Edge Davao 7 Issue 55

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

RICH CONG POOR CONG

2 ON THE COVER EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

RICH CONG, POOR CONG

PACqUIAO. P1.34B

MARCOS. P992M

ZARATE. P1.5M

COLMENARES. P2.25M

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

T

njb@edgedavao.net

HE country’s national boxing pride— Manny Pacquiao—may not be the most productive congressman in terms of legislation, but for the record, he is the richest lawmaker in the land.

Congressman Pacquiao has a net worth of P1,345,499,575 to top the list of richest representatives, according to the latest report on filed Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of members of

the House of Representatives of the 16th Congress.

According to his latest SALN, Pacquiao has P1,109,036,197 worth of real property and P763,623,500 worth of personal property for a total assets of

WEATHER FORECAST

P1,872,659,697. With liabilities of P527,160,122, the Sarangani congressman’s worth amounts to a whopping P1.34 billion.

But if BIR records were to be accounted for, Pacquiao’s net worth may not be enough to pay for his reported unpaid tax due to the government amounting to P2 billion.

But that’s another story.

On the opposite end of the chart, the poorest

representative is Anakpawis representative Fernand Hicap who has P37,722.39 or about the amount of monthly salary received by a congressman which could fetch from P40,425 to P48,052.

A distant second to Pacquiao is former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos with P922,800,000, followed

by Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (P819,749,339,10), Al-

fredo Benitez (713, 875, 030), Julio Ledesma IV (P617,325,558), Mark Villar (P526,449,720), Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (P475,002,017.59), Joel Roy Duavit (272,975,377.95), Enrique Cojuangco (217,520,823.16) and Zajid Mangundadatu (215,849,950).

The poorest congressmen with below-million SALN are Jonathan dela

Cruz with P550,000, Arlene Bag-ao with P598,012.82, Abigail Faye Ferriol with P636,980.32, and James Mark Terry Ridon with P900,000.

Karlos Isagani Zarate, the Bayan Muna representative from Davao, is 10th poorest with 1,518,114.54, while another Byaan Muna representative Neri Colmenares is 12th poorest with 2,251,574.92.

REPORT OF FILED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH (SALNs) FOR CY 2013 OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 16TH CONGRESS

TOP 10 RICHEST REPRESENTATIVES NAME 1 2 3 4 5

PACQUIAO, EMMANUEL MARCOS, IMELDA R. BELMONTE, FELICIANO JR. B E N I T E Z , ALFREDO “ALBEE” B. A. IV

6 7 8

LEDESMA, JULIO VILLAR, MARK A.

ROMUALDEZ, FERDINAND MARTIN G. R.

REAL PROPERTIES ACQUISITION COST

PERSONAL PROPERTIES

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

NETWORTH

1, 109, 036, 197.00

763, 623, 500.00

1, 872, 659, 697.00

527, 160, 122

1, 345, 499, 575.00

920, 000, 000.00

12, 800, 000.00

932, 800, 000.00

10, 000, 000.00

922, 800, 000.00

15, 165, 245.00

806, 894, 065.00

822, 059, 310.94

2, 309, 971.84

819, 749, 339.10

459, 419, 415.00

361, 500, 241.00

820, 919, 656.00

107, 044, 626.00

713, 875, 030.00

28, 000, 000.00

714, 975, 558.46

742, 975, 558.46

125, 650, 000.00

617, 325, 558.00

62, 866, 457.00

463, 583, 263.00

526, 449, 720.00

0.00

526, 449, 720.00

46, 700, 000.00

428, 302, 017.59

475, 002, 017.59

0.00

475, 002, 017.59

362, 339, 921.44

362, 339, 921.44

89,364,573.49

272,975,347.95

DUAVIT, JOEL ROY

9

COJUANGCO, ENRIQUE M.

110,057,000.00

109,120,311.03

219,177,311.03

1,656,487.87

217,520,823.16

10

MANGUNDADATU, ZAJID G.

100,620,000.00

115,229,950.00

215,849,950.00

0.00

215,849,950.00

TOP 10 POOREST REPRESENTATIVES NAME

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

H I C A P , FERNANDO DELA CRUZ, JONATHAN A. B A G - A O , ARLENE “KAKA” J. FERRIOL, ABIGAIL FAYE C. RIDON, JAMES MARK TERRY L. DE JESUS, EMMERENCIANA A. TINIO, ANTONIO L. ACEDILLO, FRANCISCO ASHLEY PANOTES, ELMER E. Z A R A T E , CARLOS ISAGANI MASONGSONG, EDGARDO R. COLMENARES, NERI J.

REAL PROPERTIES ACQUISITION COST 0.00

PERSONAL PROPERTIES

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

NETWORTH

37,722.39

37,722.39

0.00

37,722.39

3,000,000.00

5,050,000.00

8,050,000.00

7,500,000.00

550,000.00

318,136.80

2,373,000.00

2,691,136.80

2,093,123.98

598,012.82

636,980.32

636,980.32

0.00

636,980.32

900,000.00

900,000.00

0.00

900,000.00

1,240,000.00

1,240,000.00

0.00

1,240,000.00

0.00

1,305,757.17

1,305,757.17

28,294.54

1,277,462.63

100,000.00

2,098,000.00

2,198,000.00

872,000.00

1,326,000.00

2,062,000.00

4,299,687.00

6,361,687.00

4,907,000.00

1,454,687.00

50,000

2,258,102.54

2,308,102.54

789,988.00

1,518,114.54

1,349,858.35

5,166,356.44

6,516,214.79

4,502,946.98

2,013,267.81

2,110,600.00

1,628,990.04

3,739,590.04

1,488,015.12

2,251,574.92

0.00

3

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

THE BIG NEWS Ukay-ukay cargo seized by BOC T

BUY BUST. Jose Gerry Barbarona and his live-in partner Rowena Galvano quijano are presented to members of media at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 office Friday afternoon with sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu”, drug paraphernalia and marked money recovered from them during a buy bust operation conducted by agents of PDEA 11 at Gawad Kalinga Vill., Brgy. Mahayag, Bunawan, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

6 DENR men abducted

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

S

abf@edgedavao.net

Ix survey inspectors of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were allegedly abducted by unidentified armed men last Friday afternoon in Compostela Valley.

The Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) identified the inspectors as

Kendrick Wong, Nico Lasaca, Chris Favila, Matthew Cua, Jonas Loredo and Tim Sabina.

Based on their report, the six inspectors were abducted at around 2:00 p.m. of May 30 in Barangay New Leyte, Maco, Compostela Valley. As of presstime, no one has claimed responsi-

bility of the abduction.

The report said that the inspectors were conducting validation and survey on the implementation of National Greening Program in the area when they were approached by the armed men.

Soldiers from 1001st Infantry Brigade joined the

Maco Police in the pursuit operations while the Maco LGU has directed the barangay officials of New Leyte to investigate the incident since there were no whereabouts of the abduction as of Saturday.

EASTMINCOM commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Ra-

F6 DENR, 12

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Davao Collection District seized a 40-foot container van which contained 128 bales of used clothing, 60 bales of bed sheets, 92 sacks of shoes and bags and 4 sacks of toys that arrived in the Port of Davao from Korea consigned to FAV Enterprises.

Based on statement of BOC, the shipment was alerted by the Deputy Commissioner on 11 February 2014. It said that a 100 percent examination was done by the assigned examiner on the shipment last 25 February 2014 together with the Officer-on-Case and the broker’s representative which revealed the content of the container van.

“This is a clear violation of customs laws, rules and regulations under Section 2503 of the TCCP, as amended in relation in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 4653 06 June 1966 which prohibits the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags.

Mandatory Products

Certification scheme in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 4109, Republic Act (RA) 7394 and Letter of Instructions 1208,” the statement stipulated.

The statement said that the Officer-On-Case recommended for a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD ) on the shipment last February 25 and was endorsed by District Commander of ESS, Director of ESS, Deputy Commissioner of EG and Commissioner of Bureau of Customs.

The statement said that the WSD was issued by the District Collector of Davao against the subject shipment and subjected to a 100 percent examination upon the request of the District Collector’s Office. On May 27, 2014, a 100 percent examination was done on the shipment in the presence of the examiner together with the Office of the District Collector’s representative and the broker.

“Upon examination the said shipment was found to contain one 25 bales curtain, 77 bales bed cover (cotton polyester) 22 bales toys and 80 bales pillow cover (knitted)

FUKAY-UKAY, 12

4 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

Davao may not attain food sufficiency--Rody D

Youths and students wearing shirts printed with “Thank you for not smoking” participate in the 12th anniversary commemoration of Davao City Anti-smoking campaign in front of City Hall Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

ESPITE the vast track of lands for agriculture and the high potential for food production, Davao City may not attain the level of self-sufficiency in food because of massive agricultural land conversion.

“Instead of planting our agricultural lands with staple crops we allow multinational companies to take over and plant cash crops like pineapple and banana,” Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said during the media launching of Generation Nutrition at Royal Mandaya Hotel last Friday.

These companies which he did not mention were planting crops that were only good for export.

“They kept buying our flat land. One third of our land is originally for food crops,” Duterte added.

Duterte said that this insufficiency contributed to the malnourishment of about 2.6 percent of Dabawenyo children aged below five years old.

According to the Comprehensive Land Use Program document from the city government, permanent crops like rubber, cacao, coffee, coconut and durian are priority crops because they allow better return of investments for farmers.

The city has 111,387 hectares of agricultural land, amounting to 45.65% of the city’s total land area.

[CRC]

P24-M grant for IP scholars City to integrate malnutrition

management to health agenda

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

A

TOTAL of P24 million worth of grant has given to some Indigenous People’s (IP) groups in Mindanao for their Midwifery scholarship and strengthening of Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPO) in five sites of the project.

The project dubbed as The Indigenous Peoples Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition (IPMNCHN) Project which that aims to produce at least 10 IP licensed Midwives at the end of the project and setup a sustainable scholarship program for diploma in Midwifery for IPs. In a Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony last Friday afternoon at the Pamulaan Center of University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), Mintal Campus, P5.9 million was given to Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF)

for full Midwifery scholarship of 10 IP students.

“The project’s holistic approach to health care services for the Indigenous Peolple’s Women and children is directed towards addressing multi-levels of health needs and concerns of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) in general,” said IP- MNCHN project director Dr. Lilibeth D. Malbanan.

Malabanan said that the midwifery scholarship for the IP students will be managed by DMSF to produce at least 10 licensed midwives in two-year time and for the school to set-up a sustainable diploma in Midwifery program for IPs. The project also gave P18 million grant to Pamulaan Center of USeP for IPs education and IPO strengthening. The center will manage the grant by creating learning mecha-

nisms that will improve the IP’s capacity in planning, implementing, managing and sustaining health related activities and other basic services that contribute to the development of the tribal people in ancestral domain areas in Mindanao with Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), Malabanan stressed that these grants will address human resource and socio-economic aspects of health service delivery in ICCs particularly in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

The project gave the IPO strengthening scholarship to two Subanens in Duminag, Zambaoanga del Sur, four Manobo- Matigsalog from Sinuda, Kitaotao, Bukidnon, two Daibabawon-Mangguangan in Montevista, Compostela Valley, one Arumanen-Ma-

Gawad Saka awardees to compete in national tilt

nobo from Bentangan, North Cotabato, one Banwaon and Talaandig- Bincalan in San Luis, Agusan del Sur. For DMSF scholarship, two from Marilog district, one in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, one in Kapalong, Davao del Norte and one from Malita, Davao del Sur. The grants are funded by the European Union and are among the commitment of the project for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 which aims to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health in ICCs and IPs and other disadvantaged communities in Mindanao.

The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) chairperson Leonor O. Quintayo said that being the implementing agency they will guide and supervised the implementation

FP24-M, 12

T

HE Davao City government has issued an order for the integration of acute malnutrition management as part of the health program of the city.

City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte signed the Executive Order No.26 last May 27 “An Order Integrating and Operationalizing IMAM (Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition) in the local health system of Davao City.”

The EO said that the IMAM protocol shall be adapted and integrated in the maternal and child health programs of the City Health Office (CHO) and become a part of the minimum service package.

The order stipulates that the CHO as the lead agency shall be responsible for the effective and efficient implementation of the program down to

barangay level.

“The Barangay Health Workers (BHW) Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), after proper training, technical input and orientation given by the City Health Office, may perform the screening and detection of acute malnutrition using the weight-for-weight, Mid-upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and checking for nutritional edema either in the health facilities, evacuation sites during household visits,” stated the EO. The order said that the SAM cases without medical complications will be managed by the health team staff including the nutrition officers, public health midwives, public health nurses and district health officers in barangay health centers and district health offices in an out-pa-

FCITY, 12

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

F

IVE of the 17 awardees of this year’s Gawad Saka Outstanding Agri- achievers in the region will be competing in the national level.

“It is a competition among the best of the bestest,” Department of Agriculture 11 regional director Remelyn R. Recoter said during a press conference at the awarding ceremony at Royal Mandaya Hotel last May 30, Friday.

The awardees who will be competing in the nationals are Arestio C. Limbaro from Maco, Compostella Valley who is recognized as the outanding high value cash crops (HVCC)

farmer; Benjamin A. Cuico from Hagonoy , Davao del Sur who is hailed as the outsyanding sugarcane farmer; the 24 year old cacao raiser Alvin Johb V. Ignacio from Mawab, Compostella Valley as the region’s outstanding young farmer; Conrado B. Sotomayor from Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur as the outstanding coconut farmer; and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council -Lupon from Davao Oriental as the the outstanding FARMC. Recoter told Edge Davao that the nominees will be attending the awarding in Malacanang on October

during the celebration of World Food Day. Coconut farmer Sotomayor said that it is his first time to compete on the national level. Every two months, he is yielding an average of 3 tons from two hectares plantation.

Coco sugar is his flagship product which he supplies to exporter Benjamin Lao and to a local cooperative. “I saw that there is a big market potential to cocosugar. It has a big demand not just locally but also abroad,”he added. He is into organic farming where he makes his own fertilizer and pesticides.

“Pag synthetic kay dako

FGAWAD, 12

WON’T COLLAPSE. Senate President Franklin Drilon reiterates during a press briefing at the Apo View Hotel in Davao City on Friday that the Senate won’t collapse due to pork barrel scam because suspected senators in the scam are not the whole institution. He also urged his colleagues to enact on time the various proposed legislation which both houses of Congress agreed to pass before their sine die adjournment this month. Lean Daval Jr.

5 COMMUNITY SENSE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

YMCA car raffle reset to Aug. 31 T

he YMCA of Davao car raffle draw that was initially set on June 12 this year has been officially rescheduled to August 31, a Sunday.

The new draw date was unanimously decided upon by the YMCA Board in a special meeting presided over by its president, Leoncio “Nnoy” Villa-Abrille.

Past President Jose “Joe”

B. Custodio, car raffle committee chair, said the fund drive is intended to build a training youth camp and augment YMCA Davao’s existing scholarship program.

Assisting raffle chair Custodio are his two co-chairmen, past president Vicente Bañes Jr. and asst. treasurer Jose Valenzuela Jr. Grand prize is a Cherry QQ 311 Car while other major

prizes are a Skygo Motorcycle 1.25 and a Samsung 32” TV. Consolation Prizes include a laptop computer, window aircon 1.5 HP, window aircon 1HP, washing machine, room refrigerator, microwave oven and DVD player.

For query one may call at (082) -222-0363 or visit YMCA at 996-3 Villamor St at Jacinto Extension, Davao City.

From the ‘selfie’ capital to the startup capital. Fresh graduates Mark Anthony Colentava and Laurence Arguelles participated on a walking tour of Stanford University as part of a week-long exposure trip to Silicon Valley. The trip was part of their prize as grand winners of the 10th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards.

6 THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

PHL preparing for ASEAN integration, says official T

HE government will pay special attention to the improvement of sectors with a competitive advantage in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration next year, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr said.

One major focus of the

government is the improvement of the country’s agriculture sector, especially the production of high-quality and high-value crops, such as coffee, cacao, and sorghum, he said.

The DA also has tieups with food manufacturing companies to ensure a steady supply of fruits and vegetables for their process-

ing operations, he added.

This initiative is part of the DA’s diversification program to make the agriculture sector competitive by producing high-quality crops and increasing the productivity of local farmers, he said.

The government is also looking into ways to help provinces with a high inci-

dence of poverty, the Palace official said.

He noted that the ASEAN integration is not “one big bang” event.

“ASEAN integration 2015 is an aspirational objective and a continuing work in process,” Coloma said.

On the country’s commitments to ASEAN integration, he said the Philippines

is about 85 to 87 percent compliant and is not lagging behind its neighboring countries.

Although there are still gaps and there are sectors that need government support, the administration is doing everything to improve their performance so they could contribute to the national economy, he said.

The government also wants to help people in the marginalized section of society so they would be able to elevate themselves from the subsistence level to become self-reliant, Coloma said, adding that once this is achieved, they would be able to attain the basic level of sufficiency and quality of life. [PCOO News Release]

ment of Education (DepEd) has been able to construct 66,213 classrooms, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.

The DepEd also faced a shortage of 2.5 million chairs and tables but was able to remedy the problem, he said, adding that the de-

partment lacked 61.7 million textbooks but was able to reduce the average price of textbooks from P55 to P35.

Coloma however noted that although the DepEd was able to address these major problems, the country has suffered a setback due to the natural and manmade calamities last year,

resulting in new problems for the education sector.

Nonetheless, the department has continued to address the problems, he said, adding that about two weeks ago, it spearheaded the Brigada Eskuwela, which was participated in by millions of citizens.

Brigada Eskwela is a

nationwide voluntary effort, with teachers, parents and other members of the community offering their services to help clean and repair public schools in time for school opening.

He further said that President Aquino is leaving it to Education Secretary Armin Luistro to decide on

the implementation of a three-day school week to ease the time and space constraints being experienced by the students.

Education officials have proposed a three-day school week to address congestions in schools and make students more comfortable.

[PCOO News Release]

partment; Information and Communications Technology Department; and Commercial Services Department.

Judging of entries and awarding of winners were conducted on May 22 at the DCWD Bajada motorpool. The judges were BFAR – FRMD chief Raul C. Millana, City Environment and Natural Resources Office Davao City East- Coastal Marine Management Section chief Laureano T. Quijano Jr. and City Engineer’s Office engineer III Arjean V. Jumamoy. The entries were judged according to environmental compatibility and durability, stability, functionality and concept and originality.

BFAR xI thru FRMD helped in formulating the guidelines, teaching the participants the proper way to create artificial coral reefs, assessing the quality of the created reefs and installing

the reefs underwater with their in-house divers. Spearheading the BFAR xI team was FRMD chief Millana.

Last May 23, the DCWD delegation and the artificial coral reefs were welcomed by Brgy.

Hizon, the council and constituents to their community and they were also very helpful during the hauling and actual installation. Barangay captain Abella thanked DCWD for helping their community rehabilitate their coast and ocean environment.

In behalf of acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado, OIC assistant general manager for administration Mildred G. Aviles thanked all employees who supported the activity. She is also hopeful that the contest would not be the last and would eventually include other sectors of society. [Jovana T. Duhaylungsod]

Government to address concerns in education A

S the new academic year opens next week, Malacanang has assured that it is doing everything to solve the various concerns in the education sector.

When the administration assumed office in 2010, it faced a backlog of 66,000 classrooms but the Depart-

Gov’t to push job-generating projects for economic growth T

HE Palace said it will continue to implement the strategies in the updated Philippine Development Plan to generate more jobs for the people.

“To further boost employment, the Department of Labor and Employment will focus on implementing job creation facilitation programs targeted at businesses that are expanding operations,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.

Coloma said that according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in its first quarter 2014 Business Expectation Survey, more than a third of the respondents have indicated expansion plans that could lead to an increase in job openings for the remainder of the year.

He said that National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Sec-

retary Arsenio Balisacan has emphasized that the government will focus on increasing investments from employers to generate high-quality and remunerative employment, which is vital in achieving rapid poverty reduction towards inclusive growth.

According to the NEDA, the country remains on track to reach its full-year growth target of between 6.5 and 7.5 percent as the government speeds up rehabilitation, construction, and recovery projects in areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda last year, Coloma said.

The sectors of manufacturing, tourism, information technology, business process management, construction, logistics, and agribusiness will be given priority in the hope that they would create more jobs, the Palace official said.

He further said that President Aquino is slat-

ed to convene a NEDA Board Meeting.

The meeting’s main agenda would be the discussion and approval of Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) matters: road and interchange projects in NCR, Region I, and Region IV-A of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); water district development projects of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA); the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS); LRT Line II Operations and Maintenance Project of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), River Irrigation Project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and government hospital modernization of the Department of Health (DOH). [PCOO News Release]

DCWD installs artificial reefs in Brgy. Hizon

T

HRU the collaborative efforts of Davao City Water District, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources xI – Fisheries Resources Management Division (BFAR – FRMD) and Brgy. Hizon council headed by barangay captain Ralph O. Abella and his constituents, 22 artificial coral reefs were installed in the fish sanctuary at Lizada Beach in Lanang last May 23 thru DCWD’s Lawig 8 activity for the Ocean Month celebration this May. DCWD official spokesperson Imelda T. Magsuci and overall committee head of Lawig 8 Maria Editha C. Monje thanked all their partners citing that without their help, the event would not have been possible. They also highlighted the importance of the activity considering the impact that it has not only to the community in the sanctuary but also to the environment as a whole.

The artificial coral reefs were all hand made by the employees of DCWD in an inter-departmental contest held May 3 to May 21.

Overall winner was the entry of the offices of the Board, the General Manager and Assistant General Managers for Administration and Operations. In second were the reefs created by the Pipelines and Appurtenances and Maintenance Department while in third were the entries of the Engineering and Construction Department. They respectively received Php10,000, Php7,000 and Php4,000 while Php2,000 consolation prizes were given to the teams of the Production Department; Pollution Control and Safety Office, Project Monitoring Office and Corporate Planning Department; Internal Audit De-

Stakeholders help rehab coastal area in Brgy. Hizon. A barangay police deploys an artificial reef made by Davao City Water District employees as divers from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources standby to arrange the deployed reefs underwater.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

THE ECONOMY 7

Loren calls for resiliency as PHL posts slow Q1 growth S

ENATOR Loren Legarda today reiterated her call to build a resilient economy that will cushion the impacts of natural hazards and climate change following the reported slowdown in the country’s growth primarily due to disasters.

For the first quarter of 2014, the Philippines registered GDP growth of 5.7%. In the same period last year, growth was at 7.7%. Economists attributed the slow growth to disasters such as the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Typhoon Yolanda.

“Economic losses due to disasters are taking a toll on development. One UN study stated that the Philippines can suffer losses worth more than US$9 billion due to a strong earthquake. We must invest in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation so that the impact on the economy is not as severe,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

The Senator said that aside from having a climate-proof budget, the Department of Finance’s proposed climate resiliency fund is also vital especially in ensuring that infrastructures are built in safe areas and are structurally sound.

She also urged the DOF to fast track its plan to put up a guarantee fund for lending institutions and an insurance mechanism for local government units to facilitate speedy recovery and rebuilding of communities and industries affected by disasters.

“Disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation must be at the core of the economic agenda and fiscal strategies. The government’s budget must be allocated to more resilience building efforts. For instance, we must put in place early warning system for crops harvest so we can make reliable forecasts that target farmers should there be a need to harvest early,” Legarda said.

She also said it is important to strengthen the building code and ensure it is updated for future hazards.

“With effective DRRM strategies, we will be able to address the vulnerability of communities to disasters and climate change. We can significantly diminish loss of lives and damage to properties and investments, and with less communities to rehabilitate, the economy will not have to suffer a major setback,” Legarda concluded.

SWEEP winners: All the way from Bataan to Silicon Valley. Fresh graduates Mark Anthony Colentava and Laurence Arguelles recently went on a tour of the Google headquarters in Silicon Valley as part of their prize as grand winners of the 10th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards. These two SWEEP alumni showed how creative minds and disruptive innovations can literally bring you places. These former students of Bataan Peninsula State University developed the CoinSaver, which won the grand prize at the 10th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards of Smart Communications, Inc. CoinSaver is a kiosk-like device that allows users to save for a product or service that they want by dropping coins. Linked to the mobile phone, the user will receive an SMS voucher once the amount is paid for in full. The voucher can then be exchanged for the product/service.

8 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

Surging populations threaten coastal ecosystems TExT and PHOTOS By GERRy T. ESTRERA

“W

E’VE pushed the seas perilously close -- and in some cases -- past their natural limits. Ingrained wasteful behavior must be overcome if the wealth of the seas is to serve our children.” -Troubled Waters -- A Call to Action Too much population is putting a lot of stress on “the seam between land and water” -- as what coastlines are described -- that they have a hard time recovering from the onslaught.

Some estimates suggest that over half of the planet’s population now lives and works within 200 kilometers of a coast; other calculate that over a third of the world’s people live within 100 kilometers of the sea.

“While there may be debate over the exact figures, there is no disagreement that the coastal zone is consistently the most populous part of the world and that there is a continuing tendency for people to migrate to it from the interior of the continents,” wrote Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez in an article which appeared in Our Planet.

“The tremendous flux of people is increasing the pressure on an already stressed area, and increasing contamination from sewage and industrial pollution, as well as agriculture,” said Dr. Gomez, who once served as director of the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines (UP).

According to the former UP professor, fisheries and other living resources of the sea are concentrated in the narrow coastal zone. Some 90% of the world’s fisheries production comes this zone, though it makes up only about 10% of the world’s oceans.

“The productivity is generally explained by the shallowness of the sea allowing adequate light penetration to drive photosynthesis, the recycling of nutrients and the subsidies of nutrient or energy received from the land,” Dr. Gomez pointed out.

“The proximity of large human populations to the most productive parts of the marine realm is, alas, no accident; a natural affinity brings them together,” he added.

“But it causes critical problems.”

Overfishing, for instance, is tied to population and poverty in many developing countries. “The growth of population in coastal areas is remarkable,” said Dr. Gomez.

And these people are putting a lot of strain to the ecologically fragile coral reefs.

“More and more people are depending on the same number of reefs -- or even fewer as they become degraded,” Dr. Gomez deplored.

“It is difficult to reduce the number of people fishing the reefs, because they have no other way to earn their living,” the UP professor lamented. “The pervasive poverty of many coastal dwellers in developing countries aggravates the situation.”

What makes it even harder is how to address the overexploitation that results from greater prosperity.

“As some developing countries progress, more and more people increase their

buying power, and this raises demand for many commodities, not least marine living resources,” Dr. Gomez said. “Just increasing the demand for traditional food products strains marine production.”

Mangroves --the communities of trees in the tidal flats in coastal waters, extending inland along rivers where the water is tidal, saline, or brackish -- are not spared from destruction.

Half of the 500,000 hectares of mangroves that existed in the country at the beginning of this century have already been converted to fish and shrimp ponds.

“The ponds destroy traditional fishing grounds, removing a source of income from local communities,” Dr. Gomez said. “The displaced fishermen are not provided with

alternative sources of income, apart perhaps for a handful employed as pond laborers.”

Although a World Bank report released in 2005 stated that mangrove cover in the country was “now relatively stable” – particularly those around Bohol and Siquijor islands – Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III said that mangroves are still in peril.

“Notwithstanding, our mangroves are disappearing due to unabated deforestation,” informed Dr. Guerrero, former director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development. The current rate of mangrove deforestation ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 hectares per year.

It’s hard not to include seagrasses when coastal ecosystems are mentioned. “The

seagrass beds have only been recognized for being just as productive as the other two, if not more so,” Dr. Gomez said.

“If seagrass beds continue to disappear, there will be serious economic and ecological consequences,” warns the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Davao City.

Seagrass beds are rated the third most valuable ecosystem globally (on a per hectare basis), only preceded by estuaries and wetlands. Yet, they are completely ignored and not given importance.

“Despite their high biodiversity and abundance, seagrass habitats are still poorly understood in our country,” says Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, the country’s foremost expert on seagrasses. “Hence, it appears only marginally useful when,

in fact, the ecosystem plays significant economic and ecological roles.”

Pollution has also taking a toll on the coastal areas. Take the case of Manila Bay. The State of the World Report of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute once reported: “Seen from an airplane, the surface waters of Manila Bay resemble a green soup.”

If coastal zones have to be become more productive, they have to be well protected. “Many papers on the marine environment have focused on the physical aspects of environmental degradation -- but more and more people are now realizing that the solutions to environmental problems are often not technological, but political and sociological,” Dr. Gomez pointed out.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

BIGGER PICTURE

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Fishing banned in Davao Gulf on spawning season T

HE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-11 said Friday fishing will be banned in the Davao Gulf between June and August this year to rehabilitate its declining fishery resources.

Studies by the BFAR-11 National Stock Assessment Program have shown small pelagic species in the gulf could not sufficiently meet the demand for fish in the region.

Small pelagic fishes are those that “live near the surface or in the water column of coastal, ocean, usually caught by both commercial and mu-

nicipal fishing gears like bagnet, ringnet, and other modified fishing gears of similar fishing operations.”

Some small pelagic fishes include the variety of mackerel locally known as karabalyas, kabalyas, hasa-hasa, buraw, anduhaw, kapisnon, lumahan and anduhan; variety of roundscad species also known as galonggong”, moro-moro, borot, alumahan, budburon, burot-burot; and the variety of big eye scad species locally known as matang baka, atulay, matambaka, tamrong and budlatan.

The closed season is a joint order of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Fatima M. Idris, BFAR11 regional director, said in a press conference that based on biological studies conducted by their Regional Stock Assessment Program, most pelagic species spawn during the period from June to August.

Idris said the order will be implemented upon its publication in newspapers with general circulation. She added they have been conducting in-

formation and education campaign about the closed season in the Davao Gulf.

The order also aims to reduce, if not eliminate, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing within the gulf for conservation.

Any person, association or corporation, is prohibited to catch any small pelagic fishes in the conservation area “using ringnet and bagnet, regardless of tonnage and/or modified fishing gears with similar fishing operations during the closed season”.

The order also prohibits

the use of fine mesh net for ring nets and bag nets and similar fishing gears or operation throughout the years.

A peer review will follow the implementation of the closed season. Scientists, technical staff from BFAR, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Davao Gulf Management Council, BAROG Katawhan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, academe and industry experts will determine whether to continue or amend the closed season.

Idris said they will continue monitoring the gulf before

and after succeeding closed season. She noted that at least 30 commercial mother vessels are registered to fish in the gulf.

Punishments for violators of the order, particularly the operator, boat captain/master fisherman or three highest officers of the boat are a fine equivalent to the value of the catch or P100,000, whichever is higher, and imprisonment of six months, forfeiture of the catch and cancellation of fishing boat and gear licenses and/ or other fishing permits. [Lorie Ann Cascaro/MindaNews]

V

CoV free status.

After being placed under quarantine, the OFW, who is a nurse based in United Arab Emirates (UAE), was cleared from the virus but efforts of the DOH did not stop there.

The DOH has traced about 414 passengers of the same

flight the Filipino nurse took, Etihad Airways EY 0424 for nose-throat-swab testing.

While only 401 out of the 414 were tested, the DOH said that since the remaining 13 showed no signs of symptoms of the disease after the virus’ 14-day incubation period, they

were as good as cleared.

Dr. Lyndon-Lee Suy, in an interview with the Philippines News Agency, said the DOH still continues to implement precautionary measures -- one of which is approving the issuance of a Bureau of Quarantine alert bulletin to those traveling from the Middle East through international airports.

The agency is also going to come up with a plan to prevent Filipinos from contacting the disease with the Pilgrimage to the Mecca set to take place later this year.

With help from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the DOH has also requested recruitment agencies to call up the employees they have deployed to check on their health status at least once a week.

Dr. Lee-Suy said this would serve as another way of connecting and reaching out to OFWs and know how they are doing.

The DOH is also hoping for the early approval of a draft manual it submitted earlier to the Office of the Pres-

ident on the preparedness and response plan against the MERS-CoV for the protection of OFWs. Two health experts from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), meanwhile, have been sent to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia earlier this week to check on the status of OFWs amid cases of MERS-CoV there.

They will also be looking into selected hospitals there to check if infection control is strictly being practiced and sit down with their counterparts to discuss ways to further improve the prevention of the virus’ spread.

Both experts are expected to return to Manila on June 1 to report on the data they have gathered.

So far, the DOH has not imposed any travel restrictions or deployment bans but called for a greater public awareness.

It also reminded OFWs to avoid crowded areas, observe proper hand-washing and cough and sneezing manners.

A benefit package for passengers coming from the Mid-

dle East who wish to be tested for MERS-CoV is now being provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“We have to maintain our MERS-CoV free status because the threat is still there.

More than a thousand incoming passengers come from the Middle East,” Dr. Lee-Suy said.

“So the moment an incoming passenger feels signs and symptoms within 14 days, he or she should be evaluated and if positive for MERS-CoV, they should be treated,” he added.

The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, stated that although MERSCoV is not regarded as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) yet, concerns on the disease has significantly increased.

Their concerns centered on the recent sharp rise in cases; systemic weaknesses in infection prevention and control, as well as gaps in critical information; and possible exportation of cases to especially vulnerable countries. [PNA]

DOH: PHL remains MERS-CoV free but health check continues

ER a month after a returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was initially tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the Department of Health (DOH) continues to focus on maintaining the Philippines MERS-

No. 88 T. Monteverde Avenue,Davao City Tel. No.(082)224-5400 • Fax No. (082)224-2573

All in supplies!

Sporting Goods

Appliance

Office & School Supplies

Home & Office Furniture

Other product supplies: • Hardware,household items • computer supplies • office equipments

DECOR. Packed cotton candies are made as decoration of a vendor’s mobile store to attract the attention of children at the entrance of a subdivision in Sasa, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

10

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

EDITORIAL Rising food prices and inanities

A

REPORT from the World Bank’s Food Price Watch has warned that global food prices between January and April this year had increased by four percent compared to the same period last year due to drought in the US, unrest in Ukraine and rising demand in China.

“This spike in in prices puts an end to a downward trend sustained since August 2012,” the World Bank was quoted as saying.

The leap is expressly shown in the prices of wheat and maize, up 18 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

The Philippines’ lot is not very far from the world situation. The weather pattern which is getting crazier each passing day affects adversely local food production resulting in declining supply against increasing demand due to ever-growing population. Naturally, this demand-supply equation causes increase in prices of commodities.

The sad thing about us in this country is that government and the private sector are not doing enough to improve our agricultural productivity. This, despite the reality that ours is basically an agricultural economy. Govern-

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ment focus on agriculture in terms of budgetary allocation and credit support is wanting. This is aside from the horrible fact that whatever little budget is allotted for agriculture is even stolen by grafters and scammers like what happened to the P700-million fertilizer fund entrusted to the Department of Agriculture years ago. If we have to believe the testimonies of whistle-blowers and the admission of scammers themselves, stealing goes on unabated in the DA during this much-vaunted regime of “Daang Matuwid.”

Government could not even allocate enough money for massive radio and television information programs designed to teach farmers how to plant simple crops or raise livestock. Broadcast networks are equally guilty of emphasizing entertainment programs that do not empower the people on simple “how-to” technologies that should help them raise food for the table and earn additional income for the family. Indeed, we have a media industry which thrives on the inane and the sensational, a kind of disservice that does not contribute to national development at all.

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

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

GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO OLIVIA D. VELASCO RICHARDRICHARD C. EBONAC. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager General ManagerMarketingAdvertising Supervisor SpecialistFinance FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLOREnCE ManagerS. ViLLARin

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EDGEDAVAO

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EOPLE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO KILL – Why would someone so well-connected and privileged be murdered. Barely a week after the convoy of Mayor Reynaldo Navarro of Laak, Compostela Valley Province was ambushed in broad daylight resulting to the mayor’s death, police investigators might be so impatient to let the brain behind the assault out of their sight.

Interrogators will be very busy looking into the possible motive or motives of the attack for weeks. The assassination of Mayor Navarro are not too different from other bloody ambuscades: well-orchestrated assault, and in each instances the operation were carried out by a group of murderers.

So far, investigators have found no evidence that a certain group was at work except knowing the identities of the two attackers who were killed during the exchange of fires with the mayor’s security personnel.

And with the declaration of the rebel movement they have nothing to do with the killing, probers are shifting their focus from the “rebel attack” angle.

Although the victim was accused of being part of the so-called “Big Four” allegedly engaged in logging operations in ComValDavao del Norte-Agusan forests, the rebel

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Spasm of bloodshed group has not considered him an enemy that warrants a death sentence.

What the rebels did instead was merely warned the mayor about his alleged increasing anti-people and anti-environment activities.

Now, if Mayor Navarro was not their target, according to the insurgents, who are the real perpetrators? The probers are now looking into other angles– personal grudge, business interest, or politics.

What is not clear is why the rebel group had released a statement denying any involvement in the crime. Is it a strategy aimed at veering away the probers’ attention from the movement. Lawmen can consider other motives behind the dastardly act, but they know the reality in a crime like this--- it’s hard to connect the dots.

Being harmed by enemies from all sides is a dilemma for politicians. The real threat

might just be lurking within the core or living among them. If the killing of Navarro is the handiwork of another group, who are not rebels, it means that the perpetrators have blasted the access and stormed the perimeter.

Residents of Laak expect to see tangible results of the investigation in the next few days. Probers already have a clue -- the identities of the slain suspects will eventually provide them a lead to the solution of the crime. There is no precise time for the spasm of violence, but the murder of Navarro seems to have been set in motion on that tragic day when his convoy was on the way to attend to urgent appointments.

The murder of Mayor Navarro forced other politicians to consider themselves in the crosshairs. They know if they’re not next, or they’re after the ones who are next. And that’s what every politician is thinking about themselves these days.

Public outrage over the deadly attack suggests that if the real motive is known and who was behind it, authorities have to do everything to stop the same incident from happening again. They know that wherever the investigation will lead to, the war against violence is yet to be won.

How corporate jets fly under shareholder radar

EN’S apparel retailer Jos. A. Bank may be best known for its incessant advertisements of all the merchandise it has on sale. “Could they advertise more? Could they sell less?” quipped Jerry Seinfeld. “We’ll give you three suits for $8! Just take it! Get it out of here!”

So in a twisted kind of way, it’s perfect that the company and its chairman of the board, Robert Wildrick, have recently pulled off a different kind of super sale. In March, competitor Men’s Wearhouse agreed to buy Jos. A. Bank — for $65 a share, about a 55 percent premium to its share price last fall. Wildrick served as the chief executive officer until 2008, and is often given credit for growing the business from a struggling retailer into a national brand. He now has a consulting agreement with the company that pays him $825,000 a year, and has earned over $200,000 a year in his role as chairman.

Seinfeld might be surprised to hear it, but there is a piece of merchandise that Jos. A. Bank doesn’t advertise. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, Jos. A. Bank leases a private plane, and not just any private plane — a high-end Dassault Falcon 2000Ex. A reader of Jos. A. Bank’s financial statements would almost certainly not be aware of the existence of the plane.

What’s interesting is that despite all the furor about corporate jets, and the complaints about executive compensation, experts say this situation is not uncommon. “It’s entirely possible that a company could have a jet and not have it be disclosed in the proxy statements,” said Andrew Liazos, a partner at law firm McDermott Will and Emery, who heads the firm’s executive compensation group. Indeed, Jos. A. Bank is a perfect example of how a company can thread the needle of the disclosure rules about jets — without breaking any laws.

Jos. A. Bank’s plane is not identified in the company’s financial statements. I searched its proxy statements and 10Ks going back to 2003 for the terms “jet,” “personal use,” “aircraft,” and “airplane,” and found nothing related to this aircraft. And this is technically proper — if the plane is being used entirely for business purposes. If its executives or directors are allowed personal use, and that use exceeds a certain dollar value, it must be disclosed in the proxy statement. According to the SEC, a company is required to report as “’All Other Compensation’ perquisites and personal

VANTAGE POINTS

ANAlYSIS

By Bethany McLean benefits if the total amount exceeds $10,000, and to identify each such item by type, regardless of the amount.” It wouldn’t take much flying on a Falcon 2000Ex for the benefit to exceed $10,000.

According to Jos. A. Bank spokesman Tom Davies, its plane is used entirely for business purposes, so no disclosure is necessary.

But here’s where things get a little more contorted. Jos. A. Bank is headquartered in Hampstead, Maryland. Yet the jet’s lease says the jet is hangared in West Palm Beach, Florida — which is where board chairman Wildrick lives. The company’s director of aviation, Jeff Michlowitz, also lives in Florida, according to property records.

A now-expired advertisement for a second pilot included in its job description “some weekend flying and occasional Sunday relocations” and read “MUST LIVE WITHIN 1 HOUR FROM PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.” If the chief executive officer of a company — which Wildrick was until 2008 — were using a jet to commute from home to the office, that would qualify as personal use. (According to the FAA, the first payment on the lease was due in May 2004.)

In such circumstances, the jet should have been disclosed. Aha! Yet a 2001 amendment to Wildrick’s employment agreement established “additional executive offices at a location in the Palm Beach, Florida metropolitan area” and specifically allowed Wildrick to “conduct the affairs of the company from the Palm Beach office.” Given that, the travel between Florida and the company’s Hampstead, Maryland headquarters would be considered a business expense, and wouldn’t have had to have been disclosed — even when he was CEO. Now that he’s a director, travel between Palm Beach and Hampstead would still qualify as business use.

This strikes some corporate governance experts as odd. “It’s highly unusual to have a corporate jet based where the directors are, and not where the executives are,” says Lynn Turner, the former chief accountant of the SEC, and a former board member at both public companies and institutional investors. “It would be significant information for the investors in that company.” It

also seems strange that a company would have a jet that was just for the use of the chairman of the board.

ABut Michlowitz, the company’s director of aviation, says the plane is not just for Wildrick’s use. He says that other executives also use the plane to visit the stores and scout out new real estate. He adds that Wildrick barely uses it at all anymore. Asked why, given those circumstances, the plane is still kept in Palm Beach, he responds that inclement weather and increased difficulty of maintenance at facilities near cold, snowy Hampstead make Palm Beach a sensible decision. He adds that the other executives fly commercially down to Palm Beach, and then use the plane from there. He also reiterated Davies’ point, which is that the plane is used entirely for business.

Putting all this aside, doesn’t the cost of a plane still have to show up somewhere in the financial statements? Well, yes, sort of. Many corporate aircraft are leased, rather than owned, and Davies confirms that this is the case with Jos. A. Bank’s plane. Since the plane is classified as an operating lease, the payments are a form of offbalance-sheet financing — which must be disclosed, according to the SEC, albeit not in granular enough detail to tell that they are for a plane.

In its financial statements for the year ending in January 2005, Jos. A. Bank says that its “principal commitments are non-cancelable operating leases in connection with its retail stores, certain tailoring spaces, and equipment.” The plane, according to Davies, is part of that “equipment.” Would you ever have guessed?

At the time of that first lease payment, Jos. A. Bank’s stock was selling for about $13 per share. In fiscal 2004, the company’s net income was just $24.5 million — less than the $24 million price of the plane! Back then, and even before the sale to Men’s Wearhouse, shareholders might have wanted to understand what benefit they were getting from the use of the plane. But given the deal — which means that anyone who bought at the time the company got its jet has just about quadrupled her money — it would be hard to find a shareholder who would complain now. (Calls to two Men’s Wearhouse spokespeople were not returned.)

Maybe the larger question is this: Would Jerry Seinfeld still call what Jos. A. Bank is selling “cr*p” if he knew it included a Falcon 2000Ex?

11

A matter of credibility COMMENT

By Patricio P. Diaz

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Part 1 of 2

AWYER Bruce Rivera has done an excellent job in letting Janet Lim-Napoles take the offensive in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) or pork barrel scam war. Members of the Congress and Malacañang including President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III are scrambling to mount their defenses.

Since the exposé of the scam on July 12, 2013, Napoles has been under siege. Since August 28, 2013 when she surrendered to President Aquino III after evading arrest for two weeks, she has been under detention. While being detained for serious illegal detention or kidnapping without bail, she has been charged with plunder t in connection with the PDAF scam together with three senators and five others before the Ombudsman. The case being now with the Sandiganbayan, she can be issued an arrest warrant for plunder, also without bail.

The PDAF scam has been affirmed in the audit report of the Commission on Audit. The Supreme Court validated the report and the scam by declaring the PDAF unconstitutional.

Napoles’ role as brain of the scam is sustained by ten or so whistle blowers from her JLN Corporation led by her financial officer Benhur Luy, who submitted to the Department of Justice a copy of the computer disk containing JLN transaction from 2002 to 2012. A co-accused in the plunder case is now a state witness. She cannot leave the country nor draw money from banks.

Luy has allowed the Philippine Daily Inquirer to copy his disk. The PDI, in a 13-part serialized special report, published from the 12th of this month the contents of the disk including a list of senators and House representatives who, on record, had participated in the scam.

Counterattack Rivera must have plotted the counterattack.

The only way out for Napoles is to become a state witness with immunity from the crime of plunder. To do this, Napoles succeeded in meeting Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in her hospital suite (she was to have a major operation) last April 22 in the evening. After their five-hour private talk, she gave De Lima her sworn narrative about the scam -- her involvement and her own list of lawmakers and their agents involved.

De Lima did not commit to have her turn into a state witness. However, whether she will be or not depends on her sworn statement to be evaluated in consultation with Luy and the other whistleblowers. No assurance but the possibility is there.

As Rivera has told media, the primary purpose of the sworn statement and the list is to let the truth come out. Napoles’s becoming a state witness is a welcome bonus which may or may not be given.

There are strong oppositions to Napoles’ becoming a state witness – one from the President himself. If Napoles is not accepted as a state witness and not immune from plunder, of what good are her sworn narrative and list – the counterattack?

Stratagem With the strategy goes the stratagem. Rivera is not naïve but he is cunning. He knows the gravity of the case against his client. He knows how corruption is ingrained in government. He knows that many of those not listed among the involved are not beyond suspicion in Filipino minds. If his client goes to hell, why not drag many others. Maybe, the trip down can be delayed or even be averted by muddling the case – confusing the issues.

What do the people see now in the scam arena? Contrary narratives of the case, contrary lists of the accused – the known brain of the scam turning accuser and wanting to be a state witness. How will the people distinguish the truth from the lie, the accused from the accusers? All of a sudden, those basking in innocence are denying their implication in the crime.

The implicated lawmakers have denied knowing Napoles, having ever met her or done business with her. They justified their use of their PDAF. Some have called Napoles liar and have in mind of charging her of perjury.

The President is defending his cabinet officials and warning not to fall to the tricks of Napoles.

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Ukay-ukay...FFROM 3 and 10 bales of used clothing,” the statement said.

The statement stipulated that subsequently a WSD was also issued against the 10

bales of used clothing for the violation of Section 2503 relation in relation to Republic Act (RA) 4653 06 June 1966.

[ABF]

nier G. Cruz III directed all military unit commanders in the area to help the local

officials, Police and DENR to locate, rescue and ensure the safety of the inspectors.

ang input pero pag organic gamay ra, “ he said adding that this can also help other farmers to lessen their production cost and help conserve the environment.

Sotomayor’s initiative also give employment to some in their area. Currently, he employs eight personnel. On its third decade, 17 outstanding farmers and organizations were recognized in the 2013- 2014 Gawad Saka Outstanding Agri- Achievers because of their exemplary efforts in uplifting the agricultural sector in the region.

Aside from the top five who will be competing to national level other agriachievers are Artemio C. Cabanog (outatanding rice farmer), Perseverando F. Dalumpines (outstanding corn farmer), Danilo P. Balgoma (outstanding organic agriculture farmer), Nilo P. Diwata (outstanding small animal raiser), George I. Cunanan (outstandibg large animal raiser), Larry L. Aq-

uilino (outstanding fisherfolk for fish culture), Napnaran RIC ( outstanding rural improvement club),PAFC Davao Oriental (outstanding PAFC), Nagmasid Cooperative (outstanding small farmer/ fisherfolk organization), CAFC Mati City (outstanding CAFC/MAFC), Mfarmc Lupon (outstanding FARMC), and Dr. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan (outstanding agriculture/ fishery scientist).

Winners and their respective agriculture technicians received cash prize.

In the end, the province of Davao Oriental was hailed as this year’s overall champion followed by Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte, and Davao City.

Davao del Sur, last year’s winner didn’t make it.

Davao Oriental’s governor Corazon Malanyaon said that they are now focusing on the agriculture sector of the province especially after the devastation of typhoon Pablo.

tient basis during the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) consultation with weekly follow-ups.

The EO stated that every child has the right to the care, assistance, and protection of the state, particularly when parents or guardians are unable to provide the child with fundamental needs fro growth, development, and improvement.

“Under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) threshold for Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM), the Philippines’ rate of 7.3 percent for children under 5 years is considered poor, and the rate of 11.9 percent for children 6-11 months, serious,” the EO stated.

The EO said cases of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) were identified in the city. It stated that among the nutrition targets of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition for 2011 – 2016 is the integration of the management of severe and moderate acute in the community and health facility.

It said that the IMAM is a set of updated and scientifically-proven protocols that can be used by health providers to manage cute malnutrition cases in the target age group of 6- 59

months, who are the most vulnerable.

“IMAM, which is community-based, is adopted from a set of international standard guidelines replacing the use of less effective methods of diagnosing and treating acute malnutrition cases,” the EO stated.

The EO provides that the effective implementation of IMAM necessitates the creation of a set of officers, planners and implementers from the executive and legislative departments in the city to formulate the rules and regulations.

With the issuance of the EO, a technical working group will be constituted to formulate rules and regulations in the implementation and integration of the IMAM protocol.

The group will be composed of City Mayor as the head, City Administrator as his Co-head and City Health Officer as the secretariat.

The members will be the Nutrition Division Officer, City Legal Officer, The Sanggunian Panlungsod Committee on Health, City Planning and Development Coordinator, Population Officer, representative from the Department of Health (DOH) -11, representative from Southern Philippines Medical Center and from Civil Society Organizations. [ABF]

6 DENR... FFROM 3 Gawad... FFROM 4

OATH. Police station commanders and other high-ranked police officials in Davao City take their oath of office for the Anti-smoking Task Force administered by Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Vicente Danao Jr. during the commemoration of the 12th anniversary of Anti-smoking campaign in the city Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr. Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. xI Davao city

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAxI Service yASSER G. IBRAHIM, Petitioner Case No.2012-xI-00583 x- - - - - - - - -- - - -----x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAxI Service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY to any point in Region xI with the use of ONE(1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 31, 2014.. In the petition filed on May 20, 2014, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JUNE 23, 2014 at 9:20 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

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

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

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

TUCP urges gov’t to develop new markets for Filipino nurses

T

HE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Saturday urged the government to develop new labor markets for Filipino nurses.

TUCP president Ernesto Herrera said there is a need for job opportunity for these professionals as many of whom remain either totally idle, or have been drivento perform work that has nothing to do with their professional preparation.

“We would prefer the aggressive overseas deployment of nurses over other semi-skilled and unskilled workers, such as domestic helpers,” he said in a statement.

The former senator added, “We have a large surplus of nurses anyway.

Nurses are also less vulnerable to employer abuse because their skills are not easy to replace. In a way, Filipino nurses are naturally protected by their skills.”

He noted that domestic helpers are “extremely susceptible” to (employer) mistreatment not only because they live with the employer, but also because their skills are “easier to replace.”

Herrera also reported that the Philippines, one of the world’s largest producers of English-speaking nurses, is now deploying overseas an average of 12,000 every year, citing Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) statistics.

“There’s no question that the Philippines is now the globe’s single biggest

supplier of foreign nurses.

They are the leading group of professionals that we set out every year abroad, mainly to the Middle East,” he said.

Herrera said that of the 12,000 Filipino nurses “newly hired” by foreign employers every year, around 85 percent are female.

Aside from nurses, Herrera said the other large groups of professional and technical workers deployed overseas include civil, mechanical, electrical and industrial engineers; composers, musicians and singers; artists and designers; physiotherapists and occupational therapists; teachers; accountants; architects; computer programmers; and midwives.

[PNA]

ESPITE the ban, the illegal liba-liba or Danish seine fishing remains rampant in the waters off Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.

Nerio Casil, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Caraga region or Region 13, said their head office issued the ban on liba-liba fishing last year to stop the continuing destruction of coral reefs, seagrass beds and other marine habitat.

The ban became fully effective last May 3.

He said the liba-liba operators were given six months starting last October to change their fishing gears to safe and sustainable methods.

Liba-liba fishing uses cone-shaped nets with heavy fish herding device attached to a tom weight for hauling to the boat.

The ban is enforced through Fisheries Administrative Order 246 titled “Banning the Operation of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine in the Philippines,” which was issued on September 12, 2013.

Based on the order, violators face imprisonment of two to 10 years and a fine of P100,000 to P500,000.

Casil confirmed that there are still liba-liba or hulbot-hulbot fishing activities operating in Surigao del Norte, particularly in Placer, Gigaquit, Claver and Bacuag, including Siargao town and Bucas Grande in Socorro.

Liba-liba fishing also exists in Dinagat town in Dinagat Islands province and Cantilan in Surigao del Sur, he said. [Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews]

of the grants.

“The task is compelling but NCIP will ensure efficient coordination with Pamulaan and DMSF all throughout the completion of the proj-

ects,” stressed Quintayo.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will also be involved in the integration of Reproductive Health aspects of grants. The IP-

MNCHN project – Mindanao is jointly managed

by UNFPA. The project steering committee is co-chaired by Department of Health and NCIP.

‘Liba-liba’fishing still rampant in eastern Mindanao seaboard despite ban

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

EDGEDAVAO PIADI Board of Directors Marissa Atega, Nenita Millana, Ben Malones, Chairman Lads Aviola, Secretary Dominic Carpio, Olivia D. Velasco, Riezl Reyes and Luke Muico,

PIADI: Moving forward together Moving forward as one. one journey. one future.

That, in a nutshell, sums up the atmosphere of the 22nd PIADI Multi-Purpose Cooperative General Assembly last May 25, 2014 at the Apo View Hotel. The theme of the annual assembly is “Moving forward together, our journey, our future.”

Yes, the PIADI MultiPurpose Cooperative, a pillar among Davao’s print industry, is on its 22nd assembly and what a way to move onwards than adding more members to its family and strengthening its financial position.

This year’s assembly was marked with the holding of a printing technology seminar focusing on the best practices of Ideal Marketing and Manufacturing Corporation with

no less than its president and general manager Luningning E. Regala.

The GA proper highlighted the main activity with chairman Lads Aviola presiding.

PIADI vice chair Nenita Millana gave the welcome remarks while the response was given by director Marissa Atega.

New members Casiano Torrefiel Jr. of GACT Printshop, Jann Reinald Virtudazo of Lifeworks Printhub, and Antonio Garcia of LT Printshoppe were also sworn in during the day-long activity with Fr. Jeniño Agudulo presiding over the oath-taking, directors Lucas Muico and Dominic Carpio for the awards and recognition and director Rodel Riezl Reyes giving the closing remarks.

The members of PIA are: Rodolfo P. Darang (07 San

Jose Printing Press) Amelita P. Reyes (777 Printing Press) Cepriano B. Felicilda Jr. (AK & M Prints Imaging Services) Vanessa A. Vargas (Alfa Binos Printing Corp.)

Ann Magdalene S. Dionisio (Allied Pacific Packaging Solutions Corp.)

Bashir H. Husain (Ambassador Printing Corporation) Maria Agnes A. Montoya (Angelica Press, Inc.) Allan Pete S. De Castro (APDC Printing Press & Tarpaulin Printing) Marvin B. Te (ARJ Printing Press, Inc.) Ricardo Armando L. Lim (Artcom Printing Services) Elizabeth B. Requieron

FPIADI, A4

Director Marissa Atega and Luningning Regala of Ideal Marketing Corporation with Chairman Lads Aviola.

The new set of officers of PIADI takes their oath.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

EVENT

Lifestyle Network whips up a reality search for the next great dessert master HaNkEriNg for something especially sweet on television?

Well, it’s time to get those forks ready as Lifestyle Network launches the second serving of its talent competition, “The Clash”.

The talent search, “Toque-en-ones” edition, which brought to television Chef Sharwin Tee of “Curiosity got the Chef,” is now looking for the next great dessert master.

Whether participants are dessert makers, baking enthusiasts, culinary students, pastry business owners, or simply anyone who loves bringing sweet treats to family and friends, the Lifestyle Network is opening up the chance to take that passion for creating desserts to the next level.

The contest is open to both Filipinos and resident foreigners, 18-45 years old, who can bring their a-game to the reality show, with a frosting of charm and sprinkle of competitive spirit. applications begin today, with the deadline of entries being on June 20, 2014. interested applicants can log on to www. lifestylenetwork.com.ph to register and submit their 5-minute demos. after the nationwide search, only the top six dessert makers will take part in the reality show hosted by Sam Oh and mentored by the Pastry alliance of the Philippines.

Call this the ultimate sugar rush as the challengers will be tasked to create delectable desserts and present their creations to sweet perfection. Each week, the judges and mentors will decide whose cookie has crumbled. Challengers will have to outfrost each other to emerge the winner and be declared Lifestyle Network’s first ever Dessert Master.

The winner will also gain his or her own TV show, P100,000, and other prizes.

Satisfy your sweet cravings with “The Clash: Search for the Next great Dessert Master,” set to air this coming September only on Lifestyle Network (SkyCable channel 52 and Destiny Digital Cable). For the complete mechanics and other updates, visit Lifestyle Network’s official website at www.lifestylenetwork.com.ph.

Azkals go for history in 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Final Catch the azkals, Philippines’ national football team, go for history as aBS-CBN Sports+action, the official broadcaster of the 2014 asian Football Confederation (aFC) Challenge Cup, airs the finals live where the azkals will battle Palestine for the 2014 aFC Challenge Cup Championship at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives on Friday (May 30).

The Philippines has never won the aFC Challenge Cup, a tournament for developing and emerging football nations. in addition, no Southeast asian country has ever won the said tournament. The azkals can end both droughts with a victory over Palestine.

The azkals are coming off a dramatic and highly emotional 3 – 2 win in extra time over host country Maldives during the semifinals last Tuesday (May 27). Phil Younghusband gave the Philippines the lead with his goal in the 19th minute before the Maldives leveled the score in the 33rd minute.

Jerry Lucena restored the advantage for the visiting Philippines three minutes later, but the Maldivians equalized in the second half with a goal off a corner kick in the 66th minute.

Chris greatwich, who was the hero in the azkals’ stunning win over Vietnam in the 2010 aFF Suzuki Cup, provided the gamewinner as he tapped in a goal off a deflected shot from teammate Patrick reichelt in the 104th minute.

The champion of the 2014 aFC Challenge Cup will also earn an automatic berth to the 2015 aFC asian Cup in australia, and will be bracketed in group D together with iraq, Jordan, and aFC Cup defending champion Japan.

The championship match between the Philippines and Palestine will be a rematch of the 2012 aFC Challenge Cup Third Place match in which the azkals won, 4 – 3.

Will the azkals’ run in the 2014 aFC Challenge Cup end on a historic note? Find out as aBS-CBN Sports+action begins the live coverage of the 2014 aFC Challenge Cup Finals on Friday (May 30) at 11:30 PM with replay on Saturday (May 31) at 4 PM. Want to relive the azkals’ 2014 aFC Challenge Cup campaign?

Catch all of the azkals’ matches as aBS-CBN Sports+action will air the replays their games in the tournament beginning Monday (June 2) until Friday (June 6).

[rock] Supremo at SM City Davao

LAST May 24, Ballet Philippines, in cooperation with the Filipino Heritage Festival, Air Asia and SM, brought to the Annex [rock] Supremo in celebration of the heritage month.

Earlier that Saturday, less than lucky kids were treated to an exclusive ballet workshop by the Ballet Philippines. Ballet Philippines had a second run of [rock] Supremo in the city at SM Lanang Premier on May 25. [rock] Supremo was choreographed by Davaoeño Paul Morales with Alden Lugnasin ang Dwight Rodrigazo. The show premiered September of 2013 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines to mark the 150th year since Bonifacio’s birth.

The fresh rock ballet narrated the life story of Andres Bonifacio. The dance concert featured OPM rock genre which was successfully interpreted with powerful choreography. The music provided the mood ranges and textures which fit perfectly well with the story line. The audience was in awe with the complexities of the dance routines.

Catch more exciting events at SM City Davao!

Like them on Facebook for event and promo updates.

EDGEDAVAO

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ENTErTaiNMENT

Bea and Paulo team up for aBs-cBn’s ‘sana Bukas Pa ang Kahapon’

NEW generation’s ‘Movie Queen’ Bea alonzo and one of the most in-demand leading men in the country, Paulo avelino will team up for the first time in aBSCBN’s upcoming primetime drama series titled “Sana Bukas Pa ang kahapon.” according to Bea aside from working with Paulo, she is thrilled with the multiple characters that she will portray in the series, which will premiere this June. “it’s my first time to do something like this that is why i’m so excited. This is the most challenging role that i’ve ever done in my career so far,” said Bea who will give life to the roles of a feisty lawyer named Emmanuelle and the heiress of a chocolate company named rose.

Paulo, on the other hand, feels blessed to be working with Bea and award-

chelle Vito, and Miguel Vergara.

“Sana Bukas Pa ang kahapon” is the newest masterpiece of Dreamscape Entertainment Television, the group that created the phenomenal drama series “Walang Hanggan,” the hit family teleserye “ina kapatid anak,” and the currently top-rating Primetime Bida series “ikaw Lamang.”

winning actors like albert Martinez, Eddie garcia, Dina Bonnevie, Tonton gutierrez, anita Linda, Maricar reyes, and Susan roces.

“More than being pressured, i am honored that i’m given the chance to work with them because i am really learning so much as an

actor,” shared Paulo, who will portray the role of Patrick, a young man who will fall in love with one of Bea’s characters, rose.

Under the direction of Jerome Pobocan and Trina Dayrit, “Sana Bukas Pa ang kahapon” will tell the story of how the two totally op-

Don’t miss the beginning of “Sana Bukas Pa ang kahapon” this June on aBSCBN Primetime Bida. For more information about “Sana Bukas Pa ang kahapon,” visit the show’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/SBPak.TV, Twitter.com/SBPak_TV, and instagram.com/DreamscapepH.

posite women, rose and Emmanuelle, will be united by fate and by their hunger to seek for the truth and justice.

Completing the powerhouse cast of aBS-CBN’s newest drama series are Nikki Valdez, Bembol rocco, Francis Magundayao, Mi-

‘The Legal Wife’ ready to shock viewers with unforgettable finale The country’s most talked about “TV affair,” “The Legal Wife,” has begun its thought-provoking countdown as enters its last three weeks.

The series starring angel Locsin, Jericho rosales, Maja Salvador and JC de Vera is set to give TV viewers a conclusion that will reveal a stronger, braver and wiser Monica (played by angel).

“The Legal Wife,” which premiered last January, continues to rule its time slot in nationwide ratings every night and dominate as the most talked-about primetime TV program online, especially on Twitter where the show’s fierce characters and memorable lines trend locally

and worldwide. and in the last three weeks of “The Legal Wife,” more hair-raising, powerful scenes are to be aired. What future awaits Monica, adrian, Nicole and Max?

Don’t miss the shocking finale of “The Legal Wife” on June 13 (Friday) after “ikaw Lamang” on aBS-CBN Primetime Bida.

For more updates about the show, simply visit its

website www.thelegalwife. abs-cbn.com and official social networking sites at Facebook.com/thelegalwife2013, instagram.com/ iam_thelegalwife, and Twitter.com/iamTheLegalWife.

Kylie Padilla launches single under GMA Records LaST Sunday, kapuso singer/actress kylie Padilla made the start of the month extra memorable as she sings her heart out via the launch of her single, “gitara,” under gMa records in Sunday all Stars.

Following the success of her primetime series, adarna, kylie is now ready to take center stage as she shares her passion for music by singing the carrier single of her debut album, “Seasons,” which will already be available on digital format via iTunes starting Saturday (May 31).

The album will certainly be a hit to all the Pinoy music lovers as it contains eight all-OPM songs, some of which were composed by kylie herself including “gitara.” after the launch of her single, Filipinos can only expect more from kylie as her album will be launched in Sunday all Stars and released on CD format on June 29.

Catch the launch of kylie Padilla’s single under gMa records this Sunday in Sunday all Stars only on gMa 7.

X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST 2D Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence PG 13

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

MALEFICENT 3D Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning PG 13

1:30 | 4:00| 6:30 | 9:00 LFS

MALEFICENT 2D Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning PG 13

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

R-16 MAYBE THIS TIME 2D Sarah Geronimo, Coco Martin PG 13

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

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

Piadi... FFROM A1 (Bank’s Orient Press) Darius C. Bersamen (Bersamen Printing Press) Odelon D. Rurtur (CACT Graphic Printers) Ramil Jacob M. Castañeda (Castañeda Printing Press, Inc.) Shiela Mae C. Cabaron (CBRN Printing Press) Edwin T. Valledor Sr. (Citywide Printers) Ma. Jashmin T. Gevieso (CJ Graphics & Printing Center) Juan V. Ramirez (Cortess Printing Corp.)

Clovis S. Licong (CSL Printing Press) Sofronio V. Talisic (Daldesco Printing Press) Lucas C. Muico (Dalthan Printing Press) Benjamin C. Ausin (Davao AB Printers, Inc.) Pepito F. Feolog (Davao Immaculate Press) Robert B. Dillera (Dillera Printing Press) Rev. Fr. Jeniño D. Agudulo (Diocesan Printing Press, Inc.) Alvin R. Matus (DSPS Printing & Supplies) Edna N. Namit (ERN Printers) Evelyn E. Paraon (Esmero Printing Press) Nerissa b. Ruamar (FBR Printing Press) Gegi G. Irong (GRFI Prinhaus) Gwendolyn Grace L. Chua (Hi-Twelve, Inc.) Federico N. Togonon (Holy Trinity Printing Press) Rodel Riezl S. Reyes (Imageworld Digital Printing, Inc.) Diosdado Q. Del Campo (J’del Printing Press) Fely V. Tamaño (JT Printing Press) Lovell M. Villarin (Jusvi Printing Press) Benedicto G. Malones

PIADI Gensan Branch Chairman Lads Aviola gives his message.

New members Casianon Torrefiel Jr. of GACT Printshop, Jann Reinald Virtudazo of Lifeworks Print Hub, and Antonio Garcia of LT Printshoppe are sworn in by Fr. Jeniño Agudulo.

(Kahirup Printers) Laurence B. Sabado (Karina Printing Press) Kristoffer Franz Mari R. Millado (Kejjjo Printers) Eladio E. Aviola (King Printers (Davao), Inc. Norman J. Gabutero (Knollman Advertising) Herminio C. Posadas (KN Posadas Printhaus) Aniana E. Leyritana (Leritana Printing Press) Laude C. Balicog (Mables Printers) Antonio D. Madrona (Madrona Offset Printers) Gomburza T. Monacillo (Marmons Printing Press) Juanito W. Ebora (MECS Publishing House, Inc.) Atty. Mercedes J. Lucentales (Mickey Rudyard Printing Haus) Marissa C. Atega (Midtown Printing Co., Inc.) Armando B. Lim (Mind-

The hardworking PIADI staff.

Now opeN

For inquiries, please call:

(082) 221-5355

anao Industrial Traders) Lloyd S. Quejada (Mt. Apo Graphics & Printing Press) Soledad Y. Macrohon (New Jetmark Printing Press) Rev. Fr. Eduardo G. Tanudtanud, OMI (Notre Dame Press, Inc.) Ricky B. Gapasin (Orinted Printing Press) Noel A. Pabuaya (Pagestar Printsystem) Giovanni A. Faviano (People’s Daily Forum) Rodolfo C. Reta (JO-JE Printing Press) Amy S. Quevada (Q Work Marketing) Romeo C. Chan (RCC Printing Press) Rodrigo M. Baes (RDFM Printshop) Romeo M. Motong (RFM Printing Press) Gloria U. Cambel (Screengraph Printing Services) Aquino H. Calinga (SMKC Printshoppe) Benito A. Ching (SNCHING Aeon Advantage Prints) Tessie Me A. Paña (Sunstar Davao Publishing, Inc.) Virgincita Suralta (Suralta Educational Supplies) Perla P. Pepito (Triple P Printing Press) Dominic T. Carpio (UM Printing Press) Wilfredo O. Sabado (Wilmond Printing Press) Edwin A. Salinas (Wynjosh Printing & Allied Services) Olivia D. Velasco (Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc.) New Members: Casiano T. Torrefiel, Jr. (Gact Printshop) Jann Reinald B. Virtudazo (Lifeworks Print Hub) Antonio L. Garcia (LT Printshop) Meantime, PIADI recently opened its new branch in Gen. Santos City.

NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

Solon: Enforce anti-smoking law strictly

S

AMAR Congressman Mel Senen Sarmiento today urged the Inter-Agency Committee- Tobacco (IAC-Tobacco), the Philippine National Police, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units to ensure the full implementation of Republic Act No. 9211 otherwise known as “Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.”

According to Sarmiento, there seems to be no real effort to strictly enforce the law which strictly prohibits smoking in public places and is now becoming one of the many laws that are not being taken seriously. “ We have so many laws that end up useless because there seems to be no real effort to enforce them and our anti-smoking law is one of them. I think that our implementing agencies should step up a more aggressive and sustained campaign to stop smoking in public places,” Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said that he had seen drivers of public utility jeepneys and buses who are smoking inside their vehicles in

full view of traffic enforcement officers and policemen.

He noted that there are also some restaurants in Metro Manila, particularly in Pasay City and Makati City which allows smoking inside their premises instead of setting up a separate smoking zone and police and local government authorities doesn’t seem to notice. “ It’s either they are tolerating it or are unaware that it is actually against the law to smoke inside public places. I think that we need to be more aggressive in implementing this particular law, “ Sarmiento stressed.

Under RA 9211, it is prohibited to smoke on the following public places: Section 5. Smoking in Public Places - Smoking shall be absolutely prohibited in the following public places: Centers of youth activity such as playschools, preparatory schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for persons under eighteen (18) years old.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION (NHMFC) Mortgagee, -versusEJF-REM CASE NO. 14, 613-14 ROMEO B. BIBAT Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF ExTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by Act 4118 , filed the above-mentioned mortgagee against ROMEO B. BIBAT a resident of Green Meadows 4 Lot 13, Blk 42 Sto Niño, Mintal , Davao City at to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 31, 2014, the outstanding balance of debtor-mortgagor is P 837,380.82 Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges and other charges, plus daily interest and expenses thereafter, plus 10% interest of the total amount of the indebtedness as attorneys’s fees and other necessary expenses in the enforcement of the extra-judicial forclosure, the undersigned Sheriff IV of Regional Trial Court, Davao City; the undersigned will sell at public auction on JUNE 27, 2014 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning, or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland ,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-217390 “ A parcel of land x x x x situated in the Barangay of Mintal, City of Davao xxx. Containing an area of 135 SQUARE METERS, more or less xxx.”

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

That in the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on August 1, 2014 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ ies and the encumbrances thereon , if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, May 21, 2014.

PROV’L SHERIFF: 5/26/6/2,9

FOR THE Ex-OFFICIO

(SGD) DIVINAGRACIA B. BARCELONA Sheriff IV

13

LECHON DE LECHE. A hog dealer holds a piglet bought by a customer at Agdao Public Market in Davao City yesterday. Piglets are sought after for that succulent “lechon de leche” (roasted suckling pig). Lean Daval Jr.

NEDA approves new infra projects T

he National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, during its meeting chaired by President Benigno S. Aquino III, approved seven (7) new infrastructure projects amounting to PhP45.04 billion.

The Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program and the master development plan for the Clark Green City involving the development of a total of 9,450 hectares of land including the bidding of an initial 1,300 hectares for Phase 1 were also approved.

“The approved projects are aimed at improving the level and

standards of service in the water, health, and transport sectors as called for in the Updated Philippine Development Plan 20112016 towards achieving inclusive growth,” according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

“These crucial projects will greatly help facilitate and fast-track the needed infrastructure-support of the economy.

These are vital in ensuring interconnectedness within the Philippine archipelago for ease of trade movement of goods and people, promotion of tourism, and improvement of competitiveness,” he added.

The following are the NEDA

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506

Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506 Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

BUS DRIVER

BUS DRIVER

Qualifications: Qualifications:

1.

2.

3.

Male, 28 – 40 years old 1. least Male, high 28 – school 40 years old At graduate 2. At least high school graduate With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks) 3. With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks)

Requirements: Requirements: 1. Driver’s License with Official Receipt 1.x Driver’s License (2 with Official Receipt 2. 2 2 I.D. picture pcs.)

2. 2 x 2 I.D. (2 pcs.) or clearance from 3. Certificate of picture Employment 3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from

May previous apply in employment person at Human Resource Department, YBLI in Office, General Santos Resource Drive, May apply person at Human Koronadal City.

Department, YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, Koronadal City.

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOyOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAyMENT No.(s) 1004411 under LOyOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 32131-0/NNN 112559548 issued to FORTUNATA L. ASTUDILLO was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

6/2,9,16

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOyOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAyMENT No.(s) 1005513 under LOyOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 294508-8/nnn707234560 issued to ESPERANZA C. CASIANO was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

5/19/26/6/2

Board’s newly-approved projects: 1. Laoag City Bypass Link Road Project Cost: PhP1.19 billion Proponent: Department of Public Works and Highways Description: Construction of a Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) two-lane road with ROW of 30-meters. It involves the construction of a 3.11 kilometer PCCP road including a 735.0 lineal meter Steel Girder Type Bridge that crosses the Laoag-Padsan River, and end at the Gomburza Road intersection (Phase 1) and construction of a 4.87 kilometer PCCP road (Phase 2).

2. Busuanga Airport Development Project Cost: PhP4.1 billion Proponent: Department of Transportation and Communications Description: To improve the capacity of the Busuanga Airport in a manner that will satisfactorily serve the expected increase in air traffic in Northern Palawan, through the improvement of the existing airport facilities.

3. Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project Cost: PhP10.62 billion Proponent: Department of Transportation and Communications Description: Project will establish a BRT System in Cebu City 4.

Modernization of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital Cost: PhP2 billion Proponent: Department of Health Description: Construction of a new 9-storey, 800-bed hospital with emergency room facilities; offices and pharmacy; laboratory and radiology facilities; delivery room complex; intensive care unit complex, with a 130-bassinet capacity Neonatal ICU; suites, private rooms, and wards; administration offices, training facilities and auditorium; and other support facilities.

5. Water District Development Sector Project Cost: PhP2.69 billion Proponent: Local Water Utilities Administration Description: Proposed relending facility under LWUA, aimed at targeting pre-credit worthy to semi-credit worthy Water Districts for the rehabilitation and

expansion of their distribution networks, development of raw water supply, and enhancement of the sustainability of operations through capacity development.

6. Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP) Cost: PhP5.78 billion Proponent: Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Description: Construction of a new tunnel, i.e., Tunnel 4, that will make it possible to alternate close the older tunnels and aqueducts in the conveyance system, to improve the reliability and security of the Angat raw water transmission system, through the rehabilitation of existing conveyances and appurtenances from Ipo Dam to La Mesa Treatment Plant.

7. New Centennial Water Source – Kaliwa Dam Project Cost: PhP18.72 billion Proponent: Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Description: Involves financing, design, and construction of the 600 million liters per day Kaliwa Dam, intake facilities and other appurtenant facilities; and Water Conveyance Tunnel with a capacity of 2,400 MLD (in anticipation of future construction of the Laiban Dam). Construction of water treatment plants will be undertaken by the MWSS concessionaires.

Other approved items include: LRT Line 2 Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Project Cost: PhP14.34 billion Proponent: Department of Transportation and Communications Description: Involves an O&M concession contract of the following components for: (i) the existing Line 2 System, and (ii) any expansion of the existing Line 2 System including, but not limited to, any extension to be constructed by the government such as the Masinag Extension.

Master Development Plan for the Clark Green City Proponent: Bases Conversion and Development Authority Description: The Clark Green City Master Development Plan includes the development of a total of 9,450 hectares of land including the bidding of an initial 1,300 hectares for Phase 1.

14 ClASSIFIED

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

ClASSIFIED15

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY BALIKATAN HOUSING FINANCE INC. Mortgagee/Assignee, -versus-

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND Or PAG-IBIG FUND,

EJF-REM CASE NO. 14570-14

SPS. GERMAN M. MAKILING, JR. AND JOSEFINA L. MAKILING Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF ExTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by Balikatan Property Holdings, Inc. with postal address at the 24th Floor, BPI Buendia Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City against SPS. GERMAN M. MAKILING, JR. AND JOSEFINA L. MAKILING, with postal addresses at Lot 22, Blk. 4, Anahao St., NHA KADAYAWAN HOMES HOUSING PROJECT, BO. TALOMO, DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, the mortgagor/s, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 25, 2010 amounts to Two Hundred Fifty Five Thousand Two Hundred Sixteen Pesos and 09/100 (255,216.098) ,Philippine Currency, exclusive of interest, penalties and charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to 25% of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale;the undersigned will sell at public auction on July 4, 2014 at 10:00 A.M.., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate/s of Title No. T-188607 “ A parcel of land of the subdivision project(Lot 22 ,Blk.04 xxx situated in the Barangay of Talomo, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx containing an area of EIGHTy EIGHT (88) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on August 01, 2014 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines,May 27, 2014. 2010

FOR THE Ex-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

(SGD.) HIPOLITO A. BELANGDAL Sheriff IV 6/2/9/16

Mortgagee

EJF-REM CASE NO. 14,644-14

-versus-

FREDEL Z. MOMO Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF ExTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above- mentioned morgagee against FREDEL Z. MOMO single with postal address at Block 31 Lot 30 Deca Homes Subd.Cabantian , Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 25, 2014 amounted to ( P 558,756.00 ) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on July 4 , 2014 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property mentioned and described below together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 146-2012001993 “ A parcel of land of the consolidation-division project (Lot 30, Blk. 31, of the consolidation plan (PCS-11-002129 being a portion of Lot B (LRC) PSD-130686 & Lot 1916-Davao CAD)situated in the Barangay of Cabantian , City of Davao, Island of Mindanao…xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED EIGHT (108) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on August 1, 2014 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, May 28, 2014

FOR THE Ex-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) HIPOLITO A. BELANGDAL Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTy. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff

(edge 6/2,9/16)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND

-versus-

Mortgagee

EJF-REM CASE NO. 14,635-14

LOURDES A. CALLOT Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF ExTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above- mentioned morgagee against LOURDES A. CALLOT widow with postal address at Block 73 Lot 11 Phase 4 Deca Homes RESORT RESIDENCE SUBD., TUGBOK MINTAL Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 25, 2014 amounted to ( P 847,844.97 ) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on July 4 , 2014 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property mentioned and described below together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 146-2013006555 “ A parcel of land of the consolidation-division project (Lot 11, Blk. 73, of the consolidation plan (PCS-11-003470),situated in the Barangay TUGBOK, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao…xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED TWENTy (120) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on August 1, 2014 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, May 28, 2014

FOR THE Ex-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) HIPOLITO A. BELANGDAL Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTy. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff

(edge 6/2,9/16)

16

EDGEDAVAO

MOTORING

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

Isuzu D-MAX 4x4 Drive Series to take Davao by storm on June 20-22 F

Tioko Street Davao City Call: 09178739767

IRST was Pampanga, followed by Cebu. From May 23 to 25, 2014, Bacolod came next as the venue for the third leg of the 2014 Isuzu D-MAx 4x4 Drive Series. This brings to more than a thousand the number of people who have test-driven the latest D-MAx pickup in specially designed off-road tracks.

In the driving event, participants were able to experience and were amazed at the off-road capabilities of the D-MAx 4x4 in the challenging stations that comprised the course laid out at the grounds near the Saint Pope John Paul Memorial Tower at Rizal Street corner Simplicio Palanca Avenue (at the back of SM) in Bacolod City. This year’s holding of the D-MAx 4x4 Drive Series in Bacolod marked the third time that the event came there, following those that were held in 2008 and 2010.

Similar to the earlier Pampanga and Cebu editions, the stage held at the City of Smiles demonstrated to the participants the advantages offered by four-wheel-drive vehicles. It also gave them the opportunity to learn some of the special driving skills required when traversing rough terrain. Teaching them were instructors who are experts at off-road driving.

The experience gave participants an idea of the real-world applications of fourwheel-drive vehicles like the D-MAx 4x4. Bacolod, home of the famous Masskara Festival, is also known for its sugarcane plantations. Almost all of the province’s agricultural land is planted to sugarcane,

with the rest to coconut, banana, rice and other crops.

Traversing this landscape means a pickup is an ideal vehicle, especially 4x4s which can handle rough terrain.

This makes the latest D-MAx perfect for the job.

Isuzu’s pickup model has a

new suspension system composed of independent double wishbone with coil springs in front and semi-elliptical overslung leaf springs in the rear, making it capable of carrying a heavy payload. It also boasts of one of the highest ground clearances among pickups

with a 235mm height for the LS 4x4 and 225mm for the LT 4x4 variants.

Boosting the off-road capability of the D-MAx is Isuzu’s new 4WD Terrain Command Select Dial that allows the driver to switch

FISUZU, 16

MOTORING 17

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

Isuzu...FFROM 16 from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive high even while traveling at speeds of up to 100kph. The pickup has 30-degree approach angle, a 22.7-degree departure angle, and can be tilted sideways on a 49-degree slope. It is equipped with a Limited Slip Differential, which lets it pass over any obstacle.

Numerous obstacles also littered the special offroad track that duplicated Bacolod’s geography. These included 40-degree hill climb done in first gear and in sec-

ond gear; 40-degree hill climb with a stall midway up; 40-degree descent without braking; lateral climb mount; driving over “elephant holes”; tackling trail ruts; camber right and camber left sides up in 40-degree angles; traversing a roundabout cone; lateral descent ditch crossing; driving over cross axle articulation rails; and going on a steel inclined plane with rollers.

“It is notable that Bacolod has always been included in our D-MAx 4x4 Drive Series since it was first held in 2008,”

Isuzu Philippines’ Executive Vice President Takashi Tomita said at the event’s opening. “This is not surprising as Bacolodnons are one of the strongest supporters of Isuzu products in the country. For this, allow me to extend my sincere gratitude on behalf of Isuzu Philippines.”

After the Bacolod leg, Isuzu will hold the D-MAx 4x4 Drive Series in Cagayan de Oro City on June 6 to 8, and in Davao City on June 20 to 22 at the Dukudao Compound right beside SM Lanang Premier.

Danica Patrick

Patrick concedes taking the checkered flag ‘is a process’ D

PART OF THE RISK. Motocross riders take a spill in one of the exciting races of the 2014 Davao Summerfest Cyclomax Motocross held May 24 at the MotoX Davao race track at the Davao Crocodile Park in Maa. (Photo courtesy of MotoX Davao)

OVER Delaware (Reuters) - Danica Patrick sits on the floor of a customized motor coach in the infield of Dover International Speedway, softly petting her puppy.

Despite just two Top 10 finishes in two-plus years in NASCAR’s top series, life is good for the 32-year-old pioneer.

“I love what I’m doing,” she told Reuters on Friday over the roar of qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. “It’s a lot of fun. I’m with a lot of great people and the racing is great.”

Although her results in 58

Sprint Cup starts have been decidedly mixed, the attention that the 5-foot-2, 100-pound Patrick receives continues to rival the sport’s top racers.

She appears resigned to the scrutiny in the male-dominated sport but insists she no longer gets as many questions about being a girl.

“I find the better I do on that track and the more good things I have going on there, the more we talk about that,” she said. “We just talk about the racing and what it took to get there.”

Patrick placed seventh in Kansas two weeks ago but finished 39th last week in Charlotte after being smacked from behind while trying to avoid a wreck in front of her.

She is realistic about the role luck plays in NASCAR. “I’ve definitely had some bad luck early this year and have had it in the past,” she said. “But in the sense of making your own luck, the further up the grid you are the less mistakes you’re around, the less things you get caught up in.

“It’s racing. Sometimes people have lucky streaks and other times you have streaks of bad luck.”

Patrick is the most successful female in the history of American open-wheel racing, her triumph in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 the only victory by a woman in an IndyCar Series race.

Since moving to NASCAR in 2012, she has had to endure the occasional jab, like

the one from seven-time NASCAR champ Richard Petty in February that the only way Patrick would win a NASCAR race was “if everybody else stayed home.”

A lot of NASCAR fans applauded Petty’s remarks but driver Tony Stewart, a former champion whose Stewart-Haas Racing gives Patrick her ride, bristles at the criticism.

“She’s much better than the media and some of the fans give her credit for,” he told reporters Friday. “Most of the people sitting there saying she is not doing a good job have never set foot in a race car to begin with.

“I don’t really pay attention to that too much. She is doing a good job or we wouldn’t have her here.”

‘RIDICULOUS’ REMARK Of Petty’s quip, Patrick said, “Clearly I think it’s ridiculous.

“I believe in myself,” she said. “I know what I’ve done and where I come from. For me, of course, I don’t think anything of it.”

Patrick said she is ready for luck to land her way but is cautious about setting the bar too high, noting that getting better in stock car racing “is a process.”

“At Kansas two weeks ago I ran in the top 10 virtually the whole race,” she said. “That was by far better than I’ve run before. I hope it goes well and I’m ready if it does. That was an example of being ready if it does.

18 SPORTS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

SHARAPOVA SIZZLES Djokovic, Federer struggle to reach fourth round P

ARIS (Reuters) - Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were both put to the test to reach the fourth round of the French Open on Friday while Maria Sharapova continued to blaze through a thinning women’s draw.

Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska was knocked out 6-4 6-4 by Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic, becoming the latest victim of a new generation of talent sweeping through the women’s draw.

But seventh seed Sharapova inflicted the first double bagel of the tournament to remain the overwhelming favourite.

Seventeen-times grand slam champion Federer saw off Russian Dmitry Tursunov 7-5 6-7(7) 6-2-6-4 and Serbian second seed Djokovic, chasing the only grand slam title to elude him, beat Croatian Marin Cilic 6-3 6-2 6-7(2) 6-4.

“I am relieved and happy to be through to the next round,” said fourth seed Federer, who wasted 17 break points.

Tursunov, the 31st seed, played boldly but needed treatment on a sore groin in the third set and Federer triumphed to set up a meeting with Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, who is rediscovering his best form after a freefall in the rankings.

Djokovic, one of three men to have beaten eight-times Roland Garros champion Rafa Nadal on clay this season, showed

signs of frustration against Cilic.

He seemed in complete control when his 25th-seeded opponent forced a tiebreak that the six-times grand slam winner lost 7-2. Djokovic regained control, however, and sealed victory when Cilic double-faulted.

“Physically I had to work very hard, because he was very aggressive, and I could expect that,” said Djokovic.

“In important moments I held my nerve and, you know, I’m very happy that I went through.”

His next opponent will be local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 13th seed, who defeated Polish 22nd seed Jerzy Janowicz 6-4 6-4 6-3.

There was no joy for the other Frenchman on course as Gilles Simon, the 29th seed, lost 4-6 6-3 2-6 6-2 7-5 to eighth seed Milos Raonic, who became the first Canadian man to reach the round of 16 at Roland Garros.

Sixth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic needed four sets to progress, beating Spanish 27th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1 6-2 6-7(4) 6-4.

SENT PACKING In the women’s draw, the top three seeds have all been sent packing following the first-round exit of Chinese Li Na and the second-round elimination of defending champion and world No.1 Serena Wil-

liams.

It was the first time since tennis turned professional in 1968 that the top three seeds in the women’s draw have failed to qualify for the fourth round of a grand slam.

“After seeing the two first seeds go out, you kind of feel you can do this too,” said the 21-year-old Tomljanovic, who will next meet Spanish 14th seed Carla Suarez Navarro who ended the run of American teenager Taylor Townsend with a 6-2 6-2 win.

“I grew up with these girls who are beating them. I went into the stadium for the first time, and she (Radwanska) kind of feels like home there, because she’s been there a lot more than I have,” said Tomljanovic.

“I went out there and inside I really thought I could win. I think that showed and it is why I won.”

Radwanska’s defeat was another boost for 2012 champion and last year’s runner-up Sharapova, who beat Argentine Paula Ormaechea 6-0 6-0 in less than in an hour on court Philippe Chatrier after rain briefly interrupted the match during the first game when the Russian had to save three break points.

“ T h e first game was a little bit tough, I felt a bit nervous at the beginning

b u t I felt really good throughout, especially at the end,” Sharapova said.

Tomljanovic was joined in the fourth round by former finalist Samantha Stosur of Australia, who beat Slovakian ninth seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-4 6-4.

SHARP AS EVER. Maria Sharapova blanked her foe for a fourth round stint in the French Open.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

BEAST OF THE EAST

SPORTS 19 ONE ON ONE. Lebron James (right) got the better of his match up with Indiana’s Paul George.

Heat dump Pacers 117-92 to clinch East title

M

IAMI (AP) — For the entirety of the regular season, the supremacy of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference was brought into serious question by the Indiana Pacers.

Then came the playoffs.

And the question was answered — emphatically.

The Heat became the third franchise in NBA history to reach the title series in four consecutive seasons, a laugher of a conference-title finale getting them there again Friday night. LeBron James and Chris Bosh each scored 25 points, and Miami eliminated the Pacers for the third straight year with a 11792 romp in Game 6 of the East championship series.

“I’m blessed. Very blessed.

Very humbled,” James said.

“And we won’t take this opportunity for granted. It’s an unbelievable franchise, it’s an unbelievable group. And we know we still have work to do, but we won’t take this for granted. We’re going to four straight Finals and we will never take this for granted.”

Dwyane Wade and Rashard Lewis each scored 13 points for Miami, which

trailed 9-2 before ripping off 54 of the next 75 points to erase any doubt by halftime.

The Heat set a franchise record with their 11th straight home postseason win, going back to the final two games of last season’s NBA Finals, leading by 37 at one point.

“The group loves to compete and loves to compete at the highest level, and be pushed to new levels,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Indiana led the East for much of the regular season, one where the Pacers were fueled by the memory of losing Game 7 of the East finals in Miami a year ago. So they spent this season with a clear goal: Toppling Miami as kings of the East.

The Pacers were two games better in the regular season.

They were two games worse in the postseason.

Game 7, this time, would have been in Indianapolis. The Pacers just had no shot of making it happen, not on this night.

“It’s bitterly disappointing to fall short of our goals,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “It’s bitterly disappointing to lose to this team three

FALLING SHORT. Rory McIlroy fell from the top of the board to nine strokes off the pace.

years in a row. But we’re competing against the Michael Jordan of our era, the Chicago Bulls of our era, and you have to tip your hats to them for the way they played this whole series.”

Paul George had 29 points for Indiana, David West scored 16 and Lance Stephenson — booed all night — finished with 11.

“No regrets. All of us played hard. They were just the better team, and they won,” Stephenson said.

So now, the Celtics and Lakers have some company.

Until Friday, they were the only teams in NBA history to reach the Finals in four straight years. The Heat have joined them, and their quest for a third straight title starts in either San Antonio or Oklahoma City on Thursday night.

“It’s all about 15 special men and what they’ve been able to accomplish these last four years,” said Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, who handed the East title trophy to Greg Oden.

“Just a little bit more work to do, but I’m really proud of the incredible job that these guys have done.”

BASKETBALL FANS. Tennis players Serena Williams, left and Caroline Wozniacki pose with Miami Heat’s Greg Oden and the NBA basketball Eastern Conference championship trophy in Miami. The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers 117-92 to advance to the NBA finals. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

World Cup city gripped with dengue fever

T

HE Brazilian city where Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi will train for the World Cup is in the grip of a crippling dengue fever epidemic.

Workers in Campinas have embarked on a huge operation to eradicate mosquitos, which spread the dis-

ease, before the Portuguese and Nigerian teams arrive.

Some 32,384 people have been infected by dengue this year in the southeastern city about one hour from Sao Paulo. At least three people have died.

“It’s a record epidemic.

It’s bigger than the 11,500 cases registered in all of

2007,” said Andrea Von Zuben, who coordinates the Campinas dengue control program.

Dengue is a viral infection carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito.

The fever is like chronic influenza with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and a rash.

score.

“I just kept missing fairways and making it tough for myself and obviously that little threehole stretch didn’t help,” the Northern Irishman told reporters on a day when Englishman Casey surged three shots clear of the field.

“Take those three holes out and it wouldn’t have been that bad a day but these little runs I’m getting on it just seems to get away from me.”

McIlroy was referring to the bad habit he has fallen into recently of shooting poor second rounds. In his past three PGA

Tour events, he shot 77 (Masters), 76 (Wells Fargo Championship) and 74 (Players Championship) on Friday.

McIlroy arrived at Muirfield Village fresh off winning the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday, just days after breaking up with his tennis-playing fiancee Caroline Wozniacki.

His double-bogey run on Friday started at his fourth hole, the par-four 13th, where his second shot from the rough hit a tree and ended up even deeper in the woods.

McIlroy drops 9 strokes behind

O

VERNIGHT leader Rory McIlroy experienced a stunning free-fall to plunge nine strokes behind leader Paul Casey after the second round at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio on Friday.

After snaring the first-round lead with an opening 63 at Muirfield Village Golf Club, McIlroy notched three consecutive double bogeys en route to a six-overpar 78.

But he did not blame his dismal day on a sore left knee he tweaked during the first round, instead admitting that it was poor driving caused his high

20 EDGEDAVAO Sports SCRAMBLE. The Philippines goalkeeper Roland Mueller (15) tries to keep his ground against Ashraf Alfawagra of Palestine as another Azkal Amani Aguinaldo moves in for help in the 43rd minute of the Palestine-Philippines finals.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, JUNE 1-2, 2014

Azkals fall short

Palestine deals Philippines 1-0 loss T

HE Philippine national men’s football team yielded a 1-nil result to a tough Palestine side in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup final at National Football Stadium early Saturday morning in the Maldives.

The loss also dashed the Azkals’ dream of joining the prestigious Asian Cup in 2015, the biggest football competition in the continent.

The Azkals surrendered

a goal at the 58th minute to hand the Challenge Cup crown to Palestine, which gave the Filipinos a tough time at both ends of the pitch.

Yet to concede a goal in the tournament, the Palestine defense proved to be difficult to break for the Azkals, who struggled to keep the ball on their side for most of the first half.

Palestine also patiently executed its offense while dominating possession, leading

to several chances at the goal against the Azkals defense.

Fortunately, Azkals goalkeeper Roland Mueller was there to keep the match scoreless.

The Filipinos had their best chance to grab the first lead when Phil Younghusband got away at the 41st minute with only the keeper to beat. However, his shot went way over the bar.

The Azkals dodged a bullet a few minutes after when their defense scrambled

against a Palestine attack inside the box which didn’t produce a goal. Mueller almost got outplayed by a Palestine player, while defender Amani Aguinaldo came close from getting a card which could have given a penalty to the opposing side.

Palestine found a great chance for the match’s first goal after earning a free kick at the 58th minute on top of the box due to a Jason De Jong foul.

The Azkals built an overwhelming wall to prevent a shot, but Ashraf Alfawaghra launched a goal which went out of reach of the Filipinos’ defense to give Palestine a 1-nil lead.

Frustration reached a boiling point for the Azkals at the 70th minute when Patrick Reichelt got a yellow card and team manager Dan Palami was sent to the stands both for complaining.

Azkals coach Thomas

Dooley tried to inject some spark from the bench after subbing in young players OJ Porteria and Kenshiro Daniels. Daisuke Sato found a chance at goal from the top of the box at the 87th minute which almost found the mark.

The Filipinos continued to pounce on the attack in the dying minutes trying to score the equalizer, but they failed to find the back of the net, handing Palestine the Challenge Cup trophy.