Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 204 | Sunday-Monday, December 22-23, 2019

WILL MANNY MEET DANNY?

SPORTS P15

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VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

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Lechoneros roast pigs at a makeshift “lechonan” in Bangkal, Davao City on Saturday.

The suckling pigs will be then delivered to companies which will be having Christmas parties. Lean Daval Jr

IS GMALL SAFE? Clearance to operate questioned online

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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aisano Mall of Davao's public advisory stating it is cleared to operate by the city government of Davao through the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) has elicited some questions online posted by netizens.

Admitted even by rivals as the downtown shopping center with the biggest foot traffic, GMall was placed under inspection by the OCBO after it sustained cracks following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that recently jolted some parts

of southern and central Mindanao including Davao City.

GMall’s management posted on its Facebook page that as of Dec. 17, 2019, the city government of Davao has declared the shopping mall safe for its tenants

and mall goers and was cleared for operation.

The mall said it ensures that safety is its top priority for its customers and employees.

It also declared business as usual and will be open for the holidays with regular hours at 10:00AM

to 10:00PM and until 12 midnight from Dec. 20 to 23.

During the inspection, OCBO engineers found major wall cracks at the eco 5 fire exit to cinema's fire exit, one bracket main duct had collapsed, and

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte poses for a selfie with Manila City Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año during the closing ceremony of the National Reserve Officers’Training Corps (ROTC) Summit and the 1st Presidential Silent Drill Competition at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Friday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

NCCC tells Davao shoppers: Dispense plastics properly P

‘I am responsible only to the Filipino:’ PRRD on ICC threat

By MAYA M. PADILLO omegrown retail chain NCCC Group of Companies urged shoppers to dispense plastics properly and put them to good use.

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Jeza Joy Damada, AVP for operations of LTS RETAIL Specialists, Inc. said the campaign is aimed at motivating people to begin the habit of proper plastic segregation.

“This also will help them realize how much plastic they consume in a daily basis,” Damada said.

Through its Go Green campaign that promotes sustainable lifestyle, NCCC Supermarket established “Plastic to Chairs” project which has produced 50 school chairs made from plastic bottles collected

from different NCCC Supermarket and Choice Mart branches. The eco chairs were recently turned over to Matina Central Elementary School in Matina, Davao City.

An eco-friendly project of NCCC Supermarket in partnership with Universal Robina Corporation’s (URCs) Refresh mineral water, the chairs are made from used plastic bottles that were collected during the mineral water brand’s Refresh-Return-Recycle program.

“Through this, we can

encourage shoppers to dispense plastics properly knowing that their plastic wastes will be put to good use,” Damada said.

In August 2019, Refresh Mineral Water partnered with NCCC Supermarket to place disposal bins in 30 NCCC Supermarket branches where mall-goers can return or dispose of used plastic bottles. With the help of Winder Recycling Company (WRC), all collected bottles were repurposed into classroom chairs.

Refresh, a bottled mineral water made from 100% recyclable material, launched its Refresh-Return-Recycle campaign to encourage everyone to incorporate more sus-

t least 1,000 Muslims have so far applied for the free hajj slots being offered

by President Rodrigo R. Duterte through Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, an agency official said Saturday.

“This was promised by PRRD during the Eid alFitr dinner in Davao early this year for the peace efforts of Malacañang, aiming for a more harmonious relationship with

Muslim Filipinos,” said Dimapuno Datu Ramos Jr., the chief of the NCMF's external affairs bureau.

Datu Ramos said the free slots, numbering 200, were for indigent Filipino Muslims and that it would be better to have as many applicants as they wanted that those who will be granted a slot are real indigents.

This is why the NCMF required all applicants to secure a certification of indigency from the Department of Social Wel-

fare and Development.

The other requirements for the sponsored hajj: applicants should be at least 50 years old; must be a first-timer in the performance of the hajj; physically and mentally fit, as certified by any licensed physician or NCMF Medical Officer; a devoted Muslim with high good moral character, as certified by the municipal or provincial mufti or recognized imam, or the resident sheik for the region; and must have a val-

tainable practices in their lifestyle, especially on the proper disposal of single-use plastics.

Aside from its partnership with NCCC, Refresh Mineral Water has been conducting activities to further encourage people to practice proper waste management. Last September, it held a roadshow in select Universities in Luzon where students learned about the value of recycling.

Through Go Green campaign, NCCC Supermarket promotes sustainable and environment-friendly grocery shopping to its customers in hopes to lessen the contribution of wastes that cause negative effects id Philippine passport, or with passport application duly stamped received by the regional office of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Members of the 13 tribal Muslim groups and reverts or converted to Islam are also accepted.

Datu Ramos said the NCMF, through its regional offices, has started accepting applicants as early as last week for the 2020 pilgrimage to Mecca, which will start on July 28

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NCMF starts accepting takers for hajj sponsored by PRRD

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resident Rodrigo Duterte has no plan of cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in case it asks for his explanation over the deaths of drug personalities in the government’s campaign against the narcotics trade in 2016.

Unfazed by threats that he might get jailed over the drug-related deaths in the country, the President said he would never answer any "stupid" questions from the ICC. "Do not scare me na ipakulong mo ako diyan sa International Court, Criminal Court. T***... I will never allow myself to answer itong mga puti (them).

Hoy, luko-luko kayong mga (Those from ICC are stupid). I will never, never, never answer any questions coming from you," he said in a speech delivered in Manila.

"I am responsible only to the Filipino,” he added.

Duterte maintained that only Filipinos can judge his way of addressing the drug menace.

“And if you hang me for all what I did, go ahead. It will be my pleasure, but never itong mga puti (but never the ICC)," he added.

The ICC, in its "Report on Preliminary Examination Activities 2019," revealed its plan to conclude its initial review of Duterte’s drug campaign by 2020 to determine possibility of carrying out a fullblown investigation into the Philippines’ anti-narcotics campaign.

The international tri-

bunal's "brazen display of ignorance of the law" prompted Duterte to revoke the Philippines' membership from the ICC on March 17, 2018.

However, the country's withdrawal formally took effect just on March 17, 2019, or exactly a year after the President's notification.

The Philippines' departure came after the ICC launched in February 2018 a preliminary examination of Duterte's crackdown on illegal drugs, based on the communication lodged by lawyer Jude Sabio that accuses Duterte of perpetrating crimes against humanity for the killing of thousands of drug offenders from July 1, 2016 to Mar. 31, 2017.

However, the ICC's preliminary examination is still ongoing, as it insisted that it still has jurisdiction over the alleged crime committed by Duterte since the supposed killings happened when the Philippines was still a member-state of the international tribunal.

'Better behave' The President said the ICC, which he branded as "stupid and dumb,” appears to have a lack of understanding when it comes to the drug problem in the Philippines.

He vented frustrations that the international court merely focused on the killings of the drug offenders, but not on the deaths of innocent people who died at the hands of

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VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

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4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

SGLG awardees in BARMM get P2.5-M incentive each

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Emply plastic bottles of mineral water are improperly disposed by shoppers at the parking area of a mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City on Saturday. The City Council of Davao City is currently crafting a law banning single-use plastic in the city. Lean Daval Jr

PRRD's approval rating jumps to 87% in Dec.

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resident Rodrigo R. Duterte’s work performance in the last quarter of 2019 has earned a notable approval from a majority of Filipinos, private polling firm Pulse Asia revealed in its latest survey released on Friday.

Results of Pulse Asia’s latest poll revealed that the President continued to enjoy public satisfaction on his work ethic after his approval score climbed by nine notches to 87 percent in December from 78 percent in September.

The survey found that only 5 percent expressed disapproval over Duterte’s performance, while the remaining 8 percent could not decide on the matter.

The President posted

the highest approval score in his bailiwick in Mindanao at 98 percent, up by 6 percentage points from September’s 92 percent.

It was followed by the Visayas (93 percent from 84 percent), Balance Luzon (83 percent from 69 percent), and Metro Manila (78 percent from 80 percent).

Pulse Asia also saw an improved approval rating of Duterte in urban (89 percent from 73 percent)

Go denounces death threats against PRRD

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enator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday denounced the death threats against President Rodrigo R. Duterte by the New People’s Army (NPA), saying the communist rebel group should prove its sincerity should it want the peace talks with the government to resume.

In a radio interview, Go said the threats will only imperil the proposed resumption of peace talks between the government and the NPA. “Kung gusto niyo pala ng peace talks, wala na kayong kakausapin na tao kung papatayin ninyo.

Kung gusto niyo ng kapayapaan, kung gusto niyo ng usapang pangkapayapaan, buhayin niyo ‘yan (If you want peace talks, you have no one to talk to if you are going to kill him. If you

want peace talks, keep him alive),” he said.

Go noted the President’s commitment to attaining peace in the country.

“Si Pangulo, with all sincerity kausap. Wala na pong ibang taong makikipag-negosasyon sa inyo at kakausapin tungkol diyan (The President is sincere.

No one else would negotiate with you),” he added.

Apart from the communist rebels, drug criminals and syndicates have also placed the President on their hit list, according to the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

Following these threats and with the Communist Party of the Philippines’ 51st anniversary on December 26, the PSG was reported to have intensified its efforts to secure Duter-

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and rural (86 percent from 83 percent) areas.

A two-digit increase in Duterte’s approval score was likewise recorded in Class ABC (89 percent from 75 percent), and Class D (88 percent from 78 percent). However, it stayed at 84 percent in Class E. Duterte also obtained a high approval rating among male (87 percent from 85 percent) and female (88 percent from 72 percent) respondents.

The President’s approval score also rose among age groups 25 years to 34 years (93 percent from 85 percent); 35 years to 44 years (87 percent from 78 percent); 45 years to 54 years (88 percent from 72 percent); 55

years to 64 years (90 percent from 79 percent); and 65 years and above (79 percent from 63 percent).

Pulse Asia, however, noticed a decline among those aged 18 years to 24 years (82 percent from 90 percent).

High public approval was also reported among those who graduated from elementary (88 percent from 72 percent), high school (90 percent from 80 percent), vocational courses (91 percent from 81 percent), and college (89 percent from 80 percent).

Duterte’s approval rating improved among government workers (92 percent from 90 percent); private employees (93

FPRRD, P10

o encourage other local government units (LGUs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to improve governance and enhance programs protecting and promoting children’s rights, the regional government gave cash awards to some 30 LGUs in the region.

The LGUs have passed the government’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) and Children-Friendly Local Government Award (CFLGA) programs this year.

Each LGU got PHP2.5 million cash award handed over by BARMM spokesperson and local government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo and BARMM executive secretary Abdulraof Macacua during ceremonies here on Friday.

Sinarimbo said the cash incentive will be used by the LGUs to fund and support projects to improve the delivery of services to its constituents.

“We hope it will encourage other LGUs to improve governance.The awardees are worth emulating,” Sinarimbo said.

He added that the incentive fund came from the office of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim.

Early last month, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año handed over the SGLG to the provinces of Maguindanao and Basilan and 28 municipal governments across the region.

The BARMM comprises the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi; the cities of Cotabato, Marawi and Lamitan; and the 63 villages from North Cotabato that opted to join the new political entity.

“Actually, BARMM ranked No. 1 in Mindanao in terms of the number of SGLG awardees this year," Sinarimbo said adding that the feat indicates an initial success in the regional leadership’s stride for responsive and good governance.

He told reporters that most of the LGUs in the region under the new regional leadership are expected to perform better next year since they have been capacitated this year.

(PNA)

Tropical Depression may dampen Christmas in parts of Mindanao

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ome parts of the country may experience a rainy Christmas day as two weather systems are currently being observed close to the Philippines.

In its latest advisory, state weather bureau PAGASA said a new tropical depression off Mindanao is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Monday and is forecast to make landfall between Eastern Visayas and Caraga region on Christmas day.

As of 11 a.m., Pagasa said the tropical depression was last spotted 1,885 kilometers east of Mindanao. It will be named "Ursula" when it enters PAR

between Sunday night and Monday morning.

"Beginning Tuesday (24 December), moderate to occasionally heavy rains may prevail over Visayas and northeastern Mindanao," PAGASA said.

The tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph.

At the moment, it has no direct effect on any part of the country.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area inside PAR was located at 410 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur

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A group of Lumad carolers gather at a street island near Agdao flyover in Brgy. Agdao, Davao City on Friday night. Dozens of Lumads who are still in the city few days before Christmas are hopeful they could collect big amount of money before going back home to the hinterlands. Lean Daval Jr

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

Economic managers okay 12 projects for NEDA Board nod

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A bank depositor checks out a bank’s website on Saturday. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Benjamin Diokno bared that the institution is working to ensure that digital banking is “safe and sure” as it encourages more Filipinos to transact using online channels. Lean Daval Jr

48% of Pinoys expect a more prosperous 2019 Christmas

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lmost half of the Filipinos in the country expect this year’s holiday season to be more prosperous than the previous one, according to the nationwide survey results released

by Pulse Asia Research Inc. on Friday.

Forty-eight percent of those who answered the survey, which was conducted from December 3 to 8, expressed positive expectations for the upcoming Christmas.

This view was high among Mindanawons at

57% and those belonging to classes ABC at 68%, the survey results showed.

On the other hand, 11% think that their families will have less for Christmas 2019—or three points higher than the per-

F48%, P13

conomic managers on Friday approved for endorsement to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board a total of 12 infrastructure projects worth PHP626.11 billion.

These projects are: Unsolicited Operate-Add-Transfer (OAT) Proposal for the Davao International Airport; Unsolicited Operate-Add-Transfer (OAT) Proposal for the Laguindingan Airport; MRT-4 Project; EDSA Greenways Project; Maritime Safety Enhancement Program; Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) Project; Cebu-Mactan Bridge (4th Bridge) and Coastal Road Construction Project (New Mactan Bridge Construction Project); Davao City Coastal Bypass Road, including Bucana Bridge Project; Capas-Botolan Road Project; Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project; Davao City Bypass Construction Project (DCBCP)-2nd Change in Scope and Cost and Supplemental Loan; and Samar-Pacific Coastal Road Project-Loan Validity and Implementation Extension and Increase in Cost.

In a press briefing after the meeting of the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) at the Department of Finance (DOF), Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the release of the projects are expected “early next year”.

He said this timeline will provide the government ample time to “significantly complete these game-changing projects.”

“It’s crucial that we start these projects. We’ll be working on the procurement that’s why, we’ll fast-track all these projects before the end of the year so that next year, we can focus purely on the detail engineering and procurement of these big-ticket projects,” he said.

Villar said all the 12 projects “are good to go and we can expect implementation to start sooner than later.”

During the same briefing, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the amount of the infrastructure projects in the pipeline is less than PHP50 billion before they took over in 2016.

To date, the line-up of the projects amounts to around PHP1 trillion.

He said they also currently completing the studies on additional projects.

“It will be ready just to be picked up by the next administration so we are presenting the Filipino nation with a robust pipeline,” he added.

The current government targets a PHP1-trillion investment annually to increase infrastructure spending to about PHP8 trillion to PHP9 trillion, or about 7 percent of domestic output by the end of its term in mid2022. (PNA)

6 ECONOMY

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

Sec. Dominguez hopeful of below-target UHC req't

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OPERATION TULONG EXPRESS. Seven hundred families received care packs from SM Foundation last December 19. The delegation of SM Cares volunteers was led by regional operations manager Engr. Jonathan Nick D. Santos. The team was also assisted by the Davao City Po-

lice. Several rounds of relief operations by SMFI are scheduled over the holidays to bring cheers to the earthquake victims Davao del Sur and in North Cotabato.

Biz sentiment up in Q4, consumers less upbeat

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ptimism among Filipino businessmen rose in the fourth quarter of 2019 due to the holiday and the harvest seasons, but consumer confidence slipped due to higher commodity prices.

In a briefing Friday, Department of Economic Statistics (DES) officer in charge Fernando Silvoza said confidence index (CI) under the business expectation survey (BES) rose to 40.2 percent from 37.7 percent during the survey in the third quarter of the year.

The sanguinity of investors in the country was similar to those in Brazil, Chile, Hungary, and the Netherlands, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced.

Respondents attributed their optimism to

higher consumer demand during the holidays and the harvest season; increase in sales, orders, and projects; more favorable macroeconomic conditions; higher government spending, particularly on infrastructure; and business expansion.

They also cited the positive impact of the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Among the different types of trading firms, business sentiment by importers and domestic-oriented firms were more

buoyant as they anticipated an increase in sales and higher demand on pharmaceutical products, and food and beverages during the holiday and harvest season.

“That is where we can see the effect of the trade war indirectly,” BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila, Jr. said during the same briefing.

Among the selected economic indicators, businesses expected the peso to strengthen against the US dollar, inflation rate to increase, and for interest rate to ease further in the last quarter of the year.

On the other hand, CI, under the consumer expectation survey (CES), declined to 1.3 percent from the previous quarter’s 4.6 percent.

Respondents traced the drop in their optimism to higher prices of

commodities, low or no increase in salary/income, increase in household expenses, and high unemployment rate.

Their spending outlook on basic goods and services were broadly steady for the first quarter of 2020 at 37.1 percent from 36.2 percent in the previous quarter.

“This indicates that respondents who expect to spend more on goods and services outnumbered those who said otherwise,” the BSP report said.

The result of the CES also showed that households that have savings declined, with the percentage declining to 36.3 percent from an all-time high of 37.5 percent last quarter.

The respondents said they were saving to prepare for emergencies,

school in connection with the uncovered irregularities.

He said the order was issued by TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña, as recommended by their national inspectorate for scholarship programs.

Abrogar declined to name the erring tech-voc school and the other specific details of the case, noting that the agency has yet to formally inform those concerned about the order.

“This is final and executory. We will communicate

with the [TESDA] provincial director then start with the proceedings,” he said in a press conference in Koronadal City on Thursday.

The official explained that the uncovered cases of “ghost trainees” involved the reporting to the agency of non-existent trainees and scholars, and even issuing them with training certificates.

He said another case is the reporting of trainees as graduates even though they only enrolled and were not able to complete

the training.

The “ghost trainings” were also reported to TESDA but they never happened and the erring schools just forged the attendance sheets of the supposed trainees, he said.

Aside from the revocation of the school’s registration and disqualification from the scholarship programs, Abrogar said they will also revoke its tech-voc programs and the accreditation certificates of the involved trainers and assessors.

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez is hopeful that actual needs for the government’s universal health care (UHC) program will not exceed estimates, citing possible gains of the measures against sin products.

The five-year UHC program is estimated to need PHP257 billion for its first year of implementation in 2020 while the five-year funding requirement is projected to be about PHP1.437 trillion.

Funding is programmed to be sourced primarily from sin tax collections.

In a briefing Thursday, Dominguez said the government is “only dealing with estimates because we don’t have a universal health care program.”

“I suspect that sometime in the future we will have to revisit the estimates and compare it against actual,” he said, citing that UHC is among the major government programs targeted to improve people’s productivity.

Dominguez said the estimated funding requirement would likely not be hit as he hoped that Filipinos improve their lifestyle, partly because of sin tax reforms, which increase excise taxes on tobacco and alcoholic products, e-cigarettes, and sugary drinks.

“Maybe, who knows, Filipinos will actually get into the habit of eating better, smoking less, drinking less so that the total cost of the universal health care is going to go down. That is really very important, You have to take care of yourself first,” he said.

Dominguez also hailed lawmakers’ decision to ratify on Wednesday the proposed excise tax increases for alcohol, heated tobacco, and vapor products.

Under the ratified measure, a 22 percent ad valorem tax will be imposed on top of the specific tax of PHP42 per proof

BSP to ensure security of digital banking transactions: Diokno

Tech-voc school in GenSan engaging T in ‘ghost trainings, trainees’ – TESDA

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he Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has revoked the registration of a technical-vocational (tech-voc) school here and ordered its perpetual disqualification from the government’s scholarship programs due to alleged cases of “ghost trainings and trainees.”

Rafael Abrogar II, TESDA-Region 12 director, said they received an order from their central office directing the immediate implementation of multiple sanctions against the

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liter for distilled spirits in 2020, while it is PHP47, PHP52, PHP59, PHP66 per proof liter from 202124. A 6-percent increase will then be implemented annually beyond 2024.

Specific tax for fermented products will be PHP35 per liter for 2020 while a PHP2 increase will be implemented annually until 2024 and a 6 percent indexation in the succeeding years.

Sparkling and still wines will have a specific tax of PHP50 per liter during the law’s first year of implementation while the rate will be increased by 6 percent annually in the following years.

For heated tobacco products, the reconciled specific tax for the first year is PHP25 per pack and this will be increased

by PHP2.50 per pack in the succeeding years until 2024 while the increase starting 2024 will be 5 percent.

Vapor products will have a PHP37 tax per milliliter of salt nicotine in the first year and a PHP5 increase until 2023 and an indexation of 5 percent in the succeeding years.

Dominguez said the current administration has won over the tax reform program’s building blocks due to the ratification of the proposed sin tax reforms, among others.

He cited that approval of sin tax hikes during the early years of the current administration resulted in the 70-percent jump in alcohol and cigarette taxes compared to the previous administration.

He said about 50 percent of that 70 percent increase in excise tax collection for sin products are accounted for by alcohol, tobacco, and e-cigarettes while around 20 percent came from “better compliance by the manufacturers” and stricter enforcement of the law.

“So both of us, the administration and the legislature, are working hand in hand on this,” he added. (PNA)

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is working to ensure that digital banking is "safe and sure" as it encourages more Filipinos to transact using online channels, Governor Benjamin Diokno said.

Existing regulations were being reviewed to adapt to changing conditions in the digital space, Diokno said in an interview.

As of 2018, e-payments accounted for 20 percent of total transaction value with the goal to bring it to 50 percent by the end of his term in 2023, Diokno said.

"We have adopted rules so that we want to make sure that the digital payment is safe and sure. We want to make sure that

it’s safe and so far it’s safe.

Now that it’s embraced and it works, it’s a matter of applying it to other banks,” Diokno said.

Diokno said he now uses his phone to pay bills instead of sending someone to run those errands.

The BSP under Diokno, recently launched a standardized QR code system and eGov Pay or the electronic payment facility for government transactions.

The recently enacted national ID system is a "big step" to financial inclusion, he said.

The BSP is also pushing for the use of PesoNet and InstaPay under the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) as an alternative to using cash.

7 AGRITRENDS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

BIOTECH CROPS MAY OFFSET EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

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an biotech crops save the world from climate change?

Yes, they can and even help increase food production, according to the Laguna-based International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

“Green biotechnology offers a solution to decrease greenhouse gases and therefore mitigates climate change,” notes an ISAAA briefing paper, “Biotechnology and Climate Change.”

Since biotech crops have been introduced, they have been contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The increase of carbon dioxide and other industrial gases has been cited as the main culprits why temperature around the world has been changing.

The publication adds that biotech crops – often called “genetically modified organisms” or GMOs, and which include corn, cotton, canola and soybean – have allowed farmers “to use less and environmentally friendly energy and fertilizer, and practice soil carbon sequestration.”

Food security

The briefing paper cites the insect-resistant biotech crops which require fewer pesticides. As a result, farmers lessen their use on tractor/fossil fuel thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

In a study conducted in 2011, there was a reduction of 37 million kilograms of active ingredients, decreased rate of herbicide and insecticide sprays and ploughing reduced carbon dioxide emission by 23.1 billion of carbon dioxide or removing 10.2 million cars off the road.

It also mentions the herbicide tolerant biotech crops like soybean and canola as examples. “(These) facilitate zero or no-till, which significantly reduces the loss of soil carbon and carbon dioxide emissions, reduce fuel use, and significantly reduce soil erosion,” the paper reports.

In food production, soil erosion is one of the most pressing problems. “Without soil, there would be no food apart from what the rivers and the seas can provide,” said former FAO Director-General Edouard Saouma. “The soil is the

world’s most precious natural resource. Yet is not valued as it should be. Gold, oil, minerals and precious stones command prices which have led us to treat soil as mere dirt.”

According to ISAAA, crops can be modified faster through biotechnology than conventional crops, thus hastening implementation of strategies to meet rapid and severe climatic changes.

“Pest and disease resistant biotech crops have continuously developed as new pests and diseases emerge with changes in climate,” the briefing paper states. “Resistant varieties will also reduce pesticide application and hence carbon dioxide emission. Crop tolerant to various abiotech stresses have been developed in response to climate changes.”

The accelerating pace of climate change, combined with global population and depletion of agricultural resources threatens food security globally, the ISAAA briefing paper points out.

“Climate change is more disastrous to the agricultural industry of the

Philippines and its neighboring countries than in other parts of the world,” warned Dr. David Street of the US Argonne National Laboratory.

The Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has cited the overall impact of climate change on agriculture as follows: · Increase in average temperature will result to: increased crop productivity in high latitude temperate regions due to the lengthening of the growing season; reduced crops productivity in low latitude subtropical and tropical regions where summer heat is already limiting productivity; and reduced productivity due to an increase in soil evaporation rates; · Change in amount of rainfall and patterns will affect soil erosion rates and soil moisture, which are important for crop yields. Precipitation will increase in high latitudes, and decrease in most subtropical low latitude regions – some by as much as about 20%, leading to long drought spells; · Rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide will boost and enhance the growth of some crops but other aspects of climate change (that is, higher temperatures and precipitation changes) may offset any beneficial boosting effect of higher carbon dioxide levels; · Pollution levels of tropospheric ozone (or bad ozone that can damage living tissue and break down certain materials) may increase due to the rise in carbon dioxide emissions.

This may lead to higher temperatures that will offset the increased growth of crops resulting from higher levels of carbon dioxide. · Changes in the frequency and severity of heat waves, drought, floods and

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

typhoons, remain a key uncertain factor that may potentially affect agriculture. · Climatic changes will affect agricultural systems and may lead to emergence of new pests and diseases.

Rice, the staple food of Filipinos, is a case in point.

The Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute reported that climate change could reduce rice yields. Although its study showed that rice could benefit from higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, an increase in temperature would “nullify any yield increase.”

“To mitigate the effects (of climate change), current agricultural approaches need to be modified and innovative adaption strategies need to be in place to efficiently produce more food in stressed conditions and with net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” the ISAAA briefing paper recommends.

The ISAAA says improved crops resilient to extreme environments caused by climate change are expected in a few years to a decade.

“Food production during this era should be given another boost to sustain food supply for the doubling population,” it urges. “Biotech research to mitigate global warming should also be initiated to sustain the utilization of new products.”

Despite the benefits of GMOs in food production, there are groups who are against the planting of GM crops.

“Today, the approval of genetically modified organism technology has become political,” says Secretary William Dar of the Department of Agriculture.

“They have politicized the whole process. They are not letting science do its own due diligence.”

Advocates believe that banning transgenic crops would mean a warmer

world. In a study published in Journal of Environmental Protection, the ban on GM crops would trigger the conversion of pastures and forests to cropland to compensate for lower productivity of conventional crops, “which would release substantial amounts of stored carbon to the atmosphere.”

The study said, “If countries planting GM crops matched the rate of GM crop plantings in the United States, global greenhouse gas emissions would fall by an equivalent of 0.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide, and would allow 0.8 million hectares of cropland to return to forests and pastures.”

But the hitch is: “Some of the same groups that want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also want to ban GM crops. But you can’t have it both ways.

Planting GM is an effective way for agriculture to lower its carbon footprint.”

The statement came from the mouth of Dr. Wallace T. Tyner, a professor of agricultural economics at the Purdue University.

Dr. Tyner doesn’t belittle their concerns, which he describes as having “no scientific basis.” He adds, “But the adverse impact on greenhouse gases with GM crops is something that is not widely known. It is important that this element enter into the public conversation.”

In the Philippines, Filipinos may be eating already food with GMOs like potato chips, corn cereals, or soya milk. “Love it or loath it, transgenic food is set to become a bigger part of what we eat,” someone commented.

Meanwhile, recent studies showed almost 40% of the world population rely on agriculture for their livelihood. These are the number of people who will be most severely affected by climate change.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

EDITORIAL Timely decision The decision to postpone the Asean Para Games is a timely and wise move by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Coming off the heels of the highly successful staging of the 30th Southeast Asian Games where the country’s athletes gallantly won the overall championship, it is best to savor the triumphs and the gains for now before the Asean Para Games, SEA Games’ twin event, will be rolled out.

The decision also gives time for the government to evaluate the hosting of the SEA Games and to allow for any investigation to be made on some controversial issues as well as early mishaps in the hosting of the biennial sports competition. The controversies over the hitches in the hosting and the questioned cost of facilities and amenities and service and supplies contracts must first be dealt with

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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

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before the government and the organizing body involved will proceed to host the Para Games.

The body tasked to mount the SEA Games, PHISGOC, headed by House Speaker lan Peter Cayetano need to come out on a clean slate before the Asian Para Games proceeds.

This is to clear all doubts that have marred the triumphant campaign of Filipino athletes.

Although the Asean Para Games may not be as massive in terms of participation and events as the SEA Games, still it should not be treated as an inferior nor less significant event. It is even more challenging as the hosts will have to deal with special athletes, or those with physical disabilities, as their needs are far more complex than the regular athletes.

For now, it is best to take a breather.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

9

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

VALUE OF WORK While reading the Carnegian Report, I came across this provoking thought: “You say you love me, but sometimes you don’t show it. In the beginning, you couldn’t do enough for me. Now, you seem to take me for granted. Some days, I even wonder if I mean anything at all to you.

“Maybe when I’m gone, you’ll appreciate me and all the things I do for you. I’m responsible for getting the food on your table, for your clean shirt, for the welfare of your children… a thousand and one things you want and need.

Why, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even have a car.

“I’ve kept quiet and waited to see how long it would take for you to realize how much you really need me. Cherish me, take care of me and I’ll continue to take good care of you.”

Now, can you guess who is “talking”? If you answer is “job,” then you are right!

If you are working, consider yourself blessed and lucky.

Will Hoffsuemmer shares this story: A grain of wheat came to the Lord God and said, “Lord of the world, since I have become the daily bread of mankind, why couldn’t you have made me such that they could eat me the way I am? As it is, they must first harvest me, then grind me into flour, which they must then make into dough, and finally

bake me in an oven. Isn’t that really a waste of time?”

“No, it is not a waste of time,” the Lord replied. “On the contrary, I did that way on purpose both for your won good and for the good of humans.”

The Lord God explained: “Let’s talk about you first. It wouldn’t be good for you to go around boasting that you give men life and strength, all by yourself. As it is, humans cannot just pick up grains of wheat and eat them unless they first turn them into bread. And to do that, they need fire and water and their hands. And so, bread does not depend on you alone; otherwise, you would go around proudly announcing that if it were not for you, no one would be fed.

“As far as people are concerned, it would not be good for them to find their bread all ready for them on the breakfast table. Instead, they have to be involved in producing it. They have to plow and sow and harvest and grind the wheat and then bake it into bread. That does them good: it makes them feel that they are dependent on me.”

As long as we are alive, we have to work. No one can escape from working. “I go on working for the same reason that a hen goes on laying eggs,” says Henry L. Mencken. Even retirees themselves still work.

For they know that if they stop working, it simply means “goodbye cruel world.”

One sage points out: “No one has a right to live in idleness and expect to live long and be happy. The ship anchored in the harbour rots faster than the ship crossing the ocean; a still pond of water stagnates more rapidly than a running stream.

Our unused minds are subject to atrophy much more rapidly than those in use. The unused cells in our brains deteriorate much faster than those which are continuously exercised.

Hence, to remain young, we must remain active.”

Jose Ortega y Gasset know this fact very well: “An unemployed existence is a worse negation of life than death itself. Because to live means to have something definite to do – a mission to fulfil – and in the measure in which we avoid setting our life to something, we make it empty. Human life, by its very nature, has to be dedicated to something.”

People try to find work they are capable of doing. Once they are hired, they sometimes take their work for granted. But that should not be case. If you love your work, your work will love you in return.

“One of the happiest men I ever knew, a man who took the greatest pride in his job, was a man in a garage in a town

where I used to live,” William Barclay shared. “He was not a mechanic; nothing so high up as that. His job, six days a week, was to wash dirty cars.

“What a pride he took in that job! He washed them with such thoroughness and such pride that you could run your hand along the inside of the mudguard and withdraw it spotless. His gift was the gift of washing cars! But how he used it and gloried in it.”

Someone has said that what the world needs, and what God needs, is not so much people who can do extraordinary things, as people who can do ordinary things extraordinary well.

A bus conductor, for instance, can take your fare in a way that lights up the whole day. A shop assistant can serve you in a way that makes this world a better place.

“If you don’t like your work, you’ll need three times the energy: to force yourself to work, to resist the force, and finally to work,” H.L. Neri states. “If you like your work, you work no more. For work, when you like it, is work no longer, but sheer enjoyment! If you enjoy your work, you’ll work and work without counting the hours – and you’ll reap and enjoy more earnings as well.”

We take time to pray if we need something from God. We

also pray before and after we eat. We also pray when we travel – to keep us safe from where we start to our destination. But why don’t we pray when we report for work?

Now, let me share this anecdote penned by Bishop Tihamer Toth on the importance of prayer when working. An old fisherman took a young man as passenger in his boat. On one of the oars was written the word PRAY. On the other oar the word WORK. The young man said mockingly: “You’re out of date, uncle. What does anyone want with prayer, if he works?”

The old man said nothing; but he let go the oar on which “pray” was written, and rowed with the other. He rowed and rowed; but they only turned round and round, and made no progress.

It was then that the young man understood: That besides the oar of WORK, the other oar of PRAYER is needed.

After all, it was God Himself who ordained work: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground” (Genesis 3:19).

Adam, the first man, was given the job to take care of the Garden of Eden. All throughout the Bible, God has commanded man to work. In the Ten Commandments, He said, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work.”

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

GLOBETROTTERS IN DAVAO, C. 1964 The disability assessment will not be considered definitive if the seafarer will continue to require medical treatments after the said issuance by the company designated doctor.

A final and definite disability assessment is necessary in order to truly reflect the true extent of the sickness or injuries of the seafarer and his or her capacity to resume work as such.

Otherwise, the corresponding disability benefits awarded might not be commensurate with the prolonged effects of the injuries suffered.

This was the principle on seafarer’s disability benefits cases reiterated by the Supreme Court in the recent case of Jerry Talaugon vs. BSM Crew Services/ Schulte Shipmgt. ( GR. No. 227934 September 4, 2019) The company employed the seafarer as an oiler.

The seafarer was medically repatriated after he was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia and was diagnosed with “Renal Colic Lumbago post Zoster Neuralgia.”

Upon his arrival in the Philippines, he was seen by a company designated doctor wherein he was diagnosed with “Hyperthesia, Ruled out Hansen’s Dis-

ease, L4- L5 Disc Protrusion, Disc Dessication” and later on with a tumor in his spinal cord.

After undergoing surgery and physical therapy, he went back to, yet, another company-designated doctor . The latter observed that he was still suffering lower back pain probably due to his lumbar spondylosis who then declared that his illness was not work related. Said doctor, nonetheless, offered to give him a disability grading of 11.

The company­designated physician made an assessment on seafarer’s illness within the 120-day period, specifically a rating of Grade 11 on May 15, 2014 or 117th day since he was evaluated and had been undergoing continuous medical treatment.

The Supreme Court, however, did not consider said assessment as final and definite within the ambit of the existing jurisprudence.

Section 20(B) of POEA-SEC provides that it is the primary responsibility of a company-designated physician to determine the disability grading or fitness to work of seafarers.

To be conclusive, however,

company-designated physicians’ medical assessments or reports must be complete and definite.

The guidelines that govern seafarers’ claims for permanent and total disability benefits was outlined in the case of Elhurg Shipmanagement Phils., Inc. v.

Quiogue, Jr (G.R. No. 211882, July 29, 2015): First, the company-designated doctor must issue a final medical assessment on the seafarer’s disability grading within a period of 120 days from the time the seafarer reported to him; Second, if the company-designated doctor fails to give his assessment within the period of 120 days, without any justifiable reason, then the seafarer’s disability becomes permanent and total; Third, if the company-designated doctor fails to give his assessment within the period of 120 days with a sufficient justification (e.g. seafarer required further medical treatment or seafarer was uncooperative), then the period of diagnosis and treatment shall be extended to 240 days. The employer has the burden to prove that the company-designated physician has suf-

ficient justification to extend the period; and Lastly, if the company-designated doctor still fails to give his assessment within the extended period of 240 days, then the seafarer’s disability becomes permanent and total, regardless of any justification Two (2) requisites must concur for a determination of a seafarer’s condition: 1) an assessment must be issued within the 120/240 window, and 2) the assessment must be final and definitive.

The Medical Report dated May 15, 2014 contained the following observations: “the prognosis of returning to (his) sea duties is guarded” and “If patient is entitled to a disability, his suggested disability grading is Grade 11 - slight rigidity or 1/3 loss of motion of lifting power of the trunk.”

The Supreme Court pointed out that this is hardly the “definite and conclusive assessment of the seafarer’s disability or fitness to return to work” required by law from the company­designated doctor.

For there was nothing on record showing that the company designated doctor explained in

detail the progress of seafarer’s treatment and the approximate period needed for him to fully recover.

The assessment will not be considered definitive if the seafarer will continue to require medical treatments thereafter.

Consequently, without a final and definitive assessment from the company­designated doctor on the seafarer’s disability, the Supreme Court stressed that the same is deemed permanent and total by operation of law.

In disability compensation, it is not the injury which is compensated, but rather it is the incapacity to work resulting in the impairment of one’s earning capacity. Permanent total disability means disablement to earn wages in the same kind of work, or work of similar nature that he was trained for or accustomed to perform, or any kind of work which a person of his mentality and attainment could do. It does not mean absolute helplessness.

Atty. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786

10

EDGEDAVAO NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) under LOYOLA PLAN ISSUED TO THE FOLLOWING PLANHOLDERS, TO WIT: PH NAME CONTRACT NO.

CFP NUMBER

1.JERRY M. ESPINOSA

NNN430004109

1005821

2.NELLY M. OSMEÑA

NNN430007201

21031558

were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF ROMEO A. JOVELLANOS Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ROMEO A. JOVELLANOS who died on August 19, 2017 at San Pedro Hospital Inc., C. De Guzman St., Davao City has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.124; PageNo.26; Book No.181, Series of 2019, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY.FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN. 12/23, 27, 1/6,2020

12/9/16/23

MAVS... FROM15 third to take an 88-77 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Sixers committed two early turnovers - one

by Embiid and one by re-

serve guard Trey Burke -- in the fourth and trailed 92-80 with 9:34 left. After winning a Coach’s Challenge, Embiid responded with a dunk and

the deficit was 92-82.

Mike Scott then hit a 3-pointer and the Sixers trailed 94-85.

The Mavericks didn’t

wilt and went back ahead 101-89 when Porzingis grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 5:37 left.

letes’ experience plus the all-important “look” of the Games.

The Tokyo 2020 budget is divided between the Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the national government, which is on the hook for 150 billion yen -- mainly for the cost of

the new National Stadium.

However, the expenditure at the national level has been a source of controversy with a widely publicized report from the Board of Audit of Japan estimating actual national government spending between the bid in 2013 and 2018 at 1.06 trillion yen,

nearly 10 times the budget.

Ito countered that this estimate includes items not directly related to games operations. “The definition of Games-related costs is slightly different to ours,” he said.

Earlier this year, Los Angeles 2028 Olympics chiefs unveiled details of a

$6.9-billion budget for the Games, vowing to deliver the spectacle without cost overruns that have dogged recent editions of the extravaganza.

The Paris 2024 budget for the Games amounts to 6.8 billion euros ($7.6 billion), 1.5 billion of which will come from the state.

among possible contenders for a massive opportunity opposite ring legend Manny Pacquiao within the first half of 2020.

“Every move we make from here on has to make sense,” Danny Swift stated to the media in attendance.

“And I feel like if we are going to fight a big fight in April, or whenever they say...May or June, then we have to get ready for that now.”

At least Garcia is being honest when referring to his bout with Ivan Redkach as a competitive tuneup. With no respect to the hard-punching Ukrainian, one can easily understand why Danny would be excited for a potential pairing with the Pacman. The biggest dilemma seems to be

that no one, including the former WBC Welterweight champ, has heard anything definitive from Pacquiao’s Team regarding his next fight...except that he’s being considered.

“I know it’s the second quarter...they’re saying they want to fight me. Manny keeps saying it. So when are you going to send over the contract? But when it comes down to it, he keeps pushing it back and wants to fight in the summertime now.”

“So I can’t wait on anyone...the show must go on.

I’m at the point in my career where I want to fight the best and give my fans great fights and make a lot of money. But sometimes things change and you have to make adjustments.”

If Manny announces Garcia as his next dance partner for an April date, that would leave the popular PBC fighter with less than three months to recover from any potential injuries he might incur while competing against Redkach, and to prepare strategically for Manny Pacquiao in the ring.

Would three months be enough time to recover and prepare for what could be the most important fight of his professional career?

“My mind is built for whatever,” claims Danny ‘Swift’. “I’m already mentally set for that. You know, we’re just taking it one day at a time. Right now we’re just worried about January 25th.”

“Pacman said April. He

said Danny Garcia or Mikey Garcia, but I can’t worry about that right now. I have to stay focused on this fight right here.”

When asked what he thought of Manny’s victory over former champ Keith Thurman, Garcia seemed genuinely impressed but understandably skeptical.

“He’s a legend. I think he gave it everything he had. I really think it’s one of those fights where he thought, ‘this might be my last fight, so I got to give it everything I have’. I don’t know if he can have that same intensity the next time around because he gave so much, but we’ll see.”

Hopefully, fight fans will indeed get to see within the first half of 2020.

percent from 83 percent); self-employed (85 percent from 80 percent); farmers or fisherfolk (88 percent from 86 percent); and unemployed (87 percent from 74 percent).

Gov’t initiatives boost Duterte’s performance Reacting to Pulse Asia’s survey results, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said he believed that the government’s initiatives and reforms have helped Duterte secure a higher approval rating in the last quarter of this year.

Andanar said the Philippines‘ recent hosting of

the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games; the crackdown on illegal drugs; the so-called Dutertenomics; the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program; and socio-economic reforms and policies “have paved the way and yielded this positive and high approval rating from the Filipinos.”

He added that the current administration’s dedication to reduce crime rate and poverty incidence, as well as to tame inflation in the country has also contributed to the “outstanding” results of the survey.

“We are delighted with the outcome of the recent PulseAsia Research, Inc.’s

survey on President Rodrigo Duterte for the fourth quarter of 2019. The President garnered an 87 percent approval rating in December 2019 as compared to 78 percent in September of the same year,” Andanar said in a statement issued Friday night.

“With an almost double-figure increase in just a short span of time, this is a testament to the Duterte administration’s efficiency and commitment towards serving the Filipinos,” he added.

Andanar said he was also elated that the demolition job against Duterte did not have an impact on

the latter’s approval rating.

He pledged that the government would continue looking for ways to live up to its promise to give Filipinos a comfortable life in a “better” Philippines.

“Despite the relentless attacks and criticisms from the opposition and critics, we will continue to strive to provide better services to all the Filipinos, for us to achieve overall development and success,” Andanar said. “We will continue to undertake necessary government programs, reforms, and actions in support of our goals as we aim for a better Philippines.” (PNA)

TOKYO... FROM15

MANNY... FROM15

PRRD... FROM4

Philippines, Tunisia agree on closer cooperation

T

he Philippines and Tunisia agreed to strengthen cooperation to address the plight of migrants, particularly as the Philippine government repatriates its citizen affected by uncertainty in Northern Africa.

Chief Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Relations Robert Borje paid a courtesy call on Tunisian Acting Foreign Minister Sabri Bachtobji on Friday.

Undersecretary Borje conveyed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s message, lauding the Tunisian government’s vital role in the region.

Through his representative, President Duterte expressed his gratitude to Tunisia for assisting Filipinos exiting Libya.

The President also wants to work with Tunisia not only on the issues of migrant workers but also on security aiming to achieve deeper relations despite the distance.

In response, Acting Foreign Minister Bachtobji said it is very important for the Philippines and Tunisia to work together, stressing it was Tunisia’s duty to assist distressed citizens, including Filipinos, fleeing conflict.

Both recognised the

long-standing cooperation between the Philippines and Tunisia to assist distressed Filipinos displaced by instability and strife in nearby countries. Both also agreed on the need for the Philippines and Tunisia to continue working closely to further enhance mechanisms of assistance.

Bachtobji said Tunisia, which will assume as a non-permament member of the United Nations Security Council, could play a significant role in achieving global security and stability on top of its initiatives towards addressing the condition of distressed migrants.

Borje said the Philippines will continue to support Tunisia as it becomes a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for two years beginning in January 2020.

Because of its strategic location, Tunisia, along with Malta and Egypt, has been a major exit point for Filipinos going out of Libya.

Some 2,300 overseas Filipino workers are still in the north African country despite the Philippine government’s call for a mandatory evacuation. This year, 142 Filipinos from Tripoli were repatriated by the government. PND

Aboitiz Equity partners with Singlife to bring all-digital insurance to PH

A

boitiz Equity Ventures said Friday it partnered with Singapore's Singlife to bring digital-based life insurance in the Philippines.

The joint venture will be called Singlife Philippines, which will be 15-percent owned by the Aboitiz holding company, the Filipino firm told the stock exchange.

Singlife will hold a majority share of 65 percent while Di-Firm will take the remaining 20 percent, AEV said.

"With Singlife’s unique fintech expertise in digitalizing life insurance offers and with AEV’s strategic position across industries in the local market, Singlife Philippines is poised to claim its share in the local life insurance market," according to the disclosure.

Singlife, according to its website, positions itself as an all-digital insurer, allowing users to apply for coverage and manage their accounts online, eliminating the need for paperwork.

health and hospitalization, education, retirement, business capital and investment, and purchase of real estate.

Households with

overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who alloted remittances for savings increased, but those who allocated funds for investments went down. (PNA)

“[TESDA] will not pay for the scholarship grants previously allotted to the school and we will delist them from our national, regional and provincial list of registered programs,” he said.

Aside from the erring school here, Abrogar said three other institutions under the jurisdiction of the Sarangani/General Santos provincial office are being investigated for similar violations.

He said they were still awaiting the results of the random assessment conducted by the agency among schools in other areas in Region 12.

The region covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan.

Abrogar said the uncovering of the violations and the ongoing investigation shows that TESDA, including the regional office, is serious in cleansing the irregularities in its scholarship programs.

“This should serve as warning to the other public and private training institutions that are possibly engaged in similar activities,” he added. (MindaNews)

BIZ... FROM6

TECH-VOC... FROM6

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Environment and Natural Resources Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Community Environment and Natural Resources Office [-2B, Salvacion, Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Philippines TELEFAX NO. (084) 823-2011/email.rxi_panabo@yahoo.com LEASE OF PUBLIC LANDS Notice is hereby given that the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office XI-2B, Salvacion, Panabo, City will accept oral or written bids not later than ten (10:00) o’clock in the morning on January 3, 2020, for the lease for docking purposes of the tract of land herein below described: Location : San Pedro, Panabo City Description : Mlc-11-001228-D Area : 101,401 square meters Appraisal (Land) : Php 2,600.00 per square meter or Php 263,642,600.00 for the whole tract Value of Improvements : Php 108,563,025.00 Applied for by : Davao International Container Terminal, Inc. represented by: Bonifacio B. Licayan The successful bidder if other than the applicant must reimburse the latter of the expenses for the publication of the notice of lease and the survey of the land.

The right to lease the land will be awarded to the person offering the highest annual rental, which shall not be less than three per centum (3%) of the value of the land plus one per centum (1%) of the value of the proposed/existing improvements. In order that a person may be entitled to participate in the participate in the bidding, he must be qualified public land applicant, and must, before the commencement of the same, make a deposit equivalent of at least three (3) month’s rental. Only deposit in cash, money order, treasury warrant, certified check, cashier’s check or manager’s check can be accepted. A person bidding in representation of another may do so under a duly executed power of attorney.

During the bidding, the bidder has to make an additional deposit everytime his bid is raised, to complete the three (3) month’s rental, otherwise, such bid as raised shall not be accepted. The right is reserved to reject any or all bids.

Panabo City, Philippines, November 12, 2019.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Environment and Natural Resources Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Community Environment and Natural Resources Office [-2B, Salvacion, Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Philippines TELEFAX NO. (084) 823-2011/email.rxi_panabo@yahoo.com PAGPAPAUPA NG LUPANG PUBLIKO Ipinagbibigay alam sa madla na ang Community Environment and Natural Resources Office XI-2B, Salvacion, Panabo City ay tatanggap ng selyado o nakasulat na alok sa ika alas Diyes (10:00 o’clock) ng umaga sa ika 3 ng Enero taong 2020, para paupahan ang isang sukat na lupang publiko na inilarawan sa ibaba nito.

Lugar : San Pedro, Panabo City Deskripsyon : Mlc-11-001228-D Sukat : 101,401 metros kwadrados Tasahan ng Lupa : Php 2,600.00 kada metro kwadrado o Kabuuang Php 263,642,600.00 Halaga ng nakakatayong Proyekto : Php 108,563,025.00 Aplikante : Davao International Container Terminal, Inc. (DICT) represented by:

Bonifacio B. Licayan Ang karapatan na upahan ang nasabing lupa ay ibibigay sa tao o partido na makapagbibigay ng pinakamataas na upa sa isang taon na hindi bababa sa tatlong (3%) porsyento sa halaga ng lupa at isang (1%) porsyento sa halaga ng itatayong estraktura. Upang ang isang tao ay makakasama sa isasagawang subasta, kailangang siya ay karapat-dapat na aplikante at kailangang bago magsimula ang subasta ay nakadeposito siya ng halagang katumbas ng tatlong buwang upa. Ang deposito ay kailangang salaping papel, money order, cashier’s o manager’s check, ang siya lamang tatanggapin. Ang isang tao na sumali sa subasta na nagrerepresenta ng ibang tao ay makakasali lamang kung mayroon siyang pahintulot na ibinigay sa pamamagitan ng kaukulang pahintulot na nilalagdaan ng Notaryo Publiko. Sa panahon ng subasta, ang taong sumali ay magkaroon ng dagdag na deposito kapag ang kanyang alok ay itinaas para makompleto ang kabuuang tatlong buwang upa. Ang karapatang tumanggi o tanggihan ang anumang alok o sa lahat ng alok ay palaging nakalaan para sa pamahalaan. Ang magwawagi sa alok na ito kung hindi siua ang aplikante ay kinakailangan tutumbasan ang kabayarang nagugul sa papapalathala ng panawagang ito sa pagpapasukat ng lupa.

Lungsod ng Panabo, Pilipinas, Nobyembre 12, 2019.

EDGEDAVAO

11

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of

Accounting Clerks Qualifications: • BS Accountancy / Accounting Technology Graduate or any business related courses • Male/Female • Can work with minimum supervision • With or without experience

Account Executives Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate or any related courses • Male/Female • With pleasing personality • With or without experience and willing to be trained

Marketing Assistant Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate or any related courses • Male/Female • With pleasing personality • With or without experience and willing to be trained

Social Media Lead Qualifications: • Candidate must be creative and enjoys social media • Experience in creating social media post for news, business and organization • Good command of English • Experience in graphic design is a plus Send your application letter and resume to: Ella P. Tingzon HR/Admin Supervisor Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City or email at edgedavao@gmail.com or ella_tingzon@yahoo.com

12

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

FEATURE

The management and staff of Edge Davao and Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc.

Edge Davao and Zion’s

Candyland party

By MAYA M. PADILLO

I

t was a funfilled, flavorful and very spirited Christmas get-together jointly staged by Edge Davao and sister company Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. last Friday evening at Yolks Flower Café and Cupcakery now located near the Ateneo de Davao high school campus along Acacia Street in Matina.

Everyone made a huge effort in joining in their best candy-colored costumes and in performances that the party-goers enjoyed immensely.

Participants showed team spirit in the Christmas presentation contest and in the best in costume compeitition.

Christian Jay Rafal (editorial department) and Rover Kaye Hamoy (production) shared first prize in best in costume for male category, while for Christie Samonte (marketing) and Dalisay Paran (admin) also tied in the female category in the contests that were decided by acclamation as the

judges had difficulty in choosing the winners. For the Christmas presentation, production department dethroned the admin and marketing departments combined, last year’s champs, while the editorial team settled for the third place.

Of course, a Christmas party is not complete without the exchanging of presents and everyone were excited to get their gifts.

Apart from the swapping of gifts, each officer, superisor and employee also received a surprise Christmas present from Edge Davao editor-in-chief Antonio Ajero.

Partygoers belt out a jumpy Christmas song

Editor-in-chief Antonio Ajero welcomes the employees and their families President Olivia Velasco delivers an inspirational message

FCANDYLAND, P14

General Manager Jasper Bacsal delivers his Christmas message

Employee’s kids enjoy receiving their Christmas presents

EDGEDAVAO 13

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

IS GMALL... FROM1

cracks along seismic gap.

Based on this, the OCBO recommended some restrictions but issued a lawful occupancy permit.

The restrictions cover the entry to the upper ground floor common hallway near McDonalds going to cinema's fire exit, seismic gap portion at the peak and eco5 fire exit.

The post, however, generated concerns from Dabawenyos online.

Some of the netizens’ reactions are as follows: “what is RESTRICTED???? LIMITED.. NOT ALL AREAS ARE SAFE.” “just make sure that what you posted is really true... after owners will not be the prime victims if in case untoward incident will happen. Do not cov-

er the truth... if you say so that you are cleared then so be it but if not then fix all the damages and goes for a temporary closure... for everybody's welfare...i went to your mall last monday and i discovered lots of crack tiles somewhere in the hair accessories section which you only covered with black carpet or whatever you call it.”

“Gaisano Mall of Davao (GMALL) naa bay proof sir/ma'am nga gikan sa City Government nga clearance to operate? :)” Edge Davao sent a message to GMall's Facebook page to inquire on the advisory and get its reaction after attempts to call its office went futile. GMall's FB page administrator

however told Edge Davao that "the city government has found only superficial cracks which do not compromise the structural integrity of the building and that the management has immediately began repairs to these cracks upon seeing them."

GMall of Davao is considered one of the largest malls in Davao City with six levels of retail shops, arcades, food hall, eight cinema theaters. It also runs popular entertainment and lifestyle hub The Peak, located at the top of the mall and frequented by thousands of customers daily.

During the tremor, some mallgoers evacuated and exited the establishment in panic.

centage obtained last year.

According to 41% of the respondents, this Christmas won’t be any different from the one that they’ve had last year.

“These figures are essentially the same as those recorded by Pulse Asia Research in December 2018,” the pollster said.

‘Facing 2020 with hope’ As the calendar year draws to a close, nine out of 10 Filipinos said that they will face 2020 with

hope.

Ninety-three percent—slightly higher than last year’s 91%—expressed this positive sentiment with the majority figures recorded across all geographic areas in the country at 90 to 98% and all socio-economic classes at 91 to 97%.

There has been a notable increase in hopefulness among those from the Class E as its previous record of 76% rose to 91%, Pulse Asia noted.

Only 1% of the survey participants said they are hopeless when it comes to incoming year while 7% are undecided.

The nationwide survey covered a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years and above, and had a ± 2.8% error margin at the 95% confidence level.

The subnational estimates have error margins of ± 5.7% at the 95% confidence level for Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

chael Barredo on Friday confirmed that the 10th ASEAN Paragames will be rescheduled to March from its original date of January 18 to 25 next year.

The Philippine Sports Commission relayed the situation to PPC and recommended to reset the event at a later date.

The change was made due to funding constraints and logistical considerations.

Gawilan said he hopes the decision is fine with

the other countries. "Hinaot nga ok ra unta ang ubang nasod sa decision sa postpone," he said.

The Paragames, which is a twin-event of the Southeast Asian Games, was being organized along side the SEA Games which wrapped up December 11.

In a statement issued by the PPC, Barredo said that “while we have made every effort to prepare the Games in the past 1 and a half years, matters well beyond our control are com-

pelling us to reschedule the event.”

He added that they are looking to reset it for March next year “to be able to have enough time for financial and logistical matters to be settled.”

The PPC has endorsed the said change to the ASEAN Para Sports Federation.

They have also requested the PSC to communicate with their ASEAN counterparts so that respective Ministers can assist their NPCs on the said move.

on our planet. The campaign also encourages shoppers to limit the use of single-use plastics in doing their groceries as a way to begin their zero waste habits.

It was launched in December 2018 with the opening of the Green Lane Counter which is now open across 28 branches.

The Green Lane Count-

er is a special counter for shoppers who opt to have their items packed with eco-friendly and re-useable bags. They can either purchase it at the counter or bring one along with them.

The campaign has also inspired other business units in NCCC such as Helen’s Farm which started their Go Green campaign just recently by converting

their packaging materials to non-plastics. Examples of these are the conversion of plastic egg trays to cartons and the use of banana leaves in packing fruits and vegetables inside the supermarket area. Helen’s Farm still has so much more prepared to further promote non-single-useplastic campaign and their natural planting technique.

as of 10 a.m.

It will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Caraga and the prov-

inces of Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley).

Residents living in

low-lying areas are advised to take appropriate measures against possible flooding and landslides.

te.

tiwala ang Pangulo sa inyo.

Kung gusto niyo ng kapayapaan, makipag-usap kayo (This means that we trusted you. We went to your hideouts without bodyguards or arms. The President has trusted you. If you want peace, negotiate with him),” he said.

Go also warned the NPA to think twice before threatening the life of the

President.

“Si Pangulo naman ayaw niya na ang mga Pilipino o kapwa Pilipino ay nagpapatayan. Sino ba namang Pilipino ang gustong patayin ang kapwa Pilipino? (The President does not want Filipinos to kill fellow Filipinos. What Filipino would want to kill a fellow Filipino?)” he added. (PR)

48%... FROM5

NO BREAK... FROM16

NCCC... FROM2

TROPICAL... FROM4 GO... FROM4

The NPA should not undermine the trust and confidence of the President, Go said as he recalled how they visited rebels’ lairs in Davao without any security personnel to rescue abducted soldiers.

“Ibig sabihin, nagtiwala kami sa inyo. Umakyat kami ng bundok na walang bodyguards or armas. Nag-

NCMF... FROM2

and end on August 2.

Overall, Datu Ramos said the NCMF had projected that the number of Filipino Muslims joining the hajj in 2020 would hit the 8,000 mark, up 1,000 from this year's 7,000.

For the free hajj slots, the deadline for submission of applications is on Jan. 6, 2020, after which, a raffle to determine the recipients would be held at

the NCMF Central Office.

“Secretary Pangarungan promised transparency via a raffle system to be done at the NCMF Central Office,” Datu Ramos said.

All pilgrims – sponsored or not – have to undergo a pre-departure seminar starting June 27, 2020.

Datu Ramos said the first batch of the pilgrims will leave for Mecca on

July 1, 2020.

The last batch would be leaving on July 20, 2020.

He said by Aug. 25, 2020, all pilgrims are expected to have already flown back to the Philippines.

The pilgrimage to Mecca is one of Islam's five pillars and it is prescribed for those with the means and health. (PNA)

drug suspects.

“Hindi nyo man lang tinignan na (You do not check that) my country is being flooded with drugs and I have to protect the next generation,” Duterte said.

“Hindi nila binilang ang mga namatay dahil sa droga. Kaya kayong human rights, you better behave (They do not look at the number of those killed by drug offenders.

So to those advocates of human rights, you better

behave),” he added.

Duterte said his directive was “clear” and has repeatedly warned those involved in the illicit drug trade who will attempt to “destroy” the Philippines face death.

On Dec. 7, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo insisted that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines that is an independent state and has a working justice system.

The President told

ICC prosecutors that if he were given the chance, he would go on a debate with them, as he was confident that he was “brighter” than them.

“Gusto ko nga, magharap tayo ng korte (I honestly want to face you before the court). I want to debate with you about what ails this country and I'd be happy to answer you and to condemn you.

Hindi niyo ako matalo (You can’t defeat me),” he added. (PNA)

I AM... FROM2

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a TH FREIGHT TRUCK Service.

Case No. R11-NC-TH-2019-12-194 RONNIE M. BUNANI, Applicant. x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING In the application filed on December 19, 2019, applicant requests authority for a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate TH FREIGHT TRUCK SERVICE for the transportation of freight on the route:WITHIN DAVAO CITY AND FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN MINDANAO accessible to motor vehicle traffic and vice versa with the use of SEVENTEEN (17) units.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 8, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Witness Atty.

ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 19th day of November 2019 at Davao City, Philippines.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Attorney IV/Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Applicant: Ronnie M. Bunani Counsel, Atty. Victorio U. Advincula, Jr.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Change Party Applicant with Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. R11-CP-EV-FC-2019-12-964 (2014-XI-00964) GASPAR A.LINSAG, Previous Owner.

DARYL P. LINSAG, Petitioner. x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING GASPAR A. LINSAG was a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular service on the route: BUHANGIN VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 18, 2019 In the petition filed on December 17, 2019, petitioner requests authority to change the party in the Certificate of Public Convenience stating that his father Gaspar A. Linsag died intestate on April 11, 2015. In the same petition,petitionerlikewise requests authority to extend the validity of said ceertificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on January 14, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of local circulation.

Petitioner is likewise ordered to publish the Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate once a week for three(30 consecutive weeks required under Rule 74 of the Rules of Court.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this th 18 day of December 2019 at Davao City, Philippines.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Attorney IV/Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Daryl P. linsag Counsel, Atty. Raphael Robillo

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI Service.

Case No. R11-EV-TX-2019-12-741 (2016-XI-00741) ALICIA L. RIVAS, Petitioner. x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY AND FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN REGION XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 31, 2019. In the petition filed on December 17, 2019, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 14, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/ or oral evidence.

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 18th day of December 2019 at Davao City, Philippines.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Attorney IV/Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Alicia L. Rivas Counsel, Atty. Placido A. Garde, Jr.

14 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

CANDYLAND

FROM 12

Olivia Velasco, president of Edge Davao and Zion Publishing, gave her Christmas and inspirational message and let everyone know how important their contributions are to the companies’ accomplishments.

She also thanked and recognized the hard work of the employees over

Christmas presentation contest champ Team Production

Christmas presentation contest second placer Team Admin

the past year and urged them to work harder in the coming year.

There was also raffle draw wherein some took home a television set, stove, and many more items.

As they say, all went home happy.

Raffle draw grand prize winner A4 INdulge!

Christmas presentation contest third placer Team Editorial

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

VOL.12 VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE ISSUE 94 100 84 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY JULY 19-20, 28-29, 5-6, 2019

Winners of “Best in Costume” contest

UP AND LAUNDRY FURNITURE A2A1 ABOUTa silly method but for EJ and

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 204 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 22-23, 2019

15

Tokyo 2020 Olympics final budget is $12.6B

T Will it be Danny Garcia for Manny Pacquiao come April when the Filipino fighting Senator returns to the ring?

Will Manny meet Danny?

A

lthough PBC and Showtime Sports has kicked off their collaborative promotion for Danny Garcia vs. Ivan Redkach set on January 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the highly-touted Garcia knows this is just a step towards something bigger.

While discussing his eight-month layoff from

the professional ring, Garcia was very clear of his intent for the new year--fight Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao “This (contest with Redkach) is the fight to keep the show going,” the two-division world champion told FightHype.com.

“My fans have to remember me. I can’t be out of the ring for two damn years!

They’ll forget about me!

I only fought one time in 2019...I have to stay active.

A lot of people may not like it, but as a fighter, you have to stay active.”

Although the 31-yearold Philly resident stayed in the gym between fights and appears to be in great shape, Danny admits that staying in shape is very different than being in the

dropped their third in a row. It was also the Sixers’ second consecutive home loss after opening the season with 14 straight wins.

Ben Simmons had 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Philadelphia.

Hardaway Jr. was spectacular in the first quarter with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, as the Mavericks took a 35-28 lead.

Dallas extended its advantage to 50-37 on a 3-pointer by deep reserve Ryan Broekhoff with 4:45 left in the second. The trey capped a 10-0 run and caused Sixers head coach Brett Brown to take a timeout.

After a Sixers turnover, Porzingis then drilled a 3-pointer and the Mavericks went ahead 53-37.

Embiid kept the Sixers close with a pair of treys as they closed the first half on a 17-6 spurt to cut the lead to 63-57. Embiid had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the half.

Porzingis added 16 for the Mavericks by halftime.

Jalen Brunson, who played extra minutes with the injury to Doncic, drove to the basket and gave the Mavericks an 81-73 lead with 3:43 remaining in the third.

Dallas outscored the Sixers by five points in the

Mavs send Sixers to third straight loss

T

im Hardaway Jr. made seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points to lift the visiting Dallas Mavericks past the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-98, on Friday.

Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots as the Mavericks improved to 11-2 on the road.

The Mavericks won handily despite playing without injured guard Luka Doncic.

Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 33 points and 17 rebounds for his 19th double-double, but they

ring and taking hard shots.

“You have to remember how to take a hit. You’ll be out of the gym for two years, you come back and get hit, you’ll be like, Oh S***!” Damn...that s*** real!

I gotta keep that real feeling.”

Of course, the always inquisitive media had to ask of his current status

FMAVS, P10

FWILL MANNY, P10

OKYO - The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are expected to cost some 1.35 trillion yen ($12.6 billion), organizers said Friday, unveiling a final budget showing increased revenue balancing out extra costs including countermeasures against heat.

However, officials admitted the budget does not yet include an estimated three billion yen for moving the marathon and race walk north to Sapporo, as they wrangle with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over who bears the cost.

Revenues from domestic sponsorship and robust ticket sales have increased income by 30 billion yen, according to the fourth and final version of the Olympic budget.

This equals out a rise in forecast expenditure for items such as transport and security -- as well as the heat-busting measures.

The overall 1.35-trillion-yen budget for the Games is unchanged since the last version of the budget unveiled last year.

There is also a 27-billion-yen “contingency” pot

to deal with possible emergencies such as natural disasters.

Organizers are still negotiating with the IOC over the cost of moving the marathon to the northern city of Sapporo due to the expected heat in the Tokyo summer.

“This is an unprecedented matter so there are no procedures,” explained Gakuji Ito, executive director for planning and finance at Tokyo 2020.

“We will go into it lineby-line and we will interact with the IOC on a daily basis,” he told reporters.

Organizers have also unveiled a series of countermeasures against the heat and humidity, including water mist sprays and special heat-absorbing paint on roads -- all of which cost money.

The IOC, wary that the ballooning cost of hosting the Games is putting some cities off from bidding, has urged Tokyo to make even more cuts.

But Tokyo is also being squeezed in the other direction, with some sports voicing fears that the cuts could harm the ath-

FTOKYO, P10

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) and Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) and forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) dive for a loose ball during the third quarter of their match at Wells Fargo Center.

Reuters

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

ROGER CASUGAY – ATHLETE OF THE YEAR It is year’s end and it is time to pick the country’s “Athlete of the Year.”

This is the annual recognition awarded by the Philippine Sportswriters Association to the Filipino athlete who has prominently shone to be the best among the crop for the past year.

Heralded to be among those in the short list are gymnast Carlos Yulo, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, boxer Nesty Petcho, pole-vaulter EJ Obiena and possibly surfer Roger Casugay who were all gold medalists in the recently-concluded 30th SEA Games in Manila.

Before this, the diminutive

Yulo emerged triumphant in the world gymnastics championships where he topped the artistic floor exercises, thus becoming the first and only Filipino so far to claim a world title in the sport. By far, he is the most popular among the Filipino athletes today.

Diaz was the 2016 Olympic silver medalist held at Rio de Janeiro who is now bidding to collect the elusive first Olympic gold in next year’s Summer Games in Tokyo. She also took home a bronze from the world weightlifting contest early this year.

Petcho also won world championship honors in the recent

AIBA world women’s boxing championship where the best amateurs from all continents display their wares annually.

Obiena vaulted to a new personal record of 5.8 meters to win a European competition held in Italy last August and is now rated among the world’s top 20, a first for a Filipino in this event traditionally ruled by Americans and Europeans.

Casugay is my sentimental bet for the AOTY although the least recognizable. Instead of going all out for a win, he came to the rescue of an Indonesian rival surfer who was drowning and saved the fellow’s life. For this,

Casugay received a commendation from Indonesian president Widodo.

I hope the PSA membership will take up Casugay’s life-saving heroic act as an exemplary meritorious credit so outstanding that puts him a notch above the ordinary.

No, sorry but GM Wesley So is not qualified to be nominated to the AOTY even if he was declared the first world champion of the Fischer Random Chess Championship, convincingly trouncing the challenge of Norway’s world classical chess titleholder Magnus Carlsen. Wesley is representing the US flag but, contrary to

reports, he has not opted to become a US citizen.

However, there is one small detail that I do not want to be ignored.

Here. Since the Philippines copped the overall plum in the 30th SEAG, thus making the country and its people prouder, perhaps the PSA guys might declare it wise the entire roster of Filipino athletes, medalist or not, as winners of the AOTY, collectively speaking.

There won’t be any debate within the PSA if that happens. ##### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

12 16 SPORTS SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

NO BREAK

SPORTS BRACE FOR BATTLE EDGE EDGE DAVAO DAVAO

VOL.12 VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE204 164•VOL.12 •SUNDAY-MONDAY, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, ISSUE 78 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER OCTOBER JUNE 25-26, 22-23, 27, 2019

4 games up as Escandor Cup Collegiate Sponsors League Ernie resumes Saturday Para swimmer Gawilan fine with

postponement, but no holiday break in training A

By ADAM B. MORRELL

heavy four-game bill Royal Mandaya Hotel, Dais on its way as ac- vies Paints, Mandarin SPC tion in the Collegiate Branch, Max's Fried ChickBy NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO Sponsors League (CSL) en and PTT Lubricants.

Escandor Cup resumes on Meantime, the abawenyo Olympic cluded SoutheastAsian Saturday, October 26, at Agro-Industrial Foundapara swimmer ErGames. the Davao City Recreation tion College of the Philipnie Gawilan is not pines He (AIFCP) will also vieand for Center.

Sailors minding the postpone100m backstroke, The curtain raiser will the the UM Wildcats shared ment of the Asean versus Para 4×100m freestyle relay feature a "David the top spot in bracket A Games from January to and medley reGoliath" match up as oddswith4×100m a 2-0 record each, March next year.

For the on favorite Jose Maria Col- lay. followed by the CJC Red 28-year old Kings leglesstakes won"Mywith target win lege (JMC) on Lions 1-0. is ThetoMCT thetraining struggling Brokenshire Navigators landed said. on der, goes on even two golds," Gawilan College Davao (BCD) Winning the fourthmore spot would with 1-1, during theof holidays. be dribblers at 3:00pm. trailed he bysaid. the defending "Sa akoa sir mas ok bonus, The clash the champion Holy Cross of pud kay para between mas taas Aside from the two San Pedro College (SPC) Davao College (HCDC) pa ang preparation namo gold medals, Gawilan Stallions and the Crusaders sir," Gawilan toldvisiting this also won with silver1-2,inDMthe Cor Jesu College (CJC) MACSP Mariners 0-1, writer on Saturday.

100-meter butterfly and of Digos City Red Lions SPCD Saints 0-1, and SPC Prayers, Gawilan medals will go after at 4:30said, pm, bronze Stallions with 0-2. in the will take the of any 4x100m freestyle relay followed byplace the exciting The bracket B, meancelebration on Christmas 4x100m medley relay. battle between tradition- and while, is currently led by and Year. teams St. theBorn al New powerhouse Holy with Cross underdeCollege Under watchfulof veloped extremities and John Paulthe II College of Sasa (HCCS) Spartans Davao (SPCD) Saints and orphaned with 3-0 card, followed eyes of coaches Antonio at two years Mats Technolby JMC Kings has (2-0), Asianto Ong, RalCollege Rosarioofand Ma- old, Gawilan risen ogyPalumbarit, (MCT) Navigators International School of jonie Gawilanat become the toast of Phil6:00 pm. to train daily at ippine Aeronautics and Technolcontinues paralympic sports.

At 7:00pm, un- Last ogy (AISAT) the Makati Aquaticthe Sports year, he(1-1), gave Atethe beaten University of Minneo de Davao Arena (MASA).

He will be Philippines its University first gold danao (UM) Wildcats will (Addu) Blue Knights (1-2), Manny Pacquiao says eveninatthe 40, hehistory is not finished yet. defending his S8 400-meof the stake its clean slate against medal BCD (0-1), UM Penaplata terDMMA freestyle and 200-meAsian Para Games winCollege of South- (0-1), and Rizal Memoterern individual medley ti- ning the 200-meter Philippines (DMMACrial Colleges (RMC) inditles the biennial meet medley.

SP)inMariners to wrap up vidual Bulldogs (0-2). to Saturday's be hosted by the PhilipPhilippine Paralympic quadruple pines which is the equivheader sponsored

by The Committee President Mi-

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University of Mindanao will tryo to make it three in a row on Saturday as action in the Collegiate Sponsors League (CSL) Escandor Cup resumes at the Davao City Recreation Center. Escandor Cup/CSL photo VOL.11 VOL.12 ISSUE 241 ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, 6VOL.12 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 24-25, 17-18, ISSUE 51 •FEBRUARY TUESDAY, 21,2019 2019 VOL.12 ISSUE 45 • SUNDAYMONDAY, MAYMAY 12 -13,

VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE55 21• SUNDAY-MONDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY,MAY APRIL 7-8, 2019 VOL.12 26-27,

Dabawenyo Olympic para swimmer Ernie Gawilan said he will be spending his Christmas and New Year on training.