Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 23 | Friday, May 8, 2020

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO Serving Servingaaseamless seamlesssociety society

NOT TAKING CHANCES

THE NBA IS PROCEEDING WITH EXTREME CAUTION

SPORTS P12

RAFA, RAFA, FEDERER FEDERER MOVE ONON TO TO MOVE THIRD ROUND THIRD ROUND SPORTSP11 SPORTSP11

SIGNS OF BOOM BOOM SRP VIOLATORS VOL.13 23••FRIDAY-SATURDAY, •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020 VOL.12 ISSUE MAY VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE59 59 MAY31-JUNE 31-JUNE1,1,2019 2019

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www.edgedavao.net www.edgedavao.net

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P 15.00 • 16 2 •PAGES P 15.00 16 PAGES

Applications Applicationsfor forbuilding, building, zoning zoningpermits permitsincrease increase

T T

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.

FSIGNS, P10

MINDANAO MINDANAO HERITAGE THROUGH HERITAGEFASHION THROUGH MODERN MODERN ► INDULGE A1FASHION

After conducting Covid-19 rapid testing to workers of food delivery service sector, the city government of Davao will stage the same testing to vendors of Agdao Public Market.

Edge Davao

29 establishments receive notice from DTI 11 in violation of price freeze advisory ►INDULGE A1

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

STORY ON P2

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 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

A health worker gets blood sample for rapid mass testing at Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Wednesday (6 May 2020). The rapid test is being provided by the provincial government for medical and local government frontliners, and for residents exposed to patients infected with COVID-19. Those

found positive in the rapid test will then undergo a swab for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for confirmation. MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH CABRERA

SRP VIOLATORS F

SPMC gears up for the ‘new normal’

29 establishments receive notice from DTI 11 in violation of price freeze advisory

By MAYA M. PADILLO

A

total of 29 establishments were sent a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) for selling consumer goods with prices exceeding suggested retail price (SRP).

DTI 11 director Rachel Remitio, in an interview with government-run Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) 87.5 on Thursday, said the agency has been monitoring 47 establishments since the declaration of State of Public Health Emergency last March. These establishments are both mall-based and stand -alone supermarkets, “We do daily monitoring to check on the establishments’ compliance on the price freeze advisory,” she said.

Remitio explained that the issuance of LOI is the first step given to an establishment with products or items sold over the SRP. She added that the 29 establishments were given 72 hours to explain in writing why their prices exceed the SRP. Otherwise, they will be given a formal charge or notice of violation.

“Kanang notice nagpa-matuod naa sila’y gi-violate, kay wala man sila nagtubag sa among first inquiry,” she said.

Remitio assured

that DTI will go though the process of checking and investigating and if they find out that an establishment has violated the advisory, the agency will met appropriate fines.

“Kana sila (29) ginapa- explain ug kung makapakita sila ug basis sa amoa like delivery receipt ‘na mam sir dili mi musunod sa inyong price advisory kay pag deliver pa lang sa amoa mao na presyo’. Kung ingon ana we will forward the concern to our head office to verify kung ang distributor or manufacturers ba ingon ani ang presyo nga ginahatag,” she explained.

After issuing the warning, Remitio said the 29 establishments have lowered their prices.

DTI, Department of Agriculture (DA),

and Department of Health (DOH), citing the mandate of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10121) and the Price Act (Republic Act 7581, as amended), have issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2020-01 entitled “Price Freeze under a State of Calamity throughout the Philippines due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019”.

Pursuant to the JMC, prices of basic necessities under the jurisdiction of the DTI, DA, and DOH are frozen at their prevailing prices as of March 8, 2020 until May 15, 2020, unless sooner lifted by the President.

During this period, the implementing agencies shall ensure ?SRP, P10

ollowing the National Strategy on addressing COVID19 in the Philippines, the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), a COVID facility with a sub national laboratory catering to the entire Mindanao, is starting to put in place policies and procedures as part of embracing the new normal brought about by the corona virus pandemic.

Speaking at the One Davao on COVID19 Virtual Presser yesterday (May 5), SPMC’s Chief Training Officer Dr. Maria Elinore Concha bared that the SPMC is now preparing for its new normal operations. “ We will then have tele-appointments by virtual consultations as we still remain a COVID hospital while some units of the facility continue to operate for non-COVID,” Dr. Concha said.

SPMC will also impose unauthorized entry zones for its COVID units. A strict disinfection will be conducted

prior the opening of the said facility.

“Amongst our staff and those who will be entering the facility will be asked to declared their health condition to monitor symptoms. Temperature check and establishing handwashing zones will be part of the new normal at SPMC”.

Dr. Concha highlighted that based on the World Health Organization document guiding countries to prepare and embrace the new normal, it is not just the sole role of the COVID facility, but it has urged all sectors especially schools, workplaces, and other essential places must establish preventive measures.

As of May 4, the SPMC reported 126 confirmed cases. It also reports on its daily bulletin the number of cases per administrative district in Davao City. Buhangin has the most number of cases with 38; Talomo with 34 cases; Poblacion with 21; Agdao with ?SPMC, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

3

Eagle center facing funds shortage

By MAYA M. PADILLO

O

perations of the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in Malagos, Baguio District is now at a near standstill due to the shortage of funds amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Although, the center has a steady set of government, private sector, and international funders, along with eagle sponsors, corporate and donors, but the expanse of work requires more funding.

Likewise, the proDennis Salvador, gates. tocols implemented PEF executive direcThe center has including the entor, said the center is been constantly seek- hanced community now losing a substan- ing partners and do- quarantine (ECQ) hintial chunk of conser- nors for financial sup- der the center to revation money off its port for its operations. ceive assistance.

“Additionally, we cannot move around to rescue eagles in trouble nor support our forest guards whose families are now likely to be starving,” he told Edge Davao.

Salvador said the center is into online fundraising activities to make sure it doesn’t lose its highly trained and passionate staff.

He also said the center is using digital

platforms to maintain public interest and especially to drive home the point that this pandemic is explicably linked to human abuse of nature.

“We are all so interconnected that whatever we do locally can affect everyone else globally,” he said.

With the expected shift of ECQ to general community quarantine (GCQ) on May 15, Salvador said they will

re-double their efforts on all fronts to make up such as adjusting the center’s regulations to conform with the implementation of the “new normal.”

The 8.4 hectare facility is located within the Malagos watershed and it serves as a conservation and breeding facility for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and other birds of prey.

After conducting Covid-19 rapid testing to workers of food delivery service sector, the city government of Davao will stage the same testing to vendors of Agdao Public Market. Edge Davao

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

Flat to slightly negative GDP Q1 movement seen The country’s annual inflation eases to a five-month low in April, reflecting the drop in global oil prices and weaker economic activity due to the coronavirus outbreak. Edge Davao

E

conomists of First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) forecast a “flat to slightly negative” change in the Philippines’ first quarter 2020 output as a result of the global pandemic.

In their joint publication called The Market Call for April, the economists said the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) brought governments around the world to unchartered territory.

This, after govern-

ments implemented various levels of community lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus.

These lockdowns, the report said, “caused high unemployment, large cutbacks in production, income and spending

which in turn egged governments to engage in unprecedented deficit spending.”

It said producers were also burdened by supply chain disruptions.

Malacanang implemented a community quarantine for Metro Manila starting March 15, and an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for mainland Luzon beginning March 17 until April 12.

The quarantine has been extended from April 12 to May 15, 2020 as Covid-19 cases continue to rise and to give authorities

more time to assess the situation after the testing capacity has improved.

The report said Luzon accounted for 72.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GPD) in 2018.

With the lockdown, the report projects a “flat to slightly negative movement in GDP in Q1 (first quarter) since the lockdown of Metro Manila (and two days later of the entire Luzon) took effect only in the last 16 days of Q1.”

“Agricultural and mineral product exports from Mindanao will contribute to this

growth,” it said.

The government is set to announce the gross domestic product (GDP) figure for the first quarter this year on Thursday.

Last year, first quarter growth slowed to 5.6 percent from year-ago’s 6.5 percent because of the impact of the delayed budget approval, which hampered the implementation of several infrastructure projects, among others.

The report forecasts inflation not to dip below 2 percent in the second quarter this year, from an average of 2.7 percent in the

first quarter, because of supply constraints.

It, however, said “neither do we see much upward pressure with weak aggregate demand and ultra-low crude oil prices with supply overhang despite an OPEC-Russia-US production cut agreement in April.”

It also discounts any cut in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates in the remaining months of the first half after the total of 125 basis points slash since the start of the year.

The report also forecasts additional ?FLAT, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

'20 deficit at around P1 trillion: DOF chief

G

overnment expenditures for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is expected to increase the budget deficit to around PHP1 trillion this 2020.

This was disclosed

by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III Wednesday but assured the public that the government was in a good financial position even before the pandemic hit.

The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has set a 3.2-percent budget deficit cap for this year amounting to PHP677.6 billion.

Dominguez said there are lots of numbers that economic managers are currently looking at, but cited “the first number you have to figure out (is) what exactly is going to be our deficit for the year.”

“And our estimate is about a trillion pesos, around a trillion,” he said.

Dominguez said the government’s four-pillar Covid-19 response is being funded by the tax collections, the dividends from government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and loans, among others.

He said that although collections of taxes have been delayed due to postponement of filing of income tax returns (ITR) and other related documents because of the quarantine period, the government will still be able to collect these.

He added the government was able to receive record-high PHP120 billion dividends from GOCCs, and this will be a plus for the Covid-19 re-

sponse program.

The government has signed several loan agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB), among others.

These include the loan pact with ADB that allows the Duterte government to access up to USD1.5 billion in budgetary support for Covid-19 programs and the USD100-million loan from the WB. Dominguez said they are also in discussions with the governments of Japan, Korea, China, and France for “project-based bilateral financing.”

He declined to give specifics on where the government’s Covid-19 response financing currently is since they are still awaiting the reports until end-April, but vowed to disclose this once the data is available.

“We are exactly where we want to be,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dominguez said Finance officials “are willing to look” at the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA) that Senators plan to pass to help companies recover from the economic impact of the global pandemic.

CITIRA is part of the government’s tax reform program that aims to correct the country’s tax system.

Dominguez earlier said Senate Bill No. 1357, or the CITIRA, targets to make incentives given to com-

Medical frontliners check the food items they ordered from a mobile delivery service rider outside Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City. Edge Davao

panies more targeted, which will allow the country to be more competitive in the region.

If this bill is ap-

proved this year, the special tax rate on gross income will be increased immediately this year from the present five percent

to eight percent then to nine percent next year, and to 10 percent by 2022.

On Wednesday, Dominguez said they

are “willing to look at it (CITIRA) and most likely cut it further more quickly than originally planned.”

(PNA)

6 VANTAGE VANTAGE EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL.13 23••FRIDAY, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 8, 2020 VOL.13ISSUE ISSUE 10 MARCH 2020

THE ABS CBN TIMELINE June 14, 1950: Republic Act No. 511 is passed giving a temporary permit for Bolinao Electronics Corporation to operate a television station in the Philippines. The firm is renamed Alto Broadcasting System in 1953, patterned after the first names of its new owners Aleli and Tony Quirino, the brother of former President Elpidio Quirino.

February 24, 1957: Lawyer and businessman Eugenio Lopez Sr. buys the company from the Quirinos. This leads to the merger of ABS and Chronicle Broadcasting Network or CBN. June 21, 1969: RA 5730 becomes law, which converts Bolinao Electronics Corporation’s franchise into ABS-CBN. September 21, 1972: ABS-CBN, along with other networks and affiliate stations, are told to go off the air while media assets are seized as then-President Ferdinand Marcos puts the entire nation under martial law. Media content is controlled by the state.

September 16, 1986: ABS-CBN resumes daily broadcasts nearly seven months after a "people power" revolt toppled the Marcos regime.

March 30, 1995: President Fidel Ramos signs RA 7966 granting a 25year franchise to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. The renewal comes five years ahead of the expiry of its franchise. This took effect May 4, 1995, taking into account the 15-day window after its publication in a newspaper.

September 11, 2014: Isabela Representative Giorgidi Aggabao files House Bill 4997 under the 16th Congress, in the first attempt to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise ahead of its March 2020 expiration. This does not get past the committee level.

November 10, 2016: Rep. Micaela Violago of the second district of Nueva Ecija files House Bill 4349 seeking to renew the network’s franchise, followed by a similar bill drafted by brothers Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles and PBA Party-List Rep. Jericho Nograles. Both remain at the committee level.

EDITORIAL

bano Jr. apologizes to the estimated 11,000 workers of ABS-CBN for delays in discussing the franchise renewal. He says the pending measures are already being discussed among solons behind closed doors.

February 18, 2020: Calida asks the Supreme Court to issue a gag order to stop ABS-CBN and its representatives from discussing the quo warranto case which he filed against the network. In his "very urgent motion," he asks the high court to issue the order that bans "parties and persons acting on their behalf" from releasing statements discussing the merits of his plea to forfeit ABS-CBN's existing franchise. He said this violates the sub judice rule, which prohibits anyone from publicly assessing an ongoing case to avoid pre-judgment. ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. were given up to five days from receipt of the new petition to submit their response to the gag order plea.

February 20, 2020: ABS-CBN CEO and president Carlo Katigbak admits the media company's shortcomings and vows to correct them.

February 24, 2020: Guevarra tells the Senate Committee on Public Services that the National Telecommunications Commission can give a provisional authority for ABS-CBN to continue operating. He added that based on "equity," the network should be allowed to stay on air even when its franchise expires on May 4, 2020.

February 26, 2020: The House of Representatives writes to the NTC asking to issue the network a provisional permit so that it can continue broadcasting pending the passage of a bill renewing its franchise.

March 5, 2020: Lawyer Larry Gadon files a “writ of prohibition," asking the Supreme Court to stop efforts of House members authorizing NTC to issue a provisional permit for ABS-CBN's continued operations.

March 10, 2020: NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba told the House Committee on Legislative Franchises that it will issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN, saying it will heed Guevarra's advice.

March 11, 2020: Congress goes on recess without passing any of the bills granting a fresh 25-year franchise to ABS-CBN.

Be significant

July 1, 2019: Violago refiles her bill for the franchise renewal on the second day of the 18th Congress, with 20 other House members signing up as co-authors of the measure. Ten other bills are filed to give ABS-CBN a fresh legal mandate.

With the2019: situation facing the July 28, Senator the RalphPhilippines Recto files a is similar bill toamidst extend ABScoronavirus threat, it takes everyone’s utmost patience, CBN’s franchise for another 25 years. Sen. Leila De Lima later asked to understanding and compassion be co-author of the measure. to get the country through the hill.

Hence, businesses must first take consideration of their workers December 4, 2019: Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez,why chairman of the House rather than their profits or losses.

The reason the community Committee on Legislative Franchises, theythe would not workers tackle the quarantine is not working 100 percentsays is that lowly bills onto ABS-CBN the end of that year.

Alan and Peter are forced report until to work under fear ofHouse losingSpeaker their jobs Cayetano says the measures can be taken up early 2020. not earning their keep. The spectre of having no mey to feed their families is a far bigger threat than dying because of the virus.

February 10, 2020: Solicitor General Calida heads to the high court Inwith theaminds of the petition ordinary folks:ABS-CBN, “We willsaying die just the same.” quo warranto against it committed two Only those who have enough food in their pantry, thoseallowed who grave violations of its existing franchise. He claims the network can afford panicto shop, and whoby can afford to order online foreigntoowners control thethose company selling Philippine Depositary for deliveries will survive.

But for the bigger chunk of the society, Receipts to them, and offering KBO as an entirely new TV channel. The the equation remains “no work, food.”it did not violate the law. The network refutes Calida’s claim,no saying courtitasks respond the points raised in10 10companies days.

Thus, is a ABS-CBN welcometo relief thattothere are initially made the supreme sacrifice of to compensate their workers during February 12,enhanced 2020: Committee Vice Chairman Isabela Rep. Antonio Althe Luzon-wide community quarantine period.

This will greatly help those in Metro Manila where people still go to work

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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

The 10 firms reported by the Department of Labor to have made

the 4, compensation package Aboitiz, Asian Terminal/Solaire May 2020: ABS-CBN’s franchiseare expires.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry theGroup government will implement whatever the deciResortRoque Hotel,says Ayala of Companies, JG Summit, Jollibee, Lucio sion the NTC will beV. onPangilinan the fate of the media San giant.Miguel Corporation, Tan of Group, Manny Group, SM and Udenna Group.These firms answered the call of President

May 5, 2020: NTC orders ABS-CBN stop its broadcast due Rodrigo Duterte to take caretoof their workersoperations and employees to its expired franchise, and gives a 10-day window for the media giant during this time of national emergency. to explain why the regulator should not recall its occupied frequencies.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III lauded the companies and said their compassion and ABS-CBN good example inspire other Postcript: Apart from its flagship channel,should ABS-CBN also openterprises whose source of wealth is the labor of their workforce. erates other brands such as ABS-CBN Sports and Action, DZMM TelWhile bigchannels companies can take hit,oritANC, is aCinema different story eradyo, cable ABS-CBN Newssome Channel One, for smaller firms and this is where the government should come Jeepney TV, Knowledge Channel, Metro Channel, Myx, and global chanin. For there are already some formulation to this effect being nel TFC.sure, The network is also offering digital TV boxes which carry KBO, a channel airing Filipino movies. This was one of the two issues raised done. by the General askingto thedo high court to revokeisABS-CBN’s ForSolicitor now, the bestinthing for everyone to try to be franchise. significantly helpful instead of adding up to the problem and it all starts with following orders.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

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

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Photography

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Layout/Cartoons Cartoonist Correspondent 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 ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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

May 3, 2020: On World Press Freedom Day, Calida tells NTC officials that they may face graft charges if they grant a provisional permit to ABS-CBN after its 25-year franchise expires, saying the network will despite have "no the validorder. and existing legislative franchise" beyond May 4.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

7

WUHAN VIRUS AND US GERM WARFARE Weeks after the novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, conspiracy theorists started to spin yarns claiming the health issue was part of a covert biochemical project the Chinese government was working on but inadvertently leaked.

On the other end of the grapevine, news of American germ warfare being tested on the Chinese also circulated social media, escalating fears both the Chinese leak and the American virus propagation were related.

It is a known fact that for decades the US, apprehensive of a possible germ attack from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, started its biochemical laboratory rests, even building a small city to pursue it. When defense leaders expressed fears the experiment could go haywire and harm soldiers in combat and lethally affect civilians via airborne germs, the project was shelved, at least according to public announcements.

Outside official test trials, the first reported public germ infection took place in 1984 in Oregon, USA, and involved a Filipino American nurse known in Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records as ‘Nurse Mengele,’ so named after Adolf Hitler’s ‘angel of death,’ Josef Mengele. She was a trusted lieutenant of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a native of India, whose cult was the Rajneeshees and its followers the sannyasins. Her participation in the poisoning was detailed by Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg, and William Broad in Germs (2001): The [FBI] investigation eventually established that the cult had experimented in 1984 and 1985 with

poison, chemicals, and bacteria.

The commune’s germ-warfare chief was a thirty-eight-year-old American nurse of Philippine origin… Ma Anand Puja, whose real name was Diane Ivonne Onang, supervised the medical care at the commune. One

reports also of victims affected by Salmonella typhimurium, another strain. Her ‘designer strain,’ was described as follows: Once the rod-shaped bacteria entered a victim’s body, the invaders multiplied wildly over hours

salmonellosis could be severe in the young, the elderly, and patients with weakened resistance.

The sect’s founder or guru, meanwhile,was described as a “balding, nerded Indian with a religious charlatan’s permanent smile,

of the ‘Big Moms,’ as the commune’s three women leaders were known, Puja wielded enormous power.

A stocky woman with narrow eyes, a fixed sneer, a jet-black hair, Punya known to some sannyasins as ‘Nurse Mengele.’ She was obsessed with poisons, germs, and disease.

Onang’s salmonella, propagated by dusting them on restaurant salads, was found to be an entirely different strain, although there were

and days, damaging tissues and overwhelming their cell walls that let them seize hold of he mucuos membranes of the colon and small intestine and then force their way inside. The toxins caused the intstines to exude waves of watery fluid. Typically, abdominal pain began anwhere from twelve to forty-eight hours after infection, followed by diarrhea, chills, fever, and sometimes vomiting. Lasting up to four days,

preached that it was blessed to be rich. He owned a collection of diamond-studded watches and ninety Rolls-Royce,” as was able to buy a 64,000-acre ranch in Wasco County, in The Dalles, Oregon, USA. In his testimony as federal witness under the state’s protection program, David Berry Knapp, mayor of Rajneeshpuram, Oregon, testified that Onang “had given Haldol, a powerful tranquilizer, to many

of the violent, mentally disturbed homeless people whom the cult had brought to the ranch to help win the county elections,” adding she and her assistant ordered the sannyasins to inject “hypodermic syringes filled with the prescription dug into beer kegs and poured tea consumed by the homeless,” including infusions in mashed potatoes eaten by the victims, who were treated as subjects or guinea pigs.

Rajneeshpuram is the name of the town the cult built from scratch.

In the end, Manila-born Onang, who also acted as secretary-general of Rajneesh Medical Corp., and her assistant, identified as Ma Anand Sheela, received maximum twenty-year sentences and fines to charges of attempted murder, illegal wiretapping, the poisoning of a judge, causing the spread of salmonella outbreak, and other crimes; she served twenty-nine months of incarceration, including a jail term in Germany where she was first arrested before being extradited to the United States. For his part, Bhagwan got a ten-year suspended prison sentence, was heavily fined, and permanently left the US after serving sentence.

Later, according to The New York Times, the virus was part of the National Biosafety Laboratory, inside Wuhan Institute of Virology that escaped. Whether the Wuhan virus was part of a clandestine Chinese biowarfare experiment or coming from leaked Chinese lab tests, the characteristics it carried, especially its days-long incubation, closely replicated the manifestations observed in early biochemical experiments the US conducted decades ago.

NEVER WAIT FOR TOMORROW “The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind – jump in!” – Charles R. Swindoll *** Who says age – that number which most women fear (sorry, ladies if most of you are singled out) – matters? Look at Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao who, at 41, still manages to win his boxing match against a younger opponent.

If you’re like the world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, age also doesn’t matter at all. He was already 68 when he created his most famous structure – in about two hours. But hold your breath first. It actually took him long to do it.

Brandon Spector, in an article published in the widely-circulated Reader’s Digest, shares the story: “In 1934, Pittsburgh department store magnate Edgar Kaufmann Sr. hired Wright to design a retreat around the waterfalls of his forested Pennsylvania property. Wright visited the site and assured Kaufmann he had big plans. In truth, he hadn’t drawn a thing.

That’s how trouble started brewing. “Weeks became months, and on a Sunday morning, September 22, 1935, Kaufmann spontaneously decided to visit Wright’s studio and check his progress.

He would arrive before lunch, Kaufmann explained over the phone, and was very excited to see the designs.”

If you were in Wright’s shoes, what would be your response. I know what you are thinking. Read the rest of the story: “With nervous apprentices watching and Kaufmann hours from his door, Wright finished breakfast, then drew up the plans for what became Fallingwater – an icon of modern design and a US National Historic Landmark.”

What Wright did – the delaying tactic – is procrastination. Its synonyms include dawdle, dally, defer, drag, linger, loiter, postpone, protract, retard, stall, suspend, tarry, temporize, and wait. Dictionary defines it as “delay or postpone action.” It also means “put off doing something.”

Many famous men have shared their thoughts on the subject. “Nev-

There are so many people – famous at that – who procrastinate for various reasons. Bestselling author Paulo Coelho admitted, “It was my failure that first kept me from attempting the master work. Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.”

Miranda July, the woman be-

fell to the ground face-first, with my eyes open. Motionless, I watched ants hurry in and out of a hole and I knew that standing up again would be a thousand times harder than the dragon or the swamp and so I did not even try. I just clicked on one thing after another after another.”

More often than not, writers have this habit of doing things “lat-

er put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well,” said American humorist and novelist Mark Twain. US President Abraham Lincoln also said, “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”

Two other American presidents did say on the subject. Thomas Jefferson, stated, “Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.” Dwight David Eisenhower also said, “Neither a wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.”

Wright, however, is not alone.

hind It Chooses You, shared her own experience: “The funny thing about my procrastination was that I was almost done with the screenplay. I was like a person who had fought dragons and most limbs and crawled through swamps and now, finally, the castle was visible. I could see tiny children waving flags on the balcony; all I had to do was walk across a field to get to them.

Then, something unusual happened. The American film director, screenwriter, singer, actress, author and artist went on: “But all of a sudden, I was very, very sleepy. And the children couldn’t believe their eyes as I folded down to my knees and

er on.” American playwright and essayist Paul Rudnick wrote: “As a writer, I need an enormous amount of time alone. Writing is 90% procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials. It’s a matter of doing everything you can to avoid writing, until it is about four in the morning and you reach the point where you have to write.”

To procrastinate once is a while is alright. But doing it for several times that it becomes a habit, well, that’s another story. “Habitual procrastination will readily testify to all the lost opportunities, missed deadlines, failed relationships and

even monetary losses incurred just because of one nasty habit of putting things off until it is often too late,” wrote Stephen Richards, author of The Secret of Getting Started: Strategies to Triumph over Procrastination.

Do what you do today and don’t wait for tomorrow. Remember, we have given today and that’s why it is called present. Yesterday is gone and you cannot relive the past.

Tomorrow is still out there and what if, as the line of a song goes, “tomorrow never comes”?

Now, let me tell you a story shared by William Barclay: It came to pass that Satan was testing all his little devils on the methods they would use to get people into the burning hell. “What trick or like would you use?” he asked them.

A little devil pupil raised his hand and answered: “I’d tell them there is no heaven. Heaven is just a mere imagination.”

“You’re crazy,” Satan shouted.

“Deep down inside everyone believes that they are one day going to be rewarded in heaven for all the good work they do. Saying there is no heaven does not work.”

Another volunteered, “I’d tell them there is no hell.” Satan again fired back: “That’s no good either.

Instinctively, everyone knows that someday – in a hell – evil and evildoers are going to get what they deserve. It is going to catch up. Forget about that argument.”

A third pupil stood and said, “I’d tell people: have you fling now and convert later. No hurry. Take your time.”

Satan smiled and declared, “Hurrah! There’s a man who will win. Get up to earth and get to work.”

Now, get to work. Do the things you have to accomplish today. Never wait for tomorrow. For as Scarlett O’Hara (portrayed by Oscar-winning actress Vivien Leigh) in 1939’s Gone With The Wind, “Tomorrow is another day.”

8 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Malayan Colleges Mindanao ready to provide flexible online learning amidst Covid-19

(Left to right) Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, College of Arts and Science, Faculty, Asst. Prof.

Denie Forton, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Former Dean, College

M

alayan Colleges Mindanao, a Mapúa School is all geared up for the upcoming school year amidst the Coronavirus-2019 pandemic as they utilize their established flexible learning system.

In 2018, Malayan Colleges Mindanao pioneered blended learning in Davao City, inheriting this system from its sister-school Mapúa University.

Transitioning to a flexible online curriculum amidst enhanced community quarantine is fairly uncomplicated as MCM has been accustomed to employing such practices through its Digital Learning Days – days in which students can remotely accomplish tasks and academic requirements through the school’s online digital platforms. The aforementioned practice was also previously employed during the successive earthquakes in 2019 when students and faculty had to be temporarily distanced from the institution to ensure

their safety.

“Blending online with on-site learning enabled us to cater to a wider spectrum of learners. Those who encounter difficulty in learning during classes have the chance to go over the lessons in the comfort of their homes and catch up with the rest of class.

It provides our students with more avenues for learning and varied ways to demonstrate their learning outcomes.

Online learning also helped us cope with the harsh realities of life – earthquakes, storms, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Our system makes up for the learners who have the resources and the desire to continue learning remotely without compromising their safety

of Arts and Science and Director of Learning Environments and Innovations, Prof. Abigail Joy Rodelas-Angelia and Blackboard, Chief Client Officer Mr. Tim Atkin.

and health.” shares Engr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations of Malayan Colleges Mindanao on the institution’s use of blended-learning and its benefits.

MCM’s digital platforms are managed by a Learning Management System known as Blackboard Learn which the MCM Community has become very familiar with.

MCM has been utilizing and developing this system since its establishment and was awarded the 2018 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Optimizing the Student Experience at the Blackboard’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference in Singapore which honors institutions whose educational and administrative innovations have markedly improved the total learner experience.

“MCM was intentionally built for 21st century learners.

Their learning habits, interests, motivations, and challenges were carefully considered

in crafting the different modalities where learning can be implemented. Some prefer the traditional faceto-face classroom sessions where they can personally interact with their professors and classmates, while some are more active in a virtual classroom set-up. MCM provides both.” says Engr. Dodjie Maestrecampo.

Learning management system is utilized by the institution to bridge the gaps between students and teachers in the digital realm.

“Not only does it (MCM) welcome traditional learners, but it also welcomes digital learners. May you be a student who is used to reading books or a student who is used to utilizing digital platforms… Students are able to utilize technology for their education, to communicate with your teachers and classmates through the app where we are able to gain new information and download our power-points that

we discussed in our face-to-face sessions…

MCM is very brave to be able to incorporate this new technology into our traditional learning.” shares Franchesco Laquinario Lu, BS Industrial Engineering Student of Malayan Colleges Mindanao, on MCM’s blended-learning system.

Students accessing online lessons through MCM’s Learning Management System “The one thing that made my student life so great at Malayan Colleges Mindanao is the fact that we have a half-day schedule. Having this type of schedule, coupled with our Blackboard Learn, gave me more control over my time.

I was able to balance my academics and social life without sacrificing either. I believe that with this kind of training, the school is priming us to have better time management for the future.” says Uean Carlo Bacsal, Grade 12 Senior High School Student of Malayan Colleges Mindanao, on the benefits of his half-day schedule along w i t h Blackboard Learn.

This system along with t h e

digital contents from the world’s leading publishers like Wiley and Cengage and Elsevier—with more than 12,000 e-books and courseware and hundreds of thousands of e-journal articles— helps combine online and on-site learning.

These and other digital learning tools have helped the students of Malayan Colleges Mindanao achieve their academic goals since 2018. For the upcoming school year, MCM students will be provided with unlimited access to 3,600+ courses and specializations and certifications from 190+ leading universities and companies through Coursera, as Malayan Colleges Mindanao through Mapúa University has partnered with the world-class online learning platform to provide its students with transformative learning free of charge.

For students and teachers without stable internet connec?DIGITAL, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

9 SUBURBIA RISING EDGEDAVAO

DavNor seen to host more testing centers

D

TURNOVER: DA-HVCDP XI Regional Coordinator Merriel Aglibot (2nd right) and Tugbok Agriculture Officer Pedro Cabang, Jr. (extreme right) turnover garden tools and nursery kit to Councilor

AVAO DEL NORTE -- The province of Davao del Norte holds a “promising” position of accomplishing substantial number of COVID-19 testing with the presence of centers projected to operate soon.

Guesting in a special edition of Kapihan Catalino Genayas, of Barangay Tacunan, Davao City. Also in photo sa DavNor, Davao Reis Sylvia Bardinas of Tugbok agriculture office. gional Medical Center (DRMC) center chief, Dr. Bryan Dalid revealed having been notified last week that DRMC can run its GenXpert machine for COVID-19 testing.

Developed in the United States through the Global Fund, the GenXpert machine has the growing interest barangays where res- been used for tubercuof urban dwellers in idents shares both losis (TB) testing and vegetable production knowledge and re- DRMC already has this even beyond the ECQ," sources in establish- machine even before Cabang said. ing and sustaining its the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. DA-XI HVCDP co- production," she said Dalid explained.

“Because of COVID ordinator Merriel while citing recently Aglibot said recent the established commu- pandemic, they have turnover of garden nal garden in Brgy. configured this and tools and nursery kits Sasa maintained by they made cartridges to seven barangays in the Davao Interna- for COVID (testing),” Davao City is just the tional Airport Com- he said during the Kainitial phase as the munity Cooperative. program targets to Barangay Tacunan cover 58 more baran- councilor Catalino gays in Davao City and Genayas said the gar384 barangays across den tools and nursthe region. ery kits they have reAVAO OCCIDEN"As part of the ceived will be further TAL -- The mass Plant, Plant, Plant boost their existing rapid diagnosprogram, the DA in- vegetable production. tic testing has started tends to further boost "Our barangay had today for the 2,800 existing community been promoting back- populace in a lowvegetable gardens and yard gardening since land interior village establish new ones to 2003. We also main- in Malita, Davao Occienable more house- tain a communal veg- dental where the first holds to learn and etable garden which reported confirmed produce their own we have now expand- COVID-19 case in the food," Aglibot said. ed from 200 square province, came from.

"DA-HVCDP will meter to 1/4 hectare," Davao Occidental be assisting the lo- he said while stress- Governor Claude Baucal government units ing that amid emerg- tista immediately or(LGUs) in establishing ing crisis there is a dered a lockdown in at least one commu- need for communities Barangay Bolila in the nal vegetable garden to produce their own municipality of Malin the 384 identified food. | DA-RAFIS 11 ita, after the 65-year old female resident, who tested positive of COVID-19, died on Monday (May 4) at 212 was for the sake of agency of DOLE which the Southern Philipdisplaced and strand- OFWs can apply for pines Medical Center ed OFWs)” Gatdula online, no need for (SPMC).

Bautista also said. personal presence According to him, which often involves promptly directed for the swab testing of the Department Order long lines. specifies the persons He encouraged the immediate family eligible to apply for those who may be el- members and the pathe P10,000 cash aid igible to go to DOLE. tient’s watcher who which includes docu- gov.ph or OWWA Face- are now undergoing mented and undocu- book Page to see the 14-day quarantine.

As of this writing, mented OFWs. guidelines on how to He added that avail of the P10,000 the governor’s executive assistant, Marivic the cash assistance cash assistance. is a “DOLE-AKAP for According to OW- Hubac confirmed that house-to-house OFWs” program by WA’s report, 892 ben- the ?OFW’S, P10 rapid diagnostic testOWWA, an attached

DA to establish 384 ‘gulayan sa barangay’ in Davao Region

T

o bring food production at the heart of urban and rural communities, the Department of Agriculture in Region XI (DA-XI) launches anew the Gulayan sa Barangay Program (GBP).

In a simple launching ceremony held May 5 at Tugbok's municipal agriculture office, Davao City, DA-XI through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) in partnership with Davao City Agriculture Office turnover garden tools such as garden hoe, showvel, scythe, and wheel borrow including nursery kits and vegetable seeds to seven barangays in the district.

These include barangays Anggalan, Balingaeng, Manuel Guinga, New Valencia, Tacunan and Talandang all in Tugbok District, Davao City.

Tugbok district municipal agriculture officer Pedro Cabang, Jr. said the urban agriculture project aligns with the 10-point agenda of Mayor Sara Duterte, which include the intensified food production not only in the rural areas but to include urban centers.

He said the local agriculture office launched in March the "Stay at home, magtanum" to engage residents in urban agriculture while the city is under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

"The re-launching of the GBP will sustain

OFWs can still avail of P10T Cash Aid-DOLE

D

AVAO DEL NORTE, May 6 (PIA) – The P10,000 cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been given and is still available for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have been displaced or stranded due to the COVID19 pandemic.

This was announced by Henjie B. Gatdula, Senior Labor

and Employment Officer of DOLE-Davao del Norte, during the latest edition of Pakigsayod Radio 911 interview aired and streamlined at PTV DavNor 48 on May 6, 2020.

“So kaning naay recently gi-issue Department Order No. 212, gihatag para sa mga displaced pud or stranded na OFWs (This recently issued Department Order No.

pihan with Provincial Governor Edwin Jubahib, Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon.

“I know that this the first time that you are hearing this, mga three days ago I was informed that we are approved also,” he added.

Dr. Dalid had yet to inform the local chief executives when would DRMC run the GenXpert for COVID-19 testing.

He assured the LCEs of DRMC assistance to acquire the Department of Health (DOH) accreditation for Kapalong District Hospital to run its GenXpert machine also for COVID testing.

Dr. Dalid made it clear that the GenXpert machine of DRMC is not for rapid testing but it has been reconfigured based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test standards , “however ang gold standard is the one we are building at DRMC with UP in collabora?DAVNOR, P10

Davao Occ villagers get rapid tests after first COVID-19 case

D

ing of the village residents commenced today as instructed by Bautista.

During Tuesday’s (May 5) interview over Davao City Disaster Radio, the governor assured that the province has enough supplies for the rapid testing and swab tests as part of the measures that the provincial government has prepared while enforcing a general community quarantine in the entire province for the period May 1-15, 2020.

Bautista was saddened by the death of the first confirmed COVID-19 case, after having done all precautionary measures and having zero incident for about two and a half months.

“For about two and a half months, we have adhered to the national and regional policies. But this could not really be avoided,” the governor lamented as he reported the news.

He said that the patient thought she ?DAVOC, P10

10

EDGEDAVAO

SRP from 2

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

SPMC from 2

that the price freeze is strictly implemented and enforced. These basic necessities include, among others, food, water, agricultur-

al products, medicine, and medical supplies.

The provisions of the JMC apply to all persons, natural and juridical, including

those using an internet platform or other medium, who sell or offer for sale basic necessities.

“Kung kinsa tong

makit-an nga nagpataas ug presyo above the SRP or above the price freeze advisory makadawat ug notice,” Remitio said.

12; Toril with 7; and Talomo with 6.

SPMC also reported single case in each of these cities and municipalities outside

Davao City: Matanao, Davao del Sur, Digos, Davao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro City, and Abra.

(PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)

25-basis-point reduction in the key rates in the early part of the second half this year to end the year at 2.5 percent.

The BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) slashed the central bank’s key policy rates in a bid to help lift domestic

growth from the impact of the global pandemic.

Meanwhile, the report forecasts the government’s budget deficit to account for about 7 to 8 percent of domestic output, higher than the government’s 3.2-percent target, “as tax reve-

nues suffer from lack of production due to the lockdown.”

“Nevertheless, the government still has the ability to borrow more from both domestic and foreign sources in order to boost its Covid-19 response program,” it said.

It projects government spending to rise “with subsidies and rebooting of infrastructure spending.”

“However, the debt-to-GDP ratio will rise to a still reasonable level of 46-48 percent from 41.5 percent in 2019,” it added.

(PNA)

tion of the local governments of Davao del Norte”.

He was referring to the COVID-19 testing center set up in collaboration with the University of the Philippines (UP) Philippine Genome Center and with funding support from the local government of Davao del Norte, and the cities of Samal, Panabo and Tagum.

A laboratory of bio-safety level 2, this COVID-19 testing center at DRMC will run under the accreditation of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) “by the second week of June this year”.

“Dili ni basta basta kay bio safety level 2 lab (This is not ordinary because this is of bio-safety level 2; this is a bio-molecular lab-

oratory),” he emphasized.

He viewed having more testing centers as an advantage in “disposing of patients” whose test results would be “swiftly” known without having to wait for results from another testing centers outside of the province.

“This would be the first time that in one province outside of Metro Manila, there is a

number of testing centers,” he said as looked forward of successfully helping Kapalong District Hospital acquire DOH accreditation for its GenXpert machine.

“So very promising in terms of testing centers ang atong probinsya (Our province is very promising in terms of testing centers),” he said. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

could not be affected of the deadly disease because she had no travel history, but he added that the patient had comorbidities of hypertension and heart condition, and that she suffered from stroke.

Bautista bared that the patient was already in a bad state of health condition and was half paralyzed before she was admitted to SPMC on April 30, 2020.

He said that based on their assessment,

the patient could have acquired the disease during the four-day confinement at SPMC, adding that “the patient was frail and vulnerable at age 65.”

According to the Department of Health’s (DOH-XI) profiles of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Davao Region as of 5:00pm of May 5, the history of exposure of the said patient is still under investigation and the onset of symptoms was on March 16, 2020.

Bautista assured that the patient’s family will definitely receive assistance from the provincial LGU. “We will shoulder the expenses for the COVID-19 patients. In fact, we already prepared our recovery program,” he stated.

He also assured that apart from the rapid testing and swab tests, the LGU has also sufficient supplies such as face masks, complete sets of PPEs, thermal guns, and other needed supplies.

Meantime, the Provincial Health Office of Davao Occidental stated on its official Facebook post that the office is doing contact tracing and mass testing to determine the source of infection.

“We ask the public to observe personal hygiene practices like hand washing, wearing of face mask, maintaining physical distancing and staying at home to prevent further spread of the virus.” (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

tion, Engr. Dodjie Maestrecampo shares that they are now in talks with both SMART communications and Globe Telecom to address this issue.

“Under normal circumstances, some of our students with no stable connections go to the campus to connect. MCM provides high-speed wifi connection inside the campus. We understand that connectivity is a huge challenge for some of our students during this crisis. MCM is now in talks with both SMART communications and Globe Telecom to address this issue through issuance of prepaid Wi-Fi routers with broadband plans specially designed to cater to students’ data consumption in accessing online learning tools.” says Engr.

Dodjie Maestrecampo.

MCM will continue to provide alternatives to in-campus learning should the need arise.

On a different note, MCM is taking heed of its students and teachers who might be experiencing mental or emotional stress. The Center for Guidance and Counseling recently expanded their services by offering counsel-

ling through phones, emails, and messaging apps for the students and teachers to access even during community quarantine.

MCM has also partnered with a 24/7 telemedicine company, KonsultaMD, to provide its students and employees with apt services from licensed and experienced Filipino doctors.

The enrollment process has as well been transitioned to fully online transactions. Illustrated in MCM’s official website and social media pages, a student may now enroll for their classes in the upcoming term online through their phones or laptops.

Payments may be made through online banking or fund transfer to MCM’s bank account or through other remote payment channels.

Malayan Colleges Mindanao’s Senior High School and College programs will begin classes for the next academic year in July 2020, fully equipped with the best physical and digital learning infrastructure to provide the best flexible learning system for the students of Davao City.

eficiaries in Davao del Norte have already received the P10,000 cash aid which totals to P8,920,000 during the program’s first tranche on April 17 – April 30.

The program is still on going with the second tranche which

started on May 4 and has already benefited 155 OFWs. It is still being “advocated” to the displaced or stranded OFWs and that they can do the entire application process online.

He also revealed that along with “DOLEAKAP for OFWs”, DOLE

also has the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) which provided the one-time P5,000 assistance to 2,816 workers in Davao del Norte for the total of 14,080,000 pesos.

As well, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa

Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) which DOLE has released a total of 13,840,200 pesos to 3,495 beneficiaries in Davao del Norte, about 26% of the total fund released all over the Region. (Jan Vincent Leuterio, PIA XI)

rent efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in the post ECQ period, which could last “a few months to a year”.

He said the phase down into the general community quarantine (GCQ) mode,

which is expected to commence after May 15, could result in a resurgence of infections if the municipal government relaxes its guard.

He added that in order to free up funds

to keep up the fight against Covid-19, many of Cainta’s less pressing programs will be suspended indefinitely. Infrastructure development, distribution of birthday gifts to senior citizens

as well as the feeding program will have to give way.

“Some sacrifices must be made because fighting the virus has to take precedence until the threat is over,” he said. (PNA)

to be big-name fighters out there,” Warren told the BBC of the first fights likely after the lockdown.

“There is no chance of Fury v Wilder behind closed doors.”

Promoter Bob Arum said last month a delay could be even longer because of the importance of gate receipts.

“The fans in the last fight put in almost $17 million into the coffers in purchase of tickets... how do you replace that $17 million?,” he said in a Top Rank Boxing interview. “I mean, you don’t.

“A Fury-Wilder

fight might have to wait a couple more months until we can go back to full spectators.”

BBBofC proposals for July, which are still being discussed with promoters, include boxers in Britain having to wear face masks during ring walks and being banned from using a spit bucket in between rounds.

Former WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla told the BBC it would be impossible to follow such rules to the letter.

“A boxer can’t spit in a bucket? What if that fighter has a mouthful of blood?,” he asked.

FLAT from 4

DAVNOR from 9

DAVOC from 9

OFWS from 9

SELLING from 11

DIGITAL from 8

NO CHANCE from 11

11 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

NBA teams begin practice Saturday

N SHOE AUCTION. Cainta Mayor J. Keith Nieto’s collection of rare athletic shoes are being auctioned-off in order to help generate funding for Cainta’s anti-Covid-19 efforts. Bidders in an on-line

auction reportedly include some of Nieto’s supporters, some willing to spend more than what the shoes were originally worth just to possess the used shoes. (Photo courtesy of Angelo Punzalan)

Selling shoes for Covid-19 funds

A

n auction of rare collectible athletic footwear has fetched PHP1 million as of Tuesday, the proceeds of which will help soften the enhanced community quarantine’s (ECQ) economic impact in Cainta, Rizal.

Mayor Johnielle Keith Nieto made this announcement after auctioning-off three pairs of shoes daily for the past three weeks, most from his personal collection while others reportedly donat-

ed by notable athletes.

The funds raised in the shoe auction are being used to support those whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the lockdown, Nieto said.

The Cainta mu-

No chance of Fury fighting Wilder without a crowd

L

ONDON - There is no chance of a rematch between world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and American Deontay Wilder going ahead without a crowd, the Briton’s promoter Frank Warren said on Wednesday.

Fury overwhelmed Wilder in their Las Vegas rematch in February, seizing the WBC crown with a seventh round stoppage. They had previously fought to a draw in December 2018.

A third bout be-

tween the two was set for Las Vegas in July but that was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now looks unlikely to happen before November or December at the earliest.

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) is hoping to resume professional boxing in Britain in July but with strict conditions and no spectators.

READ: The NBA is proceeding with extreme caution “There’s not going ?NO CHANCE, P10

nicipal government continues to strain its coffers helping those who have suddenly found themselves out of work, be they from the marginalized or middle classes. People who have been jobless before the pandemic hit cannot draw from the budget intended to aid workers displaced by the ECQ, he added.

Nieto revealed that Cainta has already spent some PHP100 million in various anti-Covid-19 initiatives since the lockdown

took hold last March 15.

The mounting expenses has constrained the municipal government to explore unconventional means of raising funds, such as the shoe auction. Bidding for the remainder of his shoe collection will reportedly continue in the next few days.

Meantime, Nieto revealed that the town needs to raise between PHP300 to PHP500 million to sustain cur?SELLING, P10

BA teams are expected to get the go-ahead to reopen practice facilities for limited use as early as Friday (Saturday PH Time), less than two months after the coronavirus outbreak forced the suspension of the season.

With head and assistant coaches barred and scrimmages forbidden, the workouts are unlikely to resemble business as usual for the NBA but would nonetheless be a step towards normalcy for a league whose season was upended in dramatic fashion in March.

Players will be required to wear face masks inside team facilities, “except during the period when they are engaged in physical activity,” according to a league memo.

Teams must also thoroughly disinfect any equipment used, from basketballs to weight-room equipment.

Modifications to stay-at-home orders could play a factor in which

Tyson Fury in action against Deontay Wilder. File Photo. Steve Marcus, Reuters

teams can resume workouts, with some US states reopening and others maintaining strict social distancing procedures.

The Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets are among those considering opening facilities right away, according to media reports, with Texas and Colorado stay-athome orders having expired.

With much of the professional sports calendar on hold, many leagues across North America are considering whether and how their seasons could resume.

Major League Soccer returned to training on Wednesday with strict rules in place, while NASCAR plans to resume competition on May 17 without fans.

The NBA was among the first to see its season impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, with games called off at the last minute after a Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus in March.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.13 ISSUE 23 • FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

The Miami Heat and the Memphis Grizzlies practice before an NBA basketball game in Miami in this file photo. If so inclined, NBA teams like Miami, Orlando and Utah could all be back in the gym for voluntary workouts in small groups starting Friday when the league ban on such things expires. None of them will be reopening that day. There's a clear desire for basketball to resume but, perhaps mindful of how rushing back too quickly hurt other leagues around the world, the NBA seems to be taking very cautious baby steps back to the court. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

NOT TAKING CHANCES

The NBA is proceeding with extreme caution

T

he NBA says some players can voluntarily return to their team practice facilities starting on Friday (Saturday PH Time), with some very specific conditions and only in places where local and state governments have signed off on such openings.

It’s unclear how many — if any — players will be back on the floor Friday when the league ban gets lifted. Miami is allowed to open its doors for the first time in six weeks but won’t until at least Monday while it works out certain logistical details. Orlando isn’t going to welcome players back immediately either. Same goes for Utah, the first NBA team to deal with the coronavirus after Rudy Gobert tested positive March 11 and the league shut down almost immediately. And most teams aren't allowed to open yet to because of

local rules.

Basketball hasn’t been played in two months and the league, the teams and the players still seem to have a universal desire to get back to work, finish this season and crown a champion. But, perhaps mindful of challenges other leagues have faced in their efforts to resume play amid a coronavirus pandemic that has shut down the sports world, the NBA seems to be moving with extreme caution.

“The biggest goal is to have the confidence of the players and the staff that

they can enter the facility safely," Utah general manager Dennis Lindsey said.

Simultaneously, everybody wants to play, and everybody wonders if it’s safe to play. It's like all parties involved know that a major misstep now could doom any realistic chance of playing anytime in the next few months.

“Our task force at the league is studying how do we get back to playing basketball again, following the data, looking at every possible model,” Magic CEO Alex Martins said this week while addressing an Orlando-area economic forum.

And opening the practice courts is only Phase One. Phase Two, who knows when that will come. It’s not imminent.

Games are not close.

Getting players back into facilities is not a precursor to games being played, it’s more about keeping them out of public gyms and playgrounds that are starting to

reopen. Positive tests during individual training or practices could delay or destroy plans for games.

There are some reasons for hope. The NBA is still working toward a plan to test players if the season resumes. It has exchanged data with leagues across the world, and there have been some success stories. Baseball is being played again in South Korea. MLS teams returned to fields Wednesday for workouts with restrictions. Germany’s top soccer league has allowed players to return to training facilities, even though some staff and players have tested positive.

It’s the NBA’s turn to start seeing where it stands.

“There’s been this unprecedented collaboration and communication among scientists across the world right now,” said Dr. John DiFiori, the NBA’s Director of Sports Medicine. “What’s going on sports medicine sort of parallels that at a much different level of course. But

there is an awful lot of that going on across the world right now. It’s at least daily communication in one way, shape or another with colleagues across the world in all these different leagues, because we’re all learning from each other.”

The rules that NBA teams will have to adhere to when they resume even the voluntary workouts are like none previously put in place.

A 12-feet buffer between everyone, one player per basket, one ball per basket, no more than four players in the facility at once. Everyone must wear masks and gloves, the lone exception being players while they work out.

Every player must undergo cardiac screening before resuming voluntary workouts.

Spalding, which makes NBA basketballs, has even developed a plan that has been sent to teams for how to clean the balls after workouts: wipe them down with a solution made from a quarter-teaspoon of dish

soap like Dawn mixed with a gallon of water, then further wipe them down with just water, allow them to air dry, then spray the balls with a disinfectant.

“We’re all analyzing information and talking through what-ifs and trying to learn little details that could make a difference,” DiFiori said. “It’s literally a constant, daily process.”

Cleveland is among the teams planning to open its doors to players Friday. By next week, a few teams will have players back at work and getting shots up again.

If all goes right, 30 teams have courts available again before long. Maybe in June, they can practice. Maybe in July, the season can resume.

There are countless hurdles to clear by then, the testing issue foremost among them.

It is far from certain that the season gets saved.

But getting back onto the court is a good first step, even if the NBA is taking baby steps on the way there.