Edge Davao 9 Issue 181

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES RAINBOW HOUSES. Badjao girls who will fetch water walk by the colorful shanties called rainbow houses inside a Badjao community in Matina Aplaya, Davao City yesterday.

Lean Daval Jr.

HIGH ALERT ON DAVAO SEABOARDS PCG on tight watch due to LPA DA notes price increase in basic commodities

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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HE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Davao region is now on full alert status as Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised a gale warning for the region’s seaboards due to prevailing low pressure area (LPA).

Coast Guard director Commander Oscar Endona Jr. told EDGE Davao on Thursday that small to medium fishing vessels will not be allowed to sail to and from the areas when alarms will be elevated to gale warning.

Endona added that rescue teams and medical personnel of the coast guard are also on full alert status.

“We are still monitoring the weather bulletin of the state bureau and directives of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (DRRMC),”Endona mentioned.

Endona added that the PCG is also on alert they are still expecting that more people will arrive on the ports due to Undas.

Meanwhile, PAGASA is eyeing on two low pressure areas (LPAs) near Mindanao.

According to senior weather specialist Gerry Pedrico, the first LPA is embedded along the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Pedrico added that the second LPA is entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)has a bigger chance of becoming a tropical depression compared to the first LPA. In preparation to the potential impact of the LPAs, PCG said the team has prepared for telecommunications and built to emergency shelters.

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

T

HE Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office in Davao region (DA-XI) has reported an increase on the price of basic commodities in Davao City.

The price check, recorded

from October 26 to November 2 in Agdao and Bangkerohan Public Markets showed a P5 to P30 increase on products primarily because of the shortage of supplies.

Jane Dubli, DA-XI Agri-

EDGEDAVAO Sports GOODBYE NIKE, HELLO ANTA P16

business and Marketing Assistance Division Chief (AMAD) identified to EDGE Davao the recent natural calamities that struck the country as among the factors that

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

PRESIDENTIAL SEND-OFF. President Rodrigo Duterte attends the ceremonial send-off of 17 Vietnamese fishermen who were arrested for allegedly poaching in Philippine waters. As a gesture of good will, the President officiates their release in a ceremony at Sual Sea Wharf and Causeway Area in Pangasinan on November 2. Together with Vietnamese

Children to hold citywide congress T

HE Council of Welfare for Children is set to hold a citywide Children’s Congress in line with the celebration of National Children’s Month this November.

The forum aims to identify and address the concerns and issues facing children in Davao City these days.

Gina Molon, children and youth focal person of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), said the forum will also serve as an avenue for children to be heard as they are expected to articulate their thoughts and feelings about the things that are happening around them.

“The children’s statements would serve as the basis for city officials to come up with appropriate interventions and address the issues relating to them,” she said.

The congress will also accommodate children from other parts of Mindanao. The CSSDO expects between 300 to 400 children to attend the congress.

The forum will also serve as an opportunity to assess the programs and services for children in 2015.

With the theme, “Kalidad: Edukasyon para sa lahat ng bata”, the congress will take place on November 21 to November 23 at the Grand Menseng Hotel.

In preparation for the congress, all villages in Davao City are also conducting their own congresses.

The celebration of Children’s Month will start on November 7. Davao City was recently awarded the 2015 Most Child-Friendly City under the highly-urbanized category.

(CIO)

Police anti-narcotics agents raid house of S. Cot mayor

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OLICE anti-narcotics agents raided Thursday the residential house, piggery and six luxury cars of Mayor Albert Palencia of Banga, South Cotabato.

Armed with nine search warrants for firearms and prohibited drugs, the raiding team led by Supt. Maximo Sebastian, chief of Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (RAIDSOTF), barged inside the house of

Palencia in Barangay Punong Grande, Banga, South Cotabato.

Palencia told reporters he was awakened by the noise created by the raiding team when they barged in at about 3:00 a.m.

“I was surprised, but they found no drugs or guns,” Palencia briefly told reporters as he was brought by the raiding team to Gen. Santos City.

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Ambassador Truong Trieu Duong, he distributes tokens to the fishermen before sending them off to Vietnam.

ROBINSON NIÑAL/ Presidential Photo

Rody meets Nur in Malacañang

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

A

adlopez0920@gmail.com

FTER years in hiding following the issuance of warrants of arrest against his person, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chair Nur Misuari stepped foot in Malacañang Palace on Thursday afternoon, November 3 and personally met President Duterte.

“I came here just to see the President, not thinking that he would be having this press conference,” Misuari said

when asked by President Duterte himself to say something.

“Peace is the most vital humanitarian value to us,” the MNLF leader said, adding that his visit to Malacañang was to answer to the invitation of the President Duterte, the man whom he said he respected and trusted.

“I believe President Duterte is the man who can provide the solution to the problem of peace and order in our home-

land of Mindanao,” Misuari added.

He said he is happy to be free again on initiative of the President.

The MNLF leader is facing several criminal charges after the infamous Zamboanga siege in September 2013 that killed around 200 people and displaced about 24,000 families.

Last October 14, Misuari filed a motion to suspend the proceedings on his case and

the enforcement of the Warrants of Arrest (WAs) issued against him.

In his motion, the MNLF leader prayed for the suspension of the hearings and the enforcement of WAs to allow him to attend peace talk sessions with the government.

Misuari’s motion was supported by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the

of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the City Social Service and Development Office (CSSDO), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The construction of the 2-storey building will be funded by PCSO. It is seen to complement

the free medical aid program of the local government of Davao -- Lingap Center, which is also located near SPMC, the biggest government-funded hospital in Mindanao.

The objective of the creation of the one-stop center is to ease the burden of the public who are in need of assistance from the concerned agencies.

“The mayor wants all

the health-related agencies to be in one area to shorten the processing of patients’ documents,” said Maria Luisa Bermudo, chief of CSSDO. The mayor’s intention, she said, is to provide convenience to patients and their families, especially the indigents who rely primarily on free hospitalization services from government agencies.

(CIO)

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Mayor Inday okays construction of one-stop health service center D

AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte has given the green light for the establishment of a P40-million one-stop facility where agencies providing health services will be set up for easy accessibility for the Dabawenyos.

The facility will be established at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

It will house the offices

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

CPP:“US is hypocrite”

NEWS 3

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

T

adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Thursday said the United States (US) showed its hypocrisy in invoking the principles of human rights as it raised concern over increasing number of drug suspects killed under the intensified drug war of the present administration and in its decision to cancel the planned sale of assault rifles to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“The cancellation of the weapons sale to the PNP is a clear rebuke by the US government against the Duterte regime which has increasingly asserted its independence from US dictates and has stood firmly against continuing US military presence in the country,” the CPP said in a statement sent to the media.

The US State Department recently announced of the cancellation of the sale of around 26,000 M4 assault rifles to the PNP. The reason of the stoppage, the US added, is due to the human rights violations committed in the course of the war against drugs.

Earlier to the stoppage of the sale of arms, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) also announced its decision to end a training program it has long been conducting with the PNP. “The cancellation of the weapons sale is in fact a good thing,” the CPP said.

It added: “It is utterly hypocritical for the US State Department to now invoke human rights against the anti-US Duterte regime when the US government supported without remorse the Marcos dictatorship and all succeeding regimes which trampled on

human rights with impunity.”

The group also said that the previous pro-US regimes of Marcos, Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo and Benigno Aquino “were all notorious violators of human rights but were never chided by the US government and instead were encouraged with military financing.”

It added that the US government is despicable for using human rights principles as a convenient tool to justify its acts of intervention and subversion against anti-US regimes around the world, when the US government and US-sponsored and -supported regimes around the world are among the worst violators of human rights.

The group also cited the Israel government which, despite gross crimes against humanity in its genocidal war against the Palestinian people, continues to receive more than $3 billion annual military financing from the US. The cancellation of the sale, CPP added, is a great opportunity for the PNP to rethink and repudiate the militarization of police work which is being done by the police forces in the US. “It is the US military-industrial complex that turned the US police force into a domestic military force that is being armed with high-powered weapons as well as light-armored vehicles and trained in the same war complex as the US military forces,” the CPP said.

The group added that in the past years, the US police forces have become increasingly notorious for being quick on the draw in shooting down suspects, especially the black people.

UNCLOGGING. Construction workers struggle to unclog with their bare hands a pipe which causes flooding in a portion of a road along Matina Aplaya in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Matobato a no show again, court issues alias warrant

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

D

AVAO Municipal Trial Court Branch 3 (MTC 3) on Thursday ordered the issuance of alias warrant of arrest with P60,000 bail against self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) member Edgar Matobato.

This was after Matobato failed to show up again in the scheduled court’s arraignment on Thursday for the illegal possession of firearms case filed against him

in 2014.

Matobato was arrested in the evening of June 19, 2014 after an information reached the police that the said “hitman” was carrying a firearm outside his residence in Brgy. Sasa.

Atty. Jude Sabio, Matobato’s lawyer, has also appealed to the court to defer last Thursday’s hearing until the Supreme Court decides on their motion to transfer trial from Davao to Manila

for security reasons.

However, MTC 3 Judge Silverio Mandalupe rejected the request and ordered the issuance of alias arrest warrant with bail against Matobato.

The court had scheduled an arraignment for Matobato last month but was cancelled as he was under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Meanwhile, Sabio also

revealed that they are currently working on the application of Matobato for political asylum in the Netherlands.

Sabio said they would be filing a criminal case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Rodrigo Duterte and some cops allegedly involved in socalled Davao Death Squad.

“We will be filing it sometime in January or February next year,” Sabio said.

been prominently described as the next wave of technological development in the global technological space.

However, the former UP professor said the government then had to focus more on other priority areas of development.

Moreover, the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development Deputy Executive Director Raul Sabularse confirmed the plan initiatives on AI by DOST. Sabularse shared that DOST is in talks with other R&D institutions to develop a program on AI consisting on various project components.

“We are in the process of consulting experts and stakeholders to form a development program on artificial intelligence. This is something not totally new but it is a promising field for our researchers with applications in the industry,” he said.

He added that Filipino tech giant Dado Banatao is also involved in the talks but told that details are underway and may be included in the national R&D agenda for 2017.

Artificial intelligence is intelligence exhibited by machines that has the capability to perceive its environment and takes the necessary actions to a given situation and carrying out a positive outcome. It is simply understood as machines capable of mimicking human cognitive functions in doing simple to complex tasks.

The AI technology has a wide range of use including medical diagnosis, stock trading, robot control, law, remote sensing, scientific discovery and toy making. Currently, some applications are no longer labeled as AI. Sabularse said that DOST initially plans to use AI for the manufacturing industries to optimize mass production of

goods in the country.

Dela Peña added that the harmonized R&D agenda will pick research initiatives that are in line with the DOST’s 11 research agenda namely R&D for pressing problems, productivity, tap and manage resource potentials, application of new technologies across sectors, climate change and disaster risk reduction, utilization of R&D through technology transfer and commercialization, assistance to production sector, upgrading and improvement of S&T services, human resource development for S&T, capability building and involvement of regional R&D institutions, and industry and academe collaborations.

The DOST, through Executive Order 128 of 1987, is the sole government office mandated to direct all scientific R&D activities with potential benefits to the socioeconomic development of its people.

(PNA)

6,000 patients to benefit from 3-day medic mission DOST eyes research on artificial intelligence

By RIA VALDEZ

T

HE Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, a non-government Taiwanese-Buddhist Compassion Relief organization, launched its 215th Medical Dental and Surgical Mission on Thursday at the Davao Chong Hua National High School.

The mission will go on from November 3 to 6 in the said school.

Jun Herrera, coordinator of the event said that the major operations and actual medical mission will start on November 4, however, November 3 was allotted for the final screening for major operations of patients with goiter, hernia, varicocele and hydrocele (for men), and cleft lips.

He added that doctors in the surgical team from Manila would screen the patients first and decide of these patients would be operated.

Major operations for patients with cataract have been closed since last week since

more than 200 patients were already enlisted, according to Herrera.

“The doctors could only do 80 major operations in one day for goiter, hernia, and cataract,” he added.

For the final screening, patients must provide a Certificate of Indigence certified by their respective barangay captain.

“We wanted these services to be accessible to the poor,” he said, adding that all patients lining up at the venue were already validated by their barangay.

With Tzu Chi’s medical mission is the first time in Davao and most of those who came to avail of the services came from the city, Compostela Valley and General Santos City.

Herrera said they will be expecting around 6,000 patients to troop the three-day mission that will be served by

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HE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) plans to include artificial intelligence (AI) on its research and development agenda starting 2017-2022, DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said during the National Research and Development Conference.

“Now we would like to pursue new areas, not necessarily new in the global sense but as far as local research and development is concern and that is in the field of artificial intelligence and space technology,” says De la Peña.

The National R&D Conference is a prologue to the crafting of a Harmonized National R&D Agenda (HNRDA) for science and technology, which intends to unify all R&D projects and initiatives in line with the Philippine Development Plan called “Ambisyon Natin 2040.”

In the 80s, Dela Peña wrote a scientific article on the future of technology where AI had

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4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

VP Leni commits P24 M for Kidapawan housing T I

NITIAL groundwork is underway for the establishment of the Local Government Unit – Pabahay Program 4 here following the commitment of Vice President Leni Robredo to infuse a PHP24 million shelter subsidy for the locally–initiated indigent housing project.

Robredo concurrently chairs the government’s Housing and Urban Development

Coordinating Council (HUDCC) that provides the poor, in particular, to have decent and safe shelters.

“The office of Vice President Robredo had just confirmed the assistance to support the city government’s initiated housing projects,” Mayor Joseph Evangelista told reporters here on Thursday during a short huddle.

Robredo, who visited this

city recently as guest speaker to the groundbreaking ceremony of LGU-Pabahay Program 4, did not publicly announce the subsidy commitment during her speech before local officials and beneficiaries.

Evangelista said that part of the subsidy would be used to hasten the ongoing land development of the LGU-Pabahay 3 in Barangay Magsaysay

Real property tax collection increase in ComVal lauded

where close to 300 informal settlers living in the roadright-of-way will be relocated.

He also sees to implement more joint HUDCC-LGU shelter projects in the coming years to at least 2,000-recorded informal settlers in the city.

Evangelista also vowed to implement firm regulations to the housing recipients to restrict them from selling and leasing their properties. (PNA)

HE provincial government of Compostela Valley on Thursday announced the increase on real property tax collection in the area and lauded the efforts of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) for said achievement.

Collection on real property in Compostela Valley totalled to P107,630,942.87 in September of this year or 17.14% increase compared to P91,881,587.94 in the same month last year.

Governor Jayvee Tyron

GenSan allots P30 M for resettlement site

T MOU SIGNING. City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, Charlie Ayco of HABITAT and Dir. Myles Rivera of HUDCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last October 27 during the Housing Summit 2016 held at KCC Convention Center,

stipulating that HABITAT will provide technical assistance and the HUDCC to steer key shelter agencies to fund housing program of the city government of General Santos. (Gensan CPIO)

OSYs in New Corella join symposium on illegal drugs

T

HE Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion together with Local Government Unit of New Corella through its Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and the New Corella Municipal Police Station conducted a symposium on Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, to the members of the Out of School Youths (OSYs) in New Corella, Davao del Norte.

The symposium was held at the municipal gymnasium that was joined by more than 200 OSY participants coming from the different villages in New Corella.

The activity was aimed to inform the participants on how drugs destroy lives, and its ill-effects on health and the community.

The symposium also served as a venue to encourage the youth to support the government’s campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in the country.

Lt. Col. Davice Christopher G. Mercado, commander of 71st IB said that the army is extending its all-out support to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to the on-going war against illegal drugs and other criminalities.

“Drugs end all dreams.

The youth is the hope of tomorrow; you are the future leaders of the country. Be a responsible citizen and contribute to the well-being of your family, neighbors and community,” Mercado said.

He added that the fight against illegal drugs is not only the responsibility of the army, the local government and the police but also needs the cooperation and support of everyone in the community.

“Get involved and be part of our campaign,” Mercado told the OSY participants.

Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Philip Jefferson S. Ayban, New Corella PNP chief said that the government respects

the right to life as he urged youth to be serious in avoiding illegal drugs because the government is giving a chance to those who wants to change and fulfil their dreams.

Ayban also warned the youth of the consequences and the negative effects that they will face if they continue using illegal drugs.

Inspector Marvin M Estaciones, deputy chief of New Corella PNP served as the resource speaker and discussed the various types of prohibited drugs that are widely abused in the country; their effects to people and communities; and on how addiction leads to other forms of criminality. (PR)

He said that under the project, the police would now focus on a region-wide campaign against prominent government, military, police, and business persons believed involved in the illegal drug trade.

The new approach aims to reduce killings and put more emphasis into arresting high value targets engaged in the

drug trade, Sereñas said.

He said that the project would also assist in facilitating drug problem intervention programs as the police work with the community to clear the neighborhood of drug dependents, pushers, and suppliers.

Sereñas said that with the implementation of the ‘Project Double Barrel Alpha,’ the

police accomplishments in the anti-illegal drug drive has been reset to ‘zero accomplishment.’

He said that police regional director Chief Supt.

Noel Constantino has ordered the implementation of the “Project Double Barrel Alpha” during the regional police conference last Saturday.

(PNA)

Anti-illegal drug drive in Northern Mindanao now focused on prominent personalities

T

HE anti-illegal drug drive in Northern Mindanao is now focused against prominent personalities in the region, a ranking police official said Thursday.

Police Supt. Surki Sereñas, the regional police spokesperson in Northern Mindanao, said that the shift followed the implementation of ‘Project Double Barrel Alpha.’

Uy personally expressed his gratitude to PTO chief Nora Cagas for the big accomplishment that her office gained in the past months.

Among the towns in Compostela Valley, the municipality of Mabini topped the list with high real property tax collection registering 40.05% in September compared to last year.

New Bataan came in second with 39.29% increase and followed by Monkayo with 27.96% increase in real property tax collections.

HE city government has allocated some PHP30 million for the purchase of a 10-hectare property that will be developed as a relocation site for people living in calamity danger zones.

Head of the City Housing and Land Management Office, Mary Ann Bacar, said Thursday they are finalizing the arrangements for the acquisition of the resettlement site, which is projected to accommodate 700 low-cost housing units.

She declined to identify the location of the property pending the passage of a resolution by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) or the city council endorsing the purchase.

“We already have the money and identified the site, but we still have to wait for the issuance of authority from the city council to go ahead with the purchase,” she told reporters.

The official said the PHP30 million will be drawn from the city government’s disaster risk reduction and management fund.

Based on the parameters for the use of the fund, she said the beneficiaries of the resettlement site would be people living in identified flood- and landslide-prone and other vulnerable areas.

Bacar said the city government will partner with the government-owned and -controlled Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) and the nongovernmental group Habitat for Humanity Philippines for the development of the site.

She said the SHFC will reimburse the local government the PHP30 million it will pay for the purchase of

the site, and fund the construction of the housing units.

The official said the city government is planning to use the funds later for the purchase of another resettlement site.

Habitat meanwhile will help develop the housing units to reduce the standard cost of PHP450,000 per package to just PHP250,000, she said.

Bacar said the monthly amortization will be about PHP1,500 for each family-beneficiary of the house and lot package.

She assured that the housing units will be provided with all standard amenities and utilities, especially water and electricity.

“Hopefully, we can hold the ground breaking and start the development early next year,” she said.

With the rollout of the resettlement project, the city government is fast-tracking the crafting of the city’s shelter plan, which is part of the comprehensive land use plan that is being drafted by the local government, she said.

Last week, the city government signed a memorandum of understanding with Habitat and the Housing and Urban Development Council for various joint engagements in line with the development and implementation of a comprehensive shelter plan for the city.

The move is part of local government efforts to address the area’s housing backlog, which according to studies stands at 79,303.

The city has a total of 21,847 households living in informal settlements, including identified calamity danger zones. (PNA)

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6 ECONOMY

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

Zubiri pushes reforms in doing business in PH

S

CHRISTMAS IS COMING. A lady vendor peddles Christmas decorations along Roxas Avenue in Davao city yesterday, a reminder that Yuletide season is just around the corner. Lean Daval Jr.

Summit tackles envi, tenure, food security

By RIA VALDEZ

G

OVERNMENT agencies that include theDepartment of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launched a two-day Food Security, Land Tenure and Environmental Protection Summit that started on Thursday, November 3 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City.

The summit was joined by representatives from people’s organizations, members of the Civil Society Organizations

and non-government organizations from all over Mindanao.

The event will also serve as the venue for the government and stakeholders from multi-sectoral groups to present to the participants the country’s current state on food security, agrarian reform and environmental protection.

Challenges on the current land and food security situation in the country will also be discussed by participants to come up with solutions and suggestions to address such

pressing issues.

Davao City Councilor Marissa Salvador Abella, representing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, said that the city mayor commended the joint forces of the three government agencies for spearheading the event.

Abella also called for participation among the stakeholders present in order to determine what are their priorities and their recommendations to be included in the crafting of the Development Plan.

“Our City Mayor also emphasized that she is looking forward that the summit will pave the way for every Filipinos to have a roof over their heads, a staple food to eat and live in a healthy environment,” she added.

The summit was also graced by Jonas George Soriano of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary while Secretaries Rafael Mariano of DAR, Gina Lopez of DENR and Manny Pinol of DA are expected to join the summit on its second day today.

ENATE Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship Chairman Juan Miguel Zubiri is pushing for reforms to further ease doing business in the country.

In a statement, Zubiri said he is eyeing to legislate the streamlining of licenses and permits processes, information sharing between the national and local governments through online platform, and undertaking competitiveness test for local ordinances that would set new requirements for businesses.

In particular, the lawmaker aims for the following reforms in streamlining processes for business licenses and permits: --specific timeframe for approval of application for permit on per agency basis; --requirements and fees posted conspicuously in the premises and online in respective website; --uniform checklist of requirements; --automatic approval, deemed, if agency fails to inform applicant of any error, omission or additional requirement, beyond the set timeframe; --renewal on the anniversary date --longer validity periods --review of specific timeframe for each business type every five years, exclusive of timeframe for automatic approval, by the Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of information and communication Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Union of Local Government Associations of the Philippines, including the Leagues of cities, municipalities and provinces “These reforms have been overdue yesterday, and thus we recommend stiff penalties for individuals and offices who make it hard for business start-ups and expansions,”

said Zubiri.

“We are studying criminal and administrative penalties ranging from imprisonment to perpetual disqualification from public office, and, from suspension to dismissal from government service, respectively,” he added.

In the latest Doing Business Report of the World Bank Group-International Finance Corporation, the Philippines ranked 99 out of 190 countries with most business-friendly environment for local and foreign entrepreneurs.

The country’s ranking improved by four notches from last year’s spot at 103rd place.

The improvements can be attributed to reforms implemented in the previous year such as transparency in building regulations which made getting construction permits easier, setting online system for filing and paying health contributions, establishing online corporate income tax payments, and allowing offline completion of value-added-tax returns by the BIR. “Statistically, we are smack at the midpoint, but, holistically we’re worse. We fall behind Turkey (ranked 69th) which for the past two years has been embroiled in the Syrian war, South Africa (ranked 74th) which had to deal with drought and political strife and even Indonesia (ranked 91st) which suffers extensive forest fires for many successive years,” Zubiri noted.

“We try to grow our economy and drum up marketing promotions for our products abroad. However, internal weaknesses have made the bureaucracy lethargic. Antiquated rules, regulations and laws constrict business activities. We shall simplify and streamline as much as possible. If we hold business fairs and exhibitions for marketing, I shall also go on roadshows to disseminate information about ease of doing business reforms,” he added. (PNA)

DUCATION Secrteary Leonor Magtolis Briones said performance-based bonus (PBB) of public school teachers may be released before 2016 ends.

In a briefing at the sidelines of the two-day Education Summit 2016, which started Thursday at SMX in Pasay City, the Department of Education (DepEd) chief said nine regions have already submitted performance reports of their teachers.

Reports from two regions have yet to be reviewed by the agency while three regions have not submitted their reports.

“We are hoping that by November or before the end of the year they will get their bonuses,” she said.

Briones said about 722,000 teachers will have bonuses but the difference would

be on the amount they will be getting based on their performance.

The bonuses will cover performance of DepEd personnel for fiscal year 2015 which ranges from PHP5,000 to PHP35,000.

Briones said she also wants to talk to the teachers to get additional input on how to further improve the education system through the curriculum, among others.

“What I would like to discuss with the teachers, in addition to their performance bonus, is how are we going to increase positively to make our learners critical...(for the teachers) to be interested in curriculum changes, etc,” she said.

“Even as we award them for their performance I’d like to hear from them. If they are good teachers what are they good at,” she added. (PNA)

City lauds House body okay Public school teachers to get before yearend: Briones of Davao airport authority PBB E

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

T

HE City Government of Davao on Thursday acknowledged the House of Representatives on approving at the committee level the bill to establish the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA) to aid passengers on air travel.

Regina Rosa Tecson, officer-in-charge of City Tourism Office, said in an interview with EDGE Davao that she was happy upon hearing of the committee approval of the bill.

Earlier this week, the House committee on government enterprises and privatization chaired by North Cotabato 1st district Rep. Jesus Sacdalan approved House Bill No. 2002 that set for the establishment of DIAA. The bill was principally au-

thored by Deputy Speaker and Davao City 2nd district Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano.

After getting the nod of the committee, HB 2002 will be referred to the plenary for deliberations and reconsideration when the House resumes its sessions starting November 7, Wednesday.

“DIAA would greatly spur air travel in the city,” Tecson mentioned, adding that the passengers, when the DIAA takes place, will not be having difficulties in lining up to pay terminal fees at a single window in the airport every day.

Tecson added that the bill would contribute to the development of the country’s airports is crucial in fulfilling the tourism development plan.

She said that the bill will

also benefit the current administration to push spread development in Mindanao.

House Bill 2002 tasks the DIAA to administer and operate the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, also called the Davao International Airport.

In a separate interview, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) – Davao representative Rex Obcena explained that the bill will expect their office to “effectively control, manage, and supervise” the airport.

Obcena mentioned that the bill has been practiced in Manila and Cebu where they have their own airport authorities “It is important that it will be implemented here,” Obce-

na said, acknowledging that thousands of passengers pass through the airport every day.

He said that incorporating the terminal fee in the amount of the purchased ticket will make the airport operations more efficient for both domestic and international travelers, adding that the separate payment of terminal fees has been proven to be difficult for both airport personnel and passengers.

He also acknowledged the feedbacks that the airport has been receiving as some passengers feel uncomfortable upon arriving and departing despite their exerted efforts.

“We can now address all the issues and concerns at the airport,” he said now that the

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

PHL exports report 9% growth in cargo volume in Jan- Sept

P

HILIPPINE exports posted the highest growth percentage in cargo volume, pulling up the country’s total cargo throughput higher by nine percent in the first nine months of 2016.

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) data showed that throughput reached 183.730 million metric tons (mmt) as compared to the 168.074 mmt registered in the same period last year.

Foreign volume posted a 12.72 percent rise in traffic anchored on the 15 percent increase in export volume from 47.945 mmt in 2015 to 55.134 mmt for the period in review.

Similarly, import volume also posted a double-digit hike of 10.75 percent from 55.490 mmt to 61.459 mmt for the January to September period.

“This is a great indication that Philippine exporters are gearing up to compete in the international market and would not be left out in the run-up to Christmas,” PPA general manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago explained.

“Likewise, the double-digit growth in the import volume suggests that imported Christmas cargoes have also started to come in,” he added.

“However, even with the strong performance of both sectors, our ports remain to operate under optimum condition and we do not expect any slowdown in the movement at any given time,” the PPA chief stressed.

Domestic volume, meanwhile, posted a modest growth of 3.87 percent to 67.139 mmt from 64.638 mmt last year.

The increases in cargo volume were observed at the ports of Agusan, Mindoro, Bicol, Western Leyte/Biliran and Negros Oriental/Siquijor.

The North Port remains as the top performer in terms of domestic cargo volume with a share of 17.87 mmt or 24.8 percent of the total domestic volume and 9.73 percent of the total cargo throughput nationwide followed by Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga.

Container traffic, on the other hand, registered a 9.36 percent increase in volume for the period in review with 4.684 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) compared to the 4.283 million TEUs processed in the same period last year.

Foreign boxes dominated the containerized traffic after posting an 11.51 percent hike with volume reaching 2.869 million TEUs as compared to the 2.573 million TEUs handled in 2015.

Meanwhile, domestic cargoes reached 1.814 million TEUs or 6.12 percent higher than the 1.710 million TEUs posted last year. Of the total foreign containers, import boxes totaled 1.450 million TEUs while export boxes reached 1.419 million TEUs, increasing 13.97 percent and 9.11 percent, respectively.

As expected, the North Port ranked first in terms of volume of domestic boxes handled during the period with 906,519 TEUs while the Manila International Container Terminal handled the bulk of the foreign containerized cargoes with 1.602 million TEUs followed by the Manila South Harbor with 774,692 TEUs and Davao at 306,203 TEUs. The Philippines also continues its rise in the cruise tourism industry after passenger volume soared 10.7

M

ECONOMY 7

DTI monitors sale of defective lights

By RIA VALDEZ

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao City on Thursday said it will monitor the distribution of Christmas lights in various stores and outlets in the city until the end of the Christmas season.

Robert Barlis, Division Chief Consumer Welfare and Trade Regulation of DTI in the city told EDGE Davao that they agency will also cover big establishments to include malls, city-wide going as far as Calinan.

Barlis also reported that they already visited establishments in Chinatown and have found no major violations as far as their Christmas lights

products are concerned.

“All establishments are compliant,” he said, adding that these products have passed the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) requirements.

He also pointed out that consumers must check the ICC (Import Commodity Clearance) sticker when buying Christmas lights.

Barlis said the ICC sticker’s general feature is an alpha numerical serial code composed of a 7-digit number proceeded by a letter. The number represents the year when the lights are issued. The sticker is silver-colored and would change colors once it is moved.

He added that the DTI in the city has started its monitoring since the first week of October.

About one to two establishments were already caught having products with invalid ICC stickers during the course of their monitoring operations.

He however refused to name the said establishments.

“All products to be sold must be issued on January 2013,” he stressed, adding that products issued earlier than 2013 are no longer valid.

There are instances that quality of products deteriorate while being stored due to moisture or heat when exposed.

DTI would request the establishment caught violating the law to withdraw their sales.

Barlis added that DTI will issue notice of violation once an establishment is again caught twice of the same violation.

He mentioned that the list of DTI-approved distributors as of October 6 this year could be seen in the DTI website.

“Always look for the ICC sticker,” he stressed. For consumers to avoid fake stickers, Barlis advised the consumers to ask the establishment’s copy of the ICC certificate to prove that the products there are safe and valid.

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Tetangco expects little movement from markets after Fed’s decision

ARKETS are not expected to make bold moves next week following the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain anew its key rates after its November 1-2 meeting.

In a text message to reporters Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said “the Fed action is as expected, especially before the US elections”, scheduled on November 8.

The Fed, in a statement issued after the meeting, noted that the US labor market continues to improve and economic activity has risen.

It noted that “although the unemployment rate is little changed in recent months, job gains have been solid”.

It also cited the moderate increase in household spending and the soft performance of fixed investment.

Inflation is on the rise but still below the 2 percent longer-run objective, hence its decision to maintain its 0.25-0.50 percent interest rates, it said.

“The Committee judges

EDGEDAVAO

that the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has continued to strengthen but decided, for the time being, to wait for some further evidence of continued progress toward its objectives,” it said, adding that the “stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting further improvement in labor market conditions and a return to 2 percent inflation”.

Tetangco said analysts have projected a December hike in Fed rates, citing that “if that move does materialize, then it wouldn’t come as a surprise to the market”.

“That said, there is a lot to watch out for in the next week.

And it’s not likely that markets would make large movements in the meantime,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor developments both external and domestic, and consider these in our own policy assessment at our meeting next week,” he added.

The BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board will have its rate setting meet on November 10. (PNA)

BEFORE HUNGRY CUSTOMERS. A worker prepares to grill sliced pork and tuna before the eatery’s hungry costumers along P. Bangoy Street in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Sara orders massive crackdown on fixers at City Hall

D

AVAO City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has ordered a crackdown on fixers and their accomplices at the frontline offices of the City Hall.

The order came following complaints about the presence of fixers who are offering the public fast processing of documents and transactions at the frontline offices in exchange for money.

The frontline offices are the Office of the City Treasurer, the Business Bureau, Office of the City Assessor, Office of the Local Civil Registry, City Health Office, Office of the City Veterinarian, Office of the City Social Services and Development, and the Local Land Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Erwin Alparaque, the chief of the Human Resource and Management Office (HRMO),

said the order came with a stern warning to employees who are working in cahoots with fixers.

“The worst thing that might happen to employees who are involved in fixing is termination from office,” he said. “There might also be charges filed against them, especially if they are found to be the one who accepts money.”

The Anti-Red Tape Act

(ARTA) or Republic Act 9485 was enacted to ensure the efficiency of the delivery of government services by reducing red tape and preventing graft and corruption.

Fixing and helping with fixers are considered as a grave offense under the law.

“We have been strictly implementing the law but there are those who try to bend it

lion. Customer loan portfolio expanded by 15 per cent to P1.4 trillion on broad-based growth across all market segments. Meanwhile, total deposits rose 14 per cent to P1.8 trillion, supported by the 21 per cent increase in low-cost CASA deposits which now comprise 70 per cent of total deposits.

Fee-based income was up 15 per cent to P16.0 billion, while trading and foreign ex-

change income normalized to P4.5 billion, or a decline of 29 per cent.

Operating expenses increased by 29 per cent to P52.8 billion, which reflects the consolidation of One Network Bank (ONB) and BDO Life Insurance operations.

On a comparable basis net of these new businesses, operating expenses would have grown by only 12 per cent in line with the Bank’s continued

business expansion.

The Bank remained prudent and set aside P2.6 billion in provisions even as asset quality held firm. Gross non-performing loan (NPL) ratio was steady at 1.3 per cent, while NPL cover remained high at 143 per cent.

The Bank’s capital base stood at P215.4 billion, with Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) and Capital Adequacy

F SARA, 10

BDO net income up 10% to P19.3 B as of Sept.

B

DO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) posted a 10% year-onyear increase in net income to P19.3 billion in the first nine months of the year.

The Bank’s core lending, deposit-taking and fee-based businesses delivered solid results during the period, offsetting a more normalized contribution from Treasury activities.

Net Interest Income (NII) grew 16 per cent to P48.4 bil-

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8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

EDITORIAL

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Bright prospect for Davao-Shanghai ties

OW it can be told. It is not only President Rodrigo Duterte who opened inroads with China. In the microscale, his son Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte also whipped up a storm for Davao City in terms of trade and relations in a recent China visit.

Vice Mayor Duterte led a small Davao City delegation who visited Shanghai City for five days and opened doors for more trade relations and exchanges between the two cities. The visit was aimed at exploring possible trade and investment opportunities, including agricultural cooperation.

Shanghai, represented by its Vice Mayor Chen Yin, has assured the Davao delegation of more exchanges between Shanghai and Davao.

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

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JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ KENNETH IRVING K. ONG TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO RIA VALDEZ MEGHANN STA. INES Reporters NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle CHA MONFORTE LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents Cartoons Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: • HENRYLITO D. TACIO • EDCER C.B. ESCUDERO • ATTY. EMILY ZEN CHUA • GREGORIO G. DELIGERO JOHN CARLO TRIA • BORBONCARLOS • MARYMUNDA ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO•AGUSTIN • EMILY VIDA S. VALVERDE C. LUMBA • HENRY J. SCHUMACHER • VANESSA KATE MADRAZO• JONALLIER Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG ZENMIA CHUA • CARLOS• FRED MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG M. PEREZ

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Davao City’s resources in the tourism industry, agriculture, property development, energy, transportation infrastructure, and information and communications technology are the focal points of our investment potentials.

It is high time that Davao City take the quantum leap in promoting itself to the international market.

With the position of the national government to strengthen relations with our close neighbours in Asia, Davao City can take the lead in pursuing avenues for commercial trade and cooperation.

Shanghai is but a start, Davao, as a competitive city bustling with massive potentials, is ready to expand its wings to the world.

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LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile: (Smart) 0948-823-3685 Tel: (088) 852-4894

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ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

EDGEDAVAO “Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.” ― Erma Bombeck *** HE year is soon to end! Too much celebrations and holidays await.

In fact, we had just commemorated Halloween Day, a tradition which most Filipinos followed from Western civilization. Unknowingly, most people don’t know its origin.

“We do it because others are doing it,” said a neighbor.

For the uninformed, here’s a brief explanation from History Channel: “Evolving from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain, modern Halloween has become less about literal ghosts and ghouls and more about costumes and candy. The Celts used the day to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and also believed that this transition between the seasons was a bridge to the world of the dead. Over the millennia the holiday transitioned from a somber pagan ritual to a day of merriment, costumes, parades and sweet treats for children and adults.”

Okay, it’s time to get throw away those Halloween get-ups and dismantle those decorations associated with the horror stuff.

What about those Christmas decorations which some Filipinos are already putting up in their sala? Or those Christmas lights that have been blinking various colors and designs since September yet?

We, Filipinos, take pride as the country which celebrate the longest Christmas season

T

W

HEN President Rodrigo Duterte took the stage at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City last weekend, he was a picture of a triumphant leader returning to a people who have been deprived of their fair share in development by outsiders who ruled over them for centuries, some of whom were hostile and aggressive.

The crowd’s mood was not of fanfare but of familiarity, with people excited by what the first president from Mindanao would say.

There was an air of assurance and affirmation as one of their own now occupies the country’s seat of power in the far north. For many these are days of optimism, as the promise of change comes and the end of decades of armed struggle is in sight.

Duterte claims he has Moro blood from his mother Soledad Roa’s Maranao lineage. Further boosting his closeness to the Bangsamoro is having grandchildren who are Muslims, fathered by his eldest son who is married to a Tausug.

Without the cuss words he usually utters in his speeches, the President was respectful in communicating to his Moro audience. It also helps that God, he claimed, recently ordered him to stop using foul language.

But then he also knows that Muslims are not used to profanities in making a point

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

VANTAGE POINTS

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Thanksgiving in the world. After all, once the THINK ON THESE! month starts with a month ending in “ber” (referring to September, October, November and December), Christmas carols are already played in Henrylito D. Tacio the air – radio, henrytacio@gmail.com television and even in malls.

But when I spent my first holidays in the United States, I was totally surprised! It was already October and I didn’t see any Christmas decorations. I wondered, so I asked my sister Elena who has been living in the US for several years already.

“We don’t do that, Manoy,” she answered.

“First, we have to decorate something for Halloween, then Thanksgiving Day, and finally Christmas.”

Did you get that? So, after taking all those stuffs related to Halloween, the Americans have to decorate their homes again for the Thanksgiving. They use anything that go with harvesting like corn, wheat, straws, and even scarecrows to adorn their homes and malls.

Thanksgiving Day maybe unheard of in the Philippines (although some American missionaries are introducing it in some evangelical churches) but the counterpart I could think of is the fiesta celebration which most Catholic

churches are known for.

Thanksgiving Day is a big celebration in North America, particularly the United States and Canada. It was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. In the US, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

Wikipedia shares this information: “In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a sparsely documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts.

The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. Pilgrims and Puritans who began emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England.”

Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders in New England up until 1682, and then by both state and church leaders until after the American Revolution.

“During the revolutionary period,” Wikipedia reports, “political influences affected the issuance of Thanksgiving proclamations. Various proclamations were made by royal governors, John Hancock, General George Washington, and the Continental Congress, each giving thanks to God for events favorable to their causes.”

But it was George Washington, as president of the United States, who proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the

many and signal favors of Almighty God.” Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated in a secular manner as well.

Craig D. Lounsbrough, in “An Intimate Collision: Encounters with Life and Jesus,” wrote: “Thanksgiving is not some formulaic action based on a tedious ledger that neatly tallies everything I have received so I can determine if being thankful is warranted or not. Rather, it’s appreciating the fact that I have already received the privilege of living life which in and of itself will fill the whole of my ledger for the whole of my life.”

Filipinos may not celebrate Thanksgiving Day but we have so many things to thank for.

And why is it hard for us to say, “Thank you”?

Frank Mihalic wrote: “Saying ‘Thank you’ helps not only ourselves but also the people who hear it. If we thank people, they don’t forget it. And the next time around, they will be glad to be of help to us. They feel they owe us something. Thanking people cheer them up; you can see their faces light up. It makes their work lighter. They go on doing the same old job, but somehow it seems interesting and easier.

“The words “Thank You” bear fruit immediately. When we are thanked, our first reaction is to go and thank someone else. And in that way, we start a whole chain reaction of thanks.

“What is particularly inspiring is thanks from above: parents thanking children, bosses thanking employees, teachers thanking pupils.

Why is it that thanks is automatic to a stranger and not to those near?”

MINDAVIEWS

tary, noted that statistics that place ARMM on top of malnutrition and poverty lists among the country’s regions made the President uneasy during a cabinet meeting during the first few days of his term.

Assistance for conflict-affected regions will also come from other sources apart from the central government. Talks of a new deal with a Japanese supermarket chain that wants to source its bananas especially from conflict-affected areas in Mindanao is just the start of an expected trend wherein Bangsamoro areas would be prime real estate in terms of private investments in the near future.

Even in years past, when the President was still mayor of Davao City, he has already expressed his desire for the Bangsamoro areas to move forward, not just to have peace but to attain sustainable development at pace with its neighbors – perhaps at a growth level that could compete with the island’s high-income regions such as Davao and Northern Mindanao.

After all, he would then explain, the agro-climatic resources of the Moro provinces are no different from Mindanao’s more progressive regions. That is part of the reason why investments in agribusiness plantations have spilled over to ARMM provinces and other neighboring regions in recent years, notwithstanding threats from armed conflict.

Official Development Assistance from foreign agencies is expected to come in as well.

Since President Duterte could steer where development funds should go – in both sectoral use and location – priority areas are expected to be those lagging behind in socio-economic development.

Security is a critical variable, however, and efforts on this concern should be exerted not just by the national government but by the Bangsamoro leaders as well. The first crucial steps, of course, were already taken by the previous administrations. This was followed by the reinforcement of established relationships, as trust and goodwill have been expressed by the Duterte administration as soon as it started four months ago.

With vastly improved peace and order, having adequate resources – or at least gaining the desired development momentum – in the next few years would have a direct impact on the desire of the President to shift to a federal form of government. Under this system, states that were once separate regions would have more autonomy and empowered local government units that have the potential to steer our country along the promised path of prosperity.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Amir Mawallil is the executive director of the ARMM Bureau of Public Information.)

On Duterte’s ARMM visit

BY AMIR MAWALLIL

during conversations.

His first official visit to the seat of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) last weekend is a breakthrough in itself, in a territory whose leaders and residents often feel neglected by the central government.

Duterte thus made initial moves to correct some of the injustices the Moros have suffered from. First is the fight to reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition, supported by the national government’s resources and guaranteed to have his personal attention – a response to the wishes of the region’s poorest of the poor.

Among the priorities in his Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda for the ARMM is providing access to production tools and the needed electricity in the agriculture and fisheries sector, to social and health services, and to skills training and employment.

Other areas in Mindanao where development has been stalled by armed conflict also stand to benefit from his administration’s said agenda.

Prior to the President’s arrival, Judy Taguiwalo, Social Welfare and Development Secre-

10 NEWS DA... FROM 1

affect the recent price increase.

“Some areas in Luzon affected by the typhoon still source out their supplies from Mindanao,” Dubli said.

She added that the observance of “Undas” also caused limited access to transportation that delayed the delivery of the affected basic commodities to market centers.

Premium rice was among the commodities that made an increase as its market price now range to P44 per kilo (kg) or an increase of P3.00 compared to its previous P41/kg price.

Other commodities include pork lean meat that recorded an increase of P5 increase from P180/kg, now P185/kg; pork buto-buto, now P145/kg with P5 increase from P140/kg; and cattle spare ribs, now P200/kg with P10 increase from P190/kg.

Bangus or milkfish is also affected as its price per kilo increased by P20, DA said, from

P100/kg to P100/kg.

Vegetables and spices are also affected by increases – the Baguio beans, now at P65/ kg from P60/kg; habichuelas, now at P80/kg from P70/kg; and onion, now P120/kg from P100/kg.

DA also recorded some increased in fruits, durian now is being sold at P42/kg from P30/kg; papaya (solo ripe), now P35/kg from P25/kg; pomelo (medium), now P60/ kg from P35/kg.

Meanwhile, the agency also recorded a decrease on the price of other commodities such as well-milled rice, yellow corn grits, Lapu-lapu, tomato, mango, banana (saba), banana (latundan), cabbage, dried salpakas, galunggong, tilapia, and okra.

Dubli said that decrease in prices of said commodities range from P2 to P40.

Decrease in prices is due to the uneven distribution of said commodities.

Peace Process (OPAPP) On October 27, Judge Rowena Modesto-San Pedro of RTC Branch 58 in Pasig City granted the motion of Misuari.

The suspension will last for a period of six months from the date of the issuance of said court resolution.

President Duterte, in Malacañang on Thursday lauded Misuari’s decision to come back to the negotiating table to talk peace.

“It is with great happiness that I announce to the nation that Chairman Nur Misuari,

our brother who heads the MNLF has finally decided to just accept my invitation for him to talk to us,” the President said.

He also assured Misuari that there was never an intention to deprived him of his liberty and asked the rebel leader work together with his other Moro brothers to create a country that is good for the next generation.

OPAPP secretary Jesus Dureza personally fetched Misuari in Sulu around noon on Thursday.

volunteers came from Manila, Cebu, Tacloban, and Malaysia.

Other services in the mission done in collaboration with the local doctors and pharmacists in Davao City include check-ups in general medicine, dental, and in Pedia.

“We hope this is not the

first and last mission in Davao,” said Herrera.

Tzu Chi Foundation had celebrated its 50th year anniversary last March. They have consistently given medical missions nationwide and extended help to the victims of typhoon Ondoy and Yolanda.

and violate,” said Alparaque.

“We have recently received reports about the presence of fixers and we refuse to tolerate these activities.”

These fixers can be seen mostly outside the Sangguniang Panlungsod building

where most of the frontline offices are located.

Mayor Inday has already dispatched a team tasked to monitor the activities at the frontline offices and make the necessary reports to quell the activities of fixers. (CIO)

bill is set for deliberation at the plenary in the House.

Obcena added that the there will be more foreign airlines that will be established in Davao as connectivity of flights is one of the problems on why there are only limited foreign

tourists or investors who are visiting Davao.

“With an airport authority we can collaborate with the city government on planning what should be done to improve the airport,” Obcena said.

percent to 49.619 million anchored on the 35.78 percent increase in foreign passenger volume registering 73,348 from only 54,021 foreign passengers last year.

Domestic passenger traffic, meanwhile, posted a 10.71 percent rise to 49.545 million

passengers from 44.752 million passengers last year.

Shipcalls for the period went up by 7.26 percent or from 286,166 in 2015 to 306,949 this year. Domestic and foreign shipcalls grew by 6.99 percent and 17.67 percent, respectively. (PNA)

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

FOUNDATION OF A HOME. A man gathers pebbles which he will use in constructing the foundation of a house he is building for his parents near the Badjao community in Matina Aplaya, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Arrest warrant vs. Misuari suspended: DOJ

D

EPARTMENT of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday announced the suspension of the warrant of arrest issued against Moro National Liber-

ation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari in connection with his role in the 2013 Zamboanga City siege. ”Not lifted. Proceedings were only suspended. Thus,

But the raiding team found four bullets for cal. 380.

The raiding team also searched the mayor’s six cars and his piggery in nearby village. Piggery workers said they were asked where is the shabu laboratory.

“We were told to drop face down,” the caretaker said.

“There’s no shabu lab here, what we have are swine and feeds.” A bullet was found in the piggery rest house.

Palencia has been accused of being a drug and gambling lord by his political rivals but he repeatedly denied it.

Last month, the anti-drug police unit raided the houses

of two village chairs in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

He was the second mayor in Mindanao whose house was raided by anti-narcotics agents. The police also raided the house of Mayor Christopher Cuan of Libungan, North Cotabato last Saturday where guns and bullets were found.

The anti-drug police unit also raided the house of Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao but the police found nothing.

Dimaukom and nine of his men were later killed in a police shootout in Makilala, North Cotabato. (PNA)

Ratio (CAR) both remaining above the current regulatory minimum under the Basel III framework.

The Bank issued last month USD300 million in Fixed Rate Senior Notes at 2.63 per cent, the lowest ever coupon rate for any US Dollar denominated bond for a Philippine issuer.

Further, the Bank recently announced a plan to raise P60

billion in additional core capital through a stock rights offer.

The fresh capital will support the Bank’s medium-term growth objectives amid the country’s favorable macroeconomic prospects, and provide a comfortable buffer over higher capital requirements with the forthcoming imposition of the Domestic Systemically Important Bank (DSIB) surcharge.

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EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ALFONSO DE LA PEÑA and DELFINA SALUDO DE LA PEÑA who died on April 14, 2005 and July 19, 2016 in Davao City has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among their heirs, per Doc. No.497; PageNo.100; Book No. XIV; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC JANIS LOUIS H. ESPARCIA. 10/21,28,11/4

implementation of warrant of arrest against Misuari was suspended,” Aguirre said in a text message sent to reporters.

As of posting, the DOJ officials are in the process of acquiring a copy of the order from the Pasig Regional Trial Court.

Earlier, Aguirre said this is part of the government’s efforts to pursue peace negotiations with Moro rebels as he

already talked to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza on the matter.

“That is part of the peace talks. I think there will be no problem with respect to the MNLF. Nag-usap na kami ni Secretary Dureza, meron na kaming gagawin dun,” Aguirre told reporters during the press briefing last September 19 which held at the DOJ main office in Manila. (PNA)

internet connection at home. It was enough to upload pictures, to accomplish my blog posts.

But now it’s completely different. There are different kinds of media now like video. Peo-

ple are really into video now.”

“When you are blogging, the content is really heavy and the file sizes are really large so that would require a stable connection,” he said.

the total cost of the bridge will be recovered in at least a hundred years.

The visitors were able to frolic in what is called Land Between the Sea and the Sky, a one-hectare service center built in the middle, in Kilometer 18, of the 36km bridge. The service center has a resting area, a restaurant, a gas station, a hotel, a conference, and a lookout tower built for tourists who want to watch the tide. The bridge is said to be a quadruple A tourism spot. (Please see photos).

To be sure the Hangzhou Bay Bridge is not the only fantastic bridge in length and viewing splendor in China.

In fact, 7 of the world’s 10 longest bridges are in China.

The world’s longest bridge over water – the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge – was inaugurated in 2011.

It is more than 42.24 km (26.4 miles) long, three miles longer than Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana, U.S.A., the previous record-holder.

a magnitude 8 earthquake, typhoons or the impact of a 300,000-ton vessel.

“At least 10,000 workers toiled in two teams around the clock to build the bridge, which was constructed from opposite ends and connected in the middle in the last few days,” according a January 2011 report from Beijing by David Eimer.

“A staggering 450,000 tons of steel was used in its construction – enough for 65 Eiffel Towers –and 2.3 million cubic metres of concrete, equivalent to filling 3,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools,” he added.

As of now, the world’s bridges are: Weihe Grand Bridge with the length of 79,732 meters in China; Bang Na Expressway with 54,000 meters in Thailand; Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, 38,442 m (USA); Manchac Swamp Bridge, 36,710 m (USA); Yangcun Bridge, 35, 810 m (China); Hangzhou Bay Bridge 35,673 m (China), Runyang Bridge, 35,660 m (China); Donghai Bridge 32,500 m (China); Shanghai Maglev line, 29,908 m (China); and Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, 29,290 m (USA). (Next: The people’s war against corruption)

Dabawenyos... FROM 11 FEATURE... FROM A2

World’s longest bridge Built in just four years at a cost of 5.5 billion Sterling pounds, the six-lane bridge is supported by 5,200 columns and is designed to withstand

INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

EDGEDAVAO EVENT

A fine wine experience I LOVE WINE, the minute nuances and complex aromas and taste. Tasting wine is a beautiful experience and sharing that wine experience on the evening of October 14 was Et Vinum Bonum at Wild Garlic.

The food and wine experience featured three different wines paired with Wild Garlic’s menu.

Wines featured were the Elderton Unoaked Chardonnay from Australia, the Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and the Elderton Estate Cabernet Sauvignon also from Australia.

Although I am not normally a fan of Chardonnay, the Elderton Unoacked Chardonnay 2014 was light and fruity and paired well with the shrimp appetiser served. Having the Chardonnay unoaked clearly brought out the subtlety and juiciness of the grape without sacrificing the body of the wine.

The Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc 2015 that followed was my favourite of the evening.

With its light and crisp flavour and bright citrus finish, the wine was clearly at its peak.

I could just have this wine on its own while enjoying sunshine by the beach.

The only red wine featured, the Elderton Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is a beautiful red wine with notes of red berries, plums, and a hint of chocolate.The wine was silky and rich on the palate with a nice luxurious finish which can pair well with cheese or grilled lamb chops.

“This is just the start of what we have in store for the future,” said Et Vinum Bonum’s Sunday Hamoy, “We plan to have more events in the future once we open our own wine cellar soon.”

Congratulations to Et Vinum Bonum and cheers to a wonderful event.

“

Although I am not normally a fan of Chardonnay, the Elderton Unoacked Chardonnay 2014 was light and fruity and paired well with the shrimp appetiser served.

A2 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDA

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

FEATURE

9 days in The gr

By Antonio M. Ajero

A Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commissions visited the construction site several times when he was Zhejiang Provincial Committee Secretary.

MONG the manmade wonders that Davao media practitioners enjoyed fairly well while touring the People’s Republic of China two months ago was the Hangzhou Bay Bridge. It is a highway bridge built across Hangzhou Bay in the eastern coastal region of the country. It connects the municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo in Zhejiang province. The bridge is 36 kilometers long (The exact length is 35.733 km). Opened to the public May 1, 2008 after one year of testing and evaluation, the bridge shortened the distance between Ningbo and Shanghai from 400 kilometers to 280 km and reduced travel time between the two places from 4 to just 2 hours.

According to Lin Wenti, chief manager of the Ningbo Hangzhou Bay Bridge Development Company who granted an interview to the visiting reporters together with some of his staff, seemingly insurmountable difficulties were faced by the builders

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EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

China Part 6 reat bridges of China the mighty bridge.

hallenges in construction As an entry in Wikipedia stated hat “because of the many difficules facing such a tremendous build, most 600 experts spent nearly a ecade designing the bridge.” After he design was completed, the next hallenge was offshore construcon. Several parts of the bridge ke piers, box girders, and even he bridge foundations, had to be bricated on land and then transorted to the area for which they ere built.

The unfriendly weather in the gion was another big challenge to he builders.

Lin told Dabawenyo and Mala mediamen that the deepest ortion of the bay where the bridge as built was 7 meters, but the curnt and the waves gave the builders lot of problems.

Another entry in Wikipedia uoted Wang Yong, chief director the Hangzhou Bay Trans-OceanBridge Construction Command ost as saying the bridge was being

built “In the world’s most complicated sea environment, with one of the three biggest tides on Earth, the effects of typhoons and the difficult content of sea soil.” It is said that that “erosion of materials and cracking and bubbling in any concrete components became a large problem.”

The third major challenge has to do with the discovery of an area of toxic methane gas about 50 meters underground below the location of the bridge. “No drilling could be completed before the gas pressure was alleviated. To do this, steel pipes measuring 60 cm in diameter were inserted into the ground, slowly releasing the methane six months prior to drilling,” the Wikipedia entry bared.

Built to last 100 years Lin told us visiting newsmen from the Philippines that an average of 30,000 vehicles use the bridge every day, paying an average toll fee of 80 yuan of toll. If I heard it right,

FEATURE P10

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

Serving a seamless society

EDGE DAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

A4 INdulge!

ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

GMA Network debuts ‘Hahamakin Ang Lahat’ GMA NETWORK DEBUTS A COMPELLING LOVE STORY in Hahamakin ang Lahat.

The story revolves around the repeating fates of a mother and her child who both had to bear the agony of not being able to be with the man they truly love because of the struggles and conflicts they encounter in winning the approval of their family.

This drama series stars three of Philippine television’s respected actors.

Eula Valdez is Ivy Tan. She comes from a rich Chinese family who falls in love a man who her father does not approve of.

She is willing to sacrifice everything to be with the man she loves.

Ariel Rivera is Nelson Solano, a pure Filipino who is in love with Ivy and is willing to fight for her. He assures Ivy that he will love her for the rest of his life.

Snooky Serna is Laura Caraca, Ivy’s maid whom she considers a friend. She was the one who helped Ivy and Nelson with their plan to elope.

Joining them are GMA Network’s next generation of multi-

talented artists.

Joyce Ching is Rachel Tan Ke. She is Ivy’s daughter but she grew up knowing that her mother is Ivy’s sister. She gets pregnant by her boyfriend but he escapes

from his responsibility and runs away.

Kristoffer Martin is Junjun Labsat, Laura’s son who will deeply fall in love with Rachel and he is willing to do anything

for her to love him back.

Thea Tolentino is Phoebe Tan Ke, the scheming and backstabber sister of Rachel. She will also be attracted to Junjun but will not act on it because she doesn’t

want to be disowned by her family.

Completing the cast are Chinggoy Alonzo as Erickson Tan, the strict father of Ivy; Marc Abaya as Luisito Labsat, Laura’s faithful husband; Jett Pangan as Charlie Ke, Cynthia’s husband who is nice to Ivy; Marina Benipayo as Cynthia Tan Ke, Ivy’s older sister who is jealous of her; Renz Valerio as Puloy, Junjun’s loyal friend; Mona Louise Rey as Gigi, the youngest daughter of Laura and Sito; introducing Bruno Gabriel as Santi Valderama, Rachel’s boyfriend who will get her pregnant.

Under the direction of Don Michael Perez, witness how life is fulfilled not just by everlasting love, but also by an enduring faith in Hahamakin Ang Lahat beginning October 31 after Oh, My Mama! on GMA Afternoon Prime.

Get the latest updates about Hahamakin Ang Lahat from the official Facebook page of GMA Drama www.facebook.com/ GMADrama, Twitter account @ GMADrama and the GMA Network website www.GMANetwork.com.

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

DTI announces more PHL investment opportunities D

Water service interruption in parts of city on Nov 5 - 6

D

EPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez highlighted the growing trade and investment opportunities in the country at the Philippine Economic Forum, witnessed by Filipino and Japanese business delegates in Tokyo recently (26 October).

The trade chief shared that as the fastest growing economy among select Asian countries with stable credit ratings, the Philippines vows to develop large-scale infrastructures, provide competitive investment incentives and implement sound national industrial strategies.

Sec. Lopez also encouraged Japan to continue partnering with the country in develop-

ing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the main drivers of the country’s economic growth.

Top Philippine products for promotion to Japan are in

the areas of electronics and semiconductors, minerals, chemicals, construction materials, motor vehicle parts, and food, health and wellness.

Opportunities in the

livery (86-2-36, www.mcdelivery.com.ph, or the McDo PH app.)

Balance the kick of McSpicy with its yin-and-yang match, the McFreeze, McDonald’s refreshing and icy drink, available in Frozen Coke and Frozen Royal.

Just when everyone thought that McSpicy had been gone for too long, McDonald’s delights customers again with a new TV commercial featuring Elisse Joson and McCoy de Leon, the rising loveteam popularly known as “McLisse.” Could it be that like McSpicy, there is something more to them than meets the eye? See for yourself by watching their newest McSpicy feature on this LINK. Treat yourself with McSpicy and share your photos on Facebook, facebook.com/ McDo.ph or tag @McDo_PH on Twitter or Instagram.

(PWD) who does not let his wheelchair limit his accomplishments. The 28-yearold Davao resident already has two businesses that employ PWDs – a travel agency and an online center teaching English to Japanese businessmen. He also travels a lot, and manages to mix business with leisure using mobile internet.

“I have done various online work because it’s convenient for me as a PWD. I always encourage my fellow PWDs to work online and go out. PWD ka na nga, hindi ka pa lalabas.

Now that internet connection is available everywhere you go, you can work and enjoy at the same time,” he said.

It’s helped, Almario said, that ever since Smart Communications implemented a network rollout in Metro Davao, he has felt “very obvious” improvements in his mobile internet connection.

“Back then I had to go home just to connect to the internet. But now, a lot of places in Davao already have strong internet. When I’m at a café, I no longer need to ask them if they have WiFi. Because I can already access the internet on my Smart LTE pocket WiFi, and I have no problem doing so.”

Smart’s network improvement efforts in Davao are focused on tripling LTE-capable sites in the city and surrounding municipalities. This is part of Smart and parent company PLDT’s three-year plan to cover 95% of the country’s cities and municipalities with LTE service by end-2018. LTE is the fastest wireless data service that is commercially available.

Almario urged PWDs to take advantage of improved

Philippines for Japanese investors are in the areas of manufacturing, information technology, agribusiness and aquaculture and private-public partnership projects. (PR)

AVAO City Water District advises of a water service interruption from 8:00 PM of November 5 to 3:00 AM of November 6 affecting the entire Sapid Compound, Hacienda Heights, Batalla Village, Maligaya Village, Bacalso Compound, Greenhills Subd., Bacanaya Compound, BRC Village, Keith Williams Subd., and Rosalina Village 1, portions of Adciville Subd., Davao-Bukidnon Road (from Green Meadows Subd. to Ulas Cemetery), and immediate environs.

This water service interruption is needed for the tapping of bypass line for the installation of pressure regulating valve at Km. 12 Catalunan Pequeño. Once completed, said project will help reduce non-revenue water.

The DCWD management asks for the understanding

and cooperation of would-be affected customers. They are also advised to store enough water prior to the scheduled water interruption as water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates. They may also call / text 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293 and 09084410653 for other updates, concerns, queries, and matters pertaining to DCWD services. (John Winston Anthony C. Ajero II).

“Mobile internet is absolutely necessary for us. When you’re working at an online news site, you have to be first when the news strikes. And it could happen anywhere,” he said.

“A few months ago, our team was in a Japanese restaurant when the President made an important announcement.

Right then and there, no need for WiFi, we used our mobile phone to post the story,” Joaquin shared.

The veteran journalist said he had experienced service disruptions when Smart was working on its network, but added that he was now experiencing the benefits.

“Across the street where I live is a Smart tower. Every once in a while, I could see people going up the tower. I could see that work was being done.

In the past weeks, service has been very reliable. One time I did a speed test in a place where mobile internet speed used to be less than 1 Mbps. At the time I checked it, the speed was at 17-18 Mbps already.”

Joaquin added that the improvement was most felt indoors. “Our studio used to be a dead spot. I had to go out to even make a call. But I was

surprised when, starting two weeks ago, I could already use mobile internet inside.”

Have your day spiced just right with Dabawenyos do their work on the go with improved Smart LTE APREY Almario is a every bite of McDonald’s McSpicy person with disability

N

R

OUTINE gets things going, but every once in a while, you find yourself looking to add some excitement to an otherwise boring and monotonous day. Break out from your usual and welcome a change in pace. Try something thrilling as McDonald’s brings back the answer to your craving—the McSpicy!

Bite into the McSpicy, McDonald’s comeback burger, made with a juicy cut of 100% whole chicken meat, marinated with the perfect blend of flavors—spiced just right for the Filipino palate. It’s topped with crunchy lettuce and creamy mayo, and sandwiched in a uniquely shaped, toasted sesame bun!

As the awaited McSpicy returns to the McDonald’s menu, you can have it when you dine-in at any McDonald’s restaurant nationwide or avail of it via Drive-Thru or McDe-

mobile internet services. “I always tell them that it’s very convenient now; they don’t have to worry about a thing.

Some of them think the internet is expensive, but I think it’s more affordable now, especially mobile data.”

Tests show improvements Customer experience tests conducted by Smart in October supported the positive feedback the company got from subscribers. Significant improvements from June figures were recorded, in terms of success rates in loading a page and uploading a photo within 10 seconds.

For both LTE and 3G, median download and upload speeds improved, and 100% of video streaming attempts went seamlessly.

An LTE-Advanced speed test also conducted in October produced a download speed of 109 Mbps, and an upload speed of 13 Mbps.

Faster internet for a fastpaced job Jon Joaquin, editor of news website MindaNation.com, is another Davao resident who uses Smart LTE, on his Lenovo S90, for work.

A satisfied “happiness engineer” Andrew dela Serna had similar sentiments. A happiness engineer at Wordpress, he uses live chat and email to provide customer support, and has weekly video calls with his colleagues from all over the world.

“My indoor experience with Smart LTE used to be good, but it was not very reliable. That’s why I would rely on the internet connection of the place where I was in. But now I can rely on my Samsung S7 with Smart SIM because everywhere I get LTE,” he said.

“Ever since Smart did some upgrades here in Davao City, the experience has been really good. Even when I’m inside an enclosed space, my internet connection is still strong,” dela Serna added.

Aside from using mobile internet for his job at Wordpress, dela Serna enjoys Smart’s improved mobile data as a blogger.

“Before, I wasn’t using my phone to blog. I relied on the

F DABAWENYOS, 10

12ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

The vanishing

crocodiles

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

W

HEN the death of a saltwater crocodile, measuring 14 feet and 9 inches long and two feet and two inches wide, was reported recently, some people were wondering why it should be a news.

The Philippines is home to two species of crocodiles.

Both are considered “critically endangered” and need to be protected, according to Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), a line agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The saltwater crocodile, known in the science world as “Crocodylus porosus,” is the only crocodile found in the country that is allowed for commercial production.

Aside from the Philippines, this species can also be found in Indo-Pacific Region such as India, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Fortunately, saltwater

crocodile “is not globally threatened with extinction,” to quote the words of Mabuwaya Foundation, whose primary goals is to save the Philippine crocodiles from extinction.

But in the Philippines, saltwater crocodiles are becoming rare and they are locally extinct from most locations where they historically occurred. The reasons for their appearance: high demand for their skin.

“The saltwater crocodile is normally found in coastal waters, mangroves, rivers and large lakes that are connected to the sea,” the Mabuwaya Foundation says of the marine creature also known as estuarine crocodile.

According to the environment department, the young saltwater crocodiles eat insects, amphibians, crustaceans and fish. Adults eat animals such as monkeys, pigs, birds, cattle, bats and even sharks.

They prefer to hunt at night.

“This species is able to survive long periods in saltwater and is capable to travel long

distance through open sea,” the foundation states. “It is the longest crocodile in the world.

Because of its size, large adult seawater crocodiles are potentially very dangerous to people and are feared as occasional man-eaters.”

Pangil of Crocodile Park

Marc Nelson with young crocodile Lolong, the massive saltwater crocodile, was 21 feet long (6.4 meters).

In contrast, the endemic freshwater crocodile, also known as Philippine crocodile

(“Crocodylus mindorensis”) is much smaller with a maximum recorded length of about 10 feet (3.1 meters). “This species lives in freshwater habitats such as lakes, rivers

and creeks but is also known to occasionally venture into saltwater habitats such as mangrove forest and intertidal coastal areas, possible when moving between coastal rivers.”

Brian Clark, who covers the environment for “National Geographic,” reports that female Philippine crocodiles are slightly smaller than males.

“Both sexes have broad snouts and heavy armor,” he wrote.

“They are golden-brown in color, although their skin darkens as they age.”

Young Philippine crocodiles, the environment department reports, prey on shrimps, dragonflies, small

fish and snails. Adults, on the other hand, feed on large fish, pigs, dogs, snakes and water birds.

In the past, Philippines crocodiles should to teem the waters and marshes in the islands of Mindoro, Busuanga in northern Palawan, Masbate, Negros, Samar, Mindanao and in the Sulu archipelago.

So far, there only about 250 Philippine crocodiles left in the wild. As such, they are considered as the world’s most endangered species of crocodilian.

In 2013, the Philippine government released 36 freshwater crocodiles in the

F ENVIRONMENT, 13

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

ENVIRONMENT... FROM 12

Paghowangan Marsh in Pilar, Surigao del Norte in an effort to bolster the population of

the endangered reptile. All the released animals were yearlings.

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“Based on our assessment, it will balance the ecosystem of the area, considering that the Philippine crocodiles have reduced in number for many years already,” Dr. Lim was quoted as saying by “Philippine Daily Inquirer.” “We hope it will enrich the ecosystem, enrich the waters, and make more species thrive.”

It may be a good news for the environment but not to the people who live near the areas where crocodiles thrive.

After all, the mere thought of a crocodile makes some people shudder with fear and revulsion. A rumor about the presence of a crocodile in a river is enough to make people shun the area.

But according to the BMB, crocodiles actually have no any willful inclination and intention to attack humans.

In fact, there are many wildlife sanctuaries in the country wherein crocodiles live peacefully together with human beings.

It is only when human beings try to disturb the habitat the crocodiles are living in that they attack people. With the current population of 100 million and the land area being constant, there is no way people won’t claim those areas currently being inhabited by crocodiles.

“Crocodiles are being hunted down and killed,” deplored one environmentalist.

“Unless we do something to

save them from vanishing in our waters, they will soon be extinct. We may only see them in national parks or museums and not in their natural habitat.”

“Roughly a quarter of the world’s 23 crocodilian species is either threatened or virtually extinct in the wild,” deplores the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Crocodile Specialist Group. “Before new populations of Philippine crocodiles were discovered on the island of Luzon in 1999, none had been spotted in the wild for years.”

The Philippine crocodiles are listed in the IUCN’s Red List of endangered species.

“Very little is known to the researchers about the behavior and ecology of this species,” the website allthesesea. com notes.

The tremendous decrease of the population of Philippine crocodiles was due to the “destruction of their natural habitat by the human beings.”

It explains: “As human population continues to grow, the natural habitat of these species is being used for agriculture and other purpose.”

Apart from this, dynamite fishing has also killed many of these crocodiles.

“The measures taken by the government in order to protect them is not sufficient and the attitude of the local towards these crocodiles is negative,” the website points out.

Delight in a Merry Magical Disney Christmas at SM Lanang Premier

M

AGICAL surprises from the world’s leading family entertainment company are in store atDavao’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination this holiday season.

SM Lanang Premier, in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia, brings for the very first time in Davao,a unique Disney Christmas experience from November 5, 2016 to January 8, 2017.

On Saturday, November 5, 6pm, usher the merriest time of the year with Mickey Mouse at the grand Christmas launch slated at the Atrium. Witness the unveiling of the Disney Christmas Villageand the lighting of the city’s tallest indoor holiday tree decked with Disney-inspired ornaments.

Create fun memories and enjoy the whimsy of theDisney Christmas Village, which features life-size Mickey and Minnie’s houses and Goofy’s Diner.

Catch also musical

performances from SM Little Stars 2015 Grand WinnerAnnastacia Penny and Davao Girls Choir during the grand launch.

For premium Christmas gift ideas, goholiday shoppingof your favorite Disney items at the retail area locatedat the Atrium from November 5 to January 8.

In 2015, the SM Group has forged a partnership with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia in bringing well-loved Disney brand of stories closer to Filipinos through mall, retail and amusement opportunities.

Envisioned as a venue where Filipinos bond with their families, SM aims to give customers a lifetime of happy memories through such worldclass entertainment offerings from Disney for the kids and the young at heart.

Experience a magical Disney Christmas at SM Lanang Premier!

For event updates, visit SM Lanang Premier’s official account on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

EDGEDAVAO

14 PROPERTY Five-star Dusit Thani Residences to be an ‘Oasis in Davao City’

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

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Torre Lorenzo- Dusit International partnership’s southern venture to usher in a new era of luxury living in Mindanao

OW rising and scheduled to open in the second half of 2018 in Lanang is Davao City’s first five-star residential and resort development, the Dusit Thani Residences (DTR). Designed to celebrate the nature that surrounds it by respected firm Rchitects, Inc. for Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TDLC) in partnership with Dusit Thani International, DTR is expected to raise the bar in residential and hospitality developments in Davao City.

An oasis in the middle of the city “The area around Dusit Thani Residences is surrounded by breath-taking views of greenery, of banana plantations and tall coconut trees, and floating in the brilliantly blue Davao gulf. Each component of DTR’s design and architecture – from the structure of the building, to the layout of each space, down to the choice of colors inside the structure – were carefully chosen to perfectly comple-

ment the beauty that Davao and its culture already holds,” explains Architect Bong Recio, principal of Rchitects, Inc., the architectural and engineering firm behind DTR. With inspiration drawn directly from the surrounding landscape and the city’s cultural roots, the fluidity of the components breathes life into DTR’s promise of a resort-like residential and hotel sanctuary that pays homage to the Southern culture, which is easily an experience unlike what one can already find in the city.

“The story starts as soon as you make the decision to visit the estate. The arrival is quite dramatic… a slow rise to the grounds, a brilliant and relaxing cul de sac to the side, with a lush canopy overhead. You are greeted by an open reception against a backdrop of the lush landscape, swimming pool and a bar that welcomes you. All at once, you are taken to another world – one that compels you to explore further,” he expresses.

Architect Bong Recio (L) and a perspective of the Dusit Thani Residences.

The architecture has a distinctly Asian feel, punctuated by varying southern design expressions. “Despite it being one of the tallest buildings in the residential area, we made it more ‘friendly’ through terraced levels, balconies, and the use of earth tones. Our guest rooms are oriented towards the Davao Gulf to afford guests the best view of the ocean. We extended landscaping all the way to Maryknoll Street, the ac-

cess road, and incorporated retail components on the ground level. I believe that DTR’s presence will rejuvenate the whole area,” adds Architect Recio.

Becoming the premier Davao destination From the sprawling landscape that frames DTR’s receiving lobby and the 175 residential units with indulgent views of the city, to its own boulevard lined with high-end restaurants and first-class ame-

nities, each element lends to the developer’s vision of creating the perfect community for its guests.

“Dusit Thani Residences will be making numerous milestones with its entry in bustling Davao,” says Tomas Lorenzo, CEO of developer Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation. “It will be the very first mixed-use residence and hotel development, as well as the first luxury resort-like accommodation right in the heart of Davao City. It is a place

that will blend work and leisure seamlessly with the combination of the finest amenities and world-renowned exceptional service that is distinctly Dusit.

We will have a first-class destination that Davao can proudly call its own.”

For more information: Marco Sindiong Ogilvy Public Relations Manila +63 917 5554679 marco.sindiong@ogilvy. com

PH app goes global

Africa taps Batingaw as early warning tool B ATINGAW, the disaster management mobile application launched in 2014 by the Office of Civil Defense-National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD-NDRRMC) and Smart Communications, has been tapped as a tool for building resilience in the Horn of Africa.

During a recent trip to the Philippines, representatives of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) identified Batingaw as an innovative tool that can help strengthen

early warning systems in the African region. Through southsouth cooperation facilitated by UNDP Regional Center for Africa and the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi (Kenya), Batingaw’s developer, Vincent Loremia, has been invited to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, to work with the IGAD team in developing a similar app for the Horn of Africa.

A Tagalog word for “bell”, “Batingaw” is a mobile application that provides government agencies, organizations, and individuals, immediate access to disaster warnings, advisories, location data, and disaster

mappings. It features step-bystep instructions that can guide users to safety during disasters.

The app also enables users to contribute information to emergency agencies more easily and quickly.

Batingaw was designed to run on smartphones and other mobile devices. It can be downloaded for free from Google Play for Android devices and from iTunes for devices running on iOS. In his letter to Loremia, Dr. Guleid Artan, Director of IGAD Climate Prediction & Applications Centre (ICPAC) said Batin-

gaw, “could be the basis for the development of a similar innovative application for the Horn of Africa…we are confident that such an innovative tool would have practical use and will support our effort in building resilience in the region.”

“The Batingaw app was designed to empower ordinary people to do their part in sharing accurate, on-ground information during disasters using the most ubiquitous tools of today—the mobile phone. Through this app, we hope to connect community stakeholders—government, response teams and ordinary

citizens—to a wealth of information that could promote safety and help save lives,” said Vince Loremia, co-founder of Tudlo Innovations Solutions, the team behind Batingaw, and one of Smart’s partner start-ups.

“With the increasing intensity and frequency of disasters, tools that strengthen public awareness and facilitate a system for preparedness and response, have become more useful. We are honored to be part of this initiative that will pave the way for Philippine innovation and best

practices to be recognized internationally,” said Ramon R. Isberto, Smart Public Affairs Head.

This communication is intended solely for the use of the addressee and authorized recipients. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information and is subject to the conditions in http://www.smart.com.ph/ corporate/disclaimer.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

FROM CURSED TO FIRST

Pacquiao and Donaire on back to back resurgence bouts via SKY pay per view

Cubs break hearts of Cleveland, win World Series S

T

HE Chicago Cubs won the World Series on Wednesday night. They won it in epic, incredible, unbelievable fashion. They won it with an extra-innings rally that followed an improbable home run that chased a grinding comeback that all melded together in a delicious soup of baseball madness that broke the heart of the Cleveland Indians. Game 7 – and the 112th World Series – will go down among the best ever.

One hundred eight years of misery – of billy goats and black cats and Bartman, of bleacher bums and broken dreams, of a curse that wasn’t ever real but always felt like it – was vanquished Wednesday. The Cubs beat the Indians, 8-7, in the 10th inning of a gave-you-everything Game 7. The City of Chicago celebrated like it hasn’t before. The City of Cleveland mourned perhaps its most heartbreaking loss yet, a dagger every bit as sharp as The Cubs celebrate after getting the final out to win the World Series.

The Shot, The Drive and The Fumble.

This was billed as the biggest baseball game in as long as anyone could remember, a matchup packing more gravitas than Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, the first game back after 9/11, Game 7 of the 1986 World Series – one ripe with historical implications not just because of the Cubs’ century without a championship but the Indians’ streak of ignominy, 68 years now going on 69.

It exceeded any and all expectations, and not just because it was the first extra-innings Game 7 since Cleveland lost to Miami in 1997. The Cubs went ahead when pinch runner Albert Almora scored on a Ben Zobrist double. A Miguel Montero single drove in Anthony Rizzo for another run. The deluge came after a 17-minute rain delay, which followed one of the biggest home runs in World Series history. Cleveland tied the

game 6-6 in the eighth inning when Rajai Davis, the center fielder with 55 career home runs in more than 1,200 games, took a fastball from Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman 369 feet over the 19-foot-high wall in left field, a two-run homer that sent the crowd of 38,104 into utter hysterics.

It almost happened again in the bottom of the 10th. The Indians scored a run off rookie Carl Edwards Jr. when Davis drove in Brandon Guyer.

Mike Montgomery, the other left-hander acquired midseason by the Cubs, induced Michael Martinez into hitting a groundball to Kris Bryant. He threw it to Anthony Rizzo, the final out was recorded and history was made.

It set off madness in Chicago and started the Cubs’ swan dive into an offseason – and a lifetime – of feting from the adoring national fan base that stuck with them throughout all the years of losing, most of them not exactly lovable, and the years in which they won

but couldn’t win it all. The 2016 Cubs seemed destined to tread the same path until they rescued themselves from a three-games-to-one deficit that, while towering, never felt insurmountable.

Not with this team assembled by president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, managed by Joe Maddon, led by young stars Bryant and Rizzo, and buoyed by owner Tom Ricketts, whose rebuilding efforts brought in the new brain trust, which beget the loaded team that won 103 games and went into this playoff run favored to win the World Series.

Being favorite and following through are entirely different beasts. The Cubs hadn’t even made a World Series in 71 years. They had lost seven World Series since they last won one, in 1908, with the famous Tinker-to-Eversto-Chance infield and a style of baseball entirely different than the one that dominated the 2016 postseason.

KY Sports Pay-Per-View is bringing “Resurgence: Pacquiao Vs Vargas,” the biggest boxing event of the year straight to your screens, live, commercial-free with no delays, and in high definition straight from the US. Watch Manny “The People’s Champ” Pacquiao square off against Jessie Vargas in a WBO Welterweight title fight.

“Resurgence” also brings another great Filipino pride, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire who will go toe to toe against Jesse Magdaleno in a bout for the Super Bantamweight title.

This will be the first time the two Filipino Champions will headline a fight card.

The undercard matches will also get your blood pumping as Oscar Valdez and Hiroshige Osawa go after each other for the WBO Featherweight title, while Zou Shiming and Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym fight for the WBO Flyweight title.

You can catch all this action on SKY Sports PPV for only P999! You can also enjoy back-to-back bonus features of our champs’ past fights in the days leading up to the match. Catch Pacquiao’s previous fights against Chris Algieri and the latest bout Timothy Bradley, and Donaire’s previous battles with William Prado, Cesar Juarez (December 2015) and Zsolt Bedak from November 5 to 6.

SKYcable subscribers in Metro Manila, CAMANAVA,

Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan can tune into to the fight in HD on channel 260 and in standard definition on channel 160. Those in Baguio, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Gen. Santos and Dumaguete can watch in HD on channel 960 and in standard definition on channel 60. SKYdirect subscribers can watch the fight in high definition on channel 42.

Availing of Resurgence: Pacquiao vs Vargas on SKY Sports Pay-per-View is easy.

Just text PACVARGAS to 23662, activate online via mysky.com.ph/pacvargas.

You can also call your local SKY Office. To view the live fight on their mobile device, SKYbroadband or SKYmobi subscribers can sign up at mysky.com.ph/skyodsubscribe.

Existing prepaid subscribers of SKYdirect - the direct-to-home service of SKY - can convert their ABS-CBNmobile, Globe Prepaid or TM load to avail of the payper-view offer by texting PPV<space> PACVARGAS <space> <Box ID> and send to 23667. SKYdirect even has a special promo for new subscribers: sign up until October 31, 2016 - with onetime installation fees for as low as Php1799 for new prepaid subscribers and as low as Php999 for new postpaid subscribers - and you get to enjoy LIVE access to “Resurgence” already included in your subscription. More details are available at mysky. com.ph.

Vargas banking on youth

R

EIGNING WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas is banking on the fact that he is ten years younger than his opponent, boxing champ and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Vargas will defend his WBO welterweight title on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) in a fight against Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Three days before the bout, Vargas is taking it easy after intense training.

“Fight week is here and there’s no pressure. Thank-

“N

OT ANYMORE,” Top Rank CEO Bob Arum exclaimed by way of reacting to earlier reports that the coming Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas confrontation for the latter’s World Boxing Organization title was one fight ‘nobody wanted.’

Arum, in a talk with this writer right after the joint press conference held Wednesday to promote the 12-round title encounter at the Margaux ballroom of the Wynn Resort Hotel here attested that tickets are selling like hotcakes and that only less than 2,000 remained unsold.

“Most of the unsold tick-

Tickets to Pacquiao-Vargas fight selling briskly ets are those in the cheapest section at $50 each,” the Harvard law graduate said. “And we expect them to also be all sold out come fight night.”

Tickets to the Pacquiao vs. Vargas world championship event are priced at $1,000, $700, $500, $300, $100 and $50.

The 80 plus year old Arum attributed the sudden surge of ticket sale to the WBO titlist’s rise in popularity, especially to the Hispanic community in the United States. “The Mexicans, the Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic groups will come in droves to cheer for their idol and fill the 19,500 sweat Thomas & Mack Center, I tell

you.”

“Vargas is an Olympian and is loved by everybody here in America,” he said.

“He is educated and speaks good English and good Spanish as you might have noticed in the press conference.”

“Manny himself, likewise, allayed fears expressed by some quarters that he won’t be ready to fight because of the dual roles as a senator and a fighter.

“Fans, at first, were wary of Manny’s situation that he might not be able to prepare well for the fight because of his dual role,” Arum said.

“But we sent a television crew to Manila to record the

fully there’s just excitement and some relaxation. Training camp is over. All the hard work is done. It’s just about resting, talking to friends and media, promoting the fight,” Vargas said in a report by GMA News Online.

“I’ve fought fighters in the past who pack a good punch.

It’s never been a problem to me. I plan to do much of the punches going that way, in that direction. That’s what I’ll focus on,” he added. (GMA News Online)

FINAL PRESSCON. Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas take a pose after their pre-fight press conference. goings on in his preparations and they saw for themselves there’s nothing to worry about. Manny’s a real pro and has a good work ethic.”

Pacquiao and Vargas

pronounced themselves ready to do battle during the meeting with media men and both predicted victory.

“It will be a good fight,” Arum declared.”Both Manny

and Jessie will come prepared and I expect the fight to not last the 12-round route. “Somebody will fall, I don’t know who,” he projected.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports GOODBYE NIKE, HELLO ANTA Pacquiao signs up with Chinese athletic wear brand

VOL. 9 ISSUE 181 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 5, 2016

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

G

njb@edgedavao.net

OODBYE Nike, hello ANTA. Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, the world’s only eight-division champion, officially announced he has signed up an endorsement deal with China-made sports brand ANTA. The signing ceremony was made in elaborate ceremony between ANTA, one of the leading sportswear brands in China, and Pacquiao, who has won world boxing titles in eight different weight categories at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Pacquiao said he is very excited about cooperating with ANTA. “Not only is it a leading brand in China, but it has a strong global influence,” he said. “I have followed ANTA’s development in boxing, and got more details from Zou Shiming. Undoubtedly ANTA is very professional in the research and development of boxing products as well as the promotion of boxing events. I am looking forward to advocating professional

boxing with ANTA around the world.”

ANTA said the signing of Pacquiao not only helps improve the brand influence of ANTA across the globe, but also helps strengthen the presence of ANTA in the training and boxing market.

“Pacquiao is not only a great boxer, but he serves as a great role model for all sports enthusiasts. He is strict with his training routine and never gives up, which is in keeping with the brand spirit of ANTA. Furthermore, ANTA and Pacquiao are determined to inspire all customers to continue to ‘Fight On’,” Zheng Jie, president of ANTA, said.

Also in attendance during the signing ceremony were Arnold Vigafria, Pacquiao’s manager, Zou Shiming, the Chinese boxing champion, Ding Shizhong, CEO and Chairman of ANTA Group, James Zheng, President of ANTA, Major Zhu , Senior Brand and Marketing Director of ANTA, and Yang Chun, Sports Marketing Director of

NEW ENDORSEMENT. Manny Pacquiao is officially the new face of ANTA. ANTA. At the signing ceremony, ANTA officially announced the signing of Pacquiao and introduced the “FIGHT ON”themed Pacquiao series.

Zou Shiming and Yang Lianhui,two Chinese professional boxers, were lso named as brrand endorsers.

In a statement, ANTA said “Manny Pacquiao is one of the world’s best professional boxing champions and ANTA is one of the leading

sportswear brands in China.

The collaboration is a big news for both boxing, and the sports industry in general.”

Pacquiao began professional boxing at 16 and during his legendary 21-year career he has won world boxing titles in eight different weight categories.

The signing of Pacquiao is a symbol for ANTA to further step into the training market. Pacquiao will become the strong “engine” for

growth for ANTA’s training series and the enhancement of the functionality of its boxing products. Training will become ANTA’s one of the key categories in addition to basketball and running.

“Through tracking Pacquiao’s performance and serving Pacquiao during his competitions and training,” added Jie, “ANTA will enhance its professional training products, promote boxing and the spirit of ‘Fight On’,

and introduce professional sporting gear to carry both training and boxing forward into the future.”

In the basketball market, ANTA not only cooperates with the NBA, but also many NBA superstars, including Kevin Garnet and Klay Thompson, which is testament to the high manufacturing quality of ANTA’s basketball footwear.

Meanwhile, in the running market, ANTA collaborates with renowned ultra-marathon runner Chen Penbin, and has developed a series of professional running gear. In China, training has become the most competitive market due to the increase in popularity of cross-training.

Seeing the tremendous opportunity for the training market, ANTA has been cooperating with domestic boxers, Zou Shiming and Yang Lianhui. The signing of top professional boxer Pacquiao will be ANTA’s latest initiative aiming to strengthen its presence in the training segment.