Edge Davao 07 issue 15

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

www.edgedavao.net

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

POWER NAP. The blistering heat and the warm air breeze of a summer afternoon make a car-watch man failed to resist his sleepiness atop a row of parked motorcycles outside Sangguniang Panlungsod along San Pedro Street in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

RODY TO BURN COCAINE Mayor against bringing drugs out of Davao City

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte wants to burn the bricks of cocaine recovered in the container yard of Sumifru in the city as he expressed opposition to the idea of bringing the illicit drugs to Metro Manila.

“I will not allow na igawas na sa Davao… Pag abot anag Manila mo libot na pud na,” Duterte told reporters yesterday after the centralized graduation of the local government’s Madrasah Program at University of Mindanao in Matina.

Duterte said that the city government already identified an area to be used for the disposal the illegal drugs recovered, emphasizing that the cocaine should be disposed immediately.

The mayor said that he

will confer with Davao City Police Office director Vicente Danao Jr. to discuss the procedures involved in the disposal.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 has already 56 bricks of cocaine after three were returned last Tuesday. They still have to recover eight bricks to complete the 64.

Rosales has urged the public to surrender the remaining eight bricks of cocaine by submitting it

FRODY, 10

UNIQUE. Arsenio Gil S. Atienza (left) gives his son, Omar Johnber Henry, a proud look after receiving their degree in Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at the same time during the graduation rites of Brokeshire College yesterday. Omar is one of the few who finished college despite have been diagnosed with Autistic Asperger. Lean Daval Jr.

2

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

DENTAL AMALGAM. Mary Ann Fuertes (left), executive director of Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) Philippines, together with Myline Macabuhay, chemicals management assistant coordinator of Ban Toxics!, discusses during yesterday’s press briefing held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel the risks brought by dental amalgam due to its large mercury content which could be the cause of neurotoxin effect. Lean Daval Jr.

WEATHER FORECAST

Dental amalgams full of mercury, says group

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

abf@edgedavao.net

NON government organization has called for the immediate end on the use dental amalgams due to its mercury content.

Evelyn Cubelo of Toxic Ban told reporters in a press briefing yesterday at Grand Men Seng Hotel that half of the content of dental amalgams is mercury.

She said that if the dental amalgam will be placed on the tooth of a patient may result to neurotoxin

effect.

Based on the website of davidson.edu, neurotoxins are toxins that target the nervous system and disrupt the signaling that allows neurons to communicate effectively.

Cubelo said that if the brain of a person has already affected with neurotoxins he or she will show symptoms of tremor.

Tremor is defined in medicinenet.com as an unintentional, rhythmic

muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements (oscillations) of one or more parts of the body. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, head, face, voice, trunk, and legs.

“Ang pinaka worrying effect po ng mercury is ang sensitive population. Ang sensitive population natin ay ang kababaihan especially yung mga nagbubuntis kasi pumapasok siya sa

placenta tapos sa ano ng bata, ” said Cubelo.

Her group wants the dental clinics to discontinue the practice of placing dental amalgams in their dental procedures.

The findings of Toxic Ban study shows the mercury exposure of dental professionals, students, and almost everyone involved in the supply chain of dental amalgam from its trade, installation and disposal.

FDENTAL, 10

RDC nominees bared Del Rosario to organize

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Davao Region officially identified four nominees for the next chairperson of Regional Development Council.

NEDA 11 regional director Ma. Lourdes T. Lim told reporters yesterday that the nominees are Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario and Compostela Valley Governer Arturo T. Uy from the government sec-

tor and Mindanao Business Council chairman Vicente T. Lao and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Davao Chapter president Atty. Samuel R. Matunog from the private sector.

“We already submitted all necessary documents and requirements including clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Sandiganbayan,” she said.

FRDC, 10

‘Daang Matuwid’party

By CHA MONFORTE

T

Special to Edge Davao

AGUM CITY. - GOV. RODOLFO DEL ROSARIO of Davao del Norte will soon launch a “Daang Matuwid” movement which he intends to eventually organize into a “local party” or even a “regional party.”

Del Rosario publicly bared his plan during his

seventh “State of the Province Address” (SOPA) delivered before some 1,000 political supporters, government employees and leaders of the private sector Monday afternoon.

He said in the concluding portion of the SOPA that the Daang Matuwid

FDEL ROSARIO, 10

NEWS 3 Canadian chamber recruits Dabawenyos as members

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

Davao Region’s growth surpassed target--NEDA O

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

E

VEN as it is lower than the performance recorded in 2012, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA ) 11 remains upbeat on the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Davao Region last year.

The GRDP in 2013 was put at 6.5 percent, lower than the 7.4 percent performance posted in the pre-

ceding but still higher than the 5.6 percent target set by the government.

National Economic Development Authority 11 (NEDA 11) regional director Ma. Lourdes T. Lim said the positive performance stemmed from “stable inflation and fiscal position.”

“The increasing consumption levels and business confidence, good

governance and massive public-private sector investments and steady yet sure movement towards an investment-led and employment-creating regional economy also pave way in creating a competitive GRDP at the end of 2013,” she said.

However, the effect of typhoon Pablo affected the economy of the region last

year. The agriculture sector was hardly devastated by the typhoon.

Three of the four major crops produced in the region dropped in terms of production level. These are palay, banana and coconut. Only corn posted a sustained increase in production.

NEDA report bared that

two Daneco factions.

An official of DanecoCDA who asked for anonymity because of security issue told Edge Davao yesterday that they’re “open” and “willing” to take part in coming up with the “institutional arrangement” even after Daneco-NEA refused to agree for the conduct of a referendum supposedly last scheduled February 16.

“Mahirap kasi sila kausap. They don’t want to sign a Memorandum of Agree-

ment or sign any black and while documents,” he said, adding that the rival faction instead wants a mere “gentleman’s agreement”.

“They are not acknowledging us as officials of the cooperative. They said we are illegal officers of illegitimate office,” the board member said.

Three weeks ago, officials of DANECO- NEA and some elected officials of its franchise area agreed to find “institution arrange-

ment” to end the three years management dispute with Daneco-CDA faction.

The decision surfaced the meeting of DANECONEA with Department of Energy (DOE) secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla three weeks ago in Cebu.

DANECO-CDA turned down the invitation to attend DANECO- NEA opposed the conduct of referendum earlier proposed by Petilla.

“They [agreed that they]

FDAVAO, 10

Daneco-CDA faction ‘open’ for ‘arrangement’with rival

T

HE Davao del Norte Electric CooperativeCooperative Development Authority (Daneco- CDA) faction expressed its willingness to meet and discuss with its rival group, the Daneco-National Electrification Administration (Daneco-NEA) in coming up with an “institution arrangement”.

The proposed arrangement is aimed to put an end to the three-year management dispute between the

FDANECO, 10

FFICERS of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CanCham) led by Julian Payne are in Davao City starting yesterday to invite Davao companies to become members of the CanCham.

CanCham’s mission is “to represent, support, and promote Canada-Philippines business interests.”

Canadians and Filipinos doing business in Davao and surrounding areas are invited to apply for membership.

Annual membership fee for member companies in Davao is P11,200. Companies must be registered with the Securities and Exchange

Julian Payne Commission and sign an Integrity Pledge to be eligible. Interested parties are advised to email jpayne@ searep.org.ph copied to exdir@cancham.com.ph giving name, company and contact number for further details and to arrange a meeting.

FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE

221 drugs suspects nabbed in Region 11

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

abf@edgedavao.net

fter intensifying its anti-drug campaign, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 11 arrested 221 illegal drug suspects in various circumstances during the agency’s 167 operations conducted during

the first three months of 2014.

“Last year, there were only 80 operations with the arrest of 118 drug personalities,” said PDEA 11 director Emerson Rosales told reporters in yesterday’s “I-

FFIRST, 10

SM Lanang Premier presents the music of Kate Torralba

T

HE metro’s premier shopping, lifestyle and entertainment destination brings another rare musical presentation with performances from multi-talented artist, Kate Torralba, slated thisSunday,April 6, 4 pm for ‘Rhythms at the Atrium’ at SM Lanang Premier.

Fashion designer-turned-musician Kate Torralba will playsongs from her very first album, ‘Long Overdue,’which was launched in 2013.

Although largely known for her colourful and vibrant designs,

Kate has always had a passion for music, being brought up in a music-loving family. She began singing at age 2 and playing the piano at 4 years old in her native Cebu. By age 9, Kate was already performing in Los Angeles in a concert that featured young Filipino prodigies.She later picked up the electric guitar and formed her own band, Hard Candy, with alternative rock influences.

Kate then started making her own band costumes in Cebu and selling clothes to make extra money. In 2002, she caught the atten-

tion of Tim Yap and Tessa Prieto Valdes because of the dress she was wearing, and the demand for her designs has risen from that time on, including being asked to design for Hello Kitty by Gift Gate.

In 2010, after successful years of creating designs for Fashion Week shows and regular clients, Kate decided to return to music, which remains till this day her first love. Since then, she has performed in various gigs in the United States, at Fête de la Musique both in Paris and in Manila and in various parts of Europe such as

Berlin, London and Birmingham.

After five years in the making, ‘Long Overdue’ is finally out and distributed by MCA Universal. The singles from the album are penned by Kate herself.

These were inspired by stories from her previous relationships, which make her music very personal and from the heart.

Experience the incredible music of Kate Torralba at SM Lanang Premier. For event updates, check out SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

DAVAO DEL NORTE

DavNor gears up for ASEAN integration T

HE Province of Davao del Norte is preparing for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to be able to take full advantage of the opportunities of the regional integration in 2015.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, in his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), said the province has started laying down the vital preparations to ensure the competitive position of the province when the ten-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) engage in free trade next year.

The governor bared that in preparation for the ASEAN integration, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has enacted the Provincial Investment Incentives Code, Provincial Tourism Code, and the Provincial Housing Code.

The Provincial Board is also set to ratify sooner the proposed Provincial Public-Private Partnership

TAGUM CITY

Code.

Del Rosario noted the EAC will allow for the free movements of goods, services, capital and skilled labor within the ASEAN region, which include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

He said the immense business and economic potential that the integration brings also entail more preparation amid greater competition among the large market of 609 million people.

He warned Filipinos shall find themselves in the middle of stiff competition in areas such as food processing, agriculture, tourism and business services, among others.

The new global trade configuration has prompted the governor to implement policies and programs that aim to increase the competitiveness, both in skills and products, of the

SOPA. Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario delivering his 7th State of the Province Address. noel baguio/davnor pio Dabaonons.

This is in conjunction with the thrust of the provincial leadership to make

the communities adaptive to climate change and resilient to disaster risks.

“We are fortifying our

Roads undergo improvement T

AGUMEÑOS will fully enjoy a smooth ride in the city’s major thoroughfares as the local government embarked on road improvement projects through asphalt overlaying of major roads.

Recently, Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon joined the personnel of the City Engineer’s Office and ABC President Prospero Estabillo, Jr. during the inspection and blessing

of the city’s road improvement projects in Dominggo Village, Senangote Village and Osmeña, Quezon and Quirante II Streets, respectively, which carries a budget to the tune of 2,500,000 pesos.

The asphalt overlaying of roads was done by administration since the LGU has its own asphalt mixing plant located inside the motorpool in Barangay Magugpo East. The asphalt overlaying was delayed for

a year since the asphalt paver was not operational due to damage, said Engr.

Edgar Ruyeras, head of the asphalt-industrial plant of CEO Tagum.

He said that his team is currently working on the asphalt overlaying in 42 roads, conducted primarily through his office’s initiative and through the requests of barangay captains.

The City Engineer’s Office also installed street-

lights along Roxas Extension adjacent to Rizal Elementary School.

Aside from road improvement, the City Engineering Office is also working on the rehabilitation and culvert lining of drainage.

This is still part of the comprehensive agenda on infrastructure of the local chief executive stipulated under his EAGLE WINGS Program. [Gleiza Delgado/ CIO Tagum]

Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon and ABC President Prosepero Estabillo, Jr. lead in the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the rehabilated and improved streets of Tagum by the City Engineering Office. [Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum]

thrust and programs so our province will be able to meet up with the challenges of disaster risk and

KORONADAL CITY

climate change, including the integration of the ASEAN economy next year,” he said.

Grass fires from warm weather, cigarette butts alarm officials

E

NVIRONMENT personnel here have expressed alarm over the rising incidence of grass fires caused by the warm weather during the summer and sparked by still lit cigarette butts thrown carelessly by smokers.

Augustus Bretaña, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) chief, said Wednesday their monitoring showed that around 30 hectares of grassy areas in the city have already been affected by sporadic fires since last month.

He said the grass fires were mainly caused by the intense warm or summer weather and the lack of rains in the area since early March.

Such condition has rendered dry the city’s grassy areas, especially those located in upland barangays, dry and vulnerable to fires, he said.

Bretaña said among the areas that were hit hardest by the grass fires were portions of Barangay San Jose, where around 15 to 20 hectares of grassy areas have already been affected.

“According to local residents, most of the grass fires were caused by lit cigarette butts that were accidentally thrown by some

individuals,” he said in a radio interview.

The official said they have coordinated with officials of the city’s 27 barangays and the Bureau of Fire Protection to help monitor and properly respond to cases of grass fires in their areas.

“Our main concern right now is the possibility of these grass fires reaching our tree planting areas and eventually destroy our planted trees,” he added.

Bretaña was referring to areas that were earlier adopted as sites of the local government’s annual tree-growing festival.

He said among the “tree-growing areas” that are considered vulnerable to grass fires are those located at the boundary of this city and Tantangan town, specifically in the upland portions of Barangay Cabuling.

Local residents have already planted nearly 800,000 trees in the last three years in mountain ranges surrounding the area through the massive tree planting activity, which is held every June.

The city government is pushing for the planting of a record one million trees in June during the fourth tree-growing festival. [MindaNews]

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

Pantawid farmers trained on organic agri production S

OME 25 survivors of Tropical Storm Pablo and Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Maragusan, Compostela Valley recently graduated from Organic Agriculture Production at ACES Polytechnic College in Panabo City.

These farmer-beneficiaries who lost their livelihood source after typhoon Pablo were provided an opportunity for a vocational and technical enhancement training through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Half of the training cost was sponsored by DSWD while the other half came as scholarship grant from the school.

The training which covers 232 hours aims at generating employment and income for the recipients as well as mobilizing them to cultivate and produce healthy and environ-

ment-friendly crops and vegetables.

“This is the first batch of Pantawid recipients who trained with ACES Polytechnic College. Earlier, DSWD also facilitated the same training for typhoon survivors of Monkayo. Definitely, we are doubly happy as three councillors have already committed to extend financial assistance to these graduates so they can pursue what they have learned and replicate this in their community,” said Director Priscilla N. Razon.

DSWD and ACES Polytechnic College will continue assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) or disaster victims and other disadvantaged individuals by giving them access to quality education and training for non-degree course appropriate to their individual capacities and relevant to the immediate needs of their com-

munities, Director Razon added.

SLP is one of the poverty-reduction programs

industry is the region’s top exporter and major contributor to the economic output of Davao Region,” said RTWPB Chair Joffrey M. Suyao.

TTWS is a reform in the existing minimum wage system under R.A. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, which consists of a mandatory minimum wage as the first tier and a voluntary productivity-based incentive scheme as the second tier.

“The Advisory was issued to guide the enterprise on a range of productivity incentives starting with a one percent increase which may be the basis for employer initiatives and enterprise negotiations in Davao Region,” Suyao who is also the Depart-

ment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional director said.

Suyao, added that the Wage Board 11 issued the Advisory last November 18, 2013 after it conducted regional consultations on the TTWS with the banana industry and with other stakeholders in September and October last year.

“Our dream is to have all industries to adopt the productivity-based incentive scheme,” Suyao said.

The RTWPB-11 is set to hold a press conference and orientation on the issuance of the Advisory with the banana industry stakeholders on April 4, today, at the DOLE Regional Office. [RTWPB-11]

RECIPIENT. Amelita Aron, one of the 25 graduates and a Pantawid Pamilya recipient of Poblacion Maragusan receives her Certificate of Competency on Organic Agriculture Production from Dr. Frank Dela Peña, ACES Polytechnic College President during the graduation rites in Poblacion Maragusan, Compostela Valley. Also in photo are [from right] DSWD Livelihood Coordinator Arlene L. Morpus and Municipal Councilor Ulyssess Varona. of DSWD along with Kalahi-CIDSS and Pantawid Pamilya.

It aims to capacitate

and develop the entrepreneurial and socio-economic skills of poor households through in-

come-generating opportunities, enhancing their access to basic social services. [DSWD]

AFP. “Overall, globally, the industry is growing faster than GDP (gross domestic product), at least in the forecast years up to 2023,” he said.

The survey was carried out for the biggest travel booking company, Madrid-based Amadeus, and Tessler said that two big factors in the sector were the rise of low-cost service providers and increasing use of mobile phones to organize and book travel arrangements.

The study estimated that the number of tourists would rise by 5.4% a year in the next 10 years. This would be higher than the expected rate of economic growth, put at 3.4%.

In terms of tourism activity, in Europe and North America “there will be a gradual recovery, a slow recovery from the effects of recession,” the survey said.

Europe’s share of the market would fall, but Europe “will still be the largest recipient of tourism flows.”

RTWPB orders incentive scheme China, Asia-Pacific to power for banana workers in Davao world tourism, says survey T

HE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-11 (RTWPB-11) made public the issuance of its first wage advisory on the Implementation of Productivity-Based Incentive Schemes for the Banana Industry in Davao Region.

Published recently in a local paper, the advisory was formulated under framework of the Advisory for the Voluntary Productivity-based Pay, otherwise known as the Second-Tier Pay under the Two-Tiered Wage System (TTWS).

“The advisory has chosen to pilot the Agribusiness sector particularly the Cavendish Banana Industry as the

INCENTIVE ORDER. Labor and Employment Director in Davao Region Joffrey M. Suyao explains that the wage advisory for Banana Industry was formulated under framework of the Advisory for the Voluntary Productivity-based Pay. With him (L-R) DOLE Undersecretary Rebecca C. Chato and Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz. (Photo by Ryan Roldan/DOLE 11)

T

HE Asia-Pacific region, led by China, will be the main force driving world tourism in the next 10 years, according to a consultancy survey.

The tourism industry as a whole will grow faster than overall economic activity, the survey estimated.

“The major trend is the continued growth in Asia, that is really driving the global travel industry forward,” economist Andrew Tessler at Oxford Economics which published the survey, told

LIVELIHOOD TRAINING FOR WOMEN. Food Technology Lab Assistant Mae Aborde (rightmost) prepares to demonstrate kikiam-making under the supervision of Prof. Virginia Obsioma (Dept. of Food Science and Chemistry) for the women of Bgy. Mintal and Bago Oshiro as part of entrepreneurial skills training offered by U.P. Mindanao for the International Women’s Month celebration. Medical, legal, and counseling services were also provided to the community as organized by the University Gender Committee and the Offices of Extension and Community Service, and of Student Affairs.

6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch Indicator

Latest

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

7.1 1st Qtr 2013 6.8

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

7.8 1st Qtr 2013 7.5

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

3. Exports 1/ 3. Exports

4. Imports 1/ 4. Imports

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

7.6.Broad Money Liabilities Balance of Payments

2nd Qtr 2013

2nd Qtr 2013

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

7. Broad Money Liabilities

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

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

10.Revenues National government outstanding debt outstanding debt

P 5,609 P 41.14 Aprbillion 2013

11.Stocks Peso per US $ 12.

Composite

Index 6/

6,847.5 P 43.83 Mar Sep2013 2013

12. Stocks Composite

6,191.8 132.8 Sep 2013 Apr 2013

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

Sep 2013

13. Consumer Index Price Index 2006=100

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100 14.

Headline Inflation Rate

135.2

Oct2.62013 Apr 2013

14. 2006=100 Headline Inflation Rate 15.

Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.9 Oct3.12013

Apr 2013

2006=100

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100 16.

Visitor Arrivals

2.5

418,108 Oct 2013 Feb 2013

382,022 Aug 2013 20.9%

16. Visitor Arrivals

17. Underemployment 7/ 17. Rate Underemploymen

Jan 2013 19.2%

18.

18.Unemployment UnemploymentRate Rate7/

7.1% Jan 2013 7.3%

Rate

Jul 2013

Local mining company pours P 30-M projects in Pantukan A

LOCAL mining c o m p a n y distributed P 30-million worth of projects to nine barangays of Pantunkan, Compostela Valley.

More than 2,000 families availed of the Community Livelihood Initiative Projects (CLIP) conducted by the King King Copper Gold Project.

One of the projects is the Vegetable Garden and Fishpond in Purok Sta. Teresa, which is in partnership with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) and the community.

Brienlyn Baño, GSP troop leader in the purok, said that the project started only as a beautification activity of a purok center and eventually grew into a garden and fishpond due to the community’s request and eager participation.

Bonifacio Abalayan, purok leader of Sta. Teresa, said that before the project was made, the residents were purchasing their vegetables in the marketplace; but now, the businessmen in the market are the ones buying their goods from the purok’s produce.

Jul 2013

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

2013

2012

2011

43.83 43.86 43.35 42.91 41.30 41.14 40.71 40.67 40.73

42.23 41.01 41.12 41.45 41.75 42.04 41.91 42.78 42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

V

INSPECTION. DPWH XI Regional Director Mariano Alquiza (3rd from left) and Construction Division Chief Elias Bermejo (4th from left) recently conducted an ocular inspection at the ongoing upgrading (gravel to concrete) of Lacson-Lamanan-Inayangan-Megkawayan Road. A DPWH-DOT Convergence project, this road is aimed to increase tourism traffic in the said part of Davao City. [DPWH 11-PIO] Abalayan added that one of the best features of their garden was the use of organic fertilizer from their Vermiculture project.

Aside from this, other programs of the mining

project focused on the livelihood of Mansaka tribe. These include the provision of sewing machine and dressmaking training to the tribal women’s group.

Iluminada Padilla,

president of the Mansaka Women’s Group, said that they are grateful to the mining project for giving them an opportunity to help their families through making tribal dresses, other clothing

and bags.

The projects also included establishment of water system, distribution of farm implements and development of other important infrastructure.

[PIA 11/Michael Uy]

but we hope to bring at least two more (models) towards the end of the year,” Orbeta said.

V o l k s w a g e n Philippines has brought in a total of six models in the local market within six months after coming back here. These include Touareg, Tiguan, Touran, Jetta, Polo Notch, and the third generation model of Beetle which was launched Wednesday evening in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

Orbeta mentioned

that the Philippine market has a good acceptance of the brand since it came back September last year. ”We’re basically looking still how the market is receiving it then we adjust our volume.

We’re still testing the market in terms of what products will sell. We are getting good feedback from our customers, (then) we’ll adjust our products,” he said. ”We have a soft target (this year) because like

what I said, we’re doing market testing. So we’re experimenting what’s going to sell and we ramp up depending on that,” he added.

Orbeta noted that Volkswagen Philippines still has reservations to fulfill as “supply is still erratic”.

Moreover, Orbeta said that the car company will be expanding two dealerships this year. ”We’re hoping to open two more (dealerships) towards

the end of the year.

Hopefully in Alabang and one in Quezon City,” he cited.

Currently, the lone dealership office of Volkswagen here is in BGC. ”We started only end of September, so basically October. So like any start up we are on our ramp up process.

So we start slow. We’d rather do it slow than try to do everything at the same time,” Orbeta said.

[PNA]

Volkswagen PHL eyes to launch more car models, dealerships

OLKSWAGEN Philippines plans to expand the number of vehicle variants and dealerships in the country in 2014, Automobile Central Enterprise Inc. (ACEI) President and Chief Executive Officer John Philip Orbeta told in an interview.

ACEI, which is the local distributor of Volkswagen, is eyeing to bring in two more car models this year. ”Depending on our production schedule,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

200 Mindanao barangays eyed as reforestation sites T

WO hundred barangays in Mindanao will soon engage in massive reforestation activities aimed to generate at least 2 million seedlings of forest trees to be planted among typhoon-prone and perennially flooded areas in the island-region.

The initiative is a collaborative effort of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through MinDA’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program and DENR’s Barangay Forest Program (BFP), a component of its National Greening Program (NGP).

Called the Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP), the activity is designed to rehabilitate natural habitats and strengthen multi-sectoral commitment in the reforestation of Mindanao’s denuded areas.

“We hope to contribute in achieving the Aquino Administration’s NGP targets through this project, while also securing resiliency in our vulnerable communities,” said MinDA Chairperson Luwalhati Antonino.

She added that for the

first batch of implementation, MinDA committed 200 planting sites to jumpstart and fast-track the BSFP initiative within the island-region.

“Among the prioritized barangays also include those that are located near critical coastal areas and rivers,” said Antonino while adding “the project also includes sustainable livelihood for the identified barangays to ensure that the barangay constituents can develop a steady source of income by protecting the environment.”

The Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project also encourages for the establishment of the Payment for Environment Services (PES), a mechanism designed to guarantee sustainability of industries that are dependent on natural resources and help restore areas with heavily degraded environment.

The PES ensures that local governance are paralleled with efforts to protect and conserve the environment by creating an ordinance that allows it to collect fees from its constituents who subscribe to services that are dependent on natural resources.

In the Municipality of

SUPPORT TO ENVIRONMENT. Residents and community members in Naawan, Misamis Oriental sign on a commitment wall in support to a local government program aimed to rehabilitate and protect the municipality’s watershed – the main source of the town’s water system. Part of the program is the Payment for Environment Services (PES) scheme, which collects P1.00 for every cubic meter of water consumed by the water system’s subscribers.

Naawan in Misamis Oriental, the local government is successfully implementing its PES program by collecting P1.00 for every cubic meter of water that a household consumes. The pooled funds will be allocated for the reforestation of Lake Danao, the town’s

Dabawenyos mark Earth Hour at SM Davao

H

UNDREDS of Davaoeños flocked SM City Davao for the observation of the Earth Hour at the mall’s Open Parking last Saturday.

The celebration was kicked off with a parade around the mall which was participated in by the mall tenants, and both private and government agencies—Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Education and Bureau of Fire Protection. The local government of Davao was also in full support of the movement as members and staff of the City Mayor’s Office, Museo Dabawenyo, Central 911, City Treasurer’s Office, City Assessor’s Office, City Social Service and Development Office, City ENRO, City Administrator’s Office, City Agriculture’s Office and other organizations joined the event.

“This evening, all 48 SM Supermalls across the

nation and our 6 malls in China, will simultaneously turn off their lights for the Earth Hour – reinforcing the statement that the time to take action against global warming is now,” mall manager Lynette Lopez shares in her welcome address.

SM City Davao has been supporting WWF’s Earth Hour since 2008.

The mall’s commitment to supporting the cause has helped raise environmental awareness not only among SM’s shoppers and business partners but the community as well. In 2012, SM Davao was the official Earth Hour Switch Off site for Mindanao.

At 8:30 PM, 100% of our malls’ building lighted logos and 50% of our mall interior and perimeter lights were switched off.

“Earth Hour does not end when the lights are switched back on. It is a yearlong commitment to reduce our use of energy, water and other resources. It is also about climate

adaptation. The Philippines is the third nation most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

We sit on Ground Zero of storms birthed from the Pacific. It can no longer be business us usual. Let tonight’s Earth Hour remind us of our shared duty and commitment to build a climate-resilient Philippines. WWF thanks SM Davao for leading the ceremony to unite all of us behind a common purpose,” shares Junrey Tubongbanua in behalf of WWF. Amid the rain, the program proceeded with entertainment numbers from the fire dancers, the drum beaters and the cute kids of Matthew 19:14 band.

Other organizations who expressed support were Philippine Eagle Foundation, Philippine Red Cross, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Little Pearls of Heaven and MTC Academy.

water source to ensure sustainability of their local water system, which is dependent on the lake.

“The role of LGUs in this undertaking is crucial as many of our efforts depend largely on the quality of leadership and governance that we have at the local

level. Our goal is to sustain the reforestation efforts even beyond 2016,” Antonino said.

She added that MinDA is also looking at tapping corporate partners as well as the private sector in coming up with an incentive scheme for the top per-

forming barangays under the StraTREEgic program.

The DENR committed to allocate P100,000.00 to generate at least 10,000 seedlings per identified barangay and will facilitate the establishment of nurseries and tree growing activities in the barangay-level.

Department of Health’s ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry).

In the test conducted at the dental school located in Davao Region high mercury vapor levels were measured at the cuspidor and trays, which had 1,069 nanograms per cubic meter and 1,018 ng/m3 respectively.

ASTDR set acceptable levels for mercury vapor is pegged at 1,000 ng/m3.

If there is a breach in the mark, the source is immediately isolated. If a location is measured to breach 10,000 ng/cu. meters, evacuation is immediately recommended.

Macabuhay said that wasted bins, sinks and drainage areas have higher levels of mercury vapor.

The old drainage tube in the Region 11 located near den-

tal school registered 40,813 ng/cubic meters.

She said that dental schools have taken immediate interventions such as providing exhaust fans, opening windows and providing exit points. However these are only location specific interventions.

Macabuhay said that the country is a signatory of the Minamata Convention last year, which regulates the use of mercury among signatory countries. As part of the treaty the country has pledged to have mercury-free healthcare facilities by 2016.

She said dental students commonly used amalgams for their studies and required cases for dental licensure examinations thus the high amount of mercury vapor found in their schools. [PIA/RG Alama]

Study bares high mercury vapor in dental schools A

STUDY released by environment justice group BAN TOXICS bared high contents of mercury vapors in dental schools.

According to Myline Macabuhay, Chemicals Management Assistant of BAN TOXICS the study was conducted last year in five dentals schools across the country. One of these schools is located in Davao Region.

Amalgam is a commonly used as dental fillings.

It is an alloy of mercury and is the past considered as a main source of dental fillings due to its low cost, durability and easy application.

Using a R195 Plus Mercury Vapor Analyzer the study determined that most of the schools exceeded acceptable mercury levels set by the United State’s

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

Now what?

A

FTER three senators and several other persons shall have been indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) for their alleged participation in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, now what? Indictment here means that the OMB has ruled that charges of plunder and other graft cases be filed with the Sandiganbayan for trial.

If due process is followed, warrants will soon be issued for the arrests of the senators –Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. Arrest warrants will likewise be issued Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged scam mastermind, and several other high-profile personalities, including chiefs-of-staff of the senators and officials of government agencies identified as conduits of the stolen taxpayers’ money officially called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

As of the moment, the personalities charged have been given five days each to file a motion for reconsideration (MR). The Ombudsman has 60 days to rule on

EDGEDAVAO

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the MR. If the Ombudsman denies the motion, it will proceed to file the information with the Sandigan.

Since plunder is a criminal case, wherein the accused is not allowed to post bail, the senators and other accused will be placed in prison while being tried by the court. The longer the trial takes, the longer the suspects will be behind bars.

Malacanang Palace however explained that the arrest warrants will only be issued after a division of the Sandiganbayan, the graft court, shall have evaluated and finds the complaints meritorious.

Then the long trial process begins. The trial is not the end in itself. To be sure, many dramatic things are going to happen during and after the trial. The main characters in this story are mostly politicians. Before the trial of this historic case will be over, elections will be held, in 2016 and three years after that. The results of these elections will surely influence developments and the end of this story.

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

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

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR./ CHENEEN R. CAPON Reporters

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

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EDGEDAVAO

M

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

body is perfect, not even the President and his platoon of advisers and political strategists.

But the good thing is that the President has always made it known the salient points of his administration and said all the right things about the necessity of maintaining an open and stable economy and basic social measures while augmenting its impact on poor Filipinos. While leaders of critical groups and their blinded followers don’t seem satisfied with the performance of the man at bat or whoever is in power, perhaps the best thing that can be said is that majority of our people, at least, do have choices – stay and rally behind the current dispensation and continue to have confidence in their present leaders, which is even more partisan than those senseless mass protest actions staged by motley groups of demonstrators.

Say what those detractors and PNoy-haters will but truly the now much maligned leader still commands tremendous public support as can be gleaned from the latest survey result. Both his trust and performance ratings gained several notches higher compared to previous reviews despite mounting brickbats and criticism. It is very important to understand that the presidency is not a lark. It is a grueling full-time and daunting task, even to someone with flawless skills and managerial prowess and mainstream connections.

There may be some drawbacks, but three and a half years in office show that the President has accomplished much during that period. He got the economic

lights turn on and the country becomes a showcase of economic resurgence, even as some of its regional neighbors are hitting the economic skid. If his administration is to be faulted, it is in his less-than-sterling record against crime and corruption. Advocates against crime and lawlessness feel he could have been tougher on the hoods and corrupt government people.

However, he could not but hew strictly to legal procedures in his war against crime, if critics are not to see a strongman ambition in him – accomplishments that would spawn fears of extrajudicial measures and violations of human rights.

Nevertheless, harsh critics and adversaries use the President’s perceive “weakness and inexperience” as a starting point and motivated by pure retaliation and trumped-up rage proceeded through a litany of unfounded accusations. Moreover, their shamelessly unprincipled action is concealed by their deceptive moves.

Their ridiculous attacks against the Aquino leadership are detrimental and the openly anti-government rhetoric they often showed during protests action was pure misleading act to manifest a purported public resentment. And there are the over-assuming leaders and spokespersons who are experts in slimeball activism and they speak the jargon of the little people so fluently. Nonetheless, perhaps due to their nonsensical struggle against whoever is in power, they now lack the direction.

Worse, their “worn-out and recycled” grievances are supplemented by smear tactics of unconscionable proportions.

More than that, if government critics and anti-government movement particularly leaders and spokespersons have nothing good to offer except to find fault, perhaps they should better shut up and stop acting like loose cannons with runaway mouths.

It’s actually difficult to trust them, the deceptive kind that allowed themselves to be associated with such nonsense.

Obama: Ineffectually Challenged

RESIDENT Barack Obama is in a funk. Americans are coming to see the president as ineffectual.

That is a dangerous perception.

Obama’s job approval rating is at risk of dropping below 40 percent.

Democrats may lose their majority in the Senate this fall. It may be difficult for the president to accomplish anything during his last two years.

In the March NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll, 42 of registered voters say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate endorsed by Obama.

Only 22 percent say they would be more likely to vote for Obama’s candidate.

Why is this happening? Republicans have their answer: Obamacare.

Karl Rove, the “architect” of President George W. Bush’s two winning campaigns, said Obamacare will be worse for Democrats this year than it was in 2010, “especially incumbent Democrats in red, even purple, states and districts who voted for the monstrosity.”

Representative Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) called Obamacare “one of the most insidious laws ever created

COMMENTARY

BY BILL SCHNEIDER

Part 1 of 2 by man.” You wait. Soon a Republican will claim that Obamacare is causing climate change.

Nonetheless, Obamacare is the law, and it’s unlikely that Republicans will be able to do anything about it as long as a Democrat is in the White House. But Obamacare is not the only, or even the most serious, problem that Obama is facing. His ratings on the economy and foreign policy are even lower than his rating on healthcare.

Voters like to believe a president is in control of events. He rarely is, but he has to convey that impression.

It’s frightening for people to believe that their leaders have no control over events — that things are in danger of spinning out of control. That’s why New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani became a hero on 9/11. He gave the impression that he was in control —

even if he really wasn’t.

Obama does not give that impression. The launch of Obamacare has been a disaster. While most Americans believe the program is worth saving — they want it fixed, not abolished the experience was a real blow to the Obama administration’s image of competence. Obama’s signature legislative achievement is seen as ineffectual.

Yet Obama’s core problem is the same as it’s been for the last five years — the economy. The recovery has been slow and painful. In fact, most Americans don’t see a recovery. In the NBC-Journal poll, 57 percent say the country is still in recession.

People are waiting for the second-term boom — like the one in President Ronald Reagan’s second term and in President Bill Clinton’s second term. Obama’s economic policies are seen as ineffectual.

Clinton had to deal with a Republican Congress led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Clinton got welfare reform and a balanced budget. Obama’s dealings with Congress, however, have been ineffectual.

9

It is time to save the EU

Honing the art of deception

ISLEADING ACT TO MANIFEST A PURPORTED PUBLIC RESENTMENT - It’s not clear when will those discontented groups – perennial critics, opposition diehards, highly-politicized church leaders, militant and progressive groups and student activists stop their wrangling and pessimist attitude toward the Aquino leadership. We are a small nation with too many disgruntled groups that are constraining the government to push policies that they know – or ought to know, but are actually outright advantageous only to their self-vested interests.

All these may explain why the different anti-government organizations seem to have little or no trust at all, lack the motivation and belief that the government can move forward despite being confronted with unpredictable socio-economic and political setbacks. The boisterous leaders and blabber-mouthed spokespersons of anti-government groups, instead were indulging an addiction to the most cynical kind of protest action – deception.

These people perfected the art of deception after years of struggle and participation in the parliament of the streets. You could probably call their exploit the “hell bent of disenchantment” edition, in which even the most engaged of citizens, might be tempted to doubt their efforts and started to hate them. Of course, there is no denying that there are some ambiguities in the Aquino administration’s achievement but it doesn’t mean that crucial issues would be relegated to the dustbin.

Persistent critics and political detractors assert that President Benigno Aquino III, intentionally or otherwise, failed to curb corruption such as the highly controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund or “pork barrel” enmeshing some members of Congress, lack of push for the passage of the FOI Bill, apathetic on the sad plight of OFWs, alleged military abuses and police brutality and environmental destruction. Well, no-

P

VANTAGE POINTS

ANALYSIS

BY JOHN LLOYD

A

Part 1 of 2

SURGE of far-right parties is about to hit the European parliament. Last weekend’s success of the National Front in France was led by the party’s leader Marine Le Pen, who pledges to take France out of an agreement that is destroying jobs and flooding towns with immigrants. Similar advances by the right are appearing in differing degrees of intensity elsewhere in Europe.

The European elections next month will likely see 100 or more deputies from the Freedom Party of Austria, the British UK Independence Party, the Dutch Freedom Party, the Finnish True Finns, the Flemish (Belgian) Vlaams Blok, the German Alternative for Germany, the Greek Golden Dawn, the Hungarian Jobbik, the Italian Five Star Movement, the Swedish Democrats as well as the National Front enter parliament. They’ll be noisy, passionate, insulting, disruptive and in some cases well-primed to exploit every weakness and mistake in the European parliament.

The arrival of these deputies is the most recent bit of bad news for the Brussels politicians and officials whose job is to steer the European Union through its roughest patch in half a century. Together with two other hammer blows, this bad news could actually save the EU. A no-holds-barred argument about the purpose of the EU would dynamize this somnolent assembly. Some would be forced to face the euroskeptic issues that are raised by far-right parties, including the difficulty of attracting interest to an organization in which the members are unknown.

For decades, these issues have been ducked. But in the next election they will be forced on to the agenda. Finding the words and the passion to defend and promote the EU in debates will mean that Europeans will perhaps begin to see the point of the organization.

The second bit of bad news is now familiar. The revelations of public debt in euro zone countries where growth has slowed or gone negative, as in Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Greece, have raised fears of defaults. The total debt of the 17 member states that make up the euro zone was a cumulative $12.2 trillion (8.84 trillion euros) at the end of last year, or nearly 93 percent of gross domestic product in the euro zone states. That is way above the 60 percent limit that the euro zone had pledged.

Mind you, that’s an improvement.

The debt has come down slightly in the past few months (though it’s still higher than it was a year ago) and the current account is now in surplus because the euro zone states are exporting more than they import. That’s good news.

The account deficits they were racking up a few years ago was one reason for the crash.

But the surplus is also a sign of weakness. Depressed domestic demand in the euro zone states is largely responsible for the turnaround, as consumers cut purchases of imported goods. If these economies don’t begin to show stronger growth leading to restored consumer confidence, the good figures could point to stagnation, and renewed crisis.

10 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

Rody...FFROM 1

voluntarily to PDEA office or nearest police station in their area.

Last March 25, two bricks of cocaine were turned over to the law enforcers of the city. One was turned over by the security officer of Sumifru while another one was recovered in the evening in the same area.

On the evening of March 22, joint forces of the Criminal Investiga-

tion and Detection Group (CIDG) – 11, Davao City Police Office – Investigation and Detection Management Branch, Bunawan Police Precinct and Bureau of Customs recovered 24 kilos of cocaine concealed in 24 bricks.

The next day, another 27 kilos were recovered

by Bunawan Police Precinct. The 23 kilos were turned-over by Noel G. Tamayo, driver of Sumifro

after he found the cocaine at the back seat of the truck while it was parked inside the container yard at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Around 12:05 noon of the same day, the four kilos were found by Eliseo F. Jupore in a generator set.

Rosales said earlier that cocaine has a market value of P6,000 per gram or P6 million a kilo. The total value of 64 bricks is put at P306 million.

“In line with current policy and regulations of the Philippine government, such as Administrative Order 21 and most recently it’s signing of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Philippine government and different stakeholders should actively pursue the implementation of policies consistent with the elimination of mercury in all sectors including the phase-

out of dental amalgam use by 2016” says the study.

The group also wants to change the dental instruction system in the Philippines and eliminate the exposure of young students and dental professionals from dental amalgam in dental institutions.

“Philippine dentistry should be striving for better, safer, and healthier technologies.

Continued

use of an antiquated and dangerous procedure, such as dental amalgams, has no place in the future of Philippine dentistry” it says.

The group also recommends through their study a more comprehensive approach on the exposure levels of dental professionals to mercury, through analyzing its levels within occupational eight hour limit.

“[They are nominated] because of the leadership they exhibit and have a regional perspective, [meaning they] must not only take care of the parochial concern but also the development issues of the region because that is what they will carry,” Lim said.

The appointed chairman of RDC is in-charge of making decisions that would be “equitable” and “fair” to all stakeholders in the region.

It is not necessary that a government official will occupy the chairmanship of the council, as long as the co-chair will be from the private sector or vice versa.

The council was first

co-chaired by the private sector represented by Atty.

Jesus V. Ayala who was in the position for 21 years, from 1986 to 2007.

Lim said that the process of selection would take three months and “even extend as far as six months.”

“It would depend on the evaluation of the search committee which belongs under the Office of the President,” she said, adding that the examination of the clearances of the four nominees will take time.

This year, the president is expected to appoint the new RDC chairman.

At present, Lim serves as the acting chairman of

the RDC. Former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte- Carpio served as the chairman of the council from 2011 to 2013.

RDC is the” highest policy-making body tasked to facilitate regional development through the formulation of development plans and investment programs, conduct judicious review on the appropriation of resources, direction setting and the coordination of the economic and social development efforts of local government units, agency regional offices, state universities and colleges and special development authorities in the region.”

(straight path) party will initially serve as “clearing house” to screen the qualifications of political leaders interested to become members of the provincial organization of the administration Liberal Party (LP), which he currently heads.

Del Rosario, who’s in his third and final term as governor, clarified that as the name implies, the planned movement is aimed at sustaining good governance which is the linchpin of the administration of Pres.

Benigno S. Aquino III, who also sits as LP chair.

The governor clarified that the Tuwid na Daan

party is just a local one and “it would still support the national candidates of the administration” in 2016.

Asked as to who does he think is a potential candidate for governor, Del Rosario said “dahil Liberal ako, siyempre yong official candidate ng Liberal Party.

As of now, the ranking members of the LP in Davao del Norte are Governor Del Rosario, son second termer Rep. Anthony G. del Rosario, Vice Gov. Victorio R. Suaybaguio and former Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy and the town mayors who won under the LP ticket in the 2013 elections.

The governor advised incumbent officials thinking of running for higher positions such as provincial governor, city and town mayor in 2016 to come forward and be known as aspirants.

Vice Governor Baby Suaybaguio, being most senior official would probably be the coordinator of the Matuwid na Daan movement screening group.

However, Suaybaguio is also planning to run for governor.

Independent Provincial Board Member Alan Dujali is reportedly going to run for vice governor under Suaybaguio’s group.

Third-termer Rep. Anton Lagdameo of the second district is also reportedly interested to run for governor.

In gist, Governor del Rosario said there is a growing clamor for him to run either for vice governor or for mayor of the Island Garden City of Samal.

Dental... FFROM 2

RDC...FFROM 2

Del Rosario...FFROM 2

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 84759 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 611999-4 issued to MINDA GUTING was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

4/4/11/18

BACK-BREAKING TASK. A group of youths roams around Davao City carrying an advertising billboard on their backs to gain name recall for the newest addition to the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the city. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao...FFROM 3 in 2013 the region only produced 421, 692 metric tons (MT) of palay out of the 493,369 MT target 3, 164, 641 MT banana out of 3, 823, 276 MT target and 2,265,274 MT of coconut out of 2,744, 955 MT. In corn production, the region produced a total of 227, 013 MT last year, surpassing the 154, 472 MT target.

For the year 2014,

NEDA 11 expects that the regional economy to post 7.0 percent growth amid the ongoing rehabilitation in the agriculture sector.

“We expect to hit the target despite the expected losses of our agricultural sector owing to the typhoon Pablo damage. We are very optimistic that we can hit our targeted 2014 economic growth,” Lim said.

NEDA has identified

the agriculture sector as a growth area for 2014 despite of the devastation in 2012. Other identified areas are power generation, whole sale and retail, tourism, Information and Technology (ICT) Solutions.

“Agriculture regained its prime spot in the regional economy as major contributor in employment, export, trade and GRDP,” she said.

Speak media forum” at City Hall.

He refused to disclose the volume of drugs recovered from their operation since they are still “fixing their data.”

The latest accomplishment of PDEA is the recovery of 56 bricks of cocaine which were found in the container yard of Sumifro in barangay Tibungco. The operation was pursued with the joint forces of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11, Davao City Police Office – Investigation and Detection

Management Branch, Bunawan Police Precinct and Bureau of Customs The agency and other law enforcement groups also conducted raid of “shabu tiangge” in the shanties of Barangay Ilang last month which resulted to the death of seven and the arrest of 36 other people.

The operatives seized an undetermined amount of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, 11 firearms loaded with live ammunition and three hand grenades.

Based on the records

of PDEA 11, they seized P25-million worth of illegal drugs for 2013, which was way higher than the P5.4-million haul in the preceding year.

But 2013’s performance still trails the biggest drug operation in the city after operatives seized 76.8 kilograms of highgrade shabu with a street value of P152 million from a drug laboratory in Dumoy, Talomo District on Dec. 31, 2004, wherein six suspected drug dealers, believed to be Chinese or Taiwanese, were killed in the bust.

will not go through a referendum in terms of reorganizing the board, but they came up with a win-win [situation] decision [referring to institution arrangement],” National Economic and Development Authority 11 (NEDA 11) regional director Ma. Lourdes T. Lim said yesterday.

“They opted not to go to a plebiscite or referendum [because] it would take a longer time,” Lim said, adding that the referendum would involve all individual subscribers in the whole franchise area of Daneco.

The electric cooperative is

supplying power to provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley.

Earlier, Daneco-NEA legal counsel Jeorge Rapista charged that there was “political pressure” that led NEA Board of Administrator and energy secretary Petilla made an order for referendum while the earlier “cease and desist order (CDO) of NEA against the Daneco-CDA has not yet been implemented.”

The cease and desist order was issued by Petilla last December 13, 2013 and a week later Daneco-NEA received an order for refer-

endum.

“The referendum is not the solution to Daneco’s problem but the implementation of lawful orders,” Atty. Rapista said from an earlier report.

The conflict started in 2012 when the management of the cooperative split into two.

The conflict affected the electric cooperative’s ability to provide basic services to its consumers.

This has been disadvantageous not only to households but also to businesses operating in Daneco’s franchise areas.

First...FFROM 3

Daneco...FFROM 3

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11

Women take fewer risks online, but take the upper hand in web-smarts

Kaspersky Lab study reveals new findings about the psychological reasons behind men and women’s differing online behavior

K

ASPERSKY Lab, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions, uncovers the reasons why women behave more safely when using the internet.

A report about sexual differences in online safety behavior shows that males tend to take a higher frequency of risks, while the female attitude towards security promises a longer life - women live on average six years longer than men do.

Studies show that lifestyle has a greater bearing on different life expectations than genes or hormones do.

According to a European study 1. women use the Internet just as enthusiastically as men, but they do so in different ways.

In a cooperation between Kaspersky Lab and the University of Wuerzburg of Germany, a report about sexual differences was developed. The main findings show that men tend to search for entertainment, games and sexual content while women look for communication and interaction with friends or romantic partners 2. “Twice as many men as women reported different sorts of malware attacks during the period of the study. Girls are expected to

be more responsible, obedient, and sexually restrained, thus, depending on one’s gender, certain roles are performed, leading to the stereotype gender differences,” said Professor Dr Frank Schwab, media psychologist at the University of Wuerzburg.

Does greater risk really bring greater reward?

When it comes to taking risks, women are happy to leave this to the men.

Why would women put themselves in danger when there are men volunteering to take all the risks?

The female way seems to be not only more secure in an online world but also more promising in terms of a long life. Also, the womens’ caring characters lead to more communicative and considerate behaviour both online and off.

In terms of risk taking, they seem to take the more reasonable, considered path resulting in risk avoidance and a safer way of life.

“There’s an increased risk of infection from visiting certain types of web site – including pornographic and gambling sites. It’s not the content of these sites per se that makes them less safe, but the fact that they attract high numbers of visitors – and where there are visitors, there will be criminals,” said David Emm, Security Researcher at

Kaspersky Lab. “This provides cybercriminals with a large pool of potential victims human psychology also plays into their hands where some of

these sites are concerned; victims are typically less willing to complain if they get infected whilst using one of these sites, than say a banking site, or fall victim

to a scam, when accessing pornographic content,” Emm added.

Safety however, remains an important topic for all, but particularly for men,

who have a tendency to forget or overlook the risks. In general, anti-virus software should be installed on any device which is connected to the internet.

Innovative app helps parents shield children from online risks W

ITH the prices of smartphones and tablets going down these days, it has become more affordable for parents to afford the latest gadgets they can give or lend their children. And with all the fun games and apps now widely available, these mobile devices can now rival Barbie and G.I. Joe in the attention of kids.

But while mobile devices offer fun and entertainment for the young ones, the vast world of the Internet accessible to them can also pose great risks, especially if they are fond of accessing popular social networking sites such as Facebook or Instagram.

A recent report by the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group, in fact, states that 9 out of 10 Filipinos fell victim to cybercrime in the past three years. These online crimes

include anything from Internet fraud, harassment, cyber threats and even cyberbullying.

“Many kids nowadays can access the Internet in a number of ways, from their computers in school to their smartphones at home. And while we can’t do much about preventing them from surfing the Web, it’s best if parents can be equipped to protect their children whenever they go exploring online,” said Kathryn Carag, Postpaid Marketing Head at mobile leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).

One such tool that can be a great partner to parents is the Vodafone Guardian app, a sort-of “virtual nanny” which gives parents the flexibility of adapting their children’s online habits through their mobile phones.

‘Guardian’ angel Developed by global

telco leader Vodafone, the Vodafone Guardian app allows parents to restrict kids’ access to certain features and apps on their phones at certain times of day. For example, moms can block kids’ access to gaming apps while they’re in school so they can focus their studies, or limit access to Facebook to just one hour per day.

The Vodafone Guardian app also lets parents set call and SMS permissions and filter the contacts to avoid interaction with strangers.

This way, they avoid the threats of mobile or cyber bullying, or being scammed by unscrupulous texters or callers.

“The app is flexible enough so that each setting can be changed to best suit each parenting style, so moms and dads can have the liberty to decide how they want to ‘rear’ their kids’ In-

ternet behaviors,” Carag added.

Strengthening Family Ties The Vodafone Guardian app is initially available via Smart’s Family Ties Plans, a new suite of postpaid plans tailored specifically for families who want to stay close and connected via their mobile devices.

When parents subscribe to any of the two Family Ties Plans—Plan 900 and Plan 1800—the accompanying smartphones will already come pre-installed with the Vodafone Guardian app.

Families have two choices for their postpaid lines: Family Ties Plan 900 includes unlimited calling within the family circle, unlimited SMS to Smart subscribers and 200 all-network texts, as well as 100MB of free data for each line every month.

12

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

Things you should always avoid before bedtime N

OT getting enough sleep can really affect your health: it can lead to weight gain, weaken the immune system, and make you feel foggy the next day.

If you’re constantly having trouble falling asleep or you toss and turn all night, avoid doing these six things before going to bed.

• Eat Greasy or High-Fat Foods: Greasy, heavy fatty foods not only make you feel sluggish the next morning, but also make your stomach work overtime to digest all that food, causing discomfort that can make it difficult to sleep. Stay away from fast food, ice cream, and these other foods right before bed.

• Stare at a Screen: Surfing the web on your laptop or iPad in bed is what many people do right before saying goodnight, but the blue light these devices emit stimulates the brain, making it harder for the body to unwind, relax, and sense that it’s time for bed. Even watching your favorite show on TV can

cost you a good night’s sleep. If you want to get lost in something, open a relaxing book, or meditate instead.

• Do Intense Cardio: Exercising regularly is the key to sleeping well at night, but hitting the gym right before you’re about to snooze isn’t the best idea.

Aside from needing to eat right after, it revs up your heart rate and your energy levels, making it difficult for your body and mind to settle down enough to fall asleep. For a better night of Z’s, finish your workout three hours before you plan to hit the hay.

• Work Late: If you have a big meeting in the morning or a project due at the end of the week, getting some work done after dinner may ease your mind. Just be sure to put your work away at least an hour before going to sleep to give your brain a break, so you can go to sleep feeling calm, not hyped up or anxious about tomorrow’s deadlines.

• Drink Caffeine: The caffeine found in coffee, tea, and even chocolate

is a stimulant that can keep you up longer than you planned. How much caffeine your body can handle depends on you, but a good rule of thumb is to put that cup of joe down a few hours before bed.

The same goes for alcohol.

Drinking a glass of vino too close to bedtime - or drinking two or three - will prevent you from having a restful night of sleep (even if you pass out fast).

• Get Emotionally

Wound Up: Bickering with your sister on the phone, watching a disturbing show on TV, or reading an emotionally taxing book isn’t exactly helping you on the road to relaxation.

Prevent getting your

nerves and emotions wound up by engaging in calming activities like reading a light novel, sipping herbal tea, taking a hot bath, or doing some of these gentle stretches in bed.

Ketamine ‘exciting’depression therapy T

HE illegal party drug ketamine is an “exciting” and “dramatic” new treatment for depression, say doctors who have conducted the first trial in the UK. Some patients who have faced incurable depression for decades have had symptoms disappear within hours of taking low doses of the drug.

The small trial on 28 people, reported in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, shows the benefits can last months.

Experts said the findings opened up a whole new avenue of research.

Depression is common and affects one-in-10 people at some point in their lives.

Antidepressants, such as prozac, and behavioural therapies help some patients, but a significant proportion remain

resistant to any form of treatment.

A team at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust gave patients doses of ketamine over 40 minutes on up to six occasions.

Eight showed improvements in reported levels of depression, with four of them improving so much they were no longer classed as depressed.

Some responded within six hours of the first infusion of ketamine.

Lead researcher Dr Rupert McShane said: “It really is dramatic for some people, it’s the sort of thing really that makes it worth doing psychiatry, it’s a really wonderful thing to see.

He added: “[The patients] say ‘ah this is how I used to think’ and the relatives say ‘we’ve got x back’.”

Dr McShane said this included patients who had lived with depression for

20 years.

The duration of the effect is still a problem.

Some relapse within days, while others have found they benefit for around three months and have since had additional doses of ketamine.

There are also some serious side-effects including one case of the supply of blood to the brain being interrupted.

Doctors say people should not try to selfmedicate because of the serious risk to health outside of a hospital setting.

“It is exciting, but it’s not about to be a routine treatment as where we need to be going is maintaining the response... it’s not about to replace prozac.”

However, it does offer a new avenue of research into a field that has struggled to find new treatments for depression.

‘Something chemical’

Ketamine offers an avenue of research into a field that has struggled to find new treatments for depression.

David Taylor, professor of psychopharmacology at King’s College London, told the BBC: “In these kinds of patients, spontaneous remission almost never happens, people going to these clinics are at the end of the road.

“It shows that depression is something chemical, that it can be reversed with chemicals,

it dispenses for once and for all that you can just pull your socks up.

“What restricts it is the potential for disturbing psychological adverse effects and the route by which is given intravenous - does restrict it to a small number of people.”

He said in the future drug companies would

develop a chemical that had the benefits, but without the side-effects, and that could be taken by something such as an inhaler.

The Home Office is reclassifying ketamine in the UK to be a class B drug, although it is already used in medicine for the treatment of back pain and as an anaesthetic. [BBC]

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EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

An evening of glitter and glamour with Davao’s Fashion Tsar Photos by Kenneth Hao

MANILA may have its fashion icons but for Durianburg, there is only one name when it comes to being the top of the city’s fashion word and that belongs to Davao’s Fashion Tzar Alfonso “Boy” Guinoo.

A master of his craft for over 60 years and a Datu Bago Awardee, Boy Guinoo is a master of his craft in creating elegant gowns that feature meticulously detailed appliqués and beadwork that are flawlessly executed. Of course aside from contemporary designs, Tito Boy is known for his signature modern ethnic ensembles that uti-

lise traditional ethnic cloth as well as local beads, bells and coconut shell which never fail to be the talk of the town, not just in Durianburg but in Europe as well as in the United States.

Durianburg’s fashion mavens became witnesses to Alfonso Guinoo’s brilliance last March 29 at the Ballroom of the Apo View

FAN EVENING, A4

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EVENT

Liz Uy shares fashion tips and her advocacy at SM Lanang Premier More than 2,000 turn up for her book signing tour

STYLE mavens flocked to Davao City’s premier shopping, lifestyle and fashion hub on March 22 as Liz Uy, the Philippines’ most sought-after celebrity stylist, guested at SM Lanang Premier for her book signing tour.

Uy, who works as the Fashion Editor-at-Large of Preview and Esquire magazines, was in the city to promote her book, ‘Stylized: Liz Uy’s Ten Style Essentials.’ Her legion of fans, totalling more than 2,000, huddled at the SM Lanang Premier Atrium to meet their favorite stylist up close and have their ‘Stylized’ books signed.

Listed as National Book Store’s best-selling book in February 2014, ‘Stylized’ is an easy guide on how women can have a stylish yet functional wardrobe.

It is loaded with tips and tricks on how you can style yourself for every type of occasion, transform your outfit from day to night, and accessorize and glam up your basic wear. Stylized also features images of the hottest celebrities that Uy has styled over

the years including Georgina Wilson, Anne Curtis, and Isabelle Daza, among many others.

During the book signing, Uy gave fans and members of the media a Q & A opportunity, where she talked about her sense of style, how she feels about styling hotel heiress and international celebrity Paris Hilton, fashion tips for working moms, views on Philippine fashion, and future plans. She also talked about her involvement

as a style advocate for Rags2Riches, Inc., which trains women from poor communities to produce

eco-ethical fashion handbags and home accessories out of scrap cloth, organic materials and indigenous

fabrics.

Hundreds of fans grabbed copies of ‘Stylized’ at the National Book Store’s SM Lanang Premier branch to gain full

access to the book signing event.

For event updates, check out SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

UP AND ABOUT

A bucketful of taste and fun dining at Bucket Shrimps Davao BEYOND your usual seafood restaurant, Bucket Shrimps is an exciting addition to Davao City’s array of cosmopolitan dining destinations. Set to open on April 4, Friday, Bucket Shrimps is located at the ground level of MetroLifestyle Corporate Center along F. Torres Street.

Looking back, shrimp symbolizes many things to different cultures. In the Chinese Along with our succulent belief system, it represents shrimps, Bucket Shrimps an old man but symbol- also serves crabs, musizes “long life”. In ancient sels, scallops and clams Greece, Mexico and Thai- cooked in ways that you’ll land, shrimp has always fancy them even more: in been incredibly popular, Bucket Shrimps Signature livening up their meals to Sauce, butter garlic, saua wide range of exotic and teed in garlic, spicy with coexciting tastes. Even in the conut milk, or with sinfully Bible’s New Testament, this delicious aligue (crab fat) humble crustacean was de- sauce. picted as “a glorified food We also have everything prepared in different ways”. you’rebound to fall in love Today, shrimps are one of with on our menu: from the most popular seafoods our lip-smacking appetizin the world, and at Bucket ers (Paco Ensalada with Shrimps, we are proud to Melon,Kinilaw na Maladish up the most savory sugue, Sinuglaw, Ampalaya shrimps on this side of the with Dilis, Adobo Flakes with Green Mango, Baked archipelago.

Imbao), scrumptious seafood fares (Squid,Tuna Belly, Tangigue, Bangus, Tilapia, Lapu-lapu and Pompano) served either grilled, siz-

zling, steamed or in sweet and sour sauce), and delectabe beef, chicken and pork dishes (Crispy Pata Kare-kare, Patatim, Oxtail

Kare-kare, Beef Kaldereta, Bulalo Steak, Crispy Tadyang, Chicken Curry,Fried Chicken Liver and Gizzard).

Bucket Shrimps also

serves all-time flavorful favorite soups, noodle and vegetable recipes.

From our beautifully prepared fresh shrimps to our amazing selection of dishes, we also aim to delight you with our friendly and efficient services, reliable facilities, and whimsical ambience - a quirky dining that will appeal to the senses with our humorous murals and paddle displays as modern pieces of art.

As an opening treat, Bucket Shrimps will be giving away cash gift certificate per PhP1, 000 food purchase for the first 50 customers.

So, come in for a fun dining experience and a great meal with us soon at Bucket Shrimps! For inquiries and reservations, contact 221.6995 or 228.6181.

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘Minsan Pang Minahal’ Pic heats up the stage on April 5 of the Original musical features song by Ryan Cayabyab

MUSIKADEMY’S new musical, based on the classic hit songs of Ryan Cayabyab, will be presented on April 5, 2014 at the Centerstage (SM Cinema 6) of SM Lanang Premiere. Minsan Pang Minahal weaves a heartwarming story of love, sung to the immortal, masterful tunes of Philippine pop music’s most awarded composer.

The musical features Musikademy students Rina Angeles and Michael Ebro Dakudao, coaches Vicky Villarino and Ces Hidalgo, as well as Musikademy’s M6 Teens and

scholars. Guest artists include Mars Severino,

Gemma Herradura, Arvee Sanchez & Henjie

Gatdula. Original script is

by March De Ramos, who also directs the stage play. Hongkong-based pianist Michael Lopez leads the live band providing accompaniment for the singers. Choreography is by Ces Hidalgo and Edison “Bimbo” Morales.

There will be two shows: a matinee at 2:30 PM, and a gala performance at 7:00 PM. Tickets are at P500 and P250 for the gala; P300 and P150 for the matinee.

Reserve your tickets now! Call Musikademy at 2974542.

day

Despite the casual appearance of Miranda Kerr’s outfit, you would be surprised to know how much it actually costs. On Wednesday, the model stepped out in New York City donning a stunning $2,395 Dolce & Gabanna cherry blossom print dress with $1,395 printed python Christian Louboutin pumps, topped with a $5,795 Escada coat. Oh, and she was carrying her favorite $18,350 Hermes Kelly bag. The grand total? $27,935.

‘Pepito Manaloto’ gets unlucky this Sunday THIS Sunday (April 6), get ready for a thrilling team building activity filled with a series of unfortunate events in Pepito Manaloto: Ang Tunay na Kuwento.

Because Pepito (Michael V.) notices that there are a lot of misunderstandings happening in the office, he will think of organizing a team building activity to relive the spirit of unity and camaraderie among the employees. So he asks for help from his friends Tommy (Ronnie Henares)

and Patrick (John Feir) to take charge of this company event.

However, it seems like the goal of the team building will not be achieved because the employees still keep on saying bad things against each other even during the activity, which will make Pepito disappointed. What makes matters worse is that their bus will suddenly experience a mechanical problem in a remote area on their way back home. Adding to the stress of Pepito is the

realization that their cellphones are still with the facilitators of the event so they cannot ask for help.

Will the employees still get to fix their individual differences and establish a healthy working relationship? Will these un-

fortunate events already pave way to the employees’ reconciliation and teamwork?

Pepito Manaloto: Ang Tunay na Kuwento airs this Sunday right after Kap’s Amazing Stories on GMA 7.

‘Kambal Sirena’ star Louise de los Reyes in ‘Tunay na Buhay’ tonight GET to know more about Kapuso lead actress Louise delos Reyes as she shares her life story and showbiz experiences in Tunay na Buhay this Friday, April 4, on GMA 7.

Louise, who previously starred in the top-rating teledramas Alakdana, One True Love, and Mundo Mo’y Akin, now takes on the lead role in the Kapuso primetime series “Kambal Sirena.”

Besides acting, Louise has a talent in playing different musical instruments and she was also a former beauty queen.

Find out more about Louise in Tunay na Buhay, hosted by Rhea Santos, this Friday morning, right after Kusina Master, on GMA 7.

DIARY NG PANGET 2D James Reid, Nadine Lustre PG 13

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

SON OF GOD 2D Diogo Morgado, Roma Downey PG 13

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

DIVERGENT 2D Shailene Woodley, Theo James PG 13

11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

R-16 CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER 2D Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson PG 13

11:20 | 2:00 | 4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 LFS

A4 INdulge!

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

STYLE

An evening... FFROM A1 Hotel as he showcased his latest contemporary gowns as well as his ethnic creations which were part of his New York gala show last December 2013 in a show titled “Badu.”

The affair was a handin-hand celebration of glitz and glamour with Emilia’s Jewellery Collection which featured their latest offerings. For Badu, Emilia’s Jewellery designed and prepared classic-whimsical pieces incorporating cameos, colored gems, pearls and diamonds with different metal treatments to compliment Alfonso Guinoo’s designs.

Boy Guinoo’s mastery of his craft was apparent during the show as gown after gown brought gasps of awe and amazement from the audience. It can be said that Tito Boy is probably the only local designer who could boast to have dressed four generations of Davao society’s who’s who since he started working in the 1950’s.

And as the show wound down and Tito Boy took to the stage, you can still see a bounce in his step, showing that the years have not stopped this brilliant designer from creating bright and beautiful

dresses that shine.

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

And as the show wound down and Tito Boy took to the stage, you can still see a bounce in his step, showing that the years have not stopped this brilliant designer from creating bright and beautiful dresses that shine.

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

CLASSIFIED 13

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

Edge Davao hiring 3 reporters EDGE DAVAO is a need of three staffwriters/reporters for its expansion program.

The reporters will be assigned to the business, science/environment and political beats.

Applicant must be a graduate of a four- year college course.

Experience is not needed although preferable.

Interested parties may send their application letter to Mr. Antonio M. Ajero, Edge Davao editor, thru email address ajero_ antonio@yahoo.com. For inquiries, please call Mr. Ajero thru mobile phone 09052422686 or landline 221-3601.

WE’RE HIRING!

INTERIOR DESIGNER / ARCHITECT STORE MANAGER / ADMIN OFFICER SALES / MARKETING Send your CV / Resume to furnone.abreeza@gmail.com and become part of our team.

3rd floor Abreeza Mall, J.P. Laurel ave., Davao City

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT National Wages and Productivity Commission Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board XII 102 Acepal Building, Mabini Extension, Koronadal City Telephone No. (083) 520-0129

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSULTATION ON TWO-TIERED WAGE SYSTEM AND WAGE ISSUES Notice is hereby given to the public of the scheduled public hearing and consultation on two-tiered wage system and wage issues to be conducted, motu proprio, by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board XII (RTWPB XII) on: Date

Time

28 April 2014 8:00 -12:00 A.M General Santos City

Venue

Phela Grande Hotel,

Interested parties may attend to the scheduled hearing and consultation and may submit their position papers to the RTWPB XII relative to the minimum wage issues on or before the above scheduled activity.

OFELIA B. DOMINGO, CEO III Chairperson

14 CLASSIFIED

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 15 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 4-5, 2014

SPORTS 15 SPORTS

EL GRANADA. Gary David of Meralco slips past two Ginebra defenders in this bit of action between thew Bolts and the Ginebra Kings in the PBA. Nuki Sabio

FORMER LAKER. Josh Powell of Ginebra grabs the rebound over Chris Hodge of Meralco.

Coach heaps praises for import Powell J

OSH Powell scored just 16 points in his debut for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, but that did not stop coach Ato Agustin from heaping praises for the new guy shortly after the Gin Kings’ 88-78 victory over the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday.

“Powell is a smart player, nakasunod agad sa sistema,” said Agustin of Powell, who replaced Leon Rodgers in the Gine-

bra lineup.

“Maganda ang contribution ng import. Itong si Powell is an all-around player, he can score, rebound. Napakabilis ng ball movement namin pag napunta kay Powell ang bola.”

Powell finished with 15 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.

Agustin also praised the little things Powell did that did not show up on

the box scores.

“Out of seven games, ngayon lang kami naka-set ng good screens,” said Agustin.

Ginebra’s locals picked up the slack, as five other Gin Kings reached double-figures in scoring.

Chris Ellis led the way with 16 points, Greg Slaughter added 15, Mark Caguioa chipped in 13, while LA Tenorio and Josh Urbiztondo chipped in 10 apiece.

playoff berth by beating Houston, they were out of the game by the opening minutes of the second quarter.

In a game that both clubs need for different reasons, the Knicks were the more desperate team, taking a 2-1 lead in this season’s series. None of the games has been close, but both have bigger concerns than city bragging rights, anyway.

The Knicks have almost no margin for error in a final seven-game stretch against playoff-bound opponents.

They had no problem with the first one and will face the Nets one more time on April 15 on the second-to-last night of the season.

Brooklyn is hoping for home-court advantage in the first round, but fell 2 1/2 games behind Toronto and Chicago for a spot.

The Nets led 20-19 late in the first quarter, but Anthony had two baskets, Smith made a 3-pointer and found Hardaway for another at the buzzer as the Knicks scored the final 10 points

for a 29-20 lead.

Hardaway made another 3 to open the second and Iman Shumpert scored to make it a 15-0 run and give the Knicks a 34-20 advantage. Anthony had the first six points of an 8-0 burst that pushed it to 58-34 with 1:36 remaining in the half, and it was 63-38 at the break.

The Nets were angry with the officiating, with Johnson picking up a technical foul at halftime and coach Jason Kidd’s assistants stepped in front of him as he tried to yell toward the refs.

Brooklyn got within 14 with 2 minutes left in the third, but the Knicks, unveiling a small lineup that had Anthony as its center, stretched their lead to 82-61 heading to the fourth.

Knicks guard Raymond Felton went the locker room early in the third quarter with bruised ribs and back after a hard landing while trying to grab an offensive rebound, but was able to return early in the fourth.

Knicks rout Nets 110-81, Wizards clinch playoffs move into 8th in East W

ASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington Wizards are in the playoffs for the first time since 2008, clinching an Eastern Conference berth Wednesday night with a 11892 win over the Boston Celtics.

Marcin Gortat scored 22 points to lead the Wizards, who gathered for a celebratory huddle at midcourt after the final whistle. John Wall, the 2010 No. 1 overall draft pick playing the first mean-

ingful late-season games of his career, added 13 points and 10 assists.

The Wizards’ playoff position had been relatively secure for several weeks in the weakened East, but the formality of seeing the magic number reach zero was a milestone worth noting for a franchise whose win totals since their last postseason appearance have been 19, 26, 23, 20 and 29 - never finishing better than 24 games below .500. Washington sits in

sixth place in the conference.

Jared Sullinger had 25 points, and Rajon Rondo had 13 to lead the Celtics, who have lost six in a row and 11 of 12 - and also 11 straight on the road. They never led the Wizards, trailed 19-4 after barely more than five minutes and allowed Washington to shoot 61 percent in the first half. They shot 4 for 18 with six turnovers in the third quarter and 3 for 24 from 3-point range for the game.

EASY THROUGH. Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks drives past Mason Plumlee of Brooklyn.

N

EW YORK (AP) -- J.R. Smith had 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Carmelo Anthony added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the New York Knicks beat the city rival Brooklyn Nets 11081 Wednesday night to move percentage points ahead of Atlanta for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points a game after spraining his right ankle to help the Knicks win for the 12th time in 15 games, dominating a team that had the best record in the Eastern Conference since the new year. New York won its third straight.

The Knicks made 24 of 36 shots in taking a 63-38 halftime time in front of new president Phil Jackson, who wouldn’t have much to fix if they looked like this more often. They finished at a season-high 60 percent and outrebounded Brooklyn 41-23.

Joe Johnson scored 16 points for the Nets, who had won three straight.

A night after clinching a

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Davao lady spikers in Shakey’s V-League A

SELECTION of top collegiate players reinforced by two guest players will banner the Davao City volleyball team seeing action in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11-First Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Davao Lady Agilas under team manager Honeylet Avancena and coach Shane Alagao are playing in Bracket B and will open their campaign on April 20 opposite Far Eastern University.

The Davao Agilas are competing in the country’s prestigious volleyball tournament for the first time are not expected to create an impact right away against the best teams in the country led by the newly-crowned UAAP champions Ateneo Lady Eagles.

But assistant coach Abet Bernan is optimistic the Agilas to come out soaring and give the other teams a run for their money.

“The ladies have big chances in the tournament and right now they are undergoing training.

They have an upcoming tournament which is a national event,” Bernan said,

referring to the Prisaa National Finals to be staged in Tagum City beginning April 6.

He said the players seeing action in the Prisaa event are the same Davao spikers competing in the Shakey’s V-League.

“So we can expect that they are well-prepared to play for this Shakey’s national event,” Bernan said.

This is the first time that a team from Mindanao will be playing in the Shakey’s V-League, according to Bernan.

The Agilas paid a courtesy call to City Administrator J. Melchor V. Quitain and Assistant City Administrator Atty. Jhopee Avancena-Agustin Wednesday at City Hall. The team will leave for Manila on April 19.

The Davao Agilas are composed of four players from Jose Maria College, three from the University of Mindanao, two from Holy Cross of Davao College, one from San Pedro College and two guest players.

Bannering the Davao squad are team captain Venus Flores (JMC), Angel Mae Antipuesto (JMC), Jocemer Tapic (JMC), Irish Dignadice (JMC), May Shiel

REINFORCEMENT. Cherry Ann Balse will be playing for the Davao Lady Agilas in the Shakeys V-League.

Agton (UM), Princess Joy Oliveros (UM), Reynelen Raterta (UM), Mary Grace Berte (HCDC), Kween Marie Claire Dawang (HCDC), Ma. Aurora Enriquez (SPC)

and guest players Cherry Ann Balse from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and PO1 Ana Veronica Conception.

Joining the Davao Agi-

las in Bracket B aside from FEU are the National University, University of Perpetual Help, San Sebastian College and University of Santo Tomas.

Playing for Bracket A are Ateneo, Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila, College of St. Benilde, Southwestern University and St. Louis University.