Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 40 | Thursday, May 28, 2020

EDGEEDGE DAVAO DAVAO FIBA RELEASES GUIDELINES FOR BASKETBALL’S RETURN

Serving a seamlessRAFA, society FEDERER MOVE ON TO THIRD ROUND

Serving a seamless society

SPORTSP11

SPORTS P12

NOT REQUIRED SIGNS OF BOOM SIGNS OF BO VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE 40 59 ••FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY2020 31-JUNE 1, 2019 ISSUE 59 www.edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com VOL.13 THURSDAY, MAY 28, f •@EdgeDavao VOL.12 FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 31-JUNE 1, 2019 f @EdgeDavao

P 15.00 • 16 2 PAGES www.edgedavao.net

Applications for building, for building, Applications zoning permitszoning increase permits increase

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

The increase in ap- many applications that plications is an indi- we receive and it is not cation of Davao City’s only limited to the zonbooming construction ing permits, but there industry and infrastruc- are also a lot more,” he ture development, the said. city noted.

He also underscored Assistant City Plan- submission of incomning and Development plete sets of requireCoordinator Roy Ryan ments that further Rigor said the influx of slows down the process permit applicants on of issuing the permits. a weekly basis is very “There are some clihigh, causing delays in ents whose documents the issuances of per- have discrepancies, and mits. that causes the delay in Rigor said the issu- the issuance of the perance of some permits, mit. Another example is such as for locational when the area needs to applications, needed be reclassified and that actual surveys by their needs the approval of A student,and whothis is one of the beneficiaries Senator first,” personnel conthe city of council Christopher Lawrence Go’s Balik Probinsya Program, tributed to the delay.

Rigorupon said. undergoes rapid test for COVID-19 arrival at the “There areOverland really too FSIGNS, Davao City Transport Terminal (DCOTT).

A P10 total of 54 Balik Probinsya Program beneficiaries who arrived in Davao City on Monday have tested negative.

Edge Davao

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

The increase in applications is an indication of Davao City’s booming construction industry and infrastructure development, the city noted.

Assistant City Planning and Development Coordinator Roy Ryan Rigor said the influx of permit applicants on a weekly basis is very high, causing delays in the issuances of permits.

Rigor said the issuance of some permits, such as for locational applications, needed actual surveys by their personnel and this contributed to the delay.

“There are really too

many applications that we receive and it is not only limited to the zoning permits, but there are also a lot more,” he said.

He also underscored submission of incomplete sets of requirements that further slows down the process of issuing the permits.

“There are some clients whose documents have discrepancies, and that causes the delay in the issuance of the permit. Another example is when the area needs to be reclassified and that needs the approval of the city council first,” Rigor said.

FSIGNS, P10

Sara to other LGUs: Don’t ask for travel docs MINDANAO HERITAGE THROUGH MODERN FASHION

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STORY ON P2

RAISING A MILLENNIAL FAMILY FOREMOST IN ESDEVCO’S MIND

►PROPERTY P9

MINDANAO HERITAGE THROUGH MODERN FASHION

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RAISING A MILLENNIAL FAMILY FOREMOST IN ESDEVCO’S MIND

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

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 40 • THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020

Group holds virtual concert to raise funds for jobless musicians

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A female police officer explains the danger of COVID-19 and how to prevent it to several sex workers during a meeting along Tionko Avenue in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge

NOT REQUIRED Sara to other LGUs: Don’t ask for travel docs

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lashed out at some local government units in the Davao Region for wrongly requiring returning its residents to present documents before entering their borders.

In a radio interview on Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Sara said if other LGUs) will refuse entry to returning residents amid the implementation of the general community quarantine (GCQ), they better go back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status.

The mayor made

her remark after some netizens aired their frustrations that some LGUs in the region are requiring travelers with documents such as a travel order signed by the mayor and a letter of acceptance before they are allowed to entry to the LGU. According to Mayor Sara, LGUs should follow the guidelines

implemented by the Regional Task Force (RTF) on COVID-19 when it comes to movement of the people in and out of the city.

Based on the guidelines under the GCQ, the prohibitions cover leisure, entertainment, and amusement activities.

“Isa lang dapat ang ginasunod nato.

Supposedly wala na ang letter of acceptance or travel order.

Dili na kinahanglan ug letter of acceptance kay ang LGUs are required to accept dili lang OFWs, locally stranded but also returning residents nila,” Mayor Sara said.

avao Light and Power Co., Inc. will conduct two 30-minute power interruptions on May 30, Saturday, affecting TADECO and Sto. Tomas areas.

These service disruptions will be necessary to facilitate maintenance works at Davao Light Sto. Tomas substation.

To avoid longer duration of power

interruptions, load from the affected lines will be transferred to nearby lines anytime between 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m..

Normalization or return of load back to its normal set-up will be anytime between 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m..

Specifically affected are customers from Davao Light TADECO substation to

Sto. Tomas including Tanglaw, DAPECOL, Alejal, La Libertad, Marsman NAPCO, Dujali, Kinamayan and neighboring areas.

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience brought about by these scheduled power interruptions. But it will exert all efforts to restore electric service as scheduled or earlier. However,

Despite the new guidelines, the city government still provides downloadable forms to those who request for these documents as some LGUs continue to require travellers to show such documents.

“Diri sa checkpoint sa Davao gina-imbestigahan lang na sila ug asa sila padulong.

Mailhan na ug mamakak sila kay mailhan sa ilang pagtubag,” she said.

Mayor Sara emphasized that for workers, there is no need to require them with document with valid signature from the mayor. A valid there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

Please contact our 24/7 Customer Contact Service at 229-3572, 0917864-2793 (Globe) or 0920-970-1357 (Smart) for any power interruption that will fall outside the given schedule.

?NOT REQUIRED, P10

30-minute power interruptions May 30 in TADECO, Sto. Tomas

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Davao Citybased music and arts association is holding a virtual musical festival concert to raise funds for members rendered jobless and without income during the COVID 19 pandemic.

The fund-raising concert is organized by the Step by Step-Music Arts Association of Davao or SBS-MAD. According to Jaime "Bogs" Serrano, SBSfounding preaident and owner of Bogser resto grill at the Times Beach, the association's 1,000 members in Davao and other parts of Mindanao became jobless and without income due to quarantine restrictions since last March.

The SBS-MAD Virtual Music Fest is done every 11 a.m. on SBS LIVE TALK featuring singers and musicians from all over Mindan-

ao.

Serrano urged supporters to view, listen, like, share and donate to the show for the benefit of the jobless music artists.

Serrano said the group accepts donations by G-Cash, Coin.

Ph, GoFundMe, credit card, and ATM debut cards.

The group can be contacted through sbs-mad.org. SBS FB page and Jaime Serrano 0915-253-9075.

The association is being assisted by friends of Dr. Vince Vicente in the United States who is the SBSMAD vice president.

SBS-MAD is an independent organization currently working with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) qualifying recipients for their financial assistance, Serrano said.

BuCor reports 194 Covid-19 cases in Bilibid, Correctional

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total of 194 individuals have so far tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

Data released by the DOJ showed as of May 25, the number consists of 161 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) and 33 BuCor personnel.

NBP Hospital chief Henry Fabro said there have been six deaths and 11 recoveries.

Of the 161 PDLs confirmed to be positive for Covid-19, 82 are from the NBP while 79 are from the CIW. Out of confirmed cases at the NBP, 43 are from the medium-security compound, 31 are from the Reception and Diagnostic Center while eight are from the maximum security compound.

Meanwhile, confirmed cases of BuCor personnel consists of 10 from the medium-security compound, nine from the maximum security compound, six from the Reception and Diagnostic Center, five from

the CIW, two from the BuCor national headquarters and one from the BuCor's Covid-19 isolation center.

Of the six deaths recorded in the report, three were PDLs from the CIW, two were from the NBP medium-security compound and one was from the maximum security compound's west quadrant.

The recoveries consist of eight inmates and three personnel.

In a press statement, Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said no confirmed Covid-19 case has been reported at the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City while 19 PDLs from the facility are considered suspect cases.

"No cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the four other penal farms and colonies under the BuCor," he added.

As part of the government’s continuing efforts to address the Covid-19 situation inside prison facilities, Perete said 1,500 rapid test kits for use by PDLs are set to be delivered to the BuCor this week while "more are ex?BUCOR, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 40 • THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

ASSISTING OFWs. Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assist overseas Filipino workers heading home to their respective provinces during a send-off at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2

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on Tuesday (May 26, 2020). The Department of Labor and Employment vowed to send home 24,000 OFWs who were stuck in quarantine centers in Metro Manila within the next three days. (PNA photo

by Avito C. Dalan)

Go files health-related bills SPMC to new hires: Be strong to boost healthcare system

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he coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed gaps in the Philippine healthcare system. As the country continues to battle the virus, Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is pushing for legislative measures which seek to further strengthen and enhance the country’s healthcare system.

medikal, lalo na sa oras ng pandemya tulad ngayon,” Go said, as the bill seeks to streamline the process for approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of all DOH hospitals.

If passed into law, DOH will also be required to develop the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan to guide the modernization and development plans of all government health “Bilang Chair ng DOH Hospital Bed facilities, and in order Senate Committee on Capacity and Service to access capital outlay Health, sisiguraduhin Capability Rationaliza- investment through natin na magiging tion Act, aims to autho- the Health Facilities mas maayos ang ating rize the Department of Enhancement Prohealthcare system Health to increase the gram of the DOH and habang sinusubu- bed capacity and ser- other national governkan nating lampasan vice capability of its ment capital outlay ang krisis na dulot ng retained hospitals and investment mechaCOVID-19. Let us all to allow it to promul- nisms. learn from this expe- gate evaluation and As quarantine prorience and better pre- approval guidelines. tocols and physical pare ourselves for any “Tulungan natin distancing measures health emergency that ang DOH na maisaay- proved to be crucial may come,” Go said. os ang mga ospital nila in the fight against Among Go’s filed para mas maibigay sa COVID-19, Go also filed bills, Senate Bill (SB) mga Pilipino ang nar- SB 1259 or the “Man1226, or the proposed arapat na serbisyong datory Quarantine

Facilities Act of 2020” which mandates the establishment of quarantine facilities in every region in the country.

“Habang wala pang mabisang gamot at bakuna para sa COVID-19 at ibang contagious diseases, pinakamabisang paraan pa rin ang isolation,” Go said, emphasizing the need to be proactive when dealing with pandemics.

“Nakita naman po natin na ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para rumesponde sa krisis. Nagtayo agad ng quarantine facilities sa iba’t ibang lugar gamit ang available infrastructure na meron na tayo. Pero kung mayroon na tayong nakahandang pasilidad para sa ganitong mga krisis o sakuna, mas mabilis at mas mabisa nating maproprotektahan ang kalusugan ng kapwa nating Pilipino,” he added.

SB 1259 will es?GO, P10

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ealth workers quit but not related to are all soldiers in Covid-19, primarily public emergen- because they want to cy. go abroad,” Audan said That's the usual in a virtual presser on reminder of Southern Tuesday.

Philippines Medical Audan announced Center (SPMC) chief of that SPMC already hospital Dr. Leopoldo hired health workers Vega when asked how and staff to augment hospital employees the hospital’s Covid-19 must treat their work ward staff: Nurse II, amidst the coronavirus Medical technologist II, crisis.

Respiratory Therapist Given the high risk II, cardiologists, nursand the intimidating ing attendant, Adminisnumber of colleagues trative Aid IV, Adminiswho have succumbed trative Assistant II, and to the dreaded disease Laboratory Aid II. while being exposed at “Sana hindi po sila work, there have been a mag-resign kaagad,” he number of health work- said. ers who have opted to At the moment, quit their jobs for their there are no takers for own safety and that of the positions of Medical their families.

Specialist II, and MediDr. Ricardo Audan, cal Officer III. chief of medical profesAudan also resional staff of SPMC, ad- vealed that SPMC emmitted six nurses have ployees, particularly decided to resign amid frontliners directly the pandemic in the treating Covid-19 posipast two months. tive patients, easily get Among the reasons sick due to exposure. cited were parental SPMC tested 1,661 emadvice, family, and as ployees as of May 23, protection to kids and 2020 and 1,247 or 75 elders at home. percent have results.

“Pero we have also Twenty-five percent or ?SPMC, P10 a lot of nurses that

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 40 • THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020

Sidewalk fruit stands are sprouting around Davao City following the city government's implementation of General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Edge Davao

Online marketer offers digital business literacy T

PH now making 25M face masks a month

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he coronavirus pandemic has badly hurt businesses particularly the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Davao Region. Most of them have either dramatically down-sized or temporarily cease operations.

While more companies are now exploiting technology to forge ahead, MSMEs are being left behind as the cost of digitization remains intimidating.

To get over the daunting reality, an online marketer in Davao City offered his expertise for MSMEs in

Davao Region.

“Based on my experience as the digital marketing consultant here in Davao region, only the micro and small enterprises are the once who are really not embracing digital marketing or making their brand visible in the internet,” Ronald

Piper Ramboanga, founder and owner of Knights of Online Marketers (KOM), told audience in a recent webinar.

Ramboanga said KOM created an advocacy based mission of providing the right literacy for micro and small enterprises on how they can embrace digitalization in a lesser cost.

Ramboanga said the enterprise is helping the micro businesses especially those with less than P3 million asset by creating their presence in social media for free, creating their websites for free as long as they are still

in the micro level in their business.

The marketing expert also cited campaigns where MSMEs can use the platform for free as part of their advocacy of providing the right training program in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and some projects with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc (DCCCII).

“We are providing literacy on how they can build their brand online with the lesser budget to be allotted on that program,” said Ramboanga.

DCCCII President

during the auction last May 20.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said the rate of the facility went down by 0.269 basis points from last week’s level.

The BSP offered this for PHP150 billion and bids were nearly twice at

PHP273.755 billion.

The auction committee made a full award.

Bid coverage ratio this week is lower at 1.8250 from last week’s 2.0171 when the facility was offered for PHP120 billion and tenders reached PHP242.052

billion.

Dakila attributed the strong demand for the facility to “market preference for the BSP’s deposit facilities amid ample liquidity in the financial system.”

“The BSP will continue to assess finan-

?ONLINE, P10

BSP's 7-day term facility rate declines anew

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he average rate of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) seven-day term deposit facility (TDF) continued to slide, data from the central bank showed.

The rate of the TDF slipped to 2.2516 percent this week from 2.2543 percent

?BSP’S, P10

he Philippines has ramped up its capacity to locally produce face masks amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, a trade official said.

“In fact, our local supply now reaches 25 million, from about 7 million to 8 million combined capacity of MedTecs and Yokoisada,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said.

To recall, the country’s only surgical mask producer before the Covid-19 outbreak is the Bataan-based Medtecs International Corp. Ltd. The N88 surgical mask and N95 face mask maker has increased its capacity since the Taal Volcano eruption due to surge in demand in the local market.

Clark-based medical supplies manufacturer Yokosaida Philippines Corp. is now also producing surgical face masks.

Aside from the two existing medical supplies producers, EMS, New Kinpo Group, P&G, and Ever Win International Group repurposed their manufacturing facilities into

medical grade face mask production to cater to the domestic market.

These companies are originally manufacturing electronic products and consumer goods.

Rodolfo said one of the key constraints in local production of N88 surgical face masks is the sourcing of the middle filter of the face mask, which is a melt-blown polymer.

He added the DTI is in talks with manufacturing companies, particularly petrochemical producers, to help in local production of raw materials for medical grade face masks.

“DTI has been working with many manufacturing firms.

Just like in a war, where you try to repurpose some of the manufacturing companies to produce what’s needed in the war. And this war against Covid, we have realized that we need to produce our own face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), ventilators, all these were imported before,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

As the country ?PH NOW, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 40 • THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

Intensify support for agricultural sector

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s many Filipinos lose jobs and return home to their respective provinces amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go renewed his call for the government, particularly the Department of Agriculture, to intensify its support for the agricultural sector in providing livelihood, food security, and in boosting economic activities in the countryside.

sist and provide agricultural enterprises they may need or want, adding that its intervention will be demand-driven.

Senator Go expressed his gratitude to the agency, saying that agriculture is one key area that must be utilized to provide livelihood opportunities for BP2 beneficiaries In a virtual meet- Balik Pag-asa (BP2) ing its readiness to as- and increase agriculing with government Program on Monday, sist Filipinos returning tural productivity to agencies involved in May 25, Senator Go to the provinces. The ensure food security the Balik Probinsya, asked the DA regard- DA said that it will as- throughout the coun-

try.

“Lalo na sa panahon ngayon na apektado ng krisis ang ating ekonomiya, ‘back to basics’ po tayo. Nakita natin ngayon kung gaano kahalaga ang agrikultura sa ating bansa at sa ating kabuhayan,” Go said.

“Mabilis pong maibabalik ang sigla ng ating ekonomiya kung palalakasin natin ang sektor ng agrikultura sa ating mga probinsya,” he added.

Holcim restarts Davao operations

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Charo Logarta Lagamon , director of Cebu Pacific's corporate communications department, says the airline is extending a helping hand by offering free airlift and sweeper flights to stranded individuals during COVID-19 pandemic. Edge Davao

Senator Go has also earlier called for the DA to complement the BP2 program in revitalizing the country’s agricultural sector as many Filipinos expressed willingness to participate in the program and be reintegrated in the rural communities. He emphasized that the government must provide agricultural training and strengthen programs promoting agri-preneurship.

eading cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. has restarted manufacturing and logistics operations with stronger health and safety controls in all its sites nationwide after pausing cement production in compliance with government quarantine measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The company started to reopen its plants and terminals in La Union, Bulacan, Manila, Batangas, and Davao following the easing by national and local governments of quarantines that started in the second half of March.

Holcim’s plant in Lugait, Misamis Oriental sustained operations to support customers and construction activity in North Mindanao during this period.

In a statement Tuesday, Holcim Philippines president and chief executive officer John Stull said the company has completed health and safety controls against Covid-19 to protect its people and partners at its sites in line with government guidelines and best practices of global building materials leader LafargeHolcim Group.

Stull said the company continues to closely monitor Covid-19 developments and will comply with health authorities’ guidance on the

matter.

“We are ready to continue supporting our partners nationwide as they build important structures and contribute to reinvigorating the economy.

Holcim Philippines is determined to ensure the well-being of our people, communities, and business partners in our operations consistent with our core value of health and safety. Our company is also ready to share our expertise in this area to government and private sector partners to further contribute to the recovery efforts,” he added.

Stull said the company’s facilities are in good condition and ready to ramp up operations to provide reliable supply as building and economic activity recovers.

He added the company is well equipped with digital tools to ensure that support teams can still perform well while working from home, and provide customers reliable and efficient commercial transactions.

During the Covid-19 quarantines, Holcim Philippines installed new health facilities and rolled out safety protocols focused on social distancing, proper sanitation and hygiene, and health monitoring at its sites.

The company also extended assistance to host communities affected by the health crisis. (PR)

6 VANTAGE VANTAGE EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUEISSUE 40 •10 THURSDAY, MAY 28, VOL.13 • FRIDAY, MARCH 20,2020 2020

ON SENATE BILL 1259 OR THE MANDATORY QUARANTINE FACILITIES ACT OF 2020:

“

EDITORIAL

Be significant SEN. BONG GO

With the situation the Philippines is facing amidst the coronavirus threat, it takes everyone’s utmost patience, understanding and compassion to get the country through the hill.

Hence, businesses must first take consideration of their workers rather than their profits or losses. The reason why the community quarantine is not working 100 percent is that the lowly workers are forced to report to work under fear of losing their jobs and 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.

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

Only those who have enough food in their pantry, those who can afford to panic shop, and those who can afford to order online for deliveries will survive. But for the bigger chunk of the society, the equation remains “no work, no food.”

Thus, it is a welcome relief that there are initially 10 companies made the supreme sacrifice of to compensate their workers during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine period. This will greatly help those in Metro Manila where people still go to work

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CHAIRMAN, despite the order.SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE

The 10 firms reported by the Department of Labor to have made the compensation package are Aboitiz, Asian Terminal/Solaire Resort Hotel, Ayala Group of Companies, JG Summit, Jollibee, Lucio Tan Group, Manny V. Pangilinan Group, San Miguel Corporation, SM and Udenna Group.These firms answered the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to take care of their workers and employees during this time of national emergency.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III lauded the companies and said their compassion and good example should inspire other enterprises whose source of wealth is the labor of their workforce.

While big companies can take some hit, it is a different story for smaller firms and this is where the government should come in. For sure, there are already some formulation to this effect being done.

For now, the best thing to do for everyone is to try to be 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

Habang wala pang mabisang gamot at bakuna para sa COVID-19 at ibang contagious diseases, pinakamabisang paraan pa rin ang isolation. Nakita naman po natin na ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat para rumesponde sa krisis. Nagtayo agad ng quarantine facilities sa iba’t ibang lugar gamit ang available infrastructure na meron na tayo. Pero kung mayroon na tayong nakahandang pasilidad para sa ganitong mga krisis o sakuna, mas mabilis at mas mabisa nating maproprotektahan ang kalusugan ng kapwa nating Pilipino.

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 40 • THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

7

SUCCESSFUL DROPOUTS “Education,” said Nobel Peace laureate Nelson Mandela, “is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

American author Robert Frost also said, “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”

These days, parents fear sending their children to school as there is still no vaccine against the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). “I would rather have my two children alive than educated and dead,” said a mother.

It’s understandable. No one wants their children to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 as it is a distant cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Education is necessary to become successful but there are famous men and women who have become well-known and earn fame without even finishing high school. Yes, you read it right.

Consider this formidable list: Johnny Depp, Robert Downey, Jr., Nicolas Cage, Katy Perry, Kate Winslet, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, and Cameron Diaz.

George Nekilan, of the website vocal.media, described these personalities as “famous high school dropouts that still found success.”

Depp dropped out of high school to pursue a music career, but it was in movies that he found fame. Downey also quit high school when he moved to New York and pursued his acting career.

Cage, on the other hand, dropped out to get into the family of filmmaking. His uncle is the famous Francis Ford Coppola, the man behind The Godfather series and Apocalypse Now, which was shot in the Philippines. At age 15,

Perry dropped out of high school to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.

In the case of Winslet, she quit high school at age 16 not because she wanted to pursue an acting career but because she was bullied. Diaz, meanwhile, left high school right after receiving a mod-

Zuckerberg is described as “the poster child for college dropouts.” He left the prestigious Harvard University in 2004 to pursue his dreams of working on Facebook full-time in Silicon Valley.

Jobs quit schooling “so he could sit in on classes that he found interesting and useful.” As

cer of Virgin, he is one of Britain’s wealthiest individuals.

Karp, founder of Tumblr, dropped out of high school at 15 and founded the blog-hosting company in his mother’s small apartment. Wright also never finished school; he attended the University of Wisconsin but after

eling contract.

Schwarzenegger ditched high school just to pursue a career in body building. Later on, he was discovered by a film producer and became an actor. Like Downey, Cruise went to New York to pursue an acting career.

The world of business is replete of people who left school to pursue their passion. Samuel Edwards, writing for business.com, listed at least 6 notable dropouts: Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, David Karp, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

what he told the graduates of the Stanford, “Do what you love. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

Just like Zuckerberg, Gates left Harvard without a diploma as he attended college only for three years. But he had a dream: making computers affordable for the average person. That was how he founded Microsoft.

At the age of 16, Branson dropped out of high school. He didn’t pursue any education as he was against the university system.

Today, as the chief executive offi-

two years, he quit and worked for a Chicago architectural firm. The rest was history.

The Book of Lists – the very first of a series! – by David Wallechinsky, Irving Wallace and Amy Wallace cites at least fifteen noted people who never finished grade school. Yet, they became famous philanthropists, actors, directors, writers, inventors, artists – and yes, politicians!

The list, not meant to encourage dropping out, is led by Andrew Carnegie, an American steel magnate and philanthropist. In

an essay, The Gospel of Wealth, he formulated his belief that the duty of the rich is to distribute their surplus wealth, and in 1900 he began to set up the vast number of charitable and educational institutions for which he is remembered.

He is closely trailed by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, American scout and showman. Then by Noel Coward, British actor, playwright, composer; Samuel Gompers, American labor leader who founded the American Federation of Labor; Maxim Gorkey, actually a pen name of Russian writer Aleksey Maksimovich Peshkov; and Claudet Monet, French painter, leading exponent of impressionism, a term coined after his picture Impression, Sunrise; Sean O’Casey, Irish playwright whose sardonic dramas depict the effects of poverty and war on the Irish; Alfred E. Smith, American politician who was elected governor of New York four times; John Philip Sousa, American bandleader and composer who is best remembered today for his military marches; and Sir Henry M. Stanley, British explorer, soldier and journalist.

Also included in the list are Charles Chaplin, British film actor and director and great comedian of the silent cinema; American dancer Isadora Duncan, who created and received more shocks in her life than the San Andreas Fault and made a legend out of her gargantuan appetites and illusions; Thomas Alva Edison, a famous insomniac who would take a catnap of 30 minutes to an hour after a particularly strenuous period of work; and Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens in real life), American author of Huckleberry Finn and The Prince and the Pauper, among many others.

RESPICIO VS. TESORERO One of the contentious electoral cases (G.R. No. L-34427) in Davao City to reach the Supreme Court was the tussle between Zafiro L. Respicio and Francisco Tesorero, decided on April 11, 1972. Both ran for the City Council in the November 9, 1971 general elections.

In seeking legal remedy, Tesorero sought judicial recount before the Court of First Instance (CFI) of Davao under judge Vicente N. Cusi, Jr. He filed the petition based on Section 206, Republic Act 6388, or The Election Code of 1971, which reads: “SEC. 206. Recounting of votes. — In case it appears to the board of canvassers that there exists discrepancies in two or more authentic copies of election returns, other than the copies furnished the political parties from an election precinct or discrepancies in the votes of any candidate in words and figures in the same return and in either case, the difference affects the result of the election, the proper Court of First Instance, upon motion of the board or of any candidate affected and after due notice to all candidates concerned shall proceed summarily to determine whether the integrity of the ballot box had been preserved and once satisfied thereof shall order the opening of the ballot box to recount the votes cast in the precinct solely for the purpose of determining the true result of the count of votes of the candidate concerned: Provided, however, That if upon the opening of the ballot box it should appear that there are evidences

or signs of replacement or tampering of the ballots the Court shall not recount the ballots but shall forthwith seal the ballot box and deliver the same to the Commission for safekeeping.”

Respicio, however, filed a petition to declare null and void the certiorari and prohibition, with preliminary injunction, issued by the judge on two occa-

tally, and some discrepancies were attributed to ‘mishearing,’ which resulted in erroneous recording. The high court argued: “The appropriate remedy in such a situation is for the Board of Canvassers to merely examine the returns again, considering that the board has not yet become functus officio inasmuch as it has not yet

written in either in words or in figures or both, if these be identical, on the one hand, and what should be the corresponding number of vertical lines in the tally appearing in the return, on the other, does not necessarily limit the instances wherein judicial recount may be ordered only to those referred to by petitioner. It is, on the contrary,

sions which gave “due course… to the original and amended petitions filed… by respondent Francisco Tesorero asking for judicial recount of the votes cast in a total of twenty-nine electoral precincts in the City of Davao, wherein both… were opposing candidates for councilor.”

In his petition for judicial recount, Tesorero contended that the words and figures in the contested ballots were dissimilar to what was reflected in the

proclaimed the 14th councilor-elect of Davao City. Indeed, as a general rule, judicial corrections and recounts and proceedings within the board of canvassers under Section 204 are in order as long as no proclamation of the affected candidates has been made by the board.”

The SC added it was “fully convinced that the mere omission of any reference to possible discrepancy between the votes

obvious to us that in providing for the tallying on the election return itself of the votes of the candidates… the legislature intended to provide an additional safeguard against the tampering of the results of an election by means of altering the entry of the votes in words and in figures in the return.”

Additionally, the high court explained: “The cases… decided by this Ccurt involving judicial

recounts spawned by discrepancies in such entries of votes attest to the ease with which said entries could be altered without regard to the true number of votes cast by the voters for the candidates concerned.

The new requirement of tallying on the return itself introduced by the above provisions are indeed to be welcomed as one of the much needed reforms in our electoral processes tending to make the election returns as faithful a record of the presumptive results of an election as can be presently conceived, thereby minimizing, if not entirely eliminating, the chances of any candidate grabbing a proclamation to which he is not entitled.”

The high court commented that based on the careful reading of Petition and Amended Petition in Special Case No. 9-71, Tesorero was relying on “an alleged discrepancy between the votes shown in the election return (i.e., the words and figures) on the one hand, and the ‘tally’ portion in the same return, on the other.”

The court also observed that in the respondent’s Opposition to Motion io Dismiss dated November 29, 1971, he tacitly admitted that his petition for judicial recount was based on the provisions of Section 206 of The Election Code of 1971.

Respicio’s petition was denied and the restraining order earlier issued by the high court was lifted, thereby giving way to the execution of the decision of the Board of Canvassers. Eventually, Respecio was declared winner for the 14th and last slot in the City Council.

8 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

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An immersive opportunity: Malayan Colleges Mindanao launches Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020

M

alayan Colleges Mindanao, a Mapúa School announced its first Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020, inviting all SHS and College students in Mindanao to experience the first fully integrated online learning system in the region — MCM Digital — and get the opportunity to use MCM’s powerful online learning tools for FREE! This Digital Learning Bootcamp will be held on June 1 to 13, 2020 and is described as an immersive experience inside MCM’s Online Learning System, aiming to demonstrate and give participants an opportunity to immerse them-

selves in the first fully integrated online learning system in Mindanao.

The participants will be given access to MCM’s online learning portal, “MCM Digital” where they can explore and get hands-on experience utilizing MCM’s online

learning tools such as Blackboard Learn, Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Panopto, Wiley Plus, and Cengage Learning to complete learning tasks designed for incoming Grade 11 and 1st Year College students.

These tasks will be delivered in either synchronous or asynchronous learning sessions to allow for participants to get a feel for the different modalities of remote learning provided by MCM. In order for participants to maximize the online learning experience, they will need a device such as a computer unit, laptop or a tablet; and internet connectivity of at least 1 Mbps for asynchronous sessions and at least 2 Mbps for synchronous sessions.

Familiarization with the online system and

tools will initiate the program, after which, participants will be allowed to select short learning modules on General Mathematics, Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Basic Education for incoming Grade 11 students; Basic Algebra, General Physics, Business and Management, and Programming and Coding for incoming college students. A full course on Math, Humanities, and Social Science will also be made available for demonstration during the bootcamp period.

To register for this activity

and get a chance to win amazing prizes, interested participants may proceed to this link: https:// bit.ly/MCMDIGITALBOOTCAMP and follow the subsequent instructions and link to the “MCM Digital” account that will be sent through the email address provided upon your registration.

For any additional inquiries about the MCM Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020, please feel free to email at admissions@mcm. edu.ph or contact +63918 918 1626, +63999 227 7493, or +63917 831 8048.

9 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

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So your child stutter?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

W

hat do these celebrities have one thing in common: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Shaquille O’Neal, Tiger Woods, Prince Albert of Monaco, and American Vice President Joseph Biden?

They all stutterer, according to the Stuttering Foundation.

Stuttering – also called stammering or childhood-onset fluency disorder – is “a speech disorder that involves frequent and significant problems with normal fluency and flow of speech,” the Mayo Clinic states.

For about 4% of people, stuttering is a childhood condition. The US National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says stuttering affects about 5-10 percent of all children at some point, most often occurring between ages 2 to 6.

King George IV, however, was eight years old when he started stuttering. He particularly struggled with the letter “k,” which was difficult considering his title was King of England. American actress Marilyn Monroe stuttered as a child, and then for two years at high school.

American actor Bruce Willis had a childhood stutter that made him to take up three minutes to say a single sentence. Australian actress Nicole Kidman also stuttered as a child. In an interview with Newsweek, she said that when it happened, close friend would tell her to calm down and think about what she was going to say.

But for about 1% of people, it can carry on for their entire lives. “Although most children

outgrow stuttering, up to 25% of children who don’t recover from stuttering will continue to stutter as adults,” wrote Rachel Nall for the website, healthline.com.

Until now, no one knows what causes stuttering, and there is no cure. “Our best guess is that it is due to a combination of psychological, neurological, and genetic factors,” says Dr. Barry Guitar, professor of communication science and disorders at the University of Vermont. But they do know that it is habit forming and is usually related to stress, according to Dr. Martin Schwartz, executive director of the National Center for Stuttering in New York City.

When a child is learning to speak, or when an adult has to speak in stressful situations (before a large audience, for instance), that stress focuses tension on the vocal cords, closing and locking them. The person struggles to speak but can’t do so easily: The struggle becomes a stutter.

Stuttering is a difficult and demoralizing disability, but with hard work and persistence, many stutterers overcome the disorder and go on to successful lives.

Take the case of American singer Carly Simon, the woman behind some of the most-loved song of the 1970s, including Anticipation and You’re So

Vain.

Simon reportedly started stuttering severely when she was eight years old. She blames her stuttering on her then 44-year-old mother’s long affair with their 20-year-old live-in tennis instructor. The affair caused jealousy, anger, “lies and a train of deception” in the Simon household.

Believe it or not, the most in-demand voice in Hollywood – James Earl Jones – is a stutterer. In his autobiography Voice and Silences, Jones wrote that he was "virtually mute" as a child. With the help of his high school English teacher, Jones gradually overcame stuttering by reading Shakespeare "aloud in the fields to myself," and then reading to audiences, debating, and finally acting.

The entertainment world is full of people who stutterer. Consider this formidable list: Marc Anthony, Emily Blunt, Robert Donat, Noel Gallagher, Jason Gray, Steve Harvey, Harvey Keitel, B.B. King, Sam Neill, Jack Paar, Elvis Presley, Antony Quinn, Eric Roberts, Charlie Sheen, Ed Sheeran, Tom Sizemore, Jimmy Steward, and Shane Yellowbird.

Aside from Woods and O’Neal, there are other stutterers who excel at sports. Bob Love, Michael Attardi, Alex Carter, Johnny Damon, Sophie Gustafson, Ron Harper, Adrian Peterson, Greg Louganis, Bill Walton, Ken Venturi, Ty Cobb, Ben Johnson, Bob Sanders, Damien Woody, and Chris Zorich.

Writers who stutter

include Elizabeth Bowen, Arnold Bennett, Edward Hoagland, Paul Johnson, Somerset Maugham, Cotton Mather, John Updike, Charles Canon Kingsley, Nevil Shute, and Margaret Drabble.

Lewis Carroll (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) hoped to become a priest but was not allowed to because of his stuttering. Charles Lamb (Tales from Shakespeare) was not allowed to pursue a scholarly education because of his stuttering.

Thomas Carlyle once wrote of stutterer Henry James (Portrait of a Lady, Turn of the Screw): “A stammering man is never a worthless one…It is an excess of delicacy, excess of sensibility to the presence of his fellow-creature, that makes him stammer.”

Publishers are not spared from this speech problem, among them: Henry Luce, founder of Time magazine and Sports Illustrated; and Walter Annenberg, founder of TV Guide and Seventeen. Annenberg recently donated $500 million to improve American schools.

Businessmen who stutter include: Steven Brill, Ernie Canadeo, Andrew Forrest, Malcom Fraser, Mike Harper, Joe Moglia, Vince Naimoli, and Walter Wriston.

Royalties are not spared.

British King Charles I was a lifetime stutter. He ascended the throne in 1623 and addressed his first Parliament by saying, “I am unfit for speaking.” Then he sat down. His inability to speak to Parliament “had an unfavorable influence

on his affairs.”

Prince Albert of Monaco suffered from stuttering for many years, which he claims to have cured through his love of sports.

The history of famous stutterers can be traced back all the way to Biblical times. Moses is believed to have been a stutterer. In Koran, 20:26-29 Moses said “Lord, open my breast, and do Thou ease for me my task, Unloose the knot upon my tongue, that they may understand my words.” The analogy of “a knot upon his tongue” refers to his stuttering.

Other famous stutterers from the ancient past are Demosthenes, Aesop, Aristotle, and Isaac Newton. Demosthenes, the greatest orator of ancient Greece worked very hard to improve his speaking skills. He practiced speaking with pebbles in his mouth in an attempt to improve his articulation and shouted above the ocean waves to increase his voice volume.

Medical professionals say that stutters cannot be cured, though it can be treated. “Children and adults who stutter may benefit from treatments such as speech therapy, using electronic devices to improve speech fluency or cognitive therapy,” the Mayo Clinic says.

So, are there ways of getting rid of stuttering? The Doctors Book of Home Remedies offers some timely techniques.

To some, these may make a difference but to others they may not. But there’s no harm in trying, anyway.

Pause a second. If you’re stuttering, maybe it’s because you’re trying to speak as fast or as faster than others – and you just don’t need to. “Slow down to a normal rate and set your own relaxed pace,” advises Dr. Edward Conture, chairman of the Program of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Syracuse University in New York.

“When someone asks you a question, pause one to two seconds before responding, then answer at a rate that is comfortable for you.”

Nip stutter starters in the bud. The moment before a stutter begins, you may grimace, twist your face or purse your lips without being conscious of these movements.

Dr. R. Gregory Nunn, an American clinical psychologist, suggests using “competing behaviors” when you feel these stuttering precursors come on. When muscles tense up, for instance, let your arms, shoulders, chest, and stomach slump and relax. If your lips are pursed, open them slightly. Or loosen your tight throat by letting out a little air through your mouth before saying just one word per breath, gradually increasing the number until you feel comfortable.

Record your stuttering. Keep a personal log of all your stuttering episodes, noting what takes place prior to and during the stutter. “When you become aware of situations and behaviors that contribute to your stuttering, you can catch them in advance and pre?STUTTER, P10

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BUCOR from 2

pected in the coming weeks".

The DOJ will provide laptops to the BuCor for the use of PDLs under the E-Dalaw program.

This program will use electronic or virtual venues for PDLs and their families to communicate during the

pandemic. The laptops were provided under the GoJust Program of the European Union.

The BuCor is also working closely with health officials and the Philippine Red Cross to address the Covid-19 outbreak's impact on the inmate population.

(PNA)

414 employees are still awaiting results.

Out of the 1,247 employees' test results, 26 returned positive with Covid-19. Of the 26 positive cases, 13 are doctors, seven are nurses, and six from the administrative department. There have been 15 employees already discharged including eight doctors, five nurs-

es and two admin staff.

Three doctors and one admin staff are still admitted at SPMC while the rest-- a doctor, two nurses, two nursing attendants, and a laboratory aide admitted at the extended SPMC quarantine facility.

Since the start of the pandemic, two administrative staff have died.

BSP’S from 4

lesser food traffic especially among malls, grocery stores or in markets, are not anymore a full pack as it is to be. It is a question now of making time to really promote this and make them understand that this is a safer alternative instead of exposing this unnecessarily in crowds especially we don’t have the vaccine yet,” Peralta said.

Florian Gottein, ECCP executive director, what would the chamber trying to do for its members is to keep them updated, inform and provide them with necessary tools in this new normal.

“Whatever this new normal is going to look like. At the end of the day, hosting webinars, online training sessions that are normally free for them or small participation fee, we also team them up with experts and give them the chance to learn new tools or innovate their companies and businesses as well,” he said.

SPMC from 3 This building at the annex campus of Bukidnon State University in Casisang, Malaybalay City only lacks finishing touches. But it may remain unused in the coming months as the opening of classes is

NOT REQUIRED from 2

still uncertain due to the coronavirus pandemic. MindaNews photo taken 23 May 2020 by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

company ID would suffice.

“Kung nagtrabaho dira pangitai lang ninyo ug ID. Kung dili mo musugot magpasulod, magpasaka mo into ECQ kay dili puwede musulod ug muga-

was. Pero kung GCQ mo pareho sa inyong silingan, puwede mo magpasulod basta dili lang magsuroy-suroy,” she said. “Dati naman na open ang Davao City and Panabo. Ang gina-ingon lang nako

sa ilaha ayaw pangayui ang mga tao ug travel order, unya mangayo pa sila ug seal, ang uban sa ilaha mangayo pa ug tinuod nga pirma nako. Because that is not required. Wala nako sila

tablish quarantine facilities in every region.

To ensure the accessibility of the quarantine facilities to healthcare facilities, the proposed bill mandates that their locations be easily accessible to a DOH hospital and strategically located to ensure the safety of the community.

Go also filed a bill seeking to strengthen the country’s efforts in disease surveillance and epidemiologic investigation. SB 1528 filed by Go seeks to amend Republic Act 11332, also known as the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.” The Senator said

that the bill will enhance disease surveillance and control in the country, such as having better capabilities in conducting more testing and intensive contact tracing in times of pandemics.

“Malaking bahagi ng ating laban sa COVID-19 ang contact tracing at targeted testing. Kailangan ayusin ang ating disease surveillance and control capabilities para gawing mas handa ang bansa sa anumang health crisis na darating,” Go said.

The same bill also establishes sub-national laboratories in all DOH-run regional hospitals in the country which will have the capacity to undertake

testing, diagnosis, control and prevention of infectious diseases. Local government units may also establish their own laboratories and/or partner with private hospitals and laboratories in the conduct of infectious disease surveillance provided that the laboratories shall be duly accredited and approved by the DOH. Go also filed SB 1451, also known as the “Medical Reserve Corps Act of 2020,” which seeks to establish a Medical Reserve Corps composed of all persons who have degrees in the field of medicine, nursing, medical technology, and other health-related fields but have yet

GO from 3

STUTTER from 9

vent stuttering before it starts,” says Dr. Nunn.

Practice natural breathing. “A stutter tries to superimpose speech over short, rapid, uneven breaths or speak while holding his breath,” explains Dr. Nunn. “We want him to get used to natural speech breathing.” Take a relaxed breath through the mouth, filling your lungs with a comfortable amount of air, and let it out slowly and easily, producing a deep, hollow sound. Practice this breathing pattern daily.

Then, try to maintain the deep breathing while you speak, letting the words come out easily as the smooth, even breath is being relaxed.

Synchronize your air-

flow. Dr. Martin Schwartz, executive director of the National Center for Stuttering in New York City, recommends the following method to take tension off the vocal cords.

First relax. Take a short, easy breath through your mouth. Just before speaking, let the air flow passively through your mouth, opening up the locked cords. Slow the first word a bit, easing into the first syllable, gliding to the next. Then proceed at a comfortable pace. Do this with each sentence, stopping and starting at natural pause points. Stuttering should stop right away. Practice this technique for 15 minutes three times a day, and try to integrate

it into all your conversation. Four months of daily practice should make this behavior a habit.

Set the pace. “When kids try to speak as fast as or faster than adults, they often stutter,” observes Dr. Conture. Talking to parents, he says, “If you speak slowly and evenly to your child, he’ll soon get the picture and slow down naturally.” Other pacemaking tips from Dr. Conture: Pause one to two seconds before responding to your child’s questions. Try not to finish the child’ sentences, talk over him or interrupt. And don’t tell him/ her to speak slowly while you proceed rapidly.

Take a listening break. A fast-paced, hec-

(Panabo) gihuraw.

Wala ko nanghilabot sa ilaha. Nag-ingon lang ko ayaw ninyo ug requirements, kung unsa pa na’y ginapangayo sa checkpoints because GCQ man ang from 4 inyong status.”

John Carlo Tria said there is a big need to promote digital busito have their respec- ness literacy and the tive licenses to prac- challenge in moving tice for reasons such forward is on how to as, but not limited to, encourage more the not having taken and/ micro entrepreneurs.

“The opportunity or passed the licensure there is the micro busiexaminations in their nesses don’t really have respective professions. the cash for larger brick If passed into law, and mortar setup. So, the members of the allot of the MSMEs is Medical Reserve Corps definitely willing to try may be called upon and mobilized to as- and the question there sist the national gov- is how they will be able ernment and the lo- to migrate to it,” Tria cal government units said.

Antonio Peralta, in times of national European Chamber emergencies.

The four measures of Commerce of the (ECCP)being pushed by Go Philippines Southern Mindanao also seek to complement the implementa- Council chair, said the tion of the Balik Prob- concerned really is the insya, Bagong Pag-asa small and micro enter(BP2) Program which prise have not really in envisions equitable place the concept of doeconomic develop- ing online marketing.

“I guess with new ment. reality, I’m not saying we can really force the MSMEs, it’s either they tic environment where it is difficult to speak and be get to do this or they heard may increase stut- use out sizeable chunk tering in children, says Dr. of the business espeConture. When talking cially as we anticipate

ONLINE

with a child who stutters, turn off the television and radio as often as possible, or keep the volume low, so the child doesn’t have to verbally compete with background talking. It’s ideal if you can set aside time for family discussions and then give everyone a chance to speak in turn without undue interruption. And if your child talks to you while you are doing things that require your concentration, take a time-out. “Assure him/her you are listening and then do listen,” says Dr. Conture. (Photos from Wikipedia)

cial liquidity condi- volume and tenors for tions to determine the the TDF,” he added. appropriate auction (PNA)

PH NOW from 4

ramps up its capacity to locally produce much-needed medical supplies, Lopez said the government is eyeing to stockpile these products.

“It is important that we are self-reliant on this one, and down the road, we are also

talking (about) another bill for strategic stockpiling of these materials. That’s under Senator [Richard] Gordon’s initiative,” he said. “We are working on a strategic stockpiling of critical health and medical devices.”

(PNA)

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L

g a m e s to finish the regular season,' and they're t h ro w i n g us out there for meaningless games and we don't have a

OS ANGELES -- Portland star Damian Lillard says he won't play if the resumed NBA season doesn't offer the Trail Blazers any chance of making the playoffs.

Multiple reports have said that the NBA is keen to ensure that all teams complete a minimum of 70 regular seasons games in order to fulfill contractual obligations with regional television networks.

That could mean the Trail Blazers, who are one place outside the playoff berths in the Weste r n Conference with a 29-37 record, have no realistic prospect of

overhauling Memphis for the eighth spot in the post-season.

Lillard said if that scenario unfolded, he would effectively boycott the Blazers' remaining games.

"If we come back and they're just like, 'We're adding a few

true opportunity to get into the playoffs, I'm going to be with my team because I'm a part of the team," Lillard told Yahoo Sports.

"But I'm not going to be participating."

The NBA is exploring a plan to resume the season in late July at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, although final details of a plan have yet to be determined.

It remains unclear whether the league will aim to complete the rest of the regular season or go straight into the playoff schedule.

Lillard is adamant, however, that he won't play if Portland has no chance of reaching the post-season.

"If we come back and I don't have an opportunity to make the playoffs, I will show up to work, I'll be at practice and I'll be with my team. I'm going to do all that ... and then I'm going to be sitting right on that bench during the games," Lillard said.

Lillard said he backed the idea of holding a mini-tournament involving teams currently outside the playoff places to determine the post-season line-up.

"If they come back and say it's something like a tournament, play-in style, between the No. 7 and No. 12 seeds, if we're playing for playoff spots, then I think that's perfect," he said.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) gestures after making a three point basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Moda Center. File Photo/Reuters

Kobe’s last interview “I wish I had done more.”

These words from the late Kobe Bryant, five-time NBA champion and Academy Award (OSCAR) winner, after retiring from the sport he loved most.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna unexpectedly perished in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles early this year that shocked the whole world.

I caught a 2019 YouTube broadcast of the Laker great in a one on one chat with host Patrick Bet-David of Valuetainment, one of the many credible and respected media anchors I usually watch and listen to.

Bryant is acknowledged by his peers and coaches around the league of his exemplary (perhaps even unorthodox) work ethic, to

bring his game a notch up to perfection.

Coach Phil Jackson, in his long checkered career, has been reported to have said that he had not seen anybody else like Kobe.

Highlights of the interview before a standing studio crowd were the following, to wit: On Michael Jordan: “He is my big brother.

We are very close. We talk very often…swap Christmas cards (hahaha). I like playing against him because I am able to elevate my competitiveness.”

On his reported friction with Shaq O’Neil: “I tell him, man…you’re outta shape. How do you expect me to give you the pass. On transitions and fastbreaks, I’ve been down twice and as I run down the court the third time, he’s just coming down the first

time (chuckles)…”

“I try to create momentum whenever there is an opportunity and then create shifting plays,” Bryant described his appreciation of the game while in progress.

He did not want to miss any game so he suited up even when he had the flu and did not want to give any excuses for not being able to play.

“It is your job (as NBA player) to perform, to be in shape and be competitive.”

At age 13, he already had a to-do checklist as he remained focused on his dream to join the NBA after high school. So at 18, he joined the NBA. Regarding his family, he admits to having difficulties with his schedules in order to give his kids and wife quality time. “After practice, even when I

am tired, I can’t rest till I play with them, especially my youngest. I even had to fly back to LA after a road game because my daughter was celebrating her birthday, every one of them for that matter.

Can’t make any excuses for missing the occasion.”

Kobe had all praises for his wife who is full-time in attending to the needs of the family.

I did not know until that interview that Bryant writes well and is extremely consumed by his passion in the motion picture

industry. So, the OSCAR trophy.

Jackson, he said, was a genius coach who did not directly meddle in his rift with Shaq even if the Lakers were losing games. He said Jackson had his own mysterious way of allowing us to solve the problems ourselves, grow and develop. He merely guided us. He is my Father figure.”

“He introduced the Chinese art of Tai Chi exercises and meditation in the Laker camp.

I thought, geez what’s this (chuckles)…then I sort of did what my

teammates were doing…You know, it did wonders after all.”

On his last playing day leading to his retirement, Bryant, considered to be the best Laker ever to wear the purple uniform, scored a game high 60 points in a farewell match against the Utah Jazz.

Heroes and heroines are hard to come by.

As it is often said: “If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” ##### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.)

12 SPORTS

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A basketball-specific risk assessment tool has also been produced in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

FIBA releases guidelines for basketball’s return

F

IBA, the governing body for basketball, on Tuesday published recommendations on the return of the sport in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A basketball-specific risk assessment tool has also been produced in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

FIBA’s guidelines are primarily for national federations that are seeking direction and advice

on the restart of basketball activities and competitions. Virtually all sporting events worldwide have been halted since March due to the pandemic.

The guidelines and risk assessment tool will serve as a checklist to ensure any decisions on

basketball events are based on an assessment of risks and the best chance of a successful restart.

FIBA stressed that their guidelines are “not intended to replace the guidance and restrictions of governments and public health authorities.”

“This set of guidelines will be very beneficial for the basketball community in their return to our game,” said FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis. “We all miss our sport being played and as the situation related to the COVID-19

pandemic evolves, FIBA remains committed to providing guidance for a safe environment for the ‘Return to Basketball’.”

The guidelines have been developed by FIBA Medical Commission chairman, Dr. Peter Harcourt of Australia, following his consultation with the FIBA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group (MAG), and also both the FIBA Medical and Players Commissions.

“I have witnessed that FIBA has been working tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of na-

tional federations, players, officials and other partners,” Harcourt said.

“Rest assured that our Medical Commission will keep working and collaborating closely with WHO and will endeavor to assist FIBA to safeguard the basketball community from the current pandemic crisis based on the scientific knowledge.”

The entire document, in English, is available here.

Among the general guidelines by FIBA is a “phased approach” to the restart process.

It also stressed that the national federations must follow the guidance and the lifting of restrictions by their governments and public health authorities.

“Above all, the planning group should be aware that at any stage, the restart-up may be required to stop, due to emerging COVID-19 infection issues in sport, venue or wider community,” FIBA said.

“A clear understanding of the circumstance for a suspension of basketball needs to be considered and prepared for.”