Edge Davao 9 Issue 234

VOL. 9 ISSUE 234 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 15 - 16, 2017

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Serving a seamless society

FREE MEN ONCE MORE. Presidential peace adviser Jesus G. Dureza (right) disembarks from a Learjet with kidnap victims Korean Chul Hong Park (front) and Filipino Glenn Alindajao (partly hidden), ship captain and second officer respectively of Korean cargo vessel DONGBANG Giant 2, and Korean embassy officials upon their arrival from Jolo at the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 11 in Davao City on Saturday. The kidnap victims were abducted from vessel while sailing along the international waters off Tawi-Tawi from Australia to South Korea on October 20, 2016.

Lean Daval Jr.

SOUTH KOREAN, FILIPINO FREED BY SULU GUNMEN

Dureza not sure if Abus behind kidnapping

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

A

SOUTH Korean captain and a Filipino crewman held hostage by an unidentified armed group three months ago were released on Saturday.

The hostages were turned over in Sulu to Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Secretary Jess Dureza.

Dureza along with the hostage victims identified as South Korean Park Chul Hong and Filipino Glenn Alindajao immediately flew to Davao City.

According to Dureza, the government is still determining if the Abu Sayyaf Group was the group that kidnapped the pair.

“I wasn’t sure if they’re

[ASG] the one who abducted them because the hostages were transferred from one group to another,” he stressed.

He stressed that no ransom was paid and that the Moro National Liberation Front helped the government in facilitating the release of the hostage victims.

“We don’t engage in ransom negotiations, the more na bibigyan ng ransom, the more they’ll strengthen,” Dureza explained.

However, Dureza revealed that the freed hostages claimed that they were taken by a group headed by a certain Abraham.

“When Abraham was killed, they were passed on to

another group,” Dureza noted.

Dureza said the hostages have to undegro some trauma therapy and the Korean Embassy will take care of them.

“I contacted Mr. Bong Go [Head of the Presidential Management Staff], to inform the President [Rodrigo Duterte] that they are already en route to me and I will physically have the hostages with me,” Dureza said.

The Cabinet official suggested that all big vessels must be boarded by armed security officers so “they cannot just easily take hostages” and prevent seajacking to happen again.

It can be recalled that the victims were kidnapped last

October from a South Korean cargo ship named as MV Dong Bang Giant 2 – the first such attack on a large merchant vessel.

The attack occurred just off the southern entry of the Sibutu Passage, a 29-kilometer (18-mile) wide channel used by merchant shipping in transit between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. The channel lies near the southern Philippines’ Tawi-Tawi islands, which together with the nearby Sulu archipelago are preyed on by ASG based in the region.

The cargo ship was heading for South Korea from Australia.

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PEZA exec bares edge in eco-zone investing

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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HE director-general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority the other day enumerated the advantages of investing in the country’s eco-zones where 30% of investors came from Japan.

PEZA head Charito Plaza made the presentation before key Japanese gov-

ernment officials and senior business executives at the Philippines-Japan Business Forum at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on Friday, an ancillary event of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit.

Of the 100 investors from both countries attending the

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HIGHEST GESTURE. President Rodrigo Duterte (second from right) hands over a Philippine Eagle stuffed toy to Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (second from left) after the prime minister adopted a two year-old female eagle while PM Abe’s wife, Akie Abe (leftmost) and President Duterte’s partner Cielito Avanceña look on during the

DOT: No hiding squatters during Ms. Universe tilt

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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HE Department of Tourism vowed to show the real situation in the Philippines during the tour of the Miss Universe in the country this month.

DOT Secretary Wanda Teo said that they will not hide the homeless like what the previous administration did whenever there was a big event hosted by the country.

Teo said that the candidates must see the real situation of the Philippines.

“We will not hide the squatters, we want them to see what the Philippines is,” she said. “There are also squatters in their places, so we don’t need to hide them”.

During the Asia Pacific Economic summit held in Met-

ro Manila last 2015, homeless and street children were sent on a resort to hide them from the eyes of foreign dignitaries who visited the country.

Teo said that she does not see the need to resort to the same thing since it is not new to the candidates to see informal settlers and homeless around the street.

She also said that they will contain the candidates in their hotels during the time that they do not have any schedules to avoid traffic congestions.

“The President really told us to avoid traffic congestion because of our event, so we will just contain them in their hotels during those days that they do not have any sched-

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135 foreign fugitives nabbed in 2016 -- BI A TOTAL of 135 foreign fugitives were arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents in the country last year.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente reported that the figure was more than double the 61 wanted foreign nationals arrested in 2015.

According to the bureau’s fugitive search (FSU), majority of the captured criminals are South Koreans numbering to 80, followed by 25 Chinese and 19

Americans.

Also included in the list are three Taiwanese, two Canadians, an Australian, a Japanese, a German, a Pakistani, a Bangladeshi, and a Kazakhstani.

Likewise, FSU records revealed that 60 of the captured aliens were wanted for cybercrime fraud, 49 for economic crimes, and 12 for sex offenses.

Three of them were charged with murder while others were

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ceremonial eagle naming at the garden area of Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City on Friday during the second day of the prime minister’s two-day official visit to the Philippines. Lean Daval Jr.

Japan’s PM Abe, wife visit Davao

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

J

APANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe arrived in Davao City Thursday evening as part of his two-day State Visit to the Philippines.

They were welcomed by Davao Region officials such as Davao del Norte Governor Anthony del Rosario, Compostella Valley Governor Jayvee Uy, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas, and Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista.

Mayor Inday Sara Dute-

rte-Carpio also sent a representative, Councilor Jimmy Dureza, to meet the Japanese officials.

Abe is the first head of state to visit the country during Duterte’s administration and also the first to visit the President hometown.

“Dakong value kaayo ang pagbisita niya diri ilabi na sa investments or grants na ibungad sa Japan kanato para sa tibuok nasod,” Governor Uy told reporters in a chance interview Thursday evening.

Uy said that friendship be-

tween Japan and Philippines has been strengthened by the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Abe to the Philippines.

“It is our pride and honor that we are visited by the prime minister,” he said.

“We are a peace-loving people. We don’t like violence.

We don’t want the violent culture of the New People’s Army rebels – that is why we drove them away from our peaceful communities.”

This was the cry of Mandaya leaders in a statement as they hoped and prayed for respect on their peace-loving culture as a tribe.

Mandaya leaders also expressed optimism the government will provide protection on them against future attacks from the NPAs. “We are always caught in the crossfire. Our communities are not and should not be the battlegrounds of government and rebel forces,” they added.

Tribal leader Copertino

Breakfast at Duterte’s home Prime Minister Abe also visited the home of President Duterte in Davao City and took breakfast there on Friday morning.

“Abe enjoyed,” Special Assistant to the President Chris-

topher Lawrence “Bong” Go said.

Go said that Abe spent 45 minutes in Duterte’s home and 10 minutes of these in the President’s humble room.

“We showed him how the President enjoys the comfort of his bed, including his old and favorite mosquito net,” Go said.

He added that the two leaders ate local delicacies such as durian, puto, biko, suman, kutsinta, monggo soup, and suha.

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Mandaya tribesmen ask gov’t protection from NPA attacks

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

A

adlopez0920@gmail.com

FTER the killing of one of their respected leaders last December 30 when attacked by heavily armed New People’s Army partisans in Caraga, Davao Oriental, members of Mandaya tribe in the province are now asking the government for protection as they fear of more atrocities from the rebels in the coming days.

Banugan, together with his brother and a nephew were all killed in an NPA attack last December.

Mandaya leaders now believe the attack signified the dark intention of the NPAs to dominate and eventually grab their ancestral domains long been protected by Banugan and other leaders.

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Japanese school welcomes PM Shinzo Abe and wife Akie

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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RIME Minister Shinzo and wife Akie Abe were welcomed by the students of Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku as he visited the biggest Japanese school in the City on FridayMorning.

The couple went out of their way and shook hands with the students who sang a Japanese welcome song as he entered the school.

More than 1,000 students gracefully waved the Japanese and Filipino flag to welcome the Prime Minister.

They then proceeded to the Audio Bisual Room of the school and listened to the 25 senior students who were having lectures of Nihongo.

The Prime Minister even joined the lesson and throw out examples of the words that the students were learning.

He then sent his good luck message to the pupils and encouraged them to learn, strive hard in learning the native tongue of the Japanese.

Bai Le Jean Siang, International Student of MKD said that Shinzo told them to enjoy their lessons and to strive harder.

“He told us that we should have fun, even though it is hard learning Nihongo he said that there will always be a fun time,” Siang said.

She said that they were overwhelmed with his presence, especially that they look up to them.

“I am overwhelmed, for us IS students, we consider him as a rock star, he is someone we look up and he shook my hands unexpectedly,” she said.

Japanese descent and MKD student Dafny Jean Jolo said that the Prime Minister hopes that they will be the bridge of Japan and Philippine’s relationship in the future.

After his short talk with the students that lasted a little over 10 minutes, he then proceeded to the Francisco Bangoy International Airport for his departure.

COMPARING NOTES. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (right) confers with Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella during the Freedom of Information Roadshow at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

7 DA officials charged PM Abe’s wife visits historic Japanese cemetery in Davao for P10M fund misuse

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MONG the highlights of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s official visit in this city was the tour that his wife, Akie, made to the historic Japanese cemetery in Mintal, now considered as Davao’s “Little Tokyo.”

Akie arrived at the site 10:15 a.m. on Thursday where he was met by local officials in the area led by Barangay Captain Ramon Bargamento.

She was accompanied by President Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña.

Also in attendance during the visit in Mintal were Bertola Medialdea, wife of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Yuko Ishikawa, wife of Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa.

Other officials in Davao City, including Congressman

Alberto Ungab of 3rd district as well as former Congressman Isidro Ungab also greeted the Prime Minister’s wife at the site.

Akie offered a wreath to the monument of the Zaryu Senbou Douhou Irei Tou or the “Tower of Japanese residents who passed away”.

She was also briefed by Barangay Captain Bargamento of the history of the place.

“She was teary-eyed at the cemetery. Siguro hindi niya ma-explain ang kanyang naramdaman when he saw that tower,” Bargamento told reporters in an interview.

He said he was only given 30 seconds to brief the Premier’s wife about the Japanese cemetery.

Despite the short visit, Bargamento said they are hap-

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By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

S

adlopez0920@gmail.com

EVEN officials of the Department of Agriculture in Davao region were ordered charged by the Office of the Ombudsman for mishandling the utilization of the P10 million 2005 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of then Davao Oriental Representative Joel Mayo Almario.

The Ombudsman had recommended the filing of multiple graft charges against Roger Chio (former Regional Executive Director), Romulo Palcon (former Regional Technical Director), Alma Mahinay (Chief, Finance Division), Godofredo Ramos (Administrative Officer), Onofre Nugal (Chief, Agricultural Engineering Division), Jamie

Bergonio (Former Chief Agriculturist) and Isagani Basco (Former Chief Administrative Officer).

The officials will be facing multiple counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).

In three separate Resolutions, the Ombudsman found that Chio and the other DA-11 officials facilitated the procurement and payment of the following items in 2005: the 100 units of multi-media systems with computer set worth P10,000,000.00; water system materials, the funding of which came from Almario’s share of the GMA Rice and Corn Program worth P2,591,435.40; and the 81

units of personalized 10 x 20 livelihood tent with framing worth P2,496,582.00.

Total allocations in said procurement in 2005 reached up to P15,088,017.40, the Ombudsman added.

The Ombudsman investigators also found out that respondents failed to comply with the required bidding procedure as they did not conduct any pre-procurement or any pre-bid conferences for the projects.

The respondents also failed to publish any invitation to bid as required under the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act No. 9184).

“Chio et. al. did not dispute that the procurement

Japanese Premier adopts Philippine Eagle‘Sakura’

J ON ALERT. Police personnel from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 stand guard near SM Lanang Premier, the venue of the launch of ASEAN 2017 under the chairmanship of the Philippines, along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Lanang, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

requirements were not complied with but raised the common defense that they did not have any involvement in the bidding process,” the Ombudsman said in a statement.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales herself described the defense of Chio and the rest of the respondents as untenable.

“The wanton disregard of a plain and simple policy of the law that defeated the principle of transparency and competitiveness in the procurement process is sufficient to establish that respondents acted with evident bad faith, manifest partiality or gross inexcusable negligence,” the Ombudsman said.

APANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday adopted a two-year-old juvenile female Philippine Eagle rescued last December 12 from Pantaron Range in Talaingod town, Compostela Valley Province.

The eagle named Sakura or Cherry Blossoms is in honor of the country of Japan, a long-time partner of the Philippines, especially of Davao.

The Japanese government has also been helping the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and funded the establishment of an education center located in Malagos, Baguio District here.

The naming of the Eagle was held at the garden of the Waterfront Hotel where President Rodrigo Duterte also

presented an eagle stuff toy symbolic of the adopted Philippine eagle to Mr. Abe. Part of the backdrop of the naming ceremony was also a stuffed Philippine eagle named “Diola” – mother of Pagasa, which is the first hatched and bred Philippine Eagle.

In an interview on the sidelines of the naming ceremony, PEF Director Dennis Salvador said the ceremonial naming involved goodwill. The Philippine eagle is iconic to the Philippines and a symbol of Filipino resilience.

The adopted eagle was seen by an Ata Manobo (a tribe in Talaingod) standing at a river bank with a wound at the lower left of her abdomen sustained from a gunshot. The

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Customs delists 71 importers engaged in illegal dealings

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HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has delisted some 71 importers and brokers found to be engaged in illegal dealings.

In a press briefing, Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon noted that the initial number delisted have been found to be practicing illicit trade.

“Sabi namin previously we would be delisting importers, brokers who practice illicit trade in the past 6 years,” he said.

The BOC chief added that the records were reviewed manually since the bureau has no record electronically of the importers and brokers.

But, Faeldon said they are giving the delisted stakeholders three days to appeal their decision after they have informed of the decision.

“We would give them due process but they have 3 days to prove that they have not actually committed illicit trade,”

he said, noting that “they have been informed already that they would be delisted.”

Faeldon added, “We would remove them from our accredited importers. We need honest importers. So matagal na hanap. We have to inform the public we will not hide them.”

The BOC chief explained that the reason why they released the names of those that will be delisted, is to inform the public and not part of a “shame campaign.”

“It’s not shame campaign because the public needs to know. They are smugglers.

When you misdeclared your commodities and were seized because of violation of customs laws you try to smuggle commodities,” he said.

Faeldon added that the names would be published in the newspaper.

With this, he reported that five importers have so far filed their appeals. (PNA)

BACA fiber in Caraga region, particularly in the province of Agusan del Norte, will soon be saturating the local and foreign market as the Department of Agriculture-Caraga recently leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of a P15M abaca fiber warehouse with drying area at Santiago, Agusan del Norte.

The San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIUFMULCO) gained funding support from the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) for its abaca fiber production and trading enhancement project with a total approved project cost of P31M, P16M of which is for the enterprise development component.

“Our membership has increased in the cluster areas since we started working for the realization of this project.

Surely, many abaca farmers can benefit with this project,” said Leonora Mila, general manager of SIUFMULCO. SIUFMULCO has five clusters in selected municipalities all over Agusan del Norte with a total membership of at least 600 abaca farmers. These clusters are operating in the municipalities of Santiago, Nasipit, RTR, Kitcharao and Cabadbaran City.

Farmers in the areas often encounter challenges with drying and stripping since the weather is unpredictable and the machine they have is old and at times the unavailability of an authorized person to do the stripping. All these concerns will be met because of the interventions provided by the project.

Planting materials, organic fertilizer, nursery and stripping machines will be equally distributed to the cluster areas as part of the provision of the project package. “With this project, farmers will be more inspired and idler lands

will be planted with abaca,” Mila added.

Post-harvest facilities such as baling machine, forklift, wood pallets and push carts to enhance production of quality fiber were also included in the package. Two hauling trucks, moisture meter, and weighing scales would also support the efficient marketing and trading activities.

“This is the kind of project we need in the province.

Our goal is not just to help, but also to encourage and influence other farmers to do more,” said Agusan del Norte provincial board member Victor Carmona.

The said facility will then serve as the standard grading and baling center accredited by the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFIDA).

With this, SIUFMULCO is expecting more abaca traders coming from other provinces in Caraga including neighboring regions from Davao and Northern Mindanao because of the expansion of the abaca project.

Abaca is a great demand in the world market today since its material is being used for making security papers, paper money, ropes, insulators and other handicraft items.

The Department of Agriculture under the leadership of Secretary Manny Piñol, has been keen on reviving the Abaca Industry considering its potential in the local and global market.

“With the cooperation of local government units (LGUs) and farmer groups, we will continue to propose for more projects for the strengthening and development of viable agri-fishery enterprises through efficient value chains of key agriculture and fishery products,” said I-REAP component Head Lynn Pareñas.

(PIA-Agusan del Norte)

BONANZA. Fruit traders are enjoying brisk business as hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists and businessmen arrived in Davao City due to the series of big events being held here. Lean Daval Jr.

Ms. Universe to join Davao Caraga’s abaca industry on the rise cultural fashion show: DOT A

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

A

LL is set for the ancillary event of Miss Universe 2017 as Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo confirmed on Friday that reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach will be joining the Mindanao Tapestry Fashion Show at SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premiere, Davao City on January 19.

The announcement was a reversal of the agency’s statement previously that did not indicate Wurtzbach’s attendance in the cultural fashion show.

During a press conference at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City, Teo said the 88 candidates would be complete within the day to jumpstart

the series of tours and events before the coronation night on January 30.

The secretary identified the key areas in the country that will be toured by the candidates namely Boracay, Vigan, Manila, Cebu, Baguio, Davao and Batanggas.

DOT-XI Regional Director Robert ALabado expressed his gratitude and optimism with the key events this year that took place and will be held in the region.

“Davao has been very, very blessed with these main events for tourism because we see that it has gathered a lot of people going to the city. At the same time, we have the opportunity to promote the city to more international states,” said

Alabado.

“For the Miss Universe, we’ll have the opportunity to project the image of Davao City to almost 90 contestants who are representing also 90 countries” he added.

Meanwhile, in a previous statement, the agency confirmed the participation of 10 Davao designers on the upcoming event, all of which are members of DFDCFI namely Alfonso Boy Guinoo who is an honorary member, Aztec Barba, Dodjie Batu, Emi Englis, Egay Ayag, Benjie Panizales, and Edgar Buyan. The other three designers in the list of 10 are Wilson Limon, Silverio Anglacer, and Kenny Ladaga.

Barba said in an interview that their designs will be in-

spired by Bagobo tribe aesthetics since they want their pieces to represent Davao while Englis pointed out that the neo-ethnic inspired dresses will also be inspired by the Mandaya tribe.

“The council will showcase a cohesive and strong collection,” said Barba.Aside from the 10, another 14 Davao designers will be participating in the foyer pre-show. They are Ronnie Nacua, Richie Delos Santos, Toffy Ledesma, Nicky de Asis, Steffy Dacalos, Windel Mira, Grand Crizzel Ravacio, Joey Hambala, Chard Pulate, Bamba Limon, Gil Macaibay, Mark Yaranon, Pepe Quitco, and John Bonniedick Adaza whose designs will be worn by local models.

pared with the rest of the world with median age of 23.1 years.

The Philippines is in a demographic sweet spot by having a young, employed, and more prosperous consumer-based population for the coming years, Lopez said.

He added that the country has human capital advantage over other destinations with its English-speaking, honest and creative workforce.

It is best to invest in the Philippines because its economy is powered by strategic investment flows, it has a comprehensive national industrial strategy and a clear 10 plus one economic agenda crafted by the Duterte administration, and has strategic location advantage over other countries, the DTI chief said.

After meeting the businessmen, Abe and the President proceeded to an event where a Philippine eagle was named as

a symbol of the growing friendship and partnership of Philippines and Japan. The leaders’ spouses, Akie and Honeylet, also graced the event.

Abe adopted the eagle, which was named “Sakura” during Friday’s event at the Waterfront Hotel garden area.

Sakura is a female, juvenile Philippine eagle rescued by indigenous people in Talaingod in Davao Del Norte. The bird was found in a river bank with a gunshot injury in its left abdomen. It is being rehabilitated by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in its facility in Davao.

PEF reported that there are only 400 pairs of Philippine eagle left in the wild, hoping that Sakura’s successful rehabilitation would help boost the Philippine eagle population in the country.

Prior to Prime Minister Abe’s departure from Davao

City, he visited the Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (MKD) in Lanang in this city, meeting students and teachers there.

Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku is a tertiary institution of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai in Davao City, the school said in its website. It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 18, 2001.

Among the courses being offered are BS International Studies and BS Social Services.

In a brief period, MKD boasted having received accolades such as in the National Nihongo Speech Contest sponsored by the Japan Foundation in Manila.

MKD is established primarily to help the young Filipinos of the 21st century in the pursuit of academic excellence and service to humanity alongside their goal of becoming globally competitive. (PNA)

Rody, Abe meet investors in Davao Business Forum

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on Friday with Filipino and Japanese businessmen having discussions at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here in Davao City about investment opportunities in the Philippines.

Duterte and Abe had a photo opportunity with the Filipino and Japanese business groups, who joined the Japanese Prime Minister in his two-day official visit in the Philippines.

In his speech, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez encouraged Japanese companies to invest in the Philippines.

He cited various reasons why foreign investors should invest in the country, including robust economic growth primarily driven by manufacturing, trade, real state, renting and other business activities.

He also said the Filipino population is younger com-

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Over 100 cruise calls in PHL scheduled this year -- DOT

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HE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday revealed that total of 117 cruise calls with an estimated 86,000 passengers are scheduled to dock in the Philippines this year.

DOT Asst. Secretary Maria Lourdes Japson did not mention the schedule for the calls but named the ports of Manila, Puerto Princesa, and Boracay as the most visited for midsized and large ships.

The islands most visited for expedition cruises, meanwhile, include Coron, El Nido, Romblon, Kalanggaman, Limaswa, Cebu, Bohol, Hundred Islands, Siargao, and Camiguin.

“The growth of the cruise industry in the Philippines is remarkable,” Japson said in a press conference in Pasay City noting that cruise calls in the country recorded an average of 52.5 percent in the last five years from 2012 to 2016.

Japson, meanwhile, welcomed the recent announcement of Hong Kong-based cruise line Star Cruises to have a three-month homeport deployment of one of its lines, SuperStar Virgo, to Manila for the first time.

The 900-cabin SuperStar Virgo will be having a six-day, five-night cruise from Manila, to Laoag in Ilocos Norte to Kaohsiung in Taiwan to Hong Kong, and back to Manila from March 19 to May 23.

Passengers can avail of an early bird discount of USD490 per person for cruise departures on March 19, 24, and 29, 2017; third and fourth persons can avail of an additional 50 percent off, USD245 per person excluding port and gratuity charges.

Star Cruises President Ang Moo Lim said that Filipino passengers can enjoy the cruise

visa free with “almost unlimited baggage allowance” At present, the Cabotage Law or Republic Act No. 10668 allows foreign vessels to transport and co-load foreign cargoes for domestic transshipment and for other purposes.

Japson said that the DOT together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is currently looking at relaxing regulatory rules on visa requirements as part of its cruise tourism development strategy.

She further said that this move would be “timely” especially since the agency is exerting efforts to support and fast track regulatory and procedural reforms to enhance cruise-related facilities and infrastructure.

Last year, DOT also rolled out a National Cruise Tourism Development Strategy (NCTD), which identifies the Turquoise Triangle that links Manila, Boracay and Puerto Princesa and other cruise destinations, to attract the interest of cruise lines.

DOT said that tourist arrivals in the country via cruise ships could grow as much as 15 to 20 percent with the new Manila terminal. Currently, 99 percent of tourist arrivals enter the country by plane and the remaining one percent enter via cruise ships.

Cruise tourism remains one of the priorities under the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016-2022.

“We are excited to witness and become part of more milestones and firsts that Star Cruises will undertake in the country that will definitely be a pioneer for future cruise programs to the country,” Japson said.

Star Cruises is the first-ever global leisure cruise line to homeport in Manila. (PNA)

Education dept releases P17.49-M for schools damaged by‘Nina’

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HE Department of Education (DepEd) has released P17.49 million for the cleanup of 1,166 schools damaged by Typhoon Nina.

The department said in a release issued Friday that each school gets P15,000, noting that cleanups and minor repairs have already been conducted by local government units (LGUs), parents and local organizations in the areas affected.

It further cited that the typhoon damaged 1,046 schools, destroyed 1,548 classrooms and partially damaged 3,797 classrooms. The Bicol region sustained the worst damage, with 1,237 classrooms wrecked and 2,948 classrooms partially damaged.

The department targets to repair partially damaged school buildings from March to May, and reconstruct totally damaged schools from June to December.

‘Nina’ also damaged 63,232 units of school furniture and 386,689 units of learning resources, while 384 schools reported damage to

computers.

The department also released P66.78 million for the immediate repair and construction of 1,113 temporary learning spaces (TLS) that will accommodate 465 schools.

DepEd is also proposing the reinstatement of the quick response fund after it was removed from its budget.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said the fund should have at least P650 million.

Briones also proposed the following preparations for future disasters: release of funds for cleanup and TLS to the affected regions to shorten the response time; procurement of furniture and computers to include buffer stocks for disasters; pre-positioning buffer stocks for learning resources, furniture and computers; improving warehousing and logistics; and structuring of procurement for quick response.

DepEd is also working with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for trucking and shipping assistance. (PNA)

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UPDATE. Department of Trade and Industry (DOT) Secretary Ramon Lopez speaks before hundreds of Filipino and Japanese businessmen during the Philippines-Japan Business Forum held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

NGCP restores Surigao lines damaged by Auring

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

P

OWER grid operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has successfully completed the restoration of all lines affected by Tropical Depression Auring on Wednesday, one day ahead of its schedule.

According to NGCP, the last two affected lines, the Placer-Madrid 69kV line and the Placer-Surigao 69kV lines were energized as

of 7:37PM through the combined efforts and hard work of NGCP’s linemen and technical personnel.

These lines serve the areas covered by Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO), Siargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO), and Surigao del Sur 2 Electric Cooperative (SURSECO II).

The agency added, transmission services in all affected areas are back to normal op-

erations.

Aside from ensuring the quick restoration of affected lines, NGCP stressed it will continue to take the necessary precautions to minimize the impact of succeeding disasters on NGCP operations and facilities through its Integrated Disaster Action Plan (IDAP).

NGCP is a joint venture of the State Grid Corporation of China, Monte Oro

Grid Resource of the Philippines and Calaca High Power Corporation. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) took over TransCo on 15 January 2009.

The corporation was inaugurated in Manila by Zheng Baosen, vice-president of the State Grid Corporation of China. This venture is the biggest investment made by China in the Philippines, in which 40% is owned by China.

(OECD).” When enacted into law, TRAIN will be implemented by the Department of Finance (DOF).

The Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), composed of ex-officials from the Department of Finance (DoF) and five former heads of NEDA, in a recently published statement, endorsed the reform proposals, which they said, intend to “put more money in people’s pockets, encourage investment, ultimately leading to the eradication of extreme poverty.”

The FEF, an advocacy group for good economic governance and market-friendly reforms, also commended the DoF and Duterte’s economic team for “crafting a forward-looking fiscal program for legislation.”

The FEF said the “proposed legislative program creates a solid foundation for the government’s vision of inclusive growth, improved public services and improved purchasing power among consumers.”

The statement was jointly signed by FEF advisers and members including former Prime Minister and DoF Secretaries Cesar E. A. Virata, Jose Isidro N. Camacho, Jesus P. Estanislao, Roberto F. de Ocampo, Jose T. Pardo, Cesar V. Purisima, and Juanita D. Amatong; former NEDA directors-general Arsenio M. Balisacan, Emmanuel F. Esguerra, Cielito F. Habito, Felipe M. Medalla, and Romulo L. Neri; and ex-DoF Undersecretaries Joel A. Bañares, Romeo L. Bernardo,

Cornelio C. Gison, Lily K. Gruba, Milwida M. Guevara, Jose Emmanuel P. Reverente, and G. Florencia Tarriela.

They said the “structural weaknesses of the outdated tax system make our economy less competitive relative to our neighbors and deprive our people of deeply needed investments to improve their lives.”

“We believe this program will translate to a more comfortable life for all Filipinos along with safe, healthy, and peaceful communities all over the country. We have studied the proposed tax policy reform program, which is the subject of public consultations, and found it to be integral to the attainment of said vision. It is also aligned with the ten-point socio-economic program adopted by the government,” they added.

The statement stressed that “the proposed comprehensive tax reform is progressive, timely, and well-crafted to achieve the vision of a prosperous Philippines free of poverty. For these reasons we strongly support the reform and urge the public to do the same.”

In one of his newspaper columns in September last year, former Socio-economic Planning Secretary Gerardo Sicat said the tax reform program is comprehensive and contains different cohesive parts that help to produce a larger revenue to finance government development programs while realigning also the tax burden across

income classes in support of national development.

“The overall gains in tax efforts that such reforms hope are expected to bring in an additional three percent of GDP. In terms of actual revenues, by the year 2019, this will mean around P600 billion of new revenues.Two-thirds of these revenues (P400 billion) will come from the tax reform program, while the rest (P200 billion) from the administrative reforms,” Sicat said.

“If this bold reform program gets approved, the goal of achieving sustained growth would be near in sight, provided he (Duterte) sticks to the goal of achieving the 10-point economic program – which of course represents another test of will. Any failure to pass the important components of this program or to scale it down in terms of revenue productiveness could cause either a reduction in goals or, if continued, could induce more inflationary pressures as more budgeted expenditure by the government is undertaken,” he added.

Salceda said TRAIN runs parallel with President Duterte’s “Tunay na Pagbabago” or real positive change commitment to the Filipino people, that includes more inclusive growth and comfortable life for all, improved public services, more and better jobs and more money in the people’s pockets; and safe, healthy, and peaceful communities. (PNA)

Former DoF, NEDA secretaries leading economists support TRAIN

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HE country’s leading economists, former finance secretaries and heads of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) strongly support and push for the approval of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN bill, a legislation of fiscal reforms for the government’s vision of inclusive growth, now awaiting approval in Congress.

The newly crafted fiscal reform package contained in House Bill 4688, authored by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, primarily aims to “create a tax system that is simpler, fairer and more efficient, characterized by low rates and a broad base promoting investment, job creation and poverty reduction”.

Salceda filed the bill in September last year and is set as a “first priority” legislation by the Ways and Means committee, when regular Congress session resumes.

The country’s current tax rates are based on the 20-year-old National Internal Revenue Code, which has not been substantially modified since 1997.

TRAIN, as presented by Salceda, aims to “ultimately reduce poverty to single digit, grow the economy by 9 percent, and transform the Philippines into an Asian economic powerhouse by 2028, with USD1.2 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It will then qualify the country for membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

7 SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 234 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 15 - 16, 2017

Dengue fever No. 1 among top 10 diseases in Region 9

T LIVELIHOOD AID. Mayor Tessa Constantino gestures as she leads local government officials and Labor Department officials in the distribution of various livelihood assistance in the form of “nego-karts” and business “starter kits” on January 9. The mayor’s chief of staff and local PESO manager

Davao del Norte town breaks ground for 2 new buildings

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HE town of Asuncion in Davao del Norte will have two new buildings this year after local officials finally held a groundbreaking to signal the start of the construction.

The groundbreaking of Asuncion Negosyo Center and the Association of Government Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (AGEMCO) Building was led by Mayor Eufracio Dayaday Jr. on Thursday afternoon.

The Asuncion Negosyo Center will be the fifth Negosyo Center in the province once it is opened to the public.

Among the services of the center are business registra-

tion assistance especially for start-up Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, business advisory services through counseling and business information and advocacy through training and orientations.

On the other hand, PHP1 million has been allotted under the 20-percent development fund for the construction of the cooperative building.

Girlie Quezon, focal person for investment promotion, said that they are also planning to organize the local chamber of commerce in the town as well as crafting the municipal investment and tourism codes. (PNA)

SoCot sets prov’l prayer day

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HE provincial government of South Cotabato has declared every third Friday of January as a “day of prayer” in the entire province.

South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes issued Executive Order (EO) No. 03, setting every third Friday of January as the provincial prayer day and enjoining the participation of various sectors within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

“All churches, religious communities, and religious and civic organizations in the province of South Cotabato are requested to commemorate the day fittingly by encouraging their faithful to participate in said day of prayer, emphasizing the need for peace, not only in South Cotabato but throughout the country,” the order said.

In a press conference on Friday, the governor said the move is an offshoot of the “numerous problems” faced by the province these past months -- from the onslaught of the El Nino Phenomenon to the rise in criminal activities and security-related concerns.

She specifically cited the series of armed attacks as well as the burning of passenger buses and heavy equipment in quarry and government project sites.

Fuentes said the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have tagged New People’s Army

(NPA) rebels as behind the attacks but could not act decisively due to the government’s unilateral ceasefire in line with the ongoing peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front.

“This may appear as a desperate move but that’s our situation now. And we believe in the power of prayer. Everything is possible when we all unite and pray,” she said.

The governor said the provincial government has taken steps to address the problems that plagued that province but can only accomplish so much because of limited means.

Realizing that they cannot fully address the problems alone, she said they resorted to staging a day of prayer of peace and reconciliation to “call for divine intervention in order to heal our land and free all forms of adversaries and disasters the province may face.”

In line with the declaration, Fuentes said the provincial government will spearhead a prayer rally at the provincial sports complex football field in Koronadal City on Jan. 27 or a week after the declared provincial prayer day.

Dubbed “Pangamuyo 2017: a prayer gathering for peace and unity,” she said they expect around 4,000 residents from various sectors to join the event.

Pangamuyo is a Hiligaynon or Ilonggo term for prayer.

(PNA)

Cristina Constantino-Lapaz said the assistance is part of the Department of Labor and Employment’s thrust to help fortify the LGU’s poverty reduction program. (Von Dela Cuesta/MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE)

HE Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health (DOH) revealed that dengue fever registered as the number one among the top 10 diseases they recorded in 2016 here in Region 9.

RESU Head Maxell Bermas on Friday said that the records they gather were based on the admission of patients on government-owned and private hospitals.

Bermas disclosed there were 7,298 cases of dengue fever with 39 mortalities from January to December 2016.

The other top 10 diseases in 2016 are as follows: typhoid fever, 1,675 cases with 11 mortalities; Influenza-like illness-

es, 882 cases; acute bloody diarrhea, 858 cases with one mortality; hepatitis, 297 cases; meningitis, 88 cases with 24 deaths; rota virus, 62 cases; non-neonatal tetanus, 45 cases with 14 deaths; leptospirosis, 18 cases with one mortality; and the hand, foot and mouth disease, 15 cases.

Bermas said the monitoring of the different types of diseases enables them to detect early any possible outbreak of disease in a particular place.

“Proper intervention can be immediately initiated to address possible outbreak the earliest time,” Bermas added.

He advised the public to practice proper hygiene and sanitation to protect them from diseases. (PNA)

dents say the project can also help them save money since they don’t need to buy water from refilling stations and they can save a lot of time by getting water nearby.

Access to water supply remains one of the challenges of many communities especially those in remote areas. Among the areas provided with new source of water are the villages of Maganda and Tubaon in Tarragona town; Poblacion, PM Sobrecarey, and San Luis in Caraga town; and Batawan, Binondo, San Isidro, and Campawan in Baganga town.

With a total budget allocation of P22.8 million, the project implementation was

started during the previous administration under former governor now first district representative Cong. Corazon N. Malanyaon and was continued by the present leadership of Gov. Nelson L. Dayanghirang.

Cong. Malanyaon said access to potable water has been a priority project of the government as it recognizes water supply as one of the important means to improve life of the people especially in disadvantaged areas. “Water has a direct impact in the lives of the people,” she said.

Governor Dayanghiranghopes that the new water systems will help accelerate economic growth inpoor communities as it will provide new opportunities for them.

DILG Provincial Director Yvette T. Sunga encouraged the recipient barangays to create their own water service association to take charge of the maintenance of the water service.

“This project is a testament of the government’s commitment of providing communities their utmost need which is water,” she said. In turn, she challenged the residents as consumers to take their responsibility in water conservation. (Karen Lou Deloso)

DavOr Waterless communities receive access to potable water

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ATI CITY, Davao Oriental - Some 2,873 households in ninewaterless villages here in the province now have ready access to clean and safe drinking water as newly completedPotable Water Systemswere recently turned over to them by the government.

Implemented by the Provincial Government, these newly completed level-two water systems were funded under various programs of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which arePayapa at MasagangPamayanan (Pamana), Sagana at LigtasnaTubig (Salintubig), and Bottom-up Bud-

geting (BUB).

Marilou Gumabao, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Caraga, said she is pleased of the newly installed water system in their areaas they will no longer have to bear the burden of fetching water several kilometers away from the barangay.

Aside from easy access, improvement in terms of health is touted to be one of the benefits of the project as the water coming from these water systems is guaranteed safe for drinking, helping consumers avoid water-borne diseaseswhich is a problem especially for the poor and low-income families. Resi-

GSC to enlist 200 scholars for work scholarship

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HE city government is targeting to enlist an initial 200 high school graduates for its continuing work scholarship program.

Philip Pabelic, executive assistant of the City Mayor’s Office, said Friday they have opened the enrollment or application for the program, which is being implemented in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

He said the initiative is supported by the Golden State

College, one of the leading training providers in the city.

“This is an opportunity for high school graduates to continue their studies through technical-vocational courses,” he said.

Under the program, Pabelic said prospective beneficiaries may enroll for free in various training courses offered

by Golden State College.

He said the scholarship includes provisions for the processing of national certifications (NC) for the beneficiaries.

The available courses are include Automotive Servicing NC I (156 Hours); Automotive Servicing NC II (676 Hours); Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II (40 Hours); Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II (268 Hours); Bread and Pastry Production NC II (141 Hours); Cookery NC II (316 Hours); Front Office Services NC II (442 Hours); Health Care Services NC II (996 Hours); and, Pharmacy Services NC II (271 Hours).

Pabelic said high graduates aged 18 years-old and

above are eligible to apply for the allotted scholarship slots.

He said applicants need to present their high school report card, certificate of good moral character, authenticated birth certificate and other related supporting documents.

The city government had adopted TESDA’s training for work scholarship program as among the components of its education program.

Hundreds of high school graduates have already benefited from the program in the last several years. (PNA)

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 234 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 15 - 16, 2017

EDITORIAL News value

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HERE is less interest in terms of television news airtime of the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Davao City.

Abe became the first Japanese leader to visit Davao City.

He spent breakfast in the President’s humble household in Davao City and went to an eagle-naming ceremony. Above all, Abe left P434-billion worth of development aid to the country.

Did it make it to the banner headline of the news in a major television network which air its broadcasts overseas?

No. It appeared long into the middle of the newscast after a headline where an international human rights forum criti-

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cized Presdent Duterte and some domestic news.

It’s a different view for a major Australian network which, on the same day, bannered the Japanese premier’s visit to the land Down Under from the Philippines.

Abe’s visit was given considerable airtime too given the value of Japanese relations to Australia.

Yes, television networks being private enterprise, are treated with utmost independence under a regime of democracy. However, when one comes across and compare how things are treated given near similar circumstances, the difference is actually troubling and leaves the media industry with a lot to be desired.

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9

PM Abe was the third iconic foreign leader to visit Davao

APANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was not the first iconic foreign dignitary to visit Davao City. That honor belongs to the late Prime Minister Golda Meir of Israel.

According to Tony Ajero, this paper’s editor, Golda Meir visited Davao in the 1960s as the minister of agriculture of Israel and was impressed by the lush greenery and fruits of Davao.

She was escorted to the agricultural farms of Calinan and Baguio district by then Mayor Elias Lopez.

The second was Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Muhamad who graced the launching of the East Asian growth area in Davao City in 1994.

Tony A. added that Mahathir also graced the inauguration of the Ekran Berhad Casino Hotel and visited Samal Island itself.

Brief as the stay of PM Abe and his wife in Davao was, I am sure this did not prevent him from soaking up on the history of Davao where a sizeable Japanese colony flourished from 1910 to the 1940s.

It appeared that several of those that settled in Davao were part of a multinational workforce of 3,000 individuals who

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 234 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 15 - 16, 2017

AST week, I was cleaning the drawers in my office when I came across an article I wrote for Today when I was still a correspondent for the said paper. It was dated April 25, 1996. What caught my attention was the title: “Hamburger helps destroy tropical forests.”

Yes, you read it right. Hamburger is one of the culprits – not the primary, though – why tropical forests are disappearing!

“Hamburger, that flat round cake of ground beef served fried or broiled often in a bun, is fostering the destruction of the ecologically-fragile tropical forests, a Manila-based environmental organization disclosed,” the opening statement of my news said.

At that time, Filipinos consume a total of 73,000 hamburgers a day or about 2.6 million hamburgers a year. That was twenty years back. I don’t know the figure these days.

The source of my information was Haribon, one of the country’s most outspoken environmental groups. It circulated a position paper entitled, “The High Cost of Hamburger.”

“A hamburger is apparently equal to the destruction of rainforests and conversion of rainfall and transformation of grains and crops into waste,” Haribon said in a statement.

I could not find the paper anymore and so I did a little sleuthing by googling. The website of World Rainforest Movement shared this information: “During the eighties, two factors led to increased exports of beef from the tropical

were hired REVERSED PUNCH to carve (GYAKU ZUKI) the Kennon road from the deep canyons of the Benguet highlands.

That after the road materialized, many Jimmy K.Laking of the Japanese took the boat to Davao where they eventually settled.

Accounts reveal that in Davao, they established the first printing presses, the first theaters, the first bazaars and the first coffee plantations. It is safe to assume that many intermarried with locals.

At one time, their numbers grew significantly that Davao was then referred as “Little Tokyo.” Petitions were also sent the Philippine commonwealth government that sought to declare Davao as “Little Tokyo” to

no avail.

With the war over, many were eventually repatriated back to Japan while at least several stayed behind. Of course, several who turned out to be combatants perished and only their living descendants knew where they were buried.

In the 1990s one of a few literary narratives I attempted revolved around the character Ma’fok which as the story went was the son of a Japanese trader named Yamaguchi and a Blaan mother named Sagumba who lived peacefully in Davao City until war broke in 1940.

To save the boy Ma’fok, his parents brought him to his mother’s folks back in the mountains where he was to survive the war. He was a well-liked elder in his 60s when he joined his folks one day in visiting a PANAMIN official who landed in a neighboring village by helicopter.

The PANAMIN official took one look at him and commented: “You, Ma’fok, you are no B’laan.”

It disturbed him a lot. And the obvious dawned on him. While he spoke B’laan all his life, his skin was lighter than his cousins.

He had a slightly aquiline nose and a pair of slit-like eyes that betrayed his father’s origin.

His path was to cross that of Bagawe the new school teacher.

Determined to teach his students the martial arts, Bagawe gathered several of the youngsters, including one of the elder’s grandsons as his students.

One day, the elder’s grandson quarreled with several of his peers that ended in a free-for-all. Bagawe arrived in time to stop the fight but made the mistake of taking a grip on the elder’s grandson who mistook it as favoring his adversaries.

It reached the old man who lost no time in seeking out the schoolteacher. Armed with a four-foot rattan stick, the old man flailed at the teacher as if he was beating a post in the backyard for his lessons in Kendo as a kid.

It took the teacher by surprise who tried in vain to avoid punishment.

Yet to make a long narrative short, the two eventually became friends and Bagawe was rewarded one day by marrying one of the elder’s granddaughters. Ossu!

region of Latin THINK ON THESE! America with the consequent aftermath of accelerated deforestation of the Amazon. On the one hand, increased consumption of beef in the Henrylito D. Tacio countries of the henrytacio@gmail.com North (particularly for fast food chains in the United States) and on the other, lower prices of land and labor in the tropical countries of Latin America, making the final product cheaper.

“As an example, in 1978 the price of a kilo of beef imported from Latin America averaged US$1.47, compared to US$3.3 a kilo of beef produced in the United States. This direct relationship between the advance of cattle ranching and deforestation was called the ‘Hamburger connection.’”

At that time, Brazil was not a part of that “connection” because of its low rate of beef exports insofar as its production was mainly aimed at domestic consumption.

The World Rainforest Movement continued: “However, the country increased its heads of cattle from 26 million in 1990 to 57 million in 2002. The production was mainly concentrated in the States of Mato Grosso, Para and Rondonia – and over the same period, these states showed the highest rate of deforestation in the country. The new expansion of cattle ranching is not based in

small or medium-sized farms but in large scale enterprises.

“For decades, the cattle production sector was aimed at domestic consumption, but factors such as devaluation of the Brazilian currency, the successful efforts to free cattle from foot and mouth disease, the mad cow disease affecting beef production in the countries of the North, and the chicken disease in Asia leading to a swing towards the consumption of other meat products, enabled Brazil to have access to new markets in Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

Between 1997 and 2003, the volume of Brazilian exports in this field increased over five-fold.”

The Bogor-based Center for International Forestry Research, in a report, has identified the above process of expansion of cattle raising as “one of the factors responsible for the recent increase in the destruction of the Brazilian Amazon forest.”

Don’t get me wrong. I really don’t where our fast-foods get their beefs and whether Filipino farmers are cutting trees in the forests just to raise cattle. Your guess is as good as mine though.

Like most Filipinos, I love eating hamburgers. Now, aside from having me gaining weight, there’s another reason why I have to lessen eating hamburgers.

If you care to know, the hamburger most likely first appeared in the 19th or early 20th century. But the modern hamburger was a product of the culinary needs of a society rapidly changing due to industrialization and therefore having less time to prepare and consume meals.

But the exact origin of the hamburger may never be known with any certainty.

“Most historians believe that it was invented by a cook who placed a Hamburg steak between two slices of bread in a small town in Texas, and others credit the founder of White Castle for developing the ‘Hamburger Sandwich,’” Wikipedia reported. Records from that time are scarce, however.

All claims for invention occur between 1885 and 1904, making it probable that the hamburger was created sometime in these two decades. Despite varieties, there are common elements in all of the narratives, most notably that the hamburger was born as a food associated with major events such as amusement parks, fairs, conferences, and festivals. All the hypotheses also share the presence of street vendors.

“After various controversies in the 20th century, including a nutritional controversy in the late 1990s, the burger is now readily identified with the United States, and a particular style of cuisine, namely fast food,” Wikipedia said. “Along with fried chicken and apple pie, the hamburger has become a culinary icon in the United States.”

Today, hamburger is very popular throughout the world, including the Philippines. “The hamburger’s international popularity,” Wikipedia said, “demonstrates the larger globalization of food that has also includes the rise in global popularity of other national dishes, including the Italian pizza, and Japanese sushi. The hamburger has spread from continent to continent perhaps because it matches familiar elements in different culinary cultures.”

Hamburger connection

10 COMPETITIVE EDGE project bond Growers told to sustain Davao AboitizPower deal bags world awards as origin of quality cacao beans T EDGEDAVAO

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UROPE Agriculture Attache Pit Laquian urges Davao cacao stakeholders to keep up to its increasing popularity as origin for quality cacao beans to meet the high standards of European market.

“Positioning is the name of the game. We can connect with the market but quality must be something to be proud of.

We have export readiness and can create demands [of your products],” Liquian said while stressing that stakeholders

and the Department of Agriculture (DA) must join hands to make the local cacao industry more competitive.

Cacao stakeholders led

by Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. (CIDAMi) Exec. Director Val Turtor presented the industry concerns which include more technical trainings, appropriate post harvest facilities, strengthening of Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) nursery accreditation and significant

trade exhibits that could lead to more market linkages.

“We would like to request our Europe agri attache to send cacao technical expert to teach us how to produce highend chocolates acceptable to European consumers,” Turtor said.

To provide more focused directions and intervention, DA Undersecretary Francisco Villano has directed DA-XI High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) co-

ordinator Melani Provido to assign a cacao focal person to address the concerns of the cacao stakeholders.

“Since this is the first time that DA-XI will have a cacao coordinator, he or she must be dedicated and has passion for cacao,” Villano added.

Villano assured the stakeholders that the issues and concern raised during the meeting will be relayed to Secretary Emmanuel Piñol. (Che D. Palicte DA-XI)

FAO, New Zealand partner to support drought-affected towns in NorCot

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ARMING and fishing families in Mindanao are no stranger to both natural and human-induced disasters. For over four decades now, their lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by recurrent displacement as a result of periodic armed clashes.

In the past five years, strong typhoons and widespread drought have worsened their struggle.

“Equipping farming and fishing communities with skills, knowledge and resources to recover from crises, to minimize losses from future disasters, and to eventually rise from poverty is among the most important programmes of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the country,” said FAO Representative in the Philippines José Luis Fernández.

Through a USD3-million grant from the New Zealand Government, FAO is currently supporting the recovery of 10 475 farming and fishing households in the Province of Cotabato.

The project, which will operate until October 2017, aims to re-start agricultural livelihoods and improve the coping abilities and resilience of smallholders in five municipalities: Aleosan, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigkawayan and Pikit.

The distribution of farm and fisheries inputs is currently underway. This includes rice, corn and vegetable seeds, fruit tree seedlings, fertilizer, drying nets, small farm machinery, post-harvest equipment, hand

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clean renewable power for the Luzon grid.

“This award proves we are on the right path, both in our efforts to find power generation technologies that support global commitments to address climate change and in our intention to find innovative and viable financing options to support our plans,” AboitizPower President and Chief Operating Officer Antonio R. Moraza said.

“It has always been our goal to provide ample, reliable and reasonably priced power through a balanced mix of generation assets so we can support the energy needs of the Philippines,” Moraza added.

The climate bond for Tiwi-MakBan was certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative and is considered the first in Asia and the Pacific.

AboitizPower has one of the widest portfolios of energy sources in the country. Thirty-nine percent of its 3,350 MW sellable capacity comes from its renewable power plants – geothermal, large hydro, run-of-river hydro and solar power plants.

The company also operates a number of coal power plants for base-load capacity and oil-fired power plants for reliable peaking supply. (PNA)

Davao City student outplays rivals in regional quiz contest

BENEFICIARY. A woman fisher stands by a lake in Sitio Bulogo, Baranggay Matilac in Pigkawayan Municipality and shows a gill net she received through FAO’s New

Zealand-funded project, which supports the resumption of agricultural livelihoods affected by natural disasters and armed conflict. (FAO Photo)

tools, livestock and poultry, tilapia fingerlings and gillnets.

To complement these resources, FAO is also conducting climate-smart farmer field schools and other livelihood skills trainings, training on basic planning for disaster risk reduction and management in agriculture including in agriculture hazard and vulnerability mapping and analysis, good practice options and technologies, and early warning and disaster preparedness.

“We have seen how peace, food security and economic growth are often mutually reinforcing. It is from this perspective that we emphasize the need for communities to be provided the kind of support that the Government of New Zealand is enabling us to deliver,” Fernández added.

Food security situation National accounts reveal that 11 of the 20 poorest provinces are in this primarily agriculture-dependent region.

Some three-fourths of the population of Mindanao or about 12.6 million people fall under levels 2 (mild chronic food insecurity), 3 (moderate chronic food insecurity) and 4 (severe chronic food insecurity), on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Of them, 1.96 million were found to be suffering from severe chronic food insecurity in 2015.

FAO programme in Mindanao Since 2015, FAO has been working with the Government to address priority agricultural development issues in the region through its Mindanao Strategic Programme for Ag-

riculture and Agribusiness (MSPAA). While yet to be fully-funded, the MSPAA has served as a framework for the implementation of at least five projects in areas most severely affected by natural and manmade calamities.

FAO’s work in Mindanao is implemented in close partnership with the Government through its various agencies on the national, regional and local levels. FAO also coordinates with the Mindanao Development Authority and works closely with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao the Bangsamoro Development Agency, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and other pertinent agencies and local government units.

which amounts to P10,000, is articulated in PhilHealth Circular No. 2016-0030 as the company’s contribution to the government’s fight against illegal drugs.

Aristoza said that through the package, PhilHealth will ensure that drug users are given medical interventions to enable them to manage the

physical symptoms of withdrawal. He however emphasized that medical detoxification is only the first stage to effective drug addiction treatment.

“The success of medical detoxification depends on the collaborative and concerted efforts of pertinent agencies that shall address the chal-

lenges of drug addiction in terms of the personal, health and societal aspects of drug rehabilitation,” he added.

The package is available to PhilHealth members who are addicted to amphetamine-type stimulants, such as methamphetamine, cocaine or ecstasy or a combination of these. (PNA)

PhilHealth assures P10-K detox package for drug users

HE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Friday assured that a medical detoxification package is available to members and their dependents who are trying to kick their drug habit.

PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Ramon Aristoza Jr. said the detox package,

HE project bond issued for the Tiwi-MakBan (Makiling-Banahaw) Geothermal Energy Project of AboitizPower bagged the 2016 Bond Deal of the Year of the prestigious Project Finance International magazine of Thomson Reuters.

The awarding ceremony will be held on Feb. 1, 2017 at the Hilton, Park Lane in London.

The project bond has also been touted as one of the best in Asia, getting the Best Renewable Deal of the Year by Alpha Southeast Asia, to be awarded on Jan 25, 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The PHP12.5-billion local currency, multi-tranche bond issuance, backed by the Asian Development Bank, was the first green bond issuance in Asia and the Pacific.

AboitizPower through its subsidiary AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI), used the issuance to finance the rehabilitation of the Tiwi-MakBan geothermal power facilities, which it bought from the government in 2009 and to partially fund its operating expenditures and future capital investments.

The two power plants, located in Batangas and Laguna (MakBan), as well as in Tiwi, Albay combine for 390 MW of

D

AVAO City Water District representative John Rey B. Pagal, a student of C. Reta School triumphed in the regional Math and Science Quiz for elementary level organized by the Southern and Central Water Information Council (SOCEMWIC), Inc. held on January 10, 2017. He outplayed five contenders representing other water districts in Region XI. Meanwhile, DCWD representative for the high school category Lorems Yrol B. Pedoglorio from the Philippine Science High School – Southern Mindanao Campus placed third.

Both Pagal and Pedoglorio finished champions in the citywide Science and Math Quiz organized by DCWD prior to the regional eliminations.

Other winners in the regional Math and Science Quiz were Iverson Jurey D. Abel-

laneda for the Region XI high school category and Reven Jay A. Limen and Daniel Angelo R. Mirador for Region XII elementary and high school categories, respectively.

At same time, SOCEMWIC conducted the Tap and Drill Skills Olympics plumbing contest which was participated exclusively by employees from different water districts in Regions XI and XII. Champions were Junneil R. Narag from Tagum City Water District for Region XI and Franklin R. Aure from Metro Kidapawan Water District for Region XII. Said winners will be representing their respective regions in the national level of the Science and Math Quiz and Tap and Drill Skills Olympics to be conducted as part of the 38th Philippine Association of Water Districts National Convention in February this year. (John Winston Anthony C. Ajero II)

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FOOD

EDGEDAVAO Outside Dairy.

Chef Patrick Co’s latest addition to his dessert menu is a cross between a cheesecake and a flourless chocolate cake.

Cake smash at THERE IS THAT MOMENT when you try to understand the way a creative thinks when you realize that his thoughts run at a different frequency. Such was what donned on me as I sat across 21-year old chef, Patrick Co, of The Fat Cow and as of a month ago, his new brainchild Dairy.

Dairy is our answer to the anti-establishment sweets shop.

There is nothing cutesy about it - from the industrial feel of the interiors to the names of the cakes that are devoid of the usual dreamy titles up in flowers. The chef-owner himself admits he isn’t particularly fond of pastry as it is steeped in exacting measurement-taking but knows how to bake. But somehow it works and it is easy to respond to his brand of no-nonsense yet masterful spinning of sugar. Since it is always food first with him, Patrick describes his new place as a cake shop that happens to have coffee and not the other way around.

Perhaps the titular moments that turned my attention to the fact that Patrick could bake well were his mille crepe cakes from his days at one of the city’s top hotels and the parmesan cheesecake with the fanciful red sugar topping that he used to serve at The Fat Cow. A month into Dairy and he has already made a lot of changes to their menu, scrapping his dessert verrines (to my cha-

DAIRY Still the crowd favorite, his chocolate cake is moist with just the right bittersweet notes.

Torching his Creme Brulee tart.

Ube and Parmesan raise the bar in paying homage to this local delicacy.

The stars of his pastry shack are a tad undone but packed with taste, just the way he likes them. grin) and regularly changing the cake lineup. He likes to do things almost off the cuff, admitting that he started seriously contemplating what to serve a week before Dairy opened. I could not help but smile when I first caught of a glimpse of his cakes. Davao is basically the

land of the fancy fondant and frosting and he basically took this out of Dairy’s equation by serving them “naked.” It would be insulting to tell him that he is giving in to the fad of cakes sans frosting by serving them this way. He simply doesn’t know how.

Our talk ran across many planes about food and it turned to the fact that a slice of cake at Dairy costs around P190-200.

The drinks are all venti-sized, for those versed in coffee culture, and is filled to the brim with the superior-tasting milk from Bukidnon Milk Company. Patrick won’t dwell on creating too many complicated options and hopes that the towering layers of dense cakes and generous portion of the drinks will recalibrate the minds of Davaoenos to think them utterly worthy instead of pricey.

Turning to taste, I ask how he decides to build the flavor reper-

toire at Dairy because it isn’t the usual chocolate-carrot-banana formula of many establishments. “I just imagine what will taste good,” he answers matterof-factly. And taste quite good, they do, all brimming with that bold and balanced scale in taste that he plays with often. Easy standouts are the Ube Parmesan Cake, Chocolate Cheesecake, any of the macarons and the Iced Red Velvet Latte.

This is a young chef who demands that the cooks under him perform with the guidance of just taste memory and not any standardised recipes. Unlike other eateries that separate the leadership of its hot kitchen and pastry, Patrick is currently helming both and it speaks volumes about the level of inspiration that drives him day in and day out. Seeing him cross back and forth between establishments is a common sight, often barking orders to his staff to plate a slice of cake (often it its testing stage) for one of his regular patrons at The Fat Cow or telling his staff at Dairy that he needs their space to accommodate more diners. He is currently lord of his thriving food universe, gaining in confidence and rewriting norms and expectations. He began strong with The Fat Cow and is currently filling the pages of Dairy, one cake smash at a time.

Dairy is located at Door 7 Don Pepito Building, V. Mapa Street corner Mabini Extension, Davao City. For inquiries, call (082) 2245906.

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Waterfront holds

TRIBAL FUSION countdown party

YEAR 2016 HAS COME AND GONE and Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao definitely made sure it had the ending it well deserved.

On New Year’s Eve, the beachfront hotel staged a countdown party dubbed “Tribal Fusion: Find your tribe and jive to the good vibe of 2017.” The setup at the Garden Pavilion, proving yet again to be the best venue for such events, featured hanging dream catchers, Tiki statues, teepee tent stations and centerpieces to successfully match the tribal theme. Guests, on the other hand, were dressed in aztec patterns, headdresses and war bonnets as they were all treated to the year-end festivities.

A ticket stub entitled one to free face paint and tattoo services, heavy cocktail recipes prepared by Executive Chef Victor Barangan, unlimited mixed drinks and premium beer selections sponsored by Tanduay Distillers Inc., Asia Brewery and Heineken PH. Kids were also treated to an ice cream spree and fun games. It was the perfect venue to celebrate with family and friends.

Doors opened at nine. The party highlighted lively performances from the neo-ethnic musician, also known as the “Kaliweteng Gitarista”, Popong Landero and his band, PLO (Popong Landero Org). Several minutes to the countdown, homegrown talent and one of Life Dance Cebu’s chosen artists for the Sinulog Festival’s famed Life Dance 2017, DJ Torch Gacuma, took over with his tribal sound edits

and remixes. An exciting part midprogram was a raffle of items and awarding of the best dressed male and female guests. Limited edition signature items such as a 10400-mAh Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao power banks and a gift certificate for an overnight stay at Eden Nature Park and Resort were all raffled off while special awards were given to the male and female guests who brought in the best tribal accessories for the night.

Both winners were given tickets to the upcoming live concert featuring

national artists Bamboo, Richard Poon and Morisette Amon on January 20 at the SMX Convention Center, produced and organized by San Pedro College of Davao.

Came midnight - horns blew away, sparklers lit the stage, balloons dropped and confetti filled the air as everyone welcomed the first minutes of 2017 in screaming color and with a blast of good music. In a city that bans the distribution and display of fireworks, Samal Island’s annual pyrotechnics is a spectacle to see. The

hotel being literally at the waterfront and only about ten minutes away from island’s shores gave the perfect view to gaze at the midnight sky. An added attraction, fire dancers simultaneously spun poi’s as all guests lined up in a row to witness the performance.

Prior to the party, a thanksgiving mass was hosted at the Lawin function room at six o’clock in the evening while the Café Uno restaurant was especially open until ten to offer a dynamic spread of culinary courses for Media Noche. A choir ensemble serenaded at the hotel lobby while other F&B outlets Pizzaiolo and La Parilla were also jam-packed with inhouse and walk-in guests.

Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao would like to thank the following sponsors: APM Ad & Promo Management, Tanduay Distillers Inc., Asia Brewery, Heineken PH, Eden Nature Park & Resort and San Pedro College of Davao; and suppliers: Infinity Still & Motion Studio, INVEX Phils., MGCP Steelworks & Allied Services, A Touch of Pink Events, Floral Pink Designs, Muzic’s Kool and Fotofun Digital Express.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 234 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 15 - 16, 2017

UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Davao Museum to hold benefit concert at Marco Polo Davao

THE DAVAO MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY, the oldest museum in Davao City, in partnership with Marco Polo Davao is staging a benefit concert entitled “SONATA, An Evening of Classical Music and Filipino Art Songs” featuring soprano Stefanie Quintin, and classical guitarist Anton Luis Avila, with the special participation of pianist Martina Audrey Uyboco on January 23, 2017, 6:00 PM at the Marco Polo Ballroom.

for its 40th year through the concert. Opened in 1977 on a donated lot in Insular Village, Lanang, Davao City, the Davao Museum has sustained its operations through the generous support of pa-

The Davao Museum, managed by the Davao Museum Foundation, Inc., aims to raise funds for its upcoming exhibits and programs

NOW SHOWING

January 13 – 17, 2017

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trons, private and corporate sponsors, the media, the academe, and the Southern Mindanao communities.

For the concert, Manilabased duo Stefanie Quintin and Anton Luis Avila will play a mix of classical and contemporary music. On the first half, Quintin and Avila will serenade the audience with a choice of songs from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. The duo will take a modern turn with 20th century music on the concert’s second half, capping the night with Filipino art songs including Manuel Velez’s Sa Kabukiran, Nicanor Abelardo’s Mutya ng Pasig, and Col. Greg Labja’s Usahay, among others.

Davao-based child prodigy and pianist Martina Audrey Uyboco will play a few pieces of classical music during the concert intermission.

The concert is made possible by Marco Polo Davao, AP Securities, Inc., Dusit Thani, Maria Stella M. Celi, Damosa Land, Anflocor, Sun Made Brown Rice, One Network Bank, Atty. & Mrs. Joseph Tan, R.A. Hao Group, Mary Ann K. Al-Sheri, Agnes Loc-

sin, and the Locsin Dance Workshop Tickets are available at Php1,000.00 for VIP, Php500.00 for General Ad-

mission, and Php150.00 for students.

For ticket reservations and purchase, contact the Museum at (082) 233 – 1734

or 09395035613. The Davao Museum of History and Ethnography is located at Agusan Circle, Insular Village Phase I, Lanang Davao City.

EDGE DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 234 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 15 - 16, 2017

MUSIKVEREIN KRESSBRONN serenades at Damosa

By BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO MUSIKVEREIN KRESSBRONN, composed of 70 German musicians from Kressbronn, Germany serenaded the enthusiastic audience at the Damosa Car Park last January 6, 2017, Friday evening. Their repertoire included a number of familiar OPM songs that delighted the crowd -- from all ages. Despite the rain, the concert was well-attended and applauded.

Musikverein Kressbronn, named after a place in Germany, was founded in 1805 and has toured the world with their enigmatic voices and sound. Not their first time to visit, the group has been known to visit parts of the country to serenade Filipinos with their heartfelt rendition of OPM hits -- accompanied with amazing vocals.

To kick start the year, Musikverein Kressbronn filled the Damosa

Car Park with tunes that initiated flashbacks to the audience. Together with them, students from the Davao School for the Blinds (One Light Band) also performed and was their opening act for the night.

It was not just a night of tunes and songs, adding to the festivities, a Tinikling Philippine Folk dance

was performed on stage with a graceful Filipina dancer.

The concert began with Musikverein Kressbronn playing our National Anthem, the Lupang Hinirang. The concert was also for FREE and was sponsored by Anflocor and Damosa Land Incorporated, to name a few.

EDGEDAVAO KORONADAL PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Tel No. 082.221.3601/224.1413 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net

VOL. 9 ISSUE 234 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 15 - 16, 2017

South... FROM 1

The Filipino crew, Alindajao declined to be interviewed but gave a message of gratitude to the government for his release.

“I am thanking God for our safety because we already feel hopeless that time, and now

we already went home safe with the help of Sir Jess and President Duterte for assisting us,” Alindajao said.

Meanwhile, Dureza said that Park will be brought to Manila while Alindajao will fly back to Cebu.

ules,” she said.

The secretary said that she expects that after the Miss Universe candidate tour around the country, it will boost the tourism industry of the Philippines.

She added that she hopes that through this, other countries will lift their travel advi-

sory in Mindanao.

“I want them to have the impression that it is safe to travel Mindanao after their visit here and hopefully they will lift their travel advisories,” Teo said.

After the pageant, the DOT expects 2 million tourist in 2018.

py that Madame Abe was able to visit Mintal.

“We were in heaven, nasa heaven talaga. I tried my best to brief her of the important information regarding the area, the cemetery. I also handed to her a token – the old money,” he pointed out.

Bargamento said Akie was also thankful that she was able to know the deepness of the relationship of Filipinos and Japanese in Davao.

“Nagpasalamat siya at yun nga ngayon nya nalaman yung lalim ng samahan ng mga Pilipino at Hapon lalo na sa Davao City at sa Barangay Mintal,” he added.

Akie then proceeded to

visit the Ureinashi Ni Ho or the “Monument of No Regret” that was built by the city govt of Davao.

Barangay officials in Mintal expressed gratitude to Akie for the visit, saying the occasion was an honor and manifestation of the continuing good relationship between Philippines and Japan.

The Japanese cemetery in Mintal is being maintained by the city government of Davao.

Records said around 300 Japanese soldiers, including Japanese civilians were buried in said cemetery from the period 1935 until the end of World War II in 1945. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

DOT... FROM 2

PM... FROM 4

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

EJF-REM CASE NO. 16,149-16

SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (SSS) Mortgagee,

-versusLUCIA NATANAUAN, married to LEOPOLDO NATANAUAN Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed the above mentioned mortgagee against LUCIANA NATANAUAN ,married to LEOPOLDO NATANAUAN, with postal address at LOT 14, BLK. 3 , # 18 MARILAG ST., DOÑA PAZ SUBDIVISION, SASA, DAVAO CITY, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of December 31, 2016 amounts to P 2,729, 757.44 Philippine Currency, including interest thereon , penalties and other charges and plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of Regional Trial Court, Davao City; the undersigned will sell at public auction on FEBRARY 09, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland ,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the real property together with all the improvements found thereon, particularly described below to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-114139 “A parcel of land xxx (Lot 14, Blk. 3 xxx Pcs -11-00047 , xxx) situated in the Barrio of Sasa , City of Davao, Island of Mindanao xxx. Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY FIFTY (150 ) SQUARE METERS, more or less xxx.”

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on MARCH 09, 2017 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon , if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, JANUARY 9, 2017

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROV’L SHERIFF: (SGD.) JULITO J. ANGGOT Sheriff IV

Noted by: (SGD) ATTY FRANCISCO M. CAMPANER. Clerk of Court V & OIC- Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (Edge-1/16,23,30)

EDGEDAVAO

PEZA... FROM 1

NEWS 11

forum, over 20 of which are from the Japanese delegation.

The PEZA head said that among the top economic zone investors, 30 percent are coming from Japan.

“So far, we have 901 Japanese companies in PEZA economic zones, Japanese support industries, shipbuilders and other related companies in PEZA,” said Plaza.

According to Plaza compared to other Asian countries, Philippines has less linguistic communication problems.

She also pointed out the ease to hire local staff such as tellers, clerks as well as the ability of the country to provide high quality of employees with highest retention rates.

“Meaning, Filipino employees and workers stay loyally to their employers,” she explained.

Comparatively, Philippines has the lowest account of labor stikes and blackouts, according to the PEZA head.

Plaza also laid down the reasons to invest in their agency.

“PEZA right now is the sole economic agency that is authorized to establish as many economic zones nationwide,” she stressed.

As of now, Plaza identified the highest pour in of investments in electronics and semi-conductors, followed by information technology.

“In PEZA, we have the worldwide five top semi-con and electronic sales leaders operating and registered with

PEZA,” said Plaza.

The PEZA head said the agency has the best incentives so far with income tax holidays (ITH) valid for eight years for pioneer projects and four to six years for non-pioneer projects, special property tax for gross income, allowable deductions in lieu of national and local taxes, incentives like tax and duty free importation, capital equipment, spare parts supplies and raw materials, and domestic sales allowance of up to 30 percent of the total sales.

She also laid down some of the additional incentives granted by PEZA such as the employment of foreign nationals.

“Meaning you can bring your consultants or your top employees because we will be providing them a special visa to include the owner of the foreign investments and their immediate family members,” explained the PEZA head.

According to Plaza, investors could choose from the types of ecozones to be established nationwide depending on the potential of the provinces or cities identified.

PEZA is eyeing to establish the following ecozones: agro-industrial economic zones, agro-forestry economic zones, aquamarine economic zones, tourism ecozones, retirement homes and wellness centers, mineral processing economic zones, defense industrial complex (strategic location, ideal location as distribution hub of Asia and

the world, renewable energy, agro-industrial parks, Halal hubs and production zones, free trade zones and international air, seaports and international distribution hubs on import and export, giving more logistics park and establish island cities and island economic zones.

The new and improved PEZA The PEZA chief also identified the improvements in the agency, stressing that PEZA has been “revolutionized”.

Plaza stressed that under PEZA, the Philippines has shown dramatic improvements on overall investment climate in the country through its successful regulatory reforms.

“Meaning we have new thrusts and programs, where we are inviting our Japanese investors, and other foreign friends and investors and local entrepreneurs as PEZA will be creating economic zones in every provinces and cities nationwide,” she explained.

“We will see to it that there will be a complete supply chain by inviting a complimentary industries so that we can also minimize importation, we have to provide quality labor force by creating a PEZA institute to match and train manpower needs of our industries, create more logistics hubs and services by empowering international airport, seaports, and telecommunication services providers,” said Plaza.

“First, PEZA cares and empowers the Filipino people. PEZA also cares for and protects the environment, PEZA likewise takes care of its investment partners and stakeholders, that’s why we keep on regularly conducting a dialogue so we will know your problems, your issues and concerns that we have to address immediately,” Plaza emphasized.

PEZA is also a one-stop shop as it provides the building and occupancy permits, according to Plaza.

“We provide 24 hours-7 days service, no Red Tape but red carpet treatment and we are ISO 901-2008 certified which means for all processes for all levels in all offices nationwide,” said Plaza.

PEZA - attached to the Department of Trade and Industry - is the Philippine government agency tasked to promote investments, extend assistance, register, grant incentives to and facilitate the business operations of investors in export-oriented manufacturing and service facilities inside selected areas throughout the country proclaimed by the President of the Philippines as PEZA Special Economic Zones.

As of now, PEZA has recorded 358 operating economic zones nationwide, 73 of which are industrial and export processing zones, 243 are IT Parks and centers, 19 are tourism ecozones, two are medical tourism parks, and 21 are agro-industrial parks.

“We know the rebels are out to grab our ancestral domains. We will die for it no matter what. United, we will be able to repulse them from our tribal communities,” said Kristine Banugan, the young daughter of the slain Datu Banugan in the same statement.

In a meeting earlier this week, Mandaya leaders, together with the Provincial Tribal Council of Davao Oriental passed a resolution urging the national government

to look into their plight.

“The brutal killing of tribal chieftain Banugan is a clear incursion to the rights of the indigenous peoples to self-governance and self-determination. The Provincial Tribal Council of the Province of Davao Oriental strongly demand that the protection of the rights of the indigenous peoples be given preferential attention during the panel discussions in the ongoing peace process between the

Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front,” the resolution pointed out.

They also asked Secretary Jesus Dureza of the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and chief negotiator Secretary Silvestre Bello III “to seriously tackle the issues on the rights of indigenous peoples to govern over their ancestral domains, free from interference of the communist rebels.”

They also sent copies of the resolution to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.

Earlier, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang condemned the recent attack in Caraga town that killed Datu Banugan.

The governor also assured the people in the area of the continued support from the provincial government.

involved either in smuggling, human trafficking, aggravated assault, drug pushing, and de-

sertion.

BI intelligence officer Bobby Raquepo, FSU acting chief, said

86 of the aliens were subjects of mission orders; 37 were issued deportation warrants by the

bureau’s board of commissioners; seven were intercepted at the airports; and five voluntarily surrendered.

On the other hand, the BI chief noted that nearly all of the fugitives arrested were already deported to their countries of origin where they are now serving their sentences or are being tried for various offenses.

“They were also placed in our blacklist to prevent them from re-entering the country,” Morente said in a statement.

He added that their presence in the country posed a risk to public safety.

Morente vowed to relentlessly pursue its campaign against foreign fugitives.

“The Philippines should not be used as a sanctuary for foreign criminals who want to evade prosecution and punishment for crimes they committed in their homeland,” he said.

(PNA)

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Matina Enclaves’Top Sellers feted

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

E

SCANDOR Development Corporation (Esdevco) feted its Top Sellers and Top Producer Realties for the month of December during its regular Top Sellers Banquet.

The luncheon awarding was held at the Kamayo Restaurant of The Royal Mandaya Hotel last January 11.

“It’s a great way to start the year as ESDEVCO treats the Top Sellers and Top Producing Realties for December to give thanks for the hard work selling our product Matina Enclaves,” said Gerald Garces, project head of Matina Enclaves.

The Top Sellers for December are Joel Reyes, Joseph Arthur Sayson Avila and Jennefer Dayap.

The Top Producing Realties are Ablas Realty, Property Depot (ROI), Furog Realty, Polinar Realty and Hayana Realty.

Matina Enclaves Sales Team with the Top Sellers & Top Producer Realties for December

Matina Enclaves is a prime mixed use real estate development by the Davao-based Esdevco which is owned by the Escandor family, known for its diverse business in security services and hospitality.

At the moment, the project has sold five residential condominiums witht Building 1 set for turnover soon. (NJB)

Matina Enclaves Top Sellers and Top Producer Realties Banquet

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Japan... FROM 2

“Doing it for the Filipinos and the country as he [PM Abe] is the first foreign and high-ranking government official to visit Philippines and Davao, and first to visit the President’s house,” Duterte’s common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña said.

NEWS 13

EDGEDAVAO

PM’s wife visited Japanese Cemetery The wife of Japanese Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Japanese Cemetery in Mintal to pay respect to the remains of her countrymen in the Philippines during the Second World War. Avanceña accompanied Ms. Akie Abe to the Japanese graveyard where 300 of Davao City’s first Japanese residents

are buried.

They were also accompanied by Bertola Medialdea, wife of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and Yuko Ishikawa, wife of Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa.

When they arrived at the graveyard, Mrs. Abe offered her prayers before the Tower of Japanese Residents who passed away during the war and the Muyu Monument.

Avanceña explained to Ms. Abe that Duterte had ordered the construction of the Muyu Monument three years ago.

“The President is very grateful for the help that the Japanese government, through Prime Minister Abe and Madame Akie Abe, are extending to us Filipinos and our coun-

try,” Avanceña pointed out.

The words carved on the monument are: “The person who loved the Philippines and loved Davao is here now” and “Every human being is my brother, my sister, my child.”

Mental Cemetery was built in 1910 by Kyouzaburo Ohta, the Japanese owner of vast abaca plantations that drew Japanese workers to Davao City, and some Japanese graves were dug up by Filipinos looking for treasure after the war.

The Muyu Monument serves as a marker for those graves.

Japanese PM named rescued PH eagle Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

has also named a two-yearold rescued Philippine eagle after Japan’s traditional spring attraction, Sakura, also known as cherry blossoms.

The naming rite was led

by President Duterte on Friday at Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City.

“This eagle, through the support of the Japanese Government, will be nursed back to health by the Philippine Eagle Foundation; in gratitude, the eagle will be named ‘Sakura,’” Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc. Executive Director Dennis Salvador said.

It can be recalled that Sakura, was located at the foot of the Pantaron Range, the boundaries of Talaingod, Davao del Norte and San Fer-

nando, Bukidnon, was turned over to the Philippine Eagle Foundation December 12, 2016 after sustaining a gunshot injury.

According to Salvador, the bullet is still lodged in its groin area, but Sakura is now recuperating.

“We are still assessing if they should remove the bullet through an operation as it is already embedded in the eagle’s tissues,” Salvador said.

With the adoption, Salvador added that the Japanese government pledged to donate at least ₱125,000 annually for the next five years to help Sakura’s rehabilitation and sustenance.

Japan is the first foreign government to adopt an eagle,

Salvador added.

In addition to the adoption of Sakura, Salvador said the Japanese government also helped in building the education facility at the Philippine Eagle Center.

After the naming rites, Prime Minister Abe and his wife left Davao City on Friday afternoon, ending his two-day official visit to the Philippines.

They are due to land in Sydney, Australia on Friday evening for a short visit to Australia to discuss regional security, trade and economic opportunities with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as part of a six-day diplomatic tour which takes them to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

After Tuesday’s meeting in Las Vegas, Horn’s promoters Duco Events announced it had brokered a deal with Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum arguably the sport’s most powerful figure - to stage the fight in Australia on April 23.

As of Wednesday, the Suncorp Stadium was the sentimental choice as venue and the iconic 52,500-seat venue would represent a dream outcome for Horn, a 28-year-old former schoolteacher and diehard rugby league fan.

According to reports, Duco will shortly begin talks with potential sponsors even as the hosting battle begins among NSW (Sydney), South Australian (Adelaide) and Victorian

(Melbourne) governments.

That’s for the battle within.

Now, if the money can’t be raised in Australia, it could be moved to the United States or United Arab Emirates.

The SBS report revealed that there had been no formal approach to Queensland yet but they’re more than happy to talk according to Jones.

“Suncorp Stadium is one of the best outdoor sporting venues in the country so I think Queensland would be at an advantage compared to other states,” Jones said.

The Queensland government understands the fight is huge and is excited about it.

“There isn’t a bad seat at Suncorp so we’ve got a real

home advantage in having such a great stadium here that would be the perfect place to hold a fight of this magnitude.

However, Jones said they have to be cautious and follow the fiscal guidelines first. “Like any deal, we always have to look at value for money for taxpayers.”

Duco was unable on Wednesday to confirm the total funding figure they are seeking, but it’s believed to be in excess of $5 million.

The report also bared that Suncorp Stadium management are confident they can accommodate the fight and a possible A-League final involving the Brisbane Roar if both eventuate.

The first week of the A-League finals is on the same weekend and the night of Friday, April 21 would seem to be the only option should the Roar finish either third or fourth and earn the right to play their elimination final at home, and if the bout goes ahead.

Football Federation Australia has the stadium prebooked on April 21-22.

Suncorp Stadium CEO Alan Graham admitted it would take careful and precise planning but said it was capable of staging both events.

“Obviously it’s something we’ve got to work through, but there’s always plenty of ways around these things,” Graham told AAP.

eagle could not fly and was limping when turned over to the center. The bullet remains embedded in the eagle’s tissue.

“The bullet is still embedded in the tissue, so we’re still assessing. Baka delikado (It might be risky),” he told reporters. According to him, the eagle has already undergone x-rays and other needed medication. Sakura is still undergoing rehabilitation at the PEF center.

Salvador said the adoption and naming of the Philippine Eagle is symbolic of the country’s growing partnership with Japan. He is hoping for improved partnership between the Foundation with

its Japanese counterparts for further research efforts particularly on endangered raptors.

For over 30 years, Salvador said the Foundation continues to serve its mission in saving and protecting the Philippine eagle from extinction through conservation, breeding, research and conservation initiatives, and conservation education.

At present, the Foundation’s conservation efforts are mostly voluntary with the academe and the private sector taking the lead. The Davao City government and President Duterte when he was still mayor have been helping the foundation in terms financial assistance. (PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VALUE FOR MONEY Aussie gov’t: Pacquiao fight hosting must justify huge funding required

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

P

ICONIC VENUE. The Suncopr Stadium in Brisbane could be the host of the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn fight on April 23.

njb@edgedavao.net

ERTH, Australia – For sure, money wont come easy.

Even for a rich state like Queensland, the hosting of the blockbuster fight between Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and homeboy Jeff Horn will have to go through meticulous funding scrutiny.

According to a report on SBS, the Queensland government says the megafight, probably Australia’s biggest boxing card ever, must provide enough value to justify the multi-million dollar outlay required.

And so it comes off

the tracks -- the bidding war for the Pacquiao-Horn fight with Horn’s home city Brisbane the early frontrunner.

But despite the clamor to keep the fight at home soil, Queensland tourism and major events minister Kane Jones reportedly waved the caution sign to everyone that the state government will only underwrite the historic bout as long as it provides enough value for the huge cost required.

In plain business lingo -- value for money. In government terms – fiscal prudence.

F VALUE, 13

Ramrodding the Philippine Sports Commission PH netters expect From the abyss of mediocrity to the doorstep of excellence

By JIMMY K. LAKING

T

HERE is a snow-balling, albeit hardly unnoticed, nationwide undertaking to overhaul Philippine sports once and for all.

It has nothing to do with Andre Blatche, the 6’11” naturalized Filipino that some Manila oligardch wanted to project as the face of Philippine basketball.

Nor does it have to do with whoever gets the fancy of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco in representing the national colors abroad.

It has nothing to do with spiting the old for there were accomplishments, although few and far between, that deserved appreciation.

As William “Butch” Ramirez realized early on, the Philippine Sports Commission over the past 26 years of its existence cannot be faulted for lack of something to show.

It simply lacked the freedom to fulfill its mandate probably without stepping on powerful toes.

Like the war against drugs and corruption, this total overhaul of the system ramrodded by the Philippine Sports Commission is for real. And it is taking the regions like a storm.

The casualties differ though.

In place of body counts, old ideas are being discarded to give way to the new. Basketball is still considered a cream,

Ramirez but the reality beckons in the grassroots where salvation for Philippine sports may eventually emerge in the long-term.

With Duterte’s assumption into power as the catalyst, the true state of Philippine sports has unraveled. It is safe to assume that under the watch of a succession of Philippine presidents, Philippine sports occupied the doormat of priorities, remembered only when one talent sparkled only to fade into the sunset like a flash in the pan.

Now change has come to encompass sports.

With Ramirez at the helm, the PSC from Day I simply took the bull by its horns by coming out with a novelty: the establishment of a Philippine Institute of Sports that is expected to be launched this Jan. 16 in Pasig.

It is the centerpiece to a

two-pronged strategy that seeks to infuse science to the training and selection of sports talents for the long term.

With links to the institute of sports of South Korea, Australia and Russia, the PIS will be equipped with bio-mechanics and exercise machines and equipment supervised by experts.

It will have a full complement of psychologists, physiologists, nutritionists and medical doctors employed on a full-time basis.

It will be complemented region-wide by 13 regional training satellites, five regional training directors and 50 sports coordinators.

These will act as the vanguards in working with the local government units in developing sports at the grassroots.

National training director Marc Edward Velasco said the

PSI project aims to improve the performance of Filipino athletes in international competitions.

He added that with the putting up of the PSI, “there is an opportunity for our athletes to excel in the international arena.”

By way of suggestion, Velasco told reporters that the league of mayors and league of governors should realize that their constituents can be very much be a part of the national program.

“They must know that this is not for the elite but also for the grassroots,” he added.

By way of analogy, the PSI can be likened to the system that miners use to cull the gems from the trough.

Ramirez has time and time again underscored the PSC’s desire to succeed in the implementation of its mandate in partnership with all stakeholders.

He summarizes the task at hand over the long haul: “Let us put the key fundamental things first: a strong genuine grassroots sports program, a clear picture of how we will fund the athletes, the (establishment of the) institute where science is there and a very good foreign exposure and training.”

The PSC will do to ride the river with.

tough tie vs Indons T EAM captain Karl Santamaria on Friday said the Philippines is expecting a strong challenge from Indonesia in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia/ Oceania Zone Group II tie scheduled Feb. 3 to 5 at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) indoor claycourt in Paco, Manila.

Led by US-born Filipinos Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales, the Philippines hopes to beat Indonesia and be promoted to Group I in 2018.

“It will be a tough tie especially since Indonesia has beaten us in the Southeast Asian Games team events in 2011 and 2015, and also in the Davis Cup in 2013,” said the 37-year-old Santamaria, who is on his second with the RP Davis Cup team.

Last year, the team of Huey, Gonzales, Casey Francis Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon bowed to Chinese Taipei, 1-3, in the semifinal round to stay in Group II. This year, the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) has included Albert “AJ’ Lim Jr. in the line-up to boost the country’s bid of getting a Group I promotion in 2018.

Lim is currently No. 52 in the world juniors rankings.

The 17-year-old freshman at the University of the

East will be leaving next week to compete in the Australian Open Juniors.

Huey, who is the world’s No. 22 doubles player, is also seeing action in the Australian Open while Gonzales is playing Challengers in the US. “We have been practicing already at PCA and Valle Verde. Only AJ and Francis Casey are here right now. AJ will leave for Melbourne on the 19th and return as soon as he finishes there. Same with Treat. Ruben will arrive late this month,” said the 37-year-old Santamaria, a champion coach in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Indonesia will most likely field the same team which scored a 5-0 rout over Sri Lanka in the Group II relegation play-off last year.

Christopher Rungkat, Sunu-Wahya Trijati, Aditya Hari Sasongko and David Agung Susanto won all their matches without losing a set against their Sri Lankan opponents. Indonesia’s team captain is Andrian Raturandang.

Teams have until January 23 to submit their final lineup to the International Tennis Federation, the world-governing body for the sport.

(PNA)

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