Edge Davao 8 Issue 151

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

FLORAL ARRANGEMENT. A florist arranges her display of different varieties of flowers at a makeshift store in Bankerohan, Davao City yesterday. Cut flowers are starting to flood the city’s markets in anticipation of a major increase in demand due to the upcoming commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day this weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

VIGILANTE HIT?

Retired cop suspected of drug ties gunned down

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

RETIRED police offcer was shot dead by two unidentified men outside his home in Barangay 76-A in Bucana, Davao City on Tuesday afternoon.

The San Pedro Police Station identified the victim as Rey Edwin Y. Bara, 49.

Police said the victim was painting the gate of his house at around 5 p.m. on October 27 when two men wearing full-faced helmets

arrived on board a motorcycle and shot him repeatedly.

Bara was rushed to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) but was declared dead on arrival due to gunshots wound in the chest and head.

Investigators found two deformed slugs and an empty caliber .45 shell at the crime scene.

In an interview yesterday, Davao City Police Office

(DCPO) spokesperson Milgrace C. Driz told reporters that investigators of San Pedro Police Station are still investigating the killing.

Driz said there were initial reports that the victim had earlier been reported to the “Isumbong Kay CDDCPO” hotline for allegedly being involved in illegal drug activities.

“Isa pud na sa ginatan-aw sa investigation karon

(That’s one of the angles of the investigation now),” she said.

Driz said investigators will look into how deep Bara’s involvement was in illegal drugs since he retired at early age. The mandatory retirement of a police officer is 56; it is an officer’s option to reach that age of retire early.

“Mao pa pud nay palawman nato nganong nag-op-

FVIGILANTE, 10

EDGEDAVAO Sports Swimmer wins 7 golds in Batang Pinoy Mindanao P14

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

SELFIE TIME. He’s not even a presidential candidate – yet – but Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte can get a crowd going as this group of young people show. Lean Daval Jr.

Security, emergency units ready for All Saints’Day

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LL security and emergency response units of Davao City are ready for the commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Days this coming weekend.

In yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing at Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Conference Room, various agencies tasked with handling the holidays vowed to secure the people who are going to the cemeteries this weekend.

The agencies concerned are the DCPO, Central 911, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11, Task Force Davao, and the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

DCPO spokesperson Chief

Inspector Milgrace C. Driz said police officers will be deployed in the major public and private cemeteries where the people will converge to visit their loved ones who passed away.

“We will deploy more or less 2,000 of our police personnel as well as BPOUs (Barangay Peace and Order Units) in the cemeteries,” she said.

Driz said DCPO director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. already had tarpaulins made to be posted in the 12 cemeteries in the city stating what people may or may not do.

Prohibited inside the cemeteries are firearms, bladed and sharp objects, loud sound

FSECURITY, 10

Lumad leaders in Caraga fear more NPA reprisals

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DAY before the burial of slain Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza and his son, Daryl, Lumad leaders here expressed fears they might suffer the same fate in the hands of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Datu Payad Sangkoan Ray Cervantes, chair of the Caraga Regional Council for the Indigenous Peoples, said many Lumad leaders are also making a stand against the NPA like the slain mayor.

Cervantes said Otaza was not the first Lumad leader killed by the rebels for opposing their expansion.

“If the NPA can murder Mayor Otaza who had bodyguards and influence, you can imagine what they will do to

Lumad leaders who do not have the same resources,” he said.

He said a report from the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference said that 357 Lumad leaders were killed by NPA rebels from 1998 to 2008.

Mayor Otaza and his son, Daryl, were abducted and murdered by NPA rebels who posed as National Bureau of Investigation agents in Butuan City last Oct. 19.

They were scheduled to be buried Wednesday at the Uraya Memorial Gardens here.

Cervantes said many of the Lumad leaders are not armed like the Bagani warriors and have no ties with Datu Calpit Egua and the Teje-

FLUMAD, 10

Haran IPs need more bathrooms

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

EOPLE’S organizations facilitating the stay of displaced Lumads at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)-Haran yesterday asked the city government to provide construction materials to improve the sanitation area in the evacuation center.

“We are willing to construct more comfort rooms and bathing areas for the Lumads if the city government can give us more building materials like wood and tarpaulins,” Pasaka staff member Abet Remitar told EDGE Davao yesterday.

The area has only eight comfort rooms and six bath-

ing areas for the 755 Lumads who have been using Haran as their refuge area for almost six months now.

“If they can provide for 10 more CRs then we will do our best to build it for the community,” Remitar said.

The displaced IPs are members of different tribes

from Kapalong in Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Surigao.

They are are alleged victims of human rights violations allegedly committed by members of government security forces and paramilitary.

An inspection conducted

by City Health Office (CHO)

FHARAN, 10

Aquino urged to create task force to look into IPs’plight

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

ORTH Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Nancy Catamco, who chairs the House committee on Indigenous Peoples, yesterday urged President Benigno Aquino to create a task force to look into the plight of the IPs in Mindanao.

In an interview yesterday at the sidelines during the Mindanao IP Summit at the Pinnacle Suites Davao, Catamco said she asked the President to issue an executive order for the creation of such a task force.

“We’re hoping that the President will take action on this because we need a task force for an immediate solution of this problem in Mindanao,” she said.

Catamco said she already had a meeting with Office of

FAQUINO, 10

TASK FORCE. North Cotabato second district representative Nancy Catamco, who chairs the House Committee on Indigenous Peoples (IP), reveals during the Mindanao IP

Summit yesterday that she has asked President Benigno Aquino to create a task force that will look into the killings of Lumad leaders in Mindanao. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

NEWS 3

SECURITY MEASURES. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz and Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Superintendent Antonio Rivera announce the security measure that will be ON GUARD. 10th Infantry Division commander Major General Rafael Valencia gives assurance that his troops will not implemented this weekend for the commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Armando B. Fenequito Jr. put down their guard even in the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Water services interruption in some city parts Oct 30-31

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HE Davao City Water District has advised customers of two separate sets of water service interruption affecting some city parts.

First set is on October 30 from 4:00 AM to 3:00 PM causing low water pressure to no water in areas served by Line 2 of Dumoy Water Supply System (WSS) particularly: left side portion of Diversion Road (from junction of Bangkal to corner Catalunan Grande Road); Matina Pangi (from Km. 7 to Km. 9); Ma-a (from Metroville Subd. to Carlos P. Garcia Highway); Buhangin (from J.P Laurel Avenue to Panorama Homes, from Crossing Milan to Holy Trinity Subd. and from Ma-a Bridge to Vista Verde I

and II including Camp Catitipan & AFP Mutual Homes and Davao International Airport); Poblacion (Barangays 8, 9, 10 & 11, portion of Quirino Avenue [left side portion from Matina] from Bankerohan Public Market to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Madapo Hills, Marfori Heights environs, Circumferential Road and Bacaca Road); J.P. Laurel Avenue (from Durian Hotel to Davao Agusan Road); Cabaguio (from DECO Machine Shop to J.P. Laurel Avenue); Angliongto / Mamay Road; and some areas in Lanang, Pampanga and Sasa (Davao-Agusan Road from Lanang to Km. 12 including Ramos Village, Lizada Village,

WO people escaped unscathed a roadside bombing allegedly perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the island province of Sulu, a top military official said Wednesday.

Brigadier General Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said the incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. Tuesday along the road known to locals as Dan Puti in Sitio Halaw, Barangay Latih, Patikul.

Arrojado identified the would-be victims as Mandi Ammang, 42, and Wahab Amisali, 43, both residents of Sitio Halaw, Barangay Latih.

Arrojado said investigation showed the duo accidentally stepped on a trip-wire

that triggered the explosion of three improvised bomb fashioned as landmines.

Arrojado said both persons were unharmed during the incident.

He said policemen and Marine explosive ordnance demolition (EOD) proceeded to the blast site to conduct post-blast investigation.

He said the area, after thoroughly inspected, was later declared clear.

He said the main target of the ASG in laying the improvised bomb are the government troops passing Daan Puti especially during early morning jogging.

He said the troops had been alerted to exercise precautionary measures. (PNA)

OLICE are eyeing rido as one of the possible motives in Monday afternoon’s ambush of five persons – three generations of the Ayunan-Pasawiran family — a mother, her son and daughter, her daughter’s four-year old son and a driver, along the national highway in Datu Odin Sinsuat. Another son and daughter were injured.

Senior Inspector Lyndsy Sinsuat said among the angles they are looking at is rido or clan feud.

Killed were Bai Lilang Ayunan Pasawiran, 58, her son

Datu Norhan, her daughter Bainor “Pink Rose” Pasawiran Edu, Bainor’s four-year old son Sheham Pasawiran Edu, and driver Kago Kasan.

Rushed to a hospital in Cotabato City were Bai Lilang’s son Datu Maroufh and daughter Norhana.

Sinsuat said it is likely that the victims on board a red Innova SUV were tailed by the assailants as they were returning to Cotabato City from General Santos City.

The red vehicle was cruising along the highway in Barangay Dulangan when fired upon

FWATER, 10

Bus passengers told: Use DCOTT, not roads

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) urged bus passengers to take their ride only at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) and not in the highways.

This after Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte asked the DCPO to assist DCOTT employees in holding buses that cannot present receipts from the terminal.

In an interview yesterday, DCPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz said passengers should also be responsible because it is for their safety.

Driz said drivers and

conductors should be mindful that soliciting passengers in the highways is prohibited by an ordinance.

“We will abide by the ordinance of the city,” she said.

Driz said terrorists can take advantage of buses picking up passengers outside the DCOTT since no security personnel will check their bags.

“Dapat magsakay sila diha lang gyud sa terminal para maiwasan nato lihok sa terrorismo diri sa Davao City (They should pick up passengers only at the terminal to avoid acts of terrorism here in Davao City),” she said.

Driz said the bus companies’ management should reprimand their drivers and conductors who pick up passengers in the highways.

Earlier, Duterte told all public utility buses plying in the city not to pick up passengers in the streets and highways or they may be barred from entering the city.

He said an existing ordinance stipulates that buses should pick up passengers only inside DCOTT. Duterte was prompted to issue the stern warning on the buses after receiving reports that some buses pick

up passengers on the streets and highways.

He said there are buses that fetch passengers near Buhangin Gym, along MacArthur Highway in Matina, along Quimpo Boulevard, and at the Sta. Ana Port in Magsaysay Park.

Duterte said all buses should get a receipt from DCOTT or else they may be impounded for not following the city ordinance.

He said if the bus driver does not have a receipt, the bus should be held and the passengers told “with courtesy” to disembark and find another bus.

S-BASED Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) for executing Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza and his 27-year-old son Daryl, saying it was a violation of international humanitarian law.

“The killing of the Otazas – like other NPA executions – is just plain murder,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“The NPA’s actions and claims of revolutionary justice handed down by people’s courts are flagrant violations of international law.”

In a statement on October 25, the NPA had taken responsibility for the October 20 killing of the 53-year-old Otaza and his son, calling the execution “revolutionary justice.”

NPA members, posing as law enforcement agents, had raided the Otaza home

in nearby Butuan City on October 19. Authorities found the two men’s bodies the next day with multiple gunshot wounds.

The NPA accused the Otazas of working for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and masterminding the killing of at least three people.

The NPA also accused the victims of taking part in attacks on and the forced displace-

ment of indigenous peoples in the province, torturing children, attempted murders, and arson, among other crimes.

HRW said throughout its four-decade insurgency, the NPA “has frequently executed people found ‘guilty’ by its socalled people’s courts, which do not meet basic fair trial standards.”

“As a party to an internal armed conflict, the NPA is obli-

at around 4:45 p.m., the police said.

Found at the scene of the crime were empty shells from M-16 armalite rifle and a caliber. 45 gun.

The NDBC News of the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation cited eyewitness accounts that a vehicle was tailing the red Innova along the highway in Barangay Dulangan.

The suspects, it said, opened fire on the red vehicle and after the first volley of fire, “the Innova hit the roadside railings and was stopped by a large stone at

EMBERS of the Young Men’s Christian Association, Davao City Chapter will elect their new set of board of directors. The newly-elected directors, joined by the old ones those whose twoyear term has not yet expired, will in turn elect a new set of officers who will assume office on January 2016 up to 2017.

This was announced by YMCA Davao President Fernando S. Ongkingco Jr., who himself is running for another term.

Aside from “Boie” Ongkingco, the present YMCA Davao board is composed of: Jose B. Custodio, 1st vice president; Paciencio M. Rosalem Jr.,

2nd vice president; Welehito N. Pepito, corporate secretary; Jekris Shalom D. Mendoza, assistant corporate secretary; Ricardo V. Villegas, treasurer; Henry B. Braceros, assistant secretary; Jose N. Valenzuela, Jr., auditor; Antonio M. Ajero, public relations officer.

Directors are Mariano R. Alquiza, Vicente R. Bañez Jr., Isagani G. Javier, Reynaldo B. Sazon, Manuel S. Tagud and Melody Ann V. Rico, youth director.

For this year, YMCA members will elect seven laymen, for next year six laymen and one youth director.

2 people escape Sulu roadside bombing Human Rights Watch slams NPA execution of mayor T

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

FHUMAN, 10

Rido eyed in Cotabato ambush YMCA Davao slates Oct. 31 board elections M P FRIDO, 10

FYMCA, 10

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY EAGA eyes Mindanao growth corridor strategies VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

EMBER countries of the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) are eyeing to adopt the economic growth corridor strategy of Mindanao in a bid to increase the region’s potential as an investment destination.

“Each country in the Asean has its own respective economic growth corridor that can have investment opportunities,” Department of Trade

and Industry (DTI) Davao del Norte director Romeo L. Castañaga, who is also country head of the BIMP-EAGA Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMED) working group, told reporters.

Castañaga said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is currently conducting the BIMP-EAGA Corridor Investment Profiling Study to identify investment opportunities in the member countries and the priority investment areas.

He said the Trade and

ONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) posted a 17-percent decline in profit in the first three quarters of 2015, dragged by lower earnings from power, banking and property units.

Its profit reached P11.9 billion from January to September from P14.3 billion during the same period last year.

Aboitiz Power Corp.

(AboitizPower) booked a 7-percent drop in income of P9.4 billion from previous year’s P10.1 billion.

As of end-September, its attributable net generation rose by 9 percent as electricity sold through bilateral contracts, which made up 90 percent of total energy sold during the period, expanded by 16 percent to 8,254 gigawatt-hours (GWh).

On the other hand, spot market sales decreased by 28 percent from 1,266 GWh to 907 GWh. Union Bank of the Philippines’ (UnionBank) income

contribution posted a 40-percent drop to P1.4 billion from January to September due to trading losses coupled with the increase in operating expenses.

By end-September, net interest income grew by 8 percent to P8.6 billion boosted by higher interest income on loans and other receivables coupled with relatively flat funding cost.

Total other income, meanwhile, slid by 22 percent to P4.6 billion due to trading losses.

Power accounted for 75 percent of the total earnings contributions, followed by the banking and financial services, food and land strategic business units (SBUs) with income contributions of 12 percent, 11 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

AEV’s non-listed food subsidiary, Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico), recorded a stellar growth of 46 percent to P1.4 billion on the robust performance of feeds and flour businesses. (PNA)

Aboitiz Equity posts 17% decline in profit C

Shift to digital lifestyle boosts financial inclusion

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HE continuing shift to a digital lifestyle presents a unique opportunity to boost financial inclusion in the Philippines with the use of mobile technology.

Taking advantage of such opportunity, Mynt is pioneering initiatives of providing financial services that previously were not available to most Filipinos, said John Rubio, Mynt President & CEO. Mynt is a fully owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom that aims to build a unified Globe Financial Services structure.

Through Mynt, which is currently looking at setting up businesses across the financial business spectrum, Globe hopes to enable all aspects of the Filipino’s digital lifestyle. Specifically, Mynt is looking into payments, remittance, lending, business solutions and international platform, Rubio said.

According to him, 3 out of 4 Filipinos aged 15 and above do not have bank accounts and 40% of municipalities are without physical access to a bank while 95% do not have credit cards, which means most Filipinos don’t have credit history on

which future financial transactions will be based. This, in turn, leads to poor access to legitimate credit facilities and proliferation of informal lenders, who charge a monthly interest payment of 20% or about 350-400% per annum.

“This situation presents a unique opportunity to address these gaps using mobile and digital technology. For example, it provides platforms where customers can access consumer loans in a non-traditional manner, and where they can do things like remittance in a more efficient manner,” Rubio said.

Rubio was one of the keynote speakers at the Mondato Summit Asia, held for the first time in the Philippines, which gathered decision-makers and influencers focused on the mobile finance & commerce ecosystem in emerging Asia.

Believing that innovation can be applied across a range of various platforms not only in technology but also in mobile finance and commerce, Globe through Mynt supported the event to bring in the innovative spirit of stakeholders in this field. (PNA)

Investment Facilitator (TIF) cluster of the BIMMP-EAGA requested the ADB for technical assistance in May in conducting the BIMP-EAGA-wide study that will enhance the participation of BIMP-EAGA as well as the Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).

The first draft of the study will be presented to the senior officials on December 8 to 10 during the 19th BIMP-Eaga Ministerial meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

“Mindanao will benefit from this move,” Castañaga said, adding it will institutionalize the growth corridor strategy made by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) for the island.

Castañaga said among the priority investment areas in Mindanao for the Philippines that could be included in the study are the aqua marine sector in Zamboanga Peninsula and the rest of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the food

COMPETITIVE MINDANAO. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino (center) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce (PCCI) president Alfredo M. Yao sign an investment promotion and policy formulation agreement aimed to enhance the business climate

corridor in Davao-General Santos area, and ecotourism and biodiversity projects in Surigao-Davao Oriental Pacific Rim. According to the website of the ADB, the study is dubbed Advancing Regional Cooperation and Integration through BIMP-EAGA and IMT GT with a technical assistance special fund US$ 500,000.

“The proposed TA intends to enhance the capacity of the BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT subregional programs, espe-

cially in strengthening their contributions to the AEC and beyond. In particular, the TA will support the identification, implementation and monitoring of priority RCI projects to allow these two programs to directly contribute towards a fully integrated Southeast Asian region,” ADB said.

The ADB expects that the technical assistance will make “BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT subregions are more integrated with themselves, and with the ASEAN region.”

and competitiveness of Mindanao, during the 41st Philippine Business Conference held Tuesday at the Marriott Grand Ballroom. Annie Ty, PCCI Area Vice-President for Mindanao (left) and members of PCCI from Mindanao region witnessed the event.

MinDA and PCCI seal investment promotion, policy formulation deal A

JOINT agreement aimed to promote investments and formulate policy agenda that will enhance the business climate and competitiveness of Mindanao was signed Tuesday between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) during the 41st Philippine Business Conference (PBC) held here at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

The PCCI is the country’s largest business organization, while MinDA is a sub-national government agency mandated to promote, coordinate, and facilitate socioeconomic development in Mindanao.

“We commit to work together to encourage investments in Mindanao and enhance further the competitiveness of key sectors in efforts to facilitate a more business-conducive environment in the island-region,” MinDA chair Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino said.

She said the partnership will also focus on the conduct of policy dialogues on prevailing concerns affecting

Mindanao’s business sector, specifically those that involve PCCI local chambers, industry key stakeholders, and trade associations.

“Our goal is to develop and implement trade and investment promotion activities such as business matching sessions, exchange of information, and market analysis that will support investment generation in Mindanao.

The deal also aims to strengthen the conduct of the Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon), the annual gathering of the biggest business players in the region and enhance further the participation of Mindanao in the BIMP-EAGA. BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, an initiative launched in 1994 as a key strategy to accelerate social and economic development of less developed areas in participating countries.

“In formulating the detailed work program for the agreement, a technical working group will be organized and represented by PCCI and

MinDA,” Antonino said.

She added that training and other capacity-building activities will be conducted among the members of the technical working group to strengthen knowledge and expertise in trade promotion and investment generation.

Antonino said the PCCI and MinDA have been closing working for several years now in rallying Mindanao policy recommendations through the MinBizCon. Among these policy recommendations include the modernization of Mindanao’s agri-based industries, strengthening of the region’s logistics, power sector, infrastructure, tourism, and natural resource management.

In a statement, PCCI President Alfredo M. Yao said the 41st Philippine Business Conference focuses building strategies between the government and the business sector to intensify strategic synergies and alliances that would build and strengthen competitiveness in an integrated global marketplace.

“The PCCI recognizes the tremendous potentials of Mindanao particularly its role

in the development of the local economy, export growth, jobs creation, and overall international competitiveness of the country,” he added.

Yao said Mindanao’s strength in agriculture and agribusiness and its burgeoning business process outsourcing are among those that will attract investments in the region, along with the emerging industries such as construction, infrastructure, creative industries, and research and development.

He added that this year’s business gathering, which focused on the theme “One. Global. Filipino: Synergies in Partnership for Global Competitiveness.” highlighted the success stories and global and regional trends on business competitiveness, including strategies for business and economic growth, developing a world-class infrastructure and advancing international trade partnerships.

The PBC is the annual gathering and dialogue of policymakers in the Executive and Legislative branches of government and of decision makers in Philippine business.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

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6 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO Gov’t questions Phl’s low ranking ODA-funded projects performance in 2014 up in WB’s ‘Doing Business Report’ T

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE Philippine government yesterday issued its strongest and loudest critique yet of the World Bank-International Finance Corporations’ Doing Business Report, the 2016 edition of which was released yesterday showing the Philippines sliding down despite improvements across all indicators having been implemented.

In a statement, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said the Philippines “firmly believes that the Doing Business (DB) survey methodology of collecting sample data from only one or two cities makes it inappropriate to present the report as reflective of the state of doing business for an entire economy.”

“Countries, especially developing ones like the Philippines, will have bright spots of promise in some areas and not in others. For example, we have our economic zones managed by PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority), which will give investors a drastically different landscape than other areas. With this methodology, the DB survey should be more aptly titled as ‘Doing Business Across Cities’

to provide a better representation of the results of the report,” Purisima added.

“More importantly, this title will avert the tendency of the report to be construed as providing a depiction of the state of doing business for an entire economy, which it could not do given the survey’s sampling bias,” he added.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), Purisima has been “consistently voicing out critiques against the DB methodology, most recently in his World Bank Governor’s Statement delivered in Lima, Peru.”

“He assailed the methodology’s inability to provide a proper reflection of the state of doing business with the very limited information source and poor data collection process,” the DOF said.

Warning against unintended consequences, Purisima said flawed conclusions adversely impact not only rankings but also investors’ perception of the country as an investment destination, imperiling much needed job creation and capital formation.

He also said while the DB

Report assesses regulations affecting domestic small and medium size enterprises, “unintentionally, its immediate audience is, in fact, offshore businesses planning to set up an enterprise in the economies covered in the report.”

“Given this, the Philippines suggests the DB Report may be more informative to this audience by conducting the survey on foreign enterprises that are already based or in the process of establishing their presence in the economy.

As these foreign businesses operate mostly at the economy’s free trade zones and/or major business districts, these locations are more fitting sampling sites for the survey instead of the economy’s largest business city,” Purisima said.

“Finally, the erratic methodological changes year after year, affecting even the findings of the past reports (as seen most recently in revisions applied retroactively to the 2015 report), severely threatens the report’s credibility as a reliable global measure of competitiveness,” he added.

Purisima said without listening to its very own stakeholders, the DB Report may

risk being seen as another document in which developing countries are evaluated and judged by people sitting in comfortable offices too far away to fully understand contexts and appreciate reforms being undertaken. The Philippines fears the DB Report may emerge to mirror the symptoms and hallmarks of past international development failures spawned by tone-deaf prescriptions and interventions incongruent with realities on the ground.

Nonetheless, Purisima said the Philippines continues to undertake reforms to ease the conduct of doing business despite the inconsistent and ill-advised report methodology. “Make no mistake: while we maintain the firm position we have long taken against the flawed methodology, we are committed to the continuous work of reform that catapulted the Philippines up by 53 places in the last 5 years. We refuse to be held hostage by flippant and unreasonable methodologies others insist upon us. We will persevere in rolling out more reforms to boost our competitiveness across various indicators.”

HE financial performance of projects and programs funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) improved in 2014, indicating greater government efficiency in resource and program management, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The NEDA ODA Portfolio Review for 2014 reported that the Philippines’ ODA portfolio consists of 76 loans and 449 grants totaling USD14.37 billion.

The report showed that indicators of government’s absorptive capacity for ODA Loans – disbursement level, disbursement rate, availment rate and disbursement ratio, showed improved performance in year 2014 as compared to the previous year.

The NEDA report showed that the overall disbursement level, or the amount of ODA fund allotment that were actually used for ODA funded projects and programs, increased to USD1.77 billion in 2014 from USD856 million in 2013.

This was mainly due to higher disbursement of program loans amounting to USD1.28 billion and comprising about 73 percent of total disbursements made for the year.

Likewise, the disbursement rate, or the actual disbursement as a percentage of target disbursement for the period, increased from 60 percent in 2013 to 76 percent in 2014.

Drawdowns of program loans accounted for more than half of the disbursements.

Further, the availment rate increased from 76 percent in CY 2013 to 83 percent as of end of CY 2014. Availment rate is the cumulative actual disbursements as a percentage of cumu-

lative scheduled disbursement, both reckoned from the start of implementation up to the reporting period.

On the other hand, the grants financial performance (50 percent) registered a 2-percentage-point decrease in 2014 compared to the previous year.

As of December 2014, USD1.60 billion was disbursed out of the USD3.19 billion allotted for 449 active grants.

Of the total USD14.37 billion ODA, the World Bank had the largest share in the portfolio representing 32 percent (USD4.54 billion).

Japan came second with 23 percent share (USD3.33 billion), followed by Asian Development Bank and USA with 16 percent share (USD2.35 billion) and 8 percent share (USD1.15 billion), respectively.

The total assistance from these development partners comprised 80 percent or USD11.36 billion of the portfolio for the year.

Meanwhile, the United States, United Nation System and Australia were recorded as top providers of grant assistance to the Philippines with USD1,148.56 million (36% share), USD608.48 million (19%), and USD587.02 million (18%), respectively.

The Infrastructure Development sector accounted for the largest share of the loans portfolio in terms of net commitment with 39 percentage share (USD4.32 billion for 34 loans), followed by the Social Reform and Community Development (SRCD) with 24 percentage share (USD2.68 billion for 11 loans) and Governance and Institution Development (GID) with 22 percentage share (USD2.46 billion for 8 loans). (PNA)

Phl expects full attendance of APEC leaders in November

TOMB PAINTER. A laborer repaints a tomb at Davao Roman Catholic Cemetery in Madapo Hills, Davao City on October 27 ahead of the commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. He charges P400 for a paint job. MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano

S&P: Lower oil prices could put Asia-Pacific oil, gas firms in a spot A

SIA-PACIFIC oil and gas (O&G) companies may have to make tough decisions if the fall in oil prices is prolonged.

That is according to a report, titled, “Another Decline In Oil Prices Could Have Asia-Pacific Oil And Gas Companies Over A Barrel,” published by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services today.

S&P credit analyst Mehul Sukkawala said: “The ratings on 40 per cent of the O&G companies we rate in the Asia-Pacific and 60 per cent of the

stand-alone credit profiles will face downward pressure if oil prices fall 10 per cent to below US$ 50 per barrel without any signs of recovery.”

Overall, he said the ratings on Chinese state-owned enterprises and Australian companies are the most vulnerable, while the stand-alone credit profiles of the government-owned companies in countries such as Indonesia and Korea, are at the greatest risk.

The report said O&G companies in the Asia-Pacific are

still better off than those in regions where the energy sector has been a significant contributor to higher default rates.

This is mainly because the Asia-Pacific energy companies that S&P’s rates are generally large, have good financial positions despite the low oil prices, and benefit from close strategic relationships with their respective sovereigns.

S&P has forecast oil prices at US$ 55 in 2016, US$ 65 in 2017, and US$ 70 in 2018 and beyond.

Sukkawala said if the oil

price outlook worsens, the Asia-Pacific O&G companies will need to reassess projects, weigh returns, prioritize investments, and review shareholder distributions.

He said defending creditworthiness in a tough environment will call for some difficult decision-making, particularly at the government-owned companies that dominate the sector.

The leverage of Asia-Pacific O&G companies is significantly higher than envisaged 12 months ago. (PNA/Bernama)

T

HE Philippines is expecting all heads of nations or economic leaders from 21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) next month.

In a briefing, APEC 2015 National Organizing Committee (NOC) Director General Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. said there are no indications that economic leaders will not attend the AELM from November 18 to 19.

All member economies had sent their teams in Manila last week for the Final Advance Visit for the AELM where they were briefed with the country’s preparations for the APEC 2015 concluding event.

He said this is an indication of the leaders’ interest to attend the AELM. He also revealed that so far, ten APEC economic leaders have already confirmed their attendance for the event.

Historically, there were few instances in APEC that a leader was absent for the AELM mainly due to internal and domestic reasons like elections, Paynor added.

APEC is an important forum for economic leaders as this is one of the few opportunities for them to interact with other heads of states, particularly those with large econo-

mies like China, Japan, Russia, and the United States.

The forum is also a platform for economic leaders to do bilateral discussions as well as to exchange and get information for further economic growth.

The NOC chief said the Philippines is hosting a total of 44 APEC meetings this year, an increase of 19 meetings from the initial 25 meetings that should be handled by the country.

About 35 meetings were done in different parts of the country such as Manila, Clark, Tagaytay, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, and Boracay.

The remaining nine meetings are set next month which include climate change symposium, inclusive business dialogue, CEO summit, and the AELM. Paynor said the country’s budget for the 44 APEC meetings is less than China’s spending for AELM alone when it hosted APEC 2014.

APEC member economies are composed of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

(PNA)

INdulge!

EGGS

HALLOWEEN has always been a personal favorite holiday. Well, one of my favorites, that is. For one, I’d always make an effort to look for the cutest gruesome decors to put in my halloween nook at home. However, since I spend most of my time inside the office on the weekdays and sleeping on the weekends, this year, I’d resort to some cooking and play time inside my kitchen.

12

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ways

Deviled

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

This year’s theme? Eggs.

What better way to dress them up but by making a classic and updating it.

Here’s a list of my personal favorite Deviled Eggs variations. #1 and 2 are my top favorites.

1. Tropical Pizza Mash the yolks with 1/3 cup each mayonnaise and shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup diced green and red bell peppers, 1/4 cup drained crushed pineapples and 2 tablespoons chopped basil.

Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon into egg whites and top with additional crushed pineapples.

2. California Roll Mash the yolks with 1/3 cup each mayonnaise and finely diced peeled cucumber, and 1 teaspoon each soy sauce, rice vinegar and wasabi paste.

3. Crab and Eggs Mash the yolks with 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon chopped basil or parsley, 1 teaspoon mustard and juice of 1/2 lemon or lime.

Add 2 tablespoons of crabmeat and mix together. Season with salt and pepper.

4.Pimento Cheese Mash the yolks with 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon relish and 1 teaspoon mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup shredded cheddar and 1/4

cup chopped pimentos.

5. Chicken Salad In a bowl, mash 1 cup shredded cooked chicken, 1 chopped carrot, and 2 tablespoons chopped mixed herbs (I used fresh parsley and chives) in a bowl until combined. Add 1/3 cup mayonnaise, season with salt and pepper and mix.

6. Tuna Salad Mash the yolks with 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 can drained tuna and 1/4 cup pickle relish. Spoon into egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika or cayenne pepper.

7. Beef-Horseradish Mash the yolks with 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon creamy horseradish

and 1 teaspoon mustard.

Fold in strips of roast beef (or you can also used leaftover raosted chicken). Season with salt and pepper.

8. Greek Yoghurt Mash the yolks with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon pickle relish, 2 teaspoons chopped dill, 1 teaspoon mustard, a dash of hot sauce and 2 tablespoon honey. Season with salt and pepper.

9. Green Goddess Mash the yolks with 1 avocado, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, and 1 teaspoon mustard. Season with salt and pepper.

10. Fishy Mash Mash 6 chopped anchovies with 1 chopped garlic

Eggs. What better way to dress them up but by making a classic and updating it. Here’s a list of my personal favorite Deviled Eggs variations. clove. Mash with the yolks and 1/3 cup each mayonnaise and chopped parsley.

11. All-White Finely chop 8 egg white halves and mix with 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon finely chopped celery and 2 teaspoons pickle relish. Season with salt. Spoon into the remaining 16 egg whites.

12. Buffalo Mash the yolks with 1/4 cup each mayonnaise and finely chopped celery, and 2 tablespoons hot sauce. Top with crumbled cheese and chopped celery leaves.

Make #TheRoyalChef your Thursday habit. Tag me on instagram @herroyalheiress for your delicious food finds!

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

FOOD

The Splendor of

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu IT CANNOT BE DISPUTED that the Marco Polo Plaza offers the grandest vista of the Queen City of the South. Sitting proudly on the slopes of Nivel Hills, Cebu’s premier hotel not only offers weary travellers some much needed respite but serves as a hub of Cebu’s business and social scenes.

I got to experience why Cebuanos love he storied 329-room property last month. Each luxurious room featured first-rate facilities, comfortable beds and feather pillows, and contemporary decor with a touch of Cebu’s local identity.

My visit to the property coincided with the launch of the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s newly renovated ballroom. Opening in time for APEC 2015, the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Grand Ballroom is now bigger and more high-tech which I got to experience first-hand in a chic opening ceremony which was attended by Cebu’s fashionable and chic, its business movers and shakers, as well as representatives from Marco Polo’s management office as well as from the owners of the hotel.

“Cebu is a top destination in the Philippines. We upgraded the Grand Ballroom because the MICE market for regional, national and even international groups is growing fast. The need for a bigger venue is there and management wanted to address that,” said Julie Najar,” the hotel’s General Manager.

As the party progressed, it became clear to me why Cebuanos as well as seasoned visitors to Cebu choose to stay at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. It is because of the hotel’s legendary level of service, the warmth of Cebuano hospitality, and its iconic stature as the Grand Dame of Nivel Hills that make it one luxurious and splendid address to stay at.

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

The Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s Grand Ballroom was opened with arias performed by Rhina Echivarre and Jessica Mc Yorker.

CIRC Chairman Alfred Ty, MP Hong Kong GM James Ong, Head of Sales Hong Kong Sonny Ang and MP Davao Marketing & Communications Manager Josef Ledesma.

Bonifacio Landmark Realty and Development My room at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu ad all the modern appointments with touches of Cebu’s culture.

Corporation President Hans Hauri & MPPC General Manager Julie Najar.

Mariquita Yeung, Margaret Taylor, Teresin Mendezona, Carmel Campbell, Mike Acebedo Lopez and Marge Lhuillier.

Director of Sales and Marketing Lara Constantino Scarrow, Conny Cimafranca, Agnes Gupalor, Chris Lebumfacil GM Julie Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and CIRC Chairman Mila Espina, Director of Banquet and Cateing Tess Catipay, Resident Marco Polo Hotels VPNajar, Janice Nabua and Sales Manager Chino Quintana.

Alfred Ty. Manager Xavier Masson and Madame Amparito Lhuillier.

Operations - Philippe Caretti.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

James and Nadine lead launch of new website for OTWOListas A record breaking estimate of 10,000 cheering OTWOListas filled all floors of Market! Market! on Sunday (Oct 25) as they witnessed James Reid and Nadine Lustre together with the cast of their hit teleserye spreading and showing the love for their “On the Wings of Love” Spread The Love Tour.

“On the Wings of Love’s” Spread The Love Tour is the hit teleserye’s way of saying thank you to their legions of fans who religiously watch the series, making it a consistent top-rating teleserye nationwide since it aired.

In the mall show, the entire cast of “On the Wings of Love” showcased stunning ‘magpasikat’ performances to raise funds for “Show The Love, Kapamilya,” a relief drive for the benefit of typhoon Lando victims.

Wild shrieks erupted inside the venue as James and Nadine performed their rendition of “On the Wings of Love” and “Say You’ll Never Go,” while they inter-

who patiently waited in line even before the mall’s opening.

Meanwhile, James and Nadine also led the launch of otwolista.com, the official website for OTWOListas where they can see first-hand neverbefore-seen photos and videos, special facegram entries of Clark and Leah,

acted with the crowd.

The shrieking even doubled when the lead stars shared two sweet kisses on the cheek due to public demand.

OTWOListas also witnessed a heart-piercing live spoken word poetry performance from Juan Miguel Severo (Rico), an artist and playwright who has successfully penetrated the mainstream audience for his beautifully written pieces that turn viral because of “On the Wings of Love.”

The crowd went wild as well in a special dance

showdown of cousins turned rivals Clark (James) and Jigs (Albie Casino) and during the thrilling ‘kilig’ song number from Tiffany (Bianca Manalo) and Tolayts (Nico Antonio).

Even child star Nhikzy Calma (Gabby) wowed OTWOListas with his superb Michael Jackson dance number.

Cherry Pie Picache (Tita Jack), Nanette Inventor (Lola Pachang), Jason Francisco (Cullen), Andrei Garcia (Jordan), Laiza Comia (Jenny), Joel Saracho (Mama Lulu), Kapitana (Geraldine Vil-

and exclusive treats and activities.

According to The ABSCBN Store, sales of the “On the Wings of Love” merchandise and official scrapbook also doubled and exceeded their expectations due to the overwhelming response from thousands of OTWOListas.

lamil), Benj Manalo (Axl), and Rafael Sudayan (Paeng) also took part in spreading the love to OTWOListas as they participated in a game with select fans from the crowd.

Directors Jojo Saguin and Antoinette Jadaone were also placed in the hot seat as they answered questions from OTWOListas about how the story will develop in the upcoming months.

Nadine also celebrated her 22nd birthday at the Spread The Love Tour, wherein she took time to appreciate fans

Shamaine Buencamino on Julia’s death: She suffered from an ‘invisible war’ VETERAN ACTRESS Shamaine Buencamino recently posted on Facebook the result of the psychological autopsy of her child, Julia Louise Buencamino.

Last July 08, the lifeless body of Julia was found by a house helper inside their house in Quezon City, in an apparent suicide.

According to the post of Shamaine on Facebook, “Yesterday we had our first psychological autopsy session with a psychiatrist.

And we learned that Julia had both high IQ and EQ. That’s why she was able to hide what she was going through for three years.”

She even revealed that Julia was able to save three of her friends from committing suicide.

“That’s why the illness is called an “invisible war.”

She suffered so much but being young, she didn’t

want to be perceived as “broken” and she thought she could cope on her own. She saved three of her friends from taking their lives but she couldn’t save herself.”

Shamaine ended her post by encouraging everybody to seek help, who like Julia is suffering from the same condition.

“I am posting this to encourage her friends, specially the teenagers, please ask for help. Ask for help from your parents! We can not read your minds. But know that as parents we will do everything in our capacity to help and we won’t love you less. It is not just teenage angst!”

October 28 – November 3, 2015

SICARIO Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro R16

1:00 | 3:15 | 5:30 | 7:45 | 10:00 LFS

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood R13

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

EVERYDAY I LOVE YOU Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil, Gerald Anderson G

12:20 | 2:45 | 5:10 | 7:35 | 10:00 LFS

GOOSEBUMPS Halston Sage, Jack Black, Amy Ryan PG

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

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

THE CROSSOVER CONDO Make way for Matina Enclaves’ The Residences 3

T

HINGS are really, really looking up for the Matina Enclaves.

After the sellout first two buildings, make way for The Residences 3—and you might want to call it the “CROSSOVER”.

Matina Enclaves is set to unveil the third of ten buildings of The Residences, the condominium segment of Davao City’s emerging real estate address.

What makes The Residences 3 interesting is that it is the ‘crossover’, so to speak, of the usual condominium sizes offered in the market and the compact, budget-friendly units of the lower budget condominium units. The good thing is that, Matina Enclaves is introducing the concept without having to scrimp on the amenities and fixtures.

Matina Enclaves project head Gerald Garces said The Residences 3 will be a combination of the old Studio unit with 32Sqm, 2-BR with the original 57sqm and its new offering: 2BR with 45sqm and 3BR with 65sqm.

“We are expanding market base for 2-BR buyers by introducing 45sqm units, which offers same quality finish as earlier models, but having 1-Toilet. This makes the unit affordable due to smaller area,” Garces explained.

Escandor Development Corporation, the local-based developer responsible for the sprawling project along Quimpo Boulevard, announced the launching

of the third building as a response to current public interest on quality affordable condo units.

Garces said the third building is an offshoot of the sellout for Building 1 and the limited inventory left for building 2.

“Making it affordable does not mean compromising the look, quality and livability. While maintaining a sizeable area that can accommodate family living, the current units will still be equipped with the same lifestylish finishes that the earlier Making it models have,” Garces said. affordable Building ean does not m the 1 is fully sold ising and is now gocomprom ing vertical on ty and look, quali its construction livability... progress. Building 2 is 90 percent sold.

Construction of The Residences 1 is currently ongoing with the concreting of the Ground Floor and 1st Residential Floor. Target for building top-off is January 2016 while the projected 1 turnover would be on the last quarter of 2016.

For The Residences 2, piling is scheduled on November 2016 with projected turnover on the 3rd quarter of 2017.

The Residences 3 is project to commence construction by middle of next year with expected turnover by the middle of 2018.

Esdevco is offering wonderful packages for The Matina Enclaves 3 units. For inquiries, please visit its showroom at Genesis 88 Arcade, Ecoland, Davao City.

1 2 3 4 5

• • • • •

studio interior two-bedroom interior entrance access road clubhouse

2

4

5

building construction

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

So, you want to grow sweet pepper?

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

S

WEET pepper (botanically known as Capsicum annuum) is probably the highest priced in the country.

It sells from P30 to P80 per kilogram in the wholesale and retail market, respectively. During special occasions like fiestas and Christmas, the price goes even higher.

Undoubtedly of American origin, atsal – as it is known among people in Mindanao and Visayas – is an ancient vegetable. It was found in excavations of prehistoric remains in Peru and apparently was widely cultivated in Central and South America.

Never confuse sweet pepper with hot pepper (scientific name: Capsicum frustescens); both are different species. In the past, both were classified as one but due to the extreme variability in fruit forms and to the frequent appearance of new types through natural cross pollination, two types were adopted by experts.

Wikipedia shares this information: “The fruit of most species of pepper contains capsaicin, a chemical that can produce a strong burning sensation in the mouth of the unaccustomed eater. Most mammals find this unpleasant; however, birds are unaffected.

The secretion of capsaicin is an adaptation to protect the fruit from consumption by mammals while the bright colors attract birds that will spread the seeds.”

Sweet peppers have very high content of vitamin A, C and E (all antioxidants) that

help to effectively neutralize free radicals. Antioxidants protect the body from carcinogenic and toxic substances. In addition, it has almost the whole range of vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B9).

Other minerals are potassium, manganese, thiamine, molybdenum, tryptophan, copper, cobalt and zinc.

Sweet peppers are processed mostly as pickled peppers. Fresh sweet peppers are a common part of tossed salads and relish trays; they are particularly tasty when stuffed with any of a vast number of mixtures of meat and vegetables.

Sweet peppers have been used for its medicinal values since ancient times but have only recently been documented by medical science. A small sweet pepper could provide up to three times more of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, much more than any citrus food.

As such, sweet pepper is very effective in preventing blood clot (which prevent strokes) and helping health, repair, and strengthen the lining of the mucous membranes to prevent nose bleeds. Likewise, the high vitamin C and beta-carotene makes sweet pepper especially beneficial in preventing eye problems like astigmatism, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Sweet pepper is considered as a stimulant herb. Experts have found that it helps relieve gastrointestinal problems like indigestion,stomach

ulcers, colic, dyspepsia, diarrhea and even help reduce excessive flatulence.

For farmers who want to plant sweet pepper, they should plant the crop in a sandy or sandy loam soil that is well-drained, mellow, loose, and rich in organic matter. The soil ph should be between 5.5 and 6.8, according to Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC).

Sweet pepper can be planted in both dry and wet seasons, since it can tolerate a range of climates – from warm, temperate to tropical. However, it cannot stand waterlogged areas. When planted during rainy season, the field should be properly drained.

“Growing sweet peppers in a different season or under a different rotation system might provide higher yields and/or higher prices,” the AVRDC notes. “Relay or intercropping might provide extra income from the same piece of land, and reduce insect and disease problems. Calculate potential returns, and choose the variety and cropping system that serve you best.”

Sweet peppers are commonly propagated by seeds.

There are two things which should be done to ensure a good harvest of quality sweet pepper fruits. First, the seeds to be planted must be free from diseases. Second, the seeds must be treated before sown.

The seedlings must be planted first in seedbed or seedbox before they are

planted in the field. Seven to days before transplanting, the seedlings are hardened first.

The most practical method of hardening is by direct exposure to sunlight and a gradual reduction in watering both in amount and frequency.

Land preparation. The land must be thoroughly prepared by mechanical means or with the use of animal-drawn implements. For slightly rolling areas, contour plowing is highly recommended. Big clods of soil must be broken.

Transplanting.

Seedlings are ready for transplanting four weeks after sowing.

Transplanting is done in the late afternoon or on a cloudy

day to minimize transplant shock.

Each plant is buried half its total height (root to tip) and immediately irrigated after transplanting.

Mulching. Whether planted during the dry or rainy season, it is necessary that the spot where the seedlings have been transplanted be mulched with dry leaves or rice straw.

Mulching is more effective when done right after transplanting the seedlings.

Weeding. Weeds must be controlled to attain maximum crop yield. If mulching can’t be practiced, cultivation may be employed. Cultivation also helps plants absorb water and improves soil aeration.

Irrigation. Sweet peppers need moderate irrigation.

Lack of moisture in the soil results in poor yield. But during rainy season, it is important to build drainage canals because sweet peppers are fairly shallow-rooted and have low tolerance to flooding. They generally wilt and die if they stand in water for very long.

Fertilization. In absence of soil analysis, the recommended fertilizers for one hectare are 60 kilograms of nitrogen, 130 kilograms of phosphorus and 95 kilograms of potassium. Half of this is applied as basal application before planting. The remaining half is applied as sidedressing one month after planting. If commercial fertilizers are not available in the area,

compost, manures, or leaves of nitrogen fixing trees (kakawate or ipil-ipil) may be used.

Pruning. To maximize production, prune the stems of the plants which are not productive. Pruning must be done carefully with a sharp knife or a pruning shears.

Pest and disease management. Like most crops, sweet peppers are attacked by pests and diseases. Integrated pest management (IPM) should be followed. IPM has many components, including good hygiene, field scouting, mechanical control, cultural practices, biological control, and chemical control.

Harvesting. Harvesting is dictated by the market. For example, if sweet pepper is intended for immediate use, “red ripes” are preferred but if intended for distant markets, “green wraps” are the choice.

If intended for nearby markets, “breakers” or “pinks” are preferred.

“Green wraps” are distinguished by shiny green fruit about to ripen; “breakers” by the discoloration (change of color) around the blossom end; “pinks” by the ripening of half of the fruit; and “red ripes” by fully ripe sweet pepper intended to be sold immediately.

Usually, it takes 34-50 days from flowering to optimum harvest stage. For most sweet pepper varieties, production usually lasts 6-8 weeks (3-4 harvest as fruits ripen).

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

EDITORIAL Shortchanging the people

D

AVAO City Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte could not have said any better, and the reminder was a telling one for members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) who may have suddenly forgotten why they were elected into the local lawmaking body. Visibly irked by the failure of many councilors to attend Tuesday’s 40th regular session, Vice Mayor Duterte let out his disappointment and sent out a stern warning to his colleagues in the august body minutes after adjourning the proceedings for lack of quorum.

“I will just remind everyone that we still have job to do here in Davao, especially those who are on their last terms,” came Duterte’s firm reminder. “Do your job as there is still almost one year. It may just be a short time, but you’re still paid for that.”

That the vice mayor had issued a stern warning and sending his message across is understandable. The SP holds session only once a week and all members, including the vice mayor himself as presiding officer, are required to attend every session because their job is to craft laws.

Of course, there are times when they are absent because of sickness, or are out attending to some official business, but these council-

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ors have to always keep in mind they are being paid by taxpayers to legislate or to craft laws. During last Tuesday’s session, only 12 councilors were present, forcing Duterte to adjourn the session early as majority of the councilors were on emergency leave, sick leave, and out on official business.

This was not the first time that the 17th SP was adjourned because of lack of quorum and, judging from their actions lately, this will not certainly be the last. Councilors, specifically those who are always absent, have to understand that a session being adjourned for lack of quorum means a delay in the approval of important items and ordinances.

The 17th SP is now into its remaining months as its term expires in June, and people of Davao expect each member to perform his or her duty as mandated by law. There is still time to pass a few more meaningful legislations and satisfy the people, the source of each of the SP member’s salary.

To the councilors who were hit by the vice mayor’s warning, they better shape up fast. Being always absent is shortchanging the people who voted them into office.

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LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 Tel: (088) 852-4894

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EDGEDAVAO

I

N what is possibly the most introspective forum for these early COC-filers for presidency, the four leading contenders for Malacañang were not able to capture the imagination of our businessfolk in the recent forum hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). The failure stems from their inability to go beyond slogans and words that they may have studied but failed to demonstrate as far as their executive experience in spurring and encouraging economic growth is concerned.

First off, they failed to address the key economic challenge: We need to sustain economic growth over the next ten years to keep us in step with China and India’s 5-6 percent forecasted growth rate. While indications point to this taking place, the threat is the possibility that the absence of strong fundamentals will deaden the growth we ought to achieve. Monetary and fiscal adjustments will no longer work when real growth by way of hard investments is not there.

Spurring small to medium enterprise development, for example, is the key enabler

B

ACK in the days of the American Revolution, General George Washington had a good friend who was a minister. Now, this minister had an enemy in town who did everything he could to abuse and oppose him.

After some years, this man was arrested for treason and sentenced to death. When the minister heard of this, he walked 100 kilometers to the capital to plead for the man’s life. But Washington said, “No, I cannot grant you the life of your friend.”

“My friend?” the minister exclaimed.

“He is the bitterest enemy I have.” Then, he told him of what the man had done to him.

Washington was surprised. “You mean that you have walked 100 kilometers to save the life of your enemy? That puts the matter in a different perspective. I hereby grant his pardon.”

It was American president John F. Kennedy who was quoted as saying, “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.”

If you have some enemies, you are to be congratulated, for no man ever amounted to much without arousing jealousies and creating enemies. Winston Churchill himself said, “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

Hollywood actress Bette Davis was true to herself when she said, “I do not regret one professional enemy I have made. Any actor who doesn’t dare to make an enemy should get out of the business.”

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VANTAGE POINTS

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They just failed to impress for us to susMY TWO CENTS’ tain economic growth and build the sustainable economy to keep growing at a 5 percent rate. We need thousands of these to emJohn Tria ploy the 10 to ecisouth@gmail.com 20 million new workers who will enter the job market over the next ten years and provide opportunity to the million or so families as of today still unable to make the living needed to meet their daily calorie requirements. Population reduction by way of contraceptives won’t work when the lack of opportunity and the inability to recreate opportunity is absent. Finding job opportunities in foreign countries also will not cut it.

The world economy is not expected to grow as well as we will, and the job opportunities for us to be caregivers, domestic, and construction

workers will wear thin over the next decades as African and South Asian counterparts will seek lower wages than our fellow Pinoys. The fact that local business process outsourcing sector is already making more for our economy than the OFWs combined income screams at us to build our economy on our own. These small and medium enterprises account for about 70 percent of our economy and are the employers of our people. Without these enterprises, unemployment will grow and poverty will increase.

Secondly, what is also absent from their economic program is enabling the Visayas and Mindanao to grow as well as the National Capital Region and Southern Tagalog. The four Manila-based presidentiables are blind to the realities we in Mindanao face, such as the bottlenecks that prevent us from exporting and importing cheaply, inefficient power, and the lack of connectivity with ASEAN. While Regions 7 and 11 may perform exceptionally in terms of reducing underemployment and spurring regional GDP, much needs to be done by way of infrastructure development to be

real enablers to build the growth engines they ought to be. Yet, the writing on the wall is that strong regional economies will lead our future growth, they still assume that everything still depends on Manila. These presidentiables with their Manila blinders fail to understand the potential of a strong southern economy actively trading with the rest of Asia.

Increasing SMEs takes deliberate programs from government, the presence of programs and subsidies and the capacitating environment at the local levels to increase their numbers. We are just too fixated on getting Miriam’s medical records, Grace Poe’s citizenship records, the performance of records of Mar Roxas, and the future Court decisions weighing on Jejomar Binay. None of them, therefore, present anything exciting or palatable to spur the kind of business we need to push the growth and give flesh to the equitable and inclusive economy so bandied about in government infomercials. Little wonder many have decided that the 2016 presidential vote isn’t worth their time. We still need a real candidate to inspire us.

UnknowTHINK ON THESE! ingly, your enemies are a very valuable asset as long as you refrain from striking back at them, because they keep you on the alert when Henrylito D. Tacio you might be- henrytacio@gmail.com come lazy. As one Jewish proverb puts it: “Listen to your enemy, for God is talking.”

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” – that was what the Old Testament said (Exodus 21:24). Jesus Christ, when He came to this world, suggested otherwise. “Do not resist an evil person,” He was quoted as saying by Matthew. “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Matthew 5:39-40).

The Old Testament also said: “Hate your enemy.” Jesus contradicted this: “But I tell you: Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44).

Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate,” Thomas Jones once said. In other words, enemies are made, not born, they say. And that was what business mogul Harvey Mackay believed, too. Fortune magazine once called him “Mr. Make-ThingsHappen.”

In his book, Swim with the Sharks (Without Being Eaten Alive), he wrote: “Like everyone else, I have accumulated my share of enemies in the course of a lifetime. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Forgive thy enemies is very difficult advice for many of us to follow. After all, if someone has harmed us, we tend to want to get back at them.

We can carry our grudges for many, many years.”

When it comes to business, such idea is “totally counterproductive.” He shares this incident: “I once fired an employee who then went into competition with me and began using what I felt were unfair business tactics. The psychic energy and accumulated bitterness that went into my thoughts of revenge consumed me for the better part of five years.

“It was more than a waste of time, because whenever I thought about it, I grew vindictive and sour, and those attitudes spilled over into everything I touched. As a result, I lost more than did the object of my revenge.”

He summed up through these words what he learned from that past event: “If you can’t take the best advice and forgive your enemies, then take the second best and forget them. The only way you can achieve true revenge is not to let your enemies cause you to self-destruct.” Sound advice, indeed.

Even in politics, there are no actual friends and no actual enemies. Listen to the words of Ann Richards: “I’ve always said that in politics, your enemies can’t hurt you,

but your friends will kill you.”

There are different types of enemies.

But there are people who become our enemies because of our different beliefs or religions. In the middle of the fighting in Lebanon, a Christian seminarian was captured by a Druze Muslim. He ordered the captive down a mountain path, where he was to be shot.

This particular seminarian had had military training, and was able to surprise his captor and disarm him. Now the table was turned: it was the Druze who was ordered down the path.

As they walked along, however, the seminarian recalled the words of Jesus, “Love your enemy. Do good to those that hate you.”

He could go no farther. He threw the rifle into the bushes, told the Druze he could go – and started walking back up the hill.

Minutes later, he heard the Druze coming up behind him. “Is this the end, after all?” he thought. Perhaps the Druze was going to shoot him in the back. But he never turned around; he kept walking straight ahead, until the enemy reached him. Right there and then, the Druze grabbed him, hugged him, and thanked him for sparing his life.

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive,” Martin Luther King, Jr. pointed out. “He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.

There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”

Love your enemies

10 NEWS VIGILANTE... FROM 1 tional retirement siya. Basin naa na pud gyud ni siya’y ing ani nga kalambigitan (We will deepen our probe to see why he went for optional retirement. Maybe he really

was involved in something illegal),” she said.

Driz said police are also looking at the angle of personal grudge since he was a former police officer.

sanitation officers last Friday had found that the area is unsanitary because of the presence of human and animal waste as well as garbage anywhere in the area. There also swampy areas because some of the young evacuees take their baths outside the bathrooms.

An earlier report said CHO Environment and Sanitation Division chief Robert Ocuner described the area during his Friday inspection as “dirty and beyond imagination” and would cause an outbreak in diseases if not addressed immediately.

Ocuner said if the sanitary situation in the area will not improve in one week, he will ask for help from Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to evict the IPs from the area.

Remitar, however, said the possibility of a disease outbreak inside the camp is still far from happening since efforts to improve the sanitation in the area has been exerted.

He said there have been fewer reports of diarrhea and sanitation-related diseases in the area. “Most of the diseases here are cough, flu, and cold, among others,” he said.

But Remitar admitted that despite their efforts to educate the Lumads on proper waste disposal, some instances cannot be avoided because of cultural differences.

“Back in their places, there are no CRs. That is one of the reasons there are some kids, especially those below two years old, who do their defecation anywhere,” he said. “But we require mothers to take care of it afterward,” he added.

Remitar said the management of Haran and civil organization groups cannot just change the Lumads’ practices overnight.

He also said the water supply in the area varies. “There are times that the water gushing from faucets is very minimal,” he said.

He also clarified that that foul smell from a small creek below the camping area as well as from the trash pit has

been there even before the arrival of the Lumads.

“We have done measures to lessen the foul smell in the creek like pouring powdered charcoal but it didn’t work, while the pit is planned to be converted into a compost pit,” he said.

Remitar said the evacuees cannot avoid throwing their trash, which are mostly waste from the food brought from the Bankerohan Public Market, in the pit because there is no available trash bin in the area.

“Sometimes we have to temporarily borrow the trash bin from a sweeper just to dispose of our garbage,” he said.

“But that is not regular. Most of the time we use sacks and plastic bags instead,” he said.

Remitar also said members of the temporary community are trained to segregate their waste and that dried leaves are automatically burned to lessen the garbage volume.

This reporter witnessed how even young children help in cleaning up the area. A group of young children aged around five was sweeping the area outside the tarpaulin-walled house of Kapalong tribal association Karadyawan chair Lito Sampag.

Sampag said his tribe members experienced diarrhea in the first few months in the area because of the changes in their immediate environment, which is far different from what they have at home.

But now, he said, only a few children get sick, and it is usually flu, cold, or cough.

Meanwhile, Remitar said the government should focus more on providing solutions to what brought the Lumad in the area in the first place – militarization in their homes.

He said the evacuees in Haran would not have been there had there not been a problem in their respective areas.

He said the government should improve the peace and order in the Lumads’ homes if it is really sincere in helping the indigenous people.

the road side.”

The gunmen reportedly alighted from their vehicle and fired more shots on the victims, NDBC News said.

A relative of the Ayunan-Pasawirans said “this is a result of a rido” but declined to give details.

Rido, according to the book “Rido: Clan Feuding and Conflict Management in Mindanao,” published by The Asia Foundation and the USAID, “refers to a state of recurring hostilities between families and kinship groups characterized by a series of retaliatory acts of violence carried out to avenge a

perceived affront or injustice.”

Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, Executive Director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies , author of the book’s chapter on “Dynamics and Management of Rido in the Province of Maguindanao,” said “conflict becomes rido when a family member of the offended party attempts or carries out violent retaliation.”

“In most cases, conflict becomes rido when it causes the death of a family member from either party. The retaliation and counter-retaliation results in a cycle of vengeance,” he wrote.

(Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/ MindaNews with reports)

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the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Teresita Deles regarding the killings of Lumad leaders in Mindanao.

She said the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) cannot handle the matter since the agency is short-handed.

Catamco said the task force should be composed of the NCIP, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of National Defense (DND), and other agencies.

She said President Aquino must realize that the matter is urgent especially since he

has less than a year before his term ends, adding the problem will grow worse if it is left to the next administration to handle.

Catamco had been involved in controversy after leading the “rescue” of IPs staying at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)-Haran compound on July 23.

The operation resulted in a melee that injured 10 evacuees and a few police officers.

Catamco had said the IPs want to return to their homes but the IPs themselves have said they were afraid to go back because of the presence of the military there.

ro brothers who were tagged in the murder of director of a school for Lumad and two of his companions in Surigao del Sur last Sept. 1.

“Many of our leaders are only armed with and antiquated rifles and are no match to the well-armed NPA rebels,” he said.

Some 500 supporters of the slain mayor staged an anti-communist rally at the Guingona Park here on Tuesday.

Displaying placards asking for justice for the slain mayor and his son, the rallyists who were composed mostly of Lumads from Agusan del Sur denounced the NPA rebels for killing the two victims without the benefit of a trial.

“Is this what they call revolutionary justice? They did not even ask the victims to answer the charges that they were ac-

cused of,” Datu Makahinlo Gubat Marcos Gonzales said.

The NPA claimed responsibility for killing Otaza and his son “to give justice to the thousands of indigenous peoples and peasants terrorize by their tyranny in Loreto and surrounding municipalities in Agusan Del Sur.” The rebel group also alleged Daryl was distributing and selling illegal drugs in Agusan del Sur. Wilfredo Otaza, younger brother of the slain mayor, denied all these accusations.

He said his brother was only working for the development of Loreto, a riverside town.

“My brother was murdered without being given the chance to answer these charges,” Wilfredo said.

(Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

President Ongkingco, who is the district engineer of the Department of Public Works, will also render the President’s Report citing the past year’s activities, achievements and accomplishments. He has been president of the YMCA chapter for the second year this year.

For the information of those who are not familiar with the YMCA, Ongkingko released a brief history of one of the oldest civic organizations of the world and how it became to be known worldwide as a pillar for a just social order committed to the promotion of a humane society, unity, mutual respect and understanding among people.

The YMCA was founded in London, England, on June 6, 1844, in response to unhealthy social conditions arising in the big cities at the end of the Industrial Revolution (roughly 1750 to 1850).

Growth of the railroads and centralization of commerce and industry brought many rural young men who needed jobs into cities like London.

They worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week.

Far from home and family, these young men often lived at the workplace. They slept crowded into rooms over the company’s shop, a location thought to be safer than London’s tenements and streets.

Outside the shop things were bad -- open sewers, pickpockets, thugs, beggars, drunks,

lovers for hire and abandoned children running wild by the thousands.

George Williams, born on a farm in 1821, came to London 20 years later as a sales assistant in a draper’s shop, a forerunner of today’s department store. He and a group of fellow drapers organized the first YMCA to substitute Bible study and prayer for life on the streets. By 1851 there were 24 Ys in Great Britain, with a combined membership of 2,700. That same year the Y arrived in North America: It was established in Montreal on November 25, and in Boston on December 29.

The idea proved popular everywhere. In 1853, the first YMCA for African Americans was founded in Washington, D.C., by Anthony Bowen, a freed slave. The next year the first international convention was held in Paris. At the time there were 397 separate Ys in seven nations, with 30,369 members total.

The YMCA idea, which began among evangelicals, was unusual because it crossed the rigid lines that separated all the different churches and social classes in England in those days. This openness was a trait that would lead eventually to including in YMCAs all men, women and children, regardless of race, religion or nationality. Also, its target of meeting social need in the community was dear from the start. AMA

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Security... FROM 2 systems, gambling materials, alcohol, and liquor. Smoking and urinating in public places are also prohibited.

For his part, PRO 11 public information officer Superintendent Antonio Rivera said the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) will augment to the DCPO. Rivera said the DCPO requested a company or up to 250 RPSB personnel as additional force that will provide police visibility in the city.

“Not only cemeteries will be taken care of by our police personnel but also our terminals,” he said.

Rivera said the regional office will place a help desk at the different cemeteries in the entire region.

Task Force Davao commander Colonel Cristobal Zaragosa said his team has also crafted Oplan Undas in support of the Oplan Kaluluwa of DCPO.

Zaragosa said he will maximize the deployment of the personnel by providing augmentation to the police officers deployed in the cemeteries.

“We will ensure that the observance of All Saints Day will be done peacefully,” he said.

He said his men will not only focus on the cemeteries but also on the tourist areas where people converge.

Central 911 head Emmanuel Jaldon, for his part, said his team will deploy the barangay-based and volunteer emergency teams to the cemeteries.

“Our disaster operations center will be activated partially... we will be continuing to monitor the events,” he said.

Jaldon said if needed, the vehicles of Central 911 such as ambulance and the medical bus will be on standby for emergency purposes. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

gated to abide by international humanitarian law, including common article 3 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its Second Additional Protocol of 1977 (Protocol II), to which the Philippines is party,” the NPA said.

“International humanitarian law prohibits killing civilians, mistreating anyone in custody, and convicting anyone in proceedings that do not meet international fair trial standards. Article 6 of Protocol II specifies that criminal courts must be independent and impartial, and the accused shall have ‘all necessary rights and means of defense,’ among other guarantees. Those tried

by people’s courts are typically convicted in absentia, thus denied the right to be tried in one’s presence before an impartial court,” HRW added.

HRW also said claims by the NPA that defendants receive a fair hearing during its people’s court proceedings “are not supported by the facts.”

HRW quoted Philip Alston, the former United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions who investigated extrajudicial killings in the Philippines in 2007, as saying the NPA people’s courts as “either deeply flawed or simply a sham.”

Villa de Davao Subd., Lanang Beach Club, Doña Asuncion Subd., Insular Village I & II, Fortune Executive Homes, Nova Tierra Village, Belen Homes, Pampanga Executive Homes, San Roque Village, Don Lorenzo Homes, Bolton Village, Doña Pilar Village, Southern Homes, Doña Paz Village, Hacienda Village, Old Airport Road, Doña Aurelia Village, Lougemar Village, Marla Compound, Doña Salud and Mercedes Village).

Some DCWD Production Wells under Line 2 of Dumoy WSS will be affected by Davao Light and Power Company’s (DLPC) scheduled power interruption on said date needed to facilitate the installation of new primary lines along McArthur Highway in Dumoy. Although this power cut is shorter in duration, DCWD needs additional time for re-switching on of the affected facilities, pressure build up and line delivery, thus the longer water service interruption.

Second set is from 8:00 PM of October 30 until 4:00 AM of October 31. Areas with no water are entire Los Amigos, Lower Riverside, Puting Bato, Redstone and portion of Biao Guinga Road (from the junction of Davao – Bukidnon Road to Tacunan Road). This water cut is needed to give way to these two service improvement projects in Calinan: tapping of the newly installed 150mm diameter Polyvinyl Chloride

(PVC) pipeline to the existing 150mm diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at Purok 9 Lantaw Bukid in Riverside; and tapping of the newly installed 100mm diameter PVC pipeline to the existing 150mm diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at Purok 10-B (near Villa Cristina Orchid and Garden Resort) in Brgy. Los Amigos. Once completed, said projects will allow for accommodation of additional service connections.

DCWD general manager Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers. He also advises them to store enough water prior to the scheduled water interruptions. Water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial to listen to latest daily water updates. They may also call / text 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293 and 09084410653 for other updates, complaints, queries and matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Jamae G. Dela Cruz)

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11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

Davao Doctors College PayMaya expands reloading stations opens Senior High School C D

AVAO Doctors College (DDC) rides the wave of change as it opens the Senior High School (SHS) Program starting School Year 2016-2017 in support of the government’s education reform agenda. Equipped with complete facilities and academic resources, the school is now ready to accept Grades 11 and 12 students from public and private schools.

The Department of Education has approved DDC as a provider of the Academic Track of the Senior High School (SHS) Program, which lays out the foundation for college education. Under the Academic Track, the student has the option to choose from four strands, namely: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences), ABM (Accountancy, Business and Management), and GAS (General Academic Strand). Prospectively, these strands prepare DDC’s SHS students for their tertiary education in DDC with its extensive course offerings.

The STEM strand provides sufficient training to pursue health-related courses such as Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Biology, Optom-

etry, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory Science (MedTech). On the other hand, the HUMSS strand leads to Psychology and Secondary Education while the ABM strand leads to Hospitality Management, Tourism Management and Entrepreneurship. Finally, the GAS strand prepares the student for any degree course subject to a bridging program.

For a hassle-free and convenient transition to the Senior High School Program, DDC offers free entrance examination to all senior high school applicants. In support of the government’s educational initiatives, DDC charges at the Government Voucher Subsidy, which covers the school fees for the whole year. Moreover, the top 10 highest entrance examinees for SHS will be granted scholarships which entitle them to a monthly cash stipend of P1,000 which may be spent for school-related expenses such as transportation, school projects and assignments.

Graduates of the DDC SHS Program will also be entitled to discounts from their tuition fees if they enroll at DDC for their college studies.

Survey: Firms losing confidence in suppliers

B

USINESSES are losing confidence in third-party suppliers, according to a survey conducted by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International.

The main reason is the increasing number of IT security incidents that they cause. The survey also found the average cost of such an incident for enterprise exceeded $3 million.

The recent survey showed that over a third of companies do not trust their suppliers, with the figure for 2015 standing at 37 percent – up four percentage points on the previous year (33 percent).

This trend is the same for small and medium businesses as well as large corporations.

The principal reason for this loss of faith in suppliers is the fact that they were to blame for 18 percent of cyber incidents in 2015.

Incidents involving third-party suppliers are no less dangerous for businesses than direct cyber-attacks on a company’s infrastructure.

In both cases, the cost of eliminating the consequences is equally high: cyber incidents involving suppliers cost small and medium businesses $67,000 on average, while the figure for large corporations is $3.27 million.

“In order to avoid damages and to ensure secure communication with suppliers, a

comprehensive multi-layered approach is required. The first thing to do is to delineate access rights to different areas of the corporate network for different employees. This will help restrict a supplier’s access to the company’s resources,” said Konstantin Voronkov, Head of Endpoint Product Management at Kaspersky Lab. “Be sure to find out the details of the supplier’s IT security system and implement rules of interaction that are based not only on efficiency and flexibility but also on security,” he added.

Kaspersky Lab offers security solutions to protect all segments of the corporate network. For employees’ mobile devices and virtual workstations we have developed special solutions such as Kaspersky Security for Mobile and Kaspersky Security for Virtualization.

In addition to our technological solutions, Kaspersky Lab provides training on information security for employees, including how to minimize the risk of incidents when working with third-party suppliers.

Kaspersky Lab is one of the world’s fastest-growing cybersecurity companies and the largest that is privately owned.

The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of IT security solutions.

As the newest addition to the Davao Doctors’ College community, the SHS will be housed at the Caduceus Hall along Malvar Street and will enjoy the use of the school’s basic equipment and facilities.

DDC remains one of the top performing schools in the country for health-relat-

ed programs. With the Senior High School program, it aims to continue leading through excellence in this wave of educational reform. For more information on DDC’s SHS program, interested students may contact the DDC Admissions Office at (082)222-0850 to 53 loc 112.

ONSUMERS can now reload their PayMaya accounts in more than 15,000 establishments nationwide, including all 7-Eleven convenience stores, all Robinsons Mall Business Centers, all SM Malls Business Centers, as well as the Smart Padala centers.

PayMaya accounts can also be funded through Smart Money and BDO accounts, via Internet banking, with many more partners coming onboard soon.

“By making more convenient channels available for our Paymaya reloading as well as spurring more use cases in retail and transport, we hope that more Filipinos will be encouraged to adopt digital financial services. We don’t want anyone to miss out in the emerging digital economy,” said Orlando B. Vea, Smart eMoney, Inc. President and CEO. Introduced last August

by Smart eMoney, Inc., the digital financial services unit of PLDT and Smart, PayMaya is the first of its kind all-inone digital payments mobile app that can be used for online shopping, peer-to-peer transfers and telco airtime reloading. It also comes with a physical PayMaya Visa card can be used for any face-toface transaction with any merchant accepting Visa as well as ATM withdrawals.

To get a PayMaya virtual account, users just need to download the mobile app through their smartphones via Google Play (for Android) or App Store (for iOS).

Upon registration, the mobile app automatically generates a reloadable unique 16-digit instant virtual Visa card for the user that can be funded through any reloading station. This can be immediately used for online purchases in any merchant worldwide that accepts Visa.

Because the virtual Visa card number is automatically tied to the user’s mobile number, the user only needs to remember his mobile number when making transactions.

Since it is mobile app based, PayMaya can be used by anyone regardless of the telco provider. A bank account is also not necessary.

Filipinos can use their PayMaya to shop online, book flights, get travel deals, order food online, and purchase digital products such as mobile apps, games, movies, eBooks and music.

As an added perk, PayMaya users can also get 5 percent discount on all call and text loads from Smart if they purchase using PayMaya.

PayMaya users who upgrade their accounts can also transfer money to other verified PayMaya users via the mobile app.

a better environment for current and future generations.

It is a truly mutual solution,” Dawson added.

The SRP standard consists of a set of criteria for sustainable rice cultivation that can be used across the globe to reduce the environmental footprint of rice production and improve the lives of rice farmers. The standard consists of 46 requirements organized under eight broad topics, including productivity, food safety, worker health, labor rights, and biodiversity. Rice plays a critical role in global food security, providing livelihoods for over 140 million smallholder farmers in developing coun-

tries and is a staple food for nearly half of the world’s seven billion people.

Mars Food will use the standard as a benchmark against which to assess its rice supply chains – identifying where there are gaps and developing strategies to improve sustainability. Mars Food has already begun piloting implementation of the standard with rice farmers in two countries – Pakistan and India. A controlled farming program in Pakistan, in partnership with Rice Partners, LTD, IRRI and Bayer CropScience, has grown from 31 smallholder farmers in 2011 to 400 farmers in 2015 who produce Basmati

rice grown with the correct application of chemicals and harvested with practices to improve food safety and water quality. In India, Mars is embedding new learnings while also piloting the SRP standard.

The standard complements and builds upon the company’s Purpose – Better Food Today. A Better World Tomorrow – and the Mars Mutuality Principle, which demonstrate the company’s commitment to helping rice farmers improve yields while reducing water use and greenhouse gas emissions and improving socioeconomic conditions in the communities where high-quality rice is grown.

Mars Food commits to 100% sustainably sourced rice by 2020 M

ARS Food, in partnership with the Sustainable Rice Platform, (SRP), a global alliance of agricultural research institutions, agri-food businesses, public sector and civil society organizations convened by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), yesterday announced the first global standard for sustainable rice at the 5th Annual Plenary Meeting and Assembly here.

As the leading corporation with the SRP and owner of the world’s largest rice brand, UNCLE BEN’S, Mars Food played a pivotal role in developing the standard. Mars Food also announced yesterday its commitment to sustainably source 100 percent of its rice by 2020 using the SRP standard.

“Caring for our environment as well as our entire supply chain from end-to-end is more than usual corporate responsibility. It’s an imperative for Mars Food,” said Fiona Dawson, President of Mars Food.

“Through the global standard, we hope to create benefits for all involved from the farmers to our consumers. The benefit for us is that is that we are ensuring premium quality rice, whilst also ensuring a higher income for farmers, and

12 CLASSIFIED

EDGEDAVAO

DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE EDMUND D. RENDON Marketing Specialist Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 MANILA MARKETING OFFICE ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

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NEWS 13

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In defense of FAB/CB

Mastura files intervention with SC G

IVE the Bangsamoro a day in court.

Datu Michael Mastura, lawyer and historian and direct descendant of the hero Sultan Kudarat, filed Tuesday an urgent motion to intervene before the Supreme Court in defense of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Com-

prehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) and three other petitioners want the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional.

In his motion, Mastura, a member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, a representative of Maguindanao senior member of

the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel, said he seeks to intervene in the case in his “personal capacity as a native born successor generation of Moro ancestry and as bearer of heritage of indigenous institutions in Muslim Mindanao seeking to assert a ‘public right’ to political identity on equal protection grounds and ‘parity of esteem’ on ‘judicially made’ policy, not constitutional rulings.”

Mastura filed his Urgent Motion for Leave to Intervene and to Admit Attached Comment-in-Intervention at the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning in the pres-

ence of, among others, Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Abulkhayr Alonto of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front; members of the peace panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front — Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga and Roberto Maulana, Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo of the Bangsamoro Study Group, Sulu human rights defender and candidate for governor Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, Sister Arnold Marie Noel and Mary Ann Arnado of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus and Bawgbug.

Hataman was quoted by GMA News as saying that “maging ang

A DAY IN COURT FOR THE BANGSAMORO. Datu Michael Mastura (fifth from left, beside Sister Arnold Marie Noel) files his urgent motion for intervention before the Supreme

autonomous regional government any naghahanda rin ng sariling intervention, bago matapos ang taon ay maghhain din kami dahil sa paniniwala ho naming na walang legal reason o anupamang argument ang pwedeng humadlang para sa kapayapaan ng Mindanao” (even the autonomous regional government is preparing to file its own intervention before the year ends because of its belief that no legal reason or whatever argument can stand in the way of peace in Mindanao).

The Philconsa filed with the Supreme Court on June 19 a 26page petition to declare uncon-

Court in the presence of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman (to his left) and other Moro personalities and members of civil society organizations. Photo courtesy or RUH JAVIER ALONTO

stitutional the peace agreements signed by the Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Philconsa, headed by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former Senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad, were accompanied by fellow petitioners Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz and retired Davao City Archbishop Fernando Capalla, and former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzalez.

Gonzales and the archbishops are members of the National Transformation Council (NTC) which called on President Aquino to step down after the January 25 tragedy in Mamasapano.

The petitioners also asked the high tribunal to stop the Department of Budget and Management from releasing funds to pursue or implement the FAB, the CAB; and the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which is still under deliberation in the two houses of Congress.

The FAB was signed on October 15, 2012 by then government peace panel chair Marvic Leonen (now Supreme Court Associate Justice) and MILF chair Mohagher Iqbal while the CAB was signed on March 27, 2014 by government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and the MILF’s Iqbal.

Mastura said allowing him to intervene “will provide an opportunity for the Bangsamoro people to be heard before the Supreme Court as their own identity is pilloried, their allegiance to this Republic harshly questioned, and their genuine aspiration for freedom, justice and peace repeatedly suppressed by the sheer tyranny of the majority of this country.”

(Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

HUGE HARVEST

GOLDEN BOY. John Paul Elises has collected seven golds so far.

Swimmer strikes as DC bags 10 golds in Day 3 S WIMMER John Paul Elises captured four gold medals on Tuesday as Davao City struck for a huge harvest of 10 golds, six silvers and nine bronze medals in Day 3 of the 2015 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Qualifying Leg in this city.

Elises wowed the crowd at the South Cotabato Sports Complex swimming pool as the Ateneo de Davao University student-athlete secured the gold in the boys 12-under 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 50m butterfly one after the other in grand fashion.

The 12 years old national Batang Pinoy finalist last year capped his sen-

sational first day performance with a golden finish in the boys 4x50m relay along with Dave Jones Andevor, Edward Alfaro III and first-timer Matthiew Adrien Tao to lead the gold medal production of Davao City.

Alfaro made his own coup by bagging the boys 13 to 15 year’s old 200m breastroke gold medal. He also copped the silver in the 50m of the same event.

Davao City swimming team under Jerry Kasim and Racquel Montillano ended its first day campaign with 5 gold, five silver and two bronze medals.

Sharing the limelight for Davao City’s feat in the third day of the hostilities was the Karatedo team which delivered two gold medals.

Karatedo bet Fernan Santo-

so topped the +35kg intermediate kata while Czarina Aldine Montano won the +32kg novice kata.

Kelly Ann Lada provided the share of Taekwondo team in the gold medal production of Davao City. Lada outclassed her foe to clinch the gold in the girl’s bantamweight.

Batang Pinoy National champion Davao City girls’ basketball team barged its way back to the national stage with a 14 – 6 win over Gen. Santos City in the gold medal match at the Barangay Zone 1 covered court.

The team coached by Danny Colango of Assumption College of Davao and led by holdover from last year’s champion team Gypsy Mae Canuto never lose a

game en route to winning the gold medal.

Not to be outdone was the girl’s lawn tennis team that won the team competition gold at the Lourdes Tennis Court.

The pair of Dana Abad and Nicole Bautista delivered the first gold for the Marivic Salvador and Cyndrelle Donillo-mentored lawn tennis team.

Delivering silver medals for Davao City at the pool were Andevor (13 to 15 years old 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle), Tao (12-Under 200m freestyle) and Alyssa Raut (12-Under 200m butterfly).

Its bronze medals were courtesy of Raut (12-Under 50m butterfly) and Bea Amparo (13 to 15 year’s old 200m breastroke).

Demecillo-Dapudong tiff banners Boxing Revo 4

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EIGNING World Boxing Federation (WBF) Asia bantamweight champion Kenny “Singwangcha” Demecillo of Cebu will defend his crown against former International Boxing Federation (IBF) world super flyweight champion Edrin “The Sting” Demecillo of North Cotabato on December 22 at the Almendras gym in Davao City.

The title-fight is the main event in the fourth edition of Boxing Revolution billed as “The Road to the WBF Championship”, which is under the Sonshine Sports Management Inc. (SSMI).

It will be Demecillo’s first title-defense of the vacant crown he won by an 8th round technical knockout against arch-rival Darryl Basadre last Sept. 26 at the Gaisa- no Mall in General Santos City.

Demecillo, who was knocked down once in the second round, came

back strong for a TKO victory in 2:45 of the 8th round.

Demecillo (10-3-1) of the Omega Boxing Club had also earlier stopped Basadre in 2:54 of the 2nd round to capture the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Oceania bantamweight title last June 7 at the Robinsons Mall in Gensan.

“Talagang magaling at matibay si Demecillo. But we accepted the challenge,”said Boxing Revolution Series executive producer Hermenegildo “Jun” Cardona during yesterday’s press launching held at the second floor of the Abreeza Ayala Mall.

Dapudong, who has 31 wins, 6 loss and no draw, however, is confident that he can beat Demecillo.

‘Kabalo ko na maayo pud siya na boxer. Pero paningkamutan ko lang tanan,” said Dapudong, a two-time world super flyweight champion, who will only be making his third fight in the 118 division.

The 29-year old native of M’lang, North Cotabato has won his last two fights both in the 118 lbs. division. Dapudong first

TKO’d Wisanlek Sithsaithong of Thailand in the 5th round last October 11, 2011 at the Almendras gym during the Boxing Revolution 2.

Dapudong then scored a 2nd round knockout against Richard Garcia in Boxing Revolution 3 held June 26 at the same venue.

“We are very proud to present the fourth installment of the boxing series that aims to produce boxing champions and institutionalize the local boxing scene,” said Cardona.

Cardona said that Boxing Revolution 4 is different from the past three promotions since this time the boxers from SSMI are now the challengers.

“They will be fighting against reigning champions or better ranked fighters,’ Cardona said.

Also present at the launching were Sonshine Media head Richard Reyes and boxing consultant Jaime Mata.

Boxing Revolution 4 will also feature two main supporting bouts and eight other professional matches in the undercard.

Former WBO Oriental featherweight champion Lorenzo

“Thunderbolt” Villanueva (21-10) will take on Jerry Castroverde (6-2-0) also of the Omega Boxing Club from Cebu in a 129 lbs.

10 rounder bout while former WBO Oriental minimumweight champion Rommel “Little Assasin” Asenjo (27-4-0) will face Manila-based Bonjon Louperez (9-4-1) for a 10-rounder 106 lbs. fight.

The exciting event is now open free to the boxing fans.

However, SSMI will still be donating a certain amount to the Gift of Education scholarship program of the Jose Maria College. – LITO DELOS REYES photo caption: Former IBF world super flyweight champion Edrin ‘The Sting’ Dapudong (middle) answers questions to the media during the launching of the Boxing Revolution 4 held Wednesday at the Abreeza Ayala Mall. Listening at the back are promoter Jun Cardona (left) and Sonshine Media head Richard Reyes.

Dapudong will be challenging WBF Asia bantamweight king Kenny Demecillo of Cebu in the main event.

BOXING REVOLUTION 4. Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong (center) talks about his fight with WBA Asia champion Kenny Demecillo as promoter Jun Cardona and Sonshine Sports Management executive Richard Reyes look on. Right photo shows the Sonshine boxers in a team pose. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

Aguilas open ABL season in Davao today T

HE Pacquiao Powervit Pilipinas Aguilas open its campaign in the 2015 Asean Basketball League (ABL) today against Thailand-based Mono Vampire Basketball Club at the University of Southern Philippines (USEP) Gym in Obrero.

The 5 p.m. game marks the return of the country to the regional league after the 2014 season won by Hi-Tech Bangkok City saw no Philippine representative.

Admission to today’s game is free and will be telecast live on BTV. The Aguilas will be led by imports AZ Reid and former

University of the East Red Warrior Charles Mammie, and former PBA MVP Willie Miller.

The team is coached by Zaldy Realubit.

The Aguilas will play their first road game at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday against the Westports Malaysia Dragons, coached by Filipino Ariel Vanguardia with Fil-Am Jason Brickman from Long Island University and Fil-Canadian Matthew Wright also seeing action.

The Dragons play in the opening match on Tuesday against Hi-Tech Bangkok City in the Thai capital.

Stephen Curry sizzles with 40 points in season debut

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BA MVP Stephen Curry showed in a hurry he hasn’t lost a step or his swagger, scoring 40 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 111-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time0 to open their title defense.

Curr y put on a familiar shooting clinic from all over the court, knocking down seven of his first nine shots w i t h

four three-pointers for 24 first-quarter points. He finished 14 for 26 with seven assists and six rebounds in a rematch of the first round of the playoffs that Golden State swept 4-0. It was his 10th career 40-point game.

Curry and the Warriors raised the championship banner and received their rings in an elaborate pregame ceremony featuring glitz, glow sticks and fire.

Coach Steve Kerr attended, then left for the locker room to rest his surgically repaired back as interim Luke Walton coached the team.

AGUILAS. Assistant Coach Saul Andres Grandon (extreme left) gives instructions to the players of the Pacquiao Powervit Pilipinas Aguilas in their preparation for their upcoming inaugural game against the visiting Mono Vampire Basketball Club of Thailand in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at the USEP Gym in Davao City. The game is free to the public and sponsored by Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, co-owner of the Pilipinas Aguilas.

Color Dash Run set Nov. 22 T

HE exciting Color Dash fun run will be held in Davao City on Nov. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Abreeza Ayala Mall.

“It’s a 5-kilometer theme run for everyone with a clash of color is spashed to your white shirt for every kilometer,” said Kaye Rey of the organizing Sportshub during yesterday’s press launching held at the Seda Hotel.

The footrace will be run on an out-and-back course with the turning point near at the Davao City Water District in Bajada.

“At the end of the run ev-

erything turns colourful,” added Rey, who brought the race all the way from Hawaii.

Sportshub, a Manila-based online store for sporting goods have been organizing the same concept fun run in Manila.

This time, Sportshub is in partnership with Mulatto, a proud Davao-born outdoor apparel. The technical side will be handled by the Lead Pack.

“This is not a race but an extremely fun event for everyone,” said Rey, who first organized it in 2013 in Manila.

Also present at the Davao launching were Daisy Jane Cimafranca and Anna Kharis Quiñones, co-founder and coevent organizer, respectively of Mulatto.

They were joined by Andrea Anne Baldonado, fundraising officer of the beneficiary Philippine Eagle Foundation.

A portion of the proceeds from the Color Dash Davao will go to the PEF. Sportshub previously donated P1 million to the Yolanda survivors from the proceeds of the Color Dash in Manila last year.

Registration fees are P250 for the super early bird (Nov. 3-7), P350 for early bird (Nov. 8-14) and P500 for regular (Nov. 15-19).

“Each registered runner will get a Color Dash shirt, googles to protect their eyes and a race bid,” Quiñones said.

Registration center is at the Abreeza Ayala Mall, while

the on-line registration is at the www.sportshub.com.ph.

“Runners can also bring along their pets since the colors are also very safe to the animals,” said Rey, who is aiming for 3,500 participants.

Everyone should stay after the run for the traditional countdown.

When the clock turns zero, everybody throws the color dash powder up in the air.

“It is a good sight to see and best time for celebration,” said Rey. It will be followed by a program with fabulous special prizes to be given away.

For more inquiry, contact 0926671185 (Globe), 09328675288 (Sun) or 09998586457 (Smart).

EFENDING champion Petron gave Cignal a dose of its own medicine as the Blaze Spikers pulled off a vengeful 25-16, 14-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13 victory in the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix at The Arena in San Juan on Tuesday.

Brazilian import Rupia Inck Furtado took charge for Petron with 26 points, anchored on 21 kills, while Dindin Santiago-Manabat added 18 as the Blaze Spikers put an end to Cignal’s five-game winning run.

Petron, which now carries a 4-2 (win-loss) record for the third spot, had a rough start in the conference after Cignal rose from two sets down and

defeated the star-studded team, 18-25, 17-25, 25-16, 2518, 16-14.

“Ito ang turning point namin, naka-bounce back kami, na-boost ang morale ng team kasi natalo kami noong opening,” said Petron coach George Pascua.

“Dito sa second round nag-usap kami na hindi na pwedeng maulit na matalo kami kasi kapag ganoon tinatanggap mo na lang na talo ka lagi,” he added.

Cignal appeared ready to close out the match after a 5-0 spurt gave it a 13-10 lead in the deciding set behind the hard-hitting American reinforcement Ariel usher.

Pascua called for time and

instructed his wards to focus on defense, specifically on their blocks on Usher.

“Sinabi ko sa kanila na mag-focus sa blocking kasi isa lang naman ang iba-block nila, si Usher lang naman,” said the veteran mentor.

The Blaze Spikers heeded his call as Brazilian imports Inck and setter Erica Adachi delivered the goods to reach match point while Usher’s hit that went long handed Petron the win in a match that lasted almost two hours.

“Doon na-test ang experience namin sa fifth set,” said Pascua. “Hindi gaya ng dati (sa talo namin sa Cignal), ngayon nakita ang maturity ng team isa ‘yun sa factor kaya kami

nanalo.”

“Gigil sila kanina i-block si Usher pero na-manage naman namin,” he added.

Pascua commended their opponents especially America imports Usher and Amanda Anderson.

“Ang possible weakness ng Cignal siguro angat lang ang locals namin pero ‘yung imports nila matatalino, may variation nila sa palo samantalang ang import namin pag nag-error nara-rattle na,” he said.

Usher had 26 points while Anderson came up with 20 markers for the HD Spikers, who remained in the lead despite dropping to 5-1 - half a game ahead of Philips Gold.

Petron stops Cignal spikers in 5 sets D

HOT. Stephen Curry opened the season with an NBA ring and 40 points.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 151 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015