Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 235 | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

PH KEEPS 4 WORLD CHAMPS WITH TADURAN’S DEFENSE

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

STOP ASF SPORTS P11

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

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Piñol confident gov't can contain ASF after lockdown

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. he government's effort to contain the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF) which was reported to have originated in the remote coastal town of Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental is expected to succeed as a total lockdown was declared by the provincial government and the Department of Agriculture on Sunday.

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A worker pours water with chlorine on hogs to eliminate foul odor and prevent diseases at the livestock area at Agdao Public Market in Brgy. Agdao, Davao City on Tuesday. Traders said they are slowly experiencing shortage of hog supply days after the city government of Davao issued an order to ban entry of hogs from Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur due to African swine fever (ASF). Lean Daval Jr

This was claimed by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Manny Piñol in a Facebook post.

In the social media post which he regularly writes, Piñol said national government agencies, local governments and the private sector jointly jumped into action and implemented a total ban on the transport of hogs and pork from the whole province. There was an initial confusion until the government stepped in.

"The slaughter of hogs and sale of pork in the

STOP, P9

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte confers with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea during a briefing on the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) at the Malacañan Palace on Monday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

City beefs up mitigation T efforts via disaster radio

Mati City vet strengthens campaign against ASF after DavOcc incident

By MAYA M. PADILLO he city government of Davao has strengthened efforts on disaster risk reduction and mitigation by launching the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5 FM) on Monday in Davao City.

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Through the station’s broadcast, Dabawenyos will be able to receive upto-date and reliable information on how to prepare for and avert disasters, what to do and where to go during calamities.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who led the launching on Monday, believes that the capacity to release vital information to the public in a timely and

effective manner is integral in governance.

“While the city government of Davao is already on broadcast television with the Byaheng Do30 television program, and we are active on line with our social media accounts and websites, we have yet to make a strong presence on radio,” she said.

Mayor Duterte also said with this radio station, the

city now has another way to reach all 182 barangays of Davao City and its neighboring provinces.

The said station will broadcast fast and accurate infos about disaster and emergency preparedness and prevention information and other developmental programs of the city.

“The correct information and ample preparations are our strongest defense against any calamity or crisis situation. And with this platform we can ready our people better for any eventuality,” Mayor Duterte said.

The launch was highlighted with the signing of the manifesto of support

between Mayor Duterte and governors Claude Bautista (Davao Occidental), Nelson Dayanghirang (Davao Oriental), and Jayvee Tyron Uy (Davao de Oro).

The signing of support aims for the city and the governors to work together on risk reduction, mitigation and response across Davao Region.

Mayor Duterte also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Brigadier General Ernesto Torres Jr. , civil relations service chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to establish DCDR as AFP af�iliate station in Davao City.

reported as Caburan Big, Caburan Small, Mangile and Patulang near Don Marcelino.

Joyce said they learned about the ASF in neighboring Don Marcelino only on January 31 when Mayor Michael Maruya in a memorandum said “more or less” 1,000 pigs had died in eight of its 15 barangays and the DA had con�irmed the deaths were due to the ASF. “We had cases in JAS which we thought were only ordinary swine disease,” he said.

“We already have checkpoints at exit and entry points, facilitated by the

PNP/AFP/LGU (Philippine National Police/Armed Forces of the Philippines/ Local Government Unit),” he said.

Municipal agriculturist Ronville Muego told MindaNews on Tuesday morning that the suspected 800 cases include those who have died and those who are showing symptoms of the disease.

“Some are dead, nilibing na deretso” (they were buried immediately), Muego said. He said they were also surprised to learn about the 1,000 deaths of pigs in Don Marcelino and the news about it led to their own residents reporting on

suspected cases.

Of the four barangays where suspected cases have been reported, only two are contiguous: Caburan Big and Caburan Small, which is the poblacion.

Barangay Mangile, he said, shares a boundary with Don Marcelino, the “Ground Zero” of ASF in Mindanao. Between Mangile and the two Caburans, Muego said, is 12 kilometers, passing through at least two barangays, while Patulang is even farther away from the Caburans.

Muego said they will await the results of the con�irmatory tests that will be

he City of Mati Veterinarian Services Of�ice (CVSO) is doubling its effort to prevent the entry of African Swine Fever in the city after the incident in Davao Occidental where several thousands of pigs are slaughtered after having been infected by ASF. Dr. Marites Linsag-Erispe, CVSO chief, said that since the outbreak of ASF in Luzon and the recent outbreak in Davao Occidental, the City of Mati remains ASF-free.

She said this is due to the safety protocol they have readily implemented together with the Davao Oriental Provincial Government that created the ASF Task Force since last year.

Erispe said that with the outbreak in Davao Occidental, they are now strengthening their safety

measures considering that about 35,000 pigs could be affected if ever ASF enters the city.

Erispe appealed to the public and traders for their cooperation in �ighting ASF. She said that swill feeding (kaning-baboy/ lamaw) must be avoided since this is one of the most common mode of transmission for ASF. Erispe also appealed to the grocery stores to stop selling China-made pork products in their stores.

It was learned that some stores continue to sell canned goods and other pork products from China in the hope of recovering their investments.

The City Vet head said they also have banned entry of any pork coming from outside of Mati City even if they are only in minimal amount or for

MATI CITY, P9

Another DavOcc town seeks ASF confirmation ‘All Chinese tourists flown

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fter the outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) were con�irmed in Don Marcelino and Malita towns in Davao Occidental, Jose Abad Santos town in the same province is seeking con�irmation of 800 suspected cases of ASF in four of its 26 barangays.

Mayor Jason John Joyce told MindaNews in a text message Monday night that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will “conduct con�irmatory tests” on Tuesday in his town adjacent to Don Marcelino.

He identi�ied the four barangays where suspected ASF cases have been

ANOTHER DAVOCC, P9

out’ of Davao City: consul

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he Chinese Consulate General’s Of�ice here has �lown to Manila “all their nationals staying as tourists” in this city and other parts of Mindanao in the wake of the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus health crisis that originated in China, Consul General Li Lin said Monday.

Li revealed this amid the announcement that Xiamen Airlines (XiamenAir) cancelled all the direct �lights between Jinjiang in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian and Davao City for the whole month of February until further notice.

In a press conference at the Chinese consular of�ice, Li said the last batch of Chinese tourists were �lown Sunday to Manila for assistance by their embassy in returning to China.

“We have already sent Chinese tourists visiting the Davao and Mindanao areas during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) back to China (via Manila). By the latest contact with local travel agencies here in Davao, they reported to me that no Chinese tourists are remaining in Davao,” he said.

Chinese tourists usual-

ALL CHINESE, P9

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

PH free of bird flu: DA

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he Philippines does not have a reported case of bird �lu, the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday after China and India reported an outbreak.

“Year-round ang monitoring namin. Wala tayo dito sa Pilipinas,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

The Bureau of Animal Industry said it regularly collects samples from migratory birds in around 60 areas identi�ied by the agriculture and health departments in its avian in�luenza prevention program.

“Kung may ma-detect man ay gagawa na agad ng intervention,” BAI director Ronnie Domingo said.

China’s Ministry of Ag-

riculture and Rural Affairs announced Saturday an outbreak of a highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 bird �lu at a farm in the southern province of Hunan.

The virus was discovered on a farm with nearly 8,000 chickens - more than half of them have already died because of the outbreak.

Earlier this week, authorities in India also started culling chickens and destroying eggs to contain the bird �lu virus.

A different strain - the H5N8 virus - has spread throughout eastern Europe in recent weeks.

A bird �lu outbreak in China back in 2013 ended up costing $6.5 billion in economic losses, according to UN experts.

PH tourism to lose P20B due to novel coronavirus

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tourism expert said the country may lose up to P20 billion if the novel coronavirus outbreak extends until March.

Speaking to CNN Philippines On the Record, Tourism Congress of the Philippines President Jojo Clemente III said, "Based on estimates, if the virus lasts for another three months, or until March, we're looking at about a P20 billion loss if we get that from last year's �igures."

Meanwhile, Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon Jr said, to offset this loss, the government and the private sector are shifting their focus to the local market.

"When you look at the bigger picture, what you really want is to make sure the tourism activities are normalized not as soon as possible, as soon as we are given the green light.

In other words, after our health authorities have already addressed all the issues, our commitment is to make sure that we bring

back livelihood, especially at the community level," he said.

Bengzon said the Chinese count for about 22 percent of total tourist arrivals to the country. These numbers have gone down signi�icantly since the outbreak, saying it was "practically" shut down.

"Because with the government directive to... temporarily stop �light between China and the Philippines, Macau, Hong Kong then para mong sinara yung gripo [it's like you turned off the faucet]," he said.

Chinese are the second biggest tourist arrivals in the Philippines. Koreans are �irst, and Americans come third. Neither groups are affected yet, said Bengzon.

In the meantime, Bengzon said what can be done is to promote domestic tourism.

Clemente also said domestic travel was "in the works and it will probably be the market we will

PH TOURISM, P9

A mother puts a face mask on her daughter as alarm for novel coronavirus grows in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

Gov’t not withholding info on nCoV: Duterte R umors that the Department of Health (DOH) is withholding information on the true state of 2019-nCoV in the country to avoid causing panic is not true, said President Rodrigo Duterte, assuring that government has the situation under control.

“Wala naman --- wala namang itinago doon (There’s nothing. nothing is being hidden). We will not... I can assure you.

This government will never hide anything,” Duterte said in a press conference in Malacañang on Monday night.

“If it says that you are going to die tomorrow because of this --- it’s a con-

tagion all over, we will tell you that,” he added.

Duterte said it was useless pretending that there were fewer persons under investigation for 2019nCoV because it was not worth hiding.

“If it would cost your life, lives, we will not hide that. Why should we? It's a reality. Whether you admit it or not, you have to bury

the dead. So what is there to hide? It's not a treasure.

It is not something of value to us. It does not contribute to the national wealth.

Why should we hide?”

Duterte said.

Rumors that the DOH is hiding information made rounds of the internet particularly on the two 2019nCoV cases whose con�irmation was not released at the same time.

On Saturday, the country’s second 2019-nCoV case, a 44-year-old Chinese male from Wuhan, China, died. He was the �irst reported death due to the deadly virus outside of China.

He was the companion of the 38-year-old woman

GOV’T, P9

PNP Maritime Group confiscates illegal forest products, arrests 3

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A parking fee collector watches as a delivery van parks on a parking space intended for handicaps along Gov. Duterte Street in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

from Wuhan, China who was the �irst con�irmed case of nCoV in the country.

Nothing to fear Duterte said the virus should not be a cause for panic since the government has the situation under control.

“Everything is well in the country. There’s nothing really to be extra scared of that coronavirus thing.

Although it has affected a lot of countries but in… You know one or two in any country is not really that fearsome,” Duterte said.

He urged the public to minimize hysterics and instead be vigilant in preventing the spread of the virus by observing proper

he Philippine National Police Maritime Group Regional Maritime Unit 11 arrested three individuals who illegally transported forest products in the City of Mati over the weekend.

In a police report, the arrested suspects were identi�ied as: 1. Wilfredo Bebero, 22 years old, single, jobless; 2. Renenard Sanjurju Samonte, 29 years old, married, jobless; 3. Ronienito Sanjurju Samonte, 36 years old, single, jobless. All residents of Purok 17-4, Brgy. Central, Mati City.

On February 1, 2020 at about 8:30 PM, composite team of RMU 11 led by Police Senior Master Sergeant Jun Ralph Piñero under the direct supervision of Police Colonel Osmundo Salibo conducted seaborne patrol operation along Pujada Bay particularly at the waters off Sitio Wagon, Brgy. Macambol in the City of Mati.

Authorities caught the suspects onboard an unmarked motorized banca loaded with more or less 343.32 boardfeet of Lauan lumbers with estimated value of Php 12,016.

Also con�iscated were one unmarked green-colored motor banca with two Kamma Engine with 12HP and 10HP estimated value of Php 80,000.

The suspects are facing charges For violation of Sec. 77 (Transporting Forest Products/ Sawn Lumbers without Legal Documents) of PD 705 as Amended by RA 7161 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.

Arrested suspects were brought to Mati City Police Station for temporary custody while con�iscated items were properly turned-over to CENRO Mati for documentation and proper disposition for �iling of appropriate charges in Court. (CIO MATI)

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

SSS accredits MTDC as 67th partner agent

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he Social Security System (SSS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Mandaluyong Traders Development Cooperative (MTDC) as its 67th partner agent on January 23, 2020, at the SSS Building, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

Under the MOA, accredited servicing partner agents are authorized to receive and screen various application forms of self-employed, voluntary, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and non-working spouse (NWS) as well as bene�its and loan applications of their members.

They are also allowed to collect SSS contributions,

Workers sanitize the escalator handrail as part of SM City Davao’s measures to prevent viruses around the mall on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr

GSK joins race to develop China corona virus vaccine

NZ seeks cooperation with U MinDA to harness agri sector

By MAYA M. PADILLO ith agriculture as its largest sector in tradable economy, the New Zealand government is now seeking cooperation with the Mindanao Development Authority (MInDA) for Mindanao’s agriculture sector particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

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New Zealand Ambasador-delegate Peter Kell bared that he will be meeting with representatives of MinDA to talk about the programs that they have in agriculture and hope to work with it

together with the people in Mindanao.

“We are very interested to see where we can cooperate in agriculture area that is where we have a lot of experience to share,” Kell said.

Kell said some of the programs that they have are still on the initial stage and they are very excited for the opportunities and support on the Bangsamoro in giving opportunities to those who may �ind it hard to get access to their know-how.

He said they’ve been discussing about it for several months now and still working with the design as it involve a number of stakeholders including other partners.

“The talks were done with my predecessor and I am here to continue those discussions,” he said.

Honorary Consul of New Zealand in Mindanao Vicente T. Lao said it will be to the advantage of Mindanao if Mindanaoans will be able to bene�it from the technology and knowledge that NZ can offer.

“The strength of NZ is really on agricutlure and we are very fortunate that the economy of Mindanao is also basically agricutlure-based. NZ is a very small country and its population is only 5 million but they were ef�icient. Its a country with 5 million population that can feed 40 million to 50 million people,” he said.

Group is reviewing �inancial and technical resources that can be mobilized quickly to support affected countries," and also "closely coordinating with international partners to accelerate the international response."

Since breaking out in China, the virus has killed 425 people in the country, exceeding the 349 dead in the Chinese mainland from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 200203, which eventually killed nearly 800 globally.

The new virus has infected 17,200 people and spread to more than 20 countries. China's �inancial markets tanked on Monday due to fears it could paralyze the country and harm the global economy.

The World Bank said it was "monitoring the wider economic and social impacts of this crisis," and would support "China's efforts to respond, including its efforts to maintain resilience in its economy."

If the epidemic reaches the same severity as

the Spanish �lu in 1918, which killed 30 million people, it could cost the global economy between one percent and ten percent of growth, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said at the end of January.

International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said last week that negative impacts on the economy in the �irst half of 2020 were likely but "it would be irresponsible to offer any speculations around what may happen."

has claimed over 400 lives and infected some 20,000 others.

The Hubei outlets represent 1 percent of Jollibee's total store network and 3.6 percent of the total store network in China, Jollibee told the stock exchange.

"While it is too early to determine the total impact of the novel coronavirus

on its business in China, JFC remains very committed to keep building and growing a pro�itable business in China," according to the disclosure.

Jollibee said it was planning to open "more" stores in China, mainly Yonghe King with the goal to have at least 1,000 stores there in the next few years.

Employees in China were allowed to work from home and were given face masks. Yonghe King has also been providing meals to frontline medical staff since Jan. 30, Jollibee said.

Shares of Jollibee were up 1.94 percent in early trading on Tuesday, compared to a 1.32-percent advance on the main index.

WB calls for global effort against virus

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he World Bank called on Monday for countries to step up programs to �ight the new coronavirus outbreak, and said it was considering mobilizing its own resources against the disease.

"We are calling on all countries to strengthen their health surveillance and response systems, which is essential to contain the spread of this and any future outbreaks," the institution said in a statement.

"The World Bank

Jollibee 'very committed' to expanding in China

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ollibee Foods Corp said Tuesday it remained "very committed" to expanding in China, as it assessed the impact of new coronavirus outbreak there.

Fourteen Jollibee stores in Hubei province, all under the brand Yonghe King, remain closed. Hubei in central China is the epicenter of the outbreak that

loan amortizations, and other miscellaneous payments.

To date, there are 67 cooperatives and micro�inance institutions nationwide who joined the Partner Accreditation Program which is facilitated by SSS Cooperatives and Informal Sector Department.

Above photo shows (LR): MTDC General Manager Ramir R. Moreno, MTDC Chairperson Reynaldo R. Evangelista, SSS Account Management Group Acting Head Atty. Antonio S. Argabioso and SSS Branch Operations Sector Executive Vice President Judy Frances A. See during the MOA signing.

K pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said Monday it was joining a global race to develop a vaccine for a new strain of a coronavirus that has killed more than 360 people.

The UK government also pledged £20 million ($26 million, 24 million euros) in funding for research at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) -- a group formed at the in Davos in 2017 -- and released its sequencing data for the viral genome.

GSK said its work would complement the 4 projects already being funded through CEPI to develop a vaccine for the deadly China strain.

"Our (vaccine) adjuvant technology has previously been used successfully in the pandemic �lu setting," GSK Vaccine chief medical of�icer Thomas Breuer said in a statement.

Adjuvants are agents that boost a body's response to vaccines or other treatments.

The World Health Organization has declared a global virus emergency but refrained from calling the new epidemic a "pandemic".

That term is reserved for a disease that spreads across multiple continents or worldwide.

CEPI was originally formed in response to the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,300 people of the 29,000 recorded cases in West Africa from

2013 to 2016.

"Our hope is that, with our partners, we can get an investigational vaccine from gene sequencing of the pathogen through to clinical testing in 16 weeks," CEPI chief executive Richard Hatchett said.

CEPI's four other projects aimed at stamping out the new strain include a partnership between the US biotech company Moderna and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

GSK said it will initially be joining the work already being performed by the University of Queensland in Australia.

The other two projects involve the German biopharmaceutical company CureVac and the US-based Inovio pharmaceuticals �irm.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Public Health England has been able to sequence the genome from the two cases of new viral strain recorded in Britain.

"Their �indings suggest the virus has not evolved in the last month," Hancock told parliament.

China shared its genome sequencing data on January 10.

Hancock said health ministers from Group of Seven (G7) nations spoke by telephone Monday to coordinate their response.

"It is clear that the virus will be with us at least some months to come," the British health minister said.

Retailers mark one week of no new face mask deliveries

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etailers of medical supplies in Bambang, Manila said it has been a week since they last received a fresh supply of surgical face masks amid fears over the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.

According to a report on Monday, almost all medical supply stores in Bambang have a “Face mask not available” sign plastered across their windows.

The retailers said their suppliers had not yet made

commitments to them regarding a �inal date for new deliveries.

The last batch of deliveries that they received was before January 27, with stocks running out in just seven days.

Retailers said their stocks were depleted quickly because many buyers purchased masks by the boxes.

Due to this, they will no longer be selling masks

RETAILERS, P9

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

ECONOMY 5

CebPac 60 to 70% done with contact tracing of nCoV cases’ co-passengers

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ontact tracing for some 200 passengers who were on board the same �light as the Philippines’ two con�irmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease is now to 60 to 70 percent complete, Cebu Paci�ic said Monday.

According to a report, the crew members of the said �lights are undergoing a 14-day quarantine as a precautionary measure against the outbreak.

So far, none of the crew

members have developed any symptoms related to nCoV. The country’s two con�irmed cases of the virus �lew from Hong Kong to Cebu on January 21 aboard Flight 5J 241, and from Cebu to Dumaguete on the same date through Flight DG 6519.

Earlier on Monday, the Department of Health said eight people who came in contact with the infected couple have developed cough and colds.

Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index up in Jan.

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he local manufacturing sector’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) increased to 52.1 in January from 51.7 in December 2019, IHS Markit reported Monday.

This is the second consecutive month that the manufacturing sector recorded a positive growth.

“Operating conditions improved at a joint-strongest pace for a year, with production increasing moderately amid stronger demand for goods,” IHS Markit Economist David Owen said.

Owen said exports sales are rising re�lecting the improving trade climate between China and the United States. If this continues, sales growth of factories is expected to strengthen further this year.

However, hiring activity of producers declined despite the increase in output and new orders.

“Several companies mentioned not replacing

workers that had resigned, offsetting �irms that hired additional labor,” the report said.

With the Taal Volcano eruption last month, the IHS Markit report said this could disrupt supply chains.

“Manufacturers reported a sharp deterioration in supplier performance mainly due to Taal volcanic eruption mid-way through the month that led to further traf�ic problems of vendors,” it added.

Meanwhile, business con�idence of �irms for the next 12 months has improved in the January report.

“The government is seeking to address this with their ‘Build, Build, Build’ project to place greater investment in road infrastructure. This is clearly an important project for manufacturers, with several pinning con�idence around future output onto improved traf�ic conditions,” Owen noted. (PNA)

he inaugural �light between General Santos and Clark airport in Pampanga kicked off Monday, this city’s �irst commercial air route to Luzon outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the National Capital Region.

Leonard Flores, chief of the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Of�ice, said the new route is serviced by a 50-seater Fokker plane operated by Leading Edge Air Services Corp. and chartered by MAG Travel and Tours.

The opening of the GenSan-Clark route is expected to further boost the tourism and investment potentials not just of the city, touted as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” but also of Soccsksargen or Region 12.

“While we expect to see a lot of local and foreign visitors to Soccsksargen via Clark, we are likewise equally excited to explore the Greater Luzon Area of the Philippines and of course going outside the country thru the Clark exit,” he said.

The Clark international airport, which is located within the Clark Freeport Zone between Angeles and Mabalacat in Pampanga, is 83 kilometers north of the congested NAIA, the coun-

try’s main airport in Pasay City.

Flores lauded the Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity project of the United States Agency for International Development for helping make the GenSan-Clark route a reality.

GenSan is the gateway to Soccsksargen , which straddles the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and also the cities of Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan.

MAG Travel will service the new air route every Tuesday and Sunday, Flores said.

The introductory price for the route costs P3,500 one-way, inclusive of the 10-kilogram (kg) checkedin baggage allowance and 7-kg hand carried luggage.

Flores said that MAG Travel and Royal Air Philippines have been in talks for a partnership to serve the route with a larger aircraft.

A larger aircraft will eventually service the route if the number of passengers and volume of cargo will also increase, he added.

Royal Air was established in 2002 as an air charter service. With a new management in 2017, the charter service was intensi�ied with the acquisition of three 97-seater British

GenSan-Clark air route takes off

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GENSAN, P9

A Cebu Pacific aircraft departs Davao City on Tuesday. The airline said contact tracing for some 200 passengers who were on board the same flight as the Philippines’ two confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease is now to 60 to 70 percent complete. Lean Daval Jr

Over P100M allocated for coco expansion, replanting in Caraga

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oconut farmers in Caraga Region who want expansion or replanting will receive funding from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

A total allocation of PHP105.3 million will be available for the coconut farmers in Caraga Region for planting and replanting programs, PCA-13 Regional Manager Joel Oclarit told the Philippine News Agency on Monday (February 3).

Oclarit said that aside from planting and replanting programs, a portion of the budget will also be used for the coconut fertilization program in the area.

“The planting and replanting will be undertaken through the Participatory Coconut Planting Project (PCPP) that will encourage coconut farmers to plant more coconut trees in the region,” he said.

Data provided by PCA13 indicates that Caraga Region has a total land area of 272,093 hectares fully planted with coconut trees covering 1,311 barangays, most in Surigao del Norte

and Surigao del Sur. The region has a total number of 118,069 coconut farmers.

Oclarit said that the PCPP is among the major components of the Accelerated Coconut Planting and Replanting Programs (ACPRP) of PCA that promotes coconut planting in open and suitable areas and replanting of senile and unproductive coconut trees and those damaged by natural calamities.

PCPP, he added, involves the giving of cash incentives to quali�ied farmer participants for the production, transplanting, and stabilization of good coconut seedlings on their own farms.

PCA-13 is also developing a coconut seed farm project in an 18-hectare land in Barangay Sukailang, Surigao City.

“The seed farm can accommodate more than 2,600 seedlings of dwarf

and tall coconut varieties and will be disposed to farmers and planters at a very minimal price,” Oclarit said.

Support Though coconut farmers were affected by the low price of copra in the previous years, Oclarit said PCA was able to help them through other support programs and services.

“PCA is supporting coconut farmers to innovate and adapt to new technologies especially in manufacturing that is proven to augment incomes,” he added.

Among the support programs of PCA to the coconut farmers include the Community/Household Level Coconut Processing Project (CHLCPP).

In 2018, a total of 95 coconut processing interventions were conducted

by PCA-13 throughout the region that include coir �iber processing, coir-based fertilizer, coconut meatbased bread and pastries and ice cream, virgin coconut oil, and coco sugar.

In the same year, a total of 1,440 coconut farmers

directly bene�ited from the CHLCPP in Caraga with a total allocation of PHP12,480,000.

“We have a success story last year where a PHP15-million project for our coconut farmers already provided them with over PHP1 million gross sales during the �irst month of the year 2020,” Oclarit said.

He is referring to the JAIF-EEA Coir Fiber Processing Project that was released to Bayugan City Coconut Farmers Association (BCCFA) in June last year. JAIF-EEA stands for Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund-Emergency Economic Assistance.

The BCCFA coir processing, with a project cost of PHP15,311,758, has a daily processing capacity of 24,000 husks.

Oclarit said the BCCFA coir processing project started its full operation after the turn-over last year.

As of January 31, 2020, the of�icers and management of the BCCFA coir processing project reported a gross income of PHP1,637,405.

(PNA)

The Bataan-based manufacturer can produce 80,000 pieces of surgical masks per day, he said.

“Medtecs, which has been operating in the country for the last 41 years, expressed their continuous commitment to support and prioritize the requirements of the Philippines,” he added.

There was a sudden surge of demand for surgical masks late last week after the Department of Health (DOH) con�irmed the �irst case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov).

As of last Friday, major drugstores Mercury Drug and Southstar Drug reported to DTI that they ran out of stock, while Watsons still had stocks and were deployed nationwide.

“They reported that there will be incoming stocks this week,” Lopez said.

He has also asked the department’s attached agency, Philippine International Trading Corp.

(PITC), to source �ive million pieces of masks to add to the local supply espe-

cially for the needs of DOH and other health workers.

As of Monday morning, India, Pakistan, the United States, and some European Union countries said they have limited stocks of surgical masks.

The PTIC is waiting for the response of Thailand and Vietnam.

For alcohol and hand sanitizers, Lopez said there is no shortage for these products as there are many local manufacturers thus production can be easily increased.

(PNA)

Maker commits to supply 2M pieces of face mask a month

T

he lone manufacturer of surgical masks in the country has committed to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to produce two million pieces of masks per month, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday.

In a statement, Lopez said Medtecs International Corp. Ltd. pledged to supply this week 100,000 pieces of surgical masks and 400,000 per week thereafter, as it ramps up production capacity to meet rising local demand.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

EDITORIAL

Time is of the essence

In any emergency, the most potent weapon is information dissemination.

How people manage information to make it useful in keeping the welfare and safety of all concerned is very critical. It could spare lives. And it could also cost lives.

Hence, when the Department of Health (DOH) dilly-dallied in making preemptive actions against the dreaded new coronavirus (designated as novel coronavirus or 2019 nCoV), it could have already cost a lot. The timeline would show that Health Secretary Francisco Duque announced the country’s “�irst con�irmed case” of the novel coronavirus on January 30 of a Chinese woman who had sought medical advice as early as January 25.

They said she was showing no other symptoms but a mild cough and was only con�irmed when her lab results from the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia yielded positive.

However, here’s the catch. The woman was admitted along with her boyfriend who based on medical record could have been sick �irst. The woman, concerned with her partner’s plight and realizing that they were ‘honeymooning’, decided to seek

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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

medical help herself. It was case of the woman, who showed no signs of the coronavirus symptoms, which was reported as the �irst case. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the boyfriend that was reported as �irst case and it was not until February 2, a day after he died that it was reported the �irst case of coronavirus death outside China.

Why did the DOH omit the man’s case? It’s highly suspicious that the case of the boyfriend was not known to health of�icials.

Duque did not explain why they did not report the man’s case nor admitted the truth about his medical condition during their announcement of the �irst con�irmed case involving the female partner.

These are two related cases and having omitted putting into the discussion the case of another person who is also con�irmed to have the virus or perhaps being under investigation (PUI), affects how the country will deal with this emergency.

Not even the grounds of protecting one’s privacy can outweigh the supervening urgency to provide immediate information of an even bigger threat. In this emergency, concerned of�icials directly handling the matter should realize that time is of the essence.

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 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

‘LOST’ MONUMENTS OF DAVAO Progress has its own way of destroying memorials that remind us of key events in the past, like bringing down monuments, sacri�icing natural habitats, cutting down trees that survived the test of time, and tearing down historical markers that should be preserved for posterity.

Some of these ‘lost’ Davao landmarks are the Jones Monument, Rizal Monument, Victory Monument, and Key Monument, among others.

The iconic post-war Jones Monument was built at the intersection of �ive streets, namely: Uyanguren (R. Magsaysay), J.P. Laurel (Bajada), Jacinto, Claveria (C.M. Recto), and the extension of Uyanguren. It was named after American congressman William Atkinson Jones (1849-1918), author of The Jones Law of 1916, which replaced the Philippine Organic Act of 1902.

Jones, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (18911918) represented the �irst district of the Commonwealth of Virginia. His pedigree came from his forebears who fought several wars and served distinguishably in the American legislature and bureaucracy.

Enacted on August 29, 1916, Jones Law, was passed “to declare the purpose of the people of the United States as to the future political status of the people of the Philippine Islands, and to provide a more autonomous government for those islands.”

Meanwhile, Victory Monument, also known as the Davao Battle Memorial, was constructed after the war in tribute of the Filipino and American liberation forces who sacri�iced their lives in a bloody con�lict that �inally set free Davao City in May 1945 from the Japanese Imperial forces. It got the name’s inspiration from Operation Victor V, an offensive operation devised to bring down the enemy in Mindanao.

The iconic landmark, for some reason, was later removed from its pedestal and supposedly given as a gift to the city of Cotabato. The monument now stands in a downtown plaza, visibly blending with the tree-decorated landscape.

Another exciting landmark was the Rizal Monument that originally stood at the rotunda where the Bonifacio Monument, which now serves as traf�ic circle, at the intersection of Magallanes

(A. Pichon Sr.), Claveria, and Washington streets. There are claims the same monument has already found its way in Mati City.

Something that is puzzling is the location of Key Monument. In the 1934 Revised Administration Code of the Philippines, Davao Port Road was a 1.6-km stretch from Jones Monument to Key Monument. If today’s Magsaysay Street was prewar Davao Port Road, then Key Monument was probably in reference to the Santa Ana lighthouse that still stands to this day.

Decades ago, Augusto Suazo, the recognized Davaoeño painter, conceived the idea of a Bagobo Monument in full ethnic attire holding a durian in both hands and standing. It was executed

by Ruperto Solon and the sculptor was installed across the entrance of the old Davao airport.

It was damaged when a bomb was exploded on March 4, 2003 in a nearby waiting shed. A similar statue, minus a pedestal, now stands at the small junction near the Bajada �lyover. There’s also a variation of the sculpture with a Bagobo in lotus position and a durian between his palms.

Over the past three decades,

new landmarks have sprouted in various places throughout the city. Welcoming visitors to Davao City from the south is the massive Carabao Monument, which drew controversies in the past; it is the brainchild of the late city councilor Renato Bangoy. At the junction of J. P. Laurel Avenue and R. Castillo is the Golden Kris Monument, which is a tribute to the Moro heritage of Davaoeños.

The Monument of Peace and Unity in front of city legislature was unveiled in 1998, coinciding with the centennial of the country’s declaration of independence. It symbolizes the harmony between the indigenous settlers of the region and the migrants that have made the city their permanent home. The Ohta Memorial Monument built in 1926, meanwhile, is an obelisk dedicated to Ohta Kyosaburo, the �irst Japanese hemp planter in Davao City, who died in 1917. It can be found inside the Mintal Elementary School campus.

Due west is the Magsaysay Monument, a 35-meter-high obelisk supported by a tripod and a circular skating rink on the ground. The landmark was built under the auspices of the Phil-

ippine Veterans Legion, Davao chapter, sometime in 1959, roughly two years after President Ramon Magsaysay, to whom the memorial is dedicated, died in a plane crash. It is found inside the park that has also been named after him.

Going southwest, at Times Beach, speci�ically the Baywalk, is the David Monument, a statue showing a naked �igure of a man and was the focus of disgust in the past from the sentinels of morality. The reason behind the controversial carving is a given; it is built near the entrance of a motel owned by the same person who commissioned the sculpture.

And as a testament to the proli�icity of Davao sculptor Kublai Millan, a Datu Bago awardee, are the dozens of stone monuments and statues he had built in the last two decades (19992019). Among his credentials are the Durian Monument adjacent to the city’s international airport; the giant Eagle Monument at the city’s People’s Park; the Kampilan Monument in the province of Sultan Kudarat; the Risen Christ in Tagum City; and the Banana Monument in Panabo City.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE THIEF OF TIME “The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy.

Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind – jump in!” – Charles R. Swindoll *** Who says age – that number which most women fear (sorry, ladies if most of you are singled out) – matters? Look at Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao who, at 40, still manages to win his boxing match against a younger opponent.

If you’re like the world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, age also doesn’t matter at all. He was already 68 when he created his most famous structure – in about two hours. But hold your breath �irst. It actually took him long to do it.

Brandon Spector, in an article published in the widely-circulated Reader’s Digest, shares the story: “In 1934, Pittsburgh department store magnate Edgar Kaufmann Sr. hired Wright to design a retreat around the waterfalls of his forested Pennsylvania property. Wright visited the site and assured Kaufmann he had big plans. In truth, he hadn’t drawn a thing.

That’s how trouble started brewing. “Weeks became months, and on a Sunday morning, September 22, 1935, Kaufmann spontaneously decid-

ed to visit Wright’s studio and check his progress. He would arrive before lunch, Kaufmann explained over the phone, and was very excited to see the designs.”

If you were in Wright’s shoes, what would be your response. I know what you are thinking.

Read the rest of the story: “With nervous apprentices watching and Kaufmann hours from his door, Wright �inished breakfast, then drew up the plans for what became Fallingwater – an icon of modern design and a US National Historic Landmark.”

What Wright did – the delaying tactic – is procrastination. Its synonyms include dawdle, dally, defer, drag, linger, loiter, postpone, protract, retard, stall, suspend, tarry, temporize, and wait.

Dictionary de�ines it as “delay or postpone action.” It also means “put off doing something.”

Many famous men have shared their thoughts on the subject. “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well,” said American humorist and novelist Mark Twain. US President Abraham Lincoln also said, “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”

Two other American presidents did say on the subject.

Thomas Jefferson, stated, “Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.” Dwight David Eisenhower also said, “Neither a

wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.”

Wright, however, is not alone.

There are so many people – famous at that – who procrastinate for various reasons. Bestselling author Paulo Coelho admitted, “It was my failure that �irst kept me from attempting the master work. Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago.

But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.”

Miranda July, the woman behind It Chooses You, shared her own experience: “The funny thing about my procrastination was that I was almost done with the screenplay. I was like a person who had fought dragons and most limbs and crawled through swamps and now, �inally, the castle was visible. I could see tiny children waving �lags on the balcony; all I had to do was walk across a �ield to get to them.

Then, something unusual happened. The American �ilm director, screenwriter, singer, actress, author and artist went on: “But all of a sudden, I was very, very sleepy. And the children couldn’t believe their eyes as I folded down to my knees and fell to the ground face-�irst, with my eyes open. Motionless, I watched ants hurry in and out of a hole and I knew that standing up again would be a thousand times harder than the dragon or the

swamp and so I did not even try.

I just clicked on one thing after another after another.”

More often than not, writers have this habit of doing things “later on.” American playwright and essayist Paul Rudnick wrote: “As a writer, I need an enormous amount of time alone. Writing is 90% procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials.

It’s a matter of doing everything you can to avoid writing, until it is about four in the morning and you reach the point where you have to write.”

To procrastinate once is a while is alright. But doing it for several times that it becomes a habit, well, that’s another story.

“Habitual procrastination will readily testify to all the lost opportunities, missed deadlines, failed relationships and even monetary losses incurred just because of one nasty habit of putting things off until it is often too late,” wrote Stephen Richards, author of The Secret of Getting Started: Strategies to Triumph over Procrastination.

Do what you do today and don’t wait for tomorrow. Remember, we have given today and that’s why it is called present.

Yesterday is gone and you cannot relive the past. Tomorrow is still out there and what if, as the line of a song goes, “tomorrow never comes”?

Now, let me tell you a story

shared by William Barclay: It came to pass that Satan was testing all his little devils on the methods they would use to get people into the burning hell.

“What trick or like would you use?” he asked them.

A little devil pupil raised his hand and answered: “I’d tell them there is no heaven. Heaven is just a mere imagination.”

“You’re crazy,” Satan shouted. “Deep down inside everyone believes that they are one day going to be rewarded in heaven for all the good work they do. Saying there is no heaven does not work.”

Another volunteered, “I’d tell them there is no hell.” Satan again �ired back: “That’s no good either. Instinctively, everyone knows that someday – in a hell – evil and evildoers are going to get what they deserve. It is going to catch up. Forget about that argument.”

A third pupil stood and said, “I’d tell people: have you �ling now and convert later. No hurry.

Take your time.”

Satan smiled and declared, “Hurrah! There’s a man who will win. Get up to earth and get to work.”

Now, get to work. Do the things you have to accomplish today. Never wait for tomorrow.

For as Scarlett O’Hara (portrayed

by Oscar-winning actress Vivien Leigh) in 1939’s Gone With The Wind, “Tomorrow is another day.”

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

DISEASE OUTBREAKS:

CAN THEY BE CURTAILED?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“T

hey can strike anywhere, anytime.

On a cruise ship, in the corner restaurant, in the grass just outside the back door. And anyone can be a carrier: the stranger coughing in the next seat on the bus, the classmate from a far-off place, even the sweetheart who seems perfect in every way. For whatever we go and whatever we do, we are accosted by invaders from unseen world.” – Medical writer Michael D. Lemonick in a cover story of Time magazine in 1994.

Buoyed by improved sanitary conditions, advances in medical research, new vaccines, and better antibiotics, almost health of�icials in industrialized countries declared that the world need not worry about the scourge of communicable diseases.

In 1970, Surgeon General W. H. Stewart told the US Congress that the time had come to close the book on infectious disease. Five years later, well-known biologist John Cairns wrote that the Western World had virtually eliminated death by infectious disease.

But like Phoenix that rises from the ashes, infectious diseases staged a comeback – deadlier, more virulent, and on a killing spree. From time to time, new forms of previous virus emerge and create terror among human beings.

Such is the case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was �irst identi�ied by Chinese health 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).

SARS, �irst recognized in China, caused a worldwide outbreak in 2002-2003 with 8,098 probable cases including 774 deaths.

MERS, on the other hand, was �irst reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since caused illness in people from dozens of other countries.

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 mid-1960s. So far, seven coronaviruses can infect people, including 2019nCoV. In the beginning, many of the patients in the outbreak had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. In Wuhan, a city in central China, vendors legally sold

live animals which are butchered and eaten. “This is where you get new and emerging diseases that the human population has never seen before,” said Dr. Kevin J. Olival, a biologist and vice president of research with EcoHealth Alliance, a nonpro�it research organization, who has tracked pre-

vious outbreaks, told New York Times.

It all started before Christmas celebration. On December 31, the WHO China Country Of�ice was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause.

By January 5, SARS and MERS were ruled out as the cause. Four days later, preliminary investigation showed that it was a new type of coronavirus.

Then, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggesting person-to-person spread is occurring. As this was occurring, President Xi Jinping admitted, in a report carried b y Chann e l News Asia, that China w a s fa c i n g 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 also died from the virus.

“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,” he pointed out.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) referred to the situation as a “public-health emergency of international concern.” Some scientists believe that it is only a matter of time before the United Nations health agency will declare pandemic status. This happens when it occurs over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

According to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, infectious diseases are caused by tiny living creatures called germs (microbes). They are found everywhere – in the air; on food, plants and animals; in soil and water –on just about every other surface, including the body.

You can get infected by touching, eating, drinking or breathing something that contains a germ.

Germs can also spread through animal and insect bites, kissing and sexual contact. Vaccines, proper hand washing and medicines can help prevent infections.

Infectious agents come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The Mayo Clinic says categories of microbes include: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans and helminths. Bacteria are onecelled germs that multiply quickly and may release chemicals which can make you sick. Some infections caused by bacteria include strep throat, tuberculosis,

and urinary tract infections.

Viruses, smaller than cells, are capsules that contain genetic material, and use your own cells to multiply. They are responsible for causing numerous diseases, including acquired immune de�iciency syndrome (AIDS), common cold, genital herpes, in�luenza, measles, chickenpox and shingles.

Fungi, on the other hand, are primitive plants, like mushrooms or mildew. Yeast, another type of fungus, is a necessary ingredient in most types of bread. While some are edible, there are fungi that can cause illness. For one, they are responsible for skin conditions such as athlete’s foot and ringworm.

Protozoans are single-celled animals that use other living things for food and a place to live. Many protozoans call your intestinal tract home and are harmless. But they cause diseases such as giardia, malaria and toxoplasmosis.

Helminths – which comes from the Greek word for “worm” – are actually larger parasites that include tapeworms and roundworms. If this parasite – or its eggs – enters the body, it takes up residence in the intestinal tract, lungs, liver, skin or brain, where it lives off the body’s nutrients.

Dr. Dennis Pirages, an American professor of International Environmental Politics in the Department of Government and Politics and the University of Maryland, consider infectious disease as a more serious threat than terrorism.

“Measured in numbers

of premature deaths and associated physical sufferings, the biggest source of human insecurity, past and present is the dreaded Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse -- infectious disease,” wrote Dr. Pirages in a chapter which appeared in a State of the World Report published by Worldwatch Institute.

Infectious disease kills more people than those who perished in wars.

“Over the centuries, the number of deaths and injuries from military combat have paled in comparison to those from disease. It is estimated that all the wars of the twentieth century killed 111 million combatants and civilians, an average of about 1.1 million a year. Communicable diseases are now killing 14 times as many people annually.”

But despite this, relatively few resources from public treasures have been devoted to dealing with infectious disease. “Reducing the worldwide death toll from infectious disease should receive the highest priority,” Dr. Pirages urged.

Getting sick is a common experience, and most people encounters with disease organisms cause relatively little long-term damage to victims. “Human immune systems have coevolved with a variety of potential pathogens and have developed defenses over time for dealing with most of them,” explained Dr. Pirages.

However, signi�icant outbreaks of disease can occur. This happens when people encounter new pathogens or new serotypes of old ones. “But

DISEASE, P10

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

EDGEDAVAO EVENT

A ROARING CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AT DUSIT DAVAO The Dusit D2 Hotel in Davao was dressed in red and gold last January 25 as it celebrated its first Chinese New Year with a bit of pomp and pageantry.

The event started with a lively dragon dance followed by a traditional lion dance which is said to drive bad luck away and bestow good fortune for the coming new year. The lions at Dusit Davao was made even more symbolic with Dusit Thani General Manager Christopher Wichlan and VIP guests offering pineapples, a fruit which symbolises prosperity, to the lions.

Attending the event were

Chinese Consul General Li Lin and his wife, Aiping Chiu, and daughter, Li Jian; Chinese Deputy Consul General Tang Duokan; Phoenix Petroleum Chairman Domingo Uy with daughter Debbie; Elevation Travel GM Jimmy Lin; and Joey and Annie Lim. After the performances, guests made their way to the Madayaw Cafe for a dinner

where a wonderful Chinesethemed buffet spread was prepared. But before the start of dinner, a traditional Yee Sang or Chinese Prosperity salad was served by Dusit Davao Executive Chef Jean Marc Veron.

Dusit Davao Director of Sales and Marketing Lannie Merilo shared that the higher one tosses their Yee Sang, the more prosperous one gets in

the coming year.

The buffet dinner at the Madayaw Cafe that night featured various Chinese dishes like Longevity Noodles, Braised Pork Leg, and Steamed Fish; as well as steak, pizza, and other various international fare. For dessert, the Madayaw Cafe did not disappoint with a huge selection of cakes, macarons, and parfaits. I especially loved

the Orange Mousse Cake which proved that there is always room for dessert.

Dinner ended with guests given a basket of eight lucky oranges representing good luck to bring home.

Wishing everyone at the Dusit ThaniDavao, Dusit D2 Davao, and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort a prosperous Chinese New Year.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

FOOD

HAPPY HOUR AT

MIXED TEMPTATIONS

FOR THE AVERAGE TOURIST, Davao is known for many things, its vibrant street food, its elegant restaurants, and its fresh fruit, but another thing Davao is infamously known for is its liquor ban which allows alcohol to be served only until one in the morning.

But for the travellers who are already familiar with Davao, the liquor ban merely means that one should try to drink much earlier and this also means that we can take advantage of happy hour and its many deals.

Rolling out the newest happy hour deals for the month of February last January 30, Mixed Temptations is offering new cocktails and food menu items in time for Valentines

By KENNETH IRVING ONG

day.

“We want to introduce new cocktails that are perfect for Valentines,” shared Mixed Temptation’s owner and resident mixologist Rogelio Canales, “and from 5:30pm to 9pm, all the cocktails are buy-onetake-one.” The new cocktails include Pink Lady, Strawberry Margarita, Shahgria, and a unique tasting Mango Banana Mojito.

For those who want to have wine instead of spirits, Mixed Temptations rolls out its Happy Hour Wine Buffet. For only Php300, you can have all the wine you want choosing from Mixed Temptation’s white and red wine selections. A Cheese Platter can be added for only

Php398.

There is also a happy hour promo for a bucket of beer, with each six-bottle bucket costing only Php298. It even comes with its own plate of chips.

Recognising that the love month is not just about couples, Mixed Temptations is encouraging groups of friends to drop by for happy hour, with groups of four or more getting 20% off

their total bill.

Yes, Davao’s liquor ban is a downer, but that just means that Dabawenyos can drink and have fun earlier than the rest of the Philippines.

DAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

GMA REGIONAL NETWORK HEATS UP THIS YEAR’S DINAGYANG FESTIVAL

GMA Network, through GMA Regional TV, amped up this year’s celebration of Dinagyang Festival with no less than the cast of ‘Descendants of the Sun Philippine Adaptation’--led by Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado together with Rocco Nacino and Jasmine Curtis-Smith--gracing Iloilo City’s biggest and most colorful festival last weekend.

Starting the Kapuso celebration were the stars of the newest Telebabad series Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday’ -Primetime Princess Barbie Forteza and promising actress Kate Valdez together with Kapuso heartthrob Migo Adecer and top-rating Afternoon Prime series Madrasta-Juancho Trivino and Arra San Agustin via a Kapuso Mall Show at Robinsons Place Pavia last Saturday at 5 p.m.

The following day, Sunday, GMA Regional TV’s flagship newscast in Western Visayas brought to Kapuso viewers the live coverage of the “Dinagyang 360 Degrees” street dancing competition, one of the highlight events of the Dingayang Festival.

Lauded with the 2019 Anak TV Seal for childfriendly content, this year’s “Hala Bira! The GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Special Coverage” started at 8:00 am and hosted by One Western Visayas anchors Adrian Prietos and Kaitlene Rivilla. They were joined by One Western

Visayas correspondents Zeny Quilantang, Darylle Marie Sarmiento, and John Sala.

Kapuso all over the Philippines and the rest of the world were also able to join the colorful celebration via the “Hala Bira! The GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Special Coverage” livestream from 8:00 a.m. onwards on GMA Regional TV’s official website www.gmaregionaltv. com.

Later in the afternoon, the powerhouse cast of Descendants of the Sun (DOTS) Philippine Adaptation bannered the Kapuso celebration of Dinagyang Festival with no less than Big Boss (Dingdong), Beauty (Jennylyn), Moira (Jasmine), and Wolf (Rocco) meeting their fans in two simultaneous Kapuso Mall Shows.

Dingdong and Jennylyn banner the cast in a Kapuso Mall Show at SM City Iloilo at 5 p.m.

Reporting for duty with them are their co-stars Lucho Ayala, Prince Clemente, Jon Lucas, and Hailey Mendes.

Meanwhile, the tandem of Wolf and Moira made hearts flutter as Rocco and Jasmin lead the DOTSph team at Robinsons Place Iloilo for a separate Kapuso Mall Show. Giving their fans a great time, too, were Renz Fernandez, Andre Paras, Paul Salas, and Chariz Solomon.

Present as well during the Kapuso Mall Show at Robinsons Mall are Kyline Alcantara and

Yasser Marta of the TV adaptation of the 1989 award-wining blockbuster movie, ‘Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit’ .

“We are proud to bring with us a powerhouse line-up to this year’s Dinagyang Festival,” says GMA Regional TV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso. “As GMA Network celebrates its 70th anniversary, we want to express our utmost gratitude to all our loyal Kapuso in the regions for making us number one all over the Philippines.

Like them, we are also excited for the launch of pioneering and innovative programs led by Descen-

dants of the Sun Philippine Adaptation. We also look forward to ‘Anak ni Waray vs. Anak ni Biday’ and ‘Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit’. At the same time, we congratulate Madrasta as it continues to keep us at the edge of our seats every afternoon. We also thank Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado and the rest of our Kapuso stars for joining us in celebrating Dinagyang Festival,” he ends.

All the freshest news, events, and updates about GMA Regional TV are now available on www. gmaregionaltv.com.

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A4 ARTS AND CULTURE EVENT TECH TRAVEL

EDGE DAVAO EDGE DAVAO EDGE DAVAO

VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 223 235•216 •WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY17, 22, 5, 2020 VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 219 • TUESDAY, • FRIDAY,JANUARY JANUARY 14,

KAPAMILYA LOVE TO REACH ALL TAAL EVACUEES IN NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ELIMINATES SINGLESONY INTRODUCES NEW GP-VPT2BT ABS-CBN’S “TULONG-TULONG SA TAAL” CAMPAIGN USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET MAYA 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 NO EVACUEE will livelihood. be left behind. help sustain their This is themudaghan promise of pud ABS-CBN “Mas ang NORWEGIAN Cruise as it launches the “Tulong-Tulong order sathe Dagmay if they will Line, innovator sa Taal” public service campaign, use cotton threads,” he said. in global cruise BUILDING on travel the which aims to unite the in Limon also seeshistory the need to with a 53-year growing lineup ofnation camhelping all Filipinos by the tapbreaking theand artisans in affected this endeavof boundaries, eras accessories recent eruption and continuous or now to give theirfor clients fresh is single-use plasdeveloped modern activity ofdesigns.

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Ideal year that itnetwork partnered withfor evacuees, from reliefaccess operations man since wala’y sa many different types JUST Goods, Inc., which enled by Sagip Kapamilya community,” he Line said. to delivery of content creation abled the Cruise replace of at plastic Saya” in evacuation Limon wants tovlogs show off ranging from to all“Serbisyo single-use water centers through the17-ship help of ABSthe beauty of Dagmay asfleet, travel photography /he bottles across its CBN employees, programs, has clients whoartists, are looking for videography tomost simple beginning with its recent and subsidiaries. also an clothes and accessories made everyday use,ItEncore. thehas new ship, Norwegian information campaign be led byThe theoffers Mandayas.

He said they grip optimum achievement istoone of the by Kuya Kim Atienza, who will noticed thatand some Pasalubong stability comfort latest sustainable steps forward give out tips onwith disaster preparedcenters including Davao City’s combined cablefor Norwegian Cruise Line.

In ness be aired on TV,eliminated radio, free andand a 2018,toconnectivity the Company digital, on top of the regular news reliable dust and moissingle-use plastic straws across reports and from ABSture its fleetresistant andupdates privatedesign. destinaCBN News.

Compatible with aofvariety tions, and as a result this to its mission to be in the of True Sony’s latest digital most recent initiative, itcamerwill service of the Filipino, ABS-CBN as, the GP-VPT2BT connects replace over six million singlewas onevia of Bluetooth, the firstbottles to arrive in easily allowing use plastic water every evacuations centers to provide creators to simplythe aim and is year.

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WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP

A4 INdulge!

their own fund-raisers and distribution of relief goods to help our actor and activist Jaden Smith kababayans.

“Tulong-Tulong and family, In JUST takes an insa Taal,” ABS-CBN the novative approachenjoins to sourcing public to come together as a family and packaging the world’s most in helping our countrymen, as valued resource - water. The even small acts company of generosity and revolutionary focuses kindness by ordinary on an impact model,Filipinos taking can make a big impact. For this, thethe into consideration both how network be launching several water is will sourced and packaged. other under the water “TulongJUSTefforts is 100% spring in a Tulong sa Taal” umbrella plant-based carton.

Thecamcarton paign where the public can particiis made of 82% renewable matepate forcarton Taal evacuees rialsin – projects the paper is made such the Ligtas where fromastrees grownBag in drive, responpeople can donate cash or items sibly-managed forests and the for that will given cap“go andbags” shoulder arebemade to evacuees.

The Ligtas Bagplastic. will from a sugarcane-based contain food and things in It is refillable anduseful recyclable. times emergency.

People will JUST of has a global presence also encouraged to prepare withbebottling facilities in Glenn their Bag forNorthern themFalls,own NY;Ligtas Ballymena, selves andand their families.Australia, Ireland; Ballarat, Meanwhile, Foundathus allowing ABS-CBN the company to tion still accepting in-kind and meetisdemand around the world cash donations for its Taalfrom relief a without shipping water operations.

For moresource. details,JUST folsingle production low ABS-CBN Foundation takes care to use the most(@abeffiscbnfoundationinc) on Facebook. cient shipping options available.

Stay updated followingABSFor more by information about CBN News’ special Norwegian CruiseTaal Linecoverage ships on ANC, DZMM, andABS-CBN, their itineraries, or to book news.abs-cbn.com, patrol.ph and a cruise, please contact a travel the ABS-CBN call News App. Join the professional, 888-NCLconversation by using or thevisit hashtag CRUISE (625-2784) #TulongTulongsaTaal. www.ncl.com.

A4 INdulge! received relief packs, 5,403 people enjoyed hot meals from the soup kitchen, while Aldevinco do663 notindividuals carry Dagwere may given cloth.psychological services in over a hundred evacuation centers through ABS-CBN Foundation’s humanitarian assistance arm.

Under the banner campaign of “Tulong-Tulong sa Taal,” Sagip Kapamilya’s relief operations will continue and intensify as it aims to CO2 emissions rate, increase reach as many evacueesand as possustainable sourcing invest ly,sible. has an adjustment wheel initemerging technologies.

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ensure the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of our“Wala displaced manKapamilyas. gud kaayo Here, evacuees whoand are sufferMandaya na pieces mostly ing from skin conditions, wounds, T’boli products ang sa Alhypertension, pulmonary andlang devinco. Sa Manila T’boli eyesight issues, psychological mostly makita nako na ginatrauma, and other ailments caused himo accent ug Yakan, beads by the Taal eruption and the living sa Bagobo, balud from Lanao conditions evacuation centers and Inaul.inWalay something will free medical advice, fromreceive the Mandaya commutreatment, and medicine. nity,” hetosaid. thrilled make such an impact also be giving The cottonwill Dagmay design byABS-CBN eliminating single-use beveraway free glasses, hy- in clothing isquickly not yet available and can bereading changed age bottles across our fleet. giene and laundry kits toand ease the theajust market as Limon into tripod by simply exIt’s one of the ways wehis are burden of the people inour evacuation group are still in the immerpanding the bottom portion, working to preserve oceans centers.

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Shooting Grip will committed be availwe are incredibly

Moreover, our countrymen will feel true Kapamilya love as volunteer employees, including artists, will be there to cheer them up through fun games and a mobile soup kitchen for everyone, as well as storytelling and arts and crafts sessions for children.

Adult evacuees will also remain updated of the happenings in the country, while the kids get to catch up on their as SKYcable to our Sail lessons & Sustain program and Channel will setup and Knowledge believe wholeheartedly in free viewing stations on select the importance of preserving evacuation our naturalcenters. resources. We will Recently, programs continue toKapamilya strive towards mak“Salamat Dok” and “My Puhuing environmentally conscious nan” also conducted service decisions to benefitpublic our earth.” events in evacuation centers, while Envisioned and founded by Kapamilya have organized American stars rapper, songwriter,

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

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

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markets of Davao Occidental has been banned by the provincial government," he said.

He said the private sector joined the efforts with the Mindanao Hog Raisers Association and PILMICO Feeds Corp., an Aboitiz Company, sending disinfectants, backpack sprayers and power sprayers.

"Neighboring provinces have likewise established Quarantine Facilities which required all travellers to step on a footbath while vehicles were sprayed with disinfectant," he said.

Piñol said Davao Occidental Gov. Claude Bautista has dispatched backhoes to Don Marcelino to prepare disposal facilities for the infected hogs while baarangay tanods were deputised to penetrate remote villages and ask people to turn in their hogs for culling.

He said Agriculture

Secretary William Dar �lew in from Manila on Sunday and proceeded to the capital town of Malita to personally assess the situation.

"Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Ariel Cayanan arrived in Don Marcelino yesterday afternoon to consult with hog farmers and local of�icials," Piñol said adding that the Don Marcelino ASF outbreak is a puzzling incident to government agencies monitoring the disease in Mindanao.

Piñol said reports received during the brie�ing in Don Marcelino said the �irst incident happened in a remote mountain village late last year.

He added that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the DA is now investigating how and why the virus which thrives in pork products, even those already processed, reached the remote village.

Piñol said the isolation of the town located along the southern coast of the Davao Gulf with only one entry and exit road is a factor that will greatly help the containment of the disease.

"The only other way out of Don Marcelino is through the sea but the Coast Guard has been alerted on the implementation of the total ban on the transport of hogs and pork products from the town," he said.

On Monday (February 3) , a joint Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting was conducted in Tagum City, Davao del Norte and discussed other measures to assist farmers whose livelihood activities were affected by the outbreak.

Piñol said the Don Marcelino ASF outbreak is the �irst to be reported in Mindanao.

personal consumption.

She said the border security patrol units are authorized to con�iscate and destroy all pork products coming in to Mati City that does not have the necessary permits and papers.

Erispe also appealed

to the barangay of�icials especially those in the coastal areas to continually monitor entry of pork products by sea as some sea vessels are reportedly bringing in pork products as well.

The Mati CVSO has

been relentless in its effort to prevent the entry of ASF in the city since last year by conducting regular monitoring and inspection in several markets and groceries and slaughterhouses in the city. (CIO MATI)

conducted on Tuesday.

Muego is presently in Malita where all of the province’s �ive mayors, municipal agriculturists and veterinarians, have been summoned by Governor Claude Bautista for a meeting.

Bautista told the Philippine Information Agency on Sunday that there will be “thorough investigations” and that he would call on the municipal and provincial veterinarians and listen to the testimonies of residents who had complained to them beforehand “kung bakit hindi kaagad na-address itong problema, bakit umabot pa sa ganito” (why this problem was not immediately addressed, why it has come to this).

The Department of Agriculture over the weekend con�irmed the outbreak of ASF in eight of 15 barangays in Don Marcelino (Baluntaya, Calian, Lawa, Linadasan, Mabuhay, Nueva Villa, North Lamidan and South Lamidan) and seven of 30 barangays in neighboring Malita, the provincial capital Bito, Kidalapong, Felis, Mana, New Argao, Talogoy and Taubalan).

Not all of these barangays are contiguous.

ASF is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, and although

it poses no risk to humans, causes serious economic and production losses, according to the OiE World Organization for Animal Health.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said the disease is “characterized by high fever, loss of appetite, hemorrhages in the skin and internal organs, and death which follows between two to 10 days on the average” and mortality can be as high as 100%.

There is currently no vaccine against ASF and no treatment is available, it added.

The disease, according to BAI, is transmitted by direct contact or by ingestion of garbage/swill feeds containing infected pig meat or pig meat products, ticks and biting �iles, contaminated premises, vehicles, equipment and clothing.

The con�irmation of ASF outbreaks in Don Marcelino and Malita towns came nearly �ive months after Agriculture Secretary William Dar con�irmed on September 9 that the ASF had reached the Philippines, with outbreaks recorded in Rizal and Bulacan, later spreading to neighboring areas, all in Luzon.

In its seven reports to the OiE World Organization for Animal Health between September 9 and January 29, the Philippines said a total of 761 deaths

from 170 outbreaks in Luzon have been recorded since the entry of ASF in the country, with a total of 191,641 hogs culled to prevent the spread of the disease.

The provincial government has declared a lockdown and set up checkpoints to prevent the exit and entry of pork and other pork products to prevent the spread of the disease. Bautista told the PIA on Sunday that the national government recommended a three-month lockdown but he prefers to extend that to six months.

Bautista said he told Agriculture Secretary William Dar, who visited Don Marcelino last Sunday, that if the province loses all its swine population, “kailangan palitan ninyo ng walang ASF. Tawa siya.

‘O sige, gawin namin yan’” (you should replace it with those without ASF. He laughed and said ‘We will do that.’).

Don Marcelino has an estimated 13,000 swine population.

Dar said the national government will pay affected farmers P5,000 cash for every hog that will be culled. Farmers, he said, could also avail of a P30,000 loan payable in three years without interest, to fund other livelihood programs, (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

depend on in the next few weeks or months."

He added tourism stakeholders would be making "very irresistible offers" which he hopes will

spur local tourists while the world deals with the virus outbreak.

Both Bengzon and Clemente appealed to local tourism stakeholders to

relax policies for refunds, rebookings, and cancellations.

"Now is not really the time to make pro�it out of this," Clemente said.

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ly stay in Davao from three days to one week, Li said.

The envoy did not give a �igure on the Chinese tourists who visited the city for the Chinese New Year, which was celebrated on January 25.

He noted the Chinese tourists were not compelled to leave Davao, but were only “advised” since the lifting of the suspension of the Davao-Jinjiang �lights is still uncertain.

“The Jinjiang-Davao-Jinjiang �lights for the whole month of February are cancelled. If they want to stay, they might not be able to go back to China (this month coming from Davao),” he said.

Xiamen Airlines opened the twice weekly Jinji-

ang-Davao-Jinjiang direct �lights on December 18, 2018, following the signing of the sisterhood agreement between the two cities to enhance bilateral relations, trade and tourism.

Data from the City Tourism Of�ice showed that Chinese tourists in Davao City surged to 14,934 last year, or an increase of 37.93 percent from 10,827 recorded in 2018, making China the second biggest market of Davao’s tourism industry.

The signi�icant growth in the arrival of Chinese visitors dwarfed even that of Americans and Japanese last year.

Records showed that Americans, who topped the list, grew by just 3.36 percent from 21,324 in 2018

to 22,041 last year while the Japanese visitors grew only by 3.44 percent from 12,800 in 2018 to 13,241 in 2019.

Li said their consular of�ice here “would continue normal operations” despite the notably fewer visa applications since the global outbreak of 2019-nCoV, which was �irst reported in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019.

“Our work is still very normal but we want to follow both instructions from China and also the travel advisory of the local government as well as the Philippine national government.

The number of visa applicants in our of�ice is very small, in other respect, we are operating very normal,” he said.

hygiene and seeking medical treatment.

“You know, this coronavirus is scaring people all over the country. The response of the people from the initial reports of coronavirus was almost hysterical when there was really no need for it actually. And if there is really a virus going around, why do you have to be hysterical?”

Duterte said.

“Why don't you just go to the hospital and have yourself treated? Or if you want (to be) quarantined if you suspect that you have acquired (it),” he added.

With the help of “medical science”, Duterte said powerful medicines have been formulated to treat various illnesses.

“I’m sure I said that every nation who has the resources would or already are at work to �ind out a solution or a way out,” Duterte said.

“Malay mo ‘yung atin (Who knows we)--- the Filipinos are also doing it. They are conducting…

Who knows that tayo ang maka-una makita (we could be the �irst to �ind a treatment),” he added.

Currently, there is no speci�ic treatment recommended for 2019-nCoV. Instead, supportive care is given to infected individuals to help relieve symptoms.

Quarantine facilities Although the government has yet to decide on

a quarantine facility to house Filipinos from Hubei province who are expected to be repatriated this week, Duterte raised the possibility of expropriation.

“Well, I will expropriate. Kunin ko ‘yung building mo (I will acquire your building) whether you like it or not. In times of emergency, I can… I can always…

It is con�iscatory in nature,” Duterte said.

“You con�iscate. Then you make it a hospital.

Bring in the equipment and you stay there inside the building where the egress and ingress are controlled,” he added.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Del�in Lorenzana bared that the DOH is eyeing the drug rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija as a possible quarantine facility for Filipinos returning from Wuhan, China.

Fort Magsaysay can accommodate up to 10,000 people, the DOH said.

More face masks As more drug and medical supply stores continue to run out of surgical face masks, Duterte said that the government will be procuring more supplies.

“If you're asking, is the government doing something to buy more, to protect more? Yes, we are doing it. We are not just sitting down here. That's why we called for this conference and we have resourc-

es coming in,” Duterte said.

Duterte said the virus caused the increased demand for face masks.

“The supply is depleted because there is an emergency and there's a need for it. So everybody is buying,” Duterte said.

“That's the reason why there is a scarce supply in the market. Without the virus, the --- the masks are not being sold by the thousands. Eh may virus eh kaya 'yung virus ang nagpamahal niyan (There's a virus that’s why it’s the virus making it expensive),” he added.

Earlier, the Chinese government donated a total of 200,000 surgical masks amid a reported shortage in the country, according to Malacañang.

Funeral car Despite the threat of being infected with the fast-spreading virus, the 74-year-old President said he was not limiting his public engagements to avoid getting sick.

“When my time comes, it will come. When your time comes, we will know because you will be absent.

And we will not see you anymore,” Duterte said.

He admitted that he continues to shake hands with several people, especially in events.

“You know, when my time comes, you will know.

Because I will go out of Malacañan in a funeral car,” he quipped. (PNA)

wholesale to ration their supply.

The retailers said they will only allow individual buyers to purchase a maximum of �ive packag-

es with three masks each, while companies who will purchase masks for distribution to their employees must present a letter.

Meanwhile, the de-

mand for alcohol has also been rising, but retailers assured the public that it is unlikely that it will run out since the product is locally made.

Aerospace (BAe) AVRO 146 RJ-100 series — a four-engine regional airliner also known as Whisperjet for its very quiet operation.

It began commercial

operations in 2018 with �lights from NAIA and Clark to various domestic and international destinations.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Paci�ic Air have been

servicing the Manila-GenSan route over the years.

The two airlines also service the �lights from this city to Cebu and Iloilo and vice versa.

�irst time. He had previously scored knockout wins over Filipino �ighters Christian Araneta by 4th round TKO and former world champion Merlito Sabillo

by 7th round TKO both in 2019.

Taduran has fought only two foreigners. Aside from Valladares, he fought and was beaten by Wan-

heng Menayothin, the popular undefeated Thai world champion who has a better record than Floyd Mayweather Jr. at 54-0-0 with 18 KOs. (Philboxing.com)

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even most of these unfamiliar pathogens do relatively little damage to victims, and symptoms disappear after a few days,” said Dr. Pirages. “Occasionally, however, virulent and debilitating pathogens emerge for which immune systems have few defenses, and fatal diseases can then move quickly through human populations.”

“The resurgence of diseases once thought to have been conquered stems from a deadly mix of exploding populations, rampant poverty, inadequate health care, misuse of antibiotics, and severe environmental degradation,” says another Worldwatch report, Infecting Ourselves: How Environmental and Social Disruptions Trigger Disease.

“Infectious diseases are a basic barometer of the environmental sustainability of human activity,” writes the report’s author, Anne Platt. “Recent outbreaks result from a sharp imbalance between a human population growing by 88 million each year and a natural resource base that is under increasing stress.”

Evidence is mounting that deforestation and ecosystem changes have something to do with this phenomenon, according to the report compiled by the Working Group on Land Use Change and Disease Emergence, an international group of infectious disease and environmental health experts.

“Many of our current activities, primarily for economic development, have some major adverse health effects,” points out Dr. Jonathan A. Patz, the lead author of the report, and a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor in the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the department of population health sciences.

As people remake the world’s landscapes, cutting forests, draining wetlands, building roads and dams, and pushing the

margins of cities ever outward, infectious diseases are gaining new toeholds, cropping up in new places and new hosts, and posing an ever-increasing risk to human and animal health.

“The dramatic resurgence of infectious diseases is telling us that we are approaching disease and medicine, as well as economic development, in the wrong way,” Worldwatch’s Platt notes.

“One of the clearest examples of how ecosystem disruption affects disease behavior can be seen in the interaction between deforestation and the infectious, and particularly vector-borne, diseases that are common through tropics and subtropics,” writes Francesca Grifo, director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History. (A vector is an organism that transmits a disease from place to place.)

In the 1940’s, Trinidad suffered a malaria epidemic in response to deforestation for massive cacao plantations. The plantations proved ideal for many species of bromeliad plants, 20 of which turned out to be perfect breeding sites for the local malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles bellator.

Lyme disease, which is spread by ticks, was �irst identi�ied in 1976 in the northeastern part of the United States. “Forest fragmentation, loss of predators, and the shift of suburbia closer to woodlands were all implicated in the appearance of this disease,” said Prof. McMichael.

Another example was the Nipah virus. In 1999, this virus killed 100 people in Malaysia and nine in Singapore. The virus was normally carried by the forest fruit bat and had not previously seemed to pass to humans. However, because of deforestation and agricultural techniques the bat’s normal habitat and food source were changed.

This forced the bats to encroach into fruit plantations, which were in close proximity to pig farms.

The bats infected the pigs, which in turn infected the farmers.

“I think this has shown that deforestation has a very great impact on emergence of disease,” commented Dr. Victor Lim, a Malaysian professor of microbiology at University Hospital.

In Malaysia “and in other countries with lush tropical jungle and immense biodiversity,” continued Dr. Lim, “I am sure there are lots and lots of pathogens lurking in the jungle; they have been there for many years and they are quite happy to be there among the animals.

I think things go wrong when we start to encroach into the jungle and start cutting down trees.”

Yellow fever, an acute infectious tropical and subtropical disease, was originally transmitted in a jungle cycle from monkey to monkey via the mosquito Aedes africanus. When logging started, people entered this cycle. Bitten in the forest, loggers would return to their homes in cities, where the disease would be spread in a person-to-person cycle via alternate Aedes species that thrive in disturbed urban environments.

A more global example is the AIDS virus – human immunode�iciency virus (HIV) – which some scientists think may have �irst infected “bush meat” hunters given access to Africa's tropical forests by the growing network of logging roads in the continent’s interior. The disease subsequently spread by human contact and has become a global tragedy through the ability of humans to travel the world with relative ease.

In his report, Dr. Pirages wrote this conclusion: “The �irst step in responding to the increasing disease threat has been to use enhanced telecommunications capabilities to create more effective surveillance networks and to apply new medical expertise and technologies to task of rapidly identifying potentially diseases. But much more remains to be done.”

bounds, sprained his left ankle and did not return.

Leonard �inished with three points and �ive rebounds.

Backup shooting guard Tyler Herro, coming off a 23-point game, injured his right foot and did not return. He �inished with two points.

Both teams led by as many as four points in a

highly competitive �irst quarter. Miami ended the quarter on a 10-2 run and led, 30-26. Embiid led all scorers with 11 points in that �irst quarter.

The teams played to a stalemate in the second quarter as the Heat went into the break with a 5652 advantage. The Heat had a 28-16 edge in �irsthalf paint points, and But-

ler was dominant, scoring 23 points in the �irst 24 minutes.

Miami then produced its highest-scoring third quarter of the season with 41 points, taking a 97-77 lead.

Butler, who had 15 points in the third, did not score again, but he was not needed in the fourth quarter as the Heat cruised.

strain). The Hawks' lineup was so thin that coach Lloyd Pierce used guard Evan Turner for the �irst time since Dec. 28.

The Celtics were banged up, too. Kemba Walker missed his second straight game with leftknee soreness and Marcus Smart was out with a right-quad contusion.

The Hawks took a 34-28 lead after the �irst quarter, thanks to 17 points from Young, who was 4 for 5 on 3-pointers. Atlanta led, 62-60, at halftime when Collins hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

There were 15 lead changes and nine ties in the �irst half.

Boston led by double

digits for the �irst time when Daniel Theis tipped in a shot with 6:38 left in the third quarter to give the Celtics an 83-72 lead.

Boston took a 95-84 lead into the fourth quarter.

Both teams play again on Wednesday. Boston returns home to play Orlando, while Atlanta travels to Minnesota.

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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

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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

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Butler scores 38 as Heat beats 76ers

F

ive-time All-Star Jimmy Butler -- playing against the team that traded him last year -scored a season-high 38 points in just 29 minutes to lead the host Miami Heat past the Philadelphia 76ers, 137-106, on Monday night.

It was the second-highest-scoring regulation game in Heat history. Miami shot 56.5 percent from the �loor, including 16-of32 on three-pointers.

Butler made 14 of 22 shots from the �loor, including 2 of 2 on three-pointers. Prior to this game, he had missed 13 consecutive three-pointers. Butler also made all eight of his free throws on Monday as the Heat improved to 22-3 at home this season.

Goran Dragic added 24 points and six assists,

and Bam Adebayo had 18 points, a game-high 11 assists and eight rebounds as Miami clinched the season series over Philadelphia, 3-1.

The 76ers were led by Joel Embiid, who had 29 points and 12 rebounds.

Fellow All-Star Ben Simmons added 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Mike Scott added 17 points off the bench, but Philadelphia, which is 9-18 on the road, has lost 10 of its past 12 games away from home.

Despite Miami's win, the Heat got some bad news due to a pair of key injuries.

Starting power forward Meyers Leonard, who was coming off his best game of the season with 18 points and 14 re-

BUTLER, P10

Lebron picks Gigi's No. 2

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OS ANGELES -- The NBA's two All-Star teams will wear jersey numbers honoring the memory of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna in the mid-season showcase, and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had a simple reason for going with Gianna Bryant's No. 2.

"Zhuri," James said, referring to his own �iveyear-old daughter.

James spoke movingly on Friday of the joy Bryant had found since his retirement in life as a family man and father of four daughters.

"It felt like these last three years were the happiest I've ever seen him," James said.

The numbers are among the planned AllStar weekend tributes to Bryant and Gianna, who were among nine people who died in helicopter crash on January 26.

The team captained by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will wear the No. 24 that Bryant wore in the later stages

of his 20-year NBA career.

Memories of Bryant are sure to be everywhere for the rest of the season, but James said the Lakers are �inding their way forward.

"Today was the start of a new week," James said as the team trained at their practice facility in suburban El Segundo. "We got a great workout, great practice today.

"We continue to focus on what needs to be done to continue to win ball games and get better and be as great as we can be.

So it was a good day for us today."

But it hasn't been easy, and James said the Lakers continue to lean on each other as they try to get to grips with Bryant's death.

"There is no way any individual can do it on their own," he said.

"The week that we had, the week that we've all had.

"You have to lean on somebody in order to gain strength. That's the only reason we're all able to get through it together."

11

Pedro Taduran Jr. (right) defended his International Boxing Federation world minimumweight title after battling Mexican Daniel Valladares to a technical draw at the Jardin de Cerveza Expo in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Saturday night.

PH keeps 4 world champs with Taduran’s defense A

nd still, there are four.

The Philippines still has four world boxing champions after Pedro Taduran Jr. was able to defend his International Boxing Federation world minimumweight title against Mexican Daniel Valladares. The �ight ended with a technical draw at the Jardin de Cerveza Expo in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Saturday night.

According to Boxingscene.com both �ighters “managed to produce a Fight of the Year contender in their condensed slugfest.” But the championship �ight failed to produce a winner.

After four rounds of nonstop action the judges decided it as a majority draw with one judge scoring it 39-37 in favor of Valledares while the other two prevailed with identical scores of 38-38 even.

The verdict makes Taduran from Libon, Albay retain his WBO minimumweight title.

Taduran a. k. a “Kid Pedro Heneral” defended his world title successfully for the �irst time. He won the title last September 2019, when he beat compatriot Samuel Salva in Taguig.

The 23-year old Filipino improved his boxing career record to 14-2-1 with 11 KOs (64.71% KO rate).

The two losses were dealt

by Chayaphon Moonsri a. k. a. known as Wanheng Menayothin of Thailand by unanimous decision for the WBC minimum weight title in 2018 and by countryman Joel Lino by split decision in 2016.

Both �ighters accidentally clashed their heads which opened up the cut above Valladares’ right eye in the exciting �irst round that saw both �ighters

exchange several �lurry of punches. The Filipino southpaw made the cut a constant target in the next three rounds. The ringside doctor then examined the cut and declared it was too dangerous for the Mexican challenger to continue �ighting. The judges’ scorecards were read and the �ight was declared a technical draw. Valladares’ professional record now is at 22-1-1 with 13 KOs (54.17% KO rate).

The hometown crowd cheered wildly during the entrance of Valladares who hails from neighboring Monterrey, while Taduran was conspicuously booed by the hostile fans. The cut above Valladares’ right eye opened when their heads clashed approximately 30 seconds remaining in the �irst round.

“We would love to defend the title in the Philip-

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) passes the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter (15) at State Farm Arena. Reuters

ayson Tatum scored 15 of his team-high 28 points in the third quarter as the visiting Boston Celtics took control of the game en route to a 123115 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

Tatum was 10 for 20 from the �ield with �ive 3-pointers and had seven rebounds. He was one of three Celtics in double �igures in scoring, joining Gordon Hayward with 24 points and Jaylen Brown with 21. Hayward added seven rebounds and six assists.

The Hawks trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half but pulled to within two on a Kevin Huerter jumper that made the score 103-101.

Hayward answered with back-to-back baskets, and

pines, or [be] happy to give DV a rematch when he is ready and healed,” said MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons as quoted by The Ring. “He deserves it.” Art Monis, Taduran’s manager, is amenable to a rematch, but believes it shouldn’t happen again in Mexico.

Taduran remains one of four current world titleholders from the Philippines, which includes WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, IBF super�lyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero.

Valladares entered the �ight rated no. 1 by the IBF at the light �lyweight division (108 pounds), and was immediately declared the mandatory challenger even if he was �ighting at the minimumweight (105 pounds) category for the

PH KEEPS, P9

Atlanta never got closer than three points.

Atlanta was led by Trae Young with 34 points and seven assists. But Young committed nine turnovers, including one with a minute left when the Hawks were down by four.

The Hawks also got 23 points from Huerter, who made �ive 3s. John Collins added 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Young injured his ankle on Saturday but was cleared to play on Monday morning. Atlanta was without Cam Reddish (concussion), De'Andre Hunter (left-ankle sprain), Bruno Fernando (left-calf strain), DeAndre Bembry (right-hand neuritis) and Alex Len (right hip �lexor

TATUM, P10

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

SIZZLING SEN

VOL.12 ISSUE 235 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020

Sen. Go fires 32 as DU34GO takes 2-0 lead F or the second game in a row this year, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go showed he is still razor-sharp.

His hectic schedule notwithstanding, Sen. Go returned to the basketball court on Friday night at the Arcadia Activity Center and came through with six three pointers on his way to a game-high 32 points.

With President Rodrigo Duterte’s top aide and now lawmaker on the �iring end, Team DU34GO pulled off a gritty 73-67 victory over IBP to take a 2-0 series lead in their 2020 basketball friendly series.

Sen. Go, who rained 11 three pointers in Game 1, got to his rhythm early but the Lawyers shadowed him all throughout the game and made him work for his shots. Go got his points by slithering through picks

to get the open looks beyond the arc and going hard to the paint for �loaters and short jumpers.

IBP played extremely well this time compared in the series opener but still faded down the stretch.

Dapaing, Cadiogan and Ciudadano set the tone early for IBP which managed to keep pace with DU34GO through most parts of the match.

But the lawyers just couldn’t outplay DU34GO in a down the wire �inish and DU34GO once more proved to be a tough nut to crack in hard fought and tightly contested games.

IBP was paced by Dapaing and Cadiogan who made a combined 31 points with 17 and 14 respectively.

Malinao had 9 while Acojedo and Flores made 8 points apiece for DU34GO.

The Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz on top of the podium after dominating her weight class in the 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Rome on Tuesday.