Edge Davao 7 Issue 167

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

ONE TO GO FOR 2015 BUDGET Council passes P27-B budget on second reading

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Council approved on second reading the resolution of the City Development Council endorsing the list of proposed projects, programs, and activities comprising the P27-billion 2015 Annual Investment Program of the city government.

In yesterday’s regular session, the city council

approved the resolution titled “Adopting / Approving the Annual Investment Program (AIP) of the City of Davao for Calendar Year 2015, in the amount of P26,845,720,525.97 as amended.”

The resolution will have to go through a third reading before being signed by the mayor.

The AIP is a pre-requisite document in the preparation of the annual budget for next year. It is a planning tool to assist the policy-makers and legislators to come up with a responsive annual budget reflective to the needs of its constituents.

The 2015 AIP contains a list of programs, projects and activities extracted

from the Local Development Investment Program (LDIP) for 2014-2016, as requested and identified by various City Departments, Barangay Councils, concerned national line agencies, the executive department and the city council which are all in conformity with the thrust and programs embodied under

FONE, 10

MOMMY DUTIES. A police officer takes her daughter to school before reporting for duty along San Pedro Street in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

INSIDE EDGE DABAWENYO BOXER IN PACQUIAOALGIERI UNDERCARD SPORTS page 14

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

GUNNER. A traffic enforcer trains a speed gun to measure the speed of oncoming vehicles along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City yesterday. A 42.9% drop in the number of traffic accidents in the downtown area has been reported during the first year of implementing Executive Order 39 or the speed limit ordinance. Lean Daval Jr.

wants bridge Toril top cop probed Al-ag contractor penalized over pusher’s death C

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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ORIL Police Station commander Chief Inspector Hamlet Lerios was summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) questioning on the death of alleged drug pusher Rolando Locaberte last April.

In a phone interview, Lerios said he received a subpoena from the NBI regarding the operation of the Toril Police station that resulted in the death of Locaberte last April 10.

“I submitted a case folder to them (NBI). They know that I was not the chief of Toril (police station) when it happened,” he said.

The NBI, for its part, said Lerios was summoned to-

gether with the operation’s team leader Senior Inspector Joel Migullas, Police Officer (PO3) Rico Adlawan, and the alleged gunman PO2 Ric John Borja.

“Lerios was just summoned to answer question for the investigation of the case. We all know that he was not the COP (chief of police) at that time,” a source at the NBI said.

When asked if the former Toril Police Station commander, Chief Inspector Angel Sumagaysay. will also be summoned also, the NBI source said: “We will come to that point. One of these days we will also call the attention of Sumagaysay.”

The source said the NBI’s investigation on the death of Locaberte is still in progress.

In a previous interview, Sumagaysay said Locaberete was killed in a legitimate operation and that the latter was the number 7 most wanted person in the city.

This, however, was contested by eyewitnesses.

The NBI said according to witnesses, no issuance of a warrant of arrest was done at the crime scene.

The witnesses also identified PO2 Borja and PO3 Adlawan as the only officers present in the killing of Locaberte.

“The witnesses claimed that the two officers called

the attention of Locaberte.

PO3 Adlawan prevented the witness from reacting by holding him while PO2 Borja shot the victim in different parts of his body,” the NBI said.

Last October 3, the case of Locaberte was turned over to NBI after the family of the victim sought the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

The family of the victim came out to seek help months after the death after eight intelligence operatives of Toril PNP were relieved of their post due to their alleged involvement in the killing of tricycle driver Manuel Corral VII.

3 Council committees to study geothermal project request

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Council has referred to three committees the request of Energy Development Corporation (EDC) for an endorsement to conduct a study for its Mt. Apo Geothermal Project.

In yesterday’s regular session, the City Council approved on first reading the resolution of City Development Council (CDC) endorsing to the Council the conduct of Data Gathering Studies/Geoscientific Stud-

ies along Mt. Zion area in Region 11, particularly covering barangay Sibulan and Atan-Awe in Davao City.

The endorsement request was referred to committees on energy as the lead committee which is

headed by councilor Louie John J. Bonguyan, environment and natural resources under councilor Leonardo R. Avila III, and cultural communities and Muslim affairs under councilor Berino L.

F3 COUNCIL, 10

ITY Council majority floor leader councilor Bernard Al-ag wants the contractor of the Governor Generoso Bridge 2 in Bankerohan to be penalized due to the delay in the completion of the bridge’s rehabilitation project.

In a privilege speech during yesterday’s regular session, Al-ag said every government contract awarded to a contractor has a contract period.

“And if the contract period is not complied with, penalties are imposed against the contractor,” he said.

The Department of Pub-

lic Works and Highways (DPWH) 11 awarded the contract to rehabilitate the bridge to Cebu-based Oscar Sarmiento Construction.

The bridge was supposed to be finished in October, but it was moved to early November. This, however, was moved again to the middle of this month.

Al-ag said he was expecting the DPWH to issue a warning to the contractor given the consequences of the delay.

“I was expecting that they will impose penalties and fines to the contractor for not following the con-

he scheduled hearing of the case of former Davao del Sur Governor yesterday was postponed due to the voluntary inhibition of the the judge handling the case that resulted in a reraffling.

Lawyer Caesar Europa, the legal counsel of slain newsman Nestor Bedolido, said the postponement was “a necessary consequence” of the voluntary inhibition of judge Carmelita Davin.

The murder case against Douglas Cagas and three oth-

ers, including Matanao Mayor Vicente Fernandez, is now on the sala of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 Judge Magnolia Velez.

Davin has not issued any statement yet on the reason for her sudden voluntary inhibition.

Cagas was tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Bedolido on June 19, 2010.

The ex-governor previously denied all the allegations and pointed to politics

FAL-AG, 10

Judge in murder case vs Cagas inhibits self T

FJUDGE, 10

NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

3

DOH allots P.5M for Ebola protective gear

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Health (DOH) 11 allocated another P500,000 for the procurement of more personal protective equipment (PPEs) for health workers in the region especially as the area prepares for the possible entry of the Ebola virus.

“We only have a few and we have already given them to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao City Health Office (CHO), Davao Regional Hospital (DRH),” DOH 11 regional director Dr. Abdul B. Dumama, Jr. said last Monday during the Ebola Preparedness and Information Dissemination for Communities at SM City Davao Annex.

He said the regional health agency only procured 100 PPEs earlier but more than 240 units of PPEs are expected to arrive soon. The

budget came from the health emergency fund of DOH 11.

“We already sent a request letter to the DOH central Office,” Dumama said, adding that the price of one complete set of PPEs has increased from P1,000 to P2,000.

The new set of PPEs will be distributed to the rest of the region for Ebola.

Aside from SPMC and DRH, Davao City-based private hospitals have also identified their respective isolation wards for Ebola.

“I received a report that San Pedro Hospital (SPH), Brokenshire Memorial Hospital (BHS), Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF), and Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) have already identified their own isolation wards,” Dumama said.

The Medical Mission

FDOH, 10

P1.5M budgeted for guns of peacekeepers in SoCot

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HE provincial government of South Cotabato has set aside an initial P1.5 million for the purchase of additional firearms for barangay-based peacekeeping units in the area.

Board member Agustin Demaala, chair of the board’s committee on public order and safety, said Tuesday the move aims to improve the capability of the province’s 199 barangays in terms of maintaining peace and order as well as in responding to possible security threats.

He said they are targeting to acquire until next year a total of 128 semi-automatic shotguns that will

be distributed to Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

The official said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board issued an authority on Monday to South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes to work on the acquisition and licensing of the firearms.

Citing an earlier proposal submitted to the board by the Office of the Governor, he said each semi-automatic shotgun will cost around P60,000 each.

The budget for the purchase of the new firearms, which will cost a total of

FP1.5-M, 10

WELCOME SPEECH. Department of Health (DOH) 11 director Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama Jr. talks about the effort to prevent maternal deaths due to childbirth in his welcome speech during yesterday’s DOH Monitoring and

INTENT. Barangay chieftains and health workers listen to Dr. Tomas Miguel Ababon’s presentation about the Ebola virus during the city government-

initiated consultation on Ebola response and preparedness in the community at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Dayanghirang chides CHR for ignoring cop’s mauling

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

OUNCILOR Danilo C. Dayanghirang yesterday chided the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS), and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for not taking action after a police officer was mauled by seven men last week in Davao City.

In a privilege speech in yesterday’s regular session, Dayanghirang said none of the three institutions made a move to investigate the incident after Police Officer (PO2) Ritchie Paul Calago Lozano was mauled – even though it was already shown in national news.

“I would say there is an imbalance of perception.

With the discharge of duties

and responsibilities of the instituted authorities particularly the human rights (CHR), why is it that if it is the policeman who commits a questionable act in the discharge of his duty, the National Police Commission will immediately investigate? The internal affairs of PNP will come in,” Dayanghirang said.

He said the higher office of the PNP is very silent of the incident.

“I am hoping that at the end of the day, somebody would stand up and say, ‘we should have an equal opportunity in dealing this kind of incident,’” Dayanghirang said.

“I kept on waiting when this CHR chairperson Etta Rosales will say ‘do not do

Evaluation for Equity and Effectiveness (ME3) Mindanao Cluster Conference 2014 at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

that because he is an officer of the law. He is the person of authority,’“ he added.

The suspects were identified as Abdul MoamarManalao, AdzminBuenoKumayog, Harold Barambangan Tomawis, Omerah Jedaniah Suraik, Nisreen Mohd Khurshid, Jhamel Cabuntalan Hadji Dros, and Michael Garcia Reyes. The latter is reportedly the son of former councilor Jackson Reyes.

Manalao had claimed that Lozano pointed a gun at him and his friends when he accidentally bumped him.

He said he and his friends reacted by disarming the police officer.

Footage from the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera of the Public Safety and Security Command Cen-

ter (PSSCC) showed Manalao’s assertion to be untrue.

The video showed Lozano, who was with his girlfriend, trying to tell Manalao not to vomit on the wall of a school.

This, however, apparently angered Manalao, who along with three friends proceeded to maul Lozano.

When Lozano identified himself as a police officer, three other men joined and mauled him.

The suspects also tried to get Lozano’s service firearm but he managed to keep it with him.

It was Lozano’s girlfriend who called for police assistance. (With reports from Funny Pearl A. Gajunera)

ESIDENTS of a barangay in Bacuag town in Surigao del Norte expressed fears of a possible escalation of conflict after clashes between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Sunday.

The encounters occurred in Sitio Little Baguio in Barangay Payapag, Bacuag and left two soldiers killed.

Some 30 NPA rebels first clashed with government troops at around 8:00 p.m. on All Souls Day leaving one soldier killed, Lt. Colonel Arsenio Sadural, commanding officer of the 30th Infantry Battalion told MindaNews on Monday evening.

Sadural said the rebels belong to the Sandatahang Platun Pampropaganda of Guerrilla Front Committee 16.

Another encounter erupted at 4:00 p.m. on the same day in the same place killing one soldier and wounding two others, he added.

Some villagers said they might be forced to evacuate if the hostilities escalated.

“I hope they should stop this because we might be caught in the crossfire,” John Delgado, a farmer from Bacuag said in a text message.

“Unta wala na gira kay hasol kaayo mag bakwit, wala bay ihatag nga maayo

Surigao villagers fear escalation of conflict R

FSURIGAO, 10

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

‘Bat Mama’ to build artificial bat cave

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

ORMA Monfort, owner of the Monfort Bat Sanctuary in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), is seeking financial assistance for the establishment of an artificial bat cave at an estimated cost of P2 million.

“Since 2011, my vision is to build a chiropterium or an artificial bat cave and auditorium,” Monfort, known as Bat Mama, said.

Monfort said the only artificial bat cave can be found in Texas,USA. “I’m already in contact with them and as soon I can raise funds I will start the construction.The city of Samal is already thinking how to build it with me,” she said..

Monfort said bats cannot stop from reproducing, resulting in an overload of bats in the area.

Guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex last Monday, Monfort said the population of the fruit bats or Rousette bats has already reached 2.5 million

covering the 245 foot (75 meter)-long cave.

Known and recognized by the Guiness Book of Record as the largest single colony of fruit bats, the cave and the surrounding 23 hectares owned by the Monfort family became the home of fruit bats after World War II. To give thanks to the contribution of fruits bats to the economy of Davao region, there will be a NovemBat Fest with a BATtiangge on November 7 at Monfort Beach, Tambo, Babak, IGACOS. “It is a Monfort initiative to promote Samal resorts and products,” Monfort said.

Activities include tiangge, Bike for Bats, local government unit forum, beach volley, The Dark Knight Run, and Beach Party with live bands.

There will be a bat emergence night tour for only P250.

“Let’s watch bats as they emerge from their caves during full moon,” she said.

BATTY. Fruit bats flock on the wall of Monfort Bat Cave in Samal Island. MindaNews Photo by Rene Lumawag / Pixels & Cutlines

Sitio Lumabag lights up DCWD donates vehicles to other water districts W

D

AVAO City Water District (DCWD) officially donated 13 vehicles to other water districts in Mindanao and Visayas last October 21 at the DCWD Bajada office.

The water districts of Banga, Balingasag, Polanco, Nabunturan, Don Carlos, IGACOS, Mambajao and San Isidro each received second hand Mitsubishi L300 vans, while Pigcawayan, Maasim and Hinatuan water districts received Suzuki Bayan cabs.

Motorcycles were given to Tulunan and Norala water districts.

The ceremonial signing and turnover of second hand service vehicles was attended by the general managers and directors of the recipient water utilities and chairperson of the DCWD Board Property Committee director Serafin C. Ledesma Jr., general manager Edwin V. Regalado, OIC assistant general manager for operations Exequiel B. Homez and chairperson of the disposal committee Bernadette A. Dacanay.

On behalf of all recipient water districts, Hinatuan Water District general manager Jose Hilario V. Pandili Jr. expressed gratitude for the generosity of DCWD. He said ever since he can remember, DCWD has always been very generous to other water districts in sharing its knowledge and support, acting like a “godfather” to smaller water districts.

He added that DCWD sympathises with smaller water utilities because it used to be a small and simple water district before it expanded to become the largest water utility in the country in terms of service connections.

Ledesma said as DCWD grows in terms of system expansion and acquisition of equipment and facilities, it has to dispose of some properties which no longer fit its operation.

However, these equipment and facilities may still be of great service to other water districts that operate on a smaller scale.

Jovana T. Duhaylungsod

ITH a mere P300,000-worth of solar home lighting system and two solar-powered street lights, remote Sitio Lumabag here has started to be vibrant at night time.

Mobilized by Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn) and the local government unit, the community solar lighting system was inaugurated on September 9.

Under this project, each household here was provided with a 2.5-watt solar panel, and a 12-volt battery/ charger and two LED lamps.

The street lights are powered with 50-watt panels and 12-volt battery chargers.

Gone are the nights when the 41 families endured dark, quiet nights with only a few kerosene lamps lighting the mountainous nightscape.

Tribal chieftain Datu Doming Manlaunan, a father of seven and a Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) and a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary, recounted how difficult it was for them to survive countless evenings in their lightless homes.

“We delivered our goods as early as possible to the market so we would be home before the night falls,” shared Datu Doming.

He said it takes almost an hour to travel through habal-habal (single motorcycle) to reach the village center.

Never did the old folks in the sitio think that DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS would reach their area considering the hilly, treacherous road.

Desiree Jacob, Deputy Area Coordinator of Kalahi-CIDSS in Talaingod, said the tribal folks are overwhelmed because they were given the chance to identify the project that they needed most during the Barangay Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA), a social preparation phase of Kalahi-CIDSS. “The most difficult part

of our journey as Area Coordinating Team was to convince the IP (indigenous people) villagers to participate. They degraded themselves as illiterate with no capabilities to acquire and carry out such responsibility,” Jacob added.

Datu Doming proudly declared, “Kaya namo ang pagbag-o tungod kay gitagaan mi sa gobyerno og oportunidad nga makatabang sa pagtukod og mga proyekto (We can change and improve our lives because government provided us the opportunity to participate in building community projects).”(DSWD/Julie Ace Brandon F. Ramos/ccd)

the Department of Science and Technology.

It is a venue for business matching as the fair brings altogether DOST agencies and assisted companies, particularly the small and medium enterprises, investors, NGOs, scientists, researchers, government agencies, academe and community organizations in order to promote S&T. The three-day cluster fair will feature the eight DOST outcomes which are

feasible ways to become a Science Nation contributing to the overall competitiveness of the country in the global arena.

Aside from the free viewing of exhibits, everyone is also encouraged to join the series of lectures/ fora on various topics, including Trends on Appropriate Packaging Technologies; Food Safety for Food Service Establishment; Energy Conservation Awareness; Project NOAH;

Hydraulic and Hydrologic Characterization for Remediation Technologies; Action Plan on Municipal Solid Waste Management and Landfill in the Philippines; and The Magical World of Science The 2014 MindaDOST Cluster S&T Fair is organized by the DOST Regional Offices No. 9, 10. 11, 12, Caraga, and ARMM through the Technology Applications and Promotions Institute (DOST - TAPI).

DOST 11 hosts Mindanao Cluster S&T Fair in Davao

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HE 2014 MindaDOST Cluster S&T Fair will be held at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on November 13 to 15, 2014.

Hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 11, the fair will have the theme “Philippines: A Science Nation Meeting Global Challenges.”

The Mindanao Cluster S&T Fair brings to the grass roots the annual National S&T Week Celebration of

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

THE ECONOMY

5

Bangsamore Dev’t Authority submits economic blueprint “T

HIS is very unique,” Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed said of the Bangsamoro Development Plan, which was handed by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) Central Committee on Sunday.

Tengku said it is rare to see a revolutionary group write an economic blueprint.

“This is the realization of the dreams of the late Salamat Hashim,” he said during the ceremony inside the MILF’s headquarters in Camp Darapanan.

Salamat, former vice chair of the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF), founded the MILF in the late 1970s and led the group until his death on July 13, 2003 in Lanao del Sur. The BDP, which is an initiative of the MILF through the BDA, will provide strategic directions for the delivery and upgrade of basic services in Bangsamoro communities during and beyond

the transition period.

“The BDP is a blueprint for the development of the Bangsamoro into a just, peaceful, and prosperous society. Building on the gains of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the GPH and the MILF, it aims to build the foundations of a ‘just economy’ that will strengthen institutions; promote greater access to social services, jobs and livelihood opportunities; and foster citizen security, justice and rule of law in the Bangsamoro and its adjacent regions,” the primer read.

Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, BDA chair, said the BDP is designed as a plan “by the Bangsamoro, for the Bangsamoro.”

“It is a means by which the Bangsamoro’s dreams and right to self-determination as a people will be finally realized,” said Dipatuan.

Valuable tool Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles described the BDP

as valuable tool as it is a key component in bringing peace and progress in the Bangsamoro.

“Enough times has it been said, that we cannot

have peace without development and we cannot have development without peace,” Deles said before the crowd that gathered in a dimly-lit hall.

FOR BANGSAMORO DEVELOPMENT. Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (right) receives a copy of the Bangsamoro Development Plan from Bangsamoro Development (BDA) chair Dr. Saffrullah M. Dipatuan

“Both are necessary components in ensuring better lives for our people.

Peace and development have to be hand in hand.

Perhaps in the same way

that we in the national government and you the MILF also have to closely work together in the Bangsamoro,” the Secretary noted. (MindaNews)

during a ceremony at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on November 2. MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano

6

THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

OWWA grants aid to OFWs from Libya A

Gov’t rolls out agriculture project in Maguindanao

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Board of Trustees decided to extend the grant of Financial Relief Assistance Package (FRAP) amounting to P10,000 each to overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) repatriated from Libya from May 29 to July 19, 2014 when Alert Level 3 was

raised by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the war-torn country.

In a statement, OWWA said the decision was made through Resolution No. 008 and was signed by the 12 OWWA board members chaired by Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz.

OWWA said the decision of the board heeded the clamor of the OFWs who came home voluntarily and went through similar circumstances as experienced by the OFWs who left Libya when mandatory repatriation under Alert Level 4 was already in effect in the country.

Prior to this decision,

only the OFWs from Libya who were repatriated mandatorily from July 20 and onwards when Libya was in Alert Level 4 were entitled to the FRAP. OWWA said as of October 30, 2014, it had already released P42.8 million benefitting 4,278 OFW repatriates.

Of the P155.8-million release, P115.2 million will be used for coconut replanting while P40.6 million will be used for coconut fertilization.

“Post-Typhoon Pablo rehabilitation is still needed in provinces like Davao Oriental, which generates close to 90 percent of its jobs from coconut production. This release will not only help our farmers reestablish their livelihood, it will also help jump-start economic activity in the region,” Secretary of Budget Florencio “Butch” Abad said.

Coconut replanting will

cover the procurement and distribution of seed nuts and seedlings with the provision of technical support on nursery establishment and planting. Meanwhile, coconut fertilization will entail the delivery and distribution of fertilizer and the provision of technical support on fertilizer application.

“In coordination with other agencies, the PCA will ensure that our coconut farmers will get the support they need with the right materials and technology. More importantly, this is part of our push to ‘Build Back Better’ by cre-

ating a widespread culture of resiliency, which is crucial in agri-based communities,” Abad added.

As of October 2014, P10.42 billion has already been released to various agencies under the Task Force Pablo Rehabilitation Plan to fulfill the requirements of livelihood, social services, infrastructure, and resettlement programs in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

The agriculture department and its attached agencies received a total of P302.9 million, of which P115.8 million was allotted to PCA for crop production.

Farmers in Pablo-hit provinces get P155.8-M aid

E

FFORTS to rehabilitate areas affected by Typhoon Pablo continue with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) releasing P155.8 million to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for the rehabilitation of slight-to-moderately damaged coconut trees in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

Charged against the 2013 Supplemental Appropriations (RA 10634), the fund will be used for projects under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) livelihood cluster addressing crop production.

joint effort of the Department of Agriculture 12 Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process has launched Sajahatra Bangsamoro project in Maguindanao province.

Amalia-Jayag Datukan, DA 12 regional executive director said some P1.5 million worth of farm inputs and machineries were turned over to Tariken Farmers’ Association in Barangay Tariken in Sultan Mastura town to kick-off the Sajahatra Bangasamoro Socio-economic Development Program.

These aids, she saod, are intended to help the members of the farmer organization earn better income and improve their living status.

Included in the package are 100 bags of registered seeds of open-pollinated white corn worth P120,000; 30 bags of certified palay seeds (P36,000), 7 carabaos with farming accessories, (P227, 500), 1 power tiller (P124,000), 1 rice thresher (P124, 000), 1 mini-warehouse with multi-purpose drying pavement (P 800,000) and 1 corn sheller (P120,000).

Abdulazis Balawag, chairman of the Tariken Farmers’ Association, said in an interview that at least

Security Bank net income up 54% in first 9 months

S

DEVASTATED. Coconut farms suffered massive damage from the onslaught of typhoon Pablo in December 1012. MindaNews file photo

100 farmers and their families will benefit from the assistance they have received from the government.

Meanwhile, Vener Dilig of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program Management of DA Central Office gave assurance that these are initial help for the farmer organization.

He also urged the beneficiaries to make use of the aid for their welfare and improvement.

For his part, director Hadzer Birowa of OPAPP expressed hopes that similar projects will also be distributed to other farmer organizations in Maguindanao in 2015 as the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law progresses.

Ustadz Mahmod Ahmad Sumilalao, executive director of the Bangsamoro Leaders Management Institute and the Sajahatra Task Force, challenged the beneficiaries to bring commitment to the project and show to the public that the Bangsamoro people are able and prudent in managing the project granted to them.

Tariken Farmers’ Association is one of the pilot beneficiaries identified by the Sajahatra Bangsamoro Project Management Team and OPAPP to DA 12.

ECURITY Bank Corporation (PSE: SECB) earned P6.428 billion in net income in the first nine months of 2014, representing 54 percent year-on-year growth and 20 percent return on shareholders’ equity (ROE).

Security Bank posted solid growth in core business, with loan portfolio increasing by 25 percent year-on-year to P181 billion and deposits growing by 26 percent to P232 billion. The loan-to-deposit ratio was 78 percent.

Total assets was at P366 billion as of September 30, 2014, 33 percent higher than year-ago level. The return on assets (ROA) was 2.3 percent.

Net interest income increased by 37 percent yearon-year to P8.5 billion in the nine-month period. Net interest margin was 3.4 percent during the period. Core revenues – comprising of net interest income, fee-based income, and trading gain attributable to customer flows – grew by 27 percent to P10.2 billion. Fee-based income inclusive of asset management was P1.2 billion. Over-all trading gain was P3.6 billion.

Security Bank’s total operating income increased by 41 percent year-on-year to P13.5 billion. Operating expense growth (excluding provision for probable credit

losses and impairments) was 13 percent. The cost-to-income ratio was 42 percent.

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2014, Security Bank earned P2.8 billion in net income, up by 13 percent year-onyear and 29 percent quarter-on-quarter. Net interest income during the quarter was P2.7 billion. Non-interest income was P2.5 billion. The Bank realized P1.9 billion in trading gain through sale of securities. The investment securities at amortized cost portfolio was at P74 billion as of September 30, 2014 from P111 billion a quarter ago.

Security Bank’s net NPL ratio was at 0.21 percent as of September 30, 2014 compared to 0.16 percent a year ago. Notwithstanding the strong asset quality, provision for probable credit losses for the first nine months of 2014 was P784 million. The NPL reserve cover increased to 212 percent as of September 30, 2014 compared to 193 percent a year ago.

Security Bank’s capital attributable to shareholders grew by 14 percent year-onyear to P46 billion primarily due to retained earnings.

Payment date for the second semester cash dividends of P1.00 per share to stockholders is on November 10, 2014.

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Is the water crisis for real?

Text and Photos By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“Everyone agrees water is basic for life. When cisterns go dry, disease and death rates surge.

That ushers in economic decay -- and political instability. Water riots can be ugly. And no one has yet invented a substitute for water.” -- Juan L. Mercado, veteran Filipino journalist

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Proclamation No. 12 on September 27, 2001 marking November as Water Consciousness Month, with Davao City Water District (DCWD) as the lead agency.

On this month, the people of Davao City will not only be reminded of the importance of water but also of their role in helping conserve this most valuable resource. Seven days without food may make a person weak, but given a few days without water, he is most unlikely to survive.

Liquid water has been on this planet for at least 3 billion years, circulating between the sea, air, and land.

Powered by the sun, this cycling creates an illusion of plenty: fresh water seems limitless because it falls from the sky year after year.

But in recent years, water resources have been declining because of population growth, pollution, and climate change. “Climate change will account for an estimated 20 percent of this

increase in global scarcity,” said the report, “Water for People, Water for Life.”

“Humid areas will probably see more rain, while it is expected to decrease and become more erratic in many drought-prone regions and even in some tropical and sub-tropical regions.”

This observation has alarmed the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which, at one time, headed observation of the International Year of Freshwater.

According to the report, water consumption has almost doubled in the last 50 years. A child born in industrialized countries consumes 30 to 50 times the water resources of one in the developing world.

“Of all the social and natural crises we humans face, the water crisis is the one that lies at the heart of our survival and that of our planet Earth,” surmised Koichiro Matsuura, former UNESCO director-general.

The people living in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, some 75

kilometers away from Davao City, know that. Residents of barangay Poblacion Dos are complaining because there are days when no water comes out of their faucet.

Most residents of the barangay have to go beg for some water in some areas in town where water is available. “We can’t go on like for this several days,” whined Annie, a mother of three children. “We need water now.”

“Unlike copper, oil, and most other commodities, fresh water is not a resource that acquires value only when it is extracted and put to human use,” noted Sandra Postel and Amy Vickers, authors of Handbook of Water Use and Conservation: Homes, Landscapes, Businesses, Industries, Farms.

“Most fundamentally, fresh water is a life support.

When we pump or divert water to meet human demands, we tap into a living system that myriad other species depend on for their survival and that performs valuable services for the human economy,” they added.

This year’s theme of Water Consciousness Month is focus on water conservation.

So it is but fitting to inform the public about the importance of watershed protection. “Trees -- and more importantly healthy forests -- are very important,” Dr. Patrick Durst, the regional forestry officer of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Bangkok, Thailand, told this columnist.

“The main benefit they provide is helping to intercept precipitation and facilitate its infiltration into the soil and ground water storage areas.”

First, trees (leaves, branches, etc.) intercept rainfall. Healthy forests’ ground cover -- organic litter, twigs, small plants and fallen leaves, among others -- help trap water and hold it until it has an opportunity to soak into the ground soil.

In addition, “roots whether alive or decaying, provide additional pore space above that of normal soil texture for water to infiltrate into the ground.

This is the reason why local springs and streams maintain a healthy flow when surrounded by protected micro-watersheds.”

Durst urged foresters -- and environmentalists,

too -- to be honest about the “relative benefits” of forests and other land cover for watershed protection. He noted that healthy grasslands can just as effective, or more so, in preventing soil erosion and aiding water infiltration.

Of course, there are numerous additional benefits from forests that make them more valuable than grasslands. These benefits aside, one has to be realistic with regard to the limits of trees and forests to hold water.

“Whenever there is a catastrophic flood, people frequently jump to blame deforestation as the cause,” Durst explained. “This is rarely the case, although deforestation can exacerbate the impact.

“In reality,” he pointed out, “once soil becomes fully saturated with water (during unusually high rainfall), no amount of trees or other vegetation will hold the water from running off. There is simply no more room in the soil for water and it has to go somewhere -- downstream.”

In the 1950s, the Philippines had as much as 9,600 cubic meters of clean water per person, according to Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero, former head of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development.

Four decades later, Filipinos must make do with little more than a third for that volume – 3,300 cubic meters per capita.

Today, the Philippines ranks second from the lowest among Southeast Asian countries in terms of per capita water availability per year with only 1,907 cubic meters, according to a World Bank report. Thailand is at the bottom, with 1,854 cubic meters. Vietnamese have more than twice what Filipinos get: 4,591 cubic meters.

“The wars of the 21st century will be fought over water,” a former vice president of the World Bank, Ismael Serageldin, declared before the dawn of the new millennium. And this prediction is getting closer to happen.

“As a vital resource, water is part of the ‘commons’ and, therefore must not be commodified or privatized,” wrote Tony Clarke, author of “Blue Gold: The Battle Against the Corporate Theft of the World’s Water.” “Instead, water is a fundamental human right that should be made universally available to all people rather simply than sold to the highest bidder or distributed through market mechanisms to those who have the ability to pay.”

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

EDITORIAL

C

Little regard for faithful public servants

OUNCILOR Danilo Dayanghirang yesterday articulated what many Dabawenyos are feeling in the aftermath of the brutal beating of a police officer by six men. The suspects had initially claimed that the policeman had pointed a gun at them, prompting them to fight back in defense of themselves. The assault, however, was caught on closed circuit television (CCTV) camera, and it was soon revealed that the police officer not only did not provoke the fight, he actually refused to pull out his gun to defend himself even when his life depended on it. The attackers, the video footage showed, were no more than thugs who got a kick out of beating a man black and blue and even close to death.

Dayanghirang pointed out that had the roles been reversed — that is, had it been the policeman beating the civilians — the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as well as the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) would be all over the media crying police brutality. But now that it is the police officer who is the victim, why are the three agencies so silent? Why hasn’t CHR chair Etta Rosales issued a strong statement con-

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demning the attack? It is true that the commission is focused on wrongdoings committed by those in authority against civilians, but isn’t it also true that the big picture of human rights covers all of us, whether or not we are in power?

At the very least, Police Officer (PO)2 Ritchie Paul Calago Lozano should be commended for choosing not to pull out his gun and fire at his attackers. That would have been the easy thing to do, and he would certainly have been cleared in any investigation even without the CCTV footage — which he could not have known about — because there were multiple witnesses to the incident. But Lozano chose the high road and decided that his own welfare and safety were secondary to the possible loss of life that using his gun would have caused. He must also have been aware that firing his gun in such a crowded situation would have resulted in the injury or even death of innocent bystanders.

The silence of the CHR, PNP-IAS, Napolcom, and other government agencies shows just how little they regard the faithful public servants who would sacrifice even their own lives for the welfare of the people.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

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

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RICHARD C. EBONA AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation Marketing Supervisor

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Tel: (088) 852-4894

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ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager Blk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

“A

LL things come to him who waits,” so goes a popular saying. But what he would get, as John C. Maxwell, are “just the leftovers from the people who got there first.” More often than not, there are people who work as if there is no tomorrow.

“Responsible people show up when they’re expected,” explains Maxwell, America’s leading authority on leadership. “But highly competent people take it a step further. They don’t show up in body only. They come ready to play every day – no matter how they feel, what kind of circumstances they face, or how difficult they expect the game to be.”

At one time, Lou Gehrig, the famous American homerun king of the New York Yankees’ baseball team, visited a hospital for crippled children just before a World Series game. He told the children in the ward, “You can do anything if you want to do it badly enough.”

A little boy, who was a Yankee fan, asked the great ballplayer to do him a favor, “Please, knock two homeruns in today’s game.” Gehrig replied, “Two homeruns in a World Series game is a lot to ask.”

But now, Gehrig had to back up what he had said earlier about being able to do anything if one really wants to do it badly enough. So he turned to the little boy and said, “I’ll make a bargain with you. I’ll knock two homeruns today if you promise me that you will walk again.” It was a deal and they shook hands on it.

Gehrig knocked his two homeruns that afternoon. But somehow, he never got around to going back to the hospital he vis-

9

Santos-Lopez enmity

T

HE rivalry between Elias B. Lopez and Luis T. Santos was the product of changing local political alliances. In his early political years Lopez was known to be a close ally of Manuel M. Garcia, a contemporary in Manila since their college days and later city councilor of Davao.

When he ran for city mayor in 1967 against incumbent Carmelo Porras, Lopez enlisted the support of the NP and won. But he only served one term because in 1971, the feisty Luis T. Santos, a two-time political loser, dethroned Lopez who was backed by Sen. Alejandro D. Almendras, Sr. The appointment of Santos as mayor in 1976 after having served a five-year term as elected city chief executive, in a way, signaled the decline of the Almendras clout. Since martial rule was declared four years earlier and with it the dissolution of Congress, the former senator’s influence, especially with President Marcos whom he supported as NP presidential bet in 1965, had greatly diminished.

Almendras, with the declaration that elections for the Interim Batasang Pambansa (IBP) would be held in 1978, expressed his intent to rejoin the Marcos political cir-

VANTAGE POINTS

FAST BACKWARD

BY THE ARCHIVIST cle and, hopefully, regain the clout he once held. But, first, he had to make amends with Santos, the titular head of the party in the city. The former senator also wanted a say in the forming of the roster of candidates for the first election held under military rule. Actually, the President’s first choice as regional chairman of the Palace-backed Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement), organized also in 1978, was

Antonio O. Floirendo, a businessman known for his amiable persona. Although he was not cut for politics, his credibility and resources were vital to party unity.

While Almendras, with the approval of Marcos, was allowed to join the party due to his political pull, Floirendo’s installation as top KBL honcho was not disputed. The former senator did not hide his displeasure over the arrangement, given that he was instrumental in removing Eulogio Rodriguez, an NP, as Senate President in 1963. As a result, Marcos, a Liberal, transferred to the Almendras stable where he was made the party’s official presidential bet in 1965.

While Almendras made it to the winning KBL slate for Southeastern Mindanao in the 1978 political exercise, Santos’s sonin-law, Silvestre Bello III, who was acting justice secretary in the first Aquino admin, lost to Felicidad Santos, who represented the women’s sector. Floirendo, on the other hand, managed to include in the government line-up his brother-in-law, Rodolfo del Rosario, who was later appointed minister of state for environment and natural resources.

In the 1980 elections, Lopez returned

to the electoral scene to contest Santos’ city leadership. This was not a one-onone fight but a four-cornered tussle that included city councilor Victorio Advincula, Sr. and former student activist- leader Zafiro L. Respicio. The confrontation saw Lopez leading the pack, but Santos, hoping to get the support of the President, filed an electoral protest before the Comelec. Dissatisfied with the delay in the resolution of his case, Santos, as an extended mayor, financed the travel expenses of the city barangay captains and pro-city hall media personalities to Manila in order to seek audience with the First Couple. As expected, the promised meeting occurred but only after the poll body had declared Lopez as true winner.

When the Marcos regime fell, Santos returned to the top echelon again, even getting the post of secretary of the interior and local government in 1987. But Lopez, still a force to reckon with in his bailiwick, ran for Congress in 1992. He got reelected in 1995 but failed to finish his second term due to his death in 1997. Fifteen years later, Santos, a heavy chain smoker, followed him to the grave.

got the message.

Never be afraid that you will fail in whatever endeavor you will do. “He who has never failed,” commented Emmett LeCompte, “has never tried.” It’s better to have tried and fail and never to have tried at all.

This reminds me of the story of Thomas Alva Edison. This American inventor had only three months of formal schooling. And yet, history records show that he knew more failures than successes. For 13 months, Edison kept on searching for a filament that would stand the stress of electric current. As he pondered whether he would be able to discover the elusive thing, he got a note from people backing his experiment that they would no longer be giving additional funds for what he was then doing.

News like that may bring a person to quit, but not Edison. In fact, it did not deter him from continuing his work. He refused to admit defeat and worked without sleep for two more days and nights. Eventually, he managed to insert one of the crude carbonized threads into a vacuum-sealed bulb. “When we turned on the current,” he recalled, “the sight we had so long desired finally met our eyes!”

Before that, however, Edison had to endure a string of failures. “What a waste! We have tried no less than 700 experiments and nothing has worked. We are not a bit better off than when we started,” a couple of men who were working alongside him said. He just shrugged this comment, telling them, “Oh yes, we are! We now know 700 things that won’t work. We’re closer than we’ve ever been before.”

However, the story did not end

there. When Edison finished doing the first electric bulb ever, he handed a finished bulb to a young helper. The lad carried it nervously up the stairs step by step. At the very last moment, he dropped it.

The whole team had to work another 24 hours to make another bulb. When it was done, Edison looked around and then handed it to the same boy. The bulb changed history but the confidence the inventor had given to that boy definitely changed his life forever. Edison knew that more than the bulb was at stake.

“Many people fail in life because they believe in the adage: If you don’t succeed, try something else,” author Don B. Owens, Jr. observed. “But success eludes those who follow such advice. Virtually everyone has had dreams at one time or another, especially in youth. The dreams that have come true did so because people stuck to their ambitions. They refused to be discouraged. They never let disappointment get the upper hand. Challenges only spurred them on to greater effort.”

In everything you do, life is not a bed of roses. As two-time Nobel Prize winner Madame Marie Curie said, “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”

It is true that when fate throws a knife at us, we can catch it by the blade and wound ourselves, or catch it by the handle and carve out some remaining good for ourselves.

For comments, write me at henrytacio@ gmail.com.

Never be afraid to fail

ited before the THINK ON THESE! game. One day, years later, he was entering Yankee Stadium when a tall young man stepped up and asked him, “Do you remember me?”

Geh- Henrylito D. Tacio rig couldn’t henrytacio@gmail.com remember him. Sensing that the baseball player couldn’t recall the event that happened years earlier, he reminded him, “I was that boy you made a deal with years back. Look, I can walk now. I kept my half of the promise.”

There comes a time when you have an idea and no one to listen to you. If you can’t catch their attention, why not do it yourself? Take the case of inventor, statesman, and publisher Benjamin Franklin. During a time when he was working on improvements in agriculture, he discovered that plaster made grains and grasses grow better, but he had difficult time convincing his neighbors about the discovery.

He found a solution to the problem. When spring came, he went to a field close to a path, dug out some letters into the dirt with his hands, put plaster into the ruts, and then sowed seed over the whole area. As people passed that way in the following weeks, they could see green letters growing brighter than the rest of the field. They simply said, “This has been plastered.” People

10

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

One... FFROM 1 the Davao City Comprehensive Development Plan for 2013-2022.

The AIP is presented in two categories: Non-Infrastructure and Infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure gets the big chunk in the list with P18.562 billion or 72 percent of the allocated, while non-infra gets P7.311 billion or 28 percent from the allocation.

For non-infrastructure, public governance gets P3.

361 billion or 46 percent,

followed by Social Services at P1.531 billion or 21 percent, Economic Services at P1.466 billion or 20 percent, and Natural Environment Services at P952.2 million.

For infrastructure projects, road development gets P15.240 billion or 82 percent of the budget to ensure development of all inter connecting production roads and city roads.

It is followed by building and other infrastructure projects get P2. 015

billion or 11 percent. The drainage program gets P909.650 million or four percent. Bridge Program gets P521.650 million or three percent. Water system gets P62 million and electrification gets P13 million.

The chairman of the committee on finance, ways and means and appropriations, councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, said the AIP is only a “shopping list” of the project that are to be implemented next year.

tract period and extending farther disturbance and inconvenience to the people of Davao City,” he said.

Al-ag said if the DPWH cannot impose penalties on the contractor, the contractor should pay every commuter who has to wake up early just to be at work on time.

“Pay every public utility vehicle whose income

is reduced. The contractor must pay every Dabawenyo who bears the heat and hassle due to the heavy traffic jam caused by the delay of the bridge project.

The reality is that the delay of this project affects all of us, every Dabawenyo and non-Dabawenyo who comes to our city,” he said.

“I would like to express my utmost disappointment

on this delay. Only 26 days before December. If this will be delayed until December 1, I cannot imagine how this problem will affect us during the Christmas season,” he added.

Earlier, DPWH 11 regional director Mariano Alquiza said the reopening date has been moved from November 6 to either November 16 or 17. ABF

as the reason behind the re-opening of the case.

Cagas was pointed to as the mastermind by self-confessed gunman Voltaire Mirafuentes and his brother Henry.

The two also pointed to Fernandez, Ali Ordaneza, and Bado Sanchez as being

behind the killing.

Cagas denied any connections with the Mirafuentes brothers.

He surrendered to the authorities last October 20 hours after the court issued his warrant of arrest.

The case was initially dismissed by the city prose-

cutor’s office due to lack of probable cause but this was reversed by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila Delima after the family petitioned the DOJ for a review.

As of the moment, Ordaneza and Sanchez remain at large. FPG

ana,” (I hope there will no longer be war because evacuating will do us no good) Dadoy Horod, a Mamanwa from Bacuag said.

Bacuag Mayor Sheila Mae Orquina-Cebedo told MindaNews Monday evening via text message that she received no reports of

evacuation after the clashes.

“We express our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of our slain comrades. They were killed while protecting the Filipino people in pursuit for peace and development in the area,” Sadural, referring

to the slain soldiers, said.

“They offered their lives for the sake of the people of Surigao Del Norte. They will always be remembered as true heroes and their sacrifices will never be in vain,” he added. (Roel N. Catoto/ MindaNews)

Group Hospital, Metro Davao Hospital, and Limso Hospital are trying their best to identify their own isolation wards, he added.

“So we expect that we can report next week so we can know the status. If they need training for their personnel, we will train them.,” Dumama said.

He said DOH 11 is preparing not just facilities but also manpower.

“We are targeting to finish the information dissemination and training before the year ends,” he said.

Aside from government officials, the agency is also eyeing to train all 400 nurses under the Nurse Deployment Program (NDP) wherein some 35 nurses were already trained for emerging diseases like the Ebola.

Dumama said he is overwhelmed by the support and participation of the Davao City government.

“We didn’t expect this

kind of participation,” he said, adding that the city has already initiated Ebola campaign and information dissemination for the past several weeks.

The recent training for 182 barangay captains was participated in by more than 150 barangay chairpersons.

Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, chair of the City Council’s committee on health, said those who did not participate are expected to coordinated with CHO and district health officers since they are already trained. “They are expected to echo the information on Ebola preparedness,” she said.

Villafuerte said she is pushing for the procurement of two additional ambulanced solely for Ebola patients that will be deployed in SPMC and CHO. The procurement of the ambulances will be in partnership with the Philippines

Charity and Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) through a 5050 scheme.

“The budget that will be used in the city will be audited under the supplemental budget,” she added.

On the other hand, Nemesio T. Gaco, DOH undersecretary told reporters yesterday at the Grand Regal Hotel that the Department of Transportation and Communication and Department (DOTC) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are looking at the possibility of requiring international airports in other countries to have their own thermal scanners.

Gaco said all international airports in Mindanao are already equipped with thermal scanners.

“We need to remember that Ebola preparedness is not just a job of DOH but also of the public. It needs public participation,” he said.

Al-ag... FFROM 2

INVESTMENT PROGRAM. City Planning and Development head Marcelino P. Escalada Jr. presents to the City Council the 2015 annual investment program

3 council... FFROM 2

worth P26.8 billion during the regular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod building in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Judge...FFROM 2

Mambo-o Sr. The EDC submitted its request for an endorsement from CDC for the conduct of its studies within the vicinities of the existing Mt. Apo Geothermal Project in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.

The EDC was tasked by the Department of Energy (DOE) to undertake the study.

The EDC project de-

scription said the data gathering will further refine the understanding of the geothermal resources of EDC’s Mt. Apo project.

The study will involve geologic mapping, geochemical sampling of the surface thermal manifestations in the area, and the conduct of geophysical survey. The activities will be done over the duration of six months.

EDC is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the Philippines and is a major driver in making the country the second largest geothermal producer in the world.

The company is primarily engaged in the business of exploring, developing, and operating geothermal energy and other indigenous renewable energy projects.

P7.68 million based on the unit cost, was earlier endorsed by the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC).

“These firearms will be issued to barangays that were not covered by the initial distribution last year,” Demaala said.

The local government acquired last year 121 semi-automatic shotguns that were distributed to 121 barangays in the area.

Demaala said they are currently assessing the peace and order situation in all barangays in the

province to facilitate the proper distribution of the firearms.

Aside from barangays that were not covered by the initial distribution, he said they will issue the firearms to those that posted high incidence of criminalities.

“We will issue some of the firearms based on the need of our barangays. We will prioritize areas that had recorded security-related incidents or problems these past months,” he said.

Last month, the PPOC

endorsed a P10 million budget for various peace and order initiatives in the province next year.

The allocation will cover for the operations of the council, which is the highest security and peace and order policy-making body of the province, as well as the local government’s support to law enforcement units in the area.

The peace and order budget was included in the Annual Investment Program of the province for 2015. (MindaNews)

current national team coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes.

“Di naman naming pinagusapan yan. Nagtaka na lang ako lumabas na sa balita na naghahanap na dawn ng bagong coach,” Cua said.

While the formation of the selection committee led some to believe that erstwhile head coach Reyes would no longer be head coach, SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios early this week clarified that Reyes is still a part of the program.

“The formation of the search and selection committee is the start of the

tweaking of the program,” Barrios reportedly told a forum arranged by the Online Media Group of sportswriters held at the Country Spice restaurant in Quezon City.

“Mr. [Manny V.] Pangilinan wants a Filipino presence if not Filipino as head coach. Ang kalakaran ngayon sa international (basketball) ay you get the best minds you can get,” Barrios was quoted as saying.

Asked what Reyes’ reaction was towards the development, Barrios said, “Hindi

naman problema sa kanya kung hindi na siya. Pero kung siya pa rin, he’s ready.

The relationship between coach Chot and MVP goes far beyond contracts and employment appointments.

They have a very good communication between them.

Chot respects MVP a lot.”

Barrios later on reiterated that Reyes remains part of the program.

Cua, meantime, said that the regional SBP will continue its basketball programs. “Nandito naman tayo sa basketball kahit sino ang nakaupo diyan sa itaas.”

P1.5-M... FFROM 3

If it... FFROM 16

Surigao... FFROM 3

DOH...FFROM 3

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11 Smart nominated best employer, The secret to long tech company in Asia CEO Awards (battery) life W EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

IRELESS services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) was again named one of the best technology companies and employers in the region, having been shortlisted at the prestigious Asia CEO Awards.

Coming from several local and international wins, Smart was nominated as “Technology Company of the Year” and “Top Employer of the Year” by the Asia CEO Awards which is organized by an alliance of Filipino and international business people from different industries.

In 2013, Smart proved its leadership in the technological space by launching PowerApp, a revolutionary mobile Internet storefront which allows mobile users

to access the Internet in affordable bundles, for as low as P5. With various bundles available—including Photo, Social, Chat, Email and Unli packages—subscribers have the freedom to choose only the Internet sites and apps that are most relevant to them.

And just recently, Smart launched a Free Internet offer to all prepaid, postpaid, and broadband subscribers to enable more Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of mobile Internet.

Smart also transformed its subscribers’ mobile devices into the biggest content marketplace through services like Spinnr, a website and mobile application giving Smart subscribers access to more than 3 million

songs from the world’s biggest music superstars. With Spinnr, every Smart mobile subscription is a virtual music store, where tracks can be streamed or downloaded using prepaid load or postpaid credits as payment.

Smart mobile credits can now also be used to pay for personal movie-viewing and purchase of e-Pins for online games.

As an employer, Smart has surpassed global employee engagement standards, with 92% of its workforce saying they felt proud to be associated with the company because of its image and contribution to society.

Smart also invests heavily in learning and development programs for employees, which highlight

leadership development, on-the-job coaching, and digital learning vehicles.

The strength of its learning culture is seen in how Smart has built a strong homegrown talent base -- 73% of its managers started out as staff or supervisors, and majority of the employees have stayed at least 11 years with the company.

Smart also values employee wellbeing.

Since 2011, its “Live Well, Live More” program enables employees to live out their passions, involve their families in company events, and prioritize a healthy lifestyle.

Winners of the Asia CEO Awards will be announced on November 12 at the Solaire Resort & Casino in Paranaque City.

BRAND BUILDER. Air Asia Group CEO Tony Fernandes receives the prestigious award from World Branding Forum chairman Richard Rowles.

HE 2014 World the highest for a low cost Branding Awards airline in Malaysia, Singagave special recog- pore, the Philippines, Indonition to Tony Fernandes, nesia and Thailand.

AirAsia Group CEO, namSixty-eight brands from ing him “Brand Builder of 25 countries were honored the Year” for his outstand- at a glittering awards cering work in building the emony at the prestigious One Whitehall Place in low cost airline brand.

AirAsia was also London. Global winners innamed “Brand of the Year” clude Apple, Coca-Cola, Del in the airline category. The Monte, Heinz, HSBC, Louis airline was the only region- Vuitton, McDonald’s, Samal winner, having scored sung, Sony PlayStation, and

VISA. “It’s an honor for me to receive this award and I would like to thank the World Branding Awards for the prestigious recognition. Branding has always held a special part in my heart and we are very proud to be where we are in just a little over a decade,” Fernandes said.

“AirAsia is what it is today due to the can-do attitude of each and every person that makes up the AirAsia family. Every single one represents the brand, showing the world how we do things differently via constant innovation and I share this award with them. Our innovative trait is the key in elevating our brand and sets us apart from the rest of the field,” he added.

Richard Rowles, chairman of the World Branding Forum said, “It takes years to build a strong brand, and brands that make the list at these awards deserve recognition. Their work

inspire those who work in the branding industry, and these are also brands that have a strong relationship with consumers. In addition to a brand valuation, voting by consumers show that connection that winning brands have with the general public.”

Under Fernandes’ leadership, AirAsia has grown into a world-class and innovative brand with revolutionary low fares, premium products and high quality services. His drive, creativity, enthusiasm of driving liberalization across the region has opened countless new markets for AirAsia, bringing affordable air travel to millions of travelers and high growth levels to countless tourism destinations in a remarkably short time.

The airline’s tenacity in breaking the norm of air travel and its insistence on constant innovation has made it the most significant airline brand when it comes to low cost travel.

Air Asia’s Fernandes named ‘Brand Builder of the Year’

T

Globe taps e-waste recycling recovery specialist TES-AMM for Project 1 Phone G

LOBE Telecom has tapped global electronic waste recycling specialist TES-AMM for Project 1 Phone, a nationwide campaign to create awareness on proper disposal of old and obsolete electronic items and to promote sustainability.

Formed in 2005, TES-AMM combines state-or-the-art technology with in-depth knowledge of environment and waste management techniques to provide reuse solutions and recovery of precious metals from end-of-life electronics such as computers, cell phones, peripherals, television sets, among others. It is headquartered in Singapore with facilities in other parts of Asia, Oceania, Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

“Being the first in Asia to receive

certification on Responsible Recycling (R2), we are confident that TESAMM through its local arm TES-AMM Philippines, would be able to deliver the lowest environmental impact without compromising health and safety and therefore, concretize Globe Telecom’s commitment to sustainability,” said Yoly Crisanto, SVP of Globe Corporate Communications.

Globe is currently encouraging everyone to participate in Project 1 Phone by donating their unusable mobile phones and portable devices via donation bins available at all participating Globe Stores in various parts of the country (for the complete list, please visit the Globe Telecom website www.globe.com.ph/project1phone).

Sample of the Tes-AMM recycling process

Calibrate your phone’s brightness depending on your environment to save on battery life.

N today’s gadget-de- Not all apps in your phone pendent world, a low or tablet promote battery battery warning is defi- efficiency. Some continunitely one we immediately ously run in background heed and take action to. We even if you are done using quickly get our chargers them or aren’t even usand plug our smartphones ing them at all. They take or tablets right away. How- up space in your phone’s ever, repeated charging for memory and in turn slowly certain kinds of batteries (and unnecessarily) gobgradually deteriorates its ble up on your gadget’s original capacity. The best juice. To avoid these, make we can probably do is to a habit of checking your take measures to conserve gadget from time to time our gadget’s juice as much for any background apps as possible. and close them right away.

Having said that, 4. Get rid of (unwanted) Aboitiz-owned Davao Light push notifications. Push and Power Co. has come notifications are like memup with a list of quick and os from installed applicaeasy ways to prolong your tions on your device that battery‘s life and free your notify you of messages or outlets from continuously events pertaining to the being occupied by these app. These really prove power-hungry devices. useful for the apps you 1. Let there be (less) wanted to be reminded light. If you check your about, and a bit annoying phone’s consumption, you for those you’re not acwill see that what drains tively using. And because most of your gadget’s bat- you’re not actively using tery is the screen. The them anymore, you might brighter your screen is, the want to do away with these more power it consumes. apps constantly popping So if you’re in a room or up on your status bar to in an environment where tell you that you haven’t there is enough light for played or used them in a you to see what’s on the while. Simply go to these screen, try to set the apps’ setting and disable brightness to a minimum them to save a few perlevel. cent of your battery’s life.

2. Say no to Wi-Fi/ 5. Thank God for BatMobile Data, Bluetooth, tery-saving Feature. Some GPS (when not in use). gadgets are equipped with When these settings are a power-saving feature. turned on, they constantly This tweaks the setting to check your phone for Wi-Fi optimize and prolong its signals, Bluetooth signals, battery’s life. Make sure to application updates, new enable this feature if your emails, location services, phone or tablet has one. and many more. These ac- Our gadgets are only as tivities make a significant good as their battery life. contribution in eating up Following and applying your gadget’s battery life these tips will surely give so you might want to turn your electronic buddy the them off if you aren’t us- boost it needs, and will let ing them at the moment. you get through a day or 3. Do not let (back- two without having to plug ground) apps run amok. them.

I

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

Petit Chefs in the Kitchen

Remember your first experience in the kitchen when you were a kid? There’s nothing like the smell of something baking in the oven.

The intoxicating aroma can send any weary soul into a trance, a delicious imagination that stays until you finally make your first bite. The scent wakes you up like any stimulant, spurring up excitement in your stomach.

To a child, a wooden spoon is like a wand that whips up delectable magic at home.

Recreate happy kitchen memories with your children by teaching them how to bake! More than just whipping something to chew on, it’s also a wonderful way to teach, share, and connect.

Joan Ramirez-Bala of the Fat Mama’ Kitchen enjoys bonding time with her 2 daughters over finger-lickin’ good batter and messy memories. She says 2 extra little hands makes the task more fun and light.

“They started as young as 3 years old. They would huddle up in the kitchen, their cheeks resting on the table as they eagerly watched me mix ingredients. Soon, they finally took a hand in baking, mixing and portioning out the batter themselves.”

“Kids as young as 3 can help out in simple baking activities such as pouring, stirring, decorating, cutting dough into differ-

ent shapes and sizes. By the time they reach 10, they’ve already developed discipline and coordination, and they can pretty much operate electrical equipment. At that age, they have a better grasp and comprehension of the kitchen glossary and the steps involved in each recipe.”

Baking is also a fun way for kids to learn and apply math in the real world.

Joan says, “They get to learn fraction through measurement of ingredients and division by cut-

Kids get curious about the ‘magic in baking’ and they get to discover the science behind it by using various ingredients. The whole experience is like learning math, science and reading with a yummy result!

ting the dough. It helps develop precision and patience, as well as practice their reading skills through recipe books.

Kids get curious about the ‘magic in baking’ and they get to discover the science behind it by using various ingredients. The whole experience is like learning math, science and reading with a yummy result!”

At home, her daughters have more than enough supply of treats for them to bring to school. Joan finds time in between work to bake snacks for her kids.

Sometimes, they even make their own.

“Now that they’re all

grown up, they can pretty much choose recipes and bake on their own,” shares the proud mom.

As the holidays are fast approaching, orders for baked desserts are sure to pile up at the Fat Mama’s Kitchen. Joan simply looks forward to the holiday rush. “Busy days are coming but I have nothing to worry about. If Santa had his elves helping him at work, I’ve got little hands helping me in the kitchen as well.”

For delectable Christmas gifts and goodies, send in your inquiries and orders to Joan Ramirez Bala on Facebook.

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Cary Santiago exhibit opens today at Abreeza MASTER of Philippine Couture, Cary Santiago, celebrates 25 years in the fashion industry with a traveling exhibit in partnership with the Ayala Malls.

Witness his collection highlighting distinct Filipino artistry and extraordinary craftsmanship at the Abreeza Mall Activity Center from November 5 to 12.

Don’t miss this fascinating exhibit, fashion fans!

Pizza! Pizza! at the Polo Bistro Pool Lounge RUSH OFF to the Polo Bistro/ Pool Lounge at The Deck of Marco Polo Davao with its irresistible Pizza! Pizza! promotion everyday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Order from the Restaurant’s selection of mouthwatering pizzas and get another pizza for free!

That’s right, two pizzas for the price of one! Hurry, take advantage of this deal at the Polo Bistro/Pool Lounge.

For reservations and inquires, please call (082) 2210888 local 7955 or 7164.

Win a trip for two to Macau with SM Cinema BUY A ticket in advance at SM Cinemas from October 23 to November 16 and get a chance to win a trip for two to Macau to witness the Pacquiao vs Algieri: Hungry for Glory live!

After buying your ticket, register at https://www. facebook.com/SMCinema/ app_137541772984354.

GET INTO the Holiday spirit of sharing with the less fortunate at The SM Store and Toy Kingdom with SM’s Share A Toy program.

Give a toy to The SM Store or Toy Kingdom and receive a Php50 discount coupon. Get fifty pesos off for every Php500 single-receipt purchase on regular-priced toys at any branch of The SM Store and Toy Kingdom. See posters or visit https://www.facebook.com/ TheSMStore/ for more details.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Digify:

Providing groundbreaking technology solutions IN KEEPING with GMA Network’s vision of being constantly at the forefront of new media innovation, Digify Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GMA New Media Inc., has once again blazed the trail in providing technology-based solutions for prominent brands.

Prize-winning projects In August, a mobile app developed by Digify in collaboration with GMA Marketing and Productions (GMPI) for Del Monte Kitchenomics gained both local and international acclaim by bringing home distinctions from the Spark Awards and the Philippine Association of National Advertisers’ (PANA) PANAta Awards for Marketing Effectiveness.

The Del Monte Kitchenomics Branded Content and Integrated Mobile app, the first of its kind to seamlessly combine a fiveminute cooking program with a mobile recipe app, bagged multiple honors including two Golds at the Spark Awards for Media Excellence 2014 held in Singapore.

Equally noteworthy, the app also won the award in the External Communications Programs (Brand) category of the first PANAta Awards. These honors provide an indication of the app’s effectiveness and contribute to the brand’s credibility and relevance in the marketplace. Digify has just recently launched the third version of the Del Monte Kitchenomics Branded Content and Companion Mobile App, which includes a new feature --- the Meal Planner.

Enhancing user experience In May this year, Digify also developed for GMPI the “Dash ‘n Cash” mobile app to deepen consumer engagement with the widely successful GMA Network promo, Kapuso Milyonaryo Season 5 Level Up Panalo. Available in both iOS and Android

operating systems, the app was installed in over 62,000 devices in the span of just two months.

The app features a running game led by the hero Tobs who is tasked to navigate through a supermarket game environment to capture branded digital entries while avoiding obstacles along the aisle. The highly engaging gameplay is an effective way of promoting the participating brands. On the heels of the success of the KM5 app, Digify and GMPI released this October an even more feature-packed Kapuso Milyonaryo 6 mobile app.

Meanwhile, Digify developed for Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) Facets, a mobile app that enhances the museumgoing experience through interactive displays featuring augmented reality and device pairing technologies. Facets was launched in Yuchengco Museum’s first-ever digital art exhibit called Relative Realities.

Facets employs augmented reality (AR) to reveal a “hidden” layer of digital experience into physical art objects, which include paintings from young accomplished artists as well as Filipino masters such as Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Carlos Francisco. This AR

layer is revealed when users aim their mobile devices at the triggering object while the app is running.

This digital layer can be in the form of text, motion graphics, video, 3D and multimedia objects, which Digify also produced.

One of Digify’s biggest breakthroughs this year is the launch of its proprietary real-time pattern recognition software that can detect and recognize sonic signatures emitted by various media sources using access devices such as computers, tablets and smart phones. This software is at the core of Almost Real, a Digify-owned mobile application that can recognize sonic patterns in the audible and inaudible ranges. When a sound signature is recognized by the access device through the app, content such as coupons, videos or song lyrics is triggered, allowing for a rich and immersive user experience. Digify had a soft launch of the Almost Real app at an event staged

by Greenwich Pizza where the latter unveiled its Crack That campaign. The app can be downloaded for free using devices that run on iOS and Android operating systems.

High-caliber tech solutions Almost Real is just the first of many proprietary soft-

ware solutions that Digify hopes to launch in the next six months. The company aims to fortify its positioning as a world-class technocreative product development group by developing more high-value, algorithm-driven technologies.

“While most production studios focus mainly on form-based app development, we’d like to focus more on quant-based solutions that would put to good use our highly skilled and growing R&D team.

The team has already developed a proprietary search engine, an ad serving platform, and a relatedness platform that are currently being used internally,” said Joan C. Bulauitan, general manager of Digify.

“This is not to say that we will give up the development of form-based apps,” Ms. Bulauitan added. Digify is one of very few app development companies locally that have fully built capacities, covering the entire gamut of production, from pre-development to post-deployment.

At present, Digify boasts of a diverse mix of clients coming from different industries including retail, FMCG, electronics and media. “We work very closely with our clients every step of the development process,” shared Ms. Bulauitan. Aside from technical development, the team also has solid capabilities in content production given the team’s previous experiences in producing TV shows, commercials and web content for GMA Network.

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EDGEDAVAO

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ENTERTAINMENT

Wenn V. Deramas directs MarJo’s TV reunion LONG-TIME onscreen partners Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin join their diehard fans in anticipation of the launch of the family drama series “Flordeliza” on ABS-CBN which will feature the mature and more daring ‘MarJo’ love team.

Marvin and Jolina were last seen together as Kapamilyas in the 1999 blockbuster hit movie, “Hey Babe,” and on TV via the top-rated romantic comedy series, ”Labs Ko Si Babe,” that aired from 1999 to 2000.

“It feels so good that even before the official announcement about ‘Flordeliza,’ a lot of people were already expressing their delight over our reunion project on ABSCBN. Many of them even reminisced about how they loved our tandem since the beginning and until today,” said Jolina about the unexpected social media buzz caused by the ‘MarJo reunion’ updates.

“I’m really amazed with the intense reaction of the people on social social media. It’s heartwarming to know that

they miss the chemistry that Jolina and I have as a tandem,” said Marvin.

Despite being wellknown for their wholesome and romanticcomedy films and TV series, Jolina and Marvin assured the TV viewers that “Flordeliza” will be a project like no other.

“Aside from our first love scene, the viewers will be shocked with my role and the relationship that she has with Marvin’s character. I’m sure that this is something you’re not expecting to see us in,” said Jolina about the upcoming Kapamilya

teleserye directed by master storyteller Wenn V. Deramas.

“Flordeliza” is a heartwrenching family drama series that demonstrates the important role of the family in molding the hearts and minds of children. The story revolves around the connected lives of two young girls, Flor (to be played by Ashley Sarmiento) and Liza (to be played by Rhed Bustamante).

Don’t miss the beginning of the highly anticipated TV reunion project of Jolina and Marvin this November on ABS-CBN.

‘Six Hours: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda’ airs on GMA News TV GMA News TV airs a powerful documentary – with an Emmy Award nominated trailer – in time for the 1st anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda.

Produced by U.S. production house Big Monster Entertainment, the documentary entitled Six Hours: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda, retells the story of Yolanda’s shocking devastation primarily through the eyes and cameras of GMA anchor and senior reporter Jiggy Manicad and his news coverage team.

Manicad was assigned to Tacloban City when

the Category 5 Typhoon Yolanda and the unexpected storm surge that followed hit Leyte province. With no electricity or cell signal, losing all means of communication with the outside world and with the roads impassable by car, he and

his teammates decided to walk to the GMA satellite setup in Palo, Leyte … which turned out to be six hours away.

On this journey by foot they documented survivors in shock, survivors carrying their dead and unidentified bodies scat-

tered all over the roads.

At the time, the outside world had yet to realize the extent of human loss caused by the typhoon.

Unprepared to walk this far, Manicad’s team had no food or water with them and their feet began to blister … their only hope was that the team of GMA reporters at the remote site were still alive and that the satellite in Palo would manage to function so they could report the full story.

The haunting documentary Six Hours: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda makes its television pre-

miere on GMA News TV Channel 11 this Novem-

ber 9 at 8 PM, pre-empting Reel Time.

Science Film Festival 4 to engage minds from Nov. 4 - Dec. 14 THE Science Film Festival organized by the Goethe-Institut and its partners in 14 countries is the only existing festival of its kind in Southeast Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. Since its founding in Bangkok 10 years ago, the Science Film Festival has been gaining increasing attention and success each year. The festival aims to provide younger generation access to science to awaken their interest and motivate them to pursue a career in the field. This year’s Science Film Festival showcases “Future Technologies”, a continuation of the theme “Renewable Energy” in 2013.

The Philippines is proudly hosting the festival for the 5th year from November 4 to December 14, 2014.

A proficient local jury from the Philippines chose 32 films from 15 different countries. Before that, the Goethe-Institut in Bangkok preselected 78 films out of 277 films from 50 different countries.

These movies will be shown in over 200 schools, museums and other venues nationwide.

The science films target different

OUIJA Olivia Cooke, Daren Kagasoff R 13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

BLOOD RANSOM Anne Curtis, Alexander Dreymon R 16

school levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. The movies come with a variety of activities and games held by experts, wherein students can practice and learn more about science in an interactive way. Giveaways and other surprises also await participants.

Detailed information about the venues and screening schedules will be available on www.goethe.de/manila.

The Science Film Festival in Davao City will be held at the FDCP Cinematheque Davao, along Palma Gil Street.

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

BEAUTY IN A BOTTLE Angeline Quinto, Assunta De Rossi, Angelica Panganiban PG 13

R-16

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

JOHN WICK Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen R 16

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

STYLE

Fashionable casual footwear for the people, by People CANADIAN entrepreneurs Damian Van Zyll De Jong and Matt Penner, have recently launched People Footwear. With a view to reinvigorate the footwear market that struggles to tangibly evolve with the modern lifestyle, People is taking cues from the timeless to create footwear for our time.

It’s the simple things that turn out to be the best.

People Footwear is about bringing people together; stepping outside tpo see where the day takes you, who you might meet along the way and knowing an adventure awaits if you’re up for it. And it starts with wearing what looks and feels right.

Shoes don’t have to be complicated. People offer a contemporary design of common sense in a shoe that is stripped down to its simplest form. From construction to production, nothing is wasted and everything is streamlined to produce footwear for

today that connects the best styles of the past with the best technology of the future.

Constructed from molded foam, People shoes are the epitome of harmonious comfort making them ideal to throw on to get out. Inspired from famed classic casuals of eras past, they then become a shoe of thoughtful style that, through their minimal aesthetic, subtly compliment your personal style for any casual adventure the day may hold.

Each of the four styles launching for Spring/ Summer 2014 are based

on a core construction of People’s own Skylite™

performance foam, being water repellant, shock-absorbing, easy to clean and best of all, odor resistant.

The fully molded style The Senna is comprised almost entirely of this super-light and supremely

comfortable foam, with secondary materials such as rubber tread elements and removable laces strategically incorporated for added functionality. The three hybrid styles (The Phillips, The Stanley and

The Lennon) combine molded Skylite™ foam components with fabric uppers and modern seamless construction techniques for breathable all-season functionality.

Two People models (The Phillips and The Stanley) boast 3D printing, the latest in no-sew technology applied selectively to fabrics for structural and aesthetic detail.

Taking the performance hallmarks of an athletic shoe into daily footwear, People have created shoes that envelope your feet and express a balance of support and freedom. Simplification can revolutionize existing staples in ways previously unimagined.

And so it is with People Footwear, from design and production through to the freedom felt when wearing them. This is how shoes should feel.

People is available in Res|Toe|Run stores nationwide and exclusively distributed by Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant.

The Phillips is a hybrid interpretation of a the original sneaker and features a Skylite™ EVA Outsole, a 3D-printed mesh upper, color-matched laces, and a removable SuperCush™ EVA Sockliner.

SuperCush is supremely shockabsorbing and adapts to the shape of the wearers foot and is made of compression-molded low-density EVA. The Stanley is a hybrid interpretation of a classic casual deck shoe and features a Skylite™ EVA Outsole, a 3D-printed mesh upper, colormatched laces, and a removable SuperCush™ EVA Sockliner.

The Lennon is a hybrid dual-strap sandal and features a dual-density Skylite™ EVA Outsole and a micro-fiber lined PU nubuck strap with adjustable painted-metal buckles.

The Senna is a fully-molded driving moccasin and features Skylite™ EVA Outer with a fixed SuperCush™ EVA Sockliner, rubber traction pods, and removable laces.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

ZION

CLASSIFIED 13

EDGEDAVAO

EDGE

ACCUPRINT PUBLISHING, INC.

Serving a seamless society

DAVAO

WANTS YOU!

Is in need of:

MACHINE OPERATOR (Printing Press)

Qualifications:

- At least high school graduate, not more than 30 years old - Physically and mentally fit - Can handle minor repairs of the machine - Has the ability to be cool under pressure of deadlines and complex projects - Experience of at least one year

Send application letter & resume to: HR Supervisor ZION Accuprint Publishing, Inc. Door 14 Alcrej Building, Quirino Ave., 8000 Davao City, Philippines E-mail: marketing@edgedavao.net zion_publishing@yahoo.com Telefax: (082) 2213601 Website: www.edgedavao.net

ANNOUNCEMENT To serve you better Edge Davao and Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. have added a new telephone line: (082) 224-1413

-

Layout Artists (2)

Male / Female, not more than 30 years old Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive A team player Must a have an extensive knowledge (Adobe Photoshop, Adober Illustrator, Adobe Indesign and Corel Draw)

Responsibilities: - Design and layout magazine pages, ads, brochures, flyers and marketing collateral for multiple clients - Design logos and brand identification For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao

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

14 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

Ancajas in Pacquiao-Algieri undercard C

URRENT International Boxing Federation (IBF) Pan Pacific superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas of Panabo City will now be fighting in the undercard of the world welterweight championship of 8-world division champion Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Chris Algieri in Macau on November 23.

“Tumawag kasi si Coach Nonoy (Neri) at sinabi na hinahanapan na ngayon ng kalaban si Jerwin para isali sa undercard sa Macau”, said promoter-manager Joven Jimenez of MP Promotions at the SCOOP Session of The Royal Mandaya Hotel last Tuesday.

Ancajas, 22 is supposed to face Khunkhiri Wor Wisaruth of Thailand in a non-title bout on Nov. 8 at the Almendras gym in Davao City.

PRETTY BOY. Jerwin Ancajas has a fight lined up in the undercard of the PacquiaoAlgieri fight in Macau.

Ancajas is now replaced by promising Marvelo Aballe.

“Malaking break ito kay Jerwin,” said Jimenez.

“Masayang masaya ako na medyo excited din. Pero preparado ako kahit iba na ang lalabanan ko,” said Ancajas.

The 22-year old Ancajas previously knocked out Indonesian Rochmad Santoso in the first round last August 23 at the Almendras gym.

He also stopped in the opening round Petchwanchai Sor Visetkit of Thailand last May 3 at the USEP Gym for the IBF Pan Pacific crown.

Ancajas’ only defeat was when he lost to Mark Anthony Geraldo for the WBO Asia Pacific youth superflyweight title by a majority decision last March 17,

2012. Ancajas, a southpaw , currently has a ring record of 21 wins with 13 knockouts, 1 loss and 1 draw.

His substitute Marvilou Aballe is undefeated with 4 straight wins, 2 by KOs and no loss or draw.

Aballe previously won by a unanimous decision against Michael Padayag in a six-rounder last Aug. 23 at Almendras gym.

Wisaruth, on the other hand, tots 15 wins with 10 KOs, 9 defeats and 1 draw.

The 34-year old Wisaruth won three of his last four fights all by knockouts.

However, Wisaruth lost by a 7th round TKO to Defry Palulu in Jakarta in last fight August 26.

“Gusto ni Wisaruth na manalo ulit ng knockout,” said boxing promoter Joven Jimenez.

Adones Cabalquintro (right) will defend his title on Saturday night. Philboxing photo

Cabalquinto, Palicte vow to KO foes U NDISPUTED Philippine junior welterweight king Adones Cabalquinto and top super flyweight contender Aston Palicte both vowed to knockout their separate rivals in the “Tibay ng Pinoy V” boxing card on Saturday at the Almendras gym.

Cabalquinto, a native of Talaingod, Davao del Norte wants to stop Pankorn Singwangcha of Thailand in their 12-round title-fight for the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council light welterweight crown.

“Ako sa tan-awon iya style sa 1st or 2nd round ug kung kaya, ako siya kuhaon sa 7th round,” said Cabalquinto (17 wins with 10 KOs, 0 loss or draw).

“Pankorn is a dangerous opponent. He won his first three fights all by knockout,” said promoter Joven Jimenez.

Cabalquinto, however, is fresh from a first round stoppage over Elmer Legaria last August 23 at the Almendras

gym during his third title-defense.

Cabalquinto won the PH crown by unanimous decision against Dan Nazareno Jr. last March 17, 2013 in Cebu. He retained it via a unanimous decision against Romeo Jakosalem last Dec. 12, 2012 in Zambales then against RJ Ano-os also by UD on Oct. 20, 2013.

Palicte, on the other hand, said he is going for a 5th round stoppage against his new but dangerous opponent Jerpaul Valero of Cebu for the interim Philippine super flyweight title.

“Grabe akong training for Marco. Halos pareho lang ang ilahang style. Pero mas magaling at marunong lumabas at pasok itong si Valero,” Palicte said.

“Mag adjust sa ko bago nako siya kuhaon sa ika-limang round,” Palicte said.

Valero is a substitute for his fellow stablemate Marco Demecillo, who was stripped

already of title after missing after his arrival from Japan.

“Hindi na nagpakita si Demecillo sa kanyang manager na si Wakee Salud pagkarating nya sa sparring at training sa Japan last week,” said promoter Joven Jimenez.

Demecillo could no longer be contacted by his manager.

“Pero mas maganda pa rin ang laban na Palicte at Valero dahil sa tingin ko mas fighter itong si Valero. Mas exciting ito,” said Jimenez.

The 23-year old Palicte previously scored a first round TKO win over Frans Damur Palve in his last outing held at Almendras gym last Aug. 23.

The 5-foot-7 Palicte thrice knocked down Palve in the first round. It was Palicte’s fourth straight win all by knockouts since he suffered his only ring setback from the hands of Romnick Magos via a 4th round RTD for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific youth flyweight title last Dec. 1, 2012.

ALLEN IVERSON. I’m done with basketball.

Iverson: Passion is gone R

ETIRED NBA superstar Allen Iverson admitted that he has already lost his drive to play the game after a colorful career that made him one of the league’s most prominent figures.

Iverson, 39, is in Manila to coach a selection of American players in a charity game at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday. Known for his desire to always play and become an alpha dog, he revealed in a press conference that his time is finally done.

“The passion you saw from me all throughout my career is gone,” Iverson said.

“At this stage of my life, I’m done. I don’t wanna do it no

more.”

Iverson, only standing at six feet, had a roller coaster NBA career, becoming the shortest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2001 after almost single-handedly carrying the Philadelphia 76ers to a finals trip.

But his career wasn’t at all rosy, as his struggles with alcoholism, violations of the law and his infamous attitude towards playing and not going to practices were all well-documented.

He officially retired in 2013, but not before numerous attempts of making a comeback, including a short stint in Turkey and an invite

to play in the NBA Developmental League.

Iverson also said that he avoids watching 76ers games as it makes him emotional.

“I miss the game, I love watching the game, but I cant watch the 76ers. I get emotional. All the memories going back,” he said.

For now, Iverson enjoys making up for the time lost with his loved ones.

“I love just being a fulltime dad, living with my kids. I lost a lot of opportunities, time with them (because of) playing in the league, travelling all the time,” Iverson said. “I’m just done with it.”

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

GO-TO GUY

Bosh is now the Heat’s go-to scoring option

CHRIS BOSH: “I feel like I am a much better player and a much better leader,.”

C

HRIS Bosh was often referred to as the most important player for the Miami Heat over the last four seasons, something that probably not many people understood.

It needs no explaining now.

With LeBron James gone to Cleveland and Dwyane Wade — while arguably still the key to how far Miami goes — no longer the elite scorer he once was, the Heat are asking Bosh for more than ever. So far, he’s delivering, with 77 points in Miami’s first three games and flourishing again in the go-to-option role that he had for his seven seasons in Toronto.

“I feel like I am a much better player and a much better leader,” said Bosh, announced Monday as the NBA’s Eastern Conference player of the week. “I try to really lead by example and lead by my voice every day.”

His voice, that’s one thing.

His productivity, that’s another.

And he’s delivering on both fronts. He has scored at least 21 points in all three

game, and the Heat were the only team in the Eastern Conference to go unbeaten in the opening week.

“He is playing at a very high level right now,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said.

Wade isn’t surprised.

“His pie chart is off the chain with how he can score the ball, where he’s getting the ball, how we’re looking for him,” Wade said. “He’s going to be able to put up those numbers. He’s rebounding great. He looks good. Credit to him for getting himself ready.”

Here’s some of what to watch in the NBA this week: LEBRON VS. VINCE Cleveland’s LeBron James moved into 25th on the NBA’s career scoring list last week, overtaking Memphis’ Vince Carter (who could pass him back Monday night, but it’s almost certainly a matter of time before James pulls away).

James has 23,223 points; Carter has 23,206. At his usual pace, James would be in the top 20 by season’s end. On the combined NBAABA list, James is 30th and Carter 31st.

KOBE WATCH

It’s 49 and counting for Kobe Bryant. He’s 49 missed shots away from passing John Havlicek for the most unsuccessful field-goal attempts in NBA regular-season history. He missed 50 of his 85 shots in the Los Angeles Lakers’ first four games this season — all losses.

Also notable: Since the NBA started tracking plus-minus in 2002, the Lakers have been outscored by more than 25 points with Bryant on the floor only eight times. Two of those were last week. The Lakers are home against Phoenix on Tuesday night and Charlotte on Sunday night.

PLAYOFF REMATCHES Wednesday night brings a pair of rematches from last season’s epic opening playoff round. Miami visits Charlotte, which means Josh McRoberts goes back to the city he called home until this summer and Lance Stephenson squares off against the Heat again. Afterward, the Los Angeles Clippers play at Golden State; those clubs met 11 times last season with the Clippers going 6-5, winning by an average score of 110-107. The War-

riors’ Klay Thompson is the reigning Western Conference player of the week.

BIG APPLE SERIES The Knicks visit the Nets on Friday night, and maybe fans in New York will finally get treated to a game that isn’t decided in the third quarter. The Knicks went 3-1 against their city rivals last season, winning by 30, 29 and 11 points. Brooklyn’s lone win also was an easy one, a 23-point rout.

PHILLY WOES The 76ers started 3-0 last season. They’re 0-3 this season and have Houston, Toronto and Chicago on this week’s slate — along with Orlando, which is one of the three other teams still searching for their first win.

STAT LINE OF THE WEEK DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento: He had 34 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the Kings’ 98-92 victory at the Clippers on Sunday. Such a stat line occurred only once last season, when Dwight Howard had 35 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and three blocks for Houston against Detroit.

points and Dwight Howard chipped in 11 points with 14 rebounds and four blocks for the Rockets, who made seven three-pointers in the first quarter to take a 32-19 lead after one period and used another barrage of longrange shots -- including two from Isaiah Canaan -- to put the game away in the fourth.

The victory over the winless 76ers, who fell to 0-4, was no surprise.

The Rockets will face a tougher test on Tuesday when they visit the Heat, who are off to a 3-0 start despite the departure of su-

perstar LeBron James for Cleveland after four seasons in Miami.

On Thursday the Rockets face another searching examination when they host the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

They won’t be able to get away with the kind of mistakes they made against Philadelphia, notably 22 turnovers.

“Give our guys credit, in what was a ragtag game for us they found a way to get a win,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said.

They’ll have to do bet-

ter in Miami, where Chris Bosh, often overshadowed

by James and Dwyane Wade in his first four seasons with the Heat, has emerged as a leader.

Bosh earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the first week of the season with an average of 25.7 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per contest while handing out four assists per game.

“It’s just time,” Bosh told reporters of his emergence after finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds against Toronto on Sunday.

Rockets down 76ers 104-93

T

HE Houston Rockets routed the rebuilding Philadelphia 76ers 104-93 on Monday to improve to 4-0 in the fledgling NBA season, with their toughest test to date looming Tuesday at Miami.

James Harden made just seven field goals but hit 17 of 18 free throws to finish with 35 points for the Rockets, adding nine rebounds and five assists for a Houston team off to its first 4-0 start since they won six straight to launch the 1996-97 campaign.

Trevor Ariza added 24

KOBE BRYANT. Keeping the faith.

From mighty to mellow, Lakers headed to another worst start

“H

OW the mighty have fallen” would be a massive understatement for frustrated Los Angeles Lakers fans after their team’s worst start to a National Basketball Association season in nearly 60 years.

A once-proud franchise which can boast 16 NBA championship banners hanging from the rafters at its home venue in downtown Los Angeles lost their first four games to remain rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Not since 1957 has the team launched a season so poorly, and that was when they were based in Minneapolis, Minnesota where their former standout center George Mikan was head coach. The Lakers began that 1957-58 season 0-7.

“No, it doesn’t bother me,” five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant said with heavy sarcasm after he and his team mates were pounded 127-104 by the Golden State Warriors on Saturday to slip to 0-4 for the season.

“Festive and jovial about it.”

Bryant, who piled up a team-high 28 points on 12for-28 shooting, later conceded: “I’m not happy about it. Also nothing you can do about it. Gotta move on to the next one.

“Just stay the course.

We still have a lot of room for improvement, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

The Lakers were always likely to struggle this season after assembling a roster that many viewed as inferior to the one that ended 201314 well under .500 with a 27-55 record, having never before lost so many games in a single campaign.

Though they acquired Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer, plus Julius Randle, the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, they lost four-time All-Star Pau Gasol, who opted to leave for the Chicago Bulls.

INJURY PROBLEMS Injuries, which posed all sorts of problems for the Lakers last season, have once again rocked the team.

16EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 167 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

IF IT AIN’T BROKE, WHY FIX? SBP regional head Cua thinks it’s not time to shake things up

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

F

njb@edgedavao.net

OR outspoken Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) regional director Regino “Boy” Cua, it is still too early to tinker on the Philippine national men’s basketball team more popularly known as SMART Gilas Pilipinas.

Cua opened up on the subject after basketball buzz surfaced anew following the announcement made by the SBP that the Gilas Pilipinas which recently played in the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games has been disbanded.

Cua personally attended the meeting held last October 28 in Manila called by SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan.

“Na-surprise lang ako na

nagpatawag sila ng meeting.

Di naman sinabi na about sa Gilas ito,” said Cua in an interview with Edge Davao.

The meeting was also attended by SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud, Patrick Gregorio of the MVP Sports Foundation and regional directors of the SBP. “Pinatawag kami ni MVP so kailangan umattend kami.

We took up the Gilas situation and we were told it will be disbanded muna,” Cua said.

The long-time basketball benefactor of Davao City, who oftentimes had to shell out from his own pocket to run tournaments here, said that he personally believe the timing was not right to make

any decisions on the national team.

“Masyadong maaga pa para papalitan mo at gagawa ka ng bagong team. Wala pa namang laro at kabubukas pa lang ng PBA,” Cua said.

“Para sa akin di pa kailangan magpalit ng tao—playars and coach.”

Yahoo Sports reported early this week that fans of Gilas Pilipinas were abuzz after the PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced the formation of a selection committee that would spearhead the formation of the next team that will represent the Philippines in international basketball.

Cua clarified that they never discussed the fate of

FIF IT, 10

TOP NETTER. Shaira Hope Rivera, 15, of Sta. Ana National High School captured three titles in the 4th Dr. Elias Dacudao Junior Tennis Tournament held recently

at the Ecoland 1 Tennis Center. Rivera ruled the girls' 18 under singles, 16 under singles and girls 18 doubles categories. (Contributed photo by Rye Sison)