Edge Davao 9 Issue 119

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

IN FIGHTING FORM. President puts on his serious look, as he discusses with Davao journalists the most pressing issues of the day, which include his plan to respond to Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno ’s letter which said that announcing the names of public officials who are involved in the illicit drug trade, especially members of the judiciary, was premature.

Duterte yesterday ordered the military to destroy the terrorist group Abu Sayyaff while visiting troops in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. Lean Daval Jr.

RODY: DESTROY ABU SAYYAF Siargao Island eyed as venue

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

“D

ESTROY Abu Sayyaf!”

This was the marching order given by President Duterte to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when he visited their camp in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday afternoon, August 10.

In his remarks, the President was firm in saying there will be no peace talks with members of the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups, which is in direct contrast to the diplomatic treatment given by the national government to other armed groups in the country.

“Kaning mga bandido, Abu Sayyaf, way estorya. Destroy them. That’s an order,” Duterte told the soldiers.

The President said he could not comprehend the reason why terrorists should be given a chance to live when in fact they kill civilians - including children - in public, and post these nefarious acts on social media sites.

“We believe that our community is decent and we do not agree on what they are doing,” he added.

The President also cited many instances wherein members of the Abu Sayyaf tortured and killed soldiers whom they

captured during armed encounters.

“Dili ko mosugot ana. So you have to destroy them,” the President said.

Abu Sayyaf is an Islamist militant group that operates in the islands of Basilan and Jolo in Mindanao.

The group is responsible for various terrorist attacks perpetrated in the country, including the bombing of Superferry 14 in 2014 which killed around 116 passengers.

The Abu Sayyaf is also responsible for a number of high-profile kidnappings in the country, particularly in Mind-

F RODY, 10

of Miss U swimsuit event

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OP officials of Surigao del Norte proposed on Wednesday to Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo that the swimwear competition cum photo-shoot of the Miss Universe 2017 be held in one of the internationally-acclaimed tourism destinations in Mindanao - Siargao Island.

“In behalf of the entire Surigaonon community, we are very pleased to support the efforts of the Department of

Tourism in the development of the tourism industry, especially with the country’s successful selection as the host of the most anticipated Miss Universe 2017,” Governor Sol Matugas and Congressman Francisco Jose F. Matugas II said in a letter to Secretary Teo. The Surigao officials noted that hosting the Miss Universe 2017 is a rare opportunity for the Philippines to showcase its wonderful

people and places, in general, and Mindanao’s beauty and splendour, in particular.

“The Island (Siargao) is the best option for the conduct of pictorials due to its diverse tourism destinations which includes a vast mangrove area, pristine waters on white sand beaches, tidal pools and rock formations, caves, verdant forests, and captivating islets,” the letter said.

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

KADAYAWAN PREPARATIONS. Workers put the finishing touches on the Durian husk-like roof of a dome inside the People’s Park which will be the venue of the opening of Kadayawan sa Davao 2016 on August 15. Lean Daval Jr.

Malacanang preparing list of‘untainted’LGU execs

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ALACANANG announced on Wednesday that it will come out with a list of local government unit (LGU) officials with “untainted” reputations in addressing the problem of illegal drugs in their respective areas of jurisdiction. ”In a few days, we will come out with the list of effective LGU officials,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in a press statement.

Andanar explained the list was borne out from his usual media meetings together with Executive Secretary Atty. Salvador Medialdea. ”We thought that it was also proper to celebrate the untainted reputation of LGU executives when it comes to illegal drugs,” Andanar said.

The PCO chief the list of LGU officials with good reputations as anti-illegal drug campaigners have outweighed the local officials linked to the illegal drugs.

Andanar said Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili who ordered suspected criminals and drug pushers to take a “walk of shame” will be included in the list. ”As much as we want to..or President Duterte wants to reveal those allegedly who have links to drugs, we also want to celebrate those who have resisted the temptation when it comes to illegal drugs,” Andanar said in an interview with radio dzRH. Last weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte released his long list of judges, local offi-

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Palace allays martial law fears

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ALACAÑANG on Wednesday allayed fears that President Rodrigo R. Duterte would declare martial law amid the intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said President Duterte was merely asking a rhetorical question when he hit back at Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for interfering in his campaign against the drug menace. ”Ikaw [Sereno] ang kingpin sa judiciary. Ako, presidente. Ako may trabaho, ikaw wala. Walang mga judges na nagpa-patrol ng daan.

Walang mga sheriff ninyo na naghuhuli. ‘Yan ang mabigat

na problema ko, na-inherit ko sa dumaan (na administrasyon), pati ‘yung gobyerno na naglagay sa ‘yo diyan... If this continues, pigilan mo ako eh ‘di sige. ‘Pag nagwala na... or would you rather that I will declare martial law?” Duterte said in his speech in Cagayan de Oro City Tuesday night. (“You [Sereno] are the kingpin of the judiciary, I am the president. I have a mission. Judges do not patrol the streets. You do not have sheriffs who get caught. That is the big problem that I inherited from the past administration, including the government that put you in place. If you continue to hold me back... or would you rather I declare martial law?” Duterte said in

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Rody to Sereno: Don’t interfere in drug war

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

P

adlopez0920@gmail.com

RESIDENT Duterte on Tuesday warned Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno not to interfere with his administration’s intensified campaign against the illegal drug trade.

Speaking before the members of the Philippine Army in 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City, the President said the fight against illegal drugs in the country will continue regardless of the chief justice’s opinion.

“Just because you are the Supreme Court, you order me? I will not follow you. Orderan mo ako? Bahala kayo diyan,” Duterte said.

The President said that he will instead order the military and the police to save lives.

“I am not saying that they should kill them. But in the

meantime that you are protecting your juries there, there is crime on the streets,” the President said.

On Monday, Sereno sent a letter to President Duterte saying that announcing the names of public officials who are involved in the illicit drug trade, especially members of the judiciary, was premature.

Sereno also ordered the judges named by the President not to surrender to authorities unless a warrant of arrest is issued against them.

The chief justice also told President Duterte that it is the High Court, not the executive, which holds administrative supervision over all lower courts in the country.

“Manghingi ka ng warrant? Madam Chief Justice, you must be joking,” President Duterte shot back, as he asked

Sereno how long it would take to secure a warrant of arrest.

The President added: “Now you’re asking for a warrant of arrest for 600,000 Filipinos? In the meantime, ‘yung bangag, anong gagawin mo? Let them to stay there? To what? To resume their criminal activities? To slaughter again? To rape?”

Duterte also stressed that as the highest official of the land, it is his duty to ensure the safety of the Filipino people against the scourges of society.

“Your judges do not patrol the streets to catch criminals.

That is my job. This is the big problem which I inherited from previous administrations, including the administration that put you in your position,” President Duterte said.

He also warned Sereno

that if the Supreme Court attempts to tie his hands – figuratively – in his war against the drug menace, he would declare Martial Law. Meanwhile, Malacañang on Wednesday issued a statement on the issue of a constitutional crisis which has emerged as a result of the recent clash between President Duterte and the chief justice.

“The President is a member of the bar who believes in the rule of law and advocates for judicial independence. As President, he has the sworn duty to uphold and defend the Constitution,” said Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) in a statement.

Andanar put in context the words and actions of the President, explaining that when

and exchanged gunfire with the operatives, a statement released yesterday by the PDEA 11 said.

One sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu”, marked buy-bust money, assorted drug paraphernalia and a .38 revolver with live ammunition were recovered by the operatives.

This collaborative effort of the PDEA Regional Office

XI, Davao City Police Office, and members of the community serves as a stern warning to all those involved in the illegal drug trade that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up on them.

The PDEA statement further said that law enforcement agencies in the city are working together to strengthen collaboration among various stakeholders as part of their concerted efforts to fi-

nally put an end to the drug menace in the country.

PDEA 11 requested the public to do their share in making the Philippines a drug free country by cooperating with law enforcement authorities. Concerned citizens can directly report suspected illegal drug activities through the following hotline numbers: 082-2223045, 09395433405 or 09331481387. (PDEA 11)

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Suspected shabu pusher killed in buy-bust ops

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COMPOSITE team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - Regional Office XI (PDEA 11) and the Davao City Police Office Investigation and Detection Bureau, conducted a buy-bust operation last August 9, at around 1:25 p.m. at Block 1, New Visayas, Matina Crossing, Matina, Davao City .

A certain Gideon Lador was killed during the operations, after he resisted arrest

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas (left) emphasizes the importance of the hosting of the swimwear competition photo-shoot of the Miss Universe 2017 in Siargao Island, as it will also showcase the various tourist destinations in Mindanao. With the governor is former Congressman Francisco “Lalo” Matugas. (Alexander D. Lopez)

NEWS 3

Lopez: No exceptions in mining audit E NVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez has warned that all operating mining projects, whether big or small, will be covered by the audit being done by her department.

“We’re doing all -- small, big, everyone,” Lopez told a press conference. “All mining areas will be audited, all ECCs (environmental compliance certificates), permits, everything will be audited in the light of the common good.”

She said her department will not hesitate to shut down all mining operations found to have violated environmental and health and safety laws and regulations.

“If you break the law, you face the consequences of breaking the law. Whatever

the law says, that’s what we should follow. If you break the law, there are penalties,” Lopez pointed out.

During the press conference, Lopez announced the suspension of the Bulacan-based Ore Asia Mining Development Corp. for failing to secure an ISO 14001 Certification, which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) requires of mining companies in an administrative order it issued last year.

The ISO 14001 sets the requirements of an environmental management system (EMS) for small to large organizations. The EMS is a systematic approach to handling environmental issues within an organization.

Pulong blasts CPP anew 47 barangays identified as dengue‘hotzones’ over landmine use

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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AVAO City Vice-Mayor Paolo Duterte blasted the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) adversarial response to his father President Duterte’s statement condemning the group’s use of landmines during its operations against government forces.

Vice-Mayor Duterte said that if the rebel group will insist on using force, the government has no choice but to reciprocate.

“It is not that I am think-

ing highly of myself… If you are going to use force, you will be dealt with force also,” he said.

The younger Duterte stressed the national government is bent on pursuing peace at all costs, but if the rebels do not share the same goal, the Duterte Administration will have to eventually draw the line.

“It’s a waste of time and it’s a waste of money,” the vice-mayor said “(but) we in the government can’t do any-

thing if they don’t want peace.”

The Dutertes are known to have maintained an open line of communication with the rebel group, the reason why, observers say, the New People’s Army (NPA) has spared the city from acts of violence over the years.

The CPP has responded to the President’s ultimatum to stop using landmines after four soldiers were killed during a spate of armed encounters in Compostela Valley Province last week.

In a statement released by the CPP through its official website, it said the “NPA must further expand use of command-detonated explosives (CDX) in launching tactical offensive against the reactionary armed forces, police and all its attached parliamentary.”

On Sunday, the president cried foul over the use of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) by the rebel group, as he told the communist group to cease using landmines.

HE 18th Davao City Council will re-launch the 4 O’Clock Habit through a collaborative effort that aims to eliminate dengue-causing mosquitoes in the city.

Committee on Health chair, Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte said there is a need to re-launch the 4 o’clock habit, as there is a sense that the public and private sector have become less vigilant in dealing with the health problem.

The councilor observed that not all baragays in the city are practicing 4 O’Clock Habit, hence, the need to re-introduce it to people in the community.

The 4 O’Clock Habit is an annual campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) which mobilizes communities to take time from their busy schedules to “search and destroy possible mosquito-breeding places” at 4 p.m. every day.

“Every 4’oclock in the afternoon, the police will start their siren, and that will be the indication that it is time for them to do the 4’oclock habit,” Villafuerte said.

According to the councilor, the Department of Health

(DOH) conducted a random sampling wherein about 50 to 60 of the 100 barangays in the city tested positive of the aedes aegypti mosquito larvae.

“The results prove that the 4’oclock habit is not being done,” Villafuerte said.

She said the city government will ring the siren for 60 to 90 days so that the people will get used to the habit.

Villafuerte said she will also pass a resolution under the suspended rules to institutionalize the habit and make it a part of the Davaoeños way of life.

“As of now, we don’t have enough reason to create an ordinance, but I will be making a resolution under suspended rules,” she said.

For his part, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said the city council, under his leadership, fully suppors the initiative of Villafuerte to address the alarming rise of dengue cases in the city.

Duterte also agreed with Villafuerte that there has been no move yet to pass an anti-dengue ordinance.

Both private and public hospitals in Davao are now filled with dengue patients, as

dengue cases in the city continue to rise amidst Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s stern director

to health officials to address the health concern. FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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City Council to re-launch 4 O’Clock Habit T

NO LET UP. Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Andrea Dela Cerna says the organization will double its efforts to ensure a successful internal cleansing as ordered by PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa during a command conference on Tuesday in time for

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HE Department of Health (DOH) revealed Wednesday that around 47 barangays in different regions of the country were placed in the category of “clustering” or considered dengue hot zones.

“We counted 47 barangays considered as hot zones, nationwide,” said DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag in a press briefing held at DOH media relations unit in Tayuman, Sta.Cruz, Manila.

Tayag said that they released the list to alert the respective local government units and push them to collaborate and strengthen efforts to curb the spread of dengue.

A dengue cluster indicates a locality with active transmissions. These are the areas targeted by the government for

F LOPEZ, 12

intervention.

The DOH spokesperson said that clustering is formed when there is one or more cases having an onset in a barangay (village) within four consecutive weeks.

“Ngayon pag ‘yun ay tumaas pa o kaya ay tumataas, isang hudyat po yun na baka meron na silang outbreak lalo na kung meron ng naire-report na namamatay sa barangay na iyon, (If the number of dengue cases in a community continues to rise, it might be a sign that there is an outbreak especially if there are already fatalities in that community.)” Tayag stressed.

Tayag added the list seeks to remind respective LGUs to act and ensure that dengue express lanes are in place or re-activated.

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the celebration of the 115th Police Service Anniversary celebration held at Camp Quitin Merecido in Davao City. Dela Cerna graced yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

6 DPWH-12 workers axed for illegal drug use

Tagum implements drug rehab program for surenderees S

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AYOR Allan Rellon led the discussion on the city’s Anti-Illegal Drug Abuse Campaign Rehabilitation Framework during the Tagum Peace Forum and Anniversary Fellowship of Tagum for Peace Movement held last August 8, at the Atrium of the City Hall of Tagum.

In his speech, Mayor Rellon emphasized the 5-step program which included values enhancement, moral and spiritual development, physical fitness, community service involvement, and mental health development that all drug surenderees in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, must undergo.

Last month, more than 4,000 drug dependents, users and pushers in Tagum surren-

dered to authorities as part of the police’s Oplan Tokhang/ Taphang initiative.

“I am so proud of our Tagumenyos who surrendered themselves who are now called TADS (Tagumenyos Against Drugs). Through this framework, it’s like gi-enroll nako sila sa skwelahan, sa usa ka kurso, kung mugraduate sila, mucomply sa mga requirements, STAND ang tawag nila (Seryosong Tagumenyos Ayaw na sa Droga). Pagmugraduate na sila, pwede na nato sila tabangan makaavail sa opportunities in employment, livelihood, trainings, ug education,” he noted.

Tagum is the only known LGU in the country implementing a comprehensive program to improve the lives

Fr. Ulysses Perandos, together with city officials led by Mayor Allan L. Rellon, leads the blessing of the 10 motorcabs. The LGU purchased the said vehicles in support of the peace and order mandate of the PNP. The local police stations

of drug surrenderees which Mayor Rellon discussed with the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).

Rellon, who is the league’s executive vice president, said the LCP leadership is studying the feasibility of endorsing the said framework to other cities in the Philippines so that it can be replicated by other LGUs. Meanwhile, the city government-organized Peace Forum highlighted the LGU’s efforts to rehabilitate TADS or Tagumenyos Against Drugs and crowd-source inputs from the community regarding the peace and order situation of the city.

During the forum, the Tagum for Peace movement signed a Memorandum of

Understanding with the LGU signifying their support in rehabilitating the TADS through spiritual and moral recovery programs.

Five patrol motorcabs were also blessed and turned over to the Tagum City Police Station as a testament of the LGU’s support to local authorities in pursuit for genuine peace, safety and security under its flagship EAGLE WINGS Program.

Five other patrol motorcabs were also given to the barangays of San Isidro, Nueva Fuerza, New Balamban, Magugpo North, and Bincungan as part of the city’s efforts to cascade peace and order initiatives down to the grassroots level. (Mj de Castro/ CIO TAGUM)

of Tagum were given five of these motorcabs while the remaining five were also distributed to the other five barangays. Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum

SouthCot allots P14.4 M for surfacing drug users, pushers

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HE provincial government has earmarked P14.4 million for the rollout of various support programs for surfacing personalities involved in drugs (SPID) across the province.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Tuesday the move is part of the local government efforts to institutionalize its interventions for the nearly 7,000 SPIDs in the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

She said the provincial government, through the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), is working on the details of the programs and activities for the SPIDs, in coordination

with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno, who hails from the province, earlier challenged the provincial government to pilot the program.

After accepted the challenge, “we are now taking the lead role in its institutionalization for replication by other local government units,” the governor said.

As part of the initiative, she said the provincial government is fast-tracking the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that would implement the program.

The group, to be supervised by the PADAC, in-

cludes officials and representatives of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Philippine National Police, Parole and Probation office, Integrated Provincial Health Office, and the provincial and municipal ADACs. Fuentes said the TWG will be tasked to formulate short- and long-term intervention plans to address the needs of the SPIDs. Based on a general plan drawn up by the PADAC, about P1.95 million will come from the provincial government through a supplemental budget, the governor said.

The rest of the funds will be sourced from the national government,

through the DILG and other concerned agencies.

Authorities said 6,734 drug pushers and users have so far surfaced in various parts of the province and have turned themselves in.

Of the total number, 6,394 are drug users, 274 are users/pushers and 66 are pushers. One drug user was listed as needing immediate rehabilitation.

Fuentes said the local government is very much concerned with the status and welfare of the SPIDs. “We have to act fast on this matter and make sure that the necessary interventions are delivered to them at the soonest possible time,” she said.(PNA)

IX job order employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 12 have been dismissed from service after testing positive illegal drug use during recently held mandatory drug tests.

Engr. Reynaldo Tamayo Sr., DPWH Region 12 director, said he ordered the immediate termination of the job contracts of the concerned workers on Monday based on the results of the tests.

He said the move was endorsed by the agency’s top officials and members of its management committee.

“We decided during our meeting to terminate outright the services of the erring workers,” Tamayo said in

a radio interview.

The official said the six were among the initial batch of 218 permanent and job order or contractual employees of the DPWH-12 who were subjected to surprise drug tests last week.

Most of them were found positive of using metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, he said.

As of Tuesday, Tamayo said all job order employees of the agency have already completed the drug tests.

He said they will schedule another round of drug tests for the remaining employees, which he placed at “less than a hundred.”

“It will again be a surprise testing to ensure proper results,” the official said. (PNA)

Cops foil escape attempt of drug suspects

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OLICE authorities here foiled an attempt of 10 detainees to escape from the Police Station 1 lock up cell.

Senior Inspector Lorenzo Henares, Police Station 1 chief, said the officer on duty noticed the unusual behavior of some of the inmates early on Monday.

After observing the inmates for few more hours, the police offer discovered that one of them was sawing off the iron grill of the cell at around 4 a.m.

Police officers rushed to the cell and escape was foiled.

Police recovered a hack saw blade and a mobile phone believed to have been sneaked in by daily visitors or relatives.

Following the attempted escape of the inmates, Henares ordered his men to be on alert status and doubled the number of guards on duty.

The Police Station 1 is housing 18 inmates, mostly involved in illegal drug and murder cases.

Henares also requested the City Police Office to install CCTV cameras inside the detention cell, as well as the vicinity of the police station located at the city plaza.

All the police station’s lock up cells here are full and overcrowded, turning the detention into facility a security nightmare for police officials.

The Cotabato City Jail is also full and way beyond its capacity of 50 persons. Currently, the jail hosts 180 inmates.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP-Region 12) is now coordinating with the Cotabato City government for the purchase of a lot area in Canizares estate for the establishment of a bigger and modern jail facility. (PNA)

Sen. Gatchalian vows to lower retirement age of gov’t teachers

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EOPHYTE Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has promised to pursue any pending law aimed at lowering the mandatory retirement age of public school teachers from 65 to 55 years old.

In a visit to Kidapawan City over the weekend, Gatchalian listened to and answered queries from the local academe, particularly Levi Palmones, a 50-year-old schools district supervisor, who personally made an appeal for the senator to lobby for legislation aimed at bringing down the retirement age of public school teachers.

“The teachers had done jobs from election to nutrition programs apart from long working hours and larger class sizes. Older teachers are unlikely to have the time and opportunity to have other pursuits,” Palmones pointed out.

Gatchalian, for his part,

stressed that he would immediately study the request and urge his Senate colleagues to fasttrack any pending bills relative to the concern.

“This is the third crowd where I heard same plea from public school teachers,” Gatchalian, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and the vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Education, said.

In 2015, 1BAP Party-list Representative Silvestre Bello III authored the House Bill 4501, which sought to amend Republic Act 8291, particularly Sections 13(b) and 13-A that sets the mandatory and optional retirement ages for government employees, except for those in the military and police service.

Gatchalian visited the city to personally thank local supporters for his victory in the May 9 elections. (PNA)

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

PLDT eyes completion of Mindanao ICT projects by Sept

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HREE major ICT projects of telecommunications provider PLDT are set to be completed in Mindanao by September, the company said on Tuesday.

These projects are part of PLDT’s initiatives to build a strong digital infrastructure in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao, which are geared towards supporting the regions’ economic growth.

“These projects will help fortify our network to carry and serve the rising data traffic from our subscribers, both in the enterprise and consumer spaces,” said Eric Alberto, PLDT executive vice president.

The three major ICT projects are the company’s fourth cable landing station, an innovation laboratory (Innolab), and PLDT’s eighth data center.

These are located in Davao City.

PLDT said these projects are part of the company’s programmed capital expenditures of PHP48 billion for the year.

Alberto said the PLDT Group is exerting all efforts to provide the Visayas and Mindanao with a solid ICT foundation to help boost the regions’ businesses and growing industries.

“It is within our short and medium term mission to accelerate the necessary investments to help build and strengthen the regions’ enterprises, and enable them to become locally, if not globally competitive via digital tools and solutions,” he emphasized.

The cable landing station in Davao will directly link PLDT Group’s network in Mindanao to all three existing international gateways in Nasugbu,

Batangas; Bauang, La Union; and Daet, Camarines Norte.

“This will improve resiliency and latency of international data traffic going in and out of Mindanao,” the company explained.

It added that this will also connect Mindanao to PLDT’s international managed network that has points-of-presence (POP) in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom, and will provide a fully-managed, high bandwidth global connectivity with automatic re-routing and switching capability through different international cable routes in the event of cable faults.

The Innolab, meanwhile, will serve as the PLDT Group’s hub for available services and technology innovations for the region’s businesses and local communities.

Innolab will help showcase how new technologies can benefit from commercial operations and improve efficiencies in businesses, and at the same time, offer educational tours to schools, which are beneficial especially for engineering and IT students.

“This showroom can also serve as a venue for local hackathon events to support local programmers and developers,” the company added.

PLDT currently has seven Innolab facilities across the country.

The data center in Davao will be designed to meet global data center standards and will obtain the certifications required by industries with heavy data-security require-

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EU gov’ts agree not to fine Spain, Portugal

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HE European Union (EU) governments have finalized a decision not to fine Spain and Portugal over their breaches of the bloc’s budgetary rules, the EU Council announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, the EU Council, consisting of the EU national ministers, reached the agreement Monday, urging Madrid and Lisbon to adopt further measures to meet the deficit goals by following new deadlines.

The approval came two weeks after the European Commission, the bloc’s executive body, make such proposals, and could be viewed as a relief for Spain and Portugal on fines, which in theory could increase by up to 0.2 percent their gross domestic product (GDP).

The two countries, however, are still waiting for another potential sanction on structural funds, which the Com-

mission put on hold until “a structured dialogue” with the European Parliament due in September after the summer break.

The Council confirmed that Spain and Portugal were obligated to present detailed reports by mid-October on how to cut deficits below three percent of GDP, the EU’s reference value for government deficits, by scheduled times.

Spain, a country still in search for a coalition government, was granted two more years to accomplish the budgetary mission by 2018, while Portugal gained an extra one year, having to cut the deficit by this year.

Last year, Portugal’s deficit gap turned out to be 4.4 percent and Spain’s was 5.1 percent.

The Commission, last month, announced that both Spain and Portugal failed to

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POWER SECTOR UPDATES. Romeo Montenegro, director for Investment Promotion and Public Affairs of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), discusses the current and future power situation in Mindanao where supply is badly needed to catch up with surging demand due to the booming real

estate industry and other developments. Montenegro, who was a guest in yesterday’s Wednesdays@ Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall, added that the island needs to intensify its push for renewable energy (RE) in order to reverse the 70-30 mix in favor of fossil fuels by 2018. Lean Daval Jr.

Solar energy eyed to power off-grid areas in Mindanao

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

S

adlopez0920@gmail.com

OLAR energy can be one of the most ideal sources of renewable power which can energize areas in Mindanao that are still not yet connected to the island-region’s power grid.

Romeo Montenegro, director for investment promotion and public affairs of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) told reporters during the Habi at Kape press conference at the Abreeza Mall on Wednesday that investors are now eyeing new investment opportunities in Mindanao, particularly those involving power generation in Mindanao’s “off grid” areas.

“There are new interests now by investors in the power generation particularly in offgrid areas,” Montenegro said.

He explained that this is the direction the national government would like to take in line with its energization program.

“For the small power projects, at any given time, we

always encourage investors especially the renewable energy proponents, to look at the offgrid areas,” he said.

Montenegro noted that off-grid areas such as Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, the Balut Island and parts of Sultan Kudarat province are now being powered independently by diesel generator sets.

These generator sets are provided by a special power utilities group operated by the National Power Corporation (NPC).

“Investors may look at these areas and we propose that they will have the hybrid set-up of injecting solar sources,” Montenegro said.

He explained that the entry of investors in the power generation sector will help increase the number of hours in which residents can avail of power services.

Off-grid areas are only provided with at least 10 hours of electricity a day.

“In parts of Tawi-tawi , only

Bongao is served 24 hours.

In Sulu, only Jolo is served 24 hours, the rest of the nearby municipalities are only getting maximum of 8 to 10 hours of electric services,” Montenegro said.

Investors can also enter into partnership agreements with the concerned local government units (LGUs) in these prospective areas, he added.

“The LGUs can roll out equity in power generation, and for being part owner of such facility, can gain additional income that can be used to fund other programs and projects,” Montenegro pointed out.

Peace and order in these areas, he said, is also a concern that investors will need to look, adding that there are now on-going power generation projects being undertaken in areas that were once the site armed conflict.

Montenegro cited the on-going power generation projects in Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley; the

on-going construction of the hydro power in Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon; and the bio mass project in Maguindanao.

“The viability in investments in power generation has now transitioned and that investors are now looking into renewable energy projects for specific areas in Mindanao that are off grid,” Montenegro said.

poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, solid waste management, education, agriculture tourism, transportation planning and traffic management, peace and order, and disaster risk reducation and mitigation.

The mayor, he said, will create a team of traffic planners who will look into ways to improve transport systems, including what and how new systems can be crafted and implemented in certain areas of the city, while taking into consideration key issues such

as the economy, climate and environment.

Another team will be assigned to tackle homelessness and social exclusion. In particular, it will deal with illegal settlers in the city, including the planning and implementing slum clearance.

Meanwhile, the housing team will work with specific clients, such as homeless people, minority groups or people with disabilities.

Nadela bared the mayor is also looking into the creation of a team of flood engineers

that will maintain clean water and sewerage/waste water services and flood control in the city.

It will also work on other key infrastructure projects such as flood defense schemes and sewer improvement programs.

The team, whose members will also act as stormwater/ food mitigation engineers, will work on preventing or alleviating the economic and social impact of storm waters and floods using a combination of non-structural and structural methods. (CIO)

No big ticket projects yet The investment and information chief said that no big-ticket power plants will be built in the near future, as there are already existing power facilities which are providing adequate supply to the grid, while the other ongoing power projects are in the final stages of completion.

“The focus on investment on power will be on small ones or the micro grid for unserviced areas in Mindanao,” he said.

Montenegro revealed that Mindanao can expect the con-

F SOLAR, 10

Mayor Sara to hire 10-point agenda‘action men’

D

AVAO City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte is mulling the possibility of appointing “action men” to help bolster the implementation of her administration’s 10-point agenda.

“It is still in the evaluation process. But the mayor is a result-oriented person, hell-bent on producing improvements and positive results,” said lawyer Raul Nadela, Jr., the mayor’s chief of staff.

Nadela said each “action team” will concentrate on a specific agenda, which include

6 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

Gov’t crafting new PDP to reduce poverty T

HE national government is crafting a new Philippine Development Plan (PDP) that aims to significantly reduce poverty incidence and implement projects geared towards boosting economic development.

“The timeframe, we would like to have a draft of the Plan by the end of December. So that hopefully, early next year, the Cabinet, the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Board and the President can sign off on the PDP,” Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos, Asst. Director-General for Policy Planning at the NEDA, said in an interview.

This developed as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) launched “Ambisyon Natin 2040” which represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for the next 25 years. It also serves as a guide in development planning for succeeding administrations. ”We are now developing the framework and preparing to engage the whole of government, civil society and the private sector in developing the Plan,” he said on the sidelines

of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-NEDA Youth Forum.

Santos said the new PDP will adopt the framework of inclusive growth.

“We had tremendous economic growth over the past six years but unfortunately, we have not had the same success (as other countries) in terms of poverty reduction.

We were not able to get our target on poverty reduction,” he added.

On balancing growth opportunities, Santos noted the Plan will identify lagging sectors and poor regions, as it looks into the causes of inequalities and suggests ways of addressing them. ”You have a little growth in the agriculture sector, in fact there were times that it had negative growth rates. A lot of the poor are in the agriculture sector,” he said.

For his part, ADB Philippines Country Director Richard Bolt said the study results of Ambisyon Natin 2040 shall be included in the first Filipino Development Plan, the medium-term Filipino Development Plan under the Duterte administration.

”So the fact that this work is now beginning to see its way into the next development plan is really important,” Bolt said.

The ADB is supporting NEDA’s Ambisyon Natin 2040 initiative. The Bank has helped other countries with similar exercises, including Cambodia and Malaysia.

Santos said economic planners are also mapping out various projects to boost growth and development.

“One important is increasing mobility. A lot of constraints to development are really infrastructure growth.

A big frustration [in] bringing in foreign direct investment aside from the (foreign ownership) restrictions is infrastructure,” he said.

The NEDA official said the country’s infrastructure development should be aligned with the government’s plan to increase in infrastructure spending to 7 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Santos added his agency is also looking at removing unnecessary regulatory burdens that will impact on business, particularly cutting red tape.

”I think very important is regulatory reform. It’s looking at simplification …We have a big chunk of companies should coming in and I’m glad even with without a Plan right now, a lot of the agencies are heading the call,” he added.

Santos said the country can also undertake a “whole-of-government” approach to regulatory management system, noting “there should be coordination among agencies.”

Further, the NEDA official said the country needs to allocate 7 percent of GDP equivalent to PHP1 trillion to adequately fund social programs such as health and education. ”Based on our computation, we need to grow threefold in terms of per capita income over the next 25 years to achieve our vision – majority of Filipinos will have the matatag, maginhawa at manatag na buhay,” he added.

Ambisyon Natin 2040 envisions the Philippines to be free from hunger and poverty in 2040.

With the right policies, the NEDA believes the Philippines can be a high-income country by 2040. (PNA)

LBAY Governor Al Francis Bichara called on the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to review and revise the implementation of the Php 4.8-billion South Luzon International Airport (SLIA), after some technical flaws were seen in the project’s approved feasibility study.

Bichara, in an interview Monday, expressed dismay over the feasibility study for the SLIA project, also known as the Bicol International Airport (BIA).

“I would say that we are not building a new airport.

Instead we are just relocating the Legazpi airport facility to Daraga,” he said.

Located in Barangay Alobo in Daraga town, some 10 kilometers away from this city, the proposed international airport sits in Albay province, famous for its majestic Mayon Volcano that rises 2,460 meters above sea level

and said to rival Japan’s Mt. Fiji because of its nearly perfect shaped cone.

BIA will occupy a 148-hectare area with a 2,100-meter runway strip to be equipped with night landing capability and take-off facilities, control tower, passenger and cargo terminal, car park, fire station, and other modern facilities.

Citing deficiencies in the runway, apron and taxiways, Bichara said the airport’s design in the study does not conform to the “international standards of an airport.”

He said once the project had been completed there would be no further room for airplane carriers to maneuver during arrivals and departures because of the limited area provided for the ramp and taxiways.

Bichara said “the design did not even contain airplane tube facilities” which is a condition to meet international

airport standard requirements.

Under international standards, the facility is expected to accommodate six to 12 flights a day but “the existing design could not hold the potential volume of flight arrivals and departures.”

He said he raised this problem with former Gov. Jose Salceda, now Albay second district Representative, who himself acknowledged the flaws cited.

Bichara said he would bring this matter to the attention of the Regional Development Council (RDC) which is set to meet on Aug. 17 this year.

He said he would ask the RDC to pass a resolution addressed to the DOTC so the latter could initiate corrective measures to solve the technical glitches.

Asked how he would cope with the delays in the implementation of the project, he

said, “the delay would not matter, I just want this project to meet international airport standards – it is worth waiting for.”

Bichara said he was also expressing the sentiments of a business group which was disappointment over the delay in BIA’s construction.

He said the BIA project should have been completed this year if the original timetable were followed. But despite the readiness of funds, lapses in the bidding process caused delays.

A Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, the total cost of the SLIA project was pegged at Php 4.79 billion.

The airport project allotted Php 2.2 billion for the construction of a runway, apron and taxiway - all of which are now being implemented.

Since 2009 up to 2012, the government has been pouring some Php 1.6 billion

HE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, aims to work hand in hand with the government in developing a master plan to restore the water quality of Laguna Lake.

PCCI President George Barcelon and PCCI Director-in-Charge for Environment and climate Change Felipe Gozon lauded the administration’s plan for Laguna Lake by implementing initiatives such

as reforestation, addressing domestic waste, and reducing the number of large fish pens in the area.

PCCI stressed that the Laguna Lake is an important resource in the country which provides livelihood for fisherfolks and source of potable water for domestic use as well as for irrigation.

The business group said the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), as a water management agency, shall craft a master plan addressing

domestic waste, urban run-off, and agricultural pollution.

“We can help LLDA in formulating this master plan,” PCCI stated.

LLDA data showed that 70 percent of pollution in Laguna Lake comes from the domestic sector, while only 30 percent are from industries.

Earlier, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Paz Lopez noted that her office is looking into “maneuvering” domestic wastes from 400,000 households

around Laguna Lake so that it will not go to the lake.

PCCI also welcomed the reduction of fish pens and fish cages in Laguna Lake to ensure the sustainability of the water’s aquatic resources.

President Duterte, in his first State of the Nation Address last month, mentioned that he eyes to transform Laguna Lake into a ecotourism zone by addressing the negative impact of watershed destruction, land conversion and pollution.

(PNA)

Albay Gov: Int’l airport must fit int’l standards A

F ALBAY, 12

PCCI to aid gov’t in restoring Laguna Lake T

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT. In recognition of his exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to public service, ARENA 11 (Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region 11) president and DPWH 11 regional director Mariano R. Alquiza has been chosen as one of this year’s six awardees of the University of San Carlos’ “Outstanding Carolinian Alumni,” as well as among the four awardees in the Virtus (Leadership) category. The “Virtus” or Leadership Award is conferred on selected USC graduates who have demonstrated moral integrity and proficiency in the practice of one’s profession in public service or civil administration, business management and entrepreneurship. Sec. Alquiza is set to receive the award on August 20 at the Mandani Bay Hotel in Mandaue City, Cebu. (DPWH XI RPAIO)

Auto sales up 22% in July

S

ALES of automotive vehicles for the month of July this year increased by 22 percent to 29,967 units from 24,569 unit sales in July 2015, data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed.

Both passenger car and commercial vehicle segments grew in the previous month at 9.9 percent and 30.6 percent, respectively.

Total sales of passenger cars for July 2016 reached 11,230 units from 10,221 units in July 2015.

Commercial vehicle sales for the same period went up to 18,737 units from 14,348 units a year ago.

Most sub-segments of commercial vehicles grew by double digits except for trucks and buses (category IV) which only increased by 3.1 percent with sales of 230

units.

A big chunk of the segment’s sales last month were from light commercial vehicle with unit sales of 11,982 units, an increase of 36.2 percent from 8,798 units in July 2015.

Asian utility vehicle sales rose to 5,767 units in July 2016, up by 22.5 percent from 4,709 units last year.

Sales of light trucks expanded by 19.6 percent to 587 units while trucks and buses category V also increased by 34.6 percent to 171 units.

“With appealing financial plans and continuous marketing efforts, we were able to outshine our record in July 2015. A chunk of last month’s sales records was due to arrival of the past month’s demands. We expect to keep up with the market for the second half of 2016,” said CAMPI President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez. (PNA)

HE US small business confidence added slightly in July, still lower than historical average level, casting a shadow on the US economic growth, a leading industry association said Tuesday.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said that its Small-Business Optimism Index added 0.1 to 94.6 points in July from June, well below the 42-year average of 98.

Four of the 10 Index components posted a gain, four declined, and two were unchanged, said the NFIB. “Uncertainty is high, expectations for better business conditions are low, and future business investments look weak,” said NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg in a statement.

After economic conditions, the US political climate and lack of qualified workers are the second and third rea-

sons why small business owners think the current period is a bad time to expand, said NFIB. “Our data indicates that there is little hope for a surge in the small business sector anytime soon,” said Dunkelberg.

“Small business optimism has been absent for 89 out of the last 91 months,” said Juanita Duggan, NFIB president and CEO in a statement.

“Without that optimism, small business owners will not invest, borrow, or create jobs. Small business owners need lower taxes and fewer government mandates and regulations in order to break out of this slump,” said Duggan.

US economy grew at an annual rate of 1.2 percent in the second quarter this year, far below market expectation according to the data released by the US Commerce Department at the end of July. (PNA/Xinhua)

US small business confidence up in July

T

7 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

Where have all our forests gone?

Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

A

COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, the Philippine Congress released a study that said about 123,000 hectares of the country’s forest cover are lost every year.

Unless reforestation is started, the study further stated, there would be no forest left in the country by 2036 – that’s exactly 20 years from now.

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

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

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

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

Why is the country heading towards oblivion? “I have seen fortunes made overnight from the forest and it makes my skin crawl to realize that there are many Filipinos who just don’t care about the future generations’ legacy in the way of forest resources,” said Ferdinand Marcos in 1978.

The said statement, according to veteran journalist Marites Dañguilan-Vitug, is a “doublespeak.” In an article she wrote for World Paper, a Boston-based magazine, she explained: “For, in reality, over 20 years (1965-1985) he used his power to grant and revoke licenses of logging concessions to enrich himself, his family and his friends. The forests became his grand political tool.”

Denuded moutains

Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, the vice-chairman and chief executive officer of World Wildlife Fund-Philippines, agrees. In an article he penned for Philippine Daily Inquirer, he surmised that when Marcos came to power “serious deforestation began.” Before Marcos became president, there were only 58 companies issued with timber licenses; it swelled to 412 during his presidency.

“Forests were decimated at an astonishing rate of 300,000 hectares per year,” Tan deplored. Toward the end of the Marcos regime, forest hectarage was down to 7.2 million hectares, “about half of what it was when he came to power.”

“Who had the privilege of cutting trees?” Vitug asked.

“The wealthy and well-connected. They lived in the big cities. Some even sold their rights to the forest concessions and lived off the green of the land. Moreover, money for logging supported candidates during election campaigns.”

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

Even the forests in the lowlands – mangroves, that is – are not spared from denudation. “Approximately twothirds of the country’s original mangroves have been lost,” noted Population Reference Bureau’s Kathleen Mogerlgaard.

Aside from logging (whether legal or illegal), other causes of deforestation in the Philippines are forest fires, “kaingin” farming (slashand-burn agriculture), and mining operations. Volcanic eruptions have also devastated some of the country’s tropical rainforests. Ditto for typhoons, which have devastated considerable hectares of forest areas.

Surging population has compounded the problem. There were only 19 million Filipinos, according to the 1940 census. By 2020, the population will surge to 111.7 million, National Statistical Coordination Board projects.

“Poverty, lack of jobs and wages, and absence of farm lots in the lowlands have

Philippine eagle

the process shortening their productive life spans,” said Dr. Germelito Bautista, of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Magat Dam reservoir has been reported to cut its probable life span of 100 years to 25 years. The Ambuklao Dam reservoir has had its life halved from 60 to 32 years as a result of siltation.

forced some people to invade the forest,” commented former Senator Heherson Alvarez, who served as environment secretary during the administration of Corazon Aquino.

Forest decimation Spreading cities have also contributed to decimation of forests. “Asphalt is often the last harvest for many forests,” the late National Scientist Dioscoro Umali, a Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, once said.

The outcome: food crisis, devastation of lands and water resources, biodiversity facing extinction. “The productivity of the country’s agricultural lands and fisheries is declining as these (forest) areas become increasingly degraded and pushed beyond their capacity to produce,” said Mogerlgaard.

The removal of forest cov-

er has bolstered soil erosion in the uplands. “Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” reminded Harold Ray Watson, the 1985 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for peace and international understanding. “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land.”

As a result, food production is jeopardized. “The loss of nutrient rich soil reduces crop yields and contributes to the expanded use of chemical fertilizers – a practice that can, in turn, pollute water resources,” Alimoane said. “Rivers and streams also carry eroded soil to the coasts, where it interferes with fish nursery areas.”

But that’s not all. “Extensive soil erosion has resulted in the siltation of waterbeds, reservoirs and dams, and in

Water crisis Water crisis is looming.

“There has been a drop of 30 percent to 50 percent in the country’s water resources in the past 20 years or so,” pointed out Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero, former executive director of Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development.

“Rapid forest loss has eliminated habitat for unique and threatened plant and animal species,” Mogerlgaard observed. “At the rate our forests are getting destroyed, many species many no longer be around when we need them,” Alimoane said.

More than 400 plant and animal species found in the country are currently threatened with extinction, including the Philippine eagle, waling-waling, and tamaraw, according to the World Conservation Union.

According to studies, more than 60% of the world’s people depend on plants for medicine. Relatively few of the 250,000 kinds of plants in the world have been fully examined, so it stands to reason that the remaining species contain many unknown com-

pounds of probable therapeutic importance.

Dr. Gordon Cragg, chief of the National Products Branch of the US National Cancer Institute, argues: “I still maintain that no chemists can ‘dream up’ the complex bioactive molecules produced by nature, but once the natural lead compounds have been discovered then the chemists can proceed with synthetic modifications to improve on the natural lead.”

He cites taxol, the only drug that shows promise against breast cancer and ovarian cancer, as a case in point. “The drug was initially found in the western yew by an American government program randomly screening plants for anti-cancer activities,” he said. “Its molecule is structurally unique and there is no way it could have been visualized if it had not been discovered in nature.”

Trees are one nature’s most efficient weapons to tie down steep hillsides, check the growth of big gullies, stabilize unsteady stream banks and screen cultivated fields from harmful winds. But the country’s mountains are bald in large patches almost everywhere.

“The illness of our forest is complicated – and cannot be cured – with one-stop prescription of a single medicine,” reminds Alvarez.

Filipinos are therefore urged to stop cutting trees now and preserve the remaining forests the country has.

“We have laid to waste millions of hectares of forest land, as though heedless of the tragic examples of the countries of Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, where large areas have become barren, if not desertified,” Alvarez said.

“If we have not, in fact, reached this state, we are almost at the point of irreversibility.”

Dr. Ernesto Guiang, a forestry consultant, echoed the same concern: “We are now at the eleventh hour. We have to pay attention to the handwriting on the wall with respect to our forests.” █

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

EDITORIAL

S

Not too late to clear this mess

UPREME Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno must have not been listening well when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered judges in the ‘Narco List’ to report to the Supreme Court just as he ordered all cops in the same list to report to the Chief PNP. The Chief Justice told judges under her watch as head of the Highest Tribunal not to surrender to police authorities unless served with a warrant of arrest.

Sereno had also written President Duterte purportedly reminding him that it is her job to discipline judges under the Constitutional mandate of separation of powers.

Sereno is right in her understanding that under the doctrine of co-equality, it is the duty of the Chief Justice to discipline judges in the same manner as the President has power over everyone in the executive department.

However, that is not the point.

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The point is that President Duterte had tld judges to report to the CJ, meaning Sereno, and not to the PNP. Morreover, President Duterte may have also meant wrongdoings of judges outside the course of their judicial function like involvement in illegal drugs in non-judicial capacity.

CJ Sereno may have pulled a quick one and the gentleman in President Duterte did not like that.

Let’s hope this one does not go out of hand. President Duterte has gone as far as threatening to order martial law if CJ Sereno interferes with his job. In fairness too with CJ Sereno, this is not the situation she desires to create but probably lapsed into faulty listening, not reasoning.

It’s not too late. CJ Sereno could do President Duterte a favor by calling all judges in the ‘Narco List’ to report to her and conduct her own investigation.

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EDGEDAVAO

I

F you have an opportunity of visiting Manhattan in New York, you don’t see just buildings but high-rise buildings. If you walk and get lost, don’t worry. Just look up and find the Empire State Building and you will know where you are!

They called those tall buildings are skyscrapers. “I love skyscrapers,” American author Todd William admits. “Visiting cities lush with tall buildings has always been a treat for me.

The implications of these immense towers are tremendous - a representation of the power of mind over matter. It never ceases to amaze me that within our minds exist the powers to transform earthly materials into these colossal giants. For me, a walk among skyscrapers is a pleasant reminder of the boundless potential of human thought.”

“A relatively big building may be considered a skyscraper if it protrudes well above its built environment and changes the overall skyline,” notes Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

However, the maximum height of structures has progressed historically with building methods and technologies and thus what is today considered a skyscraper is taller than before.

The term “skyscraper” was first applied to buildings of steel framed construction of at least 10 stories in the late 19th century, a result of public amazement at the tall buildings being built in major cities like Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, and St. Louis.

Currently, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (United

T

HE rise of Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the country’s 16th president has ignited numerous historical researchers that were otherwise overlooked had he remained city mayor of Davao. In fact, no other Filipino politico today has been scrutinized more comprehensively in his genealogical roots than Duterte.

Recently, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal, a Maguindanaoan whose true name is Datucan M. Abas and carrying the nom de plume Salah Jubair, in discussing the Comprehensive Agreement in the Bangsamoro (CAB), said: “I am upbeat that the President [Duterte] can do it [the passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law] smoothly for several reasons. He is extremely popular; the time factor is on his side, and he is not anti-Moro; in fact, he has a Moro blood running in his veins; and finally, he has shown so far that he is a decisive leader.”

Duterte’s Muslim bloodline, then a hardly discussed subject, was similarly recognized in a short political campaign advertisement entitled Ang Paghahanap, which was funded by a certain Shiekh Muhamad, directed by Abner Luzon of Muscle Media and co-produced by Eisa Javier, head of the Mercy Islamic Center, with Khalid Gorospe serving as art director.

A Facebook post by Datuk Delmar Nur Faramarz Ferdowsi Salah Ad-Din Topinio Taclibon, who carries an impressive list of degrees and titles after his name, attracted the most attention, though a close scrutiny would expose some are gaps and gray areas in his Roa lineage.

The article dated May 13, 2016 and titled

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

VANTAGE POINTS

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Modern skyscrapers Arab Emirates) THINK ON THESE! is the tallest building in the world. Completed in 2009, it has a height of 829.8 meters.

Recently, we had an opportunity of visiting Shanghai, Henrylito D. Tacio China’s most henrytacio@gmail.com populated city (with more than 24 million people) and is known for its skyscrapers. Our tour guide, Yan Xu Dong, told us that the Shanghai Bank of China Tower was one of the three buildings that were part of the filming of “Mission: Impossible III.” It is the building where Tom Cruise did a bungee jump.

The Shanghai Bank of China Tower is a 53-story tower in the Pudong District. It was built for the Bank of China by the Japanese architectural firm Nikken Sekkei.

But it is not Shanghai’s tallest building. The record goes to the Shanghai Tower, which is 632 meters (2,073 feet) tall with 128 floors. It is currently the tallest building in the People’s Republic of China and the second tallest in the world.

Closely trailing is the Shanghai World Financial Center, with a height of 492 meters or 1,614 feet. In 2009, the Guinness of World Re-

cords singled out its observatory as the highest observation deck. To get to the top, you have to ride an elevator whose speed is 8 meters per second. You have to stop at the 9th floor before proceeding to the skywalk located at the 100th floor.

Spanning 55 meters and located 474 meters above ground, you walk on the transparent glass-floor walkway. You get to feel that Shanghai lies at your feet. At first, I didn’t notice that I was walking in a glass-floor. But when someone pointed it out, I immediately shudder since I have fear of heights.

The third tallest skyscraper is the famous Oriental Pearl Tower. Movie aficionados would remember this building as it was knocked off

by Doctor Doom in 2007’s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” Its height is 470 meters of 1,535 feet.

The other skyscrapers of Shanghai are: Jin Mao Tower (421 meters), Shimao International Plaza (333 meters), Shanghai Wheelock Square (297 meters), Plaza 66 (288 meters), Tomorrow Square (285 meters), Hong Kong New World Tower (278 meters), One Lujiazui (269 meters), and Bocom Financial Towers (265 meters).

Beijing, the capital city of China which we also visited, has also a list of tallest buildings.

The tallest completed building is currently the 81-storey China World Trade Centre Tower III at 330 meters (1,083 feet) tall.

The second-tallest building in the city is the

Fortune Plaza Office Building 1, which stands 260 meters (853 feet) tall with 63 stories and the third-tallest is the Park Tower, standing at 250 meters (820 feet), also containing 63 stories. Beijing TV Centre, with a height of 239 meters (784 feet), is the fourth tallest.

But one of the most notable building, which don’t fail to get the attention of visitors, is the 51-storey CCTV Headquarters building, nicknamed “Big Shorts.” The skyscraper (234 meters) is not a traditional tower, but a continuous loop of five horizontal and vertical sections, creating an irregular grid on the building’s facade with an open center.

The other skyscrapers of Beijing are as follows: Jing Guang Center (208 meters), Pangu Plaza Office Building (192 meters), Yintai Office Tower (186 meters), PICC Office Tower (also 186 meters), and Capital Mansion (183 meters).

When I was in New York some years back, I had an opportunity of working at the building where the United Nations Population Fund was located. As I have said earlier, I had fear of heights but I never felt nervous going to the top.

In fact, I enjoyed it. Perhaps the reason was that I worked there for less than a month only.

“Skyscrapers! Unhealthy ugly giants! To live and work as close as to the land is a blessing!

Remember, you are not a cloud! Come down and live on the ground!” wrote Mehmet Murat ildan, a contemporary Turkish playwright and novelist.

“His ExcellenFAST BACKWARD cy Rodrigo ‘Digong’ Roa Duterte: The First Muslim Maranao-Kamayo Indigenous President of the Republic of the Philippines”, is interesting in that Antonio V. Figueroa it explains the Moro bloodline claims on the president’s maternal side.

The author notes that Soledad Gonzales Roa, Rodrigo’s mother, was of Chinese, Maranao and Kamayo ancestry. Her eldest grandson, Paolo, the president’s first-born, was formerly married to Lovely Sangkula, a Tausug-Maranao girl. Their union bore children who until today embrace Islam, making them the Muslim grandchildren of Rodrigo.

The post further explained: “The Maranaos are among the tribes in the Southern Philippines living in the periphery or vicinity of Lake Lanao who embraced Islam while the Camayos are the tribal people of Surigao and Agusan. The Kamayo People are concentrated in Bislig City, Lianga, Marihatag, and San Agustin in Surigao del Sur, Mindanao.

A scattered population is also found in Cateel and Baganga, Davao Oriental. Kamayo is related linguistically to the Tausug and Butuanon, and belongs to the Meso and central Philippine fam-

ily of languages…

“The Roas are descendants of Rajah Samporna, an 18th century warrior nobleman from the Sultanate of Baloi and Tagoloan, who married a Spanish noblewoman. The Roa family took refuge in Dansalan (now Marawi City) under the care of Sultan Alauya Alonto during the Japanese war. Samporna’s lineage can be traced to the bloodline of Moriatao a Bai in Uato (Balindong) and Maruhom Baraguir of Maguindanao and Mala Bayabao (Ditsaan Ramain)…

“Sharif Kabungsuan is the great, great grandson of Fatma Zohra (Fatimid Dynasty), daughter of the Prophet Mohammed, according to Malaysian genealogy experts. All Sultans of Mindanao (Maguindanao), Sulu and Pata Pongampong a Ranao, Malaysia and Brunei must descend from that bloodline, as a rule.”

This confirms an earlier online article, The Race to Halalan 2016: The Genealogy of Rodrigo Duterte, published on Nov. 24, 2015, in Filipino Genealogy Project, saying: “The Roas of Leyte are one of the descendants of Rajah Moda Samporna (born c.1760), a warrior noble from the Sultanate of Baloi and Tagoloan. After a failed slave-raiding party against the local Bukidnon villages, Rajah Samporna and his people made a settlement in Kalambagohan (modern-day Cagayan de Oro) and married a daughter of the local datu (as well as 2 other women), siring 4 male children (2 of them from the legal wife). When Rajah Samporna’s family were baptized into the Christian faith in 1779, they were given the surname Neri (from which the modern-day Neris of Cagay-

anon descend). Other descendants include the Pelaezes, Cabilis, Chavezes, Emanos, etc.”

Tracing Moro genealogy, according to Muslim scholar Cesar A. Majul, is reliant on tarsilas, a written account of a family’s lineage. Though sometimes interwoven with folklore and oral tradition, these are considered as the most authoritative documents that can authenticate the family roots of a sultanate. Regarded as more superior in terms of credibility than the Sulu tradition in tracing bloodlines, the Maguindanao tarsila is considered trustworthy by most scholars.

Majul, in Muslims in the Philippines (1973), underscored this difference: “The Maguindanao tarsilas are more specific than the Sulu Genealogy in establishing relations between a local dynasty and a relatively older and better known dynasty as that of Malacca. Besides claiming descent from a sharif [an Arabic title for a noble], the royal datus of Maguindanao also claim descent from a pagan or pre-Islamic ruling family and are more detailed in their genealogical accounts. Thus a triple function of the tarsila regarding legitimacy or sanction to rule is relatively more elaborate among the Maguindanao tarsilas than that of the Sulu Genealogy.”

Given the Roa clan’s Muslim provenance is traced to the Maguindanao sultanate, Majul’s assertion adds weigh to what is now publicity acknowledged as the Muslim roots of Duterte.

In the future, a more elaborate study of the Roa family tree may add more details to the Islamic roots of the presidency.

Duterte’s Muslim bloodline

10 NEWS RODY... FROM 1

anao, its base of operations.

Salary increase During his visit, President Duterte also vowed to double the salary of non-commissioned soldiers and upgrade their equipment as he had earlier promised.

The salary raise of AFP personnel will take effect

by August. The soldiers’ pay checks will increase by 40 percent this month, and will go up by another 40 percent before the end of December.

The Chief Executive like-

Siargao... FROM 1

Aside from the number of beautiful locations of Siargao Island, Governor Matugas said the island is the only place in Mindanao that will be hosting two other major international events this year.

These events include the Siargao Island International Surfing Cup held in the municipality of General Luna; and the International Gamefishing Tournament in the municipality of Pilar.

“Over the years, the tourism industry in the province has grown tremendously from 187,875 in 2010 to 420,448 in 2015, or a growth of 123.8%,” the letter added.

This growth, the governor said, has been attributed to the increasing number of tourist arrivals in Siargao Island, which includes not only Filipinos but a wide-range of foreign nationalities.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

wise said the presidential jet will be converted into an air ambulance that will be used to transport wounded soldiers to medical facilities.

He also told the soldiers that the administration is eyeing to establish a school for disabled soldiers to help them aqcuire new skills and find new jobs.

“Hindi ko kayo pabayaan,” the President told the hundreds of soldiers who gathered during the event as he reiterated his full support to the military.

“Siargao Island has indeed become a prime tourism destination, identified as the World’s 8th Best surfing site, and Asia’s Game-fishing Mecca, by international travel magazines,” the governor’s letter continued.

She added: “Should the department and the organization consider the granting of this invitation, we will be very much delighted to offer the entire delegation with free accommodation in the Siargao Bleu Resorts and Spa, the only spa-resort in Siargao Island, including meals and land transportation during their entire stay.”

Should the proposal of the provincial government of Surigao del Norte be considered, it would be a source of great pride and joy for the people of Mindanao. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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the Chief Executive ticked off the names of the members of the Supreme Court who were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, he was acknowledging the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over its personnel.

Essentially, this means that the President recognizes the separation of powers as state in the Philippine constitution, he added.

Andanar said the President even appealed to Chief

Justice Sereno not to do anything that would result in a constitutional crisis.

In the meantime, during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said: “Many things have been said, the Chief Justice sees no need to add to what is being said.”

Te refused to comment on the follow up questions raised by reporters during the press briefing.

Dengue express lanes are similar to a one-stop-shop mechanism designed for patients suspected to be suffering from dengue cases.

The special lane aims to ensure that patient suspected of dengue cases are given priority or attended immediately so that their conditions can be easily monitored and managed especially if they are manifesting symptoms of the disease.

The patients in this lane

are separated from other patients so that necessary tests, advised to administer intravenous (IV) fluids and Oresol can be done right away.

Through the express lanes, the hospitals’ health workers can make the necessary recommendations to patients and their companions on whether the case can be controlled at home or there is need for confinement in a medical facility.

(PNA)

struction of major power projects by 2020.

“Based on our growth projections the next period in Mindanao where the demand and supply will meet again will be by 2025,” he said.

But the rate in which investments are coming into Mindanao under the administration of President Duterte

will also affect the agency’s projections, Montenegro said, adding that MinDA considers 2022 as the year in which the island-region will be facing another power supply deficit.

“This will also be the scenario in Mindanao if no new power plants are built by as early as 2018 or 2020,” Montenegro said.

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EDGEDAVAO

RELENTLESS CAMPAIGN. Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11 chief Superintendent Edilberto Leonardo gives updates on the CIDG personnel who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs activities during yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum. Lean Daval Jr.

Malacanang... FROM 2 cials and law enforcers linked to the illegal drug trade.

In a press statement released to Malacanang media, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ Sueno said they are still on the process of verifying the local officials who will be recognized for their unblemished reputation in fighting drug menace. ”There still no specific criteria. It’s just ung mga hindi

kasama sa second list ng mga drug protectors, of course pinapa-check na din yung mga untainted LGU officials.

We need to give credits to the good local officials,” Sueno said.

The intensified campaign of the Duterte administration against the illicit drug trade has prompted around 600,000 drug addicts to surrender to the authorities throughout the country.

(PNA)

his speech in Cagayan de Oro City Tuesday night.) ”The President merely asked a rhetorical question and said it under the context that his anti-drug campaign cannot wait for the slow wheels of justice – Philippine style,” Andanar explained in his press statement on Wednesday.

President Duterte, he said, is an “action man”, who believes that justice delayed is justice denied. ”He is the type, who at the onset of his presidency, simply wants to hit the ground running and rid society of drugs, crime, and corruption with urgency,” he said.

The PCO chief added that President Duterte is working very hard to meet the drug menace “head-on” by removing fear among the people amid reports that 600,000 drug addicts have already surrendered to the authorities. ”The President has made use of executive powers at his disposal, knowing fully well the limits of these powers, and without undermining the constitutional [separation[ of powers, nor infringing upon the rights of citizens,” he said.

Andanar also defended the inclusion of the seven judges in the drug list that President Duterte announced early Sunday morning. ”When the President re-

ferred the named judges on his consolidated list to the Supreme Court, he was acknowledging the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over the judges. He recognizes the separation of powers, and even asked the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court not to create a constitutional crisis,” he said. ”By calling out the names of the judges on the list, he is giving them every chance and opportunity to be prepared to defend themselves, clear their names if they are innocent, and alert the community of their involvement in drugs if they are guilty,” he added.

Andanar said not every Filipino would agree with the way President Duterte addresses the drug problem “but the President is putting his life, his honor, and the presidency at stake.” ”His love for the people is greater than his fear for his own life, or the fear of embarrassment, failure, or mistake,” he added.

Andanar explained that as a former prosecutor, the President believes in the rule of law and advocates judicial independence. ”As President, he has the sworn duty to uphold and defend the Constitution. The words and action of the President all point to these,” he said. (PNA)

President Duterte also threatened to back out from the peace negotiations between the government and

the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) if the rebels carry out another IED attack.

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Pulong... FROM 3

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of Unit with Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service.

Case No. 2016-XI-01064 (2011-XI-00618) YASSER G. IBRAHIM, Petitioner-Vendor

JUHAIRE B. GUIAPAL, Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by YASSER G. IBRAHIM in favor of JUHAIRE B. GUIAPAL of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY to any point in Region XI with the use of TWO (2) units, which Certificate will expire on August 12, 2017. In the same petition filed on August 2, 2016, petitioners likewise request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same units previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on AUGUST 23, 2016 at 09:10 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 3rd day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment with Dropping and Substitution of Unit to operate a PUB MINI BUS ORDINARY REGULAR service.

Case No. 2016-XI-01048 (99-XI-00076-DP) FLORAME B. MEDALLA, Petitioner-Vendor

DAVAO METRO SHUTTLE CORP. Petitioner-Vendee x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by FLORAME B. MEDALLA in favor of DAVAO METRO SHUTTLE CORP. of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUB MINI BUS ORDINARY REGULAR service on the route: LAAK COMPOSTELA VALLEYECOLAND TERMINAL, DAVAO CITY VIA TAGUM CITY AND VICE VERSA with the use of TWO (2) units, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to August 14, 2018. In the same petition filed on July 28, 2016, petitioners likewise request to DROP the authorized units and to SUBSTITUTE the same with other units bearing Chassis Nos. LZYTBTDF1076046 and LZYTBTD6XF1076047 to operate along the same route previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on AUGUST 22, 2016 at 09:40 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 29th day of July 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

‘Freaky shakes’ at

Cheat Time Bake House DAVAO’S FOOD SCENE IS ALWAYS ON POINT. With the Kadayawan Festivities just around the corner, you no longer need to travel to another continent to taste the latest food creations. In fact, you can re-create (or anywhere else in the world), everything you see on the internet right in your very own dining counter. And it’s as easy as counting 1-2-3. Thank you Google and YouTube!

But let me ask the food buffs out there. Could there be a more epic drink (if you can call it a drink) than Freak Shakes? These monstrous masterpieces promise to address all your sugar cravings at once -- with layers and layers of flavours, you’d surely have sensory overload even before you take a sip.

Freak shakes are those towering glasses of rich, milky goodness, topped with moist cake or cookie chunks, generous lashings of cream and a carnival of colorful toppings. Sure, it’s impossible to look elegant whilst tackling one.

But when armed with the determination to finish a glass of this size, then nothing is impossible. Just take a deep breath and dig right in. Snap chat!

Certainly, these shakes - if you may call them that - are not for the faint of heart. They’re monstrous and could spike you sugar levels by several notches.

At the first instance, you’d feel intimidated and begin to ask yourself: Can I finish this? But don’t fret, there’s no time limit. Go ahead, savor every bit of flavor on your cup. Make it a lasting

experience. That’s what I did. And Yes, I finished a cup – indeed, there’s always a first time.

The latest sweet hub in the city, aptly name CHEAT TIME BAKE HOUSE, is not a newbie in the ice-cream-confectionary business. Even before opening its first physical store, it has been catering to more than a handful of sweet-loving peeps. A popup store, as the owners call it, has always been a crowd pleaser and favorite. Hence, the owners opted to open a physical store wherein their customers could relax and enjoy their sweet treats, regardless of Mother Nature’s mood swings.

Cheat Time offers an array of Freak Shake flavors perfect for your cravings.

Go plain with vanilla or vanilla Oreo on a Monday, strawberry or blueberry on a Tuesday, chocolate on a Wednesday, durian on a Thursday and Nutella or their best seller, Matcha Overload, on a Friday to kick start the weekend.

And weekends? Have an extra glass for that ultimate weekend treat with family and friends.

No, that’s not all the fla-

vors they have. All in all, they actually have 30 Freak Shake flavors for you to enjoy. Now, that’s one flavor a day for you. And each glass is overloaded with whipped cream, homemade chocolate gaanache and bits and pieces of chocolate nibs.

My top 3 favorite Freak Shakes are MATCHA OVERLOAD, a thick matcha shake topped with decadent chocolate moist cake and numerous sticks and bars of sweet delights; COFFEE CRAZE, thickened coffee flavoured shake topped with creamy yema; and the VANILLA OREO, a combination of vanilla and Oreo thickened shake topped with creamy slice of Oreo cheesecake and gooey brownie.

Not only that, you can choose a cake which goes with your favorite drink.

Choose from their silky smooth yema cake, chocolate moist cake, rich red velvet cake or a slice of creamy cheesecake. At Cheat Time, the prices of their shakes depend on the kind of cake that is used to top your shakes. Cakes are freshly baked by the owners themselves.

If you prefer other flavors, just ask nicely and the team will offer you their arsenal of ‘Freak’ flavors.

Cheat Time Bake House is located at corner Ponce, Guerrero Street (formerly the Breakfast Club), Davao City and is open from Mondays to Sundays, 9AM to 11PM. For orders and inquiries, you may call them at 0915 546 4301.

Make #TheRoyalChef your Thursday habit. Follow my messy food affair theroyalchefeats.wordpress. com and on Instagram at @ iamleebai.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

E

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

Park Inn's 'boodl KADAYAWAN IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY, and riding on the success of last year’s promotion, Park Inn by Radisson Davao recently launched their Supersize Boodle Fight Meal, a Kadayawan Festival exclusive.

Available from August 12 to August 31, the popular Supersize Boodle Fight Meal can be had daily for lunch and dinner at the hotel’s RBG, all-day dining restaurant.

“As part of the Kadayawan celebration, we are bringing back the popular boodle fight with a rematch,” explained Hotel Manager, Ms. Emelyn Rosales.

Each Supersized Boodle Fight Meal comes with a

salad, soup, chicken, fish, meat, two desserts, two heaps of rice, and a pitcher of drink.

“Daily for two weeks, the flavorful dishes created by our chefs are surely going to excite all Dabawenyos and visiting tourists alike,” Rosales added.

“Have a taste of Davao’s best local cuisines such as the Native Tinolang Manok, Fern (Pako) Salad, Spring Rolls (Lumpia), Pinaupong Manok, Grilled Tuna Bel-

ly, Boneless Pork Lecho Belly, Special Davao Cak and Buko Salad. All serve with Plain and Garlic Ric plus a pitcher of drink.”

A celebration of Filipin festival food, I especial loved the Boneless Por Lechon Belly with its crisp skin and tender meat. Th Special Davao Cake wit its dark chocolate spong cake topped with coco nibs and a whiff of duria is a deserving runner-up.

Although the Supe sized Boodle Fight Meal said to be good for seve diners, I can safely say th the meal can actually a

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

le fight' rematch TOP: The RBG Supersize Boodle Fight spread. The crispy-skinned Boneless Lechon Belly was deliciously tender.

on ke ed ce,

no lly ork py The ith ge oa an . eris en hat ac-

LEFT: DOT XI Regional Director Robby Alabado, Hotel Manager Emelyn Rosales, Gene Bangayan, Kadayawan Co-Chairperson Art Boncato, and Jasper Huang.

Bottom: Park Inn by Radisson Davao’s signature Special Davao Cake.

commodate more, as our group of hungry souls could barely finish all the sumptuous dishes served to us.

Diners will also get a chance to win Overnight Stay gift certificates

and Group Meal vouchers.

For more travel stories, foodie finds, and happenings in, around, and beyond Durianburg, follow me on Twitter or on Instagram at @ kennethkingong.

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

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EVENT ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

Waterfront Insular Hotel wins at Philippine Culinary Cup 2016

CULINARY ENTHUSIASTS FROM DIFFERENT CITIES ACROSS THE PHILIPPINES go where the best meet to compete.

In partnership with Pep Group, Inc., Pastry Alliance of the Philippines and LTB Philippines Chefs Association, the Philippine Culinary Cup was held last August 3 to 6, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

The young chefs of Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao (WIHD) who championed in the most recent Davao Culinary Cup’s Young Chef Team Challenge held just last June flew in with prayers and a lot of spirit as they were to represent Davao and all of Mindanao. Being it their first time travelling by plane on their own, it was all worth it as these young apprentices, Rose Mae Tadtad and Robert Jake Alferez, took home a Bronze medal against sixty participants.

Among the other prop-

erties of the Waterfront Insular Hotels and Casinos, Waterfront Pavilion Hotel (WPH) also participated in the said competition. PCC is the most prestigious, international culinary competition in the country, being the only (WACS) World

Association of Chef Societies-endorsed continental competition to be held in the Philippines. Judged only by WACS-approved culinary experts all over the world, the competition thrives to uplift the culinary standards of the country.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

Offsite support services for DCWD customers

W

ITH the growing number of service connections, Davao City Water District encourages customers to avail of the offsite support services for water updates and other related concerns.

The Central Information Unit/Call Center with hotline numbers 297-DCWD (3293), 0927-798-8966 (Globe), 0908-441-0653 (Smart) and 0925-511-3293 (Sun) operates 24/7 to give water updates particularly on scheduled and emergency water service interruptions.

Complaints, water meter and street leaks, as well as queries on service connection applications, water bills and other frontline services may also be coursed through calls or text messages addressed to the Call Center.

Moreover, latest daily water updates may be obtained by calling 297-DCWD (3293) and pressing “1” on the phone dial.

Likewise, service updates and news about DCWD operations are uploaded to the DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) for information of the general public. By creating a user ac-

count in the website, customers may compute and inquire water bill online. In addition, the website has a chat feature wherein customer concerns, especially those concerning water leaks, may be sent.

The water utility also offers e-billing services for those who prefer to receive their water bills by email.

Account holders must first enroll in the e-billing services through the Commercial Services Department at DCWD Bajada office. Their bills will be sent to them thru email on the next billing schedule.

Another offsite service offered by DCWD is the online water bill payment through the internet retail banking facilities of the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP). Paying customers with existing LBP accounts may pay via LBP’s iAccess for individual accounts and LBP’s weAccess for institutional or corporate accounts.

These, together with DCWD’s five frontline services, are continually being enhanced as part of the water facility’s commitment to provide high quality services to its customers. (Jamae G. Dela Cruz)

Philippine auto sales exceed expectations C ARMUDI PHILIPPINES - the local arm of the leading vehicle platform around the world - expressed confidence that online vehicle sales in the country will likewise increase in light of the stellar sales performance achieved by the local automotive industry in the second quarter of 2016.

Carmudi Philippines Managing Director Abhi Mohan said that following the impressive growth of vehicle sales, the group is confident that the auto sales industry will continue to expand.

“We believe that the online sales atmosphere would follow suit in providing a strong commercial environment for the local automotive industry. For example, since more and more people are buying brand-new units, more preowned vehicles will be up for sale,” he explained.

Mohan was referring to the 167,481 sales record posted by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) for the first six months of 2016, which recorded a 27.4 percent surge against the 131,465 sales tallied in the same period last year.

The said figures also surpassed the highest monthly

record.

Citing his previous claim that vehicle sales for the second and third quarter of 2016 would pose a challenge in their annual sales target for the year, Mohan said that he has high expectations that those numbers will be met, and eventually, will be exceeded.

“I could never be happier that I was wrong regarding the turnout of sales. This proves that the Philippine automotive industry would enjoy a remarkable sales performance all throughout the year,” Mohan said.

He admitted that he was surprised with the latest sales figures, pointing out that despite the challenges the industry experienced in June, automotive sales maintained its robust growth.

“The figures posted by the Philippines auto industry remained robust, despite the usual financial happenstances that June usually brings. As one of those who constantly monitor the market, we are happy that they have continuously show exemplary performance in terms of sales,” Mohan said.

In fact, he expected the local automotive industry to experience a slowdown for two consecutive quarters, but would not be “too substantial” and eventually regain its foot-

F PHILIPPINE, 14

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

JNA Awards draws overwhelming response E

IGHT leading jewellery companies are among the finalists of the Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year category of the fifth annual JNA Awards. Conferred annually by JNA ( Jewellery News Asia ), the awards event recognises and celebrates companies and individuals whose passion for excellence, innovation and outstanding business performance has helped shape the growth and development of Asia’sjewellery industry.

This year, the JNA Awards has consolidated two categories that are judged against a similar set of criteria. Industry Innovation of the Year and Sustainability Initiative of the Year -- both standalone categories in previous years -- are now known collectively as Industry Innovation/ Sustainability Initiative of the Year. By refining the criteria and streamlining the categories, the JNA Awards has become “more reflective of current industry aspirations” and “maintained the relevancy and rigour of the awards,” according to the awards’ esteemed judging panel.

The judging panel was comprised of five esteemed industry experts, namely Albert Cheng , Advisor to the World Gold Council (WGC), Far East; James Courage , former Chief Executive of Platinum Guild International and former Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council; Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange; EW Silkroutes Group Limited (“NSG” or “the Group”) has formed a joint venture with the owners of London -based consulting firm Rubeus Limited (“Rubeus”) to provide bespoke solutions for risk and security-related matters in Asia , adding to its portfolio of businesses following its exit from the SGX Watchlist in November 2014 .

Incorporated in September 2011, Rubeus offers risk management solutions to corporations, government agencies and ultra-high-networth families globally. Its scope of work includes providing insights into entering emerging or frontier markets, monitoring on-site conditions throughout the life cycle of an investment and the operational management of projects, as well as offering crisis management services and advice on the security of critical national infrastructure. Its cli-

Nirupa Bhatt , Managing Director of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in India and the Middle East ; and Yasukazu Suwa , Chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc. This category is open to companies that best demonstrate the impact that their innovative, corporate social responsibility or sustainable initiatives have on their respective operations and the industry at large.

The eight Honourees, shortlisted companies, in the Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year category are: • Beijing Cai Shi Kou Department Store Co Ltd • Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd • Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd • Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd • Shenzhen Foreway Jewellery Group Co Ltd • Shenzhen Ganlu Jewellery Co Ltd • Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd • Shenzhen Y&M Jewelry Co Ltd

Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development -- Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, remarked, “We are thrilled to receive such enthusiasm for this category with a record-setting number of Honourees for any one category in the history of the JNA Awards.”

“Industry innovation and business sustainability are two long-term driving forces in spearheading the growth of our industry. Over

the past decade, the significant growth in the jewellery business in Asia was not only a reflection of the increasing buying power from the middle-class customers, it was also the extra effort put forth by retailers, manufacturers, designers and entrepreneurs in these two areas to enable us to stay relevant and agile to the changes of the external environment,” said Cheng of WGC. GIA’s Bhatt shared, “While innovation is and will remain a priority for many businesses around the world, there is an increased awareness on the importance of corporate social responsibility. Businesses are expected to act responsibly toward both the environment and society.

I am pleased that the JNA Awards encourages members of our industry to contribute to the greater good.”

“The fact that this category has the most number of Honourees reflects the view of today’s entrepreneurs that innovation and sustainability are important elements in achieving business success.

Meanwhile, with seven out of eight shortlisted companies are from Mainland China, this shows that Chinese companies no longer rely on copying the inventions of others, but they are finally breaking their own grounds,” noted Lin of SDE. A representative of the Shenzhen Luohu People’s Government commented, “The JNA Awards is one of Asia’s most influential awards programmes in the

international jewellery and gemstone industry; its authoritative status, impartiality and recognition are second to none.

The Luohu government has been committed to promoting the development of the jewellery industry and we are extremely inspired and proud to learn that six leading Shenzhen jewellery companies are shortlisted for Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year.

In addition, we would like to commend these companies for continuously innovating and achieving sustainable development even in today’s challenging market conditions.”

Courage added, “The jewellery manufacturers of Shenzhen have long been pioneers in innovation, with a growing need to balance the rising consumer expectations on quality and design with cost and competition, which leads to greater investment into the development and adaptation of technologies to jewellery applications.”

The winners of the 2016 JNA Awards will be announced at the JNA Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, which will be held on Thursday, 14 September, or the second day of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, at the InterContinental Hong Kong.

The much-anticipated gala dinner is a ticketed event by application only. Interested parties can book their seats now by submitting an online application form.

ents include oil, gas and mining companies, private banks, hedge funds, maritime firms, the media, as well as family offices.

Rubeus was founded by John Davidson and his partner, Dr. Jessica Lincoln . Davidson is a former British Special Forces soldier with over 25 years of experience in high-intensity crisis situations. He has worked with governments to develop training programmes to enhance security, and has been involved in ending the operations of certain groups in armed conflicts.

Dr. Lincoln is an expert in open-source intelligence and a former member of staff at the Department of War Studies in King’s College London and the Defence Studies Department at the UK’s Joint Services Command and Staff College. She and Davidson are supported by a team of experts in fields such as tech-

nology and research.

The Singapore -based joint venture, Rubeus Silk Pte Ltd (“Rubeus Silk”), is 51% owned by NSG. Davidson and Dr. Lincoln own the remaining 49%. The new partnership will seek to expand across Asia and develop local expertise in each of the markets it sets foot in.

“Rubeus exists to protect people and assets. In Asia , we believe our services will be useful in helping companies, ultra-high-net-worth families and their businesses better manage and safeguard their resources and investments,” said Davidson.

Dr. Goh Jin Hian , Group Chief Executive Officer of NSG, said: “Rubeus Silk is the latest addition to NSG’s security and governance business, which has so far centered on big data analytics and enterprise software solutions. The joint venture will not only widen the scope of this business but

also complement NSG’s other divisions.”

“For example, as our oil and gas business grows, we eventually want to get involved in activities beyond trading. These could include managing and owning oil storage facilities in Asia and Europe. Rubeus’ experience in evaluating energy assets, particularly in frontier markets, will be invaluable.”

NSG currently gets most of its revenue from oil and gas trading. It also has a joint venture with the government of Malta to develop the Southern European island into an energy trading hub between Europe and Asia.

Digiland Pte Ltd, the Group’s wholly owned technology arm, provides consultancy services and solutions in data analytics, cloud-based e-government services, and IT infrastructure for the management of public housing, real estate and facilities.

New Silkroutes group forms joint venture N

12 COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

Filipino Netizens still at risk of online threats F

ILIPINOS are known for being fashion-conscious and for their world-class beauty. But how are they in terms of being cyber-savvy?

An online survey by Kaspersky Lab showed Filipino Internet users are still prone to committing cybersecurity lapses which put them at risk of the ever-present threats online.

The global cybersecurity company tested the cyber savviness of 18,000 Internet users from 16 countries, including 1,394 from the Philippines. Respondents, who are all over 18 years old, answered questions which determined their online habits and cyberthreat awareness. Final scores were categorized based on Kaspersky Lab’s experience in combating cyber threats.

Users who got over 137 points are the safest, as they are cyber savvy enough to know the rules of safe behavior on the Internet and make the right decisions. Netizens who got 113-137 ratings are secure --- they make some dangerous mistakes online but generally behave carefully and safely online. Those who scored 75-113 are averagely at risk.

This means that they are able to identify only half the cyberthreats they encounter.

Survey respondents who gained scores below 75 show very threatening online behavior, as they cannot recognize cyberthreats and do not consider such issue as an important matter.

Filipino respondents scored 97 over-all, two points higher than the global average of 95 but well within the risk group. This means almost half of respondents from the Philippines were not able to identify the cyberthreats they encountered, making them highly vulnerable targets of cybercrime.

Survey results showed that one of the harmful online habits of nearly half (49.4%) of Filipino Internet users is keeping applications they don’t actually use, even those that were left unused for a long time. The Philippines ranked the worst in this category among the 16 countries included in the survey. The global average is just 37%.

This seemingly little mistake can serve as an accessible entry for cybercriminals looking for prey, according to one of Kaspersky Lab’s security experts.

“Keeping unused applications on their devices is a common mistake for Filipinos. It is a dire error to leave apps with old software stocked on your devices because these applications have outdated programs which may become a widely open door that cybercriminals can exploit easily. These old apps can be used to turn your beloved devices against you,” says Anthony Chua, Territory Channel Manager for the

Philippines and Singapore at Kaspersky Lab Southeast Asia.

The online survey also asked respondents to select what they would do if they received an email from the ‘tax office’ with the attached Word document “Information about your unpaid fines.” Such frightening or arresting emails often contain malware masked under common harmless formats like the text format.

This technique of sending emails carrying infected word attachments is used by a Trojan named Locky, a ransomware discovered by Kaspersky Lab just last February, which is still actively propagating in 114 countries worldwide, including the Philippines.

Although majority of Filipinos did not fall for this trick, there are still nearly two (16%) in every 10 respondents who chose to open an attached file without scanning it with an online security solution. In this category, the Philippines scored the second worst after India with 19%. The global average is just 9%.

In an earlier report, Kaspersky Lab also revealed the same survey showed a great majority of Filipino internet users are vulnerable to phishing attacks online as only 11% or 1 out of 10 netizens can identify a safe web page.

Kaspersky Lab tested the ability of respondents to distinguish a fake page against a genuine page by letting them choose one of four offered web pages on which they would freely enter their personal information.

Three out of four pages were screenshots of phishing pages detected by Kaspersky Lab experts on the Internet.

Special samples were selected for each country and for the Philippines, Kaspersky Lab used Facebook, the leading social media platform in the country.

The survey discovered 72% of Filipino respondents couldn’t distinguish a phishing Facebook page against a genuine one. This is the second worst score following Mexico’s 84%. The global average is 58%.

“Filipinos are known as one of the most active social media users. There are currently over 47 million active

Facebook accounts* from the Philippines and cybercriminals are very aware of this. While Facebook has its own perks, simple attacks like phishing happen as it essentially plays on an Internet user’s carelessness. If Filipinos continue to be unmindful when using social media platforms, then it shouldn’t be surprising if more cases of scams and identity theft arise,” warns Chua.

How to avoid phishing?

Unfortunately there is no real cure for phishing attacks aside from paranoia-level vigilance of an Internet user. It’s easy to get infected. But here are 10 tips from Kaspersky Lab on how users can protect themselves: 1.

Always check the link, which you are going to open. If it has some spelling issues, take a double-take to be sure — fraudsters can try to push on a fake page to you.

2.

Enter your username and password only when connection is secured. If you see the “https” prefix before the site URL, it means that everything is OK. If there is no “s” (secure) in the prefix, then beware.

3.

Even if you’ve received a message or a letter from one of your best friends, remember: they could also have been fooled or hacked.

That’s why you should remain cautious in any situation.

4.

The same applies to the emails from official organizations, such as banks, tax agencies, online-shops, travelling agencies, airlines and so on. Even from your own office.

It’s not that hard to fabricate a fake letter that looks like a real one.

5.

Sometimes emails and websites look just the same as real ones. It depends on how decently fraudsters did their “homework.” But the hyperlinks, most likely, will be incorrect — with spelling mistakes, or they can direct you to a different place. You can look for these signs to distinuguishl a reliable site from a fraud.

6.

It’s better not to follow links in such letters at all.

Instead you can open a new window and enter the URL of your banks or online shop manually. In this case you’ll not miss a discount or a special offer (if there is one) — and will not become a fraudsters’ victim.

7.

When discovering a phishing campaign, you should report it to the bank (if the fraud imitates the bank emails) or to the support desk of your social media network (if malicious links are sent by one of the users) and so forth. This will really help catch criminals.

8.

If you can, don’t log in to online banks and similar services via public Wi-Fi networks in cafes or on the streets. It’s better to use mobile connection or wait a bit than lose all the money on your credit card. The thing is that these networks can be created by fraudsters, who spoof website addresses during the connection and thereby redirect you to a fake page.

9.

Files sent by your massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) comrades may be malicious ransomware or even spyware, just like attachments to messages and emails. So be vigilant!

10. Install reliable Internet security solutions and follow its recommendations.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATES WITH WAIVER AND RENUNCIATION OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the Estates of the late ROMEO S. IBAOS has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH WAIVER AND RENUNCIATION OF RIGHTS executed among his heirs per Doc. No. 15; Page No. 3; Book No. VI; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC JENNIFE DP DUMALAG-BORONG 8/4,11,18

Lopez... FROM 3

Ore Asia is the eighth mining firm suspended by the DENR since Lopez assumed office on July 1.

Undersecretary Leo Jasareno, head of the DENR’s mining audit team, said the agency has suspended Ore Asia’s ore transport permit, effectively stopping its operation.

Ore Asia, the country’s only iron-producing mine, produced about 40,000 tons of iron ore last year.

“The ore transport permit is the permit that allows the transport of the ore from the mines to the market. So, if you withhold the permit, effectively, hauling will stop,” Jasareno explained.

The DENR was able to verify complaints from residents that Ore Asia’s operations have caused siltation in the river that serves as a tributary of Sibul spring, and have discolored the water to reddish brown.

“Kalawang na ‘yung kulay ng river,” Jasareno said.

Echoing Lopez’s statement, Jasareno said all mining companies, regardless of size, will be included in the audit.

“We’re auditing Lepanto and Philex in Luzon, Atlas Consolidated in Visayas, Oceana Gold in Region 2, and Filminera in Masbate. We are waiting

for the findings on Taganito and SR (Metals Inc.),” Jasareno said.

He also cited Citinickel Mines and Development Corp., Berong Nickel Corp. and Benguet Corp., which are all major industry players.

Lopez, meanwhile, reiterated that all mining firms should get their act together if they want the industry to thrive.

The DENR chief noted the case of Zambales province where mining companies are responsible for polluting the river and degrading the forests.

“In Zambales, if you fly over that, the river is virtually red, they cut 20,000 trees from the watershed, the fishpond, the farmland,” Lopez said.

“Before they (mining firms) even consider doing anything, they have to give the people back their farmland, plant the trees they cut without permit,” she added.

Aside from Ore Asia, the DENR also suspended the operations of Eramin Minerals Inc., LNL Archipelago, Zambales Diversified Metals Corp. and Benguetcorp Nickel Mines Inc., all in Zambales; Berong Nickel Corp. and Citinickel Mines and Development Corp. in Palawan; and Claver Minerals in Surigao del Norte. (PNA)

ments like banks and financial institutions.

Also, this data center can accommodate hosting, co-llocation, and business continuity services for enterprises.

PLDT said the data center is a suitable secondary backup location for businesses with data already housed in other data centers across the country.

The company currently operates seven data centers in the country. PLDT also targets to expand its data center facilities to 10 by 2017 with

an unmatched rack capacity of over 9,000 – the largest by any provider in the country.

Alberto said that as PLDT aims to enable businesses to be globally competitive in an evolving digital environment, it will continue nurturing a digital hub in southern Philippines.

“We will continue to beef up our network across the country to better serve the Philippines’ growing need for a stronger and more robust digital infrastructure,” he added.

(PNA)

adopt “effective measures” to tackle excessive deficits and hence faced with sanctions, but it suggested on July 27 to waive fines on the two following requests from both governments.

Plans to address overspending were outlined in their requests, as Madrid considered measures amounting to 0.5 percent of GDP in the next two years, while Lisbon proposed suspension of public spending, the Commission earlier said.

It was well hinted that the suspension of structural funds would only begin in 2017 if entering into force, could be lifted

if Spain and Portugal remained on track with the new fiscal adjustment path set by the bloc.

Under the new path, Portugal was projected to reduce its general government deficit to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2016, with necessary austerity measures to be implemented.

Spain was urged to cut deficit to 4.6 percent this year, 3.1 percent in 2017 and 2.2 percent of GDP in 2018.

The Commission as well voiced its optimism regarding Spain, saying Madrid may even achieve its deficit goal in 2017 if its future government would adopt further “effective measures.” (PNA/Xinhua)

for the construction of the airport facility.

The funds were released in three tranches : Php 300 million in 2009 and another Php 300 million in 2010 for

concrete road construction and site development. The third tranche of Php 970 million was released in 2012 for the construction of a 2.1-kilometer runway. (PNA)

PLDT... FROM 5

EU... FROM 5

Albay... FROM 6

EDGEDAVAO

13 PROPERTY

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

Aeon Towers completes 17 level th

A

EON Towers completed another level in its ongoing construction reaching over the halfway mark of the presumptive tallest skyscraper of Mindanao.

Construction works for Davao City’s next iconic structure has completed the 17th level this week as developer FTC Group of Companies braces for the topping off by the end of the year.

As of August 4, the construction team of the 33-level Aeon Towers project reported the concreting of the 17th floor and will be moving upwards for another level of construction works.

Aeon Towers is the initial venture into real estate development by the FTC Group of Companies, a Davao-born firm with highly successful

track record in business.

FTC Group of Companies CEO and president Ian Y. Cruz said he is excited with the progress of the project and ensures that everything is right on schedule based on timelines.

“We are happy to inform our clients that the project is moving right on schedule.

Pretty soon this building will be up for occupation,” said Cruz.

Aeon Towers, located at JP Laurel Avenue in Davao’s CBD, will have residential units of varying sizes and features in several floors, a luxury hotel, fitness gym, jogging lane, shops, BPO offices, skydeck pool, and offices.

The J.P. Laurel area is fast emerging as the city’s new central business district with giant malls and condomini-

ums sprouting around in the past five years.

Marketing head Gen Marchan said Aeon Towers represents the evolution of Davao City from the infamous “killing fields” reputation in th 80s to the flourishing business haven that it is now.

Aeon Towers, she said, is an embodiment of the aspirations of Dabawenyos— modern lifestyle in a highly liveable metropolis.

“Aeon Towers is ideal for those starting to live in a place to call their own or to start a family of their own.,” Marchan said.

The Aeon Towers building is cast in glass and will have a clear look at the majestic environs of Davao and the nearby Island Garden City of Samal.

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

Driving in a downpour:

Practical rainy day driving tips T

HE rainy season is definitely back once again.

While rainy days can be a refreshing respite from the heat, these can mean heavy traffic, flooded roads, poor visibility, and difficult driving conditions.

Driving in rainy weather can indeed be difficult, but making it all the more challenging are the numerous choices that motorists have to make while driving on a wet and slippery road. Do you take the main road or the side streets? Do you brave that flooded road or wait for the water to subside? Is it better to leave work during rush hour or wait a little later to avoid traffic?

In times like this, making good choices is key to getting to your destination safely and with the least delays.

Here are some tips you should remember while on

the road during rainy days: Plan your route. Know which roads are prone to floods. Take alternate routes during a downpour. Check online bulletins on road conditions before leaving for your destination and listen to the radio to monitor for real-time updates. Mobile applications, such as Waze or Twitter can help.

Keep your distance. Remember it can take up to 13 meters to stop a regular car running at 48 km/h, and even more if the road is slippery.

Maintain a reasonable driving distance and increase that space when going at higher speeds. At all times, maintain a three-second gap from the vehicle ahead, no matter what speed. Increase the gap accordingly based on weather conditions.

Use your emergency hazard light only when necessary.

Contrary to common practice, turn on your hazard light only when your vehicle has stopped. Hazard lights signal to other drivers that there is a stalled car. Using your hazard light while on the move will confuse other motorists and may cause accidents. If you care about being visible during a downpour, turn on your headlights.

Signal early. Where practical, use signal lights for at least 30 meters before commencing to turn or change lanes to tell other road users what you will do. This is particularly necessary during rainy days.

Slow down if visibility if poor because of rain. Try shifting your gaze slightly away from oncoming headlights and adjust your rear view mirror to reduce glare from behind.

Don’t attempt to cross

running water. Real life isn’t an SUV commercial. If the force of water is greater than the weight of your vehicle, you can be in a lot of trouble.

Crossing a puddle at high speed can also cause you to hydroplane. And even if your car has all-wheel drive, it won’t help in these cases.

Don’t use cruise control.

If your car is equipped with cruise control, don’t use it in heavy downpour. Cruise con-

and bouncy boulevard cruiser.

The two main ingredients in this voodoo mix are the ladder frame chassis and dual ratio transfer case. And though I didn’t exactly go mud crawling in it, hardcore off-roaders swear by it. I mean, the spec sheet reads like a wet dream: ground clearance is 190 mm, approach angle is 34 degrees, breakover angle is 31 degrees, and departure angle is 46 degrees—and that’s good enough for me. Plus, I did drive it full speed over the truck lane on C5 and you know what? It happily handles this sort of terrain well. Sure, the front and rear solid axles jiggles the occupants like a mad fat-vibrating machine, but it rides here better than it does on smooth tarmac. That’s not to say it feels solid though. On the contrary, it feels like the cabin has the rigidity of Jell-O bolted onto a stiff Arnold Schwarzenegger-like chassis.

While I loved terminating potholes, the recirculating ball steering system does take some getting used to. I find it handles like a larger car; like a pickup truck from a bygone area (it actually brakes like one too). Massive amounts of turns are needed to negotiate a simple U-Turn. Thankfully, the

diminutive body makes it slot into spaces which would otherwise panic the hell out of larger cars. The midget dimensions also help with the sideway swinging tailgate which when fully opened takes about the same amount of space as a typical compact crossover. Climbing aboard requires a good step up and once aboard, the seats are, I find, mounted high.

It’s so high that I could see the entire length of the hood, so positioning it with millimeter precision proves easy. In fact, visibility is a strong point of the Jimny though the thick B-pillar does mean a terrible blind spot around to the side (good luck having to negotiate with bicycles and motorcycles).

With a 1.3-liter engine with 81 horses and 110 Nm of torque, it sounds crazy to attempt a long distance drive in this car, but that’s exactly what I did. The result, therefore, isn’t surprising. If you’re into sort of that thing, the Jimny gives a good arm workout. It requires constant correction and can be tiring to drive on the relative smooth pavement of SLEX. Plus, once the speedometer needle goes past 80 km/h, the front tires start to lose what remains of its limited feedback.

Playing Grand Turismo using a steering wheel has more feedback. Drivetrain refinement is also pretty much how you’d expect an 18-year old car to feel like: noisy, wheezy, and underpowered.

But instead of hating it, I love wringing it. The engine isn’t particularly rev happy and is pretty asthmatic, but the short gearing does contribute a lot to its fun character. I thank the easy-to-modulate clutch and decent gearbox (long throws though) for this.

You’ll actually need to constantly shift gears just to maintain a good pace. Take note though that 100 km/h arrives at a high 3,600 rpm and this

heavily penalizes the fuel economy: 14.52 km/L on the highway. It’s also not much better in traffic: 7.01 km/L in heavy (average speed 11 km/h) and 9.05 km/L in light traffic (average speed 18 km/h).

The biggest draw for me is the Jimny’s cutesy exterior. Like a typical Asian, it’s managing to look younger than its age. There has been some work done on its nose, but it’s actually withstanding the ravages of time quite well.

That being said, I’m no fan of the faux hood scoop—it’s just out of character on this nofrills micro SUV. Sadly, the fountain of youth formula only seems to work outside. Inside, it belongs in the same era as the Backstreet Boys. Plain and hard plastics, dated ergonomics, lack of even the most basic safety equipment, no multimedia inputs (even a token aux-in jack)—they are all part of the cabin experience. Again, Suzuki has worked to modernize some touch points (the gauges for one), but overall it’s 18 years old and it shows.

In terms of space, the front passengers won’t feel shortchanged thanks to the large, upright greenhouse and surprisingly supportive seats.

However, those in the back would probably feel better if they had no legs, first. Decent rear legroom is only achieved when the front passengers agree to compromise. Otherwise, it’s best reserved for knick-knacks such as handbags. And speaking about luggage space, with the rear seats up, there’s not much to go by: 113 liters. It does grow to 324 liters with the rear seats, but that’s still not a lot. Some flexibility is offered by the 50/50

Driving the new 2016 Suzuki Jimny JLX M/T

I

STRONGLY wanted to hate the Suzuki Jimny, I really do.

The car itself dates back to 1998, making it legal to drink, smoke, and appear in porn videos. It drives like a twoton truck, rides like a derailed freight train, and is less practical than any sports car (save for the generous ride height).

Yet, each time I want to vent out my frustration at the Jimny’s very existence, it gives off this unmistakable charm that prevents me from administering lethal injection.

I’m not saying you should fall in line and buy yourself a Jimny; on the contrary, I’m telling you to avoid it completely.

If you have any shred of decency, you should opt for something—anything else. It’s slow, unstable, and not particularly efficient. It makes walking feel more comfortable. Yet dammit, I loved every single minute chugging along in this oldschool off-roader. This, I think, is the closest thing I’ll ever get to driving a Land Rover Defender and for what? Chump change.

When other car companies rushed to create ever softening soft-roaders, Suzuki has done the opposite and Frankensteined a small SUV that’s perfect both as a farmer’s tool

trol makes you less vigilant and sometimes causes you to take your foot away from the pedals. Not a great idea if reaction time is important.

Finally, keep your vehicle in good shape. The importance of car maintenance cannot be overemphasized, especially during the rainy season.

Ensure that your lights, wipers, tires, brakes and the like are in working order. Also, make sure not to forget your

car’s periodic maintenance and tune ups.

In a perfect world, rainy days would find us hanging out at the local coffeehouse or holed up at home. Reality being what it is means you still have to go to work even if it’s raining cats and dogs. Taking a few precautions and following these rainy day driving tips will keep you from ending up sopping wet on the road, waiting for a tow truck. Or worse.

split-folding seats.

The Suzuki Jimny isn’t for everyone. It isn’t for those who drive on flat pavement all the time. It’s not for those who value practicality. It’s not for those who want the latest and most technologically advanced thing out there. It’s for a super select group of people who’re

looking for something with a bit of character. I really cannot see the practicality of owning one as a daily driver, but I understand the appeal of the Jimny. Dare I say it, it’ll likely appeal to the same bunch of people who swear by Land Rover Defenders. And that’s saying a lot. (www.carguide.ph)

ing as the year progressed.

According to Mohan, he anticipated car sales in the country drop in June due to school expenses in other necessities and in August which is a “ghost month” wherein sales are usually lean.

For June 2016 alone, the CAMPI-TMA reflected a 36.4 percent increase in terms of sales, selling 32,993 units as against the 30,317 units sold in the same month in 2015.

“The 350,000-370,000 annual sales target can easily be met now that June sales reflected a high turnout. The industry now needs to secure sustained growth and with the trend that they are enjoying, they will most likely exceed the target anew,” Mohan explained.

The latest CAMPI-TMA report also revealed that both passenger car (PC) and commercial vehicle (CV) segment enjoyed robust year-on-year

sales.

The passenger car segment rolled out 11,951 units last month—a 21.5 percent gain over 9,840 units delivered June 2015. On a year-to-date basis, the same section grew by 18.5 percent, after selling 62,560 units for the first six months of the year compared to 52,778 units sold for the same period the previous year.

Meanwhile, commercial vehicle sales skyrocketed after reflecting a 46.7 percent growth with 21,042 units sold last month, as opposed to the 14,345 units sold the same month in 2015. The very same category also experienced a 33.3 percent climb on a yearto-date basis following its 104,921-vehicle sales.

Mohan attributed the outstanding performance of the auto sales industry to attractive promos, affordable financing schemes, and new vehicle offerings.

Philippine... FROM 11

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

SPORTS 15

Escandor elected to SBP board Scola lifts Argentina B

USINESSMAN-SPORTSMAN Glenn Escandor was elected to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Board of Trustee in the recent governing body’s national congress held at the Dusit Thani Hotel Manila.

Getting the highest votes amongst the six nominees, Escandor of Duterte Basketball League (DBL) will represent Area 5 geographical sector that covers the whole Mindanao Island to the 25-member policy making body.

He will be joined by Stephen Dacoco of Cagayan de Oro Basketball Federation (CDOBF). Dacoco is the anointed one of former SBP chairman Mayor Oscar Moreno.

Escandor and Dacoco will replace Moreno and the late Regino “Boy” Cua in the Area 5 representation to the board which is now under the chairmanship of Senator Sonny Angara.

“I am privileged of my election to the SBP board and also

fully aware of the obligations and the requirements that lie ahead,” said Escandor who actively play the sport as a spotup shooter.

The boss of Escandor Development Corporation (ESDEVCO) and the Royal Mandaya Hotel said he is keen to support the activities the board plans to undertake for the best interest of the sport.

Top corporate executive Al Panlilio, senior vice president of Meralco and president of MVP Sports Foundation, was elected president succeeding Manny V. Pangilinan as SBP chieftain.

The new president said the programs left by the preceding board were solid and intact and it will be continued.

Renauld “Sonny” Barrios was unanimously chosen to run the daily affairs of the association as the executive director.

Escandor has been a generous backer of the sports grassroots development pro-

lympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz will arrive in Manila where a hero’s welcome awaits the newest Filipino sports hero on Thursday.

Diaz was set to leave the Olympic Village on Tuesday (Wednesday Manila time).

Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta said Diaz’s parents will be flown to Manila on a private plane owned by PLDT and Smart chairman Manny

V. Pangilinan, whose network TV5 is the official television broadcaster of the Games in the country.

“Gagamitin daw ’yung eroplano ni MVP. ’Yun ang ipanghahatid sa Zamboanga,” said Romasanta, also Chef de Mission of the Philippine delegation to Rio. The 25-year-old Diaz ended the country’s 20-year Olympic medal drought when she won the silver in the women’s 53 kg. class.

BASKETBALL GUY. Glenn Escador (left) with President Rodrigo Duterte during one of the local basketball leagues. gram in the city. He created profound love and passion to two school-based “no registra- the sport. tion fee” leagues for years now Other members of the – the Royal Mandaya Cup and board are PBA Commissioner Escandor Cup. Chito Narvasa, PBA chairman The two league’s features Robert Non, Erick Arejola, competition in the following Monica Jorge, Florante Guillage-group: 12 Under, 14 Under ermo Jr. Bernie Bermudez, and 18 Under. He also orga- Crispulo Onrubia, Gil Cortez, nized basketball tournament Rey Bautista, Benjo Viola, Rafor his employees and formed moncito Fernandez, Enrico a high-caliber team that sees Navarro, Fr. Joseph Haw, Ronaction every Araw ng Davao nie Dizer, Efren Jose Supan, and Kadayawan tournaments. Joe Lipa, Melanie Florentino His support to basketball’s and Xavy Nunag, Robbie Puno, development and promotion Ricky Palou, and Jobin Jarvis is a clear manifestation of his Uy. (RJB)

past Croatia 90-82 A RGENTINA men’s basketball team walked away with a hardfought 90-82 win against Croatia on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), much to the delight of some its rowdy friends clad in blue and white, who filled the lower half of the arena and sang nearly non-stop at the top of their lungs.

Argentina broke open a close game in the third quarter with an 18-5 r u n during which it shot

Diaz arrives today from Rio Pacquiao confirms fight with Vargas Nov. 5 O

SILVER MEDALIST. Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines completes her lift.

Make it 21 golds for Phelps

M

ICHAEL Phelps has claimed the 21st gold medal of his career, anchoring the United States to a dominating victory in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

About an hour after winning gold medal No. 20 in the 200 butterfly, Phelps completed his grueling double with a triumphant four laps of the pool.

The result was no longer in doubt by the time Phelps dove

in. Conor Dwyer, Townley Haas and Ryan Lochte made sure of that, handing off a commanding lead to the most decorated athlete in Olympic history.

Phelps essentially spent the next 100 seconds or so on a victory lap, the crowd’s cheers growing louder with each stroke. He touched in seven minutes, 0.66 seconds, a full body length ahead of Britain’s James Guy. The British earned silver in 7:03.13, while Japan took the bronze in 7:03.50.

GOLD NO. 20. Michael Phelps claims the 200 fly gold this time, four years after settling for silver. AP

F

ILIPINO boxing hero Manny Pacquiao confirmed on Wednesday that he is coming out of retirement to fight World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in November.

The 37-year-old, who has won world titles in eight weight divisions, made the announcement after meeting with promoter Bob Arum in Manila on Tuesday.

“Yes, the fight is on. I have agreed to a November 5 fight with reigning WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas,” Pacquiao said in a statement to AFP. “Boxing is my passion. I miss what I’d been doing inside the gym and atop the ring.”

S

3 of 5 from 3-point range.

Luis Scola scored 16 firsthalf points and finished with 23 as Argentina improved to 2-0.

Croatia (1-1) rallied and cut the lead to four late, but couldn’t complete the comeback and coach Aleksandar Petrovic was ejected from the game with two technical fouls.

Dario Saric, the No. 12 overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft by Orlando and traded to Philadelphia, had 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

TOUGH SHOT. Argentina’s Luis Scola rises for a shot over Croatia’s Bojan Bogdanovic.

AP

After winning a unanimous decision against American Timothy Bradley in April, Pacquiao had said he would retire to focus on his political career.

Pacquiao was elected to the Philippine senate in May but even before taking office, he said he was open to fighting again.

“Boxing is my main source of income. I can’t rely on my salary as a public official.”

“I’m helping the family of my wife and my own family, as well. Many people also come to me to ask for help and I just couldn’t ignore them,” he said on Wednesday.

Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs), a 27-year-old American, said last week he was in talks with Pac-

quiao’s camp to hold a fight in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao’s manager Michael Koncz confirmed Wednesday a promotional tour for the fight would be held from September 8 to 10 in Los Angeles, and said a contract would be signed soon.

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) said he would return to the Philippines straight after promoting the fight to fulfil his po-

litical duties.

“My entire training camp will be held here in the Philippines so I can attend to my legislative work. This is my campaign promise and I’m determined to keep it,” said Pacquiao.

During his previous stint as a congressman before being elected to the upper house, Pacquiao faced criticism for being among the top absentee lawmakers. █

next generation boxers in our pool.”

The move by the ABAP leadership came less than 24 hours after Rogen Ladon lost by unanimous decision, 3-0, to Yurbejen Martinez of Columbia in the 48kg class, completing a wipeout of the Philippine team in the boxing competitions in Rio. Ladon, 22, initially loomed as the country’s best bet to win its first ever Olympic gold until absorbing the shocking loss at the hands of Martinez Sunday (Monday night, Manila time) at the Riocentro Pavilion 2.

Charly Suarez, the other member of the two-man boxing team, earlier vowed out of the medal race after losing to Joe Cordina of Great Britain in his debut in the 60 kg. class.

Vargas took over ABAP in 2009 to replace Manny Lopez, now a Manila congressman, in a move that began the involvement of the Manny V. Pan-

gilinan group in a sport many touted has the potential of giving the country its first gold medal in the Olympics.

Unfortunately, in the last two Olympics under the current Abap leadership, Filipino boxers had not gotten past the preliminaries, with Mark Barriga going the farthest when he made the round of 16 of the 2012 London Games.

While Abap delivered a gold in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China (Rey Saludar), a couple of silver and bronze medals in the World Championships, and managed to maintain its supremacy in the Southeast Asian Games, Vargas is aware the ultimate measurement of success remains the Olympics.

“We had our share of success in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and World Championships, but of course, the standard is the Olympics, and we have been

unsuccessful there,” he acknowledged.

Eight years at the helm of one of the most powerful and successful national sports associations in the country is enough for Vargas that he’s ready to step down from his post and let others try to accomplish what he failed to do at Abap.

“We need new leadership to refresh ABAP and inspire our pipeline of next generation boxers in our pool,” he stressed. “We did our best, and now it’s time to turn the baton over after eight years of leadership.”

He ended by thanking Pangilinan and the Filipino people for the support he had gotten in his stint as chief of the country’s governing body for boxing.

“We thank chairman MVP and the entire Filipino nation for their support to boxing,” Vargas said.

Shakeup in boxing body looms

ENSING a new leadership is needed in the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) following another disappointing showing in the Rio Olympics, Ricky Vargas said he is ready to step down as president as he called for an immediate election.

Vargas said he will just await the return of executive director Ed Picson from the Rio Games before elections are held in an association he has headed for the past eight years.

“When executive director Ed Picson returns from Rio, he and secretary general Patrick Gregorio will call for the 2016 ABAP election at the soonest possible time,” said Vargas in a statement.

Although he made no mention of plans to step down, Vargas said “we need a new leadership to refresh Abap and inspire our pipeline of

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 119 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016

GAME ON!

TRMH-CMO to be known as Duterte-Matina Enclaves

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

D

EFENDING champion Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO will now be known as the Duterte-Matina Enclaves asit debuts tonight for the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte 31st Kadayawan sa Dabaw Commercial Basketball Tournament.

The Duterte-Matina Enclaves will parade 2015 UAAP champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws led by the Big Three of Mac Belo, Roger Pingoy, and Christian Tolomia.

“The change in name is in accord with the wish of the core management of the team.

We will be playing in support of President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs and promote sports to the youth.

Hence, we also tapped young players from FEU,” said Glenn Escandor, co-manager of the team alongside Secretary Bong Go of the Presidential Management Staff.

The Tamaraws will also lean on foeign recruit Prince Orizu.

The tournament will kick off at 5 p.m. at the Davao City Recreation Center today following a short opening ceremony.

Also vying for the title are former champion Montana Pawnshop, CM Farms and Gen. Santos City’s Pacman.

Pocholo Elegino of the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO) said Mayor Inday Sara has been invited to grace tje opening ceremonies along with Vice Mayor Pulong.

Samahan ng Basketbolista ng Pilipinas (SBP)

liaison officer Ronel Leuterio and SBP city commissioner Oscar Salvado will be supervising the tournament in the

wake of the passing of SBP regional director Boy Cua who will be honored in the tournament opening.

Teams will play a single round-robin format in the eliminations where the top two teams will vie for the title and the P100,000 cash prize. The next three placers will pocket P60,000, P40,000 and P30,000.

MAIN MAN. Mac Belo, a Gilas cadet, will be the main man for the Duterte-Matina Enclaves’FEU squad.