Edge Davao 6 Issue 204

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

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Serving a seamless society

ARMM IN TRANSITION

Readying for Bangsamoro

2 ON THE COVER EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

ARMM IN TRANSITION

Readying for Bangsamoro

By ANTONIO M. AJERO ajero_antonio@yahoo.com

T

HE Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is now implementing a plethora of multi-billion peso projects in preparation for its smooth transition to the Bangsamoro political entity envisioned to be established after the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government shall have signed a final peace pact and the law covering the accord ratified by the people.

This was announced by ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman in a briefing he made with members of the Davao media last Saturday at the Waterfront Davao Insular Hotel on the sideline of the 11th Expanded ARMM Cabinet Meeting. He was accompanied by lady lawyer Laisa M. Alamia, ARMM executive secretary.

One of the first to be implemented is HELPS (Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Synergy) under the banner ARMM Bridge Transition Development Program.

Under HELPS, 50 of the ARMM’s 2,400 barangays, will be allotted funds for total infrastructure and capacity-building projects worth P500 million, Hataman said.

“ARMM would infuse funding into the barangays where there’s no barangay hall, no market, no shelter program, no covered court and no barangay health center, ARMM is going to give that, “ he said.

Hataman said implementation of the projects will commence quickly since the newly-approved budget of the country has done away with the SARO (special allotment release order) system in the past.

Aside from the HELPS program, the regional government is also giving priority for this year investment and social services. It will be more on economic development and grassroots services, Hataman said.

ARMM is being eyed for investment by Malaysians and Singaporean investors.

He said executives from AgriCola based in Singapore have visited the area twice or thrice already.

“This is the area of Datu Odin Sinsuat and part of Talayan. Parang naghanap sila ng 5,000 hectares of land intended for Palm Oil,” he said,

adding that “this expansion of one of the banana plantations, itong Dalinanas, from 500 hectares to 1,500 hectares.

Hataman said “actually, we have identified 50 barangays in the entire region with a budget of P500 million. It will be 10 barangays per province, and initially, at least one barangay per municipality. We will make these barangays model communities.

He said all our programs will commence in January.

It will be fast. Now that the General Appropriations Act is signed into law, everything is automatic. No more SARO system. In the past kasi, gawa ka pa ng SARO, request ka pa sa Department of Budget and Management. Now you can implement right away. We will observe procurement processes right away. We will bid for those projects that need bidding, However, for the ARMM HELPS program, if it is infrastructure project, the department of public works and highways will do the implementation right away.”

He said that the newly signed national budget has allotted P20 billion for the ARMM, showing a huge increase from P13 billion previously.

What is the future of ARMM? Hataman and lawyer Alamia, his executive secretary, told reporters that once the Bangsa Moro entity will be established, ARMM will be abolished.

“Once the comprehensive pact is signed by 2014, then the Transitional Commission will draft the basic law and submit it to Congress. Congress will debate on it. Once it is approved, it will be subject to ratification.

Once it is ratified, the ARMM is over, “ Hataman said.

Then there will be a Transitional Authority to be established. The composition will be from the MILF and the government side. Then on May 2016, there will be a regular election of the ministerial form of the Bangsa Moro political entity.

“That’s why we are readying ourselves for the Transition from now on.

In fact, the Framework as mentioned by Atty. Laisa, the Bridge Program is part of our transitional mechanism just to insure that the there will a smooth transition from the

ARMM to the new Bangsamoro entity,” Hataman said.

He said the current employees of the ARMM will be protected under the Civil Service Law. Huge savings The regional governor takes pride in making huge savings during his watch.

“Alam naman ninyo ang perception ng ARMM, pero Masaya lang kami because we were able to generate savings,” he said.

He said that from DPWH alone, all in all from 2012 to 2013, we were able to save around P350 million. All of these were used to purchase heavy equipment for the eight districts of the DPWH, and implement some infrastructures na wala sa general appropriations.

“Sa Deped (Department of Education) medyo malaki laki. Close to P700 million,” he bared.

Hataman said “we plan to use this amount to pay PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, GSIS and PPSTA, para once yong mga teacher naming mag-retire, at least meron silang package na matatanggap.” He added that the two agencies whose funds are huge and were tagged by COA as most corrupt agencies in the past.

If you at look at the special audit, lahat ng cash advances nila umaabot from P2 to P3 billion during the Ampatuan reign.

The ARMM governor is sure that all the region’s infrastructure for 2014 and 2015 will be completed its transition to the Bangsamoro political entity. “ Basically our target is water system for those in need of water and road network and accessibility for agricultural productivity and tourism and third, ports.

Then yung health, yung hospital namin dapat at least kaya naming mag compete sa mga public hospitals sa DOH Central at least sa province meron kami noon. Second, yung human resource kaya nag-intensify kami ng scholarship program for this year and next year. Kasi yung mga halimbawa lump sum fund ng special purpose fund, ginagamit namin yun sa health… kumbaga meron kaming arrangement with public hospitals based in Cagayan, in Marawi City, Zamboanga City, Cotabato City for the constituents of ARMM kasi yun para sa as-

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Majiv S. Hataman and ARMM executive secretary Atty.

Laisa M. Alamia discuss the formation of Bangsamoro government. Lean Daval Jr. sistance.

Second yung livelihood assistance kasi mataas-taas parin sa amin yung poverty incidence sa amin so tingin ko kailangan na namin ng focus at yung yung purpose nung ARMM Helps program.

Actually ito yung gusto naming iklaro muna sa NSCB pero syempre ano eh, walang qualitative change so by 2014, yung yung pinag-uusapan namin, at least bababa sya ng at least 8.5%, yung poverty incident.

How about disaster preparedness?

Alamia said that ARMM has the RDRMC, that’s headed by the regional governor, chaired by the regional governor while the secretariat is the Office of Civil Defense But we have established…we have put an added value to the RDRMC structure by establishing the ARMM HEART, yung puso ng ARMM. HEART stands for yung Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team. So this is the operating center of the RDRMC. We have a command center in Cotabato.

We set up a sub-command center in Zamboanga for the Basilan-Sulu- Tawi-taw areas. Ang ARMM HEART ang pinaka-objective nya is to respond to a humanitarian situation within 24 hours, 24/7 and it’s a convergence approach of our all regional line agencies including civil society organizations and the security centers, the AFP and the PNP to become part of this, of the ARMM HEART para po convergence yung

approach sa pag respond sa isang humanitarian situation na may cluster approach.” “ It will also implement disaster preparedness and prevention and education initiatives that’s why another added value of the ARMM HEART is the inclusion of the Human Rights Commission sa ARMM and the Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission because the ARMM is both a conflict affected area and a natural disaster area.

So we need to incorporate human rights and international humanitarian law. So far ang accomplishments ng ARMM HEART, we established in August 2013, the ARMM HEART has actually achieved the goal, the objective of responding within 24 hours. ARMM HEART has also responded to the Zamboanga siege, the humanitarian crisis and Yolanda.

So in the typhoon Yolanda, we were able to dispatch a search and rescue team on the third day after the occurrence of the typhoon with the regional governor himself being there and then we’ve also dispatched 3 teams already of the composite medical team to Tolosa, Leyte. So we’ve practically adopted Tolosa, Leyte in all the responses that we’ve provided and then relief goods also. The last…… our next response help that we’re going to give to the typhoon Yolanda victims in Visayas is on rehabilitation.

So the regional governor has instructed all the agencies

and all employees within the regional line agencies as well as the LGUs to contribute, to donate in the reconstruction efforts both in the typhoon Yolanda areas and in Zamboanga city also.”

Gov.:Actually for 2014 kasi usually ano yan eh, natake as secondary yung disaster management. Even yung mga supplies nila, equipment, talagang zero when we assumed. So hoping by 2014 from our local fund we allocated around 50 million just to purchase equipment and to establish the command centers with complete equipment, hightech communication equipments also.

Q: How much did you spent for typhoon Yolanda and the Zamboanga seige?

“We’ve actually spent, if we’re going to look at the collections and also the support that has been given by each of the agencies as well as the donations, I think at the minimum, we already have provided around P10 million,” the ARMM executive secretary said.

How about in Zamboanga?

“We were able to provide I think, around that much also.. P10-15 million.

This is combined food items, non-food items plus the medical response that we have provided also as well as the facilitation of the going back of the trapped IPPs from Zamboanga up to Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi and also the Hadj, the pilgrims going to Manila. So it’s more than P50-mililion.

NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

3

TOROTOT FESTIVAL

Rody asks Dabawenyos to join the noisemaking

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO CITY mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is urging Dabawenyos to participate on New Year’s Eve in the Torotot festival organized by a telecom company.

“Gina-endorso ko ni, and everybody should participate in this event, labi na ang mga bata, ” Duterte said in a Youtube video uploaded by the city government.

He said that the festival is the best substitute for firecrackers as a source of noise in welcoming the New Year and anyone can make as much noise as they want.

“Kining torotot festival is a good one, its healthy

because ma exercise imong lungs og maka patuyang ka sa saba na imong gusto,” Duterte said.

Duterte added he would be happy if children could avoid using firecrackers, otherwise they will be apprehended and detained during New Year’s Day. Smart Communications is organizing the first ‘Torotot Festival’ which aims to gather 10,000 participants in partnership with the city government, thereby breaking the record set in Japan which had 6,900 participants blowing their ‘torotot’ and be entered in the Guinness Book of Records.

2 brgy election results pending T

WO ELECTION protests filed by two separate losing punong barangay bets are yet to be decided by judges handling their cases at the municipal trial court in cities (MTCC).

Judge Daydews D. Villamor of MTCC Branch 5, handles the petition filed

by Arturo Yu, protestant and resident of Sitio Coreas, Barangay Leon Garcia Sr., Agdao who ran for re-election against protestee Rolando Cagay of Sitio San Roque, Leon Garcia.

Yu was defeated by four votes (2,602 to 2,606).

The protestant is asking the court to revise the ballots of five cluster precincts.

Villamor said that he ordered both parties to formally offer their exhibits in writing within 15 days from receipt of the order last December 19.

He said that the court has not yet decided and is waiting both parties to answer his order.

The counsel of protestant Rene M. Dublin questioned the results as the election marred by massive fraud, irregularities and anomalies perpetrated by members of the board of election tellers with the connivance of watchers that resulted to Yu’s defeat.

Meanwhile, the election protest filed by Barangay 76-A re-elec-

F2 BRGY, 10

RIZAL DAY. The statue of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal remains the symbol of unity and courage for the Filipino people. December 30 marks the annual Rizal Day when the whole country commemorates the life and works of its national hero. Lean Daval Jr.

Congress has oversight power to check on ‘judicial PDAF’: Sid

P2.3-trillion budget ‘biased”for calamity-stricken Mindanao and Visayas region

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

D

ajero_antonio@yahoo.com

AVAO CITY Rep. Isidro T. Ungab yesterday said lawmakers have the power to look into how

funds are being by government cies.

The power is Congressional

spent agen-

called Over-

sight on Government Expenditures, Ungab said when asked to comment on moves among lawmakers allied with

the Aquino administration to scrutinize the so-called Judicial Development Fund (JDF) and

FCONGRESS, 10

23 face liquor ban charges

By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

LUCKY FRUITS.Fruit vendors are busy displaying round-shaped fruits which are regular part of every Filipinos’“Media Noche” because of the traditional belief that they bring good luck. Lean Daval Jr.

T

epc@edgedavao.net

WENTY three persons were charged before the city prosecution office for violating the liquor ban.

Prosecutor Panfilo Junior R. Lovitos charged Romeo Labong, Jose Lagas, Ador Gabejan, Thomas Borgonia, Ricardo Diola, Elven Dorja, Sabiano Apat, Felipe Taguran, Joseph Torres, Jude

Espinosa, Joy Bravo and Jovito Turan for selling and drinking alcoholic beverage around 1: 30 a.m. last December 11 at the Calle 102 Videoke bar, Km. 11, Sasa.

Also charged are Role Ong, 29, of Purok 3, Barangay Sentro, Agdao; Lyle Rudolf Octabiano, 26, resident of Midasay-

F23 FACE, 10

4

EDGEDAVAO

BIGGER PICTURE

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

1ST REGIONAL FORUM ON MIGRATION IN DAVAO

Strengthening Migrants Rights

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: The view from Davao City airport; forum speakers Pag-ibig‘s Atty. Marie Antoinette Diaz, Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Arnel Adrian Salva, Labor Attaché Elizabeth Marie Estrada, CFO BaLinkBayan ‘s Raul Alcantara and Department of Trade and Industry Region XI’s Lilia Silda; and Mynd Dynamic Team, Inc.'s Myrna Padilla being interviewed by TFC's news team. Second row from left to right: Philippine Migrant Workers’Watch and Inter-Agency Committee on the Month of Overseas Filipinos’ Carmelita Nuqui and Southeast Mindanao Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative's Norberto Bajenting; Councilor Antoinette Principe; and an ethnic dance number provided by the National Commission of the Culture and the Arts

T

HE FILIPINO Channel (TFC) takes its partnership with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) further and supports the Philippine Migrants Rights’ Watch (PMRW) as the network joins the 2nd regional forum on migration held recently in Ateneo de Davao in Jacinto, Davao City.

The regional forum, the very first one held in Davao City, is part of the 2013 Month of Overseas Filipinos (MOF), a 30-day undertaking mounted by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Month of Overseas Filipinos (IAC-MOF) chaired and co-chaired by the PMRW and the CFO respectively.

Dubbed “Balik Pilipinas: Empowering Returning Overseas Filipinos and their Families,” the forum recognizes the reverse phenomenon that is the return of OFs to the Philippines and discussed the joint support that that these Filipinos can get from government and civil society as they reintegrate to Philippine society. Carmelita Nuqui, chairman of the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch and chairperson of the IAC-MOF said the general objective of the forum is to “mainstream the concept of migration at the local level.” Specifically, Nuqui said: “the forum aims to empower returning overseas Filipinos and their families by way of introducing them to various initiatives offered by the government as well as civil society groups so that they can fully reintegrate, make use of their learned skills and experiences or even invest some of their resources for nation-building.”

Professor Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan of the Ateneo de Davao University said that the OFs continue to play a huge role in nation-building and so the need for the OF sector to reintegrate physically including financially and psychologically including emotionally, are as important. Given the weight of these needs, Chan assured that the forum theme “BALIK PINAS carries a message of hope, and evokes that there is dawn for returning migrants and the reunification of their families.”

In pursuit of this positive outlook for OFs, the forum attended by 310 participants from the government and civil society organizations, academe, OFs and their families, and other stakeholders in the migration process including TFC, noted essential points from representatives from government agencies and civil society representatives regarding available services specifically for Filipinos returning to their homeland under the forum segment “Services and Opportunities for the Economic Empowerment of Overseas Filipinos and their Families.”

To kick-off the first part of the forum, Elizabeth Marie Estrada, OIC director of National Reintegration Center for OFWs, corrected the notion that the forum is asking OFs to return home but is instead, just providing them options for their choice of livelihood plus a multi-sectoral support system should they decide to do so.

Establishing the framework of government support, CFO Project Manager Raul Al-

cantara, proudly announced the launch of BaLinkBayan Integrated Web Based Services for Overseas Filipinos. According to Alcantara, the BaLinkBayan is aimed to be a portal of all services that OFs need should they decide to come home and especially if they wish to set up their own business.

With focus on the financial aspect, Arnel Adrian Salva of the Economic and Financial Learning Center of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas stressed Chan’s discussion on the important role of remittances to the Philippine economy and how OFs can put their remittances to more productive use through BSPs financial literacy programs.

In support of these learning programs, Lilia Silda of the Region XI Department of Trade and Industry, presented her agencies’ programs for OFs to build their own businesses and explore investment opportunities in order to propagate a “cycle of prosperity.” These include business development services (BDS) to the identified micro enterprises and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), which will make OFs competitive in the domestic and export industries.

Other institutions with support programs for OFs include Atty. Antoinette Diaz of the Region XI Pag-IBIG Fund who said that to address the three million OF members, the Pag-ibig has mounted the following programs: savings; housing loan, multi-purpose and calamity loan as well as specific programs that help OFW: special assistance pro-

grams which provides aid during Middle East and North Africa conflicts and tragedies such as the Japan Quake and Tsunami; and OFW Center, a one-stop shop for all PagIBIG transactions. Atty. Diaz encouraged OFs to contribute more in order to get more benefits.

In the second part of the forum anchored on the theme, “Civil Society and International Organizations Initiatives in the Economic Empowerment of Overseas Filipinos and their Families,” the forum tapped resource persons to discuss the current scenario in terms of overseas migration and options for returning OFs in terms of the financial, psychological and cultural aspects.

Benjamin Lelis of the International Organization for Migration kicked off the discussion by focusing on the decentralization of government programs and services through the establishment of migrant resource centers, “time and space-shifting facilities” whose objective is to provide government services to the grassroots level or the local communities where OFs, more often than not, avail of migrant services.

These services can range from financial to social and Maria Angela Villalba of the UNLAD KABAYAN said that the local government unit (LGU) of Davao for one can provide the avenues for the returning migrants.

Earlier in the forum, Davao City Councilor Antoinette Principe addressed this need for LGU interven-

tion. Delivering the speech of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte she said: “as a public servant, the welfare of Filipino people always comes first, even those who are abroad.

The city of Davao actively encourages its OFs to participate and be involved on issues of national concern and hoped that overseas work merely becomes an option and not as a perceived necessity for the development of the city of Davao.”

In addition to this role of the government units, Atty. Cecilia Jimenez, former Chairperson of the Geneva Forum for Philippine Concerns, shared that this role extends to the legislative, especially in policy-making, specifically on battling human trafficking and illegal recruitment. She said that the government should provide an “enabling environment” for returning OFs. The forum attendees also heard for themselves how two successful OFs’ migration turned out for the best given the opportunities presented them. Myrna Padilla, former domestic helper for over 20 years and a successful owner of Mynd Dynamic Team, Inc., an ITBPO company located on the southernmost island of Mindanao, talked about the road to her success. Getting computer literacy from her seven year-old ward and inspired to do something for others, she built OFW Watch.com, an online based community that tracks and caters to the needs of an OFW through an online forum patterned after Facebook. Retired captain Norberto Bajienting was a

former seafarer for 20 years talked about how he established Southeast Mindanao Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative. As co-founder of Southeast Mindanao Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SEMTRAMPCO), he said that one of the challenges of putting up a business is the fear that the capital might not return, knowing that what is at stake is the fruits of his labor from working abroad.

Dr. Marla Asis of Scalabrini Migration Center ended the forum with highlight on the forum’s mission to support these dreams and resolve certain apprehensions. Dr. Asis said: “we have to accept that not all OFs would want to come home.

The best that we can do is to help them prepare when they decide to come back.”

Recommendations included a single database for all returning migrants including their demographics, business venture and other valuable data; integrated policies and programs; a performance audit of government agencies that cater to returning migrants; over-all decentralization of government services; and OFs’ physiological reintegration.” She hoped that with these improvements, OFs have wider options when they decide to come home to Philippines.

The regional forum was also supported by Pag-IBIG, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Ateneo Migration Center. Cochair CFO and TFC, are partners for programs that aim to support OFs journey overseas and back to the Philippines.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

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6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch Indicator

Latest

1. Gross National Income 1. GrossRate National Income Growth Growth Rate2000 Prices) (At Constant

7.1 1st Qtr 2013 6.8

2.2.Gross GrossDomestic DomesticProduct Growth Rate Product (AtGrowth Constant 2000 Prices) Rate

7.8 1st Qtr 2013 7.5

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

3. Exports 1/ 3. Exports

4. Imports 1/ 4. Imports

5. Trade Balance Trade Balance 6.5.Balance of Payments 2/

7.6.Broad Money Liabilities Balance of Payments

2nd Qtr 2013

2nd Qtr 2013

USD 3,741 million 5,045 FebUSD 2013 million USD 4,708 Sep 2013 million FebUSD 2013 5,711 USD -967 million million Sep 2013 Feb 2013 USD -665 USD -640 million million Sep 2013 Dec 2012 P 4,964,560 USD 692 million million Feb Jun2013 2013 P2.45,980,938 % million Mar 2013 Aug 2013

8. Interest Rates 4/

7. Broad Money Liabilities

P113,609 2.0 % million Sep2013 2013 Mar P P5,281 127,336 billion million Mar Sep2013 2013

9. National Government 8. Revenues Interest Rate 9. National Government

10.Revenues National government outstanding debt outstanding debt

P 5,609 P 41.14 Aprbillion 2013

11.Stocks Peso per US $ 12.

Composite

Index 6/

6,847.5 P 43.83 Mar Sep2013 2013

12. Stocks Composite 13. Consumer Index Price Index

6,191.8 132.8 Sep2013 2013 Apr

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100 14.

Headline Inflation Rate

135.2 Oct2.62013

10.Peso National government 11. per US $ 5/

Sep 2013

2006=100

Apr 2013

14. 2006=100 Headline Inflation Rate 15.

Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.9 Oct3.12013

Apr 2013

2006=100

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100 16.

Visitor Arrivals

2.5

418,108 Oct 2013 Feb 2013

382,022 Aug 2013 20.9%

16. Visitor Arrivals

17. Underemployment 7/ 17. Rate Underemploymen

Jan 2013 19.2%

18.

18.Unemployment UnemploymentRate Rate7/

7.1% Jan 2013 7.3%

Rate

Jul 2013 Jul 2013

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2011-September 2013) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2013

2012

2011

43.83 43.86 43.35 42.91 41.30 41.14 40.71 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 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

Business guide on new WTO trade facilitation accord now available F

ILIPINO entrepreneurs and policymakers who want to better understand the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) new trade facilitation agreement can get their own copy of a handbook explaining “the operational elements and benefits of the agreement.”

A soft copy of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement: A Business Guide for Developing Countries may be downloaded free of charge from the official website of the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the WTO and United Nations working to make developing countries more competitive in global markets.

“It is important that traders understand from the start what new measures will come into force, so that they can make plans accordingly,” Arancha González, ITC’s executive director, said in an official statement.

“Understanding the rules will also allow businesses to use them to reduce the costs of trading.”

The landmark agreement was forged at the WTO Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia, earlier this month.

It is expected to cut on red tape, ease and simplify customs formalities, and increase global gross domestic product by US

TOROTOT. A young vendor tries out the “torotot” he and his mother are selling at the sidewalk along R. Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City yesterday. “Torotot” became the alternative of Dabawenyos for firecrackers after Davao City imposed a firecracker ban some years ago. Lean Daval Jr. trillion and create 21 million jobs, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Meanwhile, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests that the agreement could reduce trade transaction costs in developing countries by 13 percent to 15.5 percent, thereby increasing the competitiveness of exporters from these nations.

The agreement is an

important tool in raising the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries, said ITC. “Effective trade facilitating procedures are critical for exporting SMEs as they allow them to connect to and move up value chains,” González said.

The guide explains the provisions of the agreement in clear and jargon-free language, with a focus on what businesses need to know if they are

to use the new rules as a platform to increase trade and decrease the cost and time of exporting.

The guide will help SMEs and trade support institutions understand the commitments taken by their governments and assist them in identifying and prioritizing capacitybuilding needs.

For instance, the guide explains how the article on “advance rulings” aims to address problems with inconsistent classification

of goods by customs officials and the uncertainty it creates for traders.

It goes on to list in jargon-free language the obligations and the procedure imposed on customs authorities related to advance rulings.

The last chapter of the guide describes how the agreement will be implemented, including the special and differential treatment provisions that developing countries may invoke. [PNA]

ogy in order to create a countrywide integrated flood early warning system.

DREAM has already completed data mapping for 17 of the 18 major river basins nationwide two years after it was launched in December 2011.

For its next phase, DREAM plans to cover more flood prone areas through LIDAR mapping tributaries connecting to these river basins. This is expected to begin in January next year and will last for three years.

Meanwhile, the DOST has recently acquired a super computer from

the IBM which can be utilized for accurate weather forecasting by the department’s Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (Project NOAH).

The IBM Blue Gene supercomputer will enable local scientists to process and gain insights from the massive data collected, to produce faster, more accurate forecasts and improve localized weather prediction for the country.

The DOST is also working towards the integration of the supercomputer to the Project NOAH to provide seven

days local weather forecasts, said DOST Secretary Mario Montejo.

“We can also use it to run various weather models and validate the accuracy of results almost real-time,” he noted.

To support the development of the local electronics industry, the DOST has developed the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL), the country’s first testing laboratory for electronic products.

The ADMATEL will have the capability to conduct failure analysis on semiconductors.

Through this laboratory, local semiconductors and electronics manufacturers will be able to save on their costs as they may no longer need to send their products abroad for testing.

“Now that this lab is fully operational, companies here will not have to send their products for failure analysis to the United States or Singapore. They can do it here in their own backyard, with the tests conducted by our very own scientists,” said President Benigno Aquino III in his speech during the inauguration of the laboratory.

Innovative technologies eyed to boost economy T

HE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DOST) has been at the forefront in carrying out innovations that seek to boost the country’s economic development, enhance its strategies on climate change adaptation, and contribute in ongoing relief efforts for the victims of recent calamities.

The DOST has undertaken initiatives such as the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Project, which seeks to generate high-resolution, detailed and up-todate flood models through the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technol-

[PNA]

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

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

THE CONTINENTAL CLUB:

PROPERTY

7

Your getaway without going away

ADULT AND KIDDIE POOLS. The resort-chic Continental Club houses adult and kiddie pools perfect for lapping to refresh ones tired body.

W

HEN you just want to get away from it all – the noise of bustling streets, the congestion everywhere, and the stress of city life –going home to your very own community can be a perfect setting to enjoy quiet moments.

At Damosa Fairlane, the Continental Club is the impeccable spot for that privatetime.

Besides the breezywelcomingfeelcreated by the lush foliage, residents will find itcozy to relax and unwind at the clubhouse after a day’sworkor school.Thisresort-chic amenity houses adult and kiddie pools perfect for lapping to refresh ones tired body. Next to it is thesocial hall where one can celebrate special occasions or gatherings with family and friends.

Themulti-purpose basketball court and parks with exercise cir-

THE CONTINENTAL CLUB. Residents of Damosa Fairlane can enjoy quality time in this central amenity right within the premise of the community.

THE SOCIAL HALL. The social hall can be transformed into a stately decorated setting perfect for special occasions with family and friends.

cuit provide a retreat for those with a more active lifestyle. Those toting their kids need not worry as the play area nearby will definitely delight not only their children but the entire family as well. This can be enjoyed while having picnics on weekends at the beautifully landscaped gardens around the clubhouse.

Celebrating the beauty of the Continental Club, Damosa Fairlane residents can enjoy life’s precious moments with families and friends in this picturesque and laidback central amenity. It’s the best morning treat any person can have, even better than a steaming cup of aromatic coffee. It’s worth spending every day in this community, so one can admire the contemporary architectural designorlaze the day away while enjoying the fresh air and verdant surrounding.

For families who want thistranquil setting within the conveniences of modern living, Damosa Fairlane is their ideal nestto start moving up to a better life. Call 2342888 for inquiries or for a trip at the site.

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

The year 2013

IKE ANY news story, there’s good news and there’s bad news about the year 2013.

First, the good news. 2013 is indeed a banner year for the Philippine economy. And for the bad news. 2013 is tainted with pork barrel fund scam and the about the worst natural disasters ever to hit the country.

The Philippines began the year with a bang in the economic front. The country’s growth outpaced the rest of Southeast Asia, which resulted to an investment rank upgrade from Moody’s. It was followed by similar credit ratings upgrade from Fitch and S&P. The World Economic Forum noted that the Philippines leapt from 65th to 59th in the 2013-2014 Global Competitiveness Index. Surprisingly, economists noted this came despite a lukewarm global economic mood.

Even the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank gave the country a bright forecast, predicting a 6.9 percent growth rate in 2013 and 6.5 percent in 2014. The International Monetary Fund gave a modest (but still respectable) growth forecast of 6 percent in 2013 and 5.5 in 2014.

Real estate and building boom took place not only in traffic-congested Manila but also down in Davao City where major players in property development have taken their stiff competition for a share of the rich overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittance.

In 2013, the country saw additional 10,600 real properties, almost triple the annual average in the last five years.

A report by Fast Market Research claims that household spending is expected to hit $201.39 billion in 2013.

Significantly, the boom is directly linked to dollar remittances from OFWs. A report by the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it expects remittances to grow to a record high of $23.6 billion in 2014. During the first 10 months of 2013, remittance has already hit $18.54 billion, increasing to 6 percent from last year’s record high. The country ranks as the 4th biggest recipient of remittance, next only to India, China and Mexico.

Consistently, the economic boom gave the administration of President Aquino a lot of “pogi” points.

And then disaster struck.

As the year draws to a close, the mood transformed like climate change.

From upbeat, the air turned gloomy as the country’s surge was subdued by

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a controversy that ripped through the gut of government. The controversy on the pork barrel fund, the involvement of the President’s men and several lawmakers caused further divide in the leadership. The rift between administration and opposition worsened extending from just about every event, involving both public and private interactions.

From rosy statistics and high social weather ratings, the grade plummeted down as the country reeled from a series of natural and man-made disasters, foremost of which was a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu and supertyphoon Yolanda which left at least 6,000 dead and 1,779 still missing.

Yolanda unleashed a surge of despair among Filipinos, revealing the country’s deep-rooted economic inequality, and the horrible inability of the national government to cope with major disasters.

An estimated 16.08 million people were affected by Yolanda, roughly six percent of the country’s estimated 100 million population. The strongest typhoon in recorded history left 4.4 million homeless and inflicted at least $15 billion in damages.

The 7.2 magnitude quake likewise killed over 200 and totally destroyed 14,500 structures. It also left at least 40,000 people homeless.

Before that, there was the armed conflict in Zamboanga City which killed at least 183 people, displaced 100,000 people, and inflicted billions of pesos to the economy.

In the midst of the sudden turnaround, the grades too fell for the President and his administration. However, the lower ratings did not push the opposition led by Vice President Jejomar Binay up. Both came down miserably.

The downtrend also toll heavily on the economy. The World Bank lowered its Philippine growth forecast in 2013 and 2014.

More fundamental economic problems remain. About 3 million people are unemployed in 2013, and over 40 percent of the population is still estimated to live below poverty line.

So what lies ahead in 2014? The one good thing about Filipinos is the character of being resilient and hopeful. With the dawning new year comes fresh hopes for the country that went up and down like a roller coaster ride in 2013.

Let’s keep that faith burning.

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

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

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR / CHENEEN R. CAPON Reporters

Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO AGUSTIN • VIDA A. MIA VALVERDE • Economic ENRICO“ADDIE” “GICO” G. Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER ANGELO C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA Analysts: • BERNADETTE B. DAYANGIRANG M.QUISIDO PEREZ • Lifestyle Columnists: BAISR., FAUZIAH SINSUAT •AMBOLODTO • MEGHANN STA. INES BORBON • MARY• JONALLIER ANN “ADI” C. • LEANDRO B. DAVAL • NIKKIFATIMA GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY •ZEN NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

A result of official neglect

ATIONWIDE IMPENDING POWER DEFICIENCY - After doing its usual mischief and generated damaging typhoons and dreadful storm surge, the weather bureau forecasts that climate patterns would continue messing around and altering ocean temperatures triggering rains and thunderstorms until the month of February of next year. But the critical issue at hand is the impending power shortage in Luzon notably Metro Manila and nearby provinces and cities areas caused by the suspicious simultaneous maintenance shutdown of major power providers and not of the continuous rains and thunderstorms. And it became a double whammy when power distributors raised their rates reasoning out that they are purchasing higher power supply from other independent power producers or IPPs. Is a disgusting and infuriating power outage a spontaneous occurrence – an act of Nature? Or was it a result of official negligence? Consumers and end-users are terribly upset that they allegedly have a Department of Energy (DoE) and an energy program that didn’t worked. Looking back, the preceding administration built not a new single base load power plant in the nine years the leader was in office and without even looking for an alternative power source to lessen the negative impact caused by power shortages. That was then, but how about now? Who should be held accountable for the power supply problem - the previous leaderships, Aquino administration or Juan de la Cruz.?

The power crisis scare wasn’t unfounded.

During the middle of last month officials of the energy department stated that power reserves in Luzon areas plunged to almost “zero level” even during the wet season. Several power plants tripped while others were undergoing maintenance and repair work the past months and worse, there are now allegations that major power providers “intentionally” conducted simultaneous maintenance shutdown to create an artificial power shortage resulting to higher rates. As a result four to six-hour power outages hit Metro Manila and it neighboring suburban towns and cities. However, energy officials of the Aquino dispensation debunked allegations that it is not attending to the power crisis situation across the country.

Based on DoE reports, it has already made

an audit of the power capacity that both the government and private sectors can deliver. The figures point to the necessity of power output, but unfortunately everything seemed moving in turtle-pace tempo to address the critical power supply situation. For months, the not-so-credible weather forecasters and water officials have been warning that because of the expected return of the El Niño phenomenon and the consequent low water levels, power shortages might resume particularly during the hot summer months. During the summer months El Niño did his mess and the drought came as predicted and then unexpectedly typhoons and floods likewise came. Dry or wet season the lights went out just the same not only in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon but most particularly in many areas in Mindanao which are solely dependent on hydroelectric power. Sad to note, the hydroelectric power plants in Agus, Lanao del Norte and Pulangi in Maramag, Bukidnon are reportedly both under continuing maintenance works - also in snail-pace speed.

It’s really deplorable that when power is out, traffic would slow down, production capacity affected, generators were put on standby and portable battery-powered lamps were cleaned and recharged even during the daytime as four to six-hour brownouts struck both the urban and rural communities throughout the country.

The awful situation badly affects the country’s economic activities. Some independent energy experts noted the main problem is not only low electricity supply, but likewise simultaneous maintenance shutdown undertaken by major power providers in Luzon and poor maintenance of hydropower plants in Mindanao. But why is there no immediate relief in sight? The DoE explained that while there will be power reserves in the coming months, the supply will be thin and scarce, and if any of the major power

plants breaks down, most of Luzon will experience power outages of four to six hours.

Meanwhile concerned officials said government will be sourcing for backup power reserves from independent producers to support the country’s power distributors. A severe power crisis, with blackouts lasting from four to eight hours daily would be so crippling it will lead to capital plight and cost thousands of jobs. An impending power crisis will show just how vulnerable the country’s power situation continues to be, and how much work needs to be done. Lately, energy officials confirmed the deficiency of electricity supply in Mindanao and could get worse during the hot summer months citing that several areas have been experiencing rotating power interruptions since last year. In its department data, Mindanao has a dependable load capacity of only 1,600 megawatts of electricity, but the demand with acceptable reserve should be more than 1,700 MW. The energy department, however, assured Mindanao consumers and end-users it has already started a strategy to ensure there is enough power in the days ahead, but as their wont, assurances that are meant to be broken. The present energy officials’ slackness, lack of concern and neglect could result in the administration’s own political crisis, which it can hardly afford on the advent of the crucial 2016 general polls considering that power supply problem is among the critical issues that will be presented to the electorate during elections.

Government apparently must assured the consuming public that they will sweat only when they want to and need not to go back to candle power. The previous administrations actually failed to solve the energy crisis and right now the Aquino leadership similarly has a great deal at stake in ensuring that the days of heat and darkness do not return. Not only must it prevent a reversal of the economic turnaround but prevent a fresh wave of capital flight as well. There is somewhat good news lately and the irate and disgusted consuming public heaves a collective sigh of relief after learning that Congress is now looking deeper into the real causes of alleged “artificial” power outages and would start an investigation surrounding the current power crisis situation.

What do you do if there’s no government to speak of or turn to?

A

S FAR as I can tell, this is a question that no one has bothered to address, thus one to which we have no ready answer.

Suppose a catastrophe wipes out the officialdom and government is inoperative? What should citizens do, individually or collectively?

This was the case in Tacloban and other places for days or weeks after Typhoon Yolanda struck The officials, civilian and police, were blown away, swept aside by the storm surge or incapacitated. Those who survived, deprived of means to keep government operational, were unable to function.

Their buildings and offices were shattered, reduced to rubble. The personnel were injured or killed. The bureaucracy was rendered inutile. Facilities and equipment were smashed, files in shambles, operational capability decimated, communication cut off.

In other words, there was no government to speak of, a problem that has arisen in many localities in the past but which no one has raised.

Nothing dramatized the absence of government as the sight of hundreds of dead citizens of all ages on the streets, scattered willy-nilly, untended, decomposing for days.

It took the entry of national agencies to address the chaos and devastation wrought

by Super Typhoon Yolanda. It took even longer for any mobilization to take place, as people were left without recourse, dumbfounded, unable to act, unable to take coherent measures. This led early responders from the outside to remark that they seemed like zombies,

WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

Part 1 of 2 passive and paralyzed by the sight of utter devastation around them.

Failure to Learn from Experience The lurid spectacle brought to the fore how, after countless years of recurring calamities and emergencies of all kinds, our society and government, local or national, have failed miserably to learn any lesson in preparedness or coping with emergency.

We all know how regular and predictable calamities occur annually. They strike parts of our archipelago two dozen times yearly on average. The lives lost, the infrastructure destroyed, and the losses to our economy are more or less predictable, as is their regularity.

And yet, all that the resources of government and all that the imagination of government leaders and bureaucrats can muster are weather reports and ineffectual warning systems.

You’d think contingency planning and mitigation systems and structures would have been established by now. You’d think the citizenry, individually and collectively, starting with its first line of defense—the barangay community—would have been capacitated by now with the skills and techniques of responding or coping with emergencies. And

you’d think there would be regular drills and simulations in every community by now.

Then they would not be so utterly helpless even without a bureaucracy to rely on. They would exercise initiative and take independent action as circumstances demand.

Failure of Self-Governance With the formal government knocked out of action, all Tacloban and similarly battered communities could do was watch helplessly and await succor from the national government and external aid. Even for the elementary task of tending to the cadavers or clearing and cleaning the passageways to make way for assistance teams and rescuers to enter, they waited and relied on outside help.

Without the usual command-and-control structures, without officials or persons in authority to guide them, to lead the way, or to give instructions, they were reduced to a pathetic state of helplessness.

Their lives shattered, their institutions and service agencies gutted, their offices unmanned, the survivors had no one to turn to, no barangay or municipal officials, not even the usual politicians with handouts or patronage.

Too stunned to move in any coherent manner, many could only stare at the devastated landscape, transfixed amid the ruins, moving about aimlessly in hopes of finding succor.

They did not organize or confer, or even assemble, to consider what could be done under the circumstances. No one took charge, everyone was left to fend for themselves.

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Pope Francis: Beyond the compelling gestures COMMENTARY

BY MARTIN E. MARTY

C

Part 2 of 3

LEARLY popes, like other monarchs, expertly manipulate or respond to gestures. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, immediate predecessors to Pope Francis, often used symbols and gestures to achieve their ends.

On a trivial level, Benedict XVI regularly wore fashionable red Prada slippers.

Not Pope Francis, exemplar of a humble style.

On every level, though, the gestures of this pope serve as defining visual instruments of his papacy. Some commentators and critics have studied them to question his sincerity, which the wrong gestures and symbols could obscure. Near the end of his first year, however, the consensus now confirms that the pope we see is indeed authentic.

He shuns pomp and speaks informally to the crowds assembled below his window. He casts off the trappings that his predecessors used to keep a distance from the people. Instead of going formal with a formidable encyclical, Francis issued an evangelical exhortation. He has now begun to shuffle personnel at the Vatican, moving rigid Catholic conservatives out of influential roles, to indicate where his priorities lie.

Not everyone may support all this, however, since the pope’s gestures are related to his aim to teach the Catholic Church — and anyone else he might reach. His subjects are justice and mercy, exemplified by the Jesus of the Gospels and by Francis, the simple monk who is the pope’s namesake.

We observe gestures not as finished products, but in process. From where do they come? In John XXIII’s case, as his autobiography, Journal of a Soulsuggests, they came from his soul. In Francis’s case, the word he often uses is “heart.”

Still, even at their best, heartfelt gestures are not finished unless they impel others to action. Those of Francis may be intuitive — dare we say habitual — as calls to serve the poor, to heal, to notice the overlooked. So powerful are his gestures that, for the moment or the decade, one is tempted to ignore the absence of the usual expressions of power we associate with the papacy.

Two stand out. One is dogma, clearly defined doctrine, which can be appropriate, but also has often been an instrument of unmatched power. Dominators have used them to decide who is “in” and who is “out.” Staunch dogmatic critics now insist that Francis should use formulaic words to define Catholic orthodoxy.

Meanwhile, suspicious observers hover in a “just you wait!” mode — since they cannot conceive of a pope who does not begin and end his action with blunt uses of dogma. Sooner or later, they say, he’ll move from using gestures to decisive words.

If not dogma, the police of papal ways will look for Francis to resort to church law, which defines right and wrong clearly and allows higher authorities, like popes or their agents, to punish all who deviate. Sooner or later, we are told, Francis will wield power in demanding ways.

We are regularly reminded that he will have to formulate strictures for women who yearn to be ordained, and, having formulated them, must silence or banish transgressors. He has to crack the whip on priests who would allow or plead for churchly blessings of gay marriage. His non-judgmental words and his resort to friendly gestures, it is asserted, will only lead the church down the path of relativism to chaos and destruction.

10

NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

23 face...FFROM 3 ap, North Cotabato; Aiza Alberto, 25, of Sto. Rosario, Buhangin; Michelle Enghog, 26, a neighbor of Alberto; Jonathan Sala, 35, of Penaplata, Samal; Lanife Loreto, 46, of Sto. Domingo, Sasa; Felizberto Lim,32; Marlon Mendoza, 39, of Garcia Heights; Andres Dahab, 29, of Padada, Davao del Sur; Joseph Barrido, 32, and Matheleo Echavia,26, liaison officer of Doña Asuncion, Pampanga All respondents were detained after being caught by police in the area.

Lovitos cited on his resolution that selling, serving and drinking alcoholic beverages starting 1:00 am- 8:00 a.m. is prohibited under a city ordinance.

Lovitos recommended P2,000 each for their temporary liberty.

Ordinance No. 00413 Series of 2013, or An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 1627, Series of 1994 regulates the operation of business establishments selling liquor, coconut wine and other nature wine and other alcoholic beverages in the City of Davao.

First offense calls for an administrative fine of P3,000 while the second offense calls for a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of three months or both upon the discretion of the court. For the third offense, a fine of P5,000, or one year imprisonment will be slapped against the offender and his or her business permit will be revoked.

the Special Allowances for Judges (SAJ) administered by the Supreme Court. The move has also gained adherence among members of the House opposition and party-list representatives.

Some SC detractors have branded the funds as “judicial PDAF”, or the Judiciary’s version of the controversial Priority Assistance Development Fund, also known as pork barrel, which the Supreme Court recently ruled to be unconstitutional. In addition, the high court also ordered the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate and file the needed cases against all government officials as well as private individuals involved in the improper disbursement of PDAF. As a result of the high court’s ruling, Congress abolished the PDAF and placed some P25 billion in the country’s 2014 annual budget directly under the implementing agencies.

Ungab figured prominently in the debate of the 2014 budget amounting to P2.3 trillion being the chairman of the House committee on appropriations. In

fact, he was the main sponsor of the House version and was also involved in the series of meetings with the group of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on appropriations in the so-called Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) in order to unify the versions of both chambers.

Earlier, Rep. Silvestre H. Bello III of BAP1 Party-list, another lawmaker from Davao City, raised the possibility of the SC justices being impeached and tried once strong evidence is found that they have committed anomalies in the way the JDF and SAF are being spent.

Ungab also confirmed that the 2014 annual budget of the country, signed by President Aquino last week, is somewhat “biased” towards calamity-hit areas of the Visayas and Mindanao, like Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar in the Visayas and Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley in Mindanao.

Reports said that at least P140 billion in the budget will be spent for the reconstruction of areas ravaged by a series of disasters in the country.

tionist Robert Olanolan against Rolando Trajera is also pending at the MTCC Branch 2.

MTCC Branch 2 presiding Judge Marie Estrellita Tolentino-Rojas is also awaiting answers from the parties.

The recount of the 117 contested ballot box-

es showed Olanolan with 6,807 votes and Trajera with 6,966.

Clerk of court Juvy Ann Garcia said that it is not yet appropriate to say who won since the margin is very low and the recount and revision committees only counted the uncontested ballots.

Congress...FFROM 3

2 brgy...FFROM 3

ACROBATIC. The Matina Aplaya Pep Squad performs its acrobatic cheerdance number during Pasko Fiesta’s Dasig Sayaw held at the Rizal Park along San Pedro Street in Davao City Thursday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

PHL economic growth poses challenges for power sector P

OWER has been a sensitive issue given the fact that no one wants to pay a high price for service they will be shortchanged with.

An economy needs electricity, among other requirements, to be vibrant so businessmen have no choice but to pay high electricity rates.

As the economy continues to grow, so does demand for electricity.

“The problem with energy is that we will plan for the next four years but we don’t know what we’re up against in the next four years because it all depends on the consumption and the growth rate of this economy,” Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said earlier.

The power situation in major areas of the country has been stable, thanks to continued implementation of measures geared towards ensuring power supply will be higher than demand.

For this year alone, the Luzon grid has an existing capacity of 10,744 megawatts (MW), higher than the peak demand of 10,019 MW. In the Visayas, existing capacity is about 2,037 MW which is also higher than the peak demand of 1,917 MW. However, it is a different story for Mindanao which has been experiencing rotational power outage of three to four hours due to lack of supply.

Petilla said the situation will be addressed by 2015 when several power projects are due to start commercial operations.

For the meantime, the DOE put in place three measures that are expected to temporarily address the situation.

Those measures are the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to be implemented with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM) program and utilization of generator sets by electric cooperatives through financing that will be provided by the National Electrification Administration.

Under the ILP, private companies with power generators need not tap electric distributing utilities for their need but instead use their own facilities.

In turn, they will be paid by the DUs based on fuel and oil used in running their entities’ generators and on depreciation of the equipment.

Under the IMEM program, big entities that own generators will be tapped to provide capacity to as much as 200 megawatts to power cooperatives.

Petilla said IMEM will be tapped until all new Mindanao power plants scheduled to commence operations in 2015 became online.

IMEM will be implemented in coordination with Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, the designated operator.

DOE also set aside P4.5 billion from government’s share in the Malampaya natural gas filed project in West Philippine Sea for acquisition or rent of modular generator sets to be utilized by

Mindanao-based electric cooperatives.

Petilla hopes the project will not meet a snag after the Supreme Court issued a decision disallowing government from tapping the Malampaya Fund for purposes other than energy-related ones.

However, the High Court declared as unconstitutional the use of the Malampaya Fund other than its original use which is for exploration, exploitation and development of indigenous energy resources.

Remaining royalties received by national government from the Malampaya oil field gas project amounts to about P137 billion.

“It might get through because it’s an energy source,” Petilla earlier said.

This year, several tripping of transmission lines caused massive power failures in Luzon.

One such event happened in May when the auto protection system of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ transmission line failed to work, causing power failure in the country’s largest island.

The problem was attributed to a bush fire that affected the transmission line, affecting 14 power plants.

The transmission line is so delicate that change in the voltage or any external factors like a kite or trees or leaves that hit it can cause power to trip or be cut.

Last July, another power tripping traced to lightning caused power failure in three Luzon-based

power plants.

Tripping of Pagbilao-Tayabas Lines 1 and 2 happened at about 6 p.m. on July 2 and affected Quezon Power and the Sta. Rita and the Pagbilao power plants.

This cut power of up to 34 minutes in Metro Manila and other areas served by Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

Batangas and Bataan provinces also suffered from this power failure.

Petilla said about 1,400 MW were unloaded from the grid due to the power tripping.

Another issue raised in 2013 is the possible island-wide rotational power failure in Luzon next year due to increase in demand from strong domestic growth.

Petilla said a 1.5 or two-hour brownout in any of the peak hours, which are 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., is the worstcase scenario the energy department is considering for Luzon next year.

Growth of the domestic economy, as measured

by GDP (gross domestic product), has been exceeding government’s growth target.

In the first three quarters of this year, growth averaged 7.4 percent, higher than the full-year target of six to seven percent.

Next year, the domestic economy’s output is targeted to stay between 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent.

Petilla said sustained growth of the economy is a good thing since it provides benefits like the necessary boost to people’s lives. [PNA]

11 COMMUNITY SENSE

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 2013 VOL. 6 ISSUE29-30, 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

New year, new homes for ‘Pablo’ families Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer with Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment with Dropping and Substition of Unit to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service.

RICARDO S. GATCHALIAN, JR. Petitioner-Vendor Case No.2013-XI-00683 (2003-XI-00776) ARLYN L. GATCHALIAN, Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - -- - - -----x

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed

by RICARDO S. GATCHALIAN, JR. in favor of ARLYN L. GATCHALIAN of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route WITHIN DAVAO CITY to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to December 31, 2014. In the same position filed on December 18, 2013, petitioners likewise request authority to EXTEND the validity of said Certificate as well as to DROP the authorized unit and to SUBSTITUTE the same with another unit bearing Chassis No. NCP929067567 to operate along the same route previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 20, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 18th day of December 2013 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service JOCELYN M. MASANGUID, Case No.2009-XI-00215 Petitioner x- - - - - - - - -- - - -----x

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service on the route: BARACATAN ROUTE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on September 9, 2014. In the petition filed on December 9, 2013, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 29, 2014 at 09:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

M

ERRY Love Regodon, a Grade 6 pupil, cannot hide her joy because her family celebrated Christmas and will soon celebrate New Year in their brand new home in Laak, Compostela Valley.

Last year, they spent the holidays at the evacuation center after they lost their house to Typhoon Pablo which struck on December 4, 2012.

The brand new home Merry Love was referring to is part of the newly-completed housing project for ‘Pablo’ victims in Barangay Kidawa under the Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

An initial 115 units were turned over by the DSWD to

The new village in Kidawa, Laak.

Merry Love Regodon and her father Marcelino by their new home. the family-recipients on December 22, two days before Christmas.

She shares how pleased she is that their new house is nearer her school.

“I used to walk one kilometer to Kidawa Elementary School,” she said.

Spearheaded by the provincial government, the housing units were constructed through CashFor-Work (CFW) and through Gawad Kalinga’s Bayanihan scheme.

With a lot area of 70 square meters, each unit comes painted inside and outside, with bathroom and septic tank, separate kitchen, and window-level concrete walling.

The government spent P20,709,840 for the completion of the 115 units.

Governor Arturo T. Uy said he instructed his provincial department heads and 82 employees to personally supervise and monitor the construction of the units.

The relocation site is one

of the two safest places in the town based on the study of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB).

“The housing design is sturdier. The residents have already organized the Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance (NASA) to ensure the cleanliness and overall maintenance of the relocation site. The residents are now more united and more prepared for any disaster,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman explained.

Of the initial recipients, 39 are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Sec. Soliman urged the families to take care of their new homes.

President Benigno S. Aquino III went to Brgy.

Kidawa to personally inspect the housing units.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Pres. Aquino said in the vernacular, “Kamo gihapon ang akong kusog (You

are still my strength).”

“Marami pa tayong kailangang gawin at mahaba pa ang ating lalakbayin. Sulong tayo sa pag-unlad nating lahat (We still need to do a lot and our journey is far from over. Let‘s move forward towards progress),” he remarked.

Marcelino Regodon, Merry Love’s father, said, “Most of us here in the village have gradually recovered with the numerous assistance that reached us.”

Luna Mae Lino, a 21year old mother and another recipient of the housing project, on the other hand, is very thankful to DSWD for bringing the program to their village even if it is far.

The town’s Parish Priest, Fr. Jun Tuyco, said in his homily prior to the house blessing, “Let us strive to listen and help the government.”

Some 5,116 houses in this municipality were destroyed by ‘Pablo’.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 9th day of December 2013 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport

Development Officer

SEASON OF GIVING. Employees from the Engineering Group of Davao Light and Power Co., headed by Engr. Rodger Velasco (second from left), embodies the Christmas spirit as they turn over their check donation to Davao Children Cancer Fund, Inc (DCCFI) last December 20, 2013 at the organization’s House of Hope shelter inside the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Compound. The check, amounting to Php24,000, was received by Mr. Edson Beley (center, holding the check with kids), Fund Raising and Events Coordinator of DCCFI. Together with them are the different heads and department managers of the Engineering Group (from right to left) Danny Cabigon, Ferdy Cabalhin, Ledio Peñafiel, Ruel Acasio, Ronald Chan, Irwin Pagdalian, and Marcelo Migue.

Mr. Beley said that the money will be used primarily to purchase chemo therapy medication for the kids.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

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13 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 2013 VOL. 6 ISSUE29-30, 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

GOING BEYOND HEALTHCARE:

Globe Business launches revolutionary HealthCloud

I

N ITS bid to contribute to the improvement of health delivery in the Philippines, Globe Business recently launched Globe HealthCloud during the Digital Life Congress at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, formally announcing its entry into the health informatics arena.

The launch was ushered in by a CEO Breakfast Forum tendered

by Globe Business, witnessed by luminaries in

the local health sector as well as major stakeholders in the local ICT industry.

Participants were welcomed by Globe Chief Operating Officer for Business and International Markets and Chief Strategy Officer Gil Genio, who outlined the twopronged objective of the meet: to expand coverage of healthcare to the vast majority of Filipinos and to make whatever patient care accorded by healthcare providers to citizens as efficient, as quick and

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as useful for doctors and hospitals through health analytics.

“Many of the advanced IT solutions like analytics, clinical diagnostics systems, and the like are important and necessary as they presuppose the adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) and essentially the digitization of patient records,” Genio pointed out.

The Forum was privileged to have as keynote speaker the Department of Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa, MD, who observed that the initiatives of the day were pointing to a paradigm shift toward the future of healthcare in the Philippines.

“All of us are working to improving information support for better healthcare delivery. Our quick wins will translate into shorter waiting times in emergency depart-

HealthCloud CEO Forum ments, efficient hospital services, and improved client-based health services,” explained USec Herbosa.

A panel discussion moderated by Zuellig Pharma Corporation CEO Raymund Azurin ensued, who introduced fellow “innovators” in both the local ICT and the medical fields. Healthcare-IT

consultant Dr. Michael Muin outlined the general trend in local healthcare for ICT adoption, which are operational efficiencies particularly in cost management and turnaround time; clinical efficiencies for doctors to be successful at patient care; and engagement for patients to handle their own process in health-

care. American Board of Neurological Surgeons diplomate Dr. Eustaquio Abay II emphasized the importance of installing integrated systems with the use of ICT, particularly the cloud, for wider availability and security, being essential and necessary to raise the level of care for patients and improving their actual experience.

14

EDGEDAVAO

MOTORING

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013 VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Chevrolet Philippines updates Trailblazer

T

HE COVENANT Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), the exclusive Philippine distributor of Chevrolet vehicles has updated their Trailblazer with a slew of changes beginning with the introduction of a new variant: an automatic of its 4x2 LT model.

The 2014 Trailblazer receives minor tweaks to its engine that sees its power and torque rise for all variants. The base model, the Trailblazer 4x2 LT 6MT continues with its 2.5-liter Duramax diesel but now has 163 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque (up from 150 horsepower and 350 Nm).

Meanwhile, the 6AT models, available in both 4x2 and 4x4 models receive 200 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque (up from 180 horsepower and 470 Nm). These figures are particularly interesting since it now matches the Ford Ranger’s 3.2-liter Duratorq in power and actually outperforms it in terms of torque. This

makes the Trailblazer the most powerful SUV in its class.

While most features remain the same as the 2013 model, the Trailblazer 4x4 LTZ does receive the benefit of a new touchscreen multimedia system dubbed MyLink. The MyLink system features full audio-video capability as well as a full range of input options.

Prices for the 2014 Chevrolet Trailblazer are: Trailblazer 4x2 LT 2.5 6MT - P 1,378,888.00; Trailblazer 4x2 LT 2.8 6AT - P 1,488,888; and Trailblazer 4x4 LTZ 2.8 6AT - P 1,733,888.

TRAILBLAZER SETS NEW BENCHMARK WITH NEW DURAMAX ENGINE, 4X2 AT, AND MYLINK INFOTAINMENT Chevrolet Philippines recently launched the 2014 Trailblazer SUV which comes with new and more powerful Duramax engines

in addition to other improvements. Apart from a new powertrain, the new Trailblazer will also be equipped with Chevrolet’s MyLink in-car infotainment system. These improvements further highlight the Trailblazer’s ‘Go Anywhere’ concept and will raise the bar for SUV’s in the market.

First launched in 2012, the Trailblazer was Chevrolet’s newest entry into the Philippine midsize SUV segment. Its rugged looks matched with a spacious cabin, class-leading engine and superior on and off-road driving dynamics helped the Trailblazer carve a sizeable niche in the market.

“The 2014 Trailblazer perfectly fits Chevrolet’s ‘Find New Roads’ brand promise,” said Atty. Alberto Arcilla, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Philippines. “Chevrolet always strives to look for ways t o

let the Filipino market enjoy an enhanced car ownership experience.

The Trailblazer is an SUV that combines looks and utility by offering more space, seven-seater comfort, better performance, and the ability to explore smartphone features with its MyLink infotainment system.”

FINDING NEW ROADS WITH 4X2 AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION “Trailblazer sales have been robust since it was launched in the fourth quarter of 2012.

However, the demand for an automatic transmission in the 4x2 variant has been consistently high.” said Atty Arcilla. Cognizant that the 4x2 automatic variants account Included in the engine’s improvements are a higher pressure Commonrail

system, a water-cooling system for the Variable Geometry Turbocharger**, a new Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve and the addition of an EGR cooler, an enhanced Intake Manifold, redesigned Cylinder Head and Block, a Balance Shaft Unit. GM’s powertrain engineers also developed a new Engine Control Module hardware and software for quicker response and added accuracy to keep the engine operating in peak form.

The Trailblazer’s 2.5-liter manual transmission variant will get a new six-speed transmission, an upgrade from the previous model’s five-speeds. The new six-speed automatic transmission features retuned ratios to take advantage of the new Duramax’s characteristics, providing the Trailblazer with the best performance and fuel economy. The Trailblazer is the first in its segment to offer six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

LTZ WITH MYLINK & SMARTPHONE CONNECTIVITY The Trailblazer’s LTZ

variant will have a MyLink infotainment system with all the appointed audio unit features and will include smartphone connectivity, pictures, videos and audio streaming. Once connected, options such as Audio, Pictures and Movies, Telephone, Smartphone Link and Settings are projected onto the Trailblazer’s touch screen.

Users can access personal playlists and make handsfree voice calls, amongst other functions.

MAKING THE RIGHT UPGRADES The new Trailblazer’s suspension and braking systems have been calibrated to match the additional power and torque from the engine. The use of four coil springs and a multi-link rear suspension system found in more up-market SUVs balances out the typical characteristics of conventional body-on-frame SUVs and results in a comfortable ride and passenger carlike handling dynamics.

The Trailblazer is the first midsize SUV in its segment to offer disc brakes on all four wheels.

INdulge!

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

EDGEDAVAO TRAVEL

The great Ciudades outdoor experience The participants of the Ciudades Outdoor Clinic.

THE outdoors was never my thing. I cringe at the thought of having mosquitoes buzzing about while I get my legs and arms scratched by plants that can be found in the bush.

Add to the fact that when I do wake up at five in the morning, I would rather act like a green leafy vegetable on my bed and wait for seven o’clock to tick by before standing up for a stretch.

But since I love my job, I had to wake up early last December 14 to make it to the meeting spot where I was supposed to meet up with Primer Group’s Mae as well as other friends from media to get to the Ciudades Outdoor Clinic hosted by Ciudades, Columbia Sportswear Company and Mountain Hardwear.

FTHE GREAT, A4

Blind trail runner, international marathon finisher and Inspirational speaker, Aga Casidsid.

Finishing the three kilometer trail run.

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

SilkAir holds Amazing Asia promotion SILKAIR PHILIPPINES welcomes the new year with exceptional fares to amazing Asian destinations. Fly direct from Davao to Singapore from February 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014 for only USD 238 round-trip all in when you book from December 17, 2013 to January 14, 2014 and experience genuine warmth on your jouney with SilkAir. Enjoy a 30kg check-in luggage limit as well as inflight meals featuring local Singaporean favourites such as Hainanese Chicken Rice and Laksa, as well as a diverse selection of Malay, Indian and Chinese dishes.

For booking and inquiries, guests can log on to www.silkair. com.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

EVENT

Globe Davao moves into posh new office

By Kenneth Irving Ong

Apo View Hotel launches engaging city guide

SHARING a long history with Davao City, Apo View Hotel is well within walking distance of many of the city’s cultural and historical attractions. Its 65 years of being in a strategic location, combined with the hotel’s knowledgeable veteran staff members, many of whom are locals, positions the hotel as an expert on the authentic Davao experience. Taking advantage of this edge, the hotel is launching a customized city map that invites visitors to “set off on Davao adventures” using the Apo View Hotel as their starting point.

The Apo View Hotel map is a colorful and insightful guide containing insider tips and information on the many things to enjoy near the hotel’s location. For instance, even locals might be surprised to know that one can get a quick massage for a little under Php 100 at Rizal Park. Malagos Farms may be famous for their artisan cheeses, but a little known fact is their chocolates sold at the nearby Pasalubong Center are just as exquisite. The map also suggests checking out the regular free screenings of top notch local and foreign films at the Cinematheque Davao, which is just a five-minute walk from the hotel.

The map is designed to be fun and easy to use, with whimsical illustrations depicting highlighted points of interest. The map also includes helpful information on distance, walking times, and estimated taxi and jeepney fares for trips requiring a short ride.

The full-blown campaign has already been set in motion, with a print ad published in a widely read in-flight magazine, a series of radio ads chronicling a hotel guest’s trips to various Davao attractions, and updates on Apo View Hotel’s Facebook page to encourage people to discover the many sides of Davao, especially its vibrant downtown district.

Apo View Hotel is located at 150 J. Camus Street, Davao City.

For more information, please call (+63 82) 221-6430 or visit www.apoview.com. Apo View Hotel may also be found on www.facebook.com/TheApoViewHotel.

EDGEDAVAO

Top-of-the-line Herman Miller office furniture were used throughout the office.

IN LINE with Globe Telecom’s total transformation initiative, the telecommunication provider inaugurated its new contemporary regional office located at the 7th floor of the Abreeza Corporate Center in simple ceremonies last December 20.

Drawing design inspiration from The Globe Tower at Fort Bonifacio, Globe Telecom’s Davao regional office makes use of an open office concept to foster greater collaboration and transparency. Instead of private rooms and cubicles, executives are seated clustered with their teams, providing constant information exchange and teamwork within and between departments.

“Our main headquarters in Manila and now out regional office in Davao City have been designed to help turn the Globe circle of happiness - that happy and engaged employees will always find ways to keep customers delighted.” says Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu “We would like to empower our people by providing them with the work tools, environment and culture that enhance collaboration and innovation.”

Globe Telecom’s Chief Finance Officer, Albert De Larrazabal.

Globe Telecom’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Renato Manuel M. Jiao.

Davao City Tourism Operations Officer, Lisette Marques.

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

GMA Artist Center stars dominate 39th Metro Manila Film Festival

GMA Artist Center stars make their way to the silver screens as they join several entries to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

One of the Kapuso Network’s prime leading men Alden Richards portrays the young Robin Padilla in the action-packed movie 10,000 Hours. When asked about his preparations for the fight scenes, “I went through several stamina and gun-handling lessons. On the set, we were also trained by stuntmen.

Kaya people should watch 10,000 hours because we really worked hard to offer the viewers a good film this Christmas,” he shares.

Also in 10,000 Hours is Kapuso star Bela Padilla.

The actress learned a lot from Robin about acting, “I worked with him before sa isang show ng GMA-7 but sa 10,000 Hours mas marami akong natutunan sa kanya since ang dami naming sequences na magkakasama.”

Rocco Nacino, one of today’s in-demand actors, topbills the movie about Filipino saint Pedro Calungsod. In a recent interview with him, he shared that it is a great opportunity to play the role of someone who has touched so many lives. “I am just hoping that people will watch our movie and that they will appreciate my portrayal as Saint Pedro Calungsod.”

Joining Rocco in the movie are fast-rising young star Juancho Trivino and child actor Marc Justine Alvarez.

Meanwhile, Sef Cadayona

grooves to the big screen as he leads MMFF entry Kaleidoscope World, a hip hop dance movie based on Francis Magalona’s music.

Sef expresses his excitement as the MMFF season draws near. “This is my first lead role for MMFF. So masaya ako na ipinagkatiwala ng producers sa akin ang napakagandang proyekto na ito. Hindi lang acting ang gagawin ko kundi maraming dance moves akong ipapamalas.”

According to him, dancing to the music of the Philippines’ Master Rapper is definitely an experience for keeps. “Sir Francis Magalona will always be remembered. Iba yung songs niya at habang sumasayaw kami sa bawat awit niya, sobra mong mararamdaman

yung emotions sa bawat kanta. I hope yung songs niya will also be heard by the future generations.”

Tween star Barbie Forteza, on the other hand, joins MMFF entry My Little Bossings. Barbie shares that doing the movie together with Vic Sotto, Ryzza Mae Dizon, and Bimby Aquino-Yap is one of her most unforgettable moments this year.

“Sobrang blessing na makatrabaho ko sina Bossing Vic, Ryzza, at Bimby. Ang saya lagi sa shooting kaya excited na rin kaming makapagpasaya at mapanood ng mga tao ang handog namin sa kanila ngayong Pasko.”

The Metro Manila Film Festival entries will be shown in all cinemas nationwide beginning December 25.

MY LITTLE BOSSINGS 2D Vic Sotto, Kris Aquino, Ryzza Mae Dizon, James “Bimby” Yap GP

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

KIMMY DORAL: ANG KIYEMENG PREQUEL 2D Eugene Domingo, Sam Milby PG 13

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

GIRL BOY BAKLA TOMBOY 2D Vice Ganda PG 13

JESSY AND SANDARA FACE OFF IN “MATANGLAWIN.” Pinay Maria Mercedes Jessy Mendiola is known for her sexy dance moves, but can she outshine K-pop superstar and 2NE1 member Sandara Park on the dance floor? Watch as Jessy and Sandara face off in the third and last part of “Matanglawin’s” Korean adventure this Sunday (Dec 29). Aside from engaging in a dance showdown, Jessy also sits down with the so-called “Pambansang Krung-Krung” for an exclusive interview. What will Sandara reveal about her career and personal life? The episode also takes you viewers to Korea’s biggest indoor amusement park, Lotte World, and gives you a front row seat to watch the Korean all-female group Drumcats perform. Don’t miss “Matanglawin” this Sunday (Dec 29), 9:30 AM on ABS-CBN. For more updates, follow @matanglawintv on Twitter or like www.facebook.com/matanglawintv.

11:35 | 1:40 | 3:45 | 5:50 | 7:55 | 10:00 LFS

R-16 PAGPAG 2D Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla PG 13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

TRAVEL

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

The great...

FFROM A1

The drive to Ciudades, a new township development

by Lapanday, was uneventful but lively thanks to energetic passengers.

We all arrived at an outdoor field that will soon become Ciudades’ version of Central Park, aptly named “El Centro”. This is the venue where all the outdoor activities as well as outdoor orienteering seminars were to be held. A huge tent with various food stalls was set in the middle of the field as well as a couple of tent classrooms where workshops on basic mountaineering, trail running, boot camp, tent pitching, training and survival 101 were held.

Facilitators include well known outdoor specialists as well as adventure personalities such as Edgardo Pelingo (100k finisher trail and mountain runner) and Aga Casidsid (Blind trail runner, international marathon finisher and Inspirational speaker) of Team Possible as well as adventurer, environmental activist and host of Born to be Wild, Kiko Rustia of Survivor Philippines fame.

I will be honest in saying that I was only able to attend the early morning three-kilometre trail run that took me all the way to the banks of the Davao River and back to El Centro of what should have been a two-day affair since I needed to leave for another appointment, but my experience at the Ciudades Outdoor Clinic with Columbia Sportswear and Mountain Hardwear was truly an eye opener for me as it allowed me to realise the fact that Dabawenyos are now embracing a more active and healthy lifestyle that includes loving the great outdoors.

Maybe I should be waking up earlier to take to the boondocks more often, but of course sleep is healthy too.

Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter at @kennethkingong for more foodie and travel finds as well as happenings in, around and beyond the Durianburg.

Adventurer, environmental activist and host of Born to be Wild Kiko Rustia.

Tent pitching demonstration.

Coach Manny Batungbacal explains the concept behind MREs.

Mountain bike area.

100k finisher trail and mountain runner, Edgardo Pelingo.

The author together with Aga Casidsid and Primer Group’s Mae Sanchez.

Bags of Columbia Sportswear and Mountain Hardwear gear.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

VOL. 6 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 29-30, 2013

Westbrook to miss 27 games C

HARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday and will be sidelined until after the All-Star break.

Westbrook will miss at least 27 games. ‘’He will be missed,’’ coach Scott Brooks said before Oklahoma City’s game Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. ‘’Obviously we are a very good team with him, and without him we’re still going to be a very good team.’’

General manager Sam Presti said in a news release earlier in the day that Westbrook has been playing pain-free, but ‘’recently had experienced increased swelling’’ in his right knee. ‘’After consultation and consideration by his surgeon in Los Angeles, a plan was established to monitor the swelling that included a series of scheduled MRIs,’’ Presti said in the release. ‘’On the most recent MRI it was determined by the surgeon that there was an area of concern that had not previously existed, nor was detectable in

the previous procedures, and it was necessary to evaluate Russell further.

The consulting physician determined that arthroscopic surgery was necessary to address the swelling that was taking place.’’

Brooks said Reggie Jackson, who is averaging 12.5 points, will start.

Jeremy Lamb will also see increased playing time in Westbrook’s absence. ‘’Guys believe in what he does for our team,’’ Brooks said of Jackson. ‘’He’s only going to get better. He’s a young point guard in this league.’’

Westbrook’s knee problems began in April when he tore his meniscus in the second game of the Western Conference playoffs, sidelining him for the remainder of the postseason and all but ending Oklahoma City’s chances of reaching the NBA Finals.

He had a second arthroscopic surgery as the Thunder were preparing for training camp after developing inflammation in the knee.

However, Westbrook missed only two regular-season games before returning to the floor.

Oklahoma City has since gone on a 21-3 tear with Westbrook in the starting lineup.

The five-year NBA player is averaging 21.3 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Thunder, who entered Friday night’s game with a 23-5 record, a half-game behind the first-place Portland Trail Blazers in the Northwest Division.

Oklahoma City has won 10 of its last 11 games.

In his last game on Christmas, Westbrook didn’t look like a player who was in pain, finishing with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 123-94 rout of the New York Knicks.

Brooks said he didn’t know the knee was an issue until after Wednesday’s game. ‘’He’s passed every medical benchmark and he was playing great basketball, probably some of the best basketball in the entire league,’’ Brooks said. ‘’We’re looking forward to him coming back and getting back to the level that he has played at and he will.’’

OUT THROUGH ALL-STAR BREAK. Russel Westbrook of Oklahoma City, shown here driving past New York’d Benoh Udrih, will be on the injured list through at least 27 games.

Boom Boom eyes comeback T F

ORMER WBO super bantamweight title challenger and WBO International featherweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista is making a comeback and will see action in an ALA Promotions fight card in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in March or April.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer revealed that Bautista who

was supposed to retire after his split decision loss to Jose Ramirez in Davao last April 20 was coming back and the ALA Promotions leadership “had a long talk with him earlier in December and he wants to come back.”

Aldeguer told the Manila Standard that “Boom Boom” told him he wants “to make a big comeback as a junior lightweight. He

feels that he’s more mature now” even as he revealed they plan to bring him to the US to train there and “just bring him back to what he was before.”

The ALA Promotions president said “I think he needed the time.”

The 27 year old Bautista was among the more exciting fighters in the ALA stable and when he took a break after his loss to

PHL boxing honored

Ramirez he had a record of 34-3 with 25 knockouts.

In that fight Bautista was dropped in the very first round but fought back to deck Ramirez in the eighth round after which the Mexican was deducted a point by international referee Bruce McTavish after he elbowed Bautista in the ninth round and opened up a cut on his left cheek.

HE PHILIPPINE Amateur Boxing Alliance (formerly Association) has been honored by the the Asian Boxing Confederation as among the best of the Asians of the Year 2013 with the awarding ceremonies to be at the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Bangkok, Thailand from January 2431, 2014.

Talented Eumir Felix Marcial was named Best Asian Youth Boxer of the Year who was cited for ’proving his strength in the youth continental championships where he claimed a valuable gold medal in the light welterweight (64 kg) class” beating Mongolia’s tough Batzorig Otgonjargal in the finals.

The Asian Boxing Confederation noted that the 18-year-old Filipino will be joining the national elite squad next year and predicts that Marcial will be a medal contender at the 2014 Asian Games.

Marcial was outstanding during the 2013 ASBC Asian Youth Continental Championships hosted by the ABAP which is headed by its president Ricky Vargas with the eminent businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan as chairman and former broadcaster and jounalist Ed Picson as executive director.

Marcial led the Philippines which won four of the possible ten gold medals at stake in from of a hometown crowd at Subic Bay.

Djokovic beats Tsonga, Nadal loses

A

BFP CARES. Sr Insp Rudolf Arbutante and members of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) basketball team which recently won the Mayor Rody and VM Pulong Duterte Cup AFP-PNP Basketball Tournament title, distribute goods to lumad kids at the Barangay Buhangin Hall in the presence of Barangay Captain James Salvador. Boy Lim

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Novak Djokovic overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to enter the final of the Mubadala Championship for the third time in three years on Friday, but he won’t be facing top-ranked Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic beat Tsonga 7-6 (5), 6-3 in 74 minutes to set up a repeat of last year’s final against David Ferrer, who knocked out Spanish compatriot Nad-

al 6-4, 6-4 with breaks in the last game of each set, in 90 minutes of quality tennis.

Djokovic was watched by his new part-time coach Boris Becker at the exhibition event.

Earlier, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray won his first match following a three-month layoff for a back injury when he beat Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4 in the playoff for fifth.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.66ISSUE ISSUE204 204• •SUNDAY-MONDAY, SUNDAY-MONDAY,DECEMBER DECEMBER29-30, 29-30,2013 2013

‘I pray for Floyd’

Despite cheap shots, Pacquiao thinks Mayweather likes him

PRAYER FOR MAYWEATHER: “As I have been saying from the very first time that he poked fun on me, I’ll just pray for him.”

F

IGHTERS aren’t supposed to be like Manny Pacquiao.

The Filipino boxing hero barely talks more than a whisper. He is more like a priest than a boxer, more altar boy than home boy.

He sounds like a priest, always talking about the Holy Scripture.

Manny Pacquiao, in fact, doesn’t say bad words.

He speaks softly and sees only the good things. Whoever utters a word against him, he answers with prayers.

When told of arch-critic Floyd Mayweather’s latest online dig, the world’s only eight-division champion and holder of four lineal titles merely giggled over the phone, saying: “Again?

Like before, I’ll just pray for him.”

“Alam mo, sa totoo lang,

I think Floyd really loves me contrary to what many believe,” he blurted out in vernacular in a long distance telephone interview on Christmas Day from General Santos City. “And he has reasons to like me.

Kasi, like him, I also keep boxing alive at this present time di ba?”

“Honestly, I would like to thank him for always remembering me. “Haven’t you noticed, every time he talks, he talks about me.

Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nyan, para sa kanya, hindi mabubuhay ang boksing gaya ng pagkabuhay nito ngayon, kung wala siya at wala ako,” the 35-year-old reasoned out. (That means only one thing, for him, boxing will not thrive the way it is now without him and me.)

“And, maybe, for him,

life without me would be sadder than sad, as a line in one of our favorite songs connotes,” he told this writer. “Para sa akin, okay lang for him to make fun of me. Hindi naman niya sinasabing masama akong tao. Na mamatay ako o magnanakaw.”

“People are telling me, marami daw nagagalit sa twitter sa mga pinagsasabi niya, he said.

“Well and good because that will make him realize na maraming magtatanggol sa akin sa mga sinasabi nya. That he has no monopoly in popularity among boxing fans, in particular, but sports fans, in general.”

“As I have been saying from the very first time that he poked fun on me, I’ll just pray for him. Pray that God spares him from

any career-ending injury so he may continue practicing our profession,” the father of four to Sarangani Vice governor wife Jinkee, stressed.

“Floyd is pound-forpound’s best in the world today and I acknowledge that, Whatever happens to him will make the entire sports world sad.

Kailangan siya ng boksing.

“Pacquiao said he doesn’t regret, too, Mayweather’s pronouncement of not wanting to fight him. “I have also been long saying this, kung ayaw niyang lumaban sa akin, ganun din ako. Kilala na naman ako ng buong mundo na lumalaban kahit sinong iharap sa akin. I have never choose my opponent in my almost two-decade boxing career.”

ANOTHER GOOD YEAR. Boy Tan (left) and Joe Marfori (right) celebrated another productive run in the local golf scene in 2013. Tan and Marfori recorded one of the best tournament records at the Rancho Palos Verdes for the year. Boy Lim