Edge Davao 9 Issue 138

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO

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Serving a seamless society

PRE-DEPARTURE STATEMENT. President Duterte answers questions after delivering his pre-departure message before leaving for the ASEAN Summit in Laos yesterday at the Davao International Airport. Lean Daval Jr.

P2-M BOUNTY FOR BOMBERS: INDAY Mayor Sara wants suspect/s alive

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has offered P2 million as bounty for the immediate apprehension of the suspects of the Friday night Roxas night market bombing that killed 14 people and wounded 70 others.

The mayor said a P1 million bounty awaits anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of the suspects, and another P1 million for anyone who can arrest and bring the suspects to authorities.

Duterte-Carpio emphasized that she wants the suspects to be arrested alive so that he or she can reveal the identities of his or her cohorts.

“We want him alive because we want to talk to him, who were his cohorts, what group are they and we also would like to know what are their other terroristic plans and what are their reasons behind the bombing,” she said.

She added that there are also several agencies and personalities who have offered to give additional bounty for the

Rody to discuss regional, int’l concerns at ASEAN

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

speedy apprehension of the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the mayor officially relieved the chief of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Sr. Supt. Michael John Dubria and Task Force Davao Commander Col. Henry Robinson.

Although Duterte-Carpio said she is confident with the capabilities of the DCPO chief and Task Force Davao commander, the decision to relieve them from their duties is a “natural process” following the bloody terror attack.

“I have confidence in our city director of the Davao City Police Office and the commander of the Task Force Davao, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t replace them. It is a natural process (relief) because of what happened (bombing),” the mayor said.

She said that she already talked to the leaders of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (PNP) regarding her plan to change the heads of the city’s security forces.

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RESIDENT Duterte will primarily discuss vital regional and international issues related to peace, security, stability and prosperity when he meets with leaders of Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN)-member nations in the summit scheduled to start on Sept. 6 in Laos.

The President will also meet leaders of other non-ASEAN nations that include Australia, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zea-

land, Russia and the United States.

“I will take the opportunity to discuss with them important regional and international issues that impact on the peace, security, stability and the prosperity of our region,” President Duterte said in his departure message on Monday afternoon at the Davao International Airport.

He added: “Recent events have shown that there are elements out there

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

CANDLES AND FLOWERS. Mourners from all walks of life offer candles and flowers at the explosion site along Roxas Avenue in Davao City Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

2nd round of Oslo peace talks to resume October

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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EMBERS of the Government of the Philippines’ (GPH) peace panel are looking forward to the second round of formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Guesting at the Kapehan sa Davao at SM City Davao Annex yesterday, Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad said that she her peace panel co-members are happy with the resumption of GRP-NDFP formal peace negotiations after a five-year lull in the talks.

Librado-Trinidad said the peace negotiations with the

NDFP will resume on Oct. 8 to 12 this year after the first round of talks in Oslo, Norway.

The lawyer bared the decisions the GPH-NDPF panels have agreed upon during the five-day talks in Oslo which included the declaration of an indefinite ceasefire; efforts to accelerate the outputs coming from the reciprocal working committees; and the sixmonth timeline for socio-economic reform.

Also present during the Kapehan press conference was GPH panel member Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello

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Justice Carpio explains Arbitral Court decision

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

“W

E won. What’s next?”

This was the biggest question posed by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio R. Carpio to the crowd comprised of academe, lawyers, private individuals and non-government organizations in his presentation dubbed “West Philippine Sea/ South China Sea Dispute: The Arbitration Decision and its Challenges” held at the Ateneo de Davao University last Sept.

2.

Included in Carpio’s presentation were the considerations of the Arbitral Tribunal in nullifying the Chinese’ arguments, as well as the enforce-

ment process of the tribunal’s decision.

Nullification of the NineDashed Line claim In China’s narrative, they stated that the Nine-Dashed Line includes Paracel Islands, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam, Spratly Islands or Panatag Shoal, Pratas Islands, the Macclesfield Bank, and Scarborough Shoal.

However, Carpio said that based on the results of the extensive research conducted by the Philippine team which were forwarded to the tribunal as rebuttal to China’s argument, ancient maps of China,

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Tausug leader condemns Davao night market blast

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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LEADER from the Tausug tribe in Davao City has condemned the deadly explosion at the Night Market in Roxas Street last Friday that killed 14 people and injured more than 70 others.

During a press conference on Saturday evening at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Masil Ahalul, Davao’s deputy mayor who represents the Tausug tribe, stressed the killing of innocent civilians is against the teachings of Islam.

Ahalul also expressed sympathies to all the victims and families of last Friday’s

blast.

The Muslim tribal leader also urged his fellow Tausugs, especially those who are members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), to stop the killings.

“Nais ko pong iparating sa aking mga kapatid na Tausug, lalong lalo sinabi ninyo at inangkin ninyo ng mga Abu Sayyaf na kayo ang gumawa sana po huwag ninyo nang ulitin,” Ahalul said.

He said that President Duterte’s wish is for peace to reign in the country, as he also called on the tribal members to support the efforts of the

national government in finding a long-lasting solution to the peace and order situation in Mindanao.

“Ang hangad po n gating Presidente ay kapayapaan.

Sana magkaintindihan po tayo. Kung ano ang kailangan ninyo ay maibigay sa inyo ng ating Presidente,” he said.

Ahalul was joined during the press conference by Ismael Nakan, Davao City’s deputy mayor representing the Maguindanao tribe; Sami M. Buat, officer-in-charge of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos in Davao region

(NCMF-11); and Sheik Mohamad Kulaqi, president of Mercy Islamic Foundation (MIF) in Davao City.

“We condemn the bombing that killed innocent people.

We call for justice for the victims and arrest those who are responsible to the incident,” said NCMF OIC Director Buat.

He also called on the different sectors in Davao to support the peace efforts of the Duterte administration.

Saturday’s event was a gathering of all indigenous tribes in Davao City whose

Cuban model and we will continue to have this cooperation and relationship with the Cuban ministry of health so that we can implement some of their best practices,” Ubial said.

Ubial and key officials of the Department of Health (DOH) recently visited Cuba, upon orders of President Duterte to study and learn the health systems of the Latin American country.

Among the notable health practices the Philippine health secretary observed in Cuba was the manner in which the citizens were admitted to medical facilities.

“People cannot go to hospitals directly. They have to go to the primary facilities and they are referred to the hospi-

tals. There’s no private sector in Cuba so everyone has to go to public facilities,” she said.

She added that there is also the system wherein the Cuban government provides all the expenses including medicines and transportation.

“If a patient needs to be brought to the hospital they have ambulance services, but the ambulance is not linked to the hospital. It is an independent unit that the doctor or members of the community would call so that the patient is brought to the hospital,” Ubial said, adding that there are so many things that Cuba is doing to develop their own health system and capacities.

The health secretary also pointed out that the Cuban

health system is based on the principle of prioritization, and that the government has allocated about 28% of the national budget to the health sector.

“Their per capita expenditure on health is $460. The Philippine per capita expenditure on health based on the 2015 budget is $76,” she said, emphasizing that the country has a lot to learn from the Cuban model.

She said the health system in Cuba is one of the best because the infant mortality in that country is less than 4 per 1,000 live births.

“In the US it is about 8 per 1,000. Infant mortality rate in Cuba is better because it is less. The maternal mortality

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PH, Cuba to forge exchanges, cooperation in health services

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EALTH Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial said yesterday that the health ministry of Cuba has indicated its willingness to carry out capability-building exchanges with its Philippine counterparts in order to help them improve the delivery of health services in the country.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Ubial said the health minister of Cuba personally expressed willingness to do such health exchanges, which also included cooperation among health workers of both countries on health services.

“With that I’m sure that our universal healthcare dream will benefit from the lessons that we learned in the

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Rody to Obama: ‘Who are you?’

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

P SARA ON TV. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio granted a national television network an interview after the flag raising ceremony in front of the City Hall yesterday. Duterte-Carpio has offered a P2

million bounty for the immediate apprehension of the suspects in Friday night’s Roxas night market bombing that killed 14 people and wounded 70 others. Lean Daval Jr.

adlopez0920@gmail.com

RESIDENT Duterte once again shot back at members of the international community, particularly the United States and its leader, President Barrack Obama, who have criticized him for his alleged tolerance of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines.

“The Philippines is not a vassal state, we have long ceased to be a colony of the United States,” the President stressed.

He also hit newspaper columnists in the country for suggesting that the Philippine president take it easy on President Obama and the US “as if the [Philippines] is a lapdog of [that] country.”

“I do not respond to any-

body but to the people of the Republic of the Philippines.

Wala akong pakialam sa kanya. Who is he?”

The President also recalled chapters of the nation’s history, particularly the US colonization of the Philippines.

“At the turn of the century, before the Americans left the Philippines, in the pacification campaign on the Moro in this island, there were about 6 million Moro people in the country.”

“How many died? 600 thousand,” the President added.

He said that if the US president could answer the question on the killings of the Moro people during their colonization and give an apology

– “then I will answer him. Can he explain the 600 thousand Moro killed in this island? Do you want to see the pictures?

Maybe I’ll ask him and make it public. We have a recorded history of that sordid period of our national life.”

The President of the Philippines is not beholden to anybody because he is the President of a sovereign state that long ceased to a colony, he emphasized.

“I do not have any master except the Filipino people,” he added.

President Duterte added that Obama cannot confront him because America, in the first place, has to answer to the many misdeeds is has done to

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SPMC gives update on blast victims Army repositions

By RIA VALDEZ

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N official the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SMPC) yesterday released the latest medical update on the victims of Friday’s Roxas Night Market bombing.

In a press conference held at the medical facility, Dr. Ricardo Auldan, SPMC’s chief of clinics, reported that out of the 36 patients brought to the hospital, three have died, 14 have

been discharged, while 19 are still confined.

Among the patients who expired were mother and son, Melanie and Daniel Larida, while the father Dennis Larida was discharged last Sept. 3.

Another blast victim, Maria Arellano, expired while undergoing a critical operation.

“All patients are identified.

There is no more Mr. X,” said Auldan, referring to male pa-

tient Elmer Delibios, 16, who is currently confined at the hospital’s Neuro ICU unit due to multiple shrapnel wounds in his skull.

The doctor confirmed that Delibios’ condition is gradually improving, as he has started to regain his consciousness since he was taken in last Friday.

“He was almost in comatose when he arrived at the hospital,” said Auldan.

On the other hand, Vicenta Depalubos, 28, and six months pregnant, and Joel Esfortonio, 17, are in critical condition.

Auldan said Esfortonio has multiple abdominal injuries caused by shrapnel, while Depalubos is comatose and confined at the Neuro ICU also due to shrapnel wounds.

Depulubos’ doctors are schedule do conduct a CT scan

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troops in Region 12 M

ORE Army troopers will be deployed in the coming days in key cities in Region 12 and the neighboring areas in line with the declaration of the state of lawless violence by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Brig. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commanding officer of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, said

Monday they are currently repositioning their units and personnel to facilitate their immediate deployment to the urban areas.

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) national headquarters ordered over the weekend the redeployment of troops based in

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Roxas night market reopens after blast

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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promised that the financial assistance shall be released to the victims and their families within the day.

Bello stressed that his visit to Davao aims to demonstrate that despite the bombing incident, Davao still remains a safe place whose people uphold peace and order.

“It is still safe to go and live in Davao,” he said.

HE people of Davao have started to pick up the pieces after a powerful explosion ripped through the night market in Roxas Avenue last Friday, Sept. 2, killing 14 people and wounding 67 others.

As a memorial of flowers, candles and cards stood both as a beacon of hope and a stark reminder of the tragedy that befell the city last week, food and merchandise stalls have reappeared at ground zero.

Vendors at the night market were given clearance by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio last Saturday, Sept. 3, to resume their business activities, just a day after the deadly blast.

Although there was a palpable air of caution among the stall owners and customers in what used to be one of Davao’s main tourist spots, one could sense a strong resolve among them to confront the terrifying incident head on.

In her message delivered during a memorial service at the blast site, the mayor declared, “The measure of success of terrorism is how long it takes for everyone to recover.”

By and large, it was the Mayor Sara’s way of telling Dabawenyos “to stand up once more” amidst the pain caused by the tragedy, as she called on the people to be unfazed, and cooperate with security officials during the ongoing investigations.

to discourage people, particularly the youth sector, from being lured to drugs. He appealed to the members of the media to use their influence through their programs and networks in the campaign against the illicit drug problem. He urged them to help educate the people about the ill effects of drugs and how it destroys the family and the society.

Meanwhile, in terms of long-term interventions, Governor Dayanghirang assured that his administration is bullish in its efforts to fight drugs as it is a major problem that drastically affects the society in terms of crime, violence, and disease, among many others. He vowed to put up a rehabilitation center here in the province to accommodate the rising number of drug dependents who have surrendered to the authorities as of late. The Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office has accounted about more than 6,500 drug surrenderees across the province.

Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Govern-

ment (DILG) Provincial Director Yvette T. Sunga backed the Provincial Government’s move in pushing for a more strengthened grassroots level, particularly the Barangay Anti-Drugs Abuse Council, to closely monitor the drug users who have surrendered.

She said the role of the barangay is very crucial since they are on the ground to monitor drug users who can potentially turn back to drugs. She urged the government agencies, private sector and civil society groups to support the DILG’s Masa Masid Program which will be launched in the ensuing days. This program, she said, will form groups in barangays that will serve as community watchdogs. This group will work hand-in-hand with the Ugnayan ng Bayan at Simbahan (Ubas) which is a partnership between the barangays and the religious sector to pool resources and efforts in the advocacy of good governance, campaign against the illegal drug trade and community development.

HANDS-ON. Tagum Coop officers and employees work on the exercise which tasked them to clasify different terms in financial and credit management.

DOLE assures help to bombing victims

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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HE national government has committed to provide financial assistance to the victims and bereaved families of the Roxas Night Market bombing.

This assurance was made

by Labor Secretary Sylvestre Bello III during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at SM Ecoland yesterday, The labor secretary ex-

pressed his sympathies for the victims, as he condemned last Friday’s gruesome act terror.

Initially, Bello identified one of the blast victims as a DOLE employee, but later on clarified that Kristia Gaile Bisnon was the daughter of DOLE Sultan Kudarat Provincial Director Arlene Bisnon and a nurse working at the Davao Doctors Hospital.

SoCot prepares for rollout of DA’s soil analysis program

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GRICULTURE personnel in South Cotabato province have started their preparations for the upcoming implementation of the soil analysis program of the Department Agriculture (DA) in some parts of the area.

Justina Navarrete, chief of the South Cotabato Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said Monday they are currently identifying the areas within the province’s 10 towns and lone city that will be covered by the initiative.

She said the soil analysis will last for 45 days and is targeted to cover around 10,000 to 14,000 hectares of lands in the province.

South Cotabato has around 30,000 hectares of idle lands that are mostly located in the upland areas, she said.

“The top priority will be idle and underutilized lands that have water resources,” the official said.

Navarrete said the DA central office, through a recommendation from its Region 12 field office, earlier identified South Cotabato as among the three provinces in the region that will be included in the first phase of the nationwide soil analysis.

She said the activity will

start within this month and will be facilitated by personnel from the DA’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

Also covered in the first phase of the soil analysis are the provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. Sarangani Province was included in the second phase, which be conducted early next year.

The soil analysis was personally pushed by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol in a bid to establish a color coded agriculture guide map for all provinces.

The initiative was set by the agency as among its top priorities for the first 100 days President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Navarrete said the soil analysis will focus on the determination of an area’s soil fertility and related components.

“The results will help establish what crops or commodities are suitable for planting in a specific area,” she said.

DA-12 said only 10 provinces in the country so far have updated soil fertility and crop suitability maps.

It said the soil analysis will assist the DA in attaining its target to increase the country’s food production areas to one million hectares under its food self-sufficiency strategy. (PNA)

Bello said that under the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), the agency shall provide the bereaved families with P10,000 and the injured victims with P5,000.

“This may be a small amount but it sure helps,” Bello said.

The labor secretary also

Although memories of the explosion may have been seared in the memories of the city’s residents, there are those who believe that Davao will soon be able to rise from the ashes.

Karl Licayan, an avid Roxas night market goer, believes that “Mayor [Duterte-Carpio] is right about her decision [on reopening the night market] since people got used to visit here.”

Licayan notes that the immediate re-opening of the night market was a testament to the city’s resilience in the face of adversity.

One the other hand, Synette, a masseur who works at the night market, still cannot get over the tragedy which claimed the life of one of her co-workers.

“It’s not okay. We’re not yet okay!” she exclaims in the vernacular while giving a massage to a customer.

According to Synette, the explosion was a “very traumatic experience for everyone,” especially for her who was just meters away when the blast happened.

The lady masseur admits that she is still scared to go out of the house and roam around the city, as she fears that something bad may happen anew.

She says that people should be careful and remain vigilant, adding “be aware with your encounters with other people.”

Strengthening the grassroots in fight against illegal drugs T

HE Provincial Government of Davao Oriental means business when it comes to fighting the illicit drug problem. And one sure way to make interventions work in the long-term is to firstly address the root of the problem.

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, in a press conference held at the Provincial Capitol on August 30, said he wants to strengthen the anti-illegal drugs campaign at the grassroots level believing that the government must put special emphasis on prevention first in order to make sure that resources poured for longterm interventions will not go down the drain.

The Governor stressed focusing on approaches that prioritizes health and social aspects involving the community and the religious sector. He said that the fight against illegal drugs is a shared responsibility which involves all stakeholders.

He laid emphasis on the potent power of information and education as effective tools

Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan WAR ON DRUGS Amid the national government’s intensive campaign against the illegal drug trade, the local stakeholders on peace and order here in the province have long been doing parallel interventions to complement the country’s fight against the growing illicit drug problem.

Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office (DOPPO) Provincial Director PSSUPT Harry Espela, during the press conference, presented the updates on

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5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Developers’creativity to boost growth in PH property sector

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ESPITE a slowdown in the local real state sector, there’s still growth and developers have to be creative to make money and be competitive, according to a local player.

For instance, in the more high-end category right now, three years ago, there’s growth but a slight slowdown is observed today, said Cyndy Tan Jarabata, the president of the Tajara Leisure and Hospitality Inc. But the current trend nowadays is that a lot of the developers are tapping branded residences to make money, Jarabata said in an interview during the launch of the 5th Philippines Property Awards 2017 last week.

She said that among these branded residences include the Raffles, the Grand Hyatt, the Shangri-La, the Sheraton in Cebu and Westin in Ortigas Center.

“So even developers are trying to look at another way in terms of how to give value to the market, or to the consumers or to the buyers without charging much more fees,” she said.

“It’s really coming up with the same price points but giv-

ing more value to the market. It encourages developers to say ‘if you want continued growth, you need to be more creative or innovative and be able to bridge new partnership’.”

Branded residences in the hospitality sector actually have also recorded a significant increase, she noted.

The middle market is also strong, she said but developers must be cautious and they shouldn’t be too focused in one area.

For instance, they shouldn’t encourage all OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) to buy property because by the time the property opens, there’s no one to live and lease issues arise, Jarabata explained.

“So you need to be more creative as developers now.

And you need to be able to come not only on the onset of sales but how you are going to maintain it once it’s turned over to tenants and what if the tenants are like 50 percent not even living there,” she said.

Other examples of highend residences in terms of turnover include Park Terraces of Ayala, Discovery, the Shangri-La, Admiral in Manila and Rockwell in Makati City. (PNA)

TE SubCom bares completion of third network upgrade

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E SUBCOM, a TE Connectivity Ltd. company and a pioneer in undersea communications technology, has announced the on-schedule completion of its third network upgrade to the Southeast Asia Japan Cable (SJC) System.

The upgrade of the system, which connects Brunei, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the Philippines, will increase system capacity by 6.3 terabyte per second (Tb/s) using TE SubCom’s latest 100 gigabit per second (Gb/s) coherent transmission technology.

According to the compa-

ny, the third upgrade of the 8,986-kilometer system meets the growing capacity needs for businesses and communications across the Asia-Pacific region.

“TE SubCom strives to bring value to its customers by delivering state-of-the-art systems on schedule and at the highest standard of reliability,” said Debbie Brask, managing director, Project Management and Marketing Communications, TE SubCom. “We are delighted to continue our relationship with the SJC members by providing a

LOBE Telecom Inc. has signed a 12-year and 15-year PHP20 billion term loan facility that the company said will be used to finance the acquisition of a 50 percent equity interest in Vega Telecom Inc., Bow Arken Holdings Company Inc. and Brightshare Holdings Corp.

Globe’s loan facility will be arranged by First Metro Investment Corp. with Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. as lender.

“Referring to our related disclosure of May 30, 2016, Globe’s acquisition relates to the companies owning and operating telecommunications services, licenses and all other assets,” Globe said in a

disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday.

“Mobile Internet customers are expected to benefit from the added capacities and greater geographic coverage from the acquisition. This exemplifies Globe’s continuous commitment and investments in improving the network and quality of service.”

The investments, according to Globe, will enable it to support the data needs of existing and new customers and allow them to enjoy their lifestyles.

As of June 30 this year, Globe has outstanding common shares of 132,758,388 and has a total debt of PHP88.1 million, the telecom giant told regulators. (PNA)

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Globe borrows P20B to fund acquisition G

FOOD LOVERS. Street food lovers gather around a stall at the re-opened Roxas night market three days after a bomb explosion that killed 14 people and injured 67 others. Lean Daval Jr.

Chamber condemns night market blast

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

T

HE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCI) has strongly condemned the bombing of the Roxas Night Market last Friday, which killed 14 people and injured scores of others.

“It was inhuman and heartless…and has taken the lives of innocent people and injured several others,” DCCCI declared in a statement released to media.

“Our deepest sympathy goes to the bereaved families and let us continue to pray for the fast recovery of those who are hospitalized,” the statement added.

The DCCCI hopes that healing “would transcend beyond physical,” and most importantly, include the victims’ “emotional state of being.”

The chamber expressed confidence the city will be able to rise after the painful

incident, as what it has done in the past.

“The Davaoeños will definitely rise above this as we have always had, and we enjoin everyone to continue to believe in Davao City as a great place to live in and raise a family to do business and invest,” the DCCCI statement said.

The chamber likewise threw its full support behind the local and national govern-

ment, which are more than capable of ensuring Davao and the country’s security.

“And together as one, we will make a better Philippines,” DCCCI statement concluded.

Davao City is considered as the business and industry hub in Mindanao.

Over the years, the DCCCI has been a reliable partner of government in ensuring that continuous economic growth and development of the city.

completion without emergency power.

Second highest in terms of amount is the Metro Bus Rapid Transit Line 1, Php 4.7 billion, which has a timeline of 201619. It will traverse a 12.3-km route from Manila to Quezon City. Without emergency power, its target date of completion is the third quarter of 2021 or later.

Another project is the Integrated Transport System Southwest Terminal along the Coastal Road part in Paranaque City, Php 3.15 billion. It is projected to start operations

by June 2018 with emergency power but without the emergency power its construction is set to start this year but completion date remains unknown due to possible temporary restraining orders (TROs) and injunctions by affected stakeholders.

The South Terminal of the integrated transport system at the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) compound in the Taguig City, worth Php 2.23 billion, is also projected to start operations by 2018 if the proposed emergen-

cy power is granted but without it, the date of completion of the project is also uncertain.

Also part of the projects for immediate implementation is the improvement of existing national roads worth Php 1.59 billion.

In terms of policies, DOTr said it plans to rationalize public transport system in the metropolis, map out secondary routes, unify franchising policy, and prohibit bus terminals along major roads.

It also wants public utility vehicles (PUVs) to be modernized and to have enough parking spaces. Additional new emission testing centers are also being eyed along with the transfer of the DOTr Central Office from Mandaluyong City in Metro Manila to Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

For the rail sector, some of the projects include the procurement of new train coaches, extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 to Cavite, extension of the LRT Line 2 to Masinag, Antipolo and to Pier 4; procurement of new carts

and general overhaul of MRT Line 3 to increase its passenger capacity; construction of LRT 4 from Taytay, Rizal to Pureza in Manila, and the LRT Line 5 that would connect Central Business Districts (CBD) in Makati City and nearby areas.

Also, the construction of LRT 7 from North EDSA to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan via Commonwealth Ave.; extension of Philippine National Railways (PNR) North Commuter line from Tutuban in Manila to Malolos, Bulacan and to Clark, Pampanga; extension of PNR South Commuter line from Tutuban to Los Banos, Laguna; and construction of the Mindanao Rail, Cebu Rail, and Central Philippines Rail.

For air transport, the proposed projects to be covered by the emergency power are airport improvements such as construction of exit taxiways, runway overlay and putting up of additional closed-circuit television (CCTVs), improvements in domestic airports to allow night time flights, and decongestion of NAIA traffic.

(PNA)

Emergency power to fast track P51-B road projects

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NCE granted, the proposed emergency powers being asked by the government to address traffic congestion nationwide will speed up the implementation of about Php 51.11 billion worth of road sector projects.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) submitted last Friday, Sept. 2, to the Senate Committee on Public Services, being chaired by Senator Grace Poe, the list of projects it plans to implement from 2016-19 to help address heavy traffic congestion, especially in Metro Manila.

For the road sector alone, the project with the highest cost is the Php 39.44-billion Metro Bus Rapid Transit Line 2, which will traverse a 48.6-kilometer (km) route that covers EDSA, Ayala, Ortigas-BGC to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The project’s timeline is 2016-18.

With emergency powers, this particular project is targeted to be implemented from 2016 until the last quarter of 2018, faster than the second quarter of 2020 target date of

6 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

‘State of lawlessness’ drives stocks lower T HE Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) closed lower at 7,764.05, dropping by 43.37 points from Friday’s 7,720.68 as investors were concerned with the impact of the bombing in Davao City and the declaration of a nationwide “state of lawlessness” by President Rodrigo Duterte over the weekend.

The decline was led by industrial stocks at 11,815.97 falling by 44.15 points, followed by holding firms which was down by 32.65 points at 7,698.84.

“Just like any terrorist event, there will be some knee-jerk sell-off. It was a mild sell-off,” Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist of BDO Universal, said in an interview.

The trading analyst however said he believes that the

declaration of a state of lawlessness will have limited impact on the market.

Investors were also seen to observe the next meeting of the US Federal Reserve as it considers an increase in interest rates after the data for the month of August showed an increase of 151,000 jobs in the US, which was below expectation.

Stock trading was valued at PHP5.84 billion with volume reaching 1.52 billion shares.

Decliners gained on advancers 112 to 78 with 51 shares remain unchanged.

Meanwhile, the local currency closed at PHP46.52 up by 10 centavos from Friday’s PHP46.62.

The peso opened at 46.62, with intra-day high and low at 46.64 and 46.52, respectively.

(PNA)

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. will lead the 40th anniversary celebration of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City Monday night.

Tetangco is expected to announce at the PICC Reception Hall the addition of two buildings at the complex: a new trade exhibition hall for corporate and association events, and the Museo ng Bangko Sentral, which will house art pieces from the BSP’s collection.

The government in 1974 authorized the Central Bank of the Philippines, BSP’s predecessor, to construct an international conference building on a suitable site and organize a corporation to manage its operations.

PICC was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin. Its floor area of more than 70,000 square meters consists of five building modules.

PICC is Asia’s first-ever international convention center and was inaugurated on Sept.

5, 1976. Its maiden event was the joint annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, both based in Washington, DC. Since then, an average of 400 events are held in PICC every year, ranging from international concerts and academic graduation ceremonies to global, regional, and national conventions. It was the venue of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings in 1996 and the APEC summit in 2015, as well as the Miss Universe pageant in 1994. (PNA)

FINANCIAL HELP TO BLAST VICTIMS. Department of Labor and Employment secretary and Government of the Philippines’ (GPH) peace panel member Silvestre H. Bello III promises to provide financial assistance to the victims and bereaved families of the Roxas night market bombing

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

under the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Bello was joined by fellow GPH peace panel member lawyer Angela Librado-Trinidad during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

BSP celebrates PICC’s Bello: DOLE to bring home 40th anniversary 1,000 workers from Saudi B

L

ABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III plans to bring home at least 1,000 Fiipino migrant workers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in fulfilment of his commitment to President Duterte.

“We promised to the President that we will be bringing in at least 1,000 migrant workers before the Hajj on Sept 9,” said Bello during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Davao press conference at SM Ecoland.

According to Bello, many of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) want to return to the country mainly because they are being deprived

of their wages.

Just last week, DOLE was able to repatriate 228 workers who were welcomed by President Duterte himself upon their arrival.

“Another batch of 169 workers will be arriving today,” said Bello.

By the end of September, he said, DOLE will bring home another batch of workers without any prejudice to those Filipinos who plan to continue working abroad.

“Saudi loves Filipino workers,” Bello said, who bared that the minister of labor in Saudi was concerned when he heard the news that many Filipino migrant work-

ers wanted to go home.

Bello, however, clarified that he could only bring home workers who have not received their dues.

Based on DOLE’s records, 11,000 workers in Saudi Arabia are not being paid their wages.

The labor secretary predicts that this number could rise due to new job opportunities being offered by the government of Saudi Arabia.

In fact, King Salam has committed to pay for the plane fare of Filipino workers who want to go home to the Philippines in exchange for new jobs when they return to Saudi Arabia.

But Bello said President Duterte had created a contingency fund to cover the travel fare of repatriated workers.

“But who are we to refuse the king’s request?” Bello asked.

The DOLE secretary also revealed that he received P500,000 from the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA) last week, wherein he gave P20,000 to each OFW and P6,000 to their families in the Philippines.

Bello added the OWWA will provide the returning OFWs with jobs and help equip them with skills they can use to start their own business.

HE ASEAN Business Outlook Survey (ABOS) 2017 reported that United States companies based in the Philippines are the “most optimistic” in terms of overall investment environment among Southeast Asian nations.

About 77 percent of US firms in the Philippines said the investment environment in the country is improving, higher than ASEAN’s figure of 45 percent.

The country’s figure exceeded optimism of US businesses in Vietnam with 72 percent recognized improvement in investment climate; Myanmar with 70 percent; Cambodia, 69 percent; Laos, 58 percent; Indonesia, 35 percent; Singapore, 31 percent; Malaysia, 23 percent; Thailand, 22 percent; and Brunei Darussalam, 16 percent.

Majority of US companies with presence in the Philip-

pines have forecasted their profit here to increase next year.

In the report’s US Investors’ Sentiments and Perceptions in the Philippines, 79 percent of US companies in the country have seen higher profits in 2017 while 11 percent have expected profits to “stay the same”, 4 percent projected decrements, and 6 percent were “not sure” about their profit outlook next year.

The survey also reported that 55 percent of US firms in the Philippines have expected to increase the number of workforce this year.

About 19 percent of US businesses here expressed their intention to expand within the country.

The latest ABOS also listed business factors in the country which US businesses are highly satisfied for the past ten years.

These include: availability of low cost labor (72 percent),

sentiment towards the US (77 percent), availability of trained personnel (68 percent), stable government and political system (51 percent), and personal security (45 percent).

On the other hand, business factors where satisfaction level is low among US firms are: lack of corruption (11 percent), infrastructure (13 percent), tax structure (13 percent), ease of moving products through Customs (15 percent), free movements of goods within the region (17 percent), and availability of raw materials (19 percent).

Moreover, 45 percent US businesses in the Philippines recognized that the administration of the former President Benigno S. Aquino III is “very effective” in boosting business confidence and promoting investment in the country, while another 38 percent of the respondents said the previous administration was “effective”.

Forty-three percent of US businesses here said they are “optimistic” that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte can sustain reforms instituted by the Aquino administration, 2.0 percent are “very optimistic” while 40 percent are “neutral”.

US firms in PHL ‘most optimistic’ in ASEAN -survey PPP health care project to up PH geriatric nurses T

A

PUBLIC-PRIVATE partnership (PPP) project in health care is being rolled out in the Philippines to increase geriatric nurses in the country and establish the sunrise industry of international retirement migration here.

Public and private sectors from the Philippines and Germany will collaborate in establishing a geriatric curriculum for the Philippine health care education system, which will develop a vocational training module based on the German geriatric education model.

The PPP project is led by Germany’s pro civitate, Rain Tree Care and KFW DEG in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

In a press conference in Makati City on Monday, Rain Tree Care managing director Marc Daubenbuechel estimated that there will be 14 million senior citizens in the Philippines between 2017 and 2040.

The figure will be 11.5 percent of the country’s population.

Daubenbuechel mentioned that in 2015, the country had 7.5 million people aged 60 years and above.

However, the Philippines is lacking geriatric practitioners as no geriatric curriculum exists while there are only 10 operators of 25 elderly care facilities nationwide.

With the PPP project for geriatric curriculum, at least 100 geriatric nurses will be trained and certified by December 2018, the conclusion of the project. F PPP, 12

Meanwhile, 59 percent of US businesses in the region considered ASEAN markets “have become more important in terms of their companies’ worldwide revenue over the past two years”.

“American businesses continue to see substantial commercial opportunity in ASEAN,” the ABOS stated, noting the region’s economic growth, rising number of middle class, regional integration, improvement in infrastructure, and limited growth opportunities in other regions as main factors of optimism in doing business in ASEAN. (PNA)

7 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

The looming great thirst Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

(Second of Two Parts) “We only learn the value of a glass of water when the well runs dry.”

– Thomas Fuller ***

I

T is but necessary to start this piece with this interesting quote from Sandra Postel and Amy Vickers: “In this morning’s cup of coffee and this evening’s sip of tea reside molecules of water that have cycled through Earth’s atmosphere thousands upon thousands of times. Liquid water has been on Earth for at least 3 billion years, circulating between the sea, air, and land. Powered by the sun, this cycling creates an illusion of plenty: fresh water seems limitless because it falls from the sky year after year.”

Indeed, it’s an illusion. The two authors of “Handbook of Water Use and Conservation: Homes, Landscapes, Businesses, Industries, Farms” wrote: “Water tables are falling from overpumping of groundwater… Many streams and rivers now run dry for portions of the year. Large inland lakes have shrunk to shadows of their former dimensions. Worldwide, freshwater wetlands -- ecosystems that do a remarkable job of purifying water -- have diminished in area by about half.”

“Unlike copper, oil, and most other commodities, fresh water is not just a resource that acquires value only when it is extracted and put to human use. Most fundamentally, fresh water is a life support,” Poste and Vickers wrote.

“Wars of the next century will be over water,” warned World Bank’s Ismail Serageldin in 1995. Crown Prince Hassan of Joran said the 1967 Six-Day War was caused by tensions over the Jordan River and its tributaries. “It’s simply a question of survival,” said then Israeli Water Commissioner Meir Ben Meir. “Thirst for water is an ignition to vio-

lence.”

Filipinos may not resort to violence yet, but the country is already going through a water crisis. “On a macro-level, it appears there is plenty of water, but we are now experiencing problems and, in some instances, some areas (of the country) are suffering from lack of water,” said Elisea Gozon when she was still the environment and natural resources secretary.

In a press statement, Senator Loren Legarda said: “A recent study by the World Resources Institute revealed that the Philippines will likely experience severe water shortage by 2040 due to the combined impact of rapid population growth and climate change. Furthermore, the Philippines ranks 57 out of 167 countries that are highly vulnerable to severe water shortage.”

Water is a limited non-renewable resource, of which a fixed amount exists on the planet: some 1,400 million cubic kilometers, which can be neither increased nor decreased. Most of this, that is, 97.4%, is salt water; another 2% is locked away in ice caps and glaciers. This leaves only 0.6%, or 8.4 cubic kilometers, of which some 8 million cubic kilometers are stored underground.

Put in another way, if all the earth’s water were to fit in a gallon jug (4 liters), the available fresh water would be just over one tablespoon.

Potable water is one of the most important components for a person to live. “A person can survive only three to five days without water, in some cases people have survived for an average of one week,” says thewaterpage.com. “Once the body is deprived of fluids

the cells and organs in the body begin to deteriorate. The presence of water in the body could mean the difference between life and death.”

A household of five needs at least 120 liters per day to meet basic needs – for drinking, food preparation, cooking and cleaning up, washing and personal hygiene, laundry, house cleaning, according to Worldwatch.

Outside of domestic uses, water is most critical in food production. “The link between water and food is strong,” says Lester R. Brown, president of Washington, D.C.based Earth Policy Institute.

“We drink, in one form or another, nearly 4 liters of water per day. But the food we consume each day requires at least 2,000 liters to produce, 500 times as much.”

For instance, to raise a ton of rice, you need a thousand gallons of water, according to the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute. Some studies show

that 89% of Filipinos consume rice on a daily basis. “Agriculture is where future water shortages will be most acute,” commented Time’s Michael S. Serrill.

But “we’re surrounded by a hidden world of water,” argued Stephen Leahy, author of “Your Water Footprint.” “Liters and liters of it are consumed by everything we eat, and everything we use and buy. Cars, furniture, books, dishes, TVs, highways, buildings, jewellery, toys and even electricity would not exist without water. It’s no exaggeration to say that water is far more valuable and useful than oil.”

A water footprint, as Leahy defined it, is the amount of water ‘consumed’ to make, grow or produce something. “I use the word ‘consumed’ to make it clear this is water that can no longer be used for anything else,” Leahy pointed out.

“Water is fundamental for life and health,” the UN Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Right said. “The human right to water is indis-

pensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity. It is a pre-requisite to the realization of all other human rights.”

The UN Children’s Fund estimated some nine million people, mostly children, die annually from water-borne diseases. “The toll is equal to 75 large airline crashes daily,” claimed an UN official.

“Unlike energy crisis,” commented Klaus Toepfer, former executive director of UN Environment Program, “the water crisis is life threatening. The level of suffering and misery represented by these statistics is almost beyond comprehension.”

Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts- Global Water Policy Project, believes water crisis will be right along with climate change a future threat. More importantly, higher global temperatures will worsen the current water problems.

“Although the two are related, water has no substitutes. We can transition away from coal and oil to solar, wind and other renewable energy

sources. But there is no transitioning away from water to something else,” said the head of the group that seeks to save fresh water.

Meanwhile, at the home of Rosa Andal, in the poverty-stricken village in the southern part of Mindanao, there is still no water: the tap has long been dry. She must get up early in the morning and, laden with plastic pails, walk for about three kilometers to fetch water from a river.

“This is the only I can to provide water for my family,” she said. “Politicians come and make promises. Once they have taken our votes, they go. So is there anything a government can do when it cannot even provide some clean water for my children?”

The statement of Roger Berthelot, former consultant of United Nations Development Program, is haunting: “There will be no peace in the world unless we are prepared to insure it now by tackling the problems of water, which in some areas are catastrophic.”

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

EDITORIAL Icon of mercy

M

OTHER Teresa has been made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, 19 years after her death.

The ceremony to proclaim the Nobel peace prize laureate, who is recognised globally for her work with poor people in the slums of Kolkata in India, drew 100,000 pilgrims on Sunday from around the world to St Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Pope Francis declared her a saint in traditional canonization ceremonies. In Latin, the Pope declared: “For the honour of the Blessed Trinity … we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Kolkata to be a saint and we enrol her among the saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church.”

The Pope described Mother Teresa’s work as “eloquent witness to God’s closeness to the poorest of the poor” and shared with her

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vision of a church for the poor.

Among the memorable words of Mother Teresa were: “Perhaps I don’t speak their language but I can smile.”

Mother Teresa is revered as a model of compassion and an icon of mercy.

Her sainthood comes timely in reference to the fate that has befallen this country. Two days before her declaration of sainthood, Davao City was bombed and six of the 14 who died were women.

The families of those whose loved ones perished can get some needed spiritual help from the merciful works of Mother Teresa.

In the words of Pope Francis: “Let us carry Mother Teresa’s smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer.”

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HERE’S no arguing where the city got its name. Like the small cat or kuting in Filipino, kuching, in general, refers to the same animal without distinction. The capital of Sarawak, Malaysia, the city is host of an impressive Cat Museum and is ruled by two mayors, one for the Chinese-dominated commercial and residential district, and another for the Malay populated sector.

The iconic Cat Museum, the only one of its kind, is host to anything and everything related to cats. In our 1995 visit to attend the ASEAN Tourism Fair (ATF) held there, we had the occasion to appreciate the collection, which sits on a platform that of a minaret-like structure towering over the two districts.

Interestingly, the museum is not just about the feline family (lynx, tiger, jaguar, cheetah, lion, puma and the domestic cat); it also has curiosities and the usual stuff toys. The cat displays include Garfield (a comic sketch), Felix (a cartoon icon), Catwoman (a movie character), and a cat awkwardly sleeping with its head hanging from a movie director’s chair (catnap).

In a light banter, we told the curator that the museum was incomplete, that it lacked a ‘cat’ that used to roam the streets of Davao City. With eyebrows raised, she asked for some details. Not wanting to thrill her much longer, we dropped the word ‘burikat’, street slang for prostitute, and told her what it means. Her reaction was a laughter that was simply infectious.

The Kuching visit was also an occasion for a mini-adventure. During our first two days of stay in the city, we saw no cat anywhere. A

O

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Kuching, city of cats

visit to unlikely FAST BACKWARD places, though, would change that.

At the local cemetery not far away from the giant cat statues that welcome visitors, a kitten, thin and famished, was Antonio V. Figueroa crying out near the tombs. Later, on the way home to the hotel, another litter, also emaciated, was desperately meowing from inside an open flood drainage, obviously abandoned by someone who did not have time for felines.

Kuching City is vaguely known for its link to Davao region. Unknown to most people, it is host to an iconic tower that housed the business offices of Tan Sri Datuk Ting Pek Khiing, owner of the now defunct Samal Casino, a blue-chip business resort built on a sprawling 250-hectare property at Kaputian town, in Samal Island.

This predated the ambitious Entertainment City at the reclaimed areas of Manila Bay. Actually, the project, in its first phase, was able to develop a 19-hectare beachfront comprised of hotel rooms, ballroom and functions rooms, and a casino. The entire undertaking, had it been completed, would have featured “1,720 units of hotel [and] resort accommodations, vacation homes, a championship 18-hole

golf course, club house, restaurants and a shopping [and] entertainment complex.” It had a soft opening but due to the lack of continental players and guests and the shortage of direct flights to Davao City from abroad, it was forced to close shop.

Proud of its clean streets, Kuching City is home also to numerous landmarks, among them the 21-story City Tower, the Sarawak State Museum, and the Sarawak Cultural Center.

The tower, shaped like an Olympic torch and equipped with a lift, has a revolving restaurant at the top and glass view deck where the city’s urban landscape is visible. The museum, the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia, brings together archaeological, anthropological, paleaological, historical, and cultural relics of Malaysia’s rich heritage.

On the other hand, the Sawarak Cultural Center, situated just outside the heart of Kuching City but closer to what may be termed as the city’s only amusement district, hosts plays and theatrical presentations staged as a way of introducing to foreign guests the socio-cultural idiosyncrasies of the country. At the entertainment hub, roughly twenty kilometers away from the heart of the city, it’s a common sight to see Filipino bands performing nightly.

Unlike the Roxas Night Market in Davao City, Kuching’s famous flea market happens on a Sunday morning, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and sells items as interesting as antiques. The secondhand, outdoor souk is an area comprised of blocked roads where vendors are allowed to have a five-hour window to sell their wares.

Merchandises are in this weekly fair are dis-

played on shelves that can be folded easily and hauled in vans within minutes before the market closes. Impressively, at the toll of 1:00 PM, road blocks are removed on time, allowing the flow of traffic to resume almost automatically.

Being a stickler for time is a British legacy.

Elsewhere, this respect for on-time schedule was also followed. At exactly 5:00 PM, the parking lot situated two blocks away from where we were staying, would be emptied of cars and systematically replaced with tables and chairs of an eatery, which had a small corner kitchen inside the lot. The diner served mainly pre-cooked and heated food. At midnight sharp, all that could be seen in the lot was again the empty lot and the sodium lights around it.

Travel inside Kuching City can be done only by taxi and bus, unless a visitor is able to borrow a hotel car or has a friend who can share him a ride. There are no tricycles and jeeps in the city proper; only motorcycles and occasional buses.

Malaysians, in general, respect their laws and follow them with passion. Over a four-day surveillance from the hotel veranda, which was within spitting distance from the street junction’s traffic light, we observed that not one motor rider was seen without a helmet. There was not even a child in sight riding on a twowheel transport, something that is regularly circumvented in the Philippines! Even in fastfood restaurants, it is common sight to observe commuters lugging helmets.

In Davao City, sad to note, the helmet law is in effect but it has been regularly violated by motorists because law enforcement is more of a sound bite than a reality.

bo City).

M i c h a e l THINK ON THESE! Schneider and Antony Froggatt, authors of “The World Nuclear Industry: Status Report 2016,” said that nuclear power generation in the world increased by 1.3%, entirely Henrylito D. Tacio due to a 31% in- henrytacio@gmail.com crease in China.

“Ten reactors started up in 2015 – more than in any other year since 1990 – of which eight were in China,” the authors wrote. “Eight construction starts in the world in 2015—to which China contributed six – down from 15 in 2010 of which 10 were in China. No construction starts in the world in the first half of 2016.”

As of the middle of 2016, 31 countries were operating nuclear reactors for energy purposes.

“Nuclear power plants generated 2,444 net terawatt-hours (TWh or billion kilowatt-hours) of electricity in 2015, a 1.3% increase, but still less than in 2000 and 8.2% below the historic peak nuclear generation in 2006,” the authors wrote.

During the time of Jericho L. Petilla as energy secretary, he was also contemplating of nuclear energy as an option for the country as power source. “We’re looking at it on a longterm basis,” he said. “We’re counting on (nuclear as an option). At the same time, we have to look at the technical side, and then recommend later on if studies show that it’s good for the country.”

According to Petilla, social dimension — or

the possible non-acceptance of nuclear energy by the public — was the limiting factor why the government is excluding it from its energy mix.

It must be recalled the Westinghouse Electric built the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in the Philippines during the time of Ferdinand Marcos at a cost of US$2.2 billion.

Started in 1976, it was finished in 1984.

“The facility never started generating electricity after it was declared unsafe because it sits on a major earthquake fault line and lies near the Pinatubo volcano, which was dormant at that time,” Reuters wrote.

“Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption had no effect on the Bataan plant, 70 kilometers away, but the project was mothballed in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986,” Reuters added.

During the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, proponents wanted the BNPP rehabilitated. But the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan renewed concerns about safety.

Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity.

But there is an ongoing debate about the use of nuclear energy. Proponents, such as the World Nuclear Association, the IAEA and Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions.

But environmentalists and militant groups see it differently. “They would certainly cite the specter of a meltdown – as what happened in Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union, Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in the US and, more recently, the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011,” said Business Mirror in an editorial.

The Economist said nuclear power “looks dangerous, unpopular, expensive and risky,”

and that “it is replaceable with relative ease and could be forgone with no huge structural shifts in the way the world works.”

“Nuclear power is beset by problems that go well beyond its propensity for occasional accidents,” noted Christopher Flavin, of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute. “Technologically, economically, and politically, nuclear power faces a series of obstacles that will prevent it from coming close to displacing fossil fuels to significantly delay global warming.”

Flavin, who wrote the 1987 Worldwatch paper entitled Reassessing Nuclear Power: The Fallout from Chernobyl, cited an analysis done by the Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado. It has developed a nuclear scenario that reduces global warming by 20 to 30 percent by the middle of 21st century through the substitution of nuclear plants for all coal-fired plants.

“Analysis at the Rocky Mountain Institute found that this would require the completion of one nuclear power plant every one to three days during the next 40 years,” Flavin wrote. “Many countries would be almost blanketed by nuclear plants, and the cost would run to as much as $9 trillion.”

A nuclear power program of this scale, Flavin said, would require not just a reversal of a worldwide trend, but a program of nuclear construction that is 10 times as large as any the world has seen. “Such an effect is unthinkable, both economically and politically,” he said.

“Indeed, a democratic government that tried it would most likely soon be voted out of office.”

On the brighter side, nuclear power has caused far fewer accidental deaths per unit of energy generated than other major forms of power generation. In comparison, energy production from coal, natural gas, and hydropower have caused far more deaths due to accidents.

Nuclear power as energy source

NE of the news reports that caught my attention recently was that from Reuters.

The headline said: “Philippines may open mothballed Marcos-era nuclear power plant.”

The opening lead went this way: “The Philippines is looking into operating the country’s only nuclear power plant, built four decades ago at more than $2 billion but never used, to ensure the long-term supply of clean and cheap electricity.”

The announcement came from Secretary Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy during the three-day international conference on nuclear power plant in Manila. An investment of US$1 billion is needed to revive the said nuclear power plant.

“We have to weigh all our options, with emphasis not just on meeting capacity requirements, but sustainability and environmental obligations as well,” pointed out Cusi who considered nuclear power as “cheap and reliable.”

Ambassador Zenaida Angara Collinson, the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, said many of the future nuclear power plants will be set up in Asia.

“They (the countries) can no longer get it from biomass, solar. The solar wind, the renewables, they are fluctuating and we cannot use them as baseload,” she was quoted as saying

by Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“The country is joining more than two dozen other countries looking to add nuclear power to their energy mix, including neighbors Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand,” the Reuters report added.

I have seen nuclear power plants up close twice: in the United States (while driving from Detroit going to Columbus, Ohio) and in China (while riding a bullet train from Beijing to Ning-

9

10 NEWS P2-M... FROM 1

“I’ve already talked to the higher ranks of the PNP and AFP and I told them that I want new people and new ideas for the improvement of Davao City,” the mayor added.

Duterte-Carpio said she already knows the new Task Force Davao commander, but declined to reveal his name, as she advised the media to just wait for the official turn-over of duties from the current to the incoming TF chief.

“I talked with PNP Chief

(Ronald) dela Rosa last Saturday, I gave him a name [but] he refused to put that person to be the next City Director, and he gave me a name I refused.

Our compromise was he’ll come up with a shortlist in 2-3 days,” Duterte said.

Duterte also appointed a new Public Safety Security and Command Center (PSSCC) chief, Ret. Gen. Benito de Leon from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, following the tragic bombing incident.

to sow terror and wreak havoc in our society. We remain firm and resolved to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

The President stressed the national government remains committed to its duty of protecting its citizens, as he asked Filipinos to do their part for the sake of the country.

He pointed out that he will use the ASEAN as an opportunity to meet other ASEAN leaders and ASEAN dialogue partners to seek their support for regional efforts to address the key issues of terrorism and violent extremism.

“Terrorism and violent extremism is a global concern and the Philippines will do its part as a member of international community and work with its partners to address this issue,” he said.

A call for cooperation for a drug-free ASEAN community consistent with the country’s programs and intensified campaigns against illegal drugs will also be part of his mission, he added.

The summit, the President noted, will also be an excellent opportunity to underscore the importance of the rule of law and the peaceful settlements of disputes.

“The interests of our people are at the heart of the ASEAN community building and we shall work with our neighbours in addressing trans-national issues such as trafficking of persons, terrorism and violent extremism.”

On the economy, President Duterte said the ASEAN will also be a venue to discuss ways to increase inclusive growth so that the benefits of

development are felt by every Filipino.

“These includes strengthening connectivity in the region, enhancing trade, underscoring the importance of micro, small and medium industries; conserving and sustaining the growth environment.”

On the socio-economic aspect, on the other hand, the President said the leaders will advance improved access to education that will open opportunities for all, including out-of-school youth to develop and realize their potentials to be productive and responsible members of society.

“We will continue engaging our neighbours on the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers. We will also push for the capacity building to improve emergency response and disaster management.”

President Duterte also announced that he is accepting the leadership of ASEAN starting next year.

“I have the honor to accept in behalf of the Philippines the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017 from Laos,” he said, adding that the turn over will formally mark an important leadership role for the country in the region in line with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the economic aggrupation next year.

After the ASEAN summit, the President will proceed for a working visit in Indonesia to discuss bilateral issues impacting our relationships.

“Upon my return I will report on the gains that the Philippines achieved during the visits,” President Duterte said.

the hinterland areas to key cities and municipalities.

Such order was based on the President’s declaration of the state of lawless violence, which mainly “calls out for the AFP to complement and supplement the Philippine National Police on law enforcement matters,” he said.

President Duterte issued the declaration following the deadly bomb attack at a night market in Davao City late Friday night that left 15 people dead and more than 60 others injured.

The Army’s 1002nd Brigade, which is based in Malungon town in Sarangani, has operational jurisdiction over portions of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato in Region 12, and Davao

del Sur and Davao Occidental in Region 11.

It also covers the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Digos.

Villanueva said their deployment and “security hardening” activities will be mainly focused on the four cities.

“We are mainly assigning additional troops to these areas to assist local police units and personnel in conducting law enforcement operations,” he said.

Aside from the redeployment of troops, the Army official said they have also strengthened their intelligence operations in the area.

He said they specifically gathering information on the possible movements of terror groups and other armed elements. (PNA)

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main goal was to discuss the bombing incident, and come up with proposals on how to support the on-going investigations of authorities, Buat explained.

He also implored the people of Davao not to associate the incident with Muslims in the city by saying, “Even we, Muslims condemned such act.”

Buat said the leaders also agreed to inform members of Muslim communities in the city to be vigilant, and to police their own ranks.

The deadly blast on Friday was also condemned by non-government organization MIF through its leader Sheik Kulaqi.

“As a Muslim living in this country for more than 20 years, I found Davao City the safest place in the world. I can walk at night and the early morning. Nothing happened to me during my stay in this place,” Kulaqi said.

He also urged all Muslims in the country and the world to help and support President

Duterte, a leader whom he described as very close to the Muslims.

He added the President is trying his best to improve the nation’s global image and competitiveness .

Kulaqi said that he has already met the President five to six times and that in one occasion, the Chief Executive warmly welcomed Imams or Muslim leaders who arrived from Mecca.

He re-echoed Buat’s belief that bombing is not the way of Islam, especially when the victims are small and simple people who endlessly toil to support the needs of their families.

“What you (bombing suspects) have done to these people is not Islamic or Christian way. This is [a] crime,” he emphasized.

Kulaqi also called on the Filipino people, both Muslims and Christians, to unite against these acts of terrorism and denounce what the terrorists have done with the support of members of the media.

rate in Cuba is less than 20 per 100,000 live births. The rate is about the same with the US. But we know that the health care delivery system in the US is one of the most expensive in the world,” Ubial said.

She pointed out the DOH would need around P57 billion in appropriations to approximate the health system of Cuba.

The budget, she added, will allow the health department to hire around 35,000 doctors to serve most of the villages in the country.

But Ubial said the country still lacks doctors who can adequately attend to the rising health concerns of Filipinos.

“What we will do is to follow that model where we can have one health worker in the interim until we are able to produce enough doctors to be fielded in the barangay levels.

In the interim, we will have one midwife or nurse per barangay,” she said.

She added the department is studying the possibility of deploying one midwife who will be assigned to serve two barangays.

With this move, Ubial said the department can still pro-

vide health services even with the limited number of doctors assigned in rural areas.

“The situation now is one doctor per municipality, but in one municipality we have 20 to 30 barangays. In six years, we will work to reach one doctor per five barangays,” she said.

She added that the country’s health system is not the same with Cuba wherein the model of their school of medicine is under the supervision ministry of health.

“So they are able to produce medical graduates that are attuned to their health agenda,” she said, adding that Philippines has only five stateowned colleges for medicine, while the doctors that these educational institutions produce is still insufficient to meet the demands of the nation’s growing population.

Ubial said the passing rate in the country’s board exams for medicine is only 30% to 40%, whereas in Cuba, the passing rate is 98%.

“They make sure that the doctors they produce pass the board exam. This is one of the strengths of the Cuban health model,” the health secretary said. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

the efforts undertaken against illegal drugs.

Espela said that the DOPPO has conducted extensive anti-illegal drugs operation. From January to June of this year, a total of 62 operations were carried out leading to the arrest of 89 drug suspects. Illegal drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine (shabu) with a total street value worth of P3.8 million have been confiscated.

He said that the average monthly crime rate has decreased by 2.11%, from 39.06 percent to 36.95 percent, making the peace and order situation in the province generally peaceful and manageable.

The war on drugs which

was framed around the national government’s thrust in stamping out the drug menace, is a thing taken seriously by the provincial government and the police force as well as other stakeholders, said Espela, noting the police accomplishments on its ‘double barrel’ operations.

Governor Dayanghirang says that he is confident that the efforts to fight drugs would be realized amid the strong support of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army as they have committed to exercise their mandate of combating the alarming illegal drug trade. By Karen Lou Deloso

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the Philippines.

“Hanggang ngayon hindi pa tayo nakatikim ng apology.

That is the reason why Mindanao continues to boil. As a matter of fact we inherited this problem from the United States, why, because they invaded this country and made us their subjugated people,”

he said.

President Duterte also vowed that his campaign against the illegal drug trade in the country will continue.

The President said “plenty will be killed until the last pusher is out of the streets, until the last drug manufacturer is killed.”

on her to check for brain hemorrhage.

Her baby is alive and in stable condition.

Auldan said that many patients who have been operated on have showed marked improvements in their health condition, according to Auldan.

“We have made sure that patients are given free access to medicines and diagnostic procedures,” he added, Auldan said.

He added that patients who are non-Phil Health

members will still receive the same package of benefits as regular members.

Members of SPMC’s Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine also held stress debriefing sessions for patients who have not yet been able to speak due to the trauma caused by the incident.

Auldan also reminded the blast victims who are schedule to be discharged, to return to SPMC for tetanus injections and vaccinations, which will be given for free.

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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 to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. 2016-XI-01708 (2015-XI-00128) ELMARY G. DAGATAN, Petitioner-Vendor

JENNIFER F. DULZURA, Petitioner-Vendee

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

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by ELMARY G. DAGATAN in favor of JENNIFER F. DULZURA of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ – DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: BUHANGIN VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to June 28, 2020.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 at 03:00 p.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 15th day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transport 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 Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI Service

Case No. 2001-XI-01961 ELISA J. GADIA. Petitioner x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience 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 ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on February 18, 2017. In the petition filed on August 24, 2016 petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on OCTOBER 3, 2016 at 09:50 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 TERESITA YÑIGUEZ, this 25th day Davao City.

the Honorable DELA PEÑAOfficer-In-Charge, of August 2016 at

EDGAR CRISANTO R. VIOLAN Administrative Officer V

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Beijing Beckons

By Henrylito D. Tacio “WHEN YOU VISIT CHINA ITS VASTNESS IS DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND. It is as large as the United States, but with four times as many people,” says “All-Asia Travel Guide.”

I have been to both countries and I can say that the description is apt. It is especially true in Beijing, China’s capital and the country’s political, economic, cultural, educational and international trade and communication center.

As one of the six ancient cities in China, Beijing has been the heart and soul of politics and society throughout its long history and consequently there is an unparalleled wealth of discovery to delight and intrigue travelers as they explore the city’s ancient past and exciting modern development. Italian explorer Marco Polo described its magnificence in glowing terms.

Zedong.

Tiananmen Square, if you care to know, is within the top ten largest city squares in the world (440,500 square meters). The square, which means “gate of heavenly peace,” has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history.

largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

Learn basic history at the Temple of Heaven Built in 1420, during the reign of Emperor Yongle, it covers an area of 2,730,000 square meters. This was the site on which emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to Heaven, prayed for Take a closer look at rain and a good harvest.

The Forbidden City The Temple of HeavNow called Gu Gong en was inscribed as a or Palace Museum, it UNESCO World Hericovers an area of 100 tage Site in 1998 and hectares (extending 750 was described as “a meters from east to west masterpiece of archiand 960 meters from tecture and landscape north to south) and is design which simply surrounded by a moat. and graphically illusJust remember that trates a cosmogony of when you go inside, you great importance for cannot come back; you the evolution of one of Get lost at Tiananmen have to finish the walk the world’s great civiliSquare until the other end. zations...” as the “symIf you don’t pay attenConstructed from bolic layout and design tion, you will definitely 1406 to 1420, it served of the Temple of Heaven lose in the vastness of as the home of emperors had a profound influpeople around you. and their households as ence on architecture Thousands are scattered well as the ceremonial and planning in the Far all over the place and so and political center of East over many centudon’t go too far from Chinese government for ries.” your group. The square almost 500 years. It was contains the Monument declared a World Heri- Know Beijing well, to the People’s Heroes, tage Site in 1987 and is its past, present and the Great Hall of the listed by United Nations future People, the National Educational, Scientific Due to the construcMuseum of China, and and Cultural Organiza- tion of high office towthe Mausoleum of Mao tion (UNESCO) as the ers, the Olympic Water

Cube, and the Bird’s Nest, Beijing is now known for its monumental architecture in novel shapes.

But by visiting the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall, you can see what the city might look like in the near future. Opened to the public on September 9, 2004, it features a scale

model of the entire Beijing metropolitan area, as well as multimedia exhibits on the history, current situation, and future of urban planning in Beijing.

You can also learn about the city’s past. In fact, there are historical exhibits, maps and dis-

plays that instruct on the history of Beijing.

Pay the Bird’s Nest a visit “Wonderfulness is right before you. Bird’s Nest is always with you,” proclaims a sign at the en-

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Capturing the sunrise

WAKING UP TO SEE THE SUNRISE NEVER FAILS TO SURPRISE ME, each sunrise beholds a different kind of beauty. Unique in every colorful ray and reflection on the water, I love watching the sunrise at the beach – or near any body of water. The water just holds that magical reflection that spreads throughout the whole body of water, capturing the colors that come alive.

Some people prefer to simply watch the sun rise from the horizon until it occupies the whole sky. Others, like me, want to capture the different moments while the sun rises. Throughout all my experiences chasing sunrises, I’ve realized a few tips on how capture this quick and

otherwise tricky natural phenomenon.

Get up early! Simple as this may sound, getting up at least 15 minutes before the sun breaks light helps you settle yourself, your location and your equipment. For those early birds, waking up early poses no problem. Like

me, their body clock automatically knows when it’s time to watch the sun rise even if their right in the comfort of their own bed.

For night owls, it’s another story. Hit the alarm clock and ask a friend to shamelessly wake you up, using whatever means neces-

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

ABOVE: I’ve been using a GoPro for two years now and though it’s more known for action photos, I love exploring it’s versatility in getting those half-under or half-over shots that show the colors of the sky and the sand underneath the water’s surface. This photo was taken on a cloudy, low tide morning in Dahican, Mati back in November 2014.

LEFT: Even if the sun just started rising and before GoPro domes were famous, this half-over water shot shows the underwater geography of the area. This shot was achieved by getting multiple tries on burst mode.

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trance to the still magnificent 2008 Olympic Stadium. Since the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, the Bird’s Nest has become a new landmark for Beijing.

“One of the key engineering marvels in the world today,” the Bird’s Nest is the world’s largest steel structure and the most complex stadium ever constructed. The requirements for its design were that it had to be inspiring and be able to withstand an earthquake.

Scale the Great Wall of China “The Great Wall is one of the greatest feats of human engineering in the history of the world,” notes All-Asia Travel Guide. “The actual length

of the wall is disputed, for in fact there is no single Great Wall of China.

But in all there are some 20,000 k i lometers of wall.”

Although it is far from the city proper, visiting this historica l monu ment is worth it.

Known to the Chinese as the “Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li,” the formidable defensive structures built to ward off invasion of the Celestial Empire by barbarians. In

1987, the Great Wall of China was included by the UNESCO in its World Heritage List.

WOMEN Mermaid A2

sary. Once you wake up, don’t hit snooze. Keep your eyes open and even if it’s still quite dark outside and the bed seems too warm and inviting, get up!

The precious minutes before the sun’s rays greet the world gives us ample time to grab coffee or a trip to the comfort room. We wouldn’t want to watch the sun rise uncomfortably. It usually is a bit cooler in the morning by the beach so jackets and shawls are a musthave.

As they say in photography, location is key.

Use the extra time to take sample shots in places you’ve previously scouted the day before. You can ask the locals around too where they’ve seen better views of the sun rising.

There are some areas that are more elevated than others. Some places have less obtrusive trees and structures that can give you a clearer view of the sunrise.

Finally, the two most important lessons I’ve learned: Charge your gadgets and make sure you have enough memory. Imagine the horror of being unable to capture a lovely silhouette of a surfer paddling out to the waves just because you ran out of memory or battery!

If you ask me what’s the best camera to use in taking sunrises, I’d say anything that you have with you at the moment, be it a DSLR or your camera phone. It’s not just the type of camera that creates great photos, it’s also the memories that you capture along with

Early morning flights are the best opportunities to chase the elusive “in between night and day” shots like this. Unless you prefer to sleep, you’ve got nothing else to do but look out the window. the photo that evokes the same emotions you had when you took the shot.

So while you’re gearing up to take photos of the sunrise tomorrow, whether you’re in the city or at the beach, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the moment. Invite your

loved ones to watch the sun rise with you. Oh, and be sure to throw your coffee cups properly.

Got any tips or photos you’d like to share? Let me know! Check out @ferinasantos on Instagram and www.mermaidsdosurf.wordpress.com

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE DSWD to help 4Ps beneficiaries Tagum coop strengthens financial, credit mng’t transition from poverty: Judy T. I EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

D

EPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo has allayed the fears of the more than 1.3 million household-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who have been identified to have improved their well-being that they will still continue to receive their regular cash grants until such time the Department has developed a program that would ensure their smooth transition to self-sufficiency.

The DSWD, through its Listahanan 2, found out that that more than 1.3 million out of the 4.4 million 4Ps beneficiaries have transitioned to

non-poor status.

The DSWD will still have to validate this figure by meeting with the families. More assessments will be undertaken to ensure that appropriate interventions will be developed to sustain the beneificiaries’ improved status.

“Walang dapat ipangamba ang mga pamilyang ito dahil kasama pa rin sila sa mga benepisyaryo ng 4Ps at hindi sila matatanggal sa programa. Tatangapin pa rin nila ang kanilang kaukulang cash grants (These families should not worry because they continue to remain as beneficiaries of the program. They will not be delisted and they will continue to receive their cash

grants),” Sec. Taguiwalo assured.

Sec. Taguiwalo explained that by allowing these families to continue to remain in the program is one way of securing the initial gains of the program. It will also ensure that the families will not revert to poverty in the event of economic shocks or disasters.

The secretary added that the cash grants that they are receiving will be on top of their income from their livelihood projects they have started as one of the interventions under 4Ps. Sec. Taguiwalo, however, said these families will be exempted from the rice subsidy of 20-kilos a month.

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of Unit with Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

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

Case No. 2016-XI-01539 (2002-XI-01709) ELSA G. RAMO, Petitioner-Vendor

WINSTON Q. NAPATUTAN, Petitioner-Vendee x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by ELSA G. RAMO in favor of WINSTON Q. NAPATUTAN of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ –DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: MINTAL and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on August 13, 2017. In the same petition filed on August 12, 2016, petitioners likewise request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 at 10:30 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 16th day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

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

Case No. 2016-XI-01279 (2000-XI-01324) FELICIANA V. CAZAR, Petitioner-Vendor

MICHAEL BRYAN V. CAZAR, Petitioner-Vendee x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by FELICIANA V. CAZAR in favor of MICHAEL BRYAN V. CAZAR of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ –DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route:CALINAN and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to October 24, 2020.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 at 02:50 p.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 15th day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

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

The 4Ps is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0-18. It provides monthly cash grants to beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers, and attending the Family Development Sessions (FDS).

As of August 31, 2016, there are 4,397,171 active 4Ps household beneficiaries nationwide, or 95.16 percent of this year’s target of 4,620,630 households. By the end of December 2016, the DSWD hopes to serve at least 4.4 million active household beneficiaries or at least 95.22 percent of the department’s total target.

Based on the results of Listahanan 2, about 1,315,447 Pantawid Pamilya households have improved their level of well-being, and shall now be

F DSWD, 13

N line with the Tagum Cooperative’s bid to strengthen its financial and credit management, the coop conducted a two-day seminar Aug. 23 to 24 at the Tagum City Function Hall.

Officers and members of the Expanded Management Team attended the training facilitated by Daisybelle “Bing” Cabal and Ms. Maribel Gulay-Isidro of the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) Training and Consultancy Group.

In particular, the seminar aimed to improve and strengthen the technical knowledge of members on the cooperative’s financial and credit aspects.

The trainers emphasized the importance of financial and credit management, as they pointed out that these areas will be crucial in ensuring the success of the coop.

Based on data from the cooperative, its savings and credit business contributed about 82 % to the establish-

ment’s annual net income in 2015.

Savings and Credit Group (SCG) covers all loan products and savings advocacies that are offered by the cooperative’s 11 branches to its 70,000 members.

During the seminar, Cabal guided the participants through various group activities, which included problem solving workshops that sought to improve the members’ knowledge and skills in dealing with financial concerns such as assets, liquidity, net capital, and others.

She also lauded Tagum Coop for its current financial status, while recommending some service areas that need to be improved on in order to provide better services to its members.

As of July this year, Tagum Cooperative’s assets have been pegged at P 3.8 billion, while the share capital and savings deposits of members have already reached billions as well. (Tagum Cooperative)

Case No. 2016-XI-01589 (2010-XI-01129) JEMLYN M. LIMIKID, Petitioner-Vendor

SWEET JOVEL M. LEE, Petitioner-Vendee

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

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by JEMLYN M. LIMIKID in favor of SWEET JOVEL M. LEE of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ –DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: INAWAYAN and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to November 21, 2017.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 at 02:40 p.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 16th day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET AT GENSAN AIPORT. Travelers can now access the high-speed internet connection at the General Santos International Airport, which has been recently installed by PLDT and Smart Communications.

PLDT, Smart boost connectivity in General Santos City Airport P LDT and Smart Communications recently installed a high-speed internet connection in the General Santos International Airport to serve the increasing demand for mobile data services among local and foreign traveler.

The deployment is part of the first phase of the nationwide rollout of carrier-grade Smart Wifi in key transport hubs such as airports, seaports, and mass transport systems nationwide, including MRT and LRT in Metro Manila.

Smart has allocated close to P1 billion this year for the rollout of Smart Wifi in public spots all over the country to address consumer demand for high-speed internet as more Filipinos embrace the digital lifestyle.

General Santos International Airport serves the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and the independent cities of General Santos, and Cotabato.

The installation of Smart Wifi also coincides with the airport’s ongoing development, which is considered one of the priority projects under the Mindanao Development Corridors Program to enhance air connectivity for better movement of people and products.

Smart Wifi is now available in the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City; Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental; Bacolod-Silay International Airport in Silay City; Iloilo International Airport in Iloilo City; Roxas Airport in Roxas City; Zamboanga Airport in Zamboanga City, Clark International Airport in the Clark Special Economic Zone in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport in Negros Oriental, and Laoag International Airport in Laoag City.

Soon, Smart Wifi will also be reinforced in all four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as well as installed in other airports,

including that of Cebu, Kalibo, Caticlan, and Palawan and Bohol.

More high traffic areas such as city halls, schools, hospitals, and malls, among others, will be covered by the service over time.

“More Filipinos are making the digital shift. With a backhaul of up to 1 gigabit per second, Smart Wifi users in General Santos International Airport will have seamless digital experience whether surfing the web for their favorite sites, or keeping connected with home and office while travelling. With our suite of digital content and relevant services, waiting at the airport is now enjoyable, and productive,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, FVP and head of Smart’s Wireless Consumer Operations.

“The deployment of carrier-grade Smart Wifi in 24 key transport hubs, including General Santos International Airport, is our answer to the

F PLDT, 13

12 NEWS 2nd... FROM 2

EDGEDAVAO

III who likewise noted that the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations in Norway was a success.

“We can now see peace in the horizon after the talks in Oslo,” Bello said.

He also commended President Duterte for his ironclad resolve to move the peace talks forward, as “we won’t be having this kind of progress in the peace process now without his help.”

Bello emphasized the success of the negotiations was also due to the “goodwill between the two parties.”

But despite the positive gains achieved by the GPH-NDFP panels during the first round of talks, Bello still expects a “rough road ahead” as “there will be a lot of work [that needs] to be done.”

“While we’d like to see an early end, we have to manage

our expectations as the next rounds of negotiations will have humps and bumps,” the senior peace panel member said.

According to Bello, the second round of formal talks will discuss the details of the amnesty proclamation for the release of political prisoners; the mechanisms for the joint bilateral ceasefire; and the frameworks for socio-eco-

the Hua Yi Tu, the first map recorded dating 1136 AD, the 1625 Purchas Map of China in Europe, the 1690 Coronelli Map of South East Asia, the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map, the 1890 Ching Empire map, and even the present map of Asia all showed that China’s territory reaches only as far south as Hainan island.

The nine-dashed line claim of China, Carpio emphasized, “is based not on historical facts but on historical lies.”

“For an island to be considered a territory, it must be within the exclusive economic zone, is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, extending seaward to a distance of no more than 200 nautical miles (370 km) out from its coastal baseline,” added Carpio.

Based on the same ancient maps, he said, the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal never appeared in any Chinese dynasty maps. The Spratlys are more than 600 nautical miles from Hainan Island and Scarborough Shoal is 500 nautical miles – “both are at the other end of the South China Sea.” On the other hand, numerous ancient maps made by both Westerners and Filipinos from 1636 to 1940, “consistently show that Scarborough Shoal… has always been part of Philippine territory,’ Carpio said.

“Scarborough Shoal has never appeared in a single ancient Chinese map throughout the long history of China,” he added.

China had insisted that Scarborough Shoal is Nanhai Island, where Chinese explorer Guo Shoujing built a celestial observatory in the year 1279, but Carpio described this as a “double lie.” He said that in 1982, China itself officially declared that Nanhia Island was in the Paracel Islands – more than 380 nautical miles away from Scarborough Shoal.

Carpio argued it is physically impossible to build an observatory on Scarborough Shoal “when it was just a rock, with no vegetation and did not even have enough space to accommodate an expedition party.”

“It is quite ridiculous to claim that the famous Chinese astronomer-engineer -mathematician would visit and write for posterity about a few barren rocks that barely protruded above water at high tide,” he quipped, adding that there is no historical record of a Chinese expedition to Scarborough Shoal.

“In contrast, the Spaniards

and the Americans extensively surveyed Scarborough Shoal during the time they were the colonial powers in the Philippines,” he added. “China has no historical link whatsoever to Scarborough Shoal.”

consultations with our ASEAN friends, those who are also prejudiced by the nine-dash lines but they are now free from the nine-dash lines. We consult our friends and allies and then we talk to China,” he said.

“Let’s come out with a code of conduct.” Carpio added. “Let’s sit down with them first because the tribunal said it’s common so we have to lay down the rules for common use so there will be no skirmishes, no fighting by fishermen.”

Justice... FROM 2

Territorial, not maritime dispute Capio clarified the responsibility of the Arbitral Tribunal is ‘limited’ to deciding on the maritime dispute only, thus, the territorial dispute is still ongoing.

“The Philippines’ arbitration case against China is solely a maritime dispute and does not involve any territorial dispute. The Philippines is asking the tribunal if China’s 9-dashed lines can negate the Philippines’ EEZ as guaranteed under UNCLOS. The Philippines is also asking the tribunal if certain rocks above water at high tide, like Scarborough Shoal, generate a 200 NM EEZ or only a 12 NM territorial sea. The Philippines is further asking the tribunal if China can appropriate low-tide elevations (LTEs), like Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, within the Philippines’ EEZ. These disputes involve the interpretation or application of the provisions of UNCLOS,” said Carpio.

The Senior Associate Justice added that Itu Aba may be given a longer or even a full EEZ facing the South China Sea away from Palawan.

“If an arbitral tribunal rules that Itu Aba is capable of human habitation or economic life of its own and thus generates an EEZ, the tribunal will have no jurisdiction to proceed further without the consent of China. The arbitral tribunal cannot rule on the extent of such EEZ for that will involve a maritime boundary delimitation on overlapping EEZs – a dispute that China has excepted from compulsory arbitration.” Carpio further added.

Enforcing the Tribunal Decision Carpio said that in the international community, there is no such thing as an “international sheriff” and “international police” who will enforce the court’s decision.

“In other words, ‘yung mga estado mismo na nakilahok sa isang tribunal, sila ang magpe-pressure doon sa state, in which case, China, to comply with international law,” noted Carpio.

However, Carpio sees this as an opportunity to talk with other countries affected by China’s warfare.

“As I said, we will have

Bilateral talks The senior associate justice recalled the trip to China by a panel organized by President Duterte and headed by former President Fidel V. Ramos last Aug 8, in which the discussions with Chinese authorities proved be very “encouraging”.

According to Carpio, although the former president has not revealed the names of the Chinese people the panel dialogued with, the latter hinted that these people might have business interests in the Philippines and that some of them might have been government officials at one point in their careers.

Moreover, Caprio stated the dialogue which served to be the “preliminary phase” of the bilateral talks is a good sign that will pave the way for formal negotiations between the Philippines and China.

Carpio stressed that there is no need to increase the funds of the Department of Defense for purchasing more military equipment, but instead, allocate more time for peaceful discussions with China.

Economic implications In an interview, Carpio said that at the moment, he cannot provide a timetable of the administration’s next move on the ongoing territorial dispute with China.

“But I think we have to do this very quickly,” Carpio stressed.

Carpio also mentioned that the government has issued a fishing ban to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen who have been subjected to China’s “psychological warfare.”

On the question of whether the Duterte Administration would provide an alternative livelihood for the fishermen, Carpio was unsure on the government’s plans for them, but suggested that these fishermen should receive support from the state in the form of subsidies.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

nomic and political and constitutional reforms.

Bello and Librado-Trinidad are hopeful that President Duterte will fulfill his promise of releasing all political prisoners, as this move would strengthen goodwill and advance the peace negotiations.

Queried on the alleged violations committed by the military during the unilateral

ceasefire, Librado-Trinidad said the challenge is for both parties to overcome the separate, unilateral ceasefire declarations and work towards a joint bilateral ceasefire.

“What is needed is to remove the conditions that lead to armed encounters. There should be clear mechanisms on how to resolve incidents of violations,” Librado-Trinidad explained.

The councilor said there are forces that are against addressing the roots of the armed conflict.

In the meantime, Bellorevealed that the national government is planning to hold consultations in different parts of the country to feel the pulse of the Filipino people, and gather inputs on how to bring genuine and long-lasting peace to the country.

crucial technological advancement to an area in need of significantly more capacity than has been available to date,” Brask added.

The SJC consortium is composed of Brunei International Gateway Sendirian

Berhad (BIG), China Mobile International Ltd. (CMI), China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom), China Telecom Global Ltd. (CTG), Donghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. (DHT), a subsidiary of Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd., Globe

Telecom Inc., Google, KDDI Corporation, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (Singtel), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin a subsidiary of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk), and TOT Public Co. Ltd. (TOT). (PNA)

The project also targets to have more trainers and clinical instructors to multiply the

knowledge on geriatrics.

It aims to establish a geriatric course in TESDA, as well

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

TE SubCom... FROM 5

PPP... FROM 6

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

Case No. 2016-XI-01542 (99-XI-01421) MARIO M. MACATO, Petitioner-Vendor

ELSIE H. SALPOSIAL, Petitioner-Vendee

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

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

Case No. 2016-XI-01594 (2007-XI-00050) MOCTAR U. JAMMA, Petitioner-Vendor

SWEET JOVEL M. LEE, Petitioner-Vendee

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

as incorporate the module in nursing courses, giving nursing students the choice to specialize in geriatric nursing.

(PNA) 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 to operate a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. 2016-XI-01593 (2015-XI-00589) SWEET JOVEL M. LEE, Petitioner-Vendor SERGIO L. AMBASAN, Petitioner-Vendee

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

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by MARIO M. MACATO in favor of ELSIE H. SALPOSIAL of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ –DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: SASA VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to March 28, 2020.

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by MOCTAR U. JAMMA in favor of SWEET JOVEL M. LEE of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ – DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: SIRAWAN and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to May 17, 2017.

Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by SWEET JOVEL M. LEE in favor of SERGIO L. AMBASAN of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ – DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: MINTAL and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to April 24, 2022.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 at 10:20 p.m. at this office at the above address.

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.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 16th day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 at 03:00 p.m. at this office at the above address.

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.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 16th day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 at 03:00 p.m. at this office at the above address.

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.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 16th day of August 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

COMPETITIVE EDGE13

Public health care system, who’s way?

ITH the return of Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial from her trip in Cuba, many Filipinos are interested to know what lessons she has brought home with her that will benefit the Philippine public health care system, especially the poor. First, let us underscore that a Cuban-model

W

of health care that is free, comprehensive and progressive is very much doable, as it will end all neoliberal policies through strong political will and elimination of private interests in public health care.

Historically, Cuba waged a Socialist Revolution under the leadership of Fidel Castro and

Che Guevara to fight oppression and build a new social order that put an end to social inequality and foreign-imposed policies that did not benefit the people.

The World Bank reports that Cuba spends $431 per head (compared with $8,553 in the US). The Latin American country also has a population of 11

million in 2015 – just a little over ten percent of the Philippine census. Likewise, Cuba leads the world in terms of provision of health services to its people. Doctor to population ratio is eight per 1,000 and “consultorios” or health clinics that provide absolutely free health services and medicines can be found in strate-

classified as Transitioning Households.

“These transitioning households remain vulnerable with little or no buffer against economic shocks, and because of this, they will continue to be provided with appropriate social protection programs,” said Sec. Taguiwalo.

For 2017, the DSWD proposes to continue serving 4,400,000 households with a budget of P78.6 billion, an increase of 25.5 percent from the 2016 level.

The 4.4 million households will include the follow-

ing: • 3,084, 523 Pantawid Pamilya who are still poor and will continue to be provided with education and health grants subject to their compliance to program conditions, and 20 kilos of rice per month for 12 months and appropriate social protection programs.

• 1, 315, 477 transitioning Pantawid Pamilya households who are still vulnerable and will continue to be provided with livelihood assistance, education grants, health services through

the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth, but will no longer be provided the 20 kilos of rice monthly.

ilya beneficiaries to ensure that they will continue to improve their economic well-being.

From January 2011 to July 2016, SLP has served a total of 1,342,114 families. Of this total, 85 percent or 1,146,450 households are Pantawid Pamilya families.

In 2015, 119 percent or 452,102 Pantawid Pamilya families were served against the targeted 378,822 families with 94 percent obligation rate. As of July 2016, about 31 percent or 116,365 families have already been served by the program with a 21 percent obligation rate.

For 2017, the program proposes to increase its target to cover the 3,156 families from the NHA 18 resettlement sites. The budget, however, will decrease by 3.8 percent from P9.4 billion in 2016 to P9.2 billion in 2017 due to the decrease in the BUB budget from P674,642,000 in CY 2016 to P181,407,000 in CY 2017.

DSWD... FROM 11

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 85718 under Loyola Contract No(s). 619508-5 issued to ATTY. BARTOLOME AMOGUIS 066857 under Loyola Contract No(s). 872640-6 issued to ARSENIO BAJAO were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

9/6,13,20

4Ps not the only pro-poor program of the DSWD The 4Ps program is not the only program of the DSWD for the poor. One of the thrusts of Sec. Taguiwalo’s administration is to help empower Filipinos by providing them the means to make a living. A DSWD program to achieve this goal is the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

SLP is a community-based capacity building program that seeks to improve the program participant’s socio-economic status. The program increases the economic opportunities of the families through the different modalities that it offers such as skills training, seed capital fund, pre-employment assistance fund, and cash for building livelihood assets.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program will prioritize transitioning Pantawid Pam-

gic locations that can be accessed by its citizens. Most importantly, their entire health care system puts premium on preventive care which saves more lives and ensures longevity and productivity among its people.

In the Philippines, foreign influence dominates many policies from previous administrations.

These neoliberal policies have pushed for privatization, a situation wherein the government’s abandons its responsiblity to take care of people’s health and gradually passes it on to private entities who’s interest is not to serve, but to profit from health care.

Meanwhile, instead of giving government funds directly to public health facilities, the budget proposal opted to increase separate government subsidy to Philhealth by P50.1 billion, up from P43.8 billion this year. The proposed 2017 budget will result to increasing medical out-of-pocket expenses and will make the people pay more for health care services they need to avaol.

Scrutinizing the health department’s proposed budget will also reveal significant markdowns in Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE)

from P74.4 billion (FY 2016) down to P38 billion in 2017.

The Capital Outlay (CO) was also slashed to P25 billion or P2.5 billion less than the current year’s budget. Although Personnel Services (PS) was increased to P29.6 billion from P22 billion, it is hardly enough to fairly address the huge and chronic problem of low-wages and severe understaffing in many government hospitals.

The decreased budget for MOOE translates to less medicines, supplies and insufficient utilities, and salaries of contractuals notably in 72 DOH-retained hospitals who are barely able to provide for their mostly poor patients. The budget reduction would also mean more out-ofpocket expenditures for people as hospitals are bound to collect more fees and enforce income generating schemes to sustain operations.

Consequently, lesser government subsidy to the public health care system will further lead to the deterioration of the system, reduce government responsibility for people’s health, and pave the way for privatization/corporatization.

government’s call and the public’s clamor for more Wifi hotspots in the country. It is also a strategic business move for the PLDT group as this will help us understand and shape usage of the fast-growing data business,” said Eric R. Alberto, EVP for PLDT/Smart, and

president and CEO, ePLDT. The deployment is backed by the group’s robust and resilient wireless and fixed-line network infrastructure, and is part of Smart’s three-year massive network modernization program to handle the expected rise in data traffic.

PLDT... FROM 11

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports RUNNING WITH A STATEMENT Dabawenyos show force in Hunat Dabaw 4 fun run VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

B

ARELY 48 hours after Friday’s bombing of Davao City’s Roxas Night Market, close to 3,000 Dabawenyos rose at the break of dawn on Sunday to take part in the Hunat Dabaw 4 Foam Fun Run. The charity fun run event organized by The Royal Mandaya Hotel pushed through as scheduled despite the recent blast that claimed the lives of 14 people and sent 71 others injured.

“It’s a statement that Dabawenyos are resilient.

It’s our way of telling the world that no matter what happened, we will rise up and run again,” said an emotional Glenn Escandor, the hotel’s president and chief executive officer.

The huge field surprised even the organizers who

were expecting a leaner participation with Friday’s terror attack and the tight security measures.

“We are Dabawenyos and we are united and strong,” said Gio Binoya who joined the annual run for the fourth time.

The charity run, which aimed to raise funds for the rehabilitation of Mt. Apo, fired off early dawn with a bubbly shower of foam as runners cheered on. Department of Tourism regional director Robert Alabado joined the run along with Atty. Mans Carpio, husband of Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, Glenn Escandor and wife Michelle, and the rest of the Escandor family.

Delegations from various schools, PNP and the Philippine Army also took part.

The top three winners in the 10-kilometer men’s race are Michael Jhon Echalico, Jimboy Lugay and rlan Arbois. In the women’s side, the top three are Monaliza Ambasa, Hazelvic Villanueva and Joy Mawalic.

In the 5-K category, the top three in men’s and women’s races are Agustin Ychon, Jessmar Lopez and Joerge Andrade; Diana Rasay Memoracion, Kim Glydell Barot, and Andria Deguia.

The men’s 3-K top three went to Daryl Mark Daban, Erwin Gubal, and Larry Guillermo while the women’s top three went to Arlieny Onso, Jolly Mae Gabaisen, and Roselyn Depillo.

Special awards went to barefoot runners Joy Mawalic, Manuel Vismanos, Jhon Mark Jolo and Harold Mansipang. Vizmanos also won the oldest runner award and Kale Banzon as the youngest runner.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Blue Eagles thump UST in UAAP opener A TENEO switched into high gear with a big fourth quarter run to defeat University of Santo Tomas, 73-69, on Sunday in the UAAP Season 79 seniors basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles went on a 14-2 run to start the fourth to open a 66-53 lead as Aaron Black and Thirdy Ravena provided the scoring punch to give consultant Tab Baldwin a win in his Ateneo debut.

Black scored a game-high 23 points while Ravena had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds in his first UAAP game back after missing all of last season due to academic problems.

A tight contest through first three quarters finally saw some separation when Ateneo finally found it rhythm and pulled away in the final stretch, thanks to its outside shooting.

“We played well enough defensively especially toward the end and kept our ball movement going. We hit some crucial outside shots in the fourth quarter,” said Ateneo

coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

Ravena hit a jumper to start the Blue Eagles’ fourth-quarter run followed by a triple by Anton Asistio. The lead later swelled to 13 points as the Blue Eagles continued to pour it on.

UST was able to slice the gap to five points, 71-66, but with only 54.6 seconds left in the contest.

Louie Vigil finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists as he picked up the slack for a Tigers side depleted by the graduation of Kevin Ferrer, Karim Abdul, and Ed Daquioag.

The scores: Ateneo (73) — Black 23, Ravena 17, Mi. Nieto 7, Asistio 6, Wong 5, Mendoza 5, Babilonia 4, Tolentino 2, Go 2, Ma. Nieto 2, Ikeh 0, Porter 0, Verano 0.

UST (69) — Vigil 21, Macasaet 12, Bonleon 9, Lao 8, Basibas 7, Faundo 6, Subido 2, Afoakwah 2, De Guzman 2, Sheriff 0, Lee 0, Arana 0, Huang 0.

Quarters: 14-17, 34-34, 52-51, 73-69.

PH chessers outplay Nigeria 3-1

T

HE Philippine men’s team regained its form and defeated Nigeria, 3-1, while the women’s team fell to India, 3.5-1.5, in round three of the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Grandmasters Eugene Torre, John Paul Gomez, and Rogelio Barcenilla hurdled their rivals to lift the Philippines to 50th spot in the field of 150 with 14 points.

The Filipinas, meanwhile, couldn’t score a follow-up to their stunning win over world team champion and fourthseed Georgia, bowing to India and dropping to 40th spot.

Torre beat Fide Master

Daniel Anwuli, while Gomez outplayed FM Bomo Kigigha, even as Barcenilla overcame International Master Oladapo Adu. Adeyinka Adesina beat Paulo Bersamina, preventing a sweep by the Filipino woodpushers.

Women’s International Master (WIM) Janelle Mae Frayna was the lone bright spot for the Filipinas after a draw against GM Dronavalli Harika.

WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda lost to Rout Padmini, while WIM Catherine Secopito bowed to Women’s GM Swaminathan Soumya. IM Sachdev Tania also handed Christy Lamiel Bernales a defeat.

OVAK Djokovic’s right elbow was treated by a trainer in the third set of an otherwise matter-offact 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Kyle Edmund on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time) that put the defending champion in the US Open quarterfinals for the 10th consecutive year.

Djokovic was finally forced to play a full match after competing for a total of 31 minutes over the preceding five days because of injuries to his opponents in the second and third rounds.

“Obviously I haven’t played too much tennis. So I’m really glad to be back,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview. “I thought I came out, really, from the blocks very good, playing with a high intensity.”

That he did. Yet while Djokovic looked quite good for the first two sets against the 84th-ranked Edmund, and again at the very end, there was that interlude that included the medical visit at 2-1 in

the last set.

That came right after Djokovic got broken for the first time in the match and was part of a stretch of three games in a row for Edmund.

Djokovic also had his right arm worked on during his first-round victory on Day One of the tournament, but he got a chance to let that arm sit idle for a bit, benefiting from a walkover in the second round, then a retirement after only six games in the third.

Until the issues resurfaced in the third set against Edmund, Djokovic appeared rather rested and ready.

After about 75 minutes, Djokovic was ahead by two sets and a break. He produced various bits of magic along the way: a jumping, head-fake drop shot at an impossible angle; a stretching angled cross-court backhand pass that drew an errant volley from Edmund; a body-contorting defense-to-offense forehand that drew a roar from spectators.

Djokovic disposes foe in US Open

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SPORTS 15

ARRIVAL. The Philippine Paralympic delegation arrives in Rio. Swimmer Ernie Gawilan (extreme right, first row) is joined by fellow paralympic athletes Josephine Medina (Table Tennis), Adeline Dumapong Ancheta (Power Lifting), Agustine Kitan (Power Lifting), and Jerrold Pete Manglinaw (Athletics).

STAY STRONG AND PRAY

Dabawenyo Paralympic swimmer Ernie Gawilan has message to fellow Dabawenyos

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

D

njb@edgedavao.net

ABAWENYO paralympic swimmer Ernie Gawilan arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday with four other national athletes forming part of a token Philippine delegation to the Rio Paralympic Games, the equivalent of the Olympics for athletes with disabilities.

Ernie, who will compete in three swimming events, was in high spirits. A few hours later, the excitement was replaced by sadness.

Ernie learned on social media the bombing of the Roxas night market in downtown Davao City where 14

people dies and 71 others injured.

“Nakakalungkot isipin na nangyari sa Davao,” Ernie told Edge Davao in an online chat.

Upon learning of the incident, Ernie immediately posted on his Facebook page: “Condolence sa mga pamilyang namatayan sa pag bomba...REST IN PEACE MGA BROTHERS AND SISTERS si Lord na ang bahala sa nagbuhat niini tanan.”

Ernie asked for prayers for Davao City and the President, Rodrigo Duterte. He also used a profile photo with the Philippine Eagle and the

words “Stay Strong, Davao.”

Despite the sad news, Gawilan said he will dedicate his stint in Rio to his fellow Dabawenyos and the country in general.

He said the weather in Rio is almost like that in the Philippines. “Same lang ang weather, sir,” he said noting he need not acclimatize. He added he will plunge into practice as soon as allowed to use the pool.

Joining Ernie in the Philippine delegation are Josephine Medina (Table Tennis), Adeline Dumapong Ancheta (Power Lifting), Agustine Kitan

(Power Lifting), and Jerrold Pete Manglinaw (Athletics).

The lean delegation will continue the country’s fruitless hunt for a gold medal in the quadrennial showpiece.

Gawilan, born with underdeveloped extremities in the hinterlands of Paquibato, will compete in the 400-meter freestyle,100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke in his particular category.

He qualified to the Rio Paralympics after winning two gold medals in record-breaking fashion and a silver in last year’s Asean Para Games in Singapore.

HE Gilas 5.0 coaching staff for the Fiba Asia Challenge Cup got a boost with the addition of Ryan Gregorio as head coach Josh Reyes says the players are improving ahead of the Sept 9 to 18 tournament in Iran.

Reyes said Gregorio’s addition to the team is definitely a

big boost.

“He’ll join me in Iran, which is advantageous for us,” Reyes said of the Gregorio, who was present during the tuneup game against Ateneo.

“His experience can only benefit us so it’s good to have somebody like him.”

“I’ve also worked with him

in the past in international tournaments so it’s good to have somebody who’s more experienced than you coming in.”

Gilas has been drawn with Chinese-Taipei and India, and Reyes has no doubt the team will be ready in time for the group play.

“Like I said in the past,

they’re progressing,” said Reyes.

“We’re coming along as good as we can, given the time that we have. I think everybody is focused, working hard in practice, so whatever level we can get given these days, I think we’re progressing into maximum capacity.”

Gilas gets boost with Gregorio on the bench T

BENCH TACTICIAN. Ryan Gregorio will be joining the Gilas coaching staff.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 138 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016