a total of 45,000 business permit applicants both for renewal and new applicants,” On the same data reveled in

olice in Maguindanao joined a massive manhunt against an education executive whose staff house in North Cotabato yielded about P500,000 worth shabu and high powered guns during an anti-drug operation Monday dawn.

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police director, said that Maguindanao police agents were now coordinating with the relatives of Dr. Samson Molao, president of the government-run Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST) for his peaceful surrender.

Levi Ortiz, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Special Enforcement Services, said that

it would be better for Molao to show up peacefully than continue hiding.

“It would be best for the school president to voluntarily surrender to PDEA or any government security agency as he can have his lawyers,” Ortiz told reporters in an interview.

Ortiz did not say whether a timetable was set for Molao’s surrender.

Ortiz led a team of PDEA agents from the ARMM and Region 12 in serving the search warrants issued against Molao at 3 a.m. Monday inside the CFCST compound where his staff house was located.

Molao was not around during the raid. He remained at large as of Wednesday.

CTO,P10

College president object of manhunt P

COLLEGE,P11

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

PH-India ties to yield opportunities for firms

A

TRAIN-WISE. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) group supervisor Vilma Arendain (left) and revenue officer Cherry Mae Santos say the agency is currently conducting seminars and trainings to BIR personnel for the new adjusted income tax rates and updated tax reform

under ‘Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN). They also urged the public during Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza mall to participate in consultations and briefings so they’ll fully understand the dynamics of TRAIN. Lean Daval Jr

BIR targets P20.35-B tax collection in Davao T

he Bureau of Internal Revenue in Davao Region has set its sight in collecting P20.35 billion in taxes by end of 2018.

BIR regional director Nuzar Balatero told reporters on Tuesday that the proposed 2018 target is higher by 11 percent compared with P18.1 billion in tax revenues collected in 2017.

He said the bureau collected P18.2 billion in the region last year, surpassing its P18.1 billion target by a slim margin.

Balatero said target collec-

tion has yet to be approved by the interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), composed of the Secretary of Budget and Management as chair; the Director-General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretariat as co-chair; and the Executive Secretary, Secretary of Finance and the Governor of the Cen-

tral Bank of the Philippines, as members.

It’s the DBCC, which recommends to the President the level of annual government expenditures and the ceiling of government spending for economic and social development, national defense, and government debt service; proper allocation of expenditures for each development activity between current operating expenditures and capital outlays; and amount set to be allocated for capital outlays broken down into the various capital or infrastructure proj-

ects.

Balatero urged business entities in the region to pay the correct taxes while, at the same time, warned erring taxpayers of closure through Oplan Kandado if they under-declare their tax dues.

He said there would be more businesses that will face closure in the coming days, following the closure of Café Demitasse, a homegrown coffee shop located on F. Torres St. in Davao City.

Balatero said they need to step up their collections

T

be funded both by the local and national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Senate President Aquilino Martin Pimentel III has also committed to help seek for additional funding, Pacuribot

added. He explained that the city government could not afford to �inance the project on its own.

Pacuribot said the city government would need to shell out an equity of P60 million for the four-deck fourdeck structure, based on ini-

tial studies. He expected the project to start within the year if the city could obtain the additional funding.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro traf�ic czar Nonito Oclarit said the city would continue to implement traf�ic decon-

he government needs to enhance mechanisms for �inancing post-disaster reconstruction in the country amid the frequency of occurrence of natural disasters and climate change, said the state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Deanna Villacin, Tatum Ramos and Marife Ballesteros, consultant, former research assistant and vice

president, respectively, at PIDS, said natural disasters in the country have had recorded post-disaster reconstruction needs of about PHP32 billion in the last decade.

“If not effectively managed, such �inancial requirement can have adverse impact on government �iscal position and consequently to development planning and economic growth,” they said in a policy note.

The study found that while the current post-disaster �inancing instruments of the government may cover for less-costly recurring events, they will be inadequate to meet the needs to address medium to severe events.

To address this, the authors urged the government to enhance its ex ante �inancing mechanisms, especially in improving existing indemni-

ty-based insurance programs as “the threat of natural disasters becomes more evident”.

The study noted the government has already been integrating more ex ante mechanisms, such as contingent credit lines and parametric insurance.

It also underscored the need to reduce funds allocated to damaged private properties.

BIR,P11

CDO to build P60M park facility in 2018

he city government will build a four-storey parking building at Divisoria, the city’s oldest commercial center, to relieve vehicle congestion in the downtown area.

City Engineer Rolando Pacuribot said the project would

CDO,P11

Need to improve financing for post-disaster infra urged

T

NEED,P11

ranking of�icial of HSBC Philippines is optimistic on the heightened economic tie-up between the Philippines and India, citing that more opportunities have opened up for Filipino businessmen who are into manufacturing and construction.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte was in India last week for a bilateral meeting with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He was accompanied by some economic managers, who reported securing about USD 1.25 billion-worth of investment pledges and agreements from at least nine top Indian companies.

In a brie�ing Tuesday, HSBC Philippines President and CEO Wick Veloso said Philippines-based manufacturing companies, for one, should take advantage of India’s large economy and population to promote their products.

He said the Philippines imported medicines and technology-related items from India but the country could also increase the products it sold in the world’s third largest economy.

He said HSBC of�icials were now in talks with some of their clients for possible opening of manufacturing operations in India, noting that this was the strategy of some local conglomerates in recent years.

“It’s a very huge corridor that we want to look into,” he said pointing out that base of this strategy for Filipino businesses is “very low.”

“The trip of the President will cement further interaction between the business community in India and the Philippines …Cemented over a long period of time,” he said.

Aside from businesses, the government’s infrastructure program called Build, Build, Build also got a boost from this increased cooperation, he said.

The current administration has an infrastructure program amounting to at least PHP8 trillion until 2022 and if all the projects will push through existing local construction �irms will not be able to meet the demand, thus, the need for augmentation from Indian companies, among others. (PNA)

PLDT Alpha, SM Store partner to deploy cashless payments

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anuary 31, 2018 — Leading ICT and digital services provider PLDT Enterprise—through its corporate business group, PLDT ALPHA—and Voyager Innovations, Inc. enable The SM Store to elevate their customer service delivery by furnishing all 59 nationwide branches with PayMaya’s cashless payment solution.

While digitalization continues to disrupt the retail landscape, SM Store President Chelo Monasterio says that they take pride in their ability to adapt to technology to keep their business at the forefront—with PLDT ALPHA being their most trusted provider.

“We have had a long partnership with PayMaya and PLDT [...] so this recent collaboration is but a progression of that partnership.

We look forward to areas we can [further] collaborate with for Filipinos world-

wide,” Monasterio said.

The cashless payments scheme, which was made available last December, works in partial ful�ilment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ mandate to accelerate �inancial technology and electronic transactions by 20% in 2020.

PLDT Inc., Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan shared his enthusiasm for the initiative saying, “We’re excited to work with like-minded companies such as SM in innovating on the retail shopping experience with the help of our payment technologies.”

Further, the deployment of the solution is part of the comprehensive strategy designed by PLDT ALPHA in ensuring the successful and seamless digital transformation of The SM Store, their longtime partner.

“PLDT ALPHA Enterprise is honored to be SM’s

PLDT,P11

Chairman & CEO of PLDT Inc. Manuel V. Pangilinan (3rd from right) together with (L-R) FVP & Head of PLDT ALPHA Vic Tria, SM Retail EVP Ricky Lim, The SM Store President Chelo Monasterio, Voyager Innovations, Inc. President & CEO Orlando Vea, Voyager Innovations, Inc. Paolo Azzola

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

ECONOMY 5

Mactan operator wants to develop Davao airport G

MR Megawide Corp, private operator of Mactan Cebu International Airport, is interested to partner with the government in developing the Francisco Bangoy International Airport and other airport projects.

GMR Megawide Corp chief executive advisor Andrew Aquaah Harrison said “we are very interested in participating in such projects as we believe we bring signi�icant expertise that will support the government in delivering infrastructure development plan.”

GMCAC held yesterday a sales mission that was partici-

pated by various international airlines at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao (WIHD).

Harrison in an interview said the sales mission aims to see and analyze the market as well as the capability of the airlines and tour operators and to really understand what kind of demand and know where the people want to travel.

Harrison said the event

is all about the company connecting with travel agents and recruitment and travel industry airlines in the city as well as help people understand the advantages of connecting and �lying into the country through Cebu.

“Davao is the �irst of many cities when we started with and Davao is very important city because it is the third bus-

regions and provide the PPP Center a regional presence.

The knowledge corners will serve as information hubs on PPPs, where local government units (LGUs), government implementing agencies and other stakeholders can get accurate and updated information and knowledge on PPPs including access to all PPP Center’s services to help them develop and implement bankable PPP projects.

“We recognize the essential role that PPPs will play to support the success of the government’s Build Build Build

program. One of the recent strategic thrusts of the PPP program is focused on project development at the local level or at the LGUs,” Pernia said during the signing ceremony.

Pernia also acknowledged the collaborative work of the PPP Center under Undersecretary Pecson and the NEDA Regional Development Of�ice, headed by Undersecretary Adoracion M. Navarro, for laying the groundwork in operationalizing the establishment of PPP knowledge corners.

For his part, PPP Center

NEDA, PPP Center set up reg’l knowledge corners

A

s part of the government’s ongoing efforts to boost development in the regions, the National Economic and Development Authority headed by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and Public-Private Partnership Center Executive Director Ferdinand A. Pecson signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) jointly setting up PPP Knowledge Corners in 15 NEDA Regional Of�ices across the country.

This move will help step up the uptake of PPPs in the

iest airport in the Philippines and in terms of population it is a sizable population therefore it is a market for us,” he said.

The sales mission also created opportunity for GMCAC and participating airlines such as Air Swift, Cebu Paci�ic, Philippines Airlines, Philippine Air Asia, China Eastern, Emirates, and Eva Air to update the attendees on the latest infrastructure developments in Mactan Cebu International AIrport (MCIA) and promote connections via Cebu.

“I am optimistic that we

have such market in every city because if you look at the geographical spread of Filipinos all over the world they come in every part of the Philippines and to get to that part of the world they must be �lown from somewhere in the Philippines.

So it is not a question whether there is a market here; it’s just a question of whether that market will �ly to Cebu or not,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the Philippines has a lot to offer to tourists from all over the world and tourists are increasingly

exploring more of the world around them.

“It’s just a question of �inding that market and we realize the ease of connectivity through Cebu,” he said, With the opening of the Terminal 2 in June this year and the launch of new �lights out of Cebu, MCIA is eyeing an 11.2-million passenger traf�ic this year. GMCAC projects an average of 12-percent increase in its passenger arrivals compared with 2017 �igures.

“Last year, we were han-

MACTAN,P11

NEDA,P11

Infra buildup goes full swing

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Build, build, build program in high gear

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said he expects the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program to shift to high gear starting this year with the rollout of the �irst set of big-ticket infrastructure projects and the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion that will help support this infra buildup.

He said funding support from the additional revenues to be raised from the TRAIN will be complemented by concessional �inancing packages from the Philippines’ development partners, which would be well managed to ensure �iscal stability given the country’s declining debt-to-GDP ratio.

“I am sure the projects that have been planned for the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) are going to go into high gear

now that we have basically our capital already, our own funding for our portion of these projects,” Dominguez said, referring to the recent implementation of the TRAIN. “And I guess this will also encourage the multilateral agencies and the other funding agencies to increase their lending to us,” he added.

Dominguez noted the expansion of the Clark International Airport in Pampanga through the construction of a new, state-of-the-art passenger terminal has already broken ground in a record 18 months from the time President Duterte assumed of�ice, while the implementation of the PNR North 2 project that will connect Metro Manila to the Clark airport and eventually to the PNR South Commuter Rail in Los Banos, Laguna is set to start later this year, among other

big-ticket infra projects that will commence in 2018.

“Let me just point out that our debt as a percentage of our GDP has been on a steady decline. When we took over, it was something like 43 percent. Even though we borrowed more during the interim from when the time this new administration took over, the debt as a percentage of GDP is now just slightly over 41 percent. And we can see that declining over the years,” the �inance chief said.

According to Dominguez, about a fourth of the capital needed for the government’s P8.44 trillion infrastructure modernization program will come from TRAIN revenues, while the rest will be funded by Of�icial Development Assistance ODA) loans.

Beltran said “in the

INFRA,P11

FRESH FROM THE OVEN. Chef Pauline Benedicto-Malilin poses with her signature cakes, mango brûlée and lemon happy, and freshly baked original silvanas and durian sylvanas during the media

launch of Patok sa Manok Tulip Drive branch on Tuesday. Patok sa Manok’s newest branch will officially open its door to the public on Friday. Lean Daval Jr

Skyway revives old toll payment scheme

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kyway has returned to its old toll payment scheme after motorists complained of heavy traf�ic caused by the opening of its new runway toll plaza and payment scheme.

Effective 10 p.m. Tuesday, Skyway has temporarily

reverted to its old “pay as you enter” scheme for private vehicles coming from Alabang, Sucat, and Bicutan.

Only Class 2 vehicles, such as buses and delivery vans, will be required to utilize the Runway Toll Plaza for cash payments.

Skyway O&M Corp. apologized for any inconvenience caused by the new system and appealed for understanding from the public.

“As always, we continue to adjust to our motorists’ needs and that includes ex-

SKY,P11

6 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

CA defers confirmation of DOH chief Duque

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ANILA -- The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday deferred the appointment of Franciso Duque III as Health Secretary to “give more time to questioning.”

Senator Gringo Honasan, chair of the CA committee on Health, told reporters that the commission needed more time to assess the health chief’s plans in the department.

“The fact na sinuspend means we want to think of his responses to our questions.

I’m not prepared to say okay na, satis�ied ang commission (The fact that the hearing was suspended means we want to think of his response to our questions. I’m not prepared to say it’s okay, the commission is satis�ied),” Honasan told reporters after Duque’s con�irmation hearing.

Honasan said it was not really because of “oppositors” or the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia issue.

However, he said the committee “de�initely wanted to know” more about the agency’s efforts to address the Dengvaxia issue, data and information management, and accreditation of health experts.

“There are still issues

that need to be processed and studied - nothing to do so much with the oppositors. DOH and the Secretary (Duque) have tremendous manpower and other resources at their discretion and disposal. Mabigat na responsibilidad yan kaya ang thinking ng commission, dahan-dahan, deliberate. Nothing to do also with the Dengvaxia issue,” he added.

Honasan said he wanted to know how Duque would “proactively” address these issues.

“Mabuti nga at may time si Secretary Duque (This is good so Secretary Duque will have time) to process all this so he can respond accordingly.

‘Ma�ia’ allegations During his con�irmation hearing, Duque denied the existence of any ma�ia in the agency before the committee, saying there is “no evidence nor documents that would point to the existence of ma�ia in the DOH.” Other health of�icials including Health Undersecretary Carolino Taino and Director Lauriano Cruz also slammed claims that there was an existing ma�ia in the agency.

CA,P11

LTFRB reschedules TNVS applications to March 5

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ANILA -- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has delayed the applications of new transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) units from February 5 to March 5.

This after Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered a review of the LTFRB’s memorandum which imposed a common supply base for TNVS units at 45,700 nationwide.

DOTr would create a team to evaluate the number of request bookings per day and the number of served and unserved rides of transportation network companies (TNCs).

The transportation department and LTFRB will start monitoring within the next few weeks the number of booking requests received

by TNCs. This will include served and unserved requests as well as other factors affecting the supply of TNVS such as number coding, maintenance schedules, and working hours of drivers.

Such will determine an objective number for the common supply base which will be based also on the of�icial list of accredited TNVS from Grab, Uber and U-Hop. For its part, Grab is ap-

pealing to the LTFRB that the cap on the TNVS units be increased to 75,000 as setting a limit would hamper their ability to deliver transport services to their passengers.

“I think 75,000 would be the number of unique drivers on the road right now.

So yung lumabas na 45,000 medyo nagulat kami (So we were shocked when LTFRB came up with a 45,000 supply cap on TNVS),” Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu said in a press brie�ing held in Quezon City Tuesday.

Cu further said that LTFRB should consider using its master list of active drivers to be prioritized during the applications.

Under LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2018-003, the common base of 45,700 TNVS units is broken down as follows: Metro Manila -- 45,000 TNVS units Metro Cebu -- 500 TNVS units Pampanga -- 200 TNVS units The cap on TNVS units was determined from relevant data given by the leading TNCs, taking into consideration churning rate, percentage of full-time and part-time TNVS, peak and offpeak hours and average daily bookings. (PNA)

FISH FEEDING. One of the mysteries of the Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, are the “uncatchable” large seawater fish that

swim the river. Visitors can take a glimpse of these fish during the fish feeding. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

Duterte still studying SSS contribution hike: Palace M

ANILA -- Malacanang on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte is still studying the proposal of the Social Security System (SSS) to increase monthly contribution rate of its members.a “Until the President does not make the executive order, the President is still thinking and studying that (request),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in media interview.

SSS President Emmanuel F. Dooc had reportedly submitted a written request to the President to issue an executive order that would allow the state pension fund to increase

monthly contribution from current 11 percent to 14 percent beginning April this year.

“The evidence that the President is convinced to impose higher premium is when he issues the executive order. So, right now, the SSS request is still being studied,” Roque explained.

Dooc has explained that the increase in the monthly contribution rate was needed to improve the viability

of the fund since increase would mean additional collection of PHP45 billion.

Duterte approved in January last year a PHP2,000 across-the-board increase in monthly pensions for retired private workers.

At present, SSS monthly contribution rate is 11 percent with 7.37 percent being shouldered by the employer and 3.63 percent being deducted from the employee’s salary. (PNA)

Garcia came under scrutiny during the joint hearing of the House committee on transportation and committee on public works and highways, which dealt with railway safety and related issues.

Alvarez said Garcia, a retired police general,

had no real experience in the operations and maintenance of a train system, stressing his failure to solve the MRT-3 woes even after a year since he took over.

“Nilagay ka dyan para ayusin mo yung problema. Ngayon yung expe-

rience mo pala member ka lang ng board. Wala ka naming experience sa operation (You were appointed there to �ix the problem. Now, your experience is being a member of the board, but you don’t have any experience in

people of Albay.

“It is in this regard that we would like to appeal for your generosity. We need 750 plastic sheets (4mx6m), 7,500 pieces of timber (2 x 2 x 8), and 1,000 pieces of marine plywood (#1/2). For a duplex tent, we shall need PHP13,000 to set up everything,” he said.

“We have been blessed with good things. Let the recent Mt. Mayon activities be a ‘witnessing’ opportunity for us to reach out to the most vulnerable and marginalized.

The affected families in Albay urgently need our collective-

ly intervention,” the NASSA/ Caritas head added.

At the same time, the Catholic prelate is also asking the local government and the Catholic Church to use available open spaces as temporary shelter for those affected by the calamity.

“The Diocese of Legazpi and NASSA/Caritas are advocating the use of open spaces owned by the local government units and the Catholic Church, to be converted as ‘tent cities’. As such, the Caritas organization will be constructing tents and provide digni�ied temporary shelters

to at least 500 families,” he said.

“Communal water and sanitation facilities will be the counterpart of other partners while labor will be from the Department of Labor and Employment’s cashfor-work program,” the Archbishop of Caceres added.

Thousands of people have been evacuated due to the continuing activities of Mayon Volcano.

The government, the Church and the private sector continue to provide assistance to the affected people, particularly in Albay. (PNA)

Alvarez questions competence of MRT-3 chief

M

ANILA -- Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday questioned the competence of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager Rodolfo Jazmines Garcia as recurring glitches plague the crumbling train system.

ALVAREZ,P11

Faithful urged to donate tent materials for Mayon evacuees

M

ANILA -- The social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the faithful to give donations, particularly plastic sheets and plywood, to create tent cities in an effort to decongest evacuation centers for people affected by Mayon Volcano’s eruptions.

In his solidarity appeal, Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/ Caritas national director, asked the faithful for their compassion and help the

7 SUBURBIA RISING

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

TINUY-AN FALLS. This is how the famous Tinuy-an Falls, touted to be the Niagara Falls of the Philippines, looks like in the early morning when no one dares to swim in its cold waters. Fog envelops some parts of the falls as strong winds carries some droplets to whoever comes to see its beauty. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

4 illegal drug suppliers nabbed in Zamboanga

Z

AMBOANGA CITY -- Joint police and military operatives have arrested four alleged suppliers and seized some PhP200,000 worth of illegal drugs just outside a police camp in this city, the police reported Wednesday.

Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Of�ice-9 (PRO9) information of�icer, identi�ied the arrested suspects as Al-Sadap Julkanain, 27; Ayesha Julkanain, 37; Armida Aylani, 30; and Noriya Maani.

Galvez said they were arrested in a buy-bust operation at around 5 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Zone 1, this city.

She said the suspects are known suppliers of illegal

drugs in the PC compound area in Barangay Zone 1 and nearby barangays.

The community earned its name as PC compound area since it is just located outside Camp Gen. Eduardo Batalla that then houses the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP) regional command headquarters in Barangay Zone 1.

Camp Batalla now houses the different national support units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) such as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), PNP Anti-Cyber Crime Group, Highway Patrol Group and others. (PNA)

Displaced families in Marawi moved to transitional shelters

M

ARAWI CITY -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday led the distribution of 400 certificates of acceptance and occupancy of transitional shelters to residents left homeless by the five-month battle between government troops and local terrorist groups last year.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman, together with national and local of�icials, witnessed the ceremony held at the site of the temporary resettlement in Barangay Sagonsongan here, some 4 km. away from the city proper.

Marcelino Escalada Jr., general manager of the National Housing Authority, in his report said a total of 1,149 families displaced by last year’s �ighting were expected to transfer to the temporary shelters in March this year.

“The government will turn

over 10 to 20 housing units every two weeks until we completely deliver the 1,149 units in March,” he said, adding that what they would be building at the site were not only houses but a community itself.

The 11-hectare township will have school buildings, madrasah, houses with kitchen and washroom, wet and dry market, mosque, water supply and a multi-purpose hall.

“We assure you that the government will always be there for the people of Marawi,” Duterte said. “Let’s build a community for our children.”

The construction of the

temporary shelters is part of Task Force Bangon Marawi’s recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation program for the city.

“I am happy now that we have a new home,” Jariya Dia, recipient of a housing unit, said in the vernacular. “My only problem now is how to convince my children to come back here and live once more in Marawi.”

Since the siege broke out, Dia and her �ive children stayed at an evacuation center in Iligan City. Her home was among those destroyed by the local terror group in Barangay Marinaut West – one of the villages inside ground zero.(PR/BPI-ARMM)

the 23rd ARMM People’s Day, the agency said Wednesday.

Construction of social infrastructure forms part of the “Kalilintad sa Kanggilupa” project of DAR-ARMM under the Humanitarian Development Assistance Program (ARMM-HDAP).

The socialized housing is under the social infrastructure component while the warehouse and solar dryer are under the agricultural enterprise development component of the said program.

Completion of these proj-

ects is seen to revitalize the community and uproot the agrarian reform bene�iciaries of Mamasapano from the mishap caused by armed con�lict and other man-made calamities.

These projects, which were awarded to the most deserving and impoverished ARBs, would not only provide for the household welfare of the ARBs but enhance their agricultural productivity as well.

The ceremonial turn-over was led by the ARMM Execu-

tive Secretary Laisa Masuhud Alamia, DAR-ARMM Secretary Dayang Carlsum Sangkula-Jumaide, and Mamasapano Mayor Tahirodin Benzar A. Ampatuan.

One of the bene�iciaries could hardly �ind words to describe his feeling after receiving one of the housing unit.

“Thank you very much, now my family has a house we can proudly call a home,” said a teary-eyed Udasan H. Abdulkadir, recipient of the socialized housing, in Maguindanaon dialect.(PNA)

Duterte assures compensation of Army camp landowners Maguindanao ARBs get new housing units, post-harvest facilities

M

ARAWI CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte has assured affected landowners in the planned construction of a new Army camp they will receive due compensation.

In his visit to this city Tuesday, Duterte gave the assurance as the affected land is located within a military reservation.

“I’m planning to set up a camp here, but I will pay you,” the President said during his visit to the temporary shelter site in Barangay Sagonsongan in this city, referring to the affected residents who will be uprooted once the construction

of the camp starts.

Military of�icials said the new camp will be established on a 10-hectare lot in Barangay Kapantaran, where the old city hall complex is located, and will cost the government P400 million.

Currently, Marawi hosts Campo Ranao, home of the Philippine Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, a unit of the First Infantry Division.

Campo Ranao has been an essential military installation, providing logistics and other support to the soldiers �ighting the extremists at the height of the Marawi siege last year. (Jigger J. Jerusalem/PNA)

M

AMASAPANO, Maguindanao -- Poor residents here, stunned by the so-called Mamasapano tragedy three years ago, are now bene�iciaires off direct government aid coursed through the Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAR-ARMM).

Through the DAR-ARMM, 16 socialized housing, a warehouse and a solar drier were awarded to Agrarian Reform Bene�iciaries (ARBs) of Mamasapano during the conduct of

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

EDITORIAL

ML no effect on investors

T

he implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao did not dampen investments in the island region, particularly Davao City.

The City Information Of�ice, citing Jet Yu, founder and managing director of PRIME Philippines as source, underscored this fact in a press statement released Monday.

The statement quoted Yu as saying that Martial Law has “minimal to no effect” on business in Davao City in particular, and the whole island of Mindanao in general.

The prognosis was arrived at during the business forum hosted days before by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and real estate �irm PRIME Philippines.

The forum was dubbed the “Mindanao Business Brie�ing: Updates on Security Situation, Business Resiliency and Optimism” held last January 23 at Seda Hotel, Davao City.

“Martial Law has minimal to no effect on the gross sales of residential condominiums in Davao City,” said Jet Yu, whose company monitors the behavior of the real estate industry through surveys and actual interviews with industry players.

He noted the increase in hotel gross sales in Davao City to 100 percent in December from only 25 percent in August.

“Hotel gross sales in Davao City have increased by 25 to 100 percent from August to December 2017 after experiencing 10 to 25 percent decrease a few months after the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao,” Yu said.

In a speech read for her by Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) head Lemuel Ortonio, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in the same forum commended the ECCP and PRIME

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Philippines for choosing the city as one of the event venues.

“Today we will hear the testimonies of resiliency amid security challenges among business champions, encouraging us to continue the advancement of our economic prosperity in Mindanao particularly in Davao City,” Mayor Inday said.

The optimism expressed by speakers during the forum is supported strongly by the development of several projects that had commenced despite the proclamation of Martial Law in Mindanao. These included a mixed community development, a condominium project with an international �ive-star hotel accommodation and other world-class residences.

Among these investments are the Dusit Thani Residence Davao by the Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TDLC), which topped off in November last year and the P20-billion Azuela Cove by the Aviana Dev’t. Corp, a joint venture of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and the Alcantara and Sons (Alsons) Group.

St. Luke’s Hospital is a con�irmed locator at the Cove. Data from the Davao City Tourism Operations Of�ice also showed that the city’s tourist arrival has increased by 10 percent from 464,985 during the third quarter of 2016 to 511,228 during the same period in 2017.

“When I think of Davao’s resilience, I think of the Mindanao malong. It is only when all these colors are in harmony that the thread creates a beautiful pattern in the same way that the efforts of the government, the private sector, foreign investors and the public have altogether made the city an ideal investment destination in the Philippines,” Mayor Inday said.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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EDGEDAVAO

T

he ASEAN 2017, which coincided with the 50th founding year of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Paci�ic Economic Conference (APEC) 2017 in Vietnam, was primarily a convergence of some of the famous world leaders.

Buried under the hectic schedule of meetings that come with any global conferences is the little-appreciated detail the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), where the events are held, was a legacy of Marcosian rule; it was built in 1974.

Chie�ly, the PICC became the face of the country’s urban and regional planning during Martial Law and, until now, remains an important landmark for global gatherings It’s a little known fact that it was President Ferdinand E. Marcos who actually put on fast track the urban development of the country. On June 11, 1978, he signed Presidential Decree No. 1517, which of�icially proclaimed urban land reform in the Philippines. A revisit of the edict would show seven reasons for its adoption under his concept of New Society, namely: “{It] is declared objective of the New Society to effect social, economic and political reforms attuned to the establishment of a secure national community and to an im-

A

n “unconsciousness from which the person can be aroused by sensory or other stimuli.” That’s how science de�ines sleep.

A night’s sleep consists of four or �ive cycles, each of which progresses through several stages. During the night, a person alternatives between slow-wave sleep, also called nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The entire cycle of slow-wave sleep and REM takes about 90 minutes. The entire cycle of slowwave sleep and REM takes about 90 minutes.

“Sleep is a natural period within every 24 hours when the body repairs itself, tests its systems, consolidates memory, purges itself of cellular waste, and stockpiles energy for the day ahead,” explain Charles B. Inlander and Cynthia K. Moran in their book, 67 Ways to Good Sleep. “On average, humans spend about a third of their lives asleep, or about 205,000 hours in a 70-year lifetime.”

Diane Hales, author of How to Sleep Like a Baby, explains that when you sleep, “you are not motionless like a car in a garage. (Sleep) is an altered form of consciousness, when muscles tense and relax, your pulse, like the temperature and blood pressure, rises and falls, the brain works, and chemicals course through the bloodstream.”

According to sleep experts, approximately a third of a person’s lifetime is spent in the Land of Nod. Because of this, they urge that more attention should be given to this matter of sleep. “Between the ages of 20 and 70,” writes Don Hawley, author of Smell a Few Flowers, “you will likely spend more than 15 full years in bed! If you’re one of those who never quite rested, the statistic may be hard to

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

VANTAGE POINTS

‘Golden age of infrastructure’

proved quality of life for all citizens and for all others who may sojourn our shores; “[The] quality of human life in our times is inescapably determined by the relationship among population, resources, the environment, and intelligent policies; “[H]uman settlement is an integrative concept embracing the interdependence of man’s environment, human shelters and structures, and the design and organization of human communities consistent with a national framework plan, all for the people’s security and well-being. “[L]and is the ultimate platform of all man’s activities, and the crucial factor in determining the shape of human settlements; “[The] basic law of the land explicitly provides for the regulation of the acquisition, ownership, use, enjoyment and disposition of private property and for the equitable diffusion of property ownership and pro�its which includes land and land resources; “[The] traditional concept of landownership has aggravated the problem arising from urbanization such as the proliferation of blighted areas and the worsening of the plight of the urban poor and has spawned valid and legitimate grievances in urban centers giving rise to social tension and violent con�licts; believe.”

Perhaps the most common question is: “How much sleep do I need each night?”

Well, no one can provide a pat answer as each person differs in needs. Some people function on �ive hours’ sleep a night; others just can’t make it on less than nine or 10. The average seems to be about seven to eight hours.

Some people don’t care whether they sleep much or little. American actress Cloris Leachman sleeps only three or four hours a night because she has “so many things to do.” The only performer to win an Oscar for playing an actress of not getting the top prize often starts her day at 4:30 a.m., works until 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., then goes out. When she �inally gets home, she plays the piano or reads before bed.

Japanese philosopher George Ohsawa, the founder of macrobiotics, slept no more than four hours a night. There was a time that he slept only two hours. Said one of his students, explaining why Ohsawa died at age 74 of a heart attack, “That’s stressful, and stress, as we know, is not good for the heart.”

Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, was said to get by on only three or four hours of sleep. Sometimes, he would wake at three in the morning and would dictate to his secretary until dawn, snapping impatiently at the sleepy aide, “What’s the matter with you?

You’re sleeping on your feet.”

Insomnia is how the medical science calls the problem of sleeplessness. Insomnia is a symptom – “not a disease,” declares Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, bestselling author of The Best Treatment. “No one is born destined to become an insomniac,” he explains.

Like any other symptom (pain, itch,

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa “[A] social reform objective is the New Society is to renew blighted areas, improve the conditions of the urban poor and resolve and redress legitimate grievances arising therefrom, while at the same providing incentives to progressive landowners and developers…”

Marcos’ grand design to achieve a ‘golden age of infrastructure’ in the country started right after he assumed the presidency as a result of winning the November 1965 na-

And so to sleep

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

cough, fever), there’s always a reason of your inability to fall asleep, the most common being something psychological – you’re either worried, anxious, fearful, depressed, or excited. Or, you may be perfectly content, but your sleep environment is at fault – your bedroom is too hot, too cold, or poorly ventilated; your bed is too short the mattress is bad for your back.

Or, you may have developed bad bedtime habits, like trying to catch up on your un�inished of�ice correspondence before turning out the lights; working out on your rowing machine; smoking that last cigarette of the day (the nicotine will keep you awake); even your sex habits can cause insomnia – it soothes most of us, but overstimulates others.

Can’t sleep? Then don’t go to bed. “If there’s one recommendation I would make for insomnia, it’s to delay bedtime by an hour, maybe two hours,” says Dr. Edward Stepanski,

9

tional elections.

Hoppler, a real estate blog, provides some of the structural landmarks built and associated with the Marcos regime, namely: Cultural Center of the Philippines was created under Executive Order No. 30 s.

1966, and is found inside a 62-hectare complex in Pasay and Manila. It opened on September 8, 1969. On the other hand, the Folk Arts Theater, or the Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas was inaugurated on July 7, 1974. It has ten sections and an amphitheatre with a seating capacity 8,458.

The National Arts Center or Makiling Center for the Arts at Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, was established in 1976 in ar 13.5 hectares of the Makiling Forest Reservation. Nayong Pilipino was originally built in 1969 in a 32-acre theme park near the NAIA. It features scaled-down replicas of top tourist destinations and highlights Filipino creativity in arts and crafts. In 2006, it was moved to Clark as a major attraction of the Centennial Expo.

The People’s Park in the Sky was built in 1981 as guest house. Located within the park is The Shrine of Our Lady, Mother of Fair Love and a Doppler weather radar station. Originally known as Philippine Heart Center for Asia, the Philippine Heart Center

in Quezon City was established through PD No. 673; it was inaugurated on Feb. 14, 1975. Meanwhile, the Lung Center of the Philippines, created under PD No. 1823, was established on Jan. 16, 1981. A �ire destroyed much of the center on May 16, 1998; it was reopened on March 1, 1999.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute, formerly known as the National Kidney Foundation of the Philippines in Quezon City, was established on January 16, 1981 as tertiary referral hospital. San Juanico Bridge, on the other hand, is the country’s longest. It is a steel girder viaduct built on reinforced concrete piers, and its main span is of an arch-shaped truss design. Its construction started in 1969 and completed four years later.

Two other Marcosian landmarks that need to be cited are the Cultural Center of the Philippines, established through Executive Order No. 30 signed in 1966; it is headed by an 11-member Board of Trustees. The Manila Film Center was built in 1981 and completed a year later. It was constructed to host 1st Manila International Film Festival.

The so-called ‘golden age of infrastructure’, which the Duterte administration has promised to surpass, bene�itted only Luzon, though.

director of the Insomnia Clinic at the Henry Ford Hospital’s Sleep Disorders and Research Center in Detroit, Michigan.

One of the worst practices people follow is to go to bed when they’re really not tired.

“They don’t even feel sleepy, but they think it’s time they should go to bed,” he says. And few events can tighten the tension like lying in the dark, listening to the bathroom faucet drip and wondering why you can’t sleep.

Once you snuggle under the covers, if you don’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up, leave the bedroom and muddle through something mundane. “Don’t sweat it. Go ahead and watch the late show and ride it out,” Dr. Stepanski advises.

Practice good sleep habits. Sleep experts like to rattle off a list of what they call sleep hygiene tips: Don’t use the bedroom for anything but sleep or sex; get up at the same time every morning regardless of when you retire; don’t take naps; exercise in the late afternoon or early evening; don’t go to bed hungry. Most people trying to banish insomnia go down the list, trying each item for a day or two, then discarding it and returning to the old habit.

“They end up concluding that none of these things works, but you really have to try them all simultaneously and give them a chance,” Dr. Stepanski says. “Instant sleep won’t come the very �irst night you skip an evening cup of coffee or go to bed at 1:00 a.m. rather than midnight.”

Learn and practice relaxation techniques.

The harder you try to sleep, the greater the chances are that you’ll end up gnashing your teeth all night rather than stacking some z’s.

That’s why it is important to relax once you’re

in bed. “The one problem with insomnia is that people often concentrate too much on their sleep, and they press too hard,” Dr. Michael Stevenson, clinical director of the North Valley Sleep Disorders Center in California. “The key to successfully falling asleep is to reduce your focus and avoid working yourself into a frenzy.”

Biofeedback exercises, deep breathing, muscle stretches, or yoga may help. Special audiotapes can teach you how to progressively relax your muscles. It may not come easy at �irst, but as Dr. David Neubauer, of the Johns Hopkins University Sleep Disorders Center, “It’s like dieting; you must work on it all the time. It will take time to get results, but if you stick with it, it will pay off.”

What about sleeping pills?

Sleep physicians are extremely reluctant to prescribe sedatives, says Dr. Suzanne Jaffee, clinical director of the Sleep Program at Hollywood Medical Center in Florida, except in the event of an obvious trauma, such as the death of a spouse, and even then only for a very temporary period. Improper withdrawal from sleeping pills can cause the insomnia the prescription was designed to treat, she says.

What about the occasional use of overthe-counter sleeping pills? “Don’t routinely take them,” Dr. Jaffe advises. “We don’t know the long-term effects of them. But they’re absolutely not benign. They contain ingredients that can cause addiction.”

Now, if the above still won’t “cure” your sleeplessness, nothing will! But men like Mark Twain could dismiss insomnia humorously: “If you can’t sleep, try lying on the end of the bed – then you might drop off.” Of course, he was just joking.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

NO... FROM 1 very few, if not, absent.

“And we take pride in the fact that they do not cut corners in lowering crime incidence in the city,” she said.

“We are con�ident that Davao City policemen know by heart their obligation to uphold the rights of all people, especially those who have less in life and the most vulnerable,” the mayor added.

Duterte said she just learned about the incident when a lawyer contacted her of�ice to tell her about the incident.

On Wednesday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps Media Brie�ing, DCPO spokesperson Sr. Insp.

Maria Teresita Gaspan said Tagum immediatley mandated to put these of�icers under restrictive custody after the order of Duterte.

“They were already disarmed of their issued service �irearms, “ she said. She also encouraged the victims to �ile complaints against the police of�icers and to submit evidences that could help in the investigation.

Gaspan said the two policemen involved have the rank of Police Of�icer 1 and both are members of the Mobile Patrol Group of DCPO. She said there will be thorough investigation to be conducted to identify the possible probable cause.

She said these two police of�icers responded to the call from Central 911 about the minors who allegedly violating curfew hours on minors.

Gaspan said the of�icers took the four minors who were at the Barangay Hall in Bacaca who were allegedly involved in riots. But according to one of the minor victims, they were just rescued by the barangay tanods in Barangay 19-B for violating the curfew hours for minors and not for making riots. A certain alias Dirk said they were brought by the police of�icers at the City Social Services Development Of�ice - Quick Response Team for Children’s Concerns (CSSDO-QRTCC) beside San Pedro Police Station to sign a certain document which he did not mention. The victim said after in CSSDO-QRTCC, they were brought back to the Barangay Hall and the mauling incident happened. “Gibalik mi sa barangay og didto mi gibunalan og gisumbag-sumbag (We were brought back to the barangay and punched and hit us there),” he said. In a Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras shown by Barangay 19-B administrator to the reporters, the three victims lined-up infront of the erring police of�icer who held a rattan stick.

Victims were hit with rattan sticks on their soles then they were told to kneel-walke and squatras after they were hit The three minors were also punched to their stomach that made three moved backward.

The police of�icer again apporached the victims and give them series of punches that made them lean on the table.

Zalaga told AFP-PNP Press Corps Southern Mindanao press conference that her surrender was very signi�icant because it showed the kind of people they are facing—the NPA on one hand and the organization on the other hand that organizes rallies against the government.

“It is a two prong attack against government,” he said.

He said Quiroga surrendered to the mayor of Lupon, Davao Oriental.

He said that the 28th IB is only aware of the front organizations in Davao Oriental and did not know of her existence prior her surrender because they did not have any direct link to her. The only time they knew about her was when the mayor of Lupon informed them that someone will surrender.

“To be honest we did not even know of her existence prior to her surrender,” he said.

He said that they think Gemma surrendered because she wants to lead normal life.

On her surrender she turned over medical paraphernalia and subversive documents including extortion letters containing the logo of the rebel New People’s Army.

He said that she initially entered the New People’s Army in 2012 as a medic and then eventually NPA saw her potential because she was able to �inish high school, they transferred her to Anakpawis

sometime in 2016.

He said her role was to organize rallies going to Davao.

In fact there are several rallies that she helped organize, coming from the Davao Oriental by mobilizing the people there to be brought to Davao City.

“One of her duties as chairwoman of Anakpawis of Davao Oriental is to distribute letters of support or simple put their extortion letters, with her she brought so many, so it is proof na may connection sila,” he said.

He said the NPA has a combination of both armed struggle and the struggle in the street, the political struggle which is to raise issues against the government and use front organizations.

“We like to emphasize the front organizations, these front organizations they’re the ones face the government on the streets complaining but they are also a part of the arm struggle because they are the one on surface,” he said He said that they expect Anakpawis to deny her after Anakpawis representative Ariel “Ka Ayik” Casilao released a press release condemning her being in government custody.

SURRENDER... FROM 1

“It is but natural for Anakpawis to deny, we expected them to deny it. But the fact remains, the statement of Gemma Borgos Quiroga is hers and hers alone, it was not fabricated,” he said,

FUND-RAISING. Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) pediatrics department head Dr. Mike Manalaysay promotes the upcoming pre-valentine dinner for a cause by Anak Kaugmaon Foundation, Inc. and SPMC’s Department of Pediatrics dubbed Dancing in the Moon-

light on February 10 at SMX Convention Center during Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza mall. Manalaysay was joined by Arlene Villanueva. Lean Daval Jr

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of every calendar year.

BI-registered aliens are those resident foreign nationals who have been issued im-

migrant or non-immigrant visas and are holders of the alien certi�icate of registration identity card (ACR I-Card). (PNA)

for allegedly committing grace misconduct and dishonesty “for misuse of con�idential information and disclosing false information” on the alleged bank records of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family.

Morales claimed that the OP’s suspension issued against Carandang was “a clear affront to the Supreme Court and an impairment of the Constitutionally enshrined independence of the Of�ice of the Ombudsman.”

The Ombudsman was referring to SC en banc’s 2014 decision on Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III vs.

Of�ice of the President, declaring unconstitutional the administrative disciplinary jurisdiction of the President over deputy ombudsmen.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, however, believed that Carandang’s suspension is “presumed to be valid and legal” until a competent court declares it unconstitutional.

Panelo explained the circumstances of Carandang’s suspension differ from Gonzales’ case.

“Every of�icial act is accorded with presumption of regularity. Until a competent court declares that such of�icial ac is in violation of the law and Constitution, President Rodrigo Duterte’s order

of preventive suspension from of�ice of Deputy Ombudsman Carandang is presumed to be valid and legal,” Panelo said.

“It behooves therefore, the public of�icial authorized to implement the order to enforce the same against respondent Carandang. Any willful refusal to do so or any deliberate act impeding such enforcement may open the said of�icial to administrative and criminal sanctions,” he added.

Panelo said President Duterte had no intention to intrude upon the independence of the Of�ice of the Ombudsman.

He said the President was just protecting and preserving the Constitutional article on public accountability as clearly stated in Section 1, Article XI of the Constitution which provides: “Public of�ice is a public trust.”

“Thus, President is just adhering to his mandate to ensure that all laws are faithfully executed, including the Constitution,” Panelo said.

“To be clear, the implementation of check-and-balances in government and the enforcement of public accountability is not incongruent with the respect of Constitutionally-guaranteed independence,” he added.

(PNA)

2017, there were a recorded total of 41,164 businesses with permits in Davao City.

According to Torentera, processing business permits and licenses in all cities and municipalities, the business processing should not

take more than two days.

She added that the major issue encountered by the City Business Bureau personnel is the attitude of applicants who would wait until the last minute before processing their permit.

Of�ice nga dunay 12 ka police station runs way back 10 or 20 years ago karaang number ni siya and kita nato na naga daghan ang tao sa Davao City naga ubay ubay na ang commercial areas sa Davao City,” he said.

Tagum assured the Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Councilor Mabel Acosta and the public, that there is no personal interest involved in the request as it would only the city of Davao.

“Gina assure nako ang mga tao, the Honorable Mabel Acosta and our honorable city mayor ma’am de�initely that the proposal will not bene�it me, because nakita nako na most likely mag take effect 2 years from now and by that time wala na ako dito at least you are assured that there is no personal motive behind, that is for the best interest of Davao City,” he said.

He said that they expect that this request will not be acted upon immediately, hence their request for the proposal to be implemented before 2020. “This is because the conduct of special quota recruitment and the training will take at least more than one year, construction of new police station will take another year so at least safe na siguro ta maka ingon na within two years pwede nan i siya ma establish by that time maka ingon ta na ang Davao City Police Of�ice will be ready for the very fast growth of Davao City,” He said since Davao City is also considered as the second capitol of the Philippines, being one of the primary place

that hosts national and international events and considering this is the hometown of the President he thinks that we have the right to request for the additional number of police in DCPO to prepare for future contingencies.

ments to BI designated of�ices, the list of which could also be accessed in the bureau’s website.

The 1951 alien registra-

tion act requires all BI-registered aliens to report in person to any of the designated BI �ield, satellite or extensions of�ice within the �irst 60 days

“Kung tan-awun man gud nato presently atong kapulisan ug pupulasyon nato is 1 is to 850.

One police man for 850 population so gi compare nato sa Quezon city, where in Manila caters one is to 300 ang Quezon city naga cater ug one is to 500 population,” he said.

The request for additional 1700 Philippine National Police is also included in this position paper to achieve the ideal ratio of one police man is to 500 person.

The expansion of the structure of DCPO will require additional four police stations.

Police station 1 located in Sta. Ana, Police Station 2 located at San Pedro,Police Station 3 located at Talomo and Police Sation 5 located at Buhangin will be divided into two since these stations cover a wide area with a bigger number of population.

“Imagine addition 1000 police men that will be addition 1000 jobs for our local population nga nangitag trabaho and that will be additions 1,500 families nga mabiyayaan ug mabuhig tarong because now they will be supported with their family member nga naa’y tarong nga trabaho earning the best salary nga mahatag sa atong gobyerno,” he said.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

See food diet with

SEAFOOD

FEBRUARY. The heartiest month of the year — and the sweetest too. The very month that never fails to make the heart skip a million beat at once. Yup, February is all about love, love and more love. And also, all about food, food and more food.

Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao is more than just a getaway for the soul. It too is a best destination for feeding the soul. Offering a plethora of dining places, you’d never ran out of choices here. What’s more, every dining place has their own best seller that you won’t find elsewhere.

Case in point: La Parilla Restaurant.

Dining al fresco style, not only do you get to sample a smorgasbord of flavours but also enjoy the kisses from the wind and tight embrace from nature all around. And with their Feast From The Sea Dinner Buffet, it’s but a great reason to indulge on a mid-week and enjoy a sumptuous spread of anything seafood.

Waterfront’s seafood extravaganza features the many compelling flavours and blends of Asia. With designated stations, you are sure to taste and enjoy a variation of taste and textures that’ll instantly remind you of the sea. Manning the kitchen is Executive Chef Bienvenido Chavez.

Start your journey with an assortment of maki’s and nigiri choices from the sashimi station. Appetizers include Filipino ceviche (kilawin), prawns salad and shrimp cocktail with fresh, crunchy greens. Also available are their homemade breads and rolls.

How to perfectly enjoy the many delectable offering of Poseidon? Grilled, of course. At their grilling station, you can choose from an assortment of the freshest harvest you could ever lay your eyes on. Available are blue crabs, blue marlin, squid, shrimps, tuna belly, tanigue, bagaybay, tilapia and so much more.

With or without the typical Pinoy sawsawan, you’d surely end up with a happy

tummy.

Craving for a burst of sea goodness?

Feast on steamed lapu-lapu in sesame ginger sauce, fried fish with black bean sauce, mixed seafood bicol express and sweet chili crab. Also don’t forget to feed your soul with some seafood paella lovin’.

Asian flavour invasion on your palate? Head straight to their Japanese Station and have your fix of tempura cooked on the spot. On another level of deliciousness, grab some baked mussels with cheese and thank me later.

They also have a Chinese Station that features the delicate flavours of steamed seafood siomai and baked whole fish in beurre blanc (white butter).

Of course, any meal won’t be complete without dessert. And nothing beats our very own selection of kakanin -biko, suman, cassava cake, binignit, ube turon and the classic, turon de langka.

Aside from their Feast from the Sea, Waterfront, for this year, takes interest into aligning its directives to seize opportunities from growing target markets. Of which a Halal certification and much anticipated Halal restaurant is in the works. Insha’Allah.

Personally, this is the greatest.

And with Executive Chef Bienvenido Chavez’s vast knowledge in Middle Eastern cooking, reuniting with my favourite Palestinian, Yemen and Arab dishes need not be just a throwback on my phone.

Feast from the Sea Dinner Buffet at the La Parilla Restaurant is available every Wednesday and Sunday beginning January 17 2018 until March 28 2018.

Service starts at 6pm to 11pm.

La Parilla Restaurant is located at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

TRC Speaks: With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Waterfront’s La Parilla restaurant is but the perfect getaway -- specially for non-pork eaters like me. Their vast spread of seafood good-

ness is enough reason to have you in a gustatory frenzy. Not to mention, the picturesque landscape and sea as your witness as you savour every bite.

For my latest food finds, follow me on Instagram @iamleebai and Facebook @ theroyalchefeats.

Happy eating, royalistas!

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

SM Love Strings Acoustic Music Fest call for entries SM CITY DAVAO opens a live acoustic music competition for aspiring musicians this love month. Groups composed of 2 to 4 members, ages 13-25 years old are encouraged to join the Valentine’s music fest on February 10 at the Annex Event Center.

To audition, interested groups may submit a link of their performance video along with their group name, members’ details and contact information to smcitydvo@ gmail.com. Only the top 10 entries will be invited to perform live at SM City Davao’s Love Strings on February 10. The best acoustic group will take home P10,000 in cash while the second and third placers will win P7,000 and P5,000, respectively.

Celebrate love and music at SM City Davao. For inquiries, call 297-6998 local 31. Like SM City Davao on Facebook and follow @SMDavao on Instagram.

Win Wanderland 2018 tickets with Globe GoSURF

WILL YOU BE ONE of the lucky few to become Wanderers?

Globe Telecom and Karpos Multimedia open 2018 with an awesome music and art extravaganza that’s guaranteed to get you hyped and ready to jam out with friends. On March 10, 2018, Wanderers are set to head on to the Filinvest City Event Grounds in Alabang for this year’s Wanderland Music and Arts Festival.

Now on its 6th run, the loyal Wanderland Community is in for a heightened musical experience with amazing performances by both local and international bands such as Irish band Kodaline, FKJ, Daniel Caesar, Lauv, Jess Connelly, Quest, IV of Spades, Ben&Ben, and Wanderband winners-Basically Saturday Night, Carousel Casualties, plus three more acts to be announced soon. There’s even something for art enthusiasts as four Wanderartists - JP Pining, Sam Bumanlag, Humbly, and Cholo Cardenas - will showcase their art live at the festival.

As everyone counts down to festival day, Globe wants more fans to get a chance to enjoy Wanderland.

Fortunately, 15 lucky subscribers will win two tickets each to Wanderland! The promo is open to all Globe Prepaid or TM customers who have registered to any GoSURF variants from January 15 to February 15, 2018. Winners will be drawn on February 16, 2018.

For every GoSURF promo registered, the subscriber earns one raffle entry per Php 5 charged. To validate your entries, text RAFFLE REG <Name/Address/ Email/Age/Gender> to 2362. To check the total number of entries, send RAFFLE ENTRIES to 2362. To know more about the promo, send RAFFLE INFO to 2362.

All contest winners will be notified by a call and text from an authorized Globe representative.

Follow the official Globe Facebook and Twitter pages for more details and the announcement of winners.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

Scooping happiness HERE IN THE TROPICS, ice cream remains a favorite dessert (or snack!) by many because a scoop always beats the heat.

“It also brings back joyful childhood memories,” said Cherry Si, the mompreneur who runs Cherrie’s Ice Cream and Cookie.

Cherry, a mom of four, confessed to having a sweet tooth for as long as she can remember.

“I really love sweets,” she said. “I recall baking desserts at home and bringing them to school to share to my high school classmates. I am just happy to see people enjoy sweet treats.”

This intention helps her grow her ice cream business in SM Lanang Premier’s Food Hall where fans buy by the scoop or order tubs.

Every day at work is a joy for this culinary genius. Cherry studied hospitality in Polytechnic University of the Philippines and had extensive trainings in the kitchens of The Peninsula Manila and Manila Polo Club.

She found home and a sweet life in Davao with her family and four kids with whom she shares her ice cream joy.

“I don’t want my children to be deprived of the treat that gives me happiness,” Cherry said.

She also shared that her youngest child was diagnosed with G6PD, an inherited metabolism deficiency that causes sensitivity to certain ingredients (soy, nuts, beans, and some preservatives) that trigger a type of anemia.

This inspires creativity for Cherry, whose apparent mission is to bring ice cream for everyone.

The result is a line of ice cream that is healthier— a rare treat in this side of the city.

“We use all natural ingredients for flavors and use raw sugar, organic coconut sugar, or Stevia as sweeteners” Cherry said.

“Our milk is sourced from St. Benedict’s Mon-

“Ice cream also brings back joyful childhood memories,” said Cherry Si, the mompreneur who runs Cherrie’s Ice Cream and Cookie. astery in Digos.”

Flavors like cookies and cream, burnt sugar and sea salt, pistachio, coffee revel bar, hazelnut praline, and Davao coffee are everyday dessert staples. Ice cream enthusiasts can also enjoy other quirky flavors like cookie dough, smores, cookie monster, and chocolate brownie, with more others that surprise every month!

Apart from scoops of ice cream, the des-

sert counter also serves indulgent creations like ice cream sandwiches, brownie a la modes, cookie topped ice creams, and—joining her sweet menu soon—soft serve ice cream.

“Ice cream always gives instant happiness,” she said.

Cherry will be among the 22 vendors who will make all your sweet tooth dreams come true in SM Lanang Premier’s biggest desserts fair yet: Sugar

Rush. Enjoy a sweet weekend from February 1 to 4 at 4 PM onwards in the Northwing Event Grounds. Indulge and get sugar high with treats new and old alike from homegrown brands: Yuyu Café and Dessert Shop, Maxi Mango, Margie’s Bakeshop, Confex &Co. Bakehouse, Ice Queens, Yema Cake

by Sweet and Savory, Teamoji, Yolk’s Flower Café + Cupcakery, K Cotton Fries, Dairy (Fat Cow), The Good Food Co., Sylvanas, Sweets of Tirzah, Lemonwood, Lachi’s Dessert Bakery, Inc., and Sea Green Café.

Desserts and snacks from mall stores are also available: Cheddy’s Delight, Natureal, La Lola, Aling Fopings, and Milky.

Enjoy the sweet life in Sugar Rush and share your dessert adventures through @smlanangpremier in social media.

(PR/JBM)

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

GMA Network wins big at 1st NCST Dangal ng Bayan Awards GMA Network won big at the “1st Dangal ng Bayan Awards” by the National College of Science & Technology (NCST), taking home the NCST Dangal ng Bayan Media Excellence Award for Engineering in a ceremony held last January 12 in Cavite.

The Network’s primetime newscast 24 Oras received the Dangal ng Bayan Media Excellence Award for Communication while news website GMA News Online was cited in the Information Technology and Innovation category.

Several programs of leading local news channel GMA News TV were also cited by NCST. Travel and adventure program Biyahe ni Drew won the Dangal ng Bayan Media Excellence Award for Tourism. Lifestyle show Pop Talk, on the other hand, received the Dangal ng Bayan Media Excellence for Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Winning the Dangal ng Bayan Media Excellence

Award for Architecture was Powerhouse, a magazine show that aired from 2011 to 1016.

Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera and young Kapuso actor Miguel Tanfelix, meanwhile, were both given the Dangal ng Bayan Special Recognition for Entertainment.

The 1st NCST Dangal ng Bayan Awards gives

recognition to individuals and institutions that dedicate themselves to becoming agents of change and making a difference to the nation.

The NCST is a wellestablished academic institution in Dasmariñas, Cavite and is one of the premiere colleges in CALABARZON catering to more than 7,000 students.

TOP: Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera received the NCST Dangal ng Bayan Special Recognition for Entertainment.

LEFT: Kapuso actor Miguel Tanfelix received the Dangal ng Bayan Special Recognition for Entertainment at the “1st Dangal ng Bayan Awards” by the National College of Science & Technology (NCST).

RIGHT: GMA Network’s primetime newscast 24 Oras won the NCST DangalngBayanMediaExcellence Award for Communication. The award was received by Senior Correspondent Aubrey Carampel.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 â&#x20AC;¢ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Tel No. 082.221.3601/224.1413 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

COLLEGE... FROM 3

Government agents recovered some PHP500, 000 worth of shabu and 13 assorted high-powered �irearms. Five workers of Molao were also arrested.

Ortiz told reporters the

raid was conducted following intelligence reports that drug traf�icking had been going on inside the CFCST campus in Barangay Doroluman, Arakan, North Cotabato.

(PNA)

because these are necessary to fund the Duterte administration’s “Build. Build. Build” program, a �ive-year massive infrastructure initiative worth P8 trillion to P9 trillion.

Under this program, the government lists down high impact projects envisioned to “increase the productive capacity of the economy, create jobs, increase incomes, strengthen the investment climate leading to sustained inclusive growth.”

He added they will train

their inspectors in the region to crackdown on taxpayers using an automated suppression software installed on point of scale (POS) terminals after agency’s inspectors found establishments using the software to under-declare their sales.

“It’s de�initely fraudulent practice. We can �ile a criminal case or revoke their permits for using it,” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

gestion measures, one of which was enforcing discipline among motorists.

For instance, Oclarit said the Divisoria area would become a no-park zone and that vehicle owners would need to walk if they wanted to shop within the six-block commercial centre.

“Without parking in the narrow street sides of Tirso Neri and Abejuela, we can expect a smoother �low of vehi-

cles in that area,” Oclarit said.

He said the JR Borja portion at Cogon market was also being opened as a two-way street.

In the next few months, he said the agency would turn its attention at the area surrounding westbound public market in Bulua, where traf�ic �low would imminently increase in the light of the opening of a mall there. (Mark D. Francisco/PNA)

“Given that the housing sector is largely private, the fact that it is receiving the bulk of resources may possibly be at the expense of more critical projects. Instead of al-

locating huge funds to it, the government should consider strengthening the role of the private sector in addressing damaged properties,” it added. (PNA)

backbone and technology partner as they take full advantage of PayMaya’s capabilities to elevate their services.

This is just the �irst step in our digital roadmap for them to better serve their customers,” said FVP & Head of PLDT ALPHA Vic Tria. “On behalf of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise and PayMaya, allow me to say this back to you: we’ve got it all for you,” said Tria, ending his remarks on a high-note.

PLDT ALPHA AVP & Head of Corporate Relationship Management Luigi Casas echoed Tria’s statements adding, “SM is a brand that Filipinos really associate with and I’m excited to see how this solution will allow them to better understand

their customers and in turn, deliver more relevant and personal experiences for them.”

Throughout the course of its partnership, PLDT ALPHA has equipped SM with tools that have enabled it to retain its position as the country’s leading retailer. The deployment of the PayMaya solution further underlines PLDT ALPHA’s steadfast commitment to elevating the digital capabilities of its partners through the provision of cutting-edge technology.

To know more about the various products and services by PLDT ALPHA, please contact your PLDT Relationship Manager, or visit www. pldtalpha.com.

dling 10 million passengers and we believe that we will grow to about 11 million and a half passengers within the next year and we see a sizeable part of that demand from Visayas and MIndanao region,” Harrison said.

MCIA reached a total of 9.97 million passenger traf-

�ic in 2017, up 11.72 percent from 8.93 million in 2016.

Meanwhile, air traf�ic movement also grew 20.62 percent to 87.570 in 2017 from 72.600 in 2016. It also recorded a total of 66,120 domestic �lights in 2017, up 17.64% from 56,210 in 2016 while international �lights increased 30.84% to

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11

EDGEDAVAO 21,440 from 16,390.

GMCAC attributed remarkable positive growth in MCIA’s passenger traf�ic to its destination marketing initiatives. Destination marketing is GMCAC’s main strategy in strengthening Cebu’s connectivity and its positioning of Cebu as a viable gateway to the rest of the Philippines and as major transfer hub to other countries.

“We position Cebu now as a hub where we have domestic �lights connecting with international, regional and long haul �lights especially the connectivity is very easy and very convenient.

We have a lot of facilities that make connectivity much eas-

ier. Unlike other terminals where you might change terminals to connect �lights,” Harrison said.

MCIA also welcomed an addition of six new airlines namely Air Juan, Juneyao Air, OK Air, Lucky Air, Sichuan Airlines, and Pan Paci�ic Airlines in 2017.

The Terminal 2 will open in June this year, which is an all international terminal.

“We have the convenience and comfort that an airport should have. We reduced congestion and we don’t like queues. These are among the things that make our airport easier and more convenient for the passengers,” Harrison said.

chief Ferdinand Pecson said, “We are approaching this with a spirit of cooperation and collaboration”.

Pernia noted that putting up the PPP Knowledge Corners will support the government’s intensi�ied efforts to help develop and implement PPPs at the local level, a key in the PPP Center’s LGU PPP Strategy.

The LGU PPP strategy is the PPP Center’s focused assistance to LGUs through capacity building and technical assistance in pursuing bankable local PPP projects. Also part of the strategy is to foster stronger collaboration among local public or private capacity building institutions and other critical local development stakeholders.

Pernia likewise under-

scored the Duterte administration’s commitment to spread out economic growth to other regions. Of the administration’s 75 �lagship infrastructure projects, 50 will be rolled out in the regions outside Metro Manila.

“This LGU PPP strategy builds on the Administration’s thrust to expand development in the regions and spread economic growth outside Metro Manila,” Pernia said.

NEDA has regional of�ices in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCKSARGEN, and Caraga region. (NEDA)

short-term, the government’s ‘Build Build Build’ Program may exert upward pressure on the debt stock.

In the medium- to longterm, however, a sustainable high economic growth rate (brought about by better infrastructure) will outrun the growth of debt.”

About 70 percent of the incremental revenues from the TRAIN have been earmarked for infrastructure, and up to 30 percent for social services, including unconditional cash transfers of P200 a month (or P2,400 per year) for the country’s 10 million poorest households for 2018, which will increase to P300 a month (or P3,600

per year) in 2019 and 2020.

Besides the incremental revenues from TRAIN, Dominguez is also banking on the remarkable improvements in the collection ef�iciency by the Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR) and of Customs (BOC), as re�lected in their respective high accomplishment rates in 2017.

For 2017, the BIR achieved 97.18 percent of its revenue goal of P1.829 trillion, collecting a total of P1.777 trillion. The BOC collected P457.553 billion in 2017 as against a revenue target of P467.896 billion, representing an accomplishment rate of 97.7 percent in 2017. (DOF)

ploring better ways to implement this transition to a new toll collection system in the future. We still believe the new system can bene�it a greater number of people over the long term,” the Skyway operator said in a statement.

Under the new payment scheme, which was implemented early this week, motorists should stop at two toll booths: the payment booth and the new toll booth where they will surrender their payment slips.

Vehicles with Electronic

Toll Collection (ETC) Radio Frequency Identi�ication (RFID) stickers coming from Alabang, Dr. A. Santos (Sucat), and Doña Soledad (Bicutan) used the RFID lanes at entry points and exit at the dedicated “ETC” lanes at the new toll plaza.

Vehicles using cash payment coming from Alabang and the South Luzon Expressway merely passed through the Alabang elevated toll plaza while their payments were processed at the Runway Toll Plaza’s new “Cash” lanes. (PNA)

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CA... FROM 6 It may be recalled that former health consultant to the DOH, Dr. Francis Cruz, claimed there was a ma�ia inside the DOH who pushed for the PHP3.5 billion anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia to gain pro�it.

Cruz said the ma�ia was composed of several former and current of�icials.

He also said that approximately PHP550 million from the PHP3.5 billion budget allotted for the Dengvaxia was “converted as kickbacks.”

However, Taino refuted this claim saying the amount remained in the DOH’s undisbursed fund.

Asked if he was convinced

by Duque’s statement that there was no syndicate or ma�ia in the DOH, Honasan did not answer the question but said that it was enough that he had time to present his side.

ALVAREZ... FROM 6

operation),” Alvarez said.

“Mahigit isang taon na po tayo dyan at wala pa rin nangyayari (You’ve been sitting in the post for more than a year and yet nothing has happened),” he said.

Alvarez also berated Garcia for claiming that his only mandate was to make sure that the MRT trains were running.

Alvarez said the real mandate of a train manager was to ensure the convenience and safety of passengers, as well as the cleanliness of the trains.

The tension further grew when Garcia said they would consider using the Dalian coaches to increase the present number of MRT-3 coaches.

Alvarez stressed that the Dalian coaches were not compatible with the signaling system of the current trains.

In response, Garcia said, “I will resign kung hindi ako sigurado (if I’m not sure)”.

Garcia, later on, apologized after lawmakers threatened to cite him for contempt for not according proper respect to the Speaker and the committee.

In an ambush interview following the hearing, Alvarez stressed the need for a competent person who could �ix the problems of the MRT-3 system considering the continuing woes commuters suffer from the said system.

“Exhausted na rin yung taong bayan. Kailangan na talagang ayusin yan. We need a person na talagang yung aayos ng problema (The public is exhausted. We really need to �ix that. We need a person who can really address the problem.),” Alvarez said. (PNA)

“It’s not a question of whether we were convinced.

The Secretary categorically denied it and his staff made a presentation to address that particular issue that the socalled syndicate or ma�ia bene�ited from these programs and the transactions,” he said.

“Ang ginawa lang namin sa committee is give them equal-layer time to present their side,” he added.

In a separate interview, Duque said that he would respect whatever decision the CA would make regarding his con�irmation.

Duque, who had only been DOH chief for three months, also served as DOH secretary during the term of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte. (PNA) 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-2018-1-387 (2013-XI-00387)

ANTHONY T. PEÑERO, Petitioner.

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 Dual Ordinary Regular service on the route: TAGURANO 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 November 6, 2018. In the petition filed on January 19, 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 12, 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 22nd day of January 2018 at Davao City.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR Attorney IV Petitioner, Anthony T. Peñero Counsel, Atty. Raul C. Espina

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Going back to the basics Last of Three Parts

TEXT and PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

f someone mentions the words “organic agriculture,” what comes into your mind right away?

Environment-friendly, natural, not using pesticides and other chemicals, sustainable, regenerative, and healthy – these are the words use to describe this method of farming which has recently captured the attention of many countries around the world.

“The deteriorating condition of the environment has contributed to the increasing vulnerability of the agriculture sector particularly to extreme weather events,” said the Department of Agriculture in a statement. “Predominance of chemical-intensive farming has contributed to at least 33% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is in this premise that the department aims to promote organic farming.”

These days, organic farming is heavily promoted – thanks to signing of Republic Act No. 10068 on April 6, 2010.

It was touted as “a landmark legislation for the development and promotion of organic agriculture.” “(The Act) is a result of long years of development efforts mostly by non-government community-based organizations and private groups pushing for agriculture sector reforms around ecologically sustainable, environment-friendly and safer production systems. It also concerns on the availability of safer and more nutritious staples and food, and increased farm productivity and income opportunities for the Filipino farmers.”

The agriculture’s organic farming program has �ive

objectives. One is better farm incomes and sustainable livelihood for Filipino farmers: “Increased farm productivity, reduced expenses on external farm inputs, better incomes for farmers and reduction of poverty in the rural sector.”

Environmental protection is another reason: “Enhanced soil fertility and farm biodiversity, reduced pollution and destruction of the environment as well as prevention of further depletion of natural resources.”

Still another: improved health. By adopting organic farming, the health of farmers, consumers and the public in general are protected.

Another one: disaster risk reduction and resilience to climate change: “Improved resiliency to disaster risks and climate change vulnerabilities caused by human interventions and naturally induced hazards.”

Final objective: social justice. “Meeting the basic needs and improving standard of living for all, upholding human rights, gender equality, labor standards and the right to self-determination,” the agriculture department explains.

In Davao City, the Association of Davao Organic Advocates is one of the groups that is busy promoting organic farming as it offers more bene�its compared with the convention methods in the long run. “Farmers can have lesser expenses and more pro�it compared to non-organic farming,” said Maxey Atog, the advocates’ vice-president.

In the beginning, modern farming – which uses chem-

icals and other farm inputs – may be big in returns but it’s only super�icial. “Production is a big process so the pro�it for non-organic products is actually smaller compared to the expenses in organic farming,” Atog was quoted in an interview with EDGE Davao.

As stated earlier, the practice of organic agriculture can signi�icantly control the pollution brought about by using chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. By avoiding using them, the soil fertility is greatly improved.

This is the reason why the Bureau of Soil and Water Management, a line agency of the agriculture department, considered organic agriculture as one of the methods that can combat land degradation.

It has been found that organic agriculture does not only help improve soil fertility but also prevent wind and water erosion of the soil, improve wa-

ter in�iltration and retention capacity, reduce surface and ground water consumption and subsequent soil salinization and reduce ground and surface water contamination.

In the Philippines, land degradation is a continuing serious problem. Around 11.45 million hectares (about 38% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares) is the estimated degraded land. About 2.6 million hectares are considered hot spots as these are cultivated without soil and water conservation measures.

As a result, soil productivity has been reduced by 30% to 50%. The estimated total net primary productive loss from 1981 to 2003 was 4,100,145 tons, which affected 33 million people or about 42.75% of the total population at that time, a report said.

It’s almost eight years now since RA 10068 was signed. But the big question remains: Why most Filipino farmers are still not adopting the technology?

What are the reasons?

To �ind out, Lucille Elna Parreno-de Guzman conducted a study in selected towns in Laguna and in La Trinidad, Benguet, where farmers are adopting organic agriculture. Chemical pollution of soil and water bodies is the main land degradation issue in the municipalities where the study was done. “This is mainly due to the continuous and indiscriminate use of chemical inputs in farming,” Parreno-de Guzman wrote.

The study was part of the of the cross-country research project, “Sustainable Land Man-

agement: Adoption and Implementation Constraints,” which was funded by the Economy and Environment Programs for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) and the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative.

Agricultural savants believe that continued use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides causes organisms present in the soil to die. Without soil organisms, chemically saturated land will eventually lose its capacity to nourish healthy and fruitful crops, until �inally the soil “dies.”

With “dead” soil, how can farmers grow crops?

“In Laguna, soil erosion occurs but only at a minimal rate,” Parreno-de Guzman wrote.

“Farmers who have converted to organic agriculture did so mainly to observed and experienced negative health effects in using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.”

Despite the bene�its derived from organic agriculture, farmers were still not agog about it.

The author cited four reasons: For one, organic agriculture is “knowledge-intensive.” There are so many options available and it’s up to the farmers to select which suit best to their farms. After training, “constant monitoring and assistance are still needed to ensure farmers’ continuous practice and compliance to organic agriculture standards,” Parreno-de Guzman wrote.

Another reason: too much labor in the production of organic fertilizers and concoctions. Most farmers are used to having quick �ixes by simply buying chemical inputs. “Gath-

ering raw materials and preparing these into organic fertilizers and other concoctions is considered laborious and time-consuming,” wrote Parreno-de Guzman.

Vermicomposting – the process of using earthworms to turn organic waste into vermicompost – is the main fertilizer production technology promoted in organic agriculture. But doing so entails high capital as it requires construction of vermi beds and the use of a shredder to cut the materials for composting. “These expenses are beyond the reach of small farmers,” Parreno-de Guzman wrote.

But the real reason why most farmers won’t adopt the technology is the low production during the conversion period. The low harvest is due to the use of organic fertilizer.

“The NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in chemical fertilizers is easily available for plant uptake unlike organic fertilizers which are slow in releasing nutrients,” wrote Parreno-de Guzman.

Aside from those four reasons, the high cost of organic certi�ication has also been cited as a stumbling block. Section 17 of RA 10068 stated: “Only third-party certi�ication is allowed (for agriculture produce) to be labeled as organically produced.”

The researcher considered that statement as limiting factor in organic agriculture implementation. In addition, the cost of certi�ication – ranging from P42,000 to P150,000 – is another limiting factor.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

HARDEN... FROM 15

PSC... FROM 15

‘’It’s a good feeling, I guess,’’ he said. ‘’Just try to go out there and make an impact every single night on the game, however I can. Whether it’s scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, whatever it is. And tonight I guess I was doing everything.’’

Hezonja and Speights scored 17 points each for the Magic, who dropped their third straight.

The Rockets started the game without Chris Paul, who has a sore groin, and Trevor Ariza, who is dealing with a strained hamstring.

They lost another player when Eric Gordon, who is second on the team in scoring with 19.5 points a game, left early in the second quarter with lower back stiffness. ‘’I looked at coach and said: ‘Eric can’t go,’’’ Harden said ‘’He said go get ‘em and after that I didn’t come out of the game.’’

Harden’s big night came as he played 46 minutes and 26 seconds, which was a career-high for a regulation game, with Houston missing so many players. ‘’I was shocked to see that,’’ Speights said of Harden not getting worn out by playing so many minutes. ‘’He didn’t really get subbed out and that shows the growth in his game and the maturity in his game.’’

nals, however, will be held on March 10 in San Jose, Antique while the Visayas Finals is on March 31 in Maasin City.

The Visayas Finals winners will later advance into the National Championship Preliminaries on April 21 and 22 in Mandaluyong City. The National Quarter Finals will be on April 28 in Tagbilaran City in Bohol followed by the National Semi-Finals on May

5 in Tagum City.

The National Finals will be on May 12 in Sarangani Province.

Cash prizes and medals are up for grabs for the winners, who will also get a chance to be part of the Philippine national training pool.

For inquiries, contact the PSC Support Services – Annie Ruiz (09397627553).

ry Thomas. Wade (21,800) moved past Larry Bird (21,791) for 32nd place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

ALL-STAR Drummond was added to the NBA All-Star Game on Tuesday, replacing injured Washington guard John Wall. After he was initially left out of the All-Star Game, Drummond apparently felt snubbed, posting last week to his Twitter account: ‘’Guess I gotta start doing back �lips

after every point I score to get attention around here!’’

The Pistons are hopeful Grif�in and Drummond will develop good chemistry together, the way Grif�in did with DeAndre Jordan while with the Clippers. ‘’Maybe, but I’ve got a lot more to my offensive game than DeAndre, so we’re going to be able to do a lot of things beyond lobs,’’ Drummond said.

Muhammad Ali and Angelo Dundee, and Joe Frazier and Eddie Futch.

“I showed [Ancajas] around where Manny got his start and I told him I call this ‘the gym Manny built,’ “ Roach said. “He’s so excited. Real nice

kid.”

Ancajas knew there’d be American media at his visit, so he made a strong effort to learn English on the �light to LAX, needing only an interpreter for the reporter to respond the best he could in

It was his fourth 50-point game this season and Tuesday’s performance bested his previous career-high of 56 points set in November against Utah. ‘’I have never seen a performance like that,’’ teammate Gerald Green said. ‘’I caught myself just being a true fan throughout the whole game ... what he did today was remarkable.’’

Orlando led by two points with about 9 1/2 minutes left before the Rockets used a 10-4 run to make it 101-97 with about seven minutes to go. Harden made two 3-pointers in that stretch, and wowed the crowd on the second one that he came as the shot clock was about to expire and with Shelvin Mack right in his face.

Houston didn’t lead for long though, as Speights was fouled while making a 3-pointer and added the free throw to tie it seconds later.

The Magic had a 2-point lead with about 5 1/2 minutes left before Houston used a 6-2 run, with all its points from Harden, to take a 107-105 lead with about four minutes left.

Harden piled up 16 points in the �irst quarter and had 24 by halftime despite his early 3-point shooting woes. Orlando led 55-54 at halftime.

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LOVES... FROM 15

ACANJAS... FROM 15

English.

That stroke of kindness reminds of Pacquiao, but Ancajas isn’t about to embrace any hype that he’s the next Pacquiao.

“It’s a pleasure to be compared to Manny because Sir Manny is at the highest level, but, sir, all I can tell you is I’m doing my best, training as hard as I can, to achieve just a little bit of what he’s done,” Ancajas said.

Although he’s �ighting at 118 pounds, Ancajas said he’s capable of gravitating toward the junior-welterweight limit (140 pounds) by the end of his career. Known for his strength, he walks around when not

training at 140.

He’s in a division that has received a massive boost of exposure thanks to HBO’s coverage. The network will air a “SuperFly 2” card Feb. 24 at the Forum that will include World Boxing Council champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, challenger and �lyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada and another bout featuring former champion Carlos Cuadras.

“I think he’s the only one in the division who can stand up to Sor Rungvisai,” veteran publicist Ricardo Jimenez said.

Ancajas said, “I’m happy to be in there with them, but what I do next depends on my manager and promoter.”

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late VIRGINIA MIGRIÑO AMORA has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate executed among her heirs, per Doc. No.476; Page No.96; Book No. 11; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. JAY GERNALE.

February 1,8 and 15, 2018

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 216 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

RPV SENIORS. (left to right) Noel Taojo, Jun Seerado, Joe Tesado and Randy Cadiogan make up the core of the Rancho Palos Verdes Seniors golf team to the upcoming PAL Seniors Interclub next month. Boy Lim

hurts hand as Harden sets first NBA Love Cavs bow to Pistons 60-point triple double D

H

OUSTON (AP) -James Harden knew he’d have to do a little more on Tuesday night with the Houston Rockets missing key players.

Even he couldn’t have imagined he’d do this much.

Harden became the �irst player in NBA history to score 60 points as part of a triple-double and the short-handed Rockets beat the Orlando Magic 114-107. ‘’I just gave it all I had tonight,’’ Harden said. ‘’We all did. We all fought for 48 minutes, we got key stops when we needed to and we made big shots.’’

Harden scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to eclipse the 57 points Calvin Murphy scored in 1978 to break Houston’s single-game scoring record.

After Harden broke the record, cameras in the arena showed a shot of Murphy, who works on the television broadcast team, smiling and clapping for the Beard, who also had 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

The game was tied at 107 after a basket by Marre-

ese Speights with just under four minutes to play. Neither team scored for more than two minutes after that before Harden took over, scoring the next six points to make it 113-107 with 45 seconds left.

He set the scoring mark when he stepped back and made a 3-pointer before crashing to the court after being fouled by Mario Hezonja. He then made the free throw to give him 60 points and bringing the crowd to its feet. ‘’Amazing (and) topped it off with a four-point play at the end,’’ coach Mike D’Antoni said. ‘’But we had to have every minute from him.’’

Harden, who also had four steals and a block, grabbed his 10th rebound a few seconds later to give him his third triple double this season. He made 17 of 18 free throws and was 19 of 30 from the �loor with �ive 3 pointers.

He said he didn’t realize he was the �irst player with 60 points in a triple-double.

HARDEN,P13

NBA RECORD. James Harden recorded the first ever 60-point triple double game in NBA history.

PSC-Pacquiao Cup swings to Visayas Feb. 3-4

T

he Visayas Preliminaries of the PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup gets going on February 3 and 4 at the Bago City Coliseum in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

The screening and acceptance of entries will be on February 2 at the same venue according to Supervising tournament director Rogelio Fortaleza of the Philippine Sports Institute.

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 (4548 kg.), Flyweight (52 kg.), Bantamweight (54 kg.) and Featherweight (57 kg.). The cut-off date in the Junior is from 2001-2002 while in the Youth is 1999-2000.

The previous leg was the Luzon Preliminaries held in Sorsogon City with almost 100 boxers from 22 teams.

The nationwide grassroots development program is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the Of�ice of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

The winners will advance to the Visayas Quarter Finals slated February 17 and 18 at a still to be announced venue. The Visayas Semi-Fi-

PSC,P13

ETROIT (AP) -- A loss to short-handed Detroit was hardly the biggest concern for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland’s recent rough stretch went from bad to worse Tuesday night when Kevin Love exited with a broken left hand in a 125-114 loss to the Pistons.

The Cavaliers said he had a non-displaced fracture in his �ifth metacarpal and his status would be updated after additional examination Wednesday in Cleveland. ‘’It’s just unfortunate for our team,’’ James said. ‘’Obviously with everything (that’s) been going on as of late with our ballclub, just trying to �igure out how we’re going to play every night, different lineups, and getting everybody into the �low, we don’t need to have Kev go out like that. He’s going to be out for quite a while - maybe two months - so it’s just tough.’’

The Cavs have lost 11 of 16, and the injury will likely affect the defending Eastern Conference champions’ plans as the Feb. 8 trading deadline approaches. They may have to make a significant move to replace Love. ‘’When it rains, it pours,’’ coach Tyronn Lue said.

Andre Drummond had 21 points and 22 rebounds for the Pistons, who snapped an eight-game losing streak despite a lineup that was depleted by their blockbuster trade for Blake Grif�in. Detroit dealt three players to the Los Angeles Clippers to get Grif�in, and neither he nor the other two players the Pistons received in return were available against Cleveland. Drum-

mond - whose own status was in question because of an illness - had a huge game, and Stanley Johnson added a career-high 26 points.

Reggie Bullock added 22 points for the Pistons, and Anthony Tolliver scored 20. ‘’I needed that, and everyone in the room needed that,’’ Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said. ‘’When you’ve lost eight in a row, all you care about is getting to the end of a game with more points than the other team. It doesn’t matter how.’’

James scored 21 points for the Cavs, but Cleveland was listless early and outplayed late - and the result felt secondary to Love’s health.

Love played only 4:41 and went scoreless.

SUPPORTING CAST The Pistons had to give up Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley - two starters - to acquire Grif�in, so players like Johnson, Bullock and Luke Kennard will have a chance to play bigger roles.

Bullock scored 16 points in the �irst half Tuesday, and Johnson was impressive throughout, pushing the ball up the court and attacking the rim. ‘’I told (Johnson) after the game that I think that’s the best game I’ve ever seen him play,’’ Van Gundy said. ‘’He was aggressive on both ends, and while no one stops LeBron, he did a very good job against him.’’

MILESTONE Wade scored 18 points after missing two games because of the death of his longtime agent Hen-

LOVES,P13

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ROLLING OUT

C

PSC-PSI programs kick off in Davao Region

onsultative meetings and coaches’ education in Digos City and Panabo City in February will kick off the programs of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Sports Institute (PSC-PSI) in Mindanao this year.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey on Wednesday said details of the two separate consultative meetings are currently being �inalized in Manila.

“Ginaplastar pa, ginaklaro ang mga programa sa grassroots nga himuon sa Mindanao pero mag-full blast na ta February and March. Dili man gud dali magpadagan sa mga programa, daghan na proseso ang agian labaw na kung dunay mga purchase requirement (We are ironing out the grassroots programs that will be conducted in Mindanao but we will go full blast

by February and March. It’s not easy to prepare and run programs as it will have to go through a long process especially when purchasing is required),” Maxey said, assuring that plans and programs for Mindanao will push through including the revival of the Mindanao Friendship Games and the Mindanao Children’s Beach/Coastal Games.

He bared to have met with Cholo Elegino, PSI cluster head for Mindanao, on the schedules and budgetary requirements of Children’s Games, consultative meetings, coaches’ education and Sports Mapping Action Research Talent Identi�ication (Smart ID) testing among indigenous people (IP) children in different regions in Mindanao are also being �inalized.

H

MINDANAO PROGRAMS. PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey (fourth from right, standing) with fellow Commissioner Ramon Fernandezz and members of the Smart ID trainers underwent a training program spearheaded by the Sports Mapping Action Research for Talent Technical Experts and Manpower (Smart Team) last year. There are 57 trainers in Cebu City, 60 in Puerto Princesa, 60 in Vigan and 35 in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, coordination meetings with other local government units were held in T’boli and South Cotabato

recently.

PSI regional coordinator Henry Dagmil said Mayor Dibu Tuan was elated that PSC-PSI reached out to them.

“The mayor is glad that T’boli will at last avail of the services of the PSC-PSI since they have not heard of any PSC program in their area in previous years. They are excited for the Smart ID testing that will be conducted among T’boli children 12 years old

Team AAK-Davao led by coach Rommel Tan during the 2018 Veguillas Cup Invitational Karatedo tournament at the SM Mall of Asia over the weekend.

and below,” Dagmil said in Ilonggo.

The Olympian trackster said the T’boli mayor already sent a formal request for the conduct of the Smart ID testing and is just waiting for PSC’s feedback on the �inal dates of the activity that will target close to 300 children.

He hopes that the testing will be done before the regional meet slated February 17 to 22 in Koronadal City.

Ancajas thrilled to be in Wildcard

ollywood’s Wild Card Boxing Club is already something of a shrine considering the greatness Manny Pacquiao achieved while studying under his mentor Freddie Roach inside its walls.

Judging by the expression of Jerwin Ancajas, the International Boxing Federation super-�lyweight champion and Pacquiao countryman, the place has taken on a reputation as hallowed ground in the Philippines.

Ancajas (28-1-1, 19 knockouts), who’ll defend his belt for the fourth time when he meets Mexico’s Israel Gonzalez (21-1, eight KOs) Saturday in Corpus

Christi, Texas, urged his handlers to grant him a detour to visit Roach and Wild Card last week.

“I’m so happy and glad to have seen this. My dream has come true now,” Ancajas said. “For me, sir, this is a blessing. I’ve always heard people talking about how famous Wild Card was, and I told myself, ‘Someday, I’ll get there.’ “ Pacquiao’s magni�icent rise to become boxing’s only seven-division champion began just after the turn of the century, when he walked up the gym’s steps to �ind Roach, creating a union that ranks alongside the bonds between

ACANJAS,P13

DABAWENYO CHAMPION. IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is thrilled to be in the same training facility as his idol Manny Pacquiao.

Dagmil added that South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes, in a separate meeting, welcomed the idea of hosting a provincial consultative meeting and grassroots coaching education.

Fuentes, according to him, is also interested to making the province a PSI regional training center since it has a standard sports complex that can accommodate it.

“The province spends

millions to maintain the sports complex in Koronadal City,” he said.

It can be recalled that South Cotabato athletes brought the Socsksargen region to its �ifth overall �inish in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa.

Aside from producing Olympians, the province also has Asian champions and SEA Games medalists in different sports. (PSI)

CA denies POC request for TRO

T

he Court of Appeals denied on Tuesday a request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) �iled by the Philippine Olympic Committee on a decision by a Pasig court for the POC to hold elections anew for the positions of President and Chairman of the said organization.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh of the Eleventh Division of the Appellate Court, and concurred in by Division Chairman Justice Ramon M. Bato Jr. And Senior Member Justice Edwin D. Sorongon, the Court said

“the court �inds no ground for the issuance of a TRO.” The case stemmed from the disquali�ication of Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas and Cong. Abraham Tolentino of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines as candidates for president and chairman respectively, in the 2016 elections of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

This allowed former Cong.

Jose Cojuangco Jr. To run unopposed for the presidency. There was no quali�ied candidate for chairman.

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