Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 213 | Friday, January 10, 2020

EDGEDAVAO STUMBLING BLOCK

BLUE LOTUS HOTEL OPENS IN DAVAO

Serving a seamless society

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VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

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Writ of Kalikasan eyed vs Davao-Samal Bridge project

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ust when the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board approved the construction of the long standing Davao-Samal Bridge last November 29, another blockade stands in the way after an oppositor threatened to �ile a Writ of Kalikasan against the dream project.

A Writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy under Philippine law that provides protection of one’s constitutional right to a

healthy environment, as outlined in Section 16, Article II of the Philippine Constitution, which states that the “state shall

protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told media that the project is already moving following the approval of NEDA Board but a new problem has emerged after a family in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) complained of Right Of Way (ROW).

“Considered as nasugdan na siya

(project) because na-approve na sa NEDA board, naa na ang design and all.

The problem is naga-kontra ang isa ka family sa IGaCoS side sa Right Of Way (ROW) sa agianan sa bridge,” Duterte-Carpio said.

In the Feasibility Study (FS) there were four areas identi�ied to put up the bridge. Duterte-Carpio said it was decided that the bridge will be constructed in R. Castillo, Agdao which is the shortest dis-

tance connection from Davao to Samal.

“Daghan ug gitun-an sa FS. Karon lang na �inalize kung unsa na option ang gamiton.

I think there’s about four or �ive areas identi�ied where to put up the bridge. Tanan to naa pros and cons, ang �inal na napili is the shortest distance. Sa kataas sa IGaCoS ug Davao City daghan areas ang puwede. Ang gipili na area for the Davao-Samal connector is the shortest distance which is R. Castillo, Agdao

STUMBLING, P9

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (right), together with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) undersecretary for Local Government Marivel Sacendoncillo, listens to the presentation of Institute for Economics and Peace director for partnerships Charles Allen, resource person during DILG’s Seminar on Local Peacebuilding and Forum on Positive Peace held at Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday night. With the President is Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

SEC orders non-profit entities: Submit MDF on or before February 28, 2020

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he Davao Extension Of�ice of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on non-profit organizations (NPOs) to immediately submit their Mandatory Disclosure Form (MDF) in accordance with SEC Memorandum Circular No. 25, Series of 2019 or the 2019 Guidelines for the Protection of SEC Registered Non-Pro�it Organizations from Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Abuse (2019 NPO Guidelines), which was approved

by SEC Commission En banc during its meeting on December 10, 2019. Failure to submit may result in the revocation of their registration.

“This order is necessary to ensure that non-pro�it entities subject to SEC’s supervision and

registration are not organized or used for purposes which are contrary to law,” said OIC Director Atty.

Katrina Jamilla Ponco-Estares.

NPOs are SEC registered non-stock entities, including foundations, that engage in raising as well as disbursing of funds for activities like charity, religion, culture, education and similar undertakings.

The 2019 NPO Guidelines establishes the necessary regulatory framework for the protection of SEC registered non-pro�it organizations from money laundering and terrorist �inancing abuse in accordance with the Commission’s mandate to assist in the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act and their respective Implementing Rules and Regulations.

The 2019 NPO Guidelines allows NPOs to comply with the MDF submission within sixty (60) days after posting on the SEC website and after publication in two national newspapers or on or before 28 February 2020. The circular was posted at the SEC website and published in two national newspapers of general circulation on December 27 and 28, 2019, respectively.

To comply with the circular, NPOs need to follow these steps: 1. Fill out the form online by accessing the same through the following link: https://forms.gle/ekyFwQxsL67pHKgs5.

2. After �illing out and submitting the form online, a printed copy of the accomplished form will be automatically sent to the

ghum, mango, and organic rice production; and agarwood propagation.

Piñol said he already met MinDA personnel on Monday to discuss preparations for the huge numbers of OFWs who may have to be repatriated by the Philippine Government.

He said the move came in the heels of President Rodrigo Duterte’s statements expressing concern for the safety of Filipino

workers in the Middle East, as Iran and its proxies are seen preparing for possible retaliatory strikes against the United States.

“The preparations for the returning OFWs from the Middle East was one of the major issues discussed in the staff meeting today,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, MinDA joined the crisis management meeting called by Department of

Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Piñol said MinDA presented its preparations for the crisis, which would mainly focus on livelihood and income-generating projects for the returning OFWs. “The MinDA initiative to contribute to the preparations for the crisis was mainly because of the fact

MinDA gears for OFW repatriation

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he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said it has drawn up livelihood programs for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who may have to come home in the country following the looming con�lict between Iran and the United States.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the program includes cattle, hog, and poultry raising; sor-

MINDA, P9

email address indicated in the form. Please have the accomplished form printed.

3.

Click the following link to the Declaration/Veri�ication Page: http://www.sec.gov.ph/ 2019mandatorydisclosure_declaration_veri�ic ation_page/ This will automatically send the Declaration/Veri�ication Page to your registered email address. Have it printed, �illed out with the corresponding details, signed and notarized.

4. Attach the signed and notarized Declaration/Veri�ication Page to the duly �illed out Mandatory Disclosure Form.

5.

Submit one (1) original copy of the signed and notarized printed form together with supporting attachments, if

any, as indicated in the Self-Assessment Questionnaire Page to the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department – Anti-Money Laundering Division (EIPD-AMLD) or to the SEC Davao Extension Of�ice at 2F SDC Bldg., Purok 13, Maa Road, Davao City on or before 28 February 2020.

NPOs that have previously submitted their MDF in compliance with SEC Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2018 are highly encouraged to accomplish and to submit the new MDF. Further, under Section 9.3 of the SEC Memorandum Circular No. 25, NPOs registered after the effectivity of the circular need to comply with the requirements within six (6) months from the date of registration.

P113 million worth of PRDP projects in Mati for 2020

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n estimated P113 million worth of projects from the Philippine Rural Development Program are set to be implemented in the City of Mati for the year 2020.

The projects are mostly potable water system (PWS) projects amounting to P50 million.

There are �ive spring development PWS projects with four already

completed and one ongoing. Bene�iciaries of the projects would be Sanghay, Libudon, Don Salvador Lopez, Taguibo, and Tagbinonga. Seven units of greenhouses would also be constructed. The six projects cost P30.8 million in total.

For deep well PWS projects, four are to be implemented for this year

P113, P9

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Gov’t has ready funds for repatriation of Pinoys from MidEast: budget exec

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Devotees celebrate the feast of the Black Nazarene in Lanzona Subdivision in Matina, Davao City on Thursday. MINDANEWS PHOTO

he Philippine government has enough funds under the 2020 national budget for the repatriation of its people from the Middle East, a budget of�icial said Wednesday, as President Rodrigo Duterte called for standby resources in light of the brewing war in the region.

Around P1.8 billion has been allocated in the budget for the repatriation of Filipino workers, Budget Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo said Wednesday as the government ordered the evacuation of its people in Iraq.

“Even without the pronouncement of the President, we already have the budget for the repatriation,” Toledo told reporters in Malacañang.

“The government is ready for the call of repatri-

ation of overseas Filipino workers,” he added.

Of the allocated amount, P1.29 billion is under the Department of Foreign Affairs while P600 million is with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Toledo said.

The Department of Budget and Management, however, has yet to release a copy of the signed spending plan for this year.

The government also has a P13-billion contingency fund that it could tap in the event the budget for the evacuation of Filipino migrants would fall short, Toledo said.

The death of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations arm, has rocketed tensions between Washington and Tehran.

he Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday said it is ready for the possible in�lux of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East who might be evacuated once the con�lict between the United States and Iran escalates.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he has ordered all BI personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other international ports to prepare for any eventuality should the con�lict escalate further.

“I have directed our port operations division to see to it that adequate manpower is available to address a possible upsurge in the number of passengers arriving from the Middle East,” he added.

The BI chief said if needed, they are ready to deploy additional men at the airports by enlisting the services of and temporarily reassigning to the NAIA immigration of�icers currently stationed in oth-

er ports and of�ices of the bureau.

The order was given following the Department of Foreign Affairs advisory raising to Alert Level 4 for Filipinos in the whole of Iraq, as well as issuing an advisory to Filipinos in Iran, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant of potential security threats and to stay in close coordination with the Philippine Embassy.

In compliance with Morente’s directive, BI port operations division chief Grifton Medina issued a memorandum advising all BI airport personnel to prepare for possible mass repatriation of Filipinos from the Middle East.

He instructed airport heads to ensure that all terminals are fully manned to ensure the smooth processing of possible repatriates.

The Philippine government has ordered the evacuation of Filipino workers amid the escalating ten-

PRRD OKs pay hike T for gov’t workers

GOV’T, P9

BI braces for possible influx of OFWs from Middle East

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resident Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the proposed measure implementing the �ifth round of salary increases for workers in the government, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.

The Presidential Communications Operations Of�ice (PCOO) on Wednesday night released photos of the President signing the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 5 into law at Malacañan Palace.

Duterte’s former aide and now Senator Christopher Lawrence Go witnessed the signing of the new law.

Malacañang has yet to release a copy of the newly signed law.

Under SSL-5, the salary

adjustment will be implemented in four tranches from 2020 to 2023.

Around 1.4 million workers in the government, including public teachers and nurses, will bene�it from the approved pay hike.

The biggest increases, ranging from 20 to 30 percent by a weighted average of 23.24 percent every year until 2023, would apply to government workers under Salary Grades 10 to 15 bracket.

NCMF stops certification for Muslims seeking work abroad

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he National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has temporarily stopped the issuance of certi�ications to Muslim Filipinos seeking greener pastures abroad in the wake of the con�lict in the Middle East between Iran and the United States, an of�icial said Wednesday.

Dimapuno Datu Ramos Jr., NCMF spokesperson, said the agency suspended the issuance Tuesday of the Certi�icate of Tribal Membership (CTM) to Muslim Filipinos who want to work outside the country.

“This was triggered by the tension in the Middle East as a precautionary measure on our part,” he said in a phone interview in Filipino.

Early Wednesday, Iran launched missile attacks on US forces stationed in Iraq, in retaliation to the killing of its top military commander, Qassem Soleimani,

�ive days ago.

United States President Donald Trump admitted the American military carried out the airstrike that killed Soleimani and several others near an airport in Iraq.

Datu Ramos, also the NCMF director for external relations, said they have been issuing at least 50 certi�ications daily to Muslim Filipinos who want to go out of the country for work purposes.

The certi�ication is a requirement by the Department of Foreign Affairs when they apply for passports, he said, noting the NCMF, under Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan, actively supports the government’s campaign against human traf�icking.

Datu Ramos said the decision to stop the issuance of the CTM was based on the pronouncement of

NCMF, P9

Government employees with Salary Grades 1 to 10 would get an increased salary from 17.5 percent to 20.5 percent over four years.

Those who are under Salary Grades 25 to 33 would have the lowest increase of a mere eight percent.

The government will earmark a total of PHP130.45 billion for the implementation of the SSL5. The President certi�ied the proposed pay hike as urgent in December last year.

In a statement issued earlier Thursday, Go said around PHP34 billion was allocated in the PHP4.1-trillion 2020 national budget for the scheduled salary in-

creases this year.

The senator also noted that the minimum basic salary of a government employee with Salary Grade 1 would now be raised from PJP11,068 to PHP13,000 following the signing of SSL-5.

“The President wants nothing less than a complete and holistic approach to the salary increase.

Meaning, he wants all government employees to receive an increase,” Go said.

“In recognition of their invaluable contributions, our civil servants, the people who dedicate their everyday lives to the service of the Filipino people, must be given an opportunity to pursue a career in the ser-

PRRD, P9

Institute for Economics and Peace director for partnerships Charles Allen imparts insights pertaining to peace during the Department Interior and Local Government’s (DILG’s) Seminar on Local Peacebuilding and

BI, P9

Forum on Positive Peace held at Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Institutionalizing of ‘Build, Build, Build’ program eyed

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A religious items vendor is busy with her mobile phone as she waits for customers at a stall inside the San Pedro Cathedral compound in Davao City on Thursday, the feast of the Black Nazarene. Lean Daval Jr

rade Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Wednesday institutionalizing the “Build, Build, Build” program will sustain the growth of the construction sector even with the change in the administration.

On the sidelines of the 4th Philippine Construction Industry Congress in Makati City, Lopez said he sees the importance of enacting the program into law to ensure that the government will continue to spend aggressively in infrastructure projects.

Although he has yet to see any crafted bill for the program, Lopez said it should aim to maintain the level of infrastructure spending of 5 percent to 7 percent of the economy by securing a certain percentage of the national budget for projects under the program.

“After the Duterte administration, we don’t know if they will keep that kind of aggressive infrastructure program or 5 to

7 percent of GDP (gross domestic product),” he said. “Hopefully this year, we will propose it also to be part of the legislative agenda.”

Lopez said the crafting of the bill should be an inter-agency initiative led by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“With our infrastructure spending booming, thanks to our ‘Build, Build, Build’ program, we aim to reach 7 percent of our GDP by 2022. We are con�ident of achieving this goal with our revised list of 100 �lagship infrastructure projects amounting to PHP4.23 trillion,” he said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that gross value added in the construction industry expanded by 16.3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2019.

The sector recorded an average growth of 9.7 percent during the �irst 13 quarters of the Duterte administration. (PNA)

No ‘strongly objectionable’ items in 2020 nat’l budget - DBM official Demand for term deposits surges

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resident Rodrigo Duterte did not veto any item in the P4.1-trillion national budget but placed some programs under conditional implementation, an of�icial of the Department of Budget and Management said Wednesday.

Signed by Duterte on Monday, this year’s spending plan is aimed at supporting the critical infrastructure, human capital development, and peace and order initiatives of the administration.

“There is no item that was directly vetoed by the President,” DBM Director

for Legal Service Ryan Lita said at a news conference in Malacañang, adding that the department’s review of the measure passed by Congress did not �ind “strongly objectionable” items.

“Nevertheless, there are certain provisions that are recommended for con-

ditional implementation and general observation just to ensure that their implementation is consistent with existing laws and policies.”

Among the items subject to conditional implementation include foreign travels of government of�icials and employees, resettlement of families or individuals affected by government infrastructure projects and funds for victims of Marawi con�lict and earthquakes.

Senator Pan�ilo Lacson said in December last year that the 2020 budget still contained pork bar-

rel funds. Senate �inance committee chairman Juan Edgardo Angara and leaders of the House of Representatives denied Lacson’s claim.

Duterte had removed P95.37 billion worth of public works appropriations from the original P3.757-trillion spending plan for 2019.

The President said at the time that the items, which came as a result of post-rati�ication budget realignments made by lawmakers, were not within the “programmed priorities” of the government.

Puyat and DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade led the signing of a memorandum of agreement on the Institutionalized Leveraging of Infrastructure Program for Airport Development (iLIPAD) that aims to synchronize efforts to boost airport and route development programs.

Tugade expressed his full support and commitment to work with the DOT. “I would like to thank the Department of Tourism. This gesture is very encouraging, because believe it or not, the capacity of all commercially-operating airports in the Philippines has to be night-rated in order that they make sense and the ef�iciency desired can be achieved,” Tugade said.

Meanwhile, Puyat said tourism and connectivity will be closely linked in the next two decades in the same way the convergence approach today enables mutually bene�icial cooperation between the DOT, different agencies and the private sector.

“It is the sort of cooperation that will help ensure

the success of one of our latest projects, the DOT’s Transforming Communities Towards Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Tourism (TouRIST) Program,” she said.

She added that the program leverages the existing convergence between DOT and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for tourism roads, DPWH-DOTr for access roads to airports and partnerships with other agencies and the private sector.

The convergence program is an implementation of Section 34 of Republic Act 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009 and the National Tourism Development Program for 2016-2022.

The DOTr and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)are facilitating the construction of new airports including the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.

Puyat also cited the near completion of a new terminal at the Clark International Airport, just 30

minutes away from New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, which was the main site of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) last month.

In line with the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build Program and as part of the efforts to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), she said in the works are the construction of a new international airport in Daraga, Albay, as well as expansion plans for the Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, and Laguindingan international airports.

Aside from Puyat and Tugade, others present during the event were DOT Undersecretaries Arturo Boncato Jr. and Manuel Tamayo, DOT-Central Luzon director Carolina Uy, and of�icials of TIEZA and CAAP. Representatives from the private sector include of�icials from the Philippine Airlines, Air Asia Philippines, Cebu Paci�ic, Air Swift, Air Juan, Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation and LIPAD Consortium. (PNA)

DOT, DOTr sign pact to boost airport, route dev’t programs

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he Department of Tourism (DOT) is working closely with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on the possibility of funding the development of several airports in the country by equipping them with night-rating capabilities.

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said on Wednesday the department, through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), is set to approve in its next board meeting a PHP1-billion budget as part of its airport-upgrading efforts.

TIEZA is the implementing agency and infrastructure arm of the DOT. “We must make sure that it is not only more fun in the Philippines, but much safer too,” Puyat said.

Tourism and transportation of�icials convened here to strengthen the tourism infrastructure convergence program and ensure the country’s tourism industry is off to another productive year with enhanced infrastructure and increased connectivity

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enders for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) term facility surged Wednesday, and a ranking central bank of�icial attributed the increase to high liquidity situation and lesser demand for the local currency after the holidays.

Data released by the central bank showed that all term deposit facility (TDF) tenors were oversubscribed at least twice the offer.

The seven-day facility received a total of PHP102.182 billion worth of bids, more than two times the PHP40-billion offer. The auction committee made a full award. Its bid coverage ratio improved to 2.5546 from 1.6202 during the auction last January 2.

Its average rate, on the other hand, declined to 4.1641 percent from 4.2345 percent in the previous auction.

Bids for the 14-day TDF amounted to PHP88.906 billion, higher than the

PHP40 billion offer, which was also awarded this week. The bid coverage ratio increased to 2.2227 from last week’s 1.6391.

Its rate averaged at 4.2364 percent, lower than the week-ago’s 4.3045 percent.

Tenders for the 28-day TDF reached PHP85.136 billion, higher than the PHP40-billion offer. The auction committee made a full award. The bid coverage ratio of this tenor increased to 2.1284 from 1.8552 last week.

Its average rate went down to 4.2704 percent from 4.3302 percent last week.

“All three tenors were oversubscribed with total tenders received amounting to P276.22 billion, re�lecting an increase in system liquidity that needs to be absorbed as demand for currency declines following the holiday season,” BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said in a statement. (PNA)

Bank lending, money supply expand in Nov.

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ank lending and the amount of money circulating in the country's �inancial system both expanded in November, the Bangko Sentral said on Wednesday citing preliminary data.

The BSP said outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks grew by 10.1 percent in November last year compared to the same month in 2018.

Loans for production activities grew 8.1 percent in November, driven primarily by lending to real estate, �inancial and insur-

ance activities, construction and others.

Loans for household consumption, meanwhile, grew by 26.6 percent due to faster growth in car loans.

Domestic liquidity also expanded in November by 9.8 percent to about P12.4 trillion.

Demand for credit remained the principal driver of money supply growth, the BSP said.

With in�lation easing last year, the central bank cut its key rate thrice for a total of 75 basis points,

BANK, P9

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

An aerial view of an oil depot in Bo. Pampanga, Davao City in this undated photo. Global oil prices dived Wednesday after an earlier brief hike that followed Iranian missile attacks on US targets in Iraq amid hopes the conflict will not escalate further. Lean Daval Jr

Oil prices tumble as worries T over US-Iran clash ebb

Twitter to experiment with limiting replies in effort to combat online abuse

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lobal oil prices plunged Wednesday, totally reversing an earlier brief spike that followed Iranian missile attacks on US targets in Iraq amid hopes the con�lict will not escalate further.

Comments by Iranian of�icials and US President Donald Trump eased tensions substantially and pushed crude prices lower and lower in late European trading.

The strikes, launched in retaliation for the assassination of Iran's top general last Friday, sent Brent and WTI prices to multi-month peaks before pro�it-taking prevailed.

Iran said it had "con-

cluded" its missile attacks for now, and observers remarked that they had seemed carefully calibrated to avoid US casualties.

Trump told a news conference: "Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had tweeted earlier that

the country does "not seek escalation or war."

A Eurasia Group note predicted that Tehran and US President Donald Trump will de-escalate the crisis, saying the Iran attack "appeared designed for maximum domestic effect with minimum escalatory risk."

Analysts pointed out that oil traders had many sources at their disposal in any event.

SEB analyst Bjarne Schieldrop added that "not a single drop of oil supply has been lost due to the recent incidents and this is why the oil price has fallen back down again so quickly."

Analysts also said the drop in prices was due in part to a weekly US oil supply report that showed higher inventories.

Global stock markets initially slid on investor concern over the USIran clash, but European bourses mostly �inished higher as anxiety over the situation ebbed.

Wall Street stocks rallied after Trump's late morning statement. All three major indices ended solidly higher, with the Nasdaq at a record.

"At least for now, the retaliation is behind us," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National

resulting in an average of 50.956.

Volume reached USD1.963 billion, higher than the USD1.627 billion a day ago.

BPI Research said the peso weakened early in the day after “investors gave up risky assets in a knee-jerk reaction to Iran’s counter attack.”

This, after news reports said the Middle Eastern country �ired several ballistic missiles at two US military bases in Iraq following the death

of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

BPI Research said the peso was able to gain strength after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said there is enough oil supply despite the latest con�lict in the Middle East.

It forecasts the peso to trade between 50.60 and 51.10 to a dollar on Thursday.

The PSEi, meanwhile, shed 1.33 percent, or 104.46 points, to 7,736.24

points after a two-day recovery.

All Shares also ended in the red after it fell 1.14 percent, or 52.77 points, to 4,595.58 points.

Industrial index posted the highest decline at 2.34 percent, followed by Holding Firms, 1.58 percent; Financials, 1.44 percent; Property, 0.65 percent; and Services, 0.20 percent.

Only the Mining and Oil proved resilient during the day after it rose 1.007 percent.

OIL, P9

Peso stays stable despite worries overseas, stocks down

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eopolitical issues between the US and Iran worried investors, resulting in the losses in the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) but the peso managed to stay a�loat.

The local currency ended the day’s trade at 50.756, little change from its 50.76 close Tuesday.

It opened the day on a weak tone at 51.16 from 50.945 a day ago.

It was able to strengthen to 50.74 mid-trading but also dipped to 51.25,

PESO, P9

witter Inc said on Wednesday it would test new features early this year that would allow users to control who can reply to their tweets, as it looks to limit abuse and harassment on the platform.

Social media �irms are under pressure to address harassment on their sites, which often occurs in unsolicited replies targeting women and minorities, and Twitter Chief Executive Of�icer Jack Dorsey has promised since 2018 to increase the "health" of public conversation.

"We want to help people feel safe participating in the conversation on Twitter by giving them more control over the conversations they start," the San Francisco-based company said in a tweet.

The company had launched a feature late last year allowing users to hide certain replies on their tweets as a part of its efforts to clean up abusive content and make the social media platform more user-friendly.

In a presentation at the annual CES tech conference, the company laid out plans, according to reports by several tech media, including The Verge and TechCrunch.

According to the presentation, users will be able to choose 4 different settings for replies: Global, which would allow anyone to respond, Group, which would allow replies from people a user followed or mentioned; Panel, or people mentioned in a tweet, and Statement, or no replies at all.

DOLE drafts new 'security of tenure' bill to stop 'endo'

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he Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday it drafted a new bill against "endo" or illegal contractualization, after President Rodrigo Duerte vetoed an earlier version of the measure.

On Duterte's orders, the DOLE submitted the draft Security of Tenure bill to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, which will be forwarded to Congress when sessions resume this month, Labor Secretary Sil-

vestre Bello III said.

Duterte in July vetoed the original version of the bill citing a potential decline in available jobs, his spokesman Salvador Panelo had said.

Duterte is seeking “delicate balance” between the interest of employers and workers.

Under the updated bill, hiring seasonal and project-based employees are legal under the LJC scheme or “legitimate job contract-

DOLE, P9

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Impediment

The Samal-Davao Bridge “dream project” could be in for more sleeps.

Just as both city’s leadership are anticipating the start of the project soon, another blockade got in the way. On Thursday, Mayor Sara Duterte announced that an oppositor has surfaced to oppose the project on the grounds of right of way. This oppositor family wants to �ile a Writ of Kalikasan against the dream project.

So it’s back to the waiting table again. What was supposed to be the year the project will �inally take off has changed complexion.

EDGEDAVAO

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

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Photography

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

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

The opposition will have to be dealt with �irst before any ground movement for the project begins.

A legal resolution of the case, once �iled, could eat up some time. That is why it is understandable if Mayor Sara and the people of both cities who have been longing for the bridge project to materialize felt disappointed.

While it is everyone’s right to make an opposition to a project based on good faith and legal grounds, it is also important for people to realize the bigger picture.

A speedy resolution of this matter is the best hope for this project.

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 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

JOHN CARLO B. TRIA MY TWO CENTS’

LOOKING BACK AT THE ECONOMY IN 2019, MOVING FORWARD IN 2020 Those wondering about our economic growth will do well to look at the numbers the country has achieved in 2019 : which provide an indication of more robust, durable and inclusive growth.

Already many economists like Nicolas Mapa of ING Bank have opined that growth in the coming year will be much better than 2019’s.

Yet, a look back at the past year will give us an indication of where the growth for 2020 will be. I would like to quote my good friend Men Sta Ana of Civil Society Group Action for Economic Reforms in his latest Business world Column Yellow Pad (https://www.bworldonline.com/the-risk-despite-the-growth/): “Underlying this growth are sound economic fundamentals. In�lation has been

tamed. Interest rates have been slashed. The currency has stabilized. Revenue efforts, thanks to the series of tax reforms, have risen.

Accordingly, the Philippine credit rating has secured investment grade, and the economic managers are aiming to get an A rating.

More importantly for development, unemployment and underemployment are at a historically low level. (In other words, jobless growth — a feature in the heyday of neoliberalism — is gone.) In the same vein, poverty reduction has accelerated — a decline in poverty incidence by more than six percentage points in a short period of three years, from 23.3% in 2015 to 16.6% in 2018.

Having a growth rate of 6% and above has been the norm since 2012. This is the longest high-growth streak

that the Philippine economy has experienced. And we can expect better performance in the years to come, especially in light of the durable reforms that have been put in place.”

With this, the institutions and reforms have delivered the hoped for results, creating a positive impressions of the economy in international �inancial markets, from where needed funds for projects and investments come. The BBB+ ratings are a good indication of this high regard.

What these mean, at least to me, is that political brickbats encountered by the administration will no longer have its effect on macroeconomic success. In other words, political diatribes can no longer affect investor sentiment. This, despite 2019 being an election year where

investor jitters tend to sway sentiment.

That said, the growth has been durable and dependable, to the point that it has been felt, and recorded even in areas as far as the once neglected Visayas and Mindanao.

The cities of Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Davao have seen their skylines grow to accomodate property developments buoyed up by cheap interest rates. Even vehicular traf�ic has become a problem in these areas.

Unemployment in these areas are also noticeably low, feeding the sentiment that indeed the growth is inclusive since more and more can �ind jobs in the economy.

Build Build Build is not just for government.

On the horizon however, are the usual storms but

more importantly, geopolitical issues such as those we have seen in the Iran-US con�lict, natural disasters that dislocate residents and livelihoods and climate change that affects agriculture growth patterns that have their impact on food supply.

I will not dwell too much on them in this particular column, as the possibilities that they will have a profoud effect on our growth have yet to be ascertained, in the same way many fears of the TRAIN Laws excise tax causing spikes in in�lation have been disproven. Let’s wait and see.

What matters more at this point are not these obstacles or worries, but how well we have prepared and how willing we are to deal with them.

For reactions: facebook. com/johntriapage

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

INSCRUTABLE JOY “Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.” – Emily Dickinson *** They were unlikely duo.

Edward Cole was a billionaire health care magnate while Carter Chambers was a blue-collar mechanic. Both had one thing in common: they were diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

They were con�ined in the same hospital. Cole wanted a private room but he cannot do so since, in his own public statements, all rooms are double-occupancy for cost-ef�iciency. And so, they were in the same room.

During their time together, they managed to �ind common ground. Before he was diagnosed, he had a “bucket list” of places he wanted to visit. Learning that he had less than a year to live, he discarded the list, which Edward found.

The following day, Edward told him they will go together in accomplishing his bucket list. Edward, of course, will �inance the “road trip.”

If you are still wondering what I was talking about, it’s about The Bucket List, a 2007 American buddy comedy-drama �ilm directed and produced by Rob Reiner.

Starring were the two Holly-

wood A-listers: Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

One of the most memorable scenes of the movie happened on top of the Egyptian pyramid were the buddies were drinking and chatting.

Carter asked Edward two questions after telling him some story about entering heaven’s gate: The �irst question was: “Have you found joy in your life?” The second question went this way: “Have your life brought joy to others?”

The �irst question is easier to answer. But the second one is tough, very tough. It’s very hard to know whether we have brought joy to others.

Joy – it as only three letters but a very powerful word. I am sure you have several moments in your life where you have experienced joy. For many, it might be the moment when they tied the nuptial knot, or the birth of their baby, or passing the board exam. To some, it may be winning the coveted award or having a home of their own.

But joy is different from happiness, which most people think joy is. Dictionary de�ines happiness as a sense of well-being or contentment. When people are successful, or safe, or lucky, they

feel happiness.

Joy, however, is something more than that. “Happiness is part of who we are,” wrote Tony DeLiso in Legacy: The Power Within, “Joy is the feeling.” Theopedia describes joy as “a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, con�idence and hope.”

In fact, there is a clear distinction between joy, pleasure and happiness. “I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy,” C.S. Lewis once said.

“I call it Joy, which is here a technical term and must be sharply distinguished both from Happiness and Pleasure. Joy, in my sense, has indeed one characteristic, and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again… I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasures in the world. But then Joy is never in our power and Pleasure often is.”

Gautama Buddha stated, “When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” George Bernard Shaw himself said, “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself

as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”

Such vague, such inscrutable joy is!

It is by helping others that someone may experience happiness. True. And it is by doing so also that joy may be embraced. A Chinese saying goes this way: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go �ishing.

If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

The sole meaning of life, according to Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, is to serve humanity. “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give,” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill reminded.

“Giving back is as good for you as it is for those you are helping,” said Oscar-winning Goldie Hawn (for Cactus Flower), “because giving gives you purpose. When you have a purpose-driven life, you’re a happier person.”

And that brings joy to your being.

Some people say you have to experience sorrow to experience joy. In The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran wrote: “Some of you say, ‘Joy is greater than sorrow,’ and others say, ‘Nay, sorrow is the greater.’ But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together, they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.”

“Sorrow prepares you for joy,” Rumi explains. “It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can �ind space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.”

Still having a hard time deciphering what joy is? “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are,” said Marianne Williamson.

Here’s a �inal thought, from Terry Pratchett, author of A Hat Full of Sky: “Joy is to fun what the deep sea is to a puddle. It’s a feeling inside that can hardly be contained.”

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

AGRITRENDS

GROWING RICE ORGANICALLY

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

(First of Two Parts) Rice is the staple food of Filipinos. In fact, studies show each person eats more than half a kilogram a day.

That’s about 214 kilograms of rice each year.

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

Most of the rice eaten by Filipinos are grown commercially – that is, loaded with synthetic pesticides and commercial fertilizer when they were raised in the �ields.

“Pesticides are like bombs being dropped in the food web creating enormous destruction,” said entomologist Dr. K.L. Heong when he was still connected with the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Unknowingly, pesticides are killing more than just the pests.

“Some pesticides harm the living organisms other than the targeted pest,” pointed out the Davao-based Technical Assistance Center for the Development of Rural and Urban Poor.

“Some travel to the food

chain to bioaccumulate in higher organisms.”

Every year, more than 20,000 people die because of pesticides, the Geneva-based World Health Organization reports.

Half of the poisonings and three-quarters of the deaths occur in developing countries like the Philippines.

These days, however, as some Filipinos are getting health conscious, there are those who prefer eating organically-grown rice. In Mindanao, a few farmers are now raising this kind of rice.

Thanks to farmers who are practicing sustainable ecological agriculture (SEA), which “establishes high and lasting soil productivity and conserves or reestablishes a well-balanced environment.”

SEA tries to integrate three main goals: environmental health, economic pro�itability and social and economic equity. That’s according to the Cotabato Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CARRDEC), whose main of�ice is based at the University of South-

ern Mindanao in Kabacan, North Cotabato.

“Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” explains the 20-page CARRDEC Farm Primer, published in tandem with the M’lang-based Southern Christian College.

Accordingly, SEA help farmers select appropriate management practices based on the following principles: selection of species and varieties well suited to the site and locations on the farm; diversi�ication of crops, livestock, and cultural practices to enhance the biological and economic stability of the farm; management of the soil to enhance and protect soil quality; ef�icient and humane use of inputs; and consideration of farmer’s goals and lifestyle choices.

In application of these principles, the following basic practices are promoted: no burning of farm residues and other organic matter; no cutting of trees; no use of chemicals; and

no monocropping.

Organic farming is one of the initiatives of SEA. “Organic agriculture is a production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic compound fertilizers, growth regulators, and livestock feed additives,” the primer states.

As observed by SEA, organic agriculture relies on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, offfarm organic wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral-bearing rocks and productivity and tilt to supply nutrients and control diseases, insects, weeds, and other pests.

On why organically-grown crops are better than those raised commercially, the primer points out: “The fear of pesticide residues in food is a common environmental concern.

Organically-grown food taste better and they are healthier and nutritious.”

By organically grown, it means grains, vegetables or fruits were raised without commercial fertilizer and synthetic pesti-

cides.

The farm primer shares eight steps in growing rice organically. The �irst step refers to seed preparation.

Only those seeds which have the following characteristics: yield adaptability, resistance to pests, and lodging.

Once identi�ied, the seeds are soaked for 24 hours and then set aside for 24-36 hours. The rate of sowing seeds is 20 to 40 kilograms per hectare.

But before planting, the �ield must be prepared thoroughly. The dikes are expanded to two meters wide for other crops and animal housing. The dikes are cleared when rice has grown its stanch. Grasses are not cut as they serve as temporary harborage for insects and other predators.

“Prepare the land thoroughly to incorporate weeds into the soil,” the primer advises. “Harrow and level the �ield for better water management.”

The third step refers to planting. “Pull 18-21 day-old seedlings and transplant them immediately,” the primer says. “Plant 1-2 seedlings per hill at 30 centimeters by 10 centimeters spacing. Replant missing hills 5 days after transplanting.”

Step 4 has three soil fertility management: green manuring, farm waste utilization, and fallowing.

In green manuring, it explains: “Broadcast leguminous crops one day before harvesting the rice. Allow the crop to grow and bear �lower and plow it under at this stage. Crop rotation with leguminous crops improves soil condition and fertility.”

Farm wastes denote rice straw, leaves, and animal waste, among others. All these can be turn into compost. The compost conditions the

soil and can be applied as follows: basal application during land preparation; �irst top dress at 10 days after transplanting and second top dress at 30 days after planting.

In fallowing, the primer gives this information: “Allow the �ield to rest to enhance soil fertility through nutrient recycling and accumulation of organic matter. In addition, allow weeds to grow for one month to one year. Plow them under during land preparation for the next rice crop.”

Step 5 has four ecological pest management practices. First is water management. In his book, Water: The International Crisis, Robin Clark reports that an average farmer needs 5,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of rice. “Rice growing is a heavy consumer of water,” agrees the IRRI report, “Water: A Looming Crisis.”

The farm primer states: “Introduce water to 2-3 centimeters depth 7-9 days after transplanting.

Allow golden apple snail to eat the growing weeds.

With rice black bug infestation, drain the �ield three days before and three days after full moon.”

Second is introduction of ducks. “Herd ducks in the rice �ield 10 to 15 days after transplanting until booting stage,” the primer says.

“Maintain 10-15 centimeters water depth.

Ducks prey on insects and snails and serve as weeders.”

According to Department of Agriculture, raising ducks in rice �ields is one of the best strategies in increasing rice productivity as it reduces labor and inputs characterized by its devoid use of arti�icial fertilizers and chemicals.

GROWING RICE, P10

INdulge!

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

BUSINESS and leisure travellers visiting Davao City now have more options as homegrown hotel, Blue Lotus, opened its doors in grand fashion last January 5.

The first hospitality venture of the Policarpio family who are already known for the manufacture and export of weighing scales to the domestic and international markets, Blue Lotus Hotel offers 133 wellappointed rooms.

During the opening program, Blue Lotus Hotel Corporation president Amparo Policarpio shared her vision for the hotel. “We aim to make our hotel our guests’ home in Davao where they can create and bring with them fond memories”.

Policarpio also took pride in the hotel’s many smart and evironmentaly-friendly features, from LED lighting, solar power, rainwater harvesting for hotel use. The hotel is also built with high-tech and energy-saving VRV air-conditioning systems that self –regulate and personalise guests cooling preferences.

The hotel also boasts of two restaurants, Laut Palace which serves Chinese and Pan-ASEAN dishes, and Sky View Cafe & Bar, which offers guests a panoramic view of Davao Gulf

BLUE LOTUS HOTEL OPENS IN DAVAO and Mt. Apo while enjoying music from the bar’s live band performances.

Blue Lotus Hotel also offers MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibition) facilities by providing eight function rooms, and a ballroom with a seating capacity

Blue Lotus Hotel Corporation president Amparo Policarpio.

URBANISSIMO A4

Policarpio with City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, comedianne/host Giselle Sanchez, DCIPC chief April Dayap, and DOT Xl regional director Tanya Rabat-Tan.

Blue Lotus Hotel’s pool.

Giselle Sanchez provided fun and entertainment during the gala dinner.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

GLOBE ENCOURAGES CONSUMERS TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

BY USING MOBILE SERVICES

GLOBE TELECOM encourages consumers to take steps in reducing their environmental impact by using their mobile devices to access health, financial, educational, entertainment, retail, food, and other services to minimize travel.

Petroleum-fed vehicles are one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in many cities around the world. Every time a person rides a bus, car, motorcycle, ship, airplane or similar modes of transportation that does not use green energy contributes to greenhouse gas production.

“Mobile technology has given consumers the power to accomplish a lot of things literally at their fingertips.

Through mobile phones, we can pay our bills, visit the doctor, go to the bank, buy food, go to school, shop for clothes, among other things. By going digital, we could lessen our contribution to greenhouse gas emission and assist in healing our planet,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

One of the services that many Filipinos have yet to try but which can help save a lot of time, effort, and money is telehealth. KonsultaMD, for instance, gives the public immediate access to a team of skilled and licensed Filipino doctors anytime they need it, whenever they may be.

By calling KonsultaMD’s 24/7 hotline (02-7798 8000), anyone may seek medical information through the phone for primary conditions (such as cough, fever, cold, flu, pink eye/sore eyes, sinus infections, urinary tract infections, bronchitis, rashes, allergies, asthma), maternity, pediatrics, among others; telephone triage to determine urgency of the situation; reading of, and information on, lab and diagnostic results; health coaching and nutrition counseling; and prescription for over-the-counter medication.

On the other hand, the public may also benefit from the ease of use of mobile money. While digital finance was intended primarily to promote financial inclusion especially among those who are unbanked, it has started to grow in the Philippines and is fast becoming part of the Filipino lifestyle.

Online financial platforms like GCash allow people to send money to another GCash user, buy load, transfer money to a bank and vice versa, pay bills, pay for goods and services, get a loan, invest, save money and even help rebuild the Philippine forests without travelling since everything can be done through the app.

“Mobile operators around the world are doing their best to reduce the impact of climate change through various innovations. We at Globe continue to look for ways to reduce our own carbon footprint while helping consumers, businesses, and industries do the same by using mobile technologies,” Crisanto said.

Globe actively supports 10 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and combines innovation with the power of collaboration to achieve inclusive and sustainable development for all.

BPI-PHILAM CELEBRA 10TH ANNIVERSARY GEARS UP FOR 2020

TOP bancassurance firm BPI-Philam caps off the year with a festive celebration that highlights its triumphs in the past months and celebrates 10 successful years in the business.

Rocking the night through its EDM festival-inspired theme “ELEVAT10N,” the company looks back on its early beginnings and, at the same time, looks forward to its future with Bring Dreams to Life, a campaign that aims to elevate the experience of its customers even higher.

Bring dreams to life The introduction of the campaign “Bring Dreams to Life” was one of the highlights of the night.

Complete with a catchy jingle that embodies its very aim, the campaign is expected to shake up the brand come 2020. Bring Dreams to Life emphasizes BPI-Philam’s commitment to service that allows people to live their dreams through its comprehensive library of products that cater to every Filipino in all stages of life.

“The campaign aims to boost the confidence of Filipinos to live their lives without limitations as we provide them with the opportunity to live better, healthier, and longer lives. Bring Dreams to Life encourages people to not let anything hold them back in their journey to their dreams, with BPI-Philam alongside them all throughout,” said BPI-Philam CEO Surendra

Menon.

BPI-Philam believes that every Filipino deserves to have their lives protected from and have their finances be supported through any unforeseen or unfortunate events. Moving forward to the new decade, BPI-Philam takes on the challenge of taking insurance to as many parts of the country and as many Filipinos as it can.

A decade of saving lives “The end of the decade also marks a decade of successfully securing lives for BPI-Philam, and this night is a celebration of that milestone. As we welcome the new year, we envision our plans to strengthen our services to secure more lives and open more doors of financial protection to Filipinos.

From here, we aim to further our goal of making insurance accessible and affordable to more and more individuals,” said Menon.

In its first year, BPI-Philam acquired 10,000 new policy holders in total. By 2019, the bancassurance company has secured the same number of policies every month of the year. BPI-Philam has grown from 10,000 to 350,000 policies—each one representing a client whose life has been protected and whose dreams have been helped to fulfill. Its regular premium shares also performed a significant yearly increase—from 16% in 2010 to 50% in 2014, and now a massive 95% just before the decade ends.

Built on the combined expertise of two powerhouses of the

financial establishe best life i in just a f ness. Tod ing banca is continu the increa branches AIA Grou the count on the str of its heri in protec viding th and prosp

ELEVAT ELEVA biggest ye BPI-Phila electronic

EDAVAO

ATES Y, 20

“Pambansang banda ng bayan” Parokya ni Edgar elevates the beat of the crowd with their classic hits known by heart by every Filipino. industry, BPI-Philam had ed its name as one of the insurers in the Philippines few years into the busiday, it is the country’s leadassurance company and uously growing alongside asing number of BPI s across the Philippines. As oup’s bancassurance arm in try, BPI-Philam leverages rong financial foundation itage to gain Filipino trust cting their lives and prohem with financial security perity.

T10N AT10N is the company’s earend celebration yet as am prepared a night of c dance music and fun

INdulge! A3

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

“KAPUSO COUNTDOWN TO 2020” IS MOST WATCHED NEW YEAR SPECIAL

MORE viewers welcomed the new year and the new decade while tuned in to GMA Network’s “Kapuso Countdown to 2020: The GMA New Year Special” last December 31.

North Luzon 1 struck a pose with great pride after having been awarded Division of the Year and a cash prize of Php 100,000, and gathered employees from all over the country to dance with the Christmas spirit at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Hosted by TV personality Billy Crawford, performances from the employees and guests DJ Marc Marasigan and “Pambansang banda ng bayan” Parokya Ni Edgar brought the house down and energized the crowd of 1,800 employees. Participants went home with more than smiles on their faces as BPI-Philam gave away cash prizes and other gifts for employee awards and competitions, including Division of the Year Award and Best in Theme Costume. In the end, North Luzon 1 was awarded Division of the Year and brought home a Php 100,000 cash prize, while Visayas 2 won Best in Theme Costume.

“We call our celebration ELEVAT10N because after 10 years of incredible growth and success, there is really no other way to go but up. Higher goals, higher targets, a higher level of commitment to deliver the best products and experiences to our customers.

As we step into the future, we aim to further elevate BPI-Philam’s stature in the life and health insurance industry,” said Menon in his welcome remarks.

The celebration also honored BPI-Philam’s partnership with its parent companies, BPI and Philam Life, and the AIA Group through a Partnership Commitment Ceremony. Present in the ceremony were BPI-Philam CEO Surendra Menon, BPI Division Head Rally Heresa, AIA Philam Life Chief Marketing Officer Leo Tan, and AIA Philam Life Director of Partnership Distribution Neil Bowyer.

The representatives were called to the stage to pledge commitment to the partnership on a cube that symbolizes the partnership of the four companies: BPI-Philam, BPI, AIA Philam Life, and AIA Group. BPI CEO Bong Consing also graced the ceremony through video recording.

To learn more about BPIPhilam’s events and campaigns, visit its website <www.bpi-philam. com>, and follow the official Facebook page <www.facebook.com/ BPIPhilamOfficial>.

Based on Nielsen Phils. TV Audience Measurement’s overnight ratings data, GMA’s New Year countdown won over competition after it recorded a people rating of 7 percent in National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM). ABS-CBN’s ‘2020 Rising BGC Taguig Is Where It Starts The New Year Countdown’ only managed to get 6.8 percent.

Viewers from all over the country commended the Kapuso New Year special, which received various positive feedback online.

Facebook user Alice Fernandez said, “Yes enjoying the show watching with a joyful heart!!! Tnx so much for this kind of entertainment. God bless everyone.”

On Instagram, @chiqui.concepcion said, “galing ng gma kapuso 2020 countdown. I like yung nakikita ang names ng performers kasi marami ding new talents. Happy New Year Kapuso Network. And thank you po for Alden Richards.” @KimLie tweeted out, “ganda ng stage at ang daming nagpunta sa MOA para makisali sa yearend countdown.”

Asia’s Multimedia Star Alden Richards led the New Year Countdown

celebration together with Julie Anne San Jose, Aicelle Santos, Mark Bautista, Katrina Halili, Kris Bernal, Rocco Nacino, Sanya Lopez, Sef Cadayona, Betong Sumaya, Kristoffer Martin, Jak Roberto, Migo Adecer, Klea Pineda, Kyline Alcantara, Arra San Agustin,

P-POP Generation, Buganda and Miss World Philippines 2019 Michelle Dee. GMA Music recording artists Golden Cañedo, Hannah Precillas, Garrett Bolden, Jong Madaliday, and XOXO with StarStruck Season 7’s Shayne Sava, Kim de Leon, Allen Ansay, Lexi Gonzalez and The Clash Season 2’s Jeremiah Tiangco, Thea Astley, Antonette Tismo, Nef Medina, and Jeniffer Maravilla also performed during the countdown special.

The Kapuso Network also shared a sneak peek of its upcoming programs this 2020 and the much-awaited teaser of the live-action adaptation of the anime series ‘Voltes V Legacy’ during the said special.

UNANG HIRIT’S “BAGONG BAHAY SA 2020” GOES TO ASPIRING TEACHER

A housewife studying to become a teacher is the winner of a new house from Unang Hirit’s “UH20:Bagong Bahay sa 2020.” She is 40-year old Jenny Cañaveral from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Jenny is taking up Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She is married to Joeben Cañaveral, a construction worker, and they have two children: Jhaveson Mark and Jheawel Mae. “Mula bata ay hindi ako nakaranas na magkaroon ng sariling bahay at lupa.

Ngayon, nakikitira kami sa lupang pinababantayan sa aking biyenan. Nakatira kami sa barong-barong. (Growing up, I never experienced living in a house of our own. Right now, we are living in a shanty in a

lot being looked after by my in-laws.),” Jenny narrated in her letter to Unang Hirit.

Jenny’s letter is just one of thousands of letters received

by Unang Hirit last December in celebration of the show’s 20th anniversary. The entries were screened and narrowed down.

According to the panel of judges, what made Jenny’s story stand out is her drive to do something about her situation and not merely depend on others, “Gustong-gusto kong magkaroon ng sariling bahay kaya kahit may edad na pumasok ako sa paaralan sa pag-asang magbago ang takbo ng aming buhay. (I really want to have my own house so even if I’m already old, I decided to go back to

school in the hope of improving our lives.),” she added.

Aside from the new house, Unang Hirit also gave Jenny and her family a new television, refrigerator, microwave oven, sack of rice and a housewarming party.

The awarding of the house and lot caps Unang Hirit’s celebration of its 20th year of providing news, entertainment and Serbisyong Totoo to its viewers. It is the country’s longest-running morning show.

A4 INdulge!

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

URBANISSIMO A1 of up to 400 persons. Strategically located along Quimpo Boulevard and just a stones-throw distance from the Davao City Overland Terminal, the hotel is close to Davao’s city core and is also easily accessed from the south of the metro.

Going beyond the typical business hotel, the Blue Lotus Hotel also has a fitness centre and a rooftop pool, perfect for travellers to relax, stay fit, and have a good workout.

Attending the grand opening ceremonies were Davao City Investment and Promotions Center chief April Marie Dayap, who represented City Mayor Sarah Z. Duterte-Carpio, City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, who represented Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, Presidential Commission for Urban Poor commissioner Norman Baloro, former city vice mayor Bernard Al-ag, European Chamber of Commerce chair Antonio Peralta, Department of Tourism regional director Tanya Rabat Tan, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory

A4 INdulge!

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Board chair Atty. Martin Delgra lll.

Close friends and relatives of the

The Blue Lotus Ballroom can seat up to 400 persons.

Policarpio family were also present to join the momentous occasion.

Sky View Cafe & Bar.

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

Blue Lotus Hotel’s management team, Chrissa Brasileño, Gemma general managerEscartinCunanan, Arra Racil Amatong, Roxanne Dela Merced, and Febbie Denila together with event host Nico Timothy Fowler .

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

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STUMBLING... FROM1

and its front in the IGaCoS side,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio also urged Davao media practitioners to better ask the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is the proponent of the project. The letter of complaint of the said family was sent and addressed to DPWH. “I have a copy but the

letter was not addressed to me that’s why I don’t think I have the right to release it. The last information I received was that the oppositor has plans to �ile a Writ of Kalikasan against the project. So we can expect delays for its construction,” she added.

The P23.04 billion Davao-Samal connector will be funded through

Of�icial Development Assistance (ODA). Davao City and Samal Island are the bene�iciaries of the project.

During her State of the City Address (SOCA) on October 14, last year, Duterte-Carpio has called on the NEDA Board to act on the proposed bridge that will connect the IGaCoS to Davao City.

that many of the OFWs in Islamic countries in the Middle East come from Mindanao, including the Bangamoro Provinces,”

Piñol said.

“With proper preparation, the feared crisis could yet become a window of opportunity for the agricul-

tural and economic development of Mindanao with the involvement of thousands of OFWs,” he added.

(PNA)

with a total cost of P19.6 million. The projects are located in Dawan, Mamali, Bangunay, and Lawigan.

The biggest PRDP project slated for this year in the City of Mati is the rehabilitation of the NHJ-Bantal farm-to-market road

(FMR) with P60.1 million estimated cost.

The FMR project is still on its initial phase and is not expected to be completed this year.

For the PRDP Enterprise Development Component or I-REAP, a P3

million project for Fresh Banana Cardava Trading is set for implementation as well.

PRDP projects are jointly funded by the World Bank, the National Government and the participating LGUs. (CIO MATI)

vice that would allow them to enjoy competitive wages, enough to address their personal needs and that of their families,” he added.

In a press conference earlier Wednesday, Department of Budget and Man-

agement Dir. Gerald Janda said government workers would get pay hikes beginning January 1 this year.

“When signed into law, the �irst tranche of the increase in the salary of government workers will take

effect starting January 1, 2020 and we have already provided in the 2020 GAA certain amount for the implementation of this under the Miscellaneous Personnel Bene�its Fund,” he said.

(PNA)

He was killed in a US airstrike just outside the Baghdad airport on Jan. 3.

Duterte has expressed fears for the safety of his countrymen in the Middle East and asked Congress to hold a special session to discuss the tensions be-

tween Iran and the United States.

“I do not have anything, nary a worry, were it not for a fact that there are a lot of Filipinos there... We need the money. I need it before it actually starts,” Duterte said last Monday.

On Wednesday, the Philippine Embassy in Iraq said it raised the highest in a 4-step crisis alert system, which called for a mandatory repatriation of Filipinos after Iran launched missiles against US forces in Baghdad.

sions there.

On Wednesday, Iran had launched over a dozen ballistic missiles against

two military bases housing American troops in Iraq.

This is in retaliation to a US drone strike in Bagh-

dad where Tehran’s top general Qassem Soleimani was killed on January 3.

(PNA)

President Rodrigo Duterte, who expressed grave concern about the condition and safety of OFWs in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Iran and nearby Arab countries as a result of the escalating tension between Iran and the United States.

During the 45th Cabinet meeting Monday night, Duterte instructed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Special Envoy to the Middle East, and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mama-o to travel to Iran and Iraq to discuss the plight of OFWs there.

The President also

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 OFWs in the Middle East.

Datu Ramos said the NCMF’s next moves will depend on the results of Cimatu and Mama-o’s travel to the Gulf region.

He added they are still

collating the latest data on Muslim Filipinos working in the Middle East.

The NCMF is a government agency created to promote the rights and welfare of Muslim Filipinos and their communities.

Based on the 2018 Survey on Overseas Filipinos conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, of the almost 2.3 million OFWs, 2.1 percent or close to 50,000 came from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, now known as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

Securities. "The market can move on."

Hogan said investors are focused on an expected signing of a US-China trade accord next week and an upcoming quarterly earnings season.

Among individual

shares, Boeing dropped 1.8 percent, weighing on the Dow, following the fatal crash of a Ukraine International Airlines plane in Iran.

The aircraft involved in the accident was 737-800, a predecessor to the Boe-

ing 737 MAX, which has been grounded following two earlier crashes.

Analysts said it was too soon to speculate on causes of the crash but characterized the incident as another unwelcome challenge for the company.

MINDA... FROM2

113... FROM2

PRRD... FROM3

GOV’T... FROM3

BI... FROM3

NCMF... FROM3

OIL... FROM5

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

BANK... FROM4 bringing it to 4 percent.

It also slashed 400 basis points off the RRR or reserve requirement ratio for banks, increasing the

amount of money banks can lend to clients.

Analysts, however, expect the BSP to resume monetary easing this year,

with some saying the central bank will likely cut its policy rate by 50 basis points, and the RRR by another 200 basis points.

Volume totaled to 1.76 billion shares amounting

to PHP5.17 billion.

Losers led gainers at

126 to 60, while 52 shares were unchanged. (PNA)

ing,” Bello said.

“Yung contractual employees happen only when it is a legal contractual arrangement and this is when you need only seasonal workers for a certain

season and workers for a certain project. Those are the instances where you can outsource employees.

Other than that you have to have your regular employees,” he said.

Stopping “endo” is part of Duterte’s campaign promise. The President in 2018 signed an executive order prohibiting illegal contracting and sub-contracting.

things currently stand.

This fact would have a massively detrimental effect on the chances of any return heading to Diriyah in the future. It’s believed Mayweather vs Pacquiao would both be paid nine-�igure sums to compete in a second �ight in the Middle East. In contrast, there are no such

guarantees for both if they took the �ight to Las Vegas again. PAY-PER-VIEW At least $100 million would be on the table for Mayweather in his home state of Nevada. Whilst Pacquiao would probably have to settle for half of that. Any extra cash would then be earned by the pair from Pay-Per-View sales.

Early projections, that’s if the clash is �inalized for Showtime PPV or FOX, would be around the 2 to 3 million mark. Due to a �ive-year gap, reaching the heights of the previous bout seem a nigh-on impossible task. ‘MayPac 1’ gained 4.6m buys. Which still stands as a record.

(World Boxing News)

ment, the proposed schedule for wushu at the Games was approved, meaning

48 athletes from all over the world will participate in four events: men's and

women's Changquan and men's and women's Taijiquan. (Xinhua)

PESO... FROM5

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10

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VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

GROWING RICE... FROM8 More importantly, recent studies have shown that ducks in the rice paddies can effectively reduce the emission of methane into the atmosphere because of the constant paddling of ducks.

Planting of insect repellant crops is the third management practice. “Plant insect repellant crops along the dike,” the primer says. Examples include winged beans (kadios), lemon grass, cosmos, and madre de cacao or kakawate.

Research done by the author showed makabuhay as a natural pesticide. In some parts of the country, farmers chop the leaves and scatter them in their rice �ields or vegetable plots. This has been proven to be effective against brown planthopper, green lea�hopper, and rice stemborer.

Makabuhay vine can also be grinded and broadcasted at the rate of two kilograms per square meter on rice seedbeds 10 days after sowing. This procedure has proven “makabuhay” as toxic as broadcast carbofuran. Toxic effect lasts �ive to seven days after application.

The fourth and last

management practice is the use of insect attractant. “Hang dead animals like frogs or rats and chicken intestines to attract rice bugs,” the primer says.

The sixth step is harvest and post-harvest practices. “Harvest palay when 80-85% of the grains are ripe,” the primer suggests.

“Thresh immediately using a single pass drum or ‘bulhot.’ Dry palay seeds to 14% moisture content. Mill palay seeds using an organic rice mill, that is, a rice mill that has been sanitized.”

The seventh step is the preservation and conservation of rice seeds. “Choose good quality panicles (well�illed, free from insect damage). Bundle panicles and hand them in the shade.”

The last step is marketing. “Pack organically-grown milled rice in a clean white sack (50 kilograms per sack) and deliver to outlets.”

Rice, IRRI says, “is the principal food for over 60% of mankind.”

It is particularly important to Asia where over half of the world’s population lives.

“Rice is the one thing that truly de�ines Asia,”

said former IRRI Director-General Dr Ronald Cantrell. In China and Korea, where elders recall times when food was hard to come by, some still greet each other with the question, “Have you had your rice today?”

Rice contains carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, and �iber. A Reader’s Digest feature states: “Most of the white rice available in the supermarket is enriched, which means, besides its other assets, it is also supplemented with iron, niacin and thiamine.

“But most of these added nutrients are lost if rice is washed before cooking or drained afterward. Brown rice, with its healthful bran layers, contains all these nutrients naturally, plus �iber, oil and vitamin E. Low in sodium and fat, with no cholesterol, rice is a boon to weight worriers and those allergic to other grains.”

Rice, a member of the grass family and known scienti�ically as Oryza sativa, has devotees all over the region.

The Reader’s Digest feature shares this bit of information: “India is famous for its pulaus, which is served with all

kinds of meat, poultry and seafood. A popular Japanese rice dish is sushi, rice �lavored with sweet rice vinegar and wrapped with �ish and vegetables.

Indonesians set a whole table with rice and assorted goodies that go with the grain; the feast is called rijstafel. The Filipinos are known for its bibingka or rice cake. The Chinese make cakes, noodles and paste from rice.”

Writing about rice, Chinese poet Yang Ji penned: “Grain upon grain, / Fresh and delightful as frost, / A dazzling jewel, / To what can I compare this treasure?” (To be concluded)

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

CONTRACT NO. CFP No.

1.JERRY M. ESPINOSA

NNN430004109 1005821

2.LORNA G. PENTACASE NNN430007201 21031688

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

1/10,13,15

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VOL.12 ISSUE 213 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

11

Jokic saves the day Jokic scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half and Denver pulled out a 107-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks .

D

ALLAS (AP) -- All it took for Nikola Jokic to get going were a few words of encouragement from Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone at halftime.

Jokic scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half and Denver pulled out a 107-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night to �inish 3-2 on its longest road trip of the season.

Jokic had 21 points

in the third quarter and delivered the winning basket with 7.9 seconds left in the fourth when he backed down on the right side of the lane and got a favorable bounce on his left-handed layup. Jokic, who was coming off a career-high 47 points Monday in a win over Atlanta, scored his �irst points of this one with 4:31 to play in the �irst half. ‘’No, I didn’t get on him: ‘You’ve got to score 26

Plans for Pac-May 2 in Saudi in peril as war in Gulf looms

S

audi Arabia interest in hosting Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 could be directly affected by the recent troubles between the USA and Iran. As WBN �irst revealed, Saudi investors are keen to capitalize on the recent staging of Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz 2 by ramping up their event level. Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 is THE prime target for a massive boxing show in the summer of 2020. Recent happenings have placed considerable doubt on the plans. A targeted US drone strike killed Iranian Military Leader Qassem Soleimani on January 3rd. The Donald Trump approved move has since sparked retaliation from Iranian forces. Launching a missile attack on Iraqi bas-

es hosting United States troops has escalated the current situation to a critical level. Saudi Arabia has now become a lucrative target for Iran due to their media coverage of the US assassination of Soleimani. Saudi news welcomed the move by President Trump as relations with Iran remain bitter. There’s no doubt that if tensions continue or intensify, the biggest American sports star of the last decade would be highly apprehensive about entering the region. The threat of kidnapping to any Westerners due to a recruitment drive from surrounding areas is entirely real. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao would need major assurances over safety. This may not be possible at

PLANS, P9

points this half,’’’ Malone said. ‘’It was more, ‘Just stay with it.’ He got really good looks in the �irst half.

‘Didn’t go down for you.

We’re going to keep on going to you.’’’

The Mavericks’ �inal possession ended with an errant pass that eluded Tim Hardaway Jr. behind the 3-point line.

Luka Doncic led Dallas with 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds - one rebound short of his 12th

triple-double of the season. The Mavericks played their �ifth straight game without Kristaps Porzingis (right knee soreness), who is second on the team in scoring and rebounding. ‘’The game wasn’t lost at the end,’’ Hardaway said. ‘’It was lost in the �irst, second, third and little parts of the fourth. You’ve got to give them credit because they knocked down their contested 3s and Jo-

kic got hot.’’

The Nuggets were 9 for 24 behind the arc, led

by Jokic going 4 for 6.

Dallas shot 12 for 35 on 3-pointers. Doncic was 1 for 7 from long range.

After Jokic missed his only three shots of the �irst quarter and had seven points at halftime, he got rolling quickly. ‘’I missed a couple easy ones in the �irst half,’’ Jokic said. ‘’My teammates were passing me the ball and

telling me to shoot. I was just trying to be aggressive and score as much as possible.’’

The Nuggets were down two starters. Will Barton, second on the team in rebounding, missed the game for personal reasons. Paul Millsap sat out with a bruised left knee. Their substitutes in the lineup were Jerami Grant and Torrey Craig, each making his fourth start of the season.

the IOC in the initial stage.

The third application in 2011 made it to the �inal round of voting for participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games but fell agonizingly short and missed out once again.

With a long history and deep roots in the country's cultural and spiritual traditions, Chinese traditional wushu elegantly unites the body and spirit. China wishes to share these qualities with the world.

Following the promotional efforts of the International Wushu Federation and the Chinese Wushu Association, wushu has gained wide-ranging popularity across the world, especially among young participants. Statistics show that about 120 million people are now engaged in

wushu around the globe.

China's endeavor to get wushu recognized as an of�icial Olympic event accelerates the internationalization of this traditional sport.

Last year, China issued a proposal for building a sporting powerhouse, in which they prioritized "wushu to enter the Olympic Games as soon as possible". Today's announcement brings them another step closer to that goal.

Over the years, the IWF has done a lot of international promotion work with strong support from the State General Administration of Sport of China.

The Administration not only provides technical support to the national wushu federations, regularly sending experts to these federations to

supplement their wushu training camps, but also generously provides many wushu equipment free of charge. Every year, many local groups are sent abroad to put on performances and shows, striving to improve the in�luence of wushu overseas.

The 4th Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, Senegal in October 2022.

During its meeting in December last year, the IOC executive board approved the addition of �ive new sports, including hiphop dance, skateboarding, rock climbing, sur�ing, and karate, and decided to continue to evaluate the possibility of wushu entering the Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

After the announce-

Wushu to make Youth Olympics debut in ‘22

L

AUSANNE -- After appearing as special exhibition events at both the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, wushu will make its debut as an of�icial sport at the 2022 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) con�irmed at Wednesday's executive board meeting.

It is the �irst time that wushu, widely known as Chinese kung fu, will be of�icially included in the Olympic competition.

It is a long-awaited breakthrough for the International Wushu Federation (IWF) which submitted its application for inclusion to the IOC in 2001, 2008 and 2011 respectively, but failed each time. The �irst two applications were rejected by

WUSHU, P9

12 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS BRACE FOR BATTLE BOUNCING BACK EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 164 VOL.12 VOL.12 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, ISSUE ISSUE 213 78••FRIDAY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER JANUARY JUNE 25-26, 27, 10,2019 2020

4NBA games as Escandor Collegiate bestupBucks toppleCup down Warriors Sponsors League resumes Saturday S AN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The assists.

Milwaukee Bucks own the best ‘’Our pace was not great in the record in the NBA and coach �irst half and it picked up in the Mike Budenholzer still wants far second half,’’ Warriors coach Steve more what B. he MORRELL has seen the Kerr said. ‘’I thought we were a Bythan ADAM past two games. little tentative in the �irst half.

More made shots. More pace. They’re a great team, obviously four-game Mandaya Hotel, Da-in the league and the Moreheavy energy.

Betterbillball Royal movethe best team is on its way as acvies Paints, Mandarin SPC ment, too. best defense in the league.’’ tion in the Collegiate Branch, Giannis Antetokounmpo had Max's Fried The ChickBucks overcame a cold Sponsors League (CSL) en and PTT Lubricants.

30 points and 12 rebounds while shooting performance of 40.2% Escandor Cup resumes on Meantime, the leading four Milwaukee in to win Foundatheir third straight game on Saturday, October 26, atstarters Agro-Industrial double and the NBA-best the Davao�igures, City Recreation tion CollegeGolden of the State’s Philip- home �loor, playing Bucks held off the Goldenpines State for the �irstand time at new Chase CenCenter.

(AIFCP) Sailors Warriors 107-98 Wednesday ter on Wednesday.

The curtain raiseronwill the UM Wildcats shared night. a "David versus the top spot inAntetokounmpo notched his feature bracket A Goliath" match up you’ve as oddswith record each, 32nd double-dou‘’Sometimes got to �indaa 2-0league-leading on favorite Maria ColCJCcontinuing Red way to winJose kind of the uglyfollowed games, by blethe after to deal with lege Kingsoftakes on Lions witha1-0.

MCTHe shot 1 for 7 on and(JMC) I’m proud the group for dosoreThe back. the Brokenshiresaid.Navigators landed and on converted 9 of 13 ingstruggling that,’’ Budenholzer ‘’... We 3-pointers College of Davao (BCD) the fourth spot with 1-1, made just enough plays.’’ free throws. dribblers trailed defending Khrisat 3:00pm.

Middleton added 21 by theKERR FINED The clash between the champion Holy Cross of points, seven rebounds and six asKerr was San Pedro College (SPC) Davao College (HCDC)�ined $25,000 by the sists as Milwaukee - with theCrusaders NBA’s NBA for verbally Stallions and the visiting with on 1-2,Wednesday DMbest Jesu recordCollege at 33-6 (CJC) - bounced back Mariners abusing a game Cor MACSP 0-1, of�icial and failing a hard-fought victory SPCD against to0-1, leave theSPC court in a timely manofwith Digos City Red Lions Saints and the go young Warriors its with ner0-2. following an ejection. will after at 4:30 after pm, having Stallions �ive-gamebywinning streak snapped Kerr was ejected late in the secfollowed the exciting The bracket B, meanbattle between loss traditionwhile, is currently led by in a 126-104 at San Antonio ond quarter of the Warriors’ 111alonpowerhouse Cross Monday. teams St. the Holy 98 roadCollege loss to the Sacramento John Alec PaulBurks II College Sasa (HCCS) scoredof 19 ofpoints Kings Spartans on Monday night after getDavao (SPCD)Robinson Saints and withDa3-0 ting card,hitfollowed and Glenn III and with consecutive technical Mats of TechnolJMC Kings (2-0), Asian Jason Goldenberg. mionCollege Lee added 15 pointsby apiece fouls by referee ogy Navigators at Warriors, International Kerr School of for (MCT) the cold-shooting appeared initially upset 6:00 pm.

Aeronautics and Technolwho lost their sixth straight game about a continuation call that went At 7:00pm, the un- ogy (AISAT) (1-1), Ateand third in a row home.neo Willie the Kings’ way, then erupted after beaten University of at Minde Davao University Cauley-Stein contributed 10 pointsBlueGolden State did not receive a simdanao (UM) Wildcats Knights (1-2), SEE STORY Mannywill Pacquiao(Addu) says even at 40, he is not finished yet. walked and 11 rebounds.

He angrily onto ON the P11 stake its clean slate against BCD (0-1), ilar UMcall.

Penaplata Draymond back courtMemoafter the second technical DMMA College ofGreen South-was(0-1), and Rizal for Philippines Golden State after sitting and(RMC) yelled at Goldenberg before ern (DMMACrial out Colleges Monday withtoa wrap sprained an- (0-2). leaving.

SP) Mariners up right Bulldogs Saturday's quadruple kle and had �ive points on 1-for-7 ‘’I took my punishment and try header sponsored

by The and eight to move on,’’ Kerr said. shooting, eight rebounds

A

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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,

Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) had 30 points and 12 rebounds for the night.