Edge Davao 5 Issue 259

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

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Serving a seamless society

MANO PO. Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara (left) pays his respect to Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario (right) during a visit to the Governor’s House inside the Provincial Capitol over the weekend. With them are Bam Aquino and Rep. Anthony del Rosario. Angara and Aquino are running for the Senate in the elections in May under the Liberal Party ticket.

(Lean Daval, Jr.)

Mag-yellow yellow ni ugma!

Indulge

Page A1 A4

President Noy leads big rally tomorrow

Team PNoy in city RDR targets 12-0 LP victory in Davao del Norte

Running with horses Sports

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EAM PNOy, an alliance of candidates of Liberal Party and several other political parties, will hold a huge rally in Davao City tomorrow with no less than President Aquino III himself leading the endorsers.

Third District Rep. Isidro T. Ungab, chairman of the LP-Davao City chapter and Team PNoy coordinator, said the rally will take

place at Rizal Park starting at 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

Team PNoy senatorial slate, already branded by some political commentators as a juggernaut, what with its impressive performance in the latest nationwide poll survey aside from its being administration-supported, is composed of Sonny Angara,

FPRESIDENT NOY, 11

Sara quits as ‘Hugpong’ head Goes on maternity leave of absence

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AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday resigned as head of the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, the homegrown political group which had been accredited as a full-fledged party by the Commission on Elections.

In a text message to EDGE Davao late last night, Mayor Duterte confirmed her resignation. “Yes, Sir. I tendered my irre-

vocable resignation effective today as President of the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod Party.”

She wished her partymates success in the forthcoming May elections.

The lady mayor, who is only in her 30s, goes on maternity leave starting today to prepare for the coming of the stork, that

FSARA QUITS, 11

A DECADE NOW. Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte leads the 10th year commemoration of the bloody Davao Airport bombing in Sasa, Davao City yesterday. (Lean Daval Jr.)

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

MICEcon hits 500 mark EJ Dominic Fernandez

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HE international conference on meetings, incentives, conventions and events/exhibitions (MICE) hit its target of 500 delegates with 496 delegates already signed up at the end of February.

Lisette Marques, spokesperson for Duaw Dabaw Foundation Inc., announced at the Kapehan sa Dabaw SM Annex, Ecoland that representatives from 12 countries, as well as those from 30 provinces, municipalities

and cities in the Philippines had signed up.

Marques said, “We want to highlight that the MICE market is growing as there are more and more companies and local government units (LGU) looking for new destinations for the incentive tours of their top salespersons or employees,” adding that this is a call for new investors to put up bigger venues for this market.

As one of the organizers of MICE convention,

Sabah crisis

Marques said they have to prepare and relearn how to handle this kind of event as they lack the know-how, which is why they have to be very creative and prepare activities that are “outside the box.”

One example of outside the box activity they will be doing is the welcome reception that will be held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel on March 6 which will have a techno theme club lounge. Another is the East meets

West theme at The Marco Polo Davao the following day. Then on March 7, the city government will host a dinner party which will present a “Madayaw Dabaw” theme featuring different tribes, the Kadayawan Festival and the urban setting of Davao. Also, the Royal Mandaya Hotel will host an event with a Brazilian theme whi;e the Apo View Hotel will show how it bloomed in 65 years as the second oldest hotel in the city.

“500 delegates and counting” Lisette Marques, spokesperson for Duaw Dabaw Foundation Inc.

Phl Eagles go online

Misuari willing to negotiate T

By Che Palicte

“I

am ready, anytime.”

This was the take of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman, Nur Misuari, when asked if he would be willing to negotiate to end the crisis in Sabah, Malaysia, during a late night meeting with Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Saturday.

He said that some sources informed him of Malacañang’s plan to fly him to Sabah.

Misuari added that Tawi-Tawi governor Sadikul Sahali asked him to join

their entourage to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and to Sabah.

“They want me to contact those involved in this crisis. They’re at war now.

But we can still do something to stop this war,” he said.

He did not elaborate as to the date of the entourage to Malaysia and Sabah.

“I don’t like trouble with the government. I don’t like trouble with Malaysia. I want peace,” Misuari said.

He denied involvement in the ongoing standoff in Sabah which

recently turned violent when fighting erupted between Malaysian authorities and the forces of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram on Friday.

“They accused me of inspiring it, and they accuse me of giving financing to Kiram’s group,” Misuari said, adding that he was with his wife for almost a month in Africa and he is far from getting involved in the standoff.

“Where will I get the money to finance them?”

Misuari asked, even as he aired his concern over reports he received that he would be arrested be-

cause of his alleged involvement in the Sabah standoff.

“I hope that these reports of arresting me are not true,” he added.

Vice Mayor Duterte questioned the basis of the alleged arrest, adding that the government might have its own reason to arrest Misuari. “I don’t see any reason for it,” he said, adding that a person can only be arrested if he commits a crime.

“He may be a distant relative of the ruling family of the sultanate, but it does not mean to say that he is into it,” Duterte said.

HE lives of two Philippine Eagles are being streamed online as part of a global awareness project for the endangered avian species.

Dennis Salvador, executive-director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation said that the project aims to present the Philippine Eagle on a global scale. Salvador said that little has been known of the raptor internationally which is listed as critically endangered.

The set-up involves placing video cameras on a cage containing two breeding raptors. The cameras are linked to the world via ustream, which allows real-time viewing thru the online lives-

treaming portal.

Local and international partners are helping in the project with the American-based Raptor Resource Project helping fund the 24-hour video set-up with the acquisition of one PDZ video camera and an IR camera for night time use.

Telecom giant Globe has provided to the PEF an internet facility for free within a period of 12 months, these enables the foundation to link the cameras up online.

Globe Telecom’s senior specialist for Corporate Social Responsibility, Fernando Esguerra Jr said that the cost of the fixed 1 Mbps (megabits per second) internet facility

FPHL, 11

In 2012 regionwide

Fire incidents up by 19% EJ Dominic Fernandez

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FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. Insp. Nestor Jimenez of the Bureau of Fire Protection gives update on the fire incidents in the region.

He revealed activities during the Fire Prevention Month this March during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

IRE incidents in Region 11 reached 462 in 2012, up 19 percent to compared to 387 in 2011.

This was bared Nestor Jimenez, chief of fire safety, intelligence and investigation of Bureau of Fire Protection in Region 11 during the Kapehan sa Dabaw, SM Annex, Ecoland yesterday.

The BFP is observing nationwide the 37th Fire Prevention Month this March.

He said the damage caused by fire incidents in the region hit P320 million in 2012 from only P215 million in 2011 with 25 people dead and 28

others injured compared to 21 dead and 28 injured in 2011.

Among the provinces, Davao del Norte led with the most number of fire incidents with 106 cases, followed by Davao del Sur (no figures), Compostela Valley (no figures), and Davao Oriental with only 43 cases. Davao City, however, topped them all with 197 incidents in 2012, according to Jimenez.

He said that experience showed that 50 to 60 percent of fire incidents are caused by short-circuits in the electrical system of houses and establishments, reminding everyone that “the best

remedy for this is inspection and maintenance on the wires, if possible every day, by a competent electrician.”

Jimenez rued the fact that the BFP until today only has one truck with a ladder that could reach only up to the 5th floor, despite the proliferation of high-rise building as tall as more than 20 floors.

“This is a nationwide problem, which is why we always include this in our plans and programs, especially issues on our equipment,” Jimenez said.

“Luckily, out of the 32 fire trucks that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)

FFIRE INCIDENTS, 11

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 259 •TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

SUBURBIA

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15th Araw ng Tagum activities underway C

ITY OF TAGUM, DAVAO DEL NORTE—To mark the spectacle of this city’s 15th founding anniversary this week, the city government rolled out its activities focused on environmental preservation, sports and free social services offered to people who have helped in steering the city’s rapid development.

As a way of giving back, the local government unit on March 1, 2013 kicked the week-long observance of its Quindecennial Anniversary with a mammoth one-day social services day at the Tagum Trade and Cultural Center Pavilion.

SOCIAL SERVICES

A record-high number of Tagumeños availed of the different services offered by the local government in partnership with the office of Senior City Councilor De Carlo “Oyo” L. Uy. Of the 598 referred jobseekers, 67 were hiredon-the-spot during the job fair participated by about 27 local and 5 overseas employment agencies convened by the Public Employment Service Office.

The authentication of vital documents offered by the National Statistics Office serviced 1,050 clients, 186 for free legal services courtesy of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, 407 for civil registration by

the local civil registrar’s office, 60 for the releasing of certification from the Philippine National Police and 181 for barangay certification.

25 others availed of the Libreng Tawag Abroad offered by Philcom while 35 people benefitted in the free massage.

Government agencies also tendered services like the Land Transportation Office, Pag-Ibig, Philippine National Police, Philhealth and the Government Service Insurance System.

The City Dental Office also conducted free fluoridization to about 70 kids aged 2 to 6 years old under its “Sagipin Unang Ngipin” Program. (Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum)

er for Environment and Permitting of KCGP. “The 3-day training will help build capacity in the local community and continue to strengthen our relationship with our neighbors.”

St. Augustine actively supports the objective of the National Greening Program (NGP), which is to harmonize the greening efforts of government, the community and the private sector. “By participating in the NGP, KCGP is not only fulfilling our obligation to the Philippines, but helping to mitigate climate change, promote resource protection & conservation and boost productivity,” said Engr. Debbie Yasay.

The MBRLC said the training partnership with KCGP benefits everyone.

“Our mission is to provide practical ways of helping develop the countryside through the training courses on simple yet practical farming technologies,” said MBRLC Training Director Ms. Elsa Narciso Ablayon.

“Here in MBRLC, we provide Sustainable Farming

Systems, Crop Production and Livestock Fish and Poultry. We value the expertise the KCGP environmental team brings to our work.”

In addition to the Rubber Production and SALT Training, KCGP also sponsored Coffee Production and Technology at Nestle Philippines Inc. for eight IPs from Pantukan, Compostela Valley.

“Dako kaayo cyag natabang sa amoa kay kinahanglan gyud namo ma apply ang salt para sa pantukan farmers. Ma preserve ang soil fertilization ug ma minimize ang soil erosion.

Ug maka produce sab cya ug nitrogen sa yuta. Bisan pa wala mi sa kompanya ma tudluan nko ang akong mga kaubanan sa Pantukan nga naa sa farming. Ug bahin sa rubber, ang dakong tabang kay ang rubber budding para mapadali ang pag produce ug mailhan kung unsang variety ang isumpay sa punuan sa rubber.” cited by Mr. Edwin Pescadero – KCGP Nursery Capataz.

King-king Copper-Gold Project partners with local center

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HE King-king Copper-Gold Project (KCGP) is partnering with the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) to teach sustainable farming practices to local communities. Members of the KCGP environmental team trained participants on Rubber Production and Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) at the MMRLC at Bansalan, Davao del Sur on February 14-16.

Representatives from five Pantukan barangays, Tribal Chieftains, Vice Chieftains, KCGP Staff and representatives from Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) attended the training.

St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd (SAGCL), the Toronto–listed mining firm, is developing the King-king Copper-Gold Project (KCGP) in Pantukan, Compostela Valley province.

“The training project is part of our effort to partner with the National Greening Program,” said Debbie Ruth Liao-Yasay, Manag-

TRAINING. Participants of the sustainable farming training in Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

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E-SEASON

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Angara, Aquino impress RDR, other DavNor leaders T

WO candidates for senator under the Team PNoy lineup impressed Gov. Rodolfo de Rosario and other leaders of Davao del Norte with their knowledge and understanding of burning issues of the day and what they intend to do about the country’s challenges once elected to the Senate in the May elections.

The candidates – Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and social entrepreneur Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV—are both recipients of the 10 Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awards in 2010. Bam became one of the 10 Outstanding Young Persons of the World in 2012 and Asian Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

Sonny Angara who acted as spokesperson of the prosecution in the trial of Supreme Court Chief Jus-

tice Renato Corona was principal author of some landmark laws of the land while serving as congressman of Quezon for three terms. These include the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, Magna Carta for Women, Tax Relief for Minimum Wage Earners and Universal Kindergarten.

A lawyer, Angara is a graduate of UP, Harvard and London School of Economics, while Aquino finished a course in management engineering at the Aeneo de Manila University as magna cum laude and valedictorian.

During the press conference the young senatorial bets articulated their common advocacies for education, livelihood and health, aside from fielding questions from media practitioners from Davao City, Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley.

In his closing statement, Governor del Rosario urged his constituents tuned in to the broadcast to consider voting straight LP, saying it was a must if the people want to continue seeing the pursuit of reforms by the Aquino government.

He said he saw hope in the competence and impressive records of the two senatoriables, as he reminded Dabawenyos that senators elected in May will actually serve beyond 2016, when the six-year term of President Noynoy ends.

These young men will see to it that the gains the Aquino administration has made and still make will have continuity, according to the governor who has served both as congressman and as member of the Cabinet under two previous Presidents. AMA

Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that over P35 Billion of rehabilitation projects for Sendong-affected areas remained unfunded or without approval as of June 2012.

“After contributing to relief efforts, i am here to find out how we can assist as well in terms of rehabilitation efforts for the victims,” Cayetano said. The senator himself donated P4 Million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)

to Sendong survivors, with P2.5 Million allocated for those in Cagayan de Oro and P1.5 Million for those in Iligan City.

After hearing the problems of over 3,000 households at Balangay P-noy, Canitoan - the Gawad Kalinga site for Sendong victims, Cayetano said that the local government should consider increasing livelihood and technical-skills development programs while addressing other issues such as infrastructure rebuilding.

Cayetano wants faster rehab efforts

“W SENATORIABLES. Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, left, answers questions from the media while Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario and Bam Aquino listen during a press briefing at the Governor’s official residence in Tagum City Sunday afternoon. Angara and Aquino are gunning for a Senate seat under the Liberal Party banner. Lean Daval Jr.

E need to speed up rehabilitation efforts and also get to the bottom of where the funds for the rehabilitation programs from both international and local donors have gone,” Senator Alan Cayetano stressed today while visiting the victims of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro as part of his nationwide Listening Tour.

Cayetano made this assertion as he referred to reports from the National

Let us not politicize Sabah issue – Team PNoy T

EAM PNoy campaign manager Sen. Franklin M. Drilon on Monday/Mar. 4 appealed to both “allies and foes not to politicize” the Sabah issue and let President Aquino and government diplomats handle the situation.

“Let us not jeopardize the safety, security and livelihood of 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah by issuing reckless and incendiary statements,” Drilon told a press briefing at the new campaign headquarters in Makati of the Liberal Party-led administration coalition.

“Let’s not muddle an already complicated situation,” Drilon said, referring to the Sabah standoff.

Drilon said the welfare of Filipinos caught in the fire fight that ensued following the standoff is “paramount” to the Aquino administration.

“Rest assured that the President is on top of the situation. Campaign rhetoric should take a backseat so that we can properly address the welfare of 800,000 Filipinos living in Sabah. Already 300 of our countrymen have been deported. We are making this appeal in behalf of our compatriots who are living and earning their living in

Drilon: Welfare of .8M Filipinos in Sabah is “paramount”

Malaysia,” he said.

Team PNoy spokesman Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo said the Sabah dispute is a delicate issue which should be handled properly so that it would not evolve into an intra-coun-

try dispute.

“Paano kung ‘yung 300 maging 30,000 o kaya 300,000 ang pauuwiin sa ating mga kababayan? Nakita po natin ito nang magkaroon ng financial crisis sa Malaysia. Napakalalim

po at napakomplikado po ng usapin na ito kaya apela ko sa lahat na kung puwede ay magkaisa po tayo,” Quimbo said.

Another administration coalition spokesman, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evar-

SABAH STANDOFF. Makabayan senatorial bet Teddy Casino with Sulu Sultan Kiram discussing the current Sabah controversy.

done appealed for calm and sobriety, noting how the issue could escalate beyond control.

“Nakakabahala yung mga political kibitzers na naglilitawan ngayon, mga bagong organisasyon na

nagsusulputan. Nanawagan po tayo na ‘wag na nating palakihin ito at gawing balang pampolitika. Marami po ang maapektuhan. Yung mga wala naman pong kinalaman ay tantanan na po natin ito,” Evardone said.

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 259 •TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

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6 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

River rafting to protect Surigao river M

ADRID, Surigao del Sur – An online group is promoting whitewater river rafting here as a way to protect and preserve the Carac-an River in this municipality.

The Madridanon Facebook Group (MfbG) successfully held its first Paypag Challenge, a 4-kilometer rafting race, last Thursday (Feb. 28).

(Paypag is a term used by the indigenous people to refer to a bamboo raft.)

The group launched the concept of sporting activities aimed towards ecotourism and environmental awareness not only for this town but hopefully for the rest of the CarCanMadCarLan area, which include the municipalities of Carrascal, Cantilan, Carmen and Lanuza.

Yvonne dela Cuesta, MfbG event coordinator, said the group’s efforts came together with their unified stand against mining.

“Our Facebook group was formed with our objectives to fight against mining. We then reached a conclusion that in order to fight against these [giant] mining companies, we need to offer alternative solutions to the people and have

them see a different picture,” she said.

“Paypag has been the traditional way of transporting goods from the different riverside communities near Carac-an river. The river has so much ecotourism potential and we see the event as a steppingstone to hopefully evolve into a much bigger festivity in the future and draw more people to our call to protect our very source of life, the Carac-an River,” Dela Cuesta said.

She added that Caracan River has been the major source of fresh water not only for Madrid but to the farmlands in the towns of Cantilan and Carmen.

Mario Llamas, president of the Parish Pastoral Council of St. Isidore Parish in Madrid town, stressed the importance of making people aware of the dangers of largescale mining and illegal logging on the Carac-an River.

“We rely on the river for our drinking water and irrigation for our farm lands,” he said. He added that should the river dry up, Madrid and the nearby towns will fail to produce sufficient amount of crops. (Erwin Mascariñas / MindaNews)

DENR, PRRC seal P50-M greening deal

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OVERNMENT will undertake from 2013 to 2016 a project on greening the banks of Pasig River as part of the National Greening Program (NGP) and efforts to rehabilitate this 19 kilometer-long major polluted waterway of Metro Manila.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) converged on the project, noting planting mangroves along the banks will help clean up and improve the water quality of the river so more biodiversity - including commercially important aquatic species - can thrive there.

“What we’ll plant will do the natural cleaning,” DENR Sec. Ramon Paje said Monday in Metro Manila where the agency and PRRC signed the memorandum of agreement covering the project.

PRRC is the body in charge of rehabilitating Pasig River so this waterway can truly function as an economic driver serving transportation, recreation and tourism purposes.

“We’re going to make Pasig River really pretty,” PRRC Chairperson Regina Paz Lopez assured during the event.

Under the agreement,

DENR will provide P50 million as seed money for the project.

The fund’s release must be in accordance with the project’s work and financial plan as well as with NGP guidelines, the agreement notes.

Government launched NGP in 2011 to help reforest some 1.5 million hectares of open, denuded and degraded areas nationwide using an estimated 1.5 billion seedlings of various tree species.

The agreement also identifies PRRC as the project’s implementing arm.

Aside from furnishing DENR progress reports on the undertaking, PRRC will prepare the project’s required work program, plans, specification, costing and timetable.

PRRC is also duty-bound to disburse and liquidate the fund accordingly and to reimburse DENR the amount unutilized during the project.

For the project’s initial phase, DENR and PRRC chose to green Pasig River’s highly visible segment in the EDSA-Guadalupe area.

Such choice aims to help highlight need to rehabilitate Pasig River and what the private sector can do to help sustain this undertaking. (PNA)

THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 259 •TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013 Study shows PPP moms, Despite inflation children perform better

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HE government’s major antipoverty program has made initial progress in terms of achieving the development outcomes for its beneficiaries in the short term, according to a report recently released by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA. Citing the results of an impact evaluation, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said that households under the Pantawid Pamilya Program are more likely to perform better, particularly in the areas of education and health, compared to non-beneficiaries.

“As reported in the Socioeconomic Report (SER): 2010-2012, preliminary indicators suggest that the Pantawid Pamilya Program is gaining ground in achieving its desired long-term outcomes of poverty reduction,” said Balisacan, who is also NEDA Director-General.

According to the SER, initial findings of the impact evaluation in 2011 revealed that compared to non-Pantawid households, program beneficiaries had higher insurance coverage through PhilHealth by 10 percent, while pregnant beneficiaries were more likely to avail themselves of routine healthcare also by 10 per-

cent.

As to children under the program, those aged 3-5 and 6-11 years old had higher enrolment rates in daycare (10%) and basic education (5%), respectively, compared to non-Pantawid children. Also, those aged 6-11 and 12-14 years old under the program were more likely to attend regular classes by 4 percent and 5 percent, respectively, compared to their non-Pantawid counterparts.

“By investing in education and health, future generations from these households would be able to get out of the vicious cycle of poverty that has disabled them from living to their fullest potential, such as getting employed in quality jobs. The Pantawid Pamilya Program is really a long-term investment, and the immediate progress we have initially seen affirms the program’s success in the coming years,” said Balisacan.

The SER also noted that the beneficiaries’ spending patterns have shifted towards investing more in education and health. Compared to non-beneficiaries, Pantawid households are now spending 36 percent more for their children’s education and 33 percent more for basic medical costs. (NEDA)

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Prices in R-12 stable– NCSB G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The prices of basic commodities and services in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region have remained stable in the last several weeks despite the “modest increase” in the area’s average inflation rate as of the end of January.

Herlita Caraan, National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Region 12 director, said Monday the region’s inflation rate increased to 3 percent in January or 0.4 percent higher than 2.6 percent average inflation in December.

But she said the January inflation figure was lower by 0.5 percent when compared to the same month last year.

The inflation rate measures the year-onyear rate of increase in the prices of basic commodities. An inflation of 3 percent means that prices of commodities and services in January increased at a rate of 3 percent, on the average, than their

prices a year ago.

Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato as well as the cities of General Santos, Cotabato, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Tacurong.

Citing data released by the National Statistics Office, Caraan said the 0.4-percent increase in the region’s average inflation by the end of January was caused by the 28.6-percent rise in the prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco as a result of the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10351or the “sin tax” reform law.

In line with the implementation of RA 10351, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Regulation 172012 dated Dec. 21, 2012, imposing higher excise tax rates on tobacco and alcohol products in the country effective last January 1. “(But) majority of the region’s commodity items posted slower price hikes

during the period,” the official said.

A report released by NSCB-12 showed that aside from alcoholic beverages and tobacco, items under restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services also increased during the period but was listed at just 0.1 percent.

The increase in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices slowed down to 1.5 percent from 2.1 percent in December while clothing and footwear only posted an inflation rate of 2.8 percent from the previous month’s 2.9 percent.

The other items that posted slight decreases are housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, health, and, transport.

Goods and services under communication, recreation and culture, education, furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house posted sustained inflation rates to their December levels.

Compared to the same month last year, Caraan

said items under housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels were up by 0.2 percentage point and those under education at 1.1 percent.

She said food and non-alcoholic beverages commodity group, which is considered as the biggest component of the region’s market base, posted a slower annual growth of 1.5 percent in prices compared to the 3.1 percent last year.

The increase in the prices of rice, meat, and bread and cereals in January 2013 has also slowed down the inflation on communication further slid to negative 2.5 percent from negative 1.3 percent in the same period the previous year.

The other commodity groups that posted slowdowns were transport (from 5.5 percent to 0.6 percent), recreation (from to 2.7 percent to 0.6 percent), clothing (from 4.0 percent to 2.8 percent) and health (from 4.9 percent to 4.0 percent). [Allen V. Estaillo/MindaNews]

country with 28 operating companies.

Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar and the Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Tandag have been in the forefront in the anti-mining campaign.

Cabahog said the diocese’s position on the issue has always been on “responsible mining”, the same position that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) took since several years ago.

“The CBCP is not anti-mining per se but for responsible mining,” he noted.

He added that part of his advocacy work is to directly communicate with concerned agencies in Manila on the effects of mining in the province. “If we will just bring it up here, nothing is resolved, so we just go directly to Manila,” he stressed.

He said there are “different realities” in the two provinces, citing that Surigao del Sur has been historically strongly opposing mining.

The Diocese of Surigao has been silent in several high-profile mining issues, including during the October 4, 2011 raid by the New People’s

Army at Claver because of labor issues in mining companies and massive environmental degradation.

But Cabahog, who is also a Canon lawyer, is taking the tact of peaceful negotiations, saying he had been communicating with the national agencies on what he sees in his sorties around the province.

Recently, a group of anti-mining groups from Cantilan, Surigao del Sur came to visit the bishop for a dialogue purposely to get his support on the group’s call to implement a two-year temporary environment protection order (TEPO) against Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC).

Asked what agreements were reached, Cabahog said he has expressed his support but qualified that he is still waiting for the document that will resolve the issue on the subject.

Meanwhile, the Surigao bishop admitted that mining companies in his area of jurisdiction have not been responsible in fulfilling their duties as “stewards” of the areas that they mine.

(Vanessa L. Almeda / MindaNews) (Vanessa L. Almeda / MindaNews)

Surigao bishop on mining: ‘Let’s talk, not antagonize’

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URIGAO CITY – Debunking public perception that the Diocese of Surigao has been “silent” on mining and environment issues, Bishop Antonieto Cabahog says he is not a person who will incite antagonism but will rather chose the path of dialogue, adding that the church is “not anti-mining” but for “responsible mining.”

“What I want is not antagonism. We go into a dialogue, we go for means that will make them aware because it is the people in the barangays who are suffering,” the bishop told local media in a press conference held Saturday at the Park Way Hotel, where he was the guest speaker of the first activity organized by the Surigao Media Forum, a loose organization of media practitioners in the city.

Surigao del Norte is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Surigao.

Surigao del Sur, which is under the Diocese of Tandag, on the other hand, is more vocal in its campaign against mining operations in that province and in the whole of Caraga Region, the region being the hub of mining operations in the

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

Why bull market will last till 2015

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EDITORIAL

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More to lose in fighting

HERE is more to lose in fighting than settling for peace.

This simple lesson should make Sultan Jamalul Kiram III think of ways other than fighting to the last breath a battle he believes is worth dying for.

This is not to say this fight is not worth dying for Sultan Kiram and his family. But it looks like this fight is better off settled peacefully and not violently. Sultan Kiram stands to lose a fight he, his family and his fellow Filipinos could still win in the diplomatic table and without shedding precious blood.

There are repercussions too in pursuing the claim through violent means. The more than 600,000 Filipinos quietly living and working in Sabah are now caught up in the conflict. This fight does not involve Muslims under Sultan Kiram alone. It involves other Filipi-

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no Muslims and Malaysians. They too have the right to live in peace.

IT is a settled principle in International Law that war, as a way to resolve conflict, is already frowned upon. Whether or not the claim of Sultan Kiram and his family is right, there are still untapped avenues where this could be settled. Definitely, aggression and violence are not among them.

Time is running out on Kiram and his family. Yes, their claims may be legitimate but the means are not. We understand where Sultan Kiram is coming from, but bravery can give way to diplomacy. Settling the issue is not an act of cowardice or surrender.

Sultan Kiram and his men should consider dropping their guns, head for home and let the authorities of both governments talk and settle this conflict.

Give it a chance.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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( 1st of two parts )

F THE Philippines is getting a lot of attention these days from global financial markets, just credit that to the country’s fundamentals.

T h i s Southeast Asian country is getting stronger than ever these days and things are still rolling and moving forward ---as long as President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino sits at Malacanang for the next two years.

That’s how Michael Oliver “Mike” Manuel, head of investments for Asia at Sun Life Assurance of Canada looks at this country today amidst the prevailing optimism on the booming economy.

Manuel had been going around the country, spreading the good news that “the Philippines will shine brighter this year” lecturing and making an impressive presentation to business groups and the media.

As simply as possible in laymen’s terms. Manuel explained the reasons why the Philippine stock market index, peso, dollar reserves, business confidence, etc have all gone up while inflation and interest rates have gone down.

“Business confidence is very high in Noynoy Aquino. His high approval rating, low inflation and low interest rates are attracting a lot of foreign investors in this country,” Manuel told a group of business writers and editors here over the weekend.

One “fundamental” cited by Manuel was the fast-growing US dollar inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms like call centers. In the year 2000, OFWs remitted a total of $5 Billion, while this year 2013, the total is now $24 Billion.

BPO firms on the other hand, earned $1.5 Billion in 2004, while this year, the earnings have ballooned to $16 Billion, according to Manuel.

Softening of inflation in this country was another fundamental cited by Manuel which is conducive to business growth. “We’re averaging only about 3.2 percent year to date and looks like it’s well anchored. This is good for business,” Manuel said.

Interest rates have dropped to historic lows, according to Manuel, making bank borrowing more attractive to businessmen and investors, boosting more plant expansions, new constructions of office buildings and condos and spurring a construction boom all over the country.

Overnite rates—the rates set up when banks borrow from each other—is now hovering at a historic low of 3.5% while prime lending rate which banks set up for borrowers is also at a historic low of 5.3%, according to Manuel.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 259 •TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

I

VANTAGE POINTS

Sabah: Let’s all cool it

am sad with what happened several days ago in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

The violence and the killings were tragic. And from all indications, my earlier personal apprehensions that the problem will worsen if the Malaysians will push the button, are now taking place.

I remember what President FVR used to say in admonishing everyone to always look for winwin solutions when facing situations: “Don’t throw shit to an electric fan. It will only irretrievably spread the mess” or words to that effect.

But I am reserving comments since all the facts are not in yet. And also, there are actions done by all the principal players that we are not privy about as yet. Hence, it is best that we wait for all the facts to surface.

I was an active participant in previous crisis situations that I handled. And I know that in similar situations, there are circumstances and information known to the crisis handler that others are not aware of. Such info determines one’s course of action during critical and emergency situations.

Decisions are made based on the interplay of many factors. To make a critique of the judgment calls made by those handling the situations without knowing all the info at

ADVOCACY MINDANOW:

BY JESS G. DUREZA hand may not only be premature. It will be grievously unfair. And unwise.

Hence, let us all pipe down and avoid knee jerk criticisms of what happened. Of course, we cannot avoid dealing with initial criticisms, doomsday scenarios and worstcase situations that many “instant” experts will proffer. And there are many of them out there just ready to pounce for one reason or another. It is always said that post incident “quarter backing” with the benefit of hindsight are favorite pastimes of commentators or grandstanders. Those who just sit in air-conditioned offices, safe and far from the scene of actual combat or incident always dish out “I told you so” comments after the fact.

Everyone becomes an expert.

But it is best that we hold our judgments for the moment.

Why? One, the situation is still volatile and it has not been resolved up to now. Two, it has serious security and diplomatic implications involving both the Philippines and Malaysia. Three, it involves the honor and dignity of the Sultanate of Sulu and the Tausugs who already sacrificed the lives of 10 of their members (and still ready to sacrifice some more), as they are

standing their ground in spite of demands for surrender. Four, it strikes deep into the workings of the Aquino administration and how the President himself handles crisis situations. Fifth, it is too complex to over simplify with the Malaysian factor at the vortex.

-LET’S COOL IT ---The events will still continue to unfold in Sabah.

And even in nearby Sulu and Tawi Tawi in Southern Philippines. Then, the diplomatic reverberations of the Sabah claim will still have to be dealt with somehow.

This is a lode mine, a treasure trove for all. The media will have a field day. The kibitzers will kibitz. The politicians must have something ready to say. The Sultanate will continue to profess honor and dignity. Across our shores, the Malaysians will pander to their own national interest and play to their gallery. Back home, President Aquino and his advisers will continue to seek the best approach consistent hopefully with our national interest. Everyone will have a field day!

At the end of the day, the President has to take full responsibility for the turn of events. There’s no passing of the buck, no ifs and buts. As the saying goes, the buck ends on Your Excellency’s desk.

In the meantime, I have an unsolicited advice to all: ‘LET’S ALL COOL IT, FOLKS.”

The political clout of the superrich

T

HIS gap in policy preferences, the Demos report argues, is the explanation for one of the most puzzling and worrying consequences of rising income inequality – its correlation with falling social mobility. Alan B. Krueger, the head of President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, calls this the Great Gatsby Curve, and it is the most compelling reason to be worried about the growing chasm between the top and everyone else.

That link, which has best been documented by the Canadian economist Miles Corak, is mysterious. After all, a lot of today’s rising inequality has been driven by benign forces like the technology revolution and, as a result, to-

( Conclusion )

ANALYSIS

BY CHRYSTIA FREELAND day’s plutocrats are more likely to be self-made than they were three decades ago.

But once they become rich supercitizens, the Demos report argues, those at the top of the economic heap use their power to support policies that diminish social mobility. This is not because of malign intent – there is no cabal of fat cats in top hats smoking cigars and plotting how to keep the proletariat down. Indeed, education, a key to social mobility, is a stated priority for the affluent.

The catch comes when there is a choice between personal self-inter-

est, often in the form of lower taxes, and the expensive institutions of greater social mobility. And that is when the supercitizens opt to pull up the opportunity ladder behind them.

Beyond the campus green, Americans can be squeamish about viewing policy choices through the prism of economic self-interest. It is much more comforting to imagine the country is engaged in a high-minded and technocratic debate about what works best to serve the common good.

But that’s not what’s happening.

The supercitizens are very effectively pursuing their own self-interest. Social opportunity, and even democracy, are under threat as a result.

9

Can diplomacy prevail with Iran? ( Conclusion )

COMMENTARY

BY MICHAEL ADLER

T

HE new proposal massages this divide. It calls for “a suspension” of making 20 percent enriched uranium, rather than for closing the key plant where this is done. It also offers some immediate sanctions relief — allowing Tehran to trade in gold and precious metals, for example, which is a way of bypassing currency restrictions imposed under sanctions. These two offers are what led Jalili to say the six negotiating nations were being positive.

This is a step toward compromise by the Iranians. Before, they were insisting that the oil and banking sanctions be lifted immediately.

The next meeting will be of nuclear experts in Istanbul on March 18. There, Iranians will have the opportunity to ask questions about the proposal’s technical details. A second meeting of the senior foreign ministry directors follows in Almaty on April 5-6, when Iran is due to respond to the proposal.

Diplomacy is being revived here, after falling apart when the gulf between the two sides blocked progress last June. Talks were again frozen as the Iranians waited to see who would win the U.S. presidential elections in November.

Obama declared as he began his second term that the window for diplomacy was open. This week’s Kazakhstan meeting signals that it has opened another notch. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday in Paris that Iran, engaging seriously, “could pave the way for negotiations that lead towards a longer-term and comprehensive agreement.”

The problem is that Iran is continuing to move forward with the uranium and plutonium production lines for possible weapons, according to a U.N. nuclear report.

It has increased its capacity to make low enriched uranium, and it could increase production quickly for 20 percent-enriched uranium, with enough already stockpiled to be half what it would need to refine into an atomic bomb. Tehran says this 20 percent enriched uranium is for fuel for a research reactor. Iran is also finishing work on a reactor that could produce plutonium.

The fear remains that Iran wants to draw out talks while it develops its nuclear program.

Diplomats have said that Iran was warned that increasing its nuclear program to approach weapon-grade uranium would not be helpful. The Iranians responded that they are already showing self-restraint.

The hope is that Tehran wants to save its economy, which has been crippled by sanctions, and will take a face-saving way out — where it gets to keep some enrichment work. The Almaty meeting shows diplomacy is still alive.

10 NATION/WORLD Comelec to candidates: Don’t use grad rites

T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded candidates to have delicadeza and not use graduation ceremonies to campaign.

This, as Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes admitted that they cannot stop aspirants in the May 13, 2013 midterm polls from campaigning in graduation rites.

“We cannot prevent them but we hope they exercise some form of delicadeza. At least now we are saying that it is really not good to see. That will certainly not earn you additional votes and may even backfire,” he said.

Brillantes said they have no power to prevent graduation ceremonies becoming a campaign activity, he is counting on the Department of Education (DepEd) to take action.

“I think it is the school administrators who will

have some form of liability (if they invite politicians)… (but) as far as the Comelec is concerned, we cannot prevent them,” he said.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, earlier said that graduation rites should be “solemn, focused on the students and their parents, and not a venue for political forum”.

On the other hand, the Comelec chief noted that campaign posters and streamers are barred inside graduation venues.

“Graduation areas are not common poster areas, that is for certain,” Brillantes said.

Under Comelec Resolution 9615, parties and candidates may post any lawful campaign material only in authorized common poster areas in public places and in private places provided it has the consent of the owner.

(PNA)

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

Sabah crisis

EDGEDAVAO

ARMM governors call for peaceful resolution T

HE governors of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) appealed Monday to the Sultan of Sulu and the Malaysian government to resolve the Sabah crisis in a more peaceful and honorable manner. ”We are appealing to our Sultan, Sultan Jamalul (Kiram) and (the) government of Malaysia if they could resolve this crisis into a more peaceful and honorable manner,” Sulu Gov. Hadji Abdusakur Tan told a press conference at the Gateway in Cubao, Quezon City.

Tan admitted the

ARMM governors received text messages from Malacanang, asking them to assist in resolving the Sabah situation which worsened last Friday when a firefight between Kiram’s supporters and the Malaysian army broke out. ”They (are) asking for our help because the President (Aquino) knows that we know the culture of our countrymen in Sabah,” Tan said.

The Sulu governor expressed concern that if the Filipinos living in Sabah will return in Sulu and other part of ARMM would bring problem.

12 submitted the biggest budget proposal at P19.33 billion, which will mainly fund the implementation of its flagship K to 12 program.

She said the Department of Public Works and Highways proposed the second biggest budget at P6.96 billion, which includes appropriations for proposed roads and bridges recommended by the council during the regional road summit last year.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development submitted the third biggest budget at P3.66 billion and with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps as its centerpiece initiative, she said.

In a statement released by RDC-12, it cited that among the major initiatives discussed during the review process was the proposed establishment of a College of Medicine at the Mindanao State University (MSU)-General Santos City campus.

“There were questions on its viability considering that the UP Manila School of Health Sciences South Cotabato extension campus in Koronadal City will offer the

same (course) under a ladderized scheme,” it said.

It said MSU officials explained that the proposed opening of a College of Medicine here was in response to the long-time clamor of the area for such program.

They noted that the proposed college will not compete with the existing UP health sciences campus considering that the latter’s program have local government-endorsed enrollees while that of the university will be open and highly competitive, the statement said.

It added that the MSU leadership has initially commissioned a feasibility study to determine the program’s viability.

The RDC-12 statement said “a long and heated deliberation” ensued for the proposed MalMar (Malitubog-Maridagao) Irrigation Project’s second phase.

“Questions focused on the project’s long overdue completion, the large amount of money already spent and the increasing cost of the project due to delays in implementation,” it added. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)

”If our countrymen will return, it would create big problem.

That’s why we are appealing to our Sultan to consider the problem the crisis would bring in Mindanao. We have no food and shelter to provide for them if they will return,” Tan said.

Tan said he was able to talk with Kiram’s brother Sultan Esmael but refused to reveal the full details of their conversation.

Tawi-Tawi Gov. Hadji Saadikul Sahali said the tension in Sabah has resulted in the increase of the prices of commodities in the ARMM.

”There is already increase in the value of food stock. Commodities becoming very high unlike before the standoff,” Sahali said.

Sahali said he has already alerted the Tawi-tawi municipal mayors for the return of the Filipinos from Sabah.

Maguindanao Gov. Hadji Esmael Mangundadatu believed the Philippine government will be able to resolve the Sabah crisis in a peaceful manner.

Lanao del Sur Hadji Mamintal Adiong Jr. and Basilan Gov. Hadji Jum Ajbar also joined the press conference.

(PNA)

P48.4-B budget sought for R-12 SC stops ouster

T

HE Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region has endorsed a proposed budget of P48.4 billion for the operations and programs in 2014 of the 42 regional line agencies, state colleges and universities and other government offices based in the region.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, RDC12 chairperson, said Monday the council’s executive committee issued the endorsement following a marathon review and consultations that it initiated for the budget proposals of all government institutions operating in the region.

Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato as well as the cities of General Santos, Cotabato, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Tacurong.

“The marathon review focused on the programs, projects and activities included in the 2014 budget proposals,” Custodio said.

She said the review of the budget proposals was in consonance

with the RDC’s mandate as provided for in Executive Order 325 and in compliance with National Budget Memorandum No. 115 dated December 28, 2012 issued by the Department of Budget and Management.

Such process involved 34 regional line agencies, five state universities and colleges and three other “government instrumentalities.”

“The review process is not only about budget proposals, nor only for agencies with big projects. This is being done in the spirit of transparency and accountability,” Custodio said.

The mayor said it also covered a review of policies and drawing up of recommendations on project implementation bottlenecks within the region.

She said the budget proposals covered combined appropriations of P26.76 billion under the social sector; P9.876 billion for economic sector; P10.117 billion for infrastructure component; and, P1.649 billion for the governance sector.

Custodio said the Department of Education (DepEd)-Region

of party-list solon

T

HE Supreme Court has stopped the Commission on Elections from expelling a Congressman and a member of a party-list organization who is now sitting as representative of the 15th Congress.

In a resolution of the SC en banc dated Feb. 26, 2013, the SC issued a temporary restraining order against the Comelec and stopped the ouster of Ating Koop party-list Rep. Isidro Q. Lico.

“The Court resolved to....issue a temporary restraining order, effective immediately and continuing until further orders from this Court, enjoining

the respondents from enforcing or implementing the assailed Comelec en banc resolution dated January 31, 2013,” the SC resolution said.

In the Comelec ruling, it affirmed the expulsion of Lico from Ating Koop and upheld the legitimacy of Ating Koop party-list represented by Amparo T. Rimas.

Likewise, the SC also ordered the Comelec to file its comment within 10 days from notice.

Comelec and Ating Koop were also directed by the SC to cease and desist from enforcing the assailed Comelec en banc resolution. (PNA)

Gov’t ready to assist Pinoys affected by Sabah standoff

M

ALACANANG made an assurance on Saturday that the government is ready to help Filipinos affected by the ongoing standoff in Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia and at the same time called for their unconditional surrender.

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has dispatched teams that will help Filipinos in need in Sabah.

“We have a medical team, there is food… everything is there. As a matter of fact, DSWD has dispatched even teams to try to seek out the fami-

lies of those that need to be attended to,” he said.

The teams organized by the DSWD will go in one of the islands near Sabah to try to address those that have been affected, he added.

Asking Malaysia to allow ships from the Philippines to dock in Sabah was one of the diplomatic actions made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday, Almendras said.

The secretary of foreign affairs requested that a ship from the Philippines be allowed to dock but the Malaysians said it will process the request and the Philippine government has to wait.

11

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 259 •TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

President Noy...

FFROM 1

Bam Aquino, Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Riza Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Jamby Madrigal, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Sonny Trillanes and Cynthia Villar.

Ungab said Team PNoy is a combination of candidates from the LP, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), PDP-Laban, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and Akbayan Partylist.

He said majority of the senatoriables--nine of the 12 candidates-landed in the so-called Magic 12 of the Social Weather Stations’ latest political survey conducted Feb. 15-17. The administration bets in the winning column are Legarda, Escudero, Cayetano, Villar, Poe and Pimentel who ranked first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth places.

Sara quits...

Other Team PNoy candidates in the Magic 12 , according to the SWS poll, are Aquino, Angara and Trillanes.

Only three of the rival UNA (United Nationalist Alliance) slate are in the winning 12. They are Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito and Migs Zubiri.

Joining tomorrow evening’s rally are Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is running for mayor, former vice mayor Louie Bonguyan, the group’s candidate for congress in the first district, reelectionist 2nd District congresswoman Mylene Garcia and Ungab, along with vice mayoral bet Paolo Duterte and their respective candidates for councilors in the three districts.

In a related development, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario of Davao del Norte, said Sunday he

would work for a 12-0 victory for Team PNoy in his province.

In a statement broadcast province-wide last Sunday, the only governor in the Davao region who supported then Senator Noynoy Aquino for President in 2010, said the victory of the President’s candidates in the coming elections would be very important so that there will be continuity in the reforms that the chief executive is pursuing under the socalled “Daang Matuwid” battle-cry.

Del Rosario and Rep. Anthony G. del Rosario hosted the press conference conducted by Team PNoy candidates Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV at the Tahananng Gobernador inside the provincial capitol in Mankilam.

in Hugpong, the mayor reportedly commented that she was confident the party will remain in good hands since there are a lot of qualified people in the group to replace her.

Sara’s father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, founded Hugpong when he was the incumbent mayor. Running for

mayor again, the elder Duterte is expected to replace Sara as party head.

But the feisty mayor left a special footnote to her leave. “I will truly miss working for Davao City. With a special note to Bayan Muna. Juland and Sheena, I will be back in May in my Class ‘A’ gamefowl form.”

Globe Arakan XC (Cross Country) biking challenge.

The mountain bike race held in Arakan Valley, a known abode of the endangered raptors is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts to raise funds for the PEF. Meanwhile Salvador said the live streaming project is a preparation

for another media project with a possible collaboration with National Geographic videographer Neil Rettig who is known for his documentary work on the American Harpy’s Eagle. Salvador said they hope that a project similar to the Harpy Eagle documentary would be produced for the Philippine Eagle. (PIA/RG Alama)

FFROM 1

is -- the birth of her first child. She is exactly on her eighth month and two weeks of pregnancy.

“My OB-Gyne (doctor) firmly told me to stop working t avoid premature labor,” she said in her text message.

Her LOA will be in effect from March 5 to May 3.

In quitting her post

Phl...

FFROM 2

is estimated at P12,000 a month. Esguerra said the internet facility was started from scratch with cables being dragged to the breeding area. Another local partner Aboitiz Foundation donated the cable wires.

Globe has been supporting the PEF in its eagle conservation program.

In 2012 it organized the

Fire incidents..

FFROM 2

has purchased, Davao City is one of the recipients of a Rosenbauer firetruck whose ladder can reach up to the 8th floor,” he added.

With “Sunog at sakuna pag handaan, kalikasan ay pangalagaan ng matamasa ang pagunlad ng bayan,” as the main theme of the 37th fire prevention month, Jimenez said the highlight of the celebration is the

Fire Olympics which will be held at the Crocodile Park on March 20 to showcase the skills of the firefighters of the government and barangay volunteers.

Jimenez clarified that suppression of fire is just 20 percent of the firefighter’s job while 80 percent is on Information and Education Dissemination (IED), which is why BFP conducts the “barangay

ugnayan” program where firefighters visit houses to inform and educate residents about fire prevention.

“We would like to emphasize that the best thing to do to avoid fire incidents is to remove and double check appliance outlets before leaving your house since electrical short-circuit is the leading reason for fire cases,” he said.

PLAYFUL. A young boy playfully hangs on to a trisikad on a submerged portion of the road at Sta. Ana Wharf yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Thanks to TADECO

25 housing units turned over to beneficiaries T

By Che Palicte

HE Central Tadeco Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi Purpose Cooperative (CTARBEMPCO) turned over 25 housing units to its member-beneficiaries last Saturday. This is the first phase of the proposed 184 residential units worth P9 million in Barangay Tibungol, Panabo City.

Chairman of CTARBEMPCO Celso R. Cubio told media practitioners that the housing project is being constructed on a 24-hectare land given by the Tagum Agricultural Development Company (TADECO).

“We are thankful

to the Floirendo family for giving us the land,” Cubio said, adding that the housing units are financed by the cooperative,” and that the selection of beneficiaries are done by the Department of Agrarian Reform based on the list they have since the year 1998.

“Out of the 759 members there are 22 couples, so each couple will only receive one unit, even if both of them are members of the co-op” he explained, adding that payment for each unit is P1,334 per month.

Engineer Jason dela Torre said the

housing units measure 150 square meters (lot), including a floor area of 36 square meters.

“Each unit will be provided a water system, most probably pressurized water pumps,” dela Torre said, adding that Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) will conduct an ocular inspection this month to provide the power supply for every 100 units completed.

Additional facilities eyed by the cooperative are church, day care center, mini market, transportation terminal and a basketball court.

News Network (CNN) hero Efren Peñaflorida after which they have called their version ‘Tulak AdBOOKasyon.’

The students went to Doña Vicenta Village, Bajada last February 19 to collect books to support their beneficiaries by educating them with the books collected.

The event was made unique because of the wooden pushcarts that were used

to gather some 400 books from 24 different households and transported the books from Roxas Avenue to the recipients on foot power alone despite the uncertain weather condition.

The volunteer students hope that the books will be a big help to the children being taught by Rock Ed Philippines as well as the kids at the Balay Pasilungan.

Tulak AdBOOKasyon: “pushcart education”

A

small group of 4th year mass communication students from Ateneo de Davao University turned-over books to Rock Ed Philippines last Monday at The Green Coffee, on Torres Street, and to the Balay Pasilungan in Bankerohan last Wednesday.

Both are beneficiaries of Tulak’s advocacy of applying the “pushcart classroom” idea initiated by Cable

12 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

66TH PAL MEN’S INTERCLUB

EDGEDAVAO

Apo, Palos clubs finish in Top 10

By Neil Bravo

C

EBU CITY—Davao’s best parbusters couldn’t find their shotmaking prowess in two trips to the dreaded Mactan course and not even a final day push at the friendlier Cebu Country Club could save them from a forgettable finish in the 66th Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub.

Apo Golf and Country Club and Rancho Palos Verdes shared the not so good fortune of Cebu’s Mactan Golf and Country Club course where all visiting golfers couldn’t conquer. Apo was done after the third round there and so was RPV. The final result showed Apo at 9th place, RPV at 10th in the Founders Division won by Cavite’s Orchard with 472 aggregate over four days and a whopping 15 points over Negros (457). Southwoods (451) was third and Valley (442) was fourth.

Apo scored 103 points in Day 1 at Mactan, improved to 106 in CCC in Day 2, dropped to 95 in its second trip to Mactan and had a measly 96 in Day 4 at CCC for a 400 aggregate.

RPV finished with 397 after rounds of 92-116-89100.

FOUNDERS: 472- Orchard 114-118108-132, 457-Negros 103130-99-125; 451-Southwoods 105-123-109-114; 442- Valley Golf 100120-101-121; 431-Wack Wack 99-115-96-121; 425- Forest Hills 100-111104-110; 417-Alta Vista 100-109-93-115; 415-Villamor 102-105-93-114, 400-Apo 103-106-95-96; 397-Palos Verdes 92116-89-100; 387- Riviera 93-93-100-101, 377-Manila Golf 93-107-85-92, 375-Eagle Ridge 103-9287-93; 367-Tagaytay 90111-65-101; 363 Iligan 84-98-97-84 FRIENDSHIP: 299-Filam Hawaii 8785-58-69; 278-SFO Crystal Springs 56-61-86-75; 273-Pittsburg 68-73-75-

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boanga 108-83-99-95; 376-Mactan 102-84-84106; 374-Saranggani 103-87-98-86; 369-Bay Area 94-85-98-92; 361Camp John Hay 92-83109-77; 357-Lumbia 85-84-94-94; 350-Camp Evangelista 90-72-96-92; 349-Stanford 86-68-9897; 347-Red Hawk 10164-96-84; 338-Phil Navy 85-77-95-81; 337-Iloilo 81-82-94-80; 334-Sherwood Hills 85-83-90-76; 332 Pueblo DeOro 8374-95-80; 330-Maharlika 84-82-84-80; 329-FilAm Fairfield 83-71-90-85; 328-FGA1 Riyadh 86-6486-92; 326-PGA BC 8975-85-77; 312-Victorias 68-59-96-89; 310-UP Tee Jots 82-65-83-80; 308San Juanico 86-66-85-71; 306-Lanang 76-71-81-78; 299-Guinhalaran 78-7485-62; 296-Davao 81-6774-74; 291-Austral Asian 73-66-77-75; 289-South Cotabato 77-69-80-63; 283- Bacolod 78-71-8747; 231-Seattle 51-61-6554; 229-Melbourne Pinoy 53-67-46-63; 192-Pinoy YVR 63-47-49-33; 130-Riyadh 30-32-27-41

FROM THE FRINGE. Dennis Salvador of Lanang (left) reads his lie while Faisal Samanodi of Palos Verdes pitches from the about the same lie in the fringe at the Cebu Country Club. (Lean Daval Jr.)

Suzuki Cup kicks off Mindanao Leg in Davao D

SUZUKI CUP. DFA Sec. Gen. Erwin Protacio, Davao City sports office acting chief Pocholo Elegino, Suzuki Philippines’ Shuzo Hoshikura, PFF’s Cyril Dofitas, Ryan Albert Lim and Ernie Ortonio of the DFA put their hands together for the 2013 PFF U23 Suzuki Cup during yesterday’s launch. (Lean Daval, Jr.)

AVAO City will be hosting the Mindanao leg Finals of the 2013 PFF U23 Suzuki Cup on Aril 22-27 at the Tionko Football Field.

Suzuki Philippines Inc., the only integrated automobile and motorcycle company in the country, together with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) launched the nationwide tournament in Davao City yesterday.

With the third staging of the biggest nationwide football tournament, Suzuki once again strengthened its commitment to the Philippines and the development of local sports.

The tournament, which is a local adaptation of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF)

Suzuki Cup, is a national football competition open to players under 23 years old. The PFF Suzuki Cup seeks to develop a new pool of players who will form the Philippines’ under 23 national team for the Southeast Asian (SEA) games in Myanmar this December.

PFF representative Cyril Dofitas tld sports media during yesterday’s press launch at Peri Peri in SM Annex, “We are very thankful for the support that Suzuki has been giving us through the years.

Now on its 3rd year, our partnership with Suzuki for the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup has been helping open doors for talented local footballers to enter the national team.”

SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 259 •TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

PFF U23 SUZUKI CUP

Redeem Team

By Neil Bravo

D

AVAO CITY’S finest young football standouts will be carrying the cudgels for a city with a rich football tradition aiming to bring back some lost pride and glory.

A former Under-19 national player, a Meralco Spark and two De La

Salle booters will be leading the Davao City’s own version of ‘Redeem Team’ in the coming 2013 PFF U-23 Suzuki Cup Mindanao Leg Finals on April 22-27 at home.

Forward Jomar Acedo, who played for the country’s U-19 squad, will be at the firing end

GIO DIAMANTE

of Davao’s side with UFL mainstay Amani Manuel Aguinaldo of the Meralco Sparks and brothers David Angelo and Derrico Gabriel Diamante of La Salle. The team will be captained by Dominador Tato IV, a former Azkals understudy who will be goalkeeping for

the squad coached by Ramonito “Lalas” Carreon.

Defender Francis Jay Aguinaldo will be leading Davao’s line of defense.

The other members of the team are Renz Jay Napuran, Jestoni Felipe, Danilo Lascuna Jr., Mark Paul Dayanan, Dean Mark Galleto, Khadaffy Biruar,

Ed Merill Walohan, Francis Jay Abalunan, Yoshiharu Koizumi, Imardino Polo, Nestor Bantilan, Jr., Jenerick Awing, Michael Pantojan, Michael Nehemiah Simms, Leo Abunas, Sean Clark Labang, Reymon Pareda and Nash Majini.

Rafael Vilela is managing the team with Alvic Troyo and Michael Jay Fernandez as assistants.

“We are prepared

MANUEL AGUINALDO GELO DIAMANTE

JOMAR ACEDO

FRANCES JAY ABRASALDO

and we want to improve on our no. 3 finish,” said Carreon in yesterday’s press launch of the tournament in Davao City.

“We will aim for the finals this time.”

Davao City suffered a stinging setback in the recent PFF-Smart National Club Championships after missing the Round of 16 with a lackadaisical stint in the group stage.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

Realty

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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 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Fish be with you I admit it, I never was into seafood when I was much much younger. In fact, I would cringe at the very though of eating fish, ever since I was traumatised by a fish bone that got lodged in my throat. But as time changed, you can say that I finally got to experience fish and fell in love with it.

Just in time for Lent, the Marco Polo Davao introduces a Seafood Festival at their buffet restaurant Cafe Marco for dinner.

With an almost endless amount of seafood choices parading out of the kitchen, the promotion is definitely made to satisfy the cravings of every seafood

aficionado.

On the menu is a virtual island tour featuring premium seafood items such as crabs, prawns, tuna, scallops and squid.

From the wide variety of sushi, sashimi, baked and fried crabs and scallops, even just the appetisers are enough to make one’s mouth water and their

belly full.

Cafe Marco’s Seafood Festival runs only until the 9th of March, so you better visit soon.

Follow me on Twitter and on Instagram @ kennethkingong for more foodie find, travel tips and random happenings in and around Durianburg.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

MOVIES

Do you have the edge?

BE TRAINED. Be discovered. Be a star. With Mindanao’s unparalleled potential talents in dancing, singing, modeling and acting among others, the 250 Global Steps Consultancy and Abreeza Mall will be launching TALENT EDGE. It is a holistic talent search that aims to train and discover talents aged 5-21 years old residing in Mindanao who have the total package of becoming a star that will promote appreciation of Mindanao’s bests in the entertainment industry.

Contestants will be provided with a FREE series of summer workshops in singing, dancing, acting, hosting, modeling and personality development with Celebrity Mentors. Showcasing their talents, contestants will be performing on a weekly production at the Abreeza Mall.

TALENT EDGE is Mindanao’s access to Hollywood as contestants will have a chance to represent the Philippines in the 17th Annual World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) to be held from July 12 to July 21, 2013 in Hollywood, California, U.S.A. (WCOPA).

Cited as the one and only “official Talent Olympics” for aspiring performers and entertainers, it is the only premier international talent and modelling competition of its kind annually held in “Hollywood”, the entertainment capital of the world! Similar to the Olympics, only Worldstars representing countries compete each year in a fierce competition for “the gold”!

Jed Madela became the first Filipino to win the WCOPA world grand champion title and immediately signed with one of the most prestigious recording companies, was given his own weekly TV show, now enjoys sold-out concerts throughout the world, and has had six double platinum albums.

Winners of Talent Edge will receive a talent management contract from 250 Global Steps to do full-length feature film, photo and campaign ads, local TV shows among others. Almost a total of Half-a-million worth of prizes will be given away. Arthur Zata, the CEO and President of 250 Global Steps Consultancy is one of the Philippine’s official talent scout for WCOPA – Team Philippines.

Registration is on-going and Grand Auditions will be on April 1-4, 2013 at Abreeza Mall Activity Center. For more details, please visit Abreeza Mall Concierge counter or download application forms at www.facebook.com/ MyTalentEdge or follow us on twitter @MyTalentEdge.

Celebrations are more exciting at SM City Davao EXITING happenings for Araw ng Dabaw are in store at SM City Davao this March.

Visit the Agro Trade Fair & Floral Exhibit from March 1-27 at the mall grounds for over 270 booths of flowers, fruits and ornamental decors.

Don’t miss Araw ng Dabaw Sale from March 11-17!

Avail up to 70% off on great selections mall-wide! take advantage of SM City Davao’s extended mall hours on March 15 and shop until midnight on March 16.

Visit SM City Davao from March 8-10 for EKO TEK TURA featuring Mindanao’s best architectural showcase by the United Architects of the Philippines.

Journey to Davao’s past as Museo Dabawenyo brings you Davao: Then and Now. A photo exhibit of the different landmarks of Davao City. Catch the exhibit from March 1-16 at The Annex of SM City Davao.

See you in the City’s hippest hub! SM City Davao, where we all come together.

For more details and inquiries, please call Marketing Department at 297.6998 local 126 or visit SM City Davao’s Facebook page, click on this link: http://www. facebook.com/smcitydavao. Follow us on Twitter @smcitydavao.

Jack the Giant Slayer:

5 things to know before climbing up the beanstalk THE blockbuster-budgeted Jack the Giant Slayer opened to a relatively puny $28 million, per Friday-Sunday studio domestic estimates.

Meanwhile, the dudesdoing-stupid-stuff comedy 21 and Over was no Project X and certainly no Hangover, grossing an underwhelming $9 million and getting trumped in the standings by the month-old Identity Thief.

And those two performance weren’t the worst of it: The submarine thriller Phantom, starring Ed Harris and David Duchovny, posted a historically bad, Oogieloves-sized debut.

Overall, it was another lousy weekend for Hollywood, which has struggled this year to sell tickets to movies not starring Melissa McCarthy or nominated for Best Picture.

The $150-$200 million Jack, which had been hyped as 2013’s potentially “first big-budget bomb,” lived up, or rather down, to the hype.

Its Friday opening day consisted of just $7.7 million in ticket sales. And while the film perked up on Saturday, to $12.1 million, grossed an additional $13.7 million overseas, and was graded a solid B-plus by audiences surveyed by CinemaScore, its three-day domestic total was far more Battleship, to name one 2012 flop, than Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, which scored more than $70 million on the same weekend last year.

21 and Over likewise failed to match its predecessor, the party-hearty Project X, which came up with $21.1 million in its early March debut last year.

Still, the comedy from the writers of The Hangover did OK when compared to its budget, which was only $13 million.

And then there was

the reputedly $18 million Phantom, which opened on some 1,100 screens, and came away with only $465,000, Exhibitor Relations reported.

So, no, it didn’t make the Top 10.

It did, however, figure into the rankings elsewhere.

According to the stats at BoxOfficeMojo.com, Phantom’s debut will go down as the 15th-worst ever for a film on at least 600 screens. (The infamous Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure comes in at 12th place on that rundown.)

Elsewhere, the new horror sequel The Last Exorcism Part II opened to a nothing-much $8 million.

Identity Thief, meanwhile, became 2013’s first $100 million domestic hit, crossing the nine-figure mark on Friday.

Oscar stars Argo and Life of Pi both enjoyed Oscar bounces, upping their

domestic takes to $132.8 million and $116.9 million, respectively.

In limited release, the Nicole Kidman-led thriller Stoker averaged a great $22,500 at seven theaters for a three-day domestic debut of $158,000.

Here’s a complete look at the weekend’s top movies, per Friday-Sunday studio estimates and stats as compiled by Exhibitor Relations.

1. Jack the Giant Slayer, $28 million 2. Identity Thief, $9.7 million 3. 21 and Over, $9 million 4. The Last Exorcism Part II, $8 million 5. Snitch, $7.7 million 6. Escape From Planet Earth, $6.7 million 7. Safe Haven, $6.3 million 8. Silver Linings Playbook, $5.9 million 9. A Good Day to Die Hard, $4.5 million 10. Dark Skies, $3.6 million

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

‘BAYAN KO,’ GMA News TV’s 1st original series premieres March IS the Philippines ready for a drama that tackles issues such as corruption, bureaucracy, malnutrition, illegal logging and political dynasties? We find out this March, when GMA News TV launches its 1st original series and most ambitious project to date – BAYAN KO. Inspired by the social realist films of director Lino Brocka, Bayan Ko tells the story of newly elected Mayor Joseph Santiago -- who sets out to make a difference in the fictional town of Lagros.

The idealistic Mayor faces roadblocks at every turn. He must learn to lead lazy and uncooperative municipal employ-

ees, change the mindset of a mendicant populace and stand up to a powerful dynasty led by patriarch Governor Antonio Rubio.

Actor Rocco Nacino plays Mayor Joseph, veteran Pen Medina plays the corrupt Governor, Ping Medina is the Congressman, indie film princess Mercedes Cabral the powerful contractor, LJ Reyes the Mayor’s Chief

of Staff, while Betong Sumaya and Love Anover take on roles as slacker municipal employees.

Bayan Ko was directed

by Adolfo Alix Jr., produced by Eliza Zamora Solis, written by Rodolfo Vera and created by GMA News TV channel head Nessa Valdellon.

BAYAN KO launches this March 10 at 6:30 PM only on GMA News TV Channel 11.

Queen Elizabeth II hospitalized for apparent stomach infection QUEEN ELIZABETH II was taken to the hospital yesterday for a possible stomach infection.

James Roscoe, a press officer for Buckingham Palace, confirms to E! News that the royal was experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis, and is expected to stay at London’s King Edward VII Hospital for two days.

“She went to the hospital today at around 3 p.m. GMT. She is in good spirits, besides the symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Doctors are saying she should be in hospital for a couple days,” he told us.

Due to her current

hospitalization, the 86-year-old British monarch’s upcoming trip to Rome is off.

Roscoe added, “For now, she has canceled and postponed her engagements for this week.”

Jamie Lynn Spears is engaged!

Tweets photo of her ring HERE come the Jamie’s!

Britney Spears’ younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears took to Twitter to reveal exciting news— she’s engaged to boyfriend of three years Jamie Watson!

The 21-year-old shared on Saturday an Instagram pic of her and Watson, 30, hugging while flashing her ring finger with the caption: “Guesssss

what??????”

The mother to 4-yearold Maddie then followed up with a closeup of her bling, with the hashtag “he did good.”

This will be the first marriage for Jamie Lynn, who was previously engaged to Casey Aldridge, the father of daughter Maddie.

(Jamie Lynn split with Aldridge in 2010.)

Congrats to Jamie Lynn and Jamie!

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

ART & CULTURE

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

Running with horses Ann Pamintuan exhibits works at Makati’s Greenbelt

By Kenneth Irving Ong

AS I was walking down Greenbelt Mall in Makati, I noticed a ruckus at the corner of my eye. Apparently someone named Ann Pamintuan released a stampede of stallions onto the many parks and open spaces that dot the mall.

It was a pleasant surprise for me that finally a Dabawenyo artist is taking the centre stage at one of the country’s premier malls. In fact, Ann is only the third artist to hold an exhibit at the Greenbelt Parks and the only female artist to do so (the other artists who were featured earlier were Arturo Luz and Lor Calma).

Already a multi-awarded furniture, home accessories and jewellery designer, Ann’s visionary works using metal are among the most soughtafter and redefine modern aesthetics. In this case, her horse sculptures that are made of anodised steel and portraying horses in many sizes and poses, add a vibrant and refreshing energy to the lush landscape of the mall’s gardens.

Ann Pamintuan’s horses exhibit was launched last February 26 and will run all the way until August 26.

Some of her works are also on exhibit at the activity centre of Greenbelt 5 featuring her award-winning furniture and home accessories and will run until the 9th of March.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 259 •TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

Lakers are looking good L

OS ANGELES (AP) -Kobe Bryant drove past Josh Smith and rose up with the athleticism of a player half his age, throwing down an arena-rocking, one-handed dunk. A few possessions later, Bryant drove right at Smith and willed a layup over the taller defender for the Los Angeles Lakers’ winning points.

For a .500 team, the Lakers are looking pretty good lately. Bryant is the biggest reason why.

Bryant scored 11 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and hit the goahead layup with 9 seconds left, leading the Lakers back to .500 for the first time in more than two months with a 99-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

Steve Blake stole Smith’s final pass in the waning seconds for the Lakers (30-30), who blew a 16-point lead in the second half before Bryant scored their last six points.

After Bryant scored the Lakers’ final basket while driving directly at Smith, Blake swiped Smith’s desperation pass from underneath Los Angeles’ basket.

Bryant threw the ball high in the air to run out the

clock on Los Angeles’ seventh straight home victory over the Hawks since 2006. ‘’I just had to attack,’’ Bryant said. ‘’I wanted to attack and just go right at them. Take the game to them. Be aggressive. Be physical. And it worked out.’’

Steve Nash had 15 points and 10 assists, while Dwight Howard added 11 points and 15 rebounds in the Lakers’ 13th win in 18 games. Los Angeles hung on for a quality win over the Hawks, a near-certain playoff team with ample motivation to knock off the high-profile Lakers.

Kobe wouldn’t allow it, making one big play after another down the stretch.

Afterward, he repeatedly compared himself to a fine wine - only getting better with age. ‘’It was more of a message to my team here, to kind of have that will, that hunger, to push through it by any means necessary,’’ he said. ‘’It’s just a challenge. I wouldn’t even really categorize it as fun.

The fun comes in the challenge, and we’re up for it.’’

The Lakers hadn’t been at .500 since Dec.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks over Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 99-98. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/ Getty Images).

28, when they followed a win over Portland with six consecutive losses.

They’ve spent the past six weeks digging themselves

out of the latest hole in their rut-filled season, culminating in a lengthy stretch of recent solid play despite the absence

of injured 7-footer Pau Gasol.

If the Lakers manage to upset Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, they

would have their first winning record since Nov. 20, when they beat Brooklyn in coach Mike D’Antoni’s debut to go 6-5.

16

VOL.5 ISSUE 259 • TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

EDGEDAVAO