Edge Davao 9 Issue 149

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 CASH AID TO BLAST VICTIMS. President Duterte hands over cash assistance to a relative of September 2 Roxas night market victim on Monday night. Duterte gave P250,000 each to the families of those who died and P150,000 to the survivors. Lean Daval Jr.

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SAUDI PLANE IN HIJACKING CALL Authorities probe plane crews on false alarm

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

PASSENGER plane that landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at around 2:37 in the afternoon on Tuesday, September 20 was isolated at Runway C-06 after the crew reported the plane was under threat of hijacking 20 minutes before its landing.

The flight SVA 872 of Saudi Arabian Airlines was en route from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to the Philippines when authorities in NAIA received the distress call from

the plane’s crew around 20 miles before its scheduled landing.

The plane was carrying around 300 passengers, authorities said.

When interviewed by reporters, NAIA general manager Edmund Monreal said they immediately instructed the aircraft to proceed to an isolated area after the alarm was received.

Monreal said the crew, after the aircraft was secured in an isolated area, reported that they made a mistake.

“This is unfortunate.

However, we can never play around with safety and security,” he pointed out as airport security personnel went through the required security and safety procedures, adding that “the button was unintentionally pushed but the problem is it was pushed twice.”

But, as a security precaution, Monreal emphasized that the aircraft would still be checked thoroughly by the airports security personnel.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will push through with its investigation as to why the pilot of SVA 872 issued the hijack signal.

DOT undersecretary for aviation Roberto Lim told the Reuters on Tuesday afternoon that persons in the plane will be interviewed.

The initial report of the plane’s emergency and reported hijacking stirred authorities in NAIA and in Manila, including the social media on Tuesday afternoon.

War on drugs continues: Rody T

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

HERE is no stopping President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

A day after asking for an extension of six months to accomplish his campaign promise to eradicate illegal drugs in the entire country, President Duterte told reporters on Monday at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City that he will defy investigations and face possible

sanctions from the international community in order to make the country drug-free.

Duterte said he will stick to his own agenda of stopping crime and illegal drugs in the country despite being strongly criticized by some groups who do not sanction his means.

Duterte said he does not mind of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon,

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

SURVIVOR. Joy Tumampos, a survivor of September 2 Roxas night market blast, is being helped by his father and a Central 911 personnel as he entered the venue of Monday night’s handing over of cash assistance to the families of bomb explosion victims led by President Duterte. Lean Daval Jr.

911 hotline back to normal Bilibid became drug trade center

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HE Central 911 hotline has already been restored back to normal following a glitch that happened after its main line was struck by lightning around 7 pm Sunday.

Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon said the line was immediately repaired by a technical team and was already working by 12 midnight.

The lightning caused a high voltage on the main line resulting in a 5-hour shutdown of the 911 system.

While repair was being

done, the public was asked to call 2952387, 3270584, and 2858984, the telephone numbers of the Operations Center of the Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office.

Sunday night’s heavy downpour caused floods in several areas of Davao City, bringing traffic to a standstill with commuters and motorists stranded.

Jaldon said they have monitored incidents of fallen trees and debris but no reports of injuries and major damages to properties. CIO

Pagcor hands P5-M aid to Davao bomb victims

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EEKS have passed since the deadly blast hit Davao City this month but financial support and assistance to the victims continue to flow in.

On Tuesday, the City Information Office (CIO) said the Philippine Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has extended P5 million cash assistance to the Davao City Government for the medicines and hospital expenses of the more than 80 victims of the explosion.

The cash assistance was personally handed over to the city government by Pagcor Vice President for Community Affairs Arnel B. Ignacio and was received by Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez who represented Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

In his message, Ignacio said that it is the thrust Pag-

cor to provide assistance to whoever needs a helping hand, adding that the September 2 deadly blast shocked the whole country.

“Dabawenyos could stand from where they fall,” Ignacio added as an expression of optimism the city could easily get over from the impacts of the recent incident.

Speaking on behalf of the city government, Lopez thanked Pagcor for its generosity.

Ignacio also told the city officials that President Duterte sought Pagcor’s assistance, not because the victims are from Davao, the latter’s home city.

He added that Pagcor makes sure that their office’s financial assistance goes to legitimate recipients. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

under De Lima, witness says T

HE National Bilibid Prison (NBP) became the country’s drug trade center during the term of Senator Leila De Lima as Department of Justice secretary, an inmate told lawmakers on Tuesday.

During the House of Representatives justice committee’s inquiry into the illegal drug trade inside the NBP , Rodolfo Magleo, former police chief inspector who was convicted for kidnapping in 2004, also described the national penitentiary as “Little Las Vegas” due to the proliferation of drugs and gambling.

He detailed that concerts starring famous celebrities

were even held at the maximum security compound during the tenure of then DOJ chief De Lima.

Magleo, who is the leader of gang group Kalasag, said he personally met De Lima and her chief escort Ronnie Dayan at the Batang City Jail Park inside the Maximum Security Compound in the mid part of 2011.

During the meeting, Magleo, along with three other gang leaders, was tasked to sell drugs to fund De Lima’s plans.

However, Magleo was eventually removed from his position because of his inability to pay the weekly

Php50,000 quota to Dayan.

On the other hand, Jaybee Sebastian, a fellow convict, was able to go beyond the quota, even handing Php100,000 weekly to Dayan.

Magleo, a confidant of Sebastian, described him as the “king of drug lords” because of his power to monopolize the drug trade inside the maximum security compound, as well as his capacity to request the removal of non-conforming inmate leaders and drug lords from the said compound.

Magleo said he once had a drinking spree with Sebastian who revealed that he paid millions to De Lima and Bureau of Corrections Director Franklin

Bucayu.

Magleo further detailed that Sebastian paid then justice secretary De Lima Php10 million for the transfer of the “Bilibid 19”, which is a group of high-profile inmates involved in the NBP drug trade, and additional Php1 million per month.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez approved the grant of immunity for Magleo, and five other witnesses, for their testimonies in this legislative investigation in aid of legislation.

The other witnesses are Herbert Colanggco, Noel Martinez, Jaime Patcho, Rafael Ragos, and Jovencio Ablen, Jr. (PNA)

here or elsewhere, will always welcome engagement including criticism from their audience for this is also how we learn to be more effective communicators. However, we will never take any threats, whether of physical harm or to silence us, lightly for we have lost far too many of our colleagues and hardly seen justice for them,” Ryan D. Rosauro, NUJP Chair said.

Rosauro added: “We do take some measure of hope from the Duterte administration’s creation of a special

task force to investigate media killings and other threats against the Philippine press.

This might be the perfect opportunity for the task force, or an equivalent mechanism currently available, to prove its worth.”

The group also asked Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to immediately cause an investigation and take action against the open threats against Ms. Malalad and Ms. Alindogan-Caudron, and to do its utmost to ensure that none of

these are carried out.

NUJP also urged its colleagues to report any and all threats directed against them for their work so that these will be properly documented and referred to the appropriate law enforcement bodies for action.

“At the same time, we also urge the administration to end its penchant of constantly blaming the media for any controversy its words and actions give rise to. As communicators, we are only too

Media group hits attack on colleagues

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday, September 19 condemned the recent social media attacks on journalists.

NUJP said the recent social media attacks against freelance journalist Gretchen Malalad and Al Jazeera correspondent Jamela Alindogan-Caudron have already gone beyond legitimate criticism of their professional output to outright threats on their persons.

“The media, whether

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

NEWS 3

Councilors want more CCTV cameras

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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HE City council is contemplating on embarking on a CCTV project in strategic areas in the city to help curb criminalities.

Councilor Bernard Al-ag said Tuesday on regular city council session in Sangguniang Panglungsod that Bunawan District wants to file an Ordinance No. 001-16 Series of 2016 as deterrence to the commission of crimes and provide assistance to law enforcers in the identification, apprehension and prosecution of crime suspects.

Al-ag has initially identified Bunawan District, partic-

ularly in Barangay Mahayag, for the project.

“We have been warned by President Duterte that there might be another bombing incident,” Al-ag said.

“There is a need for the city to install more CCTV cameras and other video monitoring devices at Barangay Mahayag,” he added.

Al-ag explained that “people from outside Davao that may have brought detonating bombs and such” may pass by Barangay Mahayag.

“It [installation of CCTV cameras] will help protect the

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Land Bank, city gov’t agree on affordable loans for employees

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HE City Government of Davao has inked an agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) that will enable government employees to procure affordable salary and livelihood loans.

The loan facility is open to qualified employees who intend to borrow amounts equivalent to eight months of their gross pay.

According to Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, Finance Ways and Means and Appropriations chairperson, the

agreement for the livelihood and salary loan facility offers an “excellent opportunity for the employees to improve their financial welfare by availing themselves of low interest rates.”

Dayanghirang added that the loan may be repaid through salary deductions.

Dayanghirang said the interest rate offered by the Landbank was much lower than that offered by other private lenders.

Dayanghirang noted that

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AMUSED. Presidential Management Staff head Christopher “Bong” Go (right) appears to be amused while watching nightly news with media practitioners from a mobile phone tackling the ouster of Senator Leila De Lima as chair of the Committee on Human Rights of the Senate on Monday night. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao remains attractive to investors despite blast

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CITY Hall official said Davao City remains to be attractive to business investors despite the Roxas night market bombing.

Lemuel Ortonio, officer-in-charge of the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC), said several investors still continue to seek their office’ assistance on the possible incentives their

companies can get from establishing their businesses in the city.

“Even after the bombing incident, the DCIPC still receive lots of inquiries about doing businesse here,” Ortonio said. “It is business as usual.”

The city, he said, is still a business haven as potential investors are unfazed by the September 2 bombing that left

15 dead and 69 others injured.

Davao may have suffered a blow in terms of investments but the effect is just minimal, he said.

“In general, the bombing has no major impact in the city as an investment hub,” he added.

DCIPC constantly coordinates with the industry groups to encourage more

businessmen to pour in their investments here.

“We are also eyeing to put in place our strategic plan in partnership with the national government,” he said.

The City Tourism Operations Office earlier said the tourism industry has bounced back after the deadly blast and now enjoys a 75 percent hotel occupancy rate. CIO

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

COOPERATION NEEDED. Councilors Halila Sudagar (leftmost) listens to the discussions of her fellow councilors during yesterday’s regular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod. Sudagar urged Muslim women to submit

themselves to any security inspection whenever they are in public places such as parks and malls as compliance to the implementation of security measures following the September 2 bombings in roxas night market. Lean Daval Jr.

De Lima received P3M a month -- Colanggo

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ORMER Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila De Lima received PHP3 million a month since October 2013 to allow illegal transactions inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), robbery convict Herbert Colanggo said on Tuesday.

During the House of Representatives justice committee’s inquiry into the illegal drug trade inside the NBP, Colanggo detailed that the hefty sum given to De Lima monthly served as “PR Payola” in exchange for the smuggling of contraband items inside the national penitentiary.

In his case, Colanggo was permitted to bring truckloads of equipment as well as

boxes of beer inside the NBP. He sold each case of beer for PHP10,000 pesos, which originally costs at PHP700.

Colanggo said he was initially asked by fellow convict Jaybee Sebastian to engage into drug trade inside the NBP, but the former declined because of trust issues.

He was then approached

by Joenel Sanchez, De Lima’s security aide, two weeks to re-establish Sebastian’s offer to support the plans of De Lima’s senatorial bid in the 2016 elections.

Colanggo’s gang accepted Sanchez’ offer and became involved in selling 10 kilos of methamphetamine hyrdro-

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Rody: Another blast may happen anytime P

PRRD gives cash aid to bombing victims

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte cautioned the public that there could be another bombing incident after the September 3 blast in Davao.

Duterte did not make any specific details but warned it could be in other parts of the country if not in Mindanao.

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During the meeting with families of survivors and victims of the Roxas Night Market blast, President Duterte said he knew there would be another explosion as long as the problems involving Muslims in the country continue to persist.

“There will be another

explosion, trust me,” Duterte stressed.

Duterte revealed that he had expected a bomb attack after the Philippine Government launched an all-out war versus the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

“No need to be Maute [group member],” Duterte

said.

Duterte said that “young Moros” do not belong to any organization, but are already “connected” with the ISIS as the rebels “have sworn allegiance already to the terror group.”

“Our problem is that ang

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achieved, we will remain with the majority,” stated in the joint statement of Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV and Risa Hontiveros.

The LP senators said the

ouster of De Lima, also a LP member, saddened them due to lack of consultation among the majority group members. ”Elementary courtesy dictates that we as members of the majority bloc of the Senate should have been consulted. The concerns of our

colleagues could have been addressed if there was an opportunity for a dialogue,” they said.

The senators claimed that the removal of De Lima was part of the political reality in the country.

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LP senators remain with majority bloc IBERAL Party senators who opposed the removal of Senator Leila de Lima as chairperson of the Senate committee on justice will remain with the Senate majority bloc. ”As long as we believe that these reforms can be

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte handed over additional emergency cash funds on Monday evening to the families of survivors and victims of Roxas Night Market bombing.

Duterte said each family of the 15 blast victims received P250 thousand.

“I also provided the same amount of cash assistance [worth P250 thousand] to those people who have been reduced to disability,” Duterte added.

Eleven blast survivors who were left disabled out of the 66 who were wounded in the attack also received the same amount.

There were 21 others who are still admitted who received cash assistance worth P100 thousand each.

“The cash assistance came from the President’s Social Fund,” said City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) representative Norman Baloro.

Baloro added that the victims who are sent to the outpatient department (OPD)

Coping with loss Dennis Larida, who lost his wife and son at the Roxas Night Market bombing, is coping up with his situation after the tragic incident.

While the survivors and relatives of the deadly blast were waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday at Matina Enclaves, Larida said that the incident caused him to fear going to crowded places.

Larida narrated that he was sitting on a low chair in

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SC upholds SET ruling finding Poe a natural-born Filipino

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HEROIC FIREFIGHTER. Environmental advocate and owner of the D’Bone Collector Museum in Davao City Darrell Blatchley talks to city councilors during his courtesy visit in yesterday’s regular session. Blatchley was commended by the City Council for his big contribution in putting out the fire in Mount Apo. Lean Daval Jr.

of the hospitals received “recommendations of a higher amount of cash assistance.”

“They will receive around P50 thousand,” he said, which will also come from the President’s Social Fund.

Davao Blast survivor Dennis Larida, on the other hand, thanks President Rodrigo Duterte for providing additional financial assistance to the families of the victims.

“I would like to thank our beloved President [Duterte] for his sincerity and concern to his fellow Davaoeños,” he said.

HE Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) last year declaring Senator Grace Poe as a natural-born Filipino, making her eligible to keep her senatorial post.

With this, the high court dismissed the petition filed by losing 2013 senatorial bet Rizalito David which questioned the said ruling of the SET. In a press briefing held in Supreme Court in Manila, SC Spokesperson Theodore Te said majority of the magistrates, in a 9-3 vote, agreed that the SET neither erred nor committed grave abuse of discretion when it issued the assailed resolution.

“Wherefore, the Petition

for Certiorari is dismissed.

Public respondent Senate Electoral Tribunal did not act without or in excess of its jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in rendering its assailed Nov. 17, 2015 Decision and Dec. 3, 2015 Resolution.

Private respondent Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares is a natural-born Filipino citizen qualified to hold office as Senator of the Republic,” Te said.

It added that holding that foundlings are not natural-born citizens is tantamount to creating an “inferior class of citizens who are made to suffer that inferiority through no fault of their own.”

“If that is not discrimina-

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5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Public reminded of demonetization skeds

By RIA VALDEZ

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HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) yesterday reminded the public of the demonetization schedules for old banknote series (OBS).

The announcement was made during the 2016 Awards

Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for BSP Stakeholders at the Apo View Hotel.

Effective January 1 2017, the old banknote series (OBS) design of peso bills would be demonetized and could no longer be used in daily transac-

EMB-DTI XI holds exporters seminar

tions to pay for goods and services. Also, these could no longer be exchanged at the BSP or any BSP-authorized bank.

Demonetization of the OBS had started last January 1, 2015 where the BSP had encouraged the public to ex-

change the old series of designs for the New Banknote Series (NBS) until December 31, 2015. The OBS was no longer used in daily transactions of payment since January 1, 2016.

The NBS features the

new BSP logo established last 2010 and has a wider security thread than the OBS. It also uses new security features to ensure the safety of the public against counterfeiters.

The BSP reminded the public for the exchange of the

OBS for the NBS until December 31, 2016. This exchange could only be done “at face value, free of charge, in authorized agent banks and at the BSP Cash Department or any of its Regional Offices and Branches.”

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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HE Export Marketing Bureau of the Department of Trade in Industry (EMB-DTI) Region XI in partnership with Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) will hold an event dubbed as Regional Interactive Platform of the Philippine Exporters (RIPPLES) Plus Seminar on September 24.

The seminar will be held at the SMX Convention Center of SM Lanang Premier with registration offered free to interested participants.

The DTI regional office bared that it has invited speakers from Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), DTI Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) and Bureau of Animal

Industry of the Department of Agriculture to lecture about the relevant topics.

Among the interesting subjects to be discussed during the lecture are packaging and labelling, visual merchandising and trade fair participation, design and photocopying and market access requirements for meat products.

An open forum will follow every lecture.

The RIPPLES Plus Seminar is conducted all over the country with the end view of enhancing the capabilities of potential and full-fledge exporters.

The Davao seminar will be one of the highlights of the first Agri-Marketing Conference, part of the three-day Davao Agri-Trade Expo 2016 slated on September 22 to 24, 2016.

ENDLESS ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. Motorists traverse with difficulty on a road construction site along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Businesses in the area are greatly affected by the almost year-

long construction especially those in the food sector due to the dust and the inconvenience brought about by the project. Lean Daval Jr.

6 ECONOMY Grab raises $750M in equity financing G

RAB, Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platform, has raised USD750 million in equity financing, increasing its total capital position to more than USD1 billion.

With this transaction, Grab becomes the best capitalized technology start-up and mobile internet company in the region. SoftBank, a long-term strategic partner to Grab, led an expanded, oversubscribed round, with participation from both new and existing investors.

Grab operates the largest transportation network in Southeast Asia and is one of the most frequently used mobile platforms in the region with up to 1.5 million daily bookings. It offers private car, taxi, delivery and carpooling services across six countries and 31 cities in Southeast Asia, with one out of every four passengers using multiple services.

Going forward, Grab will leverage its USD1 billion capital position to continue expanding its transportation services in Southeast Asia, home to 620 million people, and a rising population of middle class and mobile users.

Grab will also significantly invest in mobile payments capabilities, to enable a seamless daily transaction experience in a region with low banking

and credit card penetration and limited cashless payment options.

“Our vision is to drive Southeast Asia transportation forward and transform the region’s mobile internet ecosystem. This latest funding, the largest in the history of Southeast Asia consumer technology, strengthens our ability to pursue those long-term goals as we continue to build on our market leadership,” said Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder. “I am confident in our technology, data science and machine learning platforms, which have continued to scale to support our bold ambitions in the region.”

Tan added that this round of funding shows the confidence and optimism investors have in Grab’s market leadership and long-term potential in Southeast Asia.

“We are blessed to have great partners like SoftBank, many of whom have unparalleled track records of investing in leading internet businesses in emerging markets, and seeing those companies through to become the core of internet ecosystems in each market.”

Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., Masayoshi Son, said Grab is the clear winner in the Southeast Asia mobile space.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

BSP honors 6 R11companies

By RIA VALDEZ

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IX firms and agencies from Region 11 received citations during the 2016 Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for BSP Stakeholders yesterday at the Apo View Hotel.

The awardees under the category Business Expectations Survey (BES) were Davao Central Chemical Corporation for Outstanding Respondent among Small Firms; and Southern Bee Foods Corporation (Jollibee) for Outstanding Respondent among Large and Medium Firms.

Also awarded were National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 11

for Outstanding Partner for Report on Regional Economic Developments of the Philippines under the category Source of Information (SOI); Davao del Norte Credit Surety Fund (CSF) for Outstanding CSF award; Archdiocese of Davao for Outstanding Regional Partner (Davao Regional Office) under the Demonetization of the New Design Series (NDS) category; and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 11 for Outstanding Regional Partner (Davao Regional Office) under the Information Campaign category.

Handing over the awards were BSP Monetary Board

member Armando Suratos; Rosabel Guerrero, Director of the Department of Economic Statistics; and Sonia S. De Los Reyes, Director of the BSP Davao Regional Office.

The BSP Stakeholders Awards 2016, which marked its 23rd anniversary this year, was held this year with the theme “Sustained Partnership, sustained Economic Growth.”

The awards-giving program continues to promote the importance of continuous partnerships, particularly from stakeholders, to attain economic growth.

Meantime, Guerrero cited the Davao region for record-

ing the biggest increase in the number of banking services in Mindanao for the third quarter of 2016. Guerrero said local Banking Offices rose from 387 in 2015 to 397 in 2016; Universal and Commercial Banks increased from 215 last year to 221 this year; and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) grew from 656 to 728.

Guerrero also described business confidence in Mindanao as “more upbeat” than the previous quarter which could explain the high performance rating of Mindanao with Davao Region being the third highest contributor to the country’s economy.

DOF eyes targeted subsidies to offset proposed tax hikes

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NE-THIRD of the projected PHP368 billion net revenues from the proposed tax measures the Department of Finance (DOF) has presented to Congress will be used as subsidies to offset higher taxes.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, during Tuesday’s Ways and Means Committee hearing at the House of Representative, said targeted subsidies are being considered in line with the move to reform the country’s tax bracket and align it with neighboring countries.

For one, the finance department is proposing the increase of excise tax for fuel products, which will bring the current PHP4.35 per liter of gasoline and other related fuel to PHP10 and the zeroto-date for other essentials to PHP6 per liter.

Revenue from this proposed measure is about PHP160 billion in its first year of implementation.

Chua told lawmakers that an increase in the excise tax on fuels will affect both the poor and the rich but more of the latter since about 60 percent of fuel consumption is accounted for by those in the upper bracket of society.

To address the impact of this measure on the poor, subsidies are being considered, he said.

In an interview with re-

porters after the hearing, Chua said the increase on excise tax on fuel products will be implemented on a staggered basis, from 2017 to 2019, to limit its impact on the poor.

He said a reform on the excise taxes on fuel this time is a right move given the drop in oil prices and the fact that the last time the rates were adjusted was 20 years ago.

He explained that the lower 50 percent of the country’s social class will be shielded from the increase in excise tax on fuel through targeted subsidies, such as the conditional cash transfer program (CCT), while the next 25 percent is being considered to be given discounts or cash-card scheme.

He clarified that the subsidies will not be purely through CCT but other modes, such as targeted livelihood program.

“We don’t necessary have to use the CCT but we have to use the targeting system to reach out and target the poor directly so that they will get the benefits directly instead of a middle man or a trader who may have other reasons to get the subsidy,” he said.

Chua, who is the concurrent DOF economist, said that of the 15 million beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), about four million receive CCT. (PNA)

PANABO CONCRETING. Mayor James G. Gamao and Fr. Florencio Acedo, Jr. of the Lasang Parish lead the inauguration and turn-over ceremony of the newly concreted road at Purok 1, Barangay San Nicolas on September 10. Allocate P3 million to realize 300-meter road concreting project. CIO Panabo.

Vivaldi Residences launches its sales office V

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

IVALDI Residences, the latest real estate venture of Euro Towers International in Davao City, recently opened its sales office at the SM Lanang Premier yesterday.

Gracing the opening of the sales office were Davao Chamber of Commerce president Bonifacio Tan and HLURB Regional Director R.M. Miguel Palma Gil. In a press statement, Maricar J. Encarnacion, Chief Operating Officer of Euro Towers said that the company has taken note of both the bright economic and tourism prospects in Davao City and

in support of the government’s efforts, they have decided to make a major investment in Davao City.

“Vivaldi Residences in Davao will actually be our first project outside of Metro Manila” she added.

Engr. Roy Estanislao, Director for Construction Development, addressed the queries on the construction update of the high-rise project. Estanislao explained that out of the 240 sheet piles, 210 have been installed.

“The sheet piles are used to protect the soil before we start the actual excavation.”, stated Estanislao.

He also explained that the building is mix-used to allow commercial establishments cater to the needs of the future occupants of the units.

According to Angel Zafra, Project Sales Manager of Vivaldi, there will be a total of 570 studio-type units, 270 one-bedroom units, 30 pads and 8 penthouses.

“However, for now, only the studio-type and one-bedroom units are open for sale.”, stressed Zafra.

Zafra added that during the pre-selling which started in 2014, 704 units have been sold and only 164 units are

available.

Zafra expressed his optimism that the remaining units will be completely sold by next year.

Envisioned to be Davao’s tallest building, the 37-storey Vivaldi Residences Davao is designed to be “Davao’s safest” with its record- breaking bored pile foundation depth of 59 metres, deepest in Mindanao.

For the convenience of its residents, the building also offers high-speed elevators, centralized fire protection, smoke detection, paging, and CCTV systems with 24-hour building security.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Davao Oriental joins national clean-up day E

MPLOYEES of the Provincial Capitol, national agencies, students and different organizations, among others, have participated in the synchronized Nationwide Clean-Up Day on Saturday, September 17.

The participants cleared tons of litter along the 1.6-kilometer coastal stretch in Sitio Manggihay, Barangay Bobon in the City of Mati.

The Environment and Natural Resources Office of the province said the Provincial team has collected an estimated 11.91 cubic meters of garbage, consisting mostly of plastic and synthetic rubbish.

The ENRO said that this calls for more rigorous promotion on environmental

awareness and proper garbage disposal among the people in community in order to counter the widespread problem of garbage. “Improperly disposed garbage is an environmental, economic, health, safety and aesthetic problem,” says the ENRO. Bannered with the theme “Bayan Ko, Linis Ko”, the national activity was held, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources taking the lead, in order to encourage local government units in helping make the environment clean.

The DENR says this activity signals the “start of a more sustainable practice of regular quarterly clean-ups and implementation of the

76th Marawi City Charter Day showcases Meranao culture

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WENTY thousand residents garbed in colourful Meranao regalia flocked filled the streets of Marawi City last Sept 14 to celebrate the city’s 76th charter day anniversary.

All 96 barangays in Marawi, public and privates schools, fraternities, government agencies, and civil society organizations, joined a colorful parade which began at Brgy. Marinaut and culminated at the City Hall. It was followed by a Dulang Festival that showed off the exotic flavors of Meranao cuisine.

Marawi City Mayor Atty.

Majul Gandamra thanked everyone who participated in the events, especially Marawi City and provincial officials and dignitaries, including Provincial Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. who joined the parade in behalf of Governor Soraya Alonto Adiong and the provincial government.

Sultan of Bacolod Atty.

Nashrollah B. Conding, City Administrator Sultan Camid Gandamra, Marawi City Division Superintendent Pharida Sansarona, and Former National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Bae Omera Dianalan Lucman also graced the event.

“Your presence here today indicates only one thing -- that you are with me in my quest to reform and bring back the old glory and beauty of Marawi City,” said Mayor Gandamra.

He also underscored the importance of remembering the glorious history of Marawi City for it gives a sense of pride, as well as a clear vision of what residents want to

achieve for their families and communities as a whole.

Marawi was formerly called Dansalan. It became a chartered city on Aug 19, 1940 but was inaugurated only on Sept. 30, 1950 due to the outbreak of the Second World War. The bill which pushed for Marawi’s cityhood was sponsored by Senator Tomas Cabili. On June 16, 1956, Senator Domocao Alonto passed an amendment to the charter renaming the city from Dansalan to Marawi in memory of the Confederation of Marawi.

Finally, on April 15, 1980, Marawi City was renamed Islamic City of Marawi under a City Council Resolution No. 19-A, giving recognition to the fact that 92 percent of the city’s population are Maranaos- Muslims.

However, Marawi City is celebrating its charter day anniversary a month late due to “transition” concerns.

“We cannot afford to not celebrate because this occasion is foreshadowing our dreams of making this city a better place for us and future generations to come,” said Mayor Gandamra.

With the theme “Enriching Meranao Culture: A Clean and Peaceful Marawi City,” the week-long celebration will also feature a Quran reading contest, different Maranao cultural presentations, an office beautification competition, an inter-barangay cleanliness and beautification contest, a concert and a fireworks display.

The celebration will culminate on Sept. 17. (Sittie Ayeesha M. Dicali/APB/PIA-10)

LGU 10-year sold waste management plans as required in Section 16 of RA 9003.

“Under RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, local government units up to the barangay level are mandated to implement solid waste management such as segregation at source, segregated collection, establishment of materials recovery facility in every barangay or cluster barangays and closure of open and controlled dumpsites, among others.” says the DENR. Saturday’s clean-up day is a collaborative activity that adopts the ridge to reef approach which covers mountains and watersheds, urban

and rural built-up areas, and coastal and river systems.

For its part, the Provincial Government is also playing its role in the advocacy to preserve and conserve the environment. It has created regulations on proper waste disposal and environment protection through different frameworks, among which is the Provincial Environment Code of Davao Oriental.

The Provincial Government vows that it will continue to strengthen local policy enforcement and support to national programs that aims for the protection and sustainable management of the environment. By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan

CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. Provincial Capitol employees along with employees of national agencies and members of different organizations have participated in the Synchronized Nationwide Clean-up Day on September 17 in Sitio Manggihay, Brgy. Bobon, City of Mati. Aside from coastal areas, the clean-up drive also targets cleaning mountains and watersheds, urban and rural built-up areas, and coastal and river systems.

igan Edgar Sambog.

Romulo Palomo of the Provincial Populatuon Office explained the search aims “to recognize deserving IP families in the province for their achievements, which contributed to the promotion of family welfare and development.

Such recognition will help motivate IP families to take on more active roles in population development within their respective communities and the entire province as well.”

Of the 10 municipalities and one city in the province, only the municipalities of Norala and Sto. Niño have not endorsed nominees to the province-wide search.

To qualify, a family nominee must be headed by parents who are both pure-blood lumad and legally married; children and grandchildren of the nominee family, if they have their own families, must also be legally married, whether the spouses are IPs or non-IPs. “An IP family whose head has four wives may qualify as long as his marriages to all his wives are legal,” Palomo said.

Also, children and grandchildren, of the nominee family, if of school age, must be in school except those with congenital defects or with physical or mental conditions that prevent them from attending school.

Nominee family must be residents of the participating barangay for at least 5 consecutive years and must have a stable income.

No member of the should have been convicted of any violation of their customary laws or by any regular court, and should not be involved in any criminal or administrative case at the time of the evaluation.

The largest IP groups in South Cotabato are the Tboli and Blaan.

Palomo added that IP families must be nominated at the barangay level by an IP organization or the barangay council and endorsed to the municipal

pride to the city for the second time. The group’s second win in the competition is said to be a confirmation of Tagum City’s label as the Music Capital of the South.

The Tagum City Chamber Chorale was awarded with a plaque and a 200,000 peso cash prize.

In addition to the cash prize, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez also added another 100,000 peso cash incentive to the group for boosting Tagum City’s claim as the Music Capital of the South It was also the group’s interpretation of the songs Pater Noster, the latin version of Our Father, and Dogalen a Mabaso, a song of folk tale of the Maranao, that captured the nods of the judges and enabled them to reclaim the top prize.

It can be recalled that last

year, the said chorale group also bagged the championship prize in the same competition sanctioned by the Civil Service Commission.

“We feel so blessed and fortunate kay nag-paid off ang among sacrifices and four months of practice just to defend the title,” said Marianne Ross Vinculado, a member of the Tagum Chorale.

She also stressed the competition was a tough one considering that other contenders were also past winners, as she described the contest as a battle of champions.

However, she noted that it was their four-month preparation and the tough mentorship of Prof. Mario Sabello that enabled them to clinch the much-coveted award.

Declared as runners-up in the competition were the Ba-

yugan City Educator’s Chorale (1st runner up), Pagibig Fund Chorale (2nd runner up) and Pangasinan Provincial Chorale (3rd Runner Up).

The annual choral competition is part of the monthlong celebration of the 116th Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service this September as sanctioned by the Civil Service Commission.

The delegations from Tagum City Chamber Chorale were led by Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon, City Administrator Giovanni Rellon, Tagum City Tourism Council Chairperson Marlene Alastra, City General Services Officer Jalmaida Morales, Tagum City Tourism and Investment Promotion Officer Vicerjean Casiano and OIC City Information and Library Officer Edwin Lasquite. (Roy Banias/CIO Tagum)

South Cotabato to honor model lumad family

S

OUTH Cotabato will honor its model lumad families this coming October.

“This is the first time that South Cotabato conducts a search for model family among our indigenous peoples population,” said Zenaida Duron, provincial population officer.

An offshoot of the province’s 24-year old Search for Outstanding Model Family, the “Search for Most Outstanding Model Indigenous Peoples Family in the Province of South Cotabato” was institutionalized with the approval of Ordinance No. 13 authored by the IP Mandatory Representative to the Sangguniang Panlalaw-

F SOUTH, 13

Tagum City Chorale wins nat’l championship anew

F

OR two consecutive years, voices from the City Government of Tagum have resonated as the country’s finest.

The Tagum City Chamber Chorale bested eight other government-based choral groups in the Philippines anew as it successfully defended its title in the 6th Government Chorale Competition held Sept. 13, 2016 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The chorale group, which is composed of regular and casual employees of the local government, also bagged the awards for best arrangement through their rendition of Joey Ayala’s Karaniwang Tao as arranged by John August Pamintuan.

Mayor Allan Rellon extended his congratulations to the 30-man chorale for bringing

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

EDITORIAL

How insane can it get

A

HIGH-PROFILE convict recording songs, running a TV network and playing tennis inside the National Bilibid Prison. Another raising funds for the election of the Secretary of Justice. Gambling inmates in what they call ‘Little Las Vegas.’ Celebrity concerts and more.

Oh, how insane can it get.

These are but a few of the explosive testimonies in yesterday’s start of the probe by the House of Representatives on illegal drugs at the country’s biggest prison, the NBP. Senator Leila De Lima, in the center of the investigation, perhaps made a right decision not to attend the hearing. If she did, she’d probably be doubly stressed than the Senate version she had presided until Monday when she was unceremoniously booted out.

It’s a revelation after a revelation, and even her alleged amorous relation with her personal driver was described yesterday as ‘public knowledge’ which ordinarily means it is no longer a rumor, no longer shocking to the senses of those around her.

The National Bilibid Prison (NBP) became the country’s drug trade center during the term of Senator De Lima as Department of Justice secretary. That, in a nutshell, was the gist of the testimony of a witness.

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Rodolfo Magleo, who is the leader of gang group Kalasag, testified that he was tasked to sell drugs to fund De Lima’s political plans.

Having failed to meet the P50,000 quota, Magleo was eventually removed from his position and replaced by Jaybee Sebastian, a fellow convict who was able to go beyond the quota, even handing P100,000 weekly to De Lima’s driver-bagman.

This is but the start of the inquiry and already bombs have detonated one after the other in a manner described clearly by witnesses.

Whatever its effect on the credibility of Sen. De Lima and ultimately, to the purpose of the Department of Justice to prosecute cases stemming from the probe to the concerned government official/s and private persons, the probe has to unearth the real life inside the NBP and how drugs proliferated inside in astounding millions in transactions.

There is a more compelling concern here because the evidence seem to corroborate with testimonies unlike the revelations of confessed gun-for-hire Edgar Matobato whose testimonies only Sen. De Lima found entertaining.

In the coming days, we will see more pieces of the puzzle getting linked and we cannot wait any longer. However, as the legislators have said, this process is going to be long and tedious, but definitely no stone will be left unturned in the pursuit of the truth and ultimately, justice.

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T

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Tax reforms and broadening the tax base

HE power to tax is one of those authorities vested sovereign states.

Without this power, any nation-state will be left useless to deal with the costs of running daily operations or achieve strategic goals.

First off, it should be clear that one of the state’s role is to foster national development in a market economy, which is no easy task with almost a third of Filipinos mired in poverty, and structures less than just to enable them to get out of their historical quagmire. It must be noted that the poverty figure has barely changed in 50 years, long before Marcos and in spite of the 30 plus years in the post-Aquino period, poverty figures and resulting income inequality have remained the same.

Thus, it matters that the way taxes are generated and collected be given attention.

How the taxing power is used to lift poverty tells us how progressive a government

W

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

HAT do Stacy Keach, Jason Robards, Jose Ferrer, Joaquin Phoenix, Doc Holliday, Peyton Manning, Tom Brokaw and Jason Robards have one thing in common? All of them have cleft, that’s what.

Stacy Keach, who appeared in such films as Prison Break, The Bourne Legacy and American History X, was born with a cleft lip and a partial cleft of the hard palate and underwent numerous operations as a child.

Another actor, Jason Robards, was born with a cleft lip. He was known for his performances in Once Upon a Time in the West, All the President’s Men, Philadelphia, Magnolia and Crimson Tide.

Jose Ferrer was the first Hispanic actor (from Puerto Rico) to win an Oscar trophy for his tour de force performance in Cyrano de Bergerac, a role he first played on Broadway. He was born with a cleft palate.

Also a Puerto Rican, Joaquin Phoenix received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Gladiator. He was born with what is called a micro cleft, not a birthmark. A micro cleft is the most minor form of a cleft lip.

It never had to be repaired thus he believes he doesn’t qualify as having a cleft.

“Doc” Holliday, at birth, had a cleft palate and partly cleft lip. At two months of age, this defect was repaired surgically by his uncle, J.S. Holliday, M.D., and a family cousin, the famous physician Crawford Long. The repair left no speech impediment though speech therapy was needed, which was conducted by his mother.

NFL Quarterback Peyton Manning was born with a cleft lip while newsman Tom

or society is.

When in the face of massive poverty tax systems are unable to push programs to improve the lot of the poor, while at the same time, the rich get richer, then we dare say something is wrong.

Philippines current Reliance on Regressive taxes may not be truly equitable One of the major features of tax administration in this country is its reliance on regressive taxes on consumption such as the value added tax. For almost every transac-

tion, 12 percent is claimed by government.

While this is deemed more efficient, it is also not as equitable as it should be, in the sense that those rich and poor generally spend the same amount for the same things they do spend on.

Progressive taxes like income taxes, on the other hand, are levied on the incomes each person receives. In addition, our Philippine tax system it is tiered so much so that those earning less will be taxed a smaller percentage of their income , while those earning more will be taxed at a higher rate.

But how equitable is it?

Let us illustrate these with an example.

If an oncologist who earns 3,000 per day pays the same taxes as the school janitor who earns 500 pesos per day pay for the same food items they buy. If they both consume a 100 peso hamburger-softdrink and French fry combination at a fastfood chain, they are both taxed 12 pesos. Fair enough.

When it comes to income taxes, however, we find a big disparity. If the school janitor is taxed at 25% of his monthly income this amounts to a daily tax rate of 125 pesos while the richer person is taxed 30% of his 3,000 which yields 900 daily pesos for the government. Between the two, who shares a bigger portion of his income to the government? Obviously, it’s the school janitor.

It is of course argued, as it has always been assumed that taxing affluent persons less enables them to invest their money in income earning activities to drive more business. Ok, heres the question: Can tax breaks alone spur business?

The answer is No. it’s the availability of affordable credit that does. Enabling the richer merchant to save on taxes only makes him more able to run his current business or spend more on other things (often not produced locally), but is not enough incentive to expand their business.

Brokaw was THINK ON THESE! born with a cleft lip and cleft palate that have been fixed by surgery.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are the most common defects of the skull and Henrylito D. Tacio face, according henrytacio@gmail.com to The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “Cleft lip is a separation of the upper lip, usually just below the nose,” it explains. “Cleft palate is a split in the roof of the mouth resulting in a passageway into the nose. Cleft lip and cleft palate often occur together.”

Dr. Reynaldo O. Joson, a general surgeon and internal medicine who practices at the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila, says clefts are more common in developing nations than in industrialized countries. Cases are highest among Asian populations, intermediate in Caucasian populations, and lowest in African populations.

In the Philippines, the incidence of this debilitating disability is one for every 500 live births. This means that every year, about 4,000 children are born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate or both.

Although until now, no one knows what really causes them, most researchers believe that most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. In many babies, a definite cause isn’t discovered yet.

“The mother or the father can pass on

genes that cause clefting, either alone or as part of a genetic syndrome that includes a cleft lip or cleft palate as one of its signs,” the Mayo Clinic explains. “In some cases, babies inherit a gene that makes them more likely to develop a cleft, and then an environmental trigger actually causes the cleft to occur.”

There are several factors that may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate. The Mayo Clinic has identified the following: Family history: Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft.

Sex: Males are twice as likely to have a cleft lip with or without cleft palate. Cleft palate without cleft lip is more common in females.

Exposure to certain substances during pregnancy: Cleft lip and cleft palate may be more likely to occur in pregnant women who smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or take certain medications.

Diabetes: There is some evidence that women diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy may have an increased risk of having a baby with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate.

Obesity: There is some evidence that babies born to obese women may have increased risk of cleft lip and palate.

“Children with cleft lip with or without cleft palate face a variety of challenges, depending on the type and severity of the cleft,” the Mayo Clinic says. Among the problems the children with this kind of disability will experience are the following: Difficulty feeding: One of the most immediate concerns after birth is feeding.

While most babies with cleft lip can breastfeed, a cleft palate may make sucking difficult.

Ear infections and hearing loss: Babies with cleft palate are especially at risk of developing middle ear fluid and hearing loss.

Dental problems: If the cleft extends through the upper gum, tooth development may be affected.

Speech difficulties: Because the palate is used in forming sounds, the development of normal speech can be affected by a cleft palate. Speech may sound too nasal.

Challenges of coping with a medical condition: Children with clefts may face social, emotional and behavioral problems due to differences in appearance and the stress of intensive medical care.

“If left untreated, these children are doomed to a life of rejection because of their deformity, and often stop going to school,” wrote Nathanlie M. Baldoza in an article which appeared in Health and Home, a monthly publication. “Lacking in education and interpersonal interaction, most would grow up with neither the social or work skills to find employment, rendering them unproductive members of the society.”

At present, the only possible cure to the problem is operation. But time for surgery is in dispute when it comes to operation.

WebMd, a website designed to discuss issues related to medicine, suggests that surgery be done when the child is between 12 months and 18 months of age. More than one procedure is often needed. Surgical corrections specifically for cleft palate usually are completed by the child’s teen years.

MY TWO CENTS’

John Tria

ecisouth@gmail.com

Understanding clefts

10 NEWS War... FROM 1

one of his most vocal critics, would come over and investigate him.

He stuck to his belief that he made a promise to the people who elected him to office via a resounding win last May. In asking for the extension, Duterte said he did not realize how severe and serious the problem of the illegal drugs until he became President.

Duterte said in his speech that he is determined to “exterminate” the last pusher on the street.

“Make no bones about it,”

he added.

He said he would not be cowed by various investigations meant to discredit his crackdown on illegal drugs. “[The war on] illegal drugs it will continue, I don’t care if there is a thousand hearings everywhere basta maka-focus lang ako doon sa problema,” he said.

He said he was focused on his agenda, adding that Congress has its “own show.”

“Congress, bahala sila magka-gulo dun, I will stick to my own agenda. Go ahead, be my guest,” he said.

aware of the power of words, especially when uttered by those in positions of leadership, for these may be, and have many times been, taken as gospel truth and a license to precipitate action by true believers,” Rosauro added.

He said that it is the duty of journalists to report events as faithfully as they can, thus, to blame them for the consequences of what those they cover utter or do is tantamount to asking them to abrogate their duties and be silent.

“This we cannot and will never do,” Rosauro stressed.

“Independent Philippine journalists helped shine the light on the dark deeds of the Marcos dictatorship and continued to scrutinize each and every administration since then without fear or favor despite the dangers we have and continue to face, for which many of us have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” the statement further said.

NUJP said it will continue to do so and “to oppose any attempts to stifle press freedom, a freedom that, incidentally, does not belong to us but to the people whose right to know that freedom serves.”

the requirements of most lending companies such as collateral and security had made personal loans inaccessible.

However, Landbank agreed to accept the borrower’s assignment of funds in his bank account, including salaries, allowances, leave credits and other monetary deliverables.

With the agreement between the two agencies, the Land Bank will release the monthly salaries through automated teller machine cards

and the borrowers can receive their loans through their bank accounts.

In addition, borrowers must have a monthly net take home pay of at least P3,000 -- the salary amount after deductions and amortizations on loans, including the loan applied for.

Borrowers should neither have any pending criminal or administrative cases nor pending applications for or are not due for retirement within the term of the loan. Tiziana Celine S. Piatos

lives, rights and properties, passengers, drivers and residents in the area against criminal and unlawful acts,” he said.

Al-ag suggested that the CCTV cameras must be able produce a high resolution recognizable, retrievable, enlargeable, and reproducible

photos and videos and that they be of sufficient clarity for identification purposes.

Once passed, the city government will install the cameras and other video monitoring devices shall be zeroed in any strategic areas of Barangay Mahayag.

front of his son when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off past 10 o’ clock in the evening.

He said that his life is “not normal” anymore but tries his very best to get through.

“Maybe God saved me through my son,” Larida added.

According to Larida, he would cry every time he goes home and see his son’s coin bank.

Larida, however, is slowly learning to accept the truth that his wife and son have passed away despite the grief of missing his family.

“I don’t feel hatred for those responsible to the incident,” Larida, a pastor, said.

He added that he would share the gospel to the perpetrators if he will have the opportunity to meet them. Tiziana Celine S. Piatos

chloride, or “shabu” every month until October 2014.

Sanchez approached Colanggo again to swindle drug lords in the NBP by collecting

30 to 50 kilos of illegal drugs without payment, but the latter refused, fearing that he might be at a disadvantage once De Lima loses power. (PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

GEN. DE LEON WITH LAWMAKERS. Newly-installed Public Safety Security Command Center (PSSCC) chief retired General Benito De Leon (center) shares a light moment with city councilors during his courtesy visit to the City Council at Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody... FROM 4

LP... FROM 4

ISIS walang ginawa kundi paputok ang buong mundo,” he said.

Duterte expressed disappointment that “we [the country] cannot find any solution at all up until now.”

Meanwhile, Duterte asked the American Special Forces to leave Mindanao as their presence in the region creates more tension with the Moros.

Duterte said that the American presence in the southern region of the Phil-

ippines have provoked the unrest for decades.

The president was referring to the Bud Dajo massacre in Jolo, Sulu where many Muslim Filipinos were killed by the American troops in 1906 and the United States “have not apologized to the Filipino nation.”

“It does not matter whether the massacre happened more than a hundred years ago as long as the Muslims remembers it,” according to Duterte.

”Having said that, our alliance with the majority has always been based on the reforms that we believe will propel our nation to greater economic, political and social heights. We will continue to pursue these agenda,” the LP lawmakers said. ”Coming from the events that transpired yesterday (Monday), we must remain vigilant and continue to assert the independence of the Senate,” they added.

In a media interview, Drilon said they will continue “if there is basis or need to

criticize.” ”We will cooperate where we believe that what is being presented to the Senate is for the benefit of our country. We will not criticize simply for the sake of criticizing,” Drilon said.

A total of 16 senators voted in favor of Senator Manny Pacquiao’s motion to declare the justice and human rights committee membership vacant last Monday.

Senator Richard Gordon was elected new chairman of the justice committee while Senator Panfilo Lacson will remain vice chairman. (PNA)

utes. This action activates the chemicals in the crushed seed.

The solution is filtered through white cotton cloth into a 20-liter bucket of river water. The contents are stirred rapidly for two minutes, followed by slow stirring for 10-15 minutes. “During the slow mixing period, the moringa seed binds together the fine particles and bacteria into larger particles which sink and settle at the bottom of the bucket,” Folkard and Sutherland contend. “After an hour, clear water can be drawn off.”

According to the two authors, the process removes 90 to 99.9 percent of the bacteria, which are attached to the solid particles, as well as clearing the water. However, some harmful microorganisms still in the water may not be removed, “especially if the water is badly polluted.”

For drinking water, further purification is recommended – either by boiling or with a simple sand filter. As for the dried seeds not used in the process or already powdered, they can be stored in a safe place. However, the paste must be prepared fresh each time it is used for water purification.

“Our trials using moringa seed gave water purification results which were just as

good as those obtained with commercial chemical – at a fraction of the cost,” Folkard and Sutherland claim. “Many developing countries could save huge amounts of money by adopting these ideas.”

There’s more to malunggay than just water purifier.

The seeds contain 40 percent by weight of oil. The oil is of high quality and potentially has a high market value. It is of equal value both for cooking oil and as the main ingredient for soap manufacture.

“Moringa seeds can be used first for oil extraction, without reducing their effectiveness for water treatment,” say Folkard and Sutherland.

Laboratory tests at Leicester confirmed that the presscake remaining after oil extraction still contains the active coagulants.

In some parts of the world, malunggay is prized for its leaves. It may sound like magic, but nutritionists aver that 100 grams of malunggay leaves yield the following: 75 calories of energy (higher than ampalaya, squash, tomatoes, or carrots), 5.9 grams protein (higher than cauliflower, lettuce, or mustard), 12.8 grams carbohydrate (higher than okra, papaya, or watermelon), 353 milligrams calcium (higher than gabi leaves, mung beans,

squash, and camote tops), 3.7 milligrams niacin (higher than other vegetables analyzed).

And for thiamin, phosphorus, and ascorbic acid, malunggay is at the top of the list.

That’s only for starter. Nutritionists also affirm that 200 grams of malunggay leaves would give a nutritive value roughly equivalent to four eggs and two glasses of milk.

Its iron compound prevents deficiency of red blood cells known as anemia. And being a very rich source of calcium, it aids in maintaining healthy bones and teeth.

In addition, malunggay is rich in vitamin A (higher than red and green mung beans, radish, or eggplant), thus helping prevent xerophthalmia, a disease of the eye. Adults are urged to eat malunggay leaves as its vitamin C content is higher than those of ampalaya leaves.

How much should a person eat? Lowell Fuglie, author of Moringa oleifera: Natural Nutrition for the Tropics, writes: “For a child aged 1-3, a 100-gram serving of fresh, cooked leaves would provide all his daily requirements of calcium, about 75 percent of his iron and half of his protein needs, as well a important amounts of potassium, B vitamins, copper, and all the essential amino acids. As little

as 20 grams of leaves would provide a child with all the vitamins A and C he needs.”

Pregnant and lactating mothers can also benefit from malunggay. “Moringa leaves and pods can do much to preserve the mother’s health and pass on strength to the fetus or nursing child,” Fuglie points out. “One 100-gram portion of leaves could provide a woman with over a third of her daily need of calcium and give her important quantities of iron, protein, copper, sulfur, and B-vitamins.”

In the Philippines, malunggay is a well-known ingredient for many delicious and nutritious viands.

Its leaves are for soups with either chicken, fish, sautéed with beef, mongo and sardines; blanched as salads; tasty for bola-bola, torta and others. Its fruit pods and pulp are cooked as dinengdeng or law-uy and can also be sautéed.

By the way, planting malunggay trees could help stabilize soil and contribute to fight against deforestation.

The malunggay tree is highly resistant to drought and needs little care. It is fast-growing and lives for average of 50 years. Each tree can produce approximately 10,000 seeds a year. It also makes an excellent fuel and fertilizer.

AGRITRENDS... FROM 12

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

EDGEDAVAO LIVING

By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto WE LOVE AN URBANIZED LIFE -- the lights, the buildings and the noise. But sometimes, living in cities take a toll on us.

With time, malls tend to be too crowded, coffee shops become too noisy and most definitely, you cannot meditate inside a restaurant.

With the hustle and bustle of city life -- be you a student, yuppie or just cruising around town -- it’s not easy finding a comfortable place of privacy in the city. Not everyone can afford to pop at home for a powernap and go back to one’s normal routine. Sometimes, you just need that space to recharge – with the comfort and convenience of home even when you are not at home.

Seekhana Study Hub is Davao’s answer to a ‘third space’ alternative. It’s a space within a space. Quiet, relaxing and very much conducive, Seekhana Study Hub aims to help the mind, body and soul reconnect without altering the shape of your wallet. Very much like a short term hotel minus the stained comforter.

It’s a study hub. A study space to be more precise. It’s not a coffee shop – as it is not – and most definitely, not a library. Seekhana Study Hub offers spaces designed to help you have your “me time” in between your hectic schedule.

The space is well lit, painted with colours to help you focus. Spacious and can accommodate up to 40 people all at once. Well-spaced, study desks and tables allows for arm and leg stretching without bugging your study-deskneighbour. And of course, ample number of electric sockets for your gadgets.

They also serve Rice Combo Meals inclusive of 1 viand, 1 cup rice and 1 glass iced tea/lemonade. Choose from

their Humba, Chicken Adobo, Chicken Liver with Egg or Pork Giniling. If sweets is your cup of tea while reading through your notes or reports, then their assortment of sweet faves from Real Confections is what you need.

Aside from the abovementioned, what sets Seekhana Study Hub as the ultimate study place to be is that their rates are so affordable you won’t believe it. I didn’t. They charge at an hourly, daily, weekly and monthly basis. Day pass is at 8 hours maximum.

Choose whether you’re a Morning Reader (8am-4pm), Peak Thinker (4pm-12am) or a Night Learner (12am8am). Can’t decide? Then save up with their UNLIMITED (24/7) Rates. as an array of school and office supplies for your convenience. Also catering to your printing, scanning and photocopying needs.

Now, renting a space is possible. It’s open 24 hours a day, FREE Wi-Fi access and you have the choice to go on an alone quiet splurge or make it a group affair. Lockers are provided so no need to worry about security. And your complimentary coffee awaits every time you visit.

For more information you can visit Seekhana Study Hub is located at Door G&H, Bella Vie Building, Circumferential Road, Davao City. For inquiries, you may call 0922 8837332 and look for Fritzy.

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

EVENT

TNT, THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST MOBILE PREPAID BRAND UNDER SMART COMMUNICATIONS, embodied the spirit of unity in the face of adversity during the ‘It’s a Tropa Thing Dance Showdown’ at the 2016 Tuna Festival in General Santos City.

On any other night, it would have been a com-

petitive interschool dance contest with talented crews in a grand dance showdown. But in a magnificent show of the tropa spirit, the participants decided to forego the competition and instead showcase their tal-

ents before the festivalgoers.

This was their response to the recent Davao City bombing not more than 150 kilometers away from the city. The essence of fierce competition was replaced

with s and on Filipin TNT spirit a the all the da tertain

1, 2016

EDGEDAVAO ended her performance with an emotional rendition of One Day by Matisyahu. The song which was regarded as critics as an “Anthem of Hope,” was dedicated by Zendee to the victims of the Davao bombing.

Through the years, TNT has been a real katropa of the Generals, celebrating the city’s abundance of fish products at the Tuna Festival.

Following the relaunch of the

Serving a seamless society

packed Oval Plaza.

TNT also brought YouTube sensation Zendee Tenerefe to electrify the fearless crowd who turned up to watch. Zendee, who originally hailed from Gensan before rising to stardom,

brand, TNT subscribers can expect more tropa-perfect offers that will give katropas all over the country more reasons to stay connected and bonded through the most affordable calls, texts and mobile Internet offers.

Be sure to follow TNT’s official accounts on Facebook (www. facebook.com/TNTph), Twitter (@TalkNText) and Instagram (@ TNTph) for updates on the latest TNT promos and events.

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

spirit for friendship neness with our fellow nos.

T fostered this Tropa and opted to divide located prizes to all ance crews who enned the crowd at the

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

A4 INdulge!

EVENT ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

IN THEIR DESIRE TO PROVIDE “A PLACE FOR EVERY JUAN”, Go Hotels opened their Lanang-Davao property last September 15 in a simple yet fun event at the property’s function room, the Kadayawan Hall.

In attendance was Robinson’s Land Corporation’s (RLC) President and the Chief Operating Officer Frederick Go, Udenna Land Corporation’s (ULD) Chief Executive Officer and President Dennis Uy, the Udenna Land’s board, Davao City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson representing Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, as well as the city’s councillors, and media.

Go Hotel LanangDavao, which is a joint venture between RLC and UDC, features 183 comfortable rooms with

September 15 – 16, 2016 only

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modern amenities such as free WiFi, in-room electronic safe, 32” LED TV, hot and cold rainwater shower, and 100% cotton towels and linens all at an affordable rate.

“We would like to invite everyone visiting Davao to come and stay

at Go Hotels LanangDavao.” said Go Hotels General Manager Elizabeth Gregorio.

When asked about how the bookings of Go Hotel Lanang-Davao are doing Elizabeth was all smiles in her reply. “Our experience during the soft opening period was good and with the opening of the hotel and the Kadayawan function room, we expect more visitors to arrive.”

Go Hotel LanangDavao is the hotel chain’s largest property outside of Metro Manila and brings its hotel portfolio to 10.

Congratulations to the Go Hotel team for making stays in Davao more affordable for every Juan.

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11 COMMUNITY SENSE Private firm donates Celebrating years of service in 10 fogging machines touching lives, defending peace T T EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

HE City Government of Davao got a boost in its fight against mosquito-borne diseases after a private company donated 10 water-based fogging machines.

Ford Tractor Philippines (FTP) turned over 10 units of fogging machines that cost P35,000 each to the local government in a simple ceremony held at the City Administrator’s Office on Friday.

The machines were personally handed over by FTP branch manager Ligaya Anche-

ta to City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez, City Legal Officer Raul Nadela Jr. and City Health officials.

Ancheta said company owner Samuel Uy responded to the city’s need in the wake of its intensified campaign against dengue cases.

Nadela, who is also chief of staff of Mayor Sara Duterte, thanked FTP for its generosity.

“The city appreciates the gesture of FTP,” he said. “This is such a big help to our intensified campaign against dengue.”

Ford Tractor Philippines branch manager Ligaya Ancheta (third from the right), hand over the company’s donation of 10 units of mosquito fogging machine to the City Government led by City Administrator Zuleika T. Lopez (3rd from left) in a ceremonial turnover at the City Hall Friday. The fogging machines, which cost P35,000 each will boost the city’s intensified campaign against mosquito-borne diseases.

HE men and women of the 701st Brigade of the Philippine Army have celebrated their years of rendering genuine service in touching the lives of people and defending the peace and freedom of the country.

During the Brigade’s eightyear reactivation anniversary on September 16, the 701st Brigade received applause from top officials of the Philippine Army and various sectors for playing a huge part in the preservation and sustaining of peace in Davao Oriental.

Guest of Honor and Speaker Major General Angelito M. De Leon, Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, lauded the leadership of the 701st Brigade, under Col. Bienvenido R. Datuin, Jr. who successfully led his troops to become “instruments in the many campaigns of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in winning over the threats and obstacles to the development of the country”.

“Napakapalad ninyo at kayo ay nagkaroon ng isang aktibong masigasig na commander na buong tapang hinaharap ang mga bagay para sa inyong kapakanan,” he told the men and women of the 701st Brigade. He lauded Datuin’s leadership for successfully continuing the programs of his predecessors which paved the way for the strengthening of peace here in the province.

“Binabati ko si Col. Datuin sapagkat binuksan niya ang pintuan tungo sa mabuting pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga mamamayan ng kanyang nasasakupan,” he said, citing the brigade’s partnership with the different sectors leading to a lot of groundwork that has reached the people in the communities.

He also listed several accomplishments and milestones the brigade has gained over the recent years. Among these was

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang extends his gratitude to the Philippine Army’s 701st brigade for playing an important role in sustaining the peace in Davao Oriental.

701st Brigade Commander, Col. Bienvenido R. Datuin, Jr. addresses guests and the men and women under his command during the brigade’s 8th reactivation anniversary on Sept. 16. the prestigious Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award for its successful implementation of the Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP) which relentlessly pursues socio-economic development and other non-violent means in winning against insurgencies. This was conferred by no less than the commander-in-chief of the military, President Rodrigo R. Duterte during the anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

Just recently, the brigade also received a Command Plaque from the Army Reservist Command for efficiently tapping reservists in the activities of the military which has been boosting the military’s gains in preserving peace.

“You were recognized because of your valuable performance in taking the non-tra-

ditional military road to gain support from stakeholders in its exchange. This brigade has gained the accomplishments and progress in terms of civil military operations that significantly made impact in peace and development in this part of the country,” said De Leon.

“The 701st brigade has undoubtedly succeeded in touching and defending lives. Your courage is worthy without any reservations. You have served the people well with sincerity and gave them the freedom to perform their functions free from being cursed and intimidated.”

“Alam kong hindi madali ang inyong tungkuling itaguyod ang kapayapaan, ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng balakid kayo ay naging matagumpay sa pagpoprotekta sa mga naninirahan dito,” he said, noting the brigade’s efforts in implementing programs that uplifted the lives of the people. “The 7th Infantry Kaugnay Division is proud and honor all of you,” he said.

Working directly on the ground, the military knows first-hand the plight of the people, particularly those in the hinterlands. Working closely with the people led to the entry and efficient delivery of government development programs and services.

The military does a lot more than just preserving the peace. The extent of how strong and formidable the collaboration and partnership between the military and the Provincial Government that was forged was tested when Super Typhoon Pablo struck the province of Davao Oriental. The quick response and hard work

that the military extended at the height of the disaster had saved the lives of many typhoon victims.

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang praised the 701st brigade’s partnership with the Provincial Government in the implementation of the Bayanihan Program PDOP, which he says, has been changing the face of governance that was able to regain for the government the trust and confidence of communities.

“Working with scarce resources but driven by a sense of purpose, the people behind the Bayanihan program in the province have definitely redefined local governance and development that dramatically changed the lives of people,” he said.

For his part, Brigade Commander Col. Datuin thanked the military’s partners from the Local Government Units and various sectors ‘for believing and collaborating for the army’s covenant of peace and development’. “You are our strength and allies in accomplishing our vision and very core of existence.

“There were challenges, constraints and obstacles but we were able to do the job guided by our mantra of “building character, enhancing competence and strengthening convergence.” We were focused, determined and motivated to deliver our core purpose of serving the people, securing Davao Oriental and parts of Compostela Valley Province.

Throughout its illustrious history, 701st Infantry Brigade has been a bastion and standard of excellence in both operational and administrative fields of performance. It has strived to contribute in 10th Infantry Division’s mission accomplishment and succeeded in modestly contributing in all lines of effort,” said Datuin.

Welcoming another page in the history of the brigade, the 701st Brigade Anniversary ended in a high note, ready to face another challenges to pursue the goals and vision of the Philippine Army in protecting and serving the people. By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan

12 AGRITRENDS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Malunggay as water purifier Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“W

ATER is the most precious asset on Earth,” says Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project.

“It is the basis of life.” Ideally, a person should have at least 50 liters of water each day to meet basic needs – for drinking, food preparation, cooking and cleaning up, washing and personal hygiene, laundry, house cleaning.

borne and water-related diseases worldwide is attributed to unsafe water supply, bad sanitation and unhygienic practices that mostly hit the poor, weak and sick, especially children, in developing countries, including the Philippines.

In 24 provinces, one of every five residents quaffs water from dubious sources, the Philippine Human Development Report says. These provinces are: Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Basilan, Masbate, Zamboanga del

When there is a shortage of water, the Jekyll-and-Hyde paradox comes alive: from giving life, water turns into a “killing machine.” “I understood when I was just a child that without water, everything dies,” Marq de Villiers once observed.

Some 88 percent of water-

Norte and Sur, Negros Oriental a n d Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Leyte, Misamis Occidental, Apayao, Quezon, North Cotabato, Bukidnon, Iloilo, Guimaras, Agusan del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Norte and Benguet.

In Tawi-Tawi province, 82 out of every 100 residents lack safe water. Compare that with three in Bataan province and 39 in Capiz. It is obscene “if people cannot drink water without courting disease or death,” deplores Postel, who wrote The Last Oasis.

As there is that “danger of scarcity of water supply” in the country, people can tap the rivers as source of drinking water. According to Ramon J.P. Paje, head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the country is blessed with 421 principal river basins.

Unfortunately, most of the country’s rivers that run through thickly populated areas are already polluted, making their water unsafe to drink or used for cooking, washing or even bathing.

But the question is: is river water safe to use – especially for drinking? “The water from river carries silt particles, solids, bacteria and other microorganisms (some of which can carry disease),” explain Geoff Folkard and John Sutherland, members of the Environmental Engineering Group at the University of Leicester in Unit-

ed Kingdom. “It is very important to remove as much as possible of this material before people use the water.”

Large water treatment facilities do so by adding chemical coagulants to the water. “Coagulants cause the particles to stock together and sink,” Folkard and Sutherland inform. “The clean water can then be poured off.”

In rural areas, the correct chemicals may be unavailable or too expensive. So Folkard and Sutherland suggest an alternative – “a natural coagulant usually made from

plants.” The two are referring to malunggay, which has been used for centuries on a small scale.

Malunggay is known in the science world as Moringa oleifera. The seeds of this plant are what being used as water purifier. “Moringa grows rapidly from seed or cutting, even in poor soils. It needs littler care and can survive long periods of drought,” the two authors write.

Seed pods are left to mature on the tree and harvested when dry. The light ‘wings’ and shells of the seeds are eas-

ily removed, leaving the white seed kernels. These are finely crushed and pounded, using a pestle and mortar. “The amount of seed needed to treat river water depends on how much suspended matter the water contains,” they write.

To treat 20 liters of water, about two grams of crushed is needed. A small amount of clean water is added to the crushed seed to form a paste.

The paste is placed into a clean bottle. A cup (200 milliliters) of clean water is added and the bottle is shaken for five min-

F AGRITRENDS, 10

NEWS 13

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

SC... FROM 4

tion, we do not know what it is,” the SC said in a ruling penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

Te said the Court relied on the presumption that all foundlings found in the Phil-

ippines are born to at least either a Filipino father or a Filipino mother, thus, should be considered natural-born unless there is substantial proof that would prove otherwise.

“Upholding the use of circumstantial evidence and presumptions, the Court sustained the SET majority which had ruled that respondent Poe was a natural born citizen,” the SC said.

The SC further pointed out that there was an entire set of professions and positions that would exclude those who were not considered natural-born if David’s petition is upheld. (PNA)

or city level where they will be evaluated by a search committee and endorsed again for the provincial level assessment.

Evaluation of the nominees at the municipal level started on Sept. 15.

No limit was set on the number of entries that each municipality can endorse to the provincial search. Similar to the Search for Model Family, the evaluation of the model IP

family will be based on the following criteria: quality of relation between and among husband and wife or wives, quality of persons, ability to manage resources, involvement in community development activities, and quality of condition at home.

Quality of relationship includes duties and responsibilities, trust, understanding, respect and conflict manage-

ment, while the criteria on quality of a person refers to ethical behavior, physical and mental capability, spiritual formation and educational attainment of the members of the nominee family.

On the other hand, the ability to manage resources cover budgeting, decision-making and resourcefulness.

Winners will be declared on Oct. 25 during the provincial

celebration of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center here.

The most outstanding model IP family will receive P20,000, while the 2nd and 3rd placers will receive P15,000 and P10,000, respectively. Non-winning nominees will receive P5,000 each as consolation prizes. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

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EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SALE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late CIPRIANO LAHUY, SR. and MAXIMA P. LAHUY has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate with Sale executed among their heirs, per Doc. No.372; Page No.75; Book No.24; Series of 2006, of the NOTARY PUBLIC JOCAM JOSEPH C. JOCSON. 9/7,14,21

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MEDELEINE S. RODINAS has been the subject of an Extra Judicial Settlement of Estate executed among her heirs, per Doc. No.500; Page No.100; Book No.24; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ALEX BLAISE J. CUNANAN. 9/7,14,21

14 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

DPWH offers 30-day free access to NAIA Expressway Project T T

O GIVE courtesy to motorists who endured long hours of traffic and while the project is being constructed, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the concessionaire of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway project will provide free access for one month of the Phase 2A project starting from its opening day on Sept.

22.

According to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, those who will use the Phase II-A Macapagal Blvd. - MIA Road/NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 elevated expressway will not be charged in the first 30 days or until October

22.

“We just want people to experience the road and see for themselves. Matagal din silva nagtiis sa traffic so we hope any concession that we could get for our commuters I think would be welcome,” he said in an interview during the pre-operation inspection conducted Tuesday afternoon.

Also present during the inspection were Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, other officials of the DPWH and Vertex Tollways Development Inc. The DPWH chief added, “I have met with Sec. Tugade.

We have been meeting with concessionaire and they ex-

pressed their willingness for one month free (access).”

With this, he reported that all systems go for the opening of Phase 2 going to NAIA terminals 1 and 2.

“Ready na, finishing touches na lang, ready na NAIA Expressway going to NAIA 1 and 2. First phase,” Villar said.

He added, “As far as all systems go. We just conducted last minute checking so I think we are good.”

Villar said that they are looking to finish the Paranaque River to NAIA 3 before Christmas while the target completion for the connectivity of NAIA 2 to existing NAIA 1 is February 2017.

The NAIA Expressway Project Phase II Project is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project with a 4-lane elevated Expressway starting at the end point of Phase 1 ending at the Philippine Gaming Corp.

(PAGCOR) Entertainment City.

It will provide access to NAIA Terminal 1,2 and 3 as well as an interface with the Skyway and Cavite. Aside from the main viaduct, there are 13 entry and exit ramps as well as 3 connecting ramps.

The NAIA Expressway alignment follows the existing road along Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, Electrical Road, above Paranaque River and NAIA Road. (PNA)

Smart calls for partners to bring digital learning to schools without electricity E LEVEN-YEAR-OLD Sheran Bueramo wants to become an engineer someday. In pursuit of this dream, he walks through hills and forests just to go to his school in Tanay, Rizal. Bueramo faces a problem, however. He hopes to succeed in a technology driven world, but studies in a school that has no electricity.

Rawang Elementary School is just one of over 3,000 schools in the Philippines – which serves more than 1 million students – with no electricity. Most of its students have not seen, much more used, a television, computer, or tablet that could help enhance their learning.

This is why Smart Communications launched the Schoolin-a-Bag. This is a backpack containing a solar panel for electricity, a laptop, tablet, mobile phone, pocket WiFi with starter load, LED TV, and learning modules. Smart targets to donate School-in-a-Bag units to 10 schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao this year, and hopes to get people and groups to add to this number via sponsorships.

Forging partnerships so no child is left behind “We don’t want children in remote areas to be left behind.

We want to help them gain access to the wealth of knowledge out there through digital learning tools. But we cannot do this alone,” said Smart public affairs senior manager Stephanie Orlino.

Each School-in-a-Bag costs P100,000. This already includes the devices, learning modules aligned with the K-12 curriculum, training for the teachers, and delivery of

From left to right: Smart public affairs supervisor Deivid Rioferio, Smart public affairs senior manager Stephanie Orlino, Smart public affairs head Mon Isberto, Rawang Elementary School’s former principal Arlene Catampatan, Rawang Elementary school student Sheran Bueramo, Department of Education Rizal Division’s Nico Aquino, DepEd Tanay district supervisor Imelda Asuncion, and DepEd external partnerships service director Dr. Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros the unit. Each bag will benefit hundreds of students in its expected working life span of five years.

“We encourage companies, alumni associations, rotary clubs, local government units, and individuals to pitch in to give children in remote communities a fighting chance for a better future,” Orlino said. She added that interested parties may send an email to TechnoCart@smart.com.ph for more details.

Discovering a world beyond trees and rocks When Smart donated a School-in-a-Bag to Rawang Elementary School last July, Bueramo said he and his classmates felt a mix of happiness and excitement.

“Malaki ang naitulong ng School-in-a-Bag sa amin.

Kahit kami ay nasa kabundukan, kahit paano ay naibsan ang kawalan namin ng malay.

Nakakakita na kami ng ibang

dimensyon bukod sa puno at bato (The School-in-a-Bag has helped us significantly. Even though we are in the mountains, somehow our lack of knowledge has lessened. We can now see other dimensions of this world aside from the trees and rocks that we are used to),” he said.

Maria Asuncion Tongohan, a kinder and grade one teacher, observed that the School-in-a-Bag gave students a deeper understanding of the lessons. “We can discuss the subjects more thoroughly with them because there’s a visual component in the lecture. Instead of us just talking or drawing on the blackboard, the videos make it more interesting for them— especially for the little kids who want to see colorful visuals.”

Former principal Arlene Catampatan added, “Our students are not just interested in learning, they are also more behaved because they are at-

tentive when they see these new gadgets.” She said student attendance has also improved.

Bag of hope Dr. Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros, external partnerships service director at the Department of Education, described the School-in-a-Bag as a “bag of hope.”

“It is a bag for the future of our Filipino kids. Kids in provinces need more than kalinga (care); they also need opportunities to escape poverty. We thank Smart for paving the way,” she said.

Smart public affairs head Mon Isberto said the Schoolin-a-Bag program is part of the company’s overall efforts to use technology for development. “We try to see how technology can be put in the service of different areas of social and economic development, like education, livelihood, health, and disaster preparedness and response.”

Top ICT players from region expected Comval ICT summit

OP players in the information and communications technology from Davao City and this province convene Tuesday at Capitol’s social hall for the first ICT summit tapped to strengthen the industry in Compostela Valley.

Davao regional Director Alimbazar P. Asum of the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will lead the government sector and discuss with the 300 ICT participants best practices on e-partnership.

Joyzel Odi, head of the ITC office of the provincial government, said the summit is expected to draw up plans for the creation of an ICT council composed of local players in the government, academe, and business sectors.

“We hope the forum would act as a catalyst to the creation of a provincial ICT council that will guide the industry’s direction and align their initiatives,” Odi said.

She explained that the summit will provide opportunities to the ICT players to share ideas, connect with each other, and discuss initiatives to address the needs for the industry’s growth.

Christine Dompor, provincial tourism officer and investments officer, said the summit will expose local players to best practices on education, governance, business, and partnership through the electronics medium.

“As the province grows, so will the ICT industry as

people. The question is, would the three sectors be able to accommodate the needs of the industry? We cannot afford to be left behind while other provinces in the region are strengthening theirs,” Dompor said.

The joint gathering, she said, is part of the tourism and investments promotion drive of the provincial government and timed for the World Tourism Month celebration of the office with its theme of universal access to tourism.

“Everything today is about electronics, about social media, about access to new trends. Our tourism and investments programs have to keep pace with this new challenge at the same time reach a wider audience,” the provincial tourism officer said.

The one-day summit will feature an interactive exhibit at the Capitol lobby, an ICT technology demonstration, and launch the province’s local television network Aksyon Comval.

The list of speakers includes Dr. Randy Gamboa of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Eric Emberda, ITE Program coordinator of the University of Immaculate Concepcion, Ronald Ramboanga, president of Davao City Virtual Assistants Association and Business Solutions, DICT Director Asum, Dr. Jonatahan Bayogan, president of Davao del Norte State College in Panabo City, and Davao City ICT Council president Atty.

Samuel Matunog (jimmy/ pgo-tipc/ itcd/ ids)

EDGEDAVAO Sports 15 PURE DETERMINATION Despite depleted line-up, Ateneo wins DACS title VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

F

njb@edgedavao.net

RANCIS Gabriel Escandor provided the needed firepower in the homestretch to carry Ateneo de Davao University past archrival Assumption College of Davao 74-66 in the finals of the DACS basketball tournament on Sunday at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The prolific 6-2 forward fired 16 points to lead the Blue Knights who bucked the absence of four key players in the championship match.

Shifty combo guard Axel Doromal and Ion Angeles provided the needed support to Escandor with timely hits from beyond the arc and kamikaze-like incursions.

Ateneo coach Miggy Solitaria praised his wards for showing pure determination throughout the ballgame in the absence of starting center Vade Alagao (knee surgery),

Jethro Taculin, (sprained ankle), Raphael Francisco (twisted ankle), and Dom Cane (age disqualification).

“I really admire the efforts of my boys despite the fact that three of my key players were injured and Dom Cane was declared overage who was born 1998 and the league requires players born 1999 up. They really wanted to win,” said Solitaria who celebrated Ateneo’s second straight title this year after winning the Flying V Filoil Invitational last month.

Ateneo’s only title loss this year was in the 4th Royal Mandaya Hotel Cup. All three finals encounters so far this year were

against the Warriors.

The win gave Ateneo the right to represent the DACS in the forthcoming Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) meet late this year. The DCAA is the final eliminator for the Davao

received such a welcome.

Chairman Mitra said while watching a replay of Casimero’s 10th round TKO of British champion C harlie Edwards that he got goose bumps remembering that Johnreil had promised to retain his title for our country.

Chairman Mitra said President Rody Duterte who is a sports fan was the good luck charm and said “we will have more champions in the future with a fighting president.”

The former threeterm congressman and governor of Palawan a n d son

of the illustrious former speaker, the late Ramon Mitra, said he wants to innovate and “help our boxers and promoters” and is open to suggestions from various sectors involved in the sport.

Chairman Mitra said “we will listen to suggestions” and emphasized that “the welfare and safety of our boxers” is his primary concern.

The GAB chairman said he is hoping that next year the budget of the GAB will hopefully be in-

DRIVING HARD. Francis Gabriel Escandor of Ateneo de Davao University drives hard against the Assumption College of Davao defender in the fourth period.

Photo by Tetet Blanco

team to play in the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet which also serves as the eliminator for the Palarong Pambansa.

Solitaria said Ateneo is set to join the Jesuit Athletic Meet (JAM) on November 4-8 followed by the NBTC tournament also in the same month.

“I am happy with my team now.

Ef (Escandor), Axel (Doromal) and Ion (Angeles) provide the scoring while the defensive end is taken cared of by Josh Barrientos, Dariel Manliguez and Christian Bacalso. I just hope that the three injured players get back in form before the JAM and the NBTC,” said the multi-titled Solitaria.

Casimiro gets big welcome at GAB Tebow wears no.15 for Mets

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AMES and Amusements Board chairman Abraham Mitra and the GAB employees gave IBF flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero a rousing heroes welcome when he visit the GAB office to pay a courtesy call on the chairman on Monday.

Cheering employees kept chanting Casimero’s name while confetti rained down on the champion in an amazing welcome that was both touching and thoughtful with Johnreil holding back the tears in his brief response to the welcome remarks of Chairman Mitra.

It was the very first time that a returning champion

creased from the current P80 million to

P100 million.

Promoter Sammy Gello-ani recalled the desire of Casimero to receive a heroes welcome which the GAB chairman and his staff arranged.

Mitra stressed his desire to protect our boxers because he believes “it is nice to be safe rather than sorry.”

Highlights of the heroes welcome accorded Casimero, trainer Jhun Agrabio and promoter Sammy Gello-ani will be included in this Saturday’s Viva Sports presentation of the top-rating weekly boxing show “The Main Event” on Pinoy Box Office over Sky Cable at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday with a replay at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

WORLD CHAMP. Johnriel Casimiro (right) punishes Charlie Edwards of Great Britain en route to a 10th round TKO win.

Day to play inTour Championship

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HE last time we saw world No. 1 Jason Day he was walking to his car after withdrawing from the final round of the BMW Championship because of an injured back.

Day bent over to put his tee in the ground and felt

pain in his back. He withdrew as a precaution and was later diagnosed with a pinched joint capsule in his lower back.

According to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, Day spent last week resting and getting treatment, and he is “cau-

tiously optimistic” about playing this week at the Tour Championship.

Day also has a great shot to win his first FedEx Cup title. He’s currently ranked fourth on the points list and can finish as low as third place and still have a chance

of winning $10 million.

Day has been battling his back all season. He experienced pain during the WGC Match Play, but he was able to keep playing and eventually defeated Rory McIlroy and Louis Oosthuizen for the title.

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IM Tebow has arrived to begin his baseball career.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback got to the New York Mets’ complex early Monday (Tuesday, Manila time), and his first workout as part of their instructional league team began later in the morning.

He was given jersey No. 15, the same number he wore as a quarterback as a national-championship-winning phenomenon in college at Florida — where he also donned blue and orange, the same color scheme as the Mets — and as a much-maligned one in the NFL with Denver and the New York Jets.

He showed some power, hitting three balls in batting practice off the chain-link fence in right-center — better than just about everyone else did.

He showed some rust, popping up a half-dozen pitches in that same BP session. And he showed a need for work, after one of his throws sailed well over someone’s head and nearly onto an adjacent field during a simple game of catch.

“It was a lot of fun,” Tebow said. “It was great. It was great to be on a team. It was great to just go through a warmup and go through drills, just have

fun, take (batting practice), get to know all the guys, try to remember as many names as possible.”

Predictably, it was also a circus atmosphere.

Hundreds of fans — many wearing Tebow jerseys, some even wearing now-on-sale Mets shirts with Tebow’s name — showed up; a worker at the Mets’ complex said instructional league workouts last year drew maybe a couple dozen people, tops. A news helicopter circled over the field where Tebow worked for more than an hour. He got a huge cheer from fans for executing his first official drill, one where he learned how to take a lead off first base.

Tebow is one of 58 players on the Mets’ instructional league roster, and at 29 he’s also four years older than any other invitee. Two of the players on the roster won’t even turn 18 until next year.

Tebow’s last time playing true organized baseball was in his junior year of high school, when he batted nearly .500 for Nease High near Jacksonville, Florida. He worked out for scouts in Los Angeles last month and not long afterward the Mets signed him to a deal that included a $100,000 bonus.

FIRST WORKOUT. Tim Tebow had his first workout at the New York Mets camp. AP

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 149 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016