Edge Davao | Vol 11 Issue 228 | Wednesday, February 6, 2019

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

P 15.00 • 16 PAGES

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BUDGET OF UHC IN 2019 NOT ENOUGH: ECONOMIST P2

EDGE DAVAO Serving a seamless society

GENSAN JIN WINS 3 GOLDS

SPORTS P11

YEAR OF THE PIG. Davao Lion Dancers Association performs traditional lion and dragon dance to welcome the Year of the Pig during a Chinese New Year’s Eve celebration at Marco Polo Davao on Monday evening. Lean Daval Jr

SMASHUP : 7 DIE LTFRB suspends operation of Metro Shuttle bus firm

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. and RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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he Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday issued a 30-day preventive suspension to all 34-bus units of Davao Metro Shuttle, after one of its buses collided headon with a Bachelor Express unit, killing seven persons (including the Metro Shuttle driver and two pregnant women) on Monday afternoon.

LTFRB also ordered Metro Shuttle to comply with the requirements, prescribed in the order, within 30 days, including the sur-

rendering of its bus plates today.

Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) director Sr. Supt.

Marcelo C Morales ordered

the probing of the smashup that transpired at Km. 92, Barangay Magsaysay in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, involving a Metro Shuttle Bus with plate no.

LXA 731 and Bachelor Express Bus with a no. 1301104299.

Morales also expressed his sympathies for the casualties of the accident.

“I have ordered Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office (CVPPO) Pro-

vincial Director Supt Arnold Palomo, to conduct an indepth investigation into the incident and provide a detailed report of the cause of the accident,” Morales said.

“We cannot predict accident but we can also avoid it. If its human error, or if there are lapses from the management due to poor maintenance of the vehicle, we will let the management answer and accountable for

FSMASHUP, P10

Inday watches launch of Sulu and China film

By ADAM B. MORRELL

D

avao City mayor Sara Duterte Carpio graced the launching of the documentary film “Sulu and China: Past and Present Relations” held at the SM Lanang Premier early Tuesday.

The short film was spearheaded by the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University and the Consulate General of China in Davao to present the history of the

FINDAY, P10

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

REMEMBERING NANAY SOLENG. President Rodrigo Duterte lights candles as he commemorates the death anniversary of his mother Soledad Duterte at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Davao City on Monday night. Accompanying the President is former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Budget of UHC in 2019 DOH warns public not enough: economist against flu

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

A

PhilHealth Premiums is only intended for members of PhilHealth who are actually paying for it,” she said.

One of the provisions of the bill, principally authored

by Senator JV Ejercito, seeks to cover all Filipinos with health insurance.

The UHC needs a total funding of more than P257 billion in its first year of implementation.

Currently, the available

funds amounting to P189 billion includes P105 billion from the 2019 proposed Department of Health (DOH) budget, P67 billion from the 2019 proposed national subsidy for PhilHealth Premiums, P3 billion coming from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and P14 billion from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

The P68-billion financial gap will be sustained from the new excise taxes on alcohol and products or the so called sin taxes.

Diosana said that with the alcohol and tobacco tax

increase, which was separately filed as bill, and currently under deliberation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the implementation with the UHC bill might be hampered.

“Since the election is fast approaching, there’s a possibility that these tax reforms will not be passed as soon as possible,” she said.

“We are already super delayed, because the UHC bill will be enacted sooner, and yet we don’t have sufficient fund for it. How can we implement it properly if we don’t have a source of fund for it?”

Diosana said.

Monday.

Perete named those subjected to inquest as Mukammar L. Pae/Kammah L. Pae alias Kammah; Albaji K. Gadjali alias Apah Albaji/Awag; Radjan B. Gadjali alias Rajan; Kaisar B. Gadjali alias Isal; and Said Alih alias Papong.

Seven other identified suspects and several John and Jane Does are still at large.

The suspects have been named respondents in the cases for 23 counts of murder, frustrated murder and damage to property filed by the Sulu Police Provincial Office. (PNA)

enator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to use his line-item veto power to remove the alleged "pork" insertions of lawmakers in the proposed 2019 national budget.

"Mr. President, you have displayed your strong political will on several occasions," Lacson said in a Twitter post.

"This time, use your line-item veto power over the 2019 appropriations measure by removing all the 'pork' inserted by lawmakers who are incorrigibly insatiable and simply 'beyond redemption'," he added.

The line-item veto is a

power granted to the President to selectively veto certain parts of a bill without vetoing the entire bill.

Lacson earlier bared that each congressman would receive PHP160 million from the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), more than the previously reported PHP60-million allocation.

He also alleged that PHP23 billion was inserted by some senators in the DPWH budget.

According to Senator Loren Legarda, the Senate targets to ratify the budget bill on Friday.

Legarda, chair of the

n economist said that the budget for the ratified Universal Health Care (UHC) is insufficient, and that the government should consider re-aligning its funding sources.

Action for Economic Reforms (AER) senior economist Jo-Ann L. Diosana contradicted the claims of Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III that the current available money for the UHC is sufficient.

According to Diosana, the government mistakenly included in the computation the 2019 proposed national subsidy for PhilHealth Premiums.

“Of course, the budget for

T

he Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday urged the public to take extra precaution to avoid contracting and spreading the flu virus during the peak months of the flu season.

“Binabantayan natin kung ano iyong strain at talagang by middle of the year nagbabakuna na tayo. Sa Pilipinas ang peak lang talaga ng flu-like illnesses itong panahon na malamig (We’re looking at the strain and by the middle of the year we conduct vaccinations.

In the Philippines the peak of flu-like illnesses is this cold weather),” Undersecretary Eric Domingo said in a statement.

The flu season starts in October, peaking from January to

February when temperature drops, Domingo said.

Based on DOH records, flu cases in the country have declined in 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. From Jan. 1 to Dec. 15, 2018, some 153,659 cases of influenza-like illnesses were reported, which is 17 percent lower than the 127,632 cases during the same period in 2017.

The DOH differentiated flu from common cough and cold.

It said flu is accompanied by high fever and muscle pains, which last for days.

“Ang nakakatakot lang kasi na gusto nating ma-prevent iyong mga flu na nagkakaroon ng complication. Kasi maaari siyang mauwi sapneumo-

Senate committee on finance, said the final bicameral conference meeting between her and House of Representatives appropriations committee chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. is set on Wednesday.

Malacañang said Monday it remains confident that the 2019 budget will be passed even with only three days left before Congress goes on recess in time for campaign season.

“There’s still three days left, let’s just wait. We’re still confident that it will be passed,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“We eagerly await the

passage of the General Appropriations Bill. They know it will bring adverse consequences if we have a reenacted budget,” he added.

However, should Congress fail to approve the 2019 budget before recess, Panelo was optimistic it would be passed when sessions resume on May 20 after the mid-term elections.

The government has been operating under a reenacted budget since January 1.

Congress failed to pass the national budget before the end of 2018 because of allegations of “pork” insertions. (PNA)

FDOH, P10

DOJ completes inquest of Ping urges PRRD to veto‘pork insertions’in budget 5 Jolo bombing suspects S

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he Department of Justice (DOJ) has completed the inquest proceedings and will resolve within the week the pieces of evidence in pursuing charges against the five suspects arrested by police for their alleged involvement in the Jolo Cathedral bombings.

“The prosecutor has terminated the inquest proceedings and deemed submitted for resolution the case against the five arrested suspects in the Jolo Cathedral bombing,” DOJ spokesman Undersecretary Markk Perete said in a message to newsmen late

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

PDEA hopes DepEd changes negative stand on drug testing

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he Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is still optimistic that the Department of Education (DepEd) will reconsider the agency’s proposal of having a mandatory drug testing to all primary and secondary education students.

PDEA director Derrick Carreon said on Monday that the proposal was rejected by Education secretary Leonor Briones herself during a consultation meeting.

Carreon said that PDEA will conduct another meeting, which has yet to be scheduled.

“Although DepEd rejected our proposal, the welcome development is that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) had already mandated already the drug testing to all tertiary level schools,” Carreon said.

In November, CHED announced that the mandatory drug testing will take effect next academic school year.

Carreon said that even Malacañang Palace is supporting the mandatory drug testing for college students due to their age.

“We would still like to rep-

licate it (the mandatory drug testing) even on secondary level,” he said.

PDEA’s push for the mandatory test rooted due to the enforcement agency’s series of anti-drug operations, wherein minors are being used as drug couriers and dealers. Some are even already users at an early age.

Recently, 11 grade 9 students were caught by police authorities in Makati having a pot sessions inside a house.

Meanwhile, in a previous report, PDEA XI director Behn Tesiorna reported that they are monitoring an ecstasy dealer inside a prominent school in Davao City.

Tesiorna did not reveal the background, nor the educational year level of the student, but he said that he is also getting patrons from other schools in the city.

The involvement of minors in illegal drugs lead to the proposal of a bill that lowers the criminal age of liability.

The House of Representatives passed a bill that would lower it to age nine, while the Senate is pushing for 12. Ralph Lawrence Llemit

Davao City campaigns for cancer awareness

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he city government of Davao expressed its support to the celebration of the World Cancer Day on Monday, February 4, with the theme #IAMANDIWILL. Dr. Mae Concepcion Dolendo, head of the Children’s Cancer Center at the Department of Pediatrics of Southern Philippines Medical Center, said taking part in the celebration is important to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its detection, prevention and treatment.

“This is very important because 10 million people around the world every year die of cancer. If we think about it, one-third of all the cases can be prevented and another one-third can be detected early. If we can detect cancer early, the chances of survival and cure is higher,” she said in an interview.

Dr. Dolendo added that

they have printed posters about childhood cancer warning signs and distributed it all over city health centers as part of their awareness campaign.

“For children, we cannot totally prevent cancer, but what we can do for them is to detect (the disease) early so we could have bigger chances of cure. Spreading this will educate the people so that they will know where to go when the symptoms arise,” she added.

According to Dr. Dolendo, in 2018, the Philippines has 141,000 cases of cancer in both adults and children, with breast and lung cancer the common types.

In Davao City, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte issued Proclamation No.1, series of 2018, declaring every 15th of February as International Childhood Cancer Day. CIO

PLAYGROUND. A group of young boys from the Badjao tribe plays basketball on a makeshift basketball court surrounded by refuse at a coastal community in Brgy. 23-C Isla Verde, Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr

More study needed on bill fixing salaries of brgy men

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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he Senate bill seeking to fix salaries, and not just honorarium of barangay officials must be studied first.

Agdao barangay councilor Roger Galedo said that in Senate Bill 2097 or the Magna Carta for Barangays, filed by Senator Sonny Angara, the fixed salaries must be based on the number of population of barangays.

“If ever we will be considered as regular employees, in my part is unjust for

barangays with a wide area of constituently and have population much bigger than others,” Galedo said.

Galedo said that having a huge number of constituents is an exhausting job, especially on their part, who are the frontliners of the government.

Under the Local Government Code of the Phil-

ippines, barangay officials are only compensated through honorarias.

A barangay chairman gets an honorarium of at least P1,000 per month, while councilors, treasurers and secretaries each receive P600 monthly each.

He also said that the salaries of the barangay officials would also depend on the barangay’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Under section 284 of

2nd BOL plebiscite voters told: write‘Yes’or‘No’only

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CHINESE WINTER. A lady posing in the so-called snow area inside the Chinese New Year Village at the Prayer Mountain, belonging to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), the Name Above Every Name, Inc., headed by Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, in Barangay Tamayong, Calinan. The village is open to the public until February 19. Ralph Lawrence Llemit

the Local Government Code, the allotment is largely based upon the barangay’s land area and population.

Angara, chairman of the Senate local government committee, said that bill will introduce wide-ranging reforms to improve the services and facilities in all barangays in the country, making barangay officials regular state employees who will be entitled to regular pay and benefits.

he Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded voters in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato to clearly write "Yes" or "No" in their ballots for the second Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) set on Wednesday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez noted that the Filipino translation of these words or their counterparts in any local dialect in the participating provinces will be accepted.

“Again, just to remind everyone. In order for your answer to be effective, it has to be Yes or No. Oo or Hindi. Hindi or Oo. Check or line or cross marks are not allowed. They need to write the word “Yes or No, or the equivalent local dialect,” the poll body official said in a press briefing Tuesday.

“Whatever they speak in that particular area, whatever dialect they have, that would be accepted as valid vote.

Those that are not valid are check and cross. No matter how complicated the mark

you make, for example one drew a thumb mark which is photo realistic that is not acceptable. So it has to be Yes or No,” Jimenez added.

At the same time, he noted that they expect the result of the referendum to be out within four days.

The referendum will include the towns of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte and the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigkawayan in the province of North Cotabato.

It also includes the 28 barangays that sought for voluntary inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

With this, Jimenez said the Municipal Plebiscite Board of Canvassers of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigkawayan, Pikit and Tulunan, all of which are in North Cotabato, will be trans-

F2ND, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

GSIS to take action on water pollution issue

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DOTTING OF THE EYES. Marco Polo Davao (MPD) interim general manager John Bevans (left) and Johnny Yap lead the dotting of the lion’s eyes ceremony to signify the start of the celebration of the Year of the Pig during the Chinese New Year’s Eve celebration at MPD on Monday night. Lean Daval Jr

overnment Service Insurance System President and General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas assured the public that it will immediately take steps to address the notice of violation served to its head office in Pasay City. The GSIS head office is situated along Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay where rehabilitation and cleanup works are being done.

“I was actually surprised when I came to know about the notice as we have been religiously monitoring our compliance with the guidelines of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) by having our wastewaters tested by an independent laboratory. In fact, these self-monitoring tests have yielded negative results for pollution in the past three months,” Aranas said.

The pension fund chief

said that GSIS is set to upgrade its sewage treatment plant into a more cost-effective and low-maintenance system to support the environment.

“As we speak, GSIS is finalizing the terms of reference to procure the upgrading of its sewage treatment plant that will blaze the trail in complying with the new water guidelines and general effluent standards of DENR.” The pension fund chief said that GSIS is a staunch advocate of environmental protection, one of its corporate social responsibility programs. “Every year, GSIS never fails to participate in the coastal cleanup drive of Manila Bay.” He added that GSIS is committed to support government’s campaign to clean up Manila Bay and restore it to its “old grandeur”.

Slower PH inflation PH not surrendering any part to help boost PSEi of its territory: Sec. Lorenzana

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hile it continues to maintain warm ties with China, the Philippines is not surrendering or compromising any part of its territory.

“While we recognize China as a bilateral partner for joint ventures and other endeavors, it is worth emphasizing that our territorial sovereignty and integrity, maritime entitlements and rights should not be compromised. We are not compromising them; we are not giving them away,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said during Monday’s forum at the National Defense College of the Philippines dubbed, “The National Security Outlook for the Philippines in 2019”.

“The Philippines continues to view the arbitral tribunal ruling as valid and legitimate. We have not, and we will never surrender any part of our territory,” he added.

The DND chief also cited the competing territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea as the most critical external security challenge for the country.

Lorenzana also shared that the government has already reiterated its call on China and other claimant countries to finalize and adopt a valid, binding and

mutually acceptable code of conduct in the South China Sea. He also maintained that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintains its presence within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and with its limited resources, does its best to safeguard the farthest ends of the country’s territory.

“Since it is imperative to secure the national territory, sovereignty and sovereign rights of our country’s maritime claims and entitlements, to include the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise, the AFP is steadfast in performing this constitutional duty,” the DND chief emphasized.

CEB aims to fly 200 million passengers by 2020

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he Philippines' leading airline, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), is set to receive 12 brand new aircraft in 2019, to support the carrier’s expansion plans this year. The aircraft deliveries include six Airbus A321neo; five A320neo; and an ATR 72-600.

The A321neo boasts of 236 seats, 56 seats or 31% more capacity versus the A320. This will enable CEB to offer more seats and maximize airport slots. The aircraft is capable of operating routes in excess of 5,000 kilometers or fly up to seven hours, allowing the carrier to explore new destinations like India, Russia, northern Japan and other cities in Australia.

“2019 is the year we accelerate growth. On aver-

age, we will be receiving one brand-new aircraft per month which we can use to increase capacity in key markets or even launch new routes. For 2019, we expect capacity to grow from low to mid-teens,” said Lance Gokongwei, President and CEO of Cebu Pacific.

The CEB fleet is currently comprised of an Airbus A321neo, 36 Airbus A320, seven (7) Airbus A321ceo, eight (8) Airbus A330, eight (8) ATR 72-500, and 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

CEB boasts of one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average fleet age of five (5) years.

“Cebu Pacific is expanding rapidly and plays an important part in the transformation of the

Philippines’ aviation sector and has played a key role in supporting tourism, trade and business links between the Philippines, the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East,” said Jean Francois Laval, Executive Vice President for Sales in Asia of Airbus.

CEB is aiming to fly 200 million passengers by 2020, as it expands its route network and upgrades its fleet to bigger and more fuel-efficient aircraft. The carrier hit the milestone of 150 million passengers flown since inception in late 2017.

CEB and subsidiary Cebgo fly to 36 domestic and 26 international destinations, with over 107 routes spanning Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA.

In the same forum, Lorenzana also reiterated the need to review Manila’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with Washington.

“Given this challenge with China, everyone must be asking why we initiated the call to review the MDT with the United States, our only treaty ally. We believe it is time to sit down with our US counterparts and revisit the terms of our alliance,” he stressed.

While the Philippines has always valued its partnership and in its deep historical ties with the US, Lorenzana noted that the two allies “must clearly define our roles and responsibilities when the need arises.” (PNA)

Report of further deceleration of the Philippine inflation rate last January is expected to help boost the local equities market.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported a 4.4 percent inflation rate in the first month this year, slower than the previous month’s 5.1 percent due to deceleration of the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index to 5.6 percent from 6.7 percent in the previous month.

Food index, in particular, posted an inflation rate of 5.1 percent from monthago’s 6.3 percent.

Lower inflation rates were also posted by alcoholic beverages and tobacco, clothing and footwear,

housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; health; and transport indices.

Relatively, the core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, registered a rate of 4.4 percent from last December’s 4.7 percent.

Regina Capital managing director Luis Limlingan said the latest inflation report is lower than their 4.5 percent projection.

The lower-than-forecast figure “should bode well for the market,” he said.

“Buying momentum should continue as investors will be encouraged that this will soon fall closer to the admissible range of 2-4 percent,” he added.

(PNA)

Workers' groups launch manifesto against sugar import liberalization

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hree labor groups launched a manifesto expressing their opposition to the liberalization of sugar imports, a proposal that has been met with protests by sugar industry stakeholders in Negros Occidental since last month.

The position paper, titled “The Karga-Tapas Manifesto”, was signed by leaders of the General Alliance of Workers Associations (GAWA), Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union -Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (Paciwu-TUCP), and National Congress and Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) in a forum held at the Geocadin Building in this city on Monday.

Karga-Tapas is Hiligaynon for a farm worker whose job is to cut and haul sugarcane.

“If this plan will materialize, it will obliterate our local industry that would result into severe economic dislocation of thousands

of sugar farmers and workers. The economic disaster that would occur would be unparalleled in the history of our province,” the labor groups said in the manifesto.

Negros Occidental, considered the country’s sugar capital, produces close to 60 percent of the Philippines’ sugar output.

GAWA secretary general Wennie Sancho said the position paper is in reaction to the pronouncement of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to “relax” the rules or deregulate the importation of sugar.

Sancho signed the manifesto together with Paciwu-TUCP national president Hernane Braza and NACUSIP national director Jun de la Cruz.

Both Sancho and Braza are also labor sector representatives to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board - Western Visayas.

According to the labor groups, the economic managers need to consider the implications of the

sugar import liberalization scheme, as it would come “at the cost of the economic well-being of the people.”

Copies of the manifesto will be furnished to Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Hermenegildo Serafica and two members of the Sugar Board, representing the planters and the millers, to be presented during the Sugar Summit in Manila on February 11.

Last week, Diokno said while the planned liberalization of sugar imports would negatively affect local producers, this would benefit a greater number of consumers.

“There are more consumers than sugar producers,” he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The plan to import some 200,000 metric tons of sugar seeks to address the elevated domestic inflation rate, whose upticks last year was caused by supply-side factors, such as the lack of supply of rice, meat, and several agricultural products, Diokno said. (PNA)

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ECONOMY

5

Albayalde inspects security preps for 2nd BOL polls

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hilippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde is now in North Cotabato to inspect security preparations for the second Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) set on Wednesday.

“The Chief, PNP PDG Oscar Albayalde and TDCO/ Task Force Commander Police Deputy Director General Archie Gamboa are now inspecting our final deployments in North Cotabato where a final briefing will be held today (Tuesday) on security preparations for North Cotabato and Lanao Norte to be attended by Comelec, PNP and AFP officials and other stakeholders,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said in a message sent to reporters Tuesday.

The country's top cop will also visit some voting centers on Wednesday to ensure that the plebiscite runs smoothly and safely.

"All RDs (regional directors) of neighboring Police Regional Offices have been directed to provide strong border controls and checkpoints to ensure that no spoilers from other areas will disrupt the plebiscite,” Banac added.

Albayalde earlier said 3,209 police personnel will be deployed to secure the 588 polling centers in various areas of the two provinces.

“We are ready to assume election duties anew for the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite. We will be using similar operational template applied in the first plebiscite,” the PNP chief told reporters in a press briefing on Monday at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Albayalde said there will be a ceremonial send-off for the 3,209 police officers tasked to perform election duties on Tuesday in Cagayan de Oro City.

The police personnel are expected to be augmented by soldiers and other law enforcement agencies.

Albayalde said Cagayan de Oro City will serve as monitoring and action center for the plebiscite.

Meanwhile, the military has deployed more than 10,000 troops and support units to help secure the BOL plebiscite, alongside the PNP. The second BOL plebiscite will be held in the province of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City; the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit, and Tulunan in North Cotabato and the 28 barangays to be included in the region.

The first plebiscite for the BOL on January 21 was held in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City and Isabela City. (PNA)

DND opens bids for ammo of 2 PH Navy frigates

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he Department of National Defense (DND) on Tuesday announced that it has begun the acquisition process for the ammunition needed to arm the 76-mm automatic main cannons and 30-mm secondary cannons of the two missile-equipped frigates, being constructed by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

An invitation to bid bulletin posted on the DND website indicated that PHP77,536,964 is the approved budget for the socalled Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2C Sublot-1 or the acquisition for the 76mm ammunition.

Meanwhile, the budget for the Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2C Sublot-2 or the acquisition for the 30mm ammunition, is placed at PHP100 million. Both will be sourced from the AFP Modernization Trust Fund.

Winning bidders are required to deliver the items within 240 calendar days upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed.

They must also have completed a similar project in the past 10 years, DND Bids and Awards Committee 1 chair, Assistant Secretary Manuel Felino V. Ramos, said in the bulletin.

The pre-bid conference for both projects will be held at the DND Bids and Awards Committee Conference Room, Basement, Left Wing, DND Building, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City at 10 a.m. on February 7.

The opening of the bids will be held at the same venue at 10 a.m. on February 21.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the two missile-armed frigates being constructed

by HHI will be named BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Jose Rizal, two of the country's leading patriots.

He added that these names are fitting as they came from Filipino heroes.

Rizal is considered the country's national hero for his writing against the abuses committed by Spanish colonial authorities that inspired the Philippine Revolution.

Luna, meanwhile, is known for his staunch resistance against the Americans during the Philippine-American War. The construction for the first missile-armed frigates is proceeding smoothly, Philippine Navy (PN) flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad announced. "(Construction for) our (first-missile) frigate is moving forward. It will arrive in February (or) March of 2020. All systems go and we should very happy. We should be happy for our country," he added.

The keel-laying for the first-missile-armed frigate took place in Ulsan, South Korea on October 16 last year, with steel-cutting for the second ship taking place last September 17.

HHI is expected to lay the keel for the second frigate by the first quarter of 2019.

The Philippines and HHI signed a PHP16-billion contract for two missile-armed frigates, with another PHP2 billion set aside for its weapon systems and munition. The projected delivery date for the first frigate is by 2020 and the second one, in 2021.

“The ceremony was conducted at the building dock number 6 of the Special and Naval Shipbuild-

FDND, P10

EAT LESS PORK. A trader prepares different cuts of pork meat for sale at Agdao Public Market in Davao City on Tuesday. Experts and environmentalists aired their appeal to eat less pork in the year of the pig due to the the meat’s association with various health problems. Lean Daval Jr

Energy Task Force Election convenes for polls prep meet

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he Energy Task Force Election (ETFE) headed by the Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday (4 February) held its first preparatory meeting to ensure continuous and adequate energy supply during the forthcoming mid-term elections on May 13, 2019.

“Uninterrupted energy supply is pivotal to the integrity of the electoral process. The entire energy family, in cooperation with all ETFE members, will be working 24/7 to help ensure a peaceful, orderly, honest and credible elec-

tion,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

Undersecretary and ETFE Chairperson Alexander S. Lopez led the discussions on coordination strategies as well as security and contingency planning to guarantee energy services

before, during and after the election period.

The ETFE has eight members, which include the National Electrification Administration, National Power Corporation, National Transmission Corporation, Philippine National Oil Company, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, and the Manila Electric Company. There are six

other supporting organizations that are also onboard.

The Task Force will also work closely with the national security group composed of the National Security Council, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Sec. Cusi assured the public that timely updates on generation, transmission and distribution systems, as well as fuel supplies would be provided regularly. (DOE)

uary 2019 inflation to stay between 4.3-5.1 percent.

In a statement, the central bank said last month’s inflation rate “is in line with a target-consistent inflation path as inflation rate is projected to decelerate further in 2019 to 2020.”

“Domestic supply-side pressures are seen to further ease, while the impact of BSP monetary policy adjustments in 2018 is expected to continue to work their way through the economy,” it said.

In 2018, BSP’s poli-

cy-making Monetary Board raised the central bank’s key policy rates by a total of 175 basis points as inflation rise due to jump in the prices of food items like rice and vegetable because of supply constraints as well as hikes in global oil prices.

Inflation peaked at 6.7 percent in September to October last year but slowed to 6 percent in November with the help of both the monetary and non-monetary measures implemented by the government.

While supply side risks

have eased, the BSP said “volatility in the global oil market will likely continue to influence the outlook for inflation.”

“Against this backdrop, the BSP continues to keep a close watch over price developments in the country and shall consider all relevant information at its next monetary policy meeting on 7 February 201 9 to ensure that the monetary policy stance remains consistent with the BSP’s primary mandate of price stability,” it added. (PNA)

to improve cropping procedures.

She was among the few farmers in the village who successfully finished a training program given by the DA-7 under the Season Long Training on Vegetable Production, said Quian Ibarra, information officer of DA-7.

Like Catacutan, Crisologo Taboada was tilling his land the traditional way. Although he found it to be productive, Ibarra said Taboada did not hesitate to learn new ways to till his farm.

He said among the technologies Banhigan farmers like Catacutan and Taboada

learned in their four-month long training are “proper soil sterilization for land preparation, the use of plastic mulching, the importance and uses of vermi cast and other fertilizers, and the use of biological control agents.”

Lorenzo Sario, president of Banhigan Farmers' Association, expressed his gratitude to DA-7 for exposing them to new methodologies in farming.

He showcased their group's new techno-demo farm which, he said, enables them to improve vegetable production through the new

technologies they learned during their four months of training with the DA-7 experts.

"Look at our techno-demo, we were able to produce many vegetables and this harvest festival is a concrete example that indeed we need to update what we were practicing before,” Sario said.

He said they look forward to more sustainable and profitable crop farming methods to cope with the growing demand for vegetables in Cebu.

“We hope that DA will

BSP still watchful of price developments even as inflation slows

T

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BPS) on Tuesday said domestic supply-side pressures are projected to decrease further in the coming months and allow inflation rates to stay within the government’s 2 to 4 percent target this 2019.

This after the rate of price increases further decelerated to 4.4 percent last January from month-ago’s 5.1 percent on account of slower inflation of food and transport indices.

BSP projected the Jan-

Cebu farmers embrace new technologies to improve production

F

armers in the canyoneering town of Badian, Cebu proved to the whole world they can also become astute in learning new ways of tilling their land, thanks to the Department of Agriculture’s determination to infuse new technology in Cebu’s farmlands.

Judilyn Catacutan, a farmer of Banhigan, Badian, loved the usual and traditional method of producing vegetables for Cebu’s 4.8 million population but when DA-7 (Central Visayas) introduced new technologies to farmer-families in her village, it changed their ways

FCEBU, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

EDITORIAL Political will is the key

N

othing is impossible. The word, broken down, itself reads “I’m possible.”

First there was Boracay. And now, Manila Bay. The political will displayed by the Duterte administration in rehabilitating what seemed to be an impossible project only goes to show that nothing, indeed, is impossible. The key to that is simply the political will to do it.

It was first made with the world famous Boracay Island which was severely rotting into pollution. Boracay was an island paradise popular among foreign tourists because of its pristine waters and vibrant nightlife.

It ranked among the world’s most preferred beach attractions until it succumbed to too much commercialism without regard to the environment.

Boracay was soon a huge cesspool, as called by President Rodrigo Duterte himself, until the government decided enough is enough. A number of critics cried foul when the administration decided to close Boracay Island last year saying it is depriving the island and its businesses of millions of revenues as well as hundreds of people’s livelihood. But there is no compromise for environmental destruction. When Boracay was re-opened to the public last

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October, people could not even believe what they saw. Today, Boracay is a regulated territory--no longer the old carefree party island.

Then comes the Manila Bay whose sunset is acclaimed as one of the world’s most glorious late afternoon phenomenon. Manila Bay had been a poor, dirty and stinking part of the country’s capital which represents the people and the government’s disregard for the environment. Until the Duterte administration again saw too much of the Manila Bay. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launched a campaign to clean up Manila Bay last Jan. 27 with the aim to make parts of the bay fit for swimming by reducing fecal coliform levels in its waters. The DENR said at least P47 billion was needed to completely rehabilitate the polluted bay.

Last January 27, the rehab of Manila Bay began and by far, the makeover has been as phenomenal as its sunset. It may take a little more time and effort to make it safe for swimming and free of fecal contamination but the political will is there and that is what’s important.

So what could be next? Pasig River? Davao’s Times Beach?

If there’s political will, anything is possible.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

7

Saving Tawilis

I

had been to Tagaytay City several times. This was when I worked at the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang, Cavite. But the very first time I visited the place was when my friend, Gregory C. Ira and his beautiful wife, Joy, brought me a few days before I left IIRR (where I attended a “writeshop” on sustainable farming systems).

Last year, I had the pleasure of returning to the place together with a group of journalists (print, radio and television) from Davao City after visiting some farms in nearby areas (thanks to Noel T. Provido). The place is now too crowded; gone were the pine trees I used to enjoy watching.

Tagaytay, which is only 59 kilometers away from Manila via Aguinaldo Highway, is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations because of its scenery and cooler climate provided by its high altitude.

Another good thing about Tagaytay, which is part of Cavite, is that it overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas and provides views of Taal Volcano Island. Now, Taal Lake is the reason why I am writing this.

It is only in Taal Lake where you can find tawilis, a freshwater fish which looks like “tamban,” which

A

s the happenings in Jolo take place, government resolves to end the tyranny of a small band of apparently well-funded terrorists, I have been asked about my take and I will share it with you: Indications point to a small infamous group of criminals and drug and gun runners called the Abu Sayyaf.

This is a group that will not negotiate and cannot be dealt with unless they are arrested and tried or otherwise neutralized. They have no political agenda and have shown a capability to harm their own friends and relatives.

There is no point bringing them to the negotiating table. All attempts to do so only allow them to rest and thrive.

Thus, when a minority especially in Manila want the government to be soft on these terrorists, they

my mother used to fry. Sorry, I haven’t tried tawilis yet, but people who have tasted the fish said it is really mouth-watering.

Dr. Aristotle Carandang, chief science research specialist at the Department of Science and Technology, considers tawilis as “the pride of Southern Tagalog.”

He says, “Tawilis is best eaten as dried (for frying), deep fried (eat everything), and as pinais (paksiw na nakabalot sa dahon ng saging.

There are also bottled tawilis sold in supermarkets.”

“I love the deep-fried style,” says Dr. Richard T. Mata, a physician from Panabo City who never fails to order tawilis whenever he goes to Tagaytay. “They always say that the beauty of tawilis is that you can eat the whole fish without removing the bones. My son loves it, too.”

I am not sure if I can have a tawilis soon. Almost all dailies in Metro Manila carried a news item recently reporting that the endemic tawilis (scientific name: Sardinella tawilis) is on the verge of extinction. The Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has included the freshwater fish as endangered species.

“Within Lake Taal, there are major threats to fish diversity and this species due

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

to overexploitation, pollution and competition and/or predation with introduced fishes, resulting in continuing declines in habitat quality and number of mature individuals,” the IUCN said in a statement.

Late last year, the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity reported that the Ark of Taste International has listed tawilis in the “catalogue of endangered heritage foods of the Philippines.”

A species is considered endangered when it is seriously at risk of extinction.

The classification is indeed a “wake-up call,” to quote the words of Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos of the National Academy of Science and Technol-

ogy, as tawilis can only be found in the Philippines and it is the only freshwater sardine in the world.

Although small, about sixto seven-inches long, tawilis is the most dominant fish catch in the lake.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Research (BFAR) said the fish is caught by gill net, beach seine, ring net and motorized push net.

Overfishing has been cited as one of the reasons why it has become endangered.

“The tawilis population has decreased by at least over 50%,” the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWW) pointed out in an infographic that was posted in its Facebook account.

Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, the former executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development, agreed. “The major cause of the drastic decline in the tawilis catch of the fisherfolk in the lake is overfishing, wherein the rate of human exploitation of the fish surpassed the ability of the fish to replenish itself.”

According to MWWP, the reported total catch of tawilis in Taal Lake was 1,672 metric tons in 1998. The total catch of the fish dropped to 240 metric tons in 2005 and further dipped to 107 metric tons in 2010.

The use of illegal fishing gear has also contributed to the fish’s demise. “The illegal use of trawlers and ‘superlights’ to attract the fish at night in the past almost wiped out the species,” Dr. Guerrero claimed.

Something must be done to save the tawilis from extinction. Or else, the country will lose an icon culturally, a significant fish historically and a big loss to Philippine cuisine. “Ecologically, without tawilis, Taal Lake will become less biodiverse, unbalanced, and less resilient to environmental changes,” explains Dr. Arnel “AA” Yaptinchay, MWWP founder and director.

Once tawilis is gone from the waters of Taal Lake, it will be gone forever. “If lost, it can never be replaced again,” Dr. Yaptinchay reminds.

Several things can be done to keep tawilis from thriving. “Address all the threats simultaneously,” Dr. Yaptinchay suggests. “Government needs to step in and regulate activities in the lake and manage fishing activities by introducing closed seasons for tawilis, and probably even a temporary ban until a non-determent finding is done.

“More biological and ecological studies should be conducted, especially in culturing the species,” he adds.

ity of this group to move and recruit, and make money off the people.

Apparently, the noose is tighter. The ground to operate more difficult.

This lessens the possibility of violence over time.

Perhaps there are those who do not want this to take place.

Thus, whoever seeks to upend these developments deserves our condemnation, since they stand in the way of the peace, harmony and abundance that is the birthright of all Mindanao citizens.

The Abu Sayyaf is the spearhead of these efforts, and the rest who want a soft approach to deal with them only help these bandits.

In the end, there are special interest groups want violence to be Mindanao’s norm, who profit from chaos and have used these incidents to force this to continue. These are the same people

who want certain areas in Mindanao to remain poor. Shame on them.

An excerpt from the statement of NGO International alert clarifies the context well and situates it: “Like the rest of the country, Sulu is experiencing rapid economic political and social change that threatens the status quo and “business as usual.” It is an important gateway in Mindanao’s engagement with the broader Southeast Asian region, and its cross border trade can provide the significant resources and revenues to enable progress and prosperity for the Bangsamoro” It is time we see the real issues behind the political statements, nurture the hopes of real peace anchored on deep change, and support initiatives that bring the outcome where the Abu Sayyaf can no longer do us harm.

The outcome we all want

play well into the hands of those who desire the resurgence of their plot to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians.

This has happened many times before, and the outcome has been to ensure their survival over the last 20 years.

Even lower than these people are the bigots who continually blame certain ethnolinguistic groups for the violence, conditioning the minds of people to seek vengeance and strife. They promote the Abu Sayyaf agenda for chaos.

This suspiciously comes at a time where we have seen an unprecedented unity in recent years, a decrease in armed movement activity and the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which is poised to sustain peace efforts and allow economic growth in the country’s poorest region.

Likewise, the martial

MY TWO CENTS’ John Carlo B. Tria law environment allows the military to pinpoint targets and take them into custody since the writ of habeas corpus is suspended in Mindanao.

This also comes as high levels of security cooperation have been achieved between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia which share the maritime borders where the Abu Sayyaf and other groups operate.

All of these factors will decrease the capabil-

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

ENVIRONMENT

SAVING ECOLOGICALLYFRAGILE CORAL REEFS PART 1

A

rchipelago, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a sea or stretch of water having many islands.” The word could have been invented for the Philippines: 7,107 islands strewn across 2,200,000 square kilometers of ocean.

It’s no wonder that images of dreamy beaches and crystal waters dominate the perception of foreigners of the country that is touted as “Pearl of the Orient Seas.”

Beneath the waves of its coastal waters is an Eden-like vista.

There are three major types of coral reefs, according to Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). These are fringing type (those found on the edges of islands and which constitutes 30% of the country’s coral reefs); the barrier type (best exemplified by the Dajanon Reef of Central Visayas); and the atoll (of which the Tubbataha and Cagayan Reef in the Sulu Sea are ideal examples).

Touted to be “the rainforests of the ocean,” coral reefs are one of the greatest natural treasures.

“A single reef may contain 3,000 species of corals, fish, and shellfish,” says Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, a marine biologist and the first Filipino to receive the International Biwako Prize for Ecology.

An estimated 10% to 15% of the total fisheries in the Philippines come from coral reefs. About 80% to 90% of the income of small island communities come from fisheries.

“Coral reef fish yields range from 20-25 metric tons per square kilometer per year for healthy reefs,” Alcala said.

The Philippines is home to over 400 local species of corals, which is more

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

than what is found in the famous Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Unfortunately, most of these species are now gone and others are facing extinction. “Nowhere else in the world are coral reefs abused as much as the reefs in the Philippines,” deplores Don E. McAllister of the Ocean Voice International.

The World Atlas of Coral Reefs reported that 97% of reefs in the country are under threat from destructive fishing techniques, including cyanide poisoning, over-fishing, or from deforestation and urbanization that result in harmful sediment spilling into the sea.

In 2007, Reef Check – an international organization assessing the health of reefs in 82 countries – stated that only five percent of the country’s coral reefs are in “excellent condition.” These are the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, and Verde Island Passage off Batangas.

Today, what is the current status of the country’s coral reefs? “Like all natural resources, our coral reefs must be monitored and assessed regularly,” wrote Laurence M. San Pedro in an article published in S&T Post of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

These could be done by using tools for coral reefs visualization. “Having accurate information can guide coastal resource managers and marine ecologists to put up measures to conserve the reefs,” San Pedro wrote.

In the past, rapid reef assessments were done by a technique called “manta

tow.” Although it gives a closer view of the underwater environment, it is labor intensive (requires special training) and expensive (because of the use of scuba equipment and waterproof cameras).

Those hassles can be corrected by using the Automated Rapid Reef Assessment System (ARRAS). DOST funded the program that developed some tools which would ease and hasten the assessment of coral reefs.

There are two projects that comprised the ARRAS program: the Multi-Sensor Reef Assessment headed

by Dr. Cesar L. Villanoy of the University of the Philippine (UP) Marine Science Institute, and the Coral Reef Assessment and Visualization headed by Dr. Maricor N. Soriano of the UP Diliman’s National Institute of Physics.

San Pedro reported that within just three years, “the ARRAS program was able to create three technologically mature tools for fast and costefficient monitoring of coral reefs.”

During the Third National Research and Development Conference, Dr. Soriano pointed out: “So our solutions are the bancatowable platforms, a stitching software, and kite aerial photography. These are easy to use, easy to repair, and we hope that communities can use these.”

San Pedro gave some insights on how these tools are used to make rapid and frequent surveys of the reefs. Actually, there are two types of banca-towable platforms: “Teardrop” and “Towpedo.” Both use motor engine-powered small boats (banca) that can hold an underwater camera and echo

sounder.

“The Teardrop can house a waterproof video camera and other sensors,” San Pedro explained. “With an attached underwater camera inside, the Teardrop is a diverless videotransacting tool for capturing coral reefs on video. On the other hand, Towpedo is a neutrally buoyant, torpedoshaped platform that can reach a depth of 30 meters below water and can also capture videos underwired with an attached underwater camera.”

Both platforms are diverless, which means capturing video of the reef can run continuously as long as there is ambient light and spare batteries for the camera.

In addition, the researchers also promoted the use of kites instead of drones. “Through kite aerial photography, aerial shots of shallow reefs can be easily taken,” San Pedro reported.

“Kite aerial photography is suited in places where the wind is strong. Once the kite is observed to be stable, an action camera is attached to the kite line using a pendulum which limit the sway of the camera and reduce motion blur.”

So far, the research team has already covered 2,000 kilometers out of the 10,000-kilometer coastlines with reefs across the country.

“Let us work hand in hand to bring back the health of our ocean, the coral reefs, and the entire marine ecosystem to its once pristine and abundant condition so that marine life will not lose its home, our marine biodiversity will remain sustainable, and both the present and future generations will continue

to benefit from our natural resources,” Senator Loren Legarda once reminded.

Fish, like rice, is the staple food of Filipinos. Each one consumes almost 30 kilograms of seafood per year. “Almost 55% of the fish consumed by Filipinos depends on coral reefs; 1015% of the total marine fisheries production comes from the coral reefs,” Fortes said.

As coral reefs continue to deteriorate, fish and other marine life cannot be as productive as they were before.

“This will have a domino effect,” the International Marinelife Alliance-Philippines warned.

“Fishermen will have fewer

catch and lower income and there will be less fish and marine products for everyone.”

In fact, fisheries production was down by 8.7% from five million metric tons in 2010 to 4.7 metric tons in 2015, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, a line agency of the Department of Agriculture.

“We are running out of fish and running out of time. For a country known for its marine biodiversity, there are very few fish left to catch,” deplored Vince Cinches, oceans and political campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. (To be continued)

INdulge!

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Ayala Malls Abreeza and the fashion trends that will rule 2019

Edgar Buyan.

Photo by Jowe Posadas Studio..

EACH NEW YEAR ushers in new trends that are poised to take over store racks and city streets.

To give shoppers a peek into the looks that will be ruling 2019, Ayala Malls Abreeza held Outline Fashion Forecast 2019, a runway show in partnership with the Davao Fashion Design Council (DFDC), last January 26.

Among the trends the international fashion authorities have heralded for 2019 are fringe, sparkle, tie-dye, silk and satin, tight pleats, Bermuda shorts, neon, waterproof outerwear, and Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year Living Coral. These trends showed up on the Outline runway, courtesy of up-to-date looks by Ayala Malls Abreeza fashion merchants Calliope, Chimes, Esprit, Gap, Gap Kids, Gingersnaps, Giordano, Great Kids, KidSports, Lacoste, Mags, Mango, Mango Man, Mango Kids, Marks & Spencer, Nike Athletic Club, Onitsuka Tiger, Original Penguin, People Are People, Plains & Prints, and Sneaker Club.

Following the parade of women’s, men’s, and kids’ retail fashion, DFDC members presented their own interpretations of the upcoming trends. With a procession of well-constructed pieces, innovative details, and glamorous silhouettes, Egay

Ayag, Aztec Barba, Dodjie Batu, Edgar Buyan, Emi-Alexander Englis, Bamba Limon, Wyndell Mira, and Benjie Panizales waved the flag for homegrown fashion artistry.

The event saw a momentous occasion in the history of the DFDC, as Davao’s trailblazing fashion design figures recognized outgoing president Aztec Barba for leading the group in championing indigenous culture and elevating Davao’s sartorial scene. The DFDC then announced Dodjie Batu as the next president to bring the group to KidSports. further heights in its journey.

Photo Ayala Malls Abreeza also

by Jowe unveiled its ongoing fashion Posadas Studio. challenge Trendscouting 2019,

Davao Fashion Design Council.

Photo by Jowe Posadas Studio.

Calliope. Photo by Jowe Posadas Original Penguin. Photo by Jowe Posadas Studio.

Studio. a weekly street style photo corporated the 2019 trends into gallery running from January their personal style will each to February 2019 which will receive gift certificates from feature shoppers wearing the Ayala Malls Abreeza fashion year’s trends on the mall’s social merchants. media accounts. From 4:00 to For inquiries and updates on 7:00 p.m. on February 9 and 16, Ayala Malls Abreeza news and Trendscouters will be scouring events, please visit the Main the mall for shoppers sportConcierge at the ground floor or ing fringe, sparkle, tie-dye, silk call (082) 321-9332. Stay upor satin, tight pleats, Bermuda dated by connecting with Ayala shorts, neon, waterproof outerMalls Abreeza on Facebook wear, or living coral. At the end (@AbreezaMall), Twitter (@ of the project’s run, the three abreezatweets), and Instagram featured shoppers who best in(@iloveabreezamall).

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

EVENT

Together with RJ Lumawag, General Manager Emelyn Rosales, Michael Dakudao, Iz Cadiente and Anthea Ledesma.

The night was filled with dancing and reverie.

A fun evening for Millennials and Millennials at heart AGE may just be a number but it is the way your heart and attitude that makes you feel good and young and this was clear as daylight at Park Inn by Radisson Davao’s Millennial Night party held last January 31.

It was a night for millennials and millennials at heart as the party kicked off a fun and exciting Flair Bartending Competition. After the thrills and inevitable spills, Ben Reil De Leon of University of Mindanao emerging as the winner of the competition and was awarded with a cash prize plus an overnight stay at Park Inn by Radisson Davao.

The dancing groove and party atmosphere was provided by one of Davao’s music institutions, Manic Nightning’s DJ Torch together with the antics of vlogger and host Chito Samontina.

“The Millennial Night is another year-starter event for everyone who wants to have

a fun time with their friends and loved ones. This is also a great opportunity for people to mingle and meet old or even new friends. We wanted to highlight the function room as a possible option for those who want to have social events with a similar setting.” shares, General Man-

Awarding of the Winner for the Flair Bartending contest. ager, Ms. Emelyn Rosales. more drinks, food and good The Best Outfit of the Night vibes as people enjoyed the party was also awarded to guests who music with their friends. came in with the best statement The event is a nod to the hoshirt and modern jeans showing tel’s new messaging “Feel Good” their Millennial spirit, with Min- with the promise of enhancing danao Times’ Mike Dakudao Park Inn by Radisson Davao’s going home with the top prize. guest experience with an enrichThe night continued with ing stay.

UP AND ABOUT

TOYOTA UPGRADES MOTORSPORTS PROGRAM WITH VIOS RA LONG-TIME Philippine motorsports advocate Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has announced that it’s elevating its homegrown motorsports program this year with the launch of the Vios Racing Festival 2019.

Kicking off this April, TMP President Satoru Suzuki said that the Vios Racing Festival will “continue the trailblazing legacy of the Vios Cup,” pertaining to the long-running program that has brought motorsports closer to Filipino racing fans for five years now.

For this year, TMP aims to deliver the action and excitement of motorsports to an even wider audience - bringing the thrill of racing not just

to car enthusiasts but to anyone who wants to experience the heart-pumping excitement of driving.

“Through the Vios Racing Festival 2019, Toyota makes the waku doki experience more personal by intensifying the overall experience,” said Suzuki.

Waku doki is a Japanese term that describes that surge of emotion and joyful anticipation that one feels especially in thrilling and intense moments. It’s the Waku doki principle that defines Toyota’s racing programs all over the world.

The Philippines’ Vios Racing Festival will have two major elements - the Vios Circuit Championship and the Vios Autocross Challenge.

The Vios Circuit Championship will have racers tackling the tracks of Clark

Speedway in Pampanga using the AllNew Vios. Participants from different areas in the country and of different

backgrounds will be classified under three classes - promotional, sporting, and celebrity.

The Vios Circ have three legs w leg, happening in November.

The Vios Auto meanwhile will competition wit signed obstacle c pants can share ties, media, and be held in Metro of making the ra the public, whet spectators.

Mini autocros be held at the en Vios Circuit Cha Side events ou also be put up to interested in oth

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VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

Ben Reil De Leon of University of Mindanao and the Winner of the Flair Bartending Contest.

Party host Chito Samontina showing off his statement shirt.

ocross Challenge have racers in a timed hin a specially decourse where particithe tracks with celebricar club racers. It will o Manila, with the goal aces more accessible to ther as participants or

ss challenges will also nd of each leg of the ampionship. utside the racetrack will o cater to those who are her automobile-related

TAPE Inc. and GMA Network officially sealed the renewal of their blocktime agreement for the airing of hit noontime show, Eat Bulaga, in a contract signing held on February 1.

“Pang 24th year na namin ngayon sa GMA,” said TAPE Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Antonio P. Tuviera. “Nagpapasalamat kami dahil GMA ang nagbigay sa amin ng tahanan. At hindi lang ‘yun, pati na rin ng pagkakataon na mai-celebrate ang 40th anniversary namin ngayong taon.”

The Eat Bulaga Dabarkads—Senator Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey De Leon, Jimmy Santos, Anjo Yllana, Ruby Rodriguez, Allan K., Pauleen Luna-Sotto, Jose Manalo, Wally

Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Ryan Agoncillo, Pia Guanio, Luanne Dy, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Baeby Baste, Maureen Wroblewitz, Maine Mendoza, and Alden Richards together with TAPE Inc.’s SVP and COO Malou Choa-Fagar, SVP Production Creative and Operations Jenny P. Ferre, AVP Production Helen AtienzaDela Cruz, AVP Production-Studio Operation Sheila Macariola-Ilacad, Director Poochie Rivera—came in full force to witness yet another momentous event.

GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon expressed his admiration for the show and its hosts, “Ako’y talagang hangang-hanga dito sa grupo ng Eat Bulaga na walang kupas, kaya matagal pa ito. ‘Yang tandem nina Tito,

Vic, at Joey, at ‘yung mga susunod, mahabang-mahaba pa ang itatakbo ng programang ito.”

Meanwhile, GMA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong is happy for Eat Bulaga’s continued success. “Tayo’y natutuwa dahil nag-sign up ulit sa atin ang Eat Bulaga. It’s an exciting show, it’s the longest continuous running show in the world with the original hosts, Tito, Vic, and Joey.

We’re very happy that they continue to be with the Kapuso Network,” he shared.

Also present during the contract signing were GMA’s First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari R. Abacan, and Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz.

Carla Abellana celebrates a decade of being a Kapuso Highly-talented actress Carla Abellana is looking forward to start a new journey as a Kapuso as she renewed her exclusive contract with GMA Network, Inc. last January 31.

Mike Dakudao takes home the Best Outfit prize.

ACING FESTIVAL 2019

cuit Championship will with three races per n June, September, and

Eat Bulaga signs anew with GMA Network

activities like Toyota test drives.

Through these activities, TMP wishes to not only promote the sport, but also to instill among Filipinos the importance of improving driving skills and prioritizing safety.

“To boost and encourage the Filipino interest in motorsports, we will also bring back the greatly-missed Toyota Racing School,” said Suzuki. Through its official motorsports partner Tuason Racing School, TMP will be helping participants enjoy optimal racing experience.

To take part in Vios Racing Festival 2019, watch out for more announcements on TMP’s official Facebook account facebook.com/ToyotaMotorPhilippines, or on TMP’s official website at www.toyota.com.ph.

Carla became emotional because she considers her contract renewal one of her life’s blessings, “I’m very happy. It’s my 10th year in show business and in GMA. To say na sobrang happy and grateful na nag-trust ulit ang GMA sa akin is an understatement. Sobrang ninanamnam ko siya. Imagine 10 years in the industry and in GMA, so happy na binigyan ako ng opportunity ulit. Hindi lang siya blessing for the New Year kundi blessing siya for my 10th year in the business.”

“Sana magtuloy-tuloy lang ang good working relationship. Sabi ko kay Lord, “I will always do my best, yung ganitong opportunity hindi dapat sayangin. Bawat chance na magtrabaho, gawin lang ang best talaga,” she added.

The beautiful Kapuso actress is one of the Kapuso Station’s home-grown artists. Carla has portrayed memorable roles in various programs such as Rosalinda, Basahang Ginto, Magic Palayok, Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit, Makapil-

ing Kang Muli, My Husband’s Lover, Ismol Family, My Destiny, Because of You, I Heart Davao and Pamilya Roces.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña Magno, Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara and Arnold Vegafria, Carla’s manager.

During the contract signing held at the Boardroom of GMA Network, Atty. Gozon expressed his genuine support for Carla, “We are very, very happy na nagrenew sa atin si Carla dahil isa siya sa pinakamagaling natin na artista. Marami tayong pinaplano kay Carla. We are very thankful.”

Rasonable, in turn, revealed some of Carla’s upcoming projects this year, ”Alam naman natin na napakagaling niyang artista, and she’s very versatile. We are already planning the soap that she will star in. Marami pa siyang ibang capabilities, nagcocomedy siya, nagho-host siya, ma-e-explore natin lahat yun dahil sayang naman ang kanyang talent.”

A4 INdulge!

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9 MOTORING

EDGEDAVAO

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Honda PH begins 2019 racing season with Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup Try-out H onda Philippines, Inc. (HPI), the leading motorcycle manufacturer in the country, officially begins its 2019 Motorsports season by conducting the Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup (HPDC) Tryouts last Saturday, January 26, at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

This served as the official selection process for nine talented young riders who will participate in the official races and undergo training in the Honda Racing Clinic.

HPDC is a Motor Sports program of HPI which aims to develop young riders in motorcycle racing using a specific one make race machine, namely the CBR150R - a 150cc, MotoGP DNA motorcycle.

The HPDC is also a step up program of HPI to young riders to qualify for international race programs of Honda and immerse in different environments to become better equipped for competitions.

Several riders registered as the day began, and the program was officially opened by HPI’s Adviser for Motorsports, Mr. Ryosuke Arai. Then Mr. Gilbert Sison, Group Head for Motorsports, welcomed the esteemed judges tasked to select the riders, namely racing coach Joey Rivero and Troy Alberto, international racer and HPI’s representative in Thai Talent Cup and Asia Talent Cup last 2018. They also oriented the participants on the try-out process and session inside the 4.2

km Race Track. Also present in the event is Mr. Eduardo Lumague, president– Unified Sports and Racing Association (USRA).

Riders of the ages twelve to seventeen were qualified to participate in the program to pursue their passion of racing and hone their skills through the Honda Racing Clinic, which will be taught by Joey Rivero himself.

At 10AM, sessions on the track began, with four sessions held in total and a Final Shoot out at the end. Riders showcased their skills and were evaluated by Rivero, Alberto, and Sison. Finally, nine riders and one reserve were able to qualify for HPDC, which are the following:

• • • • • • • • •

Carl James “Chino” P. Hung Kurt Tristan “Ostong” Villanueva Michael Nicol D. Lee Christopher John “Kokoy” Mangibin Sean Andrej Ondillo Marco Gil D. Ventenilla Joshua Gabriel S. De Leon Travhys Ivan Joe Paralejas Alfred Jakob Sablaya

Familiar names such as reigning HPDC champion Alfred Jakob Sablaya and strong contender Sean Andrej Ondillo rejoins the competition, to be challenged by several new and promising talents.

With this, HPI looks forward to the upcoming With this, HPI looks forward to the upcoming HPDC Rounds with the young rid HPDC Rounds withClinic. theHere young along with the accompanying Racing is theriders schedule: accompanying Racing Clinic. Here is the schedule: Event

Date

Circuit

Honda Racing Clinic 1

Apr. 27

Batangas Racing Circuit

Round 1

May 4-5

Batangas Racing Circuit

Round 2

Jun. 1-2

Batangas Racing Circuit

Honda Racing Clinic 2

Jun. 29

Batangas Racing Circuit

Round 3

Jul. 6-7

Clark International Speedway

Round 4

Aug. 3-4

Clark International Speedway

Honda Racing Clinic 3

Aug. 31

Batangas Racing Circuit

Round 5

Sep 7-8

Batangas Racing Circuit

Round 6

Oct 5-6

Clark International Speedway

The HPDC is running in the same schedule with the National Motorcyc The HPDC isisrunning inby the sameSports schedule with Association the Championship and sanctioned Unified and Racing (US

National Motorcycle Circuit Racing Championship and more information, follow and Honda isFor sanctioned by Unified Sports RacingPhilippines, AssociationInc. on www.facebook.com/hondaph/ or visit their official website – www.hondaph.com (USRA).

For more information, follow Honda Philippines, Inc. on Facebook – www.facebook.com/hondaph/ or visit their official website – www.hondaph.com

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late AIDA BUÑAG ALINSUB who died on JULY 28,2018 in Nabunturan, Comval Province has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among her heirs, per Doc. No. 398; PageNo.81; Book No.13 Series of 2019, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. MARIONNE JOSEPHAS M. RETA

Jan. 30, Feb. 6 and 13, 2019

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

SMASHUP... FROM 1

INDAY... FROM 1

that,” he added.

He advised all bus operators to ensure the road-worthiness of their vehicles at all times.

The accident also caused injuries to other 30 passengers.

Initial Investigation revealed that at around 1:30 PM of February 4, 2019, while Metro Shuttle Bus, driven by Hamber Khen Despi was traversing coming from Tagum City going to Veruela, Agusan del Sur, while Bachelor Bus, driven

by Cruz Daig was traversing coming from New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province going to Tagum City.

Upon reaching the aforesaid place of incident, Metro Shuttle right front wheel exploded and encroached to the lane of the Bachelor Express bus, resulting to its collision.

Both buses sustained bug damage due to the impact of the smashup.

As of 6:00AM of February 5, the dead passengers were identified as Jerome Uyanguren, 40; Francasio Cabellida, 65; Elsa Salarda Acedilla, 58; Hamber Khen Despi (Metro Shuttle

driver), 36; Janet Vicente (pregnant), 35; Teddy Nher Garcia, 35; and Mary Grace Balbuena (pregnant), 26.

The injured passengers, admitted at the Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital in Montevista, were identified as Jovelyn Ramada, 40; Kent Jay Cuyos, 10; Kristine Jewel Cuyos, 8; Evelyn Blanco, 40; Aristi Montalban, 39; Dante Barinia, 46; Marwin John Panlilio, 25; Mary Twinkle Sombreo, 24; Ruwel Sunga, 40; Jesabel Hemino, 24; Jesley Kevin Lavalle, 28; Meer Epifanio Rivera, 48, with less serious injury; Kevin Lord Vicente, 7; Alexander Campos, 39; Gabriela Garganera, 10; Jay Sulayaw, 22; Roldan Diaz, 8; Marnelli Calupas, 28; Marlon Muñoz, 36; Cruz Daig (Bachelor Express driver), 39; Maria Torrenueva, 45; Analiza Diaz, 44; Kelvin Jane Jurado (age unknown) was discharged; Bladivirom Garganera, 9; Jollybee Espulgar, 25; Robin Morales, 51; Merly Caintic, 39, discharged; Cherry Caintic, 18, discharged; Chloe Dalagan Caintic, 6 months, discharged; and Lorelyn Palco, 29, discharged. (with reports from PIA-11)

continue their support for the sustainability and profitability of our vegetable garden,” Sario said.

Among the vegetables collected during the harvest festival held on Monday, Feb. 4, were eggplants, ampalaya, okra, pepper, squash, string

beans, tomatoes and cucumber.

Badian is famous for its canyoneering site and Kawasan waterfalls that is located in Barangay Matutinao and frequently visited by local and foreign tourists.

(PNA)

long standing friendship of both countries sparked by the visit of the Sultan of Sulu, Paduka Pahala (aka Padura Batara) to Beijing 600 years ago.

“Davao City greatly values this relationship with the people of China. We recognize the important contribution the Chinese who came to Davao in the early years and we acknowledge the important role the Filipino-Chinese Davaoeno today in taking Davao City to greater heights,” Duterte, in her speech, said.

Duterte also thanked the launching of the documentary on the relations between China and Sulu in the celebration of the Spring Festival as a reflection of both countries ever strengthening relationship projected on the silver screen.

“We commend the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University as an institute that successfully grants scholarships in China which has been providing portals for Filipinos to learn about the Chinese customs and lifestyle through firsthand experience,” she added.

On the other hand, Dr. Ellen Palanca, Confucius Institute director, said they would like to bring the story of the sultan of Sulu and the Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle

back to popular consciousness through a full length documentary produced by Beijing-based Caixin Media Group and Confucius Institute.

The Sulu sultan’s China voyage is notable for cultural and economic exchange during the South East Asian trade then. This marked an episode in history where the Tausug-Chinese flourished in Sulu and Muslim Filipino-Chinese grew in different parts of China.

Today, Chinese communities in the country are important parts of development in business and in culture.

“SM Lanang Premier supports cultural learning and understanding through insightful activities that bring countries and identities together. We celebrate the Philippine history and heritage and our meaningful relationship with China,” said Russel Alaba, AVP for marketing in Mindanao, SM Supermalls.

Also in attendance were Special Envoy to China Ambassador William Lima, Consul General Li Lin, Chinese Director of Ateneo Confucius Institute Dr. Liang Guanghan, UP Islamic Studies professor Darwin Absari, Sultan of Sulu HM Muhammad Fuad Kiram 1, and Mindanao Development Authority chair Datu Abdul Khayr Alonto.

ing Division of HHI. Three blocks of the first PN frigate (with HHI Project Number 159) was installed on the

dock,” Capt. Sergio Bartolome, the PN officer supervising the project, earlier said. (PNA)

CEBU... FROM 5

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VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

DOH... FROM 2 nia at of course maaaring in the end makamatay (What we’re wary about is to prevent flu with complications. Because it could lead to pneumonia and of course could lead to death in the end),” Domingo said.

The flu’s different strains are contagious once they come in contact with the body through coughs from another person, holding contaminated objects or touching the mouth or nose.

The public is advised to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of the flu virus as it can be fatal to the human body. If not immediately addressed by a health professional, it could cause severe effects or complications.

The DOH advised the public to keep the immune system strong by: * Taking more water and fluids like orange juice and six to eight glasses of water every day. * Sleeping at least six to eight hours a day * Making sure to exercise and eat fruits and vegetables * Making it a habit to wear face mask especially when in crowded places or when travelling to avoid contracting flu virus The DOH also advised parents to ensure their children’s full protection against flu by getting a complete set of vaccination. Senior citizens can get free flu shots in barangay health centers and DOH-accredited hospitals. (PNA)

mitting their Certificates of Canvass directly to Manila, to the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC) which is composed of the Commission en banc.

He added that the NPBOC will reconvene on Thursday.

As of Nov. 30, 2018, the two provinces have a total of 639,361 registered voters.

As for voter’s turnout, Jimenez said they do not expect to have the same number in the January 21 plebiscite

which is at 85 percent.

“I guess it remains to be seen if we’re going to match the turnout, stakes are a little different, no longer ratification, it’s just inclusion, I don’t know If it will necessarily generate the same level of interest but we are nevertheless hopeful that because this is a politically active area, historically and traditionally, we expect that we will have a turnout better than 70 percent,” he added. (PNA)

2ND... FROM 3

ERRATUM

In the story “Quiboloy unraffled by online memes” (Edge Davao , February 5, 2019) .

Davao-based international “brood” should be “broadcasting.” Sorry for the misprinting.

The Editors

11 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

PSC to rally gov’t agencies to support SEAG hosting

T

BEACH VOLLEY. The pair of Davao City’s girls beach voleyball team of April Joy Locaberte and Khalia Sinsuat who scored a lopsided 21-7, 21-15 win over Sto. Tomas during the ongoing Mindanao Batang Pinoy Finals at the Tagum City Volleydrome.

GenSan jin wins 3 golds

T

AGUM CITY – Paul Anthony Rodriguez made his presence felt when he scooped three gold medals in the taekwondo competition of the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg Tuesday at the Gaisano Mall here.

Competing under the banner of Gen. Santos City, the 13-year-old Rodriguez ruled the junior individual, junior pair and junior team poomsae events to emerge as the most successful athlete in the early stretch of this prestigious multi-sport competition.

He scored 7.815 points to edge Clint Solitana of Malita (7.335) and Daniel Abella of Cagayan de Oro (7.130) to clinch his first gold medal in this event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and Province of Davao del Norte with STI College-Tagum and Alfalink Total Solutions Corp. as major backers.

Then, he partnered with Aleya Rayzel Labao to reign supreme in the pair event with a total score of 8.020

B

points, leaving Ezekiel Limpin and Aliyah Baquial also of Gen. Santos City (7.550) and Abella and Kyle Canios of Cagayan de Oro (7.485) settling for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

To complete his triple crown, Rodriguez connived with Limpin and Benedict Opao for a total score of 7.685 points to capture the gold in team event while Nica Indino, Abdul Usop and Henry Lu of Maguindanao (7.400); and Earl Visaya, Louise Valle and Hannah Blanagan of Davao del Norte (7.350) claimed the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

The victory was such an impressive feat for Rodriguez, who has been dreaming someday making it to the Olympics.

“My dream is to compete in the Olympics someday,” said Rodriguez, a Grade 7 student at Holy Trinity College in Gen. Santos City who made it to the national juniors team following an impressive performance in the Mindanao leg last year where

ig-time boxing goes to Davao City when the Global Boxing Organization holds the GBO Asia Pacific Championship Caravan (GASPAC) via RED Boxing International (RBI) sometime after the mid-term elections in May. Folks, some column pieces ago this deadline beater introduced to you the entry of GBO, the newest boxing governing body based in Los Angeles, California, in the Philippine sports scene.

Today be glad that Davao City has been selected to host the launching of the 17-stage GASPAC that will tour the archipelago’s 17 regional centers to stage championship boxing in fourteen weight divisions, including whenever possible, the heavyweight division.

Recall that it was in 1975 when the Thrilla in Manila was held during the Marcos martial law years where the Philippines became the world’s focal point for several months, eventually transforming the country as a sports-tourism mecca in this part of the world.

he won a pair of mints.

“I want to represent the country in major international meets someday that’s why I’m working hard in trainings and actual competitions.”

Rodriguez’s triumph is just half of the story on a very busy day in this conclave that is part of the government’s grassroots sports program for young athletes 15-years old and below.

In archery, South Cotabato bet Grace Signacion and Koronadal City’s Justin Matthew Basadre followed up their golden victories in the yeoman girls 20-meter and bowman boys 30-meter events by topping their respective individual Olympic round division.

Signacion edged Koronadal City’s Samantha Isabel Loreno in the yeoman girls’ final round while Basadre defeated South Cotabato’s Quin Myer Loreno in the bowman boys.

Karl David Mejillano and Geanne Gasendo of South Cotabato shared the podium

by triumphing in the yeoman boys and bowman girls’ individual Olympic rounds.

Over at the Bulwagang Pangkarunungan, Gen. Santos City bagged two of the four gold medals at stake in rapid chess.

Clint Calvin Atoc ruled all six rounds of the boys 12-under class to finish with six points for the gold medal, beating Dipolog City’s Ghian Michael Aleria (5 points) and Gov. Generoso’s Kyle Johann Ylanan (4.5 points).

Haein Angelito Aparte, meanwhile, ruled the boys 13-15 division via a superior tiebreak after he and Kidapawan’s Nick Danuel Pabroquez finished with identical 5 points.

Aliyah Rae Lumangtad of host province also won after tiebreak, beating Cotabato Province’s Joannah Love Marie Olay for the girls 13-15 gold.

Cagayan de Oro’s Ruelle Canino also shared the podium after finishing with 5.5 points for the girls 12-under gold.

GBO to stage“Thrilla in Davao”

For today’s sports and boxing fanatics who were born only later in the eighties, the Thrilla… was the best-action packed title bout where two of the world’s acclaimed greatest ring gladiators gave their best for which the Association of Boxing Writers in America adjudged it as the Fight of the Century.

The talkative legendary champion Muhammad Ali, nicknamed the Louisville Lip because of his fancy to predict the round he would KO his opponents, found Smokin’ Joe Frazier, himself a twotime champion, a tough nut to crack.

After fourteen grueling toetoe to rounds, Ali was declared winner via TKO over Frazier who defeated him earlier in a 1971 battle at the Madison square Garden in New York City.

Promoted by the afro-haired Don King, whose initial herculean effort became the template for bigger heavyweight boxing extravaganza, RBI and GBO, in partnership with the Games and

SPORTS KEN Fred C. Lumba Amusements Board, want to approximate the 1975 Thrilla in Manila by conceptualizing such a big event.

The selection of Davao City as the site of the “Thrilla in Davao” is intended similarly to put focus on Davao City as the sports-tourism mecca in Mindanao and this part of Asia.

Whether we like it or

aking its cue from the memorandum circular issued by the Office of the President, the Philippine Sports Commission through Chairman William Ramirez will sit down with Secretaries and representatives of different government agencies to firm-up partnerships for the country’s 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosting, November of this year.

“Being the government’s sports agency, we are expected to take lead in coordinating with other government agencies being referred to in the circular,” said Ramirez referring to Memorandum Circular #56 from the Office of the President, directing all departments, bureaus, agencies and instrumentalities of government to “render full support and assistance to the organization of the said event.

Ramirez disclosed that they are now preparing for a coordination meeting on the second week of this month to discuss concerns or issues which may be addressed by concerned offices, like security, facilities, waste management, traffic management, health security measures, and budget.

The PSC has already initiated reaching out to other agencies even before the MC was issued, but is now heartened that their efforts are now substantiated with this directive.

“PSC staff have been working with PHISGOC (Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee) to guide them on certain matters, especially with the responsibility of managing the budget falling on our lap,” explained the sports chief. He has earlier promised that the PSC will diligently oversee and supervise spending for this hosting to “keep consistent to all existing laws and regulations.” This edition is touted to bring the presentation of the SEAG to a higher level and leave a higher benchmark in different aspects of games organization.

PHISGOC has earlier announced 56 sports to be included in the 30th SEAG calendar.

Ramirez co-chairs the PHISGOC with Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas. Former Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano sits as presiding chairman of the organizing committee.

DC arnis bets shine

By ADAM B. MORRELL

TAGUM City, Davao del Norte--In a bid to surpass its 26 gold medal haul last year, the defending champion Davao City arnisadors got an early harvest of two gold medals that goes with a silver and a bronze on Monday in the Batang Pinoy 2019 Mindanao Finals arnis competition at the CityMall Entertainment Area.

10-year old Aethan Fujita of Magallanes Elementary School delivered the first gilt for Davao City after winning the boys anyo solo baston non-traditional individual division while Jollah Baruiz, a 12-year old student of Davao City Na-

not, Davao City is now the center of attention in commerce and trade, tourism and development including the rise of a new mindset, not only because the President hails from this southern city but due more to the fact that the island’s tag as the “Land of Promise” is now slowly but surely being fulfilled.

Note also that after the Thrilla…Iron Mike Tyson, Don King’s protégé, elevated the heavyweight diadem to higher heights, including helping raise the purses for boxers in other divisions in general.

More than this, RBI and GBO via GASPAC want to create a boxing renaissance in the country where hordes of potential world champions are just waiting to be tapped and be given the opportunity.

Let’s face it. The retirement of 8-division champion Manny Pacquiao is imminent. We need to be forward-thinking.

What Red Boxing and GBO is doing is to pave the way for

tional High School, scored the second gold medal by dominating the boy’s anyo solo baston traditional category.

The silver medal is courtesy of Ariane Kaye Parami also of Magallanes Elementary School while Ayesha Tomakin took home a bronze medal.

“Lisud na apason tung sa Batang Pinoy sa Oroquietta namo kay 26 gold medals ang amoang nakuha pero paningkamutan kay naa pamay labanan,” Davao City’s coach Jay Barreña said, pertaining to the ongoing padded stick fight division that formally opened yesterday.

aspiring but talented Filipino boxers who will follow the heroic footsteps of Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes, Milan Melindo, et al.

This is not to mention what former world champions Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Rene Barrientos, Rolando Navarrete etc., have done to carve a name for themselves and for the world to recognize their individual feats.

RED Boxing chair Reynaldo Rodis, a son-in-law of the revered late promoter Doc Antonio Almirante, will be inviting Don King to be present during the “Thrilla in Davao” through his son Cacoi, RBI President and CEO, who is based in Los Angeles area and who is regularly promoting bouts under the GBO aegis in California.

That’s it. Watch out for the Thrilla in Davao come May 25.

(Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) 1 Peter 4: 18: “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

12 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL.11 ISSUE 228 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

TRAILING IN THIRD Davao City trails SoCot, GenSan in BPinoy standings

By ADAM B. MORRELL

R

eigning Mindanao champion Davao City is trailing early leader South Cotabato in the medal standings of the ongoing Batang Pinoy 2019 Mindanao Finals held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

With the official medal count released at 8:00 pm of February 4 as of this writing, Davao City tallied a total of three gold medals that goes with five silver and eight bronze medals to stay in contention in the event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for in-school and out-ofschool youth athletes 15 years old and below.

Davao City ruled the 2018 edition of the Batang Pinoy Mindanao Finals in Oroquieta City.

On top of the table are South Cotabato and General Santos City which occupies first and second place in the

standings, respectively.

South Cotabato has 9-5-5, gold-silverbronze harvest, followed by General Santos City which has 5-22 by far.

Koronadal City is at fourth with 2-3-2, closely followed by Cagayan de Oro City at fifth with 3-2-4.

Rounding up the next 22 places are Kidapawan City at sixth (2-3-2), Iligan City at seventh (2-2-2), GAuipios, Zamboanga del Sur at eighth (2-0-0), Panabo City (2-0-0), Datu Odin Sinsuat at ninth (1-3-3), Davao del Norte at 10th (1-1-30, Cabanglasan at 11th (1-1-2), Butuan City at 12th (1-0-2), Pagadian City at 13th (1-0-2), Malaybalay at 14th (10-1) and Zamboanga City at 15th (0-2-0).

Sharing at the 16th place are Igacos, Tacurong City and Tagum with 0-1-1.

Davao City’s Irina Glenne Escandor (18) leads the defensive formation against Cagayan de Oro City in girls volleyball on Tuesday in the ingoing Batang Pinoy Mindanao Finals in Tagum City.

Placing 17th are Cotabato Province, Dipolog City and Lagonglong with 0-1-0.

Cabadbaran City, meanwhile, is at 18th place with 0-0-3, followed by Gov. Gener-

oso, Mati City, Sto. Tomas and Sultan Kudarat shared the 19th place with 0-0-1.

The week-long Olympic-style sports competition ends Saturday, February 9.