Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 220 | Saturday, January 18, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

BUCKS SURVIVE CELTICS

Serving a seamless society

MOMENTUM

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

f

@EdgeDavao

www.edgedavao.net

SPORTS P11

edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 16 PAGES

Mindanao's 2019 GRDP expected to hit 7.2%

By MAYA M. PADILLO

M

indanao is expected to ride on its momentum for 2019 with a usual higher than national growth average of 7.1 percent of the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) on the back of sustained expansion of services, industry and agri-fisheries sectors across Mindanao regions.

Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, deputy executive director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), told media that in nearly two decades, Mindanao’s economy has managed to demonstrate uninterrupted growth from 5.4 percent in 2001-2002 to 7.2 in 20182019, with an

average growth rate of 5.8 percent.

Montenegro said from 2010 to 2019, Mindanao posted an average GRDP growth rate of 6.6 percent, higher than national average of 6.2 percent. He said this is most notable, even against the backdrop of power supply

shortfall and rotating brownouts during first half of the decade in review.

“Such robust Mindanao performance showed Mindanao’s resiliency amidst adversity, and the island being able to gain from structural reforms and sustained development pro-

grams. These measures helped encourage investments that create jobs, raise incomes and improve people’s lives,” he said.

Montenegro clarified this is just preliminary data as processed by MinDA because the final data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

FMOMENTUM, P9

A “trisikad” driver, together with a porter, pushes a “trisikad” full of sacks of commercial rice as he’s commissioned by an establishment to deliver rice to customers along Monteverde Street in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

Peace talks should be within the bounds of law and will of Filipino people – OPAPP

T

President Rodrigo Duterte gets a salute from outgoing Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General Lieutenant General Rozzano Briguez and incoming PAF Commanding General Major General Allen Paredes

during the PAF Change of Command ceremony at the Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

DOH 11 eyeing bigger coverage for measles immunization

By MAYA M. PADILLO

O

ne of the major challenges in measles immunization is the refusal to get immunized that causes low coverage of children under 5 years old and when a community has low immunization coverage, the likelihood of measles outbreak increases.

With this in consideration, the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11) is poised to intensify house-to- house immunization coverage of more than 95% amongst all children for a community to be fully protected against measles.

“One of the major challenges is refusal and the

common reasons of the refusal is, although gamay lang sila na grupo, is they are questioning the safety of the vaccine. But a larger part for those who have not immunized is pag mag house- to- house immunization wala ang bata sa balay or they are in different location kay gibilin sa mama sa ilang lola,” said Dr.

‘I have deep, abiding faith in God’: PRRD

P

resident Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he has “deep and abiding” faith in God. The President made the remarks in a speech delivered in Pasay City during the celebration of the 120year existence of the Baptist churches in the Philippines.

Duterte said he has the courage to visit war-torn areas like Jolo, Sulu, and Marawi, Lanao del Sur because he knows that God is with him and will protect him from any harm.

“I have deep and abiding faith in God. You see me in Jolo, you see me going to war in Marawi. Well, it’s not about bravery. It’s about faith in God,” the Chief Executive said.

“With the adversities we are facing both here and abroad, we are called, now more than ever, to stand together in faith, prayer and unity,” he added.

Duterte has been crit-

icized for his previous anti-Catholic remarks.

But in a speech delivered before the Baptists, Duterte expressed appreciation over the works of the Creator.

“This universal thing, it’s controlled, it cannot be possible without God. If you watch the billions and millions and billions of stars, even how big the space is, the fact that it survived almost four or five billion years,” he said.

“God must have said that His Creation must be there. Almost five billion and nothing happened,” Duterte added.

Help gov’t achieve ‘strong, progressive’ PH Meanwhile, the President lauded the Baptist churches' efforts to promote a “fruitful Christian way of life among Filipinos.”

He also thanked them for their success to spread

FI HAVE, P9

Cleo Fe Tabada of the DOH 11 Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU).

In the regular routine immunization, two-dose of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) is given to children. The first dose is given at the age of 9 months, and the second dose is given at the age of 12 months.

“The challenge is to find these kids. What DOH has done tungod kay dili kaya sa LGU to cover all bases, we already had volunteers and in fact as of this month mas daghan na atong volunteers not only Red Cross and Rotary but groups that are helping out to enhance immunization coverage.

We are very hopeful that

we will be able to reach much more,” she said.

In September last year, a total of 16 deaths from the 1,299 cases of Measles and Rubella in Region 11 have been recorded by the Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH 11) from January to September 2.

Of the 1,299 cases, Davao City has recorded 536 with nine deaths, Davao del Norte has 303 with five deaths and Compostela Valley Province has 180 with two deaths. No deaths were recorded in Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental with 160, 97 and 23 cases, respectively.

he government is not closing the door on the possibility of resuming peace negotiations with the communist insurgents. However, future talks should be within the framework of the Philippine Constitution, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

“The government has always been supportive of peace talks with the communist group. However, it must, first and foremost, adhere to the Philippine Constitution and the democratic process,” Attorney Wilben Mayor, OPAPP chief-of-staff and spokesperson said.

Mayor was reacting to recent statements made by the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) that the government is not inclined to resume the stalled peace negotiations.

He noted that what the CPP-NPA-NDF is actually pushing for is their “own brand of peace talks” which is anchored on the adoption of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social Economic Reforms (CASER) as a precondition for the resumption of the talks.

“In the first place, CASER is flawed. The document is filled with unconstitutional provisions. What the insurgents are trying to do is to sell the idea to the public that the government does not want to engage in peace talks with them,” Mayor pointed out.

“But their real intention is only to hold the peace negotiations hostage by shoving CASER down the government and the Filipino people’s throats. The document is part of their grand scheme to seize power from the government,” he said.

Mayor admitted that the government has learned a lot from the many years it

has been dealing with the communists across the negotiating table.

“The communists have been using the peace negotiations as a weapon against the Filipino people.

And we will not allow this to continue. There should be a mechanism in place to prevent them from exploiting the peace talks,” he said.

It is a known fact, Mayor said, that the rebels have aggressively carried out recruitment of cadres and continued to harass military and civilians even while the peace talks were ongoing.

Constitution is non-negotiable According to the OPAPP executive, the best way for the future peace talks to resume is for both parties to develop a new framework that is within the ambit of the Philippine Constitution, that there is only one sovereign state, one constitution, and one armed forces.

“The government’s stand is very clear that any talks should be within the ambit of the constitution and the rule of law because this is where we derive our mandate in the first place,” he emphasized.

Former chief negotiators such as ex-Philippine ambassador to the Holy See and Malta Howard Q. Dee, who chaired the GPH Peace Panel with the CPPNPA-NDF from 1993 to 1999, and Atty. Alexander Padilla who led the talks during the Aquino administration, have called for a thorough review of previous agreements signed by both parties.

Dee and Padilla have pointed out that the communists are merely using these same documents to mislead the people and push forward their organization’s agenda.

Among these agreements, Dee said, is the 1992 Hague Declaration which he described as “poisoned

FPEACE, P9

Young boys play with their toy boats made out of plywood and styrofoam at the murky seawater near a coastal community in Isla Verde, Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Mati City all set for 3rd to 5th rounds of polio immunization

A

ll is set for the third round of the polio immunization campaign come January 20 until February 2, 2020.

Meanwhile fourth and fifth rounds of the same vaccine are also scheduled, this time for another strain of the polio virus recorded in Basilan and the nearby country of Malaysia.

The third round of polio immunization will be for the Monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine (mOPV) while the 4th and 5th rounds will be for the Bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV).

Monovalent oral poliovirus vaccine type 1 is a type-specific, live, attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine that protects against poliovirus type 1.

Bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine is a live, attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine that protects against poliovirus types 1 and 3.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling and potential-

ly deadly infectious disease.

It is caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can invade an infected person’s brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis.

Mati CHO said that all 26 barangays in the city will be covered by the designated teams that will be dispatched to make a house-to-house vaccination starting Monday, January 20.

Each teams will be composed of midwife, DOH personnel, nurse, Red Cross personnel, and volunteer nursing students.

In the fourth and fifth rounds, Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine will be given to 0-59months after 28 days of Monovalent Oral Polio vaccine dose.

The fourth and fifth rounds of Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine are scheduled on February 17 to March 1, 2020 and March 23 to April 5, 2020. (CIO MATI)

DOH to conduct ‘catch-up measles immunization’ drive in Davao Region

T

he Department of Health will conduct a catch-up measles immunization campaign in the Davao Region after recording 1,754 cases of the vaccine preventable disease in 2019.

Davao Center for Health Development regional director Dr. Annabel Yumang issued the catch-up immunization advisory on January 13, 2020 stating that of the areas in the region, Davao City registered the most number of cases with 683 with deaths; followed

by Davao del Norte with 395 cases with 5 deaths; Davao de Oro comes third with 235 cases with 2 deaths.

Davao Oriental has 289 cases with no fatality; Davao del Sur with 127 cases and 0 death; and the least recorded measles cases was Davao Occidental with only 25 cases and zero fatality.

Based on the health advisory, the most affected age group are less than 1-year old at 35%, while 20% for the 1-4 year old

children. Most of the cases have no history of vaccination at 69.6% while the rest have incomplete vaccinations. In addition, 90% of the deaths recorded were from the less than 5-year old children.

Dr. Yumang directed local health authorities prioritize unvaccinated children and those children who have missed a measles containing vaccine dose for the catch-up immunization.

Yumang also directed for the prioritization of barangays with cluster of measles cases, including the hard to reach or geographically isolated, urban poor and depressed areas.

City of Mati Health Officer Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan said that the measles vaccine arrived at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine on December 22, 2019 and are now being processed for distribution.

While waiting for the arrival of the vaccines, Dr. Catbagan said they have strengthened their surveillance measures down to

FDOH, P9

A health worker administers oral polio vaccine on a child at a health center in Bankerohan, Davao City. The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday confirmed four more polio cases recorded, three from Mindanao and one from Quezon City, bringing the total number of cases to 16. Lean Daval Jr

BARMM eyes skilled, competent workers I n pursuit of quality public service in the Bangsamoro region, the Bangsamoro Government is eyeing for skilled and competent workers to join in the new bureaucracy.

Bangsamoro Spokesperson and Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said this during the ‘Kapihan sa Bangsamoro’ session on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 in Cotabato City.

Sinarimbo clarified that under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the appointment for a government position in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be based on merit and fitness in competency, education, work experience, training, and eligibility.

“We should attract the

best. So, rather than bring down the standard, let us instead help our people to get to the standard [...] we cannot go below the national standards,” he explained.

This means, job seekers will need to comply with the Qualification Standards (QS) set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for specific positions in the regional government.

In the Philippines, the current recruitment system is based on Competency-Based Recruitment and Qualification Standards (CBRQS), a minimum set of

requirements composed of competencies, education, eligibility, training, and experience to assess the candidate’s fitness to a particular job.

Since its launching, there is already an outpour of job seekers in the Bangsamoro Job Portal, with over 160,000 applications for more than a thousand regional government positions being processed by the different ministries and offices of the BARMM to date.

Ministries and offices of BARMM have also set their respective timelines regarding the appointment process and more jobs shall be published soon.

“Kailangan natin ng pacing sa pag-publish ng items, otherwise mauubos ang oras natin sa appointment process,” Sinarimbo

added.

Examination and interview process As part of the hiring process, applicants who are qualified for the positions they applied for in the job portal will be required to pass an examination, to be conducted by the respective ministries.

After this, the ministries will set a schedule for an interview for those who passed the examination. An evaluation of the prospective applicants will follow in order to select the best employees to fill the vacant jobs.

For instance, the Ministry of Social Services and Development(MSSD), which published sixty-four (64) available positions in the Bangsamoro Job Portal, recently conducted exam-

FBARMM, P9

RPOC-XI tags CPP-NPA as organized crime group

By NOEL BAGUIO

T Governor Edwin Jubahib presents the motions for classifying the CPPNPA as organized crime group, creation of inter-regional collaboration for internal security and the closure of the UCCP-Haran, which were all

approved by the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)-XI, during its first quarter meeting on January 15, 2020 in Davao City. Nobags

he Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)-XI declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA) as an organized criminal organization, in view of their violent acts that sowed widespread fear and anxiety among the people.

RPOC-XI Chair Governor Nelson Dayanghirang on Wednesday presided the first quarter meeting of the Council, which approved Resolution No. 2020-2, classifying the rebels as an organized crime group, pursuant to President Duterte’s Proclamation No. 374 declaring the

CPP-NPA as terrorist organization and Republic Act 10168, otherwise known as the “Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”

Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, who presented the motion at the meeting, stressed the rebels have long been involved in extortion, arson, kidnapping, killings, human-trafficking and terrorism in pursuing their protracted Maost armed struggle.

He said their wile of capitalizing on extreme poverty and government neglect will not work anymore since the present

FRPOC, P9

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

Proposed cap on prices of lifesaving meds seen to boost sales of generic

G

Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, deputy executive director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), says during this week’s Wednesdays @ Habi at Kape at Abreeza mall that more regional inter-linkages and logistics must be rolled out to attract investments into

manufacturing and services and bring the priority commodities up the value chain to ensure that the high growth rates would be translated to “inclusive growth” in Mindanao. Lean Daval Jr

Microsoft to erase its carbon footprint from atmosphere for climate push

M

icrosoft Corp on Thursday set a new ambition among Fortune 500 companies in addressing climate change, pledging to remove as much carbon as it has emitted in its 45-year history.

The focus on clearing carbon from the atmosphere sets Microsoft’s climate goals apart from other corporate pledges which have focused on cutting ongoing emissions or preventing future ones.

“If the last decade has taught us anything, it’s that technology built without these principles can do more harm than good,” Chief Executive Satya Nadella said at a media event at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

“We must begin to off-

set the damaging effects of climate change,” he said, adding if global temperatures continue to rise unabated “the results will be devastating.”

The plan includes the creation of a “Climate Innovation Fund,” which will invest $1 billion over the next four years to speed up the development of carbon removal technology.

The announcement by the world’s largest software company reflects the rising profile of US corporate action after President

Jollibee raises $600 million from first ever bond sale

J

ollibee Foods Corp said Friday it raised $600 million (P30.5 million) from its first ever bond issue, which will help fund its overseas expansion.

Proceeds from the sale will be used primarily to finance short-term debt from its acquisition of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, the Philippines' largest fastfood operator told the

Donald Trump announced in 2017 his decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement, the global pact to fight climate change.

HISTORICAL EMISSIONS A NEW GOAL Microsoft’s pledge to address its historical emissions may resonate with some developing nations which say countries that created the most carbon, and wealth in the process, are not taking responsibility for their past pollution.

US Senators Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, and Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, applauded Microsoft.

“The scope and scale of this proposal is exactly the kind of bold action we need from the business community,” the pair, chairs of the

bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, said in a statement.

Microsoft plans to cut carbon emissions by more than half by 2030 across its supply chain, an effort requiring technology that does not fully exist, company President Brad Smith said.

He said Microsoft would widen the reach of a fee it has charged its business divisions to account for their carbon emissions.

Microsoft said it charges $15 per metric ton for core carbon emissions internally and will expand the coverage in phases to cover all emissions. Microsoft’s price is lower than that for carbon traded in California, where it was $17 per ton in the most

FMICROSOFT, P9

eneric drug substitution is expected to increase once the executive order (EO) that would impose a cap on prices of lifesaving medicines has been signed.

In a report, a unit of Fitch Group, Fitch Solutions Macro Research, said while the measure is a threat to the operation of multinational drug-makers, it would be positive for the people and the sector in the long run.

“An increasing focus on cost-effective expenditure will further promote generic substitution rhetoric. As such, generic medicine sales growth will outperform overall market growth over the long term,” it said.

The Department of Health (DOH) has proposed maximum retail prices (MRP) for about 122 medicines for more than 40 diseases, among them hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neonatal diseases, and cancer.

Prices of the covered medicines are projected to decline as much as 56 percent from their current retail price.

The report said the introduction of a cap on the maximum retail price of medicines “will exacerbate a tough environment, with price controls being applied at all stages of (the) supply chain.”

It, however, noted that the move is in line with the Duterte administration’s

bid to provide Filipinos a comfortable life, which is also the reason for the signing of the Universal Healthcare Act in February 2019.

The report also cited the statement of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who noted the need for pharmaceutical companies to be sensitive to the needs of patients because even the middle class finds it difficult to buy medicines for certain cases.

Medicines that will be affected by the proposed MRP are newly-introduced products, many of which are complex biologicals manufactured by large pharmaceuticals from the US and Europe, it said.

Other parties that will be affected are local distributors, pharmacies and private hospitals, it added.

The report further said this situation might force manufacturers to reconsider plans to launch new medicines in the country or even withdraw existing products to the detriment of the public.

Over the longer term, it said these price controls could be positive for the market with higher volume sales and greater competition in the market.

“If patients and other payers are attracted to the new lower-priced pharmaceuticals, greater demand should attract more suppliers to the Philippine market, which is often overlooked by firms seeking opportunities in (the) Asia Pacific,” it added. (PNA)

AirAsia offers P299 all-in one-way fares in ‘Perfect 2020’ seat sale

B

udget carrier AirAsia has announced its Perfect 2020 promotional sale, with all-in one-way fares starting at P299.

In an advisory, AirAsia said all-in one-way fares start at P299 for BIG members, and P366 for non-members.

BIG is AirAsia’s Freedom Flyer program where

members may earn points, depending on the fare type and the amount spent which they can redeem to book more flights.

The booking period started on Monday, January 13, 2020, and will last until Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

Covered flights start from September 1, 2020 to March 2, 2021.

stock exchange.

It was the first bond issue since Jollibee listed on the stock exchange in 1993. The offer was upsized from $400 million due to strong demand, Jollibee said. The securities will be listed in Singapore.

"The objective of management for this

FJOLLIBEE, P9

Only P16B allotted for calamity fund from P4.1-T nat'l budget

D

espite being hit by calamities every year, Congress allocated only P16 billion for calamity fund from the P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020.

In an interview on Stand for Truth, Ibon Foundation spokesperson Casey Salamanca said the budget was further divid-

ed among several items.

"Pag tiningnan natin 'yung calamity fund, hindi lahat ng P16 billion na iyon maa-allocate. P3.5 billion pesos ay allotted para sa rehabilitation ng Marawi, at yung P5 billion pesos ay allotted naman para sa rehabilitation nung naapektuhan ng lin-

FONLY P16B, P9

An organic farmer sells locally grown strawberry for P100 per pack at the organic market at Rizal Park in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr

5 SUBURBIA RISING EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

New ‘world-class’ sports complex to rise in DavOr

T

he Province of Davao Oriental will soon be ready to host big sporting events as the Provincial Government recently broke the ground for its new Provincial Sports Complex touted to be at par with other “world-class” sports facilities in the country.

From L to R: DILG Provincial Director Orle Cabaobao, Board Member Enrico Antopuesto, Vice Governor Niño Uy, DPWH District Engineer of District two Engr.

Jane Cainghog, Governor Nelson Dayanghirang,

Second District Representative Joel Mayo Almario; and Provincial Engineer's Office OIC Head, Engr. Ruel Dumadag.

Construction of capitol-run inland resort a big boost to DavOr Tourism

T

he Provincial Government has marked the beginning of the construction of the soon to rise inland resort here which is seen to complement the rise of tourist arrivals and the scores of other developments taking place in the province over the past few years.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang led on Monday, January 13, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Capitol-run inland resort at the sprawling eight-hectare property owned by the Provincial Government at the Provincial Tourism Complex in the City of Mati. Two hectares of which was recently acquired by the province from the Menzi Farmer’s Cooperative.

The improvement of the Tourism Complex into an inland resort was among the approved big-ticket projects by the Provincial Development Council (PDC) with a total project cost of P200 million.

Out of the earmarked budget, P165 million has initially been appropriated intended for the first phase of the project which will cover the construction of three dormitories, six units of family villas, storage and laundry, coffee and souvenir shop, a swimming pool, and a function area dubbed as “Kanato Hall”.

Aside from these facilities, the resort will also fea-

ture a massive convention center with the capacity to accommodate around 1,000 guests. Governor Dayanghirang said that with the envisioned facility, the province will now be able to host huge events that will attract more tourists in the city and the province.

Over the past few years, the tourist arrivals in the province have steadily increased. From 800,000 tourist arrivals in 2018, it grew to more than a million in the 2019. The figure is expected to go higher this year amidst the many development in the province, including the much-anticipated approval of the province’s bid for the inclusion of the Pujada Bay in the City of Mati as one of the most beautiful bays in the world as well as the highly anticipated operation of the Mati City Airport.

More than being another tourism come-on which complement the city and the province’s beautiful tourism destinations, the inland resort hopes to address the shortage of accommodation facilities amidst the growing tourism especially during the peak season.

“We cannot afford to simply wait for investors to locate and invest here.

Since it is our interest to accommodate our visitors, I thought why not the pro-

FCONSTRUCTION, P9

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang led on Monday, January 13, the groundbreaking ceremony of the highly anticipated sports facility situated at the province’s newly acquired sprawling 12-hectare property in Barangay Don Martin Marundan in the City of Mati.

Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony signaled the start for the construction of the first phase of the project which covers the land development, construction of perimeter fence, embankment, drainage system, and concrete road networks with a grand entrance with four lanes and a divider island.

Provincial Engineer’s Office OIC Head, Engr. Ruel Dumadag, who explained the technical specifications of the project, said that the embankment will be elevated by four meters. “It will make the sports complex something like a plateau,” he said.

To be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office, the phase one of the project amounting to P233 million is anticipated

to be completed within eight months, added Dumadag.

Future Development However, for the project to be fully completed, an additional budget of about P1 billion is still needed in order to construct all the proposed facilities and structures, of which the province hopes to source out from various sources in the national government in the next few years.

Facilities and structures that will comprise the envisioned world-class facility include a grandstand, bleachers, an oval, athletics field, baseball field, archery field, ball games area, aquatic center, administrative and receptions buildings, parking and commercial spaces, among others. There will also be an athlete’s dormitory to house athletes from other municipalities or provinces participating in events. “Classes need not be suspended during sports events because athletes will be housed on a separate facility,” said Engr.

Duamdag, adding that “soon there will be no need to have many sports venues since

all sports events will be held only within the walls of the sports center.”

Moreover, the sports center will be highlighted with a 10,000-capacity gymnasium, touted to become the major attraction of the highly ambitious sports center project.

More than just a sports center, the sports facility will also feature a forest park and playground, which complies with the green building design standards.

However, all these structures will be built gradually.

“It may even take a few years”, said Governor Dayanghirang, who vowed to exhaust all efforts to secure funding for the main structures and to make the envisioned facility become a reality. “We’ll just have to patiently wait for another wave of funding but rest assured it will come,” he said.

The Governor’s statement was backed by Second District Rep. Joel Mayo Almario, who will support the funding for the phase one of the project. “It will take time.

But for as long as we are together it will come,” he said.

“Exciting times are ahead,” he added.

Partners for Development Funded by the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the P233 million budget earmarked for the first phase of

FNEW WORLD, P9

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

EDITORIAL

For the greater good

The one single reason that keeps Davao from pushing across its dream bridge project that will connect it to the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) is said to be the business interest of a single family.

The rest of the island off Samal are for the dream project that took years in the drawing board.

Yes, all that is stopping this project that will dramatically change the future of the two cities and neighbouring areas, is one single opposition.

In a democracy like ours, even a single voice must be heard, one single property right is of equal weight as others.

That is why even if the numbers are so lopsided in this case, that one single opposition deserves its day in court. It must

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

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

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

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

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Photography

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Layout/Cartoons Cartoonist Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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

be respected just as everyone who favored the project.

But then there must be a way to pursue this dream project with a dialogue. This is now the last ditch effort of the provincial government of Davao del Norte under which Igacos belongs to talk to the property owner who claims business losses if the project will push through.

Perhaps, the bigger picture which everyone must reckon with over personal interests will prevail under an atmosphere of understanding and mutual benefits.

Afterall, with this dream project in place, the owner of the property affected by the easement will benefit from it perhaps even more.

People only need to see the bigger picture.

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 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

ADVERSITY UNITES A NATION The groundswell of sympathetic gestures from all people of all walks of life re the Taal volcano eruption indicated, without any iota of doubt, that the proverbial declaration that adversity unites a nation was truthfully proven.

Although in the latest dispatch there was just a single mortality during the hysterical and frenzied mass evacuation of residents in the affected areas around the island, the ‘bayanihan’ spirit and compassion the Filipino is famous for resurfaced to somewhat ease the pain, difficulties and trying times.

Pres. Duterte’s visit, along with some government officials, helped assuaged the helplessness of hundreds of thousands of victims of the volcanic eruption; his physical presence as well as his comforting remarks were like a calming balm that soothed a burning pain.

I wonder if it is politically correct for some legislators to even insinuate or express dissatisfaction with the work of Phivolcs in the wake of the volcanic explosion. A lawmaker has suggested to have the government agency investigated for its slowness and sluggishness in promptly relaying warnings of the impending disaster.

At this point, as I myself fully monitored the situation and Phivolcs pronouncements on the matter, I would strongly suggest that this agency be provided with more funds, state of the art equipment and qualified personnel in the light of this sad experience.

Instead of the usually boring rhetoric that permeates every congressional probes and hearings, both houses of Congress should intelligently look at the mess with a positive eye with the end in view of putting to an end the reactionary mindset of govern-

ment institutions.

Untold misery is now gripping four areas due to the Taal emergency – regions 4, 4A and 3 and parts of Metro Manila where children and senior citizens are trying to cope with the dire situation.

Dep-Ed Sec. Leonor Briones has expressed fears that the schooling of elementary and secondary students in these areas could be hampered and their educational development.

She said Dep-Ed funds for the rehab of more than a hundred school buildings and classrooms heavily damaged by the ashfall will have to be utilized as soon as effectively possible.

School buildings and classrooms, in the absence of evacuation centers, are now being used to accommodate thousands of evacuees.

I wonder why LGUs need to be prompted by the national government to erect evac-

uation centers on their own volition? Even barangay councils themselves can pass resolutions for the construction of barangay evacuation centers which will make them readily prepared to meet exigencies of this kind.

This is the weakness I see in the leadership of many LGUs who depend too much assistance from the national government and line agencies.

They become helpless, inutile and lazy to a point.

Simply defined, governance is the application of practical wisdom to benefit the constituency. Even an elementary school graduate who becomes head of an LGU will agree to this.

Today, because of the frequency of calamities hitting our country, practical wisdom dictates that everybody, every citizen, every resident must be well-advised and informed of things happening around

him.

I wonder how applicable this Plato quote is to our situation today. He said: “This city is what it is because our citizens are what they are.”

Of course, the resiliency of the Filipinos has proven its good merits.

We have survived four hundred years of cruel Spanish colonization, more than forty years of American exploitation, nearly five years of brutal Japanese occupation and decades of tyrannical Filipino administrations.

What else?

I guess Filipinos are predisposed already to this type of life and living.

One man has emerged to tell us in our face that change has come. ### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Prov. 12:19. “Truthful lips will be established forever but a lying tongue is only for a moment.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

OSCAR DERBY 2020 Every year, the Hollywood – the film capital of the world – gives out the prestigious Oscar to those people who are involved in filmmaking.

It is given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a way of recognizing those who excel “in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy’s voting membership.”

Here are some of records you need to know in this year’s Oscar derby: Of the nominees for Best Actor Oscar, only Leonardo DiCaprio has won – for The Revenant in 2016. He was also nominated for the same category in 2005’s The Aviator, 2007’s Blood Diamond, 2014’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and this year’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

DiCaprio’s first Oscar nomination was for Best Supporting Actor for his role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He also has a nomination Best Picture for The Wolf of Wall Street as he was the film’s producer.

Before Joker, Joaquin Phoenix has three Oscar nominations to his credit. He was nominated for his supporting role in Gladiator. He received two Oscar nominations for Best Actor for Walk the Line (2006) and The Master (2013).

The three remaining Best Actor nominees are newcomer

to the Oscar history: Antonio Banderas for Pain and Glory, Adam Driver for Marriage Story, and Jonathan Pryce for The Two Popes.

In the Best Actress category, only Charlize Theron and Renee Zellweger have won before. Theron won for Monster (2004). Her other Oscar nomination, aside from this year for Bombshell, was for 2006’s North Country.

Zellweger’s Oscar for her supporting role in 2004’s Cold Mountain. She is nominated this year for her leading role as Judy Garland in Judy; before that, she received the same nomination for 2002’s Bridget Jones’s Diary and 2003’s Chicago.

The three other nominees – Cynthia Erivo for Harriet, Scarlett Johansson for Marriage Story, and Saoise Ronan for Little Women – are all newcomers.

Johansson, however, made a record as the twelfth performer to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year.

She is also nominated for her supporting role in Jojo Rabbit.

The first to do so was Fay Bainter when she nominated in 1938 for Best Actress for White Banners (she lost) and Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (for which she won).

The same story happened to Teresa Wright: winning the supporting role in Mrs. Mini-

ver and losing the leading role in The Pride of the Yankees in 1942.

Barry Fitzgerald made a sort of record in 1944 when he received two nominations for the same role in Going My Way. He won again for the supporting role. His co-star, Bing Crosby, won the Best Actor Oscar.

Others who went home with one Oscar of their two nominations: Jessica Lange (for Tootsie, 1982), Al Pacino (for Scent of a Woman), Holly Hunter (The Piano, 1993), and Jamie Foxx (Ray, 2004).

The following failed to win any: Sigourney Weaver (Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl) in 1988, Emma Thompson (The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father) in 1993, Julianne Moore (Far from Heaven and The Hours) in 2002, and Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age and I’m Not There) in 2007.

Al Pacino’s performance in The Irishman earned him his ninth nomination from the Academy. Actually, it is his fourth nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Previously, he was nominated for The Godfather (1973), Dick Tracy (1991), and Glengarry Glen Ross (1993).

Nineteen ninety-three, however, was his year as he also got a nomination for Best Actor for his performance in

Scent of a Woman. Although he lost the supporting role award (it went to Gene Hackman for his performance in Clint Eastwood’s The Unforgiven), he settled for the Best Actor Oscar.

Pacino was also nominated for Best Actor for his leading roles in Serpico (1974), The Godfather II (1975), Dog Day Afternoon (1976), … And Justice for All (1980). It was in the 1975 flick that he delivered one of the most memorable lines in cinema: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

His co-star in The Irishman, Joe Pesci, also got a nomination in the same category. He earned his first Oscar nomination in 1980’s Raging Bull but he won the award for 1991’s Goodfellas. In all these, he co-starred with Robert De Niro.

Another A-lister nominated in the supporting role is Tom Hanks for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. He has won two Oscars: 1994’s Philadelphia and 1995’s Forrest Gump. He has three more nominations: 1989’s Big, 1999’s Saving Private Ryan, and 2001’s Cast Away.

Also an A-lister is Anthony Hopkins, who received a nomination for The Two Popes. He won a Best Actor Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs (1992) and was nominated for the

same in 1994 for The Remains of the Day and in 1996 for Nixon. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for 1998’s Amistad.

Only Brad Pitt has not won an Oscar; he is nominated for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for 12 Monkeys (1996) and Best Actor for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2009) and Moneyball (2012).

Kathy Bates leads the nominees in the Best Supporting Oscar for women. She already won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Misery (1990). She is nominated this year for Richard Jewell. Her other supporting nominations were for 1998’s Primary Colors and 2002’s About Schmidt.

Laura Dern, who was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2015’s Wild, is running for Marriage Story. She got a Best Actress nomination for Rambling Rose (1992).

Margot Robbie is nominated for Bombshell; her previous nomination was for Best Actress for 2018’s I, Tonya.

The last remaining nominee is Florence Pugh for her role as Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women.

Now, the envelope, please…

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

ENVIRONMENT

ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

A new species endemic in the Philippines is facing extinction.

The Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has included the Philippine pangolin in its Red List of Threatened Species as “extremely high risk of extinction.”

From being listed as “endangered” seven years ago, the Palawan pangolin – as it is also known – is reclassified as “critically endangered species.” The reason for its reclassification was due to dwindling population.

Despite conservation efforts, “the Philippines’ only pangolin species was given its critically endangered status because its population is expected to face an 80% decline in the next 21 years, or within the next three generations of pangolins,” Dr. Sabine Schoppe, a pangolin expert conservationist, was quoted as saying in a press statement by Palawan News.

The Philippine pangolin (Manis culionesis) is one of the 7 pangolin species indigenous to Africa (4 species) and Southeast Asia (3 species). It was originally thought to be a Malayan pangolin (M. javanica) until it was declared a distinct species in 1998.

“The Philippine pangolin is only found on Palawan and the adjacent islands in the Philippines,” wrote Romar Miranda, social media officer of Palawan News.

“Its restricted range and likely small population size mean it is highly vulnerable and especially given the recent upgrade to its extinction risk, of high conservation concern.”

Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are “a group of unusual mammals with tough, protective keratin scales,” describes the edgeofexistence.org. Despite an international ban on their trade, they are the most trafficked mammals in the world.

“They are trafficked for their meat, and the unfounded beliefs that their keratinous scales have medical properties used in

traditional medicine,” edgeofexistence.org said of the animal which has an affinity with fig trees.

Another soon-to-be extinct endemic species which has also an affinity with trees is the Philippine eagle, the country’s bird icon. They say that when the last eagle dies, it shall be the sign of the worst yet to come: The death of our environment.

The Philippine eagle is second only to the Madagascar sea eagle in rarity. In size, it beats the American bald eagle; it is the world’s second largest – after the Harpy eagle of Central and South America.

In the past, Philippine eagles abound in the forests of Mount Apo and other parts of Mindanao.

They can also be seen flying over in the forests of Sierra Madre in Luzon and Samar and Leyte in the Visayas.

Today, Philippine eagles inhabit those places but their number has dwindled. In fact, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has declared the Philippine eagle as an endangered species.

“The Philippine eagle is the largest predator we have,” says Dr. Dennis Joseph I. Salvador, the executive director of the Philippine Eagle Center Foundation. “By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat.”

The Philippine pangolin and Philippine eagle are just two of the thousands of endemic species in the country. With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is considered by respected scientists as one of the countries with the highest degree of biological diversity (biodiversity for short) in the world.

The Philippines is home to about 170,000 faunal species, most of which are insects and are mostly unidentified, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Twelve thousand plant species and 960

animal species are found in Philippine forests. Of the identified animal species, over 500 are birds and 167 are mammals.

Out of the 500 known coral species worldwide, about 488 coral species in 78 genera are found in the Philippines. There are only about 50 species of seagrasses in the world. A total of 16 species can be found in the country, and this is the second highest diversity that exist in one country; only Western Australia has more with 17 species. At least 2,000 fish species are found in the Philippines.

About 98 of mammal species are endemic to the Philippines. In the last seven years, experts have discovered 12 mammal species in the country seen nowhere else on the planet. “The number compares with other countries like Brazil,” says Philippine fauna specialist Dr. Lawrence Heaney of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. “But compare their sizes. For such a small area, the Philippine rockets ahead.”

For the uninformed, Brazil has a total land area of 3,286,488 square kilometers while the Phil-

ippines has a total land area of 115,800 square kilometers. The neighbor Indonesia, another biodiversity-rich country, has a total land area of 741,101 square kilometers.

While its biodiversity is among the highest, the Philippines’ ecosystems are among the most threatened. In fact, most scientists included the entire Philippine archipelago as among the five biogeographical areas in the world considered the “hottest of the hot spots,” a hot spot being an area whose high biodiversity is gravely threatened.

Dr. Lee Talbot, director of Southeast Asia Project on Wildlife Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, agreed: “A few decades ago, the wildlife of the Philippines was notable for its abundance; now, it is notable for its variety; if present trend of destruction continues, Philippine wildlife will be notable for its absence.”

A species is considered extinct when it is no longer found in the past 50 years.

Endangered species are those that have been reduced in number to a critical level or whose habitats have been damaged or altered or reduced.

Rare species have small world populations. Usually, they are restricted to very few habitats. At present, rare species are not considered endangered but at risk. Threatened, on the other hand, is a general term used to describe the

animal or plant species which could be in the status of “endangered” and “insufficiently known.”

Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson cites deforestation as one of the primary causes of the extinction of species. The unprecedented clearing of forests condemns at least one species of bird, mammal, or plant to extinction daily, he said.

Let’s take the case of the Philippines. In the 1950s, three-fourths of the archipelago was covered with forest. By 1972, this figure had shrunk to half, and by 1988, only one quarter of the Philippines was wooded and only a tiny fraction of this was virgin forest.

“Over the years, the Philippine forests have been subjected to unabated destruction,” the DENR report admits. The principal causes have been illegal logging, shifting cultivation, forest fires, natural calamities, as well as, conversion to agricultural lands, human settlements, and other land uses brought about by urbanization and increasing human population pressure.

From 1989 to 1995, the annual average rate of deforestation has been estimated at 130,000 hectares.

In contrast, reforestation efforts by government and private institutions have hardly kept pace with deforestation.

The destruction of other ecosystems has likewise resulted in the depletion of biological resources in the

Philippines. Take the case of wetlands, the resting and nourishing areas of migratory birds fleeing the chill of winter seasons. Among the birds which migrate to the Philippines are waterfowls, raptors and passerines.

Philippines wetlands, which are on the state of dying, also serve as havens for many endangered species. The Agusan Marsh in Mindanao, for instance, is home to the largest remaining population of the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) and the estuarine or saltwater crocodile (C. porosus).

Before it’s too late, these natural resources should be saved from extinction. “The worst thing that can happen - will happen - is not energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government,” Wilson writes in Harvard Magazine. “As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired within a few generations.

The once process... that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us.”

According to John C. Ryan, of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, “protection of biodiversity should be one of the top priorities of any meaningful strategy to safeguard the world’s biological heritage.”

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

EDGEDAVAO EVENT

A BIGGER BETTER BO’S COFFEE is a product of the tropics, specifically in mountainous tropical areas that have plenty of rain and sunshine.

In the Philippines, coffee is grown in rugged mountainous areas like Mt. Matutum in South Cotabato, Benguet, and Mt. Apo in Davao. As an agricultural crop, there are a couple of important coffee varieties, among which is Arabica. Bo’s Coffee has been working with farmers from Davao in making Arabica coffee a viable cash crop. With the success of these Arabica coffee farmers, coffee drinkers would be savouring the unique flavour of Davao coffee.

Before there was instant coffee, coffee was made the

old fashioned way, with coffee grounds added to boiling water. Coffee was poured from the kettle, with muddy dregs at the bottom of the enamel mugs. Farmers started their day with the steaming hot enamel mugs of coffee. Today’s corporate coffee drinkers are going back to those roots with Pour Over and French Press servings of locally-farmed Arabica coffee. These offerings from Bo’s Coffee are invigorating legit expressions of coffee for the modern Dabawenyo.

DAVAO AND THE DURIAN-INSPIRED CEILING Dabawenyos love coffee and one regular haunt of coffee aficionados through the years is Bo’s Coffee and just recently, a new Bo’s Coffee branch was just opened to the public.

The latest branch for the well- loved Filipino chain of coffee shops is an extension of every other Bo’s Coffee. With

URBANISSIMO A4

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

PLDT GROUP ALIGNS 2020 CSR PROGRAMS WITH UN SDGS

THROUGHOUT its 91-year history, the Philippines’ leading digital services provider PLDT has worked tirelessly to instill a sense of belongingness among Filipinos.

From making the first domestic phone call possible, to being the first to connect the Philippines to the world via the Internet, and to revolutionizing mobile connectivity, PLDT has always recognized its influence on the way Filipinos communicate and on Philippine society as a whole.

As 2020 begins, the group continues to build on its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs that play a pivotal role in helping the country attain the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in four key areas: education, livelihood, innovation, and environment.

EDUCATION With a strong emphasis on digital literacy, Education continues to be the flagship CSR program of the PLDT Group.

Gabay Guro provides teachers with scholarships, livelihood programs, connectivity and

computerization, housing and educational facilities, training and innovation, and annual tribute events for teachers. Now on its 12th year, the program has trained over 60,000 teachers and granted 1,770 scholarships to date.

PLDT Infoteach reaches out to high school students, primary to secondary level teachers, and out-of-school youths through digital literacy trainings. Since its inception in 2004, the initiative has produced over 32,000 program graduates.

Wireless services subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has the School-in-a-Bag program, which bridges the socalled ‘digital divide’ by providing portable digital classrooms and trainings for remote and underserved learning communities. The flagship #LearnSmart initiative of the company’s Public Affairs Group has deployed over 200 technology packages, trained more than 2,000 teachers, and reached over 60,000 students to-date.

For tertiary level learners, Smart empowers colleges and universities to produce industryready engineering and IT graduates through the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program or SWEEP. This internationally-

recognized program holds the annual SWEEP Awards, which presents budding technopreneurs with a platform to develop innovative applications. Now on its 19th year, the program has trained more than 36,000 engineering and IT students and teachers. Over 1,000 SWEEP trainees have been directly hired under Smart’s technology group.

LIVELIHOOD With the UN’s goal for decent work and economic growth, the PLDT Group also strives to promote sustainable livelihood.

PLDT-Smart’s Ka-Partner Rewards Program gives incentives to the company’s electronic or e-load sellers to help them

grow their business and enhance their livelihood. The sales teamled project has produced 19 retailers-turned-millionaires as of end-2019.

Under PLDT Community Relations and in partnership with Sew Mates of the Davao-based Philippine Eagle Foundation Conservation Program, selected indigenous women from partner communities in Mindanao were trained to make Philippine Eagle plush toys. Similarly, trainings with women of the Rural Workers Muladbucad Pequeno Association were also conducted to produce PLDT Ecobags and start businesses through a partnership with PBSP and the Coalition for Bicol Development.

A joint project with the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) and Probe Media Foundation, Smart’s Digital Farmers Program aims to expedite the agriculture sector’s adoption and use of innovative means of farming.

These include the use of drones, analytics, precision farming, artificial intelligence or A.I., climate and weather monitoring I.T. solutions, digital apps, e-money, blockchain, and other multi-layer platforms. Smart has implemented DFP 101 trainings in 14 areas nationwide within its first 5 months.

INNOVATION

Th as am achi men L mob in p men regio insti date liter alph shor all in apps Kaa Tahd (Ma Trib Kaa abak gan) Blaa C joint netw in en by u IoT tach man dete vital as te and haza info an o

EDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

The UN deems Innovation mong the crucial factors to ieving sustainable developnt. earnSmart Literacy Apps are bile applications developed partnership with the Departnt of Education (DepEd) onal offices, and academic itutions nationwide. To e, Smart has launched 10 racy applications featuring habet and number exercises, rt stories, songs, and games n the mother tongue. These s are Bahay Kubo (Filipino), alam (Cebuano), Ta’allam and hderiyyah (Arabic), Matisalug atigsalug indigenous peoples be of Davao and Bukidnon), aram (Waray), Katao (Inknon), Singsing (Kapampan), Sanut (Ilokano), and Gnare an (Blaan).

Connected Mangroves, a nt initiative of Smart and work vendor Ericsson, helps nvironmental conservation using Internet of Things or solutions. These include athing electronic sensors onto ngrove plants, which can ect and record information l to the tree formation, such emperature, water salinity, other factors that may be ardous to its condition. The ormation is then uploaded to online dashboard, which may

ENTERTAINMENT

KATHRYN, DANIEL REMAIN KAPAMILYAS, INK THREE-YEAR CONTRACTS WITH ABS-CBN

be accessed by authorities and stakeholders.

Among Smart’s major disaster preparedness and response initiatives is Nokia Saving Lives (NSL), a program with the Philippine Red Cross that provides communication and technical assistance to emergency response teams. NSL includes drones with cameras and speakers that can capture real-time information on disaster areas. They can also carry items such as first aid kits.

ENVIRONMENT Under the UN’s LIFE ON LAND SDG, companies such as PLDT are encouraged to help care for the planet.

Recent major tree-planting activities include PLDT Telepuno, where 900 trees were planted in celebration of PLDT’s 90th anniversary, at the Central Cebu Protected Landscape.

In 2019, Smart led a nationwide tree planting activity on the 10th anniversary of Typhoon Ondoy. The company has been planting trees since 2004 to offset its greenhouse gas emissions from cellsite operations.

A homegrown innovation created by PLDT-Smart employees, the #SmartPlanet phone recycling device presents a proper way of disposing discarded mobile devices to avoid harmful effects of electronic waste on health and the environment.

With electronic sensors, the bin sends out e-load in exchange for used phones, chargers, and tablets. Similarly, #SmartPlanet offers a plastic bottle counterpart to the said device, with bottle-recycling bins deployed to different Smart events, such as festivals.

The PLDT Group’s CSR programs are diverse, and the challenges are daunting, but they all start with one small step. To know more about how you can be part of PLDT and Smart’s CSR activities, send an email to media@pldt.com.ph or publicaffairs@smart.com.ph.

ONSCREEN love team and real life sweethearts Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla remained Kapamilyas as they sign their respective three-year contracts with the network yesterday, January 15.

After working on projects separately for more than a year, the phenomenal box office couple shared their sentiments on what people should expect, now that the sought after KathNiel tandem will be back on TV this year with an upcoming teleserye, “Tanging Mahal.”

“It’s going to be something fresh, especially that we have waited for this to happen again. I think that the fans are really excited to see us work together again, and personally, we are excited for this, too,” Daniel shared.

Aside from his project with Kathryn, Daniel also mentioned his excitement about his movie titled “Whether the Weather is Fine” with ABS-CBN executive and veteran actress Charo Santos-Concio.

“I’m hoping that people would watch out for this film because this

is really different, this is something new. The attack is different, the feel of the movie is different, that’s why it’s exciting.” Daniel mused.

Kathryn, on the other hand, shared her happiness about the support she’s gaining from her YouTube channel, “Everyday Kath,” which garnered almost a million

subscribers in just two weeks after its first vlog release.

“I’m happy. More than the subscribers, I’m more delighted towards the comments that we receive because we do not know that a simple glimpse into our personal lives would have a positive effect on them,” Kathryn shared.

KathNiel fans should also watch out for a comeback movie that the love team will be cooking for this year.

When asked about how they feel towards staying a Kapamilya, Daniel answered “Very happy and very thankful that ABS-CBN still trusts us the same way we trust it. We’re very happy, blessed, and excited for the things in store for us.”

Present in the signing were ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez, ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak, chief operating officer of broadcast Cory Vidanes, TV production head Laurenti Dyogi, Star Magic head Johnny Manahan, and head of treasury Rick Tan.

JMKO, JEREMY G, MIGUEL AND SAM HEADLINE “SONG FEELS” CONCERT

GET serenaded by today’s hottest new male artists, JMKO, Jeremy G, Miguel Odron, and Sam Mangubat at the upcoming “Song Feels” concert, happening on January 24 (Friday) at the Music Museum.

These ABS-CBN Music artists will usher in the new decade with an evening of heartfelt love songs as they perform their freshest singles and favorites from yesteryears.

JMKO, also known as Miko Manguba, just dropped his new single “Aahon,” after the successful release of his single “Timeless” featuring Miss Philip-

pines Universe 2019 Gazini Ganados.

Emerging as a triple threat artist, Jeremy G has shown flair for hosting and dancing aside from his singing skills discovered in the first season of “The Voice Teens.” His collaboration with Jayda, “Perfectly Imperfect,” was released late last year.

Filipino-American performer Miguel Odron joined last year’s “Idol Philippines” and was able to advance as one of the Top 5 contenders. He is currently working on his single that is set to have an international release.

Multi-awarded singer Sam Mangubat, who is also into songwriting and song production, rose to fame as the first runner-up in the first season of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on “It’s Showtime.” His “Ikaw at Ikaw Pa Rin” single was one of the most streamed tracks on Spotify last year.

Together, these four singers will shine with their music and bring in the ‘feels’ in their much-awaited show.

“Song Feels” is one of the many exciting events under ABS-CBN Music and Star Events, which seeks to bring OPM to the next level with thrilling Kapamilya experi-

ences and outstanding live performances. It is directed

by Dido Camara with musical direction from Rey Cantong.

Tickets to the “Song Feels” concert are priced at P3,500 (VIP with exclusive meet and greet), P2,500 (patron), and P1,000 (balcony), available at the Music Museum or via Ticketworld (8891.9999).

Welcome the season of love with JMKO, Jeremy G, Miguel, and Sam on January 24 (Friday), 8 pm at the Music Museum.

For more details, follow @ stareventsph on Twitter and Instagram.

A4 INdulge!

EVENT TECH TRAVEL

EDGE DAVAO EDGE EDGE DAVAO DAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 •219 SATURDAY, 18, VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 216 • TUESDAY, • FRIDAY,JANUARY JANUARY 17, 14, 2020

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINENEW ELIMINATES SINGLESONY INTRODUCES GP-VPT2BT USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP URBANISSIMO A1

its distinctive wood and earth tones, it should not be a surprise that it provides coffee aficionados a place to enjoy unique coffee offerings, as well as the best standard coffees.

Located at The Compound in Davao City, Bo’s Coffee blends in well with the corporate naNORWEGIAN Cruise ture of the its environment, Line, innovatoras well as providing a healthy reminder in global cruise BUILDING on travel the of the city.

When you the with a 53-year history growing lineup ofenter camcoffee shop, accessories youboundaries, are greeted of breaking eras and notnow just by thefor standard bar is single-use plasdeveloped modern andbeverage registerSony andbottle thetoday tall free chair tic creators, around the table, across itscommunal fleet. the has announced new butThe alsobrand by anannounced impressive ceiling GP-VPT2BT wireless last design. uniqueIdeal feature was shooting grip. year thatThis it partnered withfor influenced

by Inc., the durian, an many different typesenJUST Goods, which iconic fruit thecreation region is famous of content abled the Cruise Line to replace for.single-use ranging from vlogs all plastic waterto Moreacross touches the city travel photography / add bottles itsof 17-ship fleet, to the localwith vibe its oftothe space.

An videography simple beginning most recent impressive wood of aneveryday use,carving the new ship, Norwegian Encore. other icon, theisPhilippine grip offers optimum TheDavao achievement one of the Eagle sustainable ensures Instagram-worthy stability and comfort latest steps forward photos that will surelycablestand out. combined with for Norwegian Cruise Line. In Bo’sconnectivity Coffee branches have a free and 2018, the Company eliminated felt like a coffee shop with a reliable dust and moissingle-use plastic straws across decidedly Pinoy atmosphere. ture design. its fleetresistant and private destinaTheCompatible branch Compound with aofvariety tions, and asataThe result this is not just latest Filipino, but italso of Sony’s digital camermost recent initiative, will verythe Dabawenyo.

It revels in the as, GP-VPT2BT connects replace over six million singlenature of the city bottles withallowing pin lights easily via Bluetooth, use plastic water every pointing down onthe the paintcreators to simply aim and is year.

In addition, brand ings hanging from thesingle-use walls, as shoot without interfering working to eliminate wall reliefs standing out onThe the cables or exposed inputs. plastic shampoo and condicorner, and traditional fabric new grip includes useful tioner bottles later athis year.tilt screens, thereallows is no mistaking feature that for flexible These efforts are driven by thatCompany’s this angle Davao.adjustment vertical as the Sail & Sustain This branch owned well as new the ability tois switch Environmental Program, which and Samantha Liu from normal by to self-shooting is itsmanaged commitment to minimize and promises to live up - ifitsnot mode with ease.

Additionalwaste to landfills, reduce

A4 INdulge!

surpass - the brand of service and user experience Bo’s Coffee is known for. A native of Dumaguete City she has been a Bo’s Coffee franchisee for almost 10 years with two other branches in her hometown. She moved to Davao after marrying a Dabawenyo in 2016 and has embraced the city and its people bringing with her the return of Bo’s to the city. She hopes Davao will receive the newest Bo’s Coffee branch with the same welcoming arms as it did her when she first relocated to the land of CO2 emissions rate, increase promise. sourcing and invest sustainable ly,initemerging has an adjustment wheel technologies.

FROM ZERO TO 100 IN 20 can be loosened orspecial tightened “This is a very and YEARS tovery allow for seamless operaproud moment for us,” Founded

by Steve in tion with cameras of Benitez different said Harry Sommer, president 1996and Bo’sweights.

Coffee has more sizes The gripthan and chief executive officer of a hundred stores also includes a flipnationwide button, inNorwegian Cruise Line. “As haslight recently expanded dicator and line, lock we switch, aand leading cruise are

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 forests and the cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic.

Philippine culture by showcasIt is refillable and recyclable. ing local JUST hasproducts a global ranging presencefrom food and drinkfacilities to furniture and with bottling in Glenn retail, NY; as seen in all its branches.

Falls, Ballymena, Northern This yearand andBallarat, in the coming Ireland; Australia, yearsallowing Bo’s coffee be focusthus thewill company to ing ondemand digitalisation like meet around theonline world paymentshipping platforms, advance without water from a ordering, mobile app to enhance single production source.

JUST customer takes careexperience. to use the most effiTheshipping Bo’s Coffee experience in cient options available.

Davao can beinformation seen as an end-toFor more about end venture,Cruise starting with the Norwegian Line ships coffee farmers of Mount Apo, and their itineraries, or to book serving world-class aand cruise, please contact aPhiltravel ippine coffee to professional, callmetropolitan 888-NCLDavao with two branches in CRUISE (625-2784) or visit Davao City. www.ncl.com.

A4 INdulge!

thrilled to make such an impact by eliminating single-use beverand be quickly agecan bottles across changed our fleet. outside the country with itsare five into ajust tripod by simply exIt’s one of the ways we branches located in portion, Qatar.

It panding the bottom working to preserve our oceans serves brew made enabling easy stable, handsand thefresh destinations wefrom visit. handpicked free shooting.

While this isArabica just thecoffee beginning beans from coffee highlands The GP-VPT2BT Wireless of what we and others can do, andare regions thecommitted country Shooting Gripinwill be avail- like we incredibly

to our Sail & Sustain program and believe wholeheartedly in the importance of preserving Mount Apo,resources.

Mount Kitanglad our natural We will in Bukidnon, Sagada and Bencontinue to strive towards makguet.environmentally But it didn’t stopconscious there. ing Being a huge supporter all decisions to benefit ourof earth.” things local, Bo’s brings Envisioned andCoffee founded by an overall presentation of American rapper, songwriter,

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

EDGEDAVAO 9

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

MOMENTUM... FROM1

usually comes out end of first quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, Montenegro said last year’s average annual inflation rates in all regions in Mindanao was 1.6 percent, lower than national headline inflation rate of 2.5 percent. He said as of September last year, Board of Investments (BOI) approved investments were already hitting P95 billion mark.

“We expect the figure to have gone up by end 2019, again showing Mindanao’s attractiveness as an investment destination,” he said.

Montenegro noted that investment inflow in Mindanao has grown ten-fold during this decade (20102019) at P50-60 billion annual average inflow, compared to a mere P5 bil-

lion to P6 billion average inflow from 2001 to 2010.

According to him despite the uninterrupted economic growth of Mindanao, the growth disparity vis-à-vis Luzon regions show unequal level of regional output.

Montenegro added that the focus now are the following: ensuring that high priority is given to regional development outside the economic centers (rural development) and for growth to be more inclusive and sustainable and roll-out more regional inter-linkages and logistics hubs to attract investments into manufacturing and services.

He said while Mindanao has seen structural shift from Agriculture, Hunt-

ing, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) activities to industry and services sectors, it must not lose sight of the fact that key to Mindanao’s sustained economic growth rests largely in agri- sector.

He also added there is a need to bring agri products, especially the priority commodities, up the value chain as well as promote industrial growth, complemented with support on access to quality education and training skills required in the modern economy.

“More and better jobs need to be created with higher productivity and wages that could improve the disposable income of families and eventually reduce poverty incidence in the long-run,” he said.

from the beginning as it hid the ill intentions of the NDF which has been finally unveiled during the course of the peace negotiations.”

“The Hague Declaration was designed as a subterfuge to disable our Constitution and neutralize its sole and indivisible sovereignty with an undefined ‘sovereignty’ that is mutually shared,” Dee wrote in his assessment report of the GPH-NDFP peace talks in 2002.

“Therefore, any further reaffirmation of the commitment to the Hague Joint Declaration is anathema as its ‘inherent character’ is neither apparent nor trans-

parent,” he explained in his report.

When adopted, the document will “paralyze our Constitution and deprive us of a legal regime that will ensure the legality and enforceability of our agreements,” Dee added.

The former ambassador also believes that the communists have a skewed understanding of the true intent Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which it signed with the government in 1998.

Dee pointed out that the rebel group has been push-

ing for the approval of the document even without a proper legal framework for its mutual implementation.

Similar on what they are doing now for the affirmation of CASER prior to the affirmation of peace talks.

“What would happen if we allow the implementation of the CARHRIHL in accordance with this NDF process? The result is predictable: One, the NDF would now claim that they have the right, that is recognized, respected and confirmed by us, to arrest, prosecute and punish whomever they accuse as violators of human rights,” he said.

God’s message of “love, hope and faith.”

Duterte expressed hope that Baptist churches would also help his administration in achieving its goal of having a “strong and progressive Philippines.”

“By always seeking to express God’s love in the pursuit of justice, righteous governance, progress and prosperity for all Filipinos, you have enabled our people to see fulfillment and purpose in your fellow-

ship,” he said.

"Let us, therefore, work with renewed fervor and hope in bringing forth a strong and progressive Philippines for the benefit of the next generations,” Duterte added. (PNA)

the barangay level. The Mati CHO also provided supportive medications to prevent complications.

Parents and school authorities were also advised to seek early treatment for fever and rash complainants. They have also encouraged for the quarantine of patients for two weeks with frequent monitoring by health workers.

Isolation rooms for pe-

dia and adults measles patients are also now being prepared at the hospital.

Catbagan said they need support for additional personnel to man the isolation wards since most of their health personnel will be utilized in the thrd round of the polio immunization campaign slated to start on Januar 20 until February 2.

Catbagan said that they have observed a decrease

on the number of admission of measles patients to 1 or 2 per day in Mati City though, but admitted that measles transmission is still happening in some areas of the city.

The Mati CHO chief said they are sustaining their advocacy measures by giving public health warning and advisory on how to prevent transmission of measles. (CIO MATI)

issuance is to further strengthen the balance sheet of JFC to build a

stronger foundation for accelerating its growth in order to achieve its vision

to become one of the top 5 restaurant companies in the world.

able to get out in transition.’’

The Clippers placed seven players in double figures and led by many as 23 in their fourth win in five games. Landry Shamet scored 13 points, and JaMychal Green finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and nine rebounds and Aaron Gordon scored 20 points, but the Magic were unable to keep up with the Clippers while

playing in Los Angeles for the second time in two nights. Orlando ended the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak with a victory Wednesday.

Finding the same energy level simply proved too difficult for the Magic. ‘’Look, you have to have the necessary intensity, purpose, attitude of play, to win any night in this league, especially against a team as good as theirs,’’ Magic head coach Steve

Clifford said. ‘’You have to be on it. I thought Aaron Gordon was terrific. Except for that . ‘’Our team, our approach and our attitude has been a real strength all year. Tonight it was not.’’

The Magic are 2-1 during their current visit to California and the victories have been rewarding, the defeat will weigh heavily. Fittingly, the trip ends against Golden State on Saturday.

PEACE... FROM2

I HAVE... FROM2 DOH... FROM3

JOLLIBEE... FROM4 KAWHI... FROM11

BARMM... FROM3

inations for their applicants in the cities of Cotabato, Iligan, and Zamboanga.

Sinarimbo reminded the job seekers in the Bangsamoro Government to apply for positions that best fit their qualifications.

However, Sinarimbo said those who cannot meet the qualification standards of appointment could avail the incoming

programs of the Bangsamoro Government.

“Ang advice po namin sa mga hindi kayang pumasok sa competitive process for appointment, hintayin po nila ang mga programa ng gobyerno.”

“Hangga’t maaari, gusto nating ma-employ ang mga siguradong may commitment and qualification sa byurukrasya natin para

bumilis ang service delivery at maka-avail ang ibang mga tao natin,” Sinarimbo added.

The Bangsamoro Government, Sinarimbo said, has platforms for its people to acquire new skills that they can use for their benefit, as well as programs to support its agricultural and business sectors. (Bureau of Public Information)

administration is sincere in intensifying the delivery of basic services and social development packages, particularly in implementing the president’s E.O. 70.

“Iba na ang gobyerno natin ngayon. Lahat ng programa para matulungan ang ating mga mamamayan gaya ng basic services, access roads, potable water, electricity at marami pang iba binibigay na natin, kasama ang ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan,” Jubahib said.

The governor made two more main motions related

to the insurgency problem that were also unanimously approved by the Council.

These include the resolution proposing the strategic inter-regional collaboration for peace and internal security, particularly in ending local communist armed conflict (LCAC), as well as another resolution pushing for the closure of the UCCP-Haran.

In 2015, hundreds of tribesmen allegedly evacuated their communities and stayed at the United Church of Christ in the Phil-

ippines compound (UCCP Haran) after complaining about militarization in their areas.

However, both Police Regional Office-XI Regional Director PBGen. Filmore Escobal and 10th ID Commander Jose Faustino denied such reports, revealing the Lumads were cramped in the facility under enforced captivity by left-leaning organizations, who conveniently used the IPs for fund-raising and propaganda against the government.

vincial government invest instead,” said Gov. Dayanghirang, adding that the facility will be another source of revenue for the province.

“We serve the needs of our tourists and at the same time we earn,” he added.

“Of course, we know that the influx of tourists also means generating more income for the province and would also help in creating more jobs,” said the Governor.

Aside from generating revenue, Gov. Dayanghirang is optimistic that the

benefit of the province’s bourgeoning tourism is expected to spill over to local businesses and local workers who are making a living out of tourism such as the hotels, restaurants, fisherfolks and farmers, as well as the transport sector, among others.

“Everybody is a winner on this project. This is the type of development that we want to espouse in our province wherein everyone shares on the benefits,” he said. “We only have one goal– that is to improve

our province and make our people happy.”

Present during the ceremony are Second District Representative Joel Mayo Almario, Vice Governor Niño Uy, District Engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Engr. Jane Cainghog; Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, Provincial Government department heads, and representatives of partner agencies in the national government. By Karen Lou Deloso/Photos

by Eden Jhan Licayan

Milwaukee hit seven of its first 10 shots, including its first four attempts from 3, and led 36-20 after the first quarter. Brook Lopez had three of those 3-pointers and had 11 points in the opening quarter. Lopez finished with 16 points.

Milwaukee set a new season-high with 76 points

in the first half. The Bucks had a 76-58 lead at the break.

Boston stormed out in the second half, cutting Milwaukee’s lead to 87-81 with 5:16 left in the third.

But the Bucks ended the quarter on a 19-6 run. ‘’I think the end of the third quarter was pretty

big,’’ Budenholzer said. ‘’To finish the quarter up 19 was important because we needed all of that in the fourth quarter.’’

Milwaukee shot nearly 52% (16 of 31) from long range on the night Donte DiVincenzo had a career-high 19 points off the bench for Milwaukee.

seasons, a well-respected leader in the locker room whose time with the team was hampered by knee and ankle injuries. He played in only 42 games last season and was moved into a reserve role two months ago, with Shabazz Napier and Jarrett Culver taking the turns at point guard.

Andrew Wiggins, whose natural position is the small forward spot, has frequently initiated the offense, too.

With the Hawks, Teague will provide a steady backup to star Trae Young. They’ve been using G League product Brandon

Goodwin in relief lately.

Graham averaged 5.2 points in 33 games this season for the Wolves, who acquired the 26-year-old in a summer trade with Golden State after he briefly landed there in a deal with Brooklyn.

Crabbe had a 20-point game Dec. 27 against Milwaukee on Dec. 27, when he made four 3-pointers.

He has played previously for current Minnesota assistant coaches David Vanterpool (Portland) and Pablo Prigioni (Brooklyn), both of whom gave Rosas and the front office glowing

reviews.

Crabbe was eighth in the NBA last season in 3-point shooting from the corners with a minimum of 60 attempts at 49.2% for the Nets, who traded the 6-foot-5 Crabbe to the Hawks last summer. This season, his overall 3-point percentage has dropped to a career-low 32.3. ‘’I think part of it is the different systems,’’ Rosas said, adding: ‘’It takes time to get your rhythm and to get your flow, and I think we’re seeing some of that, to be fair, here Minnesota with some of our guys.’’

Ernesto U. Matugas Jr. told Philippine News Agency Wednesday that the project--in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the region (BFAR-13)-- is on its final stages and is

expected to start within the year.

Matugas said the city government has already purchased the required two-hectare land area for the project in Punta Bilar, Surigao City.

RPOC... FROM3

CONSTRUCTION... FROM5

BUCKS... FROM11

TEAGUE... FROM11

Hatchery project seen to boost fishery industry in Surigao

A

hatchery project with an estimated cost of PHP35 million is seen to boost the fishery industry in Surigao City and nearby towns in Surigao del Norte.

Surigao City Mayor

10 EDGEDAVAO

MICROSOFT... FROM4

recent auction, and the European Union, where it was estimated to trade at 26.57 euros, or $29.58, in the current quarter.

CARBON CAPTURE RAISES QUESTIONS Co-founder Bill Gates was an early backer of British Columbia-based Carbon Engineering, among a handful of developers of direct air capture technology.

Carbon Engineering CEO Steve Oldham said the firm’s first direct air capture plant is under construction and is expected to capture 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Microsoft “is at the helm of what could be a new movement towards negative emissions,” Elizabeth V. Sturcken of the Environmental Defense Fund, said in a statement, adding that the nonprofit advocacy group was eager for Microsoft to use its political influence as well.

Microsoft’s goal of removing enough carbon by 2050 to account for all its emissions since its founding in 1975 includes direct emissions from sources such as company vehicles and indirect emissions from electricity use.

Question remain about

the technology that Microsoft is considering. Sue Reid, vice president of climate and energy at US nonprofit Ceres, which works with companies on sustainability commitments, said the economics of direct air capture have yet to be worked out, and reforestation rates may not be fast enough to catch up with growing emissions.

“That math is all facing some new uncertainty and vulnerabilities tied to exacerbated climate change impact, (like there being) more wildfires,” she said.

INVESTORS WANT ACTION ON CLIMATE Microsoft’s announcement comes as big investors pay more attention to how companies tackle climate change.

Earlier this week, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said companies must act or face investors’ anger over how unsustainable business practices might curb their future wealth.

But even as technology companies have stepped in with climate goal plans, they have faced employee criticism for doing too little.

Amazon.com Inc, the world’s largest online retailer, last year pledged to

ONLY P16B... FROM4

dol," Salamanca said.

"So P7.5 billion lang yung para sa taong ito ang magagamit natin," she added.

However, the Depart-

ment of Budget and Management assured that the fund is enough.

"Aside from the P16 billion, nagpasa ang Kongreso kasi ng extension

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

be “net zero carbon” by 2040 and to buy 100,000 electric delivery vans from a startup, after employee activists pushed the retailer to toughen its stance on climate change.

Microsoft plans to become net zero carbon a decade earlier than Amazon, although its emissions are roughly a third of Amazon’s.

Microsoft expects to release 16 million metric tons of carbon in 2020, including indirect emissions from activities like corporate travel.

Amazon, whose cloud business is bigger than Microsoft’s, delivers billions of packages as the largest internet retailer and owns grocer Whole Foods. It emitted more than 44 million metric tons of carbon in 2018, including indirect sources.

It was not immediately clear if the figures reported by the companies were exactly comparable.

EMPLOYEE ACTIVISTS HIGHLIGHT OIL CONTRACTS Microsoft and Amazon have come under fire from activist tech workers who have demanded that they stop supplying technology

to oil and gas companies because of the polluting nature of fossil-fuel extraction. Microsoft in 2017 announced a multi-year deal to sell cloud services to US energy giant Chevron Corp .

Microsoft Workers 4 Good, which says it represents Microsoft employees aiming to hold the company to its stated values, lauded the climate plan but said “this goal is incompatible with contracts that aim to increase oil extraction, a process which we know is not sustainable.”

In a blog post, Microsoft on Thursday reiterated its commitment to working with oil and gas providers, saying it is “imperative that we enable energy companies to transition” to renewable energy and carbon-capture technologies.

Bill Weihl, former director of sustainability at Facebook Inc, said Microsoft does not take into account that its work with oil companies could outweigh the gains of measures Microsoft takes on its own carbon reduction.

“There is good stuff here,” Weihl said. “But the topline message, that this is urgent, is not matched by what they’re focusing on.”

ng appropriation last year, nung 2019, and as a result meron pang balensa na pwede pang gamitin for the purpose of this calamity, itong Taal. Ang balanse

noon is P3 billion pa," Budget Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie Canda said.

Watch the video to know more.

NEW WORLD... FROM5 the project was secured by Governor Dayanghirang and was backed by Second District Rep. Almario.

Now listed under the 2020 National Expenditures Program, the project was originally part of the P95 billion budget vetoed by the President last year, of which Davao Oriental got a slice of P3 billion.

Governor Dayanghirang thanked Congressman Almario, who, although has the “power of the purse” wherein he can realign the priority projects already listed, has instead supported the smooth approval of the project.

“The Provincial Sports Complex, along with scores of other projects is sourced from the budget ceiling of Congressman Almario,” said Gov. Dayanghirang, expressing his thanks to the Second District representative for allocating a big portion of his congressional budget for his priority projects amounting to a total of P1.5 billion.

“Unlike other provinces whose governors and congressmen have encountered disagreements arising from the realignment of projects, we have to consider ourselves very lucky that here in the province, officials are committed to a shared goal,” said Gov. Dayanghirang.

“This is a concrete manifestation of the partnership of the provincial leadership and my Congressional Office.

That for the benefit of the people, I don’t mind what projects are listed because I know this is for everyone’s advantage,” said Rep. Almario, who divulged that there will be more groundbreaking ceremonies for various projects in the district in the

coming weeks.

Boosting Tourism Governor Dayanghirang said the project was born out of his administration’s ambitious goals to make the province a new hub for sporting events in the region and even in the country. He said this will not only help inspire local athletes but will also draw more opportunities for the province in terms of investments and tourism.

“The sports center will become a major income-generating facility for our province,” said Governor Dayanghirang, adding that it will also benefit local businesses and help create jobs as an offshoot of the development.

“This will be a come-on as many would want to avail of our sports center,” said Rep. Almario, adding that while there are other sports center in the region like Tagum City, the province of Davao Oriental has more advantage because of its exquisite beaches and other exciting tourist destinations.

And with the highly-anticipated operation of the Mati Airport, residents and government officials are optimistic that there will be more developments in the province in the coming years.

Present during the ceremony were District Engineer Jane Cainghog who represented DPWH Regional Director Engr. Allan Borromeo, Vice Governor Niño Uy, Second District Representative Joel Mayo Almario, Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Orle Cabaobao, and other members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. By Karen Lou Deloso/Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

11

PBA to donate to Taal victims

T

Milwaukee Bucks’Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to drive between Boston Celtics’Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)AP

he Philippine Basketball Association will hand out donations to victims of the Taal Volcano eruption in the province of Batangas.

Commissioner Willie Marcial, a native of Batangas City, said the league would give PHP1 million and 500 pairs of slippers to the Batangas provincial government, which will help in the relief operations for those heavily affected by the volcanic activity.

The cheque and the footwear will be given before Game 5 of the Governors’ Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday night.

On the other hand, Ginebra guard LA Tenorio, a native of Nasugbu, said he would dedicate his team’s campaign in the championship series against Meralco to the Taal Volcano victims.

“I told the players also na we dedicate this win and hopefully the championship on Friday to the fans in Batangas,” Tenorio said after the Barangay took Game 4 against the Bolts on Wednesday night.

Now 3-1 up in the bestof-seven series, Ginebra can lock in its third Governors’ Cup title in four seasons in Game 5 on Friday night.

“Walang ikakasaya ang mga Barangay fans natin sa Batangas kundi ang ipanalo namin ang championship (Nothing could make Barangay fans in Batangas happy other than our winning the championship),” Tenorio added.

With its back on the wall, Meralco needs to win the game to avoid elimination and force a Game 6 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue on Sunday night.

(PNA)

dept at operating at whatever gear his team needs, Kawhi Leonard has been in selfish mode of late, and the Los Angeles Clippers are better for it.

Leonard scored 32 points, Montrezl Harrell had 21 and the Clippers beat the Orlando Magic 122-95 on Thursday night.

Leonard also had five rebounds and five assists in his fourth consecutive game with at least 30 points. He was 12 for 20 from the field.

Leonard’s adaptive nature is why the Clippers were willing to throw more than $100 million his way for the next three seasons.

Finding a player that has the ability to be the best in the league at whatever mode he chooses does not come cheap. ‘’It’s not hard for him; it would be hard for me and most other players,’’

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said. ‘’For him, he’s so under control that nothing’s going to speed him up. He can go fast when he wants to. We have figured out how to take advantage of that better and it’s been great for us.’’

Leonard’s four consecutive offensive-minded games have coincided with Paul George’s absence because of a strained left hamstring. The Clippers not only improved to 11-1 when Leonard scores 30 or more points, he is the first Clippers player with four consecutive games of at least 30 since Elton Brand in 2006. ‘’I’m just making shots, my teammates are being aggressive and they are getting me open shots as well,’’ Leonard said. ‘’It’s just creating a chain reaction and we’re all playing hard on defense. We’re

Bucks survive Celtics A

Kawhi leads Clippers over Magic

M

ILWAUKEE (AP) -Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer dug into his team after Thursday night’s win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 17 rebounds, Khris Middleton scored 23 and the Bucks held off the Boston Celtics 128-123 despite blowing two separate 20-point leads. ‘’We were up 20 twice and they came back,’’ Antetokounmpo said. ‘’... We didn’t play the best basketball and how we usually play. I was kind of upset after the game. We talked in the locker room. We talked to one another. We were up 20 and we won but we’ve got to play for 48 minutes. ‘’Coach Bud came in here and he was steaming hot. He was angry and

that’s good. He doesn’t really care about this game or the next game. He cares about how we can get better and how can we be good for 48 minutes. That’s what our goal is.’’

Despite the lapses, the NBA-leading Bucks (37-6) extended their winning streak to five games, while Boston lost its second game in as many nights. ‘’It’s a very long season, still,’’ Celtics guard Kemba Walker said. ‘’We got so many games to play. When you have losses like this, you just have to learn from it, and I think we will.’’

Walker scored a gamehigh 40 points to lead Boston, which took the floor without Jaylen Brown. The 6-foot-6 forward suffered a sprained right thumb in a 13-point loss to Detroit on

Teague traded to Hawks

M

INNEAPOLIS (AP) -- With the Minnesota Timberwolves committed to a new style of play, Jeff Teague didn’t fit the trend.

The Timberwolves traded the 11th-year veteran point guard to his original team Thursday in a three-player swap of backups with the Atlanta Hawks, who sent shooting guard Allen Crabbe in return.

The Timberwolves also dealt shooting guard Treveon Graham, creating a roster space for potential other transactions prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. It was the first significant in-season move by new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, who let the first wave of players acquired by the previous regime go last summer soon after he was hired.

Teague, who played his first seven NBA seasons with the Hawks after they made him the 19th overall pick in the 2009 draft, went to his only All-Star game in 2015 for Atlanta.

Crabbe is a better stylistic fit for the fast-paced,

3-point-favoring offense the Wolves have transitioned to under Rosas and first-year coach Ryan Saunders. He is a career 38.9% shooter from 3-point range who averaged 5.1 points in 28 games for the Hawks this season. ‘’Different players play different ways, and I’ll give Jeff a lot of credit for trying and doing whatever was asked of him to try to be a good fit in our system,’’ Rosas said on a conference call with reporters. ‘’I think, big picture, it’s just a different game. The way he plays, this system is maybe not as complementary to him in that we need our lead guard to be a guy who pushes tempo and is more of a creator than a scorer.’’

The 31-year-old Teague, who’s making $19 million, and the 27-year-old Crabbe, who’s earning $18.5 million, are both playing on expiring contracts. Graham is only signed through this season, too.

Teague averaged 13.4 points and 7.1 assists in 146 games with the Timberwolves over 2 1/2

FTEAGUE, P9

Wednesday. ‘’We saw a play late in the first half and we think that might have been when it happened,’’ Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. ‘’Maybe it got worse as the game went on. He didn’t say much about it at halftime.

Certainly, after the game it was sore. Today, more sore.’’

Stevens said the training staff will do more tests on Brown’s thumb on Friday.

Marcus Smart, who started in place of Brown, had 24 points. ‘’Coming off a back-toback night, we knew that it was going to be tough,’’ Smart said. ‘’But we didn’t want to let that be an excuse. We just continued to fight and fight until we got to where we wanted. We

gave ourselves a chance at the end.

Antetokounmpo, who also had seven assists, recorded his 35th double-double of the season.

After trailing by as many as 27, the Celtics outscored Milwaukee 36-22 to pull within 127-123 with 38 seconds to play. But Smart missed a 3-pointer and Middleton knocked down one of two free throws to seal the victory. ‘’Not enough, at least from the start,’’ Walker said of his team’s energy level. ‘’As the game went along, we were a little better. But, games like this happen. We just have to be ready.’’

Antetokounmpo scored the first basket of the night and the Bucks never trailed.

FBUCKS, P9

Jeff Teague returns to his former team Atlanta Hawks after the Minnesota Timberwolves decided to deal him for Allen Crabbe.

FKAWHI, P9

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 220 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

EQUAL TREATMENT

Ramirez opens Philsports for nat’l para-athlete trainings

T

he Philippine Sports Commission opened the doors of its newly-refurbished Philsports Complex for national para-athletes training for the 2020 Asean Para Games.

“The renovations done in both Rizal Memorial and in Philsports are primarily for our elite athletes,” explained PSC Chairman William Ramirez.

Despite being weeks away from its official turnover, the PSC has already opened the complex in Pasig City to support the national para-athletes’ preparations for the biennial meet which was rescheduled on March.

“Our national para-athletes are inspired to work harder as they use the new facilities inside Philsports.

We thank the PSC for supporting us,” said Philippine Paralympic Committee Executive Director Dennis Esta, who added intensive trainings in the said

PSC facility are now on-going for athletics, power-lifting and sitting volleyball.

Meanwhile, Ramirez has announced that with the help of NCC and Perez, bemedalled para-swimmers Ernie Gawilan, Garry Bejino and the rest of the swimming team will also allowed to train in the Class-1 FINA-certified swimming facility of the NCC by the fourth week of the month.

“We want to duplicate the same success Team Philippines had taking top rank of the 30th SEA Games. The PSC will continue to give its full backing to the more than 280 national para-athletes competing in the Para Games,” shared the agency chief.

The Asean Para Games is scheduled on March 21 to 27, with 16 sport disciplines in 14 different competition venues in Metro Manila, Subic and Clark.

World-class Dabawenyo para athlete Ernie Gawilan, flanked by government officials led by Senator Bong Go, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, House Speaker and PHISGOC chair Alan Peter Cayetano and PSC

chairman Butch Ramirez, will lead the country’s campaign in the Southeast Asian Para Games in March this year.