Edge Davao 9 Issue 273

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO Sports PRIZE-RICH

9th Phoenix Open tees off Saturday P16

ART MADE PUBLIC returns to Davao

Coke to honor 5,000 store, eatery owners of DC, Tagum

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OCA-COLA Philippines will honor some 5,000 women, owners of sari-sari stores and carinderias in the cities of Davao and Tagum for their contribution to the local economy during a mass gathering in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) gym in Barrio Obrero, Davao City from 12 noon to 5 p.m. today.

Coke is holding the gathering with its partners Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Commission of Women (PCW), Tagum City Council of Women (TCCW) and the Davao City government.

During the event, which is held in connection with the celebration of Women’s Month, Coca-Cola will also announce the company’s 40,000 scholarships target.

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29 vying for Mutya crown

BEAUTIES GALORE. This year’s Mutya ng Davao candidates showcase their beauty and wit during yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr

SHOW OF T FORCE

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA WENTY-NINE gorgeous ladies from different barangays in Davao City have been chosen to vie for the Mutya ng Dabaw crown on March 15. This is a different format from the previous years where there were only 15 candidates to present for the final night.

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NPAs trying to dispel reports their numbers are dwindling: Bato

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE killing of four policemen by the communist New People’s Army was an attempt by the NPA “to give the impression that its organization is intact and its forces still in place.”

This was the reaction made by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa when he visited on Thursday the wake of police officers killed in Bansalan.

“They are showing that they are a force to reckon with,” Dela Rosa pointed out, adding that the rebels are also trying to counter government reports that their number is

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a meeting with the some local chief executives from various provinces of Mindanao at SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr

RTC judge to face admin case over illegal drugs involvement

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AGUIO City Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Judge Antonio Reyes, one of the four judges named

by President Rodrigo Duterte involved in the illegal drugs trade in the country is set face administrative charges.

This was the result of the fact-finding report of retired Associate Justice Roberto Abad who was tasked to probe the judges allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade in the country.

The Supreme Court accepted Abad’s recommendation stating that “an administrative case for corruption be instituted” against Reyes. ”With this acceptance,

Justice Roberto A. Abad is considered discharged from his designation as the sole investigator for this administrative matter,” SC said in a four-page resolution promulgated last Feb. 21 but was released on Thursday.

In making the recommendations in his report, Abad cited several drug cases dismissed by Judge Reyes after the accused supposedly paid him certain amounts as alleged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Abad said PDEA submitted an affidavit dated Oct. 26, 2007 executed by a certain Paul Black, a convict

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DND mulls transfer of infantry division to Sulu

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N line with ongoing efforts to crush the Abu Sayyaf Group , Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is looking at the possibility of transferring another infantry division to Jolo, Sulu.

He noted that the ASG bandits reoccupy an area taken over by the military when the latter leaves the said area.

Lorenzana said residents of the locality want the military to set up permanent presence in Sulu as a counter-measure against the ASG threat.

Meanwhile, the DND chief said he met with his Malay-

sian and Indonesian counterparts to discuss measures to prevent kidnappings from the three nations’ common maritime areas.

As of this posting, 31 hostages are still being held by the ASG, majority of them Malaysian and Indonesian seafarers.

The DND chief added that they have plans to create a task force that will be based in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi to be headed by a two-star general.

He added that they plan to deploy more fast crafts, ships, aircraft and drones to help patrol the area. (PNA)

NPA killing of 4 cops may stall peace process: Palace M

ALACAÑANG on Thursday said the deaths of four policemen in an ambush allegedly staged by elements of the rebel New People’s Army in Davao del Sur might affect efforts to revive peace negotiations with the communists.

At a Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the deadly incident would provide some sort of distraction in reviving the stalled peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (or CNN according to the Palace official).

“So how it would affect? It will provide some sort of hindrance but, however, there’s a

bigger thing which is the pursuit of peace,” he said.

“I cannot qualify, but quality-wise, I am sure it will influence... It will influence the talks. I suppose the conversation would be that there should be a firmer action coming from the CNN on the people on the ground,” Abella said.

The Palace official reiterated President Rodrigo Duterte’s “compelling reasons” to revive peace talks with the communists.

“Well, the President has actually laid down some conditionalities. Well, basically, some things that he would like --- he would like the CNN to abide by, for example, that

they should stop extortion and that there should be a bilateral ceasefire,” he said.

“In other words that they should also cease -- cease action. That they should, in fact, take it upon themselves to be responsible for their own people and also to release prisoners. I supposed the conversation would be -- that there should be firmer -- firmer action coming from the CNN side on the people on the ground,” Abella said.

Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) condemned the latest hostility launched by the NPA on police crime scene investigators in Bansalan town, Davao del Sur.

A police team en route to investigate a murder incident were fired at in Barangay (village) Sibayan early Wednesday morning resulting in the deaths of four policemen and causing injuries to another.

Both the police and military tagged the Communist guerrillas behind the ambush.

The four slain PNP members were later identified as PO1 Rholly Benelayo, PO1 Joey Narvaza, PO1 Saro Mangotara and PO3 Jayden May Rabor.

President Duterte is set to visit the wake of the killed-in-police-operation (KIPOs) officers at the Bansalan Municipal Hall Lobby Thursday afternoon. (PNA)

HE tail-end of a cold front affecting the region, along with the Visayas and Palawan province, may soon move northwards away from Mindanao, said weather forecaster Benison Estareja of the state weather bureau, PAGASA. “The TECF’s northward movement will pave the way for improving weather in Mindanao this weekend,” he said.

In its 24-hour forecast released Thursday, PAGASA

said cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms are possible in Mindanao’s Caraga region and Zamboanga peninsula.

Such rains may trigger landslides and flash floods, warned PAGASA. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolatedthunderstorms are likely over the Visayas, Palawan and the rest of Mindanao, PAGASA also said.

If the TECF moves north-

wards, Estareja said this weather system will affect Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

“Those areas may experience this weekend cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms,” he said.

Estareja said the northeast monsoon or ‘amihan’ continues to affect Luzon.

He however noted that the ‘amihan’ isn’t bringing strong to gale-force winds at present and it may further

weaken this weekend but resurge anew next week.

According to PAGASA, ‘amihan’ starts over Siberia as a cold, dry air mass that gathers moisture while traveling across the Pacific Ocean towards the Philippines.

PAGASA said ‘amihan’ affects the Philippines’ eastern portions from October to March. ’Amihan’ is characterized by “widespread” cloudiness with rains or showers, PAGASA added. (PNA)

Mindanao faces better weather prospects T

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3 Surigao quake can still generate felt aftershocks

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ALL SET. City Tourism Office officer in charge Regina Tecson provides updates on the preparations for the upcoming 80th Araw ng Davao celebration during yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr

EOPLE may still feel some of the aftershocks from the magnitude 6.7 earthquake that rocked Surigao del Norte province last month, particularly if they are near the tremor’s epicenter.

However, there is a high possibility those felt aftershocks will be weaker than the magnitude 5.9 aftershock that struck some 13 km. south, 82 degrees west of Surigao City on Sunday morning (March 5), said science research specialist Erlinton Olavere of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

“Much energy was released during Sunday’s strong aftershock, so succeeding ones will most likely be of a lesser magnitude,” he said.

He urged people not to panic when they feel the aftershocks.

People must also have their houses’ structural integrity checked and avoid occupying those that experts have deemed as being in danger of collapse, he said.

The magnitude 5.9 aftershock on Sunday reportedly damaged 83 houses in Surigao del Norte.

Reports also said an elderly person died of cardiac arrest while another person sustained injuries after a wall collapsed from the seismic event.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur in the same general area during the period following a larger earthquake.

The USGS noted that aftershocks represent minor geological re-adjustments along the portion of the fault

S part of the internal cleansing of the Philippine National Police , only 118 of the police “scalawags” comprising of 11 Commissioned Officers (PCOs) and 107 Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) have reported for Basilan as of Thursday.

The reassigned policemen in Basilan are now working as part of Task Force Basilan and are deployed in different municipal police stations.

In the original strength of 309, three had amended orders placing them in the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management-Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (DPRM-PHAU) and seven had cancellation of orders and remained in their previous assignments.

A total of 181 are still in absent without official leave (AWOL) status or those who did not attempt to report to

Police Regional Office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-ARMM).

Last Feb.21, the first batch was airlifted to Zamboanga City wherein only 54 and two of them later had cancellation of orders.

Another 66 reported within the past two weeks wherein nine of them just returned to PNP control on March 6, 2017 and are still paying courtesy call to the PRO-ARMM Command Group and staff.

In the processing of the newly-assigned personnel, two NCOs with ranks of PO2 from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) yielded positive for the use of illegal drugs.

PRO-ARRM regional director Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac manifested the subsequent filing of appropriate charges against the two confirmed drug users and those who went AWOL. (PNA)

scalawag cops now 43 families evacuated 18in Basilan combat areas from Sarangani floods A

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T least 43 families were forcibly evacuated in Maitum and Kiamba towns in Sarangani Province after two major rivers overflowed and triggered flashfloods at the height of heavy rains early Thursday.

Robert Lubonting, operations section chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said the “pre-emptive evacuations” were implemented due to heavy flooding in communities near the banks of the Kalaong River in Maitum and Tual River in Kiamba.

Affected were 30 families at the barangay proper of Kalaong, Maitum and 13 in Sitio Tual of Poblacion, Kiamba, he said.

Citing reports from the municipal DRRM offices of Maitum and Kiamba, he said moderate rains were initially monitored in the area around 9 p.m. Wednesday but turned heavy two hours later.

At 2:22 a.m., he said the Kalaong River started to swell, prompting the local government to evacuate the affected residents by 3 a.m.

Lubonting said the Tual River overflowed almost at the same time and triggered the evacuations.

“But as of the moment (9:30 am), the floods have already subsided and the evacuees have started to return home. The situation in the affected areas are getting back to normal,” he said on the phone.

Army, police undergo 5-day in-house life saving training

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O provide emergency life saving techniques and measures, selected soldiers and police are now undergoing in-house combat life saving training at the 56th Infantry “Tatag” Battalion, Philippine Army based in Barangay Calabuanan, in this town.

Lt. Col. Louie DS. Villanueva, Tatag Battalion Commander, said the training aims to teach police and military members how to treat injuries in the combat zone and even in their homes.

“During the combat missions, the availability of medical care may be limited but with the proper knowledge and training, lives can be saved,” Villanueva said.

Through this training, he said “they can clearly and

quickly identify and channel up all medical emergencies and quick life-saving skills that could help stabilize patients until they reach more advanced care.”

“A properly trained combat lifesaver is capable of stabilizing many types of injuries and can slow the deterioration of a wounded personnel’s condition until medical personnel arrive,” he said.

Through the training program, the participants will learn how to use tourniquet, maintain airways, perform needle chest decompression, and utilize combat gauze appropriately.

Under the basic life support are trainings on respiratory arrest, causes, rescue breathing, ways to ventilate

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The official said heavy flooding was also reported in Purok Bugo, Malalag in Poblacion, Maitum.

He said no evacuations were reported but seven families were affected by the flood, which was mainly caused by the lack of drainage.

At the height of the heavy rains, he said the power systems in the two municipalities tripped off and have not yet been restored.

He said South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative personnel are presently working to restore power there.

Lubonting said the MDRRMOs of Maitum and Kiamba have deployed their damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) teams to check for pos-

sible damage to properties and infrastructure in the affected areas.

Aside from the two municipalities, he said there were no reported flooding and landslides in other parts of the province, which was placed under orange level alert on Thursday morning by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA said the rains were due to the tail-end of a cold front affecting the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao.

Lubonting said sporadic heavy rains were monitored in Alabel town but the water levels at the critical Maribulan and Buayan rivers remain normal at this time. (MindaNews)

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HELPING OUT. A security personnel of a bank has given his helping hand to a client who seems to be unfamiliar with an automated teller machine (ATM) yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

4 ECONOMY Telco giant urged: Be transparent EDGEDAVAO

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EN. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday urged telecommunications giant Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) to be more transparent if they want their franchise to be renewed for another 25 years.

“It cannot be business as usual for our telcos. We call on Smart to fully comply with the terms of its franchise and to be more transparent about its corporate structure and ownership,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros made this call following reports that the Philippines currently has the slowest internet speed in the Asia-Pacific due to the lack of other providers and the fact that only one company controls much of the country’s infrastructure.

The Senate also continues to conduct hearings on Senate Bill No. 1302, which seeks to extend the franchise of Smart, which is also wireless subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) Inc.

She said Smart subscribers should be given the service they paid for.

“We will not allow Smart’s subscribers to be held hostage to inferior service while paying fees that are comparatively higher than many of our Asian neighbors,” she added.

Republic Act 7925 states that no telco can operate without a franchise from Congress and a Certificate of Public Convenience from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

As part of the conditions of the franchise, Smart is also obligated to offer at least 30 percent of its stock to the public. However, Smart has not complied.

For its part, Smart maintained that its parent company, PLDT, is a publicly listed entity thus it no longer needs to fulfill this condition.

Smart and PLDT have separate registrations under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). (PNA)

Manila, Beijing agree to speed up PHL projects for Chinese funding

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ANILA and Beijing have agreed to prioritize Philippine infrastructure projects that could be done in two to three years’ time in cooperation with China to ensure that these would be completed under the Duterte presidency.

A high-level Chinese delegation led by Commerce Minister Zhong Shan met with Cabinet officials led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III in Manila Wednesday to discuss the details of the big-ticket infrastructure projects submitted by the Philippines to China for possible funding last year.

Dominguez said this latest meeting between key officials of the Philippines and China underscores the strong commitment between the two countries to sustain and further enhance their bilateral relations.

In the meeting, the Philippine delegation provided the Chinese officials with updates on the projects to be implemented in cooperation with China either through grants or loan assistance as well as an overview of the country’s medium-term development plan.

Among the meeting’s highlights was the exchange of notes between Dominguez and Zhong related to project financing procedures and the feasibility study for the drug rehabilitation facilities proposed by the Department of Health (DOH).

“Today adds another milestone in the Philippines’ bilateral relations with the Chinese government. This consultation signifies a strong commitment between our governments to sustain and enhance our bi-

lateral relations,” Dominguez said during the meeting.

“We welcome and look forward to Minister Zhong’s continued dialogue and express our optimism that under the honorable Minister’s leadership, we can take our bilateral cooperation to new heights,” he added.

Zhong, for his part, urged both sides to “continue working very closely and productively” on the projects discussed during the meeting and foresaw the future of bilateral cooperation between the two countries getting “even better.”

High-level consultations with China’s Ministry of Commerce began in January, when a Philippine mission led by Dominguez flew to Beijing to meet with Zhong’s predecessor, Minister Gao Hucheng, to discuss details of the Philippine projects submitted to Beijing for possible financing.

Dominguez said the Department of Finance (DOF) plans to officially submit two large-scale infrastructure projects to China within the month--the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in the provinces of Cagayan and Kalinga with an estimated total project cost of $53.6 million and the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project in Quezon, estimated at $374.03 million.

In the meeting, Zhong suggested that both sides identify priority projects that could be completed within a two- to three-year period, to show “tangible progress” and results before the end of the Duterte administration.

Dominguez agreed with Zhong’s suggestion and said

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Visit Davao Fun Sale th launches its 4 year

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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HE biggest tourism event in the region launches its 4th year with a huge selection of events and activities this summer.

Visit Davao Fun Sale will run from April 16 to May 31, 2017 featuring offerings in airfare, accommodations, tours, dining, shopping, beauty and wellness, as well as sporting events, arts and nightlife. The event will highlight sports and leisure events in Mati, Davao Oriental, Mt.Apo, Island Garden City of Samal and Davao City.

Speaking during Davao City Tourism Association’s (DATA) Tourismo Café at Park Inn by Radisson, Department of Tourism Region XI Director Roberto P. Alabado III said the government, in partnership

with the private sector, aims to come up with a bigger edition of VSDF. “There is so much to see,to do, and to appreciate in Davao, and we put together a unique set of events and activities to reflect that,” said Alabado.

Davao City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre who is also the Chair for Tourism and Beautification said VSDF has expanded from mainly featuring sale events in Davao to a wider range of activities in the entire region.

“Aside from Kadayawan, the City Government and the private sectors find ways to get tourists to visit Davao,” he said.

For this year, other tourism campaigns include “Davao Life is Here”, “Experience Davao Oriental”, “Spectacular Sta.

UPBEAT. Department of Tourism 11 director Roberto Alabado III (rightmost) says the agency, with help from the private sector through its projects like the Visit Davao Fun Sale, is targeting a 10 percent increase in tourists arrival this year. Alabado, together with Mati City’s Local Economic Investments

Cruz”, “Visit Samal Islands”, “I Love Mati”, and “Basta Davnor, The Best”.

“Whether you’re into shopping, sports, arts, or even if you just want a quiet relaxing evening at a nice local restaurant and then go for a roadtrip in the region, we have something for you,” said VSDF executive committee chair Benjamin Lizada who stressed now is the right time to visit Davao region.

According to Alabado, a 10 percent increase in tourist arrivals is projected from last year’s 172,000 arrivals in April and 165,866 in May. A 4 percent increase was recorded last year in the same periods despite the election spending.

Meanwhile, Lizada said upon the launching of VSDF in

2014, tourist arrivals in April and May spiked up to the same figures recorded during August’s Kadayawan celebration at around 160,000.

To firm up their partnership for the event, a memorandum of agreement was inked

by DOT-XI director Roberto Alabado and VSDF execom chair Benjamin Lizada.

VSDF will use the social media hashtag #RockSummer to catapult an organic social media campaign featuring the VSDF flagship events.

The Visit Davao Fun Sale is organized by the Davao Fun Sale Execom in partnership with the Department of Tourism and co presented by the City Government of Davao, AirAsia, Bonamine, BPI Cards, Cebu Pacific and Tanduay.

and Promotions officer Tanya Rabat-Tan (center) and Davao Oriental tourism consultant Cynthia Rodriguez, the statement during yesterday’s Turismo Cafe at Park Inn by Radisson Davao. Lean Daval Jr

EC okays Megaworld’s P30-B debt securities

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has allowed property developer Megaworld Corp. to raise up to Php12 billion in fixed rate bonds.

The issuance is part of

the company’s Php30 billion worth of debt securities as approved under the SEC’s shelf registration facility. Its debt securities comprised of fixed rate bonds and commercial papers.

Based on approved regis-

tration statement, Megaworld expects total net proceeds of about Php11.88 billion assuming the oversubscription of up to Php4 billion Series B fixed rate bonds due 2024 is fully exercised.

Net proceeds of the issue will primarily finance the firm’s capital expenditures requirements in relation to its investment properties.

It targets to complete its

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Employment (DOLE) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), include a two-year project on the adoption of a national master plan for migrant reintegration.

The undertaking will be implemented through the National Reintegration Summit declaration; and adoption of

relevant department order, administrative circular or implementing guidelines on reintegration.

In a statement, DOLE said that the signing of agreement is in line with the Migration and Development, and Crisis Management Frameworks in the Philippines, which seeks

to contribute to the outcomes of improving the national reintegration framework and service delivery systems.

Also included in the project are the production of reintegration services duty bearers handbook, which covers products and services

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DOLE, IOM ink MOA on enhanced OFW reintegration HE government and an international organization are working together to come up with a comprehensive and integrated reintegration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed

by Department of Labor and

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ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

First RP chocolate museum opens in Davao

By DIGNA D. BANZON

T HOME BREWING. Visitors can have the luxury to make their own chocolate recipe at PhP450 for 200mg in the chocolate laboratory, a component of the Malagos Chocolate Museum.

ICON. Puentespina Orchids & Tropical Plants, Inc. (POTPI) founder and Davao-based chocolate manufacturer Charita P . Puentespina welcomes guests during the opening of Malagos Chocolate Museum on Wednesday.

HE producer of the internationally-awarded Malagos Chocolates has opened the country’s first Chocolate Museum in Malagos Garden Resort in Calinan, this city.

The museum complements the Malagos Cacao Farm, which straddles 30 hectares of 50-year-old rehabilitated cacao trees.

Charisse Puentespina, project director and head of Charisse Puentespina Designers and Associate, said the opening of the Chocolate Museum is the “newest attraction in Davao City.” Aside from attracting visitors, Puentespina is hoping it would encourage other farmers to grow cacao and engage in sustainable farming.

“What we are proud of about the museum is the ‘tree to bar’ (chocolate) experience,” said Puentespina.

“Once harvested, the cacao beans are brought to the plant where we do the chocolates so that in terms of traceability, one is sure that what they are eating is safe, she added.

Puentespina, who is also in charge of production, said they want to share their cacao growing and cacao making procedures to the public.

She said the plant is able to produce 15 tons of chocolates a month but “we hope to to increase production with the additional equipment and technology.”

The plant is still half-mechanized as there are still portions that are manually operated.

Puentespina said the task is challenging. However, she

said their foremost objective is to provide a venue to educate the youth on sustainable farming and chocolate production.

The company’s chocolate maker, Rex Peuntespina, said the entrance to the museum includes a welcome information about the “tree to bar” concept, which is “very unique” compared to other museums abroad.

“We should be proud that raw materials in foreign countries that have museums showcasing chocolate-making, like in Europe, source their raw materials from us,” he said.

At the museum, the company teaches people how to appreciate dark chocolates.

“We show them how chocolates are made from scratch (as well as) the practices in the farm,” he said.

He said it is a “must-see” in Davao City as the tour can be capped with the “make your own chocolate” in the demo area.

The Malagos Chocolate is a 2-Star Winner (3-star highest) at the 2016 Great Taste competition, the “Oscars” of the food world, held in London last August. In April 2016, it won a silver award for Best Unflavoured Drinking Chocolate at the 2016 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

It won its first award, a bronze award for Best Unflavoured Drinking Chocolate, at the 2015 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

Puentespina said with their chocolate products winning international awards, it makes “people curious how and where these chocolates are made.” (PNA)

HE Department of Agriculture is optimistic about the start of fullscale operations of the cassava granules production and marketing in South Cotabato with the release of P2.2-million funding.

The amount is the last tranche of the P39-million funding earmarked for the rootcrop enterprise under the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

“Now that the [balance for the] P39-million fund for this project was already downloaded to us, our members will be surely inspired to continue their venture in cassava and the PRDP,” Elbert Damerez, chairperson of the Polomolok-based Polo Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative said in a statement.

South Cotabato’s cassava industry provides livelihood to more than 40,000 farmers in the province, which has the highest average yield per hectare in the country at 34.51 metric tons.

The feed mill industry in the region is the main market for the cassava chips and granules, which are processed into

animal feeds.

The Polo South Cotabato cassava cluster, through its PRDP-assisted enterprise, aims to supply the required volume for this market.

The lead proponent group reported the completed construction of three solar dryers with warehouses and vermicomposting facility.

It already received the tractors, cassava granulators and chippers, and other materials for production support also provided under the project.

Along with other facilities and equipment, the newly constructed solar dryer with warehouse under the DA-PRDP now offer strengthened support to South Cotabato’s cassava industry in terms of increasing production and ensuring quality to meet local and international standards.

The PRDP is a six-year government platform designed for an inclusive, value chain-oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector.

It is implemented by the DA and jointly funded by the World Bank, national government and local government units. (PNA)

enterprise to benefit Arroyo seeks tax relief for calamity victims Cassava 40,000 South Cotabato farmers F T

ORMER President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is pushing for tax relief for victims of calamities.

Arroyo filed House Bill No. 4373, which seeks to grant tax exemptions on donations to calamity victims residing in areas where a state of calamity has been declared.

The bill also seeks to exempt residents in the area from paying real estate taxes for two years from the decla-

ration of a state of calamity.

Arroyo noted that the steady flow of donations have been stalled by bureaucratic red tape.

In her explanatory note, Arroyo said donors are faced with a hefty donor’s tax, and those who would avail of an exemption are further deterred with stiff accreditation process on the top of the requirements they need to submit to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Under the law, donors also have to submit paperwork to the BIR for audit procedures.

“The display of camaraderie and empathy by ordinary citizens who risked their lives to save strangers was a common scene (during times of calamities). Even hard-earned savings were given freely to charitable organizations to augment relief operations and to serve more of those affected. This display of heroism and gallantry, however, also

brought into the limelight a few bureaucratic glitches that impeded the steady flow of donations,” Arroyo said.

“The objective of the bill is to address all these concerns by allowing tax exemption of donations as long as a state of calamity is declared by the proper Sanggunian and regardless of the nature of business of the donee organization so as not to hamper funds from coming in,” she added.

(PNA)

submitted to China last year for funding.

Two possible projects that can be implemented within the year are the Php 450 million Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and the Php 260 million Estrella-Pantalleon Bridge, which the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) proposed to help decongest traffic in Metro Manila.

The statement said Zhong suggested the identification of projects that could be finished within two to three years for the parties to see “tangible progress”.

Dominguez gave his thumbs

up and said “we anticipate submitting more infrastructure projects that will be feasible and implementable within the Duterte administration.”

Another major achievement during the meeting was the exchange of notes for the financing procedures and feasibility study of Department of Health-proposed drug rehabilitation facilities.

“Today adds another milestone in the Philippines’ bilateral relations with the Chinese government. This consultation signifies a strong commitment between our governments to

sustain and enhance our bilateral relations,” Dominguez said during the meeting.

“We welcome and look forward to Minister Zhong’s continued dialogue and express our optimism that under the honorable Minister’s leadership, we can take our bilateral cooperation to new heights,” he said.

Zhong, in turn, urged both parties to “continue working very closely and productively” on the projects discussed during the meeting and forecast that bilateral cooperation between the two countries may get “even better.” (PNA)

PHL, China eye infra implementable within 2-3 yrs

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FFICIALS of the Philippines and China on Wednesday agreed to prioritize the funding and implementation of infrastructure projects that can be finished within two to three years to ensure that these will materialize within the Duterte administration.

In a statement, the Department of Finance said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III led Cabinet officials in welcoming a high level delegation from China, led by Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, Wednesday to discuss details of infrastructure projects that the Philippines

6 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

mulls TWG to address Climate change tops agenda SoCot crop losses from pests, calamities of Lumad leaders’ conference T

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OME 80 Indigenous People (IP) leaders from Mindanao gathered for a two-day conference at the Island Garden City of Samal.

The gathering, dubbed as Mindanao Conference of Indigenous Cultural Communities Socio-Economic Development Innovation and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy bannered the theme: “Fighting Climate Change and Ensuring Socio-Economic Development.”

It was held at the Camp Holiday Resort from March 8 to 9.

The conference carried an objective of allowing IP leaders in Mindanao to take part in discussing sustainable socio-economic development within their ancestral domains.

The leaders were also given inputs on understanding climate change and its effects to IP communities and the various mitigation strategies that they can implement in their respective communities.

Discussions were also focused on the status of ancestral domains in Mindanao, the mandate of the National

NATIONAL ARTIST. Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) national artist on mat weaving Bae Estelita Tumandan Bantilan is from Sitio Upper Lasang. From the Office of the President, Proclamation No. 126 on January 6, 2017 upon the recommendation of the NCCA pursuant to RA 7355 which

Classes suspended in 4 towns due to heavy rains in SoCot

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LASSES were suspended on Thursday morning in four municipalities in South Cotabato province due to continuing heavy rains.

Milagros Lorca, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said the municipal governments of Lake Sebu, T’boli and Sto. Nino declared class suspensions in all levels and four barangays in Surallah town in elementary and high school levels.

She said the other local government units are currently evaluating the situation in their barangays for possible similar declarations.

“For the rest of our AOR (area of responsibility), the rains are just moderate so far, but we’re closely monitoring the situation,” she said.

In Surallah town, Mayor Antonio Bendita said class suspensions were declared in elementary and high schools in Barangays Moloy, Buenavista, Tubi-allah and Lamian.

He said these barangays

are located in upland areas that are considered prone to landslides.

Citing their monitoring, Lorca said light to moderate rains were initially monitored in almost the entire province on Wednesday night.

But she said it turned moderate to heavy in some areas, specifically in parts of T’boli and Lake Sebu towns, early Thursday.

The official said she directed the DRRM offices of the province’s 10 towns and lone city to conduct regular assessments on the situation in their barangays and immediately file reports to their office.

As of 8 a.m., Lorca said they have not received reports of flashfloods, landslides and other related occurrences in the affected areas.

She said they are continuously monitoring the water levels of rivers and tributaries within the province, especially those traversing populated areas.

F CLASSES, 10

Commission on Indigenous Peoples on IP communities, economic development and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The IP leaders were also given an input on the status of the Enhanced National Greening Program of the government; the Integrated Micro Solid Waste Resource Recovery, Conversion and Optimization: As Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation Strategy; the Challenges of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Bamboo Roadmap and Its Effect on Climate

Change Mitigation/Adaptation and Eco-Development.

IPCP National President Datu Amarillo Marcelo Alejo Jr. said the conference also provided time for the participants to discuss specific and technical concerns other than those regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The conference also set time for workshop sessions on the role of IPs in the implementation of development programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)

provides for the recognition of National Living Treasures, President Rodrigo Duterte declared Bantilan, 75, as Manlilikha Ng Bayan for 2016. Bantilan was the first declared national artist on mat weaving in Sarangani. (Ener T. Toguin for SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

HE provincial government of South Cotabato is set to create a technical working group (TWG) that will look into the series of pest infestations and impact of calamities in the area since last year that already left around P657.5 million in crop losses.

Justina Navarrete, chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), said Thursday her office is currently working on the establishment of the TWG, which will be composed of various provincial, city and municipal government offices.

She said the technical body will mainly study the nature and occurrence of the pest attacks, and craft preventive and response strategies.

In terms of calamities, she said the TWG will be tasked to identify measures that will help mitigate their impact and reduce potential losses to agricultural crops.

“This is also aimed to ensure synchronized interventions whenever problems on infestations and calamities would occur,” Navarrete said.

The official said the proposed body will be chaired by the OPAG, while the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will act as vice chair.

Its members are the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council, and agriculture offices of the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

Navarrete said the local

agriculture offices pushed for the creation of the TWG to properly address the increasing losses to various agricultural crops and fishery products due to pest infestations and calamities.

Citing their assessment, she said the damages to palay and corn crops already reached around P631.87 million since last year.

The bulk of the damage, around P390.9 million, was caused by the onslaught of the El Nino Phenomenon in the first and second quarters of 2016.

Some P44.6 million worth of crops were damaged due to “lodging or the flattening of fields” as a result of twisters and related occurrences, P3.3 million to flashfloods, and P934,300 to strong winds.

Navarrete said the pest infestations left around P191.56 million in damages, mainly to rice and corn crops.

She said the rodent infestation alone in the second half of 2016 caused around P165 million in damages.

Around P11.768 million worth of crops were destroyed due to rice stem borer infestation, P9.19 million to locusts, P4 million to bacterial leaf blight, and P1.5 million to black bug.

The damage to high value commercial crops was listed at P21.95 million, with P3.4 million due to strong and heavy winds, P16.5 million to slug caterpillar and P1.99 million to chrysomellid beetle attacks. (PNA)

The one-day affair also featured “Mass Dance Competition” and “Sayaw sa Kapatagan” in the afternoon with 11 entries from various municipalities.

The entry from Pantukan town bagged the first place for the Mass Dance Competition followed by Montevista for the second place and Compostela

for the third place.

“Ang pagtinabangay, pagkahiusa, ug pagpaminaw lang sa usa’g usa atong saligan.

Sama pa sa ilang giingon na panultihon, the road to real progress is difficult, very difficult but with all of us cooperating, it will be worthwhile,’” Gov. Uy said. (Rey Antibo, PGO-IDS Comval)

ComVal holds‘Barangayanihan sa Kapitolyo’

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ARANGAY officials from the eleven municipalities of Compostela Valley province gathered at the provincial capitol ground to join the “Barangayanihan sa Kapitolyo” last March 6 as the province celebrates its weeklong 10th Bulawan Festival and 19th Founding Anniversary with the theme “One Comval. One Vision.”

Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy led the provincial leaders who joined the village officials during the program together with District-I Representative Maricar S. Zamora and District-II Representative Ruwell Peter Gonzaga.

Governor Uy said the gathering was a tribute to the barangay officials as partners in the province’s development and progress.

“Dako kayo akong pasalamat sa atong mga barangay captains, ang mga “little governors” na nahimong pinaka-epektibong instrumento para matagamtaman sa mga tao ang serbisyo sa provincial government.”

The governor that baran-

gays in Compostela Vallet are the frontlines of peace and order, delivery of social services and in dealing with the personal problems of the people.

“It is not easy to maintain the peace and order situation in the community if there are members with different characteristics. “Dili lalim mahimong “sumbungan ng bayan” dili lalim ang walay kapoy nga pakig-coordinate sa mga local ug national agencies aron maka-acces ug mga serbisyo ug proyekto,” Uy emphasized.

During the program, the Department of Interior and Local Government, through Provincial Director Noel C. Duarte, conferred awards and recognition to barangays with exemplary performances in local governance.

The municipalities of Maragusan and Compostela were also awarded with the Seal of Local Good Governance which were handed by DILG Regional Director Ananias M. Villacorta.

The awards were received

by Vice Mayor Cesar C. Colina Sr. of Maragusan and Mayor Lema P. Bolo of Compostela.

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

Lopez joins Chinese minister in palace call

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EWLY-APPOINTED Chinese Minister for Commerce Zhong Shan and his delegation (left side) recently (7 March 2017) paid a courtesy call on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacañang, confirming Chinese Government’s assistance to the rehabilitation of the quake-stricken Surigao, as well as USD 1 billion-worth of purchase agreement of Philippine agricultural products to be signed upon the visit of a high-ranking Chinese official in the country next week.

In the call, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lo-

pez (right side, with other PH government officials)

U.S. Embassy releases notice of funding opportunity for YSEALI Summit 2017

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HE Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting a proposal for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit, a five-day advanced leadership workshop in the Philippines.

The YSEALI Summit is tentatively planned for early October 2017.

During the 40th anniversary year of U.S. – ASEAN relations, the 2017 YSEALI Summit will bring together

approximately 250 YSEALI exchange program alumni from ASEAN member countries for an advanced leadership workshop that will equip participants with the knowledge, attitude, and skills to address the complex and dynamic political, social, economic, and environmental issues that the U.S. and ASEAN will confront in the next 40 years. The workshop will develop participants’ leadership competencies in systems and design thinking, dialogue and negotiations, initiating and sustaining collaborative action, and other skills

F U.S. EMBASSY, 10

7-Eleven operator to open 412 stores, eyes 20% sales growth

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isted Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), the local licensee of convenience store 7-Eleven, plans to build 412 stores for P3.5 billion in a bid to support its target 20-percent growth this year.

PSC President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Victor Paterno said the firm would open 50 stores in Mindanao, another 50 stores in the Visayas and the remaining 312 stores in Luzon.

Paterno said franchisees accounted for 50 percent of the total number of stores to be built, while the other 50 percent were corporate-owned stores.

“I think consumption is still strong so we continue to be bullish on the consumer sector,” Paterno told reporters on the sidelines of the company’s opening of its 2,000th store in the Philippines on Wednesday.

He cited marketing research firm Nielsen’s survey result indicating business formats that are growing, including convenience stores, sari-sari stores and grocery.

With the firm’s accelerated store expansion, Paterno expects store network reaching 3,500 to 4,000 by 2020.

PSC’s retail sales of all stores surged by 23 percent to P32 billion in 2016. (PNA)

accompanied his Chinese counterpart to also brief

the President on the USD 10 billion-worth of potential

private sector-led projects from China and the Yuan

100 million grant for the drug rehabilitation initiatives and security equipment.

Twenty eight years after his last visit to the Philippines, Minister Zhong was back in the country for the convening of the 28th Philippines-China Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation (JCTEC).

After a five-year hiatus, the JCETC reconvened as the official bilateral mechanism for discussion of trade, investments and economic cooperation. It was also a quick follow through of President Duterte’s State Visit to China in October 2016. (PR)

that dividing population into social groups and studying how each group suffers deprivation is important to understand inequality.

Inequality is commonly associated with unequal distribution of resources, resulting in income gap between the rich and the poor.

It also relates to unequal access to opportunities or benefits from economic activities.

Kakwani acknowledged that human beings are quite diverse and they differ in terms of age, gender, education level, occupation, ethnicity, and other characteristics. Given these differences, a population can be categorized into various social groups, making it possible for these individual differences to be accounted for in the analysis of inequality.

According to Kakwani, people make comparisons of their economic status with others and they feel some sense of deprivation when they find that they are worse off than others. He defined relative deprivation as not having something that many other people enjoy.

Likewise, he maintained that policies have heterogeneous effects on individuals,

with some people benefitting from such policies while others do not. Thus, he highlighted the importance of having adequate government policies to protect those who are left behind.

Using data from Brazil, Kakwani discussed how different social groups across the population have benefitted from the decline in inequality in Brazil in the 2000s. He also looked into the extent to which social groups have contributed to total inequality.

Meanwhile, PIDS President Gilberto Llanto, in his opening statement, highlighted the high and rising inequality across countries, which is exacerbated by the increasing globalization.

“Many voices speak of globalization, innovations, and the fourth industrial revolution as potent forces that level the global playing field, enabling the creation of vast wealth and providing many countries and many people from different countries with seemingly endless opportunities to develop,” Llanto stated.

However, he noted that there are also strong voices criticizing globalizing markets, pointing to glo-

balization as “inherently dis-equalizing making rising inequality in developing countries more rather than less likely”.

“In 2017, the impoverished, the vulnerable, and the neglected have brought their frustration and anger to the polls, electing populist leaders who promised an alternative world that shuns globalization and liberal economic policies,” Llanto said.

The retreat of globalization amid a rising raft of protectionist policies, he added, is widely documented by print, television, and social media.

In conclusion, Llanto emphasized the need to understand poverty and inequality better in order to craft and implement more effective policy interventions. Thus, he suggested it is worthwhile to look into Kakwani’s methodology of targeting social groups, instead of specific individuals, and assess how it can be used in crafting evidence-based poverty and inequality reduction policies and programs.

For more information about this seminar, visit the Events section of the PIDS website: http://www.pids. gov.ph/seminarsupdate. php?pr=324. (PR)

demand for July-September.

Last year, some 500,000 MT of rice was approved by the Food Security Committee following the El Niño phenomenon that hit the country but half of it was not utilized due to oversupply of the grains.

Aquino said by the end of June, the buffer stock will be short of three days that is why they are pushing for the 250,000 MT importation.

To cover the higher buffer stock requirements for the

lean months they will also propose the importation of 550,000 MT of rice to the NFA council. “[The farmers don’t sell their rice grains to NFA because other traders offer higher value.]”

NFA buy rice grains for only 17 pesos and other traders will offer farmers as high as 23 pesos which encourages the farmers to sell it to other traders, leaving the NFA with not enough supply.

When asked how many

days will the buffer stock cover, Aquino said that we only have good to last for 13 days.

Aquino said that some regions and provinces already have very low inventory that they have to ask additional supplies from other regions.

He said that it is very costly for them because they have to transport it. “[If we import, it could be easily picked up. From foreign countries, the imports would go straight to ports near the provinces.]” (PNA)

Expert proposes new way to track poverty, inequality

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T is more effective to monitor poverty and inequality by looking into the conditions of target social groups instead of specific individuals, according to a poverty and inequality expert.

In a recent forum organized by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), Dr. Nanak Kakwani, former professor of economics at the University of New South Wales in Australia, presented a methodology that makes use of social welfare functions to derive development indicators that are related to social specific objectives such as reduction in equality and poverty.

This methodology veers away from the more common approach of targeting individuals for government policy interventions aimed at addressing poverty and inequality. The Philippine government’s conditional cash transfer program, called Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), for example, utilizes the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction Data in identifying the beneficiaries of the program.

Kakwani maintained

NFA pushes importation of 800,000MT rice for lean season

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FTER rejecting the extension of rice imports under the minimum access volume (MAV), the National Food Authority (NFA) is planning to import 800,000 metric tons (MT) of the staple food to cover the lean season.

NFA administrator Jason Laureano Aquino, in a press briefing, said the planned importation would include the 250,000 MT standby authority and another 550,000 MT of rice to cover domestic

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

True lies

HERE is no distinction between a resource person and a cabinet official in the eyes and ears of the Senate and a constitutional body.

If you lie, you will be dealt with accordingly.

Edgar Matobato lied. He was dispensed with.

Arturo Lascanas lied. He was sent home.

And now, Secretary Perfecto Yasay. He lied about his citizenship.

And even though he said he is sorry, he was also sent packing his bags and thrown out of his post.

That’s the beauty of checks and balances.

Everyone knows how close Secretary Yasay is to President Rodrigo Duterte. He was one of the first appointees to the cabinet after Duterte won the 2016 elections.

At first, he was reluctant to take the post. He must have known from the very start that his citizenship will be a bar to his confirmation. He reportedly renounced his American citizenship on June 28,

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2016 or two days prior to President Duterte’s assumption of office.

Bottomline is he lied. And there is no excuse for lying.

President Duterte did not lift a finger to save Yasay’s head. Nor did he twist arms or peddle his influence among members of the powerful Commission on Appointments. Instead, the President respected the decision.

This only means our system of checks and balances, contrary to some opinion, is very much alive.

The CA did its part in not bending towards accommodating the allies of the President. The body stood pat in its decision which is very much commendable.

And for the President to act swiftly in appointing somebody else to the DFA portfolio after his friend did not make it past the CA, is also an indication of commensurate respect towards a duly constituted body tasked with scrutinizing the very choices of the former to work with him in government.

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EDGEDAVAO

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ENATOR Antonio Trillanes is now probably in a dilemma.

Contrary to his expectations, the testimony of retired police officer Arthur Lascanas has not created a snow-balling effect that could whip up a storm of public opinion that would eventually help pave the way for President Duterte to step down from his post.

Instead, Duterte remains firmly seated on the saddle, his hold to power undiminished a bit. It was a nice try by Trillanes but in the end the Senate as a body realized it did not want to be led by the nose nor be part of a script gone awry.

What may have pissed Trillanes no end was that the carefully knitted testimony by Lascanas that was designed to drop bombshell after bombshell, instead landed in the Senate floor like unexploded bombs that failed to whip up national condemnation against Duterte.

And if Duterte was himself bothered or had cause to worry as Lascanas took the floor to testify, he did not show it. Our guess is that it seemed the President was more amused than concerned by what was happening in one branch of government so let us leave it at that.

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O around the rural areas of Davao region and chances are the carabao (Bubalus bubalis carabanesis), a swamp-type animal scientists introduced to the country

by Malay immigrants, remains the farmer’s beast of burden.

To protect the animal from decimation and to honor its contribution to Philippine agriculture, then Sen. Joseph E. Estrada authored Republic Act 7307, the Philippine Carabao Law, the only piece of legislation he passed as a legislator.

But the most significant credit bestowed on the animal took place in 1900 when a handful of American army officers met at the iconic Army and Navy Club in Manila to form the Military Order of the Carabao “to satirize the pompous and pretentious Military Order of the Dragon” which was created by the veterans of the Boxing Rebellion in China.

Col. Joseph M. Heller, in an article he wrote for the Philippines magazine (Vol. 1, No. 3, 1941) titled ‘Meet the Order of the Carabao,’ said the organization, which later became popular in Washington, was originally meant to be a joke but it later became an illustrious society that included every chief of staff since 1900, most corps and division commanders of the US forces in World War I, the High Command of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and even the Sec-

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VANTAGE POINTS

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Firm on the saddle It was as if he was saying: “fire away Arthur, do your worst.”

On a personal note, the chance for the Sanidad brothers to exhibit their court skills did not present itself. In fact, Pablito the former Department of Labor undersecretary and the older of the two, seemed more bored than interested as he shared the spotlight behind Lascanas who advertised his calling card as a gunkiller by sending between 200 to 300 souls to Kingdom come.

With Pablito Sanidad there, I made a mental note to drop by his office along Session Road one of these days, to ask him what was going through his mind as he sat behind Lascanas.

You see, Sanidad, who writes a column at the Baguio Midland Courier, has been a friend of media since when I could remember.

Twice, he bailed us out of adversity.

The first time was when a publisher from Iloilo sued 24 Baguio City media practitioners for libel in 1998 after they denounced him for harassing one of their members in Iloilo City.

With Sanidad and the FLAG taking our cause, the case finally reached the office of then Secretary

REVERSED PUNCH (GYAKU ZUKI)

Jimmy K.Laking

Silvestre Bello III who promptly dismissed it.

The second time was in 2009 when the municipal council of La Trinidad whipped out a resolution that declared this corner ‘persona non grata’ for a series of articles that questioned its resolve to put up a mall on a municipal property sans public consultation.

Asked about his opinion, Sanidad said go ahead, publish the resolution. We did and for months I had to endure being the center of

public attention for having been declared non grata in the town where I was born.

In the interest of fair play, The Midland printed the story when we filed a case for violation of the anti-graft law against the municipal council with Sanidad as our lawyer pro-bono.

It seemed that my case qualified as a graft case because in crafting and in publishing the resolution, the municipal council never bothered to get my side.

In no time, I was able to exact some revenge when the entire membership of the municipal council, from vice-mayor to majority of the councilors were suspended for three months each while the case was still being heard.

It was also front page stuff but when I decided to run as councilor in the same municipal council in 2016, it was not enough capital to nail down a council seat with. I also realized that popularity was not enough if you do not have the funds to squander without batting an eyelash.

Back to Trillanes. My guess is that like police Gen. Bato, he is on the look-out for another idea to reload. Lascanas could have been

his best card had he not appeared earlier in the Senate last year to dismiss the death squad as ‘pure media hype.’ Who would believe a perjured witness?

Besides, it is of no moment now because Duterte has since become the President by one of the largest mandates imaginable, and were Trillanes a shrewd judge of men and events, you cannot buck a stacked deck and still hope for success. Senator Leila de Lima must have realized that by now.

It is that mandate that holds this nation together and that gives Duterte unquestionable leadership and control of government to the end of his term.

If he has not lost sight of reality as suggested, it is high time for Trillanes to concentrate on crafting laws as a legislator would and stow in some corner his Messiahnic complex of saving this country from communists and serial killers in order “to live to fight another day.”

Perhaps, they will listen to him some day. Perhaps they will not. For now, he is not the big fish to reckon with in the pool but just one puppet whose voice is deemed irrelevant and must stay that way. (30)

rooms,’ bebidos is ‘drunk,’ and cargadores, chargers or carriers.

There were also subsidiary ranks such as Main Guard, Winder of the Horn, Carretonero (‘bogie’ in English), Camboling Carabao, Veterinario, Jefe de la Cuadra (literally, chief of the stable), Director de Fiesta, and Grand Lead & Wheel Carabao (secretary-treasurer).

Annually, since its establishment, the Order holds its Wallows, an assembly in Washington where the Main Corral is situated. To this day, the group remains active and accepts eligible members, regardless of military service, for US$50 annual dues.

Col. Heller added the Order also “recognizes the serious nature of national defense, past and present” such that the annual Wallows became a gridiron that, in 1913, drew “a stinging official rebuke from the White House.”

More notably, the choice of the carabao as organizational icon was due to its contributions to the war effort, especially when “conscripted to drag artillery and supply wagons over jungle trails,” earning for it the tribute as “the most useful and damned animal in the Philippines.”

Among the early American prewar pillars of the Order who were assigned in the Philippines were military governor of Mindanao and Sulu General John J. Pershing, US Army

Officer Brigadier General A. Owen Seaman, US Navy commander Rear Admiral Walton R. Sexton, US Marine commander Major General Thomas Holcomb, and the military governors of Davao.

In recent times, according to the Wikipedia, the roster of distinguished members include US former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Richard B. Myers, former CIA director and defense secretary James Schlesinger, Congressman Ike Skelton, Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge, NASA director Sean O’Keefe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace, General P. X. Kelley, General Alfred M. Gray, Jr., former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy, General Jack N. Merritt, General Billy Mitchell and General Carl Mundy.

Historically, there’s also a local version of the award, known simply as the “Order of the Carabao.” On May 6, 1957, the Philippine Rural Action for National Regeneration bestowed on President Carlos Garcia the award “in recognition of his contributions to the uplift of the rural areas” and “symbolic of the backbone of the nation.” On that same day, a similar award was given posthumously to President Magsaysay through his daughter Milagros.

‘Military Order of the Carabao’

retary of the Navy.

By 1941, the Order, which conferred the rank of Veteran Carabaos to its members, was open to “any person who shall have honorably served in the Philippine Islands between May 1, 1898 and July 4, 1913, both dates inclusive, or who participated in any campaign or expedition in the Philippines for which a campaign medal is authorized by the War Department.”

The Order had two categories.

The first included the “commissioned officer of the United States Regular or Volunteer Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, or as a Naval Cadet or Midshipman, or as Acting Assistant Surgeon, Contract Surgeon, Dental Surgeon, or any person who so served as an enlisted man in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coat Guard, or Public Health Service, and subsequently received a commission for appointment in any of the above named classes.”

The second category, meanwhile, known as the Compañero Carabao, “includes men who served in the [Philippine] Islands after July 4, 1913, Sons of Veteran, Compañero, or Associate Carabaos, [who] are eligible for membership as Ternero (calf) Carabaos.”

Honorary membership is also conferred on the US President and

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa the US envoys to the Philippines. By 1940, the total membership of the Order in the country already totaled 991!

Interestingly, the Order carries unique positions for its set of officers, among them the Grand Paramount Carabao (national commander), Grand Patriarch of the Herd (1st vice-commander), Bell Carabao (2nd vice-command), Grand Councillor of the Herd (3rd vice-commander), Grand Jefe de los Baños (4th vice-commander), Grand Commander de los Bebidos (5th vice-commander), and Grande Jepe de los Cargadores (6th vice-commander).

In Spanish, baños means ‘bath-

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

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SHOW OF FORCE... FROM 1

now dwindling due to the series of surrenders of their members.

The PNP chief also expressed grief over the death of four police officers, among them a non-combatant member of the Scene of the Crime Operative (SOCO).

“They (NPAs) should answer why they did it,” Dela Rosa said when asked by reporters of his reaction why a non-combatant was among those killed by the rebels.

Four police officers were killed another one was wounded in an ambush staged by suspected members of NPAs on Wednesday in Barangay Sibayan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Killed were PO1 Rholly Benelayo, PO1 Saro Mangotara and PO1 Joey Narvasa who were all members of Bansalan Municipal Police Station; and PO3 Jeden Mei Rabor, a member of SOCO. Wounded during the ambush was PO2 Allen Arnado, also a member of Bansalan MPS. The police officers were on the way to Barangay Sibayan to investigate a reported murder incident when waylaid by suspected NPA rebels.

Dela Rosa, during the visit on Thursday, personally talked to the families of the slain police officers and afforded them with financial assistance.

Attack may affect talks The ambush that killed

four police officers in Bansalan town may affect the current efforts to bring back the peace panels of both the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines into the negotiating table.

In a press briefing in Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the the incident can be considered as a distraction to the moves to revive the stalled peace talks.

“It will provide some sort of hindrance but, however, there’s a bigger thing which is the pursuit of peace,” Abella said.

He clarified however that he still could not qualify the extent of the effect of the incident to the efforts of reviving the peace negotiations.

“It will influence the talks.

I suppose the conversation would be that there should be a firmer action coming from the CNN (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front) on the people on the ground,” he added.

He emphasized that President Duterte has already set conditions that will become the basis for the resumption of the talks – these include the stop of extortion activities and the signing of a bilateral ceasefire.

The CNN, he added, should also be responsible on their people, especially those in the ground.

The partners of Coca-Cola in this project are Coca-Cola Philippines 5by20 STAR (Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources) Program, Coca-CFEMSA, Tagum City Council of Women, TESDA, PCW and Davao City government.

The occasion will also launch the PASCO (Philippine

Association of Sari-sari Store and Carinderia Owners), an organization of women micro-retailers in the country.

The event is also designed to treat women micro-retailers to a day of entertainment and learning.

Coca-Cola officers will also hold a press conference sometime during the day.

“We’re presently under blue alert so those situated in the low-lying and landslide-prone areas should take extra precaution,” she said.

An advisory released by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the rains are due to the tail-end of a cold front affecting the eastern section of the Visayas and Mindanao.

It said “cloudy skies with

light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms is expected over the Visayas, the rest of Mindanao and the province of Palawan.”

In its 6:30 a.m. advisory, Pagasa raised the orange warning in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur due to the prevailing weather condition.

(PNA)

needed to advance participants’ leadership capacity and ability to develop systemic, innovative, and collaborative solutions to complex and dynamic problems. Participants will also discuss the role of youth and YSEALI in addressing ASEAN’s challenges and goals and in strengthening U.S. – ASEAN relations.

YSEALI (asean.usmission. gov/yseali) is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage emerging young leaders in ASEAN, specifically from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Phil-

ippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. YSEALI aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems in the four pillars of YSEALI – civic engagement, economic development, education, and environment and natural resources management.

Detailed information about this Notice of Funding Opportunity and the application requirements can be found at: www.grants.gov/ web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=292231

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FACELIFT. Workers from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) repaint the vendor slots for the Roxas night market along Roxas Avenue in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

GMA seeks tax relief for calamity victims

F

ORMER President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is pushing for tax relief for victims of calamities.

Arroyo filed House Bill No. 4373, which seeks to grant tax exemptions on donations to calamity victims residing in areas where a state of calamity has been declared.

The bill also seeks to exempt residents in the area from paying real estate taxes for two years from the decla-

ration of a state of calamity.

Arroyo noted that the steady flow of donations have been stalled by bureaucratic red tape.

In her explanatory note, Arroyo said donors are faced with a hefty donor’s tax, and those who would avail of an exemption are further deterred with stiff accreditation process on the top of the requirements they need to submit to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The winner will take the place of Allyza Molly Teodoro , last year’s Mutya.

Davao City Tourism Officer Gene Rose Tecson said that the format was suggested by the organizer since it is better for the audience to see all of the 29 candidates on the pageant night.

From the 29 candidates, the top 15 will be chosen based on their performances on the pre-pageant portions which includes the talent portion and their one-on-one interviews.

“We will make sure that the one who wins will be representing Davao City and should be able to portray what a true Dabawenya is, especially at our present situation today where a lot of people talk about Davao, good and bad,” Davao City Tourism Officer head Gene Rose Tecson said during the iSpeak Conference

on Thursday.

Also the conference served as a pre-Question and Answer portion as the candidates, with confidence and grace, answered the questions being asked to them.

Tecson added that the Mutya ng Dabaw will not only be a pageant winner but someone who will become and ambassadress and serve as an exemplifying image of a true Dabawenya. The Mutya will also be responsible to promote her advocacy in cooperation with various offices in Davao City depending on her chosen track.

Part of the pre-judging of the Mutya are their talent portion, which was held last Thursday night at the NCCC Mall activity center, and their pre-pageant to be held on March 10 at Abreeza Mall Davao.

that slipped at the time of the earthquake.

Aftershocks occur as underground rocks disturbed during earthquakes move while settling into place, noted Phivolcs science research specialist Mylene Enriquez.

She however noted that these rocks differ in movement during settling.

“That’s why an earthquake’s aftershocks aren’t always of the same magnitude,” she said.

Phivolcs earlier said Sunday’s 5.9-magnitude aftershock was the strongest the agency has recorded since the 6.7-magnitude earthquake shook Surigao del Norte last

month.

Olavere did not discount the possibility that the quake could still generate aftershocks with magnitudes that are either equal to or greater than Sunday’s seismic event.

“There is a low chance for such occurrence, however,” he said.

According to Phivolcs, last month’s earthquake has already generated 294 aftershocks as of 8 a.m. Thursday (March 9).

The aftershocks varied in magnitude from 2.0 to 5.9, and 41 of them were felt, it said, adding that the frequency of an earthquake’s aftershocks decreases over time. (PNA)

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Under the law, donors also have to submit paperwork to the BIR for audit procedures.

“The display of camaraderie and empathy by ordinary citizens who risked their lives to save strangers was a common scene (during times of calamities). Even hard-earned savings were given freely to charitable organizations to augment relief operations and to serve more of those affected. This display of heroism and gallantry, however, also

brought into the limelight a few bureaucratic glitches that impeded the steady flow of donations,” Arroyo said.

“The objective of the bill is to address all these concerns by allowing tax exemption of donations as long as a state of calamity is declared by the proper Sanggunian and regardless of the nature of business of the donee organization so as not to hamper funds from coming in,” she added.

(PNA)

saying that he paid a total of PHP50,000 in exchange for the dismissal of a drug case against his wife. The amount was paid in two tranches-the last was on July 5, 2007 for PHP35,000, the date of the promulgation. Black’s wife was acquitted.

PDEA also submitted documents showing that the judge dismissed the drug case against Norma Domingo whom he was allegedly using to negotiate pay-offs from those charged with similar offenses.

“The memorandum (dated Nov. 26, 2007) claimed that Norma even issued a receipt for PHP300,000 that a certain Richard Lagunilla gave her in exchange for his acquittal by Judge Reyes,” read Abad’s report.

Abad told the Court that PDEA planned to entrap the judge but dropped the plan since payments were made through his driver.

Another affidavit submitted by PDEA was dated Dec. 10, 2007 executed by Melchora Nagen who said she was acquitted after paying PHP50,000.

Nagen, in her affidavit said she became friends with Domingo and accompanied her in jail visits to convince detain-

ees facing drug cases to raise money for their acquittal.

Abad also cited an anonymous letter claiming that certain lawyers surnamed Mamaril, Bomogao, Felix and Katigbak had obtained similar acquittals from their clients.

Reyes, on the other hand denied the allegations against him.

The High Court also directed Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to proceed with the inventory of cases decided

by Judge Reyes to determine whether there is basis for the allegation that convictions were reversed in exchange for money.

The OCA will also investigate the driver of Judge Reyes for bribery, and further, if the said driver took money from litigants on behalf of Judge Reyes.

The SC also requested the National Bureau of Investigation to locate the witnesses identified in the report of Justice Abad and also directed to submit a report on its findings relative to the request within a period of 30 days.

Abad has been ordered to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the involvement of several judges accused by President Duterte of being involved in illegal drugs. (PNA)

the lungs, technique of rescue breathing, table comparison, cardiac arrest, CPR techniques, bandaging in open phase, cravat phase, emergency rescue transfer and field training exercises.

“Through the training, the

participants will help ensure every method being taught will be utilized to save the lives and bring the casualties back to their respective families,” he added.

The five-day training will end on Friday. (PNA)

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THE METROBANK FOUNDATION, INC. (MBFI), through its Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) program, opened the fourth leg of its 2017 Art MADE Public last March 2, 2017 at SM City Lanang Premiere in Davao City.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was led by Guests of Honor Michelle Ang, Senior Manager of the Metrobank Office of Mindanao Area 1, Davao Center; Ms. Karen Kleen Babia, Assistant Mall Manager, SM Lanang Premier; Ms. Brenda Barba, Dean of the Philippine Women’s College, School of Fine Arts; Ms. Winnie Rose Builig; Representative from the City Government Art Office and Museum Researcher, Museo Dabawenyo; and Noell Farol, president, MADENetwork of Winners (MADENOW).

In partnership with SM Supermalls, the Art MADE public kicked-off last February 4, 2017 at S Maison in Pasay City, with renowned art patron and gallery owner Silvanna AncellotiDiaz as Guest of Honor. The Art MADE Public aims to promote art appreciation among the general public and at the same time encourage young Filipino artists to join the MADE Painting & Sculpture Recognition Programs.

This year, Art MADE Public did not only feature winning artworks of its past awardees but also their current masterpieces, to showcase their artistic growth from amateur artists to recognized professionals in their own fields. Some of the works featured are by Elmer Borlongan, Jan Leeroy New, Anton Del Castillo, Salvador Ching, and Ferdinand Doctolero.

The Art MADE Public at SM Lanang Premier runs until March 5, 2017 and will travel to various cultural and academic

institutions nationwide as well as in commercial spaces at the SM Supermalls until March 23, 2017. The exhibits will be followed by art lectures led by MADE-Network of Winners (MADE-NOW), the alumni organization of MADE’s awardees.

Meanwhile, two of the greatest artists of the country who are also past awardees of MADE, renowned sculptor Sajid Imao and visual artist Mark Justiniani, collaborated for the Art Exploration Lecture Series for students of Davao City last March 3, Friday. On March 4, Saturday, the MADE-NOW, together with the Autism Society of the Philippines-Davao Chapter, led the art and wellness workshop for children with special needs.

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ARTS & CULTURE

EDGEDAVAO

ART MADE PUBLIC returns to Davao

The MADE Recognition Program in Painting is open to Filipino artists aged 18-35 with no experience in holding a solo exhibition. Sculptors who have held a solo exhibition are eligible to join the MADE Recognition Program in Sculpture.

One Grand Awardee for Sculpture and two Grand Awardees for Painting will be chosen and will each receive Php500,000.00 inclusive of financial assistance and artistic development fund, plus a “Mula” glass trophy designed by visual artist Farol. The Grand Awardees will automatically become members of MADENOW. As a pioneering art recognition program of MBFI, MADE is known to provide career op-

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portunities for its awardees. Some of the prominent artists now who were once recognized by MADE are Andres Barrioquinto, Norman Dreo, and Alvin Florentino.

For more details, interested participants may contact Lalaine Calicdan or Henri Palma at telephone number 898-8856; mobile number 0942-559-8250; email louise. calicdan@metrobank.com.ph / henri.palma@metrobank.com.ph; or visit MADE Facebook page @ MADECompetition.

The Art MADE Public exhibition is part of SM’s Art in the City

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campaign which runs until March 25 across all Mindanao SM malls. The campaign aims to highlight visual arts in modern public spaces such as the malls, bringing the arts closer to people. It features art exhibitions Pintal Higala in SM City Cagayan de Oro, Tapestry of Cultures and the Travelling Art in SM City General Santos, Art MADE Public and Vic Secuya in SM Lanang Premier,

and of Tabula Rasa at SM City Davao. Art sessions on hydrodeepism and lino cutting, modern calligraphy, art commune and art talk with workshops will be conducted in the same malls. Colorful painting competitions of murals and tangrams will also be held at SM Gensan and SM Davao, respectively. Event schedules are available online through each mall’s social media pages.

EDGE DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Pinaputok na Bangus, Chicken Inasal, Tuna Panga, , Kare Kare.

HAPPY 80TH ARAW NG DABAW! Get into the festive mood and set foot on the hip and modern restaurant of Park Inn by Radisson Davao.

“The team of RBG is cooking up a feast with classic delicacies and alltime local favorites.” says Hotel Manager Emelyn Rosales. “As part of our celebration, for the whole month of March, we are

‘localizing’ our RBG family feast with dishes inspired by the flavors of the region,” adds Ms. Rosales.

“The choices we have on the menu are sure to excite all palates, Dabawe-

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March 9 – 14, 2017

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Park Inn by Radisson Davao features the best of local cuisine nyos and visiting tourists alike. Our kitchen team, headed by Sous Chef Maria Kristina ‘Teng’ Collantes, tweaked some of the recipes to give them more zest, added with some home-grown produce and ingredients.”

Included in the salad selection are Ensaladang Ubod sa Niyog, Ensaladang at Pipino na may Dilis and Ensaladang Langka sa Gata. For main course, the diners may choose from Beef Tenderloin Kare-Kare, Sinugbang Panga ng Tuna, Pinaputok na Bangus, Boneless Lechon and Chicken Inasal. For soup, diners may choose from Sinampalokang Kambing or Tinola na Bisayang Manok. Vegetable options are Garlic Buttered Seasonal Vegetable or Adobong Garlic Kangkong with Tofu. As for dessert, diners may choose from Pomelo & Mango Fruit Platter or Mini Durian Sans Rival.

“Come and celebrate Araw ng Dabaw with us” Ms. Rosales enthuses.

For reservations and inquiries, call 63 82 272 7600. Follow @ parkinndavao on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to get updates on new offers and special promotions.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

Advertise with

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

DICT Secretary: PH open to more telco players A

N open competition in the local telecommunications industry would help ensure better service, greater coverage and affordable pricing.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Rodolfo Salalima stressed that the entry of new players in the telco industry will improve the state of mobile communications and Internet access in the country.

“Do we need more competition in the telecom industry in our country? Yes, the soonest the best for the consumers in terms of better service, greater coverage and more affordable pricings,” Salalima said in his keynote speech during the Philippine Telecommunications Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Thursday.

The DICT Secretary said any local or foreign telco firms which have the capability to establish mobile communication facilities that can provide quality service to the consumers are welcome.

“If any local franchisee wants to be the third or fourth operators of consequence in this country, bring in a foreign partner with the legal, technical and financial credibility

and capacity to mount a credible and effective competition against the existing telcos,” Salalima said.

To ensure free competition in the telco industry, the DICT has ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to start its legal proceedings for the recovery of unused and unpaid mobile frequencies for reassignment to telco firms which they may use for public service.

This directive was issued after a recent audit of the NTC showed that a number of establishments have not been using or paying the required fees for their frequency spectrums.

“Enough of frequency hoarding or warehousing for purely financial speculative gains. Radio frequencies must be assigned solely and only for public use. No use, no payment of spectrum user fees?

Then the State takes these frequencies back and fast,” Salalima reiterated.

The frequencies may be assigned on a ‘show need’ basis which are enough for legitimate operators to improve the delivery of mobile services.

Prospective operators may only file their applications for authorization with the NTC.

Furthermore, the NTC will initiate quasi-judicial proceedings on the fixing of rates of telecommunications and broadcast services to ensure affordability of services of telco operators.

The DICT is also preparing a draft Executive Order that will fast-track the approval of permits for the establishment of additional cell sites with local government units.

Salalima expects that the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte of the National Broadband Program would significantly provide people in remote areas access to telecommunications services consistent with the government’s countryside development initiative.

This would also provide the platform for the E-Gov plan to institutionalize a single digitized network and centralized common data base for online services of the government in the country.

Moreover, the National Broadband is the Philippines’ contribution to the objectives of the ASEAN Masterplan of 2015, namely to make ICT the engine of growth in the ASEAN region, make the region a global ICT hub, improve the quality of life of people of the ASEAN region and strengthen

development projects in existing townships Iloilo Business Park, McKinkey Hill, McKinley West and Uptown Bonifacio, over the next four years until 2020.

Megaworld, the country’s largest developer of inte-

grated urban townships, has earmarked Php60 billion in capital expenditures this year, mostly for accelerating and expanding projects in various townships across the country.

It owns 100 percent of Suntrust Properties, Inc., 82

percent of Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI) and 82 percent of Empire East Holdings, Inc. It has already built over 350 residential, office, commercial and hotel towers across the country. (PNA)

of relevant institutions; reintegration services menu for migrant returnees and their families; ISO certification of reintegration service delivery systems; and training of reintegration counsellors and duty bearers.

Aside from the DOLE and

IOM, two attached agencies of the former, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) will be joining the project that provide services and programs for OFWs and their families.

The signatories in the agreement are DOLE Undersecretary Dominador Say, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, IOM Mission Coordinator and National Programme Officer Ricardo Casco, and NRCO Director Chona Mantilla. (PNA)

“we anticipate submitting more infrastructure projects that will be feasible and implementable within the Duterte administration.”

He also agreed with Zhong that “making substantive progress within this year” should be among the priorities of the two sides.

Two relatively small projects that can be implemented within the year are two bridge projects across the Pasig River proposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which China indicated it would support through grant financing.

These are the P450-million Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and the P260-million Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge that aim to ease traffic congestion in Metro

Manila.

Dominguez also said that the Philippines is eyeing nine big-ticket projects that China could possibly support by way of funding and helping conduct their feasibility studies.

“As soon as we have received the endorsement of NEDA on these nine projects, we will submit these through the Chinese Embassy in Manila,” Dominguez said.

Also present at the meeting were Secretary Ernesto Pernia, the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, Secretary Mark Villar of the DPWH, Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transportation, NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan and Vivencio Dizon, president-CEO of the

Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Besides Zhong, the Chinese delegation included Directors General Wu Zhengping, Wang Shengwen, Zhou Liujun, and Ma Jianchun of the Ministry of Commerce; Deputy Inspector LI Zhuqun of the Ministry of Public Security; Executive Vice President ZHOU Qingyu of the China Development Bank; Vice President SUN Ping of the EXIM Bank of China; and Executive Vice President LIU Qiang of the Bank of China.

Accompanying the delegation were Chinese Ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua, Counselor Liang Jianjun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Counselor Jin Yuan of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.

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SEEING IT DIFFERENTLY. High School students illustrate their interpretation of a food technology theme during a yesterday’s ‘Panagtigiay 2017’ 1st regionwide poster-making contest at the activity center of Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

DTI to roll out‘Kapatid Mentor ME’program in Davao region T HE regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao will begin tomorrow (Thursday) the 12-week “Kapatid Angat Lahat! Program” in Negosyo Centers in the provinces.

The launching activities will start in Digos City for Davao del Sur, Davao City and Davao Occidental participants; and on March 10 in Tagum City for the Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Launched on October 7, 2016, the Kapatid Angat Lahat! is a newly-conceptualized program of DTI with the Philippine Center for Entrepre-

neurship (PCE). It has three components, namely Mentor ME, Adopt an SSF and Inclusive Business.

The Mentor – Micro Entrepreneur (Mentor ME) aims to help MSMEs scale up and sustain their enterprises by equipping them with the needed skills through theoretical/ conceptual discussions (lectures) and mentoring/coaching sessions.

It is a coaching and mentoring program consisting of ten (10) modules to be conducted in 12 weeks in partnership with institutions specializing in functional areas of entrepreneurship.

A requirement for grad-

uation is the presentation of the participants’ business improvement plans, after applying all the learning from the lectures and mentoring sessions.

The 12-week program will have weekly Modules such as Marketing, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Operations Management among others.

The number of participants per run is limited to 20.

To qualify, a participant should be the business owner/manager of a micro enterprise (with capitalization/asset of Php3M and below) and should have been in operation for at least one year. (PNA)

of 2019 and will remain unused if the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) continues to block the distribution of select contraceptives and certification of all other family planning commodities.

“Effectively, it will end in 2019. All contraceptives will no longer be available by the end of 2019,” Perez said.

In June 2015, the SC issued a TRO to the Department of Health from “procuring, sell-

ing, distributing, dispensing, or administering, advertising, and promoting the hormonal contraceptive ‘Implanon’ and ‘Implanon NXT’”.

In August 2016, after a motion for reconsideration had been filed by the government, the SC denied the government’s motion and expanded the TRO to cover other contraceptive products available in the Philippine market.

The RPRH Law or Re-

PopCom: Most contraceptives to expire in 2019

A

TOP official of the Commission on Population (PopCom) on Thursday warned of untapped contraceptive products that are set to expire in 2019 with the derailed implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law. In a press conference, PopCom Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez said 98 percent of contraceptive brands will expire by the end

F POPCOM, 14

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12 AGRITRENDS

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There’s money in growing bamboo Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

B

AMBOO, the world’s tallest grass and member of the family that also includes rice, wheat and corn, can help boost the country’s economy and also sustain the income of those who plant it.

One of those who believed in bamboo as economy booster was the late Leonardo Avila III. When he was still the officer-in-charge of the Davao City Agriculture Office, he told us that the bamboo industry in the Philippines has the potential to grow. “But it needs a proper research and government support for it to prosper,” he said.

The experts from Region VI (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Guimaras) believe so, too.

A recent press release disseminated to the media said that farmers in Iloilo have started training on bamboo planting, having been encouraged of bamboo’s high return on investment and quicker payback compared to other long-gestating crops.

According to Dr. Henry A. Adornado, executive director of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), bamboo plantations are soon to flourish in the said region – with 3,898 hectares to be planted with bamboo.

“Bamboo is considered to be the best conservation material because of its low maintenance compared to other plantations aside from the fact that there is a high return on investment and faster payback in bamboo,” he said.

Based on studied plantations in Central America, the REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Monitor placed bamboo’s return on investment at 26%.

The Philippines is the fifth most important exporter of bamboo products in the world, according to the International Trade of Bamboo and Rattan 2012 report. The top exporter is China.

In China, bamboo is one of the four noblest plants. The others are orchid, the plum tree, and of course the chrysanthemum. Bamboo plantations are so vast that they cover mountainous terrain.

“It shows the development of bamboo in China is very crucial,” Avila said.

There is future in bamboo, Roy C. Alimoane thinks so. “We have an abundance of bamboo

but we don’t know what to do with it,” says the director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. “It is so common that we ignore its potentials. Other countries have already seen not only the beauty but the potentials of bamboo.”

Renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue from Cebu has seen that, too.

In fact, he designed “Phoenix,” the world’s first and only car made from bamboo and rattan, which was showcased in a furniture fair in Milan some years back.

The car, which looked like a bird about to take flight, was created in just 10 days with the use of bamboo, rattan, steel, and nylon. According to Inhabitat, an environmental web blog, “Phoenix” is designed to last the average length of time a person keeps a car – about five to 20 years.

There are so many potentials from bamboo. Furniture makers and wood craftsmen who shift from wood to bamboo are expected to share in the huge export bonanza expected from a growing demand for bamboo furniture and bamboo handicrafts in the global market.

“We’re not talking here of raw bamboo for export, but finished products made from bamboo. From roots to tip, you can make soap, medicines, cosmetics, furniture, bricks, clothing, paper, floor tiles, wall panels, drinks, vegetables – even surf boards from bamboo,” said an official from Department of Trade and Industry.

There are a million uses of bamboo. According to an article, which appeared in Reader’s Digest, bamboo “is delicate enough to be used in phonograph needles, yet strong enough to be used in bridge construction.” As such, bamboo can replace or indirectly decrease consumption of three critically scarce resources: wood, metal, and oil.

Already, bamboo is being used as scaffolding and concrete reinforcement in the construction of buildings. In Bangladesh, where 73% of the population lives in bamboo houses, bamboo provides pillars, walls, window frames, rafters, room separators, ceilings and roofs.

Due to lack or scarcity of wood, it is most likely that the property industry in the country will turn to bamboo

as timber replacement. “Bamboo, like true wood, is a natural composite material with high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures,” wrote Patel Lakkad in a paper published in Fibre Science and Technology.

Tessa R. Salazar, in a report published by Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote that “the use of bamboo in the construction of houses has not been as extensive as it should be because the grass is not recognized as a conventional construction material under the building code.”

Bamboo, in its natural form as a construction material, is traditionally associated with the cultures of South Asia, East Asia and the South Pacific. “The bamboo has long been used by Filipinos for various construction needs. It has also been present in homegrown innovations,” Salazar noted, citing the floating classroom done by architect Edilberto Morcilla.

“In areas where strong current and debris can occur, the most practical and cheapest solution is to plant bamboo all around the house,” said Morcilla. Not only that.

Bamboos “can give shade and ecological value,” and that they “grow and multiply very rapidly and serve the purpose of defusing the current and debris in a matter of one and a half years or less.”

Bamboo is indispensable in the fishing and banana industry in the country. Fishermen use bamboo as material for making rafts, fishing rods, outriggers for bancas, and for fish pens and cages. In salt-water areas, bamboo is used as stakes in the culture of mussels and oysters.

Bamboo is also used in the manufacture of musical instruments like horns, clarinets, saxophones, flutes, piccolos, xylophones, and drums.

In Java, Indonesia, 20 different musical instruments have been fashioned of bamboo.

The world-famous bamboo organ at the Roman Catholic Church of Las Piñas is a historic example of the importance of bamboo.

Bamboo is also edible. Its shoots are a source of food rich in fiber, nutrients, Vitamins A, B, and C. Bamboo shoots are made of 88.8% moisture, 3.9% protein, 0.5% fat, 5.7% carbohydrates and 1.1 minerals.

“The amino acid content of bamboo is higher than cab-

Planting bamboo is environmentfriendly. It can help address the problem of climate change.

Bamboo house

Bamboo toy

Bamboos in aquaculture bage, carrot, onion and pumpkin. Bamboo also contains 17 different types of enzymes and more than 10 kinds of mineral elements, such as chromium, zinc, manganese, iron, magnesium, nickel and cobalt,” said the press release.

In Maasin, Iloilo, the bamboo charcoal is one of its major products. The company Iloilo Kawayan Marketing is reportedly producing the charcoal that is considered to be a natural product and is ecologically friendly.

“Used as a fuel, it is smokeless and odorless and is best for barbecues,” the press release said. “Bamboo charcoal works as a natural fertilizer and pesticide. It is also used

as a deodorizer. It can filter tap water. Put pieces of bamboo charcoal in a jug of tap water, then leave it for 4-5 hours. The water in the jug will taste like mineral water.”

With its anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, bamboo charcoal is now used as soap ingredient. “It cleans the skin deeply. Because of the incredible absorbency of the bamboo charcoal with activated carbon, the soap can clean to the very bottom of skin pores and does not leave a residue on the face. The newly cleaned skin pores can receive natural moisturizing from the body’s oils,” the press release added.

Planting bamboo is envi-

ronment-friendly. It can help address the problem of climate change. Some studies showed that bamboo plants can sequester 12 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year.

Not only that. Bamboo is an effective tool in addressing soil erosion, landslides, and flooding.

The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council was created through Executive Order No. 879. It has been given the task to push for a robust and sustainable bamboo sector nationwide, with the help of other government agencies and the private sector. It mandates the use of bamboo as planting material with at least 20 percent of reforestation species annually.

“Bamboo has two different classifications. If they are planted in private lands, they are considered agricultural products. But if they are planted in forest lands, they are non-timber forest products which require gatherers to secure a permit before harvest,” explained the Forest Management Bureau, a line agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Bamboo grows anywhere in the Philippines. Often, it will grow on marginal farm areas not much good for anything else. “It is a pity that we have neglected this important crop for so long,” deplores Alimoane.

Not all bamboo species grown in the country are economically important, however. Only eight so-called erect species are extensively used: “kauayan-tinik,” “kauayan-kiling,” “bayog,” “botong,” giant bamboo, “bolo,” “anos,” and “buho.” Most species of bamboo mature three to four years after initial shoot development.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 13

P5.5-B worth of infra projects pipelined under PRDP

A

ROUND P5.5-billion worth of infrastructure subprojects are pipelined for Mindanao under DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) aimed at improving agricultural productivity in the countryside.

According to PRDP’s February 2017 report, farm-tomarket roads (FMR) make up the bulk of the pipelined subprojects with a total of 46 subprojects amounting to P4.49 billion.

These subprojects are awaiting endorsement of the issuance of no objection letter (NOL), which signals approval, while others are awaiting approval of the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB), or subprojects undergoing validation.

Undergoing implementation are 62 FMR subprojects while 37 are under various stages of procurement.

“Under PRDP, we aim to build concreted road networks

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ATHENA LULETTE ANGLIONGTO EMBATE has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS executed among her heirs, per Doc. No. 487; Page No. 99; Book No. 28; Series of 2012, of the NOTARY PUBLIC JEFFREY JEFFERSON Y.CORONEL 3/3,10,17

that will connect production areas and farms to markets which will hopefully translate to bigger incomes of farmers,” PRDP Mindanao cluster director Ricardo Oñate said.

He said that local government units have seen the importance of FMR projects in enhancing the productivity of their commodities and improving the connectivity of their areas, which is why he said LGUs have strongly lobbied for more road concreting projects.

“This is in line with the Project’s thrust in ensuring that reliable infrastructures are put up where it is needed,” Oñate added.

Aside from FMR projects, small infrastructure subprojects were also pipelined amounting to P151.09 million.

These subprojects include construction of warehouses and solar dryers, as well as infrastructure support to PRDP’s enterprise development subprojects.

Meanwhile, there are also pipelined five FMR projects with bridge component, four irrigation subprojects and 2 potable water supply (PWS) systems subprojects.

Currently, 26 subprojects classified under small infrastructure are undergoing procurement process. (Jay M. Rosas/PSO Mindanao)

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

Peugeot PH supports Hyundai PH sales up H tennis development YUNDAI Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, continues its strong 2017 showing as it grew by 21 percent for the month February, or a total of 2,653 units sold, as compared to the same period of the previous year. This pushed accumulated January to February sales to 5,247, up by 15 percent as compared to 2016.

The strong demand for automotive vehicles in the country played as an anchor

P

EUGEOT Philippines solidifies its support of the local tennis scene with the launch of the first Peugeot Philippines Tennis Invitational (PPTI).

Last year, Peugeot Philippines embraced the sport of tennis and committed to support it by successfully staging the Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open (PPTO). With legs held in Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Nueva Ecija and Metro Manila, the tournament was able to firmly establish Peugeot as a major proponent in the local tennis scene.

This year, the tournament expands to target a different group of players, which include members of tennis clubs all over the country – giving the chance for more people to share their love of the game in a friendly competition.

“In our effort to bring the passion of tennis to athletes and enthusiasts alike, Peugeot Philippines will expand the scope of our annual tennis competition to tap a different set of players this year. The first Peugeot Philippines Tennis Invitational is designed for members of distinguished sports clubs and groups around the country,” Peugeot Philippines President Glen Dasig said.

This year’s invitational gathers 192 participants

from various sports clubs and groups nationwide. The participants are then divided into three (3) divisions: Men’s Doubles 40-49 years old, Men’s Doubles 50 years old and above, and Women’s Doubles 40 years old and above.

They will be competing for the top prizes on March 10 to 12 at the Valle Verde Country Club Tennis Grounds.

“We are delighted to see an impressive turnout in this year’s invitational. This only proves that the passion for tennis is alive here in the country,” he added.

Associated with the sport for more than 30 years, Peugeot began its affinity with tennis in 1984 by partnering with Roland Garros, more commonly known as the French Open. Since then, Peugeot has increased its

involvement in the sport by fostering relationships with other world-renowned tennis competitions such as the BNP Paribas Masters and more recently, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour.

Peugeot became the Official Transporter to Roland-Garros in 1989 and since then has provided the tournament with a fleet of more than two hundred vehicles every year, specifically to transport players, the press, the public and VIPs. In the Philippines, Peugeot launched its first local tennis open last 2015 allowing young athletes to get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of watching Roland Garros 2016 live.

“The Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open served as a ven-

ue to showcase some of the country’s best tennis athletes and gave them a chance to witness the 2016 Roland Garros live. It was truly a dream come true for our winners and an inspiration for them to excel in their sport,” Dasig said.

For PPTI 2017, the champions of each division will once again be rewarded a trip to Paris, France to catch a live 2017 Roland Garros match.

“As true enthusiasts of the sport, the PPTI participants are deserving of a competition that brings forth true sportsmanship and camaraderie.

We are committed to giving them an unforgettable event, and at same time reward the champions with the chance to see one of the hallmarks of the tennis competition globally,” adds Dasig.

MONG the 21 dealerships of Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) across the country, five have distinguished themselves for their performance last year. On February 25, 2017, IPC recognized these achievements as the com-

A

which was named Best in Sales Operations. Equaling this achievement were those made by Isuzu Cavite, which took the Best in Parts Operations plum; and Isuzu Cagayan de Oro, which secured both Best in Service Operations and Best in Customer

following closely behind Isuzu Cabanatuan, whose exemplary record last year placed it as the 1st Runner-up.

But owing to unmatched results in all aspects of dealership operations, the top citation was clinched by Isuzu Batangas, which emerged as

pany held the 2016 Isuzu Dealer of the Year Awards gathering.

Heading the list of top performers was Isuzu Pasig,

Service titles.

Isuzu Pasig furthered its accomplishment by also being cited as 2nd Runner-up in the Dealer of the Year Award,

the 2016 Dealer of the Year.

The Gencars, Inc.-owned facility improved on its achievement in 2015 when it placed 2nd Runner-up in the

Dealer of the Year Awards.

“Isuzu Philippines manufacturing and offering the most relevant and competent vehicle models to the Philippine market is not enough, we need these products to reach customers in every corner of the country. Needless to say, it is our dealers who ensure that this happens, and on whom we also depend to provide the best possible aftersales services to Isuzu owners. In this regard, we in IPC cannot underscore the important role that Isuzu dealers play in our business, and having one of the widest networks of sales and service facilities in the Philippines definitely works to the Isuzu brand’s advantage in the local automotive sector,” IPC President Hajime Koso said.

“We both express our sincerest gratitude and congratulations to all 2016 Isuzu Dealer of the Year awardees,” he added.

Isuzu awards top dealers for 2016

DICT... FROM 11

to HARI’s positive sales performance. The February results show that the Passenger Car segment remains as the driver for growth with a 22% Year-on-Year increase.

This is specifically credited to the Accent, the brand’s sub-compact passenger car, as it proved to be HARI’s bestselling nameplate with a 114 percent increase compared to its February 2016 sales. The commercial vehicle segment was not far from the spotlight as it increased by 19 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year.

the ASEAN members’ contribution towards integration.

The Philippine Telecoms Summit which was organized by the DICT, in partnership with the PCTO and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), seeks to gather the telecommunications industry’s stakeholders,

comprising of government agencies and regulators, industry players, experts, and consumers in one event to address the problems and issues surrounding the state of telecommunications in the country today, particularly speed, coverage and affordability of Internet. (PNA)

public Act 10354 guarantees universal access to all methods of modern contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, and maternal and child care.

Perez also noted that the Philippine population may explode to 113 million in 2022 from its current count at 104 million.

Perez explained there will be 3 million more births by 2022 if the TRO on implants is maintained.

“Our prediction is there will be an additional 3 million more births because of the withdrawal of Implanon by 2022,” he said.

Perez said 2.6 percent of women were recipients of implants and it was projected to increase to 9 percent if the TRO had not been imposed.

Mothers dying during childbirth or maternal deaths may also rise by an additional 1,000 deaths a year, he added.

For his part, Philippine

Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) Executive Director Romeo Dongeto called on the Supreme Court to lift the TRO affecting family planning.

“It is lamentable that almost five years since its enactment, the agencies tasked to implement the law cannot focus on implementing but are instead occupied with addressing legal issues such as this TRO,” Dongeto said.

Dongeto said this SC decision would result in contraceptive stockout in the country affecting more than 13 million Filipino women.

“Addressing unmet need for family planning is a big step towards fulfilling Filipinos’ reproductive health and rights as enshrined in the RPRH Law... We hope that this Women’s Month, the Supreme Court will finally decide in favor of the rights and health of Filipinos, especially women,” he added. (PNA)

PopCom... FROM 11

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

PHL-China diplomacy benefitting athletes T

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has identified five sports disciplines which will undergo training in China especially in its national training center in Beijing.

Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) national training director Marc Velasco revealed Wednesday during the launching of the government-owned Sports Radio (918) “PSC Hour”, the training program was a result of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) forged between PSC Chair Butch Ramirez and Chinese sports minister Gou Zhongwen.

The sports agreement was also an offshoot to the state visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in October last year.

Duterte was the 7th Philippine leader to visit China since diplomatic relations between the two countries were formally established in 1975.

T

Velasco said, the Chinese sports minister has “openly offered” the exchange of sports technology, sports equipment and Chinese sports trainors, and the building of sports facilities.

Velasco further said the Chinese sports official has offered five slots for the Philippines in the form of sports scholarship at the Beijing University.

In the same PSC Hour over remote-live broadcast at the PSC building, co-hosted by veteran sports broadcast journalist Ricky Yap Santos and Cecile Quimlat, lawyer Carlo Abarquez, PSC executive director, revealed that an initial PHP228 million was initially allotted by the government sports body for the country’s participation in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games (Aug. 19-Sept. 1) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which include equipment, training and uniforms of SPORTS AID. President Rodrigo Duterte and retired Chinese basketball superstar Yao the Philippine delegation. (PNA) Ming during the President’s visit to China which included sports assistance pact.

Bogut gone in 58 seconds

HE new center’s season is over, cruelly ended by a shocking injury. One injured shooting guard has returned from a broken thumb while another is limping around on a sore foot.

Oh, the coach is still sick, too.

And so it goes for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the star-crossed champions who can’t seem to get completely healthy.

The Cavaliers got some expected news Wednesday when Andrew Bogut was ruled out for the remainder of the season - including the playoffs - after breaking his left leg on Monday night just 58 seconds into his debut with Cleveland. Bogut, who typically defends near the basket, rushed out to guard Miami’s Okaro White and the two had a kneeto-shin collision that ended the 7-footer’s season.

Bogut’s injury is just the latest setback for the Cavs, who lost center Chris Andersen to a season-ending knee injury in December, played without J.R. Smith for three months and are still waiting for All-Star forward Kevin Love to return from knee surgery.

If that wasn’t enough, Kyle Korver, the team’s dead-eyed

I

These six initial sports disciplines covered by the training program are: diving, badminton, weightlifting, table tennis, wushu and gymnastics.

Velasco, who was in the Philippine delegation that went to China, explained that these six sports are medal-rich and given the potential of Filipino to harvest honors in global sports competition.

The national training director and former national athlete said members of the national team who will be chosen for the program will have the chance to train side-by-side with top national athletes of China.

Velasco emphasized it’s a big encouragement to Filipino athletes. It will strengthen their level of confidence and competence and boost the country’s sports development in the country’s quest for an elusive Olympic gold.

Also included in the agreement,

T WAS actually Greg Deligero, our Associate Editor at that time, who invited me to join Edge Davao-The Business Paper, 10 years ago.

I did not ask why, for all he knows, I’m passionate about sports, its development and how it should be properly managed.

But it was manong Tony Ajero, our Editor In Chief, who, in a way, led me in the direction of solidifying sports and business. And so the Golfer of the Week section of the sports page was born and

3-point specialist, will miss at least one game with an injured left foot, and coach Tyronn Lue hasn’t shaken an ear/sinus infection that kept him home during Monday’s game and out of practice Wednesday. ‘’I talked to him last night,’’ said associate head coach Larry Drew, filling in for Lue. ‘’He sounds a little bit better, but still he’s a little bit under the weather.

We hope he can get well as soon as he can.’’

The Cavs could use a collective dose of good medicine.

They were happy to learn Bogut won’t need another operation on his broken tibia but won’t be able to help them try and win a second straight title. He’s expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of next season, but that’s little consolation for the 32-year-old Australian who was so excited about the chance to get back to the NBA Finals. ‘’It’s extremely unfortunate for both parties,’’ said Smith, who practiced for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right thumb in December. ‘’For us, obviously, because we needed a big, but more importantly for him because he’s looking at a potential

Thai leads ICTSI Champion Tour T

cin Gortat.

General manager David Griffin, who has masterfully strengthened Cleveland’s roster with the additions of Korver, Derrick Williams and Deron Williams since the start of 2017, will likely add another big man to replace Bogut.

The Cavaliers aren’t in any rush to bring in a new player, so it’s unlikely any moves will be made until Cleveland returns from a three-game road trip that starts Thursday in Detroit.

HAI shotmaker Kanphannitnan Muankhumsakul scored a three-under 69 enroute to a one stroke lead over Filipina ace parbuster Mia Piccio, who fired 70 after Wednesday’s first round of the USD75,000 ICTSI Champion Tour at Splendido in Tagaytay.

The 18-year-old ace from Bangkok marked his round, firing down four birdies inside eight feet to negate a missed-green bogey on No. 12 as she turned in a 35-34 to wrest the lead from Mia Piccio, who shot six birdies but settled for a 70 on a hot but blustery day.

“I played pretty good today.

My putting and irons were simply good,” said Muankhumsakul, who also campaigned in Morocco, Abu Dhabi and India.

“The wind was really strong and I’m lucky made good,” said the 18-year-old Muangkhumsakul, who placed third here last year topped by Korean Lee Jeonghwa.

Piccio, the Symetra Tour veteran also seeking her first victory on the LPGT, looked headed for a

writing. Well, I responded with a bowed head, “I just got tired”.

Ate Chay wanted me to stay a little bit longer for the 10th Anniversary but who knows I may pop up and surprise the staff once again, hahahaha.

I just could not help but just be happy with the progress of this newspaper. I just could not believe it, 10 years.

It’s just wow!

I’m quite bothered, though, with the brain drain after Greg, Bambam Garcia,

our original photo man, and Charles Maxey joined Malacanang. However, when I formally met Mr.Jimmy Laking, the Associate Editor, I know that the Editorial Department is in very good hands.

What happened to our managing editor, Neil Bravo?

Ahhh, he is just like me, serving our lovely Boss, our respective spouses. Him, Down Under, me, Up North! Ahhh, the beauty of marriage, eh?

Oh well, Neil is still actively writing, thanks to the invention of the internet. That re-

GONE FOR THE SEASON. New Cavaliers recruit Andrew Bogut’s debut with his new team only lasted for 58 seconds. His knee injury booted him out of the season. title run and he can’t compete.

For you to get hurt at any point in time it’s really tough. But for you to get hurt in 58 seconds, it’s like probably the freakiest thing ever.’’

It’s not that the team can’t win it all without Bogut, but he gave Cleveland frontcourt protection and a massive body to combat some potential mismatches in the postseason when it could face Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka, Miami’s Hassan Whiteside or Washington’s Mar-

Happy Anniversary Edge Davao!

we first featured Mr. Eduardo Bangayan, owner of several businesses in Davao and an active supporter of Metro Davao Sports Association, an organization that does philanthropy work.

We were then a weekly newspaper and so it was relatively easy managing the sports section and the late Ramon Maxey, our Editorial Consultant, had plenty of time to polish my stories.

Just recently, I dropped by at the Edge Davao office, met some new lovely faces and de-

CLEAN SLATE

By MOSES P. BILLACURA lighted to see our GM ma’am Olive, Ate Chay(sales), Lani Maratas(finance) and Ella Tingzon(HR), who popped the question why I stopped

big start and the early lead in the 54-hole championship presented by Champion as she sparkled with three birdies against a bogey at the back for a 36-34 card but failed to match the Bangkok lass’ fiery windup.

Piccio expressed satisfaction over her round amid the exacting wind-raked condition of the Greg Norman-designed course with only four players breaking par and three carding even par 72s.

Pauline Del Rosario marked her pro debut in style, birdying three of the first five holes to wrest early control. But the former amateur hotshot slowed down with a roller coaster stint in the next nine holes marred by a triple-bogey on the par-3 12th and a bogey on the next.

Del Rosario, however, bounced back with back-to-back birdies from No. 15 and finished with a 71 in a tie with Taiwanese Yeh Hsin-ning, who also sizzled with three birdies in the first five holes but fumbled with a bogey and a double-bogey at the back, needing to birdie the 18th to save a 33-38 card. (PNA)

minds me, when Neil is away for a national sports coverage, I have to man the fax machine many moons ago and make sure that the copies are not garbled. Those were the days.

To the editorial and printing departments of Edge Davao, I’m very proud of you and congratulations! *** And since it is the month of March, happy birthdays to manong Tony, James A. Zimmerman and Mayor, now President Rodrigo R. Duterte and happy Araw ng Dabaw too!

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 273 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 10 - 11, 2017

PRIZE-RICH 9th Phoenix Open tees off Saturday

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

T

njb@edgedavao.net

HE 9th Phoenix Open Golf Tournament gets off the tees on Saturday at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club with over 200 golfers joining the hunt for the top team and individual prizes.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines president Dennis Uy will lead the ceremonial tee off with guests from both the government and

private sector.

Reigning Miss Earth Katherine Espin will also grace the event.

A whopping P1 Million purse await the winner of the grand hole-in-one along with a brand new Mercedes-Benz A180, Tata Motors Xenon 4x4 Premium, an Omega Speedmaster, and P100,000 worth of Phoenix fuel cards. These prizes are

dangled on designtaedd par-3 holes.

Lucky players also get a chance to bring home major raffle prizes such as Macbook Air, iPhone, GoPro Hero 5 camera, LED TVs, home theater appliances, and other latest gadgets.

Tournament winners will all receive Royal Selangor pewter plates and Phoenix fuel cards. All champions

will

receive Phoenix signature bags.

Pledges for the 9th Phoenix Open Golf Tournament will go to the Phoenix Philippines Foundation to support its four main advocacies in Education, Environment, Health, and Outreach programs.

The 9th Phoenix Open

Golf Tournament is made possible by Pioneer Insurance, F.F. Cruz & Co. Inc, Brenton Engineered Products Corporation, Mechatrend Contractors Corporation, MercedesBenz, and Tata Motors.

INTERCLUB VETERANS. Ludwig Van Ledesma and Chikoy Saavedra who saw action in the recent PAL Interclub are expected to crowd the hunt for class titles.

PHOENIX OPEN. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines president Dennis Uy will lead the ceremonial hitters.