Edge Davao 6 Issue 88

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Serving a seamless society

BOOK READING. A participant from Little Pearls and Euro Asia listens attentively as Bb. Pilipinas International 2007 Nadia Shami reads a story during yesterday’s National Children’s Book Reading Day at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody invokes right to be silent

Gag order on cops CHAMPION. Rodrigo “Ody” Gajitos, 73-year old sports correspondent of Edge Davao, humbles much younger rivals to rule the media category of the 68th Indonesia Independence Day Table Tennis Tournament held over the weekend in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

By CHERRY MAE PALICTE cdp@edgedavao.net

CHR asks mayor to explain shoot-to-kill order

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R.Duterte issued a gag order on all policemen involved in the shootout during a foiled kidnap-for-ransom pay-off in front a bank along C.M. Recto Street in Davao City which left three suspected members of a kidnap gang killed.

Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales has asked Mayor Duterte to explain his shoot-to-kill order against criminals in the city in a letter sent to Duterte yesterday.

Duterte advised the police to shut up and invoke their constitutional rights to remain silent and to be assisted by a lawyer in any proceeding.

Duterte engaged longtime friend Manila-based

FGAG ORDER ,10

INSIDE: Declogging of city’s canals intensified SC extends order stopping RH law Wesley strikes gold

2 4 15

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

‘No permit, no exam’policy won’t go away

By EJ DOMINIC FERNANDEZ ejf@edgedavao.net

T

HE “no permit, no exam” policy of certain schools in Davao City is still very much around because the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is powerless to do anything about it.

Preliminary exams in some colleges here have been ongoing since last week. But some of them are still imposing the old “no permiot, no exam” policy.

Some students of the Ateneo de Davao University’s college department who requested anonymity for obvious reasons, told Edge Davao that some of their teachers are imposing the obnoxious policy for their preliminary exams.

Last April 19, CHED issued Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 9 series of 2013 on enhanced policies and guidelines on student affairs and services.

CHED 11 Education Supervisor II Bernardo Alejandro Jr. told this reporter that CMO No. 9 is merely asks schools to be “lenient” with their “no permit, no

exam” policy, although schools retain the right to impose it.

Last March, Kristel Tejada, a 16-year-old student of the University of the Philippines in Manila, committed suicide after the school did not allow her to take her final examination because she failed to pay her P10,000 tuition fee.

Alejandro Jr. said only an act of Congress could do away with the policy.

CMO 9 Section 25.3 of CHED states, “There shall be a mechanism for HEIs to institutionalize more compassionate policies and guidelines, particularly for those students belonging to the vulnerable and/or marginalized sector of our country.”

ADDU‘s Institutional Promotions Office consultant, Igy Castrillo, told Edge Davao to check on the schools Student Manual for any carification, specifically page 119, which states, “Examination permits are required of all College Students for periodical examinations (prelims and

midterms),” and that “those who are unable to secure an exam permit will not be allowed to take the examination.”

The leniency ADDU offers is for students who cannot pay may obtain an exam permit through a payment arrangement scheme, after which a teacher can then administer a special examination, but not later than one week from the scheduled exam, or else the student will get a “zero” for missing the exam.

Finally, it states, “examination permits are not required in the final examinations. However, the grades of students who have outstanding financial or property obligations to the school are withheld by the Registrar’s office and automatically blocked from being seen in the system.”

CMO 9 Section 25.3 of CHED also states, “HEIs must provide access to any financial assistance in case where the stated student cannot pay on the particular moment.”

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte unveils a poster with lawyer Antonio B. Arellano, regional prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ) 11, during

Declogging of city’s canals intensified

By GREGORIO G. DELIGERO

W

greg@edgedavao.net

ITH the onset of the rainy season, residents wading through the flooded streets are not an uncommon sight in Davao City. The frequent flooding in the

city’s low-lying areas is attributed to poor maintenance of the drainage system which relies mainly on open canals and outdated boxed culverts.

The local govern-

ment has intensified declogging of canals to improve the flow of water and holding capacity of waterways and the drainage systems.

“We are intensifying our desilting and

declogging activities to clear the water passageways,” said city planning and development coordinator Mario Luis J. Jacinto yesterday, adding that the

FDECLOGGING, 10

yesterday’s launching of the 2013 Advocacy Campaign against Human Trafficking at NCCC Mall Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Fight vs human trafficking starts at the barangay level

By CHERRY MAE PALICTE

T

cdp@edgedavao.net

HE arrest of illegal recruiters should start at the barangay level, said Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte at yesterday’s launching of the advocacy campaign against human trafficking held at the NCCC Mall of Davao.

“I would make it a mandatory work for the barangay captains to report cases of illegal recruitment which commonly results to human trafficking,” he said, adding, “they have to report cases to police authorities for their immediate

arrest.”

According to the mayor, “in my book, I have placed illegal recruiters on the level of drug traffickers for they have the same effect on society.”

Duterte said that barangay captains should be watch out for those who are recruiting children and women in their barangay.

“Pag ako gani makasakop ninyo ibahog tamo didto sa Davao Gulf, payat baya ang mga isda didto,” Duterte warned illegal recruiters, adding,

FFIGHT, 10

‘Lolong’to be exhumed Thursday

GALING MASON AWARDS. TESDA’s Teodoro Pascua, deputy director general (2nd from right), and Nestor Tabada, Davao City and Davao del Sur provincial director (left), and HOLCIM Philippines’ Michael Cabalda, Sustainable Development head (2nd from left), and Nicki Viriña, corporate

social responsibility officer, pose for a photograph during yesterday’s HOLCIM Galing Mason Awards 2013 launch at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

“L

OLONG,” the world’s biggest saltwater crocodile that died in captivity last February, is scheduled for exhumation on Thursday at the Bunawan Eco Park in Bunawan town in Agusan del Sur. Welinda AsisElorde, media affairs coordinator of the Bunawan municipal

government, said the skeletal remains of Lolong would be brought to the National Museum in Manila where they would be assembled.

MindaNews tried to get some other details on Lolong’s exhumation from Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde but he was not answering phone calls and text

F’LOLONG’, 10

EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

3

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE

For anti-smoking drive, ComVal now a Red Orchid 2013 Awardee F

OR a 100% Tobacco-Fee Implementation towards a tobacco-free environment, the Department of Health (DOH) has granted the province of Compostela Valley with the prestigious “Red Orchid Awards 2013.”

The Awarding Rites was held on June 20, 2013 at SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier in Davao City. Representing Governor Arturo T. Uy to receive the plaque from DOH ASEC. Dr. Eric Tayag and Usec. Dr. Paulyn Jean R. Ubial were SP Member Paul Galicia, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Renato Basañes and Healthy Lifestyle Program Coordinator Fatima Gildore.

According to DOH, a Red Orchid Award is given for those agencies with perfect score in implementing a “100% Tobacco-Free Environment” in accordance to the Department’s implementing criteria and the “MPOWER” Framework of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Gildore said that the strict implementation of

DAVAO DEL NORTE

Governor Uy on his No Smoking Policy within the Capitol premises has contributed a lot in receiving the recognition. The policy is being backed up by the following Memorandum Orders he issued: M.O. 025-2010 - “Strict Implementation of the No Smoking Policy” (January 25, 2010); M.O. 041-2012 -“Implementation of the 100% Smoke Free Environment and Smoking Prohibition Policy” (February 9, 2012) and the; M.O. 015-2013 - “Reiterating and Strengthening M.O. 041-2012” (January 16, 2013).

The said Orders are more strengthened after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the Provincial Ordinance No. 19-2013 which is an “An ordinance prohibiting the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places, imposing penalties for violation thereof and providing funds therefore, and for other purposes.”

[GRACE ALMEDILLA/ GILBERT M. CABAHUG, IDS-COMVAL]

OFF TO SCHOOL. Children take an early morning walk to the elementary school in Barangay Limao, Samal Island on July 11, 2013. [MindaNews/ H. Marcos C. Mordeno]

SULTAN KUDARAT

visits DSWD Organic fertilizers produced Soliman projects in Region 12 from shared service facilities S O RGANIC farmers in the municipality of Braulio E. Dujali now have a facility they can share among themselves to produce more organic fertilizer to support their organic crop production, especially rice.

Last Friday, July 12, the Department of Trade and Industry Davao

del Norte Provincial Office turned over to B.E. Dujali Municipal Mayor Lolita Moral P210,000 worth of organic fertilizer production shared service facilities (SSF).

Among which were 38 plots of vermin beds, vermin sifter, and large pails used for vermin tea brewing, housed at the 3-hectare B.E. Du-

MATI, DAVAO ORIENTAL

jali’s Farmers Training Center, Palayamanan in Barangay Cabayangan.

During the turnover, DTI Davao del Norte also unveiled the Business Registration General Process Flow serving as a guide for businesspeople and entrepreneurs in processing government requirements to go into busi-

ness.

Mayor Moral was hopeful the facility would go a long way helping the farmers in her town flourish in their organic production especially of rice, as they are now assured of ample volume of organic fertilizer within easy reach. [PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan]

CHED awards scholarship to ‘Pablo’ victims

C

OMMISSION on Higher Education Chairperson, Dr. Patricia Licuanan visited Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) in Mati City, Davao Oriental Thursday to award scholarship grants to 54 Typhoon Pablo Victims and to meet the 254 scholars of the Students’ Grant-inAid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA).

“Education is important to improve our quality of life, our families and our community. I believe that

with this opportunity to achieve your dreams, you will serve as an inspiration to others and be an instrument of change,” said Chair Licuanan.

The scholarship grants for Pablo Victims were awarded to the St. Mary’s College of Baganga which is the identified institution to cater the scholars. Chair Licuanan together with Davao Oriental Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, Mati City Mayor Carlo Rabat and DSWD Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Coordinator Araceli

M. Layog presented the award.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) spearhead the SGPPA to ensure that grantees are enrolled in selected SUCs duly recognized by CHED, channelled to CHED priority courses, and extended the needed support that will guarantee completion of studies thus qualify them for a high-value added

jobs in the future. Also, the SGPPA aims to contribute in the increase of the number of enrolment in higher education in line with the national government’s priority degree programs among poor households and support college graduates’ entry to labor markets through placement assistance.

Implemented since 2012, SGPPA was conceived to benefit qualified Pantawid Pamilya grantees all over the country.

[DSWD/Sheryll Jane B. Sanico]

OCIAL Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman visited over the weekend the agency’s projects and lauded the local government units (LGUs) and the beneficiaries in Region 12.

“Kung hindi nakiisa ang lokal na pamahalaan at mga community volunteers hindi tayo makapagpatayo ng mga proyektong ito (If the local government unit and the volunteers haven’t cooperated, we cannot construct these projects),” Soliman said after the visit of the newly completed foreign-funded projects in a remote village in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat which constructed through one of the three-pronged poverty reduction programs of the agency, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

As she lauded the contributions of volunteers and various stakeholders as part of collabora-

tive efforts of the agency to reduce poverty in the countryside, Soliman urged the beneficiaries of a purifying water project in Barangay Lotilla.

“I appreciate the contributions of community volunteers in charting local development directions, playing direct role in implementing key project activities at the community and municipal level,” Soliman said.

Bai Sorahayda Taha of Department of Social Welfare and Develoment (DSWD-12) said the water project in Barangay Lotilla was the first purifying project implemented by DSWD and its partners in the country.

In her visit, Soliman met with the volunteers and beneficiaries of Barangay Lotilla, a remote village which had been suffering for many years from the lack of potable water supply.

All they had since the community was established was water with bad odor and yellowish color from backyard waterpumps. [PNA]

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EDGEDAVAO

NATION

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

MANILA

SC extends order stopping RH law T

HE Supreme Court on Tuesday, July 16 extended the status quo ante order (SQAO) freezing the implementation of the controversial Reproductive Health law.

Voting 8-7, the High Court extended the SQAO “effective immediately until further orders,” according to a Court insider.

The law’s critics won a temporary victory when the High Court issued on March 19 an SQAO stopping the implementation of the RH law for 120 days. The order is supposed to lapse on Wednesday, July 17.

This means the next round of oral

MANILA

arguments for and against the controversial measure will push through Tuesday next week, July 23.

The RH law funds the distribution of free contraceptives, requires government hospitals to provide reproductive health (RH) services, and mandates public schools to teach sex education.

The law’s staunchest critic, the Catholic Church, said contraceptives are “evil” and “anti-life.”

The law was supposed to take effect last March 30.

Its critics faced the Court in oral arguments last July 9. [Rappler.com]

FIRST IN THE COUNTRY. Beneficiaries of a community water purifying project, the first in the country, in Barangay Lotilla, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat,

tell Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (right) how their lives have improved because of the government project.[PNA]

MANILA

Big time oil firms effect oil price hikes 6 a. m. Tuesday DAR ready to distribute Hacienda Luisita workers L

OOKS like local oil firms are poised to implement a new series of fuel price hikes up to P1.60 per liter on their petroleum products as the three country’s biggest oil companies announced another round of increases on Monday night.

The so-called “Big Three” oil companies Petron Corp., Chevron Philippines (formerly

MANILA

Caltex) and Pilipinas Shell price increase is the eight time in the past nine weeks wherein pump fuel costs were raised.

In a text advisory sent to Philippine News Agency (PNA),Petron, Shell and Chevron would increase the prices of gasoline by P1.60 per liter, kerosene by P1.00 per liter and diesel by P.75 per liter to take effect at

6:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Petron in its price advisory sent to PNA, said the price adjustment “reflects movements in the international oil market and the foreign exchange rate”.

As of this posting other oil companies have yet to announce their respective adjustments.

Last July 9, oil companies implemented

a price adjustment include a price rollback on gasoline products worth P0.60 per liter, diesel by P0.45 per liter and kerosene by P0.40 per liter.

Based on Department of Energy (DoE), in Metro Manila the average price of diesel as of July 9 stood at P42.40 per liter while that of gasoline was pegged at P51.60 per liter.[PNA]

PHL up five places in global innovation rankings

P

INOY creativity is slowly gaining ground, and has in fact pushed the Philippines up a global ranking of countries.

The Philippines ranked 90th out of 142 in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s “Global Innovation Index 2013.”

Though still at the bottom half of the rankings, the country inched up from ranking 95th out of 141 last year.

It got a score of 31.2

of 100 points in the report, which WIPO said gauges “innovation capabilities and measurable results.”

Of the three factors observed in the report, the Philippines performed best in terms of innovation efficiency, ranking 24th globally.

It meanwhile ranked 77th in terms of innovation output, a performance it failed to match in terms of input, where it ranked 108th.

The country’s strengths, the report

noted, included its number of graduates in science and technology courses, efficient use of energy and environmental performance.

The Philippines, however, remained the country with the second worst innovation performance in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia, at 110th, was the only country in the sub-region ranked lower than the Philippines in the list.

Singapore led Southeast Asia in

terms of innovativeness, ranking 8th globally, followed by Malaysia (32nd), Thailand (57th), Brunei (7th), Vietnam, (76th) and Indonesia (85th).

Switzerland remained the most innovative country this year. It was followed by Sweden, the U.K., the Netherlands, the U.S. At the bottom of the global innovation list, meanwhile, were Yemen, Sudan, Madagascar, Togo and Algeria.

[Yahoo!]

T

HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) disclosed on Tuesday that it has wrapped up the most contentious stages in the acquisition of Hacienda Luisita under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in its Third Quarterly report submitted to the Supreme Court.

In the report, the DAR also stated that it is currently preparing for the sugar estate’s distribution to qualified beneficiaries, to be completed possibly between August and September this year in compliance with the Court’s directives related to the Hacienda Luisita case.

In a statement, the DAR reiterated that it has completed the screening and identification of more than 6,000 beneficiaries in Hacienda Luisita making the cut in the Final Master List of Qualified Farmworkers-Beneficiaries (FWBs).

Each beneficiary is expected to own farm lots with an area of 6,600 square meters, more or less, from the total area of 4,099 hectares up for distribution.

According to DAR, a private survey firm hired

by DAR had conducted and recently completed the consolidation and

subdivision survey on a total of 5,149 hectares in Hacienda Luisita.

Of the area surveyed, the 500 hectares of the converted area and 80.51 hectares covered

by SCTEX were not subject to distribution based on the Supreme Court’s final decision in the Hacienda Luisita case.

Furthermore, roughly 468.49 hectares were excluded from distribution to qualified beneficiaries. These areas cannot be distributed to individual beneficiaries because of their current use.

These excluded areas pertains to residential areas, canals, roads, firebreaks, a cemetery, buffer zones, lagoons, fishponds, eroded areas, and legal easements.

The said non-farm lots such as roads, firebreaks, fishponds, lagoons, and canals were excluded from distribution, DAR officials explained that these will still be covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for common use of qualified beneficiaries.

“These areas will remain under RP title and will serve as common areas for beneficiaries,” DAR Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes explained.

[PNA]

THE ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Asiamoney citation

Security Bank named ‘Best Domestic Bank’

T

HE accolades continue as one of the country’s top independent universal banks, Security Bank Corporation (PSE:SECB), received recognition from Asiamoney’s Annual Best Domestic Bank Awards and was named “2013 Best Domestic Bank in the Philippines”. As in the past, Security Bank Corporation (SBC) has a penchant for besting the larger banking institutions in the country because it has stuck to its strengths and kept its fundamentals in check.

Security Bank is following its own growth plan by building a bigger deposit base, which started in 2011 when the acquisition of Premiere Development Bank boosted its branch network to 208 by year-end of 2012, and growing its commercial loans business to take advantage of the booming economy.

The award-giving publication describes their criteria as comprehensive and thorough.

“To make its decisions, Asiamoney holds discussions with fund managers, analysts and market

participants, together with conducting extensive internal research. It considers the following criteria when deciding on the winners of Best domestic bank awards: balance sheet strength and profitability; industry leadership and product innovation; brand recognition; successful implementation of new services and products; ability to outperform competition amid challenging financial markets; corporate and customer satisfaction with services provided; corporate governance, transparency and integrity.”

Following this criteria, there is no doubt SBC is deserving as it posted stellar and “better-than-industry” numbers in 2012. With a PhP 7.5 billion net income, up 12% on the previous year, customer loans grew 30% to PhP 119.6 billion and its cost-toincome ratio was 43%.

The highlight is its Return-on-Equity (RoE) with a whopping 22%.

“All of Security Bank’s key financial indicators are better than the in-

dustry; it has a high RoE, a good cost-to-income ratio of around 50% and a strong capital base,” says Jody Santiago, Head of Equity Research for the Philippines at the Union Bank of Switzerland. It also had a capital adequacy ratio of 16.3% as of the end of 2012.

Likewise, SBC was also recognized for its continued impressive capabilities in the bond market. An eighth time winner of this award, the “Best Domestic Debt House in the Philippines” proves the sustained focus of the bank on its strengths amidst new accomplishments outside of bond distribution and trading and capital markets services.

“Security Bank has positioned itself as a mover in local markets by actively pursuing profitable opportunities in different areas and not just sticking to one focus. So far, the bank posted PhP 1.2 billion in net income for the first quarter of 2013, up 11% year-on-year, while total assets grew 20% to PhP 258.9 billion and deposits grew 22% to PhP

141.8 billion,” cited by Asiamoney.

A leading regional financial publication, Asiamoney holds the

Annual Editorial Awards every year to recognize domestic banks, equity brokerages and debt houses that stand out for

excellent performance.

In the past years, Security Bank has consistently figured in the awards for overall profitability.

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ADB keeps PHL growth outlook, cuts forecast for developing Asia T

HE Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday said it slashed its growth outlook for developing Asia on weaker demand from developed nations and slowing China output, but maintains that certain Southeast Asian economies like the Philippine will remain solid.

In its latest Asian Development Outlook Supplement, the Manila-based lender trimmed the 2013 growth forecast for 45 developing member countries of ADB to 6.3 percent from a 6.6-percent projection in April.

The ADB also cut its 2014 forecast to 6.4 percent from 6.7 percent.

“Continued tepid demand from the major industrial economies coupled with slower growth in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are weighing on the outlook for developing Asia,” the ADB said.

“The drop in trade and scaling back of investment are part of a more balanced growth path for PRC, and the knock-on effect of its slower pace is definitely a concern for the region. But we are also seeing more subdued activity across much of developing Asia,” ADB Chief Econo-

mist Changyong Rhee said in a statement.

In China, a weaker-than- expected first half of the year and tighter credit have dampened growth expectations, the report noted.

China is now forecast to expand by 7.7 percent in 2013 from an earlier 8.2 percent and 7.5 percent in 2014 from 8.0 percent.

This is seen to have knockon effect for other East Asian economies, where growth is revised down from 7.1 percent to 6.7 percent in both 2013 and 2014.

Slower China growth to a lesser extent will subdue Southeast Asian economies, but “Philippines and other large ASEAN countries are otherwise seeing solid growth,” the ADB said.

Southeast Asia’s growth outlook was revised down to 5.2 percent from 5.4 percent in 2013 and to 5.6 percent from 5.7 percent in 2014.

In India, slow progress in pushing for the reforms needed to ease business bottlenecks means growth is likely to be 5.8 percent this year, slower than the previous forecast of6.0 percent.

The ADB, however, maintained its 2014 forecast of 6.5 percent for India.

Elsewhere in South Asia, Sri Lanka continues to grow strongly while other parts of the region will see softer than anticipated growth, the report noted.

The bank also trimmed the forecast for Central Asia to 5.3 percent from 5.5 percent in 2013, reflecting the sluggish economic performance of Kazakhstan and Georgia. It maintained the region’s 2014 projection at 6.0 percent.

Growth outlook for the Pacific was also cut to 5.0 percent from 5.2 percent in 2013, but maintained the 2014 forecast at 5.5 percent.

Inflation pressures, meanwhile, are waning on the back of declining energy and food prices due to slower global demand for fuels and good harvests.

“The growth slowdown in developing Asia and other emerging markets, along with continued softness in the major industrial economies, is suppressing demand for energy, while strong harvests are keeping food prices in check,” the report read.

BY THE NUMBERS Personal remit tances from Filipino workers overseas totaled to

$2.1 billion in May, up

6.2 percent from $1.9 billion in the same month of 2012.

SOURCE: BSP

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

7

Air pollution kills millions each year O

UTDOOR air pollution is estimated to contribute to more than two-and-a-half million deaths each year, a study has suggested.

It calculated that, each year, 470,000 people died as a result of ozone and 2.1 million deaths were linked to fine particulate matter.

Air pollution increased respiratory and heart disease risks, with the young, elderly and infirm most vulnerable.

The findings appear in the Environmental Re-

search Letters journal.

“Epidemiological studies have shown that ozone and PM2.5 (particulates with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns - about 30 times thinner than the width of a human hair) have significant influences on human health, including premature mortality,” an international team of scientists wrote.

In order to reach their estimate, the researchers compared the results from a range of earlier mathematical models on deaths from air pollution.

UN sets up new forum to boost sustainable development efforts

T

HE General Assembly has established a new High-level Political Forum, which will replace the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, to boost efforts to tackle global economic, social and environmental challenges.

In a resolution adopted by consensus, the 193-member Assembly emphasized the need for an improved and more effective institutional framework for sustainable development, and decided that the Forum should provide “a dynamic platform for regular dialogue and for stocktaking and agenda-setting to advance that process.”

The decision follows up on a key recommendation of ‘The Future We Want,’ the outcome document of last year’s UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known

as Rio+20.

“Establishing the Forum marks a major step forward in implementing ‘The Future We Want’,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “The Forum can provide the political leadership and action-oriented recommendations we need to follow up on all the Rio recommendations and meet urgent global economic, social and environmental challenges.

“Countries must do their utmost to realize the Forum’s potential.”

The Forum will convene annually at the ministerial level under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and it will, every four years, bring together heads of State to provide added momentum for sustainable development.

Its first meeting will be held in September, during the Assembly’s forthcoming 68th session. [UNEP]

They found that their total was lower than previous estimates.

But the team added: “Our methods likely underestimate the true burden of outdoor pollution because we have limited the evaluation to adults aged 30 and older.

“On the other hand, recent studies suggest that the relationship between PM2.5 and mortality may flatten at high concentrations, suggesting that we may overestimate PM2.5 mortality in regions with very high concentrations.”

Global problem The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is difficult to identify the world’s most polluted areas because many cities with high levels of air pollution do not have monitoring systems in place.

“Nevertheless, the available data indicates that air pollution is very high in a number of Asian cities (Karachi, New Delhi, Kathmandu, Beijing), in Latin American cities (Lima, Arequipa) and in Africa (Cairo),” it observes.

But the WHO adds that although most air pollution hotspots are located in developing nations, it says that developed countries are also at risk and the issue is a major environmental risk globally.

As air quality is largely beyond the control of an individual, the WHO says action needs to be taken by national and international bodies.

In 2005, WHO published its Air Quality Guidelines that recommended limits of air pollutants, including PM2.5 and ozone.

“Continued exposure to particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer,” the WHO states.

“The mortality in cities with high levels of pollution exceeds that observed in relatively cleaner cities by 15-20%,” it adds.

“Even in the EU, life expectancy is 8.6 months lower [as a result of] exposure to PM2.5 produced by human activities.”

Ozone pollution is linked to breathing problems, such as asthma, reduced lung function and lung disease.

Feeling the heat The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, also looked at how changes to the planet’s climate system as a result of human activities could have affected the impact of air pollution, such as changes in temperature and hu-

midity.

While being a contributing factor to climate change, previous studies had considered how the emissions could create conditions that exacerbated poor air quality, such as the way an increased concentration of chemicals interacted with sunlight.

Another change is the way higher temperatures affect plants’ biochemical characteristics.

Lagao and Sinawal as high-risk to flooding.

The seven villages were among the 340 communities in Region 12 that were found to be highly vulnerable and will likely become “inhabitable” during floods.

Other areas in the city that are considered as flood-prone are barangays City Heights, Apopong, Labangal, Dadiangas North and Dadiangas West.

In the last two years, hundreds of families settled in communities near the Silway River here were forced to evacuate several times due to the swelling of the river’s waters, especially during heavy downpour.

Silway River, which flows to Sarangani Bay, is the main outlet of several river-tributaries from the upland areas in nearby South Cotabato province.

Portions of Barangays Bula, Lagao and

Baluan also experienced severe floods last year after hours of heavy rains.

Lawyer Arnel Zapatos, city administrator, said the city government will create short- and longterm plans to address the vulnerability of some parts of the city to flooding and other geohazards.

“One aspect of the plan will focus on the problems with our drainage system and the perennial flooding in some barangays,” he said.

The city government started drafting last year a drainage master plan that was estimated to cost around P800 million.

The drainage project mainly involves the construction of major drainage channels and additional flood-control systems in major rivers traversing the city’s 26 barangays.

[Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews]

Trees use chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to attract pollinators as well as deter damaging attacks from insects and larger animals.

However, higher temperatures can cause many tree species to emit more VOCs into the atmosphere, which reacts with sunlight to form ozone or more particulates.

Using a model of ozone and PM2.5 atmospheric concentrations from 1,850 and 2,000, the researchers concluded changes to the climate since pre-industrial times accounted for only a small proportion of the current deaths related to air pollution.

They calculated that about 3,700 deaths each year could be attributed to the effects of past climate change on air quality.

The team observed: “As models continue to develop and comprehensively represent the mechanisms by which climate change might influence air quality, we should expect that large estimates based on different models will likely persist.” [BBC]

General Santos City mulls creation of permanent disaster command center T

HE General Santos City local government is planning to establish a permanent command center that will lead various interventions during disasters and related crisis situations that might occur in the area.

Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the move is part of the institutional changes they are pursuing as part of an ongoing comprehensive review of the city’s disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) plans and programs.

“Our goal is to come up with specific plans for whatever disaster that will hit or affect the city,” he said.

Rivera said they earlier convened the city disaster risk reduction and management council (CDRRMC) to facilitate the review process.

The city government created last year

the CDRRMC office in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

RA 10121 also mandated local government units to establish their own DRRM plans and allocate appropriate funds for such purpose.

Aside from the establishment of an activity command center, Rivera said the local government will activate a permanent disaster hotline for the city.

The mayor earlier said his administration will also focus on the relocation of residents from identified high-risk disaster areas, specifically those prone to severe flooding.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 12 had identified barangays Baluan, Buayan, Bula, Calumpang, Siguel,

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

EDITORIAL

Another shameful episode

T

HE LATEST scandal to rock this scam-prone country is the racket involving P10 billion of pork barrel funds funneled to the bank accounts of non-existent non-government organizations (NGOs) and bogus foundations and converted into kickbacks.

So far, the names of four senators and 11 members of the House of Representatives have been dragged into the scandal. Expectedly, the lawmakers – former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Jose P. Ejercito, also known as “Jinggoy Estrada,” and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan—are profuse in their denials about being involved in the scam. Janet Lim Napoles, the lady in the vortex of the controversy, has likewise denied allegations that she masterminded the whole caper.

Meanwhile, pending the unraveling of the truth behind this latest stench, we may consider the lawmakers concerned as victims.

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However, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the feisty lawmaker from Iloilo, has suggested that President Aquino form an independent body to investigate the scam and urged fellow senators involved to go on leave while the probe is ongoing.

As the country’s leaders ponder over what options to take to get at the bottom of it all. we can expect more big names to be soiled by the controversy reminiscent of the P780-million fertilizer scam during the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

We also expect militant groups and do-gooders who are scandalized enough by the scam to take to the streets and denounce the racket and those who have defrauded the Filipino people of their tax money in the billions through the clever scheme. In the meantime, what we have is an eerie silence from their ranks.

At the moment, let’s consider it another shameful episode in the storied life of our nation.

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 •WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Rising piracy rate

G

ETTING A BIG SLICE OF THE MARKET –This may come off as a played-out piece of observation.

Legitimate manufacturers and distributors of software commodities and electronic gadgets and accessories are all sick of the endless promises made by concerned government agencies and law enforcement units. But let me get ahead of myself by sharing what I knew and saw for the past years: that software piracy can be considered as an economic sabotage. So you people with the responsibilities and given the task to investigate the highly illegal business activities, here’s why.

The most troubling existing development is the unexpectedly disappointing performance of the country’s different law-enforcement units and concerned government agencies in fighting the exacerbating software piracy. The result of the inefficiency – lack of closer cooperation among government people and law enforcers directly involved in the drive against software piracy and the lack of well-meaning campaign and enabling laws that would eventually minimize if not totally eradicate the illegal trade.

Despite the disconcerting situation, confidence was high that the fearless software manufacturing countries could evade the damaging software piracy problem plaguing not only the Philippines but the whole world as well. However, rudiments are sagging further and faster as expected. Piracy rate in the country, for example, is rising at accelerating pace registering 70% in the last two years valued roughly at P15 billion or up from 69% in 2011.

Already, legitimate software manufacturers and distributors are terribly worried because part of the problem is the users’ increasing interest in supporting the usage of pirated software. The negative indications are disheartening

R

VANTAGE POINTS

owing largely to cheaper prices and the availability of pirated software products. Although the export showcase of software producing countries has defined comp e t i t ive n e s s and economic advantage, unscrupulous software distributors were clearly getting a big slice of the profitable market.

Right now, the software piracy problem has taken center stage. The low prices and high user satisfaction of pirated software products had spurred a never-ending cycle of excessive demand and high growth. That’s why according to a report prepared by a composite team composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Optical Media Board (OMB) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) group, 60% of computer users admit they have acquired pirated software and use them all or most of the time.

The revenues of software manufacturers and the effect on the global economy will not rebound abruptly until the clandestine operations of unscrupulous entrepreneurs are not put to a halt.

Nonetheless, the toughest problem relates to the very nature of the software manufacturing base. Prices of personal computers, peripheral, semi-conductors and electronic components are mired in global slump due to the unabated software piracy. It’s really a double whammy for the industry.

Industry sources, on the other hand, insist that the real solution to the soft-

ware piracy problem is not about pressing the “panic button” or any other fearful gestures, but a massive information campaign, concerted public education and intensive law enforcement drive.

Authorities could minimize if not totally stamp out the illegal trade, but until they adopt stringent measures and conduct a no non-sense campaign against software pirates, the same problems are going to keep on returning.

Unfortunately, at this stage authorities are just treating the symptoms lightly, and too lenient in dealing and confronting the source of the ills with “kid-glove” policy. Lead government agencies and various law enforcement units should stop banging with increasingly useless performance reports and achievements. That will be made all painful by shortsighted, self-interested solutions.

A similar mode of unlawful business - if you want a look at what’s really ailing the software industry, just drive over on any given day along Quezon Boulevard near the vicinity of a covered court at mini-forest. Actually, it doesn’t matter where you go, since the same scene is blatantly displayed out at semi-permanent structures, parking garages, mall fronts, bus station and other sites all over Davao City. Software piracy as we all know is worldwide in scope.

Perhaps lead government agencies and law enforcement units need not look far and wide. Pirated CDs and related products are rampant throughout the country. Davao City has its own share of the problem where ambulant sidewalk vendors conducted their trade with impunity and right under the very noses of authorities. After all this time, different law enforcement agencies are still looking at the opposite direction – for obvious reasons – leaving us to wonder why.

some members of Congress.

Scam of this nature is no longer new. But is s t re n g t h e n s the people’s suspicion (or is it conclusion) that the pork barrel with the deodorized name Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is the lawmakers’ milking cow.

The DOJ has confirmed that the scam is a subject of an investigation and it is supported by Malacañang. But knowing how the Aquino government treats investigations as nothing but a scrap of paper, it is doubtful if the culprits would ever see the walls of a prison cell.

Investigation under P-Noy’s watch will end nowhere. I still maintain that the only way to arrest this particular kind of corruption is to abolish pork barrel system, period.

The bible says that money is the root of all evil. The pork barrel is all about money, big money. Get rid of the pork barrel, you get rid of crocodiles in coatand-tie. ooOoo BPI – Bank of the Philippines – has a come-on slogan that says “Let’s make it

easy.”

Its message is simple: BPI wants to make baking transactions a pleasure, not an ordeal – less hassle, less unnecessary, burdensome requirements and restrictions, and other banking razzmatazz.

Now, BPI’s competitor, BDO – Banco de Oro – has a boastful slogan. “We find ways”. Its message is that BDO personnel know how to make banking less inconvenient for its clients. Commendable!

But BDO branch in the city completely negates the positive or goodwill message that the slogan wants to convey.

Some officials of this particular BDO branch gave a half-paralyzed and bedridden depositor a hell of a time making simple withdrawal. They imposed one requirement after another, including an SPA which they peremptorily dishonored. The withdrawal was finally effected only after a bank employee, on orders of the manager, went to the residence of the bed-ridden depositor, and had the withdrawal slip signed by the bedside.

A simple withdrawal that normally takes minutes to complete, took two days to consummate which subjected the depositor’s representative close to tears.

“We find ways” (?) Well, BDO truly knows how to find ways to make it difficult for depositors to withdraw their own money, whether they are healthy or paralyzed.

Take away the letter “D” from the bank’s initials, and what do you get? B.O. Kuha , mo?

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire

EP. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) last week filed a bill that will make Cha-cha a reality.

Rodriguez wants to have a federal system and a parliamentary form of government with the unicameral legislative body.

He also proposes to lift the ban on foreigners to explore and utilize the nation’s natural resources.

Will Cha-cha succeed? Not if we are around, declared partylist solons Noli Colmenares and Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna).

Chimed the duo: “It’s like burning the house down. It’s a total sellout of our country.”

I do not question the nationalistic temper of the two fighting gentlemen, but perhaps, it will help people oppose to charter change to understand that a constitution is just a general guide. It is not a sacred document that cannot be touched or tampered with. It doesn’t have an element of absolute truth.

A constitution can be changed whenever it becomes a hindrance or obstacle to progress and development of a nation.

Those opposed to amendments to the constitution simply see ghosts where there are none. They should clear their minds of negative cobwebs. ooOoo “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” – is not just an empty maxim. It has a sting of truth in it.

The latest scam to shock the nation is the P10-billion pork barrel fraud consisting of ghost projects allegedly funded by

9

Don’t Augur Well MIND DA NEWS

BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ

(Conclusion)

T

HE Philippine panel chairs, then Marvic Leonen (now Supreme Court Justice) and now Ferrer, have imprinted in media this rhetoric: The Aquino Government can commit only what it can give; it will give what it commits. Obviously, Ferrer committed with mandate from the Government the 75-25 wealth sharing in the initialed Annex on Wealth-Sharing document that MILF is sticking to. Why is Government now offering 50-50 instead of giving the 75-25 it has committed and initialed?

This, too, does not augur well for the Bangsamoro: President Aquino III is not really free to commit and to give what he commits. He is not the strong-willed and decisive Manuel L. Quezon or Ramon Magsaysay. He is just like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – seeking popular support to maintain his popularity. On receiving the initialed document for his review, he must have made extensive official and private consultations. The 75-25 was unacceptable; instead of defending it firmly, he yielded to the 50-50.

Here are two scenarios that will either boost or doom the Bangsamoro: (1) He will certify the BBL bill to Congress. Will he prevail upon the House and the Senate to expedite its enactment virtually as certified? Will he stake his presidency to prevent the bill from being mangled?

(2) Should he prevail upon the House and the Senate, he will sign the bill into law. Will he stake his presidency to defend the BBL against critics and local government leaders who might want to question the law before the Supreme Court?

But this is jumping very much ahead.

Before these scenarios can happen, the impasse that Iqbal sees must first be averted. As MindaNews reported very early this morning (July 13, 2013 12:39 am), quoting Iqbal, nothing positive happened yesterday: “Not yet. No breakthrough yet. We will return (to the negotiation table) tomorrow. Very harsh nego.”

The 39th round of talk has been extended for the second time — until today, Saturday, July 13.

Even if a compromise is reached on the wealth sharing impasse, that will not translate to a Comprehensive Agreement in August. The Power-Sharing and Normalization Annexes are set to be further discussed in August. Can the Comprehensive Agreement be signed by September or October?

Even so, the pre-transition and transition proper of the Bangsamoro will further shrink from the present 36 months.

Even without any snag in the drafting and enactment of the BBL, only about ten months will be left for the transition proper. But the BBL can be more controversial than the Annexes.

The looming impasse that Iqbal sees is real; the signs of hard road ahead are not just phantoms. All these don’t augur well for the Bangsamoro. But Government and MILF are committed, not only to their own people but to the international communities, to entrench the Bangsamoro. Will they allow the FAB to end in a nightmare? (Patricio P. Diaz/ MindaNews)

10

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Gag order.. FFROM 1 lawyer Salvador Panelo to be the policemen’s legal counsel.

“If you want evidence, do not get it from my mouth or from the mouth of the policemen. I have ordered them to shut up. Manila people, you build a case against us,” he said.

Duterte, a former assistant fiscal and professor in criminal law and criminal procedure in the regional police academy until now, said the police officers may respond if they receive a subpoena for them to appear in inquiries but they can invoke their constitutional right to be silent and avail themselves of other legal remedies.

He said the imputation of murder to the action of the police during the foiled kidnap-for-ransom pay-off changed everything, consequently pointing on the policemen as the criminals.

“In any stage of whatever proceeding or hearing, a citizen of this country, whether a criminal or a police-

man, or a rebel can always invoke the constitutional right to remain silent and the right to counsel,” said Duterte, now on his seventh term as city mayor.

He said the police and the local government have nothing to hide relative to the incident.

“The recorded video on the shooting incident is only good for entertainment,” the mayor said “But legally, it is garbage. In court proceedings, the person who took the video has a lot of explaining to do where the gun burst came from,” Duterte said.

Earlier, the mayor said the police operation was “legitimate, legal and therefore moral.”

He said the policy of the city government to shoot armed and dangerous criminals stands.

Duterte told the public that the shoot-to- kill order and reward for criminals are legitimate tools of government to

fight lawlessness.

He stressed that he is answerable only to the residents of the city who elected him to office.

Duterte said in an interview with the press yesterday that he had not read the letter, adding that he has nothing to explain to the CHR chair.

“I said it is not wrong to threaten criminals, and the order to shoot is perfectly legal,” he said.

In a recent television interview, Rosales expressed alarm over the threat of death to criminals operating in Davao City by Duterte.

Rosales said that she knows Duterte for his hard-hitting drive against criminals and that it might cause fear among local residents, adding that Duterte and officials of Davao City should always be the first to uphold the law and respect human rights, referring to the killing of the three kidnappers. [With report of PIA 11/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines]

“pag lumusot yan (illegal recruiters) doon sa pantalan at airport tatanungin ko ang barangay captain bakit nagkaganun.”

He said barangay captains are supposed to take control of their respective barangays and it is part of their responsibility to ensure that their people are safe.

“This should be addressed, cases should be filed and remember that illegal recruitment cases are non-bailable,” he added.

Duterte said that the city government is willing to help victims of human trafficking. “We are always ready to help whether it is big or small, remember, the money of the city government is always available to those in need,” he explained.

On the other hand, Antonio Arellano, regional prosecutor of the Department of Justice 11, said that the advocacy campaign is a move by the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT).

“Last January, when IACAT held an assessment, we realized that there is a need to create another cluster because the regional council had only two clusters last year--law enforcement and psychosocial cluster.

“The advocacy cluster is for information and education drives, law enforcement cluster is for prosecution while the psychosocial cluster addresses the needs of victims of human trafficking,” he explained.

Arellano said that

region 11 was the first to create a regional network for the purpose of implementing IACAT programs and policies against human trafficking.

“For as long as the problem of poverty is there, there will always be people who are vulnerable to human exploitation, such as the modern type of slavery which is human trafficking,” he added. “This is the effective way because we believe that the fight against trafficking should not only be a fight of the government but also of the private sector and the community in general.”

“The cases filed in court have reached 30, and we are hoping for more convictions,” Arellano said.

messages as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

“Lolong” was captured on September 3, 2011 and died on February 10, 2013 at his cage at the Bunawan Eco Park.

The crocodile measures 20 feet long and three inches wide.

Lolong was officially certified by

the Guinness Book of World Records as the “world’s biggest crocodile in captivity” last year.

Lolong died of pneumonia and cardiac arrest, according to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR).

When Lolong was still alive, officials and residents in Bunawan opposed the reptile’s transfer to Manila, as proposed by the DENR. Lolong made the town of Bunawan land in the country’s tourism map. [Roel Catoto/MindaNews]

Fight.. FFROM 2

Lolong.. FFROM 2

CAB VS BIKE. A road mishap which involves a motorcycle and a cab causes heavy traffic and inconvenience to motorists traversing Quimpo Blvd.in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

OSHDP urge gov’t to consider socialized housing proposals

T

HE Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines raised proposals to the government and expect favorable if not arrive at doable terms to support the development of socialized housing projects in the country.

OSHDP President Atty.

Ryan Tan said at the Davao Business Forum held at DermPath at SM City here on Tuesday that there are several concerns they want government to resolve on their concerns so that more projects will be undertaken.

The housing backlog of the country continue to rise but OSHDP according to Tan said they had been collaborating with the government on this concern.

He admitted however that there are four major concerns that had been affecting their industry namely on Permitting, Financing, Regulatory and Production.

Permitting, Tan said is affecting them heavily because it would take them 2 and a half years to complete documentation.

He said there are areas

in the process that could be refined so that the process will be shortened without compromising compliance of requirements.

On the financing aspect he said there are possible areas that has to be looked into and come up with clearer direction so that funding are dedicated to building the required housing needs of the country.

As to the regulatory aspect imposed by government on subdivision and housing construction, this must be strengthened and followed but there are areas that need to be addressed.

Productivity on the other hand must be an area that must be sustained even as Tan said that there are best practices that has to be shared to everyone involved in the business.

Meanwhile, Tan said they had submitted a proposal to the government on the pricing aspect must be attainable.

With the “in-city” project proposed by government Tan said “let us not weaken the product just to make it affordable”.

Under BP 220, he said under this scheme it provided for an 18 sq. meter area.

Given this he said the proposal is a 5-storey building without elevator priced at P22,000 per sq. m.

The proposal is now under review by the National Economic and Development Authority and the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council.

This he said will speed up construction of more socialized housing and walk-up condominium of this level could be developed in urban centers.

Tan said the industry is booming and demand for housing is high in areas where business is growing especially with the presence of manufacturing and BPOs. “We just would like government to clearly define the level of packaging for housing projects because a slight change in the figure will matter on what bracket the borrower would fall hence amortization is no longer affordable,” he said.

(PNA)

city’s canals are easily overwhelmed by the large volume of water brought by torrential rains.

“Whenever it rains, our waterways function normally, but not when torrential rains dump large volumes of water, our canals are overwhelmed resulting to flooding,” Jacinto said.

Data obtained from the city engineer’s office (CEO) show that the discharge capacity of existing drainage infrastructures depends on the tide level in the

Davao Gulf where the drainage systems outfall. The invert elevation of the city’s major drains is at mean sea level or lower.

The Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau had earlier identified 22 flood-prone areas in the city which are near existing drainage lines like the open riprap canals in Obrero, Dacudao, Roxas and the open earth canal in Bangkal.

Culvert drainage lines are also located in Bajada, Ponciano, Agdao, Quezon Boule-

vard and Quimpo Boulevard.

The CEO, however, notes that flood waters in these areas generally subside after an hour or two after the downpour ends.

Aside from dredging the clogged canals and desilting of waterways, the city government also plans to construct additional drainage lines, particularly along J.P. Laurel Avenue where a box culvert will be constructed leading to an open canal on Veloso St., Obrero as its outlet.

Declogging.. FFROM 2

11 ICT HUB

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Parents faced with knowledge gap when teaching web safety: survey T

HE majority of parents would welcome an online safety assessment as a way of ensuring they’re equipped to keep their children protected when surfing the web.

A survey of 2,000 UK parents highlights growing concerns about children’s online safety, with 95 percent of respondents agreeing that ‘e-safety’ should be a compulsory element of school education -- 52 percent of all parents said that they had made school selection decisions based in part on a school’s ability to teach online safety.

However, almost two thirds (66%) of parents accept that ultimately the responsibility of educating their children and keeping them safe when surfing the web rests with them. And therein lies a problem. Although 92 percent of parents claim they’re confident in their ability to teach online safety, the study, commissioned by AVG Technologies as part of the research report “Parents, Schools and the Digital Divide” in partnership with Plymouth University in the UK, found that there is

a widening gap between parents’ perceived and actual knowledge when it comes to the web.

As Tony Anscombe, AVG’s senior security evangelist, comments: “Despite their confidence, our research shows that parents clearly need help to stay ahead of how children are using the Internet.” As part of its report, the company has drawn up a list of recommendations, to be presented on July 11 at the Child Internet Safety Summit, for an easy-to-use assessment for parents so that they too can understand the issues around online safety and the types of threats their children may face when logging on.

The study shows that this knowledge gap is having an impact on parents’ decision-making processes when considering whether or not to discuss certain subjects with their children in relation to the internet. For example, 56 percent of parents with children in primary or secondary school (i.e., aged between seven and 16 years old) and 42 percent of parents with teenaged children have not broached the subject of

Crappy call and text connection?

Globe Telecom bares likely reason

H

AVE you been experiencing problems sending texts or making calls?

Well, that could be because some people are hogging signal transmissions.

Signal interference cases usually indicate the use of illegal repeaters or signal boosters, te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s firm Globe Telecom said in a statement Monday.

Such devices come in the form of indoor or outdoor antennas and wireless adapters which boost network coverage and signal without permission from providers. “[T]he use of illegal repeaters or signal boosters without permission from the carrier concerned is against the law,” said Globe’s corporate legal security head Froilan Castelo.

Adding that “it causes interference and adversely affects other subscribers,” Castelo urged subscribers to join the campaign against the illegal activity.

“We would like to appeal to our subscribers to report to us suspected cases of network interference due to the use of an illegal repeater within the vicinity,” he said.

The number of reports of interference has been on the rise especially in Metro Manila, Globe said, with 15 cases recently discovered and resolved.

Among the areas where illegal repeaters and boosters have been found were the cities of Manila, Pasay, San Juan and Quezon. An incident has also been recorded in Naga City.

Since the campaign was launched two years ago, joint police and Globe Security and Anti-fraud operatives have recorded various cases involving the use of illegal repeaters.

Vendors of illegal devices have also been caught in Pasig City, Sta. Cruz, Manila, Greenhills in San Juan, Bago Bantay in Quezon City and in Cebu City.

Parents need help in understanding the online risks that their children may face, according to researchers. [AFP] sexual online adult content.

In terms of other risks or threats, 89 percent of parents with children in primary or secondary school said they believe their child has not been involved in either cyberbullying or sexting. Con-

sidering these responses, it comes as little surprise that 86 percent of parents said that they would welcome an online safety assessment to help them close this knowledge gap.

AVG and the University of Plymouth will be detailing the full extent

of their findings at the Child Internet Safety Summit on July 11 and will also be detailing recommendations for government-supported internet safety schemes.

In the meantime, for parents concerned that their internet understanding

needs a refresher course or that their children may be at risk, the US government has published a helpful guide to internet safety which is hosted on the FBI’s website at http://www.fbi.gov/ stats-services/publications/parent-guide. [AFP]

F

Output from the Carmelray Industrial Park facility will increase to 18 million lenses by 2015 to cover global demand for digital cameras, projectors and surveillance cameras, said FUJIFILM Holdings Corp. and FUJIFILM Corp. president and COO Shige-

hiro Nakajima at the formal opening of its Philippine factory.

“We feel the demand for optic lenses, that’s why we considered expanding our operations,” Nakajima said in a press briefing before the factory’s launch, noting the Philippines as

one of the “strategic locations” for the company.

“Right now, we’re in the process of constructing a FujiXerox factory in Vietnam. We have several factories operating in China. These are the strategic locations we have operations in,” Nakajima said.

in Britain, while Barnes & Noble has cut the price of its Nook to as low as $129, and has announced plans to outsource production of its tablets.

Microsoft introduced its Surface last year at a premium price, promoting the device as a substitute for a personal computer with an attachable keyboard.

But a survey by the research firm IDC estimated the company sold

global market of some 49 million.

Microsoft previously

cut the price of the Surface as low as $199 for education buyers.

FUJIFILM opens PHL factory to meet global demand for digital camera lens UJIFILM Optics Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Japan’s FUJIFILM Corporation, on Tuesday said its new factory in Calamba, Laguna will serve as core production facility to meet the global demand for digital camera lens.

Microsoft slashes price on Surface RT tablet M

ICROSOFT has quietly cut the price of its entry-level Surface tablet computer by some 30 percent, after surveys indicating sluggish sales.

The Surface RT tablet was being sold for as low as $349 for US customers on the Microsoft website on Monday, down from the introductory price last year of $499.

The move comes amid a price war for tablets and a flood of new devices on the market.

Amazon has slashed prices of its Kindle HD tablets to as low as $169 in the US and 139 pounds

just 900,000 units in the first quarter, in a

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 •WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

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14 SPORTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

RMC, PCT score opening day wins L

EMCOR GOLF WINNERS. Emcor officers Boy Arriba (left) and Celso Villegas (right) with Gene Arcena award the trophies to winners in the am-am divi-

sion Benjie Leparto and Choi Eun Young during the Emcor Golf Challenge at the Apo Golf and Country Club over the weekend. Boy Lim

AST year’s runner-up Rizal Memorial Colleges and newcomer Philippine College of Technology demolished their respective rivals at the opening of the Davao Football Association-Columbia Inter-Collegiate Football League last Sunday at the Tionko grounds.

RMC crushed Philippine Women’s College, 6-0 after PCT routed Ateneo de Davao University, 6-1 in the first game.

Warren Ravanes scored back-to-back goals in the 9th and 21st minute before completing his hat trick in the 39th minute for RMC. The other goals were made by Jeffrey Cabalianga (27’), Jeric Tamay (83’) and Imardino Polo (87’).

Polo, however, was slapped by chief referee Christian Ea with a yellow card, while

PWC’s Michael Jay Fernandez will face a one game suspension for his two yellow cards in the 28th and 87th minutes.

PCT under coach Lalas Carreon had a slow start and allowed Ateneo to take a 1-0 lead courtesy of Gerald Agpalo (14’).

PCT finally found the net in the 40th from Alfredo Labrador followed by Jomar Acedo four minutes later to grab the lead, 2-1. They both added one more goal in 84th and 88th, respectively after fellow teammates Nasilin Madjini Jr. (70’) and Leo Abunas (83’) also contributed in their offense.

City Sports Development Office chief William “Butch” Ramirez graced the opening program together with DFA president Edward “Chaya” Lam and secretary Erwin Protacio.

TRAP Level 1 coaching course July 17-20 at TRMH

T

HE Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) is conducting a four-day Level 1 Club and Community Triathlon Coaching Course on July 1720 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

The coaching couse will be facilitated by three international triathlon coaches Patrick Joson and Anthony Lozada of Manila and Felina Tadiaman of Davao City, who graced the SCOOP Forum sponsored by The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Genesis 88, Beefit Gym, Mulatto Outdoor and Dexter’s Pizza at The

Stadium.

Lozada is the Chief Executive Officer of the Birth Lozada Swim School and a certified World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA) Level 2 coach.

He is an International Triathlon Union Coach (ITUC) Level 2 coach and Coaches Education Facilitator.

Joson, on the other hand, is also an ITUC Level 2 coach and the editor-at-large of the Multisports Phils. magazine, while Tadiaman is a ITUC Level 1 coach and currently the president of the Triathlon Association of Davao (Triad).

Kidd due in court on DWI case

H

AMPTON BAYS, N.Y. (AP) -- A year after he crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons, newly hired Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd returns to court on Tuesday to answer drunken driving charges.

Kidd retired as an NBA player after last season and was hired to coach the Nets.

He was arrested on July 15, 2012. Southampton Town police say he

smashed his Cadillac SUV into a telephone pole in the hamlet of Water Mill.

Police say he smelled of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He was the only person in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Kidd has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge.

The 10-time All-Star was arrested on a 2001 domestic violence charge and acknowledged he struck his former wife.

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

Jolly time at Jollitown

YOU gotta admit it. Young or old, Pinoys will always have a place in their heart for the iconic red & white striped bee.

The image of Jollibee brings back to mind a series of happy memories from childhood. To many, birthday parties at Jollibee are considered a luxury treat. My daughter vividly remembers her own Jollibee party from 4 years back.

At the time, she was still two years old and could not properly enunciate the bee’s name any better than “Abadee.” It was in my daughter’s party that I discovered how much of Jollibee’s dance skills have evolved since the last time I saw him perform. He can now dance to all kinds of beat, be it techno, pop, RnB, house, etc. --- with batting eyelashes to boot.

Nowadays, despite the influx of global brands in the local scene, Jollibee still leads the pack, not only for its selection of comfort food, but for the values the brand fosters among its audience through multimedia marketing. Not

There were games for kids.

With Jollibee.

only does Jollibee relate to Filipinos when it comes to flavor and taste. Their popularity runs on the culture of family. They reach out to speak to the “kid inside of us,” making Jollibee one of the most lovable mascots of all ages.

Their brand ambassadors have become household names in the same way that their TV advertisements have become powerful and effective stimuli, especially with the way children relate to and converse with adults.

Who can ever forget the

line, “Mommy, nawawala si Jennifer”?

Aside from the multiawarded TV commercials, Jollibee also adapted a couple other marketing tools to get more involvement from the community. In 2008, they introduced an educational TV show starring their own gang of mascots and selected talents. The show focuses on playing and learning, highlighting values such as teamwork, friendship, family, healthy habits, and caring for the environment. The TV show became popular among kids and moms alike, and garnered multiple awards from different sections in the society.

Now on its 6th season, the show promises more interaction with their episodes taped in the presence of a live audience. Jollibee Kids Club members get to experience what it’s like to be in Jollitown, and, at the same time, play with Jollibee and friends. Other highlights include new songs and dance steps, storytelling, educational segments, colorful animation, and, as always, exciting new characters.

To launch the 6th season, the company gave an exclusive preview of the first episode for members of the Davao media. To give the media a glimpse of what the audience can expect from the new set of episodes, the Jollibee marketing team prepared a number of games for both adults and children.

Jollibee himself came and joined in the fun with his friends namely, Hetty, Popo, Yum, and Twirlie.

It was one of those rare moments that people get to see all the mascots

Adults joined in the fun too.

With Jollibee and the gang from Jollitown.

Bea Tempongko, Jollibee’s Management Associate.

Posing with Hetti.

Jollibee and Friends with Jollibee’s Management Associate, Bea Tempongko. together in one event.

You can just imagine the crowd of guests anxiously waiting for a photo opportunity with the mascots. That crowd included me, my daughter, and my boyfriend. As a mother, I couldn’t let such oppor-

tunity pass without my daughter getting a photo with each of the character --- all of them if possible.

My excitement and constant prodding must have irritated my daughter because, by the time we finished her solo shots with each of the mascot, she gave me the look of annoyance and embarrassment when I insisted that she should also get a photo with the complete cast. I shrugged off her “makuha ka sa tingin” threats and dragged her along with me for a group photo with the cast. Even dads and moms jumped in the scene and pleaded to have their own time with the mascots.

At the end of the activ-

ity, Bea Tempongko from Jollibee Marketing shared a couple more details on the top-rated show. “Jollitown continues to improve over the years. The season 5 of Jollitown generated an average rating of 4.51 among kids between two to six years old, and an average rating of 3.29 among moms. Along with its impressive numbers, Jollitown remains the top of mind choice of moms when it comes to shows for kids. We invite everyone to join our adventure with Jollibee as we launch the new season of Jollitown this coming July 20. Tune in to GMA every Saturday, from 8:40 am to 9:15 am, and catch all 13 episodes.”

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Waterfront Hotel Davao’s delicious July food treats THE Waterfront Insular Hotel introduces new tastes and flavours for the month of July.

Spice up your day as you at Pizzaiolo as you indulge yourself in Italian-inspired pasta with our Spicy Chicken Roll Ups, shredded chicken and lots of mozzarella cheese.

Seafood lovers will rejoice this month.

Give in to temptation of our Sesame Seeded Squid, sauteed dried baby squid with Thai chili sauce seasoned with spicy onions and garlic at the Vinta Bar. Overwhelm your senses with St. John’s Catch, a feast of grilled seafood selection of tuna belly, prawn, squid and mussels, succulent enough for two at the La Parilla Grill.

Fall in love with the grill with our smoky Skewered Grilled Chicken Wings of Pirata Bar paired with our Frisco Fries, breaded French Fries for enough energy to swim at Pool Aquarius.

For inquiry or reservations, call the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao at 2332881.

WANT TO UPGRADE YOUR LOOK FOR LESS? Head on to the SM Accessories nationwide sale from today until the end of the month to get as much as 50% off on all the greatest buys. See you there!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

MOVIES

Pacific Rim: 5 Ways the monster-robot mash-up delivers

FROM the first moments of Pacific Rim, director Guillermo Del Toro’s intent is clear: Go big or go extinct.

The film’s brief opening unleashes on summer moviegoers a future in which legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, have risen from the depths of the ocean with the sole purpose of wiping the human race off planet Earth. To combat the beasties, massive robots, called Jaegers, were created. Too powerful for a single individual, the Jaegers required two pilots to control each mecha-warrior simultaneously, their minds synced via a neural bridge. The pairing is called “drifting.” Soon, we took Earth back. (All before the title screen!) But as with all of humanity’s triumphs, we got cocky with our new toys, while the Kaiju adapted and got a whole lot smarter.

A stellar voice-over

by Ron Perlman sets the tone. Earth’s last stand against the coming apocalypse stars Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba and Rinko Kikuchi (Babel). The dialogue is beyond corny, but does that matter? No one is seeing this for an awardwinning screenplay. Beings upwards of 25 stories high that could snack on the puny Autobots? That’s the reason. And here’s five reasons why it totally works.

1. Too Big Even for

IMAX. Pacific Rim is the biggest movie of the year.

How big? The immense Kaijus rarely fit on a “tiny” IMAX screen. Their heads, or even just their grinning sets of teeth, often take up the entire frame. We don’t mean a close-up, either. We mean with whole cars and other man-made thingsin that shot, too—you know, for scale. Ditto the slow-moving, heavy-hitting mechanized Jaegers. A Smash Bros.-style brawl off the coast of Hong Kong is the highlight.

2. Idris Elba + Charlie Hunnam = Great Team!

As Raleigh Becket, the Sons of Anarchy star looks hunky in his robot-controlling suit. As Stacker Pentecost, Idris brings total authority to the proceedings as a commander who once piloted his own Jaeger. If only the duo drifted the same one!

Raleigh’s actual partner is pretty awesome though…

3. Rinko Kikuchi + Charlie Hunnam = Even Better Team! One of the

best non-mechanized scenes pits Mako (Kikuchi) against Raleigh. Both must prove their mettle with martial arts—but more importantly, they must do so in perfect sync.

Robots, monsters and actual hand-to-hand fighting, too. What more do you want?

4. Charlie Day In Wacky Mode, Ron Perlman Still a Hellraiser.

The biggest knock against any monster spectacle: Being stuck watching actors endlessly ramble on about whatever in between battles. Luckily, Perlman shows off his sci-

fi acting chops as a bootlegger of Kaiju remains.

Day is (mostly) funny as monster-lovin’ scientist Dr. Newton Geiszler.

5. Guillermo del Toro: Master of Miniature-Humans-in-Peril Moments.

As he demonstrated in Pan’s Labyrinth, the creature-feature filmmaker can be downright diabolical when it comes to putting little tykes too close to giant ooze-filled creatures.

Here, terrified Mana Ashida plays young Mako, prekick-butt days. She even wears a coat similar to the one Ivana Baquero wore in Pan’s. E! News

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Alcohol, substances found in Montieth’s hotel room NEW details have emerged about the tragic death of Cory Monteith Sources tell E! News that “numerous amounts of alcohol” and other as yet unidentified substances were allegedly found in the late Glee star’s hotel room Saturday. (An official cause of death will not be revealed until an autopsy takes place and results are released later this week.)

Cory, 31, had reportedly been “partying with his friends” at “at least one club” in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighborhood Friday night, according to a source. “Yes, he had recently been drinking alcohol, but not to the extent there was any alcohol poisoning kind of impact,” says the source.

According to surveillance footage, the source said, Lea Michele’s love returned “alone” to the Fairmont Pacific Hotel “a little after two in the morning.”

The video showed that “no one but Cory entered that room” until Saturday afternoon, when a member of the housekeeping staff, believing the room to be vacant, walked in.

A source also confirms there was a bottle of wine in his room, however, it is customary at the hotel in which Monteith was staying to gift a bottle to each of its guests.

Meanwhile, as for the unidentified substances found, a source tells E! News investigators are

not assuming any connection between them and a possible cause of death “just in case he also had an underlying medical condition.” (Cory’s family and personal doctors have reportedly been contacted “to determine if there were any contributing factors, such as a heart condition.” All information provided was passed on to the corner.)

There were no signs of foul play.

“When all the facts are made public, it will become obvious why police were able to conclude their part of the investigation in the first 24 hours,” says a source.

As of Monday morning, the 21st floor of the Fairmont Pacific Hotel, where Monteith’s room was located, remains blocked off. Sources say all other guests occupying the floor were asked to move to a new location within the hotel due to the sudden death. E! News

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Kate Middleton to give birth to royal baby ‘by the End of the Week’?

THE world is awaiting the arrival of the royal baby, and according to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, we don’t have to wait too much longer!

On Monday, Prince Charles’ wife reportedly told well-wishers at Little Harbour children’s hospice, located near St. Austell, Cornwall, that the family expects Kate Middleton to give birth “by the end of the week.”

“We are all just waiting by the telephone,” Camilla said in an impromptu speech. “We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she will be here.”

Kate’s mom, Carole Middleton, reportedly expects the little prince or princess to be a Leo, meaning his or her birthdate would fall between July 23 and August 22.

Specifically, though, Carole claims the child’s due date is July 22, 2013, which would make him or her fall under the astrological sign of Cancer.

Grandmummy, however, seems to be accounting on Kate going into delivery at least slightly later than her due date.

And members of Kate’s and Prince William’s fami-

lies aren’t the only ones placing bets on when the royal baby will arrive!

Online betting site William Hill seems to back Camilla’s statement, giving odds of 3 to 1 that the baby will be born Tuesday, 3 to 1 on Wednesday, 6 to 1 Thursday, 9 to 1 Friday and 10 to 1 for Saturday. On July 22, what Carole reportedly claims to be the baby’s due date, the site gives 16 to 1 odds of the royal baby being born. After that, the odds diminish for the remainder of July. The site also predicts 20 to 1 odds that the baby will be born anytime in August.

According to Metro, an estimated £1 million ($1.5 million) has already been gambled in the United Kingdom on details surrounding the baby. Coral, a U.K. betting site, reports that one individual has put a £5,000 ($7,543!) bet on Kate having a girl, at odds of 4 to 5.

“Punters have gone royal baby betting mad, and we are taking bets on the new arrival every hour across the nation,” the site’s PR manager, Nicola McGeady, said, noting betters are also taking a gamble on the

baby’s name, weight and hair color. “Turnover has soared and in particular more and more female punters are coming through the doors or going online to make their predictions.”

The betting community seems to have it all figured out, too. McGeady explained, “If the money talks, then the newest heir to the throne will be a 7-pound brunette princess named Alexandra, born sometime in the morning.”

Not everyone can really afford to gamble away their cash, but should the royal baby ever decide to take some chances with their money, it’ll probably be A-OK. It’s been reported that the future prince or princess could stand to inherit a staggering 1 billion pounds, based on immediate family members’ wealth.

But not to worry: The royal baby’s also going to help put cash into other Brits pockets! According to the Centre for Retail Research, British retail sales will get a $376 million increase from the birthdate in July through August.

Impressive!. E! News

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PACIFIC RIM 3D Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba PG 13

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R-16 PACIFIC RIM 2D Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba PG 13

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EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

HEALTH

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Childhood spanking may lead to adult obesity and other diseases THE next time your child misbehaves, think twice about lifting your hand.

Childhood spanking can put children at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and adult obesity, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Manitoba in Winnepeg, Canada examined the association between physical punishment and physical health problems in children.

The study compiled data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected in 2004 — 34,226 participants, 20 years of age or older, were analyzed in this study. Researchers considered the participants who were physically punished as children as those who responded “sometimes or greater” to the question on how frequently they were spanked. In addition, the authors of the study also reviewed whether the participants were affected by eight physical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and adult obesity.

The findings of the study showed that harsh physical punishment was affiliated with adult obesity at 24 percent and arthritis at 35 percent, and the risk of cardiovascular disease was significant only after adjustment, said the authors.

“Kids need discipline,” said Tracie Afifi, lead researcher of the study. “But it shouldn’t involve physical force.” While the results of the study do not affirm that physical punishment directly affects a child’s health, they do show that it is a factor in the risk of the developing diseases later in life. According to the American Psychological Association, while Americans’ acceptance of physical punishment has fallen since the 1960s, two-thirds of the country still approves of parents spanking their children.

Dr. Fran Walfish, child, couple, and family psychotherapist, shared with Medical Daily her book Parenting in 3-D that offers alternate strategies for discipline that can build self-esteem in your child and give you — the parent — full control of their behavior.

Walfish believes that having open communication with your child will help avoid issues, such as lying and drug and alcohol use later in life.

“The child ultimately learns healthy expression of all feelings, including perceived negative emotions,” says Walfish, regarding the achievement made after children feel that their parents “get” them.

Here are some tips that Warfish suggests can help you effectively discipline your child without spanking.

Think Before You Speak A child will often act out of powerful feelings and may not want to listen to anything that you, the parent, has to say. While it is easy to retaliate and raise your voice to establish authority, it is best to first take a deep breath and think before you speak.

“Acknowledge out loud that you see your child is

angry. Say with warmth, sincerity, and empathy, “I see you are angry at me.

I’m the kind of mom who really wants to hear about it right to my face. Tell me more about how mad you are at me,” says Walfish.

Establishing a calm and clear dialogue with your children will make them feel more at ease to open up to you and explain why they feel a particular way.

The absence of screaming can do wonders for the communication between a parent and a child.

Verbally Narrate Your Child’s Desires and Feelings When you as a parent acknowledge your children’s feelings directly to them, they will be more prone to listen to you, Children want to be reassured that their parent understands them, especially when they can’t always verbally express how they feel. Children tend to use their actions more so than words, so parents can understand the severity of the situation.

“The key here is to say it with empathy so your child knows you feel for [him or] her,” says Walfish.

Create Boundaries In order for your children to effectively listen

to you when you delegate a task to them, Walfish suggests guiding them toward their responsibility. For example, if a child refuses to bathe, walk him or her into the bathroom and help your child get into the tub. Gently pushing children toward their responsibility will assure that they listen. Steer away from feelings of anger; it won’t help your child take a bath.

“Do not give your child too much slack. The more slack in the rope, the harder it is to rein them in,” Warfish says. Loving your child is only half of the job; the other is establishing boundaries.

Equip Your Child With Coping Skills Parents often tell their children that if they achieve a task, then will get compensated for it. While this can often alleviate the struggle of getting your child to do something, it can also harm their psyche. Gadgets and gifts for their struggles can be done in moderation, but it is best to talk directly about the child’s feelings and confront the situation.

“Equip [him or] her with coping skills by allowing [him or] her to feel [his or] disappointments,” says Walfish.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 •WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

WORLD UNIVERSIADE

Wesley strikes gold • Davao’s Palero finishes tied for 52nd

Final standings: Men 6.5 points -- W. So (Philippines), Z. Andriasian (Armenia), Li Chao (China), Ma Qun (China), M. Matlakov (Russia), Zhou Jianchao (China), E. Alekseev (Russia), J. Tomczak (Poland), S. Sugirov (Russia)

6 -- R. Hovhannisyan (Armenia), B. Amin (Egypt), M.Georgescu (Romania), V. Durarbayli (Azerbaijan), D. Andeikin (Russia), Yu Yangyi (China).

K

AZAN, Russia – The Philippines’ GM Wesley So finally struck for gold in the 27th Summer Universiade—the equivalent of the Olympics among collegiate athletes— while Davao’s Mary Israel Palero finished in a tie for 52nd to 61st in a field littered with the world’s best.

So practically did it the hard way.

He defeated former world junior champion GM Zaven Andriasian of Armenia in the tensely-fought, Armaged-

don-style playoff match to determine the rightful winner of the coveted Universiade gold at the Kazan Equestrian Complex here Monday (Tuesday, Manila time).

So and Andriasian, who battled to a draw in the ninth and final round earlier in the day, finished in a heavy nine-way tie for first place with 6.5 points at the end of the prestigious,nine-round competition held in this popular Tatarstan city now billed as the ‹Sports Capital› of Russia.

The two players again

finished in a tie after three tiebreaks, forcing the Armageddon game.

Andriasian, who won the world junior championship in Yerevan in 2006, won the toss coin and chose to play white against So. The rest is chess history.

“I really did my best, especially in the Armageddon game, to win the Universaide gold medal for our country. It was not easy because there were many good players here,” said the 19-year-old Filipino champion, whose campaign here is being supported by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Agri-Nurture, Inc. (ANI), Bestank, Healthy Options and Cobra Energy Drinks.

Overall, So finished with four wins and five

draws for 6.5 points, the same score of Andriasian, GM Li Chao of China, GM Ma Qun of China, GM Maxim Matlakov of Russia, GM Zhou Jianchao of China, GM Evgeny alekseev of Russia, GM Jacek Tomczak of Poland and GM Sanan Sugirov of Russia.

So, Adriasian and Li finished tied in the first tiebreak -- Buchholz -- with 47.5 Then, So and Andriasian tied after the second BH tiebreak, 43.0, and sent Li Chao out with only 42.5. In the third tiebreak, SB, they tied again at 35.50, forcing the Armageddon.

Initially, tournament officials wanted to give two golds -- one for So and Andriasian -- but decided to hold an Armageddon game that lasted late into the night since FISU rules state that there should

only be one gold medal..

The 24-year-old Andriasian, who finished fourth in the Shezhen Univesiade in China two years ago, opened with Nf3 and So replied with c5, the same openingmoves of their ninthround encounter. But this time, Andriasian chose to attack on the queenside while So pushed forward on the kingside.

When the end came, So was threatening Adriasian with a mate in one after 51...Rb1+.

“The Armageddon game was not easy. It all came down to nerve,” said five-time women’s world

champion and SPICE founder Susan Polgar.

«Wesley had an unlucky break by being the third seed, which means he had five black and only four white.

Wesley is significantly stronger with white than black,» explained Polgar, who is widely credited for the vast improvement in So’s overall game since taking him in under her wings at the SPICEWebster University in Missouri.

Earlier, Andriasian battled So on even terms, took a slight positional lead and offered a draw to So.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD Southern Mindanao Region, Davao City

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that KISAN LU LANDS & DEVELOPMENT, INC. (developer/developer)/SURICO, INC,EUFROSINA G. TAN AND THELMA K. PANGANIBAN ET. AL. (owners) has filed with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, a sworn registration statement for the sale of lots at AMIYA RESIDENCES 2 located at BagoGallera, Talomo District, Davao City specifically identified/described as LoT 236-A to C,Psd-126314; Lot No.246, Lot 238-I-1, Psd-11-013885; Lot 238-H-1,Psd-11-013885; Lot 238-A to B,Psd-186108; Lot 240-A-2-A-2-B, Psd-209772; Lots 1 to 6, Pcs-112403-001668 that the registration statement and all papers attached thereto are available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon and upon proper application; and that copies thereof shall be furnished to such person upon payment of the proper fee.

Any person with valid objection to the registration of the project may file his objection in writing with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, 2nd Floor G. B. CAM Bldg., corner Alvarez & Monteverde Sts., Davao City with telephone no.

222-2895, not later than five (5) days from the date of last publication.

Davao City, Philippines, 24th day of June 2013.

ATTY. RM MGUEL T. PALMA GIL Regional Director

16

EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 6 ISSUE 88 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Pacman is done if he gets KO’d - Roach A

familiar ritual is about to begin for Manny Pacquiao.

The Filipino superstar is about to embark on a promotional tour for his next fight, a Nov. 24 match in Macau, China, against Brandon Rios.

Pacquiao will, beginning later this month, do a media blitz in Macau then head to Beijing and Shanghai before coming to the U.S. He’ll make

stops in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles to end the tour.

Not long after, he’ll begin training camp.

It will be an important camp for Pacquiao, perhaps as important as any he’s ever held.

It is no stretch to say that his career hangs in the balance.

Pacquiao is coming off back-to-back losses, to Juan Manuel Marquez

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

and Timothy Bradley Jr. He lost a hotly disputed decision to Bradley, but was knocked cold

by Marquez in the sixth round of the fourth bout between them.

Manny Pacquiao was flattened by Juan Manuel Marquez in December.

(AP Photo) Roach expects a knockout in the Pacquiao-Rios fight and said if it is Pacquiao who

Pacquiao

winds up being KO’d, that will be the finale of a Hall of Fame career.

Many years ago, as the relationship between Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach grew closer, Pacquiao promised Roach he’d walk away from the game when his trainer told him it was time.

Roach said he would recommend retirement if Pacquiao were knocked

out by Rios in their payper-view bout.

“It’s over, 100 percent [if Pacquiao is knocked out by Rios],” Roach said.

“We have a deal. When I tell him it’s over, he’ll say it’s over and that’s it. He’s pretty loyal with his words and if that happens, it will be the end.”

Roach, though, isn’t expecting to have to make that call. Pacquiao hasn’t shown the signs

of decline that has led Roach to tell numerous other fighters, including James Toney and Bernard Hopkins, that it is time to step aside.

Pacquiao will be a few weeks shy of his 35th birthday when he steps into the ring to meet Rios.

He’s at an age where it is common for fighters to begin to slip, but Roach insists he’s seen none of it.

Froome furious over doping accusations

A

S the Tour de France reached its second rest day yesterday, there was much debate over where Chris Froome’s spectacular lone victory on Mont Ventoux on Sunday ranked among cycling’s great rides – and, it was time, too, for a fresh layer of speculation and suspicion, which any such performance now inevitably provokes.

First, the good news: Froome being the first rider to win on Ventoux dressed in yellow since Eddy Merckx in 1970 drew comparisons with the great Belgian. Attacking as he did seven kilometres from the line of the Tour’s hardest climb, catching and dropping Nairo Quintana and riding himself into a state of total exhaustion to the point where he needed oxygen was suggestive of a rider as driven to win as “The Cannibal”.

Froome is not a Marco Pantani or a Charly Gaul, one of the lightly built mountain climbers who, for decades, have blasted away on the Tour’s steepest ascents

with scant regard for the gravity which holds down mere mortals.

His crucial acceleration when he dropped his main rival Alberto Contador and effectively netted both stage win and probably the Tour outright – seated, legs flailing and elbows out – was anything but elegant.

“He looked like a junior racer,” Nicolas Portal, Sky’s sports director said, “were it not that he was in yellow.”

However, L’Equipe’s “Froome Naturellement” front-page headline yesterday was arguably as ambiguous as their “Extra-Terrestre” when one Lance Armstrong soared away for another key mountaintop win back in the 1999 Tour. L’Equipe presumably meant that after such strong individual performances in the race and in the season, it was only normal that Froome should hammer the opposition.

However by the afternoon, as French television headlines read “The Tour Under Suspi- VMO ‘s Christopher “Bong” Go drives past a Moonbeam defender in the second quarcion”, the sense of déjà ter of their semifinal game Sunday night at the Davao City Recreation Center. Lean vu was becoming ines- Daval Jr.