Edge Davao 7 Issue 123

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PRAYER IS GOOD BUT I NEED CASH. An apparently ultra-religious lady lays her hand on a beggar’s forehead while offering a prayer -- instead of her giving alms -- for her outside Sta. Ana Church along Sta. Ana Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

DPWH: WE WILL COMPLY WITH MAYOR’S ORDER THE BIG NEWS Page2

INSIDE EDGE

GILAS EARNS GLOBAL RESPECT SPORTS page 16

CONFUSION MARS OATH

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

ONFUSION marred the oath taking of the new set of officers and chairpersons of the committees of the Davao City Council yesterday after it was halted for more than 30 minutes due to conflicting rules interpretations.

Mewly elected Majority Floor Leader councilor Bernard Al-ag was about to make a motion for the oath taking of the new set of officers when outgoing assistant floor leader councilor Bonifacio Militar intervened and questioned the authority of the presiding officer under the house

rules.

Councilor Karlo Bello, who is the acting presiding officer, said that he was “assigned” to be the acting presiding in the absence of the vice Mayor. Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte was on sick leave yester-

FCONFUSION, 10

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

BLOOD BUCKET CHALLENGE. Leaders of progressive groups get douse with buckets of fake blood to express their grievances against the administration of President Benigno Aquino during a press conference held at Freedom Park yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Cruz retires, Baladad is new Eastmincom commander

DPWH: WE WILL COMPLY Warned by Mayor Duterte, DPWH 11 says it will follow requirements

By FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA

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AJOR General Aurelio B. Baladad is set to assume as the new Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command to replace Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III who will retire from the military service on September 6.

Baladad will be the 8th Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the Philippine Military Academy and a member of the “Sandigan” Class of 1982.

Prior to his designation

as Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, he was the Commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and was the former Commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.

In 2012, he was assigned as the Assistant Division Commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division in Bicol region.

Baladad will be formally installed on September 5, with AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. as the presiding officer.

Mindanao-based journalists learn basics of climate change

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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BOUT 50 media practitioners attended the one-day workshop on climate change held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.

Most of the participants were from Davao but there were those who traveled all the way from Cagayan de Oro City and Surigao City.

“This workshop hopes to provide participants with science-based information on climate change adaptation and mitigation, articulate major issues and concerns, pro-

vide tools and resources that would facilitate and serve as input for climate change reporting,” Climate Change Commission (CCC) Assistant Secretary Joyceline A. Goco said during the opening program.

In her lecture, Dr. Rosa T. Perez explained the difference between climate change and global warming. “When you speak of global warming, it is very limiting. We want to avoid misconceptions. All parts of the globe are warming but it isn’t true since some parts might be cold. Glob-

FMINDANAO, 10

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao City will comply with the requirement set by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte before it proceeds with its road projects.

DPWH Davao City First Engineering District Construction Chief Milagros E. delos Reyes told Edge Davao in an inter-

view that her office will abide by the mayor’s order to get a permit first before any road project is implemented.

Duterte had lashed out at the DPWH and other agencies for digging up roads in the city and then taking their time completing the projects, causing massive traffic jams on a daily basis.

He also said he had noticed that in some projects, particularly the Governor Generoso Bridge 2 in Bankerohan, there are sometimes only two workers on site.

Duterte then said he will require the DPWH and other agencies to get a permit first from his office before they are allowed to proceed with

as weight, blood pressure and blood cholesterol. In fact, Filipino patients with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar remains uncontrolled.

“The westernized Filipino diet and sedentary lifestyle contribute to the increasing prevalence of type-2 diabetes in the Philippines,” says Dr. Araceli A. Panelo, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation Inc. (ISDFI) and Professor at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC).

Recognizing the difficulties being experienced by adult patients with Type 2 diabetes, pharmaceutical

company, AstraZeneca, has developed a new oral medication that will aid Filipinos with Diabetes manage their situation better.

“With patients continually struggling to manage diabetes despite available treatments, our commitment in AstraZeneca is to discover and develop innovative medicines that will address the unmet needs of these patients ”, ” says Dr. Chinnie Tan-Pineda, Medical and Regulatory Affairs Director of AstraZeneca Philippines.

The oral medication, Dapagliflozin, developed

by AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, is a selective and

their projects.

Delos Reyes said they already conducted a meeting pertaining to their project completion because their main concern is the traffic jams that are being created.

She said one reason for the delay is that workers can only work at night.

“We cannot work at

FDPWH, 10

Convenient solution for diabetes patients

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simpler more convenient solution for type 2 diabetes patients to better manage their condition is now in the market courtesy of pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

The once-a-day oral medication is meant to aid type 2 diabetes manage their condition better through the removal of excess glucose and its associated calories in the urine.

Diabetes is a chronic progressive disease that is complex to manage.

Most of the Filipino patients with diabetes are struggling to control their blood sugar levels, as well as its co-morbidities such

reversible inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) that works independently of insulin to help flush out surplus sugar, thus reducing blood sugar levels The breakthrough in the product lies in its ability to lower blood glucose levels by filtering glucose out from the body through urine, removing accompanying calories as well.

The novel drug is to be used as a supplement to diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control alone, or in combinations with other oral glucose-lowering medicinal products, such as metformin as well as insulin.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

Prioritize water conservation: Sering

3

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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LIMATE Change Commission Vice Chairperson Secretary Lucille Sering said that the conservation and conscientious usage of water should be prioritized due to an impending long dry spell seen in Mindanao by 2020.

Sering made her statement last Monday during culmination of the climate change media workshop held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

The secretary said that it is her main concern to identify the priority for the usage of water in the island.

“The DPWH was tasked by the president to come up with an institutional reform or structure on how to govern water, and for Mindanao we have to be very active in identifying what would be our priority for use of

our water especially on areas where water will be less in terms of rainfall,” Sering said.

As of the moment the commission is working hand in hand with the Department of Energy on the vulnerability assessment especially that the renewable energy law was passed without it.

“In short, Mindanao will have to look out solar power plant because solar doesn’t use water, coal does,” Sering said.

“Yung ibang cost hindi asi na factor in eh! Ang tiningnan lang ay kung pano gawin at pano patayuin ang coal at tyaka pano patayuin ang solar eh! Yung other cost, Yung water?” Sering added She also added that she

Councilor January Duterte giggles as press photographers snap some shots of her son, Uno, during last Tuesday’s regular City Council session at the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Lean Daval Jr.

Two BOC officials in Davao del Sur sees $20B Davao face graft charges in 2 foreign investments FPRIORITIZE, 10

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

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N estimated $20 billion in combined investments are about to be poured in the province of Davao del Sur as two foreign shipbuilding company expressed interest in expansion in the municipalities of Sta. Cruz and Malita by next year.

Davao del Sur Governor Claude Bautista told Edge Davao that one of the firms is the Hanjin Heavy Industries Corporation Philippines, a South Korean company which already has a shipyard in Redondo Peninsula on the northern edge of Subic Bay. “It is part of the company’s expansion process overseas,” Bautista said, adding that construction of the Hanjin’s second shipyard will start next year. It built its facility in Redondo Peninsula in 2006.

Bautista said the South Korean firm is planning to put the shipyard on 272 hectares of industrial park that is now being established in a property of a certain Almendras located in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Bautista did not give any further details on the expansion of the other firm but said the company, which is Japanese, is eyeing an area in an industrial area in Malita, Davao del Sur that will soon be the capital of the new Davao Occidental province.

Each foreign company is expected to generate an estimated 20,000 jobs purely for welders. Bautista said that it may go up because working personnel for other departments like human resource and administration are not yet

FDAVAO, 10

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WO intelligence officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in this city are now facing graft charges for allegedly demanding money from a South Korean businessman engaged in importing surplus knock down vehicles.

Accused of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here are BOC intelligence officer Mark Cabigting Paras and BOC Intelligence and Investigation Service assistant Office-in-charge Bievenido Labalan Plata.

In a resolution, Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Vivian Jumilla of the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao found sufficient basis to hold

Paras and Plata for trial in court based on the complaint filed by Park Kwon, President of the PK Industries and Trading Services.

Jumilla accused the two BOC officials of using their positions to demand money from Park Kwon, whose company is engaged in importation of surplus knock down parts and components for rebuilding and replacement of various vehicles since 2003.

The complainant said he previously faced a smuggling case before the BOC but it was dismissed on October 13, 2009.

He said on March 21, 2012, he was informed

by PK Industries Customs Processor Joy Lyn dela Peña that Paras requested a conference with him.

At the conference, the complainant said Paras informed him of the container vans to be arriving which were consigned to PK Industries.

During that time, at least 15 container vans were scheduled to arrive.

The complainant said Paras told him to pay P3,000 per container van which he refused to do so since he had just recovered from a fire incident that caused damages on his business.

But he said Paras “arrogantly” told him that he is selling assembled cars as if he violated the country’s Tariff and Customs Code.

To avoid trouble, the complainant said he walked out of Paras’ office but he paid taxes and

DOH: Filipino nurse with MERS-CoV arrived in PH

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NO EXEMPTION. Unmindful of a sign, a marked police vehicle is parked along Roxas Avenue in Davao City where parking is strictly prohibited. Lean Daval Jr.

duties for his shipments which were subsequently released.

Paras denied the allegations hurled against him and even questioned Park Kwon’s authority as importer, claiming that he is not an incorporator of PK Industries.

Plata, on the other hand, admitted that he was building a case against PK Industries for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code.

Assessing all the evidence on record, Ombudsman investigation and prosecution officer Jumilla ruled that the respondents failed to “overturn evidence” presented by the complainant.

Jumilla also found conspiracy between Paras and Plata. (PNA)

NOTHER overseas Filipino worker (OFW) infected with the MERS Coronavirus arrived in the Philippines, the health department said on Wednesday, September 3.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said in a press briefing Wednesday that two female nurses from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, arrived in the Philippines via a Saudi Airlines flight on Friday, August 29.

Health authorities from Saudi Arabia conducted a health check on the two nurses on Monday, August 25, and one of the nurses tested positive for MERS. “Both of them [are] working in the same hospital. Tinesting sila kasi nga sa hospital where they work, mayroong nagkaroon ng MERS Coronavirus (They were tested because

someone in the hospital where they work in had the MERS Coronavirus),” Ona explained.

The nurses’ supervisor relayed the news to one of the nurses, who in turn informed the Department of Health (DOH) early morning Tuesday, September 2.

The nurse who tested positive, a 37-year-old Filipina from General Santos City, was located Tuesday in South Cotabato and was already admitted at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Her specimen was sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for further testing and confirmation. Results of the test are expected late Wednesday.

Before going back to the province, she first

FDOH, 10

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

DOLE-12 releases P19.3M livelihood grants T

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 12 yesterday released around P19.3 million worth of livelihood packages to poor and marginalized residents from various parts of the region.

Ofelia Domingo, DOLE Region 12 director, said the livelihood grants were part of the region’s allocation this year under DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) and the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) program.

She said the beneficiaries include self-employed workers with insufficient income, marginalized and landless farmers, unpaid family workers, parents of child laborers, low-wage and seasonal workers and workers displaced or affected by natural and man-made disasters.

The livelihood packages, which are composed of starter kits for small business ventures, will mainly assist the beneficiaries in starting their own income-generating

projects, she said.

DOLE-12 officials released the livelihood grants in a simple ceremony in Koronadal City that was attended by the beneficiaries and some local government officials.

“We decided to release all the grants in one event to save time in going to areas where the beneficiaries are situated or based,” Domingo said.

The grants were released to DILEEP proponents that comprise the Family of Impaired Massage Association; Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Employees Association; Antipas Banana Workers Cooperative; San Vicente Academy Educational Service Cooperative; Adventures Multi-Purpose Cooperative; city government of Cotabato; provincial government of Sultan Kudarat; city government of Kidapawan; municipal government of Maasim in Sarangani; municipal government of Isulan in Sultan Kudarat; and, the municipal governments of Pigkawayan, M’lang, and Kabacan in North Co-

Just one of the 11,000 trees planted by the Aboitiz group in Mindanao in one day. tabato.

Under the GPB program, the beneficiaries were the local governments of Midsayap in North Cotabato, Lebak in Sultan Kudarat and Koronadal City.

Domingo said the DILEEP beneficiaries had

proposed for the availment of starter kits and NegoKarts as well as projects such as massage therapy clinic, rice trading, motor parts and servicing shop, brassware making, fish buy and sell and consumer goods and services.

The DILEEP seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers through emergency employment and promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprises.

The program’s components are the Kabuhayan or livelihood program and emergency employment program, which is also dubbed Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD. (PNA)

tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-United States Department of Commerce; and, Director Asis Perez of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has confirmed to attend the congress’ closing ceremony, which will be highlighted by the presentation of conference resolutions to the national government.

Major topics that will be discussed in the congress include the market prospects of halal tuna in the Middle East; developments in Indonesia’s tuna fishing industry; tuna handlining in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean; tuna fishery and climate change; ASEAN regional approach to sustainable growth; and, the impact of ASEAN integration to the Asian tuna trade.

Dubbed the country’s “tuna capital,” this city has hosted the National Tuna Congress since it was first staged 15 years ago.

The city hosts six of the country’s seven tuna canneries and other related ventures that generate an average of nearly USD 300 million in annual export receipts. (PNA)

HE provincial government of South Cotabato is set to establish a special unit for abused women and children at the provincial hospital in Koronadal City.

South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes yesterday said they signed an agreement with non-government group Child Protection Network Foundation (CPNF) for the opening and maintenance of the special ward, which will be called Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU).

She said the operationalization of the special unit will ensure the proper handling of abused women and children who will need medical attention or treatment at the provincial hospital.

South Cotabato is so far the first local government unit in the entire Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region that will put up a WCPU. “This is part of our commitment to provide the necessary health care and psychological services to our abused women and children,” she said.

Fuentes said the special unit will be established inside the provincial hospital and will exclusively cater to the needs of abused women and children, especially if they need to undergo

check-ups and other services.

Aside from the opening of the WCPU, the local government will develop a training program to properly equip doctors and nurses regarding its operationalization.

It will focus on the provision of competent and thorough medical care to women and children who are victims of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, she said.

“With the establishment and operationalization of the WCPU, we’re hoping that cases of domestic violence and child-related abuses in the province will eventually be reduced,” Fuentes said.

Lawyer Katrina Legarda, director of the National Network of Child Protection Units, explained that abused women and children in the area will now have a place “to come to seek medical services without fear that information about them would leak.”

“The unit will serve as one-stop services area where we could provide the victim with medico-legal examination, physical and medical treatment, sexually transmitted infection assessment and laboratory tests, social case study, police investigation, case referral and endorsement,” she said. (PNA)

Tuna industry players gather in GenSan for 16th national congress T A

ROUND 500 tuna industry players will gather here today (Thursday) to discuss fresh strategies on further improving the competitiveness of the country’s tuna exports in the expanding global markets.

Joaquin Lu, president of the Socksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc (SFFAII), said this year’s two-day National Tuna Congress will center on “bringing the Philippine Tuna to greater heights and making quality the forefront of trade strategy.”

He said the industry needs to rationalize its efforts so it could properly compete in the existing and emerging tuna export markets.

“International markets continue to influence each other, supply chains continue to grow increasingly international in scope, and more are required to consider and align to different standards. Today’s global climate brings both challenges and opportunities, and in the face of both, we must continue and strengthened our resolve for a more and competitive Philippine Tuna,” Lu said.

Now on its 16th year, the congress carries the

theme “Shared Resources, Shared Responsibility” and will be held at the SM General Santos Trade Hall.

SFFAII, which is the main organizer of the tuna congress, has invited foreign fishery officials, experts and tuna players to join the congress that is supported by the city government of General Santos and other government and private entities.

Lu said this year’s conference theme is very timely “to scale up our cause – to harness local or regional efforts and foster a single, collective and global strategy; to align our plans and specific steps with internationally recognized programs; and to be more ambitious and ensure that what we do now in the preservation of our marine resources can be passed and enjoyed by many generations to come.”

“Reaching a global scale of tuna fishery management is indeed daunting for it would require more than getting comprehensive and scientific studies into gear, or innovating more profitable business plans, or even laying down new policies and regulations towards conserving our tuna stock,” he noted.

Lu, who is also the con-

ference chairperson, said the gathering will feature keynote speakers “who are eager to inspire participants of how quality has been successful through the years, present latest methodologies, and will connect industry players nationwide.”

It will bring a forum of ideas and a network of thought leaders, experts, and peers eager to share the best practices, market updates, tested solutions and proven results, he said.

Rosanna Bernadette Contreras, SFFAII executive director, said Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food, will keynote the congress’ opening on Thursday afternoon.

Among the speakers who have confirmed are Gil Herico, the Philippine agriculture attache to the United Arab Emirates; Dr. Ir. Santoso, Director General-Fisheries Product Processing and Marketing, Ministry of Marine and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia; Dr. Chumnarn Pongsri, Secretary-General of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center; Keith Bigelow, fisheries scientist of Na-

SoCot to establish women, children protection unit in provincial hospital

THE ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Agus-Pulangui to fully shut down next year for rehab E

NERGY Secretary Jericho Petilla yesterday said the shutdown of Agus-Pulangui Plant, the sole hydropower plant in Mindanao, is set with the opening of the Aboitiz Power Plant and a new plant in Sarangani next year.

“With the coming of Aboitiz with 300 Megawatts (MW) and Sarangani next year, we have enough plants. Now, we can hopefully fast-track the rehabilitation of the hydropower plant,” Petilla said during the hearing of Department of Energy (DOE) proposed budget for 2015 at the House of Representatives committee on appropriations.

He said the DOE is focused on the rehabilitation of hydropower plants nationwide.

“Basically, the budget allocated to hydropower complex is to improve it,” he said.

Petilla said, the Agus-Pulangui hydrocomplex was supposed to undergo upgrading from January 2014 to March 2016.

“In Agus-Pulangui VI, upgrading is 30 months minimum. We can shorten the gap if we turn it off.

That’s why it’s 30 months because we can’t turn it off,” he said.

The P472.148 million needed for Agus’ rehabilitation will come from either operations and from the DOE budget in 2015, he said.

Petilla noted that the energy department has been asking for the rehabilitation status of the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM), yet no details have been provided as of

A worker delivers trays of fresh farm eggs to one of the wholesalers at Agdao Public Market in Davao City yesterday. The price of fresh farm eggs is expected to drop due to the increasing supply. Lean Daval Jr. this time.

The DOE has proposed a P3.13 billion budget

for 2015, aside from the P974.309 million collection of fees and revenues

from the exploration, development, and exploitation of energy resources.

The two will be combined to fill in the needs of the agency. (PNA)

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

PHL lands 52nd place in latest Global Competitiveness Report T

HE Philippines has ranked 52nd in the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2014-2015 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which was published Wednesday.

The country improved its ranking by seven notches from last year’s 59th spot and bested 85

economies around the globe.

The GCR 2014-2015 measures competitiveness of 144 countries through the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) which has 12 pillars: (1) institutions, (2) infrastructure, (3) macroeconomic environment, (4) health and primary education,

(5) higher education and training, (6) goods market efficiency, (7) labor market efficiency, (8) financial market development, (9) technological readiness, (10) market size, (11) business sophistication, and (12) innovation.

Overall score of the Philippines in the latest WEF GCR is 4.4.

Among the 12 pillars, the GCR noted that the Philippines has highest scores in macroeconomic environment at 5.8 and ranked 26th; market size with score of 4.7 and ranked 35th; and health and primary education with score of 4.4 and ranked 64th.

Within Southeast Asia,

the Philippines’ competitiveness placed 5th behind Singapore at rank 2, Malaysia at rank 5, Thailand at rank 31, and Indonesia at rank 34.

Next to the Philippines were Vietnam which placed at 68th, Cambodia at 88th place, Lao PDR at 93rd place, and Myanmar at 134th place.

Brunei Darussalam was not assessed for GCR 2014-2015.

The 10 most competitive countries in the world are Switzerland, Singapore, United States, Finland, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Sweden, respectively.

(PNA)

first quarter is at P574.3 billion, P604.5 billion for the second quarter, P551 billion for the third quarter, and P554.5 billion for the fourth quarter.

Abad attributed the lower-than-programmed deficit to “institutional and structural problems.”

He said there are also some agency-specific problems because of the failure of the government agencies to meet the new requirements.

For one, farm-to-market roads and irrigation projects are now required to have a geo-mapping so that the projects can be seen, monitored, and validated even through Google Map. Abad said they have programmed to release P12 billion for farm-tomarket road projects but because of the geo-tagging issue only P4 billion has been released so far. ”We are insisting that we will not release them (funds) unless they (the projects) are geo-tagged,” he said, pointing out that this is part of the government’s reform agenda to

address corruption.

Abad explained that implementation of these governance reforms “will take a while but once the agencies are able to familiarize with the new system we will move faster.”

Another reason for the lower government spending in the first half of the year is the delay in the release of funds intended for conditional cash transfer (CCT) program beneficiaries.

This was partly attributed to the relocation or movement of people who were affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), particularly in Eastern Visayas, last November.

The late release of billing for collectibles for Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits is another factor in lower government spending.

Abad said some P35 billion was spent last June alone for PhilHealth-related expenses.

He said economic managers remain positive that the government will be able to meet the govern-

ment’s expenditure program to boost domestic growth.

He said they “are hoping that we can hit the maximum because as I’ve said we want to spend as much as we can.”

“If you go by experience we have really been below program on the deficit cap but as I’ve said as much as possible I want to hit the maximum to keep the economy moving,” he said.

He also noted that if the government was able to

meet its spending program for the second quarter of the year growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), would have reached the seven percent level. ”We’re still thinking that the third quarter can even be better than the second quarter. If you look at the expenditure growth it’s zero growth. So we can in fact accelerate spending more and it’s certainly a good signal to the private sector that the government

wants to intensify development,” he said.

Growth in the second quarter of the year improved to 6.4 percent from quarter-ago’s 5.6 percent driven by the industry sector.

This growth is the second highest in the ASEAN, same as Malaysia, and second to China. However, it is lower than year-ago’s 7.9 percent.

For the first half of the year, growth stood at six percent. (PNA)

Cateel and Boston.

In the consultations held at the Cateel Elementary School and Baganga Municipal Covered Court, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, DTI 11 Officer-in-Charge Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi, DTI-Davao Oriental Officer-in-Charge Jose P. Calub, and Carmelo Laburada of the Center for the Promotion of Investments and Trade (C-POINT) discussed with the landowners how to harmonize issues and concerns relative to the local oil palm development.

The landowners were composed mostly of coconut farmers, indigenous people, and Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) holders of the three municipalities.

The consultative meetings were highlighted with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) among the stakeholders who were present, including the mayors of the municipalities: Arturo C. Monday of Baganga, Camilo T. Nuñez of Cateel, and Rebecco Rosit of Boston.

(PNA)

Abad optimistic on addressing budget gap via higher spending W

HILE some advance countries are trying to address ballooning budget deficit, the Philippines is facing some hurdles on meeting its programmed budget gap.

As of end-July 2014, the government’s budget deficit stood at P55.7 billion, way below the P266.2 billion ceiling for the year.

It was only last June that the deficit for the month posted a big jump after surging to P62.49 billion, 639 percent more than year-ago’s P8.45 billion.

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad is confident that spending in August will further increase, noting that preliminary data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) “looks better.”

The government has a P145.8 billion deficit ceiling for the first quarter of the year, P46.8 billion for the second quarter, P42.9 billion in the third quarter, and P30.8 billion in the last quarter.

On the other hand, spending program for the

DavOr landowners, LGU, DTI to develop oil palm industry T

wo thousand landowners from the three towns of this province committed 4,000 hectares for oil palm development to replace coconut farms that were damaged by typhoon Pablo in 2012.

In separate dialogues conducted by the provincial government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 with the landowners, they agreed to hasten the development of the oil palm industry in the province particularly in the towns of Baganga,

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

A SANITARY WATERLESS TOILET

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“I

NVESTING in water and sanitation is costly. Yet evidence has shown that the cost of not ensuring access to drinking water and sanitation is even higher in terms of public health and lost work and school days.”

-- The United Nations *** Most people, particularly those living in industrialized countries like United States and United Kingdom, may not have the problem, but to 40 percent of the world’s population, lack of access to proper sanitation is a dilemma.

“For close to 2.5 billion people, many of whom are mired in poverty, flush toilets and clean bathrooms are not readily available,” wrote former Senator Edgardo J. Angara in his monthly column for Health and Lifestyle.

“Sanitation levels remain very poor in various parts of the world, even in areas where household and communal toilets are great in number for lack of a fully functional sewage system.”

In the Philippines alone, 24 million Filipinos, roughly 26 percent of the population, face this problem. A national nutrition survey done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute found that Filipino households without toilets went up from 8.1 per-

cent in 2008 to 9.6 percent in 2011.

As an alternative, nearly eight million Filipinos, most in the poorest regions of the country, still defecate behind bushes, on fields, into plastic bags, or along roadside ditches and highways.

“As a result, more Filipinos are becoming vulnerable to water-borne diseases and other preventable afflictions like cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, and pneumonia,” Sen. Angara wrote in his column.

In 2005, a report published by the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs showed around 25 Filipinos die every day from diarrhea caused by poor water sanitation.

Unsafe water kills more people than violence and wars each year, the United Nations said.

Combined with poor sanitation, it is the world’s “second biggest killer of children.”

The international non-profit organization Water.org said that a child dies globally from water-related illnesses every 21 seconds. This is mostly due to water contaminated by fecal matter – because many families still lack toilets.

Dr. Mike Gnilo, water sanitation and hygiene specialist of the United

Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said that it takes only two to three people openly defecating to contaminate 30 to 50 sitios.

Sanitation was one of the issues addressed in the Water Sector Reform Act which Angara authored and pushed for during his last term as senator. The measure mandated the establishment of local water supply and sanitation companies which will construct, maintain, and operate modern sanitation and sewerage systems.

“Such modern facilities require massive capital outlay, which is often too high for the impoverished communities that direly need them,” Sen. Angara noted.

More so, people need toilets after a disaster. “In times of calamities such as typhoons and floods, there is also a need for emergency sanitary facilities to provide stricken families with readily available and affordable sanitary toilets,” says Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology.

Guerrero said the ecology sanitary toilet, a waterless facility that separates human feces and urine introduced to the Philippines, has not been widely used in the country in slums and during

emergencies “because of its relatively high cost and lag time for construction.”

That is why Dr. Guerrero is batting for what he calls as vermicompost toilet. “It is similar to ecology sanitary toilet but much cheaper and faster to build especially during calamities,” explains the professorial lecturer of the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ School Environmental Science and Management.

While compost toilets have been used in developed countries like Australia, the United States, and most European countries in roadside facilities and national parks where water supply and waste treatment facilities are lacking, they have not been adopted in most developing countries.

“The vermicompost toilet which I designed in unique for the country,” Dr. Guerrero says. “I adapted the three-opening commode from a similar design in India but I used vermicompost instead of wood ash for coveThe vermicompost toilet which Dr. Guerrero designed is a platform made of coconut lumber and bamboo slats that has three openings: the front one for urine, the middle one for feces and the one behind for washing.

Three containers below the platform receive

the droppings. Complete with sidings made of sack cloth (for privacy purposes) and plastic containers, the portable unit can be set up in a few minutes and costs less than P1,000.

Vermicompost is a kind of compost produced by vermicomposting with earthworms. “The vermicompost toilet is so called because human excrement is covered with vermicompost as bulking material instead of kitchen ash, coconut coir, or peat moss to absorb liquid and hasten aerobic decomposition,” Dr. Guerrero explains.

Aside from being lowcost and applicable during times of emergency in calamity areas, the vermicompost toilet is portable and easily transported from one place to another manually, Dr. Guerrero says. “It is sanitary and easy to use,” he adds.

Although it is called waterless, a small container of water is still needed to clean the anus thereafter. In a flush-type toilet bowl, it takes 5-7 liters of water to flush down urine/feces. “Aside from water conservation, the urine and feces can be recycled as organic fertilizers,” he points out.

Dr. Guerrero considers it as a sanitary toilet as “it disposes human urine and feces hygienically. The wastes are properly collected and treated without

odor, unattractive to flies, and do not pollute the environment,” he says.

When asked whether the vermicompost produced from it is safe to be used as organic fertilizer, he replies: “Vermicompost contains aerobic and environment-friendly microorganisms that counteract the pathogenic bacteria in human feces like fecal coliforms. The composting worm, African night crawler, feeds directly on the feces and converts it into vermicast which has no smell, decontaminated of pathogens and safe for use as organic fertilizer for any plant or tree.”

Sen. Angara’s column was titled “The Toilet Challenge.” That seems to be what Dr. Guerrero also had in mind. “If there’s the so-called ‘Ice Bucket Challenge,’ which is effective as a media blitz but not productive (as water and energy are wasted) and unhealthy (you can catch a cold), there should be a ‘Waterless Toilet Challenge’ to show how it can save water, energy, protect the environment, and contribute to food production,” he says.

For more information and details on vermicompost toilet, you can contact Dr. Guerrero through email:aquabios@yahoo. com. Photos included in this article are courtesy of Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

EDITORIAL

T

A lot of explaining to do

HE Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of the government has always been a target of criticism from many sectors because of its “dole-out” nature. As it works, the government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provides cash incentives to poor families as long as the latter abide by certain conditions – including making sure the children go to school – with the end in view of helping the families eventually stand on their own feet. Government has insisted that the program is not a dole-out because of these conditions, and indeed that is how it is on paper. But the system is open to misuse and abuse, and the money – as well as the beneficiaries – is vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Now we see that not only is CCT open to corruption, it is also open to incompetence. Attention is now on as much as P5 billion being unliquidated – lost is probably a better word – by the Philippine Postal Corporation which had been tapped by the

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DSWD to be one of the payout centers. Philpost itself explains that it failed to account for the money it had received from DSWD “because of serious glitches in the CCT computerized system of the Landbank that have led to errors and duplication of work in uploading payroll records.” It also said postmasters were given additional work with no additional staff, and the increase in volume of CCT transactions was unexpected and abrupt.

Even if one were to believe that nothing shady had happened and that the P5 billion is not lost but merely unliquidated (that is, the cash actually made it to the intended beneficiaries), that is still a massive breach of government procedure, not to mention of the people’s trust. If the system is so loose that P5 billion is allowed to disappear from the government’s radar, what does that say of how this administration handles the rest of the people’s money? The DSWD, and this government, indeed has a lot of explaining to do.

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

P-Noy forever!!!

HE talk of the town these days is that President Aquino will support a move for Charter Change (Cha-cha) to allow him to seek a second term.

Of course, his puppets in Congress and members of his kangaroo cabinet are all for it.

I have another idea: Let Congress proclaim Mr. Aquino President for Life (PFL). Forget about Cha-cha. It’s an expensive and tedious process.

Now, when things go wrong, let’s jail for life (JFL) all members of Congress who made P-Noy PFL. That would be perfect poetic justice. oOo Cory and P-Noy ---- is there a difference between them?

Yes. Let me count the ways.

Cory became President against her will and better judgment. She didn’t want to be President basically because she didn’t know how to be one. She didn’t have the aptitude, the political know-how, the administrative experience, the competence. She was a plain housewife of a politician. Politics was simply not in her blood.

The painful truth is that she was persuaded to lead a united opposition and play a hero’s role in the aftermath

T

HE Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) says reliable data on rabies are scarce in many parts of the world, making it difficult to assess its full impact on human and animal health.

However, in the Philippines, about 300 to 600 Filipinos die of rabies each year, according to the Department of Health (DOH). At least 50 percent of the victims are children aged 5 to 14 years.

The health department laments that rabies remains a public health problem in the country despite the enactment of Republic Act 9482, otherwise known as the Rabies Act of 2007 which seeks to eradicate rabies in the Philippines by 2020.

“The rabies virus is present in the saliva of infected animals,” the United Nations health agency informs. An animal with rabies transmits the infection to other animals or humans by biting and sometimes even by just licking.

“The bite of any rabid animal is not the cause of the spread and infection of rabies,” corrects Dr. Silvius Jude B. Alon, a veterinarian who used to work with a Davao-based non-government organization. “It is the saliva of the affected animal. The bite is just an instrument so that the saliva with rabies virus can be transferred to any victim.”

Unknowingly, many different animals can transmit rabies to people.

“The vampire bats are the primary

of a tragic circumstance which she could not brush aside.

She was pushed into a corner where there was no escape.

She was forced to choose between bravery and c o wa rd i c e .

She chose the former. And the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

When her term was over, she gladly glided over the political horizon, and became a plain citizen once again.

And P-Noy? Well, he wants another term. He likes being President. He thinks he alone knows how to run the country. He thinks that he knows how to make this country great – greater than during the incumbencies of all the presidents before him.

P-Noy is having a bad dream: He wants to prolong his “no wang-wang” reign of errors – and terror.

Remember that monstrous error that was the Luneta hostage-taking fiasco which showcased P-Noy’s incom-

petence and inexperience as a leader?

There were errors in planning and execution on the ground by men assigned to resolve the crisis.

Then there was the typhoon Yolanda experience that exposed to the world the Aquino government’s embarrassing inability and failure to act quickly and respond effectively in times of widespread calamity and disaster.

What else? Oh yes, there was the cowardly posturing of P-Noy against China over the Spratly Islands dispute.

Recall, too, the pocket war between Malaysia and the warriors of the Sultanate of Sulu in North Borneo. P-Noy showed sympathy to the government of Malaysia, and was hostile towards Sultan Kiram, and was unresponsive to the Sultan’s plea for help. oOo Is P-Noy a terrorist? He must be.

Look at how, through the machination of his robots in Congress, he terrorized former Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, and succeeded in removing him the office. ASTIG!!!

What about DAP? Well, the Supreme Court says it is illegal and unconstitutional. So, let us not belabor the issue.

carriers of THINK ON THESE! the rabies virus. The dogs and cats are the common animals affected by rabies because they serve as the reservoir of rabies dis- Henrylito D. Tacio ease,” Dr. Alon explains. Cattle, carabaos, goats, and sheep may also be affected by rabies.

Rabies is one of most deadly diseases in the world; it affects both humans and animals. During the 10th annual meeting of Asian Rabies Expert Bureau (AREB) held in Manila recently, rabies experts acknowledged progress in rabies control in Asia.

Although participating countries to the AREB meeting have already established policies to control rabies, they are still facing the problem of translating these policies into practice. Among the major challenges identified were logistics, socio-cultural factors, and resources.

In the said meeting, several rabies control programs were highlighted, including dog vaccination campaigns and treatment of bite victims through post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

While some countries only have Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) in major cities, close proximity to ABTC

was identified by AREB members as key to saving lives.

In the Philippines, access to PEP significantly improved with the systematic establishment of additional ABTCs. From 257 centers before the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, the figure now has almost doubled to 410 today. The goal, however, is to reach 1,000 centers by the end of 2016.

Early this year, the health department set its eyes on stamping out rabies as a major health threat by vaccinating around 10 million dogs against the dreaded disease. According to Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, the department is now coordinating with the agriculture department to carry out the vaccination drive, which is expected to end by 2015.

“This is part of our campaign to make the country rabies-free…it is estimated that for every 10 Filipinos, there is a dog, which makes their numbers roughly at around 10 million.

That is our target,” Tayag was quoted as saying.

The vaccination drive against rabies is part of the government’s measure to speed up the country’s compliance with the United Nations health agency to eliminate human rabies transmitted by dogs in Southeast Asia by 2020.

“Prevention of human rabies must be a community effort involving both veterinary and public health officials,” the WHO points out.

Bites can kill

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Focus on the problem!

THE WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANUEL E. VALDEHUESA JR.

I

T’S a sad commentary on the role of highly educated citizens like lawyers and educators that even as they inveigh against problems caused by bad governance, they don’t perform the things that bring about good governance.

They’re unfocused. Some of them even raise their voice, whining and fuming and complaining; but they fail to focus and do something about the problem.

It wouldn’t be so bad if they had guidance from agencies like the department of the interior and local government, commission on elections, or even department of justice—agencies that have charge of promoting and upholding the power of the citizenry.

But instead of minister to the citizenry — who need to be empowered or capacitated to handle problems caused by those in power—said agencies, especially DILG, are focused on helping officials and institutions that are already in power, further empowering them. ***** They keep citizens—people who are not in power— in a state of helplessness, no match against those in power, helpless against bad governance and its abuses.

The DILG should have figured out long ago that the core problem of governance is right in everyone’s neighborhood—in the barangay, which is the home of every citizen who complains and fumes and whines against misgovernance.

There’s not a single problem in our Republic that can’t be traced to the barangay, which is also the home of every official and institution that causes problems and aggravations to citizens and society at large.

If official corruption is an issue, it’s the barangay that catapults corrupt officials to City Hall, Capitol, Malacanang, and Congress. Every voter is in the barangay and his every vote is cast in its precinct. ***** On Election Day, it’s barangay officials who ride shotgun on these votes and herd them to the tally centers—election cowboys that get away with their antics because the citizenry lack focus and DILG et al. are no help to them.

Officials get away with abuses if their “Bosses”—the resident citizens— are inattentive. Who else but the same residents elect these ballot-rustling, vote-herding cowboys to office, then fail to have them account for performance after elections?

Some citizens say there’s nothing they can do about it because they’re not in power, that any effort to instill decency in public service is futile and bound to fail.

They’re wrong. Very wrong!

In the first place, because government power and authority emanate from them, the same citizens can take back misused or abused power and authority. They just have to learn how to go about it—and that’s where DILG et al. can come in with orientation, workshop, or training for citizens. ***** Everyone needs to know or be informed and “educated” on how to go about corrective processes that the law affords them in times of need. Then they can apply these measures thereafter.

But they need facilitators for the learning process, to get a clear view of the problem, and learn to lead the community. Many times we are told that the only thing necessary for evil or bad men to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

So we must learn to confront abuse, corruption, or wrong-headedness and resist predators that take advantage of our society’s weaknesses.

But because the popular will has been so weakened by constant violations, emasculated by repeated failure in challenging them, our citizens need empowering support and motivation so they will discover once more as at EDSA their sovereignty and authority over government. *****

10 NEWS

Confusion...FFROM 1

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

day according to the records of the City Council.

Militar asked Bello if the Vice Mayor delegated the acting position to him.

Bello answered that it was not formally delegated to him.

“However, in the absence of the said designation and without any objection from the other members of the city council, it is safe to presume, my sitting here in the seat of the presiding officer is with the consent of the members. But, I am open to be replaced,” Bello said.

Militar replied that he was not objecting with Bello as the presiding officer that day but he only wants to save the records because they might have exercising an illegal act. Bello asked Militar to enlighten the other members on the proper procedure during that time.

“We have been here together with Honorable [Leonardo] Avila for more than 22 years. And the act

of administering of oath is only done by the Vice Mayor. What is delegated is only to preside. But, not to administer the oath because that is official on the part of the Vice Mayor. That cannot be delegated,” Militar explained.

Al-ag stated the house some provisions of the house rules which says that the presiding officer can officiate the oath and it is not stated that the vice mayor alone can only officiate it.

“Assuming that the presiding officer of this council is the vice mayor,” Al-ag said.

Bello inquired Al-ag if there is a specific mention under the rules that the one who will officiate the oath officers is the presiding officer and it did not distinguish whether the presiding officer is in acting or permanent capacity.

Al-ag gave Bello an affirmative response.

But, Militar said that he

just wanted to be assured that they are doing it right because they might having an illegal proceeding due to the absence of the presiding officer.

The members took a few minutes of recess to tackle the remedy to make the oath taking which will officiated by Bello official.

After the recess, Al-ag asked the other members on their opinion of the parliamentary query of Militar.

Councilor Diosdado Angel Mahipus was called to present his opinion on the house rules pertaining officiating official on the oath taking, but, Militar butted in and said that Bello was already the official presiding officer since he was elected as President Pro Tempore. Militar also noted that Al-ag who is acting as the floor leader in which he did not take his oath.

“I will place on record that he is temporarily acting as floor leader until he

has taken his oath,” Militar said. Bello affirmed on the motion of Militar.

Mahipus then, continued on his manifestation.

He said that Militar has a good reason and intention to assure that the proceeding ‘will not be in vain.”

“The parliamentary inquiry of Militar if I may state is that, whether or not, the presiding officer has full powers and authority to exercise the regular duties of the Presiding Officer,” Mahipus said.

Mahipus cited the section 6 of rule 3 that the Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

“Therefore, there is only one Presiding Officer and that is the Vice Mayor,” Mahipus said.

He cited another provision from rule 5, section 15, which stated that the duty of the President Pro Tempore should assume the duties and powers of the presiding officer in-

cluding the prerogatives in his or her absence.

However, Militar made a motion to allow Bello to officiate the oath taking of the new set of officers and chairpersons of different committees. The members affirmed the motion of Militar and they proceed to their oath.

But, Bello did not take his oath because he was the officiating official, yet, Militar said that the acting presiding officer will just take his oath the next session before Vice Mayor Duterte.

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said in an interview that their oath taking before Bello is official since they have given him authority to officiate it.

Dayanghirang said that anybody can be designated as officiating official, depending on the choice of the councilors.

“Sometime we take our oath before the barangay official. Generally is

daytime because we can disturb the traffic flow,” she said.

Delos Reyes also blamed the recent rains that have occurred at night time the past weeks.

“That is our predica-

ment. We cannot work at daytime because of traffic and we cannot work at night because of the rain,” she said.

Delos Reyes said another problem is the limited road right of way in the city which prevents

contractors from excavating roads.

“It is hard to work in the city because when we excavate there are utilities. There is PLDT, Davao City Water District,” she said.

She said her office

wants to complete the projects within the timetable because the projects are being evaluated by the DPWH national office.

“It will cause headache to us if the project will not be completed,”

she said.

Delos Reyes also explained why the mayor saw only two workers at the bridge rehabilitation project, saying it was the time they assigned two persons to check on the wet cement.

al warming is only the tipping point,” she said.

Perez, a senior research fellow of the Manila Observatory, said climate change refers to changes in the earth’s climate. She added that the country is not adapting yet but is still coping. “There are events that we cannot cope with anymore; this is where adaptation comes in,” she said.

“Climate change mitigation is different from disaster risk reduction,” said Sandee Recabar, the senior science research specialist of the CCC. “Mitigation should be a part of climate change adaptation. We need to explore other benefits we can get if we do mitigation actions.”

“If you don’t have a grasp of what a science is, it would be very difficult

to put it on an article,” CCC vice chair Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering reminded the journalists who attended the workshop. “It would be either short or very long which could lose you readership.”

She urged the participants to keep reporting on climate change. “(It is) no longer the problem of the poor; it is now the problem of rich and the prob-

lem of businesses. It is the problem of everyone,” she said.

As climate change is now for real, experts claim natural disasters would be part of everyday lives. The process of reducing vulnerabilities against disasters is known as disaster risk reduction.

“Life-saving is a serious science,” said Dr. Teofredo T. Esguerra, the disaster

and crisis lead of the Energy Development Corporation. He urged everyone to be prepared always. “Never put your trust on luck,” he said. “Play like ants which save something for the rainy days.”

CCC of the Office of the President convened the one-day workshop in partnership with the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists, Inc.

will personally advocate the need to identify the water usage and its priorities.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment & Natural Resources Regiona XI (DENR XI) director Jo-

selyn Marcus Fragada said that they are already expecting the long drought to happen in 2020.

“We are putting more safeguards for 2015 per plantation mas critical

yung weather changes, we have yet to meet about it again but the central office shall initiate, we’re adding more condition dissimulation regarding the intending drought case if ever,”

Fragada said.

The director also agreed on prioritizing the usage of water in the island.

Earlier this year the Philippine Atmospheric

Geophysical Astronomical Services Association (PAGASA) said that in the year 2020, Mindanao will experience long dry season starting from March to August.

included in the estimation.

Bautista said they have partnered with Davao Region’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the capability building and skills training of potential welders from the community where the shipyards will be built.

“As of now, the prov-

ince cannot provide the manpower requirement of each company. That’s why we are preparing as early as today,” he said.

For energy requirement, Bautista said the province is ready for the investments on shipbuilding.

“I already talked to the president of San Miguel

Power Consolidated Corporation (SPCC) and they said that construction can be started since there will enough power supply,” he said. Bautista had a recent meeting with the power company’s president in Manila.

With an initial capacity of 300 megawatts, the SMC Davao coal-fired

power plant is being constructed in Barangay Culaman, Malita. It conducted the ground breaking on July 2013.

The first 150 MW is expected to start its commissioning by October 2015 and the second 150 MW by March 2016.

The power plant will supply the power re-

quirement and increase the power reserve of the province and nearby areas.

Earlier reports from Rappler.com said SPCC is planning to expand the capacity of the 300 MW coal-fired power plant to 1,200 MW. The company targets to finish the entire project by 2020.

stayed with the other nurse’s family from August 29 to August 30.

The other nurse – a 49-year-old Filipina from Bulacan – upon learning the medical results of her co-worker, sought medical assistance at the Lung Center of the Philippines along with her family.

They were immediately tested, and results that came out Wednesday morning were all negative.

“As of today, despite the fact that dalawa na itong nakalusot na nurses (two nurses were able to enter the country), now we can still claim that the Philippines is MERS-CoV free,”

Ona said.

The MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus is a highly fatal, influenza-like illness characterized by fever, cough, and often with diarrhea.

As of July 23, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 837 laboratory-confirmed cases of infections, 291 of which resulted in death, worldwide.

Health Spokesperson Lyndon Lee Suy said the nurse from General Santos City is still asymptomatic when she was admitted to the hospital.

DOH tracking co-passengers

Since both nurses were asymptomatic when they arrived in the country, they were not detected in the airport for further monitoring.

DOH is already tracking down 249 passengers of Saudi Airlines flight SV870, and 143 passengers of Cebu Pacific flight SJ997 – the August 31 flight of the nurse who went back to General Santos City.

The health department already have the names and addresses of those in the Saudi Airlines flight, and only the names of those in the Cebu Pacific flight. Ona encouraged all passengers to undergo the

necessary examinations.

The Philippines reported its first laboratory-confirmed case of the MERS Coronavirus last April,

when an OFW who tested positive in United Arab Emirates (UAE) came back home from Abu Dhabi. rappler.com

DPWH...FFROM 2

Mindanao...FFROM 2

Prioritize... FFROM 3 Davao...FFROM 3

DOH... FFROM 3

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 21105013 under Loyola Contract No(s). 10287555-8 issued to Monsuller Melchor Pepito 21041300 under Loyola Contract No(s). 1836586/NNN130005940 issued to Fely A. Dacles 006226 under Loyola Contract No(s). 7050818/294354-8 issued to Patrocinio G. Briones Under Loyola Contract No.(s) 6027280-3/NNN605856000 issued to Ellen Saban Fino were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

8/21/28/9/4

not really a requirement,” Dayanghirang said.

Councilor Edgar R. Ibuyan Sr. who is absent during last Tuesday’s session, told reporters that he was not aware with the revamp.

However, Ibuyan said that he is happy that he has a new committee to handle. On Tuesday, Ibuyan is designated as the new chairman of the committee on labor and employment opportunities which handled before by Duterte. Ibuyan is also the new chairman of the committee on city owned properties which were handled before

by Militar.

Abellera replaced Ibuyan as the chairman of the committee on peace and public safety.

Councilor Tomas J. Monteverde IV who is the former floor leader was also not present yesterday as the council secretary noted him in emergency domestic leave.

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

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a TH FREIGHT TRUCK Service KAMILO R. FERNANDO, Petitioner

Case No.2014-XI-00642 x- - - - - - - - -- - - -----x NOTICE OF HEARING Applicant requests authority for a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a TH FREIGHT TRUCK SERVICE for the transportation of freight on the route. WITHIN TAGUM CITY AND FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN THE ISLAND OF MINDANAO ACCESSIBLE TO MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC AND VICE VERSA with the use of TEN (10) units.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

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

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 20th day of August 2014 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 121 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2014

MOTORING

11

START ‘EM YOUNG. This young girl (left) is one of the youngest riders in the recent Kadayawan Motocross event.

Right, a young boy tries out the Yamaha kiddie racing machine. Below, riders try out the new Yamaha XTZ 125. NJB

CAMPI Announces 5th PIMS highlights I

N celebration of the Philippine automotive industry’s exponential growth, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), the country’s largest auto industry organization, gathers motoring industry players for the 5th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) happening on September 18-21 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Themed “Progress in Motion”, the country’s most authoritative car show serves as a platform to champion milestones and successes achieved by the local automotive industry.

The event is not only a great avenue for unique motoring experience, but also to showcase fun-filled activities and exciting launches from the top car manufacturers and distributors in

the country.

To further excite the public, some of the most anticipated car launches have been announced. The 5th PIMS is set to feature unique displays from the 17 participating brands namely BAIC, BMW, Daewoo, Honda, Isuzu, JEEP, JMC, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Suzuki, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

BMW prepared an exquisite display of the BMW X family featuring the new, third-generation BMW X3. This is expected to be joined by the all-new X4.

Meanwhile, Honda will reveal the smallest car in their An exciting new comer to the Philippine automotive industry, the BAIC brand will be launched in PIMS. They will exhibit Daewoo will present their Bus Concept for Public Transporta- product line, the All-New Honda Brio and Honda Brio Amaze. tion, Leisure/Travel and Special Vehicles. their best offers including the A1 Hatchback, A1 Sedan, A5 Senova, MZ40 and X424.

12 CLASSIFIED

(

)

Billiard Supplies

Cell Nos.

Phone Nos.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Make Your Own Havaianas:

PH Eagle pin by Dabawenyo artist Macky Pamintuan SPRING into eternal summer with comfy flip flops and watch out for this year’s Make Your Own Havaianas caravan!

Aside from ice cream, shorts, tank tops and plenty of vitamin D, Havaianas is also one of the principal staples in a tropical setting like ours. Each pair of this slip-on thong comes in a rainbow of shades to match any outfit theme or outdoor activity, plus a shock-absorbing midsole and a durable rubber outsole for a steady step all throughout your journey.

Whether you’re building sand castles in the beach or sashaying through the mall, Havaianas will keep you light on your feet all season long.

This well-loved brand of trendy slip-on’s paints the town once again as it opens its annual interactive event for a special limited run this month of September.

Make Your Own Havaianas brings in the element of fun as it sparks up creativity in every individual. This event has also become a favorite among locals, who enjoy living the spirit of fashion, self-expression and imagination. There’s the thrill of creating your own pair, customized with your choice of colorful sole and straps inspired by street art, added with sundry quirky pins.

This year’s highlight is the commemorative pair featuring colorful Bon-

firms --- Brazilian wish ribbons that are worn for good luck. The print symbolizes wishes for joy, amusement, excitement, euphoria and bliss to anyone who wears the limited edition pair.

Havaianas makes MYOH more special for Davaoeños this year with its limited edition Davao pin, created by the world-renowed illustrator, Macky Pamintuan.

“This partnership with Macky is a perfect fit,” says Marge Nograles, Managing Partner of Martish Marketing Company, exclusive sub-distributor for Southern and Eastern Mindanao. “Not only was he born and raised in Davao, he also lives the same Havaianas spirit of fun through his happy and colorful illustrations.”

True enough, Macky was able to come up with a design that is a fitting representation of Davao.

The MYOH Philippine Eagle pin is reflective of

Maxene, Saab & Elmo Magalona at MYOH2014.

The MYOH 2014 Commemorative Sole.

World-Renowned Illustrator Macky Pamintuan.

the city’s rich and colorful ecosystem, and stands for the Filipinos’ indomitable spirit.

150 pieces of limited edition Davao pins will

be available when the MYOH kicks off at the Gaisanao Mall of Davao on September 5 to 7, from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm. Another 150 pieces will be

Kathryn Bernardo at MYOH 2014.

Laureen Uy at MYOH2014.

available at the MYOH caravan in Abreeza Mall from September 19 to 21, open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Havaianas is regularly

available in All Flip Flops stores in SM City Davao and Abreeza Mall, Sunlab in Gaisano Mall and Martish specialty shop along JP Laurel Avenue.

Billy Crawford and Anne Gonzales at MYOH 2014.

EDGEDAVAO

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UP AND ABOUT

Power-packed gaming with Smart Bro’s Sony PS Vita 2000 PLAY HARD and surf fast anytime and anywhere with the new Sony PS Vita 2000 handheld gaming device now available for just P999 a month from Smart Bro. Avid game lovers can get this exciting gaming device from Sony at Smart Bro’s Gadget Plus Plan 999, which already includes 50 surfing hours every month via the free Pocket WiFi that comes with the bundle.

With the Sony PS Vita 2000 from Smart Bro, users can play games from the quickly expanding PS Vita games collection—which includes critically acclaimed hits such as hits such as Tearaway, Guacamelee, Metal Gear Solid, and Rayman Origins—and surf the best of the Internet on the same device, powered by the country’s largest broadband network.

“Whether they like to play games on the go or share a quick tweet or Facebook message with friends, the Sony PS Vita 2000 gaming device from Smart Bro can service their needs very well,” said Michele Curran, Data and International Services Marketing Head at Smart. “ Released in early 2014, the Sony PS Vita 2000 offers a fresh update to its predecessor particularly in the body design department, as it sports a 20% thinner and 15% lighter profile.

The highly acclaimed portable game console is powered by a quad-core chip, 512MB of RAM and a 220-pixel-perinch 5-inch LCD touchscreen display that aids in conserving battery life for longer playing time. So whether it’s firstperson shooting, role-playing, or casual games you prefer, the Sony PS Vita 2000 can definitely serve your portable gaming needs well.

The Sony PS Vita 2000 from Smart Bro is also protected by an Anti-Bill Shock Guarantee, which means the service automatically becomes unlimited once the usage outside of the 50-hour monthly allocation reaches P1,599.

The Sony PS Vita 2000 is part of the quickly expanding Smart Bro Gadget Plus Plans lineup, which gives the users a wide range of choice for tablets, laptops, hybrid tablets, eBook readers and other Internet-powered mobile devices without the need for a credit card.

So what are you waiting for? Experience Tomorrow’s Internet with today’s hottest gaming device for as low as P999 a month. The Sony PS Vita 2000 from Smart Bro is available at the Smart Store nearest you or online via store. smart.com.ph, with a P500 one-time fee upon subscription.

Interested subscribers may visit http://smrt.ph/gadgetplus, contact 888-1111 on their landline phones, or dial *888 for existing Smart subscribers.

CELEBRATE LADIES’ MONTH WITH SM ACCESSORIES THIS SEPTEMBER 1 TO 30. Get a FREE bag with your SM Advantage, SM Prestige, or BDO Rewards Card, for every P1000 minimum single receipt purchase at the Ladies’ Accessories Department. And avail up to 50% off on great selections.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

EVENT

MX3 supports Kadayawan 2014 THE week-long Kadayawan festival of Davao City displayed the overflowing harvest of fruits, flowers, as well as the rich culture of Mindanao. Millions of local folks from Mindanao, visitor’s from Visayas and Luzon, and foreign friends witnessed the organizedevents. The blessing of good weather made the celebration to a full blown merriment.

MX3 joins the celebration with its generous support in the various activities and was a MAJOR SPONSOR for the festival as acknowledged by Mrs. Emilia Mendoza during the City Mayor’s thanksgiving luncheon recognition.

The MX3 BigFoot Paraded with a 17-Wheel entourage during the culmination Float Parade. As Bigfoot moved the MX3 Team shared MX3 Product samples, flyers, Christian Tracts, and hundreds of MX3 T-shirts tossed and flipped to the road audiences. It added a moment of thrill and shouting.

MX3 was one of the major sponsors in partnership with ABS-CBN Regional Network. The Kapamilya Caravan at SM City was graced by the network’s hottest stars: Paolo Avelino, Enchong

Dee and Bea Alonzo.

Aside from joining the parade, MXtraordinary Games were held in partnership with Sky Cable Davao. MX3 delivered fun games to entertain the visitors who came to join the Kadayawan at Ozmeña Park, Davao City.

In the evening MX3 was again present as a major sponsor of the OPM Hitmen Concert

featuring Chad Borja, Rannie Reymundo, Richard Reynoso and Renz Verano with guest artist KZ Tandingan. Four of the country’s well-known balladeers joined forces to conquer the music scene once again.

MX3 is delighted to support the Davao City’s celebration of the Kadayawan Festival. The MX3 product is a derivative

from the City’s Queen of Fruits, the Garcinia Mangostana, Linn commonly known as Mangosteen.

MX3 is also the pride of Davao-Philippines as it is a Filipino made food supplement. MX3 is now in Malaysia and labeled as Traditional Medicine and has been used globally as a natural food supplement that helps the body’s vitality, relief and protection.

Taking the product is now a very significant integral part of the overall physical fitness regimen.

MX3 extends our thanks to the 2014 Kadayawan Festival Organizers for giving us the opportunity to participate in this very significanthistoric annual celebration of the City. We salute every Dabawenyo’s for the wondrous turn-out of the festivity.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

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ENTERTAINMENT

Meet Davao’s representative to Mr. Philippines

Jett Matela

By Kenneth Irving Ong

MANY people who know Jett Matela know him as “the boy of every lady’s dream”. Davao’s representative to Mr. Philippines 2014, he’s about to prove that he has what it takes. With titles Mr. Nursing 2010 at the Davao Medical School Foundation and Mr. Davao for Misters of the Philippines 2014, he also forwards his advocacy, health and fairness in the nursing profession, as the 6-foot tall, 22-year old is currently the in-house counsellor of top Davao Nursing Review Center, Mind’s Nest.

I got to interview the energetic Jett to get to know him more before he left for the final competition in Manila.

is very crucial. You have to set your problems aside to make way for opportunities. Try new things.

Balance your time among career, personal life, health, faith in God, and learning. In everything, always aim to be better.

Q: Do you have any personal advocacies?

J: Currently I am now and ambassador for HIV and AIDS Awareness in Davao city. I visit screening and diagnosis pop up events and help in the education and widespread information dissemination on the risks of HIV - AIDS and how we can prevent it. I also support Operation Tuli programs, seminars on proper nurse com-

pensation and when my schedule permits, I participate in out-of-town medical missions.

Q: What do you plan to do after the pageant?

J: I plan to continue my career as a review counselor and help more students become great influence to our peers.

With the help of God, I’ll touch as many lives as I can, probably even more than when or if I become a nurse.

To support Jett Matela, Davao’s representative for Mr. Philippines 2014 you can go to www.mistersofthephilippines.com/davaocity---jett-matela.html or text vote for him VOTE M9 and send to 8933.

Q: What is your name and how old are you?

Are you originally from Davao?

J: My full name is Jett Matela, I’m 22 years old. I was born in Cebu city but we lived here since I was a kid because my father got assigned here.

Q: Tell me about your parents.

J: My father works as a Safety Officer in India, in a company that’s a partner of Holcim. He was previously assigned at Azerbaijan. Due to his outstanding performance as safety and structural engineer in Holcim Davao for 15 years, he got the gig at India.

My mother used to be a medical technologist at San Pedro Hospital but currently she stays at home to take care of us.

Q: What do you in real life? Are you still studying or are you working and where?

J: Currently I work as a review counselor at Mind’s Nest Review Center where I assist nurses for their NLE (Nursing Licensure Exam). Currently, I handle 245 students who are reviewing for the November NLE 2014.

Q: What or who made you join Mr. Philippines? Was it difficult?

J: The reason why I joined the pageants is because I want to represent Davao city and become a role model of the youth. It was

difficult but the rewards are worth it. People now look up to me and treat me as city’s pride, and this humbles and makes me proud all at once. In a way, it’s also a good way to forward my advocacy, which is better treatment for nurses and the nursing profession.

Q: Is the Mr. Philippines search the first pageant you competed in?

J: I previously joined inschool competitions. I won the Mr Nursing 2011 title at Davao Medical School Foundation. After that, I also represented DMSF in Mr. Pamantasan 2011, where I went up against other representative from other schools.

Q: Where and when

will the final search be held? Are you excited?

Scared?

J: The finals will take place a the University of Makati Grand Theatre on September 7, 2014. I’m really excited because I have the opportunity to make my city proud and to share to people what a beautiful place my city, Davao, is. Recently, our city has been under a lot of hot water because of good and bad media, and different opinions from the public. I want to have a chance to remind people how nice my home is. I am not scared; just a little anxious. But it’s nothing I couldn’t handle.

Q: We all have a notion that beauty pageants

are the realms of women, what can you say to convince other men to join male beauty searches?

J: Male beauty searches are a lot like female beauty pageants. You get to go out of your comfort zone and test your limits.

For guys who want to become role models, want to forward advocacies or, I’ll be honest, those who are eyeing celebrity and modelling careers, it’s a good path for you. Nice and easy way to get noticed.

Q: Personally, what have you learned so far from your experience joining the search?

J: The most important lesson I have learned so far is that self awareness

THE GIFTED Anne Curtis, Cristine Reyes and Sam Milby R 13

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

IF I STAY Chloe Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos PG 13

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

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Vincent Cassel, Lea Seydoux

R-16

PG 13

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

RUROUNI KENSHIN 2 / * THE GIVER Takeru Satoh / *Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep R 13 / * PG 13

12:30 | 3:10 LFS / * 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

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EVENT

VOL. 7 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

Celebrating mid-Autumn’s beauty with Chan Lim IT is that time of the year again when the Chinoy community gets together to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with music, dances, and mooncake.

This year’s celebration was kickstarted last August 30 at SM Lanang Premier’s Atrium at it features, once again, the Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students and showcases a grand display of Chinese paintings on porcelain plates, which measure 10 inches in diameter and are meticulously created for a year – from conceptualization, painting, glazing to baking the artwork. Another visual attraction is the delicate set of teapot with

six tea cups to be featured at the exhibit.

The 200-piece exhibit also features scrolls done by 36 artists of the Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students as well as a set of oil paintings done by he main artist and teacher himself, Mr. Chan Lim, one of the country’s few remaining notable Chinese brush painting artist.

The launch event also featured a free Chinese

Call: 224-0733 • Tionko St., Davao City

brush painting workshop and seminar where over 560 students learned the art and techniques of Chinese painting.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students also took the opportunity to hand over100 T-shirts to Philippine Eagle Foundation during the launch.

There were also performances from students of Quezon City-based Grace Christian College and Davao Chinese schools.

The exhibit is copresented by Dynamic Youth, Inc., the Davao Filipino-Chinese Cultural Foundation, Park Inn by Radisson and Air 21.

The Chan Lim Art Exhibit will run until the 7th of September.

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

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

ZION

CLASSIFIED 13

EDGEDAVAO

ACCUPRINT PUBLISHING, INC.

MACHINE OPERATOR (Printing Press)

Qualifications: - At least high school graduate, not more than 30 years old - Physically and mentally fit - Can handle minor repairs of the machine - Has the ability to be cool under pressure of deadlines and complex projects - Experience of at least one year Door 14 Alcrej Building, Quirino Ave., 8000 Davao City, Philippines E-mail: marketing@edgedavao.net zion_publishing@yahoo.com Telefax: (082) 2213601 Website: www.edgedavao.net

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ALBERTO P. DELDA has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT executed among his heirs per Doc. No.147; Page No. 92; Book No. XXIIII; Series of 2014, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FREDERIC VOLTAIRE Y. TAN 8/21,28/9/4

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late SPS. EMETERIO A. DELDA and CANDIDA P. DELDA with Special Power of Attorney has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT executed among their heirs per Doc. No.650; Page No. 13; Book No. XLV; Series of 2014, of the NOTARY PUBLIC MA.LOUISA M. VILORIA-YAP 8/21,28/9/4

14 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Tebow, Spikers Island and Matina Enclaves at FAST Fridays A

NOTHER exciting discussion is on the table this coming Friday, September 5, for this week’s edition of FAST Fridays at the Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at the SM Lanang Premier.

The weekly media forum attended by the media personalities from the city’s print, television, radio and digital media organizations will feature three batches this Friday beginning at 10 a.m.

Janessa Ford and Madel Dapit of the Tim Tebow Foundation will be guesting along with Spikers Island beach volleyball organizers Mae Bornillo and Khrist Maestre of Ateneo de Davao University, and project head Gerald Garces and architect James

Magdadaro of The Matina Enclaves.

Ford and Dapit will be talking about the soon-tobe-completed Tim Tebow Hospital project in Lanang and the arrival of NFL star Tim Tebow for the hospital inauguration. Bornillo and Maestre are the point persons of ADDU Mass Communications’ beach sports project to be staged on Sept. 7 in Samal Island.

Garces and Magdadaro will announce the inauguration of the Matina Enclaves showroom as well as give construction and business updates.

FAST Fridays is supported by SM Lanang Premier and Archipelago 7107 located at the second level of the Fountain Court.

Three top international teams will visit the United States and Canada for a combined nine preseason games against nine National Basketball Association teams this October, the league said on Tuesday.

The games open with reigning Euroleague champion Maccabi Tel Aviv taking on LeBron James and the hosting Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 5 followed by a visit to the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 7.

Flamengo, which plays its home games in Rio de Janeiro and won the 2014 FIBA Americas League championship, will visit the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 8, Orlando Magic on Oct.

15 and Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 17.

Reigning Super League runner-up Maccabi Haifa, which plays its home games in Israel, will visit the Washington Wizards on Oct. 15, followed by a game at the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 17 and a game versus the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 18 before capping its trip on Oct. 22 against the Toronto Raptors.

The nine games are the most ever played by international teams on North American soil in one preseason and complement the NBA’s Global Games schedule that includes a regular season game in London and Mexico City.

International squads take on NBA in pre-season

AGGRESSIVE. Caroline Wozniacki reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Open with a 6-0 6-1 victory over Italy’s Sara Errani.

VINTAGE ROGER Federer eases into quarters

S

ECOND seed Roger Federer powered to a 6-4 6-3 6-2 win over Roberto Bautista on Tuesday, charging into the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open for the 10th time in 11 years.

The 26-year-old Spaniard was handed the unenviable task of trying to upset the 17-time grand slam winner on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, where the Swiss maestro

has a dazzling 25-1 record under the Flushing Meadows floodlights.

It quickly became clear there would be no power shortage on Tuesday as Federer raced to a 5-1 lead in opening set then eased off the gas and coasted to an unflustered win in just under two hours.

“I felt like I had maybe some margin,” said Federer. “He hasn’t got

the biggest game but he’s consistent. He’s fast. He can adapt. So he’s got things that can make you feel uncomfortable, I must say.

“He can absorb pace well. From that standpoint, even though I did feel I had margin because I never played him before, I was still pushing forward all along and trying to always keep a gap between him and me in

terms of the result and the scoreline.”

Next up for Federer is a player he knows very well, 20th seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils, who was earlier a 7-5 7-6 (6) 7-5 winner over seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

Federer and Monfils have clashed nine times with the Swiss holding a 7-2 advantage but the former world number

one will be wary of the enigmatic Frenchman, who many rate as among the most gifted on the men’s tour.

While Federer holds a big edge in their head-tohead clashes, they have split their four most recent matches with the 17-time grand slam winner coming out on top in their most recent meeting just last month in Cincinnati.

Wozniacki in semis C

AROLINE Wozniacki used her aggressive groundstroke game to near perfection on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open with a 6-0 6-1 victory over Italy’s Sara Errani.The 10th-seeded Dane beat 13th-seeded Errani at her own strategy, engaging in long baseline rallies but using superior power to open the court and find lanes for blasting home winners.

Former world number one Wozniacki belted 15 winners to four for Errani in the first set and, despite losing serve in the opening game of the second set, roared to victory in a brisk 65 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

Gilas performing better than South Korea, Iran L IKE in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Asian teams are also struggling to assert themselves in the on-going FIBA Basketball World Cup spread in four cities in Spain.

But that doesn’t mean nobody among the three Asian representatives has yet to make its presence felt in the grandest basketball stage pitting the world’s elite cage squads.

While Asian champion Iran and powerhouse South Korea are getting blown out in their respective group matches, Gilas Pilipinas is certainly making a good account of itself in its return to the world meet after 35 years despite losing its first three games in Group B play which is being played in Seville.

Like the Iranians who are groping for form in Group A in Granada, the Nationals have remained winless after three tries, causing them to join Puerto Rico, the runner-up in FIBA Americas qualifiers, at the cellar. The Koreans, meanwhile, have dropped their first two games in Group D in Gran Canaria.

But the Philippines is certainly performing the best among the three, statistically speaking.

The Nationals, who qualified for the world

meet behind their magical bridesmaid finish in last year’s FIBA Asia qualifiers in Manila, are turning heads with three solid performances against their heavily-favored rivals, including world number 3 Argentina.

The PH side nearly served the tournament’s biggest upset in the opening day last August 30 when it pushed Croatia, ranked 16 in the world, to its limit before running out of steam in overtime and eventually dropped a 7881 setback.

On the next day, the Nationals tried hard to buck off a sub-par offensive performance by naturalized center Andray Blatche, who was slowed down by a right knee injury, and even gave world No. 5 Greece a scare before folding in a 70-82 loss.

Then the PH side certainly showed what it’s capable of when it went toe-to-toe with a heavily-favored Argentina squad, ranked No. 3 in the world, and nearly pulled off a monumental upset, only to absorb yet another stinging setback, an 81-85 decision.

Among the three Asian countries seeing action, the Philippines is having the smallest losing margin

of minus 19 or around 6.3 point difference in their losses.

The Iranians, powered by former NBA center Hamed Haddadi, have compiled minus 72 in their point difference, having lost to host and title contender Spain (60-90), South American powerhouse Brazil (50-79) and Serbia (70-83).

Meanwhile, the Koreans have piled up minus 45 in point difference in their losses against African champion Angola (6980) and perennial Oceania champion Australia (5589).

Among those who were surprised—and amazed—

by Gilas Pilipinas’ solid performances was veteran Argentina guard Pablo Prigioni.

“The Philippines played a good game. It was tough ’til the end. Everyone can shoot and they can play a good rhythm. It’s fun to watch,” the New York Knicks guard was quoted as saying during the postgame press conference.

Even ESPN’s anchor, Mark Jones, was impressed with the Nationals’ play against the Argentines, who boasts several NBA cagers like power forward Luis Scola of the Indiana Pacers.

US routs N Zealand 98-71 A

MERICAN players paused from their warmups to stand and face their New Zealand opponents as they performed the haka, their traditional war dance challenge.

The U.S. response wasn’t nearly as interesting. Just pound the ball inside and outmuscle an overmatched opponent.

Anthony Davis had 21 points and nine rebounds, Kenneth Faried added 15 and 11 boards and the U.S. remained unbeaten at the Basketball World Cup by beating winless New Zealand 98-71 on Tuesday.

James Harden scored 13 points for the Americans, who will play two more games in Bilbao before moving on to Barcelona for the round of 16. They face the Dominican Republic on Wednesday before wrapping up Group C play on Thursday against Ukraine.

“It was a good, solid performance,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “I

thought the intensity was excellent.”

Two nights after having to rally from a halftime deficit and pull away in the fourth quarter for a 98-77 victory over Turkey, the U.S. led this one wire to wire. The game was close only for a little more than a quarter.

BJ Anthony scored 11 points for New Zealand, which fell to 0-3.

“It was pretty awesome getting to play against these guys. These are guys that we watch on TV all the time,” veteran forward Casey Frank said.

“To be able to get out there on the court against them and have a little bit of success offensively, obviously the result didn’t go our way, was pretty awesome.”

The Tall Blacks’ best work was before the game with their haka. Krzyzewski said U.S. players were aware it would be part of the pregame and they lined up to face midcourt as the New Zealand players got into their formation.

ASSIST. Demar DeRozan feeds Damarcus Cousins.

SPORTS 15

DETERMINED. Derrick Rose banged bodies against New Zealand defenders.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 123 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

GUTSY GILAS. The fighting Gilas squad has earned the respect of the basketball world after its tough stand against Croatia, Greece and Argentina. Below, coach Chot Reyes likewise has been admired for his coaching and motivational skills.

GLOBAL RESPECT

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

T

njb@edgedavao.net

HE clock showed 24 seconds and the Philippines just earned a 14-second shot clock and down by just two 81-83.

Coach Chot Reyes mapped out his play. At one end, there was Jimmy Alapag who had just buried four triples out of five in a run that resurrected the Gilas hopes in the final period. On the other was Jayson Castro who had a couple of threes early in the ballgame.

There were also Jeff Chan, the Philippines’ best perimeter shooter and Paul Lee, the spunky streetsmart master of baits, on the bench.

Where would Reyes want the ball to?

Obviously, Jimmy.

From a standpoint of a basketball mind, that was the most academic and reliable option.

Did Reyes go to Alapag in that play? No. He went to Jayson Castro, the least predictable option.

Jayson balked.

Daunted by the impos-

ing figure of a 6-8 giant guarding him. He travelled and with his luggage went the country’s fortunes.

The Philippines eventually lost another heartbreaker, 85-81 to the world no. 3 Argentina.

Daunting task? Yes. Possible? Yes, if you believe.

With the result now a foregone conclusion, the day-after basketball geniuses sprayed their minds on that last 24 seconds.

Jimmy. Jeff. Paul. But not Jayson.

Those were the consensus at least on social media and barber shops back home in the Philippines.

The day-after geniuses relied on what they saw on television. Did we hear Marc Pingris’ heart beat like thunder or Japeth Aguilar’s face turned pale white? Did we scan Chot’s brain?

After the game, Chot said, “The only regret in this game is we weren’t able to give the boys a win and the country a win.”

“ We were down 15 points in the fourth quarter or late in the third and still we regrouped.

That’s the reason why it hurt so much because our boys fight so hard,” Reyes said of his gritty Gilas bunch who have so far gained the respect and admiration of

the basketball world for its hard-fighting stand against the world’s superpowers.

“If you told me at the start of the tournament that we would lose to Argentina, world’s number 3, by 4 points, with a chance to win the game at the end, I would have been very happy. But yes, it’s a very painful defeat,” Reyes shared after the game.

“I think the Croatia loss was even more painful than this one because I thought we really had a great chance against them. It’s basketball, we just have to be able to pick ourselves up and be ready for the next game.”

Even Reyes has earned the respect of his peers like coach Argentina coach Julio Lamas who admitted that he had a hard time facing a courageous Philippines squad.

“This game against the Philippines was the most uncomfortable game I’ve ever coached in my career,” said Lamas, a champion coach in the Argentine league,

through an interpreter after the match.

“We respect the Philippines and their potential from the start of the game. They have a tremendous dynamic team, and the execution of that style is very high level.”

Chicago-based former Letran and Davao Eagles coach Ronel Leuterio put the issue in a much clearer perspective.

Posting from his Facebook page, Leuterio said, “A great deal of discussion about basketball revolves around one thing: the assignment of credit and blame on specific coaches and players.

And while many have no qualms about performing such judgments, most reasonable people realize very quickly that you need to know the thought process the coach is getting into. Having Jayson Castro run the last play seems unnatural, an obvious violation of common sense - but then so did the idea of preventing a disease by injecting people with the very microbes that cause it.”

Do coaches see things coming or do they take risks in the end?

“Unless blessed with clairvoyance, coaches make a decision before they know the outcome.

Perhaps Chot was think-

ing that the Argentine coach would focus their defense on Alapag having shot consecutive baskets previously. The decision to go for Castro was the right decision for Chot. That it didn’t work out doesn’t change the soundness of the decision. Yet people seldom see it this way. They have what psychologist call hindsight bias,” Leuterio said.

Did Chot make a decision that reduced his team’s chances of winning?

“I doubt. Truth is, Chot was methodical.

He’s relentlessly rational basing his coaching decision not on whimsical experimentation but on cold hard math. How can he ever think of reducing his team’s chances of winning, fully knowing the eyes of the world are upon him, and the prayers of his nation?”

Leuterio nailed it to the end of his post when he said: “If Castro makes the final play and Gilas wins the game, their names will forever be spoken in the tone reserved for the most beloved saints.”

For now, Chot is not saintly nor close to it. But to the minds of many, he has turned more believers than cynics.