Edge Davao 8 Issue 89

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

‘AMERICAN PRESIDENT’ Duterte takes snap at Grace Poe, omits Mar

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

INSIDE EDGE

AFP blasts progressives anew P2 10,000 visitors eyed in Davao Trade Expo P3

RECOLLECTION. Paquibato District Peasant Association (PADIPA) secretary general Aida Seiza breaks down in tears while recounting the so called Paquibato massacre in which elements of the 69th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army killed three farmers who were allegedly members of the New People’s Army (NPA). Seiza was requested to appear during yesterday’s regular session of the City Council at Sangguniang Panlungsod. Lean Daval Jr.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. and FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has expressed support for Senator Grace Poe but added that her questionable citizenship could be a problem if she becomes President.

“Ang kadaot kang Grace Poe kay basin makapresidente tag Amerikano.Lisod man gud kay iyang citizenship dakokaayong question mark (The problem with Grace Poe is we

may end up with a President who’s an American. There is still a big question mark about her citizenship),” Duterte said during the groundbreaking of the Davao City Multi-Purpose Building on Monday afternoon in Barangay Los Amigos, Tugbok District, Davao City.

He said the Constitution stipulates that a President must be a natural born citizen, which means at least one par-

ent must be a Filipino citizen.

Poe was a foundling, having been left outside a church in Iloilo when she was a newborn. She was later adopted by movie stars Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.

“So pagkuha sa iya sa simbahan anang adlawa wala gyuy nakahibalo kung Pilipino basiya o dili (So when she was found in the church no one knew if she was really a Filipi-

no or not),” he said.

Duterte said other than the mystery surrounding her birth, Poe had also become an American citizen in the past, giving it up only after she received the position as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in 2010.

“Ang problema niya sige siya’g biyahe sa America has-

FAMERICAN, 10

EDGEDAVAO Sports

The heat is on in Dubai Page 15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

YOUNG AUDIENCE. Children in the Los Amigos relocation area in Tugbok district listen to the speech of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Davao City Multipurpose Building on Monday.

Armando B. Fenequito Jr

City gov’t inaugurates new evacuation center

D

AVAO City has a new place that can be used during times of calamity and emergencies with the inauguration on Monday afternoon of the Davao City Multi-purpose Building in Los Amigos, Relocation Area, Tugbok District.

City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) chief Malou Bermudo said the main purpose of the building is to cater to citizens of Davao City who are victims of calamities.

“The main purpose of the building is to be used as our evacuation center for victims of disasters and survivors where they can take refuge and be temporary sheltered,” Bermudo said.

She said evacuees would be provided basic assistance and help to overcome their situation.

The building specifically aims to provide temporary refuge to families and individuals who are potentially

FCITY, 10

Quedancor exec faces graft raps

A

HIGH-RANKING official of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) credit arm Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor) in Region 11 is facing graft charges for allegedly using government resources to oust the agency’s president in 2010.

Charged with violation of Republic Act 3019 known as Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act was Joselo Biton, regional assistant vice-president and area cluster supervisor-area 5 of Quedancor 11.

The case was pending before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 here under Executive Judge Emmanuel Carpio.

Biton was indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao based on the complaint of the employees of Quedancor 11.

In a resolution approved

by Deputy Ombudsman for

Mindanao Rodolfo Elman, Ombudsman investigator Randolph Cadiogan Jr. found sufficient evidence to hold Biton for trial in court to the offense charged.

The anti-graft agency, however, dismissed the charges against Biton’s co-respondents, Quedancor Division Chief III, Chito Cifra and Senior Operations Officer Leodegario Valera Jr. due to insufficiency of evidence.

Court records showed that on June 28, 2010 to July 1, 2010, Biton had directed then Quedancor Acting Administrative Officer Joseph Gem Magalona to come up with a list of all the agency’s employees of Quedancor 11 employees and have it signed by them.

Biton was also accused of using the agency’s vehicle bearing the plate number SGL 867 in going to Kidapawan

FQUEDANCOR, 10

Military blasts progressives anew over Haran incident

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

M

ILITARY officials blasted progressive groups as they appeared before the City Council yesterday to present their side on the July 23 incident at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)-Haran Compound last July 23 in which 10 people were injured.

The matter was brought up by committee on peace and order and public safety chair councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. in a privilege speech in yesterday’s regular session.

Abellera then called for a recess to allow 10th Infantry Division (ID) assistant division commander Brigadier General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. to explain the incident.

Madrigal then called Lieutenant Colonel Jacob

Thaddeus Obligado of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) to give a report.

Obligado insisted that some of the 1,200 Indigenous Peoples (IPs) at the UCCP Haran are not evacuees but “were promised remunerations and chances to meet Manny Paquiao, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and President Benigno S. Aquino III.” He said the IPs were then declared as “bakwits” by groups like Gabriela, Karapatan Pasaka, Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (MISFI), and Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanogon.

“Continuous complaints were received by the tribal chieftains coming from relatives of Lumads in Haran that many are sick, held against

their will, and are longing to go home,” he said.

Obligado said the complaints prompted the Tribal Council of Talaingod and Kapalong to make a resolution on July 18 “condemning the continuous plight of the lumads inside Haran and sought the assistance of government agencies to intervene for the immediate release of their constituents in Haran.”

Obligao also insisted that what happened last month was a “law enforcement operation” since there were cases of Serious Illegal Detention, Kidnapping and Human Trafficking filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11 based on the complaints of the relatives and witnesses.

Obligado said the alleged “orchestrated evacuation and deceit” has been ongoing for more than a year.

“We need to free the Lumads from their bondage in Haran and let them go home in their ancestral domains to exercise their rights for self-governance and determination,” he said.

After Obligado’s presentation, Abellera made a motion that his speech would serve as approved on first reading and the matter referred to his committee for proper action.

Councilor Leah Librado, however, manifested that the matter should also be referred to the committee on civil, political and human rights for a “balanced com-

80 personnel for his plan of putting a satellite office at Toril District.

He said the additional 80 will depend on the budget of the city.

Meanwhile, Poliquit warned his men to work

properly after hearing complaints that some traffic enforcers are not manning their posts.

Poliquit said enforcers who continue being lax in their work will not have their contracts renewed.

FMILITARY, 10

CTTMO hires 20 new personnel

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

T

HE City Traffic and Transport Management Office (CTTMO) hired 20 more traffic personnel to help alleviate the traffic congestion in the city.

CTTMO head Superintendent Rhodelio Poliquit

said his office has already acquired 20 out of its target 100 additional traffic personnel.

He said the additional personnel started working in July and were assigned in Toril, Tibungco, and Panacan.

Poliquit said he still lacks

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

2015’s strongest typhoon to enter PAR today but won’t make landfall

T

HE tropical cyclone with international name “Soudelor” has intensified into typhoon category and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 4 a.m. yesterday the eye of Typhoon Soudelor, still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), was located 1,995 kilometers east of Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 210 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 245 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.

Aurelio said Soudelor will not directly affect the country and it is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country but will enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat.” It is expected to affect Visayas and Mindanao.

Aurelio said maintaining its speed and movement, Soudelor is expected to enter the eastern boarder of PAR Wednesday and will be given the local name “Hanna,” the eighth tropical cyclone to affect the country this year and first for this month of August.

He added Soudelor has high chance to intensify into super typhoon category.

Meanwhile, as per report from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Soudelor has reached the equivalent of category 5 hurricane status on Monday afternoon (eastern time), with sustained winds of 178 mph.

According to same report, Soudelor is now the

strongest tropical cyclone on Earth since Super Typhoon Hagupit in December 2014, which also peaked with winds of 180 mph.

He noted the typhoon-enhanced “habagat” will bring light to moderate rains over Palawan, Southern Visayas and Mindanao until Friday (August 7) and within this period, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country including Metro Manila.

He added the typhoon is expected to exit PAR by Friday or Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan.

Meanwhile, for Tuesday forecast, Aurelio said a mixture of sunny and rainy weather will continue to prevail across the country.

Aurelio said cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Mindanao, Western and Central Visayas and Palawan due to the presence of intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

ITCZ, which is the thick clouds coming from the south of Asia, is considered a breeding ground for low-pressure areas (LPAs) or potential cyclones.

In its advisory, PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the southwest to south over the rest of the country.

The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

The state weather bureau has not issued gale warning as the fisherfolks are safe to venture into the seas. (PNA)

MILITARY SIDE. Former Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador (left) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) leader Ariel Casilao (right) listen attentively as Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Thaddeus Obligado of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) presents the military’s side on the July 23 UCCP-Haran incident during the regular session of the City Council yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

10,000 visitors eyed in Davao Trade Expo S

OME 10,000 visitors are expected to join the 17th Davao Trade Expo (DATE) which will champion the livestock industry in the Davao Region, an executive of Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCII) said.

This year’s trade expo, dubbed as “Building Local Products for the Global Community”, will be held at the SMX Convention Center Davao at the SM Lanang Premier on September 25 to 27.

Jonathan Suy, co-chairperson of the 17th DATE, speaking in Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City, said 80 percent ofmthe 170

booths are already filled up with exhibitors who will showcase various products and technology in the region.

International delegates will also grace the three-day event, the biggest agribusiness expo in Mindanao.

All booths will be mounted in three separate pavilions.

Organizers are also hoping to surpass the P233 million revenues generated during the 15th DATE in 2013 which also highlighted the livestock industry.

Local players from the dairy industry will also take centerstage to showcase the products and the technology in a bid to encourage more

players to venture into fresh milk production.

The Philippines reportedly imports 97 percent of its fresh milk needs from New Zealand and Australia, translating to a whopping P70 billion worth of imports annually.

The country’s production averages only about 3,000 liters a day, way below the daily requirement of 6,000 to 7,000 liters a day.

According to National Dairy Authority (NDA) department manager Marilyn Mabale, the country has 9,000 cows that produce fresh milk, of which 1,300 are in Davao Region.

NDA imported 1,394 cows, a cross between Holstein and Sahiwal, from New Zealand, which will be dispersed to farmers in Mindanao. Last year, Mindanao got some 650 cows while NDA is proposing another 800 cows next year, of which 300 will go to Mindanao.

Hog industry Major player Cecilia Stock Farms Inc. (CSFI) prides itself as one of the innovative players in the country’s hog industry, what with the existing partnership it has with Pig Improvement Company (PIC) for more than 14 years which advanced its best practices

F10,000, 10

Tebow hospital eyeing to treat more children

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

T APPEAL. Tebow CURE Hospital executive director Leron Lehman (right) chats with councilors Maria Joselle Villafuerte and (left) Marissa Salvador-Abella after he appeared before members of the City Council during the regular session yesterday to make a personal appeal in finding children with orthopedic conditions. Lean Daval Jr.

HE management of the Tebow CURE Hospital is eyeing to treat more children in Davao City with orthopedic conditions and is seeking the assistance of the local lawmakers to realize its objective.

Leron Lehman, executive director of the hospital, appeared before members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Davao during the regular session yesterday to make a personal appeal.

“We want to treat a lot of children, so we really want your help,” Lehman told the SP members.

The Tebow CURE Hospital, a project named after famous American football quarterback Tim Tebow, opened for busi-

ness last May but had started conducting surgeries to children in Davao with orthopedic conditions in December of 2014.

The 30-bed hospital also provides competitively priced orthopedic consultations and surgery for adults in need of total joint replacements, treatment for spine conditions and sports injuries.

Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte also made a personal appeal to her colleagues in finding children in their respective districts who need help, specifically those with bone deformities.

“I know that you are going around more frequently.

FTEBOW, 10

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

GODDESS OF THE NIGHT. Exur Pastor Lañuwa is crowned Goddess of the Night, Gay Summit Queen 2015, wearing GAY SUMMIT. Rainbow flag symbolizing the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community around the world his winning Creative Goddess Attire during the pageant night at Tagum Trade and Cultural Center Pavillon last July 25. highlights the main streets of the city during the opening parade of Tagum City Gay Summit 2015, a show of diversity Photo by Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum and gender equality among Tagumenyos which was participated in by hundreds. Photo by Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum

A rainbow of colors highlights Tagum’s Freedom Parade A RAINBOW, the symbol of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community around the world, highlighted the main streets of the city during the opening parade of Tagum City Gay Summit 2015, showing the diversity and gender equality among Tagumenyos.

The hundreds of participants belonged to various LGBT organizations from

nearby municipalities and cities with proud advocates from University of Mindanao Tagum College gathered and it was a colorful display of costumes.

A series of activities were done during the three-day celebration such as HIV/ STI/AIDS Awareness Symposium, Freedom Parade, Laugh Out Loud-Stand up comedy Competition, Styling & In-

stant Make-over Challenge, Sports and Gayness-Volleyball and Basketball, Fun and Gayness-Gay Henyo and The Singing Gay and Liberty Pool Party.

“The highlight of the event was the Goddess of the Night, Gay Summit Queen 2015 where candidates came up with different personalities that resembled their looks,” Ma. Teresa S. Gerona, OIC-

City Tourism Officer, said.

Prior to the pageant, the candidates of the Gay Summit Queen 2015 showcased their talents and had outreach programs. These include Mangrove Tree Planting and Public Pampering in Barangay Madaum, Tagum City.

Exur Pastor Lañuwa of Davao City was crowned Goddess of the Night, Gay Summit Queen 2015, followed by 1st

Runner-Up Kim Marie Villagalano of Butuan City; 2nd Runner-Up Jameico Niño Similatan of Davao Oriental; 3rd Runner-Up Angel Montenegro of Davao City and 4th Runner-Up Christian Nebrada of Maco, Compostela Valley Province.

Special awards were also awarded to Exur Lañuwa as Miss Eloquent and Best in Creative Goddess Attire,

Christian Nebrada in Best in Casual, Kim Marie Villagalano Best in Evening Gown, Herven Nebrada Best in Talent, Jameico Similatan Best in Swimsuit, Johana Araña Miss Congeniality, and Angel Montenegro as Miss Photogenic.

Gerona said the pageant aims to draw attention to the rights and equality of Gender among Tagumenyos. Glieza Delgado/CIO Tagum

ORE than 500 aspirants to the country’s premier military academy took the Philippine Military Academy Entrance Examination (PMAEE) Sunday, the highest number so far, an Army spokesperson said Monday.

Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division spokesperson, said a total of 517 examinees arrived to try their luck at joining the country’s premier military school.

Out of 517 applicants, 378 were males and 139

were females.

Petinglay said the number of examinees this year was greater than last year’s 400 for Central Mindanao.

The significant increase is caused by the massive recruitment information drives that were conducted prior to the conduct of the exam in the different schools in the area.

According to one male examinee from Kabacan, the help of the 6ID in providing transportation for the examinees allowed them to arrive

at the examination area safely and promptly.

He said he dreams of becoming a soldier because he wants to be like the military men he sees visible in community relations activities.

A team of proctors from PMA headed by Major Aliyah Robles facilitated the oneday exam at the 6ID Gymnasium which ended at about 7:30 p.m.

The results are expected to be out after a month through the national papers, the PMA, and the PMA web-

site (www.pma.ph).

Maj. Gen. Edmundo R. Pangilinan, 6th ID chief, said he is hoping that many applicants from this area will pass the exam so that there will be more future AFP officers who can come back to the area and contribute in the Army campaign for lasting peace in Central Mindanao.

The examinees came from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato. (PNA)

He identified them as Nasser Diocolano of Barangay Marquez, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao who was arrested an hour after Rasalan was shot and seriously wounded along Sinsuat Avenue, Cotabato City on July 22.

Anongos said Diocolano, a farmer, was flagged down at a checkpoint in Tamontaka, Cotabato City. An unlicensed

cal. 45 pistol was seized from him.

A few days later, Teng Wahab Gani was also arrested for possession of an unlicensed cal. 45 pistol.

Anongos said the photos of the two suspects were presented to Rasalan who positively identified them as the same persons who shot him while he was driving a gov-

ernment issued L-300 van.

The two denied the charges against them. Diocolano admitted he carried a gun for self-defense.

Anongos said the firearms taken from the suspects and the slugs recovered at the crime scene were subjected to laboratory test for matching. He did not reveal the results. (PNA)

DAR distributes land 6th ID facilitates PMA entrance test to farmers in Surigao M

T

HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over four units of farm equipment and one processing center the local government of Siargao, Surigao del Norte and awarded land titles to 94 farmers.

DAR Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes together with Surigao 1st District Rep. Francisco Matugas and Surigao Norte Governor Sol Matugas led the turn over rites in Sta. Monica, Surigao del Norte.

Under the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) project, the DAR handed over two rice reapers and two floating tillers worth P549,000 to the farmers of Del Carmen municipality.

“These farm machines would greatly help the 587 farmers in Del Carmen in their rice and sweet potato production and marketing project,” said de los Reyes.

Farmer Benito Comon, who could not wait to use the equipment for their farming activities said, “These machines will truly help us simplify our job, minimize our expense and increase our income.”

For the farmers in Barangay Sta. Monica, the DAR turned over a processing center to the Garcia Farmers

and Fisher folks Credit Cooperative (GAFFARCRECO).

Tesie Virtudazo, chairperson of GAFFARCRECO, shed tears when she received the documents of the building for their turmeric processing project. “The events are just coming too fast, but thank you. It’s a dream come true,” she said.

Governor Sol Matugas committed to support the turmeric processing effort of the organization. She vowed to help in the marketing and making turmeric the “official health drink of Siargao.”

Congressman Francisco Matugas offered to help make the organization’s request of a farm-to-market road come true. The proposed road would make the organization’s 10-hectare expansion production area accessible, as well as, their existing two hectares.

During the turn over rites, the DAR awarded land titles to 94 farmers from the municipalities of Dapa, Del Carmen, Burgos, General Luna, San Isidro, San Benito and Sta. Monica.

Present during the ceremony were DAR Regional Director Julita Ragandang, Sta. Monica Mayor Fernando Dolar, Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Corro Jr., General Luna Mayor Jaime Rosellon and Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Jose Sebucao. (PNA)

2 men charged for attempted murder of Cotabato official

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HE two men believed to be behind the frustrated murder of a city official were arrested and charged, police said Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Rex Anongos, city police director, said the gunmen in the attempted murder of Aniceto Rasalan, secretary to Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani, were separately arrested and charged.

TARP CLEANUP. Teenagers work hand in hand to fold a huge tarpaulin which they had cleaned up at the seashore near Magsaysay Park in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

Davao fisherfolks get P6.2-M aid Funds to finance projects in 5 municipalities

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 11 turned-over a total of P6.25 million funds to finance eight initial bottoms-up budgeting (BuB) projects in five Davao Region municipalities.

“This will help in empowering the marginalized sector, especially the fisherfolks,” BFAR 11 regional director Fatma Idris said during the first ceremonial turn-over of BuB checks at the BFAR regional office yesterday.

The BuB program is a strategy of the national government to reduce poverty incidence in the country. The program aims to ensure the inclusion of the funding requirements for the development needs of the poorest municipalities and cities in the programs and budget of the National Government Agencies (NGAs).

Under the program, the planning and budgeting

processes are both undertaken by both local and national government, allowing the local organizations and communities involved and empowered.

In Davao, the recipients of the budget are the municipalities of Padada, Banaybanay, Lupon, Jose Abad Santos (Trinidad) and Maco.

Padada in the province of Davao del Sur received an amount of P650,000 for the development of marine reserve and fish sanctuaries, and another P1.85 million for the construction of a fishport, while Banaybanay in Davao Oriental got P500,000 for the provision of non-motorized boat with complete fishing gears.

Lupon in Davao Oriental also received P750,000 for the provision of 30 units of motorized fishing boats with fishing gears.

Idris said Trinidad in the municipality of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental received the largest

amount of P2 million for the infrastructure support to agriculture and fishery production and development as well as provision of 40 units of motorized fishing boat and fishnets.

Maco, a coastal municipality in Compostela Valley, was also awarded with P500,000 for the acquisition of motorized boat and drift gill nets.

“This is still the first local government units given with the budget because of their fast compliance to our requirements,” Idris said, adding that there are 36 more projects that will be soon given with budget for implementation.

She said BFAR 11 is targeting to turn-over all BuB checks by September.

BFAR assistant secretary Benjamin F. Tabios Jr said the first disbursement of BuB checks only signified confirmation of partnership between the local government units (LGUs) and NGAs.

STILL FISHING. A fish trader carries a 5-kilogram tuna, one of the more than a dozen that were caught in the Davao Gulf by a group of fishermen, in Sta. Ana wharf, Davao City yesterday. Local fisherfolk continue to fish

in the Davao Gulf despite the new three-month fishing ban imposed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) which started in June to allow tuna and other fish species to spawn. Lean Daval Jr.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

LGUs told: Develop palm oil sector Laviña says palm oil industry has no support from government

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

MEMBER of the technical working group of the Philippine Palm-Oil Development Council (PPDC) urged local government units to adopt “the plant now, pay later” scheme to develop the multi-billion dollar palm oil industry in Mindanao.

Peter T. Laviña, a former Davao City councilor, said both the government and farmers have not realized the full potential of the palm oil industry in the local and global market.

“The palm oil industry has no support from the government,” Laviña said.

The council, he added, is now facing challenges in implementing the development roadmap for palm oil industry crafted two years ago.

“There’s a little attention given to palm oil (industry) because the national government has bias for coconut industry which, unfortunately, is not developing,” he said.

The issue of peace and order in Mindanao must also be addressed to allow investors to come in.

Laviña said there’s no need for the establishment of another national government

GSC gets world’s largest fish display record, but…

G

ENERAL Santos City is now the record holder for the world’s largest fish display, officials here said, although Guinness World Records has yet to make the official announcement.

Organizers of the annual Tuna Festival here said Thursday the Guinness World Records has finally approved the city’s display of around 25.5 metric tons (MT) of tuna on Sept. 11 last year as a new world record.

The world record bid was the highlight of the 2014 or 16th Tuna Festival, which was co-organized by the city government and the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA)-General Santos Fish Port Complex (GSFPC).

Paris Ayon, food safety chief of the GSFPC and 16th Tuna Festival assistant director, said they earlier got wind of Guinness’ decision in a note posted at its website.

“We saw it in its dashboard so we immediately verified it with Guinness,” he told MindaNews.

The festival’s secretariat noted that a Guinness representative later confirmed the matter in response to an email inquiry that it sent.

“I can confirm that your record is approved with the following text: The largest fish display consists of 25,594.49 kg (56,426 lb 3 oz) of yellowfin tuna and was achieved by the City of General Santos (Philippines) in General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines, on 11 September 2014. A certificate was sent to you,” read Guinness’ email confirmation as posted in the festival’s Facebook page.

Guinness, however, has not yet made an official announcement of the feat that is usually posted in its website.

“We’re also waiting for the copy of the certificate so we can make an official declaration,” Ayon said.

He confirmed that the city officials have initially signified to put up a marker of the world record at the city

fish port complex in Barangay Tambler.

The world record bid was made last year by fish port workers who were able to display and weigh around 33,610 kilograms or 33.61 MT in about 15 minutes.

Such figure was based on official records of the PFDA-GSFPC. As early as 5 a.m., workers at the city fish port complex started unloading various tuna species from around 20 fishing boats that landed at the port.

Each fishing boat unloaded an average 60 pieces of tuna that weighed about 20 kilograms and above.

The freshly-landed tuna were initially displayed at the bidding tables of the fishport’s market 1 and later weighed by the workers with the use of Azuki digital weighing scales.

The event was not witnessed by an adjudicator from Guinness but the entire activity was properly documented through official records, photographs and videos.

Personnel from the AMA Computer College here documented the weighing of the tuna catches.

Guinness has no specific world record for the largest fish display but it acknowledged the largest seafood display established by Schmidt Zeevis and Wichter Steller of Schmidt Zeevis in Rotterdam, Netherlands on June 26, 2011.

The display consisted of 2,271.7 kg or 5,008 lb of seafood that was achieved with the help of executive chef Erik Troost and his team on the Lido deck of the SS Rotterdam, Guinness said.

Dubbed the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” the city is currently the country’s top source of fresh and processed tuna exports.

It is home to six of the country’s seven tuna canneries and other related ventures that generate average annual export receipts of nearly US$ 300 million. (MindaNews)

agency that will focus on the industry because it could be included in the mandate of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

“The PCA can allocate portion of its budget for the palm oil industry,” Laviña said. “The industry should receive an equitable share.”

Mindanao has a huge potential to be a major producer of oil palm because of its vast idle lands that can reach up to one million hectares. These lands can be planted with oil palm trees, according to him.

At present, there are only

75,000 hectares of oil palm plantation in the country, mostly located in North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Agusan del Sur, Palawan and Bohol.

“This is insignificant with the million hectares-plantation of oil palm in neighboring countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand,” Laviña said.

These countries are main global exporters of palm oil of import-dependent countries like the Philippines.

The country imports large volume of palm oil for different

purposes because it cannot produce its coconut oil.

The coconut oil produced here mostly goes to the export market where it is utilized for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, among others, according to Laviña.

Farmers, he added, should start looking into the potential of palm oil because of its huge demand, especially in the local market.

Coconut oil is supposed to be abundant in the country, but is now being exported to other countries, making it more expensive than palm oil.

Meanwhile, Laviña said General Santos City will be hosting the 9th National Palm Oil Congress on August 19 and 20.

Taking part in the activity will be both public and private stakeholders of the palm oil industry.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala will also be gracing the event with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The congress will be the best venue for the private stakeholders to lobby their concern to the government, he added.

FUSARIUM MOA. Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario and Department of Agriculture (DA) XI regional director Remelyn Recoter sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the management of Cavendish banana fusarium wilt to save the biggest dollar-earner of the province. PAGRO

DA, DavNor ink pact vs fusarium

T

HE Department of Agriculture-XI and the Province of Davao del Norte joined hands to arrest the destruction of local banana plantations by containing fusarium wilt or Panama disease this year.

Regional Director Remelyn Recoter and Governor Rodolfo del Rosario recently signed the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the “Management of Banana Fusarium Wilt Project” aimed at saving the biggest dollar-earner in the

province.

The agriculture department provided P34.280 million intended for the eradication of the disease in infected farms, conduct of trainings on good agricultural practices on banana, as well as, the production of Trichoderma harzianum, as an effective bio-control anti-fungal agent.

“Time is of the essence for the Davao region’s billion-dollar industry,” Recoter said, as she asked all the stakeholders to put their best feet forward in stopping the spread of the

disease.

Fusarium wilt is a fungal pathogen that attacks the vascular system of the banana, preventing it from picking up water.

The resurgence of the fungal disease, which has been dormant for the past 50 years, threatened to wipe out plantations and endangered the biggest export of the Davao region.

As thousands of hectares are already infected, del Rosario warned the fungus posed a serious threat to the liveli-

hood of thousands of Dabaonons and the food security of the province.

Known as the “Banana Capital”, Davao del Norte devotes about 50,000 hectares to the cultivation of Cavendish banana for export.

The dreaded collapse of the industry, once contamination is not mitigated, would impact at least 50,000 people directly involved in the industry, while indirectly affecting about a quarter of a million individuals in related indus-

The expected 3,108 MW capacity is far from the current supply of 1,232 MW, based on National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) data on Tuesday, due to the lack of water elevation in most of the dams in Mindanao as earlier reported by the National Power Corporation (Napocor).

On Tuesday, NGCP said the island lacks a capacity of 58 MW. DOE data, as of June 2015, bared that 1,205 MW of ca-

pacity will come online by the end of next year. The power plants are: 300-MW coal-fired Therma South Energy (by Aboitiz Power Corporation, 200-MW coal-fired Southern Mindanao power station (Alcantara Group), 405-MW coal-fired FDC Misamis (Filinvest Group) and 300-MW SMC Davao power plant (San Miguel Power Corp.).

For Wednesday, NGCP forecasts a shortage of 115 MW, coming from a power demand of 1,238 MW and a

supply of 1,353 MW. Last month, the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) said that Lake Lanao and the Agus and Pulangi dams had dropping water levels.

MPMC added that the biggest coal-fired power plant in the region, 210-MW STEAG, had one of its 105-MW unit undergo a preventive maintenance shutdown.

MPMC further said it expects the unit to be back by August 16. (PNA)

FDA, 10

DOE forecasts 3,108-MW total capacity for Mindanao in 2016

T

HE Department of Energy (DOE) said it expects Mindanao to have a total power supply of 3,108 megawatts (MWs) by 2016.

In the budget proposal of the DOE, which cites its targets for 2016, it said that the 2014 dependable capacity and the committed power projects for “Mindanao (grid) totals 3,108 MWs for 2016.”

The DOE noted the projects that were included had a committed status on June 2015.

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EDGEDAVAO EVENT

Designers John Ryan Ayala & Mark Joseph Sayad.

Black and fabulous One of the evening’s eye-catching performance.

Top corporate account awardees.

THE Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao recently held their annual Clients’ Appreciation Night last July 31 at the hotel’s sprawling Garden Tent. Titled “An Evening of Glamour, Awards and Fashion,” guests as well as the property’s management and staff came dressed to impress.

The black-tie affair was made extra special by the presence of the general managers of other Waterfront Hotels, namely; Mr. Jim Boyles of Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel, Mr. Grant Raymond Jeffries of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, and Mr. Rex Benhur Caballes of Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino. The event was also graced by the company’s Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing, Ms. Ma. Theresa Fernandez, Group Sales Manager for VisMin, Ms. Antoniette Alburo- Elmi-

do and the Sales Manager for the Manila Sales Office, Mr. Jefrie Mendoza.

The event’s sumptuous dinner spread was meticulously prepared by the hotel’s award-winning food and beverage team

lead by Executive Chef Victor Barangan with dishes such as Roast Leg of Lamb, Lengua Salpicao, and Camaron Rebosado among the many dishes featured.

The evening’s excitement was courtesy of various performances by the Sining Tala Dance Company, Drag Artists Davao as well as an avant-garde fashion show. After everything was said and done, party goers were given the opportunity to kick off their shoes and dance the night away at the EDM after party.

Wine Toast led by Director of Sales & Marketing Ms. Ma. Theresa Fernandez.

Mr. Roberto & Mrs. Wanda Teo.

Waterfront Manila Pavilion’s Jim Boyles, Eden David of the Department of Tourism-Region XI, and Waterfront Cebu Hotel’s Grant Raymond Jeffries.

Waterfront Davao’s top travel agents.

Waterfront Davao’s top event suppliers.

Waterfront Hotel Cebu’s Grant Raymondy Jeffries, Consul Tomoko Dodo of the Consulate of Japan in Davao, & Waterfront Airport Hotel Mactan’s Benhur Caballes.

The hotel’s top government & NGO Accounts.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

UP AND ABOUT

12

HOLIDAY GYM & SPA

years of fitness and wellness

HOLIDAYGYM and Spa is celebrating its 12 years in the fitness industry on August 4.

Looking back, Holiday was the first gym in Davao City to introduce the concept of an all-in-one wellness complex when it opened in 2003. Aside from the gym, it had its own indoor/covered jogging track that is approximately 200 meters in length, badminton courts, a coffeeshop, a beauty salon, and a spa. Then when it turned a year older in 2004, a 25-meter swimming pool was added; a boxing facility, punch bag aero and indoor spinning was also introduced.

In 2007, they replaced all their Cybex strength equipment with top of the line LifeFitness Signature Series.In 2008, Holiday opened its basketball court, as well as its own Physical Therapy Center to help and assist those who are injured to recover and become active again.

Through the years, Holiday Gym remained to be the leader in innovations and offering current trends in the fitness industry. They introduced cardio belly and hiphop as part of their group exercise

repertoire. In the quest for more fat-burning classes, Holiday came up with bootcamp-style of classes wich was then called Blast120, and eventually Holiday built a studio meant specifically for this type of classes and thus gave birth to the Fit Series Class which is based on the principles of high intensity interval training.

Fit Series also brought in more male participants in group exercise classes outside of indoor cycling or spinning. Yoga also became well-entrenched in their roster of classes thus prompting Holiday to open a new yoga room.

Holiday also came up with a search among their members for a circle of fit bodies that will help them in their mission of campaigning for healthy living, thus Holiday Superbodies was born in 2007, which was followed by another search in 2010, and in 2013.

This 2015, Holiday came up with the Teen Edition of the Holiday Superbodies Search

because they believe that fitness should start at least during the adolescent years for the many benefits it will give them aside from the observation that at least 50% of the gym goers are comprised by teenagers.

There are a lot more that Holiday has introduced and contributed to the community to help increase awareness about the importance of healthy lliving like fun runs, aero mara-

thons, fitness parties, and healthy living walk among others.

And now, at 12 years, Holiday still hasn’t aged, and is continuously on the look out on what to offer their members to help them improve their health and fitness level. For more information about how you may also start your own fitness program, visit Holiday along F. Torres St. or call them at 2223041 or 222-4207 pr text them at 0922-2028323.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

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ENTERTAINMENT

Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo topbill GMA’s My Faithful Husband “WHAT IF it is the wife who becomes unfaithful?”

This is the intriguing premise of GMA Network’s newest primetime offering My Faithful Husband as it tackles the infidelity of the wife and how the faithful husband will face his life’s biggest challenge.

The most controversial drama on GMA Telebabad begins August 10 right after Beautiful Strangers.

More than just another series that highlights infidelity or unfaithfulness in relationships, My Faithful Husband also probes into the farreaching consequences when a man and his woman deviate from what is expected from them as husband and wife. It is also a story that will challenge all double standards and undermine all biases – like how infidelity is tolerable for a man to commit and abominable for a woman to succumb to and like how home keeping is honorable for a woman but ignoble for a man.

My Faithful Husband

ers Geng delos ReyesDelgado and Paul Sta. Ana; and Brainstormers Lei Chavez, J-Mee Katanyag and Jason Lim. My Faithful Husband, created by the GMA Drama group, is supervised by the Executivein-Charge of Production Lilybeth G. Rasonable; VP for Drama Redgie A.

will showcase the undeniable chemistry of the two award-winning artists – Kapuso prime leading lady Jennylyn Mercado as Melanie “Mel” Fernandez-dela Paz and drama king Dennis Trillo as Emman dela Paz. Jennylyn and Dennis’ reunion and return to primetime TV will surely enthral viewers as they exemplify riveting performances.

My Faithful Husband is the story of Emman and Mel. Emman is a devoted and doting husband to Mel and father to their children. He is willing to do anything

for his family. Meanwhile, Mel is a beautiful, spirited, and ambitious woman. She is married to Emman but after seeing her former boyfriend again, she suddenly gets confused about her feelings. Eventually, Emman finds out that the love of his life, Mel betrayed him. Will he let her go?

Or will he do everything to make her fall in love with him again?

The drama series is under the helm of director Bb. Joyce Bernal.

Included in the cast are: Mikael Daez as Dean; veteran actors Snooky

Magno; AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; Program Manager Helen Rose S. Sese; and Executive Producer Rebya Upalda.

Don’t miss the muchawaited premiere of My Faithful Husband beginning August 10, Mondays to Fridays on GMA Telebabad.

Serna as Mercedes; Ricky Davao as Arnaldo; Nonie Buencamino as Lorenz; Lloyd Samartino as Artemio; Timmy Cruz as Elvie and Rio Locsin as Carmen with Louise delos Reyes as Mylene; Kevin Santos as Dodong; Jade Lopez as Doyee; Jerald Napoles as Mars; Julia Lee as Adelle; Jazz Ocampo as Carla; Aaron Yanga as Dante; Rexcy Evert as Soling.

The creative team is composed of Creative Director Roy Iglesias; Creative Head for Primetime RJ Nuevas; concept creator and head writer Suzette Doctolero; Writ-

Daniel Padilla reaches out to online fans with ‘Most Wanted’ concert on-demand DANIEL PADILLA’S fans can now enjoy the return of the most-wanted concert of the year. They can now watch, for a limited period, Daniel’s Most Wanted concert using their ABS-CBNmobile-powered mobile devices.

Daniel rocked the SM Mall of Asia Arena during his Most Wanted concert last June 13.

For those who haven’t watched it, or those who want to watch it again, this is the chance to relish the unforgettable experience again and again, anytime and anywhere using any suitable mobile device.

Daniel said that the good thing about this offer is that it’s very affordable. You just need to load P99 to your ABSCBNmobile number.

Then just text ‘DJP99’ to

2131 for the PIN that you can use to watch the concert. More details are available at www. djp.iwantv.com.ph.

Daniel’s fans also get a delightful bonus because, aside from the Most Wanted concert, they can also watch the

DOS concert in 2014, Daniel Live concert in 2013, and two lyric videos of Daniel.

“We are doing this for all ABS-CBNmobile subscribers and all those who keep on supporting me and following all my gigs,” said Daniel.

Get your ABS-CBNmobile now and watch Daniel again and again.

ABS-CBNmobile is the first mobile phone service to offer exclusive content never before seen on TV or anywhere else. These include Team Gonzaga, I Do mobisodes, Dear MOR, and Invasion of Privacy, to name a few. It was also a pioneer in offering live streaming of ABS-CBN shows as well as a vast library of past episodes of these shows for subscribers to watch using their smartphones.

These include the concert of Vice Ganda titled Vice Gandang Ganda sa Sarili.

Watch out, too, for Star Flix where the blockbuster tandem of Kim Chiu and Xian Lim will be featured this August.

August 5 – August 6, 2015

FANTASTIC 4 Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan PG

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

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 5 Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner PG

11:20 | 2:00 |4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 LFS

PAPER TOWNS/ * OUIJA RESURRECTION Cara Delevingne, Nat Wolff / *Swisyzinna, Shanon Snedden

R-16

PG/*R13

11:30 | 1:50 |4:10 LFS / * 6:30 | 8:15 | 10:00 LFS

ANT-MAN Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas PG

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

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

STYLE Be fun and fab with Parisian Plus’ ballet flats.

Add a pop of color with coral Ozara sandals.

Burgundy patent Rhian wedge.

Ultra-versatile black Sanvi sandals.

White Uma platforms are surprisingly flattering.

STYLE IS FOR EVERY SIZE

Go into neutral territory with Parisian Plus’ selection of sandals.

STYLE is for everyone and every size with SM’s Parisian Plus collection. The iconic shoe brand has a line for ladies with shoe sizes 9.5-12, making it possible for them to be on-trend and comfortable at the same time.

After all, there is nothing to be embarrassed about one’s shoe size, and Parisian Plus allows one to step out in style with flattering and fab designs.

You’ll also be surprised how Parisian Plus’ wedges and chunky heels can actually make your feet look smaller, as most high heels do. Or how bows, buckles, lace overlays and other accents can make your feet look more petite.

Walk on the wild side with animal printed pumps; while laser cut accents will give your look a modern edge. Step in neutral territory with earth-toned sandals; and slip on ballet flats for those casual days.

Parisian Plus is exclusively available at all SM Stores nationwide.

Get connected with Parisian Plus through Parisian Shoes and Bags on Facebook and @SMParisian and @SMShoesandBags on Twitter and Instagram. #SMParisianPlus Walk on the wild side with zebra-printed Roxy pumps.

Casual taupe Noah sandals .

Rozy pumps in animal-print with ankle straps.

Style is for everyone with Parisian Plus that comes in sizes 9.5-12.

EDGEDAVAO

7 ENVIRONMENT

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

Biodiversity:

Going, going, gone?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“T

HE worst thing that can happen – will happen – is not energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government,” pointed out American biologist in an article he wrote for Harvard Magazine.

“As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired within a few generations. The one process that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity. This is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us.”

Biodiversity – coined from biological diversity – is most often thought of as the variety of organisms on earth.

Yet it also includes two other factors: ecological diversity (the variety of ecosystems and ecological communities) and genetic diversity (the range of genetic differences found within and between species).

“All three aspects are crucial for the success and development of life on earth,” explains People and the Planet, a group raising environmental concerns based in London.

“Since environmental conditions at every level are constantly changing, only diversity can ensure that some individuals and species will be able to adapt to the changes.”

Species declines and extinctions have always been a natural part of that process, but there is something disturbingly different about the current extinction patterns.

“Like the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, humanity now finds itself in the midst of a mass extinction: a global evolutionary convulsion with few parallels in the entire history of life,” wrote John Tuxill and Chris Bright, authors of Losing Strand in the Web of Life. “But unlike the dinosaurs, we are not simply the contemporar-

ies of a mass extinction – we are the reason of it.”

The Philippines is the world’s second largest archipelago country after Indonesia. It comprises more than 7,100 islands covering 297,179 square kilometers in the westernmost Pacific Ocean. The country has 400 out of 500 coral species known in the world.

“Every time we go in the water, someone discovers something that’s never been seen before,” said Dr. Terrence Gosliner, dean of science and research collections at the California Academy of Sciences who headed the 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition.

The Philippines ranks fifth in the world in terms of number of plant species and hosts about five per cent of the world’s flora.

“The Philippines, owing to its rich islands and water formations, has been home to some of the rarest and beautiful creatures for generations,” said Land Bank of the Philippines in its 2013 Calendar.

“Over the years, a treasure trove of endemic animals and plants has been discovered by local and foreign scientists, clearly signifying our natural landscape as one of the world’s most formidable hotspots for biodiversity.”

The Convention for International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), of which the Philippines is a signatory, has listed several wildlife species in the country that are rare, threatened, or endangered.

Among these are the Philippine eagle (the country’s bird icon), tamaraw, calamian deer, Palawan bearcat, Mindanao gymure, Philippine tarsier, Panay flying fox, Cebu black shama, Philippine cockatoo, “bungang ipot,” “tagbak,” and Sander’s glocacia.

“A few decades ago, the

Endangered Philippine eagle

Saving endangered marine turtles.

Exotic birds wildlife of the Philippines was notable for its abundance; now, it is notable for its variety; if present trend of destruction continues, Philippine wildlife will be notable for its absence,” deplored Dr. Lee Talbot, a well-known ecologist and geographer.

“The Philippines is one of the most threatened in the world. The rate of extinction of species is 1,000 times the natural rate because of manmade activities,” DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio said. “It is a crisis. We are the hottest of the hot spots.”

Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former DENR secretary and current Director of the Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Management, has estimated the number of endangered Philippine bird species alone number around 56.

Dr. Seymour Sohmer from the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, has concluded in a study that the country has already lost 40 percent of its endemic flora. And that may include soon the endangered

“waling-waling” orchid.

The threats to the country’s once lush and diverse wildlife are many. But the primary culprit is the loss of its natural habitat, particularly the tropical rainforests. “In the Philippines, forests are disappearing fast,” reports Sanda Volpp in an article which appeared in Handbook Philippines.

“An alarming comparison reveals that while 95% of the Philippines was covered by forests a hundred years ago, in 1982, it was down to about 40% and in 2006, not even 20% is left. Of the remaining forest lands, only 800,000 hectares are still primary forests (3% of the total land area),” Volpp noted.

Studies show that a pair of Philippine eagle needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forests as a nesting territory.

“With the forest, the species cannot survive over the long term,” said Dennis Salvador, the executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. “Without the forest, not only the Philippine eagle will

go extinct, but so will the dreams and aspirations of millions of marginal income families who rely on the forest to survive.”

“Protection of biodiversity should be one of the top priorities of any meaningful strategy to safeguard the world’s biological heritage,” suggests John C. Ryan, author of Life Support: Conserving Biological Diversity.

As Dr. James Kirchner, an American professor of earth and planetary science at University of California, puts it: “The planet would be biologically depleted for millions of years, with consequences extending not only beyond the lives of our children’s children, but beyond the likely lifespan of the entire human species.”

But there is still a glimmer of hope. “Humans, after all, are not dinosaurs,” Tuxill and Bright declare. “We can change. Even in the midst of the mass extinction, we still largely control our destiny, but only if we act now. The fate of untold numbers of

species depends on it. And so does the fate of our children, in ways we can barely begin to conceive.”

But, “of all the global problems that confront us, (loss of biodiversity) is the one that is moving the most rapidly and the one that will have the most serious consequences,” deplored Dr. Peter Raven, director of Missouri Botanical Gardens in the United States.

Saving biodiversity, however, is very expensive: an estimated $300 billion a year for the next eight years. That’s according to Brazilian Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, the chief of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity.

It’s worth it though. “Biodiversity is the basis of everything we do in agriculture, everything we do in health,” Dias told Reuters. “So the development of new vaccines, the development of new cultured varieties of plants is based on biodiversity, genetic resources. If we lose biodiversity, we lose the options for future development in these areas.”

The Philippines should heed that warning. “Our country is remarkably rich in biodiversity, from coral reefs to forests, rivers and lakes. Conservation of these resources is most critical to species survival, stable ecosystems and economic development on the Philippines and the world as well,” said Dr. Perry Ong, director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology.

But “saving a species is more than a simple matter of putting it in a cage or pot,” reminds Paje. “It requires us to protect or rebuild its habitat, as well as the balance it keeps in relation to other species lower and higher in the food chain or web of life.”

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

W

More of the same

HILE President Benigno Aquino chose to pass the buck to his predecessor for the problems the country is still facing today in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week, Vice President Jejomar Binay chose to pour on all the blame on Aquino in his own version of the address, which he called the True State of the Nation Address (TSONA). In a speech delivered at the Cavite State University last Monday, Binay blasted the Aquino administration for various sins, including incompetence and corruption, which he said still marks government five years into its “daang matuwid” battle cry. In many ways, of course, what Binay said cannot be denied: while Mr. Aquino crowed about his government’s achievements since 2010, the common tao still has to deal with a host of problems like joblessness, poverty, and lack of access to basic government services. Yes, the economy may have grown, and the Philippines may have become the new darling of international investors and funding agencies, but this has meant precious little to the people who are in most need.

But to say that this is all Mr. Aquino’s fault is to be hypocritical of Binay. Even setting aside the numerous allegations of corruption that he has yet to address up to now, the vice president must certainly

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realize that pointing a finger at the President means he is pointing three at himself. After all, he has been a member of the Cabinet for the entirety of Mr. Aquino’s presidency up to now, and it had been in his power to effect change if he truly saw problems along the way.

That he did not means he is as guilty as those he is now accusing.

This being the season of politics, of course, trading barbs is the name of the game. This is to be expected, and the people need to look deeper into the real issues instead of feasting on the sound bytes that candidates are going to hurl at each other. It is the unfortunate characteristic of an essentially conservative culture like ours that we value basically the same things, and these can be summed up in three slogans: maka-Diyos, makabayan, makatao (pro-God, pro-country, pro-people). Because all candidates adhere to -- or at least claim to adhere to -- the same principles, they are forced to attack each other not on an ideological level but on a personal one. This reduces campaigns to mudslinging and brickbat-throwing, and this is essentially what we have seen in the SONA and the TSONA. We dream of the time when politics can be mature enough so that candidates can engage each other on a more lofty level. Until then, we can only expect more of the same dirty politics to reign.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

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EDGEDAVAO

A

FRIEND laments that gone are the days when the Philippine Senate was an August chamber. He sorrowfully sates that the Senate led by the likes of Osias, Rodrigo, Salonga, Kalaw Katigbak, Recto, Ziga, Tañada, Pelaez, and Diokno. Truly, these men and women were the thought leaders of their time.

In my opinion, the last great Senate was that of the 8th Congress, that batch of legislators that voted on pieces of legislation that to my mind have had the highest and greatest impact on our everyday lives, such as the Local Government Code, the Generics Act, the Senior Citizens Law, the Value Added Tax, the laws against sexual harassment, the Family Code. It is this same Congress that made history by voting against a renewed treaty allowing the use of local military bases by foreign governments, leading the way for the creation of new economic zones that today employ roughly four times the 28,000 that the United States military used to employ. For better or for worse, these laws and measures have had their impact on the effectiveness of governance and created a

L

IVER disease is caused by alcohol abuse -- that is what most people think. Unknowingly, there are many other causes, the most common of which is hepatitis (from Greek words hepa which means “liver” and -itis, inflammation.

Hepatitis has been known for centuries. In fact, there are reports of epidemic outbreaks of liver disease dating back to 2000 B.C. Yet, hepatitis is, in many ways, a relatively new story. “It was not until World War II that scientists realized that hepatitis was caused by viruses and could be bloodborne as well as water-borne,” writes André Picard, a Canadian health reporter of The Globe and Mail. “This breakthrough occurred after a large number of soldiers immunized against yellow fever developed hepatitis due to the re-use of needles, not from contaminated water, as was usually the case.”

Hepatitis B was identified in 1963. It took another ten years to identify hepatitis A. In between those years, there was a hepatitis virus only known as “non-A-non-B.” It was not until in 1989 that it was given the name, hepatitis C. Three more were named later: hepatitis D, E and G. “While they share a common name, the viruses are quite different, and even have different routes of transmission,” writes Picard, who is part of the team of World Federation of Science Journalists that raises Hepatitis C awareness campaign. “To complicate matters further, there are different genotypes of the viruses in various parts of the world; there are already seven hepatitis C genotypes that have been identified.”

Around the world, about 550 million people have been infected with viral hepatitis, a family of viruses that can cause debilitating liv-

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

VANTAGE POINTS

9

What has the Senate become? palpable influMY TWO CENTS’ ence on the way people live their lives. I observe and opine that they were debated more on their merits and benefit more than they did John Tria with political ecisouth@gmail.com horse trading.

Back then, the Senators did more of the thinking than their staff did. At least for many Senators that was the case.

As presidential and vice presidential tickets are being firmed up, the common suggestion is for those not chosen to join any of the Senate slates of the different candidates. While it may sound charitable, many feel that such a suggestion cheapens the Senate, reducing it into a consolation prize for would be presidentiables. It is not merely a higher arena for horse

trading of the banal. We must always remember that any Senate is a repository of wisdom and political experience to guide the state on important matters, especially vital legislation, the concurrence to international treaties, and the impeachment of important national officials. It matters that those seeking Senate seats do so intending to weigh in on these important national debates and give more than a two cents worth of ideas, as every utterance carries the bulwark of wisdom needed for heavy decisions.

Today’s challenge in the Filipino body politic has mainly to do with the reality of governance difficulties. We have become ungovernable, as trust in the work of governance, even legislation, is not as high as it should be to get necessary reforms going. Every proposed new measure is met with an equal or greater opposition, and everything boils down with bloody compromises that leave the reform measure bland. Everybody wants to have their say and eat their cake, and perhaps have more if the possible. What imaginative legislation is left is

often pushed by lobbyists and political pressure groups pushing their own agenda and seeking their own benefit over and above the common good. At least that’s my opinion. Add to this our penchant for long, comprehensive, catch-all laws and your recipe is ripe for a government that, in Mayor Duterte’s words in front of the Senators, “talks too much and does too little.”

While formal institutions such as the Senate may remain, the call of the times is to bring governance closer to those who are governed, to let social media and other technologies allow interested people to have their say by developing the proper forums that can aid in local legislation and make implementation of priority programs more effective, with feedback loops that, in effect, show people how governance works. Only then can more of the well meaning participate more in deliberating the future, and at that point, credibility in these important legislative and executive functions increase, and the Senate stand as the proud, wise bulwark of thought it is designed to be.

er diseases like THINK ON THESE! cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Between them, hepatitis B and C kill almost 1.5 million people annually, more than any of the so-called “big three” inHenrylito D. Tacio fectious diseashenrytacio@gmail.com es (HIV-AIDS, 1.4 million; tuberculosis, 1.4 million; and malaria, 700,0000) that capture most of the public attention and research, and mobilize political action.

The infection rates and mortality rates of AIDS, TB and malaria, through determined global public health campaigns, are all falling.

But hepatitis cases and mortality are still rising sharply; in fact, the number of hepatitis C deaths has quadrupled in the last decade.

“Viral hepatitis is one of the most common and deadly infections on the planet,” writes Picard, “but, for a variety of reasons, the scourge is well down the list of public health and political priorities and, as a result, gets a negligible amount of media coverage.”

Among the several forms, hepatitis C is the nastiest, according to Dr. Alan Berkman, author of Hepatitis A to G: The Facts You Need to Know About All the Forms of This Dangerous Disease.

“About 85 percent of people who are infected by this virus never get rid of it. Chronic (lifelong) liver disease afflicts about 70 percent of people who are infected with hepatitis C and this can lead to liver cancer and death.”

Unlike the other forms, hepatitis C is not as easily spread. It is almost exclusively blood-

borne, though it is sometimes sexually transmitted. It is, however, quite deadly, killing about 700,000 people a year.

“For all intents and purposes, hepatitis C should be considered principally a healthcare-acquired infection,” Picard points out.

“Most sufferers contract it through exposure to unsafe blood – for example, untested (or inadequately tested) blood used for transfusions, re-used and inadequately sterilized needles and other surgical/medical equipment, and via tattooing and piercing.”

The Merck Manual of Medical Information says that it is most commonly transmitted “among people who share needles to inject illicit drugs.” But Picard dispels this claim: “only about 10% of the overall number of cases are believed to be caused by shared needles.”

Picard further notes: “It is important to bear in mind too that much remains to be learned, particularly about hepatitis C. For example, in about 25% of cases, the route of transmission is unknown.”

The HCV is sometimes called “indolent” – that is, you can be infected with it for many years without having any symptoms. “The reasons for this are unclear,” explains Dr. Berkman.

“Some researchers believe that although the virus proliferates rapidly, it can be detected by tests before there are large enough concentrations of it in the blood to produce disease. Others are convinced that the virus reproduces as quickly as any other virus, but makes defective copies of itself that don’t do much harm to the patient or don’t survive. Or it may be that the body successfully fights off the virus for a time, or somehow manages to destroy some of the virus particles while others ‘hide’ from the immune system.”

The Geneva-based World Health Organiza-

tion (WHO) calls hepatitis C as “a progressive disease.” The rate of progression, however, varies widely from person to person. In many people, the infection is without symptoms, but others have flu-like symptoms (fatigue, joint and muscular pain, nausea and vomiting) 6 to 8 weeks after the initial infection. About 10 percent of patients develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes).

The WHO says that about 80 percent of patients develop chronic infection after the acute stage resolves, and most of these patients experience no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they’re usually mild and intermittent and may include fatigue, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.

Serious liver damage from hepatitis C may take years, so the younger a person is when infected, the higher the likelihood that they will eventually develop cirrhosis. According to the UN health agency, 20-40 percent of people infected with HCV will develop cirrhosis within 25 years. If cirrhosis develops, additional signs and symptoms may include muscle weakness, nausea, weight loss, itching, dark urine, fluid retention, and abdominal swelling.

About 20 percent of the patients who develop cirrhosis will go into liver failure, require a liver transplant, or develop liver cancer. Alcohol consumption, male gender, and excess iron in the liver are factors that accelerate progression to cirrhosis.

“A significant number of people who are infected with viral hepatitis – perhaps as many as one in four – clear the virus on their own and that many others, because the viruses take so long to damage the liver and cause conditions like cancer and cirrhosis, die of other causes,” Picard claims. “The lengthy period between infection and illness helps create complacency.”

Deadlier than AIDS and malaria

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

AMERICAN... FROM 1

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ta pagka-senador niya ang iyang American passport buot pasabot dili ka sinsero pag-ingon nimo na gibuhian na nimo ang pagka-Amerikano (The problem is she kept travelling to the United States while she was a senator using her American passport, which means she is not sincere in her vow that she had already given up her US citizenship),” he said.

He said based on information he got, a case has already been filed against Poe on the

issue of her citizenship.

Still, Duterte had this message for Poe: “Ingna si Grace Poe na wala nako siya dauta. Ingna nag ingon si Mayor Duterte na ang among kasing-kasing para sa imoha, moboto gyud mi para sa imoha (Just tell Grace Poe that I am not maligning her. Tell her that Mayor Duterte said our hearts are for you and we will vote for you).”

Meanwhile, the mayor said he sees the Presidential

race boiling down to Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Tan-aw nako kung mudagan jud si Grace Poe, duha lang na inyo ang pwede pili-an, si Grace Poe o dili ka ha si Binay (I think if Grace Poe runs, the people will have only two choices, either Grace Poe or Binay),” he said.

Duterte did not mention the name of Liberal Pary bet Mar Roxas, who was endorsed

by President Benigno Aquino last Friday.

City to also sign the list in which a total of 40.83 liters of fuel was used.

Magalona declared that Biton justified that the list will be forwarded to Malacañang to determine if there were “ghost employees” in their agency.

But on July 23, 2010, Magalona received an e-mail from the staff of then Quedancor President Federico Espiritu, informing him about a petition to oust him from his post.

The petition was signed

by Quedancor 11 employees.

But the employees claimed that they were only deceived into signing the list believing that it would be used in connection with their employment.

In their respective counter-affidavit, Cifra and Valera stated that their intention was only to call on the administration of President Aquino to stop the Quedancor Rationalization Plan approved by the administration of President Gloria Arroyo and recommended by Espiritu.

For his part, Biton denied

having knowledge of the petition to oust Espiritu and explained that the signatures were only to confirm the roster of employees of Quedancor 11. He also asserted that he used the government’s resources in furthering a legal act.

But the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao found Biton liable for allegedly deceiving employees into signing the document to oust the agency’s president and using the government’s vehicle in doing the act. (PNA)

Please help us find patients,” said Villafuerte, chair of the SP committee on health.

The hospital features a Timmy’s Playroom, a special space set aside where kid-patients can take a break from medical treatment to play.

The playroom was decorated and equipped by the Tim

Tebow Foundation in honor of Tim Tebow. This is the first Timmy’s Playroom to open outside of the United States.

The Tim Tebow Foundation has partnered with CURE International to open the Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City, Philippines.

Since the first hospital

opened in 1998, CURE has established a presence in 30 countries and its physicians and staff have performed more than 191,000 life-changing surgeries, with more than 2.7 million patient visits.

CURE physicians have also trained more than 7,200 medical professionals.

2015 Grand Champion will take home a grand prize of P500,000 in cash. On top of this, each member of the winning team shall receive a brand new Samsung Galaxy S6 phone and Smart Bro Pocket WiFi. The grand finals shall also feature a grand CoC Cosplay competition, which offers P70,000 cash prize to the win-

ner in the Grand Finals – also the biggest prize awarded in a local Cosplay contest.

Smart has also invited representatives of Supercell – the Finland-based game developer of CoC – as well as popular CoC YouTube personalities Chief Pat and Galadon to grace the grand finals.

As the country’s leading mobile network, Smart

has also introduced Direct Carrier Billing on Google Play, allowing Filipino CoC players nationwide to buy gems conveniently using their prepaid load or charge their purchases to their postpaid account.

For the full mechanics of the competition and details of the Philippine Clash, visit www.smart.com.ph/pages/ PhilippineClash2015.

fense,” Hontiveros explained.

“Also, let’s not forget, it was PhilHealth who exposed the alleged reimbursement anomalies and stopped the bleeding of the nation’s coffers at the hands of alleged fraudulent healthcare providers,” Hontiveros said.

The CAAC is a PhilHealth Board committee that decides on cases against healthcare providers elevated to it by PhilHealth’s Arbitration Office.

Revisit and rationalize PhilHealth’s reimbursement system Hontiveros said that she will urge the PhilHealth Board to revisit and further rationalize the incentives and reimbursement procedures for healthcare facilities based on the incidence rate of ailments

in a particular community.

“What we need is an evidence-based rationalization of incentives and reimbursements. Public health should not be at the mercy of market forces, and the market together with an unregulated private sector must not dictate the framework of providing universal healthcare to the people,” Hontiveros stressed.

Hontiveros said the Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS) of the Department of Health (DoH), National Demographic Health Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Community-based Monitoring System of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) can help in identifying areas where private healthcare providers are needed the most.

She said the government can also maximize the family development sessions of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program to get more information on community-health needs.

“May sapat na datos ang pamahalaan para alamin kung ano ang pangangailangang medikal ng iba’t ibang komunidad. Kung dati, pasok lang ng pasok ang mga healthcare providers kung saan-saang komunidad, ngayon, ituturo natin sa kanila ang mga lugar kung saan pinaka-kailangan ang kanilang tulong at kontribusyon,” Hontiveros said.

“Hopefully, this will prevent the market-capture of the delivery of important health services to the public and the commodification of patients,” Hontiveros concluded.

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at risk or in actual danger because of the different hazards in the city.

“The center hopes to provide opportunities in case of prolonged evacuation for recovery, rehabilitation, and other developmental activities while they are in the center. This will

facilitate their recovery integration back to their respective communities,” Bermudo added.

The building can also be used for training and other activities.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lauded third district Rep. Isidro Ungab for his effort

in finding the budget for the building.

Duterte conceded that the area is far from the downtown area so he said the city government will provide transportation to evacuees who need to travel downtown for work. Funny Pearl A. Gajunera

mittee report.”

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, on the other hand, insisted that the other parties such as militant groups also

be asked to present their side.

Council floor leader Bernard Al-ag also manifested that the also matter be referred to the committee on

indigenous people headed by councilor Bai Halila Sudagar.

The motion was adopted after almost an hour discussion.

that are at par with other countries where the genetic company has presence.

The company is headquartered in the United Kingdom with laboratory in Kentucky in the United States. It maintains firm footing across Asia Pacific and Europe.

CSFI chief-executive-officer and farm administrator Teresita M. Pascual said local industry players must take pride in being free from food and mouth disease (FMD) and bird flu, illnesses that have been affecting their Southeast Asian neighbors.

She said hog and poultry raisers must take advantage of this to advance in the global export market.

Previously, she lambasted the policies of the government that hamper the growth of the industry. One such policy is the 50-year-old Cabotage law, which caused the high cost of local shipping fees by allowing only the domestic shipping lines to serve local shipping routes.

President Benigno Aquino III recently signed Republic Act 10667, or the Philippine Competition Act,

and RA 10668, or the Foreign Co-Loading Act, which amended the Cabotage Law. The Philippine Competition Act provides “for a national competition policy prohibiting anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position and anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions.”

Meanwhile, the Foreign Co-Loading Act allows “foreign vessels to transport and co-load foreign cargoes for domestic transshipment.”

Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews

tries in the province.

“It is important for us to save our banana plantations from fusarium wilt, as this will bluntly hit the economy of the province,” del Rosario

said.

The governor has since asked the players of the sector to be resolute in protecting their farms by imposing strict quarantine measures.

He also expressed much optimism with the newly-developed Giant Cavendish variety GCTCV 219 that is resistant to the destructive disease.

promotes management excellence for nation building. I hope to see a great exchange of ideas among MAP member executives as I commit to bring to the table relevant insights that can help enterprises adapt to the technological revolution to keep them at par with their global counterparts,” Acosta said.

As the preferred ICT partner of leading Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) companies in the Philippines, Globe Business provides a comprehensive range of ICT interconnectivity for the country’s top industries, businesses and commercial enterprises engineered according to their business requirements.

The portfolio of products and services comprise of mobile, wireline, broadband, data connections, internet, managed services and IT-enabling services as well as cloud computing solutions. The company’s data center and carrier ethernet services are ISO- and MEF global standards-certified, respectively.

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builds aircraft to connect Globe deploys small cells FBdeveloping world to internet technology in VisMin areas F

C

ONTINUING its investments in modernized infrastructure and technologies in important areas around the country, Globe Telecom further reinforced its network strength by integrating advanced small cell technologies.

In 2014, Globe partnered with Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) to roll out state-of-theart wireless modern network technologies in the Visayas and Mindanao areas to improve coverage and data capacity to meet increasing consumer demand.

Included in the rollout are increased fiber backhaul, use of integrated macro and micro cell technologies with primary consideration for landscape and tourism potential of the region.

In May 2015, tourist-laden Boracay Island was chosen as the initial rollout area for advanced small cell technologies. Globe fired up additional 3G, LTE, WiFi and the first outdoor small cells in the Philippines during the LaBoracay summer revelry at the first weekend of May. The result was a complete change of experience as Globe customers enjoyed overall better network coverage, better call quality and higher data rates at a time when tourist arrival is near peak and network usage increased tenfold.

The enhanced customer experience gave strong impetus for the telco company to further augment the use of small cells technology in the coming months. Moreover, this intensified network performance has prompted the Media Operations Committee (MOC) of the ongoing Asia Pacific Economic Co-

operation-National Organizing Council (APEC-NOC) to award all network and WiFi facilities at the International Media Center (IMC) located inside Boracay Ecoville Resort to Globe Telecom.

“We started improving the fiber-connection of Boracay in 2012. Since then, we have progressively improved our network’s performance by optimizing our available spectrum, technology and radio hardware, harnessing maximum allowable capacities. As Globe aims to build the best network in the premier island destination with the full potential of our current spectrum, we enable our customers to live out their Globe-powered digital lifestyle wherever they are in the island,” said Robert Tan, Chief Technical Advisor of Globe.

According to Tan, the current technologies introduced by Globe in Boracay can deploy speeds of at least 5 Mbps, and up to 100 Mbps on WiFi, significantly improving its data speeds from last year.

On the other hand, the small cells - minibase stations using lower transmit power strategically positioned around the island - can support multiple technologies, including 3G and LTE. They have been activated during special events such as the APEC, concerts and fiestas such as the LaBoracay, in cafes and restaurants as well as in commercial areas for Globe customers to enjoy a full digital experience on their phones and devices. No other telco provider has this technology installed on the island to date.

Tan noted that with the rapid increase of data demand and to deliver on

ACEBOOK founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced the completed construction of the company’s first full scale aircraft, Aquila, as part of its Internet.org effort.

In a post on his Facebook timeline on July 30, Zuckerberg said Aquila is a solar powered unmanned plane that beams down internet connectivity from the sky. It has the wingspan of a Boeing 737, but weighs less than a car and can stay in the air for months at a time.

“We’ve also made a breakthrough in laser communications technology. We’ve successfully tested a new laser that can transmit data at 10 gigabits per second. That’s ten times faster than any previous system, and it can

SMALL CELLS. A small base station deploys localized coverage of 3G, LTE and WiFi signals with fiber backhaul of as much as 1 Gbps, providing up to three times better data experience than normal outdoor sites. the telco’s promise of providing its customers their digital lifestyle experience, technologies such as small cells will continually be rolled out in several areas across the Globe network. Traditional hardware such as regular macro cells cannot easily deliver the same amount of data capacity in high-foot traffic areas.

Smart’s Philippine Clash sets gaming record in PH

T

HE Philippine Clash 2015, the country’s biggest Clash of Clans (CoC) tournament mounted

by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), got off to a phenomenal start with a record number of competing teams in its Metro Manila leg, all vying for the largest prize pool in a local gaming competition worth over P2.3 million.

Smart launched the nationwide competition as part of its thrust to turn every phone into an entertainment powerhouse through innovative products and services that allow subscribers to access and enjoy all the mobile games, videos and music they want on-the-go.

A total of 28 clans –

ipinos 24/7 were awarded P25,000 and P10,000 in cash prizes, respectively, and will automatically represent Metro Manila in the Philippine Clash 2015 Grand Finals set on Sept. 26 at SM Mall of Asia.

They are set to battle it out with the top teams from the Mad race for trophies Northern Luzon, Southern Drawing from nearly Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. two years’ worth of expe “Our experience comrience, veteran team Pinoy peting together was definitely Playhouse led by clan leader our main advantage. We are a Nathan Simbulan emerged at team who bonded over CoC, the top of a mad race for tro- and we grew confidence in phies. Grabbing the second each other since we started spot is Filipinos 24/7 led by our group way back in October Koji Espina – a great finish 2013,” said Pinoy Playhouse’s considering it was the group’s Simbulan, noting that the clan first time to join a live gaming has joined around 20 friendly and competitive matches pricompetition.

Pinoy Playhouse and Fil- or to the competition. In fact, the same team bagged last May the championship for Summer Clash, the first live CoC tournament in the country, also backed by Smart.

Far from a walk in the park Despite their experience, Simbulan said topping the Metro Manila leg was far from a walk in the park. “The comPinoy Playhouse bagged the top prize in the Metro Manila leg of Philippine Clash 2015, the petition gathered country’s biggest Clash of Clans (CoC) tournament mounted by Smart in partnership with the most number Philippine eSports Organization and the Philippine Clash of Clans Battleground, the largest of teams we have community of competitive CoC gamers. The winning clan is composed of (second from left): ever competed in.

Davin Tapang, Nathan Simbulan (Clan Leader), Mark Alvynn Raymundo, Rene de Guzman Moreover, all parand Francis Dave Jadulco. with five members each – gathered for the first leg of the tournament held at SM Light Mall in Mandaluyong City, marking the most number of teams to battle it out ever in a live CoC tournament in the Philippines.

ticipants are required at least a Town Hall Level 9 Village to enter, so we were all equally strong and strategic players.

It’s highly competitive and we are pumped up just to make it to the finals.”

Filipinos 24/7 was just as stoked to advance to the finals. “We strategized for speed. We had little time to prepare but we made it a point to join because we wanted to see how we would measure up against the country’s best clans. Thankfully, it all paid off,” said Espina, who even took a leave from his bartending job in Japan to make it to the competition.

Cosplay contest, games, raffle Aside from the tournament, the event drew hundreds of CoC fans and enthusiasts for a full day of other exciting activities such as a Cosplay contest, tutorials by CoC experts, meet-and-greet sessions with the country’s top clans, as well as games and raffle of gaming gadgets.

“We are overwhelmed with the response and support from CoC communities and fans all over the country, and we call on the clans to join the upcoming legs as we search for the top CoC team in the Philippines,” said Mellissa Limcaoco, head of Smart’s Innovation and Product Development Group.

The Philippine Clash

FSMART’S, 10

accurately connect with a point the size of a dime from more than 10 miles away,” he said.

Zuckerberg said the effort is important because 10 percent of the world’s population lives in areas without existing internet infrastructure.

“To affordably connect everyone, we need to build completely new technologies,” he said.

“Using aircraft to connect communities using lasers might seem like science fiction. But science fiction is often just science before its time. Over the coming months, we will test these systems in the real world and continue refining them so we can turn their promise into reality,” Zuckerberg said.

Facebook by the numbers 1.49 B users and counting

F

ACEBOOK announced its quarterly earnings on July 30 and it showed that 1.49 billion people are now part of its community.

In a post, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted that in 1876, the year the first telephone call was made, around 1.49 billion people were alive.

“With each generation, the world is growing closer together. One day our community will connect everyone. Thank you for being a part of our mission and our community,” he said.

12 CLASSIFIED

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

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

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EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MARJORIE BOLOYJIMLANI has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT executed among her heirs per Doc. No. 450; Page No. 90; Book No. 106; Series of 2015, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN 7/29.8/05.8/12

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF DECEASED PERSON

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ANGELITO B. COSICO has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF DECEASED PERSON executed among his heirs per Doc. No.426; Page No.86; Book No. 106; Series of 2015, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN 7/29;8/05;8/12

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 13

DFA: Oman extends amnesty for undocumented workers O

MAN has extended its ongoing amnesty program for illegal foreign workers, including Filipinos, until October 28, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

The amnesty program which began on May 3 was originally scheduled to end on July 31.

“With the recent announcement, the Philippine Embassy has stepped up its efforts to encourage undocumented overseas Filipino workers in Oman to avail of the amnesty and avoid paying overstay penalties and other fines,” the DFA said.

Philippine Ambassador Narciso Castañeda encour-

aged illegal and overstaying Filipinos workers in Oman to avail of amnesty, saying this is an opportunity for them to return to the Philippines without facing any legal actions.

At least 7,382 undocumented workers of various nationalities were reported to have been deported

under the amnesty program. Of this figure, 162 are Filipinos, including 29 sheltered at the Philippine embassy.

Undocumented OFWs in Oman who may wish to avail of the amnesty under the extended period are advised to contact the embassy. (PNA)

14 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

MAPPING OUT THE FUTURE. (From left) Globe Senior Vice President and Head for Globe Business Nikko Acosta alongside Pia Avecedo of The OneCORE Success Center and Creative Human Resource Group, Noel Cortez of Asian Institute of Management, Amado del Rosario of PGA Cars, Matthew Escobido of Asian Institute of Management, Gina Lopez of ABS-

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Ernesto Mascenon of Nestle Philippines, Telesforo Pena of T&D Design Consultancy and Marriana Yulo of Double Dragon Properties Corporation take oath as the newest Management Association of the Philippines members.

BPI, Global Payments finalize joint venture G G

MAP out to transform country’s ICT industry

LOBAL Payments Inc., a leading worldwide provider of payment technology services, yesterday announced that it has completed the formation of a joint venture with Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

BPI is a leading Philippine provider of financial services with more than 800 branches. The bank has operated a merchant acquiring business in the Philippines for over 27 years.

Under the terms of the agreement, Global Payments holds a 51 percent majority interest in the joint venture,

and BPI holds the remaining 49 percent.

Under the joint venture, which was first announced in December last year, Global Payments will contribute its Philippine merchant acquiring assets and cash to secure a majority interest in the partnership.

BPI, for its part, will contribute its existing merchant acquiring business to the joint venture and hold a 49 percent interest.

Global Payments delivers innovative solutions driven by customer needs globally.

Its partnerships, technolo-

gies, and employee expertise enable it to provide a broad range of products and services that allow customers to accept all payment types across a variety of distribution channels in many markets around the world.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with more than 4,400 employees worldwide, Global Payments is a Fortune 1000 Company with merchants and partners in 29 countries throughout North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and Brazil.

BPI, for its part, has 163

years of experience in the local banking industry and is one of the largest universal banks in the Philippines today.

It offers a wide spectrum of financial services to both retail customers and corporate clients through the bank’s extensive distribution network locally and abroad.

BPI serves 6.8 million customers through its network of more than 800 branches, over 2,500 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) nationwide, and close to 30,000 Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals. PRNewswire

T

Fifteen of these scholars graduated from the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), which is among the six accredited Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) chosen by PAHRODF. The ICSP was conceptualized to deliver substantial assistance to professionals,

groups and organizations in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. It is an avenue for Filipinos who are incapable to study in Australia for various reasons such as work or family demands, so they can pursue professional excellence with postgraduate scholarships at top Philippine universities.

The ICSP complements the Australia Awards and reverberates its goals of developing key leaders and reformers to boost the development in the Philippines.

USeP College of Education had ten graduates in 2014 and three graduates for 2015 while the College of Governance and Business has two graduates in 2015.

The other five universities that catered ICSP scholars are Asian Institute of Management, Asian Social Institute, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Notre Dame University, and Ateneo de Davao University.

Australian Embassy Development Cooperation Counsellor Geoff King welcomed the graduates while Civil Service Commission commissioner and Facility Board member Robert Martinez congratulated them in his message.

Australian Embassy First Secretary Warren Hoye headed the launching of the ICSP Phase 2 and NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan concluded the program.

USeP accredited to cater to PAHRODF-ICSP scholars HE Australian government through the Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF) recognized the In-Country Scholarship Program (ICSP) scholars on July 23, 2015 at The Marco Polo, Davao.

RECOGNITION. The Australian government through the Philippines Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF) recognizes the In-Country Scholarship Program (ICSP) scholars on July 23, 2015 at The Marco Polo, Davao.

LOBE Telecom Senior Vice President and Head for Globe Business Nikko Acosta recently took oath as member of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and is expected to lead discussions and sharing of best practices specific to transforming the ICT industry in the country and enabling enterprises embrace the upcoming ASEAN integration by becoming more globally-competitive Acosta’s leadership was instrumental in steering the growth of Globe Telecom’s information and communication technology (ICT) arm, with revenues growing by 10 percent in 2014 led by strong growth of the segment’s data business amidst cutthroat competition in the enterprise

ICT business.

MAP is a management organization whose members represent a cross-section of CEOs, COOs, and other top management practitioners from the largest local and multinational companies operating in the Philippines.

Acosta was joined by other new members of the organization who are known luminaries in their respective industries. They include Gina Lopez of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Ernesto Mascenon of Nestle Philippines, Amado Del Rosario of PGA Cars, and Noel Cortez from Asian Institute of Management.

“It is a great honor to be a part of an organization which

FMAP, 10

PhilHealth to speed up resolution of cases vs. erring hospitals, clinics

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HE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has vowed to expedite the resolution of cases filed by its members against erring private and public hospitals and clinics, three days after a private eye clinic, accused of making fraudulent claims, filed libel charges against the state-run health insurance’s executives.

In a statement, PhilHealth Director and newly appointed Chairperson of the Committee on Appealed Administrative Cases (CAAC) Risa Hontiveros said that the government corporation will ensure that accountability is exacted from healthcare providers that are proven guilty of violating patients’ rights.

“We will not be intimidated from doing our job. As the newly installed head of PhilHealth’s CAAC, the first thing I intend to do is speed up the process for all appealed cases and judiciously exact accountability from those who will be

found guilty of abusing patients’ rights,” Hontiveros said.

“These complainants may have already suffered from the hands of negligent or, worse, abusive healthcare providers. They need not suffer the unnecessary lag time for the wheels of justice to start turning,” Hontiveros added.

Hontiveros cited the slow pace of resolving cases as one of the reasons why some healthcare facilities were emboldened to engage in unethical medical practices such as the “hakot system” and questionable cataract operations allegedly conducted by several private eye clinics.

“Fortunately, the PhilHealth has initiated important reforms in the past years to address this problem such as the comprehensive review of all pending appealed cases and establishment of uniformity in the application of penalties in cases involving multiple counts of the same of-

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

THE HEAT IS ON T

HE heat is literally on for the much-awaited “Duel in Dubai II” in “Pinoy Pride 32” at the sprawling International Trade Center in the heart of the United A rab Emirates where temperatures soared to 47 degrees centigrade even before the deadly Pagara brothers, Jason and Prince Albert step into the ring in another edition of the storied Philippine-Mexican rivaly on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Dubai time.

The fight card to be telecast “live” on Sky Cable paymper-view at 11:00 p.m. and on a delayed basis over Channel 2, the pre-eminent station of the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN as well as ABS-CBN S ports & Action and the widely watched TFC, The Filipino Channel.

Renowmed ALA Gym patron Tony Aldeguer who leaves for Dubai on Tuesday evening told the New Standard/boxingmirror.com that both undefeated IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara and elder brother and light welterweight/ super lightweight Jason Pagara were both a mere two pounds over their respective weight limits but its natural and should be no problem especially in the stifling heat.

Pagara is coming off a solid win over Mexico’s Rodolfo Hernandez who was dropped in the opening round and was forced to retire in the 4th round when he complained of a broken hand and was unable to continue while on November 15. 2014 Prince Albert dominated veteran Raul Hirales, a former world champion to win a near shutout decision over twelve rounds with two judges – Ian Scott and Alejandro Lopez Cid scoring the fight 120-107 while Filipino judge Gil Co had Pagara the winner 119-108.

One of the most scintillating performances of Prince Albert Pagara was when he

mauled Mexican Hugo Partida in the very first round to score a TKO victory to grab the vacant IBF Intercontinental title after dropping the hapless Hugo “Olimpico” Partida three times in the round.

Prince Albert put on what we referred to as “a royal performance” when he totally annihilated the abrasive and cocky Partida who head-butted and threw a punch at Pagara during the weigh-in, prompting Pagara to vow to destroy the Mexican which he did in awesome fashion the following night.

P a g a r a dropped Partida early in the opening round before a flurry of

punches had the Mexican reeling against the ropes which propped him up and prevented him from going down with the referee correctly ruling a knockdown. While Partida beat the count it was obvious he wouldn’t escape the wrath of Pagara who finished him off with a cracking left hook to the jaw that sent the Mexican crashing to the canvas prompt-

Barangay Matina Crossing 74-A holds Fun Run

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S part of its 53rd Founding Anniversary celebration, the Barangay Matina Crossing 74-A will hold a fun run dubbed as “Health Run, Matina Run” set August 23, 6 a.m. starting and ending at the Matina Barangay Hall located near the Talomo Police Station.

“We are expecting some 1,500 runners to join the 10K, 5K and 3K race routes,” said Barangay Kagawad Richard Duterte in yesterday’s SCOOP Session at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Registration is pegged at P300 inclusive of a singlet, breakfast and a raffle stub for a chance to win items after the race.

The 10K route will travers from the Barangay Hall going to Matina, Gravahan and back while the 5K will have its turning point at the Coca-Cola Village. The 3K, on the other hand, will have its turning point at the Matina Galleria.

“We will also have Zumba and warm-up exercises prior to the run,” Duterte added.

Proceeds of the run will go to the Free Medical and Dental Services program which will be held on August 28 at Matina Crossing.

Interested runners may register at the Matina Barangay Hall. For more information, call (082) 296-1067 or at 0907-6152467.

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

ing the referee to halt the massacre at 1:18 of the opening round.

Prince Albert will battle Mexico’s Jesus “Chito” Rios in the main event while super lightweight Jason Pagara takes on another rugged Mexican Ramiro Alcaraz.

Prince Albert will face the 30 year old Rios who is a ring warrior with a re -

cord 25 knockouts in 31 wins with 7 losses and is coming off a 1st round TKO over Aram Valle last May 15.

26 year old Jason Pagara has a record of 35-2 with 22 big knockouts and should have no trouble disposing of Ramiro Alcaraz who has a high KO ratio of 9 knockouts in 15 wins

Duel in Dubai rumbles on Friday with 4 defeats and 2 draws and is a known slugger whose aggressive style should suit the sweet-punching Jason.

In his last fight on December 20, 2014 Alcaraz scored a 7th round TKO over Jonas Olivas while he

lost by a 5th round TKO to Roberto Ortiz in a WBO Silver title fight on April 12, 2014.

Pagara’s most notable victory was in a rematch with menacing-looking Mexican Rosbel Montoya whom he battered to score a 6th round TKO for the WBO International title in a rematch after dropping a ten round decision in their initial encounter.

DUEL IN DUBAI. Albert “Prince” Pagara will surely dazzle the thick Pinoy crowd in Dubai.

Kobe-branded products to be launched in China

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OBE-branded products will be launched in China, as well as a new social media site, as Kobe Bryant enters a partnership with ecommerce company Alibaba.

According to a statement from the Chinese company, “Alibaba Pictures, an affiliate of Alibaba Group, will work with Kobe Inc. to create a series of Kobe branded products and distribute them through Alibaba Group’s popular retail platforms.”

No further details about the products were revealed, but as part of the wide-ranging pact Alibaba will release Kobe’s recent video narrative, Kobe Bryant’s Muse, exclusively through Tmall Magic Box on August 8.

“I believe there is power

in understanding the journey of others to help create your own,” Bryant in a statement.

“This narrative is an intimate look at who I am as a person, not what I am. My dream is that others are inspired by my personal story and create epic life stories of their own.”

The partnership was announced as Kobe Bryant again got the

KOBE BRYANT. Partnership with Chinese firm.

rockstar treatment in China, visiting Shanghai and Guangzhou as part of his annual Nike Tour.

“As Kobe Inc. looks to expand in China, the partnership with Alibaba Group and Sina will help us reach a vast number of Chinese youth who are looking to reach their full potential and be inspired by others. They offer an opportunity for Kobe Inc. to bring content, products and services to a diverse crowd with various cultural backgrounds,” Andrea Fairchild, president of Kobe Inc, said in an article on cbssports. com.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 8 ISSUE 89 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

BLUE REIGN Ateneo eyes two more titles this year

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

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HIGH-FLYER. Dom Cane of Ateneo is opne of the reliable slashers of the Blue Knigjhts. Lean Daval Jr.

FTER adding one more glassware to the trophy case, Ateneo de Davao University has two more trophies on its radar.

There’s the Milo Passerelle title and the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) crown.

Both tournaments will come in a few weeks as the 2015 school sporting season goes full throttle.

The Blue Knights won the inaugural Matina Enclaves Inter-School Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the expense of a revved up Assumption College of Davao which made the biggest shake-up in the offseason acquiring AJ Royo, Nard Salvame and Patrick Libres from Holy Child College of Davao.

Coach Miggy Solitaria steered the Blue Knights to the come-from-behind win after going through three quarters of horrendous shooting. He made a big gambit in the fourth when he dispatched Jethro Taculin, a small guard with good pe-

rimeter shooting but lacking in defensive intensity. The ploy paid off with Taculin firing five points and dishing off assists in a fourth period run that reversed their fortunes.

“We will focus more on individual develoopment than winning. We will also tweak our defensive schemes to make players more versatile,” Solitaria told Edge Davao in an interview a day after the championship.

As to the line-up, Solitaria said he is very happy of his team. “I’m very happy and pleased that the players still stayed with the team even though most of them were already recruited by Manila schools,” he added.

The Blue Knights are composed of Josh Barrientos, Matt Martinez, Lex Blanco, Lance Carr, Kent Batilo, Raphael Francisco, Jethro Taculin, Joachim Weill, Dom Cane, Ion Angeles, Vande Goor Alagao, Dariel Manliguez and Francis Gabriel Escandor.

Solitaria is assisted in the Ateneo bench by Harry Hipolito and Mark Bonifacio.

HARD LUCK GILAS

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OT a few noticed that Andray Blatche was on the heavy side when he reported for his first practice with Gilas Pilipinas on Monday night ahead of the Fiba Asia men’s championship.

The naturalized Filipino made no effort to hide the extra poundage, but assured all he needs is the whole month of August to get back in shape.

“I just need this month of August and I’d be ready.

That’s all I need,” the former Brooklyn Net said at the end of his first practice with Gilas Pilipinas on Monday at the Meralco Gym. The extra weight was understandable considering Blatche played his last game

TOUGH GUARDING. Chris Vistal of Assumption College of Davao (12) applies the pressure on Francis Gabriel Escandor of Ateneo in the finals of the Matina Enclaves Inter-School basketball tournament. Lean Daval Jr.

Blatche reports overweight, Williams injured on Day 1

for the Xinjiang Tigers last February 1, but the naturalized player said he played a lot of pick-up basketball in the US during the offseason of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Blatche said he’s glad to

TOUGH LUCK. TNT forward Kelly Williams goes down clutching his knee in practice while former NBA stalwart Andray Blatche looked bloated.

be back.

“It feels great period being in organized sports. Playing for something that means something,” said Blatche, who played for Gilas in last year’s Fiba World Cup in Spain.

The former NBA player said he is looking forward to his second stint with Gilas in an overseas tournament - and his first in the Fiba-Asia tournament serving as a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“I miss my teammates, my coaches, and those people that I met along the way. This is my send time back here and all the people are great.”

Blatche said.

Meantime, Talk ‘N Text forward Kelly Williams injured his right knee in a freak accident, just minutes after the national team’s practice began on Monday at the

Meralco gym in Ortigas.

Practice was halted for a few minutes as Williams lay hurting after apparently slipping on the floor.

It was still unclear as of post time what happened to the veteran power forward, although Williams was visibly frustrated while his right knee was being wrapped.

Williams was assisted off the floor and later taken to a hospital for exmination, with Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin asking about his condition and wishing the Talk ‘N Text stalwart well on his way out.

“I’ll pray for you. I hope you recover soon,” Baldwin was heard saying before Williams was taken to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Ranidel De Ocampo spoke to Williams before being brought to the hospital.