Edge Davao 7 Issue 72

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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Serving a seamless society

LABANG: “I DID IT” AT A GLANCE: Suspect recants, admits shooting hotelier Supt. Felonia voluntary turns over self to NBI to clear name Complaint now includes Felonia

• • •

SUSPECTS TAG FELONIA PNP 11 Intel chief named mastermind in King murder

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

N a sudden twist in the celebrated Richard King murder case, the shooting range ‘pulot boy’ who was arrested on Sunday recanted from his earlier denial while on detention for another offense, and later spilled the beans when he tagged a high-ranking police intelligence officer as the mastermind.

In an exclusive interview with GMA News last Monday afternoon, Paul Dave M. Labang admitted shooting the Cebu-based hotelier last June 12 inside King’s office along Sobrecarey and Lacson Streets.

Labang, who earlier denied the accusation that he was the alleged gunman in the murder of

King after he was picked up by police from work at a gun club shooting range last Sunday, pointed to Police Superintendent Leonardo Felonia, head of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU)-11, as the alleged mastermind.

In between sobs and covered with a blue blanket, Labang made his confession to GMA Davao

reporter Real Sorroche. It was not known, however, if Labang made his confession in the presence of his counsel.

In the GMA television report, Labang mentioned Felonia twice as the one who ordered him and his co-accused, brothers Romel and Rodel dela Cerna, to kill

FSUSPECTS, 10

TURNED OVER. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte turns over relieved Police Regional Intelligence Unit chief P/Supt.

Leonardo A. Felonia (left) to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 11 Monday evening for investigation. Felonia gave himself in to Duterte to clear his name after he was dragged in the killing of Cebu-based business tycoon Richard L. King. Lean Daval Jr.

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EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

Solon says Davao cops too lax

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

AYAN Muna reprsentative Carlos Isagani Zarate believes Davao police officer are simply too lax and complacently resting on the city’s low crime rate that before they know it, criminals responsible for a wave of high profile killings are just practically running under their noses.

In an interview after guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex, Zarate said the overwhelming complacency among Davao policemen contributed to the high profile crime wave.

“Dapat ang pulis hindi maging complacent tungod

lang na ang Davao City is awardee or the best police best office unya magiging complacent na, maong sunod-sunod na ang kaso sa pagpatay ,“ Zarate said.

He stressed that a low crime rate is no assurance of peace and order. Instead, Zarate said, securing peace and order in the community should be always the priority of the law enforcement agency.

Zarate said that the real deterrence to crimes is the implementation of the law and not the penalties like death penalty and imprison-

FSOLON, 10

WEATHER FORECAST

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 WITHDRAWN. Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte clarifies that his lawyer, Alexis Lumbatan (inset), already withdrew on Monday evening as counsel of Paul Dave M. Labang, one of the suspects in the killing of business magnate Richard L. King. Lean Daval Jr.

Murder raps filed vs 3 King slay suspects

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE police formally filed murder charges against three suspects for the killing Cebu-based hotelier Richard King.

Submitted for inquest procedure last Monday night were Paul Dave M. Labangon, 24, Rommel dela Cerna, 39 and Rodel dela Cerna, 32 for murder after they allegedly killed Richard L. King inside his office last June 12.

The filing of charges also impleaded the alleged mastermind--Superintendent Leonardo Felonia, head of Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) – 11.

Both Labangon and Rommel pointed to Felonia as the mastermind.

As of presstime yesterday, the Sta. Ana Police Precinct has called the City Prosecutor’s Office that the

charges against Felonia will be filed within the day.

Based on the record of the City Prosecution Office (CPO), the complaint was filed by James L. King, brother of the slain hotelier, before Prosecutor Panfilo Lovitos at 8:40 p.m. last Monday.

Both the affidavit-complaint of the police and the complainant were kept confidential and not readily avail-

able to media.A source, who refused to be named for lack of authority,told reporters that the name of Felonia was included in the complaint as one of the respondents.

The source, however, added that during the inquest proceedings, Felonia was not present.

The source advised the operatives of Sta.Ana Police

scarcity and increased poverty.

The proposed oil palm plantation, openly being supported by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, will involve Malaysian and Thailand companies.

The group said that the local government should consider other implications in allowing the entry of foreign corporate-controlled palm oil plantations and not

just the mere promise of development in the economy.

It argued that Paquibato district holds an important water resource base for the city that should be preserved from destructive developments.

Panalipdan said that the expansion of chemical and pesticide-dependent mono-crop farms in watershed areas is one of the factors that rice production in the

country has been declining.

Davao City is currently one of the major rice importers in the country as it produces more on commercial crops like banana and pineapple.

The group said that aside from rice, a shortage of corn supply is also expected as oil palm plantations claim vast hectares of farm land production.

FMURDER, 10

Proposed oil palm plantation in Paquibato poses risks, say

By VANNAH S. ANG

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HE proposed oil palm plantation in Paquibato district has elicited strong opposition from an alliance of environmental advocates who aired their concerns on the ill effects of the project on the environment and food security.

Members of the Panalipdan (Defend) Southern Mindanao said the project poses risks to the community like pollution, food and water

FPROPOSED, 10

NEWS 3

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

DSWD 11 urged: Include IPs in 4Ps D

AVAO City councilor Danilo Dayanghirang yesterday proposed a resolution requesting the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 to include the indigenous people (IPs) as beneficiaries of the 4Ps program.

The 4Ps(Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program) program of DSWD is “a human development program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households, particularly of children aged 0 to 18 years old.”

It provides cash grants to beneficiaries provided that they will comply with the set of conditions required by the program.

Dayanghirang told re-

porters that there are thousands of IPs in the outskirts of the city who failed to avail of the 4Ps program.

Most of them reside in districts of Paquibato and Marilog.

“May problema ata sa documentation kasi they live in far flung areas. Maybe, they [DSWD staff] have overlooked it,” he said.

However, DSWD information officer Carmela C. Duron told Edge Davao that the IPs who were not covered by the program refused to be interviewed which is a requirement for them to be included in the program.

She said that the IPs are qualified enough to be beneficiaries of various social protection programs be-

Proposed new mix development at Isla Verde

Malaysian firm plans Protection of HR to develop Isla Verde FDSWD, 10

defenders urged

By VANNAH S. ANG

A

GROUP of lawyers and an inter-embassy consortium on human rights called on the protection of human rights defenders in Mindanao.

Last Monday, a forum on “Human Rights in Mindanao: Challenges and Ways Forward for Defenders” was held by the KaSaMa (Karapatan sa Malikhaing Paraan) and the Alternative Law Group (ALG) in partnership with Dakila - Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism through the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

They launched the “Defend the Human Rights Defenders Program” at the Pinnacle Hotel in Davao City.

Around 50 Mindanao-based Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) which are working on the promotion and protection of human rights attended the forum.

The issues and concerns faced by human rights defenders in Mindanao were tackled by Carl Rebuta, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan-Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KSK-FOE).

Knut-are Sprauten Okstad, Chargés d’affaires of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, also explained how Norway values the advocacy work of human rights defenders through his message of soli-

FPROTECTION, 10

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

ALAYSIAN firm Mercury Group has proposed for a mixed development of the 8.8-hectare Isla Verde which was cleared with housing structures after a fire razed almost all the area last April 4.

City Planning and Development Office officer-in-charge Marcelino P. Escalada Jr. said that the plan is to convert the area into a commercial Islamic Center and Halal hub.

“The Malaysian company is interested to develop high-rise building for tenements and commercial buildings,” he said, adding that the firm is interested to finance the proposal upon the reported instruction from the Malaysian prime minister.

After the March 27 signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the Malaysian government has signified its support to any activity or project that will boost the socio-economic activity in Mindanao including Davao.

However, Escalada said that the Presidential Proclamation No. 85 and 2114 prohibit the city from partnering with private firms for other development uses of the slum area. The proclamation declared the area as solely for habitation.

Although the proposal is good, he said that “it is premature to discuss it” because the area is not allowed to be utilized for commercial purposes.

According to Escalada, there is a need for the reclassification of the Isla Verde from residential to mixed used so that possible developers and investors can come in.

He said that the reclassification of Isla Verde is not just an issue of the local government of Davao but also a national concern since it is only the president that can amendment the proclamation.

“We are leaving this to the Malaysian diplomat in the Philippines Abdullah Zawawi Tahir to lobby this to Malacañang,” he said.

Even without any given timeline as to when will it be amended, Escalada expressed hope that the Malaysian consul general may eventually convince

FMALAYSIAN, 10

Zarate wants EPIRA scrapped

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WATERSHED SUMMIT. Councilor Leonardo Avila III explains to stakeholders the importance of rainwater catchment system to the watersheds and the environment during yesterday’s Watershed Stakeholders Summit at the Ateneo de Davao University. Lean Daval Jr.

the president to make Isla Verde as an area for mixed-used development.

Meanwhile, Escalada said the rehabilitation of the fire-razed area is expected to start two months from now.

Escalada said that the master plan for road network and foot bridge is already approved while a budget amounting P40-million has been alloted.

He said that P30 million of the budget will be used for the construction of 8-meter road network and 6-meter lateral road in the area while the remaining P10million will be used for the construction of foot bridges.

He said that they are

AYAN Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said that the RA 9136 or Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA Law should be amended, otherwise a new law should replace it.

Zarate told reporters that there are loopholes in the existing law which affects the efficiency of the power sector to supply services to its clients.

Zarate’s reaction came at the heels of the consultative meeting conducted by the Department of Energy among the stakeholders of the power industry to gather inputs for the law’s impending amendment.

The DOE came up with proposed amendments that will be discussed in the committee level in Congress on July 28, upon the resume of the second regular session.

Zarate said that the proposed amendment will include the strengthening of the regulating power of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), non-privatization of Agus-Pulangi Hydropowerplant and reversion of the operation of generation utilities to the government.

According to the existing law, ERC can only regulate the transmission and distribution utilities while generation and supply will be deregulated and will be operated by private companies and corporations.

He said that the whole power industry should be regulated by the government so that price will be also regulated. Another proposed amendment is the non-privatization of Agus-Pulangi Hydro powerplant which is the source of almost 60 per-

FZARATE, 10

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

TAGUM CITY

Tagum secures road projects under DOT-DPWH convergence program R

OAD projects amounting to more than 55 million pesos were secured by the City Government of Tagum from two national agencies that will be used for improvement of roads in vital areas in the city identified by the local government.

This included the road widening project in the barangays of San Isidro and Madum, which will be expanded into a spanking four-lane road specially designed for large cargo vehicles in anticipation of the heavy volume of traffic which will pass in the said road once the Hijo International Port starts operation.

Said project carries a price tag of 50 million pesos, which will be funded through the convergence of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways in consonance

TAGUM CITY

with the Philippine Development Plan which aims to achieve inclusive growth by accelerating the provision of cost-effective and sustainable infrastructure as well as promoting key industries in manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries and tourism.

This convergence was formalized through the signing of the memorandum of agreement last June 23, 2014 at the City Hall of Tagum led by Mayor Allan L. Rellon and Supervising Tourism Operation Officer Prudencio Regis of the Department of Tourism XI. Four separate road improvement projects amounting to P 5,932,223.91 have also been identified and will be funded through the Special Local Road Fund of DPWH, formalized in a separate MOA between the city government and DPWH.

MOA SIGNING. City Officials, Barangay Captains and department heads of LGU Tagum witness the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement formalizing the granting of the 50 million peso road project for Tagum City funded under the Convergence Program of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways last June 23, 2014. Signatories to the said MOA are (from left to right): City Vice Mayor Allan L. Rellon, Mr. Prudencio Regis, supervising tourism operation officer of DOT XI, and Mayor Allan L. Rellon. Photo by Leo Timogan of CIO Tagum

These projects include the rehabilitation and improvement of the Villa Paraiso Road (Php 1,444,455.34) and

Pioneer Avenue (Php 2,873,219.52), drainage improvement along Timog Avenue to Durian Road (Php 919,461.75)

Tagum City gets Employment Kiosk T

O further facilitate the growing employment demand here, the Department of Labor and Employment is installing one employment kiosk.

“The employment kiosk is an electronic-job (e-job) center aimed to make employment facilitation easier, faster and accessible to public,” DOLE regional director Joffrey M. Suyao said.

The kiosk is located at the Tagum City Public Em-

ployment Service Office (PESO).

The stand-alone kiosk housed in a touch screen Internet-enabled machine and was launched in 2008, is country’s first information machine containing data on hot or in-demand jobs and other relevant information and services for jobseekers.

“It anchored on the enhanced Phil-Job.Net application containing infor-

mation on local and overseas job vacancies, lists of licensed local and overseas recruitment agencies, and job orders accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration,” Suyao said.

Suyao added that it would also guide workers on the procedures in applying for overseas jobs and other programs from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for OFWs

EMPLOYMENT KIOSK. DOLE Davao regional director Joffrey M. Suyao (3rd from left) shakes hand with Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon as sign of turnover of the DOLE’s Employment Kiosk. Flanking them are DOLE Davao del Norte Provincial Chief Milagros Gutierrez (2nd from left), Brgy. captain Popo Estabillo (behind the kiosk) and Vice Mayor Geterito T. Gementiza. (Photo by Sherwin B. Manual)

who are bound for deployment abroad.

Also, the kiosks would also contain jobs fair schedules and lists of skills registered in the Phil-Jobnet and workers certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Tagum City is a vital hub for employment facilitation as it is the gateway to the other provinces in the region. Aside from Davao del Norte, it could also cater to the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon expressed his gratitude to DOLE for its constant support particular for its flagship agenda EAGLE WINGS. The acronym stands for education, employment and culture; agriculture and fishery; genuine peace, safety and security; livelihood and tourism; economy and affordability of taxes; wellness and health; infrastructure, transportation and communication; NGO, GO and Co-op convergence; good governance; and Social services. [Sherwin B. Manual/ DOLE 11]

and preventive works in Barrio Site in Barangay San Miguel (Php 695,223.91).

Under the MOA, the

local government shall implement the projects through competitive bidding. | Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Sarangani reorganizes TB board in bid to control spread of disease

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N a bid to enhance its efforts to control the spread of tuberculosis (TB), the provincial government of Sarangani has reorganized the area’s TB Program Board.

Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon said in a statement that such move is part of the local government’s intensified efforts to eradicate the cases of TB in the province’s seven municipalities within the next few years.

The reconstitution of the Provincial TB Program Board, which was provided for in Executive Order 27, series of 2014 issued by the governor, is also in support to the Department of Health’s (DOH) National TB Program.

The board, which is mainly tasked to formulate strategies and oversee the program’s implementation, is chaired by the governor.

Solon said the province’s reorganized TB board comprises representatives from local stakeholders, specifically government agencies, civil society groups and the private sector.

He said they linked up with more local stakeholders to ensure proper cooperation in the efforts to eradicate TB in the area.

In 2013, the province posted a case detection rate of 59 percent and a cure rate of 70 percent for TB, a report released by the Sarangani Health Office showed.

It said such figures are considered low based on the 85 percent case detection rate and 90 percent cure rate targets set by DOH-Region 12.

Dr. Arvin Alejandro, Sarangani provincial health officer, said it only shows that patient tracking in terms of TB in the province is very poor at the barangay level.

“We should focus more on tracking down more symptomatic patients at the barangay level and at the same time ensure that they are properly treated,” he said.

Solon is hoping that the reorganization of the province’s TB board will provide the needed push for the program, especially at the barangay level.

[MindaNews]

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

Villar backs GenSan’s MSMEs G

ENERAL Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera got the support of Senator Cynthia Villar for his thrust to develop and give opportunities to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the agricultural business sector in General Santos City.

On Friday (June 20, 2014), Senator Villar, Senate Committee Head on Agriculture, graced the opening of the 12th Yaman Gensan organized by the General Santos City Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council Inc. (GSCSMEDCI), in coordination with Mayor Rivera.

During the event, Senator Villar lauded the efforts of Mayor Rivera for GenSan to have a more business-friendly atmosphere.

“I have attended several big conferences and events here, including the 23rd Hog Convention and 17th Dairy Congress, in which I have seen the effort of Mayor Rivera in opening opportunities for the city,” Sen. Villar said.

“You can find many good things here in GenSan and all over in Mindanao. Some of my business ideas came here based on the things that I’ve seen,”

VILLAR

the senator added.

One of the priority areas that Mayor Rivera want to develop during his administration is in making GenSan the agri-industrial hub of Region 12.

Mayor Rivera said this is possible because of the strategic location of General Santos City as

an entry and exit point of products.

The mayor has already submitted to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala a list of possible projects and budget allocations for the city.

Currently, the mayor is hoping that the P200 million worth of projects he

proposed to the Department of Agriculture will be approved.

That project proposal is for the creation of the Integrated Food Terminal (IFT) and for the development of the mango industry in the city.

On May 7, Secretary Alcala turned over to Mayor Rivera the certificate of completion of the newly-developed General Santos City Soils Laboratory at Barangay Lagao.

“Many of our businesses here are involved in agriculture. We want to give them a chance to grow and that is our objective in this 12th Yaman Gensan. Of course, the same support will be given to other small and starting businesses,” Mayor Rivera stated.

According to Senator Villar, two-thirds of the country’s population is directly or indirectly involved in agriculture.

“But these individuals are facing constraints too.

Example, coconut farmers here in Mindanao earn less than P50 a day. In the country, the daily income of a farmer is P156 while for the fishermen, P178,” the senator said. [GENSAN CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare]

Aboitiz firm gets DCWD’s bulk water supply project

By VANNAH S. ANG

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HE Davao City Water District (DCWD) awarded its bulk water supply project in Davao City to the Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) which formed a consortium with Jose V. Angeles Construction Corp. (JVACC) to undertake the country’s first bulk water system with a treatment facility fully powered by renewable energy.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on June 23, the AEV said the DCWD handed the notice of award (NoA) to the consortium for the financing, design, construction and operations of the Tamugan Surface Water Development Project, which could produce around 200,000 cubic liters of potable water daily.

The consortium will build a hydroelectric-powered bulk treatment facility and conveyance system to supply potable water to the DCWD. The project was developed from a proposal submitted by the JVACC. Hedcor Inc., an affiliate of AEV, was endorsed by JVACC to cater the hydroelectric fixings with its technical and operational expertise. In compliance to the requirements in the NoA, the AEV-JVACC consortium must agree upon the conditions before the project with DCWD could be operated.

Based on an earlier report by Rappler.com, AEV entered into a memorandum of understanding with JVACC to supply treated water to DCWD, and to construct a treatment facility powered by its own renewable energy source and a conveyance system needed to deliver treated water to numerous DCWD delivery points in May 2013.

The project will be the AEV’s first venture into bulk water distribution and the country’s first bulk water system with a treatment facility fully powered by renewable energy.

AEV, recognized as one of the best managed companies in the Philippines, is the publicly listed holding and investment company of the Aboitiz & Co. with major investments in power, banking, food, and land development businesses.

Hedcor Inc., a subsidiary of the Aboitiz Power Corporation, specializes in generating renewable energy from run-of-river hydropower systems.

JVACC, on the other hand, is a trusted construction corporation specializing in the development of water-related infrastructure headed by Jose V. Angeles Jr., a board member of the Philippine Construction Association.

6 THE ECONOMY

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

Enough supply of NFA rice until next harvest season, say Palace T

HERE is enough supply of National Food Authority (NFA) rice until the next harvest season, Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said that there is 2.4 million metric tons of NFA rice in supply.

“Ito ay sapat para sa susunod na 72 araw o hanggang sa unang linggo ng Setyembre na kung kailan inaasahan ang resulta ng unang pag-ani o harvest season,” said Coloma.

He argued that there should be no reason for the prices of NFA rice, whether well-milled or regular milled, to rise and anyone found manipulating its value will be dealt with severely.

“Ayon sa NFA, we are advising the public that they will implement the full force of the law on those who divert, hoard, and overprice government or NFA rice,” said Coloma.

The price of the regular milled rice is P27 per kilo while the well-milled rice is at P32 per kilo.

The Communications Secretary gave an update on the importation of an estimated 800,000 metric tons of rice.

“Ang update mula sa NFA: Nai-deliver at natanggap na ang 193,000 metric tons bago magtapos ang Hunyo. May karagdagang delivery na 274,250 metric tons at sa buwan ng Agosto ay ang balanseng 332,350 metric tons. Nagbigay ng abiso ang NFA sa mga supplier na tingnan ang posibilidad na mapabilis o mapaaga ang delivery,” said Coloma.

Coloma also reported the outcome of the meeting of the National Price Coordinating Council last June 18, where all the stakeholders came up with a program called “Dagdag Alokasyon, Dagdag Outlet, Dagdag-Bantay, at Walang Pagtataas ng Presyo” or DDDW. “Unang-una, Dagdag Alokasyon. Increase of allocation from 12,500 bags per day to 25,000 bags per day—doble na po. Ang ikalawa ay dagdag outlet from

1,018 to 1,120 outlets. Initially ay 10 percent increase para isama na rito ‘yung mga talipapa at mga smaller market. At ang pangatlong ‘D’ ‘yung dagdag bantay. Increase in monitoring teams at ‘yung paghimok sa ating mga kababayan na i-ulat o i-report sa NFA sa pamamagitan ng kanilang operations center sa teleponong 454-1214…At ang ikaapat ay Walang Pagtataas ng Presyo ang NFA rice,” Coloma explained.

The National Price Coordinating Council is made up of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, National Economic Development Authority, and one representative each from the consumers’ sector, agricultural producers’ sector, trading sector, and manufacturers’ sector.

[PCOO News Releases]

District (Pathumthani Province) and Bang Phli District (Samutprakan Province) in view of the declaration of a 60-day state of emergency due to the escalating civil unrest and insecurity in the said areas.

On March 21, the DFA lowered the crisis alert level in the said areas of Thailand to Alert Level 1, which prompted the POEA Governing Board to issue GBR No. 05, Series of 2014 allowing the resumption of the processing and deployment of OFWs, both vacationing and new hires, to Thailand.

The deployment ban was once again issued on May 21 after the DFA raised anew the crisis alert level to Crisis Alert Level 2 after the Martial Law declaration of Thailand’s army.

“The DOLE continuously works closely with the DFA in monitoring the situation in Thailand, and in all OFW-countries of destination which are having conflicts to ensure the welfare and protection of our OFWs. We are not taking any chances when OFW safety and welfare are at stake,” Baldoz said.

Meanwhile, the DOLE chief noted that the verification of contracts of OFWs has always been a requirement under the country’s laws and the rules and regulations on overseas employment which is apply for all countries of destination of our OFWs, including the United Arab Emirates.

With this, Baldoz said that it is regrettable that the UAE has suspended the verification of contracts of HSWs. “The suspension of the verification of contracts of household service workers by the UAE is unfortunate.

In this instance, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, or POEA, will stop the processing of HSWs contracts for the UAE, like what it did when Saudi Arabia unilaterally suspended contract verification for HSWs,” she said.

Baldoz added, “I have further directed the POEA to advise licensed recruitment agencies to explore markets for household service workers other than the UAE, even as I strongly warn illegal recruiters against deploying household service workers to UAE.” [PNA]

POEA lifts deployment ban of OFWs to Thailand T

HE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board has lifted the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to Thailand.

Labor and Employment Secretary and Chairman of the governing board Rosalinda Baldoz said the board issued a resolution allowing the resumption of the processing and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFW), both vacationing and new hires, to the said country.

“With the Department of Foreign Affairs’ lowering the crisis alert level in Thailand from Alert Level 2 (Restriction Phase) to Alert Level 1 (Precautionary Phase) due to the observation of the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok that the situation in the said country has “returned mostly to normal”, the POEA Governing Board has issued a resolution lifting the ban,” she said in a statement.

Last January 23, the DFA raised the crisis alert level on Thailand to Crisis Alert Level 2, specifically in Bangkok, Nonthaburi Province, Lad Lun Kaew

MORE OJT AND JOBS. Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, wants companies to hire those coming from the pool of graduates that had hands-on training in the workplace.

TESDA eyes OJT, jobs for tech-voc students

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N a bid to ensure the readiness of technical vocational (tech-voc) graduates for jobs, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) exhorted private companies to open their doors for either on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said the best workers that companies could hire are those coming from the pool of graduates that had hands-on training in the workplace.

“This is a sure-fire solution to the job-skill mismatch because the companies will have a hand in training the students with the skills they need for a particular job,” Villanueva said.

TESDA recently gathered around 200 human resources managers from various industries in Metro Manila for an industry forum on the Dual Training System (DTS) and the apprenticeship program.

The forum with the theme “Industry-Based Training for Better Employment” focused on how industries can have greater role in molding

the students to become the future workers that they need for their companies.

The event was spearheaded by the TESDA-National Capital Region (NCR), together with the Department of Labor and Employment-NCR and the NCR Alliance of TVET Schools Association (NATSA).

Representatives from companies came from the sectors of tourism, construction, health and wellness, information technology/business process management , garments, manufacturing/processing, metals and engineering, and aviation.

“Strengthening the Dual Training System and the apprenticeship program will not only improve the quality of tech -voc in the country, but at the same time address the job-skill mismatch,” Villanueva said.

“Because of this, the employability of tech-voc graduates will increase and the participation of more industries in DTS will level up ,” he added .

The TESDA chief said the industry forum was also anchored on the

TVET Industry Forum organized by the agency in 2013, in which there was a commitment to strengthen public-private partnership in tech -voc, and improve the quality of training -- from hard to soft skills, and to include higher order thinking skills.

In st i t uti on a l i ze d through the enactment of Republic Act 7686 in 1994, the DTS is an instructional delivery system of tech-voc training that combines in-plant and in-school training.

The school and the company sign a memorandum of agreement and share in the responsibility of training of the students. The students spend 40 percent of their education in the school and 60 percent in the company for actual work exposure.

Under the apprenticeship program, on the other hand, participating companies can hire apprentices and train them for a period of six months. While on training, the apprentices are paid a wage equivalent to not less than 75 percent of the prevailing minimum wage. [PNA]

Petron, Total, Phoenix implement price hikes

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ETRON, Total, Seaoil and PTT Philippines have implemented price hikes on their gas and diesel products as of 6 am Tuesday.

The four companies have increased their prices by P 1.30 per liter for gasoline, and diesel by

P1.20 per liter.

Petron and Seaoil have also increased kerosene prices by P1.45 per liter.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines likewise said in an e-mail that it will increase the prices of gasoline by P1.30 per liter and diesel by P1.20 per liter

effective 6am of 24 June 2014 to reflect the continued increase in the prices of refined petroleum products in the world market.

The price hikes were noted to reflect price increases in the international markets. [PNA]

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

Is there a solution to a forthcoming food crisis?

TEXT and PHOTOS

By GERRY T. ESTRERA

“Far from decreasing, the number of hungry people in the world is currently increasing.” – Director-General Jacques Diouf of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization

F

OR several years, the world has been producing less and less food per person -- and the reserves are dwindling. The result: hunger.

“The number of hungry people in developing countries increased by 18 million in the second half of the 1990s to some 800 million today,” reports the Washington D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute. “Worldwide, nearly 2 billion people suffer from hunger and chronic nutrient deficiencies.”

But some sceptics don’t believe it. They find it hard to imagine having a food crisis because “farmers can always bring more land into cultivation,” or so they thought.

“That assumption is unwarranted,” deplored Lester R. Brown, when he was still the head of the institute.

“Food cannot be grown just anywhere; it can’t be grown in places where land is too cold, too dry, too steep, or too barren. It also can’t be grown where there is no water or where the soil has been degraded by erosion.”

Of those lands that are still free from all the constraints mentioned above, “nearly all is already in cultivation,” Brown pointed out.

In addition, “some of the most erodible land is slowly losing its productivity.”

If the cropland areas are no longer expanding, some believe that by raising the output, particularly fertilizer, from the existing croplands, food production can be increased. While it was the global strategy that worked for four decades, increasing the amount of fertilizer to be

used won’t help at all.

“It’s like a baker adding more and more yeast to the dough,” Brown explained.

“The substitution of fertilizers for land, for formula that worked so well for farmers for nearly half a century, is now failing them.”

But developing new varieties may help. As Brown said, “Unless plant breeders can develop new varieties that can effectively use still larger quantities of fertilizer, the world’s farmers will have trouble reestablishing safety growth in food output.”

It’s not only land and fertilizer that are needed to grow crops. Water is a much needed requirement. A kilogram of rice takes about 1,000 kilograms of water to grow. A kilo of beef takes much more.

A large part of the world’s food production depends on supplementing rainfall with irrigation -- either from underground aquifers or from rivers. “Yet, both groundwater and surface water are becoming scarce,” Brown said.

Jules Verne long ago suggested that when the world reached the limits of food production on land, it could turn to the oceans. But that, too, is now reaching beyond its limit. United Nations marine biologists count 17 major oceanic fisheries, and report that all are now being fished at or beyond capacity, thirteen are in a state of decline.

“As a result of our failure to stabilize population before reaching the limits of oceanic fisheries, we now face a declining seafood

catch per person -- and rising seafood prices for as far as we can see into the future,” Brown said.

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

Dr. Borlaug, touted to be the “Man Who Saved A Billion Lives,” was referring to biotechnology. “While the affluent nations can certainly afford to adopt ultra lowrisk positions, and pay more for food produced by the so-called ‘organic’ methods, the one billion chronically undernourished people of the low income, food-deficit nations cannot,” the American agronomist deplored.

Biotechnology encompasses an array of tools and applications that allow scientists to manipulate the genetic materials of plants, microbes, and animals. These methods provide ways to modify the characteristics that are passed from one generation to the next.

Ismail Serageldin, during his time as vice-president of World Bank, see biotechnology playing a crucial part of agriculture in the 21st century. “All possible tools that can help promote sustainable agriculture for food security must be marshaled,” he said, “and biotechnology, safely developed, could be a tremendous help.”

Biotechnology’s primary contribution to the agricultural sector will be to

increase the actual amount of food that can be grown on the planet. The ultimate challenge now is how to produce enough food for the growing population.

From 2 billion in 1935, the world’s population doubled to 4 billion in 1975. By 2000, the world was home to 6 billion. In 2030, there will be about 8 billion people inhabiting this planet.

Plus there are the issues of climate change: rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns.

“Climate change is a major challenge for agriculture and food security,” said Dr. Randy A. Hautea, global coordinator and Southeast Asia Center Director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA).

The tools used in biotechnology include gene cloning, tissue culture, microbial culture, DNA-marker technology, and genetic engineering. The latter is the most controversial as it is the method used in developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

GM/biotech or transgenic crop is a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, according to a fact sheet circulated by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

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

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

But are GM foods safe to eat? “Foods produced using genetic modification are as safe as foods produced using conventional breeding techniques,” assures the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Genetically modified foods are as safe as other foods available on the market.”

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) declared that different GM foods go through the global food safety process

called Codex Alimentarius Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology under which these foods are not found to be risky to human health.

“GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health,” said the UN health agency in a statement.

“No effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved. Continuous use of risk assessments based on the Codex principles and, where appropriate, including post market monitoring, should form the basis for evaluating the safety of GM foods,” it added.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

EDITORIAL Feathers on the cap

I

N DAVAO, significant events cancel each other. Or so it seems.

While high crimes –the killing of two businessmen – stunned the peace-loving Dabawenyos two weeks ago, there were also two positive events that made them proud of their place.

Most significant, of course, was the inscription of the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site during an international gathering in Doha, Qatar this week. No less than Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon headed the tiny delegation which received the good news and savored the proud moment. With the listing, life for Davao Oriental and its people will never be the same again!

Another big story concerning Dabawenyos was the choice of Davao City as “Clean Land,” an honor bestowed by an Asean group of environmentalists,

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out to recognize outstanding environmentally sustainable cities in the region. Davao City is the only awardee in the Philippines in the big city category, an accolade to be bestowed in Laos next September.

A few other cities will be recognized for “clean air” and “clean water.”

Mount Hamiguitan’s inscription as a wonder heritage site caps a long and tedious work required in the nomination. It was hard work and sacrifices that paid off in the end. What a gift for the province’s 37th founding anniversary on July 1st!

There is no doubt that the recognition will enhance tremendously the world standings of Davao Oriental and Davao City as havens for investments and destination for domestic and foreign tourists, including scientists interested in studying the fantastic flora and fauna of the amazing pygmy forest, among other wonders. Cheers to the leaders and their constituents!

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

Hopes vanish in thin air

T

HE SOCIO-POLITICAL LANDSCAPE - As the country gropes for direction through the “Matuwid na Daan” (Straight Path) advocacy of the government, the conscious and perceptive public expect the Aquino administration will rise to the occasion. Now here’s the dominant question: Has the present dispensation after more than three years prove its capability to govern and in the same manner have incumbent officials become productive asset to the government? Or they just metamorphosed into political liabilities and additional burden to the exploited populace?

For many years and many elections, the quest for socio-economic and political advancement expended the Filipino people and the ultimate goals and objective have been unceremoniously stalled. While political analysts and legal luminaries may agree about who can deliver what the country needs, they generally agree what it is: competent, reliable, diligent and trustworthy elective officials who are capable of unselfishly helping the government in stimulating the economy and strengthen the socio-political structures, reform the institutions and energize its people with new national goals.

The irate and disgusted public is fed up with senseless political bickering and they are yearning that officials particularly those elected will make true and fulfill their litany of political promises made during the campaign period. The tired and exhausted people had been through the worst of times. They have previously witnessed new set of political leaders and a coalition of opposition parties took over and steered the levers of power. But just the same they negotiated through a wave of public disdain for old-fashioned money politics and the people’s high hopes for change eventually fizzled out in thin air.

Old-fashioned financial scandals and political infighting have brought them down and the way things are going right now it seems history is repeating itself. The part-

L

nership of political convenience that took its place – between cross-party lines and other players turned nuts because everybody seemed to be preoccupied with jockeying for power and influence rather than to offer a strong, united front for real change. And now all eyes are on the incumbent officials, the President above all, who will have to sustain his “daang matuwid” advocacy, which according to political experts is fast diminishing and no longer served its purpose.

When the Aquino administration was starting out people have high expectations that the new leaders will move aggressively to address a range of alleged neglected issues that have long been the subject of prevalent concern: extreme poverty which is associated with joblessness, homelessness and illiteracy; rising crime, reform of the police, widespread addiction, food security and massive corruption in all levels of public life and rampant smuggling.

The people are wanting for officials who have the reputation for tough action and strong words, so unlike the traditional (trapo) and recycled (repo) Filipino politicians, more likely agent of reforms who are capable of confronting the challenges head-on.

How would the people now describe their incumbent leaders? Political analysts argue that being so officials should base policies on realities – leaders with very detailed public policy expertise deeply-rooted in the triangle of business, bureaucracy and politics.

Furthermore, people long for leaders, the sort of pragmatist officials who would

compromise rather than make radical departures from policy and who know the values of getting things done. The masses of our people want decisive leaders who are willing to take necessary action and could push for real change. The Aquino administration says it’s moving toward that direction guided by the principle of “matuwid na daan.”

But another critical question right now is: “how fast will the leadership move in getting things done and making structural readjustment in the economy and socio-political system especially now that it is facing interlocking problems, and how long will it take them to produce results – one or two years or until its term expires?” Of course, there are those who don’t see it that way.

Some believers of the Aquino administration are optimistic still, saying that changes and performance results need not be abrupt. It could not be done totally overnight -but for how long?

The Aquino leadership’s term is about to end barely three years from now and should it fail the people in their expectations, the knock-on effects for the political careers of its prospective candidates for the 2016 presidential elections could be devastating. The President and his bunch of high-profile advisers and political strategists should think over and over again that government should be responsible to the people and they are committed to achieving that aim while they are in power.

If there were something good for the nation, they must do it even if there are objections. It may take a long time, but the ideals should be articulated. They should better get down to their homework earnestly and diligently. But then again it cannot not be avoided as can be gleaned from the prevailing situation that many of our incumbent officials, elected or otherwise have transformed after years in office into conventional power-hungry conniving politicians - a harsh political reality.

Death penalty is too expensive to make sense

AST week saw the first executions in the United States since the botched lethal injection of Oklahoma inmate Clayton Lockett, which drew renewed attention to the death penalty. Despite a sharp decrease in support for the death penalty — from 78 percent as recently as 1996, to 55 percent in a survey conducted last year by the Pew Research Center — the practice remains on the books in 32 states. This reflects the fact that support for the death penalty is uneven, with conservatives and Republicans far more likely to support it than liberals and Democrats.

The result of this disparity is that even as liberal states like Maryland and New York do away with the practice, conservative states like Texas and Utah are likely to stick with it.

The fundamental reason conservatives tend to support the death penalty is that, as University of Pennsylvania law professor Stephanos Bibas recently told the Boston Globe, it reflects their belief in the importance of individual responsibility. For conservatives troubled by the rights revolution that transformed the U.S. criminal justice system in the 1960s and 1970s, “the death penalty became a symbol: Are we willing to hold people accountable for their actions?”

Perhaps in recognition of this widespread belief in the death penalty as a symbol of individual responsibility, at least some death penalty critics are choosing to emphasize its physical cruelty. For example, the political theorist Austin Sarat of Amherst College,

COMMENTARY

BY REIHAN SALAM author of Gruesome Spectacles, a history of botched executions, argues that the death penalty is inseparable from physical cruelty, as evidenced by the long history of mishaps and malfunctions that have turned seemingly humane methods of execution into hellish torments.

My own belief is that while virtually all methods of execution, including the most ingenious ones, will at some point fail to deliver a painless death, this isn’t in itself an argument against the death penalty. All human institutions suffer from limitations, and it’s hard to deny that contemporary executions are in important respects less cruel than those used in past eras.

Moreover, there is no reason to believe that progress has ceased. If you embrace the basic premise that the death penalty has important symbolic value, as a sign that some crimes are so heinous as to merit death, you’re not going to be convinced that botched executions are reason enough to abandon it.

The argument that I find most compelling is that prosecuting death penalty cases is extremely expensive. A 2008 Urban Institute study found that in Maryland, which recently abolished its death penalty, the cost of the average capital-eligible case in which prosecu-

tors did not seek the death penalty was $1.1 million, including $870,000 in incarceration costs and $250,000 in expenses associated with adjudication. In capital-eligible cases in which prosecutors sought the death penalty unsuccessfully, the average cost was $1.8 million — $950,000 in prison costs and $750,000 in adjudication costs, or three times as much as in cases in which the death penalty was not sought. And in capital-eligible cases in which prosecutors successfully sought the death penalty, the average cost was $3 million, with $1.3 million devoted to incarceration and $1.7 million to adjudication.

The numbers appear to be even more egregious in other states. In 2003, the Kansas state government found that cases in which the death penalty was sought cost 70 percent more than those in which it was not sought.

It might seem rather bloodless to oppose the death penalty on the grounds that it is extremely expensive. But given that the death penalty doesn’t appear to have much of a deterrent effect, a cost-based opposition might be reason enough to abandon it, or at least to only pursue it in cases uniquely offensive to the moral order.

I agree with those who believe that the death penalty ought to remain on the table as a way for society to demonstrate the seriousness with which it embraces the idea of individual responsibility. Yet we can enshrine this belief while using the death penalty very, very sparingly.

VANTAGE POINTS

9

You can’t rely WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

W

Part 1 of 2

E often forget that, all things considered, only the people can ensure honesty in government.

And any government that does not observe the requirement of transparency in its operations and accountability for its actions cannot be trusted.

There is so much at stake in operating and maintaining a government. Public assets and resources can be privatized, wasted, or depleted. Facilities can be misused or abused. Functions and responsibilities can be mishandled. Services can be overlooked or neglected. Public trust can be taken for granted, compromised, or betrayed.

Officials always face temptations to commit graft and corruption. There are myriad opportunities to hoodwink the public and take advantage of their trusting nature. Many enticements are offered to violate one’s oath of office including bribery and intimidation. And of course there’s so much money that can be misused, mishandled, or stolen.

Government officials are only human, subject to needs that may be difficult to deny or suppress. They have to cope with insistent demands and could give in to pressures, thus susceptible to tendencies or weaknesses that everyone is heir to simply by being human.

For these and other reasons, citizens must be attentive to government officials and participate as much as possible in the governing processes. To repeat: so much is at stake. And the people’s welfare is involved.

Even the government of the barangay is vulnerable. There are many cases where barangay facilities and finances are virtually privatized by the officials, treating them as if the same are theirs; on occasion, they even bring equipment and supplies home when no one is watching.

It happens because of lack of participation, interest, or vigilance on the part of their constituents.

Where constituents do not participate or are inattentive to the business of governance, badly-motivated officials can abuse their duties; those with weak character succumb to temptation and “offers they cannot refuse.”

The abuse is not always deliberate or intentional. It could be due to absent-mindedness or carelessness. It could be forgetfulness about procedures, or ignorance of some rule or regulation. Bad habits and bad influences also play a part, driving them to do unauthorized or irregular acts.

That’s why we say, “Government is everybody’s business; if you’re not involved, no one can expect good governance.”

Another thing to keep in mind is that it is not always possible, especially for an individual citizen, to be mindful of the entire government. Minding one’s immediate government—the barangay’s—is all that can be realistically expected of everyone.

In any case, it is not necessary to snoop into the operations of the upper-level governments. Our political system already provides mechanisms for vigilance and oversight over high officials, municipal and above.

At upper level, the need for vigilance and oversight is fulfilled by the nature and operation of the system of separation-of-powers, i.e. the executive branch is separate from the legislative and the judicial, each one having power to check the other two, to question their decisions and acts, or to neutralize any wrong-doing by them.

Each branch of the higher units of government is headed by a separate official: the chief executive, the legislative head, and the judicial head with their own set of powers and duties.

10 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

Suspects...FFROM 1 King for P30,000.

Labang told Sorroche that he did not know the businessman personally because according to him, they were just told that the target is a drug lord.

In the same interview, a weeping Labang asked forgiveness to the family of King. A few hours earlier, Labang strongly denied he shot King. His counsel lawyer Alexis Lumbatan even questioned the manner in which the suspect was arrested. Lumbatan would later withdraw from the case an hour before Labang made his confession.

After Labang made his confession, he and his two cohorts were immediately brought to the Hall of Justice for inquest proceedings.

At around 8:00 last Monday night, Felonia surfaced with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at Grand Men Seng Hotel. Felonia had sought the help of Mayor Duterte to clear his name after learning that he was tagged by Labang as the mastermind.

Duterte escorted Felonia to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) South Eastern Mindanao Office where he submitted himself for investigation.

Duterte told reporters that Felonia went to him asking for help to clear his name after he was dragged as the mastermind on King slay. “Sinabi ko sa kanya na lumabas ang pangalan mo, I will not speculate of anything. He has to be investigated formally,” Duterte

said.

The mayor said that Felonia wanted other investigating agencies, other than the police, to handle the probe against him. “Sabi niya ayaw niyang magpaimbestiga sa police, sabi ko you might go to the NBI, tell your story kung wala ka talagang kasalanan,” the mayor narrated.

Duterte suggested to Felonia to submit himself to NBI and ask for an investigation on his case.

“If you want to clear your name, submit yourself for investigation,” Duterte narrated his suggestion to Felonia.

Duterte stressed that pending formal investigation, Felonia is not yet considered as the suspect on the murder case of King.

Pressed to comment, Felonia had very brief answer to reporters saying he only went to see the mayor to clear his name and find a counsel to defend him.

“That is why I am here, submitting myself for investigation and to look for my own counsel to defend me,” Felonia said.

An unconfirmed report said that Felonia had been impleaded in the same complaint filed against Labang and the Dela Cernas (see separate story).

Another suspect, Romel dela Cerna, had earlier confessed to the police and tagged regional intelligence chief as the one who contacted them and provided information on King’s location.

ment.

He said that policemen should take law enforcement seriously so that crimes will be prevented from happening.

Recently, three incidents of high profile killings involving two businessmen and a former government lawyer rocked the city.

Last June 6, Nanay Bebeng restaurant owner Ramon Teodoro Garcia was found dead in Malalag, Davao del Sur and six days after that Cebu-based businessman and owner of Crown Regen-

cy Holdings Richard L. King was shot dead inside his own office at Vital-C located at Obrero, Davao City.

Last May 30, former Public Attorney’s Office lawyer Emmanuel Ledesma Acuña Jr. was murdered in a parking lot near SM Lanang Premier.

Police are still investigating Acuña’s case while Garcia’s case is considered solved after the arrest of two suspects about 24 hours after the body of the victim was recovered. The third case involving hotelier Richard King

Solon...FFROM 2

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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

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

DAVAO CITY WATER DISTRICT GIVES BAGS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO UPLAND STUDENTS. Children of DCWD’s partners in protecting and rehabilitating Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed receive the donation from the staff of Community Relations and External Affairs Department.

Proposed...FFROM 2 The environmental group also shared the negative impacts that Malaysia had to face because of palm oil production like loss of biodiversity, degradation of forest and watershed areas, unequal profit-sharing, poor working conditions, water pollution, and soil erosion and nutrient depletion.

It shared the bad experience which occurred when a Malaysian company took

over a government project in Agusan del Sur where they converted the towns of Rosario and Bunawan into a 4,000-hectare oil palm plantation in 1980s.

Farmers are still suffering financially and lost access to their land for more than three decades, the group said.

It also cited the case in oil palm plantation in Opol, Misamis Oriental where killings of indigenous peo-

ple leaders who resisted the palm oil plantation expansion project reportedly occurred.

Despite the opposition, Duterte remained firm and instead challenged the group to come up with alternatives.

“If you are smarter than I am, or you think you are smarter, then show me a good alternative for this place,” Duterte said.

Duterte said that the

only “competitive opportunity” of globalization in the country is to compete in the field of agriculture.

In contrast to Duterte’s stand, the group said that the mayor’s “partnership” with foreign companies for local development can only succeed if national government policies are put in place to safeguard the integrity of the environment and the welfare of people in the communities.

Precinct to submit separate documents on the case of Felonia file the complaint under regular procedure.

As this developed, Felonia met with lawyer Caesar S. Europa who will represent him as counsel during the investigation.

Europa told reporters yesterday that they will

just wait for the subpoena of the City Prosecution Office before submitting their reply.

“Ang ingon nako sa iyaha the best thing to do is hulaton kung unsa gyud ang complaint kay lisud man gyud ang magpataka tag tubag na dili ka sigurado kung unsa gyud ang

akusasyon,” Europa said.

The counsel of Felonia said once his client receive the subpoena, they will file their answer by way of a counter affidavit to CPO. As this developed, Felonia was reportedly ‘administratively relieved’ from his post as head of RIU-11 although Chief Inspector

Jed Clamor, Police Regional Office 11 spokesperson, could not answer when the relief took effect as Felonia reports directly to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Camp Crame.

Clamor confirmed to Edge Davao yesterday that Felonia was already relieved from his post.

cent of power supply in the Mindanao grid.

Zarate said that privatization Agus-Pulangi is not an answer to solve the power shortage in Mindanao.

“Agus-Pulangi should be rehabilitated to maximize its capacity. Ang problema kasi nyan masyado ng silted and mga dams,” he said.

Under the Epira law, all National Power Corp.’s (Na-

pocor) plants should be privatized, so government can settle the company’s debts, which had once been the single-biggest drain on public coffers.

However, Epira exempted Mindanao’s major power plants, particularly the Agus-Pulangi hydropowerplant, from the privitization program over a 10-year period to maintain the cheap

rate. The legal ban on privitizing the powerplant ended in 2010.

Since 2010, appeals were made to extend the ban and this year will be the end.

Zarate said that Mindanao congressmen are campaigning for non-privatization because it will only increase the rate.

Aside from rehabilitating the hydropower plant, he

said that DOE should promote more renewable energy sources instead of relying on coal-fired power plant.

“We have many renewable energy sources Mindanao that can be develop into small hydroplants instead of building huge dams,” Zarate said. He added that the amendment of Epira law is not a priority to the Aquino administration. [CRC]

darity.

“The promotion of human rights is a key component of Norway’s foreign and development policy.

Norway recognizes the vital work that human rights defenders contribute to society. All over the world, human rights defenders are being attacked on a daily basis, for defending the rights of others, and therefore in need of protection due to their work.” he said.

While working on advo-

cacies, the Defend the Defenders Program or the Program for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Defenders Working on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) of the ALG is currently funding mechanism encouraging innovative, preventive measures and activities against threatened or actual abuses and rights violations that human rights defenders encounter.

According to Atty. Marlon J. Manuel, national co-

ordinator of Alternative Law Group, “This forum was held in recognition of the ripeness of resource development in Mindanao and the obstacles human rights defenders encounter as they struggle everyday to ensure social justice goes hand in hand with social progress in Mindanao. We recognize the need to share best practices as to the promotion and protection of human rights defenders.”

KaSaMa is an inter-em-

bassy consortium on human rights which encourages innovation, risk-taking, and determination in addressing perennial human rights issues.

The consortium believes that “human rights violations are not only an affront to citizens of countries but to humanity as a whole.”

It provides financial support to the local human rights and civil society groups.

expecting to hold bidding for possible contractor by next month. Construction period will span from three to five months.

“The kind of development that we shall introduce will allow police, fire truck ambulances to enter the area if there

will be the same incident in the future,” he said.

Escalada said that Davao Light Power Company (DLPC) and Davao

City Water District (DCWD) will also provide individual power and water services in the area.

cause of their social status.

Dayanghirang’s proposal said that the IPs are deserving beneficiaries

most of them are indigents and “vulnerable to peace and order problem in the country because they are

living in far areas.”

He said that the proposed resolution is an offshoot of a survey conduct-

ed by military which bared the exclusion of IPs in the implementation of 4Ps in the city. [CRC]

Murder... FFROM 2

Zarate...FFROM 3

Protection...FFROM 3

Malaysian...FFROM 3 DSWD... FFROM 3

EDGEDAVAO

HEALTH

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

11

Diabetes: the new childhood epidemic

By GERRY T. ESTRERA

I

F you think diabetes happens among adults only, think again. When he was still in kindergarten, Michael used to drink softdrink for breakfast. During lunch time, he ate his favorite pork adobo with four plates of rice and gulped orange juice loaded with sugar. “I gorged myself with so much food but I never felt full,” he recalled.

Michael’s parents never took notice of his eating behavior; they thought it was normal. Unknowingly, the weight of their son steadily climbed. By the time he turned 10, Michael weighed 90 kilograms. He was overweight for his age.

In the Philippines, 1.8 percent of boys and 0.8 percent of girls between the ages of six and ten are obese.

At one time, when Michael got sick, he was brought to the hospital. His parents were surprised to know that their son was suffering from a debilitating disease called diabetes.

“But he is too young to have such kind of disease,” the mother insisted.

Michael’s case won’t surprise Dr. Lorna Abad, president of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Metabolism and Endocrinology.

She estimated that around 8 percent of the country’s children could be diabetic.

To think of, the approximation was two to three percent a decade earlier.

“Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood,” reports the Brussels-based International Diabetes Foundation (IDF). “It can strike children of any age, including infants and toddlers.

Yet diabetes in children is often diagnosed late, when the child has very high, potentially life-threatening, blood glucose levels. Sometimes, it can be mistaken for something else, such as the flu.”

Currently, there are almost 250 million people with diabetes worldwide.

“Within 20 years, this number is expected to grow to 380 million,” IDF predicts.

“Diabetes is certain to be one of the most challenging health problems in the twenty-first century,” comments Dr. Daniel J. McCarty of the International Diabetes Institute based in Melbourne, Australia.

A disorder of the body’s power-supply system, diabetes is a slow-moving calamity that profoundly disturbs every cells in the body. At the core, it’s the failure of cells to ab-

sorb glucose, the sugar molecules that fuel muscles, nerves, and the brain.

When sugar cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the blood, leading over time to devastating complications: heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage, even limb amputation and blindness.

Not too many know that diabetes is not a single disease. In his book, The Best Treatment, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, explains: “Although all diabetes have abnormally high blood sugar, the mechanisms responsible for it are not necessarily one and the same. For example, diabetes appearing in childhood or adolescence requires insulin, is often difficult to regulate, and has a significant impact on the quality and duration of life. By contrast, the adult-onset type usually does not need insulin, sugar levels are generally stable, and the risk to life is much smaller.”

The pancreas, which lies deep in the belly behind the stomach, virtually on our backbone, makes the insulin, which regulates sugar metabolism. In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (or type 1 diabetes), which affects mostly children, there is very little insulin around because the special cells that produce it within the pancreas have been destroyed by the body.

The most common form is the non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

(type 2 diabetes), which involves insulin resistance.

A person may be making insulin, but his body is not using it properly. This type comes on gradually, making it difficult to detect.

At one time, type 2 diabetes was called adult-onset diabetes; nearly all its victims were over 30. But now, type 2 affects children as young as four. Michael, for instance, is suffering from this type, which could become the most widespread, and potentially devastating, disease to attack children since polio.

A third type of diabetes develops during some cases of pregnancy. Other rarer types of diabetes also exist.

Some children diagnosed with diabetes may have elements of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This phenomenon is often referred to as “hybrid,” “mixed,” or “double” diabetes.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young is a rare form of diabetes in children that is caused by a single gene that results in the faulty secretion of insulin.

This form of diabetes is thought to account for up to 5 percent of all cases of diabetes in children. It often goes unrecognized.

There are five common symptoms of diabetes: increased urination, increased thirst, increased appetite, weight loss, and fatigue.

Among adults, people with diabetes experience blurred vision, frequent skin and vaginal infections, and poor healing

of wounds.

“Type 1 diabetes is growing by 3 percent per year in children and adolescents, and at an alarming 5 percent per year among preschool children,” IDF discloses. Around the world, 70,000 children under 15 develop type 1 diabetes each year or almost 200 children a day.

Untreated or poorly controlled type 1 diabetes results in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

This life-threatening consequence occurs because there is low or no insulin available in the body to help the organs and tissues take up glucose for energy.

“DKA is the leading cause of death and disability in children with type 1 diabetes around the world,” IDF informs. “If left untreated, it has a 100% death rate.”

(Between 60 to 90 percent of all DKA-related deaths are a consequence of cerebral oedema, or swelling of the brain.)

On the other hand, the global incidence of type 2 diabetes in children “looks likely” to increase by up to 50 percent over the next 15 years, according to IDF. In the United States, some doctors saw maybe one or two kids a year with type 2. Today, in children’s hospitals and pediatric clinics, up to 46 percent of all new diabetes cases are type 2.

There’s no invading virus or sinister bacteria to blame for this epidemic, no vaccine to ward it off or quick-fix pill to cure

it. Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease – a body-fat disease – caused by too much television and playing computer games and too little activity.

An International Life Sciences Institute of Southeast Asia study of 1,208 Filipino urban children aged eight to ten found that on average they spent 106 minutes a day watching television, but only 30 to 37 minutes playing outdoor games.

Studies have shown that most children diagnosed of having diabetes eat too much high-calorie junk food. “Across the globe, more people are consuming high-fat foods that are heavily processed and low in fiber,” IDF notes.

“Increasingly, families are eating food prepared outside the home.”

In fact, the majority of children (some 85 percent) with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese at the time of diagnosis.

The figure is quite alarming as only three percent of children were considered obese back in 1998, according to Dr. Yolanda Olivares of the Department of Health.

Five years later, the figure rose alarmingly as 2.6 percent of children under five years were found overweight while five percent of children from six to 12 years old were found overweight. This means that these obese children are at increased risk of diabetes.

According to IDF, type

2 diabetes usually develops slowly in children.

“It is frequently reported around puberty, when insulin sensitivity may be reduced by as much as 30 percent because of changes in the body,” it explains.

Many children with diabetes have no warning signs, or they have symptoms so mild that they’re missed. If your child is overweight, schedule a doctor’s appointment if you see any of these type 2 clues: frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability, and blurry vision.

“Children with diabetes are at high risk of developing complications at a young age,” IDF warns.

Despite modern treatment, over 50 percent of children with diabetes develop complications 12 years after diagnosis. Intensive diabetes therapy can control diabetes and allow children to live full and healthy lives. However, it can also result in an increased incidence of low blood sugar levels, which when frequent, may slow down brain development and function in young children.

“At the time of diagnosis, it is not uncommon for young people to have developed multiple risk factors for early cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and abnormal blood fat,” IDF points out.

12 CLASSIFIED

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

A slice of life

ARTISTS work in different mediums and cakes are no different from any of those forms. Edible art, as we call it, may look deceptively easy to make but, in truth, there is so much background work that goes into each design.

“Baking requires accuracy, control, creativity and spunk,” shares Marie Mae Tacugue, cake artist and founder of Cupcake Couture, a homegrown brand that caters custom made cakes for all types of events and weddings. “It’s like building a house. You have to be precise in your measurements so you’ll get the foundation right.

The ingredients will help you build your structure, but you have to immerse yourself in imagination on how you can bring an illustration or theme to life.

In this business, there’s a thin line between creating cakes to your client’s liking and following your own style or vision. You really have to marry both.”

Marie’s love of baking goes back to when she was a little girl. She didn’t have any formal training and practice due to limited funds and ingredients.

Most of what she knows are either self-taught or personal tips from her sister and mom who, on special occasions, encouraged

her to watch as she baked cakes for family friends.

She also had her mom’s collection of recipes as storybooks to read at home.

After graduating with a degree in Management Accounting, Marie found herself working in call centers, first as an agent and then moved up as Language and Communications Trainer. Now a proud mom of two, she rekindled her love for baking in the midst of her 7-year stint in the BPO industry. She first made cakes and cookies for friends at work. By word of mouth, other colleagues became interested in trying out her delicacies. When orders started flooding in, the possibility

of opening her own dessert line become more realistic. It prompted her to take in orders through her Facebook page, and, due to great demand, she eventually decided to turn her hobby into a full-fledged career and leave the BPO industry.

Aside from custom made cakes, sugar cookies, cupcakes and cake pops, Marie regularly gets orders for her signature desserts.

“Best sellers include Vanilla Cake, Chocolate Cake and Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.”

Now on its third year in operations, Cupcake Couture has grown an impressive clientele and gained significant following in the region. Marie’s beautifully designed cakes and desserts capture so intensely the joy, energy and the wonder of being alive. Like a sculptor working with clay, she molds fondant and icing into confections that are almost too pretty to eat. Her talent brims with a great sense of life,

Like a sculptor working with clay, she molds fondant and icing into confections that are almost too pretty to eat.

exuding passion and gratification in adding joy to each monumental event in other people’s lives.

Marie’s knack for sugar craft has given her a taste of sweet success. She doesn’t

solely rate success in numbers, but also in being able to create value in what she does. “Managing a homebased business gave me more time to take care of my kids. Being your own

boss has its perks, I can set my own pace. Organization and flexibility are keys to balancing motherhood and work.”

Follow Cupcake Couture on Facebook and Instagram to view Marie’s catalogue of cakes and desserts. You may email your inquiries and orders to mariemaet@yahoo.com or call 0933 244 5085.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra Spotlight Series features Andrew Simon THE ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra follows up on the Spotlight Series with Andrew Simon, a world-renowned clarinetist, this coming July 24 (Thursday), 7:30 pm at the Meralco Theatre.

Andrew Simon has been noted for his superb playing style and “almost god-like technique” (Auditorium Magazine) from previous performances around the world. On this night, Andrew Simon demonstrates his skill on the clarinet through master works written for his instrument.

The programme includes Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, Weber’s Concertino in E-flat and Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie, Baerman’s Adagio for Clarinet and Orchestra, and a few more pieces prepared by the orchestra.

Throughout the performance, Andrew Simon will use the R-13 model of Buffet-Crampon Clarinets, a world-class maker of woodwind instruments based in France.

The second feature concert of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra this year, this coming performance fuels the momentum for the orchestra’s signature brand, “Spotlight Series”, a chain of concerts that feature masterpieces from world renowned composers, performers and music masters.

For ticket inquiries, you may contact Ticketworld at 8919999 or ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and look for Karlo Cea at 4152272 loc 2409/ 09156246808.

For updates about The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and upcoming shows, Like us on Facebook at facebook. com/ABSPhilharmonic and on Twitter @ABSPhilharmonic.

Visit our website at www.abscbnphilharmonic.com

Get unlimited landline to mobile calls with the upgraded Tattoo Home Broadband Bundle EVEN with the growth of mobile phone users, every home still finds the need for a reliable landline connection. But with expensive landline to mobile call charges, most households end up paying for an outrageous phone bill to make those important emergency calls.

With Tattoo Home Broadband’s upgraded bundles, all plans now come with a free landline that lets customers call over 40 million Globe and TM mobile subscribers for free! Every household is now free from expensive landline to mobile calls and can maximize this service especially for urgent calls.

“Tattoo always prioritizes what is important for every household – that is, keeping family members connected to each other. By giving our customers this type of service, all members of the family can keep each other updated without worry of an expensive phone bill. Coupled with our upgraded Fibre-Fast Tattoo Home broadband bundles, our customers can enjoy faster internet speeds with free landline to mobile calls at a more affordable price,” shares Globe Vice President for Tattoo Home Broadband Business Jurist Gamban.

From the original price of P2299 per month, get the 5 Mbps connection for your home now for only P1599! Plan 1599 also comes with the broadband connection, a landline with free and unlimited calls to all Globe/TM numbers and a WiFi router.

Other Tattoo Home Broadband bundles are also available starting at Plan 1099 at 2 Mbps, Plan 1299 at 3 Mbps, and Plan 2499 at 7 Mbps.

To know more about Tattoo Home Broadband’s plans and its coverage in your area, log on to tattoo.globe.com. ph, call (02) 730-1010, visit the nearest Globe store or get in touch with authorized Globe Sales Agents.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW

Kick ass, die, repeat Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow

By Jay Rosas IN Doug Liman’s madcap universe, the précis of Edge of Tomorrow is probably a rough, insane inversion of that old saying about trying.

In this case, it’s die and die until you succeed. The only way to try – and live and succeed – is to die first and die again. The movie’s tagline – live, die, repeat – is the entire movie summed up so succinctly and perfectly in three words. The narrative unfolds with a functional economy that delivers some surprisingly clever and fun turns to the otherwise bland title, an unfortunate disservice because even though it sank at the box office, it surpasses the generic Marvel releases this summer that really does nothing but serve the longevity of their franchises.

The story is an adaptation of the Japanese manga All You Need is Kill. At the center of an unwanted mission is our looper, Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), a media relations officer, inexperienced in combat, for the United Defense Force, what resembles a futuristic military tasked to fight alien forces already on its way to domination. But Cage wakes up in the military base a different person.

Now a “deserter” he joins the ranks of soldiers who are about to get annihilated (the military’s performance unfortunately abysmal in the face of the formidable, if boringlooking aliens) as soon as they are thrown into the battlefield. Dodging hellfire, Cage meets briefly the poster girl – the “full metal bitch” – of UDF’s missionto-kill, Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), only to die moments after from a stealthy attack from the enemies.

But just as soon as his face is melted in the alien’s toxic goo, he wakes up in the same pile where he is welcomed by the same Master Sgt. Farell (Bill Paxton) and goes through the same introductory speeches, befuddled whether it is a dream or as the officer put it, a version of a shitty hangover.

The first resurrection of-

From exemplary bosses to mystery meats thrice boiled and masked beyond recognition by thick sauces, his medley of stories shock and amuse in equal measure. fers a sudden dreamlike disbelief, we too, questioning whether the previous string of events were real or imagined. But then, Cage dies again, and the routine, with slight variations, happens again and again and becomes a comical take on the elliptical nature of life and chance.

For those familiar, Edge of Tomorrow is basically Groundhog Day, with a dash of Starship Troopers, on amped-up video game mode. It does not only take in the visual and aural, but most importantly, the structural, functional and conceptual elements of the video game, with-

out it necessarily being an adaptation of any video game. In the film, Cage and Vrataski (in retrospect) only get to a certain level of physical perfection and proficiency, echoing the gamer and the gamer’s persona’s limitations in the similarly impenetrable and infallible universe of the nemesis. There are just enough chances at perfecting a game or skill amid the unpredictable circumstances at survival.

The privilege of these chances affords Bill Murray’s character in Groundhog Day a deeper insight into his life. Though we didn’t really get to see this

aspect in Cage’s resurrections with much depth, as his is really concerned with rectifying and avoiding errors, he makes it up with Vrataski. The storyline with Vrataski seems secondary in nature but when we get to the farmhouse scene, the same sci-fi concept also complements with and works for their version of a love story. Cage and Vrataski share the same “gift”, (the latter lost it) and every resurrection carries with it certain gravity, sprung from the need to establish emotional connection to carry out the mission.

Though the simplified science doesn’t answer all the questions you may only realize after watching the movie, the dark comedy pretty much makes up for it (after all what fun would it be if all mysteries are answered?). The comic relief isn’t just hinged on Cruise’s character dying 500 or so times, in various ways, but also in the way the deaths are handled. For instance, Cage attempts to save the life of a fellow soldier from a massive debris and the several ways in which he dies in the same battlefield or gets shot in the head while on training.

It’s as if mirroring the reallife Cruise, the big-shot movie star, whose brightness, outlasted short-lived ones and refused to fade amid new brighter stars in the Hollywood galaxy.

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Himig Handog’ reveals 15 finalists

Composers of two big winners last year, face each other again AFTER several months of screening more than 6,000 original compositions from Filipino songwriters worldwide, ABS-CBN announces the 15 song finalists for the much-awaited “Himig Handog Pinoy Pop (P-POP) Love Songs 2014.”

Now on its 6th year, the country’s biggest multimedia songwriting competition chose the following entries as finalists: “Akin Ka Na Lang” by Francis Louis Salazar from Quezon City; “Bumabalik ang Nagdaan”

by Sarah Jane Gandia from Los Angeles, California; “Dito” by Raizo Brent Chabeldin and Biv De Vera from Metro Manila; “Everything Takes Time” by Hazel Faith Dela Cruz from Sampaloc, Manila; “Halik sa Hangin” by David Dimaguila from Cainta, Rizal; “Hanggang Kailan”

by Jose Joel Mendoza from Mandaluyong; “If You Don’t Want to Fall” by Jude Gitamondoc from Cebu; “Mahal Kita Pero” by Melchora Mab-

ilog from Laguna; “Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako” by Edwin Marollano from Muntinlupa

City; “Pare, M a hal Mo Raw Ako”

by Jovinor Tan from Quezon City; “Pumapag-Ibig” by Jungee Marcelo from Pasig City; “Seven Minutes” by Mary Grace Gabor from Taguig City; “Simpleng Tulad Mo”

by Meljohn Magno from Laguna; “Umiiyak ang Puso”

by Rolando Azor from San

Juan; and “Walang Basagan ng Trip” by Eric De Leon from Malabon.

Last year, the s o n g

“Ano’ng NangS a Dalawa”

by Jovinor

yari Ating written Tan (one

of the songwriter finalists this year) and interpreted

by Aiza Seguerra won first place. “Nasa Iyo Na Ang La-

Choice, and MYX Choice For Best Video.

“Himig Handog P-POP Love Songs 2014” continues to search for exceptional musical talents with endearing and uniquely “Pinoy” love songs that transcend generations and stand out in the world like some of today’s OPM classic love songs popularized through “Himig Handog.” These include “Hanggang,” interpreted by

Wency Cornejo; “Kung Ako Na Lang Sana” by Bituin Escalante; “Kung Ako Ba S’ya”

by Piolo Pascual; “Bye Bye Na,” by Rico Blanco; and “This Guy’s In Love With You Pare” by Chito Miranda.

For more information about “Himig Handog PPop Love Songs,” visit Star Records’ Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/starrecordsphil or follow @starrecordsph on Twitter.

hat,” written by Jungee Marcelo (another songwriter in the roster this year), and interpreted by Daniel Padilla, got four out of five special awards, including Star Records Buyer’s Choice, Tambayan 101.9 Listener’s Choice, MOR Listener’s

Madonna’s daughters are all grown up TIME FLIES! Madonna’s daughters are all grown up and the pop icon is keen on showing them off in her latest Instagram pics.

In one adorable snapshot, Madge shared a pic of Mercy giving her best Michael Jackson lean in the sand at the beach.

“Smooth Criminal!” the proud mama wrote.

And before that, the Material Girl posted a pic of her eldest Lourdes Leon posing with several of her girlfriends.

“Pre prom turn up #yaaaaaassssssbitch,” she captioned the cute photo.

Lourdes (who goes by Lola) looks beautiful in a polka dot dress with bold red lips and big hook earrings. Pretty major!

The 17-year-old recently graduated from high school and is already looking forward to her next chapter as “a college freshman.”

Lola explained on her mom’s site, “It’s weird because so much more lies

ahead–yet it feels almost empty to wrap up high school.”

She added, “Of course I’ll miss the friends that I’ve made and the family that makes up the drama department, but it’s really beautiful to be able to see all of the people I dearly love and care for, people that I grew up with for four years, go on and pursue their passions, whatever they may be, and find their place.”

And while she hasn’t publicly confirmed where she’ll be hitting the books this fall, she did visit the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor last November which Lola’s mom briefly attended the school back in the eighties before moving to New York to pursue her music career.

Camille Prats in Powerhouse this Wednesday Aside from being an actress, many people don’t know that Camille Prats is the directress of a school that she co-owns. She started as a child star, but her story is far different from other actors who have forgotten to save for their future.

Even though she becomes so busy with showbiz, Camille didn’t take her education for granted. She graduated with a marketing degree in the Philippines and continued her Montessori studies in the US. Camille might not have fulfilled her dream of becoming a pediatrician, but she was able to establish a school from her own savings. She is now busy jug-

gling her time with hosting, acting and running the Divine Angel Montessori.

The death of her husband has been a painful memory for Camille, but she had prepared herself from the inevitable, which makes moving on quite

uncomplicated. Being with her family, friends and her son Nathaniel helps a lot in her recovery. She is also now happy with her nonshowbiz boyfriend.

After her husband died, Camille moves back and lives with her family. Her

mother begged her to stay in their house until she marries again. Camille is a very hands-on mom with her son and makes sure that he gets the best education. She shares that Nathan is very interested in arts and even shows some of his paintings in their living room.

This Wednesday, Camille welcomes Kara David in their home and shares the secrets of her success. How does the actress handle her finances? Will she marry again? How does she manage her time being an actress and a businesswoman?

Don’t miss Powerhouse this Wednesday, June 25, 4 p.m., right after Dading on GMA 7.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 2D Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler GP

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

22 JUMP STREET 2D Jonah Hil, Channing Tatum R13

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

THIRD PERSON 2D Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis R 16

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

R-16 MY ILLEGAL WIFE 2D / * NOAH 2D PG 13 / * R 13

Pokwang, Zanjoe Marudo / *Russell Crowe 12:25 | 2:35 LFS / * 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

SVS celebrates another year of beauty and pampering

By Kenneth Irving Ong

SVS owner and director stylist Soobum “Deeno” Jeong (center) together with his junior hirstylists Revicca Castillon and Hygiene Benavente.

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

EVERYONE loves a fabulous head of hair. In fact, one’s crowning glory is oftentimes the first thing everyone notices even from a distance. In their goal of providing quality hair styling and hair science services, Super Visual Salon was established three years ago opening their first branch at Matina.

Fast forward to 2014 and Super Visual Salon celebrates three fruitful years. Although the original Matina salon is no more, their bigger and more luxurious feeling salon located at the fourth level beauty and wellness centre of the Gaisano Mall of Davao is going strong and just celebrated their first year of operations.

SVS owner and director stylist Soobum “Deeno” Jeong says that he opened SVS with the dream of sharing the Korean style of salon care with hair evaluation and analysis before any treatments are employed. “In Korea, salon services is a science, I studied how to take care of hair, how to treat the hair and how to style the hair.” beams Deeno. “I also studied in London and Canada and aim to really bring a new level of professional service for SVS.” Deeno who is a Grade III Trichologist (someone

Deeno at the SVS hair salon.

who studies the branch of medical and cosmetic study and practice concerned with the hair and scalp) recognised by the Korean Association of Trichologists aims have SVS produce their own competent stylists savvy in the science of hair and scalp care.

“I want to share the

The private VIP area.

knowledge of hair and scalp care, that is why I train the stylists here in SVS.” says Deeno. Along with the anniversary celebrations was the graduation of SVS’s junior stylists who underwent years of training.

Deeno expresses his pride as he reveals that the graduation is part of his

dream for SVS to be a centre for haircare and beauty not just for Davao City but eventually all over the Philippines.

To book an appointment at the Super Visual Salon, you may call them at 282-1603, 918-2358264, or 923-370-6909. Add them on Facebook at Group SVS (Super Visual Salon).

SVS manager Libeca Yoshikawa (center) together with Stephanie Magbanua and Marian Portudo.

The nail spa area of SVS.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

EDGE

-

Serving a seamless society

DAVAO

CLASSIFIED 13

WANTS YOU!

Account Executives (3)

Male / Female, not more than 30 years old Candidate must posses a Bachelor/ College Degree in any Business field.

Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate A team player With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission

For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao

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

14 SPORTS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

WHAT A TOUCH! The 32-year-old Spanish star David Villa scored a sumptuous backheel to set Spain on their way against Australia.

Mexico marches D on, beats Croatia

Villa ends career as Spain blanks Australia 3-0

R

ECIFE, Brazil (AP) — One of the first things Miguel Herrera did when he became Mexico’s fourth coach in a year was call Rafael Marquez and ask the 35-year-old defender known as “the boss” to return to the national side as captain.

On Monday, the world saw why.

Marquez’s pivotal goal from a header in the 72nd minute ignited a scoring burst, and Mexico surged into the World Cup’s knockout stage for a sixth straight time with a 3-1 triumph over Croatia.

“I did not hesitate one minute after my talk with him to appoint him captain,” Herrera said of Marquez, now in his fourth World Cup. “He’s had many achievements in his career, personally, but he’s also provided leadership to the team, that soundness, and that is why they call him the boss.”

Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored in a 10-minute span in the second half, dooming a talented Croatia side to elimination from the group stage.

The Croats had to win to advance and held the bulk of possession, but had trouble seriously threatening goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who kept out all efforts until an 87th-minute consolation goal from Ivan Perisic.

Mexico entered the game needing only a draw, but played aggressively and looked dangerous in attack even before breaking through. The result gave Mexico a second-place finish behind Brazil in Group A and set up a second-round meeting with Group B winner the Netherlands.

“We overcame the first hurdle,” Miguel Herrera said, adding that the team would dine with their families in Recife later Monday

night. “We’re going to celebrate tonight but tomorrow we have to start thinking of our match with the Netherlands.”

Marquez, who had scored in Germany in 2006 and South Africa four years ago, made it three straight World Cups with a goal by beating Croatia defender Vedran Corluka to head home Hector Herrera’s corner.

“They wanted him to retire, and look at him,” Guardado said. “He plays like he’s 23” Three minutes later, Guardado found the net with a hard, left-footed, one-time shot after a cross from Oribe Peralta.

Then in the 82nd, Hernandez, the popular Manchester United striker who has been a second-half substitute in all three of Mexico’s matches, scored with a header after Herrera’s corner had glanced off the head of Marquez.

ranked Belgian four times, saved the only two break points against him and sealed the contest with an ace, his eighth of the match. It was Murray’s 450th tour-level match win.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic, who lost to Murray in last year’s final, also put on a commanding performance in his opening round match on Centre Court. The Serbian player won the first 11 games and swept to a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 win over Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan in less than 90 minutes.

Murray received a huge ovation when he strode onto the court where he beat

Djokovic a year ago, soaking in the applause and giving a wave to the crowd — including those fans who queued up for tickets overnight for the rare chance to see a reigning British champion.

“It was nice,” Murray said.

“I was nervous this morning, nervous yesterday. Walking through brings back a lot of good memories.”

Among those in the Royal Box for the occasion were Murray’s father and grandparents and retired NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, dressed in suit and tie. Murray chatted briefly with the 7-foot-1 (2.16-meter) Shaq after the match.

AVID Villa ended his international career with a brilliant backheel but couldn’t hide his emotions when substituted during Spain’s 3-0 win against Australia.

The 32-year-old announced his retirement from playing for his country prior to the World Cup and is set to link-up with New York FC when the defending world

champions fly back from Brazil.

And the raw feeling was plain for all to see when Villa was hooked by Vicente Del Bosque in the second half of the 3-0 win.

Team-mates rushed to console the striker as he exited in the 57th minute.

And while he seemed to be holding it together as he trudged off, Villa appeared

to burst into tears when he sat down on the bench.

Diego Costa had his arm around the former Atletico Madrid and Barcelona frontman while he was comforted by a coach.

Pedro, Iker Casillas and Gerard Pique were up in appreciation as he came off.

Del Bosque later revealed he was unaware it was Villa’s last international.

Murray wins Wimby defense opener

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ONDON (AP) — Andy Murray arrived on Centre Court to a standing ovation and left to another.

After ending Britain’s 77year wait for a homegrown men’s champion at Wimbledon last year, Murray got off to a strong start Monday in his bid to become the first to retain the title since Fred Perry in 1936.

In keeping with tradition, Murray had the honor of playing the opening match on Centre Court as the defending men’s champion — and looked right at home in beating David Goffin 6-1, 6-4, 7-5.

Murray broke the 105th-

HEADER. Hector Herrera of Mexico and Sime Vrsaljko of Croatia go up for a header during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Croatia and Mexico at Arena Pernambuco on Tuesday (PHL Time) in Recife, Brazil.

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

SPORTS 15

VOL. 7 ISSUE 72• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

CORTEZA BOUNCES BACK Davao cue artist bows to unheralded Pinoy, returns to win over Canadian

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IKE a true champion, Davao City’s Lee Vann Corteza bounced back from a sorry loss to an unheralded compatriot from Butuan City to stay alive in the Group Stage on Tuesday of the WPA World 9-Ball Championship at Al Saad Sports Club in Doha, Qatar.

Corteza, the 2013 World Cup of Pool co-champion, got stalled by Elmer Haya, an OFW from Butuan City now based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, who reversed the tables on the Dabawenyo, 9-2, in Group 16.

“I always feel confident when I play against him (Corteza),” the 37-year-old Haya told a Philippine reporter covering the annual billiards classic. Haya reportedly figured in many duels with Corteza in past in tournaments held in Davao.

But just as the Dabawen-

yo cue artist looked headed for an early exit, he saved a lifeline when he came back to the table later with a 9-6 triumph over Mario Morra of Canada, winning the last six racks in a thrilling comeback.

Also yesterday, Filipino Jeff De Luna edged Poland’s Tomasz Kaplan, 9-8.

Former champion Efren “Bata” Reyes also lived to fight another day, pulling off a thrilling 9-8 victory over Dennis Grabe of Estonia Sunday in the losers’ side of the event.

On a day unheralded Filipinos like Johann Chua and Haya produced stunning wins, the 59-year-old Reyes rediscovered his old, fiery form just in time to keep his hopes alive of reaching the knockout stage.

After losing to Korean Hwa Jeong-young in his first match, Reyes looked vulnerable against Grabe, who took an early lead, be-

fore allowing the Filipino master to snatch the win.

The qualifier Chua also made his mark when he stunned American Corey Duel, 9-2, to move into the winners’ side of the draw.

The Bacolod-born player wasn’t even supposed to make the group stage, but a last-minute pullout left a slot open, which Chua took at the expense of unheralded Japanese Arita Hideaki.

Facing a do-or-die scenario, veteran Ramil Gallego survived with a narrow 9-7 victory over Mishel Turkey of Qatar, while Francisco Felicilda dodged early elimination, following a 9-5 win over Christian Aguirre of Ecuador.

Top-ranked Filipinos Carlo Biado and Dennis Orcollo also notched firstround victories Saturday when last year’s losing finalist, Antonio Gabica, also moved within a win of making the knockout stage.

THE SLAYER. Dabawenyo cue artist Lee Vann “The Slayer” Corteza (shown here in file photo) stays alive in the WPA World 9-Ball Championships with a 9-6 triumph over Mario Morra of Canada.

Orcollo advances to knockout stage T

WINNERS. City Councilors Jimmy Dureza (top photo) and Dado Mahipus (lower photo) emerged Class B gross runner-up and Class C net champion, respectively in the Grand SFOSA Open Golf Tournament held June 21-22 at the Davao City Golf Club. Awarding the prizes are SFOSA president Frank Buno and Panabo Lodge WM Glenn Cristines.

(Photos by TOMMY IÑIGO)

he Philippines Dennis Orcollo, coming off one of those confidence boosting comebacks two days ago, played solid in fighting off Taiwan’s young Ko Ping Chung, 9-5 and ensure a spot in the Final 64 knockout stage of the 2014 World 9-ball Championship, which begins on Wednesday morning in Doha, Qatar.

The USA’s Shane Van Boening continued to quietly perform as he defeated Italy’s Daniele Corrieri by the same score. Dutchmen Niels Feijen and Nick Van Den Berg both advanced with solid wins. Hall of Famer Ralf Souquet won handily, as did Taiwan veteran Fu Che Wei, and last year’s runner up, Antonio Gabica of the Philippines.

The Philippines Johann Chua looked marvelous for the second straight day today in defeating Taiwan’s talented Lo Li Wen. After the match Chua, who won a spot in Doha only after winning a last minute qualifier, admitted his confidence is soaring as he is playing without pressure.

“There’s no pressure

on me right now because I was supposed to be dead,” Chua said. “I got lucky to get into the tournament. In the qualifiers I was playing afraid and if I have a difficult shot I play safe because I don’t want to lose. But here in the main tournament since I’m not supposed to be here I just play loose.

Instead of playing safe, I might go for the tough bank shot. So that’s my mindset.

There no pressure. A lot of people don’t believe I can win this tournament. But for me I can win. I always have confidence.”

For Darren Appleton, the plan today was simple.

Quietly take care of business against Taiwan teenager Lin Cheng Chieh in their race to 9 match. That’s the money rounds, where guys of Appleton’s world class level make it all happen, where his run to a second World 9-ball championship would begin.

The group stage? Well, that’s nothing more than a potential morass, a necessary evil where you try to get out of with your two wins as quickly as possible.

But right from the very

beginning today nothing went Appleton’s way. The mop-top teen couldn’t miss and the Englishman quickly found himself down 7-1, a near impossible gap to overcome in an alternate break match. As he watched his plan fall apart, Appleton dejectedly knew he would have to come back tomorrow for another group stage match, one that could potentially dash all his high hopes for greatness this year.

But then slowly and surely, the 2012 World 9-ball champion clawed his way back. He soon narrowed the gap to two, then tied it at 7, as Lin wilted under serious heat from one of the world’s top pool players. Eventually the match went to the cliff with Appleton outfoxing the lad at the wire, 9-8.

Instead of the dreaded Judgement Day match in the group stage tomorrow, Appleton had made it through to the Final 64. As he packed up his cue, the change in his demeanor was priceless. 40 minutes earlier he cut a lonely, depressed figure in his chair.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.77ISSUE ISSUE72• 72•WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,JUNE JUNE25, 25,2014 2014

HE’S THE MAN IN HIS HANDS. “I have the responsibility to go out there and help my teammates.” Neymar, who is now the World Cup’s leading scorer with four goals, told reporters after Brazil beat Cameroon 4-1 and advanced to the next round.

Neymar scores brace , Brazil moves to 2nd round B

RASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Neymar knew the responsibility was his. An increasingly anxious host nation was relying on him to ensure Brazil avoided the almost inconceivable prospect of going out in the group stage of a World Cup on soil.

The 22-year-old Barcelona striker delivered on the weighty expectations Monday, setting the Selecao on course to clinch its place in the knockout stage

with two precision firsthalf goals in a 4-1 rout of Cameroon.

“I have the responsibility to go out there and help my teammates,” said Neymar, the World Cup’s leading scorer with four goals.

“We all did well today and got the result that we needed.”

He had already been decisive in the 3-1 opening win over Croatia, when he also scored twice to lift a struggling Brazil.

Fred and Fernandinho added second-half goals to ensure top spot in Group A for Brazil, which will face South American rival Chile in the second round.

More important than the widely expected victory, though, was a performance that restored the confidence of fans after two disappointing matches.

“It was our best match,” Neymar said. “Not only because of the result but also because of how we played.

We pressured our opponent just like we wanted.

We deserved this result — everyone in the team deserves credit for what we did today.”

Neymar scored on either side of midfielder Joel Matip’s goal for Cameroon in the 26th minute.

He opened the scoring off a low cross by midfielder Luiz Gustavo in the 17th, deftly side-footing the ball home from close range, then restored the lead with a low right-foot strike from the top of the penalty area in the 35th after a pass by left back Marcelo.

Fred, who had been loudly criticized for his lackluster performances, scored with a header from close range after a cross by defender David Luiz from the left in the 49th minute.

And Fernandinho, who replaced Paulinho in the CONTROL. Brazilian football star Neymar controls the ball during the 2014 second half, poked in from FIFA World Cup Brazil match between Brazil and Cameroon. The hosts won short range in the 84th.

4-1.