Edge Davao 9 Issue 39

VOL. 9 ISSUE 39 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 24 - 25, 2016

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Going solar Why solar energy is the thing of the future

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 39 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 24 - 25, 2016

Going solar Why solar energy is the thing of the future Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio Solar power panels

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HILE Davao City is still experiencing rotational brownout, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental is inaugurating a solar power plant.

“It took us only seven months to build this facility, and it truly was a team effort of more than 4,000 men and women who helped put it together alongside the strong support of the national government and, of course, our host community, San Carlos City,” said Erramon I. Aboitiz, the chief executive officer of the Aboitiz Power Corporation.

Called San Carlos Sun Power (SacaSun), it is Aboitiz’s first venture into solar energy. The power project sits on a 75-hectare property inside the San Carlos Ecozone in barangay Punao on the eastern side of Negros Island.

The 3,200 tables with 63 panels each can produce 82 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity a year, enough to power 33,000 homes. “The peak hours of the solar power plant is from 10 in the morning up to 2 in the afternoon,” explained Engr.

Rey Pangilinan, Aboitiz’s vice president for project execution.

As it started to deliver energy to the Visayan grid last March 9, 2016 -- before the March 15 deadline imposed by the Department of Energy for solar power projects -- it is qualified for the department feed-in-tariff (FIT) at P8.69 per kilowatt hour.

According to Aboitiz,

the global demand for ergy portfolio generates renewable energy (RE) 1,263 MW, or close to 40% is growing remarkably of its total net sellable caaround the world. “The pacity. call for 100% RE by 2050 is “This represents our gaining momentum world- commitment to support wide in the face of climate the government’s push for change,” he pointed. a balance of renewable Aboitiz believed the and non-renewable powPhilippines is among the er sources to address the countries “deemed most country’s increasing energy vulnerable to its dire effects demand,” Aboitiz said. and this is why we see loAboitiz Power is also cal RE investment gaining one of the country’s leading ground as well.” developers and operators Citing some statistics, of RE power plants, mostly Aboitiz said that the country’s national RE portfolio is at 32% of the dependable capacity. “This is higher than the global energy mix of 23% (in 2014,” he said.

The energy department is aiming to triple RE capacity by 2030 under the national RE Plan while reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions towards the country’s target of 70% by the same year.

Currently, the country contributes a measly 0.3% of global GHG emissions.

“Aboitiz Power fully supports government’s call to further reduce our carbon footprint,” Aboitiz said.

To ensure that the pow- President Aquino delivering his speech er company keeps up with the growing demand and secure the country’s energy mix target of a minimum of 30% renewable, Aboitiz Power will continuously invest and develop more Cleanergy, its brand for clean and renewable energy.

Aboitiz Power is among the country’s largest producers of RE and its Clean-

from its vast portfolio that include hydro and geothermal power plants.

Its RE projects currently in the pipeline include SN Aboitiz Power’s 8.5-MW Maris Canal hydro plant in Isabela, Hedcor’s 68-MW Manolo Fortich hydro plant in Bukidnon and Aseagas’ 8.8-MW biomass power facility in Batangas. It also has other RE project in the pipeline which include geothermal and biomass power plants.

According to Aboitiz, the global demand for renewable energy (RE) is growing remarkably around the world.

“Given our balanced mix of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, we are uniquely positioned to provide our customers with their choice of the right power solution that is reliable, reasonably priced and has the least impact on our environment,” Aboitiz said.

“This means we can address the power needs for baseload, intermediate and peaking loads, as well as ancillary services for grid stability and system management,” he added.

Speaking of the country’s second largest island, Aboitiz said the power supply in Mindanao continues to be a challenge. He cited the following as reasons: lack of capacity, the effect of El Nino, the bombing of the transmission lines of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, and the repairs and maintenance of power plants.

Meanwhile, President Benigno S. Aquino III hailed the solar power plant that Aboitiz launched.

“I am told that this plant will help avoid 72,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year,” he said.

“And this is apart from the basic benefits of such a project.”

Aquino also said: “It is such a welcome development to see that solar is becoming more prevalent and affordable.”

The president also reminded the audience that before he took office, he was told that all barangays

in the country had already been energized. But this was not so, he said in his speech.

“Sometime in 2011, I was told that the definition then was if any portion of the barangay was connected to the national grid, then they said that the entire barangay had already been energized,” he explained.

But during an inventory of sitios in 2011, it was found that 32,441 remain without power. Although the government has already cleared that backlog, “there are still some remote sitios that will be energized by means of renewable energy,” the president said.

Aquino said that during his term, a total of 3,262 MW in installed capacity in 70 power plants have been commissioned. Of the 70 power plants, more than 50% (38 plants to be exact) are renewable.

“There is another 5,404 ME in the pipeline through 60 incoming committed projects, 42 of which are renewable,” the president said.

“Indeed, one can really see our commitment to mitigating climate change, especially since the percentage of renewables in our energy mix has remained relatively high, at 33.9%,” Aquino said.

“Not to mention: While we are still exploring how to minimize prices and ease the burden of our people, the cost of energy has stayed at a reasonable level,” he said.

Solar power generator

VOL. 9 ISSUE 39 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 24 - 25, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

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4 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 39 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 24 - 25, 2016

Know Digong first: Evasco

MAKEOVER. A construction worker is busy repainting the upper portion of a Chinese arch along the junction of R. Magsaysay Avenue and Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

DOLE intensifies drive on safety for workers

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

OLLOWING the fatal accident of a Filipino sub-contract worker in the 300-MW coal-fired power plant of the Therma South, Inc. (TSI) last Wednesday, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Davao Region will intensify its campaign on safety and health of the workers.

“We can see here that accidents could happen even to the best companies that is why the department will never waiver in its campaign

on safety and health of the employees. We will never be complacent,” DOLE 11 regional director Joffrey M. Suyao told Edge Davao in a text message.

The incident, which Suyao described as “very unfortunate”, resulted in the death of Jonathan Onde Pajelleno, 35, married, of Toledo City who was residing temporarily at Purok 5, Brgy. Lizada in Toril.

Pajelleno fell from the sixth floor of TSI 1’s Boiler building to the third floor.

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Green spaces can help stop fires in informal settlements

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LEADER of a fisherfolk association in Barangay 17-A, Bucana highlighted the importance of green spaces in communities, saying that urban tree cover can help mitigate sudden fire outbreaks in socialized housing settlements.

Speaking during an Earth Day forum organized by the Green Davao Coalition last April 21, 2016, Cora Refulle said that the presence of trees around her house has kept her family safe from floods and the recent spate of fires in the area.

“1990s pa, natanum nako ug kahoy. Dako ang natabang ani sa pagprotekta sa akong balay sa baha ug sunog.”, she

said.

Refulle, who is president of the Bucana Coastal Environment FisherFolk Association, said that during the fire outbreak, residents in areas which had trees, had more time to secure and save their things from the fire.

“Apil man ko sa Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary ug nagtabang mi og respond sa sunog diri sa Bucana, Nakita nako nga ang naka-save sa ubang balay kay ang kahoy kay suyopon man niya ang kalayo.”, she said.

IDIS Executive Director Ann Fuertes said this is another strong reminder why the city council should main-

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By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

RESIDENTIAL bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s campaign manager Leoncio Evasco Jr. urged critics of the frontrunner to know him first before bashing him.

Evasco said many still do not know the character and personality of Mayor Duterte.

Evasco said “behind Duterte’s strong and sometimes intran-

sigent persona seen in public is a compassionate, sincere and principled man.”

“I have known Mayor Duterte as a public official probably the most than anyone, having served him as chief of staff while he was still an appointed vice mayor in 1986 – a good 30 years ago. Add another year or 2 when he was a prosecutor trying to lock me

behind bars of the martial law regime because I joined the anti-Marcos dictatorship mass movement,” he said.

He said he has seen him take the risk and take the road less traveled by in the course of his dedicated public service.

“I can swear to God – the way I took my priestly vows - that he has not taken advantage of his position to enrich

his self or any member of his family,” he said.

Evasco said every single centavo of the money of the people of Davao City is well spent, every resources well allocated, distributed and disbursed and used.

“One thing he is intolerant of is the recidivist and incorrigible deviants – felons and

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will implement additional measures to ensure the accuracy of the results of Voting Counting Machine (VCM) come May 9 local and national elections.

Comelec Davao City second district election officer Danilo Cullo said there will be a random manual audit (RMA) in selected clustered precincts in the city on election day.

Cullo stressed the implementation of RMA is one of the mandates of Republic Act 9369 that there should be a

manual counting in the designated precincts.

“As of now, there are no identified precincts that will be used for the manual counting because this will be raffled on the noon of Election Day,” he said.

He said the Comelec will form a team composed of five persons who will undergo trainings to double check the votes using the Election Returns (ER).

Cullo said the RMA will be conducted after the printing of ER and closing of ballot boxes of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in the precincts.

“The BEI will bring the ballot boxes to designated precinct where the RMA will be conducted,” he said.

He said the members of RMA team in the designated polling precincts are the person allowed to open the ballot boxes during the conduct the manual counting.

Cullo said the positions that will be subject for the manual counting are president, vice president, congressman, governor, mayor and vice mayor.

“After the manual counting, the team will compare the result of the manual counting

and the VCM to if there is variance,” he said.

He admitted there will be a possibility of discrepancy on the results between the VCM and manual counting.

Cullo said if the variance of the results VCM and RMA is more than 10 votes, it will be sent to Manila. He said their national office will be the one to determine the fault whether it will be made by human or machine error.

Poll watchers, according to Cullo, are allowed to witness the conduct of manual counting. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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Comelec to ensure accuracy of VCMs: Cullo T

VOL. 9 ISSUE 39 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 24 - 25, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 5

PHL signs Paris climate accord T

HE Philippines signed the landmark international climate agreement reached in Paris last December during a high-level signing ceremony held on April 22 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

The signing ceremony for the Paris accord took place on the first day the agreement was opened for signature, which coincides with the global observance of Earth Day. The agreement was adopted by 196 countries that participated in the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France on December 12, 2015.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, who led the Philippine delegation to the signing ceremony, was designated and authorized by President Benigno Aquino III to sign the

agreement for and on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines by virtue of a Special Authority dated April 7, 2016.

He also delivered the Philippine statement in which he appealed to other nations to immediately work toward reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and not wait for the Paris climate accord to come into force in 2020.

“Our contribution to the global problem that is climate change is admittedly a droplet in the well, but streams, lakes and oceans are all composed of mere droplets. We cannot do this alone,” Paje told world leaders who attended the event.

“Climate change will only be solved through the concerted efforts of all countries. We strongly urge that all countries build upon our momentum from Paris and work together towards full implementation

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UNSAFE WATERS. Young boys spend their Saturday morning playing and taking a dip into the muddy and filthy water along the beachfront near Magsaysay Park in Davao City yesterday. Despite the warnings issued by

concern government agencies due to coliform bacteria contamination, some residents nreaby continue to take a dip in the city’s beaches. Lean Daval Jr.

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Acting AFP chief orders military to secure May 9 polls

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S he formally assumes command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) albeit in an acting capacity, Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda ordered all officers and enlisted personnel to comply with the directives issued to ensure the coming May 9 elections.

“As I emphasized earlier, let us secure the conditions that would lead to the conduct of a free, orderly, peaceful and credible 2016 national and local elections,” he added.

The same directives also calls for the 125,000-strong AFP to remain apolitical and non-partisan.

As this develops, Miranda said operations against rebel and terrorist groups in Mindanao would continue until all these threats were neutral-

ized.

These groups are believed to be responsible for a series of kidnapping incidents and bloody clashes in the region.

“Around the countryside, particularly in our southern territories, we will relentlessly pursue undesirable elements that continue to sow terror among our peace-loving citizens, those who disturb the balance that provide the platform for economic growth and development,” he said.

The acting AFP chief also thanked President Aquino for supporting the AFP modernization program, which led to many completed procurement under newly-retired Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri’s term.

She said that among the other bets, Duterte is the only candidate who has the track record in the promotion of women’s rights and welfare.

Fuentes said the evidences are the testimonials of women in Davao City who have surfaced attesting to the

programs and the personal assistance of the mayor in times of their crisis.

“The experience in Davao City does not show Duterte as the hero of women and children. But Davao has proven that with a Duterte leadership,

AST April 22, SM Supermalls and the Department of Labor and Employment along with other partners signed a memorandum of agreement for the conduct of the annual Labor Day Job Fair.

SM City Davao has been hosting the Labor Day Job Fair for the past 8 years. SM malls nationwide have remained

steadfast in its commitment to be catalysts for community development, as they also aim to salute the new graduates and assist as many qualified individuals in finding employment.

There will be 75 companies participating in this year’s Job Fair on May 1 at SM City Davao Event Center, 25 of which will be for overseas de-

ployment.

A Mini Job Fair will also be mounted at the Ground Floor of the Annex on April 26 to April 28. Interested jobseekers may pre-register at the said mini job fair in order to fast track their job searching on the main Job Fair. Computers provided by ACLC will be available for the said job fair registration.

MORO civil society leader said the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) needs to be passed “not later than two years from now” in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), to allow for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro political entity that can be the pilot project for the shift to a federal form of governemnt.

Guiamel Alim, executive director of Kadtuntaya Foundation and a member of the Council of Elders of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) told a press conference here Friday that the BBL has to be passed within this period as the CAB provides for a transition period of at least one year for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) that would prepare for the establishment of the Bangsamoro, the new autonomous political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim

Mindanao (ARMM).

Under the CAB, the ARMM is deemed abolished upon the ratification of the BBL. The BTA then takes over until the first elected officials in the Bangsamoro political shall have assumed their post during the inauguration of the new Bangsamoro political entity.

Congress adjourned on February 3 without passing the BBL, paving the way for the holding of elections in the ARMM on May 9. Under the law, each ARMM administration has a three-year term of office. The next ARMM election is in May 2019 if the next Congress does not pass the BBL again.

A reporter asked if the peace groups that gathered here for a symposium dubbed “TItayan: Bridging for Peace” (Inclusive Political Transitions in the Bangsamoro) are planning to make a barangay as a pilot project for the implementation of the CAB.

Mindanao’s lone Cardinal, Orlando Quevedo said there are candidates who are advocating federalism “but federalism is a long-term project“ as it involves amending the 1987 Constitution.

“What we would like is begin with a pilot project – not a barangay – but the Bangsamoro territory. If it succeeds, then perhaps all the others would say ‘ah dapat ganyan, more power more autonomy sa mga provinces… we hope that this will happen,” Quevedo, the Archbishop of Cotabato and lead convenor of Friends of Peace, said.

The proposed Bangsamoro is adopting a parliamentary system of government.

Alim said the shift to federalism may not come soon.

“I don’t think that will happen very soon.. it will take time before we can change the Constitution.”

But he said the idea of making the Bangsamoro re-

ACROBAT. A young boy shows off his acrobatic skills in front of his friend while roaming around Sta. Ana wharf in Davao City yesterday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

F ACTING, 10

Women’s group reaffirms support for Duterte

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

WOMEN’S group supporting the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte vowed to keep their support in the midst of controversy over his rape slur.

The Forum on Women for Action with Rody Duterte

or ForwaRD Women Steering Committee head Dina Tolentino-Fuentes said in a statement that the group will continue to support Duterte’s candidacy because for his pro-women track record.

Fuentes said despite the criticisms thrown at Duterte

for his controversial remarks, they will continue to support to his candidacy “because he has shown, by performance and historically, that he could work with women, commit to their programs and transform his commitment into concrete actions.”

“We will never condone the sexist remark, but we shall commit to work with him so that he and the others will finally understand us, our issues, and our aspirations as women struggling against discrimination, abuses and other forms of violence,”.

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DOLE, SM ink partnership for Job Fair

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NGO: Pass BBL in 2 years; make Bangsamoro pilot for federalism A

F NGO, 11

EDGEDAVAO

7 ECONOMY

VOL. 9 ISSUE 39 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 24 - 25, 2016

Jollibee buys remaining 30% share in Mang Inasal for P2B

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OMEGROWN fastfood giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) has taken full ownership of barbeque fastfood chain, Mang Inasal.

This, after JFC purchased the remaining 30-percent share in Mang Inasal Philippines, Inc., the owner and operator of Mang Inasal, for Php 2 billion.

The company said the acquisition was in line with the

terms of the shareholders’ agreement executed in 2010.

In 2010, JFC bought 70 percent of Mang Inasal for Php3 billion.

The company said there will be no changes in the business conduct and direction of Mang Inasal resulting from this acquisition, except that the Board of Directors of Mang Inasal would completely be composed of representatives of JFC. (PNA)

PHL banks keep steady lending standards in Q1

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ENDING standards in the country remained steady for the 28th consecutive quarter in end-March 2016, results of a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey show.

Results of the latest Senior Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) showed that the steady lending standards for both the enterprises and households was based on the modal approach, or when results were analyzed by looking at the option with the highest share of responses.

Based on the diffusion index (DI) approach, which when in positive corresponds to net tightening while when in negative indicates net easing, lending standards posted a net tightening for businesses and unchanged for households when compared to the previous quarter’s survey, results of which showed net easing.

According to the central bank report, the net tightening result based on the DI approach was due to “reduced

tolerance for risk, perception of stricter financial system regulations, and more uncertain outlook on certain industries and firms.”

This points to stricter collateral requirements and loan covenants for enterprises, it said.

For the second quarter of the year, the banks expect unchanged loan demand for both firms and household, the BSP said.

The report, on the other hand, noted that “a larger proportion of respondents expect overall demand for corporate loans to increase further in the next quarter relative to those who indicated the opposite.”

Banks attributed this to businessmen’s improved economic outlook, projection of higher working capital and accounts receivable.

For household clients, the optimism was traced to higher consumption and investments and more attractive financing terms. (PNA)

DOLE awards over P205M to 7,917 workers through SEnA settlement

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EPARTMENT of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said that speedy settlement of labor disputes in the first two months of 2016 through Single Entry Approach (SEnA), an alternative dispute resolution mechanism of the Department, which resulted in the grant of Php205,766,580.88 in settlement benefits to 7,917 workers.

“The fast settlement of the request for assistance at the DOLE Regional Offices and attached agencies shows their commitment to the conciliation and mediation mode of dispute settlement. Their efforts led to the timely and efficient dispute settlement using the DOLE’s flagship program, the Single Entry Approach mechanism and other alternative modes of dispute resolution,” said Baldoz.

SEnA is an administrative approach that provides a speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible settlement procedure of all labor issues or conflicts to prevent them

from ripening into full-blown disputes.

Initiated by Baldoz in 2010 through Department Order No. 107-10, the SEnA became effective that the Congress of the Philippines institutionalized it by legislating into a law, Republic Act No. 10396.

Baldoz, citing a report from Executive Director Atty.

Shirley Pascual of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), said that of the total monetary benefits facilitated by the DOLE Regional office and attached agencies amounting to Php205,766,580.88, the amount of Php150,635,616 was facilitated by the Department’s Regional Offices.

It benefitted 5,054 workers, or a per capita benefit of Php27,638.38.

On the other hand, the attached agencies facilitated a total of P55,130,964.37 monetary package for 2, 413 workers, or a per capita benefit of P22,847.47 Executive Director Pascual also said a total of 13,397

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HALAL EXHIBIT. An exhibitor fixes a display of Halal bottled Durian jam at the booth of the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the second day of the Philippine Halal Tourism Expo 2016 at the activity center of Abreeza Mall yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Cacao yield down by 30 % due to El Niño: Val Turtur

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

ACAO production in Davao Region is feared to decrease by 30 percent this year due to the long drought, a top official of the Cacao Industry Development Association for Mindanao (CIDAMI) said.

This estimate was given

by CIDAMI executive director Valente Turtur.

“Many of the cacao trees in the region had not bear any fruit because of the lack of rain for the past three months,” said Turtur last Saturday.

He said the areas planted to cacao in Davao Oriental and Davao City, specifically in the districts of Tugbok and Paquibato were the most adversely affected by the El Niño for the region.

Turtur said Davao Oriental has around 3,900 hectares of areas planted to cacao, while Davao City has the biggest land area allocated for cacao with a total of more than 6,000 hectares Overall production for this year, he told Edge Davao, is expected to remain at 12,000 metric tons (MT), not the targeted 14,000 MT. “Some affected trees had a low yield or not fruiting at all,” Turtur said, adding that trees will start to bear fruits once the rainy season resumes.

Despite the decreasing yield, he said, farmers would continue to enjoy the high global buying price.

“Because of the low supply of quality cacao beans in global market, prices will continue to go up,” he explained, adding the buy-

ing price of dry fermented cacao beans is at P 120 to P125 per kilogram (kg).

Turtur said the price went up from P110 per kilo

in January to P115 by the end of April.

“It is expected that price will hit P150 per kilo by October to November,” he said.

Davao Region is the country’s major producer of cacao exported to The Netherlands, Belgium, United States, and Germany.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 9 ISSUE 39 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 24 - 25, 2016

EDITORIAL Where is your conscience?

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VIDEO is going viral on Youtube of a soldier who died waiting for a chopper to transport him to the hospital. The choppers are used transporting VIPs at that very time the soldier needed to be airlifted.

What a pitiful sight. The soldier breathing his last as no help came to save his precious life dedicated to fighting for the country.

By contrast, five choppers were used by President Aquino and sister Kris reportedly for a campaign sortie.

We should have known by now that the Kris Helicopter story has gone viral too eliciting a storm of criticisms from netizens.

President Aquino came to the rescue of his sister saying she is entitled to use the government helicopter because she is one of the country’s top taxpayers.

Since when has using government choppers become the incentive for paying huge taxes?

Last time we checked, using government helicopters for partisan activities is an election offense.

For using a government helicopter to campaign for the administration’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, it is clear that Kris committed an election offense and his brother President Benigno Aquino III is more liable for allowing it.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., likewise

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OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance RICHARD C. EBONA Marketing Supervisor

defended Kris with a statement insisting that immediate members of the president’s family were not barred from using official government vehicles.

Granting for the sake of argument that Kris is entitled to use the chopper, President Aquino could be liable. While the law does not prohibit elected and appointed government officials from partisan political activity such as campaigning, they should do so without violating the Omnibus Election Code.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code, defines states the following as an election offense: “Use of public funds, money deposited in trust, equipment, facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign. - Any person who uses under any guise whatsoever, directly or indirectly ...(3) any equipment, vehicle, facility, apparatus, or paraphernalia owned by the government or by its political subdivisions, agencies including government-owned or controlled corporations, or by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for any election campaign or for any partisan political activity.”

The administration will come up with all excuses to make the illegal appear legal, but what is very sickening here is that a poor soldier’s life has been reportedly lost because of this impropriety.

Alright, be it a high-paying taxpayer’s prize or a first family’s privilege— name all your excuses—but heck, where is your conscience?

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

9

And so to sleep

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N “unconsciousness from which the person can be aroused by sensory or other stimuli.” That’s how science defines sleep.

A night’s sleep consists of four or five cycles, each of which progresses through several stages. During the night, a person alternatives between slow-wave sleep, also called nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The entire cycle of slow-wave sleep and REM takes about 90 minutes. The entire cycle of slow-wave sleep and REM takes about 90 minutes.

“Sleep is a natural period within every 24 hours when the body repairs itself, tests its systems, consolidates memory, purges itself of cellular waste, and stockpiles energy for the day ahead,” explain Charles B. Inlander and Cynthia K. Moran in their book, 67 Ways to Good Sleep.

“On average, humans spend about a third of their lives asleep, or about 205,000 hours in a 70-year lifetime.”

Diane Hales, author of How to Sleep Like a Baby, explains that when you sleep, “you are not motionless like a car in a garage. (Sleep) is an altered form of consciousness, when muscles tense and relax, your pulse, like the temperature and blood pressure, rises and falls, the brain works, and chemicals course through the bloodstream.”

According to sleep experts, approximately a third of a person’s lifetime is spent in the Land of Nod. Because of this, they urge that more attention should be given to this matter of sleep.

“Between the ages of 20 and 70,” writes Don Hawley, author of Smell a Few Flowers, “you will likely spend more than 15 full years in bed! If you’re one of those who never quite rested, the statistic may be hard to believe.”

Perhaps the most common question is: “How much sleep do I need each night?” Well, no one can provide a pat answer as each person differs in needs. Some people function on five hours’ sleep a night; others just can’t make it on less than nine or 10. The average seems to be about seven to eight hours.

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Some people THINK ON THESE! don’t care whether they sleep much or little. American actress Cloris Leachman sleeps only three or four hours a night because she has “so many things to do.”

The only performer to win an Oscar for playing an ac- Henrylito D. Tacio tress of not getting henrytacio@gmail.com the top prize often starts her day at 4:30 a.m., works until 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., then goes out. When she finally gets home, she plays the piano or reads before bed.

Japanese philosopher George Ohsawa, the founder of macrobiotics, slept no more than four hours a night. There was a time that he slept only two hours. Said one of his students, explaining why Ohsawa died at age 74 of a heart attack, “That’s stressful, and stress, as we know, is not good for the heart.”

Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, was said to get by on only three or four hours of sleep. Sometimes, he would wake at three in the morning and would dictate to his secretary until dawn, snapping impatiently at the sleepy aide, “What’s the matter with you? You’re sleeping on your feet.”

Insomnia is how the medical science calls the problem of sleeplessness. Insomnia is a symptom – “not a disease,” declares Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, bestselling author of The Best Treatment. “No one is born destined to become an insomniac,” he explains.

Like any other symptom (pain, itch, cough, fever), there’s always a reason of your inability to fall asleep, the most common being something psychological – you’re either worried, anxious, fearful, depressed, or excited. Or, you may be perfectly content, but your sleep environment is at fault – your bedroom is too hot, too

cold, or poorly ventilated; your bed is too short the mattress is bad for your back.

Or, you may have developed bad bedtime habits, like trying to catch up on your unfinished office correspondence before turning out the lights; working out on your rowing machine; smoking that last cigarette of the day (the nicotine will keep you awake); even your sex habits can cause insomnia – it soothes most of us, but overstimulates others.

Can’t sleep? Then don’t go to bed. “If there’s one recommendation I would make for insomnia, it’s to delay bedtime by an hour, maybe two hours,” says Dr. Edward Stepanski, director of the Insomnia Clinic at the Henry Ford Hospital’s Sleep Disorders and Research Center in Detroit, Michigan.

One of the worst practices people follow is to go to bed when they’re really not tired. “They don’t even feel sleepy, but they think it’s time they should go to bed,” he says. And few events can tighten the tension like lying in the dark, listening to the bathroom faucet drip and wondering why you can’t sleep.

Once you snuggle under the covers, if you don’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up, leave the bedroom and muddle through something mundane. “Don’t sweat it. Go ahead and watch the late show and ride it out,” Dr. Stepanski advises.

Practice good sleep habits. Sleep experts like to rattle off a list of what they call sleep hygiene tips: Don’t use the bedroom for anything but sleep or sex; get up at the same time every morning regardless of when you retire; don’t take naps; exercise in the late afternoon or early evening; don’t go to bed hungry. Most people trying to banish insomnia go down the list, trying each item for a day or two, then discarding it and returning to the old habit.

“They end up concluding that none of these things works, but you really have to try them all simultaneously and give them a chance,” Dr. Stepanski says. “Instant sleep won’t come the very first night you skip an evening cup of coffee or go

to bed at 1:00 a.m. rather than midnight.”

Learn and practice relaxation techniques.

The harder you try to sleep, the greater the chances are that you’ll end up gnashing your teeth all night rather than stacking some z’s.

That’s why it is important to relax once you’re in bed. “The one problem with insomnia is that people often concentrate too much on their sleep, and they press too hard,” Dr. Michael Stevenson, clinical director of the North Valley Sleep Disorders Center in California. “The key to successfully falling asleep is to reduce your focus and avoid working yourself into a frenzy.”

Biofeedback exercises, deep breathing, muscle stretches, or yoga may help. Special audiotapes can teach you how to progressively relax your muscles. It may not come easy at first, but as Dr. David Neubauer, of the Johns Hopkins University Sleep Disorders Center, “It’s like dieting; you must work on it all the time. It will take time to get results, but if you stick with it, it will pay off.”

What about sleeping pills? Sleep physicians are extremely reluctant to prescribe sedatives, says Dr. Suzanne Jaffee, clinical director of the Sleep Program at Hollywood Medical Center in Florida, except in the event of an obvious trauma, such as the death of a spouse, and even then only for a very temporary period. Improper withdrawal from sleeping pills can cause the insomnia the prescription was designed to treat, she says.

What about the occasional use of over-thecounter sleeping pills? “Don’t routinely take them,” Dr. Jaffe advises. “We don’t know the long-term effects of them. But they’re absolutely not benign. They contain ingredients that can cause addiction.”

Now, if the above still won’t “cure” your sleeplessness, nothing will! But men like Mark Twain could dismiss insomnia humorously: “If you can’t sleep, try lying on the end of the bed – then you might drop off.” Of course, he was just joking.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

COMMENTARY

know that by heart. Knowing the rights and privileges made enshrined in RA 9442, I applied for a PWD Card in CSSDO. His PWD card was signed by the Mayor. When I applied at the MSSDO, I was immediately told to queue for my son’s gift from the Mayor during the PWD Party in December (I didn’t go).

But you see, jokes about PWDs, as joke about rape, are not a laughing matter. Why should we be careful with our jokes? Because language does not merely reflect our reality.

More powerfully, it also shapes it. While the latter promotes and perpetuates the machismo and rape culture, the former promotes and perpetuates discrimination and Social Darwinism --- you know the theory that says only the fittest survive. If you must know, this was the theory used to justify European colonization as well as racism. Internally, this was the theory used to justify the denial of government welfare.

Pushed to the extreme, this was used to justify eugenics by Hitler in Nazi Germany.

When I heard the PWD joke and the people laughing at it --- I felt sick in the stomach.

There is something fundamentally wrong here as there was something fundamentally wrong when the rape joke was cracked, laughed at and defended. It’s so sickening because you see how people think and feel on these issues and how the act sends the signs that it’s okay to rape, it’s okay to bully, it’s okay to discriminate, it’s okay to exclude --- progressive city programs notwithstanding.

Even with only 8 years of living in Davao, I know that this is not the culture that built Davao to be what it is today. Davao was built not by Duterte alone but in partnership and collaboration with a critically engaged civil society. You think that the laws being implemented in Davao City now just came in a snap because the Mayor thought of them? No, they these were a product of informed, critical, and rigorous debates and very active lobbying and advocacy. You want to replicate these in the whole country, then let’s educate ourselves on how to recognize, respect, protect, and promote fundamental human rights. Rights are never given. They are fought for. At 5, my son knows that by heart. That is why he dreams to be a Katipunero.

Meanwhile, given the violations of The Magna Carta on Disabled Persons and the people laughing at it, it appears that I and my Little Katipunero have an uphill battle to wage.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Eizel P. Hilario is an anthropologist currently teaching at the Ateneo de Davao University. For most of her professional life she has worked in support of indigenous peoples rights, especially in relation to ancestral domains and rights to self-governance and self-determination issues. Eizel also contributes to the advancement of women’s rights.

Pablo has turned her into a Persons with Disabilities (PWD) advocate as well, a role she fully embraces).

Raising a 5-year old PWD is no joke

Y five year old son Pablo says that when he grows up, he’d like to be a Katipunero and fight for freedom and against the bad people. I tell him oh you don’t have to wait till you’re older for that. When you fight for your rights, even if you are only 5, you are like a Katipunero. When people laugh at you, jokes and makes fun of your autism stripes and you tell them that is bad because it’s discriminating and it’s not inclusive (yes I introduce and explain big words to him), you are already like a Katipunero. I reminded him that his teachers always remind him and his classmates not to laugh at others when they are different or talk or do things differently because it’s bad.

Pablo has been diagnosed as Autistic before his 4th his birthday. Everyone who knows us and our family knows how happy and smart Pablo is and how we, as parents together with our family and friends, are trying our best to raise him into a gender-sensitive, culturally sensitive, caring for the environment, inclusive, peace and freedom loving, just, and God-loving person as we dreamed every Mindanawon and human being should be. When the developmental pediatrician explained to me the diagnosis it deeply hurt that everything we knew about our son was a symptom of autism.

Trained as an anthropologist, I am oriented that people come in different packages and that I should accept and act on the diagnosis because time was of the essence for early intervention. Other parents take it really very hard

BY EIZEL HILARIO and go on a long period of denial. I understand because it’s really difficult --- you question what did you do wrong, what went wrong, will you be able to afford therapies at all given that you could hardly make both ends meet? Would you be able to afford progressive schools when prescribed? Would he able to keep up with school at all? Even if diagnosed as highly intelligent, would he be able to take a job because of his social skills? Will he fall in love? You take it one day at a time.

Meanwhile, in your everyday, your greatest, greatest fear as a parent is -- was my child stared at, laughed at, became a subject of jokes, bullied, and discriminated because he is differently abled?

This is why I am deeply enraged with the joke cracked by Mayor Duterte on PWDs during his campaign sortie in Aklan. I am equally indignant with all the people who laughed at the joke and defended him on the issue. The National Council on Disabled Affairs has already declared the joke as a violation of Magna Carta 9442 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

It is also a violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD).

Please do not tell me that despite those jokes, Mayor supports the PWDs in Davao. I

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Pajelleno was working for Boyi Wantong, a sub-contractor of FHI-True North Manufacturing Services Corp. which reports to Therma South.

“It is very unfortunate that this accident happened more so that we are aware that they are a company very conscious in upholding safety and health standards,” Suyao added.

He also said report from the Occupational Safety and Health Center 11 engineer Jennifer Talo bared that TSI

voluntarily halt its operation where the accident happened “When they visited the site on Thursday(April 21) TSI has already cordoned the area. They voluntarily stopped the work in the area where the accident happened,” he said. “TSI also conducted safety and health training to their sub-contractors yesterday as further precaution.”

Meanwhile, the TSI said in a statement last Friday that the family of the victim will receive financial assistance from the employer.

tain the 10% green space requirement in Davao City.

“In the context of fire control, having trees in around or nearby houses reduces the risk that fire will spread further from its point of origin. It also provides our firefighters additional cover to protect them while they are containing the fire.”, she pointed out.

2015 Lunhaw Awardee for Reforestation Initiatives Ric Obenza also said that planting non-resin trees in urban areas can also help in fire control and mitigation.

“Trees with resin, like pine trees, are very conducive to fire. This is one of the reasons that the fire spread rapidly in Mt. Apo. In subdivisions, non-resin trees should be planted, instead of pine trees, to help protect the homes from sudden fire outbreaks, especially in this time

of climate change.”, he said.

He recommended tugas (Molave) , bignay (Currant berry tree) and guyabano (Soursop) trees for green spaces in subdivisions.

“These are indigenous trees which will readily adapt to our local soil and climate.” , he said.

“Trees belonging to the genus Ficus, like tubog and balite are also good for fire cover.”, he also added.

Around 80 participants from people’s organizations and civil society groups attended yesterday’s Earth Day forum which was supported by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), Go Organic Davao City (GoDC) and the Sanggunian Panglunsod. This year’s Earth Day theme is “Trees for the Earth”.

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criminals. He hates them,” he said.

He said Duterte most especially hates persons who discriminate, take advantage and assault vulnerable sectors of our society – the lumads, the minority, the disabled, the people with different gender preference and most especially women.

Evasco said for all his much talked about womanizing ways, Duterte has a soft heart towards women who are assaulted, raped and killed.

“I can count to you how many rape cases he personally attended to and take with extreme unction,” he said.

He said his ‘little town’ reputation, unguarded and unrehearsed manners may offend those who are taught how our national leaders should act, behave and speak.

“They may find him uncouth, abrasive, and even repulsive. Because that is how the elitists are trying to impose their myopic rules on all our people. Duterte is not in this

elitist circle and he is definitely out-of-the-box,” he said.

“But by God, he is the most sincere, simplest but dedicated leader I have ever worked with,” he added.

Evaco said Duterte inspires people who knows him very well.

“For that, I will not exchange him for anyone else in the country,” he said.

He said he urge Duterte’s believers and supporters to remain steadfast amid the new challenges he and us are facing.

Evasco said the supporters must have faith in the man who already proved that he will place the interest of the people ahead of his. Even putting his own life on the line.

“In 3 weeks, we will decide if Mayor Duterte’s selfless dedication deserves to be reciprocated,” he said.

“I urge you to rally behind, vote for him and protect those precious votes. A vote for him is a vote for tomorrow and the future of your children our next generation,” he added.

It was during Iriberri’s nine months that the two supersonic FA-50PH lead-in fighter jets and new combat helicopters were delivered to the Philippine Air Force, the arrival of 100 armored personnel carriers for the Philippine Army and three landing craft heavies (LCHs) for the Philippine Navy.

But Miranda said equipment did not automatically translate to capability as there was still the need to improve capability acquisition and resourcing.

He added that the AFP should expand its modernization in the realm of international defense and security engagements. (PNA)

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of the agreement,” the environment chief added.

Paje said the Philippines signed the deal in the hope that all 196 countries who adopted it last December will begin the implementation of their respective intended nationally determined contribution (INDC).

INDC is a long-term commitment of a country to curb its GHG emissions, identifying among others its climate mitigation and adaptation actions that will be implemented beyond 2020.

Under its INDC submitted to the UNFCCC in October last year, the Philippines committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030, which will come from the energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry sectors.

“The Philippines, a highly vulnerable developing nation, has already taken step forward and has made its positions and commitment to immediately pursue national actions to address climate change through our INDC,” Paje said.

He said that while the country has one of the most ambitious national targets, the full implementation of its contribution to global action “requires grant-based support in the form of adequate, predictable and sustainable financing.”

However, despite financial constraints, Paje said the Philippines still man-

aged to demonstrate its commitment of meeting its goal by starting the implementation of its National Climate Action Plan and the integration of climate change in national and local development plans and budgets.

“To secure a sustainable future, the Philippine government is pursuing value-added strategies to ensure the provision of ecosystem services and green growth strategies to address pollution and environmental degradation, including increasing our renewable energy capacity in the coming years,” Paje said.

He said the country also started investing in a climate resilient economy by incorporating the UN’s 17 sustainable developmental goals in its development and strategic plans and program.

“In the Philippines, we have been actively pursuing definitive actions through the convention and have recently submitted our Articles of Accession to the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol,” Paje pointed out.

According to Paje, the country’s GHG inventory management and reporting system among national agencies and partner institutions are already being established to create a transparent, accurate, complete and comparable baseline of emissions. (PNA)

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NEWS 11

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OCCUPATIONAL RISK OR RECKLESSNESS? A container yard worker at Sta. Ana wharf in Davao City emulates Spiderman’s moves as he gets a lift using a crane’s hooks unmindful of the risk to his life. Lean Daval Jr.

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request for assistance (RFA) were filed at the DOLE Regional Offices and attached agencies which are implementing the SEnA program during the said period. Of the said RFA, 3,626 were filed at the DOLE Regional Offices and 10,311 RFA were filed at the attached agencies, the bulk of which, or about 6,131 were filed at the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

The attached agencies which implement the SEnA program are the NCMB, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and DOLE-Legal Service.

Majority of the new RFA were filed in labor intensive regions, particularly at the National Capital Region which recorded 1,157 RFA, or 39 percent of the total RFA filed

at the DOLE Regional Offices.

This was followed by Region 4-A, with 429 RFA, or 14 percent; Region 11, with 327, or 11 percent; and Region 3, with 177, or six percent.

The total number of RFA filed at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) marked an increase of 45 and 56 percent

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compared to the 650 and 831 RFA recorded during the same period in 2015, respectively.

According to Pascual’s report, the combined disposition rate of the DOLE Regional Offices and Attached Agencies during the same period was 66 percent, a decrease of two percent from last year’s 68 percent. The settlement rate was 56 percent which was the same rate covering the same period of the previous year.

The DOLE Offices and attached agencies also disposed the filed RFA in less than 30 days, or ranging from one to 25 days duration, except in DOLE Regional Office No. 2 with 69 days.

DOLE Regional Office No. 3 settled the RFA fastest, or with an average of one day only. Fifteen of the 16 DOLE Regional Offices settled the RFA within five to 25 days, or an average of 12 days. Attached agencies, on the other hand, settled the filed RFA within seven to 25 days.

A total of 7,436 RFA, or about 53 percent are still on process of conciliation-mediation proceedings under the SENA program. (PNA)

an environment where women could freely express, organize and mobilize themselves and collectively craft legislations and programs by themselves is possible and right,” she said.

“We will not discredit neither condemn those who took a stand against Duterte because of his remark only because we respect your right to free expression,” she added.

She said their group is a loose movement of women organizations either formed for Rody Duterte or already existing but have expressed their support to Mayor Duterte’s candidacy all over the Philippines.

“As ForwaRD women had launched the Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon Assemblies

last February 27, April 2 and April 11 , respectively, it is fitting to say that ForwaRD Women has representations all over the country,” she said.

Fuentes said this movement is not a movement for Dutere but “with Duterte” because they believe that addressing their issues should be in partnership with the Mayor.

“Duterte has listened to every proposal made by the women leaders and which now constitute the National Women’s Agenda,” she said.

She said Duterte stated that he will study each agendum but remarked that the proposals made are easy and practicable.

“This is his legacy. That’s indelible. History has already judged him,” she said.

gion as an example is possible “because you know the system that is being adopted in the CAB is more of a federal type of government.. than presidential.”

“If this works then we can improve on it, if this is the way we think can help the country.

But for now, federalism is only in the mind. There are so many things to consider in adopting federalism,” he said: geographical cohesion and competence of l local government units (LGUs).

“What are the geographical boundaries in creating these federal states. Two is the competence of LGUs without which we will be creating only a layer of bureaucracy like what is happening today,” Alim said.

He explained that the ARMM is merely a layer of bureaucracy between the national government and the local government units (LGUs).

“This is a government that has no oversight over LGUs and so it is an intermediary organization, not helping so much and I think this is why the (phrase) ‘failed experiment’ was coined because it is not responding positively to the needs on the ground.”

The lone Presidential candidate advocating a change in the system of government from the present unitary, Presidential form to a federal system is Presidential frontrunner and Davao city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

In his visit to the MILF’s Camp Darapanan, Sultan

Kudarat in Maguindanao morning of February 27 and in his rally in Cotabato City in the afternoon, Duterte said that if he wins the Presidency, he would push for the passage of the BBL and make the Bangsamoro an example for the rest to follow under a federal system of government.

At the MILF camp, Duterte told MILF officials led by Ghazali Jaafar that he would convene a Constitutional Commission to amend the 1987 Constitution to change the system of government into federalism but “if it takes time, and if only to defuse tension, in my government I will convince Congress to pass the BBL then make it as a template for federal states.”

At the Cotabato City plaza, Duterte said there is a need to correct the historical injustices committed against the Moro people and vowed that under his administration, “we will try to go federalism.”

“Yang Bagsamoro sa mapa ngayon, wag nang galawin yan. Gawin na lang nating example na makopya sa lahat. Ang mangyayari nito, uunahin ko na lang pakiusapan ko ang Congress na we will pass the BBL (The Bangsamoro on the map now, let’s not touch that anymore. Let’s make it an example for the rest to copy. I will immediately ask Congress to pass the BBL).

He said he will also tell Nur Misuari “kopyahin na lang natin sila para sa Mindanao at buong Pilipinas” (let’s copy that for Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines”).

Misuari, whom Duterte considers a friend, is founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) with whom government signed a Final Peace Agreement in 1996 and whose implementation has yet to be fully completed.

The Friends of Peace had earlier invited Presidential candidates to a dialogue on their peace agenda. Duterte confirmed attendance to the February 12 “Conversations with Presidential Candidates on the Bangsamoro Peace Process” at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City. Duterte, however, fell ill during an engagement in Manila the afternoon before and was advised by doctors to rest.

He sent his City Administrator, Melchor Quitain. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

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EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH RATIFICATION OF SALE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late LEONARDO BUISAN has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH RATIFICATION OF SALE executed among his heirs per Doc. No. 239; Page No. 48; Book No. XXV; Series of 2015, of the NOTARY PUBLIC RICHARD D. TUMANDA 4/11,18,25

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TRAVEL

WHERE TO GO THIS SUMMER IN DAVAO Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio SUMMER IS ALREADY HERE. It’s time to hit those places that can make your body cooler this time of the year. In Luzon, most people go to the summer capital of the country -- Baguio. But in recent years, Filipinos have discovered that there are other places that they can go to during summer.

In Mindanao, some people might be packing their things and go to these places in Davao Region: Maragusan, Compostela Valley: “Maragusan is a cold place just like Baguio and Tagaytay.” “There are so many beautiful and exotic spots to visit. There are too many I can’t state them all.” “It is a cold region surrounded by high mountains.” “In the morning, it’s really cold that even cooking oil would solidify. It’s like an ice candy in the freezer.”

These are just some of the remarks you often hear from people who had been to Maragusan, a first class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley.

After all, it is considered as “the summer capital of Davao Region.”

The best place to stay is at the Haven’s Peak Highland Resort, which has been featured in The Lonely Planet. It is nestled on Tarago Hills facing the town with 208 beautifully landscaped steps leading to its tidy but beautiful lobby. This mountain resort provides sight of the picture-perfect and picturesque view of green foggy mountains appearing like a painting and like backdrop of a stage.

Dahican Beach in Mati City, Davao Oriental: It is

located some 15 minutes from the heart of the city.

A recent American visitor, who had also been to Boracay, hailed the beach in these words: “I have not seen such a wonderful beach, not even in Boracay. The Dahican Beach is South Sea dream come true.”

Swimming is not the only thing you can do while you are in Dahican Beach. If you like water adventure like skimboarding, this is the best place in Davao region. In fact, several skimboarding competitions have been held in the place; it is being touted as the Skimboarding Capital of Mindanao.

George Plaza, whose story I featured in Reader’s Digest, is the man behind the popularity of skimboarding in Dahican. He founded the Amihan Boys to help those out-of-school youths to do something worthwhile instead of being a problem in the barangay where they are living. These boys can be tapped as trainers for those who want to learn skimboarding.

Not far from the beach are two beautiful islands: Waniban and Pujada. If white sand is your thing, then these two islands offer the very best. The only hitch: you have to hire a

boat in going to these places.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte: Once a breeding ground for Daniel Aguinaldo’s white lipped oyster, whose survival depended on the cleanest underwater environment, it is now an idyllic private resort.

One of the famous landmarks of the resort is the three-tiered Parola wharf (named after the local term for lighthouse), which was once a lookout post for strangers who were not welcome on the island, back in the days when it was still a pearl farm.

A few hundreds off the beach resort is the Mali-

pano Island which is the site of seven exclusive villas. All waterfront bungalows were designed by world-renowned Architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, inspired by the stilt houses of the Sulu Sea using strictly native materials such as bamboo, coconut and yakal.

For scuba divers, the Pearl Farm is a more than a paradise: excellent diving can be had right in front of the resort. This natural haven offers spectacular diving amongst the huge shoals of fish and the giant taklobo clams, without the need for tedious boat rides.

Just 60 meters away from the resort are two sunken Japanese World War II

ships that await discovery.

Buenavista Island in Samal Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte: The fourhectare island is a perfect place to go this summer.

It has a beautiful view, especially the one that is facing the Pacific Ocean.

It’s no wonder why the owners named it as The Island Buenavista (the latter comes from two Spanish words, buena for “good” and vista for “view”).

Here, it gives a new dimension to the words “privacy” and “exclusivity.”

You and your group can have the island all by yourself with no other people but you (and of course the staff who will serve you and attend your needs).

If your dream this summer is swimming in a white sand beach with crystal clear waters and far from the madding crowd, then The Buenavista Island is a dream comes true. As you loiter around the island, you can take refuge under the shade of coconut trees (they don’t bear nuts so you are safe wherever you go) and feel the sunkissed cottony sands. The nonchalant breeze from the sea cools your warm body.

Eden Nature Park and Resort in Toril, Davao City: At 2,650 feet above sea level, it offers breath taking views of Davao City and the Davao gulf. Growing pine trees created canopies, but not so densely that other trees and plants were also able to grow. A huge area was also planted to mangosteen and dragon fruits. As years go by, a secondary forest was developed. Today, there are over 100,000 pine trees spread across about 80 hectares, making the resort 95-percent man-made.

The once-barren piece of land now provides a relaxing alternative to the bustling city life of Davao with its cool weather and unpolluted air. If you happen to visit the place past five in the afternoon, you better bring your own jacket as it becomes cooler.

It’s like Baguio during the old days.

And there are so many things you can do fishing and horseback riding.

Those who want some actions and extreme adventures, they can try zipline, skycycle (bicycling up in the sky), and skywing (yes, swinging on top and going down)

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ENTERTAINMENT

Single/Single returns for Season 2 on Cinema One S I N G L E / SINGLE,” CINEMA ONE’S FIRST BREAK THROUGH SERIES STARRING K APAMILYA STARS SHAINA M AG DAYAO AND MATTEO GUIDICELLI returns for a second season on May 15 at 10PM on Cinema One.

At the media launch held on April 21 at Restaurant 9501 in ABS-CBN, the cast shared that season 2 promises leveled-up entertainment and relevance that will appeal to the millennial generation, without losing the comedy and kilig vibes that fans loved in season 1.

“Single/Single,” Cinema One and The Philippine Star’s first project, is the cable channel’s first TV series that focuses on issues ranging from quarterlife crises to relationship dilemmas in a digital world.

The series combines engaging

winner Lilit Reyes, and produced by Bianca Balbuena, who recently joined the prestigious Berlinale Talents panel.

The new season will air every Sunday at 10PM with replays on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9PM. Cinema One, the country’s number one cable channel is

comedy with relevant messaging targeted to the urban singles coping with the demanding lifestyle of a more complicated world.

Season 2 will continue to combine the power of cable and print media to talk to Filipino millennials about how to cope as a single individual in an entertaining format.

After each episode on Cinema One, an

in-depth discussion about “how to adult” will be provided in the Philippine Star’s Business Lifestyle section by wealth management expert and inspirational speaker, Francis Kong.

For this season, online media will play a vital role in sparking conversation among millennials and engaging them as episodes will eventually be made available via PhilstarTV.com.

on Skycable channel 56, Destiny Cable Analog 37 and Digital 57. For updates, like Cinema1channel on Facebook (facebook. com/Cinema1channel).

For updates on Single/ Single, visit Facebook. co m /Si n g l eSi n g l e C1 on Facebook and @ SingleSingleC1 on Twitter and Instagram.

Returning to the series are veteran actress Cherie Gil who plays Matteo’s single mom, award-winning Cinema One Originals actress Anna Luna as Shaina’s career-driven buddy, and theater actor Brian Sy as Shaina’s gay friend.

“Single/Single” is directed by international award-winning independent cinema director Pepe Diokno, written by Palanca

Sky unloads fun family entertainment for a great summer together

Shop for scorching hot deals at the SM KIDS SALE from May 1 to June 5, 2016! Check out our incredible collection of stylish kids’ clothing at the Children’s Wear Department of The SM Store nationwide and enjoy freebies and big discounts!

WITH SUMMER ALREADY IN FULL SWING, families are by now looking for ways to spend this much needed break. Good thing they can always check out SKY, the cable network that has become synonymous to fun and entertainment.

From its wide array of premium channels, SKY is pouring out multi-genre offerings that are on every member of the family’s bucket list for summer.

Summer need not be the time for idle minds as viewers also get to uncover new knowledge in National Geographic Channel; The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (April 28, 9pm); and in the new season of Mythbusters (Wednesday, 10pm) on Discovery.

Viewers who need to quench their thirst for sports only have to tune in to NBA Premium TV HD for the live games of the NBA Playoffs; to ABS CBN Sports+Action HD for the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Finals (starting April 23); to FOX Sports for the much awaited Formula 1 on May 1 in Russia; and to ASN for the live games of the NHL Playoffs.

And as every member of the family have been waiting for them, SKYcable unleashes a wave of specials and movies from HBO

April 20 – 26, 2016

BASTILLE DAY/ * HIGH STRUNG Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly/ *Nicholas Galitzine, Jane Seymour

with Game of Thrones finally coming back on Monday (April 25, 9am).

Meanwhile, the surprise Marvel hit Ant-Man (May 28, 9PM) and the highly-acclaimed Pixar feature Inside Out (May 1, 8PM) will both premiere on Fox Movies Premium.

Extending the fun beyond home entertainment, SKY is also rewarding subscribers with

outdoor experiences that both challenge and excite.

SKY has also launched SKYdirect, its new direct-to-home product, which is sure to bring to more homes across the country SKYcable’s premium channels.

If you aren’t a SKY subscriber yet, just log on to www.mysky. com.ph for information on how you can enjoy hot summer entertainment only SKY can give.

R13/*PG

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

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

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

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

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

THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt PG

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

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UP AND ABOUT

Thea

Tribu K’mindanawan

An evening of

music fusion The Davao Region is a melting pot of cultures with influences coming from the Lumad, Muslims, as well as the Christian settlers coming together forming a unique amalgamation of the arts and last April 16 saw the celebration of this unique blend of tribal and modern with the first AirAsia Ethnika Music Fusion held at the pavilion area of the Matina Town Square.

The concert which was one of the official events for this year’s Visit Davao Fun Sale gave visitors a glimpse of the region’s fast developing music scene with performers coming from different genres of music performing together in one festival of cultural diversity.

Performers included Tribu K’mindanawan, Kuntaw Mindanao and folk singers Maan Chua

Maan Chua

and Popong Landero.

Younger indie acts who were part of the music

festival included Jad Montenegro, Kevin Becira, Thea, and Anne Mendoza. There was also a beatbox by Telentadong Pinoy finalist Neil Llanes.

The AirAsia Ethnika Music Fusion concert is spearhead by the Department of Tourism XI, Tourism Promotions Board, City Government of Davao, BPI, Bonamine, Tempra, and MOVE Davao.

Department of Tourism regional director Robby Alabado (second from right) together with the working committee of theVisit Davao Fun Sale.

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO

KORONADAL PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

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DAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENT

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EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

Spurs close in on BEAST COULD BE BEST sweep of Grizzlies Abueva on track for BPC award K C

ALVIN Abueva played down his chances of capturing the Best Player of the Conference award, keeping his focus firmly on another Alaska deep playoff run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. The Aces star, who came in second to Greg Slaughter in the statistical points (SPs) standings after the elimination round, solidified his chances of winning the top individual plum in a conference after

leading his team to a semifinal berth at the expense of Tropang TNT on Friday night.

Abueva is the last man standing among the Top Five in SPs with the teams of Slaughter, Jayson Castro (TNT), Terrence Romeo (GlobalPort), and Sean Anthony (NLEX) already eliminated, making the Aces workhorse’s chances better.

But he refused to think about it for now.

“Saka na yan,” Abueva said

with a smile, keeping his sights on the Aces’ Final Four matchup against Meralco starting on Monday.

Abueva proved true to his word of bouncing back in their Game One loss to the Texters with two straight victories.

“Sabi ko sa inyo eh, makakabawi tayo,” he said. “Hindi namin papayagan na hindi kami makapasok ng semis.”

While admitting he was surprised that the Aces blew out the Texters in their do-or-

die game, Abeuva was confident that their trademark defense would get the job done.

“Oo, na-surprise naman, pero yung depensa namin talagang nag-click, hindi sila nakatira ng libreng-libre,” Abueva said. “Yung rotation maganda talaga.”

“Siguro naubos na yung energy nila nung Game One tapos kami nilabas namin yung sa amin,” he added. “Talagang ibang level na ‘to, pang-semis kasi.”www.spin.ph

DUTERTE MODE. Wearing a Mayor Rodrigo Duterte baller on his shooting arm, Calvin Abueva of Alaska makes his move against Mo Tautuaa of Talk N’ Text.

Abueva, a confessed Duterte supporter, was in his beast mode again and led Alaska to the series clincher. PBA Images

AWHI Leonard scored 32 points, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 96-87, on Friday night (Saturday, Manila time) to take a 3-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series.

The Spurs are a win away from their ninth postseason series sweep and third against Memphis.

They finished the game on a 13-6 run in the final 3:41, and Leonard, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, scored 13 points in the quarter as he shot 11 of 22 for the game and 6 of 9 from 3-point range.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Danny Green and Manu Ginobili each added 11 points for San Antonio.

Zach Randolph led Memphis with 20 points and 11 rebounds on 6-of-21 shooting. Matt Barnes added 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Vince Carter had 11 and JaMychal Green was 5 of 5 for 10 points.

Game Four is on Sunday With Jarell Martin out with an injured left foot, Memphis had only 10 players available, and the 6-foot7 Barnes jumped the opening tipoff at center. A fan summed up the Grizzlies’ season by holding up a towel with the slogan: “So proud of my team ... All 28 of you” in honor of the NBA-record number of players Memphis

used this season.

The Spurs so dominated the first two games in San Antonio that Memphis led only once, by a point and for 25 seconds. This time, the teams swapped the lead eight times with seven ties.

Memphis not only took its second lead of this series, the Grizzlies also won consecutive quarters, outscoring San Antonio 25-18 in the second to trail only 44-43 at halftime and 28-26 in the third.

Memphis coach Dave Joerger stuck with his starters much of the game, with Barnes leading the Grizzlies with more than 41 minutes and Randolph on the court more than 39. Leonard played a game-high 42 minutes, 23 seconds.

The Grizzlies led for more than 2 minutes in the third quarter, taking their biggest lead at 51-48 after a 3-pointer from Carter and a pair of free throws by Tony Allen. That set up a taut quarter where neither team led by more than three, and Memphis led 71-70 going into the fourth.

Boris Diaw scored as the shot clock was running down to put the Spurs ahead to stay with 7:47 left, starting the 7-0 run. Memphis last got within 83-81 on a tip-in by Barnes. Leonard hit a free throw off a defensive 3-second call on Allen with 3:41 to go, and the Spurs finished off the win forcing five turnovers in the quarter.

year.

Last season, McCollum appeared in 62 games (three starts) and averaged 15.7 minutes. He scored in double figures 18 times and reached the 20-point mark three times. This season, as one of four new starters for Portland, McCollum hit double figures in 79 of his 80 games, scored at least 20 points in 40 games and notched eight 30-point games. McCollum ranked ninth in the NBA with 197 three-pointers made, and he teamed with Damian Lillard to form the league’s third-highest scoring duo

(45.9 ppg).

As part of its support of the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, Kia Motors America (KMA) will donate a brand new Sorento CUV to the Boys & Girls Club of Portland on McCollum’s behalf. Kia will present a 2016 Sorento to the charity of choice of each of five 201516 year-end award winners as part of the Kia NBA Performance Awards. Following this season, Kia will have donated a total of 43 new vehicles to charitable organizations since its support of the NBA’s prestigious honors began in 2008.

Clutch 3 seals deal Mc Collum wins Most Improved Player award as Cavs go 3-0 up T L

EBRON James had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving made a pair of big 3-pointers down the stretch to help the Cleveland Cavaliers move within a game of a first-round sweep with a 101-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Irving scored 26 points for Cleveland, which overcame a gritty effort by the Pistons in Detroit’s first home playoff game since 2009. Andre Drummond scored 17 points for the Pistons, but Detroit fell behind toward the end of the third quarter, and a late rally came up short.

The Cavs lead the series 3-0, with Game 4 coming up Sunday night.

The Pistons have now lost 11 straight playoff games against Cleveland, and they’ve lost nine in a row overall in the postseason.

Down by nine in the fourth, Detroit went on an 8-0 run, forcing the Cavs to call a timeout. Irving responded with a 3-pointer, and J.R. Smith added one of his own to make it 95-90. Irving made it an eight-point game with a 3-pointer in the final minute.

A raucous, towel-waving crowd tried to give Detroit a boost. Pistons fans booed James early and often, although the

Cleveland star threw down a two-handed dunk on his team’s first offensive possession.

Detroit rookie Stanley Johnson, who seemed eager to get into a verbal battle with James and the Cavs after Game 2, scored nine points in a fearless first half Friday, but James had the final word before halftime, making a jumper with less than a second left in the second quarter to give Cleveland a 54-53 lead.

Cleveland methodically built a 79-73 lead after three quarters, and after a three-point play and a 3-pointer by James early in the fourth, the Cavs were up by nine. It was 87-86 after Detroit’s run, but the 3s by Irving and Smith helped Cleveland hold on.

With 1:34 remaining, the public address announcer at the Palace announced the results of a replay review with his popular “Deeeeeeeeeetroit Basketball” call, but it turned out he was mistaken and had to correct himself. Officials were giving the ball to the Cavs.

Detroit’s chances were all but extinguished when Irving sank a 3-pointer from the right corner with 43 seconds remaining, and James ran back to midcourt for a celebratory chest bump.

HE Portland Trail Blazers’ CJ McCollum, who more than tripled his scoring average from the previous season, is the winner of the 2015-16 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The 6-4 guard joins Kevin Duckworth (1987-88) and Zach Randolph (200304) as the only Trail Blazers to earn the award, which is designed to honor an upand-coming player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.

McCollum received 101 first-place votes and 559 total points from a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets (seven first-place votes, 166 points) and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (four first-place votes, 99 points) finished second and third, respectively. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

McCollum averaged a career-high 20.8 points (18th in the NBA) in his third sea-

son since being selected by the Trail Blazers with the 10th pick of NBA Draft 2013 presented by State Farm.

He raised his scoring average by 14 points from last season’s 6.8, the largest increase (minimum 40 games each season) since Tony Campbell improved by 17 points from 1988-89 (6.2) to 1989-90 (23.2). McCollum established career highs in field goal percentage (44.8), three-point field goal percentage (41.7, eighth in the NBA), assists (4.3 apg) and rebounds (3.2 rpg), helping Portland make the playoffs for the third consecutive

CJ MC COLLUM

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