Edge Davao 5 Issue 126

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VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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Cop chief dela Rosa reports

Anti-drug drive reduces crimes

By Anthony S. Allada

D

AVAO CITY Police Office director Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa said the intensified drug campaign of the DCPO has resulted in the reduction of crimes in

Motoring

Sports

Page 7

256 drug offenders arrested since January DCPO director for random drug testing of employees

the city.

Citing a report, Dela Rosa

said that in January this year police stepped up anti-drug

operations with 256 persons arrested for violation of Republic Act (R.A.) of 9165, a.k.a. the Comprehensive Drugs Act of

FANTI, 14

Page 15

HEROES DAY. Davao City officials offer a wreath at the Osmena Park to commemorate Philippine National Heroes Day yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

DOT secretary says

Tourism to create jobs, enterprises Follow Us On

T

OURISM will create plenty of jobs and a lot of business activities in Davao just like in other parts of the country.

This was bared by Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. of the Department of Tourism during his recent visit to Davao City.

Creating jobs and business en-

terprises was the first marching order received by Secretary Jimenez from President Aquino when the former assumed the DOT leadership one year ago on September 1st.

“Tourism is not just about counting people coming out of an airplane,” Jimenez said, adding that “tourism is a success when it cre-

ates jobs and businesses, no matter how many million people arrive, if all they do is pick up durian and leave Davao.”

4.6-M arrivals doable The DOT chief said the country’s target number of tourist arrivals this year is 4.6 million compared to 3.5 million last year.

“The very good news this year is that in June, we were already at 2.14 million arrivals,” he said. “So, if we are still in the middle of the year, and consider that the September, October, November and December peaks count for more than 55 percent of all arrivals, you can

FTOURISM, 14

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THE BIG NEWS

SERVICE WITH NO BORDERS. Dr. Antonio Solar Jr., Dr. Roxanne Bongcawil and Dr. Agnes Cullantes talk to three anxious mothers with their children during the medical mission of 2nd District Rep. Mylene Garcia in the far-flung

Australian lawmakers visit PHL to strengthen bilateral relations

A

delegation of Australian senators and members of parliament is in the country to deepen Australia’s bilateral relations with the Philippines.

The delegation’s visit follows the recent trips made by high-level officials to the Philippines such as Australia’s Governor-General Quentin Bryce, and former Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.

While in Manila, the Australian lawmakers will hold a series of meetings with Philippine congressional counterparts and local officials.

The delegation’s leader, Senator Claire Moore from Queensland, said their visit to Manila came at a time “when the longstanding and warm relationship between the Philippines and Australia is in such a good state.”

“We are here to meet our political counterparts and other interlocutors to discuss the ways in which our partnership is advancing the interests of Australians and Filipinos,” Moore said in a statement.

Australia’s broad relationship with the Philippines, Moore said, encompassed a number of areas, including development cooperation, defense, police and security cooperation, trade and

investment links as well as cultural and science exchanges.

Australia is the Philippines’ lead bilateral grant donor in basic education, with an annual contribution of over P1.2 billion. It is also one of the country’s largest bilateral grant aid donors, along with Japan, European Union and United States, with about AUS$ 128.7 million, or about P5.5 billion aid program for 2012-2013.

Referring to the torrential monsoon rains which devastated the Philippines this month, Moore said: “We are saddened by the floodings and the resultant loss of life and property. But we also believe in the resiliency of the Filipino people, which is why our cooperation activities also target disaster risk reduction in conjunction with Filipino authorities.”

Moore also expressed sympathies to the family of late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who was killed in a plane crash last weekend.

“We are also deeply moved by the loss in the past week of one of the Philippine Government’s most effective champions of good governance, Jesse Robredo,” she said.

Despite Robredo’s demise, Moore said she has

faith in the country’s ability to bounce back and to continue pursuing cooperation programs on political reform that would serve to continue the late Secretary’s legacy.

In the Philippines, Australia works closely with the government and other partners to address critical gaps in social services for the poorest Filipinos, particularly education, and to reduce their vulnerability to natural disasters and conflict.

Other members of the delegation include Dr. Sharman Stone (Member of Parliament, Murray, Victoria), John Forrest (MP, Mallee, Victoria), Alan Eggleston (Senator for West Australia) and Bridie Dawson (official secretary to the delegation).

Before concluding their visit on Tuesday, the delegation will meet government officials, private sector representatives and non-government organizations to discuss the Philippines’ experiences in health and education policy, disaster preparedness and response, foreign policy and political reform, including women’s representation in the political sector.

After the Philippines, the lawmakers will be visiting Laos and Myanmar.

[PNA]

Lady heads TV5 Davao

A

LADY executive experienced in running enterprises and managing mediarelated companies now heads TV-5 Davao, the regional branch of the Associated Broadcasting Company, owned and managed by Manuel V. Pangilinan.

She is Thelma ReyesMiclat, more popularly known as “Tayna.”

Tayna was named TV5 –Davao station manager last month.

She was formerly general manager of Chevrolet Davao (AB&T Resources, Inc.), customer retention manager and Mindanao area human resource manager of Davao Cableworld Network-Skycable, executive director of Ra-

Tayna Miclat

dio Research Council, Inc., marketing manager of Media Pulse, Inc. and accounts manager of USAHA Express International.

Tayna also owns ReyMic Enterprise, a food processing firm.

Aside from being holder of a bachelor in communication degree from Ateneo de Davao University, she also trained in a business course under a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholarship, and took up masteral units at the University of Southeastern Philippines.

Tayna is the wife of civil society leader Augusto “Gus” N. Miclat Jr., executive director of Initiatives for International Dialogu (IID).

Ms Miclat is one of the three lady managers of radio-television stations in Davao city.

ABS - CBN and GMA stations are also managed by female executives.

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

barangay of Pañalum, Paquibato district, Davao City. At the barangay gym, 154 young and old residents wait to be assisted and treated by the medical team that also included Dr. Michelle Harun.

5 NPAs killed in Paquibato clash F

IVE alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a firefight with government troops in Sitio Mangani, Barangay Tapak in Paquibato district early Sunday morning, according to a military report.

Major Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, chief of the 10th Civil Miltiary Operations

Battalion, said the NPA rebels attacked a detachment of the combined troops of the 69th Infantry Battalion and Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu).

However, government troops were able to recover only two bodies after the hour-and a half clash Three Cafgu members were wounded in the firefight and

were treated at a military hospital Obligado claimed that “the NPAs used civilians as shields to gain entry unto the detachment.”

Paquibato District is a known operational territory of Leoncio Pitao, also a.k.a. “Kumander Parago”, head of the 1st Pulang Bagani Command.

to spend on advertising.

“While the public will pay for these services, the private sector will make profit. And, with the PPP scheme, the government is the one to ensure that the private sector would be compensated from such projects,” she told MindaNews.

Bayan said the city’s priority projects under its comprehensive development plan for 2012-2020 include surface water supply and light railway transit.

The plan is still being discussed in the city council committee on housing, rural and urban development, chaired by Councilor Arnulfo Cabling.

Bayan said these projects are the centerpiece of President Benigno Aquino III’s program under the PPP thrust.

In a position paper presented to the city council before the approval of the ordinance, the group cited the pitfalls

of the scheme as shown

by PPP projects that have been undertaken.

Bayan said 42 PPP power projects have been implemented where the groups of San Miguel Corp. and Aboitiz- and Lopez-owned companies have obtained control resulting in high costs of electricity It noted that the buildre h a b i l i t a te - o p e ra te transfer (BROT) deals with Ayala-owned Manila Water Company and Lopez-owned Maynilad Water Services, Inc. were considered the biggest water privatization projects in 1997 that resulted in massive retrenchments of employees and water rates hike.

Bayan also cited some transportation projects under the PPP setup.

These include the buildlease-transfer deal with the Metro Rail Transit Corporation, the BROT deal with South Luzon

United States Geological Survey.

No damage was reported.

Cabanlit said the quake was recorded at 11:05p.m., 390 kilometers southeast of the coastal town of Sarangani, Davao del Sur, at a depth of 92 kilometers.

It was also felt at intensity IV in Davao City, intensity III in General Santos City, and intensity II in Koronadal City, Tupi and Tolomok,

South Cotabato.

Cabanlit also said that there had been no tsunami threat in the Philippines.

In the afternoon of last July 5, an intensity 5.3 earthquake also rocked Sarangani town but no damage or casualties were reported.

Also kast June 15, another quake with a magnitude of 5.9 shook some parts of Mindanao, the epicenter of which was in Mati City.

[ASA]

[Keith BaconGco/Mindanews]

Bayan insists PPP bad for city

D

AVAO City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio was misinformed about the implications of a public-private partnership (PPP) ordinance as a prelude to privatization of basic social services such as water, energy and infrastructure, an official of a militant group said.

Sheena Duazo, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Southern Mindanao, was reacting to the mayor’s statement that Bayan’s claim about PPP was “absurd”.

In a report, DuterteCarpio said that a mere ordinance will not lead to privatization of government-owned utilities and corporations.

The city council approved the PPP ordinance during its regular session last August 24.

Duazo said the PPP code allows the private sector to invest in basic services without having

FBAYAN, 14

Indonesia quake rattles Mindanao

By Anthony S. Allada

A

magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook Mollucas, Indonesia late Sunday night with tremors felt in various parts of southern Mindanao, mainly because of the deep origin of the hypocenter.

Desiderio Cabanlit, regional chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs), immediately confirmed this report Monday afternoon quoting the source as the

THE BIG NEWS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 126 •TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Street rehab work near completion

3

By Anthony S. Allada

T

HE inconvenience brought about by the road rehabilitation and major repair works since February this year on Quezon Boulevard, and Rafael Castillo St. in Agdao, will be over soon.

This according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) newly-assumed regional director Mariano Alquiza.

Alquiza said the ongoing

rehabilitation, reconstruction and upgrading of the drainage system in those areas are about 80 percent done and are due for completion on September 24 (Quezon Boulevard), and September 30 (R. Castillo St.), or even earlier.

The two low-lying areas had been identified by the DPWH and the city government as priority projects to mitigate flood problems.

GPH-MILF talks reset

P

EACE negotiations between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will resume in Kuala Lumpur in September instead of August 27 to 30, in deference to the state funeral for Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo.

The two panels last met on August 7 to 11 and agreed to meet again this week.

The government

peace panel sought the postponement of the talks which was relayed to the MILF peace panel by Malaysian facilitator, Dato Tengku Abd’ Ghaafar bin Mohamed, evening of August 24, the MILF website, luwaran.com said.

“Without the slightest hesitation, the MILF agreed to the postponement,” the report said, adding thet MILF peace panel members who were

DISCOUNTS. A shirt shop features Dr. Jose Rizal as its logo while offering discounts on its products to coincide with the celebration of National Heroes Day at a popular local mall yesterday. [Lean daVaL JR.] supposed to fly to Manila en route to KL had cancelled their flights No new date has been set but both panels agreed to meet in early September.

Robredo was returning to Naga City from Cebu City when the Cessna Piper

Seneca plane he was on crashed off Masbate shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 18.

The MILF had earlier extended its condolences to Robredo’s family and the Aquino administration.

Luwaran.com quoted Iqbal as saying Robredo’s death “is not only a loss to the family and relatives and to the Aquino administration but also to the peace-making in Mindanao.”

“I knew Robredo personally when we happened to be invited to a forum on peace process in Penang, Malaysia earlier this year and even at first impression, he was an amiable person,” Iqbal said.

“May the family have the strength in this most difficult moment,” Iqbal said in a statement on August 22.

Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace

Process, said the support given by Robredo to the peace process “will live on.”

The two panels are expected to continue negotiations on the transition mechanism for the new political entity, powersharing, wealth-sharing and normalization.

The panels’ Technical Working Groups on wealth-sharing and power-sharing are also expected to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the next round of talks.

Government peace pane chair Marvic Leonen and the MILF’s Iqbal have expressed optimism they would be able to sign a peace agreement soon. [caRoLyn o. aRGuiLLas/Mindanews]

SMI delays target

S

ECURITY concerns at the mines development site of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. were among the major factors that forced the mining firm to delay its commercial production target, a company executive said.

“Our project has experienced a number of challenges, particularly in the past 12 months,” John Arnaldo, Sagittarius Mines external communications and media relations manager, said.

“It includes] restrictions on field activities resulting from security issues in the project area,” he admitted.

Last Wednesday, Elvie Grace Ganchero, Sagittarius Mines regional affairs manager, said the company had revised its production target to 2018.

Sagittarius Mines earlier eyed 2016 to start the commercial production of copper and gold deposits in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

The company earlier said that construction activities for the Tampakan project should have started in 2012 to meet the 2016 target.

Security threats to Sagittarius Mines include the New People’s Army and tribal members who have armed themselves to fight the mining firm’s presence.

In 2008, communist guerillas burned the base camp of the company in Barangay Tablu, Tampakan town. Since last year, armed tribesmen have killed several persons, including three workers of a construction company hired by Sagittarius Mines.

Arnaldo cited the other factors that delayed the project as the denial of its application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), and the openpit ban imposed by South Cotabato.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has rejected the ECC of Sagittarius Mines based on the open-

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4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

El Niño likely to hit country P

Greener prospects vs climate change seen as PHL sits in UNFCC GCF board T HE Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) started its first meeting after successfully filling all board seats, equally represented by members from the developing and developed countries.

The GCF governed and supervised by a 24-member board and was designated as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).

Sitting for the Developing country, Albay Governor Joey Salceda, whose province is frequently visited by typhoon, shares seat with the other regional representatives from Africa, Asian-Pacific, Latin America and the Carribean; Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States; Australia and New Zealand; Denmark and Neth-

erlands; France, Germany, Japan, Norway and Czech Republic; Poland and Hungary; Spain and Italy; Russian Federation and Switzerland; Sweden and Belgium; UK and Northern Ireland; and USA. Salceda said in a statement that the board will address several key issues that includes initiating work towards the operationalization of the fund of about 100 billion dollars and work on the selection of the host country of the Fund. The board governs and supervises the fund, taking full responsibility for funding decisions.

Salceda told this writer in an emailed message that during the first day of the meeting, he emphasized that he has trust to the system and selection process of the host country and suggested to the board to look into first the “How” and not on the

“Who” in the selection of the host of fund.

“Six countries made offers to become the host of the Fund namely: Germany, Mexico, Namibia, Poland, Republic of Korea and Switzerland,” Salceda revealed.

Salceda said that the board began by electing Zaheer Fakir of South Africa who he nominated earlier during the informal meeting of the members from the developing country, and Ewen McDonald of Australia as its co-chairs for one year.

Fakir is Head, International Relations and Governance of the Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa. McDonald is Deputy Director General of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

The GCF was established in December 2011 at Durban, South Africa,

by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC with the purpose of making a significant and ambitious contribution to the global efforts towards attaining the goals set by the international community to combat climate change.

In the context of sustainable development, the fund will promote the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (pollutions) and to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The fund will provide simplified and improved access to climate change funding to developing countries, including direct access, basing its activities on a country driven approach. [PNA]

vesting and coastal protection.

“The Ocean Health Index is a new kind of yardstick because it measures how well our oceans can continue to deliver the needs of our growing population. It recognizes people as a legitimate component of ocean health. And based on the 2012 results, it is clear that the health and socio-economic value of our oceans will continue to deteriorate if we do not innovate our strategies towards their conservation,” she said.

The Ocean Health Index is an initiative led by Conservation Interna-

tional, launched with the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Oceans’ endorsement.

“The Philippines performed very poorly in the amount of seafood harvested for human consumption and the sustainability of methods to that end, natural marine products, and sense of place or protection of indigenous species and their habitats.

We should orient our policies accordingly, and make sure that we continue improving in the areas we are doing well in,” Legarda explained.

She noted that the Philippines scored fairly high

in indicators such as access for local fishing communities, preservation of habitats that absorb carbon, coastal protection, coastal livelihoods and economies, clean waters, and marine biodiversity.

“We must focus on how we can make our oceans sustainably benefit us. We must find the much-needed balance in marine resource use while protecting our marine ecosystems. The fact that our existence depends largely on these oceans, just as its health depends on us, must be incorporated into our initiatives,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda alarmed over PHL’s low ranking in Ocean Health Index

S

ENATOR Loren Legarda yesterday expressed alarm over the results of the Ocean Health Index, which ranked the Philippines 105th out of 117 territories, making it among the most deteriorated marine ecosystems in the world.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, detailed that the Ocean Health Index focuses not only how pristine the ocean is but how it can sustainably deliver benefits for the people within its territory. It uses 50 distinct indicators such as the sustainability of methods of seafood har-

EDGEDAVAO

HILIPPINE Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical, Services, Administration (PAGASA) administrator Nathaniel T. Servando said indications are high that the El Niño phenomenon will likely develop and affect the country within the next few months.

“Atmospheric circulation in the tropical Pacific continue to be near-normal in July 2012, although a persistent warning in the tropical Pacific Ocean trending towards an El Niño condition have been observed since June,” he emphasized.

Servando added that warmer sea surface temperature strengthened in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific ocean, a typical development stage of an El Niño.

Likewise, observed warmer temperatures below the surface of the entire equatorial Pacific Ocean is a good indicator to sustain the evolving El Niño condition.

“Dynamical and statistical model forecast suggest the El Niño will likely develop in August or September,” the PAGASA administrator.

El Niño period are usually characterized by below normal rainfall condition across most areas of the country during the last quarter of the year and early months or first quarter (Jan-March) of the following year.

Climate pattern in

the country during the months of July and August was generally influenced by the moderate to strong westerlies, which reflect an active southwest monsoon activity, generating enhanced rainfall over most areas of the country.

This characterized the seasonal variability of El Niño impact, where the reverse happened during the early stages of warm episode, an enhanced rainfall in any time within the months of July, August, September instead of below normal rainfall condition.

Based on the probalistic El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)- Climate Prediction Center (CPC), slightly more than 70 percent of the ENSO forecast models predict El Niño condition developing around August- October season, continuing through the rest of 2012.

Initial impact of the likely developing El Niño during September is below normal rainfall condition in the eastern portions of Northern and Central Luzon, including Palawan, some portions of Western and Central VIsayas and Wesern Mindanao.

The rest of the country will likely experience near to above normal rainfall conditions and drier than normal rainfall are likely during October.

[PNA]

South Korea, ASEAN to launch group on forest cooperation

S

OUTH Korea, together with the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will launch an international organization on forest cooperation that will help fight deforestation and climate change, South Korea’s forest authority said Monday.

The Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFOCO) will officially be launched early next month, following a two-day forest ministers’ meeting in Seoul from next Wednesday.

“The AFOCO with 11 member countries will be further expanded into an international organization to include other Northeast and Central Asian countries,” the Korea Forest Service (KFS) said in a press release.

Through the AFOCO, Seoul will help prevent deforestation in Southeast Asian countries while also

offering its technology and fund to help make new woodland there.

South Korea will shoulder 90 percent of funds and expenses of the AFOCO, according to the KFS. Such arrangements and objectives of the AFOCO will be finalized in an agreement to be signed by South Korea’s Minister of Forest Service Lee Don-koo and his counterparts from the 10 ASEAN countries at the end of their Aug. 29-30 meeting here, it said.

“Through the AFOCO, South Korea seeks to offer its afforestation technologies, along with various personnel and technological support, to the ASEAN countries that are suffering from serious forest denudation,” Lee told reporters.

“The country will also bolster its forest diplomacy, starting with the KoreaASEAN forest ministers’ meeting.”[Pna/yonhaP]

THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 126 •TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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AFFORDABLE. A fruit vendor sells sliced and ready-to-eat fruits, an effective marketing strategy to make his products sellable, along San Pedro Street yesterday. [Lean daVaL JR.]

44th ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting to kick off in Cambodia

T

HE 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting and related meetings are ready to kick off here Monday, Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said Sunday.

“Everything is in place and the 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting and related meetings will be opened by Prime Minister Hun Sen tomorrow,” he told reporters after playing golf with some of ASEAN Economic Ministers at Angkor Golf Resort.

“The meeting will discuss topics related to

trade liberalization and economic cooperation among the 10 ASEAN member states, and the cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue countries,” he said.

Besides the 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting, there will be meetings of the 26th ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council and the 15th ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council.

In addition, there will be a consultation meeting between ASEAN Economic Ministers and Francis Gurry, director-general of the World Intellectual

Property Organization, and the ASEAN-U.S. Business Summit as well as Cambodia’s Garment and Textile Expo, according to the official schedule.

According to a report of the media sub-committee, more than 150 journalists from some 20 local media entities and 32 international ones will cover the upcoming events.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. [Pna/Xinhua]

tannery and by-products, said the Philippines presently imports nonylphenol ethoxylates from Taiwan, China and other countries.

“This is at P220 per kilo. But the substitutes are cheaper,” Torne said.

Paraffin wax, which comes from animal fat, only costs P90 per kilo in the commercial market, and price drops to around P50 per kilo by bulk. Bile is also a cheap substitute since it is only a waste material from pork production.

“These are natural substances, so we can go organic with these degreasing agents,” Torne said.

Nonylphenol ethoxylates—surfactant mixtures used as detergents, emulsifiers, wetting and defoaming agents— presently have restrictions for commercial applications in Europe.

These substances are also banned in the United States, while Italy –recognized world’s shoe capital– has already stopped using nonylphenol ethoxylates.

“There’s a problem now on the acceptance of products in the European market. Even the US has also been looking for alternative degreasing agents,” Torne said.

The country’s search for a new degreasing agent is timely.

“We are always interested in innovations that displace our imports because that generates jobs. This work of APDC is also a way for us to shift to the use of raw materials that find harmony with nature,” Eleazar said.

The DA project aims to help small leather markers.

There are only a few—five or six—large tannery in Valenzuela out of some 70 tanners.

The rest of the tanneries are small, cottage-type enterprises.

The Tanners Association of the Philippines lists 51 members. Among the familiar member-brands are Otto, Gibi, and Bristol.

“We have many small tanneries, and they are who we want to help,” said Torne.

The APDC and BAI earlier been able to develop fish skin conversion into leather. This is now used by the industry which turns fish skins into bags, sandals, and wallets specially for designs and accents in leather.

APDC plans to further conduct a phase two of the project which will determine environmental impact of the potential degreasing agents.

[PNA]

PHL to beef up leather goods export industry

A

S part of the effort to boost the country’s $ 150-million leather goods export industry, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now developing a tanning degreasing agent for animal skin to help manufacturers comply with world standards.

Dr. Nicomedes Eleazar, director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), said they are working closely with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for the development of improved tanning techniques for pig skin as leather material.

“The tanning process should replace the degreasing agent nonylphenol ethoxylate which is not easily degraded by the environment,” Eleazar said in a statement.

The project, dubbed as “Improvement of Processing Technology for Meat Skins from Selected Strains of Native Pigs,” will make use of paraffin and bile as potential replacement for nonylphenol ethoxylate.

“The replacements are natural materials that are more easily degraded in the environment,” he said.

Dr. Eduardo Torne, chief of BAI’s Animal Product Development Center (APDC)

6 MOTORING

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

KIA parades Optima, Sportage in PIMS K

IA Motors emerged among the top presenters in the recent 4th Philippine International Motor Show held at the World Trade Center.

Kia waited for this grand occasion to launch its first rear-wheel drive sedan and unveiled upgrades to its existing models.

KIA, which is exclusively distributed in the Philippines

by Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) said the all-new ‘K9′ — also known as ‘Quoris’– is one of the ‘K’ series model to be launched in the global market.

The ‘K’ stands for KIA and its home country of Korea, as well as for the Greek word ‘Kratos’ (powerful, domination) and English word ‘Kinetic’.

K9 Quoris carries the “Tiger Nose” grille design, ‘hightech, luxury car’ style LED headlamps.

“K9 Quoris is our first rear-wheel drive large sedan, created without compromise

in its design, driving performance and new technologies,” said Soon-Nam Lee, the carmaker’s overseas marketing group director, in a statement.

“It sets a whole new level of standards and values in the large sedan segment, and its design will be another KIA demonstration of our brand’s power to surprise the world.”

The Korean car firm also unveiled the new look of its Optima model, priced at P1.48 million, which now sports the ‘Tiger’ family face frame and equipped with projector headlamps.

The latest model is also longer, wider, and lower than the previous version, complete with coupe-like profile, which is enhanced by the sweeping chrome arc that flows from A to C pillar. This design motif, KIA said, visually lowers the car and enhances its cab-backwards proportions.

The KIA Optima comes in a 2.4 EX 6-speed A/T variant, which is a D-segment model that sports a 2.4L Theta II

Gas Engine with a Dual Continuous Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) technology, producing a maximum output of 180 ps at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 23.4 kg-m at 4,000 rpm.

The all-new Optima com-

pletes the line-up of KIA vehicles in all car segments.

While in the SUV segment, KIA launched the latest Sorento in the Asia Pacific region at the motor show. The new generation of the sports utility vehicle now boats new

headlamps with LED positioning lights, a new tailgate with LED read combination lamps, new front and rear bumpers with vertical-axis fog lights, larger area of body color surface and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The company said about

620,000 units of the secondgeneration Sorento were sold worldwide and attracted at least 130,000 American customers, making it the bestselling KIA model in the US. Aside from new car models, the company also introduced its 24/7 Customer Assistance on Roadside Emergency (CARE) program for its customers, which can be reached through 869-0-KIA. Services offered under the CARE program include flattire change, emergency towing, battery jump-start and fuel delivery service.

CARE also offers hotel accommodation or travel assistance when customers’ KIA vehicles become immobile.

When their vehicles break down and repair time would take more than 48 hours, KIA customers can avail of alternate means of transport.

Moreover, the CARE team can help customers arrange assistance in case of accidents while driving their KIAs, like ambulance and transportation to the nearest hospital.

These services are included in the five-year or 160,000 km vehicle warranty.

In Davao City, Kia is exclusively distributed by AB&T Resources Inc. with showroom at Lanang. (Photos courtesy of Kia Motors Davao)

PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 126 •TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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What to do during the ghost month?

And why people don’t open new buildings or start construction

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7

OPENING SOON. SM Lanang Premier is the latest high-end mall of the Sy-led SM Group. The mall, which is the second SM mall in the city. is set to open in late September. SM L:anang Premier will also house a convention center, a hotel, and office spaces.

ways to increase the worth of your residential property

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NCREASING the property value of your home or a home that you are renting out to others requires strategy. You have to know what is worth adding to the property and what you shouldn’t bother with. There are 7 additions to your property that you can use to add a substantial amount of charm and value to the home at the same time.

1. Knock Down Some Walls To Allow The Natural Flow Of Light Believe it or not, knocking down some walls and getting the sunlight into the areas that were cut off from light before may be a good idea. This includes installing load-bearing beams in place of walls. This increases the welcoming nature of the home and increases the value by allowing you to do more with one wideopen space than you could with the rooms closed off.

The cost of performing this project may be substantially more than you’re used to, so be prepared for the extra expenditure by noting that this is one of the best things you can do for your home to add value.

2. Add A Home Office Every home needs an office complete with a com-

puter and monitor, a desk, a comfortable chair, great carpeting or hardwood flooring, and a great ceiling fan.

There are literally millions of Americans who work from their home offices, so it just makes sense to include this as an option for anyone interested in the property. Install phone lines, data ports, and make sure the outlets are replaced with grounded ones so they may work with three pronged plugs. After all is said and done, you can take tax deductions off every year for the cost of maintaining your home office.

3. Add Outside Curb Appeal The appeal of your home from the outside is one of the most important parts of your residential property value. Curb appeal is responsible for nearly 10 percent of the overall value of your home. If it doesn’t look good from the outside, most of the perspective buyers will never make it to the inside.

Things to take into consideration would be the color of the house, the shutters, and landscaping of the front yard of the property. Perennial plants are great for people who don’t have a natural green thumb to themselves.

Don’t say goodbye to that ten

percent in property value, improve upon it!

4. Pave The Driveway Of The Property Paving the driveway of an investment property can add a substantial boost in property value. Make this an easier thing for your buyer by having this done before they look at the property. For people looking for an advantage over other houses in the area, this might just be what you need to get the property sold. It will only cost you about $3,000 to get it done, so this inexpensive way to improve value can bring you a lot more return than you think.

5. Don’t Neglect The Bathrooms Bathrooms are very important to real estate investing. The more bathrooms you have, the more the property will be worth. The importance of these rooms within a residential home is never overlooked and you can be sure this is one of the first things a potential property buyer will look for.

A master bathroom is even more attractive. You can add a jacuzzi, a bathtub, a shower, tile flooring, pretty much anything you want that will increase the value of the home. Some people even in-

clude towel warmers. It’s all up to you.

6. Add Value And Usability To The Kitchen The kitchen is another one of the critical rooms in any rental property. You can be sure that potential buyers will be looking to get their moneys worth in this area especially. Having the kitchen furnished with a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, easy to access cabinets made of quality materials, a great stove and refrigerator, and nice flooring would be a great start. Everything should be convenient to access and make life a breeze for cooking and activities.

7. Use Insulated Windows Insulated windows can save you a lot on heating and cooling costs within a residential property. Hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year can be lost on improperly insulated windows.

Energy saving windows are especially attractive, keeping warm and cool air in and any affect of the elements out.

Expect to pay 10-20 percent more for these windows, but you can expect the cost to be canceled out by the savings it produces. Energy savings range from 11-24 percent per year. (Jason haRtMan)

and freebies for its landmark condo development, Camella Northpoint.

“We want people to still feel the Kadayawan spirit through Camella, by extending this Kadayawan treat we offered at the start of the festival,” said Anna Mae dela Pena, Marketing Head of Camella Davao.

Outright discounts of up to P100,000 are waiting for

Camella Northpoint homebuyers who will make their unit purchase within the month of August.

Making the deal sweeter for homebuyers who will beat the August 31 promo deadline is an all-time low reservation fee of P10,000 for studio units, P15,000 for two-bedroom units, P20,000 for three-bedroom units, and P25,000 for four-bedroom

units.

Camella does not stop there. To make it easier for homebuyers to get their preferred units at Camella Northpoint’s fourth tower, the down payment term has been stretched to up to 36 months, and that is without interest.

“We will also give them promo in-house rates of

Camella extends Kadayawan promo

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FTER a top prize win in the Pamulak floral float parade contest, Camella extends the thanksgiving spirit by making their Kadayawan treat available up to the end of August.

Homebuyers will have more to be grateful for after the Kadayawan Festival, with Camella’s irresistible discounts, easy-on-thepocket financing schemes,

FCAMELLA, 14

F you walked the streets of Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, or Malaysia these days, you will notice small shrines on nearly every street, especially in areas of business.

The month of August, until the first week of September, is most commonly known as the Hungry Ghost Month.

One will also notice that businesses often postpone opening, just like a mall that was set to open later this month but was moved to next month.

The Ghost Festival, known in Chinese as Zhongyuan Jie or Yulan Jie, spans the entire seventh lunar month. It was originally a period for worshipping ancestors, but the God of Hell later decided the gates of hell should be opened during this period to let out the spirits.

However, at the end of the month, the ghosts must return to hell. There are many rumors, folklores and customs as certain things that we should do and we should not do within this month. We have collected some information to share with you.

Things that people do to soften the adverse energy during the Ghost Month: (1) Street rituals - To perform the rituals required to keep the ghosts happy.

Most people will carry these out in the street. They will prepare rice, rice wine, bean sprouts, bean curd, fruits, dried logan and peanuts or candles to serve the ghosts.

Then they will light up a pair of red candles and incense to please the ghosts.” Ma adds that different types of paper are burned which act as “yin” money for the ghosts. “People will also leave some coins on the floor,” he says. “These are called ‘yang’ money, because the strike a balance with the yin money.”

(2) Safe Guard the house - To avoid being disturbed by the wandering ghosts, households also post drawings of Zhong Kui, the ghost catcher.

Not just a catcher of ghosts Zhong devours spirits after he catches them.

(3) Worship ancestors - During the festival month, families worship their ancestors, visit the graves of their dearly departed and light lotus lanterns on rivers and seas so that the dead can find their way home. In Taoist temples, altars are set up where prayers for good fortune and rituals to redeem the souls of the dead are performed.

(4) Opera - Beside offerings to the dead, temple rituals and reciting the Buddhist scriptures, Chinese opera is performed to entertain the ghosts. Temple operas always take place in the evening when the local elite and members of the troupe burn incense and offer prayers before the show starts. Temple operas revolve around all kinds of themes. In

the past, nobody viewed the opera because it was only performed for ghosts, not mortals. But nowadays, it entertains people as well as spirits.

(5) Lotus lanterns - In villages and towns located on the banks of rivers, people make lotus-shaped lanterns from waterproof paper or rinds of fruit or gourds. The lotus is used because the flower a symbol of Buddhism meaning purity. They light a candle in each of these lanterns and then allow the lit lanterns to float down the river. They will try to follow the paths of their lanterns from the riverbank until they are out of sight.

This is done to redeem the souls of those who had died by drowning.

Things that people don’t do: (1) Don’t walk in the dark or near the walls - In order to avoid a run in with a spirit there are many forms of behavior that must be adhered to. Ghosts like to walk along the walls and hide themselves around dark comers. When you go out at night, try to go to places with lights and where there are crowds.

(2) Don’t mess with the offerings for ghosts - Children are reminded NOT to pick up the coins and food on the street as this is what will upset the ghosts. The coins and food are for the ghosts. If you pick them up the ghosts will think that you are competing with them and they might take revenge. But you should not panic if you do run into a ghoul. If you ever see a ghost, don’t panic; pretend that you see nothing and they will leave you in peace in most cases.

(3) Don’t go swimming - It is a general belief that swimmers will get drown with high probabilities when they swim during the month Hungry Ghost festival. Ghosts like to adhere with water for water provides cool and “yin” energy. Hungry ghosts are particularly active, and some are too vengeful to kill in order to find another innocent soul to “substitute” his doomed destiny.

Avoid taking boats, walking near water such as pond, river and beach at night, and crossing bridge too. Stories have been told that mysterious forces would cause accident on pedestrians near water.

(4) Don’t hang out too late at night - a simple logic. If you stay outside in streets, chances for bumping into a strayed hungry ghost is of course higher. Elderly have warned us must be back home by midnight during Hungry Ghost month.

These are not often practiced here in the Philippines, despite the strong Chinese influence that we have. More often than not, the most that is practiced here is the postponement of openings, expansions, and construction.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO A hero in you

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EDITORIAL

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Effective enforcement

F the report of former Davao City councilor Danilo Dayanghirang is to be believed, the strict enforcement of the ban on non-biodegradable plastic containers has greatly reduced street-flooding.

Dayanghirang, now consultant to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, told reporters who joined the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao last Monday that the City Environment and Natural Resources Office headed by Joey Felizarta, the city engineer’s office and other city departments must be credited for the no-nonsense implementation of the ordinance.

The former lawmaker likewise praised the food-for-work program of Mayor Sara wherein jobless homeowners have volunteered to clean up canals and other water-

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Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

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Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc.

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ways in exchange for food. An estimated P2.5 million has been spent for the food-for-work program benefiting thousands of indigent volunteers.

According to Dayanghirang, since the ban was implemented a couple of months ago, the amount of nonbiodegradable plastics found in canals have been reduced by more than 80 percent.

The remaining challenge, he adds, is the bullheadedness of some owners and building contractors who continue to dump construction materials into canals and along the edges of streets.

Still, the good news these days is the manifest acceptance by businessmen in particular, and the public in general, of the plastics ban.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

CARLO P. MALLO Features and Lifestyle

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR., • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Creative Solutions JADE C. ZALDIVAR • MOSES C. BILLACURA Staff Writers

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEñA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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HESE are not motherhood statements.

Nor are these a critical elucidation on heroism, as we normally understand it.

Suffice to say that we are a nation of heroes, and so are any other nation in the world. August 27th is, by law, reserved to commemorate our national heroes and be reminded, at least once a year, of their virtues and greet sacrifices. At least, that is what the Establishment expects common people to do.

For many of us, we know that that is far from true and practicable. For the vast majority, particularly the young, it is just another day spent malling, lying on beach sand under the sultry heat of the sand, etc.

Paraphrasing St. Teresa of Avila, the first female doctor of the (Roman Catholic) Church, God may be the stones, the mountains and the stars. What is far more important is that we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give water to the thirsty. Ideas have the power to galvanize a people, rally a nation, inspire a community or even sacrifice one’s life.

Ancient Greeks believed that ideas went to the realm they called ether. And great men are those who gained access to this realm.

Ideas, however, remain as ideas forever unless transformed into action. They must be converted into something tangible---something you can see, touch, feel, hear, smell and even taste.

In my years of encounters with the hoi polloi, I realize that we need not emulate the ancient Greeks as far as the ether is concerned. To discover the hero in us, we need no great works of art, astonishing faculty of the mind, scientific achievements, mighty public office, and monstrous monuments.

Gandhi had none of that, yet all the world’s leaders came to his funeral and mourn his death. In a highly mundane world, ordinary people have these to share: • Never ask discounts from vendors, unless the price is unreasonable. Vendors belong to the underground economy and seldom pay taxes---and so are many of our accomplished professionals. Unlike our doctors, lawyers, freelance businesspeople, they below to the lower stratum of the economy. Always at the mercy of middlemen, they thrive on whatever little income they have. One peso per item sold may spell a sea of difference between an additional kilo of rice for dinner or none at all.

• Donate blood to the Philippine National Red Cross if physically able. Countless medical studies have shown how beneficial that is to our circulatory system and, since this is no science article, I go no further to extol its benefits. We may do it every time we celebrate our birthdays.

Celebrate life by sharing life. One pint of blood may make a difference between life and death for others.

• After paying at the counter, give your loose change for the children. You will usually find those tin cans at the end of the line, be it at the grocery shops, banks, convenience stores, etc. A five-peso donation will not lead to destitute poverty. In my case, whenever cashiers short-change me, which seems to be a common occurrence these days, I ask them to promise to drop few coins in those tin cans the moment they have them after I left.

• Give something for the beggars. You can give old things or money---I have no quarrel with the latter option. Many are outraged seeing pseudo-beggars spending the alms on something else. It is not for us to judge them, however. Sharing whatever little bounty we have is our obligation to our community. Or, if you want to be religious about is, our obligation to God, however we conceive of Him/Her/It. How they actually spend the money is their obligation to themselves.

• Be a genuine friend. I believe that casual friends are those who knock on your doors and ask permission if they can come in. Genuine friends, for me, are those who go inside my place uninvited, go straight to the refrigerator and ask me what I want to eat.

• Finally, always display a happy diposition when talking to others. It is a very contagious stimulus.

EDGEDAVAO

I

move under the Aquino administration.

For months, the not-so-credible weather forecasters and water officials have been warning that because of the expected return of the El Niño phenomenon and the consequent low water levels, power shortages might resume, particularly during the hot summer months. The El Niño did his mess and the drought came as predicted and then unexpectedly typhoons and floods likewise came. Dry or wet season the lights went out just the same not only in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon but most particularly in many areas in Mindanao which are solely dependent on hydroelectric power.

Sad to note, the hydroelectric power plants in Agus, Lanao del Norte and Pulangi in Maramag, Bukidnon are both on the process of privatization.

It’s really deplorable that when power was off, traffic slowed down, generators were put on standby and portable batterypowered lamps are cleaned and recharged even during the daytime as three to sixhour brownouts struck both the urban and rural communities throughout the country.

High-profile energy officials said the main problem was not the lack of power supply but the breakdown of power plants in Luzon. and poor maintenance of hydropower plants in Mindanao. But why is there no immediate

relief in sight?

They also explained that while there will be power reserves in the coming months, the supply will be thin and scarce should any of the major power plants break down, most of Luzon would experience power outages of three to four-hours. Meanwhile, officials concerned said government would be sourcing for backup power reserves from independent producers to support Mindanao power distributors.

A severe power crisis, with blackouts lasting from three to nine hours daily, would be so crippling it would lead to capital flight and cost thousands of jobs.

An impending power crisis will show just how vulnerable the country’s power situation continues to be, and how much work needs to be done before the consuming public can be assured that they will sweat only when they want to and need not to go back to candle power.

The moribund Arroyo administration failed to solve rhe energy crisis and right now the Aquino leadership similarly has a great deal at stake to ensure that the days of heat and darkness do not return.

Not only must it prevent a reversal of the economic turnaround and prevent a fresh wave of capital flight. A continuing power crisis, coming in the midst of widespread disenchantment and bewilderment over the present officials’ lack of concern and neglect could result in the administration’s own political crisis, which it can hardly afford in the advent of next year’s crucial mid-term elections.

SPECIAL FEATURE

incident, he said, the local police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army and the rescue team of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office immediately dispatched operatives to respond to the emergency.

Shortly after helicopter mishap, Col. Augusto Gaite, the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) Tactical Operation Group commander for Bicol based in Legazpi City, said the aircraft only made an emergency landing after one of its engines malfunctioned.

The chopper was part of the fleet of aircraft deployed in the search and rescue operations for Robredo and the two pilots of the ill-fated Seneca Piper plane that crashed last Aug. 18 off Masbate, according to Gaite.

The military aircraft, a twin-engine BO105C Bolkow attack helicopter, reportedly developed an engine trouble while flying over the area to provide aerial support to the massive search and rescue operations for Robredo and the two pilots manning the chartered private aircraft that was supposed to take the DILG secretary home to Naga City from Cebu.

On board as passengers of the helicopter piloted by Lt. Rowell Colita and Lt. JG. Nelson de la Cruz, both of the PN, were Police Officers 2 Rodrigo Gernale and Leo Calmante as crewmen and photo journalist Danny Pata of Manila Bulletin.

All survived the incident unhurt.

Inspections were already conducted to determine the cause of the engine trouble, Gaite said on Monday as he expressed gratitude to the villagers of Sta. Cruz for helping the pilots and its passengers to safety and bringing the ill-fated military aircraft to the shore. [PNA]

Awakened by Robredo tragedy

HE plane crash in Masbate that killed Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Jesse Robredo and two pilots turned out to be a test on the readiness of villagers and local authorities here to respond to emergencies.

Last Aug. 21, a Philippine Navy (PN) helicopter, with body number TNH 422, crash-landed into the seawaters off Barangay Sta. Cruz, a far-flung village along the coastline of Ticao Pass, the waters separating Sorsogon province from Ticao Island of Masbate.

At around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sta. Cruz villagers witnessed the helicopter plunged into the neck-deep water about 400 meters from the shoreline. It was low tide at that time that was why the water was shallow.

Lt. Randel Wandag, commanding officer of the Bravo Company of the Philippine Army’s 31st Infantry Battalion based in Donsol, Sorsogon, said the villagers, both men and women promptly rushed to the site on board fishing boats and helped the helicopter’s passengers to safety.

“Nagawa rin ng mga taung-barangay na tulong-tulong na iahon at dalhin sa dalampasigan ang helicopter na hindi naman nagtamo ng malalang pinsala. Lahat nang mahahalagang gamit nito ay nailigtas din,” Wandag said.

Wandag said he was impressed by how the barangay folks of Sta. Cruz responded to that emergency situation involving the military helicopter and its passengers.

“Kahanga-hanga ang ginawa ng mga itong mabilis, sama-sama at tulong-tulong na pagkilos upang iligtas ang mga taong sakay pati na ang buong helicopter at mga

By Danny o. Calleja mahahalagang kagamitan nito,” he said.

Donsol Town mayor Jerome Alcantara congratulated the villagers for the good accomplishment as he explained that since the news about the Robredo plane crash broke out here shortly after the incident, coastal villagers have already posted themselves on alert over possibilities of rendering help in the search and rescue operations.

“Sa loob ng limang gabi at apat na araw na ongoing and search, rescue and retrieval operations, ang mga tao sa aming mga baybaying barangay ay naging mapagmatyag sa dalampasigan sa pagbabakasakaling makatulong kung sakali mang mapadpad sa kanilang lugar ang mga sakay ng bumagsak na eroplano lalo na si Sec. Jesse Robredo,” Alcantara said.

Barangay Sta. Cruz got the opportunity to demonstrate its alertness and preparedness to respond to an emergency situation in that helicopter incident and Alcantara said: “The entire municipality of Donsol is proud of them”.

Sta. Cruz with a total household population of about 500, relying mostly on fishing and farming for their livelihood, is the poorest barangay here, he said.

Because of what happened to Robredo, the mayor noted, “our people in the coastal barangays have been awakened into their responsibility of responding to situations at sea that call for their concerted actions to help”.

On receiving reports on the helicopter

9

Trying to have it both ways in Syria

Are we going back to candle power?

N THE MIDST OF HEAT, FLOOD AND DARKNESS – The prevailing critical issue at hand is the impending power crisis that will affect the country’s economy. Was the disgusting and infuriating power crisis a spontaneous occurrence – an act of Nature?

Or was it a result of official negligence? It may be recalled that the previous dispensation had a Department of Energy (DoE) and an energy program that didn’t work. It built not a new single base load power plant in the nine years the lady at bat was in office and without even looking for an alternative power source to mitigate the negative impact caused by power shortages.

Who should be held accountable for all that? The previous leaderships, PNoy? Juan de la Cruz? The power crisis scare isn’t baseless. Officials of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) said power reserves in Luzon areas plunged to almost “zero level” even during the wet season Several power plants tripped while others were undergoing maintenance and repair work the past months as three to four-hour power outages hit Metro Manila and it neighboring suburban towns and cities.

However, remnants of the Arroyo leadership debunked the fact that it was not giving attention to the country’s power situation, notably in Mindanao. During the last year of the previous administration according to reports, it had already made an audit on the power capacity that both the government and private sectors could deliver.

The figures point to the necessity of power output, but unfortunately nothing seems to

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VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

COMMEnTARY

By DaviD RohDe

E

(Conclusion)

VEN the publicly known assistance is tightly managed. In an effort to control the distribution of satellite phones, the State Department and the British government have hired a British non-profit, ARC, to vet and train opposition members before giving them the devices, the Post reported.

American officials hope that the U.S. program -- known as the Office of Syrian Opposition Support -- will also train Syrian activists on how to govern Syria after Assad is gone.

The goal is to have a U.S.-backed group of secular Syrian moderates who can counter the influence of jihadists in a post-Assad Syria.

Syrian opposition members, who have been battling the Assad regime for 18 months, say they need no such training and that the approach has slowed distribution enormously.

They also expressed resentment of the American belief that the U.S. could have influence in a post-Assad Syria after being unwilling to openly back the rebels.

“If you do not participate in the revolution to take down the Assad regime,” said the Syrian National Council member, “I find it very difficult to have a discussion with you to talk about the post-Assad Syria.”

Fighters inside Syria expressed the same sentiment. Michael Weiss, who reported inside Syria for Foreign Affairs in early August, said that fighters praised Turkey, Libya and countries that had sent aid, not the United States. They expressed exasperation at an American tendency to see all Muslims as potentially closet fundamentalists.

Abu Bakr, a Syrian rebel commander interviewed by Reuters reporter Erika Solomon in early August, was typical. He said he was a committed Islamist who was determined to overthrow Assad. But the growing numbers of radical Muslims from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Eastern Europe and even the Pakistan-Afghanistan border who had joined the rebels in recent months alarmed him.

“Let me be clear. I am an Islamist, my fighters are Islamists. But there is more than one type of Islamist,” he said. “These men coming fought in insurgencies like Iraq. They are too extreme, they want to blow up any symbol of the state, even schools.”

He and other rebels said that they were grateful for the jihadists’ support, but worried that when the war ended, jihadists might have different aims than most Syrians.

“Our goal is to make a new future,” Abu Bakr said, “not destroy everything.”

Abu Bakr is the kind of Syrian moderate we should be backing -- and trusting. If the United States is going to back the Syrian opposition with non-lethal assistance, it should do so more openly.

The Obama administration’s cautious approach reduces the impact of the aid and hides American support for the Arab Spring that most Arabs cheer.

The U.S. approach in Syria reminds me of American civilian aid programs designed to strengthen moderates in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. Over and over, tight American control of projects and a lack of local involvement limited their effectiveness.

We must embrace Syrian moderates and openly declare them our allies.

Whether or not we should provide them with military aid is a separate debate. But if we are going to provide non-lethal aid we should do so wholeheartedly. We cannot say America is behind you -- secretly.

10 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Mindanao journalists offer minute of silence, fly lanterns for Robredo

P DEADLY EMBRACE. A calf slams into a cowboy in this bit of action during a rodeo show in Cagayan de Oro City on August 24, 2012. The rodeo is part of the opening show for the

celebration of the feast of San Agustin on August 28. [Photo contributed by Rolando U. Gironella Jr.]

RINT and broadcast journalists from south and central Mindanao offered a minute of silence as they prayed for the repose of the soul of Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) here, around 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

Afterwards, lanterns were flown in the skies.

Journalists were joined by some local government officials in the region, including South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy, Jr., and Mayor Efren Pinol of Magpet in North Cotabato, during the launch of the new brand of an FM station of the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation being run by the Oblates of the Mary Immaculate (OMI), one of the premier congregations

of missionaries that spread Catholicism in the region.

The Oblate media, according to Chief Executive Officer Father Jon Domingo, has witnessed the ‘brand’ and ‘style’ of leadership that Robredo manifested all these years, especially during the last years of his political career.

When Robredo was appointed in the top DILG post in July 2010, two of the regions in Southern Philippines he most visited were Central Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, especially conflict towns.

He was most visible when Cotabato City in Maguindanao province experienced flooding in 2011 due to heavy clogging of water hyacinths at the Rio Grande de Mindanao, one of the

largest and biggest rivers in the country.

Robredo, a week after armed skirmishes in at least five towns in Maguindanao broke out this August, declared the government would file charges against some town mayors in the province for allegedly “abandoning” their posts during the fighting.

Also, he gave marching order from Cotabato provincial police to disarm a group of natives in the province who was believed involved in the killing in 2011 of an Italian missionary in the hinterland of Arakan town.

“We learned lessons from Secretary Robredo… his values should be emulated by those holding positions in the government,” said Domingo. [Pna]

TATE universities and colleges must coordinate with local government units on human resource development “in order to mitigate the pervading poverty incidence” in their regions, the Dean of the College of Teacher Education at the Bukidnon State University (BSU) said.

This was among the recommendations in the study of Dr. Beverly Bicar on human capital development in the Philippines and its implications to poverty alleviation.

The study showed a “strong linear relationship between the drop out rates in basic education and the poverty incidence in the different regions “signifying that poverty mitigation is crucial element of human capital development.”

Bicar also found that crucial in poverty alleviation is that the regional development framework is aligned with the program offerings of the

higher educational institutions. She also noted that the alignment is also crucial with the LGUs provision of job opportunities for college and university graduates.

The findings were presented along with 12 other research works of the BSU research and development unit during the multi-stakeholder dissemination forum on August 22.

BSU’s researches, focused on the “Role of the Academe in Poverty Alleviation,” were clustered into education, science, socio-economic, and governance.

Bicar’s research ascertained how human development relates with poverty alleviation by analyzing the trends in basic and tertiary education in consonance with the prevailing poverty incidence in the country.

It also examined whether the human capital production in the poor regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao comple-

ments with the regional development agenda of the local governments.

“Gaining employment is fiercely competitive if not scarce, which further escalates the poverty problem even among those who obtained tertiary education,” the study showed.

It also noted that the high incidence of poverty in the country raises the question whether the “government’s effort to develop its human resources is adequate and effective.” Bicar’s study concluded that the family’s financial capability accounts for the survival of students in basic education, that the responsiveness of the human resources to the regions’ developmental needs and the adequacy in job generation are significant factors of economic growth; and that the quantity and quality of human resources are strong determinants of poverty mitigation. (waL-

necessary payment.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu, believing that education is a vital tool in reforming the province and bring people out of the bondage of poverty, is extending the free review classes so that examinees will be at par with those in other regions.

Review classes will commence on Sept. 1 in two areas.

Provincial Budget Officer Lynette Estandarte said the

review will be conducted by Vienna Consultance Group and will hold classes at Broce Elementary School in SPDA Village, Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao for the first district and Genalyn Resort in Tacurong City for reviewers from Maguindanao’s second district.

Interested reviewees who would like to avail of the free review classes are advise to visit the Maguindanao provincial satellite office in Buluan, Maguindanao. [PNA]

Serbisyo Caravan kicks off in 12 villages in Davao Sur ‘SUCs, LGUs must coordinate T to mitigate poverty incidence’ S HE Serbisyo Caravan spearheaded by the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies (ARENA) in Davao Region formally kicked off Sunday reaching out to families from 12 barangays of Sarangani, Balut Island, Davao del Sur. Mayor Jerry Cawa welcomed participating agencies under the ARENA, thanking them for giving importance in addressing the needs of his constituents in health and livelihood.

He said residents have been longing for the construction of a local hospital which might address immediate medical needs.

Cawa brushed aside speculations that the local government under his watch is not interested in providing for a site needed to construct the medical facility.

He said the local government unit (LGU) is merely waiting for a formal request from the Department of Health (DOH) for a hospital location.

“The request serves as basis for the Sangguniang

Bayan to come up an ordinance to that effect so that the mayor can immediately allocate a hospital for the municipality,” Cawa said.

Achilles Bravo, director of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM11) and president of the ARENA 11, said the caravan aims to cater to the needs of ordinary fisherfolks and farmers in the last and farthest municipality in Davao Region near Indonesia.

He said 115 participants from all line agencies of government joined the Serbisyo Caravan.

Bravo said this effort aims to bring the government services closer to the people.

“Your government works for you even if your location is the farthest in Southern Mindanao area,” he said.

Bravo urged residents to maximize the presence of the agencies to address their concerns.

Government offices including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Bureau of Fisheries and Natural Resources (BFAR), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine Postal Service, Davao del Sur Police Office and the 10th Infantry Division deployed their respective personnel to listen to the problems of the residents.

Priscilla Razon, assistant director of the DSWD 11, said their agency gave out P2.69 million for the payroll period of May and June 2012 to 2,048 residents.

She said 114 senior citizens who are recipients of the social pension for indigent received P171,000.

Razon said 20 residents also received P200,000 under the sustainable livelihood program, while 630 enrollees under 31 daycare centers received a check worth P788,892. [Pna]

Gov’t forces engage NPA rebels in gun battle in Agusan Norte

A

joint special police and military operatives engaged in gunbattle some 15 to 20 members of the New People’s Army (NPA)in Barangay Doňa Telesfora, Tubay, Agusan del Norte Sunday morning.

Caraga Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, in text messages, said he immediately ordered hot pursuit operations against the fleeing communist rebels who left some firearms and ammunition and other personal belongings at the encounter site.

The newly-installed

Caraga Police Regional Director Valmoria also ordered all police units to block checkpoints and exit points of the fleeing rebels.

Report from Tubay Municipal Police office said government forces patrolling near the mining concession area of S.R. Metals Inc. sighted the presence of the armed rebels. A gunbattle ensued forcing the rebels to flee.

Valmoria said no one was wounded in the government side but many in the communist rebels’ side.

Authorities recovered from the gunfight scene .45 cal pistol with se-

rial number 914891, four backpacks believed to belong to fleeing NPA rebels, upper hand guard of M-16 rifle, wire approximately 200 meters long, 92 pieces of ammunition or bullets, four pieces kettles, three pieces hammocks; voluminous documents containing information about a mining firm; five bolos; toiletries and other personal items.

In years 2009 and later in 2010, suspected NPA rebels attacked the same mining firm where they managed to cart assorted firearms and ammunition.

[PNA]

teR i. BaLane/Mindanews)

Maguindanao offers free review classes for civil service exam

T

HE provincial government of Maguindanao, for the third time since 2009, will provide free civil service review classes for Maguindanaons who will take the Civil Service Commission (CSC) professional and subprofessional examination.

Review classes for civil service eligibility examinations and review classes for licensure examination for teachers (LET) are given free to Maguindanao residents who could hardly pay the

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 126 •TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

NATION BRIEFS

T

Mar’s choice

RANSPORTATION and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas II wants Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya to be the new secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Abaya is the secretary general of the Liberal Party (LP) and chairman of the influential House Committee on Appropriations.

As LP president, Roxas’ choice carries a lot of weight. But President Benigno S. Aquino III, the party’s chairman, has earlier indicated a strong inclination to appoint Sen. Panfilo Lacson as the replacement of the late Jesse Robredo at DILG.

Awards

T

HE Philippines won 5 gold, 9 silver, 28 bronze medals, and 17 merit awards in the 2012 Asia International Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO) held recently in Hong Kong.

Included among the Filipino winners is gold medalist Lu Christian Ong of Grace Christian College, who was proclaimed champion and “Star of Asia” in the Grade 9 Division for earning the highest score among participants from nine countries.

Opportunities

U

NEMPLOYED or newly registered nurses don’t have to go abroad, a group on Friday said. The Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMOAP) said opportunities for nurses abound in the local healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, adding that its member firms are looking to hire 43,000 new employees by yearend amid continued expansion.

This is an increase from the 27,000 new employees hired by HIMOAP member firms in 2011.

I

Malaria-free

N 2020, PH could be malaria-free. This, as Health Secretary Enrique Ona highlights a marked drop in reported cases last year.

Malaria incidence decreased by 80 percent to 9,642 cases in 2011 from 43,441 in 2003, Ona said in a statement on Friday.

“This decrease is the lowest malaria level on record for the country in 42 years...” Ona said, adding that this means Philippines has effectively met its Millennium Development Goal of cutting malaria incidence by 2015.

T

Twitterverse

he big boss of country’s biggest telecommunications company has entered the Twitterverse.

Addressing attendees of the 6th Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit, Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, announced that he decided to open his Twitter account @ iamMVP as he expects digital to explode in the Philippines.

NATION/ WORLD11

WORLD TODAY Young South Koreans face Armstrong jobless woes with ‘graduate glut’ U

S astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon, has died, US media reported Saturday. He was 82.

Armstrong underwent cardiac bypass surgery, earlier this month after doctors found blockages in his coronary arteries. He and fellow Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, before the eyes of hundreds of millions of awed television viewers worldwide

S

ONG A-Hyun was once confident she would follow in her father’s footsteps -- graduate from one of the nation’s best universities, land a plum job at a top firm and enjoy a high-flying career.

But the 23-year-old’s dreams have faded. Over the past year she has sent out more than 40 resumes ahead of her graduation this month -- only to be rejected every time.

A degree at the top women’s university Ewha, a high grade point average of 3.7, a year-long stint in Hong Kong as an exchange student, flawless English skills and two internships were simply not enough.

“Everyone has a pretty good GPA, scores pretty well in English proficiency tests and has done one or two internships, so there may be nothing special in my resume,” Song told AFP. “I’ve worked really hard to get all these qualifications, though...the thing is, there are too many people like me and too few jobs for us.”

Song is one of a growing number of highly-educated young South Koreans, who face grim job prospects amid a worsening graduate glut and slow-

T

A South Korean woman searches job notices at a women’s university in Seoul. There is a growing number of highlyeducated young South Koreans who face grim job prospects amid a worsening graduate glut and slowing growth after decades of rapid development. ing growth after decades of rapid development.

South Koreans’ zeal for education has long been cited as a driver of its stellar rise from acute postwar poverty to global economic powerhouse.

Children and teenagers spend stressful childhoods cramming to get into prestigious universities -- or colleges of some kind, at least. This is seen as vital to prosperity, social standing and even marriage prospects.

The so-called SKY uni-

versities -- Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei -- are the most prestigious.

But given growing graduate joblessness, the government has launched a campaign to encourage more youngsters to bypass university or college. It is pushing more businesses to hire school-leavers.

About 72 percent of high-school graduates went on to college or university last year, slightly lower than a record 83.8 percent in 2008 but still

one of the world’s highest figures.

But desirable jobs are dwindling as rapid development gives way to a more measured peace and more youngsters shun small- or mid-sized companies offering lower pay.

President Lee MyungBak has repeatedly urged college students to lower their standards and seek jobs at lesser-known companies, and has adopted more programmes to support vocational high schools.

pointment.

In a radio interview on dzMM, Libarios said Sereno has the “idealism and the capability” to institute reforms in the judiciary.

He added Sereno can help bring about transparency in government and good governance.

“She will be an asset to the judiciary,” he said.

Libarios added Sereno came in second in the IBP’s mock elections for Chief Justice. Sereno received six votes during deliberations of the Judicial and Bar Council, then Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio received seven votes.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., meanwhile, called Sereno a good choice. “(She is) a new face yet an insider with a reputation for competence and independence. She will prove to be an effective leader of the Judiciary,” Belmonte, who delivered the closing argument against Corona at his impeachment trial, said.

Kabataan party-list also welcomed Sereno’s appointment, saying in a statement that she “will have ample time to enforce genuine reform in the country’s justice system.”

“We need an SC that will be more transparent, pro-people, and free from political maneuverings,”

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, who was a signatory on the impeachment complaint against Corona, said.

Palatino, however, said Sereno’s appointment could lead to the creation of a Supreme Court friendly to Malacanang. Citing Sereno’s vote on the valuation of Hacienda Luisita, Palatino said “early on in her career, it was already apparent whose side she is vouching for.”

“In appointing Justice Sereno, it is apparent that Aquino would like to maintain a considerable sway in the SC’s decisionmaking,” he said.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes, for his part, called for “continued vigilance” on how Sereno will lead the Supreme Court.

“One wonders if the whole CJ impeachment was designed to lead to this day...and this result,” he said on his Twitter account.

Support, warning as Sereno gets appointed

HE Supreme Court’s newest chief magistrate received messages of support and a warning on Friday when her appointment was announced.

Lawyer Roan Libarios, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, welcomed Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno’s ap-

A

Mistook

farmer in southern Nepal mistook his son for a monkey trying to steal his crops and shot the 12-year-old dead, police said on Sunday.

Chitra Bahadur Pulami had been climbing a tree to chase away macaques that had become a nuisance to the family but his father Gupta Bahadur, 55, spotted the boy and opened fire, wrongly believing him to be one of the animals.

C

Priority

HINA’S policy chiefs have about two weeks left to decide about giving the economy a proper stimulative prod, or risk parading a new Communist Party leadership to the world just as growth falls below target for the first time in nearly four years.

Factory activity is already at a nine-month low, according to the latest manufacturing sector survey from HSBC, signalling that the official August numbers for industrial production and trade published in a fortnight will foreshadow third quarter economic growth falling below the government’s 7.5 percent goal.

T

Ridiculous

HE United Nations scoffed on Friday at claims by a judge in Lubbock County, Texas, that U.N. troops could invade the southern U.S. state to settle a possible civil war, which the judge warned could be sparked if Obama is re-elected in November.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” said U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, when asked if the United Nations had any plans to invade Texas

N

Warned

orth Korea’s leader has warned of an “allout” war against the South while denouncing its ongoing joint military drill with the United States, state media said Sunday.

The US and South Korean militaries on Monday began a two-week exercise aimed at testing defences against the communist North, insisting it was defensive in nature but Pyongyang called it a drill for a preemptive nuclear attack.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 126 •TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Tourism...

EDGEDAVAO

FFROM 1

see we are well on tract.”

Davao’s problem “The energy on the ground in Davao City is very impressive,” Jimenez told Davao reporters in a briefing last week, He said that Davao’s problem is not its image, not peace and order condition of being violent.”

“The problem is that there’s a lot of ignorance about it; tourists do not know what you have to offer,” adding that it’s just plain and simple information about the city that Davao lacks.

Jimenez said that tourism investors now know that the Philippines is the best business solution in people.

“When we use people solve the problems in the

Bayan...

Philippines, we become the best at it,” he enthused, saying that the Philippines is the best solution when it comes to people, when it comes to the BPO (business process outsourcing) industry, the hospitality industry, the medical care industry, the maritime industry, even the ship-building industry.”

Ranked 4th in shipbuilding “Few people know that the Philippines is now the fourth largest shipbuilder in the world,” the DOT chief said. “We build more ships than most other countries in the world except Japan, Korea and the United States.”

He said that when a big Singaporean businessman

was asked why he invested in a hotel in the Philippines, the Singaporean said “why shouldn’t we when 47 percent of the people who run the hotel business in Singapore are Filipinos. I know it works, I only have to find the location here.”

Hoteliers in Singapore Jimenez said Filipinos only have to create the capacity, “everybody’s job is to create a capacity, because we can’t build airports, that’s somebody else’s job.”

DOT regional officials in Davao headed by Arturo Boncato were instructed by Jimenez to assist Davao City and other local government units to come up with a tourism development plan. [antonio M. aJeRo]

POLICE CHIEF. Director PS/Supt. Ronald dela Rosa of the Davao City Police Office discusses the city’s security situation in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Mall Davao. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

FFROM 2

Tollway Corporation for the South Luzon Expressway, and the BROT deal with Manila North Tollway Corporation for the North Luzon Expressway.

Councilors Leah Librado and Berino Mambo-o voted against the passage of the PPP ordinance.

“I am not convinced PPP code is beneficial to the people. It is a prelude to privatization spree,”

SMI...

Librado said.

Mambo-o said he also thinks the ordinance will lead to privatization of social services.

He added the ordinance is unnecessary because the government is supposed to provide basic services.

“The government services, all the more, will not reach those who are mostly in need,” he said.

The councilors who

voted for the ordinance were Jimmy Dureza, the proponent, Louie Bonguyan, Pilar Braga, Marissa Salvador-Abella, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Cabling, Tomas Monteverde IV, Rachel Zozobrado and Rene Lopez.

Those who abstained were Dante Apostol, Edgar Ibuyan, Joan Bonguyan, Jackson Reyes, and Louie Villafuerte. [Lorie Ann Cascaro/MindaNews]

Mines eyed Malalag, Davao del Sur as host of its dedicated power plant and port facilities.

Recently, the mining company confirmed that Maasim, Sarangani is being considered as host of such facilities.

From the mining site in Tampakan, South Cotabato, Arnaldo said the firm will build an underground pipeline that would ferry the minerals towards Maasim for loading on the ships.

Alongside the pipeline, which will be one meter deep from the surface, will be the transmission lines of

the power plant, he added.

This would span a length of 100 kilometers, Arnaldo said.

The Tampakan project is touted as the largest known undeveloped copper and gold reserve in Southeast Asia.

The estimated contained copper at Tampakan in total resources has risen from 13.9 million metric tons to 15 million MT while estimated contained gold has risen from 16.2 million ounces to 17.9 Moz, according to a company study. [BonG s. saRMiento/Mind-

their Kadayawan treat, snatched up by homebuyers who wanted to get their piece of Camella Northpoint and take advantage of the discounts.

“Although the thanksgiving festival is winding down, the thanksgiving spirit is still alive in Camella, making now up to August 31 the best time for homebuyers to get their units at Camella Northpoint,” said dela Pena.

Camella is a subsidiary of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes that has built over 250,000 homes all over the country in 35 years.

All inquiries are welcome at 2/F Delgar Building, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City, or at 222-0963, 222-5221, 2225223, vismin@camella.com. ph (email) and www.camella.com.ph.

FFROM 3

pit ban of South Cotabato.

Arnaldo said the company is hopeful that the recently released mining policy of President Benigno Aquino III “will assist the project.”

Sagittarius Mines has appealed the DENR decision to the Office of the President, while the implementing rules and regulations for the new mining policy are still being crafted Arnaldo also said the delay in the target production was due to the company’s reconsideration of its power supply options.

Originally, Sagittarius

Camella...

anews]

FFROM 7

18% for ten years, 16% for five years, and 14% for three years. These are unbeatable rates in the market right now,” added dela Pena.

Capping off Camella’s Kadayawan treat are Camella Northpoint collectible items, such as tumblers and umbrellas, to be given away to those who will make their reservations this month.

Last year, Camella also gave a similar promo for

Anti...

FFROM 1

2002.

“This can be broken down to 132 persons arrested for pushing while the rest were into using.

Most of those arrested were of the middle class.

May kaya talaga sila at ginawang business itong pagbebenta ng drugs,” he said during Monday’s weekly regular Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao Annex Building.

He said the campaign has significantly reduced to a minimal level the number of crimes committed during the period..

Dela Rosa identified

Boulevard and Ilang in Tibungco to be the top two drug hotspots.

“I do not like to sound like a profiler, but sad to say residents of these areas are mostly Muslims who source their drug supply from Cotabato,” he said adding that the drug campaign will continue, and urges local and national government agencies to conduct random drug testing among their employees.

Dela Rosa confirmed that two of the persons arrested by elements of the Sta. Ana police station

for possession of marijuana are employees of the National Statistic Office (NSO), a national government agency.

He said he supports the idea of subjecting government employees to random drug testing so the bad eggs can be removed from government service.

“Kung may random drug testing kami sa PNP, sana meron din sa mga civilian government agencies na pareho rin sa amin na tumatanggap ng sahod sa gobyerno,” he said.

[ASA]

said the condition of Brady had “stabilized and improved” but “she remained under observation.”

“We were told at a medical briefing in Beijing yesterday that the ambassador’s condition has been regularly improving on a day to day basis,” Del Rosario said.

“At current rate of progress, she may be flown to Manila in two weeks.”

Her treatment was also being “closely monitored by the Chinese Foreign Ministry with care and concern,” Del Rosario added.

In the absence of an ambassador, Brady’s deputy, Alex Chua, would temporarily take over the embassy as charge d’affaires, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

A retired career diplomat, Brady, 71, was appointed as envoy to China in May this year at

the height of territorial disputes between Manila and Beijing.

The two Asian nations had been locked in a standoff for three months when Manila sent a warship to arrest Chinese poachers at the disputed Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, which the government claims to be within the Philippines’ territorial waters.

Brady’s appointment as Ambassador to China was her second.

She served as top envoy to Beijing from 2006 to 2010 under former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo.

Brady just recovered from a mild stroke before she was asked to take over the post that was left vacant for sometime after a candidate, businessman Domingo Lee failed to get the nod of the Commission on Appointments. (PNA)

Ambassador Brady to be replaced--DFA

By Michaela del Callar

P

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has directed Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario to find a replacement for Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady to allow her to recover quickly after suffering from stroke five days ago.

Brady, 71, had a stroke in Beijing last Wednesday when she was brought to a hospital after fainting in her residence.

“To improve her chances of full recovery, the President has instructed the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to start the process of finding a replacement for the good ambassador. Let us pray for her early return to good health,” Del Rosario told the Philippines News Agency in a text message Monday.

Del Rosario, who flew to Beijing over the weekend to personally check on the envoy’s health,

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

A chic experience at the Blueberry Tourist Hotel

With Durianburg experiencing a boom in business and travel arrivals, there is now a massive wave of new hotels to accommodate every kind of traveller and the glitzy new blueberry tourist hotel has got to the be one of my favorites new hotel so far.

The 5-story hotel is located near the intersection of Jacinto and F. torres Streets which is just a short cab ride to many of Davao City’s downtown malls and business establishments. upon entering the hotel, one is greeted by it’s well appointed lobby and it’s selfplaying mini grand piano. i also love the way artwork is used to enliven the space. “i love to collect art and i personally picked the pieces to be placed in the lobby to bring a homey feel to the hotel,” says blueberry tourist hotel owner, amabelle Siason “if you check the rooms, you will see that each room also has its own unique piece of art.”

Each of the hotel’s 40 wellappointed rooms also come with an LCD tV with cable, free wifi, and hot and cold shower (with Deluxe rooms sporting their own bathtubs.)

The standard rooms can look a bit small, but the de-

BusinesspartnersAmabelleSiasonandGloriaPeñaflor.

sign and the way the room was laid out more than made up for it. What i really like about the rooms of the blueberry tourist hotel though was the fact that each room, no matter what the classification may be, has its own private terrace unlike some hotels (names not to be mentioned) that don’t even provide a window for a standard room. although the hotel is located at an area of the city with numerous entertainment establishments, the blueberry tourist hotel also has a coffee shop and bar for those who would rather just relax and while the hours away sans the crowds.

You can call the blueberry

Amabelle Siason and Gloria Peñaflor with friends.

tourist hotel at 2275555, 2275556 or 2275557 of check out their website at www. blueberrytouristhotel.com for inquiries and reservations.

Follow me on twitter @ kennethkingong for more foodie finds, travel tips, and random ramblings.

AmabelleSiasonandthestaffofthehotel.

AmabelleSiasonwithfriendsandfamily.

AmabelleSiasonandFlorinaRodilla.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

EVENTs

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Cesario and Kadanao top Sayaw Mindanaw 2012

LAsT AugusT 16, the best theatre and cultural dance ensembles staged a colorful spectacle at the sM City Davao Annex for the sayaw Mindanaw grand Finals Night.

The energy at the sM Annex that night was undeniable. Locals and tourists alike were treated to very colorful and entertaining cultural immersion. To ensure that all performances remained authentic and true to each represented tribe’s culture and traditions, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts were very much involved in the event from the 2-day elimination and critiquing, to choosing the winners during the finals night.

For the Children’s category, Cesario Villa Abrille Elementary school bagged the top prize while Matina Central Elementary school and Vicente Hizon Elementary school ranked

2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Hailing all the way from Butuan City, Kadanao Theatre Collective topped the Open Category. Their powerful performance left the audience in awe. Equally entertaining and amusing were the numbers from 2nd and 3rd placers Kathara Dance Theatre Collective and south Cotabato-

based Tinalak Cultural Ensemble.

Year after year, sayaw Mindanaw provides an avenue for cultural performers to master their crafts. By putting up such a showcase, it also gives the audience a glimpse of how colorful indigenous cultures and traditions are.

FOOD

Sweet dreams in Malita

By Carlo P. Mallo

FinDing the perfect fruit salad in all its simplistic goodness brought me to the town of Malita, some 165 kilometers away from Davao City or a two-and-a-half hour trip that would bring you across some of the most scenic routes here in Southern Mindanao.

unknown to many, this quiet town in Davao del Sur is home to one of the most good tasting fruit salad there is. tucked in one of the streets of poblacion Malita, Mutya and Matt Food bar, locally known as Mutya, offers the best fruit

salad, a welcome respite to the heat of Malita.

The fruit salad is so simple and it doesn’t pass off to be something else – it’s just that, a fruit salad. i guess that’s where the wonderful flavor of the salad comes from, it’s simplicity.

Over dinner, Mutya owner, tita Dida, joined us and explained the ingredients of her famed fruit salad (the details of which i shall withhold). There was nothing extraordinary about the ingredients she used, except that she was filled with passion as she shared her story about her fruit salad.

Could it be that her secret all these time was just her passion in making fruit salad? We can only make

wild guesses. aside from the famous fruit salad, Mutya also serves the good old lomi, short orders, and bread from my childhood. Walking in front of the restaurant would be like walking into temptation. The area smells so good with freshly baked bread waiting for customers to gobble them up. and true enough, people actually wait for the bread, most of which are already sold even before they are out of the oven. if my future travels will bring me back near Malita, you know the place where you will definitely see me, eating a cup or two of fruit salad and, maybe, a piece of bread.

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

reasons why Snooki will be a great mom

WHEN Jersey shore star snooki announced she has a mini meatball in the oven and a bling-tastic ring on her finger (both from BF Jionni LaValle), a lot of people were skeptical about the party gal’s mama skills—to which Jionni tweeted “#youllgeturs.”

But while the haters are getting theirs, we present to you five reasons we think snook is going to be a great mother. Least of which is we’re dying to see snooki’s nude booty on the cover of a magazine, à la Demi Moore Jessica simpson every damn pregnant celebrity ever!!! so we hope the rest of the cast is ready to turn the smush room into a nursery, because it’s T-shirt onesie time: 1. Water Births Are All the Rage: Ya know how celebs love to give those fancy au natural births in a tub with a midwife or whatever? Well maybe that’s been the plan all along for snooks, who has scored some serious hot-tub time down at the shore. It only makes sense then that she’ll be perfectly at home in the H2O when it comes time to pop that little baby out. And then snooki can immediately pass on some hot-tub wisdom to her mini-me (like, save the skinny-dipping for after you’ve already gotten to know your roomies).

2. Pregnancy Cravings = Regular snooki Food! Of course, the party is over for snooki, who told us Weekly that she has “different priorities” now that she knows she’s preggo. (FYI, she found out she was expecting after celebrating in Vegas, of all places.) Even though she won’t be doing cartwheels at Kharma, snooki can still indulge in a fave: Pickles! And if rom-coms have taught us anything, it’s that preggo women love pickles. And snooki has been on that bandwagon for years!

3. she’s Probably DT(B)F! That’d be“Down to Breastfeed,” people. And anyway, how different are breast-pumping and fist-pumping anyway? snooki has never been shy about letting it all hang out in public (google “snooki wardrobe malfunction” or peep any of the many time the Jersey shore has had to blur out her mini-snooki), so not only will she have an excuse for any future slips, but she won’t suffer stage fright when her meatball gets hungry.

4. Poop? No Problem! Everyone knows what babies are best at: sleeping, crying and pooping. Well snook’s used to an unusual sleeping sched (the clubs are open all night, after all) and certainly can shed some tears herself, but the most important thing is that poop is one of snooki’s favorite topics of conversation! snooki revealed, “Every time I get really excited, like if we go to a club, I have to poop my pants.” Well, we know now at least one thing the mama-to-be will have in common with her yet-to-beborn guido or guidette.

5. No One Will “F--k”With snooki Jr.! In the first season of the Jersey shore, she warned everyone who would listen that she didn’t mind you talking smack about her but if you gossip about her girls, her boyfriend or her family she will “f--k you up.” If that doesn’t scream maternal instinct, we don’t know what does! We have no doubts that baby snooki will grow up with a seriously killer poof and a sup-

Snooki pops a boy!

THE self-described “pregnant whale” is pregnant no more. Yep, Jersey shore denizen snooki is a mom!

The tiny reality star otherwise known as Nicole Polizzi gave birth to an even tinier meatball, son Lorenzo Dominic LaValle, at st. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., just before 3 a.m. sunday.

It’s the first bambino for snooki and her fiancé, Jionni LaValle.

“The world just got another guido!!!” the reality star’s rep announced to E! News. “Lorenzo Dominic LaValle has entered the world, weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces. Nicole, Jionni and Enzo are doing great!”

Following the delivery, snooki headed to Twitter to share the good news with fans: “I am sO IN LOVE with my son Lorenzo Dominic! I had my little man last night, healthy at 6lbs! HE’s MY WORLD!” Take her word for it, snooki is a whale of a woman In the hours leading up to the tiny tyke’s birth, Twitter was abuzz with word of the reality star’s impending momdom.

No word just yet on if snook’s costar and BFF JWoww was on hand to film the birth as planned or just how much of the happy occasion was caught

by TV cameras. guess we’ll have to stay tuned. In the meantime, congrats to the famiglia! port system that’ll step in if anyone ever tries to mess with her (or him). (E! Online)

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge! uP AND ABOuT ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Have your meetings and events at Swiss Deli Restaurants

EVErY buSinESS meeting is an exercise in corporate style and taste. a meeting at a great venue with great food ensures that goals are set, and made. This is why the Swiss Deli restaurant Lanang and Matina now offer function rooms that can cater to your meeting needs.

Open from 8am to 10pm, early breakfast get-togethers, brunch planning sessions, afternoon coffee, and dinner meeting are now easier to do. Couple the meetings with delicious fresh from the oven breads and pastries, continental breakfast offerings, filling lunch specials, and satisfying dinner plates paired with wine from our wine cellar and you have a sure-fire combo to get your deal across. aside from meetings, the The Swiss Deli’s function rooms can also be booked for small get-togethers like baptismals, birthday parties, reunions, and intimate corporate events. The Swiss Deli can prepare special menus to match your function’s needs aside from delicious everyday favorites from our menu.

You may visit us at Lanang at rS Compound, Km. 7, Lanang, Davao City, or at Matina at corner Duhat & Camia Streets, Juna Subdivision., Mc arthur highway, Matina, Davao City. Mcarthur highway. You may also call us at telephone number 2340271 (Lanang) or 2956168 (Matina) for reservations or inquiries.

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 126 •TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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Lupio wins Timex Davao Run

By Neil Bravo

D

AVAO’S two top long distance runners made the Timex RunDavao leg their latest venue of a brewing rivalry with Brian Lupio getting the better of his head-to-head duel with Anthony Nerza last Sunday.

As expected, the two rivals went stride by stride through most parts of the 16-kilometer race serving as the Davao stop of the barnstorming Timex races organized by top race management firm Runrio in collaboration with Davao counterparts Vantage Sports.

Lupio, the standout from Holy Cross of Davao College who had already two wins in a span of two weeks made it three in a row this month with his latest conquest. He timed a fast 52 minutes and 57 seconds after breaking away for good in the final burst to the finish leaving Brokenshire College’s Nerza behind.

For the second week in a row, Nerza lost steam in the homestretch and lost a straight third race to Lupio who had wins in the Phoenix Kadayawan Run and the Caltex Delo Half-Marathon.

With the Timex title, Lupio thus cemented his claim

to the top of the local running circuit. His two previous wins were in different distances— the Phoenix Run in 10 kilometers, the Caltext Delo Run in 21 kilometers and now, the Timex race in 16 kilometers.

A few months ago, Lupio was a favorite whipping boy of Nerza. Now, the tables have apparently turned.

Arnie Macaneras placed third in 56 minutes and 58 seconds.

In the women’s race, Judelyn Miranda, another veteran in the women’s circuit from Tagum City, also beat her chief rival Monalisa Ambasa to take the title in one hour, six minutes and 26 seconds. Ambasal came in second at 1:12:21 and Emely Avergonzado checked in third at 1:15:53.

In the 10k race, Sonny Wagdos (32:34) and Cynthia Jaro (42:21) emerged winners while Michael Ian Constantino and Criselyn Jaro topped the 5K race.

Constantino, a middle distance ace from Brokenshire, came in at 15:37 to pocket the men’s title followed by Rolly Paderna (15:55) and Jessmar Lopez (16:21).

Jaro, another Brokenshire bet, had a time of 19:09 to

TIMEX RUN DAVAO. Coach Rio dela Cruz of Runrio pose with members of the local organizing team of Vantage Sports led by Kenneth Sai after the successful staging of the Timex Run last Sunday. (Vantage Photo) win the women’s crown with collegiate rookie Mae Barit (19:20) and Diana Memoracion (20:32) finishing second and third.

Runrio CEO and running coach Rio dela Cruz ran with the popular Team Pangilinan composed of celebrity runners Anthony and Maricel

Pangilinan with siblings Ella, Donny, Hannah, Benj and baby Solana.

Vantage Sports’ Kenneth Sai thanked the more than 1,500 runners who joined the race supported by Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, Back Beauty, United Neon and Grand Regal Hotel Davao.

event back in 1998.

Tenorio, adjudged the MVP of the week-long meet, also played big in Gilas’ 7672 win over Chinese-Taipei Saturday night, scoring all of his 11 points in the fourth period.

The Americans last held the lead on an uncontested basket by Jermaine Dearman underneath, 75-74, with 36 seconds left, before Tenorio made the game-winning jumper off a pick by Marcus Douthit..

In all, the country has now won the tournament four times counting the 1981 and 1985 victories of Northern Consolidated under coach Ron Jacobs.

The Philippines trailed by as large as 14 in the first half and by 13 late in the third quarter, only to dig deep

within its resolve to pound out the thrilling win.

Clinching the crown with a win over the tough US team made Smart Gilas’ feat simply amazing.

“Before the game, we just said imagine the Philippines playing the US for the gold in a basketball game. I know it’s just a Jones Cup, an Asian level, but I don’t know if it’s gonna happen again in our lives. We said we take this opportunity,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes, who became the first Filipino mentor to steer a Philippine team to the Jones Cup title.

As in their games against Japan, Korea and Iran, the Filipinos fought with a great resolve, coming from behind to pull the rug from under the athletic and quick Americans.

“This might be the weakest Philippine team, the least prepared, smallest. What it has got is a big heart,” said Reyes.

“Heart won it for us versus Japan, Korea, Iran and the US.These guys just don’t know the meaning of quit,” added Reyes who ruled the tourney with a 7-1 win-loss showing.

Iran, the 2007 and 2009 FIBA Asia champion, placed second at 6-2 with the US settling for the bronze at 5-3.

The scores SMART GILAS-PILIPINAS 76 – Tenorio 20, Chan 18, Douthit 17, Fonacier 9, Norwood 5, David 5, De Ocampo 2, Thoss 0, Mercado 0.

UNITED STATES 75 – Arnold 17, Justice 17, Marshall 14, Barnes 13, Dearman 10, Vandermeer 2, Reese 0, Williams 0.

Quarters: 12-13, 23-34, 51-59, 76-75.

MVP Tenorio destroys US in Jones Cup finals

T

HE smallest man on the floor emerged as the biggest player with the biggest heart when the championship of the 34th William Jones Cup basketball tournament was on the line.

L.A. Tenorio carried Smart Gilas-Pilipinas on his shoulders as the 5-foot-8 Alaska point guard scored 11 of his 20 points in the payoff period to rally back the Nationals from a 14-point deficit and nip 13-time champion United States, 76-75, to win the championship of the annual cagefest Sunday at the TPEC gym.

The heady point guard of Alaska fired seven straight points in a 10-0 spurt by the Nationals in the fourth quarter, before his jumper in the final 19 seconds proved to be the winning basket in the Na-

tionals’ fourth Jones Cup title since 1981.

“I admit, we are already very tired,” Tenorio told the international media, noting the Nationals played eight games in the last nine days.

“But like Michael Jordan said: ‘The heart never gets tired.”

“It was all heart for us out there,” he continued.

By finishing the tournament with a 7-1 (win-loss) record, Gilas kept itself out of reach in the single-round robin tournament and clinched the country’s first title in 14 years in this tournament held in honor of the late former Fiba secretary-general.

The victory also represented the first significant achievement for a Philippine team in an international tournament since Tim Cone’s Centennial Team won this

Members of the Smart Gilas whoop it up after winning the 34th Jones Cup in Taipei.

Marcus Douthit takes it strong to the hoop in the finals against the Americans.

SMC boys want to be part of Phl squad

P

BA superstar Arwind Santos and Petron teammate Marcio Lassiter as well as Smart Gilas old hand Jimmy Alapag have expressed willingness to join the national team program should their services be needed for the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup campaign in Japan next month.

Speaking just hours after a Gilas team led by LA Tenorio and Marcus Douthit took the country’s first Jones Cup title in 14 years in Taipei, Santos said he was supposed to be a part of Chot Reyes’ team but had to beg off after failing to get the gosignal from management.

Given the chance, the 6-5 forward with the unbelievable wingspan said he’s excited to don the national colors.

“Di lang ako pinayagan

sumama sa team, pero excited na ako maglaro sa national team.

Siyempre, para yan sa bayan,” Santos told Spin.ph after playing in Asi Taulava’s charity basketball game on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.

“Gusto kasi ng team management na mag-concentrate muna ako sa pag-prepare namin sa All-Filipino. Pero, masaya ako kasi yung panalo ng Gilas II, panalo nating lahat iyan.”

From all the players of the three San Miguel-controlled teams, it was only Enrico Villanueva of Ginebra who was allowed to suit up for the Gilas II team that went 7-1 in Taipei en route to the most significant achievement by a national basketball team since the Centennial Team’s victory in the same tournament back in 1998.

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Samsung-Emcor pro-am begins at Apo

By Neil Bravo

T

HE best from both worlds of golf’s touring professionals and amateurs begin their quest today for the P1- million SamsungEmcor Davao National ProAm Golf tournament at the Apo Golf and Country Club.

Elmer Salvador and Anthony Lascuna, now among the prominent names in the pro ranks, were once the wetnosed amateurs reared by this long, tree-lined beauty called the Apo. Salvador and Lascuna will be back in the same turf where they learned their first swing

alongside the virtual list of unknowns from the amateur ranks who will try to break out of their own shell and become the next Salvadors and Lascunas.

Emcor president Celso Villegas said aside from Salvador and Lascuna who are certified boys of Apo, the rest of the country’s leading pros and amateurs are here to shoot for the whopping cash and merchandise bonanza. The champion pro will earn P172,000 cash plus a trophy while the amateur winner will receive a merchandise and a trophy.

The second and third placers will earn P116,000 and P68,000, while the amateurs will get their corresponding merchandise as prizes.

Amateurs are barred by international rules to accept cash prizes.

“Proceeds will go the Benedictine Sisters of Mati City,” Villegas bared.

The tournament was formally launched in Davao last week with Villegas joined by Emcor vice-president for marketing Romeo ‘Boy’ Arriba, Samsung PR manager Odette Velarde, tournament director

TOP PROS. (l-r) Frankie Minoza, Elmer Salvador and Antonio Lascuna are the leading professionals in the SamsungEmcor Pro-Am golf tournament which begins today at the Apo. (Boy LiM)

Antonio “Boy Blue” Ocampo and Salvador.

Salvador, No. 2 in the Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit, will be playing alongside Ryan Gutan, an amateur from General Santos City, while No. 1 ranked Antonio Lascuna will swing side by side with partner Denden de Castro.

Rules call for the top 40 pros based on the Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit ranking after the ICTSI Orchard Golf Invitational this week seeded in the three-day championship although they will not be allowed to team up with amateurs with index of 5 and below to level the playing field.

Format of play is foursomes or alternate shot with the pros to tee off on odd holes and the amateurs on the even ones in the first round. They switch holes the next day.

In 2012, local bet Edgar Ababa and amateur partner Paul Echavez ruled the inaugural staging of the event with a field of 82 players. In 2011, Ernie Rellon and Marcel Puyat won last year’s event joined by 87 golfers. There are more than 100 golfers this year, breaking the record of the two previous editions.

Puyat now plays for Stanford University, the same school where Tiger Woods played out his golf career in college.

To spice up the tournament, Emcor will also be giving away one brand new Honda XRM motorcycle for the pros during the awarding set on Aug. 30 at the AGCC clubhouse.