Edge Davao 8 Issue 172

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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NO BALLOONS FOR RODY

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

LIMITED LIGHT. A Grade 8 student studies her lessons using a rechargeable lamp in preparation for an examination as Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) implements another round of rotational blackouts due to a shortage of supply from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Lean Daval Jr.

INSIDE EDGE

L’Art de Ohana Indulge A1

Supporters urged to scrap balloon-releasing activity

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

UPPORTERS of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte who are planning to hold a balloon-releasing activity on November 30 have been urged to find other means of showing their support for the mayor’s presidential run.

In a post on his Facebook timeline, former councilor Peter Laviña said: “Let us avoid releasing of balloons during our events for Mayor Duterte. According to environmen-

talist Dr. Jean Lindo, most of these balloons eventually end up in the seas and threaten marine life.”

Laviña said supporters can instead hold candle light and prayer vigils.

“Duterte is the most environment-friendly presidentiable with Davao City’s landmark local legislation on protection and conservation of our watersheds, our rivers, our coastal areas, among others,” he add-

ed.

For his part, D’Bone Collector Museum curator Darrell Blatchley told reporters yesterday that Duterte stands “for the betterment of the Philippines, not for the destruction of it.”

He said releasing thousands of balloons to show supporting for Duterte’s possible presidential bid will upset the environment.

He said the balloons will float in

the air for just a short period before falling into the sea where they can be easily eaten by sea creatures such as dolphins, sea turtles, and sea cows.

He said unlike humans, these marine animals do not taste first before swallowing.

He said all these sea animals would think that every floating object in the sea is food.

“Sea turtles eat jelly fishes. Jelly

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

DECK THE TREES. Employees of the General Services Office (GSO) install Christmas decorations around City Hall yesterday ahead of the city’s Pasko Fiesta opening on December 4. Lean Daval Jr.

Council: P4.1-M extra not for ‘ghost’ projects B

Dabawenya activist in trial of trafficking in Holland

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Council has assured the public that the P4.1 million extra from the P6.319 billion 2016 budget will not be used for any “ghost” appropriation.

This was guaranteed by councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, chair of the City Council’s committee on finance, ways and means, in yesterday’s Pulong-Pulong Ni Pulong.

Dayanghirang said the P4.1 million reserve will be used as supplemental budget for next year.

“We can use it depending on the proposal of Mayor (Rodrigo) Duterte,” he said.

The P4.1 million comes from the development fund of P1.188 billion but was reduced by P1.58 million to P1.186 billion and from the

economic enterprise fund of P8.915 which was reduced by P2.6 million fo P6.315 million.

Dayanghirang said the savings will not be used for anything illegal because all appropriations need to undergo the process of legislation.

In yesterday’s regular session, the City Council passed the 2016 annual budget for the city but with an amendment from the previous appropriations submitted by the local finance committee.

Some amendments were accepted such as the Vice Mayor’s Office maintenance operating and other expenses (MOOE) decreasing from P1.1 million to P799,469.

The MOOE requested by the councilors was also reduced from P51.6 million to P37.6 million as well as their

capital outlay from P7.4 million to P5.09 million.

There were also amendments in the development fund, from the original P500,000 barangay enhancement program to social alleviation program for the non-infrastructure project.

For the infrastructure project, the P1.5 million construction of two-story multi-purpose building with two classrooms in the barangay hall in Daliao was also reallocated to the construction of two-story and multi-purpose building in Mintal and other one in Baguio proper.

Another amendment was made for the budget of fishery resource management program which was reduced from P4.5 million to P2.9 million, or an amount equivalent to P1.5

million intended for the purchase of vehicle for the city agriculture.

Of the total budget, the CMO will get P1.9 billion of the P5 billion allotted for the general fund proper.

Dayanghirang said the CMO has the biggest budget because of the operations of Central 911, Task Force Davao, and the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC).

Of the total budget, P84.3 million will go to the personal services (PS) for the salary of the employees, P1.7 billion will go to the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), and P58.9 million will go to the capital outlay.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office

Norte like Panabo City and municipality of Sto. Tomas due lower power supply from its contracted generation utilities.

Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) chief for technical working group, earlier said the power situation in Mindanao is expected to get better following the completion of the preventive maintenance shutdown (PMS) of the 105MW unit of the stateowned STEAG coal-fired pow-

er plant.

Montenegro said the PMS of the STEAG coal-fired power plant started last Saturday, November 21.

DLPC president Arturo Mila had earlier said the company will be implementing rotating blackouts due to huge a shortfall in the Mindanao power supply that resulted from the implementation of the preventive maintenance shutdown in one of the two 105megawatt (MW) units of

the state-owned STEAG coalfired power plant and the Aboitiz-owned Therma Marine Inc., The DLPC also announced that the Therma South Inc., (TSI), another power asset of Aboitiz Power, was shut down due to the damage in boiler of the first 150MW and the capacity of the Sibulan hydropower plant has also issued an advisory reducing its capability to facilitate an emergency repair on one its units.

EFORE human trafficking became a buzzword in the Philippines, a female activist of Davao City had participated in the trial of what is believed to be one of the earliest cases of human trafficking involving a Filipina.

Norma Javellana, president of Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights, Inc., who is married to a Belgian national, said that in 1987, she was invited to Holland to be an interpreter in a court trial against a Dutch for trafficking a Filipina.

“Of course, the Filipina did not need the interpretation because she spoke good English,” Javellana said.

As a result of the trial, the accused Dutch was found guilty but sentenced to a light imprisonment of more than two years, she recalled.

Ironically, the Filipino also accused of trafficking the same woman in Manila, this time, was acquitted, she bemoaned.

Javellana said the wom-

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F COUNCIL, 10

DLPC shortens rotating blackouts to 2 hours

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

AVAO light and Power Co. (DLPC) is shortening the duration of the rotating power interruptions.

In an interview with TV Patrol Southern Mindanano, DLPC assistant vice president for reputation enhancement division Rossano Luga said the DLPC will be cutting the duration from five hours to 2 hours .

The DLPC is implementing scheduled blackouts in Davao City and portions of Davao del

SAVING MARINE LIFE. Conservationist Darrell Blatchley shows an aborted baby Dwarf Sperm Whale whose mother had died after eating the plastic packaging of junk food. Blatchley urged supporters of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte not to push through with a planned balloon-releasing activity on November 30. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

SB No. 4 passes on first reading

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Council yesterday passed on first reading the P150-million supplemental budget (SB) No. 4, which is the last for this year.

In an interview, councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, chair of the Council’s committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations, said P30 million of the bud-

get is appropriated for the bonuses of city employees.

“But these bonuses are still subject for the computation of DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” he said.

He said the DBM will come up with different guidelines on the distribution of the bonuses.

Dayanghirang said his

17-hour blackout hits Surigao City

A

PROLONGED blackout in the city on Sunday and Monday drew flak from residents who blamed it on the local power distribution firm.

Sunday’s scheduled blackout affected 18 towns in Surigao del Norte and Surigao City.

However, the outage in the city and two towns stretched to 17 hours while those in other affected areas serviced by the Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative only lasted 12 hours.

The power curtailment lasted from 6 am to 6pm Sunday except in Surigao City and San Francisco and Malimono towns in Surigao del Norte.

Lawyer Carlo Reynaldo Lozada Jr. said the prolonged

blackout dismayed him and blamed it Surneco, the lone power utility servicing Surigao City and 11 towns.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ preventive maintenance work caused Sunday’s blackout.

Aside from Surneco’s franchise areas, it also covered the nine towns in Siargao Island under the Siargao Island Electric Cooperative Inc. Bambi Capulong, NGCP media communications officer said they resumed the power supply at 6pm Sunday as scheduled.

Noel Ugay, a consumer in Surigao City said in his Facebook account that Surneco extended the outage without notice.

F 17-HOUR, 10

committee will hasten the procedure for SB 4 since the City Council only has a few more sessions before going on a short break.

He said he will conduct the committee hearing today (Wednesday) so that by Tuesday next week he can present the report to the plenary for second reading.

“We will finish this be-

fore the last session,” he said, adding it will probably be on December 14.

Of the total budget, P120.142 million will go to the City Mayor’s Office for peace and order, Lingap project, Crisis Intervention, and Barangay Development project.

The source of the additional budget for this year

MESSAGE FROM DANAO. Councilor Roland P. Reyes delivers a message on behalf of the City Council of Danao, Cebu during a courtesy visit in yesterday’s regular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod. Reyes was joined by his fellow

came from the savings in personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), and the previous year’s adjustments.

The city had a savings of P58.012 million form the personal services as of September 30.

The city also had a savings from MOOE particularly, P288,000 from vice may-

or’s office, P4 million from rehabilitation and maintenance of traffic signalization, P5 million from City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) and P2 million from People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB).

The city also had a total of P81.252 million savings from the previous year’s adjustment.

Danao City councilor Jovelina M. Enriquez, Sangguniang Panlungsod of Danao secretary Cheryl B. Juanico, and Sangguniang Panlungsod staff members. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Mindanao power supply seen to stabilize next year

A

TOTAL of 720 megawatts (MW) are expected to enter the Mindanao Grid on the first half of next year stabilizing the currently tight power supply situation here after the forecasted El Niño phenomenon.

“Majority of the capacity that will enter Mindanao grid will be coming from major coal-fired power plants will become online by the first semester of 2016,” said Engr.

Noriel Christopher Reyes, Department of Energy (DOE) science research specialist from Electric Power Industry Management Bureau said in his presentation during the power congress at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suits.

Reyes, in his presentation, said 685 MW or more than 90 percent of incoming power supply are from different coalfired power plants in Mindanao Among the next generation capacities that that will enter the Mindanao Grid by next year is the first 100 MW unit of the Sarangani Energy Corp (SEC) coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Saranggani Province as well as the second 150MW of the Aboitiz-owned Therma South Inc. will be also online by February next year.

The two 150MW units coal-fired power plant owned by the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Global Power Holdings in the municipality of Malita in Davao del Sur that will be also online on March and June next year.

The first 135MW of the 405MW coal-fired power plant by the FDC Utilities Inc. (FDCUI), a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corp (FDC) in Misamis will commission by June next year as well as the second unit of the SMC coalfired power plant with a capacity of 150 MW. Other capacities from renewable energy sources that will enter the first half of the next year were the 10MW LPCrice husk-powered biomass power plant as well as the 25 MW Lake Mainit Hydroelectric power plant.

Meanwhile, Reyes also said that more power projects will be online towards the second half of 2016.

Among the new entries in the second semester were the second 135MW of FDC in September; the second 100MW of SEC coal-fired power plant in November; and the third 135MW unit of FDC coal-fired power plant in December.

CHENEEN R. CAPON

Resource allocation improved, says NEDA

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HE Philippine government will continue to conduct impact evaluation to inform decisions and resource allocation processes, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“In developing countries such as the Philippines, impact evaluation is vital in identifying what programs or projects work and what do not,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan during his speech at the Impact Evaluation for Development Effectiveness knowledge sharing at the Asian Development Bank on November 20, 2015.

“It helps policymakers ensure that public and donor funds are used prudently, and that limited resources are directed towards more efficient

development interventions,” the Cabinet official added.

In July this year, the government finalized the National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF) through a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) between the NEDA and the Department of Budget and Management. This aims to further improve resource allocation processes for various government projects and programs.

“We want to be able to report to our stakeholders that the projects that we support achieve the intended outcomes. With greater accountability and transparency being institutionalized, we hope to continue the progress we have made over the last five to six years,” Balisacan said.

In 2014, a Php300-mil-

F RESOURCE, 10

CHILD LABOR. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz fields reporters’ questions on child labor during a summit about the problem in Davao City Tuesday.

(Laling Ramos PIA)

NO GHOSTS. Davao City Council committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations chair councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang assures the public in yesterday’s Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong that the extra P4.1 million from the 2016 annual budget will not be used for any ghost project. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Reclamation project set for endorsement

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Board is eyeing to endorse to the City Council the proposal of Manila-based Mega Harbour Port Development Corp. to build the P39-billion reclamation project.

“We have already finished the drafted memorandum of agreement (MOA) and other paper, but it will be only official when the City council approves it,” Davao City Investment Promotions Center chief Ivan C. Cortez told Edge Davao yesterday.

Cortez said the board will

be endorsing the drafted MOA, the drafted Notice of Award, and other papers involved in the proposal of the original proponent which include the result of the feasibility study (FS).

“The draft of the MOA has already been to the two legal offices of the city government and the original proponent,” he said.

Once endorsed to the local lawmaking body, it will be referred to concerned committees and will up for first reading, debate and last is the approval of the council.

Cortez expects the mat-

ter will be carried by different committees since it has components of tourism, port operation, and housing, among others.

He earlier said the construction of the 200-hectare reclamation project stretching from R. Castillo to Bucana in Davao City will start by March next year.

This, after the bidding process was delayed during the second quarter of the year. Cortez earlier said that the reclamation was set to start by January in 2016.

“We are planning to advertise the invitation to bid for the

project which has an estimated cost of P39 million,” Cortez told reporters Monday.

Earlier, the unsolicited proposal from the Manila-based Mega Harbour Corporation already received its endorsement from the city’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) board earlier this year.

Aside from Mega Harbour, the proposal also drew interest of a foreign-based port operator.

Meanwhile, Cortez said the project, comprised of four islands, has already attracted interest from foreign investors

“excellent hosting” of the 25th Commemorative Summit of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea last December.

“As demonstrated in that Summit, and in the various engagements between us, President Park and the people of Korea have stood as solid partners not only to the Philippines, but to all our brothers in ASEAN,” the President said.

President Aquino further acknowledged the effort of Korea in developing techniques and models to help address climate risk.

“As partners and neighboring countries, we have oftentimes found ourselves on the same side of many common concerns. I believe that, as nations sharing a single world, we all have a stake in addressing climate risk. I am thus

reminded of what President Park shared with us during our meeting in Busan: climate change should be viewed both as a burden and an opportunity, particularly in developing new technologies and models.

To my mind, applying such a philosophy further enables my people to build back better after disasters, and thus end the vicious cycle of devastation and reconstruction,” he said.

“As we climate-proof our path to development, the Philippines remains optimistic as regards Korea’s plan to develop new strategies, and the best practices that will result from such approaches. These go hand in hand with the efforts undertaken by the Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

By tapping into the GCF, Korea

can better support the vital work done by the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, which continues to serve as a platform to better understand the impact of climate risk on our societies,” he said.

The President also assured Korea that the Philippines “will always be a responsible and reliable partner”.

“During our recent hosting of APEC, we said that by building more inclusive economies, we build a better world. I do not think it is an overstatement when I say that such a world is a shared aspiration. As President, I believe this to be an enduring truth, and it speaks of our collective capacity to bring about a better ASEAN, a better Asia, and a better global community,” President Aquino said. (PCOO News Release)

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Noy: ASEAN looks to Korea’s support for regional stability P

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has recognized the importance of boosting the partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of Korea during their 17th summit, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“The partnership between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea spans almost a generation. As we strengthen our relations even further, we also look to Korea’s sustained and enhanced support for stability, resilience, and prosperity within the region,” President Aquino said in his intervention speech.

President Aquino expressed his gratitude to President Park Geun-hye for the

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY 5

opens new Reversing power dispatch Duterte water supply system to mitigate El Nino impact N

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

TAKEHOLDERS of the Mindanao power industry are looking on the possibility of reversing the current power dispatch to mitigate the impact of the forecasted long El Niño in the deliverable power of island-region in the first quarter next year.

The Department of Energy forecasted that Mindanao will have a shortfall of 100megawatts (MW) to 200MW early

next year due to El Niño affecting hydropower plants here.

“Under the proposed reverse dispatch protocol, the hydro will be used as peak load while the power generated from coal and diesel plants will be the base load,” Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee chair of the technical working group, told reporters in an interview at the power congress at the Pinnacle Suits and Hotel.

At present, Mindanao’s base load is coming from the Agus-Pulangi hydro complexes, while non-renewable energy sources coal plants and diesel plants are peak load Montenegro explained that base load plants provide 24 hours of power supply to the grid supplying to the requirements of consumers and industries, while deliverables of peak load plants only fluctuate depending on the peak re-

NEW WATER SYSTEM. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte spearheads the ceremonial opening of the blow-off valve during the blessing and inauguration of the new facility recently in Barangay Mandug.

UN chief lauded for adoption of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

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RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III on Sunday (Nov. 22) commended United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the successful adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In his intervention speech during the 7th ASEAN-UN Summit held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, President Aquino said the 2030 Agenda, as well as the ASEAN Vision 2025, should serve as a guide to the future of the ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the successful adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Such goals serve as our social contract to our peoples and to future citizens of our region,” he said.

The Agenda, which aims to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030, was adopted by world leaders during the UN Sustainable Development Summit last September.

“Towards this end, the Philippines believes that the direction of our future ASEAN-UN Comprehensive Partnership should be guided by the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN’s 2030 Agen-

da for Sustainable Development. Truly, our community has looked beyond the immediate future, towards a more dynamic, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN for the coming generations,” President Aquino said.

“The hard work we collectively undertake today is laying the groundwork for development that meaningfully addresses our shared challenges, which oftentimes stand as obstacles to the advancement of emerging societies such as our own,” he added.

One such challenge is climate risk, the President said, noting that the Philippines, which is in the process of building back better, is no stranger to the plight of island nations threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change.

“We must all act together, lest we collectively suffer the consequences brought about by apathy and inaction,” he said.

President Aquino further pledged that the Philippines will continue to be at the forefront of addressing climate change.

“We will constructively work with the UN and our partners in this aspect. There is no shortage in the Philippines’ determination to play a more vital role. Our recently submitted Intended Nationally Determined Contribution or INDC,

outlines our goal to reduce emissions by about 70 percent come 2030, conditional on the assistance of the international community,” he said.

In terms of collective security, the President underscored the UN’s fundamental and crucial role in maintaining peace and stability.

“We believe in the rules and norms forged by the international community, and it is for this reason that we undertook arbitration, among other initiatives, in resolving our dispute in the sea known by many names. The support we have received from the international community is truly encouraging, and we are further encouraged by the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision affirming jurisdiction over the Philippines’ case on the sea known by many names. We are committed to pursuing this case to its final conclusion. As a responsible member of the community of nations, we will abide by the legally binding decision of the Tribunal,” he said.

Noting that it was his last time to attend the ASEAN Summit as president of the Philippines, President Aquino thanked his colleagues “for the courtesy and camaraderie you have accorded me throughout my term”.

“I hope that, over the past years, I have done my share in

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quirement. Mindanao’s power requirement usually peaks from 11 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The proposal was already on the table of the Department of Energy (DOE) under the proposed hydro management plan by power generators here.

He said the protocol will immediately take effect once the long drought season worsen resulting in extended days

F REVERSING, 10

O less than Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte opened Davao City Water District’s Tigatto-Mandug Water Supply System (TMWSS) during the blessing and inauguration of the new facility last November 19, 2015 in Brgy. Mandug.

The event was attended by former second district congressman Vincent J. Garcia representing current second district Rep. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, second district councilors Danilo C. Dayanghirang and Jesus G. Dureza, Brgy.

Mandug local barangay council headed by captain Edwin A. Cabuguas and DCWD Board of Directors and management headed by Chairperson of the Board of Directors Eduardo A. Bangayan. About 200 local residents witnessed the inauguration and eagerly listened to the speech of the mayor.

Mayor Duterte thanked DCWD for responding to his request to supply water to Brgy. Mandug. He is also hopeful that with the coming of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project of DCWD with Tamugan River as water source, more areas in the barangay will be served. At present, TMWSS is supplied by water coming from Dumoy Water Supply System.

In response, DCWD Chair Bangayan emphasized that the new water supply system is

actually the initiative of Mayor Duterte who challenged DCWD to expand its water services. He also thanked Brgy.

Captain Cabuguas and his constituents for welcoming DCWD services evident in the big turn-out of participants during the orientation for new service applicants held on November 14 by DCWD’s Commercial Services Department.

On behalf of his constituents, barangay captain Cabuguas thanked DCWD for the early Christmas gift because finally, the barangay already has access to potable water. Dureza also thanked DCWD for the new water supply system.

Commending the expansion project was Dayanghirang, who hoped that the water utility’s services will be able to keep up with the expansion of Brgy. Mandug as more roads in the area will be opened. Cong. Garcia is also anticipating that DCWD will be able to serve more areas in the second district.

DCWD general manager Engr. Edwin V. Regalado said that the DCWD family is more than pleased to serve the people of Mandug and the whole of District II, and promised to continue improving DCWD’s services throughout the city.

The new facility which costs PhP92.2 million is part of DCWD’s Tigatto-Mandug

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

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7 HEALTH

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Malunggay: National vegetable

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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OT too many Filipinos know it but the nutritious malunggay has joined the formidable list of country’s icon that included the Philippine eagle, carabao, bangus, narra, sampaguita, mango, anahaw, and jeepney.

Although not mentioned in the popular Bahay-Kubo song, malunggay was named national vegetable by the House of Representatives last year. House Bill 2071 also designated November as the “National Malunggay Month.”

It was Pangasinan Fourth District Representative Gina de Venecia, an Ilocana who grew up eating the vegetable several times a week, who authored the bill.

In her bill, she cited the economic, nutritional and medicinal benefits of malunggay. “For the past years, malunggay in the Philippines has been considered as a backyard tree. Now, we can say that malunggay can save lives, increase incomes, generate millions of jobs, utilize vast tracts of agricultural lands, make the Philippines globally competitive, impact local and international market, and help attain socio-economic equity,” she said.

“Malunggay is one of the important plants that deserve national and international promotion due to the many bio-medical endowment and numerous socio-economic benefits that can be derived from it,” she added.

The “miracle vegetable,” as some scientists call it, has been promoted by no less than the World Health Organization (WHO) as a low-cost health enhancer in poor

countries around the globe.

The “natural nutrition for the tropics” is how the Floridabased Education Concerns for Hunger Organization described malunggay.

“We have always had problems with the classical approach to treating malnourished children,” said a West Africa doctor in Senegal.

“This was based on industrial products: whole milk powder, vegetable oil and sugar. All these things are expensive.

When you tell a parent to go out and buy these things – this can be truly costly for him.”

But in the case of malunggay, it’s a different story. “It is locally available and the people themselves can produce it,” the doctor added.

“We have done experiments in treating malnourished children with this plant and the results have been really spectacular.”

Malunggay can also be used as a weapon against poverty and malnutrition in the Philippines. It must be recalled that during the administration of Ferdinand E. Marcos, there was a craze about malunggay as a solution to the malnutrition problem in the countryside. Marcos himself was a malunggay addict, consuming soup littered with green leaves in every meal in addition to the legendary saluyot and labong (bamboo shoots) as his main fare.

Malunggay is so rich in nutrients and vitamins that its image is used as the official logo of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of

the Department of Science and Technology. “If Manny Pacquiao shows how a Filipino fights in the ring,” said one commentator, “malunggay is the symbol of Filipino fight against malnutrition.”

Nutritionists aver that 100 grams of malunggay leaves yield the following: 75 calories of energy (higher than ampalaya, squash, tomatoes, or carrots), 5.9 grams protein (higher than cauliflower, lettuce, or mustard), 12.8 grams carbohydrate (higher than okra, papaya, or watermelon), 353 milligrams calcium (higher than gabi leaves, mung beans, squash, and camote tops), 3.7 milligrams niacin (higher than other vegetables analyzed).

And for thiamin, phosphorus, and ascorbic acid, malunggay is at the top of the list.

In addition, nutritionists affirm that 200 grams of malunggay leaves would give a nutritive value roughly equivalent to four eggs and two glasses of milk. Its iron compound prevents deficiency of red blood cells known as anemia. And being a very rich source of calcium, it aids in maintaining healthy bones and teeth.

Malunggay is also rich in vitamin A (higher than red and green mung beans, radish, or eggplant), thus helping prevent xerophthalmia, a disease of the eye. Adults are urged to eat malunggay leaves as its vitamin C content is higher than those of ampalaya leaves.

Vitamin C may protect against declining mental ability and stroke. In studies with elderly people, researchers found that low vitamin C levels contributed to shower reasoning skills, which was a strong factor in their dying from stroke.

Filipino women consider malunggay as ally in nurturing babies. In fact, they dubbed malunggay as their “best friend.” For lactating women, malunggay aids in the production of vitaminrich milk for the newly-born baby. The calcium content of malunggay, nutritionists claim, is four times those found in milk.

Because malunggay is a very nutritious plant, the Department of Agriculture urges farmers to increase its production so they could have a weapon against hunger and malnutrition, especially in the rural areas. The department’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has included malunggay in its

indigenous plants for health and wellness program and identified the development of malunggay as priority project.

In Bicol, the BAR-funded program has found ways to integrate malunggay in various preparations as well as package it into different product lines. These include malunggay tea, instant juice, and malunggay powder.

Malunggay leaves are separated from the stalks and are either oven dried or sun dried. The dried leaves become malunggay tea. The pounded dried leaves are turned into malunggay powder which can be mixed into common Filipino delicacies such as soups, sauces, instant noodles, cookies, and chocolates as an added ingredient.

“In this way, Filipino children who are not very fond of vegetables get to eat essential nutrients present in malunggay without knowing i t ,” the Bicol researchers say. The newly

developed products have shelf lives of six months at the most, depending on the packaging materials used.

If “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” in the United States, malunggay can be used as such. After all, the malunggay leaves are good for curing headache, bleeding from a shallow cut, and can be used as anti-inflammatory, or cure for gastric ulcers and diarrhea.

“Due to its high vitamins A, C, and E, which are very potent antioxidants, malunggay is a very good quencher of unstable free radicals that can react with and damage molecules that cause aging,” says FNRI’s Dr. Lydia M. Marero. “Antioxidants reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. They also prevent the onset of various chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, and heart and kidney diseases.”

In rural areas, Filipinos without good source of water can rely on malunggay to purify the water they are drinking. “The crushed moringa seeds can clear very turbid water,” said Dr. John Sutherland, of Leicester University’s Department of Environmental Technology.

By using malunggay seeds, people can get away in using chemicals like aluminum sulphate, which is expensive and poses risks to people and the environment. The seed powder can remove between 90 and 99 percent of bacteria in water.

The oil extracted from matured malunggay seeds is a high value oil that can be used as cooking oil, industrial oil, and ingredient for cosmetics, bath soaps and shampoos, perfume, shortening and lubricants, among others.

“Malunggay tree is one of the most important plants that deserve national and international promotion due to the many bio-medical endowment and numerous socio-economic benefits that can be derived from it,” De Venecia said in the bill’s explanatory note.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

I

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Damage

T is understandable for supporters of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to want to show their support in as many — and as public — ways as possible. One remembers the September 26 rally at the Quirino Grandstand which was attended by thousands of people but which was basically ignored by the major news networks. It was a wonder why a major gathering which equaled, if not bested, what the presidential aspirants had been able to muster at the time did not even merit a few seconds in the nightly newscast of the Manila-based networks. In contrast, the smallest and most inconsequential movements of the three frontliners were covered extensively. One possible reason was that Duterte was then insisting that he was not interested in the position, making him a non-issue at the time. But now that he has made his intentions officially known, his supporters apparently want to make sure their voices are heard.

Unfortunately, one of the ways with which some of them want to be heard is by releasing balloons into the air on November 30 at People’s Park in Davao City. There is no doubt such a show would catch attention, especially since it would be seen even from far away as the balloons float higher and higher, but this activity has obviously not been well thoughtout. As the idiom goes, “what goes up must come down” — either on land where they can add to garbage that can clog the city’s sewers or in Davao

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Gulf where they not only become part of the garbage but can also be ingested by marine animals. The result of the latter can be deadly on such species as turtles and sharks, which are already endangered in the first place, as the deflated balloons can choke them or block their digestive tracts. As the group Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines pointed out, balloon-releasing activities, “especially in the coming election, need to be banned for the sake of the environment.”

Sadly, some of Duterte’s supporters have not responded well and have dared critics to run after big-time polluters instead. This kind of reaction to a genuine issue has no place in the campaign of someone like Duterte who has, time and again, shown that he values the environment deeply.

While it is true that the number of balloons to be released in that one event may pale in comparison with the amount of garbage that ends up in our sewers and the Gulf, it must also be remembered that garbage is the collective product of our own carelessness. It must also be remembered that the balloon-releasing activity carries symbolic meaning that will likely become a burden to the mayor as he seeks to court votes. He could conceivable lose the support not just of of environment groups but of the millions of Filipinos who value environment protection. Let’s hope the supporters find other ways to express their support; releasing balloons into the air will damage both the environment and Duterte’s campaign.

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EDGEDAVAO

L

ABELS can hurt. They have the capacity to humiliate and ridicule any one based on a specific feature of their identity – sex, gender, race, ethnicity, or physical, or mental differences. It’s offensive and derogatory, for instance, to call gays “faggots” or to call a sexually assertive woman a “slut.”

Language and labels are a crucial part of public discussion and interpersonal interactions because they reveal deeper ideas and beliefs underlying our actions, individually and collectively. The modern era has had a growing awareness of how the words we use affect our treatment of people and events and have become sensitive to how we refer to things.

It is common practice to use politically correct terms or safer labels to avoid offending people. We use the term “mentally challenged” instead of “retarded” or use “youth group” instead of “gang.” But there is a fine line between being politically correct and eu-

“

(I)T is the one season of the year when we can lay aside all gnawing worry, indulge in sentiment without censure, assume the carefree faith of childhood, and just plain “have fun.” Whether they call it Yuletide, Noel, Weinachten, or Christmas, people around the earth thirst for its refreshment as the desert traveller for the oasis,” D.D. Monroe observed of Christmas.

In contrast to the heat of the sun during the summer months, we experience the balmy, cool air as Christmas season is fast approaching in the Philippines. Sooner than we think, the birthday of Christ will be upon.

Some people are even counting down to that day. “A few more sleeps,” as my father told us when we were still kids.

You can’t ignore it. You hear Christmas carols being played in the radio. “Soon it will be Christmas Day,” reminds one song. Also, people start greeting with the usual “Merry Christmas” and end it with the most-often quoted remark, “Just don’t wrap my gift, okay?”

Some people bring out their Christmas decorations as early as October. Christmas tree is neatly decorated. Poinsettia is a common motif. Christmas lantern, called parol, is hung near the window, with matching Christmas lights inside. Green and red are the colors of the season.

We take pride as the country that celebrates the longest Christmas season in the world. Celebrating Christmas in this country is quiet and experience and memorable as family members are reunited. Those from faraway places come home to celebrate the season with their loved ones.

“The Yuletide season is the time when, arriving home, you embrace and kiss the little old woman who keeps wiping her tears

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Safe labels hurt too phemizing MY MILLENNIAL MIND the realities that we encounter.

There’s something insidiously wrong with re p l a c i n g the word “perverted” Vanessa Kate Madrazo with “sexually dysfunctional” or using the term “undocumented pharmacist” to refer to drug dealers.

It’s also a euphemism to call the homeless “outdoor urban dwellers” or to call wanted criminals “persons of interest.”

What political correctness does in these situations is mask the graver realities of issues like sexual harassment, drug trafficking, and poverty and homelessness by replacing words that make them acceptable or make

what they do forgivable.

This is because the politically correct labels imply that their current condition is a result of an external factor beyond their control instead of an active choice, and use words that parallel what they do to legitimate actions.

This is harmful because there are realities that we must strive to change as a society and the first step to doing is that is recognizing that the problem exists.

Striving to be politically correct in all aspects of social issues is a form of denying the extent of these problems. Labels have the capacity to create an illusion of reform while leaving the dangers or unequal power dynamics behind the labels unchanged. The words we use change our perspective on these issues and the people involved.

Political correctness suggests that it’s wrong to condemn people who have done wrong and imply that they are the ones being harmed and discriminated against by calling

them derogatory terms.

Furthermore, it makes us avoid discussing these issues altogether out of fear that they offend certain groups of people. When we risk that, we also risk a larger discourse that’s necessary to push for change or to find solutions to correct the problem.

Political correctness is a tool for changing power dynamics and it should only be used to protect innocent people who are vulnerable to oppression because of their identities, people who have limited capacity to protect themselves. It’s a tool to integrate them to society because in no way do they deserve to be ostracized.

But that kind of tool is dangerous when it’s used – intentionally or not – to protect entities who need to be corrected.

Labels can be a force for transformation, but there are realities that we need to tackle raw and head on for any form of social progress to happen.

with her apron THINK ON THESE! as she cooks the best food for her brood,” writes Gil G. Fernandez, a magazine columnist. “This is the time too when you greet the grand old Henrylito D. Tacio man ‘Mano po, henrytacio@gmail.com Itay’ as he sits quietly in one corner of the house.”

This year, as in the previous years, my family will be celebrating Christmas without the presence of my two sisters who are now married and living in the United States: Elena in Minnesota and Marilou in Florida. Both have families of their own. But we know that even if they are physically absent, they will be spiritually present.

Yes, I admit that I love Christmas. It is the time of the year when almost all people are happy. After all, December 25 was the day when our Savior Jesus Christ came into this world to save us. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,” the angel of the Lord said to the shepherds (Luke 2:10).

Christmas is no time for crying and pain.

“Christmas is the time of peace and goodwill,” explains Derrick Nichols, a Canadian church minister. “There is no room for bitterness at Christmas. If we have been recipients of God’s goodwill, then we will have goodwill toward God and others.”

Francis C. Farley reminds, “Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when peo-

ple can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.”

But Christmas is more than just a celebration. It is also a time when people should ponder the reason for the season. “I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day,” David Grayson states. “We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays - let them overtake me unexpectedly - waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: ‘Why, this is Christmas Day!’” The answer to that question: The world celebrates Christmas because of the Son of God. Jesus Christ came into this world with one thing in mind: To love us and wash us from our sins by His blood. He appeared for that reason in a baby in Bethlehem, a lad in Nazareth, a preacher in Judea, a lamb in Calvary.

J.J. Packer, author of Knowing God, wrote: “’The Word became flesh’ (john 1:14); God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the Almighty appeared in earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and state and wiggle and make noises, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. And there was no illusion or deception in this: the baby of the Son of God was a reality. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing is fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.”

Christmas is the time when almost all people use electricity. “The upcoming holiday season is commonly a big time for en-

ergy use, but it doesn’t have to be that way all the time,” says the Davao Light and Power Company in a press statement.

Davao Light offers these easy tips on conserving energy thus saving your Christmas bonus for yourself and your family:

Christmas and saving energy

· If you’re planning on replacing your old Christmas lights, consider LED holiday lights. Even though they are a little bit more expensive than the ordinary one, they use less electricity, won’t burn your children’s hands, and they last longer letting you save money and energy eventually. · There are a lot of e-cards in the internet, yet it is better and efficient to give the handmade ones. Use your old stationery or your old school supplies to make a lovely card.

· Holiday season can be a time for family trips and night outings. In times like these, turn the lights off when not at home and/ or when you are asleep. · Wait until dark to turn on your Christmas lights, but don’t forget to turn them off before going to bed. To avoid unnecessary running up of electricity bill, set a timer on your mobile phones just to remind you of switching those lights off. · Turn off air conditioners when not badly needed. Open windows to let natural breeze of the season cool your home. · Don’t put too much food in the refrigerator. Just pack food as takeaways since it is the season of giving.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

NO BALLOONS... FROM 1

fishes look like plastic balloons when they are floating in the ocean,” he said.

Blatchley said the materials of balloons last up to hundreds of years, meaning even the next generations will suffer.

“I understand the support for Mayor Duterte. The museum is supporting Mayor Duterte because we love our mayor, but releasing balloons and creating garbage in the ecosystem is not the way to support the mayor,” he said.

Blatchley said instead of releasing balloons, the supporters could conduct a tree planting or coastal clean-up activity.

“One million trees in support of Mayor Duterte, that will make a bigger difference than releasing millions of balloons,” he said.

Blatchley also said releasing balloons is the same as dumping garbage, which is a clear violation of the Solid Waste Management ordi-

nance.

Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang also called on supporters of the mayor not to release balloons to support Duterte.

“I request the supporters that instead of using balloons maybe we can use candles to enlighten all of us for peace and development,” he said during the privilege hour in yesterday’s regular session.

Dayanghirang also said since the mayor is an environment advocate, he might not allow any activity that will harm nature.

He urged City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) head Engineer Eliza Madrazo to tell the organizers of the harm that will be brought by the balloons once they land in the seas.

“I appeal to the volunteers on this political activity not to use balloons because it is not environmentally friendly,” he said.

(CENRO) follows with P456 million (P41 million for PS, P414 million for MOOE and P561,000 for capital outlay).

The SangguniangPanlungsod will get P406 million (P148 million for PS, P248 million for MOOE, and P8.7 million for capital outlay).

City Engineer’s Office (CEO) has an allocation of P359.5 million (P61 million for PS, P295 million for MOOE and P2.3 million for capital outlay).

City Health Office (CHO) will get P275.2 million allocation (P192.3 million for PS, P81.3 million for MOOE and P1.5 million for capital outlay).

City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) will get a budget of P168.2 million (P124.9 million for PS, P39.6 million for MOOE and P3.6 million for capital outlay).

City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) will get P161 million, (P79.7 million for PS, P80.6 for MOOE and P733,823 for capital outlay).

City Administrator’s Office will get P66.9 million (P53.1 million for PS, P12.8 for MOOE and P898,884 for capital outlay).

City Agriculturist’s Office will get P66.2 million (P60.1 million for PS, P5.9 million for MOOE and P124,000 for capital outlay).

City General Services Office (GSO) will get P51.5 million (P39.1 million for PS and P12.3 million for MOOE).

City Veterinarian’s Office will get P41.8 million (P31.2 million for PS, P10.3 million for MOOE and P287,171 for capital outlay).

City Accountant’s Office will get will get P33.7 million (P27.8 million for PS, P5.4 million for MOOE and P500,000 for capital outlay).

City Planning and Development Office will get P31.5 million (P24.7 million for PS, P6.7 million for MOOE and P100,000 for capital outlay).

City Legal Office will get P25.2 million (P21.8 million for PS, P2.9 million for MOOE and P526,395 for capital outlay).

City Civil Registrar’s Office will also get P24.3 million (P17 million for PS, P7.3 million for PS and P43,000 for capital outlay).

P1.1 billion will also be allocated for development fund and P128 million for economic enterprise.

Engr. Narciso I. Caliao Jr., Surneco general manager issued an apology over a radio station on Monday morning.

“Mangayo kami og dispensa ug pasensya sa mga gumagamit sa kuryente na napakyas kami sa pagpabalik sa kuryente,” Caliao said. (We asked for consideration and patience on the part of all the consumers for our failure to restore power as scheduled) He attributed the delayed restoration of power to a technical glitch at one of their substations.

He said the batteries of their equipment got drained and had to be recharged for it to fully function.

But some consumers were angered by Surneco’s failure to inform them beforehand.

“I got pissed off because our work was affected. We can’t do our job and we have to do it on time. This recurring brownout and Sunday’s prolonged blackout pissed me off, everyone is pissed off,” said Jameel Anonuevo, a graphic artist in Surigao City.

MindaNews tried to contact Caliao but failed to get [his] side on the recurring brownout.

Surneco did not issue any statement either on their Facebook account or to the media. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)

Council... FROM 2

17-hour... FROM 3

TIME TO REST. Task Force Davao operatives take time to relax after hours of patrolling around Davao City to ensure the people’s safety after the city tightened its security due to a bomb explosion inside a public utility van (PUV) in Ecoland last week. Lean Daval Jr.

Dabawenya... FROM 2 an’s life story was even made into a movie entitled “Cannot Run Away.”

Tambayan Center, Javellana’s group, is collaborating with the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) to launch “Counter TIPSTER Project” (Counter-Trafficking in Person by Sharing Information, Advocacy. Training, Education, and Responsive Local Governance).

The project launching capped a two-day shareholders conference among project participants from various gov-

ernment agencies and local government units in Regions 11 and 12 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel. Nov. 23 and 24.

In her closing statement, Javellana said she believed that the two vital ingredients of a successful counter-trafficking campaign are a strong justice system and a political will to enforce the laws.

During the second day of the conference, city and provincial officials of Davao del Sur and Sarangani province signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation against trafficking in persons.

aside from the original project proponent.

Once the project is awarded to the winning bidder the construction will start with 75.01 hectares (has) Island 1 stretching from Agadao to Sta. Ana which has a port operation and a five-hectare government center component.

Once completed, the port operation of the first island will have a berthing capacity of 2.5 kilometers, twice the current capacity of the Davao Sasa Port.

The 39.24 hectare- sec-

ond island will become the central business district and shopping center.

The third island that will be allocated for tourist centers and residential resorts will have a total area of 59.47 has.

The 40.89-hectare fourth island, facing Sandawa area, will be connected to the road leading to Quimpo Boulevard, will be devoted for township development.

“The construction will take a total of two years while port operation is targeted to start on the third year,” Cortez said.

of no rain in Mindanao. The island-region’s generation mix is currently more than 50 percent from hydro power plants which water level get affected

by El Niño.

The state-owned weather forecaster PAG-ASA said the El Niño will peak this month in Mindanao.

But, what holds the DOE and other concerned authorities from implementing it now is the possible direct impact on Mindanao electricity rate.

“The attendant result to that is that the price of electricity will increase,” Montenegro said, adding that operating more expensive energy sources like coal and diesel plants would incur bigger cost but reliability in times when hydro power plants are not dependable because of El Niño.

Montenegro said the National Power Corporation (NPC) is currently selling its

generation mix at P3 per kilowatt, while independent private power generation utilities sell power from coal plants at around P5.60/KW. “Mindanao has now the lowest electricity rate because its generation mix is largely from hydro which is only less than P1/kW,” he added Meanwhile, he said concerned authorities are now conducting price simulation to identify how much percentage of the current electricity rate will increase once the protocol is implemented.

He said the MPMC is one of the authorities that are involved in the ongoing price simulation. The result of the simulation is expected to be out before the year ends.

Montenegro said the reverse dispatch protocol will be immediately lifted once the operation of hydro power plants normalizes.

Reclamation... FROM 4

Reversing... FROM 5

Resource... FROM 4

lion budget was allotted to the Philippine Information and Development Studies (PIDS) to conduct evaluation studies on key government programs and projects. The budget is also intended for various government agencies and selected state universities and colleges for capacity-building programs on impact evaluation.

To date, the PIDS has already completed eight process evaluation studies and six impact evaluation training workshops for 231 technical staffs from various government agencies and selected state universities and colleges. In addition, 17 ongoing process evaluation studies are scheduled to be completed next month.

The Australian Government has provided AUS$2.8 million worth of assistance through the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3IE) to evaluate three major development programs, namely the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), the Sustainable Livelihood Program, and the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA-Peace and Development) Program.

The SPES, a project of the Department of Labor and Employment, is designed to link low-income youth aged 15-25 to formal work opportunities during school’s semestral or summer breaks. The impact evaluation study thus aims to determine how SPES affects

the students’ school participation, as well as their income, work hours, and the duration of job search. The said program.

The study on the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, is expected to determine whether and to what extent the livelihood and employment opportunities it provides to recipients of conditional cash transfers (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) improve the conditions of the beneficiary families.

The impact on conflict-affected areas of the PAMANA Peace and Development program handled by the Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will likewise be evaluated.

Balisacan noted that the Supreme Court has expressed its interest to subject its “Access to Justice by the Poor” to impact evaluation. “To me that is a very interesting development; for them to be willing to be subjected to the discipline of impact evaluation is very encouraging,” Balisacan said.

“As we approach the end of the current administration, we are confident that we have put in place an enabling environment where the appreciation, conduct of evaluation, and subsequent use of evaluation findings in policy and investment decisions are fully embedded in government programs, projects, and processes,” he added.

Expansion Project that will improve water services in the second district. Initially, TMWSS consisting of a 400cu.m. elevated tank, 100 cu.m. concrete cistern tank, piping system and control and pump house will be able to cater to around 2,000 service connections in

DDF Village and its immediate environs along Mandug Road. When the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project of DCWD becomes operation in 2019, capacity of the new water supply system will increase to 10,000 service connections.

(Jovana T. Duhaylungsod)

bringing the dream of a solid and singular ASEAN Community closer to reality,” the President added.

Concluding his speech, President Aquino asked his colleagues to extend the same graciousness, understanding and friendship to his successor.

“As I return to life as a private citizen, be assured that while I may not be physically

present as President of my country, I will remain with you in prayer and in spirit, as a true friend constantly advocating for the success of ASEAN and of your respective nations. As a final request, I ask that you extend to my successor the same graciousness, understanding, and friendship that I have experienced these past few years,” the President said.

(PCOO News Release)

Duterte... FROM 5

UN... FROM 5

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

EDGEDAVAO ARTS AND CULTURE

L’Art de Ohana

A fusion of ikebana, style, and photography DAVAO is known for its love affair with flowers. From the Queen of Flowers the waling-waling to the abundant blooms that dot the city’s parks, Durianburg’s flowers can be seen blooming all year round.

Wanting to fuse flowers, style and a good cause, five artists mixed Sogetsu-inspired ikebana arrangements with fashion styling, face and body art, and photography through L’Art de Ohana exhibit and art calendar.

The brainchild of Sogetsu-school sensei Claudia Rendon Garcia and Maria Isabel Ronquillo, stylist Carine Bacani and photographers Dariel and Catherine Quiogue, the exhibit which was held last November 19 at the Art Hall of the Abreeza Mall Extension features the images taken for the calendar as well as a live art installation.

The making of the L’Art de Ohana collection was a journey of discovery for all the team as each member

brought their own craft and things from various disciplines into the project.

When the idea to collaborate first came to them, there was no end product yet in mind as it would just be an exploration. Eventually they realized they could end up with a collection that could be turned into something bigger and so the group came up with the idea of producing a

calendar.

Each month’s image is an artwork in itself with a theme as well as a special look for each month.

The January layout is an ikebana interpretation of

fireworks, while the October piece is an interpretation of Halloween. The August one was inspired

by Kadayawan, and March features an interpretation of summer grass blowing

in the wind for the start of summer.

The ikebana artists were challenged in figuring out how to mesh their creations with a model’s poses, which in turn chal-

lenged the makeup artist and models in coming up with the look required, and the photographers had to use their experience

URBANISSIMO A4

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

UP AND ABOUT

Globe Telecom partners with Cherry Mobile LEADING Philippine mobile phone company Cherry Mobile has entered into a co-branding partnership with the country’s number 1 mobile brand and purveyor of the digital lifestyle Globe Telecom to launch the new Cherry Prepaid SIM and phone bundles.

The prepaid service, dubbed as Cherry Prepaid powered

by Globe, aims to be a gamechanger in mass market mobile connectivity that combines high quality mobile phones and prepaid service into one affordable package. With flexible starter options like the Cherry Prepaid SIM and phone bundles for as low as P399 and a SIM-only option for only P29, users can immediately call, text, and surf the Internet.

“This year marks another milestone for the company. After dominating the market with its hip entertainment-on-the-go TV and multimedia smartphones, Cherry Mobile gets even better as it partners with Globe to provide Filipinos with the newest and most diversified prepaid mobile service – the game-changing Cherry Prepaid powered by Globe,” says Cherry Mobile Chief Executive Officer Maynard Ngu. Globe President and CEO Ernest noted that the cobranding agreement forms part of the telco’s commitment

to enable the digital lifestyle of the mass market segment, leveraging on Cherry Mobile’s strong foothold in the prepaid market with its compelling device offerings.

“With competition in the mobile industry getting more intense and cutthroat, this cobranding agreement will allow us to explore business models that will generate new revenue streams as well as strengthen our position in the prepaid segment

and as the network of choice for smartphone users,” Cu said.

What makes Cherry Prepaid more exciting is the bonus Load feature exclusive to all Cherry Prepaid subscribers. Depending on your starter package, you can receive P10 to as much as P300 Bonus Load monthly which you can use to surf the Internet, text all networks, and call and text any Cherry Prepaid subscriber. Users can choose between a P399 Lite Bundle that comes with a CP1

Bar Phone, a 999 Big Time Bundle that comes with a Cherry Mobile Astro Smart Phone, and P1699 Partner Bundle that comes with two mobile phones: a Cherry Mobile Comet Smart Phone and a CP2 Bar Phone. All Cherry Prepaid Phone Bundles come with a Cherry Prepaid SIM and freebies so one can immediately enjoy using the service.

With as little as P10 of your Bonus Load, you can enjoy an entire day of Clash of Clans, 1 day chat on Facebook Messenger, 3 minutes on Youtube, 10 texts to any network, 20 texts to any Cherry Prepaid subscriber, OR a 30-minute call to any Cherry Prepaid number. Enjoy more text, more calls, more chat and surfing. In addition, the Bonus Load is not a one-time perk, but an exclusive privilege enjoyed by all Cherry Mobile users.

“We are constantly trying to push and redefine what it means to be connected, and Cherry Prepaid’s unique offers like the Bonus Load; the CM365 option that allows the SIM to stay active for a year even without load which is perfect for OFW’s; as well as the CM399 which has the longest data validity of 60-days for data usage and other mobile internet offers that can be rolled over; will empower more people than ever before,” Ngu added.

“This partnership with Cherry

Mobile serves as a vehicle for us to provide mobile internet services for every Filipino to ultimately empower their digital lifestyle, further increasing smartphone penetration in the country and positioning the Philippines as the next digital lifestyle capital of the world,” expressed Cu. In 2009, Cherry Mobile CEO Maynard Ngu envisioned Cherry to become the brand that has “Everything for Everyone,” providing handsets that cater to different age groups and match different lifestyles. In the span of six years, Cherry has already reached several milestones and has become the number one mobile phone company in the Philippines for the past two years.

As Cherry finally reaches its dream of providing “everything for everyone”, Ngu further said that: “In reaching this dream, one cannot help but dream some more – to provide the countless Filipinos access to data, of bringing the internet to the masses.” Available starting December 1, 2015, you can purchase the Cherry Prepaid Phone kit Bundles, Cherry Prepaid SIM and Cherry Prepaid Load Cards at all Cherry Mobile Outlets. Reload for as low as P5 at all Cherry Mobile Outlets and from Globe AMAX retailers nationwide. Visit www.cherry. com.ph

Splashfest invades Tagum City

Thanksgiving Specials at SM Davao from November 25 to 30

DREAMER PRODUCTION announced the launch of SPLASHFEST: Tagum City Festival Pool Party, a party that is sure to be a hit among partyphiles in Davao and nearby provinces.

Together with Big 8 Corporate Hotel Tagum, Splashfest will be held on Saturday, November 28 at the Big 8 Hotel Pool area just in time for the City of Palm’s fiesta celebration.

Splashfest will feature one of Manila’s Top acts, Ron Poe, who will entertain guests with his own brand of music together with Acropolis Club Resident Torch Gacuma, Pae Dobles and Dreamers Resident DJs Ronn Mirage, Ram Mia and Julsvern. Aside from the DJs, the production invited drum beaters, poi dancers, and other live performers to have the total festival vibe.

Guests who want to have the VIP experience at Splashfest can reserve Cabanas and VIP tables at reasonable and consumable rates. They will have dedicated waiters to attend to their needs. And the best thing about it is they get to stand out from everyone.

Dreamers will also give away free water guns, LED lights, and other party items at the activity area. There will also be a beer pong area where winners will get free bottles or drinks Tickets to Splashfest are at P300. This includes Bacardi Drink, Big 8 Pool Pass and entry to the event. Tickets now are available at the Big 8 Corporate Hotel, Forth and Tay Lanang, Leo Revita

SKIP the Holiday rush and start your shopping early at SM City Davao’s Thanksgiving Specials on November 25 to 30.

Tagum City Branches, Rainbow Project GMALL and All Java Jive branches. Contact Dondie Gado 09477459819 and Paul Jundit 09189478832 for inquiries and reservations.

SPLASHFEST is co-presented by Big 8 Corporate Hotel, Bacardi-Martini Philippines Inc., Forth and Tay, Inc., Asia Brewery, Inc., Coca Cola- Femsa Corporation, Globe Telecoms, Acropolis Superclub and Southern Voice KTV / Shisha Bar. For More information about Dreamers Production visit:www.facebook.com/ TheClubCrawlers.

Shop for your party dress-up needs on Wednesday at the SM Store and Surplus and enjoy additional discounts with your SM Advantage, SM Prestige and BDO Rewards cards. Score some of gift items for the season of giving from other SM retail stores with additional markdowns from Levi’s, The Body Shop, Ace Hardware, SM Appliance, Toy Kingdom and Watsons.

Round up the whole family for a scrumptious meal from any of the mall’s food tenants offering special

promos to celebrate Thanksgiving.

On the weekend, enjoy up to 70% off on great finds mall-wide and shop for extended hours up to 10pm on Friday, Saturday and

Sunday.

For inquiries, call 297.6998.

Like SM City Davao’s official Facebook or follow them on Twitter and Instagram for event and promo updates.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

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ENTERTAINMENT

Typhoon Pablo-inspired film to open Mindanao Film Festival A film inspired by the true events of typhoon Pablo and Yolanda will open

the 11th Mindanao Cinema 6.

Film Festival on “Iisa” (As One) a film December 9 at directed by Chuck Gaisano Mall Gutierrez and written by

Mindanaoan film director and playwrignt Arnel Mardoquio was one of the finalists in this year’s Quezon City International Film Festival.

“We chose Iisa foremost because the film was shot in Compostela Valley, the story was partly inspired

by Typhoon Pablo and it was a collaborative effort with local cast and crew working with their counterparts from Manila. This is an achievement we are pushing for the regional filmmaking movement.”

Says Rudolph Alama, festival director of the 11th MFF. The film stars Mon Confiado, Rio Locsin, Mitch Valdez, Jess Mendoza and Angeli Bayani. It centers on a group of rebels tasked to rebuild a community of indigenous people devastated by a typhoon.

Iisa was funded from a grant coming from the QCIFF and co-funded by Artikulo Uno Productions known for producing the indie blockbuster “Heneral Luna.”

Apart from Iisa, 29 other films will be shown during the 11th MFF which will run from December 9 to 15.

These films coming from Davao and other parts of Mindanao will vie for the annual MFF awards this coming December 14.

A spin-off of the Davao City-based Guerrilla Filmmaking Festival which started in 2003, the MFF which was formally established in 2005 is one of the longest running independent film festival

in the country.

The MFF is organized by the Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation and supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, with assistance from the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the City Government of Davao and Canon Philippines.

UP AND ABOUT

Watch Ex With Benefits on SKY Pay-Per-View GINO M. Santos’ big screen adaptation of the highly popular Wattpad novel, Ex With Benefits, is a beautiful albeit controversial glimpse into a world of high-powered careers dangerously mixed with love and the pain of separation. It follows the story of Adam Castrences (portrayed by Derek Ramsey) and Arkisha Aragon (portrayed

by Coleen Garcia) – on how love brought them together and how pain kept them apart.

The love between Adam and Arkisha began innocent enough.

But their young love, as fiery and passionate as it was, ended in terrible heartbreak for reasons Adam could never understand. To Adam, Arkisha was always the one that got away. Ten years later, love and happiness continued to elude Adam

– until he met Arkisha again.

Their reunion was explosive, leading to more physical, more arduous expressions of love being displayed on-screen.

But intentions this time were far from pure, as Arkisha, now a top medical representative, simply needed Adam’s endorsement, given his status as a renowned doctor. Here the story revolves on the realities of adult life, when the boundaries of what is personal muddles with one’s career.

Ex with Benefits reminds viewers that love and life is never simple, and that sometimes, situations fall in grey boundaries, where right or wrong is never clear-cut.

Now for just P199 pesos, you too can explore the more complex aspects of romance during a threeday unlimited viewing

of Ex With Benefits on its TV premiere from the 15th to 30th of November 2015. You can catch the movie through the following channels: Ch. 704 (HD) and Ch. 21 (SD) You can also visit www. mysky.com/exwithbenefits to immediately activate your Pay-Per-View subscription.

This Ex With Benefits Pay-Per-View can also be availed via SMS. To begin the registration process, text SKYBUY REG <insert your cable account #><smartcard #> and text to 2331 (for Globe, TM, ABS-CBN, and Sun Cellular) or 231 (for Smart, and Talk ‘N Text).

Once registered, text SKYBUY EXWITHBEN SD (or HD for high definition). For SMS registration, the standard rate of P2.50/text applies. Once subscribed, Ex With Benefits can also be accessed

via SKY On Demand.

Interested in getting SKY Pay-Per-View? Simply visit www.mysky. com.ph, or call the 24hour customer service hotline305-5456.

You may also send a text for free to the text hotline 23662. The customer service team can also be reached via this email address: skyserves@skycable.com.ph.

Only SKYcable provides quality home entertainment with the widest-range of standard and high definition digital channels; with over 200 channels, and other top-of-the-line services such as flexible subscription options via SELECT; iRECORD that records, pauses, and rewinds live TV; as well as real-time coverage of live concerts and sporting events via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW.

November 25 – December 1, 2015

THE GOOD DINOSAUR Raymond Ochoa, Jeffrey Wright PG

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

A SECOND CHANCE Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz PG

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

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy PG

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

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY 2 Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson PG

11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

ARTS AND CULTURE URBANISSIMO A1

in various fields of photography to put it all together.

“My inspiration comes from the beauty of nature. I do not only want to capture the stunning characteristics of the flowers, branches and leaves but also to enhance the combination with other conventional and unconventional materials,” says Claudia “My work is focused on bringing back to life materials considered ‘lifeless.’

I work to develop arrangements that at a glance will express my feelings, but are also open for the observer to interpret their meaning for themselves. I have learned to be noble, serene and attentive while arranging flowers, teaching my eyes to appreciate and my hands to create.”

“My Sogetsu moments allow me to transform traditional into non-traditional, dead and lifeless into a new life .. where nothing becomes something of significance.

The rest is left for the beholder,” added Maria.

The L’Art de Ohana exhibit as well as the collaborative effort of the artists behind it is a fresh new way to look at Davao’s beauty and bounty.

Carine added that it is that special feeling when you see flowers. “I wanted to extend that feeling on the human form by using non

traditional methods, For this project, I followed the color palette of each flower and took into consideration the lighting and mood of the photo to unify ‘flower + human’ into a single arrangement.”

“We conceived of this collaboration as a play on permanence and impermanence, as ikebana is one of the most ephemeral art forms, an arrangement is at its best only for a few hours, while photography is a medium that celebrates ephemerality by preserving a moment, ‘freezing’ it in time for others to see even if they had not been there firsthand,” said Daniel “By adding a human element we compressed the lifespan of our artwork even more, as with this we were now capturing the split-second moment when pose, expression and light all came together with the arrangements to produce something new and unique to that moment.”

The L’Art de Ohana exhibit runs until the 26th of November. The L’Art de Ohana calendars are also available at the venue. Proceeds from the sales of the calendar will benefit the Art Relief Mobile Kitchen that provides hot meals for individuals made destitute by disaster or violence.

The artists behind the L’Art de Ohana calendar.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Republic of the Philippines City of Davao Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod

17th City Council 27th Regular Session Series of 2015

PRESENT: Councilor Louie John J. Bonguyan Councilor Ma. Belen S. Acosta Councilor Bernard E. Al-ag Councilor Al Ryan S. Alejandre Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III Councilor Karlo S. Bello Councilor Joanne M. Bonguyan-Quilos Councilor April Marie C. Dayap Councilor Jimmy G. Dureza Councilor January N. Duterte Councilor Edgar R. Ibuyan Sr. Councilor Leah A. Librado-Yap Councilor Rene Elias C. Lopez Councilor Diosdado Angelo A. Mahipus Sr. Councilor Bonifacio E. Militar Councilor Myrna G. L’ Dalodo-Ortiz Councilor Antoinette G. Principe-Castrodes Councilor Marissa P. Salvador-Abella Councilor Halila Y. Sudagar Councilor Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte Councilor Rachel P. Zozobrado

ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS:

B.) Halal foods and beverages served in any occasion in any function hall in Davao City including, but not limited to, seminars, workshops, meetings, forums, weddings and birthdays;

- Temporary Presiding Officer

SECTION 5. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS, PROPRIETORS, MANAGERS AND STAFF OF ALL BUSINESSES AND ESTABLISHMENTS IN DAVAO CITY WHICH OFFER HALAL FOOD AND NON-FOOD PRODUCTS.- Owners, proprietors and managers of all businesses and establishments in Davao City which offer Halal food and non-food products are required to perform and undertake the following measures in their operation: 1.) To acquire “HALAL” certification from NCMF Accredited halal certifying entities/ bodies, in case the establishment offers such halal-processed food and non-food products; 2.) To display the Philippine Halal logo in front of the business or establishment offering Halal-processed food and non-food products; 3.) To display the necessary documents within their premises pertaining to the Halal cetification acquired from the NCMF accredited halal certifying entities/bodies; SECTION 6. PROHIBITED ACTS- the following acts are hereby prohibited:

Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte

- Acting City Mayor

Councilor Nilo M. Abellera Jr. Councilor Victorio U. Advincula Jr. Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang Councilor Tomas J. Monteverde IV

- On Domestic Emergency Leave - On Sick Leave - On Sick Leave - On Sick Leave

ABSENT:

C.) Any business and establishment that produces, manufactures, processes and supplies Halal food and non-food products and services in Davao City;

ORDINANCE 0378-15 Series of 2015

AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING BUSINESSES AND ESTABLISHMENTS IN DAVAO CITY WHICH OFFER “HALAL” PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO ACQUIRE HALAL CERTIFICATION FROM THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MUSLIM FILIPINOS (NCMF) ACCREDITED CERTIFYING BODIES, PRIOR TO THE POSTING OF THE WORD “HALAL” WITHIN THEIR PREMISES OR TO USE THE “HALAL” LOGO IN THEIR BUSINESS NAME Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City in session assembled that:

SECTION 1. TITLE. - Be it ordained that this Ordinance shall be also known as the “Halal Ordinance of Davao City”;

SECTION 2. PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE.- It is the purpose of this Ordinance to require businesses and establishments which offer “Halal” products and services to acquire “Halal” accreditation from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, prior to the posting of the word, “Halal” within their premises or to use the “Halal” logo in their business name in order to advance and protect the rights, culture and lifestyle of Muslims to consume religious-sanctioned products and to improve and maintain the harmony, understanding and social peace and order of Davao City for the promotion of sustainable progress and development;

A.) For any business or establishment to display the Halal logo or halal word in their premises if they are not certified Halal by NCMF accredited halal certifying entities/bodies;

SECTION 7. PENALTIES- The following are the penalties for any violation of this Ordinance:

A.) Owners, proprietors or managers of businesses or establishments or any person violating any provisions of this Ordinance shall be penalized by: i. First offense

ii. Second Offense iii. Third Offense

Fine of not less than P500.00 but not more than P1,000.00, at the discretion of the court; Fine of not less than P1,000.00 but not more than P2,000.00, at the discretion of the court; fine of not less than P2,000.00 but not more than P5,000.00 and revocation of business permit and license to operate and closure of the business or establishment, at the discretion of the Court;

SECTION 8. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE- Should any of the provision of this Ordinance be declared inoperative by the Courts for being inconsistent with the Constitution or the law, the other unaffected provision of this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. REPEALING CLAUSE- Any and all ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE- The Ordinance shall take effect after its approval and following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Davao; ENACTED, on the 21st day of July, 2015, by a majority vote of all the Members of the Sanggunian present, there being a quorum.

SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS.-

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

A.) Halal- refer to food and non-food products allowed for consumption or use by Muslim as permitted by the Shari’ah or Islamic law;

B.) Businesses and Establishments offering halal products and services- refer to all businesses and establishments which produce, manufacture, process and supply halal food and non-food products;

C.) National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF)- is a National Commission mandated, under Article II (Section 8, paragraph H) of Republic Act No. 9997, to promote and develop the Philippine Halal industry and accredit halal-certifying entities/bodies for the utmost benefit of Muslim Filipinos and in partnership or cooperation with appropriate agencies, individuals and institutions here and abroad;

D.) Accreditation- is the procedure by which a government agency having jurisdiction formally recognizes the competence of an inspection and/or certification body to provide inspection and certification services; E.) Certification- is the procedure by which official certification bodies and officially recognized bodies provide written or equivalent assurance that foods and non-food or control systems for food and non-food conform to requirements; SECTION 4. COVERAGE.- the Ordinance shall cover the following:

A.) All hotels, restaurants, fastfood chains, eateries, food stalls and like establishments, school or university canteens and other food establishments in this City serving “Halal” foods and beverages within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City;

CHARITO N. SANTOS Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Government Department Head II)

ATTESTED: (SGD.) LOUIE JOHN J. BONGUYAN City Councilor Temporary Presiding Officer cns/fdg

APPROVED:______________, 2015 RODRIGO R. DUTERTE City Mayor

ATTESTED: ATTY. JESUS MELCHOR V. QUITAIN City Administrator

13 CULTURE & ARTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

HISTORY OF DAVAO

A Luna represented Davao in the Senate

By ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA

A

FTER two months of showing, the movie “Heneral Luna,” a bioflick of Gen. Antonio N. Luna, has achieved the recognition as the highest-grossing independent film ever in local cinema industry. In honor of its success, the film is entered as the country’s entry in the 2016 Oscar Awards under the foreign film category.

Not too many know that in the American-inspired National Assembly, a brother of heroes Juan the painter and Antonio the soldier represented Davao in the Legislature. This transpired at a time when Davao region was lumped under the 12th Senatorial District of Mindanao and Sulu.

His name was Joaquin Damaso Novicio Luna, the youngest of three brothers.

Father of UP’s music conservatory Born in Manila on Dec. 11, 1874, Joaquin D. Luna joined the Philippine Revolution as a colonel and was the representative of the province of La Union in the Malolos Congress. He also served as treasurer of the Asociacion de Paz, a group that backed the surrender of arms

by Filipino rebels in exchange for American amnesty.

During the American occupation, he was a key member of the Democratic Party, and was an appointed agent in the International Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. In 1902, he was elected governor of La Union and became two-term (1907-12; 1912-16) member of the Philippine Assembly, representing La Union’s first district.

In 1916, he became governor of Mountain Province and later as senator represented the 12th Senatorial District, which comprised Baguio City, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, and Mindanao and Sulu (191619). He authored the measure pushing for the establishment of the UP Conservatory of Music, which was created in 1908.

In his and his brothers’ honor, the town of Namakpakan, La Union, the birthplace of their mother, was renamed Luna in 1907.

Other senators Sen. Luna was one of 10 lawmakers who represented Davao in the legislature, all of them not native to the region.

The other legislators were Teofisto J. Guingona Sr., Jose Alejandrino, Manuel R. Camus, Ludovico A. Hidrosollo, Juan L. Gaerlan, Haji Butu Abdul Bagui,

Lope K. Santos, Datu Mama Sinsuat and Sultan Jamalul Kiram II. Born in Guimaras, Iloilo, on Sept. 20, 1883, Teofisto J. Guingona, Sr., father of former Vice President Teofisto Jr., was elected congressman of the second district of Negros Oriental in 1909 and re-elected in 1912. He served as governor of Agusan Province, and was acting governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu (1918-20). In 1921, he was appointed Senator for the 12th Senatorial District comprising Mindanao and Sulu.

Jose Alejandrino, born on Dec. 1, 1870, in Binondo, Manila, joined the editorial staff of La Solidaridad, served the Malolos Congress (1898) and helped draft its Constitution. In 1901, he was appointed city engineer of Manila, and in 1925 he was designated senator for Sulu and Mindanao. A member of the Partido Democrata Nacional, he was elected representative of Pampanga’s second district to the 1934 Constitutional Convention.

Born on Oct. 16, 1875, Manuel R. Camus served as an interpreter and translator for the Provost Marshal General of the US Army and became a senator (1928-31) representing

Mindanao and Sulu. As a lawyer, he was a partner of Dizon and Zavalla law office; acting honorary consul for Peru; director, Metropolitan Theater Company; member, American Bar Association; and president, Community Publishers, Inc., among others.

A native of Capiz, Ludovico A. Hidrosollo was elected senator in the 1931 elections, representing the 12th Senatorial District, which included Mindanao and Sulu. He was the first Filipino public school teacher, and was director of the Department of Non-Christian Tribes and served as the 10th governor of Capiz Province (1947-51).

He retired from public office in 1954.

Born in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur on July 7, 1884, Juan L. Gaerlan held numerous positions in government. He was deputy governor-at-large of Mt. Province; acting deputy governor of Apayao and Benguet; and deputy governor of Benguet. He was appointed representative for the Mt. Province (1931-34) and later as senator for the 12th Senatorial District that included the province of Davao (1934-35).

A native of Pasig, Rizal, on Sept. 25, 1879, Lope K. Santos was elected governor of Rizal

Province, and appointed first Filipino governor of Nueva Vizcaya. He was elected senator in the 5th Philippine Legislature representing the 12th Senatorial District covering the provinces with majority non-Christian population. He authored Philippine Legislature Act No. 2946, making Nov. 30 of each year as Bonifacio Day.

The Muslim trio Interestingly, three honorable Muslim lawmakers represented Davao in the Senate.

Haji Butu Abdul Bagui, born in Jolo in 1865, was a noted figure in the internal struggle of the Sultanate of Sulu during Spanish rule. In 1904, he was named assistant to the military governor of Sulu and later deputy district governor of Sulu. In 1915, he was appointed senator of the 12th Senatorial District, which included Mindanao and Sulu, becoming the first Filipino Muslim senator; in 1928, he was re-appointed to the position.

Datu Mama Sinsuat was voted in 1974 as the Outstanding Alumnus of the FEU Institute

of Law. In government, he was chairman of the Commission on National Integration and senator of the 12th Senatorial District comprising the provinces of Mt. Province, Baguio, Nueva Vizcaya, Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu and Zamboanga (1934-35). He also held other distinguished positions in the private sector.

Sultan Jamalul Kiram II was proclaimed Sultan of Sulu in 1884 as the son of Jamalul A’Lam. This was contested, though, by Datu Aliud-Din, a grandson of Sultan Shakirul-Lah, but without success. The Spaniards eventually forged a deal with him despite his repeated refusal to go to Manila on a state visit. In 1915, he virtually surrendered his political powers to the US government under the 1915 Carpenter Agreement.

He served as senator in the 9th Legislature (1931-34), representing Mindanao and Sulu.

EDGEDAVAO

14 PROPERTY The finer details at Aeon Towers L

IFE at the city’s soonto-be “King of the Skies” is grander than you think.

FTC Group of Companies, developer of the 33-level Aeon Towers, has revealed the finer details of every unit of the project that is reputed to be the tallest outside Metro Manila and Visayas.

“Every unit is carefully planned and conceptualized.

It’s what will separate Aeon

Towers from the competition,” said FTC president and CEO Ian Cruz who is handson in choosing the amenities and fixtures for the firm’s initial venture into real estate development.

“You can be assured of the quality of what is inside every unit of Aeon Towers,” Cruz added.

And while it’s a misconception that condominium living is a state of being

stagnant and inactive. Aeon Towers offer the usual active lifestyle people are used to in conventional homes.

Aeon Towers boasts of the most advanced fitness equipment and a jogger’s lane that’s friendly to the feet.

Cruz bared that the signature project of FTC will have state-of-the-art fitness gym equipped with the latest in fitness technology. Add to that is the jogger’s lane at

the mezzanine of the tower which provides residents an elevated running strip that loops around the building.

“People with a very busy schedule will find these amenities to their liking,” said Cruz.

Aeon Towers is expected to be completed by December next year. For inquiries, visit the Aeon Towers Showroom at JP Laurel Avenue, Davao City.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

MATINA ENCLAVES. The ongoing construction of the first building of The Residences of Matina Enclaves.

Matina Enclaves offer huge discounts, freebies for Building 3

C

ONDOMINIUM finders are in for a big surprise with huge discounts and exciting offers from the Matina Enclaves, the mixed use development project of local developer Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco).

Building 3, which is now open for sale, is being offered for huge discounts on 2-BR units. On top of the discounts, condominium 3 buyers are also treated to a bevy of home freebies like furniture items and appliances.

Covered by the promo are units at the first to fourth residential floors and at the fifth to 8th residential floors.

Likewise, for a single bedroom unit, buyers may start at

as low as P6,000 per month.

Patronage of the Matina Enclaves has been notably high given the value it offers for a reasonable price on top of the advantages it has over the rest of the competition like location and amenities.

Building 1 and 2 both recorded remarkably fast sales.

Building 3 freebies include washing machines, built-in cookers, microwave ovens, range hoods, refrigerators, window and split type aircons, LED TVs, dining sets and sala sets.

Since its launching two weeks ago, Building 3 has amassed sales amounting to 13 percent of its total inventory.

EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Escandor sparks Ateneo win anew I

F Francis Escandor is in the zone, he is simply so hard to stop.

The vastly-improved Escandor waxed hot for the second straight game as the Ateneo de Davao University blasted Ford Academy of the Arts, 91 – 63, at the close of

the 13th Gaisano Grand Cup Juniors Division elimination round at the Gaisano Skygym on Sunday.

Escandor, slowly blossoming into a bright collegiate prospect, came through with 20 points to spearhead Ateneo’s domina-

tion of Ford with 28 points margin victory.

Lawrence Angeles chipped in 19 baskets while quarterback Jethro Taculin added 13 for the Junior Blue Knights who closed out the elimination round with a four game winning streak.

John Requillo paced Ford with 19 points which will likely to take the last final four ticket as the fourth seed.

Ateneo shared the top spot with its lone conqueror Jose Maria College Junior Kings and archrival Holy

Child College of Davao Reds at the end of the classification round with identical 5 – 1 record.

The quotient system, however, dropped the Junior Blue Knights to the third spot, arranging a final four showdown with the sec-

Ultera wary of V-L chances vs Army W

TIGHT DEFENSE Jared Dilinger of Meralco Bolts (left) gets a taste of the tight defense of Simon Enciso of NLEX Road Warriors during their PBA Philippine Cup encounter Tuesday afternoon. PBA photo

Philippine Super Liga to compete in Thailand

T

HE PSL has confirmed participation in the tournament set March 22 to 28 but has yet to decide whether to send its champion team or a selection.

Among those being considered are Rachel Anne Daquis, Dindin Manabat and Aby Marano of Petron, Jaja Santiago of Foton, Cha Cruz of Meralco, Maika Ortiz of RC Cola-Air Force, Michele Gumabao and Lindsay Dowd of Philips Gold and Jheck Dionela of Cignal.

A team from Vietnam will also see action in the weeklong event.

PSL president Ramon Suzara said on Monday organizers are offering a huge prize pot to make sure the tournament will be very competitive.

Suzara also said the deputy managing director of the television and marketing partner of the Asian Volleyball Confederation is coming over to watch Game One of the PSL Grand Prix best-ofthree finals between Foton and Petron on Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Siam Inter Multimedia (SMMTV) is the AVC’s partner for the next four years and will also cover the three-nation tournament in Thailand.

“Mr. Prajaya Chaiyakam will be coming over to personally witness how we run things here in the PSL,” said Suzara, who got a fresh mandate as marketing and development committee chairman of the AVC in an election last week in Saudi Arabia.

“This is a very exciting opportunity not only to us, but also to the players and our national federation, LVPI (Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc.), as well for we will be given another major exposure that we can use in establishing our own volleyball program. We’re all excited to be part of this endeavor.”

Aside from the three-nation tourney, the PSL is also expected to enter the Grand Prix champion in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship which the country will host in September.

The PSL is also hoping to field a team in the FIVB World Women’s Club Championship, which could also be staged in the country in October.

“We have a lot of international tournaments in the pipeline. Since the stakes are high, we are expecting this finals battle between Fotonand Petron to go down the wire,” said Suzara. (www.spin.gov. ph)

ond-seed Holy Child.

The Reds enjoys a twice to beat privilege along with top-seed JMC. Ateneo will enter the Final Four riding on a momentum it gained on its back to back crucial wins. (Rico Biliran)

HILE admitting having two foreign imports is an edge, PLDT Home Ultera coach Roger Gorayeb insists it’s not a surefire formula for winning a championship.

“It’s an advantage (having imports) because it gives us more options on offense and defense,” said Gorayeb referring to former US NCAA Division standouts Victoria Hurtt and Sareea Freeman, tapped towards the end of the elims to boost the team’s title drive in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference.

“But I don’t think it makes us a sure thing for a championship because it could backfire since we haven’t really trained together that much,” he added.

In fact, Gorayed rested his two reinforcements in Home Ultera’s emphatic 25-11, 25-

17, 25-17 romp over University of the Philippines in their Final Four duel last Sunday.

“I want them to see and adjust to how the locals play and not the other way around,” said Gorayeb.

He is also wary of the powerhouse Army, which sank Navy, 25-16, 25-10, 2522, in their own semis duel in the season-ending conference of the league sponsored

by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

“Army is a very experienced team and they’ve been together for a long time now, which I think they will use against us,” said Gorayeb.

Truly, the Lady Troopers, runners-up here last year, are one solid unit that includes some of the country’s top players – Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aby Maraño, Honey Royse Tubino, Mary Remy Palma and ace setter Tina Salak.

Mondejar, who along with his friend, the late Ramon “Moy” Lainez started the original Blow By Blow which featured a young and skinny power puncher - Manny Pacquiao.

At the end of the yearlong tournament, a committee headed by Pacquiao himself will choose outstanding boxers in five weight divisions - flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight - who will receive Trophies and Cash Awards.

The Most Outstanding Boxer of the tournament will also be selected and will receive a cash bonus of P100,000 and a huge Pacquiao Trophy.

All six outstanding fighters will then be featured in a big event against foreign fighters, preferably in the United States of America so they could be given the needed international exposure, Mondejar said.

On Saturday, undefeated Jilbert Gomera of General Santos City will go up against an outstanding boxer from Malaybalay, Buidnon, Mark Anthony Geraldo, in a bantamweight bout set for 8 rounds.

Another expected slambang will be between former IBF Pan Pacific Flyweight champion Ryan Rey Ponteras of Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur and Donnie Mabao of Manila.

Pacquiao starts search for new boxing champs

F

ILIPINO boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, the only fighter in the history of the sport to win titles in eight weight categories, starts the search for the country’s new champions when he launches ‘Blow By Blow Reloaded” on Saturda, Nov. 28, at the city gymnasium in the public plaza in General Santos City, the very place where he started his historic boxing career 20 years ago.

Twenty four young boxers will appear in the first staging of the event which will be held monthly in different cities all over the country to draw youngsters to the sport which

Mark Anthony Geraldo

has served as the lifeline out of poverty by many poor kids in rural Philippines.

All the bouts will be shown every Sunday starting Dec. 13 on ABC TV5 which has agreed to support Pacquiao’s mission to discover new boxing heroes.

Two bouts will be featured in the weekly feature of “Manny Pacquiao Presents… Blow By Blow Reloaded” to be aired at 3 p.m., shortly before the PBA basketball games.

“We have decided to launch Blow By Blow Reloaded in Gensan because this was where Manny started his boxing career 20 years ago,” said boxing promoter Joselito

Manny Pacquiao

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 172 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015