Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 218 | Thursday, January 16, 2020

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VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

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STEP BACK An elderly devotee arranges dozens of Sto. Niño statues owned by residents in Sto. Niño, Brgy. Agdao, Davao City on Wednesday. The Sto. Niño images are gathered by the residents outside a community chapel for the traditional blessing in time for the celebration of the feast of Sto. Niño. Lean Daval Jr

No two-track electric railway, only single-track locomotive for Mindanao

By MAYA M. PADILLO ooks like Mindanao’s railway transport progress will be stuck in locomotives.

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From the original two-track electri�ied rail-

way, NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee

(NEDA-ICC) instead approved the reversion of the �irst phase of MRP or the Tagum-Davao-Digos (MRP:TDD) segment to single-track diesel-powered railway.

Whatever caused National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board sudden change of heart is a step backwards instead of pushing forward to mod-

ernized railway transport.

Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, deputy executive director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), af�irmed to media in Wednesday's

Habi at Kape that what was approved by the NEDA-ICC last year when it went up to for valuation, was the one-track diesel-powered railway.

STEP BACK, P9

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a situation briefing on the effects of the Taal Volcano eruption at the Batangas Provincial Sports Complex on Tuesday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

BARMM job applicants reach 160,000 mark

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pplicants for various jobs at the �ledging Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have reached some 160,000 to date, a regional of�icial said Tuesday.

The �igure is culled from the online Bangsamoro Job Portal where some 2,000 jobs are up for grabs depending on

the quali�ication of applicants, said Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Governor

and concurrent regional spokesperson.

“An aptitude test and interview comprise the pre-employment procedure,” Sinarimbo said during a press conference here.

Recently, the region’s Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Labor and Employment have administered separate examinations to respective

applicants, he said.

“Each ministry of�ice has set up a timeline for applicants indicated at the job portal,” Sinarimbo said.

BARMM has set up the online job portal on Dec. 23, 2019, where prospective applicants for new positions can conveniently search and apply for jobs.

The job portal came

have no merit, considering that preventive suspension under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act is mandatory.

“Record shows that the accused was charged under the Information dated July 11, 2018 for violation of Section 3e of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which the Court �inds to be suf�icient in form and substance. Its validity was never disputed by the accused. Record also

shows that the accused is an incumbent government of�icial, a fact undisputed by accused in her Compliance,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“Verily, the conditions for preventive suspension have been satis�ied and the Court is duty-bound to issue the order of suspension against accused as a matter of course.

Wherefore, premises considered, accused Charlita Andales Escano is hereby

suspended pendente lite, as Director IV, Of�ice of Finance and Administrative Services, MinDA, and from any other public positions she may now or hereafter hold, for a period of 90 days from receipt of this Resolution,” it added.

State prosecutors are accusing Escano of giving her husband, Alan, undue advantage when she brought him to the Basic Occupational Safety and

placed by the attack on the village that took place on January 5.

Some 180 families, including that of Buisan, �led to Lanawan Island, Buisan said, adding they are currently housed in Barangay Kaumpurnah, one of the two barangays in the island. Aside from Lanawan and Bubuan, the other two islands of this town are Tapiantana and Saluping.

Buisan said the other affected families have �led to Maluso and Isabe-

la City in this province’s mainland, Tapiantana Island, and in Barangays Boloh-Boloh and Suligan in Bubuan Island.

Mayor Brenda Junaid said they periodically provide food and medical assistance to the 180 families who are currently housed in Barangay Kaumpurnah.

“We need to help them since they have lost everything,” Junaid said.

“Some of them here (in Kaumpurnah), we re-

trieved them on that hill,” said a policeman, who asked not to be identi�ied, while pointing to a hill in Bubuan Island.

Buisan said most of them �led empty-handed for fear of their lives at the height of the �ire�ight.

Of�icials said the attack resulted in the death of Stalin Mukahil, the leader of the Babuan-based MNLF community, and his cousin, Basit Kangal.

Buisan said the attack-

Sandigan suspends MinDA exec for bringing hubby to work seminar

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or allegedly bringing her husband to a safety seminar using government money, an of�icial of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) was slapped with a 90-day preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan.

In a four-page resolution, the Sandiganbayan said MinDA Finance and Administrative Services director Charlita Andales Escano’s arguments against her suspension

was created following the separation from service late last year of some 6,000 former workers from the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which the 11-month-old BARMM replaced.

The BARMM is the result of the decades-old peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Lib-

eration Front (MILF).

A total of 41 of the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the provisional lawmaking body of BARMM, are MILF people.

Under the law, the BTA was organized to plot the direction of the BARMM pending the election of the new region’s regular government of�icials in 2022. (PNA)

SANDIGAN, P9

Basilan village turns into ghost town as MNLF factions clash

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he municipal government here said it has continued to provide assistance to families who were displaced following an attack recently by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) on an MNLF community in Barangay Babag, Bubuan Island, one of the four islands in this town.

Suraiya Buisan, secretary of Barangay Babag, told the Philippine News Agency Monday that some 500 families were dis-

BASILAN, P9

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Colonel John Kirby Kraft says during this week's AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that his office is always willing to extend help to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to prevent the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the city's jails. Lean Daval Jr

VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

FPG insurance names Gigi Pio de Roda as new president and CEO

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A fire engulfs dozens of houses in an informal settlers’community along the banks of the Davao River in Bankerohan, Davao City shortly before noon Wednesday. Photo courtesy of CADO NIÑAL

Sabio withdraws ICC complaint vs. PRRD E mbattled lawyer Jude Sabio on Tuesday withdrew the complaint he �iled before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Rodrigo Duterte on alleged lapses in the country’s ongoing anti-illegal drug campaign.

Citing alleged inability of his principals to settle fees due for his legal services, Sabio, in a 28-page pleading asked ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to strike out his name from the communications sent to the international body which is seeking an inquiry.

“I would be given a pittance when they needed

me for the political propaganda, and then later I would be told that there was no more budget due to �inancial constraints. It was a pattern that was all too obvious to me, which made me so skeptical about their engagement of me for alias Bikoy,” Sabio said in a letter.

Sabio, who has had a quarrel with former Senator Antonio Trillanes over

Año vows to curb corruption in PNP

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nterior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday assured that corruption has no place in his department, as well as its attached agencies and bureaus.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the removal of the procurement power of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and asked Año to take charge of the purchase of equipment and �irearms for the police force.

“Under my watch, I will not allow corruption in all the bureaus under DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government).

I abide by the wisdom of the President and I will follow his instruction,” Año told Philippine News Agency (PNA) when sought for a comment.

Duterte ranted about how the PNP would spend PHP950,000 per unit of radar speed guns when he

could purchase the same type of device in Davao City for only PHP10,000 per unit.

Año said the PNP made a very glaring mistake in its presentation during the last Joint AFP PNP Command Conference by mixing up terms and �igures.

“But I believe it was an honest mistake. I ordered (PNP of�icer-in-charge) PLt. Gen. Archie Gamboa to explain and submit a report to the President,” he said.

He added that PNP has done all its procurement properly in the last two years.

In a press brie�ing in Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said what the PNP presented during its recent command conference with the President was a mere “wishlist” and has not undergone procurement pro-

AÑO, P9

alleged legal fees for services rendered to another Duterte accuser, Edgar Matobato, said he was also approached to be the counsel for Peter Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula but feared he would not be suf�iciently compensated for it as well.

“For if push came to shove, and if our discussion came to the next level, I would have charged them so many millions of pesos that they would �ind it impossible to engage me as lawyer for alias Bikoy.

Precisely, I did not want a repeat of what had happened to me,” Sabio said in the document forwarded to journalists by Lorenzo Gadon.

Advincula had initially

accused the presidential family of misdeeds in the so-called “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video but has since revealed that he was approached by the opposition to make the accusations against the president.

“Madame Prosecutor, in light of all these and under the circumstances obtaining, I am left with no choice but to formally withdraw from your of�ice the communication that I �iled way back on 24 April 2017.

I fervently request that it be expunged or erased from the record, and that it should not be used in any way in the ongoing preliminary examination. I also fervently request that

SABIO, P9

Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) public information officer Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Balagtey says during AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday that the Philippine Army will give its full support to the planned peace

PG Insurance Co., Inc., a major player in the non-life insurance industry and leader in motor insurance coverage, welcomes Gigi Pio de Roda as its new President and CEO effective January 6, 2020.

In this role, Gigi takes the reins of the company’s �lagship motor insurance, as well as the emerging portfolios for travel and residential insurances.

Gigi joins FPG Insurance from her recent role as Philam Life/AIA’s Chief Operations Of�icer (COO).

Known in the industry for her transformation of business operations through complex executions and ef�iciency, Gigi is responsible for Philam Life/AIA’s digital revolution since 2017, where customer service and experience are at the core of its design.

“We gladly welcome Gigi to the FPG Insurance

family and are very excited for the changes that she will be bringing into the company. FPG Insurance is looking forward to how she will charter the course for our Philippine business direction,” said Stephen Blasina, FPG Insurance Regional Managing Director.

Gigi is bringing in over 30 years of proven �inancial services expertise, having previously also served HSBC Philippines in various executive positions such as Chief Operations Of�icer, Senior Vice President and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, and Chief Risk Of�icer. She has a degree in Management of Financial Institutions from the De La Salle University, is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICDPh), and also serves as a professional executive coach.

FPG Insurance Preident and CEO Gigi Pio de Roda

talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army-National Democratic Front(CPP-NPA-NDF) may it localized or national peace agreement. Lean Daval Jr

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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A 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit Davao City on October 31, 2019 has caused Ecoland 4000’s upper floors to collapse. Reports said DMCI Homes has already agreed to compensate unit owners of Ecoland 4000 150 percent of what they paid for their collapsed condo units. Lean Daval Jr

PRRD: Drugs, communism A slowing down PH economy

Encryption battle reignited as US gov't at loggerheads with Apple

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he Philippine economy’s growth is losing steam because of the perennial problems of illegal drugs and communism in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday.

In a speech delivered in Batangas City, the President admitted that he was having dif�iculty in improving the country’s economy because he was spending most of his time addressing the rampant narcotics trade and the decades-long insurgency.

Duterte said the only way to further boost the economy is to neutralize all the big-time drug offenders, as well as the

members of the communist’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“I cannot improve the standing of our economy if marami akong kalaban, itong mga droga at itong NPA (if we have so many enemies, the drug personalities and NPA insurgents),” he said during the situation brie�ing on the effects of the Taal Volcano’s eruption.

Since Duterte assumed

of�ice in July 2016 until Nov. 30, 2019, a total of 151,601 legitimate anti-drug operations led to the arrest of 220,728 drug offenders and the deaths of 5,552 drug suspects.

In his speech, Duterte reiterated that Batangas remains to be a “red spot” because it still serves as a “sanctuary for a drug personality.”

Lashing out anew at drug personalities, Duterte said it would be better to “kill” them since they are already considered as “useless idiots.”

“Drugs will destroy my country. I will not allow it, at least not during my term. Drugs will kill the

youth of the land,” he said.

“A good number of them would be, alam mo ‘pag nabuang sa droga, nabuang na talaga iyan (you know, they will get insane because of drugs).

Wala na (They will be useless),” the President added.

Meanwhile, NPA insurgents continued to launch attacks against government troops, even after the President in November last year expressed openness to the possible resumption of moribund talks with communists’ political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF).

Duterte also took a swipe at NPA rebels, whom

livestock at Php 74.55 million affecting 752 hectares and 102 animal head,” the DA said in a 7 p.m. bulletin on Monday.

“Coffee is the most affected commodity at Php 73.96 million,” it added.

The DA also warned that around 6,000 �ish cages could be damaged, including Sardinella tawilis and tilapia, with production loss estimated at 15,033 metric tons.

Quoting the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR), the DA said �ishkill is expected in Taal Lake due to high sulfur content brought by the volcanic eruption.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority (NFA) assured residents of affected areas that there are enough rice stocks for them with a total of 4,090,000 bags.

“NFA Administrator Judy Dansal guarantees that the rice stocks are safe for human consumption as they are stored in properly maintained warehouses

away from ashfall,” the DA said.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar instructed its divisions and BFAR to intensify price monitoring, as well as to source needed food supply for Metro Manila markets.

PHIVOLCS has raised Alert Level 4 over the Taal Volcano after a phreatic eruption took place at the crater on Sunday. The province of Batangas was placed under a state of calamity on Monday.

PRRD, P10

Coffee 'most affected commodity' in Taal eruption, says Agri Dept.

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ome P74.55 million in agricultural losses have been recorded so far amid the eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Coffee bore the brunt of the effect of the eruption, accounting for P73.96 million or 99% of the total damage, the DA said. The others were corn and livestock.

“DA RFO IV-A has reported initial damages and losses for coffee, corn and

pple and the US government are at loggerheads for the second time in 4 years over unlocking iPhones connected to a mass shooting, reviving debate over law enforcement access to encrypted devices.

Attorney General Bill Barr claimed Monday that Apple failed to provide "substantive assistance" in unlocking 2 iPhones in the investigation into the December shooting deaths of 3 US sailors at a Florida naval station, which he called an "act of terrorism."

Apple disputed Barr's claim, while arguing against the idea of "backdoors" for law enforcement to access its encrypted smartphones.

"We reject the characterization that Apple has not provided substantive assistance in the Pensacola investigation," the company said in a statement.

"Our responses to their many requests since the attack have been timely, thorough and are ongoing."

The standoff highlighted the debate between law enforcement and the tech sector about encryption -- a key way to protect the privacy of digital communications, but which can also make investigations dif�icult, even with a court order.

The latest battle is similar to the dispute between Apple and the US Justice Department after the December 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, Cal-

ifornia, when the iPhone maker rejected a request to develop software to break into the shooter's iPhone.

That �ight ended in 2016 when the government paid an outside party a reported $1 million for a tool that circumvented Apple's iPhone encryption.

Barr last year called on Facebook to allow authorities to circumvent encryption to �ight extremism, child pornography and other crimes. The social network has said it would move ahead with strong encryption for its messaging applications.

OPENING WRONG DOORS? Digital rights activists argue that any privileged access for law enforcement would weaken security and make it easier for hackers and authoritarian governments to intercept messages.

"We have always maintained there is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys," Apple's statement said.

"Backdoors can also be exploited by those who threaten our national security and the data security of our customers."

Apple and others argue that digital "breadcrumbs" make it increasingly easy to track people, even without breaking into personal devices.

The government's latest demand "is dangerous and unconstitutional, and

ENCRYPTION, P10

EDGEDAVAO

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ECONOMY 5

Consumer, catch-up infra spending seen to drive PH growth in 2020

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nalysts at First Metro Investment Corp.

(FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Paci�ic (UA&P) expect the Philippine economy growing by 6.2 percent to 6.6 percent this year, as consumer spending rebounds and the national government infrastructure spending accelerate.

“This is really the key here: the strong consumer spending that we expect not only this year but in the coming years,” Dr. Victor Abola, an economist at UA&P, said in a press briefing Tuesday.

Abola attributed the strong consumer spending to the country’s low in�lation and interest rates, and historically low unemployment rate, the underemployment rate, and poverty rate.

He also cited the national government’s catchup plan to bring infrastructure spending to 5.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020, rising to over 7 percent in 2022.

Abola said a solid services sector is also expected to fuel economic growth this year while industry will be boosted by

construction as “private construction is going quite well”.

From 2020 to 2022, the government targets a 6.5-percent to 7.5-percent GDP growth.

The economy surged by 6.2 percent in the third quarter of 2019, bringing the nine-month average to 5.8 percent.

FMIC president Rabboni Francis Arjonillo said consumer spending, which accounts for 66 percent of the GDP, will expand further driven by robust government and infrastructure spending, higher employment rate, manageable in�lation, and robust overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)remittances.

Easing monetary conditions and growing tourism sector will also boost the economy, he said.

In�lation, which dropped from 5.2 percent in 2018 to 2.5 percent in 2019, is predicted to stay low at 2.5 to 2.8 percent this year.

Remittances from OFWs, which grew 4.6 percent to USD24.8 billion, are expected to remain resilient and to maintain its 2 percent-4 percent growth.

(PNA)

Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, deputy executive director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), shares during Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza mall the overall economic picture of Min-

danao in terms of growth in 2019 including its impressive 7.2% GRDP growth rate. Lean Daval Jr

Poverty rate in PH expected to be halved by 2022: NEDA Car sales up 3.5% in 2019

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ales of car manufacturers in the country increased by 3.5 percent in 2019 to 369,941 units from 357,410 units sold in 2018.

Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) reported Tuesday that sales of commercial vehicles supported the growth of the industry amid the almost �lat growth in sales of passenger cars.

Passenger car sales reached 190,197 units last year, slightly up by 0.2 percent from 190,020 units in 2018. This segment accounted for 30.5 percent of the total sales of CAMPI members.

Commercial vehicles, which shared 69.5 percent of CAMPI’s total sales in 2019, grew by 5 percent to 260,744 units from 248,390 units in 2018.

“The year 2019 has been challenging for the industry due to various internal and external factors.

Thankfully the industry’s collective efforts, supported by sustained economic growth, have paid off,” CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez said.

Among sub-segments of the commercial vehicle, sales of light commercial vehicles expanded by double-digit. Light commercial vehicle sales last

CAR, P9

P577M worth of agri products damaged by Taal eruption

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amage to agriculture caused by the eruption of the Taal Volcano has now reached P577.39 million, the government reported Tuesday afternoon.

According to the latest available data from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the amount of damage has been raised from the previous report of P74.55 million, as an estimated 2,772 hectares have been affected, covering commodities such as rice, corn, coffee, cacao, banana, and high-value crops.

Damage to agriculture caused by the eruption of the Taal Volcano has now reached P577.39 million, the government reported Tuesday afternoon.

According to the latest available data from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the amount of damage has been raised from the previous report of P74.55 million, as an esti-

mated 2,772 hectares have been affected, covering commodities such as rice, corn, coffee, cacao, banana, and high-value crops.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has since made available funds to pay for the indemnity of the affected insured farmers and �isherfolk.

Aside from this, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) has an initial amount of P30 million to be provided to the Rural Bank of Mt. Carmel as funds for the implementation of Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Assistance for around 1,200 farmers/�isherfolk in Batangas.

The DA said its CALABARZON of�ice will also be distributing P21.7-million worth of combined interventions for crops and livestock to 17 local government units affected by the eruption -- Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Talisay, Lemery,

P577M, P10

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percent in 2018, averaging a reduction of 2.23 percentage points per year, making the previous target achievable by mid-2022.

The decline was also broad-based, as all regions, except Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao now the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM, recorded a decline in poverty incidence among population.

NEDA attributed the decline in poverty to sustained growth that generated jobs for the poor, increased incomes of the poor that outweighed in-

�lation, the implementation of social programs like conditional and unconditional cash transfers and pensions, population and family planning program, and less extreme weather conditions.

“Inclusive, job-generating growth and better-targeted programs helped increase the incomes of the poor. For those in the bottom 30 percent of the population, mean per capita income increased by 31.9 percent, outpacing the income growth of those in the top 20 percent of households,” Pernia said.

He added the government must continue to generate more quality jobs, increase the income of the poor, reduce the vulnerability of the poor through social programs and �inancial literacy, and the intensi�ied implementation of the Na-

tional Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).

Pernia also underscored the need for the NPPFP to be fully funded for the next three years to help further strengthen and broaden its implementation at the local level.

In particular, this will help boost the implementation of sexuality education program in all schools to reduce teenage pregnancies, he said.

Pernia further said it is important to have programs that will encourage savings to increase people’s resilience to disasters and protect against unexpected income losses or expenses.

“We must remember that we are aiming for comfortable and secure lives for all so we must be more ambitious in terms of poverty targets,” he added. (PR)

The central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) slashed the BSP’s key policy rates by as much as 75 basis points last year due to deceleration of the in�lation rate.

The Board also cut by as much as 400 basis points the banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) to help further support domestic growth and make Philippine banks’ RRR at par with their counterparts overseas.

Arjonillo projects additional RRR cuts by as much as 200 basis points this year.

He said these rate cuts may be offset by in�lationary pressures brought about by unanticipated events and geo-political factors.

For one, if the Middle East tension escalates, it

may push oil prices in the international market to about USD80 to USD90 dollars per barrel, which will push domestic in�lation rate up, he added.

Arjonillo further said investors’ sentiment impacts more on importation since this “will derail us from further expansion.”

The peso is seen to weaken to about PHP53-level to a US dollar this year from its current PHP50-level due to the expected widening of trade de�icit, as the government’s infrastructure spending recovers after a drop last year.

In�lows of remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are seen to remain stable with a growth of 2 to 4 percent.

As of October 2019, cash remittances grew by

4.6 percent year-on-year to USD24.858 billion.

During the same briefing, FMIC Chairman Francisco Sebastian said external factors are more of a risk for the domestic economy than local factors.

Among these external issues are global upheavals, a rise in interest rates, and the impact of the election in the US. “I think, the local risk we can manage. As we have done in the past, we will struggle towards growth.

We will crawl towards growth. We know what the problems are, we can solve them. We know where we are,” he added.

Meanwhile, the impact of the Taal Volcano eruption on the domestic in�lation rate is expected to be minimal.

he National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) expects the country’s poverty rate to be halved by the end of the current administration’s term in 2022.

“This would be the �irst time in history that the poverty rate will be halved in just six years, a significant contribution and achievement of this administration,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

This is in line with the more ambitious target reduction of poverty incidence to 11 percent from the original 14 percent by 2022, which was approved in the previous meeting of the Development Budget Coordination Committee.

Statistics show the country’s poverty incidence dropped to 16.6

FMIC eyes 50 bps cut in BSP rates this '20

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he projected normalization of domestic in�lation rate made of�icials of First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) forecast further cuts in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key policy rates by as much as 50 basis points this year.

In a brie�ing Tuesday, FMIC president Rabboni Francis Arjonillo said the rate of price increases, which averaged at 2.8 percent in 2019, is seen to average between 2.5 to 2.8 percent this year.

In�lation, which rose to 6.7 percent in September and October 2018 due to supply-side factors, dipped to as low as 0.8 percent last October. It started to normalize last November when it rose to 1.3 percent and to 2.5 percent last December.

FMIC, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

EDITORIAL

Commitment is the bottomline

Last December, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte sternly frowned upon the decision of her father President Rodrigo Duterte to impose a governmentinitiated unilateral cease�ire with the communist New People’s Army rebels.

That was during holiday break.

Now, Mayor Sara may have somewhat mellowed in her stance as she now expressed her support of the government’s plan to resume peace negotiations with the New People’s Army (NPA).

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Saying she is also a Filipino at heart, Mayor Sara said last week she is not opposing the plan of the resumption of peace talks between the government and Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Whatever happens, Mayor Sara said, at least they tried. That’s the bottomline.

The crucial part in the peace talks, said Mayor Sara, will still be how sincere the communist rebels will be in their commitment to peace.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

VANTAGEPOINTS

7

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

MORAL DAMAGES IN LABOR CASES Moral damages are awarded to compensate employees for mental distress caused by the manner they were treated by their employer in relation to their labor claims.

The employee is entitled to moral damages when the employer acted (a) in bad faith or fraud; (b) in a manner oppressive to labor ; or (c) in a manner contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy Under Article 2217 of the Civil Code, the award of moral damages is anchored on the employee’s actual experiences of physical suffering, mental anguish, fright, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, wounded feelings, moral shock, social humiliation, and similar injury.

Though incapable of pecuniary computation, moral damages may be recovered if they are the proximate result of the wrongful act for omission.

No proof of pecuniary loss is necessary as the assessment is left to the discretion of the court according to the circumstances of each case.

Bad faith implies a conscious and intentional design to do a wrongful act for a dishonest purpose or moral obliquity.

In Sharpe Sea Personnel, Inc. v. Mabunay, Jr. (G.R. No. 206113, November 06, 2017), the employer’s bad faith is shown by belatedly releasing and submitting the interim disability rating. It revealed their intention to leave the claimant in the dark regarding his future as a seafarer and forced him to seek diagnosis from private physicians.

By withholding such disability rating from the seafarer, he was compelled to seek out opinion from his private doctors thereby causing him mental anguish, serious anxiety, and wounded feelings, thus, entitling him to moral damages.

The employers’ bad faith was further exacerbated when they tried to invalidate the �indings of seafarer’s private physicians, for his supposed failure to move for the appointment of a third-party physician as required by the POEA contract , despite their

own deliberate concealment of their physician’s interim diagnosis from the seafarer and the labor tribunals.

The same principle was applied in Orient Hope Agencies, Inc., v. Michael Jara, (G.R. No. 204307, June 06, 2018) where the Supreme Court noted that moral damages would be commensurate to the anxiety and inconvenience suffered by seafarer considering the manner in which the company dealt with his condition.

The company’s bad faith and disregard of the seafarer’s unfortunate plight is evident when they submitted the medical report with disability rating and expressed their willingness to pay disability bene�its only upon the �iling of the Position Paper with the labor arbiter.

In Career Shipmanagement Phils. Inc. vs. E.J. Godinez (GR 2068261, October 2, 2017, the Court said that the manner in which the seafarer was dealt with in the proceedings evinces a perverse attempt to evade liability by fabricating evidence and uti-

lizing objectionable and oppressive means and schemes to secure victory.

It constitutes an affront, the Court noted, to all honest workingmen earning a living through hard work and risking their lives for their families.

“The Court cringes at the thought, generated by the experience in this proceeding, and in past cases, that, despite all the laws passed and jurisprudence created, to level the playing �ield for the disadvantaged worker, his plight continues against employers who will stop at nothing to avoid their obligations, by taking advantage at the workers’ weakness, ignorance, �inancial hardships and other handicaps, or by the cunning of their lawyers,” the Supreme Court said.

In Cutanda v. Marlow Navigation Phils. (G.R.. No. 219123, September 11, 2017) moral damages were awarded because the company discontinued, in evident bad faith, the seafarer’s much needed rehabilitation treatment for three (3) to six (6) months more, as recommended by

the attending company-designated physician.

In Bright Maritime Corp. vs. Fantonial, (G.R. No. 165935, February 8, 2012) , the employer’s act was tainted with bad faith considering that the seafarer’s Medical Certi�icate stated that he was �it to work on the day of his scheduled departure, yet he was not allowed to leave allegedly for medical reasons.

In dismissal cases, Justice Marvic Leonen noted that moral damages are appropriate as unemployment “brings untold hardships and sorrows on those dependent on the wage-earner. The deprivation of economic compensation caused mental anguish, fright, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, and wounded feelings” . (Montinola vs PAL (G.R. No. 198656 September 8, 2014).

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law of�ices. For comments, please email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

OFWS IN PERIL Statistics from DOLE, OWWA and POEA estimate that more than 2 million of OFWs are employed in the Middle East region where the irritating news about a possible armed con�lict between the US and Iran may put their welfare at risk.

This alarming development comes at the heels of the killing of a top Iranian Army general targeted under the instructions of American Pres. Donald Trump last week where diplomatic observers agree that a retaliatory strike by Iran may come at any time.

When a political crisis of international proportions like this occurs, the Philippines, though not a participant (as ally or foe) becomes an unwilling victim because the government needs to hurriedly ferry back home the OFWs calculated to be adversely affected by such counter-productive actions.

Pres. Trump has fur-

ther warned Iran that they have �igured out at least “52 sites” to launch attacks on if the latter commits to take revenge against any American facility and against US citizens themselves anywhere in the world.

Whatever, the weight of the problem rests on the shoulders of the Duterte administration as the repatriation of such a huge number of OFWs cannot be done in a jiffy.

Besides, there is a logistical problem and the arrangements needed to come through congressional action.

Iran, for all intents and purposes, will tactically wait for the most opportune time to avenge the death of one of its most esteemed generals who has engineered successful campaigns in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and other military concerns speci�ically building up groups and mi-

litias against Israel.

The timetable is not clear but the sword of Damocles remains hanging on the heads of its possible victims.

Will the government wait up to the exact point a war is declared when it will become too dangerously late to safely bring home the OFWs? This is the 64-dollar question that even the OFWs themselves cannot and will never be able to fathom.

But one thing is clear, though.

There will never be peace in the Middle East for as long as Israel exists as a nation.

The Iranians have publicly pledged to annihilate all Israelis and their country erased from the face of the earth.

This unholy relationship dates back to biblical times. Iran cannot co-exist with Israel even as some of

her Arab neighbors such as Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia et al have - years ago - made peace with the people of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Looks like the Philippine government is in a bind.

It will be damned if the decision to repatriate is delayed and the war soon breaks out. It will also be damned if the authorities bring all OFWs home and they are unable to �ind employment for the millions of dislocated returning OFWs. Of course, DOLE, OWWA and POEA must be on their toes at this point in time, con�iguring all the resources they have at their respective disposal.

While the Iran-US con�lict is not yet turning into a full-blown war, the fact remains that the welfare of all OFWs in the ME region is always in peril.

Philippine diplomat-

ic experts in the Middle East affairs cannot hope to make a �irm decision if their mindset is based on an anemic “if” or “conditional” mode because the Mid-East issues are too volatile to predict.

This is much too much a perplexing situation that nobody wants to be in.

Israel has also announced that it is always ready and prepared to go to war if any of its enemies – Iran speci�ically – launches a direct assault on its borders. This military position of the Netanyahu government has already fueled speculations that a full-blown Mid-East war is imminent, depending on who �irst pushes the missile button.

Maybe, it is about time our OFWs came home. ### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

Rom. 1:17: “The righteous live by faith.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

AGRITRENDS

NATURAL FARMING AT ITS BEST

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Wenea Adianon, already married with two kids, was 37 when he joined the Lao Integrated Farm Coconut Climbers Association (LACCAS) as manangite or coconut pilot (someone who climb coconut trees and harvest the toddy).

Now 48, he looked back at the time when he started his “new” job. It was hard at �irst but he learned how to do it as days went on. Although dif�icult, it was better than what he used to do – or nothing to do.

With unstable income due to scarcity of available job for him, he feared going home with no food for his family. There were instances that he felt he was useless and life was somewhat ambiguous.

So, he considered his being a coconut pilot as a job sent from heaven. That is why he loves what he is doing now. He has to wake up very early in the morning. Before dawn, he has to climb and harvest the toddy, the sap which is derived from the immature in�lorescence of coconut.

The product is treated with immense care. The sap is stored in a clean, dry container. Once harvested, it must be delivered immediately to the Lao Integrated Farm, Inc. (LIFI) in Eman, a barangay of Bansalan, Davao del sur. Once the sap goes fermented, it cannot be used anymore for making coconut sugar.

“Our processing is tedious,” Benjamin R. Lao, a multi-awarded agripreneur and owner of LIFI, tells a magazine published by the Department of Trade and Industry. “The quality of coco sugar starts when you harvest coconut sap.”

In the past, he used to get all the raw materials for his products from his 14-hectare farm. But due to the high demand of coco sugar and other coco products, he has to tap other sources. That was how LACCAS came into existence.

It is a group of farmers who help him in collecting toddy from other areas.

“Some are former overseas contract workers and there are also former members of the New People’s Army,” he says. “A few are coming from indigenous people’s groups.

Imagine if my warm doesn’t exist, who will give them employment in this rural area?”

But before they can join the group, they have to be trained �irst the proper way of harvesting the toddy.

Once they are “hired,” they can now command a good price for the harvested toddy. Actually, they are paid per kilogram of the �inished

coconut sugar from their harvest.

Seven liters of fresh coconut toddy is equivalent to one kilogram of coconut sugar. Every week, they can earn from as low as P7,000 to as high as P10,000. Not bad of a manangite.

Adianon says that his salary is more than enough to what he used to receive.

In fact, he is very thankful for the opportunity of being a member of the association as he was able to build a house for his family.

“Before, I received only P480 per month, a salary that would barely allow my family to eat,” he says. “But now, we are living comfortably.”

His observation is echoed by other members of the association.

Due to the expansion of his agribusiness, he has to involve other people in the community. In his farm, there are 67 regular employees who are paid higher than other agricultural workers in Davao Region.

Some spouses of his employees are also hired when there are seasonal activities like harvesting fruits (which are grown in his farm) and processing them into candies and jam.

At one time, he provided a full college scholarship (100% tuition subsidy and allowance) to a son of one his laborers.

Lao never thought it would come to this. He graduated from law school in 1985 with the intention of becoming a lawyer. But it all changed when he inherited the 5-hectare farm land from his parents in 1998.

Coconut were the only crops being grown. Every three months, he harvested from as low as 400 to as high as 600 nuts. It wasn’t encouraging enough so he visited the nearby farm, the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in barangay Kinuskusan, known for its sustainable farming schemes.

After attending a training, he brought with him some seeds of nitrogen-�ixing species like Flemingia macrophylla, Desmodium rensonii and Indigofera anil which he planted in various parts of the farm. He also brought in some livestock like goats and swine; he used the manure as organic fertilizer.

The leaves from the leguminous shrubs that fell below the ground also became instant organic fertilizer for the coconut trees.

Several months later, the coconut yields markedly increased to 15,000 nuts per quarter. “Some of my neighbors told me it was a

miracle,” Lao says.

Although the money he made from copra was good, he wanted to earn more.

After attending a seminar conducted by Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), he thought of producing coconut sugar from the coconut toddy.

Lao learned from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that coconut toddy contains 12%-18% sugar in its natural form with important vitamins and amino acids. It is also rich in nutrients and high in potassium. Phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium and vitamin C. “The production of coconut sugar is very simple,” he says. “It is just a natural process of heat evaporation to convert liquid sap to solid form of sugar granules.

It requires no complicated and high-cost machineries or equipment nor a huge capital.”

What one thing about coconut sugar is that is all natural. That is why it is recommended to people with diabetes, a disease that af�licts more than 5 million Filipinos. “Coconut sugar has low glycemic index, a measure of blood sugar, thus good for diabetics and those having prostate problems,” Lao says. “It has also glutamic acid, the same ingredient that can be found in Viagra.”

In the beginning, he only sells the locally-produced coconut products inside his farm. Believing there was an untapped market for such product, he hired people and started producing other alternative sweeteners like coco honey and coco sap drink that are used for desserts and other delicacies.

Lao later registered these products with the Department of Trade and Industry under the moniker Donna Belle – a combination of the names of his two daughters. He started distributing his products in some outlets in nearby areas and the cities of Davao, Digos, General Santos and Butuan. Outside of Mindanao, his coconut sugar is being sold in Cebu and Metro Manila.

Due to the increasing demand for his products, he decided to incorporate Lao Integrated Farms Inc. In one of the trade fairs he attended, he met a buyer who was interested with coco sugar. So that in 2009, he shipped 2.2 tons of coco sugar to the United States.

That was the beginning.

Since then, Lao has been exporting his products not only to US but also in the United Kingdom and Aus-

tralia, among others. “My coconut sugar is guaranteed 100-percent free from chemicals,” he assures.

But it’s not only coconut sugar that is very popular abroad. Teriyaki all-dip sauce, another coconut-based product, is also a hit among foreign consumers. People who buy his products are assured that they are �it for human consumption as his farm has earned various local and international organic and safety certi�ications.

Today, 80% of his coconut products are for export. He credited this achievement to continued research. In fact, he was named by DOST as a magsasaka-siyentista.

“As a farmer-scientist,” he says, “I was able to focus on researching about coconut sap products. It took us eight months to study on how to make export-quality coconut syrup.”

Lao has gone a long, long way. He was working in Davao City as director of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation when fate intervened. His mother called him to divide equally the 40 hectares of their land among the eight siblings as inheritance. “I am the �ifth child but I was unanimously chosen to assign which portion of land should be given to each sibling,” he recalls.

For some unknown reasons, Lao selected the land

that was so infertile that only cogon grass would thrive on it. His brothers and sisters never bothered to ask him his reasons; they were happy to get their own shares.

“My parents wanted me to be a lawyer,” he admits.

“But I wanted to toil the land to produce food to feed my family and earn sustainable income.” In another interview, he says, “Farming is really my �irst love.”

Lao is not only a coconut farmer; he is also an organic farmer. In his farm, you won’t see his farm workers using chemical pesticides. “I had a tragic experience with chemical pesticides when I was still a teenager while cultivating rice in our farm located at the neighboring barangay,” he reveals.

Instead, he recommends using Eman, an acronym for “epiktibo, mura at natural” (effective, cheap, and natural). “This is a concoction composed of fresh goats’ manure, kakawate, makabuhay, and hot pepper,” he says. “These are soaked together for 48 hours and after that the concoction is ready for use.”

According to Lao, Eman is effective in repelling plant pests and diseases.

“We are committed to help preserve our environment,” he points out. “We want to teach Filipino farmers through natural method and that is by not using

commercial fertilizers or pesticides.”

Lao also doesn’t inject his chickens with drugs for immunization. He told Department of Agriculture’s Noel T. Provido that he has concocted his own “natural antibiotics.” He uses mayana plant extract (60%) combined with malunggay (30%), turmeric (5%) and oregano (5%). A one-liter extract is fermented for 3-4 days and then mixed with molasses or one kilo of muscovado, which would dissolve into liquid for 3-5 days.

Every day, chickens are given two spoons of the concoction. “We have zero casualty of atay (new castle) disease among our chickens,” he says, adding that he calls these organically-raised chickens as EMAN, which stands for elegante at masayahing manok.

As a farmer himself, Lao believes that Filipino farmers need to know the basics of record keeping. “Simple accounting will help farmers compared the big difference between chemical-laden conventional farming and organic farming which cut down cost in buying fertilizers and chemicals,” he was quoted

by Provido as saying. “Reduced cost means additional income.”

To people who have been to his farm, they have described it as a haven. In

NATURAL, P10

VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

EDGEDAVAO FOOD

LUCKY CHINESE NEW YEAR EATS CHINESE NEW YEAR is just around the corner and with the importance of food and its symbolisms in Chinese culture, it is not surprising that certain dishes play a major role in Chinese New Year meals.

Food that is considered lucky or offer good fortune are always part of a Chinese New Year feast. Here are some things to eat for Chinese New Year and why they are considered special and are worth trying to highlight this special annual occasion.

Nian Gao (Tikoy) Nian Gao in Mandarin, Tikoy in Hokkien cuisine, has a special place in Chinese New Year celebrations. Sweet, sticky and round, Nian Gao symbolises a rich, sweet life and family togetherness.

It is said that this sticky rice

cake is traditionally offered to the Chinese Kitchen God so that he may report only sweet things on a family’s behaviour when he returns to heaven before the start of the new year.

Noodles A staple in any Chinese feast, noodles symbolise long life. The longer the noodles, the better they are.

Dumplings A classic food for Chinese New Year, dumplings are widely popular in China. Shaped like traditional Chinese silver or gold ingots, it is said that the more dumplings one eats during the New Year celebrations, the more money you can make in the new year.

Whole Steamed Fish Lucky dishes are often associated with how they sound like.

The word for fish “yu,” sounds like the Chinese words for both “wish” and “abundance,” which is why it is customary to serve

fish at the end of the new Year’s meal symbolising a wish for abundance in the coming year.

For added symbolism, a fish that is served whole with the head and tail attached represents a good beginning and ending for the coming months.

Tangerines and oranges These citrus fruits are often passed out freely during Chinese New Year as the words for

tangerine and orange sound like the words for “luck” and “success.” The golden colour of these fruits also make them desirable.

Pomelo Another citrus fruit that we have in Durianburg and is considered a staple in for a Chinese New Year meal is the pomelo. Golden in colour, this fruit is thought to bring continuous prosperity. The Chinese word for pomelo sounds like “to have.”

Pineapple Another popular lucky fruit that is easy to find in Davao is the pineapple. This tropical fruit’s name in Hokkien and Cantronese sounds like “good luck comes” and symbolises prosperity and good fortune.

Happy eating and happy Chinese New Year!

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

EVENT

EDGED

AFTERNOON TEA & TA GET BROWNIES UNLIMITED IN SM LANANG WITH MARCO POLO DAVAO EVENT PARTN Brownies Unlimited’s signature Walnut Swirl is a crowd favorite.

WHAT’S a sweet delight in every bite? Brownies, of course. And the sweeter delight is the first Brownies Unlimited store in Mindanao that has recently opened in Davao in SM Lanang Premier.

The pioneer store features fresh and modern design that invites lovers of the pasalubong brand from Manila to shop, savor and share its signature brownies.

All time favorites like the Walnut Swirl brownie, Rainbow Cupcake, Sambo, Silvana and Illy coffee are served fresh in SM Lanang Premier’s upper ground level near Levi’s.

This first in Mindanao also celebrates Brownies Unlimited’s 31st year of operating in the country with over 40 stores.

Connect with your favorite brownies through Facebook.com/ browniesunlimited and follow SM Lanang Premier in social media for more sweet treats @ smlanangpremier.

Feeling extra sweet? Try the Choc O’ Chip, a fudge brownie with dark chocolate chips.

Campfire, a fudge brownie with marshmallow fluff and dark chocolate chips, takes you on a sweet adventure.

KICKING OFF 2020 with a clear vison ahead, Marco Polo Davao headed by General Manager Colin Healy invited the first batch of event partners to a casual meeting for the first Tea & Talk session of the year. The event took place at the hotel’s Presidential Suite. The informal gathering presented some food items prepared by Executive Chef Alex Destriza and highlighting the Marco Polo Signature Earl Grape Iced Tea.

The Tea & Talk was organized by the hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing Pearl Maclang together with Asst. Director for Events Chatty So to strengthen relationship of the hotel with event partners and suppliers.

“We want to provide a channel for us to meet our event partners. We believe that in strengthening our relationship with them, we are able to create memorable experiences with our guests and their clients. We also wanted to meet new faces and present new members of our team; it is a mutually beneficial gathering for all of us.”, says DOSM Pearl Maclang.

The Tea & Talk was attended by some of Davao’s renowned event organizers, stylists, coordinators and event suppliers.

Event Coordinators Juliet Darling Aya, Michelle Andrea M. Argente, K Events Owner Korine Navarro, Event Coordinator Raquel P. Alinsub.

One Stop Video Marketing Owner Jose Buenvides, Marco Polo Dav Pearl Peralta-Maclang, General Manager Colin Healy, Krishael’s Ev Montenegro.

Annie Paz Lim’s Events & Designs Owner Annie Paz Lim, Chairs Et Cie Owner Dr. Danna Jill T. Reyes, El Bonita Events Owner Elinor B. Marcelino.

Dazzle Events an Paguia, Cameo L Events Essentials

EDAVAO

ALK

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VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

MOMOLAND KICKS OFF 2020 AS MYX CELEBRITY VJS FOR JANUARY FILIPINO “Merries” are welcoming the new year with delightful hearts as their favorite South Korean girl group MOMOLAND graces MYX for the whole month of January as Celebrity VJs.

Fotofun Digital Express Inc Owner Florence Ann Te, Jose Buenvides, and Gudha Monteveros.

NERS

Cherry Events Owner Cherry Rose Maaya, Cocktails and Dreamsz Mobile Bar Davao Proprietor Christy C. Ablog.

Jelancer Lights & Sounds Organizer Gudha Monteveros and Banquet Sales Executive Krysel Garbin.

Jose Buenvides, Marco Polo Davao Assistant Director of Events Chatty So and Events Sales Manager Alexis Sabado.

Stepping into the MYX Spotlight is fashion photographer-turned-singer Kurei whose debut single “Paasa” landed on the top spot on Spotify Philippines’ Viral 50 chart in April 2019. The promising talent released her second single “Eto Na Naman” last September.

There’s truly no shortage in showcasing talented artists on the All Music MYX YouTube channel as an impressive lineup kickstarts MYX Live! for the first month of 2020. After Asia’s

Pop Sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose and metal band Valley of Chrome, it’s going to be Filipino idol boy group SB19’s turn on January 23 and wellloved Filipino alternative rock band Mayonnaise on January 30.

Start your year right with MYX Celebrity VJs MOMOLAND on Mellow MYX until January 18 and My MYX from January 19 to 25. Watch MYX on ABS-CBN TVplus channel 12, SKYcable channel 23, and SKYdirect channel 37.

MALASIMBO 2020 GIVES TO ABS-CBN FOUNDATION’S BANTAY KALIKASAN

The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival, one of the country’s biggest annual music events, returns on February 29 to March 1, 2020, this time, not only to bring up-and-coming and established local and international artists, but also to help ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.’s Bantay Kalikasan program.

As part of its long-standing advocacy of environmental awareness, the music festival is donating

vao Director of Sales & Marketing vents & Concepts Owners Ish and Kris

nd Weddings Owner Jong Luxe Owner Jade Polizon, and s Owner Katrine Sarmiento.

Nancy, JooE, Ahin, Jane, Nayun, and Hyebin—who have notable hits of their own such as “BBoom BBoom” and “BAAM”—will bring in the freshest tunes and music videos on the number one music channel. The group recently released their newest song “Thumbs Up” and the ladies are set to star on a travel show that will see them going around the country and immersing themselves in the Filipino culture.

Meanwhile, this month’s MYX Headliner is English electronic pop duo Honne. Composed of James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck, the duo is known for their songs “Location Unknown,” “Day1,” and “Someone That Loves You.” They credit Filipino fans’ enthusiasm as the reason why they keep coming back to the country to perform.

10% of its ticket sales to the foundation.

The venue of this year’s festival is also aligned with the said cause as it will be held at La Mesa Ecopark, considered to be its most accessible location. Founder and festival director Miro Grgic said that La Mesa Eco Park’s amphitheater sounds good and reflects the exact same conditions of Malasimbo’s last amphitheater.

Headlining the festival

are known international and local acts Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, Mike Love, Laneous, Anomalie, Jesus Molina, Matteo Mancuso, Uncomfortable Science, Brigada, Project Yazz and Talata ni Tala.

Foremost DJs Ean Mayor, Roberto Sena, Deej Fabian, Bass Relief, Norris King, Bing Austria, Rei Ka, Bignay Sound System, and Jingga Who, will also perform their impressive sets.

Music industry experts will also share their experiences about the local and international music industry. An array of rainforest activities is also lined-up for the entire family, such as archery, swimming, and many others.

Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival is produced

by Volume Unit Entertainment, Inc. Tickets to Malasimbo 2020 are available via www. ktx.ph.

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EVENT TRAVEL

EDGE EDGE DAVAO DAVAO

VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 218 216 • THURSDAY, • TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 14, 2020

NORWEGIAN CRUISE RELLON SIGNS INTOLINE LAWELIMINATES ‘FESTIVALSSINGLECODE’ USE PLASTIC BEVERAGETAGUM’S BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET INSTITUTIONALIZING 16 FESTIVALS NORWEGIAN Cruise Line, the innovator VALIDATING its claim in global travel as the Citycruise of Festivals, with a 53-year historyof the local government of breaking boundaries, Tagum recently enacted is single-use plasthenow Code of Festivals of tic bottle which free thebeverage City of Tagum, across fleet. the city’s furtherits solidified resolve to maintain The brand announcedits last status as the Best Touryear that it partnered with ism-oriented LGU in enthe JUST Goods, Inc., which Philippines. abled the Cruise Line to replace

by plastic Councilor all Penned single-use waterAlderson across Rellon,itsthe enactment bottles 17-ship fleet, of the Citywith Ordinance 911, beginning its mostNo. recent seriesNorwegian of 2019 paved the way for ship, Encore. theThe institutionalization of of thethe achievement is one 16 festivals whichsteps are annually latest sustainable forward celebrated in the City of Palms. for Norwegian Cruise Line.

In Mayor Allan L. Rellon 2018, the Company eliminated signed the plastic Code of Festivals single-use straws across which by a its fleetwas andwitnessed private destinathrongand of LGU employees tions, as a result of thisand thoserecent who were at the itatrium most initiative, will for the renewal of their singlebusireplace over six million nessplastic registration. use water bottles every TheInseries of festivals hasis year. addition, the brand already begun as Tagumenyos working to eliminate single-use welcomed the new with plastic shampoo andyear condithe celebration of the tioner bottles later thisTaxyear. payers’efforts Festival. its first These are On driven by yearCompany’s of implementation, the the Sail & Sustain month-long activity seekswhich to Environmental Program, keep the taxpayerstoofminimize Tagum is its commitment entertained by various waste to landfills, reducegimits

A4 INdulge!

actor and activist Jaden Smith and family, JUST takes an innovative approach to sourcing and packaging the world’s most valued resource - water. The revolutionary company focuses on an impact model, taking into consideration both how the water is sourced and packaged.

JUST is 100% spring water in a plant-based carton. The carton is made of 82% renewable materials – the paper carton is made from trees grown in responsibly-managed and the Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon signs forests the City Ordinance cap and shoulder No. 911, s-2019 or the Code of Festival of theare Citymade of Tagum, institutionalizing the 16 festivals of the city that would from a sugarcane-based plastic. cement the city’s moniker as the City of Festivals.

Carlo Jay It is refillable and recyclable.

Abellana/CIO Tagum JUST has a global presence Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon, the 8th City Council, and the members of the Tourism Committee pose for a photo Bisa’gbottling Asa Festivals in in Decemwith facilities Glenn opportunity during the signing of the Code of Festival last January 13, 2020 at the city hall atrium. Carlo Jay Abellana/ ber, onNY; theBallymena, other hand,Northern are the Falls, CIO Tagum micks such as raffle draws, free senior citizens.

Focusing on the marginalfestivitiesand waiting for Australia, TaguIreland; Ballarat, snacks, music, and trade fair, The rest of the first quarter ized and public sectors, the menyos and visitors on the to last thus allowing the company among others, as they wait in will have music and entertainthird quarter will see the LGU quarter of the around year. the world meet demand line to be served in the process ment once again taking center giving importance on the With shipping the institutionalization without water from a of renewing their business. stage during the Tagumpay LGBTQ+ members, farmers of these events, Mayor Relsingle production source.

JUST Among the festivals to be CO2 emissions rate, increase and Musikahan , thrilled to make Festivals such an impact and government employees to our Sail & Sustain program lon, together withthe themost resteffiof takes care to use celebrated for the first time sustainable sourcing and invest by while the second quarter beverof eliminating single-use through thewholeheartedly Pride Festival on and believe in the 8th city council, has high cient shipping options available. thisemerging year are technologies. the Love Festival in the year will focusour on fleet. social age bottles across July,importance the UGMAD Festival in the of preserving hopes for increased tourism For more information about which withand the “Thiswill is acoincide very special services, human It’s just one of thedevelopment ways we are August andresources. the Lingkod our natural WeBaywill traffic in theCruise city which will Norwegian Line ships nationally Civil very proudcelebrated moment for us,”Reg- working and celebration of culture and to preserve our oceans ani Festivals in September. continue to strive towards mak- and provide better quality ofbook life theira itineraries, or to istration Month in February, said Harry Sommer, president heritage with Hugpong Serbiand the destinations we visit. and Scouting ingKaimunan environmentally conscious the citizens Tagum ultiatocruise, pleaseas contact a travel the Handurawan Festival and chief executive officer of syo Para saisTagumpay in April, decisions While this just the beginning Festivals in Children’s to October, benefit our earth.” mately aims to the City of professional, callbe888-NCLManalo/CIO which is aimed at celebratNorwegian Cruise Line. “As Youth May,can anddo, of whatFestival we and in others Festival in November, and by Envisioned and founded People. Ziyarah CRUISE (625-2784) or visit Tagum and recognizing city’s aing leading cruise line, the we are Pakaradyan Festival in June. we are incredibly committed Pasasalamat and Tagumenyo American rapper, songwriter, www.ncl.com.

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

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

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"No one proposed that it be reverted, it came about following evaluation of viability done by NEDA-ICC. It was in the course of looking at that �inancial viability of a two-track electric design versus a one track locomotive," Montenegro said.

According to Montenegro, it was the basis of assessment and evaluation that NEDA-ICC �inally came to a decision to approve a one-track locomotive.

"All big projects go through evaluation and review by NEDA technical comittee that elevated to NEDA-ICC cabinet level and then �inal approval at the NEDA Board or NEDA-CAB. It had gone through that process and the decision," he said.

Flexibility of the costs and the results of the Right Of Way (ROW) acquisitions are likewise among the factors for NEDA approval.

It is very different from what MinDA have been espousing especially during the time of former MinDA chief, the late Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, who was advocating for a high-speed and two-track electri�ied design railway.

Following the approval of the single-track rail, Montenegro said bidding is expected to start soon assuming the ROW issue had already been sorted out for the entire TDD stretch.

"It means implementation na siya. One is implementation in terms of rollout . The Tagum-Davao-Digos is a combination of GAA

allocation increased to P85 billion from P35 billion but later on may combination katong aspect of a possible ODA kana pa ang gina-work out. But in terms if there is budget, may allocation na ang GAA for its initial implementation," he said.

The railway was part of those projects that had been approved last year including the Davao-Samal connector and the High Priority Bus System (HBPS) by the ICC-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom). The �irst phase or the TDD stretch was approved to be onetrack locomotive.

Montenegro said they are making reference now up until there are changes that can be seen in the next or anything forthcoming related to bringing it back to two-track arising from reactions of Mindanao constiutents, leaders, private sectors, and business communities.

"We have yet to see if anything forthcoming arising out of that translating into �inal design which is two-track," he said.

The Regional Development Council 11 (RDC 11) has sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DoTr) appealing to revert is to two-track electric designed railway.

Montenegro said they are still waiting for the progress of the appeal.

"Hangtod wala pa gisugdan ang project and there is still an opportunity to expect change on that, there is still an opportu-

nity to get that decision from national government through NEDA's recommendation," he added.

Meanwhile, Montenegro also reacted to DoTr's pronouncements that the MRP-TDD segment will be operational by second quarter of this year.

"We were quite surprise also with that. I don't know how it came about whether or not such information need to have further context but de�initely if you look at it on a reality that particular timeline is not possible given the current situation wherein nothing is concretely moving yet," he said.

He cited that the bidding itself will take months if not years depending on how it will proceed.

"Whether or not it will run trouble with all other issues and losing bidders opposing a decision, etc. as we have seen in many projects that entangled with legal disputes because of a certain issues surrounding such as bidding process," he said.

"Supposing everything proceeds according to timeline de�initely the second quarter timeline is not realistic," Montenegro added.

The MRP:TDD is expected to reduce travel time from Tagum City, Davao del Norte to Digos City, Davao del Sur. The �irst phase will have eight stations located in Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos.

cess.

“Hindi pa �inal ang proposal. ‘Yun lang at na-present nang maaga, hilaw pa presentation at sa pagmamadali, nai-present sa Pangulo [It was not �inal and it was a proposal which was presented early.

The presentation was still unripe and we presented it to the President],” Banac explained.

Banac said they were surprised that the President approved their presentation immediately.

The item being referred to was the Micro Digital Photo/Video Laser Tech System being used now by other countries like the United States and Israel which has an average cost of PHP1 million per system.

This is in compliance with the President’s order to take measures to reduce road accidents.

In a media interview

after his speech before members of the Philippine Marine Corps in Taguig City Monday, Duterte described as “abominable” how the PNP would spend almost a million pesos to purchase the radar speed guns.

Under Año’s helm, Duterte said he expected “no corruption”.

The President, meanwhile, warned other government agencies against using public funds for personal gain.

Duterte also threatened to establish a Bureau of Supply similar to the one established during the term of former president Ferdinand Marcos.

“I will establish a…

Kagaya noon panahon ni Marcos (Just like during the Marcos era). There was this Bureau of Supply,” he said.

He said the Bureau of Supply would have a list of all procurements made by the government and its

cost.

“Gusto ko ilista lahat.

‘Yung tractor, kung anong gusto mong …bilhin, eroplano, ilagay mo ‘yung presyo. ‘Yung international pricing para malaman ko kaagad kung magkano (I want everything listed. The tractor, what you want to buy, airplane, indicate the price. Use international pricing so it would be easy to determine how much),” Duterte said.

Duterte earlier gave Año the “blanket authority” to supervise the PNP, while Gamboa stays as PNP of�icer-in-charge.

The President was con�ident that Año could help him cleanse the police force.

He admitted that he has yet to appoint a PNP chief but only because he wanted Año to ensure that the police force is corrupt-free before he names its new head. (PNA)

year reached 205,805 units from 185,430 units in 2018, increasing by 11 percent.

On the other hand, Asian utility vehicles declined their sales by 15.4 percent to 40,838 units in 2019 from 48,271 units in 2018.

Sales of light trucks went up by 3.9 percent year-on-year to 7,915 units from 7,619 units.

Trucks and buses categories four and �ive both posted decrements in sales

last year of 5.9 percent and 29.4 percent, respectively.

For December 2019 alone, CAMPI registered 5.5-percent growth yearon-year with 33,715 units sold from 31,945 unit sales in the same month in 2018.

Commercial vehicle sales registered an 8.1-percent growth, with sales reaching 24,469 units last month from 22,644 units in December 2018.

Passenger cars sold in December 2019 were lower by 0.6 percent year-on-

year recording 9,246 unit sales from 9,301 units in the same month in 2018.

Gutierrez said the industry targets to continue expanding its sales in the coming months and for the full-year of 2020.

“We will not rest on our laurels as we aim for further growth in the coming months, and hopefully for the whole of 2020,” he said.

Market leaders in 2019 are Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki, and Ford.

(PNA)

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SANDIGAN... FROM2

Health Course for Construction Site Of�icers held at the Ritz Hotel from March 16 to 20, 2015 instead of a certain Renato Buhat, Jr. Escano’s husband is not a MinDA employee, but the Ombudsman is alleging that Escano also

used government funds to pay for her husband’s P6,000 registration fee as one of the delegates of the same safety and health course.

The anti-graft court has already sent the copy of the Resolution slapping a suspension order on Es-

cano to the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for implementation. The DILG chief must inform the Sandiganbayan of the action taken on the suspension order 15 days from receipt of the resolution.

ers, comprising around 100 heavily-armed men, were led by Jama Mohammad Sandung.

“The two factions were supposed to meet Monday (January 6) to �ix a problem between them, but they (Sandung’s group) attacked on Sunday,” Buisan said citing they don’t know what problem they have to address.

She said the attack triggered another �ire�ight that only stopped Tuesday morning (January 7), adding that to their dismay, their houses were ransacked by the attackers.

Buisan said the residents, who engaged in

�ishing to make a living, lost their livelihood, claiming the attackers took their motorized bancas.

Buisan said she was dismayed upon seeing her of�ice at the Barangay Hall and her store nearby in total disarray.

“I lost my jewelries and personal money, which I hid in my drawer,” Buisan said.

Buisan also found the health center of the barangay in total disarray.

Barangay Babag, which comprises of seven sitios, is now virtually a ghost barangay as the displaced residents refused

to return home despite the deployed of peacekeeping forces in the village.

Currently, peacekeeping forces comprising of the Army’s 14th Special Forces Company and a 15-man MNLF team led by Commander Jimpoy Rodin from Lantawan town, this province, are stationed in Barangay Babag.

The government forces were deployed to Barangay Babag on January 8 (Wednesday) while that of the MNLF on Sunday, January 12.

According to the 2015 census, Tabuan-Lasa has a population of 24,188 people. (PNA)

the legal matter pending with your of�ice in relation to the war on drugs in the Philippines should be set aside and thrashed for being just a part of the political propaganda of Senator Trillanes, Senator de Lima and their LP (Liberal Party)-led opposition of which

I do not wish to be a part,” he added.

Trillanes said he was giving PHP50,000 to PHP100,000 to Sabio from late 2016 to June 2019 but insists the latter’s engagement was pro bono.

In February 2018, the ICC launched a preliminary

examination to determine if it will continue with a formal investigation into the complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte.

In March of the same year, the Philippines pulled out from the ICC which took effect after a year.

(PNA)

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he branded as “idiots” for thinking that they can control the entire country.

“As long as the Filipinos are jobless and we cannot improve the country, (that is) because the country is full of idiots who think that they can take over government. Napakabobo naman nitong NPA na ‘to. (NPA members are stupid),” he said.

“Gulo ng gulo, hindi naman nila kaya to take over this country (They only sow chaos. They cannot even take over this country). They cannot

even occupy barangay (a village for) 24 hours. Sabi ko sa sundalo, patayin mo na iyan. Walang silbi iyan (I told the soldiers to kill them because they are useless),” he added.

The CPP-NPA has been listed as a terrorist group by the Philippines, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Apart from illegal drugs and insurgency, Duterte also fumed over the rising rape cases in the country, especially in Quezon.

The increase in rape incidents prompted the President to order the police to track down the supposed “serial rapist” behind rape incidents in Quezon.

His order came following the recent arrest of a suspect behind the rape and killing of an eightyear-old girl in Candelaria, Quezon.

“It has become intolerable, the number (of rape cases). It’s not comfortable to me anymore so we have to do something about it,” Duterte said. (PNA)

Laurel, Lipa City, San Jose, Nasugbu, Mataas na Kahoy, Balete, Cuenca, Alitagtag, Padre Garcia, Tanauan City, Malvar and Taal.

"These interventions include provision of livestock for restocking and rice and corn seeds, high-value crops planting materials and other production inputs," it said.

Its attached agency the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has also made available drugs and biologics to be provided for affected

livestock, with two trucks available for animal rescue and evacuation.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) plans to distribute a total of 5,000 coffee mother plants and 1,000 cacao seedlings.

According to the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), despite the agricultural damages, the volcanic eruption also contributes to the "birth of soil" as it "renews and replenishes" nutrients.

Along with this, the

volcanic eruption is said to also improve soil fertility in the medium to long term.

"The Bureau shall conduct soil sampling, analysis, and mapping of extent of fresh volcanic ash deposits affecting agricultural areas.

Moreover, water resources will also be surveyed and mapped," said the DA. Alert level 4 has already been raised since the phreatic eruption of the Taal Volcano over the weekend, which means a hazardous eruption is "imminent."

The University of Asia and the Paci�ic (UA&P) economist Victor Abola likened the effect to that of a typhoon.

He said while there are people who have been displaced by the disaster and

recovery will take months, the impact will “not be very signi�icant” compared to this year’s output.

“This is like one of our isolated typhoons. This one is more localized,” he said, citing that Cavite is not a

major agricultural area.

Abola further said there is still a need to get from the Department of Agriculture (DA) reports on the impact on the coffee farmers since the area is known for good coffee. (PNA)

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would weaken the security of millions of iPhones," Jennifer Granick of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement.

"Strong encryption enables religious minorities facing genocide, like the Uighurs in China, and journalists investigating powerful drug cartels in Mexico, to communicate safely."

Granick added that Apple cannot allow the FBI access to encrypted communications "without also providing it to authoritarian foreign governments and weakening our defenses against criminals and hackers."

Kurt Opsahl of the Electronic Frontier Foundation

echoed that sentiment, saying Apple "is right to provide strong security" for its devices.

"The AG (attorney general) requesting Apple re-engineer its phones to break that security is a poor security trade-off, and imperils millions of innocent people around the globe," Opsahl tweeted.

James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said he believes it's possible to allow law enforcement access without sacri�icing encryption.

"You're not weakening encryption, you're making it so it's not end-to-end,"

Lewis told AFP. "It means that there's a third party who can look at it under appropriate authority."

But Lewis said he does not expect either side to come out a winner in the battle, and that US of�icials will likely �ind another outside party to crack the 2 iPhones belonging to the shooter, Royal Saudi Air Force 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamran, who died in the attack.

"It's a repeat of the movie we saw in San Bernardino," he said.

"It's going to be harder because Apple probably �ixed the trick that worked in San Bernardino."

fact, it is now one of the most-often visited farms in Davao Region. The Department of Tourism has recognized it as a farm tourism destination. People from all over the country come to the place to see how his farm works.

You don’t see only livestock (he stopped raising swine as the farm is now halal-certi�ied), poultry, fruits, crops and vegetables but ornamentals as well.

“It’s nice to see beautiful �lowers underneath the trees,” Lao says. “In addition, the �lowers serve as breeding areas for bene�icial insects like spiders and dragon�lies.”

Lao believes in adding value to a product. “Value adding is an important com-

ponent in a farming system,” he explains. “For instance, if you have goats, you must know how to produce fresh milk and having other saleable products from the animals. In the case of coconut, don’t think only of copra because it is cheaper; you can always have another product to sell.”

Aside from his coco-based major products, he also has ice cream using goat’s milk with �lavors such as malunggay, turmeric, durian and sour soap. He also incorporates his coconut sugar into a tea: mangosteen tea, malunggay tea, turmeric tea, and lemon grass tea.

His success gone unnoticed. In fact, he received several recognition from

different award-giving bodies: Most Outstanding Coconut Farmer from the Department of Agriculture in 2008, Productivity Olympics National Winner in 2009 from the Department of Labor and Employment, Micro Entrepreneur of the Year Presidential Award in 2009, Business Excellence Award from the Bank of the Philippines in 2010, and Organic Farmer of the Year in 2011 from the Department of Agriculture.

Despite all these awards, Lao remains humble. “Even if I now have a higher income,” he says, “I still need to feel the ground beneath my feet. For me, success is measured by how many people you can help.”

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Arcadia Fitness Gym members get the best out of the latest in fitness equipment and training at the state-of-the-art facility inside the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center.

11

McGregor confident he’ll land fight with Pacquiao

M

ixed martial arts star Conor McGregor said talks between him and Manny Pacquiao for a boxing match are ongoing.

McGregor, who is set to return to the cage against Donald Cerrone on Sunday, said a deal with Pacquiao is imminent.

“We’re actually close to signing Manny . . . There was an offer made on that, yeah, just not yet,” said McGregor in an interview

with Ariel Helwani in his ESPN MMA show posted on YouTube on Monday. “(It’s going to happen) . . . very much so.”

McGregor did not mention speci�ics.

ABS-CBN News tried to reach Pacquiao’s camp, but his group did not respond at the time this story was posted.

He said he is becoming more con�ident with his boxing skills, citing that he has been extensively working on

to hone his stand up.

“I’m going to get a boxing title (soon),” he said.

The Irishman also said he would love to �ight Floyd Mayweather Jr. again.

“The only reason I lost that bout is I prepared for a backfooted style of opponent, and he came forward and start pressing and I wasn’t sinking into my shots,” said McGregor.

“I know I’ll beat Floyd when we rematch.”

Ceres Negros downs Shan United in AFC Qualifiers

C

eres Negros began its bid for a spot in the main tournament of the AFC Champions League with a 3-2 win against Shan United at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.

Robert Lopez Mendy quickly found the net for Ceres Negros in the �ifth minute as he put the Bacolod-based club, which is using the RMS as home due to renovations at the Pa-

naad Stadium, on the board �irst.

Bienve Marañon then made it 2-0 for Ceres Negros in the 38th minute, giving the club enough cushion entering halftime.

Zin Min Tun �inally found the goal for Shan United as he scored the club’s �irst goal in the 72nd minute.

OJ Porteria, however, got the goal back for Ceres Negros in the 79th minute to make it 3-1.

Maximin Djara still kept Shan in the match with an 89th-minute goal for the eventual �inal count, but the club could not �ind the equalizer in the four-minute added time.

Ceres Negros will now face Port Football Club— and former skipper Martin Steuble — in the second round of the quali�iers next Tuesday in Thailand.

(PNA)

Will Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao agree to fight MMA star Connor McGregor?

12 SPORTS

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VOL.12 ISSUE 218 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

EYES ON TOKYO Pinoy boxers to go all out in Olympic Qualifiers F ilipino Olympic boxing aspirants will go all out in the coming Asia-Oceana quali�iers in Wuhan city, China, where they hope to punch tickets to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“We have a better chance in this tournament. If we don’t qualify here, we will have a second chance in a world qualifying meet two months before the Olympics,” Ed Picson, secretary general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at Amelie Hotel in Manila.

The ABAP is the sport’s national governing body.

There will be 6 Olympic spots up for grabs in the men’s 52 kg, 57 kg, 63 kg and women’s 51 kg divisions, with a semi�inal appearance guaranteeing a spot in the Tokyo Games.

The �ifth and sixth Olympic slots will go to the boxers who lose in the quarter�inals to the eventual gold and silver medalists. The competition begins on February 3.

It will be a tight competition between Rio de Janeiro Olympian Rogen Ladon and Carlo Paalam when they participate in the 52-kg category, while the 63 kg division will feature James Palicte and Samuel Jeri Dela Cruz.

Clark Bautista (57 kg), Marjon Pianar (69 kg) and Eumir Marcial (75 kg) are competing, too, while Irish Magno (51 kg), world champion Nesthy Petecio (57 kg) and former wushu �ighter Hergie Bacyadan (69 kg) will �ight in the women’s division.

John Marvin (81 kg) will be missing the tournament due to a fractured right hand he suffered during the Southeast Asian Games.

Picson said that

Eumir Marcial will be among the Pinoy Olympic boxing hopefuls.

if the Filipino �ighters fail to land a spot in the Asia-Oceania meet, they will have to go through a much dif�icult route

in the world qualifying tournament in Paris.

“They will be up against boxers from around the globe who

likewise didn’t make it in their respective continental qualifying meets,’’ he said.

The men’s team is

currently training in Thailand with boxing teams from France, Azerbaijan, Monaco, New Zealand and Australia.