Edge Davao 5 Issue 231

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

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Page A1 UNIQUE CLOTHESLINE. Residents hang their soiled clothes on steel barricades along the highway of flooded Carmen yesterday after rains that caused heavy flooding in the Davao del Norte town stopped.

[Neil Bravo]

SUBURBIA

Sports

Page164 Page

Page 15

P-Noy okays Davao Occidental

Dakong buroka ni!

Cagas rejects new province

By Antonio M. Ajero

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AVAO DEL SUR Gov. Douglas R. Cagas rejected the creation of the new province of Davao Occidental, which will be composed of five municipalities now belonging to Davao del Sur. “This is GERRYMANDERING – an insatiable craving for political and economic control by the Bautista Clan of five (5)

Says creation an act of gerrymandering

Municipalities – Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani,” Governor Cagas said in a one-page statement to the media he signed.

“We have always opposed this move

At Comelec checkpoint

and will continue to do so,” Cagas said, adding that the signing by President Aquino into law of the proposed creation of Davao Occidental has not yet created it.

The governor said the law approved

by President Aquino “remains a proposal which has yet to undergo a long process.”

FP-NOY 12

Only visual search for guns allowed

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

Follow Us On

E

NFORCERS at Comelec (Commission of Elections) checkpoints are limited only to making visual search for guns.

They cannot pry open parts of the vehicle,

must less open gloves and other compartments, as this is against the law.

This was the clarification made by Police Superintendent Antonio E. Rivera, head

of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) during a speech before

FCOMELEC, 12

2 THE BIG NEWS

DSWD sends food to flood victims

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

By Che Palicte

T

hE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided food packs to the Davao City flood victims through the City Social Services Development Office (CSSDO).

Assistant Regional Director of DSWD 11 Priscilla N. Razon said in an interview yesterday at the Apo View hotel that the food packs given to the families contain 10 kilos of rice, noodles and canned goods which will be enough for a week.

“Last Sunday morning, we instructed the volunteers in our depot at the Department of Public Works and highways to

prepare food packs for Davao City, aware that the rain might cause a big problem in some areas of the city,” Razon saidm adding that DSWD received 391 bales if clothing and other items from rhe Bureau of Customs last Monday which we turned over to the CSSDO for distribution among the 15 affected barangays in Davao City.

Razon added that the DSWD would be receiving additional donation of more than 100,000 sacks of rice from the World Food Program (WFP) which she said would be enough to feed Pablo survivors and Davao City flood victims as well.

Davao City looks to revise zoning plan of flood areas

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hE Davao City Planning and Development Office of Davao City is eyeing the revision of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan, particularly in reclassifying flood-prone areas.

Robbie Alabado, CPDO head, said floodprone areas as identified in the flood map prepared by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in 2007 will be reclassified from residential zones into parks and commercial zones. he said the revisions in the city’s zoning ordinance will take into consideration geo-hazard maps and Geographic Information System to determine areas which are not suitable for residential zones.

Alabado said that in the 1996 revision of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan ordinance they had identified large areas suitable for residential communities.

The January 20 flooding brought about by

continuous rains swelled the Davao River which inundated riverside residential areas such as Jade Valley, Gem Village and Matina Gravahan . About 14,000 families (42,000 individuals) were affected by the recent flooding.

Alabado said identified flood-prone areas will be zoned into parks and recreation areas, commercial and industrial zones. “As long as hindi tinitirahan ng tao.”

(As long as they are not inhabited).

As for existing residential communities in flood-prone areas, Alabado said they would require for the areas higher building standards. he said that most of the residents have already adjusted to the floods in the areas which occur every 10 years.

“Others have left the area, sold their properties or built second floors in their houses.”

Alabado said, referring to the residents of the flood-prone areas. [PIA 11/RG Alama]

CALAMITY SAGA. Flood victims bring their valuables to the nearest evacuation center for safe keeping while they’re still repairing their houses damaged by last Sunday’s flood in Bacaca, Davao City. The path they are traversing was the residential area’s former main road used by hauling trucks in better times. Lean Daval Jr.

2012 worst year for banana industry

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

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hE Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) calls 2012 “the worst year for banana growers in Mindanao.”

That’s what PBGEA Executive Director Stephen Antig during the Club 888 media forum at the Eagles Bar of The Marco Polo Davao yesterday.

“We began the year with the Panama Disease, then in the second quarter came the market crisis in China and Iran, and in December we had Pablo.”

“After Pablo, we thought it was the end of it, but for the last three days we experienced very heavy rain and, as we know, banana trees can’t withstand more than 24 hours of very heavy rain,” he continued.

Some 25 to 30 percent of the banana industry in Mindanao was “greatly” affected by Typhoon Pablo, Antig said, adding, “Just this morning (Wednesday), 400 hectares of banana farm have been affected by the heavy rain.”

Despite the bad news, Antig remains optimistic, saying, “The positive side is that there will be an increase in the price of bananas in the world market, but unfortunately, we will not have the volume or supply to deliver to the market (to take advantage of it).”

As for the rehabilitation of the banana industry in Mindanao, the PBGEA has been talking to several banks, such as the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and

Law enforcers are strictly implementing the election gun ban imposed by the Comelec). Lean Daval Jr.

cording to Antig.

“For example, the government of Tagum has decided to implement the new Real Property Access, while Pag-IBIG and the National housing Mortgage have also declared a moratorium for six months to assist those affected by ‘Pablo’,” he said.

On the matter concerning the Sanguniang Panglungsod’s rejection of a PhP4.8 million budget for agricultural rehabilitation, Antig thinks that, “It is because they are aware that that amount is not enough for rehabilitation.” “hopefully, with these gestures, the banana industry will be able to recover because we cannot afford to let the banana industry die-- especially in Mindanao, ” Antig said.

Barricade leaders to face charges T

GUN BAN ENFORCEMENT. A Highway Patrol Group officer checks a motorcycle rider’s documents after inspecting its vehicle’s compartment for firearms in Lanang, Davao City yesterday.

Landbank of the Philippines to avail of rehabilitation packages.

“The response from these banks is very encouraging,” Antig said, referring to Landbank’s offer of a rehab package amounting to Php 430,000 per hectare over a period of 10 years at six percent and two years grace on the principal and interest, while DBP is still coming up with their own package.

“These packages are not only open to our growers, but to the big players and the corporations as well, he added.”

PBGEA is also feeling upbeat with many of the government agencies which are “very responsive” in extending assistance to the industry, ac-

hE commanding officer of the 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion (CMO) said in an interview at the Apo View hotel yesterday that the leaders of the recent road barricade in Montevista will finally face charges before a court.

“I don’t know if it was yesterday or today, but I’m sure that charges will be filed the case against the people who organized and led the barricade last January 14 in Montevista,” said Major Jacob Thadde-

They will be facing charges of illegal assembly, grave coercion and alarm and scandal us Obligado adding that the filing will be in Compostela Valley province. he said that a minimum of five leaders would be facing charges of illegal assembly, grave coercion and alarm and scandal.

“These people should be penalized for deceiving people and exploiting the Typhoon Pablo survivors.

They also distorted the is-

sue on the giving of relief goods,” he explained.

Obligado clarified that the leaders are “kulang sa pansin” (want to be noticed) and yet they did not extend help to the victims since Day One of the Pablo tragedy and now all they do is to “make a mess of the ongoing relief operations being undertaken by volunteers.”

FBARRICADE, 11

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 231 •THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

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4 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

ComVal DRRMCs remain on watch T

hE rain has stopped but the provincial, municipal, and barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils in Compostela Valley province remain ready with their respective rescue teams and keep on watch for any sudden change of the weather condition.

There were family evacuees in the province as rains poured in since Friday evening (January 18). Per flooding incident official report issued by the

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as of 8:00 a.m. of January 21, 2013, there were 2,143 families who vacated for safety to the identified evacuation centers. As of 8:00 a.m. of January 22, the number of families became 441. As the water subsides, those residents of flooded areas which are accessible already have started to go home.

Governor Arturo T. Uy, chairman of the PDRRM Council, earlier issued an

order for the suspension of classes in schools for the safety of the students and teachers considering the flood risks. But today, classes have resumed already.

PDRRM Officer Raul Villocino said that with the experienced weather disturbance, the people are advised to stay alert and abide to any issued public warnings and safety measures implemented by the local authorities. [GRACE ALMEDILLA, IDS-COMVAL]

hE Davao del Norte provincial government stayed true to its mandate of providing immediate assistance to afflicted constituents when it quickly responded to the needs of thousands of residents affected by the massive flooding that recently hit the province.

After dispatching the rescue teams from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) at once to assist local rescuers at the height of the flashfloods since Sunday, the province promptly responded to the requests of the flood-hit municipalities for augmentation of relief assistance.

As of January 21,

2013, the province has already distributed some 10,753 family food packs to the flooded municipalities of Asuncion, B.E. Dujali, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella, and Sto. Tomas, as well as, Tagum City.

Another 5,500 food packs were sent off to Carmen, B.E. Dujali and Talaingod on Tuesday.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Arlene Semblante revealed the food packs that were distributed by the province were provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The recent deluge caused by the tail-end of a cold front overshadowed the impact of Typhoon Pablo in the

province, as it affected an initial 18,690 families or 84,305 persons across the province, according to the January 22, 2013 report of the PDRRMO. Two casualties were reported in the torrent that had rendered six major roads in the province impassable to vehicles for a while. Some 58,126 individuals were also evacuated in various evacuation centers.

Local DRRMOs are now assessing the impact to crops and infrastructures.

The PDRRMO added all the evacuees in Asuncion and Kapalong, as well as, those in some barangays of New Corella have already returned home.

While the rest of the evacuees in the other flood-affected LGUs remained in the designated evacuation centers fearing the possibility of recurring flashfloods and landslides, due to continued rain showers brought about by an intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting the area.

Semblante assured all the flood-stricken families will receive their share of the food packs as more relief assistance are coming from the DSWD. She revealed the province now has received over P41-million worth of relief assistance from the agency since “Pablo”. [Noel Baguio]

EALTh authorities in Sarangani province have declared the recent occurrence of the mosquito-borne chikungunya disease in two of its municipalities as under control even as it continues to monitor other possible cases in several communities in the area.

Dr. Arvin Alejandro, Sarangani assistant provincial health officer, said Wednesday they have not monitored new cases of the critical viral disease in parts of Kiamba town where it initially emerged last month.

At least 12 of the initial 39 suspected chikungunya cases that came out in the area have earlier turned out positive based on results of laboratory analysis on blood samples submitted by the

Sarangani health office to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The provincial epidemiology and surveillance unit said the confirmed chikungunya cases came from communities situated within the boundaries of Kiamba and Maitum towns.

“We have so far controlled it in the sense that no new cases have emerged recently in areas where it was first monitored,” Alejandro said in an interview with a local television station.

But the health official said they are continuously monitoring several communities in the two municipalities due to other possible cases of the disease. he cited communities

in Barangay Tablao in Kiamba, specifically those situated near the Pangi River.

The Sarangani health office sent to the RITM additional blood samples of residents from the area who had exhibited suspected symptoms of chikungunya, he said.

A fact sheet released by the World health Organization described chikungunya as a viral disease that is spread mainly by Aedes mosquitoes, which are known carriers of the deadly dengue virus.

The disease, which is not usually fatal and mostly affects adults, shares some clinical signs with dengue such as fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

The Department of health (DOh) had report-

ed recent outbreaks of chikungunya in Albay province and in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Northern Min-danao, Davao and Caraga.

In Sarangani, Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez said the disease first emerged sometime last month with around 30 initial cases.

“We immediately sent the blood samples to the DOh and (some of them) turned out positive,” the governor said.

Based on information they gathered regarding the disease, Dominguez said the areas considered susceptible to the spread of the chikungunya were communities or villages that have high cases of the malaria disease. [Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews]

HELPING. Members of the Compostela Valley Capitol Emergency Response Team together with New Bataan Emergency Action Team assist Purok 1, Purok 1-A, and Purok

DavNor provides quick aid T W

Mosquito-borne ‘chikungunya’ now under control –health execs h

EDGEDAVAO

4 residents of Brgy. Andap in New Bataan in vacating their flooded areas. [Albert Dayao/ IDS ComVal]

MILF urges P-Noy to name TransCom members asap ITh its nominees to the Transition Commission (TransCom) already submitted to the Malaysian facilitator, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) called on President Benigno C. Aquino III to appoint them, including their counterparts on the government side.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said Monday the front’s Central Committee has approved the composition of the MILF TransCom members. he, however, did not identify the MILF’s nominees to the TransCom, which shall, among others, draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law. “hopefully, all the TransCom members will be appointed immediately so that they can start work next month,” Jaafar said in a radio interview.

The creation of the TransCom comes as a result of Executive Order 120 signed by Aquino last December 17.

It shall be composed of 15 members all appointed by the President in accordance with the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) that was signed by the government and the MILF in Malacanang last October 15.

The TransCom will be composed of eight members from the MILF and seven from the government. As agreed in the FAB, it shall be headed by the

MILF. EO 120 said the TransCom shall cease operation upon the enactment by Congress of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. For its operation, the body will have an initial allocation of P100,000,000 from the contingent fund of the Office of the President.

Appropriation for succeeding years shall be incorporated in budget proposals under the Office of the President.

Jaafar said they expect the Malaysian facilitator, Tengku Dato’ Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed, to hand the MILF’s nominees to the TransCom to the government peace panel.

The peace panels of both sides resumed amity talks in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

In a statement, Miriam Colonel-Ferrer, government peace panel chair, said that in this round of talks, they aim to settle the few remaining issues across the four annexes that together with the Framework Agreement will comprise the Comprehensive Agreement.

These issues, she said, pertain to jurisdiction over natural resources; transportation and communication; the extent of territorial waters; taxing powers; timetables for decommissioning and demilitarization; policing structures; and the transition authority, among others, [Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 231 •THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

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South Cotabato lawmakers stand pat against open-pit mining T

hE proposed $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. continues to suffer a setback locally after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato stood pat on the province’s controversial ban on open-pit mining.

The provincial board reiterated its stance Monday in a resolution maintaining the validity of Section 2 Paragraph B of the Environment Code, which prohibits the openpit mining method in the province.

The resolution approved by the plenary puts the issue of lifting the open-pit ban in the hands of the court.

Until such time that the court decides that it is illegal or unconstitutional, the open-pit ban enjoys the presumption of validity, the gist of the resolution showed.

“Our stand is only a court of law can declare whether the ban on open pit mining is valid or not,” Vice Gov. Elmo Tolosa said in a text message Wednesday.

In an order issued on May 22, 2012, lawyer Anselmo Abugan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assistant secretary for legal affairs, rejected the appeal of Sagittarius Mines for the reconsideration of its rejected application for an

environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

The junking of the appeal was anchored on the open-pit ban imposed by South Cotabato, the same reason cited by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje in rejecting on January 3, 2012 the firm’s ECC application.

“We are returning herewith the application documents with instruction to deny the same, without prejudice to resubmission, until the issues and concern on the use of open-pit mining method shall have been clarified and resolved by the company [SMI] with the provincial government of South Cotabato,” Paje said in his memorandum.

Sagittarius Mines has elevated its appeal to the Office of the President but no decision has been announced so far.

John Arnaldo, Sagittarius Mines external communications and media relations manager, said in an emailed statement last year that “the legal process is not a preferred option of the company” in settling the open-pit mining ban imposed by South Cotabato.

Earlier, Tolosa, the provincial board’s presiding officer, stressed that “the arguments of the provincial government on the primacy of local autonomy, referring to the ban on open-pit mining, have been valid along the

way despite opinions on the contrary.”

For his part, South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. also said the open-pit ban remains in effect unless the court nullifies it.

The prohibition on open-pit mining method was approved in June 2010 before then South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes stepped down from power. She is now the representative of the Second District of South Cotabato.

Last year, four Catho-

volved key officials and personnel from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA).

“Our main goal is to harmonize various issues involved in the issuance of land titles and other tenurial instruments.

This way, we can avoid coming out with conflicting issuances that could cause problems among claimants,” Mercado said.

Region 12, which is also known as the Soccsksargen Region, comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

In a dialogue held

in this city last month, he said officials of the four agencies agreed to initially create a regional-level committee as a working mechanism for the Joint DENR-DARNCIP-LRA Administrative Order (JAO) No. 1 issued in January last year.

Mercado said they also agreed to create provincial-level committees that would address specific concerns within the region’s four provinces and their component or attached cities.

JAO No. 1-12 specifically provides for the clarification, restatement and interfacing of the respective jurisdictions, policies, programs and projects of DENR, DAR, NCIP and LRA “to address jurisdictional and operational issues between and among the agencies.”

DENR 12 pushes creation of special body to settle conflicting land claims

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hE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 12 is pushing for the creation of a special regional body that would handle the settlement of conflicting land claims and the harmonize various land administration concerns affecting the area.

Elmer Mercado, DENR-12’s land management division chief, said Wednesday they have started discussions with government agencies involved in the issuance of land tenurial instruments for the establishment of a regional committee that would directly deal with various issues and concerns regarding conflicting land claims within the region. he said the talks in-

lic bishops in the region issued a joint statement urging the stay of the province’s open-pit ban.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of the Diocese of Marbel, Bishop Guillermo Afable of the Diocese of Digos and Bishop Romulo dela Cruz of the Diocese of Kidapawan have petitioned the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato

to refrain from amending the open pit mining ban contained in its environment code.

The bishops filed their petition to the SP with the attached signatures of about 30,000 residents from the four dioceses to maintain the prohibition on open-pit mining.

In September 2010, the Regional Mineral Development Council, chaired by Constancio A. Paye Jr., also the regional director of the Mines

and Geosciences Bureau, filed a petition before the provincial board for the review and lifting of the open-pit ban, saying it is against Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Sagittarius Mines will employ the open-pit mining method in its Tampakan project to excavate an estimated 15 million tons of copper and 17.6 million ounces of gold, the company said. [Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews]

geo-political developments in the region,” she stressed.

On January 17, after completing its port of call in Subic, Olongapo City, the mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian reportedly ran aground on Tubbataha reef while en route to its next port of call in Indonesia.

Even as its ship remained aground within the protected area, the park rangers of the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board (TPAMB) were reportedly barred by the US Navy ship commander from assessing the situation by deploying armed personnel on the dock of the ship.

“We have received reports that the personnel of the US Navy ship failed to coordinate closely

with the personnel of the protected area even as their ship had already destroyed an estimated 10 meters of corals,” Legarda noted.

“A full investigation should be conducted by concerned agencies in order to strengthen existing mechanisms for protecting the World heritage Site. Republic Act 10067, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act, clearly states that any damage to the reef shall subject the responsible person or entity to the payment of administrative fines set by the TPAMB based on current valuation standards, as well as the cost of restoration. As such, those responsible for the damage on the Tubbataha Reef should own up and pay up,” she concluded.

Legarda seeks inquiry on Tubbataha Reef damage

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ENATOR Loren Legarda has filed Senate Resolution 928, seeking inquiry into the reported grounding of the USS Guardian in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), the country’s prime marine protected area and World heritage Site.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that there should be full disclosure and accounting of the total damages arising from the incident which will help strengthen existing mechanisms to prevent a future similar occurrence.

“This incident highlights the need to ensure full protection of the Philippines’ marine resources by all vessels, foreign or domestic, within territorial waters amidst

6 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Obama should engage China in a new way COMMENTARy

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EDITORIAL

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Don’t “toy” with guns

ID you know that the ban on firearms during this year’s election season includes toy guns? Yes siree, toy guns, in fact, all replicas of deadly weapons, are covered by the prohibition stipulated in Comelec (Commission of Elections) Resolution 9561-A. The resolution was extensively discussed Tuesday with members and guests of the Rotary Club of East Davao

by Police Supt. Antonio E. Rivera, chief of the Davao City Police Office Investigative and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB).

Rivera said that under existing laws, rules and regulations, the definition of firearms “shall include airguns, airsoft guns, replicas/imitations of firearms in whatever form that will cause an ordinary person to believe they are real.”

Section 1 of the same Comelec Resolution 9561-A states that “no person shall bear, carry or transportfirearms or deadly weapons outside residence or business,” and that “no candidate for public office, including public officers seeking election, shall employ or avail of bodyguard.”

The gun ban covers the election pe-

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riod from January 12,2013 to June 12, 2013.

The gun ban is coupled with OplanKatok which the Philippine National Police is implementing to check on loose firearms, including those whose licenses have expired but whose owners have failed to apply for renewal. “Katok” (knock) involves the visitation by police enforcers of homes of gun owners who have failed to renew their license to possess firearms has expired.

The ban may be able keep in check improper use of some 12,000 firearms in Davao City as proven by localized gun bans during Araw ng Dabaw and Kadawayan festivals.

Davao City’s history is bereft of electoral violence that resulted in gunfights.

By and large, Dabawenyo politicians are peace-loving, it is reasonable to expect that they would not engage in anything more than verbal violence. however, there is still the danger of visitors bringing in guns–licensed or not--and committing crime in the city. how to prevent this from happening is not an easy task. More vigilance by enforcers will, hopefully, do the trick.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEy Consultant

kENNETH IRVING k. ONG Creative Solutions

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography

JADE C. ZALDIVAR • VICky BERDINA M. DE GuZMAN ANTHONy S. ALLADA • AQuILES Z. ZONIO 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 • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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By Tian ying

.S. President Barack Obama, who was sworn in for his second term Monday, can history not only by virtue of his status as America’s first black president, but also by forging a new relationship with China.

Although Obama is busy grappling with domestic issues, such as economic recovery, medical reform and gun violence, China’s rise means that getting along with the country should be on his agenda.

Xi Jinping, the new general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, suggested creating a “new type” of bilateral relations while visiting the U.S. in February 2012, when he was still China’s vice president.

Such relations are intended to feature win-win cooperation, mutual trust and favorable interaction, as opposed to historical antagonism.

The U.S. side responded by saying it welcomes the peaceful rise of China, stating that the United States and China can prove to the world that the two heavyweights will not tread routes previously taken.

U.S. Secretary of State hillary Clinton also suggested writing “a new answer to the age-old question of what happens when the established power and the rising power meet.”

“We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully...because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear,” Obama said in his inaugural speech.

U.S. engagement with China has marked a historical breakthrough in comparison to previous efforts to contain China. It has led bilateral ties to a point where both sides have established multiple dialogue mechanisms and become major bilateral trading partners. however, despite changes in Washington’s approach to China, bilateral relations have yet to see major change, and there have been signs that the Obama administration is not interested in engaging China in a new way.

A series of protectionist moves directed at China were launched during Obama’s first term. Now, challenged by a weak economic recovery and high debt, Washington is looking inward more than ever.

Frequent China-bashing during last year’s presidential campaign demonstrated the popularity of scapegoating China for domestic woes in the United States.

The U.S. government has also made moves to bolster its presence and influence in the Asia-Pacific region, such as announcing a plan to deploy 60 percent of its warships to the region by 2020.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of U.S. studies at Renmin University of China, said the U.S. strategy is designed to help the U.S. compete with China by weakening China’s influence in the region. however, such a strategy may prompt Washington to blindly pursue national interests at the expense of justice. Recent U.S. meddling in China-Japan affairs justifies such worries. Clinton stated last Friday that the Diaoyu Islands are under the administrative authority of Japan, adding that the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty therefore applies to the islands.

The islands have been the subject of a sovereignty dispute between China and Japan.

As Obama’s second term commences, he should consider dealing with China from a new perspective in order to set a precedent for the future of Sino-U.S. relations.

Domestically, his administration should loosen restrictions on exports of high-tech products to China, welcome Chinese investment, avoid protectionism and refrain from shirking its responsibilities by scapegoating other nations.

When handling world affairs, the Obama administration should respect history and prevent national interests from prevailing over justice. [PNA/Xinhua]

EDGEDAVAO

P

Not just a natural disaster

OTENTIALLY LEThAL – Storms were named alphabetically and after name of persons when it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The last to batter the country the previous year was named “Pablo,” the terrific weather disturbance, but he might as well have been called “Killer Pablo” for all the tremendous damage that he did to the country. The footprints of the killer typhoon were all over a broad path of devastation that cut across the provinces of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sarangani, including Davao City and other parts of Mindanao and Visayas.

And the thousands of people trapped for days in the flow of debris – rocks, stones, mud, logs and air and water – how does one evacuate such vast affected areas? – felt a growing sense of desperation.

Of course, killer typhoon “Pablo” had a lot of help from other circumstances. Typhoons of his level would have done just their usual mischief – messing around, moving in unusual directions, delivering powerful gusty wind and dumping too much rain here and there. That could have been damaging enough, of course, but it would have passed quickly from memory.

Then December 2012 would simply have been remembered as a month when the weather turned freaky. No, people had also a hand in making that period a ‘time of the greatest misfortune’ in the category of another killer typhoon “Sendong” that devastated most parts of Region 10 in 2011. That is why, many, various environmentalist groups in particular labeled it not just a natural disaster but a manmade environmental catastrophe.

These different groups summed it this way: “The land in baldy affected areas had turned brown, filled with debris, submerged in murky waters, many people have died and survivors are crying for help.” They acknowledged that the biggest “culprits” are illegal logging, small and large-scale mining and quarrying operations. Even that would probably not have been more than an irritant until the powerful typhoon came deluging the areas where businesses, legal or otherwise, which are inimical to the environment conduct their trade with impunity.

Before long, people in disaster-prone areas were just watching how unscrupulous entrepreneurs operate, with the same awful feeling likewise watching officials who are remiss on their jobs and instead look at the opposite direction for obvious reasons.

Various environmentalist movements assert that small and large-scale mining, illegal logging and quarrying operations are deemed potentially lethal to the environment, pointing out that one of its ill effects is constant flooding. At the height of the damaging storms government immediately declares a state of emergency – closed schools and other public facilities to give way to thousands of evacuees. hospitals and public clinics are filled with people mostly children who

are suffering from water-borne diseases and respiratory ailment. Those with the means fled the affected areas seeking cleaner and higher grounds. But still thousands of residents remained stuck, coping as best they could with relief assistance.

Most of the suffering actually was in Davao Oriental especially in Cateel, Boston, Baganga and other coastal towns.

Small towns like Compostela and New Bataan in ComVal Province joined the nation’s datelines as journalists descended to put human face on the environmental disaster. Spurred into action by the tragedy, friendly neighbors in the Asian region, the US and some European communities immediately sent relief assistance notably food items, blankets, clothing, tents and medicines to battle hunger, sickness and weather patterns. The nation and the world responded to the grim images of children and adults alike crying for attention in time of despondency. helpful perhaps, but as some quarters put it: “This is just mucking about, isn’t it?

There are guys destroying the environment on one side of the road even as government, relief organizations and various helpful entities were exerting all effort trying to save and protect people from environmental destruction.” At first, environment officials denied the existence of mining, logging and quarrying operations in flood-prone remote towns in the different provinces, but belatedly acknowledged the presence of some companies or groups suspected to be undertaking such kind of endeavor. So far they haven’t made certain arrest – especially if those involved are of the “untouchable” variety.

Hindsight: They could have been saved

O

N Saturday, General Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino Custodio led city officials and families of fishermen in honoring those who perished and went missing during the height of super typhoon Pablo.

It was an emotional voyage for all who joined the ceremony.

The city mayor was so distraught she reportedly shed tears.

For the families still hoping their loved ones are still alive, it was a voyage to eventuality.

Yes, all 352 fishermen still listed as missing may have already died in the open seas that ironically sustained them in life.

They were part of the 378 fishermen from General Santos City alone who were caught in the middle of a perfect storm – one that nobody from their class could have imagined. Except for the 18 survivors who lived to tell their harrowing ordeals.

When Pablo violently raced through the Pacific Ocean and headed to the eastern coasts of Mindanao, the owners of the fishing vessels hoped their fishing crews were able to find refuge and seek shelter from the destructive wrath of the super typhoon.

When all was over, all they could locate was their vessels’ last known GPS locations based on last radio contact.

One fishing company owner recalled

( 1st of two parts)

how their base operator had heard hoarse and fainting voices from fishermen frantically crying for help before these were followed by complete radio silence.

In the aftermath, veteran journalist and former New York Times reporter Mort Rosenblum asked why these vessels could not be tracked when they are supposed to be equipped with vessel monitoring system (VMS) as required by the convention on conservation measures (CCM) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

The Philippines is a member of WCPFC. Rosenblum was at the 9th WCPFC meeting in Manila on December 2 to 6 when tragedy struck.

Pablo hit landfall in Davao Oriental on December 3.

Rosenblum went straight to General Santos City after the meeting only to be aghast why these vessels do not have VMS equipment when they are supposed to have one to comply with the WCPFC

ICT HUB

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

rules and policies.

Dino Barrientos, executive director of the Umbrella Fish Landing Association (UFLA), admitted all 51 fishing vessels that went missing were not equipped with VMS although he said they have a complement of communications equipment such as VhF-UhF, single side band and citizen’s band radios and GPS kit.

These communication equipment are however vulnerable to weather elements and could conk out when washed out in sea water. A break and malfunctioning of the antenna could cut them off from their home bases.

Costly lessons Barrientos said a VMS costs anywhere between P100,000 to P180,000.

“For the two-way system. It does not include air time fee,” Barrientos said.

ROM Communications said its ROMTraX VMS-9601 units’ pricing starts at US$1,374, excluding backup battery module. “(B)ut can be higher if additional features are chosen. Savings can be achieved with volume purchasing,” its website said.

To register, a fishing company has to pay US$50 per month for each unit for the base plan only. For hourly positioning, a vessel owner will have to shell out US$85 per month. If one wants a 15-minute reporting, the vessel owner will have to cough up US$160 per month.

7

America has multiple deficits ANAlySIS

By Lawrence SummerS

S

INCE the election, American public policy debate has been focused on prospective budget deficits and what can be done to reduce them. The concerns are in part economic, with a recognition that debts cannot be allowed, indefinitely, to grow faster than incomes and the capacity repay. And they have a heavy moral dimension with regard to this generation not unduly burdening our children.

There is also an international and security dimension: The excessive buildup of debt would leave the United States vulnerable to foreign creditors and without the flexibility to respond to international emergencies.

While economic forecasts are uncertain, the great likelihood is that debts will rise relative to incomes in an unsustainable way over the next 15 years without further actions beyond those undertaken in the 2011 budget deal and the end of year agreement that averted a fall over the “fiscal cliff.”

So even without the risk of self-inflicted catastrophes — like the possible failure to meet debt obligations or the shutting down of government — it is entirely appropriate for policy to focus on reducing prospective deficits.

Those who argue against a further concentration on prospective deficits on the grounds that – contingent on a forecast that assumes no recessions – the debt to gross domestic product ratio may stabilize for a decade counsel irresponsibly. Given all uncertainties and current debt levels, we should be planning to reduce debt ratios if the next decade goes well economically.

Reducing prospective deficits should be a priority – but not an obsession that takes over economic policy. This would risk the enactment of measures such as pseudo-temporary tax cuts that produce cosmetic improvements in deficits at the cost of extra uncertainty and long-run fiscal burdens. It could preclude high-return investment in areas such as infrastructure, preventive medicine and tax enforcement that would, in the very long term, improve our fiscal position.

Economists have long been familiar with the concept of “repressed inflation.”

When concern with measured inflation takes over economic policy and drives the introduction of price controls or subsidies to hold down prices, the results are perverse. Measured prices may not rise and so the appearance of inflation is avoided.

But shortages, black markets, and enlarged budget deficits appear. The repression is unsustainable. When it is relaxed, measured inflation explodes, as in the case of the Nixon price controls in the early ’70s.

Just as repressing inflation is misguided, so also repressing budget deficits can be a serious mistake. As with corporate managements judged only on a single year’s earnings take perverse steps that are ultimately harmful to shareholders, government officials in the grip of a budget obsession repress rather than resolve deficit issues. When arbitrary cuts are imposed, government agencies respond by deferring maintenance leading to greater liabilities later. Or compensation is provided in the form of promised retirement benefits that are less than fully accounted for, with the ultimate burden on taxpayers increased. Or measures like the recent Roth IRA legislation are enacted, encouraging taxpayers to accelerate their tax payment while reducing their present value.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Program of Activity

NATIONAL NUTRIT

INVOCATION NATIONAL ANTHeM ACkNOWLeDGMeNT Of GueSTS WeLCOMe AND OPeNING ReMARkS Ma. Teresa L. Ungson, RND, MPS Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator National Nutrition Council XI

REGIONAL NUTRITION

PReSeNTATION Of AWARDS RD Abdullah B. Dumama and RNPC Ma. Teresa L. Ungson

MESSAGE

• Green Banner Award • LGU Placer • Pag-Asa Award • Kaugmaon Award • National/Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar • Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation • MELLPI Areas (national & reg’l level) • Outstanding National/Provincial & City BNSs • National/Regional BNS President Jocelyn A. Lumaad • Search for Outstanding Volunteer (SOV) • Special Awards (LCE/GO/NGO/Media) • Regional Nutrition Committee

MARIA TERESA L. UNGSON, RND, MPS Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL XI

INTeRMISSION NuMBeR Davao City BNS Federation Officers ReSPONSe fROM AWARDeeS GReeN BANNeR AWARD Hon. Rodolfo P. Del Rosario Governor Davao del Norte Province Hon. Aniano P. Antalan Mayor Island Garden City of Samal

Hon. Nestor L. Alcoran Mayor New Corella, Davao del Norte

kAuGMAON AWARD Hon. Evalina J. Jampayas Mayor Mawab, Compostela Valley

ReGIONAL OuTSTANDING Maria Digna D. Tayong BARANGAy NuTRITION Brgy. Mainit, Nabunturan SCHOLAR Compostela Valley keyNOTe MeSSAGe Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr., CESO III Regional Director, DOh-ChD XI

MeSSAGe Of THANkS Ma. Teresa L. Ungson, RND, MPS Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator National Nutrition Council XI MR. ARNOLD ALINDADA Master of Ceremony

My warm greetings to all! We have so many reasons to be thankful for. We are recognizing once again all those who contributed to the good performance of region XI in the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

Over the years, the LGUs and Barangay Nutrition Scholars of region XI has been receiving national acclaim for their good program performance, innovative approaches, good practices, and their commitment and dedication to the program.

Davao del Norte has once again garnered three major award categories based on the results of the annual Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI). I would like to congratulate all the provinces and cities of the region for their continued support to the nutrition program. All our Local Government Units, in their own way, has contributed to the achievements of the Davao Regional Nutrition Program. Much has been done by each LGU... by the men and women who lead them to provide for a basic human right…NUTRITION. Our regional winners for CY 2012 are considered future national winners. My congratulations to all our winners. I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, Mayor Aniano P.Antalan, Mayor Nestor L. Alcoran and Mayor Evalina J. Jampayas for going the extra mile for the nutrition program.

Our thanks to all who participated in the MELLPI (Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation) visits.

I would like to congratulate ROBNS Digna Tayong of Bgy. Mainit, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley for being awarded 2nd Placer in the National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar last December 19, 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

I would also like to commend BNS Enone dela Cueva of Bgy. A.O. Floirendo, Panabo City and BNS Joy A. Lumaad of Bgy. Panacan, Davao City for being endorsed by the SOV Regional Evaluation Committee as Regional Outstanding Volunteers for CY 2012. And to add to that, BNS Lumaad has also been elected last year as the President of the National Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars.

I would like to enjoin everybody to join the bandwagon of winners and achievers of the nutrition program. I do believe that Davao Region has what it takes to lead. Let us soar high together and give our best for a healthy future of the country.

More power to all the LCEs and LGUs of region XI! Let us continue to work together in addressing nutrition challenges in the region.

Maria Digna D. Tayong Barangay Mainit, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley 2nd Runner-up, National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar

Making Nutrition Improvement her Life’s Goal Maria Digna Tayong or Digna decided to commit her life as a Barangay Nutrition Scholar since 2009. She is a mother of three children, two of whom are of impressionable ages 5 and 7 years old.

Digna became a BNS because she wanted all children in her barangay to be well-nourished and she wanted to help mothers know how to do that. She views being a BNS is a lifelong commitment, and being the BNS of her barangay is a decision that she has not regretted ever since.

Shy of a year in finishing her college degree, her first experience as public servant started when she served as Purok Secretary of Barangay Mainit. Then she was appointed as BNS of Barangay Mainit. Her previous experience as Purok Secretary helped her gain skills in records filing system and documentation of her day-to-day activities. As a volunteer cathechist in the community, she used her confidence in her BNS work, approaching members of the barangay nutrition committee and other local officials whenever she needed support, funding or otherwise, for nutrition activities she thought would benefit the barangay.

Three years later, BNS Digna with her unyielding commitment and with the collaboration and support of the Barangay Mainit Nutrition Committee led by its able Punong Barangay Alfredo Abenales, the number of underweight preschool children in Barangay Mainit has decreased from 10 (0.8%) children in 2009 to 6 (0.5%) children in 2011.

One of the activities implemented by BNS Digna that contributed to the improved nutritional status of the children was the supplementary feeding given during lunchtime at the barangay nutrition center. A nongovernment organization engaged in mining donated Php10,000.00 which BNS Digna and the BNC used to buy the food commodities allotting P12.50 per child for 120 feeding days.

BNS Digna with the help of the BHW and mothers of the malnourished children prepared and served the meals.

To generate funds for nutrition activities, BNS Digna spearheaded the collection of recyclable plastics and cans in the barangay for sale to recycling centers. She also made flowers and home decors from recycled materials and sold them to implement planned nutrition activities.

Along promotion of nutrition messages, BNS Digna did not settle for the usual nutrition classes that gave priority to the pregnant and lactating mothers and the families with underweight children.

She led the conduct of the Search for Little Mr. and Ms. Nutrition of Barangay Mainit, an awareness-raising activity on the importance of nutrition highlighting the theme of the 2011 Nutrition Month on exclusive breastfeeding.

January 2 9:00 Grand Regal Hotel, L

HON. RODOLFO P. DEL ROSARIO Governor Province of Davao del Norte

Regional Green Banner Awardee-2nd Maintenance (Provincial Level Category) Davao del Norte strived for global competitiveness. The provincial government’s guiding vision is anchored on People Empowerment, Education, Optimum health and Social Services, Public-Private Partnership, Linking to the World and Employment and Livelihood Opportunities (PEOPLE). This vision contributed to the province’s conferment as the Regional Green Banner Awardee-2nd Maintenance.

The Provincial Nutrition Committee of Davao del Norte, chaired by honorable Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario exerted efforts and full support to achieve the reduction of malnutrition in the province.

The deployment of 253 Barangay Nutrition Scholars provincewide facilitated the delivery of basic health and nutrition services to identified households with vulnerable groups. The BNSs are instrumental in the effective and efficient implementation of the Health and Nutrition programs at the grassroots level. The province maintains its good performance in the delivery of comprehensive basic services thus contributed to the improvement of health and nutrition condition of the populace.

The implementation of the Micronutrient Supplementation Program through distribution of vitamin A, iron, and multivitamins to all underweight and severely underweight pre-school children and low birth weight infants, pregnant women and lactating mothers reduces the incidence of anemia, infections, diarrhea, and malnutrition among children and mothers. The establishment of Gulayan sa Paaralan, Puroks at Kabahayan provided food security to all households. Livelihood programs were also given to individuals without work, the promotion of healthy lifestyle through continuous diet counseling, smoking cessation, sportsfest and advocacies on Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos in all barangays reduces the incidence of degenerative diseases among adults.

Other notable accomplishments of the province include the implementation of infant and young child feeding program, establishment of breastfeeding room and corner in provincial capitol, municipal hall, private malls, Banana plantations and Barangay health Stations, these strategies helped promote good health and nutrition to young children.

Capability development among Nutrition Committee members at various levels on Nutrition Program Management, food production, livelihood skills development, micronutrient supplementation, healthy lifestyle, smoking cessation, BNS training, CGS training strengthened the nutrition program.

The Provincial Nutrition Committee’s efforts contributed to the reduction of the prevalence rate of malnutrition among preschool children from 6.66% in 2011 to 5.66% in 2012.

Through good governance and strong leadership of Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario the quality of life of the people in Davao del Norte has improved.

HON. NESTOR L. A Mayor New Corella, Davao

REGIONAL GREEN BA (MUNICIPAL LEVEL C

There is nothing sweeter fo Award for the second time aroun category during 2011 regional Resort and Convention Center, Mayor Nestor “Bebot” Alcoran w

Its compass to become Dav executive thrust coined as Allev Accessible Network of (ALCORA Committee (MNC) to streamline various stakeholders.

The committee ensured th program through legislation an tion committees (BNC) in 20 ba scholars (BNS), brgy. health wor the help of the Council of Wome rise Multi-Purpose Cooperative, socio-civic organizations.

This convergence has susta the family table by enormous pla vegetables in the backyard of ho ed the achievement of other pro ent supplementation, food fortif tial in maternal and child health skills and livelihood trainings s ware servicing, food processing soap making harmonized the n development for families with m

The establishment of dairy efforts of the government to c Mayor Alcoran that every child drinking to supplementary fee food sufficiency through vegeta in the regular conduct of evalua and organic fertilizer complem Kahirapan (KALAhI) projects lik and other infrastructure develo Parallel to said contribution wa under Mindanao Rural Develop anao (GEM) Program.

For better focus on nutritio sponsibility with the barangay b to coordinate with the MNAO.

True to his commitment t reported that the prevalence of pre-schoolers had reduced from to 6.7% in 2010-2011.

“This significant rate of red to have healthy, happy and inte mayor.

he lauded too the untiring forts of stakeholders that raised

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 231 •THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

MASTERLIST OF AWARDEES FOR THE REGIONAL NUTRITION AWARDING CEREMONY MAJOR REGIONAL AWARD OF REGION XI

TION COUNCIL XI AWARDING CEREMONY

24, 2013 a.m.

Lanang, Davao City

ALCORAN

o del Norte

ANNER AWARDEE CATEGORY)

or New Corella than to receive Regional Green Banner nd. The town seized such award in the municipal level nutrition awarding ceremony held at Garden Oases Davao City. In 2010, it received the same award as was recognized as green banner awardee.

vao Del Norte’s cartel for nutrition excellence was the viating Life by Creating Opportunities and Rendering AN) Services. This propelled the Municipal Nutrition e government resources and forge partnership with

he efficient implementation of health and nutrition nd other related services. It activated barangay nutriarangays to mobilize its volunteers like brgy. nutrition rkers (BhW) and brgy. extension workers (BEW) with en, Brgy. Captain’s Spouses Association, Women’s SunLapanday, Doña Luisa Foundation, Sumifru and other

ained “Gulayan sa Kabahayan” to bring healthy food in anting of malunggay and other green leafy and yellow ouseholds, schools and purok centers. It also facilitatograms that includes nutrition education, micronutrification, supplementary feeding, and nutrition essenh care services, among others. Provision of technical such as carpentry, masonry, driving, computer hardg, meat processing, animal production, handicraft and nutrition activities. The trainings generated income malnourished children.

y processing plant in New Corella strengthened the combat malnutrition. Geared towards the vision of will drink a glass of milk daily, MNC integrated milk eding for pre-schoolers. The committee guaranteed able and goat production. This has been monitored ation on “Gulayan sa Barangay”. Production of Bio-N mented also its implementation. Kapit Bisig Laban sa ke potable water system, rubber nursery production opment contributed to the reduction of malnutrition. as the construction of Farm-to-Market Roads (FMR) pment Program (MRDP) and Growth Equity in Mind-

on services, MNC Chair Mayor Alcoran shared the reby organizing Brgy. Nutrition Action Officers (BNAO)

to uplift New Corellahanon families, Mayor Alcoran f severely underweight (SU) and underweight (UW) m 7.86% to 6.59%; and of schoolchildren, from 7.4%

duction only tells that we are consistent in our dream elligent children in the 21st century,” expressed the

g works of the MNC members and the convergent efd New Corella as the Regional Green Banner again.

REGIONAL GREEN BANNER AWARD - 2nd MAINTENANCE (Provincial level category) • Province of Davao del Norte REGIONAL GREEN BANNER AWARD – City level category • Island Garden City of Samal

REGIONAL GREEN BANNER AWARD – 2nd MAINTENANCE (Municipal level category) • New Corella, Davao del Norte Province REGIONAL MELLPI RANKING

2nd Best Municipality in the Region • Carmen, Davao del Norte 3rd Best Municipality in the Region • Mawab, Compostela Valley Province KAUGMAON AWARDEE • Municipality of Mawab, Compostela Valley Province

PAG-ASA AWARD • Provincial level – Davao Oriental Province

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION (National and Regional MELLPI Participants)

HON. ANIANO P. ANTALAN Mayor Island Garden City of Samal

HON. EVALINA J. JAMPAYAS Mayor Mawab, Compostela Valley

Regional Green Banner Awardee (City Level Category)

Kaugmaon Awardee

The Island Garden City of Samal is the center of tourist destination in Mindanao region. The white sandy shore around the entire island is home of beaches and resorts that sprout like mushrooms. The splendored beauty of the island equates the strong leadership of the honorable Mayor Aniano P. Antalan whose flagship program is directed to human development as an important element to economic growth and development.

The City Nutrition Committee spearheaded by the honorable mayor has implemented various programs and projects in strong coordination with different stakeholders from the government, private and business sector. The identified nutrition programs are geared toward the improvement of the nutrition condition of the vulnerable groups primarily the preschool children, school children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Food production is being implemented in the island to provide additional food to the family and augment family income through selling of extra home grown vegetables and livestock other than fishing. To ensure wide coverage of food production, the City Agriculture’s office distributed assorted vegetable seeds and seedlings to 109 households prioritizing families with malnourished children. On the other hand, 51 schools have also established school gardens and spent its proceeds for the school feeding program. The maternal and infant health and nutrition are also prioritized to ensure good nutrition for both mother and infant. The preventive measures established for attaining good health and nutrition is through periodic supplementation of micronutrients specifically vitamin A, iron, and zinc. This is integrated with nutrition education among mothers with young children, pregnant and lactating women through Pabasa sa Nutrisyon, Infant and Young Child Feeding counseling session and the conduct of symposia highlighting topics that promotes healthy lifestyle and promotion of good nutrition. The local government of IGACOS in partnership with Antonio Floirendo Foundation and Land O’Lakes Foundation conducted a 120 days supplementary feeding program targeting underweight children. The same feeding activity is also conducted in school targeting children who are wasted. These are short term interventions to improve their nutrition condition. Livelihood programs are also strengthened to sustain family income. Among the livelihood activities conducted are animal dispersal, financial assistance in the form of soft loans and money lending through eligible cooperatives and association in the barangays. This activity is closely monitored by the concerned sector for sustainability and replication to other barangays. Capability development is also conducted among the health and nutrition workers at the city level and barangay level to equip them with pertinent knowledge on health and nutrition for effective delivery of services and implementation of programs.

The concerted efforts of the City Nutrition Committee led to the rehabilitation of underweight preschool and school children, wherein, 6.27% prevalence rate of undernourished preschool children in CY 2010 went down to 5.25% in 2011 while 9.24% prevalence rate in SY 2010 of wasted and severely wasted school children went down to 8.13% in SY 2011 The improvement of nutrition condition among the vulnerable children through collaborative efforts of the City Nutrition Committee and allied sectors enable the city to achieve the Regional Green Banner Award for CY 2012. Other than that, the city government also received the Seal of Good housekeeping Award with financial assistance amounting to Php 25 Million given by the Department of Interior and Local Government. The said financial assistance shall be spent for the construction of farm to market roads, school buildings and school rehabilitations and improvement.

For the Island Garden City of Samal, the challenge of overcoming malnutrition can be overwhelming but with team work and community participation, dedication and commitment among the City Nutrition Committee through the leadership of Mayor Aniano P. Antalan there is no barrier that will keep them from achieving their goal of a healthy and well nourished populace.

The milestones of nutrition program in the municipality of Mawab evolved in 1974 with the existing structure equipped with manpower.

The rehabilitation center of malnourished children known as “Nutri-hut” at that time was established where severely malnourished children are being treated.

Nutrition programs was sustainably implemented until the present administration spearheaded by the active and energetic Local Chief Executive in the person of honorable Evalina J. Jampayas, who is also a medical doctor by profession. It was during the term of Mayor Evalina J. Jampayas where the spacious nutrition building was established beside the Mawab municipal building. health and nutrition is close to the heart of the honorable Mayor as she readily supports every aspect of the nutrition program implementation through the Municipal Nutrition Committee. This can be manifested through increased allocation of nutrition budget to 26% in CY 2011 for program interventions and number of policies passed supporting to health and nutrition.

The deployment of 17 Barangay Nutrition Scholars in 11 barangays enabled the delivery of basic services up to the far flung barangays.

Regular health and nutrition services are being administered including micronutrient supplementation of vitamin A, iron and zinc; household visitation and counseling among child bearing age women, pregnant and lactating mothers. The BNSs along with BhWs are closely monitoring the child’s weight through the use of measurement tools like the salter scale. Based on the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation conducted, 95% of infants have normal birth weight.

This can be attributed to the quality of maternal care given to pregnant women through packages of intervention.

The municipality of Mawab has a number of good innovations when it comes to food production as they adopted the organic farming technology and production of vermi-culture. households were also given seeds and seedlings to establish their own home grown vegetables.

The presence and support of the Council of Women in the municipality of Mawab is also visible. This can be manifested through the livelihood skills development introduced among women in the form of craft and beads making.

The dedication, commitment and selfless efforts of the members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee through the Chairmanship of honorable Mayor Jampayas had helped in the reduction of the prevalence of malnutrition among the preschool and school children.

As of CY 2011, underweight and severely underweight preschool children has a prevalence rate of 2.22% which is lower than the regional prevalence rate of 6.2%. On the other hand, the prevalence rate for wasting and severely wasting among school children is 5.22% on SY 2011.

The municipality of Mawab is one of the outstanding LGUs in Compostela Valley province. The LGU is also a recipient of major awards at the provincial level and regional level. In 2011, municipality of Mawab was adjudged as 3rd placer outstanding municipality in the region and has been a recipient of Sandugo Award at the national level and Good Governance Award.

Through continued support and strong linkages among line agencies, non government organizations, socio- civic groups, total health and nutrition development is within.

National level (National Search for Outstanding BNS) • Nabunturan, Compostela Valley • Barangay Mainit, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Regional level:

Province: • Compostela Valley Province • Davao del Norte Province City: • Island Garden City of Samal

Municipality • Carmen, Davao del Norte • New Corella, Davao del Norte • Maco, Compostela Valley • Mawab, Compostela Valley • Mabini, Compostela Valley • Hagonoy, Davao del Sur • Banaybanay, Davao Oriental

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR Local Chief Executives (LCEs)

Green Banner Awardee – Provincial level category • Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario Province of Davao del Norte Green Banner Awardee – City level category • Mayor Aniano P. Antalan Island Garden City of Samal

Green Banner Awardee – Municipal level category • Mayor Nestor L. Alcoran New Corella, Davao del Norte Province Regional Outstanding BNS • Barangay Captain Alfredo B. Abenales Barangay Mainit, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley

OUTSTANDING BARANGAY NUTRITION SCHOLARS: Maria Digna D. Tayong Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar Brgy. Mainit, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Luz F. Duot (2nd Place) Brgy. Caganganan, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental Mercedita F. Mole (3rd Place) Brgy. Magsaysay, Carmen, Davao del Norte Sherwin C. Abellaniza Brgy. Magugpo East, Tagum City Charlotte Y. Agang Brgy. Tagakpan, Tugbok District Davao City Ester M. Arganda Brgy. Sinayawan, hagonoy Davao del Sur

Magdalena S. Borres Brgy. San Antonio, Babak District Island Garden City of Samal

2012 SEARCH FOR OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER (SOV) BNS Maria Enone dela Cueva Bgry. A.O. Floirendo, Panabo City BNS Jocelyn A. Lumaad Bgy. Panacan, Davao City

PLAQUE AND CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION Jocelyn A. Lumaad Charter President Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars Association of Region XI/BNS Onse President National Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR MEDIA PARTNERS: • The Edge Davao • DXRP • GMA Network

10 THE ECONOMy Stat Watch

1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

2. Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

3. Exports 1/ 4. Imports 1/ 5. Trade Balance 6. Balance of Payments 2/ 7. Broad Money Liabilities

USD 4,931 million May 2012 USD 4,770 million Apr 2012 USD -135 million Apr 2012 USD -209 million Mar 2012 P 4,580,674 million Apr 2012

8. Interest Rates 4/

4.1 % May 2012 P131,403 million May 2012 P 5,075 billion Apr 2012

9. National Government Revenues 10. National government outstanding debt 11. Peso per US $ 5/

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - December 2011) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74 46.31 46.03

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VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

FEDCO to provide market for small farmers’ produce

hE Federation of Cooperatives in Mindanao (FEDCO) will provide market for the harvests of small banana-cacao growers who underwent trainings on its banana-cacao intercropping project.

Flordelyn Saavedra, marketing head of FEDCO said the farmers enrolled with FEDCO’s Farmer Field School (FFS) on banana-cacao intercropping have expressed concern on market accessibility, a problem they are facing as small farmers.

Small farmers from Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte raised the problem in one of their FFS sessions recently.

Ponciano Andamun, farmer beneficiary of FEDCO’s FFS has already started planting cacao under his banana trees. he said the new farming system is quite promising. however, he is worried on where to market

his upcoming harvests. Based on previous experience, Andamun said due to lack of market accessibility his bananas find its way to the wet markets in Sto. Tomas at a very low price.

Worse, those that were not sold perished, he lamented.

“Nindot kaayo ni nga proyekto para sa among gagmay nga mang-uuma, pero ngutana lang ko bahin sa kasiguruhan sa pagapil namo aning banana-cacao intercropping, basig mangalata lang ni among produkto kay wala miy kabaligyaan (this is a very good project for us small farmers, but I will just ask on the guarantee that our products will have a market otherwise they might just rot because we don’t have buyers),” Andamun said at the session.

Saavedra who was present at the session assured the farmers that FEDCO will help them by consolidating their produce and will provide the desired market. She said FEDCO

is aware of the small farmers’ problem on market accessibility. however, in the case of cacao, Saavedra is confident it would not be difficult to market the product given its current demand.

Citing a study of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Saavedra said the country currently needs about 35,000 metric tons (MT) of cacao annually. however the current produce is only at 6,000 MT. The huge cacao supply lack is an assurance that the produce of the small farmers who are now into cacao growing will find a market, Saavedra said.

FEDCO ventured into banana-cacao intercropping project in the wake of the problems confronting the banana industry among others, pest infestation that resulted to stricter quality requirements from export markets. FEDCO members included big and small banana

growers.

FEDCO partnered with ACDI/VOCA an international organization currently implementing CocoPal Farming System project in Mindanao in its banana-cacao intercropping project called Cacao-Banana Agri-Enterprise Development (CBAED).

First phase of the CBAED covers the establishment of a cacao nursery to sustain the project while the second phase involves the training of the small farmers through FFS. The project is targeted to end next month benefiting a total of about 2,000 small farmers.

FEDCO’s nursery project in Barangay New Katipunan, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte covers 1.8 hectares planted with about 4,000 cacao trees. The project started in April. At present, about 1,800 trees are already fruit bearing, Benjie Lumiguid, FEDCO’s nursery in-charge said.

Banana companies may resort to retrenchment

B

ANANA companies are hinting on possible downsizing amidst the series of challenges experienced by the banana export industry since the first quarter of 2012.

Export earnings last year were badly affected by the decrease in production volume brought about by several natural and man-made catastrophes.

“Total export volume in 2012 was down by more than seven per cent (7.25%) compared to 2011 figure. The industry was caught in a quagmire as a result of the market crises, intermit-

Amidst 2012 income deficits and possible Q1 shortfalls tent weather conditions, the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo in December 2012, and now the series of flooding that intensified the risk of the spread of plant diseases including Fusarium wilt popularly known as Panama Disease”, Stephen Antig , executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) bared.

According to Antig, the reha-

bilitation of banana plantations damaged by Typhoon Pablo will run for at least nine months.

Considering the size of the area that will have to undergo soil analysis and treatment, it will take some time before banana bunches can be harvested again.

“We are talking of more than 14,000 hectares of which not all may be fit for banana production anymore”, Antig added.

LIVESTOCK. A man can be seen untying his goats which he will later display outside the Sta. Ana Wharf where purchasers usually wait for livestock and other farm products from Island Garden City of Samal and nearby areas. Lean Daval Jr.

The PBGEA director said that while the rehabilitation of farms is on-going, the activities in the production areas and packing plants will decrease hence the need to rationalize the workforce. he said this move is mulled over to minimize the losses incurred by the banana companies in 2012 and to prevent further shortfalls in 2013.

“It is a real fact. Banana growers have been hurting for long. The continuous appreciation of the peso has been making our situation more difficult. We have no other recourse but to resort to cost-cutting measures and minimize operation costs including payments for salaries and wages and the accompanying compulsory contributions, benefits and incentives intended for the workers”, Antig said.

The spokesperson of the largest and most organized association of banana growers and exporters in the country is, however, optimistic that the retrenchment of workers that some member-companies may be forced to undertake would be temporary until such time that operations in production areas will be normalized. “Of course, we will be doing this in accordance to Philippine labor laws”, Antig added.

In 2012, the Philippine banana export industry directly and indirectly provided jobs to more than 300,000 people with an estimated annual pay out of PhP38-Billion for salaries and wages.

as of august 2010

Cebu Pacific Daily Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Silk Air Mon/Sat Cebu Pacific Thu Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat

5J961 / 5J962 Z2390 / Z2390 5J593 / 5J348 PR809 / PR810 PR819 / PR820 5J394 / 5J393 5J599 / 5J594 5J347 / 5J596 5J963 / 5J964 PR811 / PR812 5J595 / 5J966 MI588 5J965 / 5J968 5J965 / 5J968

5:45 5:45 6:00 6:10 7:50 7:50 8:00 9:10 9:40 11:30 12:00 12:55 12:55 13:35

Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Iloilo Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga Cebu-Davao-Cebu Iloilo-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Manila Davao-Cebu-Singapore Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 09:05 13:25 14:05

Silk Air Mon/Sat Silk Air Wed/Sun Silk Air Thurs Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri Philippine Airlines August Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippines Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Tue/Sat/Sun Cebu Pacific Daily Airphil Express Daily Philippine Airlines Daily except Sunday Philippine Airlines Sunday

MI588 / MI588 MI566 / MI566 MI551 / MI551 5J507 / 5J598 15:55 Z2524 / Z2525 5J967 / 5J600 PR813 / PR814 5J215 / 5J216 5971 / 5J970 5J973 / 5J974 5J969 / 5J972 2P987 / 2P988 PR821 / PR822 PR821 / PR822

18:55 18:55 15:45 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu 16:50 Cebu-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Cagayan de Oro-Davao-Cagayan de Oro Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

13:35 15:20 12:05 15:30 16:45 17:05 17:45 18:20 19:10 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:50 22:50

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 231 •THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

NATION BRIEFS Not revoked

S

everal months after the assault video went viral, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) thinks revoking Robert Blair Carabuena’s license is just too much. Carabuena’s offense is now a “mere traffic violation which does not merit the harsh penalty of revocation,” the Metro Manila Development Authority quoted LTO as saying.

Carabuena was also not found guilty of “operating or using a motor vehicle in, or as an accessory to, the commission of any crime or at which endangers the public,” the LTO added.

T

Setback

ime is running out for the Freedom of Information (FoI). Or so it seems as the house of Representatives failed to sponsor the controversial measure for the second reading following an early suspension of sessions Tuesday.

The FoI bill is the implementing measure people’s right to information on matters of public concern and the state policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.

Won’t regulate

D

oes the Commission on Elections’ rules on candidates’ media interviews violate press freedom? Poll chief Sixto Brillantes doesn’t think so, as he noted that “prior restraint” is not Comelec’s intention when it comes to media interviews but only “prior notice.”

“We cannot regulate the interview,” Brillantes said. “We will just have to monitor the interview and check whether it will fall under propaganda or a legitimate interview on issues or a legitimate cause,” he added.

Aquino to spend P49M B on trip to Switzerland

WORLD TODAY Mental problem

M T

ritain’s Prince harry, who compared shooting insurgents in Afghanistan to playing video games, has probably developed a mental problem, the Taliban said Tuesday.

“There are 49 countries with their powerful military failing in the fight against the mujahideen, and now this prince comes and compares this war with his games, PlayStation or whatever he calls it,” Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP.

P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is kicking off his foreign trips this year with a journey to Switzerland, where he is seen to cite Philippine reforms in a global forum.

Aquino is expected to “highlight the administration’s anti-corruption campaign and make a pitch on the Philippines’ readiness to receive more investments,” Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said in a statement Wednesday.

The government has earmarked P49 million for the trip, the statement added.

The amount includes the delegation’s chartered flight to Switzerland, accommodation, transportation, food and equipment and telecommunications requirements, among others.

The President will fly to Davos late Wednesday to attend the World Economic Forum, which is flocked by global business and political leaders. he is set to deliver a keynote address on the fight against corruption at the WEF “Partnering Against Corruption Initiative” which will be held on January 24, the Palace

Arrested

anuel Amalilio, head of a company implicated in a multi-billion peso investment scam, has been taken into custody of Malaysian immigration for “possession of fraudulent Malaysian passport and identification cards,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Wednesday.

Amalilio flew to Malaysia late last year after his company, Aman Futures Group Philippines Inc., was linked to a P12-billion scam that allegedly victimized hundreds of investors.

NATION/WORlD 11

C

Complication

C President Benigno S. Aquino III during the International Conference on Retail Marketsat the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City. [Photo by the Malacañang Photo Bureau]

said.

Aquino’s trip will last until Jan. 27. Aquino is also expected to meet the Filipino community in Zurich Jan. 26 before flying back to Manila.

“President Aquino’s participation in the WEF is an important opportunity for us to let the world know of our determination to institutionalize good governance in our country as one of the principal pillars of fiscal reform,” Ochoa said.

Last year, Aquino had nine trips abroad, including state visits to the United States and the United Kingdom.

Also among his notable 2012 trips abroad are to Vladivostok, Russia for the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in September and to Phnom Phen, Cambodia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in November.

For his first 2013 trip abroad, the President

Beijing vows efforts to fight pollution

hINA’S capital Beijing will strengthen measures to combat pollution, state media reported Tuesday, amid public anger over the dangerous air quality in the sprawling metropolis.

Acting mayor Wang

Anshun told the city’s legislature that steps will include removing old vehicles from roads, shutting down coal-fired plants and planting more greenery, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

“Beijing will complete

afforestation of 66,000 hectares (163,020 acres) to make the city’s forest coverage hit 40 percent or above” over the next five years, Wang said.

“Its total emissions of major pollutants will continue to be reduced.”

Fined

he Philippines has fined the US Navy for “unauthorised entry” after an American minesweeper went aground on Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in the Sulu Sea. The Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board, of which WWF-Philippines is a member, was poised to send out the Notice of Violation informing the US government of its transgressions, including penalties, on Tuesday afternoon, said Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, WWF-Philippines vice chairman and chief executive officer.

will be accompanied a 63-member delegation composed mostly of public officials.

This includes Foreign Affairs chief Albert Del Rosario, Finance chief Cesar Purisima, Trade chief Gregory Domingo, Budget chief Florencio Abad, Socio-Economic Planning chief Arsenio Balisacan, Cabinet Secretary to the President Jose Rene Almendras and Presidential Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang.

Pedestrians wearing masks wait to cross a road in severe pollution in Beijing on January 12, 2013. China’s capital Beijing will strengthen measures to combat pollution, state media

reported, amid public anger over the dangerous air quality in the sprawling metropolis. [AFP]

Wang’s comments came after dense smog engulfed large areas of northern China, including the capital, earlier this month, sparking public anger and media criticism.

At the height of the pollution, Beijing authorities said readings for PM2.5 -- particles small enough deeply to penetrate the lungs -- hit 993 micrograms per cubic metre, almost 40 times the World health Organisation’s safe limit.

Experts quoted by state media blamed weak winds, saying fog had mixed with pollutants from vehicles and factories and had been trapped by mountains north and west of Beijing. Coal burning in winter was also a factor.

Wang said Beijing would retire 180,000 old vehicles and encourage the use of clean-energy autos in government departments.

hina said on Wednesday that a request by the Philippines for a U.N. tribunal to intervene in its longstanding South China Sea territorial dispute with China would only complicate the issue, and denounced Manila’s “illegal occupation” of islands there.

Manila has asked the tribunal of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to order a halt to China’s activities that the Philippines says violates the Southeast Asian nation’s sovereignty.

T

Sanctions

he UN Security Council ordered expanded sanctions against North Korea for a banned rocket launch, triggering a defiant pledge by Pyongyang to bolster its nuclear deterrent.

The Security Council on Tuesday added North Korea’s state space agency, a bank, four trading companies and four individuals to the UN sanctions list, and threatened “significant action” if the North stages a nuclear test.

R

No peace

ussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday there could be no peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria as long as opponents of President Bashar al-Assad demand his exit from power and refuse to negotiate with his government.

Lavrov’s comments at an annual news conference signalled no shift in the position of Russia, which says Assad’s exit must not be a precondition for a deal to end 22 months of violence in which more than 60,000 people have been killed.

h

Final bow

illary Clinton will make one of her last major appearances as US secretary of state when she testifies to lawmakers on Wednesday about a deadly militant attack on a US mission in Libya.

Despite keeping a decidedly low profile after a long period of ill health in her final weeks in office, Clinton is keen to draw a line under the deadly September 11 Benghazi assault, which triggered a political storm in the US.

12

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

P-Noy...

FFROM 1

“We will wait for what happens next,” Cagas added.

“Dili katuohan nga SCARED o NAhADLOK ang mga Bautista sa kandidatura ni Marc Cagas pagka Gobernador ug ni Bong Parcasio pagka Congressman sa District 2 (It is unbelievable that the Bautista clan is scared of the candidacy of (incumbent congressman) March Cagas for governor and of (Randolph) Bong Parcasio for congressman of District 2, ” the governor said.

What is clear, Cagas charged, is that the Bautistas abandoned their candidates for vice governor, board members, mayors and councilors of the nine municipalities of Malalag, Sulop,

Comelec...

Kiblawan, Padada, hagonoy,Magsaysay, Bansalan, Matanao, Sta. Cruz and the city of Digos.

In contrast, Cagas said, whatever happens, his and his group’s will continue supporting all their political allies in Davao del Sur, especially those who are in Sarangani, Jose Abad Santos, Don Marcelino, Malita and Sta. Maria.

Earlier, the governor said that despite the approval of the creation of Davao Occidental will push through considering that there is no longer time for the process to be completed.

Saying the approval of the law came late, and there is no longer time for the election of a new set of officers, since

time has run out for the required printing of the ballot appropriate for election in the new province.

Only in his second term as governor, Cagas has decided to give way to his son, Congressman Marc, to run for governor and instead, filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Digos City. his wife Didi is running for congresswoman of the First District.

Former congressman Claude Bautista, who lost to the elder Cagas for governor twice, is running again for governor.

other attendant matters.”

Comelec Resolution No. 9588 is a guideline on the establishment and operation of Comelec checkpoints in connection with the May 13, 2013 Automated Synchronized National, Local and ARMM Regional Elections.

The Resolution states that there must be at least one Comelec checkpoint in every city and municipality, however, additional checkpoints may be established at the discretion of the highest ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine National Police (PNP) in that certain city or municipality.

Locations of checkpoints must only be in places which are well-lighted, if certain places have no electric lights available, artificial lighting shall be provided as stated in the resolution.

Every Comelec checkpoint must have a signboard measuring three feet by four feet to clearly identify the place as a Comelec checkpoint from a reasonable distance, and must bear these words on both sides: “Stop, Comelec Checkpoint, please bear with

us, thank you for your cooperation,” with the name and address of the election officer and the name of the commanding officer and team leader.

Personnel who man Comelec checkpoints must be led by a regular member of the AFP or the PNP with a rank of at least lieutenant for AFP and Inspector for PNP, and the PNP and the AFP personnel manning the checkpoints must be in complete uniform and shall not be under the influence of liquor or drugs, according to the resolution.

It is also stated in the resolution that any search at any Comelec checkpoint must be made only by members of the unit designated to man the location and it should be done in a manner which will impose minimum inconvenience upon the person or persons searched, to the end that civil, political and human rights of the person or persons are not violated.

As a rule, a valid search must only be authorized by a search warrant duly issued by an appropriate authority, the resolution states.

the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Food Program (WFP), United Nations high Commissioner for Refugees (UNChR) and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to deceive them into believing that it is the organizers of relief operations who benefitting from disasters and using the victims to enrich themselves (volunteers).

Galon said the activist

groups mentioned are creating the crisis wrought by Typhoon Pablo as an opportunity to consolidate and expand their ranks and to intensify the mass movement in advancing collective struggle for social justice, meaningful change and genuine development.

“Juland Suazo is a pathetic ideologue who is truly irrelevant in these times,” Galon said.

DODO CAGAS

FFROM 1

businessmen and professionals who are members of a local Rotary club.

Rivera addressed the Rotary Club of East Davao at The Marco Polo Davao Tuesday. he said that Comelec Resolution No. 9588, Section 8, letter B, which states that a warrantless checkpoint search can be made “as long as the vehicle is neither searched nor its occupant/s subjected to a body search, and the inspection of the vehicle is merely limited to a visual search.”

Warrantless searches can also be made in cases of moving vehicles and the seizure of evidence made in plain view, if the occupant or occupants of the vehicle look nervous, suspicious or show an unnatural reaction, if the officer conducting the search has reasonable and probable cause to believe that the occupant or occupants are law offenders or “that the instrumentality or evidence pertaining to the commission of a crime can be found in the vehicle to be searched; or On the basis of prior confidential information which are reasonably corroborated by

Barricade...

FFROM 2

Meanwhile, Col. Leopoldo Galon Jr. group commander of the 5th Civil Relations Group Armed Forces of the Philippines said in an interview that Juland Suazo, leader of Panalipdan Mindanao, an organization that was also involved in the Montevista barricade, had been spreading malicious “tweets” on a social network.

Galon said Suazo apparently directed his tweets at

EDGEDAVAO

Mindanao Media Summit to include students, profs

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

T

hE 8th Mindanao Media Summit will include students and school professors to bridge the gap between the different practices of the school and mainstream media, according to Amalia Cabusao, the summit convenor.

In announcing the 8th Mindanao Media Summit---which will be held at the Royal Mandaya hotel on Friday and Saturday---during the Club 888 media forum at the Eagles Bar of The Marco Polo Davao yesterday, Cabusao said said that students and college professors are among those invited to the Summit to bridge the wide gap between what is practiced in the school and in mainstream media.

Some of the schools which are expected to send participants to the summit are the University of Mindanao, University of the Philippines in Mindanao (UP-Min), holy Cross of Davao College, Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s College, and the Intercity College of

Science and Technology.

With this year’s theme--“Reporting Governance and the Elections 2013”--local editors and radio/TV station managers will convene at the summit to discuss and learn how to properly manage news, especially those concerning the election of local officials only a few months away.

The Summit aims to equip media practitioners with skills on reporting and monitoring governance by leaders, design and distribute templates for media practitioners on effective reporting, and to involve campus journalists in the regional media conference.

The summit is expected to produce media practitioners, including campus journalists in Mindanao, who are advocates of transparency and accountability of elected officials to help the people decide whom to vote for into office.

To speak about the subject on “Mid-term Elections and the Role of Media” is Marshall Mcluhan Awardee for

2012, Lynda Jumilla of ABS-CBN; Lighthouse Communicaions CEO Carlos Munda who will talk on how to look at political spins; Dr. Ma. Linda Arquiza, UM Institute of Public Opinion, will talk on how to appreciate and understand political surveys; Dr. Ma. Diosa Labiste will be tackling “Technologies and the Mid-term Election: A critique on social media, news media, and technologies of participation.”

There are many other speakers included in the summit, such as Jamie Christoff, Political Counsellor Embassy of Canada; Adroel Alcober, ABS-CBN news director, Jon Joaquin, managing editor, Mindanao Daily Mirror; Luke Martin, US Embassy Manila; Ellen Tordesillas of Vera Files; Vince Lazatin, executive director of Transparency and Accountability Network; Derf Maiz, GMA anchor; Ching Amor, news director of TV 5; ASEC. Romeo Montenegro, MINDA, and lawyer Danilo Balucos, CEO Mindanews.

our more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returned from Algeria Wednesday, five days after a bloody hostage-taking incident that killed at least 80 people, including six Filipinos in a remote gas facility in Algeria.

The four OFWS arrived from Doha, Qatar at 3:50 p.m. on board Qatar Airways Flight QR 646 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

The four identified as Larry Villariza, Crisostomo Carabia, Mario Catiis and Ramon Tortosa were accompanied by Takakura Ishikaro, representative

of their company Japan Gas Corporation.

Officials from the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration were present to assist the OFWs but they refused the assistance. ”They don’t want to accept our offer to assist them. We cannot do anything about it because they were brought home by their employer,” OWWA officer Nestor Burayag said.

The OFWs refused also to answer questions from the media.

In a press statement, DFA spokesman Raul hernandez said the four

OFWs were not take hostage although they are working for JGC at the In Amenas Gas facility when the hostage-taking happened last week. ”They were not taken hostage and were thus unharmed,” hernandez said.

Last Sunday, a total of 39 OFWs returned home after being sent home by their employer in Algeria due to security fears following the hostage-taking.

The 39 returnees worked for a British energy facility hundreds of kilometers from the gas plant. [PNA]

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SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 231 •THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

AZKALS GET BOOST

A striker from Spain T Fil-Spaniard Javier Patino (right) of CF Cordoba will be reinforcing a retooled Philippine Azkals.

hE Philippine national men’s football team hopes highly-touted Filipino-Spanish striker Javier Patiño can boost the Azkals’ campaign in the 2014 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifiers slated in March.

Patiño, who plays for Cordoba CF in the Spanish second division league, was supposed to arrive this week to obtain his Philippine passport, but his trip was postponed due to commitments with his club.

“As of now, Javier is coordinating with his club for him to leave Spain on Sunday,” Azkals liaison officer and staff member Rafa Garcia said. “he was supposed to be here tomorrow, but the return flight will not make him reach his practice session at Cordoba which was the agreement.

“When he arrives here, we will fix his passport for his eligibility. he, too, is doing all he can to come here and play for his mother land.”

Born to a Filipino mother, Patiño played in various clubs in Spain before joining Cordoba in 2011. he has scored 11 goals in 62 appearances with the squad.

Patiño is expected to provide more attacking options for the Azkals, easing the scoring burden off strikers Phil Younghusband and Angel Guirado.

The Azkals aim to top their group, which features Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Turkmenistan, in the qualifiers on March to advance to the 2014 Challenge Cup, where they look to surpass their thirdplace finish in last year’s edition of the tournament.

LOS ANGELES — Coming off a loss two nights earlier in Denver, the Oklahoma City Thunder were more interested in bouncing back with a win than making any statements against the Clippers.

Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Russell Westbrook added 26 and the Thunder won 109-97 on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time) in a matchup of teams with the two best records in the NBA. “We’ve got 82 games and we want to play well every night,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

“We don’t put more emphasis on any one game.

We know the Clippers are one of the best teams, and with Chris Paul in or out, they’ve still got a great team.”

Serge Ibaka added 17 points before fouling out late while helping the Thunder improve to a league-best 33-9 and expand their lead in the Western Conference standings to one game over the Clippers, who were without All-Star Paul. They fell to 32-11.

“They were missing Chris Paul, which is a huge piece, but they were still good in his absence,” Durant said. “We wanted to come in here and get a good road win.”

Blake Griffin had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and Jamal Crawford added 14 points off the bench.

Eric Bledsoe scored 12 points starting in place of Paul, who missed his fourth game because of a bruised right kneecap. he missed three road wins last week, then played the next two games but it was obvious Paul wasn’t himself so he was held out Tuesday.

After the game, coach Vinny Del Negro said, “Chris is going to be out. hopefully, we get him back soon. It’s a day-today thing.”

The Clippers play 10 of their next 11 on the road.

“Chris is the orchestrator. he’ll organize everything out there,” Crawford said. “There’s no way to replace him, but collectively we’ll get it together.”

The Clippers had won four straight at home against the Thunder, and they led much of the first quarter before giving up the lead for good early in the second.

“They’re a good team at home, and right now we’re two of the best teams in the NBA,” Westbrook said. “It was a big win for us. We made some big shots and guys made the right plays.”

Los Angeles made a run to start the fourth, with Grant hill and Crawford combining to score seven in a row and close to 82-75. That was as close as the Clippers came in losing their second straight.

Thunder beats Clips

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VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

Realty FOR SALE:

EDGEDAVAO

Health and Wellness

1) 1-hectare commercial lot at P10,000/sq m, along national Highway, facing east, beside NCCC Panacan, Davao City. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at P2,500/sq m, along Matina Diversion road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along matina Diversion road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/ industrial lot at P800/sq m along the National Highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at P1,200/sq m commercial/residential lot along Indangan Road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/ industrial lot along the national Highway in Bincungan, Tagum city. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at P5.5M to P12.3M commercial/ office condo units in Bajada, Davao city. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at P4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina Town center, along the national Highway, Dumoy, Toril. 9) Ready-for-Occupancy Residential Properties: 4BR/3T&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at P4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, Toril.; 3Br 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao city; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at P3.751M to P5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along matina, Diversion road. 10) 1BR/2BR residential condo units located in Bolton, maa, Obrero, Davao city. 11) FOr aSSume (ruSH): 1BR res’l condo unit in Palmetto, Maa. P600K negotiable. Note: Items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC REB Lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

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INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Picobello: An old Italian favorite

I belIeve that there are restaurants that are trendy and there are restaurants that go beyond the trend and establish themselves as institutions where the urbanite has a comfy, comfortable, and familiar space to enjoy a meal.

One of my personal favourites for many years already is Picobello Ristorante Italiano located at the 5th level of the Gaisano South Citimall. With it’s rustic Tuscan interiors and menu that highlights the use of what used to be Davao’s only wood-fired oven, Picobello brings back many good memories of lunch and dinner with friends and family.

Fast forward to today

Light and tasty tomato mozarella salad.

serves up delicious meals like its Pollo al Forno, and Costine Picobello on a daily basis, but what makes the restaurant popular to urbanites is it’s daily buyone-take-one wood-fired pizza offerings from two to five in the afternoon. One can pick two pizzas from their extensive list of traditional Italian-style pizza and the mall management and need only pay for the and owners may have more expensive one.

My favourite pizzas changed but Picobello still would be Picobello’s Pizza Con Salsicce, which is meaty, salty and savoury, and their Quattro Fromaggi, a pizza with four different kinds of cheeses.

Of course for those who plan to skip the pizza, Picobello offers lighter fare like their Tomato Mozarella Salad and their Ceasar Salad, which in my personal opinion, is still one of the best Ceasar Salad I have ever tasted.

Yes, things in Durianburg may be changing but I’m glad the food at Picobello Restorante Italiano stays true to itself, with food that is comforting and familiar.

The interiors of Picobello harken back to classic Italian bistros.

Picobello’s pizza’s are thin, crisp and delicious.

The wood-fired oven of Picobello ensures beautifully baked pizzas.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

GSM Blue Flair Idol search now on its 6th year GSM Blue will be having its annual search for the FLAIR IDOL among HRM students early part of this year. The search is on its 6th year, battling for the title of the best in cocktail mixing and flair tending. This is the last leg of of GSM Blueniversity’s Mixology, which is a seminar program designed to educate students in becoming more competent, confident and knowledgeable in the field of Bartending and Cocktail Mixing.

This project also aims to strengthen the promotion of Responsible Drinking among young and legally aged consumers

Area eliminations will be on January 25 in Matina Town Square in Davao City; February 7/8 in Harrison Park/ Fuente Osmeña in Cebu City (TBC); February 15 in Balibago Service Road, Angeles Pampanga; February 22 in Old Calamba Plaza in Calamba Laguna. Fifteen finalists will also be having a Flair Camp in preparation for the grand finals on March 23 in Rajah Sulayman in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Witness the fun and get awed with those extraordinary skills as HRM students make their way to be crowned as the 6th GSM BLUE FLAIR IDOL School Year 2012-2013. For more details and announcements, check out and like GSM Blue’s official Facebook account at www.facebook.com/bluegin and GSM Blueniversity’s official fanpage at www.facebook.com/ gsmbluniversityofficial.

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

A New Hue for the New Year Abreeza Mall’s 2013 fashion preview

IT’S TIMe to pack away the dull and drab patterns and prints in your wardrobe as a fresh palette of colors are in for 2013. Abreeza Mall, in partnership with the Davao elite Fashion Group (DeFG), presents A NeW HUe, AbReeZA FASHION PRevIeW 2013 on January 27, 2013, 6 pm at the Abreeza Mall Activity Center. This year’s fashion show will feature creations of ten of Davao’s most talented designers, namely Aztec barba, Dodjie batu, emi englis, edgar buyan, Popoy barba, bamba limon, Junnie Artajo, Tzardy Tombo, Windell Mira and egay Ayag, as well as new lines from the collection of leading brands such as ellesse, Tretorn, bauhaus, Promod, Parfois, Nike Athletic Club, Debenhams, Soul, Artwork, Mags, Nautica, Sneaker Club, bambu and blue, Inc. Taking the cue from global fashion trends, this years color scheme takes on a new direction with a mix of dynamic brights and novel neutrals to create a harmonious balance.

Dubbed as Pantone’s Color

of the Year, the eye-catching emerald, the color of elegance and beauty, will stand out through perfectly matched outfits and footwear to express a sense of well-being, balance and harmony. Other color shades of the year include Tender Shoots, a vibrant yellow-green; Grayed Jade, a subtle, hushed green with a gray undertone; exotic African violet; exuberant Poppy Red,; Nectarine, a bright, effervescent citrus orange; cheerful lemon Zest; Dusk blue; warm, neutral linen and classic Monaco blue. To mix and match these colors will be a balancing act between the light and bright, the classic

and new. The fashion show will showcase these prominent hues of the season in the runway with the latest offerings of Abreeza’s top fashion brands, uniquely styled by Davao’s elite Fashion Group (DeFG).

The Davao elite Fashion Group (DeFG), composed of thirteen of the city’s most established fashion designers, shall reveal the fashion forecast for this year in the upcoming fashion show.

Fresh from their successful stints last year at the Toronto Men’s Fashion Week, Manila Wear at Manila F.A.M.e, Philippine Fashion Week and Mindanao Fashion Summit, the group has partnered with Abreeza

Mall to bring forth yet another exciting event to stir up Davao’s fashion scene.

In line with the upcoming fashion soiree, Abreeza Mall will also host the 2013 Fashion bazaar from January 28 – February 1, 2013 at the Activity Center. Get the first pick of the latest trends from the racks of Abreeza’s prominent brands like Soul, Accessorize, Ideal vision, Sneaker Club, Maze, Robinsons Department Store, Gems & Design, Res Toe Run, XOXO, WAGW, Isis, Sugar and Spice, Tretorn and ellesse.

For more information, visit Abreeza Mall on Facebook and Twitter or call the Concierge at 321-9332.

Trust Home Depot unveils valentines promo

IT’S A DATE at Trust Home Depot from January 28 to February 10, 2013! Get a chance to win a free overnight stay at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort or the Marco Polo Hotel Davao, a CBTL single serve coffee machine or free dinners at select restaurants around Davao.

For every single purchase of P1000 to P4999, the customer is entitled to draw from the P1000 to P4999 category. Major prizes for the category are P500 Gift Checks from Hukad, Basti’s Brew, Teriyaki Boy, Kangaroo Cofee, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Cecil’s Snack Inn, and Lachi’s with heavy duty eco bags, portable flashlights, mugs, button mirror keychains, and light duty

eco bags as minor prizes.

For every single purchase of P5,000 and above, the customer is entitled to draw from the P5,000 and above category. Major prizes in this category include an overnight stay with free meal for two at Pearl Farm Beach Resort or Marco Polo Hotel Davao, CBTL Single Serve Coffee Machine, a P500 gift check from Tiny Kitchen

and two Beef Pepper Rice Meals from Pepper Lunch, or a P1,000 Gift Check from Cellar, Tsuru and Coco’s Grill. Minor prizes include heavy duty eco bags, portable flashlights, mugs, button mirror keychains, and light duty eco bags Visit Trust Home Depot today to grab these fabulous prizes! You may call 295-3588 for inquiries or more details.

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Did Beyoncé lip-sync national anthem?

Marine corps admits band wasn’t live FACE IT, folks. A lot of live performances aren’t so live sometimes, especially the ones that the whole world is watching that really need to go off without a hitch.

But it appears that Beyoncé’s backing band at yesterday’s presidential inauguration is now backing off a previous assertion that the pop-R&B star lip-synced the national anthem during Barack Obama’s public swearingin ceremony.

“The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) requested that the Marine Band accompany Beyoncé Knowles-Carter in the performance of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ at the 2013 Inaugural Ceremony,” United States Marine Corps. media officer Capt. Gregory A. Wolf said in a statement today to E! News.

“However, there was no opportunity for Ms. Knowles-Carter to rehearse with the Marine Band before the Inauguration so it was determined that a live performance by the band was ill-advised for such a highprofile event. Each piece of music scheduled for performance in the Inauguration is prerecorded for use in case of freezing temperatures, equipment

failure, or extenuating circumstances.

“Regarding Ms. KnowlesCarter’s vocal performance, no one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or prerecorded,” Wolf concluded.

The director of the Marine Band, Col. Michael J. Colburn, had explained to NBC News they prerecord all of their music if there’s a chance of inclement weather and that Beyoncé, not having time to rehearse with them, had opted for her prerecorded track of the “StarSpangled Banner.”

But, as new No. 1 Beyoncé fan Piers Morgan points out, she still sang the national anthem, and got the approving nod from first lady Michelle Obama all the same.

“Whether she lip-synched or not, #Beyonce still sang the American national

anthem better than anyone I’ve ever heard. Fact,” Morgan tweeted this afternoon. Facing a little backlash from the twitterverse, he reiterated, “Beyonce still SANG it, everyone. It was HER voice.”

She just didn’t sing it the way Kelly Clarkson sang “My Country Tis of Thee,” that’s all. (Her rep confirms to E! News that Clarkson performed live yesterday.

Meanwhile, we don’t want to speak for James Taylor, but...Has he ever been asked in his entire life about lip-syncing?)

“Whitney lip-synched her amazing ‘91 Superbowl anthem performance— who cares? It was still her voice, and still incredible,” Morgan added.

But, just in case, he better be prepared to play a little more defense after Beyoncé’s Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 3.

Shakira welcomes baby boy!

SHAKIRA has birthed a bouncing baby boy!

The Colombian-born singer and her man, Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, welcomed a son tonight in Barcelona, their first child together.

The proud mamá revealed his name, Milan Piqué Mebarak, in a tweet, and then her camp helpfully filled us in on the meaning!

“The name Milan (pronounced MEE-lahn), means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification,” read a statement on Shakira’s website.

“Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona

at birth. The hospital confirmed that the couple’s first child weighed approximately 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and that both mother and child are in excellent health.”

“I’d like to ask you all to

accompany me in your prayers on this very important day of my life.

Shak,” Shakira had tweeted this morning, in both English and Spanish, before her and Piqué’s son arrived at 9:36 p.m.

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

FOOD

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

From the pantry to the plate: Part 2 AS PROMISeD, January is PANTRY month as we come up with new and palate explosive dishes that would soon be part of our simply to extravagant parties.

From last week’s easy to prepare dishes to this week’s time consuming but worth every nanosecond dish, the pantry is indeed one of the most mysterious places to be in.

Inspired by the colors of the kaleidoscope, I opted to make something that is as colorful as my nail polish collection. I wanted something to brighten up the plates and a pasta recipe that could be tweaked as to fit anyone’s desire. Get your pans ready and let’s start cooking.

Pantry Inspired Filipino Style Spaghetti Who doesn’t love anything pasta? Honestly, I love experimenting with the sauce that comes with it.

Ingredients: 500 grams Pasta cooked according to package 500 grams Ground Chicken ½ cup Shrimp balls vegetable Oil Native Shallots, minced Native Garlic, minced 2 pieces Red bell Pepper, Char grilled, Peeled and Minced ½ cup All Purpose Cream 1 kilo Filipino Style Spaghetti Sauce 1 bar Dark Cheddar Cheeses, grated Sea Salt and Freshly cracked black Pepper 2 teaspoon Raw Sugar, packed light Cheddar Cheese grated for Topping Method: Cook pasta according to package instruction. Keep wet with a bit of pasta water. Set aside.

Season thawed ground chicken with salt and pepper.

In a heavy pan skillet, heat oil over medium heat.

Sauté minced onion until translucent. Follow with onion and cook for another minute. Add quartered

shrimp balls and cook.

Sauté ground chicken until brown. Stir while sautéing. Add char grilled bell pepper and spaghetti sauce.

Mix thoroughly. Add raw sugar. Stir occasionally to incorporate all flavors. Simmer for at least 5 minutes.

Once bubbles are formed, add grated cheese and stir. let cheese melt before adding the all purpose cream. Once added, mix well. let sit for another minute before turning the heat off.

Season as you go.

Serve according to your preference. I like mine cold (pasta is hot while sauce is not) Single Fruit Shots Salad ever wondered what to do with those canned fruits and jelly powder in your pantry? Stop with the cream based desserts turned mundane and imagine even further. Imagine colored jelly shots, individually molded and bursting with different flavors. Yes, tedious but all worth it. The best thing about this? Your friends would not know what flavor they would get!

Ingredient: Colored Powder Jelly Mix

(I used Orange, Grape and Strawberry) 6 cups tepid water lemon grass, white part only and bruised Thumb sized ginger, pounded 2 tablespoons ginger ale drink (Salabat) 3 bags of green tea 6 tablespoonfuls confectioner’s sugar 1 canned fruit preserved, drained Ice molds Methods: In a deep pan, simmer 2 cups of water, lemon grass and 2 tablespoons of sugar.

Simmer. Set aside. Once cooled, transfer to a bowl.

In another pan, simmer 2 cups of water, ginger, ginger ale drink and 2 tablespoons sugar. Simmer and set aside. Once cooled, transfer to a bowl.

In another pan, simmer remaining water, remaining sugar and bag of green tea. Simmer and set aside.

Once cooled, transfer to a

bowl.

In another separate pan, pour flavored water and 1 tablespoon powder jelly mix. Mix until powder is completely dissolved. Repeat on other flavors. Use different jelly colors to have a whimsical effect.

Place fruit pieces in molds and pour colored mixtures. Chill and set.

Serve in a chilled bowl. *** belated Happy birthday to one girlfriend I am always thankful for. More blessings to come Atty.

Kristine Jane Pague. Iloveyou and hope to see you soon. Happy 2013 to my TauMu 2005b batchmates.

Misses you much. . .

Do you want to be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit? Send me your recipes, questions, suggestions and comments and be featured.

If you are interested, then email me at leebai@chefroyale.com or visit www. chefroyale.com for more recipes. Happy Cooking!

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 231 •THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

SPORTS 15

Teen beats idol Sloane Stephens (left) upset her idol Serena Williams (below) in the quarterfinals. Right, Maria Sharapova also arranged a semis duel against China’s Li Na.

M

Murray strolls into semis

M

ELBOURNE (Reuters) Andy Murray ruthlessly dismissed unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-1 6-2 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the fourth year in a row on Wednesday.

The third seeded Briton had spent just over seven hours on court in his previous four matches and only needed another 111 minutes to complete a one-sided hammering of the world number 36.

Chardy had won the last meeting between the two in Cincinnati in August but another upset was never on the cards and the U.S. Open champion wrapped up victory when the Frenchman ballooned a forehand into the sky on Rod Laver Arena.

Murray, runner up at Melbourne Park in 2010 and 2011, will play the winner of the final match of the day between Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals.

ELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Serena Williams’ dominating run at the majors ended in a painful loss to American teenager Sloane Stephens.

After the biggest victory of her life, the 19-year-old Stephens is headed to the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Williams hurt her back in the eighth game of the second set, slowing down her serve, restricting her movement and causing her obvious pain.

Stephens kept her composure, blocking out the injury issue on the opposite side of the net, and rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory on Wednesday - by far the most significant in her seven Grand Slams.

The gravity of it didn’t hit Stephens until she was warming down, and even then the victory had an unreal feeling. ‘’I was stretching, and I was like, ‘I’m in the semis of a Grand Slam.’ I was like, ‘Whoa. It wasn’t as hard as I thought.’ But it’s pretty cool,’’ she said. ‘’To be in the semis of a Grand Slam is definite-

Serena falls Li Na ousts Radwanska, faces Sharapova Murray faces unknown French in semis ly I say a good accomplishment. A lot of hard work.’’

It was Williams’ first loss since Aug. 17, ending a run of 20 consecutive wins.

The 15-time major winner hadn’t lost a match at a Grand Slam tournament since the French Open, where her firstround exit sparked her resurgence in the second half of 2012 that included titles at Wimbledon, the London Olympics, the U.S. Open and the WTA Championship.

After winning her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, Stephens next plays defending champion Victoria Azarenka.

In the men’s draw, U.S. Open champion Andy Murray moved into the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win over unseeded Jeremy Chardy of France.

The No. 29-seeded Stephens had been given barely a chance of beating Williams, who lost only four matches in 2012 and was in contention to regain the No. 1 ranking at the age of 31.

Williams’ latest winning streak included a straight-sets win over Stephens at the Brisbane International earlier this month.

And Stephens wasn’t even sure that she could beat Williams, until she woke up Wednesday. ‘’When I got up, I was like, ‘Look, Dude, like, you can do this.’

Like, ‘Go out and play and do your best,’’ she said.

It wasn’t until after losing the first set and being broken in the first game of the second that she really convinced herself she could.

She started hitting winners, cutting down on the errors, and pushing the injured Williams around the court.

Williams walked around the net to congratulate Stephens,

who then clapped her hand on her racket and waved to the crowd, a look of disbelief on her face.

She then went to her tennis bag, pulled out her phone and started checking for any text messages from her mother. ‘’I was hoping she had texted me right away. I thought maybe she was texting me during the match,’’ Stephens said. ‘’I’m sure my grandparents are like freaking out.’’

Stephens has said she had a photo of Williams up in her room when she was a child, and had long admired the Williams sisters.

Williams was up a set and a break before Stephens settled in. In the eighth game of the second set, Williams was chasing a drop shot to the net when she appeared to hurt her back. She needed a medical timeout after the set, and then slowly started to regain the speed in her serve.

She said her back ‘’just locked up’’ on her. ‘’I couldn’t really rotate after that,’’ she said. ‘’It was a little painful, but it’s OK.’’ There were times when she barely concealed the pain, and had to bend over or stretch out her back. Yet the thought of retiring from the match only crossed her mind ‘’for a nanosecond.’’

It didn’t mean she wasn’t frustrated. Williams smashed her racket into the court in the third set, breaking the frame and then flinging it toward the chairs on the side of the court. She looked to the sky occasionally and yelled at herself.

The racket abuse cost her $1,500 in fines.

Azarenka, with her most famous fan sitting in the crowd wearing a shirt reminding her to keep calm, overcame some early jitters to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-1 in the earlier quarterfinal at Rod Laver Arena.

After dropping serve in a long fourth game that went to deuce 10 times, Azarenka recovered to dominate the rest of the match against Kuznetsova, a two-time major winner who was floating dangerously in the draw with a No. 75 ranking as she recovers from a knee injury.

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 231 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

66th PAL INTERCLUB

Davao clubs raring to go

By Neil Bravo

D

AVAO CITY golf teams are raring to get down into action when the annual Philippine Airlines Interclub returns to the Queen City of the South next month.

Davao will be represented by Apo Golf and Country Club, Rancho Palos Verdes, and Davao City Golf Club in the 66th edition of the tournament which begins February 21. The Davaobased clubs will be entered in both the Seniors and Regular Men’s Interclub.

Davao teams, however, have yet to release their official line-ups. host Cebu Country Club will eye back-to-back titles in the regular division as four courses will be employed for the very first time in tournament history.

Cebu, which hosts the unofficial national golf team championship for the first time in 12 years, has the luxury of the hometown advantage as its confidence was boosted after winning last year’s title over Del Monte in Davao.

This year’s host unravels four golf courses for the event, hence the theme “4 at the Fore.”

Canlubang will defend the seniors’ title it narrowly won last year in

Davao in this year’s edition set February 2124 at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club and Club Filipino de Cebu Golf Club. A record 100 teams, including 53 from abroad, were entered in the seniors event.

Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Golf Club will host the regular Interclub set February 26 to March 2. More than half of the 78 squads in the regular Interclub are from overseas.

Presented by PAL, the event is sponsored

by Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Solar Entertainment, Plantation Bay and Media Five. It is also backed by major sponsors Manila Broadcasting Corp., Philippine Broadcasting Network, Stargate Media and Radio Mindanao Network.

Corporate sponsors include Shangri La hotel Mactan, Boeing International Corp., Radisson Blu hotel and Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Minor sponsor is Ginebra San Miguel.

Last year, Lloyd Go contributed 70 points in two days to carry Cebu Country Club to an eight-point win over Del

Monte in the Regular Interclub.

The Cebuanos finished the four-day, five-toplay, four-to-count event with 507 points. Third place went to Alabang Golf with 493 points.

Wack Wack won the Founders division with 476 points as the Mandaluyong-based

team edged Orchard (461) and Negros (445).

The Sportswriters class went to Camp John hay (411) followed by Eagle Ridge (388) and Mt. Malindang (387).

In the Friendship division, Austral-Asian (303), Fil-Am hawaii (284) and PGA British Columbia (282) finished

in the top three in that order.

Competition was stiff in the seniors’ tournament as Canlubang rallied in the final round to edge old rival Luisita, 571-568. Cebu Country Club landed a strong third with 566 points.

Manila Golf Club nipped Apo Golf, 524-523, to

China’s Li Na will face Russian Maria Sharapova in the semifinals of the Australian Open. Story on page 15.

win the Founders crown while Fil-Am hawaii came home with the Sportswriters plum with 479 ahead of Davao (473) and Chamorro (472).

Club Intramuros bagged the Friendship class with 442 with Fil-Am Florida (389) and Southbay (384) at second and third, respectively.