Edge Davao 9 Issue 151

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

Serving a seamless society

PERFECT SMILE. A one-year old girl who is a beneficiary of Watsons and Operation Smile Philippines’ Lots of Love Mega Mission 2016, a cleft surgery mission for children and young adults with cleft cases, exudes joy as she plays with stuffed toys with the help of a volunteer after her successful cleft palate surgery at the Brokenshire Hospital yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

JOINT CPP-AFP SECURITY FORCE NDFP eyes‘inclusive security force’of NPAs and soldiers Bormaheco launches Phase 2

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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HE National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is eyeing the creation of an “inclusive security force” composed of members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by the end of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines and the NDFP. Guesting at the i-Speak media forum yesterday, Porferio Tuna Jr., NDFP consultant, said the NPAs would like to remain as watchers of the hinterlands although they would eventually be integrated with the AFP if the talks proceed as planned.

“We are looking that at the end of the peace negotiation, the NPA will remain armed, they could guard the different industries in the hinterlands, [while we see] an integration [of] the two forces (AFP and NPA),” Tuna said.

The establishment of the said joint NPA-AFP security force, he said, can be discussed towards the end of the peace negotiations, particularly at the stage when the GPH-NDPF peace panels talk about the latter’s disposition of forces.

Tuna, however, stressed that before the formation of this security force is tackled,

the socio-economic and constitutional reforms proposed by their group should first be addressed by the national government.

He explained the ongoing unilateral ceasefire between the two parties will hold until such time the two major areas of reforms as suggested by the NDFP will be agreed upon and finalized by the two negotiating parties.

“The last part of the talks would be the end of hostilities and disposition of forces. The ongoing unilateral ceasefire right now, we call it interim ceasefire and the final agreement before we end

the hostilities is to answer first the socio-economic and constitutional reforms,” he said.

“All this time our view is that the NPAs will remain to be the guards of the hinterlands to protect the programs of the government, especially on agriculture.

They can also be employees of different industries in the hinterlands when the time comes,” he added.

Meanwhile, Patmei Ruivivar, communications head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), said the government is looking for-

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of its new real estate project

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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ORMAHECO, INC., a trusted business name in this part of the country, is set to hold ground-breaking of the second phase of its real estate project along J.P. Laurel Ave., in Davao City on Sept. 24, 2016.

The event will also coincide

with inauguration and blessing of its first project, a four-storey commercial hub also located within the Bormaheco compound.

Dubbed B.I .Z (BI ZONE) Phase 2, the six-storey commer-

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Architect Perspective

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TRIBUTE. An attendee of International Peace Day celebration lights candles after offering a prayer for the victims of September 2 Roxas night market blast in Davao City on Wednesday night. Lean Daval Jr.

Dabawenyos celebrate Matugas lauds peace talks, International Peace Day

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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NDAUNTED by recent terrorist threats and determined to show their unity in the midst of adversity, locals and tourists in Davao CIty celebrated International Peace Day with style last Sept.

21 with a grand parade and concert.

“No bombing can make the Dabawenyo kneel in fear and let us not allow these people to get the best of us,” International Dialogue (IID) executive director Gus Miclat said during the peace celebrations.

Dabawenyos heeded Mayor Inday Sara Duterte’s call to stand up against terrorism, as thousands trooped to the streets not only to watch the parade and concert but also to take part in various activities lined up during the one-day

activity.

Although participants to the event took time to grieve for the loss of 15 lives and the wounding 66 others, happiness and excitement was definitely in the air.

Music icons Joey Ayala and Aiza Seguerra arrived in the peace concert and dedicated peace songs to show their support for Dabawenyos.

“This is the best way we can show these terrorists that we are not afraid,” said Ayala as he reminded his fellow Dabawenyos to return to normalcy and move on with their lives.

The recent bombing incident appeared not to have kept tourists from flying in to this city to take part in Davao’s

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Around 12K Dabawenyos join National Clean-up Day

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ORE or less 12,000 Dabawenyos joined the simultaneous National Clean Up Day on September 17.

Engr. Elisa Madrazo, chief of City Environment and National Resources Office (Cenro), said participants came from national and local government agencies, non-government organizations, the private sector, barangays, academe and other civic groups contributed their share in cleaning up communities across the city -- from highlands to coastal

villages.

Madrazo said the exact volume of garbage collected is still being determined but the clean-up drive produced a positive result.

Called “Bayan ko, Linis ko”, the National Clean-Up Day was part of the activities lined up for the whole month of September that was declared National Clean-up Month based on Proclamation No. 244, Series of 1993.

Madrazo urged Dabawneyos to make everyday a clean-up day in Davao.

CIO

anti-drug drive of Duterte

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

URIGAO DEL NORTE Gov. Sol Matugas has lauded the on-going peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), saying that peace will bring in more development to the people of her province.

Gov. Matugas said people have long been weary of the fighting between the government troops and the New People’s Army (NPAs) in her region, but with the declaration of a ceasefire from both sides, the prospects for peace are on hand.

“Both parties must appreciate the goodness of humanity, that permanent peace will

allow development initiatives to bring progress to our people and their communities,” the governor said.

She also stressed the provincial leadership of Surigao del Norte is supportive of the current peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP. The peace negotiations between the government and the NDFP resumed last August this year in Oslo, Norway, with representatives from both peace panels expressing their satisfaction with how the discussions have proceeded so far.

The talks with the communist rebels were stalled during the previous administrations but President Duterte pursued the negotiations as a major pri-

ority of his administration.

vite them for an investigation,” Duterte said in his televised speech during the inauguration of the Filinvest Development Corp. Misamis Power Plant in Misamis Oriental.

President Duterte however said that “in keeping with the time-honored principle of the right to be heard,” he would also cross-examine the foreign investigators. ”After they asked me questions, I will also ask each one of them in an open forum. You can use the Senate or Folk Arts.

Just watch how I would beat those fools,” the President said. ”My first question to rapporteur, I killed thousands? So what was the name of the first victim, what happened, where, for what reason, how was it done? And what time was it?” he said.

President Duterte said he would also ask the American rapporteurs and representatives of EU “about their own sins against the black people” and for bombing Iraq and Syria that killed innocent civilians

Prioritize rehabilitation Governor Matugas also lauded the Duterte Administration for its continuing war on the illegal drug trade, but reiterated that a major focus of government should also be on the rehabilitation of drug dependents.

“There is life after drugs,” the governor said, as she also expressed sadness over the high number of killings that have been attributed to the government’s intensified anti-illegal drug campaign.

“The drive against illegal drugs must continue but the killings must be stopped,” she added.

Gov. Sol Matugas The governor revealed that the report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on the illegal drug trade in Surigao del Norte is not alarming.

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Rody asks UN, EU to investigate EJKs P

RESIDENT Duterte on Thursday invited the United Nations and European Union as well as the American rapporteur to come to the Philippines and investigate the alleged extrajudicial killing of drug suspects in the country. ”I am inviting the United Nations, (Sec. Gen.) Ban Kimoon, I am inviting the EU. Send the best lawyers of your town and also the rapporteurs to come to the Philippines. I will write them a letter to in-

and children. ”Middle East is a destroyed part of the planet leaving nothing and that’s why I’m cursing,” he explained.

Last week, the European Union called on the Philippine government to put an end to the killing of drug suspects and carry out a strict monitoring of human rights abuses. ”Why are your threatening me. Why are you complaining so much about me, threatening the criminals or the drug syn-

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Brgy officials willing to take drug test - BCCAD

By RIA VALDEZ

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AVAO City’s barangay officials are willing to undergo random drug testing although they have not yet received a memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) instructing them to undergo the procedure.

This was bared by Barangay Cultural Communities and Affairs Division (BCCAD) Office-In-Charge Jose Ong during yesterday’s i-Speak Media Forum at the Davao City Hall.

According to Ong, barangay officials have in fact been voluntarily submitting the results of their drug tests to au-

thorities.

However, Ong thinks this voluntary drug testing isn’t as effective as it is meant to be, as he suggested that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conduct surprise and random drug tests in the barangays.

“But we [still] need a memorandum from DILG,” added Ong, explaining barangay officials are under the said department.

When asked about the barangay profiling system, Ong encouraged barangay chairpersons to gather information

EPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Thursday the agency is now gathering additional documentary evidence to further strengthen the case against Sen. Leila de Lima who is allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Aguirre said the Anti-Money Laundering Council has already forwarded to the DOJ several documents and bank transaction records, adding that there are still additional documents needed for the probe.

“We will make another request with AMLC (for additional documents),” he said.

He added that they believe the amount involved could reach of up to P1 billion, although he admitted they do not expect De Lima’s name to appear in any of the bank transactions.

He claimed it is difficult to see direct transactions between the drug lords and De Lima, believing the former DOJ secretary would probably not leave a paper trail.

The DOJ has more than 30

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DOJ gathering more evidence vs De Lima D

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FOR RESPONSIBLE MINING. Mindanao Association of Mining Engineers and Alyansa Tuloy Mina Mindanao members hold placards bearing slogans during a solidarity rally for responsible mineral development and environment at the Roxas night market blast site in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

GPH-NDFP resume talks in Philippines

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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EGOTIATORS from the Philippine Government (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have resumed peace talks in the Philippines to discuss the possibility of a bilateral ceasefire agreement and the revitalization of a monitoring mechanism for human rights and in-

ternational humanitarian law.

Patricia Melizza Ruvivar, communications director of Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), said in a chance interview last Wednesday, the GPH and NDF panels have mutually decided to hold discussions in the country

through their negotiators at the sub-committee level as part of the agreement to accelerate the peace process.

Ruvivar explained the peace panels, through the committees and sub-committees, are holding talks in the Philippines as well to fast track the peace negotiations.

“Whatever was agreed upon by the working groups will be elevated to the panel level during the formal talks in Oslo for discussion and approval,” she said.

Special Envoy to the Peace Process Elizabeth Slattum facilitated the GPH-NDFP discus-

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NYC eyes nationwide youth hubs N

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS ATIONAL Youth Commission (NYC) Undersecretary Aiza Seguerra wants the youth sector to be well represented in all aspects of governance.

In a chance interview during Wednesday’s Peace Concert at the Roxas Night Market, Seguerra said that inclusivity must be realized wherein the voice of the youth must be heard.

Seguerra said that education and health are among the major concerns raised by the youth sector during her visits to five regions in the country.

“Region 2 [Cagayan Valley region] is second highest area where teenage pregnancy is a phenomenon,” the she revealed.

Seguerra said the NYC will address this concern through the Philippine Youth Development Program (PYDP).

According to the youthful undersecretary, the NYC is planning to establish more regional hubs across the country which would allow her office to address the various concerns affecting the youth sector.

She said the NYC currently has eight youth hubs nationwide, with three of them located in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga.

Seguerra said she saw the urgent need to reach out to the youth throughout the country in order to come up with a concrete action plan on how to help uplift their well-being and provide them a bright future.

“A one-stop shop is needed to be accessible to the youth in order to address concerns ranging from teenage pregnancy, depression and anti-immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS),” she added.

BIR, BOC collection hobbled by inefficient tax system

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DEPARTMENT of Finance (DOF) official has said that the Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR) and of Customs (BOC) would always be hard put hitting their collection targets 100 percent owing to built-in inefficiencies in the country’s tax system.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, who is the DOF’s chief economist, told lawmakers in a recent congressional hearing this was among the reasons why the DOF is pushing for transformative reforms in tax policy and administration with an eye on making the system simple, equitable and efficient.

“Currently, the way we look at the tax system, even if BIR and BOC were to be 100 percent efficient, we do not think that they can achieve targets that the budget has set. Why? Because the current tax system has builtin inefficiencies,” Chua said at a recent hearing by the House Ways and Means Committee on pending tax bills plus the DOF-proposed tax reform plan.

The BIR and BOC are DOF-attached agencies.

Chua, the former senior country economist of the World

Bank for the Philippines, said among these inefficiencies is the failure to adjust fuel excise taxes to inflation, which has resulted in declining collections over the years.

He pointed out, for instance, that collections from fuel excise taxes as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen from 1 percent in 1997 to a dismal 0.2 percent at the present.

Chua also said built-in exemptions and incentives for businesses, which are not timebound, generate a loss of about 1.5 percent of the GDP based on estimates gathered by the DOF and experts from the World Bank and other institutions.

Numerous VAT exemptions also create a lot of leakages.

Bank secrecy laws has also prevented the BIR from conducting a proper audit on taxpayers, Chua noted.

“Because of these reasons, we believe that a reform of the policy is also needed to help BIR and BOC improve tax administration,” he said.

He stressed, however, that the DOF has also drawn up a social protection package to

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SECURITY CHECK. A police officer inspects the bags of students at the entrance of a peace concert, a side event of the International Peace Day celebrations held last Wednesday at Roxas Avenue in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

CEO, DPWH collaborate to check drainage woes

By RIA VALDEZ

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HE City Engineer’s Office (CEO) is now closely collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to effectively address the city’s drainage problems, especially with the recent onset of heavy rains.

This, according to Atty.

Joey Felizarta, CEO officer-in-charge, during yesterday’s i-Speak Media Forum at the Davao City Hall.

Felizarta said that as the drainage maintenance unit is now under the CEO, it will be in charge of cleaning and repairing problematic drainage lines.

“We have 100 personnel for [assigned for] our [drainage] operations,” he said.

According to Felizarta, the CEO and DPWH are currently constructing drainage lines along main thoroughfares including Boulevard Trading and R. Castillo which also need to be elevated to avoid flooding in the areas.

He also advised barangay local government units and other concerned agencies to align their drainage projects with the CEO’s drainage master plan before proceeding with construction.

In the meantime, Felizarta said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing technical assistance to the CEO in crafting its drainage master plan that aims to build more drainage lines in the city’s rural areas.

“We only focused in urban areas,” explained, Felizarta who also cited the lack of adequate drainage lines in heavy-populated areas like Bankerohan.

He, however, said it would take two to three years before the drainage master plan will be implemented.

In the meantime, Felizarta advised residents to elevate their houses especially those situated in flood-prone areas.

He also cited the recent flooding in Bajada which was caused by the on-going construction Eon Towers.

On a positive note, Felizarta noted that flood waters in Davao subside very quickly as compared to other urban areas.

He said that apart from drainage repairs and upgrades the CEO is conducting, it is also spearheading a regular cleanup drive throughout the city.

its fishing rights in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“One of the things that I would demand if I go to

mainland China is give us back our fishing rights,” Duterte said in his speech during the inauguration of the Filinvest Development

Corp. Misamis Power Plant in Misamis Oriental.

President Duterte said he has no plan to ignore the

Rody to China: Return PH’s right to fish in WPS

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he will visit China within the year to ask them to return to the Philippines

PEPPER TALK. Photo shows working Davao Occidental Governor Claude Peralta Bautista with the Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam Pepper Association, as they discuss the governor’s agriculture plans for Davao Occidental, in particular the province’s lucrative pepper industry. (Media Affairs-Davao Occidental)

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Cayetano points out“glaring” flaws in Matobato’s testimonies

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ENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano strongly expressed suspicion on the credibility of self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) member Edgar Matobato, the witness who testified against President Rodrigo Duterte at the Senate inquiry into the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings in the country.

In the continuation of the probe on Thursday (September 22), Cayetano grilled Matobato on his previous testimonies associating Duterte with the suspected vigilante killings in Davao City during his term as mayor.

During his interpellation, Cayetano read part of Matobato’s previous affidavit regarding his alleged involvement in the

DDS. But when asked by the senator, Matobato said he has not executed and submitted a formal affidavit to the government.

This is contrary to a report by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that Matobato already submitted a sworn statement on September 4, 2014, when he was placed under the Justice Department’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) and was referred to the bureau by then Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

“Just an observation, the witness tends to change his testimony. There is no affidavit, there is an affidavit… The witness [also] has a tendency to

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Architect Perspective B.I. Zone Commercial Building Phase 2 J.P. Laurel Ave., Bajada District, Davao City

Mitsubishi issues safety inspection campaign for Strada, L200 vehicles

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Bormaheco launches Phase 2 of its new real estate project ... FROM 1 cial building has a larger floor area than Bormaheco’s first realty project, as it will have banks, shops and offices as locators.

According to Engr. Mendrado S. Canusa III, project contractor, the project will rise on a 1225-sq m area.

Canusa said construction will start in October 2016 and is projected to be completed within 15 months.

Expected to grace the ground-breaking rites are the owners of Borhameco, themselves led by its chairperson, Modesto Cervantes, and president, Francisco Cervantes, along with partner agencies such as Pag-ibig Fund, Japanese consul general, and Chinabank which are leasees of the first phase.

Bormaheco Inc. has been involved in the machinery and equipment business for the last 50 years.

The company’s major cli-

ents are mostly into mining, logging, and agriculture, construction, and real estate.

It is also engaged in the sale of spare parts, repair of equipment of various types and models, trade tests, and property leasing.

It also maintains brand new imported parts for heavy equipment, brand new and rebuilt, reconditioned units such as bulldozers, farm tractors, cranes power shovels, pay loaders, road graders, rollers compactors, forklifts, backhoes, trailers, scrapers, dump trucks, truck tractors, transit mixers, generators, pump crate,

air compressors, yarders and machine tools.

After 20 years in the business, the company expanded into real estate by mainly leasing out offices, factory, and warehouses.

The company was incorporated on Oct. 16, 1950, with

southern part of Davao City and District III by providing various services such as business registration assistance (BRA), business advisory services (BAS) and business information and advocacy (BIA) from member-agencies of the council.

As a full-service Negosyo Center, it will also offer services provided by other partner-government agencies such as Department of Agriculture, Social Security System (SSS), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), Philippine Health Insurance

Corporation (PHIC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), as well as private sector organizations which include the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), Mindanao Micro Finance Council (MFC), Knights of Online Marketers, GawadKalinga, among others.

MSMEs can also avail of free services at the Negosyo Center Toril such as livelihood and skills training, entrepreneurship seminars, business

its Certificate of Registration issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 23, 1951.

On March 1995, the company was granted its Certificate of Registration by the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA).

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any failure, as a precautionary measure, we will replace the driver side airbag inflator with a new one, at no cost to our customers,” he said.

MMPC has committed to announce this safety inspection in leading newspapers.

Its website will also be utilized for a consumer awareness and information drive to include advisories on how to verify if a buyer’s vehicle has the defective part and avail of inspection and/or repair.

Meanwhile, DTI-Davao Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi encouraged Dabawenyos who purchased the abovementioned vehicles covered by the safety inspection campaign to contact the nearest DTI office should they have clarifications or other concerns.

In Davao City, the DTI office is located at 2F Mintrade Realty Building, Monteverde Avenue corner Sales Street.

The agency can be reached at (082) 224-0511. (DTI-11/ WDG/jmm)

Fed decision to support PH, local bourse: Tetangco

Negosyo Center Toril now open to MSMEs HE Negosyo Center Toril, a partnership between the Davao City Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council and the Barangay Toril Proper Council, will be launched on Friday, Sept. 23, 2 pm, at the Barangay Toril Proper Compound, Toril, Davao City, The center is the first barangay-based hosted facility and the second Negosyo Center to be established in Davao City.

The Negosyo Center Toril aims to cater to the needs of clients coming from the

ITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) has issued a safety inspection campaign for its Strada model and L200 vehicles.

In a letter to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on July 4, Yoshiaki Kato, MMPC’s president, said the campaign includes the 25,300 units of Strada and 972 units of L200 produced from 2007 to 2014. All of these models were sold in the Philippines.

Kato explained the safety inspection campaign is in compliance with the directive of their principal in Japan to replace the airbag inflator in the driver’s side.

While waiting for the results of the investigation to determine the cause of the vehicle part’s reported failure, MMPC is providing a free replacement as a precautionary measure.

“Although there is still no report in the Philippines for

advisory and counseling, market linkage, financing, product development, among others.

Engr. Edwin O. Banquerigo, DTI assistant regional director, pointed out that Toril is the newest and fastest growth area in Davao City owing to large companies and manufacturing plants operating there. He is optimistic that business activities in Toril will continue to expand with the help of the Negosyo Center.

DTI Asst. Sec. Bles Lantayona will be the event’s guest of honor. (DTI-DCFO/ANN)

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HE US’ Federal Reserve’s policy decision this week is seen to support the Philippine peso and encourage “very short term” trades as investors take advantage of the still low rates.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., in a text message to reporters Thursday, said the Fed’s decision to keep rates anew “shows it can be a little bit more patient.”

“For our markets, this may mean that we could possibly see some slowing in the weakness of the peso in the near term until the next Fed meeting again,” he said.

The local unit closed at 47.89 Wednesday, weakest since the 47.99 last January 26. It finished at 47.84 Tuesday.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), after its two-day meeting that ended Sept. 21, said that job market gains remain solid despite the modest adjustments in the unemployment rate and inflation

remain below the long-term objective of two percent.

Thus, it decided to keep the key rates to 0.25-0.50 percent.

The Committee said “the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened but decided, for the time being, to wait for further evidence of continued progress toward its objectives.”

The local bourse posted a close ranged trading Wednesday but posted gains after the trading day at 7,675.42 points from day-ago’s 7,671.72 points as investors weigh the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ ) decision to keep rates and ahead of the Fed decision.

Tetangco said the Fed decision may even increase risk appetite in the near term.

“It may even encourage very short term trades to squeeze some more juice from the carry,” he said.

“We will monitor developments to see for any excessive market reactions,” he added.

(PNA)

HE president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) on Wednesday expressed doubts the government’s move to end the practice of contractualization, popularly known as “endo,” will work.

“Let us look at the realities on the ground,” NOCCI president Edward Du stressed during a Kapihan sa PIA forum Wednesday on “endo,” a term for “end of contract”.

Du pointed out that there are certain industries where it is im-

practical and impossible for companies to hire full-time employees for positions that can only be fulfilled by contracted workers.

He cited as an example janitorial services for a shopping mall in Dumaguete, which is being contracted out by the business establishment.

Even the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, contractors and construction companies are among those that may be affected once the removal of the “endo” becomes permanent.

(PNA)

Negros biz exec: End of ‘ e ndo’ won’t work BOC to earn P17.8M from bidding in ports T T HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is expecting to earn over P17 million in the scheduled public auctions of two major ports in the country next week.

In a statement, the bureau said it will be holding a public auction through sealed bidding at the Port of Manila (POM) on Sept. 26 and 30 and at the Port of Cagayan de Oro on Sept. 30.

It is eyeing an additional revenue of more than P17,850,000 from the public auctions of various goods.

On Sept. 26, the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD)–POM will bid out 52 twenty-footer (52x20) containers of various goods with a total floor price of P2,147,147.83.

Among the items up for sale are scrap angle bars; 27

units of used motorcycles; one twenty-footer (1x20) container of used bicycles; 150 packages of cables and accessories; and one twenty-footer container of nets.

Likewise, the BOC expects P5,238,569.91 in estimated revenue from the same port through the auction set on Sept. 30 where several vehicles will be on sale, including one unit of used Hummer; one

unit of used Chrysler; one unit of used Apprilla Motorcycle; used assorted trucks and bicycles; and a used head multicab.

Meanwhile, the Port of Cagayan de Oro is expected to earn an estimated P10,471,000 with the sale of 22 lots with 38 forty-footer (38x40) containers and 11 twenty-footer (11x20) containers of various goods on Sept. 30.

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Int’l surfing tourney to bring in P100 M for Siargao Island

ECONOMY 7

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

HIS year’s 22nd Siargao World Surfing Cup is expected to bring in more than P100-million in income to the coastal town of General Luna in Siargao Island, Surgao del Norte.

General Luna Mayor Jaime P. Rusillon told reporters the local government had already spent P5 to P7 million in preparation for this year’s highly-anticipated surfing competition.

The expenses include the $50,000 prize for the top three winners of the cup, he added.

“Our expenses are so small compared to what the town will gain after the competition,” Rusillon said, adding that more than 7,000 local and foreign tourists are expected to arrive in the town for the event.

He said that as of Tuesday, Sept. 21, the local government had already recorded 2,000 foreign tourist arrivals.

All the 450 air-conditioned rooms in hotels across town have been fully booked as of Wednesday, Sept. 22 while bookings in local resorts are still being made.

Local and foreign tourists are expected to stay for a period of 15 days in the town, and it is expected that resorts, food establishments and transport services will earn sizeable incomes from the yearly surfing

event.

This year’s cup will feature 50 professional surfers from all over the world, including eight surfers from the Philippines.

The participating countries include the USA, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile and Canada.

The annual surfing event has created lots of jobs and sustainable livelihood for local residents of General Luna, the mayor said.

“Our children here before, after finishing their studies, usually go to Manila or Cebu to look for jobs. Since the world surfing competitions are held here, our new graduates found jobs here, some are into their own businesses,” Rusillon said.

He added there are also cases wherein those who left General Luna for work decided to come back and take on local jobs, while others established their own livelihood projects.

In the meantime, Rusillon expressed gratitude to Governor Sol Matugas and former Congressman Francisco Matugas for the support they have provided to the yearly surfing competition.

He also thanked incumbent Representative Bingo Matugas for supporting this year’s 22nd World Surfing Cup.

Platform to boost real estate sector created

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OP property portal Property24 and classifieds platform OLX have established a premier real estate platform that targets to contribute P247 billion in annual sales, or about 30 percent of the total real estate industry.

The collaboration between the two platforms means that Property24 listings are now searchable on OLX, giving an effective avenue for buyers and sellers to achieve their real estate needs.

Property24 Country Manager Steve Santos estimated the platform will contribute P20.6 billion in monthly sales to the real estate sector, assuming two-percent actual sales from 515,000 leads and an average price of the property at P2 million.

Santos said there are 2.8 million visits on both platforms.

“Our data shows a dramatic increase in our online community since we launched Property24 in 2014. This is reflective of the positive trend that the local real estate sector has continued to experience, and we are optimistic that this will continue in the next few years,“ he said.

Santos expressed optimism the platform will

strengthen the property market.

“It’s having very high quality listings that will give you all the information as a buyer and as a seller. What it does, it magnifies your reach.

If before you could only sell within your area, now, you can sell in areas you couldn’t reach before. There is sync now of all the listings going into OLX from Property24,” he added.

Property24 General Manager Leon Van Onselen also expects rosier growth prospects for the Philippine real estate market.

“One of the great things about the Philippines is that there is steadily growing market… There is a housing deficit in the millions, meaning that there is a great future for the property market here,” he said.

“And also within the Philippines itself, I think the internet penetration is roughly half. So there is a long way for the market to go. If you take that half, that’s more than 50 million Filipinos online,” Onselen further said.

Property24.com.ph is the local subsidiary of Property24.com, the number 1 property site in South Africa and a member of the NASPERS Group of Companies together with olx.com.ph. (PNA)

EXPANSION. Workers excavate a portion of the road along Doña Pilar Avenue in Sasa, Davao City, as they prepare to lay new and bigger pipes of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to resolve the water shortage in the area. Lean Daval Jr.

DTI chief shares plans to AMCHAM Urges businessmen to include MSMEs in the value chain

“T

HERE is now greater likelihood of success,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez confidently told businessmen during the general membership meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) of the Philippines, adding that there are now greater chances for Filipinos to step out from poverty.

Following the strong mandate from President Duterte to alleviate poverty and uplift the quality of life by pursuing sustainable economic growth that generates more income opportunities through employment and entrepreneurship, DTI has made this objective at the top of its agenda, according to Sec. Lopez, citing figures on the increasing propensity of Filipinos to become entrepreneurs.

In his keynote speech, the DTI chief briefed the private sector on DTI’s initiatives and

thrusts, largely on the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which is also the priority of the President.

The trade chief urged AMCHAM members to adopt an inclusive business model that integrates MSMEs into the value chain from supply sourcing to distribution. According to him, mall owners have approved, in principle, the proposal to give high-quality products from various towns in the country considerable exposure in the mainstream market.

Employing about 60 percent of the country’s workforce, MSMEs can be frontrunners of “innovation-led and idea-based” entrepreneurship, producing products that are “game-changing, value-adding and can truly make a difference in the market,” he said.

As Sec. Lopez emphasized DTI’s “Trabaho at Negosyo” paradigm, he also mentioned

initiatives to improve ease of doing business, primarily by streamlining and modernizing the business permit and licensing system, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

To further promote MSMEs, DTI establishes Negosyo Centers that cater to existing and aspiring entrepreneurs on business concerns such as securing licenses and permits, improving product quality, packaging and marketing, among many others. The current 299 Negosyo Centers across the country will continue to increase by year end.

Similarly, DTI’s more than 2,000 shared service facilities (SSF) enhance MSME productivity by accelerating product development and innovation measures, thus making products saleable and more relevant to market needs.

AMCHAM members were informed of DTI’s strategies to improve domestic and international markets, to maximize gains from free trade agreements, and to manage the impact of ASEAN economic integration, including through effective implementation of industry roadmaps.

Sec. Lopez also called for increased agribusiness development, strengthened regional investment promotions, stricter consumer rights enforcement, upgraded product standard testing facilities and intensified efforts to counter substandard products.

According to its website, AMCHAM Philippines, established in 1902, is committed to “serve the interests of Philippine and American businesses through the participation of members in promoting their long-term objectives, while contributing to the civic and economic development of the Philippines.” (DTI)

bodies. These were further detailed by regulatory issuances by the BSP and the BIR, the latest of which was dated July 21, 2016.

PERA is the Philippine version of similar laws covering retirement savings vehicles prevalent and long standing in more developed countries such as IRA and 401K. PERA establishes the legal and regulatory framework for voluntary personal retirement plans as a means to promote savings mobilization, capital market development and long-term fiscal sustainability. It affords employers an opportunity to become agents in furthering these objectives. More importantly, it provides Filipinos a

means to supplement their future pension benefits from SSS/GSIS. “BDO believes that being the first PERA Administrator is a distinct privilege. This will allow BDO to further promote its advocacy for financial inclusion. It is also a great responsibility and thus, we have to see to it that it is properly implemented. We are working towards aligning our systems and processes with recent and forthcoming regulatory issuances,” said Ador A. Abrogena, executive vice president and trust officer of BDO Trust.

He added, “Implementing PERA is complex as it involves efficient coordination with the various PERA participants like

the cash/securities custodians, investment product providers and investments managers as well as providing the required regulatory reports. More importantly, it involves educating and inculcating financial literacy in the PERA Contributors.

For further reach, we also have to increase our number of Accredited Individual PERA Administrators who are the only ones allowed by regulations to market PERA. All these need to be carefully readied before a PERA launch.”

Challenges notwithstanding, BDO looks forward to fulfilling its responsibilities as the country’s first PERA Administrator and will find ways to make it work.

BDO becomes first accredited PERA Administrator

A

FTER passing the stringent qualification requirements of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Trust and Investments Group of BDO Unibank became the first institution in the country to be accredited as a PERA Administrator.

PERA, which stands for PERSONAL EQUITY and RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, is a product of Republic Act No. 9505 also known as the PERA Act of 2008 which was signed into law on August 22, 2008.

Subsequently, PERA Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were issued on October 21, 2009 by various regulatory

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

EDITORIAL

S

Crumbling, crumbling

ENATOR Leila de Lima must have felt the pressures of being the accuser and the accused. Obviously, she is not doing well in both.

After losing her clout as the ‘accuser’ in the Senate probe on the extra judicial killings, Sen. De Lima battled back through an emotional privilege speech that had nothing but a repetition of her accusations and defending herself by portraying her as someone oppressed by the President and his men.

In the end of the speech, did she gain any leverage against her political foes? Did she gain sympathy from the people? A big no to both. She failed miserably.

The problem with Senator De Lima is that the more she

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talks the more she digs her own grave.

Yesterday, she said convict Jaybee Sebastian is a government asset. Oh, why now? Because she feels the earth underneath her is caving in?

Meanwhile at the House of Representatives, the investigation has unearthed one revelation after another in a manner that is clear and where testimonies are corroborated. It may be too early to make judgment as to the merits and veracity of the accusations but with the way it is going, the lady senator is definitely not in good shape.

Senator De Lima had to make good in both probes and in both roles. She rocked the boat too early and now, instead of her foe, the President, it is her who is in danger of falling.

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EDGEDAVAO

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ONESTY may be a dying virtue but it is not yet dead.

Last September 20, “Sun Star Davao” came up with a list of 24 taxi drivers who were feted by the Davao City Police Office as being honest for returning “personal belongings left by passengers in their cabs.”

The 24 taxi drivers, deserving to be mentioned, were Emmanuel Arellano, Pascual Cabanlit, Alan Feliscuzo, Alejandro Fiel, Johnny Jayawon, Jamiel Labawan, Eulogio Maningo, Roy Mangaya-ay, Silvino Maongat, Jr., Osias Lopez, Ronnie Mecaderos, Merlito Mendez, Rodolfo Mendez, Rodino Monton, Gorgonio Javarro, Jr., Olegario Navarro, Jr., Rogelio Quiamco, Ruel Robleza, Julie Romanillos, Reynold Sonza, Roger Tañoo, Ebenezer Yanson, Jr., Emmanuel Villasencio, and Victor Vitorillo, Jr. “It is very helpful for the city to have honest drivers and it would be good if they would be emulated by their fellow drivers and the whole city. These honest drivers can also contribute to the peace and order here in Davao City,” Police Director Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria was quoted as saying.

On the same day, the “Philippine Daily Inquirer” mentioned two “confirmed” honest men in the House of Representatives. Both were not lawmakers but janitors.

According to the news report, Cebu Rep. Jonas Cortes left (without him knowing it) a bundle of P500 bills – totaling P19,500 – on his chair. Crispin Jasareno saw the money when he was cleaning up the hall. He called

T

HE idea of linking Mindanao employing an efficient railway system was first hatched in 1899. This aspiration was nearly put on track when the first Public Lands Act was approved in 1917 by the Philippine Assembly. The landmark legislation opened Mindanao to American investments and lands cultivated and leased by the state were exempted from land tax. Registered growers, though, had to pay annual rentals.

Around this time, between 1919 and 1920, the agriculture bureau enlisted American P.J. Wester as agricultural advisor. He was tasked to assess the potentials of Mindanao and to come up with recommendations the government could use as basis for future projects in the island. True enough, he came out with a full report in 1922 entitled ‘Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago: Their Natural Resources and Opportunities for Development’.

Wester, impressed by the mushrooming of hemp plantations, called Davao’s economic growth at the time as “phenomenally rapid.”

While the three-kilometer thoroughfare linking the town proper to the Santa Ana wharf at the time was regarded as well built, the absence of feeder roads connecting the pier to farms did not escape his attention.

He also observed that “the absence of land transportation is not such a hardship to the inhabitants as one might be lead (sic) to believe, considering that nearly all plantations are located on the gulf and have water transportation,” adding: “It is a fact, however, that the agricultural lands near the coast are rapidly being occupied and since there practically no roads into

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VANTAGE POINTS

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Honesty is not yet dead his co-worker, THINK ON THESE! Michael Mark Quimora, because he, to quote his own words, “didn’t want to touch the money” which “was too big.”

The two turned over Henrylito D. Tacio to the Cortes’ staff in his of- henrytacio@gmail.com fice. When the congressman learned what had happened, he wrote a letter to House Secretary General Cesar Pareja to recognize what the two janitors had done.

“Please consider honoring these employees as they are the epitome of integrity and honesty in the service, whose action today matters most to the other employees,” Cortes wrote in his letter. “I believe it the acknowledgement of the act, which is more important than the letter or any award we may decide to give to our honest employees.”

American president Thomas Jefferson once said: “Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom.” Humorist novelist Mark Twain gave some thought on how to find an honest person: “There’s one way to find out if a man is honest: ask him; if he says yes, you know he’s crooked.”

Honesty, so goes a popular saying, is the best policy. And Billy Joel sang of honesty as “such a lonely word.” The reason: “everyone is so untrue.”

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie once said in an interview: “I’m just honest, I like that I don’t have to worry about what I say. I really don’t have the time or energy to pretend and I don’t want to live that way.”

Dr. Madison Sarratt, who taught mathematics at Vanderbilt University for many years, before giving a test, would admonish his class something like this: “Today, I am giving two examinations – one in trigonometry and the other in honesty. I hope you will pass them both. If you must fail one, fail trigonometry. There are many people in the world who can’t pass trigonometry, but there is no one who can’t pass the examination of honesty.”

“The truth brings with it a great measure of absolution,” points out R.D. Laing.

Three years ago, a pastor from another city accepted a call to a church in Davao. A week after he arrived, he decided to roam around the city. He rode a jeepney and gave the driver a crispy twenty-peso bill. There were so many passengers and it took the driver two minutes before he was able to give the pastor his change.

The pastor counted the change and he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a peso more than what he was to receive.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, “You’d better give the peso back. It

would be wrong to keep it.”

Then he thought, “Oh, forget it, it’s only a peso. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the driver gets too much fare; he will never miss it. Accept it as a ‘gift from God’ and keep quiet.”

Then he was almost at his destination, he went near to the driver and handed the peso.

“Here, you gave me too much change,” he said.

The driver, with a smile, replied, “Aren’t you the new pastor near our area? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.”

“There is no well-defined boundary between honesty and dishonesty,” American author O. Henry pointed out. “The frontiers of one blend with the outside limits of the other, and he who attempts to tread this dangerous ground may be sometimes in one domain and sometimes in the other.”

It reminds me of the story of two women riding a bus. One of them realized she hadn’t paid her fare yet. “I’ll go right up and pay it,” she said. “Why bother?” her companion told her. “You got away with it, so what?”

“I’ve found that honesty always pays,” the other said virtuously, and went up to pay the driver. After that, she went back to her place and told her companion. “See, I told you. Honesty really pays. I handed the driver 20 pesos and he gave me 40 pesos change.”

So, is honesty a dying virtue?

the interior of FAST BACKWARD the province, planters away from the coast naturally are at a great advantage. In fact large areas of the most fertile lands in the province away from the coast Antonio V. Figueroa are practically inaccessible to planters who would unquestionably open up the lands if the communications with the coast was established. This brings to the fore the future transportation problem of Davao.”

While there existed already extensive inter-island transport facilities that made use of good anchorage in many locations around Davao Gulf, the need for good roads linking the ports of call to the interior areas was necessary in connecting to inland districts where potential for agricultural growth was evident.

This was vital to the opening of the northern portion of Davao to progress. Wester suggested “railroads are imperative” for development to be achieved.

Under Wester’s proposal, Malalag, Davao del Sur, would be one of the major railway terminals. From there, a branch turning westward that would cross mountain ranges and enter the Cotabato Valley would be constructed, while another line laid northward through the fertile valleys of Padada, Digos City, and Santa Cruz, all in Davao del Sur, before mov-

ing northwest to the Guianga Plain in Calinan, Davao City, would also be built. From there, the line would turn northeasterly near the boundary of Davao and Bukidnon until it had penetrated the Agusan Valley where it would connect with the line from Nasipit, a major wharf in Agusan del Sur. Actually, the proposal involved three road networks, including the Malalag line. The second railway line Wester had in mind was a road that would end at Hijo, a dock in the northeastern part of Davao Gulf, from where the railroad tracks would link with the first branch line.

On the other hand, another line, which he termed as ‘third roadstead,’ was to commence at Mati City, Davao Oriental, which has a good anchorage facing the Pacific Ocean. There was also another plan to link Malalag Bay to Parang, North Cotabato, on account of the few topographical difficulties that would be hurdled if a line was built there. In fact, Parang’s “many advantages… (make it) a great seaport and railroad terminus.”

A 1919 assessment of Cotabato’s natural resources and its potentials for development showed the choice of Parang was categorical, defined, and specific: “Railways are more or less urgently needed elsewhere [as] incident to the development of Mindanao, but nowhere is the need [to construct a railway system] so great, would the road meet less difficulties in construction, and would increased (sic) traffic [flow] quicker than on a railroad extending from Parang along the foothills of the mountains north of the Cotabato delta and the big swamps, over

Kabakan and Kidapawan, terminating on Malalag Bay, on the Davao Gulf, with a branch line curving southward east of Lake Buluan to Makar on Sarangani Bay.” While the Davao proposal was all but confined to bundled reports, the development of railway systems in the Visayas and Luzon became intense and passionate. Railroads, a vital element in domestic commerce, became top priority in the colonial agenda, so much so that by 1924, the archipelago had already 1,251.14 kilometers of railway lines, and a rolling stock consisting of 170 locomotive engines .

In the 1924 Commercial Handbook of the Philippine Islands a passing mention was made, without citing Wester’s proposal, on the need to operate a train system in the South: “More railroad lines are needed to open up many productive regions of the country and to facilitate the transportation of products to the principal centers of trade, especially in the larger islands. Mindanao and other important islands contain vast stores of untouched natural resources the development of which could be greatly aided by the opening of new railways.”

As plans to expand the Luzon railway system were zealously discussed in corporate boardrooms, the Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company (MERALCO) continued operating its electric car services in Manila and in the province of Rizal, maintaining nearly 90 kilometers of lines. About this time it already had 160 cars handling roughly 33,500,000 passengers annually.

In the next eight decades, however, the inspiration to include Davao in the country’s railroad map was kept in the locker.

1922 Davao railway plan

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ward to the time when the GPH and NDFP will finally be able to come up with an agreement on arms decommissioning.

“Yes, at the end part [of negotiations] and disposition of forces, if the two parties will agree on the socio-economic

and constitutional reforms, because those are the root causes of conflict,” Ruivivar said.

She pointed out that if these issues will not be addressed, the rebellion in Mindanao will not come to an end. “[But] if those two [issues]

will be addressed, there is no more reason to fight…[by] that time we can have the decommissioning,” Ruivivar added.

The second round of GPH-NDFP peace talks is scheduled from Oct 6 to 10, 2016, in Oslo, Norway.

In fact, she said there are more or less 600 dependents who have expressed willingness to undergo rehabilitation which the provincial government will fully support.

“It takes time to rehabilitate people who have been into drugs but we must be patient and help them change their lives,” Gov. Matugas pointed out.

She said the provincial government will support the current drive of the Department of Health (DOH) to make

the rehabilitation programs community-based.

The provincial government of Surigao del Norte will convert its two medical facilities in the towns of Placer and Sta. Monica as rehabilitation centers for drug dependents in the area, the governor added.

Each of these medical facilities, she said, will have 100 beds each.

Gov. Matugas also expressed her gratitude to the DOH for providing support to

the effort of provincial governments to rehabilitate its residents who are into illegal drugs.

Aside from its rehabilitation efforts, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte will also launch a family-based campaign against the illegal drug trade.

Governor Matugas believes that strong families can build better communities, and that drug-free families will help create drug-free communities.

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on tenants from owners of apartments as part of the system.

He said the BCCAD has assigned five auxiliary units in each barangay to help in monitoring efforts once the

system proposed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is finally implemented in the city.

Regarding the postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections, Ong said the draft for

the deferment of the polls had already been submitted to the executive branch.

He pointed out the election’s postponement will just be for a year and not two years as others might think.

sions at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Taguig from Sept.

20 and 21.

Meanwhile, NDF consultant Perfecto Tuna Jr. noted in Thursday’s i-Speak press briefing at the City Hall that what both parties have at the moment is a unilateral ceasefire declaration.

“We hope to sign a bilateral agreement in Oslo for a joint ceasefire, which is more durable and permanent,” said Tuna.

Tuna pointed out that both parties aim is to harmo-

nize the operational guidelines of the GPH and the NDF during ceasefire to avoid misencounters or other violations of the agreement.

Both parties are also expected to come up with a mechanism for the reporting of ceasefire violations, he added.

Tuna noted the GPH and the NDF panels earlier agreed “to reconcile and develop their separate unilateral ceasefire orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days.”

He said initial agreements on JMC and bilateral ceasefire will be fleshed out and formalized when the GRP and NDF resumes formal peace negotiations in Oslo from Oct 6 to 10.

Aside from the JMC and bilateral ceasefire, other items up for negotiation in the second round of peace talks in Oslo include the substantive agreements on socio-economic reforms (CASER), political and constitutional reforms (PCR) and end of hostilities/ disposition of forces (EOHDOF).

witnesses which will testify on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the national penitentiary.

Aguirre also believes the case against De Lima is strong given the testimonies of the witnesses presented in the House of Representatives inquiry on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He cited statements of high-profile inmates led by robbery and carnapping convict Herbert Colanggo, who

said that they gave millions of payola to De Lima and that fellow high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian tapped them to sell drugs from the prison to raise funds for De Lima’s senatorial campaign.

The DOJ Chief said they are working to bring more witnesses to the House inquiry on the illegal drugs trade which will resume next week.

He reiterated that possible charges under Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Danger-

ous Drugs Act) and Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) could be filed against De Lima.

Aguirre believes that if probable cause is established upon preliminary investigation, non-bailable cases could be filed against the senator.

He noted that should the prosecutors prove the charges against De Lima in court, she may be convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

(PNA)

cushion the impact of these tax reform measures on the country’s most vulnerable sectors.

According to Chua, around a quarter to a third of the net amount of revenue of around P370 billion, to be raised from the entire tax reform program would be allocated for targeted subsidies.

“That is really how a tax system should work. The money we collect, it should be redistributed to those who will be needing it so that they will benefit (from the reforms),” Chua said.

“So, at the Finance Department, we are working to come

up with a targeted subsidy scheme so that we protect the lowest 50 percent of the population from this increase in excise tax. We are also looking at providing a number of subsidies to commuters such as cash cards or upfront discount to offset the impact on the people,” Chua added.

Chua said the DOF’s proposed income tax bill can be fully strengthened and further complemented by making it a part of a wider comprehensive tax reform program that aims to broaden the tax base while lowering the rates.

In this way, he added, “it

[the tax reform program] can encourage more investments, job creation, and poverty reduction.”

Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has said that part of this social protection package is a targeted subsidy program designed to shield poor consumers from the plan to adjust excise taxes on petroleum products.

The finance chief said revenues generated from the fuel excise tax adjustments would be redirected to those who need financial aid the most through targeted subsidies such as cash transfers.

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“I am overwhelmed by the show of support of others who have come here,” said Patricia Melizza Ruvivar, communications director of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Ruvivar stressed that Dabawenyos should stand up and make things happen.

With the battlecry of “Barug Davao,” thousands of residents took to the streets last Wednesday for the peace march.

Davao City Police Office Director Michael John Dubria said elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Task Force Davao (TFD) helped beef up security during Wednesday’s event.

dicates if you consider the fact that we have now 3.7 million drug addicts. By the number alone, you can say it’s a serious crime,” President Duterte said.

Duterte said his intensified campaign against illegal drugs that prompted more than 700,000 drug pushers and users to surrender themselves, and resulted in the killing of more than 1,000 drug addicts in legitimate police operations, has pulled down the crime rate by 60 percent.

”There were many killed but they are addicts. What if they killed people?” he said.

Last Monday, Senator Leila de Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 153 urging the Executive department, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to invite UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard to initiate a third party and independent probe on the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

Senate Majority Leader

Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson opposed de Lima’s proposal, saying there is no need for the UN to meddle in the massive drug campaign of the Duterte administration.

De Lima is being investigated at the House of Representatives for her alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

Callamard earlier urged the Duterte administration to stop the extrajudicial killing of drug suspects. (PNA)

point to President Duterte. But upon questioning, [it would turn out these are just] assumptions,” Cayetano stated.

Furthermore, the senator asked Matobato to recount how he supposedly killed suspected terrorist Sali Makdum under the orders of Duterte himself.

Cayetano asked Matobato who ordered them to kill Makdum, to which the witness replied, “Hindi ko na alam sir kung sinong nag-utos.”

“Sir, last hearing, pinapalabas mo si Mayor Duterte ang nag-utos. Ngayon, nagbago na ‘yung inyong statement… So hindi si Mayor Duterte ang nag-

papatay?” Cayetano prodded.

“Ewan ko lang, sir,” Matobato responded.

Cayetano also questioned Matobato’s account on the murder of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent, whom he identified only as “Amisola.”

In his previous testimony, Matobato said the victim was apprehended by a certain Major Pabo after the former’s vehicle was blocking their way during an operation in Barangay Matina.

Matobato claimed that a gunfight ensued between Amisola and Pabo’s team consisting of around thirty people, but it allegedly took them a long time

to kill Amisola that Duterte had to “finish him off” using two Uzi magazines.

“Hindi talaga ako makatulog sa litrato na trenta ang papatay doon sa NBI agent... Sabay-sabay binabaril… Hihintayin niyo si Mayor na ubusin yung dalawang Uzi [magazines] para mapatay?

Trenta kayo, isa lang ang papatayin niyo?” Cayetano asked.

Matobato in response said they had a hard time shooting Amisola since he was hiding under a pickup truck and was also shooting back at them. He also changed his previous statement that around thirty people were involved in the shootout.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

Watsons, Operation Smile hold cleft surgery mission in Davao More than 200 kids benefited so far

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

GIVING BACK. Watsons managing director Robert Sun gives an overview of the company and its involvement in Operation Smile cleft surgery missions which were held simultaneously in Davao City and in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday while Operation Smile Country

Director of Development Roberto Manzano listens.

Watsons and Operation Smile Philippines are eyeing to treat over 175 children and young adults with cleft lip and cleft palate in yesterday’s activity which coincided with A.S. Watson’s 175th anniversary. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody to China... FROM 4 UN international arbitral tribunal’s ruling in favor of the Philippines’ arbitration case filed against China’s ninedash line claim that almost covers the entire South China Sea. ”This piece of paper that we have our award, we do not go out of the four corners of this paper. We cannot go to war. Let’s talk first,” he said.

The President said he believes that China will talk to him in good faith. ”It’s not territorial. If territorial, we could have killed each other a long time ago.

It’s the sovereign entitlement,” he explained.

He said China got angry with the Philippines when former President Benigno Aquino III brought the WPS

3rd floor, DL Vergara Jr. Bldg. Bonifacio (Dover Lanes) Cor. Padre Gomez Sts., Davao City

P 2,500 to P 3,500 / head / month near universities (UIC, UM, ADDU) • new rooms • all rooms with private toilet and bath • aircon / non-aircon

issue to the international arbitral tribunal in The Hague.

President Duterte is scheduled to visit China as well as Japan this year but before going to these countries, he will visit Vietnam next week.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in a press briefing that President Duterte will tackle the WPS issue during his working visit to Vietnam. ”It will be discussed,” Andanar said during the briefing in Malacañang Palace.

(PNA)

W

ATSONS Personal Care Store has partnered with Operation Smile Philippines to carry out a free cleft palate surgical mission at the Brokenshire Hospital Davao City from Sept.

17 to 23, 2016.

The mission aims to benefit 150 cleft palate patients coming from unprivileged families who passed the screening on Sept. 17 and have been scheduled for surgery.

The Operation Smile Philippines team is comprised of plastic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, pediatric intensivists, pediatricians, dentists, nurses, clinical coordinators, speech pathologists, child life specialists, patient imaging technicians and medical records and documentation personnel.

According to Gian L. Trebol, executive director of Operation Smile Philippines, the mission team will shoulder even post operational processes such as follow up check-up, one to two-month speech therapy, medicines and hygiene kits courtesy of Watsons.

“We will also provide them with transportation allowance, and we rely on the Eastern

Mindanao Command,” Trebol added.

Meanwhile, Roberto Manzano, country director of development of Operation Smile’s Asia Regional Office, explained the operation would not only fix facial deformities of patients but also, provide them with a better future by increasing their self-esteem and consequently, enabling them to secure better job opportunities.

“There is no need for psychological rehabilitation because the impact of the surgery alone will result to the healing of the person physically and emotionally,” explained Manzano.

A similar mission is also being held simultaneously in Cavite and will benefit 100 patients.

For the two missions, Watsons Philippines and Operation Smile have mobilized two teams of over 175 volunteers composed of Watsons employees, cleft care professionals from nine countries — Australia, Canada, Egypt, Honduras, Jordan, Mexico, Sweden, USA and the Philippines.

A Philippine-borne ad-

vocacy founded on 1982 by American couple Dr. William and Kathy Magee who launched the program in Naga City, Operation Smile serves as the world’s largest children’s charity which has provided free cleft surgery to over 300,000 cleft cases in 60 countries around the globe.

In the Philippines, it has mounted 302 missions in 79 cities and municipalities, treating more than 29,000 Filipinos with oral cleft problems.

Watsons Philippines has been supporting the mission since 2013, sponsoring 737 operations in seven missions in Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Manila and San Fernando.

In support to the advocacy of “putting a smile on people’s faces,” the company has trained more than 500 employees, while committing to provide assistance to those in need of sponsorship for their cleft surgeries.

“We’ve totally embraced Operation Smile because its work manifests our “Look Good, Feel Great” philosophy”, said Watsons Philippines Managing Director Robert U. Sun in a press statement.

AMENITIES: CCTV, SECURITY GUARD, WI-Fl, TELEPHONE

Contact: 09197217316 or 221-4575 Lulu

JVA. Executives of DoubleDragon/CityMall and Alsons Dev (L-R seated): Edgar ‘Injap’ Sia II, Paul and Rosvida Dominguez, Nicasio Alcantara, (L-R standing) Atty. Joselito Barrera, Jr., Ferdinand Sia, Eric de la Costa, Miguel Dominguez and Alex Alcantara.

CityMall to rise at Northtown Davao L

EADING homegrown real estate firm Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) and CityMall Commercial Centers, Inc. (CMCCI) signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) on Sept. 20, 2016 for CMCCI to build a CityMall shopping complex in a 1.5-hectare area within the vicinity of Northtown, Alsons Development’s 116-hectare residential township in Cabantian, Davao City.

The JVA comes just three months after the inauguration of the Alsons Public Safety

Complex, an integrated public safety and rescue facility with fire, police and 911 stations, also located just outside Northtown, which is the real estate firm’s latest project under its Alsons Properties brand.

“We have always envisioned Northtown to be a complete and self-sustaining township,” said Alsons Dev Vice President and General Manager Eric de la D. Costa.

“We are very excited to see this vision slowly coming to fruition and with no less than

CityMall, one of the country’s fastest rising companies, as our partner.”

CMCCI, a joint venture between SM Investments Corp.

(SMIC) and DoubleDragon Properties Corporation (DD), aims to establish CityMall as the country’s largest branded community mall chain and plans to build 100 malls by 2020. “We can clearly see the vision behind Northtown to soon become one of the most vibrant areas in Davao City,” said Edgar “Injap” Sia II, Chairman of DoubleDragon/

CityMall. “And we believe that CityMall will be a great addition to the development of Northtown.”

The CityMall at Northtown will house top fast food brands such as Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, and Highlands Coffee, as well as top SM Group brands such as Savemore, Ace Hardware, Watson’s, SM Appliance, Simply Shoes, BDO, and Chinabank.

CityMall Northtown Davao is expected to be completed by last quarter of 2017.

12

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

TRAVEL

A day with the

Huawei P9 I HAD ALWAYS BEEN A LEICA FANBOY. In fact, I was one of the first few people in my clique to shoot using the Lumix compact camera, a Panasonic and Leica collaboration. I loved how the optics of the camera produced stunning photos with vibrant colors captured by the Leica Lens. So you can just imagine my excitement when I finally got my chance to try out the new Huawei P9, Huawei’s flagship device which features a dual-lens camera technology coengineered with the iconic camera manufacturer Leica.

Once I got my hands on the Huawei P at the workshop conducted by the master lensmen of the Leica Club Manila, Billy Mondonelo and Dr. Benjo Campomanes Jr., I was immediately drawn to its elegant minimalist design. What stood out for me was the view of the phone’s back which features both an RGB and monochrome camera. This design enables the Huawei P9 to produce

vivid images bearing a unique emotional resonance and timelessness

Urbanissimo A4

Huawei P9

Corinne Bacani, Senior Marketing Manager for CBG of Huawei Philippines.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 20

PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

UP AND ABOUT

Choosing the righ

By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto ADMIT IT, DINING OUT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE FOOD. It too is about the atmosphere and the ambiance all together.

Imagine yourself inside a restaurant – interior is beautiful, service is excellent and the food is off the charts. But the lights are just so bright. They permanently destroy your double-tap worthy images in an instant.

The feeling of discomfort brought about by the bright lights can verily affect how you holistically perceive an establishment. Inappropriate lighting, especially for restaurants, can make or break them. Not that it affects the flavours or the taste of the dish but aesthetically, the change in colour, is a big factor in capturing your market.

Pip Balingit with the owners of Mamma Maria’s Pizzeria Cafe.

“Choosing the right light for your restaurant is a necessity.

Indeed, the Right Light is Everything.”, Pip Balingit, Head of Sales – VisMin Channel, Philips Electronics & Lighting, Inc, explained. He added, “All Philips light have the light quality you would expect from us. With it, the advantages of its innova-

tive technology like long lasting, energy efficient, long life span, great design, home connectivity and personal interactivity can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.”

Lighting is primarily for the person. Contrary to what we know, it is not solely to just fit any restaurant’s architecture or de-

sign. In truth, t greatly influenc feelings and mo right atmosphe one’s current st True, good all and be all o But, having the helps as well. Li rite pizza joint, Pizzeria Cafe, r with Philips Ele ing, Inc. in mak With their n but proper for right light in m es even more a course, custome The result? An ing Mamma Cafe that you’d more.

The partners cate everyone choose the rig establishments. thetically high but more so, gi round light to

2016

EDGEDAVAO

ht light

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

FROM SEPTEMBER 23 TO 25, 2016, celebrate everything coffee at SM Lanang Premier’s Coffee Festival.

Savor the different flavors and delightful aromas of coffee activities at the festival’s Pop-up Cafe at the 1st Level. Participating coffee companies include Blugre, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Organo Gold, Meridian Specialty Coffee, Archetype Specialty Coffee and Coffee for Peace, which will also have a display of coffee paintings during the Festival.

If you’re interested on how to make a great cup of coffee, witness live coffee demos by Archetype and Meridian on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Discover the art of coffee paint-

ing at a live demo by Coffee for Peace and Tabula Rasa artists on September 24 and 25, from 3pm to 6pm. Mallgoers can also participate in the coffee painting session for a minimal fee of P100.

Celebrate the brew that everybody loves! Don’t miss the Coffee Festival at the 1st Level near Mossimo, SM Lanang Premier this coming Friday to Sunday.

For inquiries, call 285-0943 loc.

135-138. Like SM Lanang Premier on Facebook and follow @SMLanangPremier on Twitter and Instagram for event and promo updates.

Serving a seamless society

ship aims to eduof the need to ght light for your . Not just to aeshlight the fixtures ive an instant full o enhance the at-

mosphere without breaking the bank.

Open to restaurants in the city, Philips seeks to help you make that change. Philips will provide the essential lighting that you need and in the process, help you and your restaurant establish a more soothing dining atmosphere, enhance food appearance, boost kitchen performance (yes!) and of course, increase sales to name a few. The other best thing? You need not spend anything. No cost from your end.

Indeed, lighting a restaurant is a challenge. However, finding the perfect light fixtures you need is now made easy with Philips.

Truly, the Right Light is Everything.

Restaurateurs, this is for you.

Go on, Make that switch.

Send your emails to pip.balingit@philips.com before the end of November 2016 and convey your interest to partner with Philips in terms of lighting your restaurant.

SM Lanang Premier celebrates everything about coffee

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

he colour of lights ces and measures oods. It sets up the ere that enhances tate of mind. food is the end of any restaurant. e right atmosphere ike Davao’s favou, Mamma Maria’s recently partnered ectronics & Lightking that switch. new interiors, it is them to have the making their dishappetizing and of mers more satisfied. n even more invitMaria’s Pizzeria d surely love even

INdulge! A3 PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

ENTERTAINMENT

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

Extraordinary story of love and family in Oh, My Mama!

THIS SEPTEMBER, GMA Network brings to light another one-of-a-kind Afternoon Prime series that will forge a connection with the hearts of the televiewers with Oh, My Mama!

This series is the TV adaptation of the 1981 movie with the same title headlined by Diamond Star Maricel Soriano. It tells the story of a teenager who suddenly takes on the role of a mother to five street children while in search for her father’s love.

Newest Kapuso leading lady Inah de Belen takes up the challenge on playing her first lead role as she breathes life to Maricel Reyes, a 17-year-old teenager who longs for the affection of her dad. As she searches for her father, Maricel crosses paths with a syndicate group that kidnaps children to be used as beggars.

To date, this is the most challenging role for Inah since she is tackling a mother role. “My role is very challenging kasi I’m going to deal with kids and I should learn how to act like a mother. My character also is searching for the love of her parent. So yung irony niya, kailangan ko maipakita.

Even if I feel pressured,

Urbanissimo A1 which Leica is known for.

“The arrival of the Huawei P9 line in the Philippines signifies a shift in the standard of phone photography. Now, the game has changed and we are confident to stand out from the norm,” said Corinne Bacani, Senior Marketing Manager for CBG of Huawei Philippines. “Much like how a Leica photograph stands out from others, P9 users set themselves apart from other smartphone users

The author with Billy Mondonelo.

I can use that. That’s my motivation since I want challenge,” she shared.

Adding color to her journey is the arrogant Julio Sta. Ana portrayed

by Jake Vargas, who will help Maricel and the children escape the faction and will help Maricel in raising them up.

For the Kapuso actor, he cannot contain his excitement to take on his role since it is another milestone for him.

“I am excited to play Julio kasi bago ito sa akin.

Offbeat yung role ko rito kasi maangas ang character ko at member ako ng sindikato. Wala akong takot gumawa ng mga masasamang bagay and then eventually magiging tatay-tatayan ako ng mga bata,” Jake said.

Completing the love triangle is Jeric Gonzales who plays Zach Ynares, a chick magnet who will fall in love with Maricel.

Jeric shares that he is thrilled to represent a role that’s completely different to his personality. “Challenge sa akin maging si Zach kasi mayabang siya rito at mayaman. Malayo kasi sa personality ko yun. But at the same time, looking forward ako to work kasi it’s a whole new adventure for me. At tsaka masaya akong katrabaho silang lahat,” the Kapuso actor said.

Joining them are versatile actors Gladys Reyes as Inday Bartolome; Ryan Eigenmann as Efren Ynares; Epi Quizon as Gordon Reyes; Yul Servo as Robert Reyes; Francine Prieto

with the perfect tool for creativity and self-expression.”

A photowalk at People’s Park after the workshop revealed the P9’s flexibility and the power of its unique 12 megapixel camera with many participants, including me, falling in love with Leica’s signature bokeh which eliminates unwanted details. With the dual lens set-up, the focus depth can be adjusted even after the photo was taken, ensuring beautifully focused photos every time.

The P9’s vivid screen is 5.2 inches big and is powered by Huawei’s new 2.5GHz Kirin 955 processor with 4GB of RAM running Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow). It has 32 GB of internal storage with a microSD slot to expand storage up to 256 GB. The P9 as well as the bigger P9 Plus are available at Huawei Experience stores and partnerretailers nationwide.

You can also get the P9 through Globe and Smart Postpaid Plans.

Dr. Benjo Campomanes.

as Patricia Ynares; Arthur Solinap as Rick Rosales; Eunice Lagusad as Sara Bartolome; Ash Ortega as Ariana Gutierrez; Phytos Ramirez as Justin; Jenny Miller as Sabrina Cruz.

Adding star power to this series is the special participation of seasoned actress Sheryl Cruz as Julia Domingo.

Catch the unique story of Maricel in Oh, My Mama! from Monday to Friday, beginning September 19 after Eat Bulaga on GMA Afternoon Prime.

September 22 – 27, 2016

BARCELONA: A LOVE UNTOLD Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla Guaranteed Seating & One Time Viewing Only

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12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

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Aljur Abrenica, Allen Abrenica/ *Gong Yoo, Kim Su-an 1:00 | 3:10 LFS / *5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

13 PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

Aeon Towers:

A new lifestyle for your hardworking self

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

C

njb@edgedavao.net

HOOSING a condominium lifestyle is definitely a brilliant idea especially for budding professionals, students and modern families who wish to enjoy the comfort and trend of modern lifestyle.

You can always choose from among many condominium projects mushrooming about town, but if you want real value for your hard-earned money and live in a premium state-of-the-art residential space in the scenic skylines of Davao, you might as well not compromise.

Be prepared to enjoy an enticing and chic kind of urban life of you pick the right one for you.

It’s not that hard though.

Whether you consult a real

estate agent or do the scouting yourself, you can make comparisons and arrive at a wise decision.

Take some variables in consideration like location, amenities, security and safety.

All these lead to the most sought after condominium project in Davao City—the Aeon Towers.

The initial venture of a certified local firm FTC Group of Companies, the 33-level skyscraper is destined to become not only the city’s tallest but also its next iconic structure.

First test, location. Most condominium buildings are constructed in premium locations such as at the heart of the metropolis. This certainly

means you are situated right at the center of the cosmopolitan near all the important establishments and buildings in the metro. You have the privilege of easy access to everything such as public and business establishments and transportation. Those who have work in the city do not have to wrestle with the traffic problem and time constraints since they can choose buildings strategically located near their workplaces. Going to the department stores where you can avail your groceries and other important items is also done with great comfort and convenience.

Aeon Towers is located at JP Laurel Avenue in Davao’s newest CBD. These area is

lined with shopping malls and condo buildings as well as major businesses and offices, hospitals and schools.

Next test, amenities. There are provided amenities and common facilities in most condo buildings that residents can rightfully use and enjoy. You have the privilege to use several recreational services exclusively provided for members and residents such as swimming pools, tennis courts, lob-

bies, elevators and gyms.

Aeon Towers has a luxury hotel, fitness gym, jogging lane, shops, BPO offices, skydeck pool, and offices. It is also the first to use Smarthome technology where you can control your unit even from thousands of miles away through internet.

Finally, safety and security.

The Smarthome technology and the state-of-the-art security devices are available 24/7.

You are definitely ensured that you are well protected and safe within your condo units with a round-the-clock security.

Overall, Aeon Towers is an embodiment of the aspirations of Dabawenyos—modern lifestyle in a highly liveable metropolis.

It has the look of the future

with an encasement of UV-protecting glass and will have a clear look at the majestic environs of Davao and the nearby Island Garden City of Samal.

The construction of the signature project of FTC Group of Companies is working round the clock. The company hopes to fast track the turnover of the project. Most of the residential units have been sold out with just a few left in the inventory.

The top floors of the stateof-the-art skyscraper are the premium residential units and the skydeck infinity pool and offices.

As of September 17, construction has completed concrete pouring of the 21st floor.

By December, the building is set for topping off.

EDGEDAVAO

14 HEALTH

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

MSG: Eating with the enemy?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

W

HAT is popularly called the Chinese restaurant syndrome in the United States is not a type of chemical food poisoning. Rather, it is a sensitivity to monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer often used in Chinese cooking.

“In susceptible people, MSG can produce facial pressure, chest pain, and burning sensations throughout the body,” points out The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “Many people feel anxious as well. The amount of MSG that can cause these symptoms varies considerably from person to person.”

Locally known as vetsin – derived from the Hokkien Chinese words for “flavor essence” – it is almost impossible to avoid this substance if you’re living in the Philippines. It seems to be in everything – from a bag of corn snacks to savory nuts, from instant noodles to canned soup. How many Filipinos buy MSG to make their food more palatable and delicious?

Actually, MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a non-essential amino acid because the body can make its own supply. Glutamate is important to humans for its metabolic and brain function. It is found in abundance both in its “free” and “bound” form in practically all natural foods like meats, fish, cheese, milk and even breast milk, tomatoes, mushrooms, and other vegetables.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified MSG as “generally recognized as safe” while the European Union considered it as a food additive. Industrial food manufacturers market and use MSG as a flavor enhancer because it balances, blends and rounds the total perception of other tastes.

How MSG was discovered is an interesting story in itself. Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese professor from the University of Tokyo, isolated glutamic acid as a new taste substance in 1908 from the seaweed Laminaria japonica. He noticed that the Japanese broth of “katsuobushi” and “kombu” had a peculiar taste that had not been scientifically described at that time and was differed from sweet, salty, sour and bitter.

The Japanese professor called the taste “umami.” It is touted to be the fifth basic taste – after sweet, sour, salty and bitter. This savory taste is an integral part of cuisines around the world. It is found in the bouillons of Europe, the oyster sauce of China, and the soy and fish sauces of Southeast Asia, the pizza and lasagna of Italy and the chowders and stews of America.

To verify that ionized glutamate was responsi-

ble for the “umami” taste, Professor Ikeda studied the taste properties of many glutamate salts such as calcium, potassium, ammonium, and magnesium glutamate. All salts elicited umami in addition to a certain metallic taste due to the other minerals. Among those salts, sodium glutamate was the most soluble and palatable, and crystallized easily.

Professor Ikeda named the product monosodium glutamate and submitted a patent to produce MSG. The Suzuki brothers started the commercial production of MSG in 1909 as Aji-no-moto, meaning “essence of taste” in Japanese, the first time that monosodium glutamate was produced in the world.

MSG is usually produced through fermentation – a process similar in making beer, soy sauce, vinegar and yogurt. It begins with the fermentation of corn, sugar beet or sugar cane or cassava. The finished product is a pure, white crystal which dissolves easily and blends well in many foods.

MSG enhances the basic flavor of many foods. According to the Glutamate Association of the Philippines (GAP), MSG can be used in many savory dishes including meat, fish, poultry and many vegetables, and in sauces, soups and marinades. “While MSG harmonizes well with salty and sour tastes, it contributes little or nothing to sweet or bitter foods,” GAP states.

The food enhancer, GAP claims, is a self-limiting substance. “Once the effective amount is used, adding more contributes little, if anything, to food flavor,” it points out.

“Overuse of MSG, as with many other seasonings and spices, may cause some foods to have an undesirable taste.”

While MSG makes bland foods more appealing to people, it must be used judiciously. The Department of Science and Technology, through its Nutrition Research and Development Division, conducted a study on 67 healthy seniors from a home for the aged in Metro Manila a couple of year back.

The result of the study: increased food intake with MSG compared to just seasoning with salt had “no adverse hypertensive effect.” The researchers, however, suggested moderate use of MSG for the elderly.

Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus, of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital noticed, in his study, how diabetics ate food items with low glycemic index with much gusto when MSG was added. However, he advised that the recommended amount of MSG in a dish should not be increased. Doing so, he said, decreased the food’s palatability.

Photo from the net How much enough? The GAP has this reply: “MSG’s low sodium content represents a minor contribution to the overall sodium level of a typical diet. By way of comparison, MSG contains about

12% sodium while table salt contains 39%. However, MSG is used at levels lower than salt.

“Considering all sources of dietary sodium (natural sodium content of foods, ta-

ble salt, sodium-containing ingredients in processed foods, drinking water and pharmaceuticals), typical use of MSG contributes about one to two percent of the total sodium contained in the average diet,” it adds.

Is MSG safe for children?

“Children metabolize glutamate in the same way that adults do and monosodium glutamate is safe for children,” says the European Food Information Council (EFIC), a non-profit organization which provides science-based information on food safety and quality and health and nutrition to the media. “In fact, human breast milk contains 10 times more glutamate than cow’s milk.”

Over the years, the FDA in the United States has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to

foods containing MSG. These reactions include: headache; flushing; sweating; facial pressure or tightness; numbness, tingling or burning in face, neck and other areas; rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations); chest pain; nausea; and weakness.

“However, researchers have found no definitive evidence of a link between MSG and these symptoms,” says Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic nutritionist. “Researchers acknowledge, though, that a small percentage of people may have short-term reactions to MSG. Symptoms are usually mild and don’t require treatment.”

“If you think you are sensitive to MSG or any other food ingredient,” EFIC suggests, “the best advice is to check with your doctor or with a dietitian.”

EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016

Davao West stops CMO in friendly match

T

EAM Davao West defeated City Mayors Office, 9183, in their friendly game on Wednesday at the Genesis 88 Gym. Five players finished double digits for the Davao West led

by Vallega who had 18 points.

J. Revote chipped in 15 baskets as Leonardo contributed 14 and Elanu and Bahala made 10 each.

Sec. Christopher “Bong” Go scored game best 27 points for the CMO. The special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte and PMS chief nailed seven treys that came from all angles.

Warren Flores and John Flores made 14 and 12 respectively for the losing effort Glenn Escandor had 11 markers.

Ravena saves day for Mighty Sports

K

IEFER Ravena shrugged off jetlag and came up big come crunch time in Mighty Sports’ opening 92-87 comeback win over Seoul Samsung Thunders in the Merlion Cup in Singapore on Wednesday night.

Ravena, who came straight from Texas and joined the team on the eve of the tournament, found a way to score seven points for Mighty - none bigger than the jumper he hit with the shotclock running down that gave Mighty a three-point spread, 84-81, with 1:35 to go.

Imports Al Thornton and Hamady N’Diaye then put the final touches to the big finishing kick that completed the hard-earned victory for the Philippine representative.

“No jet lag for me while playing,” Ravena told SPIN.ph when asked how he was feeling during the match. “Mind over matter na lang e. Pero after, crash talaga.”

The former Ateneo star, coming off weeks of training in the US topped off by a tryout with NBA D-League side Texas Legends, said he was confident enough that he could make the shot.

“Confident in a way na isa ‘yun sa mga shots na I do sa practice,” he said. “Gusto ko lang kahit papaano makatulong sa team. And D Spencer found me open and I’m glad I was able to make it.”

Mighty Sports had to climb back from 10 points down and head coach Charles Tiu expected the early struggles, considering this is a different team from the one that ruled the Jones Cup in Taipei last month.

“This win is the first for this team. It’s a new group although we still have some of the guys who played in Taiwan. But it’s a new team,” Tiu said.

“It’s still a work in progress. The boys are slowly getting used to playing together.

We’re still looking for the right combinations. But we’re getting there,” he added.

Ravena conceded the presence of crack imports made it easier for him and fellow locals Joseph Yeo, ABL MVP Matthew Wright, and ex-National University star Gelo Alolino.

“It also helped na may mga imports kami na sobrang take charge sila nung humahabol kami,” he said. “It made our lives so much easier kasi nga dahil sa attention sa defense grabe sa kanila.”

But the two-time UAAP MVP will always be on his toes, saying anything can happen in a short tournament like this one.

“Well isang game pa lang naman. Kailangan pa rin syempre puso at yung dedication bawat game nandon kasi mabilis lang tournament e. Kaya hindi pwede mag rest while playing,” he said.

GAME HERO. Kiefer Ravena came straight from the US to join Mighty Sports on the eve of the Merlion Cup.

KEEP ON RUNNING Milo Davao leg set October 9

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

T

njb@edgedavao.net

HE country’s most popular footrace returns on October 9 in Davao City for the Davao Qualifying Race of the National Milo Marathon.

Now on its 40th edition, the annual showpiece will return for the third straight year to its venue at the SM Lanang Premier where another banner field is expected to join.

Defending champions Sonny Wagdos and Judelyn Miranda will try to defend their men’s and women’s titles in the premier 10-Kilometer eliminations that rewards the winner and those who break the qualifying time a slot to the National Finals set December 4 in Iloilo.

Race organizer Kenneth Sai said he expects another massive assembly of runners possibly hitting the 10,000 mark.

Sai is encouraging echools to take part in the race and in the ancillary events like cheerdance competition and biggest delegation.

“This race is an exceptional opportunity to showcase your school’s best runners, raise you school colors and contribute to a bigger cause. It is also

an excellent venue where your students can develop teamwork, foster camaraderie, and strengthen school spirit,” Sai said.

Sai said among the events schools can take part are the 3-K Kiddie Run, the 5-K Fun Run, the Biggest School Delegation Contest, the Interschool Running Team Competition, and the Cheer Dance Competition.

Now on its 40th edition, the MILO Marathon will be running the qualifying races in seventeen (13) cities nationwide with one (1) national finals race. There will be four categories for the regional races (3K, 5K, 10K and 21K) and five (3K, 5K, 10K, 21K and 42K) categories for the Manila and National Finals race. We are expecting a total of 200,000 runners where about seventy percent are student runners.

The MILO Marathon will kick-off in Dagupan on July 17th and will culminate in Iloilo on December 4 for the National Finals.

Starting nearly four decades ago, the MILO Marathon made its mark in the Philippines by being the first mara-

BIGGEST FOOTRACE. The 40th edittion of the Milo Marathon is expected to draw a huge field again. The Davao leg is set on October 9. thon to be considered a major national sports event. To this day, it remains the grandest, most prestigious running competition in the country with over 200,000 participants from all walks of life in key cities nationwide year on year.

MILO Marathon evolved into an even grander sporting event with its advocacy of giving shoes to underprivileged school children. Many of these children run, play, and go to school with no shoes to cover their feet. With the “Help Give Shoes” movement, a portion of every runner’s registra-

tion fee is put into a collective pool, which is then doubled by MILO with its own monetary donation. The total amount raised is used to buy the running shoes donated to shoeless public school children, who are chosen based on their academic performance and athletic potential. These shoes are a symbol of inspiration for Filipino children to reach for their dreams and become their very best.

Since its launch in 2010, the advocacy has helped give over 60,000 pairs of running shoes to kids who need them.

of Surigao del Norte and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Rusillon also bared that for the last three years, accreditation from the World Surfing League and the Asian Surfing Championship had already been facilitated.

If surfing will be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the mayor said that winners of the Siargao Cup for the past three years will gain points to qualify for the said international competition.

clared champion in the grommet competition; Charlie Arjona was the 1st runner-up; Caloy Nogalo the 2nd runner-up; and Tarik Alipayo the 3rdrunner-up.

Rusillon said most of the junior and grommet participants were children of local fishermen in the area.

“It is my dream that Siargao, as we continue with the junior and grommet competitions, will someday bring home the first gold medal in the country from Olympics,” Rusillon said.

51 surfers to compete for 22nd Siargao World Surfing Cup

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

A

adlopez0920@gmail.com

LL is set for the opening of the 22nd Siargao World Surfing Cup in Cloud 9, Barangay Catangan, General Luna town, Surigao del Norte today, Sept. 23.

Around 6,000 to 7,000 foreign and local tourists are expected to arrive in Siargao Island to witness and take part in the event, Mayor Jaime P. Rusillon, of General Luna said.

The formal opening of the competition will be led

by House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez together with Governor Sol Matugas, Congressman Bingo Matugas and former Congressman Francisco Matugas.

Rusillon said that as of Wednesday, 51 professional surfers from all over the world have already arrived to compete for the much-coveted surfing cup.

The surfers come from Hawaii, USA, Japan, Ecuador, Indonesia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile, Canada and the Philippines.

“Cloud 9 is considered No. 8 surfing Mecca in the world,” the mayor pointed out.

To date, this year’s com-

petition has the most contestants, with 19 of them coming from Australia.

At stake is the $50,000 prize that will be divided by the champion and the two runner-up winners.

Last year, two Filipinos dominated the competition – John Mark Tokong and Piso Alcala were declared champion and 1st runner-up consecutively while Lucan Chianca from Brazil was the 2nd runner-up.

Both Tokong and Alcala are from Siargao Island.

This year, eight Filipino surfers will compete in the event who include Tokong, Alcala, Philmar Alipayo, Jun Esqunel, Paul John Alipayo, Martin Taniegra, Mike Escoltura and Carlito Nogalo.

The eight Filipino surfers were the qualifiers of the recently concluded 18th National Surfing Cup also held at Cloud 9 last Sept. 17 to 21.

One hundred fifty three local surfers coming from various parts of the country joined the competition.

This year’s Siargao World Surfing Cup is being supported by provincial government, the 1st congressional district

Developing future surfers Rusillon said the municipal government is also working to develop homegrown surfers.

The 18th National Surfing last Sept. 17 to 22 also featured Junior Division and Grommet Division competitions.

Kids from Siargao aged 20 below joined the junior competition, while children below 10 years of age competed in the grommet division.

This year’s champion in the junior competition was Mark Escoltura; 1st runner-up was Gabriel Lerog; 2nd runner up Robert Timbal; and 3rd runner up Veciente Escoltura.

Remar Canon was de-

Kite surfing Rusillo also told reporters the municipal and provincial government will launch next year a kite surfing competition.

He said more than 100 kite surfers visited Cloud 9 last year.

“Organizers for the kite surfing competition were already here and signified their willingness to support the staging of the competition next year,” he added.

The event will be held between November and December every year, he said. ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 151 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - 24, 2016