Edge10 issue 220, February 7, 2018

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2018

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

INFORMED. Personnel from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) listen while an officer gives some instructions during a public gathering along Roxas Avenue in Davao City. DCPO director Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum proposed to the City Council the need

to hire additional 1,700 police personnel to decrease the current ratio to one policeman per 500 people and to put up additional police stations to further strengthen the security of the city. Lean Daval Jr

P40-B PUZZLE

Amount needed to build 59,000 new houses

By JIMMY K. LAKING

T

he city of Davao is bent on providing housing for 59,000 households in the next five years as mandated by the Comprehensive Urban Shelter and Services Development Code of 2007.

But where to source the P40 Billion amount needed to make the dream come true?

It is a tall order indeed, conceded Councilor Rene Elias Lopez, chair of the committee on housing, rural and urban development at the Pulong pulong ni Pulong on Tuesday.

He said the city is looking forward to source P10-Billion of the total amount from government agencies to include the National Housing Authority.

“We are also looking towards international agencies and the United Nation’s housing agency for assistance,” he said.

The city has set its eyes on purchasing 223 hectares of land to address the 59,000 housing backlog but would need a total of 668 hectares in the long term.

Of the number, 30,000 households are squatting on private lands while 19,000 households are currently residing in danger zones.

At least eight to 9,000 households are in danger of being evicted.

Lopez said there is no timetable for the implementation ‘but 2018 will be a crucial year’ in so far as ad-

dressing the housing back log is concern.

The city’s shelter code is considered the �irst LGU-initiated code of its kind in the Philippines and is meant to ensure that all Dabawenyos are entitled to shelter.

Lopez said it addresses the concerns faced by informal settlers, displaced persons and squatters.

He said the city government is currently at work in hammering out a local shelter plan that would be submitted to multi-sectoral review and consultation be-

P40-B,P10

Dad seeks permits for home-sharing booking

By JUDIE VEGA

C

ouncilor Al Ryan Alejandre wants home-stay and self-styled accommodation owners especially those listed in home-sharing

booking applications such as Airbnb, VRBO, tripping.com, Flipkey, Home Away, and others to acquire business per-

DAD,P10

Dough-it-yourself

A1

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

SMUGGLED CARS. President Rodrigo Duterte is accompanied by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III as they inspect the smuggled vehicles before they were destroyed at the Port Area in Manila on Tuesday.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Farming of seaweed, T lemongrass sought

BI deports 74 rude aliens

By JUDIE VEGA

T

he Davao Investors Association is targeting to expand lemongrass and seaweed production in Davao Region due to huge demand.

Virgilio Sangutan, the chair of the United Investors Organizations in the Philippines, said that lemon grass and seaweed production have huge potentials especially when there is value added to the products.

He said some of the po-

tential products that can be made from seaweeds include fertilizers, crackers, noodles, and pharmaceutical products while lemongrass oil for cosmetic purposes is in demand in South Korea and Europe.

Sangutan said that inventors developed a technology

that will help farmers grow lemongrass and seaweeds ef�iciently and effectively.

“A technology extracting lemongrass oil from freshly picked lemongrass is being used now. This technology involves a steam process in which the distilled liquid coming from its vapor will be processed to become lemongrass oil,” he said during the Sangutan added that a Filipino investor from Butuan City, Engr.

Rudy Cane, has expressed

interest in buying lemongrass from Davao Region once the industry had been properly cultivated.

A hectare of land can accommodate 10,000 individual lemongrass plants with each plant weighing 3 kilos and sold at P5 per kilo,” Sangutan said “This plant can be of low maintenance given that it doesn’t actually require fertilizers as it grows and �lourishes,” he said.

party of the country.

Alvarez, the national secretary general of the party, has been much visible in mammoth mass oathtaking activities nationwide which attracted turncoats from many incumbent of�icials such as those from the ranks of Liberal Party.

He earlier expelled several area council of�icers including Mindanao area council president Cesar Cuntapay, his provincemate and erstwhile political ally.

PDP-Laban area council leaders took turns in airing their woes over several acts of Alvarez such as in replacing them as

of�icers with new members and appointees following his mass oathtaking activities “in violation of PDP-Laban constitution.”

A leader from Zamboanga Sibugay said that it was unfair to them as they were only the ones roaming in their province to campaign for President Duterte, and they were replaced by Nacionalista members while other new members via appointment bragged over their party membership without having a PDP-Laban chapter.

Darhani clari�ied that they are not replacing the national of�icers such as President Duterte,

FARMING,P10

PDP-Laban leaders convene to replace Alvarez loyalists

S

ome 257 PDP-Laban leaders from various regions in the country trooped Saturday in Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City and converted their national conference into a National Council in session.

The National Council in their party’s constitution and bylaws is the one authorized to call for the yearly PDP-Laban national assembly, which is the highest body that would elect national of�icers for two-year term.

The convened body asserting to be composed of the “true and original” PDP-Laban members unanimously elected Atty.

Rogelio “Bic-Bic” Garcia, PDP-Laban Region XII area president, and Abbin Darhani, National Capital Region area president, as the National Council president and vice president, respectively.

Garcia said the move to convene into a National Council is rightful and mandated in the party’s constitution.

This group of PDP-Laban leaders have been questioning the nationwide sweep of mass oathtaking activities initiated by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III which easily made the PDP-Laban as now the ruling

PDP,P10

he Bureau of Immigration has advised foreigners visiting the country not to be rude and disrespectful towards immigration of�icers or they will be turned away at the ports for being undesirable aliens.

“The entry and stay of foreigners in the country is not a right but a mere privilege,” BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said. “Thus, they ought to show respect and courtesy to immigration of�icers upon their arrival in our ports of entry.”

According to Morente, the BI has been strictly implementing a policy to exclude or

disallow the entry of foreigner who show disrespect or make offensive utterances to symbols of Philippine authority.

He said such ground for exclusion is listed under a memorandum order that then immigration chief Andrea Domingo issued on March 29, 2001.

The BI chief issued the statement after BI port operations division chief Marc Red Mariñas reported that a total of 74 aliens were barred from entering the country last year for being disrespectful to immigration of�icers.

BI,P10

Sto. Tomas makes do with one term mayors

L

ike they immediately throw and dump the banana peel after eating its fruit and eat another delicious banana again, the voters of Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte can be said to be voraciously connosieur and taste-selective of their mayors.

For one false bad behavior shown by their incumbent mayor, usually �irst-termers, the Sto. Tomas voters would easily replace their mayor with new one they want to taste. A banana republic town?

“Lahi gyod ang botante dire, usually one term lang ang mayor since we became a municipality,” said ABC president and representative to the Sangguniang Bayan

Ricky Inodio-an.

He recalled it is only former Mayor Dr. Maximo Estela who stayed the longest. He graduated after three terms.

Those who became mayors for one term only were Salving Royo, now Councilor Dario Romano and Bong Andamon.

But good: Romano and Andamon and incumbent Mayor Jun Batosalem became kapitan of Brgy. Tibal-og, the poblacion of Sto. Tomas, �irst before they became mayor.

Sounds terri�ic precedents for ABC Rep. Inodio-an?

He is the only Tibal-og kapitan though who became an ABC rep to the sanggunian even if he

STO.,P10

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

IP leaders seek justice for slain leader, son

D

AVAO CITY – At least 200 leaders of Indigenous People (IP) from different barangays of Talaingod, Davao del Norte will stage a rally Wednesday at JBL Gym at the town center to seek justice for the death of a tribal leader and his son on February 4. ] Capt. Edson Abello, the Civil-Military Operations (CMO) of�icer of 1001st Infantry Brigade, said the IP leaders of Talaingod town strongly raised their voice against the killing of Datu Banadjao Mampaundag and son Jhonard by alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Banadjao and Jhonard were killed inside their home at around 4 a.m. Sunday at sitio Igang, Barangay Palma Gil. The incident happened a day after Banadjao came home from

the IP Leaders Summit in Davao City called by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Banadjao was one of the tribal leaders who signed a manifesto of support to the government’s peace effort in the recently concluded Indigenous People Leaders’ Summit at Camp Felix Apolinario, the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) in Panacan last week.

Major Ezra Balagtey, the spokesperson for the EastMinCom, said a group of Tagalog-speaking members of the NPA arrived at sitio Igang.

The commander or leader of the group reportedly gave the command to his subordinates as if they were government soldiers.

But the armed men suddenly

IP,P11

Robredo accepts Marcos dare to withdraw motions delaying recount

M

ANILA -- The camp of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Tuesday accepted the challenge of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to withdraw all the motions they had �iled in connection with the latter’s electoral protest pending before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to be able to proceed with the recount.

“We accept the challenge of Mr. Marcos and his lawyer to sign a joint motion to withdraw any and all pending motions and incidents at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal which may cause the delay of the recount of ballots from the pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental,” Romulo Macalintal, Robredo lead counsel said in a statement “I am inviting Mr. Marcos and his lawyer tomorrow (Wednes-

day) at 9 a.m. to sign a joint motion. This is to con�irm that we are not causing the delay in the recount of ballots,” Macalintal added.

“It is Mr. Marcos’ raising of baseless allegations and irrelevant issues that is causing the delay in the recount,” he noted.

Petitioner Marcos said he was also ready to withdraw his motions so as to stop the bickering from both camps.

“To remove all of these accusations �lying back and forth I reiterate my challenge withdraw all your motions that could serve to delay the recount, I will withdraw all my motions that has been pending para wala ng (so that there will be no) outstanding issues, wala nang (no) instances na kailangan pang pag-aralan ng (that needs to be studied by the) Tribunal, at pupuntahan na natin

ROBREDO,P10

WHAT IS TO BE DONE. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum presents to the City Council the proposed expansion of DCPO’s structure and organization during a regular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr

DepEd, FB, Globe team up to teach kids digital discernment

M

ANILA -- With the goal of promoting a more responsible cyber use among students, the Department of Education (DepEd), Facebook, and Globe have teamed up in developing modules for a workshop called “Digital Discernment” that would be rolled out in schools across the country soon.

“Part of our K to 12 curriculum is to educate children

how to use social media,” said DepEd Undersecretary Tonisi-

to Umali in a media brie�ing held Tuesday in BGC, Taguig.

“Education Secretary Leonor Briones engages with the private sector in this endeavor, to help teach kids the (responsible) use of social media.”

About 100 public high school students from Metro Manila attended the workshop’s launch at the Mind Museum on Tuesday. The workshop aims to teach online

DEPED,P10

Ex-NPA rebels off to Manila to dine with Duterte

D

ON THE WORKS. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 11 director Raul Alvarez Jr bares the plan of at least 34 private tertiary schools in the region to increase tuition and other fees next school year. Lean Daval Jr

users to be critical thinkers and recognize if the information is intended as a joke or is intentionally crafted to mislead people.

“Digital Discernment” also targets to help students Grades 7-12 to identify credible information, since the workshop includes tips in verifying facts from opinions and examining online sources.

AVAO CITY – The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) sent off the �irst batch of the 683 former New People’s Army (NPA) Tuesday morning to dine with President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was a promise of the President last month to meet the surrenderers in Malacañang.

The dinner with the President is scheduled Wednesday, February 7.

Eastmincom spokesperson Maj. Ezra Balagtey said the trip to the big city was also part of an educational tour of the former rebels, who took off from the Tactical Operation Group XI in Sasa.

“This is to encourage active participation of the former rebels in nation-building and peace-building,” Balagtey said.

They will get to see historical places like Intramuros and project sites like mushroom production and other farms in Bulacan to help them get ideas on how to improve their lives and

be self-sustaining.

It may be recalled that Duterte met with the 683 NPA surrenders in December last year at the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) Covered Court in Panacan, Davao City.

They came from the provinces of Agusan, Bukidnon, Surigao, Davao, Cotabato and Sarangani.

The surrenderers underwent veri�ication process for their automatic enrolment to the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) where they will receive P15,000 �inancial support, another P50,000 for livelihood, and a remuneration for the surrendered �irearm with an amount ranging from P12,000 to P210,000 depending on the type of �irearms that they turned over.

Their surrender also came with the surrender of 265 high and low-powered �irearms.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to

EX-NPA,P10

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Del Monte PH readies IPO

M

ANILA -- Food and beverage conglomerate Del Monte Paci�ic Limited (DMPL) aims to list its wholly-owned Philippine subsidiary, Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI), on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) mainly for debt repayment and general corporate purposes.

DMPL disclosed to the PSE that its subsidiary has �iled application documents for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) of common shares comprising the sale of 20 percent of its issued capital by way of a secondary offer.

DMPI on Monday applied for the registration of the offer shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and for the listing of all its issued and outstanding common shares, including the offer shares, with the PSE. The offering will be subject to receipt of the requisite reg-

ulatory approvals and market conditions.

BDO Capital & Investment Corporation has been appointed as the issue manager, the sole global coordinator and the sole book runner for the offering.

About two-thirds of DMPI’s sales come from the Philippines predominantly under the Del Monte brand, and one-third from the export markets under the S&W brand and through private label.

DMPI is a market leader in canned pineapple juice and juice drinks, canned pineapple and tropical mixed fruits, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce and tomato ketchup, and is a household name in the Philippines.

It also operates one of the world’s largest fully-integrated pineapple operations, and has been growing and processing pineapple for over 90 years, supporting its market leadership and high quality products. (PNA)

BPI Q4 2017 income surges 15% to P5.37B

B

ank of the Philippine Islands posted P5.37 billion in net income for the fourth quarter of 2017, up 14.9% from P4.67 billion in the same period in 2016, on the back of robust revenues.

For full-year 2017, net income reached P22.42 billion, up by 1.7% compared to 2016 results.

Excluding one-off gains from the sale of securities in 2016, net income is up 31.3%. Comprehensive income grew 3.1% to P22.41 billion.

Total revenues reached P71.02 billion in 2017, up 6.7% as net interest income climbed to P48.04 billion, up 13.4% as a result of asset growth and improvement in net interest margin.

Non-interest income dipped slightly to P22.98 billion, or down 4.9%, in the absence of the oneoff trading gains recorded in the previous year.

However, net of one-off gains from the sale of securities in

2016, non-interest income grew by 18.4%.

The absence of one-off gains was partially offset by higher feebased income which climbed to P19.9 billion, a boost of 15.6% year-on-year, driven by higher credit card fees, trust and investment management fees, insurance fees, bank commissions and service charges.

The Bank continues to be a leader in pro�itability metrics, with cost-to-income ratio of 54.3%, slightly higher compared to 52.5% in 2016, driven mainly by digitalization initiatives.

Return on Equity (ROE) was 12.8% and Return on Assets (ROA) was 1.3%, slightly lower by 1.0 and 0.12 percentage points, respectively.

Operating expenses totaled P38.53 billion, up 10.3% as spending on technology, operations and marketing increased in order to sustain growth initiatives, and as asset growth was accompanied by an increase in

BPI,P10

PREVIEW. Jason Magnaye, manager for reputation and stakeholder management of Therma South, Inc., walks members of the City Council through the company’s Energy Education Center during his presentation on Tuesday’sregular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod. Lean Daval Jr

BIR eyes amnesty for taxpayers with cases T

he Bureau of Internal Revenue is considering including in its planned tax amnesty program those with pending tax evasion cases.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee Monday, BIR Assistant Commissioner Alfredo Misajon told lawmakers that the BIR was considering to allow individuals with pending tax evasion cases to avail of the

B

of Super Banat initiated the project and envision ‘Beyond Siargao’ to be the voice of the people of these islands.

“We will strive to chronicle events, activities, news and updates on issues confronting the island. We have features in sur�ing, business, among others,” Garcia said.

Some stories will be written in Surigaonon.

“What’s truly exciting is that we will be the �irst community paper in the country that is available to all readers for free,” Garcia said. (MindsNews)

to have questionable tax payments.

“Maybe it’s better that they are given special rates, higher rates, to distinguish them from the ordinary availers,” he said.

Misajon, however, declined to give any �igures or possible rates.

“Well, it’s really up to our congressmen. We at the BIR only implement it,” he said.

He said the amount they

BIR,P10

PH lagging behind in digital race—DOF

‘Beyond Siargao’ F mag launched

eyond Siargao, a monthly newsmagazine covering Siargao and Bucas Grande islands was launched here Sunday at the Bravao Beach Resort.

“We are very excited to present this �irst ever monthly publication of Siargao and Bucas Grande Island,” said Olga Garcia, 25, editor-in-chief of Beyond Siargao.

The monthly paper, which will be distributed for free, is a sister publication of Super Banat, a weekly newspaper based in Surigao City.

Garcia and Roel Catoto

condonation but they needed to explain why they erred in their duty to pay taxes.

Misajon said the mere �iling of the case was not enough to bar any taxpayer from availing of the condonation unless the court had already decided on the charges.

In an interview after the hearing, Misajon said he had no idea how many individuals had pending tax evasion cases, citing that this information belonged to another department that was not under his jurisdiction.

He, however, said that once these individuals availed of the planned tax amnesty, it was being considered to give them higher penalty than those who had not been found

Has a lot of catching up to do in infra

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Philippines has a lot of catching up to do in the digital race, starting with modernizing its physical infrastructure, which the Duterte administration is doing now with unmatched public investments in this sector.

Dominguez said the Philippine government also has to encourage people and industries to embrace the digital economy to prepare the country for the future that is now being shaped by technology companies like Alibaba.

“The Philippines has to catch up �irst like China. You invested a lot in infrastructure.

After the catch up, we go beyond certain steps… but �irst we have to raise money and convince people, encourage

new industries,” Dominguez said during the �irst day of the New Economy Workshop organized by the Alibaba Business School for visiting Philippine of�icials and representatives of the business sector.

Dominguez said “our experience here in China is very important to look at what the future would be. It is helpful for us to be consulting with Jack Ma and his group because they are visionary and they have actual �ield experience in bringing the future to reality using the power of cloud computing, the internet, and computers to analyze big data.”

Brian Wong, the Alibaba Group’s vice president and head of the company’s Globalization Initiatives, said that like what China did, the Philippines can capitalize on the digital era

by cultivating entrepreneurship in e-commerce and coming out with regulations supportive of digital trade and electronic payment systems.

It is expected that the Philippines can catch up in the digital race and take advantage of the bene�its of e-commerce (electronic commerce) to empower its businesses by developing its mass market of 100 million-plus Filipino consumers.

For example, the electronic payments in China were non-existent in 1999 but has now expanded to 11 times the size of all similar transactions value in the United States. In 2016, China recorded 790 billion USD electronic transactions against the United States’ 79 billion, data from a research report showed.

“That is the type of change that can happen in the country. In the Philippines with a hundred and plus million population, it has a massive market that can be developed. Like the Secretary said, you can catch up and leapfrog,” said Wong during his lecture at the New Economy Workshop.

Upon the invitation of Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, Dominguez, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Cyd Tuaño Amador, Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vivencio Dizon and other government of�icials and representatives from the Philippines’ business sector

PH,P11

ECONOMY 5

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

PH, Turkey to boost trade, economic cooperation

T

he Philippines and Turkey are set to kick off their Joint Committee for Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation on Tuesday to discuss strengthening of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the two governments will have the inaugural JCTEC in Ankara, Turkey.

The Philippine trade delegation to Ankara is led by DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, along with other government of�icials.

During the JCTEC, DTI Undersecretary and Board of

Investment Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo and the Head of Investment Services Department at the Investment Support and Promotion Agency under the Turkey Prime Ministry, Mustafa Rumeli, will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on exchanging information in investment environment and opportunities.

Under the MOU, the two countries will share best practices in investment promotion and in attracting foreign investments.

The Philippines and Turkey will support investment

PH,P11

SP confirms 2017 revised traffic code of Panabo City

UNEXPECTED RISE. A pump attendant refills a public utility jeepney with diesel fuel at a gasoline station along Quirino Avenue in Davao City in Tuesdays. Petroleum companies raised pump prices on Tuesday as major oil producers remain firm on cutting down supply. Lean Daval Jr

Davao as RP’s cacao, chocolate capital eyed

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he Davao City Council has passed a resolution urging the Senate to declare the city as Cacao and Chocolate Capital of the Philippines.

During the suspended rules on Tuesday’s regular session, the council has approved the resolution requesting Sen. Cynthia A. Villiar, chairperson of senate committee on agriculture and food to sponsor its declaration in the Senate.

City council’s committee on agriculture and food chair Marissa P. Salvador-Abella said in her resolution the declaration will help the farmers in advancing their income, create jobs, liveli-

hood and spur tourism and other economic activities in the City.

“Cacao is an important commodity that offers a good source of income for small-holder farmers and food processors,” she said.

She said the city aims to produce quality chocolates that will be compettive and will boosts the ef�iciency of cacao farmers.

Abella said based on Philippine Statistics Authority record 80 percent of the total cacao pro-

duction in the country is sourced from Davao Region and ‘approximately’ 30 percent of it comes from the city.

“Cacao production in Davao Region has been increasing with an average growth ofat least six percent anually from 20102016,” Abella said in her resolution.

Abella said the city has more than 30 chocolate processors and 6,000 cacao farmers planting appraximately 3,475 hectares of land.

She said the city is also home to the multi-awarded Malagos Chocolate, a single �ine �lavored choco ate which garnered two local and eght international awards

induding one of the Best 50 in the World.

“Davao City is home to the only Chocolate Museum in the country,” she said.

Abella also said the Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched Davao Chocolate Tour Overload, an educational tour that highlights the transformation of cacao fruit into chocolate to further promote the cacao industry.

In a chance interview, Abella said the passage of resolution is a requirement asked by Senator Villar for the declaration which she will be �illing in the Senate.

current BFAR National Director Commodore Eduardo Gongona in a message read by his representative Alfeo Piloton, the Assistant Bureau Director and Focal Person of Law Enforcement and Regulations Cluster of the BFAR Central Of�ice.

Piloton noted that while the turnover of this �loating asset is in line with the national government’s efforts in combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, local government units are also encouraged to advocate for local measures to protect the ocean, such as the reactivation of the “Bantay Dagat” program to further secure Davao Oriental’s aquatic resources. He assured the Bureau’s support in terms of trainings and capacity-building to

ensure development, management and conservation of the �ishery and aquatic resources.

BFAR Regional Director Fatma Idris said during the turnover ceremony on Wednesday, January 31, that the new patrol boat intends “to help secure our �ishing grounds from illegal commercial �ishing operators and drive away small illegal �ishing vessels encroaching on our �ishing grounds.” She added that by strengthening information campaign, illegal �ishing can be reduced by 70 percent.

And with the presence of patrol boats to secure our �ishing grounds, illegal �ishing will be further reduced by 20 percent.

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang thanked the BFAR for the new equipment which he say

would help not only in securing the province’s �ishing territory but also in guarding the province’s rich aquatic resources for the present and future generations.

“This is truly a welcome development because we really lack patrol boats here in the province. We need to protect our �ishing territories and our coast because this is the primary source of our food and livelihood,” he said.

LCDR Garry O. Laynesa of the PCG thanked the Bureau for the additional patrol vessel which he says would not only help in securing the province’s territorial waters but can also be used in responding to maritime accidents and calamities

Patrol boat to help protect Davao Oriental’s fishing grounds

C

ITY OF MATI-- Aiming to help conserve and protect the province’s �ishing grounds from illegal �ishing while further enhancing maritime security here, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) formally turned over a brand new patrol boat to the Philippine Coast Guard based in the City of Mati.

“Study shows that our economy loses P40 billion annually due to illegal �ishing activities. Considering that we Filipino people generally rely on the �ishing industry not only for livelihood but also for our daily sustenance, the protection and conservation of our �isheries and aquatic resources is of paramount importance,” said Undersecretary for Fisheries and con-

PATROL,P11

T

he Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao del Norte has recently con�irmed City Ordinance 31-17 otherwise known as the 2017 Revised Traf�ic Code of Panabo City.

According to Public Transportation Committee Chair Datu Ariel S. Macla, the revision of the existing traf�ic code had to be enacted as the previous one has limited the operation of the concerned executive departments in regulating traf�ic violations.

In this Code, it has increased the penalty for traf�ic violators with a minimum penalty of P300.

For Colorum Motorized PUV tricycles, the penalty has been increased from P150 to P2500 plus impoundment for three

months.

Non-display of fare matrix or the of�icial taripa will be �ined P500 while overcharging of fares and refusal to render service/ transportation imposes a penalty of P800.

Meanwhile, the Local Chief Executive, Mayor James G. Gamao, has issued an Executive Order creating Task Force Transpubliko to address the public transportation and traf�ic concerns in the city, and to properly enforce the penalties as provided in the ordinance.

As of today, a complaint may be �iled before the Traf�ic Management Unit at Panabo Gym or through the Facebook account of the City Government Panabo.

(PIO)

NEDA seeks measures to ease TRAIN’s impacts

T

he Philippine government must ensure mitigation measures are in place to cushion the transitory in�lationary impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, following recorded increases in the country’s in�lation rate. Equally important are vigilant price monitoring and prompt action to curb pro�iteering.

Increases in food and nonfood prices pushed the country’s in�lation to 4 percent in January 2018, hitting the upper band of the government target, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

This is higher than the previous month’s 3.3 percent and the 2.7 percent in January 2017.

The faster overall price increase of goods can be attributed mainly to the 4.5 percent increase in the food and non-alcoholic beverages segment, which constitutes 39 percent of the consumer basket.

The faster price adjustments especially for fruits and corn can be partly traced to the lingering effects of successive typhoons that occurred in the last quarter of 2017.

“The push in in�lation is

partly due to TRAIN, considering particularly the excise on fuel and additional sin taxes,” Pernia said, reiterating however that the effects of the TRAIN, which overhauled the country’s tax system for the �irst time in two decades, would be minimal and temporary.

The �irst package of TRAIN reduced the income taxes of 99 percent of the country’s income taxpayers.

The commodity group of alcoholic beverages and tobacco— comprising only 2 percent of the consumer basket—recorded a double-digit in�lation, up to 12.3 percent from 6.4 percent in the previous month.

“With the initial in�lationary effects of TRAIN, we must ensure faster provision of �inancial assistance through the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program,” the NEDA of�icial said.

This will help the poorest 50 percent of Filipino households cope with the transitory impact of TRAIN on prices, he added.

He also reiterated the agency’s call to replace quantitative restrictions on rice imports with tariffs to stabilize the country’s rice supply and lower the price of rice. (NEDA)

6 SUBURBIA RISING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Woman wounded in grenade attack

A

LEOSAN, North Cotabato -- Police here have launched a massive manhunt against two men who tossed a hand grenade and injured a woman in the ensuing blast along the national highway on Sunday night.

“We are pursuing a lead, hopefully it will result to the identi�ication, arrest and prosecution of the suspects,” Sr. Insp. Edwin Abantes, Aleosan town police chief, said Monday.

He identi�ied the victim as

Arlene Tamanal, a resident of Barangay Pagangan here.

Tamanal was walking toward a roadside variety store when the suspects, on board a motorbike, zipped by and lobbed a grenade towards her.

The victim sustained injuries on her hands and is getting medical attention at the Aleosan District Hospital.

Abantes said investigators are looking at land con�lict as a possible motive of the attack based on the initial statement of the victim . (PNA)

Town pushes calamity declaration due to fire

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Of�icials of Surallah town in South Cotabato are pushing for the declaration of the area in state of calamity following a huge �ire in its main public market over the weekend that left a damage of around P11.3 million.

Surallah Mayor Antonio Bendita said Monday they recommended such declaration to their Sangguniang Bayan or municipal council to facilitate the necessary interventions in line with the incident.

Some 39 stalls situated at the old building of the Surallah public market in Barangay Poblacion were destroyed in the more than three-hour �ire on Saturday dawn that reached the third alarm.

Investigators of the Bureau Fire Protection in Surallah said the �ire started at past 2 a.m. at the center portion of the public market where the stalls selling used clothing and fruit

stands were located.

Bendita said they will utilize a portion of their calamity funds to assist the affected market stall owners and vendors.

He said they met with the affected stall owners and vendors on Sunday to account for the actual damages.

“Once the (calamity) declaration is made, we will immediately some assistance to them,” he said in a radio interview.

The mayor said the amount of the assistance will depend upon the assessment and recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Of�ice.

Jesus Apelido, team leader of Surallah’s civil security unit assigned at the public market, said the initially noticed a thick smoke and �ire coming from one of the stalls.

He said they immediate-

TOWN,P11

PHOTO SOUVENIR. Almost always, people who visit Bislig City in Surigao del Sur, has to make a stopover on this place for a souvenir shot. After all, this is one way of telling others that they had been to the city. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

SoCot gets P370 M under ‘Build, Build, Build’ infra G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will implement around P370 million worth of priority road projects this year in parts of South Cotabato province.

Jennifer Bretana, coordinator of the Provincial Planning and Development Of�ice, said Monday these comprised 14 projects that were approved under the national government’s “Build, Build, Build” initiative.

She said at least 10 projects were approved under the Tourism Road Infrastructure Project (TRIP) and four under the Roads Leveraging Linkages of Industry and Trade (ROLL IT) program.

TRIP is a joint project of the

DPWH and the Department of Tourism that is aimed to improve access to various local tourism destinations.

ROLL IT, which is also a joint undertaking of the Department of Trade and Industry and the DPWH, focuses on the opening and improvement of road networks to boost economic and trade activities.

Bretana said the 10 road projects under the TRIP have a total funding of P200 million while the

ROLL IT projects cost around P170 million.

The approved TRIP projects are: the access road and bridge leading to the weaving center, Trappistine Monastery, paragliding site and view deck for wild pig watching area in Barangay Landan, Polomolok; access road leading to Mt. Matutum jump-off point in Sitio Glandang, Barangay Kablon, Tupi; junction Lang Dulay road leading to Tnalak weaving sites in Barangays Lamdalag, Klubi and Lamcade in Lake Sebu; junction Ben Sidon-Bacdulong road leading to the Lake Sebu circumferential road in Barangay Bacdulong, Lake Sebu; Poblacion-Barangay Laconon road leading to Bacngeb River Cave in Laconon, Tboli; Poblacion-Barangay Kematu

of transitional shelters in Barangay Sagonsongan, Marawi City on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

SOCOT,P11

Abu Sayyaf attacks won’t hamper projects in ARMM

Z

Displaced Marawi residents wait behind the ropes for President Rodrigo Duterte to distribute the certificates of acceptance and occupancy

road leading to Hidak Falls, Panamin Village and Kematu mining area in Kematu, Tboli; junction Surallah-Lake Sebu road leading to the NV Vogt solar power plant in Barangay Centrala, Surallah; Poblacion-Barangay Salacafe road leading to the jump-off point to Lake Holon and Mt. Melibingoy in Salacafe, Tboli; Poblacion-Barangay Lamhaku road leading to El Kini Hot Springs in Lamhaku, Tboli; and the road and bridge from Poblacion to Traan Kini Springs in Barangay Lamdalag, Lake Sebu.

The four ROLL IT projects are: the Poblacion–San Isidro-Liberty-Pulabato-Palo road in Tampakan town; junction crossing Palakan-Lamcaliaf-Kalsangi road in Polomolok; Lote Linan-Poblacion

AMBOANGA CITY --3 Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has vowed to continue the implementation of infrastructure projects amid attacks by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) against workers undertaking the program.

Hataman issued the statement after the members of the ASG killed two workers and injured two others in an ambush last week at Barangay Baas, Lamitan City in the province of Basilan.

The victims were employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways in ARMM (DPWH-ARMM) which is undertaking road construction projects in the province.

“We remain �irm in our determination to continue building the infrastructure our people need. Yes, we grieve, but these attacks will not deter the ARMM regional government from continuing efforts to provide the infrastructure and vital services our people need,” Hataman said in an interview here.

He noted that the Abu Sayyaf bandits persisted in attacking since 2012 the ARMM government’s ongoing construction of transcentral roads in Basilan.

He said the bandits are against the projects “because these roads provide the law enforcement and military personnel and their vehicles easier access to the Abu Sayyaf lairs on the is-

ABU,P11

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA RISING 7

SoCot to enlist 763 students for SPES

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -The provincial government of South Cotabato is targeting to enlist a total of 763 students for the implementation of this year’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

Merlyn Esteban, coordinator of the South Cotabato Public Employment Service Of�ice (PESO), said Tuesday they had allotted a total of 500 slots for the program’s summer component and 263 for the year-round rollout.

She said they were currently processing the application for the summer program, which would be implemented in batches in April and May. More than a thousand applicants �locked last month to the PESO at the provincial capitol compound in Koronadal City to apply for the summer program.

A panel led by PESO personnel completed last week the preliminary interview of the applicants.

Under the program, Esteban said the quali�ied applicants would be deployed in various of�ices of the provincial government and other local establishments.

She said they would be employed for a minimum of 20 days and would earn a salary of at least P5,900.

The of�icial said such �igure was based on the prevailing min-

imum daily wage rate of P295 in Region 12.

“The salaries of our SPES bene�iciaries increased signi�icantly these past years due to the adjustments in our minimum wage rates,” Esteban said.

SPES is a �lagship program implemented by local government units and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to assist poor but deserving students and out-of-school youths intending to pursue their education to gain employment during summer, Christmas vacation or any time of the year.

The initiative, which has a maximum annual cycle of 52 days per bene�iciary, mainly caters to students in the tertiary, technical or vocational level.

DOLE provides for the 40 percent of the bene�iciaries’ salaries, which is based on an area’s prevailing minimum daily wage rate, while the employing of�ices or establishments shoulder the remaining 60 percent.

For the summer SPES, the local government will spend a minimum of P1.7 million for the salaries of the quali�ied students and out-of-school youths.

The provincial government is currently �inalizing the application schedule for the year-round SPES component. (PNA)

OTABATO CITY -- Lawmen arrested Monday a village councilor here and two other cohorts for illegal possesion of drugs, explosives and �irearms, police said Tuesday.

In a report, the Criminal investigation and Detection Group – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM) identi�ied the suspects as Sadat Ayunan, a councilman of Barangay Kalanganan Mother, and his companions, Kusin Inalogan and Abdillah Ibrahim.

Seized from the three were four big packets of shabu, drug paphernaila, three .45-caliber pistols, a .38-caliber pistol, hand grenade, M-79 geenade launcher, and an assortment of ammunition.

Chief Insp. Allan Uy, CIDG-ARMM spokesperson, said they had long been minitoring the activities of Uy and his cohorts. He said appropriate charges were readied against the suspects for unlawful possession of drugs and war materials. (PNA)

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The city government’s efforts to improve its operations and governance systems received a major boost after it passed four of the seven assessment areas for local government units last year.

The local government has received a recognition from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the successful implementation of its programs and projects on disaster preparedness, business friendliness and competitiveness, environmental management, and tourism, culture

and arts.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Tuesday such result was based on the series of assessments conducted by the DILG from March to September 2017.

He expressed satisfaction with the results of the assessment and vowed to continue with the ongoing reforms, especially in the other assessment areas.

The city government is working on passing this year the assessment on the �inancial administration, social protec-

Indigenous peoples from Kapalong, Davao del Norte hold a protest rally at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples’ (NCIP) Region XI office in Davao City Thursday (16 April 2015). The lumads are calling for the scrapping of the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA)

allegedly because it cannot protect them from militarization and mining companies operating in their communities. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO

IDAPAWAN CITY -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday named an officer-in-charge to take care of the daily operation of a staterun college in Arakan, North Cotabato, recently rocked by illegal drugs and loose firearms’ controversy.

His lawyer, Israelito Torreon, claimed that Molao was not hiding and in fact ready to face the charges leveled against him in proper forum.

PDEA agents, led by the Director Levi Ortiz of PDEA Special Enforcement Service based in Manila, said more than Php500,000 worth of shabu were found in Molao’s cabinet inside the school president’s staff house.

Ortiz showed to reporters copies of the warrant for the search issued by Judge Alandrex Betoya of the Regional Trial Court. (PNA)

Aside from helping others, she added that donating blood also stimulated the bone marrow to produce new blood cells “making our blood forming organs function more effectively.”

Meanwhile, Lim is also encouraging the barangays to come up with a registry system that will serve as blood directory.

She said the directory was useful in times of emergency since it would serve as guide what types of blood were readily available in the community.

(PNA)

PRRD names OIC for NoCot Village dad 2 others nabbed for drugs, arms possession controversial state college C K Upon the recommendation of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, Clint D. Hassan, current dean of the College of Information and Communication Technology of the Cotabato Foundation College for Science and Technology (CFCST), was appointed as college OIC president.

Dr. Samson Molao, CFCST president, has not reported for work since Jan. 29 after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided his home inside the CFCST compound in Barangay Doroluman, Arakan town.

Hassan’s installation is yet to be announced publicly.

In that raid, anti-narcotic operatives seized some PhP500,000 worth of shabu and 13 high-powered guns from Molao’s staff house.

Five people who were in the staff house were arrested for gun possession.

Molao was not in his house during the PDEA raid, which was covered by a search warrant issued by a local court. PDEA charged Molao with violation of Section 6, Article 2 of the Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) that speci�ically outlawed operation of drug dens.

AMBOANGA CITY -- The Zamboanga City Blood Council (ZCBC) has embarked on information campaign to encourage the public, especially the barangays, to regularly donate blood.

Maria Christine Lim, ZCBC program coordinator, on Tuesday said this came about as only 33 out of the 98 barangays were regularly conducting blood letting activity despite an ordinance that establish City/Barangay Blood Councils.

City Ordinance No. 336 seeks to establish the City/ Barangay Blood Councils and

prescribe the rules and regulations for its effective implementation in Zamboanga city.

The ordinance was enacted on July 24, 2008 and approved on August 8 of same year.

It was aimed to institutionalize the provision of Republic Act No. 7719 otherwise known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994.

Lim said one of the hindrances in the mobile blood donation was that there were residents afraid to donate blood.

Those quali�ied to donate

blood are individuals aged 18 to 65, weighing 50 kilograms with normal blood pressure, and hemoglobin count not less than 125 gm/ml.

Lim said they had coordinated with the Liga ng Mga Barangay to encourage all of the barangays to conduct their respective mobile blood donations.

“We have to inculcate the value to be there for others. We will not have problem on blood supply if all healthy individuals will donate blood and all barangays will conduct mobile blood donations” she said.

Governance reforms get boost in GenSan Zamboanguenos urged to donate blood G Z GOVERNCANCE,P11

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

EDITORIAL

H

Home-sharing regulation

ome-sharing has become a trend for travellers anywhere in the world who prefer to stay in homes than hotels or inns. For one, the accommodation offered by home-sharing is cheaper than hotels and more practical especially for a big group.

In Davao City, home-sharing is fast emerging as a preferred accommodation among tourists. While it has helped the city provide ample accommodation for visitors, it has also emerged as a potential competition of legitimate hotel establishments which pay business taxes and fall under strict regulations. Home-sharing, on the other hand, is a rather informal business currently spared of taxes and business permits, and hence, loosely operating. While they are essentially not illegal, these accommodations need to be regulated as they have sprung too many. Minus government regulations, both tourists and the operators of these home-sharing are unprotected.

It makes sense therefore that there is a move to require these home-sharing operators to register as business subject to regulations by

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

the local government.

Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre wants home-stay and self-styled accommodation owners especially those listed in home-sharing booking applications such as Airbnb, VRBO, tripping.com, Flipkey, Home Away, and others to acquire business permitS before operating.

According to Alejandre, these operators should pay local taxes because they fall within the amended tourism code of 2014 which provides the standardization of primary and secondary tourism industries in the city, in accordance with Republic Act No. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.

Under the said ordinance, facilities, services and attractions that are directly related or involved to tourism, such as the hotels, homestays, inns and accommodation establishments are regulated.

The measure is de�initely in stride with the trends of the times and that is essentially how our legislations should go. It’s about time, informal businesses like home-sharing fall under some sort of regulation and control. Afterall, it’s best for everyone.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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

the national association of newspapers

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

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Development hinges on stimulating Mindanao’s growth- will TRAIN finally deliver it?

The article by Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan in Business World sums it up: “THE PHILIPPINES’ bid to become a prosperous nation and reduce poverty hinges on what becomes of Mindanao’s development.

The World Bank itself had said that without progress in the region, “it is hard to see how the country can achieve sustained and inclusive growth,” according to the Washington-based lender’s October 2017 Philippines Economic Update report.

The new administration, in its medium-term Philippine Development Plan, listed countryside development as one of its priorities. And with the �irst ever election of a Philippine president from Mindanao,

things can only get better.”

We who live on the ground in Mindanao have a pretty clear idea about what ails this land of promise- among other issues, it is the lack of government support in infrastructure terms and the lack of attention to our peace process that has kept almost half the island away from opportunity.

Until now.What is going for us are the following: 1. Six of the 24 new priority infrastructure projects are in Mindanao. These are large scale public works that can only be described as game changers.

2. Previously unfunded pulic infrastructure projects such as road widening and �lyovers, farm to market roads and

MY TWO CENTS’ John Carlo B. Tria airport and seaport upgrades.

These will help make connectivity real and therefore, allow the easier movement of goods and people.

3. TRAIN, and the two prongs with which di-

rect development will be spurred.

For one, the direct stimulus afforded by TRAINs tax relief for an estimated million salaried workers on the island and the cash support for those affected by projected price increases.

This will put cash in the hands of those who in turn, will spend on additional goods and services from the local market, giving livelihood and opportunity to a wider range of families, including those in the hinterlands.

A more robust market is thus developed, that will now be partaking the infrastructure being built. The revival of the local economy will therefore be spurred.

Second, the additional infrastructure and services

that will enable greater inclusion.

This is an effort that we hope will �inally lick poverty, to bring it down to the never before reached 15%- today’s Indonesia.

This stimulus injected by TRAIN by putting cash in the hands of Filipinos is the “money in the mouth” that many in the past keep saying should happen, but never did. We are seeing a policy change we never thought possible.

Nonetheless, the refreshed hope in great things will not be silenced by the usual cynicism. We all have to participate and be vigilant to make sure this happens.

For reactions: facebook. com/johntriapage

Traffic violation fees should be pursued by CTTMO

E

very traf�ic infraction has a corresponding settlement fee so as not to crowd out the courts of law for the seemingly petty court complaints Settlement fees by erring motorists save time, money and effort to both the violator and the city government.

Violation fees can be avoided if only our motorists have the social obligation to the society to move their vehicles according to the rules and regulations embedded in the city traf�ic code. The ardent dream of every local chief executive is to have a violation-free community where there is order on city roads and in pursuing a livable community free from the dangers caused by vehicles on the road.

Reality bites. Much to my chagrin, most motorists in Davao city recklessly violate almost every rule in the city traf�ic code every minute of the day! They have the mal-idea that “violation is alright when not caught.”

These violations contribute to endangering the lives of pedestrians, other motorists, as well as private and government facilities; and more often contribute to road congestion.

Apprehending traf�ic violators is the fundamental duty of every traf�ic enforcer aside from ensuring smooth �low of traf�ic on city roads, streets and highways.

Exacting violation fees to erring motor-

ists will certainly mitigate traf�ic violations.

Any motorist cannot afford to lose time and money (or losing an appointment) by being �lagged down by an enforcer anyway.

The power to exact fees and charges on various violations of some city ordinances is the right of the local government unit authorized by Republic Act 7160. In this instance, traf�ic violation fees are used to produce road and pavement markings and improve traf�ic implements, maintain the functionality of traf�ic lights, hire additional traf�ic personnel, etc. to ensure a functional traf�ic management system. Without the traf�ic violation fees, the city cannot dish out, sustain and function properly in terms of traf�ic management.

Notorious motorists can be seen anywhere and everywhere in the city. The most violated rule in the book is illegal parking, among others. They seem not to care about how they park and where they park; and obviously they don’t have regard to pedestrians because they park their vehicles by sequestering the sidewalks. An example of this is the entire stretch of Mt. Apo St. in barangay Malvar. While the one side of the street has a paved sidewalk, the car bumpers are stuffed toward the sidewalk space making the sidewalks impassable. Other mindless motorists even have the temerity to park slanted par-

URBAN STREETGAZER Dario G. Pampanga, PhD

allel sequestering the entire sidewalk space.

The city cannot ensure order in the street without the cooperation of the motoring community. And it seems, it is a long shot before these mindless motorists cooperate with the city traf�ic authorities.

Perhaps, CTTMO chief Abude and his enforcers have to do some apprehensions not only in Apo St, but also in most roads and street in the city. These motorists have to respect the law. This is not only to educate them but to penalize them by exacting violation fees. However, prior to apprehensions, the street/s should bear an of�icial traf�ic sign-

board “No Parking” to let motorists be aware that they cannot park arbitrarily without being penalized and possibly their cars towed.

Quite literally, they are not afraid to violate because there is laxity of enforcement on the part of the enforcers, no government tow trucks, and �inally, traf�ic enforcers cannot con�iscate drivers’ licenses.

Davao city is awash with traf�ic violations and it would be a wonder why CTTMO could only manage to get a pittance of violators’ fees. Perhaps, traf�ic chief Abude needs to be creative and come up with enforcement management action plan to increase collection of violator’s fees.

Relatedly, the city’s Public Safety Command Center, which has the facilities used for ‘no-contact apprehension’ using CCTV cameras legitimized by city traf�ic code, must establish close collaboration with CTTMO in apprehending violators. These local of�ices (both funded by local funds) should devise a strategy to increase collection for the city.

Crudely, one approach is to forward the photos of erring motorists to CTTMO instead of sending it to LTO. The necessary information gathered should be inputted to a rogue’s gallery to a computer by the CTTMO and forwards the list to LTO periodically. Upon registration renewal, the LTO should not le-

gitimize its renewal unless the violator motorist secures a clearance from CTTMO upon payment of prescribed fees in the city.

This arrangement between the local government and LTO is greatly viable since the city mayor has a supervisory function over all national government of�ices located in the territorial jurisdiction of the local government. The proposed scheme could be enhanced by these three of�ices mentioned through a constructive dialogue. Currently, it is the LTO reaping all the traf�ic violation fees emanating from the use of the CCTV cameras.

By the way, it is the function of the city government of Davao to regulate traf�ic on its territorial boundaries. Additionally, the city is responsible in the procurement and maintenance of CCTV cameras, creation and funding of Public Safety Command Of�ice, the installation and maintenance of traf�ic signal lights, and the enactment of city traf�ic code.

Thus, it is NOT the Land Transportation Of�ice (LTO) that should bene�it from the city funded traf�ic facilities and infrastructure; legitimately, the city government must be the one to bene�it from it.

However, this scheme could only be possible with the stamp of approval by City Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio.

10NEWS DAD... FROM 1

mitS before operating.

Alejandre said that establishments should pay local taxes because they fall within the amended tourism code of 2014.

According to Alejandre, inns and lodges registered in online booking applications are a big help to the tourism industry because of the shortage of hotels in Davao, especially now that target for 2018 is 2.2 million tourist arrivals.

In a privilege speech during the Council’s regular session on Tuesday, Alejandre said that getting an accommodation would be easier for tourists since people are hooked to mobile phones and have the access internet.

“Home sharing applications and online platforms have been the merging trend nowadays, which allows individuals to rent out their homes to tourist,” he said.

He pointed out that the hotel and inn industry are claiming unfair competition as the latter pay taxes and are subjected to more regulations, while those listed in the sites are not.

“The reason why tourist prefers to stay in online rental homes as they come much cheaper,” he added.

Citing what he described as substandard facilities, poor customer service and safety and security risk, he batted for a regulatory legislation for online rental services so as not to put tourists in danger.

However, he said establishments have to pass the Department of Tourism’s standards and if left unregulated, this could be detrimental to the city’s hotel and inn industry.

The city’s Amended Tourism Code passed in 2015 provides the standardization of primary and secondary tourism industries in the city, in accordance with Republic Act No. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009.

Under the said ordinance, facilities, services and attractions that are directly related or involved to tourism, such as the hotels, homestays, inns and accommodation establishments are regulated.

His proposed ordinance is considered under �irst reading and jointly referrer to the Committee on Tourism and Finance, Ways & Mean and Appropriations.

Airbnb establishments will also be subjected to occupancy tax and all owners will be invited to a committee hearing.

Mariñas said Domingo’s memorandum provides not only for the exclusion of a rude foreign passenger but also his inclusion in the immigration blacklist that prevents him from returning to the Philippines.

“This is done to teach these arrogant and discourteous foreigners the lesson that ours is a sovereign country whose authority they should respect,” he said.

It was learned that aside

from the 74 aliens who were turned back, there were several foreigners who were blacklisted after they have left the country, also because they were rude to immigration authorities in our subport of�ices.

An alien blacklisted for being rude may, however, request for his removal from the blacklist to the BI commissioner by citing meritorious reasons and apologizing for his misconduct. (BI PR)

“You can harvest every three months and it will just grow anew. You only need to replace the main seedling after six years,” Sangutan added.

The seaweed farming in the country failed during earlier attempts due the lack of a central and supervising technology that will support the cultivation and progress of the industry.

Sangutan said seaweed farming is affected by strong sea current especially during the southeast monsoon or the Amihan and northeast monsoon or Habagat.

“We have developed a technology that will protect the seaweeds from strong

currents. This is developed by the local investors group in Davao,” he said.

According to Sangutan a Cebu-based manufacturer, Shemberg Group of Companies, expressed its intent to buy 1,000 metric tons (MT) of seaweeds every month. Shemberg Group of Companies is one of the leading manufacturers of re�ined carrageenan, a food additive extracted from red edible seaweeds.

Sangutan hopes that their priority projects with the objective of empowering �isherfolks and farmers in Davao Region will help improve their livelihood.

receive the mass surrender of NPA regulars and underground mass supporters in many areas of the Eastmincom.

Since the termination of the unilateral cease�ire last year, the different line units received 755 NPA members.

Last January, 59 mass supporters of the NPA yielded to the

28th Infantry Battalion Tarragona, Davao Oriental.

The mass surrender of underground mass supporters was a result of the stronger military campaign against the NPA and the community outreach activities such as grand pulong-pulong (consultation dialogue).

(Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)

BI... FROM 2

FARMING... FROM 2

EX-NPA... FROM 3

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

PDP... FROM 2

who is the PDP-Laban national chairman, and Senate President Pimentel, the national president, but only the National Council, which “has not been calling for the yearly national assemblies and not recognizing” the regional area councils of PDP-Laban.

The convened body approved a resolution pinpointing the problems on the “questionable entry of new members”, the violations to party constitution and bylaws, and saying that “loyal and committed” party members have been alarmed over the entry of “political predators, butter�lies and opportunists” to the party.

It was addressed to President Duterte.

They also approved a resolution supporting RevGov (Revolutionary Government).

Cuntapay, who �irst called for the national leaders assembly, lamented over the loss of integrity of the party that they have protected for 30 years.

In an interview, Cuntapay said Alvarez was just an associate

PDP-Laban member having no chapter to begin with and without BMS. “He became a national of�icer out of formality when the party went national to support the candidacy of President Duterte,” he said.

On the other hand, Cesar Ledesma, one of the founders of PDP-Laban, said that the participants are mostly “party leaders and cadres.” There were also few incumbents present in the gathering.

He said they have been reaching out their national leaders for more than a year to discuss the problems for several times but always they were snubbed and not recognized.

Ledesma named some of the co-founders of the PDP-Laban founded in 1981 to be former Senator Nene Pimentel, Reuben Canoy, late Davao City Mayor Zaf Respicio and few other Mindanao leaders. - Cha Monforte, Correspondent

was rivaled too strongly by the mayor’s kin during the parliamentary election.

But Royo of Brgy. Kimamon became an ABC rep also before he became mayor.

“I’m happy with my present post now, basta trabaho lang sa ta,” Kap Inodio-an said, brushing aside talks he would running for mayor in 2019.

He had his four consecutive terms sitting in the sanggunian starting when he became the SK federation president with his contemporary now Comval Congw. Maricar Zamora, their provincial SK president during the undivided Davao del Norte time.

Inodio-an ran for kapitan and shortly he is back now in the sanggunian.

He said the poblacion has population more than the four-barangay town of BE Dujali.

It has over 25,000 people.

“The town has �ive Tadeco-in�luenced barangays, with many individuals in the poblacion

working in Tadeco,” he added.

Asked on the feud of two congressmen in the province, Cong. Tony Boy Floirendo (2nd Dist.) and Speaker Bebot Alvarez, he said barangay of�icials are affected, too, adding they could have accessed projects from both of them.

Asked on the mayoral plan of his close friend Board Member Erning Evangelista, he vouched: “maayong tawo na (he’s a good man).”

On the observation of this reporter that the next mayor in town is predicted �irst by what tricycle drivers have been saying to the present mayor, Kap Inodio-an af�irmed, saying the tricycle drivers are hearing daily talks from their passengers, the townfolks, the voters.

Asked on what the trike drivers are now saying to Mayor Batosalem, Kap Ricky shot back: “Go ask them.” - Cha Monforte, Correspondent

ang pagbubukas ng balota at ang pagbilang ng balota (so that we can proceed to the opening and counting of the ballots),” Marcos said in a press conference last January 29 in Manila.

“That has been my contention since May 10 of 2016 until now. It has been the same, I have been consistent, I reissue the challenge to Mrs. Robredo, withdraw all your motions, I will withdraw all of mine and let us proceed with the recount,” the former legislator added.

Marcos issued the challenged to stop the “delaying” issues being thrown by both camps to each other.

At the same time, the vice presidential candidate in the May 2016 polls bared “solid and incontrovertible” evidence of massive fraud that transpired during the national and local elections held nearly two years ago.

Marcos questioned the presence of square shapes in the ballot images instead of the oval shapes

which voters shaded for their choice of candidates.

“When we voted, we had the oval shapes. How come in the ballot images, the ovals are gone and instead we have the squares. What does this mean?” he said.

He added, “(w)e could see based on the election results summary that the squares indicated the candidates that were voted upon. But this is a new feature that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Smartmatic added in the system and I had been told they did not inform the candidates of the presence of this feature in the images.”

But Robredo slammed Marcos’ claims that there were “massive frauds” that transpired in the May 2016 elections.

“Itong mga sinasabi niyang ito ay nakakatawa, (His remarks are funny) laughing matters as far as I am concerned. Ito iyong tinatawag na (This is what you call) ‘this made me laugh,’ sabi nga (as they say). If laughter is the best medi-

STO... FROM 2

ROBREDO... FROM 3

cine, then we can consider it the best medicine for us for the day,” Macalintal said in a press conference on January 30.

“The excited and hysterical claim of (Marcos) and his spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez that they allegedly uncovered solid and

inconvertible evidence of massive fraud that transpired in the 2016 elections’ based on their own copies of alleged ballot images used in the said election, is highly ridiculous if not outright frivolous,” the lawyer added.(PNA)

The workshop was part of Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) that was launched in 2016.

The �irst three workshop modules under this program were “Digital Insight”, which provided help to discern online behavior; “Digital Impact”, which tackled technology issues and their impact on students’ social activities; and “Digital Ambition”, which taught students technology skills to help them achieve their goals.

DepEd has been Globe’s partner since Day 1 of the DTP, and this is the �irst time that the two have tapped Facebook to help them create modules for the “Digital Discernment” workshop.

According to Globe, since DTP’s launch, the program has already reached more than 17,000 public and private high school students in the country.

The DepEd also helps Globe to reach schools.

Battling cyber risks Meanwhile, the work-

shop’s launch was held in time for the Safer Internet Day observance on February 6.

Globe’s senior vice president for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto said the company had collaborated with DepEd and Facebook to ensure that “Digital Discernment” would provide the right intervention in addressing the right use of the internet.

Globe shared that based on the 2018 DQ Global Impact Report made by DQ Institute, an educational institution based in Singapore, 56 percent of kids 8-12 years old were exposed to a variety of cyber risks, such as cyberbullying, online sexual behavior and digital misinformation.

Umali mentioned that DepEd had previously created a module to guide parents on their kids’ online behavior.

“Some kids like the 7-year olds, they are naive. Parents, for instance, should know if their kids would meet up with a ‘real person’,” he said. (PNA)

Gibbons also told Philstar sportswriter Quinito Henson: “We can pay a $20,000 exception fee for a postponement of the mandatory defense but in �ive or six months, we’ll have to �ight Sultan anyway.”

The 26-year-old Ancajas has now won his last 16 �ights,

15 of them by stoppage. The U.S. debut was made possible when he signed with Top Rank, the Las Vegas-based boxing promotion that had steered the career of several champions, including Ancajas’ co-promoter and idol Manny Pacquiao.

regulatory costs.

Provisions for loan losses taken in 2017 amounted to P3.80 billion, 20.9% lower than 2016 in anticipation of the recognition of excess reserves under Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRS) 9, which prescribes new accounting standards for �inancial instruments and impairment.

Total loans stood at P1.20 trillion, re�lecting a robust yearon-year growth of 15.5%, driven

primarily by corporate loans.

Asset quality improved with the gross 90-day non-performing loans (NPL) ratio declining from 1.46% to 1.29%, and the reserve cover ratio increasing from 118.7% to 129.2%.

Total deposits reached P1.56 trillion, up 9.1% with the current account and savings account (CASA) ratio at 71.2%.

Loan-to-deposit (LDR) ratio stood at 77.0%. (BPI)

fore it will be implemented.

He said the housing units will address the issues of accessibility, tenure, land area, affordability, sanitary and health.

He added that the city’s ongoing housing project is located in Tugbok, with some of the bene�iciaries already in occupation.

hope to collect from the planned amnesty program was substantial but he declined to give any �igure, pointing out that “these are all preliminary �igures that need to be proven in court.”

He said the number of possible tax evaders would not reach a thousand. “We act on certain information that comes to our of�ice, either walk-in information or those gathered through an exchange

of information among government of�ices,” he explained.

He also did not identify a timetable for those who would be covered by the amnesty.

“We prosecute them based on the taxable year, when the discrepancy was discovered,” he said.

The Department of Finance (DOF) targets to collect about PHP26-billion from the planned tax amnesty program.

(PNA)

DEPED... FROM 3

THINKING... FROM 15

BPI... FROM 4

P40-B... FROM 1 BIR... FROM 4

INdulge!

WOMEN

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

EDGEDAVAO

Dough-it-yourself IN A SPAN OF THREE YEARS, since we last interviewed her, Davao-based cake artist, Marie Mae Tacugue of Cupcake Couture, has redefined her career objectives to not only include new sweet offerings, but also to connect with the community by sharing her talents through a series of baking and pastry decorating classes.

“It’s fulfilling to be able to meet women from different walks of life, exploring the art of cake decorating and actually loving it,” Marie beamed.

“I, for one, know how this kind of sweet discovery gives you that sort of a sugar high, if I may say so.

My own foray into baking and becoming a cake artist all stemmed from lots of self-study and research.

As a mom and entrepreneur, I want to foster learning within the community, to open doors for fellow homemakers to explore the many possibilities of this kind of edible art --- whether it’s for business, leisure or pleasure.”

“I started teaching in March 2016, beginning with a 3D gravity defying cake class. At that time in Davao, it was rare that you’d find classes offered on constructing a 3D gravity defying cake.

You’d find them mostly in Manila. So, a baker and cake artist friend of mine offered to collaborate with me by using her place as a venue for the class. Then, the rest is history.”

“I now offer different types of decorating classes from cakes, cup-

cakes making different sugar flowers, cake pops, sugar cookies, rice krispy treats, French macarons, and, the latest, cakesicles.

I also have a workshop on the basics in putting together a dessert table.”

Cakesicles are cake crumbs mixed with frosting, such as buttercream or chocolate ganache, shaped in a popsicle mold and dipped in melted chocolate or candy coating.

“Cakesicles are easy to assemble, handle, decorate and transport,” she added. “The decorating possibilities are endless.

They make for a unique and delectable giveaway for any kind of event.”

For orders and details on pastry decorating classes, visit Cupcake Couture Davao on Facebook or contact 0977 268 0412 / 0933 244 5085.

A2INdulge!

STYLE

EDGEDAVAO

Sweet dreams are made of

CREME

By KENNETH IRVING ONG THE LOVE MONTH of February may be all about red and pink hues but local fashion house, Plains & Prints, thinks otherwise with the launch of its latest Spring/Summer collection.

Forgoing crimson hues, Plains & Prints decided to go with warmth and sophistication with with new Creme Series which explores unique shades of cream. From a nice ivory white to a light bright taupe, Plains & Print’s latest collection easily fits into any woman’s wardrobe.

Check out the Creme Series as well as the latest Spring/ Summer collections at Plains & Prints Abreeza, Chimes, SM City Davao, and Gaisano Mall of Davao.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Sky extends free channel blowout to direct-to-home prepaid subs

NEW SKYDIRECT PREPAID SUBSCRIBERS can enjoy full access for free to a wide variety of entertainment in prepaid plan 450 lineup–the highest value SKYdirect plan.

For 15 days, families can catch their favorite TV shows and discover new ones as SKYdirect prepaid plan 450 offers a range of movie, lifestyle, sports, entertainment, music, and kids channels.

This February, new subscribers who load up a SKYdirect prepaid

card of any value—Kapamilya 99, Plan 99, Plan 150, Plan 250, and Plan 450 –and avail the free 15-day trial can celebrate the love month by catching Hollywood stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in the romantic-comedy musical, “La La Land” on February 10, 9 PM via HBO HD (Ch. 22).

Another fitting movie to enjoy leading up to Valentine’s Day is “Woke Up Like This,” a hilarious story about two people who wake up one day only to find out they have switched bodies in a strange circumstance. “Woke Up Like This” stars Vhong Navarro and Lovi Poe, and will air on Cinema One (Ch. 19)) on February 4, 8 PM. During Chinese New Year, families can welcome the year of the dog by watching Cartoon Network HD’s (Ch. 15) “We Love Jake” for a week-long celebration that will be led by “Adventure Time’s” Jake, the shape-shifting and adventureseeking dog.

Meanwhile, fans of superhero action stories will love DC’s “Legends of Tomorrow” (new episodes every Tuesday, 9 PM) and “Arrow”

(new episodes every Friday, 9 PM) that both air on Warner TV HD (Ch. 36).

To activate the SKYdirect prepaid plan 450 15-day free trial, new SKYdirect prepaid subscribers just need to text FREE450 <BOX ID> to 23668 after their load. The plan 450 free trial will be valid until the subscriber has not loaded his second prepaid plan. The promo offer will be available until March 31.

SKYdirect is the direct-to-home

(DTH) TV service of SKY that gives Filipino families nationwide access to a rich channel lineup with the aim of strengthening the relationship of families at home. SKY is the cable and broadband unit of ABS-CBN. Have more reasons to bond and celebrate love with your family at home by activating your SKYdirect prepaid plan 450 15-day free trial.

For more information, visit mysky. com.ph/skydirect.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 â&#x20AC;¢ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

Advertise with

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

NEWS11

EDGEDAVAO

for Local Government Austere Panadero expressed optimism that the city will sustain its good practices and initiate innovations to achieve better performance.

He assured the DILG will continue to partner with the city government to ensure better performance and the delivery of basic services to local residents.(PNA)

attended the Alibaba Business School’s three-day New Economy Workshop designed to gain a wider understanding of an e-commerce ecosystem including the digital technologies that can be employed to improve the Philippines’ nascent online payment system in pursuit of inclusive growth.

According to Dominguez, the lectures prepared by Alibaba revolved “around the points discussed during my meeting with Jack Ma last November in Manila. This goes to show that the Duterte administration not only does meetings, but turns such meetings into opportunities for the country.”

The �irst day of the New Economy Workshop focused on lectures on e-commerce development in China, �inancial inclusion through digital �inance, smart or data-based logistics and a case study on using an e-payment system with India

as the model.

The New Economy Workshop for Philippine of�icials is the �irst overseas government training program organized by the Alibaba Business School. The program will be expanded to more countries in Southeast Asia, underlining Alibaba’s commitment to promoting the new economy paradigm and the role of ecommerce for creating a more inclusive trade and development system.

Xiaobo Wu, an economist and former dean of the Zheijiang University School of Management, delivered a lecture on China’s e-commerce development and its favorable state policies that led to the rapid growth of digital trade in the country, while Dr. Long Chen, Ant Financial’s Chief Strategy Of�icer, talked about how digital �inance can help eliminate poverty. (DOF)

against Sipalay’s Rolyn Agravante (1:04 in Round 3) and Darwin Enterado (2:59 in Round 2), respectively.

However, it was the only victories for both Cadiz and Victorias in the two-day event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the Of�ice of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Cebu City, on the other hand, tied host Bago City with a total of three wins followed by Omega-Mandaue, Cadiz and Victorias with two victories.

Bago only had one win today after Nel Tambanillo stopped Calbayog’s Jovan Molleno via RSC in 51 sec-

onds of Round 2.

The winners will advance into the Visayas Quarter Finals on February 24 and 25 at the City of Naga in Cebu.

The other results of Day 2: Youth Boys Flyweight (52 kg.) Renz Lee Teves (Bayawan) won over Robert Porras (Himamaylan) by RSC in 2:58 of Round 1 Johnro Taneo (Cebu City Sports Institute) won over Edward Ruiz (Murcia) by RSC in 2:42 of Round 2 Youth Boys Bantamweight (56 kg.) Jhorne Pasculado (Omega-Mandaue) won over Jereme Puig (Sampinit Boxing Club-Bago) by split decision, 3-2. (PNA)

the Metro Manila Council headed by the MMDA and the entire 17 Metro Manila City mayors for again entrusting us with their sports programs.

Together we shall spearhead to PROMOTE SPORTS, DEVELOP home grown talents, DISCOVER and NURTURE future Filipino Athletes in all our cities,” said Tan. The junior and senior basketball and volleyball tournaments are slated to kick off simultaneously on April 15 and the inaugural PBA Metro Open tournament, to be staged in partnership with the Philippine Basketball Association, has been calendared to begin this coming June.

The inaugural MBT cage tourneys was held in two age divisions last year, with Marikina Shoelanders topping the Junior Division (boys 16-under) category last June and Mandaluyong Tigers ruling the Seniors (men’s 24-under division).

Marikina Shoelanders, handled by coach Elvis Tolen-

tino, and supported by Mayor Marcy Teodoro, defeated Paranaque City Green Berets, 64-60, in their championship match at the San Andres Sports Complex.

Last November, Mandaluyong Tigers rallied to beat Quezon City Stars in a thrilling contest, 69-68, to capture the Senior Division (24-under) crown. Mandaluyong City, headed by Mayor Menchie Abalos and head coach Johnedel Cardel, earlier topped the South division while Quezon City Stars of Mayor Herbert Bautista ruled the North Division.

The MBT also had a successful All-Star Day Oct. 26 last year at the San Andres Sports Complex wherein South defeated North 113-103 in the Seniors All-Star Game and the MBT-MMDA Organizers, led

by MBT Commissioner Pido Jarencio, defeating the LGU AllStars 140-129 apart from the inaugural skills competitions among the Seniors All-Stars.

PH... FROM 4

IN THE INTERIM. President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on the sidelines of the 22nd

Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañang Palace on Monday evening.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

shot at Mampaundag’s house, hitting the victims.

The military said the murder could be an offshoot of the

IP leaders commitment to stay away from the communist insurgents. (Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA)

facilitation for their local companies eyeing to set up their businesses in the other country.

There will also be a Philippine trade mission to Turkey which involves executives from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine-Turkish Business Council, United Architects of the Philippines, Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., Malabon Longlife Trading Corp., Megawide Airports Group & GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., Philippine Food Service Equipment & Supplies, and Great Crescent Flour Corp.

Meanwhile, the delegation

will also have a trade mission to Hungary following their visit to Turkey.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto will be meeting the Philippine trade mission.

The delegation aims to promote trade and investment opportunities in Hungary the Philippines’ manufacturing sub-sectors of machineries, medical devices, automotive parts, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, food and agri-business, infrastructure and shared service.

The Philippine mission to Ankara and Budapest runs from Feb.5 to 9. (PNA)

land.”

He said the transcentral roads they are building are vital to connecting communities in the region and facilitating growth and development that will offer the people better opportunities for prosperity and peace.

“The DPWH-ARMM builds roads so that development can reach the most isolated and poorest communities--even if our district engineer has been attacked twice with hand grenades, even as the department has been subjected to numerous threats, and attempts at extortion,” he added.

An improvised bomb exploded on Thursday, February 1, at the residence of

Engineer Soler Undug while another explosive was safely detonated after it was recovered at the residence of Engineer Bong Lasatan in Isabela City, Basilan.

Undug is the Basilan provincial engineer of the DPWH-ARMM while Lasatan is the assistant engineer of the provincial engineering of�ice.

“Even as we mourn the deaths of the two workers, we condemn the attack on them and the assaults on the personnel of the ARMM who have been working to ensure that government services are delivered well so a lasting peace may become a reality here (in Basilan),” Hataman said. (PNA)

by transporting life-saving aid.

“This will enhance our capability in terms of seaborne patrol.

I really thank the BFAR and the Provincial Government for entrusting us with this new addition to our �loating assets.”

Aside from the new patrol boat, the BFAR also handed over ten units of deep-sea water “payaw” (a �ish aggregating device) to the LGUs through their respective Agricultural and Fishery Council in support to the Local Food Security Program.

The Province of Davao Oriental has the region’s longest coastline of 513.2 kilometers with a teeming source of �ishery

and aquatic resources. Having the advantage of being located along the Tuna Highway, Davao Oriental has great potential for investment on marine and �ishery development, thus, prompting the local government to implement measures to boost protection and conservation the province’s rich coastal and marine resources.

“We are after the posterity of our natural resources. This is for our �ishery law enforcement in order to safeguard our ocean and our future,” said Provincial Agriculture Of�ice Assistant Department Head Rotchie Ravelo.

By Karen Lou Deloso/Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan

ly responded to scene using four �ire extinguishers but failed to control the �ire, which spread rapidly to the other stalls.

Sr. Insp. Leilani Bangelis, acting Surallah �ire marshal, said their investigation showed that the �ire could have been caused by electrical-related problem.

“According to witnesses, there were some electrical-related sparks at one of the stalls before the �ire

started,” she said.

The of�icial said it “just spread out readily since the structures were made of combustible materials.”

The Saturday dawn �ire was the second at the Surallah public market in the last three years.

A portion of the public market was also destroyed in a hue �ire in May 2015 that damaged around P5 million in goods and properties.(PNA)

road in Tupi; and, junction national highway-Sto. Nino steel bridgeKibang road in Sto. Nino.

Bretana said the 14 road projects were earlier identi�ied by the provincial government as among

its top priorities under its infrastructure program.

“These are expected to bring tremendous impact to our tourism sector as well as local economy,” she added. (PNA)

tion and peace and order aspects.

The seven assessment areas comprise the core components of the evaluation for the Seal of Good Local Governance, which is implemented by the DILG. “So far so good and I am happy with this result. This is the result of our concerted efforts,” the mayor said in a statement.

He cited the support from city government of�icials and

employees, private sector and other local stakeholders.

Rivera said the city government is initially targeting to achieve this year the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping.

Passing the Good Financial Housekeeping, which is a sub-area of the �inancial administration component, will open up more opportunities for the city in terms of funding grants for various projects, he said.

In his letter to the local government, DILG Undersecretary

IP... FROM 3

PH... FROM 5

PATROL... FROM 5

SOCOT... FROM 6

ABU... FROM 6

TOWN... FROM 6

GOVERNANCE... FROM 7

CEBU... FROM 15

METRO... FROM 15

EDGEDAVAO

12 ENVIRONMENT

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Rescuing uplands from destruction First of Two Parts

TEXT and PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

G

eographically, the Philippines is an upland country because 60% of its 30 million hectares are classified as such.

The uplands are rolling to steep areas where both agriculture and forestry are practiced on slopes ranging 18% upward.

Uplands also include table lands and plateaus lying at higher elevations not normally suited to wet rice unless some form of terracing and groundwater exist.

The upland provinces include Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao, Antique, Eastern and Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Basilan, Agusan del Norte and Sur, Bukidnon, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao Occidental and Zamboanga del Sur. Uplanders – which comprised about 30% of the country’s total population with almost half of them living within forests – are often referred to as the “poorest of the poor” in the Philippine society since they survive below the poverty line.

Poverty is re�lected in their houses made of bamboo, tree barks and cogon thatch roofs.

Their sources of water are either mountain springs or streams.

In terms of education, the upland farmer rarely �inishes grade school. Studies show that

he either drops out after the third grade or does not even attempt to enter school. His wife, like himself, fares no better.

Upland inhabitants are primarily poor farming families with an insecure land tenure. “The upland farmer faces a very dark future unless something can be done for him soon,” says Roy C. Alimoane, the director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. The upland farmer, Alimoane believes, is “the least educated, least paid, least healthy, least hopeful, and most neglected (in terms of) agricultural development of all people in the Philippines.”

With recent attempts at industrialization, most uplanders are pushed farther to more fragile areas. “In the Philippines, cultivation moves up the hillsides and toward higher elevations at the expense of the remaining forests,” pointed out Dr. Dennis P. Garrity, former director-general of the Bogor-based International Center for Research in Agroforestry in Indonesia.

“Cultivation is seen frequently on mountain slopes.”

A study commissioned by the National Research Council Project –

entitled “Agricultural Sustainability and the Environment in the Humid Tropics” – found out that subsistence food production, rather than forestry, is their over-riding priority.

It’s no wonder why “most of the country’s once rich forests are gone,” according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) study entitled, “Sustainable Forest Management.”

“We have lost most of our forest of old over the past 50 years and, along with them, many of the ecological services they provide,” deplores Peter Walpole, executive director of the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC).

In the 1920s, forest still covered 18 million hectares of 60% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares. It went down to 50% (15 million hectares) in the 1950s. In 1963, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization published data that placed forest cover of the country at 40% (12 million hectares).

By 1970s, the forest cover shrunk to 34% (10.2 million hectares). From 1977 to 1980, deforestation reached an all-time high – over 300,000 hectares a year, according to a booklet published by ESSC. In 1987, the Swedish Space Corporation put forest cover in the country at 23% (6.9 million hectares). “At the end of the 1980s, out of the 34 major islands that had been very densely forested at the be-

ginning of the century, 24 islands had now less than 10% forest cover,” the ESSC publication said.

The once-upon-a-time forested areas when cultivated by uplanders become fragile. The steep slopes, loose soil and torrential rainfall all the more make the area susceptible to landslides, mud�lows, debris torrents and other forms of soil mass movements, experts claim.

“If the present rate of population growth in the uplands persists, the corresponding expansion of upland cultivation may result into further degradation of watersheds, increased soil erosion, �looding, sedimentation and siltation whose effect will be felt in the lowlands as well,” reports the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Denuded forest lands are believed to experience 100 tons of soil loss per year against less than eight tons per year from natural forests. The Philippines has nine million hectares classi�ied as eroded soil.

Some years back, the DENR said in 13 provinces, more than 50% of the total land area were eroded. Soil loss ranges from 50 to 300 tons per hectare per year.

These rates signify �ive times the maximum soil loss levels for any type of soil.

In Mindanao, the �ive provinces of Davao made it to the DENR list: Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao Occidental.

Other provinces in Mindanao included in the list were: Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato.

“Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any external enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it’s an enemy you cannot see vividly,” said Harold R. Watson, former MBRLC director, when he received the 1985 Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding. “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land.”

Watson, who developed sustainable upland farming systems, said that soil erosion will imperil the country’s food supply in the coming years.

“Land is not being remade,” he averred. “Soil is made by God and put here for man to use, not for one generation but forever.”

According the American missionary, “it takes thousands of years to build one inch of topsoil but only one good strong

rain to remove one inch from unprotected soil on the slopes of mountain.”

Most studies show that the eroded soil �inds it way into the waterways, and 20% of the eroded ends up silting or contaminating rivers, coral reefs and mangrove swamps.

“The upland (area) is the ecological and social frontier where the battle for (the) future survival of the Filipino society will be fought,” Dr. Percy E. Sajise, of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, said at that time.

“We must help �ight this battle not because of any ideology or creed but primarily because we must assure the survival of the coming generation of Filipinos,” pointed out Dr. Sajise, whose pioneering work and contribution in the �ield of ecology are considered a breakthrough in providing solutions to pressing environmental problems.

“Let us not assign this responsibility to future generations or look around for somebody whom we should blame… when we ourselves can do something about it,” he added. -- (To be concluded)

Davao City receives ASEAN CIVIL REGISTRATION MONTH: Award for Clean Tourist City Registration centers in Davao malls in February

D

avao City has been selected as recipient of the 1st Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City Award.

The awarding ceremony was held during the Asean Tourism Forum at the Shangri-La Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand on January 26.

The cities of San Carlos in Negros Occidental and Pasig are also recipients of the same award.

On Monday, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte formally received the award from new Davao Tourism Regional Director Antonio Fernando Blanco.

The city was chosen for conforming with the criteria and requirements set by the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS), which include a solid Environment Management Program, Cleanliness, Waste Management, Awareness-building about Environmental Protection and Cleanliness, Green Spaces, Health Safety, Urban Safety and Security, Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities.

Davao City has set

policies to keep its remaining environmental frontiers intact and rehabilitate those that have been damaged.

This has been one of the indicators, which is undeniably the important element among all the criteria and policies that relate to the improvement and enhancement of living standards of the general public.

The award also comes with a challenge for the city to improve its waste management and to take advantage of environmental laws, which ensure proper collection and disposal of garbage.

The city is known for its well-disciplined residents, plus a localized version of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. ACTCS is aimed at promoting and encouraging cities in ASEAN member countries with a tool that will improve the quality of tourism, not only by increasing their marketing competitiveness but also improve the situation of local residents by providing them livelihood to alleviate poverty. CIO

13

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

I

n celebration of the National Civil Registration Month, the Davao City Civil Registrar’s Of�ice (CCRO) will be putting up centers in some malls for the entire month of February as part of the campaign for the timely registration of births and other civil document concerns.

Assistant City Civil Registrar Juliet Gasatan said that inquiries on civil registrations will also be entertained at the centers.

“For this week, we will be in SM Ecoland, next week we will be in Abreeza and then on the third week, we will be in SM Lanang,” said Gasatan.

She said the CCRO will also put up mobile registration centers in such far-�lung areas as Marilog, Paquibato, and Toril under the campaign “#napapanahongCRVS.” February was designated as Civil Registration Month under Proclamation No. 682 issued by

then President Corazon Aquino on January 28, 1991.

The CCRO - together with the Philippine Statistics Authority Region 11 – also urged Dabawenyos to take advantage of the centers and make timely registration of vital events in their lives, such as birth, marriage, and death.

Ruben Abaro Jr., the PSA of�icer-in-charge, said timely registration of life events is not only for the bene�it of the person registering but also for the “planners” of the government.

“Civil registry documents are documents wherein we can generate statistics. Children born this year, six years after, we will know how many of them will go to school. That is when the government can make an estimation of how many teachers or how many classrooms do we need after six years,” he said.

CIO

Call for entries: DCWD #conservewaterdavao Video Making Contest

D

avao City Water District has launched its �irst #conservewaterdavao video making

contest in celebration of the 2018 World Water Day themed Nature for Water.

Film hobbyists and

professionals 18 years old and above, in groups of three to �ive members, are invited to join. The entry with a length of 30 seconds to 1 minute should creatively depict the importance of water and promote #conservewaterdavao.

Entries adjudged as �irst, second, and third placers will be awarded with PhP10,000, PhP7,000, and PhP4,000, respectively. Special and consolation prizes will also be given out.

The full contest mechanics and entry form are downloadable from DCWD website (www.

d ava o - wa t e r. g ov. p h / home/services/download-forms) and of�icial Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater). Interested groups may also contact DCWD’s Public Information/Relations Division at 297-4238 (432), 282-8912 or email dcwd2bigcampaign@ gmail.com.

Deadline of submission of entry form is on February 19, 2018 while deadline of the video entries is set on March 1, 2018.

Join this contest and help inspire Davao City to take action for our nature and water.

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) under LOYOLA PLAN ISSUED TO THE FOLLOWING PLANHOLDERS, TO WIT: PH NAME

CFP NO.

CONTRACT NO.

1.GEORGE M. DUBOULAY

7263

742865-9

2.JOVITA C. GONZALES

15687

810559-5

3.ANUNCIACION M. ENGRACIA

21133790

10387662-5

were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Phoenix updates gas stations’ look

I

n its commitment to fuel the many journeys of Filipinos, leading independent oil company Phoenix Petroleum has started upgrading its stations nationwide to a new and better look.

The new design features a clean, modern, and sleek style, to

O

ne in three Southeast Asian consumers planning to buy a car are open to purchasing an electric vehicle or EV, a Nissan-commissioned study shows.

The study, done by Frost & Sullivan, a global consulting company, demonstrates the region’s strong potential to speed up electri�ication of mobility.

re�lect the company’s aspiration of becoming the next generation fuel company catering to the needs of the next generation drivers.

Around a hundred stations already sport the new design, with the milestone 100th recently opened at

West Service Road in Muntinlupa City.

This newest Phoenix station boasts of a spacious land area for easy movement, air conditioned restrooms, and a strategic location—providing convenient access to motorists traveling on the South Luzon

Expressway.

“The new look of our stations is just the start of our improved products and services to our customers as we set the tone for the future. Our goal is to exceed customer expectations and engage with the community we are part of

through our improved stations,” said Phoenix Petroleum Chief Operating Of�icer Henry Fadullon.

Phoenix Petroleum has over 500 stations nationwide.

A publicly-listed company and the leading independent oil company in the Philip-

Pinoy carbuyers open to go electric

Leading the survey is the Philippines where 46 percent of prospective buyers surveyed is open to consider an EV as their next car purchase, followed by Thailand (44 percent), Indonesia (41 percent), Malaysia (37 percent), Vietnam (33 percent), and Singapore (23 percent).

The encouraging results of this study has resulted in Nissan’s plan to introduce t h e

Leaf EV to 7 more markets in the region: Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand within the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year (April 2018 to March 2019). And given the strong demand for EVs in the Philippines, the Japanese carmaker is also accelerating its plans to bring the Leaf into the country. They are currently studying demand with a potential launch by the next �iscal year (2019-2020) along range extender equipped e-Power.

“The new Nissan Leaf is the most advanced, yet accessible 100 percent electric vehicle on the planet,” Nissan Regional Senior Vice President

Yutaka Sanada said. “This ingenuous car will make you feel more con�ident, more excited, more connected than any other mainstream electric vehicle.

The launch in so many markets shows our commitment to playing a leading role in electri�ication in this dynamic region, and to delivering the future of mobility to the region now.”

pines, Phoenix Petroleum has also expanded to the convenience retailing business with its acquisition of Philippine Family Mart, and is set to enter the bitumen business through a joint venture with TIPCO Asphalt of Thailand and PhilAsphalt.

Launching an EV into the region isn’t without its challenges, however.

Contrary to popular belief, cost isn’t a deterrent, since customers are willing to pay up to 50 percent more for an EV. Two out of three respondents ranked safety (such as being �lood-proof) as the most important factor followed by

charging convenience and battery range.

While potential demand for electric vehicles is signi�icant, adoption barriers remain, including a lack of knowledge.

Range anxiety – the fear of running out of power – is the main barrier. Customers are also unsure about safety standards for electric vehicles.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

37 PH athletes to Asiad test events T

he Philippines is sending 37 athletes to the Asian Games test events in Jakarta, Indonesia starting Thursday.

The test events are usually held by the host country to ensure the smooth conduct of the competition during the tournament proper. The Asian Games is scheduled from Aug. 18 to September 2.

Indonesia will hold test events in athletics, archery, 5x5 basketball, boxing, pencak silat, taekwondo, volleyball, and weightlifting.

The Philippines is invited to join six events but will only �ield athletes in athletics, boxing, pencak silat, and taekwondo.

Aries Toledo, decathlon gold medalist in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, will spearhead the 12-member athletics team composed of Janry Ubas, Mark Harry Diones, Marestella Sunang, Archand Christian Bagsit, Jomar Udtohan,

William Galceran, Francis Medina, Clinton Kingsley Bautista, Ryan Bigyan, Michael Carlo del Prado, and Anfernee Lopena.

Seeing action in pencak silat are 2017 SEA Games gold winner Dines Dumaan (Tanding men’s 45 kg. to 50 kg.), 2016 Asian Beach Games silver medalist Princesslyn Enopia (Tandi n g women’s 45 kg. to 50 kg.), Yale Alanano, Alvin Campos, Glenn Gunan, Precious Jade Borre, Trisha Marie Leda, Alamohaidib Abad, Cherry May Regalado, and Alfau Jan Esmael Abad.

Rio Olympian Kirstie Elaine Alora will lead the taekwondo squad along with Jenar Torillos, Rhezie Aragon, Rheza Aragon, Keybert Lee Lumbania, Keno Athony Mendoza, Darlene

Mae Arpon, Christian A l

ASIAD BOUND. Southeast Asian Games decahtlon gold medalist Aries Toledo will spearhead the Philippines to the Asian Games test events.

gene Grif�in of athletics, Alexis Martin Patano (Tanding) and Diosdado Cantomayor (Seni) of pencak silat, John Paul Lizardo and Carlos Jose Padilla V of taekwondo, and Elias Recaido Jr. and Romeo Brin of boxing.

Other of�icials in the team are pencak silat’s Inier Candor (team manager) and jury members Christopher Yabut and Ronald Perena.

Athletics will be held at the main stadium of the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex,

dela Cruz, and Baby Jessica Canabal.

Alora won the bronze medal (73 kg.) in the 2010 (Guangzhou) as well as the 2014 (Incheon) Asian Games and the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turmenistan.

Also going to Indonesia are boxers Rogen Ladon, who bagged the lightweight silver medal in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, Kit Ceron Garces, Ryan Boy Moreno, Sugar Rey Ocana, and Riza Pasuit.

The 37 athletes will be accompanied by coaches George Noel Posadas, Sean Guevara and Rohsaan Eu-

boxing and taekwondo will be at the Jakarta International Expo, while pencak silat will be at the Padepokan Pencak Silat Centre.

Julian Camacho, appointed chef de mission of Team Philippines in the Asian Games, would also join the Indonesia trip.

He was in Bangkok, Thailand last week to attend the SEA Games Federation meeting where he reported the ongoing preparation for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 SEA Games. (PNA)

Wizards win 5th straight without Wall Metro sports

I

NDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Suddenly, the Washington Wizards look unbeatable.

Their early season shooting woes are gone, they’re sharing the ball more and they’re playing like a contender. And they’ve done it all with All-Star guard John Wall on the mend.

They did it again Monday as Bradley Beal, their other All-Star, scored 21 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 15 to lead the Wizards past the Indiana Pacers, 111-102 for a season-best �ifth straight win. ‘’John is such a key and valuable piece to our team.

He draws so much attention at what he brings to both ends of the �loor, that’s kind of irreplaceable,’’ Beal said.

‘’It’s de�initely a huge hit to us having him out, but we’ve been having some success.

We’ve �igured it out a little bit.’’

Actually, they’re thriving.

Since Wall went down with an injured left knee, Washington hasn’t lost. The latest victory gave the Wizards their fourth in a row over the Pacers, something that hadn’t happened since a nine-game winning streak in the series ended in 1983-84.

The difference appears to be more balance.

On Monday, eight players scored in double �igures and three had at least seven rebounds. Thomas Satoransky and Tim Frazier each �inished with six assists and Beal was the only Washing-

ton player with more than two turnovers.

The Wizards outscored Indiana 30-11 in transition and had a 43-35 rebounding edge, too. ‘’I thought everybody chipped in and played well,’’ Washington coach Scott Brooks said.

But the Pacers weren’t themselves.

With All-Star guard Victor Oladipo out with an illness and point guard Darren Collison out with a bad left knee, the Pacers were out of sync and out of contention for most of the game.

The Wizards took advantage.

Indiana missed its �irst six shots, which allowed Washington to jump out to a

17-8 lead. The Wizards took complete control with a 13-0 run that made it 55-39 with 3:13 to go in the �irst half.

The Pacers never got closer than seven again.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored a season-high 29 points for the Pacers as he tried to spur a fourth-quarter rally. Joe Young added 17 as Indiana’s six-game home winning streak ended. ‘’Vic is our go-to-guy.

We knew it was going to be tough without both,’’ Bogdanovic said. ‘’They play heavy minutes. We got two less players in the rotation.

I think (Washington) didn’t win this game. We lost this game with too many turnovers and (giving up) too many easy points.’’

AGO CITY, Negros Occidental -- Cebu City added two more wins while Cadiz and Victorias City also scored two victories in the �inal day of the Visayas Preliminaries in the PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup on Sunday at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Sports Center.

John Paul Gabunelas won by a split decision over Bayawan City’s Rudni Camani in the Youth Boys Light Flyweight (46-49 kg.) division.

His teammate Limbert Cainap also won for the Cebuanos via a convincing unanimous decision against Elmar Douma of Don Salva-

dor Benedicto in the Youth Boys Flyweight (52 kg.) category.

Mentored by former national team member Reynaldo Balboa, Victorias got its two victories from the Youth Boys courtesy of �lyweight Geniel Alit (52 kg.) and bantamweight Herlan Gomez (56 kg.).

Alit stopped Maasin’s Steven Jasper Canon by a refere-stopped-contest in 1:05 of the second round, while Gomez pummeled to submission Bayawan’s Charly Sumugat via RSC in 2:58 of Round 3. Cadiz earned RSC wins from Michael Adolfo and Mark Alob, who won

Cebu, Victorias score in PSC-Pacquiao Cup B CEBU,P11

programs launched

B

uoyed by the tremendous success of last year’s Metro Basketball Tournament themed “Isang Liga, Isang Laro Para sa Pagbabago”, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila Council (MMC) have agreed to continue to promote sports activities among the youth of the 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila this year.

MMDA Chairman Danny Lim said the heads of local government units (LGUs) under the MMDA were encouraged by the results of last year’s 24-yearold-and-under and 16-year-old-and-under basketball tournaments and decided to continue with the programs initiated by Metroball Basketball Tournament (MBT) Director and PBA Globalport Batang Pier Team Manager Bonnie Tan. “Pursuant to President Duterte’s campaign to promote sports and eradicate illegal drug use and the city mayor’s desire to raise the level of sports competitions, the MMDA and the

MMC will again jointly host the Metro Manila-wide basketball and volleyball competitions this year,” said Chairman Lim. Lim re-appointed Tan as overall Tournament Director for both basketball (24-under and 17-under) and the inaugural volleyball (women/girls) competitions under the Metroball Volleyball Tournament are set to be also participated in by the 17 cities and municipalities under the MMDA and MMC. Lim and Tan recently signed a long-term Memorandum of Agreement for the staging anew of the Metro Manila SportsFest during a courtesy call at the MMDA of�ice in Makati last Thursday. Among those who witnessed the MOA signing were MMDA Chief of Staff Jojo Garcia, MMDA Sports Director Atty. Crisanto Saruca Jr. and other MBT of�icials which included �inance manager Waiyip Chong and deputy tournament director Fidel Mangonon III. “I’m truly grateful to

METRO,P11

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 220 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018

THINKING BIG

Ancajas wants to unify superflyweight division

A

fter successfully defending his IBF superflyweight title in his first fight in the United Sates on Sunday, Dabawenyo world champion Jerwin Ancajas wants a title unification fight against any of the three other superflyweight champions.

The other titlehoders in the 115-pound class are Khalid Yafai of WBA, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of WBC and Naoya Inoue of WBO. However, all that will have to depend on Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who holds the key to the Panabo City native’s next �ight.

Arum may have some other plans for the Filipino stalwart and wants another defense before the uni�ication.

The biggest �ight down the road is WBO counterpart Inoue of Japan. Inoue is planning to move up to 118 pounds and Ancajas reportedly might follow him there.

Ancajas (29-1-1, 20 KO) �loored an annihilated Israel Gonzalez three times and stopped him in the 10th round. Gonzalez (21-2, 8 KO) went down for the �irst time in less than a minute into the �irst round with a ferocious left hand from the southpaw champion.

The Mexican challenger gave his best and was able to hang on to the �istic supremacy shown by

Ancajas, but in the end the Filipino champ’s dominance succeeded.

Halfway in the 10th round, Gonzalez visited the canvas again courtesy of a left hand by the Panabo City titlist. The �ight was obviously in the bag for Ancajas, as the Mexican absorbed a beating prior to the punch that �loored him, but he was like a wounded tiger who got up and fought some more. Another left seized him and �loored him again, and the referee signalled to end the carnage.

According to CompuBox, Ancajas landed 130 of 477 (27%) of his total punches, and 84 of 231 (36%) of his power shots. While Gonzalez landed just 48 of 303 (16%) of his total punches, including 46 of 202 (19%) of his power shots. Ancajas was way ahead in jabs, 46-2.

Ancajas ended Gonzalez’s eight-�ight winning streak. Gonzalez was not able to mutilate Ancajas and the Filipino’s straight left hand dropped Gonzalez at 1:34 mark in the 10th round.

UNIFICATION. Jerwin Ancajas now wants to unify all three superflyweight titles.

The Mexican rose on one knee then on his two feet. But Ancajas charged on him and Gonzalez went down again, this time with a more solid straight left by the champ. Referee Rafael Ramos immediately stopped the �ight at 1:50 of the 10th round.

“It was a win written exclusively by Ancajas. He did not allow his emotion to take over after scoring a 1st round knockdown and instead patiently worked and fol-

lowed the �ight plan,” said analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino over ABS-CBN News. “He tore down Gonzalez brick by brick before the �ight was eventually stopped.”

After the �ight, news went out that Ancajas may be up against a fellow Filipino next in Jonas Sultan of Cebu’s ALA Promotions.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said they have initial discussion with Sean Gibbons, Ancajas’ matchmaker, re-

garding his title defense against Jonas Sultan.

Aldeguer was very much appreciative of Ancajas’ victory against Gonzalez, but expressed hesitation about that �ight.

“As you know I really don’t like the idea of a Filipino vs. Filipino �ighting for a world title �ight. But if we are mandated to do so, then we are going to take it. On the other hand, I think it can also be good for Philipine

boxing as a whole because it will show to the world that the Filipinos have arrived in boxing’s biggest stage,” Aldeguer was quoted

by Philboxing’s Dong Secuya.

Gibbons earlier disclosed to Boxingscene that Ancajas will be going to �ight Sultan next: “We have to do this Gonzalez �ight and then we have to do our mandatory against Jonas Sultan and then we pick another �ight.”

THINKING,P10