Edge Davao 8 Issue 157

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PAY RANSOM VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

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Rody asks Norway, Canada to yield to kidnappers’P4B demand

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

LAST DAY. Kids spend the last days of semestral break playing “tumbang lata,” a traditional Filipino street game rarely seen played by children nowadays, at a neighborhood in downtown Davao City yesterday. Most schools and universities will resume classes on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has urged the governments of Canada and Norway to pay the P1-billion ransom for each of their citizens who had been kidnapped by alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf but added that the Philippine government itself will impose its no-ransom policy on the part of the Filipina who was also abducted.

“Atong ipaabot na lang na sa ilang gobyerno kay ang

atong city og national governments kay dili mo-negotiate og ransom (I am asking their government to pay the ransom because our city and national governments will not negotiate ransom),” Duterte said in an interview on Wednesday night after his speaking engagement at the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICon) at SMX Convention Center.

The victims – identified the victims as Norweigian national Kjartan Sekkinstad who

is the operations manager of Holiday Oceanview Resort, Canadians John Ridsel and Robert Hall, and Filipina Marithes Flor, who is the live-in partner of Hall – were taken from the resort on September 21 and apparently brought to Sulu.

The kidnappers posted a 90-second video the other showing them holding bladed weapons to the necks of the victims.

In the video, the victims appealed to their respective

governments that the ransom of P1 billion for each of them be paid.

Duterte said the Philippine government itself will not pay ransom for Flor even as he urged Canada and Norway to pay the ransom for their abducted citizens.

But because the Philippines will not pay ransom for Flor, Duterte asked the Abu Sayyaf to release all the victims because they will not get any-

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EDGEDAVAO Sports Lebron rips tight shirt, then rips the Knicks P15

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

MOTORBIKE VS TRUCK. An alleged drunk motorcycle driver lies injured on the pavement after hitting a concrete mixer along Doña Pilar drive in Sasa, Davao CIty on Wednesday night. Lean Daval Jr.

Mindanao on ‘red alert’

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HE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) have placed the entire island of Mindanao on “red alert” on Wednesday as it announced a power deficiency of 40 megawatts and alleged escalation of bombing threats on transmission lines.

“With the return of the generating facilities of STEAG Power in Misamis Oriental and Mt. Apo in Davao, the power deficiency, as of Nov. 3, is pegged at 40MW, placing the Mindanao Grid on red alert,” NGCP said in a statement.

Elizabeth Ladaga, head of the NGCP’s corporate communication department, said the duration of the power interruptions experienced by

end-consumers in some parts of Mindanao would vary, depending on their respective distribution utilities.

Ladaga blamed the sporadic bombing of various power line towers in Lanao Del Sur, which has been the main cause of power interruptions in some areas in Mindanao.

The NGCP has already recorded a total of seven bombings of various power transmission lines in Mindanao from January to October this year, Ladaga said.

Ladaga said the latest was the toppling down of two power transmission towers in Marawi City on Oct. 29, which resulted in the power deficien-

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DCPO to launch bike patrol

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he Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will form a bike patrol group to intensify its police visibility in the city.

In an interview, DCPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz said this unit is an augmentation to the existing foot patrol and mobile patrol of the City Mobile Group (CMG) and the City Public Safety Battalion (CPSB).

“This bike patrol will be more likely to be deployed in downtown areas,” she said.

Driz said 30 police officers will be assigned to the group, to be drawn from CMG and CPSB. She said these group can also run after the street crimes such as snatching and pick-

pocketing.

Driz said the Public Safety Savings Loan Association Inc. will give the 30 bikes, worth P30,000 each, to DCPO. She said the bike patrol will operate 24 hours a day with shifting personnel to rove all over the downtown area.

Meanwhile, Driz reported a decrease on crime rate in the city compared to last year’s statistics.

She said based on their records from January to September, there are 10,362 total crime volume this year compared to 13,039 of last year.

Driz said there is a 20.5 percent decrease or 2,677 crime volume.

She said for the index

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Strict enforcement of Children’s Code urged

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Social Service and Development Office - Council for the Welfare of the Children (CSSDO-CWC) has asked the City Council to approve the resolution calling for the strict implementation of the Davao City Children’s Welfare Code of 2006.

Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum, CSSDO-CWC secretariat head Mae Aquino said the resolution will correct some errors in the implementation of the ordinance.

“Sa pagka-karon pending pa na siya (As of now it is still pending),” she said.

Aquino said among the provisions that has not been implemented is the establish-

ment of barangay children’s association and the child protection.

She said that on November 19, the CWC will present their proposal in a conference since there will be councilors to attend.

“This aims to seek specific person who will sponsor the resolution,” she said.

Councilor Antoinette G. Principe-Castrodes filed a resolution in last Tuesday’s regular session encouraging all city leaders to enforce and implement the Children’s Welfare Code of 2006.

The resolution aims to ask the City Mayor’s Office, through the City Legal Office to expedite the signing and

passage of the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the ordinance.

In the resolution, there are still provisions of the ordinance that need to be implemented to address the concerns of bullying in school and community and gang related violence in the community which contributes the growing number of minors involved in drug related syndicate and crimes.

Principe-Castrodes said during the Children’s Summit last October 17, 91 participants from 18 barangays claimed that there are minors aged 17 years old and below who are allowed to enter in hotels, lodging inn and clubs

without parental supervision.

She said there are increasing number of children working in areas not suitable for them which threatens their safety and security.

There are also cases of physical and sexual abuse towards children and prostituted minors reported in the city.

Principe-Castrodes said there is a dearth in hospital services for children belonging to indigent families compounded by the continuous growing population of impoverished families.

She said there is an inactive participation of children’s sector in the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC).

HE Commission on Elections is set to deactivate 98,883 registered voters in Region 10 after they failed to beat the biometrics registration deadline last week.

Comelec Misamis Oriental director Carlito Ravelo said this included some 11,436 registered voters from this city who failed to make it to the registration center at Robinsons Supermarket at Limketkai Mall and other poll centers last Saturday.

Ravelo said the deactivation is set this coming Nov. 19 when the Election Registration Board (ERB) convenes in Cagayan de Oro. “The high number of voters who failed to beat the deadline in Cagayan de Oro is understandable because it is a highly urbanized center and a melting pot for people in Northern Mindanao,” Ravelo said.

He said the list of unregistered voters might have

included those who recently died or have transferred to other highly urbanized cities.

Ravelo said despite the deactivation, Northern Mindanao or Region 10 – which is composed of the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental – has 2,546,596 voters as of Oct. 30, 2015.

The number of voters who failed to beat last Saturday’s deadline was high in Lanao

del Norte with 40,329; Bukidnon, 26,690; Misamis Oriental including Cagayan de Oro, 18,882; Misamis Occidental, 11,162, and Camiguin, 1,890.

The ERB that will convene on Nov. 19 will also decide whether to accept or not the voters who registered from Oct 1 to 31.

Ravelo said up for validation are some 36,174 new voters in Cagayan de Oro. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Comelec deactivates unregistered voters T

VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

OVERVIEW. Romeo M. Montenegro, director of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA)’s investment promotion and public affairs office, gives an overview of the Mindanao investment scenario in the Brunei DarussalamIndonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and the ASEAN region during the second day of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference at the SMX Convention Center yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

JUST A DRILL. Davao Medical School Foundation College (DMSF) faculty and staff participate in an earthquake drill at the DMSF grounds yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

First in-vitro fertilization facility in Mindanao opens C

By VANESSA KATE MADRAZO OUPLES in Mindanao who cannot conceive children naturally have had to travel to Manila to access the technology that would allow them to have a child.

This situation has changed with the launch of the Fertility Care Center of Brokenshire Women’s Center at the Brokenshire Hospital in Madapo Heights, Davao City.

The first in-vitro fertilization facility in Mindanao was opened IVF Davao, Inc. composed of Drs. Irene Uy, Darleen Stuart, Marie Janice Boquiren, Maria Lourdes Cabling, and Jean Marie C. Salvador In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a series of procedures where sperm and an egg are joined together outside of the body to create an embryo. The embryo

can then be inserted back to a mother’s uterus.

Dr. Stuart said one of the things that motivated them to pursue this is the increasing number of infertility cases.

“Women (nowadays) want to focus on their career first.

There is a shift in priority,” Dr. Cabling said. She explained that women in their 20s tend to prioritize the development

of their career and focus on work rather than think about forming a family and having a child.

This leads them to marrying or deciding to have a child a little later in life. The doctors said women have less chances of conceiving a child as they grow older.

Other medical conditions that contribute to infertility are

obesity, exposure to pesticides, extreme heat, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

These cause ovulating and testicular problems and may cause irreversible damage.

Sometimes, Dr. Cabling said, women may also have endometriosis, which feels like dysmenorrhea but is actually a case of infertility coupled with pelvic pain.

The IVF process takes about one menstrual cycle or one month long. The first two weeks are where the sperm and the egg are harvested, then monitored, fertilized, and incubated. The second two weeks involve reinserting the embryo in the mother’s uterus and waiting to see if she becomes pregnant.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Medical aid for persons with Down Syndrome

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HILDREN and adults with Down Syndrome are invited to a Free Medical and Dental Clinic on November 7, 2015, Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Madayaw Hall of Microtel by Wyndham in Mamay Road Damosa, Lanang, Davao City.

This opportunity to avail of the free medical and paramedical services is an annual activity conducted by the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI) Davao Branch.

“This event will be a gathering of DSAPI members from Davao and from nearby areas such as Digos, General Santos, Kidapawan, Panabo, Tagum, and Mati,” said Lanie Vergara, DSAPI Davao consultant.

“Since 1998, we have been offering free clinics to our members. It is our way of joining hands to maximize the potentials of persons with Down Syndrome. This year, we are expecting the attendance of 50 to 60 members,” she added.

DSAPI members are entitled to be seen by experts

in the field of developmental pediatrics, cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology, endocrinology, dermatology, rehabilitation medicine, and dentistry. Medicine sponsored by the Don Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Foundation, Inc. will also be offered to the parents and the children who will be present in the activity.

Established in 1992 by a group of committed parents and physicians, DSAPI aims to foster greater understanding on persons born with Down Syndrome. This nonstock, non-profit organization holds regular programs such as seminars, free clinics, and informal group discussions where members can discuss their experiences in caring for a child with Down Syndrome.

Non-members of DSAPI are encouraged to apply as member to avail of the services of the free clinic. The DSAPI Davao Branch Davao office is located at Damosa Business Center, Davao City.

For queries, you may contact their office at (082) 305-7192 or 0923-535-6295.

BORDER AGREEMENT. Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) Lieutenant General Aurelio B Baladad, chair of the Philippine Border Committee, and LaksdaTniDarwanto, S.H., M.A.P., chair of the Indonesian Border Committee,

Can Congress pass BBL by Dec 16?

Rebels attack Lumad C village in Bukidnon

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ROUND 100 New People’s Army (NPA) fighters stormed a Lumad village in Bukidnon, abducting one person Wednesday afternoon.

The incident took place 2 p.m. at Sitio Dao, Barangay White Kulaman, Kitaotao town, 4th Infantry Division public affairs office chief Capt.

Joe Patrick Martinez said.

The NPA members were led by a certain “Joseph,” he added.

Initially, the rebels abducted Samuel Paradero, Beltran Paradero, and Jovane Rabaca but later released Samuel and Jovane for still unknown reasons.

Pursuit operations are still ongoing as of this posting.

(PNA)

sign the Philippines-Indonesia Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary Delimitation Agreement during the 34th Republic of the Philippines and Republic of Indonesia Border Committee Chairmen’s Conference on Wednesday. Photo from Eastmincom

ONGRESS has been urged by various sectors to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by December 16, the target date set last month by the Senate and House leadership, but will it be able to meet its own deadline considering that between the next session day on November 9 and December 16 are only 15 session days left for the lower house plagued by a “no quorum” problem and an even shorter period of eight session days for the upper house that will be devoting substantial time to passing the 2016 national budget?

On Wednesday morning, Senate President Franklin Drilon told Bombo Radyo Philippines that the Senate and House leadership will meet Thursday to discuss “aming

final two months or three months in session, kung ano po yung aming kayang tatapusin” (our final two months or three months in session, on what we can finish).

In the transcript of the interview posted on the Senate website, Drilon, responding to a question if there was still a chance for the BBL to pass, replied, “yes,” adding he and Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, talked about it Tuesday and that interpellations would resume on Wednesday with Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III continuing his interpellation. Before Congress went on recess from October 10 to November 2, Sotto started interpellation on September 16, then continued it on Sept. 22, 23 and 28.

On Wednesday afternoon, however, Sotto gave way to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Minority Leader, who interpellated from 5:14 p.m. to 6:26 p.m, livestreamed from the Senate.

At the end of his Day 1 interpellation, Enrile manifested he would continue on Monday, November 9, starting with Article 2 of the 17-article SB 2894 or Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR), the substitute bill to SB 2408 or the draft BBL submitted to Congress on September 10, 2014 by the 15-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC). The BTC, composed of government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front members (MILF), drafted the BBL and finalized it with the

Office of the President before submitting it to Congress in ceremonial rites held in Malacanang.

Under the roadmap agreed upon by the GPH and MILF in the October 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the President was supposed to certify the draft BBL – HB 4994 and SB 2408 — as urgent but no certification has been issued.

Sotto, also Senate Deputy Minority Leader, announced for the record that Enrile will continue interpellating on Monday “and as much as possible he would want to finish it without interference.”

Sotto said this was why he suspended his interpellation in favor of Enrile. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has

prescribed under the national laws of the alien offender,” the authors said.

HB 1213 is entitled “An Act adopting the higher prescribed penalty, including death, of the national law of an alien found guilty of trafficking dangerous drugs and other similar substances, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the ‘Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.’”

“This means that the imposition of the penalty for drug offenses as prescribed under the national law of the foreign national or the penal-

ty under Republic Act 9165, whichever is higher, is the rule to follow,” the authors explained.

The Cagayan lawmaker recalled that he originally introduced the bill during the 15th Congress as HB 4510 where it was approved by the said committee.

“It was approved on 2nd and 3rd reading by the House of Representatives during the 15th Congress but, unfortunately, was not acted upon by the Senate,” the authors pointed out.

The authors noted that in June 2006, R.A. 9346 was en-

acted into law prohibiting the imposition of death penalty in the Philippines.

“While the rationale for passing the law was very clear and noble, there are some sectors of society who believe that this law is not just and equitable because while foreigners may not be executed in the Philippines for drug trafficking, Filipinos who commit the same are executed in other countries with death penalty,” the authors lament.

Because of the ban on death penalty, an argument against the law states that

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Stiffer penalties, including death, for alien drug offenders pushed

T SAFE CITY. Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) chief Francisco Villaroman speaks about the safety and security in the Davao region during the second day of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference at the SMX Convention Center yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

HE bill imposing stiffer penalty, including death, on foreign nationals found guilty of engaging in drug related activities in the country now awaits plenary consideration.

The Committee on Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Hon. Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr., has approved and endorsed the passage of HB 1213 principally authored by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Party-list Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. “HB 1213 allows the imposition of the death penalty if

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

DTI: Be cautious in buying Christmas lights

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HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) again reminds consumers to be cautious when buying their Christmas lights to start the season.

Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) allows Christmas

lights/lighting chains with Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) issued from January 2013 up to the present to be sold in the market. Other important labels that consumers should check on the package of Christmas lights are the name,

address and trademark of the importer or the distributor of the product to easily track the distributor for possible complaints.

“When buying Christmas lights, always look for the Import Commodity Clearance

(ICC) sticker either on the wire or on the package of the Christmas lights to ensure that the product has passed safety tests. The recommended usability period for Christmas lights is three years,” DTIDavao Regional Director Maria

Belenda Q. Ambi said.

DTI monitoring and enforcement activities shall be conducted to ensure that uncertified Christmas lights will not proliferate in the market.

Manufacturers, importers and retailers found not complying

with the BPS Product Certification Scheme will be filed with administrative charges for violation of the DTI Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2:2007; Republic Act (RA) 7394, otherwise known as

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EDGEDAVAO

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Purisima: Tax reform needed, but…

By JON JOAQUIN jon@edgedavao.net

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INANCE Secretary Cesar V. Purisima yesterday said he agrees that there is a need to reform the country’s tax system but urged fiscal responsibility in considering tax reform since the problems with the current system are structural in nature.

Purisima said tax reform, which is being pushed in Congress but is being opposed by President Benigno Aquino, should be done in a “comprehensive and holistic manner.”

Purisima made the statement as the Department of Finance (DOF) reported that the national government’s budget balance in September 2015 was at a deficit of P22.1 billion, bringing the year-to-date balance to a deficit of P25.5 billion.

The primary balance for the month was at a surplus of P8.0 billion, while year-to-date primary surplus registered at

P230.2 billion, 2 percent higher than year-ago figures, the DOF added.

“While we continue to maintain our fiscal performance, piecemeal revenue eroding measures are fiscally unsustainable in the long run.

Today, Filipinos live in a country hailed as one of the world’s brightest and safest in these uncertain times. But there is still a long road ahead of us,” Purisima said in a statement.

He said the country is still at a tax to GDP level of 13.6 percent in 2014, “far from our target of achieving at least a 16 percent tax to GDP ratio in 2016 to fund social commitments and other demands for public goods in the future.”

“We agree with the need to reform our tax system-- but since the problems with it are structural in nature, we urge fiscal responsibility in consid-

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Enough chicken, pork for Christmas, says DA Ample food supply keep inflation stable

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HE Department of Agriculture assured the public that there will be enough supply of chicken and pork for the holiday season despite Lando’s onslaught in Central and Northern Luzon.

“Our supplies are sufficient even after Christmas,” Agriculture Secretary J. Proceso Alcala said.

The DA chief added that the government does not see any problem with the prices of chicken and pork.

Typhoon Lando’s damage to the livestock sector is minimal compared to that of Typhoon Glenda’s, Alcala said.

Typhoon Glenda pummeled the country in July last year and caused turbulence in supply and prices of chicken.

According to the Secre-

tary, the DA has also communicated with meat processors and they said that there’s already plenty of ham already prepared to go around.

“This is significant because Filipinos have the habit of preparing early for the holidays since prices of commodities tend to go up during the yuletide season,” he added.

“We have the longest Christmas season probably in the world which starts when September begins and lasts even after December ends,” Alcala said.

Earlier, the DA said though final reports have yet to come in from Region 3, the leading source of chicken and pork in the country, there is no need to panic since there are still other sources of the said commodities. (DA)

ETHNIC PRESENTATION. Ethnic dancers entertain the delegates and guests during the opening night of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference at SMX Convention Center on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

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TABLE consumer prices in food and continuous downward price movements in power and fuel registered inflation at 0.4 percent in October 2015, the same rate as seen in the previous month, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported today that headline inflation rate remained at 0.4 percent in October 2015, well within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas forecast of 0.1-0.9 percent for the period. This is also lower than the 3.2 percent recorded in October 2014.

“The current low inflation environment is expected to continue throughout the year. This will largely be due

to favorable supply-side factors such as the availability of ample food supply and low international oil prices,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

Inflation for the food subgroup remained stable in October 2015 due to large price declines in bread and cereal, rice, and corn.

“These offset the slight price increase in some food items such as meat and vegetables on account of the damage caused by Typhoon Lando which affected supply,” the Cabinet official said.

Lower prices in electricity, gas and other fuels continued on the back of lower generation charge in October 2015.

Prices of gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and LPG likewise re-

mained relatively lower due to the persistent downward movement of international crude oil prices.

Meanwhile, non-food items showed slight price increments as inflation partially increased by 0.2 percent in October 2015.

Core inflation, which excludes energy and unprocessed food prices, slightly increased to 1.5 percent from 1.4 percent in September 2015. However, year-to-date core inflation slowed down to 2.0 percent relative to the 2.1 percent average in September.

‘This indicates that price adjustments across a broad range of consumer items are relatively stable,” said Balisacan, who is also NEDA Director-General.

While the environment remains favorable for low inflation, he however, warned of the upside risks of El Niño and its impact on consumer prices.

“Upside risks could come from the stronger and prolonged El Niño’s impact on food prices and also possible increase in utility rates given the pending petitions for power rate adjustments,” he said.

On food prices, Balisacan said that in the short term, it is imperative to continue monitoring drought in agricultural areas. “There is a need to ensure supply adequacy and to intensify local community efforts in areas that are highly vulnerable and exposed to adverse impacts of a prolonged

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30 boats turned over to fishermen

T The Central Lab Diabetes Wellness, Heart, and Kidneys, Inc. celebrated its 5th Anniversary on November 04, 2015 at FTC Towers,Mt.Apo St.,Davao City.The state-of-the-art diagnostic and multi-specialty clinic provide out-patient,ambulatory care not only in Davao City but also patients throughout Mindanao.With its commitment to serve its clients better through affordable

and quality care,the center will construct a 5-Storey Central Lab Tower along Quirino Avenue, located at the heart of the city.The groundbreaking activity was led by no other than Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and medical doctors of Central Lab.

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) turnedover 30 units of non-motorized fishing vessels funded under the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) in time for the 3rd Binulig Festival last October 29 at the Baywalk in Cagangohan, Panabo City.

The project aims to improve the socio-economic status of fisherfolks who have the highest poverty incidence in the different sectors of society. There are 515 registered fisherfolks in the four coastal barangays of the city.

The project proponent, DA, together with the Bu-

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte addresses the guests and delegates of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference at SMX Convention Center on Wednesday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

‘INVESTMENTS POURING IN’

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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AVAO City is undeniably the newest investment haven in the country.

No less than the father of the city, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, acknowledged the fact that investments are pouring in over the last five years.

This development, he said, is keeping the businessmen optimistic on the potentials of the city best known for its delectable durian and the iconic orchid waling-waling.

“I am happy that our businessmen are upbeat,” Duterte told reporters after delivering his message during the well-attended opening ceremonies of the 3rd Davao Investment

Conference (Icon) at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center Wednesday night.

Duterte said events like the Davao ICon is one such business activity that helps bring investments to the city and lauded the organizers for making this happen.

Most of the investments that are coming Davao’s way and contributing to its economic growth over the years, he said, are on real estate and construction.

The 3rd Davao Icon is being organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) in cooperation with the City Government of Davao thru the Davao City Invest-

PABEBE WAVE. Organizers of the 3rd Davao Investment Confe rence (ICon) do the ‘pabebe wave’ during the opening of the event’s exhibit at the SMX Convention Center Wednesday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

ment Promotions Center (DCIPC) and City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).

The three-day activity focuses on the sectors of real estate, tourism, ICT and manufacturing.

Event chair Architect Daniel T. Lim earlier said the event was spefically staged to attract more investors not only to Davao City but the rest of Mindanao.

“The third Davao

ICON is to promote Davao City as a premier investment location. This is an event to market Davao,” said Lim, immediate past president of the DCCCII. Taking part in the

3rd Davao ICON are stakeholders in the real estate industry such as developers, realtors, as well as professionals involved in the land develop-

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ment and construction industry.

Davao City is a major hub in Mindanao and boasts of a high growth rate that is even national than the national level, according to Lim. Around 400 individuals are participating in this year’s edition of the biggest business event to take place in a city now experiencing a tremendous growth in real estate.

EDGEDAVAO Lim, meanwhile, also cited the contribution of Duterte himself to the growth of Davao over the years.

Not only is Davao attracting investors because of its low power rate and quality water, but also because of the mayor whose brand of governance is the envy of Filipinos.

“Mayor Duterte represents governance with integrity and respect,” Lim said.

ICON OPENING. Participants to the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICon) listen attentively as Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers his message Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr.

Also joining hands with the DCCCII in staging the 3rd Davao ICON are the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) and Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP).

This year’s major backers are Damosa Land Inc., AboitizPower, Deca Homes by 8990 Housing Development Corporation and Ayala-Alveo.

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EDGEDAVAO

ANFLO CITY

to rise in Panabo

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OMEGROWN Anflo Group of Companies, thru its property arm Damosa Land Inc. (DLI), takes pride in one of its latest developments in Anflo City, a massive mixeduse project that will soon rise in Panabo City in Davao del Norte.

Anflo City is a master-planned facility by Palafox and Associates nestled on an 88-hectare property featuring several components that will showcase the best practices of an agri— aqua—ecopolis, thus creating a place of amusement, learning and serenity within the natural landscape and green open spaces of Panabo.

The project will have residential, institution and tourism components and features a working banana farm development that will highlight the agri-based heritage and culture of Panabo.

Both the residential and tourism components will start development in the second quarter of 2016, while the company had already signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of the Philippines-Los Baños last year in relation to its institutional component. Classes, in fact, have started early this year.

Anflo is now in the process of completing the regulatory requirements for the project.

Once completed, Anflo City will become the premier suburban community in the North.

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Organizers of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICon). Photo by Lean Daval Jr.

Five Foreign BPM firms eyeing Felcris Centrale

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

Davao Investment Conference 2015 chair Architect Daniel Lim. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Antonio dela Cruz. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte addresses the guests and delegates of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference. Lean Daval Jr.

F

IVE foreign business process management (BPM) firms are planning to locate in the call center-ready 10-storey office and BPM Center of the Felcris Centrale next year.

“Some of these companies we’re talking to have already existing operations in Davao and they just want to relocate their offices,” homegrown Felcris Hotels and Resorts Corporation president Clark Yap told reporters at the sidelines of the three-day 3rd Davao Investment Conference at the SMX Lanang Convention Center last Wednesday.

Yap said each firm will put up a BPO space that has a 300-seat capacity and will be occupying seven to eight floors of the BPM center while the two of the three floors will be allotted for the operation of local offices here. Each floor will have an area of 1,354 square meters.

“The negotiations with

some of these potential locators are already in the finishing stage,” Yap said.

He did not, however, disclose the name of the potential locaters.

Locators in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) accredited zone will be able to enjoy benefits like tax holiday and exemptions to Value Added Tax (VAT), among others.

The office and the BPM Center is part of the first phase of Felcris Centrale that is located in a 5.9 hect-

are property along Quimpo Boulevard. Aside from BPM and office spaces, the project has also mall, retail and shopping component.

The first phase also includes a new superstores, restaurants, bars, al fresco, specialty stores that was launched just February of this year.

Felcris invested a total of P1.2 billion for the development of the first phase of the project.

Meanwhile, Yap also said the mall of the Felcris Centrale is already 60 per-

cent occupied by both local and Manila-based stores and boutiques. Some of the tenants of the mall are sister companies of Felcris.

One of the tenants which will offer new services to Dabawenyos is Planaforma, a fitness and wellness establishment based in Manila.

Yap said the homegrown superstore operators will also relaunch Chimes, its specialty store, this Saturday that will be graced by actors and actresses.

Investors continue to be bullish in Davao: Duterte L OCAL and foreign investments in Davao City continue to flourish as the city positions itself as a top investment destination in Mindanao.

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte reported that there has been an influx of investment on real estate, tourism, Business Process Management (BPM), and construction of infrastructure in the city like hotels, malls, and subdivisions during the last few years.

Records from the Business Bureau showed that more than 30,000 companies and individuals entre-

preneurs renewed their business permits this year, compared to only 28,460 in 2014.

“Investors are now upbeat over the city’s economic climate,” Duterte told newsmen and the sidelines of the opening Wednesday of the three-day 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICon) at the SMX Davao Convention Center.

Duterte, who welcomed the participants stressed the importance of safety and security in enticing more capitalists in the city, adding that conferences like the Davao ICON “keep track

of the booming business in the city,” he said.

Designed to promote Davao City and Davao Region, this year’s Davao Icon highlights the priority industries of real estate, property development, ICT, manufacturing and tourism.

The Icon is organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc (DCCCII) in partnership with the City Government of Davao’s Davao City Investment Promotions Center and City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers

of the Philippines (OSHDP) and the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association – Southern Mindanao Chapter (SHDA-SMC).

The three-day event includes a “housing madness” to be participated by both local and Manila-based development projects like Alveo of Ayala Land, Decahomes of 8990 Housing Development Corp., Damosa Land, Inc., and Kisan Lu Lands, Inc. among others.

With the theme “Invest Davao: Live.Work.Play, Davao ICON chairman Architect Daniel Lim in his speech during the opening,

said that the ICon is indicative of the upward movement in the real estate industry which cuts across all sectors.

The organizers are expecting some 300 to 500 participants composed of local and foreign developers, investors, and buyers, as well as industry experts.

The first Davao ICOn was staged in 2011 highlighting air connectivity and in 2012 focusing on sea connectivity.

It is dubbed as Mindanao’s biggest investment conference. CHENEEN R. CAPON

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EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDE HOSPITAL (CLINIC

Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (“MPHHI”) (formerly Neptune Stroika Holdings, Inc.), is the current owner of 313,655 common shares of Davao Doctors

MPHHI has offered to acquire the remaining 587,154 common shares of DDH which comprise approximately 65.18% of the total outstanding shares of DDH Regulation Code and Rule 19 of the implementing rules and regulations thereof, setting out MPHHI’s offer (the “Tender Offer”) to acquire the remaining 587,1 with the terms and conditions contained in the summary below:

SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE TENDER OFFER OFFEROR: Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (“MPHHI”), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation SHARES SUBJECT OF THE TENDER OFFER: 587,154 common shares of DDH, which comprise approximately 65.18%% of the total outstanding shares of DDH (“Tender Offer Shares” or “DDH Shares”).

THE OFFER: MPHHI is offering to acquire the Tender Offer Shares on a tiered pricing in accordance with the terms and conditions described below: (i) If as a result of the tender offer, MPHHI acquires less than one hundred thirty six thousand seven hundred forty seven (136,747) DDH Shares: The Purchase Price shall be Two Thousand Three Hundred Pesos (Php 2,300.00) per share. (ii) If as a result of the tender offer, MPHHI acquires at least one hundred thirty six thousand seven hundred forty seven (136,747) DDH Shares but less than two hundred eighty six thousand eight hundred eighty one (286,881) DDH Shares: The Purchase Price shall be Two Thousand Six Hundred Pesos (Php 2,600.00) per share. (iii) If as a result of the tender offer, MPHHI acquires at least two hundred eighty six thousand eight hundred eighty one (286,881) DDH Shares: The Purchase Price shall be Two Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Pesos (Php 2,750.00) per share.

For the avoidance of doubt, DDH Shares which were initially tendered but withdrawn pursuant to the terms hereof shall be considered as not tendered for purposes of determining the final purchase price.

TENDER OFFER PERIOD: 9:00 a.m. of October 01, 2015 until 5:00 p.m. of November 19, 2015 (“Tender Offer Period”) The duly accomplished Application to Tender Shares form must be received by MPHHI’s Tender Offer Agent (the “Tender Offer Agent”) together with the duly endorsed DDH stock certificates and all the other required attachments and supporting documents specified below not later than 5:00 p.m. of November 19, 2015 at the following address: SyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices Attention: Atty. Dominador Maphilindo O. Carrillo The Penthouse, 17/F, Landco Corporate Centre J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City 8000 Telephone No. : (6382) 221-3917 Applications presented after the end of the Tender Offer Period shall be rejected, unless the Tender Offer Period is extended by MPHHI with the approval of the SEC. Applications that are not properly completed, or lack any of the required attachments will also be rejected.

The Tender Offer Agent will likewise reject an Application if it cannot verify the signature of the stockholder on the Application or the endorsement of the stock certificate.

SETTLEMENT DATE: Within ten (10) calendar days after the termination of the Tender Offer Period, starting November 20, 2015 (“Settlement Date”)

SETTLEMENT: DDH Shares that are validly tendered shall be paid for by MPHHI under the following terms: 1. Initial payment of 80% of the purchase price (“Initial Payment”), payable within ten (10) calendar days after the termination of the Tender Offer period, starting on November 20, 2015 (the “Settlement Date”). It is expected that part of the Initial Payment will be used by the tendering shareholders to pay for the capital gains tax due for the sale of the DDH Shares.

2. The balance equivalent to 20% of the purchase price (“Balance Amount”) shall be paid within seven (7) calendar days from delivery of the original and valid Certificate Authorizing Registration from the relevant Revenue District Office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue authorizing the transfer of the DDH Shares from the tendering stockholder to MPHHI. All payments shall be made through check payable in the name of the stockholder of record who made a valid tender of DDH Shares. When collecting payment, the tendering stockholder (or his/her authorized representative) shall present the “Applicant’s Copy” of the application together with a certification duly signed by the Tender Offer Agent, as well as proper identification (e.g. driver’s license, passport). Duly authorized representatives shall be required to present an authorization from the tendering stockholder.

MPHHI, through its Escrow Agent (the “Escrow Agent”), shall issue check payments representing the Initial Payment for validly tendered DDH Shares. The check payments representing the Initial Payment shall be made available by the Escrow Agent for pick up by the tendering shareholders within the Settlement Date at the offices of the Escrow Agent at the address indicated below.

Banco de Oro - Davao Bangoy Branch Attention: Romeo Cabiling (Branch Manager) and/or Grace Adlawan (Operations Officer) R. Magsaysay Ave. cor. C. Bangoy St., Davao City 8000 Telephone Nos.: (6382) 227-2802/221-4480/222-2860 The check representing the Balance Amount (less allowable deductions as provided herein) shall be made available for pick up within seven (7) calendar days from receipt by MPHHI’s Tender Offer Agent of the original Certificate Authorizing Registration covering all of the DDH Shares tendered also at the same offices.

In case the stockholder fails to submit the Certificate Authorizing Registration to MPHHI within six (6) months after the Settlement Date, MPHHI and/or the Tender Offer Agent is hereby authorized to file the Capital Gains Tax Return, pay the Capital Gains Tax (together with any applicable penalties, interests and surcharges as the Bureau of Internal Revenue may assess) and apply for Certificate Authorizing Registration for the transfer of legal title over the shares to the Bidder, and all expenses incurred in undertaking such activity/ies shall be deducted from the Balance Amount.

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS: The following documents must be executed and submitted to the Tender Offer Agent during the Tender Offer Period: REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS TO THE APPLICATION TO TENDER SHARES IN DDH TO MPHHI 1. Duly executed tender offer application form (3 original copies).

2. Original DDH stock certificates duly endorsed, which shall be verified by the Tender Offer Agent with the Office of the Corporate Secretary of DDH as valid and authentic certificates. 1

VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

ERS OF DAVAO DOCTORS CA HILARIO), INC.

A3 B3

s Hospital (Clinica Hilario), Inc. (“DDH”) which represent approximately 34.82% of the total outstanding capital stock of DDH.

H. Accordingly, on September 29, 2015, MPHHI filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Report (SEC Form 19-1) in compliance with Section 19 of the Securities 154 common shares of DDH in the hands of all the other shareholders. All the shares tendered shall be purchased by MPHHI on a tiered pricing in accordance In case of lost stock certificates, a tendering stockholder must comply with the requirements under Section 73 of the Corporation Code of the Philippines and shall be required to submit (i) one (1) original of a duly notarized affidavit of loss, (ii) copy of the affidavit of loss as published in a newspaper of general circulation, (iii) affidavit of publication (of the affidavit of loss), and (iv) bond in an amount equivalent to twice the book value of the DDH Shares as of the date of execution of the affidavit of loss, multiplied by the number of shares covered by each lost stock certificate.

3. Duly executed Deed of Absolute Sale of Shares indicating all the required details in the form prescribed. The price will be inserted and the Deed of Sale will be notarized after the Tender Offer Period. For this purpose, the signatory to the Deed of Absolute Sale will have to appear before the notary public for purposes of notarizing the Deed of Absolute Sale on Settlement Date. (3 original copies) 4. Photocopies of two (2) valid identification cards issued by an official agency of the government, showing the applicant’s signature and photograph (i.e., driver’s license, SSS/GSIS card, or passport, etc.).

secretary attesting to the approval by the partnership to tender the DDH Shares and to sign, execute and deliver all documents and agreements, and to perform such acts as may be necessary for the tender of the DDH Shares to MPHHI in the form prescribed (3 original copies); (ii) copy of SEC Registration, latest Articles of Partnership and/or equivalent constitutive documents and General Information Sheet (or equivalent) certified as true copy of the original by the partnership secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the partnership records or a valid governmentissued identification card containing the picture and signature of the Applicant’s authorized signatory.

Note: Documents executed abroad must be consularized. In case of married shareholders who are Philippine citizens, the special power of attorney must likewise be signed by the spouse of such stockholder to indicate his/her consent to the appointment of the attorney-in-fact for purposes of disposing of the Tender Offer Shares.

WITHDRAWAL: Any DDH Shares tendered may be withdrawn by the tendering stockholder at any time during the Tender Offer Period upon submission of an original written request to withdraw the tendered shares from the tender offer. All written requests must be received by the Tender Offer Agent before 5:00 p.m. of November 19, 2015.

5. Duly executed capital gains tax return (BIR Form 1707) signed by the shareholder or his/her/its authorized representative, indicating the selling price and acquisition cost for the DDH Shares tendered, and the computation of the capital gains tax payable.

(3 original copies)

The request to withdraw from the tender offer must clearly state the name of the tendering shareholder and the number of shares to be withdrawn from the tender offer. MPHHI shall have the right to exercise discretion in determining the validity of any written request to withdraw from the tender offer.

6. Copies of the proof of acquisition cost of the DDH Shares tendered by the tendering shareholder sufficient for purposes of obtaining a Certificate Authorizing Registration (which will be used by the tendering shareholder in applying for a Certificate Authorizing Registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue), including among others, the official receipt, Subscription Agreement or Deed of Sale for the purchase of the tendered DDH Shares by the tendering shareholder. 2

TAXES AND EXPENSES: The tendering shareholder shall be responsible for the filing of the Capital Gains Tax Return, payment of the applicable capital gains tax within the period provided by law and securing the Certificate Authorizing Registration. MPHHI shall shoulder the payment of the documentary stamp tax and filing of the appropriate return. The tendering shareholder shall shoulder all of its own costs and expenses for the sale of the DDH Shares to MPHHI under the tender offer.

7. Irrevocable Proxy in the form prescribed (3 original copies) 8. In case of individual stockholders: duly accomplished signature card containing the specimen signature of the Applicant and verified by an officer of the bank where the Applicant maintains an account or a valid government-issued identification card containing the picture and signature of the Applicant. Furthermore, if the individual shareholder will tender his/her shares through a representative, an original notarized irrevocable special power of attorney authorizing the stockholder’s attorney-in-fact to enter into all transactions and to sign, execute and deliver the documents and agreements enumerated herein shall also be submitted as part of the documents.

9. In case of corporate stockholders, (i) an original notarized certification from the corporate stockholder’s duly elected and incumbent corporate secretary attesting to the approval by the board of directors and stockholders (if necessary) to tender the DDH Shares and to sign, execute and deliver all documents and agreements, and to perform such acts as may be necessary for the tender of the DDH Shares to MPHHI in the form prescribed (3 original copies); (ii) copy of SEC Registration and latest Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws or equivalent constitutive documents and General Information Sheet certified as true copy of the original by the corporate secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the company records, and (iii) duly accomplished signature card containing the specimen signature of the Applicant’s authorized signatory and verified by an officer of the bank where the Applicant/authorized representative maintains an account or a valid government-issued identification card containing the picture and signature of the Applicant’s authorized signatory.

10. In case of partnerships: (i) an original notarized certification from the partnership’s duly elected and incumbent partnership

TENDER OFFER AGENT: SyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices shall act as the Tender Offer Agent for the tender offer. For copies of prescribed forms and other related documents, and for any inquiries regarding the tender offer, please contact the Tender Offer Agent as follows: Atty. Dominador Maphilindo O. Carrillo SyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices The Penthouse, 17/F, Landco Corporate Centre J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City 8000 Telephone No. : (6382) 221-3917 Email Address: dmocarrillo@syciplaw.com Bank of the Philippine Islands has confirmed that resources available to MPHHI are sufficient to satisfy the full acceptance of the Tender Offer.

Each stockholder of DDH is advised to read the full terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and SEC Form 19-1. Inquiries and requests for assistance and copies of SEC Form 19-1 may be directed to the Tender Offer Agent, whose address and telephone numbers are indicated above.

For corporate/partnership stockholders, the stock certificates must be endorsed by its authorized signatory/ies whose name and specimen signature/s is/are on file with the Corporate Secretary of DDH. 2 This is to enable the Bidder to apply for, and obtain the Certificate Authorizing Registration with the BIR in case the stockholder fails to submit the Certificate Authorizing Registration to MPHHI within six (6) months after the Settlement Date.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Felcris investing P10B for 3 towers

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

H

O M E G RO W N property developer Felcris Hotels and Resorts Corporation will invest a total of P10 billion for the construction of three condominium towers.

Construction of the three towers, soon-tobe the tallest structures

in Davao City, will start early next year.

“Each of the three towers will have 38-storeys each,” FHRC president Clark Yap told reporters at the opening of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICon) at the SMX Convention Center Wednesday.

Yap said the residential condominium tow-

ers will be all constructed at same time and will be part of the second phase of the 5.7 hectare mixed-use development project located along Quimpo Boulevard Yap said the residential condominium towers will be constructed just beside the Felcris Central where there is already a shopping mall

and 10-storey call center-ready offices.

Projected to become part of Davao City’ newest business hub, the 38-storey condominiums will feature high-end condominium units.

The construction of the condominium towers form part of the second phase of the

EVENT OVERVIEW

8-year master-planned project which will have features of convention halls, fitness and wellness centers, retail establishments complete with the splendid view of the Island Garden City of Samal and the country’s tallest peakMt. Apo. Yap said a hotel will be also constructed in

front of the condominiums. He also clarified that all of these development projects will be undertaken only by the company.

Yap said the family continued to invest in Davao City because of the huge potential here post by its fast growing economy and population.

The Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICon) 2015 is the 3rd staging of Mindanao’s Premier Business Investment event geared towards magnifying investment trends and opportunities not only in Davao City but also throughout the region. It also aims to strengthen both foreign and domestic linkages that will eventually help establish Davao region as the investment hub of the Philippines.

Davao ICon 2015 focuses on the Real Estate Investment Industry as its main focused industry together with ICT, Tourism and Manufacturing industries.

This year, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) partnered with three equally enthusiastic government offices and associations: Davao City Investment and Promotion Center, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association and the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines.

On its 3rd year, Davao Investment Conference’s highlights are as follows: • Investment Conference Exhibits • Investment Conference • Investors’ Night • Housing Madness • Business Matching Davao ICon aims to bring together buyers, investors as well as industry experts to discuss business opportunities, success stories, best practices locally and in the ASEAN region and eventually build partnerships, thus bringing more people and investment to Davao.

Don’t miss the coming together of investment industry players and stakeholders. Join Davao ICon!

MILESTONES

Davao ICon 2012 The success of the first Davao ICon paved the way to a second Davao ICon showcasing venue for domestic and direct foreign investments to enter Davao, the gateway to the Philippines. Thus, Davao ICon 2012’s theme: “Invest in Davao… Life is Here”. The event has laid out the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between Davao and Bitung, Indonesia which implemented the Roll-On/Roll-off (RORO) route giving great benefit to both destinations. Investors’ Golf Tournament, Investor’s Fellowship Night, Investment Conference and the Investment and Business Matching were highlighted among others.

Davao ICon 2011 The DCCCII initiates, Davao ICon, the first Premier Business Investment event in Mindanao, which brought together various stakeholders and potential investors for the growth and development of the city. The first Davao ICon has paved way on the Signing of the Sisterhood Agreement between Davao International Airport and Clark International Airport with the direct connection of the two destinations via the entry of Air Asia. It had also enticed participants coming from a wide variety of sectors; ICT, Agribusiness, Industry, Academic Institutions, Services, Hospitality, Local Government and Real Estate among others.

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Organic farming can feed the world Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

O

RGANIC farming can feed the world’s growing population, according to the findings from one of America’s leading universities. The study showed that organic farms in developing countries can yield up to three times as much food as low-intensive methods on the same land.

Researchers from the University of Michigan found that in developed countries, yields were almost equal on organic and conventional farms. And in developing countries, food production could double or triple using organic methods, observed Professor Ivette Perfecto in the university’s School of Natural Resources and Environment, and one the study’s principal investigators.

“Organic farming means going back to the basics,” says Roy C. Alimoane, the director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC), a non-government organization based in barangay Kinuskusan in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. The center has been promoting organic farming since the 1970s. “We want people who come to the center that once they return to their respective places,” Alimoane points out, “they have learned something which they could use in their own farms.”

Environment-friendly, natural, not using pesticides and other chemicals, sustainable, regenerative, and healthy – these are the words use to describe this method of farming which has recently captured the attention of many countries around the world.

Thanks to Republic Act 10068, organic farming is now being promoted in the Philippines. More popularly known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, the law is a state policy

Penalosa Farm

Benjamin Lao

that promotes, propagates, and further develops the practice of organic farming in the country.

President Benigno Aquino III, during the 8th National Organic Agriculture Conference in Hacienda Luisita last year, directed the Department of Agriculture to allocate 2-percent of its annual budget for the implementation of the department’s programs and policies on organic agriculture.

In Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao, most farmers are now growing rice organically. More farmers are following suit as they have seen the bounty harvest of those practiced the system compared to those who didn’t.

“Organic agriculture is the answer,” pointed out Jessica Reyes-Cantos of the Manila-based Rice Watch and Action Network. “It won’t only retain soil productivity but it can make farming viable. If farmers will have additional income from their land they will continue to plant rice.”

The Philippines is not the only country adopting organic farming. “Organic farming is now established in international standards, and 84 countries had implemented organic regulations by 2010, up from 74 countries in 2009,” said a report from the Washington, D.C.based Worldwatch Institute.

Definitions vary, but according to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, organic agriculture is a production system that relies on ecological processes, such as waste recycling, rather than the use of synthetic inputs, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

“Although organic agriculture often produces lower yields on land that has recently been farmed conventionally, it

Weeding is necessary can outperform conventional practices – especially in times of drought – when the land has been farmed organically for a longer time,” said Laura Reynolds, co-author of the Worldwatch report, “Organic Agriculture Contributes to Sustainable Food Security.”

Reynolds, a researcher with Worldwatch’s Food and Agriculture Program, said that “conventional agricultural practices often degrade the environment over both the long and short term through soil erosion, excessive water extraction, and biodiversity loss.”

Organic farming, she pointed out, has the potential to contribute to sustainable food security by improving nutrition intake and sustaining livelihoods in rural areas, while simultaneously reducing vulnerability to climate change and enhancing biodiversity.

In 2010, the most recent year for which data are available, certified organic farming accounted for approximately

0.9 percent of the world’s agricultural land. Asia, with a total of 2.8 million hectares, is home to 7 percent of the world’s certified organic agricultural land.

Organic farming is bound to increase manual labor as “sustainable practices associated with organic farming are relatively labor intensive,” Worldwatch said in a statement release to the press.

Organic agriculture uses up to 50 percent less fossil fuel energy than conventional farming, and common organic practices – including rotating crops, applying mulch to empty fields, and maintaining perennial shrubs and trees on farms – also stabilize soils and improve water retention, thus reducing vulnerability to harsh weather patterns.

“On average, organic farms have 30 percent higher biodiversity, including birds, insects, and plants, than conventional farms do,” pointed out Catherine Ward, co-author of the report.

Benefits like these are what inspired Benjamin R. Lao, of barangay Eman in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, to adopt organic farming. His endeavor paid off when the Department of Agriculture named his as an outstanding organic farmer in 2012.

“We want to teach Filipino farmers the right way of farming through the natural method, without using commercial fertilizer or pesticides,” he said of those people who come to Lao Integrated Farm.

The farm is teeming with coconut (his primary source of income as he produces coco sugar) and various fruits like lanzones (more than a thousand trees), durian (700 trees), mangosteen, and rambutan.

In his farm, you won’t see his farm workers using chemical pesticides. “I had a tragic experience with chemical pesticides when I was still a teenager while cultivating rice in our farm located at the neighboring barangay,” he revealed.

Instead, Lao recommends using Eman, which stands for “epektibo, mura, at natural” (effective, cheap, and natural).

“This is a concoction composed of fresh goats’ manure, kakawate, makabuhay, and hot pepper,” he informed. “These are soaked together for 48 hours and after that the concoction is ready for application.”

According to him, Eman is effective in repelling plant

pests and diseases. In addition, it is also a good course of foliar fertilizer. “We are committed to help preserve our environment. We want to teach Filipino farmers the right way of farming through natural method and that is by not using commercial fertilizer or pesticides,” he said.

People who have been to the farm described it as a haven. You don’t see only livestock and crops but ornamentals as well. “It’s nice to see beautiful flowers underneath the trees,” he explained. “Also, the flowers serve as breeding areas for beneficial insects like spiders and dragonflies.”

In the heart of Victorias City, there is less than a hectare farm which is considered as one of the top agri-tourism destinations in Negros Occidental. “We can address the problem of poverty by teaching people about farming,” said Ramon Dayrit Peñalosa, Jr., the owner of the farm.

“Mr. Organic,” the moniker Peñalosa earned for venturing into organic farming and stuck to it like a glue, really never thought of becoming an agripreneur. When his former business, bus transport system, closed down, he was left with a property that was used before as garage and repair area for vehicles.

“We had to think of something that would make our property into something productive,” recalled organic guru and pillar of organic farming in Negros Island and Western Visayas. “So we tried something far off from bus lines.”

In the beginning, he planted kangkong in the property, particularly near the water-logged areas. Later on, the whole area was swamped with kangkong. So he decided to raise pigs, which he found out to be viable. He added more pigs and before he knew it, he was already raising 40 pigs all in all. He thought of raising tilapia, ducks and chickens. He planted fruit trees and vegetable crops.

It was just a matter of time that he learned about organic farming. But to Peñalosa, organic farming has a lot to do with “maka” (a Hiligaynon prefix that usually means “for”): “maka-tao” (people-friendly), “maka-kalikasan” (environment and wildlife as the main focus), “maka-lupa” (pro-soil), “maka-kalusugan”( does not threaten the well-being of a

person), “maka-kinabukasan” (pro-future), “maka-bulsa” (profitable), and “maka-Diyos” (pro-God).

Peñalosa believes that a farmer should not only be contented of merely planting seeds into the soil and see them grow.

“To become a successful farmer, he has to understand the whole concept of agricultural production,” he explained. “He has to learn also the business side.”

Farmers should never go hungry and should be well off, he believed. But such is not the case in the real sense. “Sixty percent of Filipinos are into agriculture and fishery and yet they still belong to the poorest sector,” he deplored.

That’s why Peñalosa recommended that farmers should think like a businessman. “An agripreneur should go into business opportunities under the concept of farm to market, farm to kitchen, and farm to plate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prof. Perfecto said the idea that people would go hungry if farming went organic is “ridiculous.”

In an article which appeared in People and the Planet, she was quoted as saying: “Corporate interest in agriculture and the way agriculture research has been conducted in land grant institutions, with a lot of influence by the chemical companies and pesticide companies as well as fertilizer companies-all have been playing an important role in convincing the public that you need to have these inputs to produce food.”

The outcomes of their study seemed to jibe with the earlier findings by a British team, which reported in 1999 that organic farming could produce enough food to feed large populations. In fact, the said study concluded that it could be viable even in developing countries if the political climate is favorable.

Farms could be economically viable on a much larger scale, even in developing countries with large populations, said Dr. Liz Stockdale, of the Institute of Arable Crop Research in England.

“In less developed countries, countries where the conventional agricultural systems aren’t that intensive to start with, we can see that conventional systems and organic systems actually can match yields very closely,” she added.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

A

A practical step

S this space pointed out two days ago, there is a simple solution to the rash of arrests of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for allegedly carrying bullets with them. Whether they were really carrying bullets or these were planted in their bags, the point is that the penalty for carrying even a single bullet without a license is too harsh —prision mayor or 6 to 12 years in prison — and is the same as actually carrying a small firearm. In a sense, airport security has no choice but arrest a person carrying a bullet because there is an actual law against it. Unfortunately, this is also a source of temptation because they can easily scare a passenger into paying them off for the dropping of charges, whether a bullet was actually found or it was planted in the bag of the hapless victim. The simple solution, then, is to decriminalize the possession of bullets so that there would be no more reason to harass passengers with the purpose of shaking them down for cash.

That no one government official had taken the step seemed irrational — until one remembers that it is more beneficial for them these days to rant along with us because it places them in a good light against the perceived inutility of the national

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government. But these rants do no actual good; what we have needed was immediate action that would take the wind out of the scammers. Beyond the rhetorics, we needed something concrete.

Fortunately, some action was taken by Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who filed House Bill 6245 or the “Iwas Tanim Bala Bill” which aims to put an end to the Tanim Bala modus operandi by decriminalizing the possession of up to three bullets. If this passes through Congress — and there is no reason it should not, given her current stature as the running mate of Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas — then we should be seeing a decline in the number of persons being arrested for carrying bullets at the airport. And with that also the number of people complaining that security officers tried to extort money out of them in order to let them go.

Robredo’s action, of course, does not address the problem completely. The root of the “tanim-bala” scam, after all, is greed, and if that is so then the people behind it will simply find other things to shake down people with. But at least there would be one less thing to worry about, and all it would have taken was a practical step in the right direction.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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

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O

NE of my favorite topics in economics is rent seeking. It is broadly defined

by Gordon Tullock who founded the idea in the late 1960s, and Anne Krueger named it in the early 70s as an offshoot of economist David Ricardo’s description of taking more than what is necessary from a particular economic arrangement. In the Tullock and Krueger definition, people are said to “seek” and “chase” rents when they try to obtain benefits for themselves through the political or, in our case, the regulatory arena.

How does this apply to the “tanim bala” scam? As the NBI recently revealed in its own investigation, say a set of agency officers in the NAIA composed of the porters, airport police, and OTS personnel all conspire to steal money from unsuspecting old lady passengers. A rent seeking opportunity therefore rises when bullets are planted and money is extracted from these folks to obtain their release to allow them to board their flights. Would it be unsurprising that

T

O those who speak Bisaya, it is known as “tigmo” as in: “Tigmo-tigmo agukoy, ugma na ta mag-asoy.”

Answer: dream.

But among those living in Metro Manila and most parts of Luzon, it is called “bugtong.” Example: “Bugtong-bugtong, hindi hari, hindi pari, ang suot ay sari-sari.” Answer: sampayan (clothesline).

Riddles -- that’s how they’re called in English. “The history of riddles and puzzles can be traced back to thousands of years as found by archeologists,” innovateus.net explained. “The walls of the ancient temples in Japan, China and Tibet have intriguing puzzles etched on them. Many of them reveal mathematical formulas while some of them were mainly used for games and fun and may have even led to the modern version of board games such as chess.”

Actually, a riddle is a statement or question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved.

There are two types of riddles: enigmas and conundra. Enigmas are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that require ingenuity and careful thinking for their solution. Conundra, on the other hand, are questions relying for their effects on punning in either the question or the answer.

“We can probably say that riddling is a universal art,” Archer Taylor once pointed out. After all, there are riddles from hundreds of different cultures including Finnish, Hungarian, American Indian, Chinese, Russian, Dutch and Filipino.

Since ancient times, riddles were used in an interesting and entertaining way.

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VANTAGE POINTS

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Seeking rents by planting bullets the signing MY TWO CENTS’ of “waivers” that the found bullets were actually amulets would not be processed promptly without the requisite grease John Tria money? Emecisouth@gmail.com ploying typical squeeze play tactics, the victims fork over cash to enable them to leave, lest they fail to make the boarding gates in time and pay more for that rescheduled trip. These thieves therefore make their dough from the opportunity.

This “rent” is defined when these bureaucrats get more than they should from the work (sworn duty) of assisting and protecting passengers. For many of these services, taxes and the terminal fees have

already been paid by passengers to the tune of P750 for international trips and P200 for domestic travelers. Extracting any more above this is criminal, especially as it comes at a time when air travel is the preferred means of interisland travel in this archipelago. Promo fares from Mindanao on budget airlines already cost less than the old boat trip or the three-day bus ride to Manila, and even those with lower incomes will prefer to fly since it is cheaper. Sadly, it is these people seeking affordable travel who seem to bear the brunt of these rent seeking fiends. Other political persuasions call this “bureaucrat capitalism,” where the bureaucrats are able to extract additional gains for themselves by leveraging on their positions.

Simply put, rent seeking is a fetter to the free market since it adds costs and effort to what are simple, straightforward economic transactions. Free market economics demand the removal of these barriers and require the state to enforce laws that protect

people from these. Thus, excessive customs duties, tedious and cumbersome regulations all add to the cost of doing business in a particular area.

The kudos received by the Davao airport police and related personnel about helping inform outgoing passengers about this scam is laudable, coming even ahead of the NBI’s findings. Many exclaimed that they feel their taxes go to the right places in Davao, as the police became the people’s vanguard against these nefarious activities. Perhaps many outside of Manila have known of these tactics at the Manila airport all along.

Likewise, many of us are not surprised.

As far as the Manila government goes, every transaction seems to be a rent seeking opportunity for the unscrupulous individuals running it. Every important transaction needs to go through Manila, and with it, we must always be prepared to grease their hands or push hard to get simple things done.

“The Middle THINK ON THESE! Ages show instances where street entertainers often made a living by entertaining travelers with interesting riddles. In Fiji riddle tourHenrylito D. Tacio naments were henrytacio@gmail.com a common practice with the champions treated to a grand feast to honor their intelligence,” noted innovateus.net.

But the Greeks made riddles very popular. Wikipedia recorded this information: “Although Plato reports that ancient Greek children did indeed engage in riddle play (Republic 479c), he also recognized the important function that riddles can play in showing what cannot literally be said about ultimate truths (Letters, book 2, 312d).

“Aristotle considered riddles important enough to include discussion of their use in his Rhetoric. He describes the close relationship between riddles and metaphors: ‘Good riddles do, in general, provide us with satisfactory metaphors; for metaphors imply riddles, and therefore a good riddle can furnish a good metaphor.’”

When I was still a little boy, while attending Sabbath School, our teacher told the story of Samson. Judges 14:12-20 tells about a riddle competition that Samson started as his seven-day wedding feast. He

offered rewards to someone who could answer, but demanded the same rewards for himself if they failed.

His riddle: “Out of the eater came something to eat; Out of the strong came something sweet.” If you don’t know the answer, then you must have not read the Bible. The answer: honey out of a lion. Why is that?

Then read the Bible to find out.

It was in high school when I started to read literatures. Thanks to our teacher who inspired us to read short stories and novels during our spare times. It was one of those readings that I came across of the most famous riddle of all -- that of the question the Sphinx asked every human she met.

The Sphinx was a dangerous creature with a woman’s head and breasts, a lion’s claws, an animal body, a dragon’s tail, and a bird’s wings. She prowled the countryside looking for trouble. Her riddle: “What walks on four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening?” A person who couldn’t answer was eaten immediately.

Oedipus Rex, the king who married his mother (but he didn’t know she was his mother), answered the question correctly.

When he did, the Sphinx reportedly killed herself. The answer, by the way, is “a man” -- who crawls at the beginning of life, walks upright in mid-life, and walks with a cane in old age.

In recent years, riddles typically use puns and double entendres for humorous effect rather than to puzzle the butt of the joke. Consider this: “Why is six afraid of seven?” The answer: “Because seven eight nine (eight can be replaced with ate).”

Several stories in One Thousand and One Nights involve riddles, including the story of Turandot, which was the inspiration for several modern plays. The suitors need to answer all three questions to gain the Princess’s hand, or else they are beheaded.

Today, riddles figure in novels and movies. Wikipedia gives these examples: In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Gollum challenges Bilbo Baggins to a riddle competition for his life. Bilbo breaks “the ancient rules” of the game but is able to escape with Gollum’s magic ring. As happens in the Norse tale, although Bilbo asked more of a simple question than a riddle, by attempting to answer it rather than challenging it Gollum accepted it as a riddle; by accepting it, his loss was binding.

The third book of Susan Cooper’s fantasy sequence The Dark is Rising is titled The Grey King. In it, Will and Bran must win a riddle game in order for Bran to claim his heritage as the Pendragon.

In Stephen King’s The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands and The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, the ka-tet must riddle against Blaine the Mono in order to save their lives. At first Blaine can answer all riddles posed to him by the ka-tet easily, but then Eddie Dean, one of the ka-tet, gains the upper hand when he starts to ask joke riddles, effectively frustrating Blaine’s highly logical mind.

Finally, here’s an ancient Mayan riddle that you have a hard time answering: “You see it but you can’t grab it. It goes with you but you can’t grab it.”

So, what’s the answer?

What’s the answer?

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thing from the Philippine government.

Malacañang has already issued a statement that the government will pay ransom to the group.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also maintained it will adhere to the no-ransom policy.

“The PNP adheres to the principle of no ransom policy based on government’s policy.

Rest assured… that the con-

tinuing operations to ensure the safety of the victims… is the primordial concern of the PNP and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor told reporters in a press briefing at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame last Wednesday.

He said the PNP is continuously conducting operations to rescue the victims. (With a report from PNA)

cy of 150 megawatts in the Mindanao Grid supplied by Agus 1 and Agus 2 Hydropower plants in Lanao Del Sur. The NGCP has expressed concerns, stating that the attacks seems to have escalated following the bombing of Tower 21 and the discovery of undetonated bombs planted in various power transmission lines in Mindanao.

Ladaga said that the NGCP had issued an appeal to the public to help monitor the safety of the towers so that transmission services re-

mained uninterrupted.

She said that the NGCP was fully cooperating with law enforcement agencies as they investigated the incident while restoration efforts began as soon as local law enforcement agencies declared that the area was safe.

Ladaga said that the NGCP had also appealed to the local government units and the Philippine Army for assistance in resolving escalating security and right-of-way issues involving power transmission lines in Mindanao. (PNA)

crime, the city has recorded 3,870 compared with 5,935 of last year which has a 34.8 percent or 2,065 decrease.

Index crime refers to the crimes such as theft, murder, physical injuries, homicide, rape, robbery and many more.

Driz said the city has also

recorded low non-index crime of 6,492 which is lower to 7,104 of last which has 612 or 8.6 percent decrease.

Non-index crime refers to the case such as special laws, estafa, kidnapping, and car theft. ARMANDO B. FENEQUIITO JR.

also manifested she would interpellate after Enrile, he added.

tor Enrile’s interpellation but that he was not sure if Enrile could finish it in three days.

“Kung hindi man matapos ay amin pong ipagpapatuloy iyan pagkatapos ng budget sa second week of December, by December 7 siguro at amin pong sisikapin na matapos ito bago po matapos ang Disyembre” (If he’s not finished, we will continue after the budget deliberations, by the second week of December, or by December 7 and we will try to finish this before December ends).

The Senate will go on Christmas break from December 19 to January 18, resume sessions from January 19 to February 5 for only eight session days, and go on break again for the elections, from February 6 to May 22.

At the House of Representatives, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law in August eyed September 15 as the target date for passage of HB 5811 or BLBAR, its substitute bill to the draft BBL. The problem of lack of quorum, however, resulted to only five representatives finishing their interpellation during the sessions between August 4 and September 23. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

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Can Congress... FROM 4 Budget talk: Nov. 11 to Dec. 2 Deliberations on the BBL, however, will only be two more days in November – November 9 and 10 — and will resume on December 7, according to the schedule Drilon told Bombo Radyo.

The Senate has blocked off session days from November 11 to December 2 for the budget deliberations.

Drilon said he is asking the Finance Committee chair, Senator Loren Legarda, to sponsor it on November 11 so interpellation could proceed on November 12, 13 and 16 but will have to be suspended on the 17th, 18th and 19th due to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

The sessions on November 23 to 27 – or two days longer than the usual Monday to Wednesday sessions –will focus on the budget so that it will be approved by the first week of December and sent to President Aquino before or on the third week of December for his signature, Drilon said.

In the same interview, Drilon said they have reserved November 9 and 10 for Sena-

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DTI... FROM 5

IVF, however, is not always successful in conceiving an embryo. The doctors pointed out that the percentage of success for women in their thirties is 50 percent while women in their forties have five percent.

“The younger you are, the better chances you have,” Dr. Cabling said. Furthermore, just like any pregnancy, there is also a chance for miscarriage during the pre-natal stage.

The percentage for couples to successfully bear a child through this process, or what doctors call the take-home-baby rate, is 40-50 percent in the Philippines.

For this reason, there is always counseling before couples enter the process. “We cannot institute treatment if couples aren’t ready to accept,” Dr. Stuart said.

She said they also seek to open the minds of people in Mindanao. “In the past, (this process) was taken as esoteric.

That’s why they have to look at the explanation first. It’s (fairly) simple, and the technology is available,” she said.

One of the reasons why it took them long to bring this technology here is because the resources including the equipment and the substances used for the procedures are expensive. According to the doctors, it cost approximately P25

million to P30 million, with all equipment shipped from Europe.

It also took time to train people who could deliver the procedure. This group of doctors is the first batch in Davao trained for IVF and they had to train for an additional four years.

In about five years, the group envisions increased awareness of the problem of infertility and the availability of this treatment. More than that, they seek to expand the training, research, and development of this facility so that they can cater to more couples and make treatment accessible and more affordable to more people.

They also see this as an opportunity in the context of ASEAN integration where couples from nearby Asian cities like Manado in Indonesia can go to Davao for treatment.

Right now, IVF costs more or less P300,000. The price depends on age so a rough formula for the price is the age of the woman multiplied by 10,000. This treatment is limited only to married couples.

The facility will be officially open on November 1. As of now, they are expecting eight couples to undergo IVF in November, five in December, and three in January next year.

many foreign nationals are now emboldened to establish their drug factories in the country because once convicted, they only suffer life imprisonment as opposed to the penalties that they may suffer in their own countries which, in some cases, death, like in China.

The authors also cited constant reports of foreign nationals, including Chinese nationals, being caught selling drugs and operating drug dens and laboratories in the country. And once caught and convicted, the penalty that our courts may impose is only life imprisonment.

This is a sad or even unfair situation because when Filipinos are caught drug trafficking

abroad, they may be imposed the death penalty, as seen in the most recent execution of the three Filipinos in China, namely Elizabeth Batain, 38, Sally Ordinario Villanueva, 32, and Ramon Credo, 42.

Again, in July 2013, a 35-year-old Filipina was executed despite pleas from the Philippine Government. She was caught in January 2011 with 6.198 kilos of heroin in her luggage at the Hangzhou International Airport and was sentenced to death in 2011.

“While there is no reason to question the laws of foreign countries, we must however, ensure that our countrymen do not suffer the short end of the stick,” the authors stressed. (PNA)

reau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and local government unitm, allocated P2.1 million to finance these 30 locally- made bancas, for the purchase of fishing gears establishment of three units of payao.

Meanwhile, Mayor James G. Gamao through his representative, Edgar Gerale said: “I am hoping you will take good care of these bancas. Let’s protect and conserve the seas so that the coming generations can inherit and enjoy its bounties.”

For his part, Renante Bangoy, chair of the com-

mittee on agriculture and tourism asserted that: “At first, they did not believe the city could provide bancas. But through the city government and the BUB approach, their dreams of owning one became a reality. Also, a fish port and other facilities will soon be put up to provide more economic activity which is initiated by congressman Anton F. Lagdameo and the local government unit of Panabo.”

The fisherfolks from the different associations were happy and eager to use immediately the fishing vessels to try its seaworthiness.

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the Consumer Act of the Philippines; and RA 4109 or the Standards Law. Inquiries can be addressed to DTI-Davao region at 4F Mintrade Realty Building, corner

Monteverde and Sales Streets, Davao City through landline number (082) 224-0511, local 417 and 420 (Consumer Protection Services Division).

DTI11/WDG/jmm

ering tax reform in a comprehensive and holistic manner,” he said.

The DOF said total revenues for the month reached P164.1 billion in September, 6 percent or P9.5 billion higher than the year-ago figure.

Meanwhile, total revenues for the period of January-September reached P1.61 trillion, reflecting a 13 percent growth year-on-year.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) hauled in P112.3 billion for the month, 6 percent wider than year-ago figures. “This pulls year-to date collections of the BIR beyond the trillion-peso mark at P1.07 trillion, growing 8 percent or P78.4 billion from year-ago figures,” the DOF said.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) raised P32.7 billion in September, making January-September figures amount to P268.2 billion.

“Even as oil weighted average values of imported oil continue to sag with a 38 percent year-on-year decline in September, total customs collections for January to September still beat year-ago figures by 1 percent, propelled by the 11 percent improvement in collections from non-oil commodities for the month,” the DOF said.

Meanwhile, income from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) amounted to P8.0 billion for September, pushing the year-to-date total to P91.9 billion, 13 percent higher than year-ago figures. The Bureau of the Treasury is still P31.2 billion above its full year 2015 program.

The DOF said national government disbursements for the month totaled P186.2 billion, expanding 17 percent year-on-year. For the period of January to September, expenditures reached P1.63 trillion, reflecting an increase of 12 percent from year-ago levels.

Year-to-date, interest pay-

ments amounted to P255.8 billion, P27.7 billion lower than programmed. Interest payments for January-September 2015 accounted for 16 percent of expenditures, improving on the 18 percent share recorded last year.

“We are encouraged by the close collaboration we have between the executive and legislative branches in safeguarding our fiscal future,” Purisima said.

Still, he said the country “cannot mistake (its) gains for having reached the finish line.”

“While there have been significant improvements in our budget allocation for social services for example, we still lag behind most of our ASEAN neighbors in investments in health and education. We only started accelerating our gains a few years ago, and we have a lot of catching up to do,” he said.

Purusima said infrastructure spending has gone up from 1.8 percent of GDP in 2010 to 4.3 percent in 2015 and eventually 5 percent in 2016. Meanwhile, over the same period, budgets for social services went up by 471 percent, basic education by 79 percent, health by 211 percent.

“Still, there is a long way to go: as of 2013 the Philippines ranks only 7th in terms of amount of available fiscal space allocated for education and health, with Vietnam leading the way having 6.6 percent average education spending to GDP (PH at 2.7 percent) from 2006-2012 and 3.66 percent health spending to GDP (PH at 1.39 percent) in 2013,” he said.

“Our story of change is an ongoing process in a continuum. Sustaining our momentum requires balanced and responsible policies from courageous leaders who consider the entire picture, no matter which political season is in bloom,” Purisima said.

dry spell,” he said.

Balisacan also stressed that drier weather conditions on account of the El Niño could adversely affect hydro-powered generation plants and raise the cost of electricity particularly in Mindanao.

“It is also important that the on-going power projects that are expected to be de-

livered between November 2015 and March 2016 will not be delayed. This will ensure that inflationary pressure coming from power shortages is tempered. The government also needs to sustain improvements in the policy environment to enhance private sector commitment to undertake power projects,” he said.

sponse to medical and healthcare needs. As the PHAP-commissioned study pointed out,the pharmaceutical industry is instrumental in maintaining a healthy population, which is integral to a strong national

economy.

The study explains that a healthy population leads to increased investments in physical and human capital, which in turn would contribute to more rapid economic growth.

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11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

Girl, Boy scouts receive new uniforms J

UST in time for the celebration of Scouting in October, Tagum Cooperative donated sets of Girl and Boy Scouts Uniform to chosen students from different elementary schools in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley.

Exactly 30 student-scouts, 15 Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) and 15 Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), from Talos Elementary School, Jesus Lumain Elementary School in DavNor and Salvacion Elementary School and San Antonio Elementary School in ComVal received new uniforms.

Tagum Cooperative officers headed by Chairperson Norma R. Pereyras led the ceremonial turn-over of the GSP and BSP uniforms at TC Function Hall, Main Building, Dalisay Road, Magugpo West, Tagum City on October 14,

2015.

“The youth is the hope of the Fatherland” Pereyras, who is also an active Girl Scout, quoted in her message to the beneficiaries counting them as part of nation-building.

She also presented the P 61 million savings and 54, 000 members of the TC Youth Laboratory Coop which have contributed to the success of Tagum Cooperative.

Meanwhile, a BSP himself, Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon supported and graced the occasion where he also mentioned the hosting of Tagum City of the 2015 BSP National Jamboree.

He further commended Tagum Cooperative for the “social corporate responsibility” it extended to the community and lauded the Cooperative for its recent Galing

Phl pharma research among best in SE Asia, study shows

A

NEWLY published study has found the Philippine pharmaceutical industry to be among the most innovative in Southeast Asia, having developed numerous new vaccines and medicines for life-threatening diseases.

The report, which was commissioned by the Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and authored by the IMS Consulting Group (IMSCG) in Singapore, points out that the Philippines has over the past five years developed 55 vaccines to prevent childhood diseases, along with 76 molecules to reduce mortality from the top non-communicable disease (NCD) killers.

According to the study, the Philippines ranks third in Southeast Asia after Thailand and Singapore in number of clinical trials, with 461 presently being undertaken. The study also mentions a report by the European Medicines agency in 2009 which ranked the Philippines 8th among the top 10 countries in the world with an annual growth in clinical trials at 30.9 percent.

“We believe that the pharmaceutical industry has a large part to play in building a stronger, healthier Philippines,” said PHAP Executive Director Teodoro B. Padilla. “Both our local pharmaceutical companies as well as large multinationals have made great strides in making new medicines for measles, pneumonia, diarrhea, rubella, and other diseases.

All this is part of our shared project of achieving universal health.”

The quality of clinical research in the Philippines was enhanced by partnerships between research-based pharmaceutical companies conducting local clinical trials and local contact research organizations (CROs). These partnerships have resulted in

stronger research capabilities and an accelerated availability of drugs through faster approval times.

Reducing mortality, combating diseases Data from the Department of Health (DOH) reveal that communicable diseases continue to claim millions of newborn Filipino babies. In particular, pneumonia is reported to be the number two cause of infant mortality in the Philippines, accounting for almost 12 percent of all infant deaths.

To address this, the 55 vaccines developed by Philippine pharmaceutical companies in the past five years were specifically made to reduce child mortality and combat communicable diseases. Among these vaccines, 17 are meant to prevent bacterial infections while 26 are intended to combat viral infections.

The past decade also saw an increasing number of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory disease being the top killers. In response, the Philippine pharmaceutical industry developed 76 new molecules or combinations to battle these NCDs, with five anti-cancer molecules developed in 2014 alone.

Presently, cancer patients can choose among over 100 molecules to help them in their treatment. Patients having cardiovascular conditions also have over 160 molecules to choose from for their medication.

Data from the IMS MIDAS showed that in 2013, over 40 percent of the Philippine pharmaceutical industry’s portfolio was made up of medicines that combat diabetes and heart disease, the top two NCDs. The development of these medicines is not only a re-

F PHL, 10

Pook Citizenship Award.

Dr. Josie Bolofer, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of DepEd ComVal, was also present during the ceremony and highlighted the donation as “pure love” from Tagum Coop of which she is a member since then.

Other GSP executives or “titas” from the Davao del Norte Council also came to support the activity.

Ma. Ninfa Olayan of the DavNor Council tagged the donation as “very generous” act and stressed that Tagum Coop is the “only organization which has helped the BSP and GSP to do more”.

The parents of the beneficiaries showed all-out support to their children as they received their uniforms and extended their thanks to Tagum Coop after the event.

(Tagum Cooperative)

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NEWS 13 Red tide still present in Balete Bay Troops recover ISIS flag in Sulu M VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

USSELS and sea shells from Balete Bay in Mati City remain unfit for human consumption due to red tide.

Fatma Idris, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Natural Resources in Davao Region, said since September and up to the present the red tide alert remains up in the Northwestern

Part of the Pujada Bay in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

She explained that during a red tide occurrence, a large concentration of aquatic microorganisms called dinoflagellates gather in large number and take on either brown or red color.

Idris underscored that eating seashells from a clas-

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sified red tide area is dangerous to one’s health.

She said that red tide is caused by sudden change in temperature and the siltation of the seabed.

“The red tide warning issued in September remains up in Balete Bay so eating shells sourced from this area is dangerous at it may cause paralysis and

death,” Idris said.

She called on the consumers to be vigilant and for the vendors to know the source of their shells.

Idris assured that shells sourced in other parts of the region like Samal Island and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur are safe for human consumption. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

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OVERNMENT troops on Thursday recovered an ISIS flag and other war materials at a newly abandoned harbor site of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as the offensive continues in Sulu province.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, on Thursday told the Philippines News Agency the harbor site was discovered in Sitio Lungon-Lungon, Barangay Kuppong, Indanan town.

Arrojado, who is also the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade commander, said the Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 (MBLT-10) troops were on combat operations when they discovered the ASG’s harbor site.

Arrojado said the troops noted the harbor site was hastily abandoned by the

ASG upon sensing the arrival of the MBLT-10 troops.

He said the troops recovered the following: one black ISIS flag; one political map; one road network map; two mini-solar panels; one long magazine of caliber 5.56 ammunition; a handheld radio with two spare batteries and headset; three cellular phone with two extra subscriber identification module (SIM) packs; two micro secure digital (SD) adapters with one micro SD card; an empty ammunition box; an identification card of a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) member; four military backpacks; two civilian backpacks; and, assorted military and police uniforms.

He said the military offensive against the senior leaders of the ASG and their foreign cohorts continues in the province of Sulu. (PNA)

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BATTLE ROYALE Poliquit-Wagdos battle looms on Sunday

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

A

njb@edgedavao.net

BATTLE royale looms as the 41st edition of the longest-running footrace in the country resumes this year with the Davao qualifying race set this Sunday.

Local race organizer Kenneth Sai of Vantage Sports said a tight race is expected between 2014 champion Rafael Poliquit Jr. and defending Davao titlist Sonny Wagdos in the premier men’s 21-Kilometer race.

Wagdos won last year’s race to earn the ticket to the National Finals. This year, he

will be hard pressed to defend his title against Poliquit who has chosen to make the qualifying run in Davao.

Sai said there have been 9,000 runners registered so far and they are expecting around 10,000 by Sunday’s gun start. Registration for the Davao leg eliminations is still open until Saturday at the adidas outlet at the Gaisano Mall of Davao.

Registration fee is pegged at P80 with 300g empty Milo pack for Students in the 3K

BATTLE P15

National organizer Andrew Neri (left) and local race organizer Kenneth Sai.

“For allowing the readers to arrive with a stand, succeeded in manifesting the conviction of the community members while embodying transparency and excellence in delivering the news to the community.”

BEST EDITED COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER (DAILY) 2014

SONNY WAGDOS. 2014 Milo Marathon Davao champion. Photo from Sonny Wagdos Facebook account.

“Demonstrated the highest standards in terms of creativity, quality, utility and style of writing that uphold the highest journalistic standards and tradition. It presents with more consistency a strong and concise community relevant stories. The style of writing is such that even as an article deals on local events it is never myopic and parochial in treatment because its perspective also transcends beyond the locality. As a whole, Edge Davao is a paragon of high quality journalism; a local newspaper that combines, in seamless meld, high quality writing and community value.”

BEST EDITED COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 2013 “Actively dedicating regular coverage of environmental reports through news, features, columns and editorials that help promote high degree of environmental consciousness among the public. EDGE DAVAO is mindfully aware of the power of information in molding an environmentally-critical public.”

BEST IN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING 2014 “Precisely exercised its excellence in a community-oriented culture, arts and history articles. It really focused on the preservation, protection and promotion of the cultural practices, local artists and presented to the readers the impact of arts and culture on community life.”

BEST IN CULTURE, ARTS AND HISTORY REPORTING 2014

The PPI. Or your pie.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

RAFAEL POLIQUIT JR. 2014 Milo Marathon champion. Photo from Rafael Poliquit Facebook account.

Blazing the trail in innovative journalism.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 157 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015

SPORTS 15

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Milo Marathon, Nat’l Bike Day at FAST Fridays

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HE 39th Milo National Marathon Davao Qualifying Race will be the main dish in today’s FAST Friday’s media forum at the Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at the SM Lanang Premier.

MILO Sports Executive Andrew Neri, Regional Organizer Kenneth Sai and MILO Marathon King 2014 Rafael Poliquit will headline the guests for the

biggest and longest-running footrace in the country.

FAST Fridays, a weekly public service program of SM Lanang Premier, will start at 10:30 a.m.

The first batch of guests will have Ferdie Nervida of Mumho Riders and Monica Ayala of Cycle for Life who will announce the 2nd National Bicycle Day slated in Davao City.

Streaking Rain or Shine silences San Miguel

S JUNGOLF KIDS. Junior golf standouts Ella Nagayo, Sam Beltran, Yvon Bisera and Daniel Luis Nagayo show their trophies won during the recent 1st ICTSI Mindanao Junior Golf Championships to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Danny Nagayo photo

Laro’t Saya sa Parke luring big crowds S OME 2,308 sports enthusiasts joined last weekend’s Laro’t Saya sa Parke which was held at the People’s Park.

Most of the participants came from the Zumba activity which had 940 entries last October 31 and 740 on November 1. The Zumba activity was headed by instructors from Holiday Gym and Spa.

BATTLE P14

and 5K categories, P110 with 300g Milo empty pack for adults in the 5K category, P530 with 300g empty Milo pack in the 10K category and P630 with 300g Milo empty pack in

In other activities, last October 31 saw Rugby (50), Futsal (24), Badminon (62), Sepak Takraw (32), Karatedo (32), Taekwondo (35) and Volleyball (76). For November 1, despite the observance of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day, entries also got in hand for Rugby (31), Futsal (18), Badminton (54), Sepak Takraw (27), Karatedo (31), Taekwon-

the premier 21K category.

Milo officials said the leading chocolate energy drink brand believes in the resilience of the Filipino as something to be proud of - a trait that truly shows at the National Milo Marathon. Since 1974, generations

do (32) and Volleyball (60).

From those activities, the bi-weekly Laro’t Saya sa Parke presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and the City Government of Davao through the City Sports Development Division Office saw 1,286 participant on October 31 and a total of 1,022 on November 1.

Laro’t Saya sa Parke kicked

have chosen to move forward and test themselves in what is now known as the country’s biggest and grandest running event.

Winners – crowned Milo Marathon King and Queen – will be granted the privilege to

off last September 26, is part of the PSC’s sports for all program for all Filipinos every weekend from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. with an aim of having fun and staying fit.

PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy is the project director joined by Alona Quintos as regional coordinator and Dr. Larry Domingo as project manager. represent the country in international running events, like in the Paris Marathon last 2013 and the LA Marathon last 2014.

This year, the winners will be sent to the classic, most prestigious marathon in the world: the Boston Marathon.

JAMES THE TAILOR Lebron rips tight sleeves, leads Cavs over Knicks

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EBRON James scored 23 points and did some quick tailoring on Cleveland’s tight, sleeved uniforms, Mo Williams scored 22 and the Cavaliers won their fourth straight, 96-86 over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time).

James made a 3-pointer and dunked off a nice pass from Williams while scoring 11 in the fourth quarter, when the Cavs outscored the Knicks 26-17.

Tristan Thompson grabbed 13 rebounds and Kevin Love had 12 rebounds for Cleveland, which hasn’t lost since opening night in Chicago.

Carmelo Anthony scored 17 and rookie Kristaps Porzingis 13 for the Knicks, who were even at 75-all in the fourth when James went to work.

Cleveland’s star capped a 12-4 spurt with a 3-pointer — just his second this season — to give Cleveland an 87-79 lead with 4:01 remaining. Later, he blasted down the lane and thundered home his dunk off a great look from Williams.

James, who earlier this week became the youngest player in

league history to reach 25,000 points, had an off-night from the field, going just 9 of 23.

He might have an excuse.

During the first half, an irritated James performed an ingame alteration on Cleveland’s new sleeved jerseys. The fourtime MVP, who has complained in the past that the retro-looking tops are too tight for his arms and shoulders, tore the sleeves open midway through a 4-of-11 shooting performance in the opening 24 minutes.

The Cavs were wearing the black, body-hugging uniforms for the first time.

James has never liked the sleeved jerseys, introduced by the NBA as an alternate look two seasons ago. Following a loss to San Antonio in 2014 when he was with Miami, James said the uniforms restricted his arms and shoulders, making it difficult to shoot.

Down by 15 in the first quarter, the Cavs didn’t take their first lead until late in third quarter when Matthew Dellavedova fed Thompson with a lob for a dunk, giving Cleveland a 70-69 lead.

TIP-INS Knicks: New York shot 62 percent (13 of 21) to open its 15-point bulge. ... G Arron Afflalo (strained left hamstring) could make his season debut this weekend. He’s done some on-court work but has yet to be cleared for contact drills. ... New York is 2-1 on the road, 0-2 at home. ... Anthony, now 12-12 in head-tohead matchups with James, joked that he misses former teammates Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, who were traded by the Knicks to Cleveland last season. “It seems like LeBron took all my family from me,” Anthony snapped.

Cavaliers: Guard Kyrie Irving hasn’t given a date on his possible return from a broken kneecap, but the All-Star told ESPN.com he “sees the light at the end of the tunnel.” ... Since Jan. 19, the Cavs are 22-1 in the regular season on their home floor. ...Thompson played in his 293rd consecutive game dating to Feb. 10, 2012. ...

Smith sat out with a bruised knee

and is expected to miss at least one more game.

TREAKING Rain or Shine silences San Miguel top guns to grab solo lead in PBA Rookie Maverick Ahanmisi had a big game for the Elasto Painters. Jerome Ascano RAIN or Shine proved why it’s a tough hurdle in San Miguel Beer’s title-retention bid as the Elasto Painters frustrated the Beermen, 99-84, to grab the solo lead in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Elasto Painters picked both poisons of stopping reigning league MVP June Mar Fajardo down low as well as challenging the Beermen’s shooters, but never choked as they rolled to the lopsided win to remain unbeaten

in three games.

The deending champion Beermen, who shot a measly 32 percent (31-of-96) from the field, failed in their first real acid test as they suffered their first defeat in three outings.

“It’s one of those days that you’re able to disrupt the rhythm of San Miguel,” Painters coach Yeng Guiao said. “Things fell into place for us.”

“It’s a morale-boosting win.”

The E-Painters likewise clicked offensively as Raymond Almazan and Beau Belga registered 15 points apiece, while rookie Maverick Ahanmisi provided a spark by scoring 14 points for the second straight game.

Some of the trainor-coaches in the weekly Laro’t Saya sa Parke program. NJB

LeBron James overcomes bad shooting night in new tight shirt as Cavs defeat Knicks for fourth straight win. The Cavaliers forward went 9 for 23 in 35 minutes of action. AP

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