Edge Davao 6 Issue 183

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

MOTORCYCLE TRANSPORT GAB. Motorcycle transport owners and drivers listen to resource speakers from Honda Phils., Inc. during Tricycle Operators and Drivers associations (TODA) Convention 2013 held at MTS along Matina in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

NOT READY FOR ASEAN CAFC: City’s farmers, fishers not ready for Asean integration

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

A

N OFFICIAL of the City Agriculturist and Fishery Council (CAPC) said that one year before the 2015 Asean Integration, the farming and fisher folk sector in the city are still not ready for it.

CAPC chairman Dan Mitchao told reporters in an interview during the Agriculturist and Fishery Council (AFC) Congress at the World Palace Hotel Tuesday that only a few farmers and fisher folks know about the Asean integration on 2015.

“Dili pa ta ready, wala pa gani kabalo ang atong farmers about Asean integration,” Mitchao said.

He said that road ac-

cessibility still remains a problem in the areas of Paquibato, Marilog, and some portions of Baguio district and Toril.

To equip farmers in the city for the 2015 Asean integration, he said there is a need for intensive information dissemination for the remaining years and intensifying the creation of the Barangay Agriculturist and Fishery Council (BAFC), noting that only 50 percent of the 7, 225 farmers have access to the information board.

Mitchao said that well-informed farmers can be sustainable farmers, but only through

FNOT READY, 10

RESCUE TRAINING. These men are not enjoying the pristine waters of Samal. They are actually rescue team members undergoing calamity preparedness training at Isla Reta Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal recently. Boy Lim

2

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

5,000 slots in job fair

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

T least 5,000 job vacancies will be featured in the job fair for the 80th founding anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on December 4 at the Abreeza-Ayala Mall, an official said.

DOLE regional director Joffry Suyao told reporters during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex that about 75 employers will be coming over to post their job vacancies.

There will be 50 local employers and 25 from overseas. At present, 45 from the former and 10 from the latter have confirmed their participation in the job fair.

There are 1,412 posted vacancies by local employers while 650 by overseas.

The top 5 in demand local jobs are call center agents,

customer service representatives or technical support representatives, service crews, accounting staff and cashier/technicians.

For the overseas, domestic helpers/household crews are still in the top list folloed by electric technicians. Next are waiters/service crews, heavy equipment mechanics, and carpenters or masons.

Aside from the job fair, there will also be a onestop-shop for applicants.

Personnel from National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Regional Tripartite Wages and Pro-

ART EXHIBIT. Art exhibit from Artists-Help-Artists (AHA) movement, comprised of Davao-based cross-discipline practitioners, draws the attention of students from San Pedro College at the Abreeza Mall in Davao City. The proceeds of the exhibit will be donated to the survivors of typhoon Yolanda. Lean Daval Jr.

Police chief to launch 14 new HIV cases ‘text complaint’ desk in South Cotabato H

EALTH authorities in South Cotabato province have expressed alarm over the rising incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the area as 14 more cases were added to its list in the last three weeks.

Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., South Cotabato provincial health officer, said their latest monitoring showed that the area’s total HIV infections already reached 45 cases and they expect the figures to even increase in the coming weeks.

Citing latest data from the Integrated Provincial Health Office’s (IPHO) epi-

F5,000 SLOTS, 10

By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR epc@edgedavao.net

demiology and surveillance unit, the official said the new HIV infections were found based on separate screenings conducted in this city and in Cotabato City.

So far, the province’s incidence of HIV, which causes deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is up by 14 from the 31 cases recorded by the IPHO as of the end of October, he said.

Aturdido said a significant number involved individuals who had engaged in risky sexual behavior, among them unprotected sexual contacts among

F14 NEW HIV, 10

T

HE DAVAO City Police Office will launch a text complaint desk dubbed “Isumbong Kang CD” as one way to prevent crimes as the Christmas season is fast approaching.

Davao City Police Director Sr. Supt. Vicente Davao Jr. said the police have already tripled their visibility in public areas and that the public should also be vigilant by texting him at this number 09258- 233276 (CDDCPO) if they observe suspicious persons or behavior so the police could respond immediately and

pre-empt any bad intentions.

“We should do our part, bantayi inyu mga gamit and don’t expect me mubantay sa imu gamit in your behalf kung ma ereport mo yan sa nearest station or if you know the text hotline at kapag pumasok at ma-receive namin kaagad we can immediately act on it,” Danao explained.

Police have observed that the trend in crimes against property will usually increase with the approach of December, including robbery and theft cases.

He said that there have been hold-up cases reported inside public utility jeepneys (PUJ).

“May trending kasi yan, umaatake sila kung marami ang pera nang mga tao based on my experience as station commander before,” Danao explained.

Based on police crime statistics, the crime rate for the month of last October was lower by 20% compared to October last year.

According to SPO3 Ronald Deocos, statistician of the DCPO, in October last year they tallied

800 CASES ONLY

1,800 crime cases while for this month of October they tallied 1.416, of which 448 were theft incidents.

Police also tripled their visibility on paydays in public areas as one way to pre-empt any petty crime.

“We observed that we can prevent crimes through police visibility,” Danao said, adding that the police caught in four occasions robbers in the act of looting houses in some areas of the city.

Danao also discourages the public from

FPOLICE, 10

Judge’s dismissal causes backlog in another sala

S

CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM. Fr. Daniel McNamara, SJ, Dean of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) School of Arts and Sciences, stresses tips on how to prevent the effects of climate change during yesterday’s Pre-disaster Science Forum “Don’t be Blown Away, Science will Help Save the Day” press conference at the AdDU Board Room. Lean Daval Jr.

OME 800 pending cases, including civil and criminal, are set for re-scheduling as the Supreme Court (SC) has yet to replace the dismissed judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 14.

Some 400 criminal cases and 400 civil cases are pending in that RTC branch. However, according to the in-charge of criminal cases (EDGE Davao was asked not divulge his name), urgent criminal cases will be heard by Regional Trial Court Branch 15 under presiding Judge Ridgway

Tanjili as a pairing judge of the RTC 14, although this would add to the backlog cases in that sala.

“Hasol ug lisod kaayo kay nakisingit lang man me sa pikas branch,” he said.

Lawyer Maria Eloisa Maglana, clerk of Court V of branch 15 said they will have to adjust their usual routine since Judge Ridgeway Tanjili will also hear “urgent motions” in criminal cases in their sala from branch 14.

Last October, the SC dismissed George Omelio

F800 CASES, 10

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

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4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

DAVAO DEL NORTE

DavNor holds 1st Corn Congress T

HE provincial government of Davao del Norte recognized the value of the corn, as the second most important crop in the country, by holding the first-ever Corn Congress of the province.

Corn farmers from all the local government units of the province converged at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan to give the needed boost to the corn sector, where about 14 million Filipinos depend on.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario assured to provide the essential support to the sector, in line with the province’s goal of increasing production to attain food security.

“We aim to increase production of quality corn for human consumption, as well as to

SULTAN KUDARAT

empower the farmers and increase their income, thereby improving their quality of life,” he said.

He said program of the province is anchored on the Department of Agriculture’s Agri-Pinoy Corn Program.

The governor encouraged the corn growers not to waver in their love of planting the crop, and to find more opportunities to expand their areas to increase income and sustain their livelihood.

“Ipadayon ang paghigugma sa pagtanum ug mais kay ang inyong kalamposan alang usab sa kalambuan sa probinsya (Sustain your passion for planting corn since your success will redound to the development of the province),” he said. [by Noel Baguio]

CHALLENGE. Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario assures support to corn, as the country’s second most important crop, in order to attain food sufficiency, at the first Provincial Corn Congress at the Bulwagan. [by Noel Baguio]

SOUTH COTABATO

Town mayor bridges warring H Moro clan to peace covenant

Opening of hospital annex by second half of 2014 pushed

P

ROVEN that peace begets development, the local government of Lambayong, a farming community in Sultan Kudarat province, has facilitated the forging of a peace covenant between two warring Moro clans, officials said Tuesday.

This is in support of the on going peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Lambayong Mayor Florante Agduma, chair of the municipal peace and order council, took the opportunity to bridge families in conflict during the Municipal Peace

and Order Council (MPOC) meeting Monday.

Agduma said the families of Ustadz Mauya Tungkay and Betol Sanday alias Commander Guevarra, of the MILF’s 106th Base Command, forged the peace covenant.

The family feud, which already claimed lives from both sides, started in 2001 and recently heated up anew during the October 28 barangay elections.

Initiated by Agduma, the peace covenant signing was witnessed by representatives from the

COMPOSTELA VALLEY

GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), International Monitoring Team (IMT), Local Monitoring Team (LMT), police and the military.

Agduma lauded the GPH CCCH, IMT and LMT “for their significant contributions in helping the LGU resolved the conflict of the feuding families.”

Army Brigadier General Dionisio Sedillo Jr., chair of the GPH-CCCH, said that although “rido” is outside the mandate of the CCCH, the mechanism’s intervention can help especially

when this involves MILF members as it can potentially affect the GPH-MILF ceasefire agreement due to their organizational affiliation.

“There is a need to resolve personal grudges and explore certain mechanisms to go about it,” Sedillo said after the signing ceremonies.

“It is high time for the feuding families who are connected with the MILF to settle their differences considering that the prospect of the peace negotiation is bright,” said Major Carlos Sol, GPHCCCH secretariat head. [PNA]

Comval State College interim trustees convened C OMPOSTELA Valley Rep. Maricar Zamora said that the interim Board of Trustees of Compostela Valley State College (CVSC) has been recently convened.

Composing the Board are Commission on Higher Learning chairperson Patricia Licuanan, National Economic Development Authority-XI

regional director Maria Lourdes Lim, DOST-XI regional director Anthony Sales, Ranjit Singh Rye representing Senator Pia Cayetano and Rep. Zamora representing Rep. Roman Romulo.

“With it, the CVSC is now officially an institution,” said Rep. Zamora.

She said that it is certain that the CVSC will open by June 2014.

Last Monday, Zamora graced the ground-breaking of the site of CVSC’s Maragusan campus in time of the 36th Araw ng Maragusan and Pyagsawitan Festival.

The Comval congresswoman successfully pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 10598, establishing CVSC by integrating as regular branch-

es the Bukidnon State University external studies centers in Monkayo, Maragusan, Montevista and New Bataan.

It will provide professional instruction and training in agriculture as well as science and technology.

President Aquino signed the law for CVSC last June 2013. [Cha Monforte]

EALTH authorities in South Cotabato are targeting to fully operate the provincial hospital’s annex in Surallah town by the second half of 2014.

Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) chief, said Tuesday they are working on the commencement by next month of the construction works for the unfinished sections of the hospital to cope with its targeted opening schedule.

The official said they are presently raising around P44 million to fund the operational requirements of the facility, which was initially named Upper Valley Community Hospital.

Of the required funds, he said P28 million will cover for the manpower requirement while the remaining P16 million was allotted for the acquisition of its required equipment.

“Hopefuly by June or July next year, we can already start operating the hospital as a Level 1 facility,” Aturdido said.

Based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) standards, a Level 1 hospital refers to a facility that could cater to the initial treatment of emergency cases and provide primary care for prevalent diseases.

It should be equipped for general medicine, pediatrics, minor surgeries and non-surgical gynecology. A Level 1 hospital is considered as a very small hospital but has primary clinical laboratory, pharmacy and first level radiology, a DOH briefer said.

“It will also provide nursing care for patients needing minimal supervised care,” it added.

In the case of the Upper Valley Community Hospital, which is being constructed in a five-hectare property in Barangay Dajay in Surallah town, Aturdido said it will initially focus on maternal and child health care.

The facility, which will serve as the main inter-local health zone hospital or health care hub for the province’s upper valley area, is projected to help decongest the main South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City by 25 percent.

It will specifically serve patients from the municipalities of Banga, Suralah, Sto. Nino, Tboli and Lake Sebu.

The pentagon-shaped facility was initially planned to operate starting October this year but was shelved until the middle of 2014 due to structural problems.

[PNA]

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

07,

EDGEDAVAO

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6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch 1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

7.1 1st Qtr 2013

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

7.8 1st Qtr 2013

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

USD 3,741 million Feb 2013 USD 4,708 million Feb 2013 USD -967 million Feb 2013 USD -640 million Dec 2012 P 4,964,560 million Feb 2013

8. Interest Rates 4/

2.4 % Mar 2013 P113,609 million Mar 2013 P 5,281 billion Mar 2013

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

P 41.14 Apr 2013

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

6,847.5 Mar 2013

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

132.8 Apr 2013

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.6 Apr 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.1 Apr 2013

16. Visitor Arrivals

418,108 Feb 2013

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

20.9% Jan 2013

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.1% Jan 2013

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2012-April 2013) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2013

2012

2011

40.67 40.73

42.23 41.01 41.12 41.45 41.75 42.04 41.91 42.78 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

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

Davao Region records employment increase

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

N official of the Department of Labor and Employment in Region 11 said that employment in the region increased by 1.7 percent from the period of April to July.

DOLE regional director Joffrey Suyao, guesting in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex, said that the July 2013 statistics on employment rate in the region released by the National Statistics Office bared that 93.4 percent of the labor force in the region was employed, higher than April’s 91.7 percent.

He said that there were 1.874 million employed as of July this year. Most of these are employed in the service sector.

From the month of April, about 30,000 from the unemployed sector got employed on or before July.

Currently, only 6.6 or about 131,000 are unemployed in the whole region.

He said that the number of unemployed

increased by April because of the devastation caused by typhoon Pablo in

December last year and fresh graduates significantly decreased because of DOLE’s

facilitation services like job fairs.

Earlier, DOLE had job fairs during Labor Day,

Araw ng Dabaw, and job fairs in Tagum City which targeted the victims of Pablo.

GCash services offered in Puregold Digos, Tagum, Lanang branches G

Cash, the flagship mobile money service of G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the mobile commerce arm of Globe Telecom, strengthens its regional presence in Mindanao with its partnership with Puregold to offer GCash services in Digos, Lanang and Tagum branches of the supermarket giant in Davao.

With the said expansion, not only GCash subscribers and Puregold’s Aling Puring members composed of

sari-sari store owners, carinderia operators, food resellers, and bulk buyers, but all customers can now avail of any GCash service at these Puregold outlets. GCash services include Bills Payment (Davao Light, Pag-IBIG, SSS, etc.), Cash-in/Cashout, Domestic Remittance (Send and Receive Money), International Remittance via GCash Remit, and POS payment using GCash card.

“It is our commitment to better serve our customers in every possible way. As part

of Globe Telecom’s commitment in expanding our business with Puregold, we will now be offering GCash services in these three Puregold branches in Mindanao.

We hope that Globe subscribers and Puregold’s Aling Puring members will enjoy safe, secure, and hassle-free mobile money transactions at our designated GCASH counter in Puregold”, says Paolo Baltao, GXI President.

The availability of GCash outlets in Puregold branches is

set to provide ease of access and convenience to Puregold shoppers who have GCash accounts as well as to Aling Puring members in claiming their remittances where GCash Remit is available in over 40 countries worldwide, sending money within the Philippines, and paying their bills through the customer service area at a Puregold branch nearest them.

“We are grateful to have GCash as our partner for this Mindanao ‘market invasion’. It gives

us an opportunity to provide easier and more convenient shopping experience to our valued customers. What’s good about this is that they can also do other transactions like pay for their bills, claim their remittances and send money within the country via GCash services at these 3 Puregold outlets in Davao, aside from purchasing goods and services from us,” shares Antonio Delos Santos, Store Operations Head, Puregold Price Club Inc (PPCI).

as of May 2013 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 Cebu Pacific Thu

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

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 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 13:25

Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968 13:35 Silk Air Mon/Sat MI588 / MI588 13:35 Silk Air Wed/Sun MI566 / MI566 15:20 Silk Air Thurs MI551 / MI551 12:05 Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 Philippine Airlines August 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50 Zest Air Daily Z2524 / Z2525 16:05

Manila-Davao-Manila Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu

14:05 18:55 18:55 15:45 15:30

Cebu-Davao-Cebu

16:45

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

LGUS TOLD:

Prepare for survival C

LIMATE Change Commission (CCC) Vice-Chairperson Lucille Sering urged LGUs nationwide to be pro-active in undertaking disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA).

She said both are essential in helping protect life, limb and property from onslaught of hazards including those arising from the changing climate. ”Preparedness is still the

key to surviving,” she said Monday (Nov. 25) at a briefing in Metro Manila for the country’s celebration of Climate Change Week (CCW) this year.

The 2013 CCW is anchored on the theme ‘I Plan, I Act.’ Authorities adapted such theme, noting onslaught of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name ‘Haiyan’) this month highlighted urgency for DRR and CCA.

’Yolanda’ plowed through Central Philippines on Nov. 8, wiping out communities there and leaving behind thousands of dead victims and tons of debris.

Citing scientists’ projections, Sering said occurrence of future tropical cyclones worst than ‘Yolanda’ can’t be discounted as continuing rise in sea temperature – one repercussion of climate change - fuels development of such weather disturbances.

Experts also warned climate change-fueled threats to thePhilippines and other island-nations include sea level rise.

Sering noted LGUs must heed authorities’ warnings about potential disasters and act accordingly to help mitigate impact of climate change and other hazards like earthquakes, tropical cyclones, ‘tsunami’ occurrences and flooding. ”We’re a mecca of disas-

ters but we don’t want these to restrict our development,” she said.

LGUs must be pro-active as these know who, in respectivecommunities, are in harm’s way and must be moved to safer ground as early as possible, she noted.

Sering further said climate finance is an issue that continues hounding DRR and CCA efforts amidst threats of climate change.

Reporting on outcome of this month’s climate talks in Poland, she reiterated reluctance of developed countries to provide funding that’ll help developing countries to undertake such measures. ”The Green Climate Fund was created for the purpose but this mechanism still has no funds,” she said earlier Monday at the Greeneration Summit in Metro Manila. [PNA]

Biggest consumers of PHL tuna need to invest in sustainable fisheries – WWF W

WF yesterday r e l e a s e d a series of infographics revealing where fresh, chilled, frozen, and canned tuna from the Philippines are exported and potentially consumed worldwide.

According to data from the Philippine National Statistics Office, North America, the United Kingdom, and Germany are the biggest consumers of canned tuna from the Philippines taking in more than 10,000 tons each between 2008 and 2010. They are followed

by China. Canned tuna from the Philippines are exported to as many as 89 countries, leaving out only South America and parts of Africa and Central Asia.

North America also leads the rest of the globe in consuming frozen and fresh or chilled Philippine tuna, followed by countries in southern Europe and again, China.

Exploited resource “The Philippine tuna industry is struggling to meet increasing global demands, placing more pressure on fully exploited stocks in the Coral Triangle,” said Dr. Jose Ingles, WWF Coral Triangle Strategy Leader.

According to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Scientific Committee, some tuna species such as bigeye and yellowfin are now fully exploited. Signs of overfishing are also occurring throughout Philippine waters.

“These infographics clearly show the world’s dependence on Philippine tuna fisheries.

If these large consumer countries are to continue benefiting from tuna resources from the Philippines and the rest of the Coral Triangle, more investments should be channeled towards the sustainable management of tuna in this part of the world,” added Ingles.

Nursery of the seas The Coral Triangle, which straddles the seas of six countries in Asia Pacific, is a tuna nursery where highly soughtafter species such as yellowfin, bigeye, southern bluefin, and skipjack tuna migrate and spawn.

Tuna caught in the Coral Triangle makes for about 30 percent of the total global tuna catch, contributing as much as 35 percent to the total tuna catch coming from the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which accounts for more than half the world’s tuna production.

The real price of tuna In 2012, total exports of tuna from the Philippines amounted to 124.1 thousand metric tons, valued at USD 454.5 million. These numbers, however, can be deceiving.

“Most canned tuna from the Philippines are not labeled and produced for different global brands; hence their profit margins are very low. This is why prices of canned tuna are the cheapest,” said Ingles.

MORE PRESSURE. The Philippine tuna industry is struggling to meet increasing global demands, placing more pressure on fully exploited stocks in the Coral Triangle, the world’s center of marine life, encompassing around 6 million sq km of ocean across six countries in Asia-Pacific – Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. It is home to 76% of the world’s known coral species, 37% of the world’s coral reef fish species, and commercially-valuable species such as tuna, whales, dolphins, rays, sharks, including 6 of the world’s 7 known species of marine turtles.

“Consumers need to know that the price of canned tuna being sold in supermarkets does not fully represent the value of the product and its cost to the environment,” added Ingles.

Promoting sustainable tuna fisheries “The tuna fishing industry needs to apply best management practices to ensure the sustainability of this commercially-valuable ocean resource, which is a source of food and livelihood for millions

of people,” said Ingles.

“Not doing so would mean the collapse not only of economies, but the lives of those who directly depend on this industry.”

To address problems plaguing tuna fisheries in the region, WWF has been working closely with national governments and tuna fishers through Fisheries Improvement Projects aimed at transforming the industry and ushering it onto a more sustainable path.

Through the Asia Pa-

cific Sustainable Seafood and Trade Network, a regional network formed to advance seafood sustainability in the Asia Pacific region, WWF aims to link source and demand markets and bring about more responsible seafood production, trade, retail, and consumption.

“By linking responsible tuna producers in the Coral Triangle with consumer countries in North America and Europe, for example, we can harness the power

of business-to-business partnerships and create a more equitable sharing of benefits derived from this industry,” said Ingles.

“Through these infographics, we hope that consumers will start asking hard-hitting questions such as where their seafood comes from and whether these are from responsible sources.

Through such, we hope to incite more investments on responsible tuna from the market side of this huge industry.”

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

STATEMENT

Beyond the numbers

I

S THERE “no more culture of impunity” as Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Co- indeed working as a journalist and if he had mentioned any threats to his life, loma of the Presidential Communication Operations Office argued during a and from whom the slain thought they were coming from. CMFR then contacts press conference last November 22, on the eve of the fourth anniversary of whoever, if at all, the slain had told his family was threatening him to get his side. the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan Massacre?

CMFR, which also serves as the Secretariat for the Freedom Fund for Filipino Secretary Coloma was reacting to allegations that the Aquino administra- Journalists (FFFJ), continues to validate its early findings by verifying them with tion has pulled ahead of past administrations because of the number of jour- other sources. Only when there is a high probability that the motive for the killnalists killed—19, or an average of six per year-- during the first three years ing was work related is the name of the slain included in the CMFR database and of its watch. He bases this argument on another argument: that the number of a report on it released to the CMFR national and international networks, and if journalists and media workers killed during the first three years of President approved by its member organizations, to FFFJ networks as well. CMFR is aware Benigno Aquino III, from 2010 to 2013, which, as documented by the Center for that a journalist or media worker could be killed for other than work-related Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), currently stands at 19, is inflated reasons, such as a private dispute or a love triangle, and has excluded thirteen because “a driver of a network, employees of ‘fly-by-night’ newspapers, and a (13) non-work related killings from its list of journalists killed during the Aquiblocktimer selling skin whiteners” are included in the count. no administration, whose three-year record would otherwise total 32.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility includes media workers, As far as the number of journalists killed during the first three years of the such as drivers and grips, because of indispensable support these give to jour- Aquino government (19) is concerned, only the gunman in the January 2011 nalists. They perform services required by journalists to do their work. CMFR killing of Palawan broadcaster and environmental advocate Gerry Ortega has also includes blocktimers and those working in tabloids who may be sponsored been convicted. Meanwhile, in 2013 alone, 66 threats, whimsical and politicallyby political and commercial interests, because whatever the quality of their motivated libel suits, illegal arrests, physical assaults, being barred from coverwork, they remain part of the free media community, exercising a crucial role in ing events of public concern, and other harassments have been recorded, with a democracy and equally protected by the Constitution. no one being held to account for them.

When they’re killed in the course of their work or for their work, it has an Impunity is the name for the fact that only one gunman and no mastermind impact on the state of the press and media because the killings serve as a de- has been tried or even arrested in 18 out of the 19 killings of journalists from terrent against other journalists’ doing their jobs without fear. The CMFR list 2010 to 2013, and for the continuing harassments many journalists have to condoes not look into the compliance of practitioners with ethical and professional tend with in the course of their work. standards, that being a separate issue altogether from the fundamental one: that FFFJ holds that the primary reason why the killings and harassments are no one who does journalistic work or who supports the work of journalists de- continuing today is the slow progress of the Ampatuan Massacre trial, which is serves to be killed, and their killing has a chilling effect on the way the press and still hearing petitions for bail three years after it began, while 89 out of the 194 the media provide the information and analysis citizens need. CMFR and other accused of masterminding and carrying out the Massacre are still at large. advocate groups believe that their killers must be punished.

But whatever the numbers—whether the driver of a TV network should be CMFR looks very closely into every report, whether from the news media or excluded from the list of 32 journalists and media workers killed during the Amfrom its own network, on the killing of a journalist or media worker. CMFR alerts patuan Massacre or not—what is at issue is State responsibility for the safety of and threats officers call the Philippine National Police and local journalists to all its constituencies including journalists and media workers. This has always confirm if indeed the killing took place. If it did, CMFR interviews the local po- been FFFJ’s stand, which is shared by CMFR and the other members of the FFFJ. lice for the details of the killing, and the colleague of the slain to establish if the That is why it continues to ask for government action. It is also the internationvictim was indeed regarded by the local press and media community as a jour- al standard, as United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression nalist; what he was working on; his history in the profession; whether he has re- Frank La Rue has reminded media and media advocacy groups, by which to deceived any death or other threats; and if the opinion of the press community his termine the persistence of the culture of impunity in the Philippines and in othkilling was work related. CMFR also contacts the family to verify if the slain was er countries.

FREEDOM FUND FOR FILIPINO JOURNALISTS • Center for Community Journalism and Development • Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility • Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas • Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism • Philippine Press Institute.

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A bitter experience

N

EED NOT OPERATE ON COMPLICATED LOGIC – For sufficient reasons the incomparable P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the “pork barrel” fund scandal has been relegated for a while in the back seat after it was overshadowed by the series of tragedies – the Zamboanga deadly siege, terrifying earthquake and devastating typhoons. With rescue and relief operations and recovery and rehabilitation efforts now speeding up in the Visayan provinces ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda, most of us can guess that the people’s focus will be on the “pork barrel” fund scam arraignment.

The tiny acts of viciousness among government critics and detractors will soon disappear. The waves of public disdain have finally calmed down, but it was the calm after the storm. Public frustration over the government’s initial lapses in responding immediately to the Yolanda tragedy is simply now out of question. There is no more reason why they have to keep on pestering the government while its concern is now mainly concentrated in the typhoon-stricken provinces. This to my mind must mean that it is on the pork barrel fund anomalies where the people’s attention would go.

But where it really hurts and government is a prime example – is it can’t take any action or make any decision without someone condemning. It is a bitter knowledge proven previously that when the investigation of the pork barrel fund scam continues, there will be again mounting public criticism, speculations and undesirable analysis. To say it bluntly, different anti-pork barrel groups would aggressively stage a series of simultaneous nationwide mass protests action and indignation rallies to denounce the PDAF. The good news is that the Supreme Court has finally spoken by declaring the PDAF as unconstitutional therefore people

A

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

who are against the pork barrel heave a collective sigh of relief. But the good news is everything else.

So, whether justified by the high court as unconstitutional, the decision took off from strong public clamor for the total abolition of the pork barrel funds. However, the irate and aghast public will again be up in arms if the restrictions are nothing but just another way of dousing cold water on the sweltering controversy.

Anti-pork barrel groups and self-professed advocates of good governance still see there is a larger picture that provides a venue for unscrupulous lawmakers to manipulate the appropriation of public funds for projects in their respective political turfs. Of course, the controversial pork barrel funds are still there and intact. Certainly this time the budget will be funneled through lead government agencies that would in turn allocate funds for projects requested by the lawmakers. Do people worth their grain of salt think that some cash-starved lawmakers won’t be able to persuade the government implementing agencies to look the other way around and kowtow to their “whims and other tempting propositions?”

This is what the public feared most because it merely adds whole new layers of bureaucratic interference. Anti-PDAF people aptly called the new scheme as “the same dog with different collar” – another procedure that offers new opportunities for graft. If this happens, elective officials particularly lawmakers would again be

in the center of another controversy and subjected to severe criticism and ridicule.

While at this, there’s no small irony among our people being responsible of installing the present set of lawmakers in office. The presumption that they are victims of political deception may be true, but the presumption that they are partly to blame is even firmer.

The dominant question right now: “Is the Philippines finally getting what it deserve? But isn’t it the voters fault to begin with?” Remember voters elected farfrom-humble officials. Filipinos therefore have to learn to live with their officials including those self-proclaimed opponents from gravy-train politics. Sad to lament, though, people were used as unwitting tools and allowed to be hoodwink by the myopic views of opportunists and thick-faced lawmakers. More than that, all those embroiled in the brewing PDAF fund scandal want to come out clean and hypercritical over the government’s reform-minded and conservative policies.

Well, people are all tired and sick of the endless bickering during the past parallel government investigations surrounding the pork barrel fund scam and now they’re about to go through with the same predicament – annoying and nauseating. All those involved in the case need not operate on complicated logic.

What they need is to make persuasive and believable arguments instead of making ridiculous and outlandish accusations in an attempt to justify their ends.

Some lawmakers didn’t worked to help improve the country’s socio-economic status, but their troubles instead overshadowed their legislative responsibilities. The point here is to stop the shallow ranting and squabbling to give way to the speedy resolution of the shameful pork barrel fund controversy.

Antitrust enforcement goes global

N obvious question is what other purpose those actions serve. Are the recent record-breaking sanctions a real deterrent to market manipulation?

And for companies facing multiple fines from myriad antitrust authorities — and thus a form of multiple jurisdictional jeopardy — how much is too much?

While the United States and other countries have begun grappling with those questions, they’re still a long way from coming up with real answers, much less concrete (and fair) reforms.

Companies caught in the crosshairs of serial enforcement agencies complain that whatever the alleged transgressions, the sanctions they and other defendants now face are badly out of whack. The problem isn’t just prosecutorial overkill, but outright piling on. One illustration is the recent Air Cargo cartel case. As part of what was alleged to be an overarching conspiracy to artificially inflate surcharges on global air freight services, antitrust prosecutors in at least ten different jurisdictions brought enforcement actions: the United States, European Union, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, and Switzerland. When the case finally settled, each government got its share of the spoils from the same set of defendants in the form of tens of millions of dollars in

COMMENTARY

BY JOHN TERZAKEN

(Conclusion) fines.

It’s not that the agencies don’t recognize the problem. There is consensus that in many instances the multiple sanctions meted out have been excessive, and that the rise in overlapping prosecutions needs to be addressed.

Yet instituting fixes that antitrust enforcers across the globe can abide by is another matter. While local antitrust bodies have done well coordinating their efforts in the launch and due diligence phase of prosecutions, they’ve been widely reluctant to give up home country control over sentencing, leading to what has been an ad hoc approach to apportioning punishments and fines.

The Justice Department’s antitrust division has been trying to do its part to help curtail prosecutorial overkill. It recently established a new internal policy meant to encourage prosecutors to use wider discretion when defendants are facing parallel enforcement actions abroad.

Moreover, Justice is working on getting

its counterparts around the world to adopt similar principles. If antitrust authorities are serious about trying to promote fairer, more proportional penalties in global antitrust matters, that could be a good start.

Still, for now it’s unclear how many other countries will sign on to those principles — or even how effective they would ultimately be.

The age of “multiple” jeopardy for antitrust defendants isn’t about to end anytime soon, which is why companies that are potential targets need to fortify their defenses. One obvious step is to beef up compliance programs. If potential problems or risky practices are spotted, the smart move is to bring them to the attention of the relevant antitrust authorities as quickly as possible, since prosecutors typically go much easier on companies that self-report questionable behavior. Those that don’t self-report run a greater risk that their competitors, or even an internal whistle-blower, will report the potential violations anyway, and thus put them in a far more vulnerable position with prosecutors.

For companies that would rather avoid a global prosecutorial pile-on, not to mention many millions of dollars in fines, it’s definitely something to consider before the antitrust enforcers come knocking.

VANTAGE POINTS

9

A little dog escapes Tacloban

“B

(Conclusion) u t

they weren’t reaching the s u r v ivo r s - - so few trucks and so little gasoline. The government failed to deliver the relief goods on time!”

“But how did you end up here in Davao?”

“I saw your 911 rescue team cleaning up the Tacloban airport. You see, I tried to mix with the survivors waiting for the C-130 plane to get them out of there” “You also wanted to leave Tacloban with the survivors?”

“I was already on the ramp of the C-130 plane when a French flight crew shooed me away--- dogs aren’t allowed on a mercy flight” “So you were left running away from the plane in the airport!”

“They were all shooing me away except some survivors who chased me for dog meat, arph! arph!” he barked to stress his point.

“How did you end up here?”

“I was running for my life! I jumped into a tent near the airport belonging to the Davao 911 rescue team” “So the 911 team also shooed you away?”

“No, one of them gave me a whole can of corned beef. I was also given clean water to drink.”

“Were they planning to turn you into dog meat for pulutan?”

“I don’t think so, they look like nice guys to me.”

“So they took you in as a pet?”

“No, I run away back into the rubble of Tacloban” “How come you ended up here?” I was getting impatient.

The scrawny little dog told me the 911 team was about to leave Tacloban, so he jumped into one of their buses and hid in the cargo hold the night before.

“You mean you rode with them all the way to Davao?”

“Arph, arph! They didn’t know I was hiding in there” he barked, licking the sides of the bowl that had dried sauce.

“But how did you know the bus was going to Davao?”

“I smelled durian in the cargo hold.

I hate it.”

“If you can’t stand it, how did you survive the trip?”

“There were some cans with leftover pork and beans in the cargo hold, I ate and licked them all the way.”

“How did you know it was already Davao?” I asked, picking up the bowl so the dog would leave.

“I smelled durian again”, the dog said, tightening his nose.

“You hate durian?” “ It reminded me of the decaying bodies lying on the streets of Tacloban” (Comments? Email me > tradingpost_davao@gmail.com)

10 NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Not ready...FFROM 1 intervention from both the public and private sectors. These collective interventions from both sectors will further create a sustainable farming community.

To make a sustainable farming community, he said the government needs to develop more markets for the farmers and farm to market roads.

There’s is also urgency for more credit support to cooperatives so that more farmers will be financially capable.

“We need credit support, we cannot plant more because we have no financial capacity to develop larger farms,” he said.

There is also a need to strengthen the AFC in the barangay level through

capacity building, he said, adding that during the congress officials of CAFC undergo a training regarding parliamentary procedure which will help them in creating resolutions, minutes of the meeting, and proposals.

“Kung ma-strengthen ang BAFC, creation naman ni siya ng mga legitimate farmer organization from different sitios, mao na ning among vehicle toward them an ma-reach out namo sila,”he said, adding that only 32 out of 182 barangays in the city have BAFC. On the other hand, for the first time, farmers and fisherfolks in the city will be oriented on the upcoming Asean integration on November 28-29 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

“men who were having sex with men” or MSM. He said five of the victims have died in the last three years due to complications caused by the disease.

“We have 37 patients currently seeking treatment at the SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) in Davao City,” he said in a statement.

The HIV victims are specifically undergoing maintenance or antiretroviral drug (ARV) treatment at the SPMC, which is the Department of Health’s designated treatment hub for HIV/AIDS victims from southern and southwestern Mindanao, he said.

ARV drug treatment mainly stops the multiplication of the infected person’s viral load and eventually prevents them from further spreading the disease.

In some countries,

the use of ARV drugs have helped effectively lower the incidence of HIV infection to about one percent and eventually stabilized the detected cases.

Owing to this, Aturdido said they are pushing for the creation of a special body that will spearhead efforts to curb the rising incidence of HIV in the area.

He said they proposed for such move to properly address the continuing spread of HIV within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

Dubbed Provincial HIV-AIDS Council, he said the proposed body will mainly lead various local campaigns on the disease, particularly in properly informing the public about it.

“The number of HIV/ AIDS victims in South Cotabato has been increasing and this has to stop,” Aturdido added. [MindaNews]

wearing jewelry and using cellphones while on the street because these would attract snatchers.

Police visibility demands all police officers to go out of their office and do monitoring based on assigned time while

Danao will also check those areas that need police visibility.

Danao advised his officers to do their duty as they cannot protect anyone by simply sitting in their office.

14 new HIV...FFROM 2

Police...FFROM 2

5,000 slots...FFROM 2 ductivity Board (RTWPB), Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC), National Conciliation and Mediation Board(NCMB),

Social Security Services (SSS), and Philhealth will be sitting to address the concerns of applicants.

for being guilty of gross ignorance of the law. Omelio was found guilty on four counts of gross igno-

rance of law in the case involving two properties in Barrio Budbud in Bunawan, Davao City.

800 cases... FFROM 2

NEW HONDA PASSENGER MOTORCYCLE. Honda Phils., Inc. sales manager Cesar Nugas and HPI after-sales manager for Vis-Min area Noli Menor introduce to media the new Honda CB 125 CL hailed by the motorcycle firm as a fuel efficient motorcycle perfect for passenger tricycles during yesterday’s Honda Tricycle Operators and Drivers associations (TODA) Convention 2013 held at MTS along Matina in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

Honda TODA Convention staged in Davao

H

ONDA Philippines Inc., (HPI), the country’s leading brand of top-quality motorcycles for personal and commercial use, brought to Davao City yesterday the fourth stage of the Triclycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) Convention at the Matina Town Square in a day jam-packed with fun, excitement and prizes attended by some 350 motorcycle transport drivers and operators.

The Honda TODA Convention 2013is the fourth leg of a 10-leg nationwide convention that will introduce the new Honda passenger motorcycle variant—the Honda CB125 CL. And just like the other Honda TODA conventions held in various areas in Luzon and Visayas, the event will allow various TODA groups from Mindanao to know more about Honda’s newest - business line of motorcycle units- Honda CB125CL- perfect for using

with a sidecar for passenger transport or for business purposes like goods delivery.

TODA members experienced up close CB125CL’s superior quality and specification through Product Specification Seminar for them to better understand why and how these motorcycle units will benefit them and their tricycle business.

During the seminar, the members were shown how different the new model is compared to other brands that other TODAs are already using.

After the seminar, the members will be treated to lots of fun, prizes and surprises, all courtesy of HPI, the only motorcycle company in the country to date that conducts this type of special event for TODA members around the country so that even for just one day, these modern transport heroes can take a break from their daily back-breaking work and

have fun in the company of other TODA groups.

However, the real highlight of the day was the “test drive” experience where selected TODA members can drive the Honda CB125CL for a real road test, either as a single motorcycle or tricycle, to give them an actual feel of the motorcycle when used in plying their trade.

Then, after the thrilling road tests, the TODA members were treated to videos clips of various tests conducted by HPI in the past, with the Honda CB125CL consistently showing its dominance in terms of power, performance and more importantly, fuel efficiency.

Product seminars, games, raffles, sumptuous snacks, and test rides were definitely the order of the day during Honda TODA Convention, where the TODAs will experience a treat they have never encountered before. For HPI, the convention is their way

of showing their appreciation to the groups for their tremendous support to Honda. For sure, TODA members will be all smiles at this sincere gesture, as each hope that someday, they will get down to own Honda CB125CL, which will surely take Philippine roads by storm with its powerful and efficient performance.

“We have had successes in our past TODA conventions in Luzon and Visayas and we’re quite excited that we will be doing this in Mindanao, a very important market for us because we have many loyal Honda users here. We just want to make them feel that they are special and very important to us through this fun-filled yet educational event, all for the benefit of our modern transport heroes,” explained Lemuel Buenaflor, advertising supervisor of Honda Philippines,Inc. [PR]

lated enough foods to feed their families.”

She said that the internally displaced persons (IDP) engaged themselves in rebuilding activities, like cleaning of debris, construction and repair of shelters to get cash from the DSWD. In cash-for-work, IDPs receive P226 per day or 2,260 for 10 days.

On the other hand, in an earlier report, an official of DSWD said that the

distribution of relief goods will end in December.

“Ang utos ni secretary (DSWD secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman) ay ipackage na ang programa na may livelihood, emergency employment starting next year.”

Razon, meanwhile bared that DSWD11 has exhausted a total of P43.3 million for relief operations in Eastern Visayas.

This comprised of 70,362 food packs.

Yolanda victims get cash for work

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

V

ICTIMS of typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban began receiving monetary assistance yesterday through the cash-for-work program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, an official said during the iTalk media forum at Seda Hotel yesterday.

DSWD 11 regional director Priscilla Razon said the food assistance for Yolanda victims is scheduled to end by December

this year.

“Today [yesterday afternoon], they will be shifting to cash assistance.

People would like to have cash in hand so that they can also buy something different from what they ate for several days,” she said, adding that for two weeks victims of the typhoon had been eating from food packs like noodles, corned beef, beef loaf and sardines.

“They have accumu-

11 COMMUNITY SENSE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

‘Operation Tulong Express’ donations turned over to PRC

T

HE first batch of relief donations from shoppers and affiliates of SM malls in Davao were recently turned over to Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Davao to be shipped and distributed to communities hit by super-typhoon Yolanda.

Donations consisting of numerous boxes of bottled water, instant food items, rice, toiletries and other basic relief goods were delivered to PRC’s headquarters in Davao City. These were initially dropped off at SM Foundation’s Operation Tulong Express booths located at SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier.

Operation Tulong Expressis the calamity response program of SM Foundation that aims to provide immediate

relief to victims in disaster-stricken areas of Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz and Bicol.

SM Foundation, the socio-civic arm of the SM Group of Companies, is taking the lead in the relief efforts with the nationwide reach of SM Cares of the mall group, SM Savemore, and BDO Foundation.

In addition to these efforts, the SM Group also announced on November 11 its plans to allocate P100M as calamity fund for calamity-hit areas.

The fund will focus on five different types of assistance: rebuilding homes, community centers, schools, and churches, and providing immediate relief through food and supplies.

SM staff hands over boxes of donated goods from shoppers of SM City Davao to Philippine Red Cross Davao.

SM City Davao Mall Manager Lynette Lopez (center) and staff with PRC volunteers

SM staff sort out Operation Tulong Express donations.

Mindanao-wide NGOs helping ‘Yolanda’survivors in Leyte A

Mindanao-wide network of non-government organizations (NGOs) has delivered relief goods and services to survivors of typhoon “Yolanda” in this city and other municipalities in Leyte.

Sister Noemi Degala, of the Sisters Association in Mindanao and a convenor of BALSA (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)-Mindanao, said they have extended at least 50,000 relief food packs since Sunday.

At least 690 volunteers from across Mindanao joined the relief operation, she said, adding they are slated to do another relief operation next month.

Aside from their relief and medical mission, the group has set up a help desk to assist typhoon survivors contact their relatives in Mindanao, Degala said.

“It’s either we make contact through phone calls or if they don’t have contact numbers, we contact their relatives through local radio stations,” she said.

Degala said they will conclude their operation tomorrow (Tuesday) after starting last November 22.

For BALSA-Mindanao’s second wave of help in Leyte and Samar provinces tentatively set on Dec. 16 to 22, Degala said they may offer psychosocial therapy intervention for survivors suffering from trauma or depression, dental mission and free legal clinic.

Balsa means a bamboo floating raft, which symbolizes the people’s resilience and determination to survive.

For some volunteers, the experience is rewarding.

“At least, I spend my time for the victims here.

I may not have money but I helped by carrying sacks of reliefs goods,” said 21year old Marthy Mijares of Surigao City, jobless and a college undergraduate.

It was his first time to visit this city.

“It’s badly hit by the typhoon. When we arrived the other day, we saw lots of dead people stuffed in a body bag and placed on the side of the road. Everyday, I can see dead people,” Mijares said.

Mijares said he and seven other friends from Surigao City have volunteered even in their hometown after Yolanda struck.

“We have been packing relief items and we are happy doing this,” he said.

[Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews]

The STERLING GROUP distributed to Typhoon Yolanda victims 1,000 boxes of Rebisco assorted biscuits and 2,000 sets of goody bag. Each bag has one pair of slippers, 100 pieces of assorted medicines especially those for diarrhea, canned goods, flash light, soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Fifteen employees of BPO Sterling Global and Sterling Paper flew to Panay Island to distribute the goods to baranggays Kinalkalan, Bakulod, Kabalic, Malapuk in Balasan, Iloilo; Estancia, Iloilo; and Brgy. San Pedro, Pilar, Capiz. In its aim to further help typhoon affected farmers on a longer term, Sterling through SL Agritech is partnering with donors on a subsequent hybrid rice seed distribution. In photo are Yolanda victims receiving goods from Sterling Paper President Gerry Lim.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

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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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BUSINESS FOR ASSUME

Lodging House with 40 rooms at the heart of Davao City is for assume for 1.8 M (negotiable) Call 09228066984.

13 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 183 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

AirAsia Zest rolls out Piso Fare promo Get iPhone 5c at P1,349 monthly from Globe A G IRASIA Zest’s anticipated Piso fare is back again, this time in conjunction with promo seats available throughout AirAsia and AirAsia X’s extensive route network throughout the region and beyond.

AirAsia Zest Piso seats are available for booking at www.airasia.com from today until 1st Dec 2013.

Guests will be able to travel from 5 May 2014 up to 31 January 2015 with all-in promo seats starting from as low as Php 353.92 for

one way including applicable taxes and fees.

Many domestic destinations such as Manila to Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Tagbilaran and many others are featured in this Piso Fare promo including direct flights from Cebu to Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Puerto Princesa (Palawan).

Joy Caneba, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of AirAsia Zest said, “Now is the perfect opportunity for

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506

Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506 Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

BUS DRIVER

BUS DRIVER

Qualifications: Qualifications:

1. Male, 28 – 40 years old 1. least Male, high 28 – school 40 yearsgraduate old 2. At 2. At least high school graduate 3. With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks) 3. With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks)

Requirements: Requirements: 1. Driver’s License with Official Receipt License (2 with Official Receipt 2. 21.x Driver’s 2 I.D. picture pcs.)

2. 2 x 2 I.D. (2 pcs.)or clearance from 3. Certificate of picture Employment 3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from previous employment

May apply in person at Human Resource Department, YBLIinOffice, General Santos Resource Drive, May apply person at Human Koronadal City. YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, Department, Koronadal City.

our guests to connect from many places conveniently as we continuously add new routes and increase frequencies into our network. Exciting deals also await those who would like to travel overseas with promo fares from our Manila and Cebu hubs to various international destinations.”

AirAsia Zest is also offering promo fares for international routes from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur and Manila to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Miri (Malaysia), Macau, Incheon and Shanghai from as low Php461 one way and including applicable taxes and fees.

Promo seats via AirAsia hubs operating in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu are also available in line with Visit Malaysia Year 2014, as there will be many international travellers who will arrive into Malaysia.

International

destinations featured in this AirAsia regional campaign also include Singapore, Jakarta, Bandung, Bangkok, Hatyai, Surat Thani, Phnom Penh and many others.

AirAsia X is also offering low fares on long haul routes, which include newly launched destinations of Nagoya, Adelaide, Male, Colombo and Busan. Guests on AirAsia X flights may book online and enjoy prices from as low as Php2,197 on economy and Php9,087 on premium from Kuala Lumpur.

“AirAsia Zest’s new direct flights from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur starting December 1 will enable travellers from Visayas region to as far as those from Mindanao via our daily flights from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro and Davao to take advantage of this promo fare and benefit from AirAsia’s vast network across all Asean countries including China, India and Australia,” Caneba said.

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 21061224 under contract No. 10048586-9 21061223 under contract No. 10048585-8 21061221 under contract No. 10048583-6 21061220 under contract No. 10048582-5 21061219 under contract No. 10048581-4 21061222 under contract No. 10048580-3 21067504 under contract No. 10045644-1 issued to RICHARD J. HECHANOVA was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

11/27,12/4,11

LOBE Telecom is now offering the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s at more affordable price points under its fully-customizable Best-Ever mySUPERPLAN, a next-generation postpaid plan that features fully-customizable plan components and a bigger plan value.

The iPhone 5c 16GB is now available for as low as P1,349 monthly at Plan 499 with a monthly cashout* of P850 for a 24-month contract period. The postpaid plan bundle comes with 300 megabytes (MB) of mobile Long Term Evolution (LTE) surfing and free calls and texts.

On the other hand, the iPhone 5s 16GB is offered for as low as P1,799 monthly at Plan 999 with a monthly cashout* of P800 for a 24-month contract period.

The plan is bundled with unlimited LTE surfing and free calls and texts.

“Customers can now purchase the newest iPhones under our suite of fully-customizable postpaid plans at a price that’s easier on their pockets and enjoy the same best deals and innovative offers only from the leader in postpaid and trusted expert in iPhone,” shares Raul Macatangay, Head of Globe Postpaid.

On top of the offers

now made more affordable, Globe subscribers also get free subscription to Globe Gadget Care, the complete mobile phone protection program against theft and accidental damage available in the market today, as well as free access to Facebook along with customer experience innovations until January 2014.

Globe is also offering the iPhone 5c 16GB in prepaid for only P29,000 and the iPhone 5s 16GB at P34,400 payable via credit card for up to 12-month installment at 0% interest. The prepaid kit comes with a free prepaid nano-SIM and free 900 MB of mobile browsing for 3 months.

New and existing Globe subscribers who are loyal iPhone users can also avail of the iPhone Forever plan, an exclusive phone upgrade program that allows them to swap their current devices to get a new iPhone every year for free or with minimal cashout. The iPhone 5c 16GB is available at iPhone Forever Plan 1599, while the iPhone 5s 16GB is available at iPhone Forever Plan 1999, both for a contract period of 24 months. Both plans are bundled with 1 gigabyte (GB) of mobile LTE surfing and free calls and texts.