Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 238 | Saturday, February 8, 2020

SONGS OF LOVE MADE VISIBLE INDULGE A1

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

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A security personnel uses a non-contact digital thermometer to check the temperature of a guests at the entrance of a hotel along Sta. Ana Avenue in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr

ASF IN DAVAO CITY

2 affected barangays placed under lockdown, 2000 pigs to be culled

By MAYA M. PADILLO wo barangays in Calinan District have been placed underlockdown after the regional of�ice of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the City Veterinarian Of�ice (CVO) declared the areas are infected with African Swine Fever (ASF).

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The barangays were identi�ied as Dominga and Lamanan.

City veterinarian Dr. Cerelyn Pinili told media that out of six blood samples of the pigs from Brgy.

Lamanan they submitted to the Bureau of Animal Industry of DA, three sam-

ples were declared positive with ASF while the two blood samples from Brgy.

Dominga were all declared positive with ASF. "Positive po ang Davao City base sa ginawang tests sa mga samples from Calinan with respect to ASF," said DA 11 regional direc-

tor Ricardo Oñate, Jr. The lockdown in the said two barangays prohibits live animals including processed pork and meat by-products from entering or leaving the infected villages.

"Kung natingala mo ngano apil ang luto kay

kung ikunsumo sa tao naay sobra asa man na padulong di ba sa lamaw? mao na ang atong gilikayan ang swill feeding," Oñate said.

Pinili said they submitted the samples from Brgy.

Dominga to the Bureau of Animal Industry last Janu-

ASF, P9

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

Chinese man in GenSan cleared of 2019-nCoV

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President Rodrigo Duterte bows his head in prayer prior to the start of the Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Command Conference at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Duterte to newly-named gov't officials: ‘Visit public hospitals’

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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday challenged the newly-appointed government of�icials to visit some public hospitals and see the sorry-state of patients there.

“Hamon ko lang ito sa inyo, hamon ko lang (This is just a challenge to you). Try to visit ‘yung mga ospital lalo na kung may contagion. Nasa sahig ‘yan sila lahat (especially hospitals where there is a contagion. The patients lie on the �loor),” Duterte said in a speech in Malacañan Palace. “‘Yung ibang pasyente maghintay (Other patients who are waiting), they are lying there in the throes of death on the �loor. Tingnan ninyong mabuti (Look at them properly),” he added.

Duterte is known for visiting cancer-stricken children in hospitals during

the Christmas holidays.

In December last year, Duterte signed into law a bill seeking to establish Malasakit Centers in all hospitals run by the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide.

Malasakit Centers serve as one-stop for easy access to medical and �inancial assistance needed to receive health care services.

On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte has expressed willingness to visit Filipino repatriates from the epicenter of the 2019-nCoVoutbreak in China who will undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine.

PLDT Enterprise, MarvelTec to elevate carrier services across Asia Pacific

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LDT Enterprise—the b2b arm of the Philippines’ leading ICT and digital services provider—and independent international connectivity catalyst as well as the exclusive partner of Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier in APAC, MarvelTec, of�icially formalized their partnership to provide seamless carrier services for their shared constituents across Asia Paci�ic.

With the international company focused on providing and localizing global best practices to its customers across Asia, MarvelTec partnered with an organization such as PLDT Enterprise to support its endeavors in better understanding the highly competitive and diversi�ied Asian market.

Moreover, the partnership enables the two organizations to complement each other’s focus and strategies in providing more �lexible and reliable solutions for

their customers.

Through this partnership, MarvelTec can leverage on PLDT’s industry expertise and expansive infrastructure. On top of being the Philippines’ leading service provider, PLDT also boasts of an extensive roster of clients and partners throughout APAC—having points of presence (PoPs) in Singapore, Hong Kong, US, UK, and Australia, to name a few.

“The Philippines is providing tremendous growth opportunities for international companies. We see increasing demand from our customers and partners to have access to high quality and reliable network and ICT services in the Philippines. We are very proud and feel so honored to close the partnership with PLDT Enterprise, the Philippines’ leading service provider with tier 1 mobile and �ixed networks,

PLDT, P9

Nograles said despite the President’s willingness to visit the Filipino repatriates, the �inal decision would be made by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).

“He wants to keep doing things he’s doing with imposing limitations to his movement,” Nograles said in a media interview.

Vigilance vs. corruption Meanwhile, Duterte also urged them to observe "vigilant against corruption", warning them of being removed from of�ice if they lose his trust.

“Be vigilant against corruption and other unethical motives and interests that diminish public [trust],” Duterte said.

Duterte warned them that he has �ired several Cabinet members linked to corrupt activities despite majority of them being his

supporters since he ran for mayor in Davao City in the 1980s.

He pointed out that although he appointed them out of “debt of gratitude”, he would not think twice about dismissing crooked of�icials.

Admitting that he knew that they had “more gainful things to do rather than stick with government”, he stressed that there was “ful�illment” in public service. ”Well, to me, by experience, is the ful�illment that --- lalo na kung (especially) local of�icials. ‘Pag may nagawa kami na (If we’ve done something to) save a life, stop a war,” Duterte said.

Duterte reminded them of their obligation to serve the country with “integrity, impartiality, and independence”.

DUTERTE, P9

PLDT Enterprise inked a deal with international company Marveltec to strengthen carrier connectivity service offerings for organizations across the Asia Pacific Region. (L-R) Business Development Director of Mar-

Chinese national here who traveled last month to Wuhan, China is now considered cleared from possible infection with the deadly novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019nCoV).

Dr. Rochelle Oco, acting head of the City Health Of�ice (CHO), said in an advisory issued Thursday night the male foreigner has completed the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine in the city “without any sign of illness.”

She said the quarantine period was based on a protocol set by the Department of Health (DOH) for persons under monitoring (PUM) for the 2019-nCoV. Oco said PUMs are individuals who had a history of travel and exposure in the last 14 days to China and traveled to any part of the world with con�irmed cases of the 2019-nCoV. They may also have no history of exposure but with fever and cough, she said.

A report from the CHO’s epidemiology and surveillance unit earlier said the PUM is a businessman from mainland China who had long been staying in the city.

The person reportedly traveled to Wuhan, where the outbreak of the 2019nCoV was �irst reported, for the Chinese New Year holidays and returned to the city last Jan. 23.

Oco said the foreigner was not tested for the disease and was not considered as a person under investigation.

She assured that the CHO would continue to closely coordinate their efforts with the DOH’s Bureau of Quarantine and other members of the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force for Management of Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases. “(This is) to ensure our safety in the community and secure all ports of entry,” Oco said.

She said the newly-activated Barangay Health

CHINESE, P9

Magnitude 6.4 quake jolts DavOcc 53 days after 6.9 earthquake

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Magnitude 6.4 earthquake of tectonic origin struck southern Mindanao at 9:40 p.m.

Thursday, its epicenter at 85 km southeast of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, 53 days after a Magnitude 6.9 quake struck neighboring Davao del Sur. Phivolcs’ Earthquake Bulletin 1 said no damages were expected, only aftershocks.

The quake was felt at Intensity III in the cities of General Santos and Davao and in Alabel, Sarangani, and Intensity II in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. Based on instrumental intensities, it registered Intensity IV in Malungon, Sarangani, III in Albael, Sarangani, II in the cities of General Santos and Koronadal and in Tupi, South Cotabato, and

1 in Kidapawan City.

All these areas also felt the series of above Magnitude 6 quakes in the last quarter last year.

Five above-Magnitude 6 quakes struck south-central Mindanao between October 16 and December 15 last year: 6.3 on October 16, 6.6 and 6.1 on October 29, 6.5 on October 31 and 6.9 on December 15, displacing thousands of residents, causing damages and economic losses.

The October 31 Magnitude 6.5 quake led to the collapse of Eva’s Hotel in Kidapawan City and the �ive-storey Himeji Building of Ecoland 4000 Residences in Davao City while the December 15 Magnitude 6.9 quake led to the collapse of a grocery store in Padada, Davao Del Sur. (MindaNews)

velTec Sean Sun, PLDT Enterprise Asia Pacific Regional Head Jeff Mendoza, MarvelTec Co-Founder Yi Zhou, Head of Traders CEEA at Deutsche Telecom Global Carrier Jindřich Musil.

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

Santo Tomas placed under lockdown amid ASF threat

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ayor Ernesto Evangelista of Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte ordered on Thursday, February 6, the temporary lockdown on all live hogs and all pork meat and by-products amid the African Swine Fever (ASF) case reported in Davao City.

Evangelista convened the Task Force ASF Prevention and Control earlier this afternoon following the DA 11’s pronouncements of ASF case in Calinan, District at Davao City.

Apart from this, Evangelista has also ordered the establishment of quarantine checkpoints at Ba-

rangay Magwawa, Barangay Tulalian, and Barangay Tibal-og, respectively.

“We are implementing this to protect the swine industry. A total lockdown is essential to ensure that Santo Tomas will remain ASF-free,” Evangelista said.

Meanwhile, Municipal Agriculturist Engr. Elmer Degorio said the ban is effective immediately to thwart the entry of ASF in the municipality because Davao City is geographically closer to the town.

The ban covers all kinds of pork and pork-related products (frozen, canned) including processed meat products, among others.

Low water pressure to no water in some Buhangin, Cabantian areas

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avao City Water District advises customers of two schedules of low water pressure to no water on February 9, 2020 from 4:30 AM to 8:00 AM and from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM in some Buhangin and Cabantian areas.

Speci�ic affected areas are these Buhangin areas: portion of Robinsons Highlands Subd. particularly Beverly Hills Street, Bread Subd., Carpio Subd., Panorama Homes Subd., Pioneer Village, and Manuel M. Garcia Road (from corner Cabantian Road to Panorama Homes) and these Cabantian areas: Holy Trinity Subd., Countryville Executive Homes, Dela Peña Subd., BACAHOA Subd., Victor’s Executive Homes, Emilia Homes Subd., and portion of Cabantian Road (from Holy Trinity Subd. to Emilia Homes Subd.).

DCWD’s Panorama Booster Pump will be affected by the Davao Light and Power Company’s (DLPC) power interruptions on the said date needed to facilitate the relocation of DLPC’s poles along Mandug Road. With the power interruptions, the affected facility will not be able to operate and pro-

duce water, and in turn, will not be able to supply water to the affected areas. Although the power cuts are shorter in duration, DCWD needs additional time for re-switching on the affected facility, pressure build up, and line delivery, thus the longer duration of water service interruptions.

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

DCWD conducts �lushing after service works are completed. However, once water is restored, customers are advised to open all faucets and allow water to run for at least two minutes. Do not drink tap water immediately but if needed, boil water beforehand as safety precaution.

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

LOW WATER, P9

Julius Paner, tourism officer of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, bares during a news conference that the local government unit of Davao del Sur will be closing the Sta. Cruz and Digos trails of Mt. Apo this coming Holy Week for their multi-partite monitoring team to do trail and campsite assessment.

Lean Daval Jr

Sta. Cruz to close Mt. Apo trails during Holy Week

By MAYA M. PADILLO he Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur will be closing the trails of Sta. Cruz and Digos City to all climbers this coming Holy Week.

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Julius Paner, tourism of�icer of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur told media they will be closing the trails to give way to their multipartite monitoring team to do trail and campsite assessment.

The monitoring team is composed of personnel from LGU, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources 11 (DENR 11), barangay and Bureau of Fire Protection 11

(BFP).

"Sa Holy Week di ko sure kung open na ning upat ka trails. Basta kami sa Sta. Cruz i-close namo from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday, bale seven days," Paner said.

He said during Holy Week Sta. Cruz LGU usually allow same carrying capacity of 50 persons per day. Presently the trails of Sta. Cruz and Digos are open to climbers while

the remaining trails are closed for the meantime.

There are six trail access to the country's highest peak. These are Sibulan in Sta. Cruz, Digos, Bansalan, Magpet, Makilala, and Kidapawan.

Paner also said that among the trails, Sta. Cruz is the most preferred trail by climbers following the closure of the Kidapawan trail due to cracks and damaged caused by earthquakes last year.

Paner said every weekend Sta. Cruz trail is fully booked.

"Ang Sta. Cruz trail dili kaayo dako ang damage.

Karon every weekend puno ang among trail,"

STA.CRUZ, P9

Pinay dies of undetermined coronavirus strain in Dubai

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Department of Agriculture 11 (DA 11) director Ricardo Oñate Jr. discusses during a news conference the efforts that the agency will undertake to lessen the effects of African swine fever (ASF) outbreak Davao Region. Lean Daval Jr

Paner said.

The LGU of Sta. Cruz manages the Mt. Apo climb guided by the regulation of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) directing them to only allow 50 persons per day in the entire trail including campsite to ensure conservation of the mountain.

Paner said they also imposed the "no camping at the summit".

"Very stringent ang policy but despite that Mt. Apo is Mt. Apo, a bucketlist for mountaineers mao daghan gihapon ang nagasaka," he said.

Filipina domestic worker died of a still undetermined strain of the coronavirus in Dubai, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Thursday.

Bello said the death of the 58-year-old woman was reported by the Philippine labor attaché in Dubai, adding that it was unclear what kind of coronavirus had infected her.

The woman, a native of General Santos City, had been working in Dubai for 28 years, he said.

Her family hails from Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur but currently resides in General Santos City. They have been informed of her death.

Bello said arrangements were being made for the woman’s daughter to come to Dubai for her repatriation.

A report from the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health showed that the woman died on Feb. 5 at a

Dubai hospital.

However, her “underlying cause of death” was listed as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, while her “immediate cause of death” was listed as septic shock, multiple organ failure and cardiac arrest.

In a pathological report released on Feb. 5, the woman tested negative for the novel coronavirus.

In a social media post, the Dubai government’s media of�ice denied reports the woman died due to nCoV. According to the media of�ice, the woman was suffering from respiratory infection and that laboratory tests showed she “did not have the virus.”

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause infections ranging from the common cold to more severe illnesses such as the Severe Acute

PINAY, P9

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

China virus fallout pushes central banks to cut rates

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irus-stricken China poses a drag on the global economy, giving the world’s central banks, including the Philippines, room to cut interest rates earlier than expected, ING Bank said Friday.

World commodity prices will remain “depressed” due to weak demand from China, where millions are on lockdown and with many countries closing their borders to those from the mainland, said

P1.5-M financial aid released to Agusan Sur coco farmers

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total of 264 coconut farmers from 14 barangays in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur received over PHP1.5 million aid from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in a distribution activity on Wednesday.

The distribution was part of the continuing 2018 Participatory Coconut Planting Project (PCPP), one of the vital program components of PCA aimed to encourage more coconut and non-coconut farmers to plant coconuts.

PCA-13 manager Joel Oclarit, together with Councilors Nilo Manpatilan and Gilbert Honculada led the distribution activity.

Each of the coconut farmers received over

PHP5,000 aid depending on the number of hectares of coconuts that they currently develop in their respective barangays.

“The continuing implementation of PCPP will help our farmers develop fully their coconut farms,” Oclarit said during the distribution activity.

He also urged the coconut farmers to utilize the funds fully for increased productivity of their coconut farms.

The PCA promotes coconut planting in open and suitable areas and replanting of senile and unproductive coconut trees and those damaged by natural calamities under the PCPP program that involves the provision of cash incentives

to quali�ied coconut farmers who will participate in the production, transplanting, and stabilization of good coconut seedlings in their own farms.

Liberato Mabalot Jr., the president of Bayugan City Coconut Farmers Association (BCCFA), told Philippine News Agency that the cash assistance is intended for the fertilization of newly-grown coconuts.

“We participate in the production of coconuts right in our farms. Through the PCPP, we are provided with �inancial aid to buy fertilizers to ensure increased productivity,” Mabalot said, adding part of the �inancial aid will also be paid to farmworkers

P50.92:$1.

"This is on news reports of progress on the nCoV vaccine, and muted by anticipatory rate cut by the BSP," Robert Dan Roces, chief economist at Security Bank Corp., said in an e-mail interview.

This comes as reports indicate the accelerated

pace of developing a vaccine to the 2019 nCoV, with three con�irmed cases in the Philippines so far.

Meanwhile, the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday decided to cut key policy rates by 25 basis points.

"The Monetary Board concluded that the manageable in�lation environment allowed room for a preemptive reduction in the policy rate to support market con�idence," Diokno said in a media briefing.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila, Jr., however, said the coronavirus scare would likely just have a short-term impact on the economy while there's still no cure for the disease and as the number of cases rise.

"Once it turns out to be under control, sentiment can shift quite quickly," he said, adding that there's suf�icient policy space to provide a further boost to the economy.

In�lation has been on an uptrend for the third straight month, with pric-

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ING Bank analyst Nicholas Antonio Mapa.

With Thailand cutting rates and the US Federal Reserve likely to cut this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, Mapa said investors seeking higher

yields are unlikely to leave the Philippines.

“If everyone’s cutting, there’s no change in the relative �ield,” Mapa said.

“Everybody’s alternatives are few and far between.”

Bangko Sentral ng Pil-

ipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno �ired the �irst half of his planned 50-basis point cut in the overnight borrowing rate last Thursday, calling it a “preemptive” move.

CHINA, P9

P1.5-M, P9

Peso rebounds vs. US dollar

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he Philippine peso rebounded against the US dollar on Thursday, buoyed by positive developments in the �ight against the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).

The local currency gained 14 centavos to close at P50.78:$1 versus Wednesday's �inish of

A fish vendor debones milkfish in a fish stall at a wet market inside Agdao Public Market in Davao City. Fish traders are expecting an increase in the

demand of sea produce after authorities confirmed that Davao City is no longer free from African swine fever. Lean Daval Jr

BSP trims interest rates Tagum Global Medical Center files for P1-B IPO

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has trimmed interest rates on Thursday, giving a fresh stimulus to the economy as in�lation picks up.

The key interest rate would be reduced by 25 basis points (bp) to 3.75 percent, while the overnight deposit and lending rates will go down to 3.25 percent and 4.25 percent, respectively. Banks and other lending �irms use the BSP's rates as their benchmark in setting loan, credit card, and deposit rates.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said that while in�lation remains broadly steady, risks drawn from higher food prices as well as the novel coronavirus outbreak could dampen market activity and sentiment.

BSP, P9

agum Global Medical Center Inc. intends to raise capital through a P1-billion initial public offering (IPO), to be used for its construction and development, medical equipment, and pre-operating expenses.

According to its prospectus, Tagum Global plans to offer 36,000

common shares equivalent to 3,600 blocks at an offer price ranging from P200,000 to a maximum offer price of P400,000.

The 3,600 blocks will be offered in tranches through a series of offerings at an offer price in progressive amounts—the �irst 1,400 blocks at P200,000 each, the next 600 at P250,000

each, another 700 blocks at P300,000 each, and the next 900 blocks at P400,000 each.

"The net proceeds of the offer shall be used primarily by the company the construction and development, medical equipment, and pre-operating expense of Tagum Global Medical Center," the prospectus

read.

Tagum Global was established to maintain, operate, own, and manage hospitals, medical and related healthcare facilities and business such as laboratories, diagnostic centers, ambulatory clinics, condo hospitals, scienti�ic research, and other allied undertakings.

(CNBG) president Simon Sunluyuan, unveiled the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G. The latest �lagship Huawei device was of�icially introduced to select 40 Globe Platinum customers.

“Today is another milestone in our collaboration with Huawei that is consistently growing stronger," Cu said.

“A few months back, we brought together 5G technology to Filipino homes, and now, we bring the most powerful and �irst ever 5G capable smartphone in the country to our mobile customers,” Cu added.

The new HUaweu Mate 30 Pro 5G is available for free via Globe ThePLATINUM 4999 Plan for ex-

isting and recontracting customers starting Feb. 8, 2020.

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 4G and 5G versions are available in select Globe stores with the following recontracting offers: Mate 30 PLAN 1999 Free, Mate 30 Pro PLAN 2499 Free, and Mate 30 Pro 5G: PLAN 2499 with P16,800 cashout.

Globe, Huawei bring first 5G phone to PH

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lobe Telecom Inc. and Chinese smartphone giant Huawei introduced the �irst 5G-enabled smartphone in the Philippines.

In a launching event late Thursday, executives of Globe and Huawei, led

by Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu and Huawei Philippines Carrier Network Business Group

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

ECONOMY 5

A truck carrying pigs is disinfected before passing through the Task Force Davao checkpoint in Toril, Davao City on Thursday. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of African Swine Fever in two barangays of Davao City in a press conference afternoon of the same day. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

DavSur’s livestock ‘bagsakan’ center to close due to ASF T he major bagsakan or trading center of livestock here that supplies native pigs for roasting in the cities of Davao and General Santos will shut down operations starting Friday due to the African Swine Fever (ASF), industry players said Thursday.

Bobby Guitguit, owner of G-Bob’s Native Lechon Hauz and Livestock Dealer, said Mayor Jose Jimmy Sagarino gathered Thursday morning some 60 livestock dealers at the Sulop Auction Center at the junction going to Davao Occidental to personally inform them of the decision of the local

government to temporarily shut down the facility.

“We were shocked by the decision of the local government but we can do nothing about it,” Guitguit, whose lechon house is based in Digos City, said in Cebuano.

The bagsakan center will be closed for 30 days or until further notice by

PAL to fetch Pinoys from China

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hilippine Airlines said it would on Monday fetch Filipinos stranded in China, while studying “clamor” for more �lights to repatriate more from the mainland where a new coronavirus strain is spreading.

The special PAL �light from Manila will go to Xiamen, carrying Chinese nationals who are stranded in the Philippine capital.

From Xiamen, the same PAL jet will bring Filipinos home, airline spokeswoman Cielo Villaluna

said Friday.

China con�irmed up to 630 deaths due to the virus, �irst detected in Wuhan in the central province of Hubei. The Philippines con�irmed 3 cases, including 1 death, all from Wuhan. Manila also banned all inbound travel from China, Macau and Hong Kong.

Asked in an interview if similar �lights would be mounted after Monday’s mission, Villaluna said PAL was “studying all pos-

PAL, P9

the local government, the livestock trader said.

The mayor’s decision to shut down the trading center is in support to efforts to contain the spread of ASF in other parts of Mindanao, he added.

The ASF outbreak erupted in Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental in the second week of January, with Governor Claude Bautista admitting the disease also affected the towns of Malita, Sta. Maria and Jose Abad Santos.

ASF killed close to 3,000 pigs in Don Marcelino as of Tuesday morning, records from the municipal agriculture’s of�ice showed. The live pig in-

ventory at the time stood at 7,436, it added.

The local government unit started the culling of pigs in the town on Wednesday and buried in pits designated in each of the town’s 15 villages.

The ASF has already spread to Davao City, according to Ricardo Oñate Jr., Department of Agriculture-XI director on Thursday.

Guitguit said 50 percent of the native pigs traded in the bagsakan center come from Davao Occidental’s backyard growers, and the rest from the provinces of Davao del Sur and Sarangani.

Bulk buyers supply these pigs to the cities of Davao in Region 11 and General Santos in Region 12, he added.

Guitguit said an estimated 1,000 “bukag-bukag” traders have been affected by the ASF outbreak.

Bukag-bukag refers to small traders who use motorcycles with baskets on both sides for transporting the pigs.

Since the ASF outbreak erupted in the second week of January in Davao Occidental, Guitguit said trading activity at the bagsakan went down by 90 percent.

During the Christmas

season, he said that 800 to 1,000 pigs are auctioned daily by the bukag-bukag traders to bulk or individual buyers, he added.

MindaNews counted only two pigs at the trading center at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Dondon Mondejar, a local government worker at the bagsakan, said they would be pulled out later in the afternoon by their owners.

The facility will be disinfected Friday and padlocked,” he said.

Goats and cows are also being traded at the 16-year-old bagsakan center. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

Toyota extends China plant closure over virus

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apanese auto giant Toyota said Friday it would keep its Chinese factories shut until Feb. 16, extending its suspension by a week amid the growing coronavirus crisis.

"After considering various factors including guidelines from local and regional governments... we've decided to continue our suspension of

production at all Toyota plants in China until Feb. 16," spokesman Aaron Fowles told AFP. The Japanese �irm had previously said the plants would be mothballed until Feb. 9.

The virus has now claimed more than 630 lives, mainly in China, but has also spread to several other countries and played havoc with

global supply chains.

Fowles said Toyota would make further decisions on whether to extend the suspension depending on the developing virus situation.

"As for production in other countries we are currently investigating if there will be any impact," he added.

Fiat Chrysler boss Mike Manley told the Fi-

nancial Times on Thursday that his �irm could halt production at a European plant because of supply problems from China -- which would be the �irst for a European car manufacturer.

South Korea's Hyundai has also suspended operations at its giant �ive-plant Ulsan complex, the most productive car factory in the world.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

Fiction to reality

A Filipino working in Hong Kong posted on social media the ordeal residents in the Chinese island territory are currently facing. He woke up early on Wednesday morning to be out �irst before the grocery store opens to buy food and rice supply enough to tide them over for perhaps the entire week or so. To his surprise, the queue at the grocery was already snaking through the streets that early time of the day. With the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus, Hong Kong residents like this Filipino are already thinking of storing food after the government has ordered a lockdown.

The scene reminds people of movies like Bird Box and the closest thing to the new coronavirus which netizens are now saying as the coming to life of a �ilm, Contagion, a �ilm made nine years ago that paints a more terrifying picture of humanity than Joker and Downton Abbey combined.

As the coronavirus scythes outwards from China, many people have been searching and streaming Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 thriller Contagion. The picture, which stars Gwyneth Paltrow and concerns a deadly virus with the potential to decimate the global population, has, in a very real sense, gone viral.

Netizens went frantic with the seemingly early similarities, they posted: “Is it just me or did Contagion predict the coronavirus?” Yes, the similarities are striking enough to suggest a case of life imitating. In both �ictional and real-life cases, the outbreak originates in China and in each instance bats are implicated. As a doctor (played by Jennifer Ehle) at the Centers for Disease Control explains: “Somewhere in the world, the wrong pig met up with the wrong bat.” Now, they’re saying it’s the “worst Tinder date ever.”

The Hong Kong OFW eventually fell out of the long queue, surrendered

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

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

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Photography

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

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

to the fate that he won’t make it in time for breakfast or even lunch that day, decided to get glutinous rice and other food stuff instead rather than not having anything at all. The good thing is, the situation has remained calm and no pandemonium over the race for food is happening.

The situation, however, could be jittery. While Hong Kong �ights to move on after the mass protests to another battle against a dreaded pandemic, its people are out of their jobs for at least the next two weeks with the lockdown. An airline company advised its employees to take unpaid leaves.

Students do their studies online and some workers were also asked to work from home where possible.

By contrast, some people in the Philippines are taking advantage of the coronavirus scare. Two days ago, the Department of Trade and Industry in the Davao Region urged everyone to report any online seller peddling overpriced surgical masks. Online selling of face masks have taken over where the stocks of drugstores have ran out. But these online sellers are having their heyday with their business.

Just the thought that these online sellers aren’t even paying sales taxes or acquire business permits makes it even more enraging that they are making money during a period of global emergency.

Which brings us back to the �ilm itself. The movie Contagion portrays a world wracked by not just a virus, but a whole set of ills that come along with it — disorder, societal breakdown, the dif�iculties inherent in �inding a cure, individuals who refuse to follow rules, people who set priorities that protect their loved ones before the general public, and people taking advantage of the situation.

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 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

JOHN CARLO B. TRIA MY TWO CENTS’

LOOKS LIKE GOOD ECONOMIC TIMES AHEAD. WHAT CAN WE DO? Various institutions are releasing their fearless forecasts for the Philippine economy, many of them good ones.

As opposed to our neighbors, we are experiencing higher growth, and will continue to do so in 2020.

ING economist Prakash Sakpal, for instance expects our GDP growth to accelerate to 6.6% from the 6.2% clocked in the third quarter “as pentup budget spending and signi�icant central bank easing probably spurred domestic demand. If so, this would be Asia’s fastest-growing economy, the status it is likely to hold in 2020.” (https:// think.ing.com/articles/ asia-week-ahead-calm-re-

turns/?utm_campaign=January-16_asia-week-aheadcalm-returns&utm_medium=email&utm_source=emailing_article) Even local �inancial giant Secrity bank released the same forecast for Q4 GDP growth. (https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/01/17/ business/business-top/pheconomy-likely-grew-6-6-inq4-analyst/675160/) Nonetheless, Christmas spending and accelerated government disbursements will help us catch up. The record 8 million tourist arrivals likewise boosts GDP since this is a direct infusion into the economy. The increase in direct �lights to various des-

tinations also helped bring these tourists stay longer by avoiding the Manila lay over, spending more in the process.

Mindanao Development Authority Assistant Secretary Yo Montenegro also forecasts Mindanao growth at 7.2%, up by .1 % from last year.

Such forecasts bode well for the country, that in 2019 weathered political storms and natural calamities, including a global growth slowdown that bore its effects on European economies. The bigger question is how the forecasted growth will actually be achieved.

Such predictions, howev-

er, must be viewed with caution as the spectre of natural calamities, climate change and global realities may harm our efforts.

These obstacles notwithstanding, the challenge for all of us in Davao and Mindanao is how we can take advantage of this growth, of these new infrastructure and connectivity. Our economy is now growing because of consumption and investment, meaning, that our own local consumers are driving demand and this is what is encouraging investment.

For each of us we must ask: what opportunities can come our way, and how we as a business community

can aggressively campaign for investments to take place in our region as attention and exposure have surely brought focus to Davao’s opportunities as the gateway to investments in other Mindanao regions?

Let us build on the advantage that we have and move forward with the con�idence and hope that despite these obstacles, the economy will continue growing as it has been growing.

Let us not be afraid to present our economy and its opportunities to prospective investors. Let us entertain possible partnerships.

For reactions: facebook. com/johntriapage

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

OVERCOMING MIND-KILLER “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.

There are always dif�iculties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.

To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.

Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson *** Breathes there a man with soul so dead who has never said to himself, “I feared no one. There nothing is this world I fear.”

If you encounter such man, then he’s a damned liar. There is no such person.

Whether you’re male or female, handsome or beautiful, ugly or despised, young or old, we are afraid of something.

There are those who are afraid of height and public speaking. There are those who are frightened upon seeing a spider or a snake. And there are those who don’t feel at ease when they alone in an elevator or walking in the dark.

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of

the light,” Plato said. In The Wise Man’s Fear, author Patrick Rothfuss wrote: “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”

“Fear is the mind-killer,” Frank Herbert said in Dune.

Norman Vincent Peale, American motivational leader, thinks so, too.

“Fear began in the �irst place as a think trickle of thought across your mind, perhaps in childhood, in fact most probably in your early formative years,” he wrote.

“Continuing to develop, it �inally cut a deep channel of thought in your mind,” Peale continued. “So dominating did it become that every thought you have about yourself, your health, your future, your family, was drained into this deep channel of ear and came up tinged with anxiety.”

The reason why we have fear in life is because we are afraid to die. I was reminded of a story that happened to Nikita Krushchev. He was the Soviet statesman who led the Soviet Union during the part of the Cold War. He became the �irst secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and was chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1958 to 1964.

When Krushchev pronounced his famous denunciation of the Stalin era, someone in the Congress Hall was reported to have said, “Where were you, Comrade Krushchev, when all these innocent people were being slaughtered?”

Krushchev stopped, looked around the hall, and said, “Will the man who said that kindly stand up?” Tension mounted in the hall. No one stood up. Then Krushchev said, “Well, you have your answer now, whoever you are. I was in exactly the same position then as you are now.”

The man who asked the question didn’t stand up because he was afraid something bad might happened to him. “Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration,” Herbert said.

The exact opposite of fear is courage. “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it,” Nobel Peace laureate Nelson Mandela said. “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

There are two kinds of courage, William Barclay pointed out. “There is the courage that is an instinctive reaction, almost a re�lex action,” he explained. “It is the courage of a man or woman

suddenly hit with a crisis and reacting bravely, without having had a moment to think about it all. Many a person can become an immediate hero or heroine in the heat of the moment.

“But then there is another kind of courage, the courage of a person who sees tragedy approaching. It is still faraway and he or she has time to think and time to escape the issue, but clenches the �ists and goes on.”

History records how Alexander the Great and his army were dying of thirst after marching eleven days.

Suddenly, they came upon some local farmers who were fetching skins full of water from a hidden river. Seeing the famous general choked with thirst, they offered him a helmet �illed with water.

He asked them to whom they were carrying the water.

“To our children” the farmers answered in chorus.

“But your life is more important than theirs. Even if they all perish, we can raise a new generation.”

Then Alexander took the helmet �illed with water into his hands and looked around to see all his soldiers eyeing the water and licking their dry lips. He did not have the courage to drink, but gave back the water untouched to the farmers. “If only I would

drink,” he told them, “the rest of the soldiers would be out of heart.”

At that, the soldiers rallied around him as never before and de�ied their fatigue and their thirst.

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently,” wrote Maya Angelou, an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist.

“There are so many ways to be brave in this world,” Veronica Roth wrote in Allegiant. “Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else.

Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

“But sometimes it doesn’t,” Roth continued.

“Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life. That is the sort of bravery I must have now.”

“Courage doesn’t always roar,” commented American writer and artist Mary Ann Radmacher.

“Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

AGRITRENDS

MUCH ADO ABOUT AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

P

ork infected with African swine fever (ASF) does not pose a risk on human health, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III himself assured the public. “We want to allay the fears of the public by saying that, as long as pork is bought from reliable sources and it is cooked thoroughly, pork is safe to eat,” he said.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar echoed the same opinion. In a post on his social media account, he said that as long as the hogs passed through the proper process of slaughtering and preparation, the public should not fear eating pork.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations says ASF virus survives well under most environmental conditions; 2-3 months in carcases and in sheds. It can even survive for many months in meat.

“The ASF virus resists to freezing process but is inactivated by high temperature,” the FAO points out.

High temperature means 30 minutes at 70 degrees Centigrade.

Dr. Ann Garvey, an American veterinarian from the Iowa State Public Health, says ASF affects only pigs and not human beings and other livestock.

“African swine fever is a viral disease impacting only

pigs, not people, so it is not a public health threat nor it is a food-safety concern,” she explains.

Human beings cannot be infected with ASF unlike the novel corona virus (2019-nCoV), which currently is hogging the headlines around the world.

“ASF cannot be transmitted to human through contact with pigs or pork,” Dr. Garvey assures.

The agriculture department con�irmed the �irst ASF outbreak in the Philippines on July 25, 2019. Since then, ASF was detected in domestic pigs in Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Rizal and Tarlac. In Metro Manila, ASF cases were reported in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon and Quezon.

In January this year, new ASF outbreaks were reported in two towns (Binmaley and Malasiqui) of Pangasinan, two towns (Dinalupihan and Hermosa) of Bataan, and in Tarlac City and four towns (Capas, Concepcion, La Paz, and Victoria) in Tarlac.

Last February 3, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio banned the entry of live hogs and pork products from Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur. This

was after the agriculture department’s regional of�ice con�irmed the existence of ASF cases in Don Marcelino and Malita, both in Davao Occidental, and Digos City in Davao del Sur. Three days later, news broke out that Davao City wasn’t free from ASF. The blood samples taken from the pigs coming from barangays Dominga and Lamanan of Calinan District were tested to be positive of ASF. In areas where ASF cases have been reported, the agriculture department declared a total lockdown.

This is to ensure that the ASF virus will not spread to nearby towns and provinces.

Some people, particularly businessmen who are engaged in piggery and pork production, feared that ASF might spread to other parts of Mindanao unless it is contained in areas where it is currently reported and no drastic measures are observed.

ASF is no ordinary swine fever. It is called as such because it comes from Africa, where it was �irst detected in the 1920s.

ASF outbreaks were �irst reported in China – the world’s largest pork producer – in August 2018.

It quickly spread to every province in the said country.

From there, ASF hopped the border into Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mon-

golia, North Korea and the Philippines.

Outbreaks were also reported in some parts of Europe, South America and the Caribbean.

“ASF is a contagious viral disease that affects pigs of all ages, inducing a hemorrhagic fever,” FAO explains in its manual, African Swine Fever: Detection and Diagnosis. “It can appear in a variety of forms ranging from peracute, acute, subacute, to chronic and apparent. It is most often recognized in the acute form with an associated lethality of up to 100%.”

ASF is not just a health issue but also an economic concern. “African swine fever is a severe threat to pig production systems,” the FAO publication states.

“It not only threatens food security and challenges the livelihoods of pig producers and other actors in the supply chain, but may also have major consequences on international trade as a result of trade restrictions.”

The Philippines ranks third to China and Vietnam in terms of pig production in Asia, data from FAO showed. Other top producers of pig in the region are Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.

A report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said that an average Filipino consumes about 14.2 kilograms of pork (2 kilograms more than the

world’s average pork consumption).

Dr. Jaime A. Sison, a veterinarian who specializes in the area of pig and chicken and a regular columnist for MARID Agribusiness, said the symptoms of ASF include high fever, decreased appetite, skin lesions and diarrhea.

“The tricky thing about diagnosing a potential case of ASF is that it can look a lot like other more common diseases,” said Dr. Sison. “(Symptoms of ASF) is just like those of the common porcine epidemic diarrhea virus or classical swine fever.”

Dr. Sison urged swine farmers to report any suspected outbreaks to their local animal health of�icers, as it is much easier to test a false positive than to contain an outbreak that’s festered for days.

“ASF’s real calling card is its mortality rate: it claims almost all infected animals with 7-10 days of showing symptoms, and some drop dead much earlier – without showing any outward signs of illness,” Dr. Sison said.

FAO says ASF virus is shed in saliva, tears, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and secretions from the genital tract. “Blood, in particular, contains large amounts of virus,” the UN food agency claims. “Pigs can therefore become infected by contact with many different infected sources, mainly infected pigs, pork, and other

pig-derived products.”

As stated earlier, ASF can be transmitted through pork and pork products. It doesn’t matter whether the pork and products are raw, frozen, dried or undercooked, the virus can survive for a long time. It remains infective for 15 weeks in chilled meat (and probably longer in frozen meat), and for months in bone marrow or cured hams and sausages unless they have been cooked or smoked at high temperature.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) based in United Kingdom calls ASF as “transboundary animal disease.”

“Transmission can also occur via contaminated feed and fomites (non-living objects) such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment, etc.,” OIE explains. “These contaminated materials can be transported over long distances by vehicles and people.”

But the good thing is: “Although highly lethal, ASF is less infectious than some other transboundary animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease,” the FAO claims. In Africa, some indigenous pigs have been reported to have developed some degree of tolerance to ASF. But unlike most transboundary animal disease, ASF has no vaccines or drugs available to prevent

MUCH ADO, P10

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

EDGEDAVAO ARTS AND CULTURE

Robin Castillo.

Miyen.

SONGS OF LOVE MADE VISIBLE

LOVE COMES IN MANY FORMS and four Dabawenyo artists are celebrating the love month of February with their own interpretations of love in all its faces and phases. Titled “Love Sonnets” the exhibit features 80 artworks in watercolour, oil and acrylic created by Robin Castillo, Mean Tan Guinoo, Miyen Lim and Nina Custodio.

With a love and dedication to painting, Robin Castillo breathes life into everyday scenes. This self taught artist combines technique and his penchant for Davao urban landscape, conveying the poignancy of daily living seen through his eyes during his walks around the city. He isolates and immortalises human interactions on the street with

his oil paintings, carefully depicting the subtleties of family relations with his characteristic soft brushstrokes and a limited palette of four colours.

Mean Tan Guinoo wields her painting brush to express the importance of Divine love through her flower series. Her bold, textured strokes convey both softness and strength. Artfully depicting flowers not only gently swaying with the soft wind but also standing up to a strong breeze, much like some-

Miyen.

one with a strong faith in God’s unwavering love and wisdom.

With her raw and expressive strokes, Nina Custodio sees painting as an opportunity for self expression and considers it as an extension of herself and of her feelings. Her works often feature bright and vivid colours with some pieces that are dark and brooding. Her paintings show love’s different forms and feel, playing with light and shade and varying her palette to

convey a compendia of moods.

“I see love in all things. In every thing there is love. In sadness and when you’re happy; in sunshine and in moonbeams.

Love is in every season, every tree, every flower. It is in darkness and in light; in your heart and on your sleeve. Love is what it is . Let it.” Nina Custodio Trusting her heart and imagination, Miyen’s playful dance of colours tells of her

Mary Ann Tan-Guinoo.

journey in life and in painting, expressing her love and romance with fluid, gestural strokes, creating artworks that are soothing and magical. hey works exuding tenderness and mystique, making one believe that love can both be dreamy as much as it is real.

Love Sonnets opens this February 8 and runs until the 29th at the Morning Light and Gallery Shop located along Quirino Ave., Davao City

Nina Custodio.

EDGED

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UP AND ABOUT

EVENT

A ROMANTIC CELEBRATION IN THE HEART OF DAVAO

MARCO POLO DAVAO is celebrating the season of love with romantic celebration this February.

Guests can spend some leisure time with their valentine and have a romantic staycation, rates start at Php5,900.00 nett in a deluxe room inclusive of a bottle of wine, a box of pralines and buffet breakfast at Café Marco available from February 1 until February 29. Special room package inclusive of a romantic dinner during the Valentine weekend is also available.

The perfect Valentine’s evening would not be complete without the intercontinental courses at Café Marco or exquisite Cantonese Valentine dishes at Lotus Court at Php1,800.00 nett. A special Valentine set menu is also available at Polo Bistro where guests may have an intimate dinner by the pool.

Marco Polo Davao partnered with one of the local suppliers, Cameo Luxe, which offers fresh imported ready-made flower bouquets available at the hotel lobby.

Guests may request for personal arrangements and have them delivered in the room, at the restaurant or for pickup to complete a perfect day.

For table reservations or other inquiries, you may call (082) 221 0888 or send a message in Facebook to check for room availability.

GLOBE REDOUBLES RELIEF EFFORTS FOR TAAL, PARTNERS WITH RISE AGAINST HUNGER GLOBE stands by its commitment to help communities in need by once again partnering with Rise Against Hunger to provide 100 food boxes for 18,000 people affected by the recent eruption of Taal volcano.

Alongside all of the company’s disaster response initiatives since the eruption, one hundred Ka-Globe together with the company’s senior leaders as well as celebrities Yayo Aguila and Lester Giri, shared their time and effort to help in the meal packing activity.

Although the alert status for Taal Volcano was already lowered down to Level 3, many residents, especially those who live in areas within the seven kilometer radius from the main crater, are still prohibited from returning to their homes. Thus, there is a need for continuous assistance to the families who are still in evacuation centers.

So far, Globe has conducted relief operations in 39 evacuation centers in Batangas and Cavite, benefitting 4,007 families or 20,035 individuals. It has also reached out to 546 families or 2,730 individuals in three barangays in Batangas in cooperation with Sagip Kapamilya, ABS-CBN Foundation’s emergency humanitarian assistance program.

Globe, likewise, enjoins its customers to make their Globe Rewards points more meaningful by donating them to Rise Against Hunger via the Globe Rewards app until February 15, 2020. Proceeds will augment RAH’s meal pack distribution and relief efforts for severely affected areas.

TAGUM’S ‘LOVE FESTIV

TRUE TO ITS ASPIRATION to be a City of People, Tagum launches its first ever Love Festival which defines love as a core value in respecting other people regardless of their age, gender, religion, and economic status.

Last February 3, 2020, Mayor Allan L. Rellon acted as cupid during the opening of the said festival as he aimed his bow and arrow toward the led wall where the organizers eventually revealed the official logo of the festival.

The said festival which would be celebrated every February is among the 16 newly-institutionalized festivals in the city which would reinforce the city’s moniker as the City of Festivals.

Among the events that will be held during the festival is the LGU celebration of the Civil Registration Month where activities such as free registration of marriages, births, and deaths of Tagumenyos, free seminars for couples, and a series of Kasalan will be conducted for the whole duration of the festival.

In the same context, Hon. Jimmy B. Boco, the Presiding Judge of the Municipal Trial Court of Maco, Davao de Oro, and guest speaker for the launching event talked about “Love and Law” during his speech, juxtaposing love as an emotion and love defined by law.

In addition, civilians and city employees flocked around the

heart icon at the Sunflower Garden as the City Government of Tagum brings its own version of South Korea’s Namsan Tower Lock where people leave love locks as their symbol of eternal love.

However, the city didn’t limit itself in defining love as an emotion shared only by couples for some activities also include a conference for youth focusing on avoiding heartaches and singing contest featuring love and happiness of family as a theme, among others.

These activities are in line with

the festival’s central theme: “Love Shines Life” which means that although love has varied definitions, it is part of the spices of life and should be celebrated in order to help people shine throughout their whole lives.

Love Festival is currently the 2nd festival to be celebrated this 2020 following the successful Taxpayers’ Festival in January and is expected to set the tone for the next 14 more festivals throughout the whole year. Ziyarah Manalo/ CIO Tagum

Mayor Allan opportunit Festival last

EDAVAO

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VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

“THE SWEETHEART AND THE BALLADEER (FUN NIGHT ONLY)” SPREADS LOVE AND FUN IN PANGASINAN THIS FEBRUARY

Mrs. Yhora Rellon, the wife of Mayor Rellon left the first love lock at the heart icon located at the Sunflower Garden as a sign of their eternal love. Tagumenyos are encouraged to do the same as a sign of unity during the Love Festival. Vinz Davo/CIO Tagum

The members of the 8th city council and some department heads joined the mob dance/ zumba prepared by the organizers promoting healthy lifestyle as they move their hips to songs with love as the theme. Ziyarah Manalo/CIO Tagum

VAL’ OPENS

FEBRUARY 8 will be an early Valentine’s Day treat for music and comedy fans up north with Asia’s Pop Diva Julie Anne San Jose and Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista set to showcase their worldclass talents again via “The Sweetheart and The Balladeer (Fun Night Only)” happening at the Urdaneta City Cultural and Sports Center in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. Joining them are the comedic duo of Donita Nose and Super Tekla with Kyline Alcantara as special guest.

This is the third leg of “The Sweetheart and The Balladeer (Fun Night Only)” following its highly successful, sold-out shows in Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City last year. And as part of the 70th anniversary celebration of GMA Network, expect this pre-Valentine concert under the Kapuso Live series to raise the bar as Julie Anne, Christian and their guest, Kyline, bring fun and music on stage through medleys and performances that express different stories about love.

“It’s always been a wonderful experience performing for our Kapuso in different parts of the Philippines and abroad. We just want everyone to have fun. That has always been our goal so this concert’s repertoire will revolve around love songs, and songs that inspire, kasi ‘yun ang gusto nating iparamdam sa

KIANA COLLABORATES WITH FIL-AUSSIE PRODUCER BILLY DAVIS FOR NEW SONG “NO RUSH”

KIANA VALENCIANO has dropped her latest single titled “No Rush,” a funky R&B track that she recorded with FilipinoAustralian R&B/hip-hop artist and producer, Billy Davis.

Produced under ABSCBN Music’s Tarsier Records, the song boasts of

Mayor Rellon led the “Pledge of Love” as a sign of the city employees’ commitment to love and uphold the rights of their fellow Tagumenyos. Vinz Davo/CIO Tagum

n L. Rellon and Flordeliza Zulueta, the City Civil Registrar, pose for a photo ty with the winners of the game “Find Your Heart” during the launching of the Love t February 03, 2020. Neil Macla/CIO Tagum

audience. I’m very excited for this concert,” says Asia’s Pop Diva Julie Anne San Jose.

Asia’s Balladeer Christian Bautista, on the other hand, shares that they will offer a show-stopping performance for the third leg of their concert series. “It’s a challenge to show something new in every concert but I am very lucky to be performing once again with these amazing artists. We have more surprises in store for all. Julie and I have

performed together several times so we’ve already built that rapport. I believe DonEkla will up their game while Kyline, we’ve seen her grow as a performer, so expect nothing less as we all celebrate the month of love and GMA’s 70th anniversary.”

Meanwhile, the funny ensemble of Donita Nose and Super Tekla takes the audience to a journey of love—but filled with humor.

Concert-goers must brace themselves for an evening of laughter as the DonEkla tandem pokes fun on today’s dating trends and their own experience about the joys and pains of being in a relationship.

Produced by GMA Network under Kapuso Live, The Sweetheart and The Balladeer (Fun Night Only)” is a joint project between the Network’s regional arm GMA Regional TV and GMA Entertainment Group. At the helm of this concert is Paolo Valenciano.

Don’t miss out on the love, fun, and world-class performances in “The Sweetheart and the Balladeer (Fun Night Only)” this February 8 at the Urdaneta City Cultural and Sports Center in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Tickets are available at GMA Dagupan Station, all Addessa outlets in Pangasinan, all TicketWorld outlets, or online via TicketWorld. You may also contact +6375 522 0077 or +63 915 422 3393.

sensual guitars and Billy’s pulsating beats, complementing Kiana’s voice. It talks about trusting the natural course of a relationship.

“Often times couples get into arguments because of insecurities and pressure and I wrote this thinking about how sometimes you

just have to reassure your partner that you’re on the same page and there’s no need to rush the natural flow of the relationship,” Kiana shared on the inspiration behind “No Rush.”

Billy, on the other hand, says the song is one of his favorite creations. “I’m half-Filipino so I’ve always had a big interest in everything going on back home, especially music created…

The bass line [of “No Rush”] especially is one of my favorite things. I see the tune banging out in Asia, Australia and really pumping in UK/Europe.”

Kiana’s newest record follows the success of her single “Hide My Love,” which landed her on the top spot of Spotify’s New Music Friday Philippines,

as well as placements on 21 other New Music Friday mixes worldwide when it was released last December.

“No Rush” is another exciting addition to Kiana’s yet-to-be-named EP, in continuation of ABS-CBN’s commitment to introduce the unique artistry of Filipino talents to the global music stage.

Keep it slow and steady by listening to Kiana and Billy’s collaboration, “No Rush” on all digital music streaming platforms.

Watch out also for the release of the music video on Tarsier Records’ YouTube channel. For the latest on Kiana, follow Tarsier Records on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ tarsierrecords.

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EVENTAND CULTURE ARTS TRAVEL TECH

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VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 223 238 •216 WEDNESDAY, • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY17, 22, 8, 2020 VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 219 • TUESDAY, • FRIDAY,JANUARY JANUARY 14,

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINENEW ELIMINATES SINGLESONY INTRODUCES GP-VPT2BT FORD PHILIPPINES KICKS USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP OFF CONSTRUCTION OF 50TH DEALERSHIP FACILITY IN PHL 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 help sustain their livelihood.

“Mas mudaghan pud ang NORWEGIAN Cruise order sathe Dagmay if they will Line, innovator use cotton threads,” he said. in global cruise BUILDING on travel the Limon also seeshistory the to with a 53-year growing lineup ofneed camtapbreaking theand artisans in this endeavof boundaries, eras accessories or now to givesingle-use theirfor clients fresh is plasdeveloped modern andbeverage new designs. tic bottle free creators, Sony today “We really need tothe tap new the across its fleet. has announced artisans directly before man GP-VPT2BT wireless The brand announced last FORD gud ga-agi pa ko saIdeal middle shooting grip. year that itPHILIPPINES, partnered withfor together with Fairlane man since wala’y sa many different types JUST Goods, Inc.,access which enAutomotive community,” heVentures, said. to replace of content creation abled the Cruise Line Inc. (FAVI), kicked off wants tovlogs show ranging from to all Limon single-use plastic wateroff the construction of its the beauty of Dagmay travel photography /he bottles across its 17-shipasfleet, 50th dealership facility has clients who its are looking for videography tomost simple beginning with recent in the country in clothes and accessories made everyday use,Encore. the Talisay new ship, Norwegian City, Cebu with cerebyThe theoffers Mandayas.

He said they grip optimum achievement isaone of the monial groundbreaking noticed thatand some Pasalubong stability comfort latest sustainable steps forward event. centers including Davao City’s combined with cablefor Norwegian Cruise Line.

In “The ofand Forda free connectivity 2018, theconstruction Company eliminated Talisay is yet another milereliable dust and moissingle-use plastic straws across stone Ford Philippines ture resistant design. its fleetfor and private destina-as weCompatible build withdealership aofvariety tions, andour as a50th result this facility inlatest theinitiative, country, which of Sony’s digitalitcamermost recent will is athe testament the growas, GP-VPT2BT connects replace over sixtomillion singleing preference forbottles theallowing Ford easily via Bluetooth, use plastic water every brandInnationwide,” shares creators to simplythe aim andPK year. addition, brand is Umashankar, managing direcshoot without interfering working to eliminate single-use tor, Ford Philippines.

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The plastic shampoo condiin line with our commitment new grip includes athis useful tioner bottles later year.tilt to expand reach toflexible new feature thatour allows for These efforts are driven by customers in the province of vertical angle adjustment as the Company’s Sail & Sustain Cebuasand theProgram, greater Viwell thein ability to switch Environmental which sayas region and give them from normal to self-shooting is its commitment to minimize accessto tolandfills, our segment-defining mode with ease.

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With a total floor area of 1,397 square meters that can accommodate a 6-car showroom display and 12 service bays, the new Ford Talisay dealership promises to be the benchmark when it comes to automotive sales and service delivery. actor and activist Jaden Smith Talisay will follow the andFord family, JUST takes an innew global dealership brandnovative approach to sourcing ing guidelines showand packaging of theFord, world’s most casing aresource more globally-aligned valued - water. The exterior and interior look and revolutionary company focuses feel,ancalled Ford Signature, on impact model, takingto offerconsideration customers a better dealerinto both how the ship environment and experiwater is sourced and packaged. ence. is 100% spring water in a JUST The new dealership plant-based carton. Thefacility carton will alsoofbe82% enabled by new is made renewable matetechnological features will rials – the paper cartonthat is made help facilitate a faster and more from trees grown in responcustomer-focused sales and sibly-managed forests and the after-sales delivery. will also cap and shoulder areItmade aim toa connect the customer’s from sugarcane-based plastic.

Aldevinco do not carry Dag“Wala man gud kaayo purchasing with the It is refillablejourney and recyclable. may cloth.

Mandaya na pieces and mostly on-ground, in-store environJUST has a global presence T’boli products ang sa Almentbottling – pavingfacilities the wayinfor a with Glenn devinco. Sa Manila T’boli lang more NY; connected, seamless, and Falls, Ballymena, Northern mostly makita nako na ginabest-in-class automotive retail Ireland; and Ballarat, Australia, himo accent ug Yakan, beads experience. thus allowing the company to sa Bagobo, balud from Lanao “We thank our partners meet demand around the world and Inaul. Walay something from FAVI for their col-from a without shipping water from the Mandaya commulaboration in bringing theJUST single production source. nity,” hetosaid.

Ford brand more CO2 emissions rate, increase thrilled make such an impact to our Sail & Sustain program takes care totouse the custommost efficotton Dagmay design ers and building a world-class sustainable sourcing and invest by The eliminating single-use bever- and believe wholeheartedly in cient shipping options available. clothing not yetchanged available retail with this ly,initemerging has an adjustment wheel and can beisquickly technologies. age bottles across our fleet. in the importance of preserving Forenvironment more information about theajust market as Limon his new dealership facility,” added can be at loosened orspecial tightened into tripod simply ex“This is aFord very and It’s one ofHon. the waysand we areCouncilor our natural will Norwegian Cruise Line ships Present the Talisay groundbreaking ceremony are (L-R)by Marietta Bucao, of Talisay City,resources.

Cebu, Mr. JoseWe Daniel Corporate Planning, FAVI; Hon. Alan Bucao, Vice of Talisay City,oceans Cebu, Mr. Andre Borromeo, Manager, FAVI; Mr. and group are still in the immerUmashankar. toBorromeo, allow for seamless operapanding the bottom portion, very proud moment for us,” working toMayor preserve our continue to General strive towards maktheir itineraries, or to book PK Umashankar, Managing Director, Ford Philippines; and Mr. Jonathan Legaspi, Sales Director, Ford Philippines. sion the stage ofstable, the project.

Ford Talisay will be located tion cameras of different easy handssaidwith Harry Sommer, president enabling and destinations we visit. ing environmentally conscious a cruise, please contact a travel vehicles after-sales ser-of Ford Talisay dealership facility decisions the growing demand forearth.” auto“We willisevaluate their at Cebu South Road Properties sizes and weights.

The grip free shooting. and chiefand executive officer While this just the pa beginning to benefit our professional, call 888-NCLvices.” signifies the expansion of the motive products services capacity and kung willing sila Road, Cansojong, also includesCruise a flip button, inThe GP-VPT2BT Wireless Norwegian Line. “As of what we and others can do, Envisioned andand founded by CRUISE (625-2784)Talisay or visitCity, The light construction the Ford Cebu to he cater to in the province. makipag-collaborate,” said.

Cebu. dicator and line, lockof switch, Gripinwill be availa leading cruise we arenew Shooting we arebrand incredibly committed American rapper, songwriter, www.ncl.com.

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

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

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VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

ADB boosts virus fight with $2 million funding

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he Asian Development Bank on Friday approved $2 million in new funding to boost efforts to contain the global spread of the new coronavirus strain.

The funds will “strengthen response capacity” in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, the lender said in a statement.

It will also fund the developments for improved

monitoring in rural areas, strengthen health systems as well as the support the supply of diagnostic and laboratory equipment for rapid testing, the statement said.

“ADB has a track record of providing rapid and targeted support to our members in emergency situations. We stand ready to provide further assistance as required,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa.

ary 31 while samples from Brgy. Lamanan were submitted for testing last February 3.

Pinili said the discovery of the disease started when during the second week of January this year livestock inspector requested assistance from the CVO following the report of �ive ill pigs in Brgy. Dominga. She said out of the �ive pigs treated by the livestock inspector, three pigs died.

"Katong gi-treat nga mga baboy sa inspector nga naayo gibalikan niya, pagbalik niya natingala siya naa na pud mga patay.

Paspas ang pagkamatay sa mga baboy mao to Pag-report niya sa amoa, we decided to get blood samples last January 31," she said.

Pinili said based on the report of the livestock inspector, in Brgy. Dominga 16 pigs died. She said blood samples from these pigs were submitted to determine the disease.

"Nagba-back trace po tayo kung saan nagsimula ang problema na ito," Oñate said.

He said they already instituted 1-7-10 protocol in the infected areas to manage, contain and control the disease and stop it from spreading.

The 1-7-10 protocol means that in a one-kilometer radius from the site of infection or ground zero, hogs will be prohibited from entering or leaving the area, and the site is to eventually be depopulated.

In a seven-kilometer radius, hogs would be under surveillance with restricted movements, and blood testing would be done. For the 10-kilometer radius from ground zero, mandatory monitoring and re-

porting of swine disease occurrences shall be implemented.

"Nagpatulong na rin po tayo sa ating PNP with respect to the outbreak," he added.

Pinili also said they have already coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to set up checkpoints in exit areas in Lacson, Dacudao, and Brgy.

Sumimaw.

She added that as city interventions they will conduct brie�ing of barangay captains about ASF, what to do if the area is positive, present indemni�ication program of the government, and prepare logistics for stamping operation.

Other actions to be taken will be identifying a burial site, identi�ication of the dumping site for culled pigs and infected materials on site.

"Then sculling operation will begin followed by disposal, burying of culled pigs, and decontamination and disinfection of the area once pigs are buried already," Pinili explained.

She added that based on the record of the livestock technician hog population in Brgy. Lamanan is 1,400 while in Brgy.

Dominga is approximately 600-these will all be culled.

As assistance to the affected hograisers particularly those backyard raisers, the DA will pay P5,000 per head of culled pig, regardless of age. Aside from the said amount, the city will also pay the price per kilo of the culled pig.

"Yung 20 kilos nga imong baboy multiplied by the prevailing price ihatag to sa imoha plus P5,000 pa plus P5,000 gikan sa DA," she said.

Emergency Response Teams have been conducting surveillance in local communities.

“We assure the public

that all measures are strictly being followed to ensure that our city remains free from 2019-nCoV,” she said.

(PNA)

Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

A new strain, the 2019 novel coronavirus, has

been spreading over recent weeks from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak, to other parts of the world, triggering global travel restrictions.

hired to develop the coconut farms.

In an earlier interview, Oclarit said Caraga Region has a total allocation of

PHP105,340,780 planting and replanting of coconuts this year and will bene�it around 15,000 coconut farmers. (PNA)

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data centers and ICT services. This partnership also underpins our mission to synthesize exclusive international carrier products with innovative connectivity solutions from Tier 1 carriers and solution providers to our customers,” said Yi Zhou, Co-Founder of MarvelTec. Under the said partnership, PLDT Enterprise introduces MarvelTec to the rich opportunities in the Philippines and forti�ies its carrier services through domestic internet access (iGate), EPL, data center service, MPLS, and broadband connectivity—ensuring full redundancy and security for MarvelTec services.

Asia Paci�ic Regional Head for PLDT Enterprise Jeff Mendoza said that partnership is a huge milestone for the Philippine-based company. As they continuously expand their points of presence across Asia Paci�ic, partnering with Hong Kong-based MarvelTec allows them to provide better services for their international clientele.

“We are so honored to

be able to join hands with a global player like MarvelTec. Our offshore services are guaranteed to perform even better because of their infrastructure fortifying our service delivery,” said Mendoza.

“The Philippines’ capability to power businesses across Asia Paci�ic continues to grow and we remain committed to expanding our services so as to enable more customers, such as MarvelTec, elevate the services they provide,” he added.

In the same way, with Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier’s eminence as one of the world’s leading carrier providers, the partnership also allows PLDT Enterprise to tap the European market—further expanding the scale, scope, and reach of its product offerings for more customers.

To learn more about PLDT Enterprise’s points of presence (PoPs) throughout Asia Paci�ic, visit http:// pldtenterprise.com or contact Regional Head Jeff Mendoza at jgmendoza@ pldt.com.ph

“As government workers, we are duty bound to uphold the Constitution, aid in the administration of justice, serve sel�lessly and promote transparency and good governance,” Duterte said.

“I am con�ident that all of you will advance this

administration’s development agenda in your respective of�ices,” he added.

He expressed optimism that they would lead by example and inspire fellow civil servants to be “strong willed, dedicated, able, fearless and honest” in dealing with people. (PNA)

ter) for the latest water service updates. They may also call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 235DCWD (3293) and press “4” on their phone dial

for the latest daily water updates or contact 09277988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 for any matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Jason J. Demonteverde)

Diokno said �irst half economic growth could be reduced by 0.3 point because of the virus.

Mapa said he could lower his forecast for full year growth to 6.4 percent from 6.5 percent.

The BSP governor is “very clear where he wants to be,” Mapa said.

“Transparency and good communications from the BSP will go a long way in maintaining �inancial market calm.”

es of basic goods rising by 2.9 percent in January. The central bank said higher oil prices and new taxes on select commodities would drive faster price increases.

Still, the central bank sees full-year in�lation within 2-4 percent, coming from a 2.5 percent climb in 2019. Latest forecasts show a 3 percent estimate this year.

This is the fourth easing move of the BSP meant to slowly unwind 175 bp rate hikes it unleashed in 2018.

Two market watchers expect another interest rate cut from the central bank. Union Bank of the Philippines chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion said the Monetary Board will more likely consider another reduction in benchmark yields as early as their March 19 meeting

as the "window is closing very fast" as the coronavirus outbreak spooks markets.

Citing the experience from the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS, Asuncion said the novel coronavirus could slash about $600 million from the domestic economy, or 0.8 percentage points off economic growth if the scare lasts for six months.

Security Bank chief economist Robert Dan Roces said separately that there's enough policy space left for the BSP to infuse additional stimulus, but noted that the central bank will likely leave the reserve requirement for banks steady for now, after a series of reductions left the level at 14 percent of deposits as of December.

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9

Despite opening the trail to the climbers for �ive months last year, the LGU still managed to cater to 1,600 climbers.

"For years we have been practising this 50 persons per day. In tourism we have this "the more the merrier" thing but we have to consider the impact of Mt. Apo to the environment in general,"Paner said.

The LGU of Sta. Cruz is collecting P1,000 per person as hiking fee. Paner said majority of the revenue directly goes to the community wherein 70 individuals are earning as tour guides, 110 families are engaged in portering and 15 vendors have livelihood at the trail in Barangay Sibulan.

"Ecotourism per se is a balance between activity and environmental conservation that is why we don't allow mass tourism as we do not want to experience what Boracay had experience. Revenue wise kung unsa ang nahatag sa LGU gamay lang siya but ang dako na revenue is directly given to the community such as tour guides, porters, habal-habal drivers. When tourists come to our place mas mudaghan ug mu-multiply ang ilahang economic activity," he said.

Come summer particularly April this year, economic activity of the community is expected to boost as LGU of Sta. Cruz will be hosting plenty of tourism activities and events particularly two major extreme adventures, Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, the longest running extreme adventure race in the country; and the Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race as part of the municipality's Pista sa Kinaiyahan celebration.

"This is a feast for mother nature and its aim is not just to do tourism activity but also this is the time to make it as a strategy of conservation and protection of coun-

try's highest peak Mt. Apo," Paner said.

sibilities.”

“We will review the clamor, demand to determine if kailangan pa ng (if we need a) succeeding special �light after this Monday’s special mission,” she said.

The government is �inalizing plans for the evacuation of nearly 50

Filipinos from Wuhan.

The group will be quarantined for 14 days after their arrival, authorities said.

Hong Kong reported its �irst coronavirus death this week, while Macau closed down all casinos and reported 10 cases of the disease so far.

na yungworld championships dahil sasali yun mga talagang magagaling (This is under-23, it is similar to world championship because all world-class wrestlers will join),” added Aguilar.

Aguilar said the WAP is happy that the Philippines has been selected to host the Asian wrestling tournaments this year, owing it to the country’s fairness

to run an event.

“Sa grappling, wala naman tumatalo sa atin sa Asia (In grappling, no one beats us in Asia), so we’re going to get the overall championship. Saka ito yung �irst time na makasali tayo sa lahat ng events dahil dito nga sa ating gagawin (And this is the �irst time that we can join all the events because we will host it).” (PR)

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TOURISM ACTIVITIES This year, the Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge will happen on April 18while the Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race will be staged on Apr. 25.

"We have proven for 10 years that Mt. Apo is the most extreme adventure race in Asia and now we are trying to make it a friendly race. Dili nato himoong extreme kaayo kay we would like to allow everybody to enjoy the beauty of Mt. Apo," Paner said.

The race is an adventure race and a different kind of triathlon because the disciplines would be water tubing, mountain biking, and trail running that comprises 58.6 kilometers that has to be undertaken by the racers in one day only.

The Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race is a mountain ultra marathon with two categories: 50 kms category and 100 kms category.

Paner said the race lures a lot of foreign contingents from Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Southeast Asia.

"In fact for the last three years that we were holding this event, about 20 percent iof the participants are coming from foreign countries. Two years ago ang champion was from Spain. A year ago the champion was from Italy," he said.

He said they are also expecting foreign contingents this year. Based on DENR regulations, they can only cater to 100 participants of each race.

Because we are allowed 50 persons per day and that will run for two days. Dili mi puwede mulapas," he said.

The race has been included in the calendar of international events like Asia Trail Master International Trail Running Association, and the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, a running association in Europe.

10 NEWS

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

WHO: PH 'reasonably well prepared' in coronavirus response capacity

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he Philippines is well prepared in its response capacity towards the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, said the World Health Organization Thursday.

On the Record.

The WHO classi�ies countries from Level 1 to Level 5 based on their preparedness and response since the virus outbreak.

Countries in Level 5 are most capable, while those in Level 1 are with mini-

mum capacity to manage the virus.

Countries susceptible to the virus transmission are likely to have higher risks of imported cases, local, and community transmisson, according to the WHO 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.

"The rationale why WHO declared this a public health emergency is because we're worried that if this spreads and starts to

transmit locally in countries with access to less resources and less capacities, we may see high mortality rates," Abeyasinghe said.

He assured the public that the novel coronvirus mortality rate is at a low 2 percent, compared to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) at 14 percent, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) at 34 percent.

"We need to understand that things have also

he repatriation team of the Department of Foreign Affairs is now in Wuhan �inalizing preparations to bring home this weekend overseas Filipinos from Hubei, China.

"Today we already have our DFA team inside Wuhan City for the repatriation of our OFWs. They are on the ground and they're taking the risk," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Brigido Dulay said in a brie�ing on Thursday.

Personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai held a consultation meeting with members of the Filipino community in Wuhan as

well as the Foreign Affairs Of�ice in Hubei province to discuss details of the repatriation.

As of Thursday, a total of 45 Filipinos are con�irmed for repatriation.

"They have signi�ied their intention to join the repatriation. There are two aspects to this which we have to �ix, one is the exit permits of our OFWs which we are working on now, of the group, there are four with problem on their immigration status," Dulay said.

The OFWs would be checked for any symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019 n-CoV ARD) before leaving China.

"If they're found with

a fever or any symptom of the nCoV, they will be taken by the Chinese authorities to their hospitals, their facilities for their treatment and they will not be boarded," Dulay said.

He added that the repatriation process is "not solely a Filipino dictated procedure and it must be coordinated with the Chinese authorities".

The team is working on a February 8 departure from China.

"That means an early morning February 9 arrival, however, that is not a �ixed date because of the compliance to the rules of the Chinese authorities on the ground...If the Chinese government won't be able to give their papers, they

will be on the next batch if there is any, and if their immigration status has no problem and is updated, they will be brought to the plane," he said.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, the OFWs will be brought to the Athlete's Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac where they will be subjected to 14-day mandatory quarantine.

On January 28, the DFA initiated the call to repatriate workers from Hubei -the epicenter of the 2019 n-CoV ARD. Filipinos in China were given until Feb. 5 to take advantage of the government-provided service.

(DFA PR, With reports from Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

resident Rodrigo Duterte has tasked Secretary Emmanuel Piñol of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to supervise the rehabilitation of the thousands of families displaced by the recent con�lagration in Jolo, Sulu.

Duterte directed Piñol to coordinate with the various national government agencies to deliver much-needed help to victims of the con�lagration.

Piñol said he will travel to Jolo, Sulu Friday to assess the primary needs of the thousands of �ire victims.

Nine people were injured when a con�lagration broke out around 9 a.m.

Monday in Sitio Bunk-

P

house, Barangay Chinese Pier, Jolo.

The con�lagration destroyed some 1,500 houses as it rapidly spread to two adjacent barangays of Takut-Takut and Tulay, and was declared �ire out around 12:46 p.m. on the same day.

Senior Fire Of�icer 1 (SFO1) Sedmar Harib, Fire and Arson investigator, said damage to properties is estimated at PHP17 million.

Piñol, who was designated by the President as point-man for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said he had seen this early a massive need for lumber to rebuild lost homes.

or treat it. “It is particularly important that ASF-free areas are maintained as such,” FAO suggests.

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so goes a saying.

“Prevention starts with stringent measures at the borders and raising awareness among all stakeholders involved,” the FAO recommends. “Early detection, early diagnosis, early response, and good communication are critical in minimizing the spread of the disease after incursion.”

In Don Marcelino, the “ground zero” for ASF outbreak in Davao Occidental, it was believed the outbreak was caused by swill feeding (locally known as lamaw). “Due to its nature, swill is inherently a convenient, affordable, but hazard-laden food,” FAO says.

“Swill feeding presents a very high risk of introducing several diseases into healthy populations.”

In the Philippines, about 71% of the swine population are raised in backyard farms while 29% are in commercial farms, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Swine raising is very popular in the rural areas because the raisers can always use swill to feed

their pigs to minimize expenses in buying commercial feeds.

“In any case, pigs should not be fed swill that might contain pork,” FAO advises. However, in cases where swill is being used, “the swill should be boiled for 30 minutes, with periodic stirring, and cooled before feeding to pigs.”

Meanwhile, the Swine Crisis Management Task Force of the agriculture department has been promoting the ‘1-7-10 Protocol’ in areas where ASF outbreaks happen. Below is the brief explanation: One refers to one-kilometer radius, also known as quarantine zone. It actually refers to “an area set to contain infection within one-kilometer radius from the affected farm by limiting animal movement and employing mandatory test and destruction of all infected animals.”

The 7 is for seven-kilometer radius, or what is called as surveillance zone. Here, “an area set within 7-kilometet radius intended to detect the extent of the infection through surveillance activities, disease reporting and limit the movement of live animals, animal products and by-products movement. Every movement

outside this zone needs the required documents such as veterinary health certi�icates and shipping permits.”

The 10 is for the 10-kilometer radius, which is the control zone. Here, “an area set at 10-kilometer radius intended to detect infection at an early stage through mandatory disease reporting.”

Dr. Sison, however, be-

lieved the only way to stop this disease is to depopulate all affected or exposed swine herds. “On-farm biosecurity is crucial to preventing any animal disease from developing and spreading,” he advised. “All pig owners and anyone involved with pig operations should know and follow strict biosecurity practices to help protect our pigs from ASF. Work with

your veterinarian to assess your biosecurity plans and make improvements as needed.”

The PSA said that from 2016 to 2018, the swine industry showed increases.

The volume of hog production for the fourth quarter of 2018 was estimated at 662.74 thousand metric tons. This was 2.01% higher compared with the 2017 output of 649.68 thousand

metric tons.

The top three hog producing regions during the period were Central Luzon, CALABARZON and Northern Mindanao. These regions posted increases in production by 4.41%, 3.0% and 3.52%, respectively.

The combined production of these three regions accounted for 47.87% of the country’s total hog production.

"The Philippines is classi�ied at Level 4 which means that you're reasonably well prepared in your preparedness and response capacities," WHO representative to the Philippines Rabindra Abeyasinghe told CNN Philippines'

OFWs in China prepare for repatriation

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changed. Country capacities to manage these infections have improved," the WHO representative said.

There have been three con�irmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines, with one death.

China maintains 2 percent mortality rate Despite recording more than 560 deaths and 28,000 con�irmed cases of infection, China has maintained its 2 percent mortality rate. The Chinese city of Wuhan is the epicenter

of the outbreak in Hubei province.

"We are seeing 2 percent mortality in China. China has invested heavily in improving its capacity and even after the outbreak, you've seen the construction of an unprecedented thousand bed hospital in eight days," Abeyasinghe said.

The Chinese government has also implemented a transport lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus.

PRRD tasks Piñol to lead rehab of Jolo fire victims

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VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

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D’Lo traded to Wolves, Warriors get Wiggins

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Lebron James and Giannis Antotekounmpo renew their rivalry in this year’s All Stars.

he Minnesota Timberwolves will acquire guard D'Angelo Russell from the Golden State Warriors in a blockbuster trade that includes forward Andrew Wiggins, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday.

Per the report, the Warriors will also receive a 2021 protected �irst-round draft pick and a 2022 second-round selection.

Forward Omari Spellman and guard Jacob Evans will also head to Minnesota as part of the deal, per the report.

Russell had �lourished in his �irst season in Golden State since being traded

by Brooklyn in the Kevin Durant deal in July. The 23-year-old is averaging a career-high 23.6 points per

game to go along with 6.2 assists.

Wiggins is averaging 22.4 points along with career-best totals in rebounds (5.2), assists (3.7) and blocks (0.9) in 42 games this season.

The 24-year-old was the �irst overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft. He didn't suit up for the club, however, as he was part of a trade that sent Kevin Love to the Cavaliers in August 2014.

He was the 2014-15 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Spellman, 22, is averaging 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 49 games this season in Golden State.

Evans, 22, is averaging 4.7 points and 1.5 rebounds in 27 games this season with the Warriors.

don Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans.

There are a number of changes to this year’s AllStar Game format. Teams will compete to win each quarter for their designated charities. And when the third quarter ends, 24 will be added to the score of the team that is leading and the �irst team to reach that number in an untimed fourth quarter will be declared the winner.

The No. 24 represents

one of the numbers worn by former Laker Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash along with 13-year-old daughter Gianna, as well as seven others.

Team LeBron will wear No. 2 in honor of the number Gianna Bryant wore on her youth team, while Team Giannis will wear No. 24 in honor of Kobe Bryant. Both teams will also wear patches honoring the crash victims.

Lebron, Giannis complete rosters C

aptains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo selected their teams for the Feb. 16 NBA All-Star Game at Chicago, and one side will have a distinct Los Angeles �lavor.

James not only selected Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis No. 1 overall for his team, but he also picked the Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard. Add in his selection of Los Angeles-area

native James Harden of the Houston Rockets and it leaves only his remaining pick of Luka Doncic, from the Dallas Mavericks, as the only player without a tie to the L.A. area.

Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar and reigning NBA MVP, went with more of an East Coast �lavor, selecting the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid No. 2 overall, He also picked the Toronto Raptors’ Pascal

PH wrestlers can make it to Olympics

B

uoyed by its success in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games, the Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) is looking to produce more world-class athletes who can represent the country in the Olympics and other international competitions.

WAP president Alvin Aguilar said Filipinos, like most Asian wrestlers, have the talents to excel in this popular Olympic sport.

“We are very con�ident that we have the talents to make it all the way to the Tokyo Olympics,” said Aguilar during the 54th “Usapang Sports” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday.

Aguilar said the country is hosting no less than four major international wrestling competitions to help the Filipinos hone their skills in preparation for the coming Tokyo Olympics quali�iers.

“It’s about time we have another Filipino wrestler in the Olympics.

If I remember it right, the last time nagkaroon tayo ng (that we have) Filipino wrestler sa (in) Olympics was in the 1980s pa,” ex-

plained Aguilar, who was accompanied in the forum by jiu-jitsu champion May Masuda and SEA Games gold medalists Jason Baucas and Noel Norada.

The four WAP-hosted events to be held in the country are the Nationals 2020 scheduled March 7-8 at the Festival Mall in Alabang; the �irst Asian Grappling Championships on April 2-5; the Asian Championships Under-23 in July and Southeast Asia Championships in November “After the SEA Games, madami tayong activities (we have a lot of activities).

We have the WAP Nationals 2020 at Festival Mall.

This is the �irst time na isama-sama lahat ng (that all events will be included) events under wrestling – freestyle, Greco-Roman, women, grappling, kurash and others,” said Aguilar during the weekly public service sports program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOR, Community Basketball Association, and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.

“In Asian Grappling, more than 30 countries are participating. Sa Under-23 naman, parang ito

PH, P9

Siakam, the Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker and the Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young.

That selection of players was made from the pool of players who were voted All-Star starters from each conference.

James and Antetokounmpo also selected seven reserve players each.

The Team LeBron reserves: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers; Ben Simmons, Philadel-

phia 76ers; Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets; Jayson Tatum, Celtics; Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder; Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets; and Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers.

Team Giannis reserves: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks; Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat; Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz; Kyle Lowry, Raptors; and Bran-

CYCLO FITNESS. Fitness enthusiasts get into the group cycling fitness classes of Arcadia Fitness Gym which offers top of the line Technogym equipment for the intense ride sessions every Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

SAFETY FIRST

VOL.12 ISSUE 238 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020

PSC postpones activities amid coronavirus threat T he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) temporarily postpones its events to safeguard athletes and the public against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

In a press conference held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum, PSC Chairman William Ramirez announced the sports agency’s decision to postpone its slated

(L-R) DED-BCSSS Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy Jr.,DED-AFMS Dennis Rivera, PSC Executive Director Merlita Ibay, PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, PSC Chairman William Ramirez, PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin, PSC

events such as the National Sports Summit 2020, Philippine National Games (PNG), Batang Pinoy, and Children’s Games.

“Yesterday morning, the board discussed the

current situation, and we have decided that we are postponing major events of the PSC as a safety measure against the Novel Coronavirus,” said Ramirez.

Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey, Philippine Olympians Association Board Member Stephen Fernandez, and Mr. Marc Velasco, PSC’s Chief of Staff and National Training Director.

Seminars and other gatherings that will have groups of people exceeding 40 are also shelved inde�initely considering the human-to-human transmission of the virus.

Ramirez also informed that the PSC also recommended the postponement of the scheduled holding of the 10th ASEAN Paragames this year.

“We have a board resolution advising the paralympics to possibly postpone the games,” said Ramirez.

The Board resolution states its position on the rescheduling of the multi-sport event with 11 participating nations due to the communicable illness. The decision, however, remains with the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC).

PPC President Mike Barredo, who was also present, announced that he would be �lying to Thailand on Friday to consult with the ASEAN Para Sports Federation to discuss the decision to be taken.

Amid the global spread of the disease, the PSC remains proactive, most especially prioritizing the welfare of the athletes and coaches who are bound to train and compete abroad approaching the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“In terms of preventive measures, we have put out information materials for our national athletes and coaches.

The PSC Board will not approve any foreign trips and exposures to China.

Caution will be exercised on allowing athletes and coaches traveling to other countries for international competitions,” shared Mr. Marc Velasco, PSC’s Chief of Staff and National Training Director.

Also attending the press conference were PSC Commissioners Charles Raymond Maxey, Ramon Fernandez, and Arnold Agustin, PSC Executive Director Merlita Ibay, DED-BCSSS Atty.

Guillermo B. Iroy Jr., DEDAFMS Dennis Rivera, and Philippine Olympians Association Board Member Stephen Fernandez.