Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 22 | Thursday, May 7, 2020

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO Serving Servingaaseamless seamlesssociety society

RAFA, STILL DANCINGRAFA, FEDERER FEDERER

‘LAST DANCE’ RATING DOWN ONON TO TO MOVE SLIGHTLY BUT STILL HIGH MOVE

THIRD ROUND THIRD ROUND

SPORTS P12

SPORTSP11 SPORTSP11

Food runners to undergo SIGNS OF BOOM BOOM rapid testing today Applications for building, VOL.13 22••FRIDAY-SATURDAY, •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, THURSDAY, MAYMAY 7, 2020 VOL.12 ISSUE 31-JUNE VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE59 59 MAY 31-JUNE1,1,2019 2019

f f@EdgeDavao @EdgeDavao

www.edgedavao.net www.edgedavao.net

Applications for building, zoning zoningpermits permitsincrease increase

T T

edgedavao@gmail.com edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 16 2 •PAGES P 15.00 16 PAGES

STORY ON P2

A vendor sells Durian near a community where he lives along R. Castillo Street in Davao City on Wednesday to avoid being apprehended as the city government implements number coding and clustering scheme under the enhanced community quarantine regime. Durian fruits are starting to flood the city's markets as harvest season is fast approaching. Edge Davao

he Office of the Davao City Planning he Office of the Davao City Planning and Development Coordinator is and Development Coordinator swarmed by applicants for locationalis swarmed by building applicants forother locational clearance, zoning, and perclearance, zoning, building and other permits with at least 500 applications submitted a weekly basis. mitsonwith at least 500 applications submitted on a weekly basis.

The increase in apis an inindiplications The increase apcation of Davao plications is an City’s indibooming cation of construction Davao City’s industry infrastrucboomingand construction ture development, the industry and infrastruccity turenoted. development, the cityAssistant noted. City PlanningAssistant and Development City PlanCoordinator Roy Ryan ning and Development Rigor said theRoy influx of Coordinator Ryan permit applicants Rigor said the influxon of apermit weeklyapplicants basis is very on high, causing delays in a weekly basis is very the issuances of perhigh, causing delays in mits. theRigor issuances of issupersaid the mits. ance of some permits, Rigor saidlocational the issusuch as for ance of some applications, permits, needed such as for locational actual surveys by their applications, needed personnel and this conactual surveys by tributed to the delay.their personnel andreally this con“There are too tributed to the delay.

“There are really too

many applications that we receive and it is not many applications that only limited and to the zonwe receive it is not ing there onlypermits, limited but to the zonare a lot more,” he ingalso permits, but there said. are also a lot more,” he He also underscored said. submission of incomHe also underscored plete sets of submission ofrequireincomments thatof further plete sets requireslows the process mentsdown that further ofslows issuing the the permits. down process cliof “There issuing are the some permits. ents“There whoseare documents some clihave discrepancies, and ents whose documents that causes the delay in have discrepancies, and the issuance of the perthat causes the delay mit. Another example isin the issuance the perwhen the areaofneeds to mit.

Another example be reclassified and thatis when the needsofto needs the area approval be reclassified that the city counciland first,” needs the approval of Rigor said. the city council FSIGNS,first,” P10 Rigor said.

HIGH RISK FSIGNS, P10

MINDANAO MINDANAO HERITAGE THROUGH HERITAGEFASHION THROUGH MODERN MODERN ► INDULGE A1FASHION ►INDULGE A1

RAISING A MILLENNIAL FAMILY IN RAISINGFOREMOST A MILLENNIAL ESDEVCO’S MIND IN FAMILY FOREMOST ► PROPERTY P9MIND ESDEVCO’S ►PROPERTY P9

TOURISM. President Rodrigo Duterte responds to the discussions during the meeting with the President Japanese tourism TOURISM. Rodrigopart-Duterte ners at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan responds to the discussions during the on Wednesday night.the PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO partmeeting with Japanese tourism ners at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

HIGH RISK Food runners to undergo Commuters endure the long wait for the government's free bus ride along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Wednesday. Edge Davao

rapid testing today

By MAYA M. PADILLO

F

ood delivery, among the most sought after service providers under the enhanced community quarantine regime, may have to submit their food runners for coronavirus rapid testing.

They're no frontliners but they are everywhere. And for that, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio raised the need for these workers to get tested as they continue delivering food in around the city since Day One of community quarantine making

them at risk of being infected.

The rapid testing among workers of the delivery service sector will be conducted on Thursday (May 7).

“Sa case finding sa food delivery sector, need nato i-check kay sige sila tuyok-tuyok.

Possible na carrier sila

sa virus and need nila ma-check,” said Mayor Sara said in an interview with government-run Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) 87.5 on Wednesday.

The mayor confirmed that the city government has approved the use of rapid antibody test kits to augment existing screening procedures for persons suspected of COVID-19 despite the misgivings of local health specialists on its reliability.

“Rapid testing is unreliable but it is better than nothing. Naga –discuss pa mi unsaon

pa nato madungagan ug maka test ta ug RTPCR sa atong case findings. Because sa karon ang case finding naggamit ug PCR ug ang mga doctors lang ang naga-decide depending on the numbers sa mga nag-positive,” she said.

The Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) is specific and sensitive, which means that people who test positive truly have the disease. In contrast, rapid test kits can give results in under an hour, making point of ?HIGH, P10

Filipinos in Italy donate blood for Covid-19 response

A

total of 30 Filipinos in Italy have donated blood to help in the European country's response against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the Philippine Embassy in Italy said.

“The blood donation is a huge effort to help in the Covid-19 emergency. Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, Italian health authorities have been calling for blood donors as blood banks are experiencing a low supply of blood caused by the health crisis,” La Rete di Tutti OdV president Felice Di Iorio said through Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo Nolasco.

The report posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website on Wednesday also cited Di lorio thanking the Filipino community for the blood donation.

The blood drive was organized by the Associazione di Donatori Volontari di Sangue La Rete di Tutti (La Rete di tutti OdV),

an Italian non-profit association, in partnership with iPARAMEDICI on Sunday.

As of May 6, Italy has recorded 29,315 deaths. It is among the countries in Europe hardest hit by the deadly disease.

This week, however, Italy eased restrictions on mobility for the first time in two months.

The embassy also lauded the relief efforts of some Filipino and Italian nationals.

Members of the Filipino community group led by Aurtenciano Miranda joined volunteers from the Italian organization Sparta300 to distribute food packages to families affected by the health crisis.

The effort was made in collaboration with the Municipio di Roma 3 and the European Union Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD).

As of Tuesday, the group has completed its eighth batch of ?FILIPINOS, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

3

Solon seeks provisional franchise for ABS-CBN

C

City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson says the city government of Davao is exerting all efforts by sourcing data from the Davao City Stranded Persons Database Center to locate Over-

seas Filipino Workers (OFWs) stranded in the different places of the country and wanting to come home. Edge Davao

City gov't to locate stranded OFWs

T

he city government is exerting all efforts to locate Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) stranded in the different places of the country and wanting to come home, an official said Tuesday.

City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson said they are currently sourcing data from the Davao City Stranded Persons Database Center but had difficulty with the amount

of information the system is getting.

"We are now fixing the system as our site got clogged with the volume of data we received," Tecson said, adding the center is now prioritizing the

DOH may hire displaced private hospital workers

T

he Department of Health (DOH) is open to hiring health care workers who lost their jobs from private hospitals as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

In a virtual public briefing on Wednesday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said health care workers whose salaries could no longer be paid by private hospitals are welcome to apply to the DOH's Emergency Hiring Program.

"Mayroon po tayong 15,000 (slots) na pinapa-apruba para sa Department of

Budget and Management para po magkaroon tayo ng (We're requesting the DBM to approve 15,000 slots so we can have the) necessary cadre, in preparation if we're going to have that peak of cases," Vergeire said.

The latest DOH situation report shows that as of May 4, the department has received 50 facility requests for the emergency hiring of health care workers.

"Mayroon naman po tayong 2,258 slots na approved na para sa (personnel) hiring sa 35 facilities sa ban?DOH, P10

encoding and cleaning out the multiple entries submitted by stranded residents.

She said the sweeper flight for stranded residents that will depart on Wednesday (May 6) from Manila to Davao will carry some 400 passengers.

No figures yet are available for the number of people stranded in this city who are going to be ferried during the return flight on the same day, she added.

Tecson said the first sweeper flight that arrived Monday in Clark from this city was loaded with 150 passengers, while passengers for the Clark-Davao flight only numbered 40.

She also declined to say when the next sweeper flight schedule would be but assured that the city government "is really exerting all efforts in bringing stranded Dabawenyos from other places to come home safely." (PNA)

MEDICAL FRONT-LINERS. Medical technologists of the Philippine Coast Guard help each other wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during the opening of the swabbing facility at the

agayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday filed a joint resolution seeking to grant shuttered media giant ABS-CBN a provisional franchise good up to the life of the present Congress on June 30, 2022.

In filing House Joint Resolution No. 30, Rodriguez said both the House of Representatives and the Senate need more time to review, assess, and determine whether or not ABS-CBN shall be granted a new franchise.

“I am filing today a new joint congressional resolution granting the temporary franchise. I am hoping we can expedite the hearings on this measure amid the Covid-19 pandemic even if we have to hear all stakeholders through the new normal videoconferencing platform,” Rodriguez said.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Tuesday ordered the network to halt the operations of its television and radio broadcasting stations nationwide following the expiration of its franchise.

Rodriguez also filed House Bill 6694 seeking to grant ABSCBN a new franchise valid for 25 years.

“It has to be a new grant and no longer a renewal since the radio-tv station’s franchise already expired midnight of last May 4,” he said.

Rodriguez said it was unfortunate that the NTC “chose to ignore the collective voice of the House and the Senate for it to issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN to allow it to pursue its broadcast services.”

“Now the remedy is for the House to speed up its hearings on my proposals for a temporary franchise and for the grant of a new 25-year broadcasting service privilege,” he said.

Rodriguez also proposed that Congress include in any legislative franchise it would grant in the future an authority for the NTC or any concerned regulator to provisionally allow a franchisee with an expired franchise and a renewal application pending with the House to continue operating until its application is rejected.

The NTC, in a cease-and-desist order dated May 5, said ABS-CBN must cease its broadcast operations “due to the expiration of its congressional franchise” on May 4.

It ordered ABSCBN, which has more ?SOLON, P10

Palacio De Maynila, Roxas Boulevard, Manila on Tuesday (May 5, 2020). The medical front-liners will man the swab testing booth.

(PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is pushing for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 1411, or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2020 that seeks to provide more benefits and privileges to for some 14 million solo parents and their children. Edge Davao

Farmers diversify to D selling products online

DOF chief eyes positive GDP results in Q1 ‘20

By MAYA M. PADILLO

W

ith the enhanced community quarantine forcing them to halt normal operations, farmers are switching to innovative ways on how to sell their products and still earn income.

Coffee farmers and producers in the Davao Region have diversified to selling coffee and vegetables online to generate income amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Joji Pantoja, chief executive officer of Coffee for Peace.

“Our coffee farmers in Davao Region know that they cannot rely on coffee alone, so they have diversi-

fied already to vegetables even before COVID-19. So aside from coffee, they sell other vegetables also,” said Pantoja over online interview.

Among the farmers who switched into online marketing are Sergio Loon, whose family has 4,000 coffee trees at the foothills of Mt. Apo and vegetables of two hectares; Balutakay

Coffee Farmers Association (BACOFA), and Tibolo Farmers Association (Robusta farmers) whose own brand continue to receive orders from customers.

“As Coffee for Peace, we still continue buying coffee from the farmers, especially during this time of pandemic. I still have orders coming in, so I have to stock on my supply. We are also sourcing our vegetables from them,” Pantoja said.

Although the region’s coffee industry has not reached major export status, Pantoja believes there is a need to increase the supply so that when

markets resume normal operations after the pandemic, the focus will be strengthening the local market.

“We heavily rely of imported coffee for our drinks and 75% are sourced out of our country. This time, it will give our local farmers the stage to shine and be proud of our local product,” she said.

“It will be good for our economy to really support local produce to start the economy spinning. Our farmers are also as important as our frontliners.

Without them, there will be no fresh fruit on our table,” she added.

epartment of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III remains optimistic for a positive domestic output in the first quarter of 2020 despite the impact of the Taal Volcano eruption and the community quarantines due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a briefing Wednesday, Dominguez declined to give any growth figure but said January “looks okay until we have a minor problem with Taal.”

In February, the government banned the entry of tourists from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as a precaution to limit the transmission of Covid-19, which was then an epidemic.

Last March 15, a community quaran-

tine took effect in the National Capital Region (NCR) but this was changed to an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)

by March 16, and the coverage was widened to mainland Luzon, which accounts for about 70 percent of the country’s domestic output.

“When we calculate it, it’s more positive than negative because the curtailment was less than one half of the period of the quarter,” he said. “But I think, April, May and June are going to be quite bad.”

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is scheduled to report on the first quarter gross domestic product (GPD) this year on Thursday.

Growth in the first quarter of 2019 slowed to 5.6 percent ?DOF, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

DOJ studying plan to limit PH health workers’ migration

T

he Department of Justice (DOJ) is studying the plan to limit the migration of Filipino health workers to countries with a high incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) before making a recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said on Wednesday they would consider the health workers' right to travel and seek livelihood outside the country as well the health situation in the country.

"Kasama sa pinagaaralan dito ng DOJ ay ang right to travel at right to seek liveli-

L

hood. Ganun din ang pangangailangan ng ating mga ospital para sa mga medical professionals sa panahon na higit ng pangangailangan ng kanilang serbisyo dito sa atin (We are considering the medical professionals’ right to travel and seek livelihood and our hospitals’ great need for their services at present)," Perete said in a message to reporters.

Duterte earlier clarified that the reason he wanted to stop Filipino nurses, physicians, and technicians from leaving the coun- Oblivious to physical distancing, customers swarm try was that he did not on an ukay-ukay (used clothing) store in Malaywant them to become balay City on Monday. Non-essential businesses in the city have been allowed to reopen after Bukid?DOJ, P10

navirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a statement CEB said it will cater to a limited number of domestic routes once flight operations resume.

Passengers may expect a “new normal”, or what CEB calls a

“contactless flights”.

Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for Marketing and Customer Experience, said apart from encouraging passengers to check-in online, they will also hold their own boarding passes for the staff to scan the barcode.

Physical distancing will be observed in queues and boarding, she added.

As for the crew, they will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and will also have to undergo rapid antibody test.

Both CEB and PAL would require passengers to wear face

masks all throughout the flights.

The two also noted the thorough disinfection of cabin, before and after flights. Both would make sanitizers available.

Meanwhile, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the resumption of commercial flight operations would depend on the travel demand, the safety, as well as the travel restrictions imposed by various governments.

Since the implementation of the ECQ, both PAL and CEB have been mounting all-cargo flights to car-

forts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

Navy Capt. Jonathan Zata, AFP public affairs office chief, said the Air Force has committed several of its fixed-wing aircraft to transport assorted personnel protective

equipment (PPE), medical supplies, and health personnel to various points in the country, while the Navy has eight ships, including three vessels in ongoing missions.

These include the Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" cargo air-

craft with tail number 4704 which is now in Xiamen International Airport, China to pick up supplies procured by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Davao Del Sur which are now in

ocal carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific (CEB) on Tuesday announced their preparations as they anticipate resumption of flight operations, as well as the safety measures they would implement for the benefit of both the staff and the passengers.

All local carriers have temporarily suspended international and domestic flights until May 15, in line with the ongoing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other select areas considered high risk for coro-

?LOCAL, P10

Over 1M pounds of med supplies in Covid-19 fight transported: AFP

T

he Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday announced its air and naval assets have transported over one million pounds of essential supplies, equipment and personnel in support of the government's ef-

?OVER, P10

ECONOMY 5

non province and the rest of Northern Mindanao was placed on general community quarantine starting May 1. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

BSP adopts relief measures in support of MSME sector

T

he Monetary Board has approved prudential measures to assist the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector carry on with its business during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, as well as hasten recovery and sustainability of their operations in the post-crisis period.

The first set of measures by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are amendments to the regulatory capital treatment of exposures to MSMEs, which free up capital and enable supervised financial institutions to extend more credit to them.

These include the temporary reduction in the credit risk weights of loans granted to MSMEs that are current in status, and assignment of a lower risk weight for MSME exposures that are covered by guarantees.

The credit risk weight of loans granted to these firms that are in current status was reduced to 50 percent from 75 percent for diversified MSME portfolio with at least 500 borrowers over a number of industries; and 100 percent for non-diversified MSME portfolio.

The reduced credit risk weight is subject to review by the

BSP by end-December 2021.

The BSP also approved the assignment of a zero-percent risk weight not only to loans that are guaranteed by the Philippine Guarantee Corporation, but also to loans that are guaranteed by the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.

The revision in the credit risk weight complements programs of the national government that support financing to MSMEs, as well as small farmers and fisherfolk.

To enable standalone thrift banks, rural banks and cooperative banks to continue to support their MSME and rural community-based clients, the BSP deferred the implementation of the revised risk-based capital framework applicable to these banks under Circular No. 1079 dated 9 March 2020.

The revised capital adequacy framework will now take effect on 1 January 2023, instead of 1 January 2022.

The observation period of the revised framework will be extended from 31 December 2021 to 31 December 2022. Such period provides these banks with enough time to meet the new ?BSP, P10

6 VANTAGE VANTAGE EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE DAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 10 • THURSDAY, MAY 20, 7, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE • FRIDAY, MARCH 2020

VOL.13 ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020

EDITORIAL

Be significant Constitutional, not political

With the situation the is amidst With the Philippines Philippines is facing facing Commission amidst the the Is the the ordersituation of the National Telecommunications coronavirus threat, it takes everyone’s utmost patience, coronavirus threat, it takes everyone’s utmost patience, (NTC) in shutting down television network giant ABS-CBN unconstiunderstanding tutional? understanding and and compassion compassion to to get get the the country country through through the the hill. hill.

Hence, businesses must first take consideration of their workers That’s question must that needed toconsideration be addressed instead of veerHence,the businesses first take of their workers rather than their or The why community ing away from this profits and focusing on political undertones and emotionrather than their profits or losses. losses.

The reason reason why the the community quarantine is not working 100 percent is that the lowly al theatrics. is not working 100 percent is that the lowly workers quarantine workers Tuesday (5 Mayto network gianttheir ABS-CBN ofare forced to work under of jobs are On forced to report report to2020), worktelevision under fear fear of losing losing their jobs and and ficially signedtheir off. The reason for the of NTC orderno is mey the expiration of not earning keep.

The spectre having to feed their not 25-year earning their keep.franchise The spectre of having no mey to feed their the legislative which falls on that day.

Hence, if families is a far bigger threat than dying because of the virus. familiesask is athat farthe bigger threat than dying because of the virus. people timing is wrong, it is “We not awill question of the timing but In the minds of the ordinary folks: die just same.”

In the minds of the ordinary folks: “We will die just the same.” a question of time.

Unfortunately, the time falls onpantry, May 5, those 2020.

For Only those who have enough food in their who Only those who have enough food in their pantry, tells thoseofwho purposes oftoenforcing time-bound laws, our jurisdiction no can afford panic shop, and those who can afford to order online can afford to panic shop, and those who can afford to order online other conditions in this regard. Hence, coronavirus or not, the time of for survive. for deliveries deliveries will survive.

But for for the the bigger bigger chunk chunk of of the the society, society, expiration falls will on May 5. But the equation remains work, food.” the government agency the NTC, equation remains “no “no work,inno nocharge food.”with broadcast franchises, Thus, it is a welcome relief that there initially 10 companies can Thus, only carry its mandate is are to enforce In this it is aout welcome relief and thatthat there are initiallythe 10law. companies made the supreme sacrifice of to compensate their workers during case the franchise of of ABS-CBN expired,their it is workers duty-bound to madewhere the supreme sacrifice to compensate during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine period.

This will serve the closure enhanced order. What happens ifquarantine it does not serve theThis order? the Luzon-wide community period. will NTC or the government for thatManila matterwhere is estopped from enforcing the greatly help those people still go greatly help those in in Metro Metro Manila where people still go to to work work

EDGEDAVAO

Providing Providing solutions solutions to to aa seamless seamless global global village. village.

Printed Printed by

by Zion Zion Accuprint Accuprint Publishing Publishing Inc. Inc. Door Door 14 14 ALCREJ ALCREJ Building, Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao Davao City, City, Philippines Philippines Tel: 301-6235 Tel: (082) (082) 224-1413 301-6235 224-1413 Telefax: Telefax: (082) (082) 221-3601 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association newspapers PHILIPPINE PRESSofINSTITUTE the national association of newspapers

despite the order. despite law. It isthe theorder. equivalent on sleeping on its duty and in the process be The 10 firms reported by Department to The 10 firms reported the by the the Department of Labor to have have made made precluded from enforcing same by reason of of Labor estoppel. the compensation package are Aboitiz, Asian Terminal/Solaire the compensation package are Aboitiz, Asian Terminal/Solaire Resort Hotel, Group of Summit, Jollibee, Lucio Estoppel a judicial device in commonJG law legal systems whereby Resort Hotel,isAyala Ayala Group of Companies, Companies, JG Summit, Jollibee, Lucio Tan Group, Manny V. Pangilinan Group, San Miguel Corporation, a court may Manny preventV.orPangilinan “estop” a person entity from making asserTan Group, Group,orSan Miguel Corporation, SM and Group.These firms answered the call President tions orUdenna from going back on his or her word; the person sancSM and Udenna Group.These firms answered the call of ofbeing President tioned is “estopped”.

Estoppel may prevent someone from bringing a Rodrigo Duterte to take care of their workers and employees Rodrigo Duterte to take care of their workers and employees particular claim. during this time of national emergency. during this time of nationalclosure emergency.

The issue of ABS-CBN’s order is morethe of a legal question DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III and DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello sectors III lauded lauded the companies companies and than their a political one. While several will insist itinspire is a political said compassion and good example should other said their compassion and good example should inspire other action, it is not.

It is a government duty otherwise of thetheir agency not perenterprises whose of wealth is the enterprises whose source source ofguilty wealth is the labor laborofofduty. their workforce. workforce. forming its mandate will be of dereliction While big companies can take some hit, it is a different story While big companies can take some hit, it is a different story There is nothing that can be questioned with a ministerial duty.

If for smaller firms and this is where the government should come for smaller firms and this is where the government should come ABS-CBN will question the order, it will have to be at the forum where in. sure, there already some to theFor very franchise in question from -- Congress. in.

For sure, there are are already originated some formulation formulation to this this effect effect being being done.

ABS-CBN should take the fight--if it had not done yet--to Condone.

For now, the to gress. the thing battleground is. everyone For This now,is where the best best thing to do do for for everyone is is to to try try to to be be significantly helpful instead of adding up to the problem and all Now, to get backinstead to the of question constitutionality significantly helpful addingofupthe to the problem andofit itthe all NTC order, there appears to be no defect as to its action. starts with orders. starts with following following orders.

ANTONIO M. AJERO ANTONIO M.Chief AJERO Editor in Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO BRAVO Managing Editor Managing Editor

MAYA M. MAYA M. PADILLO PADILLO Senior Senior Reporter Reporter

KENNETH IRVING KENNETH IRVING K. K. ONG ONG ATHENA ATHENA JILLIAN JILLIAN BRAVO BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. MEGHANN STA. INES INES FERINA SANTOS FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle Lifestyle

LEANDRO LEANDRO S. S. DAVAL DAVAL JR. JR. Photography Photography

ARMANDO B. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO FENEQUITO JR. JR. CHRISTIAN JAY DR. L. CHA MONFORTE CHRISTIAN JAY H. H. RAFAL RAFAL DR. MAURO MAURO L. PUYOD PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Layout/Cartoons Cartoonist Correspondent Layout/Cartoons Cartoonist Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B. JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA •••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA • FRED C. LUMBA ZEN CHUA •ANTONIO CARLOS V. MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER PEREZ • DENNIS R. GORECHO GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JASPER V. OLIVIA D.Manager VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS MARATAS RICHARD C.Specialist EBONA OLIVIA D.Manager VELASCO JASPER V. BACSAL BACSAL General Finance Advertising General VP Operations General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI D. JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANIFinance D. MARATAS MARATAS Director of Sales Director of Sales Finance

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO • VIDA MIA S. VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE

CAGAYAN OFFICE MANILA MARKETING CAGAYAN DE DE ORO ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager officer Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development Product Development officer Unit 6, Southbank PlazaAddress: Velez-Yacapin Sts.4B, Madelo 18 Purok Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 8559(globe) Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 955 8559(globe) Tel: (088) 852-4894

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

7

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE IHU Founded in 1950 by Arayat, Pampanga native Dr. Ildefonso D. Yap, the International Harvardian Colleges (later a university), was once the most significant academic institution in Davao. During its peak, it was the leader in the region’s annual tactical inspections for Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) conducted by the Philippine Constabulary (PC).

Dr. Yap, who overall created 27 schools, also founded the Philippine Harvardian College, an educational institution with two branches, namely Harvardian Colleges, founded on January 21, 1945, in San Fernando, Pampanga, including St. John’s College in Calumpit, Bulacan.

He also acquired Mindanao Academy of Oroquieta City and Misamis Academy in Ozamis City under a “mutual agreement” but the Supreme Court, in cases GR Nos. L-17681-82, voided the sale on February 26, 1965.

In the 1960s, the IHU topped most of the licensure board exams for teachers and engineers, and was, for some time, the producer of lawyers when it was still under the famous deanship of the late Davao City Court of First Instance judge Vicente N. Cusi, Jr. The school’s original campus was along Villa-Abrille Street, on a leased property that occupied nearly a block, with an entry point along Uyanguren (R, M. Magsaysay) Street. Later, it moved to its permanent campus between San Pedro Extension and Miguel C. Malvar Street where its newly built six-story edifice was considered as a landmark IHU also ran its own broadcast outfit, which carried the call name dxHU, after the school. The authority to operate the radio station was granted under Republic Act 5457, “an Act granting the International Harvardian College a franchise to

construct, maintain and operate a radio broadcasting station in the city of Davao and anywhere in Mindanao for educational, cultural and commercial purposes.” It lapsed into law on March 27, 1969 without

The loan, however, did not end well. Due to failure to pay the school’s obligations, DBP executed an affidavit of non-redemption for consolidation of ownership on June 13, 1996, resulting in the cancella-

ing years was the supposed proliferation of bogus diplomas issued by the office of the school registrar in exchange for some favor. One of the suits that reached the high court, docketed as case G.R. No.

executive approval.

The demise of its founder and the ensuing family discord among the heirs affected the university’s management. Prompt payment of salaries were affected, and the familial conflict rubbed on the morale of the administrators. What followed was the decimation of facilities.

When its financial standing dwindled due to the decline in enrollment, labor protests, and management shortcomings, the school directors applied for a P3.26 million with the Development Bank of the Philippines, using three parcels of land as collateral for a real estate mortgage.

tion of the titles by the Register of Deeds of Davao City. As expected, the IHU management filed suits before the trial court to overturn the cancellation.

But the IHU ost its cases. The Yap heirs then appealed to the Court of Appeals, which issued a decision and a resolution on November 20, 2000 and June 21, 2001, respectively, denying the position of the IHU heirs. On April 30, 2008, the Supreme Court, in case G.R. No. 148747 written by then chief justice Renato Corona, sustained and affirmed the appellate court’s ruling.

Another problem that hounded the defunct university in its wan-

133472 (Consolacion A. Lumancas and Yolando O. Uriarte, vs. Virginia B. Intas), was decided on December 5, 2000.

The case stemmed from the amended resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman dated August 16, 1996, which found the petitioners “administratively liable for falsification, dishonesty and grave misconduct,” and, consequently, were dismissed from public service. The anti-graft body, in its February 12, 1998 order, denied the petitioners’ motion for reconsideration.

In 2009, IHU voluntarily phased out its law program even before the Commission on Higher Education short-listed it as among

those schools affected. The basis for the course’s closure was the failure to pass a single Bar passer from its alumni over a 10-year period. Years later, with the number of enrollees hitting bottom line, the revered institution finally closed its doors.

The campus was later taken over by the AMA Computer College of Davao.

Dr. Yap, moreover, was a respondent in case G.R. No. L-12190 initiated in the Court of First Instance of Manila, involving the testate estate of Felicidad Esguerra Alto-Yap, his wife. Mrs. Yap died on November 20, 1951. It was Fausto E. Gan, her nephew, who filed a petition on March 17, 1952, for the validity of a holographic will executed by the deceased, which became basis for an inheritance claim. The Supreme Court, in its August 30, 1958, verdict, ruled: “If testimonial evidence of holographic wills be permitted, one more objectionable feature — feasibility of forgery — would be added to the several objections to this kind of wills…

“One more fundamental difference: in the case of a lost will, the three subscribing witnesses would be testifying to a fact which they saw, namely the act of the testator of subscribing the will; whereas in the case of a lost holographic will, the witnesses would testify as to their opinion of the handwriting which they allegedly saw, an opinion which cannot be tested in court, nor directly contradicted by the oppositors, because the handwriting itself is not at hand…

“In fine, even if oral testimony were admissible to establish and probate a lost holographic will, we think the evidence submitted by herein petitioner is so tainted with improbabilities and inconsistencies that it fails to measure up to that “clear and distinct” proof required.”

OF LEADERS AND LEADERSHIP “Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine.” – Chris Hadfield *** I was browsing my social media account when I came across a story that really caught my attention. The heading said: “How do you lead?” Instead of answering the question, it shared a story: A young man saw his primary school teacher at a wedding reception. He went to greet him with all respect and admiration. “Can you still recognize me, sir?” he asked.

The teacher looked at the young man and replied: “I don’t think so. Could you please remind me how we met?”

The young man recounted: “I was your pupil in the third grade.

I stole a wrist watch belong to my then classmate because it was unique and fascinating.

My classmate came to you crying that his wrist watch had been stolen and you ordered all pupils in the class to stand on a straight line, facing the wall with our hands up and our eyes closed so you could check our pockets.

At this point, I became jittery and terrified of the outcome of the search. The same I will face after the other pupils discovered that I stole the watch, the opinions of my teachers will form about me, the thought of being named a ‘thief’ till I leave the school and my parents’ reaction when they get to know about my action.

All these thoughts flowing across my heart, when suddenly it was my turn to be check. I felt your hand slipped into my pocket and

you brought out the watch. I was gripped with fear, expecting the worse to be announced. I was surprised I didn’t hear anything, but Sir, you continued searching other pupils’ pockets till you got to the last pupil.

When the search was over, you asked us to open our eyes and sit on our chairs. I was afraid to sit because I was thinking you will

myself involved in taking whatever is not mine. I thought to myself, you saved my dignity.

Do you remember the story now, Sir? You can’t simply forget this story Sir!” The teacher looked at the young man and said: “I vividly remember the story. I found the watch in a pocket but didn’t know in whose pocket the stolen watch

Truman once said: “Men make history and not the other way around.

In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

Remember Alexander the Great? He was a king of ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. He

came me out soon after everyone was seated.

But to my amazement, you showed the watch to the class, gave it to the owner and you never mentioned the name of the one who stole the watch. You didn’t say a word to me, and you never mentioned the story to anyone.

Throughout my stay in the school, no teacher or pupil knew what happened. This incident naturally taught me a great lesson and I resolved in my heart never to get

was found that day because I searched your pockets while I also had my eyes closed.”

In life, the author (sorry, I don’t know who!) said, “we need wisdom for everything we do. As parents, teachers, leaders, etc., we should be able to close our eyes to some things. Not all misbehavior require punishment. Some will need encouragement, some mentoring, and some monitoring. Be a leader who impacts not one who shatters.”

American president Harry S

succeeded his father Philip II to the throne at the age of 20.

He conquered most of the known world of his day. As a leader, he was feared and yet admired by his soldiers. And so, it came to pass that Alexander the Great and his army were dying of thirst after marching eleven days.

Suddenly, they came upon some local farmers who were fetching skins full of water from a hidden river. Seeing the famous general choked with thirst, they offered

him a helmet filled with water. He asked them to who they were carrying the water. They told him, “To our children. But your life is more important than theirs. Even if they all perish, we can raise a new generation.”

Then Alexander took the helmet into his hands and looked around to see all his soldiers eyeing the water and licking their dry lips.

He didn’t have the courage to drink, but gave back the water untouched to the farmers. “If only I would drink,” he explained, “the rest of the soldiers would be out of heart.”

At that, the soldiers rallied around him as never before and defied their fatigue and their thirst.

“To follow such a leader is a great privilege,” they chorused.

Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher, said it well: “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”

Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie has the same opinion. “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.” American businessman Arnold H. Glasow said it, too: “A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.”

To end this piece, allow me to quote the words of American-Korean physician Jim Yong Kim. “No matter how good you thin you are as a leader,” said the man who served as the 12th president of the World Bank, “the people around you will have all kinds of ideas for how you can get better. So for me, the most fundamental thing about leadership is to have the humility to continue to get feedback and to try to get better – because your job is to try to help everybody else get better.”

8 AGRITRENDS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Breeding goats using ‘green’ methods

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

C

an goats breed all year round – even during those months when they are not “in heat”? Is it possible to do so even without using chemical hormones?

Yes, it is possible.

And it can accomplished by adopting “green” methods developed by researchers of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

“Goats are known to be seasonal breeders,” explained Dr. Carlito B. Sanchez, who headed the study. “They come to heat only during cool months when the day length is short. In the Philippines, this is usually between September to February. For goats to give kids year-round, they need to be ‘in heat’ even during summer.”

Experts call this as “out-of-season” breeding. “This kind of breeding is of interest to both dairy and slaughter goat own-

ers because it reduces seasonal fluctuations in the herd’s milk and meat production,” he said.

Because of this, the USM researchers came up with alternative off-season “green” solutions in manipulating estrus in goats. Estrus is the period of sexual excitement at which time the female accepts the mating with the male.

“Such methods sit well with the Halal system of goat production under which use of chemical hormones is not acceptable,” Dr. Sanchez said. Among the Muslims, unnatural breeding of goats is considered “haram.”

“Green solutions ensure sustainability of production to

cater to the needs of Muslim Filipinos, especially during festivities like Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha,” Dr. Sanchez said.

The USM researchers have developed three “green” methods in estrus synchronization or heat induction in goat: photoperiodism or light effect, male/ buck effect, and dor-

mitory effect.

The goats are kept under natural photoperiod. Their nutritional levels are adjusted to meet maintenance requirements.

The goats are allowed to graze during the day if the climatic condition is favorable. In addition, they are given free access to water and mineral blocks.

At night, they are confined.

The goats for breeding are identified by placing ear tags or neck tags.

Herding is done daily at around 10 am. At 6 pm., they are brought back to their pens.

“Strategic deworming is followed with the first dose given a month before the onset of the rainy season and succeeding dose given as the fecal egg count exceeds 100 eggs per gram in mixed infection,” Dr. Sanchez said.

“Ivermectin injection is also given to the animals to control external parasitism.”

The estrus activity in goats is observed three times a day: at 5 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm with one-hour observation for each period.

“Doelings that exhibit a tail-flagging response and stand for mounting are considered to be in estrus,” Dr. Sanchez said.

According to Dr. Sanchez, the light effect method consists

of controlling exposure to daylight to mimic short-day periods. Does are confined in pens where they encounter shorter period of exposure to light.

“As most goat breeds are photosensitive with respect to reproduction, the likelihood of their breeding is strongly influenced by how long or how short the days are,” Dr. Sanchez explained.

Goats are described as shortday breeders. “This means that the doe shows evidence of desire to breed when day length grows shorter,” he surmised.

“A long day photoperiod consists of 16 to 18 hours of light exposure. In contrast, short day photoperiod is characterized by eight hours of light followed by 16 hours of darkness.”

To maintain good health, the goats are housed in a building with adequate ventilation and regular ?BREEDING, P9

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

9

DOJ from 5

BREEDING from 8 cleaning. The pens are covered with plastic curtains from 4 am to 8 am to achieve the effect of light. “This gives a total darkness of 14 to 10 hours,” Dr. Sanchez said, adding that in this method, the duration of estrus from onset of behavioral estrus to standing estrus among goats ranges from 12 to 14.6 hours. The duration of behavioral estrus from standing estrus to the end of estrus ranges from 14.5 to 19.83 hours.

“Overall, the total estrus period ranges from 27 to 34 hours,” he said. “The number of days to breeding is from 10.25 to 21.5 days and the conception rate is from 66.67% to 100%.”

The second method – male/buck effect – requires a minimal amount of labor and cost, according to Dr. Sanchez.

“The initiation of behavioral estrus in the doe is triggered by olfactory, behavioral and visual stimuli which result in ovulation of does,” he said. As such, “activities around the doe perceived by her brain can trigger excitement in the does affecting estrus.

These include exuberant vocal expression of the buck and

casualties of Covid-19.

“But this one if I send you to a war front, the enemy is the Covid, the microbes, eh parang maawa ako (it’s like I feel pity).

Please do not misunderstand me. I am making it clear now. I do not want you to go there and come back in a coffin. That’s my only argument, if you may, because you are Filipinos at mahal ko ang mga buhay ng kababayan ko (and I love the life of my fellow citizens),” he said.

The President said his concern over their health and safety is a “more valid reason” to stop them from migrating compared to what he initially said was his fear that the country would be deprived of health workers.

“The Covid is here to stay. That is how dangerous it is for our the odor emitted by from 50% to 100%. health workers,” he the buck through its The minimum num- added.

Last April 13, Dutemusk glands located ber of keeping goats rte expressed concern behind the horn area that can induce estrus that secretes strong is two heads of does.” odors.”

All over the counfrom 5 In this method, try, more and more the bucks are isolated farmers are now raisfor three weeks be- ing goats. And this minimum capital rafore they are allowed out-of-season natural tios through reasonto join the does. “The breeding will defi- able measures withbuck joins the herd of nitely help those goat out disrupting their female goats for 12 farmers. This means banking activities.

Moreover, the BSP hours each day,” Dr. more income for lengthened the period Sanchez said. them. of relief on the reportThis method “They may be ing of past due and shows duration of es- known as ‘poor man’s non-performing loans trus from the start of cow,’ but goats can of borrowers affected behavioral up to the be farmers’ source by the Covid-19 to 31 standing estrus from of income should December 2021 from six to 12.5 hours. On there be crop failure,” the other hand, the points out Roy C. Aliduration of behavior- moane, the director from 11 al estrus from stand- of the Mindanao Baping estrus to the end tist Rural Life Center at management level, of estrus is from 11.5 (MBRLC) based in Ki- at the coaches level, at to 13.88 hours. All in nuskusan, Bansalan, the players level with all, the estrus period Davao del Sur. each other. "[Mitchell and ranges from 17.5 to Goats have been 26.38 hours. raised since time Gobert] will speak for The number of immemorial.

Da- themselves going fordays to breeding is vid Mackenzie, in his ward. But, at the most from 5.66 to 16.67 book Goat Husband- basic level, they know days, while the con- ry, wrote: “When man they need each other ception rate is from began his farming op- to complete their goal 83.33% to 100%, Dr. erations in the dawn of being the last team Sanchez said. of history, the goat In the third meth- was the kingpin of the od – the dormitory personal life, making from 12 effect – social inter- possible the conquest actions play an im- of desert and moun- mate brother, just like portant role in estrus tain and the occupa- they are, and I'm kind induction among tion of the fertile land of salty how everygoats. “When does that lay beyond. The body got interviewed start cycling, the first of Man’s domes- but me." anestrous group will tic animals to coloHodges clearly start to cycle too,” Dr. nize the wilderness, would have liked an Sanchez said. “Rest the goat is the last to opportunity to share may respond within abandon the deserts his experiences and 14.5 to 33.5 days and that man leaves be- thoughts for the documentary; thoughts the conception rate is hind him.”

BSP

BURYING

STILL

that the country might run out of health workers to treat Covid-19 patients if they went abroad.

He criticized the US for aggressively recruiting Filipino nurses instead of relying on their own human resources.

However, Duterte also said he could not blame Filipino medical professionals for wanting to work abroad following the increase in global demand for them due to the pandemic.

Earlier, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued Resolution 09, temporarily suspending the deployment of all health care workers "until the national state of emergency is lifted and until Covid 19-related travel restrictions are lifted at the destination countries.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of

Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) reviewed the temporary deployment ban after nurses of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service were barred from catching their flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Upon review, the IATF allowed health workers with perfected and signed overseas employment contracts as of March 8 to be deployed abroad.

However, other health workers who do not have signed contracts as of March 8 would be covered by the POEA’s deployment ban.

Health workers who will leave for abroad will need to execute a declaration signifying they know the risks involved in their departure.

To date, global Covid-19 cases have surpassed 3.5 million and deaths are now almost 250,000. (PNA)

the original timeline of 8 March 2021 subject to reporting to the BSP. These policy issuances reinforce earlier pronouncements of the BSP which recognize MSME loans as alternative compliance with the reserve requirement as well as relax the “know-your-custom-

er” requirements for retail clients to facilitate their access to formal financing channels.

Overall, these measures are expected to channel liquidity directly to the MSME sector while ensuring the health and safety of the financial system.

(PR)

standing in the NBA." Lindsey meanwhile said Utah had taken positives out of the fact that Gobert's infection had been discovered relatively early.

"It's woken me up a few times thinking what might have happened if we were to

have that test come back a little bit later and the players were already playing the game," Lindsey said.

"As tough as it was for us to have Rudy be the first, I think it saved infections. Not to be melodramatic, but I think it saved lives."

that may have painted a slightly different picture than the largely positive manner in which Jordan has been portrayed.

While Jordan was revered by most that he came across during his days as a player, the feeling wasn't

necessarily universal, as evidenced by Hodges' comments toward his former teammate.

Jordan was a notoriously tough teammate at times, and that doesn't appear to have stopped during his post-playing days.

10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

HIGH from 2

care diagnostics possible.

After the food delivery sector, the city will also conduct rapid testing in various areas of Davao City with the following schedule:

Agdao Public Market on May 8, Buhangin on May 11, Ma-a on May 12, Talomo South on May 13, New Valencia on May 14, and Davao airport area and Tigatto on May 15.

distribution throughout various areas in Italy and is preparing for the ninth batch to reach more families, including Filipinos.

So far, the group has provided assistance to 120 families and distributed more

than 2,000 kg. of groceries and medicine, the embassy said.

On May 4, Italy started Phase 2 of its fight against Covid-19, slowly easing movement restrictions throughout the country. (PNA)

sa. Kasama po dito ang quarantine facilities, 709 na personnel ang natanggap sa anim na ospital (We have 2,258 approved slots for personnel hiring for 35 facilities nationwide, including quarantine facilities, and about 709 per-

sonnel were already hired in six hospitals) and quarantine facilities," she said.

Under the nurses’ deployment program, the DOH has re-deployed 545 nurses -- 195 in Luzon and 350 in the Visayas and Mindanao. (PNA)

FILIPINOS from 2

DOH from 3

Men with their umbrellas shield themselves from the heat on Wednesday morning in Bo. Pampanga, Davao City. Edge Davao

SOLON from 3 than 11,000 employees, to halt the operations of its 42 television stations across the country, 10 digital broadcast channels, 18 FM stations, and five AM stations.

ABS-CBN’s franchise expired on May 4 following the House of Representatives’ failure to act on the 11 pending bills that seek

to renew the 25-year franchise of the local media giant.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte could not certify the franchise bills as urgent because of “private interest” involving ABS-CBN. It is improper to certify as urgent the bills for the franchise

renewal of ABS-CBN, he said.

“I’ve not seen any franchise bill to have been certified as urgent by the President.

So in that sense, no certification is forthcoming because it is for all intended purposes a private bill that grants a privilege to a private company. I don’t think it is proper

to have it certified as urgent,” Roque said.

Only the legislative branch has the “primary and exclusive” power to decide on ABS-CBN’s fate, he said, adding that the House can now start deliberating on the pending franchise bills since the session of Congress resumed on May 4. (PNA)

from year-ago’s 6.5 percent due to the delay in the approval of last year’s national budget, which was only signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 15, 2019.

The government fast-tracked the implementation of its infrastructure program in the second half of the year to compensate for the weak output in the

early part of the year, but full-year growth fell short of the 6-6.5 percent target after it hit 5.9 percent, the slowest annual growth since 2011.

Growth target this year has been set between 6.5 to 7.5 percent.

This year, domestic output is seen to take another hit, with economic managers

saying the pandemic is projected to result in a zero to negative 1 percent growth for the Philippine economy.

Dominguez said these projections “might be” tamer than expected, but added the government is “in a very good financial position” when the pandemic hit.

He cited a report

by The Economist

wherein the country ranked sixth among 66 select emerging economies with a high level of financial strength.

“That, I think, should assure people that we are very well capable of meeting the financial requirements of this Covid hit,” he said, adding that even the country’s monetary position is strong.

(PNA)

airports, all in different places," Nadal said in an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC on Tuesday.

"If you gave me the ability to guarantee that in January 2021, a normal season like before will begin, I would sign for that now with my eyes closed."

In a separate interview with El Pais, Nadal said: "I'm more

looking to the Australian Open than what happens later this year. I see 2020 as practically lost."

Nadal at 33 is in the latter stages of his illustrious career and the hiatus came just as he looked to be closing in on the 20 major titles won by the 38-year-old Roger Federer.

If tennis returns

this summer, Nadal could choose to skip the US Open and save himself for the French, given there would be just a week between the two.

"It's all hypothetical because I don't think it will be like that," said Nadal to ABC. "My feeling, and I say it with sadness and I won't lie to you, is that we are losing a

year of our lives.

"And at 33 or 34 years old that is much more valuable than at 20 when you have many more years ahead, even if it's still a year.

"Frankly, I think that will not happen.

From the US Open to Roland Garros with a week in between, I just don't think we can play."

DOF from 4

NADAL from 11

LOCAL from 4

ry essential medical sweeper flights to fersupplies. ry stranded nationFurther, PAL als out of the country. mounted several (PNA)

OVER from 5

India to load up three metric tons of PPE sets.

"BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Davao Del Sur were sent to Oman earlier this year purposely to help overseas Filipino workers affected by the conflict in Iran. The vessels left Oman on April 21 and arrived in India on April 29," Zata said.

Another Navy ship, the BRP Bacolod City, is also en route to Davao City with 11,764 boxes of assorted supplies from China. The cargo was part of the 23,385 boxes of PPE procured by the DBM. The two C-130s have already done a combined 100 sorties, logged 232 flying hours, and transported over 700,000 pounds of cargo.

Meanwhile, three C-295s have logged a combined 178 sorties and transported over 150,000 pounds of cargo.

Other aircraft that are being used for Covid-19 flight missions are the two N-22

Nomads, two NC-212i light-lift planes, two SF-260, one F-28, and two UH-1 helicopters.

The Navy, on the other hand, has BRP Tausug, BRP Batak, BRP Agta, BRP Manobo, and BRP Subanon ready for future deployment.

"We are thankful for and are proud of all our pilots, sailors, aircraft crew, and maintenance personnel for their tireless work and sacrifice in support of our national Covid-19 efforts,” AFP chief-ofstaff Gen. Felimon Santos said.

A total of 27,066 AFP personnel are deployed in various functions to help the government in containing the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Though constantly far from home and their families, they soldier on to accomplish their missions that are vital in sustaining our campaign to end the pandemic and bring our country back to normalcy," Santos said.

(PNA)

11 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

World tennis bodies to help struggling players

T Donovan Mitchell (45) of the Utah Jazz helps Rudy Gobert (27) of the Utah Jazz from the floor on March 7, 2020 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images/AFP

Burying the hatchet of coronavirus L OS ANGELES -- Utah Jazz chief Dennis Lindsey said Tuesday that Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are ready to bury the hatchet following the feud triggered by their positive tests for COVID-19.

Gobert and Mitchell, two pillars of the Utah franchise, did not speak to each other for around one month after Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus on March 11, triggering the suspension of the NBA season.

French star Gobert had attracted widespread criticism for his conduct in the days before his positive test, which included theatrically touching multiple recording devices and microphones during a press briefing.

ADRID, Spain -- Rafael Nadal has said he views the rest of this year as "practically lost" for tennis and would even be relieved if the sport returned as normal at the start of 2021.

The men's and women's tours have been stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II and the French

Open postponed until the end of September.

But Nadal, who has won 12 of his 19 grand slam titles at Roland Garros, believes the chances of tennis restarting before the end of this year are slim.

"I hope to play as soon as possible but if I think about it logically, we travel every week from one place to another, we are in contact with hotels,

Nadal: 2020 is practically lost M

?NADAL, P10

Gobert later apologized for what he described as his "embarrassing, inexcusable" behavior, saying he had not taken the threat of the virus seriously.

Mitchell, who tested positive after Gobert, later spoke of a need for individuals to "educate themselves" and "behave responsibly."

The comments hinted at a deep rift between the two team-mates.

Mitchell subsequently admitted it had taken him a while

to "cool off" following the incident.

However Gobert and Mitchell were ready to settle their differences, Utah executive vice president of basketball Lindsey said Tuesday.

"They're ready to put this behind them, move forward, act professionally," Lindsey told media on a video conference call.

"We look forward to moving forward.

They've said their piece to each other.

They've both visited at the ownership level, ?BURYING, P10

he Women's Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed Tuesday that it and the other major international governing bodies of world tennis will raise in excess of USD6 million for players affected by the sport’s shutdown due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The WTA made the announcement in a joint statement with the ATP World Tour, International Tennis Federation (ITF), and the four Grand Slams in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"The governing bodies of world tennis have come together to raise in excess of USD6 million to create a Player Relief Program aimed at supporting players who are particularly affected by the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic," the WTA said on its website.

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after his final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem. File photo Reuters

The money will be divided evenly among men and women and will go to singles and doubles players. The WTA and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) will oversee the distribution of the funds.

Professional tennis events have been suspended until July 13 due to the pandemic.

Since first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the novel coronavirus, officially known as Covid-19, has spread to at least 187 countries and regions, with the US and Europe the hardest-hit areas.

More than 3.6 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll surpassing 257,000 and more than 1.1 million recoveries, according to data compiled

by Johns Hopkins University in the US. (Anadolu)

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

STILL DANCING

VOL.13 ISSUE 22 • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

'Last Dance' rating down slightly but still high R

atings for ESPN's documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls, "The Last Dance," remained strong Sunday but declined from the prior two weeks.

The 10-part documentary series, divided into 10 one-hour episodes, chronicles the Chicago Bulls' path to the 1997-98 NBA championship.

Episodes 5 and 6 drew 5.8 million and 5.2 million viewers, respectively, on Sunday.

The first four episodes were watched initially by 6.3 million, 5.8 million, 6.1 million and 5.7 million viewers. The odd-numbered episodes are attracting higher viewership because they are airing at 9 p.m. ET, while the even-numbered episodes are airing at 10 p.m. ET. ESPN also reported that total viewership for the initial four episodes of "The Last Dance" has nearly doubled when taking into account those who taped the documentary and watched it at a later date.

The network reported that total viewers for Episodes 1 and 2 are up more than 100 percent since Nielsen's initial rating, with Episode 3 up 84 percent and Episode 4 up 94 percent.

Chicago re-

mained the top TV market for "The Last Dance" on Sunday, with Episodes 5 and 6 drawing an 11.4 rating.

However, that was down nearly 10 percent from last week's 12.6 rating.

The next-highest ratings Sunday were recorded in Greensboro, N.C. (5.7); Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (5.5); Charlotte, N.C. (4.7); and San Diego (4.5).

Content in Sunday's episodes highlighting Jordan's prowess at New York York's Madison Square Garden and his relationship with Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant led to ratings in New York going up 11 percent and the rating in L.A. going up 12 percent vs. the first four episodes.

"The Last Dance" also generated 3.9 million interactions on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, topping all other programs for the third week in a row, according to ESPN's press release.

Craig Hodges' reacts

ESPN's new 10part documentary series on Michael

Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, "The Last Dance," has received rave reviews. However, not everyone is happy with the series.

During a recent interview on "The Odd Couple" with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker of Fox Sports Radio, former Bulls guard Craig Hodges criticized Jordan for the way that he portrayed some of his old teammates. Hodges, who played with Jordan in Chicago from 1988 to 1992, took exception to Jordan referring to the Bulls

team when he was first drafted as a "cocaine circus," while airing others' personal business.

"One of the things as players we call this a fraternity," Hodges said. "So I'm watching the first episode and I was upset about the 'cocaine circus.' That bothered me because I was thinking about the brothers who are on that picture with you who have to explain to their families who are getting ready to watch this great Michael Jordan documentary event and

they know you're on the team, and now you've got to explain that to a 12-year-old boy."

Hodges was also bothered by the fact that Jordan referred to Scottie Pippen as "selfish" for the timing of his surgery in 1997 amid a contract dispute with the front office, and that he blamed Horace Grant for leaking inside information to media members; information that was reflected in Sam Smith's book entitled, The Jordan Rules. Hodges

was also upset that he wasn't interviewed for the documentary.

"Then the Scottie Pippen part. Scottie was 'selfish'. C'mon man, c'mon," Hodges said. "And then last night with Horace, that hurt me. I'm letting MJ know that that ain't right, dude.

Horace did not deserve to take the fall for 'Jordan Rules'.

If MJ knows something else and knows Horace's motive, then tell us how Horace did it for my sake, because I'm your team?STILL, P10