Edge Davao 8 Issue 9

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

www.edgedavao.net

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

INSPECTION. A construction worker inspects the culverts that will be used in a drainage system project in front of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

2 ROBBERS SHOT DEAD

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

T

WO men who were allegedly holding up a convenience store along Jacinto Extension were killed when police officers chanced upon them on Monday night.

The two were identified as Richard Javier and Dominador Abas Acas Jr. Police said members of the San Pedro Police Station were conducting covert patrol in the area while they

noticed a commotion at the convenience store.

Police said the two, who were wearing black bonnets, declared a holdup on security guard Alvin Cajegas Ayuban.

Police officers immediately responded to the commotion.

Acas was shot dead on the spot while Javier tried to escape by running into a nearby alley.

Police said when Javier

was cornered, he drew a firearm, prompting the officers to fire at him.

Javier was also killed on the spot.

According to the statement of the cashier of the convenience store, the suspects pretended to buy two bottles of beer before declaring a holdup.

The two took the daily income of the convenience store amounting to 3,000 and

a cell phone.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered from the crime scene a .38 caliber pistol with five live bullets, a .22 caliber revolver, three sachets of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), and three cell phones.

Records of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) revealed that Javier was apprehended last year for a criminal case of robbery holdup.

INSIDE EDGE

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO WATCH THE MEGA FIGHT? Sports P15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

CRUNCH TIME. A taxpayer patiently waits while a staff member of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Davao City computes her income tax payable a day before the deadline for filing income tax returns. Lean Daval Jr.

DavOr PNP intel chief shot dead

T

HE chief of the Intelligence Unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Mati City was shot dead by an unidentified suspect on Monday night near his residence in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Police Supt Antonio Rivera, information officer of the Police Regional Office 11, bared that Mati City Police Office (MCPO) Intelligence Chief PO3 Edwin Somono was shot dead in Don Luis Village in Mati City at around 7:45 in the evening.

Rivera told Edge Davao yesterday that Somono was with an unidentified girl out-

side the Mariett Hotel when the suspect fired at him.

A report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) said Somono’s companion was his alleged girlfriend Allyssa Leah Mae de Erio and that he was shot by more than one suspect.

The PNA report said the two were on board a motorcycle when gunmen opened fire at them. Somono sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body causing his instantaneous death.

The police is going deeper into the investigation to determine the motive of the killing and identify the perpetrators.

(With a report from PNA)

2 city scions pass away

T

WO children of prominent families in Davao City died of natural causes one after the other last week.

They were Gregorio “Donding” Cañeda Jr., 65, lawyer son of former undivided Davao Governor Gregorio “Loloy” Cañeda Sr., also a lawyer who dabbled in print and broadcast journalism in his prime, and Mike Pamintuan, also in his 60s, a son of the late Mariano and Remedios Pamintuan, founders the iconic Apo View Hotel along Legaspi, Bonifacio and Palma Gil Streets.

According to Dr. Pilar C. Braga, former city councilor, her brother Donding died of cardiac arrest last Thursday, April 9.

On the other hand, according to a relative, the body of Pamintuan was found already stiff in the bath tub of one of the rooms of Apo View Hotel at about 1 p.m. last Friday Mike’s remains were cremated last Sunday. Mass was said Monday night with family friends attending.

On the other hand, Atty.

Cañeda’s remains will be interred in Manila on April 17, Councilor Braga said.

Advincula stands for UPMin settlers

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

D

AVAO City Councilor Victorio Advincula Jr. yesterday asked the city government to take into consideration the affected families living in the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) property once the proposed City Sports Complex is pursued.

In a privilege speech in yesterday’s regular City Council session, Advincula said the city should know why the families settled in Bago Oshiro, Mintal where UPMin is now

located.

Advincula said other families there had been occupying the area since the 1930s.

He said their claims stopped after UPMin was created in 1995 and when then-President Fidel V. Ramos issued Presidential Decree (PD) 822 in 1996 making the 2 million square-meter area a UP reservation “without any public consultation.”

Advincula said Bago Oshiro before was managed by the Board of Liquidators which

approved the subdivision plan of the settlers before UPMin entered the area.

“Nakapa-approve gyud na sila og subdivision plans, ngabayad na silag deposit og naa nay deed of sale ang uban.

Pagkatapos, in1996 all of a sudden nag create si President og PD 822 nangawala sila (The settlers had approved subdivision plans, they already paid the deposit and some have a deed of sale. Then, in 1996, all of a sudden President Ramos created PD 822 and the set-

tlers had been deprived of the right),” he said.

Advincula said the land title of UPMin was not released immediately by the Board of Liquidators because of the issue.

Advincula said the Memorandum of Agreement between UPMin and Board of Liquidators states that UP will be the one to relocate and pay the settlers.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the proposed City

million development allocation from SB2.

“This budget carries the P1 million project for each barangay identified by its officials for their own project implementation,” Dayanghirang said.

He said the approval of the project will depend on the proposal submitted by the barangay officials.

“The area of the project should be a public land. If they want to construct a barangay hall or daycare center, the title

of the land should be in the barangay,” he said.

Dayanghirang said the implementation of the project of the barangays will also depend on how the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) fast-tracks the processing of documents since there are only a few engineers who survey and prepare the plans.

He said this is not to mention the fact that there are already a number of project proposals that had been sub-

mitted to the CEO. Dayanghirang said the project proposal will be handled by City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) while the implementation will be handled by the CEO. In yesterday’s regular session, the City Council passed item 1210 titled “An Ordinance Granting Legislative Authority to Supplemental Budget No. 2 of the City Government of Davao for Calendar Year 2015,

FADVINCULA, 10

Barangays can access P1M each in projects from SB2

T

HE 182 barangays in Davao City can now each ask for up to P1 million in projects from the city government after the proposed P463.8 million Supplemental Budget (SB) No. 2 was approved yesterday on third and final reading.

In an interview yesterday, councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, chair of the committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriation, told reporters that his is part of the P203.326

FBARANGAYS, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Mixed effects over milk tea deaths

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

T Q&A. Councilor Victorio Advincula Jr. answers the queries of Councilor Bonifacio Militar after his privilege speech in which he tackled the controversial Davao City Sports Complex which is proposed to be built at the property of the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) during yesterday’s regular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod. Lean Daval Jr.

Coal-fired power plant faces 10-month delay

By CHENEEN R. CAPON and ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

HE Mindanao-wide blackout that occurred last April 5, 2015 has delayed the commissioning of Unit 2 of Therma South Inc.’s (TSI) coal-fired power plant in Davao City by about 10 months.

In a statement, AboitizPower-owned TSI said its initial findings show that the disruption “caused damage to the auxiliary components to the boiler of Unit 2.”

Affected areas and components include the air-preheater as well as the electrostatic precipitator, which is part of the power plant’s pollution control

system, TSI said.

An official of AboitizPower told Edge Davao that the sudden loss of power last April 5 resulted in an increase in the temperature in the plant that in turn damaged the components.

The company said it is currently conducting a more detailed assessment of the extent of the repairs needed as well as a full review to determine all contributing factors that led to the plant incident to ensure appropriate measures are taken.

TSI said the property damage will delay the commercial operations of Unit 2 approxi-

Dengue cases down this year

mately 10 months. It had been originally set for this month.

Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the power plant have yet to be turned over to the company.

However, TSI president and COO Benjie Cariaso Jr. assured the public that the status of Unit 2 will not affect the commissioning of Unit 1, which remains on schedule and should reach commercial operation by the end of June 2015.

He said the company is working with its contractors and suppliers to make the necessary repairs to resume the commissioning of Unit 2.

“The repairs will be made as expeditiously as possible to shorten the time before both units operate commercially providing power to Mindanao,” Cariaso said.

“We will update all stakeholders of further developments. We remain committed to do everything we can to support Mindanao with its power needs,” he added.

Earlier, TSI announced the power plant is expected to start its reliability run the in the first half of April.

It said that during the tests, the power plant can deliver

FCOAL-FIRED, 10

HE incident in Manila involving the death of two persons after allegedly consuming milk tea had contrasting effects in Davao City, with some establishments offering the same product noting a drop in sales while others announcing their customers even went up.

Service crew Elyza P. Tio of 360° Handshaked Tea located at Gasisano Mall of Davao initially expected that the number of their customers would drop because of the April 11 incident.

She was wrong.

“We’re not really affected here. Actually, we had more customers than before. Our

patrons continued to buy our milk teas to prove that we sell safe and healthy products,” Tio told Edge Davao yesterday.

She said that their stall located near the entrance of the mall now sells more than 300 cups of different affordable flavored milk teas and other tea-based beverages.

Tio also said that more students are buying milk teas out of curiosity.

“Some nosy customers asked us if we’re sure of the safety of our products and we say ‘yes’ because we know where our ingredients are coming from and our management is strict on safety

FMIXED, 10

MILF, mayor confirm BIFF founder is dead

A

MERIL Umra Kato, founder of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) passed away Tuesday, Mayor Samsoddin “Pink” Dimaukom confirmed to MindaNews.

Citing information he received from Kato’s relatives and other sources in Maguindanao, Dimaukom said in a phone interview that the rebel leader died from cardiac arrest somewhere in Guindulungan,Maguindanao at around 2 a.m. Tuesday.

“Yes, namatay daw siya gaya nung unang nyang sakit na na-stroke,” the mayor said.

But the official said he did not know where Kato would be buried, as Muslim practice requires a dead person to be buried no longer than 24 hours after his death.

Moro Islamic Liberation

Front (MILF) chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal also said in a text message that the report was “99% confirmed”.

Reports of Kato’s death have been circulating in the region since early Tuesday.

BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama has neither denied nor confirmed the information, saying they too were flooded with reports about Kato’s death.

“I’m on the way to his undisclosed location. The closein people around him has not yet confirmed to me given the difficulty of communication with them”, Mama said.

MILF 108th Base commander Ustadz Wahid Tundok, who served as Kato’s sub-commander when they were still both under the 105th Base Command, said he also received such report.

FMILF, 10

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

C

ITY Health Office (CHO) recorded fewer dengue cases from January to March this year compared with the same period last year.

In an interview with 105.9 Balita FM, CHO officer-in-charge Dr. Marjorie Culas said her office was happy about the reduction in dengue cases during the first quarter of this year.

“Ngayon masaya kami kasi our dengue cases has reduced more than half compared with last year during the same period,” Culas said.

She said the CHO recorded 89 cases for the first quarter of this year, much lower than the

500 dengue cases for the same period last year.

Culas also said the CHO did not record any deaths due to dengue this year.

“We had deaths last year, ngayon sa awa ng Diyos wala tayong deaths,” she said.

Culas said the reduction in dengue cases was the result of the intensified information and awareness campaign of the CHO. She said CHO personnel were also ready any time of the day to remind people to always protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitos.

Culas said the CHO tropical

VISUALS WORK. A young mall-goer stares in apparent amazement at an advertisement streamer of an imported waffle company at the Annex of SM City

FDENGUE, 10 Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 PROPERTY

Leisure living at

By CHARLES RAYMOND A, MAXEY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

Verdon Parc

T

HE pioneer developer of condominiums in Davao City takes pride anew with yet another housing project that offers affordable and luxury living for its clients.

Verdon Parc is another trailblazing project of DMC-Urban Property Developers Inc. that features four condominiums with a total of 888 units.

Nestled in a three-hectare lot in Ecoland Drive, Verdon Parc will soon rise with the first of its four buildings now 60 percent complete.

DMC-UPDI officer-in-charge and sales and marketing coordinator Merly Q. Amoguis, said 50 percent of the 162 units for the first building was already sold.

Turn-over of the units for the initial edifice is scheduled in June next year.

Unit price ranges from P2.1 million to almost P5 million.

Amoguis said the company has been attracting buyers because of its quality.

“It’s because of our quality,” Amoguis said even as he reminded journalists that DMC-UPDI of the Consunji Group of Companies pioneered in condominium development in Davao City, with Verdon Parc as its fifth project counting Ecoland 4000, Magallanes Residences, Palmetto Place and Hacienda.

The first and fourth buildings of Verdon Parc

DMC-Urban Property Developers, Inc. Sales and Marketing officer in charge Merly Q. Amoguis (center) with Sales and Marketing coordinator Ma. Rosanna Andrea T. Jacaban (left) and marketing assistant Aldrin John P. Carcedo

have nine stories each while the second and third consist of 12 stories apiece.

Each of the building will have a lobby, lounge and concierge, mailbox room at the ground floor, CCTV security cameras, backup power supply, single loaded corridors, central atrium for cross ventilation, two passenger elevators, automatic fire protection sprinkler, roof deck drying cages for selected units, overhead water tank with fire reserve garbage room at second floor parking.

Of the three hect-

ares, one hectare is actually reserved for the amenities, according to Amoguis.

Some of the amenities are clubhouse, four swimming pools, gazebo, multi-purpose hall, function room, covered basketball and badminton courts, security and maintenance room and fitness gym.

Amoguis said buyers are mostly OFWs and businessmen.

So, after its momentous groundbreaking and grand launching in October 2013, Verdon Parc is now starting to rise to give clients leisure living.

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

First Halal abattoir to boost economy

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HE Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said the country’s first Halal slaughterhouse that is now nearing completion in Mindanao will not only boost the region’s economy but would also help promote peace in the region.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the Php20-M pioneer facility located in Barangay Tamontaka, Cotabato City, once operational, will have a capacity of 15 heads of cattle, 10 heads of carabao and 40 heads of goat per hour.

It is funded under the DA’s livestock development program.

“The slaughterhouse is expected to supply Halal products for both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers in Cotabato, Central Mindanao and even other regions,” Alcala said.

The facility is currently rated as an “AA” slaughterhouse but the Agriculture chief said that the DA can later facilitate the acquisition of necessary equipment such as cold storage for it to have a triple “A” rating.

Alcala said a triple “A” slaughterhouse can be accredited to process meat for export.

“There is a potential to supply the BIMP-EAGA [Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area], so I encourage stakeholders to sit together and produce a Halal livestock roadmap,” he said.

Alcala said he has already committed to send a team headed by the Undersecretary for Livestock to facilitate in the crafting of roadmap so this can be integrated in the DA’s 2016 budget.

The DA will also assist the province in embarking into a silage development program and a Halal livestock genetic improvement program which will include an initial provision of top livestock breeds such as Anglo Nubian goat and Brahman cattle.

As the Muslim region is also a big consumer of chicken meat, Alcala is also endorsing the construction of a Halal poultry dressing plant.

“Through these interventions, we want to show everyone that the government is sincere in promoting lasting peace in Mindanao. We want to see our Muslim brothers no longer carrying guns, but tools in farming,” Alcala said. (PNA)

Agriculture graduates told: Practice what you learned

T

HE Department of Agriculture has urged 2015’s agriculture and agriculture-related course graduates to stay in the country and practice what they have learned about plants, animals and soils in the Philippines.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said, the agriculture sector still has a lot of potential and infusion of fresh blood will give the sector the necessary push for it to flourish.

“There is a dire need for fresh blood in agriculture, especially those with knowledge about new planting, fishing and animal-raising technologies,” Alcala said.

According to the Secretary, many of our finest graduates opt to go abroad in search of the socalled greener pastures.

He added, though graduates of our universities cannot be stopped from going abroad, the Depart-

ment still hopes that the exodus of our agri graduates can be lessened.

“If our graduates stay in the Philippines to practice what they have learned here, they might not be paid as much, but they will be of great help to our countrymen,” Alcala said. According to the Secretary, our country’s universities offer the best agriculture and agriculture-related courses.

He added, that is why students from neighboring countries come to our shores, to learn from the best.

“Foreigners come here to learn and practice what they learned from our schools in their homeland. We at the Department are hoping that our graduates will do the same for our country,” the Secretary said.

Earlier, the Department urged high school graduates to enroll in farming and fisheries related courses. (DA)

ACCORD. Arlene Samson (right), chief operating officer-Marine Operations of Petrotrade Philippines Inc. signs a terminal operations facilities agreement with Rolando N. Villavicencio, Insular Oil Corporation vice president. The

agreement allows Petrotrade to embark on international marine bunkering.

The signing was held at the Insular Oil Depot compound in Panacan, Davao City. RENE B. LUMAWAG

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

NFA warns of mixed rice in markets

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

T

HE National Food Authority (NFA) has warned consumers to be on the lookout of distributors in Davao City who mix commercial rice with NFA rice and have this sold in different public markets.

Virgilio B. Alerta, NFA 11 provincial manager, said these distributors tend to mix commercial and NFA rice during the lean season.

The lean season for rice production starts by late April and usually ends by July before the harvesting season in August.

Alerta said the supply of commercial rice drop during the lean season.

“During last year’s lean season, we were able to apprehend 12 violators. Most of them are caught in the act of repacking and mixing NFA rice with the commercial rice,” Alerta said.

Most arrested NFA rice distributors were from public markets located in Bankerohan, Agdao, Calinan, and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).

For the first quarter of the year, Alerta said NFA has

DA to post farm-gate prices of chicken, hogs in markets

T

HE Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said it will post the farm-gate prices of chicken and hogs in markets so that consumers will know if said commodities are being sold at reasonable prices.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Jose Reaño said the DA intends to post -daily or every other day -- gate prices of chicken in markets with the help of the DTI. He said the DA also wants the consumers to know their rights so that they can demand and question retailers who are selling chicken and pork at exorbitant prices.

“If consumers know the prevailing farm gate prices of chicken and hogs, they can demand from retailers who overprice their goods. They would certainly go to others who sell at cheaper prices,” Reaño said.

He stressed that the basis of the price of chicken in markets should still be the farmgate price.

“Based on the gate price, add PHP40 to PHP50 and that

will be a reasonable price for chicken,” he said.

At present, farm gate prices of chicken average PHP50.

The costliest is PHP54 while the cheapest is PHP45; big integrators sell for as low as PHP41.

Reaño said the move to post farm gate prices in markets will also help the poultry raisers who are losing money as of now because of the over-supply of chicken.

The Agriculture official said Metro Manila consumes around 25 to 30 million chickens per month, and based on the inventory in cold storage plants, there is a supply glut.

“Last week, we have an inventory of 20 million. What is normal is eight to nine million.

If the present inventory goes down, it would be a good indication that supply is beginning to normalize and the producers are starting to make profits again,” Reaño said.

Latest DA data show that chicken prices in markets today range from PHP90 to PHP105 up to a maximum of

FDA, 10

Sea connectivity between Phl- East ASEAN gets boost

F

INALLY, after waiting for so long, sea connectivity between Palawan and the neighboring countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia will get a boost Thursday when the first-ever vessel under the BIMP-East ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Growth Area leaves the port of the southern town of Brooke’s Point.“At last, after waiting for 20 years, it’s happening; the sea link between Palawan and our neighbors in the BIMP-EAGA will now come to life when our first-ever vessel goes to Kudat in the state of Sabah, East Malaysia on Thursday,” Brooke’s Point Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview Tuesday.

Brooke’s Point, a first class municipality located south of the province, and named after Sir James Brooke, a British adventurer, whose exploits in the Malay Archipelago made him the first White Rajah of Sarawak, is one of two areas in the Philippines, where sea networks have been established to improve trade and tourism among four member countries.

On Thursday, Feliciano said cargo vessel Princess Beatrice will set sail for the first time from the port of Brooke’s Point in Barangay Buligay to Kudat, Sabah, East Malaysia with raw palm oil products.

“When it returns from Kudat, it will also be bringing consumer goods here and others,”

FSEA, 10

already collared two violators from Bankerohan and Samal public markets.

Alerta said the agency is capable of determining whether the commercial rice is mixed with commercial rice during their regular inspection.

NFA-Davao has a total of 160 accredited NFA outlets in Davao City, mostly located in Toril and Bankerohan public markets.

Meanwhile, Alerta also said the supply of commercial rice in Davao City is still stable.

“We still receive rice supply from the rice production area in Calinan, Davao City,” he said.

The dry spell season, Alerta said, has not yet affected rice production areas here in the region compared to those located in Cotabato provinces and Maguindanao. Maguindanao recorded millions of losses in its rice industry this month because of the El Niño.

Davao City’s commercial rice supply came from nearby provinces like Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte and Com-

postela Valley.

“Farmers here are now preparing for the planting season which will be on May. They are already planting other root crops to condition their lands,” Alerta said.

Alerta said the supply of commercial rice is expected to go down resulting to the increase of its price but the NFA is ready to provide NFA rice coming from Vietnam.

He said NFA Davao has recorded 380,000 bags of NFA rice buffer stock as of press time and 160,000 bags will arrive on Friday.

“We already receive notice of the vessel that will ship the NFA rice,” he added.

The 160,000 NFA rice is just a protion of 400,000 bags that the region will receive for the rest of the year.

NFA- Davao is contributing only 15 percent of the 10,000 bags average daily rice consumption of the city.

“Our contribution to the market is dictated by the demand. When consumers see that the price of commercial rice goes up, they resort to NFA rice and vice versa,” he added.

VERDON PARC. DMC-Urban Property Developers Inc. officer-in-charge Merly Q. Amoguis tours the media through a model unit of Verdon Parc Tuesday.

Verdon Parc is another housing project of the Consunji Group of Companies that features four condominiums with 888 units. Lean Daval Jr.

DBM bares 92.5% of 2015 allotments to gov’t departments already released C

ONSISTENT with the objectives of the General Appropriations Act-as-Release-Document (GAARD) regime implemented at the start of 2014, 92.5 percent of the 2015 allotments for government departments and agencies have been comprehensively released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) during the first quarter of the year.

First quarter allotment releases from the GAA rose slightly in 2015 compared to 2014 levels with 80.4 percent of the programmed allotments for 2015 having been comprehensively released. This is an increase of 16.7 percent from allotment releases in 2014 over the same period.

Meanwhile, the percent-

age of early releases for automatic appropriations almost doubled this year—from 47.1 percent in 2014 to 92.3 percent in 2015. Automatic appropriations refer to appropriations programmed over a period prescribed by law, through outstanding legislation requiring periodic action

by Congress.

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said: “The latest report affirms our success with a major initiative towards more efficient budget execution. With this early release, we can speed up the implementation of projects and programs across agencies and departments, even as we minimize irregularities in fund releases.”

Under the GAARD regime, departments and agencies can

begin obligating funds, start procurement procedures, and enter into contracts without securing a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) from DBM. The GAA is used as the official release document, which facilitates speedier project execution and reduces bottlenecks.

Items under automatic appropriations that had 100 percent of their allotments released during the first quarter of the year include the following: the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), Interest Payments, Grants and Donations, and the Pensions of Ex-Presidents/Ex-Presidents’ Widows.

Meanwhile, the Retirement and Life Insurance Premium releases were at 99.6

percent of program. While the comprehensive releases to agencies have allowed them to begin obligating funds since the start of the year, releases for automatic appropriations still require clearance prior to release.

“The comprehensive release of allotments is one step on the road towards ensuring that every peso contributes to sustained, inclusive growth.

On our end, we will continue to work with departments, agencies, and local government units to improve their spending capacity and procurement procedures,” Abad said.

“This is to certify that the funds we release will be spent swiftly and efficiently for the benefit of all Filipinos.” (DBM)

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

OLIVIA AND DIEGO Sustainable style and social enterprise

DIANNA MARISSE “YANA” UY SANTIAGO is the humble and silent mover of worthy cause that bridges the gap between fashion and the social environment. At 23, Yana has established a brand of fashionable arm candies and neckpieces which are not only sold in Davao, but in other parts of the region and the world. Dubbed as Olivia and Diego, this young brand has already gained momentum and sparked the interest of both buyers across all sectors and the discerning ones from reputable magazines and digital media.

“Our pieces are sold in some cities in the Philippines as well as in Germany, USA, Australia, Singapore and Japan,” beams the designer.

Design Aesthetics

“Olivia & Diego is a basically start-up business, a brand which evolved from different kinds of handmade accessories. Our vision and objective is to remind people that great things can come from recycling/upcycling,” explains Yana.

“I’ve always believed in the power of color. I want to create jewelry/accessories

that are colorful and, at the same time, showcase Filipino craftsmanship. I want each and every piece to be along the fashion-forward line, but doesn’t veer away from that

indigenous and handmade feel. For all our styles, we make use of old, cotton-knit t-shirts. Few of our bestsellers include the pieces we call Apayao Asul, Molbog Asul, Gaddang Abo, Tumandok Abo and Bontoc Abo.”

What’s In A Brand

One might ask, “Who are Olivia and Diego?”

Yana expounds on how she coined her design label.

“It was such a random incident. My friend and I went on week-long surfing trip, a week before the Kadayawan Festival. We spontaneously decided to not stay in a fancy

place and, instead, borrowed a tent. We met a family of backpackers from Morocco.

The couple’s names were Olivia and Diego. Even for that short while we talked, I got attached to them. I was so inspired by their passion for travel and life. I named the brand after the couple to

remind myself of the things that really matter in life: relationships, family, friends and freedom. When we got back to the city, I was itching to start something, fueled with that imagination and inspiration. Soon, I saw my-

Metro Mom A4

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

UP AND ABOUT

Seda Abree

celebrates 2nd year with series o Seda Abreeza lines up activities in gratitude and commemoration of the urban lifestyle hotel’s establishment in Davao City.

SEDA ABREEZA has a month-long celebration of its 2nd anniversary including events as the Media Blitz, Pamahaw ug Pagtabang: Breakfast for a Cause Year 2, Little Chefs Summer Workshop, and Sanipaan Mangrove Tree Planting. Seda Abreeza started on April 2, 2013 and is the first urban lifestyle hotel in the heart of Davao City.

On April 10, Seda Abreeza Hotel Manager Kennedy Kapulong paid visits to the members of the print press in Davao in appreciation for their continued support to the hotel for the past two years.

Pamahaw ug Pagtabang is a breakfast for a cause event which

endeavors to help the displaced families in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Guests may avail a breakfast buffet in Seda Abreeza’s Misto from 6:00AM to 10:00AM for a discounted rate: 480.00/ nett for adults and 280.00/nett for children. The breakfast for

a cause is scheduled on the 12th and 19th (two Sundays) of April, 2015.

Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, D.D. gave his support in the event and

endorsed it to the catholic churches all over the city. Talentadong Pinoy Champion and beatboxer Neil Llanes is set to perform as well. Proceeds

shall be turned over to the Office of the Governor of Maguindanao. Last year, this event was dedicated for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

Park Inn by Radisson Davao supports Visit Davao Fun Sale PARK INN by Radisson Davao celebrated and expressed their support to the Department of Tourism Region XI for the Visit Davao Fun Sale 2015.

During their visit, they presented their ‘Shop ‘Till You Drop’ package, together with a specially prepared cake featuring the event’s logo.

In picture are Department of Tourism’s Region XI Regional Director Robby Alabado, Park Inn by Radisson Davao’s General Manager Pavan Kakar, Marketing and Communications Manager Patty Tan, PR Coordinator Izza Cadiente and Visit Davao Fun Sale’s Coordinator Tessa Piansay.

“On the occasion of the Visit Davao Fun Sale, the hotel offers a specially created room package ‘Shop ‘Till You Drop’ at a special rate of Php4,800 net for Standard Room and Php5,400

net for Superior Room” says Mr. Pavan Kakar, General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson Davao. citing add-ons such as Php1,000.00 F&B voucher, 20% discount on total F&B bill, Tourist Privilege Discount Card for participating shops in SM Lanang Premier Mall, 10% discount on tour packages and massage services.

Park Inn by Radisson Davao is

also included in the Fun-Fabulous Package of the Visit Davao Fun Sale. Stay in the hotel for 3 Days and 2 Nights for as low as Php4,190 per person. This is bookable through the VDFS’ accredited travel and tour agencies. For more details, you may check their website: www.visitdavaofunsale.com or download their app on IOS and Google Play store. All the above pack-

ages are valid till May 15,2015.

The last addition of the hotel to the fun sale is the’ Splendid Holidays’ which offers 25% off the best available rate on room only.

Guest can call for reservations at (82) 272 7600. You may also book through the website: www.parkinn.com/hoteldavao/rooms or email Reservations.davao@parkinn.com.

Seda Abreeza al made a recreational acti ity for the kids throu the Little Chefs Summ Workshops schedul on Saturdays, Sunday

Agoda.com room upgra Philippine’s one of AGODA.COM, Asia’s leading hotel booking sites and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), is offering instant room upgrades in eight of the Philippines’ favorite destinations – Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Bohol, Davao, Batangas, Angeles City and Tagaytay.

Scoring free upgrades on airlines or hotels or car rentals is a constant daydream for travelers, although one that happens far too infrequently. However, from 8 – 22 April, every booking made through www.agoda. com/phpromo will enjoy just that – a free upgrade without the need to beg the front desk for a favor or say a silent prayer during check in. The stay dates for this promotion are from 8 April – 30 November, 2015.

With a free upgrade out of the way, travelers can spend

m i i M h p o t d t t i t T

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

eza

of events

lso ivugh mer led ys,

and Mondays of April and May from 2:00PM to 4:00PM. Seda Abreeza’s Sous Chef Giovanna “Bang” Flores shares enjoyable and creative cook-

ing and baking basics for the little culinary aspirants. It kicks off on April 18 to 20, 2015. Chef Bang took up Pastry Courses and Workshops at Enderum Colleges in Manila, and was a former instructor in a culinary school here in Davao. She was also a guest chef for Intercontinental Manila’s “Davao Food Festival” last year.

Staying true to Ayala’s vision of going green, the Sanipaan Mangrove Tree Planting continues on its third year. Seda Abreeza employees take a trip to Barangay Tambo, Vanishing Island, Babak, Island Garden City of Samal on April 18 to plant mangroves which serves as habitat for marine life.

Five hundred mangrove trees will be planted on the 18th.

m announces instant ades in eight of the ’s top vacation spots

more time focusing on the important stuff – exploring the vibrant night life in Manila, preparing for island hopping adventures on the pristine beaches in Boracay, or gearing up to experience the colorful marine life on dives in Cebu. Outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to spotting wildlife at parks in Davao, or trekking around the iconic Taal Volcano in Tagaytay.

Don’t delay – the book-

ing period is only from 8 – 22 April. To browse the hotels in each of the eight destinations, head to www.agoda. com/phpromo.

Participating hotels in Davao are the Marco Polo Davao Hotel and The Ritz Hotel and Garden Oases.

To connect with Agoda.com and learn about special deals and promotions on hotels worldwide, like us on Facebook or follow us on Google+, Instagram, or Pinterest.

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Matteo, JM, Jessy, and Karylle lead thousands of runners in DZMM Takbo 2015

KAPAMILYA personalities Matteo Guidicelli, JM de Guzman, Jessy Mendiola, and Karylle led the 2,700 participants at the DZMM Takbo 2015 on Sunday (April 12) at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

JM and Jessy, who ran together in the 5k race, led the gun start for the 21k category. However, Matteo, who has supported DZMM’s cause since 2013, was unable to run this year due to an injury, but turned up at the event to show his support.

The fun run, which aims to help DZMM’s 75 scholars continue their elementary education, was also joined by DZMM anchors Jasmin Romero, Gretchen Fullido, Marisciel Yao, Atty.

Claire Castro, Cory Quirino, and Ahwel Paz and Winnie Cordero, who both hosted the postrace program.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police’s Dandelion Bumahit was named the top finisher of the 21k category.

Bumahit, who called

for justice for the 44 members of the Special Action Force who died during a clash in Maguindanao, dominated all the other participants in the category with a time of one hour, 23 minutes, and 31 seconds (01:23:31).

He, along with his two colleagues – including a SAF member – wore singlets that said “I’m running for justice for SAF.” The singlets were the key element in the fun run that encouraged participants to push for their causes by putting them on as statements.

Bumahit was awarded a medal in the postrace program along with the top runners in the category. The top six finishers in the 3k, 5k, and 10k categories were also recognized on-stage.

The DZMM Takbo 2015 has been organized by DZMM for five years to advocate education. The AM radio station held “Takbo Para sa Karunungan” from 2011 to 2014 and benefited scholars from Ondoy, Sendong, and Habagat-affected areas.

April 15-21, 2015

YOU'RE MY BOSS Toni Gonzaga, Coco Martin PG

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

FURIOUS 7 Vin Diesel, Paul Walker PG

1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 LFS

THE LONGEST RIDE Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood R13

R-16

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

KID KULAFU Jake Macapagal, Cesar Montano PG

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

WOMEN Style Scribe A1 self drawing up this humble brand that sells upcycled jewlery.”

“I think, what makes Olivia and Diego different from other local jewelry and accessory brands is its story and the fact that it’s a social business in Davao,” shares Yana.

“In production, we work with three communities: a community of survivors of human trafficking, stay-athome women and mothers who provide for their babies.

I taught them the required skills to produce these beautiful bracelets and necklaces.”

Business From The Heart

“I’ve always been interested in fashion, the philosophy and vision behind every art at craft. Back in college, when I got accepted at the University of the Philippines, I took a degree in Clothing Technology --- a course that focuses on the Philippine Textiles and Garments Industry. My family was quite hesitant about my course because of the unfavorable state of our fashion industry due to the rise of international brands coming in. I stood up for my passion and promised myself that I will build a career that I will be proud of.”

“The clothing technology

program made me realize that the industry is more than the glamour people see on the runway, on window displays, inside retail stores and flashes online. Fashion is a mix of research, design, production and marketing; It is an industry supported by copyright laws and patented designs. The daily dealings are made up of rolls of textiles which are usually finished with toxic chemicals only to be washed away with gallons of water. Fashion employs a majority of factory workers, the marginalized who are struggling for ethical working conditions. Going into the history and philosophy of fashion helped me gain a higher respect for the industry and for every individual involved in the design process. It gave me a broader perspective in terms of production and fired up my curiosity and goal in finding ways to make my mark by making a difference.”

“I first fell in love with social entrepreneurship when I started working as an intern.

I was already familiar with the idea of a social enterprise, but working with one is a different thing. This social enterprise work with exploited women in slum areas who earn a living by scavenging waste in landfills. To lift them out of poverty, they are

made into empowered artisans who create home accessories and woven bags. These women, who once depended on middlemen, are now more dignified members of society. Working closely with them made me see them in a different way: they have interesting lives and amazing artisanal skills. They have so much to offer and what they need are people who won’t look down on them or give them money out of pity. Like any other human being, they want to feel worthy. These women made me realize that my true purpose in life is to reach out to people like them. I have learned that in order to help them, one has to really listen to their stories. These people have so much to say. These people are not the faces one sees in social networking sites asking for ‘likes’ or comments, there is so much to tell and the most effective way is to keep an environment free from arrogance and personal gain.

I joined the Social Business Challenge last year to become a Young Challenger in a Global Social Business Summit. Luckily, I was one of the 60 Young Challengers from all over the world to attend the Young Challengers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was an honor to

represent our country. I learned so much from that summit and got to meet one of my heroes too -- Muhammad Yunus.”

Working in her element, Yana finds fulfillment in what she calls a creative collaboration. “I get inspiration from the people I work with, the women in the communities. They have never made such big progress in their lives and I’m proud of every one of them. I want Olivia & Diego customers (or, as I’d like to call them, ambassadors and advocates) to feel like they are part of our story and mission, and that their purchases have helped influence change in each artisan’s life.”

Follow Olivia and Diego on Facebook and Instagram for more of their custom pieces and designs. You may also send your orders and inquiries to oliviaanddiego.ph@gmail.com.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE

Globe chief: Motivated, happy employees propel us to the top G

LOBE Telecom president and CEO Ernest Cu attributed the company’s commercial triumphs to the 6,000-plus strong Globe employees who serve as the catalyst in driving the organization to its best form ever, emerging as the Philippines’ No. 1 mobile brand.

“A company can acquire the most modern equipment, technology or the biggest coffers to boast of. Our key differentiator though is the human asset which pilots the organization to success or failure. I am honored to say that the happiest, most motivated personnel in our industry reside in Globe, and likely that of leading organizations in the country or elsewhere in the world,” claimed the Globe chief, during the company’s recently-held Annual Stockholders’ Meeting (ASM).

Living The Globe Way Cu said the recent string of achievements were a result of various revolutions it had undertaken as a company: digital, commercial, network, information technology and culture - the last one encompassing its people. There, he shared that the company’s own brand of “winning culture” and “active employee engagement” are guided by what the call “The Globe Way,” which is key to transformation success currently being enjoyed by Globe.

“The Globe Way” was instituted in 2010, almost half a

Globe president & CEO Ernest Cu: A winning culture and highly engaged employees are our key differentiators. decade ago, during what Cu recalled were “challenging times” for Globe, when its market share was at its lowest point. With a revamped mindset among each and every Globe employee, the state of the company’s affairs underwent a radical transformation and altered its esprit de corps for the better.

Cu maintains that the culture is Globe’s “clear, competitive advantage.” Even as “The Globe Way” positions the customers front-and-center, its essence also embeds employee engagement. Along with shareholders satisfaction, they keep

what they call the “Circle of Happiness” revolving in constant, perpetual motion.

Innate love for the company “Superior people, superior relationships, and a superior culture will keep us on top, fueled by the current momentum built on a culture of aggressiveness and innovation. Our people work hard because of their innate love for Globe. Those are the ingredients that brought us to our lofty place in the industry which I believe will keep us up there,” Cu pointed out.

That “innate care” and “love” realized in 2014 what

would be the highest employee satisfaction rating recorded at 87 percent, as attested by global human capital consulting firm Watson-Wyatt. As noted by the Globe chief during the press briefing that immediately followed the stockholders’ meeting, “nobody has ever approached that score here in the Philippines.”

Globe has likewise been receiving global accolades by way of numerous distinctions. Last year, the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards (ACES) conferred to the telco the title of “Best Company to

Work For.” The recognition highlighted the top three elements its employees value: company vision, clarity and alignment to its goals, as well as job enrichment, culled from an Employee Satisfaction Survey conducted in 2013.

Happy employees = happy customers “Service and customer experience are what we aim to do well in Globe,” Cu said. “We want our customers to be happy and remain that way. It will not be possible if it will not reflect on the kind of people who interact and cater to our publics. There

are very few, if any, telcos in the world that have done what our men and women have achieved.

We want to keep Globe as a very happy place and keep that ‘Circle of Happiness’ spinning.”

“Our modernized network are already up and running, as well as great concept stores and systems in place, but without our fantastic people, every effort we have exerted to bring us to where we are now will not be sustainable. Others can acquire whatever technology we have, but what they cannot have is our people, and the heart they have for Globe,” he emphasized.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

EDITORIAL Who can speak up?

I

T is another sad season for the journalism profession as another colleague is shot down in cold blood. Melinda “Mei” Magsino was a hard-hitting journalist and former correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer who previously had a run-in with the powers that be when she reported on illegal gambling and corruption in Batangas where she had lived. Her stories on these issues riled the authorities so much that she was at one point declared persona non grata.

Her work also caused her to quit her job for fear of her life as two convicts were reportedly released from prison to liquidate her. Obviously, however, quitting her job did not remove her from the hit list.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), in a statement immediately after the killing, said Magsino’s murder “not only highlights the fact that leaving journalism is no guarantee of safety from the perils of the profession –

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especially not from those with long memories and deadly intent – (but) it also underscores the depths to which the culture of impunity has become entrenched in our country and society, courtesy of a government that has shown only the most cursory regard for human rights.”

The NUJP also points out that if subsequent details reveal Magsino’s death involved her former work as a journalist, “Mei will be the second fallen colleague this year, the 26th under President Benigno Aquino III, and the 166th since democracy was supposedly restored in 1986.” Those numbers are frightening for their effect on freedom of speech and of expression in this country. These rights are guaranteed for all of us, but if journalists are so easy to silence, then how much more for the ordinary person who does not have a newspaper or TV station behind him? If journalists can’t speak up against corruption, then who can?

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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

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F

IRST, it was just hearsay. But later on, it was neither confirmed or denied.

William Henry Gates -- more popularly known around the world as Bill Gates, the man who cofounded Microsoft -- came to the Philippines recently. And not too many Filipinos knew of his coming.

The world’s richest man (net worth of $79.2 billion) first arrived in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on a private jet with US registry number N887WM. He and his companions stayed for a three-day holiday in the island.

From there, Gates -- together with the senior officials of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) -- flew to Manila via an Islander plane. Interaksyon, the online news portal of TV5, quoting sources in Laguna, reported that “Gates flew by chopper Wednesday from Manila to Laguna, on what was billed as a ‘top secret’ visit to one of the laboratories at IRRI.” IRRI refers to International Rice Research Institute, which is based at Los Baños, Laguna. It is the world’s leading research institute on the staple crop that supports over 60 percent of mankind, including Filipinos.

BMGF is reportedly the institute’s biggest donor.

“We are thankful that the BMGF has come for updates on the food and nutrition security initiatives that they support,” IRRI Director-General Robert Zeigler said in a press statement.

Interaksyon surmised that since the BMGF Foundation “had invested as much as $20 million in research for the golden rice variety developed in IRRI,” Gates may have come because of that. “The genetically modified crop ostensibly holds out hope for cheaper, easier-to-propagate, and fortified rice that can be used to fight hunger and malnutrition in developing countries,” the online news portal said.

Rice, known in the science world as Ory-

M

OHAGHER Iqbal, chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is in the news today (“Aliases may affect peace process – senators”, The Philippine Star, April 10, 2015), and so he was in the same paper’s online reports yesterday, for revealing that his name is just an alias or nom de guerre although his Philippine passport bears his real name. In his two published books, he used his pen name, “Salah Jubair”. He admitted having several other aliases.

At the House of Representatives hearing of the Mamasapano debacle where he made the admission, Iqbal would not reveal his real name.

Both the House and the Senate are studying how the MILF chief negotiator’ use of his alias in signing negotiation papers would affect the validity and legality of the negotiation and the agreements. Offhand, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said it would not although she said she would study it.

It will be unfortunate if the Congress and, eventually, the Supreme Court would nullify the agreements – hence, the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro and Draft Bangsamoro Basic Law – for having been signed by the MILF chief negotiator with his alias. And, wasted with that would be the 17 years of negotiations and the tremendous cost that had gone with it.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

On golden rice

za sativa, helps THINK ON THESE! feed almost half the people on the planet.

And in the Philippines, rice is the leading staple food. In fact, Filipinos spend more on rice than any other food. Rice is the Henrylito D. Tacio country’s leadhenrytacio@gmail.com ing staple food.

As the late food epicure Doreen Fernandez wrote: “If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino.”

Although rice is basically a complex carbohydrate, its protein contains all eight of the essential amino acids and complements the amino acids found in other foods. Low in sodium and fat, with no cholesterol or gluten, rice is a boon to weight worriers and those allergic to other grains. Aside from carbohydrates, rice also contains protein, minerals, vitamins, and fiber.

Balancing cereal-based diets with vegetables and animal products is one approach used in some developing countries to address malnutrition problems. But results were frustrating. Vegetables and animal products are expensive, and seasonal, subject to spoilage because of limited storage and transport. Moreover, their availability in some countries is not even one-fourth of what is required to meet the needs of the people.

In the Philippines, fortification and supplementation programs were launched. An attempt was made to enrich rice by fortifying it with the much-needed nutrients. But it didn’t linger on for some economic reasons.

Some scientists thought of packing more nutrients into rice as one of the best meth-

BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ But that at the same time exposes the double standard in the highest legislative chambers of the Philippines where all members are addressed “Honorable”. They are now making much ado about “Mohagher Iqbal” as an alias of the MILF’s chief negotiator with the Philippine Government but not a word had they said about senators and a President who had won elections using their aliases as candidates and later as elected officials.

Item 1: “Joseph ‘Erap’ Ejercito Estrada” is the alias of Jose Marcelo Ejercito under which he was elected senator, vice president and the 13th President of the Philippines. He used his alias, not his legal name, in his official capacities. Has he legalized his alias in place of his name in the civil registry? There has been no report about that.

Item 2: Erap’s son, José Pimentel Ejército, Jr., has “Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada” for an alias under which he was elected as senator in 2004 and reelected in 2010. He is officially listed in the roll of senators as “Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada”, another alias.

9

ods to attack the malnutrition problem. And this is where golden rice came into the picture. It was in the Philippines where the first generation golden rice was first tested in advanced field trials in IRRI in 2008.

It is called golden rice because it contains beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A when eaten. “Because rice is so popular in the Philippines,” says IRRI, “providing rice that is more nutritious and that contains beta carotene could help boost people’s vitamin A status. In turn, this could reduce the extent and impact of vitamin A deficiency among Filipinos.”

Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin A reduces overall child mortality by 23-34 percent. A research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2009 showed that daily consumption of a cup of rice, about 150 grams uncooked weight, could supply half of the Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin A for an adult.

Vitamin A is found naturally in many foods, including liver of chicken, beef, pork, and fish. Most of them, however, can be found in root crops (carrot and sweet potato) vegetables (broccoli and tomato), and milk products (cheese and butter), and fruits (papaya, mango, melon).

Most of these sources, however, are beyond the reach of poor people, particularly those living in shanty places, upland areas, and rural communities. So, some scientists came up of an unthinkable idea: that of putting vitamin A in rice, as 89 percent of Filipinos consume rice on a daily basis.

Normally, rice plants produce beta-carotene in their green parts, but not the grain that people eat. Golden rice is genetically engineered to produce beta-carotene in the edible part of the plant.

Using genetic modification techniques, respected scientists developed golden rice using genes from corn and a common soil microorganism that together produce beta

carotene in the rice grain.

According to IRRI, conventional breeding programs could not be used to develop golden rice because rice varieties do not contain significant amounts of beta carotene.

In addition, plant breeders at IRRI are also developing nutrient-rich rice with iron and zinc. Iron improves the cognitive performances of children, increases productivity of adults, and reduces low birth weights and deaths caused by anemia. Zinc, on the other hand, is known for its potency in promoting the growth of children and is associated with decreased diarrhea incidence.

“Even slightly more nutritious rice could mean healthier people,” IRRI said. “If the iron and zinc content could be doubled -- or tripled -- the health of those at-risk people could be dramatically improved.”

But despite the good things that golden rice brings, there are those who are against its commercialization. “A rip-off of the public trust,” deplored the Rural Advancement Foundation International, an advocacy group based in Canada.

One of the key arguments is that golden rice, once sold, will serve only the interest of multinational companies, an issue that is well-anchored on intellectual property rights.

Others claim that the golden rice was just a ploy of agrochemical companies. To quote the words of Father Shay Cullen in an article he wrote recently: “They own and supply the specific fertilizer that makes the seed grow and upon which it is dependent.

In this way, the corporations control the food supply through their genetically-modified seed and food products.”

International group Greenpeace, which has made a concerted effort to block golden rice’s introduction since it was announced in 2000, claims that vitamin A-fortified rice may not be effective in delivering vitamin A to children.

Item 3: José Acuña Bautista, an action actor like the “Estradas”, ran for senator in 1987 and lost. In 1992, he ran again under his screen name or alias, “Ramon Revilla”, and won landing in the top 12. In 1998, he was reelected for another six-year term under the same alias. Since he has a son also in politics under the alias “Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr.”, his official name in the Senate was “Ramon Revilla, Sr.” Item 4: “Ramón Bong Revilla, Jr.” was born José Marie Mortel Bautista. Like his father, José Acuña Bautista, he is an actor; hence, the film name and alias,“Ramon Revilla, Jr.”, under which he won a Senate seat in 2004 and reelected in 2010. In 2009, he legally changed his surname, “Mortel Bautista” to “Bong Revilla”. He is now listed in the official Senate roll as Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. – no longer an alias since 2009.

Item 5: “Rogelio de la Rosa”, one of the most popular Filipino actors in the 1930s and beyond, was Regidor de la Rosa. Changing his real name to “Regidor” to “Rogelio” made his film name an alias. He won a seat in the Senate, 1957 to 1963, under his alias, which he carried as senator. He became a diplomat under the same alias. We don’t know whether his official documents, like passport, bore his first name “Regi-

dor”, or whether he signed official papers with his first name.

What do the above “Items” show? We have – or had – senators and a president officially using their aliases. Certainly, they signed with their aliases resolutions, bills, acts, and other official papers. To the point, how many laws were signed with “Joseph Estrada”, not with “Jose M. Ejercito”?

Let this be clear. Their having been elected under their aliases cannot be questioned. The election laws allow aliases side-by-side with the real names in the ballots. At issue is the integrity of official documents and papers if signed with aliases. That is the issue being raised in the Congress in relation to “Mohagher Iqbal” as an alias.

Question: If the aliases of senators and a President used in signing official documents and other papers did not affect the integrity of those documents and papers, why would the alias “Mohagher Iqbal” used by the MILF chief negotiator invalidate or annul the Government-MILF agreements and other negotiation papers?

(Author’s Note: Mind da News, the alternate of COMMENT, is a comment on current news. The author may be contacted at patponcediaz@yahoo.com.)

Aliases and double standard MIND DA NEWS

VANTAGE POINTS

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

EARTH DAY TALK. Kerlan Fanagel (left) of Pasakkaday Salugpongan Kalimuddan-Confederation of Lumad Organization in Southern Mindanao Region (Pasaka) Southern Mindanao Region and Kim Gargar of Panalipdan Southern Mindanao Region announce the planned activities of various

progressive groups for this year’s Earth Day from April 21 to 23 in Davao City to spread awareness against the exploitation of the country’s economic resources. The two gentlemen graced Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

Advincula... FROM 2 Sports Complex should remain in UPMin and the settlers inside should vacate the area.

Duterte said he does not recognize the settlers’ claim since the area is known as government reservation land.

He said if the claimants do not have land titles to the land they are occupying, they must vacate the area because it is already a matter of public interest.

Duterte said if UPMin has no budget for the relocation of the settlers, he will allocate lots in the city’s relocation site in Los Amigos, Tugbok for the settlers.

Earlier, Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte called former Pres-

ident Fidel V. Ramos a land grabber for awarding land to UPMin in 1995 even though there were residents there who had made a claim for it.

This as Paolo stood firm for the land claimants who will be affected by the proposed City Sports Complex to be built within the UPMin campus.

He said the settlers had been in the area long before UPMin was established there by virtue of a proclamation made by Ramos awarding the land to UP. Paolo said after the land was awarded to UPMin, the claim of the settlers was disregarded.

Consisting of the Budget under the General Fund and Economic Enterprises in the total amount P463.819 million as amended.”

Of the total budget, P216.866 million is allocated for the general fund while P203.326 million is allocated for the development fund of the city.

The development fund got

a total allocation of P203.326 million which is funded from the reversion of this year’s P154.1 million and from the last year’s P9.3 million appropriation.

The city also transferred P39.895 million from general fund to development fund as requested by the barangay officials and various offices and departments.

said Feliciano, whose excitement could not be hidden.

“Our town has been waiting for this for a long time. If I am not mistaken, this plan took off during the time of former president Fidel Ramos.

After a few governors, now it’s finally happening through Governor (Jose) Alvarez’s persistent follow ups,” she said.

Feliciano said that the trip of Princess Beatrice is just the initial. What the provincial government is after, she said, is the eventual establishment of the Brooke’s Point-Kudat RORO (roll-on, roll off) service that shall bring tourists from Malaysia to Palawan to other parts of the country as a “gateway.”

“This is the start; we will check what the reception is, and maybe after five or six trips by the cargo vessel, the roll-on, roll-off service will come next,” she said, stating further that residents of Brooke’s Point are excited about the recent development.

She added that many Brooke’s Point residents are working in Malaysia, and if the RORO service becomes available, it would become easier for them to travel back home to their families.

Foreign tourists visiting Malaysia and its states, she said, can also have the opportunity to visit the Philippines through Palawan.

“Aside from trade opportunities, the sea connectivity will also present us with tourism prospects, particularly that our target is to help the country reach its goal of 10 million tourists within the next few years, and is important in the regional economic intergration,” the lady mayor said.

The sea connectivity will

play a vital role in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is aimed at “implementing certain initiatives to achieve a single market and production base, allowing the free flow of goods, services, investments, and skilled labor, and the freer movement of capital across the region.

The areas of cooperation of the AEC include “human resources development and capacity building; recognition of professional qualifications; closer consultation on macroeconomic and financial policies; trade financing measures; enhanced infrastructure and communications connectivity; development of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN; integrating industries across the region to promote regional sourcing; and enhancing private sector involvement for the building of the AEC.” The port of Brooke’s Point is located 192 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa. Daily, it handles consumer goods, construction materials and products of agricultural and mining industries, and links the province to Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, General Santos City, and Dipolog.

It has a listed commercial area of 2,329.51 square meters and operational area of 15,823.18 sq. m., or a total port area of 18,152.69 sq.m.

The port reportedly has an RC wharf of 12 meter wide by 60 meter long connected to pier approach of 6 m x 190 m.; depth of 6.0 meters; and one RORO facility of 12 meters by 15 meters.

Governor Alvarez is expected to attend the send-off program for the maiden voyage to Kudat of Princess Beatrice.(PNA)

Barangays... FROM 2

Sea... FROM 6

Coal-fired... FROM 3 power to the grid, which can be availed of by its customers.

More than 20 distribution utilities and electric cooperatives have signed up to receive capacity from Therma South.

The power plant capacity has been sold out since 2014.

At its peak, some 4,000 workers mostly from Davao City and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur worked to complete the project, which is seen as one of the most critical long term solutions to the Mindanao power crisis.

and food preparation protocols,” she said.

Tio believes there was foul play behind the incident in Manila.

In the case of Crepelato, another Davao-based establishment selling gelato ice cream and milk teas, sales went down after the incident.

“Our sales went down up to 80 percent after the news went out,” three-year service crew memebr Floramie Alberca said.

The 29-year-old Alberca said she used to sell almost a hundred cups before the incident, but they only sold less than 50 cups on the day the news came out.

“Malayo pa lang naririnig na naming yung ibang customers na wag daw bumili ng milk teas kasi may la son daw.

Pero bumabalik naman ngayon ulit ang mga customers namin (From the distance we can hear some of the customers saying not to buy milk tea because of poison. But, our customers have now come back),”Alberca said.

Meanwhile, Tealoca service crew Charlot Verdida said their patrons continue to buy their milk teas because these have already been tested and proven by their regular customers themselves.

“Our regular customers reacted to the news but they still buy our beverages because they’ve been drinking our milk teas for a long time,” Verdida, who is now with Tealoca for five months

already.

Happy Lemon barista Bhrex Delfino said their sales were not also affected by the recent news.

“An email was sent to our branches here that the poisoning was caused by cyanide,” said Delfino, who’s working with Happy Lemon Gaisano Mall lower ground branch, said.

However, this was not confirmed by authorities.

Delfino said their base ingredients are checked and replaced every four hours.

“We impose strictly here our protocols on food safety and food handling. We assure that our base ingredients like teas are replaced every four hours to assure the freshness,” he said.

All milk tea companies said they are willing to be inspected either by the Department of Health or Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFD) if it is necessary.

Edge Davao tried to reach both regional agencies but there was no response from them.

The DOH central office earlier warned the public to be cautious on all beverages especially this summer period when food easily spoils because of high temperature.

Malacañang earlier disclosed in a report that it has the result of the milk tea testing but it cannot release it because it has to be verified.

The test was conducted by the BFD.

Mixed... FROM 3

Dengue... FROM 3 diseases division is now ready to roam around the city especially since the rainy season is fast approaching.

“Sana yung mga breeding

ground natin sa mosquito ma eliminate lahat yan so that when the rain comes wala tayong possible breeding ground for the vectors,” Culas said.

Kato left the MILF to form the BIFF over differences on the conduct of the peace talks with government.

“For us Muslims, we cannot hide the truth of our death.

In due time we will know the real score after our validation today,” Tundok said.

Major General Edmundo Pangilinan of the 6th Infantry Division said they were verifying the same report through their intelligence arm.

“Yes we received calls and queries of his death but we are waiting too of confirmed reports,” Pangilinan said.

Maguindanao provincial police director Senior Supt.

Rodelio Jocson said they were still trying to get word on the possible place of burial if it’s indeed true that Kato has died.

Kato formed the BIFF in November 2010 following his

relief as commander of the 105th Base Command.

It reportedly started with 50 fully-armed members, mostly relatives and loyal followers of Kato from the 105th Base Command, and drew more recruits.

Kato figured in attacks in North Cotabato in 2008 after the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the Memorandum of Agreement of Ancestral Domain.

He carried a P10-million bounty on his head.

Early in February this year, the military launched an “all-out offensive” against the BIFF in response to the clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 that left 44 police commandoes, 17 MILF rebels and five civilians dead.

(Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)

PHP110 per kilo due to the huge supply of chicken.

Reaño said these prices are abnormal and this is because chicken producers need to sell their produce.

“However, some retailers still take advantage of the situation when government, the chicken producers and everybody in the poultry should be helping each other,” he said. ”People would buy less chicken if the retailers sell high. Consumers must buy more in order to bring the inventory down and help our producers,” Reaño saiad.

In the meantime, the official said that hog farmers are not as pressured because pork prices still range around

PHP185, except for liempo which often cost PHP200 per kilo, because of high demand.

“The income range for pork meat is PHP60 to PHP70, and the PHP60 difference from gate price to market price is reasonable for both the producers and the consumer,” he said.

He added that the DA is also trying to lessen the involvement of middlemen so that pork prices can go down further.

“With proper awareness and information through the farm gate prices posted in markets, even the retailers will know if they are being abused by the middlemen,” he said. (PNA)

MILF... FROM 3

DA... FROM 6

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

11 ENVIRONMENT

This summer, help control forest fires

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

A

COUPLE of years ago, the Philippine Congress released a study that said about 123,000 hectares of the country’s forest cover are lost every year. Unless reforestation is started, the study further stated, there would be no forest left in the country by 2036 – that’s exactly 21 years from now.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his state of the nation address (SONA) in 2011, stated that most politicians use one possible solution – that of tree planting – as a photo opportunity. “They plant trees, but they do not ensure that the trees would remain standing after they leave,” he said.

When he was still the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Michael Defensor admitted that “only 30 percent of reforestation projects succeeded.” In a Subic meeting of local executives, he told them: “People hardly recognize the economic benefits from protecting the environment. Most sabotaged the program.”

The bluntness seemed to echo an earlier study of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, entitled “Sustainable Forest Management,” which stated, “Most of the (Philippines’) once rich forest are gone. Forest recovery, through natural and artificial means, never coped with the destruction rate.”

When Ferdinand Magellan “rediscovered” the Philippines in 1521, forests blanketed 95 percent of the country. When the Ormoc City, Leyte tragedy happened – which left 8,000 people dead – timber cover was only 18 percent.

“Where have all our forests gone?” asked Roy C. Alimoane, the director of Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center. American President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as helpless.”

When people talk of deforestation, they always think of

loggers, both legal and illegal.

“Who had the privilege of cutting trees?” asked veteran journalist Marites Dañguilan-Vitug in an article she wrote for “World Paper,” a Boston-based magazine. “The wealthy and well-connected. They lived in the big cities. Some even sold their rights to the forest concessions and lived off the green of the land.”

In the past, forest resources helped fuel the country’s economy. In the 1970s, Philippines was touted the prima donna among world timber exporters. Today, it is considered “a wood-pauper,” to quote the words of multi-awarded journalist Juan Mercado.

Loggers are not the only ones to be blamed for the disappearance of the country’s forest cover. Even farmers, particularly kaingineros who practice slash-and-burn agriculture. They cut trees to give way to the crops (corn, upland rice, and vegetables) to be planted.

The Forest Management Bureau reported that forest cover in the country declined from 21 million hectares, or 70 percent of the its land area, in 1900 to about 6.5 million hectares by 2007, mostly due to intensive logging and subsequent conversion to agriculture.

But what most people don’t know that forest fires also contribute to the denudation of the country’s forest cover. In 1991, for instance, at least 21,908 hectares of forests were razed by fire, 13,129 hectares of grasslands, 2,205 hectares of secondary-growth forest and 6,547 hectares of reforestation projects.

In a paper presented in a regional conference in Chiang

Upland devoid of forest cover. (Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio)

Forest fires (Photo from Wikipedia)

Mai, Thailand, E.V. Soliman said that from 1978 to 1996, forest fires in the Philippines destroyed approximately 304,345 hectares. That an average of 16,000 hectares per year. From 1992 to 1996 alone, fire damage was estimated at P465 million.

More than monetary values, forest fires also destroy other things. “Forest fires damage the soil and biodiversity in affected areas,” said the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

“These also derail the country’s reforestation efforts.”

PCAARRD, a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology, decided to develop science- and technology-based tools to help forest managers and other stakeholders in predicting the probability of fire occurrence. “The fire behaviour model simulates and predicts fire movements,” said the newly-released PCAARRD Information Bulletin No. 25.

This is a good news as summer – touted to be the fire season – is here. The tools which PCAARRD is promoting are integrated with geographic information system (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning system (GPS), and Web innovations.

“These interactive disaster and hazard management mod-

els were programed for easy information dissemination and will allow a location-specific application,” explained PCAARRD. “Using this web-enabled hazard decision support system, various maps – which can be resized on-screen and point-clicked with their corresponding attributes and statistics – can be accessed and generated,” it added.

Negative impacts and destruction brought by uncontrolled forest fires are unlimited. As such, preventing forest fires is better than any fire control measure. “Fire prediction is an important prevention measure,” said PCAARRD, adding that its researchers were able to develop a forest fire hazard and behavior forecasting and a risk reduction system using GIS. “Through the project, fire hazard maps were developed for Itogon, Benguet, and Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. The maps used the prediction equation, which combines a number of critical factors that significantly influence forest fires. These are: vegetation or land cover; proximity to farms; distance to roads; slope; and aspect,” the information bulletin said.

Vegetation refers to the vegetative cover or current land use pattern which determines the kind, quantity, and quality of fuels present on site.

Fuels present, as an element of the fire triangle, determine fire risks. “An element of fire triangle is a model that shows the relationship between the essential elements of fire,” the information bulletin explained.

Proximity to farms and road is a factor in the prediction equation due to previous fire incidents in farms and careless passers-by and pranksters throwing lighting materials like lighted cigarettes.

The area’s slope, meanwhile, enhances burning since “the steeper slope promotes rapid spread of fire upslope.”

The aspect refers to the horizontal direction where the mountain slope faces. “The aspect is also considered because drying of fuels is more prevalent along east-west slopes than north-south facing slopes,” the PCAARRD publication informed.

According to PCAARDD, highly-vulnerable, vulnerable, and less-vulnerable sites are identified on the calibrated maps. “Through these fire hazard maps, forest managers and other stakeholders will be properly guided on fire risks, especially during fire season,” it said.

Forest managers include the forest protection unit of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units.

Remnants of deforested area. (Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio)

Stakeholders refer to people living in and near the forests and farmers who are directly involved in reforestation projects.

The PCAARDD publication suggests that practices causing fire ignition (like slash and re-growth of grass for grazing purposes) should not be allowed during the fire season in places adjacent to high risk areas. Proper local ordinances and their strict implementation can help lessen the chances of fire.

“If coupled with appropriate information, education and communication strategies and replicated in other areas, these hazard maps will hopefully make every barangay (village) ready and responsive to forest fires,” the PCARRD publication concluded.

However, fire behavior can be evaluated by using the BehavePlus (version 5). It is a free and downloadable fire behavior software that can be used to assess fire behaviour and risks in specific sites.

BehavePlus provides a more site-specific fire behavior assessment (like rate of fire spread, fire intensity, and direction of spread, to name a few) than the fire hazard maps that only give broad predictions. “Moreover, users can even input environmental parameters like fuel characteristics,” PCAARRD said.

12 CLASSIFIED

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Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

13

Fun run benefits Tuburan Institute

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

BOUT 200 runners from Davao City and nearby provinces are expected to join the Earth Day Family Adventure Run on April 19 in Tugbok District.

The 7-kilometer trail run and 1.5- kilometer nature walk for parents and children is being organized by the Tuburan Institute, Davao City’s first Steiner-Waldorf school.

“Children need green spaces where they can climb

trees and develop their intrinsic appreciation and love for nature,” Tuburan institute director Maya Vandenbroeck said during Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao Annex.

Vandenbroeck said the school believes the activity “develops children’s empathy for the environment and fuels their passion to protect it, which is essential if we are to develop the next generation

of Dabawenyos to become environmental stewards.”

The adventure run is organized in two stages: a 7-kilometer trail run for adults at P150 and a 1.5-kilometer nature walk and tree planting activity for children and their parents at P100 per head.

“The top runners will receive goody bags from participating green business. The funds raised will help Tuburan’s green school campus in

the soldiers’ meal allowance.

“We have recognized the financial needs of the family members who were left by by our gallant policemen. This is a simple gesture of appreciation from their partners from the armed forces,” AFP chiefof-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said.

The money was turned over to Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director Leonardo Espina during short ceremonies 8 a.m. at Camp Crame, Quezon City Tuesday.

Hand over ceremonies, which Catapang also participated in, took place at Espina’s office.

The AFP also incurred casualties in the subsequent clashes during the implementation of “all-out offensive” against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and terrorists like Basit Usman and Amin Bako in Maguindanao last Feb. 25 to March 30.

Last March 19, around Php1 million pesos was raised in a charity event concert dubbed “Songs for Heroes” which was given to families of the six soldiers who were slain in the encounters.

Part of the proceeds also went to more than 33 other soldiers who were wounded there. (PNA)

AFP donates P3.5-M to families of SAF 44

M

ILITARY personnel from different units have donated Php3,565,410 to the families and loved ones of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) killed in the mission which neutralized Malaysian terrorist Zulkipli bin Hir alias “Marwan” last Jan. 25.

The amount was taken from the monthly subsistence allowance of Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel who volunteered for the purpose, AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.

He added that the donation represents the Php30 personal contribution from

New Loon, Barangay Tugbok,” Vandenbroeck added.

The trail run will start at 6 a.m. at the Mintal covered court and will traverse the Davao-Bukidnon highway, then turn left at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) intersection towards New Loon. It will pass through the Tuburan access road and end at New Loon creek.

The nature walk, mean-

while, will begin at 7 a.m. at the Tuburan green school site and head towards several coconut farms and orchards before ending at the New Loon Creek for the riverbank tree planting.

“In line with the school’s environmental values, we are aiming for a zero waste impact on the environment.

This is why we are encouraging participants to bring their own water containers which

they can refill at water stations set up along the routes by participating residents of Mintal and Tugbok Proper.

Similarly, we will not be using tarpaulin posters; instead we will use canvass or katsa,” Vandenbroeck said.

The 2015 Earth Day Family Adventure Run is also co-organized by the Save Davao Shrine Hills Advocated and the Interface Development Interventions, Inc., (IDIS).

14 COMMUNITY SENSE Kalahi-CIDSS renews commitment to Talaingod T EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Local Government Unit recently renewed their commitment for the fourth cycle of Kalahi CIDSS -PAMANA (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services -Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) and Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) implementation.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed at Gazebo Balimba Hills, Barangay Sto. Niño.

Present were Mayor Basilio A. Libayao, Vice Mayor Francisco G. Gipulla Jr, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Arlene M. Semblante, Kalahi-CIDSS Community Development Specialist Nick Elvi Digol and the 15 tribal leaders.

To date, Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA has completed 24 sub-projects here with a total cash grant of P13.5 million while the LGU contributed P8.93 in the three cycles.

BUB through DSWD also released P3.9 million with a local counterpart of P459,070.00 for sub-projects completed in sitios Cuyas, Barobo, Melyong and St. Anne.

Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA already helped 4,196 households here through

community sub-projects such as potable water system, drainage canal and low cost solar home lighting.

Apart from Kalahi-CIDSS, Talaingod is also covered by Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Sustainable Livelihood Program of DSWD. Presently, there are 2,775 Pantawid Pamilya and 2,779 livelihood program participants in the town.

Mayor Libayao expressed his appreciation for the community-driven development approach of DSWD. “Through this partnership, we aim to put a permanent and just closure to tribal wars and internal armed conflicts in our municipality,” he said.

“Ang DSWD padayon nga nag tabang sa mga lumad nga matagamtaman ang kalinaw pinaagi sa pagtukod og mga proyekto nga sila mismo ang nagdumala (DSWD continues to help indigenous people achieve peace through projects that they themselves manage),” 50-year-old Datu Lumansad Sibogan, a representative of the Tribal Council of Elders here, said.

Intot Juan, 28, a Kalahi-CIDSS volunteer from

SIGNED. (From left) Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Arlene M. Semblante, Talaingod Mayor Basilio A. Libayao, and Kalahi-CIDSS Regional Community Development Specialist Nick Elvi Digol sign the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS PAMANA and Kalahi-CIDSS BUB. Purok Nasilaban, Barangay Palma Gil, is thankful to DSWD for accessing basic social services in their community.

“I am grateful that inhumane acts due to tribal wars and armed conflicts are slowly put to an end through DSWD’s initiatives. What a tremendous relief that my family can now sleep peacefully at night.”

PAMANA, one of the modalities of Kalahi CIDSS, is the Philippine government’s program and framework for peace

and development.

BUB on the other hand, is an approach to preparing the budget proposal of national government agencies, considering the development needs of cities/municipalities as identified in their respective Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans (LPRAP).

In 2015, a total of nine municipalities will be covered by Kalahi CIDSS PAMANA in Davao Region and 29 by Kalahi CIDSS BUB. DSWD/Julie Ace Brandon F. Ramos

‘Pantawid’beneficiary is class valedictorian W EARING her trusty backpack and clasping her textbooks on both hands, her bare feet covered in mud, 12-year-old Rogelyn Cautivo traverses the usual hilly, mud-laden 1.5-kilometer path to her school in Lumondao, Marilog District, Davao City.

Rogelyn has been a consistent first honor student since Grade 1 and she graduates as class valedictorian this year.

Belonging to a Bagobo family, Rogelyn is the eldest of two siblings. Her family is one of the 1,461 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries in Marilog, Davao City.

Rogelyn’s parents – Rowena, 38, and Roldan, 34 – work at a local nata de coco factory in Calinan, Davao City. Working seven days a week for a P120 daily salary, her parents squeeze in the little time they have to be able to visit their three children in Marilog.

“Wala mi makalampos og high school sa akoang bana. Busa dako kaayo amoang kalipay nga luyo sa kalisod sa amoang kinabuhi, nakita gyud namo ang paningkamot ni Rogelyn nga makalampos sa esklwela (My husband and I did not finish high school. That is why we are overjoyed that despite our impoverished situation, we saw how Rogelyn really worked hard to finish her studies),” Rowena shared.

Rogelyn and her siblings are left to the care of their 74-year-old Lola Rosita who stood as both a mother and father to her grandchildren. “Dako kaayo ang akoang kalipay nga makatapos na si Rogelyn sa elementarya. Kugihan kaayo ni ang akoang apo. Inig human sa iyang klase kay motabang pa na siya og pangabo og tubig didto sa pikas buntod dayon mag-study (I am very happy that Rogelyn will now finish her elementary. She is very diligent. After class, she would help us fetch water from a spring in another hill before she works on her school assignments),” recounted Lola Rosita.

Rachelle Cuaton, Rogelyn’s adviser, lauds how Pantawid Pamilya has helped the children beneficiaries in her school.

“Dako og nahatag nga suporta ang Pantawid Pamilya ilabi na sa edukasyon sa mga bata. Ma-engganyo ang mga ginikanan nga magpa-eskwela sa ilang mga anak ug ang mga bata malipayon nga moadto sa eskwelahan tungod sa programa (Pantawid Pamilya has provided a huge support especially in the education of children beneficiaries. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school and the children, as well, are excited to go to school because of the program).”

Out of 14 graduating students from her class, 11 are beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya.

ARENA XI inducts new officers, trustees

T

HE officers and Board of Trustee members for 2015-2016 of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region XI (ARENA XI) pose for a photo at People’s Park following their recent induction into office.

They are (from left) Gaspar Gayona of TESDA; John Maruhom of DAR; Gary Martel of DBM; Antho-

ny Sales of DOST, Priscilla N. Razon of DSWD; Major Gen. Eduardo Año of 10th Infantry Division PA; Mariano Alquiza of DPWH; Antonio Arellano of DOJ (inducting official); Ma. Lourdes Damaso-Lim of NEDA; Fatma Idris of BFAR; Josephine Villegas-Liamzon of PRC; and Wilhelm Suyko of DILG. ARENA XI is an association of heads and assistant

heads of regional offices of national government agencies based in Davao City. It was organized in 1978.

ARENA XI has been actively involved in the delivery of basic government services in depressed communities in South Eastern Mindanao through its “Serbisyo Caravan” project, reaching out to as far as the municipalities of Boston

in Davao Oriental, Malita in Davao Occidental, Pantukan in Davao del Norte, Paquibato District in Davao City, and recently in Maco, Compostela Valley.

The group likewise initiated the inter-agency quarterly flag raising ceremony at People’s Park and conduct of quarterly lecture series. PIA/BFAR/ DSWD

Lola Rosita, Nanay Rowena and Tatay Roldan proudly pose with Rogelyn, 12, who graduated class valedictorian in Lumondao Elementary School in Marilog, Davao City. Rogelyn is one of the 405 top performing Pantawid students in Davao Region for school year 2014-2015.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

HOW MUCH IT COSTS? A CNN Philippines Infographics outlines the cost of travelling to Las Vegas to watch the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

How much does it cost to watch the megafight in Las Vegas?

H

OW much does it cost to watch the megafight?

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will contest in what is touted to be the richest fight in history at the MGM Grand on May 2 (May 3 PHT).

But amidst all the noise being made about how much money the fighters will make from the fight, how much would it cost for an average Filipino to see the fight of the century live in Las Vegas?

Well, let’s find out.

The fight tickets are some of the most expensive there has ever been, hotels in Las Vegas are filling up and raising rates, bus fares to Vegas have risen, and almost every expense to get to experience the glamour of fight night along the strip has skyrocketed to ridiculous heights.

For those who live in the Philippines, a Pacquiao fight is always a grand occasion and it is no surprise that those who are privileged enough often fly out to wherever the fight is to cheer him on.

This time, though, with the prices being as high as they are, that might be very different.

Going to Vegas to watch the much-awaited showdown will come at a heavy price that will surely knock some out.

In order to get an idea of what that figure might be, let us simulate a “budget trip” from Manila to Las Vegas using rates readily available online.

As we go about this let us assume that we are trying to do everything as cheaply as possible and that only one adult is making the trip, arriving in the U.S. on May 1 and leaving on May 3.

TRAVEL One of the major expenses to consider first is the travel cost that you will incur.

There are many people who get lucky when certain airlines have seat sales and end up striking bargain deals for long haul flights.

For the purpose of this simulation, let us assume that we have to pay the regular amount for the trip.

Flying is the only way to get to the U.S., and in the interest of minimizing the cost and staying true to our “budget trip” we recommend that the traveler make the trip from Manila to Los Angeles first.

We took a look at airlines flying in and out of Los Angeles the day before and after the fight

itself and found these options for a round trip ticket as of April 10.

Japanese Airlines - China Southern Airlines $ 1,560 (Php 70,200) Korean Airlines $ 1,755 (Php 78,975) Philippine Airlines $ 1,925 (Php 86,625) Flying economy class on Japanese Airlines and China Southern Airlines for a bargain price of $1,560 (Php 70,200) turns out to be the cheapest way to get to LA from Manila when you take to account the bus schedules to Vegas.

Once in Los Angeles, you can take a bus that travels to Las Vegas at a fraction of the cost compared to another flight to Las Vegas from LAX. The trip via bus is six hours long, but only costs about $60 (Php 2,700) to get to Las Vegas from L.A.

LODGING There are many options for lodging, especially if you happen to have relatives who actually live in and around the Las Vegas area.

For those who don’t have nearby relatives, one may have to look at the many hotels that line the Vegas strip.

The minimum stay at Las Vegas is two nights and to estimate the amount needed for lodging we took a look at 27 different hotels along the strip to get an average figure of $577 (Php 25,965) a night.

For the sake of saving you a longer read, we will highlight three hotels of various star ratings to give you an idea on how they are priced per night.

Monte Carlo Resort $404 (Php 18,180) /night Delano Las Vegas $ 899 (Php 40,455) /night The Mirage Hotel and Casino $ 499 (Php 22,455) /night Boxing fans might be able to find cheaper deals online, but for the sake of those who aren’t as fortunate, the average figure is $577 per night on the Vegas strip.

FIGHT TICKETS Now we move onto the very reason you are in Las Vegas, the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

Let us assume that you turned out to be a very lucky soul and chanced upon a ticket at the price that was announced during the initial joint press conference.

Since we are on a ‘budget,’ we will look at the cheapest tickets.

The price announced at the press conference was $1,500

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

Imagination the key to Spieth’s putting J

ORDAN Spieth’s sublime putting on some of the most treacherous greens in golf, which set up his Masters victory on Sunday, was underpinned by his imaginative touch, says putting maestro Ben Crenshaw.

While Crenshaw is acknowledged as one of the best putters of all time, he was mightily impressed by the manner in which his fellow Texan was able to adapt to the deceptive pace and tricky lines at Augusta National aged just 21.

Spieth was making only his second Masters start, having tied for second on his debut last year, and he made the most of getting a few tips from Crenshaw and four-times winner Tiger Woods during a practice round at Augusta on Wednesday.

“He’s a very imaginative putter,” Crenshaw, himself a twice Masters champion, told Reuters about Spieth, who completed a stunning wire-towire victory on Sunday while tying Woods’ tournament record for 72 holes.

“You have to be around

here. You have to really make a decision on your lines but the pace has to be right. It all has to match. In no other place do you have to be so imaginative.”

Spieth, a brilliant amateur who has soared up the world rankings since turning professional in 2013, is known for his deft putting but he was in a league of his own last week as he coped with the severely contoured greens at Augusta National.

For the first three days, the greens ran slower than most of the players expected after being softened by rain earlier in the week but for the final round they were back to their usual challenge of fast and firm.

Time and again, though, Spieth sank clutch par putts while his overall putting statistics for the week are remarkable.

The immensely likeable American, who climbed to a career-high second in the rankings on Monday, made 23 putts from between eight and 10 feet during the week, and seven from 15 feet or more.

REMARKABLE POISE

For the soft-spoken Crenshaw, this came as no surprise after watching the remarkably poised Spieth putt superbly when they first played together in a practice round at Austin in their home state.

“That first time that I ever played with him in Austin, it was just like he had been there for 10 years,” said the 63-yearold Texan, who competed in his 44th and final Masters last week.

“He could just see the lines on the greens right there. He possesses an artful way of playing. We’ve seen the important putts that he has made at this Masters but I amazed at his maturity.

“He does have that competitive fire which I think is wonderful and it will carry him a long way but he seems to bottle it pretty quickly and then goes on to the next hole. That’s tough to do when you’re 21.”

Crenshaw was especially impressed by Spieth’s ice-cool putting display in the final round, despite the intense pressure of a major coming down the stretch.

“If that putter doesn’t sing, it will gnaw at your emotions and Jordan is one of the most nerveless putters I have seen,” said Crenshaw.

“You don’t just get over a putt and hit it. You’ve got to imagine what you were doing.

The crucial putts that he made were unbelievable.”

Four shots ahead of the field going into the final round, Spieth was fired up by a motivational text message from Crenshaw before he teed off Sunday.

“He said, ‘Stay patient, this is going to be yours, you’ve got this thing and you’re playing great. Just keep your head down and stay focused,” Spieth told reporters after slipping into the cherished green jacket.

For Crenshaw, who won his first Masters title in 1984 before producing an emotional second victory at Augusta National 11 years later, the golfing future could not look brighter for Spieth.

“He’s obviously in a real hot streak, very confident, very bold. It is like he knows exactly where he is going.”

C

Christopher “Bong” pumped in 36 points, including eight triples, and four others finished with double digits for the City Hall dribblers who finished second-seed in Group B after the classification round.

Michael Peloton made 16 as Weng Farochillen, Rodel

Bantilan and Jay Bonleon had 10 apiece for CMO. John Molina paced the Navy with 21 points.

CMO will face the Group A topnotcher Bureau of Fire Protection in the semifinal round with the Firemen enjoying a twice to beat advantage.

Police Regional Office 11 and Regional Public Safety Batallion will battle it out for the last semifinal round ticket.

The winner will face Group B top-seed 10th Infantry Agila Division in the other semifinal clash.

The Army enjoys a twice to beat privilege.

CMO wallops Navy, enters semis

ITY Mayors Office barged its way to the semifinal round of the 1st Apollo C. Quiboloy Invitational Basketball Tournament after drubbing Philippine Navy, 1014 - 81, at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym on Monday night.

(Php 67,500) for the cheapest seats in the house.

If you are shocked by the price, you don’t have to worry because when compared to other big money fights this is incredibly expensive.

The $1,500 starting price for Mayweather-Pacquiao far eclipses the cheapest seats for the Pacquiao-Bradley 2 fight at $120 (Php 5,400) and the Mayweather-Maidana bout at $350 (Php 15,750).

It is so expensive that the

$1,500 price tag is deemed to be more valuable than the most expensive ticket at Pacquiao-Bradley 2 which was valued at $1,000 (Php 45,000) and only cheaper by a small margin when compared to the $1,600 (Php 72,200) of Mayweather-Maidana.

But let’s try to be realistic, one will most probably get a ticket online through a secondary seller.

If you do opt for this route then according to Forbes.com, you probably will shell out around $4,175 (Php 187,875) to watch the

fight in the venue.

TOTAL After three rounds of heavy spending, we go to the score cards.

Travel - The round trip from Manila to Los Angeles and the bus fare amount to $1,620 (Php 72,900) Lodging - Two nights along the Vegas strip will end up costing you around $1,154 (Php 51,930) Ticket - That one ticket bought on the secondary market will set you back $4,175 (Php 187,875) TOTAL - Minimizing the cost

for a trip just for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will cost you around $6,949 (Php 312,705).

This amount does not take into consideration the expenses you will inevitably incur on food, commuting, and whatever else you would like to enjoy on your trip to Vegas.

For those who aren’t so lucky, I’m sure pay-per-view at the comfort of your own home or at an establishment screening the fight wouldn’t be so bad. (CNN Philippines)

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 8 ISSUE 9 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

DIMINISHING ODDS WORKING OUT. Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines worls out at Griffin Park in Los Angeles.

Mayweather’s betting advantage is decreasing

W

ITH their highly anticipated fight less than three weeks away, Floyd Mayweather remains a strong 2-to-1 favorite to defeat Manny Pacquiao in boxing betting at the online sportsbooks.

The hype surrounding Mayweather vs. Pacquiao has of course been staggering, with every aspect of the two fighters’ preparations being dissected again and again.

Recent headlines have also raised concerns about contractual issues surrounding the fight, involving the availability and allocation of tickets and hotel rooms between the two camps, not to mention the lighter-side stories of how former Mayweather associate 50 Cent will be bet-

ting on fight night.

But while promoters and management battle over details, boxing fans remain focused on the fighters, with constant debate swirling as to who will come out on top when the two champions meet in the ring.

Accordingly, a variety of props bets on the big fight are available for wagering at the online sportsbooks.

Scheduled to go 12 rounds, oddsmakers have set the betting line on the length of the battle between “Money” Mayweather and “PacMan” Pacquiao at 11.5, with the over sporting moneyline odds of 4/13, while the under sits at 43/20. A bet that the fight goes the distance carries odds of 1/3, while wagering

on the fight to end prior to a full 12 rounds sits at 23/10.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao props bets on the specifics of the fight outcome clearly favor Mayweather. A Mayweather win by KO, TKO or disqualification carries odds of 11/2, while the odds of a victory by decision or technical decision are pegged at 5/7.

Conversely, a Pacquiao victory by KO, TKO, disqualification, decision, or technical decision pays out at a long 4/1. While few boxing fans want to see the showdown between Pacquiao and Mayweather end in a draw or technical draw, such a result would pay off handsomely at 16/1.

Betting on the specific

AT HIS CAMP. Floyd Mayweather trains in his gym. He is reported to still be at three pounds over the limit.

round in which the fight will end is also available. Predicting the round that Mayweather ends Pac-Man’s night pays out at 40/1, with the exception of the ninth round, which offers a payday of 33/1.

Interestingly, betting on Pacquiao to stop Money in any of the 5th-10th rounds is set at a shorter 33/1, while betting on a Pac-Man win in any other round sits at 40/1.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is not the only title fight on the card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 2, although the undercard has been largely derided. Vasyl Lomachenko will put his WBO Featherweight title on the line that night as a heavy 1/25 betting favorite when he steps into the ring to take on mandatory challenger Gamalier “Gammy” Rodriguez.

Lomchenko claimed the title last June in just his 3rd professional fight, and successfully defended his belt last November by unanimous decision over Thailand’s Chonlatam Piriyapinyo despite fighting with just one hand after suffering an injury midway through the bout.

Rodriguez gets his title shot after winning 17 consecutive fights. However, the 28 year-old nativ eof Puerto Rico, who owns a professional record of 25-2-3 (17 Kos) sports distant 10/1 odds of dethroning the champion in betting at the online sportsbooks.