Edge Davao 9 Issue 27

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO

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Serving a seamless society

MOBBED. Presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano are mobbed by supporters eager to catch a glimpse of him during their motorcade around Puerto Princesa where they held a campaign rally on Thursday. (Rody Duterte: The Real Change photo)

AND NOW, 5 HOURS

DLPC adds one more hour to rotational brownouts

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

RACE yourselves for longer blackouts.

The duration of rotating power interruptions will be longer by another hour as Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) announced five hours blackouts within its franchise areas which include Davao City and portions of Davao del Norte.

“Total supply deficit within the Davao Light franchise is now at 103 megawatt (MW),” the DLPC said in a statement yesterday.

DLPC, which is also a sub-

sidiary of Aboitiz Power, estimated that a 20MW deficit will result in a maximum of one hour of rotating outages.

The power firm attributed the longer outages to the decreased power supply allocation from the National Power Corporation- Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM).

“Supply allocation from NPC-PSALM to Davao Light continues to decrease due to the lowering water level of major hydro plants due to El Nino (water level is now be-

low critical level),” it said.

The failure to restart of the Unit 1 with net capacity of 130MW of the 300MW coal-fired power plant of Aboitiz-owned Therma South, Inc., which Davao Light has a 50MW contract, also caused for the DLPC’s total power supply to decrease.

TSI announced that the cause of the inability to start of the 150 megawatt Unit 1 of the 300 MW coal-fired powerplant in Barangay Binugao, Toril was due to the boiler tube leak.

“After an investigation conducted today, it was found out that the unit has a boiler tube leak,” TSI president and chief operating officer Sebastian R. Lacson said in a statement last Thursday.

Lacson said the Unit 1 automatically shut down at 2:40pm last Wednesday as a safety measure after the 138 kilovolt (kV) transmission line 1 of the National grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Toril tripped on the same day.

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EDGEDAVAO Sports

BY A MILE

Warriors beat Spurs, become second team to win 70 games in a season

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

INDICTED. Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza of North Cotabato gestures during Thursday’s Senate Inquiry held at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) in Bo. Obrero, Davao City. Mendoza has been accused of for buying P2.4

million worth of fuel from a gasoline station owned by her mother. She was charged before the Sandiganbayan with three counts of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Lean Daval Jr.

One-month absentee Comelec: Barangay captains can’t voting overseas starts campaign for candidates, parties

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HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready for the conduct of the overseas absentee voting (OAV) for Filipinos abroad, which is set to start on Saturday, April 9.

“All systems go for oversees absentee voting,” said the head of the Comelec – Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) in a text message.

With this, he urged the over 1.3 million registered Filipino overseas voters to participate during the onemonth voting period and should not wait for the last minute to vote.

“We are expecting a good turnout from our 1,386,087 overseas voters even as we

appeal that they come out and vote early starting April 9 to May 9 and not wait for the last day,” Lim said.

The poll body official added, “Mahalaga ang boto ng bawat isa sa atin at tayo’y makilahok para as kinabukasan ng ating bansa.”

According to the Comelec – OFOV, 30 posts will be utilizing the vote counting machines (VCMs).

They are: Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Ottawa, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, London, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi,

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Commission on Election (Comelec) 11 urged all barangay captains not to be involved in partisan activites in the 2016 national and local election.

Comelec 11 assistant regional director Marlon Casquejo said the poll body will not allow the barangay officials to campaign for any candidate or political party since they are being deputized to assist the polling body in different activities

during election.

“Once the barangay captains will be deputized they are not allowed to campaign to any candidates because they are now our partners in all of our activities,” he said.

Casquejo said if the barangay captains will be allowed to campaign while they are under Comelec, conflict of interest may arise.

He said the example of the activities that will be assigned to the barangay officials is the removal of

campaign materials posted in the non-designated areas.

“Maybe, the support they can give to the candidates is the permission to use any facility of the barangay for the campaign rally such as covered court,” he said.

“Pero kana gyung lantaran na motindog sa stage during the public rally, tapos mopadayag gyud siya, mangampanya, para sa amoa bawal gyud na siya (But, if they really show themselves supporting the candidate

that they will speak and campaign for the candidate in public rally, we will not allow that),” he added.

Casquejo said any barangay officials will be charged for electioneering once caught campaigning for any candidates.

Earlier, the Civil Service Commission Chairman Alicia Bala said elected barangay officials are barred from campaigning for any candidate but can follow them on social media.

HE legal counsel of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza refuted the graft case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman for illegal procurement transaction in 2010.

This after the Office of the Ombudsman charged Taliño-Mendoza with three counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act” on last Friday.

The charge was based on the legal provision “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest

partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions.”

The resolution showed that Mendoza approved the release of P2.4 million from the provincial funds to pay for 49,526.72 liters of diesel fuel used for one road grader and four dump trucks utilized during the two-day road rehabilitation projects.

“No public bidding was conducted for the procurement of the fuel. Instead, Mendoza directly contracted with the gas station owned by her mother,” the resolution said.

In a statement, lawyer

Vincent Paul Montejo said the fuel was procured after going through bidding process as allowed under the Government Procurement Act and as recommended by the Bid and Awards Committee.

“Any accusation of partiality, preference or bias in favor of any gas station has no basis. What should be borne in mind is that Gov. Mendoza is not a member of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC),” he said.

Montejo said Taliño-Mendoza “did not handpick or select any particular station as the province’s supplier for the P2.4 million fuels.

Montejo said the Ombudsman also ignored evidence that fuel was actually utilized for the province’s road proj-

ects.

“It is unfortunate there was a probable cause on the charges filed against her,” he said.

He, however, said Taliño-Mendoza remains confident that she will be able to address the case Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said, in a separate statement, “there was no compelling justification for dispensing with the requirement of public bidding.”

In the approved resolution released on Friday, the Ombudsman said that “the great disparity between the estimated 552 liters of diesel actually consumed for the two-day road maintenance project in Magpet vis-à-vis the

Filipino parachutist dies Counsel refutes graft raps vs NorCot governor in‘Balikatan’accident T

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FILIPINO parachutist drowned after he accidentally landed at waters near the Subic Bay Airport International Airport in Zambales Thursday afternoon.

The incident took place at 3:45 p.m. as 10 Filipino soldiers, including the victim, were conducting a proficiency jump/static jump exercise, said Philippine “Balikatan” public affairs office chief Capt. Celeste Frank Sayson.

All then jumped out of United States Air Force (USAF) C-130 cargo plane.

He said the victim was a

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member of the 710th Special Operations Wing of the Philippine Air Force.

During the jump, the fatality landed in waters near the Subic Bay International Airport having a depth of 30 feet.

Sayson said the victim was recovered by rescued divers at 4:55 p.m. by USAF rescue personnel who revived him and rushed him to Unihealth Bay Point Hospital for medical treatment.

However, at around 5:55 p.m., the Filipino soldier was declared dead by this attending physicians.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

DCWD explains low water pressure, no water D AVAO City Water District apologizes to customers experiencing low water pressure to no water especially in areas served by Line 2 of Dumoy Water Supply System (WSS).

DCWD general manager Edwin V. Regalado explains that the consecutive power interruptions by the Davao Light and Power Company affecting DCWD facilities and the emergency transmission line leak repair along Diversion Road near Ma-a on April 8 caused the intermittent water supply.

Whenever there is power outage, DCWD’s facilities temporarily shut off. Once power is restored, additional time is needed for re-switching on of affected facilities, pressure build up and line delivery.

This means that the frequent and longer the power interruptions in areas where DCWD facilities are situated, the longer for the water level in the pipelines and reservoirs to recover.

Regalado cited the successive 15-minute scheduled power outage starting April 5 until April 7 that affected DCWD’s Talomo

pumping station and Dumoy WSS production wells among other water facilities. As a result, DCWD advised of a scheduled twohour low water pressure to no water from 6:00AM8:00 AM on said dates.

However, while water supply was able to recover in less than two hours in some areas, recovery took longer in far and elevated areas such as Bajada, Buhangin, Obrero, Agdao, areas at the back of Davao Doctors Hospital towards Circumferential Road up to Madapo, Lanang, Pampanga and Sasa. With this situation, DCWD has already started water rationing in these hard hit areas particularly in Lanang, Pampanga and Sasa.

Water supply would have already started to normalize but another water service interruption transpired on April 8 at 3:45 AM due to an emergency transmission line leak repair along Diversion Road near Ma-a. Again, this emergency water cut affected areas served by Line 2 of Dumoy WSS particularly: Ma-a (from Emerald Village to Diversion Road), Buhangin, Tigatto,

DDF Mandug, Poblacion (Barangays 5 to 13), J.P. Laurel Avenue and environs, Cabaguio, Angliongto / Mamay Road and some Lanang, Pampanga, Sasa and Panacan areas. The repair finished around 7:30 AM on same day, however, as with water interruptions caused by power cuts affecting DCWD’s facilties, recovery in far and elevated areas would also take longer.

On behalf of the DCWD management, Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of affected customers and apologizes for the inconvenience the intermittent water supply is causing. Further, he advises them to store water whenever supply is available.

For queries and further updates, the general public may visit DCWD website (www.davao-water.gov. ph) and official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293), 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293 and 09084410653. (Jamae Concepcion G. Dela Cruz)

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

Davao Light franchise area suffering longer duration of rotating power outages

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OR the past weeks, the implementation of the rotating power interruptions within the Davao Light and Power Co. franchise has continued. This is due to the further reduction of the power supply from major hydropower plants in Mindanao caused by the worsening effect of the El Nino Phenomenon as advised by the National Grid Corporation of Philippines (NGCP).

However, starting yesterday, April 6, the duration of the rotating outages in Davao Light has increased from a maximum of two hours to four hours.

The reason was due to the emergency shutdown of one of the units of the Therma South Inc. (TSI) coal-fired power plant, which Davao Light has a 50 MW contract. TSI has advised that it is still conducting investigation to determine the problem.

Davao Light emphasizes

that due to no reserve in the Mindanao grid, any major plant that will undergo shutdown will extend the length of time of the rotating brownout including Davao Light.

New generating plants mostly coal-fueled power plant in Mindanao, which Davao Light has contracted additional power supply, are coming in May and August 2016.

Ross Luga, Davao Light’s Communication officer said that Davao Light will continue to optimize on its supply contracts with the other generating plants, activate the Interruptible Load Program and run the standby Bajada Power Plant.

The company will also continue to give its customers daily updates on any changes in the power supply situation.

For schedule of the rotating power interruption, please refer to the following official media: call center at 229-3572 (DLPC)

North Cotabato mayor calls on protesting farmers to return home and get rice aid

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AYOR Rene Rubino denied reports insinuating the local government has been remiss in its duty to extend rice assistance to farmers severely affected by the long dry spell.

“We have been distributing rice to our farmers, it was not true we failed in helping them,” Rubino told reporters.

Many farmers from Arakan joined the March 31 protests in Kidapawan City that ended up bloody, leaving three persons killed, including one of his constituents.

“We did not abandon them, we have prepared rice assistance for all drought victims, I personally did not know they joined the protest,” Rubino said, adding the local government of Arakan has documents to prove that rice distribution has taken place in Arakan and that all farmers identified by the social welfare office have been given rice since October last

year.

The Arakan government has already extended burial assistance in cash and a sack of rice to the family of Darwin Sulang, one of the fatalities in the April 1 bloody dispersal of protesters.

Rubino also appealed to all his constituent farmers to return home and receive the assistance prepared by the local government and to be distributed by the Philippine National Red Cross as provided for by the Omnibus Election Code.

Starting Monday, the North Cotabato provincial government will start distributing rice assistance to farmers in 17 municipalities and Kidapawan City through the PNRC. About 2,000 farmers, not 6,000 as claimed by organizers, went to Kidapawan City asking for rice and blocked portions of the Cotaba-

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HACKADEMY. Ingenuity Global consulting, Inc. head of trainings Jefford Mamacus says Hackademy, a fun, accessible and affordable way for students to learn and acquire programming skills, aims to bridge the gap between the academe and the information technology (IT) industry in the country.

Mamacus, who was joined by the company’s business development and community manager Betsy Tulio in yesterday’s FAST Fridays media forum, announced the basic courses which will be offered during the upcoming Hackademy. Lean Daval Jr.

Firing at rallyists in Kidapawan bloody dispersal: ‘Judgment call,’ says police

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HE Provincial Police Office of North Cotabato was under fire Thursday at the Senate probe on the April 1 bloody dispersal of protesters along the national highway in Kidapawan City, for using live ammunition in its dispersal operations.

But Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum, provincial police chief of North Cotabato, said he did not order members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Special Action Forces (SAF) to fire shots as it was their judgment call to do so after seeing their comrade, SPO2 Ricky Untalan being beaten by angry protesters.

Tagum has been ordered relieved by Philippine National Police Director-General Ricardo Marquez pending results of an ongoing investigation into last Friday’s violent dispersal of protesters

in Kidapawan City that left at least two persons dead and scores of protesters, police and fire department personnel wounded.

Tagum said not one of the members of the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) unit was armed but admitted they brought members of the SWAT and SAF as part of the security contingent.

But Chief Inspector Adriel B. Gran, legal officer of the Police Regional Office 12, said the armed contingent was dispatched outside the 100-meter limit, which he said, is allowed in the manual of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Tagum said he heard shots fired when he called on his men to get Untalan.

In his presentation, Tagum said they received intelligence reports that there

might be armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) among the protesting farmers.

“The threat that there might be armed men in the rally is real,” he said during the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights’ “Public Hearing and Consultation on the Violent Dispersal of Farmer Protesters in Kidapawan” on Thursday at the Social Hall of the University of Southeastern Philippines.

Tagum claimed that PO2 Reynaldo C. Roque Jr. was hit by a low caliber pistol on his left leg while Insp. Arvin John D. Cambang and SPO2 Ricky Untalan sustained head injuries. Untalan is still critical at the Kidapawan Doctors Inc. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said SWAT and SAF members’ trainings are different from that of the members of the CDM units who are trained on

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Palace refutes allegation of late release of El Niño funds

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FIGHTING EL NIÑO. A gardener does his every morning routine of watering the plants at SM Lanang Premier’s car park as temperature continue to rise due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon which is affecting majority of the country. Lean Daval Jr.

how to handle rallies where “maximum tolerance” is enforced.

He said the police are not supposed to use firearms during rallies, citing Batas Pambansa 880, also known as the Public Assembly Act, which “ensures the free exercise by the people of their right peaceably to assemble and petition the government.”

He said Section 13 (E) prohibits the “unnecessary firing of firearms by a member of any law enforcement agency or any person to disperse the public assembly” while Section 13 (G) prohibits armed police within 100 meters area of activity.

He said the police are only allowed to carry, among others, batons and shields.

Chief Inspector Adriel B. Gran, of Regional Legal Of-

ALACAÑANG has denied the allegation of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who is running for vice president under PDP-Laban Party, that the funds to mitigate the effects of El Niño were released only last month.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. refuted Senator Cayetano’s claim that the late release of funds could have prevented the violent incident in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato that resulted in the death of three farmers on April 1.

Some 200 people, including policemen, were also injured when the police tried to disperse protesting farmers who have been barricading the Cotabato-Davao Highway since March 30. The farmers

were asking the government for the release of rice subsidies and rehabilitation funds.

“Senator Cayetano’s allegation is untrue and unfounded. Since the creation of the Cabinet-level El Niño Task Force, funds and resources were deployed to mitigate the effects of El Niño and assure stable food and water supply,” Coloma said.

“The comprehensive Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Niño (RAIN) that was drawn up last August 2015 is still being implemented and fine-tuned to ensure that gaps in service delivery are addressed. Government is aware that the El Niño crisis affects the poorest and most vulnerable among our people and is firmly determined to see to

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

WB team reviews PRDP projects in Mindanao

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HE World Bank yesterday started to review the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) implemented in various parts in Mindanao by the Department of Agriculture (DA) with the aim of examining the planned, proposed and ongoing implementation of the various project components.

PRDP task team leader Frauke Jungbluth led the twoday World Bank review mission. The team is already doing the socialized implementation support mission to see how the program works and whether there is need of adjustments to be made.

“We are jointly discussing this with DA to determine whether there is need of additional things to make the process more efficient,” Jungbluth said, adding that the team is looking at some projects in the field and we are very happy with what we’ve been seeing.

Aside from being demand-driven, the team would like to make PRDP commodityand market-driven.

The review includes infrastructure, enterprise development, planning and support.

Lealyn Ramos, project director of PRDP in Mindanao, said that as of last month, Mindanao already had a total indicative portfolio of P12.33

billion worth of projects under the infrastructure development component.

“There has been a surge in the projects submitted to PRDP specially the Mindanao Cluster since the last World Bank mission and since the first World Bank mission in August 2015,” Ramos said.

She noted that there is a 30-percent increase from the first World Bank Mission when Mindanao cluster project compared to P9.91 billion in the previous year.

Of all the projects being implemented through the PRDP in Mindanao, infrastructure got the biggest share in financing.

“As of today, we have already approved P13 billion worth of infrastructure projects and about P400 million worth of enterprise development projects,” PRDP national deputy project director Arnel de Mesa said.

Mesa also assured that good governance will be observed through transparency and accountability measures at all stages of the project development cycle.

“We review and approve projects proposals by technicalities. There’s no politics, only soundness and technical feasibility of projects,” de Mesa said.

BY KRIZZA FEB UDAL AND NOLI ANN SERDONCILLO

THE ‘DINOSAUR’ STILL WORKS. The Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC) old power plant in J.P. Laurel Avenue continues to work as back up source of power as the Therma South, Inc. coal plant remains to be offline and

supply allocation from the NPC-PSALM continues to decrease due to the El Niño phenomenon. DLPC has announced yesterday that it will implement a 5-hour rotating power interruption. Lean Daval Jr.

El Niño damage to rice, CA orders indictment of Kentex corn now worth P37M executives over fake Havaianas

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HE Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the indictment of some executives of Kentex Manufacturing Corp. (Kentex) for trademark infringement after offering and selling to the public their sandals which are allegedly imitations of the “Havaianas” sandals.

This after the CA dismissed the motion for reconsideration (MR) of Kentex for failure to present new arguments which shall warrant the reversal of their previous ruling.

In a two-page resolution dated March 15, 2016, written

by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando and released on Friday, the CA’s Fifth Division maintained its previous findings and granted the petition for review filed by Sao Paola Alpargatas S.A. (SPASA).

The CA reversed and set aside the resolutions of the Department of Justice (DOJ) dated May 28, 2013 and Dec. 5, 2013 which cleared Kentex.

“After a careful perusal of private respondent’s arguments, we find that the latter have not advanced any compelling reason that would warrant the reconsideration of our

decision. The question on the existence of grave abuse of discretion raised in the present motion for reconsideration has been already resolved in the affirmative and covered extensively in our decision,” the resolution said.

It can be recalled that the fire at the Valenzuela City factory owned by Kentex that made rubber slippers claimed 72 lives on May 13, 2015 and sparked outrage over the allegedly unsafe conditions, which contributed to the high death toll.

Some families of the people who died in the incident have allegedly dropped their claims against Kentex in exchange for a Php151,200 settlement.

However, that case differs from SPASA’s complaint, a Brazil-based company, and the registered owner of the trademark “Havaianas” wherein their products are made available in the Philippine market through Terry S.A. Inc., SPASA’s exclusive distributor in the Philippines.

The SPASA filed a complaint for trademark infringement and damages before the

OCAL share prices rebounded on Thursday, taking its cue from Wall Street’s positive performance, as investors cheered strengthening oil prices.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) snapped a two-day decline, rising 52.42 points to 7,232.97 from previous day’s 7,180.55 finish.

“The rebound on Wall Street and the surge in oil prices boosted the local bourse,” said RCBC

Securities Inc. in a market report.

The United States (US) oil and Brent crude soared over 5 percent on the US government reported surprise decrease in crude inventories for last week.

All counters finished in the positive territory, except services that lost 1.90 percent.

Value turnover reached PhP5.61 billion after 873.30 million shares changed hands.

(PNA)

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PHL stocks rebound as oil prices recover

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By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

TOTAL of 2,503 combined hectares of rice and corn production areas and 2, 564 farmers in the Davao Region are already affected by the long dry spell, the Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 said.

DA 11 regional director Remelyn Recoter said data from January to April 8 bared that both the rice and corn production were the most affected seasonal crop by the El Niño.

For rice, Recoter said a total of 1,183 hectares of rice production areas are already affected by the dry spell, of which 14 hectares are totally damaged. Amount of damage to the rice sector in terms of

volume has reached P12 million.

Recoter said the amount of damage is still negligible for the whole region, but it has a big impact on the individual lives of small rice farmers. She said a total of 1,390 farmers were already affected by the dry spell.

“Farmer’s yield drop from 180 sacks to only 80 sacks per hectare as a result of the El Niño,” Recoter told reporters at the press conference for the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) at the Marco Polo Davao.

However, he said damage to corn for this year was lower than the same period last year. “We have to consider that

most of our farmers were able to harvest during the months of January and February before the dry season peaked.”

Meanwhile, damage to region’s corn industry already reached to a total of P25 million, she said.

“A total of 1,320 hectares of corn production areas are already affected by El Niño, of which 977 hectares are already totally damaged,” Recoter added.

The director said the department also recorded damage due to the long dry season in the high value crop (HVC) sector.

“Most affected crops under the HVC were coffee, cacao, and banana,” she said,

adding a total of 1,544 hectares of areas planted with HVC were affected by the El Niño.

Howver, she said the data is still being validated by a team of agriculturists.

Recoter said the local government units of Lupon, San Isidro, Kapalong, and Tagum City for Davao del Norte; Tarragona and Mati City for Davao Oriental; and Hagonoy declared state of calamity after attaining damage from the long drought season which is expected to end by June.

She said the Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the DA has allocated budget for the cloud seeding activities around the region to aid affected farmers.

GRICULTURE Secretary Proceso Alcala on Thursday assured that the country’s corn and feed milling industries will continue to thrive with the issuance of the joint department circular that regulates the propagation of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Alcala said that in spite of some threats posed by opposing groups, who still wanted to question the GM guidelines’ validity, he was optimistic that the essence of the bio-safety protocols, which they had spelled out with four other government agencies, would give it more merit than unwarranted claims.

“We are not sure kung

wala nga ba problema ito sa future kasi hindi lahat ng mamamayan ay nakikiisa sa ating aksyon. May mga grupo na gusto pa ireklamo ito.

Hindi natin alam kung saang court ito ihahabol. Nevertheless we believe that this is the best inter-agency work that we have done so far hindi lamang po isa ang nagbigay ng AO (Administrative Order), kung hindi lima pong kagawaran ang nagtulungan upang mabuo ito,” he noted.

The feed-milling industry will be allowed to continue the importation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), yellow corn and soybean meal -- key components of animal feeds.

The DA, together with the

departments of Science and Technology (DOST), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Health (DOH), and Interior and Local Government (DILG), recently signed Joint Department Circular (JDC) No. 1, which provides the rules and regulations on the research, importation, use and propagation of GMOs. “Those with the valid permits could pursue their importation of GM products. Those without or with expired permits had to go through the stringent protocols of the joint circular,” said Alcala.

The country imports about 2 million metric tons (MT) of soybean meal annu-

ally, according to DA records.

The DA chief said the JDC would also ensure the stable production of corn.

He said that majority of the yellow corn produced by the country went to animal-feeds production.

Alcala noted that with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) as the lead agency for DA in implementing the JDC, there should be no “shortcuts and follow it to the letter” in undertaking all the protocols cited in the guidelines.

“We could gladly turn this over to the next government administration with the clear intention and mandate that we have indeed fulfilled what was asked of us by the high court,” he said. (PNA)

DA: New GM guidelines to boost agri sector A

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

PHP strengthens RBOI-ARMM to review vs USDThursday

investment priorities T

HE Regional Board of Investments in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOIARMM) has gathered major stakeholders from different sectors to review and update the 2016 ARMM Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) in Parang, Maguindanao, officials said.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI-ARMM chair, said the gathering was held in Parang, Maguindanao Wednesday to include the people in this booming municipality to actively participate and share their insights and concerns on investments generation in the ARMM. It is also in Parang where the Polloc Freeport and Ecozone is located.

Mastura said that the IPP is the basis for RBOI to grant fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to registered enterprises. The active participation of the government and private sectors in the development planning of the region is one key to sustainable development.

Combined strengths of different sectors can create a conducive business environment and enhance regional competitiveness.

Mastura explained that IPP consultations are avenues to assess the region’s economic investment performance, issues and opportunities. Other IPP consultations are also scheduled in other areas in the ARMM within the year.

Mastura said that so far,

RBOI has registered P1.3-billion investments in the first quarter of 2016 through the registration of Gintong Agri Corporation which is into oil palm plantation development in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Last year, RBOI registered P6.5 billion in total investments.

“We have reached our 2016 target which is to register P900 million worth of investments and confident to register additional P1 billion or more this year,” Mastura said.

ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said in a text message that “the challenge for the ARMM government is how to sustain the growth

of investments which the region is currently experiencing particularly in the areas of agriculture, renewable energy and petroleum as core industries.”

Mlang Madal, Regional Planning and Development Office (RPDO) assistant director, presented during the consultation that in 2011, ARMM had negative -0.3 growth growth rate but in 2014, it has increased to 3 percent.

“This means that the economy of ARMM is improving and picking-up with the rest of the country and one reason is the increase of investments,” he said.

According to RPDO report, good governance re-

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STABLE PRICE. A rice store worker fixes display of different varieties of rice at the rice section in Agdao Public Market yesterday. Prices of commercial rice in the city’s public markets remain stable despite reports that there’s a possible increase due to the dry spell. Lean Daval Jr.

SSS relocates Tagum branch office

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HE Social Security System (SSS) said Thursday it has relocated the office of SSS Tagum Branch to better serve more than 103,000 members and over 9,000 employers based within and near the city.

SSS senior vice president for Mindanao Operations Group Eddie A. Jara said that the SSS Tagum Branch is now located at Gaisano Grand Mall along Apokon Road.

Within its vicinity is the Tagum City Hall and commercial establishments such as the Banco de Oro and Metrobank branches.

“With its new site, SSS Tagum is now bigger and more comfortable. Transacting clients using public transportation also have little trouble traveling to SSS because of the Tagum branch’s accessible and convenient location,” Jara said.

SSS Tagum, which was

inaugurated on April 5, provides social security services to two provinces in Mindanao, namely Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley. It serves Tagum City and the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, Talaingod, San Isidro, New Corella, Maco, Mabini, Pantukan, Mawab, Nabunturan, Montevista, Compostela, New Bataan, Monkayo, Maragusan and Laak.

As a full-service branch, SSS Tagum offers transactions such as issuance of Social Security numbers for members, Employer ID numbers and Certificates of Registration for employers; data capture services under the Unified Multipurpose Identification System; receipt and processing of applications for salary loans, educational loans and funeral grants; and receipt of benefit applications for sickness, maternity, disability, retirement

and death.

SSS Tagum supervises the operations of the SSS Service Office located at the NCCC Mall and the smaller-scale SSS Representative Office in Maragusan. These SSS offices also cater to the needs of members and employers in the area, many of which are small and medium enterprises as well as those engaged in agriculture, banking, trading and general merchandise.

“SSS Tagum handles an average of 2,400 transactions and 1,800 walk-in claimants on a daily basis, while SSS Service Office at NCCC Mall in Tagum receives over 600 transactions and about 260 claimants per day,” Jara noted.

The lessor of the new SSS Tagum Branch shouldered the renovation expenses that included the lighting, electrical and connection outlets, air-conditioning and struc-

tured cabling, which are all based on SSS requirements and office standards.

The SSS Tagum Branch inauguration and blessing was part of the SSS Regional Visit in Southern Mindanao headed by President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. from April 4 to 6. The regional visit, with senior SSS officials among the participants, included activities such as the SSS Stakeholders Forum for employer and labor representatives and the “Kapihan sa SSS” for the local media.

Jara explained that as the number of members and employers served by SSS continued to grow, the state-run institution remained on the lookout for new locations to upgrade its existing offices and provide additional venues for members and employers to transact with SSS.

F SSS, 10

T

HE Philippine peso has gained strength on Thursday finishing the day at 46.10 against the US dollar.

The local currency gained 0.10 from Wednesday’s closing at 46.20 to a dollar.

It opened the day on the upside at 46.11 from the pre-

vious day’s opening settled at 46.30.

Peso traded throughout the day at low of 46.07 and high of 46.17 bringing the average level at 46.13.

Volume of trade likewise increased to USD738.5 million from the previous day’s volume amounting to USD665 million. (PNA)

Businessmen expect better economy in‘16 - MBC survey

M

AJORITY of Philippine-based business executives expect improvement in the country’s economic performance this year, the Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Outlook Survey reported on Thursday.

“Heading into the 2016 elections, majority of Makati Business Club members have an optimistic outlook for the year, generally expecting the Philippine economy to improve on its 5.8 percent GDP (gross domestic product) growth in 2015,” MBC stated.

Aside from higher GDP growth, MBC executives also see better investment approvals and trade value -- both exports and imports -- this year.

The survey showed that 52 percent of the respondents expected GDP growth for this year higher than the 5.8-percent expansion in 2015 while 39 percent answered economic growth for the year to be stable from last year and 9 percent said GDP growth will be lower than 2015’s level.

Likewise, 54 percent of surveyed businessmen see better investment approvals for this year than the PHP106.6-billion level from first to third quarter of 2015 while twenty-six percent

expects the same level of investment approvals and 20 percent forecasts lower level of approved investments this year from 2015 figures.

In terms of trade, 38 percent of executives said they expect exports revenue to be higher and 62 percent had an outlook of increasing imports receipts.

“A positive outlook is also seen in terms of corporate performance for 2016, as majority of respondents project an increase in both gross revenues and net income in the coming year,” the business group stated.

The MBC survey showed that 82 percent of the respondents forecast higher gross revenues this year while 74 percent expect improvement in net income.

Majority of the businessmen said that they will make additional investments and will hire more workers this year.

Furthermore, MBC executives noted that developments in the following area should be the top priorities of the next administration: improving infrastructure, fighting corruption, peace and order, addressing poverty, job generation, and agriculture. (PNA)

Online income tax returns filing results in more filers

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HE online filing of income tax return (ITR) is encouraging more income earners to file their ITR this year.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Region 19 acting chief of document processing division Dr. Susan Tusoy said the online system contributed to the increase in the number of tax filers.

“It really helped increase the numbers of tax filers,” she said.

Tusoy said they see this as a good sign since they were not able to meet their target last year.

Davao Region’s target for 2015 was pegged at P14.3 billion.

Tusoy reminded taxpayers however to do away with beating the deadline.

“Do not wait for the deadline on Apirl 15,” she urged.

She said taxpayers could avoid congestion if they file

their income tax early.

This year, BIR is targeting P20 billion. BIR is optimistic it would achieve their target with the leadership of Davao Region internal revenue director Romula Aguila, Jr. Tusoy said they will do their best to achieve the target.

Tusoy also announced the holding of tax clinics at SM City Davao on April 8 to 9 from 10 am to 7 pm that will help those taxpayers on how to accomplish and use the electronic BIR forms for filing income tax returns on line.

Meanwhile, Tusoy said they will pursue other programs on proper tax collection. He said they had beefed up their campaign on Oplan Kandado program and continue running after tax evaders under Oplan Kalso RATE (Run After Tax Evaders).

There are 30 specific projects included in the BIR’s list of

F ONLINE, 10

7 BIGGER PICTURE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

Disaster looms over Davao region

Will Davao City be under water soon?

Text and photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

N

ATURAL disasters come without notice. Just like a thief on the night, they strike anytime, anywhere.

They come when everyone is not ready.

Most people think that disasters won’t happen but they do. In time of peace, reminded a Japanese adage, prepare for war. And in time of war, prepare for peace.

Currently, some parts of Davao Region is experiencing drought caused by El Nino, the weather phenomenon that disrupts the natural variations in climate. Everyone is trying to do something about the hunger that drought brings. Water rationing is done in other areas. But no one talks about the typhoons that will come one after another after El Nino.

Forewarned is forearmed, so goes a popular saying. But despite this, people are still caught by surprise. Mention Pablo (international name: Bopha) and they will tell you that it is the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit this part of the country. When it made a

paged down a mountain, engulfing emergency shelters and washing away an army truck.”

Normally, the Philippines experiences tropical cyclones of up to 20 a year. But in recent years, stronger typhoons have become more frequent, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The reason for the occurrence of super typhoons in recent years, experts claim, is global warming caused by climate change.

“Extreme weather events are expected to occur in the Philippines more frequently and with more intensity in this era of climate change,” disclosed Greenpeace, a worldwide environmental group.

“Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines is expected to suffer most from extreme weather events.”

The green planet, as the world is called, has been warming since prehistoric times, but man’s tampering

Davao’s 911: Always ready for disasters landfall on December 3, 2012, it was listed under Category 5, a super typhoon with winds of 280 kilometers per hour.

“Pablo moved swiftly on its predicted path, sending roofs flying off houses, hectares of coconut trees tumbling, rivers bursting their banks, canceling flights and ferry services, church bells ringing and sirens wailing in a large part of Mindanao where the Category 5 storm passed,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

In Montevista, Compostela Valley, six barangays drowned in floods. An Associated Press said that flood waters “ram-

with the environment has made the temperature change faster.

“While human activities during the past century have damaged a long list of nature systems, most of these problems are local or regional in scope and can be reversed in years or decades if sufficient effort is exerted,” wrote Christopher Flavin in his book, Slowing Global Warming: A Worldwide Strategy.

“Changes to the earth’s atmosphere, on the other hand, are global and -- for all practical purposes -- irreversible not only in our lifetimes but in our

children’s and grandchildren’s as well,” Flavin added.

It was Dr. James E. Hansen who first raised the problem.

The top climate scientist at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration told a US Senate hearing in 1988 that “the greenhouse effect is changing our climate now.”

Robert James Bidinotto, in an article published in Reader’s Digest, explained greenhouse effect in these words: “When sunlight warms the earth, certain gases in the lower atmosphere, acting like the glass in a greenhouse, trap some of the heart as it radiated back into space. These greenhouse gases warm our planet, making life possible.”

Because concentration of greenhouse gases have been steadily rising in recent years, many scientists believe it has affected the climate condition of the planet. “The unimpeded growth of greenhouse gas emissions is rising the earth’s temperature,” reported the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas. It occurs naturally and is vital to life, but excessive quantities of it are released by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas).

The current concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is about 380 parts per million (ppm) -- and is increasing at roughly 2 ppm annually.

In 35 years, if the atmospheric carbon dioxide will continue to increase by the current rate, it will reach a threshold of 450 ppm of carbon dioxide, considered by many scientists to be an “irreversible catastrophe.”

Other greenhouse gases are almost exclusively produced by human activity such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are used in refrigerants.

Still other greenhouse gases include methane, nitrogen compounds, and ozone.

“Now we are in the face of a climate crisis,” said Senator Loren Legarda in her keynote speech delivered during the 31st Climate Reality Leaderships Corps Training held in Manila recently. “I believe we are gathered here today because we want to be part of the

global effort to limit the Earth’s warming and allow our communities to adapt to climactic changes that are already inevitable.”

One inevitable consequence of climate change is sea level rise, which will affect a larger percentage of the Philippine coastline, according to a World Bank report.

“By the end of this century, sea levels in the region are expected to rise by about 125 centimeters, exceeding the global average by 10-15%,” noted the bank report, Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the Philippines. “Even assuming the sea level in the region rises at the global average rate of about 100 centimeters, about 14% of the Philippines’ total population and 42% of its total coastal population will be affected…”

The Davao Region (composed of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao Occidental) is not spared. Let’s take Davao City as a case in point. The Business Risk Assessment and the Management of Climate Change Impacts, published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), said that sea-level rise may create problems for Davao City’s ports.

“Located along the relatively shallow channel between the city and Samal Island, these port facilities are a nerve center for Davao City’s economy, and serve a variety of ships handling both cargo and passengers,” the risk assessment said.

When the Pangi River in Davao swelled to new heights in June 2011, 29 people lost their lives and 50,000 residents had to flee their homes.

Former Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, however, believes that the constant flooding happening in Davao City in recent years is due to sea level rise. “My calculation is that (the sea level) has risen by one foot over a period of 20 years,” he wrote in his column, “Advocacy Mindanao.” “Hence, rain waters and floods no longer easily flow or empty out into the sea.

They are clogged in the waterways and spill out into the riverbanks.”

Sea level rise Dureza said that when flood waters rush down during high tide, they get stuck, at times and worse, a “backflow” of seawater during high tide.

When seawaters rise high, it flows back inland through rivers. Hence, low-lying areas or subdivisions or residential areas around or near riverbanks are in trouble.

“I know this because I personally witnessed how the sea level had gone up over the years,” he pointed out. “Our family lived for four years in our resort house by the sea in Davao City in the 1990’s (or about 20 years ago) while we were slowly renovating our house in the GSIS area inland.

Our beach house was in fact built over the water, jutting out into the sea, with stilt cement posts and under our floor was sea water rising and ebbing.”

According to him, the highest water level during high tides left water traces on the cement posts. “I would notice because every time I woke up in the morning, I could see the water markings,” he said.

Sea level rise is also expected to make groundwater becomes salty in taste. Davao City is already experiencing this. “Davao has traditionally tapped surface water from its rivers as its main water source,” the WWF/BPI report

said. “It prides itself in the relatively high quality of its drinking water. However, salt intrusion has already been reported in city districts to shore, especially in portions of the city where groundwater extraction continues. Sea level rise may aggravate this situation.”

Climate change also threatens the biological diversity (biodiversity), some of which are still undiscovered. When asked by Philippine Daily Inquirer how climate change will affect the Philippines, former American vice-president Al Gore replied: “We are seeing the loss of endangered species.

Already, the Philippine eagle is endangered.”

Most of the endangered Philippine eagles can be found at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, 30 kilometers northwest of Davao City. “By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat,” said Dennis Salvador, the center’s executive director.

According to the Nobel peace laureate and global climate activist Gore, half of all living species on the planet, including endemic birds in the Philippines, would be lost in a century “if we don’t arrest this dangerous trend.”

Are you listening?

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

T

Make believe

HIS is one sad reality. The government continues to act in make beliefs.

It believes airport manager Jose Angel Honrado and DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya are doing their jobs efficiently. It believes in DA Secretary Proceso Alcala that there is enough rice supply in Kidapawan City enough to feed El Nino-hit residents. It also believes in PNP chief Ricardo Marquez that the three police officials seen with LP presidential bet Mar Roxas in a meeting did not commit any election violation.

So what else is new?

It believes in its candidate Mar Roxas as the solution to the country’s woes and the hope of continuity for its Daang Matuwid program.

Oh yes, above all that, this government believes in this Daang Matuwid slogan as the doctor’s prescription to all our problems.

The frailties of this government has caused a lot of lives, property and opportunities. From the Yolanda relief operations, to the Mamasapano SAF 44 massacre, to the Zamboanga siege, to the NAIA 3 brownout and now Kidapawan dispersal. The government wants to

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make believe they did the right things.

Imagine, Yolanda and Mar Roxas pretensions as a hero. Imagine the NAIA 3 brownouts and Honrado’s excuse that it was sheer “bad luck”, and Scretary Abaya’s blaming on Meralco for the brownouts.

And now, here’s Secretary Alcala telling us that there is enough food in North Cotabato in contrast to the claims of protesting farmers who were shot by police in a brutal encounter. Three lives were lost in this ensuing carnage and the good Secretary maintains there was no problem.

What has gone of this government? President Aquino remained mysteriously silent in the midst of all these sad events. He elected to hit candidates like Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as he continued with his all-out campaign for his anointed bet Roxas notwithstanding the troubles already happening right on his face.

This culture of make believe in the administration distances the governnment away from the grasp of reality on the ground. President Aquino is just all too protective of his flock believing that they, like him, are doing their jobs not realizing that there is a world of difference between just doing one’s job and doing things right.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

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EDGEDAVAO

9

Headline talk

Q

: WHAT’S the difference between Noynoy Aquino III and Bongbong Marcos, Jr.?

A: Bongbong refuses to apologize for the sins of his father.

Noynoy refuses to apologize for his own sins of omission and commission.

--- 0 0 0 ---Roxas proud of his Yolanda “achievements.”

Now that’s what you call false pride.

--- 0 0 0 ---Aquino mum amid Kidapawan outrage.

It’s difficult for an intellectual slowpoke to respond promptly to a crises. Apparently, Mr. Aquino suffers from mental blackout aggravated by emotional paralysis everytime crisis erupts.

F

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

--- 0 0 0 ---Poe confirms meet with INC minister.

Well, well, well, still a political greenhorn, Poe is already showing shade of a political trapo by engaging in patronage politics. So what else is new? The girl is a fast learner. She is not a political ignoramus, after all.

If Poe captures Malacanang, expect special

favors to go INC’s way.

--- 0 0 0 ---80% of private armies keep ideouts in Mindanao.

PNP top honcho Ricardo Marrquez disclosed that these armed groups are in two Mindanao regions – ARMM and Central Mindanao.

These are all under intense surveillance, he added.

So, General, Sir you know these groups exist and operate. Aren’t you supposed to get rid of them, disarm them, dismantle them, erase them from the face of the earth? You just keep them in your watch list and you just keep watching them move around unmolested. Nice job, General.

--- 0 0 0 ---Bishop urges voters to use 10 commandments.

Archbiishop Socrates Villagas, head of the CBCP, has issued a six-page Pastoral letter admonishing Catholic voters to make the Ten Commandments the basis of choosing the right candidates in the national and local elections.

For me, that Pastoral letter is not necessary and has minimal impact on the Catholic faithful.

It is an “exercise in futility.”

I guess if politicians put to heart the Fifth Commandment – Thou shalt not steal – this country will be in good hands.

That Pastoral letter could be reduced to three words, and to be addressed to all candidates – “ Thou shall not steal”.

A fragmented history of fires (Part 1)

ROM bush fires to urban conflagration, it is quite difficult even for seasoned chasers to track down what fire is the biggest, most expensive, and with the most number of victims, including killed, missing, or displaced.

Comparatively speaking, pre-war fires, when the Philippine peso was the equivalent to an American dollar, were not as extensive as those that have transpired in the post-war era.

Then and now, the visible differences lie in the number of population affected, total damage inflicted, and the number of structures razed, wholly or partially.

A browse through some of the centuries-old records and recent accounts has yielded interesting fire facts, most of them happening in Manila and chiefly affecting population centers. It was only in recent years, though, that forest fires have become such a huge threat given the absence of an institution equipped with personnel and skill to combat this specific menace.

Colonial fires On April 20, 1907, Paco, Manila, then a bustling settlement, was razed to the ground, nearly rendering an entire community into a wasteland. Three years later, the ‘Great Fire of Manila’ that almost wiped out Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown, left thousands without homes. Cost of that disaster, in pre-war money, was estimated at over Php2 million.

In 1915, two big fires threatened Baguio City, the summer capital of American administrators. One of the fires spread to Camp John Hay and killed an American officer who, with a contingent of Scout soldiers, were sent to put out the fire. The other one threatened to devour some of the buildings of Baguio Hospital.

One and a half decade later, a big fire wiped out Singalong, San Marcelino and San Andres streets in Manila on March 13, 1930. Nearly a thousand residences were burned while some 4,000 people were displaced. Six years later, at the beginning of April 1921, a big fire hit San Lazaro District, in Manila, which rendered thousands of people homeless.

Fire prevention In the Philippines, fire prevention, as it suggests, means the reduction of incidences related to conflagration. This was embodied

FAST BACKWARD

BY THE ARCHIVIST in Presidential Proclamation No. 115–A, which declared March as the official Fire Prevention Month. Ironically, official records around the archipelago would show that March, which is the start of summer, is also the month with most fires.

The proclamation, signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos on Nov. 17, 1966, abolished Safety and Accident Prevention Week and in its lieu declared every year as Safety and Prevention Year, was premised on three vital points.

First, it concedes that “there is indisputable evidence of a considerable rise in accident occurrence every year not only in industrial, commercial and agricultural enterprises, but especially on the highways, in schools and even in our homes, most of which are unrecorded.”

Moreover, the edict said, “these accidents not only cause heavy financial losses and consequent economic dislocation among those affected and to our country at large, but also immeasurable human suffering.”

The decree also stipulated that “there is now, more than ever as a part of our national development, an impelling and constant need for propagating safety consciousness among our people every day of the year as a positive preventive approach to a problem that can be solved by more caution, vigilance, sobriety, exercise of common sense and respect for the law.”

A city on fire

Unlike typhoons, fires leave victims almost nothing but burned structures and ashes. This was the experience of Davao’s central business district when it underwent a huge conflagration that nearly wiped out its commercial center on Feb. 10, 1964. Though no death was recorded and the incident traced to faulty electrical wiring, the blaze, which started at Davao Superette at Anda-Rizal junction, was one of the biggest fires to hit the city in post-war years.

The morning flames ate up Lyric Theater, Universal Theater, and Liberty Barber Shop, and all the stores along Anda and San Pedro streets, including the Vera Cruz Hotel. Miraculously, the houses of the Magallanes, Monfort and Oboza families were spared. The fire moved westward, consuming a second block that left the homes of Dizon, Sasin, Pineda, and Panganiban families, situated across the present Phil-Am building, untouched.

Embers from the burning blocks were fanned by strong winds that helped start another fire on a third block to the left of the first block. Stores like Gift Mart, Three Sisters, Tung Chong Grocery, and Farmacia Pascual were reduced to ashes as the conflagration sped in the direction of City Hall. Similarly, the flying embers from the second block crossed to the nearby chunk, gobbling up Liberty Theater. Only the Carriedo residence was spared.

From the third block, the fire jumped to another, burning the old Brokenshire Hospital (where Grand Men Seng Hotel now stands).

From the first block, the conflagration crossed Ponciano Reyes Extension, or Crooked Road, in the direction of San Pedro Church, swallowing on its way Gems Theater at corner San Pedro and Bolton streets, Loleng’s Refreshment Parlor, and the pre-war residence of the Lizada family.

Except for the gutted trees at the government center, the iconic San Pedro Church, the Immaculate Conception College (then housed at the church auditorium which now serves as parish rectory), and the City Hall were past their worst.

More infernos For those who have resided in Davao City in the past sixty years, there were equally devastating fires that really left significant, if traumatic, memories.

For instance, in 1965, the areas between

Rosemarie Road and Santa Ana Avenue, home to numerous warehouses stocked with articles costing millions, were razed to the ground. The fire, fortunately, was locked in by the old Carpenter and F. Bangoy streets.

Notable among the casualties were the National Rice Corporation (NARIC, today’s National Food Administration) and the National Marketing Corporation (NAMARCO). The iconic Luc Tian Restaurant, which has since faded to oblivion, and the old Prudential building, which now houses an eatery known as Blue Carabao, were spared.

After the fire, what was left were the mountains of burned rice, bloated canned goods, and other commodities stored in over a dozen warehouses within the gutted premises.

In the fourth quarter of 1976, a huge fire gobbled up the area from Piapi Public Market to the Mini-Forest, leaving thousands of families displaced. The shantytown fire started after two kids were left inside an old two-story structure where they were playing with matches.

Years later, the Mabini section of Quezon Boulevard entered the fire list after it was hit by a huge conflagration that torched hundreds of houses and left thousands without homes, possibly the largest displacement in the city’s fire history.

Recent blazes On April 5, 2014, in what is construed by some pundits as the city’s largest fire, thousands of people, numbering 3,000, were displaced after the villages of Isla Verde 23-C, 21-C, and 22C, composed mostly of structures clumsily built from light materials, were razed to the ground.

The fire took six hours to contain and it left an estimated damage of Php15 million in properties.

The entry of March 2016 as Fire Prevention Month also ushered in two huge fires that hit Barangay 27-A Bucana, the city’s largest settlement. The first fire struck Purok 13-B, Kasilak Riverside, on March 8, 2016, razing 61 houses and displacing 230 persons. Damage was placed at Php5 million. Early press accounts reported one killed and three missing.

Meanwhile, the second Bucana fire struck on March 10, 2016, at Purok 12 St. John, burning around 150 houses. One was reported dead while two were missing.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

AND NOW... FROM 1 “The repair on Unit 1 is expected to last 14 days. Unit 2 (130 MW net) remains operational,” Lacson said.

Davao Light stressed that due to lack of reserve in the Mindanao grid, any major plant that will undergo shutdown will extend the length of time of the rotating brownout including Davao Light.

New generating plants mostly coal-fueled power plant

in Mindanao, which Davao Light has contracted additional power supply, are coming in May and August 2016.

Ross Luga, DLPC Communications officer, said that the power provider will continue to optimize on its supply contracts with the other generating plants, activate the Interruptible Load Program and run the standby Bajada Power Plant.

20,833 liters actually paid for, is proof that the fuel-purchase transaction is illegal and that this transaction is obviously a scheme to pocket government funds.”

The Ombudsman added that “[respondent] made it appear that the diesel fuel was

procured and used in a government project when in truth, only a small portion of the fuel was actually used and the rest was converted to cash for the benefit of those who were involved in the fraudulent transaction.” (ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. WITH PNA REPORT)

Beirut, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Manama, Al Khobar, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv.

A total of 26 posts will be using the personal manual voting system, or the manual casting of votes in the designated polling precincts.

These are Lisbon, Bangkok, Brunei, Chongqing, Dhaka, Dili, Guangzhou, Islamabad, Jakarta, Macau, Manado, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, Shanghai, Vientiane, Xiamen, Abuja, Amman, Cairo, Muscat, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Tehran.

Another 26 posts overseas will adopt the postal manual voting system, wherein the ballots will be mailed directly to the registered voter, who will then mail it back to the polling center after accomplishing it. They are Brasilia, Buenos

Aires, Mexico, Santiago, Ankara, Athens, Berlin, Berne, Brussels, Budapest, Geneva, Holy See, Moscow, Oslo, Paris, Prague, The Hague, Vienna, Warsaw, Beijing, Canberra, Hanoi, Port Moresby, Sydney, Wellington, and Yangon.

The Philippine posts in Baghdad, Damascus, and Tripoli, will have no elections due to prevailing conflicts in the said areas. Instead, the Comelec – OFOV said they will be allowed to cast their votes in adjacent Philippine posts.

Filipinos abroad will be voting for national positions only namely: president, vice-president, senators and party-list group.

The voting will begin on Saturday, April 9 (8 a.m., host country time), to Monday, May 9 (7 p.m., Philippine time). (PNA)

to-Davao highway.

Some farmers claimed they were deceived to join the journey to Kidapawan City from the hinterland towns of Arakan, Antipas and Pres.

Roxas because the National Food Authority (NPA) will

distribute rice to farmers affected by drought.

Another farmer also admitted that communist guerillas agitated them to join the protest. He asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.

(PNA)

Caloocan City Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) against Ong King Guan and Mary Grace Ching, Kentex’s treasurer/ general manager and corporate secretary, respectively.

It alleged that Kentex’s “Havana” sandals are colorable imitations of the marks owned and registered under the name of SPASA. However, the OCP-Caloocan City denied SPASA’s claims.

This prompted SPASA to seek redress with the DOJ through a petition for review but to no avail.

This time SPASA elevated the case to the CA. In its Oct. 14, 2015 ruling, the CA said that then DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima committed grave abuse of discretion in affirming the dismissal of petitioner’s criminal com-

plaint before the OCP-Caloocan City.

“In the present case, we are convinced that there clearly exist facts sufficient to engender a well-founded belief that the offense of trademark infringement has been committed and that private respondents [Guan and Ching] are probably guilty thereof,” the CA said.

“The OCP-Caloocan City is ordered to file an Information charging Guan and Ching, as owners/officers/employees of Kentex Manufacturing Corp.

(Kentex) with trademark infringement under Section 155 of Republic Act No. 8293, as amended,” it added.

Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Jose Reyes and Stephen Cruz.

(PNA)

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ARTISTS AT FAST FRIDAYS. Davaoeño artist Ega Carreon (right), together with Tabula Rasa Davao Art group president Dinky Munda, promotes Visit Davao ART Fun Sale set to open today at the atrium of SM Lanang Premier

Filipino... FROM 2

He declined to identify the fatality pending notification of the latter’s next-ofkin.

“We withheld name of the Filipino soldier for his

family’s concern, although Balikatan 2016 leadership is on the process of informing them. All details will follow as soon as we obtained it,” Sayson stressed. (PNA)

it that our people’s needs are met in a timely manner,” he added.

Coloma said Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad likewise belied Cayetano’s allegation.

“Wala pong katotohanan iyang paratang ni Senador Cayetano. Ang mga ahensya ay may kani-kanilang pondo para sa mga calamity at emergency requirements na nakalakip sa kanilang mga regular budgets. Dagdag pa rito, may mga quick response funds pa sila.

Kabilang ang mga pondong ito sa comprehensive release na maaga pong natanggap ng mga ahensya. Kaya, halimbawa, November 2015 pa lang, may mga cash-for-work at food packs nang ipinamahagi ang DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” Coloma quoted the DBM chief

as saying.

Abad further said that local government units (LGUs) also distribute rice and food coming from their calamity funds.

“Ang mga LGUs, katulad ng provincial government ng North Cotabato, mayroon ding pinamamahaging bigas at pagkain mula sa kanilang calamity funds. At kung kukulangin pa ang lahat ng pondong ito, halos di pa po nagagalaw ang ating NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) fund at puwede pa itong pagkunan ng tulong para sa mga tinatamaan ng El Niño. Pakiusap lang: huwag isama sa pulitika ang kundisyon ng mga naghihirap nating mga kababayan,” said Abad.

The Philippine National Police is investigating the tragic incident. (PNA)

forms spearheaded by the Regional Governor Hataman is the primary factor for the growth of the ARMM economy since the national government entrusted him with billion pesos worth of projects particularly on infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Another presenter, Regional Economic Zone Authority Director and OIC Manager of Polloc Freeport, Eshan Karl Mabang, presented on the current status of the Freeport as the only economic zone in the region and how this can help grow industries and spur economic activities in the ARMM and nearby mu-

nicipalities and cities.

The IPP shall correspond to the Regional Development Plan of ARMM in accordance with the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan.

Investments projects shall be founded on the following parameters: (1) project’s net value added, (2) job generation, (3) multiplier effect and (4) measured capacity.

Though the 2014-2016 IPP to include the ARMM List is a rolling three-year plan to ensure continuity, consistency and predictability however, it is subject to annual review over the three-year period.

(PNA)

“This is why as part of the SSS Regional Visit in Tagum, Davao and Toril, the SSS contingent also visited the prospective locations for the Ti-

bungco and Calinan Service Offices in Davao City for the benefit of members and employers in Southern Mindanao,” he said. (PNA)

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during yesterday’s FAST Fridays media forum. Visit Davao ART Fun Sale is the biggest art exhibit in Mindanao that will feature 30 artists and 300 art works. Lean Daval Jr.

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fice 12, claimed the police were dispatched outside the 100-meter limit, which is also allowed in the PNP manual.

He said members of the CDM unit were stationed in front of the five fire trucks that sprayed water cannons at the protesters who, in turn, threw rocks at the responding officers.

A video taken by a drone camera of the Kidapawan City Government on the rally was also shown where the protesters could be seen retreating and later returning hurling stones at the police officers who eventually also retreated, with Untalan left behind.

But Senators Cayetano, Teofisto Guingona, and Aquilino Pimentel, chair of the justice committee, complained they could not identify when the guns were fired, as the video had no audio.

Gran insisted that no member of the CDM carried firearms at the time of the incident and that “warning shots” were fired only when a member was beaten up.

He said the 30 armed security contingent underwent paraffin tests shortly after the violent dispersal.

Pimentel said if the police officers wanted to help they should not fire their guns.

“These procedures are contained in your manual. You don’t fire your guns,” he said.

Arlyn Oti Amar narrated at the Senate hearing that they were shouting “bugas dili bala” (rice not bullets) when they were given five minutes to disperse.

“We did not come down to

create trouble. We came to ask for rice,” she said in Cebuano.

“Nagtinulakay among mga kauban, gipangbunalan ang mga tiil, gipangbunalan mga ulo. Wa mi nisukol. Niatras mi. Pag atras namo, (ni) sulod sa among hanay mga pulis. Nakit-an namio mga kauban dugo-on na. Nibati mig kaluoy sa mag-uuma ngano gyud ingon ato,” (Our companions were pushing. They were hit on their feet and their head. We did not fight back. We retreated. When we did, the police came to our ranks. We saw our companions bloodied. We pitied the farmers why did they do this to us?) Amar asked.

Roger Emoy, who sustained gunshot wound on his left elbow said they tried to resist the dispersal but moved back when he realized he sustained a gunshot wound.

Commissioner Gwen Pimentel of the Commission on Human Rights said they had gone around Kidapawan and talked to most of the stakeholders involved but cannot as yet share its findings as they are still vetting information and evidences.

But Pimentel acknowledged that “there are indeed disturbing findings which we are still pursuing in terms of investigation.”

She said she saw three pregnant women and a lot of senior citizens who were detained and asked the Philippine National Police to “please review the cases they have filed individually against these people .” (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

priority programs to include among others the tax compliance verification drive, CRMPOS post evaluation, project Non-VAT to VAT, project IBOTO MO, SLSP Monitoring, project on commission of online agents of hotels and resorts, intensification of collection from delinquent accounts, revision of zonal values.

Others are on project quarry and other mineral

products, LGUs/NGAs withholding tax monitoring, project monitoring of professionals, monitoring of the Commission on Audit (COA) findings on due-to-BIR accounts, project livestock and other agri products, project on locally manufactured wines/liquors and project no payment return. They are also gathering data on taxi operators and on contract growing. (PNA)

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EDGE DAVAO

The Vote 2016

CBCP official urges OFWs voters to support bets based on 4Ps

A

N official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged overseas Filipino voters (OFWs), who will be participating in the one-month absentee voting starting April 9 to support candidates based on the four “P” -- program, protection, promotion, and prosecution.

“Atin pong sundin ang apat na Ps sa pagpili ng ating kandidato: Programa sa trabaho, Pangangalaga sa buhay at sa inyong mga mahal sa buhay na naiwan,

Duterte ready to die for PH sovereignty D AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday (April 7) reiterated that the Philippines is not prepared to go to war with China over the disputed West Philippine Sea. If war breaks out under his presidency, Duterte said he is willing to die to protect the country’s sovereignty.

“I will ask the Navy to deliver me to the nearest area tolerable to them and I will ride a jetski and carry a pole and a flag. When I reach Spratlys I will erect the Philippine flag,” Duterte said at a press conference in Puerto Princesa Thursday night.

“You want to shoot me with your missile, fine,” he added.

This declaration draw cheers from the audience.

Duterte, now a frontrunner in surveys for the May 9 presidential elections, insisted that the Philippines is the rightful owner of the disputed Spratly Islands despite claims made by China.

“I am insisting it is ours,”

Duterte said.

The tough-talking mayor, however, said he will not go to war with China as the country’s military is not prepared.

“We cannot go to war because we cannot win it. I will not waste the lives of Filipino soldiers and policemen,” Duterte said.

The Philippine Government had file arbitration proceedings with the United Nations (UN) Tribunal followings its dispute with China.

The Tribunal is expected to give its verdict in July just in time when the country has a new president.

Duterte, however, said should China not insist on ownership, he is ready to have a joint exploration with the Asian superpower.

The 71-year-old mayor added that he will also ask China to build railways in Mindanao and Luzon.

“Do not talk about ownership and I will not make a noise. For the six years that I’m president I’ll shut up,” Duterte said.

LP challenges other bets to make a stand on West PH Sea issue

T

HE Liberal Party [LP] on Thursday challenged other presidential candidates to follow the example of its standard-bearer Mar Roxas who vowed to fight for the country’s sovereignty amid China’s continued encroachment in the West Philippine Sea. Rep. Barry Gutierrez, LP spokesman, said that other presidential candidates should now speak out and make a stand on the West Philippine Sea dispute between the Philippines and China after the latter continues its creeping invasion and massive reclamation activities in the disputed territory.

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“We challenge the other candidates who have not stood up for what is ours, to come out, make a stand, and speak out - how low will you bow to China? For a true leader, politics always takes a back step when sovereignty is at hand,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez cited Roxas’ clear stand on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

Roxas earlier vowed to fight for the country’s territorial sovereignty and said he will seek for treaties with allied countries to strengthen the Philippines defensive capability.

The LP standard-bearer particularly noted the harassment being done by Chinese ships against Filipino

Paggalang sa inyo at sa inyong karapatang pagkatao, at Pagpaparusa sa mga nanglilinlang, umabuso at nagpahamak sa inyo,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos of the CBCP-Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People in a pastoral statement addressed to Filipino workers abroad.

He noted that the country needs leaders who can provide livelihood generation programs and can protect them from abuses, maltreatment, and exploita-

tion.

At the same time, Santos said that aside from the academic and professional qualifications, morality is still an important attribute to consider in choosing the country’s next leaders.

“Let us now use our hands in choosing and voting for true and a moral person,” he said.

The Balanga bishop reminded the voters to also support candidates who defend life, promote the dignity of the human person, and who can prosecute lawless

elements.

“We are the ones who will benefit from the people whom we voted. And we are the ones who will also be affected from whoever we elected to government posts,” he said.

Over 1.3 million registered voters for the OAV are expected to participate in the month-long elections which will start on Saturday and will run until May 9.

Filipinos abroad will be voting for president, vice president, and party-list group. (PNA)

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ELECTIONS 2016. Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes assists one group of Special Board of Elections Inspectors in setting up one vote counting machine to be used at the April 9 to May 9 Overseas Voting in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Photo by Prashanth Mukundan of The Gulf Today (UAE).

Kidapawan tragedy to happen again unless gov’t adopts sound agri policy: Bongbong

V

ICE presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. today said the Kidapawan tragedy may happen again unless the government adopts a sound agricultural policy that truly addresses the needs of the farmers.

Marcos has condemned the violent dispersal of farmers who staged a protest rally in Kidapawan City to demand rice and release of the calamity fund because their families were suffering from hunger as a result of the drought brought about by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Marcos had filed also Senate Resolution No. 1739 calling for a Senate inquiry

fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. “Let’s support Mar who stood by what is ours and is ready to fight for our country,” Gutierrez said.

On Tuesday, China lighted a 55-meter high light-

on the violent dispersal operation that resulted to the death of three and injury to hundreds of others, saying it is important to give justice to the farmers and provide them the help they need as soon as possible.

“But for the long term, we must put in place a sound agricultural policy that takes care of farmers, because unless we do this, there is danger the tragic Kidapawan incident may happen again,” said Marcos.

He said the government’s neglect of the agricultural situation has led to the anomalous consequence where those who produce our country’s food are the ones suffering from hunger.

house on Subi Reef, which is being claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam, in the West Philippine Sea. Gutierrez said that such a move clearly showed that China will push for its claim of the entire Kalayaan Island

For instance he noted that despite the recurring El Nino phenomenon and the resulting drought in many places, the government has failed to expand the irrigation system and devise alternative means to store abundant water during the rainy season.

“We all know that without water farmers can’t plant their crops, so it is crucial that we improve and expand our irrigation system,” he stressed. Marcos has been calling too for the scrapping of irrigation fees the government charges from the farmers to lessen their burden.

Among others, Marcos had also proposed cheaper credit facilities for farmers,

Group or the Spratlys.

“China continues to encroach on our territory. The lighting of the lighthouse is a clear symbol of their intention to permanently claim the sea that gives our fishermen livelihood and gives

better crop insurance coverage, research and development to develop drought or flood-resistant crops, construction of more post-harvest facilities and strategic farm-to-market roads to facilitate transport of harvest.

Marcos said his long experience as governor of Ilocos Norte had taught him that if farmers get the help they need from the government, their lives not only improve but they also help boost the economy.

“We must provide our farmers all the necessary assistance so that we not only alleviate any adverse impact of natural calamities but also help them produce more so they won’t go hungry again,” said Marcos.

food to our countrymen, contrary to their claims of peaceful intentions,” Gutierrez said.

“We should not allow ourselves to give in to fear and starve in our own land,” he concluded.

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Recipients of dengue kits.

7K Pantawid recipients benefit from Super Radyo project A T LEAST 7,000 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries here were served through Tepok Lamok-Anti Dengue Campaign Project of RGMA Super Radyo Davao in partnership with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Covering a total of 10 barangays here, the RGMA Serbisyo Publiko was also made possible with the support of City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), Church of the Latter-Day

Saints Charities, and City Health Office (CHO).

Prioritized areas were Matina Crossing, Matina Aplaya, Talomo Proper, Toril Proper, Baliok, Ula, Buhangin Proper, Sasa, Tibungco and Biao Joaquin.

These barangays have high cases of dengue, revealed CHO Tropical Diseases Prevention and Control Division Chief Elizabeth Banzon.

“As part of our corporate social responsibility, this year we want to focus on the

ANABO City, Davao Del Norte -“Gusto ko makatabang sa akoang isig katawo kay kabalo ko nga kung sila pud sa akong kabahin motabang pud sila. Boluntaryo gyud nga pagpanerbisyo akoang ginahatag (I want to help my fellow beneficiaries because I know that if they are in my shoes they will also do the same. I am offering my service voluntarily),” said 45-year old Marriette Mordeno of Barangay New Visayas, Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Marriette has been a Pantawid Pamilya Parent Leader since 2010. Being an active overall Parent Leader serving around 200 members in 6 clusters did not hinder her from being a loving mother of four -18-year old Alfritz John who is in 3rd year college taking up BS Human Resource Management; Mark Anthony, 16, an upcoming 1st year college student; Alyzza Marrie, 14, who is in Grade 8 and 8-year old Alfaye who is in Grade 4. Her husband, Mezraim, 45, works as a Maintenance Crew at AsiaPro earning P 301 per day.

Marriette also suffered from a mild stroke when she was 28 which resulted to her having Bell’s Palsy, a facial nerve paralysis. But even her disability did not stop her from doing what she loved most –serving.

Before Pantawid Pamilya came, Marriette recalls her usual day being a homemaker – tending the children, doing the laundry and cleaning the house.

“Karon nga naa na ang programa, malipayon ko nga midawat sa challenge nga gihatag sa akoa.

Tungod sa programa namahimo ko nga abtik sa kalihokan dili lang sa amoang barangay apil na sa amoang munisipyo (Now with Pantawid Pamilya, I cheerfully accepted the challenge given to me.

Because of the program, I became a dynamic member not only in our barangay but in the entire municipality as well).”

From doing plain household chores, Marriette became a much-admired community leader.

In 2012, Marriette was Leadership Awardee (Barangay Level) and became an IP Women President (Barangay Level). In 2013, she became the Vice President for IP Women (Municipal Level) and became a Provincial GAD Advocate for two consecutive years.

In 2015, she became one of the Board of Directors in Davao del Norte and an active volunteer on Family Planning.

From a meek homemaker, Marriette became an applauded community leader through Pantawid Pamilya.

“Sa una ubos kaayo ang tanaw sa amoa tungod kay benepisyaryo ko sa Pantawid. Masakitan ko kung mo-ingon sila nga dole out ang Pantawid kay naghulat ra mi tagaan. Mangusog gyud ko og tubag nga dili dole out ang programa kay kaming mga pobre naningkamot ug naghago nga motuman sa kondisyon aron makadawat sa tabang sa gobyerno (People would look down on us before because we are beneficiaries of Pantawid. It hurts when they say it’s dole out, wherein we merely wait for aid. I would strongly respond that it’s not dole out because we strive and work hard to comply with the conditions to be able to receive the assistance of government),” said Marriette.

Marriette is just one of the 7,800 parent leaders of Pantawid Pamilya in Region XI who offer their selfless service to their co-beneficiaries. They are the program’s real unsung heroes.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a poverty-alleviation strategy of the national government that helps identified poor families send their children to school and keep them healthy.

The program has 234,627 active beneficiaries in 6 cities and 43 municipalities in all four provinces in Davao Region. (DSWD)

health aspect of the poor and disadvantaged communities in Davao City. Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are the ones prioritized because we know that these people are the most vulnerable in crisis situation,” Super Radyo Station Manager Arnie Delfin said.

The team distributed dengue kits containing Ovicial/ Larvicidal Traps (device used to control aedes mosquito population), organic insect repellent (citronella oil) sponsored by T.K.O., grocery items

and other giveaways.

An orientation for Pantawid beneficiaries on the Prevention of Dengue Cases was also done in every barangay to ensure that families are knowledgeable on health issues like dengue outbreak and on how to maintain cleanliness in their communities.

Feeding program was also conducted in the 10 barangays.

“We really appreciate the efforts of Super Radyo in this kind of Serbisyo Publiko be-

cause we feel that they are with us in serving the poor families like our Pantawid beneficiaries. We are happy also that they use Listahanan data in their programs and services,” DSWD Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat said.

RGMA Super Radyo has been a Listahanan data user since 2013. All programs and services it offers always prioritize Listahanan-identified poor families. Further, Super Radyo actively refers to DSWD

and to other appropriate agencies their radio listeners needing assistance.

Listahanan is a data management system of DSWD that identifies who and where the poor are, while Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 0-18. To, date there are 233,985 Pantawid beneficiaries in Davao Region.

(DSWD)

RANSFAST, a leading global money transfer and payments solutions company, has introduced money transfer services from the Philippines to many countries including the US, Canada, UAE, India and China.

Customers will be able to send funds to the listed countries, from any of the 6,000 locations throughout the Philippines which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The announcement was made at a

Press conference held today in Manila.

Transfast is known worldwide for providing instant deposits and instant cash, and the new service announced today further expands its services.

“In an increasingly mobile global population, customers are seeking convenient access to money transfer services, wherever they work and live,” says Samir Vidhate, Director – EMEAA, Transfast. “The flow of

remittances is important to the health of the global economy and sending funds overseas is, for many, a fundamental means of ensuring the financial security of businesses and families alike.”

Transfast has introduced the service to offer optimum convenience to residents in the Philippines, offering dependable and efficient global money transfer.

“Having a reliable service for transferring funds in a timely manner is a basic requirement

for many. We are glad to be able to offer this much-needed service, available at many locations 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Kumar.

Transfast offers a highest locked-in exchange rate guarantee, and has a customer support unit, dedicated to Philippines.

The dedicated relationship managers monitor accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are accessible by telephone or live web chat to answer questions.

From homemaker Transfast launches money transfer services to community leader from Philippines to key countries worldwide P T

AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2016 on Entries accepted now until 19 April and win prizes worth at least P4M

T

HE AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search (AARRDS) goes regional this year with the competition expanded to include the Philippines including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia to provide a platform for young aspiring designers from around the region to showcase their talents and help catapult them into the fashion industry.

This designer search, which is being held for the second time is in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week Ready to Wear (KLFW RTW) team was formally launched in March 29 by Ms Aireen Omar, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad together with Mr Andrew Tan, Founder of KLFW RTW in Kuala Lumpur.

Audition round for the Philippines will be held in Manila on April 23 to discover local talents from around the country. Top 3 designers from the Philippines and other five Asean cities will compete during the Grand Finale in August on the prestigious KLFW RTW 2016 runway.

Aireen Omar, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad said,

“There is so much talent in this region, and as a truly Asean brand, we want to expand this designer search to other countries apart from Malaysia. We hope to provide all aspiring young fashion designers across Asean with a platform to empower and catapult their careers in the fashion industry. This regional designer search will be unparalleled and bring together the region’s fashion talents and industry for the first time on this scale. We look forward to see new talents this year and AirAsia is proud to be part of their journey.”

Andrew Tan, Founder of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week Ready to Wear shared, “It is such an honour to share this important platform with AirAsia – to foster new talents and giving these designers the opportunity to present their collection and creativity on a professional runway. We are thrilled to be working with AirAsia for the second time, following last year’s success for the AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search; and to bring this year’s competition to another level.”

Philippines AirAsia CEO Joy Cañeba and respected Filipino icons in fashion and lifestyle will be part of the panel of judges for the Manila search happening in 23 April with the venue to be announced in the airline’s social media platform soon.

This designer search is open to local or international students, 28 years of age or below, and currently studying or have graduated from fashion design schools in any of the five countries included in this search. Three (3) women’s ready-to-wear sketches inspired

by Asean destinations are to be submitted with the complete registration form available at klfashionweek.com. Submission deadline is by 19 April 2016.

Throughout the audition rounds in each country, potential young designers will have to present their vision and sketches of Asean-inspired designs to the panel of judges in each city. The Top 3 finalists chosen from each country will have their collection featured at the KLFW RTW 2016 runway this August 2016 and compete for a chance to be AirA-

sia’s Most Promising Designer 2016. Prizes worth at least Php4M awaits the winner of this competition including a confirmed show segment to showcase his or her full collection at KLFW RTW 2017, mentorship from the KLFW RTW team; Php30,000 sponsored by FashionValet to produce a capsule collection and sold on fashionvalet.com, 150,000 AirAsia BIG Points, AirAsia or AirAsia X flights, as well as many other prizes which will be announced soon.

AirAsia is also KLFW RTW 2016’s Preferred Travel Partner and will be flying in fashion designers throughout the AirAsia Group’s extensive route network including from Singapore, India, Indonesia, China, Australia and South Korea to be featured on the KLFW RTW 2016 runway.

Lookout and follow the development of AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2016 via webisodes on Youtube (youtube. com/user/AirAsia), and other updates via Twitter (twitter.com/ AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook. com/AirAsia) or our social media hashtag #AirAsiaRunway

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EDGEDAVAO TRAVEL

BANSALAN Davao del Sur’s ‘Green Town’

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio BANSALAN -- IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF DAVAO DEL SUR -- earned the moniker “green town” for various reasons. For one, it is the home of the world famous Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT), a sustainable farming system for the uplands developed by Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in barangay Kinuskusan.

MBRLC is touted as the “Disneyland of organic farming.” Aside from SALT, it has developed three more modifications of the systems: Simple Agro-Livestock Technology (SALT 2), Sustainable Agroforest Land Technology (SALT 3) and Small Agrofruit Livelihood Technology (SALT 4).

The center has also come up with a sustainable gardening scheme called Food Always In The Home (FAITH). In the region, MBRLC is also called the “goat center of the province” as it started raising goats since it opened to the public in 1971.

Because of the technologies it has developed through the years, the MBRLC is one of the mostoften visited farms in Mindanao. People from all over the world – from Australia to Zimbabwe, from Afghanistan to Vietnam, from United Kingdom to United States – have come at the center.

And for encouraging international utilization of

SALT and other farming schemes, MBRLC’s former director, Harold R. Watson, was honored a Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1985 for peace and international understanding.

MBLRC is located about 10 kilometers away from the town proper. About five kilometers away from the center is another organic farm named Lao Integrated Farms, Inc. The owner, Benjamin R. Lao, uses coconut to produce coco sugar. He does not only sell his coco products in his hometown and nearby areas but also export them to other countries.

Aside from coconut, the Lao farm is also teeming with various fruits like lanzones (more than a thousand trees), durian (700 trees), mangosteen, and rambutan. “I bought them one at a time from my salary as a government employee,” said Lao, who used to work as immigration officer.

In his farm, you won’t

see his farm workers using chemical pesticides. “I had a tragic experience with chemical pesticides when I was still a teenager while cultivating rice in our farm located at the neighboring barangay,” he revealed.

The Lao farm is about three kilometers away from the national highway. If you go further, to another barangay called Bitaug, you will find the home of the late Salinta Monon, the last Bagobo weaver.

In 1988, the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) had recognized her as a Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan

(GAMABA) in acknowledgement of her priceless contribution to the country’s art and culture by weaving “ikat,” a cloth made from abaca fibers.

She died peacefully in 2009.

But before she died, I had the opportunity of meeting her. In an interview, she told me that it would took her three to four months to finish a fabric that measures 3.5 meters by 42 centimeters in length. One abaca tube skirt can be finished within a month. “It takes time but the result is great,” she said.

BANSALAN A4

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UP AND ABOUT

Common ailments to watch out for as

SUMMER KICKS IN AS THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE CONTINUES TO RISE, the 6S or six illnesses of summer are not far behind.

Diarrhea and vomiting, sore eyes or conjunctivitis, sunburn, skin diseases, cough and colds, and rabies are the six common ailments that Filipinos must watch out for in the next two-to-three months.

With lots of people heading to the beach or the swimming pool, they may accidentally drink water that is infected with the E.Coli bacteria which comes from fecal matter that contaminates the water source, thus, causing nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Poorly chlorinated swimming pools may also cause sore eyes or conjunctivitis when the virus enters through the eyes.

Such prolonged exposure to the sun without proper protection against the

harmful Ultraviolet rays may, likewise, cause sunburn – that painful, itchy, irritated patch of skin that often peels off. When combined with dehydration, overexposure may lead to heat stroke.

Summer also causes skin diseases to come out such as the tan, scaly patches caused by yeast infection which thrives in moist parts of the skin; infected bug bites and contact dermatitis while camping and hiking; and whitish, translucent bumps called molluscum which thrives in underchlorinated water, among others.

Cough and colds, while may cause discomfort anytime of the year, tend to linger in the summer while the

number of dog bites also increases as dogs become irritable due to the heat and children spend more time playing outdoors.

Dr. Ma. Gia Grace Sison, Chief Medical Officer of KonsultaMD 24/7 health hotline, said that with the health risks involved, everyone must be prepared.

“We encourage the public to be aware of the possible symptoms of the summer illnesses and be proactive about it. If ever we still contract the disease, we should also know what steps to take,” Sison said.

While people often turn to the internet, family, and friends for medical advice, Sison said it would be better to talk personally to a doctor to verify any informa-

tion that they get.

Consulting a doctor, however, can be costly and time-consuming, thus, KonsultaMD was created by Globe Telecom and Mexico’s leading healthcare hotline company Salud Interactiva, to help Filipinos who are being held back by the issues of time, affordability, and accessibility.

Licensed doctors of KonsultaMD hotline can be reached by simply calling (02) 79880 via mobile or (02) 798-8000 via landline anytime and anywhere.

The doctors are willing to answer any medical query

such as pregnancy, infant and/or toddler care, fever and other general ailments, signs and symptoms, diet, mental health, and other concerns.

KonsultaMD is available to Globe and TM customers at affordable subscription plans of only Php150 per month for five people for Postpaid customers or even for free for Platinum Elite members. Globe Prepaid and TM customers may subscribe for Php15 a week, Php60 a month, Php120 every two months or Php180 a quarter.

Calls using Globe or TM

are charged Php1 per minute while calls within Metro Manila via landline are currently free. Non-Globe users have to pay the standard NDD rate for calls outside Metro Manila or regular mobile to landline rate, whichever is applicable.

All Globe consumer postpaid, prepaid and TM customers may subscribe by signing up at www. konsulta.md, by calling (02) 79880 or by visiting a Globe Store. Platinum Elite members may subscribe via their Platinum Relationship Manager. Non-Globe users may visit a Globe Store.

Flavors of the Philippines, Seda Little Chefs, and more in Seda Abreeza’s 3rd Year Anniversary Celebration

Davao’s only urban lifestyle hotel celebrates its third year with series of exciting activities

APRIL IS A JAM-PACKED MONTH FOR SEDA ABREEZA as it offers various musings for the guests and partners to indulge, enjoy, and experience. Celebrating its 3rd year anniversary on April 2, 2016, the urban lifestyle hotel aims to continuously provide the best feelings in the world.

The month kicks off with a Media Blitz to the hotel’s various media partners to express gratitude for the continued support through the years. This shall be followed with an Anniversary and Appreciation Night celebration themed as “The Great Gatsby.”

Misto offerings are something to look forward to as it launches new beverages and interesting buffet spreads for the month. Sous Chef Giovanna “Bang” Flores and her team have prepped a wide-ranging set of menus for “Flavors of the Philippines,” a month-long gastro-

nomic event launched by the Department of Tourism as part of their Visit the Philippines Again 2016 campaign. Seda Abreeza is the only hotel in Region XI to participate in the said event.

In Seda’s Flavors of the Philippines, Misto diners get to go for a gastronomic tour around the country in all Fridays of April.

In chronological order, the restaurant shall feature the following dinner buffet spreads: Fiesta Flavors, Street Food Flavors, Island Flavors, Summer Flavors, and Regional Flavors.

Seda Little Chefs is also back for its 2nd run. Kids aged from

6 – 12 years old may enjoy the delights of culinary art with the talented Kitchen Team from April 15-16, 2016, 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM. For Php 3200 nett, kids will discover fun while learning as they learn cooking and baking basics led by Sous Chef Bang

Flores.

F&B Manager Oliver Evangelista also created new sets of beverages for the month. For coffee lovers, Misto launches “Durian Mocha Latte,” a blend of Davao’s very own local fruit in everyone’s favorite hot beverage. Another beverage called “Tanggero” is a concoction for those who wish to unwind and chill. Wine & Cheese nights are also available

in the all-day dining restaurant.

Seda Abreeza has also partnered with the Department of Tourism, the Visit Davao Fun Sale 2016 Team for an art exhibit organized by Tabula Rasa. From April 13 – May 5, 2016. The art exhibit will feature paintings and artworks by local artists in Davao City.

The urban lifestyle hotel continues to give back to the community as well. Staying true to Ayala’s vision of going green, the Sanipaan Mangrove Tree Planting continues on its third year.

Seda Abreeza employees take a trip to Barangay Tambo, Vanishing Island, Babak, Island Garden City of Samal on April 16 to plant mangroves which serves as habitat for marine life.

For inquiries and reservations, please call (082) 322 8888 or email dvo@sedahotels.com.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Maine Mendoza confesses to battling negativity in her life A little over a month since her Coachella-themed birthday bash, Philippine Queen of DubSmash Maine Mendoza narrated about what transpired at her surprise party. More so, the Yaya Dub star opened up how the love she receives from her fans helps her battle negativity in her life.

Maine recalled how she was tricked to attend what she thought was an awarding ceremony to pull off the surprise organized by her family, friends, and fans. She narrated the details from the venue, gifts, performances to the well-wishes she received, and shared photos even from the preparations in her recent blog entry.

While she chronicled good memories from her celebration, Maine also took the opportunity to make a confession.

Though overwhelmed with the big turnout of guests in her party, the newbie actress admitted that she never expected this.

She said, “I was always–and will always be–in denial that there are actually people who admire and support me wholeheartedly for [who] I truly am. It is something that’s hard for me to believe.. I mean, why would people like me?

When I, myself, see nothing to like

about.”

Maine claimed that for most of her life, she has been “clouded with negativity,” looking at things with pessimism.

“No matter how hard I try to uplift myself, I always ended up failing and sulking. And it is just now that I am slowly beginning to switch to being optimistic,” she continued.

The Yaya Dub star claimed to battle this and explained that her attempt to change her mindset was because of the continued support and love from her followers.

“I’d say it’s not me who makes me feel good about myself but the people around me; the people who love me and care for me,” Maine acknowledged.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre bring kilig this summer with ‘Jadine Flying High On Love Special’ DON’T MISS THE ADVENTURES OF REALLIFE COUPLE James Reid and Nadine Lustre as they bring extreme kilig this summer season in the fourpart special “JaDine Flying High on Love Special,” which starts airing this Sunday (Apr 10), 10:30 am.

Relive the magic and join the “On the Wings of Love” stars as they discover the wonders of Middle East and Europe.

Watch JaDine’s kilig moments in Doha, Qatar and Dubai, UAE

in “Love is an Adventure,” this Sunday (Apr 10). The kiligfest continues as the couple roam the

streets of Paris, France in “Love is Romance,” airing this April 17.

Catch more of their sweet moments in London, England in “Love is Precious” on April 24. And on May 1, James and Nadine will heat up the summer even more in “Love is Forever” with their visit in Milan, Verona and Rome, Italy.

Watch out for “JaDine Flying High on Love Special” starting this Sunday (Apr 10), 10:30am on ABSCBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Catch up via iWanTV.com or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

Actress Ana Capri, emotional after alleged harassment incident FORMER AMAYA ACTRESS ANA CAPRI took to Instagram last Tuesday to share a horrifying incident that happened when she went to a popular club in Taguig City.

Ana posted, “Sorry guys for ranting like this. As much as i would like to put it behind me. I’m terribly still bothered with what happened to me this past weekend. I went to Pool Palace Club to have some fun but got traumatized instead.”

The actress added that she was disappointed that the

management of the club did nothing, when she reported the incident to them.

“I got sexually harrased and got physically assaulted for defending myself. I asked help from their security and received a run around instead. I feel bothered, violated, insulted, and betrayed.

I just cannot be quiet about this.#poolpalace” Several netizens offered words of encouragement to the actress and they hope that she will get the justice she deserves.

April 8 – 12, 2016

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill PG

1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 LFS

THE JUNGLE BOOK Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray PG

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

ELEMENTO/ *10 CLOVERFIELD LANE Cristine Reyes, Albert Solis/ *John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead R13/*R13

12:20 | 2:00 | 3:40 LFS / *5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

MR. RIGHT/ *DEMOLITION Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell/ * Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts R16/*R13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 LFS / *6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

TRAVEL BANSALAN A1

Bansalan is also one of three gateways of Davao del Sur to Mount Apo; the other two are Digos City and Santa Cruz. A few years ago, when Kidapawan City in North Cotabato closed its pathway going to Mount Apo, most mountain climbers came to Bansalan to scale the country’s highest peak.

Mountain climbers had to pass the captivating barangay of Balutakay. Serene, good fertile lands, and cool weather, Balutakay is good for high value crops like cabbage, carrots, onions, and lettuce. Farmers plant these crops following the contours of the mountain.

If Cebu has Sinulog, Bansalan has Dorongan.

It is celebrated during the third week of January. People from various barangays bring with them the statue of Sto. Niño and dance their way after the celebrated Mass.

Some schools -- high school and elementary -- participate in the festivity by doing a colorful and lively presentation through dance and music. It is one of the most anticipated events during the celebration.

But the biggest event comes when the town cel-

ebrates its anniversary in September. Bansaulog is its answer to Davao City’s Kadayawan. “Bansaulog comes from two words,” explains Geraldine Hope E. Batal, the town tourism officer. “From Bansalan, the word ‘bansa’ is taken from. Saulog is actually a local term for celebration.

As such, Bansaulog simply means Bansalan celebration.”

A day before the town anniversary -- on September 17 -- the roads are closed for the street dancing festivity called “Sayaw sa Kadalanan.” Again, elementary pupils and high school students strut their way and show their wellchoreographed moves.

But before that, people flock to the ABC Gym where Folk Dance Contest is being held. Again, several schools, both from government and private, participate in the competition. “We want the younger generations today that we have a very colorful and lively culture. They need to see how tinikling, itikitik, pandango sa ilaw, and other folk dances are being performed,” Batal said.

There is an interesting story on how Bansalan got its name. The Provincial Tourism Development Plan shares this information: “Bansalan got its name from the one simple farmer named Bansalan who one day dug the earth in search

of potable water to quench his thirst. Fortunately, he dug a spring which didn’t satisfy his thirst but also his other companions. Rain widened the spring and the constant erosion of soil led to its formation into a creek, and later into a river.

Bansalan did not live long.

His companions, who were recipients of Bansalan’s labor named the river after him.”

To get to Bansalan, you have to ride a bus or van going to Cotabato City. It is about 75 kilometers away from Davao City. You have to pass by the oldest town of Sta. Cruz and Digos City before reaching the place.

Travel time is about oneand-a-half to two hours.

DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENT

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13 MOTORING

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

MIAS 2016: M

Mitsubishi springs Mirage Surprise

ITSUBISHI Motors Philippines sprung a surprise at the Manila International Auto Show by showing off the 2016 Mirage. Everyone knew that the star of the stand would have been the all-new Montero Sport, but MMPC also made it a point to show off an update to its best-selling small car.

Showing off an entirely new front clip, the 2016 Mirage now shares more design cues with its sedan sibling, the Mirage G4. The

Ford introduces new EcoSport, Everest

F

ORD is capitalizing on its impressive sales momentum (sales year-on-year is up 25 percent) by introducing two new variants to its most popular nameplates: the EcoSport and the Everest.

The best-selling Ford nameplate ever, the EcoSport gets a new limited edition trim that goes above the range-topping Titanium model.

Dubbed the EcoSport Black Edition, this sub-compact crossover swaps some of its high-gloss silver trim pieces for black ones including the front upper and lower bumper as well as the 16-inch alloy wheels. The side mirrors are also decked in a high-gloss black finish as well. The more rugged appearance package is completed by the cross bar roof rails. Inside, the well-appointed Black Edition gets

more piano black accents as well as aluminum sports pedals and an aluminum scuff plate.

It’s mechanically unchanged so it’s still powered by a 1.5-liter Ti-VCT 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed dual clutch transmission.

Available for pre-orders, the EcoSport Black Edition will head to Ford showrooms by around June of this year. The price of differentiation doesn’t seem to carry a huge penalty as the Black Edition carries a premium of just P 23,000 (P 998,000) over the range-topping Titanium on which it’s based on.

On the other side of the spectrum, Ford also announced a new variant in the country’s most popular mid-sized SUV: the Everest. Able to outsell its Japanese (and other American competition) the

Everest is joined by a new Titanium 2.2 4x2 A/T Premium variant.

Representing the top-of-the-line variant of its brisk-selling 4x2 line, the Titanium 2.2 4x2 A/T carries with it all the features of the 3.2L 4x4 A/T Premium variant without the 3.2-liter engine or the 4x4 transfer case.

Features such as the 20-inch alloy rims, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, blind spot indicators and more are joined by the HID projector headlights with washers, 8-way power adjustable front seats, and a 50/50 power folding third row.

Powered by the same 160-horsepower 2.2-liter 4-cylinder Duratorq diesel engine, the Titanium 2.2 4x2 A/T Premium retails for P 1,799,000 and is now available at all Ford dealerships nationwide.

headlights, hood, bumpers, and grille are all new and make the jellybean-looking hatchback sportier. At the back, it now gets LED tail lights. Inside, the cabin has been slightly refreshed with the use of better materials.

Underneath, the Mirage remains unchanged, powered by the same 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine mated to a choice between a 5-speed manual and CVT transmission. The 2016 models do feature improved NVH tuning and sound insulation

from before and all CVT models get a tweak to its tuning to improve response and fuel economy.

Mitsubishi will officially launch the revamped Mirage and Mirage G4 by the end of this month, but they have already announced the pricing. The Mirage has four variants starting the GLX in both M/T (P 553,000) and CVT guise (P 603,000). The more luxury-oriented trim, the GLS goes for P 663,000 for the M/T and P 713,000 for the CVT.

14 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

BY A MILE

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

this season. Curry had 15 points and four assists in the quarter — directly contributing to 11 of Golden State’s 1 6 baskets — as h e wa s able t o

Warriors beat Spurs, become second team to win 70 games in a season

S

TEPHEN Curry scored 27 points and the Golden State Warriorsbecame the second team to win 70 games in a season by beating the San Antonio Spurs112-101 on Thursday night, wrapping up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Warriors (70-9) bounced back from their second loss in three home games two nights earlier against Minnesota and joined the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to win 70 games. Golden State can break Chicago’s single-season record of 72 wins by sweeping the final three games, including a rematch in San Antonio on Sunday.

Harrison Barnes scored 21 points and Draymond Green added 18 to help the Warriors avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Golden State has outscored the opposition by 14.6 points per game follow-

ing its nine losses.

Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points for the Spurs, who will enter the playoffs next weekend as the second seed in the West.

San Antonio has been outscored by 41 points in two losses at Golden State this season and will have to open on the road if these teams meet again in the conference finals.

After a rela-

HE Province of Albay is all set for Palarong Pambansa 2016 to be held on April 10-17.

Governor Joey Sarte Salceda on Thursday said the province has prepared well for its first hosting of the national games and assured all players, school officials and other delegates, and guests that everything will be fine, fun, fantastic and free of trouble during the entire duration of the sports activities which, he said, is a “touristic sports tournament” in the games’ entire history.

Salceda said that aside from the 18,000 members of the delegation from the 18 re-

gions of the country, including the newly established Negros Island Region that arrived Thursday, he expects to have 40,000 national tourists from all over the Philippines and 120,000 regional and provincial tourists from Bicol who will come to view and experience the games from opening to closing of the Palaro.

Despite the influx of a score of participants and spectators, he said, the province will endeavor to attain its “zero casualty and zero injury goal” and for this, security officials are fielding 2,600 personnel from the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Phil-

tively quiet first half, Curry took the game over in the third quarter and sent the Warriors to their second easy win at home against the Spurs

HOT HANDS. Stephen Curry scored 27 points and the Golden State Warriors became the second team to win 70 games in a season by beating the San Antonio Spurs 112-101 on Thursday night, wrapping up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

drive to the basket with ease for either his own shot or to set up a teammate.

Curry’s second 3-pointer of the game gave the Warriors a 19-point lead and then he fed Andrew Bogut for a dunk on the next trip to make it 69-48.

The Warriors shot 80 percent in the third alone and took an 87-69 lead into the fourth — easily passing the 79 points they scored the entire game in last month’s loss at San Antonio.

This was a highly anticipated showdown between the league’s top two teams, with the 134 combined wins the most ever in a regular-season matchup. Both took the game seriously, with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich opting to play his stars instead of resting them. Popovich even called a timeout less than a minute into the game after a defensive breakdown led to an open 3-pointer for Klay Thompson.

Not to be outdone, Warriors coach Steve Kerr got angry after a turnover led to an open 3-pointer for Danny Green late in the first half and slammed his white board so hard during the timeout that his marker flew into the air.

It’s all systems go for Palarong Pambansa AFP to air PacquiaoBradley tiff Sunday T ippines and 300 support staff for health and emergency response.

The Albay chief executive said that in place for any contingency are 17 ambulances, 31 medical stations and a chopper to serve as air ambulance.

Salceda said the province has constructed various new and modern facilities like a 2,500-capacity grandstand, track oval, olympic-size swimming pool and many others that was funded with Php410 million, with an additional Php45 million for the operational expenses in the duration of the Palaro.

Working hard for these

facilities to be finished on time are the Provincial Engineering Office headed by Dante Baclao and the Verzontal Builders Inc. He said that although the province spent millions of pesos for Palaro, the returns will be much more in terms of the event’s impact on tourism and business in the province.

All hotels and inns in Albay are either occupied or reserved while all flights and bus trips coming to Legazpi are fully booked.

Some visitors who arrived on Wednesday came as chance passengers in bus stations just to be able to make it here.

(PNA)

LAS VEGAS -- In what could be the final roadwork of his illustrious two-decade boxing career, 8-division world champion and Philippine congressman Manny Pacquiao runs at the UNLV track and field oval Thursday morning ahead of his third fight with Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).

T

HE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue with its tradition of airing the live bouts of eight-division boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

This was disclosed by AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato Thursday. “(In) General Headquarters, particularly in Camp Aguinaldo (Quezon City), we will have free-showing of the match between Timothy Bradley and Pacquiao (this coming April 10),” he confirmed.

This is the third time the American boxer will facing the Filipino boxer. In their first meeting in June 9, 2012, Bradley eked out a controversial split decision win.

In their second meeting in April 12, 2014, Pacquiao earned a unanimous decision victory against the American boxer.

Detoyato said that it is customary for military personnel and their dependents to watch Pacquiao bouts in camps all over the country.

He added that together with basketball, boxing is the sports most loved by Filipino service personnel.

And despite the latter’s third fight against Bradley falling on election season, the AFP public affairs office chief sees no political color on the sporting event.

“Whom they will vote is their individual and a sacred choice,” Detoyato said when asked whether could have the effect of soldiers casting their ballots for Pacquiao during the May 9 elections.

The latter is running for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance party headed by Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay.

The Commission on Election (COMELEC) earlier made a unanimous decision that it is not within its power to stop the telecast of the Pacquiao-Bradley tiff.

“That is not within our control. We are not in a position right now to stop it because of the three parameters that we found,” COMELEC chair Andres Bautista said.

He added that “there was really no formal complaint that was filed in accordance with COMELEC rules and procedures.”

Bautista also added the fight had not occurred yet.

“It’s still contingent. There is a possibility of it happening, but it has not happened yet,” he said.

Bautista said the COMELEC believes that there is no “justiciable controversy” to rule against Pacquiao to proceed with the airing of the fight.

“Courts are not supposed to rule on hypothetical or contingent possibility. We are supposed to rule on actual controversy involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable,” he said.

Former AKBAYAN party-list representative Walden Bello and former senator Rene Saguisag had asked the Comelec to determine if the telecast of the Pacquiao-Bradley bout would violate election laws, noting that the Sarangani representative is also running for senator in the May 9 polls. (PNA)

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 27 • SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

BATTLE OF SUPERCHAMPS WBO awards ‘Battle of Super Champions’ belt to Pacquiao-Bradley winner

NEW BELT. WBO president Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel (L) and WBO vice-president for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo Jr (R) together with Top Rank and Tecate girls pose with the special WBO championship belt for the Pacquiao vs Bradley winner this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

T

HE World Boxing Organization (WBO) presented the special ‘Battle of Super Champions’ belt, which will be awarded to the winner of the third bout between former eight division world champion, Manny Pacquiao and five-time world champion Timothy Bradley.

“This is a very important recognition that the WBO is giving to these two Super Champions”, WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcárcel said , “Both Pacquiao as Bradley, have given much prestige to our organization, the welterweight division and boxing in general. Bradley being a five time champion, between 140 and 147 pounds, and Pacquiao with everything that has been done in the boxing, possibly already bidding farewell to this sport, we want to perpetuate the legacy of both. This belt is a special edition of the International Championship,

hand-made with gold and diamonds. Has a cost of more than 100 thousand dollars, but invaluable.

Simply something unique to recognize these two Super Champions”.

The belt was unveiled during the final press conference for the trilogy which will be supervised

by WBO VP for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo.

Panoncillo told this writer last week that if this will be Pacquiao’s farewell fight, the specially made hand-crafted belt would be a fitting tribute to one of boxing’s most stellar careers.

Pacquiao-Bradley III will be held this Saturday, April 9 (April 10 in the Philippines) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The undercards will feature WBO supermiddleweight champion Arthur Abraham will defend his title against Gilberto Ramirez while Oscar Valdez and Evgeny Gradovich will dispute the vacant WBO NABO featherweight title.