Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 219 | Friday, January 17, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

PH BOXING OFFICIALS WARY OF WUHAN PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK

Serving a seamless society

f

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

@EdgeDavao

Dabawenyo businessman featured in Australia-based CEO magazine

I

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO, Managing Editor

n an ordinary Wednesday morning, 51-year old business mogul Glenn Escandor chats with an executive over coffee at The Lobby Cafe of one of his businesses Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center.

He was donned in shorts and shirt and a pair of sneakers.

This is a typical morning for the young chief executive who was recently featured in the Sydney-based CEO Magazine for its November 19 issue.

Edge Davao was his other schedule that morning for a short

chat-terview. “No pictorials. Let’s just talk,” he politely tells this writer.

The CEO Magazine describes itself as “more than a premier business title: we are a source of information, inspiration and motivation for the world’s most successful leaders, executives, investors and entrepreneurs.”

Escandor Development Corporation CEO Glenn Escandor believes that “creativity and a strict adherence to quality are essential in maintaining that hard-won place in Davao’s development industry.”

The magazine, which has regional offices in Stockholm, Singapore, New York and the Philippines, is an iconic, global media brand that has inspired and promoted excellence within the business world.

FLEAD, P9

www.edgedavao.net

SPORTS P11

edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 16 PAGES

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Water interruptions in some areas of Toril, Agdao, Bajada

D

President Rodrigo Duterte receives a copy of the Book of Mormon from the officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who paid a courtesy call on the President at the Malago Clubhouse in Manila on Wednesday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

DavNor gov to hold talks with bridge oppositor

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. he Davao del Norte government will hold a dialogue with the family in Island Garden City of Samal who lodged opposition to the construction of the P23.04 billion worth of Davao-Samal Bridge.

T

Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib said in an interview after the Regional Peace and Order Council 11 on Wednesday afternoon that he is set to talk with the landowner within this quarter to address the issues and concern for the construction of the multi-billion bridge.

Jubahib said based on the information he gath-

ered, this owner claimed that his business will be affected if the bridge construction will push through. However, based on his verification, there was no business establishment within the property.

“Nakita nato na wala man gyuy business establishment nga gitukod dinha (I verified that there were no business establishments within the

PDEA declares two more brgys. in Mati as drug-free

T

he Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has declared two more barangays in the City of Mati as drug-free barangay bringing the total number of barangays to 24.

PDEA 11 director Antonio Rivera declared barangays Matiao and Sainz as drug-free barangays during a simple ceremony Thursday, January 16, 2020, at the City Hall of Mati.

Attending the event was City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat who welcomed the declaration at the same time asked PDEA to help the LGU in their effort to make all of the 26 barangays in the city drug-free.

Upon assumption to office on June 30, 2018, Mayor Michelle said there were remaining five barangays in the City of Mati that are still considered as being influenced by illegal drugs.

In a little over six months, the administration

of Mayor Michelle together with the police, barangay officials, and PDEA cleared three more barangays with only barangays Central and Dahican still having problem with illegal drugs.

“Glad to know that we accomplish in just expand of six months we are able to cleared three barangays namely Macambol, Matiao and Sainz. I would like to congratulate the barangay captain of barangay Matiao and Sainz for their efforts.

Without their support we can do nothing and to the CADAC Office and PDEA for their efforts,” said Mayor Michelle.

Barangay captains Edgar Valera of Sainz and Ronnie Valera of Matiao meanwhile thanked the City of Mati LGU and PDEA for helping their barangays eradicate the drug menace for a short period of time.

“I never taught that barangay Matiao will be part of the list as drug cleared

FPDEA, P9

property),” he said.

The governor said he will convince the owner to let the project commence since this will benefit the whole island in terms of development and opportunities once the bridge will be completed.

“I-impose gyud nato ang construction sa Davao-Samal Bridge kay mao ni ang dako nga project nga makahatag og dako nga development sa Samal Island (We should impose the construction of the Davao -Samal Bridge since this is a project that could give huge development in Samal Island),” he said.

Jubahib said there should not be only one

family to benefit the development of IGACoS since the island has been deprived of this ever since.

“Wala nato gitan-aw ang usa lang ka tao kundi ang atong gitan-aw is ang public welfare (We did not just see the benefit of a certain person but the public’s welfare),” he said.

He explained that if the bridge will be completed it will become easy for the tourists to visit the island which could generate more revenues for the resort owners and other establishments.

“Mas daghan pud ang business activities nga mahitabo sa Samal Island

FDAVNOR, P9

Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) commissioner and High Priority Bus System (HPBS) social development head Norman Baloro shares during I-Speak media forum at City Hall on Thursday some details of the state-of-the-art features of the buses which will be uti-

avao City Water District advises customers of three separate sets of water service interruptions.

In the first set, low water pressure to no water will be experienced from 9:00 PM of January 20, 2020 until 4:00 AM of January 21, 2020 in some Toril areas, specifically along Bayabas-Toril Road (from Bato Bridge to corner Flying V Gasoline Station) and along Bayabas-Eden Road (from Flying V Gasoline Station to Marapangi Resettlement Area).

DCWD has to temporarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give way to the replacement of a butterfly valve on the outlet pipe of the Reinforced Concrete Ground Reservoir No. 2 under Toril Water Supply System. Upon completion, this project will improve the water supply in areas along Piedad Bridge to Marapangi Resettlement Area.

In the second set, no water will be experienced on January 22, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in entire Purok 2 to Purok 7-A, Brgy. Bankas Heights in Toril.

DCWD has to temporarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give way to the tapping of the newly installed pipeline to DCWD’s existing pipeline for the mainline improvement at Purok 3 Bankas Heights in Toril. Upon completion, this project will allow for the accommodation of additional service connections.

In the third set, no water will be experienced on January 23, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in some Agdao areas, specifically portion of Macopa St. (from corner Park Avenue to Banawe Drive), portion of Lakatan St. (from corner Park Avenue to Pioneer Drive), portion of Limou-

sine St. (from corner Park Avenue to Waling-waling Street), Waling-waling St., entire Jereza Subd., and some areas in Bajada specifically Tebow Cure Hospital, Banawe Drive, Pioneer Drive.

DCWD has to temporarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give way to the tapping of the newly installed pipeline to DCWD’s existing pipeline for the mainline improvement at Lakatan St. corner Pioneer Ave. Brgy. Wilfredo Aquino in Agdao. Upon completion, this project will allow for the accommodation of additional service connections.

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

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

The general public may visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/davaowater) for the latest water service updates. They may also call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24hour hotline 235-DCWD (3293) and press “4” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates or contact 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293, and 09084410653 for any matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Vena Del S. Calago)

lized in the implementation of HPBS and assures public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers which will be affected by the development will receive help from the city government of Davao. Lean Daval Jr

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

RPOC pushes for localized peace talks

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

he Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) 11 is now pushing for the conduct of localized peace dialogue between the local government units (LGU) and New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao Region.

RPOC chairman and Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said on Wednesday afteroon, the members have agreed with the proposal since they want to try other ways to attain peace and order in the localities that have problems with insurgency.

Dayanghirang said the national government has been trying to negotiate with the officials of National Democratic Front of the Philippines and Communist Party of the Philippines but failed many times.

“Why not subukan natin, i-localaized natin ang peace talks at tingnan natin kung magiging epektibo ito? (Why not we give a try on localized peace talk and see if this effective?),” he said.

The governor said the conduct of local peace dialogues might have an advantage since the LGU officials already know the problem and might be have the solution to address it with the existence of Ex-

ecutive Order 70 or the Whole of Nation Approach to Attain Sustainable Peace and to End Local Communist Armed Conflict issued

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dayanghirang added the local officials might already know the rebel personalities in their area of responsibility that will make it easy for them to hold talks if the localized peace talks will be pushed through.

He said the members of RPOC 11 already made a resolution for this move and they will submit it to the Office of the President for approval.

Dayanghirang said the council will be drafting the mechanism of the dialogue as soon as the president will approve their proposal.

Earlier, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said localized peace talks with the local government units should also be explored, to know which of these are viable in attaining the elusive peace.

Duterte said that if the LGU officials have the capacity to conduct the localized dialogue, the national government should allow it since they are the ones who experienced the problems of insurgency in their respective areas.

City Slaughter House slaughter master IV Engr. Joseph Gabut talks about the services that will be offered including Halal method of slaughtering at the city's new slaughter house located in Marilog, Baguio District,

Davao City slated to open in March during this week's I-Speak media forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr

Halal slaughterhouse completed by March

By MAYA M. PADILLO

T

he completion of the Halal slaughterhouse in Malagos, Baguio District is being eyed March this year.

With a project cost of P6 million, the facility is a box-type manual facility for the goats, cows, and carabaos.

Of the total cost, P5 million was taken from the Bottom UP Budgeting of the Department of Agriculture 11 (DA 11) and the P1 million is counterpart funding from the city government.

"Wala pa kasi tayong Halal slaughterhouse dito at yung mga meat vendors na naga claim na Halal is being questioned for the legitimacy of their meat. Pag meron na tayo we can produce authentic Halal meats for our Muslim brothers and sisters," Engineer Joseph Gabut, slaughter master IV told media in I-Speak media forum.

Meanwhile, 100 meters away from the Halal slaughterhouse is the P76 million state-of-the-art city-owned slaughterhouse for hogs, construction of which still ongoing.

Gabut said with a floor area of 1,250 square meters including the hog pens, it will house the slaughter area, manual and mechanize; blast freezer, blast chiller and blast storage, and cutting equipment. It will also house modern water treatment facility to guarantee no contamination in the ground water.

"You can also processed meats such as making chorizo, tocino, bacon," he said.

He said the target date of completion of the facility is also March of this year.

"Ang problema lang

o free more Filipinos from hunger and achieve food security, President Rodrigo Duterte has created an inter-agency task force on zero hunger.

Duterte signed Executive Order 101 on January 10 creating an inter-agency task force on zero hunger which will be chaired by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

Serving as his vice-chairperson is Social Welfare Secretary Joselito Bautista.

Members of the task force include the Agriculture Secretary, Agrarian

Reform Secretary, Budget Secretary, Education Secretary, Environment Secretary, Health Secretary, Labor Secretary, Interior Secretary, Trade Secretary, Science Secretary, Communications Secretary, National Economic and Development Authority Director-General, and the Commission on Higher Education Chairperson.

In the EO, Duterte recognized that involuntary hunger, food security, undernutrition, and child wasting, stunting and mortality, continue to be serious concerns in the coun-

natin is the equipment for waste water kasi hindi pa nabi-bid baka yun ang maka-delay," he said.

However, the use of the said slaughterhouses are not free. For the hogs slaughtering the city will impose slaughter fee, permit to slaughter (ante-mortem and post-mortem), and coral fee. While for the cows, the city will impose requirements such as certificate of ownership and transfer, slaughter permit, permit to slaughter (ante-mortem and post-mortem), and coral fee.

The slaughterhouses will be managed by the city government of Davao for one year and will be offered for a public private partnership afterwards.

Gabut said the existing slaughterhouse located in Ma-a might be relocated due to the barrage of complaints coming from the surrounding community.

Duterte creates task force on ‘zero hunger’

T City Health Office (CHO) technical division chief Dr. Julinda Acosta encourages parents during this week’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall whose children have not yet received anti-polio immunization

to take advantage of the upcoming third round of Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign set to be held on January 20 to February 2. Lean Daval Jr

try.

“There is a need to carefully coordinate, rationalize, monitor and assess the efforts of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities to ensure a whole-of-government approach to eradicating hunger and achieving food security,” Duterte said.

The task force will be assigned to formulate a National Food Policy (NFP), which will outline national priorities based on a comprehensive understanding of the problem of hunger and related issues, and

FDUTERTE, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

P20, $20 PAL promo tickets for New Year

P

hilippine Airlines (PAL) is celebrating New Year 2020 with a ticket sale that goes as low as P20 for domestic and $20 for international tickets.

One-way economy domestic tickets on selected flights can be availed for low prices starting at P20, while round-trip economy international tickets (base fare) go as low as $20.

The promo fares are applicable for those traveling in twos. Those flying solo also get a discount.

Private and public utility vehicles wait for their turn near a traffic light along the junction of G. Torres Street and Quimpo Blvd. in Davao City on Thursday. Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.

(CAMPI) recently reported that sales of car manufacturers in the country increased by 3.5 percent in 2019. Lean Daval Jr

US, China sign trade deal

A

fter nearly two years of conflict between the world's two dominant economic powers, the United States and China signed a trade truce on Wednesday, letting businesses around the globe breathe a sigh of relief.

US President Donald Trump, who currently faces an impeachment trial and then a tough reelection bid later this year, called the agreement “momentous.”

But tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in imports remain in place, leaving American consumers and businesses to foot the bill.

The “phase one” agreement includes pledges from China to beef up purchases of American crops and other exports, provides protections for US technology, and new enforcement mechanisms.

“Today, we take a momentous step, one that’s never taken before with China,” that will ensure “fair and reciprocal trade,” Trump said at the White House signing ceremony.

“Together, we are righting the wrongs of the past.”

As Trump ambled through a lengthy commentary on the deal, punctuated by introductions of many officials involved in the negotiations, major networks switched away from the White House to the Congress to show the

presentation of articles of impeachment in the Senate as the first step towards a trial.

The easing of US-China trade frictions has boosted stock markets worldwide in recent weeks, as it takes the threat of new tariffs off the table for now.

Trump signed the deal with China’s Vice Premier Liu He, who has led Beijing’s negotiations with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Trump also thanked Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said he would visit China in “the not-too-distant future.”

“Negotiations were tough on us,” Trump said, but they led “to this really incredible breakthrough.”

But he said he will only remove tariffs “if we’re able to do phase two.”

“I’m leaving them on.

Otherwise we have no cards to negotiate with.”

In a letter to Trump read by Liu, the Chinese leader said the deal is “good for China, for the US and for the whole world.”

However, the most dif-

ficult issues remain to be dealt with in “phase two” negotiations, including massive subsidies for state industry.

Whither tariffs?

Prior to the signing, Mnuchin said the deal puts pressure on Beijing to stay at the negotiating table and make further commitments -- including on cyber-security and access for US services firms to the Chinese markets -- in order to win relief from the tariffs that remain in place.

“In phase two there will be additional roll backs,” Mnuchin said on CNBC early Wednesday. “This gives China a big incentive to get back to the table and agree to the additional issues that are still unresolved.”

Still, elements of the deal the administration has touted as achievements effectively take the relationship between the two powers back to where it was before Trump took office.

“The US-China phaseone deal is essentially a trade truce, with large state-directed purchases attached,” economist Mary Lovely said in an analysis.

But the trade expert with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, cautioned that “we will continue to see the impact of this in slower investment and higher business costs.”

After announcing the deal on December 13, the United States canceled a

damaging round of new tariffs that were due to kick in two days later and also promised to slash in half the 15 percent tariffs on $120 billion imposed September 1 on consumer goods like clothing.

What’s in a deal?

As part of the accord, Beijing agreed to import an additional $200 billion in US products over two years, above the levels purchased in 2017, before Trump launched his offensive, including an additional $32 billion in agricultural goods.

Trump has repeatedly touted the trade pact as a boon for American farmers, who were hit hard by the tariff war.

Soybeans exports to China plunged to just $3 billion from more than $12 billion in 2017 and the Trump administration paid out $28 billion in aid to farmers in the last two years.

But many economists question whether US farmers have the capacity to meet that demand.

And Lovely raised a question about the wisdom on relying so heavily on the Chinese market.

“It also means Chinese retaliation could be reinstated, dampening farmers’ willingness to invest to meet the very hard export targets in the deal.”

The agreement in-

man Ramon Lopez met the Council last Jan.9, committing assistance to the local bamboo industry.

Lopez said he plans to have “plant-to-market” roads to ease the delivery of bamboo from the plantation to buyers. This kind of infrastructure will be a big help particularly in remote areas.

He said this would be possible through DTI’s Roads Leveraging Linkages of Industry and Trade (ROLL-IT) Program with

the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The DTI can also assist those who wish to venture into bamboo processing through the Shared Service Facilities Program, he added.

The government likewise provides tax incentives to agri-business ventures, including bamboo production and processing under Board of Investments’ Investment Priorities Plan.

“Bamboo planting

can provide a sustainable source of livelihood to people in the countryside. Since the plant grows quickly and is weather-resilient, it is an ideal business for farmers who are looking for alternative sources of income,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, PBIC will launch in March its official campaign “5K: Kawayan, Kalinisan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran Kinabukasan” to promote the bamboo industry. (PNA)

FUS, P9

19K hectares of land eyed for bamboo plantation

T

he Philippine Bamboo Industry Council (PBIC) is looking into converting at least 19,000 hectares of land nationwide into bamboo plantation this year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DIT) said on Wednesday.

Largest land conversion will be in Region 6 (Western Visayas) with 13,000 hectares of land eyed for bamboo plantation.

In a statement, DTI Secretary and PBIC chair-

Tickets may be purchased from January 20 to 24, 2020. Travel period is July 1, 2020 to December 10, 2020.

Special travel dates will be applicable on PAL’s new routes: Manila-Perth, Davao-Manado, Zamboanga-Kota Kinabalu, Davao-Iloilo, Cebu-Zamboanga, Cebu-Dipolog, Zamboanga-Tawi-Tawi and more.

For more details, visit philippineairlines.com, any PAL ticket office or accredited travel agents.

Remittances drop in Nov. 2019: BSP

M

oney sent in by overseas Filipinos (OFs) registered a drop in November 2019 after reaching a 10-month high the previous month, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday showed.

Personal remittances, or the sum of transfers in cash or in-kind, was registered at $2.639 billion in November 2019.

This is lower than the $2.969 billion in October the same year but higher than the $2.586 billion in November 2018.

Meanwhile, cash remittances—money transfers coursed through banks—rose by 2.0% to $2.372 billion from $2.326 billion in 2018.

Year-to-date, personal remittances were up 4.1% to $30.252 billion, while cash remittances grew 4.4% to $27.231 billion.

“The steady growth in personal remittances during the first 11 months

of 2019 drew support from the remittance inflows from land-based OF workers with work contracts of one year or more,” the central bank said in an accompanying statement.

“Likewise, the combined remittances of seabased and land-based workers with short-term contracts rose,” it added.

The same was said for cash remittances, with growth driven by OF workers with short-term contracts.

The United States remained to be the biggest source of remittances during the 11-month period, accounting for 37.7%.

It was dollowed by Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, and Qatar.

Remittances from the said countries accounted for 78.4% of total cash remittances during the period.

1st online property loan platform in PH launched

A

financially-backed property fintech firm on Wednesday launched the first-ever online mortgage broker platform in the Philippines that makes the property loan application process easier and more efficient.

The platform, Nook, will enable Filipinos to conduct entire property search, do loan comparisons, and experience a seamless loan application process online.

In a press briefing Wednesday, Nook’s chief executive officer Chris Elder said finding out online if one is qualified for a home loan from partner banks takes only three minutes.

Elder said the platform will then provide information and bank requirements.

“We will work with the bank to get your loan approved and then you are all set,” he said, adding that Nook has teamed up with eight top banks in the Philippines, including AUB, BDO, BPI Family Savings Bank, Bank of Commerce, CTBC, China Bank, RCBC,

and Security Bank.

Elder said they aim to bring five more banks this year into the platform.

“Borrowers do not have to visit a bank branch until (the) final document signing, saving time in traffic and bank queues… All housing loans in one place,” he added.

In line with an aim for Nook to be the number one originator of housing loans within five years, Elder said it will start rolling out one to two kiosks by mid-year as it pilots retail presence.

“At first, we don’t expect too much of an uptick (in the number of borrowers).

It is still new here but I believe in the coming years, as people slowly get used to it, we expect strong growth from two years onwards,” he said.

Elder sees robust growth in the next few years, noting the Philippines is an emerging economy growing at 6.2 percent.

“Market is adopting the internet as a place to do business. Residential real

F1ST ONLINE, P10

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

A worker is seen atop a huge pile of copra at an oil mill plant in Brgy. Sasa, Davao City in this undated photo. The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is upbeat that higher copra price will prevail in the next two to three years.

Lean Daval Jr

PCA eyes consistent copra price hike in next 2-3 years

High passenger load in Garuda Indonesia’s Manado-Davao flight T

By MAYA M. PADILLO arruda Indonesia announced a high passenger load for the entire month of December last year for its Manado-Davao flight.

G

Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro, deputy executive director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) disclosed that from a low of 50 percent load since the launching of the Davao-Manado by Garruda Air in October last year, flights have been booked during the entire month of December last year up to the first half of January this year.

“You cannot book a flight because it is fully booked kasi nag pick-up na siya. At nag arise ng

consciousness especially for many Filipinos in that area na there is now better opportunity to fly to the Philippines and not going to Jakarta and Manila but through Davao City using this route,” Montenegro said.

The flight is available twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays using an ATR 726-600 aircraft that can accommodate 70 passengers.

Montenegro said the high load was validated by Garruda Air particularly the Manado-Davao route.

“This is validated by Garruda Air that fully booked na especially the Manado-Davao kasi ang dami nagka-interest pumunta sa Davao and for the Davao-Manado, we are looking at the local travelers or traders to use this route,” he said.

Montenegro said this is the kind of scenario that they hope to be able to sustain and they intend to accomplish it this quarter with the launching of the Davao-Manado route and Zamboanga-Kota Kinabalu route- both by PAL Express.

He said the expected entry of PAL Express by March this year is expected to further increase the number of flights or the

availability of daily flights.

“Kasi ngayon twice weekly lang tayo with Garruda. Next week we are expecting about 20 from Manado who have expressed interests to enjoy our “sabungan”. We can become an en enterntainment area for this,” Montenegro said.

Montenegro added that they are also expecting for Davao to be able to provide the medical tourism via these routes because many of those in Manado would rather fly to Davao to get their medical procedures done in the hospitals here that are also accredited by the Jakarta hospitals than them flying to Jakarta, which is very costly.

December announced the change in its corporate name to DITO CME, after it acquired the media and entertainment businesses of Dennis Uy. "We are thrilled to welcome Donald to the Group," Udenna Group chairman Dennis Uy said in the statement.

"With his wealth of experience and strong values, we are confident he will make an outstanding leader for our digital and

innovation efforts, which are very critical in enabling us to improve the lives of our customers not just today, but in the future," he added.

As part of his duties, Lim will lead Udenna's investments in the space of media and entertainment, including the soon to be launched DITO Telecommunity.

He is also expected to identify synergies and drive business innova-

tion across the Udenna Group, including Phoenix Petroleum, Family Mart, Chelsea Logistics, Conti's, Wendys, Enderun College, and Udenna Land.

Prior to his appointment, Lim served as country CEO for Dentsu Aegis Network, where he served for three years.

Before this, Lim served as chief digital officer for ABS-CBN, and was the founding president of the

Lim to head Udenna’s media, entertainment businesses

D

onald Lim, who previously served as the chief digital officer of ABS-CBN, has joined the Udenna Group to lead Dennis Uy's communications, media, and entertainment businesses.

Udenna on Wednesday said Lim will serve as chief innovation officer of the group and as chief operating officer of DITO CME starting February 1, 2020.

Publicly-listed ISM Communications Corp. in

FLIM, P10

he Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is upbeat that higher copra price will prevail in the next two to three years, improving the income of nearly 400,000 families in the Eastern Visayas Region.

Average farm gate price of copra, a major by-product of coconut rose to PHP18.36 per kilogram this week from PHP15.53 early of December 2019, according to PCA’s price watch data.

The current copra trading price is way better than the PHP12.11 per kilogram recorded in the same period in 2019.

PCA regional coconut regulation officer Benjamin Yu said on Wednesday that based on historical trend, the price of copra goes up for two to three years after a three-year consistent price drop.

“The demand for coconut oil has been rising in the world market as more processors realize that it has better quality than competing products such as palm oil. The price of palm oil has also increased late last year, making coconut oil more affordable,” Yu told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The PCA projected a better price after they noticed that a coconut oil processor in Samar bought a lot of copra late last year as they forecasted that its price would adjust in 2020.

Copra price in the country has declined remark-

ably in the past three years.

From PHP54 per kilogram in January 2017, it dropped to PHP33.94 a year after.

The price further declined to only PHP13.39 in January 2019 and it remained until November.

It was only in December last year that copra price started to increase at PHP16 per kilogram.

Copra is the dried meat or kernel of the coconut.

Premium oil is extracted from copra. It also yields coconut cake after oil extraction, which is mainly used as feeds for livestock.

The improving copra price will benefit 367,234 coconut farmers and their families in the region. PCA estimated that 1.83 million people or nearly half of the 4.4 million population of the region are dependent on coconuts.

The government has no control over the fluctuating copra price since it is dictated by the global oil market dominated by palm oil and soybean oil with a share of 35 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

“Even if the country has been shipping 80 percent of our coconut by-product overseas, the share of the local produce only accounts 3 percent in the global edible oil market,” Yu said.

The unstable copra price has been affecting the livelihood of thousands of families in the region. The National Economic and Development Authority

FPCA, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

EDITORIAL For the greater good The one single reason that keeps Davao from pushing across its dream bridge project that will connect it to the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) is said to be the business interest of a single family.

The rest of the island off Samal are for the dream project that took years in the drawing board.

Yes, all that is stopping this project that will dramatically change the future of the two cities and neighbouring areas, is one single opposition.

In a democracy like ours, even a single voice must be heard, one single property right is of equal weight as others.

That is why even if the numbers are so lopsided in this case, that one single opposition deserves its day in court. It must

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

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

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

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

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Photography

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

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

be respected just as everyone who favored the project.

But then there must be a way to pursue this dream project with a dialogue. This is now the last ditch effort of the provincial government of Davao del Norte under which Igacos belongs to talk to the property owner who claims business losses if the project will push through.

Perhaps, the bigger picture which everyone must reckon with over personal interests will prevail under an atmosphere of understanding and mutual benefits.

Afterall, with this dream project in place, the owner of the property affected by the easement will benefit from it perhaps even more.

People only need to see the bigger picture.

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 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

Moral damages are awarded to compensate employees for mental distress caused by the manner they were treated by their employer in relation to their labor claims.

The employee is entitled to moral damages when the employer acted (a) in bad faith or fraud; (b) in a manner oppressive to labor ; or (c) in a manner contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy Under Article 2217 of the Civil Code, the award of moral damages is anchored on the employee’s actual experiences of physical suffering, mental anguish, fright, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, wounded feelings, moral shock, social humiliation, and similar injury.

Though incapable of pecuniary computation, moral damages may be recovered if they are the proximate result of the wrongful act for omission.

No proof of pecuniary loss is necessary as the assessment is left to the discretion of the court according to the circumstances of each case.

Bad faith implies a conscious and intentional design to do a wrongful act for a dishonest purpose or moral obliquity.

In Sharpe Sea Personnel, Inc. v. Mabunay, Jr. (G.R. No. 206113, November 06, 2017), the employer’s bad faith is shown by belatedly releasing and submitting the interim disability rating. It revealed their intention to leave the claimant in the dark regarding his future as a seafarer and forced him to seek diagnosis from private physicians.

By withholding such disability rating from the seafarer, he was compelled to seek out opinion from his private doctors thereby causing him mental anguish, serious anxiety, and wounded feelings, thus, entitling him to moral damages.

The employers’ bad faith was further exacerbated when they tried to invalidate the findings of seafarer’s private physicians, for his supposed failure to move for the appointment of a third-party physician as required by the POEA contract , despite their

own deliberate concealment of their physician’s interim diagnosis from the seafarer and the labor tribunals.

The same principle was applied in Orient Hope Agencies, Inc., v. Michael Jara, (G.R. No. 204307, June 06, 2018) where the Supreme Court noted that moral damages would be commensurate to the anxiety and inconvenience suffered by seafarer considering the manner in which the company dealt with his condition.

The company’s bad faith and disregard of the seafarer’s unfortunate plight is evident when they submitted the medical report with disability rating and expressed their willingness to pay disability benefits only upon the filing of the Position Paper with the labor arbiter.

In Career Shipmanagement Phils. Inc. vs. E.J. Godinez (GR 2068261, October 2, 2017, the Court said that the manner in which the seafarer was dealt with in the proceedings evinces a perverse attempt to evade liability by fabricating evidence and uti-

lizing objectionable and oppressive means and schemes to secure victory.

It constitutes an affront, the Court noted, to all honest workingmen earning a living through hard work and risking their lives for their families.

“The Court cringes at the thought, generated by the experience in this proceeding, and in past cases, that, despite all the laws passed and jurisprudence created, to level the playing field for the disadvantaged worker, his plight continues against employers who will stop at nothing to avoid their obligations, by taking advantage at the workers’ weakness, ignorance, financial hardships and other handicaps, or by the cunning of their lawyers,” the Supreme Court said.

In Cutanda v. Marlow Navigation Phils. (G.R.. No. 219123, September 11, 2017) moral damages were awarded because the company discontinued, in evident bad faith, the seafarer’s much needed rehabilitation treatment for three (3) to six (6) months more, as recommended by

the attending company-designated physician.

In Bright Maritime Corp. vs. Fantonial, (G.R. No. 165935, February 8, 2012) , the employer’s act was tainted with bad faith considering that the seafarer’s Medical Certificate stated that he was fit to work on the day of his scheduled departure, yet he was not allowed to leave allegedly for medical reasons.

In dismissal cases, Justice Marvic Leonen noted that moral damages are appropriate as unemployment “brings untold hardships and sorrows on those dependent on the wage-earner. The deprivation of economic compensation caused mental anguish, fright, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, and wounded feelings” . (Montinola vs PAL (G.R. No. 198656 September 8, 2014).

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, please email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

OFWS IN PERIL Statistics from DOLE, OWWA and POEA estimate that more than 2 million of OFWs are employed in the Middle East region where the irritating news about a possible armed conflict between the US and Iran may put their welfare at risk.

This alarming development comes at the heels of the killing of a top Iranian Army general targeted under the instructions of American Pres. Donald Trump last week where diplomatic observers agree that a retaliatory strike by Iran may come at any time.

When a political crisis of international proportions like this occurs, the Philippines, though not a participant (as ally or foe) becomes an unwilling victim because the government needs to hurriedly ferry back home the OFWs calculated to be adversely affected by such counter-productive actions.

Pres. Trump has fur-

ther warned Iran that they have figured out at least “52 sites” to launch attacks on if the latter commits to take revenge against any American facility and against US citizens themselves anywhere in the world.

Whatever, the weight of the problem rests on the shoulders of the Duterte administration as the repatriation of such a huge number of OFWs cannot be done in a jiffy.

Besides, there is a logistical problem and the arrangements needed to come through congressional action.

Iran, for all intents and purposes, will tactically wait for the most opportune time to avenge the death of one of its most esteemed generals who has engineered successful campaigns in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and other military concerns specifically building up groups and mi-

litias against Israel.

The timetable is not clear but the sword of Damocles remains hanging on the heads of its possible victims.

Will the government wait up to the exact point a war is declared when it will become too dangerously late to safely bring home the OFWs? This is the 64-dollar question that even the OFWs themselves cannot and will never be able to fathom.

But one thing is clear, though.

There will never be peace in the Middle East for as long as Israel exists as a nation.

The Iranians have publicly pledged to annihilate all Israelis and their country erased from the face of the earth.

This unholy relationship dates back to biblical times. Iran cannot co-exist with Israel even as some of

her Arab neighbors such as Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia et al have - years ago - made peace with the people of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Looks like the Philippine government is in a bind.

It will be damned if the decision to repatriate is delayed and the war soon breaks out. It will also be damned if the authorities bring all OFWs home and they are unable to find employment for the millions of dislocated returning OFWs. Of course, DOLE, OWWA and POEA must be on their toes at this point in time, configuring all the resources they have at their respective disposal.

While the Iran-US conflict is not yet turning into a full-blown war, the fact remains that the welfare of all OFWs in the ME region is always in peril.

Philippine diplomat-

ic experts in the Middle East affairs cannot hope to make a firm decision if their mindset is based on an anemic “if” or “conditional” mode because the Mid-East issues are too volatile to predict.

This is much too much a perplexing situation that nobody wants to be in.

Israel has also announced that it is always ready and prepared to go to war if any of its enemies – Iran specifically – launches a direct assault on its borders. This military position of the Netanyahu government has already fueled speculations that a full-blown Mid-East war is imminent, depending on who first pushes the missile button.

Maybe, it is about time our OFWs came home. ### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

Rom. 1:17: “The righteous live by faith.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

NATURAL FARMING AT ITS BEST

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Wenea Adianon, already married with two kids, was 37 when he joined the Lao Integrated Farm Coconut Climbers Association (LACCAS) as manangite or coconut pilot (someone who climb coconut trees and harvest the toddy).

Now 48, he looked back at the time when he started his “new” job. It was hard at first but he learned how to do it as days went on. Although difficult, it was better than what he used to do – or nothing to do.

With unstable income due to scarcity of available job for him, he feared going home with no food for his family.

There were instances that he felt he was useless and life was somewhat ambiguous.

So, he considered his being a coconut pilot as a job sent from heaven. That is why he loves what he is doing now.

He has to wake up very early in the morning. Before dawn, he has to climb and harvest the toddy, the sap which is derived from the immature inflorescence of coconut.

The product is treated with immense care. The sap is stored in a clean, dry container. Once harvested, it must be delivered immediately to the Lao Integrated Farm, Inc. (LIFI) in Eman, a barangay of Bansalan, Davao del sur.

Once the sap goes fermented, it cannot be used anymore for making coconut sugar.

“Our processing is tedious,” Benjamin R. Lao, a multi-awarded agripreneur and owner of LIFI, tells a magazine published by the Department of Trade and Industry. “The quality of coco sugar starts when you harvest coconut sap.”

In the past, he used to get all the raw materials for his products from his 14-hectare farm. But due to the high demand of coco sugar and other coco products, he has to tap other sources. That was how LACCAS came into existence.

It is a group of farmers who help him in collecting toddy from other areas.

“Some are former overseas contract workers and there are also former members of the New People’s Army,” he says. “A few are coming from indigenous people’s groups.

Imagine if my warm doesn’t exist, who will give them employment in this rural area?”

But before they can join the group, they have to be trained first the proper way of harvesting the toddy. Once they are “hired,” they can now command a good price for the harvested toddy. Actually, they are paid per kilogram of the finished coconut sugar from their harvest.

Seven liters of fresh coconut toddy is equivalent to one kilogram of coconut sugar. Every week, they can earn from as low as P7,000 to as high as P10,000. Not bad of a manangite.

Adianon says that his salary is more than enough to what he used to receive. In fact, he is very thankful for the opportunity of being a mem-

ber of the association as he was able to build a house for his family.

“Before, I received only P480 per month, a salary that would barely allow my family to eat,” he says. “But now, we are living comfortably.”

His observation is echoed by other members of the association.

Due to the expansion of his agribusiness, he has to involve other people in the community. In his farm, there are 67 regular employees who are paid higher than other agricultural workers in Davao Region.

Some spouses of his employees are also hired when there are seasonal activities like harvesting fruits (which are grown in his farm) and processing them into candies and jam. At one time, he provided a full college scholarship (100% tuition subsidy and allowance) to a son of one his laborers.

Lao never thought it would come to this. He graduated from law school in 1985 with the intention of becoming a lawyer. But it all changed when he inherited the 5-hectare farm land from his parents in 1998.

Coconut were the only crops being grown. Every three months, he harvested from as low as 400 to as high as 600 nuts. It wasn’t encouraging enough so he visited the nearby farm, the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in barangay Kinuskusan, known for its sustainable farming schemes.

After attending a training, he brought with him some seeds of nitrogen-fixing species like Flemingia macrophylla, Desmodium rensonii and Indigofera anil which he planted in various parts of the farm. He also brought in some livestock like goats and swine; he used the manure as organic fertilizer.

The leaves from the leguminous shrubs that fell below the ground also became instant organic fertilizer for the coconut trees. Several months later, the coconut yields markedly increased to 15,000 nuts per quarter.

“Some of my neighbors told me it was a miracle,” Lao says.

Although the money he made from copra was good, he wanted to earn more. After attending a seminar conducted by Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), he thought of producing coconut sugar from the coconut toddy.

Lao learned from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that coconut toddy contains 12%18% sugar in its natural form with important vitamins and amino acids. It is also rich in nutrients and high in potassium. Phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium and vitamin C. “The production of coconut sugar is very simple,” he says. “It is just a natural process of heat evaporation to convert liquid sap to solid form of sugar granules. It requires no complicated and

high-cost machineries or equipment nor a huge capital.”

What one thing about coconut sugar is that is all natural. That is why it is recommended to people with diabetes, a disease that afflicts more than 5 million Filipinos.

“Coconut sugar has low glycemic index, a measure of blood sugar, thus good for diabetics and those having prostate problems,” Lao says. “It has also glutamic acid, the same ingredient that can be found in Viagra.”

In the beginning, he only sells the locally-produced coconut products inside his farm. Believing there was an untapped market for such product, he hired people and started producing other alternative sweeteners like coco honey and coco sap drink that are used for desserts and other delicacies.

Lao later registered these products with the Department of Trade and Industry under the moniker Donna Belle – a combination of the names of his two daughters.

He started distributing his products in some outlets in nearby areas and the cities of Davao, Digos, General Santos and Butuan. Outside of Mindanao, his coconut sugar is being sold in Cebu and Metro Manila.

Due to the increasing demand for his products, he decided to incorporate Lao Integrated Farms Inc. In one of the trade fairs he attended, he met a buyer who was interested with coco sugar. So that in 2009, he shipped 2.2 tons of coco sugar to the United States.

That was the beginning.

Since then, Lao has been exporting his products not only to US but also in the United Kingdom and Australia, among others. “My coconut sugar is guaranteed 100-percent free from chemicals,” he assures.

But it’s not only coconut sugar that is very popular abroad. Teriyaki all-dip sauce, another coconut-based product, is also a hit among foreign consumers. People who buy his products are assured that they are fit for human consumption as his farm has earned various local and international organic and safety certifications.

Today, 80% of his coconut products are for export. He credited this achievement to continued research. In fact, he was named by DOST as a magsasaka-siyentista. “As a farmer-scientist,” he says, “I was able to focus on researching about coconut sap products. It took us eight months to study on how to make export-quality coconut syrup.”

Lao has gone a long, long way. He was working in Davao City as director of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation when fate intervened. His mother called him to divide equally the 40 hectares of their land among the eight siblings as inheritance.

“I am the fifth child but I was

unanimously chosen to assign which portion of land should be given to each sibling,” he recalls.

For some unknown reasons, Lao selected the land that was so infertile that only cogon grass would thrive on it. His brothers and sisters never bothered to ask him his reasons; they were happy to get their own shares.

“My parents wanted me to be a lawyer,” he admits. “But I wanted to toil the land to produce food to feed my family and earn sustainable income.”

In another interview, he says, “Farming is really my first love.”

Lao is not only a coconut farmer; he is also an organic farmer. In his farm, you won’t see his farm workers using chemical pesticides. “I had a tragic experience with chemical pesticides when I was still a teenager while cultivating rice in our farm located at the neighboring barangay,” he reveals.

Instead, he recommends using Eman, an acronym for “epiktibo, mura at natural” (effective, cheap, and natural).

“This is a concoction composed of fresh goats’ manure, kakawate, makabuhay, and hot pepper,” he says. “These are soaked together for 48 hours and after that the concoction is ready for use.”

According to Lao, Eman is effective in repelling plant pests and diseases. “We are committed to help preserve our environment,” he points out. “We want to teach Filipino farmers through natural method and that is by not using commercial fertilizers or pesticides.”

Lao also doesn’t inject his chickens with drugs for im-

munization. He told Department of Agriculture’s Noel T. Provido that he has concocted his own “natural antibiotics.”

He uses mayana plant extract (60%) combined with malunggay (30%), turmeric (5%) and oregano (5%). A one-liter extract is fermented for 3-4 days and then mixed with molasses or one kilo of muscovado, which would dissolve into liquid for 3-5 days.

Every day, chickens are given two spoons of the concoction. “We have zero casualty of atay (new castle) disease among our chickens,” he says, adding that he calls these organically-raised chickens as EMAN, which stands for elegante at masayahing manok.

As a farmer himself, Lao believes that Filipino farmers need to know the basics of record keeping. “Simple accounting will help farmers compared the big difference between chemical-laden conventional farming and organic farming which cut down cost in buying fertilizers and chemicals,” he was quoted by Provido as saying. “Reduced cost means additional income.”

To people who have been to his farm, they have described it as a haven. In fact, it is now one of the most-often visited farms in Davao Region.

The Department of Tourism has recognized it as a farm tourism destination.

People from all over the country come to the place to see how his farm works.

You don’t see only livestock (he stopped raising swine as the farm is now halal-certified), poultry, fruits, crops and vegetables but ornamentals as well. “It’s nice to see beautiful flowers un-

derneath the trees,” Lao says.

“In addition, the flowers serve as breeding areas for beneficial insects like spiders and dragonflies.”

Lao believes in adding value to a product. “Value adding is an important component in a farming system,” he explains.

“For instance, if you have goats, you must know how to produce fresh milk and having other saleable products from the animals. In the case of coconut, don’t think only of copra because it is cheaper; you can always have another product to sell.”

Aside from his coco-based major products, he also has ice cream using goat’s milk with flavors such as malunggay, turmeric, durian and sour soap. He also incorporates his coconut sugar into a tea: mangosteen tea, malunggay tea, turmeric tea, and lemon grass tea.

His success gone unnoticed. In fact, he received several recognition from different award-giving bodies: Most Outstanding Coconut Farmer from the Department of Agriculture in 2008, Productivity Olympics National Winner in 2009 from the Department of Labor and Employment, Micro Entrepreneur of the Year Presidential Award in 2009, Business Excellence Award from the Bank of the Philippines in 2010, and Organic Farmer of the Year in 2011 from the Department of Agriculture.

Despite all these awards, Lao remains humble. “Even if I now have a higher income,” he says, “I still need to feel the ground beneath my feet.

For me, success is measured by how many people you can help.”

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

EDGEDAVAO ARTS AND CULTURE

MODEKA:

A NEW ART GALLERY, CREATIVE SPACE, AND ART CONSULTANCY JOINING the flourishing creative scene of the metro, Modeka Creative Space, an independent, artist-led contemporary art gallery and art consultancy, recently opened its doors at Warehouse 20A La Fuerza 1, 2241 Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.

Modeka is dedicated to providing a new and innovative platform for the most exciting local and international artists to showcase their work. It offers a diverse and eclectic mix of painting, sculpture, mixed media, limited edition prints, and photography to provide experiential and multi-sensory exhibitions featuring internationally-acclaimed and emerging artists.

Aside from its art exhibitions, Modeka will hold community programs to promote cultural and creative activities, as well as unique art experiences within and outside its four walls, with the intent of making art accessible to the widest possible audience.

Modeka also provides art curation services for brands and institutions, connecting them to a wide-ranging and culturally relevant selection of local and international artists, creating engagement through fresh and exciting art-infused experiences.

Modeka’s first exhibition

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” Modeka opens with its first exhibition titled “Nothing Gold Can Stay” which will run until 31 January 2020. The group show aims to tackle the idea of impermanence and it evaluates how art-making can become more involved in the active and conscious experience of the present.

The exhibition gathers artists from here and abroad whose practices explore a spectrum of forms, themes, and materiality.

This includes Filipino photographer Mark Nicdao, modern and contemporary painters Lynyrd Paras and Jono Pisano, and 13 Lucky Monkeys.

The show will also present works by Indonesian artists Sinta Tantra, Dedy Sufriadi and Ronald Apriyan, and Caryn Koh of Malaysia.

Sinta Tantra, a London-based artist of Indonesian descent, is highly regarded for her public artworks including a 300-meter painted bridge commissioned for the 2012 Olympics in London. She usually merges art and architecture with patterns and color that mirror her Balinese

heritage.

Dedy Sufriadi, on the other hand, creates representational imagery using a variety of media on canvas that gives his works a jagged and multi-dimensional effect. While Ronald Apriyan presents colorful artworks with easily recogniz-

able images from pop culture rendered in his unique style.

Sufriadi and Apriyan are also headlining the first edition of Modeka’s In Conversation series on December 18. The artists will have an open dialogue to share their views about their style, their trajectory into the art scene and their vision for contemporary art in today’s world. Both artists will also do an open studio for everyone to witness how their pieces unfold into beautiful works of art.

The opening night of the exhibition also featured performances by Jason Soong, Marie Garcia, Brando Umali, Krista Roma, Tribo Manila.

To know more about Modeka and its services, please visit www.modeka.space and follow us at www.facebook.com/ modeka.art.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

SM, BDO CITED FOR CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ASSET ESG CORPORATE AWARDS

SM Investments Corporation (SM) and BDO Unibank, Inc. were recognized as leaders in corporate sustainability with a Platinum Award in the 2019 The Asset ESG Corporate Awards. Both corporates received the highest honor, Platinum Awards for the 9th consecutive year.

The Asset ESG Awards are the longest running ESG awards in Asia by leading research house, Asset Benchmark Research (ABR). The awards are a rigorous benchmarking service for the region’s listed companies evaluated based on financial performance, quality of governance, social responsibility, environmental responsibility, and investor relations.

SM and BDO were rated highly in these metrics, joining top corporates in the region for Excellence in Environmental, Social, and Governance performance.

The Asset also recognized SM Investor Relations Team as one of the 13 Best Investor Relations Team Awardees in the region for their contribution and effective communication in addressing investors’ concerns.

The awardees of The Asset ESG Corporate Awards 2019 were honored recently at a gala dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong.

Excellence in Corporate ESG. Receiving the award on behalf of BDO and SM is BDO Hong Kong branch Senior Vice President Howard Lincoln Son during The Asset ESG Corporate Awards ceremony held recently in Four Seasons Hong Kong.

ANC’S CATHY YANG HAILED AS ASIA’S BEST TV NEWS PRESENTER ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) anchor Cathy Yang

brought honor to the Philippines anew at the start of the new decade after being named as Best News Presenter at the 24th Asian Television Awards held recently here in Manila.

Cited for her work in the ANC business news program “Market Edge with Cathy Yang,” Cathy said the award ‘takes her full circle’ as a journalist, during an interview with ABS-CBN News after her win.

“From being a Kapamilya where I learned all the ropes and then I went abroad from Manila to Tokyo to Hong Kong and back, here I am again. Thank you, ANC and thank you, Kapamilya for all the support,” she said.

In her acceptance speech, Cathy talked about the great honor of telling the remarkable story of Asia’s growing economies from her homeland.

“As a financial journalist I am so proud to be the storyteller of that narrative and to be doing it with my Kapamilya at work and my family at home.”

The anchor of “The Boss” and “Business Nightly” on ANC is now a four-time winner in the Asian Television Awards, after bagging the honor thrice for another regional news network. This year, she bested fellow broadcasters from the Philippines, China, Japan, India, and Taiwan.

The award also comes on the heels of her recognition as Best News or Current Affairs Presenter at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore last December 2019.

JAPAN AND PH PARTNE ASIA A TRULY TECHNOL ADVANCED REG

NAOKAZU TAKEMOTO, Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, visited Manila on January 4, 2020, to meet with Cabinet Secretary Raul Lambino, present administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). It is expected that the Payment Services Act and the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan will be revised in April 2020, and it is in this context that the two officials have met to discuss the future of financial technology businesses in the country and the Asian region, especially those related to cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and a new asset class called “security tokens.”

Security token offerings or STOs are digitalized securities such as stocks, bonds, and equity interests in funds that use blockchain technology as its main platform. As Minister Takemoto explains, “[The word] ‘security’ in STO is not the same as cybersecurity and computer securities.

It means ‘securities’ in terms of assets or a way to issue digital securities and raise funds through the blockchain. This digitalization is expected to enable people who could not participate in the investment process to make small-scale investments.”

Over the past two or three years, companies in Europe and the United States have emerged with various businesses providing STO financing and associated blockchain technologies and platforms. Along with this is the creation and implementation of rules and regulations, even laws within their jurisdictions, surrounding the development, use, and exchange of these virtual currencies. Last year, STOs also attracted a lot of attention in Japan, which led five major securities companies including SBI, one of the largest FinTech companies in the country, to establish the Japan STO Association in October 2019.

“STO is now becoming a worldwide funding method of financing, but the STO market in Asia, including Japan, has just begun to develop. To achieve the philosophy of ‘enhancing finan-

cial markets and enriching the economy by using technologies to benefit the entire population,’ cooperation between financial systems and technologies among Asia countries is essential and must be considered,” says Minister Takemoto.

Secretary Lambino also echoed this urgent need for a set of rules and regulations or even a law that would help the Philippines become more competi-

tive in this field. In 2017, CEZA launched its “Crypt Valley of Asia” initiative, which aims to provide a stable and safe region for blockchain developers and cryptocurrency exchange operators to domicile their back office support infrastructure. It currently has 25 licensee companies from all over Europe and Asia, including Japanese developer ALLEX, a security token issuer that provides solutions on ex-

changes settlemen tions. Its the ALLE the JP sta (know yo ey laund users, inv company Despit country, cannot e any othe of the ab allow it. laws surr virtual c particula have juri impleme we, parti end up b offices or office (BP compani trading, will be d Lambino In the still will in helpin blockcha to create Japan-Ph

EDAVAO

ER TO MAKE OLOGICALLY GION

including management, nt, and related operas security token ST20 or EX token complies with andards of KYC/AML our customer/anti-mondering) that protects the vestors, and the issuer y from scams and fraud. te being developed in the Filipinos unfortunately enjoy using ALLEX or er security token because bsence of laws that would “Congress needs to enact rounding STOs and currencies, and appoint a ar government agency to isdiction to supervise the entation of this. If not, icularly the CEZA, will being a mere host for back r business processing PO) for foreign fintech ies while all the buying, and offering payments done offshore,” Secretary o emphasized. e meantime, ALLEX play an influential role ng to train Philippine ain developers in how e security tokens. This hilippine technology and

INdulge! A3

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

ALDEN RICHARDS BANNERS THIS YEAR’S ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL

ASIA’S Multimedia Star and ‘The Gift’ lead actor Alden Richards kicks off GMA Regional TV’s series of events all over the Philippines as he headlines this year’s celebration of Ati-Atihan Festival on January 16 (Thursday).

Joining Alden in a series of fun-filled activities are his co-stars from the hit Telebabad series— Martin del Rosario, Mikoy Morales, Ysabel Ortega, and Mikee Quintos.

The Gift cast gives Aklanons more reasons to celebrate “The Mother of All Philippine Festivals” as they banner the Kapuso Fiesta at the Pastrana Park at 5 pm.

The fun does not end here because at 10 pm, Alden and his The Gift co-stars are set to treat their fans via a Kapuso Meet and Greet at Magsaysay Park.

“2020 marks the 70th year of the Kapuso Network,” shares GMA Regional TV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso. “We want to celebrate this auspicious year with a series of activities for our loyal Kapuso in the regions beginning with the Ati-Atihan Festival. We are more than thrilled that we are bringing with us Asia’s Multimedia Star and ‘The Gift’ lead actor Alden Richards this year.

We look forward to another successful Ati-Atihan Festival with Alden and the rest of The Gift cast,” he ends.

Directed by LA Madridejos, The Gift also stars Jean Garcia, Elizabeth Oropesa, Christian Vasquez, Betong Sumaya, Tetay, Luz Valdez, Victor Anastacio, and Jo Berry.

“PIA’S POSTCARDS” EMBRACES THE SILENT WONDERS OF SAGA IN JAPAN

knowledge transfer is one of the economic benefits of having foreign back office support within CEZA. Both Lambino and Takemoto are hopeful that the Philippines will follow suit and catch up to other neighboring countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and of course Japan, which are now actively setting up their rules and regulations for virtual currency exchanges. “This matter is unstoppable. It’s now being practiced and accepted by many jurisdictions, including the US, and this new idea of putting up security tokens, which are assetbacked and completely different from the initial utility tokens, will be, I think, the answer to the problems of scams or fraudulent activities regarding this new dimension of business,” Secretary Lambino adds.

Aside from modernizing the country’s financial landscape, establishing clear-cut rules and regulations on security tokens and cryptocurrencies in the Philippines will also help grow the economy by attracting more investors and providing more jobs for Filipinos.

Pia Wurtzbach returns to Japan to embark on yet another remarkable adventure on the second season of “Pia’s Postcards,” this time exploring a fragment of the land of the rising sun’s quiet countryside—Saga.

The beauty queen helps shine the spotlight on the small prefecture in Kyushu, most famous for being the so-called origin of ceramics in Japan, and for its hot springs. People who are looking to retreat a little from the hustle and bustle of the city life and who generally prefer a more low-key destination may just find comfort in this place.

Join Pia as she visits Cat Café Coron, a charming café which shelters rescued cats, all of which are available for adoption. She also

tries her hand in ceramics making, even painting one herself, as well as dropping

by Takezaki Fish Port and The Floating Torii Gate of Ouo Shine, which stands on a shallow area of the ocean in Tara-cho.

The lovely host also stops

by Hirakawaya, a place popular for its Onsen Yudofu (onsen tofu), a Japanese tofu hot pot boiled with hot spring water that’s a known specialty of the Ureshino Onsen area. She also digs in on some tofu ice cream for the very first time.

The trip also takes Queen P to her very first hot air balloon ride, an experience that gives her a peek into where the largest international hot air balloon competition in Asia—the Saga International Balloon

Fiesta—is being held, usually in late October to early November of every year.

Now on its 2nd season, “Pia’s Postcards” has brought the country’s third Miss Universe across fascinating local and foreign destinations where she immerses herself in the wonderful culture of the places she visits. She has previously reveled in Philippine festivals such as the Pahiyas in Quezon and Higalaay in

Cagayan de Oro, as well as witnessed the mesmerizing Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival in South Korea.

Conquer your travel goals this 2020 starting with the captivating natural marvels and artistry of Saga in “Pia’s Postcards,” airing this Sunday (January 19) on Metro Channel, iWant and Metro.

Style’s YouTube channel. For more exclusives, visit Metro.

Style’s website.

EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

A4 INdulge!

TECH TRAVEL

VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 216 219 • TUESDAY, • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 14, 2020

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINENEW ELIMINATES SINGLESONY INTRODUCES GP-VPT2BT USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP NORWEGIAN Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise BUILDING on travel the with a 53-year growing lineuphistory of camof breaking boundaries, eras and accessories is now single-use plasdeveloped for modern tic beverage bottle free creators, Sony today across its fleet. the new has announced GP-VPT2BT wireless The brand announced last shooting grip.

Ideal year that it partnered withfor many different typesenJUST Goods, Inc., which of content creation abled the Cruise Line to replace ranging from vlogs all single-use plastic waterto travel photography / bottles across its 17-ship fleet, videography to simple beginning with its most recent everyday use,Encore. the new ship, Norwegian grip offers optimum The achievement is one of the stability and comfort latest sustainable steps forward combined cablefor Norwegianwith Cruise Line. In free connectivity and a 2018, the Company eliminated reliable dust and moissingle-use plastic straws across ture its fleetresistant and privatedesign. destinaCompatible with aofvariety tions, and as a result this of Sony’s latest digitalitcamermost recent initiative, will as, the GP-VPT2BT connects replace over six million singleeasily via Bluetooth, allowing use plastic water bottles every creators to simplythe aim and is year.

In addition, brand shoot without interfering working to eliminate single-use cables or exposedand inputs.

The plastic shampoo condinew grip includes useful tioner bottles later athis year.tilt featureefforts that allows for flexible These are driven by vertical angle adjustment as the Company’s Sail & Sustain well as the ability to switch Environmental Program, which from normal to self-shooting is its commitment to minimize mode to with ease. Additionalwaste landfills, reduce its

A4 INdulge!

actor and activist Jaden Smith and family, JUST takes an innovative approach to sourcing and packaging the world’s most valued resource - water. The revolutionary company focuses on an impact model, taking into consideration both how the water is sourced and packaged.

JUST is 100% spring water in a plant-based carton. The carton is made of 82% renewable materials – the paper carton is made from trees grown in responsibly-managed forests and the cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic.

It is refillable and recyclable.

JUST has a global presence with bottling facilities in Glenn Falls, NY; Ballymena, Northern Ireland; and Ballarat, Australia, thus allowing the company to meet demand around the world without shipping water from a single production source. JUST takes care to use the most efficient shipping options available.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCLCRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

A4 INdulge!

CO2 emissions rate, increase sustainable sourcing and invest ly,initemerging has an adjustment wheel technologies. can“This be loosened tightened is a veryorspecial and tovery allow for seamless operaproud moment for us,” tion cameras of different saidwith Harry Sommer, president sizes gripof and and chiefweights. executiveThe officer also includesCruise a flip button, inNorwegian Line. “As dicator light and line, lock we switch, a leading cruise are

thrilled to make such an impact by eliminating single-use beverand be quickly agecan bottles across changed our fleet. into tripod simply It’sajust one by of the waysexwe are panding workingthe tobottom preserveportion, our oceans enabling stable, handsand theeasy destinations we visit. free shooting.

While this is just the beginning The GP-VPT2BT Wireless of what we and others can do, Shooting Grip will committed be availwe are incredibly

to our Sail & Sustain program and believe wholeheartedly in the importance of preserving our natural resources. We will continue to strive towards making environmentally conscious decisions to benefit our earth.”

Envisioned and founded by American rapper, songwriter,

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

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

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

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

VAOLEAD... FROM 1

It has four editorial cornerstones – Inspire, Innovate, Invest and Indulge – and delves deeper into both the professional and personal lives of business leaders, exploring the lifestyle interests and pursuits of this affluent audience.

CEO Magazine’s content creates conversations on all platforms, while its voice is considered as the one that matters to decision makers and game changers.

The article entitled “Building something from nothing: Glenn Escandor” was written by resident writer Oliver Featherston over two full pages splashed with two photographs of the young businessman in his office and another while on a conference.

“Despite the growth of Davao’s property market, it was a tough market to break into for a newcomer.

But Glenn Escandor proved Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) was capable of just that,” Featherston started his story.

Escndor told Featherston that leadership, for him, is a careful balancing act, but when it’s done right, it brings together a focused, highly competent team.

“I’m a believer in leading by example. Leading, however, should also allow an environment that encourages one to exercise their capabilities and individuality. Leadership is the ability to set the direction where you can lead the rest of the team. With a group of different personalities, being able to set a common language that everyone can commit themselves to is imperative,” said the Dabawenyo business tycoon who was also appointed sports adviser by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The story articulately

ran through Glenn’s roller coaster ride as a CEO before becoming a made man as a business leader. ”Escandor’s ability to put that into practice was tested in the late 1990s.

At the time, he was working with his father, Colonel Emilio Escandor, helping to manage The Royal Mandaya Hotel. It was a formative experience for Glenn, but equally testing in the wake of economic downturn.

“Working closely with a lean management team, we were able to turn around the hotel’s performance, having been severely affected by the Asian financial crisis in 1997. That experience moulded much of my character as a businessman. I take risks, but exercise prudency in all my decisions.”

After many more years in the industry, Glenn formed ESDEVCO in 2012, and the pilot project came the following year. It was a tough start since there was already stiff competition, especially from Manila-based developers.

As a local player with no track record of property development, Glenn created ESDEVCO with no guarantee that he’d find a profitable customer base – it was a big risk but, again, his time working with his father taught him to balance risk with careful consideration. That first project was Matina Enclaves, a multi-family, mixed-use, self-contained community in Davao City.

“We literally left no room for our pilot project to be unsuccessful,” Glenn recalls. “Apart from viewing this project as the gateway for ESDEVCO to build its track record and pursue more interesting projects in the future, we wanted to explore our capabilities by

(This would also create more business activities in Samal Island),” he said.

Earlier, Mayor Sara Duterte bared that the said family owner is set

to file a Writ of Kalikasan to the Suprement Court against the project which could cause delay on the commencement of the project this year.

cludes additional protections for intellectual property and addresses financial services and foreign exchange while including a provision for dispute resolution, which Mnuchin said will be binding for the first time.

Trump in August formally accused China of manipulating its currency to

gain an advantage in trade and offset the impact of the tariffs.

The label, which had no real practical impact, was removed earlier this week.

The deal also restores a twice-yearly dialogue process that previous administrations conducted regularly but that Trump scrapped.

GEDAVAO

DAVNOR... FROM2 US... FROM4

8 EDGEDAVAO

Inday Sara Duter opposing peace

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

C

ity Mayor Sara Z. they will resume on the Duterte said she is peace negotiations.) Whatnot opposing the plan ever happens either posiof the resumption of peace tive or negative, successful talks between the govern- or unsuccessful, at least ment and Communist Par- they try," the mayor said in ty of the Philippines - New an interview last week.

People's Army (CPP-NPA).

Duterte clarified she "Of course, Pilipino pud was just opposing that gud ko, gusto pud nako'g time, the implementation peace. Wala ma'y proble- of suspension of military ma kung mag Peace Talks operations (SOMO) and sila. (Of course, as a Filipi- unilateral ceasefire during no, I want peace. There is the Christmas season. no problem forEdge meDavao if they The Neilwin mayorBravo. explained, Escandor with managing editor uniquely offering three residential options within the same development.”

In the story, Glenn did - convince sila. not mincena muuli wordsnahow In fact, they OWWA administraproud were of their tor is currently travelling to project. the “I’m ME. We are monitoring proud to say this OFWs in MEdevelopment right now," he is the only in said. and probably in MinDavao Elaya has danao thatsaid hasOWWA residential set programs for thehousdislots, single detached tressed OFWs through es and residential condothe"BalikunitsPinas, minium – both Balik midHanapbuhay" program and high-rise residential where OFWs each will rebuildings.” ceive P20,000 livelihood Glenn also shared his assistance.on the economy thoughts Pinas, him Balik and"Balik what inspired to Hanapbuhay" is a non-cash push aggressively forward. livelihood support/assisHe shared that the gentancegrowth intended to provide eral of the Philipimmediate relief is to providreturnpines’ economy OFWs, active ing amember boost to real estate. or non-active whoproperty are disHe cited that placed over from the theirpast jobsthree due prices to war/political conflicts years have increased by anywhere from a conser-

COME HOME...

SARA... FROM2 PDEA... FROM2

vative 30% to as much as 70%, and there has been an accompanying increase in FROM 1 property demand. A major in host countries contributor to this isorthepolinicy reforms controls and frastructure development changes by the incentives host govand business ernment orby are of engineered thevictims local and illegal recruitment and/or national governments. human other Withtrafficking Davao Cityoraggresdistressful situations. sively growing in terms of na judlikena real"Gina-andam estate, ESDEVCO kanunay aron kungitself naay wise has positioned in mga OFWs na muuli gikan a prime location for greater sa Middle East puwede na opportunities. matagaan programa," Glenn ug revealed his Elaya said.plans across the company He saidspectrum, repatriation efproperty such fort is not just acondos job forand the as residential OWWA housing, but and also hotelinvolves and reother government agencies sort development. thatThe include DepartoneDFA,particular ment of Labor and Employstriking revelation in the ment (DOLE), featured storyand wasNGOs. Glenn’s "Ato for lang i-in place formula success. atong sa He mga singledsistema out that pag-repatriate," he said. their trade partners, whom he describes as “part of

city. The name “Life Bus” operation of low-floor busis coined but from I the es in Health Catalunan Grande and barangay, am city’s very City Office for their brand “Life is Here.” in Diversion Road, and the happy that it was happen- efforts,” added Brangay government openingEdgar of the proper route ing The now. city I would like to Captain T. Valera. is eyeing quarter north south comthank our the City first Mayor, CAD- for the PDEA 11 todirector Anof 2020 rolltheir out support the first tonio muters.Rivera CIO AC, PDEAtofor meanwhile & efforts without them urged local authorities to barangay Sainz will not be strengthen their border seFROM 2 included in the list as drug curity especially at the sea cleared barangay,” said as most the drugs that AIDS management ser- inces areofalready orientBarangay Captain Ronnie come in Davao Oriental are vices. ed on what to do to HIV Valera. by sea vessel. “ At upgraded na rin transported patients. Previously pag fought fornila. so many havekaso to strengthen ang“I capacity May may“We mga outside years for barangaynaSainz coastline operation to to mga laboratories rin our Davao City mahirap to be part of a drug cleared avoid the entry of drug supna nagte-test ng HIV and manage kasi walang serbarangay, I aminhappy that ply in your the hospitals the provvices, “ shecity.To said. the PDEA it was happening now. I and police please come up would like to thank City with a scheme. To the baMayor Michelle Rabat for rangay captains continue 4 what you have started, let’s her support allFROM throughout the process and to the sustain Director Rifected by Taal’s eruption eruptionit,”issaid possible within PDEA, CADACwith Office and vera. to cooperate governdays.”(CIO MATI) ment response teams.

Taal Volcano, the counThe public has been try’s smallest volcano, has asked to stay safe by mon- been recording tremors as itoring official advisories early as 11 a.m. on Sunday. driednotices up, Bornas said, which idents have abandoned and from pertinent Agoncillo, Batangas was to be expected it their homes around Taal to agencies of the since governexperienced back-to-back began he spewing shelter in -evacuation ment, added. lava foun- take earthquakes the first tains a day after it shot but thousands On Sunday, the giant Phil- centers, was a 4.1-magnitude earthclouds ofInstitute ash milesofinto the more refusing leave ippine Volcaquakeare late Sundaytoevening air on Sunday. havethealready nology and Seismology or while seconddrifted quake Phivolcs raised said volcanic check on magnitude their an(Phivolcs) Alert back withtothe same activity4 over had Taal "generally possessions.

Level Volcano imals earlyand Monday morning. waned means to weak“hazardous emission Power has been rewhich (PNA) of steam-laden plumes". stored in some areas Even so, it had recorded in nearby Tagaytay city more than 100 tremorsFROM where 5 business owners since Wednesday, meaning cleaning away thethe you prejudiced, I will not were because I will question magma was still rising. ash and preparing to start allow you to even construct integrity of your company," More than again. a building, not53,000 even arespost trading he said.

12-YEAR-OLD...

PRRD...

Taal volcano shows signs of calming, but danger remains

A

Philippine volcano that has been spewing ash for days appeared to be calming down on Thursday, but seismologists said the danger of an eruption remained high and authorities warned evacuees not to return to their homes.

Some residents took advantage of what they perceived as a lull in the activity of Taal, one of country's most active and

deadliest volcanoes, to return home even though a 14 kms (nine mile) exclusion zone remained in place.

"We are analyzing what this seeming calm of the volcano means," Maria Antonia Bornas, chief science research specialist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), told reporters.

The lake inside Taal has

VO

historically, even if there were ceasefire truce, members of the NPA still launched their offensives against the government.

The Presidential daughter also added since, the truce was unilateral, she opted that the city will not be included on the implementation of SOMO. Mayor Sara said the resumption of negotiation will show the sincerity of government to attain

peace especially in the remote area in the country.

She suggested that the localized peace talks with the local government units should also be explored, to know which of these are viable in attaining the elusive peace.

"Kung naay national peace talks, then, kung tan-aw sa mayor or sa governor nga kaya ra niya mo buhat, on his own, og mechanisms on a localized

our formula in attaining and attends to their daily success”, equally benefit tasks,” he says. “Amid the from the continued growth. success in my FROMperceived 4 “What our track record business ventures, I try to He said Kuwaiti Ambashave humble already and beenbuild charged demonstrates is that pen- stay the sador toa highly Manilasaturated Musaed passion but Althwaihk failedfurther. on his etrating to learn Saleh Ahmad Althwaihk promise to deliver of industry like real estate This attitude hasa copy helped informed him in a he meeting the charge is still possible,” says me adapt sheet betterlast to Monchallast week that the suspects lenging day. (MindaNews) proudly. situations and be With the evolving cus- able to arrive at sound busitomer preferences in the ness decisions.” property market, True enough, Glenn’s FROMGlenn 5 believes “creativity and a humility warmth among others. availed ofand thehisexporters strict adherence to quality makes him both ordinary Meanwhile, as in the dollar and yen rediscount are maintainextraordinary. past,essential banks inhave not and facility (EDYRF). (PNA) ing that hard-won place in Ordinary in the sense Davao’s development in- that he is approachable and dustry.”

FROM 11 reachable. He has no layers And while he reveals in of pretense unlike many pearance against the fran- power in the season, he took the story that he acknowlplayers and in business. chise. the role of CEO and The himself thehim lineedges goodout thingofwith is “Obviously to come up after a game in Denowner offers prestige, he that he is confident of his back here,that and some of the ability ver on and Nov.his 14.clout The withNets confides he doesn’t other stops I’ve played for, held up well without him see himself as all that dif- out having to overextend and justfrom kindthe of to receive for wings. a while thanks mostferent rest of hisa his standing for one last time Spencer Dinwiddie's team.

“I Otreat myself just ly to And extraordinary in is justany great,” Carter said. strong play, had soar fallike other employee the sense thatbut he can feeling tered recently, whoIrving reportsbegan for work daily while just beingespecially grounded.in pain in his shoulder early crunch time.

AUTOPSY...

2019...

IRVING...

NOTICE OF AUCTION

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

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

BRANCHES

DATE PAWNED

DAVAO Sasa Maa Panabo Main Panabo Branch

DAVAO Sandawa Matina Ulas

CONSUNJI...

July 0131, 2019

July 0131, 2019

DATE & PLACE OF AUCTION Jan. 21, 2020 (Tue.) 9:00 AM VGM Pawnshop, Inc, VGM Bldg., Sandawa Rd. SIR New Matina, Davao City Jan. 28, 2020 (Tue.) 9:00 AM VGM Pawnshop, Inc, VGM Bldg.

Sandawa Rd. SIR New Matina Davao City

THE MANAGEMENT Jan. 14 , 17, 20 , 2020

peace siya s ment nation the lo sees t create localiz nation allow it), " sh Ma now, the iss other

Rep Depa LA FRANC

Regiona

Baluso

Petition Certifica operate AIRCON

Cas

BACHEL

x----------

N

P of a Conve this the o ORDIN AIRCO on th CATEE VIA TA AND V use of Certifi Novem petitio 2020, autho validit operat with units p N given be he JANUA a.m. above A prior petitio Notice of ge Minda P grantin file th suppo eviden above of the and m appea time.

T acted the ba the d submi unless it ne additio or ora W B. DIO this 9th Davao

Att

Attorn

Petition Counsel

third management of the grains are ripe,” practice. “Plant insect the primer suggests. repellant crops along “Thresh immediatethe dike,” the primer ly using a single pass says. Examples include drum or ‘bulhot.’ Dry winged beans (kadios), palay seeds to 14% lemon grass, cosmos, moisture content. Mill and madre de cacao or palay seeds using an orkakawate. ganic rice mill, that is, a Research done by rice mill that has been the author showed sanitized.” makabuhay as a natural FROM The 4 seventh step is pesticide.

In some parts the preservation and estate loans (RREL) (are) as Australia and the Unitof the country, growing at 10.6 farmers percent conservation ed States, whereofoverrice 60 chop the leaves “Choose good year-on-year,” he added.and seeds. percent and 68 percent of Nook also this quality borrowers, respectively, go scatter thembelieves in their panicles (wellis anfields opportune time for filled, throughfree mortgage rice or vegetable from brokers insect the Philippines adopt the damage). instead of direct-bank applots.

This tohas been Bundle pantrend andtopractices of the icles plications secure a housproven be effective andtohand them in industry in countries such the ing loan.

(PNA) against brown planthoshade.” pper, green leafhopper, The last step is marand rice stemborer. keting. “Pack organicalFROM 5 can ly-grown milled rice in Makabuhay vine also be grinded and aCBN clean white sack (50 Internet and Mobile Maris set to expire this broadcasted at theofrate sack) and keting Association the kilograms year, with per President RoPhilippines. drigo Duterte threatening of two kilograms per deliver to outlets.”

The franchise of ABSrenewal. square meter on rice to block Rice,itsIRRI says, “is seedbeds 10 days after the principal food for sowing. This procedure over 60% of mankind.” has proven “makabuFROMIt3 is particularly imhay” as toxic as broad- portant to Asia where will a roadmap for formed to address castprovide carbofuran.

Toxic over half of theparticular world’s achieving zero hunger, takconcerns relative to the imeffect lasts five to seven population lives. ing into consideration ex- plementation of this Order. days after “Rice isthe the one isting laws application. and issuances, Finally, task thing force Theasfourth and last thatalso truly defines as well international law will prepare andAsia,” sub-

10

1ST ONLINE...

LIM...

DUTERTE...

and treaty obligations.

Under the NFP, initiatives for ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture will be identified.

It will coordinate and rationalize the efforts of concerned government agencies and instrumentalities to ensure a “whole-of-government” approach to attaining zero hunger and at the same time evaluate, through the identification of key performance indicators, the government's progress in ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Technical working groups from among its member-agencies will also be

mit to the President annual reports on the state of hunger, food security, nutrition and agricultural production in the country, as well as the task force's initiatives and recommendations.

Support and assistance of other government agencies and instrumentalities may also be sought by the task force. Meanwhile, local government units are enjoined to render necessary assistance to the task force.

Initial funding requirements for the implementation of this order will be charged against the current appropriations of the member-agencies of the task force.

However, budgetary requirements for the succeeding years will be in-

bohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. 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 fiber, 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 scientifically 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

cluded in the annual budget proposals of the concerned agencies.

The order takes effect immediately.

Based on the third quarter of 2019 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results fielded from Sept. 27 to 30, 2019, 9.1 percent or an estimated 2.3 million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months.

The figure is lower than the 10 percent or an estimated 2.5 million in June 2019 and 9.5 percent or about 2.3 million families in March 2019.

Nograles expressed hope that fewer Filipinos will suffer from hunger with programs like the Enhanced Partnership

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020 kinds of meat, poultry and seafood. A popular Japanese rice dish is sushi, rice flavored with sweet rice vinegar and wrapped with fish 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)

Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP), an initiative to help mitigate hunger, ensure food and nutrition security, and reduce poverty in urban and rural communities, including marginalized communities.

Agencies which are a part of EPAHP are the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Irrigation Administration, and Landbank. (PNA)

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

PCA... FROM5

(NEDA) regional office here said a coconut farming family nets only PHP35,358 a year or PHP2,946 monthly.

This level of income is less than a third of the average income of a family in the region. The situation is much worse for tenants

since they only receive 50 percent of the farm they are taking care of, NEDA said.

The region is the fifth top coconut-producing region in the country with an average copra production of 320,000 metric tons every year. (PNA)

kg and 63 kg and women’s 51 kg, six slots are at stake, including the four semifinalists and the two boxers that will lose to the eventual gold and silver medalists.

The rest of the divisions will offer five slots

to Tokyo. For those who fail in Wuhan and the three other continental qualifiers (the Africas, Americas, and Europe), the World qualifying tournament in Paris in May will be their last chance.

(PR)

PH... FROM11

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2020

Harris leads Sixers past Nets T OLYMPIC BOXING QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT. Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) secretary-general Ed Picson says the Philippines can be a replacement for the staging of the Olympic boxing qualifying tournament in case the Chinese city of Wuhan is deemed unfit

to play as host owing to the medical situation there during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum held at the Amelie Hotel in Malate, Manila on Tuesday (January 14, 2020). The Wuhan qualifying tournament is scheduled Feb. 3-14. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

PH boxing officials wary of Wuhan pneumonia outbreak T he Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is closely monitoring the situation in Wuhan, China following an outbreak of pneumonia just weeks ahead of the Asia and Oceania boxing qualifier for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Ed Picson, secretary-general of ABAP, said those from the host city and the participating countries are keeping their fingers crossed before the event on Feb. 3 to 14.

Picson told the PSA Forum at Amelie Hotel Manila on Tuesday that apprehensions remain despite a letter they received on Monday from the International Olympic

Committee (IOC) Boxing Task Force, saying “no travel restrictions and extra measures are needed.”

The letter also said the World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined that “China has strong public health capacities and resources to respond and manage respiratory disease outbreaks,” and the WHO does not recommend measures for travelers to Wuhan, which is 1,152 kms north of Beijing.

Picson said a couple of countries have expressed willingness to take over the hosting of the Olympic qualifier, including Thailand and even the Philippines, which recently hosted the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

To young sports enthusiasts who only recently heard or read about a guy named David Stern, the fellow may yet just be another guy you meet in the street.

For old timers and seasoned sports lovers, especially those who have followed the NBA journey, Stern is the man who masterminded it all.

Before anything else, Stern passed away December 31 (or New Year’s Day in the Philippines due to brain hemorrhage after undergoing an emergency operation last December 12.

When he assumed the commissionership in 1984, the NBA was literally taking a rollercoaster ride where the league was battling internal problems, including strikes and player union-related

“With our recent hosting of the SEA Games, we have the mechanics in place,” said Picson.

However, he doubted if China would give up the hosting since it has other venues nationwide that can stage the sports event.

Chinese authorities have ruled out any relation to the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to the new type of coronavirus that has struck Wuhan, as well as human-to-human contact as a way of transmitting the disease.

If the event pushes through in Wuhan, Picson said the Philippine delegation would still take

issues.

The NBA just ranked 7th among major sports in the US during Stern’s initial stewardship of the league behind MLB (Major League Baseball), NFL (football), NHL (ice hockey) PGA (golf), pro boxing, among others.

To his credit, Stern employed his creative media and marketing abilities to effect a skyward stepladder progress, resulting in blossoming partnerships that brought the NBA to billions of people around the world.

In a game I watched at The Forum, then the home of the LA Lakers in Inglewood sometime in the mid-80s, lucky me was able to catch a glimpse of this person who sported silvery hair and was easily recognizable among those

the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its boxers and officials.

Picson said ABAP would field as many as eight boxers to the Asia and Oceania qualifiers, including five male and three female boxers, most of them were gold medal winners in the recent SEA Games.

They include entries in the men’s 52 kg, 57 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg and 75 kg divisions, and the 51 kg, 57 kg and 69 kg in the women’s side.

Picson said the Asia and Oceania qualifiers is the best way for Filipino boxers to qualify to this year’s Olympics because of the number of slots offered.

In the men’s 52 kg, 57

in the courtside seats (aside from Hollywood celebrities who are die-hard Laker fanatics).

Stern’s remarkable organizational and leadership qualities should ideally be the yardstick of people in the basketball organizing business anywhere else in the globe.

The wire report of AFP said: “Stern oversaw expansion of the league from 23 to 30 clubs, the debut of active NBA talents in the Olympic and the sport’s expansion to a popular world-wide television phenomenon.”

The report continued: “Stern oversaw the addition of seven NBA expansion teams – the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors,

FPH, P10

obias Harris scored 34 points and hit three clutch shots in the final 2:20 as the Philadelphia 76ers continued their home dominance by making all the plays down the stretch in a 117-106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

Harris scored 11 of his points in the fourth quarter, when the Sixers outscored Brooklyn 31-16. He scored nine of his points in Philadelphia’s game-ending, 13-2 run over the final 3 1/2 minutes.

The game was tied at 104-104 when Jarrett Allen split a pair at the line with 3:51 remaining. Al Horford’s hook shot with 3:30 left gave the 76ers the lead for good, and then Harris took over.

Harris made it 109-104 with a 3-pointer over Spencer Dinwiddie with 2:20 remaining. He then added a pair of jumpers to push the lead to 115-106 with 50.6 seconds left.

Harris then finished off Philadelphia’s 19th home win in 21 games this season by hitting two free throws with 31.6 seconds to go.

Ben Simmons posted 20 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia, which shot 51.1 percent from

the floor. Furkan Korkmaz and Josh Richardson added 15 points apiece while Horford contributed 14 as Philadelphia won its fifth straight home game.

Dinwiddie had 26 points and eight assists for Brooklyn, but the Nets shot 43.7 percent overall and were 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) in the fourth. The Nets hit one field goal over the last 4:55 and fell to 2-9 in their past 11 games.

Allen added 17 points and 10 rebounds while Taurean Prince contributed 15 points for the Nets, who shot 60 percent (18 of 30) from the foul line.

Kyrie Irving was held to 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting in his third game back from right shoulder impingement.

Dinwiddie scored 12 points in an evenly played opening quarter that ended with Brooklyn holding a 28-25 lead. The Nets continued to shoot well and held a 57-54 halftime lead after Allen converted a tipin at the buzzer.

Dinwiddie’s three-point play gave the Nets a 68-61 lead with 8:56 left in the third. Philadelphia cut the deficit to one point on five occasions, and Brooklyn carried a 90-86 lead into the fourth.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) celebrates a three point basket.

Memphis (originally Vancouver) Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans.”

Perhaps, to all awe-struck basketball fanatics, Stern’s most valued contribution was allowing the participation of the best NBA players to see action in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Led by superstars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the American squad was tagged the “Dream Team.”

For all of the reasons above, it is most interesting that Stern’s NBA legacy be the inspiration for Filipino basketball leaders to emulate.

The PBA and MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) are the two most active groups now involved in main-

taining the popularity of the sport nationwide.

Being the only professional league (the MPBL is reportedly an amateur org) that has been in existence since 1975 to this day, I reckon if the PBA can be said to have achieved even a small measure of success considering that 6 of the 12 teams are owned by only two giant companies.

(In fact, when I was actively covering the PBA as a radio sportscaster, it nearly folded up when Galerie Dominique (formerly Mariwasa) and Crispa and Toyota bid goodbye one after the other.)

David Stern, a lawyer, will be sorely missed. He was one in a million. ### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

DAVAO SPORTS 12 EDGE

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

SPORTS BRACE FOR BATTLE

VOL.12 ISSUE 219 JANUARY 17,2019 2020 VOL.12 ISSUE 164 VOL.12 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, ISSUE 78••FRIDAY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER JUNE 25-26, 27,

BEST PLAYERS

4 games up as Escandor Cup Collegiate Standhardinger, Durham win PBA individual awards Sponsors League resumes Saturday C

hris Standhardinger captured the Best Player of the Conference award for the PBA GovBy ADAM ernors’ Cup. B. MORRELL The NorthPort big man received heavy four-game bill Royal Mandaya Hotel, Dathe award 4 of the is on itsprior way asto ac-Game vies Paints, Mandarin SPC Finals atinthe Araneta tion the Smart Collegiate Branch,ColiseMax's Fried ChickSponsors League City (CSL)on en and PTT Lubricants. um in Quezon Wednesday Escandor Cup resumes on Meantime, the night.

Saturday, October 26, at Agro-Industrial Foundaa College total of ofthe Philipthe Standhardinger Davao City Recreationgottion Center. points, way ahead pines (AIFCP) 1,011 of San Mi-Sailors and The curtain raiser Fajardo, will the UM guel’s June Mar whoWildcats got shared feature a "David versus the top spot in bracket A 657.

Goliath" match up as odds- with a 2-0 record each, Standhardinger the by nod on favorite Jose Maria Col- got followed the CJC Red lege (JMC) takes on the Lions 1-0. The MCT from the Kings media and PBAwith Comthe struggling Brokenshire Navigators landed on missioner’s Office en route to spot his with 1-1, College of Davao (BCD) the fourth first BPCat award dribblers 3:00pm. in his career. trailed by the defending The clash between the champion Holy Cross of TNT’s Jayson Castro is third with San Pedro College (SPC) Davao College 615 points, Columbian’s CJ Perez is (HCDC) Stallions and the visiting Crusaders with 1-2, DMfourth 506, (CJC) and NLEX’s Kiefer Cor Jesuwith College MACSP Mariners 0-1, DAVAO of Digos is City Redwith Lions481.

SPCD Saints 0-1, and SPC Ravena fifth willMeanwhile, go after at 4:30 pm, Durham Stallions with 0-2.

Allen beat followed by the exciting The bracket B, meanJustin Brownlee for the Best Im- led by battle between traditionwhile, is currently University of Mindanao will port of the Conference award. al powerhouse teams St. the Holy Cross College tryo to make it three in a row JohnThe Paul Meralco II College forward of of Sasascored (HCCS) Spartans on Saturday as action in the Davao (SPCD) Saints and with 3-0 card, followed Collegiate Sponsors League 1,170 points, enough to edge the Mats College of Technol- by JMC Kings (2-0), Asian (CSL) Escandor Cup resumes Ginebra who 937. ogy (MCT)winger, Navigators at got International School of at the Davao City Recreation 6:00Durham pm.

Aeronautics and Technolnearly swept the firstCenter. Escandor Cup/CSL At votes 7:00pm,from the the un- media, ogy (AISAT) place and he(1-1), Atephoto VOL.11 VOL.12 ISSUE 241 ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, 6VOL.12 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 24-25, 17-18, 2019 ISSUE 51 •FEBRUARY TUESDAY, 21,2019 VOL.12 ISSUE 45 • SUNDAYMONDAY, MAYMAY 12 -13, 2019 beaten University of Min- neo de Davao University also got the first-place votes of the danao (UM) Wildcats Knights (1-2), VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE55 21• SUNDAY-MONDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY,MAY APRIL 7-8, 2019 VOL.12 26-27, SEE STORY ON P11 Mannywill Pacquiao(Addu) says evenBlue at 40, he is not finished yet.

PBA. stake its clean slate against BCD (0-1), UM Penaplata DMMA College of South(0-1),is andthird Rizal MemoKJ McDaniels of TNT ern Philippines (DMMAC- rial Colleges (RMC) with 635 points, NorthPort’s SP) Mariners to wrapwhile up Bulldogs (0-2).

AWARDEES. Meralco’s Allen Durham (left) and NorthPort’s big man Chris named Best Import while Standhardinger won his first Best Player of the ConferMichael is fourth with 528.

Saturday's Qualls quadruple Standhardinger hoist their trophies before the Game 4 of the PBA Governor’s Cup ence award. (Photo courtesy of PBA) header sponsored by The (PNA) finals at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night (Jan. 15, 2020). Durham was

A

EDGE

EDGEDAVAO

14 12

NOT DONE YET EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO