Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 245 | February 16-17, 2020

RABBIT MEAT AS PORK ALTERNATIVE

AGRITRENDS P14

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Visitors walk under the colorful umbrellas in one of the walkways of Brokenshire Convention Center in Madapo Hills, Davao City over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr

CHINA-BOUND Davao durian variety could crack China market

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China is now working on exploring the possibility of exporting Davao’s durian variety ‘Puyat’ to China.

Consul General Li Lin told Edge Davao that this is among the trade and investment projects between the city and China

that was discussed during his meeting with Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio last February 4. According to him, Mayor Duterte is

very keen of pushing durian and tropical fruits from Davao City to be exported to China.

“This is related to trade and both sides are now working and we hope this can be realized very soon,” Lin said.

Lin said Mayor Duterte brought up the proposal of exporting durian to China to help the farmers and durian growers in Davao City.

“This proposal was given to me by Mayor Sara and I think she is interested in the interest of the farmers Davao and Mindanao. Personally I believe there are some durian varieties that have very good potential in Chinese market,” he said.

According to Lin some of the major fruit importers in China are importing durian mainly from Malaysia and Thailand. He said

they are importing durian variety ‘Monthong’ that are sellable to the taste of Chinese consumers.

Durian Monthong is the most important and famous durian variety of Thailand. It produces large, elongated, oval-cylindrical fruits tapering at the stylar end.

Lin believes that ‘Puyat’ variety could also make it good in the Chinese mar-

ket.

“But so far we still have to wait for the approval of Chinese customs and quarantine office and I think right now they are also making assessment of the quality and also the requirements.

Whether or not the Chinese people would appreciate the Davao durian and personally I am very eager to see

FCHINA-BOUND, P11

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

DCWD takes part in City’s climate change actions

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A meat vendor shows the inspection marks from City Veterinarian’s Office on the pork she is selling at the Agdao Public Market in Davao City over the weekend. Davao Region has continued to import frozen

pork products amid reports of an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in commercial and backyard farms in two provinces and in this city. Lean Daval Jr

avao City Water District participated in the formulation of Local Climate Change Action for Davao City held at the Malayan Colleges Mindanao on January 30 to 31, 2020.

This activity was hosted by the Office of the City Planning and Development Office in partnership with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. It aimed to identify additional adaptation strategies and mitigation options to level off understanding among key government agencies and organizations in Davao City on climate change impact and disaster risks.

Among the topics discussed were the overview of the city’s current local climate and disaster risk situation, ways in addressing climate change impacts and issues in the city, legal basis of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, importance of the formulation of Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), review and analysis of the city’s climate change vulnerability and risk assessment, city’s greenhouse gas inventory results, and review of

current mitigation actions.

DCWD Environmental Analyst Anji Laura G. Lorona shared DCWD’s programs for watershed and environment protection particularly the Integrated Watershed Management Program to ensure water supply sustainability for the present and future generations.

Also conducted was a workshop on developing strategies for climate change actions particularly on food security, water sufficiency, environmental and ecological stability, human security, climate-friendly industries and services, sustainable energy, and knowledge and capacity development.

DCWD Director Romel Alfredo R. Ruiz expressed his gratitude to the agencies for the initiative and support to the crafting of the city’s LCCAP. Through DCWD’s involvement, it was able to share the mitigation and adaptation programs of water utilities for climate change impacts.

The DCWD team was also able to gain understanding of how climate change can impact utility operations and missions. (Alexan Lynette L. Cabeguin)

mid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) scare and the possibility that many

for 2020, the agency has increased its budget for Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), from PHP2.7 billion in 2019 to PHP3.1 billion.

Further, TESDA will open at least 43 additional training facilities nationwide this year.

The agency has assisted more than 13,000 OFWs in 2019. Lapeña said TESDA can accommodate even double of that figure.

"Yes, we can accommodate even 26,000. Our budget for TWSP alone had a PHP400,000 increase. We still have other scholarship programs such as STEP (Special Training for Employment Program), PESFA

PH hopes for China’s recovery: Nograles T A he Philippines expressed hope that China will be able to recover from the epidemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Friday.

“We obviously recognize China as one of the leading trade partners of the Philippines. And we hope that China will be able to get back to its usual business, even given the challenges that your country is facing right now,” Nograles told reporters in a Laging Handa press briefing.

More than 1,000 people have died due to Covid-19 that originated in Wuhan City, China, while nearly 60,000 oth-

ers have already been infected by the virus.

To date, the virus has spread to more than 20 countries.

China’s economic growth is seen to be at its slowest pace from January to April 2020 period due to the Covid-19 outbreak, according to the Feb. 7 to 13 Reuters poll of 40 economists based in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, and the United States.

Reuters’ poll revealed

Hog raisers urged to secure insurance for livestock amid ASF threat

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AVAO ORIENTAL – Securing insurance for hogs and other livestock is now an option strongly recommended by the provincial government to hog and livestock raisers to avail of amidst the threat of the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Eric Dagmang called on all hog raisers in the province, as well as raisers of other livestock, to avail of the insurance program offered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) under the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Under this free insurance program, livestock

raisers can receive compensation in case of livestock mortality. “This will greatly help our farmers and livestock raisers,” said Dr. Dagmang.

Dr. Dagmang said that livestock raisers only need to go to their Municipal or City Agriculture Office to have their livestock registered. They can also go directly to the Provincial Agriculture Office compound. Currently, scores of farmers and livestock raisers have already availed of the program.

However, he clarified that this program is not only limited to diseases such as ASF but also for

FHOG RAISERS, P11

that China’s annual economic growth in the first quarter in 2020 is predicted to decline to 4.5 percent from six percent in the fourth quarter of 2019.

“The drop was expected to drag down the fullyear growth rate in 2020 to 5.5 percent from 6.1 percent in 2019, its weakest since at least 1900 when comparable records began,” the report read.

Reuters, however, noted that economists remain optimistic that China’s economy would bounce back by the second quarter of the year, which is forecast to have a 5.7 percent growth rate.

Nograles said the Duterte government was confident that China will overcome the challeng-

es brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak.

He stressed that the sooner that China overcomes the challenges, the “better” for the rest of the world because “China is the leading trade partner for the different countries as well, not just the Philippines.”

“And speaking for the Philippines, I think it’s important that we all support China getting back on its feet. It’s also important that we continue our good relations in terms of economic trade and beneficial relations for both of the countries,” Nograles said.

The Philippines’ relationship with China has improved under the watch of President Rodrigo Duterte. (PNA)

Lapeña says TESDA ready for possible influx of OFWs FCHINA-BOUND, P11

overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may opt to return or be repatriated, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said it could accommodate many OFWs in its training and scholarship programs.

"We are very ready for the arrival of OFWs. We have training (courses) prepared for them," TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a telephone interview on Friday.

Lapeña noted that

FLAPEÑA, P11

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

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PRRD promotes local tourism P

resident Rodrigo Duterte has urged Filipinos to travel around the Philippines in light of fears on international travel due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Duterte, in a taped message, called on the public to boost local tourism as tour operators reported at least P10 billion in losses due to a travel ban to and from China, the country's second largest tourism market and epicenter of the deadly virus.

“To my fellow Filipinos, I encourage you to travel with me around the Philippines. I assure you

that everything is safe in our country, be it an issue of health, be it an issue of law and order and be it an issue of accessibility,” the President said.

“Come with me and be my travel companion. I’ll be traveling around the Philippine. Pasyal tayo dito sa atin. Unahin natin 'yung atin. Mabuhay ang Pilipino. Mabuhay ang

FPRRD, P11

Two NorCot OFWs under monitoring for Covid-19

H President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during a gathering at the Malacañan Palace on February 12, 2020. Duterte has called on the public to boost local tourism as tour operators reported at least P10 billion in losses due to a travel ban to and from China. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

ealth authorities in the North Cotabato town of M’lang are monitoring two female Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who recently returned home for possible infection from coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVid-19), the acute respiratory ailment that claimed many lives, mostly in China.

Minerva Suriaga, disease surveillance officer of M’lang municipal health office, said one of those placed under monitoring

is an OFW from the United Kingdom whose plane had a stopover in Singapore.

The person arrived in M’lang on Feb. 5 with no symptoms of the disease but was placed under a 14-day quarantine by municipal health workers to ensure the safety of others.

“She was cooperative, there was no resistance,” Suriaga said in a local radio interview Friday, adding that a health worker regularly visits the OFW in her

FTWO NORCOT, P11

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

Safe to conduct festivals, public events in PH: DOT

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A rider and his backride cruise along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City over the weekend aboard a motorcycle installed with top box. Many motorcycle riders have expressed confusion with Land Transportation Office’s (LTO’s) regulations on motorcycle top boxes. Lean Daval Jr

t is safe to conduct festivals and public gatherings in the country, despite the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Department of Tourism (DOT) guaranteed on Friday.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat made the remarks after the Department of Health (DOH) earlier recommended the cancellation of big events and other mass gatherings amid the threats posed by the new coronavirus.

Romulo-Puyat said a joint memorandum circular by the DOT, DOH, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would be released to encourage local governments to pursue events despite public fears over Covid-19.

“We also agreed among the DOH and the DILG regarding the fiestas, events,

celebrations. We agreed we’ll be implementing a joint circular among the three agencies that it is all right to conduct such activity as long as precautionary measures are implemented,” she said. “And we want to assure you that all our stakeholders in the tourism industry have already implemented all these precautionary measures even before the temporary ban.

So it’s safe.”

Several local government units and other groups have decided to forgo activities with large crowds to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Filipinos have expressed fear over a possible Covid-19 epidemic in the country after the government earlier confirmed three cases of the new coronavirus.

Three Chinese nationals from Wuhan, China, the

decide na kita ang mupalit ana we can always enter into a power purchase agreement,” he said.

Domming added that the selection to operate the facility will undergo a bidding process. He added that presently there are no bidders yet as the project is still on FS stage.

He reiterated the need to establish a WTE facility as the trend of garbage collected in the city is increasing.

Based on the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) the city is generating around 900 tons of garbage per day last year but

the city’s landfill ended up with around 600 tons while 300 tons of garbage went to the recyclers or reused into other forms.

“Didto sa atong landfill naa pa jud tay informal scavengers ug katong mapuslan pa jud naa pa nahibilin ug magamit pa jud nila either i-re-purpose ba to nila. More or less ang naa sa atoang landfill kasagaran are residual wastes katong dili na jud mapuslan,” he said.

Domingo said the city is now eyeing new area to be used as a sanitary landfill to cater to an average of 900 tons of wastes a day in the city.

FSAFE, P11

By MAYA M. PADILLO

T

he Feasibility Study (FS) for the construction of the Waste-To-Energy (WTE) facility in Davao City is expected to be finalized early next month.

Lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo, assistant city administrator, told media that the FS will be concluded this month and the consultant is now finalizing the legal aspect of the project, financial projection or estimates of the project and the technical, which is the recommended designs and specifications of the WTE facility.

“I think if not February

basin early March ma-finalize na ang study. Nakabutang na didto tanan,” he said.

The Japanese government has already extended P2.5 billion for the project through official development assistance (ODA). Japan’s grant will be used to build the facility to reduce the city’s solid waste and convert it into electricity.

18 persons cleared of Covid-19 in Region 12

T

he Department of Health (DOH)-Region 12 has cleared at least 18 persons under monitoring (PUM) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the region after completing their 14day mandatory quarantine.

In an advisory released late Thursday afternoon, the agency said the concerned individuals have not shown any sign and symptom of the deadly Covid-19 during the entire monitoring period.

DOH issued certifications to the PUMs that they have properly completed the quarantine protocol, which was set by its epidemiology bureau.

Six of them underwent home quarantine in North Cotabato, five in this city, two in South Cotabato and one in Sultan Kudarat.

The cleared PUMs in Sarangani, composed of four Chinese tourists from Fujian province in China, underwent quarantine

at the isolation facility of the DOH-run Regional Drug Abise Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Barangay Kawas, Alabel town.

Dr. Imelda Quiñones, chief of DOH-12’s epidemiology and surveillance unit, said a total of 37 individuals underwent quarantine for Covid-19 monitoring in parts of the region.

She said they were classified as PUMs due to their history of travel to China and other countries with confirmed cases of the disease despite not showing its signs and symptoms.

The officials said these individuals were identified after arriving in the local airports and in surveillance activities conducted by rural health units.

North Cotabato listed a total of 13 PUMs, followed by this city with 10, Sarangani with 8, South Cotabato with five and Sultan

F18 PERSONS, P11

Domingo said the city is now planning to request the national government to fund the project.

“Naghatag ang Japanese government ug around P2.5 billion that was extended to the city or the Philippines. Under the project scheme dati the government would give a fix tariff or rates sa energy na ibaligya, apparently right now the Department of Energy already told us na wala na to dili na available ang fix na price sa pagbaligya ug kuryente and because of that the financial projection sa study was changed that is why we see the need na

mag-request ta sa national government to help fund the facility para mapadayon ang project. Under the project scheme ang kuryente is ibaligya, kinahanglan naay taker such as Davao Light or kinsa man ang mupalit puhon,” Domingo explained.

When fully operational, the entire facility would be generating around 11 megawatts per day and around 9 megawatts of that will be available while the 2 megawatts will be used to power the facility itself.

“Kanang 9 MW it would be thrown to the grid. Now if the city would

Assistant city administrator for admin lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo bares during an interview that the feasibility study for the construction of Davao City’s Waste-to-Energy facility is concluding this month and

the consultant is now finalizing legal aspect of the project, financial projection and the technical, which is the recommended designs and specifications of the facility. Lean Daval Jr

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

PAL, CebPac resume flights to Taiwan

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hilippine carriers will resume flight operations between Taipei and Manila after the Philippines lifted its travel ban on Taiwan caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A Cebu Pacific aircraft departs from the Davao International Airport over the weekend. The worldwide airline revenue could have a reduction of $4 to 5 billion due to the new coronavirus disease, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

Covid-19 could mean $5B in airline losses: UN agency

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he new coronavirus outbreak could mean a reduction of $4 to 5 billion in worldwide airline revenue, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said Thursday.

The UN agency reported that 70 airlines have canceled all international flights in and out of China and 50 others have reduced their operations.

Preliminary estimates

show this has meant a reduction of nearly 20 million passengers compared to expectations for the first quarter of 2020.

That figure equates to potential lost revenue of up to $5 billion, the agency said.

The virus has killed 1,483 people in China and infected more than 64,600 there. Overseas, nearly 600 cases have emerged in

around 30 locations "Prior to the outbreak, airlines had planned to increase capacity by 9 percent on international routes to/from China for the first quarter of 2020 compared to 2019," ICAO said in a statement.

The reality has been a reduction in foreign airline traveler capacity of 80 percent.

Japan looks to be hard-

est-hit from a reduction in Chinese air travelers in the first quarter, ICAO said. The country could lose $1.29 billion in tourism revenue, with Thailand not far behind at a $1.15 billion loss potential.

ICAO said the effects of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on the airline industry are expected to be larger than the 2002-2003

FCOVID-19, P11

Philippine Airlines (PAL) released its schedule of flights between the two countries for February 21, 2020 until March 28, 2020.

PR890/891 Manila-Taipei-Manila - Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday PR890 - To depart Manila at 6:05 a.m. and arrive in Taipei at 8:30 a.m.

PR891 - To depart Taipei at 9:30 a.m. and arrive in Manila at 11:40 a.m.

PAL said that from March 29, 2020 onwards, their standard regular schedule of twice daily flights (PR890/891 and PR894/895) will still be in effect.

PAL said it plans to add more flights "in line with projected increases in demand."

Cebu Pacific, meanwhile, also released its

schedule of flight resumption between Taiwan and the Philippines.

February 17 (until further notice): 5J 310 Manila-Taipei (Departs 10:40pm) February 18 (until further notice): 5J 311 Taipei-Manila (Departs 1:45am Mon/ Wed/Sat; 2:15am Tue/ Thu/Fri/Sun) February 21, 2020 (until further notice): 5J 312 Manila-Taipei (Departs 7:05am) 5J 310 Manila-Taipei (Departs 10:40pm) 5J 311 Taipei-Manila (Departs 1:45am) 5J 313 Taipei-Manila (Departs 10:45am) CebuPac said passengers booked on these flights who have not availed of a refund or travel fund will depart as scheduled.

6 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

PH ranks no. 22 in emerging markets logistics index 2020

T

he Philippines still has some ways to go as it is currently no.22 in the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2020’s overall ranking, slightly above the halfway mark among the 50 most promising emerging logistics markets, down two points from a year ago.

The Top 10 emerging logistics markets are China, India, UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Mexico, Thailand, and Turkey, in that order, according to the index prepared by logistics market research service Transport Intelligence and logistics company Agility.

“The strongest clusters of emerging markets are in the Arabian Gulf and Southeast Asia, thanks to business-friendly conditions and core strengths,” the recent report said.

Despite its trade and economic problems, China continues to lead the overall index, edging away from the other markets as improvements in core strengths across domestic and international logistics opportunities offset some declines in business fundamentals, the report said.

Notably, Vietnam is in 11th place, dropping from 10th as Thailand enters the Top 10 for the first time.

The index ranks 50 countries by three factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, shipping lines, air cargo

carriers, and distributors.

These sub-indexes are domestic logistics opportunities, international logistics opportunities and business fundamentals.

In terms of domestic logistics opportunities, the Philippines is currently at no. 19, down four places from a year ago. Leading the pack is still China, followed again by India, then Indonesia, UAE, and Brazil.

The top emerging markets in terms of international logistics opportunities are China, India, Mexico, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The Philippines is in 13th place, up one spot.

Vietnam and Indonesia saw their international logistics opportunities scores improve, with gains made via a combination of volumes won as manufacturers switched production locations from China, as well as moderate increases in domestic demand.

Elsewhere in the top 10, two other Southeast Asian markets -Thailand and Malaysia- rose in the international logistics ranking as a result of infrastructure investment programs.

In Thailand, the Eastern Economic Corridor is developing sea and airport connectivity, as well as highway infrastructure to improve export efficiency and build volumes.

In Malaysia, infrastructure projects are helping to fuel a rapid rise in exports

L-R: VISA Country Manager for Philippines and Guam Dan Wolbert; Eastwest Marketing and Corporate Communications Head Alessandro Villaraza; EastWest Head of Treasury, Markets and Off Balance Sheet Cluster Rafael S. Algarra; Eastwest Director Isabelle Yap; Business Development Director for VISA J-Ann Reyes; Eastwest CEO

Antonio Moncupa, Jr.; EastWest Wealth Management Head Richard Tamayo; VISMIN Priority Head Jennifer Alviar; EastWest Relationship Manager Janice Galaura; EastWest Priority Client Relationship Officer Karla Hipona; EastWest Relationship Manager Cathy Angco; and EastWest Priority Center Davao Head, Archie Policarpio.

EastWest opens priority hub Davao to high-value clients

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astWest, the most consumer-focused universal bank in the Philippines, continues its mission to expand its horizons with the opening FPH RANKS, P13 of EastWest Priority Center Davao last January 22. This is its first center in Mindanao offering bespoke services exclusive to high-value clients.

The ribbon-cutting inauguration held at EastWest Sta. Ana Store in Davao City was followed by a special evening affair at the Marco Polo Davao, attended by the city’s prominent personalities.

Guests enjoyed a gastronomic six-course dinner and were serenaded by no less than the Philippines’ premier crooner, Richard Poon, along with special

performances by local artists. Several lucky guests brought home exciting raffle prizes.

During the evening, EastWest officials shared with guests all the benefits that come with being an EastWest Priority client.

Bespoke treatment at EastWest Priority With the opening of EastWest Priority Center Davao, it will now be easier for clients to enjoy personalized financial and wealth management services. They get full access to a wide range of savings, investments, and financing options suited to their goals; a dedicated Relationship Manager to design, customize, and help manage an investment portfolio based on their risk appetite; and timely market reports that can help them make informed decisions, to name a few.

Clients will also auto-

matically receive an EastWest Platinum Debit Card, and will be eligible to apply for an EastWest Priority Visa Infinite Credit Card, both with amazing exclusive premium perks and privileges.

On top of that, Priority clients enjoy quality treatment whenever they bank at EastWest. They are entitled to better rates and fees, get access to any Priority Center and Priority Lanes at select EastWest stores, and a 24-Hour EastWest Priority Customer Service Hotline always ready to serve them.

Potential clients can enjoy all the perks that come with an EastWest Priority relationship which starts at an opening balance of only P2.5 million. Those who open an EastWest Priority relationship from now until April 30, 2020 will be entitled to a special time

avao Region has continued to import frozen pork products amid reports of an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in commercial and backyard farms in two provinces and in this city, an official of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) said on Friday.

Dr. Maria Teresa R. Bacayo, regional veterinary quarantine officer at the Veterinary Quarantine Services of the DA-BAI in Davao, said at the sidelines of the Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency that pork imports came from countries free from the ASF. Data from DA-BAI showed that frozen pork imports in the region totaled 287,774,859 kilograms as of October 2019.

The biggest supply of imported frozen pork to Davao came from Spain, which accounted for 110,779,321 kilograms.

Canada came in second with 35,240,100 kg, followed

by France (34,752,913 kg), Germany (28,412,786 kg), US (27,635, 549 kg), Netherlands (19,462,944 kg), UK (8,901,134 kg), Denmark (5,852,000 kg), Brazil (5,228,949 kg), Ireland (4,696,376 kg), Australia (4,589,561 kg), Italy (1,421,499 kg), and Austria (801,726 kg).

Bacayo said inspectors would ensure that exporters to Davao have permits before they are allowed entry.

She said quarantine officers would inspect even the processing facilities of exporters in their countries of origin to make sure meat

products are safe for consumption.

“We do risk analysis there and check their animal health system to see if they follow certain protocols. That’s sort of an accreditation. If that process has been completed, then they can ship to our country,” she said.

She, however, said they expect the volume of imported frozen pork products to drop next month, following the ASF outbreak in Davao.

Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, officer-in-charge of the Davao City Veterinarian’s Office assured consumers that the pork products sold in markets here are “safe for consumption” amid fears caused by the ASF outbreak in two barangays of Calinan, this city.

FEASTWEST, P13

Davao still imports frozen pork amid ASF fears

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A trader unloads durian from Calinan District to a fruit stall in Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City over the weekend. The city government of Davao and the

Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China is exploring the possibility of exporting “puyat” variety of Davao's durian to China. Lean Daval Jr

FDAVAO, P13

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

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8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

Brains over body

A survey by the Social Weather Station (SWS) revealed that majority of Filipinos are more attracted to a person’s intelligence over physical features. Though not surprising, the result reflected a preference for one’a mental fitness over physical attributes.

Based on the December 13-16 survey, 81 percent of adult Filipinos prefer brains over body, while only 19 percent think otherwise. Among the respondents, 83 percent of women are more attracted to a person’s brains than body, slightly higher than the 78 percent among men. The proportion of those who prefer brains over body was highest among women with live-in partners (89 percent), followed by single women (82 percent), and married women (81 percent).

What does the message say, other than reflect a trend that proves attraction is intelligence-based? How can people actually learn from this fact?

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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

For the younger generation of Filipinos, this reality should remind them that intelligence is still the yardstick of society.

It’s not looks. This directly relates to the fact that there remains high value in education. The need for one to hone his mental faculties and be learned in many facets of thought is far more important than working on how one appears physically.

People, parents most especially, therefore must invest on education for their children. Not only to prepare them for future relationships, as attraction need not simply relate to amorous relationships. It also relates to how one relates with the society, from his family, peers and eventually, to the workplace.

This survey should be viewed not only as a simplistic realization of people’s preferences. It actually is a simple yet effective nudge to remind everyone that in life, what is important is how one uses intellect to be successful.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

9

JOHN CARLO B. TRIA MY TWO CENTS’

THIS TOO SHALL PASS, MY FRIENDS Yes, as they have many times before. We have been through SARS, MERS COV, Dengue. Even the Iran conflict retreated from feared armageddon and the fires in Australia stopped burning. All within the month of January. Thus, no matter how disruptive the situation may be, things always taper off or cease.

Yet may people still feel the need to pander to notions of a doomsday scenario and decide to feel helpless in the face of these threats and happenings.

Like they are drowing in their fear.

Nonetheless, the Senate hearing called by Senator Bong Go of the Senate Health Committee on the Ncov revealed our resolve to overcome these beliefs and hope for the best.

During the said hearing Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said that the Philippine economy would be able to

sustain its growth momentum this year despite the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus (nCoV), the African Swine Fever (ASF) and the eruption of Taal Volcano.

He said that the economic team stands by its target of attaining a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.5 to 7.5 percent despite this, as predicted by some economists.

The last quarter 2019 6.4% GDP performance is to be the benchmark for sets the stage for the rest of the years numbers.

I believe there are good reasons for this. For one, our local consumption will enable us to continue driving demand for commodities and other products, especially food, that we can produce. Lower demand for fuel may even drive oil prices down.

Likewise, a reduction in foreign travel may force Pinoys

to travel within the Philippines rathern than abroad due to fears of the virus.

In the hearing, Dominguez said that our experience during the previous outbreaks of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), H1N1, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERSCoV) might show nCoVs impact on our economy.

During the SARS episode in 2003, he said, tourist arrivals to the Philippines dropped by 1.3 percent, from 1.93 million in 2002 to 1.90 million in 2003, but rebounded quickly the following year, with arrivals increasing 20.1 percent to 2.3 million visitors.

I will expect us to experience a slight decline in exports such as electronics and auto parts, since demand in China may decrease. Note that China is now our top trading partner when you include Hongkong, and is ASEANs top trading

partner. Any decrease in its economic growth will have an effect all over asia.

To deal with these disruptions an imperative, or necessity, if you will is to strengthen agriculture to allow us to continue meeting the food demand, if not lowering food prices to keep inflation down.

If agriculture grows at 2% as hoped for in 2020, expect farmer incomes to rise as it meets demand that may not be filled with imports, fears about the virus latching on to imported food products may persist.

Thus, the need for local supply of various commodities to be ramped up.

For those asking me about the effect of the discovered African Swine Flu (ASF) infection in Davao Occidental, we laud the efforts of the local government and the Department of Agriculture to quickly impose a lockdown and to prevent pigs

from reaching Davao. Yet vigilance against unscrupulous producers, who will take advantage of the situation to raise prices unfairly, must remain.

Moving forward, the efforts of a wide range of stakeholders must be strong to prevent the spread of the disease to our pig farms. Note that 75% of the almost one million hogs in the Davao region are backyard raised. We must find ways for these raisers to avoid swill feeding, which is a key transmission pathway of the ASF virus.

As previous outbreaks have been contained, we know that these current ones will pass too as efforts will eventually bear fruit, as they have in the past. What matters now is that new protocols to deal with outbreaks are learned and adapted.

For reactions: facebook. com/johntriapage

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WHAT’S IN A NAME? “Names are strange and special gifts. There are names you give to yourself and names you show to the world, names that stay for a short while and names that remain with you forever, names that come from things you do and names that you receive as presents from other people. If your name is true, it is who you are.” – Michael Dorris in Morning Girl *** And it came to pass that three people (a pastor, a priest and a lawyer) died and their souls went to heaven. However, before they could enter heaven, each has to answer a question from Saint Peter.

“What is the name of the British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage?” asked Saint Peter to the pastor.

The pastor answered, “I have seen the movie and I know the answer. It’s Titanic.”

To the priest, Saint Peter inquired, “Of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, how many people died when it sank?”

“More than 1,500 perished,” the priest replied.

Saint Peter then faced the lawyer and asked, “Name all those who died.”

I know you laugh after reading the anecdote. But

what I want to point out is the importance of names. “The names of the list mean something,” wrote Julie Orringer in The Flight Portfolio. “Every one. They mean something to me.”

“What’s in a name?” asked William Shakespeare in his play, Romeo and Juliet.

In Summer Crossing, Julia Kagawa echoed the same question, “What’s in a name really? I mean, besides a bunch of letters or sounds strung together to make a word. Does a rose by any other name really as sweet? Would the most famous love story in the world be as poignant if it was called Romeo and Gertrude? Why is what we call ourselves so important?” Kagawa inquired.

Names are not numbers.

Ever wonder why typhoons – also known as hurricanes and cyclones – have names instead of numbers? “To keep the killing personal,” answered George Carlin in Brain Droppings. “No one cares about a bunch of people killed by a number. ‘200 Dead as Number Three Slams Ashore’ is not as nearly as interesting a headline as ‘Charlie Kills 200.’

Death is much more satisfying and entertaining if you personalize it.”

In The Devil’s Arithmetic, Jane Yolen pointed it out, too.

“You are a name, not a num-

ber,” she wrote. “Never forget that name, whatever they tell you here.”

“What’s your name,” Coraline asked the cat. “Look, I’m Coraline. Okay?” “Cats don’t have names,” it said.

“No?” said Coraline. “No,” said the cat. “Now, you people have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are, so we don’t need names.”

The conversation above was excerpted from the Coraline, written by Neil Gaiman. Yes, animals don’t need names but people do!

The reason: “Names have power,” said one of the characters in Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief.

In The Candy Shop War, Brandon Mull wrote this conversation: “Could you just call me Pigeon,” he asked the teacher when she read his name. “Does your mother call you Pigeon?” “No.” “Then to me you are Paul.”

Bestselling author Dale Carnegie knew the importance of names. In fact, he allotted a whole chapter on it in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. “A person’s name is the sweetest and most important sound in any language to him or her,” he wrote.

There was that story of a mechanic whom W.F. Chamberlain brought to the White

House. He was introduced to President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he arrived. He didn’t talk to the president, and Roosevelt heard his name only once.

“He was a shy chap, and he kept in the background,” Chamberlain was quoted as saying. “But before leaving us, the President looked for the mechanic, shook his hand, called him by name, and thanked him for coming to Washington. And there was nothing perfunctory about his thanks. He meant what he said, I could feel it.”

But to the mechanic, it was something. “A few days after returning to New York, I got an autographed of President Roosevelt and a little note of thanks again expressing his appreciation for my assistance,” the mechanic told Chamberlain. “How he found time to do it is a mystery to me.”

This was what Carnegie said of the episode: “Franklin D. Roosevelt knew that one of the simplest, most obvious and most important ways of gaining goodwill was by remembering names and making people feel important – yet how many of us do it?”

Ken Nottingham, an employee of General Motors in Indiana, does. Generally, he took his lunch at the company cafeteria. He noticed that the

woman who worked behind the counter always had a scowl on her face.

“She had been making sandwich for about two hours and I was just another sandwich to her,” Nottingham told Carnegie. “I told her what I wanted. She weighed out the ham on a little scale, then she gave me one leaf lettuce, a few potato chips and handed them to me.

“The next day, I went through the same line. Same woman, same scowl. I smiled and said, ‘Hello, Eunice,’ and then told her what I wanted.

Well, she forgot the scale, piled on the ham, gave me three leaves of lettuce and heaped on the potato chips until they fell of the plate.”

In Burnt Tongues, Brien Piechos observed, “Besides, what’s in a name? Actually, a lot. Whether taken from a parent or grandparent, some saint, or even the late great Elvis (Presley), your name insists another person’s dream of what you should have been.

“The portrait of some ancestral ideal lingers through heirloom names. Gender specific names imply all sorts of expectations. More than just a signifier used to summon, instruct, address, accuse, sometimes praise us, our names define and thereby limit us. They put us in a cage.”

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EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

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

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

MACTAN-CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CELEBRATES SUCCESS WITH EXCITING RAFFLE PROMO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

CHINA-BOUND... FROM1

SAFE... FROM4

that “puyat” will be welcome by the Chinese consumers because the market in China is so big,” Lin said.

Apart from durian, Lin said China is also open for the exportation of avocado to China from the Philippines. He said the demands of avocado right now in China is being met by the suppliers from Latin America, South America and Mexico.

“Such very long distance of shipping the avocado from these suppliers to China while the Philippines we are so close and I think the cost of avocado will be reduce because of the short distance of transportation.

It much more competitive,” he said.

According to him, Chi-

nese consumers prefers avocado as vegetarian food.

“That is something not really a traditional fruit to the Chinese consumers but the demand is obviously growing in recent years. I think some of the Chinese believe avocado is kind of vegetarian,” he said.

During the meeting Lin informed the mayor that they have been working on encouraging Local Chinese Food Associations in China to hold their MICE (Meetings, Incentives Conventions and Exhibition) events in Davao City. He also informed the mayor that a Chinese sports brand and a food manufacturing company are studying the feasibility of expanding their businesses in the city.

epicenter of the virus outbreak, who traveled to the Philippines had tested positive for Covid-19. One died while the other two have already recovered.

Despite this, President Rodrigo Duterte encouraged his fellow countrymen to travel with him around the Philippines.

In a video message uploaded by Radio Television Malacañang on Friday

morning, Duterte assured the public that it is still “safe” to visit the country’s beautiful places.

“To my fellow Filipinos, I encourage you to travel with me around the Philippines. I assure you that everything is safe in our country, be it an issue of health, be it an issue of law and order, and be it an issue of accessibility,” he said.

(PNA)

(Private Education Student Financial Assistance), and UAQTEA (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act)," he clarified.

For 2020, TESDA has allotted PHP1.4 billion for STEP; PHP200 million for PESFA; and PHP2.9 billion for UAQTEA. TESDA's overall budget for 2020 is PHP12.974 billion.

The training courses, Lapeña said, would reskill the OFWs, whether they would decide to go back abroad, find a job here, or put up a business.

Among the courses being offered for returning OFWs are carpentry, scaffolding, heavy equipment operation, construction, housekeeping, hairdressing, caregiving, wellness massage, bread and pastry, cookery, basic bookkeeping, basic computer operation, and welding.

Lapeña said many women excel in welding, and companies are commenting that women's works are polished.

"We also offer language skills training in Mandarin, Nihongo, and Arabic, to help them communicate better when they go

abroad," he added.

Lapeña shared that he already informed the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) that there are opportunities here for the OFWs, opportunities to make their lives more comfortable.

More training centers Apart from the budget increase, Lapeña said he is confident many OFWs can be accommodated as TESDA would open new training facilities in 2020.

"From 361 training facilities last year, we target to have 404 this year, so there would be at least 43 facilities that would open in 2020. Most of these are in the provinces. I have instructed our provincial officers to have a building with two to three rooms for this purpose," he said.

Lapeña noted that aside from TESDA's training centers, there are accredited Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) where the OFWs could avail of the scholarship or training programs.

As of December 2019, there are 3,983 accredited TVIs nationwide, he said.

(PNA)

Kudarat with one.

Quiñones said the lone patient under investigation (PUI) tested negative for the second time for Covid-19 and was already discharged from the isolation facility of a private hospital here.

The female patient, who volunteered to undergo quarantine after

arriving at the city airport here with cough and sore throat, was initially tested negative of Covid-19 after completing the 14-day observation period last Tuesday.

“As of today, we don’t have any PUI and there is no confirmed case of Covid-19 in the region,” she said. (MindaNews)

SARS epidemic because flight cancellations are more widespread this time.

In addition, China's international air traffic has doubled and its domestic air traffic increased 5-fold in the last 17 years.

Chinese authorities have locked down Hubei

province, the virus epicenter, and have restricted movements in several cities as part of an unprecedented effort to contain the virus.

Britain, Germany, the US, Japan and others have advised against travel to China.

dent Thomas Bach will lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on the sidelines of the May 19-20 executive project review.

The virus has already impacted sporting events in Asia, including Olympic qualifiers for boxing and basketball -- both in China.

Formula One's Shanghai Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in April, has been postponed with the inaugural Vietnamese Grand Prix also under threat.

Prime Minister Shinzo

Abe's government has come under fire for its handling of the infection, especially quarantine measures seen as too lax in the early stages of the epidemic.

"We don't yet know who will be competing at test events so we can't say anything for sure," said Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto, when pressed to specify measures being taken to tackle the epidemic.

"But we will have information from the qualifiers that are under way and take the necessary steps."

the second singles matchup, 21-11, 21-14, to seal Indonesia's entry into the semifinals.

The Philippines' quar-

terfinal qualification, however, was a remarkable feat for a team that entered the tournament 66th in the world. (PNA)

LAPEÑA... FROM2

HOG RAISERS... FROM2

other livestock illnesses.

The PCIC provides insurance cover to livestock, such as cattle, carabao,

horse, swine, goat, sheep, poultry, and game fowls and animals. By Provincial Information Office

NOTICE OF LOSS

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

CONTRACT NUMBER

CFP NUMBER

MARICA REGINA C. AZURIN

10370666-9

-

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

PRRD... FROM3

18 PERSONS... FROM4

COVID-19... FROM5

WHO... FROM15

PH... FROM15

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late FELOMINA C. CANARIAS and CRESENCIANO CANARIA who died inestate on June 1976 and October 1977 , left a parcel of land containing an area of TWENTY NINE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FIFTY SIX (29,156) SQUARE METERS particularly the lot no. 1128-B , Csd-11-000049-D covered with OCT No. P=3674, located at Tibungco , Davao City , has been the subject of Affidavit of Self-Adjudication with Deed of Absolute Sale executed among their heir, per Doc. No.423; Page No.85; Book No.38, Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. RODOLFTON S. J. DE LEON 2/17,24/3/2

11

turismo ng Pilipinas,” he added.

(Let’s tour around and prioritize our country.

Cheers to the Filipino people and Philippine tourism.)

Duterte, who met with airline companies earlier this week, said carriers and hotels had agreed to lower rates “so that we can be a viable market.”

“Maraming magagandang mapuntahan sa Pilipinas, wala kayong dapat alalahanin,” he said.

(There are many beautiful places in the Philippines. You don’t have to worry about a thing.)

The Philippines has imposed travel restrictions on China and its territories in a bid to control the spread of the COVID-19.

China is the Philippines second largest source of foreign tourist arrivals, next only to South Korea, and accounts for nearly a fifth of the total, tourism department data showed.

Earlier this month, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the government was eyeing to boost promotions in South Korea and the United States, the Philippines' top and 3rd largest tourist markets, respectively.

isolated quarters.

Suriaga also said that another OFW arrived home from Bahrain but her plane had a stopover in Hong Kong.

Both persons are listed as a “Person Under Monitoring (PUM)” and have so far shown no symptoms that they are infected with the virus. (PNA)

TWO NORCOT... FROM3

NOTICE OF AUCTION

The VGM Pawnshop, Inc. will hold a Public Auction Sale to all unredeemed and unrenewed items on the following schedule listed below at 9:00 O’clock in the morning.

Ang VGM Pawnshop, Inc. magasubasta sa tanang prenda nga wala nalukat sa maong sumusunod nga mga petsa sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

DATE PAWNED

DAVAO Sasa Maa Panabo Main Panabo Branch

DAVAO Sandawa Matina Ulas

August 01-31, 2019

August 01-31, 2019

DATE & PLACE OF AUCTION Feb. 20, 2020 (Thurs.)

9:00 AM VGM Pawnshop, Inc, Sasa Branch VGM BLDG. Km.11,Sasa Davao City Feb. 27, 2019 (Thurs.)

9:00 AM VGM Pawnshop, Inc, Sasa Branch VGM Bldg.

Km. 11,Sasa Davao City

THE MANAGEMENT Feb. 12,14,17,2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ELIZABETH LIBUGAN BASCON and LORNA LIBUGAN ABUG has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among their heirs, per Doc. No.157; Page No.33; Book No.XLI, Series of 2019, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. BANSALAN B. METILLA 2-17,24/3-2/2020

12 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

RX: FRUITS, VEGETABLES VS. CORONAVIRUS DISEASE

systems serve as the “soldiers” against intruders.

“The vast network of cells and tissues is constantly on the lookout for invaders,” Newman wrote, “and once an enemy is spotted, a complex attack is mounted.”

Incorporating specific foods into the diet may strengthen a person’s immune response. “We have a lot of native, nutritious fruits and vegetables that are known to help the body fight off diseases,” Dar pointed out. “Hence, let’s try to consume more to boost our health.”

Dar recommends eating those fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and A. “Vitamin C tops the list of

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“I

t is important to keep your immune system strong,” suggests Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on how Dabawenyos can stay healthy in the time when the dreaded coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is spreading throughout the world.

Duterte said those words when she announced the cancellation of the 83rd Araw ng Dabaw celebration. “We have seen an increasing number of people getting the infection worldwide,” she said in her official statement. “Our health care facilities in Davao City have limitations and we cannot possibly carry hundreds of sick individuals all at the same time.”

Last January 30, the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a global threat. If not controlled now, the virus could grip about twothirds of the world’s population, according to Professor Gabriel Leung, chair of public health medicine at Hong Kong University.

Aside from China, it has been reported in Europe (United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and Russia), Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Macau, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, India, Nepal, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the Philippines), Canada, Australia, and United States (Washington, California, Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin).

Until now, little is known about Covid-19.

But scientists said it begins with a fever, followed by a dry cough and after a week or so, shortness of breath. To avoid catching the virus, the UN health agency recommends washing hands with soaps

or hand gels, not touching the eyes, nose and mouth, and staying a meter away from people who are coughing.

In the absence of the availability of a vaccine against Covid-19, one of the best methods to fight the deadly bug is building up one’s immune system, according to the Department of Health (DOH), which is doing its best to contain the proliferation of the virus in the country.

The Department of Agriculture backs such idea.

“Let’s heed and support the health department to boost our body’s immune system to fight the virus and bacterial attacks and reduce the risks of disease infections,” s a i d Ag-

ricult u r e Secretary William Dar. “We have long been taught that the immune system helps the body fight off infections caused by viruses and speed up the recovery process after an infection,” Dar explained in a feature posted in the agriculture depart-

ment’s web portal.

Dar is right. “Our immune system is essential for survival,” writes Tim Newman in the website of Medical News Today.

“Without an immune system, our bodies would be open to attack from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and more.

It is our immune system that keeps us healthy as we drift through a sea of pathogens.”

The immune system is spread throughout the body

a nd involves many types of cells, organs, proteins, and tissues. “Crucially, it can distinguish our tissue from foreign tissue – self from non-self,” Newman explained in a feature that was medical-

He also recommends green leafy vegetables (kangkong, alugbati, and pechay) as well as red fruits and vegetables like watermelon, sweet red pepper, and tomatoes.

Dar singled out malunggay as containing both vitamins and called it “the miracle vegetable.”

Based on studies, he said that three tablespoons of powdered malunggay leaves contain 27% vitamin A and 22% vitamin C, “which is equivalent to seven oranges.”

In a feature posted on goodnewspilipinas.com, Eldan Sambatyon wrote malunggay is richly endowed with the following: 92 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, 23 anti-inflammatories, 18 amino acids, 10 vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B7, A, C, K, E, D) and 9 essential amino acids.

“With such a powe r -

o

ly reviewed

by Dr. Daniel Murrell.

“When the immune system comes into contact with a pathogen, it triggers an immune response,” wrote Lana Burgess in another feature. “The immune system releases antibodies, which attach to antigens on the pathogens and kill them.”

The body’s immune

immune boosters and has antiviral and antibacterial properties,” he stressed.

Examples of fruits rich in vitamin C are Barbados cherry, kiwi, papaya, strawberries, pineapple, guava, calamansi, lemons and dayap. Bell peppers, potato, cauliflower, and broccoli are vegetables rich in vitamin C. “Vitamin A contains beta-carotene and retinol, which are important to immune function,” Dar said. Among those that are rich in vitamin A are carrots, sweet potato, squash, cantaloupe, papaya, guava, passion fruits, and mangoes.

house f

health-boosting properties, the malunggay can also boost our immune system which can help us fight off viruses,” Sambatyon wrote.

“And if infected with a virus, it could help reduce and lessen the effects of the infection which could also lessen the period of illness and make faster recovery.”

Dar also singled out garlic, lagundi and serpentina as having medicinal properties.

“Garlic is an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial immune booster,” he said. “Aside from being useful in the kitchen, it has been proven to heal infection because of its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.”

Describing lagundi as “the five-leaf chaste tree” and known in the science world as Vitex negundo, it “has been scientifically proven to be effective in reducing cough, colds, and

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PH-RANKS... FROM6

of electronic devices, which have risen as US tariffs depressed Chinese export volumes.

Under the business fundamentals sub-index, the Philippines is way down in 30th place, but an improvement of four places from 2019. The best places to do business in are UAE in top spot, then Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.

The report also surveyed 780 logistics industry professionals for the report. Asked about the emerging markets with the highest potential as a future logistics market, India has been listed as having the greatest potential, edging out China. In third place is Vietnam, followed by Brazil and Indonesia. The Philippines has moved up by a significant five places to 16th spot year-on-year.

The Philippines’ upward movement as a promising future logistics market hinges on its infrastructure spending via the ‘Build, Build, Build’ investment program, healthy inflation levels and increased liquidity in the financial

sector, the report said.

ASEAN neighbor Thailand also jumped to 7th, up from 13th last year, bolstered by the country’s improving business environment and regulatory frameworks, its Eastern Economic Corridor policy and manufacturing sector reforms.

Cambodia is a new entry in the list of emerging markets with the highest potential at no.18, up by a significant 13 places.

Meanwhile, the report also indicated which megacities are the most attractive as logistics hubs. The five winners are Shanghai, China (27%); Delhi, India (19%), Sao Paolo, Brazil (10%); Jakarta, Indonesia (9.4%); and Mexico City, and Mexico (8.3%). Manila is the seventh most attractive megacity for 6.1% of surveyed respondents.

According to the logistics industry professionals, the most important driver of logistics growth is good quality transport infrastructure (17.4%). This is followed by favorable government regulations

(15%), access to global chains (11.8%), availability of skilled labor (10.7%), access to education/skills development in the domestic population (8.9%), availability of cheap labor (7.2%), and Internet access (6.1%).

“Connectivity is of course vital in the transportation of goods, and from that perspective, the high rating of infrastructure quality is unsurprising. In addition, as protectionism threatens to undermine the openness of trade, the efficiency of infrastructure is playing an increasingly important role in the business case of selecting certain trading partners in certain locations,” said the Agility report.

Tariffs and other protectionist changes in regulation governing international trade also threaten to add time and indirect costs of compliance, prompting survey respondents to place favorable government regulations alongside quality infrastructure at the top of the ranking.

(Philexport)

deposit interest rate of up to 3.5% per annum or up to P130,000 in cash credits when they make an investment.

A city on the rise Davao City is on the verge of a boom due to its strategic positioning as an attractive destination for investments in various fields, according to a 2019 Forbes article. This potential waiting to be fully realized makes the city a good place in which EastWest Priority can expand.

“Today, we are celebrating another milestone by launching our first Priority

Center in Mindanao, which I am very excited about because of our family’s history in the region,” said EastWest Board member Isabelle Gotianun-Yap. “I am certain that our people will work their hardest to provide you with the service you deserve, and I hope that this will be the start of many fruitful partnerships with you to come.”

“Opening our first EastWest Priority Center in Mindanao is hand-in-hand with the city’s brimming potential for economic growth,” said Antonio C. Moncupa Jr., EastWest Vice Chairman,

President, and CEO. “As the city prospers, we hope to forge more partnerships through EastWest Priority, helping Davaoenos reach their goals and dreams.”

For more information on EastWest Priority and its various personalized wealth management and financial services, please call the EastWest Priority Customer Service Hotline at (+632) 8888-1788. EastWest Priority Center Davao is located at EastWest Sta. Ana Store, Gov. Sales Street, Sta. Ana, Davao City with telephone number (082) 299-1739.

“It is best to buy them when they’re two months old, right after they are weaned,” he says. “Be sure to buy your breeding stock only from reliable sources.”

Adang has other tips for beginners: “Select young rabbits that are the offspring of prolific does who know how to suckle or nurse their young. Pick out aggressive, well-developed bucks. But bucks and does selected should be both vigorous, healthy, and free from defects.”

Raisers should provide each animal with its own cage, which should be placed in a quiet area that is not directly exposed to sunlight. Bucks and does must be separated because rabbits are territorial animals.

Rabbits are strict vegetarians and should be fed twice daily, once in the morning, and then late in the afternoon. To maximize productivity, the animals should be fed with concentrates.

Supplements like greens, roots or bread scraps may be added to the diet.

Scrap table greens may include pechay, mustard, lettuce, cauliflower, camote leaves, malunggay and cabbage. Rabbits also relish

peelings of banana, melons of various kinds, but not the rinds of green papaya and chayote.

Water should be provided at all times. The containers should always be full of fresh, clean drinking water. Rabbits, especially lactating does, drink plenty of water. The containers should be cleaned daily.

Does (females) in heat become restless and lose appetite; their external genitalia become inflamed.

When this occurs, the doe in heat should be brought to the buck pen. Since rabbits are territorial, the female should be placed in the male pen. If it’s done the other way, the female may kill the male.

The buck should serve the doe at least two times.

The best times to breed the animals are early in the morning (5:00 to 8:00 a.m.) or late in the afternoon (4:00 to 7:00 p.m.).

“Be sure not to leave the doe in the pen overnight with the buck,” Adang reminds.

A pregnant doe has a short gestation period: 28 days to one month or 32 days if it’s an old animal.

Build a wooden nest box and line its bottom with rags and shredded news-

paper or dry grass. Near delivery date, the doe will become nervous. It may scratch the bottom of the nest, scatter or rearrange box bedding, and pull of its fur and line the nest box with it. At this time, add a vitamin-mineral supplement to its diet.

The does should not be disturbed during kindling.

“At kindling time,” explains Adang, “a doe will become extremely nervous. Keep children, dogs, cats, and other animals away.”

“It’s a good idea to keep records to facilitate management and control of the stock,” Adang suggests.

“Basic information that you should record include age of does, breeding dates, expected date of delivery, and number of young weaned per litter. The more relevant data you record, the easier your operations will be.”

Raising rabbits is definitely easier than keeping chickens or pigs. “Rabbits consume only a little of your time, reproduce rapidly, and are a source of high-quality protein,” Adang points out. “There’s a lot of idle manpower in the rural and some urban areas. Why not use it for this purpose?”

EASTWEST... FROM6

RABBIT... FROM14

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of

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

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She said the hogs being transported and slaughtered in accredited abattoirs are strictly inspected, and hog owners are required to show a “shipping permit and health certificate” declaring their pigs are not infected with the disease.

She said that before the hogs enter the abattoirs the local government requires “ante-mortem” and “post-mortem” examinations to determine if the pigs and the meats are contaminated with the disease.

Pinili advised consumers to check the sellers’ meat inspection certificates issued by her office that are usually displayed in meat stalls in public markets or meat sections of the groceries in malls.

She said the local government continues to

closely monitor the ASF outbreak that resulted in the culling of 1,562 hogs in Barangay Lamanan and 477 others in Barangay Dominga, Calinan District as of Tuesday.

She urged hog producers to practice biosecurity measures, including restricting the entry of pigs into their farms, disinfecting their areas, and avoiding feeding their pigs with swill, which is possibly contaminated with ASF. She said hog raisers must immediately report to authorities if they see pigs showing signs and symptoms of the infection, so that they can conduct blood sampling to determine if they test positive for ASF. “If you notice in your neighborhood that hogs are becoming weak, call our office so we can get

blood samples from the pigs. We can immediately take action, unlike if you hide situations like this.

This needs participation from the farmers, consumers, let’s help each other,” she said.

The DA requires all pigs within the one-kilometer radius of areas that reported an outbreak to be culled in compliance with the “17-10” protocol to manage, contain, and control the spread of the ASF. The protocol requires that all pigs within the one-kilometer radius of infected farms will be culled, limits animal movement within seven-kilometer radius, and obliges swine farms within a 10-kilometer radius to submit a mandatory report on the disease. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

fever.”

Serpentina or sinta (scientific name: Rauvolfia serpentine) is known for its antiviral and antibiotic properties. As such, it is good for infections. “It is often used to treat cough and colds. It is also used as an expectorant to help release mucus in the respiratory system,” Dar said.

“Eating a healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, coupled with whole grains and lean protein – in addition to drinking sufficient amounts of

water – helps boost our body’s immune system against illness and stress,” Dar said.

In her feature, Burgess has identified the following food that can also boost the immune system: dark chocolate (contains theobromine, which may help to boost the immune system by protecting the body’s cells from free radicals), turmeric (has curcumin, an antioxidant), oily fish (rich source of omega-3 fatty acids), ginger (has anti-inflammato-

ry and antioxidative properties), sunflower seeds, and almonds.

Aside from eating healthy foods, the following lifestyle strategies may also make a person’s immune system stronger, according to Burgess: avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol or drinking in moderation, getting enough sleep, minimizing stress, and practicing correct hand-washing and oral hygiene.

RX... FROM6

14

EDGEDAVAO EDGEDAVAO

AGRITRENDS

VOL.12 ISSUE 245 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 2020

RABBIT MEAT AS PORK ALTERNATIVE

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

he African swine fever (ASF) is no ordinary swine fever. It is called as such because it originated from Africa, where it first occurred in 1907. The first outbreak happened in 1921 in Kenya. The disease was restricted to this continent until 1957 when it was reported in Portugal.

From there, the virus crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and outbreaks were reported in some Caribbean islands. In 2018, the ASF virus found its way to Asia.

The first outbreak happened in China, the world’s largest pork producer.

From there, ASF hopped the border into Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia, and North Korea.

The first outbreak of ASF in the Philippines happened on July 25, 2019, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). 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.

Early this year, ASF was reported in Don Marcelino and nearby Malita in Davao Occidental. Then, cases of

ASF were detected in Calinan, a district of Davao City.

Then, the Davao regional office of DA confirmed that were also ASF cases in Sulop, Davao del Sur. To stop the further spread of ASF, the agriculture department recommends depopulation of all pigs near the areas where ASF cases were reported.

A complete lockdown was also observed.

According to Agriculture Secretary William Dar, 178,150 hogs – or 1.7% of the country’s total hog population – have been culled, as of January 13, 2020. Of the total culled, only 29,709 of them were sick.

During the International Farmers Summit Philippines 2020 held in Pasay City, Dr. Dar disclosed that his department was looking at commodities that can substitute for pork.

Rabbit meat is good alternative, he said.

The agriculture secretary was optimistic with rabbit raising. “Because the growth cycle is very short,” he was quoted as saying by Manila Times.

“You can expand more when you have a shorter growth cycle.”

Rabbit meat was commonly consumed during

the mid-20th century as a wartime food. “Rabbit meat is eaten in various other countries as well, including Malta, France, Italy, and China,” wrote Siddhi Camila Lama for livestrong. com. In the United States, rabbit is considered “a specialty meat.”

The website, riseandshinerabbitry.com, enumerates ten reasons why a person should eat rabbit meat: best white meats available on the market; high percentage of easily digestible protein; least amount of fat among all the other available meats; contains less calorie value than other meats; almost cholesterol-free; sodium content is comparatively less than other meats; calcium and phosphorus contents is more than any other meats; there is more edible meat on the carcass than chicken; many health benefits that does not have a strong flavor; and one of the most productive domestic livestock there is.

Lama said that for every 100 grams of domestic rabbit, you get: 20.1 grams of protein, 40% of the daily value (DV); 9% of the DV for iron; 7% of the DV for potassium; 5% of the DV for magnesium; 17% of the DV for phosphorus; 14% of

the DV for zinc; 43% of the DV for selenium; 29% of the DV for vitamin B12; 8% of the DV for thiamin; 12% of the DV for riboflavin; 45% of the DV for niacin; 16% of the DV for vitamin B5; and 29% of the DV for vitamin B6.

“The fat content of rabbit meat is fairly low in

comparison to other proteins, making a lean meat,” Lama wrote. The Romebased Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations considered rabbit meat as having “one of the lowest fat amounts and highest protein amounts of many typically consumed meats.”

“In every 100 grams of domesticated rabbit, you will find 5.6 grams of fat,” Lama wrote. “Saturated fat makes up 1.7 of these grams.” The 2013 study published in the Journal of Animal Production Advances contends the amount is “much less fat than in other widely consumed meats like pork and beef.”

Here’s another good reason for eating rabbit meat. “Although it is low in fat, rabbit meat is rich in healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, like omega fatty acids,” Lama wrote. “There are 220 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids and 860 milligrams of omega-6 fatty acids in every 100 grams of domesticated rabbit meat.”

Farmers who will raise rabbit need to know that rabbits are very prolific.

They breed three to four times a year, livescience. com reports. “Each pregnancy produces three to eight babies, called kittens or kits,” it says. “After four to five weeks, a kit can care

for itself. In two to three months, it is ready to start a family of its own.”

There is indeed a bright future for rabbit farming.

“Producing plenty of rabbit meat for Filipinos will help alleviate the malnutrition problem, especially in children,” says Jethro P. Adang, the director of Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center Foundation, Inc. Adang says the demand for rabbits at the center has been increasing through the years. People from different parts of the region are visiting the center – located at barangay Kinuskusan in Bansalan, Davao del Sur – just to buy rabbits.

Unfortunately, most of them buy rabbits for pets and not for meat. “Filipinos have been slow in accepting rabbit meat as a major food item,” Adang laments. “For this reason, the demand for rabbit meat in the country is still generally limited – unlike that of pork, beef, or chicken.”

He says that rabbit raising is fairly easy. “It is easier than raising chickens because rabbits need little space, capital, and attention,” he points out. “These small animals also multiply quickly. They are ideal for backyard projects for low-income rural families.”

He advises beginning raisers to start with one male and two females.

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15

WHO: No case for cancelling, moving 2020 Tokyo Olympics

O

The Philippines paralympic star Ernie Gawilan of Davao City (in file photo) will be awaiting the next announcement after the 10th ASEAN Para Games in Manila has been suspended indefinitely amid the coronavirus threat.

PHL suspends ASEAN Para Games indefinitely

O

rganizers of the 10th ASEAN Para Games decided not to push through with the competition as originally scheduled for the safety of its participants.

The Philippines has already forwarded to the ASEAN Para Sports Federation its recommendation to postpone the 10th ASEAN Para Games amid the COVID-19 alert.

Michael Barredo, Philippine Paralympic

Committee head, sent to ASEAN Para Sports Federation president Major General Osoth Bhavilai a copy of the decision by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board.

The Para Games were scheduled to be held March 20 to 28.

READ: PH Sports Commission reschedules nat’l tournaments in wake of virus alert "In the interest of public health and secu-

rity, we write to respectfully inform you of the board decision to strongly recommend the indefinite postponement of the 2020 ASEAN Para Games, given the risks present by the (COVID-19) health crisis," Barredo's correspondence read.

"The 10th ASEAN Para Games hosted by the Philippines shall be postponed indefinitely with the condition that if the corona virus out-

break is successfully under effective control, the 10th ASEAN Para Games should be effectively organized within the year of 2020."

Besides the ASEAN Para Games, PSC chairman William Ramirez also announced the rescheduling of the National Sports Summit 2020, the Philippine National Games, Batang Pinoy, and Children’s Games due to coronavirus concerns.

for the Chinese gymnasts and officials who have been training and preparing to come to Melbourne," Gymnastics Australia CEO Kitty Chiller said in a statement.

"I have been in regular contact with the Chinese Gymnastics Association and its President, who informs me all of their delegation are well and have shown no sign of infection."

"Despite this, we all have to respect the Australian Government's travel restrictions.

Among the 12 Chinese entries listed on the World Cup's website are 4-time world champion Zhang Chenglong, who claimed

the men's team gold at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the Rio Games.

Zhang's Rio teammates You Hao and Liu Yang will also miss out, along with Xiao Ruoteng, a former men's all-around world champion.

Chinese athletes in oth-

to a Brisbane hotel for nearly 2 weeks due to quarantine restrictions after arriving in Australia in late-January for an Olympic qualifying tournament.

The coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak has killed more than 1,500 people, mostly in China's central Hubei province.

Confirmed infections have risen above 66,000.

some bright moments.

Pedrosa, the top men's singles player in the Philippines right now, put up a great fight against world number five Anthony Ginting in the second set of their match, but Ginting still proved to be strong as he hacked out a 21-10, 2116 win.

Magnaye and Morada, on the other hand, were on track to stun the pair of

Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan in the first set of their men's doubles match, but the world number two eventually escaped in Set 1 before taking a straight-set win of their own, 21-16, 21-12.

Jonatan Christie turned back Lanz Zafra in

Chinese gymnasts pull out of World Cup in Australia

M

ELBOURNE - The Chinese gymnastics team entered into next week's World Cup in Melbourne has pulled out due to Australian government travel restrictions put in place to limit the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said Saturday.

The restrictions on foreign nationals traveling from China were introduced in early February and extended for another week on Thursday.

The extension effectively rules out China's participation at the Feb. 20 to 23 World Cup, which offers qualifying points for this year's Tokyo Olympics.

"It has been a very challenging few weeks for us all, but none more so than

e r sports have also suffered disruptions to Olympic preparations.

The entire Chinese women's soccer team and staff were confined

PH ousted in Badminton Asia Team Championships

T

he Philippines was eliminated from the Badminton Asia Team Championships as Indonesia swept the host country in the quarterfinals, 3-0, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum here on Friday.

Indonesia, ranked third in the world, made quick work of the Philippines in the Final 8 round, although Ros Pedrosa, Peter Magnaye, and Alvin Morada had

FPH, P11

lympic chiefs acknowledged on Friday they face a "very big communications job" to soothe concerns over the coronavirus epidemic in the run-up to this summer's Tokyo Games.

The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) coordination commission insisted there was no danger of Tokyo 2020 being cancelled or moved, despite fears over the fast-spreading virus which has killed nearly 1,400 and infected around 64,000 -- most of them in China.

But he said the IOC will send out information packs to reassure athletes that it's safe to come into contact with competitors from China.

"The advice we have received from the World Health Organization (WHO) is that there is no case for a contingency plan to cancel or move the Games," John Coates told reporters after a project review meeting.

"Certainly it's a very big communications job that needs to be undertaken," he added, noting that China is set to send more than 600 athletes to Tokyo.

"But we hear that most of the Chinese athletes are now out of China. I don't know how many were to be involved in test events here, but I don't see a problem if they're coming from another country."

Coates promised lessons would be learned from Rio four years ago, when concerns over the mosquito-born Zika virus led to several top athletes pulling

out of the Olympics, including golfers Jason Day and Rory McIlroy.

"The WHO pointed out the likelihood of Zika being a problem at the time of the Games was very low," he said.

"But we did lose some athletes -- Jason Day's wife was pregnant.

We didn't communicate the information well enough."

Tokyo organizers have slammed "fake news" and scare-mongering over the coronavirus outbreak for causing panic ahead of the Games, which open on July 24.

More than 25 countries have confirmed cases of the flu-like disease, which the WHO has declared a global health emergency.

- 'Tokyo 2020 on track' Japan, which registered its first fatality on Thursday of someone who had tested positive for the virus, is one of the worst-hit countries outside of mainland China.

There have been 33 cases on land and more than 200 positive tests of people quarantined on a cruise ship floating off Yokohama since last week.

Coates conceded that there could be fear among athletes about facing competitors from China.

"We did talk about that," said the Australian.

"The IOC is going to ensure (information) kits are sent to all national committees to explain what's happening around the world where Chinese athletes are competing," he added.

"But I can confirm Tokyo 2020 remains on track," insisted Coates, who revealed IOC presi-

China's Xiao Ruoteng in action at the pommel horse for the men's team final in the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. File

FWHO, P11

12 16 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS BRACE FOR BATTLE EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

NEW VENUE

VOL.12 VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE245 164VOL.12 ••SUNDAY-MONDAY, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, ISSUE 78 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY OCTOBER JUNE 25-26, 16-17, 27, 2019 2020

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The Escandor al powerhouse teams St. the Holy Cross College The changes were Cup Vis/Min Finals John Paul II College of of Sasa (HCCS) Spartans made afterSaints Davao will 3-0 feature the top Davao (SPCD) and with card, followed Mats called College off of all TechnolJMCteams Kings (2-0), Asian City pub- by two from Ceogy gatherings (MCT) Navigators at International School of lic in the safi in Southwestern 6:00 pm.

Aeronautics and Technolcity the ongoing University PHINMA, Atamid 7:00pm, the un- ogy (AISAT) (1-1), Ateoutbreak of theof2019University the Vibeaten University Min- neo de Davao of University danao (UM) Knights (1-2), nCoV virus.Wildcats Acting on (Addu) sayas Mannywill Pacquiao says evenBlue atGreen 40, he is notLancers finished yet. stakedevelopment, its clean slate against (0-1),with UM Penaplata the the BCD along the top DMMA College of South- (0-1), and Rizal MemoPCCL Board(DMMACdecid- rial three teams ern Philippines Colleges (RMC)in the ed to postpone the Mindanao qualifiSP) Mariners to wrap up Bulldogs (0-2).

Saturday's quadruple Escandor Cup/Vi- ers in Holy Cross of header sponsored by The sayas-Mindanao Re- Davao College, Holy

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Trinity College of General Santos City Inc., MATS College of Technology, and the champion of the Visayas qualifiers in Asian College-Dumaguete Campus for the remaining slot in the Final Four.

Steneo de Manila has secured the first spot to the Final Four.

"In the light of this measures made by the city government, we will abide by and support the risk-prevention efforts and adhere to the changes in the venue and schedule of the tournament," said Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) SEE STORY ON P11 11 regional director and President Rodrigo Duterte's sports adviser Glenn Escandor told Edge Davao.

EDGEDAVAO

NOT DONE YET A4 INdulge!

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EDGEDAVAO DAVAO 14 12 EDGE

University of Mindanao will tryo to make it three in a row on Saturday as action in the Collegiate Sponsors League (CSL) Escandor Cup resumes at the DavaoACity Recreation MATS College Center. Escandor Cup/CSL cager squeezes photo VOL.11 VOL.12 ISSUE 241 ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, 6VOL.12 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 24-25, 17-18, ISSUE 51 •FEBRUARY TUESDAY, 2019 VOL.12 ISSUE 45 • SUNDAYMONDAY, MAYMAY 12 -13, past a21, Holy2019 VOL.12 ISSUE 21 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, APRIL 7-8, 2019 College VOL.12 ISSUE 55 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MAYTrinity 26-27, defender during the recent Escandor Cup All Mindanao PCCL Finals. SBP 11 photo