Edge Davao 9 Issue 241

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

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Serving a seamless society

AWAY FROM HARM. Several families have already been evacuated from severely flooded areas in Asuncion, Davao Del Norte yesterday afternoon.

60IB Disaster Response Unit (DRU) as part of various Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils in the Davao del Norte has been conducting rescue and relief operations since last week. Photo courtesy of the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army

UNDER WATER Rains due to‘tail-end of a cold front’flood Davao provinces

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

LOODS spawned by heavy rains continued to inundate several areas in the Davao region and threatened to trigger more landslides in Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) attributed the heavy rains to the tail-end of a cold front that continue to drench the CARAGA and Davao regions.

PAGASA added that cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms may further trigger flash-floods and landslides in both regions.

ComVal is inundated In Compostela Valley, floods had already affected

parts of Poblacion of Nabunturan town including some barangays on Monday.

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy already suspended classes in all levels in the province since Monday until today, January 24.

Uy also ordered the activation of all disaster risk reduction council operation centers in Compostela Valley from provincial to municipal and barangay levels.

Municipal and barangay operation centers were also required to submit initial and situational reports to the PDRRMC for assistance.

A total of 32 families or 128 individuals were evacuated to the municipal gymnasium of Mawab town on Tuesday due to flooding.

The families came from the villages of Malinawon and

Poblacion.

Forty-two families or 161 individuals were also relocated to the evacuation center at the elementary school in Barangay Banagbanag, Montevista town as of 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday due to severe flooding in the area.

Barangay Captain Alex Antibo said the evacuees came from Puroks 2, 5, 6 and 7 in said barangay.

The MDRRMC in Montevista immediately responded by giving the basic needs of the evacuees such as food packs, safe drinking water, and medicines while responders from Montevista Search and Rescue Team (MOSART) are now utilizing big trucks locally called “Sadam” to deliver relief goods and food stuffs to the affected villages.

Antibo added that they are

also conducting pre-emptive evacuation to residents living in other flood prone areas.

The main road that connects Banagbanag to the town center of Montevista is no longer passable for light vehicles on Tuesday due to the rising flood.

As of 3:30 p.m. on Monday, 103 families from Green Valley Homes in Poblacion, Compostela town were also evacuated to the municipal gymnasium due to severe flooding.

Other areas affected in Poblacion, Compostela include Puroks 5, 6, 9, 10 and 13, the report added.

An hourly comparative water level monitoring result was provided by the PDRRMC in Compostela Valley on Tuesday morning indicated

F UNDER, 11

City zoning revisited to match devt. goals

Along with traffic, solid waste & floods as priorities

By JIMMY K. LAKING

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HE Davao city government has buckled down to revisiting its comprehensive land use plan to match the over-all development directions it has worked out in coordination with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“We are looking forward to a direction that will spread out development to include the uplands,” said lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo, assistant city development officer.

Domingo joined JICA

EDGEDAVAO Sports

F CITY, 11

SHOCK THE P16 WORLD Aussie legend thinks Horn can beat Pacquiao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

ORDER OF BUSINESS. President Rodrigo Duterte is shown the agenda of the 11th Cabinet meeting by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. at the State Dining Room of Malacañan Palace on Monday evening. ACE MORANDANTE/Presidential Photo

Ex-MisOr mayor in Rody’s narco list reports to PNP

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ORMER Lugait, Misamis Oriental Mayor Willy Lim, who figured in the narco list of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, showed up at the office of Chief Supt.

Agripino Javier, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 10 (PRO-10) in an effort to clear his name Monday afternoon.

Lim arrived at the PRO-10 headquarters with Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Emano and Misamis Oriental police provincial director Senior Supt. Sukarno Alvarez after a brief procedure at the provin-

cial police headquarters.

“The standard operating procedure relative to the clearing or delisting of his name will still be undertaken.

In other words, we will still be validating the claims of former mayor Willy Lim and will continue conducting our own investigation,” Javier said.

“However, we are glad he (Lim) reported to us and manifested his willingness to cooperate,” he added.

For his part, Emano expressed his all-out support to the PNP’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. (PNA)

Chinese Ambassador Zhao certain of a COC framework by mid 2017

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HE adoption of a Code of Conduct(COC) in the South China Sea, probably in the middle of this year, will promote peace and stability in the region as well as further strengthen Philippines-China relations.

“We’re making progress, I think we’re going to have a framework of a COC probably by middle this year,” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said Monday night on the sideline of the Chinese New Year Celebration at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City.

Zhao said that he sees progress in the crafting of a COC which will serve as a barometer in attaining

progress and prosperity in the region.

Zhao stressed that China’s policy is peace and stability in the region, which includes the disputed South China Sea. Chinese media earlier said that war is imminent if the United States block their access.

“I don’t think that it is advisable or wise for China and the U.S. to engage in a confrontation. Let’s wait and see,” Zhao noted.

He even described the diplomatic protest of the Philippines on SCS as not just improving but “developing rapidly.”

He added that they are looking forward to the next

F CHINESE, 11

City Hall to renovate lobby and COA office

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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HE City hall lobby and Commission on Audit office will undergo rehabilitation worth P7 million after the flooring in both areas collapsed on Friday.

The entire structure of the City hall was made of wood and was constructed on 1926.

City Engineer’s Office head Engr. Joseph Dominic Felizarta said that they will need to close the lobby of the city hall for three to six months for the retrofitting of the above mentioned area.

“We need to close the main entrance of the city hall for the retrofitting since the floor of the COA office collapsed. We also looked at the foundation of the main lobby and we found out that there are a lot of termites already,” Felizarta said.

He explained that the underground of the building is full of water that causes moisture on the flooring.

He said that because the building is mostly made of woods, termites are one of the

causes why the foundation of the building weakens.

Felizarta said that they will now make columns made of cement instead of woods to avoid such incidents.

“We will replace it with cement so that we can avoid repetition of our job, cement can also hold on the moisture unlike the woods,” he said.

The P7 million budget will be coming from the City Mayor’s Office funds.

While construction is ongoing, people can use the

door at the back of the city hall as the main entrance and exit, while the employees will use the doors at the side of the building.

After the flooring of the COA office collapsed, the department immediately transferred to another office for the continuity of their job.

Meanwhile, felizarta said that there is no need for other offices to relocate since the construction will only affect the lobby and the COA office on the ground floor.

PNP acting in collusion with gambling operators.

“Let’s be frank with each other. Illegal gambling would not proliferate if there is no connivance with police personnel on the take. The problem is collusion among police, LGUs and operators,” Lacson said.

He pointed out that if LGUs and PNP coordinated to go after illegal gambling, particularly those using Small town Lottery (STL) operations as front, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) would have higher revenues.

PCSO established the STL to combat illegal numbers game, “jueteng”.

The senator also stressed the importance of amending the over 80-year-old PCSO charter to “to adapt to the times” and allow expansion of STL operations which could generate additional revenue for the office.

“We have to come out with a better PCSO charter with more efficient charity collection,” he added.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno,

meanwhile, admitted that operations against illegal gambling diminished because of the campaign against illegal drugs.

Sueno, however, vowed to heed the advice of Lacson and consult with other stakeholders to also prioritize illegal gambling.

Although he stressed that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte himself wanted to address the country’s problems “one at a time” he looked forward to discussing illegal gambling with the President next month.

(PNA)

LGUs, PNP told: Focus on illegal gambling not just drugs

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LLEGAL gambling should be given as much priority as illegal drugs, a senator told representatives from local government units (LGUs) and Philippine National Police (PNP) in a hearing on Tuesday.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, during a senate hearing on the proposal to increase penalties for illegal gambling activities, said LGUs and PNP should coordinate to assure that illegal gambling does not proliferate.

Lacson, however, lamented that what is happening in the opposite -- illegal gambling is rampant because of LGUs and

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

Palace apologizes to SKorean gov’t for killing of Korean businessman

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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PERPLEXED. A fuming Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang expresses his anger against the Davao City Water District (DCWD) for allegedly ignoring the water supply problem in the second district during a privileged speech in yesterday’s City Council regular session at Sangguniang Panlungsod. Lean Daval Jr.

PCSO launches expanded STL in bid to stop illegal gambling

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UOYED by President Rodrigo Duterte’s clear directive to stop illegal gambling, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has declared own war against famous illegal numbers game ‘jueteng’ with the formal launching on Tuesday of expanded small-time lottery.

“Today, as we formally launched the expanded small town lottery here in Malacañang, we finally draw the line and declare that it’s time to put a stop to illegal gambling,” PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said in a Palace briefing.

“Today, we declare that the small town lottery is the only legal and authorized numbers game nationwide. To all illegal

gambling operators, we offer you both an invitation and a warning: Go legal,” he added.

Balutan said fighting illegal gambling is also in support of the Duterte administration’s campaign against corruption.

“Let there be no doubt, this is not only a campaign against illegal gambling but at the very core, a war to curb and eliminate corruption,” he said.

PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz said the PCSO has partnered with the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to make sure that all illegal gambling activities will be stopped throughout the country.

F PCSO, 14

NCCP supports third round of GRP-NDFP peace talks

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HE National Council of Churches in the Philippines on Tuesday expressed support to the third round of formal peace negotiation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) this month.

“We are edified that this third round is taking place in Rome within the octave of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” the group said in a statement.

With this, the NCCP assured that they will be praying for the people involved in the meeting and for the discussion to be successful.

“We will pray especially for the successful negotiations as we always uphold the peace talks in our prayers. We will pray that the men and women directly taking part in the process will take to heart the urgency and importance of the agenda on the table, mainly the

Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms or CASER,” they said.

The organization added, “We recognize that the peace negotiation is a political process.

Our enduring concern for peace and justice bid us to support and pray for its success. Our fervent prayer is for the resolution of the economic injustice that has bred the social unrest for a long time. We hold on to the long awaited political reforms, as well. We owe this much to the generations after us.”

The NCCP said they expect the government to honor agreements and release all political prisoners.

“As we urge our constituency to be unceasing in prayer for peace so do we exhort the members of the negotiating panels to be resolute in resolving the strife that has been going on for almost half a century,” it added.

Royal Norwegian Government “for its crucial role as Third Party Facilitator.” (PNA)

ALACAÑANG on Tuesday apologized to the family of the slain South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo and the Korean government over Jee’s “untimely death while in police custody.”

“We wish to take this occasion to express the condolences and sympathies of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Filipino people to Choi Kyung-jin, the widow of Mr. Jee Ick-Joo, the South Korean national who met untimely death while in police custody,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.

It can be recalled that Jee was allegedly killed in his home last October by the Philippine National Police

and he was cremated in a different funeral parlor.

Malacañang also apologized to the South Korean government for the “irreparable loss,” assuring that they would exact justice for Jee’s death.

“We commit the full force of the law to ensure that justice is served and not [be] delay[ed],” he added.

Abella quoted Duterte and said, “please accept my sincerest and deepest regret” to the Korean government.

However, President Duterte on Sunday believes that the police cops would not attempt to kill people in a police camp and that PNP has «no criminal intent» on killing the foreign

reduction Management Fund,” he said.

For the entire year, the city has a total budget of P340.4 million for the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund; P102.1 million of it is allocated for the Quick response fund.

Dayanghirang said that the city usually extend help to those struck by calamities since the city seldom experience typhoon.

“Because the city is seldom hit by typhoon, we usually extend assistance to those who were devastated by calamities, they just have to declare that they are under the state of calamity,” Dayanghirang said.

Last Saturday, the City also sends 5,000 food packs to Cagayan de Oro city to

help those families who were suffering from the recent flood that hit the city.

The food packs was personally brought by Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon and was received by the Local Government of CDO. “We used 5 trucks to deliver the goods last Saturday and it was handed to the LGU of Cagayan (de Oro). We used the logistic vehicle of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and 4 trucks from the City Engineer (Office),” Jaldon said.

Early this year, the city handed an additional P3.5 million to the victims of typhoon Nina in the provinces of Quezon, Batangas and Marinduque.

F PALACE, 11

Davao City extends fund aid to flood-struck LGUs

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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HE city government has extended financial assistance to the victims of flood in different areas in Mindanao last week.

On Tuesday, the 18th City council approved through suspended rules theallocation of P2.2 million that will be distributed to nine different municipalities and cities in Mindanao affected by the floods spawned by heavy rains.

The municipalities of Jabonga in Agusan del Norte, Talacogon and Loreto in Agusan del Sur, Lagonglong and Lugait in Misamis Oriental, Boston and Cateel in Davao Oriental, Malita in Davao Occidental and Cagayan de Oro city will each receive P250,000.

The approval of the allocation was in response to a request of Mayor Sara Duterte to immediately respond to the neighboring municipalities and cities who were affected by the recent calamity.

The budget came from the Quick Response Fund of the city.

According to Committee Chair in Finance, Ways and Means Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, it has been the tradition of the city to extend assistance to the different areas affected by the calamities.

“The assistance came from the remaining P98.6 million of the Quick response fund of the city for this year, that is only 30% of the entire Disaster Risk

HARD-HIT. A bird’s eye view of the poblacion of Kapalong, Davao del Norte, one of the most affected provinces in Mindanao, shows the extent of the flooding brought by days of heavy downpour which displaced thousands of

residents in this municipality and in other provinces. Photo courtesy of Billy Dandryll Dulatre/PIO DAVNOR

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

2017 GDP growth seen over 7% on strong consumer spending, investment

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HE Philippine economy is expected to accelerate above 7 percent in 2017, mainly thanks to strong consumer spending and investments.

The First Metro Investments Corp. (FMIC) and the University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P) said the 2.1 million new jobs and higher peso value for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances will also boost a 7-percent and above growth in consumer spending, which accounts for over 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

FMIC and UA&P were optimistic that the investment-led growth of the economy was still on track to a 7-percent fullyear GDP in 2016, on the back of higher manufacturing output, positive peso OFW remittances and exports recovery. ”This pace should accelerate slightly in 2017 as the domestic demand growth drivers are intact, while an added boost may come from exports,” they said in a joint report “The Market Call.”

The statistics agency is set to release the 2016 full-year GDP data on Thursday.

“We think that exports recovery will continue amidst the solidifying recovery of the US (United States) economy and the improved global outlook. We, however, maintain

our view that exports growth would likely end 2016 negative, or flat at best,” the report said.

“Exports should register more positive gains in 2017 and thus contribute a little to economic growth,” it added.

But FMIC and UA&P noted that investment spending should remain as the main growth driver, as they expect continued double-digit growth in capital goods imports on aggressive infrastructure spending.

“FDIs (foreign direct investments) will resume to take a faster pace in 2017 as Philippine economic numbers continue to impress foreign investors, especially the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans and Taiwanese,” they said.

The report expects these Asian investors offsetting any slowdown of US and Eurozone investments, excluding United Kingdom, “should they continue to focus on non-economic issues.”

The FMIC and UA&P further said the peso’s expected depreciation should help OFW remittances to provide additional stimulus to the economy.

“While there may be periods of peso appreciation, the overall trend of depreciation will likely continue in 2017, albeit at a slower pace than 2016,” they added. (PNA)

ARMM prepares standards for Bangsamoro investments

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NVESTMENT officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are preparing business investment standards and protocols for the Bangsamoro specific investments.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, ARMM Regional Board of Investments (RBOI) chairperson, said ARMM is embarking on the project “Brokering Business Investments in the Bangsamoro to achieve Inclusive Development and Growth” (BRIDGe) aimed at developing a Bangsamoro-specific business investment standards and protocols that will empower both the communities and businesses to engage into sustainable business enterprises.

Mastura said the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Hineleban Foundation in collaboration with the RBOI-ARMM will be implementing the BRIDGe Project which is being funded by the Australian Government – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The formal partnership among the players of the project was sealed today at the ARMM Manila Liaison Office in Makati City through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ARMM Regional Government (ARG) through RBOI and PBSP. The MOU cites the roles and areas of cooperation of the project implementers for the successful implementation of

the project.

Last week, PBSP conducted a Development Partners’ Meeting with the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) to generate inputs on the formulation and finalization of the Business Sustainability Framework in Bangsamoro (BSFB) and how to improve project implementation.

The BSFB seeks to define the role and behavior of corporations and partner communities who wish to make sustainable and responsible agribusiness investments in the Bangsamoro.

Mastura said part of the project outcome is to strengthen the capacity of RBOI to facilitate business Investments in the ARMM, help capacitate local communities to engage in business development and to promote business investments in the region among local and international investors.

“The project is very relevant and timely because this will prepare us especially on the business aspect from a possible transition from the present form of government to federalism which what the Duterte Administration is pushing now in Congress,” Mastura said in a statement.

ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman witnessed the MOU signing, saying the partnership is expected to fuel more investments in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the provinces that comprise ARMM. (PNA)

NEVER SAY NEVER. A woman drives a “trisikad” as she braves the heavy downpour to buy charcoal which she will be using for her banana cue business along R. Castillo Street in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Malaysian-backed project prioritized by PPP board Proposes to infuse P25B for land reclamation project

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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ALAYSIA-BASED Mercury Group Private Limited local partner Marilou W. Ampuan who is also the secretary of Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce expressed her confidence on the implementation of one of the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects considered by the revised Davao City PPP Board under the administration of Mayor Sara Duterte.

Mercury Group had previously submitted a proposal for a P25 billion, 200-hectare land reclamation project in Isla Verde, Davao City which it sought to transform into a mixed-used development, including theme parks, tenement housing, commercial spaces, and hotels.

The proposal was presented to then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who acknowledged the project.

Ampuan said that with the

change in administration, the PPP board was also revised as well as its guidelines. This means that the Mercury Group had to revise some documents since the initial signatories were made by the former Mayor.

Speaking during the business forum at DermPath, SM City Davao, Ampuan stated that on December 2016, the revised PPP Board had its first meeting in which one of the agenda was the introduction of new projects. One of them was the Isla Verde project. She added that as the local partner, she presented the chronological background of the Mercury Group.

Ampuan pointed out that Mindanao is the area of responsibility of former consul general Abdullah Zawawi Tahir as he was mandated to help fellow Muslims in times of disaster.

To recall, it was reported that a massive fire leveled off thousands of houses at Isla Verde along Quezon Blvd., Davao City in 2014. Isla Verde was home to many Muslim residents of the city.

“It is one of the missions of the Malaysian Consulate… to help Muslim constituents by extending support since it was the mandate of (former) consul general Abdullah Zawawi Tahir,” Ampuan told reporters as she said that the Malaysian investors who consist the Mercury Group were tapped by the former consul general during his term.

According to Ampuan, during the PPP board meeting, City Administrator Zuleika Lopez who represented Mayor Duterte expressed positive feedback on the project, adding that the city administrator requested the Mercury Group to submit the technical aspects

of the project.

Ampuan said that the Malaysian firm cannot comply with the deadline set on February this year since the feasibility study is still on-going which will determine the exact cost of as well as the area covered by the project.

“There is still no official proponent status,” stressed Ampuan who added that the number of hectares needs to be reconfirmed by the City Planning Office and said that the feasibility study is vital to determine the project cost since the investors want to consider the expenses which is “worth millions”.

Ampuan said local consultants were tapped by the Malaysian investors to comply with all the requirements needed although for three years, the investors have been visiting Davao to check the potentials of the city.

HE Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) urged jobseekers to visit and browse the country’s online job portal system to maximize their opportunity of finding the right employment opportunity.

Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III yesterday urged jobseekers to visit and browse the PhilJobNet for job opportunities and register in the system for easier job matching.

“Our local job market offers plenty of vacancies. At the

PhilJobNet alone, more than 50,000 local vacancies are available for jobseekers,” Bello said.

According to the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) the top 10 vacancies at the PhilJobNet are for call center agent ( 822); staff nurse (402); housekeeper (198); private tutor (180); quality analyst (180); production worker (180); cashier (140); salesperson (135); drivers (125); and accounting officer (100).

BLE Director Dominique

Tutay said jobseekers may access the Enhanced PhilJobNet System and look for the right job on a 24/7 basis, for free.

“PhilJobNet provides timely, relevant, and readily accessible information on job vacancies and job applicants at no cost to registered jobseekers and employers,” Tutay said.

It features a flexible matching system which matches job applicants to a vacancy, according to general and specific requirements of

employers. An interactive map is also available for applicants to view available jobs, livelihood projects implemented, or training programs being conducted at the regional and provincial levels, including available overseas jobs; list of top hiring companies; and a PESO Performance Monitoring System (PPMS).

PhilJobNet is the leading job search and job and skills matching portal in the Philippines since it was launched in 1998. (DOLE PR)

DOLE urges jobseekers to visit PhilJobNet T

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

BOC to earn over P16-M in revenue thru public auction of items at MICP

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HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is looking to earn P16 million additional revenue with sale of 23 lots of abandoned and/or seized goods including luxury vehicles at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) later this month.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the bureau said they will be earning a total of P16,160,649.62 on the public auction which is scheduled on Jan. 30 at the said port.

The shipments up for sale include four units of Cadillac Escalade and one unit of Lincoln Navigator with a floor price of P2,250,000.00; two units of used car pegged at P600,000.00; two containers of 40 footer bicycle parts and accessories pegged at P1,474,000.00; five containers of 40-footer color sandwich panels color plate pegged at P2,963,438.62, and one container of 40-footer e-bike parts and accessories priced at P1 million.

Also included in the bidding are 48 containers of 20-footer bunker/ slop oil with a floor price of

P1,096,035.00; two units used Hyundai Starex Ambulance 2003 pegged at P600,000.00; two containers of 40-footer Mizuno golf bags and shoes, pegged at P989,100.00; one unit used Kawasaki motorcycle without key, and one unit Valiant rescue boat with key, all valued at P130,000.00; and three units IAC 250 series mini sound shelter pegged at P150,000.00.

The merchandise that will be for sale includes damaged bags, wallets, and shoes; garments; foamboard; Chumpo e-bike; structural accessories for window covering; sacks of white salt; used household goods; sacks of Portland cement; donated medical supplies and religious books/ leaflets.

Public viewing of merchandise and pre-bid conference for all qualified bidders is on Jan. 26-27 at the MICP. Those who want to participate in the public auction may inquire with the said port at telephone numbers 2454101 loc. 2283 or 247-0977, or through our website http:// www.customs.gov.ph. (PNA)

Enhanced exports competitiveness necessary amid slowing sector

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HE Philippines needs to increase the competitiveness of its export sector, which is seen to recover this year, amid an expected boost from its rejuvenated relations with countries like China and Russia, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

According to the latest Economic Bulletin submitted to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the government should implement the necessary agenda and programs vital to improving the export sector that weakened in November last year.

Earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that exports fell 7.5 percent to $4.732 billion in November from $5.118 billion in the same month in the previous year.

In the first 11 months last year, the country’s exports declined by 5.2 percent to $51.361 billion from $54.168 billion in 2015.

Amid slowing exports, Finance Undersecretary and Chief Economist Gil Beltran said in his report to Dominguez that infrastructure development, free trade and bilateral trade agreements, as well as the empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should be pursued.

“We should continue infrastructure development especially in port areas to enhance cross-border trading; pursuit of free trade and bilateral trade agreements with other economies and regions; and capacitating MSMEs to tap export markets,” Beltran said.

Based on the DOF data, around 60 percent of the country’s exporters are MSMEs, thus enhanced access to credit will further improve the export capability of these

small entrepreneurs, Beltran said.

Dominguez earlier said President Duterte wants to explore or expand opportunities with countries other than our traditional trading partners in line with government plans to further open up the economy to foreign investors.

To date, only about $46 million-worth of Philippine goods are shipped to Russia every year, while China ranks as the fourth largest buyer of the country’s exports at $5.58 billion as of November 2016.

China and Russia are being eyed by the government as major destinations for Philippine agricultural produce and manufactured crafts, following President Duterte’s rebalanced foreign policy directions.

Based on the PSA data, the drop in exports in November 2016 came after 5.1 percent and 9.1 percent increases in September and October, respectively.

The drop was brought about by the 10.6 percent decline in manufactured goods exports as well as electronic products that contracted by 7.9 percent year-on-year and accounted for 53.82 percent of the total.

In contrast, exports of agro-based products significantly increased by 28.62 percent, owing to higher prices of some major export agriculture commodities, such as banana and sugar, that rose by 3.2 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively.

In November, total exports to other Southeast Asian countries, East Asia, the European Union and the United States dropped, but the country registered positive growth in other countries, although still low at 3.8 percent. (PR)

ECONOMY 5

Halal Tourism Expo exhibitors seen to double with ASEAN chairmanhip T

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ HE Philippine Halal Tourism Expo set to take place this summer is expected to lure up to 400 exhibitors for its second year as Philippines assumed its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit 2017.

Guesting during the business forum at DermPath, SM City Davao on Tuesday, Marilou W. Ampuan, secretary of Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce and president of United Islamic Center, the official organizer of Philippine Halal Tourism Expo said that although the date is still tentative, she expressed hopes that the expo would be “intime” with the ASEAN-related meetings set on April 27 to 29, 2017.

“So that we could already have a market captured for the event,” said Ampuan.

According to Ampuan, this year’s Halal expo was organized to increase the public’s level of awareness of Halal as well as to give better position

of the Philippines, especially Davao, in aligning programs for Halal tourism, one of the fastest growing global tourism concepts. More importantly, for this year the event aims to gather various players and stakeholders of the tourism and trade industry with the goal of showcasing a wide range of Halal food, products and services from local and international companies.

The United Islamic Center president said that last year, the Philippine Halal Tourism Expo featured the Mindanao launch of Philippine Halal Tourism Project, Davao City Halal Industrial Development Council, showcasing of Philippine Halal destinations, among others.

Ampuan said that the first expo had a “very positive impact” as the Philippine Halal products and services gained international markets and was able to result to the growing interest of more international exhibitors from Malaysia and Indonesia.

“The new Indonesian consul general is very supportive,” Ampuan emphasized.

She added that the expo has also resulted to the strengthening of efforts of the government to promote Halal products and services through the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Act (Republic Act 10817) signed by former president Benigno Aquino III on May 2016 which institutionalized the creation of the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Board composed of Trade and Industry Sec. Ramon Lopez as the chairperson, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF). Meanwhile, Sec. Yasmin Lao as vice chairperson, Agriculture Sec. Emmanuel Piñol, Health Sec. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, Science and Technology, Sec. Fortunato Dela Peña, Foreign Affairs Sec. Perfecto Yasay Jr., Tourism Sec. Wanda Teo, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. sit as members of the board.

According to Ampuan, the board is now on the process of finalizing the internal rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 10817 with its first consultation on December 5, 2016 at Berjaya Hotel, Makati City. A series of consultations were also done at chosen cities across the country. For Mindanao, the consultations were held at General Santos City and Cagayan de Oro City last year.

Ampuan expects that the board will officially focus more on the Sharia aspect of Halal or the religious law governing the members of the Islamic faith rather than the technical aspects such as export and promotion.

“A product or service cannot be officially declared Halal if there is no Sharia aspect,” stressed Ampuan.

The United Islamic Center president also expects that the Philippine Halal will be included on the $3 trillion road map for the global Halal market mark by 2021.

count of their inputs, activities and outputs in implementing projects.

Del Rosario instructed the provincial executives and staff to give more weight this time on the outcomes and impacts of the services and projects of the province, making sure that they bring long-term, sustain-

able change to the lives of the people.

He cited as an example the certified seeds and animal dispersal projects of the province.

The projects must not only provide food and increased income to the farmer.

As the governor put it, they must enable the farmers to im-

prove the standard of living, provide better education and better health, among all the other essentials for a better quality of life for their household.

“As we are intent on fulfilling our mandate, it is our duty to measure the outcomes and

During the meeting, Dizon-De Vega informed the group of the robust Philippine economic growth in 2016 as well as the positive prospects for the growth momentum to continue in 2017, propelled by strong economic fundamentals, public and private investment in infrastructure and technology, and President Duterte’s anti-corruption platform.

She shared that the Philippine IT and start-up sector can make a contribution to economic growth through job and income generation and that Fil-Ams in New York are

well-positioned to boost opportunities by utilizing local resources, know-how, networks, and skills.

Mr. Earl Valencia, founder of IdeaSpace, a prime mover of start-up forum Slingshot organized by the Department of Trade and Industry in the Philippines, and a 2016 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee, believes that Fil-Ams and Filipinos in the US can be collaborative partners in promoting Philippine IT / start-ups on the East Coast in the same way they have done on the West Coast.

Feliciano, an IT ventures

adviser and marketing practitioner, sees the potential in bringing together IT startups, those in the IT/Tech Field, more established IT entities, and even possible connections in other Asian countries to engender more IT start-ups in PH and among Fil-Ams. The engagement of Filipinos and Fil-Ams in the tech start up and venture capital sector forms part of the Consulate General’s mandate on economic diplomacy and trade and investments in collaboration with the Philippine Trade Office New York. (PNA)

Gov. Del Rosario demands better impact of Capitol projects

F

RONTLINE offices of the provincial government of Davao del Norte were directed to measure and improve the impact of the programs and projects particularly aimed at improving the lot of the disadvantaged sectors.

Bent on pursuing higher standard of governance this year, Governor Anthony del Rosario asked Capitol departments to make a conscious awareness of the difference that their accomplishments make in the lives of the people.

“We have to make sure that they (projects) truly bring significant, lasting, sustainable changes in the lives of our people,” del Rosario stressed.

The governor asked the offices to carefully observe the links in the results chain of all the development undertakings, which comprise of the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impact.

He criticized the usual accomplishment reports of the departments, which are heavily concerned about giving ac-

F GOV, 14

Fil-Ams undergo info drive on technology–driven start-ups and finance

C

ONSUL General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega initiated an informal meeting with Filipinos involved in New York’s information technology (IT), startup, and venture capital scene, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

Consul Genral Dizon-De Vega met with Mr. Earl Valencia, Ms. Carmen Feliciano and Ms. Monica Recto, who share a common passion to promote Philippine start-ups and IT. Consulate General’s Economic Section Head, Consul Felipe Carino III joined them.

EDGEDAVAO

6 SUBURBIA Cotabato City exec named among PH top 10 Movers

C

OTABATO City Mayor Cynthia Guaini-Sayadi was awarded as one of the country’s Top 10 Movers for 2016 by Save Me Movement, the city mayor’s office said Friday.

Mayor Sayadi has made her presence felt in governance, environment and peace and order. Elected as vice mayor in the 2016 polls, Sayadi replaced her elder brother, Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., who died due to illness last year.

According to Halima Satol Ibrahim, city information officer, Sayadi was chosen by the Save Me Movement as one of the top ten movers in the Philippines for governance and public service.

Sayadi has been promoting accountability and transparency in local governance, improving the city’s peace and order and brought the city to the country’s investment map.

Ibrahim said the venue and date of awarding are yet to be announced. (PNA)

Build a successful career with your family, Gov AGR challenges

D

AVAO del Norte Governor Anthony del Rosario challenged capitol employees to find balance between building their careers and nurturing their relationship with their family.

During the 1st convocation of the provincial government for 2017, last January 23, 2017 at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan, the governor explained that building a stronger relationship within the family units will translate into a greater form of governance.

“Family is the foundation of the Filipino society”, the governor said.

The governor even shared some of his personal experiences as a family man, saying that employees should never take their familial responsibilities for granted.

“Dapat mo uli gyud mo ug sayo sa inyong mga balay kung walay overtime, aron dili mo magaway sa inyong asa-

wa o bana” he said.

He added that a balance between career and family is possible but it will take more effort, and employees should be willing to make this effort to further grow in both aspects of their lives.

“You can actually maintain and raise both family and career with a good mixture of dedication, flexibility, time management, humor and fun”, the governor said.

He further explained that finding the right balance between family and career is part of the golden standards that capitol employees should posses. These include Greatness in his or her daily undertakings, one who is oozing with Optimism, has Leadership, has total Devotion to work, duty and family, one who has constant quest for Excellence and has intense Nationalism. (PIO DavNor)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

DavOr packs relief goods for flood - hit families C

APITOL employees,soldiers from the 701st Brigade and 28th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, 1104 CDC Army Reservists, Civil-Military Operations Company,and volunteers have worked together in packing relief goodsat the Provincial Capitol Covered Court this evening, January 23, 2017.

The Provincial Government have secured supply

ofrelief goods to augment food packs available in disaster-stricken municipalitiesin the province.

Each food pack contains 5 kilos of rice, 3 sardines, 2 corned beef and 6 sachets of coffee, ready to be transported and handed over to victims.

Facilitating the packing of relief goods while constantly monitoring situation in the affected areas of the prov-

ince are the newly installed Brigade Commander of the 701st Brigade Col. Reuben Basiao; Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Yvette T. Sunga; Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Freddie C. Bendulo; and Provincial Administrator Art Benjie Bulaong; and other staff of the Provincial Government.

Over the past few weeks, the province has experienced

heavy rains causing floods and landslides in some areas, particularly the towns in the east coast. Damages to properties, livelihoods, crops, and infrastructures, among others have been reported.

The Provincial Government together with its partners have ensured that the massive aid effort will reach the towns and villages that are in dire need of the aid. PIO/ Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan

RELIEF GOODS. Hundreds of volunteers from the provincial government of Davao Oriental, the military, police and private support groups gathered at the provincial capitol covered court starting Monday evening to help pack relief goods intended for the victims of calamity in the area. (Eden Jhan Licayan/PIO DavOr)

Tagum conducts surprise drug tests Gensan to create task D

RUG dependents who voluntarily surrendered to local authorities submitted themselves to a surprise drug test conducted by the City Government of Tagum through the CADAC City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, which will determine if they will pass or fail in the LGU-led STAND Program or Seryosong

Tagumenyos Ayaw Ng Droga, a locally-initiated drug rehabilitation program.

Said drug test is just one of the requirements/interventions they need to hurdle to effectively measure the success of their seven-month rehabilitation under the STAND Program.

Last January 22, 2016,

ANTI DRUG CAMPAIGN. Throngs of TADS (Tagumenyos Against Drugs) flocked the New City Hall Atrium to attend the General Assembly and Compliance Certificate Signing Day last January 22, 2016. Being the last phase of the STAND (Seryosong Tagumenyos Ayaw Nang

TADS or Tagumenyos Against Drugs trooped to the New City Hall Atrium to participate in the one-day General Assembly cum Compliance Certificate Signing Day slated by the local government and the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council under the leadership of Mayor Allan L. Rellon.

The assembly is concen-

Droga) Rehabilitation Program, the General Assembly cum Signing Day is tagged as the culmination of the participation of the drug surrenderees to the interventions and activities slated by the City Government of Tagum for their rehabilitation. (Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum)

trated on the signing of the compliance sheet kept by the TADS by the different agencies to ascertain their participation on the various activities arranged by the city government in the last six months as part of the intervention programs scoped under the larger STAND Program, the multi-level approach of the LGU Tagum in rehabilitating the drug surrenderees.

Values Enhancement, Moral and Spiritual Development, Physical Fitness, Community Service Involvement, and Mental Health Development are the interventions included in the rehabilitation framework.

To culminate their partaking in the STAND Program, the TADS need to submit themselves on a drug test, which was readily available during the assembly. If the TADS will pass the drug test and has successfully fulfilled the compliance sheet, the city government will include them in the list of individuals who will be eligible to avail of any livelihood trainings, job referrals, and other programs that the LGU can offer for the better-

F TAGUM, 11

force vs. land squatting

A

CITY coucilor here urged on Tuesday for the creation of a special task force that will spearhead efforts to address the worsening problem on land squatting and the operations of alleged “professional squatting syndicates” in the city.

City Councilor Jose Edmar Yumang pushed for such move as he proposed for the passage of an ordinance that will establish an institutional mechanism to curb the illegal activities of professional squatting syndicates and squatters within the city.

He recommended the setting of hefty sanctions and penalties against involved personalities, including local officials, landowners and other stakeholders supporting such activities.

Yumang cited that the city is presently facing serious problems regarding the presence of squatters in various public and private properties within the city’s 26 barangays.

He said this has affected the development of some private lands and the implementation of government projects

in concerned public areas.

Three years ago, the construction of a major bridge connecting the city’s PHP1.135 circumferential road was hampered due to the mushrooming of squatters at the project site.

Squatters have also occupied buffer portions of major roads and highways, affecting expansions and other further developments.

The official acknowledged that the problem is common for highly urbanized cities like General Santos, wherein the number of informal settlers have been growing annually due to the migration of people seeking better livelihood and employment opportunities.

Owing to this, he said the “incessant nefarious construction of illegal structures” by “professional squatters and squatting syndicates” in both public and private lands in the area might continue to proliferate in the coming years.

“There are many unscrupulous persons who are profiting or gaining from these activities. They illegally occupy

F GENSAN, 11

7 SCIENCE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

Developing dairy carabao for milk production Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

F

ILIPINOS are not known for their drinking habits of milk. But in recent years – due to the advertisements in television, radio and newspapers – milk consumption has increased considerably.

Parents know the importance of milk and other dairy products for the health of their children.

“In spite of the huge demand for milk and dairy products, the Philippines has always been dependent on importation to fill up the requirements of the growing market,” wrote Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol of the Department of Agriculture in his book, Feeding Millions: The Duterte Food Security Blueprint.

To drive his point, Piñol cited the 2009 data.

That year, the local dairy production was a measly 14,300 metric tons which “was less than one percent of the total national consumption.” In 2010, the milk and dairy products importation had a value of about $588-million, roughly P28-billion.

“Simple computation shows that if only Philippine dairy farmers could produce only 1 percent of the country’s milk and dairy requirements, it would mean an infusion of P2.8-billion in fresh money into the agriculture sector,” Piñol surmised.

According to the agriculture head, the failure of the government to develop the dairy industry in the country is “a huge loss of income opportunity for the Filipino farmers.”

Because of low milk production, most Filipino children suffer from what experts called as chronic malnutrition, or stunting rate for children under 5

years old. Children who suffer from chronic malnutrition fail to grow to their full genetic potential, both mentally and physically.

A survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and released in 2015 showed chronic malnutrition is at its worst in 10 years and this may get worse unless necessary steps are soon taken.

In a press statement, it was said that one of the major initiatives of the agriculture department is the milk feeding program.

“But where do we get enough milk to feed Filipinos, especially the children?” asked Dr. Eufrocina DP. Atabay of the DA’s Philippine Carabao Center (PCC). “What aggravates this situation is that there is a low number of dairy herd population…”

In terms of production, 66% of the milk produced in the Philippines comes from dairy cattle, 33% from carabaos and only 1%from dairy goats.

Another problem: the dairy animals, particularly cattle and carabao, are being left unproductive for a long time. “This will result to low reproduction efficiency and economic loss,” pointed out Dr. Atabay, who specializes in reproductive biotechnology.

The human population continues to grow, both on a global and national scale. It is but obvious that there is a need for the development of dairy industry. That’s where the PCC comes in through its program, “The Role of Assisted Reproduction in Dairy Industry Development.”

Dr. Atabay and her team are working together to increase dairy herd

Carabao milk products

“We cannot be forever dependent on imported milk and dairy products. Our farmers could raise dairy animals. This is a P25-billion industry annually.” -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte

Philippine carabao buildup in the country. In addition, the whole team wants also increase dairy herd not only in terms of quantity but also the herd’s genetic quality.

One technology the team is doing is through artificial insemination (AI). This process of simulated reproduction involves extracting sperm from a quality male buffalo and injecting the sperm into the reproductive tract of a female buffalo.

According to PCC, AI services are done nationwide by trained private barangay-based AI technicians as well as technicians of local government

units, among others. AI is used to breed animals with higher productivity for both milk and meat by harnessing select animals’ excellent genetic materials.

Two months after the AI, the team checks the presence of fetus inside the carabao. The team also uses pregnancy test on the animal to determine if the breeding is successful “so we can detect non-pregnancy at the soonest time possible,” said Atabay.

Doing so helps to prevent animals who can be productive to be unproductive for too long. This scenario (unproductivity of animals for extended periods), according to Atabay, would be costly for farmers and breeders.

Embryo transfer is another technology being employed for enhanced genetic improvement for better quality carabaos.

The scientists collect quality embryos from one female buffalo for transfer to another female buffalo.

The actual transfer is undertaken using AI as well.

PCC also conducts in vitro fertilization, or the incubation of the sperm

and egg in a petri dish. After this, the scientists do further culture and then perform embryo transfer. In some instances, the group induces the buffalo to produce more eggs in order to get more embryos, thus having more offsprings. Excess embryos are preserved for future use.

“Indeed, there are many ways of producing the embryo,” said Dr. Atabay.

For generations, the carabao has been Filipino farmer’s best friend. But if no concerted effort is made to save them from disappearing in this part of the world, they may soon become extinct.

“If we don’t act fast enough, we may lose our carabaos forever,” deplores Roy C. Alimoane, the director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc., a non-government organization based in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Since 1990, the number of carabao population has been declining.

“The carabao population growth pattern from 1991 to 2010 is characterized

by a period of decline (1991–1994) and a period of erratic growth (1995– 2010), that is, increasing from 1994 to 1998, tapering off until 2000 then increasing again from 2001 to 2007 and tapering off from then on,” the PCC reports.

Dr. Valente Villegas, author of Carabao Husbandry, once wrote: “The carabao has established itself in the economic life and heart of the Filipino farmer. The success and stability of a farmer’s profession or livelihood are directly linked with it – mainly as a work animal.”

And they are also a good source of milk. According to PCC, carabao’s milk is an almost “complete food” because it contains protein, fat, lactose, vitamins and minerals, and water.

Carabao’s milk is richer and creamier than cow’s or goat’s milk due to its high percentage of milk fat which is also a good source of energy.

“The water buffalo milk is considered the finest among dairy animal milk,” said Dr. Libertado C. Cruz, former PCC executive director.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

EDITORIAL

I

Monorail system for Davao

T’S like saying, hey before it happens, let’s get this done.

That’s what you call advance planning. Add to that, the elements of timing and practicality.

That all sums up the proposed 14-kilometer monorail project for Davao City which a Davao-based consortium unveiled on Monday.

The Panacan-Roxas monorail system is projected to cost investors P28 billion to build.

The project, if it materializes, will put the city at par with the cities world-wide that are currently using the monorail system, according to its proponent Jose “Dondon” Guardo, a Filipino engineer and contractor who worked for 10 years in China.

Guardo said the monorail system is capable of moving 1,000 passengers at any time and will run on rubber tires. It will be built with an average elevation of 5.5 meters from the ground.

This type of transport was introduced by the Canadian company Bombardier is popular in China’s major cities, Brazil’s Sao Paulo, Bangkok and in Las Vegas.

EDGEDAVAO

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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Efficiency and cost-wise, the monorail has the advantage over the LRT system which Manila has been using.

The LRT system is available only after 15 minutes intervals while the monorail train opens its doors every 90 seconds.

Cost wise, the monorail system is also relatively cheaper at P40 million per kilometer compared to an LRT that costs P150 million per kilometer.

Initially, the first proposed monorail route will pass through major road networks with stations in SM Lanang, Abreza, Gaisano, Roxas Boulevard, Boulevard, Magsaysay, Agdao.

Constructing the monorail system, according to proponents, will not disrupt existing residential areas which is the usual problem when mega projects such as train systems are built.

The next stage of this wonderful concept would be getting the nod of the city government for the go-signal to conduct of a feasibility study.

What are we waiting for? Getting the project to a proper study is the next move it rightfully deserves.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

T

HE ethnological inroads scientists have discovered in recent decades, especially in regard to the Bagobos’ ancient links to the Polynesians have, have created interesting breakthroughs.

First, like a handful of Filipino tribes, the modern genetic profile of the Polynesian people originated from “a small group of Austronesian speaking people in Taiwan.” And second, there are similarities in traditions, language, music and culture between the Pacific islanders and the Filipinos, in particular the indigenous Bagobo, Ifugao, Igorot, Ilocano and Bontoc people.

An interesting facet of this supposed genealogical association is in the Bagobo identity itself. Bagobo is a corruption of two words (bago +obo, meaning ‘newly grown (tribe)’). This presupposes the Bagobo tribe could have been a breakaway faction of the original migrants from Taiwan, some of whom are genetically found in the Polynesia, a cluster of over 1,000 islands scattered in the South Pacific.

In online Jane’s Oceania, the Bagobo people are described as “proto-Malayan features [with] light brown complexion, brown or brownish black wavy to curly hair, dark and widely set eyes, ridge broad nose and full, rounded lips…

[They] have ornate traditions in weaponry and other metal arts. They are noted for their skill in producing brass articles through the ancient lost-wax process. They also weave abaca cloths of earth tones and make baskets that are

“D

OGS have given us their absolute all.

We are the center of their universe.

We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. ” ― Roger A. Caras, American wildlife photographer, writer, wildlife preservationist and television personality *** A dog is considered as “man’s best friend.”

Josh Billings (actually the pen name of 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw) stated: “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”

Will Rogers, an American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, newspaper columnist, social commentator, and stage and movie actor, also once said, “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

In “Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog,” author John Grogan wrote: “A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.”

Jonathan Carroll, an award-winning American author of modern fantasy and slipstream novels, considered dogs as minor angles -and he doesn’t mean that facetiously. “(Dogs) loveunconditionally, forgive immediately, are the truest of friends, willing to do anything that

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Bagobo’s Polynesian roots trimmed with FAST BACKWARD beads, fibres, and horses hair.”

Like their genetic forebears, the Bagobo is into body tattooing.

An actual incident in the town of Davao Antonio V. Figueroa that took place over a century ago was the first recorded incident that raised the possibility of a Polynesian-Bagobo connection. Helen Herron Taft, wife of then American civilian governor-general of the Philippines, in her Recollections of Full Years (New York, 1914) remembered clearly this unusual event: “At Davao we saw thousands of acres of the highest hemp in the world, and number of beautiful bead-bedecked hill tribes who had come down into the coast civilisation for the purpose, no doubt, of seeing what we looked like.

“These hill tribes are very interesting people. They are, perhaps, more picturesque than any of the other non-Christians, and they have developed to a fine point the art of making bead embroidered clothing. So beautiful and so unusual are these garments that the ladies in the party, forgetting everything else, made a grand

rush to purchase some of them from the various tribesmen. Our eagerness, indeed, had finally to be restrained in order that attention might be given to the efforts of the [Second] Commission to enlighten the people as to our mission, but having patiently awaited the termination of business we returned to our search for the bead-work, only to find that the finer specimens could not by any process of cajolery be secured.

“Money meant nothing to the hillmen and we have no substituted in the way of gewgaws to offer them. The only one who succeeded in getting a really good suit was Miss Anne Ide, and her success was the result of a curious incident.

“She met a chieftain gorgeously arrays, and at a venture tried upon him the Samoan greeting and a Samoan song which she had learned in her childhood when her father was Chief Justice of the Samoan Islands. To her great surprise the Bogobo (sic) answered and seemed greatly pleased. He had already conveyed to him the fact that they only thing the ladies wanted was bead clothing, so he indicated to Miss Ide that he would present to her his coat and pants, and without further ado, and much to her astonishment, he began to divest himself of these garments which she accepted with delight.

“The incident awakened natural curiosity on our part as to the relation between the Polynesian language of Samoa and the vernacular of the hill tribes around the Davao gulf.”

The colorful beads sewn to Bagobo attire,

meanwhile, is traced by scientists as having provenance in the Chinese culture. The cultural exchange took place thousands of years ago when Chinese trade in coastal regions around the archipelago was at its apex. This is the same reason why all around the islands chinaware items from various Chinese dynasties are discovered in all archaeological sites in the country.

A 2014 article published online in Ancient Origins seems to affirm, in general, that Polynesians actually are descendants of Filipinos, saying: “Research into the origins and dispersal of Polynesian chickens has helped scientists reconstruct the early migrations of the Polynesians and the animals they carried with them.

The results revealed that the Philippines is the most likely ancestral homeland of the Polynesians, whose forebears colonised the Pacific about 3,200 years ago.

“Polynesian seafarers explored vast areas of the Pacific and settled nearly every inhabitable island in the Pacific Ocean well before European explorers arrived in the 16 th century. However, the ancestral relationships of people living in the widely scattered islands of the Pacific Ocean have long puzzled anthropologists. The predominant theory is that the Polynesian people are a subset of the sea-faring Austronesian people who have their origins in Taiwan, having arrived there through South China about 8000 years ago.”

As the Tahitians say: “Nānā!”(Goodbye!)

makes us happy, etcetera. If we THINK ON THESE! attributed some of those qualities to a person we would say they are special. If they had all of them, we would call them angelic. But because it’s ‘only’ a Henrylito D. Tacio dog, we dismiss them as sweet or henrytacio@gmail.com funny but little more. However when you think about it, what are the things that we most like in another human being? Many times those qualities are seen in our dogs every single day-- we’re just so used to them that we pay no attention.”

In mythology, dogs often serve as pets or as watchdogs. In Greek mythology, for instance, Cerberus is a three-headed watchdog who guards the gates of Hades. In Philippine mythology, Kimat who is the pet of Tadaklan, god of thunder, is responsible for lightning.

The role of the dog in Chinese mythology includes a position as one of the twelve animals which cyclically represent years. And in Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey,” when the disguised Odysseus returns home after 20 years he is recognized only by his faithful dog, Argos, who has been waiting for his return.

The English word dog comes from Middle English “dogge,” which came from Old English “docga” or a “powerful dog breed.” In 14th-century England, hound (from Old English: “hund”) was the general word for all domestic canines, and dog referred to a subtype of hound. By the 16th century, dog had become the gener-

al word, and hound had begun to refer only to types used for hunting.

If you raise dog or a pet owner, here’s what you need to know. Republic Act No. 9482 -- called “Anti-Rabies Act of 2007” -- stipulates that dogs should be regularly vaccinated against rabies and that owners should maintain a registration card “which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their dog for accurate record purposes.”

Other responsibilities of dog owners are as follows: submit their dogs for mandatory registration; maintain control over their dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any public place without a leash; and provide their dogs with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter.

It is also the responsibility of the dog owners to report any dog biting incident within twenty-four hours to the concerned officials (barangay officials, health workers, police officers or government veterinarians) “for investigation or for any appropriate action and place such dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian.”

Not only that. The dog owners must also assist the dog bite victim immediately and they should “shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries.”

Now, if the dog owners fail to comply some, if not all, of those requirements, there are some penalties. According to the law, owners who fail or refuse to have their dogs registered and immunized against rabies shall be punished by a fine of P2,000. In addition, if the owners fail to have the dog vaccinated against rabies, they shall be liable to pay for the vaccination of both the dog and the person bitten by their dog.

Pet owners who refuse to have their dog

put under observation after it has bitten someone shall be meted a fine of P10,000. If the same owner do not shoulder the medical expenses of the person bitten by their dog shall be meted a fine of P25,000.

There are more penalties. Any person found guilty of trading dogs for meat purposes “shall be fined not less than P5,000 per dog” plus he will be subjected to imprisonment for one to four years. The same fine will be made to any person found guilty of using electrocution as a method of euthanasia.

The law was passed because of the continuous threat of rabies in the country. “Rabies is an infectious viral disease that is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical signs. In up to 99% of human cases, the rabies virus is transmitted by domestic dogs,” the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) says.

As such, rabies elimination is feasible by vaccinating dogs. “Rabies transmitted by dogs has been eliminated in many Latin American countries, including Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, most of Argentina, the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and large parts of Mexico and Peru,” the UN health agency says.

In the Philippines, rabies is responsible for the deaths of an average of around 200 to 250 Filipinos each year, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), a line agency of the Department of Agriculture which is given the task of implementing the program by ensuring funds for the procurement of rabies vaccine and coordinating with stakeholders.

To end this piece, allow me to quote the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer: “You think those dogs will not be in heaven! I tell you they will be there long before any of us.”

Man’s best friend

EDGEDAVAO

10 COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

RESILIENT ENERGY SECTOR. DOE Usec. Felix William B. Fuentebella discusses Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi’s directives on disaster risk reduction and management to the participants of the Energy Disaster Response Protocol Workshop on January 23 held at the National Power Corporation’s headquarters in Quezon City. (DOE Photo)

FPIC awarded as 2016 DREAPI for Economic Development Sector

T

HE Regional Development Council through the Resolution No.90 (s2016) awarded the Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC) the 2016 Davao Region Excellence Awards in Project Implementation (DREAPI) for Economic Development Sector. The annual award system was initiated by the Regional Project Management Council (RPMC) XI to promote transparent, accountable, and good practices in the project implementation in Davao Region.

The DREAPI seeks to recognize outstanding implementing entities from among national agencies and local government units implementing programs/projects in the economic, social, infrastructure, and governance sectors.

It also aims to highlight exemplary practices in program and project implementation in support to Davao Region’s

development thrusts and priorities for CY 2011-2016.

The awarding ceremony is slated on March 2017, in conjunction with the RDC’s first quarter meeting.

Aside from that, FPIC’s product, Bukolyte, bagged the second place Most Innovative Product for Spray Dried Technology in the recent awarding ceremony organized by the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute. Bukolyte is powdered coconut water with no artificial flavor and preservatives added made from young coconuts With the awards and recognitions FPIC has achieved, they have proved that they are Davao’s leading hub for innovations and technical support for the food industry. FPIC assures that they will continue to assist stakeholders in developing new and nutritious food products through innovative technology.

DOE firms up sector-wide disaster-response system T

o manifest that the various components of the country’s energy sector are all up to speed, the Department of Energy (DOE) continued its series of Disaster Response Protocol Workshops on January 23 held at the Fiesta Hall of the National Power Corporation (NPC) headquarters in this City.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi yesterday asserted that “all industry participants must be attuned to the existing nationwide disaster-response system of the energy sector.”

During the series of workshops and international dialogues about energy resiliency, Sec. Cusi emphasized that “the energy sector has long been implementing protocols to address and respond to calamities and disasters that take their toll on vital energy infrastructures.”

“The DOE continues to

update its system of protocols, advance notifications and quick-response strategies to fit the country’s current requirements,” Sec. Cusi asserted.

At the Protocol Workshop, DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella highlighted that “the primary objective is for the energy sector to periodically review the implemented and established system of rules to effect the correct and appropriate conduct and procedures to be followed by the industry stakeholders.”

During the workshop, the DOE, NPC, National Electrification Administration (NEA), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Aboitiz Power Corporation, and Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) presented their respective standard operational procedures (SOPs) for disaster risk reduction and

management (DRRM).

The presentations of the agencies specifically outlined the strategies and methods they are observing during and after calamities including the recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of all distribution utilities.

Among those who also attended and participated in the workshop were DOE Usec.

Raul B. Aguilos, Usec. Petronilo L. Ilagan, Engr. Arwin L. Ardon aside from energy family officials and representatives from the DOE, NPC, NEA, NGCP, Aboitiz Power and MERALCO. Sec. Cusi has consistently emphasized that the DOE will and is proactively advocating energy resiliency in the face of the frequent and disastrous occurrences of natural and human-induced calamities in the country.

The Secretary has been reiterating the need for the

sector to be vigilant in upgrading its best practices in DRRM, so as to make them more responsive and adaptable to the highly evolving realities on the ground.

“The DOE has been regularly convening the industry partners to mainstream climate change adaptation in connection with DRRM strategies in the sector. This is to reduce the vulnerability of vital energy systems to the destructive effects of calamities.”

The Secretary revealed his plan to include climate change resilience in the agenda of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, which will be sponsored by the Philippines in August of this year.

“The DOE will make sure that the Philippines is prepared to showcase its own workable and effective energy model before the Asian community,” Sec. Cusi concluded.

(PR)

sealed Monday in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo with GT Foundation Inc. (GTFI) Executive Director and Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto M. Sobrepena, and GTFI Deputy Executive Director and Metrobank Foundation Executive Director Nicanor L. Torres, Jr. at the DSWD National Capital Region (DSWD) in Legarda, Manila.

The following were agreed upon as project’s distribution sites: a) Metro Manila: Taguig City, Makati City, Manila City, Pasay City, Marikina City, Quezon City, Navotas City, Caloocan City; b) Provinces: 1)Luzon: Imus, Cavite; Balanga, Bataan; Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Baguio City;

2)Visayas: Iloilo City; Cebu City; Palo, Leyte; and 3) Mindanao: Davao City; Zamboanga City; Cotabato City.

There will be 1,000 beneficiaries from the City of Manila and another 1,000 from Davao City, while for the rest of the sites, there will be 500 beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the validation of the list of poor but non-4Ps beneficiaries provided by the Listahanan with Field Offices’ staff and barangay officers are currently ongoing except for Field Offices VIII and XII whose validations have already been completed.

Social workers from the concerned barangays provided augmentation support to the Field Offices’ staff to fast track the evaluation.

The actual launching of the

BOB project will be held the start of the Chinese New Year on January 28 at Taguig Lakeshore Hall C6 Road, 393 C-6 Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.

“We are glad for this partnership with Metrobank Foundation. The Bags of Blessing Project is a very worthy activity which will benefit many impoverished Filipino families. We hope that other institutions will consider implementing similar campaigns and projects to reach out to the less fortunate and to share with them what we can,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

She also looks forward that DSWD’s partnership with Metrobank Foundation and the GTFI will not end with the Bags of Blessing Project but will continue and lead to similar projects. (PNA)

DSWD, MetroBank provide assistance to non-4Ps beneficiaries

T

FPIC Staff demonstrates the use of banana chipping machine, one of the latest food equipment in FPIC.

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with Metro Bank Foundation will be giving-away 10,000 bags filled with food items starting Jan. 28 until Feb. 2, 2017 to poorest families listed in the DSWD’s Listahanan but are not beneficiaries of the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) program of the DSWD. Listahanan is a database of the poor which is formerly known as National Household Targetting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

The grocery bags also dubbed as “Bags of Blessing Project” is a nationwide gift-giving project of Metrobank in partnership with DSWD. This partnership was

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WOMEN

EDGEDAVAO

THE CUPCAKE CHRONICLE

FOR OVER A DECADE, before moving to Manila, mompreneur Larcy Diaz took Davao by storm with her tempting kitchen concoctions that helped shape Durianburg’s coffee culture. BluGré Coffee was born out the artistic skills of this culinary genius and the marketing expertise of Gatchi Gachalian. From iced blended drinks, frosted with a touch of local flavors, to indulgent and dreamy cakes, the café’s line of tasty confections secured their place in the heart of the food enthusiasts in this bustling social scene, even long after Larcy bid farewell to Davao.

Come year 2012, Larcy made waves once again with the opening of her new café in BF Homes in Parañaque, Metro Manila. She scored a perfect location along Aguirre Avenue, also known as a food strip chock-full of delis, restaurants, and bars. Larcys reigned as queen, being the only cupcakery café in the community.

While her menu also features all-day breakfast and savory dishes, the main attraction of her namesake café is the selection of decadent cupcakes of various flavors and toppings. The line snakes all the way to the door, and diners pose for pictures, proudly holding cupcakes in front of the camera. Larcys became a media darling story, with no less than TV and social networking sites as its main channels of exposure.

Just as any smart entrepreneur would do know, Larcy recognized that, while her café was already raking in continuous success, her business needed to evolve in order for it to grow and keep a competitive edge. Larcys’ avid fans and regulars patiently waited several months, holding back insatiable cravings, while the café underwent a face lift. The place reopened its doors just in time for its fourth year anniversary, welcoming food enthusiasts to its new and improved dining space.

“

From iced blended drinks, frosted with a touch of local flavors, to indulgent and dreamy cakes, the café’s line of tasty confections secured their place in the heart of the food enthusiasts in this bustling social scene, even long after Larcy bid farewell to Davao.

To no one’s disappointment, the alterations in the overall mood and theme added elegance and pizzazz to the brand identity. Larcys now sports a rustic-minimal-

ist aesthetic with natural light aplenty, wall decals, and refreshing bits of green from potted plants.

The furnishings, such as

METRO MOM A3

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

EVENT

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

Miss Universe candidates visit Eden TWENTY NINE CANDIDATES FOR THE MISS UNIVERSE went straight to Eden Nature Park and Resort in Davao City after arriving at the Davao International Airport last January 19, 2017.

The candidates were welcomed by the children from Kultura Edeng and Eden Nature Park and Resort’s Management team headed by its President & CEO, Mr. Zaldy

Magnaye, and Director & Special Project Officer, Mr. Rafael Ayala.

Eden Nature Par and Resort is honored to have the following candidates as special guests to one of

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the country’s top resorts : Estefania Bernal of Argentina, Dajana Szinic of Austria, Stephanie Geldof of Belgium, Violina Ancheva of Bulgaria, Zhenyin Li of China, Andrea Bezdekova of Czech Republic, Connie Jimenez of Ecuador, Soyini Fraser of Guyana, Sirey Moran of Honduras, Kristal Silva Davila of Mexico, Htet Htet Tun of Myanmar, Lizelle Esterhuizen of Namibia, Unoaku Anyadike of Nigeria, Andrea Melgarejo of Paraguay, Maxine Medina of Philippines, Cheryl Chou of Singapore, Yuliana Korolkova of Russia, Hawa Kamara of Sierra Leone, Zuzana Kollarova of Slovak Republic, Dijana Cvjetic of Switzerland, Jihan Dinack of Tanzania, Tansu Cakir of Turkey, Alena Spodynyuk of Ukraine, Deshauna Barber of USA and Mariam Habach of Venezuela.

Chef Gerard Piansay prepared a sumptuous lunch to satisfy the distinguishing palate of the Miss Universe candidates. The extensive selection of buffet delights with a fresh Garden Salad Bar with Oriental and Sesame dressing. Mixed greens of Green leaf, red leaf, frisee, romain lettuce with salad tomato, cucumber, tomato and turnip which are all organically grown at Eden’s hydroponic farm. Local Fern Salad, Hawaiian Salad and Brown Rice Salad completes the Salad Bar. Queso Fundido for appetizer. The main

course consists of Beef Salpicao, Baked fish wit lemon dill sauce, lemongrass chicken, Asparagus with orange parmesan sauce, pasta marinara, stir-fried bokchoy with garlic topped with shitake mushroom. Fresh Fruits consists of watermelon, papaya, pineapple, banana, dragon fruit and pomelo, as well

as chocolate cake with caramel filling and Biko espesyal were served for desserts.

While partaking lunch, the guests were serenaded by Kalumon Performing Ensemble.

The group also performed Mindanao dance of Singkil of Maranao tribe, silong sa ganding of Maguindanao tribe, kulint-

ang ensemble and more festive Mindanao expression. The candidates had a cultural emersion with the Kalumon Performing Ensemble and Kultura Edeng as they performed Mindanao dance steps.

The ladies enjoyed their experience as they engage in dances to explore the indigenous Filipino cultures of Mindanao.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

WOMEN

EDGEDAVAO METRO MOM A1

the hanging lamps, wooden table and stools, also bring an air of industrial chic.

The fresh and sophisticated charm combined with its cupcake’s universal nostalgic appeal boosted the café’s popularity and brought in more customers. Alongside photos of its indulgent desserts, images of its homey interiors flood the social media feed. Not to forget its selection of breakfast staples and savory dishes, Lar-

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cys looks busier from morning to evening, be it on a weekday or weekend.

Asked a first-timer’s impression of the place, and she says, “The homey and relaxed ambiance make this a perfect place to commune and enjoy nibbles and good company.”

When in Manila, visit Larcys cupcakery café located along Aguirre Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque. Follow www.facebook. com/LarcysPH and www.instagram.com/larcys for more information and details.

EDGE DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

EDGEDAVAO 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 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

City... FROM 1

project leader Ken Kumazawa and National Economic Development Agency regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim in appraising reporters on the project ‘Davao City Infrastructure Development and Capacity Building’ that outlined midterm and long-term strategies to sustain the city’s economic growth.

Kumazawa said JICA was committed to supporting the city develop its urban infrastructure as well as in training the NEDA and the city government in the planning and in the implementation of the plan.

Kumazawa said the experience of the Japanese city Kitakyushu shapes up as a model of development for the similarities it shares with Davao.

The city is located far from the Japanese capital, has almost the same population as Davao, has a disciplined constituency and is characterized as an environmentally sustainable city.

But Domingo said that based on Mayor Sara Duterte’s directive, the city will focus on revisiting the comprehensive land use plan, addressing the traffic and transportation concerns, implementing the law on solid waste management and in addressing the problem of floods.

He said under zoning or land-use plan, the city government is examining how

agri-tourism could be developed and packaged.

The city, he said, is also inclined towards considering mass transport system to decongest the city’s main thoroughfares.

He said the city government has no other option but to take the lead in the implementation of Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Act) to compel the barangays to segregate their waste at source.

“We are guilty (as other LGUs) in not complying with the mandate of the law which is to segregate solid waste,” he conceded, adding that the city has no recourse except to implement waste segregation.

He added that city’s lone sanitary landfill “will be only to accommodate the city’s wastes in three to five years unless segregation is implemented.”

Lim identified several long-term projects in the pipeline that are projected to boost Davao City and its surrounding areas, to include a bypass road that will incorporate a 10-kilometer tunnel, a coastal bypass road, Sasa port modernization project, Mindanao railway, development and maintenance of Davao international airport and the Davao-Samal bridge.

She said the projects, once in place will help facilitate the formation of a Metro Davao set-up. (JKL)

businessman.

President Duterte, however, believes that members of the PNP would not attempt to kill a person inside a police camp, which

was allegedly what the suspect-cops did to Jee. He said during a speech on Sunday that there was “no criminal intent” on killing the Korean national.

ment of their respective lives.

On the other hand, City Administrator Giovanni L. Rellon explained that when the TADS failed to pass the test, they need to re-undergo the sets of interventions they previously participated.

“Kung nag positive sila, balik sila sa sugod. I-assist nato sila until such time magbag-o jud sila,” he said.

Meanwhile, once graduated from the rehabilitation program as hallmarked by

their compliance certificates, the TADS will be renamed as STAND (Seryosong Tagumenyos Ayaw Nang Droga), a title that seeks to reintegrate them in the society. This will be given in a fitting graduation ceremony next week January 29, 2016.

Notably, Tagum is the only known LGU in the country implementing a comprehensive program to improve the lives of the drug surrenderees. (Roy Banias/CIO Tagum)

lands and even sell them to others even without the consent or authority from the registered landowners,” he said.

Under his proposal, Yumang said the proposed anti-squatting task force will be led by the city mayor, and with the chairman of a concerned barangay acting as co-chair.

Its members include the city administrator, city police director, the chief of the Army-led Joint Task Force GenSan, city local government operations officer, chapter coordinator of the Philippine Red Cross, city social welfare and development officer, city engineer, city building office head, and the chairpersons of the city council’s committees on peace and order, urban poor,

and laws and ordinances.

The city legal office will act as the task force’s secretariat.

The task force is mainly tasked to adopt necessary measures to identify and effectively curtail the activities of professional squatters and squatting syndicates as well as those backing them.

It will also provide assistance to victims of such activities and in the filing of charges against personalities behind them.

The city’s 26 barangay councils will also be mandated to create their own task force on illegal structures and informal settlers, and implement measures against them.

(PNA)

Palace... FROM 3

Tagum... FROM 6

Gensan... FROM 6

EDGEDAVAO

LAND FOR ALL. Some members of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Southern Mindanao Region and other progressive groups flock to the session hall of Sangguniang Panlungsod to support the call of Councilor

UNDER... FROM 1 of the continued rise of flood waters in the area.

The data said that as of 11:00 a.m., flood waters in Kalaw Bridge in Nabunturan town was already measured at 6.20 meters on Tuesday from 6.16 meters at 10:00 a.m. and 6.08 meters at 9:00 a.m.

In Montevista town, the water level has already reached 3.69 meters as of 11:00 a.m. from 3.71 meters as of 10:00 a.m. and 3.68 as of 9:00 a.m.

In Compostela town, the level of flood water remained unchanged at 3.90 meters from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. from 3.68 meters as of 9:00 a.m.

Reports of floods were also reported in New Bataan town but no data were received as of press time.

As of 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the PDRRMC in Compostela Valley reported a total of 682 families or 2,020 directly affected by floods from the towns of Nabunturan, Compostela, New Bataan, Montevista and Mawab.

Various relief operations were also conducted to affected barangays by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the municipal level social service offices.

Other line agencies of the government also provided support to the on-going relief operations in the province, to include the army, police, fire department, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Red Cross and other private groups are also participating in the relief operations, the report added.

Water rising in DavNor Alert is also up in the province of Davao del Norte, as the water levels of Libuganon River and Saug Rivers are already in critical level as of 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The PDRRMC in the province released its comparative water level monitoring report in major river systems in the area as of 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

The report said that water level in Libuganon River slightly went down to 3.8 meters as of 11:40 a.m. from 3.9 meters (9 a.m.) and 4.1 meters (7:00 a.m.).

The Lawang water level in Asuncion town is considered in critical level as of 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday with 7.04 meters from 7.00 meters (7:00 a.m.).

Water level in Pagsabangan Bridge in Tagum City is also being watched closely as it increased to 6.93 meters as of 11:40 a.m. from 6.81 meters (9:00 a.m.) and 6.74 meters (7:00 a.m.).

Reports said that all the villages in the town of Kapalong are now affected by flood waters.

Data received revealed that 194 families or 874 individuals are now housed temporarily at the evacuation center of Kapalong College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology.

Roads connecting Kapalong to Tagum City and other towns are no longer passable for light vehicles as of Tuesday morning, reports said.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Response Unit (DRU) of 60th Infantry Battalion of the

visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to China this year, as they see a brighter future of the two nations’ relations.

The Chinese Ambassador to Manila also assured the Philippine government that they will cooperate and help in President Duterte’s fight against terrorism and illegal drugs.

Zhao said China will

provide the Philippine government the arms it needs.“I think both sides are discussing particularly what the Philippine side needs. Of course ,we’ll provide what is needed here but not big arms, small ones only.”

He said he is not aware of the details and specifics of the arms talks but what he can say is China can provide speed

Chinese... FROM 2

NEWS 11

Leah Librado-Yap to advance genuine land reform and national industrialization during yesterday’s regular session. Lean Daval Jr.

Philippine Army was already activated and conducted rescue operations in the town of Asuncion.

Army vehicles are also being utilized to evacute residents from villages to the evacuation center in Asuncion, the report added.

were also reported in the area including the death of three residents from the towns of Caraga and Cateel.

Packing of relief goods at the covered court of the provincial capitol in Davao Oriental started on Monday evening involving hundreds of volunteers from the provincial government, the military, police and private groups.

In a statement, the information office in the area said the provincial government have secured supply of relief goods to augment food packs available in disaster-stricken municipalities.

Each food pack contains 5 kilos of rice, 3 sardines, 2 corned beef and 6 sachets of coffee, ready to be transported and handed over to victims.

Over the past few weeks, the province has experienced heavy rains causing floods and landslides in some areas, particularly the towns in the east coast. Damages to properties, livelihoods, crops, and infrastructures, among others have been reported.

The Provincial Government together with its partners have ensured that the massive aid effort will reach the towns and villages that are in dire need of the aid.

Meanwhile, a landslide was reported on Tuesday morning in the town of Lupon, Davao Oriental.

The MDRRMC in the area said the landslide occurred along the Mati-Maragusan Road particularly at Purok Curvada in Sitio Banhawan, Barangay Marayag.

The road is no longer passable to light vehicles, the report added.

boats fully equipped with sophisticated weapons.

The chief envoy of China to the Philippines said he is not of liberty to disclose yet what had transpired in the ongoing talks saying that he is not privy, but assured that once he has a copy of the agreement, he will reveal it.

Asked about the issue on diplomatic protests, Zhao

said their spokesperson had explained that the two governments will focus on the positive side.

“Our spokesperson has already expressed our positions but please look at the positive. We already agreed to bring the issue back to direct bilateral channels, so don’t worry,” he pointed out.

(PNA)

On state of calamity The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao Oriental passed a resolution on Tuesday morning, declaring the whole province under the state of calamity due to continued rains that resulted to flooding and occurrence of landslides in the area.

On Monday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) of Davao Oriental recommended to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the province under the state of calamity with the aim of allowing the local government units to make quick interventions for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas.

The PDRRMC in the area said a total of 423 hectares of farms were already destroyed by floods affecting 1,864 farmers in 27 barangays.

The damage to agriculture was already placed at P1.7 million, the provincial agriculture office of Davao Oriental reported.

Flash floods and landslides also affected 80 percent of families in four villages in Boston town; 283 households in eight barangays in Baganga; 4,327 families in six barangays in Cateel.

Damages in infrastructures

12 COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

DENR lauds cop who saved ‘lawin’ T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao region (DENR-11) commended a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Malita, Davao Occidental for his heroism by saving a weak “lawin”.

SPO1 Jeffrey Bugaoisan saved a Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), locally known as “lawin” in Barangay Kidalapong National Road.

Bugaoisan said that while he was on his way for duty, he saw a boy carrying the said raptor while walking along the national road.

“At first, I was not sure if it was an eagle or not but I never hesitated to ask the boy for the bird obviously needs help and a safe place to stay until such time it regains its strength,” he said.

He further said that the boy found the bird very weak near a fish pond last January 16, 2017 in Sitio Manga, Barangay Kidalapong, Malita.

“After taking care of the bird for four days, my wife took the initiative to call the DENR so we could properly turn-over the bird to them,” he added.

As soon as the call was made, a team from DENRXI’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Davao Occidental together with PO2 Rickreun Herana and PO1 Beethoven Dudero immediately went to Bugaoisan’s house for inspection and for proper turn-over of the raptor.

According to PENRO’s OIC Chief for Forest Management Service Laureano T. Quijano, the said raptor will be turned-over to the Philippine Eagle Center for it has the proper facilities to take good care of it.

The Brahminy Kite is one of the medium-sized raptors (bird of prey), with a white head and beast. The rest of its body is a striking chestnut brown. The very tip of its short tail is white,

and its wings are bored, with dark ‘fingered’ wing tips. Its legs are short and not feathered, and the lemon yellow coloured bill is

strongly hooked. It sails on level wings along shorelines and mudflats (http://www. birdsinbackyards.net/).

Brahminy Kite species

has an extremely large range, hence it does not approach the threshold for Vulnerable despite the fact that the population trend appears to

be decreasing. Rather, this species is evaluated as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (PR)

ation and the Office of Extension and Community Service-UP Mindanao. The 5th Region-Wide Inter-High School Speak Up! Competition is co-presented and funded by 2014-2015 University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America Inc. Project Agapay: Gawa Aral Payo/GAP. Speak Up! 2017 is also co-presented by Abreeza Mall of Davao and supported by Dodong & Gina Lanticse, Mr. & Mrs. Erwin Plata, Hazel Diane’s Bldg., Jun & Babie Cermino, Mrs. Fely Santamarina, Mrs. Josephine Ordeniza, Ms. Chorivel Estrosas, and Mr. John

Christopher Esperat.

The competition, Speak Up! 2017, is a non-income generating event that would feature the banner event of CommGuild - the Oratorical and Extemporaneous Speaking Contest, and the newly incorporated Radio Broadcasting-Scriptwriting Contest among private/ public high school students in Region XI. Speak Up! Competition enables the students to inform, persuade, and empower young people through their words in their growing society. The students’ communicative skills, promotion of social awareness, and empower-

ment of youth to voice out opinions on sociocultural issues will be tested and highlighted during the Competition.

Fifteen students will be competing for the Oratorical and Extemporaneous Speaking Contest while 49 students will be contending for the Radio Broadcasting-Scriptwriting Contest.

The participating students come from the schools of Panabo, Tagum, Digos, and Davao City.

Speak Up! 2017 is officially endorsed by the DepEd Davao City Division under Memorandum no.

00001637 series of 2016.

tions as a result of climate change.

The UN has confirmed that 2016 is so far the worst year on record and the third consecutive year of warming of the Earth.

This, Funa said, was a big reason to expect more devastating disasters, which raises the need for people to be insured to protect their social and economic situations. ”We cannot stop worsening climate conditions, but we have tools to mitigate or reduce the risks,” he said.

The IC chief said there were more than 100 hundred life and non-life insurance firms in the country

as well as mutual benefit associations (MBAs), such as cooperatives and credit unions, that offer micro insurance, or those that amount to an average of P25 for a three to four month coverage amounting to around P10,000, as well as comprehensive coverage for people and property. ”Typhoon Yolanda brought record destruction to Leyte but the hundreds of thousands of pesos in insurance claims helped thousands of families get back to their feet faster,” he said.

Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), which hit the Visayas area on Nov. 8, 2013, is consid-

ered one of the worst typhoon to date in the world.

Recorded casualties number to more than 6,000 while more than 1,000 are still missing. Damage to properties was placed at around P571 billion.

The IC chief also said some P622 million worth of insurance was paid by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to farmers after typhoons Karen and Lawin hit Luzon areas in October 2016.

The Philippines is among the high risk country when it comes to natural disasters since it is located along the Pacific Typhoon Belt and is within the Pacific Ring of Fire. (PNA)

SSS cuts 2017 Opex by P1B CommGuild of UP Mindanao sets Speak Up! 2017

T

HE Social Security System (SSS) has cut down its 2017 budget for operating expenses (opex) by P1 billion as it seeks measures to improve its financial performance.

Dean Amado Valdez, Chairman of the Social Security Commission (SSC) said that from the original proposal of P13.22 billion, the SSC board has only approved the allocation of P12.21 billion for operating expenses, which is 54 percent of the Charter’s limit or 5.7 percent of total revenue.

“SSS has seen improvement in its profitability as a result of cost-efficiency measures that greatly reduced expenditures from 2010 to 2016. With the P1-billion budget cut, we can maintain SSS expenses at levels that will help shore up the agency’s profits for 2017,” Valdez explained.

Relatedly, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc assured the public of SSS’ strict attention to its duties, particularly the prudent allocation of SSS funds for expenditure.

“With close supervision by the SSC and Governance Commission for GOCCs, the pension fund is kept afloat amid the lowgrowth environment of the market through manage-

ment activities that conscientiously comply with the discharge of our fiduciary responsibilities,” Dooc said.

He explained that SSS costs of operating activities had remained below its allowed Charter limit at an average ratio of 59 percent over the past seven years or at 5.9 percent of total revenue. Despite an annual average increase of eight percent in volume of transactions processed by the agency, it has run the cost of its operations with a moderate increase in opex by six percent every year.

Taking out inflation, the rate increase is effectively at three percent.

“This continued prudence was achieved amid branch expansion activities and system-wide upgrades that paved the way for growth in membership and collections across the region,” Dooc noted.

He added that SSS will determine how low operating expenses could be further reduced without compromising its operations.

Latest data from the agency showed that SSS has posted P10 billion in total expenses last year, comprised of payments made for the salaries, wages and bonuses of employees; and for maintenance of branches, rent and other operating costs.

F SSS, 14

T

HE Communicators’ Guild (CommGuild) of the BA Communication Arts Program of the University of the Philippines Mindanao will hold the 5th Region-Wide Inter-High School Speak Up! Competition with the theme, “Make Every Voice Count: Harnessing Communication for a Participatory and Sustainable Social Development” on February 13, 2017, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Abreeza Mall Activity Center, Davao City.

CommGuild is in collaboration with UP Alumni Association-Davao Inc., UP Mindanao Alumni Associ-

IC chief stresses need for insurance protection

N

OTHING beats having an insurance in times of disasters.

This was stressed by Insurance Commissioner (IC) Dennis Funa Monday after noting the recent weather disturbances in the country that highlighted the importance of having insurance protection.

One of these events is the heavy rainfall in Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao that claimed the lives of more than six people.

In a statement, the IC said the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) have repeatedly warned of worsening weather condi-

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of Marketing Assistant Qualifications: • Graduate of business or any other related courses • Female • With pleasing personality • Fast learner • Can work with minimum supervision

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NEWS 13

Wife of cop tagged in slay of Korean not invited to Senate probe

T

HE request of the wife of one of the policemen linked to the murder of a Korean businessman will not be allowed to attend the Senate inquiry into the incident, a senator said Tuesday.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said despite the appeal of the wife of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, Jinky, to testify before the Senate, he would not allow her because her testimony would be based on hearsay.

“I did not allow it because her testimony would be based on hearsay,” Lacson told reporters in an interview.

“She volunteered to be invited. But I’m not too enthusiastic no invite her because she’s all over the place. She keeps talking, she’s ruining the reputation of the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he added.

Lacson said that another reason why he barred Mrs. Sta. Isabel from attending the hearing was because she claimed to have a wiretapped audio of a conversation between her husband and another cop that would clear him of his involvement in the incident.

Mrs. Isabel earlier claimed that her husband was being used as a scapegoat by some members of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNPAIDG).

Aside from Sta. Isabel, also said to be involved in the killing of the Korean businessman are SPO2 Roy Villegas, Ramon Yalung and four other still unidentified suspects.

The senator said that he would rather hear the testimony of Mr. Sta. Isabel first as

his wife could have a tendency to twist the story.

He said that inquiry had the end view of finding out if the killing of the Korean businessman was merely an “isolated case” or if there were similar incidents.

Under Senate Resolution 265, Lacson directed the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to look into the reported cases guised under Oplan Tokhang.

Lacson made this call in light of an abduction of a 53-year-old Korean businessman, Jee Ick-Joo, who was seized by at least eight armed men in his home in Angeles City, Pampanga last Oct. 18, 2016.

On January 19, the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that Jee was killed in Camp Crame. (PNA)

in Singapore held from January 19 to 21, 2017.

During the meeting, Teo showed a brief video presentation of DOT’s major projects and invited her fellow ministers to very important tourism-related events that are slated in the Philippines this year: the staging of the 65th miss Universe on 30 January, the 3rd Madrid Fusion Manila on 6-8 April, and the 6th UNW-

TO International Conference on Tourism Statistics.

The Philippines also assumed Chairmanship and will host ASEAN @50 where the campaign to promote ASEAN as a single and unified travel destination will be launched.

Teo requested for the ministers’ assistance in promoting the mentioned events to their business and outbound travelers.

F DOT, 14

DOT targets more ASEAN arrivals

T

HE Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) aims to boost its tourist arrivals by enticing the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) into visiting the Philippines.

PDOT Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo made her pitch at the 20th ASEAN Tourism Ministers meeting at the sidelines of the ASEAN Tourism Forum

14 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

P100-M alloted for maintenance of Army’s Harris radios T HE Department of National Defense (DND) is allocating the sum of P100,610,991 for the acquisition of spare parts needed for the repairs and maintenance of the Philippine Army’s hand-held and manpack radios.

Funding will be acquired from General Appropriation Acts of 2016 and PA Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2016.

To be acquired under Lot 1 of the project are spare parts for the Harris RF5800H-Manpack 20

watts, HF/SSB Radios and Harris RF5800V-HH 2-5 watts, VHF/FM radios, said DND Bids and Awards Committee chair Assistant Secretary Josue Gaverza.

Winning bidders are required to deliver the items within 120 days.

They must also have completed a similar project within the last five years Bid opening is on Feb. 16, 10:00 a.m. at the DND BAC Conference Room, Left Wing, Basement, DND Building, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. (PNA)

The salaries and bonuses of SSS officials have been the subject of criticisms levelled at the SSS in debates around the pension hike issue. SSS, in its previous statements, clarified that these have been capped not only for SSS but across all GOCCs with the enactment of the GOCC Gov-

ernance Act and Executive Order 24 in 2011.

SSS has 6,000 employees deployed across its 296 branches nationwide and abroad. It has a membership base of over 34 million at present, of which two million are receiving pensions.

(PR)

Corpuz said campaign against illegal gambling may not be like the PNP’s ‘Oplan Tokhang’ against drug pushers and users but he called it an exciting war that will encourage people to shift to legal gambling.

“The point here is, PCSO, we want the war to be exciting.

We don’t want it to be like war on drugs. To those in illegal, we are just sending out a warning to them that if you want to be still illegal, that’s your problem.

Our law enforcers are there,” Corpuz said.

“The President in his announcement, he is serious to stop illegal gambling and he called on the AFP and PNP commanders to stop illegal gambling, when you stop illegal gambling, we’re stopping corruption,” he added.

Corpuz said the expanded STL will be the only legal numbers game in the country that will generate revenue for health, medical and charity programs of the government.

Corpuz said from the original 18 corporations in 2006, the STL has now 56 corporations that will operate nationwide.

“These illegal operators formed a corporation. They formed a corporation, started paying PCSO with their monthly presumptive retail receipt,” he said.

He said the PCSO revenue has increase significantly in the last three months of 2016 from PHP4.7 billion in 2015 to

PHP6.4 billion in 2016.

“For the 2017, we expect to generate about PHP27.8 billion minimum in STL out of the 56 corporations,” Corpuz said.

Under the expanded STL, Corpuz explained the monthly presumptive retail receipt (PMRR) or monthly quota of one province could reach by as much as PHP130 million.

“How do you solve PMRR? It is 30 percent of the voting population of an area with a minimum bet of PHP2.50 times three draws per day times 30 days that is the minimum PMRR per province,” he said.

Corpuz warned that the contract of STL operators who will still resort to illegal gambling like jueteng will be terminated aside from charges to be filed against them.

“You invested PHP50 million plus and then you will lose it for illegal gambling. The PNP will file charges against them,” he said.

Corpuz assured that under the Duterte administration, the PCSO will do its best to generate revenue from expanded STL and the regulator LOTTO draws.

“My job, the instruction given to me by the President, is to generate revenue for this government and he needs money for this government and that’s what PCSO is doing.

We are doing it through legal means and that is launching the small town lottery,” Corpuz said. (PNA)

impact of our development interventions,” he added, making sure that they bring about positive change in the lives of our people.

Aside from positive work ethics and attitude, the other golden standards that the local chief executive asked of the Capitol personnel include,

their commitment in making a difference at work by being visible to the needy communities; promoting fun in the workplace; going the extra mile by going above and beyond the call of duty; and, finding the right balance between career and family. (Noel Baguio/PIO DavNor)

SSS.... FROM 12

PCSO.... FROM 3

Gov.... FROM 5

ROAD CONCRETING. Mayor Tessa Constantino leads local government officials and municipal department heads during the startup of the BUBLGU funded 558-meter road concreting project in Barangay Poblacion on January 20. Municipal Engr. Rodrigo Palec said the P4.9-million project will

DOT.... FROM 13

“Pursuant to the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP), we would like to emphasize the importance of ASEAN working assiduously to ensure that a sustainable and inclusive growth path for tourism will be achieved. We must develop programs and policies to improve the competitiveness of ASEAN as a tourist destination, and to promote ASEAN as a single destination” Secretary

Teo stressed.

The ASEAN consists of 10 member countries namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines Latest data on visitor arrivals show that for November 2016, visitors from these nine countries combined, account for only 7.9% percent of the total tourist arrivals in the

soon pave the rugged and slippery road going to inland villages of Ariston and Nanima, and likewise to the primary water reservoir and dumping site areas. (Von Dela Cuesta and Sen Cuayson/MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE)

Philippines.

Based on the same data, among the ASEAN countries, Singapore delivered the most number of arrivals for the Philippines with 161,194 visitor arrivals followed by Malaysia (128, 077), Thailand (44, 372), Indonesia (40, 651), Vietnam (31, 555) , Brunei (7,378) Myanmar (6,832), Cambodia (3, 278) Laos (1, 112).

“We don’t have to look far to find what we are looking for. In 2016, 115 million projected international arrivals can be attributed to the ASEAN countries”, said the Tourism Chief. “Let us not forget that our neighbors, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia for instance, are considered affluent nations and major outbound travel sources,” added Teo. (PR)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

Manila gets SEABA 2017 hosting T

HE Philippine national men’s basketball team will get plenty of support from its own countrymen in its quest to qualify for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup as Manila has been awarded the hosting rights for this year’s SEABA Men’s Championship.

The development was announced by Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes on Mon-

R

day.

Unlike in the past when the country sent its top amateur players, Gilas Pilipinas will be flashing its full arsenal for the SEABA event due to its massive importance to the team’s goal of returning to the world stage.

Gilas Pilipinas has to top the SEABA tournament in order to qualify for the first-ev-

er FIBA Asia Cup to be played in August in Beirut, Lebanon.

The FIBA Asia Cup, formerly named the FIBA Asia Championship, will determine the teams that will compete in the six-window qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.

“We don’t want to overlook the SEABA. ‘Pag hindi tayo nanalo sa SEABA, pass

your paper na tayo lahat dito. Everything goes for naught. That’s our focus first,” Reyes said on Sunday during the announcement of the members of the national team pool.

“We all know that our Southeast Asian neighbors have caught up. We used to send college players, and they’re up against profes-

Parks tallies 23-9-9 but Alab loses

AY Parks almost pulled off a triple-double but that wasn’t enough to keep Alab Pilipinas from yielding to the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions, 93-80, in the ASEAN Basketball League on Sunday at the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong.

Parks tallied 23 points, grabbed nine boards and dished nine assists in an allaround effort. He also committed seven turnovers.

Despite his numbers, Alab Pilipinas played catch-up in the entire game, trailing by as many as 29 points.

The loss ended Alab Pilipinas’ three-game winning streak. The team now sports a 5-3 record for third place behind the Lions who have a 5-2 card.

Alab Pilipinas will next face the Saigon Heat at Olivarez Gymnasium in Panaraque on January 27.

LOSING EFFORT. Ray Parks had 23-9-9 in a loss to the Eastern Lions.

Star-studden cast for PH Mighty Sports F

ORMER Ginebra import Justin Brownlee and exNBA veteran Hasheem Thabeet are set to join Philippines-Mighty Sports in the Dubai International Basketball Championship in United Arab Emirates next month.

Mighty Sports coach Charles Tiu revealed the news on Monday.

The tournament is scheduled on February 18 to 25.

Mighty Sports last saw action in the Merlion Cup in Singapore last September, falling short of winning the gold medal after former NBA player Jimmer Fredette of the Shanghai Sharks sank three free throws in the end-game.

The Philippine club is go-

ing all out in its bounceback gig by signing up Brownlee and Thabeet.

Brownlee famously buried a buzzer-beating triple in Game Six of the Governors’ Cup finals against Meralco to hand the Gin Kings their first championship in eight years.

Thabeet, a 7’3″ center, was picked second overall by the

Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA Draft.

But he flamed out and never carved out a steady career in the NBA. He bounced around the league, serving as a reserve for the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons.

38.

Horn has slowly grown confident as days go by.

Horn expressed confidence he can cause one of the great upsets in boxing history.

“This is a dream come true,” Horn told Grantlee Kieza of the Courier Mail, “and it’s a fight I can definitely win.

Horn has his fight plan all cut out for the battle ahead.

“Manny is a lot shorter than me and I fight well against guys who are shorter than me and who are coming forward.”

He also thinks the fight is happening at the right time.

Despite logging only 17 pro fights compared with Pacquiao’s 67, he said the fight was not coming “too soon”.

Horn said that his youth, coupled with Pacquiao’s age, will also play a big factor.

“I’ve got youth on my side.

He’s 38, I’m 28. He’s got the

experience but I think he’s slipped a bit. He’s still got very good movement and skills but he has dropped form just slightly and that means a lot at the top level,” he said.

Before the fight shaped up, Horn had been lined up to face former world champion and recent Pacquiao victim Jessie Vargas. That would have happened before a fight with Pacquiao will be set late in 2017.

However, things changed and allof a sudden, the opportunity to face the Filipino world champ came when promoter Bob Arum canned the proposed Pacquiao-Crawford fight.

If many boxing experts thought Horn is just a pawn in the Pacquiao game, the Aussie fighter thinks otherwise. “I think he (Arum) sees it as a changing of the guard.”

While Horn is struggling to keep his name in the same paragraph with Pacquiao, the fight promoters are also battling to keep the fight at home.

Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is the frontrunner to host what could be the biggest world title fight held in Australia since Lewis-trained Jeff Fenech fought African great Azumah Nelson in Melbourne in 1992.

Lewis is backing up the fight to happen in Brisbane.

“Everything’s about where and when and I’d love to see the fight here.”

Brisbane has to find the money to stage the fight with expected revenues and to pay for the world welterweight champ’s multi-million-dollar purse. Pacquiao is reportedly asking more than $7 million for the Horn fight.

SHOCK... FROM 16 Among those who think Horn would not stand a chance against Pacquiao was veteran boxing referee-judge Bruce McTavish.

Even Pacquiao himself has no idea who Horn is. He admitted in interviews he does not know anything about his next foe.

But Lewis had other things in mind.

“I think Jeff Horn’s our best prospect out there at the moment and I think he’s good enough to do it,” he said.

“I like his work-rate, I’ve seen him get knocked down and he’s got straight back up, he’s not just a front-runner he can come from behind so I think he’s a big chance against anyone.”

From a stunned bewildered challenger a week ago,

sionals, kaya mahirap. Now, we know that Indonesia has a naturalized player, and Thailand will have a naturalized player.

“So we have to bring our best. Dati, sure-ball ang Southeast Asian. Ngayon, it’s not the sure-ball it once was.”

Expected to lead the Filipinos in the competition are Gilas Pilipinas veterans June

Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva and youngsters Mac Belo and Matthew Wright, among others.

Gilas Pilipinas’ younger counterparts, the Batang Gilas, will also see action in the same month as the country also won the rights to stage the SEABA Under-16 tournament.

4 title fights in Gensan card

F

OUR championships including an International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Youth super flyweight title fight will be featured in this year’s inaugural boxing presentation by the Sanman Promotions on February 25 at the Trade Hall Convention Center, 3rd floor of the SM General Santos City.

“We are starting with a big show and this is just the start.

Sanman Promotions is shifting to high gear this year” said Sanman chief executive officer Jim Claude Manangquil.

The blockbuster exciting card is free to the public. Sanman plans to do around 10 shows this year all over the Philippines including Manila and Cebu.

Sanman kicks off with the “Brawl of the Mall: Rise of the Next Champions” on Feb. 25 featuring the IBF World Youth super flyweight championship between the undefeated Jade Bornea (6 wins, 4 KOs) of Sanman gym and Raul “Vulcan” Yu (9 wins, 1 loss, 2 draws, 8 KOs) of the ALA Stable from Cebu.

The other title fights will feature Sanman fighters Eden “Sanman” Sonsona (35-6-2, 12 KOs), “Iron” Ben Mananquil (12-1-2, 3 KOs) and Lolito “Thunder Shot” Sonsona (201-4-, 9 KOs).

Eden, a former WBC International Silver super featherweight champion, will face Jovany Rota (9-9-0, 6 KOs) for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International super featherweight crown while his younger brother Lolito Sonsona from Jason Soong boxing gym takes on former WBC Euro Asia Pacific and WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champion Macrea “The Barb Wire” Gandionco (11-4-2, 7 KOs) for the WBF Asia super flyweight title.

Mananquil, on the other hand, fights former WBO Asia pacific bantamweight champion Glenn “The Rock” Porras (29-5-0, 17 KOs) for the WBF International bantamweight crown.

“All four title bouts are evenly matched. Fight fans will surely have a great night” said Manangquil

Unseeded Vandeweghe in semis

U

NSEEDED American Coco Vandeweghe has emerged as the bolter of the women’s draw, charging into the semi-finals of the Australian Open after a straightsets elimination of Garbine Muguruza.

Vandeweghe, 25, defeated the French Open champion 6-4, 6-0. She raced through the second set in just 28 minutes after a hard-fought opening set.

The final four will now feature an all-American semi-final clash between Vandeweghe and veteran Venus Williams, who won her quarter-final earlier on Tuesday.

The

decisive game of the match was the seventh game of the first set when Vandeweghe finally managed to break Muguruza’s serve after several chances.

Thereafter, Vandeweghe closed out the set in 56 minutes.

Not for the first time this week, Vandeweghe said she didn’t feel in the best condition on court.

“I really wasn’t feeling all that great out there,” she told Channel Seven on court.

Vandeweghe also recalled a discussion she had with Williams when they came together for Fed Cup duties.

A decade her junior, Vandeweghe had at one stage sought the autograph of the grand slam winner.

Venus Williams jokingly asked whether she was still after the autograph. “Thanks, but no thanks, I don’t have a pen or a tennis ball,” came Vandeweghe’s reply.

THROUGH TO SEMIS. American Coco Vandeweghe celebrates her win.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

SHOCK THE WORLD Aussie legend thinks Horn can beat Pacquiao

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

P

njb@edgedavao.net

ERTH, Australia – Jeff Horn has got a believer on his side.

Legendary Australian boxer and trainer Johnny Lewis is going for the Brisbane Olympian and former schoolteacher when he gets the shot of his life against the eight-division world champion Many Pacquiao of the Philippines.

Lewis said Horn will start as a heavy underdog but he believes the Aussie welterweight can shock the Senator-boxer in their April 23 bout.

“That’s a fight I’d really like too see,” Lewis said in the interview.

Lewis is a world-renowned Australian boxing trainer who is best known for working with six world champions, most notably Jeff Fenech and Kostya Tszyu.

Lewis said the Filipino legend has had his best days.

“I think it’s going to be a bloke coming down in his career against a bloke very much going up,” he said.

Horn has been tremendously at the short end of boxing discussions after the much-publicized fight was announced last week.

Not a few believe Horn can stand up against Pacquiao, even at an advanced age of

F SHOCK, 15

HORN. “I can shock the word.”

VOL. 9 ISSUE 241 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017