Edge10 issue 229, February 20, 2018

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

INSTANT CELEBRITY. Radio Pilipinas news anchor Erwin Tulfo exchanges pleasantries with Elcias Bugsad, a Davao City-based taxi driver who’s video went viral online after imitating the voice of President Duterte, after a radio interview at the National Information Convention exhibit area at SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

SAFE FOOD Proper food handling ordered for DAVRAA

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he Department of Education 11(DepEd 11) has issued directives to all delegations of the Davao Regional Athletic Association meet in Davao City to observe proper food handling following the incidents of food poisoning that downed more than 100 athletes.

DepEd 11 spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said regional director Alberto Escobarte issued the order to remind the food in-charge of every delegation to observe proper sanitation in preparing the food for the athletes.

“All the food in-charge

should really be circumspect in handling food,” he said.

Atillosaid the directive also included the inspection of the billeting quarters which will be headed by the food in-charge from their of-

SAFE,P10

PIA-led national info meet takes off at SM

By JUDIE VEGA

M

ore than 1, 5000 participants showed on Monday for the Philippine

Information Agency-initiated �irst-ever national information convention

PIA-LED,P10

HUGPONG-PDP ORIGS ALLIANCE Inday Sara elected Hugpong chair in Cebu meet

NewsP3

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

SETTING THE TONE. Philippine Information Agency (PIA) director general Harold Clavite welcomes the delegates during the opening of the National Information Convention held at SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

DOE bats for E-Power Mo

By JUDIE VEGA

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he Department of Energy emphasized on Monday the importance of energy-smart technologies for the efficient utilization of energy and for encouraging the public to use energy responsibly.

DOE undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said during the NIC 2018 at SMX Lanang

Davao City that ef�iciency and the customers’ power of choice could be effectively realized

through the use of ‘energy-smart technologies.

E-Power Mo campaign stand as “E safety mo, E secure mo, E diskarte mo”, that aims to provide essential information on the fast-evolving developments in the energy sector, proper energy utilization and energy resiliency, according to Fuentebella.

“The DOE will continue

to empower consumers and promote a ‘whole of nation’ approach in ef�icient energy utilization to enable the country globally compete”, Fuentebella said.

Fuentebella said, that energy-smart technologies promote ef�icient energy use, reduced energy cost and “greener” energy options to households and ener-

DOE,P10

BI to deport Brit pedophile

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he Bureau of Immigration is set to deport a convicted British pedophile wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom for failing to report his whereabouts in the past two years.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Leslie Charles Russon, 52, was arrested in Sitio Campaog, Bgy. Pitalo, San Fernando, Cebu by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU) on Friday.

“We will deport him for posing a risk to Filipino children whom he might victimize while he continues

T

Lawyer Jonnah John Ungab sustained a gunshot wound in the head near his left ear and was rushed to the nearest Chong Hua Hospital in Mandaue City where he died a couple of hours later.

Homicide investigator SPO1 Winston Ybañez said

attending physician Jaime Ramos declared Ungab dead at 2 p.m.

Ungab, who is also the municipal vice mayor of Ronda, Cebu, was leaving the courthouse driving his Suzuki Kizashi car along Sergio Osmeña Street in the North Rec-

lamation Area around 11:50 a.m. when unidenti�ied gunmen reportedly shot him and his wife Pearl, who escaped the ambush unscathed.

“He was already unconscious when we arrived at the scene,” said Ybañez, who add-

ESPINOSA’S,P10

BI,P10

Con-com urged to assure sturdy federalism model

Espinosa’s lawyer shot dead in Cebu F

he legal counsel of self-confessed drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. was ambushed just across the Cebu City courthouse right after the promulgation of his high-pro�ile client at the Regional Trial Court shortly before noon Monday.

to remain in the country,” the BI chief said in a statement Monday.

The British national is a registered sex offender who was obliged by the court to periodically notify authorities about his location and address.

But, Russon stopped complying with the notification requirements in September 2015 when he fled to the Philippines and did not return to the UK since then.

Morente added that UK’s National Crime Agency officials have sought Russon’s deportation, and

ormer Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, chair of the consultative committee (Con-com) to review the 1987 Constitution, on Monday convened the �irst session of the Con-com at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“I urge you to ensure that our federal government will be a strong and sturdy one, possessed with the power to hold together

the union in perpetuity and with the energy and the endurance to convert to robust reality the dreams of our people, however long it takes,” Puno said.

He urged the Con-com to devote serious thought on the “architectural design” of the proposed federalism form of government, noting that the design will be to determine the structure of government of the federation.

CON-COM,P10

DUTERTE

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

BAUTISTA

DAYANGHIRANG

DEL ROSARIO

UY

HUGPONG, PDP ORIGS TO UNITE

Inday Sara picked as chairperson in Cebu City

O

riginal stalwarts from the PDPLaban is set to join the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), a newlyformed local coalition of partisan blocs in Southern Mindanao, as soon as the HNP gets the approval of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as a political party.

The proposed group’s thrust coincides with earlier resolutions passed by the PDP-Laban ‘originals’, also known as the Mindanao Area Council, declaring their intention to break away from the

PDP-Laban after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez allegedly violated the party’s Constitution and By-Laws by bypassing the protocol in recruitment, which requires that would-be members shall �irst undergo

UCPB’S bancassurance business takes off in‘17

U

CPB’s partnership with life insurance company, COCOLIFE, and non-life insurance company, UCPB General Insurance Co., Inc., is paying solid dividends for the bank.

In the nine months following its launch in April 2017, the bancassurance partnership generated total premiums of P1.05 billion from the sale of insurance policies of the two companies to the bank’s customers.

Bancasssurance is an arrangement between an insurance company and a bank whereby the former sells its products to the latter’s clientele.

The partnership bene�its UCPB in two ways. One, it makes readily available to the bank’s clients a variety of insurance products to secure their future and to protect them against �inancial losses; and two, it provides the bank itself with a steady source of topline revenues with high growth potentials.

UCPB President and CEO Higinio Macadaeg Jr. said bancassurance dovetails perfectly with the bank’s thrust to leverage the nationwide reach of its network of 188 branches and

focus on the retail and consumer markets.

“Our individual depositors and borrowers present a huge market for insurance products,” he said pointing out that as these customers progress in their businesses and careers and goes through the various stages of their personal lives, “they will be needing more risk cover, from the basic motor, �ire and life insurance to health, retirement and estate plans as well as new investment outlets.”

UCPB vice president for bancassurance, Merline Dela Cruz, sees the volume increasing dramatically this year as the bank continues to expand its loan portfolio and deposit base, and this, she said, “would double the new business’ production by year end.”

Ms. Dela Cruz said a key driver of volume growth would be the Variable Life insurance, a life insurance coverage with an investment component, which the bancassurance partnership will push aggressively this year.

UCPB secured Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approval to sell the hybrid insurance late last year.

basic membership training (BMS).

The formation of the HNP was started early in the presidency of Rodrigo Roa Duterte but only hogged the headlines in 2017 after Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco made a pitch for making the Hugpong as a national unity movement.

In a recent meeting held in Cebu City, four Davao governors and a lady city mayor were elected to spearhead the new partisan bloc.

Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was installed

chairperson while Davao Occidental governor Claude P. Bautista, a former congressman, was chosen as president. Davao Oriental governor Nelso Dayanghirang, also a former legislator, was elected vice-president, Davao del Norte governor Anthony G. Del Rosario, a two-time lawmaker, as secretary-general, while Compostela Valley governor Jayvee Tyron Uy was voted upon as treasurer.

The HNP’s �irst general asssembly, which shall momentarily excludes the Luzon area, will

HOW MATTERS STAND. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino (right) and Dangerous Drugs Board chair Catalino Cuy provide updates on the government’s fight against illegal drugs

be held on February 23, 2018, Friday, at the Davao Convention and Trade Center.

Though no mention was made on who are invited to the gathering, individuals privy to the development pointed out that invitations were already sent out to allies and partners, with the petition for accreditation of the HNP as a political party as main agenda.

Expected to show up for the event are local political parties in Davao whose partisan agenda are consistent with the goverment’s call for change,

and the breakaway PDP-Laban bloc which has adhered to the original policies of the Partido Demokratikong ng Pilipinas (PDP).

The local movements reportedly invited to join the assembly are the Kusog Baryohanon (Davao del Norte), Kami Dabaonon (Davao del Norte), Uswag Comval (Compostela Valley), and Kusog Davao Oriental.

The HNP event shall also be graced by leaders of local parties from the Visayas and Mindanao. (AMA)

including the strengthening of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council ( BADAC) during a news conference at Park Inn by Radisson Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

PNP files raps v. ISIS‘exec’

T

he Philippine National Police �iled criminal charges before the Department of Justice on Monday against an Egyptian national tagged by authorities as a “commander” of international terrorist group Is-

lamic State.

Fehmi Lassqued and his Filipina live-in partner Anabel Salipada were brought to the DOJ for inquest proceedings as they were charged with illegal possession of explosive devices and

�irearms �iled by Regional Police Intelligence Operations Unit (RPIOU) of the National Capital Region Police Of�ice.

The charge sheet signed by Supt. Carlito Narag Jr., RPIOU chief, sought the indictment of

the suspects for violations of Republic Act 10591 and RA 9516, laws on illegal possession of �irearms and explosives, respectively.

The two were arrested in

PNP,P11

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Group blames‘experts’ behind Dengvaxia scare

A

consumer-commuter group today called on Filipino parents to exercise caution and circumspection before believing in claims made by some so-called “medical experts” who did no research about the dengvaxia vaccine.

In a statement, the Consumer-Commuter Association of the Philippines (CCAP) also urged parents not to lose faith in the public vaccination program of the Department of Health. By not sending their children to public health centers, parents lose the chance of protecting their kids from diseases more lethal than dengue.

CCAP co-convenor BenCy Ellorin says CCAP is concerned about the decreasing numbers of Filipino parents subjecting their children to vaccination. CCAP believes that an outbreak of other diseases such as measles is possible if parents continue to refuse appeals by health

workers to subject their children to vaccination.

Last January, Davao city Mayor Sarah Duterte declared a measles outbreak following the deaths of four children and about 200 people reported suffering from measles symptoms. A month later, on February 9, Zamboanga city mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar declared a measles outbreak after she noted a 1,343 percent increase of measles cases involving kids in the city.

The Regional epidemiology Surveillance Unit of DOH region 11 has recorded 317 cases of measles outbreak only for the month of January. CCAP learned from an officer of the Davao health office that the outbreak was a direct cause of the dengvaxia scare.

“Parents are now deathly afraid of subjecting their kids to vaccination. Our CCAP members

GROUP,P10

Illicit trade triggers P20-B govt tax loss

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he government is seen to lose about PHP20 billion worth of taxes from cigarette products this year alone due to the continued proliferation of illicit products.

Policemen and of�icials of the National Bureau of Investigation con�iscated Thursday an estimated PHP4 million worth of alleged illicit cigarettes in two separate raids conducted in Barangay 35 and Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City.

Last week, boxes of counterfeit products of Mighty Corp. and PMFTC, Inc., which produces Philip Morris among others, were discovered in a cigarette factory illegally operating in the province of Bulacan.

Manos Koukourakis, general manager of JTI Philippines, which bought Mighty Corp., said they have discovered that 50,000 to 60,000 cases of Mighty cigarettes with fake tax stamps are being sold on a monthly basis.

“This is alarming for our business interest,” he said in a text message.

The JTI Philippines head said they have no idea “how these 50K-60K are peddled in the market neither where they are produced”.

“All we know is that the fake Mightys are out there

ILLICIT,P11

DOING IT IN STYLE. A construction worker uses a power spray to wash away the mud on the road in front of Ateneo de Davao University senior high school campus in Bangkal on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

DTI warns Palawan firms v. overpricing T

he local Department of Trade and Industry is reminding businesses in Palawan to follow its endorsed Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) of basic necessities and prime commodities and avoid overpricing.

DTI-Palawan Provincial Director Rosenda Fortunado said Monday that amid imminent increases due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, businesses should not take advantage in the province or

they may face sanctions.

“The DTI is warning businesses against illegal manipulation of prices of basic and prime commodities. There is a fair price act, where prices should be affordable, justi�iable income for them, and

enough supply,” she said.

She supplied further that sellers have to place price tags on their products that consumers should be able to see clearly.

“If there’s illegal manipulation of prices, the number one proof of that is missing price tags,” Fortunado informed.

If the DTI-Palawan can prove that a certain business establishment is doing unfair pricing, the owner “can be

held liable, and this is with imprisonment”.

“In case they do not adhere to the fair trade law, price tag law, and price act, then the DTI fair trade enforcement bureau can move to penalize them. So far, in Palawan, our businessmen are cooperative,” she said.

On TRAIN law effect, the DTI-Palawan chief said if there is movement in the prices of basic and prime

DTI,P11

Bong Go man of integrity: Zubiri Senate probes frigate acquisition

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enator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday came in defense of Special Assistant to the President Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, saying the latter is a man of integrity with no stain of corruption.

During the ongoing Senate inquiry into frigate acquisition, Zubiri said Go has been doing his job “judiciously and religiously” even when he was still assistant of then mayor and congressman and now Presi-

dent Rodrigo Duterte.

“He never asked for �ixers’ fee. He just did his job judiciously and religiously and he did it well,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri assured Go, his fellow Mindanaoan, of the senator’s support against fake news.

“Secretary Go, don’t worry, we are also victims of fake news.

You have my support as a man of integrity,” Zubiri, a lawmaker from Bukidnon, said.

In his opening statement,

Go said the PHP18-billion Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP), including its weapon systems and munitions, has been dragged into controversy due to “fake news” following reports from Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he intervened in the frigate project.

“Because all of this started from irresponsible reporting, I would also like to sincerely request the Senate to continue with the hearing and investiga-

BONG,P11

ECONOMY 5

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

PCSO to invite BIR experts to help justify gaming taxes

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hilippine Charity Sweepstakes Of�ice (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan said on Monday that they will be inviting experts from the Bureau of Internal Revenue to help them justify the 20 percent taxes in connection with the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN) law for the bene�it of the gaming public.

Under the much-talked about TRAIN law, all PCSO prizes are taxed with 20 percent starting from the amount of P10,000 and above that already implemented last month.

“Nung una nga 10 percent.

Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ng husto ‘yung tax nito. We are inviting experts from the BIR on how we will justify the taxes,”

Balutan said.

On Friday, two lucky bettors won and shared the whopping P331,971,464 jackpot in the PCSO’s Ultra Lotto 6/58 draw. The winners are now subject to the new tax law.

“Wala na tayong magawa, batas na ‘yan. Ang problema lang ma-dissuade ang betting public na hindi na tumaya. Pero ang katwiran ng ating mga mambabatas, windfall ‘yan. Kung nanalo ka ng P100 million ibigay mo na sa gobyerno ‘yung P20,000,000 masaya ka pa rin,” Balutan said.

While the agency is still awaiting the betting public’s reaction to the new tax law, Balutan explained the important thing is that the taxes will automatically

PCSO,P11

AFTER A FASHION. Sidewalk vendors spend their morning chatting while they wait for customers at their makeshift stalls along McArthur highway in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

Mexican firms urged via Sta. Cruz to use RP as gateway Mt.trailApo booked until April PHOTO CAPTION: PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan receives a plaque of recognition from Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen. Alvin

To lucrative 10-nation ASEAN market T

F

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has urged Mexico-based technology and manufacturing companies to look into the possibility of making the Philippines the center of their operations and entry point to the lucrative market of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN).

Dominguez said Mexico, which is now emerging as a top exporter of high-technology goods,

can take advantage of the Philippines’ young, talented workforce and reasonable labor costs.

The finance chief extended his invitation to Mexican technology entrepreneurs through Mexican Ambassador Gerardo Lozano Arredondo during their recent meeting to discuss ways of expanding economic relations between the Philippines and Mexico.

“We’d like to go with Mexican companies, particularly with your high-technology companies—you have good experience in manufacturing high-tech products in the US market. We would like to invite you

to come and invest here—probably for the Mexican companies to use Philippines as a base to enter the ASEAN market,” said Dominguez during his meeting with Lozano.

The Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam comprise the 630-million strong ASEAN market.

In response, Lozano said that with the “excellent historical rela-

MEXICAN,P13

Improved ASEAN infra to spur investments-PIDS

M

ember countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) need to improve physical infrastructures and streamline regulatory processes in an effort to facilitate trade and investments in the region, according to a report from state think tank Philippine Institute for Develop-

ment Studies (PIDS).

In a report titled “ASEAN connectivity: The hows and whys,” PIDS information of�icer Neille Gwen de la Cruz noted that connectivity is important to the region’s continued economic growth and an integral factor to realize the vision of an ASEAN Community by 2025.

ASEAN leaders have adopted the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, which has the goal of achieving a “seamlessly and comprehensively connected and integrated ASEAN that will promote competitiveness, inclusiveness, and a greater sense of Community” by the year 2025.

“Right now, ASEAN is recognized as one of the world’s largest economic zones.

Making it easier to transport goods and services, reducing cumbersome processes, or simply opening more ways for people to move around the region would help facilitate the growth of ASEAN SMEs

IMPROVED,P13

rekking activities to Mt. Apo via Sta. Cruz trail in Davao Del Sur are fully booked until April 2018 but it will be closed during Holy Week from March 25 to 31, Sta. Cruz Tourism of�icer Julius Paner said.

Paner said they received several reservations for the summer season as Sta. Cruz is the most preferred trail because of the added adventure offered by the boulders on the way to the peak.

Aside from Sta. Cruz, Kidapawan City and Magpet town in North Cotabato also opened a year after a massive �ire destroyed the peak of Mt. Apo on March 26, 2016, a Black Saturday. As a result, an “inde�inite closure” order was imposed.

Parreno at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Other awardees include Michael Tan of LT Group and Sharon Tan of Asia Brewery

Paner said the Sta. Cruz trail was opened with an annual Boulder Face Challenge in June 2017, attracting 70 participants who braved scaling the country’s highest peak for the extreme outdoor challenges.

He said they recorded 1,500 individuals who trekked the mountain since reopening, which generated jobs for 50 professional guides and 110 Lumad porters in Sta. Cruz Municipality.

He said the Sta. Cruz trail was closed last month for rehabilitation work and to give guides and porters a month-long break.

Paner said they have strictly complied with the environmental policies set up to protect Mt. Apo by making sure trekkers un-

MT. APO,P11

MT. APO. the country’s highest peak. MindaNews file photo by BOBBY TIMONERA

6 SUBURBIA RISING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Siargao seeks DOT help to build sanitary landfill

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he Department of Tourism plans to put up sanitary land�ills on Siargao Island, in Surigao del Norte, after they were requested by tourism stakeholders there to address concerns on solid waste disposal.

Tourism undersecretary Katherine de Castro said in an interview on Friday that the locals and the municipal government of Siargao sought assistance for sanitary land�ills to comply with environmental laws and regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to avoid “Siargao” from becoming another “Boracay.”

President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered the closure of erring establishments whom he blamed for turning Boracay into a “cesspool.” The President gave these establishments a six-month deadline to clean up the island and �ix the problems, including, among others, water and solid waste disposal.

She said the DOT wants to assist Siargao Island in constructing land�ills, as the local governments lack budget to buy land and develop the roads.

She said each land�ill will require a land area of 3.3 hectares. She said they expect land�ills will be put up before the yearend.

De Castro said they will focus on General Luna municipality, which is popular for surfers because of the socalled “Cloud 9 Waves,” and the presence of so many establishments.

Siargao Island has eight towns, General Luna among them.

De Castro said a number of tourists are expected to visit Siargao, following Duterte’s stern warning against business establishments on Boracay.

She said 57 establishments on Boracay island have been issued with notices of violation out of the 300 initially

SIARGAO,P14

Cops kill grenade-wielding drug suspect, nabs another in Cotabato

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OTABATO CITY -- Police killed a grenade-wielding drug suspect and arrested his companion during a drug buy-bust operation Friday night here.

Chief Insp. Aldrin Gonzales, speaking for the Police Regional Of�ice 12, said the dead suspect identi�ied as Mohammad Dipatuan Awal tried to throw a hand grenade when police enforcers were to arrest him in a drug buy-bust operation.

Gonzales said Awal pulled a fragmentation grenade after sensing he was dealing with a poseur buyer during the 11:30 p.m. operation in Barangay Bagua 2, this city.

“This compelled police of�icers to respond quickly

and prevent a bloody anti-drug operation,” Gonzales said.

Elements of the city police sub-station 4 rushed Awal to the Cotabato Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

His companion, Saydamin Balao, a member of Barangay Police Action Team (BPAT), was arrested.

Recovered from Balao was the hand grenade, 14 sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia and marked money.

Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director, said they have intensi�ied the drive against illegal drugs when “Oplan Tokhang” was returned to police functions last month. (PNA)

DavOr, PhilFIDA link up to revive RP abaca industry

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he Davao Oriental provincial government and the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) are partnering to implement programs to revive and improve the abaca industry in the �ive towns of the province.

PhilFIDA committed to allocate the funds that will help improve the abaca production in the towns of Manay, Baganga, Caraga, Cateel, and Boston.

The total abaca plantation reached 450 hectares that will be covered by the programs, especially the Sustained Abaca Disease Management Program. Other areas not included in the budget for this year will be prioritized in the following year.

Provincial Information Of�icer Karen Lou Deloso said PhilFIDA

through Davao Regional Director Eduardo Holoyohoy had already engaged farmers and traders to identify issues hindering the growth of the abaca industry.

According to Deloso, the improvement of the abaca �iber is also among the programs of PhilFIDA. PhilFIDA is trying to address issues such as the poor quality of abaca �ibers being sold in volumes as this poses a threat to the industry.

PhilFIDA has urged abaca traders to come up with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) banning the buying of abaca under the “all-in buying” system. In such system, big players in the market will only buy abaca �ibers based on its quality by sorting it to different grades.

DAVOR,P14

SEA LEVEL RISE. Of the 25 cities most exposed to a 1-meter sea-level rise, about 19 of them are located in the Asia and Pacific region, according to a new study released by the Manila-based Asian Devel-

opment Bank (ADB). Seven of the 19 cities in the region are found in the Philippines. In Mindanao, Davao together with Butuan have been identified. Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio

Maguindanao’s crime volume down S

HARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -Crime incidents in Maguindanao have gone down from January to date as compared to the same period last year, a police official said Sunday.

“Our crime volume recorded this year has been down by 46 percent as compared last year,” Senior Supt.

Agustin Tello, Maguindanao provincial police director, said.

Tello attributed the reduction of crime volume to massive police implementation of checkpoints and law enforcement across the

province due to the implementation of martial law.

“The cooperation and coordination of the police, military and local government units were also a factor in crime volume reduction,” Tello added.

He lauded the support provided by Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu to the local

police, “especially his morale boosting and inspiration that guided the local police.”

With the pay hike now being enjoyed by police of�icers, Tello expects his men to perform better and remained disciplined.

Last year, internal cleansing was implemented in Maguindanao with 25 police of�icers being deployed to other provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after they were linked to irregularities.

About 10 other police of�icers under Maguindanao PNP are facing charges

and under preventive suspension due to their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Tello said he or his representative had been conducting surprise inspection in police of�ices across Maguindanao’s 36 municipalities.

“This is to ensure police presence and continuous implementation of checkpoints and other police operational activities,” he said, adding that a town police chief will be relieved if found to be remiss of his responsibilities. (PNA)

in the grassy area of Barangay Buayan.

On Friday, elements of the 57th Infantry Battalion recovered an M-16 ri�le from the house of Alimudin Sangcopan, an alleged member of private armed group, in Barangay Labo-labo here.

The soldiers were patrolling Barangay Labo-Labo when a resident informed

them that a man with a gun was in a hut.

When soldiers approached Sangcopan’s home, he voluntarily surrendered.

Major Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6ID commander, lauded the operating units and vowed that the Army would continue to support the local police to get rid Maguindanao of unlicensed guns. (PNA)

Army seizes high-powered arms in 2 Maguindanao towns

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HARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -- Soldiers assigned in Maguindanao have recovered high powered guns in two separate areas and arrested one man, the military here bared on Sunday.

On Saturday, joint forces of Datu Piang Municipal Police Station and Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion recovered a �irearm during the

conduct of law enforcement support operation in Barangay Buayan, Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said soldiers seized one Ingram with magazine, two bandoleers for M16 Armalite ri�le and two bandoleers for Garand ri�le which were hidden

7 PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Aeon Towers: Revolutionizing condo living

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eople always include their residential needs as top priority in life. In this case, there are so many options they could choose from---a house, an apartment or a condominium unit. Aside from the feeling of settlement, how is living in a condo seem practical?

Living in a condo is totally different from any of the two options. As time goes by, Mindanao gets to adapt condo life as a number of condos are now rising in any parts of the cities. That includes the 33-�loor tall skyscraper— Aeon Towers.

Aeon Towers which is located right at the heart of Davao’s CBD prepared a different kind of condo living for their residents. Living in Aeon Towers could be the most convenient decision as it has all the nearby access to malls, medical institutions, universities and leisure hubs. But not only that, because inside the tower are amenities that supply any person’s needs.

Just like any condo properties, Aeon Towers has function halls, �itness hub, restau-

rant and a swimming pool.

But what is new inside is that they have a spa area and a kiddy play room which is totally convenient for families.

Just imagine, there is no need to go outside of the property just for a mother to have her pampering time while letting their little one have their play time day.

What is more exciting in Aeon Towers is their Skydeck at the 32nd �loor of the building where there is an in�inity-edged swimming pool. A lot of people say and compare this to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, which makes Aeon Luxe’s President Mr. Ian Cruz so proud of this project. Within the Skydeck is an open function hall that can accommodate any kind of event and the al fresco restau-

rant, which also has a barbeque pit and grill area for the meatlovers. That is a �irst and would be an unforgettable experience in the city.

Apart from all these, Aeon Towers’ units feature a futuristic kind of life with its SmartHome Technology.

Just like the condominiums in other countries, your home, which goes through a �iber optic backbone is fused with wireless technology where it gives every resident a new level of modern and high tech

living with Cisco’s Smart+Connected Home Systems.

SmartHome’s touch screen master controller has all the functions from dimming your lights, to switching on your AC, drawing your curtains, play your favorite music, adjust your shower temperature and control your door access.

All these are what the Davaoenos will get to see as soon as Aeon Towers will be turned over by the end of the year.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

EDITORIAL

T

Leftovers and makeovers

he �irst ripples of the Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet in the city happened not in the playing �ields and courts but in the kitchen.

All in all, 38 delegates from Mati City were rushed to hospitals on Saturday night after experiencing symptoms of food poisoning. This is actually nothing new in the history of the regional meet and even in previous Palarong Pambansa. Sanitation, food handling and contamination are among the factors that have caused many incidents of food poisoning. However, Saturday’s food poisoning incident is a bit revolting as reported �indings will show. According to the report made by the City Health Of�ice, the delegation ‘recycled’ leftover food to feed athletes. This is a different case as it speaks of utter negligence and lack of regard for the athelete’s wellness. Most of these athletes are young children from elementary and high schools.

Feeding leftover food to athletes whose performance rely much nutrition is tantamount to malicious negligence. You need not be a rocket scientist to know what is good for athletes who are out to compete. These members of the kitchen staff are likewise mostly teachers

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who are not ignorant to know that leftover food is no good for kids who are expected to be in their top shape physically and mentally.

This is the time to review the systems of the Deartment of Education (Deped)-run event with emphasis on budget management and procurement. This budget has been prepared months before the games and the food consumption planned way before that. It is therefore no excuse that there would be an over�low of food prepared as to have so many leftovers. Worse, using the leftover food for the next meal is a no no. There is already a budget allocation for the next meal.

So where does the money go?

The budget for Deped-run events such as the DAVRAA is sourced from Special Education Funds of the LGU hence, the local government can inquire into the food requirements, consumption and actual purchases.

Finally, those responsible from the head of delegation by reason of command responsibility and the supply of�icer by reason of direct responsibility and kitchen staff by reason of direct participation should be held accountable.

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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EDGEDAVAO

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VANTAGE POINTS

9

Davao’s oldest shopping malls

n 16th century Italy, a mall was closer to what we label as a recreation area where the game pallamaglio (pall-mall in English) was played. Later, it was adopted as a cigarette name.

Today’s mall takes on different meanings. The dictionary defines it as “a large building or series of connected buildings containing a variety of retail stores.” The establishment is also equated with shopping complexes, strip malls, galleries, megamall, agoras, or marketplaces.

A department store, an older name for a shopping mall, was so called because it had different sections, each offering items specifically catering to a certain classification.

Going by history, the first mall in Davao was the four-story Awad edifice, housing a hodgepodge of activities ranging from entertainment to a merchandise store. Built in 1917, it did not have the sophistication present-day shopping plazas have, but as the tallest building in Mindanao, it was awe-inspiring and considered a major landmark.

The rise of abaca and coconut plantations and the population explosion brought about by migration, particularly the socio-economic contributions of Japanese, encouraged Manila-based establishments to open branches in Davao City. Among the

early birds was Ozaka Bazar, a Japanese firm with a stall along San Pedro Street that was popular during pre-war years.

In its 1925 advertisement, Osaka Bazar, with a geisha carrying an parasol as icon, offered exclusive Japanese articles and called itself as “the Japanese department store.” It claimed to carry a select stock of Japanese lacquer, paper umbrellas, pure silk, wool challis, cottons for all purposes, porcelains and Chinaware proudly declared to come from beautiful Old Japan.

In one of its yearend offerings, it announced: “For the folks at home, Xmas gifts from the Osaka Bazar are most acceptable.

Genuine Japanese Satsuma Ware is carried by us at reasonable prices, and in a great variety of beautiful designs. Kimonas [and] Haori Coats of dainty silk, gossamer-like in fabric, rainbow like in variety of color… Sport Coats in a great variety of finest Japanese silk [and] porcelains.”

In the liberation period, with the entry of logging and the rise of new settlements, the city’s commercial business district (CBD), cleared of the ruins and ravages inflicted by the war, started to accommodate the rise of multi-storied structures. Most of the new buildings were used as shopping centers, which reflected the optimism of the

“Pine tree pollen can turn female tilapias into males.” That’s the title of the feature, which appeared in EDGE Davao (August 17, 2017), that earned me a finalist citation in the first University of the Philippines (UP) Science Journalism Awards.

The said article was nominated for Best Science Feature Story for Print and Online.

Declared winner was Edmund Usman of Rappler. Other finalists were Herty Lopez of “Super Balita Cebu” and Stephanie Tumampos of “Business Mirror.”

Other winners, who were given trophies (executed by the late National Artist Napoleon Abueva) and cash incentives, include Angelica Yang of GMA News Online for Best Science News Story, Nef Lucson of “Sunstar Cagayan de Oro” for Best Science Commentary for Print and Online, Michael Joe Delizo of ABSCBN/DZMM for Best Science Story for Radio, and Mikael Angelo of GMA News Online for Best UP Science Story.

“The winners and finalists for this year’s Awardsreflecttheresultfrom60nominations of a diverse group of mainstream and community media organizations nationwide,” said a press statement released after the awarding ceremony. “The judging committee is composed of journalists, academicians, scientists, and an economist to well present science and technology as an interdisciplinary field.”

The Awards is said to recognize exemplaryreportingonscienceandtechnology,aswell as on scientific researches and developments

in the country. In addition, it aims to acknowledge the importance of communicating accurate science stories and the mainstreaming of science and technology into the public consciousness.

“Very often, science is perceived to be something that is not understandable, something that exists in laboratories,” explained Dr. Elena E. Pernia, program leader of Communicating Science and Technology Research and Development at UP (CoST UP). “Our program aims to bring home the fact that everything we do and everything we use benefited and continues to benefit from developments in science.

“The UP Science Journalism Awards is part of that communicating product it is to bring the journalists together with the scientists to deliver the message to the ordinary man that science is something that is daily beneficial,” Dr. Pernia added.

That seems to be the message of Prof.

Clarissa C. David in her keynote address during the awarding ceremony. “Journalism about science, technology, engineering, and all manner of innovation is not really just about the science,” she pointed out. “The stories written are about tackling the country’s and our world’s most perplexing and urgent problems: environmental conservation, climate change, disasters, and public health crises among others.”

She cited the case of her late father, Dr. Benito S. Vergara, a rice scientist who made it

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa local economy of the fifties.

The bazar, which had a main office at Echague Street, Manila, sold also Hauri coats (“of beautiful and varied designs and of finest silk, cotton or wool challis”), kimonos (“ready-made or made to measure”), and Fuji silk (“thin as paper or very heavy in all designs and colors”).

A review of the 1949 Davao City Trade and Commerce Directory showed that Mercantile Corporation of Davao (MERCO) was the closest one could compare to a shopping plaza. The establishment, situated at 625 Uy-

anguren Street, sold drugs and chemicals, toilet and laundry soaps, Magnolia dairy products, Philip Morris and Roy cigarettes, Monarch canned goods, Upson panels, general paints, and All-Nu household aids.

Of course, there was also the Cosmopolitan Mercantile Co., Inc., housed at corner Monteverde Avenue and Carpenter (now Leon Ma. Garcia) Street, which dealt in rice, sugar flour, salt, beet, soap, kerosene, and alcohol. It offered a complete line of groceries, churcherias, cosmetics, school supplies, construction materials, and fresh fruits.

In the sixties and seventies, bazars that resembled today’s malls though smaller in sizes started to sprout along the city’s major thoroughfares. Names like Me Hang Supermart, Davao Lila Department Store, and Lima Department Store (owned by civic leader and philanthropist Johnny Lima) became familiar business addresses.

And then there was Ang Mahunit Department Store (owned by the Amigleo family), and Usa Department Store (with a deer’s head with antlers as logo), Datu Complex (introduced to Davao the first escalator), Manila Textile (Mantex) Superstore, Perlon (where Gaisano Southmall now stands), Felcris Store (owned by Cebu migrants Fel and Cris Yap), Gaisano Center

(across University of Mindanao at Bolton), and the New City Commercial Center (NCCC).

As years went by, the shopping plazas, more complex and offering sophistication, started to alter the city’s business landscape.

Davao A & M (corner Rizal and Ponciano Reyes streets) the first high-end store in the city; Victoria Plaza Mall (originally owned by the Limso family); and Gaisano Mall of Davao (at Bajada).

In the last three decades, new names in shopping concept started to create their own space in the city. The new players, among others, included Makro (now SaveMore), SM Ecoland (Matina), SM Premier (Lanang), Robinson’s Cybergate, NCCC Mall (Ma-a), NCCC Center Point (Matina), S & R (Ma-a), Felcris Centrale (Quimpo Blvd.), Davao Chimes Mall, Unitop (San Pedro, Nuvo (Agdao), Lachmi Mall (San Pedro), and DCLA Plaza (Magsaysay).

5b A shopping mall, an American concept, is defined today as “a form of shopping precinct or shopping center, in which one or more buildings form a complex of shops representing merchandisers with interconnecting walkways that enable customers to walk from unit to unit.”

that it has to be translated in more than 45 languages and dialects.

“The lesson in this story is that communicating science is not really about the scientists and their work, it’s about the broader public that these scientific advances seek to serve,” Prof. David said. “What are their needs and how can we make sure that the work of scientists and technologists provide solutions for the most wicked problems of current times?”

According to the UP professor, science for the public good can only be realized when the science is informed by communication and journalism. “In the interdependent relationships between media, scientific, political, and public agendas, journalism provides the mechanism for surfacing that which is important, giving signals and recognition to scientists, academic institutions, and funders as to which issues require the attention of scientists,” she said.

“Needs improvement.” That was how she described the current state of science journalism in the country.

“This is largely because of a lack of demand from audiences for science-centered news stories, because any stories will have to compete for public attention on all other things that require it, like politics, national security, and global affairs,” she explained.

“There is not really a broad constituency for science and technology,” Prof. David further said. “It is indicated by a lack of public funding, the lack of public attention, and a lack

of press coverage. These are all related after all.

If there is more news attention, there will be more public demand to support the sciences, and that will lead to greater public funding.

“We don’t have to be scientists to help science get on the public and policy agenda, there is much to do by way of communication and good journalism,” she said. “Science journalists need support if we want them to help us in this mission. They need support from scientists.”

In addition, “the technical people need to engage more effectively with journalists if they are to engage the public. Scientists need to be available, accessible, and able to explain the research, its underlying principles, and fundamental concepts when called upon.

“Science journalists need support from universities by providing incentives for scientists to engage with the public. Reporters need support from editors, to allow the science beat to flourish, to provide space on television, print, and online channels for good science stories.”

Prof. David also said: “Science can be very basic or highly applied, but all of science and social science seeks to improve the world in some way, to improve the well-being of people in some way. Underneath the multisyllabic technical jargon that nobody outside of each subdiscipline of science can understand, is a common mission to make a positive impact in the future.”

UP Science Journalism Awards

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

his life’s mission to bring science to public.

“Before it was a field of study, he was already an active science communicator. He was a plant physiologist, but he was bothered that in his years working for the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) where he spent his entire career studying the physiology of different kinds of rice plants around the world, his findings were not really immediately relevant to poor rice farmers.

One of the main objectives of the rice institute was to improve the lives of farmers.

Yet, most of the information published were scientific in nature and most farmers don’t understand them. And so, he wrote “A farmer’s primer on growing rice,” a fully-illustrated bookonriceproduction. Itbecamesopopular

10NEWS

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DOE... FROM 2

gy sectors “The use of such technologies are in line with the DOE’s E-Power Mo campaign, which seeks to empower consumers to make better options in energy utilization”, he added.

To further promote greener technology options, the DOE is also pursuing theinitiatives to ensure that there will be “affordable, reliable, modern and sustainable” energy in the country in the years to come.

“It’s about energy and how people can have better energy options for their daily living”, Fuentebella said He added that E-power is President Rodrigo Duterte’s en-

ergy policy agenda namely develop and utilize the energy resources available to Filipinos for wealth creation and global competition; undertake safety and savings measures through energy ef�iciency; secure the delivery of quality, reliable, and affordable energy services; and empower consumers through a wide range of options utilizing conventional, renewable, and alternative energy resources The DOE will aggressively implement this strategic energy information, education and communication campaign so that ordinary Filipinos would be encouraged to use energy responsibly.

ed that although Ungab sustained only one bullet wound, it proved to be fatal.

Police investigators, who recovered two empty shells

of a .45-caliber pistol, have yet to determine the motive of the killing and the identities of possibly two gunmen. (PNA)

“Devote the most serious thought on the architectural design of our Federal Constitution before we digress to its details,” Puno said.

Puno also explained that although there were different models of this structure available worldwide, he encouraged the Con-com not to plagiarize and instead create one that would �it the Philippines. ”We should not plagiarize any federal model, for our model should be distinctly Filipino as it cannot be impassive to our past and indifferent to the present,” Puno said.

‘Cooperative federalism’ Puno, meanwhile stressed that the proposed federalism model should be “cooperative” and “not competitive” noting that many regions will encounter dif�icult problems to become viable states.

“Some regions will be ready to take full steps to federalism; others will be able to take only baby steps and will need a lot of handholding,” Puno said.

“It ought to be self-evident that the regime that should govern their relationship is what is

known as cooperative federalism as opposed to competitive federalism,” he added.

He also pointed out that cooperative federalism should be co-active and that collaborative efforts of each state is to achieve the common goal.

Hot debates Puno said that he expected debates on the review of the 1987 Constitution to be “hot” but not reach “boiling point.”

“While some of our viewpoints may differ by a mile and not just millimeters, I am con�ident that at the end of the day, our labor of love will bring forth a Constitution our sovereign people deserve,” Puno said.

Puno noted that it was none other than national hero Jose Rizal who �irst �loated the “federalist idea” as best suited for the Philippines but noted that his dream did not make progress.

“Rizal’s federalism dream never went further than a fetus…I like to believe that after more than a century of incubation, the time of federalism idea has now come to the Philippines,” Puno said. (PNA)

blame these so-called “health experts” who claim to have knowledge about dengue when they are actually experts of other diseases,” adds Ellorin.

CCAP blames Dr. Susie Mercado who recently was let go of the World Health Organisation (WHO). A tobacco and mental abuse expert, Mercado has been going around town pretending to be a dengvaxia expert when she recently admitted that she had no research background on dengue and on dengvaxia vaccines.

Mercado retired early as WHO regional head after the international organisation took her to task for her excessive travel expenses. She is also connected with Neuron, an events agency, who offered their services to the Department of Health during the time of former DOH secretary Paulyn Ubial.

Another expert which CCAP

identified is cardiologist Dr. Tony Leachon who also does not have epidemiological expertise but describes himself as an expert on dengvaxia.

Industry sources from the medical field learned that Leachon refused to take a cardiology examination, hence, not licensed to undertake cardiology.

Sources say Leachon is misrepresenting himself as a cardiologist of the Manila Doctor’s Hospital, a business arm of Metrobank foundation.

Such people are not helping the Filipino people discover the real truth about dengvaxia, says CCAP. CCAP joins other organisations in calling for these people to be responsible and stop spreading scandal and alarm that do not help correct the situation.

ESPINOSA’S... FROM 2

GRACEFUL. A dancer from the Kalumon Performing Ensemble performs an ethnic dance routine during the opening of the National Information Convention 2018 at SMX Convention Center. Lean Daval Jr

SAFE... FROM 1

�ice to check their mess halls and kitchens and to ensure if they observed proper sanitation in cooking their food.

“This is to remind them of their critical responsibility because these are food,” he said.

There are more than 90 reported members of the delegation of Tagum City who experienced stomach pains and vomiting, 32 of whom were rushed to Southern Philippines Medical Center.

“We based our records on the admitted list at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and it was stated that only 32 were brought there,” he said.

Atillo said if the report was true, thereare over 90 members of the delegation affected, and that majority were treated inside their billeting quarters since there is a standby medical team from Central 911.

He said 31 of these athletes were immediately discharged after they were treated in the hospital.

“Aside from Tagum City, we have reported same cases in Davao del Norte which has six, Mati City has one, Compostela Valley has one, Davao Oriental has eight and a coach who is not yet identi�ied from which member of delegation he comes from, “ he said.

Atillo could not con�irm if these people were brought to the hospital for immediate treatment. He said these people may have been treated in their billeting quarters and no need for serious medical assistance.

He said the DepEd 11 could not con�irm as of the moment if the reason of their stomach pains and vomiting is still food poisoning.

“Our City Health Of�ice (CHO) headed by Dr. Jose-

phine Villfuerte is the only one who has the authority to conduct investigation on that matter,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CHO bared that the cause of the severe diarrhea experienced by the 38 member of the delegation of Mati City is the intake of left over foods.

Villfuerte said that based on their investigation, these people kept their food in the quarters because they did not consume it because of the free dinner in their welcome party on February 14.

“They cook plenty of rice perowala man nakaon, so gilutonilapagabuntag, gi-fried rice, gikaonsauban (They cook plenty of rice on that evening but they did not consume eat, so they recooked it, they fried it and others ate it),” he said.

Villfuerte said according to the people who were admitted that after they consumed the rice, they just discharged their waste and thought it was only normal.

“Nagkaroon din silang corned beef din nabinaon din ngmganaglaro. So, siyempremulaanongorassiyanilutotaposnagkainsilaanongorastaposmahabangpanahonnanaka-packed angpagkaintaposmainitangpanahon (They also cooked corned beef and the players brought it to the playing areas and they ate it after they played. Of course they cooked it early and they consumed it late and it was packed for the long time and the weather was hot ),” he said.

Villafuerte said as of Sunday, 33 of them were already discharged while �ive of them were placed under observation.

However, she assured the public that these people are still able to play as soon they will be discharged.

PIA-LED... FROM 1

underway at the SMX Convention Center SM in Davao City.

The three-day convention will runs until Wednesday.

The participants include national and local government information of�icers, national and local private media practitioners, digital media groups, non-government organizations and civil society organizations, academe, communication students, and information, communications and technology partners, according to the PIA regional of�ice.

PIA director-general Harold Clavite in his opening remarks said the NIC 2018 will highlight responsible sharing of information and the use of communication platforms in providing information that will help improve the audience’s quality of life, strengthen partnership of private and public communicators and organize a movement of communicators that will empower communities.

The convention features three main activities: plenary sessions, breakout sessions and an exhibit.

The plenary sessions will revolve around the themes communicating government policy, citizen journalism, crisis commu-

nication, and empowering communities through communication and the exhibits showcase the services of the Presidential Communications Operations Of�ice (PCOO) and its attached agencies.

Meanwhile the Parallel sessions will highlight various capacity building initiatives and current innovations and practices in participatory governance, media relations, development and grassroots communication, radio and television broadcast, print and publishing.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been invited as keynote speaker on February 21.

Clavite said that participants are expected to have a better appreciation and understanding of government programs and mechanisms so that they can better participate in for nation-building and development, acquire insights on best practices in public advocacy and social mobilization, and improve public-private partnership in development communication.

“The convention brings in experts in the communication �ield, both government and non-government, digital and traditional,” Clavite said.

warned that the latter had no intention of returning to the UK, thus, his continued presence here poses a risk to children.

On the other hand, FSU chief Bobby Raquepo said a British court convicted and sentenced Russon to seven years in prison in 1993 for molesting three boys who were under 16 years of age.

He added the foreigner frequently traveled back and forth to the Philippines after serving his

sentence.

“When he is in the UK he would register and report his presence to the authorities but he would travel back to the Philippines afterwards,” said the BI intelligence officer.

Russon last traveled from the UK to Cebu on Sept. 23, 2015 and presented upon his arrival a return ticket dated Dec. 21 of the same year. He did not board the said flight. (PNA)

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CON-COM... FROM 2

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INdulge!

EVENT

Surf lessons on going on cute, friendly waves

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

EDGEDAVAO

With Abby Ramos of Crystal Beach Resort.

Flee the city!

A Zambales escapade

THIS SPACE was originally reserved for the Paramore concert that was supposed to happen last Sunday. In case you didn’t see the notice, the band had to abruptly cancel their show in Manila due to their lead singer and frontwoman, Hayley Williams being sick and unable to perform.

This was a major bummer because I went to Manila primarily for this concert. Although I had other side trips that I packed on this trip which made the postponement of the concert less hurtful.

When we found out about the concert being postponed, our group decided to stay extend our stay in my new favorite coastal province in Luzon, Zambales. Knowing that it was a long weekend, almost every vacation destination outside Manila would be packed.

With La Union having a surf competition and Baler having overhead waves (at this time of writing), I figured bringing a board to surf for only the weekend would be too much of a hassle and expense. I then remembered meeting a lovely couple in Siargao last year who owned a beach resort in Zambales.

After doing a quick

research, it was then set that Zambales would be the go-to destination because it was similar to my home break, Dahican. It was around 3-4 hours away from Manila (again, depending on the traffic) and it felt very unspoiled, to my amusement.

To get to Zambales, one has to pass through the throngs of speeding cars on the NLEX-SCTEX. Veering from the road going north through La Union and Baguio where the majority of the traffic was, we turned right to Subic.

I’m not so sure of the weather in this area but Zambales had a kind of arid, desert-like feel. You can see from the brown hills that surrounded the seemingly vacant highway that led us to Subic.

The top of mind when people hear about Subic is the Freeport Zone where you can buy imported

Get your Instagram goals moving with picturesque sights like this. goods cheaper than normal establishments because of XXX. Load up on chocolates, chips, and drinks while you’re here and then continue on to the road to reach the coastal areas of Zambales.

We decided to stay at Crystal Beach Resort in Barangay La Paz, San Narciso. I had expected to see something similar to the San Juan surf scene where commercial establishments greeted you instead of tropical greenery.

Turning from the main highway, we entered a small residential street that gave off a feeling of a very laid back beach community. I was immediately impressed when we saw the gates of Crystal Beach and the organization of the whole place was seen right upon entering.

Asking our front desk officer, Nica, she told us that Crystal Beach had been in operation since the 1980s. I was surprised at the expansive 8-hectare

of beachfront property that was literally lined with agoho (pine) trees.

It was quite amusing how there was not one coconut tree in sight along the areas.

The resort was fully booked for that weekend and the place had a carrying capacity of around 400-500 overnight guests but it didn’t feel cramp or suffocating. I wondered where people were since the beach never got to a point where it felt like a marketplace.

The sand wasn’t black. It was greyish white and not too fine like Dahican’s but it was clean and still felt welcoming to the soles of my feet. On normal days, I would have been bummed out and would have started to get bored because the forecast fizzled when we got there. The waves just disappeared, unlike the previous week.

The good thing about Crystal Beach is that there were a lot of things to do and places to stay within the property. You could rent canoes if the waves aren’t big enough for intermediate surfers while beginners could go all

day long on the friendly waves. There was an effective learning system for surfing where you could clearly distinguish who the instructors and students were as they had different colored rash guards.

The lifeguard tower was the authority on the beachfront as they would continually remind beachgoers and swimmers to stay within the safety of the beach flags. If being active on the beach isn’t your type, there are a lot of sunbathing and shaded lounging areas, spaced apart to give you a semi-exclusive feel.

Also scattered all over the place were Instagrammable little nooks and decorative signs where snapping a photo is irresistible. Four days wouldn’t be enough to fully enjoy the place and to think I wasn’t surfing as much as I wanted but I had fun. The people were so friendly and accommodating and most of all loved sustainability.

Watch out next week as I share our experience at the Liw-Liwa Earth Festival and my favorite places in Crystal Beach!

EDGEDAVAO

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A rousing welcome to the

YEAR OF THE DOG

THE LUNAR NEW YEAR is a time when families come together to spend quality time with each other.

It is also a time of celebration much fanfare and merriment as we become thankful of the past and look forward to a more prosperous new year.

Although much of the Chinese world celebrates Lunar New Year on the day of the new year itself, the Marco

Polo Davao kick starts the celebration early by holding Lunar New Year’s eve celebrations which is a great idea as families gathered to have dinner at the Lotus Court, awarded as one of Tatler Dining’s Best Restaurant for 2018, to join the festivities.

This year’s celebration started with the ceremonial dotting of the lion’s eye officiated by Department of Tourism secretary Wanda Corazon Teo and Marco Polo Davao general manager

Dottie Würgler-Cronin.

This was immediately followed by a spirited lion dance performance around the hotel’s lobby.

The celebration continued at the Lotus Court where students from Collegio de San Ignacio performed Chinese dances and songs, much to the delight of the gathered diners.

The evening ended with a round of fortune cookies giving a glimpse of what the upcoming Year of the Dog may bring.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

AirAsia inks partnership with Davao tourism for Visit Davao Summer Fest 2018 AIRASIA, the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for nine consecutive years, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) yesterday with Davao tourism represented by Visit Davao Summer Festival (VDSF) Execom Chairman Benjamin Lizada and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region XI Director Antonio Blanco. The partnership aims to establish Davao as a premiere tourist destination in the Philippines with abundant resources for eco-tourism and available facilities for sports, conventions and outdoor competitions.

Celebratory all-in-fares from PHP866* one-way are available for booking online at airasia.com from now for the travel period between now until 31 July 2018. The promotional fares are also available on AirAsia’s mobile app on iOS and Android devices, as well as mobile site at mobile.airasia.com.

Scheduled from April to June, the Visit Davao Summer Sale is a citywide sale and events extravaganza that offer affordable tour packages and big discounts to over 250 participating stores and restaurants.

Meanwhile, triathlon fans should visit Davao in April for the official start of AirAsia DURIANMAN Triathlon competi-

Left to Right: AirAsia Philippines Head of Marketing Pim Del Rosario, DOT Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, AirAsia Philippines Flight Operations Director Capt. Gomer Monreal and VDSF Chairman Benjamin Lizada tion.

Rosario said, “Davao is to Manila, Cebu, Clark, AirAsia Philippines an important gateway Caticlan/Boracay and Director of Flight Op- to Mindanao and we are Puerto Princesa with inerations Captain Gomer thrilled to be partner- ternational flights to KuaMonreal and the airline’s ing with tourism on this la Lumpur every Monday, marketing head Pim del project that has been run- Tuesday, Thursday, and Rosario attended the sign- ning for three years now. Sunday. ing ceremony represent- AirAsia is committed Keep updated with ing AirAsia Philippines to provide only the best AirAsia’s latest promoCEO Captain Dexter Co- quality service, affordable tion and activities via mendador with Tourism and reliable air connec- twitter (@AirAsiaFilipiSecretary Wanda Teo as tivity that every Dabawe- no), Facebook (facebook. keynote speaker. ño truly deserves.” com/AirAsiaPH) and on AirAsia Philippines AirAsia offers several Instagram (@AirAsiaFiliMarketing Head Pim del flights daily from Davao pino).

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

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PNP... FROM 3

Ermita, Manila on Friday by joint operatives of PNP and Philippine Army.

They were arrested pursuant to a search warrant issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court.

It cited as evidence the ex-

plosive devices seized from the couple during their arrest, including four pipes, two batteries, three capacitors, two integrated circuits, three battery clips and 11 resistors and also the .45-caliber pistol and ammunitions recovered from them.(PNA)

eating from our volumes and our livelihood,” he said.

Koukourakis expressed his commitment to provide intelligence information to authorities to address the illicit cigarette trade, citing that for every PHP1 billion in gross revenues the government makes PHP800 million in taxes.

“The raid in Bulacan and the raid yesterday in two main warehouses in Bacolod

(are) proof of what actually happens, actions not words, and what follows,” he said.

“The government may suffer losses worth PHP20 billion this year and we, the legitimate tobacco industry, have a huge responsibility to support the government and the good efforts of the Secretary of Finance, the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and the BOC (Bureau of Customs),” he added. (PNA)

commodities, they are minimal and only because manufacturers are using gasoline in production.

“Actually, in the increase of taxes, the prices of basic and prime commodities are not included.

However, their prices were affected because there is a component in manufacturing where gasoline is used. Like when you make sardines, the use of gasoline is required, so this is the reason why there is a slight increase in the prices of canned goods,” said Fortunado.

She said the manufacturers have already adjusted their increase, and these are only one to two percent of the old SRP last year.

The DTI-Palawan has since conducted price moni-

toring among big wholesalers on the new SRPs, and they were glad to note that the pegs were within what they have recommended, she added.

“For example, at the New City Commercial Center, the suggested retail price for a family pack of sardines is PHP12, and on their shelves, they have the same price,” she said.

In municipalities in Palawan, prices are slightly higher as sellers claimed the fare to transport their goods has also increased, Fortunado said.

“Going to El Nido, one box of sardines with 30 cans costs PHP30, or PHP1 per can, to transport to the municipality,” she said, via bus or shuttle van. (PNA)

tion of fake news. And you can also summon Rappler and Inquirer in the next hearing so that you can ask them on what they have written. I am not the only victim here, we are many,” Go said.

Meanwhile, Zubiri expressed his full support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the Dute-

rte administration.

“Now is the time, under the watch of President Duterte, that we truly modernize our armed forces. I’m truly supportive of the modernization specially the frigate,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri also said the Philippines need to have its own submarine to protect the country’s vast coast line. (PNA)

go to the charity fund, which will be given out to the needy.

Balutan believes that the betting public has renewed its con�idence to the new leadership of PCSO as evidenced by the increasing revenues.

For instance, the January sales of the expanded Small Town Lottery (STL) posted P1.87 billion from P1.7 billion last December 2017, a 103.96 percent increase from the sales of the same month last year.

“Ito ‘yung magandang nangyayari ngayon, the people are continuously patronizing PCSO’s gaming such as Lotto, Keno, Suertes, and STL. Of course, natutuwa tayo kapag maraming

pondo na nakakalap ang PCSO, that means malaki din ang maitutulong natin sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng serbisyong medikal,” Balutan said.

He assured the public that the agency will continue its efforts to increase the revenues. “‘Yun ang magandang signal, may con�idence pa rin ang ating mga kababayan na tumaya at tangkilikin ang laro ng PCSO. We will continue these efforts na mapalaki pa ang ingreso hindi lang sa STL but also Lotto,” said Balutan.

The retired Marine general spoke before the members of the press shortly after the Monday �lag raising ceremony after

ILLICIT... FROM 4

DTI... FROM 4

BONG... FROM 4

PCSO... FROM 5

EDGEDAVAO

BASKET COMPOSTING. At the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, basket composting is promoted to make use of those discarded kitchen stuff, organic garbage and he was given recognition by the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) for the agency’s contributions during the Marawi seige.

“The recognition given, not just necessarily to me, but the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Of�ice (PCSO) by the Philippine Marine Corps is very timely considering PCSO is in the controversial period,” Balutan said.

“I’m proud na sa ganitong pagkakataon, I’m back sa Marine Corps where I belong. I spent more than 37 years here, I spent most of my adult life dito sa Philippine Marine Corps. Nakakalaki ng puso na binigyan tayo ng rare opportunity and accolade by no less than my Marine Corps,” he added.

PCSO has a yearly calamity fund of P100 million approved by the Department of Budget

and Management (DBM) for natural and man-made disasters.

Early this year, Balutan gave P5 million to Palawan for the victims of the recent typhoon “Vinta” that killed dozens of residents in the southern towns of province.

Just recently, PCSO gave P35 million for tens of thousands of evacuees caused by the Mayon eruption in Albay.

Last year, the agency also donated P6 million to Biliran Province for the victims of typhoon Urduja; P2.5 million to Davao City; P1 million to Davao del Norte; P500,000 to Tagum City; P200,000 to Davao Occidental; P600,000 to Davao Oriental; and P600,000 to Compostela Valley for typhoon Vinta victims, and P5 million to Marawi City victims.

dergo orientation before they are allowed to climb.

There are also stations manned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to monitor trekkers staying in two campsites of the Sta. Cruz trail, he said.

The Mt. Apo Natural Park-Protected Area Management Board (MANP-PANB) passed a resolution on March 23, 2017, lifting the supposed “inde�inite clo-

sure” effective April 12, 2017.

The resolution noted that Datu Rogelio Manapol moved to reopen Mt. Apo, seconded by Datu Samuel Asicam, citing “socio-economic” reasons.

PAMB Resolution No. 201702, a “resolution approving the re-opening of Mt. Apo Natural Park trails to trekking/ climbing activity in April 2017 subject to the strict implementation of the uni�ied trekking policy of 2015,

MT. APO... FROM 5

NEWS11

weeds. Basket composts are a series of raised garden beds into which bamboo baskets are set about one foot in diameter and depth. Photo

by Henrylito D. Tacio camp management policy and master plan of 2016,” prohibited camping at the peak area and limited to 50 the number of climbers per entry point per day.

New rates for Mt. Apo were also implemented; P2,000 standard fee for all entry points and P2,500 during peak season; exit fee of P1,000 during regular season and P1,500 during peak season; and additional guide fee of P1,000 a day for a group of �ive climbers; and a separate fee of P500 to a porter per 15-kg baggage.

Paner said each professional guide earns P1,000 per day for a group of �ive; each porter earns P500 a day; and, of the P1,000 permit fee, 30% goes to the municipality, another 30 percent to the host barangay, 15% to Indigenous Peoples, and 25% to the Integrated Protected Fund of the DENR for the rehabilitation.

The 21-day �ire in 2016 destroyed 115 hectares – of which 20 were forested with century-old trees – and endangered the adjacent Mt. Talomo.

Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, was declared a heritage park through the November 29, 1984 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Declaration on Heritage parks and Reserves.

Mt. Apo is among eight landmarks declared as heritage

parks in the Philippines and one of 38 in the 10-country ASEAN comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The others are Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park in Occidental Mindoro, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in Bukidon Province, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park in Misamis Occidental, Mt. Makiling Nature Reserve in Laguna, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Mt. Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument in Camiguin, and the latest Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental.

According to the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, the secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme, Mt. Apo is the Philippine’s highest mountain at 3,143.6 meters and is known as the last stronghold of the remaining population of the rare and endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

The Mount Apo Natural Park measures 54,974 hectares (with a buffer zone of 9,078 hectares), covering the province of North Cotabato (Kidapawan City and Municipalities of Makilala and Magpet) in Region 12; municipalities of Bansalan and Sta Cruz and Digos City, in Davao del Sur; and Davao City in Region 11. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

12 SCIENCE

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

The lethal side of mercury

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

agum City has gone a long, long way. From being a shadow of Davao City, Tagum has emerged to be one of the most progressive cities in Davao Region – in terms of economic stability and prosperity.

But there was a time when people tried to avoid coming to what is now known as the gold city of the south. Then a first-class municipality, Tagum captured the attention of the world – this was when death caused by mercury poisoning was the talk of the town.

This was in 1980s. Mark Fineman, then a staff writer of the Los Angeles Times, made a thorough special report starting with the death of Aquim, the son of Antonio Torino from acute mercury poisoning. “The first in what health authorities say could be a toll of hundreds, or even thousands, in the next few years unless the government takes drastic action now,” he penned.

In his report, dated May 31, 1987, Fineman wrote: “The seeds of Tagum’s environmental disaster were sown more than three years ago, when this remote town near the southern coast of the southernmost large island of Mindanao became the hub of Asia’s biggest gold rush.

“Prospectors had discovered a gold vein in Tagum’s province of Davao del Norte rivaling that of the richest regions of South Africa, a mother lode so rich that tens of thousands of peasants-turned-prospectors flocked here from throughout

the nation. In the last 16 months alone, those once impoverished farmers have cashed in more than $281 million worth of gold. Tagum was transformed from a rural basket case into a Mecca of opportunity.

But Tagum had a price to pay for the economic boom. “The gold rush spawned hundreds of unli-

censed, small-time refineries, most of them in the heart of the town. All of them use liquid mercury as part of a crude method for drawing the gold from the ore,” Fineman wrote.

“The ore is first mixed with water in a giant tumbling machine, called a ball mill. The tumbling action pulverizes the ore. The refiner then places some of the ore-and-water mixture in a shallow wooden pan and adds the liquid mercury. As the refiner kneads and massages the mixture, the mercury and gold form into a malleable lump.

“To separate the gold from the mercury, the amalgam is burned with crude blowtorches, vaporizing most of the mercury into the air. The liquid waste in the pan, which includes leftover mercury, is dumped into the canals leading to the rivers that provide the island’s drinking water and food for the fish that the island’s residents eat.”

Mercury poisoning is almost always associated with Minamata disease. It is named after a port city in southeastern Kyushu in Japan. It was first reported in 1953 when 13 persons were suffering from what was then a strange malady.

A historical narrative for Michiko Ishimure, who won the 1973 Ramon Magsaysay Award for publicizing writings about the Minamata disease, shared this information: “(The strange malady) usually manifested itself first in numbness and a ‘drunken’ loss of coordination, which progressively led to a total loss of the ability to walk, speak, write, see, hear,

smell and feel. In its later stages, it resulted in severe deformation of the body, convulsions, fantastic behavior and death.”

By 1956, some 52 persons

were known sufferers and by 1958, the Minamata City Hospital had to add a wing to accommodate the patients. It was not until in July 1959 that Japanese medical experts identified mercury as the cause of what became officially known as Minamata Disease.

In 1965, Minamata disease was again reported in Niigata, on the East Coast of Honshu. Again, scientists made public their definite conclusion: the disease was from mercury emptied into the river.

“Are we seeing the nightmare of Japan’s Minamata tragedy slowly uncoiling here?” asked veteran journalist Juan Mercado after reading the report presented during the First Scientific Conference on the vital Agusan Marsh that heavy metals pollute major water ways.

“Mercury pollution is a threat to the Agusan marsh,” Mindanao State University’s Elnor Roa was quoted as saying. Mercury tainted water from gold mines in Diwalwal drain into the Agusan River 24 kilometers downstream. “Toxic mercury is seeping into the food chain: thru irrigation channels and from rivers that empty into fishing grounds,” Mercado deplored.

The MSU survey detected mercury in sediments “from seven stations that stretched from the mouth of Agusan River to approximately 10 kilometers away.” It added: “Mercury turned up in fish and aquatic plants collected from (the) river…”

Meanwhile, a new study published in the journal, Science Advances, showed that rising temperatures – caused by global warming – could boost mercury levels in fish by up to seven times the current rates. “(The researchers) have discovered a new in which warming increases levels of the toxin in sea creatures,” wrote Matt McGrath, environment correspondent for BBC News. “In experiments, they found that extra rainfall up the amount of organic material flowing into the seas. This alters the food chain, adding another layer of complex organisms which boost the concentration of mercury up the line.”

McGrath further wrote: “In a large laboratory, Swedish researchers recreated the conditions found in the Bothnian sea sanctuary. They discovered that as

temperatures increase, there is an increased run-off of organic matter into the world’s oceans and lakes. This encourages the growth of bacteria at the expense of phytoplankton.”

Dr. Erik Bjorn from the Umea University in Sweden was quoted as saying: “When bacteria become abundant in the water, there is also a growth of a new type of predators that feed on bacteria. You basically become get one extra step in the food chain and methylmercury is enriched by about a factor of ten in each such step in the food web.”

Mercury, a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust, is one of the world’s most toxic metals. It is released into the atmosphere with natural events such as volcanic activity. The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) considered mercuryas“oneofthetoptenthreats to public health.”

Actually, there are two types of mercury: inorganic and organic.

Metallic mercury, which is a type of inorganic mercury, is used in familiar items such as fluorescent lights, batteries, and thermometers. The methyl mercury is a type of organic mercury. It is a white powdery substance and smells like the sulfur in a hot spring. It is easily absorbed from the stomach into the blood and carried to the liver and kidney, and then the brain and even the fetus, where it is absorbed and concentrated and causes great damage to the human body.

“Human activities like coal burning, gold mining and chloralkali manufacturing plants currently contribute the vast majority of the mercury released into our environment,” explained Dr. Anne M. Davis, an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics director at the Didactic Program in Dietetics of the University of New Haven.

In an article which Live Science published, author Alina Bradford wrote: “When mercury is released into the atmosphere, it dissolves in fresh water and seawater. A type of mercury called methylmercury is most easily accumulated in the body and is particularly dangerous.”

A paper published by the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health said that about 80%-90% of organic mercury in a human body comes from eating fish and shellfish,

and 75%-90% of organic mercury existing in fish and shellfish is methylmercury.

The US National Institutes of Health said that mercury poisoning is a slow process that can take months of years. Since the process is so slow, most people don’t realize they are being poisoned right away.

“The populations most vulnerable to mercury are pregnant women (because it affects fetuses) and small children,” wrote Linda Greer, Michael Bender, Peter Maxson, and David Lennett, authors of Curtailing Mercury’s Global Reach, one of the reports included in the “State of The World” published by Worldwatch Institute.

“A child’s brain develops throughout the first several years of life, and mercury interferes with development of the neuron connections in the brain crucial to a healthy nervoussystem. Highlevelsofprenatal and infant mercury exposure can cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy, deafness, or blindness,” the four authors noted.

Even in much lower doses, mercury exposure is still dangerous. “(It) may affect a child’s development, leading to such results as poor performance on neurobehavioral tests, particularly those relying on attention, fine motor function, language, visual spatial abilities (such as drawing), and verbal memory,” the four authors pointed out.

In adults, chronic mercury poisoning can cause memory loss, tremors, vision loss, and numbness of the fingers and toes and can adversely affect fertility and blood pressure regulation. There’s also a growing body of evidence that suggests that exposure to mercury may also contribute to heart disease in adults.

Humans have had a long history with mercury, and it is well known, for instance, that mercury was used in the gold plating of the Great Buddha in Nara, and in the Edo period in medicine and facial powder. Furthermore, Japanese place names such as Niu indicate areas where mercury was produced and used long ago.

Mercury has long been known to be toxic; the phrase “mad as a hatter” refers to the 19th-century occupational disease that resulted from prolonged contact with the mercury used in the manufacture of felt hats.

Some workers today, especially

laboratory technicians, nurses, and machine operators, continue to be exposed to mercury on the job.

In the United States, most mercury pesticides have been withdrawn from the market, and many countries banned ocean dumping of mercury and other pollutants in 1972. In 1991, production of mercury-containing interior and exterior paints in the US was phased out.

But despite the banning of dumping of mercury in the oceans, levels of mercury in the global environment have risen sharply over the past two centuries due to man-made releases from industrial processes, products,mining,wastedisposal,and coal combustion.

Although it travels through the atmosphere, it settles in oceans and waterways, where naturally occurring bacteria absorb it and convert it to methylmercury. Here’s what happened, according to Bradford: “Once in the water, mercury makes its way into the food chain.

Inorganic mercury and methylmercury are first consumed by phytoplankton, single-celled algae at the base of most aquatic food chains.

Next, the phytoplankton are consumed by small animals such as zooplankton. The methylmercury is assimilated and retained by the animals as waste products. Small fish that eat the zooplankton are exposed to food-borne mercury that is predominantly in the methylated form.

These fish are consumed by larger fish, and so on until it gets to humans.”

Predatory fish such as large tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, pike, walleye, barracuda, and marlin contain the highest methylmercury concentrations.

“As a result, this contaminant now endangers people on every continent, exceeding established safe levels in various fish and marine mammals and threatening the viability of wildlife populations as well,” the Worldwatch authors wrote.

Meanwhile, a 2006 study by the regional office of the Department of Health reported: “Fish samples from Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and Davao City markets… had mercury content higher than the allowable limit of 0.3 microgram per gram.”

Unfortunately, the DOH study didn’t pinpoint where those fishes were caught.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

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tions” between the two countries, “the Philippines can be the door for Mexico” to the ASEAN. “We are trying to diversify our relations and we consider Asian countries as our very important option,” said Lozano during the meeting.

Based on World Bank data, Mexico is now one of Latin America’s top exporters of high-technology goods with $46.81 billion worth of high-technology exports in 2016.

Dominguez pointed out that while other countries in Asia face the problem of aging populations, majority of Philippines’ labor force consists of young people.

“We will be happy to certainly host you here,” Dominguez told Lozano. “As you know, the tariff rates among ASEAN countries is now quite low, In fact zero in most cases and this is an opportunity for your companies to come and set up manufacturing here.”

Lozano said a series of consultations tentatively scheduled in March in Mexico between Philippine and Mexican officials woud be a good opportunity to expand political and economic ties between the two countries.

“We are planning to invite some Philippine businessmen to join the delegation to come in order to meet Mexican businessmen and discuss opportunities for new businesses,” Lozano said.

During the meeting, Dominguez also thanked the Mexican government for hosting the tax reform team sent by the Philippines’ Department of Finance to Mexico last year to study the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

“They brought back a lot of ideas (from Mexico). As a result of the tax team’s consultation, we were able to pass a sugary tax law last month,” Dominguez told Lozano.

The tax on SSBs is among the provisions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), which was signed into law by President Duterte last Dec. 19 and that took effect last Jan. 1.

During the meeting, Dominguez also briefly informed Lozano about the other provisions of TRAIN such as the reduction of the personal income tax rates, and the corresponding upward adjustments on consumption taxes, as well as the succeeding tax reform packages of the Duterte administration which covers corporate taxation and the modernization of fiscal incentives; the taxes on tobacco, alcohol, mining, coal, and casinos; property taxation; and passive income and financial taxes.

He likewise apprised Lozano of the rollout of infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build Build Build” program. (DOF)

(small and medium enterprises),” said De la Cruz.

Citing an ASEAN Secretariat data, she said SMEs comprise 90 percent of companies in the region and contribute to as much as 60 percent of the region’s gross domestic product, making them the driving force of economic growth in the ASEAN. “One of the main advantages of having an integrated region is having a seamless trade. Once the means to move from one country to

another has been provided, there would be a freer �low of goods, services, and workers within and across the region, bolstering the perception that the region is an attractive market,” she added.

The PIDS report noted that an interconnected ASEAN is also envisioned to promote knowledge sharing and cultural exchange through improved physical infrastructure, streamlined regulatory processes and harmonized procedures and standards.

These are expected to create signi�icant positive impacts on the region’s SMEs, as well as tourism and human resources, among others, it said.

“Promoting ASEAN connectivity will also boost tourism by capitalizing on the diverse history and culture of the region. Easing visa requirements across ASEAN would encourage greater mobility of people,” De la Cruz added. (PNA)

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14 NEWS

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

SIARGAO... FROM 6

identi�ied. The island has a total of 500 establishments “I have high hopes for Siargao because it has a bigger land area compared with Boracay,” she said.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said Duterte will issue a directive requiring all resort owners nationwide to put in place proper water treatment facilities to prevent polluting the coastal area just like what happened to Boracay Island.

Siargao has been identi�ied as a tourism destination, including Cebu, Bohol, and Coron in Palawan, and requiring them to establish their own water treatment facili-

ties would prevent the wastes from getting into the sea, she said.

“The massive clean-up of Boracay is a bitter pill that we have to swallow if we were to collectively save and sustain Boracay,” she said.

De Casto said the DOT will put up a tourism of�ice on Siargao to monitor its development.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced last February that it will launch Davao-Siargao �lights four times a week starting March 25. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

This will not only improve quality of the abaca produce here but also in the rest of abaca-producing regions, according to Holoyohoy.

Deloso bared that PhilFIDA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) agreed to supplement existing post-harvest facilities in Davao Oriental wherein DTI implements the Shared Service Facility (SSF) for abaca farmers.

Deloso said farmers and small entrepreneurs’ competitiveness is being improved by providing them with machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills, and knowledge under a shared system under the program.

All the initiatives will pave the way for agencies to move in one direction with the provincial government to address all the problems because abaca is an important commodity in Davao

Oriental where several farmers depend on it.

There are other projects under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program such as the abaca seed production, abaca expansion and rehabilitation, and livelihood training support.

Deloso stressed that the abaca industry of the province is being eyed to get more developments amid the wide demand and supply gap of abaca in the local and global markets.

Davao Oriental ranks second to Catanduanes in terms of volume of production, contributing 10.11 percent to the country’s total national �iber production of 58,393 metric tons, Deloso said.

In Davao region, Davao Oriental remains the leading producer of abaca. (PNA)

because they are well taught.

Focus, he said, will help them achieve their set objectives in every game. He said athletes will not attain their goals if their attention will be divided.

Lastly, he stressed resilience as this will help them rebound from defeat.

Pacquiao said in every defeat, athletes should learn to accept defeat, rise and �ight again. Losses, he said, is part of the

Pacquiao also emphasized the importance of preparation in order for athletes to be ready to face their battle.

Around 7,000 athletes gathered in city to compete on the 21 sporting events to earn a spoty for the Palarong Pambansa.

The week-long sports conclave will select the region’s representatoves in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Staples Center court, where a real basketball game broke out. ‘’I think the format was great,’’ said James, who added 10 rebounds and eight assists in front of LA fans salivating at the still-remote possibility of the Lakers landing the superstar as a free agent this summer. ‘’The great thing about our commissioner (Adam Silver), he’s absolutely OK with trying something new, to change the format, and it de�initely worked out for everybody,’’ James added.

‘’It worked out not only for the players, not only for the league, but for our fans, for everybody.

It was a great weekend, and we capped it off the right way.’’

Both teams played real defense for long stretches and contested many shots, with LeBron’s group even picking up fullcourt late in the �irst half.

And after an entertaining dunk contest won by Donovan Mitchell and a record-setting effort by Devin Booker in the 3-Point Shootout, the All-Star

DAVOR... FROM 6

PACQUIAO...

FROM 15 will be prepared well game.

TEAM... FROM 15

NOW ITS DOWN. A pump attendant refills a motorcycle with fuel at a gasoline station along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City on Monday. Petroleum companies implemented a price roll back on their products on Monday morning. Lean Daval Jr weekend ended with a recent novelty for the main event: a thrilling �inish. ‘’The game was so good,’’ said a grinning Durant, who scored 19 points in his ninth AllStar Game. ‘’It was so competitive. It was the best one I’ve been a part of.’’

Team LeBron rallied from an 11-point de�icit with six minutes to play, �inishing the game on a 25-11 run. James tied it at 144-144 on a step-back 3-pointer with 1:31 to play.

LA native DeMar DeRozan hit one free throw to put Team Steph back ahead, but LeBron claimed the lead with his layup after some sharp passing by his teammates. DeRozan then made a turnover on an attempted pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Russell Westbrook broke out for a layup with 10.7 seconds left.

Team Steph had one last chance, but even the usually unguardable Curry couldn’t elude James and Durant, who forced him to give up the ball to DeRozan, who couldn’t score over Durant’s arm in his face. ‘’That was great defense by myself,’’ said a grinning Durant, who scored 19 points in his ninth All-Star Game. ‘’I’m patting myself on the back.’’

Curry �inished with 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting.

‘’Two tall giants out there not letting me shoot,’’ Curry said with a laugh when describing the last play. ‘’Tried to make a play, and it just didn’t work out.’’

The All-Stars’ shooting percentages and �inal scores were way down from recent seasons, re�lecting the effort on the �loor.

The relaxed All-Star vibe was still at Staples, however: Curry chowed down on a box of popcorn on the bench during the third quarter, and the stars made time and room for plenty of good-looking dunks and alley-oops. ‘’They put on a show, but they gave the crowd something to root for rather than just wilding with dunks and lobs,’’ said Paul George, who scored 16 points for Team LeBron.

Each member of the winning team made a cool $100,000, a distinct raise from previous seasons in another attempt to make things more interesting. ‘’It was better,’’ said Team Steph’s Klay Thompson, who scored all 15 of his points on 3-pointers in his fourth All-Star Game. ‘’At the end, it was 100 percent. Throughout the game, it was probably 70, but guys were competitive and they really wanted to win that game.’’

PDEA aims to free up to 8K barangays yearly from illegal drugs

M

ANILA -- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino targets to free 7,0008,000 barangays per year from illegal drugs, as President Rodrigo Duterte has four years left to fulfill his campaign promise.

“We have a timeline of four years more before the President steps down and we need to clear 7,000-8,000 barangays per year,” Aquino said during a forum on the administration’s “Rehabinasyon” program on the first day of the three-day National Information Convention (NIC) in Davao City on Monday.

Combining the Filipino words for rehabilitation and nation, “Rehabinasyon” aims to take a holistic approach to eliminating the coun-

try’s drug problem by putting a premium on the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers, saving the youth from the evils of drugs, and envisioning a drug-free nation with a better future.

The PDEA chief said more than 24,000 barangays have yet to be cleared of illegal drugs. As of Feb. 8, 2018, the Duterte administration has cleared 5,327 barangays of prohibited substances.

Aquino also reported the agency has conducted 85,068 anti-drug operations and arrested 121,087 drug personalities in anti-drug operations.

He pointed out PDEA has seized P19.61-billion worth of evidence from 9 drug laboratories and 179 drug dens. (PNA)

PAL sustains 4-Star rating with major projects

A

fter receiving the 4-Star Certi�ication from Skytrax, Philippine Airlines (PAL) will undertake major initiatives within 2018 to follow through on this historic milestone and sustain the 4-Star rating.

First in the line-up is the introduction of a new line of aircraft tailored for mid-size markets on medium-range routes.

The new Airbus A321neo is slated for delivery starting March, to be deployed on the new Manila-Brisbane nonstop route by May. With the A321neo, PAL becomes the �irst Asian airline to utilize a narrow-bodied aircraft equipped with 12 full-�lat Business Class seats.

All 168 seats (Business Class and Economy) on the A321neo have in-seat video monitors – another �irst for PAL’s single-aisle aircraft �leet – loaded with more than 300 hours of in�light entertainment. Economy seats are more spacious with wider legroom.

The eco-friendly and powerful A321neo engines generate less noise and can �ly up to a maximum of eight hours. The whole cabin also offers free WiFi connectivity.

A total of six A321neo and four Airbus A350-900s will be delivered within 2018. The A350-900s – equipped with exciting cabin features in PAL’s most luxurious Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins to date - will start arriving in June, allowing PAL to deploy non-stop �lights to the US East Coast through the polar region, along with more routes to European cities.

First up is nonstop service from Manila to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport by October, with services to Seattle, Chicago and a point in Western Europe in the pipeline afterwards.

PAL will continue to beef up

its �light networks originating from Clark, Cebu and Davao, as part of its “multi-hub” network strategy. A new Davao-Siargao route will open in March 2018, even as PAL hikes Cebu-Bangkok services from thrice weekly to daily for the upcoming April to October summer schedule period.

In line with its evolving global airline status providing vital international links, PAL will continue to offer the only direct airline services between the Philippines and Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the U.S. East and West Coasts, Hawaii, Brisbane and Melbourne, as well as the only �lights between Bohol and Korea, and between Cebu and the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Nagoya.

The A321neos will be utilized on the non-stop �lights to Brisbane as well as from Manila to Sapporo, New Delhi and Mumbai.

Another major initiative is the ongoing construction of a 900-square-meter, two-story Mabuhay Lounge to rise adjacent to the North Wing of PAL’s Terminal 2 hub at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The new lounge will have luxurious facilities: a wide dining area, private showers, massage area, meeting rooms, bar lounge, children’s play area, speedy Wi-Fi connection and the signature PAL buffet area constantly stocked with mouth-watering dishes.

The lounge – ideal for departing passengers as well as those with connecting PAL �lights – will accommodate Business Class passengers as well as Premier Elite and Million Milers members of PAL’s Mabuhay Miles frequent �lyer program.

The existing T2 International Mabuhay Lounge will be maintained for other premium passengers.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

SPORTS 15

Lebron edges Pacquiao coaxes athletes Team Team Steph 148-145 to be world-class L OS ANGELES (AP) -LeBron James and Kevin Durant swarmed all over Stephen Curry in the �inal seconds, preventing the NBA’s best shooter from �inding even a patch of open air to launch a tying 3-pointer.

Defense? In an All-Star Game?

That was just one of the many exciting surprises created by a big change to the league’s midseason showcase.

After James and Curry got to draft their own teams, this exhibition really seemed to matter to basketball’s best.

And LeBron picked a winner.

DAVRAA OPENING. Sen. Manny Pacquiao delivers his inspirational message during the opening of the 2018 Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet on Sunday at the UM Sports Complex. Lean Daval Jr

James scored 29 points and hit the go-ahead layup with 34.5 seconds to play, winning his third All-Star Game MVP award while his team rallied to win an uncommonly entertaining edition of the event, beating Team Stephen 148-145 Sunday night.

For the �irst time in 67 AllStar games, the league abandoned the traditional EastWest format used since 1951, instead allowing the two captains to pick their sides. That twist turned a sometimes staid event into the world’s richest pickup game, and the intrigue was re�lected on the

TEAM,P14

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

W

orld boxing legend Sen. Manny Pacquiao urged some 7,000 athletes taking part in the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) in Davao City to strive to reach world class status.

In his keynote speech during the opening ceremony on Sunday at the University of Mindanao Sports Complex in Matina, the Fiipino boxing legend and lawmaker said he believes the next world boxing champion or gold medalists for the 2020 Olymics will be coming from the region.

M

PBL stands for Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

While just an infant as it begins a journey into the sports maze, it is already making a dent among local sports fans, particularly local basketball fanatics.

It is an idea hatched by the good senator from Sarangani, Manny Pacquiao, whose love for sports transcends his boxing heroism.

While it may be a take-off from the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association which, for a time, rivalled the PBA in the early 90s, the MPBL today took off with fresh gears that could institutionalize it in due time.

Former PBA legend Kenneth Duremdes is the league’s �irst commissioner and judging by the attendance in home and away games, there is no reason to worry that the MPBL will go the way of the MBA.

“When you focus on your dream don’t let the negatives (overwhelm you) and you should always be positive,” he said.

The eight-division world champion from Gen Santos City also stressed the values of discipline, focus and resilience in

acheiving their goals.

He cited discipline as being one of the most important traits that an athlete should have as one cannot be sucessful in training without this.

He said if discipline is always present, their body, mind and even emotion

SLAM. Team LeBron’s LeBron James, top, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, dunks over Team Stephen’s Kyle Lowry, of the Toronto Raptors, defends during the first half of an NBA All-Star basketball game on Monday in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

PACQUIAO,P14

MPBL is making waves

The participating LGUs have become cognizant that sports play a vital role in bringing up a law-abiding and healthy citizenry. Hordes of local fans troop to the venue where the action is held who cheer for their home team (and conversely jeer the visiting opposition).

During the 90s there were but few decent multi-purpose gyms and basketball arenas where competitions can generally serve the watching public.

To day, there are just about one in every city or capital town that is capable of hosting out-of-town PBA games, including semi�inal or championship matches.

This is a plus factor for the MPBL. Besides, the new generation of millennials are active members of the youth sector whose inexhaustible energy they channel to sports endeavors.

Meaning, the number of sports fans have increased be-

SPORTS KEN Fred C. Lumba cause we now have a population of young people oozing with energy and outgoing vitality.

You can call it luck but the MPBL, with Pacquiao as its guiding spirit may yet prove to be the chief rival of the PBA in the long term.

For one, there are many LGUs who are on a wait and see attitude. When they realize that the

MPBL is not a ningas kugon activity, more of them will apply and participate.

Second, promoting the LGU through the traditional media practices is very expensive. With the MPBL, the LGU and its local chief executive are mentioned every now and then, so the advertising and promotion are already free of charge.

Third, basketball players in the local level who aspire to join the pro ranks can make the MPBL a training ground where they can display their heretofre undiscovered talents.

Fourth, local economic activity is spurred as the MPBL creates a fanatical frenzy when local folks watch their local heroes play against the visiting teams.

Fifth, the timeliness of the MPBL kick-off calendar �ills the void that the PBA cannot satiate.

In other words, watching the PBA can become boring because you see the same old faces and the

same old format, year in, year out.

With many Fil-Am talents replacing local hoopsters, the MPBL appears to be a nationalistic endeavor as those sidelined can enlist with and �ind work among the participating LGUs. The MPBL, if I may, could approximate the growth of the NBA when the latter was struggling. In the early 60s, the NBA merged with the rival ABA and that was when it grew by leaps and bounds.

If the MPBL can withstand the test of time (weather and all), it will eventually become a rich spawning ground of future national athletes who will banner the country’s �lag in the Asian Games, FIBA and the Olympics.

Cheers to the MPBL! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) Isaiah 40:8. “The grass withers and the �lowers fall but he Word of our God stands forever.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 229 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

RECYCLED THRICE

Findings show recycled leftover food caused poisoning

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

T

oday’s leftovers are tomorrow’s makeovers.

That seemed to be the kitchen formula that turned out to be catastrophic for 38 members of the Mati City delegation to the 2018 Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet.

Based on the initial report of the City Health Of�ice, the kitchen staff of the Mati City contingent reportedly served leftover food from the previous night for breakfast to the athletes.

The leftovers for breakfast were likewise reportedly served for

PERSONAL ATTENTION. Mati City vice mayor Glenda Rabat-Gayta personaly attends to the athletes from Mati City af-

lunch and then the same cycle for dinner.

The report also said they may have allowed the athletes to drink from water sources not cleared for human consumption.

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, in a statement, recommended to the Department of Education and the Local Government Unit of Mati to investigate the teachers and the persons in charge of the group.

“This reckless action resulted in the injury of 38 individuals, many of

ter the food poisoning incident downed 38 members of its contingent.

whom were children entrusted by their parents to those who purported to take care of them,” Mayor Duterte-Carpio said in the statement. “This obvious cost cutting on the budget for the meals is tantamount to corruption and should be dealt with severely. Limited resources should not be an excuse for reckless behavior which endangers the lives of people, especially children.”

Timely response by the Davao City Government responded to an emergency on Saturday where 38 members of the Mati City contingent in the DAVRAA 2018 were admitted to the Southern Philippines Medical Center because of stomach pains and loose bowel movement.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio assured all contingents that the Davao City Government as host of the DAVRAA is ready to assist anytime.

“Let us know immediately how we can help them to make their stay comfortable,” she added.

Meantime, the Mati

City LGU c o m mended the hosts and its Rescue 911 team for the quick response to the call for assistance.

in collaboration with Davao City Health Of�ice to ensure loss of �luids and electrolytes is replenished t o

CHECKING UP. Dr. Ritchelle S. Aresco, Chairperson of the DAVRAA 2018 Medical Team, examines the athletes who were previously sent to Southern

“Our City of Mati DepEd Division medical team handled the situation well and managed to avert crisis situation. Putting the health and wellbeing of our delegates is a top priority hence decision to con�ine the victims for observation was made

ascertain the cause and culpability of those responsible for the said inci-

Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) due to food poisoning. Aresco has cleared some athletes to be fit to play.

prevent dehydration,” an LGU statement posted on the Facebook page of Mayor Carlo Rabat read.

“We are awaiting the of�icial report from the Davao City Health Of�ice to serve as our reference in the conduct of our own fact-�inding inquiry to

dent and ensure this does not happen again under our watch in any future undertakings involving food preparation,” the statement read.

Some of the athletes have been cleared to play in their respective events.