Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 210 | Tuesday, January 7, 2020

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Serving a seamless society

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

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The city government of Davao is set to release P250 million from its local funds this year for the implementation of the first phase of the High-Priority Bus System (HPBS) project.

HPBS aims to improve the mass public transport and to address the worsening traffic congestion in the Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

READY TO ROLL City releases P250M for initial phase of bus system project T

By MAYA M. PADILLO he City Government of Davao is releasing P250 million of local funds this year to fully implement the Davao City Transport Modernization Project.

Delivering her message during the �irst �lag

ceremony of the year on Monday at People's

Park organized by Arena 11, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced among other big-ticket plans and projects, the implementation of the initial phase of the High-Priority Bus System (HPBS) which seeks to improve the mass public

transport and to address the worsening traf�ic congestion in the city.

More than 7,000 jeepney drivers and operators will be affected once the operation of the modern bus system starts. However, the HPBS also open up new job op-

portunities as it will need around 1,000 bus drivers.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) released a statement in December last year announcing that the bus system is scheduled for implementation from 2020 to 2023, which aims

to “provide an ef�icient and affordable mode of transport for Dabawenyos through the delivery” of a modern HPBS. It interconnected bus services prioritizing along the 137-kilometer core network, and 489 km of feeder routes.

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

Prepare air, naval assets for MidEast evacuations

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President Rodrigo Duterte convenes with officials from the security sector at the Malacañan Palace on Sunday night. During the meeting, the President discussed security matters regarding the country’s contingency measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos based in the Middle East

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avao Region Peace and Order Council Chairperson Governor Nelson Dayanghirang and Davao Region Development Council Chairperson Governor Jayvee Tyrone Uy expressed support to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s stand against the reopening of negotiations with lawless crime groups particularly the CPP/ NPA. After a meeting in January 2, the RPOC and RDC chairpersons as supported

by Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib are proposing for a joint RPOC-

RDC resolution expressing their stand against the re-opening of talks with the said lawless crime group.

“I personally believe that the peace negotiations

Family killed in gun attack inside house in Matalam

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n elderly couple and their 43-year old daughter were killed while two others were injured when unidenti�ied gunmen peppered them bullets inside their house in Poblacion, Matalam at around 7 p.m., on Saturday.

Major Bryan Placer, chief of the Matalam Police, identi�ied the slain victims as Jose Getalla and his wife, Ernesta, both 70; and daughter Lorena, 43, all residents of Purok Sampaguita in Barangay Poblacion.

Wounded were the couple’s grandson Daryl and his aunt Emelita, both surnamed Getalla.

Placer said the victims were asleep when attacked by the gunmen.

Jose and Ernesta died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds while Lorena expired while being treated in a hospital in Ma-

talam town.

Daryl and Emelita sustained only minor wounds, reports said.

Placer hinted the suspects’ primary target was Daryl. allegedly because of his involvement in drug traf�icking.

He said the four suspects, all on board two motorcycles, had started to tail Daryl from Kidapawan City until he reached his home in Poblacion.

Sensing an impending attack on his life, Daryl told his grandparents and mother Lorena to transfer to his room, while he slept in another room with his live-in partner who was not identi�ied in the report. Daryl’s aunt Emelita was also inside the house when the shooting incident happened.

At around 7 p.m. on Saturday, when everyone was asleep, the gunmen

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amid the potential tension between the United States and Iran. He also ordered concerned agencies to prepare for any eventualities and possible impact on the country. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

with the Communist party already tagged as a terrorist organization would not be a favorable move for our government as they will only use this window as a means to strengthen their forces and gain their foothold amid the impending lifting of the cease�ire agreement”, Dayanghirang said in a press statement.

He emphasized that during the past year, Davao Region has already made a lot of progress as far as initiatives on peace and order is concerned as well as the localized implementation of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70 or the Whole-of-Nation

Approach to Attain Sustainable Peace and to End Local Communist Armed Con�lict.

“As such, we could not afford our momentum to be halted and have all our efforts go down the drain”, he added.

The RPOC reported that the RTF ELCAC formed through Executive Order 70 brought out programs and initiatives that have resulted into declining mass base support to numerous rebel returnees from zero recruitment in most areas and reduced number of violent incidents and attacks by the CPP/NPA. While the EO 70 re-

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio encourages all Dabawenyo public servants to practice the Davao Brand of Service — friendly and accomodating, responsive, proactive and fast and efficient as she attends

n the wake of rising tension between the United States and Iran, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been ordered by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to prepare its air and naval assets which could be used in the evacuation of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East should hostilities erupt in the region.

This, according to Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong in a message to reporters Sunday night.

"The President has tasked the AFP to prepare its air and naval assets to evacuate and bring home our countrymen if and when open hostilities erupt in the Middle East that may endanger their lives," Andolong said.

He said this order came after the Chief Ex-

ecutive called for an emergency meeting with DND Secretary Del�in Lorenzana, newly-appointed AFP chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Felimon T. Santos, Jr., commanders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, Philippine National Police chief, and their principal staffs on Sunday afternoon.

The meeting, he said, was conducted to ensure the safety of Filipinos working in the Middle East especially those deployed in Iran and Iraq whose well-being could be endangered in the event of open hostilities.

"The sole agenda was how to ensure the safety of our countrymen in the Middle East especially those in Iraq and Iran as the tension between the US and Iran rises. There are 1,600 and 6,000 Fili-

sulted to the start and implementation of a community-based, multi-sectoral and participatory localized peace engagement providing for a better and effective peace framework that seeks to address major issues and concerns of the people.

The local chief executives and regional council chairpersons agreed to push and support Mayor Duterte who initially issued a statement on 23 December 2019 and publicly asked the President to reconsider the decision to re-open negotiations with the NDFP, given previous violent attacks by the

groups against innocent civilians and the absence of indications that the CPP/ NPA is willing to negotiate for a peaceful resolution of the con�lict.

“We strongly believe on the President’s genuine intention to end the long-running Communist insurgency and we remain committed in our oath to continue to push for initiatives, reforms, and programs that will bene�it our Dabawenyo constituents and to foster true and lasting peace in this part of our country”, Dayanghirang elaborated.

Said local chief exec-

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the flag ceremony of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies of Region 11 (ARENA 11) at People’s Park on Monday. CIO

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Magnitude 5.4 quake rocks GovGen, DavOr

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magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit Davao Oriental and rocked parts of southern Mindanao early Monday morning.

The quake of tectonic origin hit the municipality of Governor Generoso at 2:58 a.m., Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. Intensity 4 was felt in the area.

Intensity 3 shaking was felt in Alabel and Malungon in Sarangani, while Intensity 2 was felt in Kiamba, Sarangani; General Santos City; and Tupi, South Cotabato. Intensity 1 was recorded in Koronadal City.

Phivolcs warned of aftershocks, but said no damages are expected.

Suspected NPA rebels gun down IP leader

Philippine Statistics Authority 11 (PSA 11) OIC director Pepito Amoyen talks about the agency’s preparations for the upcoming 2020 Census of Population and Housing on May 2020 and the latest on the Philippine

National ID during this week’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr

DOH ‘doubly cautious’ vs travelers from China due to mystery disease

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he Department of Health said Monday it was “doubly cautious” in checking travelers from China, where a mysterious viral pneumonia outbreak hit some 59 people.

Health of�icers at airports are using thermal scanners on passengers from China, who have to undergo physical examination and quarantine if they have fever, colds and cough, said DOH Spokesperson and Undersecretary Eric Domingo.

“Medyo doble ingat lang naman po tayo. Basta po galing China, mas tutok lang ang ating mga thermal scanner,” he said.

(We are doubly cautious. If passengers are from China, thermal scanners will focus more on

them.)

The infection was �irst reported last week in Wuhan, a central Chinese city with a population of over 11 million -- leading to online speculation about a resurgence of the highly contagious SARS virus that killed hundreds more than a decade ago.

China on Sunday said the outbreak was not the �lu-like virus SARS. The Wuhan police also said they punished 8 people for “publishing or forwarding false information on the internet without veri�ica-

AFP monitors local terror groups sympathetic to Iran

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rmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. on Monday said the military is monitoring local terror groups that might express sympathy to Iran following the killing of its top general.

In an interview with reporters, Santos said President Rodrigo Duterte met with Philippine security of�icials to discuss actions on the impact of the killing of Qassem Soleimani in a US airstrike on January 3.

"We presented our actions taken. No. 1 is our monitoring (of the situation) with our defense attaché(s) (in the Middle East). No. 2 (is to) intensify our intelligence monitoring on the local terrorist group that might express sympathy to the Iranian cause but as of now (we are still to detect any local terrorist groups) that are af�iliated with Iran," he said.

He said plans have been

presented to the president should evacuations in the Middle East need to be carried out, including military assets that could be used in evacuating overseas Filipinos and routes that might be taken.

He said possible assets that are ready for deployment include the Philippine Air Force's Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" transport aircraft of which there are four to �ive in its inventory and large transport ships of the Philippine Navy which includes the two strategic sealift vessels, the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), and two Bacolod City-class logistic vessels, the BRP Dagupan City (LS-551) and BRP Bacolod City (LS-550) along with smaller cargo ships.

"We are improving our plans just to cover everything just in case but right now we are ready to deploy

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tion.”

The symptoms reported in patients were mainly fever, with a few patients having dif�iculty in breathing and chest radiographs showing invasive lesions on both lungs.

Seven of the 59 patients are seriously ill but that none have died, the Wuhan health commission said. All are being treated in quarantine, it added.

To avoid contacting the disease, travelers should avoid crowded places, wear a face mask, and wash their hands frequently, said Domingo.

Those who will experience �lu-like symptoms after returning to the Philippines should go to hospitals specializing in infectious disease like the Research Institute

for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa and the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, he added.

The Wuhan infection broke out between 12 and 29 December, with some of the patients employed at a seafood market in the city that has since been closed for disinfection.

No obvious evidence of human-to-human transmission has been found so far, added the province’s health commission.

The World Health Organization said the concentration of cases should be handled “prudently,” adding that it was against imposing any travel or trade restrictions on China.

SARS killed 349 people in mainland China and another 299 in Hong Kong in

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ome four suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) shot dead a tribal leader in Barangay Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon on Saturday, a military report said.

First Lieutenant Ken T. Cabbigat, civil-military operations of�icer of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB), 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said the victim was identi�ied as Datu Sammy Diwangan, 45, an Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative in the village council.

Cabiggat said Diwangan and his nine-year-old son, John, was busy doing some work chores when the four armed men emerged and asked them to stop and “immediately” shot the tribal leader on his forehead and other parts of the body.

Diwangan’s son managed to �lee and told investigators that he was about to bring a gallon of fuel to his father when he saw four men approaching and �ired their guns, prompting him to run back to their house.

Cabiggat said Diwangan was a strong community leader and he is known to be against NPA in�iltration and recruitment in the area.

Reports said that a

certain Cardo (not his real name), who recently surrendered to the Army, was quoted as saying that when he was still the NPA commander of the Sentro De Grabidad Thunder of Guerilla Front 6, there were plans to neutralize Diwangan since they cannot pursue their mission to expand in Barangay Canangaan due to his resistance against the NPA group.

Lt. Colonel Ronald Illana, commanding of�icer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, condemned the attack against the tribal leader.

“We condemn this barbaric act of the NPAs against helpless civilian who work for his family and the community. This act is a clear manifestation of their evolution into a terrorist organization," he said.

Cabiggat said their unit always adheres to the declaration of a cease�ire between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines, but the NPA terrorists are taking advantage of it to execute their plans in neutralizing their target personalities.

The military and the local police with the assistance of former rebels and the local government unit will �ile charges and initiate proper actions against

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A parking fee enforcer issues parking slip to a city government of Davao employee at a pay parking zone along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Monday. Lean Daval Jr

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

The newly-opened seven-level Blue Lotus Hotel towers over the Quimpo Blvd. area in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

Weighing scale manufacturer opens Blue Lotus Hotel Davao O

Oil prices jump following US killing of Iranian commander

By MAYA M. PADILLO rom manufacturing weighing scales, the Policarpio business empire has ventured into hospitality and recently opened Blue Lotus Hotel Davao.

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The Policarpios are behind the country’s biggest and multi-awarded weighing scale company, the First Philippine Scales Inc (FPSI) that manufactures wide variety of weighing devices carrying the Fuji weighing scale brand.

From the original plan of setting up a showroom for their weighing scales in the 2,000-square meter property they owned along Quimpo Boulevard in Ecoland, the Policarpio family instead opted to build a seven-�loor hotel.

“Nanghihinayang ako

dito sa puwesto kung showroom lang. Maganda naman ang location dito sa Davao at maganda ang surroundings kaya naisipan namin na gumawa ng hotel,” said Amparo Policarpio, president of Blue Lotus Hotel in an interview.

Blue Lotus Hotel offers 133 brand new rooms, modern amenities from gadgets and technology to in-house entertainment.

Designed as eco-friendly hotel, it uses LED lighting, harnesses solar power and harvests rainwater for hotel use. It is also built with

the high-tech and energy-saving VRV air-conditioning system that self – regulates and personalizes guests cooling preferences.

The hotel is being positioned as venue for small and medium-sized meetings, seminars, conferences, special events, dinners, weddings, and more.

It offers eight function rooms that can accommodate up to 400 people theatre-style.

Policarpio said the opening of the hotel aims to generate jobs, improve tourism, and increase tax payment in Davao City.

“This is our �irst time to venture into hotel business.

There may be something that still needs improvement, we appreciate your

epartment of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. on Sunday admitted that the implementation of the law allowing subscribers to keep their mobile numbers for life is more complicated than what was expected.

This is due to the possible privacy and cyber security issues involved.

In an interview, Rio said Republic Act No.

11202, or the Mobile Number Portability Act, should have been in full effect since January 2, or six months after its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) have been crafted.

However, it may take a little longer as telcos have yet to come to an agreement as to how the law will be implemented, he added.

According to Rio, the three telcos have to come

up with a platform or a "clearing house" which will allow subscribers to permanently have their mobile numbers. The said "clearing house" will act like the interbank network Bancnet, which allows clients of one bank to transact through an ATM of another bank.

"So naghahanap sila ng tugma. Nakita na hindi pala ganoon kadali na maggawa nitong plataporma," Rio said.

feedback. There maybe imperfections during your stay here, please accept our apology,” Policarpio said.

Their �lagship brand Fuji was named after Mt. Fuji in Japan. In the early 80s the company expanded and transferred of�ices and plants from Caloocan to Malabon. It was in 2002 when the company opened its �irst branch in Davao City.

“We manufacture, import, sale, export, repair, convert and customized all kinds of weighing scale.

The Fuji brand is our product,” Policarpio said.

The company is serving throughout the Philippines and is exporting to Japan customers as well as New Zealand and Mauricius.

"Hindi talaga kaya kasi �irst time. Ito ay hindi off the shelf kasi e. Ito ay kino-customize sa bansa natin," he added.

Rio said one factor being considered is the fact that around 95% of Filipino mobile users are on prepaid.

He added that there are also privacy and cyber security concerns to be addressed in allowing subscribers to keep their

il prices jumped for the week ending January 3 following the US killing of an Iranian commander.

Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, were killed in a strike near the Baghdad airport on Friday.

Sabah al-Sheikh, a professor of politics at Baghdad University, told Xinhua that the US-Iranian con�lict has become clear in Iraq, and there is a possibility that the con�lict could spread to cover more areas in the Middle East region.

Shortly after the strike, oil prices jumped more than 3 percent, and on Friday evening, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February delivery hit over USD63 a barrel, while Brent crude for March de-

livery climbed to USD68.60 a barrel.

Meanwhile, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a report on Friday that US commercial crude oil inventories, excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, decreased by 11.463 million barrels during the week ending Dec. 27, 2019, much more than the market expected draw of 3.288 million barrels, which implies greater demand and is bullish for crude prices.

Oil prices surged in September 2019 when drone attacks hit Saudi Arabia's key oil facilities and forced the country to cut its crude oil output by half. Following the attacks, WTI and Brent crude jumped over 6 percent.

However, concerns over the slowing global economy outrun the worries

otorists will be greeted with cheaper pump prices of gasoline this week, but those of diesel and kerosene will be hiked during the period.

In an advisory, SEAOIL Philippines Inc. said it will reduce prices per liter of gasoline, while hiking both diesel by P0.40 and kerosene by P0.30.

Cleanfuel and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene

which they do not carry.

The changes will take effect 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7.

Petro Gazz and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. earlier announced similar changes.

According to the latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE), adjustments in 2019 stood at a net increase of P7.32 per liter for gasoline, P5.81 for diesel, and P0.35 for kerosene.

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Roll-out of law on lifetime mobile numbers complicated, DICT admits Firms rollback gasoline, diesel hike

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ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

December inflation seen at 2.1 percent

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n�lation likely accelerated in December but still within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2 to 4 percent goal, an analyst said Monday.

December in�lation could settle at 2.1 percent as the effect of a high base from the previous year fades, said RCBC head of Economics and Industry Research Michael Ricafort.

“We have the peak in�lation at 6.7 percent in October 2018. It has already eased thereafter so that would result in some upward normalization in in-

�lation,” Ricafort said.

A “prudent” Bangko Sentral will consider global risks when making any policy decisions this year, he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s expected signing of the P4.1 trillion budget on Monday is a “positive catalyst” for the country’s gross domestic product growth, Ricafort said.

Ricafort said the economy likely grew 6.6 to 6.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 and could grow 7 percent in the �irst and second quarters of 2020.

New draft of Security of Tenure bill already in Malacañang - DOLE

Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) chief Aisa Usop shares during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday the achievements of the city’s main overland gateway. Lean Daval Jr

Super fast 5G on slow road at gadget gala I t will be revolutionary when super fast 5G mobile networks come to our gadgets, cars and digital lives.

But the road to 5G remains agonizingly slow at the massive Consumer Electronics Show opening this week in Las Vegas, where ultra fast products are expected to be few and far between.

Backers of 5G tout a cornucopia of potential applications, but networks are still nascent, as are the devices capable of accessing them.

“5G networks are still in their infancy around the world,” said Steven Koenig, vice president of market research at the Consumer Technology Association, which organizes the show.

“There are 50 different carriers running 5G over the world but it’s still pretty limited in scope and coverage.”

The annual Las Vegas gathering opens Tuesday with more than 4,500 exhibitors bringing out about 175,000 attendees searching for innovations of the future.

Since smartphones are on the front line when it comes to mobile data networks, consumer electronics �irms competing in that market are taking their time rolling out the devices.

“The smartphone will still be a prime-time de-

vice for 5G,” said Accenture global communications industry analyst Jefferson Wang.

With 5G, backers say, self-driving vehicles will think and react faster than human drivers, with the added bene�it of knowing what cars or trucks around them have in mind. People will interact with insightful holograms. Jewelry will track a wearer’s health.

ENTERTAIN ME About 20 countries have deployed 5G networks, according to Qualcomm.

The US mobile chip giant estimates that 2.4 billion people could now theoretically use 5G, depending on where they are and whether they have a suitable phone.

“Many 5G smartphones will be unveiled at CES, as well as laptops and tablets,” said Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa.

“But people may have to wait until spring or summer for them to be available.”

Video game and television streaming fans are expected to be among the �irst to reap the bounty of 5G, accessing seamless rich virtual worlds to play in or downloading ultra-high

de�inition �ilms in seconds.

“In the long-term 5G can create holograms that are more interactive,” Wang said.

“Use cases like in South Korea, where you can go on a virtual date with a K-pop star, for example.”

NO MORE NAUSEA 5G network technology is entering a commercial phase, with compatibility being built into devices such as augmented reality eyeglasses, according to Steve Koenig of the Consumer Technology Association, which runs CES. Augmented reality overlays virtual images on real surroundings viewed through smartphone cameras or special eyewear.

Like virtual reality, in which headgear immerses wearers completely in faux environments, AR is data bandwidth hungry.

VR is slowing gaining traction, with Facebook-owned Oculus leading the way, but has yet to offer an irresistible wiresfree experiences.

Lags in VR graphics that are so slight people don’t consciously notice can make some users nauseous. Superfast 5G networks could eliminate data lag woes, and let VR headsets be used anywhere mobile connections are available.

POST-SMARTPHONE ERA?

5G could help usher in the long-promised era of “ambient computing,” in which machine smarts are ever waiting to be beckoned, perhaps with a word or a gesture, or even anticipate desires.

City streets, buildings, traf�ic signals and even parking meters could be made smart, communicating with vehicles that collaborate with each other for ef�iciency.

SK Telecom of South Korea plans to show off at CES a mapping service that analyzes traf�ic in real time, gathering information from car sensors.

The company is working on an infrastructure or autonomous cars in Seoul.

5G will take health-oriented devices far beyond counting steps to enabling surgeons to operate on patients remotely, according to Qualcomm vice president John Smee.

The promise is that the internet of things in which video doorbells talk to smart speakers that link to smartphones, appliances and more will soar to dizzying new heights.

“There will be this proliferation of connected devices well beyond smartphone, but at the same time smartphone user experience will keep evolving as well,” Smee said.

South Korean startup

could end up rotting in government warehouses without bringing down prices, as local farmers are set to harvest in the next two months.

"Baka bumaha ng imported na sibuyas, at pagkatapos matetengga na naman ang mga aanihing lokal na sibuyas sa Marso," she said.

"Tapos anong mangyayari? Ibebenta na lamang nang palugi ang mga lokal na sibuyas natin gaya sa nangyari sa lokal na palay sa bansa, na ikalulugi na naman ng ating mga maliliit na magsasaka," she added.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar last week said the Philippines plans to

import 35,000 metric tons (MT) of red onions until med-February, to make up for a production gap equivalent to two months.

"These red onions can only be brought in up until mid-February so that it will not be in competition with the main harvest time starting March," Dar said on Friday.

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Red onion imports threaten March local harvests: Marcos

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enator Imee Marcos over the weekend cautioned the Department of Agriculture on the possible oversupply of red onions given the scheduled importation of 35,00 metric tons ahead of the local harvest season in March.

In a statement, Marcos noted that red onions

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he Department of Labor and Employment has already submitted to Malacañang a new draft of the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, after President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed its earlier version.

In an interview on Sunday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they submitted the new draft to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea about “a month ago.”

“Before yung pag-draft natin ng SOT bill, nagkonsulta kami sa mga stakeholder, mga manggagawa, mga employer. After that, nakapag-�inalize kami ng draft SOT bill. Pero ang utos ng ating pangulo ay makipag-coordinate daw ako kay Executive Secretary Medialdea,” Bello said.

“Kaya nung natapos na namin yung �inal draft ay sinubmit ko na kay Secretary Medialdea yung aming proposed draft,” he added.

Bello refused to discuss the “major differences” of the new draft from the vetoed bill, saying he did not want to preempt

the action Medialdea will take.

He said, however, that the new draft may be submitted to Congress as soon as it resumes session.

“Pinag-usapan namin tungkol sa LOC (labor-only contracting), yun ang major issue doon sa LOC. Pero ang focus namin ngayon, bagamat constitutional right yung SOT, sa tingin namin mas mahalaga ang employment,” Bello said.

“Samakatuwid, ang focus namin ngayon ay yung creation of job opportunities. Kasi ang kailangan ng ating manggagawa ngayon ay trabaho,” he added.

Duterte vetoed the early version of the SOT bill as he saw that there were enough safeguards for the business sector under it.

Last August, the progressive Makabayan Bloc re�iled the SOT bill, prohibiting all forms of contractualization and �ixedterm employment, as well as “job contracting” or the contracting out of work by a principal employer to a contractor, manpower agency, or similar entity.

Tourism holiday for Siargao Island's Sugba Lagoon

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or the fourth year now, a popular tourist destination in Del Carmen town in Siargao Islands will be closed again for a month for its annual rehabilitation and maintenance work, town of�icials said.

Del Carmen Mayor Proser�ina Coro said he hopes the public will understand the temporary closure of Sugba Lagoon effective Friday, January 10.

Maintenance works are scheduled until early February and it will reopen on February 10, Coro told MindaNews in a telephone interview Sunday morning.

“We will use the time to repair the facilities for the safety of the growing number of tourists,” she said, adding this will be like a tourism holiday to allow the environment to recover.

“We will do repairs, �ix everything in preparation for the bigger crowds during the summer season. This cycle is neces-

sary to sustain the area,” she added.

Sugba Lagoon lies in the island village of Caub, a 30-minute boat ride from the port of the town. One has to navigate through a vast expanse of mangroves to get there.

The mayor stressed they will maintain the ban of single-use plastic like bottled water and plastic bags once the popular tourist spot reopens.

She said they will also help clean up the area of spilled gasoline from pumpboats.

“We are telling the boat operators to contain the liquid that comes out from their boat,” she said adding the number of boats plying the route increased from 40 in 2017 to 90 in 2018 and 125 in 2019.

Leilani Lipio, municipal tourism of�icer said the temporary closure aims to mitigate the pollution caused by the increasing number of tourists.

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

EDITORIAL

Auspicious beginning

The Davao City ordinance on parking fees to be collected along certain streets started on Wednesday, the �irst day of January, 2020. It was generally welcomed by Dabawenyos fed up with the practice of city authorities in tolerating motorists who convert newly improved main thoroughfares and side streets into parking areas of their cars, thereby negating the purpose of easing traf�ic �low in the city at the expense of billions of pesos in taxpayer’s money.

The city government through the City Transport and Traf�ic Management Of�ice (CTTMO) started enforcing the ordinance along San Pedro Street, Ilustre Street, Pelayo Street, Iñigo Street, Villa Abrille Street, Monteverde Avenue and Duterte Street.

CTTMO head Dionisio Abude Jr. told Edge Davao that some establishments, mostly banks, have appealed to his of�ice to relocate the bike racks to give space for their clients.

“We will consider the appeal of the establishments mostly banks to relocate the bike racks para sa ilang mga kliyente kay dagko pud ang amount ang ilang ginadala,” Abude said.

The public parking fee zones were established in line with City Ordinance No. 052-13, Series of 2013, an ordinance further amending Ordinance No.

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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

153-A, Series of 1990, entitled “An ordinance imposing Parking Fees on all vehicle owners and drivers for using certain streets in Davao City as parking spaces and for other purposes and the Comprehensive Transport and Traf�ic Code of Davao City.

The city has authorized and directed CTTMO to establish, mark, and designate portions of a thoroughfare as on-street public pay parking zones.

Abude said for the initial implementation at least 38 parking fee enforcers are being deployed. He also said the City Treasurer’s Of�ice (CTO) also deployed its own parking fee personnel.

Pursuant to the ordinance, a fee of P20 is collected for the �irst two hours and another P10 for every succeeding hour for light vehicles. For bicycles there will be P2 fee for �irst two hours and P1 for every succeeding hour, while for motorcycles, a P5-fee is imposed for the �irst two hours and P2 for every succeeding hour. For trucks and buses, the fee is P100 for the �irst two hours and P20 for every succeeding hour, Levelheaded Dabawenyos are hopeful the enforcement is an auspicious beginning leading to ending the unhealthy practice of using street portions as parking spaces, thereby depriving pedestrians and motorists of use of the roads and sidewalks for smooth movement.

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 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

JOHN CARLO B. TRIA MY TWO CENTS’

BARMM’S GROWTH WILL HELP LIFT MINDANAO’S It looks like the necessary steps are already being undertaken to operationalize the means to release the economic potential of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Already, the �irst meeting of the National Gove r n m e n t - B a n g s a m o ro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) in Davao City last Dec. 16 is a major step forward to realizing the BARMM vision.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and BARMM Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education had signed the Terms of Reference

(TOR) of the Joint Secretariat of the IGRB as co-chairmen of this intergovernmental body.

The heads of the Joint Secretariat for the national government and BARMM also signed the TOR. These next few months will be critical transition period for the BARMM. Because of this, innovative mechanisms will need to be established upon which the hoped for results will be achieved. Public interest and attention on this process will de�initely be high. Results are expected.

2020 will also be crucial because the country’s growth is also expected to pick up further and poverty will go lower as fore-

casted by different rating agencies. It is therefore vital that all regions in Mindanao grow as well.

This period will put in place the necessary programs that can harness the regions economic potential. Of particular interest is agriculture and food production.

This is because its ability to produce food will not only ensure a food secure region, but will lift many residents out of poverty with the incomes it will bring. Note that Muslim Mindanao is among the poorest regions in the country.

Any reduction in poverty in the BARMM will translate to better lives

for its residents and push our island’s growth higher over all. This will also help harness the gains of the peace process.

Another area is trade with the rest of Mindanao and Southeast Asia. Enabling the BARMM to pursue strong trade linkages will ensure its economic viability in the long term, as it is put in touch witg markets such as major Mindanao, Visayas and southeast asian cities.

We also hope that the barter trade councils be activated to strengthen trade between the Bangsamoro provinces and our neighboring areas in Malaysia and Indonesia.

We wish the BARMM

administration all the success.

Thank you for buying local products Several local producers of products in Davao have reported brisk sales from Christmas shoppers looking not only for bargains, but for unique gifts for their loved ones.

Of particular interest are new food items and craft based products and those coming from social enterprises.

Given a choice, let us prioritize local suppliers of the things we need.

This will go a long way to strengthen our economy further.

For reactions: facebook.com/johntriapage

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT “A beautiful smile without any reason is the smile of the existence.” – Mehmet Murat Ildan *** If you want to have peace with someone, smile. As Nobel Peace laureate Mother Teresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.”

There is something about smile, indeed. Tessa Dare, author of A Lady of Persuasion, penned: “Oh, no. Don’t smile.

You’ll kill me. I stop breathing when you smile.”

So, why frown when you can smile. In Quote Me Everyday, Santosh Kalwar wrote: “I was smiling yesterday, I am smiling today, and I will smile tomorrow. Simply because life is too short to cry for anything.”

Roy T. Bennet, author of The Light in the Heart, shares the same view: “A smile puts you on the right track. A smile makes the world a beautiful place. When you lose your smile, you lose your way in the chaos of life.”

Internationally bestselling American author Dale Carnegie said that if you want to impress someone for the �irst time, you don’t have to spend much money on clothes and other material things.

In his book, How to Win Friends and In�luence People, Carnegie shared this story: “At a dinner party in New York,

one of the guests, a woman who had inherited money, was eager to make a pleasing impression on everyone. She had squandered a modest fortune on sables, diamonds and pearls.

“But she hadn’t done anything whatever about her face. It radiated sourness and sel�ishness. She didn’t realize what everyone knows: namely, that the expression one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one’s back.”

Carnegie was talking about smile. American steel magnate Charles Schwab thinks so, too. “(He) told me his smile had been worth a million dollars,” Carnegie wrote. “And he was probably understating the truth. For Schwab’s personality, his charm, his ability to make people like him, were almost wholly responsible for his extraordinary success; and one of the most delightful factors in his personality was his captivating smile.”

Perhaps Schwab heard of Iwan Goll’s thought. “The smile is civilization’s �inest adornment,” the author of Dreamweed said. “It signi�ies the willpower and duty to fashion mankind’s coexistence as quietly and agreeably as possible so that it will always appear friendly. For it is all a matter of appearance. The smile is cul-

ture’s diploma: it is the diplomat’s badge.”

Kathleen J. Edgar was right. “Smile awhile and while you smile – another smiles, and soon there are miles and miles of smiles and life’s worthwhile because you smile.”

One reason why smile is important is that it has the ability end �ights. “He smiled, and suddenly she knew that his words were true,” Julia Quinn wrote. “Everything would be all right. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but soon.

Tragedy couldn’t coexist in a world with one of his smiles.”

Another example was that of what Jodi Lynn Anderson wrote in Tiger Lily: “(She) made an attempt at a smile.

After having felt the need to glower at other children for most of her life, smiles never came easily to her face. But this one was half all right.”

Smile even your heart is aching. As Lauren Graham pointed out in Someday, Someday, Maybe, “Anyone can smile on their best day. I like to meet a man who can smile on his worst.”

If you want to become a successful businessman, you have to smile a lot. As one Chinese saying puts it: “A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.”

Carnegie puts an emphasis on that, too, in his book. “Your

smile is a messenger of your goodwill. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it.

To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds. Especially when that someone is under pressure from his bosses, his customers, his teachers or parents or children, a smile can help him realise that all is not hopeless – that there is joy in the world.”

Never underestimate the power of smile. At one time, I was mad as hell when someone took the book I bought. I left it on top of my table before I left for work. When I returned home, it was gone. I really don’t have any problem with it if the person who took it just left a note that he was borrowing it. At least, with a note I can always ask the person if he is already done with the book.

But what really got my nerve this time was the fact that I had some scribbled notes on the said book which I inserted. I was afraid that whoever took the book might just throw away the notes I had written.

I was about to give up when my niece came to my room. “I am very much sorry, uncle,” she said. I was surprised; what had she done to me, I asked myself. She took something from her bag and

with a big smile, “Here’s your book which I took without your knowledge. I forgot to leave a note.”

It didn’t matter if the book was lost. What mattered most was the fact that here was my niece and with a broad smile eased all those worries. “A smile is central to our evolution and one of the most powerful tools of human behavior,” explains Dr. Cacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied the importance of facial expression – including the variety and impact of smiles.

In 1872, Charles Darwin proposed in his book, The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals that facial expressions are biologically based and universal among humans.

However, the celebrated anthropologist Margaret Mead thought the smile was a cultural behavior that varied between societies.

“Smile and others will smile back,” Jean Baudrillard thinks. “Smile to show how transparent, how candid you are. Smile if you have nothing to say. Most of all, do not hide the fact you have nothing to say nor your total indifference to others. Let this emptiness, this profound indifference shines out spontaneously in your smile.”

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

AGRITRENDS

SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

G

lobal warming makes fall in rice yields worse. This was what Dr. Shaobing Peng, then crop physiologist of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), told the participants who attended the US Academy of Sciences gathering some years back.

In a research, IRRI scientists found out that for every 1°C increase in nighttime temperature, rice yields declined by 15%.

They con�irmed this by correlating 25 years of weather data with crop yields.

The decline was twice the 7% decline that IRRI’s theoretical models forecast in 1979. The �inding was the �irst direct evidence of decreased rice yields from increased night temperatures associate with global warming.

More than a decade after the IRRI study was presented, more evidences have become apparent.

“Increasing carbon dioxide leads to increased photosynthesis and, potentially, more rice biomass. But concurrent increases in global temperature could also potentially limit rice harvests by increasing spikelet sterility,” the Laguna-based research institute said in a statement.

“More carbon could also increase biomass of known

weeds when compared with that of rice, which could limit rice growth in the future,” IRRI explained.

“Higher temperatures, especially in tropical areas that are already near or above the optimum temperature for rice, will reduce growth and yields.”

This is very alarming as rice is the staple food of Filipinos. Studies have shown that for every peso spent on food, 20 centavos go to rice.

“If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino,” the late food columnist Doreen Fernandez once said.

Agriculture plays a vital role in providing around 30% of employment in the Philippines. “Recent natural disasters signi�icantly affected crops and livestock resulted to severe loss in agricultural production including human lives,” the National Economic and Development Authority reports in its website. “Climate change worsens the economic situation and food security among others of the Filipinos.”

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) believes so, too. “We see the effects of increasing temperature

and the contrast of below freezing temperature in other parts of the globe,” the line agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said in a statement. “The brunt of these changes is even hostile in terms of agricultural production.”

“Climate-related impacts are expected to reduce agricultural productivity in the Philippines,” said a World Bank report, Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the Philippines.

In 2011, for instance, the annual damage to agriculture from typhoons, droughts and �loods – which are climate change-related disasters – reached P12 billion or equivalent to 3% of total agricultural production in the country.

With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is indeed a vulnerable country when it comes to the effects of climate change.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration itself admits, “Climate change is one of the most fundamental challenges ever to confront humanity. Its adverse impacts are already being seen and may intensify exponentially over time if nothing is done to reduce further emissions of greenhouse gases.”

Examples of greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, chloro�luorocarbons (CFCs), and nitrous oxide. Because these gases trap heat, they have been singled out as those that cause the shifting of climate all over the world.

“Decisively dealing now with climate change is key to ensuring sustainable development, poverty eradication and safeguarding economic growth,” said the weather bureau, also a DOST line agency. “Scienti�ic assessments indicate that the cost of inaction now will be more costly in the future.”

“While human activities during the past century have damaged a long list of nature systems, most of these problems are local or regional in scope and can be revered in years to decades if suf�icient effort is exerted,” Christopher Flavin wrote in his book, Slowing Global Warming: A Worldwide Strategy. “Changes to the earth’s atmosphere on the other hand are global and irreversible not only in our lifetimes but in our children’s and grandchildren’s as well.”

“We are in trouble. We are in deep trouble with climate change,” said United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres during

the opening of the 24th annual UN climate conference held in Poland some years back.

“It is hard to overstate the urgency of our situation,” Guterres pointed out. “Even as we witness devastating climate impacts causing havoc across the world, we are still not doing enough, nor moving fast enough, to prevent irreversible and catastrophic climate disruption.”

If farming contributes partly to the problem, can it be part of the solution, too?

Take the case of rice, a plant that grows best in wet soil, with its roots �looded. “But �looded rice crops emit substantial amounts of methane to the atmosphere,” reminded L. Hartwell Allen, an American soil scientist at the Crops Genetics and Environmental Research Unit in Gainesville, Florida.

It’s the decomposition of organic material in �looded rice �ields that produces methane. “Traditionally, farmers �lood their rice �ields continuously and incorporate 4-5 tons of rice straw per hectare at land preparation,” says a PCAARRD report.

If there is a will, there’s a way. In Isabela State University, a study funded by PCAARRD showed that by using simple science-based

strategies, farmers can contribute signi�icantly to the reduction of methane emissions. For instance, mid-season drainage of irrigation water reduced methane emission by 48%.

Meanwhile, composting of rice straw resulted in 64% less methane emission released in the air. By combining mid-season drainage and application of rice straw compost, methane emission is further reduced by 81%.

Planting trees can also help curb climate change, according to Dr. Pieter P. Tans of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In an analysis of thousands of air samples that his team conducted, he found that planting trees and other plants could “have a powerful effect in combating the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”

One of the trees that may help do the trick is not actually a tree but a grass.

“Bamboo’s fast-growing and renewable stands sequester carbon in their biomass – at rates comparable to or superior than many tree species,” says the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR). “The many durable products made from bam-

CLIMATE CHANGE, P10

INdulge!

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

I’VE officially moved to Dahican in Davao Oriental indefinitely. At the onset, I felt a little unsure if this was the right move for me. There are a lot of factors that led me here, but the more significant part was the want to fulfil this longtime dream of mine.

LESSONS I LEARNED FROM AN

Old Board, New Life I’ve finally taken Sugie (my first ever surfboard) out again after that rather disheartening time at Calicoan Island last September. Still, this time, I’m able to ride her successfully.

Sugie is a 6’11” single fin funboard, a hybrid of a shortboard and longboard which means its length is somewhere in the middle. I love Sugie for bigger and steeper waves which make it tricky to ride longboards.

Riding Sugie feels so much lighter now that I’ve been using a longboard for the past few months. She also feels so much like home. When riding Sugie, I knew exactly where to place myself—the familiarity of it

all, especially after surfing the beach break early in the morning was so nostalgic.

It felt like old times—an uncrowded beach break with head high plus waves and the occasional surprise rogue wave that would make me ‘run for the open sea’ (call it clean-up wave, if you will). Though Sugie seems smaller and lighter under me, I knew I could finally ride her like before when I would paddle and glide down the face of the wave.

I could use more practice on her, I bet my rail grab earlier was comical, but I knew I could use her again. I felt like I got a new board this new year but isn’t it funny how I’m using an

Dahican will always be my home break. It’s where I learned to be brave in the face of three-foot waves. To force me to walk back to the beach on the reef during low-tide.

And where I had to say sorry for dropping in on everybody because I was that kind of kook.

I was that surfer who was hungry for waves. My competitiveness was impeccable, but the worst part was that I didn’t even know it wasn’t healthy anymore until I lived and surfed elsewhere.

OLD SURFBOARD old board, at my old break with a new self?

It’s like finishing off what I started before I left for Manila.

I hadn’t conquered my fear of the beach break. Today was the prime example of me learning to let go of my anxiety. I felt the

fun return when I learned just to let go—what was the worst that could happen?

I knew I was stronger this time and with the experience under my belt, I shouldn’t be afraid to take on more massive waves. I need to tighten up my

Me and Sugie, circa 2014. fin, and probably get a new one for Sugie because I can finally ride her again. But, I could have done a snap on her earlier if I was just able to position myself better.

MERMAID A4

EDGED

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UP AND ABOUT

EVENT

MOBILE TECH HELP REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS AND ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE

THE mobile industry is one of many key sectors playing a crucial role in addressing the challenge of climate change.

While Globe and other telecom operators outside the country already committed to reducing their own carbon emissions, they also contribute significantly to the reduction of carbon emissions by other industries through connectivity and behavior change.

A new GSMA report produced in collaboration with The Carbon Trust, an independent sustainability specialist, assessed the enablement impact of mobile communication technology at a global scale. It showed that the use of mobile technology enabled a global reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of around 2,135 million tonnes carbon dioxide (CO2e) in 2018. The emissions savings were almost ten times greater than the global carbon footprint of the mobile industry itself.

The Carbon Trust examined 14 markets around the world to form a representative sample of the ‘enablement effect’ of the mobile sector’s ability to reduce emissions. The results indicate an even split between Machine-to-Machine (M2M)/ Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and those through behavior changes from the personal use of smartphones.

The majority of avoided emissions from M2M technologies are primarily in buildings, transport, manufacturing and energy – sectors that make up a large portion of global GHG emissions. On the other hand, personal smartphone usage encourages behaviors like reducing travel for commuting and for leisure, increasing use of public transport by using apps providing real-time updates, sharing accommodations for short stays and holidays, and reducing travel by use of mobile shopping and mobile banking apps.

Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer said, “The impact of mobile technologies in response to climate change, encourages innovation and hastens the digital transformation of industries and nations.”

“As we venture further into the 4th Industrial Revolution, Globe redoubles its efforts to deepen the adoption of existing and emerging mobile technologies such as data connectivity, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence and IoT for good,” she added.

Globe recently became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, showing its strong commitment to implement universal sustainability principles.

As part of Singtel Group, Globe joined more than 50 mobile operators from all over the world in a major GSMAled initiative to develop a mobile industry climate action roadmap that will create a decarbonization pathway for the mobile sector by February next year. The end-goal is to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 to reduce the risks and harmful effects of climate change.

Meanwhile, Tom Delay, CEO of the Carbon Trust said: “Climate change requires a collective effort across governments, businesses and civil society if we are going to succeed in limiting global temperature increases to within 1.5 degrees. This analysis shows the positive role that mobile technology is playing in the evolution of other sectors and is a great example of what is possible.”

The GSMA is working with participating operators and partnering with the international community, climate experts and third-party organisations to advance industry progress, establish best practices, and support disclosure and target setting. The work forms part of the industry’s journey to support the delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG #13 on Climate Action.

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.

WINTER WONDERLAND AT MARCO POLO DAVAO

MARCO POLO DAVAO bid 2019 farewell and welcomed the new year with loud and music-filled party as guests celebrated with a Winter Wonderland-themed party at the hotel’s ballroom.

Guests feasted with culinary highlights prepared by Restaurants Bars and Events team lead by Executive Chef Alex Destriza and RBE Manager Rene Gargalo. Some of the crowd favorite were served at Café Marco and Lotus Court including the famous Prime Ribs, Roast Beef, Roasted Pork and other Filipino favourites. Cantonese dishes such as the traditional Peking duck and a wide variety of Dim Sum were likewise served at the Lotus Court.

At the ballroom, guests started to dance and enjoyed the evening with the music of 8 Mile Band and epic spins of DJ Joshua Simbajon. Exciting prizes, including room accommodations in Marco Polo hotels together

with different special gift certificates were given to the lucky guests during the raffle. At exactly 12 midnight, the ballroom was filled with loud sounds,

party music and the traditional chef’s parade.

“We are looking forward to a clear 20-20 vision for the coming year. Our team is confident that Marco Polo Davao’s brand of service will still rise among our competitors and most importantly to all challenges that we will face in the coming months. This party is not just to welcome a new year but to celebrate with people who have been with us for the last 21 years and counting,” says General Manger Colin Healy.

Marco Polo Davao’s Winter Wonderland 2020 New Year’s Eve countdown was made possible with partnership from Bluefairy Davao, San Miguel Brewery, Summit Water, Coca-Cola, and Forth & Tay Inc.

EDAVAO

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VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

GMA REGIONAL TV REAPS HONORS FROM VARIOUS AWARD-GIVING BODIES

GMA Regional TV is proving to be the Filipinos’ regional channel of choice as it continues to gain viewership against competition and earn recognitions from various award-giving bodies including the “Best Regional TV Network” award at the 2019 Platinum Stallion Awards.

This is the third time that the regional arm of GMA Network took home the major award from the Trinity University of Asia.

Meanwhile, at the 41st Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), GMA Regional TV also proved its strength in producing effective campaigns and quality programs. Its “#SpreadKindness” campaign was a finalist in the Best TV Ad Public Service category. Launched last year, “#SpreadKindness is an advocacy and public service campaign in the regions which aims to recognize and celebrate random acts of kindness made by ordinary people.

Securing finalist positions as well are various GMA Regional TV-produced programs and special coverage led by GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas. The pioneering unified Hiligaynon newscast was short-listed in the Best News Program category—the only regional newscast to be included

alongside national and cable newscasts.

At the same time, the “Dinagyang Festival: Hala Bira!—The GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Special Live Coverage” and “Pit Senyor: Sinulog Festival—The GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak Special Live Coverage” were both finalists in the Best Special Event Coverage category.

Capping off the list is block timer program, “Biyaheng Do30” which was short-listed in the Best Adult/Education Program category.

This year, various programs and special coverage of GMA Regional TV have also been honored by Anak TV as “child-friendly”. Receiving the iconic Anak TV Seals were local newscasts GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan (for North Central Luzon), GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas, and GMA Regional TV One Mindanao.

Earning Anak TV Seal as well were the various special coverage: “Dinagyang Festival: Hala Bira!—The GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Special Live Coverage”, “Pit Senyor: Sinulog Festival—The GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak Special Live Coverage”, “Kapuso sa Kadayawan Festival–The GMA Regional TV One Mindanao Special Live Coverage’, and “Kapuso sa

Panagbenga Festival—The GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan Special Live Coverage”. “Biyaheng Do30”, which airs on Regional TV Mindanao stations, also received the Anak TV Seal.

“On behalf of the men and women of GMA Regional TV (RTV), I would like to thank the Trinity University of Asia (TUA), the Catholic Mass Media Awards, and the Anak TV Foundation for recognizing our work,” says GMA Regional TV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso.

“Such recognitions inspire us to continue producing local TV programs and specials, and mount relevant regional activities. With #LocalNewsMatters always in our minds, these awards motivate us to continue

leading relentless programming efforts that are more attuned to stories, voices, and viewership outside of Metro Manila as we enrich the lives of Filipinos everywhere. From our teams all over the Philippines— GMA Dagupan, GMA Ilocos, GMA Bicol, GMA Cebu, GMA Iloilo, GMA Bacolod, GMA Davao, GMA Cagayan de Oro, and GMA General Santos—we thank our loyal viewers, advertisers, and partners for supporting our efforts and initiatives, and making us No. 1 in their hearts and minds. Indeed, we are ending the year with grateful hearts. Rest assured that we will continue to give them quality programs and events in the coming years,” he ends.

EDGEDAVAO

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TRAVEL

Surfing again after almost a year of inconsistent surfing.

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

A4 INdulge!

MERMAID A1 But here’s the thing—I had fun again. I don’t need to be where the waves are longboardable all yearround. Diversity is a good thing.

Being able to ride different kinds of surfboards will definitely make me a more confident and skilled surfer.

I wasn’t as afraid of the paddle back and wipeouts on Sugie because I know she could handle the beach break.

I feel reborn. I feel like I’ve finally picked up the pieces where I left off here in Dahican. I think that I’ve finally got the chance to live again. This time, living the dream I’ve always had. It may be a bit tweaked, but the essence is the same—be able to surf every day and be able to ride Sugie again.

Tomorrow, I’m looking forward

A4 INdulge!

to surfing the beach break again.

I’ll surf smart this time. I’ll wait for the wave that would have the right kind of feel for me. I’ll challenge myself to get bigger ones once I’ve

Dahican sunsets. warmed up. I’ll fend off fear from spoiling my fun and definitely, need to clock in at least three hours before I call it a day.

VOL.12 VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 100 84 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY JULY 19-20, 28-29, 5-6, 2019 My newISSUE mode of94 transport these days.

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

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

EDGEDAVAO 9

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READY... FROM1

Mayor Sara added that the city has formalized its Caravan of Government Services with a year long schedule for the second and third districts of the city.

"We encourage your of�ices to join us in anyway you may be able to participate. This is an opportunity for you to present your services to the Dabawenyos, answer their issues and help them access your projects. I encourage all of you not to stay in the comfort of your airconditioned of�ices, and instead, we must set forth and �ind those who urgently need our help," she said.

The presidential

daughter urged that the brand of service should be friendly and accommodating, responsive, proactive, and fast and ef�icient. " Our Davao brand of service should be the kind that we want to be served if we are part of the general public. Overall, in serving the public as in carrying out our civic duties, in accomplishing our goals, we must tool ourselves appropriately with appropriate planning, statistics and standard of exellence," she said.

Mayor Sara also reminded of�ices to veer away from phrases like "depende sa unsa man gusto ni Mayor" or "pu-

wede ra na basta musugot si Mayor".

"Sa tinuod lang noh walay science sa gusto ni Mayor. We are bound by the laws of our land. We should conscientiously plan how to execute the mandate of our of�ices and take advantage of systems and technology to do so.

Let us be guided by Davao City’s slogan for 2019 to 2022 — discipline, integrity, and competence," she said.

Mayor Sara also assured that the City Government of Davao is relentless in its implementation of the plans and programs under the Byaheng Do30 Agenda.

pinos in Iran and Iraq, respectively," Andolong said.

Tensions escalated in the Middle East after top Iranian general Qasem

Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq on January 3 which was reportedly ordered

by US President Donald

Trump.

Tehran vowed a �ierce retaliation against those responsible for the death of Soleimani. (PNA)

utives are also proposing peace engagements to be

pursued and done at the local level with the LGUs tak-

ing the lead in the localized peace process. (PIA-XI)

forcibly entered the house and started shooting the room where they believed Daryl was sleeping, according to Placer.

The suspects immediately left the house after sensing everyone was dead, he added.

Placer said they are still

investigating who could be the perpetrators behind the attack on the Getalla family. (Malu Cadelina – Manar / MindaNews)

2003.

The virus, which infected more than 8,000 people around the world, is believed to have originated in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong,

according to WHO. WHO criticized China for under-reporting the number of cases following the outbreak.

China sacked its then health minister Zhang

Wenkang for the poor handling of the crisis, several months after the �irst case was reported.

WHO announced that China was free of SARS in May 2004.

the perpetrators so that justice for the death of Diwangan will be served.

Meanwhile, John was

brought to the local social welfare and development of�ice in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon for psychologi-

cal �irst aid brought by the traumatic incident he had experienced, the military said. (PNA)

anytime when the indicators show and the decision of the government for us to deploy, we will deploy im-

mediately," he added.

Following the general's death, tensions escalated in the Middle East as Tehran

vowed a �ierce retaliation against those responsible for the death of Soleimani.

(PNA)

about geopolitical challenges, which have capped the oil prices.

The US dollar index closed the week slightly lower but continued its recovery gains from sixmonth lows. As a response to the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, the greenback tended to seek safe haven.

The index is a measure of the value of the US dollar relative to a basket of

foreign currencies. Oil is mostly traded in dollars all over the world and a stronger dollar pressures the oil demand.

For the upcoming week, some analysts believed that oil is set to move higher as investors are waiting for Iran's further responses to the US targeted killing, but the downside pressure remains.

In its year-end ShortTerm Energy Outlook re-

leased in December 2019, the EIA forecast that Brent spot prices would be lower on average in 2020 than in 2019 due to the forecast of rising global oil inventories.

The EIA forecast Brent spot prices would average USD61 per barrel in 2020, down from the 2019 average of USD64 per barrel, while WTI prices would average USD5.50 per barrel less than Brent prices in 2020. (Xinhua)

numbers for life.

"Tandaan natin na itong number portability, ibig sabihin lifetime na puwede nating maangkin itong number. In fact, it would be our identity.

Kailangan ingatan dahil dito minsan, ginagamit natin 'yung numbers natin para mag-withdraw sa e-commerce, magbayad

online," he said.

"Itong plataporma must be very carefully crafted. Ang responsibility nito, gagawin itong clearing house," he added.

Rio said that before being rolled out, the issues being raised regarding the law must be addressed �irst.

"Maraming issues na

lumabas na hindi na-anticipate noong nagkakaroon tayo ng public hearing sa Senate and sa stakeholders' meeting sa paggawa ng IRR," he said.

"Lumalabas ngayon na kailangan talaga ma-establish na kapag ii-implement na natin ito, walang mai-inconvenience," he added.

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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

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

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

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

SUPER.. FROM5

Link�low will demonstrate a “camera collar” that lets wearers �ilm outings in 360-degree panoramic video or even broadcast live

using 5G networks.

“There are going to be devices that are going to lead to a post-smartphone world,” Wang said.

“Ultimately you want devices that you can be hands free with, be able to look out to the world, touch and feel at the right time.”

Lipio said that since Sugba Lagoon’s delicate ecosystem has been put at risk by the growing number of tourists, the local government wants to increase efforts in preserving its beauty.

In 2018, the number of tourists reached 57,022

with 46,474 domestic tourists and 10,548 foreign guests. Lipio said the number tripled in 2019 or around 171,000 and she expects it would further increase this year citing the social media boost and media millage internationally.

After being named as one of the 19 places to go in 2019, Siargao made it to the international travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler’s list anew as one of the world’s 20 best holiday destinations for 2020. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)

assists, and two blocks.

Sam Thompson put up 22 markers, 14 rebounds, two assists, and one steal for Saigon, which slipped to 0-2.

In the other ABL game for the day, Formosa drubbed Singapore, 8877, at the Changhua County Stadium.

The Dreamers outscored the Slingers, 5034, in the second half on identical 25-17 scorelines in each of the �inal two quarters to break away.

Jerran Young came up with 21 points, nine rebounds, six assists, �ive steals, and one block for Formosa, which moved up to 3-5.

Jordan Tolbert added 19 points, 14 rebounds, one block, and one steal.

Marcus Elliott made 23 markers, 10 caroms, four dimes, and one steal for Singapore, which fell to 1-3.

Anthony McClain and Delvin Goh each chipped in 17 points with the former also grabbing 11 boards for a double-double.

The scores: First Game Formosa Dreamers 88 -- Young 21, Tolbert 19, Yang 16, Tucker 14, T. Chang 13, Wu 3, Wang 2, Chen 0 Singapore Slingers 77 -- Elliott 23, McClain 17, Goh 17, Alexander 15, Kwek 3, Lim 2, Tay 0, Oh 0 Quarterscores: 18-17, 38-43, 63-60, 88-77.

Second Game Kuala Lumpur Drag-

ons 80 -- Davis 27, Artino 18, Bell 12, Hong 7, Chin 5, Kuek 5, Loh 3, Tan 3, Tem 0 Saigon Heat 68 -Thompson 22, Charles 16, Forbes 10, Dinh 9, Young 6, Tran 3, Dierker 2, Q. Nguyen 0 Quarterscores: 19-22, 38-38, 59-54, 80-68.

Third Game Macau Wolf Warriors 98 -- Herring 21, Boyd 21, Cai 15, Ewing 13, Hu 11, Thomas 10, Tang 7, Shentu 0 Alab Pilipinas 93 -King 33, Wyatt 15, Domingo 11, Gray 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Brickman 7, Deguara 4, Vigil 4, Heading 0 Quarterscores: 2519, 47-47, 80-76, 98-93.

(PNA)

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10 EDGEDAVAO CLIMATE CHANGE... FROM10 boo can also be potentially carbon negative because they act as locked-in carbon sinks in themselves and encourage the expansion and improved management of bamboo forests.”

Bamboo also reduces carbon release. “Bamboo helps avoid fossil fuel use by offering an alternative, highly renewable source of biomass energy,” INBAR says. “Studies show that bamboo charcoal has a calori�ic value similar to that of wood charcoal – with far less pollution.”

Another carbon-sequestering tree that is grown profusely in the country is coconut. In his paper presentation entitled, “Productive and Sustainable Coconut Farming Ecosystems as Potential Carbon Sinks in Climate Change Minimization: A Review and Advisory Notes,” Severino S. Magat explained the important role of the coconut lands against the negative impacts of climate change.

In coconut, as in most tree crops, carbon is stored or sequestered both by the biomass and the soil of the ecosystem, indicating that the biomass and the soil are the main carbon sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide. These “carbon sinks” could be regulated and managed to a great extent by following proper cropping practices, according to Magat.

A two-year study conducted by Philippine Coconut Authority showed the annual rate of carbon sequestration in local tall variety coconut crop is 4.78 tons carbon per hectare. That is equivalent to 17.54 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare, Magat claimed.

The Philippine may likewise help mitigate climate change by sequestering signi�icant pollutant carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-run vehicles. This can be done by tapping its huge carbon stock potential from its ocean’s seagrasses, according to a research arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) has embarked on a basic research on carbon sequestration potential of seagrass beds. A blue carbon study conducted in Lian, Batangas showed that the 50-hectare seagrass meadows can capture 97 megagrams of carbon dioxide equivalent to the annual emission of 20 cars.

“Some people think seagrasses are mere colonizers and can quickly appear and disappear. Others think that planting of mangroves on seagrass beds is all right. As such, our objective is to unfold another important ecological value of seagrasses in the ecosystem,” said Jose Isidro Michael T. Padin, ERDB supervising science research specialist.

Meanwhile, the Philippines urges all government units to do their fair share in combating the climate crisis. “The Philippines has been actively pursuing climate action, but largely on our own efforts and resources,” said Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman of the Climate Change Commission. “With the unrelenting impacts of climate change in our communities, we must do all we can to survive and thrive as a people and nation.”

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

11

Fresh twist on Kuzma trade talks

W

ell, that changes things.

Just days after The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the Los Angeles Lakers viewed Kyle Kuzma as a “core part of the future”, a new report has suggested they are open to feeling out the market.

According to Sam Amick, also at The Athletic, “Sources now say the Lakers have shown a willingness to listen to pitches for Kuzma.”

Amick con�irmed, as did Charania, that there’s interest around the league, but added: “From the Lakers’ perspective, this open-phone-lines approach is merely a case of Pelinka doing due diligence as opposed to having substantive discussions.

“If only because nothing of real interest has come their way — yet.”

Per Amick, the Kuzma discussion has come after the 24-year-old forward’s start to the

season.

While he’s looked the goods at times, Kuzma’s numbers are predictably all down after taking up a sixth man role on a now-competitive Lakers team.

He put up big numbers — 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists — last season, but is only averaging 12.1 points (42.5 �ield goal percentage), 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way in Los Angeles.

The Lakers have a decision to make now with Kuzma eligible for a contract extension in the summer. Although, Rob Pelinka and co. could wait until he hits restricted free agency next off-season before deciding his worth.

It obviously all depends on what they get back in any deal for Kuzma; with a 35-year-old James in Los Angeles, the Lakers are in an extreme win-now situation.

The year started on the wrong foot for Alab Pilipinas.

Alab’s amazing run snapped A

lab Pilipinas started 2020 on a sorry note as the Macau Wolf Warriors pulled off a 98-93 stunner in an ASEAN Basketball League game at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City on Sunday night.

Doug Herring scored �ive straight points, while Tang Zhi Keng scored on a dagger layup to break a 91-all deadlock and take the road victory.

Herring and Julian Boyd each scored 21 points for the Wolf Warriors, who avenged their home loss to Alab last month that sparked the latter’s four-game winning streak.

Herring got a double-double as he dished 10 assists, while Steve Thomas also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds as they tied regional rivals Macau

Black Bears in �ifth place at 3-4.

Nick King’s career-high 33 points with 12 rebounds and four assists went to naught as Alab went down to fourth place at 4-2.

Khalif Wyatt added 15 points, two rebounds, 12 assists, and one steal.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur zoomed up to second place after an 8068 rout of Saigon at the

ALAB’S, P9

Philippine jungolfers impress US coaches

U

35 young Filipino golfers joined the DreamBig Gold Series Golf Camp at Orchard Golf & Country Club, Dasmarinas recently.

CIS Arena in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Dragons sti�led the Heat in the last three quarters to clinch the road win.

Terrel Davis dropped 27 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and a block for Kuala Lumpur, which zoomed to 3-1.

Will Artino added 18 points, 14 rebounds, three

S NCAA Division 1 Coaches Andrew Larkin of UCLA, Richard Mueller of Columbia University and Christopher Massoleti of UC Berkeley expressed admiration for the 35 young Filipino golfers who joined the DreamBig Gold Series Golf Camp at Orchard Golf & Country Club, Dasmarinas on Dec 16 and 17.

Besides the skills that the junior golfers showed, the coaches said it was their attitude towards the game that impressed them the most.

“Filipino players, compared to other players we’ve conducted the camp with are more eager and willing to learn.

They’re more open to instruction and also to criticism. I never had to repeat myself because no one was interrupting. Everybody was eyes on when I was giving a

demonstration. There was instantaneous attention to detail and they also asked very intelligent questions.

To me, that was very impressive. There’s a lot of talented players that will de�initely play high level golf in the U.S.,” said UC Berkeley Coach Chris Massoleti.

Meanwhile, Akshay Maliwal, Founder/CEO of DreamBig Events said, “It was a brilliant opportunity for golfers in the Philippines to get an evaluation about their gol�ing ability and whether they would have a chance to get recruited to one of these colleges in the future. We have many more events coming to Philippines annually. Stay tuned!”

DreamBig continues its premier camps with the Gold Series Tennis Camp set to open January 2020 at the Manila Polo Club.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 210 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

BLOCK PARTY Lakers foil Pistons with 20 blocks Anthony Davis had eight of the Lakers 20 blocks.

T

he Detroit Pistons missed 51 shots in their Monday loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Out of those 51 misses, 20 were blocked.

That’s 40.8 percent.

The Lakers’ block party was the story in what ended as a 106-99 victory for Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and co.

Davis �inished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while leading the defensive charge with an incredible eight blocks, while JaVale McGee had six blocks of his own.

To make matters worse for the visiting Pistons, Dwight Howard came off the bench for �ive swats, to go with his 11 points and nine rebounds.

Of course, James had an impressive outing in his own right, posting a triple-double — 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists — as his Lakers improved to 29-7 on the season.

The Lakers’ 20 blocks was an NBA season-high,

and one shy of their franchise record of 21. No team has blocked at least 20 shots in one games since 2001, but the Lakers’ size and athleticism is something they’ve leant on this entire campaign, so it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise.

Alex Caruso was a spark plug off the bench, once again, �inishing with 13 points, which included a highlight dunk in transition.

The Pistons, now 1324, were led by Derrick Rose, who came off the bench for 28 points. Andre Drummond �inished with 12 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocks in the loss.

Davis scored 11 of his 24 points in the �inal 3:40 and added 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who blew a late 11-point lead in a wild fourth quarter and nearly lost to a team with a losing record for the �irst time all season.

James �inished with his 90th career triple-double, his ninth of the season and his second in �ive days.