Edge Davao 6 Issue 239

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, together with executive assistant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, checks the speed limit signage donated by a roofing materials manufacturer in support to the city government’s implementation of Executive Order No. 39, Series of 2013 on Speed Limit at City Hall Monday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

CAR TRADERS WARNED Rody: Make sure you are not selling stolen second hand cars

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is poised to issue an executive order regulating second-hand vehicles trading in the city.

Duterte told reporters yesterday that the purpose of the order is to obligate the owner of second-hand vehicle shops to vouch that the vehicles they are selling are not stolen.

Duterte said that he needs to come up with the order to protect public interest.

“Mag wawarning na ako ngayon na it behooves the kasa owner to check na yung pinagbibili nila doon sa kasa nila even if it is not owned by him should be… para madali ang transaction sila ang magkuha ng clearance sa LTO (Land Transporation Office) at Highway Patrol

(Group-HPG). Pag wala ka nito di kita bibigyan ng business permit or kung nagpabili ka ng ninakaw, I will revoke your business permit,” said Duterte, adding that it is the owner’s obligation before allowing display of the second-hand vehicles in their shops to ensure they are not stolen.

“Marami ang nabikitma niyan dito, siguro mga 50 ang minimum. kaya na awa ako sa mga tao – wala silang recourse, eh. The thing will cry for its owner that’s the principle of law. Whether they like or not,” Duterte said.

There are instances of charge and counter charge between the operatives of HPG and the person who innocently bought a stolen car which he/she thought was second-hand.

ENTERTAINING? A public utility vehicle plying the High School-Ilustre route in Davao City is equipped with a complete set of video and audio system which produces loud sound that gives entertainment to annoys many passengers. Lean Daval Jr.

2

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Datu Bago awardees bared

T

HE Datu Bago awards organization through its Chairman Guillermo P. Torres Jr is happy to announce that this year’s that mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved the nominees ofn the Datu Bago awardees submitted through it search committee led by Dr. Iris Milleza.

The 2014 Datu Bago Awardees are Dr. Perfecto

A. Alibin, president of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) for his contribution to the growth of Davao City in the field of education and the late Mayor Elias B. Lopez (posthumous)for public service and development of Davao City.

Awarding will be in March 14 and venue will be announced later. [ABF]

Money lender stabbed dead

By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

A

epc@edgedavao.net

MONEY lender was stabbed to death by a couple over a P3,000 debt in barangay Lipadas, Daliao,Toril Monday afternoon.

P/Chief Inspector Angel Sumagaysay, station commander of the Toril police, said that Demetrio Antega, 54, butcher was

stabbed by Joel Lazaga, 50, and his wife, Josephine.

The police are conducting a manhunt for the suspects who fled after the incident.

Antega sustained several wounds in the body when the suspects attacked him with kitchen

FMONEY, 10

APEC 2015 MEETINGS

Davao City as a host known this month

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

W

crc@edgedavao.net

HETHER or not Davao City will get to host one of the meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in 2015 will be known by the end of February.

City tourism of-

fice (CTO) officer-in-charge Lisette Marques said that aside from the result, the list of the Apec meeting venues to chosen cities will be released.

Based on an earlier report, it may be recalled

FAPEC, 10

WEATHER FORECAST

RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) director of investment promotions and public affairs Romeo Montenegro (center) answers questions after yesterday’s presentation of the renewable energy potentials in Mindanao forum held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. With him are Department of Energy (DOE) assistant secretary Daniel Ariaso Sr. (right) and Engr. Anastacio Cubos Jr. of the Assessment Team for Hydro Sources. Lean Daval Jr.

Generoso Bridge to be closed down for rehab

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – 11 has requested the Davao City government to close the old Governor Generoso Bridge from traffic to give way for its P62-million rehabilitation that will run for eight months.

Engineer Alvin Cabuenas, representative of DPWH- XI, called on Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte last Monday, along with the representative of contractor Oscar R. Sarmiento to ask the mayor for the bridge’s temporary closure.

“We are going to close the traffic siguro sir and leave sa TMC (Traffic Management Center) nimo,”

Cabuenas said to mayor Duterte Cabuenas said that the foundation of the bridge has been affected by scouring which could cause possible collapse if not rehabilitated immediately.

He said that the scheme of the rehabilitation is to bury a 30 meter bored pile on the foundations of the old bridge. A bored pile is a cast in place cylindrical piles excavated either by use of rotary equipment operated augers , buckets, under static drilling fluid or large drill bit (for hard rock) with reverse circulation, with chisel grab and casing oscillator for bouldery ground, with large diam-

eter ditch hammers and compressed air (drilled piles).

“Para maka resist siya (foundation) sa scouring.

Mao na ang trabhuon namo because three piers ang affected sa scouring – katong naa gyud sa tubig, ”Cabuenas said to the mayor.

Mayor Duterte ordered TMC chief P/Supt Rhodelio Poliquit to clear the Sandawa road from vehicle parking for a smooth flow of traffic.

He said that they will re-route vehicles passing on the old bridge to Sandawa road and instead use Bolton Bridge.

The mayor said that they will also wait for the installation of culverts in a

nearby construction site of a mall project before they proceed the re-routing.

In chance interview, Cabuenas told reporters that it is better to close the bridge because of the heavy equipment that they are going to use in repairing the bridge.

“Basin maapektohan ang mga commuters,” he said.

He said that the rehabilitation is supposed to start on February 15 but was postponed because the Davao Light and Power Company and other telecommunication providers have requested them for a week to transfer the electrical and communication wires.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. DMC Urban Property Development, Inc. (DMC UPDI)president Jose L. Merin (right) shows to City Councilor Bernard Al-ag the miniature models of the company’s current and upcoming condominium projects in Davao City during yesterday’s inauguration and blessing of its new office at Sandawa Plaza along Quimpo Blvd. in Ecoland, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

3

WESM by 2016?

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

I

crc@edgedavao.net

N order to address the current power crisis in Mindanao, the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) is strongly pushing for Mindanao to adopt the Wholesale Electric Sport Market (WESM) by 2016.

The WESM strategy aims to facilitate a transparent, competitive and reliable electricity market in the country by drawing out excess and available electricity from generators. It is created under the Electricity Power Industry Regulation Act (EPIRA) Law. “Mas kelangan ito ng Mindanao sa dami ng demand ng mga industries, magkakaron na maraming investors sa generation, ngayon kasi walang-wala (Mindanao needs it more because of the demand from industries, there will be more investors in power generation. At present, there is none),” Phillip C. Adviento, PEMC manager for training and communications said during the media briefing on Imem at the regional office of the Department of Energy .

PEMC is private corporation created under the initiative of the DOE with representatives of the various sectors of the electric power industry to be the governance arm of WESM. Under a regime of WESM, excess power by other industry players generated in the Visayas and Luzon areas may be

FOR 2014

channeled to Mindanao thereby filling the shortage by Mindanao-based power generators. WESM is already adopted by Visayas and Luzon with both gird already connected.

That leaves Mindanao as the lone unconnected segment in the power landscape.

Engr. Mylene C. Capungcol, Director IV of the DOE Energy Industry Management Bureau (EIMB), revealed during the public dialogue on the amendment of EPIRA law at the Waterfront Insular Hotel recently, that based on the power development plan, demand for power will continue to increase by 4 percent in 2014 and, 2015 while will take a leap to 12.8 percent by 2016.

She said that the projected increase will be used to give way to the huge demand because of the increase in power supply.

The combined 300MW of Therma South 1 and 2 of Aboitiz Power Corporation in Toril, Davao City and the 200MW Southern Mindanao Coal of Alsons Power Corporation in Saranggani will be operational by next year. By 2016, the 405 MW coal power plant FDC Utilities, Inc. in Misamis Oriental will be operational.

Capungcol said that the projected peak demand for Mindanao in 2014 is 1,700MW.

PNP needs 28,827 morepoliceofficers

By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

T

epc@edgedavao.net

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified recruitment of uniformed and non-uniformed personnel totaling 28,827 employees nationwide this year, an official said.

P/Chief Inspector Jed Clamor, spokesperson of the police regional office 11, said that for Davao they are now accepting applicants for both uniformed and non-uniformed (civilian employees) personnel.

“This is to cope with the rising demand for personnel to be part of the PNP organization,” he said.

The deadline for submission of requirements for non-uniformed personnel is February 21, Fri-

day. Meanwhile, no deadline has yet been set for uniformed personnel.

The requirements for NUP are the following: Letter of Application, personal data sheet (bio-data), transcript of record and diploma, certificate of eligibility, training and employment, National Bureau Investigation clearance, birth certificate and marriage certificate if married.

However, Clamor said applicants may first submit the application letter while other requirements may follow later.

In the Davao Region, currently there are 264 non-uniformed and 6,500 uniformed personnel.

EXHIBIT. A Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) worker makes a last-minute preparation before the opening of the renewable energy site maps exhibit and web portal in one of the halls of the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao yesterday where the Renewable Energy potentials in Mindanao forum attended by at least 100 power stakeholders was held. Lean Daval Jr.

City Hall forms panel to reconcile RPT data

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

T

HE Davao City government has formed a panel to reconcile the record on assessment addressing the uncollected P1.1 billion in real property taxes .

City administrator J. Melchor V. Quitain told reporters in a chance interview yesterday that the panel will be composed of four personnel from the city treasurer’s office, four from the city assessor’s office and headed by the city legal office.

“There is a need to cleanse the record kasi merong mga double… sometimes there are two tax declarations covering only one parcel of land.

Kailangan ayusin talaga yan,” Quitain said, citing road lots as an example which some developers did not develop expecting the city to do it.

“That’s a scheme na dapat iwasan,” Quitain said. For example, in the case of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), there is a decision of the court of appeals saying that it is exempted from paying real property taxes but is still included in the P1.1 billion tax delinquency.

“I have already issued a memorandum… and if I remember right by next week or this week they should start with the cleansing,” Quitain said, adding that they are given up to March 10 to complete the process.

Earlier, Edge Davao reported that the database glitch hindered CTO from collecting taxes due to errors with the assessments.

Victor Ranada, acting

head of CTO’s real property tax division, said that there were duplications on assessments which he cited as the main reason they could not effectively collect correct taxes.

He added that there are problems in the assess-

ment in which the property, although already sold to a third party the former owner’s name still appears in the assessment.

Ranada said that because of deficient data they are having a hard time locating delinquent taxpay-

ers while there are names in the database that must be exempted from paying real property taxes but are still included in the list of taxpayers in the P1.1 billion tax delinquency report.

Ranada cited a road in

FCITY, 10

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Indigent residents benefit from big surgical mission

A

ROUND 250 poor residents in this city and nearby Sarangani Province are expected to benefit from a week-long grand surgical mission that formally opened at the city hospital starting Monday.

Dr. Arvin Alejandro, officer-in-charge of Provincial Health Office, said Tuesday they have partnered with United Statesbased charity group World Surgical Foundation (WSF) for the surgical mission, which is slated until February 22.

He said the mission, which was jointly facilitated by the local governments of Sarangani and this city, is led by 45 experts from the WSF. The WSF mission was mainly made possible through the efforts of Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, Governor Steve Solon and Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao, in partnership with the city government, he said.

Based on the initial screening conducted by the WSF team, Alejandro said the surgical operations include patients with hernia, bowel issues,

KORONADAL CITY

anorectal problems, penile malformations, cleft lip and palate, goiter (non-toxic), thyroid problems, bladder illnesses, TURPS (prostate/kidney), hydroceles (prostate), tumor, cysts and uterus problems.

“The surgical operations as well as other related procedures and treatments are all free of charge,” the health official said in a statement.

He said that aside from the free surgeries, patients are assured of quality care from the WSF team, which is composed of local and foreign volunteer nurses and surgeons with multiple specialties.

Citing their projections, Alejandro said each operation will cost around P6,000 and P2.2 million in health insurance claims for the 250 targeted patients.

Aside from the surgical operations, WSF, which has been providing surgical health care to third-world countries, is also donating medical supplies, medicines and some equipment to the provincial government of Sarangani.

He said the donated materials will be delivered

HANGING BRIDGE. Pedestrian and “habal-habal” share this narrow hanging bridge as they cross the Alamada River in Barangay Mirasol, Alamada, North Cotabato. The bridge connects the villages of Mirasol and Pacao. [Mindanews Photo by Keith Bacongco] later on to the local government-run hospitals in the municipalities of Glan, Kiamba and Malungon.

The delivery of the additional supplies and

equipment will complement the ongoing upgrading to level 1 facilities of the three hospitals, he said.

Meantime, Alejandro said another surgical mis-

Region 12 benefits from DPWH equipment refleeting program R

EFLEETING heavy equipment is one of the priorities of Secretary Rogelio L. Singson. The Equipment Refleeting Program of Department of Public Works and Highways aimed to expedite road projects by replacing

old and damaged equipment with new and high-tech ones.

The fourth batch of the said program for DPWH XII was delivered on the first week of February by the Bureau of Equipment (BOE), Central Office through the

Equipment Management Division.

Three units of Fotondump truck; one unit ofFoton pay loader; one unit of lane marker; one unit of Hamnroller compactor; and one unit of Volvo backhoe have complet-

ed the fourth batch.

Back in 2012, three brand new dump trucks under the same program were turned over by the Regional Office to three District Engineering Offices of SK II, Lebak; Cotabato I, Kidapawan City; and, Cotabato II, Midsayap.

OIC-Regional Director Reynaldo S. Tamayo stressed that these equipment will be utilized primarily for emergency response purposes.

“Our region is not excused from climate change. We have experienced landslide and flash floods in our areas of responsibilities. We need these capable equipment to conduct immediate clearing operations and quick responses on emergency situations. We have to be prepared and assure public safety at all times. We could also extend assistance to other regions as possible,” he disclosed.

The department will continually purchase and deploy brand new heavy equipment to various DPWH regional offices nationwide.

sion will be hosted by the provincial government from February 24 until the first week of March through a Canada-based mission.

SOUTH COTABATO

He said the initiative, which will mainly serve poor residents, will cater to similar cases undertaken by the WSF mission.

[PNA]

LGU wants tourism businesses to get accreditation from DOT

I

N a bid to attract additional visitors or tourists this year, the provincial government of South Cotabato is urging tourism facilities in the area to apply for accreditation with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Cesar Sulit Jr., South Cotabato tourism officer, said Tuesday they are currently assisting hotels, resorts, travel and tour operators and other tourism-related establishments within the province in complying with the necessary upgrades or improvements and other requirements set by the DOT to facilitate their accreditation.

He said the improvements are mainly focused on the services and other operational aspects of the establishments.

Sulit said the DOT has set specific regulations based on global or international standards for the accreditation of

local tourism facilities or businesses.

“We’re currently targeting the accreditation of 20 more establishments within the first half of the year,” he said in a media forum.

The official said that from just a single establishment in 2012, the number of DOT-accredited businesses within the province’s 10 towns and lone city has already increased to 16 as of the end of 2013.

He said the accredited establishments include hotels, inns, hostels, restaurants, special interest accommodations and resorts, sports and recreation centers, transportation companies and travel and tour operators.

Sulit said the increase was the result of a directive issued by the provincial government last year that required local tourism businesses to secure accreditation with the DOT. [MindaNews]

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

DOLE implements P1.19 million emergency employment program T

O rescue families from their lost livelihoods due to damages of severe weather conditions, a government agency is currently implementing emergency employment program in select sites in Davao Oriental.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Davao Region and the local government units (LGUs) of Boston, Cateel and Manay have put in funds amounting to P1.188 million to start employment in the areas strongly hit by flooding and landslide when low pressure area and typhoon Agaton battered the province last month.

“In times of disasters, as we have frequently experienced in recent times, we need emergency employment to cushion from economic shock particularly the vulnerable sectors like small (holder) farmers, informal sector and women,” DOLE Davao assistant regional director Venerando Cebrano said.

The emergency employment will cover the barangays Poblacion and Carmen in Boston town barangays Poblacion, San Antonio, Taytayan and Abejod in Cateel town; and another four barangays: San Ignacio, Holy Cross, Zaragoza and Central in Manay town.

The project is expected to benefit more some 203 individuals for 15 days of work which will include cleaning and grubbing as there are still debris left in the aftermath of the LPA and typhoon Agaton.

“Aside from their daily minimum wage, they have also have provisions of Red Cross Insurance, and personal protective equipment in doing their work,” Cebrano said.

In her previous statement, Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon said that in some respect the LPA and typhoon Agaton has left more damages than typhoon Pablo in 2012.

Floods and landslides generated by the low pres-

NEW OFFICE. DMC Urban Property Developers, Inc. (DMC UPDI) president Jose L. Merin (center) and general manager Arch. Victoria Joy B. Adriano (right) together with Councilor Bernard Al-ag lead the cutting of ribbon during the inauguration and blessing of the company’s new Davao City office at Sandawa Plaza in Quimpo Blvd., Ecoland yesterday. Lean Daval Jr. sure area began battering Mindanao and parts of the Visayas starting on January 10 until it dissipated in January 22.

It has isolated a total of 183 villages in the prov-

ince, and fatality counted to 12 in Davao Oriental alone, a report from Philippine Daily Inquirer said.

DOLE Davao Oriental Provincial Chief Albert E. Degamo that the contin-

uous downpour during the LPA has caused massive landslides affecting a number the livelihoods of the residents.

“The project, which targets particularly the

flash-flood affected families, will provide shortterm wage employment as immediate source of income,” Degamo said.

[Sherwin B. Manual/ DOLE11]

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

6,191.8 132.8 Sep2013 2013 Apr

13. Consumer Price Index

135.2 Oct2.62013

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

Sep 2013

13. Consumer Index Price Index 2006=100

2006=100 14.

Headline Inflation Rate 14. 2006=100 Headline Inflation

Apr 2013

2.9 Oct3.12013

Rate 15.

Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

2006=100

Apr 2013

2006=100 16.

Visitor Arrivals

418,108 Oct 2013 Feb 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate

2.5

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 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Aquino: Reforms boosted PH economy

P

RESIDENT Aquino to investors: Reforms boosted PHL economy President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday urged investors to invest in the Philippines, boasting of the economic achievements the country has attained since the start of his term in 2010 due to reforms in competitiveness and governance put in place.

During the 3rd Euromoney Philippines Investment Forum 2014 at Solaire Resort, Parañaque, Philippines, the President said that the country has come a long way since being dubbed as the ‘Sick Man of Asia’.

Although the country has taken a beating from back to back calamities the past year, President Aquino said that it still managed to achieve a 7.2 percent economic growth for the entire 2013.

He noted other achievements such as reaching 59th place at the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Rankings and being second most profitable among ASEAN-5 countries in a 2013

survey of companies in Asia and Oceania, among others.

“The days when we were called the Sick Man of Asia are becoming a distant memory,” the President stressed.

“Now, we are seeing so many international organizations and publications expressing optimism about our future, and they have already referred to us as ‘Asia’s Bright Spot’ or as the ‘New Asian Tiger’,” he added.

President Aquino also said that continued rehabilitation efforts after calamities last year is the government’s number one priority.

He said that the government will ‘build back better’ houses, communities in safer places and have these surpass how they were before typhoon “Yolanda” struck.

“Our rehabilitation efforts dovetail seamlessly into our plans for the economy in the medium and long term,” the President said.

President Aquino enumerated other achievements in 2013 including how the manufacturing sector grew by 10.5 percent, and was one

of the main factors in building on our economic momentum.

He said that the government has also increased infrastructure spending—from P304 billion in 2013 to nearly 400 billion in 2014 and made tourism more convenient for tourists to experience how fun it is in the Philippines.

“We must cement the reforms we have made, and make certain that we extend our aim of uninterrupted growth—from years, to decades, and hopefully, even to generations,” the President said.

He also said that one way of cementing reforms was to pursue laws that will keep business environment conducive to growth and create opportunities for the population that hits working age.

Furthermore, President Aquino also took pride in increased budgets for the Department of Education and TESDA and also said that the government is also pushing for growth in the agricultural sector.

“If you invest in the Phil-

ippines, human capital will be the least of your worries,” the President said.

He finally ended his speech by inviting all stake-

holders to be present as Filipinos pursue “the road to becoming an economy and a country greater than ever before”. [PNA]

last year’s successive tragedies, Filipinos have shown their resiliency, with the government extending the needed assistance.

“We want to empower them to take hold of their destinies once more; and to do that, we must give them the opportunity to work for their personal advancement, and for the advancement of their families and communities. This is how we approach the task of relief and recovery. It is not simply about distributing goods or putting up shelter; it involves coming up with strategies to revitalize the economies in the local communities, to create jobs, and to encourage productivity in the areas in the soonest possible time,” he said.

“The road ahead promises many challenges, but we are convinced that with the backing of our people, and with the right partners in the private sector, we will prevail. We will complete the rehabilitation and improvement of the affected communities sooner rather than later; and all of you will see those areas brimming with more opportunity than ever before,” he added.

The President also cited the Philippines’ progress in

a report card of sorts, where Fitch Ratings Agency gave the Philippines its first investment grade rating from a major credit rating agency in its history.

Standard & Poor’s followed suit, and so did Moody’s.

“Despite the disasters that befell our country in 2013, the Philippines still posted one of the fastest growth rates in Asia at 7.2 percent,” he added.

The President also said the Philippines continued to defy expectations on several measures of competitiveness, climbing up the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Rankings, reaching 59th place.

Also, the Philippines recorded a marked improvement in the World Bank and International Finance Corporation’s Ease of Doing Business Report, moving up 30 places in just one year.

He added the Heritage Foundation also bumped the Philippines up in its 2014 Index of Economic Freedom, placing us 89th out of 178 countries—an eight-notch improvement from the previous year.

On top of this, after a 2013 survey of companies in Asia and Oceania, the Japan

External Trade Organization said that the Philippines is the second most profitable among ASEAN-5 countries, trailing only Thailand.

For now, the President said the Philippines is fully intent on keeping up the pace of its progress.

He also said now is crucial as population projections by the United Nations show the Philippines will hit a “demographic sweet spot” starting in 2015.

This means a large portion of the population will hit working age.

“On average, hitting such a sweet spot has led to a tenyear period of 7.3 percent yearly growth. So one can only imagine the possibilities for us, considering our workers are renowned for their resilience, creativity, and loyalty,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President said the Philippines remains committed to making a run at its 2016 target of 10 million international tourists.

It is also seeking to improve the performance of the agriculture sector, which grew only 1.1 percent last year.

On the other hand, the President said the self-esteem and morale of Filipinos

are high after getting the feeling of having a government that actually works for them — “a government that does not break past promises, and in fact, under promises, and over-delivers.”

“Perhaps this is the single greatest guarantee that our reforms will outlast our term in office, and perhaps our lifetimes. The Filipino people have grown empowered. They have rediscovered how valuable they are to the country. They take pride in their work; and they have regained the capacity to demand excellence from their government. This is the lasting legacy we want to leave, and this is the legacy we will continue working for: A Filipino people revitalized—who will never again tolerate mediocrity—who will never again allow any leader to lead them away from the straight path,” he said.

“As we continue showing them the profound, tangible impact of a government that embodies the spirit of public service, we know that we are building a more capable country—one that is always motivated and empowered to propel itself to greater heights,” he added. [PNA]

President Benigno S. Aquino III

Gov’t invites investors to take larger role in helping Filipinos

P

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday invited investors to play a larger role in efforts to make the country and the economy greater than ever before.

Speaking at the Euromoney Philippines Investment Forum at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City, the President said opportunities abound along the path to shared prosperity.

“As our people continue to rewrite the story of the Philippines—from the apathy of the past to the dynamism of the present, from our previous fumbles to the firm resolve that is propelling us towards a more promising future—I invite all of you to take a larger role here—to be present as our people pursue the permanence of our prosperity, on the road to becoming an economy and a country greater than ever before,” he said.

He also said the Philippines’ days as the so-called Sick Man of Asia are “becoming a distant memory.”

Now, he said the Philippines is seeing so many international organizations and publications referring to it as “Asia’s Bright Spot,” or as the “New Asian Tiger.”

Also, he said that despite

as of May 2013 Cebu Pacific Daily Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Thu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cebu-Davao-Cebu

16:45

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL.66ISSUE ISSUE239 239• •WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY FEBRUARY19, 19,2014 2014 VOL.

Mercury Rising: Global health threat

By GERRY T. ESTRERA

“C

Contributor

LIMATE change endangers human health.” – Dr. Margaret Chan, the director-general of the World Health Organization Climate change manifests itself in ways far beyond a slowly rising global mean surface temperature.

Scientific data is making the public increasingly aware that a changing climate has significant potential consequences for public health.

“The biggest global health threat of the 21st century” – that is how The Lancet, the world’s leading medical journal, called climate change, which is caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

“Climate change has become the greatest humanitarian challenge of our time,” Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, told the participants of the recent Social Good Summit in Makati. “It also threatens public health.”

Scientists say that as earth’s thermostat continues to climb, human health problems will only become more frequent. In the last quarter of the 20th century, the average atmospheric temperature rose by about 1 degree Fahrenheit.

“By 2000, that increase was responsible for the annual loss of about 160,000 lives and the loss of 5.5 million years of healthy life,” deplores the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

The United Nations health agency expects the toll to double to about 300,000 lives and 11 million years of healthy life by 2020.

“The warming of the planet will be gradual, but the effects of extreme weather events will be abrupt and acutely felt,” said WHO Di-

rector-General Margaret Chan. “Both trends can affect some of the most fundamental determinants of health: air, water, food, shelter and freedom from disease.”

Here are some examples of what’s has already happened around the world as a result of climate change: · During the past two decades, the prevalence of asthma in the United States has quadrupled, in part because of climate-related factors. For Caribbean islanders, respiratory irritants come in dust clouds that emanate from Africa’s expanding deserts and are then swept across the Atlantic by trade winds, which have accelerated due to warmer ocean temperatures. · Starting in August 2003, heat waves caused more than 14,800 deaths in France. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom all reported excess mortality during the same period, with total deaths in the range of 35,000. In France, deaths were massively reported for people aged 75 and over (60 percent). · Six young men and boys were killed by fatal parasites in 2007 at Lake Havasu, Arizona, after they swam in water infested with a heat-loving amoeba. In 2008, scientists found that poison ivy vines have grown 10 times denser near Savannah, Georgia over the last 20 years. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes poison ivy to grow larger and produce stronger irritants, they reported. · Smog-related deaths from climate change are projected to increase by about 4.5 percent from the 1990s to the 2050s, according to studies at Columbia and

Johns Hopkins universities.

A scientist at Yale University, Michelle Bell, looked at the 50 largest cities in eastern United States and found that the health-alert days would go up by 68 percent over the next decades. · Mosquitoes and the diseases they carry including malaria, dengue fever, Ross River virus, and West Nile virus are especially sensitive to temperature changes and land elevation. Mosquitoes that carry malaria were found at never-before-seen

elevations on Mount Kenya in 2006. Malaria has also been detected in new higher-elevation areas in Indonesia. Mosquitoes that can carry dengue fever viruses were previously limited to elevations of 3,300 feet but recently appeared at 7,200 feet in the Andes Mountains of Colombia.

The Philippines ranks sixth in the Climate Change Vulnerability Index by Maplecroft, a United Kingdom-based global risk and strategic consulting firm.

The country is also listed third in the World Risk Index by the United Nations.

“Adopting a public health approach to climate change is feasible and acceptable especially today, as current government efforts toward universal health care are clearly compatible with the goal of strengthening health systems in order to ensure health protection and health equity in an era of global climate change,” pointed out Dr. Ramon Lorenzo Luis R. Guinto, consultant on migration health for the International Organization on Migration and the Department of Health.

“As one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, it is our best interest to develop evidence-based climate-risk adaptation policies, strategies, and technologies,” said Dr. Rodel Lasco, a member of the Nobel prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Dr. Lasco said that climate change is seen to aggravate extreme events like heavy precipitation and tropical cyclones. Extreme rainfall is projected to increase in Luzon and Visayas in 2010 and 2050.

According to Dr. Guinto, climate change exposes human health to risks like malaria, diarrhea, meningitis, dengue fever, floods and cyclones, drought, airborne dispersion of hazardous materials, heat stress, ultraviolet radiation, pollens and air pollution.

The figures of those who die from climate-sensitive diseases are startling: 3.5 million from under nutrition, 2.2 million from diarrhea, and another 2.2 million from malaria. Extreme weather events kill 60,000.

These statistics were re-

leased by the UN health agency.

In an editorial, Vital Signs said: “Outside these figures, one only needs to look outside his window to see the glaring effects of climate change. Back then, it would take a really strong typhoon lasting days for the streets of Manila to become flooded. Nowadays, just a few hours of rainfall will submerge our streets.

“There is an unmistakable yellow haze looming ominously above us, covering the various Metro skylines,” the editorial further went on. “The haze is a product of smoke-belching vehicles, coupled with the scorching heat of the sun.

Being subjected to one of the worst levels of air pollution in the world, residents of Metro Manila are highly prone to develop respiratory and other pollution-related diseases.”

Meanwhile, the Grim Reaper has busy days ahead. Approximately 600, 000 deaths occurred worldwide as a result of weather-related natural disasters in the 1990s; some 95 percent of these were in poor countries. According to the Oxfam report (November 2007), the average number of natural disasters per year during early 1980s was about 120. Now, the number has increased to nearly 500.

“Without urgent action through changes in human lifestyle, the effects of this phenomenon on the global climate system could be abrupt or even irreversible, sparing no country and causing more frequent and more intense heat waves, rain storms, tropical cyclones and surges in sea level,” warned Dr. Shigeru Omi, the Asian regional WHO director.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

T

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Too fast, too many

HE number on the scorecard shows 2,127. That’s the exact number as of February 10 of the arrested drivers under Executive Order 39, Series of 2013 of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte. That includes former Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio herself.

That’s quite fast for an EO requiring motor vehicles to regulate speed on designated roads in Davao City. The high number of violations only show two things—one, that there are many speed freaks who are roaming our roads; and two, that the required speed is just too slow at 30 kph for one to notice.

We are looking at two immediate effects. on the upside, we try to ensure safety on the road, which is the wisdom behind EO 39. The only way to curb road accidents is to keep motor vehicles and running at reasonable speed.

The downside is that running at this speed could be confusing for drivers. At 30 kph, a car runs at a maximum of third gear on a flat road section. That’s about the time your car picks up speed from the get-go. After that, a car cannot possibly go on the fourth or fifth gear, if you are to maintain speed on that limit. In short, you will only need three gears to run in the streets of Davao City. If you go farther than third gear, you are already overspeeding.

Now, is that fair enough for motorists who could be confronted with the specter of consuming more fuel than usual?

At this time when prices of gasoline are very erratic, every

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means possible to reduce gas consumption while driving should be helpful.

However, there is a far more significant advantage reduced speed could bring that will far outweigh fears of higher fuel consumption in the long run and that is lowering air pollution.

Speed limits lowered on sections of several British motorways in moves to meet European Union rules on fighting dangerous levels of air pollution have been found to be helpful. This is where we could be going in the right direction in terms of environmental protection.

Lowering limits would reduce amounts of noxious gases emitted by vehicles at high speed and reduce polluting traffic jams, according to a recent research by the European Union which also implemented reduction of speed limit from 90kph to 60 kph on some sections of its highways.

Unlike our speed limit EO, however, the imposition of similar laws in other jurisdiction is for designated times of the day only. On certain hours where there is low volume of vehicles, the speed limit is raised to a certain speed. On days like Sundays and holidays where there is no work and classes, designated speeds apply.

While we submit to the legal dictum dura lex sed lex (the law may be hard but it is still the law), we also believe that in the course of its implementation, the EO could adapt to some fine-tuning.

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

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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

GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO OLIVIA D. VELASCO RICHARDRICHARD C. EBONAC. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager General ManagerMarketingAdvertising Supervisor SpecialistFinance FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLORENCE ManagerS. VILLARIN

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Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Marketing Specialist Cagayan de Oro City c/o PZ Villarin Marketing Cagayan de Oro City Tel: (088) 852-4894

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EDGEDAVAO

M

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

nance regulating the speed of vehicles entering the city proper, as well as the city streets, was one of the best things that ever happened to this city--even if the former city mayor Sarah Duterte, the current mayor’ s daughter was one of the first caught for “over-speeding” and issued a speeding ticket by traffic aides in Davao.

But the big problem is---- the ones enforcing this new ordinance still don’t have a good idea to make it effective enough for ALL drivers of Davao to know which street and which highway are limited only to which speed limits. The big signs they put above the concrete overpasses are NOT effective for drivers to be informed of this new street law. Big billboards with detailed information on the various speed limits cannot be seen or read and largely ignored. They’re all useless for people driving all sorts of vehicles on Davao’s streets.

ROAD SIGNS. The best way to do

this, is to put up road signs with the big numbers of “20”, “30”, “40”, “50” and “60” . The numbers must be BIG. The small letters of “speed limit” are placed above the big numbers and the small letters of “kph” are placed below the big numbers. For every kilometer or so, one of these road signs must be placed along the side of the road facing drivers as they drive past the signs.

Some 200 of these road signs would be enough for the whole city.

It’s unfair for drivers to be caught for driving 50 kph on a 40kph road without seeing a single road sign beside the road while driving to alert him or her on the speed limit. That’s why I still sympathized with Sarah when she was caught for overspeeding , simply because there were no speed limit road signs beside the road at Quimpo Boulevard that show those big numbers.

When the city council decided to make the speed limit into an ordinance, it must be ready to set aside a budget, not just for those techie “speed guns” for traffic cops to play around--- but also for some 200 road signs with the BIG numbers showing the speed limit.

Wakarimasu ka ?? Wakaru ? Kasabot ba mo?

(Comments? Email > tradingpost_ davao@yahoo.com)

sustained Gross National Product (GDP) growth have on the masses of our people? How will an increasing gap between rich and poor given outright solution by the government, it might be asked?”

As the country’s economy steamed ahead during the fourth quarter last year, that such questions seemed remote. Even when the peso came under heavy pressure from speculators, the Philippine economy was seen to be safe.

One reason: the GDP growth continued to surge and the stock market stayed bullish. But that perception began to change in early January of 2014. We have seen the weakening of the peso and the meltdown of the stock market, and the situation was further aggravated by prices of fuel products that are accelerating to undetermined levels.

What exacerbated the situation even more according to some economists and political experts is that the glitches have taken on a political dimension. That is why the aggrieved sectors continue to protest. Unemployment rate rose to 27.5% rendering about 12.1 million jobless Filipinos. Poverty incidence rate caused by massive unemployment is startling. Despite all the economic hype and hoopla, people firmly believe that making money is still not easy because of high unemployment rate.

Jobseekers reasoned out that the present economic condition can only

offer menial jobs and other non-permanent occupations such as driving taxicabs, answering phones and construction works. They indicate there are three things an economy can do: provide job and place to stay, something to eat and something to wear. But job opportunities have become extremely scarce that resulted in the impoverishment of society and the people’s hope for an improved life rest conclusively on well-defined economic reforms and drastic policy and structural change.

Mindful that all the uncertainties increase the possibility of an impending socio-economic slowdown, top officials and highly-paid government think tanks and financial consultants should follow and adopt tried and tested methods in recent history: push reforms and radical change, initiate a well-meaning job generation program primarily designed to lessen the country’s unceasing poverty situation. Speculation now is over whether the Aquino administration could push real change, and the big question is: “How fast will the government act and institute structural adjustments in the socio-economic sphere, and how long will it take for the measures to produce results?”

Nevertheless, the seeds of an economic rebound may have already been sown, at least for the moment, but the determination of our national leaders must be accompanied by wisdom. How their wisdom will balance the socio-economic costs and the welfare and benefits of the people are likely to go a long way in determining whether the insignificant setback is remembered as merely a failure, a roadblock or a defining moment that will open the way to significant change.

Poverty impoverishes society

CONOMIC PERCEPTION CHANGES DUE TO POVERTY INDEX – There has been economic progress and for several months the country gained an impressive growth of 7.2%. But the resentment among persistent critics of the Aquino administration subsists.

Their arguments haven’t change at all and raised the same question: “Granting there has been an impressive economic growth, why had the much-vaunted gains not trickled down to the poorest of the poor?”

A certain amount of misperception is always present in any government and the Aquino administration is no exception. The reason for the people’s query is simple: “Are these perplexing times in the country?” First, the currency is safe; then it drops from P40 level to over P45 against the US dollar in just a few weeks.

The stock market plummeted and followed suit after posting a remarkable record in a short span of time.

One should never assume anything because nothing is quite what it seems.

Despite the Aquino leadership’s turning on the economic lights that made the country one of the emerging economic forerunners in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN region, nothing is definite yet.

We have to admit that the economy has vastly improved despite minor setbacks.

All things considered, handling a burgeoning bureaucracy that serves more than 90 million people at the height of a long-term economic expansion plan midway through the term is not easy.

The latest perceived economic slowdown highlights divisions that might go unnoticed. Moreover, the debates range from narrow and broad: “What impact would a much-hype economy, protection against currency breakdown and

9

Servicing the underbanked

Road signs needed to enforce speed limits !

ANY DRIVERS, if you don’t forced them to attend driving seminars or pass a driving school---- are complete idiots who think just because they can drive a car, a truck, a van or a bus---- they can do what they want on any street or highway here in Davao.

Most of the road accidents recorded here by our traffic enforcers, were blamed mostly on how fast the driver was driving his vehicle. Simply put, that’s called “speed” which sadly, isn’t in the dictionary of most drivers in Davao who were involved in many deadly accidents in the city.

Just because you’re driving on an open highway doesn’t give you the right to run your car with the speed of a jet airliner about to take off the runway.

This “open highway” could be so wet and slippery from a heavy rain--- which is the most dangerous condition for a speeding vehicle.

Even if it’s dry and sunny, there could be a “school crossing” where so many children are crossing the street, “running for their lives” which was the term used by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte when he actually saw speeding jeepneys barely missing school children crossing the highway at Bangkal near the Save More supermarket.

That’s why the recent council ordi-

E

VANTAGE POINTS

COMMENTARY

BY JAMIE FULMER

A

NEW report from the United States Postal Service inspector general proposes that the agency offer non-bank financial services, including payday loans. Opinion pieces and blog posts praised this idea as a way for the post office to solve its fiscal woes while reaching a portion of Americans outside the traditional banking system. A Reuters “Great Debate” piece called the proposal a “win-win.”

These pieces overlook some practical problems, however, and leave numerous questions unanswered about implementation. While government and charitable-sponsored financial services should play a role in consumer lending, they cannot replace market-based solutions.

Notably, the USPS proposal underestimates the challenge of offering consumer financial services in an increasingly competitive marketplace regulated by complex federal and state laws. Without a sizable government subsidy, the report’s suggested interest rate for small-dollar loans would not even cover basic operating expenses.

A number of credit unions, community banks and nonprofit organizations have started similar, artificially low-priced, small-dollar loan programs only to struggle to sustain operations, much less make a profit. This has led many institutions — credit unions in particular — to conclude they cannot viably provide short-term credit, according to research by University of California, Davis Professor Victor Stango.

Local storefront lenders can offer market-competitive prices — with rapidly diversifying portfolios, insights from data on consumer trends and operational efficiencies — to meet the growing demand for short-term loans and other non-bank financial services.

There is room for increased competition in this short-term credit marketplace. Consumers are always best served by a well-regulated, competitive environment with diverse options.

But comparable products must be governed by the same rules. The post office proposal does not explain how its products would be regulated at the federal and state levels, both in the extension and repayment of the loans. It suggests, for example, that USPS could “collect debts from the tax refunds of debtors” — a prospect with troubling consequences for Americans already struggling to make ends meet.

Many regulators and commentators misunderstand why nearly 68 million Americans — more than one-quarter of U.S. households — now choose alternative lenders over banks and credit unions. Underbanked Americans by definition have a bank account and access to mainstream financial services offered by traditional banks, so why are millions opting for alternative lenders?

First, their bank accounts often get nickel and dimed by hidden fees. Roughly 41 percent of financial institutions, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, do not offer unconditional free checking accounts — up eight percentage points from last year. Monthly service fees have increased steadily since 2009 to a current high of $5.54.

These fees are often shrouded in opaque and confusing language. Customers value the transparency of alternative lenders, especially the clear disclosure of the fees associated with their loans.

Second, traditional lenders often force the underbanked or unbanked into expensive overdraft programs when they seek small-dollar credit. Moebs Services recently found that the median price per $100 borrowed through overdraft programs is $35 at large banks and $30 at smaller financial institutions. At storefront payday lenders, that same $100 costs $18.

Perhaps most important, the unbanked are put off by poor or even non-existent customer service at traditional banks. More than 75 percent said payday lenders were respectful and honest, according to a recent survey of borrowers by Harris Interactive and the Consumer Financial Services Association of America.

Lisa Servon, a professor at the Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at the New School who spent time working at an alternative lender, found that customers overwhelmingly value their local lender’s superior customer service and familiar faces.

Those who think that customers will be greeted with the same level of customer service at the U.S. Postal Service, without a considerable investment in training programs, should spend more time trying to mail a package from their local branch.

10

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

BOC probes 18 personnel on release of rice imports

E

ANTI-VICE DRIVE. Barangay Captain Rolando Trajera of Brgy. 76-A destroys confiscated units of “videokarera” at Bucana barangay hall in Davao City yesterday.

Lean Daval Jr.

Water service interruptions in some parts Feb. 20–23 F

OUR separate sets of water service interruptions have been scheduled by Davao City Water District affecting some areas in the city.

First set is an eighthour water cut from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM of February 20. Areas with no water include portion of Matina Aplaya Road – Ecoland Drive particularly from Punta Dumalag to Tulip Drive, Matina Executive Homes, Barrio Baki, Gawad Kalinga, San Isidro Village, Punta Dumalag, Ecoland Subd. Phase III-A, Purok 25, Purok 26 and Muslim Village in Times Beach. Areas with low water pressure are Ecoland Subd. Phase III-B, Doña Luisa Village Phase II, Alpha Homes, Seaside Subd., RPJ Village and Matina Aplaya Shanghai Homeowners Association. This water cut is needed for the looping of the 100mm diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing

250mm diameter Mortar Line Coated Steel Pipeline (MLCSP) for the mainline improvement at Ecoland Drive Extension near Matina Executive Homes and Doña Luisa Village Phase II to increase water pressure in Matina Executive Homes and Doña Luisa Village.

Second water cut is scheduled from 8:00 PM of February 21 until 6:00 AM of February 22 and will affect Garcia Settlers, Dinaville Subd., Anahaw Village, Diho Village 4, Salcedo Village, Ma-a People’s Village, Ma-a Riverside, Las Terrazas, Sitio Mayren Riverside, Maharlika Village, Green Meadows Ma-a and Purok A. This 10-hour water cut is needed to realign the 300mm diameter MLCSP crossing at Ma-a Road near Ma-a Barangay Hall due to the Department of Public Works and Highway’s road widening project.

Third set will be on February 22 from 9:00 AM

to 4:00 PM. Affected areas are St. Peter Avenue, Rizal Street and Malvar Street in Toril. DCWD needs to tap the installed 4-inch diameter x 180 linear meter PVC pipeline to the existing 4-inch diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement along McArthur Highway near St. Peter’s College of Toril. Once this project is completed, more or less 10 new service connections can be accommodated.

Fourth water cut is from 9:00 PM of February 22 until 3:00 AM of February 23. Areas with no water include Punta Dumalag, San Isidro Village, Gawad Kalinga, Barrio Baki and immediate environs.

Said six-hour water cut is needed for the installation of gate valves for bypass for District Metered Area at Punta Dumalag in Matina Aplaya to help reduce non-revenue water.

In behalf of the DCWD management, acting gen-

eral manager Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers. He also advises them to store enough water prior to the scheduled water interruption as water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www.davao-water.gov. ph) and official Facebook account (www.facebook. com/davaocitywaterdistrict) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the new 24-hour hotline 297DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial to listen to latest daily water updates. They may also call / text 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293 and 09084410653 for other updates, complaints, queries and matters pertaining to DCWD services. [Jamae R. Garcia]

Toril which is owned by the city government but was assessed and taxed around P200,000 when in fact it is exempted from doing so.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ro-

drigo R. Duterte said last Monday that the city government should give ample time to the business man to pay their taxes as most of them cannot really pay if it

will be hastened.

“Ang magawa ko lang is allow a certain schedule to be followed yung nakakabayad talaga,” said Duerte adding that if properties of the businessman will be sequestered lots of jobs will be lost.

However, the mayor will not extend a tax amnesty because it is a practice instead he will just give the businessman enough time to pay it.

During the regular session of the 17th city council last Tuesday Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte warned that if the CTO does not

work seriously regarding tax collection, the council will act according to law for the imposition of applicable penalties for dereliction of duty.

The P1.1 billion uncollected tax was attributed to Poblacion district which topped the list of delinquent collections with P483.6 million followed

by Buhangin district with P359.8 million, Agdao district with P99.6 million, Bunawan district with P94.1 million, Calinan with P52.6 million, Baguio with P15.1 million, and Paquibato with P10 million.

City...FFROM 3

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 50135 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 494155-5 issued to GLORIA L. PADRONES was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

2/5,12,19

IGHTEEN Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel are being investigated in connection with the release of rice shipments without import permit in 2013.

Deputy Commissioner Jessie Dellosa, head of the bureau’s Intelligence Group, said the employees who are in the assessment and examiners divisions are being probed.

“They are being investigated since they are the ones that processed the rice shipments but anyway investigation pa lang ito at hindi pa sila guilty, we still have to find out if guilty sila. They will have the time to explain,” he said in an interview.

Apec... FFROM 2

“The investigation division of the intel group is the one responsible for the conduct of the investigation which is under my office he said.”

However, the BOC official refused to give the names of the Customs personnel, noting that they are still working at the bureau.

Asked if the employees will be relieved, he said it would depend on the decision of Commissioner John Sevilla.

Dellosa said that he does not have the specific total of rice imports that these employees processed last year but they came from two ports, the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port. [PNA]

that during the third quarter of 2013, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who was then the acting mayor, signed a bid letter, along with proposals, expressing the city’s interest to host some of the Apec meetings.

The city was then shortlisted as one of the possible venues for the senior officials and ministerial meetings.

Marques said that there will be hundreds of meetings and it is not only the city which is shortlisted.

She said that the kind of meetings will depend on the hotels, and other facilities that the prospective host cities can offer.

On the other hand, Davao City is capable of hosting Apec meetings based on the availability of accommodation units within the metro.

The Apec meeting will start this December up to December next year but it is still up to the mayor to confirm.

She said that based on the record last year, the city has more than 7,000 rooms, from inns to deluxe hotels.

“We have more rooms to offer this time,” she said, adding that the current occupancy rate in the city is 50

to 55 percent only.

Aside from accommodation units, Marques said the city is capable of hosting international events of up to 5,000 participants because of SMX Convention Center Davao. She said that the city has been hosting international events in past years.

SMX has passed international standards and can house meetings, conferences, trade fairs and exhibits.

A few weeks, members of the national organizing committee for the 23rd Apec summit in 2015 came to the city for a final ocular inspection.

“We are beyond their expectations,” Marques said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex yesterday, adding that the city has conference venues for high-ranking official of 21 countries.

Department of Tourism in region 11 acting director Arturo Boncato, Jr, said that security measures and facilities of the city like the Public Command Center impressed the inspection team headed by Ambassador Ma. Angelina+ Sta. Catalina and National Defense undersecretary Natalio Ecarma III.

knives.

SPO1 Leo Romero, case investigator, said both parties were drunk when they had a heated altercation over P3,000 that the couple owes the victim.

“Wala nagkasinabtanay kay puros naman hubog sila,” Romero said.

According to witnesses, Antega had asked for assistance but to no avail. He was declared dead on arrival by an attending doctor of the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

The police are set to file charges of homicide against the couple.

Money...FFROM 2

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

BIGGER PICTURE

11

South Cotabato: Expanding outreach programs to counter NPA activities

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato has expanded its outreach activities in upland villages of T’boli and Lake Sebu towns in a bid to counter the reported movements of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Tuesday they are currently delivering various basic services to remote communities in the two municipalities to help restore the confidence of local residents on the government and offset the NPA’s ongoing recruitment activities.

She admitted that the NPA’s mass support in the area has swelled in the past months, allowing the rebels to expand their activities.

“These are barangays and sitios that were practically isolated for a long time in terms of basic services that residents felt they were neglected by the government,” she said in a radio interview.

Citing intelligence reports, the governor said the NPA’s Front 73 has reportedly been trying to expand their presence and set up a base in the hinterland areas of T’boli and Lake Sebu since last year with the support of their mass base.

She said most of the rebels supposedly came from areas outside the province, specifically the provinces of Sarangani, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur. Fuentes said the group’s presence was specifically noted in parts of Barangay Lamfugon and Sitios Blit and Tasiman in Lake Sebu as well as villages situated near the boundaries of T’boli and Maasim in Sarangani Province.

Last week, a member of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion (IB) was killed in encounter with an undetermined number of NPA rebels reportedly under its Front 73.

Fuentes said the rebels returned to the area last year, two years after their unit was forced to leave their base in a remote village in Banga town mainly due to lack of support from local residents.

She said such development was partly due to the implementation of various socio-economic projects in areas previously influenced by the rebels.

Such situation resulted to the declaration of the province by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in September 2011 as insurgency-free.

Fuentes said their expanded outreach program, which started last month,

mainly complements with the ongoing peace and development initiatives of the 27th IB and their intensified security operations ain the area.

“We’re targeting to uproot this group from the area within the next three

years,” she said.

Fuentes said the outreach activities are spearheaded by personnel from the provincial government’s Barangay Affairs Office.

She said the activities include the deliv-

ery of medical and other health-related services and provision of livelihood projects to local residents.

In the last two weeks, the governor said she has been conducting a series of community dialogues in several villages in Lake

Sebu as part of the initiative.

“We’ve proven in the past that this is the best strategy to counter the insurgency problem and eventually resolve it without firing a single gunshot,” she added.[PNA]

12 CLASSIFIEDS EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

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INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Wicked in Manila

WICKED is this generation’s Les Miserables. It is nothing short of amazing. It’s one of those musical blockbusters from Broadway that’s phenomenal enough to run for another decade or two.

Now running on its 4th week, the show is still packed to the rim. Clearly, the Wicked fever is still all over Manila, painting the town green and “Defying Gravity.” My boyfriend and I saw the play on Valentines weekend together with his friends from theater. It didn’t come as a surprise to also see a number of familiar faces from Davao. Most of them came with the entire family, while some were with their Valentines date just like I did. Some came in Ozian colors. My boyfriend’s friend, theatre actress Peachy Atilano, came as Glinda in full pink attire plus flower hair accent. Peachy, in full Ozian regal, even got a snapshot with the lead stars before the show started.

Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz before Dorothy even popped in a scene. The

play is based on the bestselling novel by “revisionist” Gregory Maguire, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The plot goes around the life and times of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, from L. Frank Baum’s “Wizard of Oz.” Elphaba, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other witch, Glinda, is beautiful, ambitious, popular, and “legally blonde,” to say the least. The story depicts how these unlikely friends

Waiting for Wicked to start. grew up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

The touring cast for Wicked in Manila boasts of top theater performers from Australia and Nez Zealand, led by Jemma Ric and Suzie Mathers

Photo by Jeff Busby

Glinda and Elphaba.

Meeting Elphaba and Glinda.

Peachy aka “Glinda”.

who play Elphaba and Glinda. Of course being a Broadway spectacle, it wouldn’t be complete without a great ensemble which was highlighted in the musical number “Dancing through life.”

Glinda’s character is whimsical and she tickled everyone’s ears and smiles with her chirpy and quirky numbers. Elphaba’s snappy-one liners were hilarious just the same. Her makeover scene “Popular” with Glinda reminded me of Cher and Tai in the movie Clueless. One of the definitive highlights of the musical is the showstopping number wherein Elphaba rides her broomstick and soars high above the stage, singing “Defying Gravity.” The effects on the lighting and her vocal prowess whipped up emotions and brought in a thunder of applause from the audience.

It was spellbinding from start to finish. Witty, heart-warming and magical, it was a visual feast with spectacular costumes, technical wizardry, choreography and phenomenal and anthemic musical score that made the audience tap their feet, laugh, gawk and cry in marvel.

I believe what contributed to the success of the show is the chemistry of

The company of Wicked.

At the CCP lobby. the two lead actresses who lived up to the story’s message of harmony amid differences. The grandeur of the design elements and stage wizardry on display guaranteed the best kind

Photo by Jeff Busby

of entertainment. The bigbelting tunes tugged every heartstring, with enough musical articulacy for LSS. Yes, Wicked is still the hottest ticket in town.

Show runs until March 9.

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

CEB gives back with 90% off all-domestic seat sale THE PHILIPPINES’ leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:CEB) holds a special 90% off seat sale to all its 33 domestic destinations on over 60 domestic routes, from February 17 to 23, 2014 or until seats last. Travel period is from July 1 to September 30, 2014.

This is to show CEB’s appreciation for the traveling public who helped make the CEB booth the 2014 Travel and Tour Expo’s Most Popular Booth (1st runner up) in the 1st level domestic pavilion category, after the Department of Tourism booth.

Held last February 14 to 16, 2014 at the SMX Convention Center, the Travel and Tour Expo featured discounts and promotions about various tourism boards, airlines, hotels, tour operators and travel agencies, among others.

“We would like to thank everyone who visited the CEB booth with their family, friends and loved ones. We are especially proud to be named 1st runner up to the Department of Tourism, whose booth featured the Bangon Tours program which we also fully support,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

The Bangon Tours Project is an initiative of the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. It is an invitation to the Filipino market to travel within the Philippines, visit fun destinations and participate in rebuilding efforts. CEB is the first airline partner for Bangon Tours.

“We hope that with this 90% off seat sale to any domestic destination, we can continue enabling even more Juans to fly this year, boosting domestic tourism through inter-island flights and frequent travels,” she added.

CEB’s 90% off seat sale is available on flights to the following destinations: Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Busuanga (Coron), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Cauayan (Isabela), Cebu, Clark, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legaspi, Laoag, Manila, Naga, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose (Mindoro), Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tawi-Tawi, Tuguegarao, Virac and Zamboanga.

The airline operates over 2,200 weekly flights from six Philippine hubs, making inter-island travel within Central and Southern Philippines fast and convenient.

Aside from flying to famed island destinations such as Palawan and Boracay, among many others, it also operates multiple daily flights to key commercial cities such as Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Iloilo.

For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com or call reservation hotlines (02)7020-888 or (032)230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter (@cebupacificair) and Facebook pages.

CEB’s 49-strong fleet is comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 29 Airbus A320, 2 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. It is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2014 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 13 more brand-new Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and 4 Airbus A330 aircraft.

PAL AT TRAVEL EXPO. The huge (1,100 square meters) Philippine Airlines booth at the recent Travel Tour Expo 2014 at theSMXConvention Center,PasayCity, attracted tens of thousands of visitors and bargain-hunters who availed of incredibly low priced tickets to various domestic and international destinations.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Skechers launches new Skch + 3 collection

THE SKECHERS SKCH + 3 sneaker wedge has been on every style-conscious woman’s radar. It steps up one’s fashion flair with its versatile look that can be worn from highfashion catwalks to the urban streets to the posh clubs for a ladies’ party night out. With its wide range of designs and styles that suits one’s mood, personality and fancy, the Skch + 3 has become every woman’s latest shoe staple.

This season, Skechers amps up the excitement with the launch of a new collection perfect for the holidays and beyond. Be spoiled with choices with a range of designs and styles with glam accents and embellishments like metallic glitter finished fabric panels, instep strap with metal rings and stud accents in gold and silver.

The Skch + 3 collection is made with various materials such as smooth leather, woven canvas, suede with faux leather in a range of delicious fem colors - wine, black gold, dark taupe and plum.

The Skechers Skch + 3

collection is available in Skechers stores in Glorietta 2, TriNoma, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Galleria, SM North Edsa-The Annex, Robinsons Place Manila, Lucky Chinatown, Market! Market!, Festival Mall, SM Fairview, SM Dasmarinas, Marquee Mall, SM Pampanga, Ayala Center Cebu – Active Zone, Abreeza Mall Davao, Gaisano Mall of Davao, SM City Davao, and Centrio Mall Cagayan de Oro. For more information, log onto www.skechers. com.ph, visit Facebook page SkechersPhilippines or follow SkechersPH on Twitter

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

British stars welcomed at Buckingham Palace

by Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II KATE MIDDLETON and Queen Elizabeth II welcomed an esteemed group of British film and stage stars, including Dame Helen Mirren at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening for the Queen’s sixty years as patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the contribution that dramatic arts bring to national life.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked radiant in a recycled Alexander McQueen wool crepe pleated red dress, a frock she first donned to the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012. The 32-year-old wore her long thick locks down and finished the elegant formal look with Cassandra Goad “Temple of Heaven” earrings, an Anya Hindmarch “Maud” clutch and black Prada pumps.

Prince William presented Dame Mirren, who famously played his grandmother in the 2006 biographical drama The Queen, with the BAFTA Fellowship on Sunday evening and joked that he should probably call her “Granny.” Kate shared a giggle with the legendary actress and brought up this moment.

“My husband called you Granny last night,” Prince George’s mom told the 68-year-old star, per The Telegraph.

“Yes that was so sweet,” Mirren replied.

Mirren went on to won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG and Oscar for her brilliant performance as the longtime monarch.

“You’re thinking ‘it’s the Queen, it’s the Queen’,” Mir-

terton, Roger Moore, Steve McQueen, Harvey Weinstein, Ralph Fiennes, Angela

ren answered when asked if she still gets star-struck around the 87-year-old.

“Of course, even more so I think because I feel self-

conscious, you know.”

The Queen greeted a slew of celebrities in the White Drawing Room, including Mirren, Helena Bonham

Lansbury and Joan Collins, clad in a sparkling gold lamé jacket.

Carter, who portrayed the Queen’s mother in The Queen Speech, Uma Thurman, Hugh Laurie, Joely Richardson, Gemma Ar-

Kathryn and Daniel’s ‘Got to Believe’ to air ‘best ending ever’ this March ABS-CBN’s top-rating romantic primetime TV series “Got To Believe” is set to treat viewers with the ‘best ending ever’ as the Kathryn Bernardo-Daniel Padilla starrer ends its run on March 7 (Friday).

Since it started airing in August 2013, “Got To Believe” has captured the hearts of primetime audience and netizens through the endearing journey to a ‘magical’ love of rich kid and spoiled ‘prince’ Joaquin (Daniel) and Chichay (Kathryn), a simple girl with big dreams for her family.

After all the challenges they have been through,

will Chichay and Joaquin still believe in the ‘magic’ of their love for each other until the end?

Directed by Cathy GarciaMolina, Richard Arellano,

and Ricky Rivero, “Got To Believe” also stars Manilyn Reynes, Benjie Paras, Ian Veneracion, and Carmina Villarroel.

Meanwhile, Star Records’

“Got To Believe” official soundtrack and Star Home Video’s “Got To Believe” DVD are still available in music and video stores nationwide. The CD and DVD both cost P199 each.

Don’t miss the jaw-dropping surprises of Chichay and Joaquin in the last three weeks of “Got To Believe,” weeknights, after “Honesto” on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida. For more exclusive updates, photos, or videos, log on to www.got2believe. abs-cbn.com and visit the show’s official social media accounts at www.facebook. com/G2B, and www.twitter. com/G2BGottobelieve.

STARTING OVER AGAIN 2D Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga PG 13

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

WINTER'S TALE 2D Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe PG 13

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

THE BOOK THIEF 2D Sophie Nélisse, Nico Liersch PG 13

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

R-16 ABNKKBSNPLAKO 2D Jericho Rosales, Andi Eigenmann GP

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

EVENT

‘Simply Jessie’ Rex Smith live at Tagum’s Big 8 Hotel REX SMITH rocked the house down at Big 8 Corporate Hotel last February 13th, as fans came in hordes to watch the 80s teen-heartthrob and Broadway star sing his throwback hits. Tagumenos and Davaoenos trooped together to see ‘Simply Jessie” himself, in his first-ever concert in the City of Palms.

True to the maxim that a really good song transcends thru time, Rex Smith has indeed proven to world that music does not simply fade away when it was made out of pure passion. His songs were the favorite ditties in late 70s and early 80s, that has even become personal anthems of people who relate to every lyric quoted in his songs. Who doesn’t hum along when “Forever” is played over the airwaves or mobile gadgets, that simply became like a chorus of voices overheard inside the posh Grand Ballroom of Big 8 Corporate Hotel. Everyone seemed caught in a dreamlike state especially when Rex Smith passionately sang the first line of “You Take My Breath Away” that literally took everyone at the edge of their seats, hearing that all-time personal theme tune. And when the strums of the guitar echoed the intro of

tions an era that Tagum City is now ready to become the concert circuit in the Davao and Comval regions, a significant indi-

cation that more names of artists with international caliber will soon grace the concert stage of Big 8 Corporate Hotel soon.

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

“Simply Jessie”, everyone’s eyes glowed and much to the ladies delight when the famed singer gave out long-stemmed roses to a dozen of lucky ladies in the audience.

Jason Dy, an upcoming R&B artist opened the concert with a few of his original compositions including “All About Me”.

Jason, a Butuan-born artist who sounded like a cross-between Jason Mraz & Bruno Mars, provided the teaser for a really entertaining show for the next one hour and a half.

When the lights finally revealed Rex Smith on stage amidst the blazing lights, the audience immediately joined feetstomping with his opening rendition of “Build Me a Buttercup” and the rest of his repertoire received a resounding applause each time a song ended, whether it was his original hit or he did a cover of a popular song. He also stood worthy of being a Broadway star when he belted one of the familiar tunes lifted from the musicale Phantom of the Opera like “ The Music

of the Night” & “All I Ask of You” together with his guest theatre performer named Olivia. An encore of course was anticipated, so Rex Smith delightly did 4 more songs before finally waved and went backstage.

REX SMITH “Simply Jessie” LIVE at Big 8 Corporate Hotel was an astounding success, having gathered the crèmede-la-crème music-loving audience of the City of Palms including prominent personalities from Comval Province to Mati and Davao City. This mo-

13 COMMUNITY SENSE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Realty FOR SALE:

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

Alcantara Group donates 300 sacks of palay seeds for ComVal farmers N

ABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley (18 February 2014) - The Alcantara Group of Companies proved its commitment to continue the legacy of giving as it turned over 300 sacks of palay seeds to the Province of Compostela Valley.

“Since my previous term as a governor in 2007, the Alcantara Group has been generous to the communities of Compostela Valley and supportive of the government’s development programs like its education program,” said Governor Arturo T. Uy in a turn-over ceremony on February 13 at the Provincial Capitol.

The seeds worth P405,000 will be distributed to farmer beneficiaries from the municipalities of New Bataan, Compostela, Montevista, Nabunturan and Mawab.

Each sack of palay seeds could cover three hectares of land and it will take about four months before rice could be harvested.

“These palay seeds

Alcantara Group donates 300 sacks of palay seeds for ComVal farmers NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley (February 18, 2014) - Governor Arturo T. Uy (3rd from left) receives palay seeds donation from the Alcantara Group represented by senior adviser of Aldevinco, Rey Ernesto N. Millan, and Alcantara Foundation executive director Richlie Lyndon Magtulis (4th and 5th from left, respectively) for ComVal farmers in a ceremonial turn-over on February 13 at the Provincial Capitol. Alcantara Foundation delivered 300 sacks of palay seeds worth P405,000 for distribution to farmer beneficiaries from the towns of New Bataan, Compostela, Nabunturan and Mawab. (ALCANTARA FOUNDATION) symbolize hope for you and the only expected counterpart is your hard work,” Alcantara Foundation executive director Richlie Lyndon Magtulis told the farmer beneficiaries.

Magtulis added the Alcantara Group actu-

ally started its business empire in the province, with Alsons (Alcantara and Sons, Inc.) as its first company established in Nabunturan. As such, Magtulis said, “we are committed to give something back to the communities.”

Governor Uy reminded the farmer beneficiaries to never be discouraged when disasters strike their area as “the government will always look for ways to continue the livelihood of its farmers, through the help of and partnerships with

the business sector”.

Compostela Valley was among those that were affected by heavy rainfall and flooding that hit some parts of Mindanao in January this year. The province was also devastated by Typhoon Pablo in 2012.

14 SPORTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

MCM’s mom clarifies financial support

M

FILIPINO-Canadian speed skater Gilmore Junio gave up his spot for teammate Denny Morrison who bagged the silver medal.

HAPPY GILMORE Fil-Canadian skater’s sacrifice sparks admiration S

OCHI -- Canadian speedskater Denny Morrison praised his teammate Gilmore Junio on Sunday for giving up his place in the men’s 1,000-meter race, which Morrison took to win the silver.

Morrison followed the silver with a bronze in the men’s 1,500 last Saturday (February 15).

The British Columbia native captured gold and silver medals in the last two Olympics as part of team Canada, but an individual medal had so far eluded him.

Fil-Canadian Junio’s surrendered spot, he said, helped him medal twice at Sochi.

“That 1,000-meter gave me the confidence going into the 1,500-meter, that I could do my race fine and I could go out really fast, really hard and hang on to the end. The 1,500-meter is one of the most scary races, because I did that in Vancouver didn’t hang on at the end and got ninth. So you have these little flashes of that memory in your head and definitely coming down 50 meters to go in the last straight-away, I was wondering, ‘I don’t know how much speed I’m losing here’ and to look up and cross the line and realize that my fitness and my training and maybe that

little extra confidence I got from the 1,000-meter really helped me get that result. It was the best feeling in the world,” Morrison told reporters at a news conference.

Junio said the best chance of ending Dutch domination of the men’s speed skating medals in Sochi was to sit out the 1,000 metres and send in training partner Morrison instead.

“It was such a simple decision for me. You know, it was about, you know, giving Canada a chance to win a medal and he had unfortunate circumstances at trials and I was the benefactor of that, you know. I was talking to my coach the other day and we were talking about all the media and stuff like that. It’s just - it almost doesn’t seem like I deserve it, because it was just such a simple decision to have Denny race, and... You know, I’ll hopefully get my chance, come the next Games. But, you know, hopefully we’ve got a couple of more years training together so that, you know, we’ll be stronger than ever,” Junio said.

Morrison became the first non-Dutchman to win a speed skating medal in Sochi when he bagged silver at the Adler Arena on Wednesday.

EDGEDAVAO

Morrison said Junio should hoist the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony for his selfless actions.

“This guy instills all the values that represent, represents all the values that it is to be a Canadian.

And especially the Olympic pride, Canadian pride.

So I don’t think there’s a better candidate (to carry the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony) than Gilmore. And I think it’s extra cool that just the fact that he didn’t win a medal but showed such sportsmanship,” he said.

The 28-year-old Morrison said Junio’s gesture made him want to race in another Olympics, but he was not sure whether he could focus solely on the ice.

“I, honestly, I don’t know if I can commit to four years of just speedskating, but definitely gonna do some alternate training, such as cycling and then probably see if I can come back and make a run for Korea,” Morrison said, speaking of the 2018 Winter Olympics scheduled for PyeongChang, South Korea.

Morrison’s victory at Sochi was somewhat of a surprise, as he spent much of 2013 recovering from a broken leg and then injuries associated with it.

ICHAEL Christian Martinez captivated the nation with his inspiring performance in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Although he placed 19th in his event, his performance drew great reviews as he is the first Filipino, even the first Southeast Asian, to qualify for the prestigious event.

However, his path to Sochi wasn’t a straight shot.

Along the way, the Olympian’s family had to make ends meet just to give Martinez a chance of competing at the biggest stage of winter sports. His mother, Maria Teresa Martinez, told Yahoo Philippines how difficult it was to support her child’s quest.

“We received on February 13 Michael’s $50 per day or $1,200 for 24 days allowance for Sochi from POC (Philippine Olympic Committee), which POC said the money came from PSC (Philippine Sports Commission),” the Olympian’s mother said through an e-mail. “$7,200 was paid to the coach directly by POC on February 13. I never touched the money contrary to reports that said money was given to me in December,” she added.

“It was paid directly to the coach for his coaching fee here in Sochi only. We’ve been in Sochi since January 30 and Michael still trained here.”

The elder Martinez also explained that his son received money from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) being a scholar.

“Michael is a scholar of the IOC, and as such he is given $1,500 per month from July 2013 until February 2014,” she said. “We thank very much the IOC for the scholarship and thank the POC for helping us secure the scholarship from IOC. The scholarship from July to October was given to us in November through the POC and I read news that the POC already has the money from No-

vember to February and that the amount will be given to us when we arrive there. The only question for me that time is if the government gave any amount to support us because I understand that POC and IOC are both non-government organizations.”

“In PSC’s press releases , they said they were asked not to give a helping hand to Michael. They also said Michael received P150,000 from SM for ten months, which is true and we never denied that. We are very thankful for SM’s support,” she said.

She continued that the cost of training is far more than what SM’s sponsorship covered. The skater’s coaches in the United States charge between $100 and $150 per hour and the time of the ice rink is approximately $16 per hour. Martinez usually practices for six hours a day. SM’s sponsorship amounts to about $111 per day.

“We’re really thankful for SM’s support because it’s a huge amount but it’s not enough for a figure skater,” she continued. “People were telling us that we knew all along that ice skating is an expensive sport and that it was our decision.

They said that funding it was my problem and that I shouldn’t ask the government for help. But I never asked the government to shoulder everything. Is it such a bad this for Michael to ask for some support as he is representing the country in the Olympics?”

“Michael has represented the Philippines in competitive skating since 2009.

He put the Philippines in the competitive skating map since 2009 but was he ever recognized, awarded or given incentive?” she rued. “Michael was the very first figure skater from Southeast Asia in the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games and I requested for help before but we didn’t receive any. He didn’t have a coach for that competition because we couldn’t afford

to pay for one.”

The Olympian’s mother however said that she does not have ill feeling towards President Benigno Aquino III. “Back in December 9, 2013, I granted an interview with a freelance reporter and told her that I believe the Office of the President was not aware that a Filipino athlete is competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics. I expressed my doubts whether my message reached President Aquino as it had already been more than a month that and I had not received a reply from my letter,” she said. “On 27 October 2013, I wrote the Office of the President, via email, requesting for assistance/direction on how we can inform President Aquino III that my homegrown athlete son, Michael, has qualified in the 2014 Winter Olympics and that we badly need the government’s financial support.”

“I have no doubt that had President Aquino personally known that a Filipino athlete is representing the country in the 2014 Winter Olympics, he certainly would have helped Michael gather more funding for his journey to the Sochi Games. For one reason or another, I believe my letters did not reach the President himself.”

She also bared that her son almost pulled out of the Sochi Winter Olympics due to injuries but the support of those who believed in him kept the skater going.

“SM and the Philippine Skating Union provided support, and POC also helped, and we thank them for that. Even if it wasn’t enough, we are very thankful. Even one peso donations were big help to us,” her email closed. “Even small amount were a huge boost for us morally. Knowing that there were people who wanted to help, who prayed for Michael, that gave him the strength to continue.” [Yahoo Sports]

Adding a bench scorer Indiana is looking for another scorer off the bench despite getting Danny Granger back from injury in December. Indy Cornrows has a report saying that the Pacers have already picked out targets to pursue by the Feb. 20 deadline.

The move does make a lot of sense for Indiana, which has the best defense in the NBA but could use

some help scoring the ball.

The Pacers have several top units that often struggle with Paul George out of position when Granger is in the game.

Adding a true shooting guard or another point guard to their bench might allow coach Frank Vogel to play a more traditional lineup or a two-point guard lineup, rather than trying to mash George and Granger onto the floor together.

Is Danny Granger on the move?

T

HE Indiana Pacers are here for one thing, and one thing only: an NBA championship. Anything short of that will be a failure for a team that would take someone making a latte wrong as a sign of immense disrespect. But the scariest thing about Indiana is that it could be looking to make a trade at the deadline to improve its already devastatingly effective lineup.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 239 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

SPORTS 15

Galicia, Sara rule RPV Monthly Medal

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

R

ONALD Galicia and Martin Sara emerged as the big winners in the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club Monthly Medal tournament played over the weekend at the rolling Cabantian layout.

Galicia fired the lone sub-par round of the day with a gross one under par 71 to take home the Overall Gross title while Sara netted an aggregate 60 to submit the best scorecard in the Overall Net category.

In the wire-to-wire Class A division battle PAL Interclub mainstay Kuresh Samanodi beat fellow Interclub player Boy Tan via countback for the class gross title with a gross 75, the same output scored by the latter. Jeric Bajo scored a net 64 to take the class net title over Nelson Villano.

Patrick Tan took the Class B gross title with a gross 81, besting CK Chang with an 87 while the class net plum went to Jeff Ramirez with a net 71 beating the challenge of Kim Min Suk’s 73.

In Class C, Louie Brodeth won the gross title with a gross 85, winning by countback over Jiggs Calixto (85). Gadi Sorilla carded a 66 to win the class net title over Edwin Ledesma who had a 68.

In Class D, Joel Tambaoan fired a gross 90 to take the title over Cris Zaragosa (92) while Johnson Wang had a sizzling net 65 to take the net crown over John Seguenza (71).

In the Guest division,

BOY TAN. Class A Gross runner-up. Boy Lim LOUIE BRODETH. Class B Gross champion. Boy Lim

VETERAN. Denden De Castro, shown here during last year’s PAL Interclub in Cebu City, fired a gross four over par 76 to settle for the Guest Division 1 runner-up honors. Lean Daval Jr.

Chikoy Saavedra took the Division 1 gross title with a four over par 76.

Veteran Denden De Castro finished second three strokes behind with a 79.

Benjie Senining took the net title with a 70, besting Rolly Lobo’s 72. Gil de Jesus (84) took the Division 2 gross title while

Agang Cabrera (71) won the net title.

In the Ladies division, Maricel Kim took the title with a gross 84 beating Cristine Powell’s 94.

Chon Young Rung fired a 72 for the net title while Emily Wang had an 86 for runner-up honors.

Ting Castillo won the

Seniors gross title with a 79 while Lito Dublan bagged the net title with a 67. Bill Donohoe won the Super Seniors with a gross 98 while Fumio Ohashi won the net crown with a 79. The lone juniors title went to Alex Powell (111) in the Under-11 division.

For the second straight year, Canlubang will be missing the services of Tommy Manotoc, but will have the likes of Dave Hernandez, Rolly Viray, Mari Hechanova and Tony Olives to carry the torch.

Last year, the Sugar Barons rallied in the final round to edge Luisita by six points.

Aside from Bagtas, Luisita is fielding old hands Francis Gaston, Richie Garcia, Pepot Inigo, Seve Roxas Chua, Lino Magpantay, Bong Sison and Iggy Clavecilla, who is returning into action for the first time in two years.

Team manager Joey Romasanta said Luisita has a good chance of foiling Canlubang’s four-peat bid.

Competing in the Founders’ division last year, CCC ran away with the title, but fell 13 points short of contending for the overall crown.

Aside from Hechanova, CCC will be represented

by Montito Garcia, Nonoy Tirol, Masatsugu Ochiai, Koichi Horii, Lor Alaan, Ray Gibbs and Kim Kwang Seok.

The field will be divided into four divisions, namely: championship, Founders, Sportswriters and Friendship.

Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentebella and PAL marketing head Rufino Fermin II have been invited to hit the ceremonial balls today at the Negros Occidental

Golf and Country Club.

Binitin Golf Club is the other venue of the four-day event.

This year’s Interclub is being co-sponsored by CrossOver with Boeing, Philippines Graphic, Stargate Media (People Asia) and Rogue as corporate backers. Also lending support are Airbus, Business Mirror, One Mega Group (Travel Now), Philippine Broadcasting Corporation, Manila Broadcasting Corporation and Manila Bulletin.

A total of 77 teams – some of them coming from the United States, the Middle East, Australia and Canada, are entered in the Men’s division.

3-way fight looms at PAL Seniors Interclub A

THREE-WAY fight looms when the 28th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships kick off on Thursday in two golf courses in Bacolod.

Defending champion Canlubang is gunning for its fourth straight crown against old rival Luisita Golf Club and darkhorse Cebu Country Club.

All three are parading new recruits to bolster their respective title bids.

Canlubang is bringing in reigning seniors amateur champion while Luisita is tapping former pro Eddie Bagtas. Regular Interclub standout Jeric Hechanova is making his seniors’ debut with Cebu Country Club.

EUGENIO SERADO, coaxing his putt in a recent tournament, will captain the Apo Gold and Country Club Senior Team in the 67th PAL Interclub in Bacolod City next week. Boy Lim

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

HERE SHE COMES Half-Pinay goes for figure skating medal today in Sochi F

ILIPINO-Norwegian figure skater Anne Line Gjersem hopes to skate her way to Olympic victory and make history for Norway on Wednesday at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia.

Norway’s hopes rest on the 20-year-old Gjersem’s shoulders as she is the first Norwegian and the only figure skater to qualify in the Olympic event after 50 years. Not since 1964 has a Norwegian qualified to compete in the sport, which was ruled by Norwegian figure-skating legend and three-time gold medalist Sonia Henie in the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Winter Games.

Appearing before Norwegian’s TV2’s Senkveld Saturday night, a confident and bubbly Gjersem showed off her light blue sequined outfit that she will wear to the competition on Wednesday.

In the TV interview, she called her twin sister, Camilla Marie Gjersem,

her “biggest supporter and competitor,” and said that she would not be where she is now without her sister’s support.

She clinched Norway’s place in the event at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Obertstdorf in September last year when she placed seventh among other figure skaters from 35 countries.

She broke into the international scene last year by placing first in the European Championship, and clinched a qualification to the World Championship.

Gjersem and her twin sister Camilla are the biggest figure skating stars in Norway.

The twins started skating in 2002, and four years later, where taken into the Olympiatoppens Sonja Hennie project to prepare them for their Olympic careers.

Under the project, the sisters trained three times a week under Claude Lebreaux and dance with Christer Tornell. They

both credit the training they got under the project to the success they are today.

In 2008-2009, Anne Line debuted in the Junior Grand Prix and Junior World Championships, and took the bronze medal in both the European Youth Olympic Festival and the Nordic Championship.

Camilla has also won her fair share of medals in the Nordic and European championships.

Anne Line and Camilla Marie were born in Norway to Petter Gjersem, and Filipina Perlina Bangug, who hails from Ilagan, Isabela.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Europe, Camilla said she and her sister have been to the Philippines four times – when they were one, five, seven and 10 years old. They have not been to the country since they started training for their sport.

Asked what she thinks

of Filipino figure skater Michael Christian Martinez, Camilla said she found him to be “very nice and down-to-earth.”

She revealed that her sister first met Martinez at the Nebelhorn Trophy competition last year, where they both qualified to the 2014 Winter Olympics. She said she has also met Martinez in several international competitions, including the Brasov in Romania, the Riga in Latvia, and in the Junior World Championships last year in Milan.

Camilla also gushed over Martinez’s performance at the Olympics, calling it an “impressive debut” and tagged him as a “figure skating talent,” adding that she is confident she will see more of Martinez in the future.

Camilla said she and her sister are already setting their sights on the 2018 Winter Games.

[ABS-CBN News Online]

VOL. VOL.66ISSUE ISSUE239 239••WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY FEBRUARY19, 19,2014 2014

FILIPINO. Norwegian figure skater Anne Line Gjersem takes a crack at Olympic victory and make history for her home country Norway today at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia.