Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 83 | Friday, July 17, 2020

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VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

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Dabawenyos nix taxing of ‘small-time’ barter trade deals

By MAYA M. PADILLO STORY ON PAGE 2

A man smokes vape during lunch break along Chavez Street in Davao City on Thursday. The city government of Davao announces that it will start imposing a higher penalty for violators of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City that has been amended last year by the 19th City Council and approved by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in January. Edge Davao

WORLDWIDE COVID-19 NUMBERS BOARD

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PHILIPPINES

WORLDWIDE

CONFIRMED: 13,691,627 • DEATHS: 586,821 • RECOVERED: 8,037,170

CONFIRMED: 58,850 • DEATHS: 1,614 • RECOVERED: 20,976

As of July 16, 2020, here’s the Top 5 list of countries with most number of COVID-19 cases 1. U.S.A CONFIRMED: 3,616,747 DEATHS: 140,140 RECOVERED: 1,645,962

2. BRAZIL CONFIRMED: 1,970,909 DEATHS: 75,523 RECOVERED: 1,255,564

3. INDIA CONFIRMED: 970,169 DEATHS: 24,929 RECOVERED: 613,735

4. RUSSIA CONFIRMED: 746,369 DEATHS: 11,770 RECOVERED: 523,249

5. PERU CONFIRMED: 337,724 DEATHS: 12,417 RECOVERED: 226,400

SOURCE: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

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Governor Edwin Jubahib of Davao del Norte and Representative Alan Dujali of the 2nd District of Davao del Norte lead the opening of Panabo City flyover on Thursday. Photo courtesy from city government of Panabo City

Higher penalty for violators of anti-smoking law takes effect

Dabawenyos nix taxing of ‘small-time’ barter trade deals

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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here’s a new twist to an old saying.

When life throws you lemons, go bartering.

Swapping goods online has become an emerging trend for Dabawenyo netizens amid the Covid-19 pandemic. From food to basic items, to plants, bags, apparel and just about anything in one’s possession, Dabawenyos are having a field day swapping goods.

That is why when news reports began circulating that that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has declared bartering as illegal and must be taxed, members of the Davao Barter Community Official (DBCO) have reacted to the report saying bartered items were already taxed when bought.

Kristine Joyce Dalogdog in the comment section of the DBC official page said bartering is a big help in this time of crisis as many people lost their jobs.

Glenn Oyanguren Rubia commented that the items were already taxed by the government twice and a lot of people are already engaged in bartering before the quarantine period. He said the activity

makes people happy and saved money by acquiring things without spending.

Welvie Bangcong said: “Kapila man diay mag tax sa product?

Pag-palit ana gi-tax naman na! Nakig-swap lng man ka sa imong available goods.”

Mary Irene Dumagil Paler, a mom from Guihing, Davao del Sur who is also engaged in swapping, said only the bigger transactions such as bartering of property and vehicles which should be taxed.

“Kanang mga dinagko na nga mga barter mao nay kuhaan ug tax pero kanang ginamit nimo nga sapatos barteran ug lima ka kilo nga bugas dili na angay kuhaan ug tax uy! Grabe na sad pareha anang isa ka kaang nga bulak barteran ug lima ka sachet nga 3n1 nga kape kuhaan pa na ug tax? Pareho aning barter namo dri sa Guihing puro used stuff kasagaran pakambyoan ug diaper, sabon, milo sachet, birch tree sachet, swak bear brand ug usahay naa pa’y magpa-barter ug Vitamin C unya ug naay tax unsaon na lang?,” Paler said in a text message.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez clarified

that barter as a business is not allowed. Since there’s no tax payment and that there are even guidelines on this. But he added that for personal transactions via barter, not as a regular business transactions it is not covered by the law.

He said barter trade is only allowed in three areas in the country namely Siasi and Jolo in Sulu and Bongao in Tawi-Tawi and outside these areas, barter trading across borders is not allowed or if done online and cross border and as a regular business, in (the) course of trade and not registered and not taxed.

Lopez was also quoted that exchanging used gadgets for food and vegetable harvest for school supplies are among the transactions in the ‘online barter’, which are personal transactions.

Lopez said local barter trade is subject to regulation. It should be registered and is subject to tax if done in the course of business.

In a statement posted on its page, emphasized that DBCO and its members are not engaged in the business of bartering and the trans-

actions in the community remain to be legal.

The group also leave it to the proper government authorities on the issuance of guidelines in relation to tax liability. It said that DBCO will continue to respect the government and will wait for the final resolution of the duly constituted authorities on the matter. It is also hopeful that appropriate regulations are defined, clarified, and made known to the general public the soonest possible time.

For now, DBCO vows to continue to serve the Dabawenyos.

DBCO was established on the intention of helping the Dabawenyos especially during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic “when most had no means to earn a living, when some had absolutely nothing to eat, when a few were psychologically helpless for having nothing to do day by day.”

Carrying the mantra “Dabawenyo para sa Dabawenyo”, DBCO grew from two to 160,000 members helping others not just in decluttering but also in finding something from their tiny abode in exchange for a can of sardines, a kilo of rice, and a pot of plant.

he Davao City government will start imposing a higher penalty for violators of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City that has been amended last year by the 19th City Council and approved by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in January.

Under the amended law, particularly on penalties, the penalty for the first offense is now P2,000 from P1,000; P3,000 from P2,500 for the second offense; and, P5,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.

In Section 10 or the No Contest Provision, the person liable who is apprehended or cited for violating the prohibited

acts and does not wish to contest will be allowed to voluntarily pay an administrative penalty of P1,000 from P500.

Doctor Ashley Lopez, the Head of the Vices Regulation Unit (VRU), said the city had pushed for the higher penalty last year after noticing the increasing number of violators every year.

“There are people who have been habitually violating the law - same person kay maka-afford na man gud sila mobayad og 500 pesos for the citation including the penalties (There are people who have been habitually violating the law – the same person because

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Davao teachers learn new skills amid Covid-19 crisis

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o catch up with the new demands of learning, teachers in Davao City have been equipping themselves with online learning skills as classes transition into a largely digital environment amid the coronavirus disease (Covi-19) pandemic.

Tessie Monterde, Junior High School teacher at Sta. Ana National High School, said teachers like her welcome the government’s initiative to prepare educators like her to be proficient in learning software and applications essential in the “new normal”.

“There are a lot of webinars that the region (Department of Education-Region 11) offers and we take these chanc-

es because as teachers, we want to constantly improve ourselves to keep up with the changing times. Tinuturuan kami paano gumawa ng (In those webinars, we learn how to create) engaging PowerPoint presentations, how to record our classes, how to use Microsoft software,” Monterde told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview on Monday.

Monterde said she and her colleagues learned various teaching modalities and managed to familiarize themselves with video conferencing applications and software such as Google Classroom, StreamYard, and Zoom as well as various learning manage-

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VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3 DAVAO LIGHT ADVISORY Service disruptions on July 18 and 19 in Toril, Dumoy and Davao del Norte areas

President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases

(IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on Wednesday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Union slams ‘red-tagging’ of some banana workers A

union of plantation workers in Davao de Oro has denied a statement issued by management and a local government official saying some of their members are rebel returnees.

Reacting to a story published in Edge Davao on June 15, the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (Namasufa), a union of workers under Sumifru plantation in the town of Compostela, released a statement on a social media post that they are alarmed by the statement of Compostela Vice Mayor Levi Ebdao and Bravo Company Commander Lt. Arthur Garidan for red-tagging some of the union members.

Edge Davao reported the settlement of the labor dispute from Sumifru’s press release.

Part of the company’s statement read: “Compostela Vice Mayor Levi Ebdao and Bravo Company Commander Lt. Arthur Garidan gladly welcomed the settlement between Sumifru and the workers as a significant development to the local government’s peace and order efforts as some of the NAMASUFA PP90 members are NPA returnees who wish to be reintegrated to society and become productive members of the Compostela community.”

In a post on the social media account of Kilusang Mayo Uno-SMR, Namasufa

Davao de Oro appeals for suspension from accepting LSIs, returning OFWs

denied the charge.

“None us are members of the NPA,” the statement said.

Namasufa said it has been subject to “red-tagging for over a decade as officers and even members encountered assassination attempts, arson in their office and homes, and interrogation from the military.”

“This terrible act committed by the 66th IB and Vice Mayor Ebdao has put our members in a grave situation. With the imminent signing of the Anti-Terror Bill into law, anyone could be charged as terrorists including unionists who are just genuinely echoing and upholding workers’ rights,” the union

statement said.

“We challenge (Vice Mayor Ebdao) to read the 2017 Supreme Court decision that won us our labor cases against Sumifru and declared us as regular workers. We are a duly-accredited labor union and nothing else - and we fight only so that we may provide for our families and ourselves,” the union said.

Vice Mayor Ebdao, however, reportedly denied having mentioned that some members of the union were former rebels.

No less than Davao de Oro Gov. Tyron Uy relayed the vice mayor’s denial in a chat with community journalist Michael L. Uy sometime last July 10.

Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. will conduct 30-minute power interruptions on July 18 and 19 affecting customers in Toril, Dumoy and some parts of Davao del Norte area.

The service disruption on July 18 will be necessary to facilitate normalization of Davao Light TSI Substation after completion of its maintenance works.

The 30-minute power outage will be anytime between 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. affecting customers fromfrom Julu Feeds Mill in Dumoy going to Baracatan, including Daliao, Toril Proper, Lizada, Bayabas, Marapangi, Tibuloy, Bato, Eden, Kilate, Tagurano, Catigan, Sirawan, Binugao and neighboring areas.

Moreover, the 30-minute power outages on July 19 will be necessary to facilitate maintenance works at Davao Light TADECO Substation.

To avoid longer duration of power interruptions, load from the affected lines will be transferred to nearby lines anytime between 2:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.. Normalization or return of load back to its normal set-up will be anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m..

Specifically affected are customers from Racho Ville Subdivision in Panabo City going to Marsman Estate Plantation in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte via Tagum-Panabo Circumferential and Sto. Tomas-Carmen Roads, including Tubod, Malitbog, Manay, Paquibato, Mabuhay, Dalisay, TADECO Central, DAPECOL, Alejal, Tanglaw, Dujali, La Libertad 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, 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, 0917-864-2793 (Globe) or 0920-970-1357 (Smart) for any power interruption that will fall outside the given schedule.

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he provincial government of Davao de Oro is appealing to the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) to disallow locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning OFWs from entering the province to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy of Davao de Oro said during his Serbisyo Oro Mismo program said he is appealing to the NIATF particularly those in-charge of the Hatid Probinsya Program to give the province two weeks moratorium to prepare to properly accommo-

date returning LSIs and OFWS. “At the same time, ma-set sad nato ang mga recommended policies nga gi-ingon sa mga doctors and dili nato ma-overburden ang atong mga health personnel,” Uy said.

The Covid-19 cases in the province as of 10 p.m. of July 15, 2020, there are a total of 43 (plus 2) confirmed cases, four (minus one) probable, and nine suspected cases.

Along with other provinces in Region 11 such as Davao City, Davao Del Norte, Davao

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Action Officer Dr. Reden Bersaldo visits the Municipality of Manay — the last municipality where he cascaded the NLD-KKC program. For the

City of Mati, the mobilization of the barangays is being done by the City Health Office. DAVOR PIO/Chopin Siblos

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

Online investors drive PH stock market accounts up 12.7% in ‘19

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A mechanic at a gas station performs an oil change job on a car in Malaybalay City on Wednesday. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

Udenna Group denies interest in frequencies left by ABS-CBN

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avao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s conglomerate Udenna Group is dismissing speculations circulating on social media that it is related to a certain broadcast firm which is allegedly taking over the frequencies left

by ABS-CBN Corporation.

“It has come to our attention that there have been certain speculations going around on social media saying that the Udenna Group is associated with a reported broadcasting entity interested in acquiring the broadcast frequencies left behind by ABS-CBN,” Udenna Group spokesperson Raymond Zorilla said in a statement.

“These are unfounded and completely false,” Zoril-

la added.

Rumors have been circulating on social media that a certain Dragon Broadcasting Corporation, allegedly owned by Uy, will be given the frequencies of ABS-CBN. The House panel on legislative franchises adopted the Technical Working Group’s (TWG) Committee Resolution recommending the denial of the network’s franchise application

he country’s top economic and infrastructure officials reported the accomplishments and plans of both the Economic Development Cluster (EDC) and Infrastructure Cluster (IC) to an audience of over one million Filipinos–tuning in online or via accredited media partners—during this year’s first Pre-State of the Nation Address (Pre-SONA) forum last week.

Streamed live across multiple media platforms, the first Pre-SONA forum of the EDC and IC was held virtually because of the limitations set on mass gatherings as part of the government’s continued mobility restrictions to slow the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The July 8 event set the record for the most highly-viewed Pre-SONA forum since President Duterte assumed office in 2016.

Titled “Tatak ng Pagbabago 2020” the Pre-SONA forums are a three-part

series that feature key government policies and programs in greater detail in preparation for the 5th SONA of President Duterte later on July 27. The second part of Pre-SONA series resumes today featuring the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC) and the Participatory Governance Cluster (PGC).

through 70 yes votes, 11 no votes, two inhibitions and one abstention.

ABS-CBN went off air on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist against the network for lack of franchise.

“We in Udenna have been consistent in stating that our priorities do not include broadcasting,” Zorilla said.

Uy, a top contributor to President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign kitty during the 2016 elections, earlier issued a statement that he is not interested in buying ABS-CBN and that he has no plans to go into broadcasting.

Udenna currently has interests in oil, gas and retail; shipping and logistics;

education; food; gaming and tourism; property development and management; and infrastructure development.

Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corporation was supposed to be the parent company for the group’s shares in Dito Telecommunity Corporation, but instead sold the shares to ISM Communications, which was then renamed Dito CME Holdings.

Earlier this year, Udenna announced Donald Lim— who previously served as the chief digital officer of ABS-CBN—as chief innovation officer of the group and as chief operating officer of DITO CME starting February 1, 2020.

Top econ, infra execs address over 1-M Filipinos in first 2020 pre-SONA forum

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“The Pre-SONA forums are an annual series of events that the Duterte administration has been staging as part of its efforts to make governance more participatory and transparent to the public. While the SONA is the most important government speech every year, the pre-SONA events are a means for state agencies to report their respective accomplishments and plans in greater detail, and to provide broader context for the President’s upcoming SONA,” Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino II said.

“While organizing

this year’s pre-SONA presented the government with challenges because of COVID-19 mobility restrictions, we also saw increased activity in digital spaces as an opportunity to reach out to more Filipinos in new ways.” Lambino, who is also the Department of Finance (DOF) spokesman and head of its Strategy, Economics and Results Group (SERG), added.

More than 90 government agencies livestreamed the three-hour program on their respective Facebook pages, and another 14 media organizations shared the feed on their social media sites. The event was also simulcast on six television networks and two radio stations.

“Broad interagency cooperation to reach more people through their channels made the event the most widely-covered Pre-SONA forum in Philippine history so far, resulting to more than 30 unique online news stories of a single event,” Lambino said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar headlined the forum as cluster chairs.

Top officials who were present at the forum included Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Isidro Lapeña, Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato, Education Under-

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he growth of online accounts in the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) drove a double-digit increase in total accounts for 2019, with the local bourse optimistic for 2020.

Data from the annual Stock Market Investor Profile (SMIP) showed that total stock market accounts grew by 12.7% to 1,228,038 in 2019 from the 1,089,413 accounts the previous year.

Online accounts made up for 63.7% of this at 782,118, up 25% from 625,763 accounts the previous year. The remaining 36.3% were investor accounts with traditional stockbrokerage firms.

“Online accounts have been the reason for the steady rise in total stock market accounts in the last 10 years,” PSE president and chief executive officer Ramon Monzon said in a separate statement.

“The shift in trading format preference of investors have encouraged stock brokerage companies that cater to retail investors to start offering online trading services to their clients,” he added.

Majority of the accounts remained to be retail investors with 1,199,565 accounts, comprising 97.7% of the total.

The remaining 2.3% or 28,473 were institutional accounts.

In terms of the investor profile, male investors accounted for 50.2% of the total retail accounts while females accounted for 49.8%.

Investors aged between 30 to 44 years old had the biggest share in total accounts, with a 45.5% share. It was followed by those aged 18 to 29 years (21.7%); aged 45 to 59 years (20.3%), and 60 years and above (12.5%).

Most of the investors or 59.4% were those with an annual income of less

than P500,000. This is lower than the 62.4% share in 2018.

Meanwhile, those earning more than P1 million annually cornered 21.5% of total retail accounts, up from 16.6% in 2018.

Those earning P500,000 to P1 million accounted for 19.1%, lower than the 21.0% share in 2018.

In terms of location, most investors were based in Metro Manila in 2019, accounting for 75.7% of the total accounts. This is higher than the 62.2% share in 2018.

Investors in Luzon accounted for 13.9%, down from 21.5% in 2018. Visayas accounted for 5.3%, down from 8.9% the previous year, while Mindanao accounted for 3.3%, also down from 4.4% previously.

Overseas investors for the year accounted for 1.8%, down from 3.0% in 2018, mainly coming from the United Arab Emirates, Japan, the United States of America, China, and Singapore.

“While the data we have now is from 2019, we expect the online investor population to increase in 2020 mainly due to investors opening online accounts during the community quarantine period and as investors participate in initial public offerings through PSE EASy (Electronic Allocation System),” Monzon said.

Metro Manila and other “high-risk” areas were placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 to May 15, followed by a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31.

A general community quarantine (GCQ) was put in place from June 1 to 15, and has since been extended until July 15.

“We hope to see an increase in investors based

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Investors can now avail of gov’t bonds offering through PayMaya

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ndividual investors can now avail of the government’s upcoming Retail Treasury Bonds (RTB) offering through their PayMaya accounts.

In a statement on Wednesday, PayMaya said it teamed up with Bonds.

Ph to allow small individual investors to avail of the P30-billion issuance this week.

Bonds.Ph is a new online investment platform powered by the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX), where investors can add funds to their accounts using their registered mobile numbers.

This comes as the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) is set to raise as much as P30 billion from its fiveyear RTBs to be offered from Thursday, July 16, 2020 to August 7, and to be settled on August 12.

“We have always envisioned to provide Filipinos

with affordable and secure investment instruments where they can invest and at the same time aid the government in raising funds especially at this time,” National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon was quoted as saying in the statement.

“So we opened up our next Retail Treasury Bond offering to an online platform like Bonds.Ph that allows investors to use e-wallets like PayMaya to invest in RTBs,” she added.

Prospective investors can invest as low as P5,000, up to an aggregate amount of P500,000.

Transactions through PayMaya will be charged P5.00.

“Opening up various online channels that allows Filipinos to invest will ensure a wider participation from individual investors, particularly for this offering,” said de Leon.

VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

EDGEDAVAO EDGEDAVAO

ENVIRONMENT

SAVING ECOLOGICALLYFRAGILE CORAL REEFS O

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ff the Davao coast, Kopiat Island in the municipality of Pantukan boasts of clear and calm waters and wide sections of shoreline blanketed with fine white sand. It is a tranquil place that hosts unspoiled reefs with rare coral beds.

Just 200 meters away from the island’s shoreline, snorkelers can get close to the various species of colorful corals, both hard and soft.

However, you can already get a glimpse of the beautiful corals just by looking down into the water from the boat.

“We are trying to protect these coral reefs from people who want to harvest them for aesthetic purposes in their homes,” says Christine T. Dompor, the provincial tourism officer of Compostela Valley.

They have to protect those ecologically-fragile reefs. In most parts of the country, coral reefs are on the verge of extinction. “The Philippines sits on the world’s second largest coral reef,” writes Sandra Volpp in her paper, “From the Mountains to the Seas,” which appeared in Handbook Philippines. “And yet, only 1.0% to 2.5% is still intact and serves as habitat for diverse marine flora and fauna; 60% of reefs are heavily damaged.”

It was still in the late 1970s that the East-West Center in Hawaii sounded the alarm. At that time, the study disclosed that more than half of the reefs were “in advanced state of destruction.” Only about 25% of live coral covers were in “good condition,” while only 5% were in “excellent condition.”

Nothing much has changed since then. In fact, 30% of the country’s coral reefs are reportedly “dead” while 39% are “dying.”

Reef Check, an international organization assessing the health of reefs in 82 countries, identified the coral reefs which are in “excellent condition” are the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, Apo

Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, and Verde Island Passage off Batangas.

In deep trouble “Nowhere else in the world are coral reefs abused as much as the reefs in the Philippines,” commented Don E. McAllister, who once studied the cost of coral reef destruction in the country.

“Although coral reefs have always been subject to natural disturbances – disease, predator outbreaks, and climatic disruptions such as hurricanes and the El Niño – natural damage is now being compounded by human-induced disturbances,” noted Coral Reefs: Valuable but Vulnerable, a discussion paper circulated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

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

Current status But what is the current status of the coral reefs in the country today? “Like other natural resources, our coral reefs must be monitored and assessed regularly,” wrote Laurence M. San Pedro in an article published in S&T Post of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

These could be accomplished by using tools for coral

reefs visualization. “Having accurate information can guide coastal resource managers and marine ecologists to put up measures to conserve the reefs,” San Pedro wrote.

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

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

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

There are two projects that comprise the ARRAS Program. The first is the Multi-Sensor Reef Assessment headed by Dr. Cesar L. Villanoy of the University of the Philippine (UP) Marine Science Institute. The other is the Coral Reef Assessment and Visualization headed by Dr. Maricor N. Soriano of the UP Diliman’s National Institute of Physics.

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

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

San Pedro gave some insights on how these tools are used to make rapid and frequent surveys of the reefs.

Actually, there are two types of banca-towable platforms: “Teardrop” and “Towpedo.”

Both use motor engine-powered small boats (banca) that can hold an underwater cam-

era and echo sounder.

“The Teardrop can house a waterproof video camera and other sensors,” San Pedro explained. “With an attached underwater camera inside, the Teardrop is a diverless video-transacting tool for capturing coral reefs on video.

On the other hand, Towpedo is a neutrally buoyant, torpedo-shaped platform that can reach a depth of 30 meters below water and can also capture videos underwired with an attached underwater camera.”

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

In addition, the researchers also promoted the use of kites instead of drones.

“Through kite aerial photography, aerial shots of shallow reefs can be easily taken,” San Pedro wrote. “Kite aerial photography is suited in places where the wind is strong.

Once the kite is observed to be stable, an action camera is attached to the kite line using a pendulum which limits the sway of the camera and reduces motion blur.”

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

“Branching corals” Is there a way the country’s remaining corals be restored to its former self? In agriculture, a transplant is a seed grown in controlled conditions (such as a greenhouse) then transplanted to a field where it is allowed to grow further and bear fruits (tomato and eggplant, for example) or until ready for harvesting (cabbage, carrots, radish, to name a few).

Some scientists claim that degraded reefs can be regenerated using the same methods as are used to restore tropical forests.

“Many of the world’s coral reefs are experiencing a severe degradation,” said Dr. Baruch

Rinkevich, a senior scientist with the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research.

These ecologically-fragile marine wonders can be saved by using so-called “branching corals” as “ecosystem engineering species.”

In a press conference during the International Coral Reef Symposium held in Florida some years back, the Israeli scientist talked about the socalled “gardening coral reefs concept,” a method inspired from forest restoration guidelines.

The technique involves generating and farming large stocks of new coral colonies in a floating nursery which is far from predators and other disturbances. After one year or so, they are transplanted into degraded areas.

In the Philippines, the Filipinnovation on Coral Reef Restoration Program is adapting the same technique. It is a program initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and under the auspices of the DOST. The program, which started in 2012 yet, “seeks to roll out coral-transplantation technology using asexually reproduced corals to improve productivity of coral resources for sustainable fisheries,” Melvin B. Carlos, Christie A. Surara and Rose Anne K. Mananghaya of the S&T Media Service wrote.

Developed by the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute in Diliman, Quezon City, the direct coral-transplantation technique was implemented with the local residents to restore a degraded coral reef area in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The technique had also been pilot-tested in major tourism and diving sites, including Batangas, Bohol and Boracay.

According to the three authors, the program adapts the corals asexual-reproduction technology for reef restoration which involves the collection of dislodged live coral fragments or “corals of opportunity” or COPs. The COPs are attached to coral nursery units (CNUs) for quick recovery and regeneration to increase survival rates upon transplantation in degraded coral-reef sites.

Each CNU is designed to hold 500 COPs per batch and can be used several times a year.

The CNU design and the coral-transplantation technique uses marine epoxy clay, nails and cable ties. Among the restored sites were in Bohol, Pangasinan, Sarangani, Bataan, Zambales, Palawan, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte and Ilocos Norte. These areas were identified based on their suitability for restoration; availability of sufficient number of coral fragments for transplanting; and their location within the marine protected area.

So far, the program has established a total of 538 CNUs

5

and transplanted 487,158 coral fragments. These activities contribute directly to the protection of coastal communities by providing natural barriers; improving our marine ecosystem services; developing fishery resources; and enhancing the underwater tourism industry.

The Filipinnovation Program was completed in 2013.

However, the National Coral Reef Rehabilitation Roll-Out Program continued the work using the same asexual-reproduction technology.

It was done in nine sites across the country: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Bagac, Bataan; Subic Bay, Zambales; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Anda, Bohol; Camiguin, Zamboanga City; and Kiamba, Sarangani. All in all, the two programs are now in 20 locations across 11 regions.

Filipinos as stewards The Philippine government has made and introduced many laws in an attempt to protect the natural environment on the islands and in the national territorial waters. But the government cannot do it alone; help from individuals are also needed to save the reefs from total annihilation.

“We are the stewards of our nation’s resources,” said Rafael D. Guerrero III, an academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology, “we should take care of our national heritage so that future generations can enjoy them.”

Some officials have responded to the call. In Tagum City, Davao del Norte, the local government has allocated over P10-million budget for its marine conservation project.

In a statement, Mayor Allan L. Rellon said its artificial reef has expanded from 2 hectares to 3 hectares to boost its positive impact in sustaining marine life in the area.

“Like many other cities and municipalities in the Davao Gulf, the limited marine ecosystem of Tagum City is under considerable pressure from industrial development, growing population and pollution,” Rellon said. “We see the need to prioritize marine-conservation initiatives in order to reduce the threats of our marine ecosystem.”

Also, in Tagum City, British-Filipino marine biologist Harry D. Morris is initiating the Trinity Project in collaboration with the Hijo Resources Corporation. Started in November 2016, he initially thought of covering only 200 square meters of the area near the corporation’s Banana Beach Resort.

Today, the project has expanded to about 120 hectares: 20 hectares of mangrove forest, 80 hectares of seagrass meadows and 20 hectares of coral reef habitat. “The coral reefs are the optimum environment in the tropical coastal ecosystem, allowing a huge diversity of aquatic life to live and breed in,” Morris pointed out.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

On the statement of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that barter trade deals should be taxed: “Kanang mga dinagko na nga mga barter mao nay kuhaan ug tax pero kanang ginamit nimo nga sapatos barteran ug lima ka kilo nga bugas dili na angay kuhaan ug tax uy! Grabe na sad pareha anang isa ka kaang nga bulak barteran ug lima ka sachet nga 3n1 nga kape kuhaan pa na ug tax? Pareho aning barter namo dri sa Guihing puro used stuff kasagaran pakambyoan ug diaper, sabon, milo sachet, birch tree sachet, swak bear brand ug usahay naa pa’y mag-pabarter ug Vitamin C unya ug naay tax unsaon na lang?.”

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EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

COMPETITIVE EDGE

7

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DURIAN HOTEL: RISING FROM THE PAST In 2001, due to a series of crisis, Durian Hotel, one of the impressive structures to grace Davao City’s landscape towards the end of the millennium, was forced to fold up after its lender bank, the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., foreclosed its property due to unpaid commitments.

But there were also other factors that brought the hotel down. There was a rise in insur-gent conflicts, the Asian financial crisis, and the abductions by the Abu Sayyaf group.

Collec-tively, these spelled drastic decline in tourist arrivals and severe reduction in economic op-portunities.

When hard times overwhelmed the city, Durian Hotel was in familiar company. The mammoth P3-billion, Malaysian-owned Samal Island Casino Resort shut down due to low occupancy. Even the iconic Davao Insular Hotel had to temporarily close its doors to find remedy on how to resolve and underwrite its heavy losses.

On the other hand, oth-

er local hotels opted to severe ties with global managing firms which failed to bring in the desired guests and became liabilities. For one, Mercure Grand Ho-tel, now Davao Regal Hotel, seceded from the arrangement, followed by Royal Mandaya Hotel, which was handled by Barcelo Hotel Group of Spain.

On the side, skeptics attributed the closure to claims the hotel was built on a weak foun-dation, susceptible to earthquakes, the groundwork sank, and structural engineers were not amenable in terms of safety to high-rise buildings due to a fault line discovered in Davao City. Overtime, these led to the reduction in the number of potential occupants and guests.

In its heyday, Durian Hotel, with an area of 16,500 square meters, was famous for its Heroes Bar, a saloon overlooking Victoria Plaza and was a strategic hangout for those who wanted to appreciate the city by night. It sat on a property that comprised 15 adjoining lots.

The hotel’s original building had only a total floor area of 1,762 square meters. The ground floor accommodated the lobby and the reception hall, excluding two business stalls. On the second story was the executive offices, while the third and fourth stories hosted gues-trooms.

Due to rising patronage and better than usual occupancy record, the family of Bayani Es-cora, original owners of the hotel, decided to build a six-story annex building with a total floor area of 4,566 square meters. Thevedifice consisted of a basement, ground floor, and a parking lot on the second floor, enough for around 60 cars. The next two stories were dedi-cated as functions rooms, and the fifth story was the Grand Ballroom, a theater-type function hall.

On the other hand, the 12-story main hotel, with a floor area of 10,172 square meters, has a basement that housed the water boiler, exhaust fans, and parking area, while the ground

floor hosted a restaurant, main kitchen, two picturesque elevators, and a service elevator.

Go-ing up, the second floor was home to a cornucopia of rooms and cubicles, including the lunchroom of employees, medical clinic, stockroom, locker room, food and beverage office, employees’ comfort rooms, male-female quarters, and two medium function rooms.

Meanwhile, the third to eleventh stories were used for guestrooms; the twelfth housed the Heroes Bar, the Concorde, a function room with a mezzanine, swimming pool, and a mini gym. At the roof deck were the cell site, water tank, and elevator motors.

In terms of breakdown of guest rooms, the original building housed 22 lodgings while the main edifice hosted 126 accommodations.

In 2015, news that the mothballed Durian Hotel, rumored as a haunted structure, was bought by a new investor became hot item. Accordingly, the erection of a new edifice

An immersive opportunity:

to re-place the structure was planned to start in the middle of that year. The 600-room hotel pro-ject would cost P400 million, making it the biggest in Mindanao. The proposed hotel, under a progressive plan, would comprise three buildings with 9,000 rooms. The fantastic yarn was even verified by the regional tourism office.

After surviving numerous economic crises, years of inactivity, stories of paranormal man-ifestations, and challenges of earth-shaking tremors that struck the Davao region, the hotel, almost unscathed structurally, is rising from the past.

In early 2020, after the foreclosed hotel was acquired earlier by Armando Quibod, owner of Montana Community Finance Corp. and Armando Financing Corp., rehabilitation and renovation promptly started. For a change, Durian Hotel, when it reopens under a new management, will be known as Davao Persimmon Suites, a premier boutique hotel.

MCM launches Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020 HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

M

THE VALUE OF CRITICISM

matics, Business, may proceed to alayan Colleges Mind- MCM’s online ed by MCM. anao, a Mapúa School learning tools In order for Humanities and this link: https:// Blackparticipants tonotSocial bit.ly/MCMDIGI“To avoid criticism, say its anything back.

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8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

EDGEDAVAO LIVING

A DORMANT VOLCANO, Mount Apo is the country’s highest peak with an elevation of 2,954 meters. Located at the rolling foothill of this iconic mountain is Kapatagan, about 28 kilometers away from the heart of Digos City. It can also be accessed through the Balutakay in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. The road is now fully concrete. Those who are not familiar with the road must drive during daytime.

However, when we visited the area recently, we drove at about six in the evening. It was already dark and was raining.

The road was thickly covered with fogs and in zigzag manner – which reminded me of a travel going to Baguio. It was good that our driver, Renante Salazar, had been traversing the road a thousand times already.

Kapatagan is a farming haven as it produces assorted high-valued vegetables. A lot of portions are also planted to banana, particularly Cavendish and lacatan. But what makes the barrio popular are its tourist destinations.

To name a few: Marawer Springs (which has two types of waters: the comforting hot springs and the challenging cold stream); Virgin Falls in purok Balatikan; Agong House, a cultural park in purok Kinambulan; Camp Sabros, which offers extreme adventures, in purok Upper Baras; Mount Apo High Resort, Mount Apo Civet Coffee Farm, and Dhen Yho’s Place.

But there’s a newest member in the block: Montefrio Garden Resort. This was where Salazar brought me. I thought it was just another tourist attraction but I was wrong. More often than not, you find swimming pools in highland areas. But what makes the infinity pool unique is that is has three-inone pool.

The bigger one is only five feet deep. The other two pools are smaller, actually they’re jacuzzi types. While the water in the bigger pool is cooler, the two jacuzzi pools are somewhat

MONTEFRIO: A COOL PLACE TO VISIT

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO hot; they being heated in the morning at 10 am and in the afternoon at 2 pm.

Near the two jacuzzi pools is the bar, where you can have coffee or beer. Cocktails are also served.

If you go further from the pools, you can have your tummy full with the mouthwatering foods the restaurant – named RestoNante – offers.

If you’re lucky, you could see Mount Apo up close; it happens when fogs are not around. On a clear day, you can also see the very far Mount Matutum, an active volcano located in the province of South Cotabato.

Salazar, a business man from Bansalan, Davao del Sur, owns the place. “Actually, we are thinking of this place as the vacation itinerary for my family and relatives,” he recalls. “But some friends who come say that it can be developed into a tour-

ist attraction.”

That gave him an idea. After all, he and his lovely wife, the former Maria Celeste Arriaga, love to travel. They had been to various places in the country and some parts of Asia. Those they have visited inspired them to create their own.

While the husband incorporated all those ideas he got from his travels, the wife thought of the catching name. “This place is cold and located in a moun-

tain,” she says. “Combining these two qualities, we came up with Montefrio Garden Resort.”

Montefrio, in English, means Cold Mountain. But it has nothing to do with the Hollywood movie, starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger (who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance).

Visitors can come to the resort during the day or may stay at night. Entrance fee per

person range from P250 to P450. Children are given 50% discount while people with disabilities and senior citizens can avail 20% discount.

For those who want to stay for the night, they can avail the family room at P10,000 (which is good only for 10 persons).

They can bring their own and cook them as kitchen amenities are provided.

I opted to stay for the night.

Indeed, it was cold. So, I advised those who want to stay to bring some jackets if they want to enjoy the beauty of the night while at the resort. But you can have a good night sleep as the thick blanket is enough to warm you and put you to sleep.

In the morning, wake up early and see for yourself a new kind of sight: verdant hills, thick fogs, and people doing farming.

Watch those rattan crates full of agricultural crops being carried by a horse.

Enjoy seeing these wonders as you sip your hot coffee and the cool winds touch your face. Life at its best, indeed.

A garden resort is not a garden without those flowers. Below the pools, you get a glimpse of those ornamentals like sunflowers, petunias, roses, poinsettias, cherry blossoms and pine trees.

For reservation, you can email the resort at mfgrreservation@gmail.com.

NEWS 9

VOL.13 ISSUE 82 83 • THURSDAY, FRIDAY, JULYJULY 17, 2020 16, 2020

Mayor Sara: Let’s focus on Covid-19 pandemic, not running for president

M

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Wednesday that it is not yet time for her to be talking about the 2022 presidential election when the country is confronted with more pressing concerns brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

During her live interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5), Carpio refused to comment on the statement made by her father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, during the latter’s visit to Kuta General Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters in Jolo, Sulu on Monday where he told the mayor to take his place only if she is “driven by patriotism.”

“We are in the time of the pandemic, maybe let’s not talk about things that are not yet in front of us,” she said.

President Duterte told Carpio, his eldest daughter with ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman, that she better not gun for the country’s highest post unless she is driven by patriotism and that she really wants to serve the country, given the enormity of the responsi-

bilities and the attendant problems that come with being President.

“I told Inday [Carpio], do not run for president unless you see something that you can do for your country. But if just a matter of ambition, lay off,” he added.

Duterte warned that she would only get exhaustion from doing the multitude of tasks passed on the shoulders of the President.

“You will get nothing but exhaustion. You go to the mountains, you do just about everything, you go around because of service,” he said.

The President served as mayor of Davao City from 1988 to 1998, representative of the first district from 1998 to 2001 and mayor again from 2001 to 2010, vice mayor to his daughter-mayor from 2010 to 2013, and mayor from 2013 to 2016.

Meanwhile, Carpio ran for mayor in 2016 when her father decided to run for President.

Carpio was re-elected as mayor in 2019.

But the presidential daughter said she is more concerned about the problem of address-

ing the pandemic, and how the people of Davao can continue on their lives despite COVID-19.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the city has continued to rise as the government eased quarantine measures.

As of July 14, the Department of HealthDavao reported 45 new cases, with 39 deaths and 458 recoveries. Of the total 818 COVID-19 cases, 600 are in Davao City, 76 in Davao del Norte, 31 in Davao del Sur, 57 in Davao de Oro, 50 in Davao Oriental, and four in Davao Occidental.

Carpio said addressing the pandemic is a difficult task, and that she does not want to concern herself over things other than her deliverables in public service.

“What should concern is that there is a pandemic and how we can go on with our lives despite that there is pandemic, and how we can continue the things that we need to do in the government, other than the things we need to do outside COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

(Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

N

NorCot exec warns public vs. bringing in hogs, by-products

orth Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco has warned the public against bringing in prohibited meat products in the face of the African swine fever (ASF) infection in the province.

“The ASF is a grave threat to the Philippine swine industry,” Catamco said in a statement released on Wednesday evening.

She said the provincial government will strictly enforce Republic Act 10536 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines in the province of North Cotabato. Violators will be fined PHP200,000.

Catamco directed the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) to prohibit the entry of live hogs, fresh and frozen pork products, cooked and uncooked processed pork products, and by-products starting Thursday.

Catamco said it is prohibited to transport pork products via public and private utility vehicles without documentary requirements from the office of the veterinary services.

She said the move

came after more than 30 hogs in three villages in Magpet, North Cotabato have tested positive for ASF. This forced agriculture officials to discard more than 100 hogs in the villages and nearby communities within a one-kilometer radius.

Also on Wednesday, Catamco issued an advisory to public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers, that all swine commercial farms in the province would be allowed to move their hogs via PUVs “provided they have presented the documents in designated animal quarantine checkpoints in the disease outbreak areas.”

She said the shipment of live animals, which are apparently healthy upon inspection, would be held and given 24 hours to complete the required documents, otherwise, it will be sent back to its place origin.

Shipment of sick and dead animals with incomplete shipment documents shall be confiscated and disposed of accordingly by apprehending authorities.

“The DA personnel manning animal quarantine checkpoints will ensure that all live, cooked, uncooked, processed pork products must have necessary permits and other pertinent documents to allow entry, otherwise, these products will be confiscated,” she said.

In Kidapawan City, the local government has also issued a temporary ban on the entry of all live hogs and pork by-products from other places amid the ASF threat.

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista advised residents to only buy pork products inside the city public market for the safety of their respective families.

“Meat peddlers will be sanctioned and products will be confiscated for proper disposition,” Evangelista said in a separate statement Thursday.

He said the city government had setup anti-ASF checkpoints along strategic entry points in coordination with barangay officials, police, and local health authorities.

(PNA)

10 EDGEDAVAO EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ARMANDO ADANZA NAYONA SR. who died on May 4, 2020 at Davao Doctor Hospital E. Quirino St., Davao City has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No. 419; Page No. 91; Book No. LXXXVII, Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY ANTOINETTE G. PRINCIPE

7/3,10,17/2020

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seen thesystems state of the ment such as sa mga gihatag na benemga ficiaries want toSmart show hotlines saOneNote, Globe, Moodle,and and them that the support ug landlines.

There isthat no Kotobee. they receive can done information na dilicertifim“Teachers gainbe without the to fall of in portante andneed all pieces icates after completing line for long periods of time information that reportthese capacity-building andare without the needMayor to go ed important,” activities. means we out theirThis homes.

Saraofsaid. do Through not accelerate the theof to digital The Culture Secunext workshop until we distribution of the governrity was conceptualized reallysubsidy, know to utilize ment Starpay enviaiming that how bombing insions be the firstCity Filipino theseto applications and cidents in Davao will financial technology firm to not happen again. software, ” she explained. spearhead a robust digital “We have hadsaid bombing Monterde the financial system thatyears will incidents over the web-based training and include the unbanked and and our opportusecurity otherwhile learning underbanked segment of sector made more strinnities help them prepare the population”. gent measures to preventt while waiting the The DSWD saidfor thathapthe similar incidents to modules to be provided Starpay is currently gathpening again we too must by our the Department of ering information the do part,” thefrom mayor Education (DepEd) cenDSWD to start its said. inorder tralThere office, which will be are total of eight bombing handed down toincidents regional in Cityoffices sincefor 1981 andDavao division lothat killed 75 people and cal inputs. wounded 390ofothers: Because the San onPedro Cathedral bombline learning scheme, ing on April 19, 1981 that she teachers withkilledsaid 17 individuals and out advisory will wounded 157classes individunow handle their own to als; San Pedro Cathedral further improve the stubombing on December dent-teacher 28, 1993 thatratio, killedleadsix persons and wounded 51 ing to smaller, manageindividuals; able classes. Evergreen Hotel bombing on March “The (DepEd-11) di16, 2002 with one rector assigned uswoundto have ed; Old Davao Air-” 25 students per City teacher, port bombing on March she said.that killed 22 and 4, 2003 Volunteer wounded 55teachers individuMa. bombing Gemima als;Dr. Sasa Wharf Valderrama, DepEd-11 on April 3, 2003 wherehead in 16of public were affairs killed unit, and 46 City Oversaidwounded; contingencies are land Transport Terminal available should the “new normal” puts a strain on DepEd’s learning goals.

FROM 4 she One of these, said, the enlistment kulturais(SINAG) said if the of graduatesa DA Education cannot implement who act asinspection, “back-up 100%will border in is case the situation beit suggesting “the imcomes complex. mediate suspension of all refrigerated and non-re“The region has frigerated and searched agriculture for volunteers agri-based imports.” and aside from that, EduSINAG also asked cation graduates willwhat also

DA...

happened to the P2-billion first border examination facilities, which FROM 4 were established across the secretary Alainthis Pascua country early year.and Information and CommuThese facilities were nications supposed Technology to be set Asup sistant Secretary at the ports ofEmmanuManila, el Ray Caintic.

Batangas, Bataan, Cebu, the online and“Last Davaoyear, to perform test coverage of the agriculEDC-IC on all imported Pre-SONA forum gartural products. nered views.

“Inover the 130,000 era of global Last Wednesday (July 8), pandemic, food safety and we reached than public healthmore concerns 960,000 viewers. In we urge online the government addition to online views,

TOP...

digital payment. step up once the need14, to bombing on February While most beneficia2005 wherein sixwill were do so arises.

They be ries receive thein assiswounded; SM and Gmall givenwillcertificates retance areas bombing on some September turn,” digitally, Valderrama added. in Region will have 20,Davao 2013 wherein fivea Under the scheme, direct payout. were wounded; and RoxValderrama said volun“ TheMarket Starpay asked as Night bombing teer teachers earn from us whichwould areas don’t on September 2, 2016 experience would be have remittance center and wherein 15and were killed given preferential considbanks. direct payout will and 70Awounded. eration onaDepEd’s availbe the means of distribu“It is wake-up call tion inpositions such areas,” Subong ableus in return for to adopt a Culture said. of to ensure that forSecurity their services. areas a direct we In will be where safe.

Why we Learning for all payout willculture be applied, the need this of SecuValderrama assured DSWD highlighted the big rity?

Because theinstitutfailure that DepEd has help of the security sector of one witness to ensure report ed measures to to help maintain order and suspicious backpack on that every hasdisan ensure thatlearner physical that faithful night resulted option tostrictly continue tancing is to the death of thefollowed.

15their pereducation evenMae with (PIA XI/Frances Macasons and wounding ofthe 70 restrictions the pagat) others in therelated Roxas to Night Covid-19Yecla crisis.said.

Market,” Mayor Saraoptions said the “There are for adoption measures learners of with accessthat to these small acts everythe internet andof gadgets, day vigilance can become those who only have gadpart of Dabawenyos’ way gets, and those who have of life. none at all. If we lookang at “Because all these, every is Dabawenyos dililearner lang digiven the opportunity to siplinado but we also look continue learning, ” she out for each other and for said. the community. Kitang tanan ug malinawon If gusto the learners have na pagpuyo sa atong laptops anddinhi other gadsyudad.

Dili an ta gusto na gets and internet mahasi.

In fact, kitang tanconnection, they can be an dili pud gusto learnaning placed in antaonline pandemic so that is why it ing modality,na shewe said. is important are all If the learners partners in securinghave our gadgets but without an city,” she said. internet connection, they It is also emphasized canthe have digital in EO opt that for there is a need for modalities, Dabawenyosshe to modular understand that each inadded.

She said learners who have no gadgets and Internet connection but with radioimplement and television to strictly the can benefit fromofthe raglobal standard Quardio and television-based antine First Policy,” SINAG instruction. said.

Moreover, Calling for alearners “quarantinehave firstnopolicy,” the who electronic group said: “No 100% devices can have printinspection the port to of ed modulesatdelivered first entry, no unloading their homes, Valderrama of cargoes/containers.”

“Cargoes with insufficient documents would not be processed and it is estimated that at least would not be released, all half a million Filipinos also expenses incurred would watched thetoevent on telebe charged the importvision via the live coverage ers,” it added. of TV5, IBC 13, OneNews Technical meeting Channel, DZRH News TV, Meanwhile, the DACentral BAI saidLuzon that it Television will host (CLTV), and PTV,” Lambithis week a technical no said. with the Philipmeeting encourage all Comthose pine“We Inter-agency who the EDC-IC mitteewatched on Zoonoses to Pre-SONA to tune in to prepare the framework the other cabinet clusters’

VOL.13ISSUE ISSUE77 71• FRIDAY, • FRIDAY,JULY JULY10, 3, 2020 VOL.13 83 17, 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT ERRATUM OF ESTATE With WAIVER OF RIGHTS

In the June 26, 2020 issue of Edge Notice given of that the estate Davao,isinhereby the Notice publication of the lateby CONRADO C. AMPON who given LANANG REALTY died on March 20, 2014 at Davao DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Medical School Foundation Davao was Philippines erroneously from City, haspublished been the subject TIERRA LONZO DAVAO PHASE of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE With WAIVER RIGHTS 1 to DAVAO TIERRA OF LORENZO executed among1his heirs, per Doc. DAVAO PHASE

No.395; PageNo.80; Book No.183 Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC Our apologies ATTY.FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN.

GO... FROM3

and said, non-teaching adding: dividual, young “We orpersonold,can is nel; competency aalso stakeholder intraining mainhave blended learnfor teaching personnel; optaining peace and order ing--meaning, combinaeration ofCity theand Alternative in Davao tion of all these. ” that the Learning System (ALS),is14, in-a Culture of As payment of Security July cluding of salaries, concept that entails comDepEd-11 said thebenereallowanceson and other mitment the part of gion’s total enrollment fits of ALS facilitators; and Dabawenyos to support for senior the kindergarten purchase of to teaching anti-terrorism efforts, high school level aids and other instructional which will in turnlearnhelp ers hasaalready reached create physically and 344,810. The schools will psychologically secure FROM community. accept enrolment until4 smokers who wouldwill otherbe JulyThe 16. campaign wise smoking to propagated through variOfcontinue the total, 309,276 better options, while simulous activities that include were enrollees of pubtaneously guarding against malls, cinemas, terlic schools whilePUV 29,309 unintended consequences, minals, airports, seaports,” are enrolled instressed. private the PMI executive event organizer, hotels, schools.

Alternative The MRTP convention marketing restaurants, Learning Schools share orders were issuedestabpurcenters and other 6,225 of enrollees. suant to the a where 2009 law that lishments iin they are ‘Eskwela requiredDavao’ to show for public viewing anlearninfoTo ensure equal mercial on the Culturefor of ing opportunities Security.

Dabawenyos, the Davao public and has private CityAllgovernment ofschools are urged to work fered educational assiswith the city government tance to children belongto develop modules on ing to poor families. prevention of radicalizais an tion“Eskwela and mustDavao” integrate in educational assistance their orientation briefing program for thechildren to all students culture of security. whose families lost their All places of worship sources of income and are and jobsurged due to to practice lockdowns propagate the Culture of and movement restricSecurity and the to enforce tions to slow spread their own security plan of the coronavirus. including the prevention Mayorextremism.

Sara Duterof violent te-Carpio encouraged All security agencies/ all parents are to avail of the providers urged to program to their integrate thesecure Culture of Security their refresher children’sineducation. trainings.

Out of the 22,000 target beneficiaries, the city government said at least 2,962 slots are still open for pupils for kindergarten managing emerging who willthat get affect PHP1,000 diseases anieach; 9,493 slots for mals and humans. elementary at Then, thepupils NationPHP2,000 each;on 4,039 al Task Force Animal-Borne Diseases slots for high school(NTpuFAD),atchaired by theeach; DA, pils PHP3,000 led by Agriculture Secreand 4,192 slots for setary William Dar, will renior high students at

US FDA...

port appropriate recommendations to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The US study noted Pre-SONA events as well,” that G4 was observed to he added. be “highly infectious,” “The government’s efreplicating in human cells forts to make the pre-SONA and causing more serious more interactive this than year symptoms in ferrets was a practice that appears other viruses. to have Testsencouraged also showedmore that people to participate in any immunity humans the gainevent,” from Lambino exposuresaid, to citing thatflu“leading to seasonal does notup prothe we sent videforum, protection fromoutG4,a call for netizens submit according to the to report. their questions on how the

materials within theare scope PHP3,000 each.

All LGU offices reof SEF allocation. quired to become active Protection “Apart from this, the proponent on thecomfortpractice To ensure flexibility afforded by this of thelearning, Culture of Security able the Learnmeasure totheir LGUs Managewill facilthrough in-house ing Resources itate our ongoing transition or external trainings and ment Development to the and digital age, where seminars.

System (DepEd-LRMS) there is a isgrowing need to “This the long term launched Child pipiProprovide students with solutionourthe because tection Policy modern tools to Module remain la lang man ang atoang Launch via Facebook personnel sa TF Davao, Livestreamthis on June although, unit23. is a special ngatonaka-di“We unit want make empowers FDA be to anti-terregulate rect against the gyud children aware tobacco products, including rorism in Davao City but that if they do not make through oversight of innopipila lang sila.

It is imanything wrong, they vative tobacco products. portant that we in should speak up.abide So the submitted MRTP the PMI responsibilities and government and the poapplications the IQOS the functionsfor of TF Davao lice can help them, ” Dutedevice and three because kita angHeatStick nag-parte-Carpio said syudad,” inHeatthe variants: nag-iya sa Marlboro atoang dialect during the virtual Sticks, Marlboro Smooth Duterte-Carpio said. launch.

To report suspicious persons and Social activities in The City Welthe Dabawenfarecommunity, and Development yos call TFthe Davao Officecan (CWSDO), City hotline numbers DevelGlobe Social Services 0917-131-4333, Smart opment Office (CSSDO), 0999-227-1111, and the City Government of telephone no. (082)224Davao 0911. Integrated Gender“Pag-alam and Development ng terorisDivision and ta na dito (IGDD), sa Davao City non-government orgalahat ay nagbabantay ng mga kahinahinalang tao, nizations such as Tanitalagang hindi na their sila kala also rendered mag-attempt be contribution and forwillthe discouraged from or even child-centered project. planning terrorist activ“The Department of ities in Davao City. This Education has come up is how we should honwith Protecor thethis 75 Child residents and tion Policy prevent visitors who tolost their the child livesoccurrences and the 390ofothers abuse in thewere school setwhose lives forever changed of terting. Thebecause Department rorism,” Yecla said. of Education Division of Davao City has come up with the CPP modules to help prevent these child abuses help was the The and studyto that local government to conducted in Chinaunit from solve this problem,” Dr. 2011 to 2018 revealed Reynaldo that 10.4%M. ofGuillena, swine Schools Division Superworkers had already been exposed and as many as intendent of the Depart4.4% of general Divipopment of the Education ulation appeared to sion of also Davao City, said. have antibodies.

(PNA) With this, the DA-BAI urged the general public to report any unusual pig mortality to their farm government veterinarianscanorbest to help the Filipinos recover from the nearest government veteffects of the COVID-19 crierinary/agricultural ofsis,” said. fice,he and to consult a phyLambino “Citizens sician when said, experiencing posted videos of flu-like symptoms. themselves Facebook diThe on agency strongly recting questions to their recommended that swine Cabinet secretaries.

Wetheir feafarm owners consult tured several of them, and licensed veterinarians to the concerned agencies review farm biosafety and were present so that these biosecurity programs. questions were properly

CHURCHES...

HIGHER...

FROMFROM 2 2 EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

they can afford to pay lected total and amount of GCQ. san delaNorte Butuan P500), Lopez said. MGCQ P1,771,200 in penalties.

Still”on extended City in Caraga; and Lanao said his said the VRU is are Lopez Zamboanga deloffice Sur del Lopez Sur and Maguindanao wasZamboanga hoping smokers es- strictly implementing the in Peninsula; in Bangsamoro AutonoBukidnon, Misamiswould Occi- mous Region in Muslim pecially minors anti-smoking ordinance Notice is hereby that(BARMM). the estate dental, Oriental,given Mindanao decide Misamis to quit smoking 24/7, especially under the and Cagayan de Oro City in The rest of Mindanao with the increase of fines. current situation. of the late ROMEO A. JOVELLANOS Northern Mindanao; be under “low-risk In its record, theNorth VRU would “Niubos ang mga apCotabato and South Cotatype of MGCQ.” (Antonio L. who died on August 19, 2017 has apprehended an av- prehensions becauseatof bato in Soccsksargen; Agu- Colina IV / MindaNews) erage 10,000 violators closure of SanofPedro Hospitalrestrictions Inc. C. and Guzman per year since 2017 and stores, pero wala gyud mi St., Davao City, Philippines hasis collected aroundFROM P8.13 niundang.

Enforcement million penalties in ofstill on-going 24/7to (The Internet connection for platform designed supbeen inthe subject EXTRAJUDICIAL 2019, highest collecdecreased some the 7,000 schools, ac- apprehensions port remote learning.

With tion made the city govbecause of restrictions and SETTLEMENT OF executed cording toby President Ro- ESTATE this, mobile subscribers of ernment from anti-smokclosure of stores but drigo Duterte’s latest re- the Globe, TM, Smart, Sun and among hisThe heirs, Doc. No.124; ing violations. the did not port to Congress. proj- per TNTenforcement may access the site ect costs ₱700 million and without incurring any data As of March 2020, stop.

It is on-going 24/7), ” PageNo.26; Book No.181 Series of is foralready completion charges. thetargeted VRU has col- he said. CIO

OF ESTATE

TELCOS...

in2019, ten months.

Smart VP for of the NOTARYHowever, PUBLIC ATTY. The agency also tapped legal and regulatory affairs FATIMA IRENE the mobile networks Roy Cecil Ibay said this free FROMT.to3ADIN. provide free access to the access is not permanent, Del Sur, Davao OrienOriental), DepEd Commons, an on- Negros and still under stufy inRecotal, has extended 8 (Biliran, Leyte, line IATF education delivery gion ordination with DepEd.

DAVAO...

DSWD ...

the modified general community quarantine FROM 3 (MGCQ) at medium risk globally competitive.

It will in Davao de "DiskarTech Oro from ment platform also the2020. public eduLite".render July 16 to 31, cation system more flexible They arethe set to release Under medium to implement PHP4.6 alternative approximately bilrisk status, the province modes of learning cash or blendlion in emergency subwilllearning, be implementing ed ” Go said. sidy to estimated 800,000 localized and granular “And to emphasize: we recipients from the provlockdown toLGUs contain are more incesnot of giving Pangasinan, Batathe spread the virus money.

What of we are giving an, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, them -– through thisBatanmeaas well as maintain the Pampanga, Tarlac, wearing of face mask, gas, Cavite, Laguna, Albay washing of designated hands, and and Cebu as by the DSWD.distancing. physical Menthol and “RCBC HeatSticks, has made Other areas in sure the Marlboro Fresh Menthol that the put DiskarTech Lite country under MGHeatSticks. platform will beRisk easily acCQ-Medium by On April 30, recipients.

2019, the cessible to all the IATF are: CAR (BaguFDA authorized IQOS for The process has especially io Benguet), sale indesigned the and U.S. through beenCity to be issueasy Region ance of premarket tobacco and safe for1 the(Dagupan benefit of City, Ilocos Iloauthorization marketing the people andNorte, the governorders that the cos Sur, La deemed Union, ment,” Villanueva said. and Pangasinan), 2 Qualified Region beneficiaries in localities covered (Cagayan, Isabela, and

by DiskarTech shall Nueva Vizcaya),Lite Region receive text City, messages in 3 (Angeles Bataan, their registered mobile Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, numbers, providing Pampanga, Tarlac, them and with a unique Beneficiary Zambales), Region 4a (Batangas, Lucena City, and Quezon), Region 4b (Occidental Mindoro, urdays only.

Lockdowns during SunOriental Mindoro, and days are Princesa still in place, the Puerto City), mayor said.

Region 5 (Albay, CamaOn Norte, the other hand, fitrines Camarines ness gyms, massage cenSur, Catanduanes, Masters, waxing salons, and bate, Naga City, spa services areand alsoSoralsogon),but Region 6 (Aklan, lowed they should be Antique, Bacolodthat City, limited to services do Capiz, Iloilo not touchGuimaras, the hands, face or City, ofIloilo, Negros neck clients,and she said.

Occidental), Region 7 (Bohol, Cebu Province,

DAVAO CITY ...

PSC ... FROM4 ONLINE...

Tacloban City, and Western Samar), Region 9 (Zamboanga Del Norte, sure -– is Number more Zamboanga Del flexibility Sur, and Reference (BRN) on they can use the andhow informing them of the Zamboanga Sibugay), SEF. In return, what we ask date and 10 assigned payout Region (Bukidnon, from ourbranch LGUs is tolocation, ensure partner or Cagayan De Oro City, that every peso from the the bankCity, officialLanao added. Del Iligan SEF counts and to make DiskarTech Lite has Norte, and Misamis sure that the funds fromCenthe partnered with Bayad Occidental), Region 12 SEF are spent wisely for our ter, rural banks, coopera(Cotabato, General Sanchildren and the public," he tives, pawnshops, lending added.

(PNA) tos City, South Cotabato, center, microfinance inand Sultan Kudarat), Restitutions and other small gion 13 (Dinagat Island, to medium enterprises to bring theDel offsite Agusan Sur, payment Surigao marketing ofand the Surigao product of these government subDel Norte, appropriate for the sidiesSur), closer to the the protecbenefiDel and Bangtion of public health. ciaries. samoro On MarchAutonomous 30,only 2020,need PMI Recipients Region inaMuslim Minsubmitted supplemental to bring their registered danao or tobacco BARMM (Lapremarket product mobile phones and presnao Del Sur Maguapplication forand the IQOS 3 ent their BRN along with indanao). tobacco heating devicesocial with an accomplished the FDA. areas While put unamelioration card and der status: Region validGCQ ID, barangay certificate, or certificate of no 4a (Cavite and Laguna, valid IDRegion to receive their Rizal), 7 (Lapu grants. City, Mandaue Lapu As Concepcion, approved by DSWD, City, Minminimal cash out fee will be glanilla, and Talisay charged by all FSPs. (PNA) City), Region 8 (Ormoc City, and Southern Leyte), FROM 3 Region 9 (Zamboanga Region Other City), forms of mass gatherings are also allowed 13/CARAGA ( Agusan but solely for and business or Del Norte, Butugovernment purposes, and an City), and BARMM only up to 50 percent of the (Basilan). seating capacity of venue.

Meanwhile, Cebu Davao City is one of the City is being placed areas downgraded to unless der strictmodified MGCQ as enhanced announced community quarantine

by President Rodrigo Dute(MECQ). rte late Tuesday night.

TheDAVAO) rest of the Phil(PCOO ippines will be on MGCQ-Low Risk.

helping franchisees to con- because if they do not, tinue their operations amid 4 the franchisee will have FROM the challenging business to close the store, as will in the provinces stock marenvironment dueandtooverthe we “With for ourthecorporate-run seas in the coming months ket still he trading pandemic. stores,” said. way below especially online pre-COVID levels, may “Most as of more our 1,000+ He added PSC we initially stockbrokerage newtoinvestors are franchisees havefirms to valpay see targets add 400who stores idate client applications rent, and we are doing our looking this yearfor butgood plansbuying were through open tradpart to videoconferencing ensure they sur- opportunities put on hold as the firm asplatforms, eliminating the ing accounts.

This may vive. We are now asking sesses the condition inalso the need for a faceto todo facetheirs KYC help prop up our investor our landlords near future.

(PNA) (Know Your Customer) count for the year,” he addprocedure,” Monzon said. ed.

TUOB... FROM5

doing tuob see if symp- have been proven effective toms persist or worsen, to in mitigating virus spread seek medical consultation likegather wearing of masks, answered by them.

Other to actionable policy immediately. continhandwashing, and physical questions thatWe were not recommendations--were uously urge the public distancing.”

– ###(Photos featured live because of held via teleconferencing to observe practices that platforms. taken from the net) the limited time have been answered on another plat“Although we had to form.” learn and adapt to these FROM 11new platforms very Because of COVID-19 restrictions, he said thatI quickly, months. I’m proud of him, Brownthe alsogovernment said no playkey government events, seesSixers opportunities respect him. He needed to also er on the has tested including Sulong Pilipithesefor online eventsand to do it. We understand the in positive COVID-19 nas--the ourhasconsultative impact he Duterte can have adminon our make no player decided to istration’s annual stake- activities more inclusive,” team.” opt out of the restart. holder consultation event Lambino said.

EMBIID...

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

11

ABL season called off due to Covid-19

T

he Asean Basketball League (ABL) has officially called off its 10th season as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic continues to hamper Southeast and East Asian sports.

“The Asean Basketball League board has met and announces today (Wednesday) that the ABL Season 2019-2020 will be deemed concluded as there is no safe way to complete the remaining fixtures,” the ABL said in a statement.

Now 10 seasons in existence, the ABL was supposed to use this year as a celebration of its legacy.

However, with Covid-19 affecting the region, the league initially decided to postpone some games to later dates before fully postponing the season.

The ABL said the board even thought

about shortening the season like what the National Basketball Association did and the Philippine Basketball Association plans to do should it decide to push through in October.

In the end, the ABL decided to simply call it a season.

“The decision is not an easy one and has not been made lightly,” the statement read.

With the league postponed in the middle part of the regular season, the ABL decided to call the season an “incomplete” one and that no one will be declared as the champion.

Mono Vampire was already close to the ABL title as the Thai club led the team standing before the cancellation with a 12-4 record.

Alab Pilipinas was at second place at 10-6, while the Kuala Lumpur Dragon essentially finished the season third in the team standings at 10-7.

Not shutting down

new WBA junior bantamweight “regular” champion.

“Hindi rin biro ‘yung Franco,” said the Panabo City native, who is currently staying at Cavite Naval Base.

“Nagulat ako nu’ng makita siyang lumaban, ganoon pala siya lumaro.”

His promoter, Top

Rank’s Bob Arum, has previously said he plans to set Ancajas up for a title unification bout against Franco.

However, Ancajas may have to wait as Moloney has exercised his option to go for a rematch against Joshua.

Ancajas himself may still have to face Jonathan Rodriguez, whom

A view of one of the pitches at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona. Photo courtesy of the PFF website.

Meanwhile, the ABL debunked rumors of a shutdown as the league assured that it will return for its 11th season next year.

“We will now turn our efforts into planning for the next Asean Basketball League season in 2021 and hope to make announcements on the 11th ABL season after completing consultations

among the teams,” the league further stated.

The Covid-19 pandemic not just affected the ABL basketball-wise but also business-wise as the postponement of games means losing possible income to keep it going.

The shutdown rumors surfaced after the league’s staff had their contracts reportedly not

renewed.

However, the ABL looks keen on staying put, although it neither confirmed nor denied the rumors.

“We are determined to find a way forward and return to the courts bigger and better alongside all our teams, commercial partners, and fans,” the league said.

(PNA)

Ancajas says potential foe Franco ‘no joke’ Marcial signs 6-year deal

D

abawenyo world boxing champion Jerwin Ancajas admitted he was impressed

by American boxer Joshua Franc who could probably be his next opponent.

Franco scored a major upset over Andrew Moloney, battering the Australian fighter en route to a decision win last month and becoming the

he was supposed to face last April.

The camp of the reigning IBF junior bantamweight champion is currently working on getting clearance for the boxer’s flight to the US. But Ancajas said he looks forward to possiblly meeting Franco inside the ring. “Talagang excited kami,” he said.

De La Hoya: I could challenge the top guys

G

Oscar De La Hoya is reportedly making a comeback in boxing.

olden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya is getting back on track when it comes to staging events.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, his company has not staged any boxing events in months.

Next Friday night, De La Hoya’s company will stage their first event since the start of the pandemic, with welterweight Vergil Ortiz facing Samuel Vargas in the headliner at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. DAZN will carry the card on their streaming platform.

De La Hoya admits that the last few months have certainly been rough on his business.

“It was frustrating,” De La Hoya said to Daily Breeze.

“It was a bit odd to say the least because we went from doing 50 shows a year to zero. It was

just different. You didn’t know how to adjust. You didn’t know how to work from home or be still and not do nothing.”

A few weeks ago, De La Hoya generated plenty of headlines when he revealed the possibility of an in-ring comeback.

De La Hoya, 37-yearsold, has been retired since last 2018 - when he was dominated and stopped by Manny Pacquiao.

At the moment De La Hoya is training on a daily basis to get himself back into proper fighting form. He’s sparring up to eight rounds and running miles. His goal is to reach the point of twelve round sparring sessions and to go on eight mile runs, which is what he did during his prime.

While most experts do not expect De La Hoya to make his return - the Golden CEO insists that he’s very serious and he might even target the big names.

“Don’t be surprised if I challenge the top guys out there. It wouldn’t surprise me,” De La Hoya said.

with Pacquiao’s outfit Olympic-bound Filipino boxer Eumir Felix Marcial has officially signed with Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.

The amateur standout signed a six-year contract with MP Promotions, but the 24-year-old remains committed to fighting for the Philippines, particularly in the Tokyo Olympics next year.

“Nais ko po na iparating sa lahat ang aking desisyon na pumirma ng isang promotional deal sa Manny Pacquiao Promotions,” Marcial said in a statement.

“Napili ko ang MP Promotions dahil sa kanilang 100% support sa aking hangarin na lumaban po para sa Pilipinas sa mga future SEA Games at Asian Games competitions, at maging sa Olympics,” he added.

Marcial qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in March, ruling the middleweight division in the Asia and Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament in Amman, Jordan. He has also won three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, and a bronze at the Asian Games in 2018.

The boxer has received an assurance from MP Promotions

that they will support him in his drive to represent the Philippines.

“Nakasaad sa aking six-year promotional deal na hindi sila magiging hadlang sa oras na kailanganin ako ng national team,” Marcial said.

“Karangalan ko rin na maging gabay sa aking boxing career si Senator Manny Pacquiao, na sa tulong ni MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons ay naging instrumento ng tagumpay ng ating mga current world champions: Pedro Tadruan, Johnriel Casimeor, at Jerwin Ancajas,” he added.

Before signing with MP Promotions, Marcial was courted by several boxing managers, including Shelly Finkel.

However, he has previously said that he believes MP Promotions is the best place for him, due in part to Pacquiao’s guidance.

“Gaya po ng aking naipangako, ibibigay ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para makuha ang minimithi natin na Olympic gold medal at maging isang boxing world champion ilang taon mula ngayon,” Marcial vowed.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 83 • FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020

PSC thanks LandBank for uncovering payroll padding

P

hilippine Sports Commission (PSC) officer-in-charge Ramon Fernandez on Wednesday thanked Land Bank of the Philippines for giving his office a headsup regarding the alleged payroll padding scheme made by one of its employees.

Marietta Cabusao, the LandBank’s assistant vice president, was the first to discover Paul Michael Ignacio’s fraudulent acts when she noticed an unusual pattern in his recent payroll transactions.

According to the LandBank, Ignacio used the names of

national athletes and coaches no longer receiving allowances from the PSC and used his bank account in their stead, leading to the payroll padding anomaly.

“We’d like to thank the management of Landbank for letting us know right away last July 7,” Fernandez said in a press conference on Wednesday, the first time he talked about the issue.

After uncovering of the scheme, Fernandez said the PSC immediately sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“We’re just wait-

ing for the result of their (NBI) inquest,” Fernandez said.

As instructed

by President Rodrigo Duterte, Fernandez said it has been the mission of the PSC offi-

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officer-in-charge Ramon Fernandez said the anomaly involving a PSC employee was discovered by the Land Bank of the Philippines.

cials led by chairman Butch Ramirez to eliminate any form of corruption in the agency.

“We’re glad that

we discovered this,” Fernandez said about the irregularity.

Fernandez, former superstar of the Philippine Bas-

ketball Association, earlier vowed that the PSC will “never waver in its duty to protect the interest of its stakeholders and the Filipino

people”.

“We hope that we can get to the truth and bring the accountable to justice swiftly,” he said.

(PNA)