Edge Davao | Vol 11 Issue 225 | Thursday, January 31, 2019

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

P 15.00 • 16 PAGES

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MILAN BARES PRIORITIES OF DAVAO CHAMBER IN 2019

EDGE DAVAO

NEWS P2

Serving a seamless society

DC CAGERS ROLL TO 4TH WIN SPORTS P11

NEW LANDMARK. Construction workers install round bars which will be made as structure of a fence of newly-demolished property along Jacinto Extension in Davao City on Wednesday. The property, which was a former compound of popular fruit stands, will be developed into a high rise building. Lean Daval Jr

NO LOCKDOWN ‘ We’re already in Martial Law ’- Sara

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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espite the heightened security measures implemented in the aftermath of the church bombing in Jolo, Sulu last Sunday, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is not keen on ordering a lockdown in the city.

(According to the dictionary, “lockdown” is an emergency measure or condition in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted

area or building during a threat of danger.)

“We’re already in Martial Law,” the mayor said on Tuesday afternoon in an ambush interview.

She said that ordering a lockdown will have an economic implication for the city.

Mayor Sara also ordered all security units operating within Davao City, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to review their security plans.

Earlier, Public Safety and Security Command Center

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Backpacks‘banned’in Davao churches

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he Archdiocese of Davao on Wednesday asked churchgoers to refrain from bringing backpacks and boxes inside churches and chapels.

The move comes in the wake of the twin explosions that hit the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, killing 22 people and injuring 100 others

over the weekend.

In Circular No. 03-2019, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said they are imposing security measures during Masses due to the threat of violence prevailing in the region.

“Due to the current peace and order situation vis-a-vis threat of violence, please be informed

that starting today, for all churchgoers, it is not allowed to bring with you bags, backpacks, knapsacks, boxes, cartons, and the like into the church,” Valles said in an order addressed to all parish priests and members of the laity.

“Only small purses and the like are allowed,”

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

BATO. President Rodrigo Duterte takes the opportunity to congratulate former PNP chief and BuCor head Ronald Dela Rosa after watching the premiere night of his movie entitled, “Bato The Movie: The General Ronald Dela Rosa Story” held at the Cinema 1 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Milan bares priorities of Chamber in 2019

Saudi investment mission ‘fruitful’: Speaker Arroyo

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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secretary), Marilou Ampuan (corporate treasurer), Bonifacio Tan, Jennifer Sazon, Al Balagot, Ma. Lourdes Monteverde, Simeon Marfori III, Engr. Rodger Velasco (trustee).

The DCCCII president, in his speech, said that for the business community advocacy, he will continue pushing for improvements in the city’s basic infrastructure in order to attract more investments and tourism.

“This includes fast tracking the modernization of our airport terminals and of Sasa pier,” Milan said.

The bidding for the port

was scheduled last Monday, January 28. The winning bidder is expected to be announced this February.

He also said that he will monitor the construction of the Davao Bypass and coastal roads, which are currently under works.

The Davao City Bypass Road Construction project, under the implementation of the Department of Public Works and Highways XI (DPWH-XI), is worth P25.849 billion, with a financing scheme under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loans of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Davao City - Panabo City bypass road involves the construction of a 45.2 kilometer four-lane highway (two lanes each direction),

including a 2.3 - kilometer mountain tunnel, that will bypass the city center and divert traffic from the diversion road.

While the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project is constructing also the to be implemented by the DPWH Bago Aplaya – Matina Aplaya portion.

This portion, costing P4.96 billion, will have a two-lane road including one bridge and slope protection works and road right-of-way (RROW).

Milan also said that the Davao Chamber is continuously initiating talks in hoping to establish direct air connectivity, including having the Davao-Japan flight, and the revival of the Kuala Lumpur-Davao and Mana-

It slipped in 2018 at 37.8 percent, slightly lower than the 37.9-percent share in the total government spending in 2014.

In terms of percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure on social services was the highest in 2017 and 2018 at 8.5 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively.

“This is a proof of our commitment to accelerate human capital development,” Diokno said.

Government’s allocation on social services funds basic and tertiary education, healthcare, insurance coverage and immunization, and social protection.

“Besides infrastructure development, the other objective of the Duterte administration is to invest in human capital development.

We have a young and growing population whose median age is 24 years old. This is an asset in an aging world

provided we are able to mold them into well-equipped and agile members of the labor force,” the budget chief said.

“We believe that the government has a role in ensuring its young people are educated, healthy, and competent with the necessary skills to be productive members of the Philippine economy and society. Judging by these numbers, the Duterte administration has delivered,” he added. (PNA)

e-elected Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Arturo Milan vows to continue and strengthen business community advocacy, community service in the city and organization development under his new term.

Milan and 13 other officers took their oath taking Tuesday afternoon during the 51st Annual installation of Officers and Board of Trustees at the Marco Polo Hotel.

The chamber, who took the oath in the presence of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio are Milan, John Carlo Tria (executive vice president), Belinda Torres (vice-president for industry), Bernard Benedicto (vice president for trade and commerce), Antonio dela Cruz (vice president for professional and service ventures), Jennifer Dumlao (corporate

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Social services spending peaked during PRRD admin

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ANILA -- Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Duterte administration has put a premium on social services as government spending for this sector peaked under the current leadership.

In a media briefing Wednesday, Diokno said the share of social services’ spending in the national budget made a leap in 2017 at 40.3 percent, the highest for the past 32 years.

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ormer President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday said the investment mission that she led in Saudi Arabia has been fruitful.

In an ambush interview with reporters, Arroyo said the investment mission came out with six specific project proposals that she hoped will jumpstart the next phase of development in Mindanao following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

“It was good, it was good,” she said. “There were six project proposals that were prepared by the six congressmen in the delegation, and this afternoon of Manila time, which is noontime in Jeddah, they will be presenting to the Jeddah Chamber the six proposals."

The project proposals include a cacao plantation in Cotabato City; a recommendation for a seaweed industry in Tawi-Tawi; an invitation for an oil and gas exploration in three predetermined areas in the Sulu Sea; two recommendations to rehabilitate hospitals destroyed during the Marawi siege; and the development of the Halal Economic Zone in Mindanao.

“So they are very specific. Hopefully since they were very specific, our commercial attache, who is based in Dubai is there, so hopefully she will be able to follow through,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo went to Riyadh last Monday on the invitation

of Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibharim Al Sheik, president of the Majlis Al Shura or the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and took the opportunity to lead an investment mission of six Mindanao lawmakers to invite Saudi Arabian businessmen to invest in Mindanao.

The delegation was composed of Representatives Mauyag Papandayan (Lanao del Sur), Macmod Mending Jr. (AMIN Partylist), Amihilda Sangcopan (AMIN Partylist), Bai Sandra Sema (Maguindanao), Ruby Sahali (Tawi-Tawi) and Shernee Tan (Kusug-Tausug Partylist).

Arroyo earlier said the passage and ratification of the BOL have raised expectations of prosperity for the Bangsamoro region.

She noted that such could only be achieved if jobs are created from new investments.

“So it is now our responsibility to try to do what we can in order to fulfill the expectations of the people of Bangsamoro that they be lifted out of poverty and the best way to fight poverty now in the Bangsamoro is to be able to create jobs. With the help of the Saudi Arabian business community, we hope that there will be investments that will create jobs,” the former President said.

“This is the start and I hope that with the help of our friends in Saudi Arabia, we can start the next level of development for the people of Mindanao,” Arroyo said. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

NEWS

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DOT 11 to accredit more establishments

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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he Department of Tourism XI (DOT-XI) will accredit more tourism-oriented establishments in the Davao region in 2019.

Newly-appointed DOTXI regional director Tanya Rabat-Tan said her office is targeting to accredit more hotels, restaurants and other establishments catering to tourists and visitors in the region as part of the agency's plans under in her watch.

“We will strengthen our accreditation campaigns as we will visit and communicate with the different local chief executives in the region, in order to help them in having more establishments accredited,” she said.

Rabat-Tan said that she does not have the exact figures as of the moment but according to her, DOT is relying on the local government units’ (LGUs) listing of tourism-related establishments.

According to the Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), there are 2,606 establishments in the city alone as of January

2019.

CTOO head Generose Tecson, in a previous report, said that CTOO had requested the Davao City Business Bureau to block the renewal of the business permit of 300 establishments for not complying with the tourism licensing requirements.

Meanwhile, in a Davao Region 2018 Socioeconomic Performance Report by the National Economic and Development Authority XI (NEDA-XI), the region recorded 2,188,474 domestic tourist arrivals, a 14-percent increase from 1,918,233 in 2017; while 131,028 foreign tourist arrivals were recorded, up by 16-percent from 113,395 in 2017.

However, NEDA-XI director Maria Lourdes D. Lim said that the figures are not that accurate as the data given by DOT are only coming from accredited establishments. The figures do not include arrivals that do not get reported by the tourism-oriented establishments for one reason or another.

EFFORTS. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Senior Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan, together with Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Jason Baria, discusses the implementation of backpack ban inside churches and the efforts of DCPO to intensify its intellegence network to prevent untoward incidents in Davao City during AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

Airstrikes being done vs DND won't recommend BOL poll ASG targets in Sulu: DND suspension despite church blasts

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efense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday he would not recommend the postponement of the second Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite on February 6 despite the twin explosions that hit a church in Jolo, Sulu over the weekend.

"No. Because malayo naman ito sa mga pinangyarihan. Malayo sa Zamboanga, malayo sa Basilan, plus remember these six municipalities in Lanao del Norte. Wala namang nakikitang kaguluhan diyan, in connection with the BOL plebiscite. Pati na yung 67 barangays sa North Cotabato, we don’t see any problems there (The area where the blasts occurred is far from where the plebiscite will be held. It is far from Zamboanga, far from Basilan, plus remember these six municipalities in Lanao del Norte. We don't see unrest there, in connection with the BOL plebiscite.

And also the 67 barangays in North Cotabato. We don’t see any problem there)," Lorenzana said in a press briefing.

He said a more solid reason for the Jolo bombing is the fact that military units in Sulu are cracking down hard on Abu Sayyaf elements in the province.

"Wala naman sigurong connection sa BOL. Ang isang reason na binigay sa atin ng military sa Sulu ay continuous operation sa kabundukan ng Jolo at nako-corner natin yung mga Abu Sayyaf doon (It has nothing to do with the BOL. One reason which was given to us by the military in Sulu is the

continuous operation in the mountains of Jolo where they were able to corner Abu Sayyaf brigands). It could be diversionary tactics," the defense chief said.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana said he has yet to see any connection between the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu and the grenade-throwing incident at the Zamboanga City mosque at 12:20 a.m.

Wednesday that left two persons dead and three others wounded.

"Wala naman kaming makitang connection kasi dahil even in the past na binobomba yung mga churches natin sa Davao and Cotabato. Wala namang naggagantihan after that. Yung connection na baka may gantihan, wala. Sabi naman ni Presidente nun sa Jolo, Christians and Muslims have been co-existing for almost 100 years. Wala namang alitan dun (We do not see any connection because even in the past, there had been incidents of church bombings in Davao and Cotabato and there was no retaliation afterwards.

As the President said before, in Jolo, Christians and Muslims have been co-existing for almost 100 years.

There has been no dispute there)," he added.

Sunday's twin blasts at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral occurred barely a week after the first BOL plebiscite on January 21.

Sulu was the only province of the Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao that voted against the measure which seeks to create the

FDND, P9

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vestigation is ongoing he military has conducted airstrikes statement.

Three days after the to get to the bottom of against Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) targets deadly attack at the this incident. We exhort in Sulu on Tuesday.

“(Yes), we did airstrikes yesterday (Tuesday). (I’m) not sure if there are (any) now,” Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Wednesday.

Lorenzana said the airstrikes were in retaliation for the twin bombings in the province’s capital town of Jolo, which left 21 persons dead and 97 others wounded last Sunday. “(I) don’t know how many sorties (were conducted),” the Defense chief said when asked how many bombing missions were carried out by the military against the ASG rebels.

Reports said govern-

ment troops launched airstrikes against the ASG in the towns of Patikul and Indanan in Sulu, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to pulverize the terror group.

Calls for calm Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) called on the public to exercise sobriety and calm in the light of the recent attacks.

“Let us not be swayed by the recent developments that seem to project a religious complexion in the recent tragic incidents: in Jolo on Sunday (January 27) and on January 30, 2019 (Wednesday) around 20 minutes past midnight,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, a grenade blast inside a mosque in Zamboanga City killed two persons and injured three others.

“The AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., conveys the sincere condolences and deep sympathies of soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines to the victims of the attack against civilians inside a mosque at Barangay Talon-Talon in Zamboanga City,” Arevalo said.

He assured that government troops are currently conducting an investigation to determine the motive of the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Your security forces have assisted the victims even as the in-

our citizens, for your help and cooperation with your government security forces in addressing these evolving challenges,” Arevalo said.

Arevalo also urged citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity or the presence of unfamiliar persons in their areas.

“Gen. Madrigal assures that the best AFP commanders are on the ground and that, in cooperation with the PNP and other agencies of government, are firmly committed to neutralizing these threats. But we can best attain that if we have the unequivocal support of our people in every sitios and barangays since they are more familiar in their localities,” he said. (PNA)

There was no opposition to his appointment.

Madrigal was installed as AFP chief in December last year, replacing now Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Madrigal, the 51st AFP chief-of-staff, served notably as 4th Infantry Division commander, Southern Luzon Command and

Eastern Mindanao Command chief.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985, Madrigal was the most senior among the Board of Generals’ recommendees and also among the most competent in terms of distinct professionalism, leadership and character.

Madrigal held key positions in the Philip-

pine Army (PA), which includes command of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan De Oro. He also served as assistant division commander and later acting head of the 10th Infantry Division in Compostela Valley before becoming Army chief.

Madrigal is set to retire on September 28, 2019. (PNA)

CA confirms Madrigal appointment as AFP chief

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he Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff.

Zamboanga Rep. Seth Jalosjos, chairman of the CA committee on national defense, recommended the approval of Madrigal's appointment at the plenary.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

DOJ consolidates PDEA, NBI raps on multi-billion shabu haul

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SALES MISSION. GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation chief executive advisor Andrew Harrison provides the updates Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and promotes new flights and services of MCIA to Davao travel and tours operators during a sales mission held at Marco Polo Davao on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

Cebu int’l airport operator to promote Cebu-Davao links G

By ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO

MR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), together with partner airlines, promoted new flights and services of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to Davao City’s travel and tour operators during a Sales Mission on Wednesday at Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

“Davao is a very important market to us so we continuously reach out to our tourism stakeholders through this sales mission,” GMCAC Chief Executive Advisor Andrew Harrison said.

Harrison also said during the press briefing that they will be pleased to support and to take part of any opportunity for the upgrading of Davao International Airport.

GMCAC is the private company managing the terminal operations and other related areas of MCIA. They aim to institutionalize the sales mission yearly starting off in Davao.

Part of the sales mission is to study the Davao market to improve their services.

GMCAC Head for Airline Marketing and Tourism Development Aines Librodo said that a sales coordinator will mainly

focus on Davao City for constant coordination with the travel industry in the market.

“We try to make sure that your experience of traveling through air becomes a very happy experience. 63 percent of the people are stressfully traveled by air. Our job is to take that stress away,” Harrison added.

Partner airline, Tiger Airways Taiwan, improved its profit by doubling it to 100 million NS$ as they started their flights from Cebu to Taipei through Mactan-Cebu International Airport last year.

“We are now looking to extend our network

in the Philippines for more flights to and fro Taipei,” said Bernard Hsu, director & spokesman of Tigerair Taiwan.

Two new Chinese airlines recently commenced direct flights to China from MCIA last week.

MCIA is now connected to 32 domestic and 21 international destinations with 8 Philippine-based airline and 18 foreign airline partners.

GMCAC airline partners for the sales mission: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, Cathay Dragon, China Eastern Airlines, Emirates and Tigerair Taiwan.

Economic managers to endorse infra exemption from election ban

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conomic managers will formally endorse to President Rodrigo R. Duterte next week the exemption of infrastructure projects from the election spending ban, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday.

During the weekly press event Breakfast with Ben, Diokno said economic managers will submit a memorandum to the President to ask

the Commission on Elections (Comelec) not to halt major infrastructure projects during this year’s mid-term elections.

He said they have already identified specific projects, which they will request to be exempted from the election spending ban.

“In fact, at this time, we have already identified them,” he said.

Diokno noted that these include

the “Build, Build, Build” program’s 75 flagship projects, in which half are onstream, as well as some major projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways nationwide.

“If it’s national projects, it will not affect elections on the district level,” he said.

The budget chief pointed out that requesting for exemption of certain na-

tional government projects from the election spending ban has been done before.

“It has happened many times before.

You file a request to the Commission on Elections. In general, they respond us to the request,” Diokno said.

“We are confident that our request will be granted. This is for national welfare and development,” he added. (PNA)

rosecutors on Wednesday asked the respondents in the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the case involving illegal drugs which were smuggled into the country inside magnetic lifters to submit their counter affidavits on February 11.

Hearing the case filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel also announced that it had consolidated PDEA’s complaint with the one initiated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last week.

“You may or may not opt to file your respective counter affidavit,” the panel led by Assistant State Prosecutors Mary Jane W. Sytat told the parties present.

Prosecutors said the deadline to file the counter affidavit will not be extended.

In its order dated January 29, the DOJ panel earlier granted the motion for consolidation filed by the NBI. The DOJ panel is composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Sytat, Giono Paolo S. Santiago, Jervis A. Gaspar and Prosecution Attorneys Jayvee Laurence B. Bandong and Mary Grace S. Arboladura.

The NBI last week formally submitted its findings to the DOJ on the controversy.

In its 49-page letter requesting for preliminary investigation, NBI Director Dante Gierran named more than three dozen individuals to be involved in the smuggling of said shipment of drugs through magnetic lifters.

The NBI identified former PDEA Deputy Director for Administration Ismael Fajardo, Customs intelligence officer Jimmy S. Guban and dismissed Senior Supt. Eduardo P. Acierto as most liable for the shipment.

The NBI also recommended charges against Customs officials led by former Bureau of Customs chief Isidro Lapeña and others linked to the transaction.

Investigators said District Collector Vener Baquiran was also remiss with his duty to prevent smuggling when he did not declare the two magnetic lifters abandoned within the period prescribed by law.

The NBI recommended dereliction of duty, violation of graft laws and grave misconduct charges against Lapeña among others. (with Francesca Fajardo/NIB-OJT)

Envoy praises 'sustained growth' in PH-China relations

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he Chinese top diplomat in Manila praised the "sustained betterment and growth" in the Philippine-China relations as tourist arrivals from Beijing increased, and the construction of China-funded infrastructure projects in the country progressed "positively" in 2018.

"Over the past two years, under the guidance of our two leaders, China-Philippine relations have achieved an overall turnaround, enjoyed a sustained growth with strength and depth, and surged forward along a fast track," Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said at the Spring Festival Reception in Makati City on Tuesday.

He noted that "the year 2018 witnessed a sustained betterment and growth of China-Philippines relations."

Zhao said China is the Philippines' fastest growing tourist source market after it received

a total of 1.25 million Chinese visitors in 2018, achieving a 29.6 percent year-on-year increase.

The construction of drug-rehabilitation centers, two bridges over Pasig River and the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project funded by China’s grants or soft loans have also "made positive progress," Zhao added.

Moreover, China remains as the Philippines’ "top trading partner and import origin, and the fourth largest export market."

In the past two years, Zhao said China has imported more than 2 million tons of tropical fruits from the Philippines which generated more than USD1.5-billion revenue for 40,000 Filipino farmers.

During the first China International Import Expo held in Shanghai last November 2018, the envoy also noted that Philippine com-

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

ECONOMY

DA bans pigskin leather importation

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he Department of Agriculture has temporarily banned the importation of pigskin leather from countries affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF), including China, as it steps up measures to protect the Philippine hog industry.

The DA said due to the continuing outbreaks in China, leather of pig origin is temporarily banned.

ASF virus can survive up to 300 days in skin/fat (even dried).

ASF is a severe threat to the swine industry and its introduction threatens food security and challenges the livelihoods of

pig producers.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is now conducting risk assessment on the introduction of ASF virus through importation of leather products from China.

It is also considering sending an inspection team to China to visit the tannery facilities to check on compliance with the good manufacturing practices (GMP) and the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).

Importers are also advised to source their pig skin leather requirements from ASF-free countries. (PNA)

Mislatel franchise 'ipso facto' revocation has legal effect: IBP

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he "ipso facto" revocation of Mislatel's franchise must be seriously considered with regard to its status as the country's new major player in the telecommunications industry, the national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said Wednesday.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Abdiel Dan Fajardo said the panel's finding that Mislatel violated Section 7 of the company's franchise is of "great importance" and must not be disregarded.

Section 7 provides that the franchise shall be deemed ipso facto (in fact) revoked, in the event the franchisee fails to commence operations within one year from approval.

"These have legal effect. In Black's Law Dictionary, ipso facto means by the very fact. Therefore, we are of the belief, at the present time, that such be considered with respect to the status of the winning bidder," Fajardo said.

"We are of the belief that we should not move forward without considering the impact of such status in this particular endeavor," he added.

The previous hearing bared that Mislatel appeared to have failed to comply with the conditions set by Congress when it handed the firm its franchise, such as the requirement to operate within one year after the acquisition of the franchise and the need to seek Congress approval when it sold majority of its shares in 2015.

Senator Grace Poe, committee chair, asked the IBP president if the Supreme Court should review the franchise of Mislatel, or if it is well within the Congress' power to grant or withdraw a franchise. Mislatel earlier argued only a quo warranto petition can cause a revocation of its franchise.

Fajardo cited a Supreme Court decision that the "the viability of the quo warranto, in this instant

5

case, does not preclude Congress from enforcing its own prerogative by abrogating the legislative franchise of respondents should it be distressed enough by franchisee's violation of the franchise extended to them."

He noted that the language of the franchise itself already represents the act of Congress abrogating the franchise by "virtue of the wording of the franchise itself."

For his part, Mislatel spokesperson, lawyer Adel Tamano, maintained the validity of the company's franchise.

"No quo warranto proceeding has been filed against the franchise of Mislatel. There has been no revocation by the Congress of the franchise of Mislatel. Without going into the legal matters, there has been no positive act that would revoke the existence of the franchise," Tamano said.

He also explained that there was no sale of controlling interest of Mislatel, but rather a subscription and an increase of capital stock.

"In fact, what happened was the initial entry of Nicanor Escalante and the other shareholders into Mislatel was not through a sale of controlling interest, which is basis for an ipso facto revocation, but rather it was through subscription and increase of capital stock," Tamano said.

Poe earlier said holding a re-bidding for the selection of the third telco could be more favorable to the public than allowing a company to operate hounded by questions on the validity of its franchise.

Poe said having a new major player that would later on encounter legal entanglements in the courts could further delay the country's goal to provide the consumers with fast and reliable internet and telecommunications.

The panel is expected to release its committee report next week. (PNA)

“TIKOY.” A sales attendant displays different flavors of “tikoy” in preparation for the celebration of Chinese New Year at the lobby of The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

ANA Japan buys shares in PAL

By ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO

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leader for the ASEAN region.

This is a new era of development for PAL through the investment

by ANA HD from which they have embarked on a full-scale expansion program that has seen its fleet and network grow to almost 100 aircraft and 80 destinations in 4 continents.

This campaign has coincided with an emphasis on product transformation that saw PAL recognized recently as the

World’s Most Improved Airline for 2019.

The ANA Group is expanding its international group network, which is considered its main growth pillar, and strengthening its partnerships with foreign airlines to provide further convenience to its passengers.

“We are honored and excited that a premier airline group such as ANA HD has decided to purchase shares in PAL Holdings. The Philippines and Japan have a long-standing relationship with complementary strengths. This week, in fact, we commemorate the 70th year of Philippine Airlines’ service to Japan, dating back to the

launch of our first Manila-Tokyo flight on January 26, 1949.

“It is a great privilege to celebrate this historic occasion by strengthening our ties with ANA, as we aim to build a relationship that is mutually beneficial with an eye to a more progressive future.” Jaime J. Bautista, president of PAL Holdings & Philippine Airlines said.

Shinya Katanozaka, president and CEO of ANA HOLDINGS INC. said that Asia is a key growth market and that they believe Philippine Airlines is in an excellent operational position to capitalize on both the strong uptick in air traf-

common tower sites given its existing clientele of private schools nationwide availing broadband services,” TBGI said in a statement late Tuesday.

The company aims to provide site acquisition services and leasing revenues. Each tower is estimated to cost at around USD 100,000 per site while site acquisition costs will range from USD7,000 to USD10,000.

“The corporation believes the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission)/DICT will allow the participation of more common tower providers based on the

recent statement of the DICT to accelerate tower deployment to reach 50,000 towers,” according to TBGI. The DICT seeks to implement a common tower policy that will allow more companies to build and deploy cell sites and other facilities that will be leased to telco firms, which may then use them to improve their delivery of service.

It has signed common tower provider agreements with local firm ISOC Infrastructures, Inc.; Singapore’s ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd.; IHS Towers of Nigeria; Edot-

co Group of Malaysia and China Energy Engineering Corp.

The DICT is set to sign another deal with RT Telecom SDN. BHD of Malaysia this Wednesday.

The Philippines needs an additional 50,000 cell towers to be competitive with its neighboring countries in providing quality telco services to the public, according to the department.

The lack of cell towers has been identified as one of the barriers to affordable and consistently reliable internet services in the country.(PNA)

anila and Tokyo, Jan 29 2019 — ANA HOLDINGS INC. of Japan’s largest and six times 5-star airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) is investing $95 million US dollars and acquiring 9.5 percent outstanding shares of PAL Holdings Inc. -- the parent company of flag carrier Philippine Airlines.

ANA HD will acquire the shares from Trustmark Holdings Corporation owned by the Lucio Tan family which is the largest shareholder of PAL Holdings.

This purchase underscores ANA HD’s belief in the dynamism of the Asian region and the great potential of the Philippines’ multi-awarded flag carrier and its confidence that the Philippine air travel market will continue to serve as an economic

FANA, P9

Transpacific Broadband seeks to be common tower provider

T

ranspacific Broadband Group International (TBGI) is eyeing to create a subsidiary that will build cell site towers to be offered to telcos for common use under lease.

The subsidiary, which will be named Transpacific One Network Inc. (TONI), will be submitting a proposal to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to build and deploy 15,000 cell sites as part of its application as a common tower provider.

“The corporation has identified an initial 3,000

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

Safety in houses of worship

I

t used to be that people run to churches to be safe from evil.

By evil, the reference is not just biblical but also terrestrial and natural forces.

Times have changed. What used to be the concept that churches as places of worship are sacred, is no longer the same. Instead, places of worship like churches and mosques are convenient targets of terrorism because it is a place of convergence. And terrorism always has the element of convergence as motivation for attack.

Twenty-one people were killed while over 100 others were injured when two pipe bombs went off at a Jolo cathedral in Sulu province during a mass on Sunday. And then early Wednesday, a grenade lobbed inside a mosque in Zamboanga City left two people dead and four wounded. Reports have it that most of the victims were Muslim preachers who had been sleeping. Although any link between the two incidents have yet to be established, it only increases the belief that terror has its eyes where it hurts deep--religion and its places of prayer. Previous incidents happened in the cities of Davao, Cotabato and Gen. Santos in Mindanao.

Now, are people safe inside churches and mosques? It does not

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seem so.

Achbishop Romulo Valles of the Archdiocese of Davao has given way to this sad reality. He has followed a recommendation from the city government’s Public Safety and Security office to implement strict compliance of bag bans inside churches. This means no backpacks, big bags, knapsacks and the like will be allowed inside churches as a matter of security precaution. This came at the aftermath of investigations which surfaced from eyewitnesses’ accounts that the first explosion in the Jolo church came from a bag left behind by a woman in one of the pews. The second was said to be detonated by a suicide bomber.

The spectre of terror inside churches only speaks of the godless and heartless criminal minds out to perpetrate their own selfish interests instead of respecting the harmonious coexistence of people of different beliefs and cultural origins and their aspirations for peace in Mindanao.

While safety in places of worship and convergence may be the primary concern of the government and leaders of any religion for now, faith, as always, will always be the fortress of good intentions.

Faith, afterall, is a force much stronger than fear.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE Richard C. Ebona | Product Development officer LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts.Address: 04 Orilla St. Purok 4B Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Specialist Cellphone number: 09472652969 General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Email Address: edgedavao@gmail.com Mobile: (Smart) 09382022120 Tel: (088) 852-4894

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

7

The De Venecia-Nograles tiff

F

ebruary 4, 2008 will go down in Philippine legislative history as the day Davao-born Rep. Prospero C. Nograles was thrust into the limelight as the first House Speaker from Mindanao, dethroning Jose de Venecia, the longest-serving leader of Congress.

A confidential report (‘House Speaker ousted; Mindanao representative takes over’) sent by the US embassy in Manila to the Secretary of State a day after the coup provides an overview of the event. It was prepared by American envoy to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney.

The account stated that de Venecia, a former ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, “fell fell victim to [her] supporters in the House after de Venecia’s son accused the President’s family of involvement in a national corruption scandal.”

Kenny hypothesized the change in leadership would unlikely alter the legislative agenda of the House, although this would elicit “renewed interest in Mindanao issues,” adding that as a consolation prize, de Venecia was initially planned to be given an ambassadorial post but this had changed after he made “strident parting remarks against President Arroyo.”

In installing Nograles, one hundred seventy-four congressmen sided with the Mindanao lawmaker while only thirty-five supported

O

n February 24, the annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California. Now on its 91st year, it is the oldest entertainment awards ceremony in the United States.

During the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will present Academy Awards in 24 categories. The winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially called the Academy Award of Merit, which has become commonly known by its nickname “Oscar.”

Actually, the trophy is 13-and-a-half inches high and weighs 8-and-a-half pounds.

It is cast in solid Britannia metal electroplated with 28-karat gold. The name Oscar was reportedly conceived by director Margaret Herrick, who observed that the little statues reminded her of her uncle Oscar.

Best Picture: In the past,

de Venecia, head of the ruling Lakas party; sixteen legislators abstained. The coalition to dethrone the House leader was led by President Arroyo’s two sons in the House, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo.

The envoy noted that when the President was facing political crisis in 2005 and 2006 due to the infamous ‘Hello, Garci’ wiretapping controversy, it was de Venecia who successfully coxswained his allies in the House “to block impeachment moves against her [and in] exchange for his loyalty, the President consistently supported him as Speaker.”

But the whole thing soured up when Jose de Venecia III, son of the deposed House leader, linked First Gentleman Miguel Tuason Arroyo “to a corruption scandal involving a botched government communications contract worth over $300 million.” Before the Senate, the whistleblower testified that Miguel “had warned him to ‘back off’ from bidding on the national broadband network project because [he] had a personal interest in the contract.”

Kenney reported: “The younger de Venecia continued to make accusations, rendering futile numerous attempts by political leaders, including former President Fidel Ramos, to keep the relationship between the Speaker and the President intact. As the ouster move against his father

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa snowballed, [he] was quick to point to the First Gentleman as the brains behind the ouster.”

Adding fuel to the ouster move was the claim of the elder de Venecia that House members were bribed one million pesos each in order to vote against him and warned the sons of the President would be using “government resources” to ostracize him.

Before he was finally removed, de Venecia made incinerating statements: (i) he declared war against the Arroyo leadership; (ii) he expressed regret, albeit indirectly, for supporting Arroyo when she ran as his vice-presidential running mate in 1998; (iii) he recalled the time when he shielded Arroyo from a string of impeachment attempts; (iv) he accused the administration of masterminding his ouster; and (v) he faulted Arroyo of corruption and arrogance.

In response, Palace of-

ficials dared de Venecia to bring his charges to the courts.

De Venecia’s claim that Arroyo was behind his ouster was later confirmed by Senate President Manny Villa, who also suffered the same fate as de Venecia’s in 2000.

Kenny was also thorough in her account about Nograles in a confidential report (‘Nograles elected House Speaker’) dated February 7, 2008, a good three days after the Davao lawmaker became Mindanao’s first House Speaker. In brief, she wrote that Nograles graduated from Ateneo de Manila, where President Arroyo’s husband was a classmate.

“A dedicated student,” she said, “Nograles ranked second in the 1971 [Bar exams] and practiced law until his election to Congress in 1989 (sic). Now in his fifth term overall -- third consecutive -- he has served in various committees and was majority leader from 20042007.

“Prior to his election as Speaker, he was head of the House panel in the bicameral Commission on Appointments. As a lawmaker, he has supported political and economic reform legislation, including constitutional reform. He has professed a conviction that the grant of presidential amnesty to communist rebels will encourage them to give up the struggle and support government. He has also opposed Church intervention

in politics.

“Nograles is an advocate of the rule of law, human rights, and press freedom, and together with now Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, he was among Davao City’s first human rights lawyers, who helped the Church pursue justice for victims of the Catalunan Grande massacre in the late 1970s. He recently blamed [the] Davao ‘death squad’ for the killing of a journalist friend [Ferdinand Lintuan, who died on December 23, 2007] and is at odds with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, with whom he had issues during the May 2007 local elections.”

Interestingly, Kenny also cited that Nograles, in his third and final consecutive term, was harboring a plan to contest the Davao City mayoralty in 2010, which was eventually won by Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Additionally, she noted that “Nograles favors strong U.S.-Philippine relations and is generally cordial with the [US] Mission. He has publicly stated his support for the war against terrorism but has been critical of the Visiting Forces Agreement. “ Nograles’ victory came after he “actively lobbied for the speakership and successfully engineered his election by building a critical mass of support among his fellow Mindanao representatives” who were harboring a sentiment of finally having a speaker from the South.

ally, the Academy favors on actors turned directors, especially when they direct themselves. Consider this: Kevin Costner in Dances With Wolves, Clint Eastwood inUnforgiven, and Mel Gibson in Braveheart.

The list of nominees is very interesting: Alfonso Cuaron for Roma, Yorgos Lanthimos for The Favourite, Spike Lee for BlacKkKlansman, Adam McKay for Vice, and Pawel Pawlikowski for Cold War. Only Cuaron won before – for the breathtaking Gravity. McKay was nominated before for directing The Big Short while Lanthimos also received a nomination but not for directing but for the original screenplay he wrote for The Lobster. After years of being snub, Lee finally got his first directing nomination (although he has been nominated before in various categories). This is also Pawlikowski’s first nomination; he has received the prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

The most likely winner: Cuaron. But don’t discount

Lee yet since he is the only black director in this category and the Academy might give him the prestigious trophy for snubbing him in the past.

Best Actor: Generally, actors who direct themselves get the Oscars for Best Director. But since Bradley Cooper is not in the contention for directing A Star Is Born, he may settle for his performance in the film. Besides, he is ripe for the award since he has been nominated in the acting department before.

The only hitch: Cooper failed to win the Golden Globe. So, it may be a race between Christian Bale and Rami Malek. Both portrayed rea-life characters: Bale as Dick Cheney in Vice and Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. It is Bale’s fourth nomination while Malek is a newcomer.

The two other nominees – Willem Dafoe (for At Eternity’s Gate) and Viggo Mortensen (for Green Book) – are not newcomers; they had also been nominated before. -- (To be concluded)

Oscar race: and the winners are (part 1)

only five films were nominated for Best Picture. But in recent years, more films were included. This year, eight movies are competing against each other: Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, Roma, A Star Is Born, and Vice.

All of these nominees have received several nominations in various categories.

Roma and The Favourite got 10 nominations each while A Star is Born and Vice have earned 8 apiece. Black Pantherhad seven, BlacKkKlansman with six, while Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book settled for five nominations each.

Bohemian Rhapsody got a Golden Globe but it’s a toast between Roma and The Favourite.

Roma, however, may not get the award as it may settle for Best Foreign Film, for which it is also nominated. The most likely to win: The Favourite, as the Academy loves falling back on a costume drama. In addition, it is a reminiscence of the 1950 Oscar winner All

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

About Eve. If the Academy members can’t figure it out between the two, they may go for A Star Is Born. None of the three previous version of the quintessential celebrity love story brought home the best picture, so who knows this time? It may be this year’s Argo, the film which got the top prize, although the director (actor Ben Affleck) wasn’t nominated.

Best Director: Tradition-

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

HEPATITIS B

by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

IS DEADLIER THAN YOU THINK

f it was tuberculosis (TB) in the past, then it’s hepatitis B today. Both are serious public health problems and they have one thing in common: discrimination.

In the olden times, people with TB were isolated from the rest of the community. As the bacteria can be transmitted through the air, people abhorred from talking or getting near with them.

The same thing happens today to people with hepatitis B. Friends try not to associate with those infected with the virus. There are even family members who separate kitchen utensils for those with hepatitis B fearing they would be infected.

The fear is understandable but people with hepatitis B shouldn’t be discriminated.

“Many people believe hepatitis B can be transmitted to casual contact,” said Dr. Janus Ong, a transplant hepatologist. “They do not know that the virus can be unknowingly transmitted through contaminated blood products including during transfusions, contaminated medical devices and from infected mothers to infants during children.”

But that’s going ahead of the story. Hepatitis, the inflammation of the liver, has several causes, including heavy alcohol intake, some toxins and drugs, other systemic diseases, and some infections. Of the infectious causes of hepatitis, viral infections, particularly hepatitis A, B, and C, are most common.

The Merck Manual of Medical Information says hepatitis can either be acute (short-lived) or chronic (lasting at least 6 months). In the Philippines and worldwide, most people with chronic hepatitis B acquired the infection at birth or during early childhood.

Based on the 2016 estimates of the World Health Organization (WHO), around 8.5 million Filipinos are chronically infected with the hepatitis B. Prevalence of the contagious infection is very high at 16.7%. This means one in 7 Filipino are infected by the virus, which is 50 to 100 times more infectious than the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A study conducted in 2003 showed the prevalence was highest among the 20-49 age group, which comprise the country’s workforce.

Just like HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be passed on to another person through the body fluids, such as semen, vaginal fluids and blood, according to Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP).

A person may acquire the infection through the following: birth (spread from a hepatitis B positive mother to her baby), sex with an infected partner, direct contact with the blood or open wounds of an infected person, and exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments.

In addition, a person may get it through sharing needles, syringes, and other drug-injection equipment with an infected person. Razors, nail clippers/ manicure or pedicure paraphernalia or toothbrushes may also transmit the disease if they are used by an infected individual.

But the virus is not spread through food and water. As such, HBV is “not spread by sharing utensils, sharing drinks, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing,” HSP assures. Unlike HIV, however, HBV can survive outside the body and can cause infection for at least 7 days.

Not everyone exposed to hepatitis B develop symptoms.

“Although majority of adults develop symptoms from acute hepatitis B infection, many young children do not,” HSP says. “Adults and children over the age of 5 years are more likely to have symptoms. Seventy percent of adults will have symptoms from an acute hepatitis B infection.”

Symptoms of acute hepatitis B include: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored stool, joint pains, and jaundice (yellow color in the skin or the eyes). “Symptoms can appear 90 days after exposure, but they can also manifest between 6 weeks and 6 months after exposure,” HSP informs.

Generally, people with acute hepatitis B have symptoms for a few weeks, although some may fell ill for as long as 6 months. But there are people who may be infected with HBV and yet they look healthy and have no symptoms; still they can spread the virus.

Most people with chronic hepatitis B may not experience symptoms and may feel healthy for many years. “About 15% to 25% of people with chronic hepatitis B develop complications in the liver, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer,” HSP points out. “In the early stages of liver cirrhosis

and live cancer, patients may remain to have no symptoms. However, tests for liver function or liver ultrasound might begin to show some abnormalities.”

Chronic hepatitis B shouldn’t be ignored as it can result in liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer, or even death. In the Philippines, liver cancer is the third leading cancer, affecting over 7,000 new Filipinos every year. “Liver cancer carries a poor prognosis, making it the second leading cause of cancer death locally,” HSP claims.

But the good thing is: both acute and chronic hepatitis Bs can be treated. In acute hepatitis B, the main treatment is mostly supportive, that is, in the form of rest, adequate nutrition and adequate hydration.

For chronic hepatitis B, there are now several drugs available. “The choice of antiviral drug may depend on the patient,” HSP says. “However, not

all patients which chronic hepatitis B need antiviral drugs. Patients should be evaluated by health professionals experienced in the management of hepatitis B.” Another good news: hepatitis B can be prevented through a vaccine. “The vaccine is given as a series of 3-4 shots over a period of 6 months,” HSP says. “It stimulates the body’s immune system to produce the antibody that protects against hepatitis B.” Studies have shown that once the person has been given the vaccination series, he or she is “greater than 90% protected” compared to those immunized before being exposed to hepatitis B. The safety of the hepatitis B vaccine has been evaluated by many

leading health authorities including the United Nations health agency and the United States Institute of Medicine. “The hepatitis B vaccine is safe,” HSP assures. “Pain at the injection site is the most common side effect reported.”

But despite the availability of hepatitis B vac-

cine and treatments, people with hepatitis B are still discriminated.

“Every week, I see so many new patients with hepatitis B and liver cancer, it’s frightening,” Dr. Ong deplores. “But here is still so much stigma and discrimination that no one wants to step up as a champion.

INdulge!

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

1 JT’s Manukan’s Chicken inasal.

2 Isol and sate babi.

3 The author and Joel Torre.

1

TASTY, JUICY CHICKEN AT

3

JT’S MANUKAN

2

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

HIS COMPLETE NAME is Jose Rizalino de Leon Torre. But among moviegoers, he is simply Joel Torre, one of the country’s finest actors. Today’s generation knows him as Teodoro “Teddy” Arevalo/Juan Verdad in the top-rated television series, “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” He was also Soliman “Sol” Olivar in “On the Wings of Love.”

What most Filipinos don’t know is that he and his wife Cristy is behind the famous JT’s Manukan Grille. This Negrense restaurant serves chicken inasal and other dishes from Bacolod.

In the beginning, Joel and Cristy were experimenting with various ways of marinating chicken that they learned from their respective parents and aunts. What they wanted was a grilled chicken that was only tasty but also succulent and fresh-tasting at all times.

After several studies, they thought they had perfected it.

And so, they launched the inasal and some other recipes in a space at one of the properties of

the Vera Perezes. What started as a small stall on Ortigas Avenue Extension in Quezon City in May 2003, it has now blossomed into a full-service restaurant that is flourishing in almost all big cities in the country.

One time, I got a message from him that he was coming back to Davao City. “Can you attend the launching of my restaurant in Davao?” I heard of such restaurant in Manila but never had a chance of going there whenever I am in the country’s busiest city.

Since I haven’t tried the authentic chicken inasal from Bacolod yet, I answered affirmatively. I never made it to the launching but I did come on the following day. The restau-

rant is located at Zone C Unit 6, Damosa Gateway, Damosa Complex in Lanang. The second branch is located at Mabini Street a stone’s throw away from Edge Davao’s office.

On why he ventured into restaurant business, Torre replied: “We love food and we love eating.” But seriously speaking, he thought of the business as a fallback, something he could do when his acting days are over.

“If you become older, your market value goes down,” he explained, adding that looking back, he made the right decision. “I had a certain talent fee as an actor,” he said. “Now, from my business, I got more cash than from being an actor.”

According to Torre, he sees to it that all his branches live

by what he calls as 4 M’s. No, you’re wrong. It doesn’t stand for “matandang mayaman madaling mamatay.” But rather, it means: “masarap, mura, malinis, masaya.”

Let’s take a closer look at each: Masarap: Meaning delicious, a term used to describe the Ilonggo dishes from Bacolod. “Our specialty dish, inasal, is deeply marinated chicken grilled to perfection,” its website pointed out, adding that it is grilled to a crisp on the outside, tender and juicy in the inside. “We cook it with care, well done, not rare,” it said.

“One bite of it brings you to the City of Smiles.”

Aside from chicken inasal, the resto also offers kansi (beef bone marrow and vegetable soup) and batchoy (noodle soup), the latter is perfect for rainy season. Other wellknown dishes include apanapan (kangkong) isol (chicken ass) and sate babi (Ilonggo version of the kebab).

Mura: No, it doesn’t mean cheap but affordable. “Meals start at P150 upward,” it said.

“Definitely affordable for the

whole family and barkada. If you’re looking for good food with an affordable price, JT’s Manukan is definitely the place to go.”

Malinis: People love to eat in those places not only having excellent menu but also clean. “(It) stands by the food’s quality,” the website said. “Our food is prepared with authentic ingredients, some even shipped all the way from Bacolod. We make sure that we serve healthy and fresh dishes that are brought to our customers with outmost care and love.”

Masaya: The Tagalog term for happy. “(The resto) has been a staple place for family occasions, dinner with friends and even romantic dates,” the website pointed out. “We have the right ambiance for you to enjoy good food as well as good conversations.”

Some branches have been opened in some tourist destinations like Boracay and soon Siargao in Surigao del Sur. “We cater to tourists, particularly foreigners, who are eager to get the Ilonggo dining experience without having to fly all the way to Negros,” Torre said.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

FOOD

VEGETABLE BIRYANI. A bowl of cooked basmati rice with spices and vegetables will surely have you excited in an instant.

Aloo Paratha is unleavened dough stuffed with a mixture of mashed potato and spices, rolled out and cooked with ghee.

Don’t talk... Just EAT! Poppin’ Chicken Pops from The 5S Box beats any other chicken pops you’ve tasted.

IT literally took me one bite to remind myself how much my palate has been craving for a diverse taste and texture.

Don’t get me wrong, Filipino and western food will always be comfort but, at the end of the day, even our palates crave and yearn for something explosive.

Indian cuisine has truly etched its presence in the culinary realm. In every nook and corner, you’d find an Indian restaurant that will surely leave a lasting impression. Either North or South Indian cuisine, Indian dishes will have you eating with your bare hands in an instant.

The 5S Box Indian Restaurant’s menu is all about the colourful flavours of North Indian cuisine. North Indian

For the love of Tandoor and Tandoori Chicken.

Kesar Pista Kulfi FTW. Kulfi is an Indian ice cream made of thickened milk, saffron and loaded with dry fruits and nuts. Denser than ice cream, the kulfi does not melt as fast as ice cream does. cuisine, as enthusiastically explained by restaurant owner

The restaurant depicts the rich colorful Indian culture through their decors.

Noreen, is more on breads like naan, chapati and my personal favourite, paratha. Typical also on their repertoire is the butter chicken, palak paneer, chule bhature, aloo samosa and malai kulfi to name a few.

North Indian cuisine is known to be strongly influenced by Central Asian flavours and taste. As prevalent on 5S’s menu, the interplay and marriage of ingredients are subtle and very pleasing to the palate. Though strong in aroma, you’d find that the flavours of the dishes are somewhat familiar. Maybe because they too use ingredients we are acquainted with -- one way or another.

The 5S Box Indian Restaurant has an overabundance of

dishes that have since become a part of our taste buds. Not to be missed is their crispy chicken wings (pardon as I failed to ask of its name) that’s delicate yet bursting with flavours, chicken pops (every piece is coated with aromatic herbs and spices that has layers and layers of taste and flavour), cheese naan (this is simply heaven on every bite) and of course, my ultimate favourite in any Indian restaurant, aloo paratha.

Personally, I loved every bit of their vegetable biryani. It pairs well with the pops and even with paratha. Despite the bold flavours, you can still taste the different ingredients used.

Truly, the nakedness of this dish is exemplarily beautiful.

Capping the night off was an abundance of sweets on our table. Not to be missed is their kesar pista kulfi – a sweet medley of nuts, herbs and spices (of course, saffron!) used to flavour the kulfi (an Indian ice cream made of thickened milk, saffron and loaded with dry fruits and nuts. Denser than ice cream, the kulfi does not melt as fast as ice cream does).

This I will recommend to one that has an adventurous palate.

If you want a more subtle taste, go for their malai kulfi.

Owners Noreen and Parveez were even too kind to have us sample their garlic naan, butter chicken and malai kulfi. Adding to that, they allowed us inside their kitchen and look at their beautiful tandoor that came all the way from Dubai.

Go all out – when dining and exploring the depths of a cuisine unfamiliar to you.

Do not be afraid to taste something new; to experience something new.

The 5s Box Indian Restaurant is located at Lot 495 Dr Gahol avenue, Near DMSF Bajada, Davao City.

EDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

UP AND ABOUT

Globe Telecom brings digital donation channel to various NGOs GLOBE TELECOM made it easier for its over 8,000 employees and thousands of guests to donate to their chosen non-government organizations (NGOs) through the use of GCash QR codes, raising almost P450,000 in just about two months.

From November 12, 2018 to January 6, 2019, Globe put up the Purpose Tree - a tree that keeps on giving -- at its headquarters in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig to encourage its employees and guests to conveniently give back and donate to their chosen NGO. Using their GCash mobile app, anyone can simply send money from their GCash account to their preferred organization by scanning the assigned QR Code.

“In an era of mobile technology, potential donors want and expect to be able to act immediately. The use of GCash QR codes not only makes giving more convenient but also democratizes it. It puts control in the hands of the donors. They can choose their preferred NGO and donate any amount through GCash scanto-pay online platform. This is much more efficient and larger in scale than traditional models like donation boxes and

envelopes,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice-President for Corporate Communications at Globe.

Being a company committed to sustainability, Globe has chosen organizations that focus on three different social issues – education (Hero Foundation, Ayala FoundationCENTEX, and Mano Amiga Academy), health (Smile Train Philippines, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMC)-Department of Radiotherapy, Philippine General Hospital-Cancer Ward for Kids, and Philippine Cerebral Palsy), and the environment (World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines).

Hero Foundation Executive Director Victor Bayani expressed his gratitude for all the help from Globe and GCash to get donations through innovation. He pointed out that GCash is the future of transactions as it gave Hero Foundation another channel for donations from prospective donors.

This was collaborated by World Wildlife Fund Corporate Partnerships Manager Cloda Urquico who said that “With GCash, Globe gives an avenue for its employees and GCash holders alike to donate

easier. Those who want to support our cause in taking meaningful action, being part of our work in saving the planet, and creating a more sustainable future, can do so through the app.”

On the other hand, Dr.

Mario Go, Jr. of the JRRMC Department of Radiotherapy said the institution is privileged to be in partnership with Globe in extending support and assistance for its patientoriented projects. With GCash, “support has become quite

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Home Foodie’ bags gold as they become part of the daily routine of homemakers MADALICIOUS MEALS have become the joy of many homemakers through Home Foodie, the three-minute program that gives viewers easy-to-do recipes and tips on everyday cooking tasks. It is no wonder that the GMA-produced cooking show received the gold for Best Use of Advertiser-Funded Programming Broadcast at the Native Advertising Awards recently held in Berlin, Germany.

Powered by GMA’s expertise in engaging the Filipino audience, the San Miguel Pure Foods message was effectively delivered through a program that fits perfectly into the daily routine of its market. Hosted by celebrity couple Drew Arellano and Iya Villania-Arellano, with steady direction from San Miguel Pure Foods Culinary Center chefs headed by Chef Llena TanArcenas, the show was developed

by San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. (formerly San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc.) in collaboration with The Huddle Room and GMA. Now going on its 5th

season, the program continuously innovated to reach viewers and offer solutions to different kitchen dilemmas.

The Native Advertising Awards recognizes excellence through native content, advertising that follows the natural form and function of the user experience in which it was placed, instead of regular advertising that aims for disruption to get the audience’s attention. With the awards’ growing prestige, more countries have been sending entries, including Sweden,

Peru, Croatia, the US, Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, Russia, Denmark, Italy, and Australia. Home Foodie’s win confirms that the show has seamlessly and effectively integrated into the habits of their consumers by giving them ways to recreate traditional Filipino dishes and providing them with valuable kitchen tips and techniques.

By winning the highest honor in its category, Home Foodie Madalicious Meals has definitely brought home another delicious victory for the Philippines.

A Globe employee donates to her favorite NGO by scanning the GCash QR Code under the Purpose Tree. more accessible and efficient in giving others the opportunity to extend their help,” he said.

To learn more about Globe Telecom’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.globe.com. ph/about-us/sustainability. html.

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

NO... FROM 1

(PSSCC) head Benito de Leon said that the city mayor instructed all churchgoers not to bring any backpacks, big bags, bulky plastic bags and boxes in churches and places of worship in the city.

De Leon said that churchgoers are advised to bring small handbags or purses in order for security forces to monitor suspicious activities more efficiently.

However, in case churchgoers will be bringing the mentioned items, the PSSCC head said that they will be ordered to submit themselves for inspection.

Mayor Sara was the guest of honor and inducting officer during the 51st annual installation of officers and board of the trustees of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) at the Marco Polo Hotel in Roxas Avenue.

The lady mayor assured businessmen and future investors of the city that the local government unit is exerting its effort in ensuring that Davao City is safe. “Our security units in Davao City are doing all that they can to make sure that Davao City is secured peacefully,” Duterte said.

the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) added.

Valles explained that such measures was adopted upon the advice of security officials, adding that the directive will be in effect until further notice. “(This is) because of the current threat of violence upon the advice of the government’s security and PNP personnel,” he said.

Earlier, Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head, Benito de Leon said they have coordinated with the parish priests in Davao to include this call in

their announcements.

De Leon said Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio instructed the PSSCC to ensure that all churchgoers no longer bring backpacks inside their places of worship for security reasons.

He said in that manner, it could avoid an incident, wherein some malicious individuals could put in explosive devices in backpacks, the same scheme that happened in Jolo.

The PSSCC is asking the public to submit themselves to inspection. (PNA with report from Armando Fenequito, Jr.)

do-Davao.

“We will also intensify the services we offer to Davao Chamber members,” he added, “We will deliver for

more assistance in terms of growing your business most especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

BACKPACKS... FROM 1

MILAN... FROM 2

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

MAYOR... FROM 11

DND... FROM 3

9

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The second BOL plebiscite will be held in the province of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City; the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigkawayan in the province of

North Cotabato; and the 28 barangays to be included in the region.

The military has deployed more than 10,000 troops and support units to help secure the BOL plebiscite, alongside the Philippine National Police. (With reports from Darwin C. Pesco, OJT/PNA)

bitter maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea. Under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the Philippines decided to follow a compartmentalized approach in engaging China by putting into separate tracks the pursuit to improved economic and cultural ties, and the issue of territorial dispute. (PNA) operates 14 flights weekly on 2 routes to the Philippines.

The two carriers have codeshare operations on Japan - Philippine routes and domestic routes within Japan and the Philippines, linking a total of 16 Japanese and 11 Philippine destinations.

Completion of the investment is subject to certain closing conditions.

"We are happy to support the mayor even after the Palarong Pambansa.

I plan tospeak with her next week and I hope she will come to the Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg in Tagum hosted by Governor Anthony del Rosario," Ramirez said, adding that the national sports agency is also committed to provide sports medicine and sports sciences lectures and provide accredited coaches to Davao City and Davao region after the Batang Pinoy.

He also said that aside from the Davao City-UP Sports Complex, PSC can work together with schools, colleges and universities of other LGUs. Ramirez, a former Davao City sports chief under then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and later Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, said, "with the leadership of Mayor Inday Sara, we

can create a Davao City and Davao region genuine grassroots sports path which will be a legacy of Duterte government."

He cited Duterte-Carpio's political will and vision in sports and governance. "If Davao and the region will have a unified sports program, it will not only bring honor and pride but will enhance the quality of life of Dabawenyos and instill pride, prestige and excellence among them," he said.

PSC donated over P100 million for second phase of the construction of the Davao City-UP Sports Complex. PSC also brought its engineers and architects here to give technical guidelines on the construction of the Davao City-UP Sports Complex for it to meet standard requirements for national and international competitions.

DAVNOR... FROM 11

panies sold USD124 million-worth of goods and services.

In his speech, Zhao attributed this progress to the "support and facilitation provided by the friends of China from all walks of life and the Chinese communities in the Philippines."

China and the Philippines made efforts to thaw its frozen ties following decades of

ment Chief and Youth and Sports Development head Giovanni Gulanes expressing excitement on hosting the multi-sports meet for 15-years old and below.

The Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg is the first of three qualifying tournaments featuring the outof-school and in-school students and athletes scheduled this year organized as part of the massbased and grassroots

sports development program of PSC. The Visayas qualifying leg will be hosted by Iloilo City starting February 23 to Marso 2 while the third and last leg is the Luzon Qualifying on March 16 to 23 to be held in Ilagan, Isabela.

Tagbilaran City in Bohol and Ormoc City in Leyte are still in a tug-ofwar to become the host of national finals.

fic growth as well as the vibrant, expanding Philippine economy.

“We look forward to expanding our business relationship with Philippine Airlines so we can continue to serve our passengers even better,” Katanozaka added.

Philippine Airlines currently operates 84 flights weekly on 9 routes to Japan and ANA

ENVOY... FROM 5

ANA... FROM 5

10 PROPERTY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

OFWs find Aeon a wise investment

A

good number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) has put their hardearned money on condominium investment.

Among the current Davao City condominium projects, Aeon Towers is one of the top choice investments of OFWs. Any investment from one's hardwork overseas should be carefully planned and weighed on in.

Aeon came up among the tops on the list and why not? It's a worthy investment that meets some of the reliable time-honored yardsticks of affordability, rental opportunity, less maintenance, and home concept.

As an OFW, being away from your families is not something you dream of for your entire life. Most of the time, especially in time of homesickness, an idea will come across you. You’ll think that if only there’s another way to earn enough money for the future, then you won’t have to go through a long lonely spell being away from your family for so long.

Luckily, there's Aeon Towers which answer to the many questions people make before deciding they came into the right place.

Here are top 4 reasons why Aeon Towers is the perfect investment for OFWs. 1 . AFFORDABLE INVESTMENT In case you haven’t heard by now, real estate investment is still the safest, tangible kind of investment up to this date. Why safest? It’s because your money will definitely appreciate over time.

Affordable? Investing with a few million pesos is no joke. However, realty investment needs a lot of capital and since you’re look-

ing for the safest kind of investment, then you should be ready for this rule of thumb — low risk equals higher capital. Aeon Towers investment is “affordable” because it certainly is, especially when compared to house and lot properties located in prime location or within same area of the project.

2 . OPPORTUNITY FOR RENT With the growing population of our country, it’s best to invest on people’s necessities which people can not live without -- food and home.

If a random survey will be made on people about their long term goals, you can be sure that “home” or decent place to live is always part of it. Since most of the people can’t afford to buy a place immediately, here’s an opportunity when you can offer your condo up for rental. Rates for renting a condo depends on location and building’s amenities.

3 . LESS MAINTENANCE Another reason why investing in a condo is perfect for an OFW is the fact that it’s less maintenance.

If you will rent it out for income generating purposes and assuming you got a yearly rental contract, only minimal or mostly no supervision is required. It’s different, a far cry indeed, when handling a business or a food cart franchise wherein you or someone you trust needs to be physically available to supervise your employees. Condo rental is a passive type of income. It’s definitely a perfect fit for one who doesn’t want much of a hassle especially in terms of managing employees and business logistics.

Another thing is the

fact that it has a 24/7 SECURITY provided by the building management. Even if no one stays at your place, you will be at peace to leave it even without a caretaker.

4 . PREPARING FOR A HOME OFWs come home and when they do, theyl need a place to stay. Working overseas is also not forever and after one decides to end his working days and retire, there's no-

where to go but go back to the Philippines and live here for good.

Thus, it is only logical to prepare for the future and buying a condominium as one's future home is just a good option.

The Aeon Towers is a 33 storey mixed use building, strategically located along J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City. It is the first tallest condominium building in Davao City and Mindanao and a PEZA ac-

credited building.

It features Residential Area, 4-Star Hotel, BPO, Retail Mall with four levels of Basement Parking. The building sits on a 4,574m2 lot and has an approximate total CFA of 90,000m2. Aeon Towers’normal power supply will be coming from Davao Light and will have its own back up of 100% power supply for the entire building.

It also has a state of the art amenities such as

infinity pool located at roof deck level, gym, jogging path. Some other featured highlights of the building are the Auxiliary Services Fire Alarm and Detection System (FDAS), Public Address / Background Music System (PA/ BGM), Cable TV/ IP TV, NMS / ACMV Controls and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).

Aeon Towers is now 93.89 percent complete in terms of civil works.

11 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

DC cagers roll to 4th win

By ADAM B. MORRELL

A

fter giving Mati City a 119-61 onslaught on Monday's opener, the defending champion Davao City's succeeding games weren't about who's winning anymore but how much will the scoring difference be. The way it looks, a good scoreline is enough consolation.

By mercilessly pounding on their opponents by more than 30 points in the past three games, the Durians have set the tone for their title run.

Made of the best players from reigning Davao City champion

Holy Child College of Davao and choice pick-ups from Lamb of God Sped Academy and Davao Jones Academy, the Davao City cagers scored another remarkable victory, wrecking Davao Oriental Sunrisers 114-46, to inch closer towards their four-peat mission in the boys secondary basketball of the 2019 Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet held at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gym. Vince Petdeo Cuajao, Miguelito Manuel and RJ Villaflores combined

for 59 points as the three-time defending champion went on an unblemished 4-0 card.

Cuajao, who also celebrated his 18th birthday yesterday, scored game high 24 points while Manuel and Villaflores had 20 and 15 points, respectively.

Today, January 31, the Nestor "Tating" Sorrosa and Roger Rabago-coached Davao City will col- Davao City guard James Paolo Manigo goes to the basket against Mati City in an earlier match. Koii Canarias lide with Panabo City Banana Magnates at 10:30 am for the final round of elimination.

The semifinals is set on Friday, February 1.

Duterte-Carpio, who welcomed some 7,000 delegates of 11 participating delegations during the opening ceremonies of the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2019 last Sunday, January 27, said, "I'd like to express my gratitude to Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Pub-

lic Works and Highways, Secretary Leonor Briones of the Department of Education, Chairman Butch Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission, University of the Philippines and the office of Congressman Isidro and Alberto Ungab for coming together in helping the city government of Davao. Thank you very much sa inyoha (to all of you)."

Ramirez, for his part, said, "It's an honor to work with the father before, who is now the President, and also serve Mayor Inday Sara in whatever endeavor."

The PSC chief shared that the realization of the completion-level Davao City-UP Sports Complex started from former mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, UP Mindanao and Congressman Ungab.

Mayor Sara thanks Butch on city sports complex

D

avao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio thanked Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, along with other prime movers in making the Davao City-UP Sports Complex a reality, thus, making the city's hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2019 possible.

FMAYOR, P9

Would a Lakers "Big 3" of Anthony Davis (from left), LeBron James and Klay Thompson be enough to win an NBA title?

Reuters

Are we seeing a Lakers Big 3?

E

very report coming out nowadays that's related to Anthony Davis' status in New Orleans should be treated with a grain of salt.

But it's hard not to let one's imagination run wild — especially fans of the Los Angeles Lakers — at the prospect of Davis transferring addresses, especially when it comes to its derivative effects on other player movements.

The Lakers look to be the All-Star center's primary target, and even though such a move wouldn't do much to derail the (currently constructed) Golden State Warriors' march to another title

it would for sure be seismic nonetheless.

Would a Davis-LeBron James combo entice a third big name to come join the Lakers in Hollywood? Perhaps.

ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski has gone on to say that if that becomes a reality, Klay Thompson would mull heading to Southern California.

According to Woj on SportsCenter right now, Klay would be really interested in the Lakers if LA deals for AD and open up a close-to-max slot in FA. And this is also presuming that GS doesn't offer Klay the full max.

Thompson is poised to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and he could leave the Warriors if a sweeter offer comes hi way, even though the prevailing thinking around the league is that it's unlikely.

Again, these are all speculation.

The Lakers are known for inviting — and creating — a lot of drama, and the past few days has been no exception. James' camp apparently wants a new coach, and if the Lakers want to get Davis they would apparently have to give up their entire young core.

Stay tuned.

Norte after reports of floods caused by heavy rains.

“Wala naman na-cancel,” said Ramirez. “They are almost back to normal na including doon sa mga naging apektado ng baha.

The opening of the Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg will be on February 3,” adds Ramirez.

In an advisory by the City Government of Davao Del Norte posted in Face-

book, classes for all levels in Tagum City was suspended on January 29.

“The suspension of classes in Tagum City is still in effect. However, students of private schools and tertiary institutions are advised to check with their school authorities if they will be holding classes tomorrow.

This decision is hinged on the following reasons: 1.

The flood in low-lying ar-

eas in affected barangays has not yet subsided, and 2. Some schools are still being used as evacuation centers,” as posted in Facebook.

The Batang Pinoy Mindanao Qualifying Leg will be held this coming February 2-9 with none other than Davao Del Norte Governor Antonio del Rosario and Provincial Government Depart-

DavNor all set for BPinoy leg hosting

GOLD MEDALIST. Ezra Emmanuel Gonzalez of Mati City shows his gold medal after winning the boys poomsae event of tae kwon do in the ongoing 2019 DAVRAA Meet.

I

t is all system go for the opening ceremony of the Mindanao Qualifying leg of 2019 Philippine National Youth Games – Batang Pinoy on February 3 to be hosted by the Province of Davao Del Norte.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said Tuesday that everything is in place and the situation is back to normal in Davao Del

FDAVNOR, P9

12 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL.11 ISSUE 224 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

BEYOND DOUBT Davao City athletes push gold medal haul to 91

By ADAM B. MORRELL

L

ooks like Davao City has placed the outcome of this year’s Davao regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet beyond doubt.

With a huge medal haul of 91 gold medals that comes with 66 silver and 30 bronze as of late

Wednesday, the perennial champions are within a striking distance of another dominant finish on home ground leaving the rest of the competition battling for second place.

Ruling almost all of the individual events which

includes medal-rich athletics and swimmings, the Durians padded the lead in the medal race going into the final two days of action in the week-long sports conclave devoted for elementary and secondary athletes.

The Durian’s elementary division collected a total of 47-32-15, gold-silver-bronze while the secondary division tallied 44-34-15.

While the host city enjoys the top of the table, Tagum City Tagumpay tightened its grip on the second spot with a 24-35-29 tally.

Chasing the Tagumpay are Panabo City Banana Magnates and Digos City Trekkers who rose to

the third and fourth places with 11-19-22 and 10-8-19, respectively, surpassing last Tuesday’s third placer Davao del Norte Pioneers which fell to fifth spot with 7-617.

The Davao Oriental Sunrisers is at sixth with 4-2-13, followed by Compostela Valley at seventh with 3-6-13, Davao del Sur at eighth with 3-4-10, Davao Occidental Slashers at ninth with 2-5-13 and Mati City Eagles at 10th with 1-3-4.

After three consecutive days of action, the hapless Island Garden City of Samal Waves had only a silver and two bronze medals by far and continued to dwell at the cellar

MEDAL COUNT AS OF 7:00 PM JANUARY 30,2019 GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

RANK

DAVAO CITY

91

66

30

1

TAGUM CITY

24

35

29

2

PANABO CITY

11

19

22

3

DIGOS CITY

10

8

19

4

DAVAO DEL NORTE

7

6

17

5

DAVAO ORIENTAL

4

2

13

6

COMPOSTELA VALLEY

3

6

13

7

DAVAO DEL SUR

3

4

10

8

DAVAO OCCIDENTAL

2

5

13

9

MATI CITY

1

3

4

10

IGACOS

0

1

2

11

DELEGATION

EDGEDAVAO

of the 11-delegation meet.

More medals are at stake on Thursday in the individual events

while the semifinals for the team events also get going in separate venues around the city.