Edge Davao 7 Issue 139

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

JOKE TIME. Elementary students read a joke book while waiting for their afternoon classes. Lean Daval Jr.

WHERE IS THE GUN? Probers say real weapon in King slay is missing

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ORE than three months after the murder of Cebu –based hotelier and businessman Richard King, police investigators believe the gun used to shot King dead is still missing.

This pronouncement came after the ballistic test for the slug extracted from King did not match the gun surrendered by self-confessed gunman Paul Dave M. Labang and brothers Rodel and Rommel

dela Cerna.

“I feel that Labang is hiding something,” Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, head of the Special Investigation Group (SITG)- King, told Edge Davao in a phone interview yesterday.

During the conversation, Aquino said that he headed to Davao City Police Office (DCPO) where Labang was detained

INSIDE EDGE

IS CENTRAL 911 SHORT OF AMBULANCES? THE BIG NEWS page 2

FWHERE, 10

DAVAO BOXER WINS FIRST BOUT IN ASIAD

SPORTS page 16

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

CHECK. A police officer inspects a rider’s motorcycle registration and driver’s license in a checkpoint in Lanang, Davao City yesterday as part of the crackdown on riding-in-tandem criminals. Lean Daval Jr.

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

REAL GAME. Students of Magallanes Elementary School spend their lunch break playing “sipa” at Rizal Park in Davao City. Many of our native games are no longer being played by children, overrun by digital and online ones. Lean Daval Jr.

Girl, 2, rescued SHORT OF AMBULANCE? from own yaya Central 911 head A

two-year-old girl was rescued last Wednesday at the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) after she was abducted by her own caretaker at around 7 a.m. the same day.

Elements of Buhangin Police Precinct identified the abductor as Jennifer M. Castro, 23, resident of Maitom, General Santos City.

The victim’s grandmother reported the abduction to the police at around 10 a.m. on September 24.

She said their helper, who had been working as the girl’s yaya for only

two weeks, left their residence in Barangay Tigatto at around 7 a.m. with the child.

She said the girl’s father received a text message at around 12:30 p.m. telling him to prepare P1 million as ransom for the child.

Police were able to trace the helper to IGACOS and proceeded to mount an operation.

The child was rescued and the helper was arrested.

Police said according to Castro, she was not operating with a kidnap gang.

Castro is facing charges of kidnapping and illegal detention. CRC

Duterte moves vs illegal quarrying in Davao River

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D

abf@edgedavao.net

avao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the composition of a task force to guard the Davao River from illegal quarrying.

Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 40 or “An Act Creating the Task Force Suba sa Dakbayan (TF Suba)” which aims to “efficiently and effectively respond to the environmental con-

cerns in conformity with existing laws for the protection of the river.”

The mayor signed the EO on September 23.

“There is a necessity to create a task force solely aimed to address these serious problems,” Duterte said in the EO. The EO said major problems have been identified involving the rivers in the city which

FDUTERTE, 10

explains slow response

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

N official of Davao City Central 911 admitted that there was no available ambulance to respond to an attempted suicide that transpired in a boarding house in Davao City last Tuesday. “(At) that time we were on Code Red (meaning no ambulance

available ),” Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon said in an SMS sent to Edge Davao last September 24 at 9:20 p.m.

Jaldon clarified that Central has only three satellite stations located in Panacan, Toril, and Calinan, not four as earlier reported by Edge Davao.

Central 911 has a total of 23 regular ambulances and one bus ambulance, he added. Only eight are augmented for the Sandawa 911 center, while other ambulances are augmented to satellite offices in Toril, Calinan, and Panacan.

Jaldon also said the unit cannot use the mo-

torcycles augmented to Central 911 for emergency purposes because they are already “old” and no longer operational.

Edge Davao earlier reported the experience of a boarding house owner who lamented the slow response he received from Central

men who commit crimes or abuse their position.

He said it is important for the police organization to solve the murder of tricycle driver Manuel Corral VII for which eight police officers are being investigated.

“It is important for us to solve this to boost the morale of the police,” he said.

Earlier this month, Davao City Police Office

(DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. was temporarily relieved from his post due to four counts of grave misconduct filled by his wife against him.

Superintendent Leonardo Felonia was also sacked as chief of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) for allegedly being the mastermind in the killing of Cebu-based hotelier Richard Lim King.

FCENTRAL 911, 10

Despite cases vs cops, PNP 11 ‘still protecting, serving public’

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

D

ESPITE the various cases involving members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 deputy regional director for operations Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino assured the public that the police organization continues to protect and serve the public.

“Only a small percentage of police officers are

involved in anomalies, but if these are sensationalized the whole organization is affected.

Majority of the police force are still committed to their work,” Aquino said.

He gave the assurance even as a number of police officers are currently involved in high-profile cases in Davao City.

Aquino said the PNP will not tolerate police-

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

Drug busts net P140K in shabu

NEWS

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

A

total of P140,000 worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) were confiscated in two separate operations conducted by Toril Police Station on Wednesday night.

Police said they received a complaint at around 8 p.m. on September 24 that a person was carrying a firearm at Toril Public Market.

Responding police officers apprehended the suspect, who was identified as Simplicio P. Sumatra, Jr., 34, a resident of Deca Homes, Mintal, Davao City.

According to Police Officer (PO)3 Diosdado Niones, police also recovered P50,000 worth of shabu and a .45 caliber pistol from Sumatra.

Another suspected drug pusher was appre-

hended in a buy-bust operation two hours later in Lubogan, Toril.

The suspect was identified as Edgar L. Mamaluba, 36, a resident of Batulosa, Barangay Bankas Heights, Toril.

Police said Mamaluba was arrested after selling P1,000 worth of shabu to an undercover agent.

Police confiscated P90,000 worth of shabu

and the marked P1,000 from the suspect.

Charges of violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 also known as Comprehensive dangerous drug act of 2002 were filed against the two suspects.

Sumatra will also face a separate charge of violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

Registration Board.

He said they deleted 27,943 voters in the first district, 25,686 in the second district, and 31, 096 in the third district.

This left the city with 923,121 registered voters: 401, 895 in the first district, 285,789 in second district, and 235,437 in the third district.

Casquejo said the reasons for deletion are failure to vote in two successive elections, transfer to another city or municipality or death.

He said of the 923,121registered voters

in the city, only 14, 203 are new registrants.

Casquejo said for the whole Region 11, a total of 267, 726 voters were removed from the list due to the same reasons.

Of the of 267, 726 removed voters, 39,731 are from Davao del Sur, 29,542 from Davao Occidental, 58, 666 from Davao del Norte, 34, 622 from Compostela Valley, and 20,440 from Davao Oriental.

The region has a total of 2,778,704 voters as of the October 2013 election.

Comelec sees 30% drop in registered voters

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

he Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said Davao City could see a 30 percent drop in the number of voters because of the large number who have no biometrics.

Speaking to reporters in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum at City Hall, Comelec 11 assistant regional director Marlon S. Casquejo said the number of registered voters in the city could drop from 996,631 as of July 21, 2014 to around 700,000.

Casquejo said the city has almost 400,000 vot-

ers who have no biometrics, and of this total only 20 percent have complied.

“We are calling on registered voters, even active voters, who have no biometrics. They will be deleted from the list by the end of October 2015,” Casquejo said.

He said most of these are voters who registered before the 2004 presidential election.

Casquejo said Comelec deleted 84,725 or 7.38 percent from the 996, 631 total as of July 21 during the Election

PRACTICE TIME. A student from Magallanes Elementary School spends her break time practicing her “sipa” skills at Rizal Park in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

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4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

DavNor Lumad family bags award

T

HE Davao del Norte’s winner, who was just proclaimed on Monday (September 22), also topped the regional search for the Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino 2014.

Guisongan family, an Ata Manobo family from Talaingod of this province, bagged the regional award as Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino 2014.

This was declared by Priscilla Razon, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, through a letter addressed to her counterpart in the provincial government.

Arlene Semblante, provincial social welfare and development office, said that according to the letter sent by Director Razon, the Guisongan family will be honoured as the regional winner on Sep-

tember 28 in UM Matina Gym during the celebration of the 2014 National Family Day. “Maybe the regional assessment team also saw the qualities of the family, especially Mr. Virgilio Guisongan, the father, who promotes healthy lifestyle and is a God-centered individual,” Semblante said.

Semblante boasted that this is the third consecutive win of the province in the said search since 2012.

“And this is the second time for a family in Talaingod to win the Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino,” she added.

“I hope and pray that the Guisongan family will also emerge as the winner of the National Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino,” she added. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)

Aquino pushes for global climate change effort

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RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III called for a global coordinated effort to address climate change noting that with the changing climate, both big and small nations become vulnerable to its ill effects.

"The choice before us, then, is clear: Together we must face these challenges and surmount them, or together we will suffer the consequences of inaction," the President said in his speech at the United

Nations Climate Change Summit on Tuesday (Sept.

23) at the UN headquarters in New York City.

Nations should not engage in another protracted debate over the individual commitments of countries, he said adding it would be a wrong framework to address the issue.

"Instead, everyone here has to do everything they can to address climate change, without first

FAQUINO, 10

Woman entrapped for influencing trafficked victim to drop case

T

HE Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT-XI) Network has made the arrest and the filing of a case against a woman who allegedly persuaded a complainant to withdraw a case in trafficking in persons (TIP) which is pending in court.

Regional Prosecution Office (RPO-11) assistant prosecution attorney Karl Andre G. Salcedo said that a case has been filed against one Myrian Silva Taña since her apprehension last September 18 in an entrapment operation for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons law.

The case, which cited Section 5 (h) of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-TIP Act of 2003 as amended

by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-TIP Act of 2012, is pending resolution at the City Prosecution Office.

Section 5 (h) of RA 9208 “expressly penalizes any person who shall influence or attempt to influence a witness in an investigation or a case of TIP,” explained Salcedo who is also RPO-11’s press information officer.

The complainant, Lara (real name withheld in accordance to RA 9208), reported to IACAT-11 Network that Taña communicated with her in several occasions and convinced her to withdraw the case and to no longer testify in court, Salcedo stated in a press release.

Lara also told the network that the accused offered financial assistance to her in exchange for the withdrawal of a TIP case which is pending with the Regional Trial Court Branch 33.

Salcedo said that Lara is one of the eight trafficked victims, three of whom are minors, who

FWOMAN, 10

FEWER VOTERS. Commission on Elections (Comelec) assistant regional director lawyer Marlon S. Casquejo tells reporters that the number of registered voters in Davao City will decrease due to a huge percentage of voters who failed to have their biometrics taken. Casquejo was guest in yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr.

50K SK voters stricken off list

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

he Commission on Election (Comelec ) 11 has removed a total of 50,742 registered young voters in Davao Region for the 2015 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election because they will reach the age of 18 by the time of the poll.

Comelec 11 assistant regional director Marlon S. Casquejo said the region has only 77,283 remaining voters who will participate in the SK election on February 21,

2015.

Of the 50,742 deleted SK voters, 10,792 are from Davao City; 7,975 are from Davao del Sur; 3,299 are from Davao Occidental; 9,355 are from Davao del Norte; 10,078 are from Compostela Valley 10,078; and 9,083 are from Davao Oriental.

Casquejo said in the remaining five days before the SK registration ends on September 29, they could register at least 5,000 registrants a day

make up for the 50,742 who were removed.

He said the problem is that the registration falls during school days so the young people might not have enough time to go to the Comelec office to register.

“Maybe that is also the factor why the registration turn-out is low,” he said.

Casquejo also said most of the young people in the 15-17 age bracket are already in college

and some are studying in neighboring cities and so might have no time to go home to register.

He said since they started the registration last September 20, there were 4,979 new registered voters.

Of the 4,979, Davao City has 464; Davao del Sur has 1,957; Davao Occidental has 575; Davao del Norte has 593; Compostela Valley has 912, and Davao Oriental has 478.

filed as House Bill 4994 in the House of Representatives.

The Bangsamoro Bill, once enacted into law and ratified by the people in the envisioned core territory, will establish the new Bangsamoro region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Iqbal further assured indigenous peoples (IPs) that they have nothing to fear from the Bangsamoro, saying that they will protect the right to self-determination of the IPs in the same way the Moros fought for theirs.

Iqbal also allayed the fears of non-Muslims in the proposed Bangsamoro territory, saying the Islamic faith will not be imposed on them.

The BTC chair also

clarified that residents in the proposed territory have the choice to be part of the Bangsamoro, and they will not be forced should they decide otherwise.

“Instead of dismemberment of the Republic, the Bangsamoro will further unite our peoples. There shall be no state within a state. The Philippine state shall remain sovereign,” Iqbal stressed. “We only ask that we be allowed to govern ourselves.”

Iqbal said that there are enough flexibilities in the Constitution to allow the establishment of the Bangsamoro.

More than a bill The BTC Chair also emphasized that the proposed Bangsamoro law is “more than just a piece of

legislation,” saying that it also signifies the beginning of better lives for the coming generations of the Bangsamoro, assured safety and the unhampered pursuit of dreams for the Moros, and prosperity and development in the region.

The Ad Hoc Committee, headed by Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, has a total of 75 members.

About half of its members were present during the hearing. Meanwhile, aside from Iqbal, other resource persons present include ‎Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, GPH chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, members of the BTC and legal teams involved in

Nothing to fear from Bangsamoro Bill – Iqbal

"T

O the Filipino people: be not afraid (of the Bangsamoro)," Bangsamoro Transition chair Mohagher Iqbal exhorted in his opening statement during the first hearing of the House Special AdHoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Iqbal issued the call in relation to those “who would want to sow fear instead of hope… in the hearts of the Filipino people.” These people, Iqbal said, “will use words like ‘dismemberment of the Republic,’ ‘sell-out,’ ‘violation of the Constitution,’ ‘surrender,’ ‘state within a state,’ and even a ‘ploy for eventual independence” in ‎referring to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law which has recently been

FNOTHING, 10

5 PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

Camella Tagum turns 3 W

ITH three successful years tucked under its belt, Camella Tagum opens a Grand Buyers Day on Saturday, September 27, to welcome more homebuyers and allow them to join in their anniversary festivities.

“As a way to say thank you to the public for our success, we shall give away special promo packages to our homebuyers this Saturday,” said Sheilamae Lara, Camella Tagum Marketing Head.

These promos will make investing in a Camella Tagum home this Saturday a wise move for buyers as prices are expected to increase in October. The purchases made during the Grand Buyers Day can potentially give homebuyers a savings of up to P140,000.

Camella Tagum will also have new and upcoming developments in the coming months, such as the construction its clubhouse, that will further push its value appreciation. Based on their records, this Italian-Mediterranean subdivision development has had a value appreciation of 30% since its launch in 2011, proving its strong performance and reliability as a property investment. Lara said they are even looking at a 50% value appreciation before the year rends.

Owner-renters will also benefit from the rental income of a two-storey home that can go from P10,000 to as high as P15,000. With monthly amortization as low as P6,000, rental yield can be 10% to 15% annually.

Other festivities prepared by Camella Tagum are a basketball game, ba-

zaar, child friendly entertainment and other special surprises for buyers and guests. They also opened several exhibits last September 19 with special guest Rev. Antonio S. Alastra Jr., Cooperative Development Specialist II, representing Mayor Allan L. Rellon.

The Camella Tagum Exhibit in Gaisano Mall in Tagum City showcases the development of Camella Tagum in the past three years. Another exhibit at the Gaisano Grand Mall captures the fun community activities of homebuyers, while the exhibit in NCCC Mall features the interior designs of Camella units, as well as the personal designs of some of its homeowners.

A basketball game was held earlier on September 20 with invited Capitol and City Hall employees, while the September 13 game was between Camella Tagum homebuyers, all of which were played at the subdivision’s newly-built basketball court.

Camella Tagum is located at Barangay Visayan Village, National Highway.

Tagum City. Camella is the most trusted brand for the last three years based on a Reader’s Digest survey. This masterplanned subdivision is part of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vistaland, which has 38 years of experience and solid track record in real estate industry. Vistaland has built over 250,000 homes in 34 provinces and 73 cities and municipalitees.

All inquiries about Camella Tagum are welcome at 0917-5639617 and 0999-8864150 or like us in Facebook.com/Camella Tagum.

The various exhibits showcased the development, lifestyle, and designs of Camella Tagum.

Camella Staff with Business Director Amelita Bedrejo and Mr. Miko Olmeda from partner bank, Banco De Oro

Cutting the ribbon to open the exhibits are special guests Rev Antonio Alastra (right) and Sales Manager Leni Opena (left).

6 THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

Imports register flat growth in July 2014 M

ERCHANDISE imports increased by only 0.002-percent year-onyear in July 2014, which may be a reflection of a regional phenomenon as majority of the East and South East Asian trade-oriented economies registered decreases in imports, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Vietnam, Taiwan, and South Korea were the only countries in the region that posted growth in merchandise imports with increases of 16.4 percent, 9.5 percent, and 5.8 percent, respectively.

Payments for Philippine merchandise

imports amounted to US$5.5 billion in July 2014, registering an almost nil expansion from US$5.5 billion in July 2013. The small increment was due to yearon-year gains in overseas spending for mineral fuels and lubricants and consumer goods which partially cushioned the contractions in the value of imported raw materials and capital goods.

“The overall performance of merchandise imports is showing signs of mild recovery from its decline of -0.4 percent in May this year.

Year-to-date growth is also better than last year’s -1.6 percent contraction. However on a

year-on-year basis, it is way below the 8.9 percent growth in 2013,” NEDA deputy director-general Emmanuel F. Esguerra said.

For the first seven months of 2014, payments for imports rose by 4.8 percent to US$36.9 billion from US$35.2 billion in the same period a year ago.

Given the slower growth of imports relative to the 9.0 percent expansion in merchandise exports in January-July 2014, trade-in-goods deficit narrowed to US$1.7 billion.

Total import value of mineral fuels and lubricants rose by a hefty 20.4 percent to US$1.2 billion in July 2014 from

apps on iPhone, Android devices and the Blackberry 10, and also AirAsia’s mobile site at mobile.airasia. com.

AirAsia Zest CEO Joy Cañeba said, “With the successful launch of our ‘Fly Thru’ service to Australia less than two months ago, we are pleased to announce that we are expanding our network to include some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations in India and exciting attractions and beaches of Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia and Malaysia.”

AirAsia Zest kicked off

its fly thru service in July with flights from Manila to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in Australia.

AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service offers guests seamless transit, hassle free luggage check-in and other connecting convenience when traveling. Fly-Thru allows guests to seamlessly connect on multiple flight leg (on certain flights) without needing to pass through immigration, collect bags, check-in between flights or have a transit visa.

Bags will automatically be checked through to the final destination.

ployment Service Offices (PESOs) with local government units and other partners.

“PESOs are linked to DOLE regional offices for coordination and technical supervision to ensure performance of their mandate,” Baldoz said. “Under the PESO law, employers are encouraged to submit to the PESO on a regular

basis a list of their job vacancies to facilitate the exchange of labor market information services between them and the job seekers, with the PESO as intermediary.”

She said out of the 1.26 million workers served during the period, 700,594 jobseekers were actually placed for local and overseas employment. (DOLE)

AirAsia Zest adds more ‘Fly-Thru’services A

IRASIA Zest, the low cost carrier that flies hand in hand with AirAsia, has started offering “Fly-Thru” service from Manila to 22 new destinations in India, Brunei, Jeddah and to popular tourist spots such as Krabi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Penang, Siem Reap, Bali, Yangon and more!

The all-in introductory fares start at P3,721, inclusive of taxes and fees for one way only are available online atwww.airasia. com. Guests are also able to book seats for this new route via AirAsia’s mobile

PESOs place 700K Filipinos in jobs from Jan-Jun 2014 T

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) assisted in the placement of 1.26 million of 1.6 million jobseekers targeted for 2014, an 81.3 percent accomplishment rate for the first semester.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz attributed this to the closer coordination of the Public Em-

US$1.0 billion in July 2013. In the same period, overseas purchases of consumer goods increased by 10.5 percent to US$779.2 million from US$705.0 million.

“Sharp contractions in the imports of materials and accessories for the manufacture of electrical equipments and other raw materials for production as well as imports of capital goods need to be monitored periodically since they provide signals on future demand conditions on both domestic and external fronts,” Esguerra said.

He added that the lifting of the truck ban may partly ease the problem of port conges-

tion in Manila but the fundamental issue of improving the capacity and efficiency of alternative ports should be addressed.

As for the sources of Philippine imports in July 2014, the People’s Republic of China had the biggest share at 14.2 percent amounting to US$781.9 million. Second was Japan with a share of 8.5 percent, followed by Taiwan (8.3 percent), United States of America (7.5 percent), Singapore (6.4 percent), Republic of Korea (6.4 percent), Saudi Arabia (6.2 percent), Malaysia (5.2 percent), Indonesia (5.1 percent) and Thailand (4.5 percent).

The value of import-

ed commodities from major ASEAN trading partners represented about 23.7 percent (US$1.3 billion), mostly on capital goods and materials needed for the manufacture of electrical equipment.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) provided US$609.9 million or about 11.1 percent share of the country’s total import requirements in July 2014.

“It is also important for the government to continue exploring avenues for greater opportunities within the ASEAN region and take advantage of increased economic cooperation among ASEAN countries,” he concluded.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY

7

Customs seizes illegally imported Thai white rice T

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized an estimated 1,250 Metric Tons (1.25 million kilograms) of white rice that had arrived in the country without the required import permits from the National Food Authority (NFA).

The rice, stocked in 25,000 50-kg bags, was contained in 50 20-foot container vans and have an estimated market value of about P50 million.

The BOC said the rice arrived at the Manila International Container Port from Bangkok, Thailand last June 2 and was consigned to Tres Mujeres Agri Venture.

“The shipment was subject of derogatory information received by the Bureau’s Enforcement Group. Upon further verification with the NFA, it was found that this particular shipment of rice was not issued any import permit. Moreover, as the shipment remained unclaimed beyond 30 days upon arrival in the country, the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines provides

that this should already be considered abandoned by the consignee,” the BOC said in a statement.

“Regardless of circumstances, it is very clear in the law that import permits are a requirement before the Bureau can clear regulated shipments like rice and all illegally imported items are subject to seizure,” Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla said.

“We will no longer tolerate nor allow situations where importers can clear shipments without valid permits as this puts our people in compromising situations and breeds corruption. It’s strictly ‘no permit, no entry,’” he added.

Presidential Decree 4 and Republic Act 7178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act mandates that only the NFA can import rice and private entities who wish to do the same must secure a permit from the agency.

In addition, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Trade and Goods has allowed the

Philippines to extend Quantitative Restrictions (QR) on rice imports until 2017.

The ruling, which would be endorsed to the

WTO General Council, allows the Philippines to import 350,000 MT of rice under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) with a 40 percent tariff. Imports

stations and pipe lines.

The P565 million will also cover the development of Level III water supply systems, or the actual service connection of the individual households to the water supply.

“Ensuring better access to quality health services—such as safe drinking water—is one of the keystones of our development agenda. This applies most especially to our poorest provinces, where there isn’t enough potable water to go around,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch”

Abad said.

The P565-million fund release will support the development of water supply facilities in a total of 38 water districts in 10 provinces. A water district is defined by LWUA as a local corporate entity that operates and maintains a water supply system in one or more provincial cities or municipalities.

The 10 provinces covered in the fund release are Abra, Kalinga, Masbate, Camarines Sur, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar,

Zamboanga del Norte, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. “We have given the LWUA the go signal to develop these water systems and bring reliable and sustainable water supply services to communities in need. In the short-term, we’re after the the immediate improvement of health and sanitation conditions in these areas. Ultimately, our goal is—as always— to enhance the overall standard of living for the country’s poorest,“ he added. (DBM)

Philippines’ second largest aviation hub. The passenger terminal building’s current capacity accommodates 4.5 million passengers per year. With the expansion, the Mactan International airport will increase its annual capacity to 8M passengers per year.

Cebu Pacific said it estimates that about 3.33M passengers flew within its

Cebu hub last year. In the second quarter of 2014, Cebu Pacific posted a 14.75 percent year-on-year growth in passengers from the hub.

“We welcome the expansion of the Mactan International airport. Cebu is a very important hub for us. Cebu Pacific has been operating flights at the Mactan airport since 1996. We

are reviewing our network plans out of Cebu and we look forward to offering Cebu Pacific’s low fares to even more travelers,” said Atty. Jorenz Tanada, Cebu Pacific VP Corporate Affairs.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific is set to start flying nonstop, direct flights from Manila to Riyadh on October 1, and to Dammam on October 4. The airline also

EVALUATION. Felizardo K. Virtudio Jr., World Bank Task team leader for Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP)2, tells reporters that a third party will conduct an evaluation of the achievements of the program which will end in December. With him is Carolina V. Figueroa-Geron, World Bank Task team leader for Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP). Lean Daval Jr. made outside of the MAV would be levied a 50 percent tariff.

The extended QR will give more time for local farmers to improve effi-

ciency and the local rice industry to build production capability and reduce costs to cope with increased competition in Southeast Asia. (DoF)

20 American firms DBM pumps P565M into water systems Nearly looking to invest in PH

T

HE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of P565 million to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for the continued development of potable water supply systems covering the poorest provinces in the country.

The fund release— sourced from LWUA’s Regular Appropriations under the 2014 National Budget—will support efforts on water source development and the construction of pumping

N

EW YORK, New York – Close to 20 American companies have expressed interest in investing or expanding to the Philippines as a result of President Benigno Aquino’s trip to the United States.

In a media interview here Tuesday, President Aquino mentioned the number of companies that are planning to do business in the Philippines but did not name them out of concern it might violate their securities and exchange code.

The President mentioned a company with investment in one location and employs 600,000 workers.

“Nagbabalak siyang itayo ang something similar sa Pilipinas. Naghahanap ng mga partner niya na makakatulong sa pagtatayo nga nitong production facility para sa kanyang mga produkto,” the President said.

The company, worth several billions of dollars, appears to be an industry leader, he said.

He said he would meet with two other companies in San Francisco that want to put their money in the Philippines.

San Francisco will be the President’s last stop in his five-day visit to the US before returning to Manila on Wednesday. (PCOO-PND)

started flying non-stop from Manila to Sydney last September 9.

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

Cebu Pacific’s 51-strong fleet is comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 28 Airbus A320, 5 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. It is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world.

Between 2014 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 11 more brand-new Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and 1 Airbus A330 aircraft.

Cebu Pacific supports Mactan-Cebu Airport expansion C

EBU Pacific has expressed its support for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s expansion. The airline currently operates 27 routes from Cebu to other domestic and international destinations.

The P17.5-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport expansion project aims to modernize the

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

EDITORIAL

T

Change is in the offing

HERE is now a snowballing clamor to amend the liquor ban in Davao City and by the looks of it, the new plea has a fairly good chance of passing.

The liquor ban, set from 1 am to 8 am every day in Davao City, could be relaxed a bit specifically on weekends. Lobbyists from www.change.org now want the liquor ban on weekends pegged instead at 3 am. Afterall, that’s a weekend—the time of the week to unwind and recharge after a grueling week at work or school.

Davao City’s liquor ban is probably the firmest there ever is in the country. It actually originated in 1994 via Ordinance 1627. The same measure was revisited recently and amended the cutoff to 1 am and lifted the exemptions on tourism-promoting establishments.

Now, lobbyists wanted it to be relaxed to 3 am

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and give enough time for business to recoup capital and earn two additional business hours. This will also encourage event organizers, who have shun away from Davao City because of the ban, to bring back their acts in the city on weekends.

The fact that the discussion is now open for debate only means that the city government is open to some changes. Credit that to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s seemingly open mind on changes to the laws he himself helped install.

The amendment will mean more income for businesses and more booze time for the fun-loving Dabawenyos. No problem with that. The roundthe-clock security Davao is known for will continue anyway whether or not fun stops at 1 or 3 am.

It’s but four additional hours of business and fun.

How is that for a weekend?

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHENEEN R. CAPON BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Reporters MEGHANN STA. INES AQUILES Z. ZONIO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle Photography CHA MONFORTE JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Correspondents ARLENE D. PASAJE Contributing Photographer Cartoons MUNDA • HENRYLITO TACIO • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO AURELIO A. PEÑA • MARY Columnists: CARLOS MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. ANN “ADI”• C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • VIDA MIA VALVERDE • Economic Analysts:• ENRICO BORBON MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN EMILY “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER PEREZENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA EconomicM. Analyst:

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GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYNRICHARD S. PANES C. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager of Sales SpecialistFinance General Manager DirectorAdvertising FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLORENCE ManagerS. VILLARIN

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

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EDGEDAVAO

C

OLORFUL and controversial Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte has a big problem in his hands.

His threat, which was of course said in jest, that he would like to shoot the people behind the move to convince him to run for President has so many takers that he may need a lot of bullets and burial areas.

Writes Philippine Daily Inquirer Ramon Tulfo in his column On Target: “Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte’s threat to shoot anyone who prods him to run for President in 2016 is being taken as a challenge, and there are many takers.

“I dare Duterte to shoot me for publicly prodding him to run for President.

“Actor Edu Manzano sent me a text message, saying, ‘Can I sign up for the SHOOT ME, DUTERTE! petition?”

“My reply: ‘Sure you can, dude, but you’ll have to queue up because it’s a long, long line.’

“The “Shoot me, Duterte!” challenge has gone viral. Cemeteries will be full, if the controversial mayor makes good

J

UST when we thought the boy – y s, we are referring to El Niño – is no longer coming, we were alarmed by the recent headline of Edge Davao: “EL NIÑO FEARED.” The news, written by our correspondent Funny Pearl A. Gajunera, quoted Gerry Pedrico, the Davao station chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), as saying: “Based on our average of 20 tropical cyclones, (typhoon) Mario was only the 13th, so we are waiting for seven more. But based on our forecast, there will be an El Niño this year, so if that happens we will not reach 20.”

Pedrico has identified Davao City “as one of the areas that will experience a long drought in the coming months.” The four provinces of Davao region – Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, and Compostela Valley – are also expected to go under a long drought.

This is bad news indeed as Davao region is an agricultural province. After all, it is considered as the food basket of the Philippines. The last time El Niño hit the country was in 1997. Mindanao was not spared from the fury of the climate phenomenon.

Here is an account of that past El Niño: “Agriculture production in Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, and the hinterlands of Davao City took an unprecedented nosedive as the dry spell led to a high incidence of drought-induced diseases and pest. Rat infestation destroyed the region’s farm planted to rice, corn, banana, cacao, mango, sweet potato, and cassava.

In other places, Malaysian black bug dam-

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Duterte’s Dilemma his threat.

BRAVEHEART “ M a n y Duterte supporters in Davao City will soon be wearing T-shirts with the words, ‘Pusila ko, Duterte (Shoot me)!’ emblazoned Manny Piñol on them.”

In an attempt to brush off calls for him to run for President and discourage people from considering him for the presidency, Duterte has tried everything, even putting forward crazy ideas on how to run the Philippines.

“I don’t want to be President because if I become President and I don’t get the reforms in government that I wanted, I will declare a Revolutionary Government,” he once said.

Did that turn off people?

No! In fact, the reaction was: “Yes, it’s about time a President straightens

out everything in this country.”

Then he declared: “Don’t force me to be President because I will close down Congress!”

The reaction? “Yes, yes, yes! Most of them do nothing but pocket their pork barrels anyway.”

“I do not like to be President but if I become one, I will shoot every smuggler, especially rice smugglers, drug dealers, and kidnappers,” he also threatened, perhaps expecting that the statement would turn off people.

The response? “Yes, yes, yes! That should be done all over the country.”

Duterte has tried all antics and delivered crazy statements in a desperate effort to wave off the calls for him to run for President but he finds himself in deeper trouble.

People who are tired of corruption in government and the rising criminality lap up everything that Duterte says, even his zaniest idea of governance.

“If I become President, I will privatize the GSIS and SSS because they have committed so much injustice to the

ordinary Filipino wage earners who after years of hard work would discover that somebody had availed of a loan using their names,” he said.

You think that will discourage people? Not on your life! People even want Duterte to privatize the Bureau of Customs.

How long can Duterte brush off calls for him to run for President?

It may not take long before he runs out of crazy ideas, threats, and excuses.

Soon, the time will come when Duterte will have to ask himself: “Why do people want me to be President?”

When he realizes that the call for him to run for President is not really because he is Rodrigo Duterte but because the Filipinos hunger for a leader who could put things in order, he may stop issuing threats and take up the call.

After all, Duterte, a veteran lawyer and a public prosecutor, understands the Latin maxim: “Vox Populi, Vox Dei.”

aged some THINK ON THESE! rice fields in Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao City, and Davao del Sur. “The El Niño phenomenon Henrylito D. Tacio dried up land henrytacio@gmail.com and sources of potable water in General Santos City and adjacent areas. Davao del Sur also experienced shortage in potable water, hence, residents resorted to cutting down banana trees and boiling their trunks to become a source of water.”

Will these things happen again once the El Niño strikes back?

So, what’s El Niño? The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has come up with a 300-page book on it and its counterpart, La Niña. But let’s talk more about the former first.

“El Niño is a large-scale oceanographic/meteorological phenomenon, manifested through a local warming of surface waters in the entire equatorial zone of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

El Niño may extend from the dateline to the west coast of South America during a strong episode. El Niño is an eccentricity which makes dry places wet, wet places dry, warm places cold, and cold places warm.”

That was the book’s explanation. But why is it named El Niño? “Spanish fishermen named the event originally as ‘Cor-

riente del Niño,’” the book explains. “The word ‘corriente’ describes the appearance of warm ocean current flowing from time to time in eastern equatorial Pacific region along the South American coasts.

The ‘Niño’ word was traditionally associated with the birth of Baby Jesus, as it was observed around Christmas. It was used to be considered a local event along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador. Through the years, ‘corriente’ was dropped out, leaving only El Niño.”

In the beginning, El Niño was a weak, warm current that appeared annually, which lasted for only a few weeks to a month. However, for every 3-7 years, an El Niño event lasted for many months. It has grown through the years and now affects the world over.

“El Niño has abnormal effects on the main components of climate, including sunshine, temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, cloud formation, and ocean currents,” the book said. “To date, it has changed weather patterns around the world.”

The El Niño cycle may be simple but the energy reserves it carries is beyond comprehension. According to scientists, “it contains more energy than has been procured from all the fossil fuels burned in the United States since the beginning of the century – that’s all the gasoline in all the cars, the coal in all the power plants, the natural gas in all the furnaces.”

It is said that it would take more than a million large power plants, at 1,000 megawatts each, running full tilt for a year, to heat the ocean that much. Now go figure!

Studies have observed that minor El Niño happened every 2-3 years, and the major ones every 8-11 years. Now, scientists reported that El Niño has a return period of 4-5 years, usually lasting from 12 to 18 months.

“During the past 98 years, 23 El Niños have been noted,” the DOST book says. “Of the century’s ten most powerful, four have occurred since 1980, the worst and the strongest were in 1997 and 1982-83.”

Despite all the El Niño phenomena that hit around the world, it remains mysterious. The book states: “El Niño is a climate phenomenon which creates catastrophic effects on the local arena and unpredictable changes in temperature and precipitation patterns in the global scene. It has caused damages worth billions of dollars around the world in droughts, floods, and other livelihood revenues.

“Yet, despite all the exaggerated and dreadful predictions, scientists can only assign probabilities to its possible effects,” the book adds. “Meteorologists have been examining weather maps, running supercomputer simulations, studying coral reefs, tree rings, and glacial ice, to probe the dynamics of water temperatures in the Pacific.”

Now, is Davao region ready for another El Niño, which will start during the Christmas season and will continue until March of 2015?

“The phenomenon is expected to bring below-average rainfall in the last quarter of this year through the first quarter of 2015,” Gajunera wrote in her report.

The boy is coming!

10

NEWS

Where...FFROM 1

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

after he was arrested few days after the murder incident that transpired in King office at Barrio Obrero, in this city.

“We will try to talk to him again,” Aquino said.

Aquino said that he had reasons to suspect the silence of Labang on whereabouts of the real weapon he used to shoot King in the head on June 12.

He said that Labang could be afraid of the al-

leged mastermind Police Superintendent Leonardo A. Felonia, former chief of Regional Intelligence Unit of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11.

Aquino also said that his team is also looking on the possibility that Labang did not owned the gun and returned it to the alleged gun owner.

“We don’t know if Felonia owns the missing gun because we still

have to know if his gun are all registered,” Aquino said, adding that until now they haven’t check the identification system.

Aquino said that the gun used to kill King was unregistered.

In a recent press said that the slug from King’s slay matched three other slugs recovered from three different murder case in Naga and Quezon City. CRC

911 no September 22.

Speaking upon request of anonymity, the boarding house landlord narrated to Edge Davao that he called 911 to report an attempted suicide incident of one of his boarders.

He said the distress call lasted almost one hour.

The attempted suicide transpired in one the rooms rented out by the alleged 911 caller. Upon knowing the incident, he immediately called 911 for response but decided to end the call because the interrogation al-

legedly last for almost an hour without emergency response from Central 911.

Jaldon, however, said the process was done properly when the caller called at around 10: 00 a.m..

“I checked the recordings and the procedure was done properly.

Obvious the caller panicked. The 911 call taker could not give the proper instruction because the caller put down the phone,” he said.

Jaldon said the ba-

rangay officials “can and should facilitate the transport” of people in emergencies.

The sentiment was shared by Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) chief Frank Villaroman, who said barangay officials should also take responsibility in emergency situations happening in their areas.

He said Dabawenyos should not rely on Central 911 alone because it has its own limitations, too. CRC

necessitate immediate measures to address or alleviate their serious consequences.

It stated that the rampant illegal quarry operations within the main river of the city have been monitored and are feared to cause danger not only on the lives of the community in the vicinity but also in the protection and preservation of these rivers.

It said the presence of huge rocks block the flow of the water along the channels and poses threats of landslides during heavy rains.

Under the EO, the duties and functions of TF Suba is to conduct investigation related to illegal quarrying activities within the river and formulate as well as recommend solutions to the mayor.

The task force will also formulate policies and recommend actions to the mayor relative to the necessity of conducting massive desiltation on identified rivers in the city.

It is also tasked to formulate policies for the protection and preservation of the rivers and prepare reports to be submitted to the mayor.

filed the case in 2012 against a certain Nora Dulnuan and four other accused who are still atlarge.

The five suspects were charged for illegally recruiting the victims to work in a disco bar in Baguio City in 2012. Salcedo said two separate cases were actually filed at RTC Branches 33 and 15.

He bared that Taña is a friend of the accused Dulnuan, but he clarified that “Taña is a stranger to the original case filed

by Lara against Dulnuan.

Hindi siya kasali sa TIP case first filed by Lara and company in 2012.”

Taña, reportedly a resident of Rivera Village along J.P. Laurel Avenue,

has been detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following her arrest, he added.

“If found guilty and convicted of the offense, Taña faces an imprisonment of 15 years and a fine not less than P500,000 but not more than P1 million,” Salcedo stated.

After receiving the report from Lara, IACAT-XI Network immediately coordinated the entrapment operation with the NBI which is one of the members of the network’s Enforcement and Prosecution cluster.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-11), the lead agency of the

network’s Psychosocial cluster, has also extended counseling to Lara prior to and after the entrapment operation.

IACAT-XI Network has been intensifying its awareness-raising drive through its Advocacy Cluster, urging the public to be aware and to report any TIP incident through hotline numbers 09177185588 or 330-3058.

A new member of the network, the Davaobased Global Impact Philippines Foundation, also encouraged the public to use smartphone application called “Freedom App” for a world-wide reporting of human trafficking cases. (PIA-11/ Carina L. Cayon)

from Kamrani.

The heady Iran point guard retook the lead, 6160, for Iran with a triple but Lee quickly knotted the game at 61-all with a free throw.

Two free throws from Norwood gave Gilas a 6361 lead with 2:07 left in the game but Bahrami leveled the score in the very next

play with an inside two.

Iran’s leading scorer gave them a 64-63 lead with a split from the line.

Lee missed a long triple over the outstretched arms of Haddadi in the next play and Bahrami padded their lead to three at 66-63 with 22.3 seconds remaining after two free throws.

The scores:

Iran 68: Bahrami 21, Haddadi 20, Kamrani 12, Arghavan 6, Yakhchalidehkordi 3, Jamshidi 3, Afagh 2, Mashayekhi 1, Sahakian 0, Zangeneh 0.

Gilas 63: Lee 11, Tenorio 10, Douthit 10, Norwood 9, De Ocampo 6, Pingris 5, David 4, Chan 3, Dillinger 3, Fajardo 2, Alapag 0, Aguilar 0.

Central 911...FFROM 2

Duterte... FFROM 2

Woman... FFROM 4

No... FFROM 16

GOING MOBILE. A Korean mass communication student of the Ateneo de Davao University uses her mobile phone

Aquino...FFROM 4

to take pictures at a media forum’s guests at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

waiting for their neighbors to engage in action," he said. "Doing anything less leaves the problem unattended, too, thereby increasing the problem we all face."

Although not a major emitter, the Philippines is not waiting for other nations to act first, he said.

The country has been addressing climate change to the maximum with its limited resources.

Legislation has been enacted to lessen the impact of disasters by adopting a comprehensive approach to disaster response, the President said.

The government has also improved its weather forecasting so that it could send timely warnings to vulnerable communities.

For national and local authorities and residents, the government has undertaken multi-hazard and geohazard mapping, which is integral to the effective assessment of risks, according to the President.

It is also carrying out a massive national

re-greening program and intensified the crackdown on anti-illegal logging activities.

At the same time, the government also started tagging public expenditure on climate change to ensure that the appropriate prioritization and allocation of funds is achieved, he said.

To reduce the impact of disasters on the poorest and most vulnerable Filipinos, the government engaged other stakeholders in developing a disaster risk financing and insurance policy framework.

"Perhaps the international community may see the value of such an instrument, and look at it as a model to increase the financial resiliency of other nations in a similar situation to ours," the President said.

The Philippines also has to continue to take steps to maintain and even improve the country's low-emission development strategy and the trajectory of its energy mix, the President noted.

"And we are hopeful that our fellow developing nations, especially those who have been gaining the economic wherewithal to pursue similar strategies, will tread a path akin to ours," he added.

Although less industrialized, the Philippines never lacked the resolve with regards to transitioning towards less traditional sources of energy, the President said.

What is lacking is the country's access to technology, financing, and investment that would allow it to accelerate its strategy, the President noted, believing however that the real challenge is to innovate in the transfer of useful technology and the building of climate-smart infrastructure.

Climate change does not recognize national boundaries, or political or economic affiliations, according to the President.

The chief executive cited the devastation caused

by Typhoon Yolanda that hit the country last year.

(PCOO News Release)

the crafting of the draft BBL. Deles, in her opening statement noted that "something unprecedented is happening these days... before, the MILF and GPH have been on separate sides of the tables. Here, we decided... ‎it is our intent throughout deliberations that we will speak as one."

“The Bangsamoro is the sum of our hopes and dreams,” Iqbal said. “We implore you then to step lightly on these dreams when you discuss the draft law. Do not trample them. Celebrate them.

Welcome them.”

Rodriguez earlier noted that the committee has agreed to en-

sure timely passage of the Bangsamoro bill. In line with this, the committee will hold open public hearings, starting September 24 until December 17 for five days a week. Further hearings will be conducted in Zamboanga, Zamboanga

Sibugay, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Marawi, among others.

The 75-member Ad Hoc Committee is composed of leaders and members of the majority coalition, along with five members of the minority group.

Nothing... FFROM 4

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 12105 under Loyola Contract No(s). 766353-7 issued to SOTTO, ADRIAN R. 21011478 under Loyola Contract No(s).

192607-7/UUU 400265193 issued to SUSAN S. CALLAO were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

9/12/19/26

11 SCITECH

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

Hunger is not a game

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“I

N the last century, some highly motivated people, driven by moral outrage, decided that slavery was monstrous, unconscionable, and must be abolished.

They were called abolitionists,” said Ismail Serageldin, former chairman of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. “Today, widespread hunger in a world of plenty calls equally for moral outrage. The silent holocaust that causes some 40,000 hunger-related deaths every day is unconscionable and must be abolished. We must become the new abolitionists.”

Climate change will further complicate food production. According to Dr. Randy A. Hautea, global coordinator and Southeast Asia Center Director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA), the change of weather will greatly affect the health and productivity of crops, livestock, fish, and forests.

Climate change will increase hunger and malnutrition, he said. It is expected that by 2080, an additional 5 to 170 million people are at risk of hunger, which is defined as the physical sensation of desiring food.

In the Philippines, more and more people will experience hunger as population continues to grow.

In 1980, the Philippines was home to 48 million Filipinos. In 2000, the number swelled to 78 million.

Today, there are 100 million people inhabiting the country.

Is there a likely solution in sight for hunger? There is now one possible solution. “I now say that the world has the technology – either available or well advance in the research pipeline – to feed on a sustainable basis a population of 10 billion people,” Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug pointed out. “The more pertinent question today is whether farmers and ranchers will be permitted to use this new technology?”

Dr. Borlaug, touted to be the “Man Who Saved A Billion Lives,” was referring to biotechnology.

“Biotechnology is a modern technology that makes use of organisms (or parts thereof) to: make or modify products; improve and develop microorganisms, plants or animals; or develop organisms for specific purposes in a more precise manner,” explains a fact sheet circulated by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

The tools used in biotechnology include gene cloning, tissue culture, mi-

crobial culture, DNA-marker technology, and genetic engineering. The latter is the most controversial as it is the method used in developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

A GM/biotech or transgenic crop is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, according to the SEARCA fact sheet.

“GM technology can address problems that cannot be solved through conventional crop improvement methods,” the fact sheet informs. “It enables plant breeders to bring together in one plant useful genes from a wide range of sources, not just from within the crop species or closely related plants.

“This powerful tool allows plant breeders to attain a desired trait combination faster and address urgent concerns like the development of crops that are resistant to biotic (diseases and pests) or abiotic stresses (drought and waterlogging), and with increased yield and improved food and nutrient quality,” the fact sheet adds.

In 1994, Calgene’s delayed-ripening tomato became the first GM food crop to be produced and consumed in an industrialized country. In 1995, GM cotton and GM corn were subsequently commercialized. Also soon to be introduced in the country are the following: GM eggplant and the vitamin A-rich golden rice.

The SEARCA fact sheet assured that GM crops will not replace varieties from traditional breeding “because genetic modification is only conducted to introduce important major genes to the already established and bred varieties.”

Genetic modification is conducted to further improve the already existing popular and high-yielding varieties. The transgenic variety can also be used in crop improvement and breeding programs, the fact sheet said.

But the big question is: Are GM-crops safe to eat?

Although health risk of eating transgenic food is yet unknown, there are signs that it could cause allergies, resistance to certain medicines and possibly even affect internal organs.

In Europe, researchers at the York Nutritional Laboratory reported health complaints caused by soya – the ingredient most associated with genetically modified food – increased from 10 to 15 in 100 patients over the past year.

A consumer advocacy group in the United Kingdom said that genetically modified soya can be found in bread, biscuits, baby milk, baby foods, breakfast

cereals, margarine, soups, pasta, pizza instant meals, meat products, flours, sweets, ice creams, crisps, chocolate, soy sauce, veggie-burgers, tofu, soya milk, and pet foods.

Recent scientific data, according to Dr. Romeo Quijano, of the Department of Pharmacology at the UP College of Medicine, indicated “the emergence of new diseases, the rapid evolution of virulence and the widespread occurrence of drug and antibiotic resistance are associated with the rise of genetic engineering.”

An estimated 60 percent of all processed foods contain at least one genetically engineered component, writes Jon Luoma in Mother Jones magazine. In the Philippines, Filipinos may be eating transgenic foods, such as potato chips, corn cereals, or soya milk. “Love it or loath it, transgenic food is set to become a bigger part of what we eat,” someone noted.

And consumers need not worry. Tantono Subagyo, the seed regulatory director of CropLife Asia, said that biotech crops are rigorously tested for safety prior to commercialization.

“Biotech crops are tested to ensure they are as safe as conventional crops, and have similar nutritional and compositional content,” Subagyo said.

“Biotech crops are among the most extensively tested foods in the history of food safety.”

In fact, there is widespread agreement from scientists and international health organizations, including the World Health Organization, that biotech crops, foods, and feeds are as safe as conventionally-bred crops, foods, and feeds.

In addition, over 3,200 renowned scientists worldwide have signed a declaration in support of agricultural biotechnology and its safety to humans, animals, and the environment.

The 2010 report of the European Commission

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation on GMOs GMOs noted: “The main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research, and involving more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology, and in particular GMOs, are not per se more risky than conventional plant breeding technologies.”

“Two to three trillion meals have been eaten by human in North America and wherever containing GMOs. There’s nothing to substantiate the (negative) health impact (accusations) against any GMO products – not one, even headache or stomachache,” said Mark Lynas, a former anti-GMO activist and author of Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet.

According to ISAAA, “biotech crops can serve as engine of rural economic growth for the alleviation of poverty for the world’s small and resource-poor farmers.” In the Philippines, for instance, Joseph Benemerito of Cagayan won a national award for his quality GM corn. He admitted that 22 hectares of land can be easily managed

with biotech corn.

“GM (technology) is cheaper. If the biology of the crop can protect crops from pests, that’s more beneficial to farmers, cheaper than spraying,” said Lynas in a press statement. “Everywhere, when farmers are given a choice, they adopt it quickly. They can have high yield even if they pay a little more for seeds.”

While writing the book “God Species” in 2011, in which he attempted to become consistent in his position on the science of climate change, environment, and food production, Lynas came to a realization that GM is the answer to food shortage problems.

Like how GM crops are highly regulated, organic crops should be regulated. Regulation should be imposed on organic crops because one can die from natural causes “very easily from bacteria, from water, or contamination of manure during harvest.”

It must be recalled that it was organic crops that caused the death in 2011 of 51 people in Germany from ingesting E.coli-contaminated beansprouts from an organic farm as confirmed by Lower Saxony’s Agriculture Ministry.

“Organic has killed a few hundred people. GM has killed no one. Imagine headlines if 50 people would have died in Germany because of some GM. It would have been worldwide fear – like nuclear power. It would have been worldwide hysteria,” Lynas said.

Here’s another advantage of planting biotech crops. Globally, they can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Studies have shown that adopting biotechnology reduces the use of 475 millions of gallons of fuel by farm equipment – not mentioning the additional “soil carbon sequestration” due to reduced plowing or improved conservation tillage. “This is equivalent to removing five million cars from the road for one year,” said Graham Brookes, director of PGEconomics, a British research firm.

Meanwhile, the battle continues between GM activists and GM advocates.

Who will emerge the winner? No one knows but there are always losers – the hungry. One sage puts it in this perspective: “A man who has enough food has several problems. A man without food has only one problem.”

12 CLASSIFIED

Billiard Supplies

Phone Nos.

Cell Nos.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Park Inn Davao holds arts session for kids with cancer

SEPTEMBER marks the annual Responsible Business Action Month, celebrated by all Carlson Rezidor hotels across the globe.

During this time, each hotel makes special efforts to organize activities that engage employees, guests and the local community, and raise awareness on important sociocivic issues.

Park Inn by Radisson is Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s internationally successful mid-scale limited service concept, a segment-leading brand with a 26 year track record of delivering a quality guest experience. It continues to uphold the Responsible Business program by building on the principles and aspects of sustainable development which benefit the people, community and the environment.

In line with hotel’s commitment to support children at risk, the management and staff of Park Inn by Radisson Davao celebrated this year’s Responsible Business Action Day through a creative arts session at the House of Hope --- a shelter for children with Cancer.

Led by General Manager Pavan Kakar, the team catered food for the

children and opened the program with games integrated with basic acting and music. Guest artists, Jon and Dadai Joaquin, facilitated the arts session which began with group singing, storytelling and a basic drawing workshop.

“Studies have shown that creative arts therapy is one form of healing,” shares Mr. Kakar. “According to some therapists, it can help the sick express hidden emotions and reduce stress, fear and anxiety. It also stimulates optimism and encourages one to be creative and confident, which also takes one’s mind off pain or discomfort.”

“For this exercise, we teamed up with Jon and Dadai Joaquin, a good tandem between a writer/ musician and a visual artist, who generously shared their time and talent for

a good cause. The activities they prepared for the children helped stimulate their imagination and channelled the artist in each one of them.”

“Our team has long been involved in community services to provide assistance to children at risk,” explains Mr. Kakar.

“We are actually celebrating our first year of partnership with the House of Hope. This time around, we wanted to explore other ways in helping these kids battle the big C, aside from providing their basic hygiene necessities.

Keeping in mind our hotel brand’s philosophy of Adding Color to Life, we thought it’s best to bring this principle to our line of service to Cancer patients.”

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UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

EVENT

DJ Fest, Weekend Specials at SM Lanang Premier PARTY to the music of the hottest local DJs as the metro’s premier shopping, lifestyle and entertainment destination brings you ‘DJ Fest Davao’ this Saturday, September 27, 6 pm at SM Lanang Premier Fountain Court grounds.

Dance to the awesome mixes of DJs Jin Chan, Torch, Wacky Masbad, Tien Batu, Niel Recinto, Brylle Aguirre, Uno Tupas, and Poe Dobles courtesy of Manic Nightnings Productions.

You can also grab up to 70% off in participating stores mallwide with SM Lanang Premier’s Weekend Specials from September 26 to 28. Then enjoy extended shopping hours on September 27.

Get great discounts on selected items when you shop at Cotton On, Mags, Kashieca, Bench, Cotton On Kids, Marks and Spencer, Arrow, Kipling, Karat World, Prestige, Crescendo, George Optical, L’optique and Kyocera and big group promos when you dine at Vikings at The Fountain Court grounds. You may also avail of the buy 3 take 1 promo of La Crema. For discounts on select facial treatments, pay a visit to QuinQue Skin Doctors at the Lower Ground Level.

DJ Fest Davao and Weekend Specials are both part of SM Lanang Premier’s 2nd Anniversary blowout for all its shoppers and patrons.

Check out SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news and event updates.

Have a relaxing Sunday Brunch Buffet at Cafe Marco ENJOY Marco Polo Davao’s Cafe Marco’s Champagne Brunch Buffet every Sunday starting 10:30AM to 2:30PM. Savor breakfast favorites like Pancakes, Omelette, Bacon, and lunch items like Roast Beef, Roast Duck, and Lechon.

Indulge on freeflowing sparkling wine and Mimosas as you listen to live entertainment. Sunday Brunch Buffet at Cafe MArco is only PHP 990 net per person.

For reservations, please call 2210888 local 7222 to 7223.

Wine Night at Misto

By Kenneth Irving Ong

IT was an evening to remember as Seda Abreeza’s all-day dining concept extended its hours last Saturday night as it held its first wine tasting event.

The restaurants tables and hairs were rearranged to accommodate a cocktail area, wine lounge, and an area where diners can still sit down, taste their wine and still have dinner, all while enjoying live entertainment.

More stunning that evening was the lavish wine bar that was set up just for the event. The wine wines had their own area, literally chilling on a bed of ice while red wines were arranged up in neat clusters based on their labels.

The evening featured various wines from all over the world and distributed locally by Future Trade International, Angelo’s Marketlinks, Terra Noble, and Crus and Domaines de Philippines Inc. With so many wines to choose from and taste, a few notable ones stood out that evening for me although individual wine preferences also vary.

For the white wines, most notable was J.P. Chanet Colombard Sauvignon 2012. The wine had a light citrusy nose with a hint of peaches and tropical fruits, on tasting, it was sweet with a hint of fresh acidity that is perfect on its own on a warm day.

Another nice white wine was Obikwa 2013 Chardonnay, this young wine from South Africa has a fruity bouquet of pears and peaches and tastes also of peaches with a hint of wood and a delicious briny finish which

makes it pair well with poultry or rich creamy cheeses.

Also on the tasting line was Michell Luiller Chardonnay, a white wine, and Cobernet Sauvignon, a delicious spicy red wine.

Both are wines from

France and were the talk of the evening.

And talking about red wines, there was no lack of beautiful reds at the Wine Tasting.

Although I was not too much a fan of Syrahs, Terra Noble’s Syrah 2009 was a beauty. It was well balanced and had notes of chocolate, plum, peppercorn and a hint of tobacco, perfect for soft cheeses as well as Seda’s Salpicao. The Cabernet Sauvignon and

Merlots of Hardy’s were also a delicious treat on the palate.

“This is the first time we are doing a wine tasting event and we hope to have more as we encourage Dabawenyos to get out of their comfort zone and try something new,” says Seda Abreeza’s food and beverage manager Ron Labtang “we are also introducing a regular wine buffet here at Misto to have diners enjoy and discover new wines.”

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Himig Handog’ finals night set this Sunday THE finals night of the country’s biggest multimedia songwriting competition, “Himig Handog Pinoy Pop (PPop) Love Songs 2014,” will happen this Sunday (September 28) at the Araneta Coliseum.

Kapamilya stars Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Robi Domingo, and Alex Gonzaga will host the event.

In the culmination of the latest edition of “Himig Handog,” the top 15 finalist songs, written by a mix of veteran and amateur Filipino composers,

will be performed live by some of the brightest recording stars in the country.

Morissette will be the interpreter for “Akin Ka Na Lang” by Francis Louis Salazar, Jessa Zara-

goza for “Bumabalik ang Nagdaan” by Sarah Jane Gandia, Jovit Baldivino for “Dito” by Raizo Brent

GMA’s Strawberry Lane takes TV ratings lead on its pilot week GMA Network’s newest primetime light family drama series, Strawberry Lane, consistently posted high TV ratings in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila on its debut week, according to data from the industry’s leading ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Urban Luzon and Mega Manila account for 77 and 60 percent, respectively, of the total urban TV household population in the entire country.

This newest primetime series has truly captured the hearts of Filipino viewers as proven by its strong viewership. During its pilot week, Strawberry Lane hit an Urban Luzon TV rating of 24.8% and Mega Manila TV rating of 26.4% compared to

its rival program Hawak Kamay, which only registered 22.6% and 20.7% in Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, respectively.

Strawberry Lane boasts of a talented line up of young Kapuso actresses Bea Binene, Kim Rodriguez, Joyce

Ching, and Joanna Marie Tan who breathe life to the endearing characters of Clarissa, Jack, Dorina, and Lupe, respectively.

In Mega Manila, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement gathers data based on a sample size of 1,190 homes

as compared to Kantar Media’s 770 homes. Meanwhile, Nielsen has a nationwide urban sample size of 2,000 homes, which is statistically higher than Kantar’s sample size of 1,370.

Strawberry Lane airs weeknights after 24 Oras on GMA.

Chabeldin and Biv De Vera, Ebe Dancel with Abra for “Halik sa Hangin” by David Dimaguila, Angeline Quinto for “Hanggang Kailan” by Jose Joel Mendoza, Juris for “Hindi Wala” by Nica del Rosario, Jed Madela for “If You Don’t Want to Fall” by Jude Gitamondoc, Janella Salvador for “Mahal Kita Pero” by Melchora Mabilog, KZ for “Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako”

by Edwin Marollano, Michael Pangilinan for “Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako” by Jovinor Tan, Marion Aunor featuring Rizza and Seed for “Pumapag-ibig”

by Jungee Marcelo, Daniel Padilla for “Simpleng Tulad Mo” by Meljohn Magno, Bugoy Drilon for “Umiiyak ang Puso” by Rolando Azor, and Jugs and Teddy for “Walang

Basagan ng Trip” by Eric De Leon. Songwriterfinalist Hazel Faith dela Cruz will be the interpreter of her composition, “Everything Takes Time.”

Don’t miss the “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs” finals night on September 28, 7:30PM, at the Big Dome. Tickets to the “Himig Handog” finals night are now available at the Ticketnet. For more details, visit Ticketnet.com.ph or call 9115555.

For more information about “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs” and complete voting mechanics for the special awards, visit Himighandog.abscbn.com, “like” Star Records’ Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/ starrecordsphil or follow @ starrecordsph on Twitter.

James and Nadine say no to love for now JAMES REID and Nadine Lustre, or popularly known as JaDine, will not waste their second chance to fame so they decided to set aside their romantic interests first to focus on their respective careers, they shared in “Tapatan Ni Tunying” last Thursday.

“We experienced how an opportunity was gone because we neglected it, we did not take it seriously, and we did not focus on it. We don’t want that to happen again,” Nadine says.

James was given his first break in showbiz after being named as the Big Winner of “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash,” but he did not pursue acting back then because he didn’t know what he wanted to do or to be that time.

“It seems that I wasn’t

that serious. I was young. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I didn’t know what my passion was,” James shares.

As for Nadine, she started performing on television and playing bit roles on movies when she was a

child, but she admits that she wasted the break that came along her way.

“I was given a teleserye before. I did not focus on it and it seemed that I was just playing. There were no follow up projects after that,” Nadine tells.

The two hit it big when they starred in blockbuster movies “Diary ng Panget” and “Talk Back and You’re Dead.” They recently signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN and will soon star in “Wansapanataym presents My App Boyfie.”

When asked if she thinks JaDine could reach the success achieved by Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s loveteam KathNiel, Nadine answers, “Maybe it will take time. We have to go through with lots of things first.

RUROUNI KENSHIN: THE LEGEND ENDS Takeru Satoh R 13

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

MARIA LEONORA TERESA / * A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONE R 13 / * R13

Iza Calzado, Zanjoe Marudo, Jodi Sta. Maria / *Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens

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

THE REMAINING Johnny Pacar, Shaun Sipos R 13

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

R-16 THE MAZE RUNNER Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario PG 13

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

FOOD

CHOCO HEAVEN MINDANAO may have some image problems when it comes to tourism no thanks to events that at times get blown out of proportion. But once anyone gets to know Mindanao a little more, that is when the innate beauty of Mindanao can be seen and finally appreciated

Malagos Chocolate’s 65% Dark Chocolate bar set the benchmark very high for other Davao-made chocolates to follow.

One such surprise is the fact that the Davao Region produces 70 percent of all the ca-

cao produced in the Philippines. When you take the whole island of Mindanao produces a whopping 90 percent of all the cacao supplied. This fact was revealed at the 1st Davao Chocolate Festival held last September 12 to 14 at the Event Center of SM City Davao.

Together with the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. (Cidami) and the Department of Trade and Industry, local chocolate producers were present to showcase their goods for the tasting public and I was one of the lucky ones who were able to taste the many different chocolate products that are proudly made in Mindanao.

Although Davao has indeed been supplying roasted and fermented cacao beans for a long time, it was when buzz of artisanal chocolates found in the US declared that they use cacao beans sourced from Davao as their main ingredient.

This jolt in the arm, sparked the creativity and passion of the Dabawenyo and Minadawon chocolate makers leading to the creation of more value-added cacao products that are just as good, and dare I declare much better tasting, than most commercially made chocolates.

Malagos Chocolate One of the first pioneering chocolate makers in Davao, Malagos’ is one of the more famous chocolate brands and is making its mark in kitchens and pantries all over the Philippines. All of Malagos’ cacao beans are single-sourced from Davao’s Calinan District where they also process the beans into luscious chocolate.

Cacao de Davao A relatively new entrant to Davao’s chocolate scene,

Who can resist biting into The Chocolate Bean’s hand-made dark chocolate bonbons?

Cacao de Davao’s chocolate highlights its city of origin by offering durianfilled chocolate. The richness of the durian pairs well with the dark chocolate that is sweetened with healthier coco sugar.

Chokolate de San Isidro Keeping to tradition, Chokolate de San Isidro focuses on making tableya (used to make rich chocolate drinks), chocolate nibs, and cooking chocolate rather than chocolate bars. Originating from San Isidro, Davao del Norte, Chokolate de San Isidro is already supplying tableya bricks to many restaurants and hotels all over the country.

Kablon Farms Already famous for their passionfruit preserves and jams, Kablon Farms now offers chocolate bars using cacao that was grown from their farm at Tupi, South Cotabato. Kablon Farms offer many kinds of chocolate bars, from bars using cane sugar and bars using coco sugar. Special for the Chocolate Festival was Kablon Farm’s Spicy 60 percent chocolate bar which has a spicy kick to compliment the rich nutty earthiness of the chocolate.

The Chocolate Bean Focusing on hand-made, locally-sourced chocolate treats, The Chocolate Bean has a following who love their 100% and 70% dark chocolate treats. They also

Delightfully smooth with a luxurious taste, it is hard to imagine that Coco Dolce is made locally and enritely of cacao sourced from Calinan.

Kablon Farms’ Spicy Dark Chocolate adds a pop of heat.

Chokolate de San Isidro’s Sikwate is now being used as the drinking chocolate of choice in many fine dining establishments in Manila and Cebu.

offer various filled chocolate bonbons that are a sure treat for chocoholics.

Coco Dolce A favourite of the crowd during the Chocolate Festival, Coco Dolce is a new entrant to Davao City’s chocolate scene and uses locally sourced chocolate also from the city’s Calinan District. Coco Dolce also uses coco sugar (which they also produce) as well as virgin coconut oil to help smoothen out their chocolate. Bar varieties include milk chocolate, milk chocolate with pili nuts, and 65 percent dark chocolate.

Although not yet readily available, Coco Dolce can currenty be purchased in stores at the International Airports of Davao and Cebu.

The image of Mindanao may still bring negative images to some, but when the sweet truths on the beauty of Mindanao, its people, and what it offers to the world comes out, this chocolate heaven is sure to make waves in a positive light.

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

Cacao de Davao’s chocolate adds Durian for a more exotic local flavour.

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

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

ZION

EDGEDAVAO

ACCUPRINT PUBLISHING, INC.

Is in need of:

MACHINE OPERATOR

CLASSIFIED 13

EDGE

Serving a seamless society

DAVAO

WANTS YOU!

(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

Send application letter & resume to: HR Supervisor ZION Accuprint Publishing, Inc. 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

Account Executives (3) - Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Candidate must posses a Bachelor/ College Degree in any Business field.

- Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate - A team player - With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao

Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

14

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

ONE BOUT DOWN. The Philippines’ Charly Suarez of Panabo City (third from left) salures after his win in the 17th Asian Games boxing competitions. With him are coaches Roel and Nolito Velasco. FB photo

LORDING THE RING P

anabo City pride Charly Suarez won over Elnur Abduraimov of Uzbekistan (29-28,2829,29-28) for a 2-1 win in the men’s 60-kg Round of 32 bout to advance to the Quarterfinals of the ongoing 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Suarez, a product of the Barangay Una boxing development program of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, will have as next opponent Akhil Kumar of India today (Friday).

Under the new boxing rules, Suarez won by majority of the three-round fight winning the first and third

Suarez survives Uzbek in first bout rounds via identical 29-28 scores while losing the second by the same score. He closed out impressively to earn the win.

Gene Rose Tecson, who is the project director of Barangay Una where Suarez started his boxing career, said in a text message: “Charly has always been one of the most talented and original boxers of the Davao del Norte Boxing Team. Am so happy with his showing now because he is one of those athletes who take his sport to heart. Go Charly, banat! Show them what you’ve got!”

Another Davao del

Norte boxer Michael Anthony Barriga debuts today in the Asiad.

On Wednesday, the Philippines got off to a rousing start in the Asian Games boxing competition in Incheon when bantamweight Mario Fernandez reasserted his superiority over Thailand’s Doncha Thathi in his opening bout of the preliminary round with a unanimous decision win.

Fernandez, a product of the grassroots development program of the ABAP under president Ricky Vargas had beaten Thathi to win the gold medal at the

last Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar and proved he was the better boxer by winning on the scorecards of all three judges, yesterday.

Albino Foti of Italy and Jones Kennedy Silva Do Rosario of Brazil had Fernandez winning 29-28 with both judges giving the Thai the third round by a 10-9 margin but judge Hassan Zoubid scored it a 30-27 shutout for the Filipino who counter-punched effectively in the first two rounds and caught Thathi with some solid combinations.

The Thai southpaw tried to bully Fernandez

into submission but the 21 year old Filipino who won a gold medal at the Lions Cup International Boxing Tournament in Sri Lanka earlier this year beating Yu Che Li of Chinese-Taipei, proved too smart for the onrushing Thathi.

Ranked No. 9 in the Asian Championships which was four rungs below the rating of Thathi who was No. 9, the 21 year old Fernandez will face Nepal’s Puran Rai in the next round after the solid punching Nepalese got the better of Saudi Arabia’s lanky Yahya Hassan Sharahili 3-0.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson told philboxing.com prior to the fight that Fernandez and multi-titled lightweight Charly Suarez who was to face Elnur Abdurimov in the evening session yesterday that Fernandez and Suarez had “been doing well in training” and he was “optimistic of their chances” of progressing to the next round.

The international amateur boxing organization had earlier said the Thai was “a fighter to watch” and was considered a dangerous opponent. (with PNA report)

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

FACTBOX (Part 6 of a series): NO MEAN TASK. Dabawenyo lawyer Atty.

Guillermo Iroy Jr., executive director of the Philippine Sports Commission, acts as the proxy for the Philippines chef de mission PSC chairman Ritchie Garcia in the 17th Asian Games. FB photo

No sponsors logo please I

NCHEON, Korea—Boxing coach Nolito Velasco was scrambling for an unexpected chore the morning before four of his pugs were to start their campaign in the 17th Asian Games on Thursday.

He was begging for a permanent marker to those who care. And when he found a couple, he started masking letters off the boxers’ fighting uniforms.

The letters he needed to ink were those of the team’s sponsor. Sponsor logos are prohibited in the Games.

He failed to completely

erase the logo. He said he would need to cover the uniforms with tapes if they won’t be allowed to play with the partially hidden logos.

Velasco said they were reprimanded by Asiad boxing officials when he sent lightweight Charly Suarez against Uzbekistan’s Elnur Abdurimov and bantamweight Mario Fernandez against Thailand’s Doncha Thathi on Wednesday.

They were made to fight using borrowed generic jerseys, without the Philippine flag emblazoned on their chests.

“Alam naman namin na bawal talaga ang mga logo.

Kahit nga sa SEA Games ganun e. Pero sabi naman sa amin ng (team management), pwede sa AIBA (International Boxing Federation) e,” Velasco said.

Still, Velasco did not want to take the gamble as he set off flyweight Ian Clark Bautista, middleweight Wilfredo Lopez, lightflyweight Mark Anthony Barriga and lightwelterweight Dennis Galvan to their matches yesterday.

“Tatakpan ko na lang ito, baka masita na naman kami” Velasco said.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is very particular with team infractions here.

In fact, Laos was stripped of its bronze medal in sepak takraw for not showing up in a game.

The Qatari women’s basketball team also withdrew from the tournament despite its appeal to play with head scarves to follow strict rules of its players’ religion.

Olympic rules, however, do not encourage commerce, religion and political beliefs to get in the way of fair sporting play.

PH bowlers continue to struggle I

NCHEON, South Korea.

– Shut out of a podium finish in the singles events, Pinoy bowlers continued to struggle on Thursday, hardly helping the country’s chase for a breakthrough gold medal halfway through the 17th Asian Games here.

Veteran Frederick Ong and rookie Enrico Lorenzo Hernandez emerged as the best-placed local tandem after morning play in men’s doubles at the Anyang Hogye Gymnasium, shooting 1218 and 1131, respectively, for a 2349 total, good for eighth place, 153 pins behind the lead-

ing Japanese duo.

Yoshida Daisuke shot 1283 pinfalls in six games while Sasaki Tomoyuki added 1219 for a combined 2502 total and the provisional lead going into the afternoon session where the local tandem of former world champion Biboy Rivera and rookie Kenneth Chua is set to play.

The other Pinoy tandem of Benshir Layoso and rookie Jo Mar Jumapao combined for 2169 pinfalls, good for 19th place after the morning session.

Thailand and Chinese-Taipei have grabbed the first two gold medals

up for grabs in men’s and women’s singles, respectively, with 10 more gilds at stake in doubles, trios, team of five, all events, and Masters.

Former Asian champion Larp Apharat gave Thailand its first gold medal by ruling the men’s singles event with a 1390 total in six games for a 219.83 average, handily beating Du Jianchao of China (1300) and Thai teammate Sithipol Kunakson (1299).

Chou Chia Chen of Chinese-Taipei topped the women’s singles with 1291 pinfalls in six games, with Jazreel Tan of Singa-

pore and Lee Nayoung of Korea winning the silver and bronze medals with pinfalls of 1277 and 1272, respectively.

Ong emerged as the best Pinoy finisher in men’s singles with 1228 pinfalls, followed by Lorenzo (1215), Chua (1171), Layoso (1160), Rivera (1158), and Jumapao (1098).

Marian Lara Posadas shot 1158 pinfalls in women’s singles, while Liza del Rosario had 1150. Rounding out the team are Marie Alexis Sy (1128), Liza Clutario (1102), Krizziah Tabora (1067) and Anna Marie Kiac (1060).

Here’s the factbox on the sports events at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea from September 9-October 4:

Women’s teams first played in 2010 at Guangzhou.

The rugby sevens competition will consist of 13 men’s and 11 women’s teams and be held from Sept.

30-Oct. 2 at the 5,000-seat Namdong Asiad Rugby Field.

Japan, Asian rugby’s heavyweights, have won the past two men’s titles, though the International Rugby Board’s World Sevens Series core side were upstaged

by Hong Kong and South Korea at the Asian sevens tournament in August.

Kazakhstan won the inaugural women’s title in Guangzhou and are the strongest side in Asian women’s rugby having competed at the women’s 15s World Cup in France earlier this year.

China, who now have a squad of 20 full-time professionals, Japan and Hong Kong will also be strong having played at the IRB World Series qualifying tournament in mid-September.

--

SAILING

The Sailing disciplines will take place at the new Wangsan Sailing Marina with six medals up for grabs for both men and women with a further two in mixed events.

China topped the sailing medals table at the last Asian Games but face competition from the hosts and Japan to repeat that performance in the Sept. 24Oct.1 event.

Traditionally strong sailors Singapore have opted for a youthful lineup in Incheon with 12-year-old Raynn Kwok amongst their 17-member lineup.

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SEPAKTAKRAW

Thailand have dominated sepaktakraw since it was introduced at the 1990 Beijing Games, winning 18 of the 27 golds awarded. There are six golds on offer in Incheon.

The sport, native to Southeast Asia, sees players use any part of their bodies except hands and arms to send a rattan ball into the opposing court.

There are different versions throughout the region, including one in Myanmar called ‘Chinlone’ where there is no opposing team and the object is to keep the ball in the air.

The competition at the Asian Games will take place from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3 at the Bucheon Gymnasium.

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SHOOTING

The shooting competition will take place from Sept. 20-30.

The Ongnyeon International Shooting Range will host the rifle, pistol and running target events, while the shotgun events will take place at the Gyeonggido Shooting Range.

The discipline, which was first incorporated in the 1954 Asian Games, will have 44 gold medals on offer in Incheon, 26 for men and 18 for women, which is the second-most after athletics (47).

China took 21 of the 44 golds on offer in Guangzhou four years ago, and won 45 shooting medals overall. South Korea were their nearest challengers on 13 golds.

China are once again expected to dominate the ranges with the South Koreans set to provide the main competition for gold.

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SOCCER

Qatar cried foul on Tuesday as their women's basketball team pulled out of the Asian Games at the last minute over a rule banning Muslim headscarves.

The men’s and women’s football tournament will kick-off on Sept. 14, five days before the opening ceremony, and run through until Oct. 2 with matches played at six venues - three in Incheon and one in Ansan, Goyang and Hwaseong.

The women’s event has no age limit but the men’s is for under-23 players with each squad allowed to pick three over-aged ‘wildcards’, but some of the best

To be continued...

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports BIGGEST HEADACHE. File photo shows Hamed Haddadi, Iran’s NBA veteran center, who proved to be a pain in the neck for Smart Gilas.

G

ILAS Pilipinas still could not solve the puzzle that is Iran as they lost anew to the reigning FIBA Asia Champions, 68-63, in their second assignment at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

The Philippines had a seven-point lead in the final period but Iran inched closer as Marcus Douthit sat in the bench due to foul trouble. Gilas managed to grab a 63-61 lead with over two minutes left in the game but Iran's do-itall forward Samad Nikkha Bahrami closed out the game strong.

Down 66-63, the Filipinos still had one last shot to send the game into overtime but all they got was a three-point attempt from Douthit. Free throws from Hamed Haddadi settled the final score.

With the loss, Gilas joins South Korea, Kazakhstan, and Japan in the quarterfinal group stage with the top two teams heading into the Asian Games semifinals.

Bahrami led Iran with 21 points while Haddadi chipped in 20 points and 15 rebounds.

Paul Lee spearheaded the fight for Gilas with 11 points but he missed two crucial jumpers late in the game. Douthit had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Norwood added nine markers.

Iran started the game with a 5-0 run off long shots from Samad Nikkah Bahrami and Mahdi Kamrani. Gilas responded with a 4-0 run care of Marcus Douthit and Gabe Norwood.

Iran then went off with a 12-2 run for a 17-6 lead to force Gilas head coach Chot Reyes to call a timeout at the 4:43 mark of the first.

Douthit and Norwood continued to pour in the points for the Philippines but getting close to Iran proved to be difficult as the reigning FIBA Champions finished the first 10 minutes holding a 29-17

lead.

Gilas opened the second quarter with backto-back triples from Paul Lee and Jared Dillinger to slowly get back in the game.

Kamrani was called for a technical foul at the 5:07 mark for vehemently complaining an out-of-bounds call. LA Tenorio converted the two free throws and Jeff Chan nailed a triple to cut Iran’s lead down to just three points at 31-28.

Gilas got within one at 33-32 but Bahrami nailed a triple to give Iran a fourpoint lead. June Mar Fajardo scored to cut the deficit down to two at 36-34 at the half.

After allowing 29 points in the first quarter, the defense of Gilas held strong in the second quarter as they limited Iran to only seven points.

Lee quickly helped Gilas grab the lead with a triple to start the third quarter. He added another fast break layup on the next play for a 39-36 advantage.

The Iranians knotted the game at 41-all with six minutes left as Gilas fell into early penalty. Iran reclaimed the lead with two Kamrani free throws off an unsportsmanlike foul from Marc Pingris but Tenorio swung the tide back to the Philippines' favor, 47-43, with back-toback triples.

After a free throw from Iran, Gary David and Douthit scored two straight baskets to bring their lead up to seven 5144. Iran replied with a 6-0 run but David ended the third with a jumper for a 53-50 tally in the Philippines favor.

Gilas sped the game up in the fourth quarter as they got points from Pingris and Lee off secondary breaks for a 59-53 lead.

Iran inched closer after Fajardo tipped in the ball into the wrong basket.

The PBA MVP was then called for an unsportsmanlike foul leading to a free throw and a layup

FNO, 10

NO HAPPY ENDING

VOL. 7 ISSUE 139 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2014

Gilas loses steam in crunchtime, bows to Iran 68-63