Edge Davao 8 Issue 176

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PROCLAIMED. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte speaks on national television after he was proclaimed as the presidential candidate of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) yesterday in Manila.

Lean Daval Jr.

ALAN: LET HIM RUN Cayetano believes Mayor Duterte can hurdle substitution issue BONIFACIO DAY. The Philippine flag is carried around the Bonifacio monument fly while government employees and guests commemorate the Filipino nationalist and revolutionary leader’s 152nd birthday yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

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

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AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte can hurdle the issue of his substitution to former Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) standard bearer Martin Diño for the 2016 elections, his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, said.

“Ilan n aang congressmen, ilan na ang governors, ilan ang mayors na gumamit ng substitution wala namang question (How many congressmen, governors and mayor who are

using substitution and there was no question about it),” Cayetano said Saturday night.

Cayetano said if there were questions regarding the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of Diño, the Commission on Election (Comelec) could not have accepted it in the first place.

There were reports that Diño’s COC was for mayor of Pasay City and not for president.

“Unang-una its the intent di ba. Baki ttinanggap ng

Comelec? Bakit ang Comelec sinulatan siya na sinasabing you are being disqualified not as mayor of Pasay but as a presidential candidate? Bakit dun ifinile kung saan pina-file ang COC ng president at vice-president (First, it is the intent.

Why the Comelec accepted his COC? Why the Comelec sent him a letter saying that you are being disqualified not as a mayor of Pasay but as a presidential candidate? Why Diño filed his COC in Comelec Intramuros office where the COC

for president and vice president are being filed),” he said.

He said the issue on Diño’s COC has already been corrected and it is not an issue anymore from the Comelec.

“I haven’t heard anyone from the Comelec saying that there is a problem but it is the people who do not want Duterte to run,” he said.

Cayetano added that there are attack dogs of some presidential candidates who are making stories just to make

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EDGEDAVAO Sports

Davao boy wins 2 golds in Batang Pinoy Finals P14

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

TANDEM. Davao City Mayor and leading presidentiable Rodrigo R. Duterte, accompanied by his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, is welcomed by newly-installed The Fraternal Order of Eagles national president Louie Ceniza during the organization’s 34th National Congress at Garden Oases over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody says Davao City “will be my Exhibit A”

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AYOR Rodrigo Duterte says he doesn’t have the “superiority and talent, managerial ability and all” but a what he can offer the country is what he has done in Davao City, his “Exhibit A.” “My Exhibit A is Davao City. If the way it is run is not fit for a national strategy.. then look for somebody else who can do it,” Duterte told Congress reporters Friday night at the Matina Enclaves, hours after he withdrew his certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection as mayor at the Commission on Elections office (Comelec) in Davao City, and his (COC) for President

filed before the Comelec office in Manila by a lawyer.

Duterte’s moves on Friday came a day after media reported he topped a Pulse Asia survey of preferred presidential candidates in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The survey was commissioned by “a private group that is supportive of Duterte’s candidacy” according to Pulse Asia, involving 300 respondents and a margin of error of plus or minus 6 per cent.

Duterte topped the survey with 34% followed by 26% for Poe, 22% for Vice President Jejomar Binay, 11% for former Local Governments

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Joel has Duterte in mind when he joined LP line-up

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

IBERAL Party (LP) candidate for the Senate Joel Villanueva said he will be “delighted” if Davao City Mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo R. Duterte will invite him to be part of the mayor’s senatorial line-up.

“I thought of Duterte when I filed my senatorial candidacy and I asked him that time if he will run for presidency and he said `no,’” Villanueva said in a round table discussion with Davao press yesterday at the Flying Pig Restaurant at the Casa Munda in Juna Subdivi-

sion.

Villanueva said he always believed in the mayor’s capabilities citing the latter’s credentials as public servant.

“Duterte has a winning chance,” Villanueva said, adding the decision of Duterte to join the presidential race changed the existing game among presidentiables.

However, he said he will remain under the LP as its senatorial candidate in the 2016 election.

If elected, Villanueva will

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Cayetano hits Leni for criticizing Rody

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OR criticizing Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, vice presidential aspirant Leni Robrero came under fire from Sen, Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano lashed at Robredo for her earlier statement hitting Duterte’s style of governance in attaining peace and order in the city.

On Friday, Robredo told The Philippine Star that Duterte’s message of violence in his campaign could be dangerous for the public mindset.

“Mayor Duterte is about order, not about violence,” Cayetano said in an interview last Saturday at the Ritz Hotel by

Garden Oases.

Cayetano, Duterte’s running mate in the 2016 elections, said Robredo somehow tagged Duterte a man of violence when in fact the mayor was just imposing order.

“Kahit anong oras kayong mag lakad ditto sa Davao walang violence kasi may respeto sa batas (Whatever time of the day you will walk here in Davao there is no violence because people have respect on the law),” he said.

He added that if Robredo boasted that his husband, the late Jessie Robredo, did Naga a peaceful city without using

violence then she must learn to roam around especially in highly urbanized cities to see the real picture.

“My advice to ma’m Leni to roam around the country especially in the highly urbanized cities not just in greater Manila areas. You must go in the public markets, in the streets and in the night try to be accompanied by the chief of police and barangay captains and hear the problems of drug addictions and pushers,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano said if the’ TuwidnaDaan’ of President Benigno S. Aquino III is solving

the problem of crime and corruption, “maybe they are just doing something on it but they are not solving the problem.”

“But, Mayor Duterte can solve this problem,” he said.

In a report from the Philippine Star, Robredo said in Naga City, where she hails from, that peace and order was maintained through active and collaborative participation of ordinary citizens in local governance, including reducing criminality.

She, however, said Duterte may be talking tough but it does not mean his statements have to be taken literally.

death,” Senoc said.

The parade will start at 3:00 p.m. at Freedom Park in Roxas Avenue and will end at Rizal Park where a program will follow.

Senoc said before the parade, there will be a symposium at the Ateneo de Davao Univierstiy in the morning.

“Pagkahuman ni-ana naa siya’y voluntary counselling and testing (After the symposium there will be a voluntary

counseling and testing),” she said.

Senoc also encouraged all suspected persons infected with AIDS to voluntarily submit their selves for a screening since it is free at City Health Office’s - Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (CHORHWC).

She said there are 28,428 reported cases of people living with HIV-Aids, 692 of these are from Davao City.

Senoc said of the total, the male to male sexual engagements have the most number with 12,101 while the male to female sexual activity comes second and mother to child infection.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) was alarmed after Davao City became one of the six cities in the country to have high HIV prevalence rates. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

March to commemorate World AIDS Day in Davao

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ROUND 200 anti-AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome) advocates in Davao City will gather today to commemorate the World AIDS Day. Davao City AIDS Council chair Precy Senoc said this year’s commemoration will be dubbed as Red March Parade.

“The theme for this year will be getting to zero new infections, zero stigma discrimination and zero AIDS related

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

NEWS 3

Rody gets rock star treatment in Taguig

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

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AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte received a rock-star treatment from Metro Manilans during a musical concert at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig Sunday night.

The event called Musicians and Artists for Duterte or MAD for Change attracted a mammoth crowd of 100,000 residents, who waited for hours to have a glimpse and listen to the leader from the South speak.

Chants of “Duterte, Duterte, Duterte” greeted the charismatic mayor from Mindanao as he made his way to the stage past 10:00 p.m.

According to Manny Piñol, one of Duterte’s staunch allies, people had waited for six hours and endured hunger just “to catch a glimpse of the man they hope would bring change to their lives.”

“People gathered at the vast vacant lot in the Megaworld Property on Mackinley Road in the Bonifacio Global City as early as 3 p.m. and endured the long wait and hunger when they were told that Duterte would be joining the concert,” Piñol posted on his Facebook page.

The concert was actually planned weeks ago to continue the call for Duterte to run for president in the 2016 elections but turned into a celebration of sorts as the people turned out to see the man they believe would bring change to the country.

But, Duterte on Friday finally decided to file his Certificate of Candidacy for president thru lawyer Salvador Medialdia minutes after withdrawing his COC for re-election in Davao City. Substituting him for the mayoral post in next year’s elections is his

daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, who was Davao’s mayor from 2010 to 2013.

It started with a community prayer which included a Muslim Imam.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who has been declared by Duterte as his vice presidential running mate, and his wife, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, arrived early along with the whole Cayetano clan and the political leaders of the city,” Piñol said of the musical concert.

“Musicians gathered by event organisers Pompee Laviña, his cousin and Duterte spokesman Peter Laviña and band leader Popong Landero entertained the crowd for five long hours,” he added.

Other artists, including the group that popularized the hit song “Takbo” which was composed and sang by the group to convince Duterte to run for President, and other music icons like Lolita Carbon, performed during the gathering.

The activity, which started at 3:00 p.m., was also graced by players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) led by Marc Pingris, who threw balls to the crowd.

“Finally, when Duterte arrived shortly after 10 p.m., the huge crowd erupted into a wild jubilation,” Piñol said.

This early, Metro Manilans are already showing to whom their votes would go in May 2016 when the country elects a new President.

In a survey released by Pulse Asia just days ago, Duterte emerged on top among Metro Manila residents with 34 points, leaving Sen. Grace Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay, administration candidate Mar Roxas and Sen. Miriam Santiago eating his dust.

GETTING READY. A member of a progressive group fixes a streamer printed with anti-government slogan before the start of a march rally to commemorate Bonifacio Day along Roxas Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Cases of sexual abuse among OFW kids alarming—MMCEA

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

VERSEAS Filipino Workers rights advocate Mindanao Migrant Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEA) asked policy-makers to implement the OFW ordinance in a bid to give better protection to children of OFWs who are usually subjected to sexual abuse either by their father or guardians.

Though not specifically stated in the seven-year old ordinance, MMCEA executive director Inorisa S. Elento said the group will be pushing for inclusion of a provision that

One defeat does not really mean big to me--Duterte

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F Mayor Rodrigo Duterte loses in the 2016 Presidential race, it will be his first electoral defeat since 1988 but he says he would not mind at all if he loses or gets disqualified.

In his Sunday television program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” Duterte said that if either scenario happens, he will retire from public service and leave the city in the hands of his children, Sara Duterte-Carpio and Paolo Duterte (see other story) Duterte withdrew his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor and had his lawyer in Manila file his COC for President as a substitute to Martin Dino of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP-Laban) last Friday.

His daughter Sara, vice

mayor from 2007 to 2010 and mayor from 2010 to 2013, filed her COC as his substitute candidate for mayor after he withdrew his COC for what would have been his eighth term as the city’s chief executive. His eldest Paolo is seeking reelection as vice mayor.

The patriarch was elected mayor from 1988 to 1998, representative of the first district from 1998 to 2001, mayor again from 2001 to 2010, vice mayor from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, he was elected mayor for the seventh term, with son Paolo as vice mayor.

A petition against Duterte’s presidential bid was filed before the Commission on Elections in Manila also on Friday.

“It’s destiny. If it’s not yours and God will not give

the Presidency to me, fine.

There’s no problem. If they will disqualify me, it’s okay with me, go ahead,” he said in mixed English and Cebuano.

“I will retire for good. I will not intervene in the city’s politics. I will leave it to Inday (Sara) or Pulong),” he added.

She said up to the last minute, Sara was reluctant to run for mayor “so I convinced her to run for the best interest of the city,” he added.

He said Sara knows his “secrets” on how to handle situations and how to run the city, having had served as mayor. He said his eldest son Paolo, the incumbent vice mayor, needs more experience in running the city and may be ready after one term. (Antonio Colina IV / MindaNews)

will provide protection to children of OFW. “There so much unsaid

stories inside every OFW house here. The cases of incest and sexual abuse among

children of OFW in Davao City are increasing through the

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4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

97 Surigao City PNP trainees hospitalized

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T least 97 trainees of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were rushed to the Caraga Regional Hospital on Friday afternoon in Surigao City after complaining of stomach ache.

Police Supt. Russel Caballero Maca, regional training director at Camp George T Barbers, a training school in Barangay Lipata this city said the trainees suffered diarrhea.

Dr. Luis Logarte, one of the attending physicians, said they were still waiting for results of the laboratory tests.

Surigao City Health Office head Dr. Arlene Felizarta said they conducted an investigation at the training school, interviewed the patients, got samples of water for laboratory examinations talked to the caterer.

Felizarta has yet to release results of the findings.

Jonathan Sequina, one of

the trainees, said he suffered a stomach ache Friday afternoon and he along with five others were the first to be rushed to the hospital.

“Most of us suffered stomach pain and diarrhea after eating adobong manok and ginataang kalabasa,” he said.

Carla Mae Tagutingan, also a police trainee, said she had been complaining of stomach pains since Thursday.

Tagutingan said there are 550 police trainees but only 97 were affected and sent to the hospital.

SPO4 Dennis F. Maning, chief of the Applied Training Affairs Division said all 97 were declared safe after treatment in the hospital.

Maning said only 27 out of 97 patients remained as of Saturday afternoon at the hospital but were sent back to the school by evening. (Roel Catoto / MindaNews)

Next president need not be from Mindanao – VP Binay

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ICE President Jejomar Binay has claimed that the next president does not have to come from Mindanao in order to understand the plight of the residents of the island group.

Binay, who is running in next year’s national elections as president, made the comment after being asked if there needed to be a change in the campaign in Mindanao, following Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s entry into the presidential race.

Duterte last week formally filed his candidacy as a substitute candidate for Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption president Martin Dino, who ran under the PDP-Laban ticket during the deadline of filing for candidacy last month.

“Hindi naman kailangan taga-luzon ka para maging

tama ang pamamahala mo sa buong bansa,” Binay said.

“Ang pamamahala po ay para sa buong Pilipinas, sa buong sambayanang Pilipino.”

Binay said the emphasis for his administration if he wins the elections would be for the rise of the gross domestic product, along with the development of infrastructure.

“Yung mga infrastructure infrastructure ninyo sa Mindanao, haharapin natin,” he said. “Yung mga airports, yung mga kalye, mga bridges, at kung ano pa. Sa social services, ipapagpatuloy natin yun, dahil tulong sa mahihirap yun.”

Binay, despite formally resigning from the administration, said there were still projects of the Aquino government that still needed to

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

YOUNG SINGERS. Young performers from Musikademy serenade local media practitioners and mall-goers during Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao where they promoted “Something Wonderful, Something Musical (SWSM2)” set on December 4 to 5at the RSM Event Center of PWC Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Federalism good for island nations like Phl – DBM exec

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N official from the Department of Budget and Management agreed that island nations like the Philippines should be headed for a form of government like federalism but that the next administration should put in place clear mechanisms to run such a government.

The comment was made after Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte last week formalized his candidacy as substitute candidate for PDP-Laban after repeated denials he was interested in the position.

Duterte has gone around the country ostensibly pushing for a federal form of government.

In an interview during Saturday’s Kusog Mindanao conference at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, DBM Assistant Secretary Maxine Tanya Hamada said the next government, if it does push for federalism, should establish how they see allocation and governance from a budget perspective.

Hamada’s response came after her presentation of the DBM’s budgeting of the national government’s projects for the 2016 General Appropriations Act. “It seems like a logical model for an island nation, and it has nothing to do with budget priorities,” she said.

However, Hamada clarified that the federal government should strengthen its internal components, adding that the measures already in place under the Aquino government should still be kept or imitated, in the name of good housekeeping.

“Because regardless if its federalism, parliamentary or even centralized, if the mechanisms create the inclusive institutions on the ground, then it’s much better than, say, arbitrarily federalism that is corrupt,” Hamada said.

“Take the logic that we have to decentralize, if federalism yan, that’s fine, parliamentary, that’s fine. But look

Bongbong urges gov’t to step up preparations vs disasters

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GIFT IDEAS. A mall-goer checks out the prices of toys on display at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

at the mechanisms of how we deliver the services,” she pointed out.

Hamada added that there needed to be a continuous dialogue between national and local government, including stakeholders from the private sector, academe, and media, so that the allocations are implemented based on agreed-upon priorities from the national government.

“First, let us not lose the efficiency measures that we put up in place so there’s guaranty that money will come in. It’s just good housekeeping, it’s just efficient public spending, accountability and transparency,” she said. (MindaNews)

S world leaders meet in Paris to tackle climate change, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. today said we should step up preparations for the increasing severity of natural disasters brought about by changing weather patterns.

“No matter what agreement will be reached in the Paris summit we can no longer ignore the reality that we will be facing stronger typhoons, massive flooding, landslides and other natural disasters as a result of climate change. The prudent thing to do now is step up our preparedness,” Marcos recommended.

“We have to take a proactive approach. We are saying, ito na ngayon ang mangyayari, unahan na natin,” he added.

The 21st United Nations

Conference of the Parties, or COP21, which began in Paris Monday aims to unite some 150 nations for a single agreement tackling climate change by capping the rate of global warming at 2 degrees Celsius compared to the current 2.5 to 3.76 degrees Celsius.

Among others, Marcos urged local governments to adopt a pre-emptive evacuation system in disaster-prone areas at the onset of the typhoons and heavy rains while the national government should build and or clearly identify disaster-resilient evacuation centers.

Marcos said the government should also speed up the implementation of the law on the modernization of PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geo-

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

Investment key to Mindanao growth

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NVESTMENT coming to Mindanao is still the key to sustain the economic growth and better job generation in the island region, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Joel Villanueva said.

“Investment in Mindanao can create better jobs for our laborers,” Villanueva told reporters in a recent round table discussion in Davao City.

He said it is important to focus on the possible investment that would trickle down to Mindanao brought by the recent summit of leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Manila.

Skilled laborers produced

by TESDA and schools here still focus on going abroad because of better opportunities posted by employers in other countries. More than 50 percent of TESDA graduates want to go abroad.

For instance, a butcher graduate of TESDA courses earns at least P80,000 in Australia while it reaches more than a hundred thousand in Canada. An automotive technician graduate of TESDA is earning P125,000 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“We cannot let them stay even we put so much effort in improving the curriculum. If we focus on business as usual, we will just keep on sending the best of our best skilled laborers,” Villanueva said, adding that there is also a need

for an enabling policy as well as sustained peace and order to ensure the entry of investments.

It will be hard for employers here to match the amount of salary OFWs are getting from working abroad but allowing more investment to come in will lead for the creation of jobs most needed by Filipinos outside Metro Manila, according to him.

There is also so much demand, Villanueva said, for skilled Filipinos abroad but also in the local market.

Despite the increase in the number of TESDA graduates in the past six years, it is not even enough to supply the demand in the local labor market.

“For instance, South Korean shipping firm Hanjin Shipping is in need of 2,000 welders but we don’t have enough welders,” he said.

There’s still stigma in technical vocation courses that continues to be the challenge of the blue collar industry, Villanueva added.

Since the time of Ramos, the number of Tesda graduates has increase from 250,000 per year to 600,000 per year in the last five years.

“This year, we are expecting about 2 million TESDA projects,” he added.

Villanueva said there is no much demand for skilled Filipino laborers abroad not only in Middle East but also in United States.

THANKSGIVING. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano talk to reporters during a Thanksgiving Party hosted by The Matina Enclaves at the clubhouse of the real estate project of homegrown developer Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco).

6 THE ECONOMY

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Dream come true for PWDs A

DREAM is coming true for members of Davao del Norte Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Association as they will soon see the rise of a livelihood center they have been wishing for.

Tagum Cooperative formed part of realizing that dream with its building construction supply donation turned over on last November 21 to the officials of Davao del Norte PWD Association.

In a brief ceremony, Tagum Cooperative Board of Directors (BOD) Chairperson Norma R. Pereyras and Davao del Norte PWD Association president Julius R. Rosalinda signed the deed of donation sealing a partnership which Pereyras viewed as “Tagum Coop’s concern for community.”

Rosalinda, who was also a recipient of Tagum Coop’s PWD Asensosa Negosyo program, thanked Tagum Cooperative for going the extra mile in terms of showing concern for the marginalized sectors such that of the PWD. Aside from giving the PWDs some Christmas presents last year, the Cooperative donated 120 galvanized iron (GI) sheets and 125 sacks of cements for the construction of the DavNor PWD Livelihood Center located at PurokBalumo, Barangay San Isidro in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

With the groundbreaking held last October 6, the livelihood center will rise at a 800-square meter lot donated by Romeo Palermo who claimed to have been touched by the earnest desire of Davao del Norte PWDs to have a livelihood center where they can meet and do their activities together including their

endeavor for self-sustaining livelihood.

“Nangandoysilaug livelihood center, apanwala man silaymapatukuran. (They were hoping to have a livelihood center, but they don’t have a land on which to build it),” he said.

“Pangandoypudsaakonganakngamakatrabahojudangmga PWDs. (My son is also dreaming for PWDs to find their own livelihood,” he added while revealing himself as the father of the nationally awarded differently-abled person, Darlito Palermo, the 2015 ApolinarioMabini Presidential Awardee.

Teary-eyed Davao del Norte PWD association vice president Benedicto Sabsal was still in disbelief that the association will soon be able to bring to reality the wishes of its members for a livelihood center.

With only 17 members when formed in May this year, the Davao del Norte PWD Association met scepticisms as it expressed its grand plan to build a livelihood center .

“May nangutna kung makaya ba namo ang pagpatukod, apan misalig kami nga makaya. (We were asked if we can ably have it build, but we have faith that we can do it.),” Sabsal said.

A member of Tagum Cooperative, Sabsal reiterated the gratefulness of his group for the concern and generosity of the Cooperative.

“Dil ilang karon nato sila nakita, apan mas dako pa ang ilang gihatagan lang sa panginabuhian nato. (We haven’t seen them just now but they have extended us so much

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Stop importing agri products, says Marcos

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ENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. yesterday said the government should abandon its penchant for importing agricultural products and instead provide easy credit facilities to farmers, lead research and development in agriculture, improve the country’s irrigation system which has deteriorated since 1984, and continue pursuing the construction of more farm-to-market roads in strategic areas.

Marcos said statistics show that 70 percent of the poor are in the agriculture sector.

“Kaya’t sa palagay ko balikan muna natin ang agrikultura and make public investments not only in funding, infrastructure and in all other ways we can help our farmers.”

Earlier, reports said the country’s economy grew by 6 percent in the third quarter of the year, the third fastest expansion of economies in Asia in the quarter with China and Vietnam leading respectively.

“Sinasabi nila ang ganda raw ng ating ekonomiya, one of the best in Asia pero hindi nararamdaman ng taong bayan.

Ang yumayaman lamang yung mayaman na at yung mga malalaking korporasyon.

Kaya’t ang dapat nating tinitingnan ay inclusive growth,” Marcos said in his speech during the celebration of Sarangani Province’s 23rd anniversary.

Marcos emphasized, “Government must institute measures to ensure the benefits of economic growth will be felt by all Filipinos.”

Marcos lamented that despite the good performance of the country’s economy the poverty rate remains practically unchanged along with the unemployment rate, prompting many Filipinos to seek jobs.

“Let us start from the very foundation of our economy— the agricultural sector. I believe that doing so would make our country a better place for all of our people,” Marcos concluded.

FOR THE PWDS. Tagum Cooperative Board of Directors (BOD) Chairperson Norma R. Pereyras and Davao del Norte PWD Association president Julius R. Rosalinda are joined by the PWDs during the signing of the deed of donation.

Senate approves 2016 national budget T HE Senate has passed on third reading the proposed 2016 national budget worth P3.002 trillion.

On Thursday night, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and sponsor of the proposed budget, along with 13 other senators present on session voted to approve the budget on third and final reading following 3 whole days of deliberations.

“I thank my fellow senators for their support and cooperation in the timely approval of the budget,” said Legarda.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished, especially with the new allocations and provisions we introduced. For the first time, we are funding the pension of World War II veterans. We have also aug-

mented the budget of state universities and colleges (SUCs) to ensure the continuous upgrade of our education system and we increased the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) to support the implementation of the K-12 program,” she explained.

The Senate supported the House of Representatives’ allocation of Php4.773 Billion for the payment of the total administrative disability (TAD) pension for surviving spouses of deceased World War II veterans and partial payment for TAD pension for living postwar veterans who are at least 80 years of age as of 2016.

The 2016 DepEd budget worth Php411.48 Billion is more than 15% of its budget for 2015 because the implementation of the senior high school curriculum under the

K-12 program begins next year. Thus, the budget includes allocation for construction of classrooms and hiring of additional teachers.

The Senate also increased allocation for SUCs, adding Php4.27 Billion, in support of our SUCs in their research programs and in building needed infrastructure. The total budget for SUCs is Php37.6 Billion.

Legarda also introduced provisions in the 2016 national budget that would ensure the integration of disaster and climate resilience, environmental and heritage conservation, and sustainability in the programs of various government agencies.

Critical public infrastructure must be designed and built to be resilient to earthquake, typhoon, flood and other extreme weather events. In

retrofitting bridges and other public infrastructure, the government shall give priority to areas considered to be highly vulnerable to seismic activity.

Special provisions under the budgets for the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) state that the two agencies must ensure that evacuation centers are built on safe sites and designed to withstand wind speed of three hundred (300) kilometers per hour and moderate seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude on the richter scale; utilize natural ventilation and rainwater through the inclusion of a rainwater catchment system; and include facilities for the special needs of women, children, the

support and special desk assistance, as provided by the OFW Contact Services Unit (CSU).

“For easier recall, several of these new toll-free numbers end in 2255-777, which represent ‘CALL SSS.’ Our toll-free numbers will be open to calls from OFWs from 6 a.m. on Mondays all the way to 6 a.m. on Saturdays in Philippine time, starting November 16, 2015,” See said.

The SSS established the OFW-CSU last year to facilitate communications with members, focusing particularly on the OFW sector who have needs and concerns distinct from those of SSS members based in the Philippines. With its new toll-free services, the SSS is extending operating hours of the OFW-CSU from 16/5 to 24/5.

“Our toll-free call services,

CSU hotline numbers and designated e-mail address enable OFW members to conveniently relay their queries and requests to the SSS, and in return, we can respond faster to them,” See said.

Aside from the new toll-free numbers, overseas members can direct their SSS concerns to the OFW-CSU anytime thru e-mail at ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph and also via hotline numbers +632 3647796 and +632 364-7798 and its special desk assistance services at the SSS Main Office in Quezon City from Mondays to Fridays.

Common OFW transactions received by the CSU include reactivation of SSS membership, verification of contribution and loan records, queries on procedures on applying for SS (social security) Number, location of SSS for-

eign representative offices, accredited overseas payment channels and status of various applications, See noted.

“To help facilitate quicker responses to SSS queries, especially for OFWs seeking updates about their contributions, loans and benefits, we advise them to indicate their SS Number and include scanned copies of their IDs or passports in their e-mail to the OFW-CSU, or already have them on-hand when they call us,” she said.

SSS toll-free numbers are posted at the SSS Website (www.sss.gov.ph) and the official SSS Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ SSSPh). OFWs are urged to register at the My.SSS facility of the SSS Website so that they will also have an option to check their SSS records over the Internet. (SSS)

FSENATE, 10

SSS toll-free calls now available for OFW members

T

HE Social Security System (SSS) has launched its 1-800 Toll-Free International Call Services in key destinations worldwide to further bolster its campaign to provide social protection within reach for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The toll-free numbers are 001-8000-CALL-SSS for Hong Kong and Singapore; 00-8000-CALL-SSS for Malaysia and Taiwan, Italy and United Kingdom; 801-4275 for Brunei; 00800-100-260 for Qatar; 800-0630-0038 for United Arab Emirates; 800863-0022 for Saudi Arabia; and 8000-6094 for Bahrain.

Judy Frances A. See, SSS Senior Vice President for International Operations, said the new toll-free services add to the existing SSS channels created for OFWs such as dedicated hotline numbers, e-mail

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

Philippine tarsier on the verge of extinction

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO Photos taken from Wikipedia

F

IRST, it was Davao’s Philippine Eagle. Next was Mindoro’s tamaraw. Now, joining the “prestigious” list is Bohol’s Philippine tarsier.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Philippine tarsier was one of the most endangered primates in its latest report.

“Many populations of Philippine tarsiers have already been locally extirpated and of those that remain some surely are at imminent risk of extinc-

tion,” said the report entitled “Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2014-2016.”

The formidable list is not compiled only by IUCN but also

by Bristol Zoological Society, International Primatological Society and Conservation International. It is updated every two years.

The findings “highlights the extent of the danger facing many of the world’s primates,” said leading primatologist

Christoph Schwitzer in a press statement. “We hope it will focus people’s attention on these lesser known primate species, some of which most people will probably have never heard of.”

In 1966, the IUCN) Red List of Threatened Animals classifies the Philippine tarsier under the “near-threatened category.” The UN Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed the Philippine tarsier under Appendix II, which means trade of the species and subspecies “is strictly regulated.”

“A large-eyed insect-eating monkey which, when fully grown, is smaller than a child’s fist.” That was how a high school biology textbook described Philippine tarsier, known as “maomag” among Boholanos or “mago” as those from Mindanao call it.

Philippine tarsier is endemic to the country. It is found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly the islands of Bohol, Samar, and Leyte. Its geographic range also includes Maripipi Island, Siargao Island, Basilan Island, and Dinagat Island.

Known in the science world as “Tarsius syrichta,” tarsier derived its name from its elongated tarsus or ankle bone. It is a tiny animal, measuring about 85 to 160 millimeters in height, which makes it difficult to

spot. The mass for males is between 80 and 160 grams, usually lighter for females.

“The world’s smallest monkey” is an often-heard slogan. Actually, tarsier is not a monkey. In truth, its classification is somewhat problematic. Some scientists consider tarsiers to be a taxonomic suborder among the primates. But because they are closely related to lemurs, lorises, and bushbabies, tarsiers are classified by others with the prosimians to which these animals belong.

Philippine tarsiers usually have gray fur and a nearly hairless tail. Apart from its huge eyes (disproportionate to its head and body) and elongated “toes” with adhesive discs at the tips, the tarsier’s other distinguishing characteristic is its ability to spot prey as well as to navigate its way through the trees. Before it leaps from one branch to another, it will quickly turn its head to spot exactly where it will go and then make a speedy jump – backward – in that direction.

The Philippine tarsier’s ears resemble those of a bat while its facial features resemble a monkey’s. A tarsier locates its prey visually but also uses its heightened sense of hearing and sensitive sense of smell. They live exclusively on animal prey.

Their diet includes primarily insects such as cockroach-

es and crickets, but may occasionally be extended with reptiles, birds, and bats. In captivity, it eats shrimp and fish in a bowl of water.

Like all species of tarsiers, the Philippine tarsier is nocturnal in habit. “It stays at the edges and right inside dense vegetation of different types, including inside patches of dipterocarp forests and secondary forests, preferably among dense bushes and low undergrowths,” the environmental group Haribon Foundation reports.

“Occasionally, tarsier stays even inside dense bushes that grow at the edges of cogonal grasslands in areas which have been cleared and abandoned to grass,” the Haribon adds. It also inhabits coastal forests.

In the 1960s, Philippine tarsiers used to abound, particularly in Bohol. There were so many that many tarsiers were run over by passing cars. People recalled that masses of tarsiers used to cross the roads at night, doing their slow hop-crawl on the ground.

Today, such is not the case anymore. They are on the verge of extinction.

“Tarsiers face a number of threats, most notably habitat loss or degradation, with many tarsiers losing more than half of their original habitat,” says the Endangered Species International (ESI).

“In some areas much of the forest has been converted to agricultural use and this does not benefit tarsiers. Forests are often destroyed for palm or coffee plantations, mining, logged for timber or turned into grazing land,” it adds.

Most tarsiers can still live in secondary forests and in some degraded and cultivated areas but need access to enough sleeping sites to survive. “Degraded areas can support fewer individuals and may not offer enough seclusion from humans,” ESI pointed out.

Tarsiers are also threatened by hunting or capture for the pet trade. “(Philippine tarsiers) fell prey only to their natural enemies, such as civets and snakes.

But habitat destruction, unabated hunting and illegal trade have reduced their population to near extinction,” said the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. (PTFI), a non-government organization spearheading a campaign to save the tarsiers.

During the time of the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, the Philippine tarsier was declared as “a specially protected faunal species of the Philippines.” Presidential Proclamation No. 1030 prohibits “the hunting, killing, wounding, taking away or possession of the Philippine tarsier” and activities that would destroy its habitats.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

EDITORIAL

Traffic season is on

T

HE worst time of the year on the road has come. As in several areas to help ease traffic, it has also been observed December brings the whiff of Christmas air, it also that they disappear when the going got tough. There are some ushers in the season for heavy traffic and crowded too who reappear in the middle of the night and conducts speed checks when motorists least expect them to be around. malls.

Traffic personnel also work in gang-like groupings while In Davao City, we expect the roads to be heavy during rush hours and mall sale days which are expected to begin by the enforcing the speed limit but are scarce in dense intersections. weekend. The traffic situation will be even worse with the Whatever gives them the motivation to focus more on the ongoing repairs being constructed in several roads in the speed limit more than meets the eye.

Worth watching out too are taxi cabs whose drivers become city.

By now, this must be anticipated by traffic authorities as “choosy” in picking up passengers in the busy holidays. this has been a perennial problem. Although traffic here is Include also in the list are “pinaskuhan” seeking traffic cops.

We submit to the fact that it’s crazy to be on the road at far from being on the level of Metro Manila, still it is better to have set up everything to at least not let the situation get these times, and we can only hope for an orderly and flow of out of hand. While traffic personnel in the city are deployed traffic (albeit slow) and a safer ride for everyone.

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9

The winners take it all

W

HAT do Cherry Ann T. Lim, the team of Karren Verona and Ruben Gonzaga, Mauricio Victa, and myself have one thing in common?

They have won the coveted journalism trophies during the 2015 Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards ceremony held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel last November 25.

Out of the 10 awardees last year, these four made it in this year’s list of winners. Sun Star Cebu’s Lim was back again for her feature, “Beyond the fields.” Declared as the Agriculture Story of the Year, it shows how education, livelihood support and social protection for their families, provided under a non-government organization and local government partnership, can help remove children working in sugarcane farms in Cebu.

Last year, she won the same recognition for “Fish in troubled waters,” which she co-authored with Liberty Pinili.

Producer Montejo and television host Gonzaga were honored for the same category, Best Agriculture TV Program or Segment, for the ABS-CBN Davao’s “Cateel, Davao Oriental Episode.”

The Super Typhoon Pablo took away the town’s most important source of livelihood in 2012. Instead of being defeated, the people of Cateel there can rise again. “It is a story of recovery, hope and new life,” the citation said.

Baguio-based Victa (of Business Mirror) was given the most coveted prize which is not given annually. He was

A

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

awarded the THINK ON THESE! Oriental Leaf trophy as a Hall of Fame awardee having won the award five times: three times as winner of Tobacco Pho- Henrylito D. Tacio to of the Year henrytacio@gmail.com (2011, 2012 and 2013), once as recipient of Agriculture Photo of the Year (2008), and once for Tobacco Story of the Year (2012).

This columnist also received his second trophy as Best Agriculture Feature Story Regional for his three-part series on ending hunger, which was serialized last December in EDGE Davao.

The citation reads: “This threepart series discusses the food shortage problems that the country faces in light of the growing population and the solutions that can be implemented. To address the issues of soil erosion, The Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in Southern Mindanao has discovered Sloping Agricultural Land Technology.

To answer the fish supply shortage, especially in the Davao Gulf, properly managed aquaculture. And finally, it also shows how biotechnology can address climate change, pesticide use and malnutrition. If used properly and responsibility, it may be the answer to the dwindling global food production.”

Last year, this columnist was cited

as Best Agriculture Feature Story National. The article, “The Prospects of Swine Raising in the Philippines,” was published in Marid Agribusiness magazine.

The other winner from Mindanao this year was Ronde Alicaya for his feature “Square Foot Urban Gardening: Saving Space, Saving Water, Saving Effort, Saving Earth.” Named Best Agriculture Radio Program or Segment, it was aired in his “Straight to the Point” radio program of DXCC RMN in Cagayan de Oro City.

Most of this year’s winners were from Northern Luzon. Winners of Best Agriculture Photo of the Year and Best Tobacco Photo of the Year were Manila Standard Today’s David Chan Leprozo andBaguio Chronicle’s Frank Cimatu, respectively.

Chosen Tobacco Story of the Year was “Potential of Tobacco Industry in Central Luzon.” It was written by Ian Ocampo Flora, a previous winner, and was published in Sun Star Pampanga. The article chronicles the historical beginnings of the cultivation of tobacco in Central Luzon and its eventual establishment as one of the vital industries that shaped the country and the region’s economy.

The other winners were Manila Bulletin’s Rizaldy Comanda, Best Agriculture News Story National for his article, “Kalinga Rice Farmers See Better Days with Hybrid Rice Variety”; Baguio Midland Courier’s Hanna Lacsamana, Best Agriculture News Story Regional for her article, “Baguio Encouraged to

Look at Bamboo’s Several Potentials”; and Philippine Daily Inquirer‘s Anselmo Roque, Best Agriculture Feature Story National for his article, “Saving Rice Varieties: One grain at a time.”

All the four major winners (Best Agriculture Story of the Year, Best Agriculture Photo of the Year, Best Tobacco Story of the Year, and Best Tobacco Photo of the Year) were given a trophy, an iPad, and a cash prize of P50,000.

In the broadcast category, the winners were also given a trophy and a cash prize of P50,000.

The four remaining awardees received a cash prize of P20,000 and a trophy.

But all winners are entitled for a foreign trip to an Asian destination which will happen in the second week of February next year. Beijing, China was the last place visited; it may be Hanoi, Vietnam in 2016.

“Over 600 entries were received from all over the country, with key cities providing most of these entries, including Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Baguio, Manila, and Davao,” wrote Alfred A. Yuson, a member of the board of judges, in his Philippine Star column. “Agri writers and publications based in Ilocos, Pangasinan and Pampanga were also very competitive this year.”

The other judges for this year’s competition were Regina Abuyuan, Jose Enrique Soriano, Joel Pablo Salud, Isabelita Reyes, Francis Abraham, Ces Drilon, J. Albert Gamboa, Jay Directo, and Conrado Banal. Niñez Cacho-Olivares served as chairperson.

have difficulMY TWO CENTS’ ty taking in Leni Robredo’s recent statement that wonderful things happened in Naga without Duterte style leaderJohn Tria ship. While it ecisouth@gmail.com may be true, it points to an improper comparison of two different cities, cultures and outlooks. I know that the Davao of our childhood 70s and 80s is a different country than Naga of the same period. Beyond history, just a look at vital statistics shows the difference.

With a population of 174,931 (2010), it is a bit smaller than Makati, while Davao City is 1.2 million people over a land area three times larger than

Singapore. The center of Naga City is about as large and densely populated as Davaos’s Bgy 31 with a total land area about 4% of Davao Citys. Such glaring numbers break any comparison between Davao and Naga any day.

Culturally, you can contrast both cities this way: Naga is a homogenous population composed mainly of Bicolano Christians. On the other hand, Davao is a kaleidoscope of creeds, ethnicities and races over the last 100 years, with Muslims, Christian immigrants from Ilocos to Zamboanga and the lumad population.

The past violence and criminality is spawned by the anomie that emerges from ethnic and religious conflict takes years to heal, and an iron hand to settle. Without strong leadership, Davao would not be the city it is.

We can agree on one thing though.

Both Davao and Naga are success-

ful cities by Philippine standards.

Clean, safe and progressive centers for trade and education in their respective regions, the leadership took great advantage of the devolution of powers brought by the Local Government Code. There are other cities worth noting and emulating, that have harnessed their peoples talent and made their places better. Essentially, both cities grew on their own merits, meeting their own distinct needs. One example does not cancel the other out.

What the success of Naga and Davao have achieved for us is the notion that responsible leadership, with the right devolved resources and initiative, are hallmarks of a federal government. These two cities have actually made the case for Dutertes main platform. With Robredo calling it out, she only made herself a viable running mate to Digong for many voters.

Naga and Davao a tale of two different cities

S a quarterly visitor to Naga City where my father grew up, It is clear that almost two decades of Robredo style tsinelas leadership was able to unite a critical mass and eventually, a strong majority that cooperates with government and sets the conditions for the boom it is now experiencing. A Catholic pilgrim city of note, its attractions range from the natural waterfalls and eco parks to the religious sites like nice large churches. Commercial establishments from Manila have entered the city, along side homegrown restaurant brands. Truly, it is a different city from the Naga I once visited as a child. Naguenos are a nice, deeply pious people with a preference for clan over larger society. Little wonder why the solid bicol vote tips the scale in favor of a candidate the same way the Iglesia ni cristo does.

As a resident of Davao, however, I

10 NEWS ALAN... FROM 1

Duterte out of the list.

“I thought kaya nyong talunin si Mayor Duterte sa eleksyon. Bakit hindi nyo sa eleksyon talunin rather naiknock out niyo sa Comelec (I thought you can beat Mayor Duterte in an election. Why not just beat him in election

rather than knock him out in Comelec),” he said.

Dutertesaid, for his part, said he is ready to accept whatever decision the Comelec will come up in his candidacy.

“I will accept any decision from the Comelec. I will accept it gracefully,” Duterte said.

be pushing for the creation of policies that would create more and better jobs for Filipinos just like how his administration improved the image of technical vocation in the country.

Villanueva, current cabinet secretary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Auhority (TESDA), said improvement of the technical skills of laborers here has increase the competetiveness of

Filipinos abroad.

Under his platform, Villanueva is planning to file the “Trabaho”bill which aims to provide traininf and the Philippine Qualification Framework Bill that aims to realign the country’s qualification system to other countries.c He will also support the passage of the stalled Freedom of Information (FOI) bill and the indexing of income tax of workers.

continue, citing the conditional cash transfer and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as among the examples, as well as the Public-Private Partnership programs.

“Basta’t kung ano ang ginagawa sa isang lugar na para sa ikakabuti ng isang bansa, ay gagawin din po natin sa Mindanao,” Binay said.

In a speech delivered earlier that day, Binay criticized the same projects under the Aquino government, adding there needed to be “addition-

al measures” to streamline the social service provisions under the DSWD and more lenient regulatory measures under the PPP. Asked how many of his cabinet members would come from Mindanao, Binay appealed to the public not to treat governance as “a numbers game.”

He said, however, that he was pushing for cabinet secretaries who were already experienced members of the cabinet to reduce the need for a learning curve in managing the country.

more for our livelihood.),” he said referring to previous engagements of Tagum Cooperative with marginalized sectors.

Pereyras, in her message, said that the Cooperative is just giving back the blessings that God has been giving while also emphasizing the saying “God is good all the time.”

Tagum Cooperative BOD vice chair Monica L. Salido,

BOD member Edgardo T. Silagan, and general manager Juris D. Perez also attended the activity along with Jean Abangan, PIA personnel, and Red Batario, executive director of the Center for Community Journalism and Development, who came to witness the actual community program of the GalingPook-awarded Cooperative. (Tagum Cooperative)

elderly, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) and such other physical provisions guaranteeing a humane condition for evacuees.

The budget includes funding for four (4) permanent evacuation centers or buildings per region in the country.

The DepEd and SUCs must integrate the following in their respective curricula: environmental protection and awareness, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation, indigenous knowledge systems pertaining to agriculture, environment and cultural heritage.

The DILG should embark on a massive information campaign for LGUs on the said issues; while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in the conduct of family development sessions among beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program, shall integrate

in its program the protection of the environment, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation, including the preservation of the indigenous culture of their locality. The DSWD shall also conduct capacity building programs to prepare its beneficiaries for the onset of natural hazards.

The Senator also introduced a provision under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which tasks the agency to allocate funds “for road sharing activities such as the promotion of non-motorized transport, construction of pedestrian-friendly facilities and conduct of programs and projects that are geared towards improving people mobility.”

The Senate and the House of Representatives are set to meet next week in a bicameral conference to reconcile the differences in their respective versions of the budget.

Joel... FROM 2

Next... FROM 4

Dream... FROM 6

Senate... FROM 6

EDGEDAVAO

Rody... FROM 2

Secretary and administration bet Mar Roxas, and 7% for Senator Miriam Santiago.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

for its survey in September 2014. Duterte was included in the survey starting March 2015 where he tied at third place nationwide with Manila mayor Joseph Estrada at 12%, Binay as number 1 at 29% and Poe at 12%.

In the NCR, Duterte was a preferred Presidential candidate by only 7% in March 2015 but by June, the figure rose to 11% then 21% in September and 34% in November.

The survey in the NCR, commissioned by a Duterte supporter, was conducted on November 11 and 12, just a few days after Duterte announced he was considering to run for President.

On November 8, exactly a week after saying “nothing has changed” even as the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) compelled him to substitute for PDP Secretary-General Martin Dino who earlier withdrew his candidacy for President, Duterte said he “might just decide to run as president” if the Filipino people continue to be oppressed.

“I do not like the way the oppressed Filipinos are being treated now. Oppressed na, wala pang matakbuhan.

Pagsinobrahan ninyo kastigo ang mga Filipino, I might just decide to run as president,” said Duterte, who had earlier expressed disgust over how the national government was “inutile” to stop the “Laglag Bala” extortion scheme that had been victimizing several passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, many of them Overseas Filipino Workers.

Not aware Duterte claimed he was not aware a survey was commissioned for him.

Since the September survey, Duterte has landed on front page news and main headlines on radio and television due to his flip-flops on running for President.

Duterte has repeatedly said he has earned too many accolades to last him a lifetime, having served as government prosecutor in the city from 1977 to 1986, OIC vice mayor from 1986 to 1988, mayor from 1988 to 1998, congressman of the first district from 1998 to 2001, mayor again from 2001 to 2010, vice mayor from 2010 to 2013 and mayor again since 2013.

Duterte’s leadership style has earned both praises and criticisms. Praises because, among others, the city has deputy mayors for the Moro and Lumad tribes, it was the first to introduce a Children’s Code, an anti-discrimination ordinance, an effective smoking ban, a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics during Christmas and other holidays, a speed limit ban.

He openly supports the peace processes with the Moro liberation fronts and the communist New Peoples Army, goes to the hinterlands to receive hostages freed by the NPA, and is perhaps the only city mayor in the country who has allowed supporters and sympathizers of an NPA commander slain this year, to carry and wave their red flags at the funeral procession along the city’s major streets.

Duterte is known for his hardline stance against kidnappers, drug pushers and other criminals and has been accused of tolerating extra-judicial or vigilante-style killings in the city.

Time Magazine put him on the cover of its July 19,

years,” Elento said. “This is alarming.”

Elento said the group recorded a total of six last years and four cases of incest as of November this year in its 12 partner communities and 8 partner schools in Davao City.

“I believe there more unreported incest cases in Davao City,” she said.

The NNCEA has partnered with communities here, namely: Calinan, Tugbok, Mintal, Sto Niño, Talomo, Bago Aplaya, Bangkal, Matina Proper, Matina Aplaya, SIR-Matina, and Bacaca, while partners schools were two campuses of Holy Cross of Davao College, Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s College, University of Mindanao, Assumption College of Davao, John Paul College, and

University of Southeastern Philippines.

“The youngest incest victim was 8 years old,” she said.

Despite the assured legal assistance, aside from psycho social and nutritional assistance, extended to the victims, only few proceed with legal filing of the case to the authority.

Elento said only three cases where filed since last year.

“Some other members of the family, even their OFW mothers, ask their children to just forgive their father or guardian,” she said. “Some mothers do it to protect the pride of the family while some do it because it’s part of their culture.”

Elento said the protection for OFW children under the Magna Carta for OFW is min-

imal.

“OFW children sector is one part of the society that is given with less attention. OFW children are not asked especially when one of their parents decides to look for better opportunity abroad,” she said.

Oftentimes, the reasons behind the decision of mothers to fly abroad like to give better life to their children are defeated.

“Top most reason of mothers who opted to become OFW is to provide better food to their family while giving better education is just secondary,” she said.

Sadly, record of the group revealed that 30 to 35 percent of the 700 OFW children in their partner communities are school drop-outs.

“Even working abroad,

some of their parent cannot still send their children to school with only P6,000 month salary,” she added.

Elento said the implementation of the ordinance will not only give protection to OFW children but to OFW and migrants who are in need of government assistance during paper processing and preparation.

The ordinance will also allow the data tracking of OFWs going outside the city as well as those who come back.

She said it’s been long since the ordinance was approved but there’s still no light when it will be implemented.

“Sadly, it only shows that the welfare of the OFWs here is not a priority of the city government even it is one factor that drives the economy.”

physical and Astronomical Services Administration) and continue to tap the capability of the military in rescue and relief operations due to its expertise in logistics in the distribution of relief goods and materials to

disaster-stricken areas.

“We have a lot to do in terms of being able to provide the relief goods. I think the single most important lesson that we have to continue to remind ourselves is, politics has no

place in the calamity area. Buhay na ng tao ito. Ibang usapan ito,” Marcos asserted.

Marcos said we should have learned from the lessons of super-typhoon Yolanda in improving our capability to

mitigate the effects of disasters brought about by climate change.

“We know what those lessons are, the challenge is how to implement them,” Marcos concluded.

6.17 million voters The NCR or Metro Manila is composed of 16 cities -- Manila, Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela; and one municipality, Pateros.

According to the Comelec website, the NCR has 6.17 million registered voters as of the October 2013 barangay election.

Given the margin of error of 6%, the survey results show that Duterte, Poe and Binay are in a three-way tie in the NCR, Pulse Asia said.

In response to a query e-mailed by MindaNews, Prof.

Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia President and Managing Fellow, said that whilethe survey was commissioned by Duterte supporters, “we maintain objectivity even in commissioned surveys.”

“One means of doing this is to frame the questions on our own. We also randomly select areas for the survey and completely adhere to the rules established in survey research,” he said.

Significant Holmes also pointed to the September survey of Pulse Asia that showed Duterte “already generated significant pre-election preference in NCR.” The September survey was conducted starting September 8, a day after Duterte’s first announcement that he was not running for President.

A review of Pulse Asia’s surveys showed Duterte was not among 15 names listed

Cases... FROM 3

Bongbong... FROM 4

2002 issue as “The Punisher.”

CHR probe The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) under then CHR chair Leila de Lima, now a senatorial candidate after serving as Justice Secretary from 2009 to October this year, conducted a public inquiry in 2009 following reports that at least 800 persons had been summarily executed in the city since 1998, by a band referred to as “Davao Death Squad” and their later copycats.

De Lima called the extralegal killings in the city “shockingly intolerable.”

At the probe, Duterte repeated previous pronouncements but this time under oath, that there are no state-sponsored killings in the city, and that he would resign the mayoralty “if there is an iota of evidence” that he, the military or police, are behind these killings.

A week later, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its report on “death squad killings in Mindanao” titled “You Can Die Anytime.”

The 103-page report “found evidence of complicity and at times direct involvement of government officials and members of the police in killings by the so-called Davao Death Squad.”

Reacting to the report, Duterte said that if the CHR and HRW Executive Director Kenneth Roth “do not like what’s happening here, they better not come here anymore if they think that Davao City is a dangerous place.”

“They won’t understand me: they speak of human rights, I speak of securing the welfare of the entire city,” Duterte said. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

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EDGEDAVAO TRAVEL As soon as we reached the 10,000-foot designated altitude, we took one step out of the plane and there was no turning back. For 45 seconds, we were free falling over Mati City at the speed of 200 kph before deploying our parachute and begin feasting our eyes on the beautiful sights of Davao Oriental.

MATI CITY

Mindanao’s first tandem sky dive: Opening new frontiers in extreme sports tourism

By Jonallier M. Perez

I

signed up purposely because I wanted to overcome my fear of falling, apart, of course, from the promise of an extremely exhilarating experience of what is becoming an increasingly popular extreme sport. It was the first tandem skydive in Mindanao. All other dives were done solo by licensed skydivers, mostly by members of the Philippine Air Force during festivals. I never had any inkling at all that I was making history at that moment. Modesty aside, I am the first tandem skydiver in Mindanao. My newfound friend who travelled all the way from Kidapawan, Ms. Krizian Joy Gasang, earned the distinction of being the first female tandem skydiver in Mindanao.

Last November 18 was my appointment with “destiny.” The whole team went to the old Mati Airport and we were hosted by the Mindanao Saga Flying Club – the ultralight flying pioneer in the region. We were later joined by Raymart Santiago, a licensed skydiver himself, Terry Walker, my Vancouver-based dive master, fellow Canadian Travis McBride, and 11 Taiwanese tourists who flew into the country purposely to try skydiving over Davao region. There were many other enthusiasts who joined us later.

The brief skydiving season, which lasted from November 18-22, was also the First

Taiwan-Philippines Friendship Boogie.

I admit I was a bit scared.

No, I mean, I was REALLY scared! I tried to overcome my fear of falling by paragliding in Maasim, Sarangani Province last year. I

There was no turning back then.

We made five roll-overs before we began our free fall. We were hurtling towards the good Earth at the speed of approximately 200 kph. We rapidly lost altitude, and that was one of the best 45 seconds of my life!

Krizian Joy Gasang of Kidapawan City now holds the title of being the first female tandem skydiver in Mindanao. realized I needed more to able from the plane is the finally overcome it. Skydiv- famed Dahican beach where ing is no small feat for me. Santiago later landed to the It was a major item on my delight of the beach goers. bucket list. After extensive Soon, we were able to recogorientation, we donned our nize the Guanguan Peninsafety harness that securely sula, Pujada Bay, parts of the attached us to the skydive Pacific Ocean and even pormaster. On our way up, I tions of the Mt. Hamiguitan was amazed at the vistas mountain range – a world that slowly unfolded before our eyes. Most recogniz-

SKY DIVE A4

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EVENT

Omar Edwards together with Steps Dance Project for the finale.

Dancing with

Guest singer JC Santos.

Ol’ Blue Eyes IT WAS a dance and muscial extravaganza at the Activity Center of the Abreeza Mall last November 22 as it brought a one-of-a-kind pre-holiday treat to shoppers with Frankly Speaking.

The free jazz musica l concer t featured t h e timeless melodies of Frank Sinatra fused w i t h dance performances from the Manilabased dance group Steps Dance Project, under the direction of Dancers perform ‘Our Love Is Here to Stay’ James Laforteza. They were joined

by New York-based tap dancing maestro Omar Edwards and upand-coming singer-actor JC Santos.

The talented young scholars of Steps Dance Project delivered wonderful dance interpretations of Sinatra hits such as “The Way You Look Tonight,” “That’s Life,” “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” and “Our Love Is Here to Stay.” Guest singer JC Santos was a debonair presence as he regaled the crowd with nostalgia-inducing tunes such as “As Time Goes By.” International tap dancing talent Omar Edwards, who had earlier in the day held a tap dancing workshop for a limited number of participants, was a sight Omar Edwards and JC Santos perform ‘In the Wee Small to behold as he gracefully tapped Hours of the Morning’. his way through “Blue Moon,” “In

Omar Edwards with Steps Dance Project.

Dancers perform ‘That’s Life’. the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” and joined Steps Dance Project performers on songs such as “Cheek to Cheek” which energised the audience gathered at the Activity

Center.

Omar also dedicated a performance of “That’s What Friends Are For” to his friends from Steps Dance Project, including the group’s founder So-

fia Zobel-Elizalde, who was present during the show. Finally, all the performers got together to sing and dance to “Let It Snow” as white confetti rained down on the Activity Center—a fitting ending to such an enchanting pre-Christmas treat. Frankly Speaking has been making the rounds of Ayala Malls nationwide during the holiday season. Prior to the Abreeza Mall leg this year, it was staged at Harbor Point Mall in Subic, MarQuee Mall in Pampanga, and Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro. Frankly Speaking is just one of the many events scheduled for the Holiday Season at the Abreeza Mall. For more information on upcoming events and updates, one can visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332.

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EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Jana, Sylvia of ‘Ningning’ nab recognition for stellar acting JANA AGONCILLO (Ningning) and Sylvia Sanchez (Mamay Pacing) the stars of the ABS-CBN top-rating tanghali serye “Ningning,” recently received acting nods from award-giving bodies for their stellar performances in ABS-CBN programs.

Child actress Jana who plays the titular role, emerged as the Best Child Actress in the 2015 Philippine Edition Network’s 4th Reader’s Choice Television. Jana bested other child stars in the annual online entertainment voting awards of the Philippine Edition Network.

Jana’s co-star and veteran actress Sylvia Sanchez also earned praises for her work in ABS-CBN’s “The Trial” and “Be Careful With My Heart,” as she was hailed as the Most Outstanding Filipino Performer in Film and TV by the Gawad Amerika Awards in Hollywood, California.

Weekday mornings are also constantly filled with good vibes because of “Ningning.” This week, Ningning gets sick and develops skin rashes after taking care

his daing business? How will Kris and Ningning react to Mamay’s surprise return? Find out in “Ningning,” weekdays before “It’s Showtime.”

“Ningning” aims to promote the goodness

of her tatay Dondon (Ketchup Eusebio).

Because Dondon attends to an ill Ningning, he commits shortcomings in his daing deliveries.

Meanwhile, Mamay Pacing is

and good values in everyday life among its viewers. For more information, visit the official Facebook account of Ningning (Facebook.com/ Ningning).

set to return to Manila after her week-long stay in isla Baybay and tells her son Dondon to keep it as a secret so she could surprise Kris (Rommel Padilla) and Ningning.

Will Dondon bounce back in

Joey Albert Timeless at the Waterfront Hotel Davao JOEY ALBERT returns to Davao on Friday, December 4, 2015 for Timeless, a nostalgic and sentimental musical journey at the Garden Pavilion of the Waterfront Insular Hotel.

Originally staged in Chicago last January 2013, Timeless an intimate show where one can get more intimate with the veteran Pinoy pop jazz songstress herself. The concert also features Wency Cornejo and local artists Jem Cubil and Yaro Veloso to support Joey Albert on stage. A concert which is definitely s not your typical “sit, watch, and listen” show, Timeless will give the audience everything they expect from a first rate concert.

Proceeds of the

“Timeless concert” will benefit House of Hope/Davao

Children’s Cancer Fund a non-stock, non-profit charity organization

established in 2004 to respond to the needs of children with cancer in Davao City and Mindanao, by providing hope, promote better survival rates, achieve excellent holistic care through advocacy, research and environmental protection. Joey Albert, herself a cancer survivor, is also scheduled to visit the facility and meet the children during this visit.

Tickets are now available at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Blue Posts Boiling Crabs, Antonio’s Grill SM Ecoland, Max’s Fried Chicken Abreeza, Carmella’s, Picobello Ma-a, Dimsum Diner Guerrero, and Big 8 Hotel Tagum.

Joey Albert Timeless is a production of Braganza Events.

November 30 – 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

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TRAVEL SKY DIVE A1

Taiwanese skydiver who joined the First Taiwan-Philippines Friendship Boggie in Mati City.

heritage site. Half of the experience I had during my historic skydive was when my eyes were feasting on the beautiful sights that unfolded from the plane window.

The plane climbed to the designated 10,000-foot altitude before the pilot gave the go signal. Three solo skydivers jumped ahead of us before I put my feet forward outside the plane. There was no turning back then. We made five roll-overs before we began our free fall. We were hurtling towards the good Earth at the speed of approximately 200 kph.

We rapidly lost altitude, and that was one of the best 45 seconds of my life! At nearly 4,500 feet above sea level, Terry expertly deployed our main parachute and we started our slow descent. Again, I had this visual treat – so delightful and pleasurable to the senses and soul. It is

(L-R) Travis McBride of Edmonton, Canada, me, Raymart Santiago, and Terry Walker of Vancouver, Canada before our skydive.

so beautiful up there. Only then was I was able to appreciate less known but equally beautiful beach sites that dot the entire peninsula. For me, it was also liberating. I was freed from my basic fear – the seminal fear of dying from a fall. My experience last week was not simply about earning the bragging right of being the first tandem skydiver in Mindanao. It was also an opportunity to appreciate essential things in life – security, trust, and camaraderie with people

who were initially strangers to me.

Skydiving is not an ordinary thing. It is rightfully considered an extreme sporting activity and requires proper license before one is allowed to do it. The whole event was organized by Aero-Tour, Inc. (www.aero-tour.info), a Manilabased company which pioneered helicopter taxi in Metro Manila and is one of the first to introduce commercial tandem skydiving in the country. They have so far conducted

similar events in Cebu and Legazpi City and intends to try Vigan and Mati City again next year. Jerebe Travel and Tours based in Davao City is their official marketing arm.

The whole event was pioneering.

It introduced skydiving to Mindanao market. So far, the response is reassuring. A whole new frontier was opened, promising to enrich further the total experience of tourists in the region. It is truly more fun in the Philippines!

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11 MOTORING

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

SAFEST TRUCK

Ford Ranger receives highest crash safety rating from ASEAN NCAP

Isuzu sells more than 10,000 units of mu-X since launch

T

HE leadership of the Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) expressed elation upon announcing that their latest flagship model— the Isuzu mu-X—has recently breached the 10,000 mark, one year after being introduced locally.

IPC president Hajime Koso said that IPC has put its confidence in the mu-X after continuously garnering great figures in terms of sales, saying that it would continue the upward trend as the year progresses.

“Since its introduction in the local automotive market, the mu-X has unfailingly been getting good figures in terms of sales. With all the key features, on-board technology and cutting edge aesthetics, it is a sure hit in the Philippines,” he said.

Based on the report released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), IPC has delivered 10,511 units of mu-X as of October 2015. From January to October of this year, it has already sold 8,794 units – making the mu-X the new fastest-selling model of IPC to date.

“Bringing the mu-X was definitely one of the best moves that IPC has made.

We hope that with the strong

economy along with strong buying power of Filipinos as the yuletide season approaches, the upward trend on its sales will continue,” Koso said.

Available in three variants the mu-X LS-A, LS-M and LS, this premium SUV packs a punch: a spacious cabin within an exterior package and great maneuverability. It also boasts car-like riding comfort starting with its specially developed suspension system made up of independent double wishbone with coil springs and stabilizer in front, and a five-link with coil springs and stabilizer bar combination in the rear.

Providing efficient power is its class-leading powertrains, currently offered in two engine variants - the 2.5-liter 4JK1-TC and 3.0-liter 4JJ1-TC diesel engines both with Common Rail Direct Injection and with intercooled Variable Geometry System (VGS) turbocharger.

Other premium features includes dual climate control with rear coolers (automatic climate control for the mu-X LS-A), speed sensing door locks, three 12-volt accessory sockets, a total of 19 storage compartments and 12 cup holders, a lockable and illuminated glove box, side step boards, and tow hooks.

T

HE class-defining new Ford Ranger has received the highest safety rating among all pickup trucks being tested by the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN NCAP) with the highest evaluation of 15.45/16 points.

“Achieving 5-star ASEAN-NCAP is an important milestone in the new Ranger’s success story as we designed and developed this vehicle to challenge the conventional world of pickup trucks and provide customers with more class-leading safety features than ever,” said Mark Kaufman, president, Ford ASEAN.

“Safety is always Ford’s top priority. We are hugely proud of the results we have achieved and today’s announcement is further proof that the new Ranger is true to our ‘Built Ford Tough’ heritage with outstanding levels of safety customers expect in this all-important vehicle segment.”

Ford has leveraged its global engineering tools and advanced safety technologies to offer an unmatched level of occupant protection for the new Ranger. From body structure that includes a side impact protection beam to a collapsible steering column,

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), the new Ranger delivers top performance in both active and passive safety.

The tested model also was equipped with dual front airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Roll Over Mitigation (ROM) and ISOFIX for child seat attachment.

The new Ford Ranger builds on its reputation as the most capable, powerful and smartest pickup truck with an array of driver assist technologies (DAT) that help to make your drive safer and more con-

venient. These include: Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid; Lane Departure Warning & Lane Keeping Aid; Adaptive Cruise Control; Forward Alert works with Adaptive Cruise Control; Front and Rear Park Assist; Electronic Stability Program with rollover mitigation and trailer sway control.

The highest variant in the Ranger line-up, the Ranger Wildtrak also includes side and rear curtain airbags for enhanced protection.

The new Ford Ranger was introduced in ASEAN in 2015, and is built at Ford’s AutoAlliance Thailand joint-venture in Rayong, Thailand.

ISSAN car owners will now have more reason to rediscover the excitement of Nissan, as Nissan Philippines has been steadily expanding its network reach via an aggressive expansion drive for its dealership network nationwide.

From the current 28 dealers, 11 more were recently signed on, covering the strategic provincial areas of Bulacan, Sucat, Sta. Rosa, Ilo-ilo, Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Cebu,

Butuan and General Santos.

Additional dealerships in other places are also said to be in the pipeline.

“We foresee that growth will be outside of Metro Manila, that is why we are bringing Nissan vehicles closer to our provincial market base,” Zara said. “As part of our drive for the company’s sustainable growth, it is not enough to do things the right way; we have to bring our game up to the next level by thinking out of

the box.”

With the increasing reach of the additional partnerships with new dealers, NPI sees this development as evidence of the market’s continuing trust and passion for the brand.

“Some of our partners have been with Nissan even before its consolidation as NPI”, Zara notes. “Their belief in the brand reinforces our drive in pursuit of excellence, as without our partner-dealers efforts, our company will

not be able to reach for the pinnacle of success.

“In return, we assure them that, as our partners, we will make sure that we are on the right track to ensure our continued success,” Zara said.

The company’s expansion moves will also ensure that “we’re bringing our brand of excellent after-sales service closer to our customers’ reach, as well as making more Nissan vehicles readily available,” Zara adds.

Nissan expanding dealer base N

12 CLASSIFIEDS

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NEWS 13

EDGEDAVAO

Federalism good for island nations like PH – DBM exec A N official from the Department of Budget and Management agreed that island nations like the Philippines should be headed for a form of government like federalism but that the next administration should put in place clear mechanisms to run such a government.

The comment was made after Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte last week formalized his candidacy as substitute candidate

for PDP-Laban after repeated denials he was interested in the position.

Duterte has gone around the country ostensibly pushing for a federal form of government.

In an interview during Saturday’s Kusog Mindanao conference at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, DBM Assistant Secretary Maxine Tanya Hamada said the next government, if it does push for

federalism, should establish how they see allocation and governance from a budget perspective.

Hamada’s response came after her presentation of the DBM’s budgeting of the national government’s projects for the 2016 General Appropriations Act. “It seems like a logical model for an island nation, and it has nothing to do with budget priorities,” she said.

international data protection standards,” he said.

Romulo’s remarks came not long after the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFCP) openly expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the Data Privacy Law. The JFCP is the coalition of American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean business groups in the country and the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc. The JFCP represents over 3,000 member-companies doing business in the Philippines, including some of the largest business process outsourcing (BPO) firms that operate in the country.

The Data Privacy Law requires all public and private entities, including BPO firms, to protect the confidentiality

of personal information that they collect from clients and store in computer systems, in accordance with rigorous international privacy standards.

“The law puts in check the possible misuse of personal facts, including identity theft; bolsters consumer confidence in electronic commerce; and boosts BPO activities that process a great deal of personal information,” Romulo, a key backer of the booming BPO sector, said.

He said the law provides adequate safeguards against the potential mishandling of personal facts in outsourcing services, such as customer care and electronic data processing.

“The BPO sector handles large customer or account master files. We have to assure the foreign clients of our BPO firms that we have definite, predictable and enforceable personal data privacy rules,”

Solon wants Aquino to appoint NPC members

P

ASIG City Rep. Roman Romulo has urged President Benigno Aquino III to appoint the three members of the National Privacy Commission (NPC) in order to finally put into action the Data Privacy Law of 2012.

“We need the NPC -- composed of a commissioner with the rank of Cabinet secretary and two deputy commissioners with the rank of undersecretary -- in place to enforce the three-year-old statute,” Romulo, one of the principal authors of the law, said.

Malacañang has to constitute first the NPC, which is tasked draft and issue the implementing rules and regulations of the Data Privacy Law, or Republic Act 10173, according to Romulo.

“The NPC is supposed to administer and enforce the provisions of the Data Privacy Law, and monitor and ensure the country’s compliance with

However, Hamada clarified that the federal government should strengthen its internal components, adding that the measures already in place under the Aquino government should still be kept or imitated, in the name of good housekeeping.

“Because regardless if its federalism, parliamentary or even centralized, if the mechanisms create the inclusive institutions on the ground,

then it’s much better than, say, arbitrarily federalism that is corrupt,” Hamada said.

“Take the logic that we have to decentralize, if federalism yan, that’s fine, parliamentary, that’s fine. But look at the mechanisms of how we deliver the services,” she pointed out.

Hamada added that there needed to be a continuous dialogue between national and local government, including

KIND GESTURE. Bone collector Darrell Blatchley holds an umbrella to protect a World War 2 veteran from the scorching heat of the sun during the commemoration Romulo said.

The clients of BPO firms in the country include some of the world’s largest banks, insurers, stockbrokers, hotel chains, airlines, travel operators and newspaper publish-

stakeholders from the private sector, academe, and media, so that the allocations are implemented based on agreed-upon priorities from the national government.

“First, let us not lose the efficiency measures that we put up in place so there’s guaranty that money will come in. It’s just good housekeeping, it’s just efficient public spending, accountability and transparency,” she said. (MindaNews)

of the 152nd birthday of Filipino nationalist and revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio at the Bonifacio monument in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

ers as well as providers of health, telecommunication, Internet, and satellite or cable TV services.

The country’s highly labor-intensive, BPO and information technology (IT)-en-

abled services industry includes contact centers; back offices; medical, legal and other data transcription and coding; animation; software development; engineering design; and digital content.

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

POOL PRINCE

Elises swims to two golds in Batang Pinoy Finals

S

WIMMER John Paul Elises snatched his second gold by topping the 200 individual medley as Davao City pocketed three gold medals on Sunday in the second day of competition of the 2015 PSC-POC Batang Pinoy National Finals here with the one came from rugby football the brightest of them all.

Elises, who won seven golds in the qualifiers, clocked two min-

utes and 39.28 seconds in winning his second hardware.

Elises, 12, who won his first gold medal by ruling the 4x50 freestyle relay along with Dave Jones Andevor, Edward Alfaro III and Matthew Adrien Tao, also captured the silver in the 100m butterfly.

Back in the nationals with a yearn to surpass its silver medal finish last year, the Davao City rugby football team pulled off a stunning win to accomplish its mission.

Davao City defeated host Cebu City, 3 – 2, in the girls division gold medal match to bring

home the bacon at the Cebu City Sports Complex field.

Mandaue City bagged the silver while Mandalagan LGU copped the bronze medal.

“We didn’t expect to win the gold but it’s on our hands now,” said Davao City rugby football coach Blessie Kate Delos Santos whose team overcame the mettle of the two host cities to reign supreme.

The wards of Delos Santos’ remarkable feat capped a productive day 2 showing for Davao City which also pocketed a handful of silver and bronze medals.

Batangas City bet

Ivan Carlo Macalintal finished 6.26 seconds behind to clinch the silver while John Cinco of Iligan City registered 11.13 back to cop the bronze.

Sharing the spotlight was the pair of Irlich Christian Edullantes and Ritzcel Anne Limsan.

Edullantes and Limsan danced their way to the gold medal by ruling the Latin Junior D category.

The duo bested the pair of Bernie Torno Denise Jewel Alfonso of Angeles City which settle for silver. The tandem of Christian Agustin and Angel Grace Gonzales took the bronze.

by drilling in 37 points to rally the City Executives in pulling off with the win.

Cayetano, who was playing well for two games in a row, provided significant contribution with 16 points for the City Executives.

Police Insp. Daniel Pumecha and Fire Officer Donald Concepcion took charge for the PNPA with 16 and 15 points respectively.

Go hit five booming baskets from behind the arc to jolt the City Executives offense that outpaced the PNPA.

PNPA fought hard all throughout sparked by the hot-shooting of Concepcion and penetrations of Pumecha to remain in the contest.

It was practically a close game until Go came out with crucial baskets down the stretch to spark the City Executives to a whopping close out.

PNPA tried to dish out a last minute spurt but the City Hall Executives fended off the rally by engaging to a see-saw battle down the stretch.

Businessman-sportsman Glen Escandor and

John Flores chipped in a combined 16 points for the City Hall Executives which defeated Everball, 129 – 100, on Friday.

Cayetano also scored 16 points on that win as Senatorial candidate Joel Villanueva had 13. (Rico Biliran) Box scores: CMO 86 Go 37, Cayetano 16, Escandor 8, Flores 8, Cloribel 7, Peloton 4, Sumagang 4, Reyes 2, De Guzman 0, Casan 0 PNPA 76 Pumecha 16, Concepcion 15, Piloy 12, Galarpe 12, Peria 10, Arbutante 5, Navarro 4, Bornoles 2

Go sizzles as City Execs hold off PNPA

John Paul Elises who won his first gold medal by ruling the 4x50 freestyle relay along with Dave Jones Andevor, Edward Alfaro III and Matthew Adrien Tao, also captured the silver in the 100m butterfly.

H

OT-SHOT Christopher “Bong” Go led the way as the City Hall Executives rolled past PNPA (Region 11) Officers, 86 – 76, in their basketball friendship game with vice presidential contender Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. Go, the trusted-aide of presidential aspirant Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, once again showed his scoring prowess

City Hall Executives and PNPA Officers pose for posterity following their basketball friendship game with vice presidential contender Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. City Hall Executives defeated PNPA Officers, 86 - 76.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

THROUGH THE DEFENSE. Alyssa Valdez of PLDT (2) spikes one in over the defenders from Army in the Shakey’s V League.

A

Alyssa keys PLDT win

LYSSA Valdez marked her return to the Shakey’s V-League by leading a PLDT Home Ultera comeback from two-sets down against Philippine Army in Game One of the Season 12 Reinforced Conference Finals on Sunday.

Valdez, who sat out the entire tournament due to injury, scored 25 points in just four sets of action and provided the spark in the Ultra Fast Hitters’ 16-25, 20-25, 2624, 29-27, 18-16 victory before a roaring crowd at The Arena in San Juan.

“With all due respect ang puso ng mga batang ito ang lalaki eh,” said PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb after the win that moved the Ultra Fast Hitters on the verge of another league championship.

“Si Alyssa napakalaking bagay talaga niyan sa amin,” added Gorayeb. “Ang lakas niya maka-intimidate sa kalaban at ang lakas niya maka-inspire ng teammates niya.”

Gretcel Soltones and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas each had 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Ultra Fast Hitters, who dug themselves a big hole by losing the first two sets.

Game Two of the best-of-three series is set next Sunday.

Gorayeb, however, rued that American imports Sareea Freeman and Victoria Hurtt have yet to blend with their local teammates, especially with the setting of Rubie de Leon.

Freeman and Hurtt were used in the first three sets but were barely used in the remaining two. “’Yung sitwasyon kasi kanina ‘di makapalo ang mga foreigners ko, tinutulak na lang ‘yung bola eh hindi ka mananalo sa Army ng ganoon eh,” he said. “’Yung set sa kanila ni Rubie hindi sila sanay doon unlike sa locals ko na sanay na sanay na sa isa’t-isa, tinginan lang alam na ang igagalaw kaya kanina inupo ko na lang,” he added.

Conference MVP Jovelyn Gonzaga led Army with 19 points while Royse Tubino and Aby Marano added 16 and 15 markers, respectively.

FINAL SEASON Kobe announces last tour of NBA

K

OBE Bryant announced that this will be his final season, the veteran Los Angeles Lakers star walking away as one of the greatest legends in NBA history.

The five-time NBA champion, who ranks third in all-time scoring with 32,670 points, on Sunday said in a first-person poem on the Players Tribune website that “this season is all I have left to give.”

The 37-year-old Bryant spent his entire 20-season career with the Lakers, the first NBA player to stay so long with the same club.

But Bryant, a member of two Olympic gold medal squads, has been nagged by injuries in recent campaigns and has struggled to find form this season, the Lakers being off to a miserable 2-13 start.

“My body knows it’s time to say goodbye,” Bryant said in a poem entitled “Dear Basketball” and meant as a love letter to the sport.

Bryant was introduced to a roaring ovation Sunday night when the Lakers hosted Indiana.

Bryant had each spectator Sunday given a “special message” printed on white paper and gold

lettering at the top that read, “My love to this city, this team and for each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey.”

Bryant got off to a slow start going 1-for-7 before getting his first basket of the game 8:30 into the first quarter.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was quick to respond to Bryant’s announcement, the signal that one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport was ending.

“With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP (2008), five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game,” Silver said.

“Whether competing in the NBA Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game.

I join Kobe’s millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories.”

- ‘My body knows it’s time’ Bryant artfully crafted his goodbye to the game

by hearkening back to his boyhood dreams of playing in the NBA and shooting baskets with socks rolled into a ball.

“You gave a six-yearold boy his Laker dream, And I’ll always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.

This season is all I have left to give,” Bryant wrote.

“My heart can take the pounding, My mind can handle the grind, But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye. And that’s OK. I’m ready to let you go.

I want you to know now, So we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other, All that we have.”

Lakers coach Byron Scott spoke Saturday with Bryant about his decision.

“I thought he at least had another year in him,” Scott said. “It kind of shocked me when he told me. Sad more than anything. Somebody I care about, have a lot of respect for, it’s always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up.”

Barring injury, Bryant’s final game would be at home against Utah on April 13.

His farewell tour begins Tuesday at Philadelphia, his hometown.

“For him to be able to go around to all these cities and them to be able to appreciate him for what he has accomplished is great,” Scott said.

- ‘We’re all sad’ It’s a unique situation for a Lakers team that lost iconic centre Shaquille O’Neal to a departure for Miami and past legend Magic Johnson to his announcement that he had the HIV virus.

“We’re all sad,” Lakers president Jeanie Buss said.

“This era of Lakers basketball has been one of the most fun, exciting prosperous eras we could imagine. We’re in full support of him. But it’s still very sad.”

Kobe Bryant, a member of two Olympic gold medal squads, has been nagged by injuries in recent seasons and struggled to find form this season.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 176 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015