Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 299 | Wednesday, January 29, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

COACH WHO DIED WITH KOBE IS HALF-PINAY

Serving a seamless society

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

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A mother and her children wear face masks while walking at Rizal Park along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Tuesday. Some Dabawenyos have taken precautionary measures by wearing face masks while out in public to protect themselves from catching viruses such as the deadly Wuhan Coronavirus. Lean Daval Jr

FALSE REPORT SPMC says no case of foreigner with coronavirus

By MAYA M. PADILLO post on social media has sparked fears that a patient from Thailand with Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has arrived in Davao City.

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Reacting on the rumors, the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) the report is false

and assured the public that there has been no reported case of the dreaded nCoV in Davao City.

SPMC chief of hospital Dr. Leopoldo “Bong” Vega denied the report that a patient from Thailand with nCoV has been admitted to SPMC. A Facebook post from Pedia North/Central FB account is currently circulating online creating fear

among Dabawenyos. The post read: “Just today one suspected for corona virus arrived in Davao today from Thailand. Ang patient naa sa SPMC”.

“Nope. We don’t have con�irmed case of coronavirus and no patient admitted for isolation,” Vega

told Edge Davao.

Vega reassured that they have implemented measures to ensure patients’ safety at SPMC amid nCoV threat by setting up an isolation facility for emerging infections.

He added that they have a team speci�ic for

emerging infections and responsible for triage and evaluation of all suspected cases.

Meanwhile, the city government is stepping up its preparation against nCoV which has already caused a number of deaths

FALSE REPORT, P9

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte greets outgoing New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan, who paid a farewell call on the President at the Malacañan Palace on Monday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Team NHA commences P60-million Implementing of RPRH Act meets housing projects in Talaingod T

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. he National Housing Authority (NHA) has led the groundbreaking ceremony of the housing project for the Ata Manobo tribe in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, a known NPA-controlled area .

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NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., led the ceremony for the three housing projects in Sitio Nasilaban, Barangay Palma Gil here on Tuesday.

Along with Escalada were Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez, Talaingod Mayor Jonnie Libayao, Eastern Mindanao Command commander Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., 10th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Reuben Basiao and Salugpongan Founder Datu Guibang Apuga .

In his speech, the NHA General Manager said the three projects have a total amount of P60 million which came from the 2019 budget.

He said each project will have 100 houses costing P20 million. Two of the projects will be implemented by the provincial government while the other one will be implemented by the municipal government.

During the program, the NHA turned-over two checks worth P30 million for the two projects to Jubahib so that the project will be started immediately.

The remaining P5 million for each projects will be given once 80 percent of the construction will be completed.

The governor of Davao del Norte is thankful for the project given to the town since this will give a big help to its constituents.

Jubahib said the three housing projects will start on February which will have up to four months for its completion.

“Depende sa panahon usab, I-consider nato ang panahon (This will depend on the weather also, we should consider that also),” he said.

He said the houses will be immediately given to the bene�iciaries as soon as the project will be completed.

For Faustino, the project will be a big impact to the residents knowing that the area was infested by

the NPA before.

The EastMinCom commander said that with the series of development and aid to the residents coming from the government such as the housing projects, the people especially the Indigenous People will not be deceived anymore by the rebels.

For his part, Apuga said the project only prove that the government is really serious in helping their community.

In the past administrations, Apuga shared that he could not feel the aid of the government since it is only more on promises but nothing reached to his community.

But now, the tribal leader said the houses and the concrete roads already given to his place and hopping that there will be more projects that will bene�it his tribe.

probe were Chinese nationals and that no Filipinos were involved.

Earlier in the day, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) temporarily stopped issuing tourist visas on arrival to Chinese nationals in a bid to curb their arrival and minimize the chance of virus transmission.

The novel coronavirus was �irst detected in Wuhan City of China’s Hubei province last December.

According to the World Health Organization, the new strain of coronavirus already reached Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, US, Canada,

and France.

Death toll has reached over 100 and more than 4,000 have already been infected, the Chinese government said on Tuesday.

There are no con�irmed cases of novel coronavirus in the Philippines yet as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the DOH.

DOH: 27 under investigation in PH for possible nCoV infection

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he number of people under investigation in the Philippines for possible infection of novel coronavirus has almost doubled in the past 24 hours as it climbed to 27 on Tuesday.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), most of the patients under

he City Implementation Team (CIT) of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 met on Monday, January 27, at the SP Session Hall in the City of Mati.

No less than Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat presided over the CIT meeting attended by other members like City Health Of�icer Ben Hur Catbagan, City Local Government Operations Of�icer Joseph Pogatorio, the Philippine National Police, the City Social Welfare and Development Of�ice and all other local government of�ice heads.

In the said meeting, Catbagan updated the team of their accomplishments in the City Health Of�ice with regards to the RPRH. Porgatorio meanwhile suggested for the City of Mati LGU to come up with a 3-year implementation plan for the said law.

Philippine National Police representative also updated the CIT saying that most of the complaints �iled before their women’s desk were rape and violence against women and children.

Mayor Michelle meanwhile directed all agencies concerned to create a program that would empower abused women for them to become more independent from their

husbands or partners.

“Let us create a program for women who experienced violence, create opportunities for them to be independent from their partners,” Mayor Michelle said.

Dr. Catbagan also pointed out the need to conduct barangay mapping of couples and of women about to give birth. This way, the City Health could readily address the need of pregnant women in the city especially the young ones.

It was learned that teenage pregnancy cases in many barangays have increased.

“Let’s implement sex education in the school to lessen the childhood pregnancy,” said Dr. Catbagan.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 12 dated January 2017 directed various government agencies including LGUs to intensify and accelerate the implementation of critical actions necessary to attain and sustain “zero unmet need for modern family planning” for all poor households.

Those with unmet need for modern family planning are those who are fecund and sexually active and want to limit or space their children but are not using any modern method of contraception.

(CIO MATI)

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Camiguin patient 'tested negative' of coronavirus

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person suspected of having been infected with the novel coronavirus (nCOV) has tested negative, the provincial government of Camiguin said Monday.

"The person under investigation tested negative, he is stable and is scheduled to be discharged today (Monday) from Camiguin General Hospital,” said Dr. Gretchen Cabalang, the provincial health of�icer, in a health bulletin.

"We would like to assure the public that we will continue to monitor the person, his traveling companions as well as any tourist arriving in the province," Cabalang added.

A report by the Philippine Information Agency quoted Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo as saying Monday that the island has around 106 Chinese tourists.

Romualdo said each Chinese tourist is being checked, especially those who are from mainland China.

“The province has instituted mandatory protocols in monitoring and safeguarding the possible introduction [of novel coronavirus] in our territory,” Romualdo was quoted as saying.

Camiguin is considered as one of the country's prime tourist destinations, with thousands of local and foreign tourists visiting the province’s attractions and sites all year round.

The provincial government has recorded more than half a million visitors last year, with peaks during major activities such as the Lanzones Festival held in October and the "Panaad" during the Lenten Season.

The 2019 novel corona-

CAMIGUIN, P9

Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11) director Tanya Rabat-Tan shares tourism updates of Davao Region during the sales mission of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation in Davao City at Marco Polo Davao on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr

Public warned vs. Mindanao railway project investment solicitation scam

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ndividuals or groups found soliciting investments for the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) would be prosecuted "to the full extent of the law" once caught, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday.

In an advisory, the DOTr warned the public against scammers using the name of President Rodrigo Duterte to solicit money purportedly for the MRP, a project �inanced through of�icial development assistance from China.

“We also clarify that the President does not allow his name to be mentioned in any activity to solicit/ offer investments for the Mindanao Railway Project,” the advisory read.

The DOTr advised the public to report such ac-

Manager Edwin V. Regalado (7 th from L) as one of the members take their oath on January 23, 2020 at DCWD Bajada office. The oath taking was administered by Local Water Utilities Administration Acting Administrator Jeci A. Lapus (extreme L). SOCEMWIC is the association of water districts in Regions 11 and 12.

Water interruptions in some Cabantian, Bago Aplaya areas

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Orchard Villages 1 and 2, Leonora Garden Heights Subd., Ramon Nena II HOA, RDL Staff House, D’ Achievers Village, Arendain Village, Km. 10 to 14 Cabantian-Indangan Road, and immediate environs; Communal areas: Communal Road, Canaan Village, Ilumina Estates Phase 1, Aspen Heights, D’ Leonor Inland Resort, Doña Trinidad Village, Green Valley, and immediate environs; and Indangan areas: Villa Alevida Subd., Purok San Andreas, Mountain View Village, and immediate environs.

DCWD needs to tem-

porarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give way to the disinfection and cleaning of Cabantian Reservoir 1 as part of DCWD’s commitment to ensure safe and drinkable water supply.

Second set is from 8:00 PM of February 1, 2020 until 1:00 AM of February 2, 2020 in Gulfview Executive Homes, Cartagena Compound, and Versari Village. DCWD needs to temporarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give way to the installation of a circulating/step test gate valve at Gulfview Subd. This

project is among DCWD’s non-revenue water reduction strategies.

On behalf of the DCWD management, General Manager Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers and advises them to store enough water prior to the schedules. Water supply may be restored earlier if works go smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

DCWD conducts �lushing after service works are completed.

However, once water is

WATER, P9

reduce travel time from Tagum City, Davao del Norte to Digos City, Davao del Sur from 2.5 hours to 1.3 hours.

Earlier this month, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said they expect the

PUBLIC, P9

PH suspends visas on arrival to Chinese nat'ls on virus fears

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Southern and Central Mindanao Water Information Council (SOCEMWIC) welcomes officers, board of trustees, and committee chairpersons for 2020-2021. SOCEMWIC officers headed by Pikit Water District General Manager Max Viloria Boado as President (2 nd from L) and board of trustees and committee chairpersons with Davao City Water District General

avao City Water District advises the public of two separate sets of water service interruptions.

Low water pressure to no water will be experienced on January 31, 2020 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM in some areas served by Cabantian Water Supply System (WSS).

Speci�ic affected areas are these Cabantian areas: elevated portions of Deca Homes and Emily Homes, Northcrest Subd., Suraya Homes, Dacudao Village, Forestal Road, Kasilak Village, Celerina Heights, Hidalgo Homes, Amakan Village, Green

tivities to the agency for investigation.

The PHP81.69-billion MRP is one of the �lagship projects under the Duterte administration.

Its Tagum-Davao-Digos segment of the 100-kilometer line is expected to

he Philippines' Bureau of Immigration will temporarily stop issuing tourist visas on arrival to Chinese nationals to help ensure the country remained free of the new coronavirus, its head said on Tuesday.

"We are taking this proactive measure to slow down travel, and possibly help prevent the entry of the 2019-nCov," Jaime Morente, the bureau's commissioner said in a statement.

The virus outbreak, which began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has infected more than 4,000 people in China and killed more than 100.

Cases have also been

con�irmed in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal and the United States.

Chinese tour groups are the usual applicants for visas on arrival, Morente said, as he clari�ied that there was no ban on the entry of Chinese nationals.

"We have not received any directive imposing policy changes on Chinese nationals," he said.

Filipino authorities said 11 people were being monitored locally for possible coronavirus infection. All are foreigners of Chinese, German, Brazilian and American nationalities who traveled to Wuhan.

PRRD appoints ex-AFP chief Madrigal to Philcoa board

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resident Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Benjamin Madrigal Jr. as a member of the governing board of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

The retired general was named to the post on Jan. 21 according to a list of new presidential appointees released by Malacañang on Tuesday.

As a member of the PCA, Madrigal will help develop and implement programs for the local coconut and palm oil industry.

Madrigal headed the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command before he took over as AFP chief of staff in January 2019. He retired from military service in September 2019 and was succeeded by Gen. Noel Clement.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

Nike suspends sales of Kobe gear in online store

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OPEN HOUSE. Former Davao City Vice Mayor Bernard Al-Ag and wife Cherry Al-Ag grace the Aeon Luxe’s Chinese New Year Open House event at Aeon Towers, with Aeon Luxe Properties executives led by SVP for Sales Andrew P. Bautista (3rd from left).

Business sector pushes for Davao-Manila-Japan flights

By MAYA M. PADILLO he opening of a direct route from Davao to Japan is every Dabawenyo’s dream. However, it’s not the easiest to set up.

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To achieve this, business leaders are now pushing for the most convenient alternative which is a Davao-Manila-Japan or a Davao-Cebu-Japan triangular �light via Philippine Airlines (PAL).

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCII) regional governor for Davao Region Arturo Milan told media the group is hopeful PAL will consider establishing a Davao-Manila-Japan triangular �lights instead

of the Davao-Japan direct �light.

“Mao na among gusto bisan triangular �light kay we don’t expect direct �light jud. We can even have Japan-Cebu-Davao triangular �lights,” Milan said.

Milan cited Silk Air’s service to Davao which currently operates Singapore–Cebu–Davao–Singapore routing as example.

“That is how the way Silk Air developed the market,” he added.

Alsons power to carry on key community relations programs

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he Alsons Power Group, Mindanao’s �irst private sector power generator, is once again poised to continue its various corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects for 2020. Ruben G. Tungpalan, the Group’s vice president for corporate affairs and community relations stated, “The core focus for all of our CSR projects has always been to preserve the environment and advance the education of the young people in all of the communities where we operate. Thus, all our �lagship community projects are centered on the twin pillars of advancing education and preserving the environment.”

This year, Alsons Power plans to commemorate the completion of its centerpiece environmental preservation project - the 7,500-hectare Sarangani Energy Watershed Protection Project (WPP) located within the vicinity of the Group’s 210-megawatt

(MW) Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) power plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province. The project which encompasses an area larger than the City of Manila and almost twice the size of Makati City, is the largest one of its kind in the country. Alsons Power embarked on the Sarangani Energy WPP a few months before the start of the construction of the SEC power plant with the purposes of preserving the Siguil and Kamanga river watersheds, providing forest cover to the area, and providing livelihood for the Blaan and T’boli indigenous communities residing in the area.

The Sarangani Energy WPP area is currently managed by the Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation (Alcantara Foundation) – the CSR arm of the Alcantara Group. The Group aims to mark the WPP’s completion thru an onsite ceremony with the Department of the Environment

ALSONS, P9

Milan said they are still trying to push for Davao-Japan direct �light.

He said they are hopeful that in the �irst quarter of this year their negotiation with PAL will be successful.

“We are negotiating. I hope that PAL is now open considering that PAL is now open to service triangular �lights,” Milan said.

Milan, past president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII), was lobbying for the opening of direct �lights between Davao City and Japan to boost tourism and foster trade links.

Last year, along with

other business leaders, Milan saw bright hope after their recent trips to Tokyo, Hitachinaka, and Saitama wherein they were able to invite All Nippon Airways (ANA) to �ly to Davao.

ANA is 10 percent shareholder of PAL. “So it can be either be ANA �lying if they consider or they may encourage PAL to �ly directly. For me personally I don’t mind any as long as there is a direct �light,” Milan said.

Milan is also hopeful that international budget airline TigerAir will start �lights to Davao City through chartered carrier soon.

ike on Monday suspended the sale of Kobe Bryant merchandise on its online store, multiple outlets reported.

According to ESPN, a search for Kobe Bryant on the site takes a user instead to a page with a purple and gold Nike gift card sporting the Los Angeles Lakers logo. A search of the site for “Kobe Bryant” and related terms later Monday night resulted in a page with the statement Nike issued Sunday upon learning of Bryant’s death: “Along with millions of athletes and fans throughout the world, we are devastated by today’s tragic news. We extend our deepest sympathies to those closest to Kobe and Gianna, especially their family and friends.

“As we are learning more details of the accident and the others who have tragically lost their lives, our heartfelt sympathies go out to everyone involved and impacted.

“Kobe was one of the

greatest athletes of his generation and has had an immeasurable impact on the world of sport and the community of basketball.

He was a beloved member of the Nike family. We will miss him greatly. Mamba forever.”

Bryant, 41, was one of 9 people killed Sunday when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in Calabasas, California.

His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also was among those who perished.

According to TheStreet, Nike had not yet replied to a request for comment Monday night. But citing sources within the company, ESPN reported the decision to suspend the sales was to prevent resellers from stockpiling on Bryant gear and then selling the merchandise at elevated prices.

The report added that Nike is re-evaluating how it will release Bryant’s signature shoe series going forward.

According to ESPN,

NIKE, P9

AirAsia extends suspension of flights to Wuhan, China

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egional carrier AirAsia on Monday announced the extension of suspension of all �lights to and from Wuhan in China, the epicenter of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).

In an advisory, AirAsia said �lights from Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, and Phuket to Wuhan, China are suspended until February 15, 2020.

"AirAsia is also making provisions for guests with �light bookings to/from all destinations in mainland China to obtain credit account or full refund," the advisory read.

"From the Philippines, these include Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou," it added.

AirAsia earlier clari�ied that it does not operate direct Philippine �lights to and from Wuhan, China.

"Certain destinations within AirAsia’s �light network have imposed travel bans for guests based on nationalities, cities of origin, travel history or the purpose of travel. Options are available to AirAsia guests who were affected by the �light changes and travel bans," the carrier said.

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

Davao leaders sign MOU on reg’l innovation center

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Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCII) regional governor for Davao Region Arturo Milan bears during this week’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao that the organization is currently pushing for a Davao-Manila-Japan triangular flight via Philippine Airlines. Lean Daval Jr

f�icials of concerned government agencies, industry leaders and representatives of the academe will gather this morning to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the establishment of a regional inclusive innovation center (RIIC) in Davao at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites on Sta. Ana Ave., in Davao City.

Davao is one of the four areas in the country where an RIIC will be piloted, the other three being the cities of Legaspi, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. The RIIC answers the call of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 on the Department of Trade and Industrty (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to coordinate with other government agencies, the

academe, the private sector and people’s organizations on investments on scienti�ic and technological research projects.

John Carlo B. Tria, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) and signatory of the MOU representing business and industry, said the RIIC will “enable industry and the government to develop and push innovative products and services that can make our business sector more competitive.”

Aside from Tria, Dr. Anthony Sales , DOST 11 regional director, for government and Dr. Maricar Casquejo, regional director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 11, for the academe, will also sign the MOU and deliver their messages of commitment to the RIIC.

orries on the impact of the new coronavirus from China resulted in the weakness of both the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) and the peso Monday.

The main equities index shed 0.47 percent, or 35.78 points, to 7,587.63 points, which BPI Research attributed to the concerns on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) after China reported more than 80 deaths from the epidemic that originated from Wuhan, China.

Several cases of 2019nCoV have been reported in other countries like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and the United States.

Philippine authorities have also reported they are currently monitoring 11 people suspected of having been infected by the virus.

With the risk-off sentiments, most of the counters in the local bourse tracked the main index, with the All Shares down by 0.62 percent, or 28.23 points, to

4,495.34 points.

Industrial, Holding Firms, and Services lost 1.38 percent, 0.71 percent, and 0.67 percent, respectively.

On the other hand, Financials rose 0.22 percent, Property, 0.19 percent; and Mining and Oil, 0.10 percent.

Volume reached 1.90 billion shares amounting to PHP4.3 billion.

Losers led gainers at 119 to 69, while 43 shares were unchanged.

The local currency ended the week’s �irst trading day at 50.835 to a dollar from 50.815 last Friday.

It opened the day at 50.88, better than its 51.00 start in the previous session.

It traded between 50.94 and 50.8, resulting in an average of 50.872.

Volume totaled to USD787.95 million, lower than the USD1.1 billion at the end of last week.

BPI Research forecasts the peso to trade between 50.70 and 50.10 to a greenback on Tuesday. (PNA)

MCIA posts 7.3% increase W in from-to Davao traffic

DAVAO, P9

Stocks, peso down on coronavirus concerns

By MAYA M. PADILLO avao City reaf�irmed its position as an important market for Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) next to Manila ranking �irst in terms of domestic passenger traf�ic among the regional destinations.

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In 2019, MCIA recorded a 7.3 percent increase in passenger traf�ic fromto Davao with a total of 799,540 domestic passengers and a total of 70 �lights per week. Because of this remarkable growth, MCIA is eyeing to improve the domestic and international connectivity between Davao and Cebu.

“After Manila, Davao airport is the number one airport connected to Manila that is giving us the most traf�ic. People from Davao who are going to other destinations in Visayas and abroad are passing through Cebu,” said Aines Librodo, head of Airline Marketing and Tourism Development of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), the private operator managing MCIA.

In an interview during MCIA’s sales mission held at Marco Polo Davao on Tuesday, Librodo said the number of people who transfer via Cebu is now increasing because Dabawenyos are already starting to see Cebu as a more convenient option to �ly out of Davao to other destinations instead of going all the way to Manila.

“The number of passengers is about 800,000.

It was an increase of about 6 percent to 7 percent versus what we had in 2018.

People from Davao who are going to other destinations in Visayas and going abroad are passing through Cebu,” she said.

Librodo said 50 percent of about 800,000 passengers are domestic or Davao-Cebu and the other half would be going abroad

where in a big chunk of it is going to destinations in Southeast Asia. MCIA is connected also to Europe and North America to various airlines like Emirates that �lies to 40 destinations in Europe; Qatar Airways to 50 destinations in Europe as well as Cathay Paci�ic and Korean Air. According to Librodo, connectivity to Europe and Southeast Asia goes by via legacy carriers, which speci�ically refers to those airlines that �lew interstate routes prior to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.

“More and more �lights that go to Cebu would mean connectivity also to Davao. I believe we do have Davao-Cebu and we do have Davao going to western and eastern Visayas and Davao going abroad,” she said.

Because of this growth, Librodo said MCIA is inspired to do more sales missions in Davao City and to continuously work together with the travel and tourism industry in Davao.

For this year’s sales mission, GMCAC and its

partner airlines promoted new �lights and services of MCIA to the travel agents in Davao City.

Now on its 3rd year of conducting sales mission in Davao and other regions in Visayas and Mindanao, GMCAC has partnered with different airlines namely Philippine Airlines, Cebu Paci�ic, AirAsia Philippines, EVA Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, and China Airlines, which is the newest partner airline of MCIA and will operate a Cebu to Taoyuan, Taipei route starting March 29, 2020.

The Japan National Tourism Organization also joined for the �irst time to promote tourism activities in Japan to outbound Filipino travelers.

After Davao, GMCAC will bring the sales mission to Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Iloilo and Tacloban.

MCIA is connected to 28 domestic destinations and 21 international destinations with nine domestic partner airlines and 17 international partner airlines.

had earlier fallen by more than 3 percent.

Global stock exchanges also fell as investors grew increasingly anxious about the widening crisis. Demand spiked for safe-haven assets, such as the Japanese yen and Treasury notes.

The death toll from the coronavirus rose to more than 80 and the Chinese government extended the Lunar New Year holiday to Feb. 2, trying to keep as many people as possible at home to prevent the virus from spreading further.

The rapid spreading of

the virus fuelled fears of slowing oil demand and raised speculation that OPEC and its allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, would consider deepening production cuts.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allies in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), tried to play down the impact of the virus on Monday, with Riyadh, the de-facto OPEC leader, saying the group could respond to any changes in demand.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy

Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud said on Monday he felt con�ident the new virus would be contained.

Markets are being “primarily driven by psychological factors and extremely negative expectations adopted by some market participants despite (the virus’) very limited impact on global oil demand,” the minister said.

“Such extreme pessimism occurred back in 2003 during the SARS outbreak, though it did

Oil drops below $60 as China virus stokes demand concern

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rude prices extended declines on Monday, dropping below $60 for the �irst time in nearly three months, as the death toll from China’s coronavirus rose and more businesses were forced to shut down, fuelling expectations of slowing oil demand.

Brent crude was down $1.51 a barrel, or 2.5 percent, to $59.18 at 1254 GMT, its lowest since late October and the biggest intra-day fall since Jan. 8.

US crude was down $1.37, or 2.53 percent, at $52.82. Both contracts

OIL DROPS, P9

Spectrum targets to install more renewable energy facilities this year

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pectrum, the renewable subsidiary of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), targets to double its installed capacity for renewable energy in 2020.

On the sideline of the inauguration of City of Dreams’ 1.2-megawatt solar power facility Monday, Spectrum President Victor Genuino told reporters that the company aims to install additional 20-MW renewable energy facilities across the country this year, ending the year with a total of 40 MWs in installed capacity.

“We’re going to aim to double,” Genuino said.

“Maybe we want to add another 20 (megawatts) this year.”

He said among the

major projects of Spectrum this year include the installation of energy facilities in Isla Verde and Cagbalete, with a capacity of less than one megawatt each.

Genuino said the company is optimistic to double its installation capacity this year, as there are existing power purchase agreements (PPAs) as well as new commercial and residential projects.

“Our mandate is really to look after industrial and commercial rooftop projects and customers. So we have bid and won a couple of big projects, a couple of big accounts,” he added.

Genuino said Manny Villar’s Vista Mall is tapping Spectrum to install

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

EDITORIAL Deadly rumors Here they come again.

A post on Facebook which reported that a patient from Thailand has been admitted to the Southern Philippines Medical Center and found to have the dreaded coronavirus is the latest of malicious social media forays designed to blacken the image of Davao City.

Posted on Pedia North/Central, which is obviously a dubious account, it said that the coronavirus case at the SPMC is ‘con�irmed.’

The thread also said a certain Dr. Valdez reportedly con�irmed the case.

Before the rumor could spread like wild�ire, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) categorically slammed the report saying it is false and assured the public that there has been no reported case of the dreaded Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) in Davao City. SPMC chief of hospital Dr. Leopoldo “Bong” Vega denied the report.

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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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

It is beyond logic to imagine why such malicious minds using the internet to spread false reports that are equally dangerous as the coronavirus itself will �ind satisfaction at what they do.

But these are among the open risks of the seamless media given its accessibility and lack of control. It is something everyone will have to deal with for as long as anyone can post anything on these platforms as free as writing on any piece of paper.

Vigilance and responsibility from netizens is the only weapon to combat these rumor mongerers. The good thing with this particular situation is that netizens immediately fact-checked the report and the authorities quickly issued of�icial statement on this matter.

Fingers crossed, Davao City will be free from this virus but it takes everyone’s cooperation and vigilance. The rumor strain, like this virus, is just as deadly.

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 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

SEAFARERS AS “FISHERS OF MEN” The apostles of Jesus Christ were initially known as “�ishers of men” which is considered as the most important metaphor for evangelism.

According to the gospel last Sunday, Christ �irst gathered his �ishermen-disciples around him who later disseminated his teachings.

Andrew, Peter, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were �ishermen. The bible relates that Andrew and Peter were �ishing, plying their trade when called, and James and John were mending nets with their father. The bible also states that James and John weren’t just �ishermen, but business owners, along with their father, for they employed others in the business.

Thomas and Philip may have also worked as �ishermen, for they were all together and �ishing when Jesus appeared to them following his resurrection.

The disciples are simple working people with no great

background.

In Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero’s ranking of occupations, owners of cultivated land appear �irst and �ishermen last.

In the ancient world, �ishing was a metaphor for two distinct activities: judgment and teaching.

Water is a symbol of life as well as a symbol of destruction.

To some, the water reference might also be linked to the idea of baptism.

In this case, Jesus called the disciples to drag people out from the water of this world where they are drowning in sin.

He invited them to abandon the nets and trust themselves totally to the Lord for a new ‘catch’, a new de�initive horizon. It might refer to the disciples working to catch souls for Jesus as they had previously caught �ish.

When �ish leaves water it dies after few hours. However, it receives a new life through the teachings of resurrection.

In the Philippines, Saint

Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod are two martyrs of the Philippine Catholic Church who were seafarers and missionaries at the same time before they became saints.

Ruiz and Calungsod sailed to other countries and died for a mission: “to teach the Good News”.

While working as a clerk for the Binondo Church, Ruiz was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Ruiz sought asylum on board a ship with three Dominican priests and sailed for Japan.

However, Christians were being persecuted in Japan by the time Ruiz had arrived.

The missionaries were arrested, thrown into prison, and endured various cruel methods of torture. Despite his suffering, Ruiz refused to renounce Christianity and died from eventual blood loss and suffocation. His body was cremated, with the ashes thrown into the sea.

While in Guam, Calungsod preached Christianity to the Chamorro people through cat-

echism, while baptizing infants, children and adults at the risk and expense of being persecuted and eventually murdered.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle earlier acknowledged the role of seafarers, Filipino mariners in particular, in propagating the teachings of the church, and not merely major contributors to the country’s economic growth.

Tagle underscored that the pain brought by separation is a sign of the seafarer’s love, strength, and faith for the good of his family and the country.

“Even if you feel pain when you leave your family and your country, that suffering is not a reason for you to be ‘paralyzed,’ but inspire you to strive for more,” said Tagle adding that their hardships will not weaken them but make them even stronger.

The Philippines is considered as one of the major supplier of maritime labor globally as it is estimated that there is one Filipino seafarer for every

four to �ive complements on board a vessel at any time.

The estimated 337,502 deployed Filipino seafarers in 2018 remitted $6.14 billion or around P318.55 billion. The sea-based sector’s remittances comprise at least 22% of the total dollar remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

These remittances help spur domestic consumption in the Philippines and a key ingredient in the country’s drive to achieve higher but sustainable growth.

With faith as a weapon, the Filipino saints and seafarers sail with a mission – to be the soldier of change not only in the Philippines but also to the whole world. *** Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law of�ices. For comments, send message through email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786).

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THEY WHO DIED IN HELICOPTER CRASHES Last January 26, while most televisions and newspapers from all over the world were reporting about the novel corona virus, a big news happened in the United States when a helicopter crashed and burst into �lames in Southern California.

Legendary American basketball player Kobe Bryant, together with his daughter and three others, died when “the aircraft went down in a remote �ield off las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning,” tweeted the City of Calabasas.

The world was totally shocked with the turn of event.

The retired NBA superstar was gone at the age of 41. He played his entire 20-year career in the National Basketball Association with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant’s untimely death shadowed that of Dr. Raymundo S. Punongbayan in 2005. He served as director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) from 1983 to 2002. He rose to popularity after handling two well-known calamities that hit the country: the 1990 Luzon earthquake and the 1991Pinatubo eruption.

At the time of his death, the American-trained geologist was a member of the Philippine National Red Cross Board of Directors. Punongbayan, together

with four PHIVOLCS staff and four Air Force crew members, were on a mission to assess the area as part of the disaster preparedness operations program of the government, when the helicopter crash at Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.

“He was sel�less and indefatigable,” Stauro T. Punungbayan said of his father. “I’d see him early in the morning turning the computer on to do something. Or lying on the sofa thinking of what else he could do for the country, for the people.”

Thailand has also its shares of famous people who died of helicopter crashes. One of the famous fatalities was Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the billionaire owner of King Power Duty Free and chairman of Leicester City F.C. The helicopter was leaving King Power Stadium just one hour after a football match.

Eyewitness described seeing “the helicopter spinning before crashing and creating a �ireball.”

He was 60 when he died, together with four others on board the helicopter.

Like Vichai, Frank Wells was also a businessman but from the United States. In fact, he was known as the President of the Walt Disney Company. “He died in a helicopter crash on April 3, 1994 returning from a ski

trip that he went on with Clint Eastwood,” Ranker.com reports.

“Disney dedicated its �ilm, The Lion King, to Wells.”

Most of those who died from helicopter crashes were politicians. Rene Barrientos, for instance, was the president of Bolivia when he died in a helicopter crash on his way to Arque, Cochamba Department.

Another politician was John Garang. He served as vice-president of Sudan for a brief period in 2005. On July 30, 2005, the helicopter he was �lying in crashed while returning from a secret meeting with President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.

George Saitoti was also a vice-president of Kenya when he died in a helicopter crash along with �ive others on June 20, 2012. Aside from being a politician, he was also a businessman and American- and British-trained economist, mathematician and development policy thinker.

The American entertainment has lost a lot of its people due to helicopter crashes. Take the case of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the blues guitarist who received a total of six Grammy Awards in his career. “On the hazy night of August 27, 1990, Vaughan and three members of Eric Clapton’s team were killed in a helicopter crash after performing a con-

cern at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin,” stated the Ranker.com report.

Troy Gentry likewise died in the same manner. The other member of the musical group, Montgomery Gentry, he was on his way to a New Jersey concert performance when the incident happened on September 8, 2017.

Hollywood actor Vic Morrow – who appeared on the series Combat! – also perished in a helicopter crash but not in the same manner. The Ranker.com report said: “While �ilming Twilight Zone: The Movie, he was killed when a helicopter crashes on top of him due to faulty pyrotechnics. Two child actors Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi, also died as a result of the accident, which occurred on July 23, 1982.”

Two famous Australian �ilm producers also died in a helicopter crash. Byron Kennedy, known for his Mad Max series (which catapulted Mel Gibson to international fame), ended his career when the helicopter he was �lying in crashed at Warragamba Dam in New South Wales.

Andrew Wight died in the same fashion. His credits include Ghosts of the Abyss, Aliens of the Deep, Expedition: Bismarck and Sanctum.

On February 4, 2012, he was killed

in a helicopter crash at Jaspers Brush near the town of Berry in New South Wales. The crash also claimed the life of Mike DeGruy (an American documentary �ilmmaker specializing in underwater cinematography).

There were two other famous men who died in a helicopter crash: Svyatosla Fyodorov and Mark Muir Mills.

Fyodorov was a Russian politician and ophthalmologist when the helicopter he was �lying in crashed when returning from an academic conference.

Mills, an American physicist who developed atomic bombs, died on April 7, 1958 after the helicopter he was �lying in crashed due to bad weather.

It seems only men died of helicopter crashes. But there was one reported in Ranker. com. Philippa Duke Schuyler was an American child prodigy and pianist who became famous in the 1930s and 1940s as a result of her talent, mixed-race parentage, and eccentric methods employed by her mother to bring her up.

“She died on May 9, 1967 after a helicopter she was �lying in crashed into the water where she would eventually drown.

The helicopter was �lying on a mission to rescue Vietnamese orphans,” the Ranker.com reported.

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS: AN EMERGING NEW PANDEMIC?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“W

hile the trajectory of this (novel coronavirus) outbreak is impossible to predict, effective response requires prompt action from the standpoint of classic public health strategies to the timely development and implementation of effective countermeasures.”

– From a Viewpoint feature

Forewarned is forearmed, so goes a popular saying. That was what American billionaire Bill Gates seemed to be telling his audience when he talked about epidemics in a discussion that was hosted by the Massachusetts Medical Society and the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018.

While the world was busy lifting children out of poverty and the getting better at eliminating infectious diseases, but “there’s one area though where the world isn’t making much progress,” Gates pointed out, “and that’s pandemic preparedness.”

Business Insider’s Kevin Loria, who covered the discussion, reported: “ T h e likelihood that such a disease will a p pear continues to rise.

N e w pathog e n s emerge all the time as the world population increases and humanity encroaches on wild environments.

It’s becoming easier and easier for individual or small groups to create weaponized diseases that could spread like wildlife around the globe."

Such �ierce observa-

tion may create some anxiety if not panic to some people. But the reality is, the world should not be complacent or else it will not be prepared for whatever outcomes the disease may bring.

As Gates points out: “In the case of biological threats, that sense of urgency is lacking. The world needs to prepare for pandemic in the same serious way it prepares for war."

If the world will con-

tinue the “business as usual” thinking, then history might repeat itself. Remember the Great Plague of Mar-

seille in 1720? This last signi�icant European bubonic plague – caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis – killed a total of 100,000 people in the France city.

One hundred years later, in 1820, a cholera had spread to Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. On the island of Java alone, in Indonesia, the outbreak caused the death of 100,000 people.

It was worst in the Philip-

pines.

“The cholera epidemic was spreading like wild�ire in towns and villages along both

banks of the Pasig River,” said one historical account. “Eyewitness claimed the cemeteries were over�lowing with bodies and dead bodies were being left on the streets. A rumor went around claiming a person that will bury someone who died in the morning would in turn be buried in the afternoon.”

One hundred years thereafter, the Spanish Flu took over. Actually, it started in January 1918 and ended on December 1920. “Probably 50 million, and possibly as high as 100 million (three of �ive percent of Earth’s population at that

time) died, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in human history,” Wikipedia reports.

It’s 100 years since the Spanish Flu happened.

Now, comes the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was identi�ied by Chinese authorities. The

virus is associated with an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan City, Hubei Province.

“Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people.”

Such as has been seen with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). “When person-to-person spread has occurred with MERS and SARS, it is thought to have happened via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how in�luenza and other respiratory pathogens spread,” the CDC explains.

Coronaviruses are named for the crownlike spikes on their surface. There are four main sub-groupings of coronaviruses, known as alpha, beta, gamma and delta. Human coronaviruses were �irst identi�ied in the mid1960s. So far, seven coronaviruses can infect people, including 2019nCoV. “Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread,” the CDC reports. “However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggest-

ing person-to-person spread is occurring.”

In a report carried

by Channel News Asia (CNA), President Xi Jinping admitted that China was facing a “grave situation” as death toll from the coronavirus outbreak kept growing.

State-run China Global Television Network also reported that a doctor who had been treating patients in Wuhan had died from the virus.

The 2019-nCov is deadlier than SARS. “This time I’m scared,” admitted Dr. Yi Guan, who played an important role in tracing the development of SARS and is the director of the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Hong Kong “Conservative estimates suggest that the scale of infection may eventually be 10 times higher than SARS,” Dr. Yi pointed out.

Unfortunately, the virus is spreading in other parts of the world: Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.

Hours after the United States con�irmed its second case, American President Donald Trump tweeted: “China has been working very hard to contain the coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency.”

But the good thing is: everyone is trying to cooperate. “Just 10 days after the pneumonia-like illness was �irst reported among people

NOVEL, P10

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

EDGEDAVAO FOOD

PIZZA FOR ALL APPETITES AT

YELLOW CAB WHETHER at work, in school, or at home, there are times when we start craving for a great pizza but oftentimes we have to make do and ignore that craving just because most pizzas are just too big for one person to finish. All that is about to change with the introduction of Yellow Cab’s new 9-inch pizzas.

Yellow Cab’s New York-style pizzas officially introduced in a simple get-together at the pizza chain’s Azuela Cove branch.

Available in an all-new size that packs a punch for your appetite, the Yellow Cab 9-inch pizza

may be smaller in size but it still comes complete with the same edge-to-edge toppings people have always loved.

Starting at just Php 299, we can now satisfy our hunger with these mouthwatering pizzas that are perfect for both solo snacking sessions and sharing with your buddy. There is a wide range of Classic and Signature flavours to choose from such as: the local favourite Hawaiian; iconic New York Classic; proteinpacked Manhattan Meatlovers; fresh Garden Special; light Roasted Garlic and Shrimp; sweet and tangy BBQ Chicken; and flavourful #4 Cheese.

For those times when we have friends or colleagues over, then a 12” Medium, 15” Large, or 18” XLarge pizza is perfect. Choose from Classic and Signature favourites, or you can try Yellow Cab’s bold Legendary flavours: jam-packed Four Seasons in Original or All Meat, or my favourite, New York’s Finest.

“Yellow Cab wants everyone to feed their edge and appetite with a satisfying bite, whether dining solo, with a buddy, or with their circle,” says Charlene Sapina, Marketing Head of Yellow Cab Pizza Co. “With our

new 9-inch pizzas, you can now enjoy your Yellow Cab favorites whenever you desire at a new generous price of Php 299.”

Yellow Cab’s new mouthwatering pizza sizes are available

now for dine-in, take-out, and curbside pick-up, starting at Php 299. Delivery prices vary.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/YellowCabPizzaOfficial/.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

OAKWOOD SUITES BANGKOK INTRODUCES REFINED RESIDENTIAL LIVING TO THAILAND OAKWOOD, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree”), today announced the official opening of Oakwood Suites Bangkok, its third property in Bangkok and sixth in Thailand.

Strategically located along Sukhumvit Soi 24 in the popular Phrom Phong district, the prop-

erty will offer a sanctuary of tranquility and privacy within the Thai capital’s thriving commercial complexes, and vibrant mix of shopping malls, restaurants and bars.

With a total of 228 wellappointed studio, premier, oneand two-bedroom apartments that cater to the diverse needs of travellers on business or

leisu with featu plia mac tain easy Busi elev cess as E Park shop Oak rede of sa Oak exce now “F to li pora an e and Bein bust com nien the to u Ban cont

GLOBE, VEND PILOT 1ST QR CODE-OPERATED VENDING MACHINES IN PH TO PROMOTE As the Philippine market leans towards cashless payments, Globe Telecom has tapped Vending Experts Night and Day Philippines, Inc. (VEND Phils. Inc.) to come out with the first vending machines in the country that operate using the Quick Response (QR) code for cashless and contactless transactions.

“Mobile technologies continue to evolve to make our life easier and we now see cashless payments using mobile phones gaining traction in the Philippines. Anyone who has used the QR code for payments will realize that it is much more convenient and secure than credit cards or cash,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe Chief Finance Officer.

She added: “This initiative with VEND is also a prime example of how closely we work with our partners in developing new business models with innovation and sustainability in mind.”

In 2013, Globe started using GCash as payment for goods inside the company headquarters. It then went cardless in 2017 when GCash scan-to-pay was launched. However, coffee vending machines in the building were not capable of contactless payment, prompting Globe to look for ways to shift to the QR system. Payment via this method is performed by scanning a QR code from a mobile app like GCash.

“Technology continues to move forward and we believe that

vending operations should also be aligned with the times. We are thankful to Globe for bringing this idea to us. We are proud to be the first vending company in the Philippines to successfully launch a cashless coffee vending machine through a QR code payment scheme utilizing GCash,” said Gilbert Dela Cruz, President and CEO. Instead of paying with bills, coins, or card, users simply have to open their GCash app and scan the QR code displayed on the machine and input the price of the item.

Once payment is successfully sent, they can already press the button of their desired drink. At present, there are 18 QR-operated vending

machines in the Globe corporate headquarters in Taguig.

The vending machine does not only promote cashless transactions but also supports Globe’s sustainability campaign by giving customers a P1 discount on their transaction if they opt to use their own mug instead of disposable paper cup.

Last year, Globe introduced the Wag sa Single Use Plastic (WasSUP) program focusing mainly on banning plastic cups and lids, spoons and forks, and straws in the company cafeteria. At the same time, it encourages employees to bring their personal utensils to lessen their contribution to the growing waste problem not only in

the Philippines but globally.

“We have incorporated mobile technology in our system so that end-users will have an enjoyable and satisfying interaction with us and our vending machines. We are looking forward to offering the same solution to all companies which are in the business of selling vending machines,” said Dela Cruz.

VEND is the official vending partner of Commonwealth Foods, Inc., maker of well-known Filipino household brands, Cafe Puro and Ricoa.

The initiative supports UN Sustainable Development Goals 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.

EDAVAO

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ure, each unit is equipped h a fully-furnished kitchen uring top-of-the-line apances, a Nespresso coffee chine and in-room enternment system. Providing y reach to the city’s Central siness District as well as the vated convenience of acs to major landmarks such EmQuartier mall, Benjasiri k and a plethora of other pping and dining options, kwood Suites Bangkok will efine the jetsetting lifestyle avvy travellers through kwood’s delivery of service ellence coupled with rewned Thai hospitality.

From restful green spaces ively markets and contemary sky bars, Bangkok is exciting mix of modern d traditional Thai lifestyles. ng a gateway to Asia, the tling city is an important mmercial hub and a convent springboard to the rest of continent. We are thrilled unveil Oakwood Suites in ngkok, bringing elevated temporary luxury to this

ENTERTAINMENT

GMA NETWORK’S UNVEILS TOUCHING TALE BETWEEN FRIENDS-TURNED-FOES

key market,” said Dean Schreiber, interim chief executive officer of Oakwood and managing director of Oakwood Asia Pacific.

Designed to provide unparalled residential comfort for well-heeled travellers and senior executives, most of the studios and apartments at Oakwood Suites Bangkok feature a private balcony with cityscape views of the heart of Bangkok.

While guests can expect unobtrusive service tailored to one’s lifestyle with a focus on subtlety, they can also look to enjoy the property’s range of facilities such as an infinity outdoor swimming pool, a stunning sky lounge with meeting room, a residents’ lounge, a fully-equipped fitness centre, and a children’s playroom. ALICE Café & Bistro, an all-day dining restaurant, will feature an innovative repertoire of Asian-fusion cuisine complemented by a delightful array of international classics and freshly-made desserts.

E CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS

BEGINNING JANUARY 27, the most sensational rivalry ensues between friends-turned-mortal enemies from two different regions on GMA Network’s TV adaptation of the hit 1984 movie by Regal Films, ‘Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday.’

The much-awaited reimagining of the classic film is headlined by two of the Network’s brightest stars – Kapuso Primetime Princess Barbie Forteza as Ginalyn and promising young Kapuso actress Kate Valdez as Caitlyn. The drama also highlights famous tourist destinations from the provinces of Leyte and Ilocos namely the iconic San Juanico Bridge and the thrilling Paoay Sand Dunes.

The drama also introduces the exciting reunion of seasoned actresses Ms. Snooky Serna as Amy and Ms. Dina Bonnevie as Sussie in their most colorful roles yet.

Snooky, who portrayed the role of Biday’s daughter in the original film, shares what makes this TV adaptation unique from the movie, “‘Yung version namin ngayon, they put a little bit more of drama in it. It’s not a complete copy of the original story. They give it a different twist altogether so we have a different story. Ang pareha lang ay sina Waray at Biday, perennially mortal enemies talaga sila.”

Dina, who has no trouble speaking Ilocano after marrying a native, reveals why she opted to accept the role of Biday, “After a long time, Snooky and I will be working together again. I really welcomed it because I haven’t done

comedy in a long time. Excited ako kasi kakaiba and I won’t have to cry buckets of tears.”

Adding spice to the already fuming feud between the Warays and Bidays are: Migo Adecer as Cocoy, a charming city boy who crosses paths with Ginalyn and Caitlyn; Jay Manalo as Joaquin, a dashing man from Manila who becomes Amy and Sussie’s apple of eye leading to their broken friendship; Teresa Loyzaga as Dorcas, Joaquin’s sophisticated cousin who would do anything to keep their family’s riches to herself; Faith da Silva as Agatha, Dorcas’ spoiled brat daughter; Jean Saburit as Vanessa, doting mother of Cocoy; Tanya Montenegro as Glenda,

Amy’s cousin and close confidant from Leyte; Benedict Cua as Benny, a famous charismatic vlogger of Filipino-Chinese descent and Caitlyn’s best friend; and Ms. Celia Rodriguez as Zenaida, Sussie’s elitist and controlling mother who makes Amy’s life a living hell.

Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday also features the special participation of Lovi Poe as young Sussie and Max Collins as young Amy who will be portraying the roles of Dina and Snooky, respectively, during their younger years for the pilot week; together with Jason Abalos as young Joaquin; Pinky Amador as young Zenaida; Mike ‘Pekto’ Nacua as Randy, young Joaquin’s comrade; Yanna Asistio as young Glenda; and Franco Gray Nerona as Joni, young Amy’s friend and fellow helper in Sussie’s villa.

This original series, created by the GMA Entertainment Group, is headed by the SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Camille Hermoso-Hafezan, and Executive Producer Arlene Pilapil.

Catch the world premiere of Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday beginning January 27, weeknights, after 24 Oras on GMA Telebabad.

Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International.

For the program guide, visit www. gmapinoytv.com.

KHALIL AND ELISSE COMBINE SPOKEN WORD POETRY, HEARTBREAK IN IWANT’S “AMPALAYA CHRONICLES” IWANT brings bitter and relatable love stories from the stage to the screen in its original ‘hugot’ anthology series “Ampalaya Chronicles,” starring Khalil Ramos and Elisse Joson in the pilot episode that tackles onesided love.

The series, which is now streaming on iWant, is based on the best-selling book and stage performances of curated spoken word poems the “Ampalaya Monologues” by Mark Ghosn. The brand has been popular with young audiences for its musings about the pains of love.

The pilot episode titled “ADIK” revolves around shy yet romantic poet Carlo (Khalil), who only wishes to get close to his longtime crush Nina (Elisse). He luckily gets his chance when Nina appears on his doorstep, hoping to get him to help her write and perform poems for her talent portion in an upcoming beauty contest.

As the two get closer, Carlo can’t help but hope

that Nina develops feelings for him. However, he painfully realizes that his dream relationship may only seem beautiful in poems.

“ADIK” is based on the piece with the same title by spoken word artist Carlo Hornilla, which garnered 8.2 million views on Facebook and is the first-ever Filipino spoken word performance to go viral on Spotify. The episode is directed by Real Florido, written by Florence Henzon, and produced by Firestarters Production.

Stream “Ampalaya Chronicles” for free on the iWant app (iOs and

Android) or iwant.ph. For updates, like www.facebook. com/iWant, and follow @ iwant on Twitter and @

iwantofficial and @dreamscapedigital on Instagram, and subscribe to www. youtube.com/iWantPH.

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EVENTAND CULTURE ARTS TRAVEL TECH

EDGE EDGE DAVAO DAVAO EDGE DAVAO

VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 223 229•216 •WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 22, VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 219 • TUESDAY, • FRIDAY,JANUARY 17, 14, 2020

SONY INTRODUCES NEW GP-VPT2BT USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET WIRELESS SHOOTING FINISSIMO VINOGRIP DEL MUNDO ANORWEGIAN WORLD OF GREATCRUISE WINES ANDLINE SPIRITS AT ELIMINATES SINGLEMAYA ON THE BLOCK A1

ka weaver naga-himo,” he said.

This is also among the reasons why Limon will go to Sitio Sangab to introduce the cotton weaving. He believes that using cotton threads into Dagmay as well as their embroidery will help sustain their livelihood.

“Mas mudaghan pud ang NORWEGIAN Cruise order sathe Dagmay if they will Line, innovator use cotton threads,” he said. in global cruise BUILDING on travel the ByLimon KENNETH also seeshistory the to with a 53-year growing lineup ofneed camIRVING ONG tapbreaking theand artisans in this endeavof boundaries, eras accessories or now to givesingle-use theirfor clients fresh is plasdeveloped modern FOR FILIPINOS, festive and new designs. tic beverage bottle free creators, Sony today occasions plenty, “We really need tothe tapfrom the across its are fleet. has announced new birthdays, toannounced weddings, artisans directly before man GP-VPT2BT wireless The brand lastto fiestas, graduations, gud ga-agi pa ko saIdeal middle shooting grip. year thatand it partnered withfor from marking monthman since wala’y sa many different types JUST Goods, Inc.,aaccess which ensary or just meeting community,” he said. of content creation abled theeven Cruise Line to replace up with friends, celebrawants tovlogs show ranging from to all Limon single-use plastic wateroff tions are common inasfleet, the the beauty of Dagmay travel photography /he bottles across its 17-ship Philippines. has clients with who its are looking for videography tomost simple beginning recent While food is always present clothes and accessories made everyday use, the new ship, Norwegian Encore. in The athe party spread, aHe true party by Mandayas. said they grip offers optimum achievement is one of the is never complete without some noticed that some Pasalubong stability and comfort latest sustainable steps forward wine or including spirit.with Already anCity’s estabcenters Davao combined cablefor Norwegian Cruise Line.

In lishment findingeliminated great free connectivity andwines a 2018, the for Company and qualitydust spirits, Fourth and reliable and moissingle-use plastic straws across Tayfleet at resistant the Lanang ture its andPhoenix privatedesign. destinaMegastation, Compatible with aofreopened variety tions, and as arecently result this with arecent name butdigital with the same of Sony’s latest most initiative, itcamerwill lovethe andGP-VPT2BT passion of bringing the as, connects replace over six million singlegoodplastic life Davao. easily viato Bluetooth, allowing use water bottles every Now Finissimo Vino creators to simply aim and year.

In called addition, the brand is del Mundo, theinterfering rebrand reflects shoot without working to eliminate single-use owner or Leonardo M.Torres’ pascables exposedand inputs.

The plastic shampoo condision to provide the athis finest wines new grip includes useful tilt tioner bottles later year. and spirits overflexible the feature thatfrom allows for These efforts are all driven by world toangle Davao.

“It also hapvertical adjustment as the Company’s Sail & Sustain pened mother’s maiden well asthat the my ability to switch Environmental Program, which name was alsotodel Mundo” he from normal self-shooting is its commitment to minimize sharedto during theAdditionalstore’s ceremode with ease. waste landfills, reduce its

A4 INdulge!

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

JUST is 100% spring water in a plant-based carton. The carton is made of 82% renewable materials – the paper carton is made from trees grown in responsibly-managed forests and the cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic.

It is refillable and recyclable.

JUST has a global presence with bottling facilities in Glenn Falls, NY; Ballymena, Northern Ireland; and Ballarat, Australia, thus allowing the company to meet demand around the world without shipping water from a single production source. JUST takes care to use the most efficient shipping options available.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCLCRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

A4 INdulge!

Aldevinco do not carry Dagmay cloth.

“Wala man gud kaayo Mandaya na pieces and mostly T’boli products ang sa Aldevinco. Sa Manila T’boli lang mostly makita nako na ginahimo accent ug Yakan, beads sa Bagobo, balud from Lanao monial opening last January 17. and Inaul. Walay something Guests visiting Finissimo from the Mandaya commuVino del Mundorate, canincrease choose nity,” hetosaid.

CO2 emissions thrilled make such an impact from an array of wines from cotton Dagmay design sustainable sourcing and invest by The eliminating single-use beverparts of the world clothing not yetchanged available ly,different has an adjustment wheel and can beisquickly initemerging technologies. age bottles across our fleet. in and“This different price points. theajust market as Limon can beinloosened tightened into tripod simply exis a veryor special and It’s one by of the waysand wehis are spirits carries group are in the immertoThe allow for section seamless operapanding the bottom portion, very proud momentalso for us,” working tostill preserve our oceans asaid spectrum of different spirits enabling sion the stage ofstable, the project. tion with cameras of different easy handsHarry Sommer, president and destinations we visit. like rum, The vodka, scotch, “Wethis willisevaluate their sizes and grip free shooting. and whisky, chiefweights. executive officer of While just the pa beginning and the different toincre- of capacity and kung willing sila also includes a flipmixers button, The GP-VPT2BT Wireless Norwegian Cruise Line. “As what we and others can do, ate the light perfect cocktail. makipag-collaborate,” he said. dicator and lock we switch, Shooting Grip will committed be availa leading cruise line, are we are incredibly

to our Sail & Sustain program and believe wholeheartedly in the importance of preserving our natural resources. We will continue to strive towards making environmentally conscious decisions to benefit our earth.”

Envisioned and founded by 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

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

FALSE REPORT... FROM1

and af�licted close to 5,000 people in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China.

Although there is no reported case of nCoV in Davao City, the City Health Of�ice (CHO) is not taking chances. Authorities have taken tight biosecurity measures.

In a statement released by the City Information Of�ice (CIO), city health of�icer Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said the city government is closely coordinating with the Bureau of Quarantine to step up screening of people at all points coming to the city, especially at Davao International Airport which receives daily domestic �lights and international �lights from Hong Kong, Singapore, Manado and Quanzhou.

Villafuerte said the CHO also has a team at the airport to assist the quarantine personnel in fetching those who will arrive at the airport with symptoms of �lu.

Villafuerte also called on the people to immediately seek the advice of a doctor if they show �lu symptoms like fever and cough.

Department of Health (DOH) 11 assistant region-

al director Dr. Lenny Joy Rivera said the airport is equipped with a thermal scanner that detects the temperature of all arriving passengers at the airport.

The coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China.

Since its discovery in December, more than 100 people died due to the disease. A number of those affected by the virus in the area were workers of a seafood market in Wuhan, prompting Chinese authorities to clean the area.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to the Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

WHO said the clinical signs and symptoms of the patients reported in this cluster are mainly fever, with a few patients having dif�iculty in breathing, and chest radiographs showing bilateral lung in�iltrates.

News reports said coronavirus cases have been reported in South Korea, Singapore, the United States, Japan, and Thailand.

virus, also known as 2019nCoV, is a virus identi�ied as the cause of an outbreak

of respiratory illness �irst detected in Wuhan, China.

(PNA)

Tagum-Davao line to start partial operations by the

second quarter of 2020.

(PNA)

restored, customers are advised to open all faucets and allow water to run for at least two minutes. Do not drink tap water immediately but if needed, boil water beforehand as safety precaution.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www.davao-water.gov. ph) and of�icial Facebook page (www.facebook. com/davaowater) for the

latest water service updates. They may also call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 235DCWD (3293) and press “4” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates or contact 09277988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 for any matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Vena Del S. Calago)

more than 100 NBA players have worn Bryant shoes this season.

Thousands of people reportedly stopped by and gathered throughout the day Monday at a 35foot poster of Bryant at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. At Nike’s regional of�ice in

Los Angeles, employees gathered in the of�ice’s auditorium, named “Kobe.”

Also on Monday, the NBA announced that the game between the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.

DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Ambi will welcome the participants, after which an of�icial of STRIDE ( The Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development), a United States of America Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded group, will give an overview of the RIIC Davao Initiatives.

Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba, DTI undersecretary, will deliver the inspirational talk, after a message from a USAID of�icial.

Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) 11 Cluster 3 Director Erlito Tancontian will render the closing remarks. AMA A press conference on the project will be held after the MOU-signing.

CAMIGUIN... FROM3 PUBLIC... FROM3

WATER... FROM3

NIKE... FROM4

DAVAO... FROM5

ALSONS... FROM4

OIL... FROM5

and Natural Resources (DENR) and key local government and community of�icials by the middle of this year.

2020 will also see Alsons Power inaugurate the second President Du30 Early Learning Center near the construction site of the 14.5 MW Siguil Hydro run of river hydroelectric power plant – the Group’s initial foray into renewable energy also located in Maasim, Sarangani. The Center which is a signature CSR program of Alsons Power and the Alcantara Group is meant to cater to early education pupils in public schools in the rural areas as well as those public schools with a considerable number of early learning pupils from indigenous communities. Each Center is fully equipped with learning tools and visual aids such as colorful learning posters, illustrated children’s books featuring traditional Blaan stories written in the mother tongue with translations in English and other dialects, and a television set. The spacious classrooms can accommodate 40 to 50 pupils. Under the concept, Alsons Power provides the infrastructure or “hardware” while the government thru the Department of Education assisted by the Local Government Unit provides the early-learning curriculum or “software.” Aside from the Du30 Early Learning Center, Alsons Power has donated and helped build 40 fully-furnished classroom and library buildings in Sarangani, General Santos City, and Zamboanga City.

Other ongoing Alsons Power signature CSR programs include the Alsons

Power Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship Program in cooperation with Olympic Silver Medalist and Asian and SEA Games Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz. Under the program, Alsons Power provides selected potential medal-winning athletes in the Philippine weightlifting team training pool with a regular stipend covering school supplies, uniforms, and daily school expenses to ensure that these “power scholars” get to continue their education while competing for the country. 15 promising student-athletes have been included in the program since its launch in 2017. All of these “power scholars” are from Zamboanga City where Hidilyn Diaz and the Philippine Weightlifting Association have established 3 training centers and where Alsons Power operates the 100 MW Western Mindanao Power Corporation diesel plant- the only major power facility within the City.

In addition to the Hidilyn Diaz scholarship program Alsons Power has granted scholarships to more than 4,000 individual elementary, high school, and college students from Zamboanga City, Iligan, General Santos City and Sarangani Province.

Tungpalan further stated, “As 2020 begins, we look forward to continuing to build and strengthen our partnerships with the all our stakeholders in the communities where we operate. As we began to expand our power business to other areas, we remain steadfast in our commitment to be good neighbors and to help improve the quality of life for the people living in our communities.”

troduced the NBA legend to Christina, who served as Mauser’s assistant coach at the time. The former Lakers star was so impressed by the “amazing mind” Christina had for basketball that he hired her to teach defense to children attending his Mamba Sports Academy, a training facility for promising young athletes. “[Kobe] didn’t choose Christina for just any or-

dinary reason — she was extraordinary,” Mauser remembered. “She was incredibly witty, funny like nobody you’ve ever met.”

“She was warm, she was incredibly bright. She was technologically incredibly savvy, she could �igure out anything,” he added. “[Kobe] picked her because she was amazing. I was so proud of her and she was so happy.” (AFP, Yahoo and ABS CBN)

COACH... FROM11

NOTICE OF LOSS

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

CONTRACT NUMBER

CFP NUMBER

MARICA REGINA C. AZURIN

10370666-9

-

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

not cause a signi�icant reduction in oil demand,” Prince Abdulaziz said in a statement.

The OPEC+ group has been withholding supply to support oil prices for nearly three years and on Jan. 1 increased an agreed output reduction by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.7 million bpd through March.

OPEC+ “have the capability and �lexibility needed to respond to any developments, by taking the necessary actions to support oil market stability, if the situation so requires,” Prince Abdulaziz said.

Brent crude oil pric-

es have dropped by more than 14 percent since a spike in tensions between the United States and Iran brie�ly lifted prices above $70 a barrel on Jan. 8.

The losses since are in spite of a 75 percent drop in output from Libya to less than 300,000 bpd due to an ongoing blockade of oil�ields.

“Macro concerns over energy demand due to curtailed movement of people and trade have been weighing on an oil market that is otherwise tight due to ongoing supply concerns in Libya and OPEC+ output cuts,” Dutch bank ING said in a note.

solar panels for their malls.

“Before, it used to be so expensive to put up a solar solution. But now, what we are seeing and

what customers are seeing is, they can actually get payback. So a lot more people are adapting to the technology,” he added.

(PNA)

SPECTRUM... FROM5 Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service.

Case No. R11-EV-PJ-2020-1-711 (2014-XI-00711) ARCHIE A. COLES, Petitioner.

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

Case No. R11-EV-PJ-2020-1-1002 (2014-XI-01002) JESUSIMO C. MORQUIDA, Petitioner.

x----------------------------------------------------x

x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: SASA VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE and for cargoes as dual service from said place to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on August 17, 2020. In the petition filed on January 16, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 18, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

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

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

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 17th day of January 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: TORIL and for cargoes as dual service from said place to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on March 11,2020. In the petition filed on January 20, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on FEBRUARY 18, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

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

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

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 21st day of January 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Attorney IV/Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

1/29, 2/5, 12, 2020

9

Petitioner, Archie A.Coles Counsel, Atty. Albert G. Yenco

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Attorney IV/Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Jesusimo C. Morquida Counsel, Atty. Marvin G. Camino

10 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

NOVEL... FROM8 who visited a seafood market in Wuhan, China, scientists released the genetic sequence of the coronavirus that sickened them,” wrote Carolyn Y. Johnson of The Washington Post. “That precious bit of data, freely available to any researcher who wanted to study it, unleashed a massive collaborative effort to understand the mysterious new pathogen that has been rapidly spreading in China and beyond.”

That’s a good news, indeed. “The pace is unmatched,” Dr. Karla Satchell, a professor of microbiology-immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, was quoted as saying. “This is really new. Lots of people (in science) still try to hide what they’re doing, don’t want to talk about what they’re doing, and everybody out there is like: This is the case where we don’t worry about egos, we don’t worry about who’s �irst, we just care about solving the problem.”

Dr. Ivan Hung, chief of infectious diseases division at the University of Hong Kong, sees the brighter side in all of these. He said the ability to rapidly identi-

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

fy the virus in patients should help authorities to counteract its spread.

“So far, the virus is behaving in a less lethal manner than SARS,” he was quoted as saying by a daily.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) says the common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing dif�iculties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

There is still no speci�ic cure or vaccine available against 2019nCoV. Right now, what can people do is to prevent it from spreading and getting the virus.

WHO’s standard recommendations for the general public to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses are as follows: · Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water for at least 20 seconds; · Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.

When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with �lexed elbow or tissue; throw tissue away immediate-

ly and wash hands; · Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough; · If you have fever, cough and dif�iculty breathing, seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider; · When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals; · The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices. · While traveling, if you choose to wear a face mask, be sure to cover mouth and nose; avoid touching mask once it’s on. Immediately discard single-use mask after each use and wash hands after removing masks. · If you in an unfamiliar place, eat only wellcooked food. Avoid spitting in public.

(Photos taken from the net)

is in need of

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

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

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

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

11

Lebron: I'm devastated

L

eBron James broke his silence on the death of Kobe Bryant, saying he was "heartbroken and devastated."

In an emotional Instagram post, James mourned Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who died in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

"I'm sitting here trying to write something for this post, but every time I try, I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi, and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had," James said.

"I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA," he added.

It was reported that Bryant had called James after the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Philadelphia 76ers, which saw James pass Bryant for third place in

the NBA's scoring list.

Bryant's �inal tweet had been about James, when he congratulated the "King."

"Continuing to move the game forward… much respect, my brother," Bryant wrote.

James expressed his love for Bryant and promised to "continue your legacy."

"You mean so much to us all here, especially Laker Nation. It's my responsibility to put this sh*t on my back and keep it going," he added. "Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me."

"I got us here."

Bryant, 41, retired in 2016 after a 20-year career, all spent with the Lakers. He won �ive championships and an MVP, as well as two Finals MVPs. Seven other people perished in the crash, including a Filipina-American coach.

Kobe Bryant (left) had asked Lakers fans to celebrate with Lebron James once he surpasses the former in the All-Time NBA scoring list.

Bryant died shortly after Lebron accomplished the feat.

Fil-Am coach Christina Mauser died with Kobe Bryant in the tragic helicopter crash on Monday.

Coach who died with Kobe is half-Pinay

A

half-Filipina basketball coach was killed with NBA great Kobe Bryant and 7 others in a �iery helicopter crash this week, her relatives said Tuesday.

The 38-year-old fatality was Christina Mauser, a coach at the Mamba Academy that Bryant co-owned, her cousin Melanie Ramil said.

“We are beyond heartbroken,” Ramil wrote on Facebook.

Mauser’s husband Matt added that he and their 2

children were “devastated.”

“We lost our beautiful wife and mom,” he said in a separate Facebook post.

There were no survivors when the helicopter carrying Bryant and Mauser crashed in foggy weather in the suburb of Calabasas, where it caused a brush �ire, authorities said.

Among those killed were Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Bryant, a 5-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and 2-time Olympic gold medalist, was

FRED C. LUMBA

�lying to a game where Gianna was expected to play in, according to US reports.

Local media said the other victims included another player, a parent, and the pilot.

Christina’s husband Matt Mauser, a teacher and father of three young children, told Today Show co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb on Monday that his family has been left reeling by his wife’s unexpected death.

“It’s horrible,” he said during the tearful phone

interview. “I’ve got three small kids, and I’m trying to �igure out how to navigate life with three kids and no mom.”

Mauser told the cohosts he �irst met Kobe Bryant when he was working as a Spanish teacher and basketball coach at one of Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s private schools. The two fathers apparently attended a school �ield trip to San Diego together, where they hit it off and became friends.

Mauser eventually in-

COACH, P9

SPORTS KEN

KOBE IS NOT DEAD, HE LIVES All sports pages of newspapers and news media organizations all over the world blared headlines of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players this planet has ever produced, who perished in a helicopter crash.

He was just 41, in the prime of his life. His 13-year old daughter, Gianna, died with him.

He was a Los Angeles Laker forever, having retired only after wearing the yellow and purple uniform for all the 20 consecutive NBA seasons before hanging his sneakers in April 2016.

Aside from once being a regular season MVP, Kobe brought glory to the ShowTime team by leading the ball club to

�ive NBA championships, exemplifying what excellence in the game can do and achieve.

I cannot compare Kobe with other Laker stars who preceded him – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, even Jerry West.

I had the opportunity to watch many Laker matches at The Forum when I settled in Los Angeles in the mid-eighties.

I swooned every time Kareem makes a skyhook; yelled “Wow!” when Johnson issues a no-look pass to James Worthy for an easy basket; I clapped loudly after Michael Cooper blocks a shot; I stood up after Byron Scott scores a long tom.

And so on.

Chamberlain was the giant

center who towered above everyone with his slam dunks and West shone with his impeccable perimeter shooting. (These two played before the era of the Showtime team formed by owner Jerry Buss).

Kobe was simply different.

He was the “Spiderman,” the do-it-all guy and the man his teammates looked up to when the going got tough.

He could bring the ball up like an A-one pointguard; he was an excellent fast break receiver; he defended well against opposing scorers; he rebounded as well.

Most of all, Kobe could not be prevented from scoring. He, like a bank slogan says, �inds ways.

His work ethic is very ad-

mirable. He never came to practice late nor did he miss any practice game. He was more than punctual.

Kobe’s mindset was focused on winning. Not that he could not accept losing but it was more about how one played the game.

He comes into the game wearing the winner’s armor, whether the title was on the line or not. He was a hard worker because he believed that nothing should be left to chance.

His two Olympic gold medals proved he was a leader in his own right, able to perform exceedingly well above the game’s standard, thus being able to move his teammates to play better.

Kareem said after receiv-

ing the sad news: “Most people will remember Kobe as a magni�icent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players. But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete.”

Magic said: “I’m in disbelief and have been crying all morning over this devastating news…Connie and I are heartbroken.”

Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan said: “I am in shock…Words cannot describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe. He was like a little brother to me…”

Ah, everybody’s heart is bleeding, I guess.

Kobe lives forever.

(Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

NO RUST

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 229 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

Sen. Go powers DU34GO past IBP in first friendly match of 2020

I

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

t’s been a long while since Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go touched a basketball.

Long enough for rust to creep in.

Who cares? It didn’t make any difference.

The busy-as-a-bee Senator from Davao was like a �ish back in the water on Friday as he made his return to the hardcourt under usual scorching temperatures.

The sweet-shooting legislator drilled 11 baskets from beyond the rainbow area to lead Team DU34GO past IBP, 9175, in their basketball friendly match at the Arcadia Basketball Center.

The rust from his hectic schedule didn’t show at all. Sen. Go �ired treys like he was never away as his team pulled off a dominating victory.

The sweet-shooting neophyte lawmaker �inished the game with 35 points in his remarkable return to the basketball court after a long hiatus.

His legislative work at the Senate and his ‘extra’ duties as President Rodrigo Duterte’s top aide have taken the Senator away from the game he love most.

Sen. Go’s long-time basketball buddy, Presidential Adviser for Sports and SBP Davao regional director Glenn Escandor also sizzled with his perimeter snipings to complement the lawmaker’s torrid shooting.

Escandor found his mark to chip in 12 points for Team DU34GO which also got 17 from Malinao.

IBP tried to keep pace with Team DU34GO right from the start but couldn’t stay in step.

Team DU34GO then went to Sen. Go who bombarded IBP with a barrage of three pointers midway in the game to shove his team to a safer distance.

Armand Dioso paced IBP with 36 points while Cadiogan had 25.

Sen Christopher Lawrence Go slips past IBP defenders in their friendly match on Friday at Arcadia Activity Center. Photo by Sean Pusta