Edge Davao 9 Issue103

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

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Inside Edge Panabo mayor denies links to illegal drugs News P3

Atyy. RAMON EDISON BATACAN: “The Media Rescuer”

P7

Duterte vows support for sports

HELPFUL LADY. A woman assisted a visually impaired person to cross and ride a public utility vehicle along San Pedro Street in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Sports P15

DAVAO’S GROWTH TO HIT 7-8% IN 2016

Duterte victory seen as factor in GRDP surge

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

AVAO’S regional economy is projected to grow by 7 to 8 percent by the end of the year following the surge of both public and private sector investments, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 11 said.

“Historically, we are growing at an average of 6 percent but, then, the results of the recent election provide as a brighter prospect not only for Davao city but for the whole region. Davao region is the new hub for investment,” NEDA 11 regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said yesterday at the sidelines of the

launching of 2015 Listahanan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11.

Lim said the region’s economic performance will still outperform the economies of other 17 regions in the whole country.

“We’re expecting that Davao Region will still figure as one of the fastest growing regions [this year]. 2014 is a banner year for the region, since we grew the fastest throughout the country at 9.4 percent which is really an amazing growth rate for our region,” she added.

Lim said projected that

priority industry clusters that would include ICT-BPO, tourism, construction, real estate, and agri-based industries will take off this year.

“We are now looking at big ticket projects from both public and private sector investments in the region,” she said.

Davao Region will remain as one of the fastest growing regions this year, despite the damages suffered by the agriculture sector due to El Niño.

She said some of the most affected crops by the drought are starting to recovers from the months-long El Niño phe-

nomenon.

Lim said the Department of Agriculture had implemented its programs to assist affected farmers.

The policy direction and efforts of the Duterte administration to improve the security situation throughout the country will entice more investors to this queen city of the south.

She said crime solution efficiency in the region has improved in the first quarter of the year.

This will further make the region an investment magnet in Mindanao, she added.

IP groups laud dismissal of charges vs. Haran 15

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

ARIOUS Indigenous People’s (IP) organizations under the PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Orgnizations in Southern Mindanao on Monday welcomed the dismissal by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the kidnapping case against the 15 of their leaders and supporters.

“We appreciate and commend the immediate response and commitment of the new Justice Secretary in heeding not only our demand, but also of the lumad evacuees, to exact justice,”

said Kerlan Fanagel, chairperson of PASAKA in a statement to the media in Davao City on Tuesday morning.

Fanagel, together with Rev. Jurie Jaime, Sheena Duazo, Hanimay Suazo, Ryan Laniba, Tony Salubre, Jimboy Marciano, Mary Ann Sapar, Jaja Encosio, Pedro Arnado, Sr. Stella Matutina, Sr. Restita Miles, Isidro Andao, Kharlo Manano and Rius Valle were charge with Human Trafficking, Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention.

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

DISABILITY IS NO HINDRANCE. A person with disability proved that no hindrances in life could stop him in finding livelihood to survive as he engaged himself in handcrafting of coin purses made from beads and highlighted during the Persons With Disability celebration at the lobby of Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

DOH to boost health services for evacuees during disaster times

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HE Department of Health (DOH) assured efforts to strengthen the provision of “Standard Operating Procedures” for vulnerable sectors that will be “housed” in evacuation centers during disasters.

According to DOH Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, vulnerable sectors in evacuation centers will automatically undergo checkup to ensure that their health needs will be given proper attention.

“We will be doing that to ensure that right there, they can be given the rightful health attention that they need,” said Ubial who cited the enhancement of the procedures that

they will implement in evacuation centers as a lesson learned from the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

In addition, the DOH ensured the provision of Vitamin A, Zinc and measles immunization to children below five years old to protect them from any possible disease outbreak in evacuation centers.

She added that drinking water containers will also be immediately provided in evacuation centers to prevent the spread diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.

According to Ubial, such measure is essential due to

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4 new members of GPH panel installed by President Duterte

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RESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has spearheaded the oath-taking of four new members of the Government of the Philippine (GPH) Peace Panel for talks with radical groups.

In a ceremony held at the Aguinaldo Room of Malacanang on Monday night, former Pangasinan Congressman Hernani Braganza and lawyers Rene Sarmiento, Angela Librado-Trinidad and Noel Felongco were sworn in as GPH Peace Panel members.

The oath-taking took place after President Duterte and several Cabinet members discussed a peace roadmap presented by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza.

Presumptive Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello and incoming House Speaker Pantaleon ‘Bebot’ Alvarez witnessed the oath-taking.

Last month, the Duterte administration started preliminary talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, a political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), in Oslo, Norway.

Bello, Dureza and Braganza met with NDFP leaders led by CCP founder Jose Maria Sison, NDFP negotiating panel head Luis Jalandoni and NDF spokesperson Fidel Agcaoili.

Both sides have expressed confidence that the peace talks will flow more smoothly under the Duterte administration.

(PNA)

Consultative conference for teachers proposed

By SONNY L. MENDOZA

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OUNCILOR Pilar Braga is proposing the conduct of a consultative conference among members of Davao’s academe as a means of addressing the various challenges confronting the city’s education sector.

In a privilege speech delivered yesterday, Braga said that she has held informal talks with representatives of the Alliance of the Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS) to obtain their views on pressing issues affecting the city’s academe.

“As the chairperson of the committee on education, I’d like to validate certain facts or information that I already know about the education situation in the city,” she explained.

“And validating that means that I have to consult and listen to the Davao educators in aid of legislation,” she said.

“If there is a need for legislation, we can do that. If there is a need for other kinds of support, maybe we can also source that out,” Braga added.

Based on her initial discussions with these groups, she

was able to gather a consensus that there is indeed a need for Davao educators to have a forum that would enable them to “collectively articulate and ventilate” education-related issues and concerns.

“The conference aims to gather the various sentiments on the education issues prevailing will hopefully validate the concerns of private and public institutions, DepEd, CHED and TESDA officials, and even parents and school children,” the councilor said.

Braga related that she was invited as guest speaker during

the oath taking of 2,000 new teachers who passed the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET).

She saidthat the occasion became an opportunity to highlight the vital role of competent and excellent teachers who are not only responsible for molding the young minds of students, but are also considered as role models and change agents.

“There is a need to support our teachers in terms of upgrading and updating their preferred and personal proficiency and development,” the councilor said.

ing of multiple counts of graft charges against MMDA Assistant General Manager Edenison Fainsan, Director Leonila Querijero, Consultant Rolando Josef, Chief Revenue Officer Cleofe Ablog and General Manager Robert Nacianceno.

The statement added that Ombudsman Morales also found Fainsan and Querijero guilty of Grave Misconduct and ordered their dismissal from the service.

“They were also meted the accessory penalties of per-

petual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits and cancellation of eligibility with bar from taking the civil service examination. In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondents’ one year salary.”

In a special audit conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA), Fernando and the rest of the accused were served with a number of Notices of Disallowance in relation

to their disbursements from 2003 until 2009.

The disallowed disbursements include the P1.6million birthday cash gift to Fernando; the P11.8million as expenses for cultural projects; and the P10.8million in cash incentives granted to the chairman and members of the Executive Committee.

Other irregularities noted

by COA in the MMFF fund disbursements include the lack of official receipts issued by the

Former MMDA chair Fernando charged for multi-million MMFF fund scam T

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of 13 informations for violations of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or the Republic Act No. 3019 against former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando for the anomalous utilization of the Metro Manila Film Fest (MMFF) funds.

In a statement posted in its website on Tuesday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales also ordered the fil-

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Davao City to host International Gab on Human Rights

By SONNY L. MENDOZA

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AVAO City will be the venue of the International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (ICRPP) slated on July 23-24, 2016.

In a privilege speech sponsoring the resolution for Davao to host the conference, Councilor Antoinette Principe-Castrodes explained that the event is a follow through to the First International Conference on Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines held in July 2013.

The conference was attended by 280 delegates representing people’s organizations, movements and institutions, and other participants from across the globe.

“The First International Conference for human rights then affirmed people’s rights as encompassing economic, social, cultural, civil and political dimensions and the need to assert and defend these rights amid imperialist assaults in the form of new international agreements, heightening militarism, and instigation of war,” Principe-Castrodes said.

In her resolution, the councilor said that the upcoming conference aims to continue the advocacy of unifying and initiating the participation of people who are determined to promote and uphold the sanctity of human rights.

In particular, the human rights conference seeks to ex-

pose the delegates to the current situation of the Filipino people, and shed light on the various sectors’ realities and struggles.

The event also envisions craft a plan that will lead to a continuing solidarity for peace, human rights and people’s rights in the Philippines.

Moreover, the conference will provide delegates the opportunity to make an appeal to the international community to support the assertion of their rights as guaranteed

by UDHR and other related human rights conventions and instruments.

Principe-Castrodes also noted the timeliness of the conference in light of the recent decision of the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague pertaining to the maritime dispute between China and Philippines.

The councilor likewise noted that the gathering would provide an opportunity to highlight the recent acts of violence against Mindanao’s Lumad leaders, particularly the reported killing of Hermie Alegre and the assault on tribal chief Danny Diarog.

“This conference hopes to amplify the hopes to put forward and amplify the calls of the Filipino people to the new President of the Republic of the Philippine, His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Principe-Castrodes said.

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Panabo mayor denies links to illegal drugs

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE mayor of Panabo City in Davao del Norte on Tuesday denied the allegations linking his name to illegal drug activities in the city.

In a statement sent to the media, Mayor James G. Gamao condemned the rumors that are circulating in the city, calling the same as “purely

political in nature aiming to discredit not only the name of the Mayor but the whole city government.“ Gamao added that talks on the alleged raid conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in his residence is entirely false.

The same statement also

presented the side of PDEA Davao del Norte, quoting Claudito Cañada, the provincial director, affirming that there is no basis on Mayor Gamao’s involvement into illegal drugs.

Gamao said his office has been communicating with the police since the first day of the implementation of Oplan Tok/

Taphang in the city.

“We have also cleansed the city government against employees involved in illegal drugs because we want to serve our citizens with integrity,” the mayor’s statement added.

The City has also commit-

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COURTESY CALL. Councilor Bernard Al-ag (left) exchanges pleasantries with Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of the Philippine Army’s 10th ID, during yesterday’s regular session when the latter paid a courtesy visit to the City Council. Lean Daval Jr.

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

Dads, transport sector to discuss traffic woes

By SONNY L. MENDOZA

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HE Davao City Council yesterday passed a resolution that will gather various stakeholders in the transportation industryearly next month in a bid to address the worsening traffic problem in the city.

The transport conference aims toprovide a venue for concerned national line agencies, private bus companies, and operators of delivery trucks, haulers, vans, PUJs, Taxis, and Trisikads to find a common ground and formulate measures to mitigate the city’s deteriorating traffic situation.

“We shall be giving voice to what these industry players have got to say about the problem at hand,” Councilor Conrado Baluran, author of the resolution, said in his privilege speech.

The councilor noted that Dabawenyos are starting to set aside the concept of “rush hour,” as the gridlocks in the city’s streets have now become the norm and seems to be at its “highest even during midday.”

Baluran, who chairs the city council’s committee on transportation and communication, identified the junctions

of Ulas, Matina Crossing, Buhangin Crossing and Panacan Bridge as among the city’s major bottlenecks.

“At the moment, these areas continue to test the patience of motorists and pedestrians alike,” the councilor said.

He said that he expects the traffic situation to further deteriorate in the coming weeks and months as the city gears up for the Kadayawan Festival celebrations and the Christmas holiday season.

“We look forward to having busier streets and more crowded thoroughfares as the

number of visitors in our city increases – a matter that we could gladly welcome if we were more prepared,” Baluran said.

“It is our fervent desire that through everybody’s involvement, we could all find ultimate and lasting solutions to this nagging and worsening traffic situation in our city,” he concluded.

The conference will also be attended by representatives from the Davao City Water District and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

judging for the awards namely economic dynamism, government efficiency, and infrastructure which are deemed to be pillars of development.

you, I am humbled and proud of the recognition. We all have worked hard with our 18 LGU’s together with our committed partners in development”, said

the most improved LGU’s which also highlights the importance of public and private partnership.

In so doing, the NCC aims

For her part, Cotabato Governor Emmylou ‘Lala’ J. Taliño-Mendoza said she is more than happy that the province has been included in the Top 10 most competitive in the whole nation.

“We Cotabateños should carry on with what we do best for the province. Just like all of

Gov Taliño-Mendoza.

The NCC determined the population and income weighted average of the overall scores of the provinces, cities and municipalities all over the country by looking into the said pillars.

Aside from the commendations for most competitive LGU’s the NCC also recognized

to promote a higher level of awareness on the importance of commitment to improve the performances of LGU’s and attain further development.

Through competitiveness, the NCC is optimistic that the country will become more attractive for business and investors. (PGO Media Center)

aged 10 – 14 years old.

Of the total number of reported cases, Ebol said 70 percent were reported cases in Davao City (1,648) where the cases are highest in Buhangin (254), Talomo North (235) and South (227), Agdao (157), Bunawan (124) and Tugbok (123). There were eight deaths in Davao City.

Dengue cases were also high in Davao Oriental with 1,052 cases; followed by Davao del Norte with 913 cases; Compostela Valley with 620 and Davao del Sur with 291 cases.

According to Ebol, environmental sanitation factors and rainfall pattern triggered the sharp increase in dengue cases. She said the season enables the aedes mosquito to hatch egg for a long period.

While anti-dengue programs and the awareness have been strengthened, Ebol said there is still need for local chief executives especially the barangay officials to exercise political will and be pro-active in implementing laws such as the Memorandum Circular 2012 issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD), an inter-agency cooperation strategy as the government’s response to intensify fight against dengue and reduce dengue cases and control dengue transmission.

One of the key initiatives ABD is the installation of the Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System or OL Trap for Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is a device

consisting of a tumbler, strips of plywood and pellets.

Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are acute viral infections that affect infants, young children and adults caused by bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses.

Ebol said there must also be a community engagement to implement community-based programs, Households should also observe the 4 o’clock habit and ensure that water drums and pails are covered, water in vases are replaced, see to it that gutters are clean from leaves and debris, collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water. (PNA)

SouthCot, NorthCot picked 3rd, 5th most competitive provinces in PHL

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OR effectively implementing programs and projects that promote public and private sector collaboration and for instilling excellence in public service through inclusive growth and poverty reduction, the Province of Cotabato was named 5th Most Competitive Province for 2016 by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

The NCC made the pronouncement during the 4th Regional Competitiveness Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City last July 14, 2016.

The Province of Cotabato made it to the Top 5 Most Competitive Province along with the Provinces of Rizal (Rank 1), Cavite (Rank 2), South Cotabato (Rank 3), Laguna (Rank 4) and Cotabato (Rank 5).

Other recognized provinces include Sultan Kudarat (Rank 6), Bataan (Rank 7), Aklan (Rank 8 ), Batangas (Rank 9) and La Union (Rank 10).

Three categories have been used as basis for measuring the competitiveness of Local Government Units and

Highest number in dengue cases in Davao Region recorded

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ENGUE fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever continue to be in alarming situation in Davao region with 4,564 reported cases and 40 deaths from January to June this year despite the government’s strengthened anti-dengue campaign.

Engr. Antonieta Ebol, Dengue Prevention and Control Program Manager of the Department of Health (DoH) XI said dengue cases is 147 percent higher from last year’s six month period with 1,850 cases and seven deaths.

Most of the deaths were noted under the age group one to four years old with 15 deaths and five to nine years old also with 15 deaths. There were three deaths of children aged one year old; two deaths

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Green groups back Rody’s drive vs trash E NVIRONMENTAL health activists have echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call on local authorities to clean up the ubiquitous trash in areas under their jurisdiction, lamenting that the garbage problem has persisted due to the lack of political will in implementing the ecological solid waste management law.

Last Friday, Duterte scored local government officials over the all-pervasive garbage in many cities and municipalities across the archipelago.

“Many localities in the country are so dirty and yet the mayors are not doing anything about it. There is trash and garbage around and if you have to wait for the plastic to go inside the drainage every time there’s downpour and excessive rainwater, nagka-clog,” the President said.

“We empathize with President Duterte’s comments regarding the filthy state of our surroundings that is sadly becoming a rule rather than an exception. If you look around, there is litter all over from tiny cigarette butts to the omnipresent plastic bags,” stated Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.

“By his words, we can see how upset he is with the dismal failure of many officials in fulfilling their responsibilities to prevent and reduce garbage that has obviously spilled into the streets, storm drains, rivers and into the oceans,” she added.

“We hope that he will follow this up with marching orders at his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) that will instruct national and local government officials to faithfully enforce R.A. 9003 towards a basura-free republic where our children can safely grow, play and live,” she said.

Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is a major environmental legislation that provides a framework for managing discards primarily through waste prevention, reduction, segregation at source, reuse, recycling and composting, excluding open burning and incineration.

Sonia Mendoza, Chairman of Mother Earth Foundation, explained that “R.A. 9003. a decentralization law, devolves solid waste management down to the smallest unit of government, the barangay. It can be implemented with the full support of the municipal or city mayor. It mandates source seg-

regation, segregated collection, segregated waste destination and the establishment of a materials recovery facility (MRF) in every barangay or cluster of barangays.”

The President’s remarks should spur lazy and negligent public officials to abandon their lethargic approach in implementing the law, which many environmentalists worldwide have hailed as a model poly for responsibly managing society’s discards, the activists said.

“It is often said that the Philippines has some of the best and forward looking environmental laws in the world.

The tragedy is that many of these laws remain lamentably unimplemented, often undermined by corruption and myopia on the part of government officials responsible for enforcing them,” said Von Hernandez of Greenpeace.

“It is scandalous that local governments are wasting billions of pesos on waste management approaches that only exacerbate the problem of environmental pollution through dumpsites, landfills and socalled waste-to-energy facilities, when in fact the safe, simple and inexpensive solutions to this problem already exists in our statutes,” he added.

“With Secretary Gina Lopez now at the helm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Solid Waste Management Commission, we hope that the Duterte administration will seriously apply its hardnosed and no nonsense approach in mainstreaming Zero Waste solutions to liberate our cities and towns from waste and pollution,” the groups said.

Zero Waste solutions, according to the groups, turn discards into resources that can generate sustainable jobs and livelihood opportunities for marginalized families, particularly those from the informal waste sector.

Recycling, reuse, composting and other Zero Waste strategies conserve resources and energy while support community self-reliance and development.

The implementation of Zero Waste solutions will reduce the volume of discards requiring final disposal and eradicate the need for costly waste burners, including waste-to-energy incinerators, which emit dioxins, mercury and greenhouse gases, among many other toxic pollutants, the groups said. (PNA)

15-minute power interruption on July 20 in downtown area

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AVAO Light and Power Co. will conduct a 15-minute power interruption on July 20, Wednesday, from 11:00PM to 11:15PM affecting customers in Sta. Ana, Magsaysay and City Hall Drive.

Specifically affected are those in Porras St., Lapu-Lapu St., Soliman St., Palm Village., RGA Subd., Gempesaw St., Juan Luna St., Gales St., Dona Pilar St., Bolton St. and Magallanes St. This service disruption will be necessary to facilitate

the upgrading works in Davao Light’s 69kV line.

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience of this scheduled power interruption. But it will exert all efforts to restorae electric service as scheduled or earlier. However, there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

Please contact our emergency service at 229-3572 for any power interruption that will fall outside the given indicated schedule.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Tourism will insulate Sino arrivals despite UN tribunal ruling -- DOT

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ESPITE the possible decline in Chinese tourist arrivals to the Philippines after the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea territorial row, the Department of Tourism (DOT) assured that tourism in the country will be able to insulate itself.

“It’s basically business as usual,” Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. told reporters in an interview, recognizing the fact that China is an important source market for Philippines currently at the third spot after South Korea and the United States.

“We’ve always believed that tourism as an industry will be able to insulate itself.

We are confident that there will be no negative impact on tourism inflow in the Philippines,” he added.

Bengzon further said that partners on both countries continue to work very closely to ensure two-way traffic is not disrupted.

He also said that the department maintains a consistent strategy of maintaining “an optimum mix of source

markets.”

“We have to make sure that the lineup of markets we are targeting allows us to withstand or mitigate whatever negative impact we might experience,” the tourism official said.

Bengzon said that the key is to make sure the country is able to get the numbers from selected markets so that if there is a decline in one market, the other markets are able to compensate.

“The good thing about it is because of the strategy, we have adapted despite the difficulties we experienced in there recent years and sharp decrease in some markets as a result of advisories and some other factors, we have managed to grow month on month positive over the last five years,” Bengzon said.

“Even if we would have a decline of let’s say 30 percent in one market, we are able to pull up the figures because we are getting 15, 20, 25 percent in some other markets,” he added.

DA pushes new support program for rice farmers T

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the implementation of a new support program that would provide free seeds and other inputs to palay or rice farmers for two cropping seasons starting next year.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, said they are currently working on the details and arrangements for the initiative, which he described as a top priority of the DA and the national government’s rice self-sufficiency program.

He said President Rodrigo R. Duterte gave the go-signal

for the program’s implementation during their Cabinet meeting last week.

“I was able to convince the President that over the next three years, DA will support farmers for two planting seasons by providing them with free seeds and fertilizers,” said Pinol, who held a consultation with farmers and fisherfolk in General Santos City on Tuesday.

He also graced the 50th foundation anniversary celebration of South Cotabato and 17th T’nalak Festival in nearby Koronadal City.

Under the scheme, Pinol said farmers who would avail of the free seeds and fertilizers are required to deposit in a bank the equivalent amount of the inputs after the first harvest.

“This is to ensure that they will have money to buy seeds and other inputs that they would need for the next planting,” he said.

Pinol said the program is similar to the old practice of rice farmers wherein they store a portion of their harvests to serve as buffer supplies for the next planting sea-

son.

He said such practice needs to be revived to also help local farmers cope with the impact of climate change, specifically the onset of El Nino and La Nina phenomena.

“Climate change has made everything unpredictable for our agriculture sector. We need to be really prepared and make it must for us achieve food or rice sufficiency in the process,” he said.

Pinol urged local government units to identify and report to the agency the cover-

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Trade between China, ASEAN dips during January-May period

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ILATERAL trade between China and ASEAN has boomed during the past 25 years, but declines were reported this year because of the febrile global economy, a senior official said Tuesday.

Bilateral trade between China and ASEAN rose to USD472.16 billion in 2015 from USD7.96 billion in 1991, with an annual growth rate of 18.5 percent, Vice Commerce Minister Gao Yan said at a news conference.

During the January-May

period, bilateral trade fell 7.1 percent year on year to USD173.57 billion.

The two sides are trying their best to “get bilateral-trade growth back on track as soon as possible”, Gao said.

China currently is ASEAN’s biggest trading partner, while ASEAN is China’s third biggest.

By the end of May, twoway investment had exceeded USD160 billion, with ASEAN remaining a major destination for Chinese companies. (PNA/ Xinhua)

GenSan tuna landings down

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UNA landings at the fish port complex here dropped by about 10 percent during the first half of the year but officials expect the figures to improve in the coming months.

Data released by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) here showed that the area’s fresh and frozen tuna landings from January to June only reached 103,572.469 metric tons (MT) or down by 11,367.272 MT when compared to last year’s 114,939.741 MT. Fresh catches by local tuna fishing fleets mainly comprised the bulk of the tuna landings at 52,299.260 MT, which was up by about 20 percent or 10,234.528 MT from last year’s 42,064.732 MT. But the increase in local tuna catches was offset by the decline in frozen tuna landings that only reached 51,273.208 MT during the period.

Frozen tuna landings, which are mainly imported and unloaded by foreign fishing vessels, reached

72,875.010 in from January to June in 2015. The frozen tuna imports are exclusively for canned tuna processing.

Luisito-Romeo M. Correa, city fish port complex manager, said the drop in tuna landings was mainly due to the low demand for frozen raw materials from local tuna canneries in the previous months.

But he said they expect the tuna landings to pick up in the second half of the year based on rising demand for processing and the increasing catches.

“The vessel arrivals and unloading of frozen tuna have already picked up in June,” the official said.

Frozen tuna imports in June was at 13,979.407 MT after posting an average of around 6,370 MT from January to May. The city, which is home to six of the country’s tuna canneries, is dubbed the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.”

The industry generates annual export receipts of around US$ 350 million and directly employs about 20,000 workers. (PNA)

UKAY-UKAY CHEERS. “Ukay-ukay” business in Davao City is flourishing as more residents prefer to buy secondhand but fashionable clothes especially in the night market or “Tiangge sa Katawhan” that was established by the city government along Roxas Avenue. Lean Daval Jr.

DOE:‘We will follow what’s good for us’

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N the wake of President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement that the administration will not honor the December 2015 Paris agreement on climate change which the Philippines adopted along with 200 countries, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said today the country will implement an energy policy that meets our specific economic requirements.

“We will chart our own course in so far as energy is concerned to ensure energy supply security considering that developing countries

like the Philippines have low carbon emissions. President Duterte is correct in saying that the country is still in the process of industrialization.

We must therefore use whatever energy resources are available and affordable for power generation,” Cusi said.

“While we signed the Paris agreement last year committing ourselves to limit our carbon emissions, we cannot ignore the fact that our level of economic development at this point does not allow us to rely completely on renewable energy sources

or clean energy,” Cusi added.

“We need diversified energy sources to support our growing economy. The Department of Energy is formulating a strategic fuel policy mix to propel the country’s growing economy,” Cusi emphasized.

“We need to build more baseload power plants while also aggressively pushing for clean energy,” he added.

“The DOE,” Cusi stressed, “stands firm in promoting energy efficiency and conservation to complement its thrust for clean energy

development following the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions on climate change mitigation efforts.”

Cusi added, “We will continue to adhere to internationally accepted environmental standards in our energy use.” The DOE is working with the National Economic Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Climate Change Commission to develop a balanced and sustainable energy policy framework.

investments, number of sites, and manpower here.

The company launched its 11th site in Tera Tower in Bridgetowne Campus, Quezon City -- Concentrix’s single largest investment in the country to date.

The investment is one of the company’s five projects registered in Philippine Economic Zone Authority

(PEZA), according to PEZA Spokesperson Elmer San Pascual.

San Pascual said PEZA approved some P1.0 billion worth of projects from Concentrix last year.

Concentrix Bridgetowne Campus office will house some 14,000 workers in addition to its about 20,000 workforce.

Caldwell added that the firm will invest around USD25 million to USD30 million in its Bridgetowne Campus alone in the next 36 months.

He mentioned that the company will also open two more sites for this year; one in Metro Manila and one in the province that will create more than 3,000 jobs once fully operational. (PNA)

Concentrix investing P2.8B in PHL for the next 3 yrs

C

ONCENTRIX, a global business services firm, will be investing USD50 million to USD60 million or around P2.3 billion to P2.76 billion in the Philippines for the next three years.

Concentrix president Chris Caldwell told reporters Tuesday the firm targets to boost its operation in the Philippines by doubling the

6 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

SC junks petition vs Madrid protocol

T CABLE CAR SOLUTIONS. R3 Industrial Solutions Enterprise, Inc. president and chief executive officer Jerome Ornopia appeared before the regular session of the City Council of Davao on Tuesday and officially asked the city

government to allow his company to conduct a study on cable car system which he said might lessen the traffic problems in the city. Lean Daval Jr.

HE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed the petition against the Madrid protocol.

The petition was filed by the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (IPAP) against Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Albert Del Rosario, Ricardo Blancaflor, in their respective official capacities as the Executive Secretary, the Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Director-General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Office).

In a press conference, SC Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesman said that “the Court, voting 13-0 as per Justice Lucas Bersamin, Justice Arturo Brion,

with separate concurring opinion; Justice Francis Jardeleza, no part due to previous participation as Solicitor General; Justice Jose Mendoza, on leave; rendered the following judgment: “WHEREFORE, this Court DISMISSES the petition for certiorari and prohibition for lack of merit; and ORDERS the petitioner to pay the costs of suit,” the SC ruled.

The special civil action for certiorari filed by the petitioner sought to declare the Philippines’ accession to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) unconstitutional on the ground

F SC JUNKS, 10

Tourism policies for Mindanao bared

D

OT Secretary Wanda Teo met with some tourism stakeholders last weekend in Davao, for a brief and casual lunch to touch base with the tourism partners. This is part of the series of consultations with the private sector.

Sharing the tourism direction for the next six years, the secretary emphasized that she and her team will visit the various regions to listen to the stakeholders. “Whatever direction we pursue will not be as successful unless we listen to what our stakeholders have to say, factor in their inputs so that the plans will not just be DOT’s plan– it will be OUR collective plan.”

Emphasizing on stable, resilient, sustainable, transformative, inclusive and shared tourism, Sec. Teo wanted a brand of tourism that is by the people through the contribution of the many enterprises engaged in the business and in service of

tourism; of the people because it conserves and promotes our heritage, national identity and sense of unity; and most importantly, for the Filipino people because what we do contributes meaningfully to their livelihood and their long-term aspirations – a better life for themselves, their families, their communities and our country.

“FOR MINDANAO, we shall put forward a MINDANAO TOURISM AGENDA. We will do this in consultation with you. We will strengthen the BIMP EAGA especially our Philippine participation in this growth corridor. In fact, I am putting up a DOT Office of the secretary here in Davao, the home of our President,” Sec. Teo mentioned.

She further added that the accreditation system is being reviewed to encourage more tourism players to improve their quality of services.

Acknowledging the great potential of the MICE market,

especially for MICE Mindanao, DOT will take a second look into this sector to see what could be done to ensure that the country will get more share of the events and conferences especially in 2017 where the ASEAN will celebrate its 50th year. “ I want Mindanao to take advantage of this event and play host to some of the meetings and events,” Sec.Teo added.

As DOT gears up for the hosting of the Miss Universe in 2017, she is hoping to have Mindanao host activities and events as well.

Other programs being looked into are agri-eco tourism, homestay initiatives, medical tourism and retirement services.

She reiterated once again the support needed from the private sector in the review and discussion of the National Tourism Development Plan and their cooperation in ensuring that more and

F TOURISM POLICIES, 10

DOT Sec. Teo , OIC DOT Mindanao Office Eden David and the Davao and General Santos Tourism leaders

Secretary Wanda Teo sharing DOT’s directions for the next six years Sec. Teo was welcomed by SEDA General Manager Ken Kapulong

10-point economic agenda among the EVAP, TESDA partner for e-vehicle training program topics of President Duterte’s first SONA T C ONTENT rather than fashion.

This will be the focus of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s no frills State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the next six years, the first one of which is set on July 25, 2016, where he will expound on his 10-point economic agenda.

Lawyer Paola Alvarez, who is the Department of Finance (DOF) spokesperson, said the President will discuss, among others, his administration’s comprehensive tax package. ”He will be mentioning on how DOF will be giving the proposals and how the Congress will address this as a whole,” she said in a briefing at Malacanang Monday.

Among the goals of the Duterte administration is the implementation of more infrastructure projects, both small

and big, to ensure the sustained and more inclusive growth of the domestic economy.

These projects will be funded both by improved tax collection and borrowings.

Aside from the economic agenda, the President is also expected to discuss plans on how the current administration will proceed on its bid for a Federal type of government to be able to inform the public on their participation on this, Alvarez said.

On the planned implementation of the death penalty, Alvarez explained that this is allowed under the Philippine Constitution “but some people are not fully informed on what the death penalty will be.” ”So what he (the President) wants is for heinous crimes,” she said, clarifying also issues raised by some lawmakers on

the timing of this plan.

Alvarez said the death penalty and lowering down of age of criminality are two separate issues “because children should never be under the death row.” ”That’s for sure because the law does not allow that. Now for the death penalty it will only be for heinous crimes. What are heinous crimes? These are going to be addressed by the Congress,” she said.

Asked whether the President will mention things he questions from the past administration, Alvarez said no specific details have been discussed yet. ”As of the moment we have no confirmation on what the President’s speech is about. I think based on his personality we don’t see him doing that.

He is one who takes charge

and he is accountable for his actions. All through naman di ba (He has been like that all throughout). I think it will be the same… there will be no blaming game,” she said.

The SONA will be directed by award-winning Filipino Director Brillante Mendoza, who, Alvarez said, will be doing the service pro bono or for free.

Alvarez said Mendoza’s service should not be questioned since past SONA’s had its directors for matters like pacing of topics and others.

And the administration’s goal of putting more importance on the President’s speech rather than on dresses of SONA attendees will be supported by Mendoza’s request that women wear knee-lengthed Filipiniana dresses and for men to wear business suit or barong.

(PNA)

HE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) has partnered with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to develop a training curriculum to support the growing e-vehicle industry.

EVAP and TESDA, through its Green Technology Center (GTC), will be developing programs to do free trainings in technical servicing, maintenance, and repairs of e-vehicles.

Under the agreement, EVAP will provide e-tricycle, e-vehicle parts and components, tools and some testing facilities to TESDA GTC Laboratory as well as resource persons for the hands-on training seminars.

TESDA, on the other hand, will provide the training venue, laboratory, food, and even accommodation for trainees from outside of Metro Manila.

“With more and more play-

ers coming in, both local and foreign, more and more electric vehicles and products are now entering the market. The industry now needs more technical people to support the growing EV industry in terms of proper maintenance, servicing and repairs,” EVAP President Rommel Juan said.

“This will also assure EV buyers that there will be after-sales service available anywhere in the country. We all know that in order to fully develop the EV Industry, we cannot stop at just producing and selling vehicles. We must look at after-sales service as well,” he added.

EVAP and TESDA aimed to roll out the program across the country so that e-vehicle assemblers and distributors will no longer have to send Manila-based engineers to do the after-sales services in provinces. (PNA)

7 TORCHBEARERS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Atty. RAMON EDISON BATACAN:

‘The Media Rescuer’

BY ANTONIO M. AJERO

T

HE Philippines has “The Punisher”, the monicker given to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, in a rare feature article by Time newsmagazine about the then Davao City mayor years before he ran and got elected as President in the May 9, 2016 elections.

“The Punisher” is the title of a blockbuster Hollywood movie based on a Marvel Comics character, starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta.

Then we have “The Fiscalizer” in reference to Senator Leila Delima who vows to investigate how the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies are treating and sometimes killing suspected drug pushers and drug lords in implementing the war on illegal drugs ordered by President Duterte.

Then comes “The Equalizer”, referring to Solicitor- General Jose Calida, who said he would protect the law enforcers waging the anti-drug trade drive from unfair investigation that may be conducted by the Senate.

All three are lawyers with their individual ex-

I call Atty. Batacan “The Rescuer”, or “The Media Rescuer”, for having rescued Davao media practitioners from about a dozen different libel cases. pertise that have distinguished them as law practitioners.

There’s another legal eagle, who like President Duterte and Solgen Calida, is from Davao City who deserves some recognition for the unique legal service that he is doing – that of defending members of the Davao media from charges of libel. He is Ramon Edison C. Batacan, managing partner of the BMV (Batacan, Vincent Paul Montejo and Perla Vicencio) Office, the law firm which has a spanking headquarters at the 7th floor of the Abreeza Corporate Center.

Batacan is a former Davao City chapter president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Eastern Mindanao Governor for the same organization.

I call Atty.

Batacan “The Rescuer”, or “The Media Rescuer”, for

Atty. Ed with President Rodrigo R. Duterte

having rescued Davao media practitioners from about a dozen different libel cases.

Among those he has successfully represented in libel cases are Serafin C. Ledesma Jr., publisher of the Mindanao Journal and now member of the board of directors of the Davao City Water District; he late Renato E. Bartolo, international award-winning columnist of the Mindanao Times; Stella A. Estremera, editor in chief of Sun.Star Davao; Raquel Bagnol, reporter and Nelson C. Bagaforo, editor of SunStar Davao; the late Ely Luciano, editor of Sun. Star Superbalita; Edith Caduaya, formerly of the Mindanao Daily Mirror and Rappler.com; Rhoda Hernandez, formerly of Sun.Star; and broadcaster Alex Sam, and this writer. This list would definitely be longer if it includes media personalities assisted by attorney Batacan in their non-libel cases. The cases were all pro-bono, meaning Mr. Batacan did not ask for payment for his legal services, not even for the reams of documents that he and his staff had to prepare for the cases.

Yes, in many instances including the expenses for transportation and meals that we had to take for out-of-town cases.

The libel charges were either in the Davao City

Atty. Ed with former President Fidel V. Ramos

prosecutor’s office or in various Regional Trial Court (RTC) branches in the cities of Davao, Tagum and Digos.

I can be considered the most benefited by Batacan’s laudable advocacy because he had rescued me in three cases, two of them filed by two different lady medical practitioners and a chief of a city department.

Each of the charges of the two lady doctors carried demands for payment of damages amounting to P20 million, while the lawyers of the chief of office said they would withdraw the case if I and my two co-accused could cough up P2 million!

The latest help Ed Batacan extended to Estremera, Bagaforo and I was when he argued against our conviction by the RTC Digos City in the Court of Appeals. The Appeals Court reversed the decision in our favor two months ago.

The first time I came across the name of Ed Batacan was when he

figured in a sensational environment case representing the people of the Philippines in filing a multi-million case against the owners of 29 ball mills operating in Tagum City and poisoning its people with the use of toxic mercury in extracting gold from the ores.

The ores were brought down from the gold-laden Mt. Diwalwal to downtown Tagum’s ball mills to be processed. Many of the ball mills were located near schools and tests indicated that hundreds of school children had traces of mercury poisoning.

Batacan was then a law student working with the Ateneo Legal Aid Center, one of the laudable corporate social responsibility (CSR)-cum- training projects of the Ateneo de Davao University college of law, the center allowed their brilliant student trainees to handle cases at the time.

I cannot remember now how much the ball mill operators were or-

dered to pay in damages to those deemed to have been exposed to their deadly practice. However, I do remember that the ball mills were ordered padlocked and transferred to area where their operation would do less harm to the people.

Batacan’s and Ateneo legal aid center’s heroism came at a time when we, in the Konsumo Dabaw movement (Consumers Movement of Davao City), were in the thick of a campaign against the use of mercury after some Konsumo leaders in the persons of Jesus G. Dureza, Irene “Inday” Morada-Santiago, Dr. Pilar C. Braga and the late Rey Magno-Teves learned of the Minamata Incident in Japan wherein thousands either died or were maimed after being exposed to mercury use in gold extraction.

It was a legal controversy like no other. And one of the heroes would become Atty Ramon Edison Batacan, “The Media Rescuer”.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

T

Unprecedented

HERE was a time when, as Mayor of Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte was criticized for his lukewarm treatment towards sports. He was unfavored by sports media and the sporting community of Davao because of his declaration that sports is not among his top priorities as manifested by the lack of sports facilities in the city while the rest of the urban centers in Mindanao as well as the neighboring provinces already boasted of their own sports stadiums.

Through his past years as Mayor, however, Duterte has pieced together slowly but surely a respectable sports development program catering to all sectors from the barangays, to schools, to the elite (professional sports) and the elderly.

When he officially hosted the formal sendoff of the Philippine delegation to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Bra-

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zil last Monday, President Duterte actually did the one thing unprecedented in Philippines sports which is to send off its athletes to the quadrennial games.

President Duterte also brought his style in Davao of ‘doubling’ prize money and allowances, but he went further as to tripling the amount of the athetes’ allowances from $1,000 to $3,000 and the officials’ allowances from $3,000 to $5,000.

The gesture for sure boosted the morale of the athletes.

But wait, it did not end there.

The President promised to add to the budget for athletes by going after those business firms who are not paying their taxes.

All that came a day after he himself said he is giving the green light to the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Davao City.

ANTONIO M. AJERO NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Editor in Chief Managing Editor ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ Associate Editor

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EDGEDAVAO

J

ULY is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.

Previously, July was called Quintilis in Latin, since it was the fifth month in the ancient Roman calendar, which traditionally set March as the beginning of the year before it was changed to January at the time of the decemvirs about 450 BC. The name was then changed by Augustus to honor Julius Caesar, who was born in July.

In the ancient Roman calendar the ides of July fell on the 15th day of the month.

July’s birthstone is the ruby which symbolizes contentment. Its birth flowers are the Larkspur or the Water Lily. The Zodiac signs for this month include Cancer and Leo. Until 1962, the Philippines celebrated Independence Day on July 4; today it is known as Filipino-American Friendship Day. Of course, the United States considered the Fourth of July as its Independence Day. Other countries which celebrates Independence Day in July include Somalia (July 1), Belarus (July 3), Algeria (July 5), Argentina (July 9), Bahamas (July 10), Colombia (July 20), Belgium (July 21), Maldives (July 26), Peru (July 28), and Vanuatu (July 30).

Several histories were recorded in the month of July. On July 1, 1847, the first adhesive postage stamp was offered for sale. On July 2, 1881, American President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau at the Washington Railroad Station; in 1937, on the same day, Amelia Earhart and her airplane were lost in Pacific Ocean.

B

UILT around 1917, the Puericulture Center of Davao, which hosted numerous prewar social gatherings of local residents and their Hispanic friends, was originally built at the area where the present-day San Pedro Police Station women and children desk is situated.

Rogelio L. Lizada, in Sang-awun sa Dabaw (One Upon a Time in Davao 1848-1950’s), published in 2002, nostalgically wrote about the events that were nightly held at the center: “Townsfolk [went] to the Puericulture Center (corner of San Pedro and Claveria in front of the Plaza towards Trading) where dances were held. Most party-goers walked on the dusty road in their party dresses, some in saya [skirts] and the ladies had their own chaperons who sat beside them to watch during the whole night. Live music was provided by an orchestra.”

Plaza refers to the Osmeña Park besides the Davao City legislative building.

Regarded as the equal of Davao Club, which chiefly catered the Americans, non-Hispanic Europeans and other expatriates, the center, according to the 1922 Report of the Philippine Health Service, held weekly consultations for babies and gave lectures to attending mothers, hence its label as a puericulture center.

To the Spaniards and their scions residing in prewar Davao, the club was known as Club de Mujeres, in honor of their women. To remember their Hispanic roots, the bistro at the second floor was named La Peña Iberica, literally translated as the ‘Iberian rock’.

A club in prewar times, as in Club Filipino, was strictly a place for social gatherings. Most of the time, though, it served as a place of gathering

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

VANTAGE POINTS

9

The historic month of July July 4 was THINK ON THESE! very historic day for the United States. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved.

American Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died in 1826; Henrylito D. Tacio James Monroe henrytacio@gmail.com died five years later.

Calvin Coolidge was born in 1872.

On July 5, the bikini bathing suit made its debut in Paris, France in 1946. In 1885, on July 6, Louis Pasteur successfully tested an anti-rabies vaccine on a boy bitten by an infected dog.

On July 7, 1922, the Reader’s Digest was founded; several years earlier, in 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii.

Several historical events happened on July 16: General Ulysses S. Grant was named commander-in-chief of all the Union armies (1862), the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico (1945), and John F. Kennedy, Jr., 38, and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, 33, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, 34, were killed when the Piper Saratoga Airplane he piloted crashed off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts (1999).

On July 22, 1796, the city of Cleveland was founded by General Moses Cleveland. In 1893,

on the same day, Katharine Bates wrote America the Beautiful. The Beatles US album, Introducing The Beatles, was released in 1963, also on July 22.

On July 29, 1863, Queen Victoria restated British neutrality. Painter Vincent van Gogh died in Auvers, France on July 29, 1890. The first telephone conversation occurred from New York to San Francisco on July 29, 1914.

The Philippines has its shares of famous historical events that happened in July. On July 1, 1973, San Juanico Bridge with a span of 2,162 meters was inaugurated. The bridge linked the islands of Samar and Leyte. On July 5, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur announced the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese Forces.

On July 16, 1990, the great earthquake damaged Baguio City and many areas of Central Luzon. On July 27, 1914, Iglesia Ni Cristo was established in Sta. Ana, Manila. Also on July 27 (1946), the remains of President Manuel L. Quezon arrived in Manila from the United States where he passed away. Only July 28, 1963, twenty-four Filipino Boy Scouts and Senior Scout delegates perished in an airplane crash in the Arabian Sea en route to the 11th World Jamboree in Greece.

July was also a historical month for Jose Rizal. On July 3, 1892, he established La Liga Filipina, a civic movement aimed at reuniting Filipinos to act together for reforms and autonomy from the unjust administration of the Spaniards. Four days later, he was captured and exiled to Dapitan in Mindanao. Also on July 7,

1892, Andres Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata and Valentin Diaz established the “Katipunan,” a revolutionary movement aimed to fight for freedom against Spain.

More than a hundred famous celebrities were born on July 13: American actor Harrison Ford (1942), best known for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series.; Briths actor Patrick Stewart (1940), most famous for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and as Professor Xavier in the X-Men films; American actress Ashley Scott (1977), noted for her roles in the television series Dark Angel, Birds of Prey, and Jericho; French filmmaker Catherine Breillat (1948); Academy Award winning American writer and film director Cameron Crowe (1957); and French structural and civil engineer Eugene Freyssinet (1879).

Other famous people who shared the same birthday on July 13 include American music singer Louise Mandrell, French film actor Michel Constantin, Hungarian inventor Ernő Rubik, and Russian-Armenian singer Eva Rivas.

The following celebrities were also born on the month of July: French actress Leslie Caron, French president Georges Pompidou, Grammy Award-winning composer and band leader Doc Severinsen, Pulitzer Prize winner Walter Kerr, English writer Ann Ward Radcliffe, John Wanamaker, Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman, American author Erle Stanley Gardner, naturalist Gilbert White.

for Filipinos; in FAST BACKWARD the absence of malls then, people celebrated, played, danced and toasted at the center.

To distinguish the club from other kinds of clubs, Antonio V. Figueroa places for nocturnal dancing were known as cabarets. The drinking pubs, where ladies cavorted with men and sipped booze, were called nightclubs. For those seeking the intimate company of pleasure women, there were a handful inconspicuous brothels in unremarkable places, some catering to Japanese nationals.

After the war, the lot where the center was built was reverted to the province and given to the Davao Women’s Club. On Sept. 26, 1947, the Provincial Board of Davao approved Resolution No. 124 donating to the club, for use as puericulture center, Lot 72-A containing 2,784 square meters covered by a Torrens title in the province’s name. But it was not a smooth turnover.

A month later, on Oct. 24, 1947, at the request of lawyer Remedios Ponferrada, a former city councilor, the Board approved Resolution No. 151, which granted her request to lease 600 square meters of the same property, subject “to the contract to be entered into by the applicant on one hand and the provincial government of

Davao on the other” to be prepared by the fiscal.

Even more disturbing was the Board’s initiatives approving Resolutions 199 and 200, which excluded the area to be leased from the area donated. Then on Feb. 12, 1948, for unmentioned reason, the Board passed Resolution No. 70, revoking the donation and the lease, arguing the contracts for both the club and would-be lessee were not formally executed.

Less than a month later, on March 2, 1948, the Board approved Resolution No. 146 donating to the club the entire lot numbered 72-A, with the deed of donation notarized by the provincial governor. Promptly, the club signed the deed and submitted it to the President who conveyed it to Secretary of the Interior for approval.

On Oct. 24, 1950, the donation was approved, and the club obtained the corresponding certificate of title in its name on Jan. 10, 1950.

As a result of this development, the club filed a case before the Court of First Instance, seeking the ejection of Ponferrada from the portion she occupied. But the defendant disputed the validity of the donation, asserted possession under a lease granted by the Province of Davao and claimed as a builder in good faith of a house on the disputed lot. The lower court determined that (i) the donation was fully executed after a title was issued to the club and (ii) declared the defendant a builder in good faith entitled to compensation for her building, Unable to address some fine legal points in the case, the plaint was elevated to the Supreme Court.

In case G.R. No. L-11843, decided on May 31, 1963, the high tribunal, citing the declaration of the Office of the President dated Nov. 17, 1950,

which cited the decision of the Secretary of the Interior supporting the position that “Ponferrada shall be allowed to lease 600 square meters of Lot No. 72-A for a period the duration of which shall be determined by the parties on the basis by which the original cost of construction may have been liquidated if said house were rented at a reasonable rate prevailing in the locality, taking into account the size of the house and the purpose for which it could be used.”

Another point that was underscored in the case was the club’s juridical personality which, upon acceptance of the donation, was not yet registered as a corporation. However, the court, which also dismissed the claims for damages against the club, argued that the Women’s Club of Davao City and Davao City Women’s Club, Inc. were one and the same.

The province wanted to invoke incapacity on the part of the club and expressed desire to revoke the donation, but the Court invoked Article 1302 of the Civil Code, saying “that having duly approved the resolution of donation and the document giving it effect, the province of Davao may not now allege the incapacity of the Club to enter into the contract of donation; because the Civil Code provides that persons sui juris ‘cannot . . . avail themselves of the incapacity of those with whom they contracted’ in order to annul their contract.”

In closing, the SC decided to affirm the decision of the lower court and ordered Ponferrada to vacate the premises after receiving payment for her building, which had by then ballooned to P12,000 from the original price of P8,000 when the edifice was first constructed.

‘Club de Mujeres’

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

IP groups... FROM 1

Warrants of arrest against the 15 were already issued last May 13 by Judge Retrina E. Fuentes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Davao City.

The cases stemmed from the alleged forced confinement of more than 800 lumads coming from various areas in Bukidnon, Davao del Norte and Davao City inside the Haran Compound of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) last year.

The complainants include Datu Kalumpot Dalon, Datu Laris Landahay, Libara Angkomog, Juvanie Angkomog, Limar Mansomoy-at and Tata Angkomog Lundia.

The DOJ, in a decision that came out on Monday reversed its April 5 ruling and granted the motion for reconsideration filed by the 15 respondents.

The DOJ stipulated in its latest decision that the April 5, 2016 decision that found probable cause against the respondents was based on the jurisprudential premise that the private complainants were forced to stay and were confined against their will is the deprivation of liberty contemplated in Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.

“With the desistance and recantation of ALL the complainants in this case, however,

it has become apparent to the undersigned that, in this case, there has been no deprivation of liberty committed by the respondents upon the complainants,” the DOJ resolution added.

The DOJ also took note of the respondents’ argument that the “Complainants’ claim of kidnapping is just a ploy and tactic to remove the other remaining lumads who are seeking sanctuary in the UCCP Haran compound.”

Fanagel, in expressing gratitude to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II added that the decision is a promising development to other human rights defenders all over the country who are charged with fabricated charges and are still waiting for resolution from courts.

“We hope the department will set this case as a precedent so that the hundreds of other trumped-up charges filed against other HR defenders be reversed or dismissed”, he said.

Another lumad leader from Bukidnon and one of the respondents, Isidro Indao also said: “This is a victory for us, yet there is still a lot to be done as we will continue to seek for justice to what the military and paramilitary groups has done to us, lumads, and to the people who support us and are willing to walk with us in our struggle”.

LGUs (local government units) to prove receipt of funds granted for cultural projects; the absence of duly approved payrolls for the cash incentives; and the issuance of the checks for cash incentives in the name of a Ablog and on a pay-to-cash basis.

“Respondents’ conspiratorial act of authorizing and approving the irregular payments and expenditures depleted the funds of the MMFF thereby causing it undue injury,” Ombudsman Morales said.

R.A 3019, particularly Section 3(e) provides that public officials are prohibited from causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

Fernando served as MMDA chairman from June 2002 until December 2009.

leaks in water pumps in times of disaster may lead to contamination of water, making it unsafe to drink.

“As lessons learned from Yolanda we will ensure that all of these will be provided without hesitation to ensure the health safety of evacuees,” she said as part of the preparations that DOH lined-up in the observance of Disaster Prepared Month this July.

She added that as additional services, they also included the provision of hy-

giene as well as dignity kits for women. These include sanitary napkins, underwear and a ‘malong’ (a traditional “tube skirt” made of handwoven or machine-made multi-colored cotton cloth, bearing a variety of geometric designs) so that they can protect and cover themselves during their temporary stay in evacuation centers.

The DOH noted that reproductive healths services will also be provided to evacuees.

(PNA)

of the lack of concurrence by the Senate.

The petitioner asked the SC to declare the implementation thereof as unconstitutional because it conflicts with Republic Act No. 8293, or the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines” (IP Code of the Philippines).

The SC ruled that the President’s ratification sans Senate concurrence of the Madrid Protocol to be valid and constitutional because the Madrid Protocol is an executive agree-

ment as determined by the DFA and does not thus require Senate concurrence.

It upheld the exercise of discretion by the DFA Secretary in this case to make a preliminary determination of the nature of the agreement under Section 9, Executive Order No. 459 (Series of 1997).

The SC sustained respondent DFA Secretary’s determination that the Madrid Protocol was an executive agreement not requiring Senate concurrence. (PNA)

Former... FROM 2

DOH... FROM 2

SC junks... FROM 6

ILLEGAL PARKING HIT. Councilor Bernard Al-ag urges the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) to strictly implement the ordinance that prevents motorists from parking their vehicles along national highways. Lean Daval Jr.

Panabo... FROM 3 ted to deliver the mandate of the Oplan “Double Barrel” program of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa.

“To increase awareness regarding the activity, information, communication, and educational (IEC) materials were extended with the help of local officials and the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) to the barangays in Panabo City,” he added.

Gamao said that as of Tuesday, July 19, a total of 1,095 drug dependents and mules in Panabo City have already surrendered and took their oath of commitment to

stop the illegal drug activities in the area.

The City has also partnered with the local government unit of New Corella, Davao del Norte to provide rehabilitation for drug dependents, he added.

“It is also our commitment to ensure the delivery of services for the health and safety of Panaboans during this administration,” Gamao said, as he expressed full support to the anti illegal drug programs of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The fight against illegal drugs in Panabo City will continue until it is completely washed-out, Gamao said.

The tourism official said that it matters less whether the country gets this much from a particular country.

“What’s important is that collectively we are able to grow as an industry, we are able to get tourism receipts, arrivals and employment up,” he further said.

This year, data from the DOT showed that China is the third top tourism market with

285,348 visitors or a share of 11.33 percent of the 2.51-million foreign tourists that visited the Philippines from January to May. China also posted the highest tourism growth of 80.79 percent rate.

The department is looking at acquiring 6 to 6.5-million foreign tourist arrivals and USD 5-6-billion receipts by yearend. (PNA)

Tourism... FROM 5

DA pushes... FROM 5 age of their existing rice areas for the proper allocation of the free seeds and fertilizers.

He said they should also submit a list of their proposed rice expansion areas and the needed interventions, especially on irrigation.

The official said DA is ready to provide communal irrigation projects and other related machineries to facilitate the opening of new rice areas.

During the consultation

here, Pinol led the turnover of around P190 million worth of farm machineries, fishing gears and projects to farmers’ and fisher folk groups as well as local government units here and nearby Sarangani Province.

He said DA will deliver more support projects and machineries to local farmers in the coming months as part of the continuing farm modernization program. (PNA)

better tourism products and services are made available to the tourists. She wants support in the aggressive marketing and promotions of our tourism destinations. She also highlighted the active participation in data collection initiatives for a better basis for tourism statistics so tourism investments are guided.

Having come from the private sector, the secretary mentioned the challenges of the tourism private sector if not given an enabling environment to enhance the competitiveness in the market, thus her assurance that DOT

will listen to the private sector’s suggestions and inputs.

Capping her speech with the challenge to the private sector to be partners in making the tourism industry fulfil its promise to improve the lives of the Filipinos because , according to the Secretary, at the end of the day, that is the real mission.

The Davao private sector gathering is just one of the series to be done in the coming months. DOT already came up with a national gathering of national tourism leaders to introduce the Secretary and her incoming team.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

STYLE

Layered against the rain

By Kenneth Irving Ong MANGO, THE FAMOUS LOW COST FASHION SPANISH CLOTHING BRAND FOUNDED IN BARCELONA, CATALONIA

BY ISAK ANDIK IN 1984, recently rolled out their Spring Summer - Autumn Winter transition collection.

The new collection features a balance of different textures, more muted colors as well as the introduction of metallic flourishes which are as appealing on the streets as they are on the brand’s website.

Hot trends to look out for this season are the bomber jackets which are embellished with embroidery as well as tropical print jackets which are perfect for intermittent rainy days.

For denim lovers, Mango’s latest collection also features jeans, denim dresses, shirt dresses and jackets which are youthful and comfortable, sexy but not overtly sexed up.

Mango’s latest collection can be viewed at their stores at the Abreeza Mall and at SM City Davao.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

EDGED

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

THOUSANDS OF FILIPINOS OVERSEAS FELT RIGHT AT HOME as GMA Pinoy TV kicked off a month-long celebration of the 118th Philippine Independence Day in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Bannered by some of GMA’s brightest stars, the series of events was as vibrant and colorful as our nation’s history, and exuded a truly festive Filipino atmosphere – full of entertainment, laughter, food, and a sense of community.

GMA Pinoy TV, along with GMA’s other international channels GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International, served as exclusive media sponsors of the events abroad.

Fittingly, Kapuso star and 2013 Miss World Megan Young kick started the worldwide festivities with “Kalayaan sa Kuwait,” organized by Filcom, a group composed of various Filipino organizations in the country, along with the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait last May 29.

Filipinos who came to the Qadsia Sports Club in Hawally, Kuwait warmly welcomed Megan as she entertained the crowd with musical numbers and met with Kapuso fans at the end of the show. The Conan My Beautician lead actress was also able to tour the city before paying a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait and the Philippine

Overseas Labor Office.

The regal Kapuso beauty then flew to California where her presence drew one of the largest crowds ever in the history of the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Carson City.

After her performance held in Veterans Park on June 11, Megan was bestowed with various awards and commendations by the California Senate, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Carson, and the Philippine Independence Day Foundation of Carson, which organized the event.

Over in the United Arab Emirates, Kapuso Premier Actress Lovi Poe bannered the “118th Philippine

Independence Day in Dubai” at the spacious Dubai World Trade Center last June 3, spearheaded by the Philippine Independence Day Celebration Organizing Committee and the Philippine Consular Office in Dubai.

For Lovi, who had just come from a vacation to various parts of Europe at the time, the event was as much a homecoming for her as it was for her kababayans as the Filipino community in Dubai gathered to celebrate their rich heritage. While in the city, Lovi also spent time with overseas Filipino

workers d the Philip met with Meanw actress A for “Kalin the Unit Qatar, in Philippin With h and warm fellow Fi visit to well as th her perfo Hotel.

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EDAVAO

during her courtesy visit to ppine Consular Office and h local Filipino media. while, stunning Kapuso Andrea Torres was in Doha nangan 2016” organized by ted Filipino Organizations n partnership with the ne Embassy in Qatar. her congenial personality mth, Andrea won over her ilipinos during a courtesy the Consulate Office, as he crowd who came to see ormance at the Sheraton

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Jaya is newest ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ judge VIEWERS ARE UP FOR MORE HUGE SURPRISES IN “IT’S SHOWTIME’S” “TAWAG NG TANGHALAN” as Queen of Soul Jaya adds excitement to the most talked about competition in noontime and joins its stellar list of hurados.

As the newest hurado, she will evaluate the performances of aspiring singers from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila.

Now that she is part the popular singing contest, the Queen of Soul is thrilled to share her knowledge and hone the talent of potential singing superstars.

Aside from Jaya, Kyla, Erik Santos, and maestro Louie Ocampo have already been introduced as Quarter Three’s newest jurados.

Don’t miss the talented Pinoy singers as they battle for supremacy in “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in the noontime variety show “It’s Showtime,” Mondays to Saturdays in ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

For more information, log-on t oTa w a g N gTa n g h a l a n . a b s - c b n . c o m / livestream and follow “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on Facebook (facebook.com/ TawagNgTanghalan), Twitter (@TNTABSCBN), and Instagram (@TawagNgTanghalan).

Serving a seamless society

Independence Day celebrations closed with the “BirminghamSandwell-West Midlands Fiesta Celebrations” in the United Kingdom featuring Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes, and presented by the non-profit community group, the Birmingham Filipino-British Community Volunteers last July 3.

Over 5,000 people gathered at the biggest Filipino fiesta celebration in the West Midlands, which took place at the scenic Lightwoods Park, with the crowd enthusiastically cheering during Dingdong’s performance. In the days leading to the event, the actor, who will play a special role in the upcoming retelling of the fantasy series Encantadia, also took some time away from the television cameras to pay a visit to the Philippine Embassy in the UK, to tour London’s iconic landmarks and to meet with his fellow Filipinos in the country.

“These events across the globe are truly a festive and heartwarming reminder of what it is to be a Filipino to those who are far away from home,” says GMA First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia. “As the global Filipino community continues to expand, GMA Pinoy TV will also continue to reach more of our kababayans abroad, wherever they may be in the world.”

For further details on the international events sponsored

by GMA Pinoy TV, follow GMA Pinoy TV on Facebook at www. facebook.com/ GMAPinoyTV, and on Twitter and Instagram via the handle @ GMAPinoyTV. For more information on how to subscribe to GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International, go to www.gmapinoytv. com.

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

ntinuing the celebration in Canada, the wacky g of Kapuso leading man Rodriguez and amazing comedian Betong Sumaya audiences amused at the y Fiesta and Trade Show ronto” organized by the pine Canadian Charitable dation, last June 18.

Metro Toronto Convention e was filled to capacity with o-Canadians, among them local dignitaries of the dian government, as Tom etong took to the stage for ousing performances.

A Pinoy TV’s Philippine

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UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Renegade Folk expands and flourishes with Shopify BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES USUALLY START WITH AN INSPIRATION. For Regina Sambalido and her business partners, the idea of making affordable yet lovely-looking leather sandals available to Filipinos came during a trip abroad where they stumbled upon several stores selling beautiful leather footwear. They were so taken with the sandals that they decided to bring a couple of pairs home and offer them online.

This started their love affair with footwear and the birth of Renegade Folk.

Regina and her three siblings together with Bibay Puyat initially offered a variety of quality leather sandals with the best ma-

terial. The sandals can be worn by people of any age, which is what Renegade Folk is after. Most of their footwear now comes from the local manufacturing industry, which also benefit from Renegade Folk’s loyal online customers not only in the Philippines but also in Singapore, Australia, and Canada.

With their growing portfolio of everyday sandals, Renegade Folk has to strengthen its online exposure to expand its business, prompting the store to tap Shopify as its e-commerce platform.

Shopify provides Renegade Folk with a portal for customers to see, appreciate and purchase their products at an af-

fordable price.

“We are extremely happy with Shopify because it is very user-friendly. It also has a great design interface with customizable templates, easy report generation, and automatic reply features that anyone can use,” shared Sambalido.

Shopify’s technology bundled with the Globe myBusiness portfolio of innovative services can give small and medium enterprises like Renegade Folk a reliable package as they build their own online store, showcase their brand, and at the same time efficiently manage the back-end processes through capabilities such as tracking orders and customer data, manag-

ing inventory, monitoring sales, viewing analytics information, and much more. Business owners can start their online business using Shopify for as low as P599 a month with no transaction fee.

“We aim for Shopify and Globe myBusiness to provide better and more meaningful tools for SME customers. We help SMEs compete in the marketplace through alternative distribution channels and

cost-efficient solutions to keep their business growing, thus realizing returns on investment faster,” said

Barbie Dapul, Vice President at Globe myBusiness.

Founded in 2006, Shopify currently powers 275,000 online stores globally in approximately 150 countries. It is a cloud-based, multichannel commerce platform designed for small and medium business. Online sellers can use it to design, set up and manage, from any laptop or mobile device. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business.

Launch your ready to open online store with Shopify today! Sign up at www.shopify.com.ph.

For more information, visit the website powered by Shopify at www. renegadefolk.com. Get to know Globe myBusiness by visiting www.mybusiness.globe.com.ph.

EDGEDAVAO

11 HEALTH

VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Nutrients you need to get more Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

V

ITAMINS D and B12, iodine, magnesium, and potassium – these are some of the nutrients most people don’t get enough of. “Our shortfalls of these nutrients have serious health consequences, including a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, fatigue, and weight gain,” writes Bill Phillips in a recent article which appeared in “Men’s Health.”

What most people don’t know is that these nutrients are readily available in foods. “You can get more of one simply by spending more time outside,” Phillips informs.

“That doesn’t sound so hard, does it?”

1. Vitamin D Vitamin D isn’t actually a vitamin, although scientists refer to it as such.

It’s called the “sunshine” vitamin. Without the light of the sun, your body can’t produce this essential nutrient. And without vitamin D, calcium – the body’s most common nutrient – couldn’t be used.

And without calcium, your body simply couldn’t function.

Are your knees so stiff that it’s excruciating to walk even a few short steps? According to an 8-year study, osteoarthritis of the knee may be controlled by taking higher levels of vitamin D than normally recommended.

Check with your doctor to see if extra vitamin D might relieve your arthritis.

A study in Circulation found that people deficient in D were up to 80 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. The reason: Vitamin D may reduce inflammation in your arteries.

In addition, a University of Minnesota study found that people with adequate vitamin D levels release more leptin, a hormone that conveys message to your brain that you’re already full. Even more impressive, the study also found that the nutrient triggers weight loss primarily from the belly.

Another study found that people with higher D levels in their bloodstream store less fat.

When it comes to colon cancer, sunshine may be just what the doctor may recommend.

Although it’s not quite that simple, studies have shown that calcium and vitamin D may reduce your risk of

colon cancer. Apparently, vitamin D helps stop the cancerous cells from spreading either by something it does directly or by increasing the amount of calcium your body absorbs.

Here’s a warning though: Don’t take too much vitamin D supplements. Too much can cause high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, seizures, liver and kidney damage, and heart disease.

2. Magnesium This may be a lightweight mineral but it is involved in more than 300 bodily processes. Plus, a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that low levels of magnesium may increase your blood levels of C-reactive protein, a key marker of heart disease.

Magnesium regulates the contractility of the heart muscle. It is concentrated 18 times greater in the heart muscle than in the bloodstream. A de-

folic acid supplements with or without vitamin B6 decrease homocysteine levels in people with vascular disease or diabetes and in young adult women,” reports the US National Institutes of Health.

creased magnesium level in the heart muscle may predispose a person to coronary spasms.

Magnesium also has a relaxing effect on smooth muscle. It may be helpful in relaxing the smooth muscle of the bronchioles (improving asthma) and the arterioles (lowering blood pressure). More importantly, magnesium decreases coagulation and acts as a calcium channel blocker. As such, it helps the heart to pump more effectively.

The high sources of magnesium are nuts (particularly almonds and cashews) and soybeans.

These are good sources: corn, peas, carrots, barley, oats, wheat, rice bran, green leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds, brown rice, sesame seeds, lima beans, tofu, potato, sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, avocado, banana, orange juice, and milk.

3. Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement and a prescription medication. It is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Generally, it is not present in plant foods.

Elevated homocysteine levels have been

identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine that is normally present in blood. Several studies

4. Potassium “Without this essential mineral, your heart couldn’t beat, your muscles wouldn’t contract, and your brain couldn’t comprehend this sentence. Why?” Phillips asked. “Potassium helps your cells use glucose for energy.”

Potassium is involved in the storage of carbohydrates for use by muscles as fuel. It is also important in maintaining the body’s proper electrolyte and acid-base (pH) balance.

Likewise, potassium may also counteract the increased urinary calcium loss caused by the highsalt diets typical of most Filipinos, thus helping to prevent bones from thinning out at a fast rate.

links elevated homocysteine levels with coronary heart disease and stroke.

Vitamin B12 – along with folate, and vitamin B6 – are involved in homocysteine metabolism.

“Results from several randomized controlled trials indicate that combinations of vitamin B12 and

Potassium occurs naturally in a wide variety of foods. As a result, dietary deficiency of potassium is uncommon. However, if you experience excessive fluid loss, through vomiting, diarrhea or sweating, or if you take certain medications, you may be at risk for potassium de-

ficiency.

To correct the problem, all you have to do is take more foods containing potassium. It is especially easy to obtain this nutrient from fruits and vegetables.

Very good sources broccoli, eggplant, tomato, cucumber, cauliflower, cabbage, and bell pepper. Fruits rich in potassium are banana, avocado and strawberries.

“Half an avocado contains nearly 500 milligrams of potassium, while one banana boasts roughly 400 milligrams,” Phillips notes. “Not a fan of either fruit? Pick up some potatoes – a single large spud is packed with 1,600 milligrams. Most multivitamins have less than 100 milligrams of potassium, so eat your fruits and vegetables!”

5. Iodine Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), both of which help control how efficiently you burn calories. “That means insufficient iodine may cause you to gain weight and feel fatigued,” Phillips writes.

The earth’s soils contain varying amounts of iodine, which in turn affects the iodine content of crops. In some regions of the world, iodine-deficient soils are common, increasing the risk of iodine deficiency among people who consume foods primarily from those areas.

Salt iodization programs, which many countries have implemented, have dramatically reduced the prevalence of iodine deficiency worldwide.

Fruits and vegetables contain iodine, but the amount varies depending on the iodine content of the soil, fertilizer use and irrigation practices. Seaweed is one of the best food sources of iodine, but it is highly variable in its content. Other good sources include seafood, dairy products, and eggs.

Iodine is also present in human breast milk and infant formulas. “Eat at least one serving of eggs or yogurt a day,” Phillips suggests, “both are good sources of iodine.”

12 COMPETITIVE EDGE DCWD presents projects to studes of UIC,DMMA EDGEDAVAO

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DCWD celebrates Environment Month in UIC and DMMA College thru Kalikabildo. Separate forums discussing the Bulk Water Supply Project of DCWD, Septage Management Project and Water Sanitation and Hygiene

were held in the University of Immaculate Conception F. Selga (top pic) and Bonifacio campuses on July 13 and in DMMA College of Southern Philippines (bottom pic) on July 15 with an approximate total of 1,600 participants.

PNVSCA, CHED launch Volunteerism Story Writing Contest

T

O engage the Filipino youth in sharing the contributions of volunteers in different communities across the country, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will conduct a Volunteerism Story Writing Contest open to undergraduate college students who have completed or are currently taking the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

With the theme “Volunteerism for Sustainable Development”, the contest serves as a timely platform to highlight and promote volunteerism as

a strategy in the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is also in support of the Philippines’ commitment to the global development priorities.

Each participant shall choose one SDG and write a feature article on an individual or group/organization whose volunteer work is aligned with the achievement of the chosen SDG. One winner will be selected in each region to help showcase the volunteering stories in different areas of the country.

“With the students’ participation in the NSTP and in other extension activities, they have been exposed to volun-

teerism at the local level. They can help showcase the diverse experiences and accomplishments of volunteers whose services are geared towards community development and empowerment,” said PNVSCA Executive Director Joselito C. De Vera.

As a member of PNVSCA’s Multi-Sectoral Advisory Body (MSAB) and the National Volunteer Month Steering Committee (NVM-SC), CHED plays an important role in promoting volunteerism in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Engr. Ronaldo Liveta, Director of CHED’s Office of Student Development Services, assured CHED’s continued commit-

ment to advocating volunteerism for development through collaborative projects and activities such as the story writing contest involving the HEIs. Entries can be submitted to PNVSCA and will be accepted until 31 August 2016.

Regional winners will be announced through the Agency’s website in November and will receive PhP 3,000 each.

Information on the contest mechanics and entry forms can be found and downloaded at www. pnvsca.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/innovatecooperateinspire. Interested participants may also contact PNVSCA at info@pnvsca.gov. ph and (02) 277 7389.

through the Department of Transportation to strengthen data connectivity with the installation of Smart Wifi in major airports, seaports, and bus terminals all over the country, as well as mass

transport systems, MRT and LRT. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and PLDT and Smart Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan signed yesterday the Mem-

orandum of Understanding outlining the initiative for better customer experience and to bring Internet access to more Filipinos nationwide.

Under the MOU, Smart Wifi will be strengthened in major airports across the country, and deployed at seaports and bus terminals to serve millions of users.

Wireless data connectivity will also be available to commuters inside the station platforms, and light railway vehicle (LRV) as well as on the street level of the entire lines of MRT3, and LRT 1 and 2.

The rollout is backed by PLDT’s robust and resilient fixed and wireless networks.

Smart to bolster wireless data connectivity in major transport hubs

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LDT, Smart to bolster wireless data connectivity in major transport hubs. PLDT and Smart Communications have signed a landmark agreement with the Philippine government

Aboitiz Renewables gives default notice to Sun Edison

A

BOITIZ Renewables issued default notices to its joint-venture partner Sun Edison Philippines Helios BV, which holds a stake in San Carlos Sun Power.

Aboitiz Power said in a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange Monday, this was due to the “voluntary petition for reorganization”

through the US Bankruptcy Code filed by Sun Edison early this year.

Aboitiz Renewables is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp.

The power firm assured it will exert all efforts to protect its interest.

The joint-venture company was earlier named Maaraw

Holdings San Carlos Inc., which was formed to build a 59-megawatt (MW) solar project in Negros Occidental.

The solar power plant was inaugurated last April 19. It was not eligible for the PHP8.69 per kWh feed-in-tariff, which is a subsidy granted to emerging renewable energy technologies.

The PHP3.5-billion solar farm, which is located in a 75-hectare lot, will deliver a total of 82 gigawatthours per year to the grid.

Aboitiz Renewables Inc. has a majority stake of 60 percent in SACASUN, while the California-based solar developer Sun Edison Inc. holds 40 percent. (PNA)

HRU the forum dubbed Kalikabildo, Davao City Water District presented its major projects in the University of Immaculate Conception (UIC) and DMMA College of Southern Philippines. Around 1,000 students of UIC F. Selga and 500 students of UIC Bonifacio attended the back-to-back Kalikabildo on July 13 while about 100 students of DMMA College joined on July 15.

Kalikabildo, a portmanteau of kalikasan and Visayan word kabildo which means to converse, is held every year

by DCWD in celebration of June as the Philippine Environment Month. In previous years, the topics focused on raising awareness on environmental issues and mitigation.

As the water utility embarks on two of its biggest projects in its 42 years of operation, this year’s Kalikabildo served as a venue for the student population to learn more about the Bulk Water Supply Project of DCWD or the development of Tamugan River as Davao City’s future water source and the Septage Management Project, which would fulfill the other mandate of DCWD to provide wastewater services.

Presenters were DCWD staff Engr. Christine S. Guarde, officer-in-charge of the Plan-

ning Section of the Engineering and Construction Department and John Christian M. Palo, assistant pollution control and safety officer of the Pollution Control and Safety Office.

Kalikabildo also included a session on the importance and issues of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) both at the national and international setting with Water Quality Division manager Hydie R. Maspiñas as the resource person in UIC F. Selga campus and water utilities management officer Engr. Ricardo P. Corcino in UIC Bonifacio campus and in DMMA College.

Students who asked and answered questions were given DCWD customized IEC materials while everyone got bookmarks as souvenir for their participation.

Present in the three forums was DCWD general manager Engr. Edwin V. Regalado who in his short message to the students emphasized the importance of water in development. He also challenged the participants to help in caring for the environment.

Engr. Regalado likewise thanked the schools for the generous accommodation.

Earlier on June 30, Kalikabildo was held in University of Mindanao Bolton campus with around 500 participants. (Jamae G. Dela Cruz)

Water service interruption in some city parts July 21, 22 & 23

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AVAO City Water District has scheduled three separate sets of water service interruption to give way to completion of service improvement projects.

First set is on July 21 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM affecting portions of Department of Health and Southern Philippines Medical Center with service lines connected to Dumanlas Road. DCWD’s Engineering and Construction Department crew will tap the newly installed 6-inch diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing 6-inch diameter Asphalt Coated Steel Pipe for the mainline improvement at Davao Medical Center Employees Development Cooperative, Dumanlas Road.

Second set is on July 22 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Affected are these specific areas: portion of Mintal: Sitio Basak, Camp San Gabriel, U.P. Mindanao, road from junction of Española Street to Camp San Gabriel, road from junction of Cassandra Crossing to Bago Oshiro and entire Bago Oshiro and portion of Bago Gallera: road from Sitio Saka to junction of Libby Road, Sitio Saka and Bago Gallera Settlers Association (BAGASA). This water service interruption will give way to the tapping of the newly installed 200mm diameter PVC pipeline to the existing 250mm diameter Mortar-Lined Cement Coated Steel Pipe and interconnection of the existing 100mm diameter PVC pipeline to the newly installed 200mm diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at Cassandra Crossing to BPI Main Office in Bago Oshiro.

Third set is on July 23 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM affecting almost all Tacunan

areas: Puroks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9, Tierra Nueva, Bagong Pag-asa Homeowners Association, Sta. Cecilia Homes, Tacunan High MCHS Annex, Tacunan Elementary School, Sitio Biatilisan, Missionaries of the Assumption and Tacunan View Village. This water service interruption will give way to the tapping of the newly installed 150mm diameter PVC pipeline to the existing 150mm diameter PVC pipeline at crossing Tierra Nueva Subd. along Tacunan Road in Brgy.

Tacunan.

Once completed, the projects involved in the three sets will allow for accommodation of additional service connections. The project in the third set will also help increase water pressure in the affected area.

DCWD general manager Engr. Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers. He also advises them to store enough water prior to the scheduled water interruptions. Water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial to listen to latest daily water updates. They may also call / text 09277988966, 0925-5113293 and 0908-4410653 for other updates, complaints, queries and matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Katrina Belen M. Roble)

13 PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Demand rising for Matina Enclaves’The Residences

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

H

njb@edgedavao.net

OMEBUYERS and property investors are in a frenzy over the prperty sales bandwagon in the Dava City market.

The current surge of interest in Davao City’s property market has placed real estate developers experiencing a record-high in demand.

Among such notable high demand property is the Matina Enclaves condominium sector known as The Residences and developed by homegrown realty firm Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco).

Esdevco is benefiting from the increasing demand among condominium buyers in Davao City which rose to record-highs in the last two months.

Matina Enclaves, Esdevco’s mixed development has been enjoying brisk sales, encouraging the developer to fast-track construction of the project’s condominium buildings.

BY far, four condominium buildings known as ‘The

Residences’ has been on sale in the past two years. Three have been sold out and the fourth one selling briskly with a few remaining units after being opened for sale just two months ago.

“After a few months of introducing The Enclaves Residences Building 4 of Matina Enclaves to the public, as of today around 144 units of the total 210 units have already been sold out,” said Project Director Gerald Kent Garces.

The units sold were a combination of studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units.

Market analysts said that the interest for Matina Enclaves was primarily propelled by its location and the unique development offered

by Esdevco. The Matina Enclaves features three property variants – The Plains (lots only), The Courtyard (house and lot) and The Residences (condo units).

Esdevco made sure the whole complex will be a

family-oriented community enjoying flood-free environs, where residents can use walkways to go about the area. A clubhouse with full amenities has been built for future residents and a lap pool under construction.

Across the complex is an adjacent Esdevco-owned property to be known as The Arcadia which is envisioned to become the city’s most modern sports and recreation center.

Recently, Matina Enclaves got added mileage when its clubhouse became the temporary office of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The election of President Duterte has raised interrest in Davao City and investors are starting to train their sights on this Southern metropolis.

The new interest has added to the value of Esdevco’s project which has attracted interest from locals and now, buyers from other parts of the country.

As a neophyte developer, Esdevco has been steadfast in its commitment to its clients. Construction has been right ahead of schedule and Building 1 of The Residences which topped off last year is now bound for turnover by December this year.

“The construction has been regarded as a true commitment by a local developer.

With nearly 5 months to go, Esdevco has poured tremendous effort towards its completion,” said Garces.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 103 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2016

Duterte vows support for sports

SUPPORT. “I will get the money from the pockets who are not paying taxes and give it to you,” President Duterte said in the send-off for Rio-bound athletes.

Spin.ph photo

by Jerome Ascano

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

I

njb@edgedavao.net

N AN unprecedented gesture, President Rodrigo Duterte sent off a Philippine delegation to the Olympics, the first ever official sendoff in Malacanang.

After talking to the delegation headed by Chef de Mission Joey Romasanta and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Duterte vowed his full support to Filipino athletes, promising to give the financial backing they sorely need from unpaid and uncollected taxes under his administration.

A report from Spin.ph on Monday said that Duterte reiterated that Philippine sports will be sufficiently provided for through taxes that have yet to be paid to the government due to loop holes in the system.

“Just like the oligarchs of this country, they get the contracts from government, they enjoy the fat of the land, and

they don’t really bother paying taxes,” said Duterte in the report.

“This online gambling, we don’t even know how much they are earning, how much are we supposed to collect, or if there is a mechanism at all to collect. Tapos tayong nandito, we are trying to train our athletes for the greater glory of this Philippines.”

“That is why I assure you, during my time, I will get the money from the pockets who are not paying taxes and give it to you,” he added to the cheers of the Filipino athletes and officials present during the send-off.

Spin.ph also went on to report thatt Duterte claimed the government loses P300 million a day in uncollected and unpaid taxes alone, an amount which he said is more than enough to develop sports in the country.

“If I just collect one month, tapos na ang problema,” said

D u te r te .

“In the coming days, we will have more support because I will collect.”

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, also interviewed by Spin.ph, said Duterte has also tasked the government sports agency to take a look at other problems besetting sports and national athletes.

“The President delegated the matter to the PSC so we will do our best that we can perform better this time. We will inform the President of the development itong three months to this year. We will do our best to present to the President the master plan,” SENDOFF. President Duterte poses with Philippine officials and athletes bound for Rio. Spin.ph photo by Jerome Ascano said Ramirez.

Duterte sends off Rio-bound athletes

Russia ban in Rio looms P A SCATHING report outlining a state-sanctioned doping system in Russia prompted immediate calls for the nation’s entire team to be sidelined from the Summer Games, raising the possibility that the Olympics could go on without a sports superpower for the first time since the 1980s.

The investigation released on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) confirmed a scheme run out of the anti-doping lab in Moscow that ensnared 28 summer and winter sports, from track to snowboarding to table tennis. It lasted at least four years and involved at least 312 positive tests that went unreported at the behest of higher-ups in the country’s sports ministry.

“A mind-blowing level of corruption within both Russian sport and government,” said Travis Tygart, the CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency.

The World Anti-Doping Agency swiftly called for the International Olympic Committee to consider a full ban of the Russian team from the Summer Olympics, which start Aug. 5 in Rio de Janiero. IOC president Thomas Bach said the committee wouldn’t hesitate to apply the toughest sanctions available.

The IOC executive board will meet on Tuesday to begin sorting through options.

It’s no sure thing the Russians will receive a blanket ban.

It’s a decision filled with political ramifications that involve a key Olympic country. It puts the IOC in the position of ruling against against one of its biggest supporters, a nation that spent more than $50 billion hosting the Winter Games in Sochi just two years ago. Not since the back-to-back boycotts by the

BANNING RUSSIA. The Olympics could go on without the Russian sports superpower for the first time since the 1980s.

United States in 1980, then the Soviet Union in 1984, have the Olympics been contested without one of its biggest players.

Bach has frequently spoken about the fine line between “collective responsibility and individual justice.” And for every anti-doping agency and athlete group calling for a full ban, there’s seemingly another sports organization or leader urging restraint.

“The right to participate at the games cannot be stolen from an athlete, who has duly qualified and has not been found guilty of doping,” said Bruno Grandi, president of gymnastics’ international federation. “Blanket bans have never been and will never be just.”

Gymnastics was not among the sports listed in the report.

Wrestling, meanwhile, accounted for 28 of the 312 unreported positives. The head of that international federation, Nenad Lalovic of Serbia, told The Associated Press “we will absolutely follow the decisions of the IOC.” But in making decisions about Russia’s team as a whole, the IOC could put onus on the international sports federations

to determine the penalties.

In the ongoing case involving Russia’s track team, it was that sport’s federation, the IAAF, that ultimately banned the team from the Olympics. But 68 Russian track-and-field athletes are appealing this week to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to compete in Rio, with a decision due Thursday. In a move that accentuates how complicated the matter can become, the IOC has said there is no contingency for a large group of Russians competing under a neutral flag — that Russians should compete for the Russian team if they’re allowed in.

Monday’s report, commissioned by WADA and written by arbitrator Richard McLaren, said allegations made by Moscow’s former anti-doping lab director about sample switching at the Sochi Olympics went much as described in a New York Times story in May. That program involved dark-of-night bottle tampering in order to switch dirty samples with clean ones; it prevented Russian athletes, including more than a dozen medal winners, from testing positive.

RESIDENT Duterte lifted the spirit of Filipino athletes bound for the Rio De Janeiro Olympics with an elaborate sendoff at Malacanang Palace, bigger allowances and a promise of bigger incentives for medal winners.

In a speech on Monday, Duterte wished all the athletes the best, even hinting that gold-medal winners in Rio will be given incentives bigger than the P10 million allotted by law for such an achievement.

“I’ll give you an island,” said Duterte in jest.

Six of the 12 athletes bound for Rio were present, namely weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia, table tennis player Ian Lariba, golfer Miguel Tabuena, long-jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, and taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine

Alora.

The others are still abroad, in the final stages of their training before proceeding to Rio. Before the bulk of the athletes leave for Rio on Saturday, Duterte took time out from his busy schedule to give them a send-off at Malacanang, perhaps the first President to do so.

While admitting that the task at hand in Olympics is daunting, Duterte lauded the athletes for the distinct honor of representing the Philippines in an event of such magnitude.

“I would like to say to you to try your best … Not everybody is given the honor to serve this country,” said Duterte. “We are 100 million Filipinos. Few are given an oppor-

tunity to be part of a team or work for government.”

As an added incentive, Duterte promised to increase the allowance of the Riobound athletes from US$1,000 to $3,000.

Duterte also drew even more smiles when he granted photo opportunities with the athletes, even accommodating a few selfie requests from them.

At the start of the ceremony, Duterte was presented the official team jacket by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco, Duterte also turned over a Philippine flag to chief of mission and POC first vice president Joey Romasanta.

OACH Mike Krzyzewski got his first glimpse at the newlook US national team, as the team opened camp at UNLV with just two players back from the 2012 national team that won the gold medal in London.

Carmelo Anthony returns for his fourth run at the Olympics, after winning a bronze medal in 2004 and gold medals in 2008 and 2012, while Kevin Durant is looking for a second gold medal after playing on the championship team in 2012.

And though there are 10 new faces on the team that will represent the US in the Olympics, several were a part of the 2014 Fiba world championship team, and know what is expected of them. Making things easier, as it was for the 2008 Beijing Olym-

pics, the 12-man roster has been set since June, giving Krzyzewski and his staff ample time to devise rotations and focus on the players they knew were coming.

“It’s the angst you go through in that week of determining from 16 to 12, (it) takes away from your preparation,” Krzyzewski said.

“We have had none of that. That’s a huge advantage, and also for these guys, you got 12 guys (who) have been completely focused on being on this team. It’s really a good advantage.”

Krzyzewski said he was pleased with Anthony taking charge the first day, being a vocal leader for what he believes could be one of the best defensive teams he’s ever coached since taking over in 2005. He also credited Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeMarcus

Cousins for stepping up as leaders on the opening day of camp.

“It’s a new group of guys (so) I get a chance to go out there and kind of be a leader to the team and kind of enjoy it,” Anthony said. “For me, it’s about going over there and having fun, getting that feeling back, getting that fun feeling back and try to get a gold medal.”

As he’s done in year’s past, Krzyzewski met with the team and staff privately Sunday night (Monday, Manila time), showing players video clips from previous years and delivering a motivational speech about what it means to represent the United States. With the recent unrest involving civilians and police officers, the message came across even stronger for this team.

USA opens Olympic training camp C

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