P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

KJC MEMBERS SOLD CANDIES

Business Bureau explains issuance of permit CHO finds no fake bihon P3P2

...But lawyer says Pastor Quiboloy is unaware

Sports 16

EDGE Serving a seamless society

DAVAO

Go sinks ‘hailmary’ shot

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

THE Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name yesterday confirmed

that the seven people allegedly responsible for selling durian can-dies that downed around 1,900 people in Surigao del Sur last week are its members.

In an interview yesterday, lawyer Charmalou D. Aldevera,

counsel of Kingdom executive pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, said a team was sent to Surigao del Sur on Monday morning to investigate the matter.

“As the team reached the area a member approached them and confirmed that they (seven) are members of the Kingdom,” Alde-vera said.

Five of the suspects – iden-tified as Junnil Martinez Teriote, 30; John Oben Dequilla, 36; Joel Alferez Pasa, 29; Richard Lawag Rivera, 28; and Martinez Sawit Bocaycay, 19, all from MacArthur Highway, Calinan District, Davao City – were arrested in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur and were submit-ted for inquest procedure on Mon-

day morning at the Surigao del Sur Provincial Prosecution Office.

Charges against two other suspects, Genelyn Dorgas Basa, 26, and Henryto Bitco Amoguis, 21, were filed on Monday after-noon. They were arrested in Tan-dag City.

The charges filed against the

ATTY. CHARMALOU D. ALDEVERA

FKJC MEMBERS, 10

DANGEROUS RIDE. A motorcycle rider

recklessly carries an unprotected

toddler with him while traversing the highway in Lanang,

Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 20152 EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

THE head of the Davao City Business Bureau yesterday said it gave

a permit to JJCM Food Prod-ucts, manufacturer of Wen-dy’s Delicious Durian Can-dy, despite the absence of a permit from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) because the latter is not a re-quirement.

The company’s durian candies allegedly downed about 1,900 people, mostly schoolchildren, last Friday in Surigao del Sur.

Speaking in yesterday’s Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong, Business Bureau chief Law-rence Bantiding said the is-suance of business permits only requires certifications

from the City Health Office (CHO), City Environment and Natural Resources Of-fice (CENRO), and Office of the Building Official (OCBO), as well as a zoning clearance from the City Planning and Development Office.

He said the Business Bu-reau will only ask for an FDA permit if the business is a

drug store or pharmacy.Bantiding confirmed

that JJCM Food Products has no FDA permit but add-ed that as far as he could remember, owner Janet E. Aquino attempted to apply for one in 2011.

He said he does not know the status of the ap-

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) yester-day said no fake bihon

(rice vermicelli) products are being sold in the city’s markets.

In an interview yester-day, CHO head Josephine Vil-lafuerte said CHO teams that had conducted inspections in the markets found no fake bihon being sold

The issue of fake bihon surfaced after a barangay captain turned over last July 3 a sample which was allegedly being sold in the public market in Calinan.

The barangay official

told CHO that the noodles could not be chewed even after being cooked.

Villafuerte, however, said her teams found nothing at the market.

She said the baran-gay captain may have not cooked the noodles proper-ly. “Siguro nung niluto nila kulang sa tubig kaya medyo matigas (Maybe there was not enough water when he cooked it),” she said.

Still, Villafuerte said the CHO is still waiting for the re-sult from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which

DAVAO City celebrates the 37th National Dis-ability Prevention and

Rehabilitation week this week and for the first time ever, will be gathering leaders of com-munities of disabled people for a Search for the Most Out-standing Person withDisabili-ty (PWD) in Mindanao.

NapreyAlmario, founder of the Rolling Chair Founda-tion, and one of the judges for the search, said that this event aims to recognize the advoca-cies and inspiring stories of PWDs from across Mindanao. This was meant to mirror the ApolinarioMabini PWD of the Year award.

“We wanted something new for us within our grasp,” Almario said, further explain-ing that the ApolinarioMabi-ni awards often overlooked leaders in local communities particularly in Mindanao and wanted to extend here this recognition and awareness of the people whose efforts have encouraged and helped indi-viduals who were struggling with a physical, or mental im-pairment in their respective communities.

The search does not have a specific criteria for judging, Almario explained, because they didn’t want the event to

REAL RICE. A man and his son buy 10 kilograms of well-milled rice at a rice trader’s stall in Bankerohan Public Market yesterday. The City Council of Davao led by the Committee on Health assured the public that there is no such thing as synthetic or fake rice proliferating in the city markets. Lean Daval Jr.

Bantiding explains permitto durian candy factoryBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

THEY’RE OURS. LawyerCharmalou D. Aldevera, counsel of executive pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, confirms to reporters yesterday that the seven people arrested in Surigaodel Sur last Friday are members of The Kingdom of Jesus

Christ The Name Above Every Name. Aldevera said the Kingdom will extend legal assistance to the members who now facing charges in Surigaodel Sur over the food poisoning of almost a thousand people. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

CHO finds no fake bihon

Davao City in searchof outstanding PWDBy VANESSA KATE F. MADRAZO

FCHO, 10 FBANTIDING, 10

FDAVAO CITY, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 3NEWSEDGEDAVAO

CHARGES of violation of Republic Act 9208 or trafficking in per-

son and RA 7610 under child abuse were filed Monday against a British national who allegedly kept six minors in his residence in Maa, Davao City.

The suspect was identi-fied as Lenox James Ellis, 71, a

native of the United Kingdom.According to Davao City

Police Office (DCPO) spokes-person Chief Inspector Mil-grace Driz, a concerned citizen reported to Talomo Police Sta-tion that several minors were found inside the residence of Ellis in Monteritz Subdivision, Maa.

Authorities verified the

report on Sunday together with some barangay person-nels. Police found six minors inside the residence and res-cued them.

Five of them were girls aged 6, 8, 11, 13, and 14 while the sixth was a boy aged 12.

Driz said the minors were alleged victims of child abuse.

“Ang nigawas sa investi-

gation, gina kumot daw ang kinatawo sa lalaki tapos gina picturan nga naka hubo ang mga babae (Investigations showed that the boy was fondled while the girls were photographed without their clothes),” Driz said.

Ellis was detained at Talo-mo Police Station and applied for bail on Tuesday morning.

DAVAO Light and Power Company yesterday warned that its fran-

chise area could face 30-min-ute rotating blackouts in the coming days due to a 70 Mega-watt deficiency in the Mindan-ao grid.

In a statement, Davao Light corporate communi-cations officer Rossano Luga said the company will resort to rotating blackouts only as “a last resort” if the measures it will undertake fail to address the deficit in the power supply.

Luga said the National Grid Corporation of the Philip-pines announced early morn-ing yesterday that there is “a 70 MW deficiency in the Min-danao Grid due to the reduced capability of NPC-PSALM’s Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plant.”

The situation arose after two months of stable power supply in the area.

Luga said Davao Light will tap participating big custom-ers through the activation of its Interruptible Load Pro-gram to mitigate the impact of the current power situation.

“These companies will run their generators instead of drawing power from the dis-tribution line, sparing around 4,000 smaller customers,” he said.

In addition, Davao Light will run its standby Bajada Power Plant and optimize its supply agreement with the Hedcor Sibulan Inc. and the Therma Marine Inc.

“Davao Light will do its best to provide continuous electricity supply to its cus-tomers given the tight supply situation. However, if after un-dertaking all the contingency measures there will still be a deficit in the power supply, Davao Light may implement a maximum of 30-minute ro-tating power interruption, but only as a last resort,” Luga said.

He said customers may contact Davao Light’s call cen-ter service at 229-3572 and visit its website (www.davaoli-ght.com), Facebook page, and Twitter account (davao_light).

He said the Davao Light website also has a schedule in case rotating power interrup-tion is implemented.

INTERIOR and Local Gov-ernment Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday

announced that Police Director Ricardo Marquez is the new chief of the 155,000-strong Philippine National Po-lice (PNP), replacing offi-cer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina who is set to retire on Thursday.

Marquez, was PNP direc-tor for operations where he oversaw the implementation of security preparations for Pope Francis’ visit last Janu-ary and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2015 meetings.

Marquez, member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, also served as regional director for Ilocos and provincial director for Nueva Ecija.

He bested five other con-tenders to be head of PNP, namely Deputy Director Gen-eral Danilo Constantino, chief of the directorial staff; Depu-

ty Director General Marcelo Garbo, deputy PNP chief for operations; dismissed Chief Superintendent Raul Petras-anta; Police Director Benjamin Magalong, Crime Investigation and Detection Group chief; and Police Director Juanito Vaño, directorate for logistics head.

The new PNP Chief will reach the mandatory retire-ment age of 56 on August 26, 2016.

Meanwhile, Espina will bow out of police service on July 19 but will have his retire-ment honors on July 17, Thurs-day, when he is also expected to pass command to the new PNP chief.

He took over the leader-ship of the PNP in December when erstwhile PNP chief Di-rector General Alan Purisima was suspended and eventually dismissed over his alleged in-volvement in the P100-million questionable contract with a private gun courier service firm in 2011. (PNA)

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now conducting an in-

vestigation into the entry of al-leged fake rice in the country’s market.

According to Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima, she has ordered the NBI to conduct the probe because President Benigno S. Aquino III himself wanted an investigation on the tainted rice.

De Lima said the NBI will determine how the fake rice reached the market and what

places are affected.She added that the NBI

will also determine where the fake rice came from, who were involved in its proliferation and to file appropriate cases against those behind it.

Likewise, De Lima said that the NBI has now in its pos-session the documents from Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Mod-ernization Francis Pangilinan containing the information about the fake rice which allegedly came from China. (PNA)

SNACK TIME. These kids have some snacks at the Centennial Park while their parents are busy earning a living vending outside the SangguniangPanlungsod building. Lean Daval Jr.

British national accusedof child abuse, traffickingBy FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

NO FAKE RICE.   CouncilorMary  JoselleVillafuerte presents to the City Council the committee report by the Committee on Health dismissing the alleged proliferation of synthetic or fake rice in the city during the regular session at SangguniangPanlungsod yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

NBI conducting probeon fake rice --De Lima

Davao Light warns of tight power supplyBy JON JOAQUIN

jon@edgedavao.net

Marquez is new PNP Chief

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 20154 EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA

MORO Islamic Liber-ation Front (MILF) camp commanders

huddled for three days with representatives of govern-ment line agencies in this city to undergo formal training on how to kick off and imple-ment development in six pre-viously acknowledged MILF camps located in the Maguin-danao and Lanao provinces.

The Area Development Planning (ADP) Workshop was held at the Em Manor Ho-tel in this city from July 9-11 with MILF commanders, and government military and ag-riculture officials to begin the transition plans for the MILF camps into peaceful and pro-ductive communities. After the three-day workshop, both

GPH and the MILF partici-pants will collaborate on for-mulating the priority devel-opment plans in the six sites.

Under the Annex on Normalization, the GPH and the MILF mutually agreed to constitute joint task forces that “will assess the needs, plan appropriate programs, and undertake the necessary measures to transform these areas into peaceful and pro-ductive communities.”

These areas are in the vi-cinity of former MILF Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, Camp Badre, and Camp Omar ibn al-Khattab in Maguindanao; Camp Rajamuda in North Cotabato and Maguindanao; Camp Bilal in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur; and Camp

Busrah Somiorang in Lanao del Sur.

The six camps were iden-tified and acknowledged in 1999 during the term of for-mer President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in order to facilitate the observance of the 1997 ceasefire agreement. Howev-er, an all-out war was waged against the MILF in 2000. The MILF withdrew from some of these camps, notably Camps Abubakar and Omar.

Mohamad Saleh, MILF Task Force Camps Trans-formation Coordinator, ex-pressed his deep gratitude to the national government for its “commitment to achieve genuine peace and develop-ment in Mindanao.”

The work of the Joint Task

Forces in each of the six sites is one of the confidence-build-ing measures provided in the Annex on Normalization, an integral part of the Compre-hensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro which the Gov-ernment and MILF Panels signed in March 2014.

“The peace dividends must already be felt by the people in our communities as soon as possible,” Saleh said.

Former Agriculture Sec-retary and GPH Peace Pan-el member Senen Bacani briefed participants on the rudiments of area develop-ment planning. He also urged the participants to identify quick-response projects that will address immediate needs

THE city government has joined calls on Tuesday for the imme-

diate banning of aerial spray-ing activities in agricultural plantations in parts of South Cotabato.

City Mayor Peter Mi-guel said he is opposing the continuing use of the aeri-al spraying method by for-eign-backed banana firm Sumifru Philippines Corpo-ration in its plantations in the municipalities of Surallah and T’boli towns in South Co-tabato due to the risks that they pose to human health and the environment.

He said various studies had showed that the spraying of chemicals like pesticides using airplanes is hazardous as it might contaminate the local environment.

“I’m personally against aerial spraying. I’m a doc-tor so I know the risks were facing with that practice,” he told reporters.

Citing his studies, the mayor said there are a num-ber of available options that companies may adopt when spraying chemicals in their plantations aside from aerial spraying.

He noted the case of fruit

giant Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil) based in Polomolok town in South Cotabato that had shunned from using the aerial spraying method in its operations.

The company has been instead using high-powered sprinklers or boom sprin-klers in its spraying activities, he said.

Miguel said other local agricultural companies, like Sumifru, should adopt Dole-fil’s practice and invest in high-powered sprinklers.

“They’re earning billions of pesos so they should prop-erly invest into these equip-

ment and protect our people and the environment in the process,” he said.

“We should focus on the greater good. It’s not proper to compromise the health and well-being of our people in the name of business and profits,” the mayor stressed.

Miguel clarified that he is not against the operations of Sumifru and other banana plantations in the province.

“What we are after is the welfare of our people. Our banana companies can help us with this by pursuing good business practices and good

THE City Health Office has sent out its sanitary inspectors to check on

durian candies and other local-ly-produced sweets to ensure these are safe for consumption.

Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, issued the order in a bid to avert poisoning cas-es similar to what happened last week in different areas of Caraga Region.

More than 1,000 elemen-tary and high school students were either hospitalized or being treated in their homes, after eating durian and ma-gosteen-flavored candies last Friday.

The victims suffered stomach ache, vomiting and dizziness after eating durian and magosteen-flavored can-dy sold to them in the streets at a cheap price. Most of the students bought the candies during recess time.

Agbulos said Tuesday that he instructed the sanitary in-

spectors to check on market stalls selling food items includ-ing groceries to ensure that no candies similar to the one the students bought in Caraga Re-gion as well as expired sweets are being sold locally.

At the same time, Agbulos said the sanitary inspectors were ordered to check if there are so-called fake rice in the market and other stores.

Meanwhile, Alberto Marcelino, city health office’ sanitary division chief, dis-closed they have ordered the removal of durian and man-gosteen-flavored candies, bars and tarts from the display stand in one of the groceries in this city.

Marcelino said the prod-ucts ordered removed were to expire in few days’ time.

Meanwhile, Agbulos has advised the public to be vigi-lant in buying candies and oth-er products to ensure these are safe for consumption. (PNA)

MALACANANG ac-knowledged on Tuesday the support

extended by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress.

”We acknowledge and appreciate the support of the CBCP on the principles that guide the government in pushing the Bangsamoro political entity and the pas-sage of the BBL,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Her-minio ‘Sonny’ Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing.

Coloma said CBCP’s sup-port is important for the en-actment of the BBL “that is rooted in social justice and would achieve the Bangsam-oro people’s aspirations for self-determination.”

”Government shares the Bishops’ primordial concern for social justice,” he added.

Coloma said President Benigno S. Aquino III con-vened a multi-sectoral Peace Council that adopted the po-sition taken by 14 members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission on the essential constitutionality of the pro-posed BBL.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are scheduled to resume debates on the proposed BBL at the third regular session of the 16th Congress which will start on July 27.

Senate Committee on Local Government chairman Senator Ferdinand ‘Bong-bong’ Marcos Jr. is preparing his committee report based on the 14 hearings, including five conducted in Mindanao, on the BBL.

Marcos said he will sub-mit his committee report af-ter the sixth State-of-the-Na-tion Address (SONA) of Presi-dent Aquino on July 27. (PNA)

DISASTER managers of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley cit-

ed the need to establish the es-cape routes in their respective provinces in the occurrence of tidal waves following a strong tremor.

Speaking in the Biz Talk @ Big 8 Hotel, Raul Villocino said the evacuation mechanism for towns of Pantukan, Mabini and Maco which are situat-ed along the Davao Gulf still needs to be formulated.

He said these towns are also included in the ten mu-nicipalities that are landslide prone.

“It is great challenge for us since tsunamis occur after the earthquake and residents along the coastline must be

wary that in the event an in-tensity 7 tremor occurs, a tsu-nami follows,” Villocino point-ed out.

Gaspar Balinggao, pres-ident of the Provincial said escape routes for Davao del Norte to the higher ground still have to be established.

He said residents must be involved in determining these routes so that they will be aware of what to do in adapt-ing the emergency situation protocol.

“The residents must be involved in the planning pro-cess,” Balinggao pointed out.

Desiderio Cabanlit, resi-dent volcanologist of the Phil-ippine Institute of Volcanolo-gy and Seismology in Davao

MILF commanders trained in development planning

SoCot to ban aerial spraying

Palace sees CBCP’s support to boost chances of BBL

Inspectors remove about to expire candies, tarts at Zambo grocery

Comval, DavNorte to determineescape routes in case of tsunamis

WRONG PREPARATION. City Health Office (CHO) head Josephine Villafuerte talks to reporters about the possibility that wrong preparation of durian candies from Wendy’s Delicious Durian Candy could have led to the food poisoning of around 1,900 people, mostly students, in Surigao del Sur last Friday. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

FSOCOT, 10FCOMVAL, 10

FMILF, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 5EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY

THIS one’s for the Davao City farmers and the ag-riculture industry.

The Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (APTC) will finally come into reality after the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Davao approved on third and final reading yesterday an ordinance granting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte au-thority to sign in behalf of the city government the Memo-randum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Agri-culture (DA) for the establish-ment of the food terminal.

Set to be established in-side the National Develop-ment Council (NDC) property in Daliao, Toril, the food termi-nal nestling in a five-hectare lot serves as the market for agriculture products and will benefit even the smallholder farmers not only in the city but in the Davao Region.

“This will really boost the farmers. It will boost our economy,” said Councilor Ma-rissa Salvador-Abella, chair of the SP committee on agricul-ture and food and sponsor of the measure.

Abella said with the SP’s legislative approval, Mayor Duterte can now proceed in signing the MOA and have this submitted to the DA together with the program of work.

The lady councilor said they are targeting to have the groundbreaking by Septem-

ber 8. The food terminal is scheduled to be operational by December of 2016.

Under the MOA, the na-tional government through the DA will provide P70 mil-lion for the project, an amount Abella said can be download-ed as soon as the necessary papers are made available.

She said the DA will allo-cate an additional P70 million for the storage facilities of the food terminal.

The city government will not contribute any amount on the project provided it will manage the center. Under the MOA, the city will be respon-sible on the center’s physical areas and its marketing oper-ations.

Abella said the project will provide marketing and infra-structure support for small and medium vegetables and fruit growers in the city.

As soon as the MOA will be signed by the local chief ex-ecutive, the bidding process, to be conducted both by the city and the DA, will immedi-ately follow.

The food terminal is en-visioned to cater to the abun-dant products of the farmers and help them increase their production, and, more impor-tantly, revolutionize the city’s agricultural sector.

Abella said the facility will uplift the living conditions of the farmers as they can now

Big boost to farmers, agri sectorDream of owning food terminalnow a reality for Davao City

sell their products without the intervention of middlemen.

She noted that under the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2013-2022, the city has a total area of 111,387.49 hectares or 45.65 percent land area for agricul-ture.

“Lands under agriculture comprise the biggest portion of the total land area of the city because the city relies primarily on agriculture for food, feeds and raw materials for agricultural industries and other sectors,” Abella said.

THE city government is planning to build a mul-timillion modern con-

vention center in a bid to draw more major events and visitors or tourists to the city.

City Treasurer Marloun Gumbao said studies are now underway for the construc-tion of the proposed city con-vention center, which is envi-sioned to become an events hub in Region 12 or the Soc-csksargen Region.

He said the city govern-ment is initially planning to invest around P150 million for the structure, which would be patterned after the famed SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

“It will be a boxed struc-ture like that of the SMX and equipped with modern ame-nities that could accommodate up to 1,000 people,” he said in an interview over radio station dxKR.

Gumbao said there has been a demand in the area for bigger events facilities for the hosting of major activities like

conferences and conventions.At present, he said the only

available structure that could accommodate up to 1,000 par-ticipants is the provincial gov-ernment-run South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Cen-ter, which could not cope with the demand.

The official said the es-tablishment of the convention center will complement with the city’s enhanced tourism initiatives and the resurging hotel or accommodation sec-tor.

A number of major hotels and other accommodation fa-cilities have mushroomed in the city in the last several years due to its thriving tourism in-dustry.

“If we can draw major events here, our hotels will benefit much as it will also mean more visitors from other areas,” he said.

Gumbao said the conven-tion center will be built on a vacant lot at the back of the city hall complex.

Convention centereyed in Koronadal

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

THROUGH THE LENS. A sales staff member arranges the digital cameras and lenses on display at a popular camera maker’s kiosk at SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

FCONVENTION, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015THE ECONOMY6 EDGEDAVAO

THE Cacao Industry Asso-ciation of Mindanao (CI-DAMI) has announced

the stating of the National Ca-cao Congress from September 11-12 at the SM Lanang Pre-mier’s SMX Convention Center.

Speaking at the Kapehan

sa Dabaw media forum at SM City Annex Monday, CIDAMI executive director Val Turtur said they already received confirmation that Sen. Cyn-thia Vill, chair of the Senate committee on food and agri-culture, will be attending the

congress. An international speaker

from Europe is also coming over to grace the two-day event.

The event is being sup-ported by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as the ca-

cao industry can help the lives of the farmers and is also good for the environment.

CIDAMI will be giving ca-cao seedlings to barangays and conduct technical lectures to the participants.

Davao City has the largest

cacao area in the Philippines. “Davao City is a city within

the forest and a forest within a city” Turtur said. He added that there are current studies that reveal the health benefits of cacao, like preventing blood clots and strokes.

Cacao is also one of the ingredients of some beauty products like make ups and lipsticks because of butterfat, according to Turtur.

“If the coconut is consid-ered the tree of life, cacao will be the tree of love,” Turtur said.

Cacao Congress in DavaoBy JESSA MARIESTELA P. PUTONG

THE Philippines has overtaken Malaysia as the third largest market

of Toyota in Southeast Asia and the 13th globally in 2015.

This was revealed by Fi-nance Secretary Cesar Purisi-ma in his message during the celebration of Toyota Motors Philippines’ one million sale milestone last week.

“In 2015, the Philippines overtook Malaysia as the third largest market of Toyota in ASEAN (Association of South-east Asian Nations). We’re not only the third largest market of Toyota in ASEAN; we’re

now the 13th largest market of Toyota globally. We were 19th just a few years back, and that just shows how you that with improved economic growth, the potential market of companies also improved,” Purisima said in his message, which was furnished to EDGE Davao yesterday.

“We’re saying that we’re approaching the moderniza-tion inflection point of the country – the numbers show that. Last year we sold over 230,000 cars, and the first quarter showed an increase of 21 percent, so we’re well

on the way to hitting 300,000 cars in a single year,” he add-ed.

It took Toyota Motors Philippines 26 years to make its one millionth sale. “I think that’s a major accomplish-ment” Purisima said, noting that half of the number was sold only in the last eight years.

“I’d like the point out though that in the five years of the Aquino administration, a third of that was sold,” he added.

Purisima also said Toyota Motors Philippines has paid

over P170 billion in taxes over the course of its 26-year existence in the country.

“That’s very important to (Bureau of Internal Revenue or BIR) Commissioner (Kim) Henares. In fact I’d like to fur-ther refine that point: of the P170 billion taxes that were collected, P79 billion was collected by Commissioner Henares, collected over the past five years,” Purisima said.

“I hope that instead of collecting P79 billion in five years, she can collect P79 bil-lion a year,” he added.

Phl overtakes Malaysia as Toyota’sthird largest market in ASEANBy JON JOAQUIN

jon@edgedavao.net

ESCIDER, a Halal-busi-ness investment com-pany, will spearhead the

1st Mindanao Halal Festival which gets underway July 15-16 at the Abreeza Mall Activity Center.

The two-day activity will be showcasing Halal food, ap-parel, fashion accessories, in-vestment techniques, talents and other products and ser-vices that are Halal certified.

Highlights of this event include the launch of the coun-try’s first Halal Ordinance and the Mindanao-wide Qur’an memorization competition.

The festival will also serve as a key focal point for edu-cation about the real Halal practices, what it means and to improve business integrity through values perpetuated by truly Halal role models.

Companies seeking to be

Halal-certified can also attend the festival and get in touch with the certifying bodies and other organizations that can help them push their brand further.

There will be discussions about Halal food preparation, Halal certification and Halal investment and banking.

The 1st Mindanao Halal Festival is supported by the National Commission on Mus-

lim Filipinos (NCMF), the Is-lamic Chamber of Commerce, the local government of Davao and the City Tourism Opera-tions Office.

It is also sponsored by Abreeza Mall, Zabadani, San Iker Taxi, Bin Jaime En-terprises, Kookel’s and the DOST–ARMM (Department of Science and Technology–Au-tonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao).

1st Mindanao Halal Festival opens

ENTREPRENEURS in Davao City received a major boost with the

opening recently of the Nego-syo Center.

“This is not just for agricul-ture, it is for the entire business industry of the city,” Councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella said in her privilege speech during yesterday’s regular Sangguni-ang Panlungsod (SP) session.

Abella said the Negosyo Center, located in Door 6-7 at the Davao City Investment Pro-motion Center inside the Mag-saysay Park Complex, is a big help to the people of Davao es-pecially those in the agriculture sector as the facility will assist farmers and traders.

“Farmers looking for tech-nical training and financial facilitation will be properly guided and business men look-ing for agri products will be directed to the right suppliers,” she said.

The facility is the first lo-cal government unit- based Negosyo Center that boasts of reception and working areas, a mini-library, product show-case, consultancy area and training room.

The Negosyo Center also offers various services such as business registration and

licensing for business name and the Barangay Micro-Busi-ness Enterprise (BMBE), busi-ness advisory services such as training, consultancy, financ-ing facilitation, market linkage and trade promotions. Other services included business in-formation and advocacy like networking with other govern-ment agencies and information facilitation.

The facility opened last July 9 with Sen. Bam Aquino and other national government and local officials gracing the affair.

“Mr. President, this center is very timely because our city has been a recipient of various programs and projects from national government,” Abella said.

“The potential for growth and economic advancement in the agricultural sector is vast and this GO Negosyo center will create a network of various agencies that will help build the agriculture value chain,” she added.

The lady councilor then lauded Davao City Mayor Ro-drigo R. Duterte, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) city director Engr. Edwin Ban-querigo and Sen. Aquino for “pursuing what is best for our Davao City.”

Negosyo Centeropens in Davao

AMBASSADOR Philip S. Goldberg and Philip-pine Finance Secretary

Cesar V. Purisima signed an Intergovernmental Agree-ment (IGA) to implement pro-visions of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to promote transparency in fi-nancial accounts between the two nations on tax matters.

The agreement under-scores growing international cooperation to curb offshore tax evasion and marks a step forward in building a stronger, more stable, more accountable global financial system.

“Today’s signing marks a significant step forward in our efforts to work collabo-ratively to combat offshore tax evasion – an objective that

mutually benefits our two countries,” Goldberg said.

“By working together to detect, deter, and discourage tax abuses through increased transparency and enhanced reporting, we can help to build a stronger, more stable, and more accountable global financial system,” he added.

Purisima, who signed on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines, said: “The Phil-ippines continues to stand at the forefront of fiscal trans-parency across the Asia-Pacif-ic region, reaping measurable returns for our people. “

“Tax evasion across bor-ders is an alarming problem that we can beat back with openness and mutual cooper-ation. This IGA is an affirma-tion of that ideal,” he added.

Phl, US ink accordto share tax info

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS. Business Bureau head Lawrence Bantiding explains in yesterday’s Pulon-PulongniPulong that the closure of Wendy’s Delicious Durian Candy is not only due to the ongoing investigation on food poisoning

in Surigaodel Sur but also because City Health Office found that its personnel have no health card. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Elegance has a new addressA name that has defined elegance and good taste in Durian-

burg’s jewellery scene for the past 20 years, Emilia Sitjar Jewellery opened a new outlet at the concessionaire row of the Apo View Hotel last July 8, 2015.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

EDGEDAVAOEVENTINdulge!

Attended by its regular clients as well as family and friends of the Sitjar fam-ily, the new location is located right at the heart of Durianburg and brings the brand’s well-loved, high quality gem-stones set in precious metals closer to downtown as well as the south of the city. “We decided to open a new store in downtown because we wanted to bring our hand-made, one-of-a-kind pieces closer to our clientele who find going to the Bajada area too far or inconve-nient,” said Emil Sitjar “It is our desire to continue on the tradition of provid-ing great service and beautiful jewellery that can be considered as works of art.” Follow me on Instagram or on Twit-ter at @kennethkingong for more travel stories, foodie finds, and happenings in, around, and beyond Durianburg.

GONE are the days when looking good goes hand in hand with being sub-jected to the inevitable discomforts of fashion. Comfy is the new cool and FitFlop leads the pack with its super ergonomic range of footwear.

A2 INdulge! VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015EDGEDAVAOSTYLE

Living la dolce vita with FitFlop Turning the fashion world completely upside down, Fit-Flop made its breakthrough when it introduced its Micro-wobbleboard midsole, devel-oped by two visionary bio-mechanists. Combining this innovation with an equally bold and refreshing selection of designs by a world-class graphic artist with a pen-chant for fashion – the result is a highly covetable collec-tion of gorgeous footwear that women from all over, ab-solutely loved. Since then, FitFlop has come to be the bastion of comfy cool footwear and continues to roll out some of the most stylish and daringly tasteful designs whether it be sandals, boots, or clogs. Meant to withstand rigor-ous usage, FitFlop footwear is the kind of shoes you can wear until they literally fall apart. Reflecting the type of women that it caters to, these shoes are a perfect combina-tion of beauty, brains, and biomechanics!

Comfy Cool for Spring/Summer 2015 This season, there’s no stopping FitFlop as it con-cocts another revolutionary range of footwear. The result is a wide range of capsule col-lections, which takes inspira-tion from the essential things we love most about sum-mer. Think super comfy and kitschy cool ergonomic flats, brilliant boots, and sophis-ticated sneaker-like silhou-ettes. In a nutshell, the FitFlop collection for Spring/Summer 2015 is all about looking good and feeling good. Among the designs avail-able this season include the all-new SuperJelly sandals, which makes use of a trade-mark waterproof material made stylish in a variety of vibrant toe-thong designs, neutral slides, or the multi-strap twist design. For those who prefer a more casual and easy-going design, FitFlop offers the Sur-fa, which comes in neutrals or preppy nautical stripes. For

those with a more polished taste, FitFlop carries a selec-tion of leather sandals such as the toe-thong Lulu Leather, the Skinny, which comes in a variety of summer-ready de-signs such as nautical stripes and navy textile for its upper, the Skinny Sandal in leather. For those who are looking for a more feminine variety,

FitFlop offers a selection of floral-inspired designs such as laser-cut toe-thong Flora, the Flora Slide, which comes in neutral hues. Moving on to the FitFlop dressier range, fancy ladies will delight in the gem-em-bellished Petra and Petra Slide, the Cha Cha, which features fringed beadings –

a favorite among the fashion forward and is now available in new colors, the Bijoo which features a more noticeable embellished detailing and la-ser-cut toe-thong straps. The elegant Lulu Shimmer Suede and the Lulu Shimmer Slide, the gem-studded Novy, Novy Slide, and Novy Sandal, the mystical Aztek Chada, Aztek Chada Slide, and Aztek Chada Sandal. But the highlight of the FitFlop collection for Spring/Summer 2015 is really, the FF2 collection which will not only capture the fancy of many for its casual cool and preppy elegant designs but most im-portantly, for the immense comfort that it will provide its wearer. Ergonomically en-gineered and shaped to fit under one’s feet according to one’s movement, the FF2 col-lection is built on Supercomff technology. The designs include the F-Pop Ballerina, F-Pop Oxford, F-Pop Mary Jane, F-Pop Bal-lerina Suede, F-Pop Skate, F-Pop Ballerina Canvas, F-Pop Oxford Canvas, the toe-thong Banda and Banda Slide in leather, Banda Sandal, Banda Micro-Crystal Toe Post, Banda Micro-Crystal Slide, and the Banda Micro-Crystal Sandal. This summer, channel the elegantly stylish spirit of the French Riviera and like the photographed women along the shores of Cote d’Azur, while away the days of spring in elegant silhouettes and punchy yet subdued hues of the FitFlop Spring/Summer 2015 collection. The Primer Group of Compa-nies, Asia’s next retail giant, is the exclusive distributor of Fit-Flop in the Philippines. Fitflop is available in Davao at Chimes Specialty Store Abreeza, Sales, and Felcris Cen-trale.

FANS to the much awaited new season of “American Horror Story” will still have to wait a few more months to see Lady Gaga’s wicked debut, but just recently a teaser of the fifth sea-son titled “Hotel” was finally released which is sure to have Gaga’s Little Monsters roar-ing with excitement. “I hope u like being scared,” Gaga tweeted with the creepy video complete with bedaz-zled claws. It looks like Gaga might be a real monster in “Hotel”. Af-ter all, it’s possible she might be this season’s new antagonist. Over the weekend, “AHS” maestro Ryan Murphy and the cast of the “American Hor-ror Story” franchise stormed the stage at San Diego Comic-Con and gave us the scoop on the drama ahead. Unsurprisingly, Gaga’s

It’s in his laid-back, subtle fashion sense (and probably the way he can pull off super tight skinny jeans) that Kapuso star Frank Magalona is drawing lots of curious attention from anyone who comes across his way. He translates his creativity in the way he carries himself and the mystery in his eyes compels you to know him a little more. Francis Michael Magalona Jr., or simply Frank, is the eldest son of OPM legend and Master Rapper Francis Magalona. His creativity came out naturally since he grew up in a family of profound artists. Graduating from the University of the Philippines, College of Fine Arts, Frank admits that his passion was not fully developed until he was already in art school, where he dis-covered his own style of self-expres-sion. Another thing to know about Frank is that as an artist, he likes to work with paper and other planar objects. His undergraduate thesis, a collage made entirely of old news-papers, cartons, and other discard-ed materials—put together with the help of his family and friends, was borne out of his family’s past dependency on shopping and im-pulse buying. “All the pieces were authentic and actually came from our household,” shares the Kapuso actor. As he tries to adopt a more frugal lifestyle, he now tries to use salvaged materials in his art and transforms them into functional masterpieces.

“One day, I was forced to move out of the place that I used to stay in and relocate. I spotted these railroad ties at a gardening shop and turned them into a bed because I didn’t have one. I didn’t have a closet too so I used corrugated galvanized iron sheets to build one,” Frank recalls. Frank is happy to note that has found his own identity as an art-ist, and his family has always been supportive of his journey. Being co-managed by his mother Pia Magalo-na, he has the motivation to explore different avenues for his expression.

Since he entered show business, he has been part of several Kapuso teleseryes including Blusang Itim, Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit, Spooky Valentine, My Beloved, Hin-di Ka Na Mag-Iisa, Mundo Mo’y Akin, Rhodora X, Yagit, and Once Upon A Kiss. After years of honing his talent and developing his craft, Frank has recently added ‘brand ambassador’ to his resume. His upcoming project as a brand ambassador is a pop-up bar that will reveal his creativity as an artist. For a short time this month, he will be introducing The Mind Fact, a hang-out place where one can enjoy cre-ating his own drink. “I like experimenting whether in art or in my daily life so my pop-up [bar] is inspired by a chemistry lab. Every night is also an experiment for the bar-goer who likes drinking. In my pop-up, you have the option to mix my delicious black drink called “Kolor Proof” using test tubes and beakers filled with high quality al-cohol and other fresh ingredients. I also like music, and in my bar, you can produce your own beats using actual deodorant spray cans. It’s the kind of place to have interest-ing conversations. This man likes to think, and on that night, he invites you to step inside his world,” he ex-plains. True enough, something within him keeps others intrigued as his cool, languid gaze can breathe life to the common phrase, ‘the eyes are the windows to one’s soul’.

INdulge! A3VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 EDGEDAVAOENTERTAINMENT

Lady Gaga unveils first scary ‘American Horror Story’ teaser

The Frank Fact: Salvaging for art

character will be in-volved with fashion, and Mother Monster is cur-rently working with the “AHS” costume design-ers for her character. Also, Gaga asked Murphy if her charac-ter could be evil. “You came to the right place,” Murphy said he told the singer.

Now for the bad news: There will be zero musical numbers in “Ho-tel.” Murphy said he got that out of his system with “Freak Show.” This means neither Gaga nor Matt Bomer will be singing on this season of “AHS.” Whatever the outcome, we cannot wait!

PG / * PG

PG

PG 12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

R-16

ANT-MAN

Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly

R16 12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

THE BREAKUP PLAYLIST/* TERMINATOR GENISYS

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

MINIONS

Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin, Sandra Bullock

12:15 | 2:30 LFS / * 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

Sarah Geronimo, Piolo Pascual/ *J.K. Simmons, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney

MAGIC MIKE XXL

Channing Tatum, Elizabeth Banks, Amber Heard

July 15 – 21, 2015

A4 INdulge!PEOPLE

ASK any teener what they do in their spare time and you would typically get answers that concern mostly their academics or just how to have a good time. But when I get the chance to talk to 14-year old Miguel Antonio the same question, his answers

By Kenneth Irving Ong

MIGUEL ANTONIOA Dabawenyo born to sing

that his spare time is spent with his vocal coach, shooting videos, and recording new songs. If you don’t know who Miguel Antonio is then you might as well have been living under a rock. Born in Davao and residing in Singapore, Miguel first became a You-Tube sensation thanks to his rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” from the musical “Les Miserables.” What kickstarted his career though was when we participated in a cross-continental talent search titled “Born To Sing” in 2011 where his video entry caught the eye of the show’s producer David Foster. Miguel eventu-ally won the competi-tion and was eventual-ly selected by David to perform at the “David Foster & Friends” con-cert in Singapore. 2014 marks a sig-nificant milestone for Miguel as he signs on with BMBX to pursue a professional sing-

ing career. BMBX is a new Southeast Asian-based content and art-ist development brand marketing company, featuring the curato-rial talent of Grammy award winning pro-ducer Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas. Miguel’s singles to date include “Every Day” and “Breathe You In” with a new single “Satellite” close to release soon. When asked what his dream is, he replied with a twinkle in his eye, “To become a prolific sing-ing artist.” Miguel is an ardent fan of Mi-cheal Jackson whom he admits is his inspi-ration. He is also a fan of Elvis Presley, The Beetles, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton and Steve Perry. You can catch more of Miguel Antonio’s performances on his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/VMiguelAn-tonio and BMBX at https://www.youtube.com/user/WeAreBM-BX. His singles are also available on iTunes.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 7EDGEDAVAO

BIGGER PICTURE

Having funat PARADISE ISLAND

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I HAD been to Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in Island Garden

City of Samal several times al-ready. But the last time I was there was so long ago I could not even remember when.

A couple of days ago, when my two sisters -- who had just arrived from the United States -- wanted to bring the family (our parents, the other siblings, and their children) to the beach, I sug-gested Paradise Island.

Marilou Eplite (who now lives in Florida) had been to the resort once, when we brought her future husband, David Eplite, there. She likes swimming as Florida is full of beautiful beaches. But my other sister, Elena Chase, is another story. Yes, she has been to beaches as well but only to freshwater lakes as Minnesota is noted for (think about more than 10,000 lakes).

We left at our hometown at 7 in the morning. By 9:30, we were already at the resort. From Sasa, the boat ride was a matter of 10 minutes or so (boat fare is P15 per person). Since it was still morning, the ride was smooth. Despite that, we had to wear the life jacket as a sort of precaution.

We were not settled yet in the tables that were reserved for us but the children wanted to swim already at the white sand beach. My sister-in-law Joan and Marilou were tapped to look for the kids while having fun in the water.

My niece Meryl and her husband Normel, my brother Gerry, and my aunt Lydia went to the grill area to cook the chicken and pork we brought. Elena, my sister Evangeline, my sister-in-law Sarah, and my two nephews (Joshua Kyle and Dave) helped set the table for our lunch.

It was almost 12 when we had our lunch. Aside from the grilled chicken and pork, Elena also ordered beef steak (cooked Filipino style), sweet and sour fish fillet, and tinol-ang manok as additional vi-ands.

We were almost done eating when the resort’s acro-batic show started. The stage was so near our place so some of us had to watch it while eating. But the kids went near the stage and watched the show with awe. Joshua Kyle even volunteered as one of

the show’s guest perform-ers.

By 1:30, I had the pleasure of meeting Carlo Evangelista, the resort’s assistant general manager. He toured me around the resort and yes, there are changes -- lots of them. The former cottages are now 79 duplexes. It also has a few houses that a family can rent. The rooms are fully air-conditioned and fur-nished with amenities.

“We want their stay to be pleasant and memora-ble,” Evangelista said of their guests and visitors who may opt to sleep for the night at the resort.

But duplexes are not the only thing the resort offers. For those who want to have fun in the wa-ter, they can rent any of the following: aquacycle, kayak, paddleboard and colorful water floats. For some extreme, it offers jet-ski, speed boat, banana boat ride, and scuba div-ing lessons.

The inland sports that can be played are gi-ant chess board (shades of Harry Potter), billiard, ping pong, and vol-

leyball.There are two children’s

playgrounds: one is locat-ed at the beach area and the other is at the park near the aviary. Speaking of aviary, here you can see some of the country’s finest birds: sea eagle, peacock and brahminy kite, among others. Not to be missed: Philippine deer and Indian python.

The acrobatic show that we watched at lunch time is done only during weekends and holidays. At the open

restaurant, there is live R&B music and yes, some guests are serenaded while eating by a group of musicians (you can even request a song of your like).

At night (although we didn’t witness it), there’s live pop music and frenzy fire dancing.

If you want to bring some-thing from the resort, you can always to go the Souvenir Shop. There are native crafts, trendy t-shirts, shorts, min-iature gifts and other exotic items.

If you love fish, then you can try its fish feeding “pro-gram.” The resort can give you free bread which can be used for fish feeding at the

boat docking area from 6 in the morning till 12 noon.

Although there are now more than 50 beach resorts in Samal, Paradise Island is still one of the most often-visited resorts. One of the things that it has is its team of civilians and blue guards who are on 24-hour duty. “Our guests can call them anytime for any assistance,” Evangelista said.

Lifeguards are posted at the outposts along the beach. Securi-ty assistance can be asked for at the entrance booth. Waiters are assigned at the restaurant while there are receptionists posted at the Self-Service area who are

responsible for setting up tables, chairs and lounging chairs.

It has been 27 years since eight-hectare Paradise Resort was opened to the public by its owner, Narciso Rodriguez. What started as a family out-ing place has now bloomed into one of Samal’s tourist attractions.

It’s not only locals from Davao Region who come to the resort. There are also those from Cebu, Cotaba-to, Zamboanga and even from Metro Manila. Foreign-ers also flock to this place:

Americans, Koreans, Jap-anese, Chinese, and some Europeans.

Yes, they all come to have fun at the resort.

The same is true with my two sisters. The last time Elena came back to the Philippines was 13 years ago. As for Marilou, she re-turned once, in 2011. It was sort of a homecoming for both of them. As we really wanted to have fun -- and it was good we spent it at Para-dise Island.

What started as a family outing place has now bloomed into one of Samal’s tourist attractions.

Wearing lifejacket going to the resort.

Entertainment time with acrobat team

Aviary

Duplex (inset is the room inside)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 20158 EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

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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PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTEthe national association of newspapers

Regulation neededIF there’s anything we’re learning about all these news stories

about fake and sometimes downright poisonous food products, it’s that we have to begin the serious business of regulating the food

industry so that all products pass through some form of quality con-trol. There was a time when this was unnecessary, when small-town manufacturers and repackers could be trusted to take pains to make sure that their products use quality – or at least safe – ingredients, that they are prepared and cooked properly, and that they are packaged in such a way that they do not get contaminated. Such products could be bought without worry that they would suddenly turn against the buy-ers and become debilitating or even deadly.

Now, perhaps because of the sheer size of the consumer base and the huge scale of the economic opportunities, more and more prod-ucts are turning out to have some rather dangerous side effects. The recent discoveries of fake rice, contaminated candies, deadly salt, and heaven knows what else are a warning sign that all is no longer well with our informal/underground economy and that products being sold and peddled outside of established businesses need to be placed

under regulation. Not least of the reasons is that the most vulnerable sector are the children who have no way of knowing that what they had bought could be bad for them. Adults could at least discern that something is amiss in certain forms of packaging; children simply buy and eat.

Of course sometimes even the most careful among us could fall victim. This can be a matter of misguided packaging as in the case of oxalic acid – used in cleaning metals – and crystallized chlorine, both of which look like salt but are deadly when ingested. These products are often repacked in small plastic bags that make them look like salt sachets, and they are displayed even in supermarkets with little or no labeling. While they are placed in areas separate from food products, it only takes a second for a shopper to throw them in with the rest of the groceries, and from there to the pot – with potentially deadly results.

With the food chain getting more and more complicated, govern-ment must step in to impose some order so that no one unwittingly eats or drinks poison. It will be a huge undertaking, but it is something that needs to be done if we are to avoid the consequences.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAO

IN addition to their penchant for fudg-ing the fiscal details of the Sasa Port Modernization project, Department

of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Abaya and the rest of his team are also guilty of ignoring local realities, not to mention sensibili-ties, in drawing up the plans for this wet dream of a project.

Harping on the fact that this is the first and only PPP project in Mindanao, Abaya - with the enthusiastic endorse-ment of Mindanao Development Authori-ty Secretary Lualhati Antonino – seems to be under the impression that Davaoeños should be jumping for joy simply because the national government in Manila has deigned to bless us with its attention. An-tonino articulated it best when, while lec-turing the stakeholders on what is good for them, she said “eh di kung ayaw ninyo sa Davao, sa Gensan na lang...”

Not to sound like the ungrateful brats that these people make us to be for voic-ing our concerns, an appreciation of local know-how should be a paramount con-sideration when undertaking a project that threatens to disrupt the lives of so many people. More than the tyranny of their calculators, those who drew up the plans for this monstrosity should respect how people feel – no matter how capri-cious or illogical it may appear to them. This is even more true, as is the case in this hot mess that they insist on foisting on the people of Davao, when the sup-posed facts and figures being presented fly directly in the face of common sense.

One clear example of this conflict between the-ory and prac-tice is in the over-hyping of the sup-posed bene-fits that will be derived from the in-creased efficiency in loading and unload-ing after the Sasa Port is modernized. According to DOTC, the current rate of unloading in Sasa Port of two days will be reduced to just three hours once the new facilities are put in place. On paper it is hard to argue with such empirically advantageous data.

But if you are a Davaoeño who has passed through that one and only road in front of the Sasa pier – if you are familiar with this narrow, over-crowded stretch of highway where traffic comes to a com-plete stop at every intersection – from La-nang all the way to Panacan and beyond, then you would instinctively know that there is absolutely no way that the cur-rent road network can handle the sudden flood of container-laden trucks, which the DOTC gleefully predicts will be spew-ing sixteen-times faster than they do now.

Maybe as a way to show that they did have some foresight and anticipated this problem, they now promise to build wid-er roads to accommodate the increased traffic volume. But without explaining

where and how they will go about it, it doesn’t really add up to much of anything beyond more of the same empty words. I am particularly curious as to how they in-tend to expropriate all those private prop-erties along the highway extending north and south from the port. Huwag na po tayong magbolahan, the principle of Pub-lic Domain be dammed, there is no way in hell that the government will be able convince those thousands of Davaoeños to sell their homes and businesses for the making of a highway. And without these crucial pieces of real estate, the much bal-lyhooed increased efficiency of the new Sasa Port might as well be flushed down the toilet for all it’s going to do for the city.

And as if ignorance of the local road network wasn’t bad enough, the plan is also riddled with assumptions such as the idea that banana exports out of Sasa port will continue to be a viable option and one of the prime reason for its mod-ernization. While I am all for positive thinking, the DOTC, NEDA, MinDA, and all these other alphabet soup agencies are clearly delusional when they choose to see this particular glass as being half full, instead of what it really is – a half-empty vessel that has rapidly lost half its value because its bottom has fallen out.

The simple and irrefutable fact is that the banana plantations are in Panabo, and it will always be more efficient for plantations to ship their products as near to the source as possible. This is why, de-spite having been in operation for only a couple of years, the Davao International

Container Terminal (DICT) has already siphoned off a large chunk of the market that the Sasa port still dreams of. Worse still, this is a situation that only promises to become more acute once the Hijo In-ternational Port Services, Inc. (HIPSI) in Tagum City is completed. That the DOTC still insists on locking the barn door long after the horse has escaped illustrates a lack of imagination and the built-up iner-tia of incompetence that afflicts govern-ment institutions.

But most egregious of all their short-sightedness is the DOTC’s failure to incor-porate the clear and unequivocal clamor coming from many of Davao’s leading citizens for a berthing place for passen-ger cruise ships in any plan to modern-ize the Sasa Port. This oversight, which Secretary Abaya dumps on the lap of his colleague, Secretary Mon Jimenez of the Department of Tourism, is a clear-as-day indication of the planners’ inability to think beyond their cubicles. Making mat-ters worse, they tried to justify their de-liberate omission of the passenger berth that everyone wanted by citing the con-cerns of the shipping companies that no one welcomed.

In the end, after all is said and done, I go back to councilor Dayanghirang’s assessment that the biggest failure of Abaya, Antonino, and all those pushing for this project has little to do with their ability to explain the technical aspects of it, rather it is simply in their inability to communicate with the kind of respect that the people expect and deserve.

Sasa Port project: A billion-peso blunder (Part 2)

MUCH of what we member we sim-ply choose to forget. With time’s passage much of youthful ideal-

ism may be replaced by a more pragmatic expression, but the desire for something better, a sense to question the present, and look at a different future burn nonetheless. It is a fire stoked by this immortal line, this statement of a strong soul, character, and love. Even to those like me who have not had the honor of shaking his hand, he is an immortal figure in history, not only because of the Jaime Zobel de Ayala portrait of him, but because he presented something different from the mainstream, setting him apart from others even in his time. His example and memory is solid be-yond those who actually remember him. Such is the fate of figures in history. Lean Alejandro, young activist and advocate of new politics, has achieved such a place.

Lean will be remembered very well as the impressive young activist who led many a protest march against the Marcos dictatorship. He will also be remembered

as the alterna-tive politician who engaged popular so-ciety in his time, running for Congress under the l e f t - l e a n i n g Partido ng Bayan against then presiden-tial sister-in-law Tessie Aquino Oreta. Much of what has happened to the Philippine left today is al-ready a history of tide intermingling with the times. Back in the late 80’s few would think that, after electing Greg Andolana and Benny Garduce as Partido ng Bayan representatives to the 8th Congress in 1987, Bayan Muna, Akbayan, and a host of other party-list organizations would win several seats in the House of Representa-tives more than a decade later. Who would imagine that Satur Ocampo would make

another run for the Senate in 2010 after an initial 1987 try? This brings another set of questions: How much of a dent have these movements brought in the Philippine body politic? How have these alternative politics espoused by Lean shaped our relations be-tween and among classes, families, sexes, employer and employee, farmer, soil, and plant?

I have always held the belief that what eventually happens in greater society is a net result of reactions to movements and tides taking place outside and within. Whether key policy battles are actually won or lost, whether progressive bills ac-tually are signed into law or not, or new territories are taken or surrendered, it is the abiding belief and the changes in the belief of people in their own history and the resulting situation and destiny that matter more. To put it strongly, the consciousness that is revealed. More im-portantly, the consciousness we feel as a group of people, as an institution, because thorough change in larger society is not

the party of one person moving alone. It is a party in itself, taming the forces of reaction, embracing others to rally to the cause, and about aligning the self the greater challenge to see the change to its logical conclusion, which is ultimately the change in the relations and the kind of relationships we hold with each other as residents of a common social and physical ecosystem – a better world, in short.

Thus, to live outside the mainstream, dare to hope for better things, and decide to act on situations that present opportu-nities, and win over and encourage others, in these lay the example of Lean Alejan-dro. More than Lean the historical figure, he was the relentless player of Chess and “respectable” Boggle, passionate husband to Lidy and father to Rusan, he constant-ly challenged himself and others to think more, do more, and love more, to offer our-selves in the line of fire for a greater good. In today’s often self-engrossed Facebook and Instagram world, this is the place of honor.

Lean Alejandro: The line of fire is the place of honor

John Triaecisouth@gmail.com

MY TWO CENTS’

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 201510NEWS

KJC MEMBERS... FROM 1 Bantiding... FROM 2

Davao City... FROM 2

Convention... FROM 5

MILF... FROM 4

Comval... FROM 4

SoCot... FROM 4

CHO... FROM 2

EDGEDAVAO

Republic of the PhilippinesDepartment of Transportation

and CommunicationLAND TRANSPORTATION

FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARDRegional Office No. XI

Davao City

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate aFILCAB Ordinary Regular Service

Case No.2010-XI-00296

MARY GRACE E. GARBIN,Petitioner

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

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Conve-nience issued in this case au-thorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Ser-vice on the route: SASA VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certif-icate will expire on August 18, 2015. In the petition filed on June 26, 2015, petitioner re-quests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby giv-en that this petition will be heard by this Board on JULY 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date peti-tioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily news-paper of general circulation in Mindanao

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

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the ba-sis of its records and the doc-umentary evidence submit-ted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documenta-ry and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Re-gional Director, this 26th day of June 2015 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation

Development Officer

He said the structure will be facing the Sec. Jesse Robere-do Avenue and will anchor the new city center that would be put up in the area.

The site is several meters away from the city’s P150-mil-lion transport terminal com-plex project, which is targeted to commence before the end of the year.

The city government had secured a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines for the construction of the terminal that is due for completion in two years.

“After the completion of the terminal, we will proceed with the convention center project,” he added. (MindaN-ews)

seven were for reckless im-prudence resulting in multi-ple serious physical injuries in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 or Special Pro-tection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Dis-crimination Act; violation of RA 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013; and violation of RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Quiboloy’s name was dragged into the controversy when a white L300 van used by the suspects last Friday was found to be registered under his name.

A laminated placard bearing a statement allegedly used in approaching people was also confiscated from the group.

The placard read: “Excuse me for a while. I am a self-sup-porting student knocking to your generous hearts. Please buy my special products such as durian candy, mango candy, mangosteen candy and otap. Support my daily financial need. Thank you very much, God and Allah bless you. Dona-tion na lang po kung di bibili.”

Aldevera said Quiboloy was saddened by the inci-dent but added that he had no

knowledge that his members were moving around Mindan-ao selling durian candies.

Aldevera also said she herself does not know about the mobilization which is al-legedly being done to raise funds for scholarships.

“One of them said to the team that even before he be-came a member mao na na iyang ginabuhat (he was al-ready selling various items),” she said.

Aldevera said she has yet to confirm if the activity in Surigao del Sur was King-dom-related.

Aldevera said for the meantime, Quiboloy will ex-tend legal assistance to the members who have been de-tained.

She said the Kingdom will face the case as soon as the resolution is released.

Aldevera said the King-dom will also extend help to the victims. She said the team is now coordinating with the provincial police and provin-cial government.

“I would like to assure you... with the pastor walay ginatalikuran (he does not turn his back on anyone),” Al-devera said.

is testing the sample to see if it is fake or not.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 Deputy Region-al Director for Operations (DRDO) Senior Superinten-dent Aaron Aquino said an-other Special Investigation

Task Group (SITG) will be formed should the CHO find the sample to be fake.

For his part, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vi-cente D. Danao Jr. ordered all police station commanders

to inspect the public markets following reports of the pro-liferation of fake bihon.

The DCPO already has three affidavits on the fake bihon, one of them from the barangay captain in Calinan. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

plication since it is the con-cern of the FDA. He added, however, that the issuance of FDA permit does not take a long time.

Batinding also said as a national agency, the FDA can still regulate food manufac-turing plants.

“It does not mean that

just because an establish-ment has a business permit the FDA cannot regulate it anymore,” he said.

Bantiding said the FDA can access the record of Business Bureau for its in-spection purposes.

“We can provide them the list so that they can zero

in on the businesses that have business permits to prove that there is a busi-ness operation,” he said.

The Business Bureau closed the JJCM manufactur-ing plant on Monday morn-ing after the CHO found that the workers there have no health cards.

be too objective but said that each nominee will be assessed based on their advocacy, their story of coping up with their challenges, and their outlook in life.

There are eight nominees from all over Mindanao, in-cluding PWDs from Cotaba-to, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur. Among the nominees, Al-mario shared, was an ambush survivor who made an organi-zation for PWDs and a totally blind human resource manag-er for PWD workers online.

The nominees were cho-sen and nominated by their respective groups like the As-sociation for Differently Abled Persons (ADAP), Samahan ng May Kapansanan, and Saklay-Inc.

The search will be judged by four other individuals, two

of them are from the PWD sector, one from a religious group, and one SM represen-tative.

The event will be held in the SM Annex this July 17, 2015 beginning with an ex-hibit of the nominees’ stories at 4 PM. The program proper will also show inspiring vid-eos of their advocacy and ex-perience and will give them a chance to speak in public.

The National Disability Prevention and Rehabilita-tion week celebrates with the theme “Health and Wellness Opportunities to PWDs to-wards inclusive development for all,” spearheaded by the Department of Health and various NGOs for PWDs from all over Davao. There will also be cultural shows, edu-cational activities, and sports events.

farming practices,” he said.South Cotabato board

member Romulo Solivio ear-lier filed a proposed ordi-nance that seeks the banning of aerial spraying activities by agricultural companies in any part of the province.

The measure has re-mained pending before the committee level.

A group of residents in Surallah town and the neigh-boring areas had been pro-testing the aerial spraying ac-tivities of Sumifru in several barangays in the area.

On Monday, the group re-sumed their protest actions, which started last year, by barricading anew the Sural-lah airport and preventing Sumifru’s spray plane from

taking off.The company, which op-

erates banana plantations in Surallah and T’boli towns, had been using the airport as base of its aerial spraying operations.

Omar Azarcon, coordi-nator of the protest action, said they launched the mobi-lization to pressure local gov-ernment leaders to decisively put a stop to the aerial spray-ing activities of Sumifru.

He claimed that they have documented three deaths and numerous cases of var-ious illnesses that were di-rectly caused by the aerial spraying activities.

Azarcon said the three fatalities came from commu-nities situated near the ba-

nana plantations of Sumifru in T’boli town.

He said they found a sig-nificant number of residents who have been suffering from various illnesses like asthma and contact dermatitis in the affected communities.

Surallah Mayor Antonio Bendita confirmed the pro-test actions at the airport and noted that local government could not stop it as the facil-ity is under the jurisdiction and control of the Civil Avi-ation Authority of the Philip-pines.

The mayor said he ad-vised the company to just file the necessary charges in case of damages caused by the protests on its operations.(PNA)

of the communities such as electricity, water supply sys-tem, minor infrastructure and quick gestation livelihood projects.

“These efforts should con-tinue because we are all Fili-pinos and we should provide assistance to those who need help,” Bacani said.

The three-day workshop was facilitated by Roberto “Roy” Tordecilla, World Bank Senior Expert and Engr. Nass-er Sinarimbo. (PNA)

Region said that the higher ground must be the place of refuge in the event of a tsuna-mi.

He also said that the trig-ger of tsunami for the region

is the Philippine Fault situated off the coast of Governor Gen-eroso in Davao Oriental and none within the Davao Gulf area. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Da-lumpines)

A vendor sifts ash and charcoal made from wood and coconut shell at a shop in Bangkerohan Market, Davao City on July 12, 2015. Charcoal from coconut shells costs 23 pesos a kilo. MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 11

LINE agencies under the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage-

ment Council (RDRRMC) 11 joined hands in planting narra trees at the bank of the Davao River as part of the commemo-ration of July as National Disas-ter Consciousness Month.

Rebecca Lopez, acting re-gional director of the Office of Civil Defense 11, said the activ-ity will provide clean air and shade for future generations.

“Tree growing is a move to mitigate the impact of global warming,” she said.

The planting of narra trees was done one hundred me-ters away from the bank of the Davao River in Barangay Tigat-to, Buhangin, which is part of the flood plain.

Lopez said the barangay government of Tigatto will en-sure that the narra trees grow.

“We are planting the specie of the national tree, narra, to

ensure that it will be protected by national laws,” she said.

The activity was partic-ipated in by line agencies in Davao Region like the Depart-ment of Trade and Industry, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fire Protection, Phil-ippine National Police 11, Na-tional Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, and Task Force Davao.

Louel Quijano of the City

Environment and Natural Re-sources said narra is suitable for the riverbank and might serve as a flood control mecha-nism like the species malibago and bamboo.

He recalled that Tigatto, the haven for many subdivi-sions, was hit by a strong flood in 2013.

Quijano said the narra trees will be of great help to control the flood. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

A CITY council member here is pushing for the

creation and convening of the city’s own nutri-tion council in a bid to enhance the city govern-ment’s nutrition-related initiatives.

City Councilor Rosa-lita Nunez, chair of the council’s health and san-itation committee, filed a proposed ordinance on Tuesday that seeks the establishment of the city’s nutrition council and the enactment of var-ious policies concerning the local government’s nutrition programs.

She said the move is anchored on the provi-sions of Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution, which states that “the state shall protect and promote the rights to health of the people and instil health conscious-ness among them.”

Nunez said Presiden-tial Decree 491 or the Nu-trition Act of the Philip-pines also provides that promoting proper nutri-tion should be a govern-ment priority and related programs should imple-mented by all branches of the government in an integrated fashion.

Citing local studies, Nunez said malnutri-tion has already affected thousands of residents and if not prevented will likely affect their mental

and physical develop-ment and weaken their resistance to infections.

She said the studies indicate that infants and young children, pregnant women as well as nursing mothers are considered as the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

The problem could eventually result to un-necessary loss of lives, especially among infants and children, she said.

“To heighten the city’s campaign against malnu-trition, there is a need for the city government to es-tablish a nutrition coun-cil in order to achieve nu-tritionally-improved city whose constituents are well-nourished, healthy, intelligent, socially, eco-nomically and politically productive,” she said.

The nutrition council will be headed by the city mayor as honorary chair and assisted officials of various city government offices.

The council is man-dated to designate a nu-trition action officer who will initiates the conduct of its meetings and lead crafting of the nutrition action plan.

The action officer will also coordinates the implementation of the nutrition action plan and conduct periodic visits to barangays to assess the implementation of the programs. (PNA)

NEW TEACHERS. UP Mindanao alumni convene as licensed teachers on July 9, 2015 at the oath-taking for passers of the March 2015 Licensure Exam for Teachers held at the USEP Gym, Davao City. In photo are (from left) UP Mindanao Vice Chancellor Antonio Obsioma (faculty, Deparment of Biological Science and Environmental Studies), April Mae A. Ydel (BA

Anthropology 2010), LET 7th-placer Arturo S. Ballesteros III (BS Biology 2009), Joy Reginaldo-Risonar (BA Communication Arts 2003), Marianne C. Seras (BA Communication Arts 2013), and Rae Katherine V. Duran (BA Communication Arts 2006). 

A MULTI-SECTORAL climate group led by energy and gas tech-

nology leader Shell, in part-nership with Manila Obser-vatory and Smart Commu-nications, unveiled the first automated weather station (AWS) in Mindanao recently.

The new AWS will pro-vide real-time weather data that can help enhance the lo-

cal government’s situational awareness and disaster-risk preparedness in the area es-pecially during typhoons.

Leading the unveiling ceremony at the Shell retail station located in South-bound diversion road in Davao were Manila Observa-tory executive director An-tonia Yulo-Loyzaga (fourth from left), Shell Philippines

vice president for communi-cations Ramon Del Rosario (right), and Shell Philippines president and chairman Ed-gar Chua (fifth from left).

Joining them during the event were (from left) Shell dealer William Noel, Manila Observatory science direc-tor Fr. Daniel McNamara, Davao City councilors Leo Avila III and Marissa Abel-

la; Smart Communications senior supervisor Engr. Rommel Robillos, Central 911 head Emmanuel Jaldon, and Roy Rigor of the City Planning and Development Office.

The initiative forms part of the oil company’s Shell Powering Progress Together (PPT) advocacy for climate resilience.

EDGEDAVAO

COMMUNITY SENSE

Climate group boosts Mindanao LGUs’ disaster-preparedness

RDRRMC agencies planttrees along Davao River

GSC dad pushes creationof city nutrition council

THE University of Mindanao recently partnered with the

Regional Health Office of the Philippine National Police 11 to provide re-search materials and re-sources in continuing its dedication to community service.

Held at the main cam-pus in Bolton Street, the signing of the memoran-dum of agreement last July 3 between Dr. Guiller-mo P. Torres Jr. and Senior Superintendent Eddie Ferras Langcauon marked the pact for the school’s Research and Publication Center to provide a data-base software to improve the medical and dental re-cords of the personnel of the PNP 11 health office.

The Research and Publication Center will

also provide management software for PNP 11’s re-cords and will develop studies and research that will contribute to the im-provement of the deliv-ery of services of the PNP health office to its com-munities.

The MOA stipulates that the two agencies will also partner in fu-ture community service endeavors such as health caravans.

The PNP regional health office will serve as the school’s partner in providing career path talks, orientation, and seminars to the students of the university’s College of Criminology Education.

The partnership be-tween the two institutions is stipulated from April 2015 to April 2020.

UM partners withPNP 11 Health Office

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 201512 CLASSIFIED EDGEDAVAO

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Price: 100.00

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 13EDGEDAVAO NEWS

AS Filipino Muslims prepare for the cel-ebration of Eid’l Fitr,

the feast marking the end of Ramadan, and a holiday, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Ro-salinda Dimapilis-Baldoz is reminding employers to observe and comply with the pay rules on the said holiday which will be on Friday, July 17, 2015.

The following pay rules shall apply for this regular holiday:

1. If the employee did not work, he or she shall be paid 100 percent of his or her salary for that day -- (Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 100 percent;

2. For work done during the regular holiday, the employee shall be paid 200 percent of his or her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours -- (Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance x 200 percent;

3. For work done in ex-

cess of eight hours (over-time work), he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day -- (Hour-ly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked;

4. For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his her daily rate of 200 per-cent -- (Daily Rate + Cost

of Living Allowance) x 200 percent + 30 percent (Daily Rate x 200 percent); and

5. For work done in ex-cess of eight hours (over-time work) during a holi-day that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day -- hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 per-cent x 130 percent x num-ber of hours worked.

“Proper observance of the pay rules on regu-lar holidays and special non-working days will lead to more productive and competent employees. Voluntary compliance with labor laws, including the payment of correct wages, is good business practice. It is good for the workers and it is good for the employ-ers,” Baldoz said.

Eid’l Fitr is a regular holiday declared by Presi-dent Benigno S. Aquino III

under Proclamation No. 1070 which he signed on 6 July.

“Eid’l Fitr was declared a regular holiday because of its religious and cultur-al significance to the Mus-lims,” Baldoz observed.

Republic Act 9177 mandates the government to declare Eid’l Fitr a na-tional holiday, celebrated by the Muslim world for three days after the end of Ramadan, a month of fast-ing. (ONA)

DOLE issues pay rules for Eid’l Fitr

IN line with govern-ment efforts to de-feat insurgency and

lawlessness in the coun-tryside, newly-appoint-ed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri has ordered all unit commanders to make live difficult for all threat groups.

“Win the peace, se-cure the peace and make their areas of responsi-bility inhospitable to all the threat groups with utmost respect to human rights. That was my order

to our commanders,” he added.

Iriberri also stressed that this order covers the New People’s Army, Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

During the change-of-command ceremonies Fri-day, the newly-appointed AFP chief stressed that winning the peace is one of his priorities.

Iriberri said that the gains made must be preserved and even ex-panded, adding that in the last seven years, 58

conflict-affected prov-inces have been declared either as insurgency-free or peaceful and ready for further development.

“From Siquijor in De-cember 2008 to Negros Occidental just last June 2015, peace has been won with the cooperation, col-laboration and combined strength of the AFP and our civilian partners and stakeholders,” he stated.

Iriberri hopes that be-fore the end of 2015 and even beyond 2016, more provinces will join this number. (PNA)

Make life difficult for all threat groups: Iriberri

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 20151414 EDGEDAVAO

COMPETITIVE EDGE

ALMOST half of the en-tire Philippine popu-lation is actively using

Facebook, with more and more of them using mobile phones to access the popular social networking site.

Citing official Facebook data as of March 2015, Globe Telecom said the number of monthly active users on Facebook in the Philippines has reached 43 million. This represents a 23 percent growth when compared to March 2014.

“On the same period, mobile monthly active us-ers reached 35 million, a 35 percent growth compared in the previous year. Daily active users hit 23 million, a 28 percent growth year-on-year. Finally, mobile daily ac-tive users in the Philippines reached 18 million, a 50 per-cent growth when compared

to March 2014,” Globe said in a statement.

With this in mind, the telco said it is reinforcing its drive to boost internet pen-etration in the Philippines by introducing more ways to get Filipinos connected to Facebook with the launch of a complete suite of access to the social networking site without data charges.

Globe said it is offering its customers Facebook with free data with a new in-app feature that allows custom-ers to choose the type of Facebook access, Free Face-book for 7 Days for TM cus-tomers, and Free Facebook with a GoSURF subscription.

“We are thrilled to con-nect more Filipino users to their favorite social net-working site and drive the country’s positioning as the Digital Lifestyle Capital of

the World,” Dan Horan, Se-nior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe, said.

“As more customers are embracing the digital life-style, we want to provide Fil-ipinos more ways to access Facebook with free data and connect them to the rest of the world,” he added.

Facebook with free dataFacebook with free data

is a zero-rated, lightweight version of Facebook with limited access to photos and videos. Developed for people who are conscious of spend-ing their mobile data, Face-book with free data will give customers more control over their data usage.

To use Facebook with free data, Globe customers will download and launch the latest version of Face-book for Android. They can

Almost half of Pinoys are active FB users35M access FB on mobile devicesBy JON JOAQUIN

jon@edgedavao.net

A MONTH after the very first training in Davao City, the second and last

batch of the security teams from Seda Abreeza and Seda Centrio underwent and com-pleted the three-day training for the designation “Certified Lodging Security Officers” or CLSO.

This was held on June 8 to

10, 2015 at Seda Abreeza.The participants were

composed of six Seda Centrio security staff members and nine Seda Abreeza security staff members. The entire se-curity team from Seda Abreeza has thus all finished the train-ing.

As in the previous mod-ules, the three-day training ex-

posed the team to the principle of security in the hospitality industry. This targets to differ-entiate the kind of security ser-vice rendered normally, zoning out from basic safety and pro-tection duties into becoming cooperative, guest-oriented, and well-mannered entities.

This way, Seda Abreeza and its guests are guaranteed

a nonviolent and protected establishment as well as pro-ficient security workforces, which is a big consideration when clients book hotels.

The security teams were taught focused and case-to-case responses and coordina-tion on crises, disasters, and other emergencies that may occur specifically on a hotel

Second batch of Seda Abreeza security finishes CLSO training

Seda security team members take the certification exams

also visit www.facebook.com in a browser on their mobile. They will then be prompted to opt in or out of Facebook with free data. If they opt out, they will automatically be directed to the full version of Facebook and charged their regular data rate. Those who opt in can begin browsing

Facebook for free.People using Facebook

with free data will also get a data control button at the top of Facebook which lets them easily switch between the free and the full versions of Facebook at any time. This button clearly indicates which version of Facebook the customer is currently us-

ing, and can be dismissed so as not to disturb browsing.

When a customer clicks a photo within Facebook, an external link, or any con-tent that leads outside the Facebook app, they will be notified that they are leav-ing Facebook with free data and will be charged for data usage.

setup.The training also aimed

to modify the relationship be-tween guests and security staff into a more engaging and in-teractive approach.

The CLSO training is un-der Asia World Hospitality, American Hotel & Lodging Ed-ucational Institute’s (AHLEI) partner, and is the lodging in-dustry’s top salutation of pro-ficiency for security officers in the hospitality business.

Seda Hotels is the first to have its security staff be trained and certified in the country, and this is the fourth batch since the program start-ed.

Seda BGC in Taguig and Seda Nuvali in Laguna have also completed the CLSO train-

ing.The Managing Director of

Ace And Associates Risk Man-agement, Inc., Augustus Caesar “Ace” Esmeralda, CPP, ICPS, CLSO, (AAA)from Asia World Hospitality, facilitated the en-tire training course.

The training commences with a certification examina-tion. Results of the examina-tion shall be announced within the month together with the first batch of takers, according to AHLEI.

Seda had previously un-dergone training with AHLEI in the form of the Guest Ser-vice Gold and certified its employees as “Certified Gold Service Professionals” or CGSP – also the first among the hotel brands in the country. AHLEI facilitators with 2nd batch of CLSO trainees from Seda Abreeza Security teams of Seda Abreeza and Seda Centrio

Mr. Ace Esmeralda during the CLSO training

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 15SPORTSEDGEDAVAO

THERE was no escaping Jordan Spieth

even before he ar-rived Monday at St. Andrews to resume his pursuit of the

Grand Slam.Behind the practice

range, one British televi-sion network talked to

any player willing to stop. After a few gra-

tuitous questions about the weather (cool and cloudy) and the Old Course (magnif-icent shape), the reporter got to the point.

What about Spieth’s chanc-es?

“The odds are against him,” said Soren Kjeld-sen, relying en-tirely on history.

Spieth is only the fourth play-er since 1960, the year Arnold Palmer proposed the concept of the

modern Grand Slam in golf, to win

the first two majors

of the year. The first three were stopped at the British Open.

Palmer and Jack Nicklaus (1972) finished one shot be-hind. Tiger Woods was in good position in 2002 until he was blown away by the wind and rain at Muirfield and shot 81 in the third round.

Spieth only added to the hype by winning the John Deere Classic in a playoff Sunday for his fourth win of the year.

He flew on a charter flight from Illinois with other players at the John Deere Classic, ar-riving in Scotland about 10:30 a.m. and checking into his house before coming out to the Old Course to a quiet reception.

In need of a shave — he’s 21, but yes, he shaves — Spieth and his manager walked through a group of about 100 fans who camped out near the entrance to the player lounge to get his auto-graph. Spieth signed everything shoved his way, turned and toss-ing the last item to a delighted young British boy.

The jet lag apparently wasn’t an issue Monday. Spieth planned to hit balls and play nine holes if he felt up to it. He wound up going 18 holes, and the fans who hung around into the evening were in for a rare treat — Spieth playing, with

Woods right behind him. Woods used to tee off before breakfast, but waited until afternoon when most of the drizzling weather cleared out.

They chatted briefly on the 16th green, and Spieth had some fun on the Road Hole at No. 17. He hit three shots out of the fa-mous bunker, all of them onto the green. Then he headed to-ward the stone wall behind the road and asked a few fans still left, “Can you play it off the wall?”

“I didn’t come here to play boring golf,” Spieth said.

He tried it four times, and didn’t reach the green with any of them.

What makes Spieth differ-ent from other players in pursuit of the Grand Slam — or even Rory McIlroy, who won the last two majors a year ago, is that he does not overpower golf cours-es.

He just scores. And he wins. And that’s what golf is all about, anyway.

“He beats you with bet-ter golf,” Geoff Ogilvy said. “He doesn’t beat you because he hits it further. Tiger’s intimidation was that he always did some-thing amazing. Jordan — don’t get me wrong, his body of work is amazing — but he doesn’t beat you with a crazy par, or a

crazy chip-in from the back of the 14th at Muirfield (Village). He just beats you because he’s better.”

Ogilvy was asked how he would feel going into the final round two shots behind Spieth compared with going against Woods or McIlroy.

“It would be different. It shouldn’t be,” he said. “There’s more of an intimidation factor to Rory because he’s going to hit it 30 (yards) past you all day, and it appears like he’s better than you. Jordan doesn’t appear like he’s better than you. But his body of work proves that he’s better than everybody — well, maybe everybody but Rory.”

That now is in reach.With his victory at the John

Deere, Spieth is within range of his goal of reaching No. 1 in the world. He would have to win The Open this week to get past McIlroy, who is out with an ankle injury with no clear indication when he will be able to return.

“What he’s doing is phe-nomenal,” Nick Faldo said. “And he’s confident. ... He’s seeing the right shot, he’s visualizing the shot. ... And he keeps churning out good shots. When you’re do-ing that, you just jump back on the saddle and ride again. That’s what he’s doing.”

SPOTLIGHT ON SPIETH

BOBBY Ray Parks said he has not made any decision on the PBA Rookie Draft, add-

ing his entire focus is on his stint with the Dallas Mavericks in the Summer League and his dream of making it to the NBA.

Parks said he has no plans yet beyond the Summer League, where he has played two games for the Dallas Mavericks and will be playing his third on Wednes-day (Manila time) against the Washington Wizards.

The PBA Draft which will be held on August 23.

“Wala pa naman akong plano after Summer League. Mostly fo-cused lang ako each day kasi hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangya-yari. Kailangan ready lang ako,” said the 22-year-old Parks during a conference call with different Philippine media outlets on Tues-day.

The 6-foot-4 Parks is one of

the most sought-after players in the pro league and is projected to be in the top three in the coming PBA Draft following an amateur career that saw him win two UAAP MVP trophies and one PBA D-League Conference MVP honor.

[See Uichico on possibility of Parks joining PBA draft: ‘Mapapa-isip ka rin’]

However, it remains to be seen whether he will make him-self available for the PBA draft.

Parks, however, made it clear he is not ruling out anything, say-ing he has not given the PBA Draft a lot of thought only because he is focused on the task at hand, which is the NBA Summer League.

“I’m not ruling out anything. I always keep my options open. If you asked me if I thought have about putting my name in it (PBA draft), I haven’t. Kasi, like I said, I’m taking it day-by-day. Eto ‘yung focus ko,” Parks said.

You have to start from scratch: ParksBOBBY Ray Parks said he is

not at all disappointed with the limited playing time he

is getting from the Dallas Maver-icks in the NBA Summer League, adding he remains happy to be given the opportunity to chase his NBA dream.

Parks has played sparingly in his two games with the Maver-icks in the NBA Summer League, playing less than three minutes in his debut against the New Or-leans Pelicans and registering his first point and rebound in a sev-en-minute, 45-second appearance against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Still, Parks is not about to complain, saying he is grateful to Dallas Summer League head coach Kaleb Canales for the op-portunity. At the end of the day, it’s the call of the coach, he added.

“Nasa coach naman ‘yun kung ‘yun ang opportunity na ibibigay sa akin,” said Parks in a conference call with Filipino reporters on Tuesday. “It’s a privilege.”

Parks has slowly gained at-tention in his stint with the Mav-ericks, labelled by the Mavs Mon-eyball website as the ‘mystery man’ in the Summer League team. Dallas team owner Mark Cuban has also noticed Parks and said he needs to improve and show that he belongs.

Parks said playing in limited action is part of the process of try-ing to make it to the NBA since he is practically starting from scratch.

“Stepping stone ito, process na makapasok sa NBA na hindi basta-basta. Hindi naman ako su-perstar na lottery pick. Pagpunta ko sa States, humble beginnings na nagsisimula ako sa wala,” said Parks.

Parks said just having to play in the NBA Summer League is a huge opportunity i itself to to show his wares.

“’Yung opportunity, malaki na ‘yun. Sana maka-gain ako ng expe-rience. Dapat maging patient,” said Parks. (spin.ph)

CHASING A DREAM. Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (9) of the Philippines, playing for Dallas in the NBA Summer League, guards Portland’s Seth Curry (12), brother of NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Photo from the Twitter account of Mo Twister.

Parks may consider PBA Draft

VOL. 8 ISSUE 74 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 201516 EDGEDAVAOSports

TRIGGERMAN Bong Go proved what he’s worth for the City Mayors Of-

fice in any level of competition is beyond doubt.

The sweet-shooting guard hit a far-off triple in the final stretch to carry the City May-ors Office to unprecedented, 80 – 77, victory over Goldstar Hardware in the Apollo C. Quiboloy Cup Commercial B League at the Davao City Rec-reation Center on Sunday.

Go dribbled away from his fearsome defender to cre-ate a little space and snap a

near-impossible 26-footer three pointer that gave the City Hall dribblers a 77 – 73 go ahead lead with 1:17 left in the epic contest.

The spectacular basket from the rainbow area shut everything down for Goldstar and sealed the second victory of the underdog CMO which now occupies the top spot of the standing.

“It was a miracle shot that delivered the unexpected win,” said Go, who shot a total of nine triples all the way to 30 points performance.

Michael Walingan provid-ed the necessary scoring help off the bench with 16 points and the rest lend their hand in defending the much seasoned and well talented Goldstar team.

John Sotto and Justin Ca-chuela, who once played for the Duterte Agilas Commercial A team before, paced Goldstar with 14 and 13 baskets re-spectively.

Goldstar also drew im-pressive showing from veter-an Commercial A campaigner Juneil Jawod, former UAAP

standout Eric Cabigas and erstwhile NCAA playmaker Mark Cagoco who had a com-bined 27 points.

The game was close right from the opening tip-off as CMO and Goldstar showed te-nacity in both ends of the floor marked with key trade rallies and pivotal defensive stops.

Neither teams pulled away and battled toe to toe de-spite Goldstar’s advantage in the roster it paraded.

With its reputation as one of the respectable ball clubs in the region through the years,

Goldstar was touted favorite entering the match.

It was the sec-ond win for the CMO after best-ing the youthful Viva Machin-ery, 95 – 73, on Friday behind the hot-shoot-ing of Go and Glenn Escan-dor. (Rico Bil-iran)

HAILMARY SHOTGo’s improbable shot frustrates powerhouse Goldstar

Talk ‘N Text earns No.1 pick in 2015 PBA Rookie DraftTHE Talk ‘N Text Tropang

Texters hit the jackpot after earning the top

overall selection in the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft in August.

The draft pick was orig-inally owned by Blackwater Elite but the expansion squad traded it to Talk ‘N Text in a deal involving Larry Rodriguez earlier this season.

As the Elite finished with

the worst record among teams, the pick turned out to be the top selection, giving Talk ‘N Text the chance to select first.

Expansion squad Kia will pick second, followed by Rain or Shine at third, Meralco at fourth, Ginebra at fifth and NLEX at sixth.

Completing the first round are Meralco again which will be selecting at seventh, Black-

water, which swapped picks with Talk ‘N Text, at eighth, Star at ninth, NLEX at 10th, Alaska at 11th and Rain or Shine again at 12th.

San Miguel, GlobalPort and Barako Bull don’t have any picks in the upcoming draft slated on August 23.

Filipino-Tongan big man Moala Tautuaa has been tipped as a favorite to be the

No.1 pick, but Gilas cadet member and former National University standout Troy Rosario is also in the mix.

Some of the best prospects also include reign-ing NCAA MVP Scottie Thomp-son of Perpetual Help, Baser Amer of San Beda, Almond Vo-sotros and Norbert of La Salle, among others.

GAME WINNER. Bong Go of CMO sank

a long trey to lift his team

past Goldstar. Lean Daval Jr.