Edge Davao | Vol. 11 Issue 218 | Wednesday, January 23, 2019

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

P 15.00 • 16 PAGES

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ORTIZ: REINFORCE FAMILY VALUES, NOT LOWER AGE OF CRIME LIABILITY

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ONLY 10 SHOW UP IN GILAS’ FIRST PRACTICE

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ELECTORAL OFFENSE? Police officers on bicycles pedal pass a billboard of a member of Davao City Council who is seeking for another term as City Councilor along Jacinto Extension, Davao City on Tuesday. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the candidates to take down their posters and sent a reminder that early campaigning is an electoral offense. Armando Fenequito Jr.

VOTING SMOOTH Comelec, AFP say BOL plebiscite generally peaceful

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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OTABATO CITY -- The Commission on Elections said Monday’s plebiscite of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was “generally successful.”

The assessment was made by Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cota-

bato City and Isabela City, Basilan.

Despite some confusion and security threats, and some reported ir-

regularities, Jimenez said the polls had 100 percent completion.

The area that experienced minor glitches, said Jimenez, was Cotabato City. However, he said the voting process ran smoothly.

“Eventually the voting was concluded safe and relatively peaceful throughout the plebiscite

areas,” he said.

Jimenez said around 9:00 p.m. of January 21, all ballot boxes of Cotabato City arrived at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center inside the Office of the Regional Governor.

He bared that despite reports of vote buying and harassments, the Comelec has not yet received any formal complaints.

The Comelec urged the public who noted irregularities during the plebiscite to file complains to their office.

On the security side, 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the electoral exercise was peaceful despite a reported grenade explosion in the city.

Sobejana said there were

no reports of any untoward incidents happening during the conduct of plebiscite in the city.

He said the grenade explosion which happened in the house of Maguindanao Municipal Trial Court Judge Aneglito Rasalan is still under investigation and investigators have not confirmed

FVOTING , P9

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

COURTESY CALL. President Rodrigo Duterte in a discussion with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Koji Haneda, who paid a courtesy call on the President at the Malacañan Palace on Monday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

BOL to bring lasting Ortiz: Reinforce family values, peace to Mindanao not lower age of crime liability

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he National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) lauded the creation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in pursuit of peace and prosperity in Mindanao Region and at the same time recognized that "the path to the realization of the BOL is complex and filled with challenges."

"We commend the Bangsamoro Organic Law for addressing the root sources of social violence in Southern Philippines. Indeed, the meaning of peace goes deeper than the cessation of militarized encounters. Studies on Mindanao such as those by Montiel (2012; 2013), Bulatao (1973), and Saber (1969) imply that among Muslims peace is strongly associated with Muslim culture and land-related debates.

The BOL forefronts both of these issues," the NRCP said in a statement.

It said the BOL comprehensively addresses many aspirations and issues citing Article 1 which establishes the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, while Article 2 asserts the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and establishes the territorial jurisdiction over constituent units and bodies of waters.

In its 18 Articles, NRCP said the BOL further outlines and illustrates how power and wealth will be decentralized to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

"A deeper peace in Min-

danao will certainly open up more avenues for political democracy and economic prosperity," it said.

However, the group stressed that the BOL's passage is only the beginning, though a very important one.

"We note that political transitions anywhere, in any form carry with them challenges such as reversal of powers to long established dominant groups, or the slow pace of policy execution, or the lack of support from citizens. Cognizant of these challenges, those trusts in the pursuit of the BOL see the need to utilize appropriate communal resources during the difficult transition period," it said.

"The Bangsamoro Organic Law engenders a form of decentralization through power-sharing between national and sub-national levels of government. However, power-sharing is not easy to implement. Decentralization presents both opportunities and risks. On the hand, autonomous regions can turn more culturally creative, economically productive, and politically accountable communities precisely because they are no longer stifled by centralizing domination," it added.

On the other hand, NRCP said such centrifugal forces may likewise unleash destructive fragmentation that may create new social divisions and separations or may perpetrate the

FBOL , P9

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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ue lobbying the fight against lowering the minimum age of responsibility in the Senate. She noted that prior to the bill filed by Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III seeking to lower the criminal age of liability from 15 years old to 12, the city council had already approved a resolution in 2018, nixing the proposed measure.

“The reason why we are opposing it is because there is already the Juvenile Justice Act,” she said.

What is needed, Ortiz said, is to reintegrate the responsibility of the parents, and make them liable for the crime committed by their children.

“There is a need to go back to the core values of the family. We should see how their parents raised them,” she said.

In Davao City, offenders aged 13 to 17 are sent to rehabilitation at the Bahay Pag-asa Children’s Village in Barangay Bago Oshiro where there are currently more than 70 children under its custody. Ortiz said that the city is proposing to set up a separate Bahay PagAsa for girls.

Children’s rights advocates have been strongly opposing the repeal of the Juvenile Justice Act, filed by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, among them the ACT 4 Children’s Rights, a non-government organization.

The group’s leader Jaziel Sinadjan said that minor-aged lawbreakers are also victims, and the government must address their needs to be reformed, rather than imprison them.

“Based on psychological aspect, children below 12 years old are not yet matured enough to understand the consequences of their action,” Sinadjan said.

about to finalize the 2019 national budget in the bicameral conference committee deliberations,” Panelo said.

The Senate approved the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) with 14 affirmative votes, no negative vote, and zero abstention.

The final reading approval came two months after the House approved the bill on third reading on Nov. 20, 2018.

Panelo pointed out that once the proposed 2019 budget is finalized, the Duterte administration will be able to carry out projects in its “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

“The immediate approv-

al of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) will jump start the implementation of new projects in 2019 and lay the groundwork for an anticipated impressive economic performance,” Panelo said.

“The passage of the GAB will certainly continue our march to national progress and development,” he added.

At present, the government continues to operate under a reenacted budget since January 1 this year after Congress failed to pass the 2019 national budget on time due to allegations of “pork” insertions.

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. alleged that Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno orchestrated the

insertion of PHP75 billion worth of additional funds allegedly into the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

This caused a disagreement between the executive branch and Andaya. However, the former has continued to stand by Diokno.

The Senate eventually removed the PHP75-billion “insertion” from the budget of the public works department upon the motion of Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Panelo, earlier said that there are “many ways” to push through with the administration’s infrastructure projects, even after the Senate removed the additional funding. (PNA)

Davao City councilor reiterated that there is no need to tweak the country’s penal laws by lowering the age of criminal liability.

Councilor Avegayle Ortiz-Omalza, chairperson of the City Council Committee on Women and Children, said on Tuesday that Senators instead should give the current Juvenile Justice Welfare Act a chance to be implemented properly.

“Hopefully the Senators would hear the side of the children’s rights advocates, and understand why we shouldn’t lower the age of criminal liability,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz is asking child right’s advocates to contin-

Palace pleased by Senate passage of 2019 budget

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alacañang on Tuesday said it was “pleased” by the Senate’s move to pass on final reading the proposed PHP3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 after months of delay.

“The Palace is pleased to know that the Senate has passed on third and final reading the proposed 2019 national budget,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said the Palace is particularly pleased by the Senate treating the passage of the proposed 2019 budget as “urgent.”

“We note that our lawmakers are treating the matter as urgent as they are

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

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4 NEWS 30,568 file for business permits

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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pplicants for business permit renewals as well as new permit applicants came in droves going into the last nine days of transactions by the Davao City Business Bureau.

As of January 19, Saturday, the Business Bureau reportedthatithasreceived 30, 568 business permit applications, with 6,899 permits already issued.

Business Bureau chief Marissa Torentera said that they are expecting most of the 39,514 businesses in the city for 2018 to renew their permits for this year.

“Hopefully, all of them will renew their permits.

But we are also expecting that some of them will be retiring,” Torentera said.

Aside from the main officeintheSangguninagPanlungsod building, a satellite office for all renewals had been set up at the nearby Davao City Recreation Center (Almendras Gym). At the SP processing desks, the bureau has by far catered to 952 applicants while its satellite office processed 211

applications.

Torentera recommended the first time business applicants. She instructed establishments who were blocked for violations to go to the SP processing center.

“For those who are for purely renewal, they can go to the Almendras Gym,” she said.

Torentera said that 10,000 establishments in the city were blocked by the business bureau because the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) did not issue them with the Fire Safety Inspection(FSI)permitdue to failure of complying with certain requirements.

She bared that the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO)alsoblockedalmost all tourism certifications effective last December 31, 2018, also due to violations.

Torentera reminded the public to renew on or before January 31. She said the bureau, as in the past, will strictly implement no extensions for the business renewal and applications.

AUTHORITY. Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre proposes for an ordinance granting authority to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to sign for and in behalf of the city government of Davao for a sister city agreement with the city government of Daly City, California, USA during a regular session of the City Council at Sangguniang Panlunsod on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr

RD Sales picked new ARENA XI president; other officers bared

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r. Anthony Sales, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology in Region XI (DOST XI), is the new president of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region XI (ARENA XI), replacing Regional Director Ma. Loudest D. Lim of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI, immediate past president.

RD Sales was elected with several other regional executives to comprise the has elected a new set of ARENA XI officers who shall serve for the term 2019-2020.

The election was held during the General Assembly of ARENA XI Regional Directors/Heads of Offices last January 7 at the Emerald Hall, RELC-NEAP RXI, E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City.

Other incoming ARENA XI Board of Directors are RD

Alberto Escobarte of DepEd XI as Vice President, RD Annabelle Yumang of DOH XI as Secretary, RD Fatma Idris of BFAR XI as Treasurer, RD Geroncio Aguio of NCIP XI as Auditor, OIC-RD Frances Mae Macapagat of PIA XI as Public Relations Officer, and Dir. Josephine Liamzon of PRC Davao together with the Commanding General of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command as Business Managers. RD Maria Lourdes Lim

FRD , P9

Over 1K families affected by‘Amang’in Caraga

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CANVASSING OF VOTES. Poll watchers and observers are taking notes of the canvassing of votes on the plebiscite for the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law inside Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in the Office of the Regional Governor in Cotabato City on Tuesday. Armando Fenequito Jr

of NEDA XI, OIC-RD Zuhairah Abas of DOT XI, RED Ruth Tawantawan of DENR XI, RD Ricardo Oñate Jr. of DA XI, RD Alex Roldan of DILG XI, RD Raymundo Agravante of DOLE XI, and RD Allan Borromeo of DPWH XI were also elected to comprise the ARENA XI Board of Trustees.

Earlier during the First Quarter ARENA XI Joint Flag Raising Ceremony at the People’s Park on the same day, outgoing ARENA XI President Lim, who led the association for the term 20172018, thanked the ARENA XI officials and their staff for exemplifying a unified national government workforce in Davao Region that promotes the Davaoeños’ general welfare, enabling a balanced

nclement weather due to Tropical Depression Amang has affected 1,158 families or around 4,639 persons in the Caraga Region, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) announced in its update 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The update, which was released and signed by NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad, revealed that 682 families or 2,711 individuals are being served in 23 evacuation centers.

Inclement weather caused by the LPA also affected 242 cities and municipalities in Bicol, Central Visayas, East-

ern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

The NDRRMC also reported that 3,047 passengers, 391 rolling cargoes, 27 vessels and nine motorbancas were stranded in ports in Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Eastern and Southern Visayas.

To date, 5,256 families or 21, 006 persons were pre-emptively evacuated in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Compostela Valley, Agusan Del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao Del Norte and Surigao Del Sur. (PNA)

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

Growth concerns, trade talks dampen investors’sentiments

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hina growth concerns coupled with a lack of positive developments in US-China trade talks, resulted in the sideways close for the Philippine peso and drop in the main stocks gauge Monday.

The local currency ended the week’s first trading day at 52.8 from 52.515 against the greenback Friday last week.

It was affected by the depreciation of the yuan, which in turn, was due to reports about China’s 6.6 percent output in the 2018, the slowest since 1990, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Financial Markets Group Research said in its market report.

Amid the risk-off sentiment, the local currency opened the day at 52.6, sideways from the 52.4 start in the previous session.

Its opening level is the peso’s strongest level during the day while weakest is at 52.81, resulting to an average of 52.725.

Volume reached USD1.006 billion,

way higher than the USD807.22 million at the end of last week.

The currency pair is seen to trade between 52.70 and 52.90 Tuesday.

Relatively, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gave up 0.49 percent, or 39.66 points, to 8,007.46 points.

Most of the other counters tracked the main gauge, with the broader All Shares down by 0.12 percent, or 5.92 points, to 4,799.00 points.

Services registered the highest drop among the sectors after it lost 1.80 percent.

It was followed by the Financials, 0.88 percent; Mining and Oil, 0.73 percent; Holding Firms, 0.51 percent; and Industrial, 0.20 percent.

Only the Property index ended the day with gains of 0.77 percent.

Volume reached 1.98 billion shares amounting to PHP5.7 billion.

Losers led gainers at 114 to 86 while 45 shares were unchanged. (PNA)

Palay farmers urged to avail of subsidized buying price

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ORONADAL CITY -- The city government advised palay farmers here to sell their harvests to the National Food Authority (NFA) in the wake of the declining commercial buying price in the area.

Emelita Miguel, head of the City Agriculture Office, said Monday that farmers could avail of the subsidized prices being offered by the food agency that are way higher than those of local private traders.

Farmers and local government officials earlier raised alarm over the decreasing prices of commercial palay in recent weeks in the city and other parts of South Cotabato, reaching as low as PHP14 a kilo.

Miguel said farmers could get as much as PHP20.70 a kilo from the NFA based on the additional incentives that the agency currently offers.

"They assured us that they have enough funds to buy the palay produce of our farmers," she told reporters.

The city government has already issued 50 certifications to local palay farmers as required by the agency, she said, adding that the certification aims to ensure that those selling their produce to the NFA are legitimate farmers and not private traders.

Miguel said they are also providing assistance to farmers for the proper drying of their harvests based on the requirements set by NFA. "DA is currently working on the opening of drying facilities in NFA buying stations that could be used by palay farmers," she said.

For the hauling of palay to the buying stations, she said the food agency will be deploying additional mobile procurement trucks in several barangays.

Miguel said the NFA provincial office here has been visiting villages that have harvestable palay to ensure that they would be covered by its procurement program.

(PNA)

ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. Linemen from Davao Light and Power Company conduct a rehabilitation and maintenance of a power line along R. Castillo Street in Davao City in this undated photo. Mindanao Development Authorty (MinDA) Assistant Secretary Romeo

Montenegro said Davao City needs additional capacity of around 300 megawatts in the next five years as 40 more high rise buildings will be constructed based on the application at the Davao City Engineer’s Office last year. Lean Daval Jr

Gov’t urged to keep in step with digital transactions

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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he public sector is urged to keep in step with trends in digital-driven transactions to improve services to the public.

Davao City’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Council president Samuel Matunog said during Monday’s flag raising ceremony at the City Hall of Davao, that through digital transformation, providing services would ease transaction and give quality service especially in paying taxes.

“Leaning towards digital transformation we will be able perform better services even to remote areas,”

Matunog said.

ICT-Davao, together with the City Government of Davao, represented by city administrator Zuleika Lopez, received the Crystal Flare for Radiance Awards given to the city by The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

Crystal Flare Awards is given to government institutions that actively promote policies for the

improvement of trade, investment and industry regulation that help put the country in the global map of IT and business process management (BPM) industry.

Davao Region ranked 75th worldwide in a 2018 Tholons Survey for the 100 best outsourcing destination in the world.

Tholons is a strategic consulting and investment advisory firm based in London.

The survey firm, in 2017, added a new category – the digital transformation and startup ecosystem,

wherein Davao City scored low.

Matunog said that the improvement of the region’s ranking from 85th in 2017, is a testament of how the IT and BPM industry had grown.

“There are so many below us in the ranking.

One of them is Vancouver in Canada, wherein it is one of the best IT cities in the world, and one of the headquarters of the giant IT companies,” he said.

“The fact that we scored higher, shows all of your efforts (private sector)”, Matunog added.

km. line from Manila to Calamba, Laguna.

With a total project cost of about PHP628.42 billion, it is, thus far, the biggest combined project under government's “Build, Build, Build” program.

“The economic benefits of improved mobility for our commuters in this very large urban sprawl will far outweigh the total investment for this project,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez, during the loan signing ceremony, said government again adopted the “fast and sure” approach since processing of the loan, including that of the PHP18.22-billion funding for the fourth phase of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, was done within two months.

“This is, by far, the fastest loan processing time

in the history of Philippines-Japan bilateral cooperation. We would like to share the credit here with our counterparties, who espoused the same sense of urgency and trusted our commitment to get these projects done,” he said.

Department of Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan, during the same event, disclosed that initial operations of the rail system is targeted to be in 2022.

Projected passengers during the initial runs is about 350,000 per day, he said.

“But the railway can accommodate up to 1.1 million passengers per day,” he said.

Relatively, PNR General Manager Junn Magno, during the same loan signing ceremony, said since this particular train system can accommo-

date about a million passengers a day during its full operations by 2023 this will be the country’s first metro-grade train system.

He said both the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) are metro-grade systems, but have lighter capacities.

“This is our first metro grade (rail) system, meaning it can reach one million in capacity. The capacity is there, passengers na lang ang kulang. (we just need the passengers),” he added.

DOF said the financing for the NSCR Extension has an interest rate of 0.1 percent per annum for non-consulting services and 0.01 percent per annum for consulting services. It is repayable within 40 years, inclusive of a 12-year grace period.

(PNA)

PH, JICA sign loan deal for metro-grade train system

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he Philippines will have its first metro grade train system, with the capacity to carry about one million passengers a day, by 2022.

This, after Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Director-General Shigenori Ogawa signed Monday the PHP80.47 billion loan agreement, which is the first tranche of Japan’s financing support for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Extension Project.

The 147-km. NSCR Extension Project of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) has three components, the 38-kilometer line from Manila to Malolos, Bulacan; the 53-km. line from Malolos, Bulacan to Clark, Pampanga; and the 56-

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

EDITORIAL After the plebiscite, what?

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recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey says it all--majority of Muslims in the entire country favor the approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

The survey yielded 79 percent of Mulsims nationwide are in favor of the ratification of the BOL. 67 percent of the respondets say they definitely want it, 12 percent somewhat want it, 14 percent were undecided, 4 percent somewhat do not want it, while 3 percent said they don’t want it. This gives a net approval score of +72. On the other hand, there is considerably higher net approval among those who are familiar with the BOL. For respondents who have extensive knowledge about the BOL, a net approval was recorded at +43, with 62 percent saying they definitely/somewhat want it and 19 percent who said they somewhat/definitely do not want it (19 percent undecided).

Clearly, the aspirations of the Muslim people is to bring about change in Mindanao whereby peace will reign and economy will flourish. From the very beginning, that has been the wisdom behind the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Conversely, the BOL addresses many aspirations and issues citing Article 1 which establishes the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, while Article 2 asserts the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and establishes the

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territorial jurisdiction over constituent units and bodies of waters.

The BOL’s 18 articles further outlines and illustrates how power and wealth will be decentralized to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

What lies ahead after the plebiscite and after the Moro people have spoken?

An overwhelming support for the BOL will not assure a smooth transition from the current setup to the desired Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Along with the concept of power-sharing and decentralization comes the many challenges that the autonomous government will have to face. Political observers say that among the potential issues are the reversal of powers to long established dominant groups, the slow pace of policy execution, and lack of support from the people.

Nevertheless, these worries should be set aside for now. First and foremost, let the Moro people speak through their ballots and the rest shall be, as they say, history.

At the end of the day, it is important to emphasize the need for the cooperation and partnership among diverse groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), indigenous peoples, Christians, and the Philippine government to make the Bangsamoro autonomy work.

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“T

he need to address the mental state of youth must be prioritized.” That was what Davao City Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte pointed out in a news report written by Ralph Lawrence Llemit. “(The problem) will be tackled in the newly approved mental health ordinance (of the city), wherein solutions and approaches will be community-based,” said Villafuerte, chairman of the Sanggunian committee on health.

Mental health is one aspect in the Philippine society that is not given utmost attention. “With various societal issues that we are facing, we sometimes neglect to prioritize the mental health of every citizen of this nation without us knowing its effects on people’s day-to-day performance on education, employment, physical health and even relationships,” said Senator Loren Legarda in a statement.

Legarda issued the statement after President Rodrigo signed the Mental Health Act (Republic Act No. 11036), which seeks to provide affordable and accessible mental health services for Filipinos suffering from mental disabilities.

“No health without mental health,” the Philippine Star said in its editorial. It echoed the statement issued

by Dr. Brock Chisholm, the first director general of the World Health Organization, who happened to be a psychiatrist. “Without mental health,” he said, “there can be no true physical health.”

A

s interesting aspect in the burgeoning abaca industry in the early decades of American occupation of Davao was the shortage in manpower.

The problem was so pervasive the legislative council of Moro Province under Col. Ralph Wilson Hoyt, a member of the US Infantry who was then appointed governor, had to request for the importation of labor.

(Hoyt was a colonel in US 14th Infantry where he was appointed on May 28, 1902 but was later transferred to the US 25th Infantry with the same rank on December 3, 1903.)

According to the proposal, the farm laborers would come from the northern provinces— that is, Luzon—and would be done with the “cooperation” of the American governor-general, hopeful the move would provide much-needed relief to hemp planters, chiefly American pioneers in their first agricultural ventures.

Col. Hoyt, in his 1909 report, reported that the need for more workers also extended to Lanao, Zamboanga, Sulu, and Cotabato, where there were twenty-nine farms needing manpower to cultivate, prone, harvest, and processed the hemp, adding “these plantations are in their infancy and have not yet reached a stage

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

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Mental state of young people Suicide is one of the mental health issues that needs to be addressed immediately. In the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased by 60%, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

“The 2017 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study 4, conducted by the Commission on Population in Regio 11, indicated that suicide attempts among the youth increased from 21.3% in 2002 to 36.8% in 2013,” wrote Llemit in his report. “The level of suicide ideation, or suicidal thoughts, also rose from 13.4% in 2013 from 11.2% in 2002.”

Bullying, early pregnancy and depression – not necessarily in that order – are some of the reasons why children and teenagers resort to suicide, which is defined as the intentional taking of one’s life.

“Children may attempt suicide by eating crayons or ‘overdosing’ themselves with water, because the still have no concrete grasp as to what kills and what does not,” writes Dr. Jocelyn G. Gayares in an article which appeared in Health and Home.

“More often than not, suicide attempts of children may be misdiagnosed as ‘accidents.’”

Teenagers have different methods of committing suicide. “(They) have more definite ways,” Dr. Gayares, a certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist. “For females, it’s generally done through cutting of wrist or overdosing with medicines.

For male teens, it’s by hang-

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

ing themselves or jumping off a high building.”

On why there is a difference between female teens and male teens, Dr. Gayares offers this explanation: “Female teens are by nature beauty conscious; they want to still look beautiful in their graves. Males, on the other hand, are generally more aggressive.”

Let’s take a closer look at each reason of why they commit suicide in the first place: Bullying: “A school is a student’s second home, and assumed to be one of the safest places for children.

Unfortunately, for some this is where they experience abuse,” says a statement from the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF).

“Schools become the settings that expose children to violence, not just from their peers but also from teachers and school personnel.”

“Many parents are un-

aware that (bullying) is happening because they never discuss it with their kids and because bullying is often a kind of underground activity that many children won’t report,” wrote Dr. Richard B. Goldbloom in an article which appeared in Reader’s Digest.

In the Philippines Graphic article, Regina Sevilla-Sibal explained to author Fil V. Elefante when bullying happens.

“Bullying occurs when the target has no opportunity or way to balance the equation,” said Sibal, an experienced school administrator and educator.

Teen pregnancy: Studies conducted by the World Bank from 2000 to 2003 ranked the Philippines as one of the top 10 countries with an increasing number of teenage mothers.

In Davao City, for instance, the trend in the number of teenage pregnancies over the past three years is “increasing.” According to a report which appeared in a local daily, the number of teenage pregnancies posted a 12.74% increase in 2012, 13.10% in 2013, and 12.10% in 2014.

Most of the increasing trend came from those living in rural and urban poor areas. The reasons cited were inaccessibility of information and service, and tradition.

“There is a high number of teenage pregnancies in rural and urban poor areas because they are less accessible to information and services, while some of the indigenous people have a tradition relating to teenage pregnancy,”the

officer-in-charge for the CHO Population Division was quoted as saying.

Depression: “After anxiety, depression is the most common mental health disorder,” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Statistics show that 10% of people who see their doctors for what they think is a physical problem are actually experiencing depression.

“People who become depressed typically do so in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, although depression can begin at almost any age,” the Merck manual points out. “Depression affects a number of children and adolescents.”

The WHO defines health as something physical, mental and spiritual. Based on a survey conducted in 2000 by the National Statistics Office, mental illness is the third most common form of disability in the country – after visual and hearing impairments. For every 100,000 Filipinos, about 88 of them suffer from mental illness due to heredity, psychosocial development and substance abuse.

It is not surprising why suicide cases in the country has been growing over a period of 20 years. The WHO says the Philippines has suicide rates (per 100,000) of 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women as of 1993.

“Further adding to the woes of those afflicted with mental health illnesses is the shortage in qualified mental health professionals,” Legarda pointed out.

own risk and expense than if recruited which put the cost of travel as added burden of plantation owners.

“The law forbidding the immigration of contract labor into the United States, its territories, and insular possessions, prevents the importation of Japanese contract laborers.

The laborers of Davao have to come with their families as free immigrants. The government does not pay their passage, as in the case of the migration to Brazil, but the passage is much cheaper between Japan and Mindanao. The migrants are selected under government control, chiefly from the Rukyu Islands and south Japan. As in Brazil, they take over company land as tenants and pay their rent with a part of the hemp crop, the rest of which is bought by the company.”

Therefore, the Japanese had to initially survive on their own diligence with the help of other long-time Japanese residents in Davao. After becoming familiar with the local norms, including socio-cultural nuances, they started to own lands, open businesses, and later imprint their influence in the community where they settled.

Pelzer wrote: “In spite of a suitable climate and an abundance of rich soil it has been

impossible to enlarge the Japanese farming communities because of the present land law.

The Japanese hemp growers have made Davao a prosperous province and one of the leading hemp-producing centers of the world. Seventy per cent of the roads of Davao have been built by Japanese. Most of the export and import trade as well as the retail business in their hands. There are approximately 190,000 Filipinos and 14,000 Japanese, but the latter pay half of the taxes. They are the economic backbone of the province.”

As of this date, the province of Davao had a total hectarage of 1,929,724 and a good sixty-five percent of this sprawling territory was classified as agriculture.

Today, the labor problem in the abaca industry persists but for slightly different reasons.

Abaca growers, compared to a century ago, now use outmoded stripping machines.

The number of farmers interested in hemp production has gone down due to the length involved before the crop is harvested. More importantly, the present generation of peasant scions are more interested in white-collar jobs than in the back-breaking efforts that come with tilling the land.

Davao labor shortage in 1909

of development when success or failure can be safely prophesied.”

The lack of hemp laborers was also linked to the drop in the price of abaca. Col. Hoyt wrote: “The same difficulties of labor and low price of products has retarded the development of these plantations and during the coming year [1910] such governmental aid [as cooperating in the import of labor] as is consistent with existing law will be given these plantations as well as those about the Gulf of Davao.”

The governor believed that by approving a contract labor law, the plantation owners were guaranteed the stay of their laborers while recovering the cost of importing them. On the side, the contract, given its tenure, would relieve the labor shortage. It was the Davao Planters’ Association that petitioned the legislative council for the passage of a law. The request was then forwarded to the Philippine Commission for appropriate action.

Shortage in manpower also affected by as much as thirty percent the harvest of crops and it discourage planters from expanding the acreage of the lands they were cultivating.

Worse, the lack of labor also

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa upset the timetable in processing the abaca into hemp fibers.

Especially when there was a bumper harvest, any deficiency in farm hands would amount to bigger spoilage.

In a 1937 article titled ‘Japanese Migration and Colonization,’ which appeared in the Council of Foreign Relations, published by John Hopkins University, New York, Dr. Karl J. Pelzer attributed the Japanese diaspora or migration abroad to overpopulation.

But in the Philippine case, the strictures in the entry of Japanese nationals, which was part of labor recruitment for the Davao abaca industry, was due to a prevailing American law. To circumvent this, the migrants had to travel on their

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BUY LOCALLY, PROTECT HOG INDUSTRY Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

n a recent news briefing in Quezon City, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol urged traders not to import pork products from socalled “high risk” countries hit

by African swine fever (ASF) to protect the country’s local swine industry.

“I am asking importers to show their patriotism by ensuring that they do not import pork from high-risk countries,” Piñol was quoted as saying. “We cannot actually stop (importers) but we can only appeal to them. We are calling on their sense of patriotism as (the swine) industry involves millions of poor Filipino farming families.”

ASF is a viral disease of pigs and wild boar that is usually deadly. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines available nor it can be cured. “For this reason, it has serious socio-economic consequences in affected countries,” the website of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) warned.

ASF is endemic in sub– Saharan Africa. In Europe, it has been endemic in Sardinia for several decades. In 2007, outbreaks occurred in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the European part of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Late last year, outbreaks of ASF was reported in China. Some 38,000 hogs were culled and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) feared that the problem could spread to other parts in Asia, including the Philippines.

“The threat is real and it could affect an i n -

dustry which benefits millions of families, mostly small backyard farmers, who raises 15-million heads of hogs every year,” wrote Piñol in his Facebook wall.

As such, he urged Filipinos to buy locally produced pork over imported products. “In the face of the threat of a baffling hog disease which has killed millions of pigs all over the world and whose effect on human health is still unknown, I am appealing to consumers to buy pork and pork-based products produced by local farmers,” he wrote.

“Better still,” he added, “source your requirements locally, that way you not only protect our local hog industry but you also help lower poverty in the countryside.”

The agriculture department has already issued two memoranda “as part of precautionary measures to prevent entry of the disease into the country.” The first one prohibits the use of catering food wastes/left-overs from international and domestic airports and seaports for swill feeding of local swine throughout the country.

The second memorandum temporarily bans the importation of domestic and wild pigs and their products, including pork, meat, and semen particularly those originating from Belgium, China, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.

“We have imposed strict Quarantine Protocols to prev e n t

the entry of pork and porkbased products from these eight countries,” Piñol said, adding that the government alone cannot ensure a 100% compliance of the quarantine protocols.

The agriculture department confiscates pork products like ham and bacon coming from those countries affected by ASF for these could serve as carriers of the virus. “We are asking returning Filipino residents, balikbayan and OFWs to not bring in anymore pork products from high-risk areas,” Piñol appealed.

According to Piñol, the Philippines stands out as one of the few countries in the world which is free from animal diseases like the footand-mouth disease and ASF. “The entry of any disease into the country, especially the ASF, whose effect on human health is still being studies, could devastate our hog i n d u s t r y,” Piñol said.

ASF is caused by a unique virus which is distinct from that of classical swine fever and which infects only domestic and wild pigs and a variety of soft bodied ticks. The virus, endemic in Africa, circulates between warthogs and the soft bodied

ticks which inhabit their burrows, according to the website, thepigsite.com. The ticks transmit it through all stages of their life cycle and perpetuate it.

“ASF virus is relatively tough and can survive in the environment and in pig carcasses for a long time,” thepigsite.com states. “Curing and smoking pork products does not destroy it. Its main method of spread from country to country is via waste uncooked pork products fed to pigs.

It adds: “Its spread between herds within a country is by direct and, to a lesser extent, indirect contact between pigs. Indirect contact usually involves contamination from dead pig tissues and secretions.”

Humans are not susceptible to the disease. “The typical signs of African swine fever are similar to classical swine fever, and the two diseases normally have to be distinguished by laboratory diagnosis,” EFSA explains.

Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, lack of energy, abortions, internal bleeding, with hemorrhages visible on the ears and flanks. Sudden death may occur. Severe strains of the virus are generally fatal (death occurs within 10 days). Animals infected with mild strains of African swine fever virus may not show typical clinical signs.

The agriculture department said ASF is not a zoonotic disease. But still it urged Filipino swine raisers to strengthen and strictly implement farm biosecurity

measures.

“The public is enjoined to support the government’s efforts by reporting to veterinary authorities any unusual pig mortalities, pork smuggling activities or meat items hand-carried by travelers from affected countries,” the DA technical advisory said.

The DA has listed the swine industry as one of the biggest contributors to the country’s agricultural growth. It posted over 16% increase in gross earnings, owing to the increasing demand for pork and production expansion.

Pork, the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig, is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide. It is eaten both freshly cooked and preserved. Curing extends the shelf life of the pork products.

Hams, smoked pork, gammon, bacon and sausage are examples of preserved pork.

In the Philippines, like in other Asian countries, the pork is preferred over beef for economic and aesthetic reasons; the pig is easy to feed and is not used for labor. The colors of the meat and the fat of pork are regarded as more appetizing, while the taste and smell are described as sweeter and cleaner. It is also considered easier to digest.

In rural provinces, “lechon” (roasted pig) is a popular tradition shared to celebrate important occasion and to form bonding.

Despite being almost exclusively without government subsidy, the swine industry is the second leading

contributor to Philippine agriculture – after rice. A position paper said: “The strong growth in demand for pork has the potential to increase income opportunities and alleviate poverty among rural and agricultural households in the Philippines, where rural poverty remains high.”

About 71% of the swine population are raised in backyard farms while 29% are in commercial farms. In almost every rural household in the Philippines, swine raising is a very popular enterprise, according to Roy C. Alimoane, the director of the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. After all, no other backyard animal has the same versatility as the swine. In the past, a farm family almost always invested their wealth in a pig. After all, out from pigs you can get pork, bacon, and sausage. They also acted as refuse bin, eating all the scraps and family’s leftovers.

When asked if the head of the family has any money, the usual reply is: “I don’t have.

All my money is in the pig.”

When people stopped raising pigs, they made a replica where they could “put their money in.” In the time, the practice of saving money in a pig came into existence and was called as “piggy bank.”

Pigs are not only for eating and a possible solution to financial woes. In fact, they are also very important in medicine. Their heart valves, especially treated and preserved, can be surgically implanted into humans to replace heart valves weakened by disease and injury. Pig pancreas glands are an important source of insulin hormone used in the treatment of diabetes.

Most Filipinos raised native pigs which to some is not a profitable venture.

But in recent years, there are already Filipinos who are raising upgraded native pigs. The Cavite-based International Institute of Rural Reconstruction reported that most of the upgraded pigs raised in the backyards “are fed mostly with rice bran and kitchen wastes.”

This kind of raising is now “a great part of the existing swine industry in the Philippines.”

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WOMEN

EDGEDAVAO

The art and life of

TITA LACAMBRA AYALA TITA LACAMBRA AYALA, a nationally celebrated poet, writer, and multimedia artist who dedicated her life to the cultivation of literary and visual arts in Mindanao, passed away near her home in Davao City on January 9, 2019.

She was 88.

Born Marciana Agcaoili in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, she grew up in Benguet, Antamok. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in English, with a minor in History, at the University of the Philippines in 1953, where she met her husband, the late Jose Ayala, a highly regarded artist and writer.

Ayala was a mentor for women artists of her generation, and asserted her need to write while raising a family with six children. She had often spoken about keeping a typewriter next to the kitchen, so that she could put down a few words while stirring a pot. She published many books of poetry in her distinguished career, including Sunflower Poems and Camels and Shapes of Darkness in a Time of Olives; as well as prose, including The Confessions of a Professional Amateur and Pieces of String and Other Stories.

Her work was recognized by numerous awards, including

Palanca Awards for the short story “Everything” (1967), and the poem “A Filigree of Seasons” (1977). Her most recent book of poetry, Tala Mundi (2012), received a National Book Award for Poetry and a Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize, as well as Philippine Free Press, Focus and Graphic awards.

Ayala was also conferred the Fr. Theodore Daigler Award for

Mindanao Culture for expanding Davao literature through her writing and for nurturing promising writers—then and now. Through her brainchild publication, The Road Map Series, founded in 1981, she created a platform for emerging writers to publish their works alongside more established writers.

She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Alexander, Monica

Ayala, and Laura Elizaga; sons Jose (Joey) Ayala and Fernando (Pido) Ayala, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her second son, David, passed away several years ago.

In a touching eulogy by Vida Maya Ko - Rodriguez, one of the grandchildren, Tita was described as a loving Lola whose love of words and music somehow shaped and fueled her grandchildren’s passions and creativity as they grew up.

“My sister and I would wake up every day to classical music blaring so loudly on Lola’s cassette player. That was our alarm clock telling us it was time for breakfast she herself prepared. I knew classical melodies by heart without necessarily knowing what they were called. I learned to read and write with Lola by my side. I started writing at such a young age -- since kindergarten, I remember I was already writing poems. Lola embraced her weirdness, which is I guess why I also learned to embrace my own. I learned so much from Lola, she has imbued on me not just wisdom, but silliness. I know she has touched the lives of so many people in so many ways, that I’m actually excited to hear more about her, as I know she is listening to us with her ears from heaven.”

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STYLE

Bag surgeons to the rescue

EVENT

ALL SMILES. Ojts Barbie Grace Hong, Cresten Costan, Michael Redoloza and Alvin Redulosa.

The ladies behind Mederi Bag Spa.

By LEEBAI SINSUAT AMBOLODTO THEY SAY, there are two types of shoppers: the bag lovers and the shoe addicts. For ladies, it’s either or both. And any lady with a luxury bag knows that a scratch, discoloration or deformation is a big no-no.

Three ladies who share the same love for handbags, Chinggay (Estil-Quong), Ellen (Quilaneta), and Meliza (Agoilo), came up with a solution to restore luxury bags back to their original state.

Here comes Mederi Bag Spa. This bag restoration shop offers advanced cleaning, restoration, repairs, and colouring for luxury bags. Not limited to bags,

Bag Surgeons to the rescue.

they also cater to wallets and even belts.

The bag spa aims to give the best treatment for their client’s every single time. Behind the name is a team of specialists who were trained abroad and have completed an intensive bag spa course. They specialise in advance cleaning methods, advance colour course and general repairs.

Mederi Bag Spa uses professional products for cleaning and repairing.

Price wise, it is very reasonable and affordable.

Mederi Bag Spa has just moved in to a bigger location at Unit 11, 2nd floor of Don Dionisio Complex in J.P. Cabaguio Avenue. For inquiries, you may contact Mederi Bag Spa through email: mederi.davao@gmail.com, through mobile: +63 928 456 2444, or through Facebook: Mederi Bag Spa.

OPENING DOO OF OPPORTUN

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

INDEED, competency has no barriers. Not even disability.

Four on-the-job trainees (OJTs) with Down Syndrome succeeded in proving that they have what it takes to compete in the corporate word.

Anflo Management and Investment Corporation (ANFLOCOR) and the Don Antonio O. Floirendo Foundation (AOFF), in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI) – Davao Chapter and TADECO Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC), culminated the Work Exposure for People with Down Syndrome program through an intimate and very special gathering at the 5th floor of the Damosa Topaz Tower Lounge.

Alvin Redulosa receiving his certificate after completing the Work Exposure for People with Down Syndrome program.

The OJTs, namely, Barbie Grace Hong, Cresten Costan, Michael Redoloza and Alvin Redulosa, were given citation, for the fruitful six months that they had spent with the company.

Present during the ceremony last January 14 were the supervising officers and colleagues of the trainees, whom they had worked with and have helped them strive amidst the conditions they have.

Lanie Vergara of the DSAPI – Davao Chapter, thanked everyone at ANFLOCOR for allowing the trainees experience how it is to work in a corporate environment.

“It’s been a dream of DSAPI Davao, that persons with down syndrome will be given work related opportunities and be treated with equality in their community,” Vergara expressed during her speech.

She said that since the organization’s inception in 1997, it is only last year that DSAPI part-

nered with other Russell U. Barr director of AOFF, giving communit this is very close t

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ENTERTAINMENT

GMA Artist Center talents learn valuable acting lessons from famed acting coach Anthony Vincent Bova

Lanie Vergara of the DSAPI – Davao Chapter, thanked everyone at ANFLOCOR for allowing the OJTs experience how it is to work in a corporate word.

ORS NITY

establishments. rizo, programs F, shared that ty exposures like to the founda-

tion.

“AOF is an active supporter, and we are thankful that the feedbacks were positive,” Barrizo said.

The project proved as a step-

INTERNATIONAL acting coach Anthony Vincent Bova flew to the Philippines and led the culminating activity of his successful training program with the various talents of GMA Artist Center which showcased what they have learned throughout the year.

GMA Artist Center has tasked the New York City professional acting teacher and his co-teacher, actress Ana Feleo, to supervise more thoroughly the education and growth of the artists.

During the culminating activity held last Tuesday (January 15), Bova praised the GMAAC stars for their willingness to improve on their craft and their “bravery” to tackle their emotional and psychological being in their character portrayals.

“I am very proud of them.

Now, I can say that they are not afraid to take their space on set and take their space in life. No matter what training you Barbie Grace Hong have, if you don’t feel enreceiving her titled to take your space, certificate. that training will not help too much. They are very brave artists,” he noted.

Ana echoed his sentiments and added that the artists are now more equipped to take on different and challenging roles, “I’ve seen them grow in a short time, at ngayon nakilala nila ang sarili nila at mas naging confident sila na mag-explore ng iba’t-ibang roles at emotions.”

Meanwhile, highlyThe Ojts of the esteemed director Laurice Work Exposure Guillen, emphasized the for People with Down Syndrome importance of workshops, program. especially for young ping stone towards making a artists, “It’s really on stand against ignorance and waste equipping the actors na of human potential. pumasok sa industriyang ito na hindi naman lahat may training. This will help them become fully professional actors na kahit saan sila isalang, equipped sila to deliver remarkable performances. Acting is painstaking work, taking them step by step through the process.”

GMA Entertainment Group Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable commended MichaelRedoloza the positive results of the during the Work program and the comExposure for mitment of the artists People with Down Syndrome to showcase what they have learned, “I’d like to program last January 14. congratulate GMA Artist

Center, most especially Anthony Bova and Ana Feleo, because they did an excellent job. Over the past year, we’ve seen the great improvement of our artists and it’s because of all these efforts that they have been pouring into the project and of course, ‘yung dedication din ng mga artista natin,” she said.

GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi S. Lara, in turn, is delighted with the success of the training program, “We’re very happy that we were able to partner with Anthony Vincent Bova. Hindi lang acting

ang itinuro niya. He really communicated with the artists and explored their personalities and capabilities. Nakita ko sila from the first day na nagstart sila, ang daming improvements sa acting, ang daming openness na nangyari, at mas matapang na sila ngayon in attacking their roles.”

Also an actor, writer, and artistic director, Bova is a protégé of famed acting coach Eric Morris, who has taught some of the best actors in the Philippines, including Laurice Guillen, Johnny Delgado, Leo Martinez, Michael de Mesa, and Joel Torre among others.

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VOTING... FROM 1

whether it is plebiscite-related.

A recovered hand grenade outside Rojas High School is likewise still being probed by the police.

Institute for Autonomy and Governance peace and conflict analyst Francisco Lara Jr. bared that there were

95-plebiscite related violence.

Lara said among the incidents recorded were mauling, recovered grenade and some ballot snatching reported in some areas in Tawi-Tawi.

Overall, Lara said, the polls were better than previous ones.

human development, and causes government services to reach remote communities and the most vulnerable sectors in Davao Region.

“Solid ang samahan at pagtutulungan ng ARENA XI para sa pagkamit ng mas higit pang pag-unlad at kapayapaan para sa lahat ng Davaoeños,” she said.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who was guest of honor during the flag-raising ceremony, likewise affirmed the opportunities the ARENA XI family brings.

The city mayor vowed that under her watch, the Davao City Government will continue to support ARENA XI’s initiatives, as she believes that “through greater and more frequent convergence of efforts among all agencies of government, we can better

fulfill our mandates, reach more citizens, and deliver more comprehensive, quality service to the people of Davao Region.”

ARENA XI is an association of regional directors and heads of national government agencies in Davao Region. It aims to enhance managerial capacity, promote welfare and balanced human development, and uphold good governance and integrity in public service.

The Association regularly conducts Serbisyo Caravans as its flagship outreach program, whereby government services are provided to farflung, depressed and conflict-affected areas in Davao Region, usually where the vulnerable sectors, especially the IP communities, are situated. – NEDA XI

stormed off Margaret Court Arena, angrily throwing his kit bag after losing a 5hr 5min marathon 6-7 (8/10), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 7-6 (10/8).

Nishikori will now play six-time champion Djokovic, who dropped a set for the second match in a row before

seeing off 15th-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-3.

"It was definitely a physical battle. It was difficult to get through him," the Serbian world number one said. "In these kinds of matches you just have to hang in there."

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domination of traditional powers and authorities.

"Indeed, the cooperation and partnership among diverse groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF), indigenous peoples, Christians, and the Philippine government, who have been instrumental in the forging of the BOL, are essential to the BOL's intent and purposes," it said.

Meanwhile the group recommends measures that are necessary for a healing process and to build a society of peace and development.

Such measures include:

Address the memories and traumas; Encourage greater tolerance and intercultural living among clans and communities that respect and recognize diverse beliefs, customs, and practices; Capacitate communities around participatory and shared efforts in local governance; Enhance the capacities and skills of local authorities, particularly in leadership under the new Bangsamoro Organic law; and Encourage and incentivize experts and scientists to share the competency necessary for a local democracy to be inclusive and developmental. (PR/PNA)

NEWS GENSAN... FROM 11

Daa scored on a layup to keep the Steel in the game, chipping the lead down to just one with 46 seconds left.

They even had a chance to retake the lead as Japs Bautista stripped the ball from Racho, but they missed on three straight attempts.

Racho, however, kept Basilan in the game as he only made a split from the line.

Daa had a chance to force overtime, but his turnaround jumper failed to hit the mark as time expired.

Racho finished with 22 points on 8-of-11 shoot-

9

ing, including 4-of-6 from downtown with three rebounds, two assists, and two steals for GenSan, which moved up to fourth place in the Southern Division at 10-9.

Meylan Landicho also went 4-for-6 from threepoint land and finished with 14 points alongside five rebounds, four assists, and one steal.

Delmar Mahaling chipped in a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds with five steals and one block.

Macky Acosta put up 19 points for Basilan, which fell to 6-14. (PNA)

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PSC holds seminar for differently-abled

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lmost 200 para-athletes and persons with disability attended the Differently Abled Women’s Seminar and Fun Games on Monday at the Philsports Complex, Pasig City.

The three-day program opened with the agency’s oversight Commissioner for Women in Sports Celia Kiram encouraging all participants “to turn their challenges into victories and inspire the world.”

“For this year, we are widening our reach by inviting other differently-abled institutions and ultimately, using sports as instrument of unity and hope among our PWDs,” added Kiram.

Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo, in his speech, thanked the PSC for never forgetting thier athletes in their projects and invited all

to take in as much as they can in the lectures.

Former para table tennis player and Executive Director from JP Morgan Chase Philippines Irene Louise Angiwan and University of the Philippines Prof.

Francis Diaz were lectures about "life after sports" and " developing your coaching philosophies" respectively.

Other participants from the Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), National Orthopedic Hospital School for Crippled Children, Philippine National School for the Blind, Tahanan Walang Hagdanan and the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC) also took part in the project, in cooperation with the PPC. Sports activities and fun games will be concluded today as well as the awarding ceremony for the last day.

Serena Williams of the U.S. and Romania's Simona Halep shake hands after the match. Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Only 10 show up in Gilas' first practice Gilas coach Yeng Guiao with the ten players who showed up for practice on Monday night.

T

en out of the 14 players called up to the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers came at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City for the Nationals' first practice session on Monday night.

Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Mark Barroca, Jayson Castro,

Serena ousts top seed Halep

M

ELBOURNE -- A firedup Serena Williams slugged past world number one Simona Halep Monday as she inches ever closer to a 24th Grand Slam title, while Novak Djokovic survived a battle to stay on course for a record seventh Australian Open crown.

In a towering performance, the American great scored her biggest win since having a baby to grind down the Romanian top seed 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 and move into a quarter-final against seventh seed

I

Karolina Pliskova.

Czech Pliskova is another form player, winning the warm-up Brisbane International and easing past twotime Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-1 to set up the Williams clash.

"I'm such a fighter, I never give up," declared Williams after the epic encounter.

"It was an intense match and there were some incredible points but I love playing tennis and being out here and I love this court, it's really cool to be back."

had the opportunity to sit in the Personnel Selection Board as Officer-In-Charge of the Sports Development Division at that time and one of the applicants for a City Hall post was Goldie Delvo.

I really don’t know her well, only the husband, Major Alden Delvo (at that time, ambot unsay ranko ron, Kolonel na guro) who like us, loves to play basketball at the Davao City Recreation Center and is one of our news sources.

While Williams stayed calm, highly-rated German fourth seed Alexander Zverev lost the plot against Canadian Milos Raonic, crashing 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) and demolishing a racquet in a massive meltdown.

And Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta also let the pressure get to him, ranting at the umpire after a disputed call when leading the final tiebreak 8-5 against Japan's Kei Nishikori.

He failed to win another point and was booed as he

FSERENA , P9

Poy Erram, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Gabe Norwood, RR Pogoy, and Troy Rosario showed up in training.

However, only six of them, Aguilar, Barroca, Castro, Fajardo, Norwood, and Rosario, participated in a light shooting drill session.

Rosario, who suffered a broken nose

following an endgame incident in a preseason match-up between TNT KaTropa and NLEX Road Warriors last month, had to wear a protective mask.

Almazan, another player in the injury bay due to an ankle sprain, sat out practice along with Erram, who took the day off after playing

for the Road Warriors the night before.

Lassiter and Aguilar, on the other hand, came in late.

The Gilas practice started way earlier than usual to give ample time for the award recipients in the PBA Press Corps Awards to make their way to Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City. (PNA)

Gensan Warriors move up to Top 4

T

he GenSan Warriors held on despite Basilan Steel's furious endgame rally to take an 83-81 win in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Monday night.

Mark Racho's hot night nearly went down the drain as the Warriors relinquished a 12-point cushion, but they held on as the Steel lost steam in

the end.

GenSan threatened to break away in the third quarter after opening a 57-45 lead with 5:30 left in the period.

But Basilan responded and even took a 72-69 advantage with 6:37 to play in the fourth.

Racho then buried back-to-back triples to put the Warriors ahead, 75-74, with 5:16 left.

Dennis Daa answered with a trey of his own to

give the Steel a 77-75 advantage with 4:46 to go.

Leomar Losentes and John Orbeta scored on back-to-back layups to give GenSan the lead back, 79-77, with 2:03 to go.

Choi Ignacio scored on a lay-in of his own to tie the game again at 79all, but Orbeta retaliated with a three-ball to give the Warriors an 82-79 advantage with 52 seconds to play.

FGENSAN , P9

A `Goldie' sports ally in the City Council

When then HR Department Chief, ma’am Laping (she’s now retired), gave me the floor to ask the questions to the applicants for a post in the Sports Division, my question was designed to tinker their minds as to how they would handle sports development programs with a damned meager budget.

It was Goldie who gave CLEAN SLATE an outstanding answer.

To me, it was Golden. And Moses Billacura I think, that it why her swer saying that the govname is Goldie.

Goldie opened her an- ernment and the private

sector must work together for a sports development program to be successful. She mentioned that because of the many basic services that a local government will fund and faced with a booming population, it is but normal for resources to be not plentiful for sports.

Goldie will go outside to even negotiate with local sports leaders to help in drawing up a plan for the city’s sports development. This, friends, is just an interview but she has the mind of a sports think

tank already.

City Hall was right in hiring her. The last time I checked, she was the Deputy Sports Coordinator of the City of Davao and now she is gunning for a seat in the City Council.

Goldie has the educational qualification, the experience in sports management and she can be your greatest ally in pursuing sports development programs in the City Council of Davao.

Walay butbut na mga higala.

12 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL.11 ISSUE 218 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2019

REAPING THE FRUITS AAK Davao cites gains with Karate Pilipinas

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

S

lowly but surely, karatedo is regaining its strength.

Thanks to the new leadership under the stewardship of Karate Pilipinas, the newly-recognized national sports association governing the sport in the country.

The assessment was made by Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao Chapter president and Karate Pilipinas 11 regional director Rommel Tan following the team's success in the recent 2nd Manuel Veguillas Memorial Cup Karatedo Tournament over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia.

Davao City's AAK-powered squad finished the multi-club competition with 4 gold medals along with a silver and 11 bronzes. Two of those golds came from three-time Athlete of the Year winner Atsuko Kaiyel Tan who is only eight

years old and already seen by many as a future national team member.

Tan won the gold medals in the 8-9 years old kata and kumite events for advance girls division.

"The new leadership has been doing great for karatedo and many practitioners today are happy to see the programs being put in place," said Tan. "Dito sa Davao, nagstart na rin tayo ng tournament early this year and we will do that the whole year round."

Also winning gold medals were Ian Carlos Pascual for the -60-kg kumite and Adrien Solon for the 12-13 kata intermediate boys division.

Stephen James Cartagena took the lone silver for the team in the cadets +63-kg kumite while the bronze medals came from Sophia Agulo (girls -48-kg, girls juniors -48kg, girls juniors kata and doubles kumite), Pas-

AAK Davao's karate kids led by Atsuko Kaiyel Tan (second from left).

cual (juniiors kata), John Paul Ponce (cadets +63-kg kumite), Ceth Michael Navarro (boys 11-12 kumite), Solon (boys kumite 12-13), Adrian Paul Ilaya (juniors -55-kg

kumite), Julian Ambrose Ramirez and Ian Carlos Pascual (juniors doubles kumite), and Kizzia Pauline Navarro (girls doubles kumite).

"We got more than we expected and it's a

reflection of how the kids trained for this tournament and how they honed their skills for a long time under our program," said Tan. Most of the team

members have been competing outside the country in international competitions like Tan, Agulo, Ponce, Ramirez, Cartagena, Pascual and the Navarros.