Edge Davao 7 Issue 214

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

POPE MANIA. A vendor inside San Pedro Cathedral compound in Davao City holds a miniature replica of Pope Francis, which has been a hot item since the announcement of his Philippine visit last year. Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in Manila today. Lean Daval Jr.

P.5-MILLION FINE City gov’t to penalize Indian dorm operator

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

N official of Davao City’s Business Bureau yesterday said the Davao Medical Education Management Services (DMEMS), which provides lodging and accommodation services to about 1,200 Indian medical students of the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) in three dormitories, will be fined

P516,703 due to failure to pay tax and lack of permit.

A source who requested anonymity said DMEMS filed to pay tax from the period July 2013 to December 2014.

The source said the fine was based on the “presumptive income level” and can still go up.

DMEMS is the local

partner of India-based firm Transworld Education Academy Pvt. Ltd headed by Dr. David Pillai which is in partnership with DMSF to bring Indian medical students to Davao City to study at the school.

The Business Bureau source also said DMEMS does not have a permit to operate the dormitories locat-

ed in Bajada, Jacinto Street, and near Bankerohan.

Meanwhile, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 11 regional director Raul C. Alvarez, Jr. confirmed that DMSF has exceeded the prescribed number of enrolled foreign students for this school year.

In an interview with

FP .5-M, 14

INSIDE EDGE CAVS LOSE 6TH STRAIGHT

LeBron’s 33 points in return not enough

SPORTS page 15

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

DEFENSE. Transworld International Academy president Dr. David Pillai answers the allegations and grievances on dormitory policies made by some Indian medical students against him and Davao Medical Education Management Services (DMEMS) chief operating officer Dr. Ashin Mohan. Pillai was a guest in yesterday’s Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo, Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

City gov’t creates body to enforce dev’t plan

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Government issued an order for the creation of a body that will handle the implementation of the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 49 series of 2014 implementing the creation of the PRDP-City Program Management and Implementing Unit (CPMIU) of the DA. The executive order was released on January 9.

The CPMIU is the requirement to conform to the program design of PRDP-DA which covers all provinces and cities in the Philippines.

The local government units identified to partici-

pate in the implementation of the project are required to create or strengthen their program management units.

The PRDP is on its pre-implementation stage.

The CPMIU will be headed by City Planning and Development Coordinator Marcelino P. Escalada.

The unit will assist in the social assessment of the city and manages the overall program implementation. It will also provide assistance to the program implementers, implementation support, and capacity building to the barangay units.

CPMIU will serve as program facilitator and coordinator in the city level and conduct assessment of implementation, meetings, and

HE Davao City Council will prioritize the proposed mandatory installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in buses plying in the city.

In an interview, committee on transportation and communication chair councilor Tomas J. Monteverde IV told Edge Davao that he will expedite the discussion as soon as his committee receives the request of Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head

Francisco Villaroman.

Monteverde said the matter needs to be prioritized because it is a matter of public security.

Villaroman had earlier said he will ask the City Council for an ordinance on his proposal to oblige all bus companies to put up CCTV cameras in every bus.

He came up with the proposal in light of the deadly bus bombing in Maramag, Bukidnon last month that killed 10 people and injured

FCITY, 14

Death of Indian student behind strict dorm rules

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

S

crc@edgedavao.net

EVERAL incidents in the past triggered the stricter implementation of rules for Indian medical students housed in three dormitories run by the Davao Medical Education Management Services (DMEMS).

In an exclusive interview yesterday, DMEMS chief operating officer Dr. Ashin Mohan said the worst incident was the death of Vijay Baskar Paneer Selvam, an incoming medical student of the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) in 2011.

Based on the police blotter report at the Sta. Ana Police Station, Vijay died of drowning at Isla Reta Resort in Talikud Island at around 5:45 a.m. on

May 30, 2011.

The police report said Vijay was last seen partying with three Indian friends and one Filipina on the night of May 29, 2011.

He was next seen already dead, his body floating on the danger zone of the beach resort around 5:45 a.m. the next day.

Transworld Education Academy Pvt.Ltd. chair and chief executive officer Dr. David K. Pillai told reporters in yesterday’s Club 888 Forum that the Indian government is putting the blame on him and on the school even though Vijay was not recruited by his firm.

Another incident trans-

20 others.

Monteverde said he will study that matter in a proper committee hearing.

“The intention of General Villaroman is to secure the passengers inside the bus but the hindrance of this is the cost,” he said.

He said he will call all the operators to discuss the proposal once it reaches the committee level.

“We will explain to them that the purpose of this plan is to enhance the security of

the passengers,” he said.

Monteverde said if the companies agree with the proposal, he will immediately introduce it in the plenary for approval.

Last December, Villaroman called a meeting to all the operators in the city for the mandatory installation of CCTV in their bus units.

He said if this is approved, all bus companies will be required to install CCTV cameras in their units before their permits are renewed. [ABF]

pired just last year when three Indian students who said they would be traveling to Cebu went to Cotabato instead.

Pillai said the management of the dormitories just want to make sure the Indian students are safe during the duration of their stay in Davao as medical students in DMSF. “Most of these students are from middle class families in India who are just probably borrowing money from anyone just to be able to send their children here,” he added.

Pillai also clarified that the rules and regulations imposed in the dormitories were formulated not by Transworld but by the school itself.

He said DMSF signed an af-

fidavit to comply with the policy of Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

In the signed affidavit, DMSF took all the responsibility on the general welfare of the Indian and other foreign students who are studying in the school.

Pillai said the DMSF is now looking into the possibility of revising the amount of penalties to be imposed, which the students have said are too hefty.

At the same time, Pillai said not a single student has been made to pay the penalty since the implementation of rules and regulations on September 1, 2014.

FDEATH, 14

faithful to attend Council prioritizes CCTV cams in buses 80K Pope’s Tacloban mass T A

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

ROUND 80,000 delegates are expected to attend the mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis at the Daniel Z. Romualdo Airport in Tacloban City on January 17.

In an interview, mass event coordinator Father Isagani Betilos said the apron where Pope Francis will hold his first mass in Tacloban can

accommodate around 58,000 people.

They have, however, allocated space for late registrants that can accommodate around 30,000 individuals.

“Since we can only accommodate around 58,000 we divided them by quadrants or per cubicle. Our measurement is two people per square me-

F80K, 14

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

3

BIFF topples power tower A

STEEL tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in a remote village here was toppled allegedly by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) Tuesday night, causing an almost threehour blackout in most parts of the province and neighboring North Cotabato, the military said.

A press statement from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said elements of the 7th Infantry Battalion and Pagalungan police, together with NGCP personnel, went to the blast site to investigate.

Three improvised explosive devices (IED) using 81mm and 60mm mortar rounds were reportedly taped on three of the four posts of Tower 26 in Barangay Galakit here.

The IEDs were detonated simultaneously at 9:10 p.m. using a cellphone, according to Capt. Jo-Ann Penglay, 6ID spokesperson.

“The attack, although did not cause loss of lives, is obviously intended to sabotage the normalcy and the peaceful situation in the area,” the 6ID press statement said. “It’s effect to the economic activity in affected areas could not be taken for granted even if power came back after almost three hours of blackout,” it added.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo R. Pangilinan, 6ID commander, gave orders to provide security to NGCP personnel who will be fixing the toppled tower.

Penglay said that there have been threats to topple NGCP’s power lines and a few have been prevented, but not this one.

According to Army soldiers and members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) belonging to the 7th Infantry Battalion stationed not far from the tower, the explosion was so loud.

Then light disappeared immediately with the blackout that followed.

RIME incidence in Region 12 has dropped by about 23 percent last year as the peace and order situation in most parts of the region continued to improve.

Chief Supt. Lester Camba, Region 12 police director, said the intensified law enforcement and security operations of local police units helped deter the occurrence of crime-related incidents, which reached a total of 31,668 in 2014.

He said such figure was 9,660 lower than the recorded crime volume of 41,328 in 2013 in the entire region.

“We made a significant mark in terms of lowering our

crime volume in 2014 and we will intensify further our fight against criminalities this year,” Camba said during the traditional New Year’s Call of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 on Monday.

The New Year’s Call is an annual activity wherein members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) pay a courtesy call on their commanders or key officials in their respective areas of responsibility.

Aside from the reduced crime volume, the official said the ability of local police units to investigate and resolve crimes also improved last year.

TOPPLED TOWER. Soldiers check out Tower 26 of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission line located in Barangay Galakit, Pagalungan, Maguindanao, which was toppled allegedly by the Bangsamoro

Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) Tuesday night, causing blackouts in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. An improvised explosive device (IED) was planted on its steel foundation. MindaNews photo by Ferdinandh Cabrera

Region 12 crimes drop 23% in 2014 Surigao suspends classes due to rains C C He said such situation could be seen with the increase in the overall crime solution efficiency of the region to 38.33 percent last year from the previous 36.12 percent.

In terms of the operations against illegal drugs, Camba said they were able to launch a total of 517 raids and buybusts from January to December 2014.

He said these operations led to the arrest of 700 suspected illegal drug pushers and couriers, majority of whom were already charged in local courts and prosecution offices.

The anti-illegal drug operations resulted to the recovery of 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and 8.8 kilograms of dried marijuana that were valued at P24 million, he said.

For this year, Camba said they have set various strategies to further improve the peace and order and security situation in the entire region.

He said they are specifically looking into various security setbacks, among them the deadly bomb attacks in North Cotabato and other parts of Region 12 last year.

FREGION, 14

LASSES here have been suspended because of torrential rains since Tuesday, a government official announced.

This despite the weather bureau’s advisory that the tropical depression spotted 1,560 kilometers east of Northern Mindanao has “low possibility of making landfall.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its weather advisory dispatched 10:30 a.m. today that the tropical depression, to be named “Amang” once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility, is expected to intensi-

fy into a storm but “predicted to weaken as it approaches the eastern seaboard.”

Surigao City acting Vice Mayor Danilo Menor has declared no classes in the preschool and elementary level.

“The continuous moderate to heavy rains could possibly trigger flashfloods and landslides to some vulnerable areas,” he said.

PAGASA-Surigao, through forecaster Frances Semorlan, has raised an “alert level 1” as rains reached 23.6mm as of 5 a.m. today.

“All are alerted to take precautionary measures,” said Annette Villaces, of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

200 CDO folks fly to Manila for Pope

A

PEOPLE’S POPE. Passersby stop and look at the huge streamer of Pope Francis placed at the main entrance gate of San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

T least 200 residents here left for Manila on Wednesday to participate in the activities lined up for the visit of Pope Francis this week.

Monsignor Elmer Abacahin of the Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese said the delegation, headed by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma is composed of priests and nuns, families and the youth.

Abacahin said the family members—already pre-selected by different dioceses — including the Sendong survivors, will attend the activity with Pope Francis at the Mall of Asia on Friday.

He said the youth delega-

tion including students from Xavier University will be with thousands of youngsters from all parts of the country who will be meeting Pope Francis at the Sports field in the University of Santo Tomas Sunday morning.

“Everyone is very happy.

When they start leaving on Wednesday everyone will be in a festive mood,” Abacahin said.

Pope Francis , spiritual leader of the 76 million Catholics in the country will also visit Tacloban, Leyte to meet with the people who survived the devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda last

F200, 14

4 BIGGER PICTURE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

FRAMERS OF 1987 CONSTITUTION:

Bangsamoro is about people, not about constitutionality of words

“

BANGSAMORO is about the development of people, not about the constitutionality of words,” surviving members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission (ConCom) that drafted the 1987 Constitution said in a statement.

The seven-page statement and two-page Executive Summary dated January 9 but released on January 12 was signed by 14 of 18 surviving members of the ConCom, who also expressed they “fully support the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region” as its importance to the future of the country is “unprecedented both as an unfulfilled promise and as a model of equitable autonomy.”

“The core principle of the 1987 Constitution in mandating a special status for the autonomous regions is the human development of the people of Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras. Hence, the public conversation should not be about semantics but about people – their needs, their aspirations, their choic-

es – and about empowering them with the environment and institutional framework for social justice,” the framers, among them a former Supreme Court justice, an Associate Justice, two Commission on Election chairs and a commissioner, legal luminaries and a bishop, said.

“Reason tells us that a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region can close the centuries- old gap between law and justice and that we are on the cusp of a historic opportunity to make it happen,” the framers said as they noted that the central theme of the 1987 Constitution was “social justice that calls for genuine social change,” that this is broader in scope and intent than the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions, and that “an interpretation of any relevant provision of the Constitution that results in war and abject poverty would be contrary to its intention,” they said.

The framers believe that a new organic law – in this case the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) — “is necessary to fulfill the vision and spirit

that guided the constitutional provisions on autonomous regions since RA 6734 and RA 9054 (the Organic Acts creating and amending the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) have clearly not gone far enough to give life to the concept of autonomy for Muslim Mindanao as envisioned by the Constitution.”

“We were aware in 1986 that we were imperfect instruments of the sovereign will of our people But however imperfect our perceptions then or our fading memories today, recurring questions on the ‘constitutionality’ of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) lead us to offer our insights,” the statement said.

The statement comes barely a week before Congress, which is deliberating the BBL, resumes sessions.

The House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law is about to complete its public hearings, expecting to fin-

ish the Committee report by February 11 for the plenary debates that would start on February 16.

Two Senate Committees under Senators Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, are still completing their hearings.

The issue on alleged unconstitutionality of some provisions in the BBL has been repeatedly cited during the public hearings and will be the subject of Senator Santiago’s hearings.

Real issue But the framers of the 1987 Constitution said the Bangsamoro “is about the development of people, not about the constitutionality of words.”

The framers quoted a testimony of an old man from the Cordilleras, which they said is “instructive on the real issue that should be considered” as he said they asked for a teacher, a person to repair their road, a doctor but government sent none, and that government men came with a project to build a dam and sent in the Philippine

background.

Many have died and only a smattering of families have passed their art from generation to generation as the age of digital technology has overtaken the world.

However, a few of these precious remaining relics have been preserved and they are now displayed for public viewing in some museums like the Yuchengco Museum Ayala Ave. in Makati City and sometimes

at the UP Museum in Diliman, Quezon City.

Fantastic hand-woven textile collections of writer, fashion and theater artist Floy Quintos are available for viewing from January until the end of February 2015 at the 3/F Bridgeway Gallery at Yuchengco Museum.

Philippine indigenous textiles are not just objects of beauty and inspiration.

Their threads, colors, motifs, and patterns reveal stories about the weaver’s culture and the surprisingly methodical work that goes into these fabrics.

They showcase intricate ornamentation, meticulous patterns, and mythical stories linked to the world of magic and spirits.

With careful study and analysis, textiles unveil a complex, mythic, and minute universe.

Quintos’ collection of Woven Universes: Math, Method,

FOR THE PEOPLE. MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal meets with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a courtesy call in Davao City last week. Lean Daval Jr. Constabulary and ARMM … which “we did not ask for.”

“It is a simple statement but one that has far-reaching implications on public policy – the people of the Cordilleras and of Muslim Mindanao do not want war. They want human development and they want to be heard. And the government needs to listen.

This is mandated by a new provision in the 1987 Constitution on the right of the peo-

ple and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision- making,” the framers’ Executive Summary said.

The framers said the “larger context” of the CAB and BBL “is our failure to effectively address the longest running insurgency and the development of our peoples, especially those of Muslim

Meaning, and Magic in Philippine Indigenous Textiles, an exhibit of close to 40 fabrics and clothing is a thrilling example Woven Universes highlights the traits inherent to the creation and usage of the textiles woven by various indigenous peoples from all over the Philippines.

Philippine indigenous textiles are not just objects of beauty and inspiration. Their threads, colors, motifs, and patterns reveal stories about the weaver’s culture and the surprisingly methodical work.

Another lovely thing at the Yuchengco Museum is the Interact at the Samsung Digital Gallery wherein Samsung Electronics Philippines (SEPCO)has tied up with Yuchengco Museum in a long-term partnership to launch a permanent digital gallery on the third floor of the museum.

Named the Samsung Digital Gallery, the space allows

visitors to interact with digitized artworks by Filipinos masters and contemporary artists through the use of Samsung tablets and augmented reality technology.

The Samsung Digital Gallery provides the new generation of museum visitors a new way of further engaging and interacting with Filipino art.

This also enables Yuchengco Museum to further its mission to promote the appreciation of art, culture, and history amongst its various audiences.

The Samsung Digital Gallery uses technology to bring back the passion for visiting museums and appreciating the joy of viewing art.

The Samsung Digital Gallery hopes to evolve with the audiences’ rapid adoption of new technologies.

The gallery is dedicated to the digital generation, to whom our cultural heritage will hopefully and faithfully be passed on to. (PNA)

FBANGSAMORO, 14

Yuchengco Museum shows wealth of Filipino art weaving and fabrics

P

HILIPPINE indigenous textiles are getting rarer than ever as the traditional weavers and their hand-woven style by providing meaning, magic, math, and method have faded in the

Yuchengco Museum

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Philexport prexy urges exporters in Mindanao to tap Europe market

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

E

XPORTERS in Mindanao have been to tap the 50-million market population of Europe as the tariff for more than a hundred of food and agricultural products and commodities from the Philippines went to as low as zero.

Speaking in yesterday’s Club 888 media forum at Marco Polo Davao, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport)-Davao chapter president Ferdinand Marañon said exporters in Mindanao, specifically in the Davao Region, should take advantage of this opportunity that will only be available in the next 10 years.

Marañon said it’s high time for exporters and even small and medium enterprises(SMEs) to improve and upgrade their food products in order to pass the standard of the European market.

Exporters and SMEs should tap various assis-

tance given by the Department of Trade and Industry for product improvement for value adding, according to him..

“The ball is now within the hands of exporters. It’s really up to us if we want to take this opportunity or not,” Marañon said.

Last December 24, the Philippines was able to secure general scheme of preference plus (GSP+) status from the European Union (EU).

The Philippines is the 14th country and the only member state in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) that was granted GSP+ status.

Under the EU GSP+ scheme, exporters from the Philippines will be able to enjoy zero duty for all 6,274 covered products aside from the 2,442 products and 3,767 subject to reduced tariffs covered under the general GSP that the country first applied.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport)-Davao chapter president Ferdinand Marañon (right) stresses a point in yesterday’s Club 888 media forum

FPHILEXPORT, 14 at Marco Polo Davao. At left is Raf Vlummens Raf Vlummens, founder and president of Philexport Davao partner Exportdesk.eu. Lean Daval Jr.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Davao biz survival rate up

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE survival rate of businesses operating in Davao City went up to 86 percent in 2014 from 84.68 percent recorded in 2013.

Davao City Investment and Promotions Center officer-in-charge Ivan C. Cortez on Monday said the survival rate for 2014 may go as high as 90 percent once the pending applications are

processed by this month.

Cortez said that the businesses’ survival rate in Davao City has been increasing for the past eight years, with the highest ever recorded by the Business Bureau at 90.41 percent back in 2008.

In 2009, the survival rate was 82.48 percen while in 2010 it was 82.73 percent. In 2011 the rate was at

84.22 percent and in 2012 it was set at 85.09 percent.

Cortez said Davao City’s survival rate is far much more better compared to other cities in the country which have about a survival rate of only 60 to 70 percent.

The improvement in the survival of businesses here was contributed to low inflation rate, low cost of pro-

duction and labor, according to Cortez.

He added that a high survival rate means that the business climate in Davao City is doing well and stable and that businesses are enjoying their profits.

Most business establishments that closed in 2014.

Cortez said, were from the retailing sector like sari-sari stores and mostly from the

micro,small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Another sector that has also recorded most closure was those that were selling guns and ammos.

According to a reliable source who also owns a guns and ammuniion shop, there were about five shops that closed last year. The source added that the strict administration of suspend-

ed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Allan Purisima was among the reasons many gun shops closed last year.

Cortez said DCIPC is now in close coordination with Davao City SMEs Development Council for formulation of programs that will help small businesses to survive the growing business sector of Davao City.

also lower than the government’s seven to eight percent target.

In a briefing for the release of WB’s Philippine Economic Update (PEU) Wednesday, WB Senior Country Economist Karl Kendrick Chua said last year was “a very special year” for the country despite slower output up to the third quarter.

He said the impact of Typhoon Yolanda on the economy and on government spending along with the result of the Supreme Court (SC) decision against the continued implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority De-

velopment Assistance Fund (PDAF) disadvantaged the government’s spending program.

As of the third quarter of 2014, the economy’s output, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), stood at 5.8 percent while the third quarter level alone stood at 5.3 percent, lower than quarter-ago’s 6.4 percent and year-ago’s seven percent.

Despite the slower growth as of end-September 2014, the domestic economy posted its 11th over five-percent quarterly growth, among the highest in Asia to date.

Chua said higher invest-

jects.” He cited that traders complained of some stocks mixed with soil or even battery solution to increase weight.

He said small local producers do not know that the scheme is doing a boomerang as traders become hesitant in buying locally produced rubber, or want to buy it at a cheaper price.

Buying stations in Bukidnon and North Cotabato, Merla noted, are willing to pay P36 to P48 per kilo of good quality cup lumps but some would pay only P26 to P30 due to the problem.

One more problem in the local rubber industry, he added, is the lack of an industry consolidator – one that can process rubber cup lumps to rubber crepe, which is the form in demand by tire producers like Yokohama in Pampanga.

He said at the moment a mix of locally-based and mobile traders buy cup lumps.

But Merla said small rubber farmers can command a bigger price if they have the option to sell the stocks or have these processed for a fee and be the one to sell rubber

crepe.

He added that the Central Mindanao University, which runs a processing facility, can be the consolidator.

But Merla stressed this is just a secondary concern compared to the need to improve quality.

He said CMU and Mountain View College have the biggest rubber plantations in the province, which as of 2013 has a total of 6,000 hectares planted to rubber.

Merla said DTI’s intervention to address the problem of quality is to organize the small rubber farmers and help them to improve their skills. He added that DTI organized a rubber production (budding and tapping) seminar in 2013 where about 50 farmers were trained.

On January 26, the DTI is also holding a follow up training with safety measures as new input in preparation for a competency assessment with the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA). The training, in cooperation with CMU, will be held free of charge at the university’s Farmers’ Training Center.

WB sees sustained growth for Phl from 2014 to 2016 T

HE World Bank (WB) continues to see above-trend growth for the Philippines even as it cut its growth forecast for the country anew.

The WB now projects a six percent expansion for the domestic economy this year and 6.5 percent for 2015. These are lower than the 6.6 percent and 6.7 percent downwardly revised forecast it issued the second half of 2014.

These are lower than the government’s 6.5-7.5 percent growth target for 2014 and seven to eight percent target next year.

For 2016, the WB eyes a 6.5 percent expansion for the domestic economy,

FWB, 14

Bukidnon rubber industry needs to improve quality The prices of fish products and other sea produce at Agdao Public Market in Davao City, which went up at least P20 to P40 per kilo during the Christmas season, are starting to normalize. Lean Daval Jr.

Damosa Land exhibit celebrates Papal visit A

FTER much anticipation and preparation for the visit of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis finally arrives in the Philippines. The Pope, known as “The People’s Pope,” will be having his five-day apostolic visit, including the areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, particularly Tacloban, in his itinerary.

Damosa Land celebrates this historic event with an exhibit that relives the memories of times past when Davao City was once host to a Papal visit as well.

The vintage Ford Bronco unit, which once served as a

Popemobile, from Davao Motor Sales (DAMOSA) is now the main attraction of the exhibit at the Damosa Market Basket in Lanang. DAMOSA, the premier dealer of Ford vehicles in the 80’s, has now become Damosa Land, Inc., the real estate company of ANFLOCOR. Along with the Popemobile are memorabilia of the second Papal visit and other items about the current Papal visit of Pope Francis.

Three decades ago, former Pope and now Saint John Paul II visited the Philippines, to mark the second Papal visitin the country.This became more significant to Davaoeños when

he visited the City on February 20, 1981.

He celebrated Mass amidst a sea of people and metwith the representatives of the Muslim community at the old airport in Sasa. On board the Ford Bronco unit, St. John Paul IIgreeted the crowd who eagerly awaited his arrival.

To know more about the historical visit of Saint John Paul II in Davao City and to enjoin the rest of the country in celebrating the Papal visit of Pope Francis, everyone is invited to visit the exhibit for free, which will be open from January 15-18, 2015 at 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

T

HE rubber industry is an emerging industry in Bukidnon but small rubber farmers need to improve quality of production to be able to command a good price, an official from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here said.

Junar Merla, senior trade and industry development specialist at DTI-Bukidnon, said local producers need to improve their practices to increase quality of latex, the natural extract from the rubber tree that is highly in demand in the Philippines and other countries.

Bukidnon rubber producers, Merla added, are looking at the big market in China as they increase production. But he said in one of DTI’s assessments that poor quality is one issue confronting the industry.

He cited that there is a need to train and improve the skills of rubber tappers and handlers to ensure good quality of latex.

Merla said traders expressed dismay that they found rubber cup lumps sold to them by local suppliers mixed with “foreign ob-

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Sheep raising industry remains underdeveloped Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“

THE animals are generally held in low esteem,” Dr. Jose Rizal once wrote about the sheep. It may have been written more than a hundred years ago, but his observation holds true even today.

Statistics from the Department of Agriculture have shown that the Philippine sheep population in 1903 totaled 30,428. In 1935, it grew to 140,041 head, but it went down drastically to 26,000 head years later.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sheep population in the country stagnated from 30,000 in 1992 to the same population in 2002. In comparison, Myanmar’s 284,200 heads in 2002 went up to 431,500 heads in 2002.

What’s the reason for the underdevelopment of the sheep industry in the Philippines despite the animal’s enormous economic potential?

“Sheep as a commodity had very low priority as far as research and development were concerned,” explained Dr. Patricio Faylon, when he was still the director of the Livestock Research Division of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep – which are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia – are raised for fleece, meat (lamb, hogget, or mutton) and milk. A sheep’s wool is the most widely used animal fiber, and is usually harvested by shearing. Ovine meat is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones.

Sheep and goats are closely related as both are in the subfamily Caprinae. But they are separate species, so hybrids rarely occur, and are always infertile. A hybrid of a ewe and a buck (a male goat) is called a sheep-goat hybrid (only a single such animal has been confirmed).

Visual differences between sheep and goats include the beard and divided upper lip of goats. Sheep tails also hang down, even when short or docked, while the short tails of goats are held upwards. Sheep

Barbados black belly sheep

breeds are also often naturally polled (either in both sexes or just in the female), while naturally polled goats are rare (though many are polled artificially). Males of the two species differ in that buck goats acquire a unique and strong odor during the rut, whereas rams do not.

In the Philippines, sheep has a long history. It was introduced here during the Spanish era. In fact, the sheep we call “native” today is really the Spanish Merino brought to the country by the Spaniards during the Galleon Trade between Mexico and the Philippines.

Sheep raising became quite popular by the mid1930s. But due to the breeders’ lack of knowledge on the scientific rearing of the sheep, the health of the country’s stock deteriorated and population dwindled steadily. Animal experts are urging Filipinos to raise more sheep. It’s a better animal to raise than goat, they claim.

Aside from the “native sheep,” other breeds of sheep raised in the country include the crosses of Shropsire, Southdowners, Poll Dorset, Rambouillet and Suffolk. In recent years, Barbados Black Belly sheep were introduced into the country by religious missions and international civic organizations. The latter has been observed to be adaptable to the Philippine conditions.

“Barbados Black Belly is to sheep what Anglo-Nubian is to goats,” said Harold Watson, when he was still the director of the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC). In 1985, he received a Ramon Magsaysay award for encouraging international utilization of sustainable farming systems in the region.

What are the advantages of raising sheep over other animals, particularly goats?

“Sheep is one of the most productive and economical animals that Filipinos can raise,” admits Oscar Barzaga, an airline pilot who raises sheep in his farm in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Singling out goats in comparison, Barzaga enumerates several advantages: “The goats were unruly, ate the bark of my trees, and did not multiply enough. On the other hand, the sheep are quiet, docile, and multiply rapidly.”

Unlike goats, which are

browsing animals, sheep are grazers that like to feed on short grass. Sheep are extremely hard animals that can survive with little or no care.

Newborn lambs, for instance, do not need any human intervention to survive. The only care practiced by some sheep farmers on the newborn is to apply tincture of iodine on their navel to prevent infection of the umbilical cord.

Sheep has been found to be more resistant to parasites, both internal and external, and respiratory diseases than goats. They can, in addition, better stand inclement weather, including typhoons. Sheep, even those with a low dressing percentage, can produce more meat than goats.

“Since mutton (the sheep of the meat) can replace beef, carabeef, or pork in the Filipino diet, sheep production on a granted scale at the backyard level by millions of small farmers could help meet the people’s increasing need for quality meat and meat products,” said Roy C. Alimoane, the current director of MBRLC. Sheep raising is a sound alternative source of income, employment, and nutrition for small farmers, according to Alimoane, especially when farm size in the country is shrinking.

Aside from meat, sheep can also provide skins and hides for the country’s leather industry, which currently imports a substantial portion of its raw material requirements. “Raising sheep has excellent potential in the Philippines,” Alimoane said and cited a study of sheep raising conducted by the University of the Philippines at Los Baños.

The study, he said, shows that the indifference of Filipinos to sheep raising is due mainly to lack of a marketing system and appropriate technology.

Sheep can be raised under plantation crops like coconut, coffee, and orchard among others. The plantation crops must be at least three years old before sheep are brought into the farm. Experts are not recommending using sheep as weeders in black pepper farms since the animals have been found to relish the crop.

Sheep can also be raised together with cattle. There’s one problem though: both livestock will compete for the same forage. Raising goats and sheep together is not advisable

Flock of sheep

Sheep since both animals can pass on to each other parasite, which are common to both animals.

Among the common parasites are coccidian, stomach fluke, tapeworms, nematodes, and lice and ticks.

Sheep are ruminants, that is, they have a multiple-compartment stomach containing microbes that are able to digest forages (grasses, legumes, or shrubs). Sheep can survive solely on forage without grain supplementation, provided there is forage of sufficient quality and quantity.

Generally, sheep get most of their nutritional needs from the following: silage, grains, and pasture.

Silage is a succulent variety of fodder for sheep. It is composed mainly of plant material from corn, oats and others and kept in a silo covered by plastic. Its moisture content is high and a good source nutrient for your sheep. The lactic acid that builds up during its production serves as a preservative for your stock supply.

Grains are used for supplemental nutrition in the whole diet plan of your sheep herd.

Corn, soybean as well as oat, sorghum and wheat are used extensively for grain feeding.

As a meal replacement each type of grain has its nutritional value at the top of the chain are corns and soybean. To help you choose which grain is best for you try to figure in the costs of each grain choice and from there you can make an assessment.

Pasture is the main and staple source of food for your sheep. Having a good supply of pasture in fact is enough to meet the needs of your sheep with respect to their nutritional requirements. The ideal

Sheep house pasture would be composed of leafy vegetation no more than six inches tall.

All these available food sources should be supplemented with minerals and salts so that your sheep flock will have better performance in late pregnancy.

Fencing may be one of the most important components of a successful sheep operation. A properly designed and constructed fence will keep the sheep in and predators out. Traditionally, woven wire has been used as sheep fence.

However, the expense of woven wire is quite high and it is difficult to justify fencing large areas in woven wire fence. The perimeter fence around the entire area where the sheep are going to be contained must be of high quality material. If woven wire is used, posts must be put close enough together so that animals (the sheep and predators) cannot get through.

Building internal cross fences – which divide the pasture within the perimeter – do not need to be as secure or permanent as the perimeter fence. There are several types of portable, temporary fencing material available that are easily moved and can be utilized to cross fence pastures as forage growth changes or as number of animals changes. These types of fences can be easily moved by one person and are very useful in keeping sheep where you want to keep them.

Marketing these products is probably where most sheep owners fail in their total operation. Much time and effort is required to develop your own market, but the payoffs can be very high.

Nilo Casas is an avid goat raiser who is very much convinced that there is money in raising sheep. He maintains

two sheep and goat farms. One is an 18 hectare farm in Masbate and the other, a smaller 5-hectare farm in Kawit, Cavite where all his ruminants roam freely to pasture in verdant grasslands.

According to him, the demand peaks for sheep is during Christmas and Muslim holidays and when the Arab communities in the Philippines have their own celebrations. For Arabs, Casas said they buy only live sheep from him and they want it complete with ears and tail.

Another market is the growing number of overseas-based Filipino engineers who have already acquired the habit of cooking and eating mutton which they have acquired during the years they have stayed in various Arab countries.

In an article circulated by Philippine News Agency, Casas admitted he was able to earn more than a million pesos for selling 275 heads of sheep alone.

“Imagine this,” Casas was quoted as saying, “just say you have 50 heads of sheep. If you could sell that at P4,000 each— that’s already P200,000. How much does a Filipino domestic helper in other countries earn – P35,000 a month? They could just come back here and raise sheep!”

Through the years, he has raised imported breeds, whose prices range between P25,000 and P35,000 per head. They are raised primarily for their meat, unlike in other countries, where some sheep are also raised for their good quality wool. In just a span of three to five months after birth, the sheep are sold live at prices ranging between P3,000 and P4,000. He sells his ewes for P5,000.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

EDITORIAL Welcome the People’s Pope

P

OPE FRANCIS’ visit to the Philippines is an occasion for celebration and much rejoicing. After all, even though the Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, our lands have seen the papal shadow only three times: Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1981 and then again in 1995. Each of these visits was greeted with frenzy by the Filipino faithful, eager as we have been to welcome the head of the dominant church and receive his blessings upon the people. This visit is no different, and perhaps the jubilation and revelry will be at a much more elevated level since Pope Francis’ presence has been on social media for months before his actual arrival.

More than that, Pope Francis is seen as one of the most popular and accessible pontiffs in recent history. His pronouncements for the poor have given much hope to the population, and his missives against corruption have touched a nerve in all of us as we fight our own battle against government mis-

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management and downright thievery. Even his radical view on alternative lifestyles is a welcome breath of fresh air in a society like ours that has long lived with these realities but have not found any relief from among the men of the cloth – many of whom condemn people for simply living out who they are and how they perceive themselves.

Pope Francis has also endeared himself to the Filipino people by his simplicity and his propensity to shy away from attention. He has even gone to the point of telling Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle that he wished for the people to look at him less and focus on Jesus more. Coming from the head of the Church himself, this is quite a statement – one that reflects a deep humility that we can only wish our country’s leaders would emulate.

Today we celebrate with the nation as we welcome the one dubbed the People’s Pope, and hope that his visit will result in a change in all of us as we seek to push our country forward.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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L

AST December, during the holiday season, I received several gifts -- from friends, acquaintances, and family members. Just five days after the New Year’s celebration, I accepted numerous gifts again; the reason, it was my birthday.

I think people who have given gifts expect those who receive them to be acknowledged. A text message may be the best way and fastest way. Or, a post in the person’s Facebook account may likewise do the trick.

But how soon should you do that acknowledgement? “As soon as possible,” wrote Alyson Ward of McClatchy Newspapers. “Writing within a few days is ideal. A few weeks is acceptable. After that, it gets sticky. But how late is too late? Never, etiquette experts tell us. Just because it’s been six months, you’re not off the hook.

No matter how long it’s been, you still received a kind gift -- and you’re probably still grateful. What a load off your guilty mind to simple write the note.”

Jarod Kintz, author of This Book is Not FOR SALE, wrote: “I guess I should be thankful. Full of thank. But what is thank?

I can’t eat thank, so I know my stomach isn’t full of thank. I can’t smell or breathe thank, so I know my lungs aren’t full of thank. I’m not even sure how much thank I could fit in the trunk of my car. But I do know one thing. It’s much easier to give thanks than something that actually costs money to give.”

Some years ago, I had the opportunity of visiting my sister in Livingston, Montana (they now live in Grand Rapids, Minnesota). I stayed for almost a month and when it was time to return back to the Phil-

S

ERVANT Leadership was coined and popularized by Robert K. Greenleaf in his 1970 essay “The Servant as Leader.” Its tenets are still popularly held these days, enriching the lives of not only those at the receiving end of its principles, but also the very people who practiced it.

Wait, I know what you’re thinking: it’s a 45-year old belief system that is potentially considered ancient. It might interest you to know that Servant Leadership is widely adopted by many of the most successful organizations in the world. In fact, three of the top five of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2013 are Servant Leadership companies (SAS #2, CHG Healthcare Services #3, and Wegmans Food Market #5). For me, that means this leadership philosophy is timeless.

For the uninitiated, Servant Leadership may come across as an oxymoron: the two words contradict each other. Greenleaf brought these words together and gave it new meaning, and no less than the world’s top leadership development gurus—the likes of Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey, among many others—have embraced its principles, inspiring millions with their words and propelling organizations to success.

What makes this leadership philoso-

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Thank you! ippines, she THINK ON THESE! had to drive me for more than an hour to bring me to the airport in Bozeman.

A f t e r checking in, we had a sumptuous lunch togeth- Henrylito D. Tacio er. We talked for a few min- henrytacio@gmail.com utes before she bade goodbye. I was alone at the airport.

Now, I was ready to enter the departure area but before that, I had to undergo the routine check-up.

I was busy trying to find my papers when I noticed that the person before me was Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid (yes, the lead star of The Day After Tomorrow and The Parent Trap, to name a few). Next to him was an old lady carrying some heavy bags. “Can I carry some of them?” Dennis inquired.

The lady looked at him for a few minutes. “Sure,” she replied, and gave him her other bag. When we were inside the waiting area, the lady came to Dennis and said, “Thank you very much for helping me.”

“In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude.

It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others,” wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Letters and Papers from Prison.

“Saying thank you is more than good

manners. It is good spirituality,” said Alfred Painter. William Shakespeare, the touted Father of English literature, wrote, “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.”

“Thank you” may be simply said, but to a person receiving it, it means a lot. “Every morning of the world I give thanks for all the wonderful things in my life,” a young man declared enthusiastically. “And do you know something? It’s strange indeed, but the more I give thanks, the more I have reason to be thankful. For, you see, blessings just pile up on me one after another like nobody’s business.”

“None of us ever too busy to pay his way,” said David Dunn. “It takes only a few seconds to say a heart-warming ‘Thank you.’”

Look at former American President Theodore Roosevelt, who lived a more hurried and hectic life. Even on political campaign trips, when he was so busy and could hardly take a deep breath, he would excuse himself to go to small people and talk with them for few seconds. It was his custom before leaving his private train to thank the engineer and fireman for a safe and comfortable trip. “It took but a fraction of a minute of his time, but he had two more friends for the rest of his life,” Dunn said.

“Good politics,” most people say. “But good living too,” added Dunn. “For, after all, isn’t having friends the basis of happy living, as well as of successful politics?”

Dunn continued, “Nor I have found any situation in which thanks cannot be given.

You can thank even total strangers with a nod of the head, a gesture of the hand, a grateful glance – in jostling street crowds, in swaying subway trains, at the theatre, in

the quiet of a church service, anywhere at all, if you heart is saying, ‘Thank you.’”

Yes, we seldom pause to give thanks for the simple blessings of life. “One reason is that we are used to having so much,” Richard B. Douglas contended. “We simply assure that we will have all the good things of life.

“Another reason is that it hurts our pride to be grateful,” Douglas continued.

“We do not want to admit that God is the Provider of all good things. We are simply His stewards. Being thankful requires humility and faith in God. When we have these, we can be grateful.”

If you have to thank someone, do it now – before it’s too late. Do not wait for tomorrow for that day may not come anymore. A widow, who had spent long days and hours in the factory and at home raising her four children, lay exhausted and emaciated on her deathbed.

Around her stood the four of them, now grown-up men and women. The eldest son, in tears, said to her, “Mother, you have always been so good and kind to us. We want to thank you. We’re so proud of you.”

The mother opened her eyes and asked, “Why have you waited so long to tell me that? You never ever said so before.”

She turned her head away and died.

“Being in the habit of saying ‘Thank you,’ of making sure that people receive attention so they know you value them, of not presuming that people will always be there -- this is a good habit, regardless... make sure to give virtual and actual highfives to those who rock and rock hard.”

That’s what Sarah Wendell wrote in Everything I Know About Love I Learned from Romance Novels.

In search of Servant Leadership phy so special is that it is so effective that the leader who embraces and practices its tenet is able to harness the creativity, skills, and productivity of his organization’s most important asset -- its people. Companies who want to have the best employees, or those that want to improve the quality and calibre of their people, know that one sure-fire way to do so is to practice Servant Leadership.

Servant Leadership is driven by the motivation to help others become the best they can be, encouraging them to find and achieve their best qualities. Once others find their ‘greatness’, they work to the best of their capability, and it is this performance of excellence that will drive organizational success.

This is in stark contrast to the archaic type of leadership that only aims to accumulate power and wields it in ways that are often self-serving. These so-called leaders

are so lacking in real leadership vision, skills, and knowledge that they use the power embedded in their position to wallop anyone they perceive to be a threat to them. In the end, their acts only betray their insecurity, weakness, and mediocrity.

One of the tenets of Servant Leadership I find inspiring is Service to Others.

Oh, how difficult it is to find a leader so self-secure and grounded enough to be open to serve others. Service to Others does not mean the leader does the work for his people in what could be construed as serving. Instead what the leader does is ‘serve’ others by helping them realize their potentials to do their jobs to the best of their ability. This makes people feel good about themselves and motivates them to aim for excellence and take the extra mile on the job.

Another tenet is Holistic Approach to Work which Greenleaf explains to mean as “the work exists for the person as much as the person exists for the work.” This entails leaders to understand, respect, and put value not just on the work itself, but also on the person doing it. An employee who feels the leader is merely using him as a workhorse to get the job done, without regard to what he thinks or feels, might perform the task because he has to, but

will certainly not put in the extra effort to improve an average output.

Yes, employees will do their jobs because they are paid to do so, but most will give only the barest minimum or, worse, a second-rate, unremarkable output when they feel their leaders are exploiting them or taking them for granted. When we neglect or fail to value our people, they will not exhibit ideal employee behavior that exhibits ‘run to work’, ‘burning passion’, or ‘extra mile’. We then fail to get their commitment to work to attain long-term organizational goals that can lead us to success.

Some pundits argue that Servant Leadership has its own share of weaknesses which, they argue, is the reason it is not as prevalent around the globe. If this is true, I think it is only because not everyone is capable of taking on the challenge of practicing this leadership model. It takes a higher level of self-confidence, skills, and maturity to become a Servant Leader. In fact, I believe it takes someone with a greater calibre of leadership and incisive people skills to be successful at it. Those who possess these qualities will not only lead their organization to success; they become the true drivers of that success.

So, have you found your Servant Leaders yet?

10 ICT HUB EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Global Shapers Manila holds hackathon to improve SK

G

LOBAL Shapers Manila Hub, in partnership with Globe Telecom, is staging a two-day hackathon on January 15-16 at the Globe Valero Telepark in Makati City to address the challenges in creating a more transparent and accountable Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

Dubbed Shaping Davos, the hackathon will be part of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland to be held a week later.

Forty of the select Hubs worldwide will discuss 10 issues related to the theme of the meeting, with the Manila Hub assigned the topic “Working from the bottom up: The new future of governance.”

The Manila Hub is part of the Global Shapers community, a global program of WEF, and is composed of young extraordinary individuals with great potential for future lead-

ership roles in society, making it imperative for its members to look for ways to resolve concerns affecting the youth.

Globe is a staunch advocate of good governance initiatives, having conducted several leadership workshops such as LeadCom with Ayala Foundation Inc. and C@talyst also with Global Shapers Manila Hub to help produce effective and trustworthy leaders out of young Filipinos.

“Globe is committed to helping transform the youth into good citizens and future leaders,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

“At the same time, the company believes in the importance of innovation not only in creating new or better products and services but also in spurring good governance,” he added.

Thus, to bring youth good governance ideas to fruition,

Facebook adds AMBER alerts

F

ACEBOOK founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg the other day announced that the popular social networking site is launching “AMBER Alerts” to “use the power of our community to help find missing children.”

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen people using Facebook on their own to help find kids who have been abducted. This inspired a team of us here to build a better tool so you can use Facebook to help reunite families,” Zuckerberg said in a post on his timeline dated January 13.

“We care deeply about this work. Facebook isn’t just about sharing the moments in your life – it’s also about helping our community be a force for good in the world,” he added.

AMBER alert is a child abduction alert system in the US. In collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NC-

MEC), Facebook will now post geo-targeted AMBER Alerts to users’ news feeds in order to broaden search efforts for missing children.

The alerts, which can be re-shared by Facebook users on both mobile and desktops versions, will include photographs of the missing alongside any pertinent case details – including license plate numbers, names and physical descriptions of victims and suspects.

Though they will appear in news feeds, the alerts won’t set off phone notifications.

While Facebook users themselves have turned to the platform for years to help retrieve missing children, this marks the first time that such efforts are coming directly from the site.

Similarly, the company announced a “Safety Check” feature last October that, with a simple click, lets users affected by a disaster or crisis inform friends and family that they are safe.

Globe Labs and Globe CSR decided to support the hackathon by providing connectivity to incubate the apps that will be featured at the WEF. At the same time, Globe Labs will present its latest APIs (application program interface) which can be used in app development that may benefit the Sangguniang Kabataan in the exercise of its duties.

SK is a youth council in each barangay in the Philippines which represents teenagers from 15 to 17 years old.

It is supposed to lead the local youth program and projects of the government in the local village but is currently under fire for poor performance in coming up with legislations and promoting the development of young people.

The Manila Hub will also host Interactive panel discussions on the morning of January 15 which is open to

G

non-participants of the hackathon. The event will be graced by key personalities from the government such as Senator Bam Aquino and National Yo u t h Commission

Chairm a n G i o Tingson as well as the development sector like Transparency International-PH, and the media.

GlobeTel Singapore secures license to offer telco services

LOBETEL Singapore Pte. Ltd. has secured a facilities-based operations (FBO) license to provide international cable and other telecommunications services in Singapore.

GlobeTel Singapore is a wholly owned subsidiary of GTI Business Holdings, Inc. which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe.

In a statement, GlobeTelSingapore said its offer to provide international cable services will help strengthen connectivity between Singapore and the Philippines and provide support for businesses operating in the two countries.

Service offers by GlobeTel Singapore will also provide alternate and redundant cable paths from Singapore to Hong Kong and Japan transiting the Philippines, further strengthening connectivity within the

region.

Globe Telecom’s expansion of its operation in Singapore is in line with the telecommunication company’s goal to develop other growth areas within the ASEAN to complement relatively strong economic growth within the region.

This year, the ASEAN Economic Community sets in motion the creation of single market and production base for the 10-nation bloc fostering free flow of goods, services, skilled labor, investments and capital. The ASEAN member countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In recent years, Globe has been strengthening its network infrastructure in line with such goal. Recently, the Ayala-led telco provider joined a consortium of seven inter-

national telecommunication companies for the construction of a new submarine cable system directly connecting Southeast Asia and the United States (SEA-US).

Expected for completion in the last quarter of 2016 at project cost of approximately $250 million, the SEA-US undersea cable system will provide superior latency, delivering an additional 20Terabits per/ second capacity, utilizing the latest 100 gigabits per second transmission equipment. Such additional capacity will cater to the exponential growth of bandwidth between the two continents.

Linking five areas and territories that include Manado (Indonesia), Davao (Philippines), Piti (Guam), Oahu (Hawaii, United States) and Los Angeles (California, United States), the SEA-US project will be approximately 15,000

kilometers in length, provides route diversity from the North Pacific, avoiding earthquake prone areas in East Asia. The cable system is expected to provide more efficient connectivity to approximately 1.5 billion people.

In addition to the SEA-US cable system, Globe is also a member of an international consortium of telecommunications and technology companies operating the Southeast Asia-Japan Cable (SJC) system., Globe has also made investments in the East Asia Cable system (EAC) , Asia Pacific Cable Network-2 (APCN2), Tata Global Network–Intra Asia cable system (TGN-IA), the City to City cable system (C2C) and is interconnected with major Trans-Pacific Cable systems, which encompasses the Unity, Tata Global Network-Pacific, (TGN-P) and the Japan-US Cable Network (U-US).

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

FASTEST BEER DRINKERS. Team Visayas from Barangay Bato, Borongan, Eastern Samar composed of Charlie Katalbas, Jovencio Alcido, Jr., Ronnel Cananua, Benjamin Bagas, and Fortunato won the P250,000 cash prize and the bragging rights of being the fastest and meanest San Miguel Beer drinkers in the country.

Warays hailed as fastest SMB drinkers T

HEY were still reeling from the devastation caused by Typhoon Ruby before the close of 2014, but a cousin-and-friends team from Sitio Bato, Borongan, Eastern dominated the 15th Edition of San Miguel Brewery Inc.’s National Beer Drinking Contest

(Pale Pilsen segment) and carted away P250,000.

“Dako ini nga bulig ha amon (This is a very big help for us),” said Jovencio Alcido Jr., whose neighborhood was literally swept by flash floods. The team, composed of Alcido, Charlie Katalbas, Ronnel Cananua, Benjamin Bagas,

and Fortunato Cananua, was about to give up their participation in the national finals to rush fixing their houses for Christmas. Alcido said they only brought prayers and a little hope with them when they came to Manila.

The team had an official drinking speed of

dates.

The email notification feature follows the release of the SMS notification system, which came out with version 3.0.

“The Track and Trace system was specifically built to provide clients with visibility, control and automation, allowing them to stay updated on the status of their containers. The system embodies ICTSI’s initiative to provide clients with transparency, helping them improve their daily work output by giving them access to important information anytime and anywhere,” Lozano said.

Users can search for import and export laden containers as well as empty containers within MICT premises. Registration is not required. Clients simply need to input the bill of lading and container number. Container movement and storage period are on record, and stored in the system for three months.

Trucks’ time of entry and exit to and from MICT are recorded into the system. Clients need to enter

the plate numbers of their trucks to monitor their movements within MICT in the last 30 minutes. ICTSI aims to improve this feature to provide real-time tracking by early 2015.

ICTSI uses data gathered by Track and Trace as a business metric to gauge increases and declines in container movement, as well as system efficiency.

“We’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of users, daily search hits and unique container searches, which points to how the system has improved in terms of value and usability,” Lozano explained.

Track and Trace also monitors and records every invalid search attempt by users. ICTSI contacts its clients at the end of each month to ask for feedback regarding the invalid search attempts. The company uses the feedback mechanism to fine-tune the system and help clients use Track and Trace more efficiently.

Lozano said ICTSI is working to add more features to Track and Trace.

One such feature is the

ICTSI rolls out enhanced container tracking system T

RACK and Trace, an online container tracking system developed in-house by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) for customers of its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), has been updated to version 4.0 to further improve overall system functionality and user experience.

“The new version of the MICT Track and Trace further enhances the system’s overall functionality and value for both ICTSI and our clients at the MICT,” ICTSI Commercial Director Christian Lozano said.

“As we have developed this system in-house, we could easily update and improve Track and Trace to become a more robust and dependable system,” Lozano added.

Version 4.0 features the new email notification function that delivers container movement updates straight to a client’s inbox.

Users simply need to enter an email address where they want to receive up-

48:81 seconds while Barangay Parang, Marikina’s Team, pulled of 50:01 seconds for the runner-up honors.

For the first time, the country’s most popular beer drinking contest included segments featuring other SMB brands like Red Horse Beer, San Mig

Light, and SMB Flavored Beer. The winners of the Red Horse segment (Puerto Princesa City’s Barangay Masikap) also won P250,000 while San Mig Light segment’s winners from Caloocan City and Flavored Beer segment winners from Manila won P50,000 each. A P25,000

incentive was likewise given to winning barangays.

The annual beer-drinking competition engages at least 300,000 beer drinkers in more than 20,000 barangays nationwide.

For ongoing and upcoming SMB events, log on to http://www.sanmiguelbrewery.com.ph.

ent dashboard interface for Track and Trace, which will transform data into a visually appealing and easy to understand monitoring tool. It will allow clients to see all data and reports on container movement. This will provide MICT customers with useful information in making business decisions.

Track and Trace was first implemented in February of 2012 to complement the MICT iBox, an e-commerce facility designed to provide MICT clients with information on vessel schedules, cargo

movements and statement of accounts among others. As ICTSI continues to improve Track and Trace, port users can expect better and more transparent terminal operations and handling of containers at the MICT. ICTSI is an international operator of common-user container terminals serving the global container shipping industry. ICTSI is the largest port operator in the Philippines and has a portfolio of 29 container terminal operations in 21 countries across six continents.

MICT’s online container tracking system live chat, which will allow MICT clients to engage the Company’s customer care agents to ensure that inquiries and concerns are attended to in real time.

An application, the MICT Mobile, is also being developed that will enable clients to access Track and Trace using their mobile devices. ICTSI aims to offer full mobile functionality through another mobile feature called Text and Trace. This feature will allow clients to receive container movement updates via text messaging.

In the pipeline is a cli-

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Going back to

Claude’s

IF EVER there was an establishment that can be called a landmark in Davao City both in terms of food and ambience, Claude’s Lé Café de Ville is surely it.

The history of Claude’s goes back over twenty years when Davao’s food scene was still young, with only a handful of places where one could get good food let alone Western-style cuisine. Luckily, Claude Le Niendre and his wife Tess opened the restaurant after Claude’s stint in the hotel industry.

I can still remember the first time I set foot on the restaurant, which was still located at the Habana compound, with its wooden floors and show kitchen complete with

Claude’s Duck in Foie Gras sauce.

copper pans. The vibe of the restaurant was elegant and so was the service.

The restaurant eventually moved into the Oboza house on 2011 which was

Outside Claude’s Le Cafe De Ville.

Claude’s elegant bar and show kitchen.

lovingly restored by Tess into its former art deco grandeur.

Fast forward to Thursday last week and I was back at Claude’s again thanks to an invite from my friend Blogie Robillo.

It had been a while since I was at Claude’s to have a meal as the last time I visited the restaurant was more of a cocktail session with Claude’s daughter Celina who is the ambassador of Don Papa rum.

For starters we ordered Claude’s Duck Terrine.

More meaty than a pate, the terrine was chunky and served with a side of red wine caramelised onions to add flavour to the appetiser. I loved that it also paired well with the house white and rose wines that we ordered.

Since we were at a French restaurant, for

Duck Terrine. the main course we decided to order Claude’s Duck Breast in Foie Gras Sauce. The price may seem steep on the menu but it is actually made to serve two diners and is complete with vegetables and choice of starch. The duck was cooked to medium rare which is the way

Creme Brulee I like it and the peas and mashed potatoes complimented the flavour of the Foie Gras sauce.

Dinner ended with everyone’s favourite Creme Brûlée. The serving was generous and I loved the crack of the torched sugar, although the creme was a tad bit too sweet for my

taste.

Overall though, it was a beautiful dinner with great company and lots of catching up.

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

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

EVENT

SM employees spread love on

Christmas

Reach out to needy children and the eldery EMPLOYEES of SM malls across the country initiated a volunteerism project called “ChriSMiles” as a way of giving back to the community last Christmas season.

In Mindanao, volunteer employees of SM City Davao, SM City Cagayan de Oro, SM City General Santos and SM Lanang Premier chipped in donations in cash and kind for the said project, which benefited more than 130 recipients from various needy sectors.

Rank-and-file employees to managers and executives collectively participated in the ChriSMiles activity conducted on December 22 and 23, 2014. They contributed their personal time, effort and resources to spread love and joy to each mall’s selected beneficiaries.

SM City Davao mall administration employees and the Customer Relations Services team, in partnership with the mall’s security personnel, opted to share their blessings to more than 50 elderly from the Missionaries of Charity Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for the Sick, Abandoned and Dying Destitute.

They performed Christmas carols for residents of the Home and shared a meal with them. Nine sacks of rice, a wheelchair and a walker were donated to the Missionaries of Charity.

In SM City Cagayan de Oro, employees aptly dubbed their activity ‘An Extra Mile for ChriSMiles,’ giving children from the DSWD Reception and Study Center and DSWD Haven for Women Dependents a special Christmas treat. Each employee made sure to spend time with his or her chosen kid beneficiary.

The kids enjoyed free fun rides at the mall and they also received goodies courtesy of McDonalds.

Meanwhile, staff of SM City General Santos treated orphaned children from the St. Marcellin Home for Boys, St. Gemma’s Orphanage and St. Agnes Montepulciano Home for Children to an exciting day at the mall and at the McDonalds store. The

Children beneficiaries from DSWD’s 4Ps visited SM Lanang Premier’s giant Christmas tree with mall employees.

Kids from the St. Marcellin Home for Boys, St. Gemma’s Orphanage and St. Agnes Montepulciano Home for Children play parlor games with staff of SM City General Santos.

Staff of SM City Cagayan de Oro shares a tender moment with a child beneficiary. kids were presented with bal- kids from the Pantawid Pamiloons and they were very excited lyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) an to ride the Cyber Ferris Wheel activity-filled experience at the with SM employees. lifestyle mall. The kids reveled in At SM Lanang Premier, em- air castle inflatables slide activity ployees from the mall adminis- and a free movie showing at SM tration and SM Lifestyle Enter- Cinema Lanang. They were also tainment, Inc., in coordination given free passes to Jollibee’s Jolwith DSWD Region XI, gave litown, where they played with

other kids at the SMX Convention Center.

Selected children beneficiaries of the said malls also delighted in a mall tour with employees as their guide. A program was also planned out, where kids were given the chance to play games, receive gifts and prizes and indulge in a sumptuous meal.

ChriSMiles is an annual nationwide activity under the Em-

ployee Volunteerism Program of SM Supermalls. It encourages employees to find the deeper meaning of Christmas by being more appreciative of their individual blessings and sharing these with the underprivileged sectors of the society. The program started in 2012 wherein the beneficiaries were children.

In 2013, ChriSMiles focused on the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Create your own Pepito Manaloto in presents ‘senior citizen’ sawsawan ‘Idol sa Kusina’ episode this Saturday DIP in to another enjoyable night of great Pinoy recipes in this Sunday’s serving of Idol sa Kusina on GMA News TV.

THIS SATURDAY in Pepito Manaloto, Ang Tunay na Kuwento, Nova Villa’s character Mimi is celebrating her birthday. However, she is not in the mood to celebrate since she now becomes a “senior citizen.” Her daughter Deedee (Jessa Zaragoza) tries to make her happy and enjoy her birthday but she fails.

Tommy (Ronnie Henares), conversely, gets angry when he was asked to present his senior citizen ID in the cinemas. But when he found out that cardholders get to watch movies for free, he got an idea of another “raket”.

Elsa (Manilyn Reynes), on the other hand, needs to go somewhere and she leaves Clarissa (Angel Satsumi) with Mimi but Roger comes over and asks Mimi to go on a date.

At the office of Pepito (Michael V), their photocopy machine needs to be fixed and Patrick (John Feir) asks Mang Gaspar, the old, slow, deaf and sleepy repair man to fix it.

Will Roger and Mimi’s date push through? Will Mang Gaspar be able to fix the photocopy machine in

This week, the idol kitchen tandem of Chef Boy Logro and Bettina Carlos are sharing another set of delicious sawsawan recipes to serve along with some of favourite Pinoy dishes!

Learn how to make your own Sukang Sinamak and Pinakurat by following Chef Boy’s easy

Pepito’s office?

Meanwhile, at the recently concluded 13th Gawad Tanglaw, Pepito Manaloto, Ang Tunay na Kuwento bagged the Best Comedy / Gag Show award. Other winners were iBilib (Best Educa-

tional Program); I-Witness (Best Documentary Program); Keempee De Leon – “Kulungan, Kanlungan” The Eat Bulaga Lenten Special (Best Performance by an Actor); We Love You: The Canonization of John Paul II and John XXII – A

to do instructions. Try different dips that use soy sauce which are all perfect with grilled Tuna Belly and Salmon! And make those fried fishes more exciting by serving them with an irresistible trio of classic Pinoy sawasan.

Plus add a sweet ending to the feast by whipping up some Pan-grilled Saba with Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream!

It’s definitely another yummy kitchen bonding and eating on this week’s episode of Idol sa Kusina, 7:15PM on GMA News TV.

GMA News Special Coverage (April 25-27, 2014) (Special Award for Comprehensive Coverage).

Don’t miss Pepito Manaloto, Ang Tunay na Kuwento this Saturday (January 17) after 24 Oras Weekend on GMA7.

Juday lauds Pope’s compassion for typhoon Yolanda victims JUDY ANN SANTOSAGONCILLO praises Pope Francis’ plan to visit the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda during his papal visit in the country.

The award-winning host of the hit game show, “Bet On Your Baby” reveals that she is very happy and touched with the Pope’s efforts, sharing further that Pope Francis’ actions encourage people to always keep the faith.

“It’s very uplifting to know that Pope Francis will visit the Yolanda survivors because he makes us feel that there is always someone who is ready to help and give

inspiration to those who feel hopeless,” Juday remarked.

Wearing her #POPETYSM shirt, Juday admits that she wants to see Pope Francis if ever given a chance.

“Even seeing the Pope from afar is a huge bonus. That’s already okay for me,” she adds.

Meanwhile, the “Bet On Your Baby” host is grateful for the outpouring support that her game show receives and promises that the year 2015 means more prizes are in store for all adorable contestants.

Catch “Bet On Your Baby” every weekdays 5PM on ABS-CBN.

January 14, 2015

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB / * BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP PG 13 / *R 16

Ben Stiller, Robin Williams/ * Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth 12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 LFS / * 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

TAKEN 3 Liam Neeson PG 13

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

SEVENTH SON Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges PG 13

R-16

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

AMAZING PRAYBEYT BENJAMIN / *EDSA WOOLWORTH Vice Ganda, Richard Yap / * Pokwang PG 13 / *PG 13

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

FOOD

Have some vinaigrette ready for your cravings.

A salad dressing

love affair BE IT sweet or savory, we love the idea of munching on a plateful of salad on any given day. Believed to have originated from the Romans and ancient Greeks, salad consists of pieces of a mixture of raw and cooked food accompanied with dressing or sauce and other condiments of eggs, grains and dried fruit pieces.

For most, salads consist of greens and fruits, that’s it. On the other hand, many have a love affair with a plate of greens, pasta, and fruits in one. Personally, I love a mixture of crunch, colors, and salt in my plate. Not a big fan of meat pieces in my salad but I have to make an exception for my mom’s creamy chicken macaroni and SOUL Kitchen Co.’s Chunky Chicken Cream, Chicken Quinoa and Tune Spiral in a jar. I’d gladly have them any time of the day!

The deal breaker in every salad is the dressing. Usually cream or oil based, a salad dress-

Honey Mustard for a plateful of greens, raws and fruits.

Ranch dressing in 1-2-3. ing is made to pair up with the greens, fruits, and nuts in your salad. Top 10 salad dressings include Ranch, Caesar, Vinaigrette, Italian, Bleu Cheese, Thousand Island, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Honey Mustard, French and Greek (source: ht t p://w w w.fo o dcha n nel . com/).

Before we say goodbye to the first of twelve, let’s make some salad dressings that we can store in the fridge and drizzle over our mix and match raws anytime and anywhere. I’ve scouted for some easy fixin’s, here’s what I got:

Homemade Pineapple Dressing for all the leftover pineapples and/or oranges over the holidays.

In a blender, combine ½ c pineapple chunks, 2 tsp dried parsley, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, salt and pepper. Pulse until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.

Ranch Dressing perfect for both cold and warm salad; even with fish and calamares.

In a bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp mayonnaise, ½ tsp vinegar, ¼ tsp garlic powder, fresh

chives and 2 tbsp milk. Taste and season accordingly. You can add fresh garlic and herbs.

quality olive oil, ½ c vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste. Blend.

Honey Mustard for a sweettangy medley on your raws.

In a bowl, mix 1 ¼ c mayonnaise, 2/3 c vegetable oil, 1 tbsp white vinegar, ¼ c honey, minced onion, dried parsley and 2 tbsp mustard. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Sometimes, when I’m too tired, I whisk in calamansi juice, oil, salt and pepper for an easy vinaigrette.

Oh, don’t forget to store your dressings in an airtight container and chill.

Make #TheRoyalChef your Thursday habit! Email me at leebay457@yahoo.com (subject:RoyalChef) ortag me on instagram (herroyalheiress) for your delicious pics and food finds!

Vinaigrette goes well with anything. You can modify the flavors by adding some fruits and/ or herbs.

In a bowl, whisk 1 c good

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

EDGE

13

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14

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Bangsamoro... FFROM 4

AT YOUR SERVICE. A staff member of The Marco Polo, Davao pushes a guest’s wheelchair at the hotel’s entrance. Just one of the reasons Filipinos are known for their service. Lean Daval Jr.

P .5-M... FFROM 1

Edge Davao, Alvarez said the law only allows one-third of the total population of students to be allotted for foreign students.

“DMSF admitted that the school has already exceeded the number of Indian students enrolled in its medical course,” he said.

Alvarez was not able to give the exact number of Indian students enrolled in DMSF this school year.

He said Filipino students do not have to worry about this because only 50 to 60 percent of the original number of foreign students graduate and finish the course.

He also said other accredited colleges and universities in the city can accommodate the increasing number of foreign students who want to continue their studies here.

Alvarez said there are other schools that can handle the undergraduate studies of foreign students.

“Incoming foreign students do not have to worry because there are still schools here that have good track record that can still accept their applications,” he said.

Alvarez said he already recommended to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that it stop accepting students once CHED has the complete list of Indian students at DMSF. He also said DMSF is already taking action on the matter.

Alvarez said Davao City should expect a lot of foreign students to come in. He said a group of Nigerian students is expected to arrive in the city soon.

workshops.

The CPMIU will have three units: Investment for Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan, Planning at the Local and National (I-Plan), Intensified Building-Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-Build), and Investments for Rural Enterprise, Agri-

cultural and Fisheries Productivity (I-Reap).

The I-Plan will be headed by Planning Officer Engr.

Jose Froilan T. Rigor, the I-Build will be headed by City Engineer Office head Engr. Roland C.Reyes and the I-Reap will be headed by City Agriculturist Office head Rocelio T. Tabay.

ter. We also have an area at the back that can accommodate around 30,000 people,” Betilos said.

There are 103 quadrants around the 5 hectares space where the pope will hold his mass. A single quadrant has a capacity of 600 individuals.

“Since we also have to ensure the security of the Holy Father, we have to limit the attendees to around 80,000 individuals. That is a conservative estimate,” Betilos said.

The delegates are expected to come on the evening of January 16 because roads are

declared no mobility on the 17th.

Security will be tight, with people allowed to bring only transparent bags and raincoats with them. People are also not allowed to bring bottled water.

Betilos said the organizers will provide transparent raincoats to the people. Water refilling stations will also be made available.

Thousands of police and other government security agencies from nearby regions will also be deployed in the area.

City... FFROM 2

80K... FFROM 2

Death... FFROM 2

“Those strict rules and regulation are just used to scare students,” he added.

He said that there will be a consultation with parents and authorities from DMEMS and DMSF on the revision of the

fines and penalties.

Pillai said once the revision is finished, parents will be asked to sign a contract signifying their affirmation of the list of rules to be imposed inside the dormitories.

“Setbacks that we are not proud of and have affected our morale. But these should not be a hindrance to our desire for excellence in the delivery of services,” he added.

During the New Year’s Call, the PRO-12 gave out citations and recognized local po-

lice offices, stations and units that recorded major accomplishments last year.

Among the major achievements in 2014 was the awarding of the PRO-12 website by the PNP central office as the “Most Outstanding PNP website.”

year.

Abacahin said an interfaith gathering will be held at the Freedom Kiosk in Divisoria

here to coincide with the arrival of Pope Francis in Manila on Thursday afternoon. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Under the general GSP, commodities like pineapple juice with 28.5 percent, preserved fruits with 6 to 9 percent, fruit jams with 20.5 percent, and canned tuna with 20.5 percent has reduced tariffs.

But the new export regulation, now this products will be allowed at 0 percent import duty.

Raf Vlummens, founder and president of Philexport Davao partner Exportdesk. eu, said this new regulation offer the opportunity to boost Philippines export to Europe as well as create export-related jobs.

Vlummens added that analysts say that this could lead to an increase of as much as 32.5 billion worth of Philippine exports to Europe within one year and will stimulate the creation of more than 200,000 sustainable export related jobs.

“This new regulation is the best Christmas present to the food sector in Davao

and Mindanao could ever get,” Vlummens said.

He said the possibility to export at zero percent to the European market open multiple opportunities not only for SME’s of quality products like processed fruits and fishery products, but also for attracting foreign investments in focused sectors.

To equip and educate the prospective exporters of the European market, Philexport partner ExportDesk. Eu will assists exporters from here with the analysis of their export readiness, the analysis opf the potential opportunites of the selected markets and with the compliance of the import requirements of the European Union.

As part of the education process, he said that around 20 successful exporters and SMEs from Mindanao will be brought to Europe for exposure and possible business matching this year.

Region... FFROM 3

200... FFROM 3

Philexport... FFROM 5

Mindanao.”

It cited excerpts from a paper sent to the ConCom in 1986 that autonomy “is an expression of the Bangsa Moro’s conviction of its being a viable alternative to separation….The Bangsa Moro is historically and culturally a distinct and separate nation ….. and the political fusion with the Christian majority is workable only under a framework of political autonomy which shall allow the full flowering of the genius of Bangsa Moro in the context of his Islamic culture.”

The 1987 Constitution provides for the creation of autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was set up in March 1990 after four provinces voted for inclusion in the region in the November 1989 plebiscite. The autonomous region in Cordillera has yet to be set up because only one province voted for autonomy and the Supreme Court declared there cannot be an autonomous region consisting only of one province.

48 members, 18 surviving Forty-eight persons were appointed in 1986 by the then newly-installed President, Corazon Aquino (mother of incumbent President Benigno Simeon Aquino III) to the 1986 ConCom. Of the 48, only 18 are surviving members but only 14 managed to attend their “first formal meeting since the drafting of the 1987 Charter” with the remaining four “either bed-ridden or could not be reached.”

“This Statement on the Bangsamoro deals with the vision, spirit and the core principles behind the provisions on autonomous regions which to our mind constitute the essential constitutionality of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law,” the statement read.

The signatories to the statement are Felicitas Aquino-Arroyo, Adolfo S. Azcuna, Teodoro C. Bacani, Joaquin

G. Bernas, Florangel Rosario Braid, Hilario G. Davide Jr. , Edmundo G. Garcia, Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon, Christian S. Monsod, Ricardo J. Romulo, Rene V. Sarmiento, Jaime S.L. Tadeo, Wilfrido V. Villacorta, Bernardo M. Villegas.

The statement noted that four other surviving members of the ConCom who were unable to attend the meeting were Ponciano L. Bennagen, Teresa F. Nieva, Florenz D. Regalado, and Napoleon G. Rama.

Reflex reaction rather than reasoned response The framers appealed the public to “set aside partisan politics and stop the urge to exhibit our ability to find nuances of legalism that can delay, or worse, derail the process, feeding on the cynicism and playing on the fears in the national psyche that are more reflex reaction than reasoned response.”

The framers said it has been 27 years (28 by February) since the Constitution was ratified by the Filipino people “but we are still living in the mass poverty, gross inequalities and cultural inequities of the past, and the promise of genuine social change has not unfolded.”

The framers said there is “no better way to demonstrate our commitment to peace and development than by giving the Bangsamoro people the opportunity to create a higher and better future for themselves than what they have. This calls for courageous statesmanship from our leaders and the generosity of spirit of a united nation.”

The framers also challenged the Bangsamoro people to “demonstrate the same commitment by treating other indigenous peoples and uniting all Muslim communities with magnanimity and statesmanship.”

“In this manner, Bangsamoro can be a model for us to do the same for the rest of the country and thereby build together a more just and peaceful nation,” the framers said. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

WB... FFROM 6 ments are needed to ensure the sustained growth of the domestic economy.

He explained that private consumption drives 70 percent of the economy and this easily provides about four percent of annual output.

“But the margin is really determined by exports and investments and government. The 30 percent margin, to get from four percent to six or seven percent (growth) is what should be focused on,” he said.

Chua stressed that “the Philippines is still doing very well” but pointed out that this needs further boost from investments.

The WB report said that revised growth forecast for the country was made on expectations that the government would be able to meet its expenditure program this year.

Aside from risk posed by possible failure of the government to meet its expenditure program, WB is also considering delays in the awarding of the projects under the public-private program (PPP), domestic reform lags such as those targeted to raising revenues and pro-poor spending, weaker-than-projected global growth and financial volatilities as a negative for the economy. (PNA)

VOL. 7 ISSUE 214 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

15

CAVS LOSELeBron’ 6TH STRAIGHT s 33 points in return not enough L

EBRON James scored 33 points in his return from a two-week layoff but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Cleveland Cavaliers from going down to their s i x t h straight l o s s , 107-100 to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

Markieff Morris scored a career-high 35 points on 15-of-21 shooting for the Suns, who outscored the Cavs 11-3 over the last 3:31.

The Cavaliers rallied from a 19-point, third-quarter deficit to go ahead in the fourth, the first of eight lead changes down the stretch.

J.R. Smith, who joined the Cavaliers during James’ absence, scored 29, going 8 of 14 on 3-pointers.

James, who took the time off to rest his sore left foot and low-

LeBron James drives for a shot against Alex Len of the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

(Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Wizards finally beat Spurs

T

HE Washington Wizards ended nearly a decade of frustration on Tuesday with a 101-93 NBA triumph over San Antonio, their first win over the Spurs since 2005.

John Wall scored 25 points and handed out eight assists for the Wizards, who had lost 17 straight encounters against the Texas team.

Wall, drafted first overall in 2010, was a personal 0-7 against the Spurs. Washington’s last win over San Antonio came on November 12, 2005.

French big man Kevin Seraphin scored 11 of his season-high 17 points in the fourth quarter for the Wizards.

Bradley Beal and Paul Pierce added 13 points apiece for the hosts, and Marcin Gortat pulled down 11 rebounds.

French point guard Tony Parker led the reigning NBA

champion Spurs with 14 points. Tim Duncan added 11 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double since December.

A day after the Spurs received a warm welcome at the White House from US President Barack Obama, in honor of their fifth NBA title, the Wizards were less hospitable.

Wall got off to a hot start, netting 12 points on five shots in the first quarter. The Wizards hit five of six from three-point range to seize a 31-24 lead.

The Spurs trailed until Boris Diaw’s hook shot early in the fourth quarter gave them a 76-75 advantage, and it was a back-and-forth battle early in the final period.

Seraphin’s layup with 5:44 remaining put the Wizards ahead for good with the 10th lead change of the quarter.

M

er back, made 11 of 18 shots, 6 of 8 in the second half.

The Cavaliers were 1-7 in James’ absence and have lost nine of 10 overall to fall below .500 at 19-20.

The Suns, opening an eightgame homestand, have won 11 of 15.

Kyrie Irving, who averages 21 points, scored nine of 4-of14 shooting for the Cavs.

Cleveland was down 80-61 with 3:26 to play in the third quarter, then finished the period with an 18-5 flourish.

In the final seconds of the quarter, James made a thunderous dunk, then Smith stole the ball in backcourt and sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Suns’ lead to 85-79 entering the fourth.

The Cavaliers took their first lead since the opening minutes when Tristan Thompson dunked off a pass from James to make it 90-88 with 7:31 to play.

James gave Cleveland its last lead, 97-96, with a driving layup 3:52 from the finish.

The Suns made nine of 11 free

throws from there, the last four

by P.J. Tucker in the final 18.1 seconds. Phoenix’s lone field goal in the final run was Alex Len’s tip-in.

James had not played since Dec. 28 to rest his injuries.

He practiced for the first time since then on Monday, then flew to Texas to cheer on Ohio State in the national college football championship game. He said he got back at 12:30 a.m.

The Cavaliers survived a big scare in the first half.

With 9:12 left in the second quarter, James took an elbow to the head from Tucker and fell to the floor. He stayed there for a moment, surrounded by all his teammates, before slowly getting up. He stayed in the game, though. Later, Morris’ hand slammed into James’ face on a layup try.

James’ first basket was a powerful reverse dunk from the baseline, then he ended the half with an equally impressive stuff, but the Suns led 59-51 at the break.

Wolves pound Pacers, 110-101

O Williams could sense what was happening and knew the Indiana Pacers couldn’t stop it. He told them that, too.

“When you are in the zone, you don’t know the magnitude of the game,” Williams said. “I am glad to put on a show.”

He put on the best one in the NBA this season.

Williams scored a career-high 52 points, most in the league this season, and the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a 15-game losing streak with a 110-101 victory over the Pacers on Tuesday night.

Williams also broke the Timberwolves’ franchise record.

“Mo was unbelievable,” Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. “I have been in the league 17 years and I have had some guys have hot games, but I don’t think I have had anybody where he was at. He did everything.”

Williams surpassed the 46 points scored this season by both Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol, which had been tops in the NBA. He recorded the highest-scoring game by an opponent in Bankers Life Fieldhouse and told the Pacers there was nothing they could do about it.

“I was telling C.J. Watson during the game, I said, ‘There was nothing you are going to do today, don’t even worry about it,’” Williams said.

Williams made six 3-pointers, including one that gave Minnesota a 102-96 lead. Andrew Wiggins added 20 points

and Gorgui Dieng had 10 for the Timberwolves (6-31), who won for the first time since beating Portland 90-82 on Dec. 10.

C.J. Miles had 22 points and C.J. Watson added 17 for the Pacers (15-25), who have lost three of four.

Wiggins scored on a putback dunk and then converted a 3-pointer to give the Timberwolves a 93-90 lead with 4:29 remaining.

But it was mostly Williams who powered the Wolves to just their third road victory.

After a couple of 3-pointers earlier in the fourth quarter, he tied the game at 83 on three free throws, including one for a

technical called on Ian Mahinmi with 7:10 remaining.

“You are just in a zone, you don’t really see anybody,” Williams said. “You just go back to the places when you are in the gym by yourself with your own trainer. You are just shooting shots and it doesn’t matter where the defense is at.”

The Pacers lost to another of the league’s worst teams, having given Philadelphia just its seventh win on Saturday, 93-92.

Minnesota avoided extending the team’s losing streak to 16 games for the first time since a 16-game skid stretching from Feb. 24 to March 28, 2010.

The Pacers never led by more than eight points in the first half and were ahead 5246 at the break.

They were still ahead 8683 in the fourth but Williams answered every time Indiana went on a run.

“He was in a ridiculous zone,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “We tried multiple defenders. We tried pushing him one way, then another.”

Williams entered the game averaging 11 points per game, but the Pacers were well aware of what he was capable of. Williams scored 24 points in a 100-96 loss to Indiana in the first meeting between the two teams back on Dec. 21.

Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert, right, controls the basketball as Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng reaches toward the ball. (AP Photo/R Brent Smith)

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.77ISSUE ISSUE214 214••THURSDAY, THURSDAY,JANUARY JANUARY15, 15,2015 2015

NO INTERRUPTION

Continuous water, power supply assured in Davao del Norte Palaro

DAVNOR SPORTS COMPLEX. The Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex will again see action in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa on May 3-9, 2015.

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

P

ARTICIPANTS to the Palarong Pambansa 2015 in Davao del Norte can enjoy enough supply of water and uninterrupted power on top of a roundthe-clock security when the country’s biggest sporting event for elementary and secondary athletes fires off this summer.

Davao del Norte provincial sports coordinator Giovanni Gulanes said the host province has designed

measures to address these three main concerns in their effort to make this year’s Palaro a wonderful experience for every participant and the best ever in history.

Gulanes said for the Palaro, which will be held in Tagum City from May 3 to 9, they will produce 60,000 liters of water per day to meet the needs of each region taking part in the annual sports conclave. New water lines will also be installed in each

Phl Azkals coach looking forward to ‘15 campaign

2

014 was a big year for the Philippine Azkals, as fans and critics came to expect much more from the men’s football team after they were able to amass some of the best available talent from foreign-based Filipinos to maturing homegrown players.

Expectations were high not only to do well, but to finally win and lift some serious hardware above their heads. And so, the year began by bringing in a coach whose experience and credentials fit the tee.

Former U.S. men’s World Cup team captain Coach Thomas Dooley knew what he was getting into. He had just a few months to prepare for the AFC Challenge Cup, and his goal was clear – to win it all.

The Azkals went all the way to the Finals for the first time ever but fell one goal short against Palestine.

As the year ended, the biggest Southeast Asian tournament was the final target of the Azkals, and coming in second place in the Challenge Cup raised the bar even higher as a regional championship was now at reach.

The Azkals, however, failed to make it to the Finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup, bowing out in the semi-final against powerhouse and

eventual champion Thailand.

Despite this, Dooley said he was satisfied with the performance of the team, and given the time and circumstances he had to deal with, he has some ideas of how the players can and should develop further, including the urgent need to improve the quality of the local professional league.

“Overall, I think it was a good year for us,” said Dooley. “It was good development in the direction where we should be focused on.”

“We got a couple of records, we won against teams we haven’t won against before. Obviously, going to the final is also a record, but losing it is not good,” he added.

“So I am a little bit disappointed about that.”

“But overall, again it comes back to (the fact that) we are not in charge of the overall development of players. We can only get the players together and put them on the field, and let them know how we want to play and try to play a certain style.”

Controversy Dooley’s first year in charge would not be without controversy, as star players took to social media to demand his removal, or else they would not suit up for the Azkals.

of every 17 billeting schools.

This is aside from the two tanks with a capacity of 5,000 liters each to be set up in each billeting quarter as backup.

“Water issue would therefore be solved,” Gulanes said in his presentation during the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) board meeting Tuesday at the Department of Education (Deped) office along F. Torres St. Gulanes also announced

that the province was also able to get the assurance from the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) of a sufficient and reliable power supply come the staging of the Palaro.

As for security, the host province will deploy close to 1,000 police personnel in the billeting schools and playing venues to ensure the safety of the participants. In Tagum City alone where the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism

Complex and other venues is situated, there will be a total of seven check points to be set up.

“These check points will operate in what they call dragnet operations that if something happens somewhere, these check points which are strategically located in the ingress and egress of Tagum will be immediately activated,” Gulanes said.

The province has also identified 10 hospitals to be

utilized in case of an emergency. A medical staff composed of doctors and nurses will also be set up during the Palaro.

Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, who was also present in the board meeting, is confident his province will stage the best Palaro ever.

“Let’s hope and pray that everything will turn our good for Region 11 thru this Palaro,” Del Rosario said.

Pacman agrees to terms for Floyd fight

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ROMOTER Bob Arum told Yahoo Sports on Tuesday that Manny Pacquiao has agreed to terms for a May 2 bout with Floyd Mayweather, and that the only thing in the way of the long-awaited fight occurring is Mayweather’s approval.

Arum said Mayweather’s representatives have also agreed to the deal but have not been able to get Mayweather’s agreement. However, there is no verification from anyone representing Mayweather whether Arum’s side is accurate.

On Friday, the Los Angeles Times reported that progress was being made on making the match a reality.

Multiple sources told Yahoo Sports over the weekend that a deal for the two superstars to fight at the MGM Grand Garden was imminent.

The sources told Yahoo Sports that not only have the sides agreed for the fight to be May 2 at the MGM, but also on a 60/40 purse split that would favor Mayweather. Mayweather could make in the range of $120 million.

An MGM spokesman told Yahoo Sports that there was no deal for the fight to be held at the Grand Garden as far as he is aware.

In order to pay the astronomical salaries the fighters will command, ticket prices will be scaled at an all-time high. The top ticket at the MGM Grand Garden is expected to go for $5,000 so

Manny Pacquiao has agreed to terms for a long-awaited super-fight with Floyd Mayweather on May 2 in Las Vegas. that the arena can be scaled Mayweather has an career, Pacquiao stopped to produce a $40 million live exclusive contract with Miguel Cotto at the MGM in gate.

Showtime and Pacquiao is the 12th round on Nov. 14, A $40 million live gate obligated to HBO. It is not 2009. would be virtually double immediately clear which It was clear at that point the existing record gate of network will broadcast the that they were not only the $20,003,150, which was set fight, though it is expected best welterweights in the at the MGM in 2013 by May- that both will be involved. world, but also the two best weather and Canelo Alvarez. That was the solution pound-for-pound fighters, Arum refused Tuesday worked out in 2002, when period. While Mayweathto speak about details, but Mike Tyson (Showtime) er is now widely acknowlsaid Pacquiao was on board fought Lennox Lewis (HBO) edged as the No. 1 fighter in with all terms. in Memphis, Tenn. the world, there was some “I want to get some A Mayweather-Pacquiao debate in 2009 after Pacmovement here, with bring- bout first began to be se- quiao stopped Cotto. Pacing Mayweather to the table riously discussed in 2009. quiao was on a streak of 11 so we can go out and get ev- Mayweather ended a brief wins in a row that included erything signed and get the retirement by routing Juan dominant one-sided victonetworks together and get Manuel Marquez at the ries over Cotto, Oscar De La the thing finished,” Arum MGM on Sept. 19, 2009. Two Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco told Yahoo Sports on Tues- months later, in perhaps the Antonio Barrera and Erik day. defining performance of his Morales.