Edge Davao 9 Issue 282

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

1st chocolate spa to open in Davao

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

CHOCOLATE spa, the first of its kind in Mindanao and the whole country will soon be open to the public at a garden resort in Davao City.

Rhea Pañares, marketing coordinator of Malagos Garden Resort told reporters in a press conference at Habi at Kape in Abreeza Mall on Tuesday that the chocolate spa will become one of the regular features that will be offered to customers and visitors at the newly opened chocolate museum at the resort.

The 280 square meter museum was opened to the public last March 8.

Pañares said the chocolate spa will utilize waste materials from cacao products such as the cacao husks that can be turned into soaps and scrubs.

The spa is expected to open during the celebration of Kadayawan Festival in August this year, she added.

Pañares said that the chocolate museum is fully booked especially on week-ends since it was opened early this month.

The museum is an interactive cacao and chocolate-related installation where visitors will be familiarized how chocolates are made starting from harvesting.

Visitors to the museum, she said, are also allowed to tour a nearby cacao farm.

The museum is also a source of information to visitors on the wonders of cacao and chocolate-making through infographics, audio and video presentations and interactive displays.

The museum also offers its chocolate bar where visitors can enjoy all chocolate products of Malagos Garden Resort.

Pañares said the museum is also aimed to entice visitors to venture into cacao farming and production.

DOUBLE TIME. A street vendor does her laundry at the sidewalk near Davao City Hall at the same time vend as she needs to earn money for her family while attending to some chores that she’s supposedly doing at home.

Lean Daval Jr.

OVERLOADING MARINA to insist ROROs: Follow ferry-ride rules to avoid overloading

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA HE Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in the region has called on roll-on, roll off ships plying the Davao City-Samal Island route to implement tighter safety measures to avoid overloading and endangering their passengers.

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Felisa Orongan, head of MARINA Region XI sounded the alarm on Wednesday, adding that a lot of passengers do not follow the safety measures when riding the RORO from the Sasa whart to Samal and vice-versa despite ex-

isting policies.

“We really have a policy that in riding the ferry, passengers are required to turn off their car engines and step out of their vehicle but we have noticed that passengers do not follow this,” she said.

“They insist that they don’t need to step out of their cars because the travel time from the wharf to Samal Island only takes about ten minutes,” She added: “May ibang tamad na pumunta sa taas, doon sa passenger area, where our life-saving apparatus are located. This should not be practiced because

we do not know what is going to happen during that ten-minute ride.”

According to Orongan, the danger of the passengers do not go leaving their vehicles is the tendency for their names not to be included in the official passenger list.

“This results most times to overloading which endangers the safety of all passengers in the process,” she said.

She also called calls for the travellers refrain from putting aliases as their names on the passenger list because this manifes-

to is important.

She also said that the barge will be prioritizing the passengers with vehicles. Walk-in passengers or those riding the barge without vehicles were encouraged to ride the boats instead to avoid overloading.

“We call for the cooperation of the passengers. Let us not be complacent porke’t walang nangyayari. Let help us implement these rules,” Orongan stresses especially with the nearing of the Holy Week celebration in April where an influx of passengers will be expected.

HEAT IS ON TRMH-CMO Green Archers open bid vs Pacman, Malacanang meets UP Maroons

EDGEDAVAO Sports

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

ON THE SPOTLIGHT. Edge Davao editor-in-chief Antonio M. Ajero blows out his candle for his 71st birthday after he was surprised and greeted by friends and colleagues during Wednesdays @Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall on Wednesday.

Lean Daval Jr.

CSSDO aids 88-year old mother and sickly 44-year old daughter

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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HE City Social services and Development Office has assisted an 88 year old mother, Candida Ramas and her 49 year old daughter, Rhodora who is suffering from polio and cerebral palsy.

The two were living alone in their shanties beside the house of Candida’s grandson Benjamine Montallana.

The family survive daily through her monthly pension worth P2,200 coming

from the Social Security Services. But most times, they lacked food.

The situation of Candida and Rodora was discovered after a netizen posted their video on Facebook after the burial of Candida’s son in law.

The two were videoed having a conversation while Rodora cheerfully sings to her mother.

A day after the video was posted online, the CSSDO im-

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Ex-NPAs receive livelihood support from ComVal LGU

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

ORMER members of communist New People’s Army on Tuesday received livelihood assistance from the provincial government of Compostela Valley through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government. assistance Each of the seven former NPA rebels who voluntarily turned themselves to the elements of 71st Infantry Battalion were initially awarded with P15,000 on February 10 this year.

Last Tuesday, Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy handed to each of the seven ex-NPA rebels P50,000 that will help them rebuild their lives as they go back to their respective families and communities.

“The local government of Compostela Valley remains focused in crafting programs that will support our former NPA brothers who dream to live as peace-loving Comvalenyos,” Uy said in a message during the turn-over ceremony.

He said that a total cash assistance of P65,000 under

the CLIP program is provided to NPA members who are willing to return to the folds of the law and be reunited with their loved ones.

The amount excludes firearms surrendered by returning NPAs which have separate remuneration under the program.

The turn-over ceremony was also joined by Lt. Col. Davice Christopher G. Mercado, commander of 71st IB. “We are appealing to our NPA brothers to heed the call for peace and surrender,” Mercado said, adding that the CLIP

program will ensure that NPA rebels who abandon armed struggle and wish to live peaceful and normal lives are welcome and will receive support as they rejoin the mainstream society.

Mercado added that the 71st IB is working in partnership with the LGUs in Compostela Valley and the other stakeholders.

He also assured the public that the army remains committed to work for peace and development in the province and in the whole of Davao region.

HE Department of Interior and Local Government has warned barangay officials who fail to reduce drug-related incidents in their respective jurisdictions that they will be charged with negligence of duty.

“If a certain barangay official was not able to reduce by lower than 50 percent the number of drug personalities in his area by June, we will file charges of negligence of duty against the barangay officials,” DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno said at the opening ceremony of the 15th Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials Responsible for Information

held Wednesday at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City.

Sueno said the department is working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) in identifying barangays that are seriously affected by illegal drugs due to larger presence of personalities involved such as users, pushers and financiers as well as the prevalence of drug dens in the area.

A DILG memorandum has reiterated the importance of the barangay’s anti-drug abuse councils (BADAC) led by the barangay chairman on the government’s campaign

against illegal drugs and in drug clearing operations.

Under the DILG memorandum, failure of local officials to appropriate a portion of their budgets to assist or enhance Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is a ground for disapproval of a barangay’s annual budget.

Administrative charges for dereliction of duty will be filed against violators.

The department has also organized the MASA Masid (Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Iligal na Droga ) teams in various barangays

nationwide.

MASA MASID is a barangay-based and volunteerism-based program of the DILG that adopts a multi-sectoral and mass-based approach in reporting incidences of illegal drug activities, criminality and corruption in communities.

Meanwhile, the PDEA has also set new standards for the classification of drug-affected barangays in the country.

A reported presence of at least one clandestine drug laboratory or marijuana plantation in the community will merit a classification of a seri-

DILG: Barangay officials uncooperative in anti-illegal drugs drive will be charged

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CAMP CRAME-BOUND. Outgoing Davao City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria bids goodbye to members of local media during the AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Camp Domingo Leonor on Wednesday. Dubria will be reassigned as senior executive assistant at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Lean Daval Jr.

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Davao board eyes P25 charge per cubic for gravel business

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AVAO del Norte Provincial Board’s ways and means committee chaired by Board Member Alfredo “Ticque” De Veyra III has come up a “win-win solution” to have the Ecosystem Service Charge, a new revenue-seeking charging, approved by the affected sector of sand and gravel permitees themselves on Wednesday.

The executive department of the provincial government through its environment office earlier sought a P100 ESC per cubic but this was assailed as excessive by sand and gravel permitees.

Dr. Condrafranca Fuentes, president of North Davao Permitees and Quarry Assn, during the public hearing of De Veyra’s committee on the issue complained that the measure could not make them survive in competition.

She said it would be unfair they would be charged of ESC while Davao del Norte is surrounded by provinces which are not charging ESC. But she appealed the rate

should be reduced to P15 per cubic as suggested by association members.

There are around 70 sand and gravel permitees in the province.

OIC provincial environment officer Romulo Tagalog countered that the proposed ESC of P100 per cubic is a “catch up price” for the twenty years of them extracting sand and gravel at the expense of environment.

He said that the ESC could be implemented in “graduated scale”, adding that it has precedents in the provinces of Pampanga and Bukidnon.

Negotiations on recess followed, participated in also by committee members-BM Ernesto “Erning” Evangelista, lawyer BM Joey Millan and FABC provincial rep Mike Niez.

After that, BM Millan announced “there is now a winwin solution.”

The parties especially the sand and gravel permitees agreed for an ESC of P25 per

NEW TACK. Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) 11 marketing assistant Lloyd Labanon holds a copy of an information sheet for the agency’s new and digitalized postal identification card (ID) which is now considered a primary government document. Lean Daval Jr.

CONVERGENCE OF 300 MASTERS, ARTISTS LTO Region VI hosts F DAVAO, 10

RP to host 1st Budayaw Festival in Gensan LTO National Confab I M

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

LOILO City is the venue for today’s LTO Directors National Conference as all the regional directors nationwide gather in the city for their annual confab. Hosting Regional Director Roland Ramos of LTO Region VI expects the attendance of LTO top officials.

In an interview with LTO Bacolod chief Renato Novero, he said the RD Ramos heads the hosting activity of the conference at Richmonde Hotel at the Megaworld complex in Iloilo City. The officers and staff of the local region play the role of extending their hospitality and warmth to the visiti g officials.

Various concerns on the

LTO operations nationwide will be the main focus of the conference. Among the subjects to be on the table discussion are Regulation on Electric Vehicles; proposed revision of JAO; Anti-Distracted Driving Act; Campaign against Colorum; illegally modified motor vehicles; and Proposed New Land Transportation and Traffic Code, among others.

Among those arriving are ASec Edgar Galvante along with all the regional directors.

It is said that the Land Transportation Office is in marching orders from the President of enhancing its nationwide operations for public safety and road discipline. (pr-oslec)

adlopez0920@gmail.com

INDANAO, particularly General Santos City in Sarangani Province will host the 1st Budayaw Festival slated on September 20 to 24, the Mindanao Development Authority said.

Speaking before reporters during the regular Kapehan in Habi at Kape in Abreeza Mall, Davao City on Wednesday, Jimmy Musa of International Relations Division of MinDA, said the upcoming event will gather around 300 cultural masters and artists from the member-nations of BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area).

The 1st Budayaw Festival is a major project of the National Commission on Culture and Arts in partnership with MinDA, he added.

“This will be a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary festival for five days.

The event is also in time with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of South East Asian Nations,” Musa said.

The festival, he added, will primarily highlight the cultural diversity and promote the rich heritage and culture of the member-nations of BIMP-EAGA. The gathering is also

aimed to harness greater understanding and solidarity among the multi-cultural populations of the sub-region.

Major activities during the event include the showcasing of the creative works of more than 300 cultural practitioners from the sub-region through photo, visual arts exhibitions.

The event will also feature indigenous music, dances, theatre and cultural presentations of delegates from the member-countries.

“During the five-day festivities, representatives from member-countries will also have time to undergo cultural immersion to communities in

GPH, MILF implementing peace panels sign new terms of reference

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WARNING. Maritime Industry Authority (Marina)-Davao director Felisa Orongan has called on roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) operators plying the Sasa 11-Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) route to observe tighter safety

measures and expresses her support to the proposed fare increase to lessen the walk-in passengers which currently exceeding the required number under safety standard. Lean Daval Jr.

General Santos City, Sarangani Province and other areas in Mindanao,” Musa said.

The event will also serve as a venue to recognize the significant contributions of artists to the socioeconomic development of BIMP-EAGA. Budayaw is derived from Bahasa word “buda” which means festival and the Filipino word “dayaw”, meaning celebration.

MinDA said that the conduct of Budayaw Festival is among the agreements signed during the BIMP-EAGA Socio-Cultural and Education (SCE) Cluster Meeting last year.

NEW terms of reference on how the implementing panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front would proceed with the implementation of the signed agreements has been signed by the two parties during their special meeting in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday.

In a joint GPH-MILF statement, the two panels said the five-page TOR contains, among others, a set of guidelines for both implementing panels how they would conduct meetings, their mandates, and guiding principles.

Under Section 1, Art II, it states that “implementing panels resolve to build on the gains of the peace process in the implementation of the signed agreements including all existing mechanisms of the peace process. The implementing stage shall be primarily an in-

ternal process to the Parties, with due consideration to the agreed international participation, and when necessary, with third party facilitation and/or special advice as provided for in this Terms of Reference.”

Under Section 2, for the GPH-MILF panels to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and other signed agreements.

It states the GPH implementing panel “shall work for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress while the MILF implementing panel shall monitor the progress of the legislative process.”

It added that the implementing panels, if necessary, “will review the mechanisms of the peace process on the

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

Boao Forum for Asia to tackle China’s Belt & Road Initiative

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HINA’S illustrious Belt and Road Initiative takes center stage anew as Hainan, China’s tropical province, holds the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2017 from March 23 to 26, this year.

BFA Secretary General Zhou Wenzhong said the “One Belt, One Road” initiative will continue to be the key topic in the four-day forum themed: “Globalization and Free Trade: The Asian Perspectives.”

Over 200 delegates representing government, business, academe and media sectors from Asian region will attend the BFA’s 42 official and 12 private sessions. ”It is an urgent priority for governments and businesses to stimulate growth through a multi-pronged approach,” Zhou said.

Other topics to be addressed include Asian regional cooperation, the Doha Round, global value chain reconstruction and the Asia-Pacific free trade zone advocated also by China.

Zhou said delegates will also tackle related topics such as global economic sub-health, limits of monetary policy, education reform, fiscal policy as economic stimulus, austerity and growth, cross-border investment, craftsmanship, small and medium-sized companies and revival of private-sector investment.

Separate sessions have

been dedicated to a retrospective reflection on the Asian financial crisis and the subprime mortgage as to the economic trends of the United States and China, the world’s two biggest economies.

New prospects for Asian media cooperation will also be tackled by 33 media leaders, including Philippines’ People’s Television Network Director General Dino Antonio Apolonio and Maria Elizabeth Raymundo of the Philippine Broadcasting Service.

Top government leaders who have so far confirmed attendance include Nepal Prime Minister Puspa Kama Dahal, Madagasar President Hery Martial Rajoanarimampiannia, Micronesia President Peter Christian and Myanmar Vice President U Myint Swe. Former Philippines President Fidel V. Ramos along with former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke and former Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa initiated the forum in 1998, to promote regional economic integration and to bring Asian countries closer in a bid to achievement inclusive developments in the region.

Designed after Davos’ World Economic Forum held annually in Davos in Switzerland, BFA is a non-profit organization that holds annual meeting since 2002 in Boao, where the forum’s name was inherited. (PNA)

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against MIGHTY CORPORATION, together with its President LT. GEN. EDILBERTO P. ADAN, AFP (RET.), Executive Vice-President JUDGE OSCAR P. BARRIENTOS (RET.), Vice-President for External Affairs and Assistant Corporate Secretary ALEXANDER D. WONGCHUKING, and Treasurer ERNESTO A. VICTA, for Unlawful Possession of Articles Subject to Excise Tax without Payment of the Tax, and for Possessing False, Counterfeit, Restored or Altered Stamps, in violation of Sections 263 and 265(c) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Tax Code).

Mighty Corporation is a domestic corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines.

It manufactures the following brands of cigarettes, among others: Mighty Menthol 100’s (Hard Pack); Mighty Menthol 100’s; Mighty Full Flavor King Size (Red); Marvel’s Menthol 100’s; Marvel’s Menthol (Hard Pack); and Marvel’s Menthol 100’s (Green). Its only BIR-registered production plant is located at 55 McArthur Highway,

Barrio (now Barangay) Tikay, Malolos, Bulacan.

The respondent corporation was the subject of an onthe-spot surveillance operation of untaxed cigarette products conducted by regional investigation division officers in San Simon Industrial Park, San Isidro, Pampanga (SSIP) pursuant to Mission Orders issued by the Regional Director of BIR Pampanga.

The investigating officers entered four (4) warehouses and conducted random tests of ten (10) master cases of cigarettes stores in the said warehouses which were being leased by Mighty Corporation as per certification and contracts of lease provided by the SSIP Administrative Office.

In the presence of Bureau of Customs personnel, Philippine National Police officers, Mighty Corporation representatives, and barangay officials, internal revenue stamps affixed on the cigarette packs were tested using the Taggant reader, a BIR-registered equipment used to test the authenticity of stamps affixed on cigarette packs. The tests conducted showed that the stamps are fake or not authentic. The master cases containing the said cigarettes with fake stamps

BIR files charges vs Mighty Corporation T

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FOR THE GREATER GOOD. Go Mindanao Tourist Bus Project Lucio Jamero Jr. says the initiative was created to provide tourist bus connectivity with the gateway of Davao City to different tourist destinations in Mindanao and it is

a response to the call of the national government for enriching the island.

Jamero made the statement during Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

Only viable third player in telcos is gov’t: study A

N academic research paper by University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Emeritus Epictetus Patalinghug, et al. entitled Assessment of the Structure, Conduct, and Performance of the Philippine Telecommunications Industry, determined that the only realistic third player in the local telecoms industry is the government – and that the government must build a ‘last-mile’ network that is not financially viable for private operators to build.

Speaking at the Philippines Telecoms Summit held recently by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Patalinghug positioned that a third player from the private sector may have a difficult time attaining financial

viability in the short run due to its late-mover disadvantage. They will also need to penetrate undeveloped areas whose deployment costs are higher than the almost saturated urban markets dominated by the incumbents.

The market realities of capital intensity, sunk costs and economies of network size therefore prevent a realistic entry of a private third player, according to Patalinghug.

The paper showed that in 2015 alone, PLDT and Globe’s capital expenditures already amounted to 29 percent of their total service revenues.

This ranked second only to China’s 36 percent globally.

In contrast, telecoms firms in the US spent only 14 percent of their revenues on network

improvements in 2015.

Patalinghug’s findings coincided with the DICT’s position that the recently approved national broadband program of the government will help improve internet speed in the country and provide more Filipinos with access to the internet. This will be achieved through a nationwide network that will link previously unconnected rural areas.

DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima said in an interview that the national broadband network is needed not only by the public but by the private telecoms firms as well in order to expand the reach of their services towards the countryside.

Salalima added that compelling the telcos to do business in countryside areas that

are not viable will entail significant costs that will have to be shouldered by their subscribers. “We need the national broadband network as a way to lower costs and help out in rendering services to the public,” he said.

In a meeting with President Duterte in October, Salalima recommended that the government build and manage the network, and then allow private companies allowed to lease it. This would be beneficial to the telcos, who lack the necessary broadband infrastructure in far-flung or ‘missionary’ areas.

“We hope to lay the groundwork — so telcos can come in and begin to offer much-needed internet services to the residents there,” Salalima said.

Teo said the implementing program is rooted in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on tourism cooperation signed in Manila between the Philippines and The Kingdom of Thailand on March 24, 1993.

Under the agreement, officials and staff of both countries shall visit each country to build their capacity in the areas of tourism development, administration and finance, human resource, marketing and promotions and standards and regulations.

It also allows the Philippines and Thailand to actively encourage their respective local travel agents to develop a joint promotional program that would market destina-

tions in both countries under one tour package.

Teo said this development would also encourage tourism educational institutes in both countries to exchange technical materials, send experts to give lectures and provide information on the opportunities for tourism-related training.

Thailand joins China, Cambodia and Turkey as Philippines’ partners with new tourism cooperation agreements signed within nine months of the Duterte administration.

“Philippines’ tourism program may yet gain an added boost with this concrete commitment for tourism cooperation with Thailand as a result

of President Duterte’s fruitful official visit in Bangkok this week,” Teo said.

“There is so much we can learn from Thailand in terms of tourism development strategies, noting that it tops south East Asian countries in terms of visitor arrivals,” she added.

Manila-based travel and tour operators, who accompanied Teo’s group, said the shared tourism program could raise the awareness of the Thai market and other international markets about the Philippines destinations.

In 2016, visitor arrivals from Thailand jumped by 8.8 percent at 47, 913 visitors.

Thailand accounts for 10 percent of the total arrivals from ASEAN. (PNA)

Philippines, Thailand renew deal on tourism cooperation

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OURISM officials of the Philippines and Thailand have renewed a 23-year-old tourism cooperation agreement during the official visit of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to Bangkok this week.

Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) Secretary Wanda Teo and Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul signed the Implementing Program of Tourism Cooperation 2017 to 2022 at the Santi Maitri Building of the Government House of Thailand on Tuesday.

Philippine Pres. Duterte and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Chan, meanwhile, stood as witnesses.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

ECONOMY 5

Travel agencies welcome DFA decision allowing them to process passports

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HILIPPINE travel agencies on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to allow the sector to process passports and not just passport renewals.

The DFA previously allowed the sector to only process passport renewals. However, after holding continuous discussions that started in the fourth quarter of 2016, the sector was eventually given the green light to continue.

Travel agency group, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), said that passport processing helps keep business operations going. PTAA has over 500 member travel agencies across the country.

PTAA president Marlene Jante expressed gratitude to DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Frank Cimafranca for understanding the impact of passport processing to travel agencies.

“This is not just a victory for the PTAA and its members but for other travel agencies affiliated with other organizations as well,” Jante said.

She explained that passport processing, both for new applicants and renewals, contributes at least 15 percent to a travel agency’s revenue.

She said that if passport processing is taken out, travel agencies, especially the smaller ones, are at risk of

closing operations.

PTAA members have been handling anywhere between 1,200 to 1,800 passport processing applications daily since 2008.

Jante, since she assumed office in January, said she has been attending regular dialogues with the DFA that was started by her predecessor Maria Michelle Reyes-Victoria to ensure that travel agencies’ rights to process passport applications remain.

She further said that even before other travel organizations voiced their concerns, the PTAA was already working quietly with the DFA to resolve the issue.

“We have always maintained our mandate fostering unity in the travel industry while also promoting the welfare of its stakeholders and the traveling public,” Jante said.

Jante said they have explained to the DFA that under the implementing rules and regulations of the Passport Act of 1996, travel agencies are legally allowed to process passport applications and ensure that all documents submitted are true, correct, genuine and authentic.

“We made our position clear and the DFA realized we were correct. There is a pre-screening process and travel agencies are very much liable if they fail to submit the proper documents to them,” Jante said. (PNA)

FIRST OF A KIND. Malagos Garden Resort marketing coordinator Rhea Jane Pañares bares that after the opening of its chocolate museum, a chocolate spa is being eyed to be launched before the Kadayawan festival later this year. Pañares made the disclosure during Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

‘Green’ Condominium to take shape in Davao

By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

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EAL estate developer Cebu Landmasters, Inc., together with Yuson Comm Investments formally launched their first project under the joint venture Yuson Excellence Soberano, Inc. (YES Inc.) – the MesaTierra Garden Residences

Palay production in Northern Mindanao falls in Q4 2016 P

ALAY production in Northern Mindanao went down in the fourth quarter of 2016 by 3.45 percent to 226,254 metric tons compared to the same period in 2015.

A report released by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Wednesday stated that the movement of planting schedule due to inadequate and delayed release of irrigation water primarily contributed to the decreased yield in most of the provinces.

As a result, rice sufficiency

levels in the region dropped 5.6 percentage points lower than the sufficiency levels of the same quarter in 2015. This was estimated to sustain the region for only 54 days with its daily rice consumption requirement of around 28,160 bags.

A notable 16.1 percent decrease was noted in Region 10’s rice inventory as of January 1, reaching only 1.507 million bags owing to the decreased stocks of NFA rice in all provinces and household rice in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

But while the production of palay went down, corn production in the fourth quarter of 2016 reached 453,784 metric tons, which was 13 percent higher than the same period in 2016, as a result of the substantial increase in yellow corn production both in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

The corn sufficiency for food and other uses reached 116.51 percent in the last quarter of 2016. Bukidnon had the highest share of total usage of corn at 65.1 percent, followed by Lanao Del Norte.

(PNA)

merce and Industry (PCCI) and the International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ICCP), brought together more than 600 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the Philippines and China to explore new modes of cooperation through collaboration and integration of knowledge of both countries.

Such an initiative complements DTI’s support for MSMEs as the backbone of the Philippine economy, comprising more than 99 percent of the locally registered businesses in the country, and providing one million jobs every year.

“With the support of the Chinese counterparts, local MSMEs will be able to seize opportunities in the current global market,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, adding that the business matching initiative shows how far Philippines-China relations has broadened, with prior commitments currently producing tangible results.

Both sides also agreed to further engagements in trade and investment, infrastructure grants, and tourism development.

“China and the Philippines will always be neighbors despite

Lopez, Yang push for MSME partnerships

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OLLOWING the signing of the two-year strategic cooperation agreement during the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Beijing last October 2016, Department of Trade Industry Secretary (DTI) Ramon Lopez and China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang recently launched the Philippines-China Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Cross-Border Business Matching in Metro Manila to show support for the development initiatives devoted for SMEs. The DTI, in partnership with the Bank of China (BOC), the Philippine Chamber of Com-

FLOPEZ, 10

at Marco Polo Hotel on Monday, March 20.

“What would differentiate MesaTierra Garden Residences from other condominiums is its emphasis on environment. One deserves a home in a garden enclave in the midst of a busy metropolis. We want

to be able to give our clients the best experience,” said Jose Soberano III, president and Chief Executive Officer of Cebu Landmasters.

The 5,905 square meter green residential condominium which will be located at Emilio Jacinto Extension, has

22-storeys with 694 residential units and 259 parking units and also, garden-inspired amenities like swimming pools, a sky garden, landscape areas, exercise station, fitness gym and playground.

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6 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

Zubiri hits‘disinformation’ drive on suspension order

B BIRTHING CENTER. Dr. Arvin Alejandro (3rd from right), provincial health officer of Sarangani province, together with Robinson Tao (center), barangay captain of Baliton, Glan and Dr. Gliceria Corsame (2nd from left), municipal health officer of Glan cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open a birthing home worth P1.7 million funded by the Department of Health (DOH) and the provincial government. The ceremony was held during

the Buntis Day and Dedication of Baliton Birthing Home last March 17 witnessed by Sharon Rose Dacera (extreme right) of Kiwanis International, Col. Alano Abdulhalim (2nd from right), commander of Eastern Mindanao Naval Reserve Force, and Razel Bustria (extreme left) of provincial health office. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

DA livestock ‘auction market’ rises in North Cotabato town T

added.

Another hog raiser, Emilio Sta. Cruz, said the buying price of live hogs was too cheap while the market price of fresh meat in the local market was almost doubled.

“We (earn little if you compare) the buying price of live hogs against the prices of fresh meat,” Sta. Cruz said.

“With the “Livestock Oksyon’ Market” in place, our hard labor will bear good fruit,” he added. “Oksyon” is Filipino slang for “auction.”

A joint venture involving DA Region 12 and its attached agencies led to the establishment of LOM in Barangay New Panay, Aleosan, which was launched on Friday. This is one of the many LOMs the DA is

putting up across the SOCCSKSARGEN region.

“This will improve the process in the auction of livestock,” Esteban said.

The LOM, through the local government unit, houses a digital weighing scale using the Philippine National Standard.

Aleosan Mayor Vicente Suropia lauded DA and its partner agencies for the endeavor, describing it as a form of empowering livestock workers.

“LOM empowers both sellers and buyers to get the accurate and exact price and weight of the livestock,” Sorupia said.

The LOM facility is worth P3.9 million.

Suropia said the old practice of “mata mata” system (buyer’s price estimates)

would be a thing of the past.

Supporting this project is North Cotabato board member Socrates Pinol, younger brother of Agriculture Sec. Manny Pinol.

The provincial official has recently organized livestock raisers in the province to help them find market in Metro Manila.

Board member Pinol also proposed the establishment of data base for all available livestock products in the province and make use of social media in promoting livestock from North Cotabato.

“Once the data is available in the internet, buyers from Manila or elsewhere may get in touch with the local livestock raisers,” he said. (PNA)

HE Tribal Hall and Museum featuring the culture and traditions of six Indigenous Peoples (IPs) groups in Compostela Valley province is now open to the public.

The tribal hall will become the venue of primary activities and gathering of IP leaders and members in the province while the museum will house important artifacts, crafts and other creations signifying the distinct identities of each of the IP groups in the province.

The six main tribal groups in Compostela Valley include the Mandaya, Mansaka, Dib-

abawon, Mangguwangan, Manobo and Kagan.

Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy welcomed the opening of the Tribal Hall and Museum, noting that it will further boost the efforts of various tribal groups in the area to be proud of their identities.

Uy also urged Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Datu Felipe Masambo, the IP mandatory representative in the province, to utilize the Tribal Hall and Museum during major gatherings and celebrations of IPs in the area.

The construction of the Tribal Hall and Musem was

completed through the PHP6.5 million funding that First District Representative Maricar Zamora requested from Malacañang.

More Tribal Halls will be constructed in various towns in the province with the same source of funding from Malacañang, the information office reported.

Board member Masambo expressed gratitude to the office of President Duterte for the funding support that made the dreams of IPs in Compostela Valley realized.

He also thanked Gov. Uy, Rep. Zamora and the rest of the

officials of Compostela Valley for their continued efforts to support the needs of the IPs in the province.

The Tribal Hall and Museum will serve as reminders of the importance of the IPS in Compostela Valley, said Masambo. (PNA)

T

“The bulk of the pets vaccinated were cats and dogs,” Gornez said.

He said the initiative aims to maintain zero cases of rabies in the city and to fully attain a “rabies-free community”.

During the activity, cards were handed to pet owners for proper monitoring and fol-

low-up vaccination schedules.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista said he remains committed in eradicating rabies in the locality, adding the local government has been alloting a budget for anti-rabies vaccination.

Since 2013, the CVO has vaccinated 17,000 pets in the locality. (PNA)

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government unit have launched the “Livestock Oksyon” Market (LOM) here in a bid for livestock farmers selling their animals to get a fair price.

Arnol Esteban, a goat and hog raiser from Barangay Pagangan, said Monday the DA project would mean a “fair market for all animal raisers in the province.”

“For so long, middle men or business people come to our place, look at our animals and set the price,” Esteban, 45, said.

“Normally, they dictate the price and we could not do anything but agree for we need the money for our families,” he

ComVal’s Tribal Hall and Museum opens in capital town

T

UKIDNON Governor Jose Maria Zubiri, Jr. has lamented the “disinformation” campaign waged by his political detractors about the six-month suspension order issued against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Zubiri said that after his motion for reconsideration with the Ombudsman was denied, he sought for a restraining order from the Court of Appeals (CA) in Cagayan De Oro, which granted his petition.

The Ombudsman resolution that meted a suspension order against Zubiri was carried out on Nov. 11, 2016, which was posted by the political opposition in a Facebook account last Saturday.

“I still continue to dispose my duties and obligation as governor of the province of Bukidnon in contrast to the “disinformation” that I am currently serving the suspension order,” Zubiri said, citing the TRO issued by the CA, Zubiri said that he received

a copy of the CA resolution on Sunday.He said that the case against him was filed by Carlos Ycaro, a retired worker of the Bukidnon provincial capitol who used to head the general services department.

According to Zubiri, Ycaro accused the governor of refusing to sign his clearance and his request for commutation.

“What is ironic was that Ycaro accused me when I was no longer the provincial governor of Bukidnon at the time when he tried to obtain clearance from the provincial government,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri said that the provincial government at that time did not issue a clearance to Ycaro for his alleged failure to account the mono block chairs owned by the provincial government amounting to P3.25 million.

Ycaro also allegedly accounted only P868,472 out of the P8.1 million electrification project and supply equipment order, Zubiri said. (PNA)

ARMM youth affairs office launches peace consultations

T

HE Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (OBYA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is launching a series of peace consultations across ARMM to gather the ideas and sentiments of the youth sector in the ongoing peace process.

The inputs gathered will be submitted to the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), a body tasked to draft the new Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Amir Mawallil, OBYA’s executive director, on Wednesday said they began the initial consultations in this province, Lanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

ARMM comprises the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“These consultations we are doing now are just initial.

We are not just concentrating on the basic law, but provide the youth the venue to speak out their minds so we can

chart better policies,” Mawallil told the Philippine News Agency.

The OBYA gathered on Wednesday around 400 college students and out-ofschool youths at the Basilan State College in this city for a dialogue with the regional and provincial governments.

The OBYA will also hold similar consultations in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sulu in the coming weeks.

“We will come up with another rounds of consultations specifically for the BBL,” Mawallil said.

Mawallil said he will write the leadership of the BTC to express their intention to help in the consultation process.

“The intention here is to include the agenda of the youth in the BBL,” he said, adding that his office will just act as the facilitator to ensure that all issues and ideas of the youth in ARMM “will be well articulated in the drafting of the BBL.”

FARMM, 13

Kidapawan vet office immunizes 1,385 pets HE City Veterinary Office (CVO), in support of the Rabies Awareness Month, vaccinated Monday 1,385 pets here.

Dr. Eugene Gornez, city veterinarian, said they set up 25 vaccination stations in strategic spots of the city to serve the locality’s 40 villages.

COMVAL IN DAVRAA ’17. Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy shows his full support to the delegation of Compostela Valley province as he joins the opening ceremony of the

annual Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) hosted by Mati City, Davao Oriental last March 19.

(Maryel Lasaca/IDS ComVal)

COMPETITIVE EDGE 7

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

2016 BOND DEAL OF THE YEAR. The project bond issued for the Tiwi-MakBan (Makiling-Banahaw) Geothermal Energy Project of AboitizPower subsidiary AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) bagged the 2016 Bond Deal of the Year of the prestigious PFI magazine of Thomson Reuters. The P12.5-billion local currency, multi-tranche bond issuance, backed by the ADB, was the first green bond issuance in Asia and the Pacific. APRI used the issuance to finance the rehabilitation of the Tiwi-MakBan geothermal power facilities, which it bought from the government in 2009 and

to partially fund its operating expenditures and future capital investments. Seen at the awarding ceremony held last Feb. 1 at the London Hilton on Park Lane were (from left) Rod Morrison, PFI Magazine editor; Frederic Thomas, ADB Investment Specialist; Alex Carver of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Gabriel T. Mañalac, AboitizPower SVP & Treasurer; Patricia Openshaw of Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher LLP; Ramon Opulencia of BPI Global Markets; and Boo Hock Khoo, Credit Guarantee & Investment Facility VP Operations. (AboitizPower Photo)

New batch of Japanese gov’t BPOs continue driving office space demand scholars bound for Japan C A

PRE-DEPARTURE orientation was held for the newest batch of scholars under the Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT: Monbukagakusho) last March 18, 2017 at the JICC Multipurpose Hall, Embassy of Japan. Set to fly to Japan this April, the group of scholars is composed of twenty-two students under the Research Category and one student under the Specialized Training Category.

The event was conducted by the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) in

partnership with the Philippine Association of Japanese Government Scholars (PHILAJAMES).

PHILAJAMES President Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. formally opened the occasion with his welcome remarks, before leading an introduction of the upcoming scholars and the members of PHILAJAMES. Japanese Government alumni Dr. Rogel Mari D. Sese and Dr. Nappy L. Navarra took the floor next to give their insights on the scholarship and share their experiences during their stay in Japan. A

short lecture on student life in Japan and an open forum followed, and the event was then closed by JICC Director Mr. Ken Nakamura with an inspiring send-off message for the new scholars.

The Japanese Government Scholarship has been continuously giving students from all over the world a chance to study in Japan’s top universities since its establishment in 1954. To date, over 3,000 Filipino students have received a scholarship in one of the following categories: Japanese Studies, Teach-

er Training, Research, Undergraduate, Specialized Training, and College of Technology.

For more information on the Japanese Government Scholarship, please visit the Culture and Education page of the Embassy of Japan website ((http://www.ph.emb-japan. go.jp/culture/index.htm) or contact the Japan Information Culture Center at 551-5710 locals 2313 or 4210. Free scholarship consultations are also offered at the JICC Library every Friday starting from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. (PR)

ONTINUED inflow of investments into the Philippines will drive the rising demand for more office spaces in the country, said the country’s leading property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

JLL Chief Executive Officer for Asia-Pacific (APAC) Anthony Couse told reporters investments in the country are not expected to slow down anytime soon, as Asia Pacific now exceeds the United States (US) as the global market.

“Foreign investors that are already here in the Philippines or in Asia Pacific are already comfortable,” he said, noting the Philippines has even the best returns after Australia.

Couse said US President Donald Trump’s “America First” stance has minimal im-

pact on existing BPO businesses, but may provide challenges for new entrants.

He added the Philippines remains an attractive location given its low attrition and labor costs which are around 12 percent of those in the US. A research carried by JLL indicated that the increased entry and activity of the BPO and offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) industries remained the driving force behind the need for space and the rise in property values.

The BPO and O&O industries accounted for 46 percent of office space demand, followed by the banking and information technology (IT) sectors which each accounted for 12 percent of leased space.

“The demand for office

Lenovo™ announces new low temperature solder tool sets to reduce carbon emissions by 35% BDO opens 1000th branch

L

ENOVO (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) announced a new patent-pending Low Temperature Solder (LTS) process developed to improve PC manufacturing by conserving energy and increasing reliability.

Ever since having to abandon the use of lead-based solder more than 10 years ago due to environmental concerns, the electronics industry has been searching for a solution to reduce heat, power consumption and carbon emissions by improving the tin-based solder process which replaced the older lead-based process.

The newer tin-based process required extremely high temperatures consuming more energy and adding significant stress on components. With a new LTS process, Lenovo proves it continues to be at the forefront of innovation, introducing a game-changing

manufacturing process that is not only applicable to Lenovo products, but can be universally applied to all electronics manufacturing involving printed circuit boards with no cost or performance impact to customers.

The true innovation is in the science and testing required to develop and validate the new LTS process. Lenovo investigated thousands of combinations of solder paste material composed of a mixture of tin, copper, bismuth

nickel and silver, specific compositions of flux material and unique profiles of time and heat temperatures that combine to enable this process. As is typical in standard electronics assembly using surface mount technology (SMT), the solder and flux mixture is first printed on the face of the circuit board. The components are then added and heat is applied to melt the solder mixture, securing and connecting the components to the board.

With the new LTS process, soldering heat is applied at max-

imum temperatures of 180 degrees Celsius, a reduction of 70 degrees from the previous method. Throughout testing and validation, Lenovo used existing materials to compose the solder paste and existing oven equipment for heating, thus Lenovo can implement the new system without increasing production costs.

After validation of the procedure, Lenovo discovered a significant reduction in carbon emissions as a result of using the new process. The procedure is already in production for ThinkPad E series and the 5th generation X1 Carbon recently announced at CES. Throughout 2017, Lenovo intends to implement the new LTS process on 8 SMT lines and estimates savings of up to 35% on carbon emissions1. By the end of 2018, Lenovo aims to have 33 SMT

F LENOVO, 11

F BPO, 11

in Davao’s Buhangin district

B

DO Unibank (BDO)’s network of branches is now stronger at 1,000 following the opening this month of its latest full-service outlet in Davao City.

The country’s largest lender opened to clients its branch in Buhangin, one of the most populated areas in Davao City, on March 20.

Jaime C. Yu, senior executive vice president of BDO and head of branch banking, said reaching the 1,000-branch milestone is a testament to the Bank’s commitment to make banking reachable to Filipinos whether they are located in the metropolitan area or far flung provinces.

“We fully recognize that there are still about 70 percent of the population with no bank accounts or has yet to enter the formal banking sector.

The continued growth of our branches is our way of creating opportunities for more people to experience the rewards of having a bank that takes care of their financial needs,” said Yu. BDO ended 2016 with a branch network of 982 (including one in Hong Kong). Of this total, 492 branches were in Metro Manila, 305 in Luzon, 108 in Visayas, and 76 in Mindanao. This year, the Bank eyes to add 60 more branches, further increasing its network to 1,042 by the end of 2017.

BDO’s domestic distribution network remains to be one of the strongest in the banking industry. It is known for its longer banking hours and weekend banking. This wide market reach is complemented by over 3,600 ATMs and electronic channels. (PR)

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

EDITORIAL

J

Davao City at the forefront

An integrated plan for wharf development is in the works until UST a few weeks ago, Davao City was berated before social media by anti-Duterte supporters for not having basic facilities like a the end of term of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

And then there is also the agreement between the Philpublic hospital, public college, park, sports complex, among othippines and China on the conduct of the preliminary feaer.

These, of course, need not be dignified by any attention or an- sibility study for the proposed Davao City Expressway. swer. Dabawenyos have been enjoying what the city has, albeit not Finance secretary Carlos G. Dominguez and Vice Minister Fu Ziying, as grandiose as other cities may have, for their welfare—access to China’s International Trade Representative, formalized an agreement education in all levels, medical and health services, modest sports on the conduct of preliminary feasibility studies for the proposed expressway and Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges projects. facilities and environment-friendly (smoke-free) environs.

China has expressed interest in Davao Region and Palawan as Don’t look now but those who despised Davao may start to eat sites for its investments and cooperation with the Philippines in the their own false claims.

A forthcoming rehabilitation of its wharf and an expressway proj- fields of agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries.

Philippines and Chinese officials signed the agreements during ect is on the drawing board.

Yes, the city government will begin improvement works on the the visit of Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in the city.

With these projects, along with major infra investments in the city decades-old Sta. Ana wharf to boost the city’s bid as a premier tourism destination in Mindanao. The wharf will have more facilities that from the private sector, Davao City is reaping the fruits of its investwill attract more tourists like a terminal for boat passengers, restau- ments in economic policies and local legislations aimed at creating a conducive business climate. rants, stores and baywalk.

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

C

HANGE – real, effective and significant change - is what the country needs today. For change to happen, the people and the nation must pierce the status quo.

Change is constant. Change make many people uncomfortable.

Confrontation is the result of the irrational resistance of people to accept change.

Both change and confrontation create polemic situations. They bring uneasiness, anxiety and disturb your peace of mind.

Realize that our value systems are not the same with other cultures. They are specific only to us because they are inherent to us.

Therefore, the imperialistic and unwarranted approaches by our Western counterparts evidenced by their unabashed interventions in our political life we consider as crude intrusions. Uncivil, to say the least.

These foreign actions are interfering with our lives and they are making us – me – uncomfort-

I

T is incorrect to claim, as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has recited like a mantra, that Mindanao, in general, and Davao region, in particular, was already under Islam when the Spaniards took possession of some areas in Southern Philippines.

According to Moro oral and written traditions the Moro forebears reached central Mindanao in around 1500. A simple computation means Islam predates only by as much as three decades the Spaniards arrival in the country in 1521. That disputes the assertion Mindanao, prior to colonial rule, was already a Moro nation.

Going by genetics, the Mamanua of Surigao, the first negridillos (little black people) to arrived in Mindanao via the southern backdoor of Africa, reached Philippine shores via India and Australia carrying their animist practice of worshipping almost anything with direct impact on their lives. That means praying to gods with imaginary control over the fertility of the land, the abundance of the sea, or the brightness of the astronomical bodies.

When Islamic preacher Sharif Kabungsuran and his fellow sailors anchored at Maguindanao in the late 15th century, they were

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Change and confrontation able.

For we are a free nation, a free democratic country.

But some Filipinos who have split identities (they are Filipino citizens but think and act like white Americans) are bringing our exclusive Philippine concerns to the doorsteps of the US, EU and the UN. They are internationalizing their obsessive opposition to the incumbent Duterte administration by inviting foreign powers to come and meddle.

We know who they are.

They are of the yellow variety.

They desire to climb back to power.

Citizens are beginning to recognize that the threats of destabilization are for real.

Jailed Sen. Leila De Lima initially provided the fireworks, setting off a veiled but well-orchestrated “oust Duterte” plot by exploiting the EJK issue in a vain attempt to de-sensitize the incumbent government’s highly-effective intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign.

SPECKS OF LIFE Fred C. Lumba By presenting the testimonies of discredited resource persons in Matobato and the “repentant” SPO3 Lascanas in the senate hearings, authors of the “oust Duterte” scheme, thought they had effectively revived memories of the alleged DDS (Davao Death Squad).

Next came VP Leni Robredo’s video message to the UN, creating a grim scenario of hapless Filipinos at the mercy of the incumbent

government.

And then, the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

That real change is coming is confronted with bull-headed opposition by leaders of the Liberal Party who are also trying to prevent an imminent return to power by the Marcoses.

Former Sen. Bongbong Marcos’ electoral protest is slowly rolling on at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. Let the truth come out.

Filipinos, in welcoming change, must put a premium on independence, freedom, peace, economic equality (fair and just distribution of wealth) and social harmony.

Let no foreigner, foreign country or foreign alliances impose their will and their biased definition of human rights.

Shouldn’t the UN first tackle and settle the bloody, the violent, the indiscriminate massacres of thousands of innocent children, elderly, helpless men and women in Syria, Africa, the persecution of Christians in Egypt and many

other human rights violations in Eastern Europe and other parts of Asia?

Shouldn’t the US attend to its own domestic problems – the racial discrimination, the unmitigated shootings in various parts of the country, the increasing issues of sex, religion, public health care, unemployment, etc.?

Shouldn’t the EU look at its own backyard as serious political and economic concerns are lingering over many of its members?

George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, in writing about the immoderate appetite of the rich man, said: “Man alone consumes and engulf more flesh than all other animals put together. He is, then, the greatest destroyer, and he is so more by abuse than by necessity.”

Change brings people and nations to a bloody or bloodless crossroad.

Make a choice. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

meanwhile, attributes the entry of Muslim religion in Jolo to Chinese traders who converted to Islam. At the time, Chinese customs officials who converted to Islam were already sailing to Sulu region long before the Malay preachers’ arrival.

Even Zheng He, the greatest Chinese admiral who sailed the oceans in 1421, was a certified Muslim. In retrospect, the monolithic religion that is Islam entered China from Persia (Iran) via its Islamic neighboring countries, the Persian Gulf and Southern India.

Moro influence in many regions outside Maguindanao, Cotabato, Lanao and Sulu did not happen overnight. Davao region, for that matter, was solidly animist territory before the rise of legendary Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat as sultan of Maguindanao (1619-71).

If there were tribes who eventually yielded to the Moro invaders, these were the regions that became vassals, and their inhabitants as willing converts.

In Davao region, certain tribes, including the Kalagans, were among the first indigenous groups to embrace Islam. This influence is easy to trace from their oral traditions, especially in regions with strong Islamic heritage. But there were also regions outside the ‘Moro territories’ that were

already known to be progressive communities even before the Malay preachers arrived. The growth of these areas can be attributed to their strong trading ties with the Chinese and other merchants from the flourishing neighboring empires.

Predating Islam and Christianity, as a matter of evidence, are beliefs in the complex worship of heavenly bodies, the systematic trading with foreign merchants visiting regularly the Davao Gulf, the intricate jewelry designs reflected in ornaments, native attires and pottery, and, significantly, the existence of social structures that included classes of slaves.

Islamic conversions, as a matter of historical fact, were limited only to regions found along the coastal regions of Mindanao. These areas were sources of military alliance and the perennial victims of Moro piracy and pillage centuries later.

Moreover, an indisputable facet of the prevalence of precolonial animist practices among indigenous tribes can be found in voluminous literatures published in the past century by scholars who personally conducted in-depth interviews with tribal elders whose role in their respective societies was to perpetuate by oral tradition of the practices of their ancestors.

Davao was animist, not Islamic

welcomed by friendly natives.

American author Emerson B. Christie, who did extensive research in Mindanao sometime in 1900, argued the propagation of Islam was not strictly proselytization but was secondary to the purpose of fishing and trading.

The Islamic preachers apparently came from a region more developed than Mindanao.

When they sailed to the South, they carried with them equipment, technology, and goods that looked superior to the natives; these made conversion easier for them.

Fr. Horacio de la Costa, in his Readings in Philippine History (1992) annotated: “Maguindanao records make mention of a mysterious power which Kabungsuwan and his men possessed of killing someone from a distance by ‘beckoning’ to him. It is quite possible that the strangers brought with them not only a new religion but a new weapon: the gun.”

The whole episode stunned the eyewitnesses and frightened the usually docile natives who were welcomed the visitors openly. This first-hand experience of seeing a person shot from a distance was more mystical than real. De la Costa made a good analysis of the incident: “The migrants from the Malay

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa Peninsula do not seem to have come in any large numbers; but by virtue of superior weapons and organization they were able to impose on the indigenous population both their religion and their rule. This process, which must have taken several generations to complete, is what is telescoped in story form in the traditions of the Magindanaos.”

If the newcomers brought with them a new weapon of destruction, it is easy to argue that Islamic conversion, like what the Spanish missionaries did with their rifles, partly involved coercion in gaining adherents. Both Islam and Christianity come from regions known for their wars.

Modern scholarship,

10 NEWS

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GPH... FROM 3

NEW ARTISTS MECCA. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) International Relations Division technical staff Jimmy Musa discusses the upcoming first Budayaw festival slated on September 20 to 24 in General

DILG... FROM 2

ously affected barangay.

Barangays will also be classified as seriously affected if more than 20 percent of its total population are drug personalities (users, pushers, financiers) and there is a reported presence of three or more drug dens or “tiangges” (flea markets).

Moderately affected barangays have two to 20 percent of its total population as drug personalities.

Those that have reported

drug personalities that are less than two percent of the population will be classified as slightly affected.

According to the PDEA, 20 percent of the barangays nationwide are drug-affected at present. The National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest rate of affectation with 92.10 percent of the region’s barangays affected, followed

by Region 4A (Calabarzon) at 33.78 percent. (By Aerol B. Patena, PNA)

mediately located the mother and daughter to assist them of their needs.

Social Worker Maria Josephine Torres said that they need to check the health condition of the two to provide them of what they really need. Candida and Rodora are scheduled to have their check up in Friday morning.

“They were supposed to have their check up immediately however, the mother requested us that we will just schedule it in Friday since she was still overwhelmed of the sudden help that they are receiving,” Torres said.

She said that they need

to check if Rodora’s condition can be better through therapy session to help improve her mobility.

“As what we can see, there is no need for us to put them in a center since it will separate them, the grandson, Benjamine promised to look after them,” she said.

Montallana said that he is willing to look after her grandmother and aunt however, he worries about their condition since he and his wife left their house early in the morning to work.

The CSSDO though committed to look after Candida and Rodora to provide their needs regularly.

“With MesaTierra and its eco-friendly and green features, we are providing a space for a breath of fresh air amidst the busy city life of Davao. More than just being physical structures to live in, MesaTierra is a lifestyle statement about a better way of living,” said Fred Yuson, CEO of Yuson Comm Investment.

MesaTierra Garden studio units are priced between P1.6-2.5 million while 1 bedroom units are priced between P3.3-4 million. Showrooms for their sample units will be available within the Sutherland building complex

will be available on May. During the press conference, Jose Soberano said that as of March 2017, 80 per cent of their units were already sold. According to him, most buyers, who came from Davao City and overseas, preferred to choose MesaTierra because of its closeness to hospitals, banks, schools, malls and major establishments.

The target date for MesaTierra’s groundbreaking ceremony will be on the second week of May this year and the turnover of the units will be expected during the first quarter of the year 2020.

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Santos City which is expected to attract 8,000 to 10,000 domestic and foreign tourists. Musa graced this week’s edition of Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

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cubic for the first three years, P30 per cu. on the 4th year with re-evaluation, and P50 per cu.on the 5th year.

Tagalog estimated that at the approved P25 ESC, the provincial can have additional earning of P15 million per year during the first three

years of implementation.

W&M committee chair BM De Veyra then wrapped up the issue as “agreed” vowing to finalize the policy for immediate recommendation to the plenary of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. - Cha Monforte, Correspondent

were marked “Tested Fake” and confiscated.

Upon transfer of custody of the seized master cases and the subject warehouses to his office, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR) issued Mission Orders to revenue officers of the Excise Large Taxpayers Service to check the authenticity of the internal revenue stamps affixed on packs of cigarettes found in the warehouses of Mighty Corporation in SSIP. Pursuant to the said orders issued by the CIR, the revenue officers conducted an inventory of all the cigarette packs found in the subject warehouses and checked the authenticity of the internal revenue stamps affixed on the packs using the Taggant reader.

The inventory showed that Mighty Corporation stored 66,281 master cases containing 33,140,500 packs of cigarettes. The investigation further showed that 87.5% of the said packs bore fake internal revenue stamps.

The stamps are fake since they did not contain one of the multi-layered security features of a valid internal revenue stamp.

Likewise, they were not affixed at the production plant of Mighty Corporation in Barangay Tikay, Malolos, Bulacan as required by law since no official delivery receipts for the SSIP warehouses were presented by the respondent company as per certification of revenue officers on premises of the BIR. Such failure to present the official delivery

receipts showed that the cigarette packs in the SSIP warehouses did not come from the manufacturing plant in Barangay Tikay where such stamps should have been affixed.

It should be noted that the warehouses in SSIP are not registered with the BIR as certified by the Excise Large Taxpayer Regulatory Division.

Thus, Mighty Corporation cannot legally remove these packs of cigarettes from their only plant in Tikay, Bulacan for delivery to the said unregistered warehouses.

The mere possession of the said packs of cigarettes with fake internal revenue stamps is ILLEGAL and a violation of the Tax Code.

As a consequence of its acts and omissions, MIGHTY CORPORATION, together with its responsible corporate officers, is liable to pay an estimated aggregate deficiency excise tax liability in the total amount of P9.564 BILLION. The case against MIGHTY CORPORATION, together with its President LT. GEN. EDILBERTO P. ADAN, AFP (RET.), Executive Vice-President JUDGE OSCAR P BARRIENTOS (RET.), Vice-President for External Affairs and Assistant Corporate Secretary ALEXANDER D. WONGCHUKING, and Treasurer ERNESTO A. VICTA, is the 9th filed under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program of the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay. It is likewise a RATE case of the Large Taxpayers Service – Excise, and Revenue Region No. 4, Pampanga.

(PR)

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ground to align them in accordance with the implementation phase of the GPH-MILF peace process, provided that any amendment shall be agreed upon by the parties in the presence of the Third Party Facilitator.”

The panels will also “carry out the phasing and sequencing of the programs for implementation under the normalization process, including decommissioning which shall be parallel and commensurate to the movement of the legislative track, specifically, the BBL as provided for in the Annex on Transitional Arrangement and Modalities.”

New third party facilitator The parties welcomed Dato’ Kamarudin bin Mustafa, who has been named the new third party facilitator and special adviser for the GPH-MILF peace talks.

He replaced the late Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed who passed away September 2 last year.

A career diplomat, the new third party facilitator has over 37 years of experience in diplomacy, having served the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in various capacities in Pakistan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Brunei, United States, Ghana, Russia and Sweden.

He was also Malaysian ambassador to Russia from 2000 to 2005, and Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland from 2007 to 2011.

Also, the parties signed a “certification extending the respective mandates of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) for another year until March 2018 in recognition of the important roles that these mechanisms play in the GPH-MILF peace process.”

The GPH-MILF also expressed appreciation to President Rodrigo R. Duterte for reopening the peace table with the Bangsamoro and to Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his support to the GPH-MILF peace process.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) is composed of 11 members from the MILF and 10 members from the GPH. They were named only last February 10.

The BTC is an independent body tasked to consolidate all peace agreements and legislation into one enabling law on the Bangsamoro, call for an inclusive Bangsamoro Consultative Assembly to discuss the new draft of the enabling law, and submit to Congress the

new version of the enabling law not alter than July 27, 2017.

Last November 7, 2016, President Duterte signed an executive order (EO) reconstituting members of the BTC who will create the draft of the enabling law to implement CAB. One Bangsamoro state During the Public Consultation on the Constitutional Reform at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) last March 4, Davao City 1st District Rep. and Appropriations Committee Chair Karlo Alexei Nograles said members of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments are considering to make the Bangsamoro as one federal state under a new federal form of government.

“We are taking into consideration that the Bangsamoro territory will be one federal state. So they belong to a state,” said Nograles, who is a member of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

He said that there are no discussions yet on the possible number of federal states and what regions will compose it.

Nograles added the expanded BTC must work on a draft of an enabling law without tackling provisions that have something to do with amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The enabling law, once passed, will pave the way for the creation of a new Bangsamoro entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“So, right now this administration does not want that mistake to happen, kaya nga very strict ang instructions na ang BTC will propose amendments to strengthen the ARMM but without necessarily tackling or hitting the provisions that have to do with amending the Constitution,” he said.

Nograles, a representative for three terms, recounted how the BBL failed to pass in the previous Congress as there were a lot of contentions raised in some of its provisions.

“The problem with BBL during the last Aquino administration, a lot of constitutionalists, a lot of legal luminaries, a lot of lawyers were already beginning to question how can we move forward with BBL when it runs counter to our Constitution. The fear was, if we had passed the BBL, it might have been struck down

by Supreme Court for being unconstitutional,” he said. (By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, Mindanews)

of the twist and turns of its relationship. To be good neighbors is the only right choice for us,” said Vice Premier Yang, who also emphasized the relevance of trust-building, upholding peace, seeking common interests and managing differences through dialogues.

The recent economic engagements are just the beginning of the reinvigorated friendship between the two countries,

according to Sec. Lopez. This continuing collaboration will foster a favorable economic and technological exchanges and cooperation between both sides.

“Still, I am confident that despite the challenges of the past years, the ties between our two countries not only endure, but have matured. Thanks to our shared history and bond as Asian nations,” the trade chief concluded. (PR)

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INdulge!

SUNDAY IS ALL ABOUT HAVING NO DEFINITE PLANS, being at home and spending delicious time with the family. That’s the general notion of a Sunday.

True, right? Well, in Davao, Sundays mean the same -- although in Davao, it involves dining at the newest gastro place in the city. Dining at Sundays Modern Home Cooking. Or Sundays for short.

Sundays Modern Home Cooking is Davao’s answer to an any time, any day dining that’s nothing like any other. It’s conveniently located at Davao’s Go Hotel and somewhere away from the busy noise of the city. Stepping inside is like going home to a weekend with your family and friends.

Designed with zen-like blotches of greens, oranges and wood brown, Sundays is a definite gastro dining place that will surely have you saying goodbye to your calorie counting ways in an instant.

Their menu is simple -- rich in flavours, taste and tradition. Yen UyBosquit, foodie owner, explained that the very heart of the menu are dishes that their family loves to eat and of course, loves to cook. Also included are some recipes from friends, who gamely shared their dishes for all to enjoy.

Accordingly, Ms. Yen added that the dishes they have on the menu, though time tested, contains some that are experimental. Experimental or not, you’d surely love every dish on their menu. Believe me, you surely will.

With an extensive menu, their best seller is one that will have you reminiscing about your childhood in an instant.

Though personally I cannot relate, Sundays #1 dish is their Grandma’s Pork Humba in Hotpot.

Traditional, sweet and

very tender (as described

by Indulge’s Urbanissimo himself, Kenneth), Sundays Pork Humba is a definite must try.

Aside from the Pork Humba, go ahead and indulge with their Pochero Steak with Cauliflower Truffle Mash (roasted bulalo with cream sauce).

Succulently tender, every forkful is bursting with flavour. Paired with their cauliflower mash, Gordon Ramsay would be blushing with pride.

On a meat diet? Then you better include their Oxtail Stew (simmered oxtail in rich tomato sauce & spices) on your repertoire of dishes and their Bacon Liempo (thin slices of pork belly fried to a crisp). You’d thank me later.

One of my personal favourite is their plate of Seafood Curry (fresh seafood slices in aromatic curry sauce served with grilled tortilla) that’s curry-licious in every bite. I personally love that they serve it with grilled tortilla – perfect excuse to eat with your bare hands.

Sundays is not just about meat and mains.

Their menu also includes an extensive selection

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

Everyday Sunday at

SUNDAYS of salads that will surely wake the hungry juan in you. Indulge in their Sundays Salad (layers of crispy spring roll wraps, greens, grilled chicken, grapes, orange, avocado, balsamic vinegarrosemary vinaigrette) or Pomelo Salad (pomelo slices, green mango, jicana, sweet chili-honey dressing).

Want something on-

the-go while sitting down? Then better try their Mushroom Alfredo sandwich (assorted mushroom, romaine lettuce béchamel cheese sauce on open ciabatta bread) or munch on their delectable version of Pulled Pork Humba Sliders (specialty humba, coleslaw, garlic aioli on dinner roll buns).

On a pasta roll? Then

go ahead and have a plate of their Special Palabok (homemade palabok sauce, ground pork, chicharon and egg) or my new fave, Penne Nero (penne pasta, squid ink sauce, squid pieces). If that’s not enough then how about the flavours of Bolognese pasta on a pizza? Try their Bolognese Pizza (Bolognese sauce topped pizza with lots of

cheddar and mozzarella cheese) on any given day.

Sinfully healthy? Sundays Malunggay Dip (Malunggay, cheese, crostini and tortilla chips) is the answer. Is the only answer. This is a definite must try.

At Sundays, you need to have room for dessert. Yes, dessert. After all the meat, pasta, pizza and salad, you need some sweetness on your palate. Right? Right. On the list is their Cassava Cake, Maja Blanca, cups of Mango Custard, freshly cooked Suman Langka rolls with Tablea Dip and the star of their dessert selection, their Bibingka Pudding – rich, creamy yet not nakakaumay.

Next time you want to explore the many delicious flavours of your childhood and today, head on to Sundays and momentarily say goodbye to your calorie counting ways. Because at Sundays, its everyday Sundays.

Sundays is located at the Ground Floor, Go Hotel Davao, Lanang, Davao City and is open from 6:00am to 10:00pm.

Want to know my latest food finds? Follow me on Instagram @iamleebai and my blog theroyalchefeats.wordpress.com.

EDGEDAVAO

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EVENT

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

A taste of Indonesia THE MARCO POLO DAVAO’S CAFE MARCO took a turn towards the Spice Islands last weekend as The Consulate of Indonesia in Davao held its Indonesian food festival from March 17 to 19 and was launched by no less than the ambassador of Indonesia to the Philippines, Johny Josephus Lumintang.

The Indonesian Food Festival featured various Indonesian signature dishes such as Gadogado, Sop Buntut, Lamb and Chicken Satay, and by favourite Beef Rendang which was savoury with a kick of spice thanks to the hot Indonesian chillies and sauces brought in specially for the occasion.

I was truly amazed at the variety and depth of flavour every dish wonderfully imparted onto my tastebuds. The use of spices such as cloves, cinnamon, lemon grass, ginger, galangal, nutmeg, and chilli, as well as balancing ingredients such as palm sugar, and shrimp paste was evident. Every dish in the spread was authentic thanks to the guest Indonesian chefs who were

specially flown in by the consulate.

“Indonesia is the world’s biggest archipelago and there are hundreds of different dishes to taste,” said Indonesian Consulate General Berlian Napitupulu, “but one thing is certain is that Indonesian food is always full of flavour and never bland.”

The Indonesian Food Festival also coincided with the 1st Indonesian Food and Beverage Expo

held at the House of Indonesia at Juna Subdivision where various Indonesian food products went on exhibit.

Congratulations to the

Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Davao on a weekend culinary getaway to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

Pinas Sarap shows a different taste of Philippine cuisine PREPARE FOR A GASTRONOMIC JOURNEY featuring Filipino food as GMA News TV launches “Pinas Sarap”, the newest travel documentary and cooking program to hit television today.

NOW SHOWING

March 23, 2017 Only

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each recipe,” she shares.

Viewers will see Kara milking a carabao, hunting for octopus, fishing in the ocean, among others.

For its pilot episode, Kara travels to Bicol to learn the origin of the

Pinas Sarap is the latest addition to GMA News TV’s buffet of topnotch public affairs programs and hosting it is no less than award-winning documentarist Kara David.

Every week, Kara takes viewers on an adventure that will enable them to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of Filipino food. Each trip will present the history behind the featured local dish as well as the latest unique Filipino cuisine.

Discover the story behind each dish that has become part of the Pinoy life and find out how these dishes have evolved over the years to answer Filipinos’ ever-evolving palate.

Known for her adventurous nature, Kara further rolls up her sleeves as she immerses herself in each featured dish— from gathering ingredients to actual cooking.

“You will continue to see my adventurous side because I will be joining fishermen, farmers, and ordinary people in getting the ingredients for

EDGE DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

INdulge! A3

popular dish “Bicol Express”. And to make it more exciting, Kara joins a group of fishermen as they catch balaw or shrimp directly from the sea. The balaw gives this spicy food an extra flavor. Bicolanos are

known to be “uragon” or brave, thus the spicy characteristic of most of their dishes. But not everyone knows that the name Bicol Express came from the train that used to travel from Manila to Bicol.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

PLDT rolls out‘Fibr City’program

L

EADING telecoms and digital services provider PLDT has stepped up its roll-out of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) facilities in strategic urban centers nationwide with Toledo City in Cebu province becoming its first ever “Fibr City” project, where families and enterprises can enjoy world-class internet connectivity.

Through a partnership with the Toledo City government, the FTTH roll-out will serve the data connectivity needs of this fast-growing city with its mining industry and burgeoning tourism sector.

PLDT is opening a Sales and Service Center on D. Macapagal Highway to serve its growing customer base in the city.

“Fitted with the country’s most powerful broadband, Toledo City will now have access to fiber-fast internet speeds of as much as 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps),” PLDT FVP and Head of Home Business Oscar Reyes Jr. said. “This will allow family members to download movies in seconds, play games without any lags, and install security applications inside their homes.”

“PLDT HOME’s decision to pioneer its first Fibr City in Toledo is part of expansion plans in Central Philippines where we are accelerating our fiber roll-out aimed at bringing the strongest connections to more Filipinos,” Reyes noted.

For plans starting at P1,899 a month, subscribers can access compelling entertainment and gaming content from PLDT Home partners and renowned providers like iflix, Netflix, Fox+, and iWant TV,

among others, at minimal subscription fees.

Families will also enjoy added peace of mind with home security devices such as the home monitoring system Fam Cam, the cyber security platform Fam Zone and the multi-functional kiddie gadget Smart Watch.

With a footprint of around 2.8 million homes passed as of end-2016, PLDT is further expanding the reach of its FTTH network by about 80% to 4.4 million homes passed by the end of the year, making available the ultra-fast internet connection to more Filipino families in various parts of the country.

To further extend the reach of its fiber-speed internet service, PLDT has also started to deploy hybrid fiber technologies such as Huawei Technologies’ G.fast which can boost data speeds up to 600700 Mbps over existing copper lines.

PLDT envisions that all of its subscribers will be in “smart homes” by end-2018 enabled

by PLDT’s combined FTTH and fiber-fast services. PLDT will thus have an unrivaled robust and cost-efficient platform for offering its growing portfolio of entertainment, “peace of mind,” and other “Smart Home” services.

PLDT has invested P300 billion or $6 billion over the last 10 years to roll out the country’s most extensive transmission and distribution network infrastructure which now has 150,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables that transport the growing data traffic of its fixed line and mobile networks. (PR)

(spaces) remains very strong.

Particularly here in Manila, the BPO industry continues to drive the office market,” added Couse.

In terms of location, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) has been the go-to-site for lessees, accounting for 45 percent.

Makati takes the next biggest bulk with 21 percent, followed by Alabang at 14 percent. Quezon City, meanwhile, takes a 12-percent share of the demand while Ortigas is at 7 percent.

Makati, however, remains the most costly in terms of rent. From 2016 to 2017, lease

rates at the said commercial business district increased to between P1,200 and P1,500 per square meter, or an increase of 12 percent.

Rent in BGC also rose by 12 percent, as lease rates in BGC now average between P800 to P1,200 per square meter.

JLL (Philippines) Inc. said there is five percent vacancy across all Metro Manila business districts.

“Market remains to be favourable to landlords and tenants continue to consider pre-committing to space to mitigate higher real estate cost,” it said. (PNA)

lines with 2 ovens per line using this new process, giving an estimated annual saving of 5,956 metric tons of CO22. To put this into perspective, the equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions is equal to the consumption of 670,170 gallons of gasoline3 per year.

Through the new process, Lenovo also expects better reliability for its devices due to lower heat stress during the “oven bake” procedure. In the early stages of deployment, Lenovo has observed a 50% decrease in printed circuit board warpage and a reduction in defective parts per million during the manufacturing process.

“By implementing the new LTS process, Lenovo is continuing to show its commitment to upholding sustainable business practices across its

PC business,” said Luis Hernandez, vice president, Lenovo PC and Smart Devices Integrated Development Center. “Our focus on innovation extends beyond R&D and product design, to the way our products are manufactured. We are dedicated to advancing our business goals while reducing our impact on the environment and we’re proud this process achieves that.”

Lenovo continues to prove itself as a leader in innovation, technology and sustainability.

Its commitment to supporting a transition to a lower carbon economy is further demonstrated by the savings the new LTS process brings. Furthermore, in 2018 Lenovo intends to offer the new procedure for use on an industry-wide basis free of charge. (PR)

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INSPIRING SCENE. An extra embellishment courtesy of nature adds color and beauty to the already well-decorated and extravagant setting of the DAVRAA 2017 Grand Opening. A beautiful rainbow complements Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang’s inspiring message during the historic

opening of Southern Mindanao’s biggest sports meet on March 19 at the Mati Centennial Sports Complex, in Mati City, Davao Oriental. (Andy Dayanghirang/PIO DavOr)

DOF eyeing establishment of PH bank in Bahrain F

INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III is exploring the possibility of opening a subsidiary of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) in Bahrain to cater to the banking needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) living there and facilitate trade and investments between the Philippines and the island-kingdom.

In his recent meeting with members of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dominguez informed them that he will advise President Duterte to look into this possibility as well as schedule a presidential visit to Bahrain, where possibly as many as 100,000 Filipinos reside and work.

A Philippine educational institution, the AMA International University-Bahrain, founded by Ambassador Amable Aguiluz V, has also been established in Salmabad, Bahrain’s industrial center.

“We are at the moment converting and acquiring a bank to be a subsidiary [of LandBank] to provide for the needs of our overseas workers. I will

certainly advise the President to make sure he visits Bahrain and look into the possibility of establishing a bank there for ease of doing business between us,” said Dominguez, who chairs the LandBank Board.

Dominguez was referring to a government plan to acquire and convert the Philippine Postal Bank into a LandBank subsidiary, which will be partly owned by OFWs. A bank dedicated to the needs of OFWs was among the promises of President Duterte to Filipino migrant workers.

Dominguez’s statement was in response to the suggestion by the Bahrain delegation on the establishment of Philippine banks in Bahrain to help strengthen financial relations between the two countries.

The delegation, led by His Excellency Khalid Abdulrahman Almoayed, the chairperson of the Bahrain Chamber of the Commerce and Industry (BCCI), also broached the possibility of the two countries working together to help the Philippines broaden its market for halal goods overseas, and

expanding Bahrain’s investments here.

“We have to work together on halal matters. The halal market is a big market that the Philippines [can tap],” Almoayed said.

The other members of the Bahrain business delegation included Balqees Bahzad, the wife of Almoayed; Khulood Al Qatan, BCCI board member; Mohd Sajid Izharulhaq, chairman of the Bahrain-Philippines Business Council; Isa Abdulrahim, BCCI treasurer; Ahmed Al Saloom, founder and president of the SME Development Society of Bahrain; Shabir Sharafali, managing director of Shafarali Ventures; and Ahmed Abdulla bin Hindi, an executive committee member of the BCCI. Accompanying the delegation were Ambassador Aguiluz, the Philippines’ special envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Milton Toledo from the Bahrain consulate.

In the meeting, Almoayed cited BCCI’s concerns regarding the Philippine government’s requirements for the recruitment of Filipino workers

to Bahrain, which he said “involved a lot of paperwork.”

Dominguez said he will refer BCCI’s concern to the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment. “I will suggest that we refine our regulations...

The President’s commitment is to simplify these steps.”

The finance secretary also discussed with the delegation the three priority goals of the Duterte administration, which are to reduce the poverty incidence in the Philippines from 21.6 percent to 14 percent by 2022, nurture a law-abiding society, and create a climate of peace with armed insurgents here as well as establish cordial and strong relations with members of the international community.

To reduce poverty, Dominguez said the Duterte administration is investing heavily in both urban and rural infrastructure and increasing public expenditures in social services to improve transport and logistics networks across the country, create jobs and spur development, especially outside Metro Manila. (PR)

nan Water Supply System: portion of Malagos – Calinan Road (from DCWD Calinan Production Well No. 1 to corner Magsaysay St.), Calinan Proper, Buhawi Village, portion of Davao-Bukidnon National Highway (from Calinan Proper to corner Riverside), Fortune Village, Dacudao, Naraval Road, Palarca Compound, Dominga Village, Calle Apeque, Peñano St., Bago Vista Village, Bagobo Village, Francisca Village, San Roque Village, Lanzona Village, Hilario Subd. Homeowners Association I and II, Pioneer Subd., Durian Village, Estrella Village, and Megaville Subd.

This water service interruption will allow DCWD’s

crews to tap the newly installed 4-inch diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing 4-inch diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at Lanzona Village in Calinan and tap the newly installed 3-inch diameter PVC pipeline to the existing 3-inch diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at Purok 6 Gawad Kalinga in Brgy. Dacudao, Calinan. Once completed, said project will allow for accommodation of additional service connections.

The DCWD management asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers. They are also advised to store enough

water prior to the scheduled water service interruptions.

Water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates. Contact 09277988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 for other updates, complaints, queries, and matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Winston Ajero)

Water service interruptions in some city parts on March 24

D

AVAO City Water District advises of two separate sets of water service interruption on March 24, 2017.

First set will be from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM affecting the entire St. Anthony Village in Mamay.

This water service interruption will give way to the tapping of the newly replaced 100mm diameter mainline and 50mm diameter unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC) pipeline in the affected area. Once completed, said project will help reduce non-revenue water.

Second set will be from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM affecting all areas served by Cali-

12 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

The lethal bite of horror

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

N

EMESIA V. CANOY used to wake up early in the morning to go to the rice field which her family owns. It was sort of a ritual for her but one morning, her daughter noticed that her mother wasn’t doing what she used to do.

Looking for her, she found her inside her room. She was having a high fever. But what alarmed her was the fact that her mother was afraid of light.

Something is very wrong with her, the daughter thought.

The daughter contacted her mother’s sister, Emilia V. Sasam. Together, they brought her to the hospital.

After Nemesia was examined thoroughly, the doctor said she had rabies.

The doctor advised that all family members should not go near her. But Emilia, being the sister, didn’t care at all. She tried to be with her.

It was found out that she was bitten by her 6-monthold puppy at home residence in barangay Pantaron in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte. She thought that being a puppy, the dog had no rabies. But she was completely wrong.

Nemesia was already 74 years old when she died. “It was heartbreaking,” said J.B. Sasam, the son of Emilia. “My mother was with her throughout. She had to be quarantine as a result of what she did.”

“Without timely treatment, rabies infection is 100 percent fatal,” pointed out Dr. Nancy Nazaire-Bermal, head of the clinical research and development of the Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.

“Rabies is the best example of an illness in which prevention is better than cure…”

Rabies may be a disease

of the past (it is known since around 2000 B.C.) but still it continues to take a toll among Filipinos. Every year, an average of 245 people die of it. Despite the enactment of Republic Act 9482 – otherwise known as the Rabies Act of 2007 which seeks to eradicate rabies in the country by 2020 – the health department recognizes that rabies remains a public health problem in the country In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the Philippines fifth in the rabies list in terms of prevalence in a specific area. “We had gained notoriety among international communities as a nation with high or prevalence of rabies,” a doctor laments.

In 2001, a long-time resident of the United Kingdom contracted rabies after being bitten by a dog in the Philippines. He died in a London hospital. Five years later, two Japanese nationals were infected after being bitten by dogs in the country. United Kingdom and Japan have declared themselves rabies-free a long time ago. The last indigenous case of rabies infection in the United Kingdom occurred in 1902 while that of Japan was in 1954.

Oftentimes, most of the victims of rabies are children. This has been confirmed by the United Nations health agency, which said that that up to 60% of rabies cases occur in people less than 15 years of age.

Six-year-old Jonathan was playing in their front yard when a dog attacked him. His parents brought him immediately to the hospital since the little boy got three

long scratches. But since they were not bites, the parents did not worry so much about it.

The scratches were completely healed. But two months later, Jonathan complained of a severe itch in the area where the dog made some scratches. Two days after the boy made a complaint, he died. The doctor’s finding of the boy’s death: rabies.

The parents never knew that rabies could be passed on not only through bites but also by a scratch from an infected dog or cat.

“Symptoms may appear in just a few days but in a lot of times, rabies virus works its way so slowly yet steadily to the brain, sometimes taking months before tell-tale signs would start to manifest,” explained Dr. Beatriz Quiambao, head of the clinical research division and rabies research group of Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

“Rabies commonly begins with a short period of depression, restlessness, a general feeling of illness, and a fever,” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “However, in 20 percent of peo-

ple, rabies starts with paralysis in the lower legs that moves up through the body.”

Restless increases, leading to uncontrollable excitement, and saliva production greatly increases. “Spasms of the muscles in the throat and voice box occur because rabies affects the area in the brain that controls swallowing and breathing,” the Merck manual explains.

The spasms can be excruciatingly painful. “A slight breeze or an attempt to drink water can trigger spasms,” the Merck manual states. As such, a person infected with rabies cannot drink. For this reason, the disease is sometimes called hydrophobia (fear of water).

“As the disease spread through the brain, the person becomes more and more confused and very agitated,” the Merck manual notes. “Eventually, coma and death result. The cause of death can be blockage of airways, seizures, exhaustion, or widespread paralysis.”

Death is indeed inevitable once the symptoms appear. “Though a small number of people have survived rabies, the disease is usually fatal,” says the Minnesota-based Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Anyone who thinks he has been exposed to ra-

bies should receive a series of shots to prevent the infection from taking hold. “If the animal that bit you can’t be found, it may be safest to assume that the animal has rabies,” the Mayo Clinic suggests. “But this will depend on several factors, such as the type of animal and the situation in which the bite occurred.”

The Merck manual warns: “The closer the bite to the brain, the more quickly symptoms appear.”

Recently, the United Nations health agency issued new recommendations related to rabies exposure management or Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). “Based on the available information, the guideline on animal bite management is revised in order to provide more cost-effective strategies for rabies prevention and control,” the Administrative Order No. 2014-0012 issued by the Department of Health (DOH) said.

According to the health department, the initiation of PEP “shall not be delayed for any reason regardless of interval between exposure and consultation as it increases the risk of rabies and it is associated with treatment failure.”

As much as possible the animal that has bitten must be located in order to know if it has rabies. “In case the animal is not available for observa-

tion or dies within the recommended 14-day observation period,” the AO said, “all rabies exposures shall receive at least the Day 0, 3 and 7 doses.”

Meanwhile, the decisions to give the Day 28 dose and D14 for IM regimen, shall depend on the result of the laboratory examination (FAT) on the biting animal and whether the biting animal manifested signs and symptoms of rabies.

It has been observed, however, that the most cost-effective strategy for rabies prevention in the Philippines is still elimination of rabies among dogs – where 99% of the cases were attributed to – through animal vaccinations.

Unfortunately, only very few families take good care of their dogs by having them vaccinated. As a matter of fact, some of them even allow their dogs to go astray. As such, the next best step of rabies elimination in the country is for family members to get the anti-rabies shot, especially if they are living in areas where incidence report is high.

Meanwhile, the local government unites are encouraged to enact and strictly enforce ordinance related to rabies. It urged LGUs to allocate funds for the procurement of syringes and anti-rabies vaccines for bite victims. (Photos taken from the net)

NEWS13

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BCP exec lauds PNP for its anti-terror measures Generika... FROM 15 their accumulated points and won sets.

The top three teams will join a guest team from Japan in a single-round format and whoever will be the last squad standing will be declared as champion. On the other hand, the bottom three will vie in the classification phase to determine their final rankings.

Final round starts next week (March 30).

The Lifesavers expect to have a more difficult time making it to the next round as they are stacked against the Blaze Spikers, who remain unbeaten in four outings.

In fact, in their previous match against the Tornadoes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and the rest of the rampaging Blaze Spikers displayed their deadly form to complete an easy 25-12, 25-10, 25-23 victory.

Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos, however, downplayed their impressive performance, saying they remain a work in progress as Reyes, Carmela Tunay and Rhea Dimaculangan are still trying their best to fit into their system.

“Like other teams, we’re also still adjusting,” said Delos Santos, adding that it’s quite too early to discuss the pos-

sibility of duplicating their sweet sweep of the All-Filipino Conference two years ago.

“It’s still a long way to go.

We’re not thinking about the sweep or anything. I just want the team to stay focused and play each game as if it is our last.”

Generika-Ayala coach Francis Vicente knows that prevailing over Petron at this point would be a tough task, but he vowed to do his best to prepare and instill the winning mentality into his wards.

He added that their morale is high following a straight-set demolition of the Lady Realtors over the weekend at Muntinlupa Sports Complex, 25-21, 25-13, 25-16.

“We know it takes a lot to win over Petron at this point, but we will work hard and be prepared,” said Vicente, who will also call the shots for the national women’s team in the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship and the 29th Southeast Asian Games.

“All we need is to improve our defense, reduce our turnovers and play more as one solid team.”

Team captain Gen Casugod is tipped to be at her best in manning the middle as well as Angeli Araneta, Patty Jane Orendain, Carol Cerveza, Mikaela Lopez and defense specialist Bia General.

A

N official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has applauded the authorities particularly the Philippine National Police for its immediate action against possible terrorist threats in the country.

“We commend our law enforcers for uncovering possible terrorist threats to our country. They’ve done their job effectively and let’s hope that they’ll continue to do so,” said Fr. Jerome Secillano, Executive Secretary of CBCP Public Affairs Committee.

At the same time, the Catholic priest asked the people to be calm and vigilant.

“The public needs to remain calm and not let fear overcome them. They have to be more vigilant though as they perform the Holy Week observances,” he said.

Secillano believed that

such threats will not stop the faithful to do their spiritual activities.

“It has always been like that. There were always threats but Filipinos, despite such, were not deterred from

my Mata, Brembot Posadas, Sabas Ponpon Jr., Romulo Neri III and international judge Lito delos Reyes.

Also present were the officers-in-charge of the GAB regional offices Arlene Olondrez (Davao), Vic Cabalog (Zamboanga) and Atheno Paguidopon (Cagayan de Oro). They were joined by their fellow GAB employees Fahd Sinsuat, Cecilia Bravo, Kenneth Improso, Delia Antomano, Fatima Bual, Arnulfo

Sazon and Sheldon Ramonal.

“We really thanked GAB for choosing Davao City as the venue,” said Manangquil, who will be fielding his boxers in the card on May 12.

The assignment of the referees and judges will still be drawn to give equal chance to everyone that will be attending the convention.

The closing dinner and the awarding of certificates will be on May 13 at the Marco Polo Hotel.

GAB... FROM 15

doing their spiritual activities.

I do believe that they’re even more inclined to pray to seek security from God,” he added.

On the other hand, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo is letting the authorities to

MAASIM RECEIVES SGLG AWARD. Reynaldo Bungubung (center), director of Department of Interior and Local Government in region 12; Flor Limpin (2nd from right), provincial director of DILG in Sarangani province; and Musarapha Alim of DILG regional office, award the post compliance marker of 2015 Seal of

do their job as to the supposed threat.

“We do not cause alarm to the faithful. Let the police do its work while we continue to lead the people in their faith,” he said. (PNA)

Good Local Governance (SGLG) to Maasim town Mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr. (2nd left) Monday, March 20, assisted

by Maria Espanol (extreme left), municipal local government operations officer. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

ARMM... FROM 6

The BTC is set to conduct a series of consultations to draft the new BBL. It hopes to beat the self-imposed deadline to submit the draft bill in Congress in July.

Mawallil said these consultations and other forums also serve as platform for the youth to express their sentiments, instead of resorting to violence, including joining extremist groups.

“We want to know the pressing issues of the youth,”

he said.

He said they are also developing a feedback mechanism for the youth to the leadership of the ARMM. “They (youth) know what’s happening on the ground,” he added.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman has challenged the participants of the consultation here Wednesday to be active in social movements to help improve this island province.

(PNA)

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Chevrolet Spark ups ante on small car market T

HEY promised and they delivered. Chevrolet Philippines is now making the all-new 2017 Spark available at all of its authorized dealerships. Available in three variants, the allnew Spark promises to lead small cars in design, performance, technology, and safety.

Running on an all-new global platform, the 2017 Spark features a more mature aesthetics. It’s characterized by a lower roofline that removes the “tall car” look so prevalent in many small cars.

Thinner pillars and more efficient packaging (the rear wheels are pushed out to the corners) contribute to a planted stance. The top-ofthe-line LTZ has more cues that set it apart such as the larger alloy wheels (185/55

R 15s) and projector-type headlights with LED daytime running lights.

Inside, designers have matched that more mature appearance with upgraded materials and better attention to detail. For example, the seats boast higher density foam for improved comfort while higher quality fabrics, particularly for the LTZ up the premium feel more. And by lowering the roof height, the all-new Spark offers better hip-point dimensions for the seats lending a more ergonomic driving position.

Surprisingly, the Spark only offers seating for 4 people (the middle rear seat has a console box). Though this limits its usefulness, at least 60/40 split-folding seats is standard.

The Spark uses Chevrolet’s MyLink infortainment system which features a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, icon-based interface, and gesture controls. New volume controls and buttons enhance the overall intuitiveness while 6 speakers across the line give good aural quality. Other premium touches include a keyless entry system and all power convenience features.

All Spark models will run on the 1.4-liter Ecotec 4-cylinder engine. Shared with the Sonic hatchback, the Spark outs 99 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 128 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. This Euro-4 engine is

mated to a new CVT or Continuously Variable

Transmission. The switch to EPS or Electric Power Steering makes it highly fuel efficient as well.

In terms of safety, the Spark doesn’t take any shortcuts. Dual SRS airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and

auto door locks are standard while the LTZ gets dynamic stability control and traction control as well.

The all-new 2017 Spark is available in 7 “interesting” colors: Black Meet Kettle, Brimstone, Mint My Mind,

Pull Me Over Red, Son of a Gun Gray Metallic, Summit White, and Switchblade Silver. The 1.4 LT 5-speed M/T is priced at P 648,888 while the LT CVT goes for P 682,888.

The 1.4 LTZ CVT caps the range at P 763,888.

How much are you willing to pay for a Honda Type-R? Y

OU likely read the news before you slept or just after you woke up; and I’m confirming it: the Honda Civic Type-R will be shown at the Manila International Auto Show at the end of the month. I swear, this is no joke. Just a few weeks after its global debut, a production-ready (likely part of a small batch of production prototypes touring around the globe specifically for motor shows) version of the hottest Civic will be the main attraction at Honda’s stand.

Though officially labeled an “Exhibition Model” for MIAS, I don’t need to look far back into Honda Cars Philippines’ history to tell you that these exhibition models do eventually make it to showroom floors. Consider HCPI’s track record: the S2000, the CR-Z, the BR-V—these models, once called exhibition models, were eventually offered for sale to the mo-

toring public. So the question beckons, how soon will you have to wait and how much do you need to pay to get your grimy hands on this 320-horsepower, frontwheel drive monster?

First, about the wait.

It’s going to be a long wait, unfortunately. If news from various automobile outlets around the world is to be believed, Honda is experiencing an overwhelming demand for this Civic Type-R; it is, after all, the first global Type-R model. As such, only the Honda assembly plant in Swindon, UK is making the Type-R for all markets, including the US and Japan and this is causing a supply shortage. In the US for instance, one of Honda’s biggest markets, supply of the Civic Type-R might be limited to just a handful per dealership. Some dealerships may not even get one at all.

Now, let’s just say Honda Cars Philippines does man-

age to snag some Type-R for hot hatch fans, it won’t be cheap. Since it comes from the UK, it will be levied with the appropriate duties and excise tax. Not to mention the more expensive shipping cost. How much? It’s time to do some math.

Let’s look at the MINI Cooper JCW, a hot hatch

that’s made in, you guessed it, the UK. Here, it’s being sold for P 3,550,000 or around USD 71,000 at the current exchange rates.

In comparison, it’s being sold in the US for just P 1,660,000 and in the UK for P 1,881,000. That makes the Philippine price double compared to the US or UK.

Going with US-sourced cars like the Ford Mustang EcoBoost, the Philippine price is P 2,509,000. It’s more manageable given the US price would be the equivalent of P 1,714,000; the UK sells it at P 1,944,000. Finally, how about something from Japan like the Subaru WRX STI? Here, it’s P 2,598,000. In the

US? P 2,051,000. In the UK? P 1,955,000.

Going to the Honda Civic Type-R, it will have a US price equivalent to P 2,010,000. That’s already the high-end GT trim. In the UK, it will retail for around P 2,025,000 when equipped with the same GT package.

Assuming that MINI’s local distributor and HCPI have the same margins and that the added cost is due to shipping, excise, and duties from the UK, the Philippine price of the Civic Type-R will land at an eye-watering P 4,800,000.

Don’t give up your hopes just yet. If the grapevine is to be believed, HCPI may be able to sell the Civic Type-R for around P 2,800,000 in limited numbers. That’s certainly a more palatable figure; something the Filipino consumer can consider given the Subaru WRX STI is moving 30-40 units in a good month.

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SPORTS15

ACTION-PACKED. Some of the memorable action in last year’s Pomelo Tee. Boy Lim

RPV’s 12th Pomelo Tee Golf set April 27-30 R

ANCHO Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club announced on Wednesday the staging of the 12th Pomelo Tee Golf tournament on April 27 to 30 at the scenic rolling course in the hills of Cabantian.

The annual tournament

will be played under the 36hole stroke play format for team and individual categories. Each team is composed of a club member and guest.

Entry fee is P4,500 per player with a mulligan of P500 while the giveaway is a Mizuno gift certificate worth P4,000.

Winners will receive specially-designed trophies while six exciting hole-in-one prizes are likewise at stake. A brand new Mitsubishi Montero Sport, one RPVGC golf share, Royal Caribbean Cruise, P500,000 cash, a brand new motorcycle and one Daikin airconditioner

unit.

Proceeds of the tournament will be used to fund the different charitable project of the Pomelo Tee Foudation Inc. Two of the beneficiaries are the Pablo Lorenzo National High School in Mandug and the Teofilo Fernandez NHS in

en NSAs are beset with intra-feuds, to include those governing lawn and table tennis, volleyball, bowling, arnis, Dragon boat, kayak and equestrian.

The PSC chair said most NSAs have begun to comply with a directive of the commission to liquidate their balances.

He said that as of December last year, the NSAs have not been able to liquidate a total P288 million they received from the PCA in the previous years.

“Last week, the balance stood at P150M, meaning

most of them are complying,” he said. “It is a good sign.”

Ramirez said the PSC will be forced to suspend support to any NSA that has not been able to liquidate the money they received from the PSC “because the act of not liquidating is a form of corruption.”

“They have been used to having their way for the past 27 years,” he said.

At the same time, he said PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez is poised to file a libel case against Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Jose “Pepeng” Cojuangco

for accusing him of game-fixing when he was still a basketball player.

“We are supporting Fernandez in this case because it has demeaned his honor,” said Ramirez, adding that the basketball legend will file the case in Cebu.

Fernandez had earlier accused the POC of reimbursing funds from the PSC which did not benefit Filipino athletes.

Ramirez said game-fixing is hard to prove considering that Cojuangco was referring to a period when Fernandez was still an active basketball player decades back. (JKL)

Indangan.

The four-day event is presented by RPVGCC and Pomelo Tee Foundation Inc. The platinum sponsors are the Hexat Mining and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines while the gold sponsors are Hijo Resources Corp., Monark-CAT,

Power Up/Petron, Romsan and Steniel Mindanao Packaging.

For more inquiries, contact tel. no. 286-3673 or Karl Moises (0917-3121887), Erzza Abuan (0917-7705528) and Wilson Obongen (09156032302).

PSC says feuds will not stop RP sports reforms GAB PH convention

By JIMMY K. LAKING

P

HILIPPINE Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez indicated last week that intra-feuds among several national sports associations (NSAs) will not distract the PSC from implementing its mandate of “uniting and in cleansing Philippine sports from corruption.”

“This marching order from President Duterte is very clear and we have his full support,” said Ramirez, adding that the national sports associations must toe the line or face suspension.

He said that least sev-

Generika, Foton gun for last final round berth Team Standings Petron 4-0 Cignal 4-1 Foton 2-2 Generika-Ayala 2-2 Cocolife 1-4 Sta. Lucia 0-4

G

ENERIKA-AYALA and Foton gun for the last remaining final round slot when they battle separate foes in the last day of preliminaries of the Belo Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Conference toGames Today (March 23) day (Thursday, March 23) at (FilOil Flying V Center) the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

5 pm – Generika-Ayala vs Petron The Lifesavers face 7 pm – Foton vs Sta. Lucia heavyweight Petron at 5

T

pm while the Tornadoes will have a lighter assignment in winless Sta. Lucia in the 7 pm main game of this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Mikasa, Asics, Mueller and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

With Petron and idle Cignal safely in the final round, pressure is now on Generika-Ayala and Foton as they are desperate for a vic-

tory that would send them to the next round of this tourney that also has UCPB Gen as official insurance provider and Gold’s Gym as official fitness partner.

The winner will make it to the final round, but if ever both the Lifesavers and the Tornadoes emerge with similar fates, their ranking will be determined based on

F GENERIKA, 13

in Davao May 11-13 T HE 3rd Games and Amusements BoardPhilippine Boxing Convention will be held in Davao City on May 11 to 13 at the Marco Polo Hotel and the Waterfront Insular Hotel.

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra formally announced the event on Wednesday during a dialogue with the stakeholders in Mindanao held at the Pia’s Café along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City.

“This convention will once again bring together our friends and stakeholders in the field of professional boxing from all over the Philippines, who we consider our partners in developing and uplifting the interest of the sport of professional boxing in the country,” said Mitra.

Registration is free according to Mitra, who was joined

by Commissioners Fritz Gaston and Eduard Trinidad.

The convention opens at the Marco Polo Hotel and will focus on topics such as “Legal Updates on the Rules and Regulations”, “Govern-

ing Professional Boxoing in the Philippines”, “Seminar on Medical Aspect”, “Workshop on Judging to be conducted

by Hubert Minn, Chairman of WBC Ring Officials, and Workshop on Refereeing by International Referee Tony Weeks.

A boxing event will also be staged on the second day at the Waterfront Hotel.

The meeting was also attended

by GAB Boxing Division’s Ralph Diokno and Rex Flores, lawyer Ermar Benitez, Jackie Lou Cacho and Admin and Finance Division Chief Ofelia Artugul.

Also in attendance were 2017 Gabriel Elorde Boxing Awards Promoter of the Year Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, Dexter Tan of Sanman Promotions- General Santos City, promoter-manager Leonil Lazarito of Leolet Promotions of Valencia City, Bukidnon, promoter-manager Raides “Nonoy” Neri of MP Davao Gym, Ma. Krisha Pinol-Solis of KPS Promotions of North Cotabato, Neil Francis Rafael Jimenez of RCJ Promotions from Iligan, Renato Moreno of MP Digos Gym, judges Jim-

them. Six years later, “Radyo ni Juan” has prospered and now you can even see them doing Facebook Live!

I’m just happy to inform you that “Radyo ni Juan” and Dr.Angelito Manguray of AXC 360 Degrees Dojo successfully conducted an amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) to spice up the Araw ng Dabaw sports celebrations.

It surprised me that MMA in Davao has indeed grown and even attracted sponsors JROOT Herbal Capsule, Xanthon Plus, King’s Vitaplus, SSS, Sen.Sonny Angara, House Speaker Pantaleon

Alvarez, San Miguel Brewery, Tapa King, MX3, MMML Recruitment Agency, Mighty Cee Herbal Capsule, Pigrolac, Zest O, Sixeleven Global Teleservices, Davao Light and Power Company, Doc Sammy Healing Clinic, MR 6-in-1 coffee, Joji Ilagan Foundation, Bioleaf Amino Soap, King Coop and Saikin Bio Fertilizer to support.

Great job “Radyo ni Juan” and Dr.Manguray! Let this partnership flourish until the next city festival comes to Davao and bring entertainment and joy to the MMA fans.

F GAB, 13

Radyo ni Juan, AXC 360 Degrees Dojo spice up Araw sports

HE success of any sports event would depend on the generosity of the sponsors, participation of coaches and athletes, officiating association, organizers and the support of the fans.

That, usually are the ingredients.

Then came the mass media, specially AM Radio Stations that have become very active in sports coverages, lucky to those who can’t afford a television set, there’s the affordable wooden box, thethe transistor radio.

That’s the scenario many,

many moons ago.

Not these days. As long as there’s an internet connection, you can have all the sports information you want from the newspaper, TV and radio and online sports websites.

And that is really fantastic! You can the information at your fingertips, thanks to the invention of the smartphones.

I had the privilege of working with the dxDC staff as I broker the deal between that station and the cycling organization at that time. The station guys,

CLEAN SLATE

By MOSES P. BILLACURA Dodong Solis, Jessie Casalda, Bobong Calamba at that time brought in the sponsor and our dear friend Jun Paholio, head of the cycling associa-

tion and his officials started rolling and from there a partnership was forged.

Even if you do your laundry or till the land, as long as you turn your radio on, you can have a blow-byblow coverage of the cycling race. That was really something great that even for a day, you forget your worries and just enjoy listening to the event.

Dodong Solis and some of the staff later on formed a radio station cooperative named “Radyo ni Juan” and in August 2011, I started doing sports analysis for

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

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HEAT IS ON

VOL. 9 ISSUE 282 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

TRMH-CMO Green Archers open bid vs Pacman, Malacanang meets UP Maroons

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

Bracket A The Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO DLSU Montaña Pawnshop Pacman Warriors Bracket B Malacañang Kamao National University University of the Philippines Complete Schedule of Games: March 23 (Thursday) 3:00 pm TRMH – DLSU vs. Pacman Warriors 5:00 pm Montaña Pawnshop vs.

National University 7:00 pm University of the Philippines vs. Malacañang Kamao

March 24 (Friday) 3:00 pm NU vs. UP 5:00 pm Montaña vs. TRMH-CMO DLSU 7:00 pm Malacañang vs. Pacman March 25 (Saturday) 3:00 pm Pacman v. Montana 5:00 pm TRMH-CMO DLSU vs. UP 7:00 pm Malacañang vs. NU March 26 (Sunday) For 5th place 5:00 pm A3 vs B3 For 3rd place 5:00 pm A2 vs. B2 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 7:00 pm A1 vs. B1

D

EFENDING champion The Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO De La Salle Green Archers begin their hunt for a second straight title as the 80th Araw ng Davao Invitational basketball tournament gets off the wraps today at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The Green Archers, parading the explosive Ben Mbala at the forefront of their offense, will take on the Pacman Warriors of Gen. Santos City at 3:00 pm shortly after the Opening Ceremony at 2:00 pm.

Mbala, who skipped national team duty for Cameroon, will be the Archers chief weapon on its artillery after losing Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres to graduation.

Rookies Aljun Melecio and Prince and Ricci Rivero and Abu Tratter are expected to draw quality minutes for La Salle who will be steered by head drillmaster Aldin Ayo. The second game will feature Natitonal University Bulldogs against Montana Pawnshop at 5:00 pm while the nightcap will pit Malacanang Kamao against the

University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

The six teams are bracketed in two groups with the top qualifiers after the eliminations squaring off for the title.

In Bracket A, the Green Archers will have Pacman and Montana as groupmates while Bracket B will have UP, NU and Malacanang.

The Kamao will be banking on 6-9 import Jimmy Brown and 6-8 veteran Mark Andaya.

Admission is free to the public in all game days.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE. Ben Mbala of the TRMH-CM De La Salle Green Archers will again lead the attack for the defending champions.