Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 211 | Wednesday, January 8, 2020

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VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

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President Rodrigo Duterte signs into law the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2020 during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Monday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MORE TERMINALS North, South bound bus terminals needed: DCOTT

By MAYA M. PADILLO

D

ue to heavy traf�ic of buses at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) particularly during peak hours, creation of additional bus terminals in north and south areas of Davao City is now being proposed.

Aisa Usop, manager of DCOTT told media in

Kapehan sa Dabaw that the creation of additional

terminals was already approved by the City Council. The said ordinance for its implementation is already in the City Planning and Development Of�ice (CPDO).

Usop added that areas identi�ied where the proposed terminals will be set up include Toril and Buhangin.

“Tinuod nga nag-

kadaghan ang buses sa terminal especially during peak season. In fact, we are coordinating with the CTTMO when it comes to traf�ic particularly sa terminal drive and Maya Street,” she said.

DCOTT, which is only 1.7 hectares, can no longer cater to more bus units.

“The property is not enough to cater addition-

al bus units. Gina-control namo ang mga bus nga naga-sulod sa DCOTT,” she said.

Usop also cited that the seating capacity of the buses also increased from the previous 39-45 to 5059.

DCOTT has recorded an increase in revenues.

Usop said they were able to exceed from its target

income of P50 million for 2019, she announced that as of November last year their collections already reached P64 million.

She cited fees from bus trips, van trips, rentals from stakeholders such as stalls and stands, porters, and peddlers in DCOTT as sources of the terminal’s income.

MORE, P9

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

BARMM allowed to directly engage with other nations: interim chief

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A meat vendor display pork meat at a stall at Agdao Public Market in Brgy. Agdao, Davao City on Tuesday. Pork traders and vendors face renewed worry following the report of the reemergence of the African swine fever (ASF) in the country that might affect their sales again. Lean Daval Jr

PRRD to side with US if Iran ‘intentionally’ harms OFWs

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resident Rodrigo Duterte will not hesitate to side with the United States (US), the Philippines’ longtime ally, in the event that Iran “intentionally” attacks Filipino workers in the Gulf state, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

During the 45th Cabinet meeting held at Malacañan Palace on Monday night, the President gave a “friendly caution” that the Philippines will not take a “neutral” stance with regard to the rising tensions between the US and Iran.

Duterte made it clear that his administration will “side with the Americans,” in case Iran deliberately harms overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East, Panelo said.

“Hindi tayo magiging (We will not be) neutral.

The President was very speci�ic in saying last night that if the Filipinos are harmed, he will side with the Americans,” Panelo told Palace reporters in a press brie�ing.

“If they will harm the

Filipinos, then the President will not sit down idly and watch,” he added.

Tensions between US and Iran continue to escalate after Qassem Soleimani, top Iranian military commander, was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US in Baghdad, Iraq last Friday.

Iran vowed revenge following Soleimani’s death, but the US also warned of attacking around 52 Iranian sites.

On Monday, the President sought the repatriation of OFWs in the Middle East, as he feared Filipino workers there might be put in peril amid the con�lict between the US and Iran.

Duterte also asked Congress to prepare a “standby

fund” that could be used for the possible repatriation of Filipino workers in the Middle East.

The Middle East hosts about 1.2 million OFWs The President’s latest pronouncement came, amid possibility that Iran might harm Filipinos working in the Arab nations, considering that the Philippines is an ally of the US, Panelo explained.

“Ang sinasabi ni Presidente, huwag niyong idamay ang mga Pilipino diyan sa away ninyo sa America kasi ‘di ba (The President is telling them not to involve Filipinos in their �ight against the America because you know), we’re supposed to be allies of the Americans, and the enemies might also attack not only the Americans but the allies of the Americans,” he said.

“Kung papatayin mo ang mga Pilipino, ibig sabihin hindi tayo iimik? Eh ang kalaban nila ang Amerikano. Kaya nila gagawin ‘yun dahil kakampi tayo ng

Amerikano (If they kill Filipinos, does it mean we will not make a move? Their enemies are the Americans, not us. If they kill Filipinos, that’s because we’re an ally of Americans),” Panelo added.

The Philippines established its diplomatic relations with the US in July 1946. The two nations also signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in August 1951 that serves as a foundation for a robust, balanced, and responsive security partnership.

Panelo, however, said the Commander-in-Chief failed to talk about the Philippine troops’ possible cooperation with the American forces, in case the situation in the Middle East exacerbates.

Meantime, diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Iran started in January 1964.

Don’t harm OFWs Panelo said the primary concern of the President is the safety of the OFWs in

sion Police Regional Of�ice-BARMM, Regional Mobile Force Battalion and Datu Saudi Ampatuan police swooped down on the house of Dimaukom around 4 a.m. Monday and caught the suspect.

In a statement, Brig.

Gen. Marni Marcos, PROBARMM chief, said that Dimaukom is one of the 80 suspects who remain at-large in connection with the massacre, described as the worst election-related violence in the country so far.

Bai, the wife of Dimaukom, cried foul over the arrest of her husband, saying she has documents to prove that the latter was

attending a Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia at the time of the incident.

Delos Santos, however, said the suspect’s arrest was a result of an extensive intelligence gathering from their �ield operatives.

“Let us just wait and let the court decide on the fate of Dimaukom,” he said.

Dimaukom is currently detained at the Parang town police custodial facility in the province pending his transport and presentation before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 221 in Quezon City.

The RTC Branch 221 under Solis-Ryes has been handling the proceedings

of the case since 2009.

On Dec. 19, 2019, the court handed down the guilty verdict on 28 principal suspects in the case that included Datu Andal Unsay Ampatuan Jr, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, Datu Anwar Sajid Ulo Ampatuan and Datu Anwar Ipi Ampatuan Jr. They are sentenced to reclusion perpetua without the possibility of parole.

More than a dozen police of�icers at the time of the incident were also sentenced from six years to ten years imprisonment as accessories to the crime.

(PNA)

PRRD TO SIDE, P9

Suspect in Maguindanao massacre apprehended

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olice arrested Monday a suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre that killed 57 people, 32 of them journalists.

Capt. Jemar Delos Santos, spokesperson of the Police Regional Of�ice– Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM), identi�ied the arrested suspect as Faisal Dimaukom alias Kagui Dimaukom, 42, a farmer-resident of Barangay Kabinge, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

“Seized from the house of Dimaukom was a fragmentation grenade,” Delos Santos said.

Members of the Regional Intelligence Divi-

he Bangsamoro region is allowed under the law to directly engage with foreign investors and other nations with diplomatic ties with the Philippines, its interim chief minister said Tuesday.

Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who also heads the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, made the remark after the outburst of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on social media following the former’s meeting with diplomats in Turkey last month.

Locsin had planned to �ile a diplomatic protest over the matter but did not push through.

Ebrahim said his trip to Ankara from Dec. 11 to 16 was of�icial and he obtained permission from the Of�ice of the President.

“Under the BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law), there are provisions allowing us to directly engage with foreign investors and countries with diplomatic relations with the Philippines,” he told ANC’s Early Edition.

“There is no provision in the BOL wherein...after we (secure a) travel permit with the Of�ice of the President, there is no provision we will still need the permission from the foreign ministry.”

Ebrahim said he was “surprised” by Locsin’s remark because the Turkish ambassador in Manila had said she sent a note verbale to the Department of For-

eign Affairs.

“I did not think that will happen because the fact that I met with the consul general in Ankara shows that there’s a coordination with the foreign ministry,” he said.

Embrahim said he thanked the Turkish government for its continuing assistance to the region and for being “very helpful in the peace process.”

He added that he had informed the Of�ice of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process about the issue, as it also heads the Intergovernmental Relations Body, which handles Bangsamoro’s relations with the national government.

The region, meantime, secured some P4.153 billion investment from Malaysia, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, among others in 2019, according to Ebrahim.

It is allotted P65.2 billion in the 2020 national budget, Ebrahim said, and will focus on funding education, medical and health services, social services and “strategic” infrastructure to “catch up” with other regions.

Some 3,000 opportunities are available on the Bangsamoro job portal, he added.

“We are really working very hard because as long as the budget will be downloaded to us immediately then we have no reason to be delayed in our program,” he said.

Go lauds Koronadal’s growth

S

enator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go skipped Monday’s formal opening ceremonies for this city’s 20th Hinugyaw Festival and 80th foundation celebrations here.

Go, who was earlier invited to deliver the keynote address for the formal opening of the weeklong festivities, was seen in the afternoon in Malacanang for the signing ceremony of the 2020 national budget by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his message, Go said the city has achieved so much since its establishment as a settlement and eventually becoming a municipality and component city of South Cotabato province.

He cited its rise into the regional administrative center and the socio-economic hub of Soccsksargen or Region 12.

Go credited the area’s emergence into one of the most competitive and business-friendly cities in the country to its “industrious, resilient and peace-loving people.”

“You were able to build a booming regional center out of an ordinary land.

I’m sure you will be able to achieve so much more in the coming decades,” he said in his message delivered by Deputy House Speaker for Mindanao and South Cotabato second district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez.

Go challenged resi-

dents, especially the dominant Christian settlers, to “continue to live in harmony with our Muslim and Lumad brothers and sisters and continue to be an example to the rest of the region and Mindanao.”

The city’s foundation anniversary celebration and Hinugyaw Festival formally opened at the South Cotabato Sports Complex on Monday, highlighted by the annual drumline parade and competition.

The other lined up activities until Jan. 10, the city’s 80th anniversary day, are the Farmer’s Festival, Celebrity Night, Mixed Martial Arts, Settler’s Fellowship Night, Indigenous Peoples Day, Mega Job Fair , Mindanao’s Best Dance Crew Varsity Hip-Hop Competition, Tamiya Racing, Grand Parada and Pyesta Kalon Datal civic-military parade, Handurawan Grand Production Showcase, grand �ireworks display and rave party.

Originally known as Marbel, a Blaan term for “murky waters” in reference to a river traversing the area, the locality was �irst established as the center of a settlement district on Jan. 10, 1939.

Koronadal was created into a municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 82 issued on Aug. 18, 1947 and eventually became the capital town of South Cotabato province upon its creation on July 18, 1966.

It was converted into a

GO, P9

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

PRRD orders Cimatu to meet with MidEast gov’t officials

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A child receives an anti-polio vaccine at a health center in Bankerohan, Davao City. The Department of Health announced that it is extending its vaccination drive against polio in all regions in Mindanao until April 2020 to achieve wider immunization coverage. Lean Daval Jr

PSA 11 gears up for 2020 census

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is now gearing up for the conduct of 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH) this coming May. The CPH refers to the entire process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing, and disseminating data about the population and living quarters in a country.

All persons to be enumerated as members of a household or as residents of an institutional living quarter (ILQ) will be those alive as of 12:01 a.m of May 1, 2020.

Pepito Amoyen, of�icer

in charge (OIC) of PSA 11, told media that they are still in the planning stage with regards to the number of enumerators to be hired in Davao Region.

“Enumerators should be locals gikan sa barangays ug munisipyo,” Amoyen said.

Pursuant to Batas Pambansa 72, public school teachers under the Department of Education (DepEd) will serve as cen-

VP’s report on drug ‘mere political attack’: PDEA chief

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hilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino on Monday dismissed Vice President Leni Robredo’s report on the drug campaign as “a mere political attack” against President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I see her recommendations as a mere political attack against President Rodrigo Duterte,” Aquino said in a statement.

Robredo, who was appointed as co-chair of Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) on Oct. 31, 2019, claimed that the Duterte administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs is a “failure” because authorities have seized less than one percent of shabu supply since 2016.

“Vice President Leni Robredo’s statement is SADDENING – 18 days as ICAD co-chairman yet she has dismissed and ignored all of our government’s accomplishments and efforts for the past three years,”

Aquino said.

Aquino said the metrics for the success of the anti-illegal drug campaign were drug clearing, crime index, trust rating and operational accomplishments.

He said 16,706 barangays out of 33,881 or 49.13 percent were cleared of illegal drugs while nationwide crime incidents went down from 11,860 in July 2016 to 5,000 in July 2019 as reported by the Philippine National Police.

He added the PDEA has seized a total of P45 billion worth of illegal drugs from 2016 to 2019 from the 162,987 operations with 225,284 arrest.

“The trust rating of President Duterte, the author of the illegal drug war, is at its peak at 87 percent last December,” Aquino said.

Aquino said 82 percent of Filipinos are satis�ied with the campaign against illegal drugs as revealed in the Social Weather Stations

VP, P9

sus enumerators.

To augment the DepEd enumerators and supervisors, the PSA will also hire additional enumerators and supervisors. They will be supervised by PSA personnel during the census operations with the assistance of selected local DepEd of�icials.

“Ayaw mo ug kahadlok sa atong mga enumerators considering nga mga teachers sila ginatagaan namo sila ug dako nga mga IDs,” Amoyen said.

Amoyen added that they have allotted 20 days for enumeration period including the training of the teachers and supervisors.

The 2020 CPH will be the 15th census population and 7th census of housing to be undertaken in the country since the �irst census in 1903.

The census aims to provide government executives, policy, and decision makers and planners with updated population and housing data as bases to their social and economic development plans, policies, and programs.

“The result of the census is very important especially in making development plans and policy making and even to the budgetary requirements for the internal revenue allotment,” Amoyen said.

resident Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, a former special envoy to the Middle East, to meet with of�icials of the Gulf states and discuss the Philippines’ plan to evacuate Filipino migrant workers there, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

The Chief Executive gave the directive during the 45th Cabinet meeting held at Malacañan Palace on Monday night, said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement.

Duterte’s order came as he feared for the imminent danger that Filipino migrant workers might face amid the escalating con�lict between the United States and Iran, Panelo said.

“Foremost in the mind of the President is the safety of Filipinos in the Middle East and he assures the Filipino community and the nation that the Philippine Government is doing everything it can in making sure that our fellow citizens abroad are out of harm’s way,” the Palace of�icial said.

“President Duterte likewise tasked Secretary Roy Cimatu, his Special Envoy to the Middle East prior to the latter’s appointment at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to �ly to the Middle East immediately to establish coordination with the host countries and lay the groundwork for the evacuation,” he added.

The President’s latest move was made following the death of Qassem Soleimani, top Iranian military commander who was assassinated last week in a drone strike by the US in Baghdad, Iraq.

The US action prompted the Iran government

to announce revenge for Soleimani’s death.

However, Washington threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites, in the event that Iran attacks US citizens or assets.

Panelo said Duterte has likewise instructed Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao to proceed to Iran and Iraq on Tuesday to deliver the President’s special messages to the Iranian and Iraqi governments.

The messages to Iran and Iraq contained the President’s expression of concern over the safety of the Filipinos working in the two host countries, and conveyed his urgent desire that “no Filipinos be harmed in the course of the ongoing con�licts,” Panelo noted.

Gov’t agencies told to ensure OFWs’ stability Panelo said the President also directed all concerned state of�ices to look for ways to ensure the stability of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East once they are repatriated to the Philippines, “PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) likewise directed the appropriate government instrumentalities to prepare for contingencies that will absorb displaced workers to government projects so as to prevent the economic dislocation of their families upon their return,” he said.

On Monday, Duterte asked Congress to prepare a “standby fund” that could be utilized for the possible repatriation of Filipino workers in the Middle East.

Panelo said the President is “gravely concerned” with the condition and safety of OFWs in the Middle East, particularly in

PRRD ORDERS, P9

Department of Health (DOH) assistant secretary Dr. Abdullah Dumama provides updates on the ‘mysterious disease’ that has caused some concerns amongst the general public during a news conference on Tuesday. PIA 11

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

LGUs urged to make it easier to put up, renew businesses

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Women gather at a makeshift vegetable stall at the bagsakan area of Bankerohan Public Market on Tuesday. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the inflation rate accelerated further to 2.5% in December 2019, higher than the 1.3% recorded in November. Lean Daval Jr

nti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Jeremiah Belgica has called on local government units (LGUs) to ensure ef�icient and fast processing of business registrations and renewals.

Belgica said some LGUs still ask for redundant requirements for business registrations and renewals despite the implementation of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law.

Business registration renewals are usually high during the �irst quarter of the year.

“There are still some LGUs that have redundant requirements that needed to be updated or repealed,” he said.

Belgica particularly cited that Locational Clearance for those who are operating inside malls is a redundant requirement as it is clear that a mall is a commercial zone.

He added that LGUs should speed up processing Occupational Clearance and Fire Safety Inspection Certi�icates, among others.

“This year, we are working to improve the performance of the country not only in the Doing Business Report but also in ways that will be felt by everyone. It is time to remove outdated, redundant, and unnecessary requirements that serve no purpose but to unduly burden the people,” Belgica said.

In World Bank Doing Business Report 2020, the Philippines moved up by 29 notches from rank 124 to rank 95.

However, in Starting a Business indicator, the country’s ranking is low at 171st out of 190 economies.

“Through the implementation of the law and these regulations and

LGUS, P9

‘Business as usual’ in Magsaysay town

NHA providing 2,002 pre-fab homes to families displaced by earthquakes

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By ANTONIO M. AJERO

t is literally business as usual for the people of Magsaysay, a town in Davao del Sur, hit hard by strong earthquakes measuring Magnitude 6 plus and a series of continuing aftershocks since October last year.

Aside from helping thousands of earthquake victims pick up the pieces of their shattered lives,

the municipality’s local government unit (LGU) headed by Mayor Arthur Davin, an engineer, is cur-

Inflation accelerates in December 2019

I

n�lation accelerated further to 2.5% in December 2019, bringing the full-year 2019 in�lation print to 2.5%, within the government's full-year target range of 2-4%, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed Tuesday.

The latest �igure is higher than the 1.3% recorded in November in the same year, and lower than the 5.1% in December 2018.

Deputy National Statistician Rosalinda Bautista attributed the uptick to the annual increment recorded in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index.

"The main source of the upward trend in December 2019 in�lation was the annual increase in the index of transport. The annual increment in food and non-alcoholic beverages also pushed up the overall in�lation in December 2019," Bautista she told reporters in a press conference in Quezon City.

The food and non-alcoholic index recorded an in�lation print of 1.7%, in December while the trans-

port index picked up 2.2% the same month versus the 2.4% in November 2019.

For the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, in�lation rose further by 2.8% in December from the 1.5% recorded in November 2019.

Outside NCR, in�lation was fastest in the Bicol Region with 3.3%, and slowest in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 0.8%.

The latest �igure brought the full-year 2019 in�lation print to 2.5%, within the government's target range of 2.0% to 4.0%.

Risks tilted to the upside Moving forward, Bautista said that among the drivers of in�lation expected in January are upticks in prices of food, which is heavily weighted among the in�lation indices.

"Pwedeng mag-cause ng increases is still the heavily-weighted food, so kung magkakaroon ng increase ng prices, particularly 'yung rice na malaki 'yung weight niya, tsaka 'yung meat and �ish, then

INFLATION, P9

rently in the thick of processing new applications and renewal of business permits.

According to Anthony Allada, municipal information of�icer, the town’s Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) is in full operation even if the municipal of�ices are temporarily housed in tents.

The farming town is

also now in the rehabilitation and recovery stage.

As of now, there are still some 2,000 families still in 13 evacuation centers of the town, Allada said.

“Naa pud home-based evacuees, mga 5,000 families,” the information of�icer said. Home-based evacuees are those living in tents and other shelters near their destroyed

homes. Most of them are due for relocation to safer places at the expense of the Duterte government.

Allada said the National Housing Authority (NHA), headed by Marcelino P. Escalada Jr., a Dabawenyo who is concurrently the secretary general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDC), is

committed to build 2,002 housing units initially. He said the NHA has started construction of 71 prefabicated houses in barangay Malawanit, with each unit costs some P250,000.

Aftershocks are still being reportedly felt in neighboring towns of Davao del Sur, North and South Cotabato and lately in the Agusan provinces.

Oil prices jump, stocks sink on fear of US-Iran conflict

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il prices jumped, gold hit a 6.5-year high and most equities tumbled Monday after the US assassination last week of a top Iranian general continued to fuel fears of a major con�lict in the Middle East, dealers said.

The leaders of Germany, France and Britain have agreed to work towards bringing about de-escalation in the Middle East amid heightened tensions following the US drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani.

US President Donald Trump has however warned of a "major retaliation" against Tehran after it threatened revenge for Friday's killing of the Iranian commander, which sparked a sell-off in stocks and a spike in crude.

Oil extended those gains on Monday and gold shone brightly to touch $1,588.13 per ounce -- a level last seen in April 2013 -- as investors �locked to the safe-haven precious metal.

Asian and European

stock markets meanwhile continued to tank, having wobbled before the weekend as the assassination news �lashed across traders' screens.

"Today's ... losses extend the stock market weakness that began on Friday when a US airstrike killed Iran's top Military Commander Qasem Soleimani," said London Capital Group analyst Jasper Lawler.

"The prospect of Iran avenging the killing of Soleimani and then a retaliation from the US is keeping de-escalation hopes at bay.

"We would expect the impact of these Middle Eastern tensions to be more durable in commodities markets than in equities."

Iran announced on Sunday a further rollback of its commitments to its nuclear accord, while Iraq's parliament demanded the departure of US troops from the country as fallout from the attack spread.

The crisis has jolted investors, who had been in an upbeat mood as

China and the US prepare to sign their mini trade deal next week, while data indicates a slight improvement in the global economy.

Both main crude contracts rallied, with Brent topping $70 for the �irst time since September when attacks on two Saudi Arabian facilities brie�ly halved output by the world's top producer.

While facing criticism for the action and calls to dial down the tension, the US president was in a combative mood, saying the White House had dozens of sites lined up for strikes in case of retaliation by Iran -- adding that he did not need Congressional approval, even for a "disproportionate" hit.

"Geopolitical tensions look like remaining elevated in coming days, so lending support to oil prices and keeping risk asset markets on the defensive," said Ray Attrill at National Australia Bank.

Haven assets popular in times of turmoil were also on the rise, with

the Japanese yen also at a three-month high against the dollar.

Equity markets tracked losses on Wall Street, where the three main indexes fell from record highs Friday, while all seven bourses in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states �inished sharply down, with some fearing Iranian revenge attacks on US assets or troops.

Some of the GCC members, including Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, are home to major US military bases, while there are also hundreds of troops in Saudi Arabia.

While markets were broadly lower, energy �irms rallied on the back of higher crude prices which tend to lift their pro�its and revenues.

Inpex jumped more than four percent in Tokyo while in Hong Kong, PetroChina added four percent and CNOOC surged 3.6 percent.

Back in London, BP jumped 1.7 percent in value and Royal Dutch Shell 'A' shares added 1.1 percent.

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

Salceda bats for virtual banking regulation

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Krispy Kreme Philippines local relations officer for Mindanao Princess Payag introduces one of the popular donut chain’s latest products, the original honest glazed munchkins, at Krispy Kreme SM City Davao branch on Monday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr

PRRD signs P4.1-T 2020 nat’l budget

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resident Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11465 or the P4.1-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2020 on Monday, several days after a new national budget should have taken effect on New Year’s Day.

In his speech, Duterte assured the public that every peso in the budget will not be spent for the greed of the few.

In a press statement, Senate �inance committee chairman Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said under the 2020 General Appropriations Act, the Department of Public Works and Highways received a net increase of P51.139 billion.

“The idea is to complete as many projects as possible by the time President Duterte ends his term in 2022,” Angara said.

“For the more complex projects, the plan is to get the ball rolling already

so that the next administration will just continue these and complete them during their term,” he added.

Education and social services, two key areas that are important to the President, are also given priority in the 2020 GAA. Angara said Congress wanted to remove all the obstacles to children getting a proper education—be it due to poverty, geographical isolation or other reasons.

The conditional cash transfer or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will continue as part of the government’s efforts to reduce poverty in

the country.

Bene�its due to the senior citizens, including the social pension of P6,000 annually, will still be funded in the 2020 budget.

In the delivery of health care, the 2020 GAA ensures the health care professionals such as the doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists will continue to be deployed the different communities around the country who are in need of their services.

“The Department of Health will be able to continue its hiring of doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, and other health professionals under its Deployment of Human Resources for Health program,” Angara said.

“A signi�icant number of our kababayans are situated in far �lung areas and cannot afford to travel when they need medical attention and that is why

PRRD SIGNS, P9

PH T-bill rates end mixed

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ate of the government-issued Treasury bills (T-bills) ended mixed Monday but all three tenors were oversubscribed.

Average rate of the bellwether 91-day paper dropped to 3.179 percent from 3.192 percent during the auction on December 2, 2019.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) offered the debt paper for PHP6 billion and investors submitted a total of PHP9.967 billion

worth of tenders. The auction committee made a full award.

Average rate of the 182day T-bill, meanwhile, rose to 3.435 percent from 3.348 percent in the previous auction.

This tenor was also offered for PHP6 billion and received bids amounting to PHP8.28 billion. The auction committee also made a full award.

Rate of the 364-day paper also improved after rising to 3.624 percent from

3.475 percent last December 2.

Bids amounted to PHP8.554 billion, higher than the PHP8-billion offer, but the auction committee only awarded PHP7.104 billion.

Rate of debt instruments has been �luctuating due the rising risks of the US-China trade issues as well as the expected normalization of the domestic in�lation rate and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key policy rates. (PNA)

lbay Representative Joey Salceda on Monday �iled a measure providing a regulatory framework for virtual banking to boost the �inancial inclusion thrust pursued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, �iled House Bill 5913, which aims to expedite the rollout of critical anti-poverty measures and help achieve the country’s inclusive growth goals.

He said virtual banks are able to provide �inancial services at much more favorable rates, as they do not incur such expenses as establishing and securing branches and maintaining automated teller machines (ATMs).

“The opportunity for regulation is clearly now, when the industry is yet to go in full swing. The industry’s potential, however, is staggering, with CIMB recording a 97 percent growth in deposits from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2019,” Salceda said in his explanatory note.

The lawmaker said the bill proposes four key pillars to a virtual banking sector in the country.

The bill seeks to encourage virtual banking as a means to improve �inancial inclusion and to promote the development of

�inancial technology.

It provides a clear, coherent, and far-sighted regulatory framework for virtual banks, while also granting adequate latitude to the BSP. The bill also auctions license to quali�ied virtual banking applicants to ensure that the state and the public receive the highest bene�its from their applications.

The measure also provides operations and management rules that levels the playing �ield to ensure that virtual banking can become a fair, sustainably developing, and pro�itable industry.

It also outlines a framework for consumer protection in virtual banks, including deposit insurance and protection against unauthorized transactions.

“For far too long, the approach of many regulatory agencies in the Philippines has been to unduly meddle in inevitable markets (such as those among new transport platforms), instead of anticipating a largely positive industry by providing appropriate and fair rules at the earliest opportunity,” he said “With this bill, this representation hopes to build con�idence and stability in the virtual banking sector, while promoting associated national goals such as �inancial inclusion and technological develop-

SALCEDA, P9

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

EDITORIAL

Contingency plan

As the lifeblood of the economy, overseas Filipino workers deserve the utmost protection of the Philippine government.

With the impending war in the Middle East, the Duterte administration has moved ahead to ensure that Filipinos working in the gulf can be expatriated.

President Duterte has ordered for the contingency plan in case war erupts.

Being ahead of the situation, the government can best serve the welfare and safety of OFWs. President Duterte has sent two representatives to the Middle East to talk to of�icials of host countries.

It is imperative that the government is bracing for the worse as heightened tension is mounting each day.

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

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

This preparation is, however, just half of the story.

The other critical part is absorbing the volume of OFWs that may be displaced in the event of war breaking out.

The spectre of losing their jobs overseas is probably the reason why OFWs are hesitant to leave for home in case of a distress call. The lack of opportunities in the local job market is a grim reality that’s as risky as staking their safety in their troubled host countries of employment.

This is where the government should take its preparations way out further— a comprehensive contingency plan that not only ensures safety but also the economic livelihood of the country’s modern day heroes.

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 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

GOV. DUTERTE’S WATERWORKS DREAM As secretary of the Department of General Services, Gov. Vicente G. Duterte’s principal plan was to improve and extend the waterworks system of Davao City, enough to supply a burgeoning population by 1986.

He �irst conceived the idea while governor of Davao Province.

This was contained in the September 1966 report of the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency of Japan which sent a survey team that year to study the water sources of the Davao Metropolitan Waterworks System (DMWS), now Davao City Waterworks District.

The survey team gathered data of the Sibulan and Davao River water systems from April 19 through April 30, 1966, and was composed of Shinichi Matsushita, Haruji Makita and Tsukasa Hirabayashi of Kubota Waterworks Construction, Ltd., Shoichi Inagaki of Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency, and Takayuki Tange of Nihon Suido Consultants Co., Ltd. The team visited the Provincial Capital on April 18 but failed to meet Gov. Paciano Bangoy. Instead, acting Gov. Cres-

cencio P. Lascuña and waterworks superintendent Vicente Franco welcomed the visitors.

The Japanese also met with vice mayor Manuel C. Sotto, city engineer Samuel Dumlao and �ire department chief Isidro L. Palacio. On May 1, the team showed the result of the study and survey to provincial of�icials.

The study team reported that by 1986, with the city having reached a projected population of 500,000, the daily maximum water supply requisite of 63,600 cubic meters. As it was, there was a shortage of supply even if the P45-million Sibulan Water System, started in 1958 and still undergoing construction, was completed.

The project delay was due to pipes and �ittings from Germany that did not comply with speci�ications.

The report also suggested that a separate construction program was “most urgently necessary” to meet the water demand. The Japanese concluded: “[W]e recommend construction of an independent system to take water from the

Davao River… which holds no advantage of geographical position, the construction work will be �inished within such a short period as two years. The greatest possible attention should be paid by everyone concerned to the actualization of this Davao River plan that would be the key to solve future water problems of the city.”

At the time, the DMWS, renamed as such in 1933, was getting its water supply from Malagos, roughly 28 kilometers from the city proper, had an elevation of over 370 meters, and covered a range of around 350 hectares.

Estimates placed the amount of water supplied by the source reached only 504,000 gallons per day and supplemented by �ive artesian wells. Still, the addon reached only 3,000 cubic meters daily.

The troubled state of the water supply was re�lective of Duterte’s ambition to provide the city with an ef�icient and reliable waterworks program. Given the status quo, water sourced from Malagos was good, but the supply produced by the wells had high iron content. Time-

worn six-inch pipelines used as distribution lines also reduced the �low of water to 370 gallons per day. Even if the waters from the two sources were mixed, the result was not �it for drinking.

Consequently, “most of the houses are equipped with water tanks, made of tin plates, which collect rainwater from roofs for drinking uses and such big consumers of water as factories, hotels, of�ices, etc. are pumping water from their own artesian wells.” During this time peddlers were already selling good water to consumer they sourced from Dumoy, Toril district.

To help address the water shortage, the National Waterworks Sewerage Authority (NWSA), based on the Japanese survey team report, also undertook several initiatives.

First, it obtained water from an eight-meter-high dam, completed in 1959, about 12 kilometers away from the mouth of Sibulan River. The source had a minimum discharge of 55,000 gallons per minute at the intake, producing satisfactory water.

Second, in Catalunan, a sedimentation basin constructed

in 1965 at an elevation of over 85 meters above sea level with a 1.3 million gallons in capacity.

This was linked to the Malagos pipeline but was sadly abandoned. Third, NWSA mapped out a water conveyance pipeline covering a distance of 35.7 kilometers from the Sibulan dam using an 18-inch diameter tube that passed through Catalunan to the city proper. About 19.7 kilometers of the undertaking had yet to be executed.

Fourth, in 1962 a pumping station was installed alongside the Talomo River near the Catalunan sedimentation basis; it had a pumping capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute but, sadly, it was left idle. And, �ifth, at Madapo Hills, a 350,000-gallon reservoir was built; it was situated on the northwest sector of the city.

To augment this, the NWSA had broached the plan to construct another tank with a capacity of 1,000,000 million gallons.

Overall, if the facilities were connected to Sibulan Water System, the expected volume of water conveyed to the city would be 7,300 gallons daily or 27,600 cubic meters per day.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

TO FORGIVE IS DIVINE “We don’t forgive people because they deserve it. We forgive them because they need it – because we need it.” – Jodi Picoult in The Tenth Circle *** “When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free,” wrote American minister Catherine Ponder, who founded the Unity Church Worldwide.

I am not sure if Bob Hoover, a famous test pilot and frequent performer at air shows in the United States, heard of the statement but he surely lived up to it. In his book, How to Win Friends and In�luence People, author Dale Carnegie shared this story: “Bob Hoover was returning to his home in Los Angeles from an air show in San Diego.

As described in the magazine Flight Operations, at 300 feet in the air, both engines suddenly stopped. By deft manoeuvring, he managed to land the plane, but it was badly damaged although nobody was hurt.

“Hoover’s �irst act after the emergency landing was to inspect the aeroplane’s fuel. Just as he suspected, the World War II propeller plane he had been �lying had been fuelled with jet fuel rather than gasoline.

“Upon returning to the air-

port, he asked to see the mechanic who had serviced his aeroplane. The young man was sick with the agony of his mistake. Tears streamed down his face as Hoover approached. He had just caused the loss of a very expensive plane and could have caused the loss of three lives as well.

“You can imagine Hoover’s anger. One could anticipate the tongue-lashing that this proud and precise pilot would unleash for that carelessness.

But Hoover didn’t scold the mechanic; he didn’t even criticise him. Instead, he put his big arm around the man’s shoulder and said, ‘To show you I’m sure that you’ll never do this again, I want you to service my F-51 tomorrow.”

After reading this incident, I was reminded of the words of Robert Muller, an international civil servant with the United Nations. “To forgive,” he said, “is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”

Forgiveness and peace seem to go together – like cart and carriage. “Let us forgive each other,” urged Leo Tolstoy, a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time, “only then will we live in peace.”

Hollywood actor and rapper Will Smith agrees. “Throughout life will make you mad, disre-

spect you and treat you bad,” said the actor who had been nominated twice of Best Actor Oscar (2002’s Ali and 2007’s The Pursuit of Happyness). “Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you, too.”

It is only those who are weak who could never forgive the wrongdoings of other people. “Forgiveness,” said Mahatma Gandhi, “is the attribute of the strong.” And “true forgiveness,” said American television host Oprah Winfrey, “is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.’”

If you have read the information about her posted in Wikipedia, you know she’s talking from experience. Born into poverty in rural Mississippi, she was molested by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend when she was nine years old. At 13, after suffering what she described as years of abuse, she ran away from home. When she was 14, she became pregnant but her son was born prematurely and he died shortly after birth. She reportedly “felt betrayed” by the family member who had sold the story of her son to the National Enquirer in 1990.

Looking back of these ordeals, she could say now, “Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different, it’s accepting the past for what it was, and using

this moment and this time to help yourself move forward.”

This must be the reason why she is so blessed. With a net worth of $800 million, Winfrey is believed to be the richest African American of the 20th century. In 2006, she was the highest paid TV entertainer in the United States, earning an estimated $260 million during the year.

Winfrey was able to forgive her family. Here’s another story on family forgiveness, which was written by a certain Robert C. Tuttle: In his night prayer, the six-year-old stopped before his brother’s name and said to his mother, “I don’t think I’ll ask God to bless Joe. He gave me an awful punch in the nose today.”

“But you’ve got to forgive your enemies,” the mother reminded him. “But,” countered the little boy, “that’s just the trouble: he’s NOT my enemy.

And that’s what I can’t forgive him.”

How true it is that it is harder to forgive one’s friends than one’s enemies. Or as Sir Francis Bacon once said, “We read that we ought to forgive our enemies; but we do not read that we ought to forgive our friends.”

A similar case happened in another family. The three children had gotten into a loud disagreement just before they went off to bed. They were aroused at two in the morning by a terrible thunderstorm.

Hearing an unusual noise from the bedroom, the mother went up to see what was going on. All the children were out of bed and hidden in the dark clothes closet. And from the inside, a little voice told her, “We’re all afraid, and we’re hidden here in the dark, forgiving each other.”

Perhaps one of the worse things a man or woman can do to himself or herself is not forgiving oneself. “To me, one of the saddest mistakes we make is a lack of forgiveness, especially to ourselves,” wrote Richard Carlson in his book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff at Work.

“We constantly remind ourselves or our �laws and previous mistakes,” Carlson continued.

“We anticipate future mistakes.

We’re highly critical of ourselves, frequently disappointed, and ruthless in our self-judgement. We badger and blame ourselves, and often we’re our own worst enemy.”

American moral and social philosopher Eric Hoffer said it well: “The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbour as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves.

We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacri�ice others when we are ready to sacri�ice ourselves.”

8 COMMUNITY SENSE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Korean, Davao firms assist 4 quake-devastated towns

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

A

Davao City-based enterprise combined forces with an altruistic South Korean company doing business in the region and a private foundation to extend relief assistance to thousands of victims in three municipalities of Davao del Sur and one in North Cotabato ravaged by a series of Magnitude 6-plus earthquakes and hundreds of continuing aftershocks since late October.

The three entities are EN3 Nanomedics Co., Ltd., JROG Marketing and the Ronie-Joelita Osnan Foundation. They distributed a total of 7,500 food packs and numerous rolls of canvas for tent to as many families in the towns of Magsaysay, Matanao, and Padada in Davao del Sur, and Makilala in North Cotabato last January 4.

Magsaysay, Matanao and Padada families received 2,000 packs each, while

Makilala families got 1,500 packs.

The group transported the relief assistance in 5 private cars and four dump trucks, said broadcaster Del�in Sulamin, who covered the one-day activity. Sulamin said the group also touched base with the mayors of the affected towns –Arthur Davin of Magsaysay, Vincent Fernandez of Matanao, and Pedro Caminero Jr. of Padada, as well as Rep.

Rudy Caoagdan of North Cotabato. Congressman Caoagdan resides in Makilala, where he was municipal mayor before being elected to the House of Representatives.

The humanitarian mission was joined by no less than Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, newly-appointed regional director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of Davao Region, and Assistant Sec. Achilles Gerard “Ike” C. Bravo of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), who are close friends of businessman Osnan. Also active in the group’s activity was Atty. Roceles Brown, legal counsel and associate of the Osnans and an unidenti�ied medical practitioner interested in the health needs of the quake-affected areas, especially the evacuation centers.

According to Osnan, there will be a second

distribution of relief assistance as soon as the packing of thousands of additional relief goods in Davao City is �inished.

He said he has also been requested by EN3 Nanomedics Co., Ltd. CEO Youngyong Ahn to inquire which of the affected towns would need �ire trucks and ambulance units that the foreign company is planning to donate through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Osnan said the devastation suffered by the four towns is not a joke since thousands of residents are still living in tents and are advised not to construct homes in their earthquake prone barangays.

“The local of�icials of most affected towns like Magsaysay are themselves holding of�ice in tents or temporary shelters,” the entrepreneur bared.

Earthquake victims living in tents

Portion of the 7,500 food packs distributed to earthquake victims of Padada, Magsaysay and Matanao, Davao del Sur and Makilala, North Cotabato Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI Service.

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

Case No. R11-EV-TX-2019-12-259 (2014-XI-00259) NAIMAH G. ABPI, Petitioner.

Case No. R11-EV-UV-2020-1-555 (2009-XI-00555/10-0885) x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY AND FROM SAID PLACE TO ANY POINT IN REGION XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 31, 2019. In the petition filed on December 27, 2019, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 22, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

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

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

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 27th day of December 2019 at Davao City, Philippines.

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITONED UV EXPRESS service on the route: DAVAO CITY KIDAPAWAN CITY AND VICE VERSA with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on April 6, 2020.

In the petition filed on January 2, 2020, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said Certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 22, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

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

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

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

Witness Atty. ARMAND B. DIOSO, Regional Director, this 3rd day of January 2020 at Davao City, Philippines.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Attorney IV/Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Officials of the Korean company, JROG marketing and Ronie-Joelita Foundation behind the humanitarian activity last January 4.

JENNELY A. BESANA, Petitioner.

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

Petitioner, Naimah G. Abpi Counsel, Atty. Albert G. Yenco

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR

Attorney IV/Acting Chief Transportation Development Officer

Petitioner, Jennely A. Besana Counsel, Atty. Albert G. Yenco

INdulge!

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

TRMH CARES

About the same time last year, The Royal Mandaya Hotel capped 2018 with the Emilio Escandor Community Outreach Program (EECOP) 2018 “Business with a Heart” activity at Little Kaye’s Child Care Therapy and Learning Center at 83 4th-B Street, Ecoland Subdivision, Phase 1, Matina Davao City.

Little Kaye’s is a learning haven of 40 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior which unlike the known autism, the symptoms for this disorder appears in the first two years of life of the child. In simple terms, these kids are affected with a disorder where they are having a

problem functioning in society—socially like in school and at work, for example.

TRMH-EECOP team, as a part of their advocacy, extended their generosity by having a Christmas visit to the learning center and treated them with nutritious meals and healthy fresh fruits.

TRMH-EECOP held its annual charity visit to the children with cancer patients of

the House of Hope at Southern Philippines Medical Center on December 19, 2019.

A total of 41 patients coming from distant places outside Davao City were treated with nutritious food and drinks plus some fun-filled entertainment

and Christmas gifts prepared

by TRMH-EECOP team.

One of the highlights of the visit was the magic trick performance of the Children Magician Master Chris.

The Foundation Officers were delighted and thankful to

the hotel’s generosity and for always remembering the kids of House of Hope in their annual charity programs.

Putting a smile on children’s faces is a manifestation of the hotel’s dictum “Business With A Heart” and this time, it was the cancer-diagnosed children who were the program’s beneficiary, giving them something they will cherish in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

The activity also served as an eye-opener for the TRMH people on the the lives of these children and their families, their struggles for survival and the simple joys emanating from kindness and compassion that gives them the courage to take life’s challenges.

If there is one thing everyone learned from the activity, it is in the giving of genuine love and care that satisfies the soul.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

TRAVEL

A small cafe occupies the ground floor of a build reliefs along one of Ginza’s side streets.

AND THE MANY REASONS WHY I LOVE IT WHILE many Tokyo visitors choose to stay and explore the busy districts of Shinjuku and Shibuya, I found myself gravitating towards Tokyo’s traditional commercial zone, Ginza.

Literally meaning “place where silver is minted”, Ginza is located centrally in Tokyo and is where one can find swanky modern buildings mixed with historical structures that are still in use today.

While the Ginza may be notorious for its sky-high prices, any smart traveller can enjoy the district without breaking the bank and these are the reasons why I love Ginza.

SHOPPING IN STYLE Shopping is a necessity when visiting Japan and with its rows of international and local shops, Ginza is one of the best places to shop in Tokyo. A short walk down the district’s main drag, Chuo-dori, reveals famous luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Prada and local Japanese fashion brands such as Onitsuka Tiger, Uniqlo and GU. Ginza is also where one can find many of Japan’s biggest department stores. Most notable are Matsuya, Mitsukoshi, and Takashimaya which offer thousands of items, from food, apparel, bags, cosmetics and electronics, to local crafts, books, and souvenirs.

There are also shopping complexes such as Ginza Six, Tokyo Plaza Ginza and Marronier Gate

which house various boutiques and dining options.

FOOD LOVER’S PARADISE Taking about dining options, Ginza is where one can find many restaurants of the “Michellin Star”-ed kind. Of course if your budget does not allow for such luxuries, Ginza has areas that offer a fun Japanese dining experience without breaking the bank.

One zone is the Yurakucho Gado-shita area located around Yurakucho. Located under the girders of the train tracks, the area has dozens of restaurants that are built into the brick arches of the Yamanote train line.

Here, you can find small yakitori joints, izakayas, to beer halls and even international cuisine such as Greek or Turkish food.

book stores, art galleries, and quaint cafes.

Many department stores and shops also have their own galleries which are free for curious passers-by to enjoy and appreciate. Notable galleries and art zones include the Shiseido Gallery located at the basement level of the Shiseido Parlour Building, Tatsuya Books at Ginza Six which carries an assortment of rare and had-to-find books, a coffee shop and an art gallery, and the Pola Museum Annex, a free gallery for contemporary art.

ART SMART Aside from shopping, Ginza was historically an information and publishing hub where publishers set-up shop and journalists, writers, and intellectuals converged. This is why a short stroll around Ginza’s many side-streets and alleyways reveal

DESIGN CANDY A walk around Ginza is never complete without an appreciation of the area’s buildings and each building’s unique architectural design. One can literally go from 1932 to the present just along Chuo-dori.

A symbol of Ginza, the clock

A Sashimi and Grilled Makarel set meal at a restaurant at Yurakucho Gado-shita. tower of the Ginza Wako building standing at northwest corner of the district is a beautiful example of Japanese Westernstyle architecture.

A short walk, takes you to Maison Hermes, a building all clad in glass blocks designed by architect Renzo Piano and built between 1998 to 2001. Housing workshops and offices, a shopping space, exhibition areas and multimedia quarters, one can actually see the movement of people within the building from the streets.

Ginza is also where one can find Itoya. This narrow but tall and elegant store is arguably Japan’s best stationery shop, selling everything from paper to paint supplies. A separate, second building located nearby one street off the main street is where one can find various paints, pigments, inks, brushes and other art supplies.

Shopping central at Uniqlo’s 11-storey flagship s

EDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

DIREK MARK REYES REVEALS DETAILS OF UPCOMING GMA ‘VOLTES V: LEGACY’ DUE to the undeniable excellent quality of the official trailer of GMA’s live adaptation of the beloved Voltes V anime, numerous anime fans and even non-fans lauded the team behind the one-minute trailer.

ding with stone

store.

INdulge! A3

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Small private galleries can be found all over Ginza and its many side streets.

Many also got wary as to who or what company did the animation and editing of the video.

On Facebook, Powerplay Ware, an online shop of videogame-themed shirts, apparels, and ‘80s nostalgia merchandise, has also jumped into Voltes V bandwagon.

It said: “We got new information about the upcoming ‘Voltes V’ live-action remake by GMA 7, and from the looks of things, the director, Mark Reyes and his team are indeed determined to make this adaptation of the beloved Super Robot right.

“Some of the information we got from ‘Voltes V’ groups and reddit, even some exchanges between

the director himself giving some light as to who did the CGI as seen on that amazing teaser trailer.

“Apparently the entire production of the teaser trailer (and yes that includes that amazing shot of ‘Voltes V’ and his redesign) are all done here in the Philippines

by GMA in partnership with Riot Inc. Post Production with the supervision and approval by TOEI. “Now if that information is not enough, we also got info that unlike past GMA shows that were rushed to air, GMA instead will be adapting a similar format of shooting and doing post

production work of the entire series before even episode one goes on air, similar to what is being done in the US for their shows.

“This means, that they will ensure that the quality of each episode is really good which includes the CGI, the direction, script etc. This is quite unheard of for local television, and this gives my hopes up even more for this show.

“Looking forward to the cast!”

These speculations were somehow confirmed by Direk Mark Reyes, director of the much-awaited Voltes V: Legacy live adaptation,

as he kept on commenting and correcting other commenters’ assumptions.

Direk Mark likewise confirmed that Riot Inc. and GMA’s video graphic department are handling the animation as approved

by TOEI. Riot Inc. Post Production is a post-production company doing visual effects, CGI, motion graphics, color grading, video offline and online editing.

Meanwhile, Toei Animation Co., Ltd., commonly referred to as Toei Animation, is a Japanese animation studio that has been producing numerous works of animation in the front line of the industry for over half a century.

With the live-action Voltes V: Legacy coming soon, fans from all over the country have expressed their anticipation and high expectations for the show.

Since the trailer’s release last December 31, it did not drop from the top 3 trending for gaming in YouTube.

Watch for Voltes V: Legacy soon on GMA.

HANNAH PRECILLAS SUCCESSFULLY REPRESENTS PHL IN DANGDUT ACADEMY ASIA 5 Ginza’s lights at night.

Motorheads will have fun looking at concept and vintage cars at Nissan Crossing.

Pens, brushes, paper, ink, pigments and many more can be found at Itoya.

KAPUSO OST Princess Hannah Precillas took her passion for music to greater heights after winning 2nd runner-up at the Dangdut Academy (D’Academy) Asia 5 in Indonesia last December 29.

The GMA Artist Center star raised the country’s flag in the international scene after capturing the hearts of the judges and the Indonesian audience with her singing prowess.

She consistently wowed the crowd with her rendition of various Indonesian songs she performed throughout the competition.

Among the 35 contestants from all over Asia, she consistently received top scores, becoming the lone Filipino and female contestant to compete in the grand finals.

“I always feel blessed for all the support. It’s a big accomplishment for me and it’s a great experience for me as a singer na ma-try din yung iba pang genre and to represent the Philippines sa international stage,” she said.

Hannah, the winner of GMA’s talent competition Bet Ng Bayan in 2014, is the voice behind the wellloved theme songs of GMA entertainment programs including Hahamakin Ang Lahat, Kambal, Karibal, Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka, Kapag Nahati Ang Puso, and Onanay.

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UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

GLOBE PUSHES FOR SOCIAL CHANGES THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Businesses play an important role in helping address some of the most pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges that the country is currently facing, prompting the need to bring purposeful innovations for societal impact to the spotlight.

Globe, one of the biggest players in the Philippine market, harnesses the power of digital technology to accelerate social changes and create significant social impact. Huge investments in the local telecommunications industry during the past two decades have given mobile access to a much larger percentage of the population, opened the floodgates of data, and increased efficiency of both large corporations and micro, small, and medium enterprises.

ICT aso opened the doors to technologies that can address various societal problems such as financial inclusion for unserved and underserved Filipinos through GCash mobile wallet as well as access to medical advice via KonsultaMD hotline.

“For us to be relevant we must continue to contribute to the progressive development of our markets and communities,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications. “We do our best to bring about the change needed to make a genuine

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impact through social innovations that utilizes technology.”

However, solving the multitude of problems that the country has requires all the help it can get.

Globe, through its Globe Future Makers (GFM) program, for instance, taps startups interested in using tech for social good by providing them mentorship, marketing assistance, and networking opportunities, among others.

GFM was implemented in 2017 to influence and build a whole ecosystem of social innovators who can help create a positive impact on society with the help of technology. It is aligned with the social innovation program of the Singtel Group of Companies for Asia Pacific.

This year, Antipara Exploration and Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation (AIDFI) emerged as the top social innovators for GFM. Both have developed technological tools to help solve some of the country’s most exigent social challenges.

Antipara is an underwater 3D geospatial mapping and analytics company for maritime and environment inspection. It created an algorithm that provides information for marine zoning and management which can be used for various projects such as tourism, building of ports and designation of marine protected areas and for damage assessment and maritime

Officer Auke Idzenga, a Dutch national who has been in the country since 1985.

Likewise, Globe helps uplift the nation’s education through the Global Filipino Schools (GFS) program which empowers public schools with ICT-trained teachers, new gadgets, and critical infrastructure. It also provided ICT infrastructure support to HOPELINE, the 24/7 emotional crisis intervention hotline.

Aside from employing technology, Globe also tries to safeguard the public against the negative aspects of ICT. As the leader in digital entertainment and lifestyle, Globe came out with the #PlayItRight campaign against pirated and illegal content and encourages the public to firmly stand behind content creators, respect their hard work and help sustain their jobs.

On the other hand, the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) teaches Filipino youth about the impact of their online behavior through workshops on cyber security, safety, online responsibility and leadership, and empowerment. DTP was recently adopted by the Department of Education (DepEd) as part of the Values Education subject in K-12.

To learn more about Globe’s sustainability efforts, visit https:// www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html

A4 INdulge! examination through 3D inspection of undersea infrastructure such as cables, pipes and foundations.

Globe, being also an advocate of marine biodiversity and ecotourism, is currently working with Antipara in checking the waters around major tourist spots in the country, beginning with Siargao.

On the other hand, AIDFI operates the Hydraulic Ram Pump, a water-powered pump that brings water from lower to higherelevated villages or farms with no electricity or fuel and emits zero pollution. AIDFI also developed an app to monitor water delivery, technical repairs, money col-

lection, and meetings. Recently, AIDFI adapted a solar-powered, coin-operated water kiosk that serves households and releases 20 liters of water for only Php1 to ensure fairer water distribution and better collection for the water association compared to public tap stands.

We now see how mobile applications can be integrated since the program is about sharedvalue.

Globe is active in communities or schools that have no easy access to water which the ram pump can help solve. We are already discussing this with Globe, and we are excited about the areas for possible cooperation,” said AIDFI co-founder and Chief Executive

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

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

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

EDGEDAVAO 9

VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

MORE... FROM1

“We are very happy nga ang target for 2019 is naabot nako. Wala pa nahuman ang pag total but I am expecting more or less P70 million income of DCOTT for 2019,” she said.

Aside from the increased number of buses, she also attributed the increase of DCOTT’s income to the joint effort of DCOTT and the City Treasurer’s Of�ice (CTO) that issue trip

tickets to the buses and vans.

Usop said small buses are charged with P35 per trip, P200 per trip for the big buses, and P75 per trip for the vans.

the Middle East.

He stressed that Duterte’s only appeal for Iran is to ensure that the lives of the Filipino workers in the Gulf state would not be jeopardized.

The Palace of�icial pinned hope that Iran would heed Duterte’s plea to protect OFWs amid its tensions with the US. “He (Duterte) is expressing his concern for the safety of his countrymen, which is foremost in his mind,” he said.

“Ang sinasabi lang ni Presidente, huwag niyong idamay ang aking mga kababayan diyan. Eh most

likely naman, palagay ko naman hindi nila idadamay (The President is telling them not to harm our countrymen there. Most likely, perhaps, they would not hurt them),” Panelo added.

Panelo said Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao and former special envoy and incumbent Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu are set to �ly to the Middle East on Tuesday to relay the President’s grave concerns over the safety of OFWs there.

Cimatu was tasked by Duterte to meet with of�i-

cials of the Arab countries and discuss the Philippines’ plan to repatriate Filipino workers there, while Mamao was directed to deliver the President’s special messages to the Iranian and Iraqi governments.

The messages to Iran and Iraq contained the President’s expression of concern over the safety of the Filipinos working in the two host countries, and conveyed his urgent desire that “no Filipinos be harmed in the course of the ongoing con�licts,” Panelo noted in a statement.

(PNA)

component city of South Cotabato on Oct. 8, 2000 through Republic Act 8803 and was designat-

ed as the regional seat and center of Region 12 or Soccsksargen in March 2004 through Executive

Order No. 304 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (MindaNews)

Iraq, Iran and nearby Arab nations.

“He (Duterte) stressed that it is the paramount duty of the government to give protection to the Filipinos whenever their lives are in peril and wherever they are,” he said.

Special working panel formed In a bid to protect OFWs in the Middle East from any harm, Duterte formed a six-man special working panel composed of his Cabinet members, Panelo said.

Panelo said the committee consists of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperson Jr. and Secretaries Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Foreign Affairs), Del�in Lorenzana (Defense), Silvestre Bello III (Labor), Eduardo Año (Local Government), and Arthur Tugade (Transportation).

“The President created a special working committee composed of the Secretaries of National Defense and of the Interior and Local Government, the National Security Adviser, as

well as the Secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Transportation, to draw up plans and measures for the evacuation of our countrymen,” he said.

Panelo said the Armed Forces of the Philippines was also ordered to prepare its air and naval assets for the evacuation of OFWs, in case an armed or military warfare between the US and Iran takes place.

(PNA)

(SWS) survey last September 2019.

“Ibig sabihin tama ang ginagawa ng ating national government. Gusto ng tao ang ginagawa ng Pangulong Duterte sa program kontra illegal na droga [This means that the government is doing it right.

People like what President Duterte is doing against illegal drugs],” he said.

Aquino admitted there are still shortcomings and �laws in the anti-illegal drug operations but “that

is what ICAD is addressing now”.

He said the data of the government was not messed up because the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has completed its survey and now on the �inal phase of data gathering.

“We reported that to the VP. However, I told her that it is very dif�icult to gather the real data since nobody will admit that he or she is a user or pusher,” Aquino pointed out.

Other countries were

also in the same situation in gathering real data, he added.

On October 31, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Robredo as anti-drug czar to help Aquino co-chair the ICAD. Duterte, however, �ired the Vice President on Nov. 24 after she committed “missteps” such as talking to foreign individuals and groups which already “prejudged” the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. (PNA)

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guidelines, we would be able to compete with global economies especially within our Asean community,”

the ARTA chief said.

On Monday, ARTA met with representatives from the Department of the Inte-

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this program should be sustained and supported,” he added.

The top 10 budgets based on new appropriations are as follows: 1. Education (DepEd, SUCs, CHED, TESDA) – P654.6 billion 2.

Department of Public Works and High-

ways – P580.8 billion 3. Department of Interior and Local Government – P239.8 billion 4. Department of National Defense – P191.7 billion 5. Department of Social Welfare and Development – P163.8 billion 6.

Department of

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

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magti-trigger siya ng increase," she said.

Bautista also noted that while the third tranche of excise taxes on petroleum products will be introduced this year, this is likely to have minimal impact on in�lation.

"Kasi 'yung increase ng diesel, we have monitored in 2020 we are expecting an increase to P6 from P4.50, LPG to P3 per kilogram and unleaded will be P10 per liter. Maliit lang

'yung magiging impact," she explained.

Bautista was mirrored by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which said that the risks to in�lation are tilted to the upside for 2020, but tilted to the downside in 2021.

"The volatility in global oil prices and the potential impact of the African Swine Fever outbreak are the main upside risks to in�lation," the central bank said in a separate state-

ment.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar in December already said that the ASF outbreak is already tapering down, given the continued decline in the number of incidents being reported.

"Meanwhile, the impact of global trade and policy uncertainty as well as geopolitical tensions continue to be the main downside risks to in�lation," said the BSP.

ment,” he added.

Salceda expects that the country will become one of the �irst in Asia to provide a basic framework for virtual banking.

“This augurs well for our prospects to become

a �inancial technology hub in the region,” he said, noting that the bill may increase the share of virtual-only banking assets between 2.83 and 4.34 percent of total assets in universal and commercial

banks.

As an industry promoting measure, he said the proposal is expected to result in encouraging virtual banking to grow into a PHP903 billion-peso industry. (PNA)

rior and Local Government and National Association of Business Permits and Licensing Of�ices. (PNA)

cision 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.

Health – P101 billion 7.

Department of Transportation – P99.3 billion 8. Department of Agriculture – P62.2 billion 9. Judiciary – P40.1 billion 10.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources – P25.5 billion

Huerter added 22 points, going 6 of 8 from 3-point range, and added eight rebounds. John Collins scored 17 points.

Denver's Jamal Murray scored 16 and Monte Morris came off the bench to add 14.

Jokic scored 18 points in the �irst half, but Atlanta led, 31-29, on the strength of 11

points from Young. Jokic had 27 points by halftime and the Nuggets, thanks to a 10-0 run, twice led by as many as 10 points before Atlanta cut the margin to 64-56 at intermission.

The Hawks got as close as 71-69 with 6:08 left in the third quarter when Huerter made a 3-pointer, but Jokic responded with a

3-pointer and blocked Alex Len's shot at the other end of the court. Jokic had 13 in the quarter and the Nuggets led 91-86 entering the �inal quarter.

Denver will complete its road trip on Wednesday at Dallas. Atlanta �inishes its three-game homestand on Wednesday against Houston.

SALCEDA... FROM5 FRESH... FROM11 JOKIC... FROM11

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VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

SUBURBIA RISING

LGU rebrands singing tilt to ‘Awitang Tagumpay’

T

AGUM CITY—In accordance to its moniker as the Music Capital of the South, the most sought after solo singing competition in the city of Tagum had been made bigger and grander, now dubbed as Awitang Tagumpay.

Formerly known as Kantahan sa Tagum, Awitang Tagumpay

was launched last January 5, 2020 at the Tagum City Cultural and Trade Center Pavilion with no less than Mayor Allan L. Rellon leading the ceremony.

The night was �illed with vibrant music as former champions and resident judges of the singing contest, as well as voice students

of the Music Makers program of the city government showcased various song renditions.

Awitang Tagumpay holds much larger cash prizes at stake for its weekly competitions; P2,000, P1,500, and P1,000 is guaranteed to the weekly champion, 1st and 2nd runners-up,

respectively - an impressive upgrade from its last edition’s P800, P600 and P400 weekly prizes. Consolation prizes worth P300 is also granted to all non-winners.

This newest edition of the competition features eight contenders per week and will run only in January and Febru-

ary this year as Grand Finals is slated on March 8 - in time for the celebration of the Musikahan sa Tagum Festival.

The competition, which is also open to non-Tagumenyo residents and features Children and Adult categories, will be held every Sunday starting on January

12, with all weekly champions competing in the grand �inals.

Awitang Tagumpay is brought by the City Government of Tagum through the initiative of the City Music Management Of�ice that is under the City Historical and Cultural Center Management Division. Drex Rafols/ CIO Tagum

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF ROMEO A. JOVELLANOS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ROMEO A. JOVELLANOS who died on August 19, 2017 at San Pedro Hospital Inc., C. De Guzman St., Davao City has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.124; PageNo.26; Book No.181, Series of 2019, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY.FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN. No less than Mayor Allan L. Rellon leads the launching ceremony of the Awitang Tagumpay last January 5, 2020. Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum

12/23, 27, 1/6,2020

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VOL.12 ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Jokic fires career-high 47 as Nuggets topple Hawks

N

ikola Jokic scored a career-high 47 points and Will Barton added a season-high 28 to help the visiting Denver Nuggets outlast the Atlanta Hawks, 123-115, on Monday night.

Jokic was 16-for-25 from the �ield, with four of the made baskets 3-pointers, and surpassed his career previous high of 41 set against the Brooklyn Nets in 2017. His best previous output this season was 31 points against Memphis on Dec. 28. Jokic also had eight rebounds and �ive assists.

Barton went 12-for-20 from the �ield, including three 3-pointers, to eclipse his season-best 22 against Phoenix on Nov. 24. He also

11

added nine rebounds and �ive assists. Jokic and Barton combined to go 7 of 14 from 3-point range.

The victory broke Atlanta's two-game winning streak against the Nuggets as the teams split their season series. The Nuggets are 2-2 on their current �ivegame road trip.

Atlanta got as close as 108-106 in the fourth quarter when Trae Young hit a 3-pointer with 4:25 left, but never again got any closer than three points.

Young paced Atlanta with 29 points, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and added 12 assists for his 11th double-double. Kevin

JOKIC, P9 DeMar DeRozan (10) led the San Antonio Spurs past league-leading Milwaukee Bucks.

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 openphone-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 de-

FRESH, P9

Spurs rout Bucks

D

eMar DeRozan scored 25 points, and Patty Mills added 21 off the bench as the San Antonio Spurs waltzed past the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, 126-104, on Monday in the Alamo City, snapping a two-game losing streak.

The game was the second in a home-and-away, back-to-back, two-game set between the two teams.

Milwaukee won the �irst game, on Saturday, 127118.

The Spurs (15-20) led by 10 points after three quarters and ran their advantage to 16 points early in the �inal period. Milwaukee closed to within 100-

89 with 8:12 to play but never made a serious run down the stretch.

It was DeRozan’s eighth straight game with 20 or more points.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay scored 17 points each for the Spurs, with Dejounte Murray scoring 13 points and Trey Lyles pulling down 12 rebounds. San Antonio set its season-high with 19 3-pointers (on 35 attempts) in the win.

The loss snapped a �ivegame winning streak for Milwaukee (32-6). It was the �irst time this season the Bucks have dropped a game to a team with a record below .500 and their biggest losing margin of

the year.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists but missed all �ive 3-point attempts.

Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points, George Hill and Khris Middleton had 15 apiece, and Wesley Matthews had 12 points for the Bucks.

San Antonio led for the majority of the �irst half and by as many as 18 points before assuming a 65-52 lead at halftime.

The Spurs had four players in double-�igure-scoring in the �irst half, led by DeRozan’s 15 points.

Mills added 12 points off the bench, while Murray

Bushfire smoke threatens Australian Open in Melbourne

S

World No. 2 and seven-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic expressed his concerns about the air quality in Melbourne,

and Aldridge had 10 each over the �irst two quarters.

San Antonio outshot the Bucks 52.3 percent to 38 percent in the �irst half, and went 12 of 20 (60 percent) from beyond the arc compared to 9 of 26 (34.6 percent) for Milwaukee.

DiVincenzo led the Bucks with 11 points over the �irst 24 minutes, with Antetokounmpo adding 10 in the �irst half.

The Bucks climbed back to within 81-76 on Hill’s 3-pointer with 2:35 to play in the third quarter, but Mills canned two 3-pointers in the �inal two minutes to build a 91-81 lead heading into the �inal quarter.

YDNEY -- Dense bush�ire smoke is threatening the start of the Australian Open with a potentially hazardous fog lingering over Melbourne less than a fortnight before the competition begins.

On Monday afternoon, the city's air quality was downgraded from 'very poor' to 'hazardous', prompting health warnings from authorities.

The smoke comes from widespread �ires which continue to rage in Victoria's East Gippsland region.

World No. 2 and seven-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic expressed his concerns about the air quality in Melbourne, saying that players and of�icials would meet to discuss a possible delayed start to the tournament.

However, Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley responded by saying that he is con�ident the event will go ahead as planned.

"We have committed substantial extra resources to analysis, monitoring and logistics to ensure the health and safety of all players, staff, and fans throughout the summer

and have no other plans to move events," Tiley said.

Women's world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty said there were bigger issues than the delaying of the tournament by a couple of days, and that health and safety would have to come �irst.

"First and foremost, the reason that there is smoke in the air is what's most devastating at the moment for our country," the Australian said.

"It's just a really tough time. Tennis is a sport, it's a game that we play, and there are certainly a lot of bigger things going on in Australia right now that we need to take care of."

As a show of support for those affected by the �ires, a special 'Rally for Relief' event will be held ahead of the Australian Open, with many of the world's top players committing to charity matches.

The matches are part of a larger initiative known as the 'Aces for Bush�ire Relief', which will see 100 Australian dollars (USD69) donated for every ace served at tournaments across the country this summer, including at the Australian Open. (Xinhua)

12 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS BRACE FOR BATTLE EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE VOL.12 164VOL.12 •ISSUE FRIDAY-SATURDAY, ISSUE 211 • WEDNESDAY, 78 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER JANUARY JUNE 25-26, 27, 8,2019 2020

IN THE WORKS

4 games up as Escandor Cup Collegiate on PSTC PSC now working Sponsors League resumes Saturday T

he Philippine Sports Commission the PSTC. (PSC) gives full-time commitment Aside from Pangasinan, also expressBy B. MORRELL forADAM the realization of the Philippine ing intentions are the provinces of Tarlac Sports Training Center (PSTC). and Bataan. heavy four-game Royal Mandaya Da- are grateful for the support and Almost a year ago,bill President Rodrigo Hotel, “We is on its way as ac- Actvies Paints, SPC that we are receiving from differDuterte signed Republic 11214 or Mandarin the interest tion inSports the Collegiate Max's Friedent ChickPhilippine Training Branch, Center Act. LGUs. We are studying possibilities Sponsors League (CSL) to en and PTT Lubricants.

The law is designed establish a and best options” added Ramirez.

Escandor Cup resumes on Meantime, the state-of-the-art facili- FoundaMeanwhile, the PSC is working alongSaturday, October sports 26, at training Agro-Industrial ty with amenities that will be suitable side with United States Sports Academy the Davao City Recreation tion College of the Philipand conducive for our pines national ath-Sailors (USSA) Center.

(AIFCP) and in order to strengthen the counletes, and referees to UM achieve a try’s human resources in sports. This Thecoaches curtain raiser will the Wildcats shared high-level and quality that will March, feature a "David versustraining the top spot in bracket A the �irst of a series of short eventually results to best with performances Goliath" match up as oddsa 2-0 recordsports each, courses will be held. This is when theyJose compete in various internapartRed of the PSC’s plans to continue on favorite Maria Colfollowed by the CJC lege (JMC) Kings takes on Lions with 1-0.

MCT tional sports competitions including the The upgrading the knowledge and skills the struggling Brokenshire Navigators landed oncoaches, trainers and sports prestigious Summer Olympic Games, of our College of national Davao (BCD) 1-1, where the athletesthe arefourth aimingspot to with professionals in the country. dribblers at 3:00pm.gold medal. trailed by the defending win our �irst-ever USSA shall provide the eduThe between thebestchampion “Weclash are doing our to make Holy this Cross cationofand training programs for San Pedro College (SPC) Davao College (HCDC) long-time dream come true” said PSC individuals and groups desigStallions and the visiting Crusaders with 1-2, DMChairman Cor Jesu William College Ramirez.

(CJC) MACSP Marinersnated 0-1,by the agency. “We are According to RA 11214, the PSC will also arranging plans with the of Digos City Red Lions SPCD Saints 0-1, and SPC owngo theafter PSTCatand will oversee the operawill 4:30 pm, Stallions with 0-2. Commission on Higher Edution when comes to the administrative followed byit the exciting The bracket B,cation mean-and the University of work, between security,traditionas well aswhile, assigning of the informed battle is currently led Philippines,” by personnel to supervise overall sports Chief. al powerhouse teams St. thethe Holy funcCross the College John II College of of Sasa (HCCS) Spartans tion ofPaul the facility.

Information and forms Davao Saints and billion with from 3-0 card, The(SPCD) amount of P3.5 the followed on the PSC-USSA InternaMats College of Technol- Actby(GAA) JMC Kings AsianCerti�icate for Sports General Appropriations is ap-(2-0),tional ogy (MCT) Navigators at International of propriated for the establishment andSchool Management Course can 6:00 pm.

Aeronautics and Technolconstruction of PSTC. be access via http:// At 7:00pm, un- ogyof(AISAT) AteInitially, the the Municipality Rosales,(1-1), www.psc.gov.phunder beaten University of Min- neo de Davao University in the province of Pangasinan has exPhilippine Sports Indanao (UM) Wildcats will (Addu) Blue Knights (1-2), SEE STORY ON P11 Manny Pacquiao says evenhub at 40, he is not finished yet.Programs. pressed interest to be the main for stitute stake its clean slate against BCD (0-1), UM Penaplata

A

PSC Chairman William“Butch”Ramirez delivers his flag ceremony message on Monday.

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DMMA College of Southern Philippines (DMMACSP) Mariners to wrap up Saturday's quadruple header sponsored by The

(0-1), and Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Bulldogs (0-2).

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 Davao City Recreation Center. Escandor Cup/CSL photo VOL.11 VOL.12 ISSUE 241 ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, 6VOL.12 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 24-25, 17-18, ISSUE 51 •FEBRUARY TUESDAY, 21,2019 2019 VOL.12 ISSUE 45 • SUNDAYMONDAY, MAYMAY 12 -13,

VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE55 21• SUNDAY-MONDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY,MAY APRIL 7-8, 2019 VOL.12 26-27,