Edge10 issue 226, February 15, 2018

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

FOLLOWING TRADITION. A mother and her teenage daughter proudly take a selfie with crosses of black ashes on their foreheads after they attended an early morning Ash Wednesday mass at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Sasa, Davao City. For Catholic faithful, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and a reminder of God’s enormous love for humankind. Lean Daval Jr

DOWNSPIN

Crimes in Davao reduced due to sustained security measures

By ANGIE SAVERON

C

riminal activities continue to dip in the face of sustained operations resulting in a very peaceful city, according to the Davao City Police Office.

“It is now in fact very safe in Davao City,” DCPO spokesperson P/S Inspector Maria Terisita Gaspan told the AFP-PNP Southern Mindanao Press Corps on Tuesday.

DCPO in 2016 recorded 10, 269 crime incidents in the entire city which went down to 7,576 crime incidents in 2017, a downgrade of 2,693 or 26.22percent.

As for crime against

persons and crime against property in year 2016, DCPO recorded 2, 617 crimes. This went down to 1,588 to 2017 or a variance of 39.31 percent.

Gaspan said that this reduction of crime volume for the past two years is a result of major anti-criminality operations, maximum deployment of personnel in all areas,and mobilization of barangay tanods to help

the police of�icers secure the city.

“So we are sure that Davao City is safe and secure most especially with the numbers of police of�icers although we only have 1850 police personnel in Davao City but the presence of the 910 police auxiliary that is aiding our police is a big help also the Task Force Davao and other security forces and other operating units that helps maintain the peace and order in Davao City,” she said.

She said that a place will be considered as a very dangerous place when the num-

ber of focus crime like crime against property and crime against person. She said that the Davao City’s crime statistics is manageable as what the data shows.

“In 2016 compared to 2017 our crime statistics for crime against persons like murder, physical injury and rape is reduced,” she said.

Based on the data in 2016 there were 162 murder cases recorded which was reduced to 122 in 2017.

In 2016 there were 527 cases of physical injury which was reduced to 380 cases in 2017 and 229 cases of

DOWNSPIN,P10

Prices of roses soar on Valentine’s Day

By JUDIE VEGA

D

avao City’s �lower vendors along San Pedro St. in the vicinity of the Sangguniang Panglungsod building claimed that prices of ros-

es increased by 100 percent following a huge demand for �lowers during Valentine’s Day. Rosita Molehon, a

PRICES,P10

A1

Maguindanao:

A taste of culture and tradition

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

GETTING FIRST-HAND. President Rodrigo Duterte interacts with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who availed themselves of amnesty from Kuwait after welcoming them home at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Monday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

91 NPA fighters surrender to AFP

By ANGIE SAVERON

F

rom January 1 to February 13, 2018 , a total of 91 New People’s Army fighters surrendered under the area of responsibility of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

The EMC also captured 110 �irearms and 53 improvised devices. The EMC recorded 44 encounters which resulted to the discovery of 54 NPA encampments and 126 improvised explosive devices (IED).

“That is the result of our

focused military operations,” said EMC spokesperson Maj. Ezra Balagtey. “We also have our community support programs which are undertaken by different units to include humanitarian assistance and disaster response that is being implemented on the

northeastern area Mindanao on Wednesday.”

Balagtey told the AFP-PNP Southern Mindanao Press Corps Media Brie�ing at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday that the NPA’s Sangay ng Partido Localidad has been facilitating the entry of the armed group in the community.

“So we are trying to reach them out to withdraw their support to the NPA so that we can facilitate the delivery of a peaceful

environment in the community,” said Balagtey According to Captain Jerry Lamosao, spokesperson of the 10th ID, the army has been continuing to focus on its military operations, community support programs and information gathering efforts in order to trace the NPA. “Because of our discovery of many abandoned encampments this implies that they (NPA)

CHO says 112, 278 children vaccinated M

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. ore than 100,000 children in Davao City were given anti-measles vaccine this after the declaration of outbreak in January this year.

A total of 112,278 children were given measles vaccine as of February 9 based on the outbreak response immunization (ORI) report of the City Health Of�ice (CHO).

In a statement released by the City Information Of�ice, the �igure represented 56.49 percent of the entire eligible recipients of the vaccine - which

totaled 198,747 children.

It stated that CHO is currently conducting ORI operations across the barangays of the city. It was being assisted by 100 personnel from the Department of Health.

Part also of the operation was the giving of immunization booster for children aged 6 up to 59 months; and information and education campaign on measles awareness.

The CHO reminded the public that its services are free.

There are health advisories

CHO,P10

INC’s Manalo gets Measure sought to expand special envoy post 91,P10

anti-discrimination edict

By JUDIE VEGA

C

ouncilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, chair of the committee on health, has proposed an amendment to the 2012 anti-discrimination ordinance that would require employers not to discriminate

against applicants who tested positive with Hepatitis B. Villafuerte said on Tuesday that certain health provisions need to be incorporated to make the local law responsive to the needs of workers and

that being Hepatitis B positive is not a hindrance to employment.

She said she was prompted by reports that some employees were �ired from their jobs because they were found to

have illnesses such as Hepatitis B. “We appeal to employers in Davao City not to discriminate against workers who are Hepatitis B positive,” Villafuerte said.

MEASURE,P10

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resident Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva Manalo as Special Envoy of the President for Overseas Filipinos Concerns.

In an appointment paper dated Feb. 13, Malacañang said Manalo will be holding the position from Jan. 30, 2018 until Jan. 29, 2019.

“Pursuant to the provisions of the existing laws, you

are hereby designated Special Envoy of the President for Overseas Filipino concerns, from 30 January 2018 to 29 January 2019,” the appointment paper read.

The INC, known for its bloc voting system, endorsed the candidacies of Duterte and former senator and losing vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the 2016

INC’S,P10

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

House awaits Cha-cha inputs by consult body

T

he House of Representatives would await the inputs of the 19-member consultative body tasked to review the 1987 Constitution before proceeding to draft the new Charter, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Wednesday.

In a press conference, Alvarez said the lower chamber would consider the recommendations of the consultative committee, as he directed the House constitutional committee to not immediately terminate its hearings in order to discuss the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution of the consultative body.

“Kasi tuluy-tuloy pa rin yung committee hearings nila, at saka sabi ko huwag niyong i-termi-

SAYING IT WITH FLOWERS. Dozens of people troop to the flower shops along San Pedro Street to buy flowers for their loved ones during the celebration of Valentine’s Day in Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

Gabriela on Duterte: ‘We were mistaken’

A

Davao-based women’s group that campaigned for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte when he ran for President, helped craft the Women Agenda for his platform of governance and continued to support him as President “despite his expletives, cussing and misogynistic remarks” in the last 19 months is now saying “we were wrong.”

“Despite his expletives, cussing and misogynistic remarks, we supported him, hoping that he, in-

deed, would bring genuine change for the marginalized communities.

WE WERE WRONG,” Gabriela

PMA braces for 2018 alumni homecoming

T

he top honchos of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, as well as retired soldiers in President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet, are expected to grace the 2018 alumni homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy this week.

Expected to come are AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Navy Flag Of�icer in command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, Army �lag of�icer in command Lt. General Rolando Joselito Bautista, Air Force Commanding General Galileo Gerard Kintanar Jr., PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa, Department of National Defense Secretary Del�in Lorenzana, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu.

PMA information of�icer Lieutenant Col. Reynaldo Balido in an interview on Monday evening said around 2,000 graduates from Asia’s premier military institution would be attending the alumni homecoming to be highlighted on February 15, 16, and 17.

Balido said Enrique K. Razon Jr., chairman and chief executive of�icer of the International Container Terminal Services Inc., would be the event’s guest of honor and speaker. As an adopted member of class 1988, Razon would also take his oath as a member of the PMA Alumni Association.

The homecoming is an awaited event for the men in uniform, an opportunity to meet and re-acquaint with former “Mistah’s” (class-

Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) said in a statement reacting to the President’s remarks that soldiers should not kill female members of the New Peoples’ Army but shoot their vagina to render them useless.

In its statement titled “No to Sexualization of Women,” Gabriela-SMR wrote “We were wrong” in all caps and in boldface, apparently for emphasis.

The February 13 statement was signed by Gabriela-SMR chair Dr. Jean Lindo, Chair Emeritus Lyda Canson and Secretary-Gener-

al May Ann Sapar, Speaking in Cebuano in Malacanang on February 7, Duterte otold an audience of 217 alleged NPA surrenderers �lown in from Eastern Mindanao, that soldiers should get even with the NPA and if there are women �ighters, “pusila sa bisong” (shoot their vagina).

He said soldiers should be informed of the “order bag-o ni Mayor” (the mayor’s new order), referring to himself, in dealing with female NPA guerrillas: “Di lang daw mo patyon. Pusilon lang mo

GABRIELA,P11

nate kaagad iyan dahil mayroon ding ginagawa yung consultative commission na in-appoint ng Presidente. Hintayin din natin yung input nila, para alam mo, covered natin iyan, at nako-consider natin lahat ng mga inputs,” Alvarez said.

Former senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., who is a member of the consultative committee, earlier said the proposal is expected to be submitted by President Rodrigo Duterte in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) this July.

Alvarez said his initial deadline in holding a plebiscite on Charter change along with the barangay elections in May 2018 might have to be pushed back

HOUSE,P10

Swift action pressed to save Boracay Island

T

wo senators on Wednesday joined growing calls to fast-track the rehabilitation of pollution-challenged Boracay island so as to sustain the country’s tourism growth while preserving the island’s beauty.

Senator Sonny Angara, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, called on all stakeholders to get their act together to save the “world’s best island”.

He also urged government agencies and local of�icials to implement strictly existing environmental laws and ordinances, and penalize erring establishments.

“We have to get our acts together. Boracay attracts two million tourists every year and brings in more than PHP50 billion in annual revenues. Huwag naman sana nating sayangin ito dahil lamang may ilang establisimyento na hindi nakakasunod sa mga regulasyon ng

gobyerno (Let›s not waste this opportunity just because some establishments could not comply with government regulations),» he said.

According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), of the 150 business establishments recently inspected by the government, only 25 were connected to the sewage line, while a number of them were draining their sewage directly into the sea.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte recently threatened to close the island as its garbage and sewage problem poses a threat to the health of tourists.

Angara stressed that stakeholders should not have to wait for the closure order as it would dampen the tourism industry, as well as the livelihood of the locals.

“The tourism industry is a

SWIFT,P10

MANDATORY. A volunteer checks a blood donor during a bloodletting activity in time for the celebration of Valentine’s Day at the activity center

PMA,P10 of Abreeza mall on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

Inflation rate seen to stay at 3% level

B

udget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno said there is no reason for people to be worried about the uptick of Philippines’ January 2018 inflation rate to four percent from 3.3 percent last January, citing that economic fundamantals remain intact.

“Let’s not get worried about it. The economy is doing very well,” he told journalists Tuesday.

The Budget and Management chief explained that inflation rate last January remains within the government’s two to

PRESSING NEEDS. City Tourism Operations Office head GeneRose Tecson says Davao City needs to have more convention centers and hotels for its MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions/

Events) campaign which is the city’s biggest ticket to attract tourists. Tecson also talked about the city’s upcoming activities during Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza mall. Lean Daval Jr

Biz leader sees positive TRAIN economic effect A

Davao business leader is bullish on the positive impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) on the country’s economy, considering that it will give the government source of funds for its infrastructure program.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Arturo Milan urged the business sector to always look at the total effect of TRAIN. He, however, did not discount there would always be a negative side when new laws were enacted.

He admitted that there are some members of the business

group who raised concerns about the excise tax on diesel fuel as this will result to higher transportation cost.

“But we should remember that the increase in fuel was not a result of TRAIN but on the increase of the global market price,” he said.

He stressed, “I am confident

the concerned government authorities know what they are doing and this TRAIN will enhance our capability as a country to really invest on infrastructure because taxes is our obligation to government and our patriotic duty to pay what is due to government”.

Initially, he said, there will always be complaints but in the end “I feel what is generated will be for the common good because this will give the government some ammunitions to invest in the Build Build Build program”.

Aside from TRAIN, Milan also cited the increase in the zonal valuation of real properties in Davao

that was approved in May last year.

He said it came as a shock since it took sometime for the government to implement the new revenue measure.

“But, we should appreciate this because our local government is looking for ways on how they could build the money to finance our social services,” he added.

“I always look at taxes as our share in really providing service to our people and we have to do our share to generate the funds for the common good for as long as every peso collected from taxes is well spent,” Milan said. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)

ban of OFWs to Kuwait.

“With this development, there is no more obstacle and impediment for these ‘Balik Manggagawa’ OFWs to return to their jobs in Kuwait,” he said.

“As for those who have just been recruited to work in Kuwait.

We are sorry but we cannot let you leave,” the BI chief added.

With this, Morente instructed Marc Red Mariñas, BI port operations division chief, to ensure that the OFWs returning to the Arab

state are properly documented and subjected to the usual immigration departure formalities.

Likewise, he noted that Kuwait-bound Filipinos with shortterm non-working visas will be allowed to depart as they are not covered by the ban.

Earlier, BI personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were compelled to defer the departure of more than a hundred OFWs to Kuwait as they awaited the DOLE’s decision on

their fate.

For his part, Mariñas ordered BI officers in all the ports to adopt stricter screening procedures and rigid inspection of all departing passengers.

“It is imperative that our immigration officers exercise extra vigilance in order to thwart attempts by the illegal recruiters and human trafficking syndicates to circumvent the ban by employing all sorts of dirty schemes,” the

Employed OFWs may go back to Kuwait: BI

O

verseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait who are currently vacationing in the country are allowed to leave and return to their jobs, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Wednesday.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the statement upon learning that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued a new directive exempting “Balik Manggagawa” passengers from the deployment

EMPLOYED,P11

four percent target for 2017-19.

He said assessment of the inflation development in the first month this year showed that there is unusual uptick, particularly of the rate of price increases on cigarettes.

The Department of Finance (DOF), in an analysis on the January 2018 inflation rate, said businesses’ compliance to the increased cigarette taxes of four percent starting in the first month this year is the main culprit to the uptick in inflation rate.

INFLATION,P10

Jollibee amasses P7.1B last year

H

omegrown fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp.

(JFC) posted a 15-percent increase in pro�it in 2017 to PHP7.1 billion after opening its highest number of new stores.

JFC’s net income attributable to equity holders of its parent �irm reached PHP6.2 billion in 2016.

For the October-to-December quarter alone, its attributable net pro�it rose by 11.7

percent to PHP1.98 billion last year from PHP1.78 billion in 2016.

The company opened 465 stores in 2017, the highest number of new stores in a year in its 39-year history.

JFC’s system-wide sales, a measure of all sales to consumers both from company-owned and franchised stores, grew by 16.9 percent in the fourth quarter compared to sales in

JOLLIBEE,P10

Baste Duterte endorses ‘Inaul’festival products

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residential son Baste Duterte is pushing for Mindanao products, including Maguindanao’s “inaul,” a hand-woven fabric with intricate design that has been around for centuries.

Baste Duterte touring the inaul exhibits at the trade expo on Monday during the 2nd Inaul Festival in Buluan, Maguindanao.

MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH CABRERA Speaking on Monday as guest of honor at the cooking show during the Second Inaul Festival, the young Duterte urged Filipinos to be proud of their own culture.

He was at the cooking show featuring delicacies inspired by the “palapa,” a local appetizer composed of onions, chili, coconut and ginger.

“I’m looking for my identity here as a true Filipino,” Baste said, adding that “we have to choose

that we are Filipino” and not promote foreign influence.

He was invited by the provincial government of Maguindanao led Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu’s son, Assemblyman King Jhazzer, to help them in the promotion of their local products.

The presidential son was toured in Buluan Lake and visited the women’s peace center building where production and exhibit of inaul products are managed by a group of women.

Baste was amazed of the creativity of the Maguindanaon women when he saw the different designs of the inaul, as well as inaul-inspired bags made from water hyacinth.

Tourism officials showed him inauls of the 18th and 19th centuries used by the women of the Moro royalty. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

ECONOMY 5

Subic to host PH ad confab anew

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he country’s premier Freeport will host for the third consecutive time Ad Summit Pilipinas 2018, the biggest advertising and marketing convention in the country.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and CEO Wilma Eisma, Ad Summit Pilipinas 2018 chairman Norman Agatep, 4As Phils chairman Bong Pacia and 4As president Sue Ann Nolido in a simple ceremony held at Mansion Garden Hotel here.

Organized by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4A’s), Ad Summit Pilipinas, a biennial gathering of industry professionals, is scheduled from March 7 to 10 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

“The event will boost Subic’s position as a destination for all of us,” Eisma said, adding that the summit will bring to Subic 4,000 to 5,000 participants as well as a posi-

tive impact on local economy.

She said although SBMA will provide the venue, utilize its security and tourism personnel during the event to help the 4As, the return of investment for Subic is making it the best destination for various MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) activities.

“That is what we are targeting and this is very much in line with what we are trying to position Subic as the next cruise ship playground,” Eisma said, adding that the advertising community could help advertise the potential and beauty of Subic worldwide.

With the theme: “DIY Your ROI” (or Do-It-Yourself Your Return Of Investment), Ad Summit Pilipinas 2018 is said to challenge current mindsets on the way marketing campaigns are being evaluated and to explore new ways of determining brand success beyond ROI. “What we hope to accomplish in Ad Summit Pilipinas

SUBIC,P11

Bargain hunting lifts PSEi anew; peso still down vs USD

M

ANILA -- The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rallied for the second consecutive day Wednesday due to bargain-hunting but the peso remained weak on high corporate demand for the greenback.

PSEi gained 0.33 percent, or 27.97 points, to 8,598.11 points, which a trader pointed to broad risk-on sentiment in the local equities market during the day.

All Shares rose 0.39 percent or 19.59 points to 5,072.80 points.

Most of the sectors tracked the main index, with Property registering the high-

est increase of 1.23 percent; followed by the Mining and Oil, 0.89 percent; Services, 0.72 percent; Financials, 0.23 percent; and Holding Firms, 0.004 percent.

Only the Industrial shed during the day after it declined by 0.007 percent.

Volume reached 1.80 billion shares amounting to PHP8.92 billion.

Losers, however, continue to surpass gainers at 124 to 85 while 50 shares were unchanged.

The peso shed some more during the day after it ended the trade at 52.12 from the previous day’s 51.98. Its close

BARGAIN,P11

Invest in infra, human capital to reap demographic dividend

M

ANILA -- The Philippines needs to invest in infrastructure and human capital in an effort to reap the demographic dividend which is crucial to the country’s economic growth, according to a paper published by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

A paper authored by Michael Abrigo and Carla San Diego, research fellow and information of�icer at the PIDS, respectively, revealed that the country is currently riding on the demographic sweet spot when its population becomes increasingly concentrated toward ages where productivity is highest. The labor force grows more rapidly than

the dependent population.

Abrigo and San Diego noted the Philippines has been enjoying an additional 0.4 percentage point annual boost in income per person on average from the �irst demographic dividend since the late 1960s.

“The window of opportunity, however, is closing soon,” they said, citing earlier estimates pointing to an end to the country’s �irst dividend phase by 2042, or just about two decades from now.

Given this time-bound nature of demographic dividend, the PIDS paper urged the government to invest in infrastructure and human capital, among

INVEST,P11

IN BUNCHES. A security guard chooses from a bunch of red roses that is being peddled by flower vendors to various establishments along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

TRAIN deletes oppressive rates

For delinquent tax payments T

he Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion has done away with punitive and confiscatory interest rates that encourage delinquency rather than compliance in paying the correct amount of taxes, imposing instead a more reasonable charge based on the legal interest rate for loans set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas according to the Department of Finance.

DOF Undersecretary Antonette Tionko said that before TRAIN, a taxpayer who pays de�iciency taxes beyond the due date

set by the Bureau of Internal Revenue is charged twice: First with a 20 percent annual de�iciency interest that accrues from the date

of the deadline for the payment of the basic tax; and second, a delinquency interest accruing from the due date of BIR’s �inal notice and demand.

Thus, she said, under the old tax provision, a taxpayer would sometimes have to pay the interest penalty that is almost or, at times, even over the de�iciency tax due.

“Under the TRAIN, the interest rate on de�iciency taxes is no longer oppressive and con�iscatory because rather than imposing two interest penalties, the

tax reform law provides only for the taxpayer to pay double the legal interest rate for loans set by the BSP,” said Tionko, who heads the DOF’s Revenue Operations Group.

Moreover, TRAIN provides that “in no case shall the de�iciency and the delinquency interest … be imposed simultaneously,” Tionko said.

On top of substantially lowering personal income tax rates, Tionko said the TRAIN has also made interest penalties “fairer

of its unsolicited proposal to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to transform the NAIA into a regional airport hub and to ensure that the NAIA would have the capacity to meet the continued growth in passenger traffic from the strong economies of the

Philippines and the region.

Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings, Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, the seven partners

that have a combined capitalization of over PHP2.2 trillion, also signed a memorandum of agreement formalizing the consortium.

With one of the world’s premier airport operators, Changi Airports International Pte. Ltd., engaged to provide technical sup-

TRAIN,P11

Tycoons’group to convert NAIA into a regional hub

S

even major conglomerates formally formed Tuesday a consortium that vows to transform the Ninoy Aquino International Airport into a regional airport hub.

The NAIA Consortium was formed following the submission

TYCOONS’,P11

6 SUBURBIA RISING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

Popcom marks V-Day with teen pregnancy prevention drive

Z

FISHING IN DAVAO GULF. With an area of 308,000 hectares, the Davao Gulf cuts into the island of Mindanao from Philippine Sea. The World Wildlife Fund considers Davao Gulf as one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world. Diverse coral reefs, different mangrove species, cetaceans and a host of invertebrates contribute to the

natural diversity of the gulf. But since 2000, the volume and quality of the fish in the Davao Gulf have been found to be in constant decline, according to a decade-study conducted by the World Fish Center. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

AMBOANGA CITY -- The regional of�ice of the Commission on Population (Popcom) marked Valentine’s Day Wednesday with an education campaign on teen pregnancy prevention.

The education campaign was held at a shopping mall where teenage-students gathered to meet friends and acquaintances after classes.

Popcom-9 Director Reynaldo Wong said in an interview the campaign was to raise awareness on the negative impact of teen pregnancy.

Wong said study showed that teen pregnancy occurs as teenagers engaged in early sex for reasons the girl is really in love with her boyfriend, but for him is just out of curiosity.

The study on teen pregnancy was conducted by the government-run Western Mindanao State University (WMSU).

“This activity is to provide the right information. There is nothing wrong in falling in

2 SoCotabato towns post improved nutrition status

Gensan cop draws G praises for honesty G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The moment he saw a small package lying unattended on the side of the road in Barangay Labangal here, Police Officer (PO) 1 Roldan Marco suspected that it contained something valuable.

He picked up the package, which was covered with a folded plastic bag, and found some cash inside amounting to some P9,000.

Marco immediately turned over the �ind to his superiors at the Regional Maritime Unit (RMU)-12 that eventually facilitated the return of the lost package to its owner, who turned out to be a “trisikad” driver

from the same village.

On Tuesday, the City Council honored Marco and awarded him with a certificate of commendation for his integrity and honesty.

“It is an act worthy of emulation and hopefully will inspire others to do the same,” City Councilor Lourdes Casabuena said.

The package’s owner, Felimon Pasante, said he had

just borrowed the money from a lender when he lost it last Jan. 29.

He said he went to a gas station that day in Crossing Makar to �ill up his motorcycle and might have dropped it while on his way home to Barangay Labangal.

“I only noticed that it was already missing when I arrived in our house,” he said in the vernacular.

Pasante tried to locate the package but failed and just prayed that someone good-hearted would �ind and return it to him.

That person would be Marco, who found it near a lodging house in Purok San

Roque, Labangal.

“I was with my father at that time and we immediately decided to locate and return it to the rightful owner,” he said.

Marco said he then went to their of�ice and turned it over to their duty investigator, who advised him to �ind its owner.

He later found out and veri�ied that it was owned

by Pasante, who was overjoyed upon getting back the borrowed money.

The rookie police of�icer said he never thought about keeping the money for himself and believes that it was his moral and legal obliga-

was arrested at around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday near a restaurant on La Purisima Street, Barangay Zone III, this city.

Beltran said Haman has standing warrant of arrest for eight counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention issued by a court in Isabela City, Basilan province.

He said Haman was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of workers from the Golden Harvest Plantation on June 11, 2001 in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan.

He lauded the Police Station 4 personnel under the leadership of Chief Insp. Hazel Fernandez for a job well-done. (PNA)

GENSAN,P14

Abu Sayyaf bandit arrested

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AMBOANGA CITY -- Police authorities arrested an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in the kidnapping and killing of plantation workers 16 years ago in Basilan province, an of�icial announced Wednesday. The suspect is the 10th ASG member involved in the plantation

workers’ kidnapping that was arrested since January 1 this year.

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, Police Regional Of�ice-9 (PRO-9) director, identi�ied the arrested suspect as Rocco Haman, 38, who carries the aliases Ruco Haman Isdad, and Hamador Hadjula.

Beltran said the suspect

love, but they should give priority to their ambitions in life.

This should not be exchanged with short enjoyment,” Wong said.

He said the study further showed that almost 40 percent of the youths in the region aged 16 to 17 already have sexual experience.

He said Region 9 contributed 3.7 percent to the teen pregnancy rate of the country.

During the activity, each of the students was made to pick a raf�le that contain questions related to teen pregnancy and adolescent sexual health.

The student who picked up the question will be the one who will supply the answer.

“If their answer is wrong, we correct them. If the answer is right, we augment it,” Popcom Information Of�icer Cecil Abuy said.

The activity is dubbed “#be informed, be educated, be safe.” (PNA)

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Two municipalities in South Cotabato province have “graduated” from the list of top localities in Region 12 with noted high prevalence of malnutrition.

Arceli Latonio, coordinator of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 12, said Wednesday the towns of Lake Sebu and Tboli are no longer included in the top 10 areas in terms of malnutrition cases based on their assessment as of the end of 2017.

She speci�ically cited the results of the 2017 Operation Timbang (OPT), which saw vastly improved ratings for the two municipalities.

“They were able to signi�icantly bring down the number of underweight children last year and we’re hoping that they would be able to sustain it

this year,” she said.

Latonio credited the accomplishment to the efforts of the provincial government, in coordination with the two municipal governments, in promoting proper nutrition among children.

In 2016, Lake Sebu and Tboli ranked sixth and 10th, respectively, among local government units in the region in terms of the prevalence of underweight and severely underweight children.

Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

But Latonio said South Cotabato is among the three

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Soldier offers marriage to fiancée while hunting down rebels in SK

B

AGUMBAYAN, Sultan Kudarat – Their love blossomed in the harsh condition of the battle�ield.

They both declared they wanted to tie the knot since they are ready.

A day before lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day worldwide, two soldiers became “of�icially” engaged, not in aristocratic restaurant or lovers’ resort, but in the middle of the battle�ield.

A unit of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion was in the middle of manhunt against communist rebels in the mountains of Sitio 2, Barangay Titulok, Bagumbayan when

Corporal Denemar Albani, 27, platoon radioman from Zamboanga City, surprised her longtime girlfriend, Private Christine Porcadilla, 26, platoon combat medic from Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, with a marriage proposal.

Without Porcadilla’s knowledge, Albani connived with all of his colleagues in the platoon about his planned proposal.

While they took a rest after hours of hiking in the mountains, Albani came in front of Porcadilla kneeling on one knee and offered to marry her.

The visibly surprised Army

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

SUBURBIA RISING7

Abu Sayyaf men seize government engineer

Z

AMBOANGA CITY -- A government engineer was abducted

by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members in the province of Sulu, the military reported Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identi�ied the victim as Enrico Nee of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM).

Sobejana said Nee, who belonged to the �irst engineering district, was seized at around 7:45 a.m.

Wednesday in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu.

Sobejana said the victim was waiting for a tricycle approximately 20 meters away from his residence when a lone gunman approached and at gunpoint forced him to board on a waiting Tamaraw-type jeep.

He said the jeep sped off towards Barangay Anuling, Patikul municipality.

“The incident may be part of the express kidnapping of the ASG to get ransom payment and sustain their terror activities,” he added.

He said rescue operation was immediately launched by the Joint Task Force Sulu and the police forces in the province.

“We already recovered the get away vehicle and closely tracking the escape route (of the ASG),” Sobejana said.

“We are appealing to the public to immediately inform us on any monitored hostile plans of the ASG so that we can take immediate appropriate action,” he added citing the public should be aware that security is everybody’s responsibility.

(PNA/with reports from Ely E. Dumaboc)

6 killed in Surigao provinces as‘Basyang’batters Caraga

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ENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island (MindaNews / 13 Feb) – Six people have died in separate landslides in the mining towns of Carrascal in Surigao del Sur and Placer in Surigao del Norte as Typhoon “Basyang” battered Caraga Region Tuesday morning, of�icials said.

Carrascal Mayor Vicente “VJ” Pimentel III told MindaNews over the phone that a landslide in Barangay Panikian killed three people and hurt one while another incident in Barangay Babuyan killed one and injured 10.

Several infrastructures have been damaged, according to the mayor.

Placer Mayor Michael Patino, meanwhile, said two people died due to a landslide in Barangay Mapaso.

In Surigao City, �loods hit different parts of the city and reportedsly wiped out a steel bridge in the mining village of Mat-i.

The Surigao River swelled as “Basyang” poured water since Monday, causing �loods in several low-lying villages such as portions of Barangay Luna, Washington, Rizal, Mat-i, Serna, Togbongon, and San Juan, according to city information of�icer Annette Villaces.

In Alegria town in Surigao del Norte, mud descended in the villages after a landslide.

Concerned Alegria resident Pontius Gogo shared to MindaNews his pictures of Ba-

rangay Alipao that was affected by the landslide.

He said several houses were almost buried by a swath of mud cascading down from the mountain.

“Small-scale mining has been operating in this barangay since the early 1980s,” Gogo said, adding that miners cut the trees for use in the tunnels without replanting.

“They are focused on getting the precious gold and neglecting the danger of destroying nature,” he lamented.

Engr. Henry Marapao, district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Surigao del Norte, said the Magtiaco Bridge along national highway in the municipality of Alegria is impassable this was damaged as water in the river rose. Another bridge in Barangay Bangonay in neighboring Jabonga town in Agusan del Norte is also reportedly not passable.

Two power transmission lines of the National Grid Power Corporation (NGCP) in Barangay Quezon in Surigao City were reportedly toppled, causing blackout in parts of the city and in the municipalities of San Francisco and Malimono in Surigao del Norte.

NGCP spokesperson Mae Roselle Curiano said it might take some time to bring power back because they still have to wait for �loodwaters to recede before linemen could do repairs. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)

HARVESTING ABACA. Native to the Philippines, the abaca plant (known in the science world as Musa textilis) is a kind of palm tree related to the common banana palm. The fiber is extracted from the

leaf sheath around the base of the plant. Harvesting of abaca stalks usually takes place between 18 and 24 months from the first shoots.

Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

7 rebs surrender in Maguindanao A

MPATUAN, Maguindanao -Tired of hiding from pursuing government troops and empty promises of their supposed leaders, seven communist New Peoples’ Army (NPA) guerillas surrendered Tuesday to the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (MIB) based here.

Lt. Col. Lauro Oliveros, 1st MIB commanding of�icer, said the surrenderees belonged to Platoon My Phone of the NPA Guerilla

Front 73 Far South Mindanao Regional Committee, operating in the hinterlands of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.

The rebels turned over

�irearms and explosives composed of two M-14 ri�le, M-16 ri�le, two M1 Garand ri�les, one homemade M-16 sniper ri�le, one Spring�ield ri�le, a .38-caliber revolver, a hand grenade, and one improvised explosive device with wire and triggering device.

Oliveros said the surrenderees decided to return to the folds of the law due to hardship they experienced in hiding in the mountain-

ous area of Sultan Kudarat while evading government troops.

They also realized promises of their communist leaders were all false.

“The surrenderees were also convinced by their relatives and other former rebels who bene�ited from the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program or CLIP and live a peaceful and secured life,”

initiative, which is dubbed unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program.

She said they were tasked to lead the validation and implementation of the program in parts of Region 12 and in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of Gen-

eral Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

“After the actual validation, we will release the list of bene�iciaries and endorse them for the subsidy,” Taha said.

The of�icial said the validation would be based on the current database of the agency’s “Listahanan” survey or National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.

She said it would cover at total of 197,149 poor households in Region 12 and 235,326 in the ARMM.

In Region 12, the validation will involve 73, 315 households in North Cotabato, 44,583 in South Cotabato, 43,932 in Sultan Kudarat, 27,253 in Sarangani and 8,066 in Cotabato City.

A total of 121,654 households will undergo validation in Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City, and 113,672 in Maguindanao.

Sohra Guialel, DSWD-12’s policy and plans division chief, said they would hire some 1,441 validators, 125 admin-

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432K poor households eyed for TRAIN subsidy in Region 12, Armm

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 is targeting to cover around 432,000 poor households for the subsidy program in line with the implementation of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law. Bai Zorahayda Taha, DSWD Region 12 director, said Wednesday they are set to launch a series of validations to properly determine the quali�ied bene�iciaries for the

432K,P13

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

T

Dangerous detainees

he Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Region 11 has been able to remove a major challenge in its management of the Davao City Jail, when it �inally transferred nine high- risk inmates from its Special Intensive Care Area (SICA) to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City days ago.

The detainees include Abu Sayaff members accused of the kidnapping of John Ridsdel, a Canadian national on September 21, 2015 in a Resort in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte. The other dangerous personalities moved to Taguig are members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group detained for terrorism, multiple murder, multiple attempted murder and related crimes in connection with the September 2, 2016 bombing of the city’s night market along Roxas Avenue. A total of 15 people were killed and 69 others were wounded in that horri�ic terror attack.

The detainees were jointly escorted by elite teams of

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

the BJMP, Task Force Davao and the Philippine National Police.

BJMP 11 regional director Jail Sr. Supt. Amelia Rayandayan said the Supreme Court’s Second Division approved last January 5 the request of the BJMP for the transfer of custody of the inmates.

The highest tribunal granted the request submitted to it on January 13 last year yet. The urgent petition was also endorsed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio through the City Peace and Order Council.

The transfer of the high-risk inmates to the better-equipped Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City is a big thing not only for the BJMP custodial force but more importantly for the people of Davao City. High pro�ile detainees are a magnet to their fellow criminals outside to attack the jail facility “to rescue” their comrades behind bars. This happened many times in nearby Kidapawan City, which was keeping several high-risk detainees.

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

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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

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Holier than thou

y mind races back to the GMA era as I try to recall how the mainstream media based in Imperial Manila pounced and ganged up on former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Surely many readers can remember when the airlanes as well as the printed word contained nothing else but venomous critical articles and broadcast news directed at her administration focused mainly on corruption and mal-practices.

Fed continuously with halftruths of information coming from the opposition that has coalesced principally to take her down from her perch, the same group of media networks and personalities are also today behind the avalanche of organized tirades against the Duterte government.

The Yellow Cult, known popularly (or notoriously) as the Liberal Party has managed to put up a “holier than thou” image that has masked the previous PNoy regime such that many unsuspecting souls are still inclined to buy what they are selling.

When Cory set up the “Revolutionary Government” after disposing off the conjugal Marcos dictatorship, her council of advisers, seething with �ire and fury beguiled her into adopting a new constitution which, for all intents and purposes, was only designed to countermand everything and all that Marcos did during his governance.

Thus, all incumbent LGU of�icials identi�ied with Macoy were replaced, suspended and even put on trial.

Men, with integrity or not, but identi�ied as Cory supporters suddenly found themselves OICs like this little fellow who later on almost made it to the presidency.

The LPs, led by the Aquino clan, have managed to “institutionalize” this “holier than thou” by effectively employing the anti-Marcos battle cry associated with the EDSA People Power.

Educational materials and literature such as books for reading and discussion in the elementary and high school levels were re-written to favor the slant that if not for Corazon

“While there maybe no of�icial statistics available, the consequences of alcoholism are very obvious in the community or inside homes. There are many undocumented cases of alcoholic persons who collapsed in the streets because of drunkenness. Alcoholism is a growing concern in the culture and social life of our country.”

So wrote Joyce P. Valbuena, in her report, “Alcoholism and media: The situation in the Philippines,” published by the Health Action Information Network.

Unknowingly, it is not only adults who are drinking but young people – even teenagers. . “Philippine law sets the minimum legal drinking age at 18 but underage drinking is widespread,” Valbuena reported. “Most young people get alcohol from home with or without their parents’ permission.

They know how to obtain alcohol – they are able to get it from friends or they can discreetly buy for themselves.”

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines (UP) found out that Filipino youths, on the average, start drinking at the age of 16 or 17.

“There are also many cases when children as young as 12 years are already drinking alcoholic beverages,” Valbuena noted. “About 37% of the respondents in the survey have continued the habit of drinking alcohol while 33% said they only drink alcoholic beverag-

es on special occasions.”

Most of these teenagers are not aware of the repercussions they are courting. “When it comes to drinking, most teenagers are impulsive,” explains Francis T. Lagudas, a soon-to-be doctor who started drinking when he was already in college. “Their sense of responsibility is not yet well-developed.”

Many of these youngsters – some of them good kids – are even involved in binge drinking. If you don’t know what it means, it is “drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08%” – that’s 80 milligrams of alcohol for every 100 milliliters of blood.

“New Scientist,” a British magazine, explains the medical de�inition this way: On average, males taking in �ive or more “standard drinks” or females taking in four or more “standard drinks” in two hours send blood alcohol soaring to that 80 milligram level.

But what is a “standard drink”? A “Philippine Daily Inquirer” columnist gives this idea: “(A standard drink) can be a small glass of wine, one bottle of beer or a splash of Russian vodka. For Filipinos then, the index would be beer bottles: taking in �ive or more in two hours could be binge drinking.”

In simpler terms, binge drinking is drinking to get drunk. “Drinking alcoholic beverages beyond one’s capacity to the point of intoxication is a risky

SPECKS OF LIFE Fred C. Lumba Aquino, democracy in the country would not have been restored.

Why, there was even this campaign for Cory to be nominated and canonized as a saint!

And lately, on Facebook posts, Sen. Bam Aquino is being bandied about as too proud to be identi�ied with his late Ninoy Aquino because he (the latter) “is a national hero.”

Sez who?

So, when the Hacienda Luisita

agrarian problem came up, the late Cory broke up with GMA and this falling apart led to the organized mainstream media attack on the daughter of the “poor man from Lubao.”

Unfortunately for GMA – in comparison to PRRD - her lieutenants in the Cabinet did not or were unable to parry the storm of criticisms. She was almost left alone fending for herself against the daily, non-stop diatribes as even her spokespersons committed one faux pas after another and fell on the wayside.

Fortunately for Pres. Digong, he is surrounded by well-equipped Cabinet secretaries who can navigate successfully through the political maze.

That this “holier than thou” image propagated by the Yellow Cult should be torn down and the truth revealed is a must for the Filipino nation to free itself from the oppressive status quo.

The mother and son tandem not only blessed the oligarchs of their own but also created more, empow-

ering them with monopolies that are being utilized today as fronts for their political agenda and maneuverings.

Thus, it cannot be helped but arouse the consciousness of the Pinoy masa who helped Digong win the presidency because these are the very same people who have endured and suffered the inequities of the status quo perpetrated by mother and son.

This is the advice of Guiseppe Garibaldi, a young French revolutionary who was the �irst to apply guerilla tactics against government armies: “I can offer you neither honor nor wages; I offer you only hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Anyone who loves his country, follow me.”

(Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) 2 Tim.2:13. “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

Hartigan-Go, a medical toxicologist.

Outside schools, binge drinking happens after �inal examinations or during special occasions like Christmas celebrations, New Year’s Eve, birthday and wedding parties, and even during wakes. It is most common during a rite of passage among college students.

The worst thing that some young people can expect from a night of binge drinking is a blackout or bad hangover.

But recent studies that there’s more to it than those two consequences.

Alcohol, a stomach irritant, affects our central nervous system – slowing our breathing, heart rate and gag re�lex.

That’s why, alcoholism is no longer a moral or social issue but also a neurobiological one.

“Mounting research suggests that alcohol causes more damage to the developing brains of teenagers than was previously thought, injuring them signi�icantly more than it does adult brains,” wrote Katy Butler of “The New York Times.”

“The research even suggests that early heavy drinking may undermine the precise neurological capacities needed to protect oneself from alcoholism,” Butler added. This may help explain why people who start drinking at an early age face enormous risks of becoming alcoholics.

“There is no doubt about it now: There are long-term cognitive conse-

quences to excessive drinking of alcohol in adolescence,” Dr. Aaron White, an assistant research professor in psychiatry department at Duke University in North Carolina, was quoted as saying.

In some instances, alcohol’s in�luence on a person can lead to date rape, sexually transmitted infection, and unwanted pregnancies. Studies conducted by the World Bank from 2000 to 2003 ranked the Philippines as one of the top 10 countries with an increasing number of teenage mothers. Seven out of 10 Filipina mothers are adolescents; most of them are below 19 years old.

Peer pressure has been cited as one of the main reasons why today’s are drinking that those in the past.

“Our youth of today want to �it in,” one psychologist explained. “They want to feel good about themselves. By drinking, they are seeking approval from their friends. Because if their friends are drinking and they are not, they’re going to be ranked down. So they’ll drink even if they know it will hurt them in the future.”

Media and advertisements have also something to do with it. A mother, whose son was already drinking at the age of 17, said: “I think our children are swayed by media, television and video games. Kids tend to emulate not necessarily heroes or role models, but someone whom they idolized.”

Teenage drinking

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

behavior in which most young people get involved at some time,” Valbuena wrote.

Whether in industrialized or developing countries, binge drinking among teenagers show the same pattern. “Young people in developing countries are increasingly drinking in the same harmful patterns as young people in developed countries,” reports the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

This is truer in the Philippines.

“In campuses and colleges, binge drinking occurs during acquaintance night, promenades, victory balls and pre-graduation parties. So, there’s always something for these students to do and get drunk,” said Dr. Kenneth

10NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

Gertrudo de Leon who was �ired October year.

De Leon was �ired over corruption allegations.

Duterte also appointed

new local government operations of�icers and directors to the Department of Interior and Local Government. (PNA)

until 2019.

“Timetable, kailangang bago mag-2019, tapos na iyan. I think mahaba na talaga iyan, conservative estimate na iyan,” Alvarez said.

Based on the proposals submitted by the House constitutional amendments committee, the territory of the future Federal Republic of the Philippines will be divided into �ive states composed of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Bangsamoro, and Metro

Manila.

Under the proposal, each state shall have its own State Constitution, adopt its name, and choose a capital, �lag, anthem, and seal.

The proposed federal charter retains the position of the President, who would act as head of state, and introduces the position of a Prime Minister, who would be the head of the government. (PNA)

major economic driver and job generator for the country. De�initely, its closure will have an adverse impact on its locals who depend on the island’s tourism for their livelihood. Kung kaya huwag na nating hintayin na tuluyan itong ipasara dahil sa ating kapabayaan (Let›s not wait for Boracay’s total closure because of our neglect),” he said.

The lawmaker also called on stakeholders to take advantage

of the Green Jobs Law (Republic Act No. 10771) that incentivizes the creation of jobs that contribute substantially to the preservation and restoration of the environment and natural resources.

Under RA 10771, which Angara sponsored, green jobs are jobs that help “protect ecosystems and biodiversity, and minimize or altogether avoid the generation of all forms of waste and pollution”. (PNA)

mates) and squad-mates, who had spent four years of their lives in a regimented military training to be defenders of the nation.

Balido said the preliminary activities include the

“battle of the classes” golf tournament, the “clash of the classes”, and the Uncle “bobo” cup simultaneously happening on February 15 and 16.

(PNA)

Inflation of cigarettes registered a faster rate of 17.4 percent last month, higher than the expected eight percent rise, it said.

This after the amended Sin Tax Law, approved in 2012, requires that tax on a pack of cigarettes will be at four percent starting 2018 from PHP12 in 2013, PHP15 in 2014, PHP18 in 2015, PHP21 in 2016 and PHP30 in 2017.

Economic managers have denied that the first package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law is to blame for the faster inflation rate at the start of this year.

TRAIN’s first package, which cut personal income tax rates and gives workers’ first PHP250,000

annual income a tax-free rate, took effect January 1 this year.

While it reduced workers’ income tax rates it hiked excise taxes on fuel and sugar-sweetened beverages, among others.

The DOF analysis explained that even as food inflation registered an uptick last January it is because of faster fish inflation, which posted a 12 percent inflation, because of the impact of close-season for fishing, normally between November to February, and the recent typhoon in the Visayas.

Another factor is the correct payment of taxes by Mighty Corporation, which has been bought

by JTI Philippines, after erring in the past years. (PNA)

the same period of 2016 and by 15.2 percent for the entire year of 2017, driven by the expansion of store network and strong same store sales.

For the entire year, sales of its restaurant chains in the Philippines grew by 13.2 percent while those abroad rose by 23.4 percent.

“Gross pro�it margins in the Philippines were below yearago level as our rate of price adjustments was behind cost increases, following JFC’s practice of implementing gradual price adjustments in order to help consumers adapt to rising

in�lation,” said JFC’s Chief Financial Of�icer Ysmael Baysa in a statement to the local bourse.

“The gradual price adjustments help to continuously drive volume growth of consumer visits per store despite rising in�lation rate in the country. We expect to eventually recover our pro�it margins in 2018,” he said.

It ended 2017 with 3,797 stores, higher by 16.7 percent compared with 2016’s 3,253 stores. JFC had 2,875 restaurant outlets in the Philippines, and was operating 922 stores abroad. (PNA)

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HEARTS SPEAK. University of Mindanao’s (UM’s) Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO) director for quantitative studies Andrien Tamayo (left), together with researcher Melton Medina, discusses the organization’s

latest survey to determine Dabawenyos’ state of love affairs during this week’s edition of Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza mall.

Lean Daval Jr

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rape were recorded in 2016 which was reduced to 215 cases in 2017.

“This can be attributed to the intensi�ied security measures conducted by the police like the conduct of check point and oplan bulabog which is a great help as well in reducing crime by monitoring the activity of people here in the city and especially those transient residents because they might create a hideout and conduct illegal activities,” she said.

She said that major anti-criminality operations has served a number of warrant of arrest and the return of

campaign of illegal drugs to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other undertakings f the DCPO. This also includes the Sagod Kabataan which lessens the riots in the city streets. She said that DCPO’s advocacy in the increasing g the awareness of the public regarding the law and ordinances in the city.

“This could not be made possible without the full support of the government in terms of our logistics and other aspects that made our undertaking easier especially the safety and security concerns and the cooperation of the public,” she said.

�lower vendor told Edge Davao that only prices of roses increased on February 14-16, while prices of other kinds of �lowers like anthurium, carnation, orchids, and mums remained stable.

“Usually, we double the prices of roses per dozen from February 13 to 16.

Regular prices at present are pegged at P25, P40, P50, P60, and P120 depending on the variety and sizes,” Molehon said.

“Aside from roses, the prices of the baby’s breath also increased from P20 to P60 by bundle,” she added.

Molehon said that the price of a dozen of roses soared to P800 from the usual P500, while a two-dozen bouquet of roses reached P1,000 from P800

due to the rising demand for �lowers in Valentine’s day.

She said, prices of bouquets will cost P400 to P600. At present, the �lower shop’s cheapest bouquet is pegged at P350.

“Prices of �lowers sold in our �lower stalls are cheaper compared to the prices of �lower shops inside the malls in the city,” she said.

Molehon added that one of their customers claimed that the prices of bouquets sold at �lower shops inside the malls are pegged at P400 to P450 on regular days.

“If we double the prices of roses for this week, it is possible that prices of roses in �lower shops inside the malls will be tripled,” she said.

transferred, so our information gathering efforts are intensi�ied because they might be situated in a place where in they have another victim community,” said Lamosao.

He said that 10th ID continues to support the local government in their undertaking particularly peace and order and in partnership with Philippine National Police.

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The anti-discrimination ordinance, considered a progressive law that protects Davaoenos, bans discrimination against gender, minority groups and persons with disabilities.

“There’s a need to amend the ordinance as discrimination in the workplace has become prevalent to people who have health problems such as those who are infected with Hepatitis B,” she said.

However, she did not cite �igures of incidences of discrimination but based on records of the city, Hepa B positive employees are not allowed to work in certain establishments.

Dr. Marilyn Arguillas, gastroenterologist with a special interest in liver diseases particularly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, said the virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body �luids of an infected person and not through casual contact.

“This is a reason why it is safe for the infected person to work, aside from exposure from infected worker in occupations which is involving sharp instruments/ needles is prone procedures largely in the

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health care settings”, Arguillas said.

Arguillas said that it is a very grave offense in discriminating against people with Hepa B as they are capable of working.

“In 2010, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) already issued a memorandum informing business establishments not to discriminate against those who have hepatitis B, however, there are still workers who were �ired because of the illness,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said that if the amendment will be approved those who will violate the law will be criminally charged as the Department of Health’s advisory against hepatitis B is not enough.

Villafuerte said that �irsttime offenders, will pay a �ine of P1,000; P2,000 �ine and imprisonment of 10 days for second-time offenders and for those who continue to violate the ordinance, they will be �ined P5,000 and jailed for at least 15 days “or upon the discretion of the court.”

“The amendment covers the discrimination on all the health status not only in Hepatitis B,” Villafuerte added.

have been also distributed to schools to keep its authorities, parents, and school children aware of the measures to prevent infection and spread of the disease.

The CHO advised work establishments that if an employee showed symptoms of measles, they should refrain from

going to work and instead go to the nearest hospital.

Symptoms of measles which start to appear around two weeks of exposure to the virus – included high fever, cough, colds, sore throat, in�lammation of the eyes, skin rashes, and white spots on the inner lining of the cheeks.

national elections.

Meanwhile, Duterte also appointed Herman Billones

Jumilla as Undersecretary for the Department of Budget and Management replacing

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INdulge!

FOOD

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

EDGEDAVAO

Maguindanao:

A taste of culture and tradition I AM A MAGUINDANAON.

Truly, Mindanao is a multi-ethnic island. With more than a handful tribes each with distinct traditions and culture, Mindanao is more than just a destination — it is home even to those who do not want to admit it. And as a Muslim and Mindanaon, I particularly aim for appreciation and recognition of the many beautiful reasons why Mindanao is one helluva of a force to reckon with.

The recently concluded 2nd Inaul Festival (Feb 8 to 14 2018) at Buluan, Maguindanao proved to be a most wonderful highlight to a new year. Admittedly, it was a first (time) but it felt as though I was coming home to my home. The familiarity was inevitable; the acceptance was stronger. Notwithstanding my surname and political connections, it felt good to be there.

Like I, my colleagues from the media, was as excited to embark on a new journey. Only difference was my innate connection to the culture and traditions. Not to mention, my somewhat ability to converse and communicate in the dialect. Oh the joy of surprising people whenever I speak the dialect — they thought of me in the opposite.

To say the least, it felt nice to act as a quasi-tour guide — specially with the food. It felt good to share a part of my being to people who are as excited as I am.

Yes, Buluan treated us with more love than we imagined. We were given a freehand to roam around the province, explore the outskirts and talk to locals like we’ve known them for years. Of course, touch base with the good Governor Bapa Datu Toto Mangudadatu and his brother, Assemblyman Bapa Datu Toy Mangudadatu who made our stay an even memorable one.

Let’s talk food. Pastil (patil) was first on the agenda. For months, I’ve been craving and I was not going to let this moment pass. Was I satisfied? Of course. The smell of freshly wrapped

rice and kagikit (shredded chicken/ fish) in banana leaves was all I needed.

Paired with native coffee (yup, had to give in to the temptation!), it was palate perfection all the way.

On the side, tinapayan (appetizer; burong alwan or catfish) with lots of ginger, oil and chillies sent an enigmatic frenzy to my peers. Palapa, for us Maguindanaon, is made of shredded young coconut, onions, chillies and salt and pepper. When eating pastil, any of this two will surely elevate your eating experience.

Buluan is also known for their african hito, tilapia and tarok (karpa).

From grilled to curried to steamed, you’ll love the many choices they have.

Of course, any meal is not complete without dessert. Or nibbles, as I call them. Traditional nibbles include the sweet and crispy tipas, belebed (balebed) or suman, pastil made with glutinous rice, tinagtag (deep fried rice flour mixture), kumukunsi and my personal favourite, bulua (burua) or our version of muffin either soft or with crunchy exterior. To complete, a cup of hot native coffee is all that you need.

TRC Speaks: Maguindanaon by birth, by right and by choice, I am but an advocate of the vast culture and tradition that we have. Including of course, our delectable traditional dishes. Allowing others to appreciate our traditional dishes is something to be proud of. Truly proud of.

I would like to personally thank the Provincial Government of Buluan, Maguindanao, DOT Maguindanao and everyone who took us in and made our stay meaningful. Again, to the good Governor Bapa Datu Toto Mangudadatu and Assemblyman Bapa Datu Toy Mangudadatu for taking good care of us. Shukran mga Bapa.

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

A2INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

Husky plush toy and his equally cute buddy from SM Accessories Kids.

PUPPY LOVE AND LUCK

Your favorite Paw Patrol inspired plush toys like Skye the Cockapoo dog, Marshall the Dalmatian. and Chase the German shepherd make great Year of the Dog pals.

Available at Toy Kingdom.

THERE’S A LOT OF PUPPY LOVE AND LUCK as SM Accessories Kids and Toy Kingdom celebrate Chinese New Year with lovable and adorable plushies for kids of all ages.

This Beagle will have tons of playtime fun time with his puppy pal and kids.

Feel the luck this New Year with these little Pomeranian dog plushies dressed in birthday, sailor and baseball costumes. Available in selected Toy Kingdom stores nationwide.

Like children born in the Year of the Dog, these plush toys are cheerful, obliging, and a good sport.

The Dog, after all, is said to be the most likeable sign in the Chinese Zodiac.

And kids born in the Year of the Dog are said to be honest, intelligent, egalitarian, and super-loyal. These children are playful, friendly, and outgoing, appreciated by peers and adults alike for their warmth, candidness, and sense of humor. A dog is a very good and supportive friend to have indeed. When the chips are down, the Dog will always be at your side.

Bring home hugs, joy and charm with these adorable little dogs - ranging from huskies to beagles available at the SM Accessories Kids department of The SM Store.

Toy Kingdom, on the other hand, can also fill your homes with good luck with its adorable dog plush toys inspired by Paw Patrol’s well-loved characters Skye, Marshall and Chase, that you can hug and play with all day. There are also cute miniature dog plush toys dressed in birthday, sailor and baseball costumes.

These are all available at The SM Store and This Beagle will have tons of playtime Toy Kingdom. fun time with his puppy pal and kids.

There are lots of adorable dog plush toys to choose from SM Accessories Kids at The SM Store.

There’s a lot of puppy love and luck in welcoming the Year of the Dog with SM Accessories Kids .

Search is open for 2018 GMA Network Excellence Award DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES to become the next GMA Network Excellence Awardee?

GMA Network is inviting all outstanding graduating students of communication and technology based courses to vie for the 2018 GMA Network Excellence Award (GNEA).

The search is open to any bona fide Filipino graduating student (academic year 2017-2018) of Mass Communication, Multi-media Arts, Advertising, Electronics

Communication Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Information Technology.

GNEA recognizes excellence through the demonstration of leadership, academic performance, and social responsibility. The candidate must be graduating with honors and is active in socio-civic activities.

To join, submit the Entry Book which contains the accomplished application form, related work, transcript of records, certificate of

candidate for graduation, certificate of good moral character, and recommendation letter.

GMA Network will confer two awards – one for the best Communication student and another for the outstanding student of a technology based course. Each winner shall receive P50,000 and a plaque.

For more details about GNEA, contact Ms. Unis M. Loleng at 9827777 local 1108 or email GMAExcellence@gmanetwork.com or visit www.gmanetwork.com/excellenceaward.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

TRAVEL

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Greenstate Greenstate Suites: Suites:

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

WITH TOURISM IN THE PHILIPPINES growing by the second, it is but natural for us to anticipate and assume on the possibility of overflowing demand — especially when it comes to dining and hospitality. A positive issue to begin with, it has since been a most favoured invitation for the archipelago and its people to construct, build and operate businesses addressing the same.

By BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO

Just like in the city of Koronadal, the demand for lodging houses, hotels and the likes has been an in demand issue. Considered South Cotabato’s center for finance, business and education, Koronadal City is less than an hour’s drive from General Santos City and is the main crossroad to other key points in both Southern and Central Mindanao.

Case in point, Greenstate Suites. Operating since June 28, 2009, they started with just 24 rooms and has since been known for comfort and good quality service all around. From 24, they added 10 more rooms to better cater to the demand. The additional

rooms came as a welcome addition in time with the increasing demand from locals and tourists alike.

Each room is fully air conditioned, with hot and cold shower amenities, intercom phone, LCD cable TV and strong wifi access. The hotel has also installed numerous CCTV surveillance system for security. Keeping you comfortable and safe is what they are after.

General Manager John Michael Daraug shared that he sees it to be his mission to better the quality of service they have for their patrons.

More so, develop their facilities according to the changing needs. For him, the only thing that sepa-

rates one establishment from another is its ability to adapt to change. And that is what they always aim for.

For them, change is the only way to understand their clients. That it is through such that development can be attained.

Together with GM Daraug are his ever supportive parents, Ricardo and Dalia Daruag, who sees to it that plans are acted through and issues are fixed at the most immediate of time. More so is GM’s wife that never fails to inspire and motivate him to deliver utmost service to their patrons. ire and motivate him to do better.

At Greenstate Suites,

you can always expect the unexpected. Though they are offering low rates (ranging from 600php to 780php exclusive of breakfast), the service they offer is way beyond what you have paid for.

From locals to travelers, businessmen and tourists, Greenstate Suites has been a staple in their list of essentials when in Koronadal.

Greenstate Suites Koronadal is DOT Accredited.

Green State Suites is located at Arellano st., Koronadal City. You may call them at (083) 2285409 or 0921-6427736.

They are on Facebook @ Greenstatesuiteskoronadal

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 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 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

EMPLOYED... FROM 4

BI official said.

Following the directive from President Rodrigo Duterte, the DOLE on Monday implemented a total deployment ban of Filipino workers to Kuwait due to the

number of deaths involving OFWs in the host country.

Since then, hundreds of Filipino workers have been repatriated. (PNA)

2018 is to open our eyes and minds to see the different ROIs that can helps us sharpen our measure of returns of our brands,” said event overall chairperson Norman Agatep.

“The world has changed today, it is not only the oppor-

tunity of measuring money, there are lots of forms of return of investment to consider”, Agatep explained, adding that “if we look at a hammer, we only see a nail. But if we look closer, we will see ideas or innovations, or in�luence”.

(PNA)

Tuesday was the weakest after the 52.165 on July 21, 2006.

A trader attributed this to mid-month corporate demand for the US dollar along with anticipations for more rate hikes not only in the US but other major central banks on growth concerns.

For the day, the local currency opened at 52.03, down

from 51.93 in the previous session.

It traded between 51.905 and its closing level, resulting in an average of 52.024.

Volume for the day reached USD939.9 million, down from the USD1.023 billion a day ago.

The currency pair is seen to trade between 51.90 and 52.10 Thursday. (PNA)

others, to support the needs of its population.

“For instance, infrastructures, e.g., schools, health facilities, roads, etc., must at least grow as fast as the population that re-

quires them. The young must be afforded the chance to be educated. Employment opportunities must be available to those seeking work,” it said.

The authors also under-

sa bisong arong —og wa na ma’y bisong, wa na ma’y silbi (You will not be killed. They will shoot your vagina because without that, you are useless).

Violence Against Women Gabriela-SMR recalled that Duterte the Mayor, signed City Ordinance 5004 and Executive Order No. 24, otherwise known as the Women Development Code of Davao City 21 years ago when he was ending his third term as city mayor. Duterte served four more terms as mayor before he was elected President in 2016.

The statement cited two sections of the Code: Section 1 which de�ines Violence Against Women (VAW) as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such act, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life;” and Section 2 which enumerates all the acts or phenomena that are included as VAW, including “physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated against women and condoned by the State, wherever it occurs” and “violation of human rights of women in situations of armed-con�lict, in particular murder, physical and psychological torture, systematic rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy.”

It also added that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 is about achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

Gabriela-SMR was a member of Forum of Women For Action With Rody Duterte (ForwaRD) which campaigned for a Duterte Presidency and helped craft his women agenda.

Gabriela-SMR also quoted the

President in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2017 where he reiterated “my personal and this administration’s commitment to fully implement the Magna Carta of Women to the barangay level.”

“And yet in his latest call to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines and Commander in Chief of the AFP, ordered his troops to shoot the genitals of the female revolutionaries. His sexualization of women in counter-insurgency campaign is not only directed to the female revolutionaries but to all women,” Gabriela-SMR said.

It de�ined “sexualization” in the “context that the President suggested for the NPA amazons to be subject to genital mutilation rather than to killing so that when their genitals are gone they are inutile or of no more use.”

The group said the President’s statements “re�lect a very disturbing deep-seated misogyny and sexism” and “contradict the Women Development Code he signed in 1997.”

Outrage and disappointment “We express our outrage and disappointment over President Duterte’s anti-women remarks and his utter disrespect for women. We call on the President not to imitate Ampatuan and his private army when they did genital mutilation aside from killing the women on November 23, 2009,” Gabriela-SMR said.

“How much more terrorism do you want women to be subjected to?” the group asked as it called on all women to “make this their call in all their campaigns for equality and against discrimination and gender-related violence.”

Gabriela-SMR also said “No” to sexism and misogyny, sexual-

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EDGEDAVAO scored the need to create a sound �inancial market to allow investments to �lourish.

The paper called for the strengthened government support for family planning programs that can help Filipino families attain their desired fertility level.

Further, the authors said some policies also need to be rethought or introduced.

“Government transfer systems, like unfunded pension or social health insurance -- partic-

ularly when they are especially generous -- may pose heavy burden to taxpayers in an ageing population. Allowing the elderly to continue working when they desire so, say by removing mandatory retirement age, may ease some of this burden,” they added.

Abrigo and San Diego said policies promoting saving and investments among middle-age workers may also provide the needed social security, while also raising the available capital.

(PNA)

and simpler” which, she said, “would hopefully encourage more people to pay their taxes.”

As an example, a taxpayer who paid his income tax due of, say, P600,000 for the year 2013 within the deadline set by the BIR on April 15, 2014 was assessed to have incurred a de�iciency tax of P100,000. The BIR then sends him a �inal notice and demand for the de�iciency tax due, including the interest penalties on April 15, 2015. The taxpayer, however, was only able to pay on April 15, 2017.

Under pre-TRAIN provisions in the Tax Code, the taxpayer would have to pay a de�iciency interest of P60,000 for the three years counting from 2014 up to the time he was able to pay in 2017. On top of this, he must also pay the delinquency interest of P40,000 that accrued from 2015, the due date of BIR’s �inal notice and demand to pay the de�iciency tax, to 2017. Thus,

the taxpayer would have to pay overlapping interest penalties amounting to P100,000, which is equivalent to the original de�iciency tax of P100,000. This means he needed to cough up a total of P200,000 to pay his tax liabilities. If he had paid beyond 2017, he would have accumulated interest penalties exceeding the original amount of the de�iciency tax. (DOF) But under Section 75 of TRAIN, Tionko said such overlapping interest penalties have been eliminated. The taxpayer would only have to pay interest penalties equivalent to double the legal interest rate for loans, which is currently set by the BSP. Assuming we were to use the legal interest of 6 interest, the taxpayer, would only have to pay 12 percent interest of the de�iciency tax amount starting from the taxable year he incurred the de�iciency.

This means that if the de�icien-

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ization of women in counter-insurgency campaign and in all debate arena;” counter-insurgency and urged a return to the peace negotiating table.

In a statement last Sunday, Gabriela Natonal described the President as “macho fascist” and the “epitome of misogyny and fascism terribly rolled into one” for “encouraging violence against women.”

Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said Duterte’s statement “openly encourages violence against women, contributes to the impunity on such, and further con�irms himself as the most dangerous macho-fascist in the goverment right now.”

The President is “dangerously pushing” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to “commit more bloody human rights violations and grave abuses of international humanitarian law, and takes state terrorism against women and the people to a whole new level,” she added.

Rape jokes Duterte has been criticized for his sexist remarks and rape jokes, among them on the Australian missionary held hostage and killed in August 1989 who was allegedly raped by the hostage-takers. “Put_ ng ina, sayang ito. Ang nagpasok sa isip ko, nirape nila, pinagpilahan nila doon. Nagalit ako kasi nirape, oo isa rin ‘yun. Pero napakaganda, dapat ang mayor muna ang mauna. Sayang” (Son__b_ch, what a pity. What came to my mind was, they raped her, lined up for her. I was angry because she was raped.

But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been �irst. What a pity), Duterte said in Quezon City on April 12, 2016. (Carolyn O Arguillas / MindaNews)

NEWS11 cy tax was assessed for the taxable year when the TRAIN was already in effect, he would only have to pay P36,000 interest instead of the whopping P100,000 under pre-TRAIN provisions.

Tionko said the BIR would soon come out with the necessary guidelines imposing this new interest penalty rate on unpaid taxes provided under the TRAIN. The TRAIN, which was

signed into law by President Duterte last Dec. 19, exempts those earning an annual taxable income of P250,000 and below from paying the personal income tax (PIT), bene�iting over six million compensation earners starting January this year.

The 13th month pay and other bonuses not exceeding a total of P90,000 are also tax exempt under TRAIN.

port in the areas of master planning, operations optimization and commercial development, the group is committed to the development of a modern airport complex that will meet the long-term passenger demand at NAIA. The project is estimated to cost up to PHP350 billion.

The consortium’s proposal supports the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program with its plan to develop NAIA into a world-class facility and a regional air transport hub by upgrading its airside, landside, and air navigation support.

This builds on the gains already achieved by the DOTR in terms of improving the traffic of aircraft movements on its runways.

The project is divided into two phases – Phase 1 includes improvements and expansion of terminals in the current NAIA land area, while Phase 2 involves the development of an additional runway, taxiways, passenger terminals and associated support infrastructure.

“Through this proposal, we

envision a new NAIA: a fully-integrated premier gateway that we Filipinos can truly be proud of, backed by the know-how of an experienced technical partner and the strong synergy of seven homegrown teams. The message is clear: we need this, and we can get this done,” said consortium spokesperson Jose Emmanuel Reverente.

He added that the proposal includes a people mover that would link all three terminals and connect NAIA to the existing mass transport system in Metro Manila, as well as an option for a third runway.

“The proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of NAIA, upgrading airside facilities, and developing commercial facilities to increase airline and airport efficiencies, enhance passenger comfort and experience, and improve public perception of NAIA as the country’s premier international gateway,” Reverente said. (PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO

12 ENVIRONMENT

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

Troubles over water Second of Three Parts

TEXT and PHOTOS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“Everyone agrees water is basic for life,” notes veteran journalist Juan L. Mercado. “When cisterns go dry, disease and death rates surge. That ushers in economic decay – and political instability. Water riots can be ugly. And no one has yet invented a substitute for water.”

Dr. Mark Rosegrant, lead author of the global water report and senior research fellow at the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institution, agrees. “Water is not like oil: there is no substitute. If we continue to take it for granted, much of the earth is going to run short of water or food – or both.”

In the past, water was considered an in�inite resource. This thinking was exempli�ied by Adam Smith who pointed out in his classic work – “The Wealth of Nations” – that unlimited supply of fresh water explained why it cost nothing, even though it was vital to all life.

But it’s not the case anymore. “The necessary sense of urgency is lacking,” said the New York-based United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in a statement. “The facts have been staring us in the face for years. While demand increases, the annual available fresh water supply per inhabitant is regularly decreasing and is expected to fall to an average 4,800 cubic meters by the year 2025 against 7,300 cubic meters in 1995.”

“Wars of the next century will be over water,” warned World Bank’s Ismail Serageldin in 1995. Crown Prince Hassan of Joran said the 1967 Six-Day War was caused by tensions over the Jordan River and its tributaries. “It’s simply a question of survival,” said then Israeli Water Commissioner Meir Ben Meir. “Thirst for

water is an ignition to violence.”

Filipinos may not resort to violence yet, but the country is already going through a water crisis. “On a macro-level, it appears there is plenty of water, but we are now experiencing problems and, in some instances, some areas (of the country) are suffering from lack of water,” said Elisea Gozon when she was still the environment and natural resources secretary.

In a press statement, Senator Loren Legarda said: “A recent study by the World Resources Institute revealed that the Philippines will likely experience severe water shortage by 2040 due to the combined impact of rapid population growth and climate change.

Furthermore, the Philippines ranks 57 out of 167 countries that are highly vulnerable to severe water shortage.”

Water is a limited non-renewable resource, of which a �ixed amount exists on the planet: some 1,400 million cubic kilometers, which can be neither increased nor decreased.

Most of this, that is, 97.4%, is salt water; another 2% is locked away in ice caps and glaciers. This leaves only 0.6%, or 8.4 cubic kilometers, of which some 8 million cubic kilometers are stored underground.

Put in another way, if all the earth’s water were to �it in a gallon jug (4 liters), the available fresh water would be just over one tablespoon.

Potable water is one of

the most important components for a person to live.

“A person can survive only three to �ive days without water, in some cases people have survived for an average of one week,” says thewaterpage.com. “Once the body is deprived of �luids the cells and organs in the body begin to deteriorate. The presence of water in the body could mean the difference between life and death.”

A household of �ive needs at least 120 liters per day to meet basic needs – for drinking, food preparation, cooking and cleaning up, washing and personal hygiene, laundry, house cleaning, according to Worldwatch.

Outside of domestic uses, water is most critical in food production. “The link between water and food is strong,” says Lester R. Brown, president of Washington, D.C.-based Earth Policy Institute. “We drink, in one form or another, nearly 4 liters of water per day. But the food we consume each day requires at least 2,000 liters to produce, 500 times as much.”

For instance, to raise a ton of rice, a farmer needs a thousand gallons of water, according to the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute. Some studies show that 89% of Filipinos consume rice on a daily basis. “Agriculture is where future water shortages will be most acute,” commented Time’s Michael S. Serrill.

In his book, “Food Revolution,” author John Robbins said that 23 gallons of water is needed to produce one pound of lettuce, 23 gallons for one pound of tomatoes, 24 gallons for one pound of potatoes, 25 gallons for one pound of wheat, 33 gallons for one pound of carrots, and 49 gallons for one

pound of apples.

Meat production also consumes a lot of water.

Beef, the meat used in most fast food outlets, is by far the most water-intensive of all meats. “The more than 15,000 liters of water used per kilogram is far more than is required by a number of staple foods, such as eggs (3,300 liters per kilogram), milk (1,000 liters), or potatoes (255 liters),” the book said.

In the Philippines, agriculture has the highest demand of all water use (with 85%) while the other sectors – industry and domestic – have a combined demand of only 15%. “With the demand for water growing in all three categories, competition among sectors is intensifying, with agriculture almost always losing,” Brown said.

But “we’re surrounded by a hidden world of water,” argued Stephen Leahy, author of “Your Water Footprint.” “Liters and liters of it are consumed by everything we eat, and everything we use and buy. Cars, furniture,

books, dishes, TVs, highways, buildings, jewellery, toys and even electricity would not exist without water. It’s no exaggeration to say that water is far more valuable and useful than oil.”

A water footprint, as Leahy de�ined it, is the amount of water ‘consumed’ to make, grow or produce something. “I use the word ‘consumed’ to make it clear this is water that can no longer be used for anything else,” Leahy pointed out.

Actually, the Philippines can save water if all Filipinos cooperate to conserve this precious liquid asset. Now take a closer look at that tiny piece of rubber found in the bathroom taps and kitchen faucets. It’s called washer and it is one of a range of low-tech devices with a big part to play in reducing losses of water.

A leaky tap, dripping every second, may seem like a drop in the ocean, but studies have found out that it wastes well over 4 liters a day. Over a month, a seriously leaking tap can lose as much as 10,500 liters.

Showers account for some 20% of a household total in-door water use.

Installing low-�low shower-heads has been calculated to save a family of four 80,000 liters of water a year.

Rainwater harvesting is underutilized. Harvested water can be used in many ways – for laundry, �lushing, gardening, irrigation and even process water for drinking. Other uses include help mitigate �looding of low lying areas and lessen use of water wells.

“We must remember, and remind others, that one very good way to ensure a supply of water for domestic and other uses is to keep the water sources clean,” says a publication entitled Water and Health. “This means we must not put garbage and other wastes into streams and other waterways. No one should throw papers, cans, plastics and other trash into any possible source of water. Industries should not be allowed to thoughtlessly dump sewage into streams or rivers.” – (To be concluded)

432K... FROM 7 SOLDIER... FROM 6 istrative assistants and 72 encoders to facilitate the validation process.

She said they would complement with the agency’s workforce and would be deployed in different areas to conduct house-to-house validation of the potential UCT bene�iciaries.

The subsidy program was set by the national government to assist poor households that might be affected by the implementation of the Train Law. Bene�iciaries will receive monthly subsidies in the next three years, starting with P2,400 or P200 per month in 2018 and P3,600 or P300 per month in 2019 and in 2020.

(PNA)

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provinces on Region 12 that were included in the NNC’s 36 focal areas for nutrition based on the prevalence of stunting among children.

“During a meeting last year, South Cotabato of�icials expressed eagerness to strengthen innovations on their nutrition programs to address the issue,” she said.

Stunting is a chronic disease that is caused by poor nutrition during the �irst two years of life and is considered irreversible unlike under-nutrition. (AC/PNA)

medic could only smile and whisper to boyfriend’s ear of four years her positive reply to Albani’s query as other soldiers held postcards with the words “Will you marry me?”

Hours later, the two showed up at Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc’s of�ice and sought their commander’s guidance and approval.

“Oh my! My soldiers asked my consent for them to marry! What shall I say?” Cabunoc posted on his social media account. He quickly followed it with the words for the couple: “O ayan, pinirmahan ko na kasi

NEWS 13

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

sabi niyo eh (There you go, I signed it because you want it).”

Cabunoc said he approved the request as both have completed all the requirements the Army has set forth. The two had been engaged since 2014.

Porcadilla was female CAFGU Active Auxiliary personnel when Denemar fell in love with her four years ago. When Porcadilla enlisted in the Army last year, they found themselves �ighting side by side against the communist rebels at Sitio Tamil-Tamil, Barangay Laguilayan, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat in September 2017. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of

Account Executives (3) Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate • Male/Female • With pleasing personality • With salary + commision

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

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

February 1,8 and 15, 2018

Send your application letter and resume to: Ella P. Tingzon HR/Admin Supervisor Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City Or email at edgedavao@gmail.com or ella_tingzon@yahoo.com

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tion to return it to its owner.

“I just did what I was supposed to do. It’s my duty to return it,” Marco said.

“I thought that it’s also way to counter the negative criticisms against us, uniformed personnel, from some sectors of our community,” he added.

Councilor Jose Edmar Yumang said Marco’s hon-

esty was a testament that there are more good policemen that the so-called “bad eggs.”

“We salute you. I hope that the PNP (Philippine National Police) will also continue to clean up its ranks because there are still rotten and irresponsible policemen out there,” he added. (PNA)

he added.

The former rebels will be turned over to proper authorities after they will be formally presented to Esperanza Mayor Helen Latog, and Sultan Kudarat Governor Sultan Pax Mangudadatu.

From there, they will undergo the reintegration process including livelihood seminars that will prepare them to start new life as

law-abiding citizens.

Maj. General Arnel B. Dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division commander, appealed to remaining NPA rebels in the mountains to surrender, as this will bring progress in their communities.

Dela Vega lauded the rebel returnees for realizing the bene�its of returning to the mainstream society and live peacefully in their community. (PNA)

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nastics, dance sports and Penchak-Silat.

He added that the swimming competition will be held at Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City because the construction of olympic standard swimming pool at University of the Philippines Mindanao Sports Complex is not yet done.

Atillo said there will be 370 participants all over the region will compete for the medals and spot to represent Davao Eagles in the Palarong Pambansa 2018 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. “Their billeting area there is the Tagum City Comprehensive National High School,” he said.

He also said the game of�icials are ready to handle the which will be played in different venues in the city.

“We really selected those who are experienced and are in the know on the games that will be contested,” he said.

Atillo assured all the delegations that there will be no bias on the part of the tournament managers and technical staff because they are focused on performing their duty.

“They are neutral, they don’t have built-in bias because they are there to make sure that everything will be in accordance with the regulation,” he said.

land general manager Koby Altman for getting what the team needed at the trade deadline. ‘’It just wasn’t working out for us. He made the changes he felt best �it our team,’’ James said. ‘’Then, it’s on me to make sure the new guys that come in, that they �it in and make it as seamless as possible. That’s my job. This is the third game in a row my voice is gone. So I am just trying to have communication at an all-time high for us.’’

Holdover guard J.R. Smith added 18 points for the Cavaliers. It was Cleveland’s second straight road win against top competition - the Cavaliers rolled past Boston 12199 on Sunday. ‘’We’ve got to keep working,’’ Cleveland coach Ty-

ronn Lue said. ‘’It’s a process.

You’ve got to keep playing well, keep getting better and hit that stride late.’’

Paul George scored 25 points and Carmelo Anthony 24 for the Thunder. Steven Adams added 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook scored 21 points.

Westbrook and Anthony had missed the past two games with sprained ankles.

Westbrook had 12 assists and seven rebounds, but he made just 7 of 19 shots. ‘’This guy has been an ironman for so long, but when you miss two games and practices and you have one day to get back, there could have been, for him, trying to work his way back in to where he was,’’’ Donovan said. ‘’He’s never going to make an ex-

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EDGEDAVAO cuse about his ankle or how he feels or anything else. He gave everything, as he always does, to try to win.’’

James scored 14 points in the �irst �ive minutes of the third quarter, including two 3-pointers, to give Cleveland a 78-68 lead. He was 6 for 6 from the �ield during that stretch. The Thunder responded with an 8-0 run to get back into the game. Cleveland took a 91-87 edge into the fourth quarter.

The Cavaliers took control in the fourth, and a layup by James after driving on George

pushed the Cavaliers ahead 115-106 with 49 seconds to play.

The Thunder trimmed their de�icit to �ive in the �inal minute and could have come closer, but Alex Abrines missed a 3-pointer, and Nance got free for a dunk to seal the win for Cleveland.

The Cavaliers led 62-57 at halftime. James had 16 points, four rebounds and �ive assists, and Smith had 15 points on �ive 3-pointers. Adams scored 15 points before the break for Oklahoma City.

fall last week in TNT’s game against Phoenix, but he was limited to shooting drills.

“He’s cleared to practice, but he’s really not cleared to play,” said Coach Chot Reyes.

“He’s cleared to do light workouts and shooting drills but not really full contact.”

Kiefer Ravena and Mac

Belo also attended the training session, but they were relegated to observers.

Reyes then bared that Ravena called in sick.

Four members of the Gilas Cadets also joined the practice in CJ Perez, Abu Tratter, Arvin Tolentino, and Kenneth Tuf�in.

(PNA)

Last year’s team was also composed of Ludwig Ledesma, Manuel “Jun-Jun” Grandeza, Jerson Lebosada, Richard Badang,

Elvie Naranjo, Mark Oropesa and Larry Pasquil.

DCGC carded a total of 375 points to �inish third place in the

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

Aviators Division behind champion Shermond Hills (413) and Lumbia (382).

“We hope to win again this year, especially now that there are rumors that the club will already be closed this year,” said Yamyamin of Fore The Boys Club.

The formation of the men’s regular team was again given to the Fore The Boys this year.

The DCGC team is �lying on March 5 to Bacolod aboard the country’s �lag carrier – Philippine Airlines. (PR/LDR)

Davao Light’s customer and payment services open on February 16

D

avao Light and Power Co., Inc. will be available to serve its customers on February 16, 2018, Friday, declared as a special non-working holiday in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The electric utility’s full service centers in SM Ecoland and in SM Lanang Premiere will be open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Meanwhile, Davao Light’s Panabo branch will accept payments and customer services from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Toril and Calinan payment of�ices will be open from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM. However, Sto. Tomas payment of�ice will be closed on the said date.

Davao Light’s call center service will remain available 24 hours through 229-DLPC (3572).

USeP-IC conducts ITE benchmarking activity in Singapore A �ive-member delegation from the Institute of Computing (IC) of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) visited Singapore to conduct a �iveday educational benchmarking activity related to the country’s Information Technology Education (ITE) programs on January 29 – February 2, 2018.

The delegation, headed by Dr. Tamara Cher R. Mercado, Dean of the IC, together with Dr. Randy S. Gamboa, Computer Science Program Head, Dr. Val A. Quimno, Graduate Study and Information Technology Program Head, Engr.

Jamal Kay B. Rogers, Research and Extension Head, and Mr. Marvin S. Lagmay, Instruction, Curriculum and Accreditation Head, visited the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Polytechnic International (NYP), two of the prominent academic institutions in Singapore.

At NUS, the Vice Dean for Corporate Relations, Mr. Goh Khim

Yong, welcomed the USeP-IC delegation to discuss the signi�icant role of research in their university.

He also presented the undergraduate and graduate programs of NUS and recounted how the industry helped in crafting the curriculum of their university.

Unit heads from the NUS Information Technology Department also shared the importance of IT infrastructure and support in a premiere university. They gave the USeP-IC delegation a glimpse of their future plans on facility improvements.

Other academic matters discussed in the visits include Outcomes-based Education Framework, Research and Development Ecosystem, Technopreneurship, and the promotion of Culture for Technology Advocates.

Apart from visits to academic institutions, USeP-IC also visited the Singapore headquarters of two global IT industry brands, Adobe and Apple. At the Head Of�ice of

USeP-IC delegates at the School of Information Technology at Nanyang Polytechnic International in Singapore.

Adobe Southeast Asia, the USeP-IC delegation learned of the different applications under Adobe’s Creative Cloud (CC), as discussed by account executive Greg Sisk, and how the suite of applications can help in the refurbishment of the USeP website.

Mr. Lagmay said that albeit being inferior to Singapore’s IT education, USeP-IC is on the right track in terms of fostering linkages with the industry. USeP-IC has recently established its Industry Advisory Council composed of select industry partners which has helped in revising the Institute’s new curriculum.

“Admittedly, there is a lot of work to do for us to be on the same stratosphere as Singapore’s ITE. But as the cliché goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. We have to start somewhere and I think getting input from some of the best universities in the world is not a bad position to start at,” Mr. Lagmay added.

(USeP PR/MAJandayan)

USeP-IC delegates with Mr. Goh Khim Yong, National University of Singapore (NUS) Vice Dean for Corporate Relations (4th from left)

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 226 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

ESCANDOR CUP. Coaches and officials of the SBP-XI pose after the final meeting ahead of the 2018 Escandor Cup basketball tournament which gets going on February 16 at 9 a.m. at the Davao City Recreation Center.

SBP 11 photo

DAVRAA action begins Friday

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet in Davao City is ready to roll this week as the games will officially kivk off on Friday.

This was bared by Deparment of Education 11 (DepEd 11) spokesperson Jenielito Atillo on Wednesday’s AFP-PNP press corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

“We will start the

games, February 16.

That’s advance games,” Atillo said.

He said the games on February 16 will be softball and baseball events which will be played at University of Mindanao Sports Complex and

Calinan National High School.

On February 17, he said Sepak Takraw will take place at UM Bolton gymnasium and Futsal will be at Mintal gym.

“That’s the prelude of DAVRAA meet 2018 before its grand opening on February 18, “ he said.

Atillo said there will be around 7,000 ath-

letes who will be competing for the 21 sporting events to earn a spot for the Palarong Pamabansa 2018.

“There will be also �ive special games for the special children who will be participating,” he said.

Also, he said there will three demonstration sports aero gym-

Gilas squad training full cast

T

he Gilas Pilipinas pool to the FIBA World Cup Quali�iers February window is �inally in full force.

All the 15 members of the national team pool that will be the basis of the lineup for the games against Australia and Japan on Feb. 22 and 25 respectively showed up during the daily practice at the Meralco Gym in Pasig on Tuesday night.

Twelve of them, Andray

Blatche, Gabe Norwood, June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva, Allein Maliksi, RR Pogoy, Japeth Aguilar, Matt Wright, Kevin Alas, Carl Cruz, and Jio Jalalon, took part in the practice proper, where they participated in scrimmages with African players led by former Ateneo player Chibueze Ikeh.

Troy Rosario also suited up in practice after a scary

GILAS,P14

KEY MAN. Jayson Castro practices with the Gilas Piipinas squad who will play Australia and Japan on February 22 and 25.

DAVRAA,P14

DCGC bares PAL Two in a row for retooled Cavs Interclub men’s team

O

KLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- LeBr o n James and h i s n e w teammates are playing like old buddies.

James scored 37 points, and the n e w l o o k DEFENSE. Cleveland star Lebron James defends against Paul George of Oklaho- Cleveland Cavaliers got a much different result this ma City. James score 37 in the win. time against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 120-112

victory on Tuesday night.

Cleveland claimed its second straight win since adding George Hill, Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in trades, and their fourth straight victory overall. The Cavaliers lost to the Thunder 148-124 on Jan. 20 with a very different roster. ‘’It’s a change of scenery and they’re just trying to take advantage of it,’’ James said. ‘’For the guys that were here, we’re just trying to make them as comfortable as possible. Make the transition as seamless as possible.’’

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said the changes

create a lot of problems. ‘’I think their ability to space it, drive it, kick it, their skill level, I think - not that it was bad before, but I think the speed, probably the tempo and the pace they are playing at is a little bit faster,’’ he said.

Each of Cleveland’s additions made solid contributions against Oklahoma City. Hill started at point guard and went 24 minutes without a turnover. Hood and Clarkson each scored 14 points and Nance had 13 points and nine rebounds, including eight offensive boards.

James praised Cleve-

T

he Davao City Golf Club shook up its men’s team and will be �ielding a retooled bunch in this year’s PAL Interclub Men’s Regular golf tournament slated March 7-11 in Bacolod City.

Only three players from last year’s roster have been recalled.

The holdovers are Reinz Jordan

Yamyamin, Edipolo Caturan and last year’s team captain Rodolfo “Apo” Luna.

The new Matina swingers are Ernest Damaso, Alvin Tesado, Jerico Bajo JC “Pao” Angeles, Felix Ian Dagatan, Meniio Jun Narciso and new skipper Andrew Bautista.

DCGC,P14

MATINA SWINGERS. The 2018 PAL Men’s Interclub squad of Davao

TWO,P14 City Golf Club.

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MATI MASTERS

Nat’l Age Group Chess-Minda Leg in set in Mati T

By ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO

WE’RE READY. Mati City Mayor Carlo Rabat said the city is ready to host the sports event.

he Mindanao leg of the 2018 National Age Group Chess Championships get going on March 23-25at the Baywalk Hotel in Mati City.

The tournament serves as the qualfying leg for the National Finals in Manila on April with the top three to 5 in each category advancing. The eventual winners will advance to the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships to be hosted by Davao City on June 18-28.

Mayor Carlo Rabat of Mati City said he welcomed the hosting privilege as it will showcase the Davao Oriental capital to the sporting community in the country.

He said he will ensure that the visiting players and their families will have a pleasant stay in the city.

“We would like to assure the organizer as well as the participants, guests and visitors coming in, that the doors are

open for you to savor the warmth of the City and its resilient people with diverse culture and heritage,” Mayor Rabat said.

“I wish you all a vibrant and successful conduct of your activity,” he added.

Prizes at stake for the 20 years and below, 18 years and below and 16 years and below champion (male) is 3,000 and (female) 2,000 cash plus trophies. The Runner-up will come home with (male) 1,500 (female) 1,000 and a medal. The third placer will get (male) 1,000 (female) 750 cash and a medal.

Fourth placer will get (male) 750 (female) 500 pesos cash plus a medal.

Fifth place winners will get (male) 500 (female)

400 pesos and a medal.

While the sixth to tenth placers will all go home with 300 pesos cash and medals.

14 years old and below and 12 years and below champs will bag 2,000 (male) 1,500 (female) cash plus trophies. The Runner-up will get 1,000 (male) 750 (female) and a medal. Third place winners will receive 750 (male) 600 (female) and med-

als. Fourth placer (male) wins 600 (female) 500 also with a medal. Fifth place (male) will get 500 (female) 400 cash and a medal. Sixth to tenth place winners would not come home empty handed as they will also receive 300 pesos worth of cash and medals.

The young ones 10 years andbelow and 8 years and below champions male will receive 1,500 while the fe-

male gets 1,000 pesos cash. Both gets to bring home their trophies.

Runner-up (male) gets 1,000 (female) gets 750 cash prize plus medals.

The third place male winner will receive 750 pesos cash while the female winner gets 600 both with medals.

Fourth placer (male) bags 600 (female) 500 and medals. Fifth placer (male) will receive 500 (female) 400 and med-

als. Lastly, all the sixth to tenth gets 300 pesos and medals.

The event is backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines President Congressman Prospero A. Pichay and NCFP Secretary General Congressman Abraham Tolentino.

Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, meantime, is spearheading the hosting of the AAG 2018.