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DCPO vigilant after twin Cotabato blastsBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is now on red alert status follow-

ing the grenade blasts in Cota-bato City and Kabacan, North Cotabato on Saturday night.

In an interview yesterday, DCPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz said

although there are no reports of threats, the DCPO has in-tensified its mobile and foot patrol as well as checkpoints and chokepoints to ensure the safety of the public.

“We appeal to the people, especially the commuters, that you have to submit your-

selves for inspection because we need to secure the city and ensure the safety of the com-muters and drivers,” she said.

Driz also asked the coop-eration of all passengers to submit their baggage for in-spection voluntarily.

“Within the Davao City

range, we are trying to secure the city with the help also from our friendly forces in Task Force Davao and unified force multipliers,” she said.

She said aside from the patrols and checkpoints, the DCPO also intensified its intel-

FRED, 10

ON THE DECLINE? A vendor arranges his display of Christmas lanterns in different colors and sizes at a

makeshift store along Quezon Boulevard yesterday. Sales of Christmas lanterns and decorations are

declining according to sellers and manufacturers as more and more people are recycling their old ones.

Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 20152 EDGEDAVAO

NEWSCity needs two new shelterareas for influx of Lumads

POLICE have expressed alarm over the increase in the number of youth

gangs involved in crimes in Davao City following the death of a police officer in Toril Dis-trict early last month.

Allegedly stabbed to death by a gang member which the police here found to be “alarm-ing”.

“There was an increase in the number of criminal gangs in the city that can be the re-sult of the recent stabbing acci-dent of a police officer in Toril,” Senior Police Officer (SPO)4 Ma. Rosario Y. Suarez of the Communication Relations Di-

vision-Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 told reporters during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex.

“That incident give them more confidence to commit crimes,” Suarez added.

She was referring to the killing of SPO1 Vevencio Day-toc Vertudazo, 40, a member the Toril Police Station who was stabbed dead by three suspected youth gang mem-bers belonging to the Batang District Hall Gang.

The victim was conduct-ing police visibility patrol near the Toril District Hall when the gang members stabbed him.

He was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on ar-rival.

Police later caught up with two of the suspects and shot them dead when the latter al-legedly tried to fight back.

Suarez did not give data on the number of youth gangs but said many new groups are operating even inside schools, with members as young as nine years old being recruited.

The latest data on youth gangs come from 2007, during which the DCPO recorded a to-tal of 116 gangs, of which only 35 were considered criminal.

But Suarez said despite

the rise in the number of youth gangs, criminal activities in-volving members of different gang groups in the city are still relatively low especially when Mayor Rodrigo Duterte airs warnings to them.

“A teacher from a public secondary school in barangay Bangkal confirmed the exis-tence of gang groups inside the schools and she was alarmed,” Suarez said. “This is the reason why there are riots inside and within the premises of schools here.”

She said gangs are recruit-ing students because “these

THE Davao City govern-ment is now identifying two new shelter areas

to house the groups of Indige-nous People (IPs) from some parts of Mindanao who will celebrate Christmas in the city next month.

In an interview yesterday, City Social Service and Devel-opment Office (CSSDO) head Malou Bermudo said her of-fice was prompted to find new shelter areas because the gym-nasiums in Toril and Calinan are under repair.

“So, right now, we are still finalizing the possible shelter areas because our shelter ar-eas in Toril and Calinan will not be available because it is under repair,” she said.

She said the CSSDO is ex-pecting more Lumads to come to the city this year than the 11,000 who came last year.

Bermudo said the gymna-siums available as of the mo-ment are the ones Buhangin,

Bankerohan, Matina Aplaya, Tugbok, and Bunawan.

She said the Bunawan gym is also under repair but the barangay officials told her the facility can cater to a smaller number of IPs.

Bermudo said the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) ahs al-ready inspected possible shel-ter areas for the Lumads.

“We are still waiting for the report coming from the City Engineer’s Office,” she said.

She said the City Mayor’s Office (CMO) has prepared a budget for the accommodation of the Lumads but she did not reveal how much.

Bermudo said she hopes the budget will be released be-fore December because the IPs are expected to arrive on the first day of the month.

Earlier, city administrator Jesus Melchor V. Quitain said the city government will cater to the needs of all the Lumads

“IT’S not over until its over,” the chair of the government (GPH)

peace panel in the negotia-tions with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said on the possibility of passing the the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by December 16, the self-imposed deadline set last month by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“It’s not over until its over di ba? But I have to admit that as the days go by the chances (of passing the BBL by De-cember 16) become slimmer,” Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, GPH peace panel chair said in a press conference at the Apo View Hotel on Friday after-noon.

She cited the quorum

problems at the House of Rep-resentatives which has not resumed interpellation on the BBL since Congress resumed sessions on November 3. There have been five session days since but no interpella-tion as there was no quorum on November 3, 4, 9 and 10 and the 11th was spent on the Salary Standardization Law.

Congress will resume ses-sions on November 23 as ses-sions were called off this week due to the Asia-Pacific Eco-nomic Cooperation summit.

At the Senate, only one Senator, Juan Ponce Enrile, has interpellated during the five session days. He manifest-ed he would continue in the next sessions.

Ferrer acknowledged that

A NETWORK of schools for the Lumads (Indige-nous Peoples) is holding

the military accountable for the November 12 burning of a teachers’ cottage in its satel-lite school in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur and “the continuous attacks on our schools and Lumad communities.”

The military denied re-sponsibility for the burning and claimed in a November 13 statement by the Eastern Mindanao Command that the perpetrators were a “still unidentified lawless armed group wearing Army uni-forms” who “disguised as sol-diers of 23rd Infantry Battal-ion (23rd IB).”

The Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. (ALCADEV), in a statement

dated November 16, said the military “is attempting to cov-er-up the crime by convenient-ly excusing the perpetrators as ‘impostors’ citing that Army uniforms and military back-packs were recently procured from an accredited tailoring shop in Butuan City and de-duced that these were used for the disguise of the perpe-trators.”

It said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “is trying to blame the NPA (New Peoples Army) for this atrocity while continuing its vilification of ALCADEV as an NPA school.”

A teachers’ cottage of the ALCADEV satellite school in Si-tio Km. 30, Brgy. Padiay, Sibag-at, Agusan del Sur was burned down by six unidentified men at around 2 a.m. on November

GETTING YOUNGER. Noli Dimaandal of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 says there is an increase in cases of minors getting involved in illegal drug trade as drug perpetrators nowadays use them as drug couriers. Dimaandal was a guest in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Police alarmedover rise of gangs

crc@edgedavao.netBy CHENEEN R. CAPON

YOUNG CHEFS. Students from one of the private schools in Davao City participate in a pizza-making camp at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Lumad school blames militaryfor burning teachers’ cottage

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.abf@edgedavao.net

Ferrer on BBL passage: Notmuch time but ‘still hoping’

FPOLICE, 10

FCITY, 10

FFERRER, 10

FLUMAD, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 3EDGEDAVAO NEWS

Duterte warns drivers of ‘colorum’ vehiclesMAYOR Rodridgo Dute-

rte on Sunday warned drivers of “colorum”

vehicles that they would be arrested and announced that unregistered van terminals will be demolished.

Duterte issued the warn-ing in his Sunday television program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” after learning that the City Transport and Traffic

Management Office (CTTMO) still received reports of “colo-rum” (is slang for illegal public land transport) vehicles still plying the streets and that some bus terminals operate without a franchise from the Land Transportation Fran-chising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“If you don’t have the fran-chise, you will face charges,

and I will order the confisca-tion of your vehicle,” he said in Cebuano.

The mayor said some of the illegal terminals can be found along F. Torres St., Rizal St., the area along Quezon Boulevard, Sta. Ana Avenue, Panacan area, and the area fronting Victoria Plaza.

“Aside from the fact that they are not supposed to ply

the routes, wala gyud na silay authorization sa gobyerno, in case na madisgrasya o ma-matay, tabla. Walay insurance (they are not authorized by government, in case of acci-dents or death, you get noth-ing. There is no insurance), that’s why we arresting the drivers,” he said.

Although this is LTFRB’s jurisdiction, Duterte said oth-

er law enforces can make the arrest even if they are not dep-utized.

He said even the police can arrest erring drivers “be-cause they are violating .. the law.”

“As long as there is a viola-tion of the law, I do not think that you need the deputiza-tion of anybody,” he said.

“If you allow passengers

to board your vehicles and you endanger them, I have every right to arrest and detain you, you and your motor vehicle,” the mayor added in Cebuano.

He also told the passen-gers not to ride the “colorum” vehicles because in case of accidents, the passengers will get nothing as there is no in-surance. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 20154 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

THE Davao City council is set to discuss for second reading the proposed

P6.3 billion 2016 budget in to-day’s regular session.

Today’s agenda includes the presentation of the pro-posed budget under the com-mittee on finance, ways and mean, and appropriations headed by councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang.

Members of the local fi-nance committee (LFC) and all heads of different offices are also invited to be present during the discussion.

In last week’s Pulong-Pu-long ni Pulong, Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte said the City Council will hasten the pas-sage of the budget so that it can be immediately utilized next year.

“Ginahan-ay na, amo nang tapuson gyud kay para ang budget next year han-ay na dire-diretso na ang dagan sa atong gobyerno (We are now

fixing it, we need to fast-track the budget so that next year the operation of the city gov-ernment will be continuous),” he said.

Earlier, Dayanghirang said had already adopted the pro-posed P6.3 billion 2016 bud-get for the city submitted by the LFC.

Of the total budget, the CMO will get P1.9 billion of the P5 billion allotted for the gen-eral fund proper.

Dayanghirang said the CMO has the biggest budget because of the operations of Central 911, Task Force Davao, and the Public Safety and Secu-rity Command Center (PSSCC).

Of the total budget, P84.3 million will go to the person-al services (PS) for the salary of the employees, P1.7 billion will go to the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), and P58.9 million will go to the capital outlay.

The City Environment

and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) follows with P456 million (P41 million for PS, P414 million for MOOE and P561,000 for capital outlay).

The Sangguniang Pan-lungsod will get P406 million (P148 million for PS, P248 mil-lion for MOOE, and P8.7 mil-lion for capital outlay).

City Engineer’s Office (CEO) has an allocation of P359.5 million (P61 million for PS, P295 million for MOOE and P2.3 million for capital outlay).

City Health Office (CHO) will get P275.2 million allo-cation (P192.3 million for PS, P81.3 million for MOOE and P1.5 million for capital outlay).

City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) will get a budget of P168.2 million (P124.9 million for PS, P39.6 million for MOOE and P3.6 million for capital outlay).

City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) will get P161 million, (P79.7

million for PS, P80.6 for MOOE and P733,823 for capital out-lay).

City Administrator’s Office will get P66.9 million (P53.1 million for PS, P12.8 for MOOE and P898,884 for capital out-lay).

City Agriculturist’s Office will get P66.2 million (P60.1 million for PS, P5.9 million for MOOE and P124,000 for capi-tal outlay).

City General Services Of-fice (GSO) will get P51.5 mil-lion (P39.1 million for PS and P12.3 million for MOOE).

City Veterinarian’s Office will get P41.8 million (P31.2 million for PS, P10.3 million for MOOE and P287,171 for capi-tal outlay).

City Accountant’s Office will get will get P33.7 million (P27.8 million for PS, P5.4 mil-lion for MOOE and P500,000 for capital outlay).

City Planning and Devel-

US-BASED Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday said the Philippine gov-

ernment should immediately release the hundreds of most-ly indigent and homeless Ma-nila residents, including more than 140 children, who it said have been detained ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit.

In a statement, HRW said the “arbitrary detentions” are part of so-called “clearing op-erations” aimed to beautify the city ahead of the summit, which will bring world leaders to Manila from November 16 to 18, 2015.

The group said since November 9, local authori-ties have rounded up several hundred adults and children from streets and informal settlements in Manila and surrounding municipalities of Metro Manila, and detained them without charge.

“Many of the adults op-erate food carts or sell scav-enged items and were told by officials who detained them that they would be able to re-turn to the streets and resume their work after the summit. On the orders of local mayors, including Manila Mayor Jo-seph Estrada, police and social workers are detaining them under guard in government facilities for the homeless and orphans,” HRW said.

“Philippine authorities have violated the rights of hundreds of Manila residents to put a cynical veneer of ‘cleanliness’ on the city for APEC delegates,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The re-moval and detention of home-less and impoverished resi-dents from where they live and work without due process is a violation of their basic human rights.”

HRW said according to witnesses, police, neigh-borhood officials, and social workers appear on the streets where people are living and examine their tents and hovels.

“The people detained are then brought by truck to the

Reception and Action Center (RAC), a social welfare facility run by the Manila city govern-ment. Adults and accompanied children from Manila are held at the RAC while children from Manila with no parents pres-ent are sent to Boys Town, a shelter for homeless children run by the Manila government in nearby Marikina. Many of those picked up, including people from outside Manila, are then sent to the Jose Fa-bella Center, a national gov-ernment-run facility for the homeless in neighboring Man-daluyong City,” the group said.

The national Department of Social Welfare and Devel-opment told Human Rights Watch that from November 9 to November 12 a total of 48 homeless or indigent individ-uals have been detained at the Jose Fabella Center, 40 from Manila, while the others are from nearby Quezon City and Pasay City. The Manila city gov-ernment reported that author-ities had “rescued” at least 141 street children as of November 10, dozens of whom were sent to Boys Town.

“Local authorities conduct the ‘clearing operations’ in coordination with the Depart-ment of Social Welfare and De-velopment,” HRW said.

“The department’s direc-tor for Metro Manila, Alicia Bonoan, told Human Rights Watch the ‘clearing operations’ were part of a government pol-icy of ‘rescuing’ and ‘reaching out’ to the homeless and the poor, particularly children. She said they were conducted in tandem with a modified cash transfer program launched in 2011 that provides up to P4,000 in monthly rental sup-port payments for up to six months to 4,408 low-income families in Metro Manila,” the group said.

Bonoan denied any link be-tween the ongoing operations and the APEC summit but the accounts of people who have recently been detained, their relatives, and social workers from nongovernmental groups suggest otherwise.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Fri-day that 38 examinees of

the five-phase Foreign Service Officers Exam passed, out of 143 who passed the preliminary ex-amination in 2013 and 2014.

MindaNews noted that at least four of them are from Min-danao: Michael Frank A. Alar and Jaybee B. Arguillas of Davao City, Edward D. Chan of Buenavista in Agusan del Norte and Al-bari B. Macalawan, an Iranun from Co-tabato City.

The Board of Foreign Service Examinations (BFSE) announced through the DFA website that the 38 passers “have been recom-mended by the Secretary of For-eign Affairs for appointment by the President as Foreign Service Officer Class, Class IV.”

The FSO Exam, considered among the most difficult govern-ment examinations, is composed of five stages: the Civil Service

Examination for Foreign Service Officer (CSE-FSO), Preliminary Interview, Written Test, Psycho-logical Test, and Oral Test.

“The examination is usually completed within a period of one year from the date of the CSE-FSO which serves as the qualify-ing test of the examination,” the BFSE said.

Only those who pass the CSE-FSO and preliminary in-terview can proceed to take the written test and only those who pass the written test are eligible to take the psychological exam.

Those who pass the psycho-logical exam can then proceed to the last stage, the oral exam which has three phases: panel interview, group discussion, and a formal dinner where the ex-aminees are given three minutes to prepare for a three-minute speech on a topic they pick from a fishbowl, for delivery before a

4 Mindanawons among 38 new diplomats: DFA

Council tackles P6.3-billionbudget on second reading

ART EXHIBIT. Artists Dadai Joaquin (left) and Rita Bustamante promote their upcoming art exhibit slated on November 19 to 28 at Casa Munda. The two women graced yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.abf@edgedavao.net

AL-BARI MACALAWAN

EDWARD D. CHAN

JAYBEE B. ARGUILLAS

MICHAEL FRANK A. ALAR

‘Mass arrests’ for APEC hitcrc@edgedavao.net

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A FORMER city prosecutor in this city has filed a dis-qualification complaint

against a candidate for councilor here.

Lawyer Clarito P. Servillas, a former city prosecutor and four others from the Coalition of Surigaonons Good Gover-nance-Transparency and Ac-countability (COSUGGTA) have petitioned the Commission on Elections to disqualify Simeon Vicente G. Castrence, an incum-bent Provincial Board member of District 1, for alleged mis-representing he is a resident of Surigao City in his certificate of candidacy (COC).

MindaNews obtained a copy of the complaint filed November 9 before the legal department of the Comelec in Manila.

“Respondent declared that

he is a resident of Surigao City for a specified period of time de-spite clear and unmistakable fact that he is a resident of General Luna, one of the municipalities of Surigao del Norte and despite non-compliance regarding the period of his stay as a legal res-ident of Surigao City,” the sev-en-page complaint said.

The complaint alleged that on October 17, 2015, two days after the filing of his COC,

Castrence filed for transfer/ transfer with activation of his voter’s registration from General Luna to Surigao City.

Castrence said he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint.

Aside from Servillas, com-plainants include Fernando A. Al-meda Jr., Lito Argente, Armando Elumba and Isidro C. Carbonilla. (Roel Catoto / MindaNews)

Surigao council betfaces disqualification

F4 MINDANAWONS, 10

FCOUNCIL, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 5EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMYDOT to promote VDFS in Singapore

crc@edgedavao.netBy CHENEEN R. CAPON

FDAVAO, 10

OFFICIALS from the De-partment of Tourism (DOT) 11 will be flying

to Singapore this year for the promotion of the third Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) from March 25 to May 31.

“Davao is projected as the new adventure area of many Singaporeans, ”DOT 11 re-gional director Robert Alaba-

do III told reporters.Alabado said the opera-

tion of new Davao-Singapore route by a local airline com-pany will boost the influx of tourists here.

The Singapore route, he said, is important for the tour-ism industry of the region be-cause it is an international hub and a convergence point.

“It has the most flights from different destinations around the world,” Alabado said.

Singapore is the gateway to more European tourists here, according to him.

“I believe that the region has attractive bridges to entice many Singaporean tourists.

It’s time for these markets to experience Davao,” Alabado said.

The organizing team of VDFS area has already pre-paring tour packages for the 10-weekend event of dis-counts and promos on shop-ping, dining, tours and leisure, among others.

Among the tour package

THE Philippines remains an attractive investment destination among com-

panies from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies given its large do-mestic market and high talent-ed labor pool.

This, despite a survey re-sult showing that Asia-Pacific chief executive officers (CEOs) believe that prospects for busi-ness growth over the next 12 months are dimming fast amid financial market volatility and cyber security concerns.

PwC network’s fifth annu-al APEC CEO Survey covering 800 CEOs and industry lead-ers indicates that around half of them still intend to raise investments next year, partic-ularly in the Philippines, Viet-nam and Singapore.

The majority of CEOs (53 percent) planned to increase investments, with most of that investment (68 percent) aimed for the APEC region despite their dwindling confi-dence in revenue growth.

Alexander Cabrera, chair-man and senior partner at PwC Philippines, identified the huge domestic market and availabil-ity of talent as the Philippines’ competitive advantage.

“The Philippines is a na-tion of very good professionals –doctors, accountants, archi-

tects and engineers. …Because the skills will move more freely and they know that the Phil-ippines is a source of those skills, that’s really raising their (CEOs) confidence level that if they come here, if they bring the business to the Philippines, that there will be enough (hu-man) resource here to support that business,” he said in an in-terview.

To further attract invest-ments, Cabrera underscored the need to simplify doing business in the Philippines to be at par with the global econ-omies.

He noted the country should also continue focusing on development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“If these SMEs will be as-sisted during their formative stage, if the time that they can access the foreign markets will be shortened, if they will be part of the value chain of the big corporations, that will pro-duce the inclusive growth that is really important,” he added.

Cabrera said the middle class in the Philippines needs to be likewise enlarged.

“That effectively expands the domestic market of these businesses in the Philippines. That’s also a big source of busi-ness growth,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PwC’s sur-vey shows that there is a clear diversification of investments within the APEC region, with China, the United States and Indonesia remain the main draws for CEO business invest-ments.

“I think (on) diversification of the investment locations, we are really beneficiaries of the slowdown in China,” Cabrera said.

He believed that Philip-pine CEOs appear not affected by the coming elections.

“I think the fact they re-mained optimistic about reve-nue growth may prove maybe the point of some prophets of boom. They are saying that regardless of who wins in the next elections, the economic gains of the Philippines are ir-reversible,” added Cabrera.

More of the 800 APEC business leaders surveyed –PwC’s largest sample ever—think that expanded broad-band access and increased participation in the digital economy hold the most prom-ise for their business from re-gional connectivity, ahead of regional trade projects or new infrastructure in underdevel-oped areas of the region.

They are also optimistic a free trade area in Asia Pacific

CEO survey: Phl remains attractive to APEC investors

which will be offered during the event were the Davao City Countryside Tour, which includes an eight-hour tour to the Philippine Eagle Foun-dation and Eden Nature Park and Resort.

Participating tour opera-tors and tour establishments will also offer the four-hour Davao City tour, including vis-its to Museo Dabawenyo, City Hall, Jack’s Ridge, San Pedro Cathedral, Holy Infant Jesus Shrine, Durian Candy Factory, and Crocodile Park.

The organizers will also offer for the first time the eight-hour Marilog Highland Agri-tour which will allow the tourist to experience a Bagu-io-like experience of the south.

Included under this tour are a meal and tour in Balik Bukid, a restaurant that serves all-organic dishes, and a tour to Seagull Resort and Bemwa Farm in Marilog District.

Adventurers and could avail the three-day Mt. Apo trekking and reach the highest peak in the country.

Alabado said there will be also more tour packages that will highlights the tourist des-tination in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).

Tour packages that would allow tourists to experience Samal include the eight-hour Samal Inland Resort where

tourist will go to the famous Paradise Island Beach Resort, Samal Dairy Farm, Monfort Bat Cave, and Hagimit Falls; the Samal-Talikud Island tour which will highlight the Coral Garden, Babusanta, Angel’s Cove or Mansud Wall and Gi-ant Clam Sanctuary.

Tourists also resort on ex-periencing the culture of the island with the Samal Agri-kul-tura tour, including a four to six hours tours and interaction with indigenous tribes in the island, rice farming experi-ence, either guided snorkeling or horseback riding and visit to Mangongawong Falls.

There will be a tour pack-age for beach goers who would like to experience the Vanishing Island Sunset cruise which include swimming and snorkeling and sunset view.

Meanwghile, Restaurant Owners Association of Davao president Benjie Lizada said tourist should prepare for a more delightful gastronomic summer next year as more restaurants and dining estab-lishments in Davao City will join next year’s VDFS.

“More than 150 have ex-pressed their interest of join-ing next year’s fun sale event,” Lizada said, adding this year’s VDFS was participated by 144 restaurants.A DAY’S WORK. Construction workers lay stones and concrete mix at a drainage maintenance project in Isla Verde, Quezon Boulevard, Davao City. MindaNews

photo by TOTO LOZANO FDOT, 10

FCEO, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 20156 EDGEDAVAOTHE ECONOMY

THE Department of Ag-riculture (DA) in col-laboration with the

provincial government and the Department of Educa-tion (DepEd) in Davao Re-gion will award achievers of the Agri-Pinoy Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (AP-GPP) 2015 on Wednesday, Novem-ber 18.

Gulayan sa Paaralan is a school-based production initiative, particularly in the establishment of vegetables

gardens, as effective ways of addressing nutritional needs that have been in place in the educational system for a long time.

On its 7th year of the Gu-layan sa Paaralan, participat-ing schools of different munic-ipalities will be recognized.

The contest is categorized into two: the container garden for schools and field category.

Under Container Garden Category for the Elementary level, Mawab Central Elemen-

tary School won 1st place fol-lowed by Tagdangua Elemen-tary School as the 2nd placer and 3rd place is Magsaysay Elementary School.

For Field Garden Cate-gory, 1st place is New Albay Elementary School, 2nd place is Panag Elementary School and 3rd place is Banglasan El-ementary School.

For the Container Garden Category, of the High School level, Montevista National High School – Annex reaped

the 1st place followed by New Leyte National High School, and Corazon Aquino National High School for the 3rd place.

For Field Garden Category, Manat National High School got the 1st place, Pindasan Na-tional High School for the 2nd place and 3rd place is Andili National High School.

As per evaluation, the chosen school is recognized for the best implementation of the program and of course, seen to have nurtured their

gardens well. The implemen-tation of the program is the province’s way of answering the call of malnutrition among preschool and adolescent chil-dren which is defined as one of the social health problems of the country.

The objectives of this program are to promote veg-etable production in public elementary and secondary schools; establish and main-tain school gardens as food basket or source of vegeta-

bles to sustain supplementary feeding; to serve as labora-tory for learners; to produce vegetables in the schools that are rich sources of protein, calories, vitamins, and min-erals and eventually increase vegetable consumptions and improve learner’s nutrition; to showcase small-scale food production models; and, to inculcate among learners the values of vegetable gardening, good health and nutrition, love of labor, and caring for others.

Comval to award ‘Gulayan’ achievers

DAVAO-BASED port op-erator Davao Interna-tional Container Ter-

minal (DICT) will start the operation of its rehabilitated second berth by July next year as it prepares to handle bigger cargo volume.

Anflocor president and CEO Alexander N. Valoria said the company invest-ed a total of P1.8 billion for the rehabilitation of the eight-hectare port in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. The re-habilitation started this year.

“We’re almost finished with the rehabilitation of the second berth,” Valoria said. “About 53 percent is already completed.”

Valoria said the two quay cranes for the second berth will arrive by first week of

February next year.“In effect, these will dou-

ble the capacity of DICT of 300,000 twenty-foot equiva-lent unit (TEU),” Valoria said.

The port, designed to be Mindanao’s most mod-ern container terminal with state-of-the-art equipment, commenced its commercial operation in 2013.

The increase of the port’s capacity, Valoria said, will catalyze the spur in other al-lied industries like trucking, among others.

“It will be a catalyst of growth in any industry in the region,” he said.

The firm intends to ex-pand and increase its capac-ity when it is close to reach the 600,000 TEU by 2017.

Last year’s port opera-

tion generated P1.3 billion in revenue catering mostly exporters of banana and pineapple for export and im-porters of hardware items, general merchandise, and other raw materials like cor-rugated board for banana export.

Valoria said the cargo volume catered by DICT as of this year increase from 228,000 TEUs last year to 270,000 to 280,000 TEUs this year. Large portion or 70 to 80 percent of the DICT port operation is for export, while the rest is for import.

Valoria said there was an increase in the volume of export cargos which in-clude fresh fruits like Caven-dish banana and pineapple and processed agriculture

products which are mostly exported to Japan, China, Ko-rea, and Middle East.

He, however, said the re-gion’s banana industry has not fully recovered from the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo in 2012, causing damage to the industry of at least US$ 300 million.

“There are still areas that we need to rehabilitate. We are still catching-up,” Valoria said, adding that the banana industry in Davao has not reached again its peak pro-duction in 2010.

He attributed the slow recovery of the banana in-dustry, which is the region’s top export commodity and economic driver, to drought, typhoons, and changing cli-mate.

New DICT opens in mid 2016crc@edgedavao.net

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A UNIT of conglomer-ate Consunji-led DMCI Holdings has won

building, power and water projects worth Php2.9 billion during the third quarter of 2015, bringing its total order book to over Php31 billion.

D.M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI) is set to begin next month the 42-month structural and ba-sic architectural works for The Imperium, a 67-storey

residential high-rise develop-ment of Ortigas & Company Limited Partnership located at Capitol Commons in Pasig.

The company has also begun constructing the Areté, the Creative Hub of the Ate-neo de Manila University in Quezon City. Target comple-tion for the hub is February 2017.

The project includes a three-storey theater build-

ing, a four-storey innovation/learning building; and the utility center building.

Another building project is the phase 2 office expan-sion of TV5 Network, Inc. which involves the construc-tion of a nine-storey building with a combined floor area of 20,031 square meters.

The Consunji-owned construction firm will also construct two diesel power

plants in Palawan and Sultan Kudarat with combined ca-pacity of 13.59 megawatts.

The company was also awarded the Tirona Pumping Station and Reservoir project in Kawit, Cavite.

DMCI is one of the coun-try’s leading engineering and construction firms which completed already over 500 projects of varying scale and complexity. (PNA)

DMCI signs P2.9-B new projects in Q3

THE city government has linked up with the University of Santo To-

mas (UST) to fast track the development of the city’s museum.

Vice Mayor Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles said Monday they have tapped expert’s from the pontifical univer-sity’s museum of Arts and sciences to assist the prepa-rations for the establishment of the city museum.

She said Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., director of the UST mu-seum, arrived in the city last week to start the ground works regarding the plans and other activities in con-nection with the museum project.

Fr. Abaño initially visit-ed the old city hall building, which had been designated as the site of the planned mu-seum, she said.

The site visit was facil-itated by the city govern-ment’s technical working group (TWG) for the muse-um project that comprise representatives from the City Engineer’s Office, Office of the Building Official, City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office and the Pioneers-De-cendants of General Santos City Inc.

“We looked into the plans for the renovation and re-construction of the old city hall building to pave the way for establishment of the mu-seum,” said Nograles, who chairs the TWG.

The vice mayor said Fr. Abaño expressed full sup-port to the project lauded the commitment of city officials to make sure that it will be realized.

“He was very delight-ed that the city officials are united in the goal to preserve and value the history, culture, traditions and customs of the city as well as safeguard them,” she said.

The city council passed an ordinance in 2011 en-dorsing the establishment of the city museum and des-ignating as site the historic

old city hall building, which is located at the back of the present city hall.

The old city hall building was constructed in Octo-ber 1949 and used to be the main seat of government of the then Buayan municipali-ty of the undivided Cotabato empire.

The then Buayan munic-ipality was renamed General Santos town six years later and an upsurge in the local economy eventually led to its establishment as a chartered city in July 1968 based on Re-public Act 5412.

The ordinance cited that the proposed city museum will mainly serve as “a venue to showcase the history, cul-ture and myths and evolution of the southern frontier peo-ple, both first inhabitants or indigenous individuals, and migrant settlers, including their artifacts, tools, and in-frastructures.”

It said the museum will serve as a repository of the vanishing antiquated trea-sures consisting of heirlooms and arts/crafts of the early dominant indigenous peo-ples in the city and its ruling Moro sultanates.

The museum will show-case through pictures and replica or images the heri-tage sites of the city, like im-portant landmarks as well as natural and created sites or structures, the ordinance said. It will display old ma-terials, equipment and other proofs of the evolution of the city’s thriving tuna industry, memorabilia of the city’s founder Gen. Paulino T. San-tos Sr., its pioneering settlers and other prominent person-alities from the city.

Bañas said the move is in line with their advocacy to preserve, collect, study and present noteworthy works in relation to the city’s culture and traditions.

“The museum will high-light the city’s achievements these past years. It will also be a hall of creativity, ideas and knowledge,” she added. (PNA)

GSC taps UST expertsfor museum project

WWF EXHIBIT. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) vice president for Business Operations Ludwig Federigan (third from left), Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Antonio dela Cruz (leftmost), Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 director Robby Alabado (second from left), Ruben Bangayan (center), Consul General Abdullah Zawawi Tahir (third from

right) of Malaysia, Park Inn Davao general manager Pavan Kakar (second from right), and SM Hotels and Convention Corporation vice president for marketing Neil Rumbaoa cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the WWF exhibit at RBG on Saturday night. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 7

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EXTENSION OF THE TENDER OFFER FOR SHARES OF

DAVAO DOCTORS HOSPITAL (CLINICA HILARIO), INC.Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (“MPHHI”)

(formerly Neptune Stroika Holdings, Inc.), hereby announces that its offer to acquire the remaining 587,154 common shares of Davao Doctors Hospital (Clinica Hilario), Inc. (“DDH”) which comprise approximately 65.18% of the total outstanding shares of DDH, is extended from its original deadline of 5:00 p.m. of November 19, 2015 to 5:00 pm of December 19, 2015. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved MPHHI’s request for extension of the Tender Offer Period in its letter dated November 6, 2015, and received by MPHHI on November 13, 2015

Correspondingly, the start of the Settlement Date will also be moved to December 21, 2015.

The offer period is extended to give DDH shareholders more time to consider the offer and clarify some terms, and prepare the necessary documentary requirements.

Except for the extension of the deadline of the Tender Offer and the corresponding adjustment of the start of the Settlement Date as indicated above, all the other terms and conditions of the Tender Offer as published remain unchanged.

For more information and for inquiries regarding the tender you may contact the Tender Offer Agent as follows:

Atty. Dominador Maphilindo O. CarrilloSyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices

The Penthouse, 17/F, Landco Corporate CentreJ.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City 8000

Telephone No. : (6382) 221-3917Email Address : dmocarillo@syciplaw.com

Each stockholder of DDH is advised to read the full terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and SEC Form 19-1. Inquiries and requests for assistance and copies of SEC Form 19-1 may be directed to the Tender Offer Agent, whose address and telephone numbers are indicated above.

EDGEDAVAO

CULTURE & ARTSHISTORY OF DAVAOMaglana in defense of SabahBy ANTONIO FIGUEROA

ON September 19, 2015, Sultan Esmail Kiram II, the reigning sovereign of

the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo since October 26, 2013, at age 76, died due to kidney fail-ure in Zamboanga City. He suc-ceeded his elder brother, the late Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, to the throne, and was later replaced by the crown prince, Rajamuda Datu Phugdal Kiram, 75, as the next sultan in “strict adherence to the law and order of succes-sion.”

North Borneo was original-ly known as Sabah, a territory ceded by the sultan of Borneo to the sultanate of Sulu for helping the former’s kingdom against European threat, specifically the Dutch aggression, in 1704.

Under the 1960 UN Gener-al Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV), Principle 9 of the Annex, which set the referendum in North Borneo and Sarawak as “free and without coercion,” the territory that rightfully belongs to the Philippines, by legal right and title, was ‘given’ to Malaysia.

Three years later, from June 7-13, 1963, in order to resolve the issues affecting the Sabah claim, the Manila Accord was signed on July 31, 1963 by Ma-laysia, Indonesia and the Philip-pines, and this included a joint statement by all three parties. Throughout the negotiation, tension was high between the successor state (Malaysia) and the claimant country (Philip-

pines).

‘Sabah is Philippines’Least known among the

Filipino figures that staunchly defended the Sabah case was Davao Oriental congressman Constancio B. Maglana who stood in the House of Represen-tatives on March 27, 1968 to deliver a privilege speech titled “Sabah is Philippines.”

Rep. Maglana’s speech was made while both the Senate and the House of Representatives were conducting a full-scale inquiry into the “Corregidor in-cident” (the debunked Jabidah massacre), the wick Malaysia used in accusing the Philippines before the United Nations for “committing inimical acts to their interests”. As a result, Filipi-nos were persecuted, prompting the Davao lawmaker to lambaste Malaysia:

“[O]ur nationals in Sabah are now being subjected to in-dignities. They are arrested for alleged violations of their im-migration laws by considering them as transient newcomers when they themselves admit that these compatriots of ours have been long-time residents of Sabah. Reports had been re-ceived in this Chamber that our nationals, when arrested by [the Malaysians], are quarantined in dark places and allowed to thrive on very little food and treated like ordinary criminals. That is the way our nationals are

treated. While in our country, when their nationals violate our laws, yes, we apprehend them, but we treat them decently. We feed them, clothe them, and house them in proper places as much as we could.”

Upping the anteThe row between the Philip-

pines and Malaysia further esca-lated the following year follow-ing an allegation in the editorial of Sabah Times that the country was channeling funds for inde-pendent candidates in Sabah. Maglana did not allow this vitriol pass without retort by hurling his blunt commentary, saying:

“Malaysia is again resorting to psychological warfare. This time it has become presumptu-ous to use the Philippines as a tool in making the world believe that there is some form of de-mocracy in that oppressed colo-nial state by putting words in our mouths conveying the meaning that there is an opposition in Sabah. The accusation is most welcomed because it gives us the opportunity to announce to the world that there is no such thing as an opposition I Sabah, neither in Brunei or Sarawak, hence the administration, even if it is the last thing it will do on earth, will not waste one centavo for an op-position that does not exist.”

This statement came just few days before the UN-spon-sored electoral exercise was conducted in the contested ter-

ritory. The Davao congressman continued:

“All this talk about general ‘elections’ in Malaysia… is all a mock and simulated suffrage to-fool the entire world that Malay-sia is not a colonial aggrupation led by the former country of Ma-laya or Federation of Malaya as puppet head nation.”

UnchangedForty years later, the issue

about Sabah remained un-changed. On August 20, 2008, during the Arroyo administra-tion, Malacañang issued Mem-orandum Circular 162 entitled “Guidelines on Matters Pertain-ing to North Borneo (SABAH)” to government departments as

regards any act or statement ex-pressing or implying, directly or indirectly, any recognition of a foreign state’s sovereignty over Sabah, a Philippine territory.

In part, the circular provides that “No department, agency, or instrumentality of the Philippine Government shall make any act or statement expressing or im-plying, directly or indirectly, any recognition of a foreign state’s sovereignty over North Borneo (Sabah) or non-recognition of Philippine title or historical and legal rights to the same.”

In 2013, after the bloody confrontation between the Ma-laysian forces and heirs to Sabah sultanate ended, the government considered bringing the territo-

rial claim of the Sultanate of Sulu over Sabah before an interna-tional tribunal for resolution.

Despite claiming territori-al rights over Sabah, Malaysia, as a result of the lease of Sabah signed on January 22, 1878, be-tween the sultan of Sulu and the British North Borneo Company represented by Baron Gustavos von de Overbeck and Alfred Dent, Malaysia continues to pay to this day a token annual rent of 5,300 ringgit (P77,000) to the sultanate of Sulu as “cession fee.”

As a footnote, Rep. Magla-na, it must be remembered, authored Republic Act 5747, signed on June 21, 1969, which created the town of Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.

Rep. Constancio B. Maglana and the Sultan Kiram II of Sulu (from www.mb.com.ph)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 20158 EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIALListen to the Lumad

IT is interesting to read the many views expressed by various people on the issue of Lumads making their way to Metro Manila to protest the militarization they have been experiencing in

their very own hometowns. Many of the reactions are supportive of the indigenous people, with urbanites standing in solidarity with the IPs because of their shared humanity and the fact that many people still remember the days of martial law. Under that regime, anyone — not just the Lumad — could be arrested by the military on mere suspicion of being a threat to the Marcos dictatorship. In a very real sense, there is little that divides the Lumad and the city dwellers; both have been victims of oppression, and both rise to the challenge when pushed against the wall.

There are some, however, who see the Lumads in a completely different and unjust light. Some have questioned whether the IPs actually understand the issues they are raising: militarization, oppression, government policies, economics, environment protection, human rights, and even the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which is holding a leaders meeting this week in Metro Manila. To critics, the Lumads cannot possibly understand these “complex” issues and therefore are nothing but pawns

being manipulated by certain groups with an agenda against the government. To paraphrase one particularly vicious commenter: “Do the Lumads know what APEC, WTO, economic cooperation, free trade, import tariffs, export subsidies, open market, and protectionist policy mean?”

That kind of view of the Lumad is extremely discriminatory and bigoted — the kind of bias that has no place in a civilized society. It is as if city dwellers have a monopoly of understanding such topics, while the Lumads are relegated to their farming communities oblivious to these facets of modern living. It is actually this kind attitude that makes those who live in Metro Manila think they can make decisions for the IPs in the mountains, and they enforce these decisions with the barrel of the gun. If you wonder why the IPs have descended on Metro Manila, there is your answer.

The reverse is actually more true: those in the cities cannot possibly understand what the Lumads are going through. They are being driven out of their homes, their schools are being burned, their crops being laid to waste, their people are being murdered. We must listen to them and learn what life is like under tremendous pressure from those who feel they are superior.

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCOGeneral Manager

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAO

Rethinking the Mindanao Divide

DURING the birthday party of Senator and vice-president aspirant Alan Peter Cayetano in Taguig City, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R.

Duterte was quoted as saying: “Ten percent of your life is ruled by you while 90 percent is destiny. Des-tiny is instructed by God; it is not ruled by mortal. We don’t know when will we be born or die so I don’t know. Let us place everything in the hands of God. If God intends me that I’ll be a candidate of honor, I will be there. But if God does not want, I will not be there.”

Three months earlier, on September 26, he told the organizers of the Million People March: “It is not my destiny (to become a president). I do not have any ambition.”

Ever earlier than that, on May 24, in an inter-view with Sonshine Radio, he admitted: “The pres-idency is destiny talaga. Destiny.”

Duterte’s words remind me of the words of William Jennings Bryan: “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”

American author and motivational speaker Leo F. Buscaglia has this to say: “I believe that you control your destiny, that you can be what you want to be. You can also stop and say, No, I won’t do it, I won’t behave his way anymore. I’m lonely and I need people around me, maybe I have to change my methods of behaving and then you do it.”

To become a president, if we have to believe the thought of Duterte, is a matter of destiny. After all, if you are the president, everything you do and say is bound to be news – however trivial the situ-ation. It’s a case of “damn if you and damn if you don’t.” You have people to rally for you because of the things that are in stake like businesses, privi-leges, fame, and more importantly, power. There are also those who are against you and they are called opposition.

Of course, a president is not only honored or revered but he or she is also ridiculed and criticized. When he was still the president of the United States, funny caricatures of George W. Bush were widespread. Who hasn’t heard of former presi-dent Bill Clinton and the oral of-fice? Ex-president Joseph Estrada is often the sub-ject of Erap jokes.

Even the current resident of Malacanang is not spared from mockery. Recently, I got this text mes-sage which was forwarded to me: A Filipino died and on his way to heaven, Saint Peter asked him: “Where are you from?” When the man answered that he was from the Philippines, Peter replied, “Welcome to heaven. You have suffered much from your president.”

That maybe is one of the reasons why Duterte doesn’t want to run.

In a way, he is already famous. But there are other ways of becoming famous and successful – in your own way. However, the road to success is of-tentimes not offered on a silver platter – except for a chosen few. You have to do something to achieve it. Some in fact have to work hard more than oth-ers.

Of course, there are people who become star overnight – because of sheer luck or talent. But not everyone can have that kind of success. In most

instances, to those who become star overnight, fame is swift and fleeting. Somewhere, sometime, a younger and even more talented individual will come along the way and takes the limelight from the former star. But success based on hard work and perseverance is difficult to be taken away from you.

Thomas Alva Edison knew this fact. “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspira-tion,” he said. “Accordingly a genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.”

Do your own homework. Don’t rest on your laurels. Never settle for anything less. But whatev-er you do, do your very best. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds: “All labor that uplifts humanity has digni-ty and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep even as Michel-angelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heavens and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’”

Successful people are people who learned what failure is all about. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Failures or rejections ran into the hundreds before a person achieve success. Conrad Hilton once said, “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

Ever heard of one of America’s most outstand-ing failures? In 18931, he failed in business. In 1832, he was defeated for legislature. In 1833, he again failed in business. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislature but was defeated for Speaker in 1838. In 1843, he was defeated for Congress but was elected to Congress in 1846. He was defeat-ed for Senate in 1855, for Vice-President in 1856,

and for Senate again in 1858. But in 1860, he was elected to President of the United States. His name: Abraham Lincoln.

Donald Phillips commented, “Everything – fail-ures as well as successes – became stepping stones to the presidency. In this sense, Lincoln’s entire life prepared him for his future executive leadership role.”

Ok, you’re rich and famous. You can have ev-erything you want in life. But hope the story of a genie in the bottle will remind you of something. A little boy found a corked bottle at the foot of a tree. There was a curious buzzing sound inside and so he pulled out the cork to see what it was. Out came a cloud which formed into genie and then expand-ed as big as a house. The genie then threatened to kill the boy.

With great presence of mind, the boy won-dered out loud how such a big object could fit to such a small bottle. So he asked the big genie to show. Foolishly, it did. Then he capped down the cork again.

The genie kept cursing and threatening and shouting. But the corked stayed on. Then the captive took a new tack and promised not to hurt the boy if he left him out again. The boy thought about this for a long time and was skeptical and did not want to get tricked. Finally, he agreed that he would let the genie out only if he became his ser-vant. He agreed.

Success is like a genie. It will become bigger and bigger and before you know it, it will rule over your life – and even destroy you. But like the little boy, you have to make your success your servant instead of your master.

Charles Reade reminds: “Sow a thought, and you reap an act; sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a char-acter, and you reap a destiny.”

IN Mindanao aboriginality is distinguished be-tween Lumad and Moro. The latter is a term derived from the English word, Moor, which

the Spanish used to disparagingly and collective-ly refer to Muslim natives during their colonial reign in the Philippines.

Interestingly, from this unusual polarization arose the tri-people imagination of Mindanao’s modern population─1) Christian majority who descended from migrant settlers from Luzon and the Visayas approximating 72% of Mindanao’s population; 2) Moro or Muslim minority com-prised of 13 ethno-linguistic sub-groups making up 20% of the census; and, 3) Lumad minority covering 18 or so ethnic tribes that collectively make up 5 % of the region’s population.

The goal of this categorization is to recognize and accommodate the differences between the current inhabitants of Mindanao. Sadly however, it also remarkably echoes the Spanish colonial classification of the natives as Christian, Moro and Non-Christian (with lumads falling under the last category).

But this archaic grouping has become unten-able because non-Muslim indigenous tribes in Mindanao are now asserting their own narrative amidst the noise and notoriety generated by the campaign for the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

For its promoters, the BBL is both a manifes-tation of the Muslim minority’s right to self-de-termination and the culmination of a laborious peace-process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Note however that non-Islamized ethnic tribes in Mindanao have expressed categorical opposition to being part of the Bangsamoro ter-ritory contemplated in the BBL.

Moreover, Lumads in Mindanao who have remained true to their indigenous practices are now loudly demanding state response to their

own issues such as the encroachment of mining companies on their traditional lands and the dis-ruption of their way of life due to the militariza-tion of their communities.

The tragedy is non-religious Lumads contin-ue to suffer in the fringes when it comes to de-velopment because state attention and resources seem to be directed primarily to the creation of a segregated Bangsamoro area within Mindanao.

This therefore beggars the question- Should this anachronistic view of its population then be challenged to achieve a more inclusive develop-ment of Mindanao?

First and foremost, a shift in outlook would paint Mindanao as an island amalgamation of dif-ferent ethnic groups and not an essentially divid-ed region of two religious faiths.

This alternative approach is actually more consistent with the secular regime in the country wherein all religions are guaranteed the freedom to exercise their rituals and to perform rites in the expression of their faith for as long as these acts do not violate state law and the constitution.

More importantly, this means the state is not an arena where the various religions compete for control. It is a neutral ground where any faith can lay claim to its own space. And any problems con-cerning the right to practice one’s religion auto-matically become a Constitutional issue with the courts as the only available recourse.

Furthermore, abandoning the religious over-tone in the Mindanao narrative is largely relevant to the most important concern in the develop-ment discourse for this region—i.e. the adjudica-tion of claims pertaining to traditional lands.

In a 1987 public lecture, well-respected Min-danao historian, Professor Rudy B. Rudil, assert-ed that the 13 different ethno-linguistic Muslim communities and the various Lumad tribes are the only groups of indigenous people in Mindan-ao who can make an ancestral domain claim.

Correspondingly, neither the MILF nor the projected Bangsamoro parliament can justify claims over traditional land rights in Mindanao. In this regard, the rethinking of the tri-people ap-proach clearly places the premium on the capaci-ty of each of these indigenous groups in Mindan-ao to assert their respective cultural identity and history in their very own terms.

Finally, this alternative picture of Mindanao can better facilitate a collective view of it, both as a territory and as a community of Filipinos. This may sound cliché but inculcating this kind of community mindset can overcome the prevailing “us against them” paradigm that has long fuelled the Muslim insurgency in Mindanao.

A wholistic view of Mindanao is indeed more appropriate in light of the fact that the entire re-gion is considered the poorest in the Philippines. In effect making the tri-people division irrele-vant given that a huge majority of Mindanao’s inhabitants are all struggling with poverty. Per-tinently, the biggest problem afflicting Mindanao right now, power outages, does not discriminate among its population at all.

Indeed, a paradigm shift in plotting the development of Mindanao has already begun. According to the Mindanao 2020 Peace and De-velopment Framework Plan (2011 – 2030), “the desired outcomes for Mindanao will not come from without – particularly not from the central govern-ment, the national capital nor the rest of the coun-try – but will be achieved through the collective efforts of Mindanawons themselves, acting in unity and harmony”.

The caveat here is that simply adopting this

integrated perspective in socio-economic devel-opment planning for Mindanao is not a sure-fire cure for all the region’s problems. Obviously, there are deeply-rooted political issues, such as the proliferation of local dynasties for instance, in the area that require further remedial measures.

More importantly, regardless of the strength of this inclusive approach to unlock the develop-ment potential of Mindanao, the self-determina-tion aspiration of Muslim Filipinos still has to be respected. Therefore, the Bangsamoro campaign just cannot be abandoned full stop.

Nevertheless, as their self-imposed deadline to enact a new regional autonomy law looms, Congress should seriously revisit the view that creating a segregated Muslim territory in Mind-anao is the only means to meet the self-determi-nation demands of Muslim Filipinos.

In development parlance, Mindanao when viewed as a huge integrated market demands a coordinated and comprehensive strategy involv-ing all stake-holders in the region. Ostensibly different to the one implemented now as a con-sequence of the splitting-Mindanao-into-two de-velopment model inadvertently promoted in the Bangsamoro campaign.

And while the Constitution calls for the cre-ation of an autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao, Filipino Muslims are not automat-ically bound by this particular local autonomy regime.

At the very least, other political measures and governance devises more consistent with the goal of fostering “unity and harmony” amongst all the inhabitants of Mindanao has to be explored.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaN-ews. Atty. Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco is a practic-ing lawyer. He is presently completing a Masters of Law and Development in Melbourne Law School. He recently published a book entitled, Rethinking the Bangsamoro Perspective.)

A matter of destiny

Henrylito D. Taciohenrytacio@gmail.com

THINK ON THESE!

BY MICHAEL HENRY LL. YUSINGCO

PEACETALK

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 201510

DOT... FROM 5

RED... FROM 1

Lumad... FROM 2

4 Mindanawons... FROM 4

City... FROM 2Police... FROM 2

Ferrer... FROM 2

CEO... FROM 5Council... FROM 4

EDGEDAVAONEWS

The annual VDFS is orga-nized by the DOT 11 in part-nership with the Davao City Tourism Office, Big Davao Fun Sale Retailers Association of Davao, Tours Consortium, Inc., Restaurant Owners Associa-

tion of Davao City, Hotel and Resorts Sales and Marketing Associaton of Davao (HRSMA Davao), the newly created MICE Organizers’ ventures Davao and Davao Wellness and Spa Association.

could be a reality by 2020 as regional integration proceeds on several fronts.

CEOs consider the ASEAN Economic Community as the ‘mega regional’ game chang-er, while there are also hopes that Trans-Pacific Partnership

(TPP) will boost exports and fuel regional growth.

The PwC’s 2015 APEC CEO Survey, conducted between June 23 and August 21, was released Monday ahead of the annual APEC Leaders Meeting on Nov. 18 to 19. (PNA)

ligence operation in order to preempt terror plans.

“We can preempt easily and we can put up check-points. We can put up patrol-lers and provide police visibil-ity,” she said.

Driz said that DCPO di-rector Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. is now inspecting all police stations to check if the patrollers are deployed within their areas of responsibility.

She said Danao instructed all police stations to deploy police officers down to the barangay level to extract in-formation that could help pre-empt crimes.

At around 6:25 p.m. on November 14, a grenade was lobbed in front of a refilling station of LPG (liquefied pe-troleum gas) storage tanks at the intersection of Malvar and Rizal Avenue in Kabacan, North Cotabato, injuring five persons.

Around 7:30 p.m., while the city was still suffering from a blackout, troops from the 5th Special Forces Battal-ion on board a truck were pa-trolling Sinsuat Avenue when something exploded in front of the vehicle.

The shrapnel injured Corporal Noel Ganab, Private

First Class. Romer Agustin, and a certain Mohaimen Biron who was passing by.

The blast also damaged the truck’s windshield and the windshield of another truck parked beside a lumberyard.

Lieutenant Colonel Ran-nie Sevilla, commanding offi-cer of the 5th Special Forces battalion based in Cotabato City said they were the in-tended target of the motor-cycle-riding men who fired a 40 mm grenade launcher and immediately sped off.

He said the modus was similar to the attack on their headquarters in August where one soldier was killed.

The city police are in-vestigating if the explosions were the handiwork of one group and if the explosion at the Colight that triggered a brownout was done to make it easier to launch the next attack.

Police Director Raul Supi-ter, said despite the tight secu-rity last night, the perpetra-tors still managed to mount their attacks.

Supiter said they will in-vestigate further to identify the group behind Saturday nights’ attacks. (with reports from Ferdinand B. Cabrera / MindaNews)

are the individuals who have allowances” and can provide funds for the gangs.

“Money and other vari-able items are extorted from member students when they exit the school gates,” Suarez added.

Suarez said teens tend to be the prey of these groups be-cause of their vulnerability.

“At the age of 10 to 15, the youths tend to influence more by peer pressure and prob-lems. Those who aren’t able to build their strong values with their family members become victim of these gang groups,” she said.

Suarez also said poverty, the immediate environment, and family problems also af-fect the decision-making and assessing-capacities of young Dabawenyos.

“The problem on the ex-istence of gangs who are in-volved in criminality is one of the problems that the city has been confronting for many years,” she added.

Suarez said barangay offi-cials should strengthen their respective youth program to ensure that young constitu-ents will not be engaged to any criminal activity.

But most important, par-ents should be more vigilant when it comes to the activities and engagements of their chil-dren.

Suarez said at present, the police, schools, and local government units (LGUs) are collaborating to monitor gang activities through the installa-tion of more CCTV cameras in schools and by increasing po-lice visibility.

12, “destroying books, school supplies, instructional and learning materials, stocks of rice, power generator set, au-dio-video equipment, sewing machine, kitchen utensils and farm tools,” the ALCADEV said.

About 5,000 banana and abaca seedlings in the school nursery of hardwood and fruit trees adjacent to the cottage were also destroyed, the state-ment added.

Karapatan-Caraga in a Nov. 14 press statement e-mailed on Sunday said elements of the Army’s 23rd IB “were in nearby areas, about three to five kilometers away from the school, when the burning inci-dent happened.”

The Eastern Mindanao Command’s November 13 statement quoted Lt. Col. Ly-nart Castisimo, commander of the 23rd IB, as saying he re-ceived reports that there were groups who earlier bought Army uniforms and military backpacks in a tailoring shop in Butuan City and that “it is clear that the uniforms were used by the perpetrators in the burning of ALCADEV cottage.”

“We strongly deny the in-volvement of our soldiers and we condemn the burning of ALCADEV cottage by the law-less bandit group,” Castisimo said, adding they would exert “our best efforts” to help the Philippine National Police in

the investigation and law en-forcement operations in the area.

Karapatan-Caraga recalled that “months prior to the burning incident,” elements of the 23rd IB and Special Forces arrived in the area and neigh-boring communities, and had since been going around com-munities including Km. 29 and Km. 30, launching “COPD (Community Organizing for Peace and Development) and combat operations.”

ALCADEV said the 23rd IB has a detachment in the center of Brgy Padiay, less than five ki-lometers from the school.

Karapatan-Caraga said that sometime in June, six sol-diers, introducing themselves as members of the 23rd IB, attempted to enter the school grounds of ALCADEV in to conduct a census of students but the teachers refused them on the grounds that armed men are not allowed in school premises.

The rights group said the soldiers “constantly warned residents from joining pro-gressive organizations, vilified the school and its teachers as NPA and had been telling residents to burn the school” but the residents said it was the community that set up the school with the help of AL-CADEV. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

who will come to the city for Christmas.

“Pag merong Lumad from wherever place, we will really need to look after them. No-body will be turned away,” he said.

Quitain, however, said the city will impose rules in every shelter such as no drinking of liquor.

He said the city will also provide security in the shel-ters.

City Health Office (CHO) assistant head Dr. Sam Cruz,

for his part, said his office ready to handle the influx of Lumads who will arrive next month.

Cruz said the role of CHO in the shelters is to look af-ter the health of the Lumads and provide medical services while they are staying in the city.

The city government an-nually lets Lumads from var-ious areas to stay in various shelters as they move about the city to ask for holiday gifts of cash and other materials.

if the BBL is not passed by December 16, it will be more difficult to muster a quorum next year.

When Congress resumes on January 19 next year, it will have only eight session days until February 5. Con-gress will again go on recess between February 6 and May 22 for the election campaign leading to the May 9 synchro-nized elections.

“We’re still hoping but not to give false hopes to anyone. We know the chances are get-ting smaller as the days go by,” she said.

Miracles Last week, when MindaN-

ews asked Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, on the next steps to be taken should Congress fail to pass the BBL by December 16, she replied: “No Plan B. We’re not giving up. On the peace table are miracles waiting to hap-pen.”

Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel and the Bangsamoro Transition Com-mission (BTC) that drafted the BBL, was not as optimistic. He told MindaNews, “Opti-mism has been shelved many months ago; only the ember of hope does not die until the last minute. Let the time pass and continue to engage espe-cially the friends of the peace process, both domestic and international.”

In August, MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim told MindaNews that if the BBL is not passed under the Aquino administration, “we still have the CAB” (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsam-oro).

“What is important is nandyan yung agreement, we protect that agreement because if it cannot be imple-mented within our lifetime, then the struggle will contin-ue and the next generation will always demand for the implementation of this agree-ment,” he said.

The passage of the BBL would have paved the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro, the new auton-

omous political entity that would replace the 25-year old Autonomous Region in Mus-lim Mindanao. Its passage would also have allowed for the normalization process to move faster as ratification of the BBL would mean decom-missioning of 30% of MILF forces and weapons and, on the part of government, iden-tification of the priorities for redeployment of the military as well as the “start of deacti-vation of civilian armed auxil-iaries,” among others.

Not much time but..Ferrer maintained that

the leadership in the House and the Senate, and President Aquino, are committed to en-sure the passage of the BBL “and not pass this problem on to the next administration.”

“The idea is really to pass the law and if it is necessary to adjust the timeline, adjust it so that hopefully by the time of the next President, hopeful-ly this is no longer a problem. I mean we don’t have to start again with refiling the bill or whatever needs to be done),” Ferrer said in mixed English and Filipino.

But she admitted that “timeline-wise, it is very clear we don’t have much time. But definitely there’s still time. There’s still time.”

What is important, she said is that the BBL is passed “maskin di pa yan umabot sa bicam this year basta maitaw-id na yan sa plenary ng House and Senate” (even if it does not reach the bicameral con-ference level this year, but the House and Senate pass it).

The bicameral confer-ence does not require plenary attendance. It is composed of representatives from the House and Senate who will be tasked to “settle, reconcile or thresh out differences or dis-agreements on any provision of the bill.”

But the two houses are supposed to finish interpella-tion first so they can proceed to the period of amendments, approve the bills separately and move on to the bicameral conference. (Carolyn O. Ar-guillas / MindaNews)

crowd of diplomats and fellow examinees.

A total of 143 passed the preliminary examination – 124 in 2014 and 19 in 2013. Of the 143, only 83 passed the written exam and only 53 passed the psychological exam and were eligible to move on to the oral exam. Of the 53, only 38 passed.

The 38 new diplomats: Alar, Michael Frank A; Aquino, Thomas Philip C; Arguillas, Jaybee B; Ayap, Manuel C; Be-niahan, Jhullie Anne A; Capati, Bojer B; Carillo, Venince Allen V; Chan, Edward D; Corra-do, Joan Macrise C; Felimer, Emmylou B; Galima, Aprilf-leur S; Ganzon, Mina Angeles L; Guiang, Alfred Kristoffer A; Gurrea, Fay Irene L; Lao, Mark Hanzel H; Lim, Mark Dominic E; Lipana, Dianne Shayne D; Macalawan, Al-Bari B; Martinez, Beatriz Alexan-dra G; Marquez, Fellain Ann P; Milla, Patricia C; Miras, Adri-an; Mostajo, Josel N; Mutia, Rowena F; Ochoa, Ma. Clar-ibel M; Olaguera, Jose Santi-ago; Pavon, Teddy Edmund T; Payumo, Angeli A; Ramint-as, Jake Robin S; Rosales, Barbie Jane L; Sadie, Jomar T; Sanchez, Janice C; Santos, John Boitte C; Solosa, Pat Les-ter F; Tiosen, Feamor Vyn S; Uy, Krystal Lyn T; Valles, Marivil V; and Zurita, Paolo R.

They will be undergoing a six-month Foreign Service Officers’ Cadetship Course (FSOCC) at the Carlos P. Ro-mulo School of Diplomacy of the DFA’s Foreign Service Institute, as mandated by RA 7157 or the Foreign Service Act of 1991.

Section 15 of Title 2 on Appointments states that im-mediately following their ap-pointments as Foreign Service Officers, Class IV, they shall undergo a one-year cadet-ship which shall consist of “six months intensive classroom instructions on all aspects of consular and diplomatic du-ties and responsibilities” and another six months on-the-job training.

The law also provides that one who passes an FSO Exam but “declines to accept an ini-tial appointment as foreign service officer within a period of one year from the date (he/she) was offered the appoint-ment shall be required to take and pass examinations again in order to be eligible for an initial appointment.”

Alar, who is turning 36 next month, was born in Davao City to parents com-ing from Negros Oriental and Leyte, moved to Negros when he was 10, graduated AB Polit-ical Science from the Silliman University in Dumaguete City and has been “working for peace since year 2000,” most-ly in Mindanao.

Alar is presently a consul-tant for World Bank, particu-larly for its facility supporting the Bangsamoro peace pro-cess, FASTRAC.

Arguillas, 31, complet-ed her elementary and high school education at the Ate-neo de Davao University, took up Communication Arts at the University of the Philippines in Mindanao before moving to UP Asian Institute of Tourism in Diliman where she gradu-ated with a degree in BS Tour-ism.

She is presently a desk of-ficer at the Office of the United Nations and other Interna-tional Organizations (UNIO) at the DFA.

Chan, 24, finished AB Po-litical Science at the Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City. He is presently research specialist at the DFA’s Foreign Service Institute.

Macalawan, 24, is a mem-ber of the Young Moro Profes-sionals Network. He finished his Bachelors and then Mas-ters in Political Economy with specialization in International Relations and Development at the University of Asia and the Pacific.

He is presently a Peace Program Officer at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. (MindaN-ews)

opment Office will get P31.5 million (P24.7 million for PS, P6.7 million for MOOE and P100,000 for capital outlay).

City Legal Office will get P25.2 million (P21.8 million for PS, P2.9 million for MOOE and P526,395 for capital out-lay).

City Civil Registrar’s Office will also get P24.3 million (P17 million for PS, P7.3 million for PS and P43,000 for capital out-lay).

P1.1 billion will also be al-located for development fund and P128 million for economic enterprise.

TRAVEL

EDGEDAVAOINdulge!

The bat colony at Dadatan Bat Conservation Park.

Top: A colorful sunset at Talikud Island.

Above: Under the impressive roots of the Giant Belete Tree.

Left: At the Faith Healer’s Camp.

Sunset at the Talikud Island Mangrove Sanctuary.

LONG sandy beaches away from the crowds, a fantastic coral garden for snorkel-ers, and a myriad of dive spots. That is how we usually describe Talikud Island. A regu-lar stop on every island-hopping agenda, it may seem that what we Dabawenyos see of Talikud is merely the cover of a magical book whose inside pages are waiting to be discovered. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a familiar-ization tour of the island hosted by Ms. Araceli Ayuste of Talikud Island Tours to re-discover Ta-likud Island’s beautiful beaches as well as dis-cover the island’s inland attractions away from the sea. “We wanted to de-velop the attractions on Talikud Island itself,” beamed Araceli “There is so much more to see and do beyond the white sand beaches and diving around the island. She also added that the tours being offered are de-signed so that visitors to the island can appreciate its natural beauty as well as history. Here are some of my favourite spots which should stir some of your

interest on Talikud be-yond the shoreline:

Talikud Island Mangrove Sanctuary Located on the north east corner of Talikud is-land and just a short ride from the Sta. Cruz pier, the Talikud Island Man-grove Sanctuary is a great place to relax and experi-ence the changing of the tides. During low tide, one can actually walk between

the mangroves to discover the different creatures of the tidal zone. One can also opt to spend the night here to see wading birds feed in the morning and late afternoon.

The Faith Healer’s Camp Made from a natural limestone cave, the Faith Healer’s Camp was once the residence of a tribal shaman or faith healer. It is said that in the past, the shaman would treat people who lived on Tali-kud with potions and me-dicinal oils cooked in the cave’s natural depression which served as a cooking hearth.

The Giant Balete Tree Just a little beyond the Faith Healer’s camp, one cannot the hundred-year old balete tree on the roadside. Interrestingly, its arboreal roots all come down to roughly the same length and remain sus-pended in the air. Locals believe it is the home of spirits with stories of chil-dren getting lost on its boughs and the magically appearing on the upper floor of the child’s home nearby.

Dadatan Bat Conservation Park The more adventur-ous will want to visit the

The hidden magic of

Dadatan Bar Conserva-tion Park. Although the population of bats in the cave is much smaller to the one on Samal Island, the cave was no less im-pressive. True to it being a conservation zone, access to the cave is through a short jungle hike down a forested gorge. Those who cannot trek can instead observe the bats from an observation deck close by. All these destinations on Talikud Island are easily accessible through rented motorbikes from Sta. Cruz port. There are regular fer-ry boat rides to Sta. Cruz port from Sta. Ana Wharf on mainland Davao City. These destinations are also part of Talikud Island Tours’ packages. For more details you can check their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TalikudIs-land. They can also be con-tacted through telephone number 09257212754.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

A2 INdulge! EDGEDAVAOFOOD

More to love atInasal de Cebu

INASAL DE CEBU opened its bigger and bet-ter home on Oct. 26 2015 at the corner of Lapu-lapu and Waling-waling Street, General Santos City. It’s amazing to see how far this business has gone from just a P22,000 capital through the years. Inasal de Cebu’s flavor is based on the original Cebu lechon, but is modified specifi-cally for Gensan’s palate. For just P199 you can fill your tummy up, and picking which dish to put on ones plate becomes a rig-orous task as all the dishes rang-ing from vegetables, fish , beef and most especially pork, all

look so delish that you’d want to savour them all if you could. The seperate air-conditioned buf-fet area, that could cater to 150 guests, is also open for functions and private occations. Not only a scrumptious all you can eat buffet, but Inasal de Cebu also has a karenderia type open-air canteen where you could get a viand for as low as P35. Just because it’s affordable doesn’t mean the place has to be compromised. Their karenderia, even if its open-air, is clean, wide and has a very modern feel to it, unlike most karenderias.

Inasal de Cebu is the first establishment in Gensan that has a drive-thru lechon take out station, wherein a minute or two you could already get your quick lechon, bopis, pak-

lay, dinuguan and more. You get the quality for the right value of money: P300 for a kilo of deli-cious lechon, that is processed through a modern electronic roasting machine, that assures

equal heat allocation during the roasting process, which makes the meat evenly cooked. As early as 6:00am up until 10:00pm, expect lechon to be rolling out their clean process-ing station, located at the back of the buffet area where you can choose which pig you’d want, (if you’d like to order a full sized one) and assure you that you’ll get what you paid for be-cause they’ll tag the pig as soon as you’ve decided. Their prices start from P2,500 for a 10-12k lechon de leche, up to P8,500 for a 55-60k one. Now, didn’t that just make you crave for some? Head on down to Inasal de Cebu and sat-isfy your craving. Check out Insal de Cebu’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/inasaldecebuph. Follow me on Twitter or Insta-gram, @kyriekoutre for more ad-ventures in and around my won-derland that is Gensan, Tuna Capital of the Philippines.

Not only a scrumptious all you can eat buffet, but Inasal de Cebu also has a karenderia type open-air canteen, where you could get a viand for as

low as P35.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

AFTER making a mark in his stint in the second season of “The Voice of the Phil-ippines,” pop and RnB singer Daryl Ong is ready to share his voice and story via his first self-titled album released under Star Music.

INdulge! A3EDGEDAVAOENTERTAINMENT

UP AND ABOUT

Daryl Ong finds own voice in first albumAko” in A Song of Praise Music Festival.“Daryl Ong” is executive produced by Malou N. Santos, Roxy Liquigan, Vehnee Saturno, and Kate Valenzuela. The overall album produc-ers are Vehnee and Kate, with Jonathan Manalo as the audio content head. It is now available at all record bars na-tionwide for only P250. Digital tracks can also

be downloaded via leading record stores all over the country and in online music stores such as iTunes, Mymu-sicstore.com.ph, and Starmusic.ph. For more informa-tion, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media ac-counts at Facebook.com/starrecordsphil, Twitter.com/starrecord-sph and Instagram.com/Starmusicph.

Win a Trip to the UK to WatchThe X Factor UK Finals LIVE

Daryl said the album is not just a milestone in his musical journey, but also an accomplish-ment in his personal life amidst all the struggles he went through. “This album means a lot to me. It’s not just a compilation of songs; I see it as a compilation of dreams and goals I had long ago when I started singing,” he said. It can be remem-bered that Daryl joined “The Voice” not only to share his talent with the world, but also to reach out to his son as their communication was severed when the little one was secretly brought to the US. Daryl’s first single is a song called “Mabuti Pa,” written by the vet-eran songwriter Vehnee

Saturno, who also composed most of the songs in the album. The album also fea-tures “Parang Langit,” a duet with Angeline Quinto,” and bonus track “Ikaw Na Nga,” one of the theme songs of the top-rating teles-erye “Bridges of Love.” Completing the track list of the album are “Dapat Pa Ba?” “It’s Not Easy Letting Go,” “Just Wanna Be With You,” “Hopeless Romantic,” “Only You,” “Ngayong Hanggang Wakas,” and bonus tracks “S’yempre” and “Torpe.”A talented singer, Daryl won second runner-up for his interpretation of “Torpe” at Philpop 2014 and was given the People’s Choice Award for “Hangga’t May Tinig

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

WHILE already a smashing interna-tional sensation, this year’s The X Factor UK has made waves in the country with its top contenders either hailing from the Philippines or is of Filipino descent. Local fans and the British public were wowed when 4th Impact (then named 4th Power) exploded on to the stage and im-pressed the judges. Openly-gay, cosmo-politan diva from Australia, of both British and Filipino descent, Sean Miley Moore, is a com-manding force in every performance as he showcases his years of experience in theatre. With the finale just a few weeks away, it’s the voting UK fans that decides who makes the final cut. But

with a bit of luck and a lot of talent, one or both Filipino performers may just make it there. As a special treat for eager fans in the country, SKYcable offers its subscrib-ers a unique op-portunity to watch the finale, live and in-person, this De-cember 12 and 13 2015.

To earn the chance to experience power-ful performances on the booming The X Factor stage, fans just need to send their response to this simple line: “Name one X Factor UK Season 12 judge”.

Current and active SKYcable postpaid sub-scribers with RTL-CBS included in their plan or SELECT channel line-up can join this fly-in promo by simply visiting either w w w.mysk y.com.ph/xfactoruk12. Once on the webpage, all subscribers

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In the grand raffle draw, one SKYcable sub-scriber can get a chance to win a roundtrip ticket, from Manila to London and vice versa, for both December 11 and 14; ex-clusive two-day passes for the Season 12 The X Factor UK Finale on De-cember 12 and 13; ac-commodation for 4 days and 3 nights for two at the Wembley Hotel; and pocket money worth USD500. Any non-metro manila subscriber who wins will also receive round trip tickets for two to Manila, including an overnight stay at Rem-ington Hotel. This special fly-in treat is part of SKY’s commitment to provide its subscribers exclusive perks and unmatched entertainment that en-riches their lives.

Stay tuned to RTL-

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A4 INdulge!

MARCO POLO DAVAO associates headed by the HR and Front Office Departments visited the Co Sui Gian Home for the Aged in Cabantian, Davao City last October 31,2015. Co Sui Gian houses around 40 senior citizens who are abandoned and neglected by their respective families. The short but meaningful visit of the hotel’s associates is part of its continued commitment to reach out and give back to com-munities in need of assistance. Assistant Front Office Manager, Jay Balascopo and Ms. Nina Perkins of Front Office warmed up the group with a series of dance and song numbers. The residents delightedly sang to the tune of “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko”. The outreach program ended with a warm get together with the residents and turn-over of donations to the social workers of the center.

EVENT

Marco Polo Davao associates visit Co Sui Gian Home for the Aged

A season for sharing

Front Office Assistant Managers Ryan Amanon and Jay Balascopo assist while residents enjoy their meals.

Extreme left: Nina Perkins and Jay Balascopo sing “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko” together with the residents.

Left: Marco Polo Davao associates pose with the staff of Co Su Gian after the turning over of donations.

Bottom: Sharing a hearty meal after the short program.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

VOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 11EDGEDAVAO

SCIENCE

Foe or friend?Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“I seek constantly to im-prove my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.” – Og Man-dino, author of The Greatest Salesman of the World

***

IN the Philippines, there’s no data as to how much sugar an average adult consumes.

But a study commissioned by the Center for Research and Development of the University of Asia and the Pacific showed that, on a per capita basis, Ilo-cos region, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon had the highest usage in 1993 at 18.3 kilo-grams, 18.0 kilograms, and 16.6 kilograms, respectively.

All the other regions, in-cluding two in Luzon and sev-en in Visayas and Mindanao, recorded a per cap consump-tion below the national aver-age. Per capita consumption for all regions ranges from 11 kilograms to 13 kilograms.

On the demand by dif-ferent user groups, the study concluded that for the same period, the country’s total con-sumption grew by 3.5% annu-ally. The household sugar con-sumption rose by 3.5% while the industrial use increased by 4.6%.

“Sugar was once a luxury ingredient reserved for spe-cial occasions,” wrote Tiffany O’Callaghan, an editor in the Opinion section at New Scien-tist. “But in recent years it has become a large and growing part of our diets. If you eat processed food of any kind, it probably contains added sugar. You can find it in sliced bread, breakfast cereals, sal-ad dressings, soups, cooking sauces and many other staples. Low-fat products often contain a lot of added sugar.”

Just like salt, eating too much sugar is doing us no good. As a matter of fact, sug-ar is being touted as public health enemy number one: as bad if not worse than fat, and the major driving force behind obesity, heart disease and type II diabetes. Some researchers even contend that sugar is tox-ic or addictive.

It is no wonder why health bodies are waging “a war on sugar.” The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) wants people to cut sugar consumption radically. In the United States,, doctors

and scientists are pressing food companies to reduce sugar and be more open about how much they add. In the United Kingdom, a group called Action on Sugar has just launched a campaign to ratch-et down sugar.

But is sugar really that bad?

Sugar, used to be called as “white gold,” is the general-ized name for a class of chem-ically-related sweet-flavored substances, most of which are used as food. They are carbo-hydrates, composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. There are various types of sugar derived from different sourc-es. Simple sugars are called monosaccharides and include glucose (also known as dex-

trose), fructose and galactose.The table or granulated

sugar most customarily used as food is sucrose, a disac-charide (in the body, sucrose hydrolyses into fructose and glucose). Other disaccharides include maltose and lactose. Chemically-different substanc-es may also have a sweet taste, but are not classified as sugars. Some are used as lower-calo-rie food substitutes for sugar described as artificial sweet-eners.

Mounting evidence sug-gests that flooding your system with sugar-sweetened bev-erages – such as soft drinks, fruit drinks, iced tea and sports drinks – may increase your risk of diabetes.

A recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care examined more than 310,000 patients and found that those who drank 1-2 servings of the sweet stuff a day were 26%

more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who drank it once a month or not at all.

“The reason is twofold: Loading up on sugar-sweet-ened beverages tends to lead to weight gain, which is a risk fac-tor for diabetes,” writes Dr. Ja-cob Teitelbaum, author of Best Sugar Addiction Now! “Previ-ous studies have found that those who toss back high-cal-orie drinks tend not to cut calories elsewhere from their meals. Second, sugar-loaded drinks deliver a quick rush of sugars to your body, which over time can lead to insulin resistance and inflammation.”

Gary Taubes, in an article which appeared in The New York Times, noted: “In 1924, Haven Emerson, director of

the institute of public health at Columbia University, reported that diabetes deaths in New York City had increased as much as 15-fold since the Civil War years, and that deaths in-creased as much as fourfold in some U.S. cities between 1900 and 1920 alone. This coincid-ed, he noted, with an equally significant increase in sugar consumption — almost dou-bling from 1890 to the early 1920s — with the birth and subsequent growth of the can-dy and soft-drink industries.”

Eating an excessive amount of fat isn’t the only thing that increases your risk of heart disease. “A diet rich in sugar can also hurt your heart,” points out Emily G.W. Chau, an American health journalist. In fact, some studies found that sugarplays a direct role on the health of your ticker.

A study published in the Journal of the American Med-

Sugar:

ical Association found that people who took in more than 17.5% of their calories from added sugars were 20-30% more likely to have high lev-els of triglycerides, a type of fat that’s found in your blood. When you consume more sugar than you need for en-ergy, the excess sugars form triglycerides, which are then stored in fat cells.

The same study found that people who got 25% or more of their calories from added sugars were more than 3 times more likely to have low levels of HDL (the good cholester-ol that helps prevent plaque buildup by carrying cholester-ol from your arteries to your liver where it is then excreted) than those whose diets includ-ed less than 5% sugar. Both high triglycerides and low HDL levels contribute to atheroscle-rosis – the hardening of your arteries – a condition that in-

creases your risk of heart dis-ease, stroke, and heart attack.

Those who eat diets rich in sugar are most likely to be de-pressed. Studies have shown that there is a direct link be-tween mood and blood sug-ar balance. All carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose and your brain runs on glucose. The more uneven your blood sugar supply the more uneven your mood.

People who were diag-nosed with schizophrenia and ate a sugar-heavy diet were more likely to be hospitalized in a 2-year follow-up period, according to a research pub-lished in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

“Behavioral disorders, in general, are affected by mas-sive swings in sugar,” explains Dr. Teitelbaum. “When you eat a lot of sugar , your blood sugar levels shoot way up and then go way low. These fluctu-ations drive your metabolism and mood nuts . And when someone is schizophrenic, he already has a hair-trigger.”

Cancer may be triggered, too, if you eat too much sugar. “The sugar-cancer connec-tion is compelling and scary,” says Connie Bennett, author of Sugar Shock!, pointing to in vitro studies that show cancer cells feed on sugar to fuel their growth and proliferation.

“Researchers call them ‘glucose guzzlers.’”

While it’s not proven that sugar fuels cancer growth in the body, it is a known fact that obesity – a likely effect of eat-

ing too much sugar – increases your risk of developing a num-ber of cancers, and that both sugar and insulin fuel can-cer-cell growth.

“We were surprised to realize that changes in our metabolism caused by dietary sugar impact on our cancer risk,” said Dr. Custodia Gar-cia-Jiminez at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid. “We are now investigating what other dietary components may influence our cancer risk. Changing diet is one of easiest prevention strategies that can potentially save a lot of suffer-ing and money.”

A number of other studies indicate a strong relationship between sugar consumption and an increased risk of cancer. The University of Minnesota researchers looked at more than 60,000 patients over 14 years and found that people who drank two or more soft drinks a week had an 87% higher risk of developing pan-creatic cancer.

“If God hadn’t meant for us to eat sugar, he wouldn’t have invented dentists,” said Ralph Nader, an American activist and author. But Luc Tappy, a physiologist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, disagrees: “You cannot live without essential fats. You cannot live without protein. It’s going to be difficult to have enough energy if you don’t have some carbohydrate. But without sugar, there is no problem. It’s an entirely dis-pensable food.”

Sugar caneDelicacies with too

much sugar in them.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

GLOBE Telecom is ad-vocating responsible use of mobile devices

in school campuses for the country’s learning institu-tions to effectively leverage advancement in information and communications technol-ogy.

“Internet is a valuable source of information and an important additional teach-ing tool. As internet now plays a major role in the lives of young people, learning insti-tutions should take the oppor-tunity of motivating students with the use of ICT-tools to make their learning experi-ence more enjoyable and sus-tainable,” Globe Director for Corporate Social Responsibili-ty Fernando Esguerra said.

While government learn-ing institutions are now adapting the use of ICT mate-rials, the use of digital technol-ogies as a learning tool is not as widespread as it should be.

“Whether or not technology is available in the schools, chil-dren will have access to some devices one way or another especially as the smartphone penetration is steadily gaining traction and handheld inter-net will soon become avail-able to everyone. This pres-ents a great opportunity for the country’s educational sys-tem to adopt the use of mobile devices in enhancing formal education,” Esguerra said.

According to Esguer-ra, such move would also substantially reduce public spending in education and infrastructure and enhance competitiveness of the coun-try’s learning institutions amid global shift towards dig-itization.

In line with efforts to in-tegrate ICT tools into formal education, Globe Telecom has been implementing the Global Filipino School program for over three years now.

The program is a long-term educational initiative that seeks to transform select public schools into centers of ICT excellence and provide innovative teaching methods. Specifically, the program aims to create a center for ICT ex-cellence in schools that exem-plify exceptional commitment to ICT-integrated education and also create teacher train-ing hubs to increase under-standing and effective usage of ICT in the classroom.

In partnership with the Department of Education and selected public schools, the program involves providing schools with superior online connectivity, a Globe Mobile Laboratory package, and 21st Century Teaching Methods using ICT in the classroom. Selected public schools are utilized as a teacher train-ing hub on ICT excellence in the classroom, for the entire division where the school is

located. Both the school and DepEd ensure all teachers of the select school are trained to bring 21st century learn-ing into the classroom. Apart from this, both are also tasked to conduct teacher training to neighboring public schools within their division.

First implemented in Bi-lar National High School in Bohol, the program, based on the school’s report, has generated increased interest of teachers to conduct their lessons, increased student in-terest towards learning and improvement in the school’s performance in the National Achievement Test (NAT).

Currently, the program is being implemented in 11 dif-ferent schools located in var-ious parts of the country. By next year, the Global Filipino School program hopes to be present in all 18 regions na-tionwide, and cover 60 DepEd schools divisions.

Use of mobile devicesfor education pushed

A teacher downloads educational video materials stored in Globe Telecom’s servers. Globe Director for Corporate Social Responsibility Fernando Esguerra said learning institutions should take the opportunity of motivating students with the use of ICT-tools to make their learning experience more enjoyable and sustainable. Photo from Text2teach.org.ph

CEMEX Philippines Founda-tion recently inked a three-year partnership with the

Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) to support the safeguard-ing of the vanishing Philippine Eagle by reinforcing education outreach in at least seven eagle habitats.

Also part of the partnership is the organization of at least 100 indigenous forest guards who will care for the eagles and their habitats. CEMEX will also help conduct Philippine Eagle surveys in three suspected ea-gle territories, delineate nesting sites, and initiate home range and habitat use on adult birds.

Additionally, the partner-ship will facilitate livelihood support to communities of the Sinabadan Indigenous Peoples’ Organization (IPO).

The habitat conservation and protection of the Philippine

Eagle is now part of the Adopt-a-Species Program of CEMEX Phil-ippines Foundation. In fact, this trailblazing program triggered the establishment of the Adopt-a-Wildlife-Species Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“The adopt-a-species law allows companies like us to put resources in various species conservation projects. And be-cause of that, we were able to reach out to many areas in the Philippines. Some of our adopt-ed species were the Butanding (whale shark), Tarsier, and Ne-gros Bleeding Heart,” shared Paul Arcenas, CEMEX vice pres-ident for strategic planning.

“We are looking forward to many interactions with PEF and the Sibulan IPO. We hope to make this partnership sus-tainable to be able to help more communities in protecting the

Philippine Eagle,” added Arce-nas, who also serves as board member of the CEMEX Philip-pines Foundation.

“When we hear Philip-pine Eagle, it’s synonymous to mighty. Locally, we call it ‘Hari-bon’ or King of Birds. And in-deed, our very own Philippine Eagle is a mighty and powerful forest raptor. We at the CEMEX Philippines Foundation are tru-ly happy to support PEF in their extensive efforts to help address the issue of our vanishing eagles. This partnership will surely help our eagles breed and live safely,” said Chito Maniago, executive director of CEMEX Philippines Foundation.

During the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony, PEF Executive Direc-tor Dennis Salvador recognized the important role of the Sibu-lan IPO in the eagle protection.

CEMEX backs conservation of Philippine Eagle habitat

Cemex Philippines Foundation and PEF representatives with the Bagobo Tagabawa Tribe and Datu Ambe.

THE Philippines, host to the 2015 meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic

Cooperation (APEC), is col-laborating with leading inter-national organizations to help transform financial systems in the Asia-Pacific, expanding the reach of credit and other financial-services for a more inclusive regional economy.

The collaboration is for-malized through the estab-lishment of the Financial

Infrastructure Development Network (FIDN), a multi-sec-toral platform for promoting initiatives to make financial services in the region more accessible, especially to micro, small, and medium enterpris-es (MSMEs).

The establishment of the FIDN, launched on Novem-ber 12 in Makati City, comes at a time when Asia-Pacific con-tinues to face the challenge of

“Again, we’re proud to engage with our partners in Sibulan. PEF has been working with them for more than 10 years now. The Sibulan community is

really one of the champions of saving the Philippine Eagle.”

“I know that this [Adopt-a-Species] campaign is not isolat-ed from CEMEX’s global envi-

ronmental efforts. We know that CEMEX Philippines has similar initiatives implemented by oth-er CEMEX companies abroad;

FIDN set to transformAPEC financial systems

YMCA Davao reelectsOngkingco presidentPUBLIC WORKS AND

HIGHWAYS District En-gineer Fernando S. On-

gkingco Jr. was unanimously elected to a second term as president of the Young Men’s Christian Association-Davao City chapter during a meeting called for the purpose Satur-day at the chapter’s confer-ence room.

Following Ongkingco’s reelection was an initial dis-cussion of several projects de-signed to make 2016 a banner year for the chapter, includ-ing a massive recruitment of members in schools, colleges and universities.

Aside from approving details of the chapter’s induc-tion of officers on January 24, 2016 at the Marco Polo Davao, the committee of ways and means headed by reelected first vice president Jose B. Custodio also presented three proposed fund-raising activ-ities for the year. The board also approved a proposal to hold a Christmas gathering and bonding of YMCA mem-bers and their family mem-bers sometime in the middle of December.

The chapter officers wel-comed to the board of direc-tors three newcomers in the persons of Russel U. Barrizo, executive director of the Anflo Foundation, who was elected corporate secretary, Ma. Lita A. Montalban, owner of Emar Humanities College and chap-ter president of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA), elected assistant

corporate secretary, and Dr. Julius D. dela Victoria, elected director.

Others elected with Ongk-ingco, Custodio, Barrizo, Mon-talban and dela Victoria were lawyer Leoncio P. VillaAbrille, second vice president; Henry B. Braceros, treasurer; Manuel S. Tagud, assistant treasurer; lawyer and lawyer Ricardo V. Villegas, auditor; Antonio M. Ajero, public relations officer; and Vicente R. Banes Jr., busi-ness manager.

Public Works and High-ways Region 11 Director Mariano R. Alquiza, and for-mer DPWH district engineer Isagani G. Javier were elected directors; while Melody Ann V. Rico and Jekris Shalom D. Mendoza were reelected youth directors.

Custodio, VillaAbrille, Villegas and Banes served as presidents in the past.

FFIDN, 13

FCEMEX, 13

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FIDN... FROM 12

CEMEX... FROM 12

Davao... FROM 15

making financial services ac-cessible to more MSMEs and low-income households.

Although the region is a driver of the global economy, poverty remains a serious is-sue, and boosting the MSME sector is believed to signifi-cantly help accelerate the pro-cess of poverty reduction.

Besides the Philippines, which represents other APEC member economies, the FIDN is also composed of the following institutions: International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group; the APEC Busi-ness Advisory Council (ABAC); the SME Finance Forum; and the Organisation for Econom-ic Co-operation and Develop-ment (OECD). It is supported by leading global financial in-dustry associations and firms that have joined the Asia-Pa-

cific Financial Forum (APFF), a platform established by APEC Finance Ministers in 2013 to develop and integrate the re-gion’s financial markets.

The Philippines’ participa-tion in the FIDN is made active through representation by and inputs from the Department of Finance, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Credit Information Corp.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said, “We’ve al-ways said MSMEs are the life-force of the regional economy, contributing to over 60% of total employment, over 40% to GDP and over 15% to total exports among APEC econo-mies. However, about 40% of the financing needs of MSMEs are unserved. At the same time, we are fully convinced of the power of finance as a

tool to reduce poverty. We are putting our money where our mouth is in putting more fuel to Asia-Pacific’s growth en-gine.” Purisima served as chair of the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process that produced the Cebu Action Plan last Septem-ber.

SEC Chair Teresita Her-bosa said, “The Securities and Exchange Commission agrees there is a pressing need to in-tegrate more people and en-terprises to capital markets so they become part of the formal sector. There is no true capital market development – and there is no meaningful eco-nomic progress – if many are left out. It is with earnest drive that the SEC, together with the other participants, will work toward the vision of a more financially integrated Asia-Pa-cific through the FIDN.”

Monteverde Sr. Central Elem. School.

The event was also sup-ported by the (DAPRISA) Davao Association Private Schools Association Inc.,and Metro Davao Youth Chess Club,

Tabudlong said.The tournament director

said that upon suggestion of YMCA assistant secretary Ma. Lita Montalban who is DA-PRISAA president, there will soon be regular tournaments

on other sports and athletic events.

The athletic program will go hand in hand with the chap-ter’s aggressive recruitment for more YMCA members, he said.

practically doing the same thing— preserving and conserv-ing natural areas and working with indigenous people,” Salva-dor said.

As response from the Sib-ulan IPO, Datu Hernan Ambe, president of Sinabbadab Kaag Tugallan, expressed his opti-mism in this partnership. “Mal-aki ang aming pasasalamat na

kasama na namin ang CEMEX sa proteksyon ng Philippine Eagle. Ang pagprotekta po ng kalikasan ay mahirap kung kami-kami lang. Maraming taong taga-la-bas ang gumagawa ng illegal logging, illegal kaingin at illegal hunting. Sa partnership na ito, layunin naming matigil na ang illegal activities sa loob ng aming lupang ninuno.” [We are grateful

that CEMEX is now one with us in protecting the Philippine Ea-gle. The protection of our envi-ronment is challenging if we’re alone. There are many outsiders who are doing illegal logging, illegal kaingin, and illegal hunt-ing. Through this partnership, we aim to restrict these illegal activities inside our forefather’s land.]

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Sonshine Sports coordinator Dr. Jun Cardona and tournament technical director Tisha Goldie Delvo lead the ceremonial tossing of the 3rd ACQ Collegiate Basketball League at the Jose Maria College Sky Gym on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

DAVAO City First District representative and House labor committee chair

Karlo Alexei Nograles yester-day said the signing of law that increases the incentives for national athletes, coaches and trainers would definitely re-invigorate the country’s dying sports sector and give rise to a new breed of world-class Filipi-no athletes.

Nograles said Republic Act 10699, otherwise known as the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incen-tives Act” should attract more Filipinos who are gifted with talents in various sports disci-plines to train really hard to be able to join our pool of national athletes.

He said the measure which was originally proposed in the House of Representatives by PuwersangBayaningAtleta (PBA) Partylist Rep. Mark Sam-bar would not only improve

the living conditions of poor Filipino athletes, coaches and trainers but it would inspire them to work harder to bring pride and glory for the country during international sporting competitions.

As envisioned by Sambar when he authored the mea-sure, RA 10699 would also re-move certain turf wars among sporting organizations when it comes to funding as it is now specified that funding releas-es will now be handled by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) regardless of the nature of the sports and the nature of the competition.

It was also Sambar who pushed for the inclusion of athletes considered as per-sons with disability (PWDs) as among the beneficiaries of this measure.

“It is just fair that we credit Congressman Sambar because he is the brainchild and the

original author of this law. As a true champion of our athletes, PBA has been pushing for the passage of this measure since the 15th Congress,” Nograles said.

Nograles said one reason why the country still lacks world-class talents in various sports disciplines is because of the notion that there is no money and there is no future for athletes.

“Many talents go to waste because they pursue other professions. This is due to the notion that they would only get hungry if they get into sports as their profession,” Nograles said,

On the other hand, Koko Nograles, who is also running for Congress under PBA Par-tylist said that the strict imple-mentation of the law should be monitored to ensure that these incentives for athletes are prop-erly administered. He added that this new law should also

prompt the PSC to work harder in training national athletes.

“It’s one thing to incentiv-ize. But what good are incen-tives if our athletes do not win medals?,” the younger Nograles said.

RA 10699, which was re-cently signed into law by Presi-dent Aquino grants gold medal-ists in the Olympics P10 million cash reward while silver win-ners get P5 million and bronze medalists P2 million.

Athletes who get gold in the Asian Games would get P2 million, silver medalists P1 million and bronze medalists P400,000.

For the Southeast Asian Games, a gold is worth P300,000, silver P150,000 and bronze P60,000.

For team events with five or more participants, each team member will get 25 percent of the cash incentives provided for the individual medal winners.

The Davao del Norte DEO Men’s Basketball Team won 1st Place in the recently concluded 2015 DPWH XI Sportsfest, routing Davao City DEO, 67-60 in the final game. Joining them in this post game photo are Regional Director Mariano R. Alquiza (center), DE Lorna Ricardo, DPWH XI-EARO President Alexander Turingan and ADE Daniel Jaravata.

THE Davao Wisdom Acad-emy won all slots in the boys and girls highschool

category of the 1st YMCA Davao interschool monthly rapid chess tournament held last Saturday, Nov. 14, at the

YMCA Davao Multi-Pur-pose Hall along Villamor St. in Davao City.

This was announced by Ronnie M. Tabudlong, tourna-ment director, who said that the monthly tournament was sponsored by YMCA Davao of-ficers led by president Fernan-do S. Ongkingco Jr.

The results are as follows:(High School Boys)Champion - Norman

James Varquez of Davao Wis-dom Academy

1st Runner Up - Michael John Varquez of Davao Wis-dom Academy

2nd Runner Up - Alisa Gal-liamova A. Tabudlong - Davao Wisdom Academy

(High School Girls)Champion - Rhobie Shayne

Benogsdan - Davao Wisdom Academy

1st Runner Up - Precious Dela Cruz - Davao Wisdom Academy

In the grade school catego-ry, most of the winners come from Kapitan Monteverde ele-mentary school.

The results are as follows:(Grade School Boys) Champion - Verby Quiachon - Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elem. School1st Runner Up - Marnie Goc-ong - Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elem. School2nd Runner Up - Gre Jomari Morales - Kapitan Tomas Mon-teverde Sr.Central Elem. School3rd Runner Up - Vlademir Orbeta - Sixto Babao Elem. School

(Grade School Girls)Champion - Nathalie Sut-er - Doña Pilar Learning Center1st Runner Up - Teresa Amor Borinaga - Doña Pilar Learning Center2nd Runner Up - Kimber-ly Acodit - Kapitan Tomas

HIGHER INCENTIVESNograles: New law for athletes to revitalize dying sports sector

Davao Wisdom, Kapitan Tomas rule1st YMCA interschool chess tourney

THE Rizal Memorial Col-leges Bulldogs (RMC) edged the University

of Mindanao (UM) Wildcats, 71-70, in the 3rd ACQ Cup Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament Sunday at the Jose Maria College (JMC) Sky-Gym.

In other games, Agro dumped University of Im-maculate Conception (UIC), 77-54, while MATS College of Technology also crushed Holy Cross of Sasa, 77-66.

The Saturday match saw Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) winning over St. John Paul II College, 87-56.

The much-awaited 3rd ACQ Cup 2015 featuring Davao City’s collegiate dribblers got

underway at JMC SkyGym Sat-urday afternoon with a total of 10 teams seeing action.

A parade of teams and a brief program kicked off the the third cage event organized by Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.

Sonshine sports coordina-tor Dr. Jun Cardona welcomed the participants during the momentous launch attended by all the teams and witnessed by JMC officials and students.

Competing for this sea-son’s tournament are JMC, St. John Paul II College, HCDC, RMC, UIC, UM, Agro Industri-al Colleges of the Philippines, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, Holy Cross of Sasa and MATS College of Technol-ogy.

3rd ACQ Cup cage loopdraws 10 college teams

FDAVAO, 13

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