Edge Davao 8 Issue 61

P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015

RODY SAYS HE CAN’T REFUSE

Will Bobby Parks Jr. be drafted in the NBA today?

INSIDE EDGE

DCCCII: Stop port bidding3 drown, 800 displaced in SC, S. Kudarat floods P5

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO [email protected]

P2

Mayor Duterte reveals TV sorties meant to explain why he is not running

Sports 15

DAVAO City Mayor Ro-drigo R. Duterte just can’t let people down.

After a string of television guesitngs put him on the ra-dar of the presidential race, Mayor Duterte clarified that the TV rounds in major Philip-pine networks on Wednesday

were intended to explain why he will not run for President in 2016.

In his appearance in the show news.ph in CNN Phil-ippines on Wednesday night, host Pia Hontiveros asked Duterte if he grants “left and right” interviews just to ex-

plain his side.“Yes... kasi mahiya naman

ako magtanggi (Yes... because I can’t keep saying no),” Dute-rte quickly responded to Hon-tiveros’ question.

On Wednesday, Duterte was in three primetime news programs on national televi-

sion. He started his day at Um-agang Kay Ganda over ABS-CBN and was interviewed by hard-hitting anchor Antho-ny Taberna, Headstart with Karen Davila at ANC hosted by Nancy Irlanda, and late Wednesday night at CNN Phil-

EDGE Serving a seamless society

DAVAOONE ON ONE. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte goes one on one with CNN Philippines’ television host Pia Hontiveros on Wednesday night. Duterte explained his television sorties are meant to explain to his supporters that he is not interested in the presidency. FB photo by Roldan Gorgonio

FRODY, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 20152 EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

THE Davao City Demo-lition Unit is strength-ening its demolition

operations in the sidewalks of the city – doing it even on Sundays and holidays.

Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum, Dem-olition Unit head Yusop Jimlani said his group will demolish sidewalk stores vi-olating the “one-third, two-third” policy in which ven-dors are allowed to occupy only a third of the sidewalk.

Jimlani said his unit de-

molished stalls at the Agdao Public Market last Sunday. He said the vendors had been warned to vacate the area on Friday and Saturday but they did not heed this, prompting the Demolition Unit to operate on Sunday.

“The vendors went to my office asking me why my group was operating even on Sundays and I answered them that we are really op-erating 24 hours (a day),” he said.

He said his demolition

team first informs the ven-dors that their stalls would be demolished. No time is given on the operation, however,

Jimlani said the unit’s operations increased this year. As of May this year, the unit has an average of 75.8 operations per month.

Last year the unit had an average of only 23.83 opera-tions a month.

Jimlani said even with the intensive operations, there are still vendors who

do not follow the rule.“We have a problem with

the behavior of our brothers and sisters,” he said.

Jimlani said there are still many vendors in Bank-erohan despite the frequent operations of the demoli-tion unit there.

He said Bankerohan is considered a danger-ous area for his team since some of the members have been attacked with stones and one was even shot and killed.

APO Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (APO Agua), devel-oper of the P10-billion

Davao City Bulk Water Supply, was asked to present the proj-ect proposal before the Davao City Watershed Management Council during the celebration of Eco-Fest Davao.

The Eco-Fest Davao start-ed yesterday and will have series of events and activities like summits and forums. The event will culminate on June 30.

Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) executive director Mary Ann Fuertes

said the firm should present the project before the Water-shed Management Council because it will be needing its endorsement.

Fuertes’ statement echoed that of City Council majority floor leader Bernard Al-ag’s, who earlier this week said APO

Agua needs to explain the proj-ect further to the City Council.

APO Agua, a joint venture of Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) and JV Angeles Con-struction Corporation (JVACC), has signed an agreement with the Davao City Water District

THREE people have died while around 800 resi-dents were displaced in

parts of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces as flashfloods and landslides hit the area early Wednesday.

Reports from local Di-saster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) offices said the floods and landslides occurred following the almost non-stop heavy to moderate rains that started on Tuesday evening.

In South Cotabato, severe flooding were reported in the municipalities of Banga, Nora-la, Tantangan, Tupi and Koro-nadal City due to the swelling of several rivers and tributar-ies.

Landslides were also re-ported in Barangays Bunao

and Lunen in Tupi after a por-tion of a mountain collapsed at the height of heavy rains early Wednesday.

Ira Aguinaldo, staff mem-ber of the Tupi Municipal DRRM Office (MDRRMO), said three casualties were reported in the landslide that hit a por-tion of Purok Tinago, Sitio Ak-maon in Barangay Bunao.

Two of the casualties were identified as couple Nonoy and Monita Ga, who were both 74 years old.

“Our search and rescue team is currently in the area to retrieve the bodies of the casu-alties and assess the situation there,” she told MindaNews in a telephone interview.

Aguinaldo said flashfloods were also recorded in three

WORLD FOOD EXPO. City Tourism Office head Lisette Marques (third from left), Davao Tourism Associa-tion (DATA) president Sally San Jose (fourth from left), Davao Regional Tourism Council (DRTC) head Mary Ann Monte-mayor (leftmost), Consul General Abdullah Zawawi Tahir (center) of Malaysia, Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 chief

tourism operations officer Eden Josephine L. David (rightmost), and other officials cut the ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of the World Food Expo (WOFEX) at SMX Convention Center yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Unit strengthens actionagainst street vendorsBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

[email protected]

Watershed Council also wantsdetails on bulk water project

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

3 drown, 800 displaced in SC, S. Kudarat floods

WHATTHE?

#YESTERDAY, our headline

read “RODY’S REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY.” Just what

reverse psychology means?Reverse psychology: a per-

suasion technique involving the false advocacy of a belief or be-havior contrary to the belief or behavior which is actually being advocated. This technique relies on the psychological phenome-non of reactance, in which a person has a negative emotion-al response in reaction to being persuaded, and thus chooses the option which is being advo-cated against.

F3 DROWN, 10

FWATERSHED, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015 3EDGEDAVAO

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEYPhotos by LEAN DAVAL JR.

THE hotel industry in Davao City rises to a whole new level with the Dusit Thani Residences and

Hotel, the first-ever luxury hotel in this part of the country.

To be developed by Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation in partner-ship with the Asian hospitality brand Dusit International, Dusit Thani Resi-dences and Hotel is a luxury residential hub that is poised to become a spec-tacular landmark right at the heart of downtown Davao.

“This is the first-ever luxury hotel in Davao City. We are aiming to deliv-er world-class standard and services,” says Andrew David Sparrow, project head of the Blue Development Corpo-ration.

Dusit Thani Residences and Hotel features 168 full-serviced residence units and stands in a complex that of-fers owners and guests prime city and ocean views as it is just facing the Is-land Garden City of Samal (Igacos).

Guests and homeowners of Dusit Thani will enjoy superior lifestyle ame-nities such as spa and wellness center, swimming pool, specialty restaurants, business centers, meeting rooms and conference facilities, among others.

Sparrow said top international chefs and luxury experts of the Phil-ippines will be hired to provide great food to owners and guests, including the delectable Thai cuisine.

“We will put up a restaurant buffet that offers several Asian cuisine and also Eastern and Western cuisine. The main thing that describe us, we offer personalized service,” Sparrow said.

“There will be lots of amenities that will enable the customer to experience world-class services,” he added.

The developer started construct-ing Dusit Thani Hotel and Residences in the last quarter of last year, with

workers already completing the bored piling. The residential project is due for opening in 2018.

Dusit Thani Hotel Residences and Hotel along Maryknoll Drive in Baran-gay Pampanga, Sasa District is a res-idential project that will rise at Siam 8000, Torre Lorenzo’s master planned luxury residential community.

Siam 8000 will emerge to expand the development portfolio of Torre Lo-renzo and mark the beginning of a new era for luxury living in the city.

Aside from Dusit Thani Residences and Hotel, Torre Lorenzo is also devel-oping the Lubi Plantation Resort. These projects will cater to the discriminating tastes of local and international travel-lers who want to experience Davao’s rare kind of hospitality.

The company views the proper-ties as solid opportunities to realty investors, citing the current sustained growth in the Philippine property sec-tor. The Board of Investments (BOI) recently reported that P17.4 billion worth of investments are expected in 2015 for the Davao Region, mostly in real estate development and agricul-ture.

“With an array of benefits for dif-ferent levels of investment, Davao of-fers the best value in terms of doing business,” Torre Lorenzo president Tomas P. Lorenzo said. “As the Davao economy picks up, its property sector will strengthen and we will continue to grow in upward trajectory. Now is the best time to capitalize on its real estate market given such favorable condi-tions.”

Lorenzo said that they are also anticipating the recreational needs of a growing affluent and sophisticated market. “Torre Lorenzo’s first leisure community, Lubi Plantation Resort, will provide that one-of-a-kind adven-

This is the first-

ever luxury hotel

in Davao City.

We are aiming

to deliver world-

class standard and

services

ture and experience.”The Lubi Plantation Resort,

easily accessible by a 30-minute private speedboat transfer, is a 37-hectare island paradise that will offer unparalleled accommo-dations and amenities of a private membership club.

Torre Lorenzo’s confidence in Davao as a property investment haven is well-founded. Davao is among the highest economic con-tributors in the Philippines, and it also takes pride in being ranked as among the world’s safest cities.

According to Lorenzo, Torre Lorenzo’s goal is to initially start with Dusit Thani Residences, dusitD2 Hotel and Lubi Plantation Resort, then eventually embark on more development projects in the long run.

“We believe that the local au-dience will be excited for this kind of development projects in Davao, putting the region in the interna-tional traveler’s map and making it their first destination of choice,” Lorenzo said.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 20154 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

THE Commission on Elec-tions (Comelec) may face legal problems and

public anger if millions of reg-istered voters will be barred from voting in the 2016 elec-tions.

Senator Ferdinand “Bong-bong” R. Marcos Jr. predicted trouble for the Comelec, which is persuading over 4 million registered voters to have their biometrics taken as a require-ment for voting in the 2016 election.

“Imagine, more than 4 mil-lion will be disqualified from voting in the 2016 presidential and local elections because of the lack of biometrics? This

invites trouble. How will the Comelec be able to convince the people that this is right? I hope the people will not get mad. But I’m afraid they sure-ly will,” Marcos said in a state-ment.

Biometrics data, which includes a voter’s photograph, fingerprint and signature, is mandated by the Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013 as a requisite for voting.

The poll body has started sending letters to encourage registered voters to have their biometrics taken, under threat of being delisted from the vot-ers’ roster.

“We all know how pas-

sionate the Filipinos are about the elections. I wouldn’t be surprised if those who would be disqualified from voting will give the Comelec nightmares like cases in courts or social actions,” Marcos said.

Marcos echoed the Comelec’s appeal for the elec-torate to have their biometrics taken and even urged local government units to boost the poll body’s effort.

“I think local officials can help a lot because their constit-uents look up to them. Kapag sinabi nila sa kanilang nasa-sakupan na magpa-biometrics kayo, palagay ko susunod sila,” he said.

PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III said on Thursday he will answer

“point-by-point” the criticisms hurled against his administra-tion by Vice President Jejomar Binay, who resigned from the Cabinet last Monday.

”Well, sasagutin ko at sa-sagutin ng Gabinete point-by-point lahat itong mga isinum-bat niya kahapon,” the Presi-dent said in a media interview after the opening rites of the Livestock Philippines 2015 Expo and Conference at the SMS Convention Center in Pa-say City.

”Pero palagay ko ‘yung re-cord will support my case na number one, hinalal siya ng ta-umbayan, ibinigay ko sa kanya ang lahat ng pagkakataon na hindi siya maging spare tire,” he added.

The President deplored how Binay, a family friend, openly attacked his adminis-tration after being treated well

for the last five years as his Cabinet member.

”At siguro kung tatanungin mo, ano ang pakiramdam ko? Pangkaraniwan naman siguro sa Pilipino, kayo na lumagay sa posisyon ko, paano ko ba siya tinirato ng mali at tapos ito ang isinukli? Kaya thank you na rin sa kanya,” President Aquino said.

President Aquino said he never denied Binay the oppor-tunity to serve the people who voted the latter as vice presi-dent in 2010.

”Iyong pinagkasunduan namin, iyung assignment niya na housing, hinirit niyang idagdag ‘yung OFW, at lahat ito ‘yung ipinagkaloob natin sa kanya, ‘yung pagkakataon na manatili ‘yung kanyang pop-ularity ratings,” the President said.

”Bagama’t hindi natin siya kaalyado ‘nung tumakbo sa eleksyon, bagama’t ‘nung 2013 e nandun siya sa kabilang gru-

po, hindi natin siya parang pinigilan na ‘yung magkaroon naman ng pagkakataon na marecognize ‘yung kanyang trabaho,” he added.

Last Monday, Binay re-signed as Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipinos Workers Concerns and as Chairman of the Housing and Urban Devel-opment Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

President Aquino said his statement that Binay might not be endorsed by the President in 2016 has prompted the Vice President to step down and at-tack his government.

”Siguro ganyan talaga ang pulitika sa ating bansa. Baka naman napag-isip niyang hindi siya ang ma-e-endorso natin, so kailangan ipakita niyang hindi niya kailangan ‘yung en-dorsement o may mas magan-da siyang kayang magawa,” the President said.

The President admit-

PNoy vows to answer Binay’s criticisms

Explains dispute with union

OUR MAN. 2015 Miss Earth Philippines-Air Chanel Olive Thomas (left) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) head engineer Elisa Madrazo flash the thumbs-up sign while posing beside an im-

age of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte during the opening of EcoFest Davao, a week-long environment exhibit, at People’s Park on Wednesday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Comelec in big trouble if millions are barred to vote

FEWER VIOLATIONS. Quick Response Team for Chil-dren’s Concern (QRTCC) head Minda A. Silvano says there are fewer children violating the curfew on minors. Sil-

vano said this year the QRTCC only receive five children a day, compared with about 20 last year. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

LBC: No service interruptionLBC SEM (Davao), an LBC

Express subsidiary, yes-terday assured LBC cus-

tomers that there will no in-terruption of services arising from its current controversy with its labor union.

In a statement send to Edge Davao, the firm manage-ment bared that it had been at the CBA negotiation table with the Davao Employee Union for the past few months to discuss and determine the most mutu-ally-beneficial agreement be-tween the two parties. Unfor-tunately, negotiations reached a deadlock and the union filed for a notice of strike and sub-sequently gathered an affir-mative strike vote, it said.

However despite arising this situation, “our branches in Davao will continue to serve your needs with excellence and the same commitment that has made LBC the house-

hold name that it is today, and for the last 63 years,” the press statement said.

The firm likewise enumer-ated some facts in answer to the demands and arguments being raised by the employees union.

“All of our union-member associates are enjoying sala-ries and benefits above those mandated by the government, with an average salary approx-imately 25% above minimum wage and hazard pay. The union is negotiating for an across-the-board application of any mandatory wage in-crease, on top of the CBA-ne-gotiated increase, and without a wage distortion formula ap-plication,” it said.

According to the press statement, “current union-member associates also enjoy other benefits above and beyond government-man-

dated benefits and industry standards,” adding that LBC associates are entitled to hos-pitalization loans, should their needs exceed the coverage of the provided HMO and Phil-Health, as well as annual in-dividual medicine allowance, on top of a per team medicine allowance.

“Those who are also of retirement age have access to attractive retirement packages that are above the usual given by the industry,” the firm said.

It added “sick leaves, vaca-tion leaves, and bonuses pro-vided by the company are also above industry standards. “

It also said that “all eco-nomic provisions concerns in the current CBA have been agreed upon, consistently, for more than a decade,” adding that “this is the first time the union is launching a strike, af-

FLBC, 10

FPNOY, 10


ECONOMY

THE business sector in Davao City is calling for the suspension of the

bidding process of the contro-versial P17-billion Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project of the Department of Transpor-tation and Communication (DOTC).

The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) asked for the suspen-sion of the bidding during the quarterly meeting of the Re-gional Development Council (RDC) National Development Economic Authority (NEDA) regional office Tuesday,

The cessation of the bid-ding process will “give way to a more exhaustive review of the project proposal,” DCCCII said in a statement signed by its president Antonio dela Cruz.

In the same statement, the DCCCII expressed its strong opposition to the modern-ization project, which will be implemented under a pub-lic-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

DOTC had earlier de-scribed the project as essential to the development of logistics and the maritime industry of the Davao Region.

In rejecting the project,

DCCCII not only questioned the gargantuan project cost--which ballooned from P4 bil-lion to P17 billion--but also the bid policies.

The business group be-lieved that the bidding process being conducted by the nation-al government agency is taint-ed with irregularities and do not promote transparency.

Dela Cruz explained that bidding rules and policies for the modernization only allow firms who acquire the P300,000 bidding document to throw questions regarding the project.

The Chamber said aside from this, there was no con-sultation conducted among affected stakeholders like local government units, exporters, importers, labor sector and business sector should be con-sulted prior to the undertaking of the national government.

The improper implemen-tation of the project will have a negative domino effect to the different industries in the region as it is believed that the project will directly or indirect-ly adversely affect all stake-holders here, according to the DCCCII.

Dela Cruz also feared that

DCCCII wants port bidding stoppedBiz group: Suspension will pave way for exhaustive review of project

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

the implementation of the project under a 30-year con-cession will only cause mo-nopoly in the maritime indus-try here.

The huge cost of the proj-ect will also lead to an increase of the shipping cost.

The DOTC had projected there will be an increase in the tariff in Sasa port but that this will be at same level with the Davao Integrated Contain-er Terminal in Panabo City by 2018. The DOTC also put a 80 percent cap for the possible increase.

TERMINAL fee at the Davao International Airport is expected to

increase by 10 percent in ev-ery five years once the devel-opment of the P40.57-billion airport is completed by 2045.

Department of Transpor-tation and Communication (DOTC) assistant secretary Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal told members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in their quarterly meeting last Tuesday that the increase will be implemented by the win-ning bidder, who will also be the concessionaire for 30 to 35 years.

At present, the DIA is charging each passenger with P200 domestic terminal fee.

Caringal, in his presenta-tion, said the development of the airport is necessary to ca-ter to the increasing volume of airport passengers. DIA is the third busiest airports in the country.

DOTC recorded that the DIA, which has a design capac-ity of 3.2 million passengers, has an 11 percent compound-ed traffic growth for the last 10 years.

“The DIA has already breached its current capaci-ty. We are projecting that the compounded traffic growth in DIA will reach 8.44 percent in

the next four years,” Caringal said.

The development projectt, to be implemented under the develop-operate- maintenance and transfer scheme, will in-clude the improvement of the runaway, expansion of pas-senger terminal building that has a current area of 22,683 square meter to up to 90,400 square meter, expansion of the apron up to 180,000 square meter from the current 74,250 square meter.

DOTC projected that the design capacity of the DIA will reach up to 6.7 passengers by 2025; 10.9 million passengers by 2035; and 17.9 million pas-sengers by 2045.

The huge chunk of the design cost will go to the ex-pansion of passenger termi-nal that will have total cost of 19.26 billion while the devel-opment of airside infrastruc-ture will cost P3.50 billion and other landside facilities will cost P1.52 billion, according to the DOTC.

The cost of insurance, in-terest, taxes and finance cost is also projected to reach 6.52 billion, while professional services, contingencies and miscellaneous costs will be P5.69 billion until the project is turned-over to the govern-ment. CHENEEN R. CAPON

Terminal fee to increase every 5 years, says DOTC

NEW FLAGSHIP. LG product marketing manager for mobile Faith Mijares explains the features and the speci-fications of the new LG G4 Android smartphone during a

press briefing yesterday. G4 is the successor to the com-pany’s G3 flagship which will appeal to budding photog-raphers for its improved camera features. Lean Daval Jr. FDCCCII, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 20156 THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

DESPITE the 12.8-per-cent year-on-year de-cline in total merchan-

dise imports in April 2015, domestic demand for capital and consumer goods remains strong, according to the Na-tional Economic and Develop-ment Authority (NEDA).

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s latest report in-dicates that merchandise im-ports significantly decreased to US$4.7 billion in April 2015 from US$5.4 billion in April last year.

The sharp decline in im-ported mineral fuels and lu-bricants (-53.9%), and raw materials and intermediate goods (12.8%) in April 2015 caused the significant overall decrease in imports. However, double-digit increases were recorded in the importation of consumer (30.3 %) and capi-tal goods (13.0%).

“Figures on capital and consumer goods reflect the upbeat outlook of consum-er spending and is a positive indication of healthy de-mand-driven activities at the household and industry level,” said Economic Planning Sec-retary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

Consumer goods expand-ed mainly on the back of ro-bust growth in both durable goods (17.1%) and non-dura-ble goods (43.4%). Increased purchases of passenger cars & motorized cycles (15.9%), miscellaneous manufactures (18.7%) and home appliances

(17.1%) supported growth in imported durable goods.

As for non-durable goods, significant growth in the im-portation of rice (1,655.5%), other food & live animals (25.7%) and fruits & vegeta-bles (53.5%) was seen.

“The higher import vol-ume of rice recorded as part of consumer goods reflects gov-ernment’s effort to maintain a sufficient buffer stock of rice ahead of the lean harvest sea-son,” the Cabinet official said.

The National Food Au-thority approved the ship-ment of 500,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam and Thai-land, which started to arrive in March 2015. For April, the share of rice purchases from these countries represented about 70.6 percent and 29.0 percent of the country’s total imports of rice.

In terms of country sourc-es, reduced value of imports from the People’s Republic of China, Japan and Taiwan largely contributed to the overall decline in imports during the period.

Almost all of the East and Southeast Asian region re-corded a drop in merchandise imports in April 2015, except for Vietnam.

“Given an uncertain exter-nal environment, it is crucial for the government to ensure that the growth momen-tum is sustained. While the healthy importation of capital

Capital, consumer goods remain afloat

FCAPITAL, 10

History, culture and camaraderie at the

Hijos de Davao BallIT is the time of year again when the descendants of Davao’s origi-nal settlers come together for the annual Hijos de Davao Ball organ-ised by the Hijos de Davao Foundation with president Jacqueline Garcia-Dizon at the helm.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015

EDGEDAVAOSTYLE

Celebrated every 29th of June to coincide of the Feast of St. Peter, the pa-tron saint of Davao, the Hijos de Davao Ball is more than just a gather-ing of old friends and acquaintances but has evolved into an event where Davao’s traditions are maintained. “The Hijos de Davao Foundation provides scholarships for members of the Mandaya and Bago-bo tribes to prevent the art of weaving for getting lost,” said Dizon. This year is the 51st iter-ation of the ball and as al-ways, the fashion pundits and fashionistas of Davao will be on the lookout for the best-dressed ladies in handcrafted ternos which

are traditional Filipino formal gowns. Aside from the pomp and pageantry of the ball and its traditional Rigo-don de Honor, the 51st an-niversary ball will also see the launch of the much-awaited Hijos de Davao coffee table book which features the colourful sto-ries of Davao’s old families and their forebears.

The highlight of the ball is the crowning of the Hi-jos de Davao’s muse. This year’s muse is 17-year old Margarita Rafaella Joc-son Ong who is currently doing her pre-university level in the Garden Inter-national British School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Proficient in music and the arts, Margarita will be the latest in a long line of illustrious muses. The 51st Hijos de Davao Ball will be held at the SMX Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier on Monday, June 29. See you at the ball! Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter at @kenneth-kingong for more stories in, around, and beyond Duri-anburg.

This year’s muse, Margarita Rafaella “Meg” Jocson Ong.

Hijos de Davao president Jacqueline Garcia-Dizon.

The pomp and pagentry of the Rigodon de Honor.

INdulge!

ASIA’S Pop Sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose adds another mile-stone to her career as she recently concluded filming three music videos in San Francisco and New York in col-laboration with a Los Angeles-based com-pany VIM Entertain-ment Inc. and will be distributed worldwide by GMA Records. One of the music vid-eos she shot in the United States is for her single Tidal Wave which was arranged by Sidney Brown, better known as Omen, an Ameri-can music producer from Harlem who has produced for artists such as Drake, Lil Wayne, and Ludacris. Last June 21, her sup-porters got an exclusive treat from Asia’s Pop

Sweetheart and multi-plat-inum recording artist as she launched her newest music video in GMA Net-work’s musical variety pro-

A NUMBER of awe-inspiring foodie events you’d never want to miss are all set this June at SM Lanang Premier. Whether you’re in the mood for a food trip, a culinary match or a grand showcase of foodstuff, Mindanao’s lead-ing lifestyle mall has it all and more.

Food-tography Tour with Jojie Alcantara First off the list is SM Lanang Premier’s Food-tography Tour with Davao’s multi-awarded photogra-pher, Jojie Alcantara. Made possible in partnership with Fujifilm, the event allowed participants to go on a guided tour of 6 participating restaurants – Bulgogi Brothers, Cel-lar de Boca, French Baker, Banana Leaf, Giardino Gelato, and Blugre, get tricks and tips on food photog-raphy at a minimal fee and grab a chance to win exciting prizes. If you were not able to join the first run, check out the Food-tography Tour as it returns for a second run in the 3rd quarter of the year.

Lanang Weekend Market Open every Fridays to Sundays, 4pm to 9pm, the Lanang Week-end Market is the newest must-visit place in Davao City. It makes accessible healthful produce and other unique goods at the 2nd Level of the alluring alfresco area of The Fountain Court. Must-try fla-vorsome products include Green Bounty’s Kitchen’s fresh lumpia stuffed with organic ingredients and Jammin’ with Marta’s variety of fruit jams in watermelon, wild guava, calamansi and marang cin-

namon flavors.

Mindanao Culinary Festival Witness an epic battle of the best chefs in the region with the 12th Mindanao Culinary Festival (MCF) on June 25-27 at the Atrium. Presented by the Davao Tourism Association, in partnership with the Philippine Culinary Cup and in cooperation with SM Lanang Premier, the MCF will be held in conjunction with the World Food Expo and will raise the bar for the culinary competition with the presence of the country’s

14 top chefs. Among these include celebrity chefs J. Gamboa, James Antolin, Fernando Aracama, Buddy Trinidad, Norbert Gandler, Reggie Aspiras, Jerome Valencia, Penk Ch-ing, Jackie Ang Po, Dan Basilio, Mike Yap, Brando Santos, Jem Raymundo and Carlo Miguel.

Philippine Grand Barista Cup Discover how baristas brew and concoct the most irresistible cup of coffee and beverages ever. Watch the 9th Philippine Grand Barista Cup to be held on June 26 at the Atrium. Event is organized by Alle-gro Beverage Corporation.

World Food Expo (WOFEX) Head to the biggest food show in the country, the World Food Expo, at SMX Convention Center, 3rd Lev-el of SM Lanang Premier on June 25 to 27. Discover a wide array of prod-ucts and services by major F&B sup-pliers, first-time exhibitors and new industry players. For inquiries, contact 285-0943 loc. 136-138. Visit SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for event and promo updates.

A2 INdulge! VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015EDGEDAVAOUP AND ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT

Megan Young is the new Mari Mar

Julie Anne San Jose launches ‘Tidal Wave’ on Sunday All Stars

Fantastic food experiences at SM Lanang Premier

Globe Telecom brings backF1 rush with Slipstream 2.0

GLOBE Telecom brings the Formula One rush to the Philippines once again as it presents Slipstream 2.0, an event celebrating the journey of Marlon Stockinger as the first and only Filipi-no to make his way into the competitive world of Formula One racing.

Slipstream 2.0 opens the world of the Prince of Speed, Marlon Stockinger, to Fili-pinos, and how he lives his life in the fast lane. “This sport may not be as com-mon as boxing and basket-ball in the country, but with Slipstream 2.0, we can bring Marlon’s journey and the F1 experience closer to the Filipinos,”said Dan Horan, Senior Advisor for Consum-er Business. “This year, Slip-stream evolves into a family entertainment event. People will not only witness Mar-lon’s driving skills but there are many activities to enjoy. We want this event to be an unforgettable digital lifestyle experience for the families attending by giving them wonderful moments that they can share,” Horan said.

Slipstream 2.0 is happen-ing this Saturday, June 27, at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. From 12NN to 5PM, the public can enjoy driving exhibitions, motor-cycle stunts, and car parade and exhibit. Marlon’s famous Lotus-Gravity Charouz Re-

nault 3.5 car will also be on display for public viewing and photo opportunities. Marlon will be at the event to show his amazing driving skills, as well as to meet and greet the lucky winners of the Slipstream contest.

Apart from the event day’s activities, there will be pre-event gimmicks lined up for Marlon and everyone to enjoy. Marlon lives a fast-paced, highly connected dig-ital lifestyle. And for some-one who is always on the go like him, where else can he best spend some quality time with his fans, but in the digi-tal space.

For this, Marlon will take on Twitter on June 24, at 4PM to tweet with his followers and give them his undivided attention. Marlon will give his fans a chance to ask him about anything un-der the sun, and learn more about him.

He will also take on Viber the following day at 5PM to chat with his fans who want to know more about this fast-rising F1 star. Those who will want to chat with the Prince of Speed must join the Enjoy Globe Viber public chat.

A set of podcast sessions will also be released start-ing June 26 where Marlon will talk about his passion for racing, how he keeps in touch with his family, friends, and fans even if he’s always on the go.. A by-invitation din-

ner with Globe executives, ambassadors, partners and media friends will follow at 7PM at Le Jardin, before the final day on the 27th.

Special guestsAside from activities for

Marlon fans and both car and non-car enthusiasts, in the afternoon, there will be special guests from Anima Christi Center in Muntin-

lupa City. Anima Christi is a special school for children with learning challenges. Before the actual event opens, students from the school will be able to meet and greet Marlon, as well as spend some time with him playing parlor games and sharing meals. The children will also be given special access to the pit garage and Marlon’s car.

Road closureTo give way to the ex-

hibitions at the event, some roads will be closed from 12NN to 5PM. Roads in-cluded are the following: Rizal Drive, 3rd Avenue, 4th Avenue cor 28th Street, 4th Avenue cor 30th Street, 5th Avenue, 27th Street cor 3rd Avenue, and 31st Street cor 3rd Avenue.

“KINILIG AKO, siyempre it’s a big project,” reveals the multi-talented Kapu-so actress Megan Young when asked about her reaction when she found out that she’s going to breathe new life to the well-loved character of Mari Mar. Despite feeling nervous, the Kapuso actress doesn’t let the nerves get to her and instead turns it into an excitement which she can use in preparing for the role, “Acting wise, nagwo-work-shop na kami nila Tom [Rodri-guez] and Lauren [Young]. May dance and diving lessons din para siyempre mas magawa na-tin ng tama. Excited lang talaga ko, sine-set aside ko na lang ang kaba.” Megan also admitted that she can relate to the character of Mari Mar. In an interview, Megan recalls her experience before she was hailed as Miss World 2013, “Si Mari Mar kasi she’s like any other Pinay who strive for the best. Isa siyang hardworker, gagawin niya ang lahat para makuha ang mga pangarap niya. Ganoon din ako, kahit sinabi ng iba dati na baka matalo ako sa pageant…I put that aside kasi ito ang gusto ko. Manalo, matalo at least naga-wa ko. Si Mari Mar ganoon din na kahit mag-fail siya, in the end she’ll make sure na ‘yung failure na ‘yun ay magiging encourage-ment sa kanya to strive for the better.” Under the helm of Dominic Zapata, Mari Mar is set to thrill the viewers this August in GMA Telebabad.

Sweetheart and multi-plat-inum recording artist as she launched her newest music video in GMA Net-work’s musical variety pro-

gram Sunday All Stars. Julie exudes a great amount of excitement as she talks about her experi-ence in filming Tidal Wave,

“I got to skateboard. Inaral ko siya before the shoot. Syempre malamig dun, tapos naka-jeans at crop top lang ako, kaya lamig

na lamig talaga ako. Pero masaya kasi I got to work with a lot of people in great teams, tapos they were so nice to me. Sobrang ac-commodating nila.” As it promises to high-light a different side of Julie, the singer-actress further claims that she was able to get in touch with her differ-ent personas while filming the music videos. In Tidal Wave, she is reminded of how it feels to have but-terflies in the stomach, and the usual teenage crush spectacular. “Nag-enjoy akong i-film yung music videos, and since Tidal Wave is very light, more on kilig, I’m sure maraming makaka-relate sa song.” Meanwhile, Julie’s other two music videos are set to premiere in the following months.

WITNESS the color-ful love story of fash-ion-forward interior designer and social-ite Tessa Prieto and businessman Dennis Valdes come to life in the upcoming epi-sode of Wagas air-ing this Saturday on GMA News TV. Por-traying their charac-ters are Kapuso stars Jackie Rice and TJ Trinidad. Despite being a single mother, Tessa continued to search for “true love,” albeit unsuccessfully. To-gether with her brother whom she considers as her best friend, Tessa went to the US in the hopes of starting anew. Sadly, Tessa experi-enced a crushing heart-

break returning to the Philippines caused by her brother’s death. This was a turning point in her life that led her to dress herself in a flam-boyant manner. For Tes-sa, her out-of-the-box style of dressing up is a daily ‘celebration of life’ because she believes that life is short. It was in a diving activ-ity where Tessa and Den-nis first met each other. Both were from different worlds with Tessa being a sociable, loud, life-of-the-party type and Dennis the serious, quiet businessman. Still, love managed to find its way to bring them together. Dennis accepted everything about Tessa—from her

INdulge! A3VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015 EDGEDAVAOENTERTAINMENT

Megan Young is the new Mari Mar

Julie Anne San Jose launches ‘Tidal Wave’ on Sunday All Stars

Tessa Prieto and Dennis Valdes love story on Wagas

being a single mother to her extravagant fash-ion sense. Underneath it all, Tessa is this simple, beautiful woman for Dennis. Quiet as he is, Dennis has his ways to sweep Tessa off her feet: in an-other diving activity, Dennis asked Tessa to be his wife through an un-

derwater proposal. The two were married in a grand, medieval-themed wedding that signaled the beginning of Tessa and Dennis’ happy ever after. Do not miss another fun and feel good love story in Wagas this Sat-urday, 7PM on GMA News TV.

PG

G

PG 11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

R-16

JURASSIC WORLD

Chris Pratt, Judy Greer

G 12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

POLTERGEIST

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

MAX

Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church

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

Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano

June 25 – 30, 2015

If you ask the editors of Preview, that scenario could spell an utter disas-ter for a makeup junkie. But if such an unfortu-nate event ever occurs, we at least hope you have the limited edition Preview x Happy Skin lippies safely stashed because, trust us, it’s all you need to turn that horrible nightmare into sweet dreams. Featuring one hot red and one cool nude, cult-favorite makeup brand Happy Skin col-laborates with Preview,

A4 INdulge!STYLE

Preview X Happy Skin lippiesIMAGINE if a beauty catastrophe strikes and you can only choose two lippies in-side your burning arsenal. Which colors would you rather save?

the Philippines’ author-ity on fashion and beau-ty, to bring you a limited edition Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Matte Lippie Collection. “You either play up the lip, or you tone down the lip to play up the eyes,” says Pre-view editor-in-chief Pauline Suaco-Juan. “We have a classic red that’s a ‘classic’ in a fashion sense. It’s a little more sophisticated and more toned down, because we wanted the quiet elegance to the red,” shares Pauline. “On the flipside, we didn’t want a nude that looked like you weren’t

wearing anything, so we came up with a nude that’s very fashionable, but still looks good on different skin tones.” Priced for only P1,099 bucks for a set of two rich, velvety matte lip-sticks, this also comes in a chic book-inspired, gold-stamped case that’s cute enough to wear as a clutch. Now that’s a total steal! The #PreviewXHap-pySkin limited edition is exclusively available in Chimes Specialty Bou-tiques with branches in Gov. Sales, Ayala Abree-za Mall and the new Felcris Centrale Mall on Quimpo Boulevard.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015EDGEDAVAO

Featuring one hot red and one

cool nude, Happy Skin collaborates with Preview to bring you a limited edition Lippie

Collection.


BIGGER PICTUREWhere learning is taught by doingText and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

EVERY year, some 6,000 people come to the Min-danao Baptist Rural Life

Center (MBRLC) in Kinusku-san, Bansalan, Davao del Sur to the center to observe, see, and adopt the technologies which the center has developed through its years of existence.

Almost one-third of those who come to the center opt to immerse themselves in the training programs the center offers. “Most of those who un-dergo training are farmers,” said Ian Ogatis, the center’s training coordinator. “But we also train technicians, teachers, students, and even participants sent to us by government agencies.”

Among the government agencies that utilize MBRLC as their partner in countryside de-velopment are the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), De-partment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), De-partment of Science and Tech-nology (DOST), and Department of Education (DepEd).

The MBRLC is a non-gov-ernment organization located 86 kilometers away from Davao City (the travel time from the Ecoland bus terminal is about two hours). It nestles at the rolling foothills of Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak. It was first opened to the public in 1971.

At its 19-hectare farm are various farming technologies which most people can adapt and follow in their respective farms. As one British who came to the center wrote in his report: “This relatively small operation is the most self-sufficient of all of the projects seen on this trip, and has had an influence throughout the Philippines and elsewhere far out of proportion to its size.”

Actually, the center was a product of the masteral thesis of its founder, the Rev. Harold Ray Watson, an agriculturist from Brooklyn, Mississippi. “When I was doing my research, I found out that most training programs on farming from all over the world have facilities but not ac-tual demonstration farms,” he said in an interview some years back. “So, I decided to put up this training center where farm-ers can actually see and learn what they are hearing from the lectures.”

This what makes the MBRLC truly unique in its train-ing programs. “Unlike other training centers which don’t have their own signature tech-nologies, MBRLC has founded, tested and popularized the sys-tems it has been doing,” said Ogatis.

He cites the case of Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) and its modifications.

“In terms of authenticity,” she explained, “the center has all the rights and authority to training people because all the models can be found and all the data are available for all to see.”

The MBRLC has a “farm-er-oriented philosophy.” As Wat-son puts it, “Our philosophy is, if you have something that works, go ahead with it. It doesn’t need to be perfect, since people won’t copy systems perfectly anyway.”

Which is why its technol-ogies are catered to the needs of the poorest of the poor. “Our aim is to promote projects and systems that would enable rural people to improve their stan-dard of living,” said Roy C. Ali-moane, the current director of the center.

Aside from SALT, the MBRLC is also known for Sim-ple Agro-Livestock Technology (SALT 2), Sustainable Agroforest land Technology (SALT 3), Small Agrofruit Livelihood Technolo-gy (SALT 4), and Food Always In The Home (FAITH) gardening. It also offers trainings on plant propagation (grafting, bud-ding and seed production) and nursery management, livestock raising (goats, pigs, chicken, and rabbits), and aquaculture (par-ticularly tilapia raising).

Its most recent technol-ogies include vermicompost-ing (composting with earth-worms), natural pig raising (using the Korean method), and natural fertilizer and pesticides formulation.

For community develop-ment, MBRLC offers training on extension techniques and strat-egies. It also conducts training on water development. There is also a resident program for young people called Baptist Outside Of Training (BOOST), where the trainees are taught how to become family assets instead of liabilities.

“Our training programs are designed to help and equip the trainees,” Ogatis said. “We con-duct our training in a way that only 25 percent are allotted to lecture while the remaining 75 percent are spent in doing something.”

MBRLC calls this method as “hands on experience.” For instance, in SALT training, the participants must learn how to use the A-frame in locating the contour lines of a slope. They must also know how to propagate hedgerow species like Flemingia macrophylla and Desmodium rensonii and how to plant them in the located con-tour lines of the farm. In raising goats, they have to practice how to milk and disbud goats.

Since its humble begin-nings in 1971, MBRLC has become one of the most-often visited places in Mindanao. To date, over 300,000 people have

paid a visit to the farm. Peo-ple from other countries also come to the center. Among the countries represented were Ar-gentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Can-ada, China, Denmark, France, El Salvador, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mau-ritius, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and

Vietnam.Zacarias B. Sarian, the Ag-

riculture editor who visited the training center in 1998, com-mented: “It is not surprising therefore by MBRLC is a favor-ite destination of people from here and abroad looking for a model of upland farming.”

MBRLC has received vari-ous citations and awards from different award-giving bodies. In 1991, the regional office of the Food and Agriculture Or-

ganization bestowed the Food Day Silver Medal for “its con-tribution to mobilizing people’s participation in tree planting and sustainable forest resourc-es management.” Previous to that, in 1989, it received a presi-dential citation from then-pres-ident Corazon C. Aquino.

Its former director, Rev. Watson, was also honored with the prestigious Ramon Magsay-say Award in 1985 for peace and international understand-

ing “for encouraging interna-tional utilization of SALT” and other farming technologies.

Although Watson is no lon-ger with the MBRLC, his legacy continues. The MBRLC is still serving the needs of those who come to the center. “We will be here as long as we are needed,” Alimoane said. “We can help and teach them how, but they must do them themselves. Out-siders can help, but insiders must do the job.”

Goat raising

Raising ducks

Sustainable vegetable gardening

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 20158 EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

PrematureEDITORIAL

IT’S an age old issue, a problem that has been bothering us for the past three decades ever since democracy was restored in the Philippines and we could vote freely for any candidate

we want. Every cycle of three years we are subjected to paid ad-vertisements put out by various personalities about themselves and their accomplishments and, at least on the surface, nothing more. They are, of course, thinly veiled campaign ads, but they skirt election laws against premature campaigning simply by not mentioning that they are running for any elective post. In this sense no law is violated, and they are actually free to air or print as many ads as they can.

That, of course, is one of the practice’s biggest problems. In most cases these personalities are already serving in some offi-cial government capacity, either as elected politicians or appoint-ed officials, and the question that needs to be asked is where the funds for the advertisements come from. A government official has access to the people’s taxes, and the ads can be easily charged to “information campaign,” “communications strategy,” or some

such official-sounding terminology. Legally, there is nothing we can do against them. We cannot even force them to resign -- again because they are not actually breaking any law.

Even the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has sided with these officials, saying they need not resign until they file their certificate of candidacy (COC) in October. Then and only then will they be subject to the ban on early campaigning. It is a loophole that is so easily exploited by anyone with an eye for elective of-fice, but it has to be addressed if we are to prevent the misuse of public funds. If the people have no recourse in the Comelec, then we will have to do it ourselves by calling out these officials and telling them their advertisements -- infomercials, as they like calling them -- are not welcome.

It may be argued that political infomercials are protected by freedom of speech, and that is correct. However, when public funds are involved, we must speak out against them and force the issue. There is enough corruption in government; let’s not add to that through premature campaigning.

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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ANTONIO M. AJEROEditor in Chief

Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • HENRYLITO TACIO • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. PhotographyARLENE D. PASAJE

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PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTEthe national association of newspapers

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015 VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAO

WHAT was once known as the Bureau of Public Highways (Obras publicas) in the mid- to late-1800s evolved into

what is now the Department of Public Works And Highways (DPWH). Long considered a hot-bed of institutionalized corruption, criticisms about the performance and quality of its work and the performance of the infrastructure it builds are the butt of many jokes among many, not just in the engineering profession. Horror stories among those involved in infrastructure planning point to the award of contracts to fly-by-night contractors, often related or connected to DPWH officials. Alas, the roads built by these errant entities wear down in a matter of years, prompting another contract. The rest, as they say, is part of a natural mediocre cycle of greed, corruption, and incompetence. Nonetheless, in the delivery of large scale critical infrastructure, the DPWH is able to marshal the best talents in the profession.

Thus, in my travels on our highway system a decade ago I would often see dangerous curves and damaged portions that go unrepaired for an indefinite period. To add to that, the contractors working on these portions often do not bother to place safety signs and barriers to warn motorists, raising the safety risk to drivers and passengers especially when driving at high speeds at night. I would wonder at how diligently the DPWH is implementing its maintenance programs and the type of construction firms taking on these jobs. A closer look revealed that many were of dubious reputation, evident in the fact that their workers barely wear safety gear and don’t work consis-tently. Such contractors tend to leave their con-tracts unfinished, and are often unable to secure private sector construction contracts, apparently relying on government contracts to keep them afloat. This already serves as a warning on the quality of their work. If the market can’t trust them, then why should the taxpayer?

Change is no-ticed

Over the past few years, how-ever, I noticed a slight change in the way DPWH under the helm of Secretary Ro-gelio Singson has, in my own observations, done a better job in fulfilling its mandate. More reputable contractors were awarded the contracts, enabling them to finish the job with reasonably better quality than previous contrac-tors and within the allotted number of calendar days. Many portions of the Maharlika High-way, which starts at the Cagayan Valley, driving through Central Luzon, the Bicol Region, the Sa-mar and Leyte Islands all the way to Mindanao ending in Zamboanga City, saw a good number of road-widening and improvement initiatives by these contractors. Davao to Surigao is a smooth, leisurely six-hour drive within the 80 km/h limit. Davao-Butuan is about 4.5 hours. Even connect-ing highways such as the Sayre Highway linking Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato, the Buda Road, and the Davao-Mati road have improved. They are wider and smoother than before.

“Contractor, at his own expense, is imple-menting remedial measures to complete the work”

For the first time in memory, I have seen re-medial works with such a sign that gives hope that higher quality work is given in exchange for taxpayer money. Portions unfinished or with certain issues are addressed, and contractors withdraw their personnel from the site only af-ter full completion. Consider the Katipunan and

Tamugan Sections of the BUDA road. They were engineered to allow water to pass through prop-erly. These have been problematic portions for as long as I have been travelling to Bukidnon. Often, these were the rough portions perhaps owing to frequent movement below ground that would render any simple road rough within a year. Two years since the completion of the repairs, and the reconstructed portions are intact.

Reputable contractors will protect their reputation and complete unfinished work, com-pared with dubious contractors who will fold up even before their contracts are through, to es-cape scrutiny and possible violations.

We hope ISO 9000 Certification is sustained even after Singson’s term

A milestone that caps the achievements of the agency is the ISO 9000 certification attesting to the presence of an internationally compliant quality management system. This requires that good quality work is implemented, and is con-sistently expected over time. Over the next few years, surveillance audits by the certifying body will determine whether the management sys-tems established in the agency remain in place. We retain the hope that these systems are reli-able even after Singson’s term.

It is only through consistent implementation that good governance can be achieved. When the bureaucracy gets used to the politics of perfor-mance and consistent quality of work, the sys-tem will change and improve against the temp-tation of backsliding into the old ways. Likewise, choosing a Secretary that embodies credibility, consistency, transparency, and fairness will en-sure that the system remains intact over time.

Much good will be said in the future about the term of Rogelio Singson as DPWH Secretary. Having implemented a good system requires that taxpayers like us be vigilant in demanding that good performance is sustained well into the future.

MARRIAGE was divinely established in the Garden of Eden by our creator Him-self. Genesis 2:24 stated, “For this rea-

son, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

In a way, marriage is a union of three beings: God, man, and woman. If only man and woman exist, the marriage is bound to fail. But add God to the relationship and it will lead to a blissful, lasting marriage.

As a couple, these should be their vows to-gether: “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you will stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die and there I will be buried” (Ruth 1:16-17).

Yes, there are marriages made in heaven. My parents have been married for more than half a century now and their marriage is still strong as ever. Of course, they are always ups and downs but they have stayed together.

The secret of their marriage can be found in the Holy Bible. “Wives,” Saint Paul urges, “submit to your husbands.” Not just in one instances or some occasions, but “wives should submit to their husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:24).

In like manner, husbands should love their wives. “Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it” (Ephesians 5:28-29).

Husbands and wives are just like other peo-ple. They will face trials, troubles, and temp-tations. All these would happen to test their love for each other. Gary and Barbara Rosberg, authors of Serving Love, suggest that no matter

what happens, the couple must stay together.

These should be their words to-gether: “If things get better for us, I will love you. If things get worse, I will love you. If we get rich be-yond our wildest dreams, I will love you. If we grow poorer and don’t own much, I will love you. If you get sick, I will love you. If you remain healthy, I will love you.” Till death do us part!

Should there be conflict, don’t let anger and madness maneuver each of you. Marriage coun-selors Dr. James and Shirley Dobson share six steps for handling conflict. Change what can be altered. Explain what can be understood. Teach what can be learned. Revised what can be im-proved. Negotiate what is open to compromise. Accept the rest.

A poet penned these words of wisdom: “To keep a marriage brimming with love in the lov-ing cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it. When-ever you’re right, shut up!” Yes, as easy as that!

Some years ago, I came across the Beati-tudes for Married Couples. Allow me to share them with you: “Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, consid-erate and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.

“Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they

are to their friends.“Blessed are they who have a sense of hu-

mor, for this attribute will be a handy shock ab-sorber.

“Blessed are the married couples who ab-stain from alcoholic beverages.

“Blessed are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world, and who joy-fully fulfill their marriage vow of a lifetime of fi-delity and mutual helpfulness to each other.

“Blessed are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set aside some time each day for the read-ing of the Bible and prayer.

“Blessed are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the Lord.

“Blessed are those mates who never speak loudly to each other and who make their home a place ‘where seldom is heard a discouraging word.’

“Blessed are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship service of the church.

“Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out their problems of adjustment without interference from parents, siblings, and rela-tives.

“Blessed is the couple who have a complete understanding about financial matters and who have worked out perfect partnership with all the money under control of both.”

There are several reasons a person gets married. Unknown to many, happily (I have ital-icized this for emphasis!) married people live longer than do the unmarried or singles. Accord-ing to George Crane, one essential reason for this is that married couple can talk out their inner tensions to each other, so their blood pressure goes down.

I K N O W I’ve been w r i t i n g

about home-schooling for quite some time now but I received so many re-sponses from enthusiastic homeschool-ing parents that I still have more information to share. This one is from Edric Mendoza, whom you know as lead anchor of On The Money on the ABS-CBN News Channel but who is also the chair of the Homeschooling Association of the Philip-pine Islands (HAPI) (an association of homes-chool services providers) as well as president of The Master’s Academy (TMA) Homeschool. I asked him for his thoughts on homeschooling and I got a wealth of information. For starters, he says there are an estimated 10,000 children who are being homeschooled in the Philippines, an extremely small minority of the total number of students in the country. Of the 10,000, approx-imately 6,500 are under private Home Education Programs (HEPs), 2,000 under private Home Study Programs (HSPs), and 1,500 independents (not enrolled in any private HEP or HSP).

But while the number is small, Mendoza says homeschooling has been growing at ap-proximately 12 percent per year in the last sev-en years. “More and more people are becoming aware that it is NOT a last resort for children with special needs, illness, showbiz careers, or families with financial problems,” he shares. “Go online and you will see it in a fast-growing Facebook group called ‘Homeschoolers of the Philippines,’ for example.”

“The Philippine landscape has close to 15 HEP and eight HSP providers, and continues to grow as more people choose this. Our program, TMA Homeschool, is an HEP that has helped pi-oneer homeschooling in the Philippines. We are growing at double the industry rate, or 24 per-cent in the past seven years. These indicators show that homeschooling is growing quite well,” he adds.

“There are still many questions and miscon-ceptions, so we continue to do what we do, in-forming the general public of what it really entails. We are, in fact, also helping provide best practices to DepEd in order that their systems might also evolve to address the homeschooler needs today.”

-oOo-The classic question, of course, is what the

advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling are. Mendoza gives three advantages:1. Customized learning. A parent can tailor-fit

the learning materials, pace, and environment for the child. Due to the individualized ap-proach, good parents who know their children like dinosaurs can take them to watch the lat-est Jurassic World movie, go online to research more information, and walk them through the academic subjects of Science, Reading, Lan-guage, History, Math, and even the Bible (which we highly recommend), using dinosaurs.

2. Family bonding. This doesn’t need much ex-planation, given the amount of time parent and child can spend together.

3. Influence. The value system of our children will ultimately shape their choices and their future success. Those that have greater influence will naturally affect their value system. So the sim-ple question is who has more time to build re-lationships with our kids in order to influence them better?

-oOo-As for disadvantages, Mendoza gives only

one: School infrastructure. “In general, schools will have a wider variety of equipment and facil-ities compared to a typical family home. However, given the world we live in today, there are ways to find these equipment and facilities in various places (including online). What’s better is you can pick and choose the facilities you want. Still, lim-itations may be cost, and ease of access, compared to these being all-in in a school.”

-oOo-Does he recommend homeschooling for ev-

eryone? “I used to. But now I realize it is a priv-ilege. Not everyone can. Not everyone has time. Not everyone is resourceful enough. Not every-one has a home suitable for homeschooling. But for those who can, they should, for all the bene-fits, including those mentioned above.” Mendoza, however, also believes that homeschooling is “a viable solution to the problems our public (and even private) education system is facing.” Things like lack of teachers, classrooms, books, materials, facilities, and more have been bugging our schools for so long, and Mendoza feels that homeschool-ing can help ease the burden on the Department of Education. If more families homeschool their kids, DepEd would have fewer students to care for. “The key is that families must be able and willing to do so,” he adds.

A tale of two departments: DOTC and DPWH (Part 2)

What God hath put together

Jurassic World and education

John [email protected]

MY TWO CENTS’

Henrylito D. [email protected]

THINK ON THESE!

Jon Joaquin

THIRD WORLD

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 201510 NEWS EDGEDAVAO10 NEWS

RODY... FROM 1

Capital... FROM 6

PNoy... FROM 4

LBC... FROM 4

3 drown... FROM 2

Watershed... FROM 2

DCCCII... FROM 5

EDGEDAVAO

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORPORATION

Davao City:252 San Pedro St.,167 San Pedro St.,

CVA Bldg., C. M. Recto St.,G/F Victoria Plaza Bajada

120-B Lapu-lapu St., Agdao75C R. Magsaysay Ave.,

2nd Level Gaisano Mall Bajada,G/F NCCC Bldg.,

R. Magsaysay Ave.,Centerpoint Plaza Matina

Fronting San Pedro College Guerrero St.,

Carlson Bldg., Lapu-lapu St.,Agdao

NCCC Mall MatinaSaavedra St., Toril

Gaisano South Citimall, Ilustre

St.,Km. 11 Sasa

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BankerohanCalinan

Davao del NorteGaisano Mall, Panabo Davao del

NorteGaisano Grand Mall of Tagum,

Tagum CityGaisano Mall of Tagum, Tagum

CityPurok Marilag 11, Quezon

St.,Tagum CityDavao del Sur

Gaisano Grand Mall of Digos, Quezon St., Digos City

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORP.De Guzman St., Davao City

Telefax (082)225-4473

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALEAll unredeemed items pawned during the month of February

2015,if not redeemed/renewed on June 30, 2015 will be put on Auc-tion Sale July 1, 2015 at 9:00 A. M. to 5:00 P.M.

Pahibalo nga ang tanang wala malukat nga prenda sa bulan Pe-brero 2015,kung dili malukat sa Hunyo 30, 2015 isubasta sa bulan sa Hulyo 1, 2015 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag hangtud sa alas 5:00 sa hapon. The DCCCII said that the

transport agency should ex-plain and justify the cost of the price.

DOTC assistant secretary Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal clarified in the same meeting that the P17-billion cost is just indicative and can be altered depending on the proposal of the winning bidder.

Caringal said there are six firms who purchased the P300,000 Invitation Docu-ments. These are San Miguel Corporation, Anflocor, Asian Terminals Inc., Singaporean firm Portek, France-based

Bollore and The Nether-lands-based APMT.

The deadline for the sub-mission of prequalification document is set on July 29, 2015 while the awarding of the project is on the December.

DOTC targets to have the signing of concession agree-ment on the first quarter of next year, while the start of the first phase of construction is expected to commence on the first quarter of 2017.

Operation of the modern-ized port is targeted to com-mence in the second quarter of 2018.

ippines.When Hontiveros asked

him if his surging survey rat-ings are enough to convince him to run for President, Dute-rte said surveys mean nothing to him.

“Simply, I’m not into it,” he said.

However, Duterte showed a glimpse of the possibility of him throwing his hat on the presidential race when he went to the lengths of explain-ing his earlier statement that he is not closing the doors to a presidential run in 2016, saying he made the statement because of close friends who are insistent in campaigning for him even though he has al-ready refused.

“Others also already spent

money and the only thing they asked of me is to let them do their business promoting my candidacy,” he said.

He reiterated that the presidency does not appeal to him since he is already old and has no money to fund the cam-paign. He also said his family does not want him to run.

Despite his denials, Dute-rte’s surging popularity is be-ginning to be noticed. Photos of Duterte with members of the CNN news team were post-ed on social media showing the Davao City mayor in a number of selfies and groupfies.

“People are interested about him. They wanted to see the man they thought was tough in person,” said one sup-porter.

NOT PWD-FRIENDLY. City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) – Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Affairs Bong Comiling informs reporters that sidewalks in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue are not suitable for PWDs who

use wheelchairs and crutches. He said the slope of the ramp there is too high for PWDs, forcing them to walk on the street. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

other barangays but no imme-diate evacuations and casual-ties were reported.

In Banga town, the MDRR-MO reported that some 280 families composed of 600 in-dividuals have evacuated due to the flashfloods that affected eight barangays.

An initial 117 hectares of palay farmlands were dam-aged as a result of the floods in Barangays Yangco, Mala-ya, Cabuling, Reyes Punong Grande, Rizal, Rang-ay and Cinco.

Arman Palomar, Yangco barangay chairman, said 280 families were forced to leave their homes as early as 2 a.m. after huge volumes of floodwa-ters from nearby Banga River swept their area.

He said some 75 houses sustained various damages due to the floods that reached about four feet.

The floodwaters swelled towards three riverside com-munities following the col-lapse of a spur dike along the Banga River, he said.

He said the offices of South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, Rep. Ferdi-nand Hernandez and Mayor Albert Palencia already de-livered food and other relief goods to the affected residents.

In Koronadal City, city ad-ministrator Cyrus Urbano said three major bridges sustained some damages due to a series of flashfloods along the Marbel River.

He said a bridge in Baran-gay Namnama was “cut into

half” while another in Baran-gay Sto. Nino sustained some cracks.

The approach of the main bridge connecting the city and Barangay Concepcion was also damaged, he said.

Urbano said City Mayor Peter Miguel suspended class-es in all levels at around 6 a.m. as precaution.

Meantime, in Sultan Kuda-rat, around 200 individuals have also evacuated in Baran-gay Rajah Muda in Tacurong City due to flashfloods along a major river.

Allan Freno, Tacurong City information officer, said res-idents of three puroks were forced to leave their homes due to the swelling of a river tributary traversing the village early Wednesday.

“The floodwaters report-edly rose to about five feet in communities situated near the river,” he said in an interview over dxMC Bombo Radyo.

Classes in three schools – Rajah Muda Elementary School, Rajah Muda National High School and Lourdes Pama Elementary School – were sus-pended as a result of the floods.

Freno said City Mayor Lina Montilla ordered the immedi-ate delivery of food and relief goods to the affected residents.

He said the local govern-ment mobilized personnel from the City DRRM Office, City Social Welfare and Develop-ment Office, City Health Office and the city police to assist in the relief operations. (MindaN-ews)

(DCWD) for the bulk water supply project in Tamugan Riv-er, an identified protected area under the Davao City Water-shed Code.

APO Agua is asking the City Council for exemption from provisions of the Water-shed Code to allow it to put up the facilities in the area.

Fuertes, whose organiza-tion is part of the Watershed Management Council, said the celebration of the Eco-Fest is one of the best venues where APO Agua can clarify the con-cerns expressed by environ-ment groups.

Fuertes said the Water-shed Management Council rec-ognizes the growing demand for water in Davao City but added this should not be ad-dressed at the expense of the environment and the commu-nity that lives near Tamugan River.Eco-Fest

Among the events of Eco-Fest Davao is the annual Wa-tershed Stakeholders Summit to be held today (Friday) at the University of Mindanao.

“This year’s summit will highlight the state of Davao’s watersheds after years of multi-sectoral reforestation initiatives,” a statement from the organizers said.

Summit participants will undergo an Eco-Tour on June 27 to visit model rainforesta-tion sites from the uplands down to the coast. Along with the Summit and Eco-Tour is the organic fair at people’s park.

On June 25 and 29, the People’s Park will host the Lunhaw Conversations, an open-air public forum on envi-ronment issues.

On June 27 and 28, var-ious local personalities and academic organizations will participate in story-telling ses-sions and coloring activities, aimed at instilling environ-mental values in children.

To cap the celebrations, SAMADHI will hold a Harana sa Kinaiyahan on the evening of June 30th at the park. The live concert will be open to the public and will feature songs about the environment.

ter many years of an agreeable and fair arrangement.”

“LBC and its subsidiar-ies consider manpower as its greatest asset. We are driven to ensure that our workforce is well-compensated, satisfied, and valued. Once again, we encourage the Davao Employ-ee Union to return to negotia-tions, as we remain optimistic that through continued ratio-nal negotiations, we will be able to arrive at an ideal con-clusion for all our stakehold-ers,” the company said. LBC SEM (Davao), an LBC Express subsidiary, yesterday assured LBC customers that there will no interruption of services arising from its current con-troversy with its labor union.

In a statement send to Edge Davao, the firm manage-ment bared that it had been at the CBA negotiation table with the Davao Employee Union for the past few months to discuss and determine the most mutu-ally-beneficial agreement be-tween the two parties. Unfor-tunately, negotiations reached a deadlock and the union filed for a notice of strike and sub-sequently gathered an affir-mative strike vote, it said.

However despite arising this situation, “our branch-es in Davao will continue to serve your needs with excel-lence and the same commit-ment that has made LBC the household name that it is to-day, and for the last 63 years,” the press statement said.

The firm likewise enu-merated some facts in answer to the demands and argu-ments being raised by the em-ployees union.

“All of our union-mem-ber associates are enjoying salaries and benefits above those mandated by the gov-ernment, with an average sal-ary approximately 25% above

minimum wage and hazard pay. The union is negotiating for an across-the-board ap-plication of any mandatory wage increase, on top of the CBA-negotiated increase, and without a wage distortion for-mula application,” it said.

According to the press statement, “current union-member associates also enjoy other benefits above and beyond govern-ment-mandated benefits and industry standards,” adding that LBC associates are enti-tled to hospitalization loans, should their needs exceed the coverage of the provided HMO and PhilHealth, as well as an-nual individual medicine al-lowance, on top of a per team medicine allowance.

“Those who are also of re-tirement age have access to at-tractive retirement packages that are above the usual given by the industry,” the firm said.

It added “sick leaves, va-cation leaves, and bonuses provided by the company are also above industry stan-dards. “

It also said that “all eco-nomic provisions concerns in the current CBA have been agreed upon, consistently, for more than a decade,” adding that “this is the first time the union is launching a strike, after many years of an agree-able and fair arrangement.”

“LBC and its subsidiaries consider manpower as its greatest asset. We are driven to ensure that our workforce is well-compensated, satis-fied, and valued. Once again, we encourage the Davao Em-ployee Union to return to ne-gotiations, as we remain opti-mistic that through continued rational negotiations, we will be able to arrive at an ideal conclusion for all our stake-holders,” the company said.

ted that he was surprised by Binay’s resignation and by the Vice President’s “unexpected” announcement he will lead the opposition.

Binay has repeatedly ex-pressed his intention to run for president, vowing not to back out amid allegations of corrup-tion against him. (PNA)

goods and consumer durables shows that the country is still on track towards a relatively strong economic expansion, a catch-up in government spending could still further boost domestic demand,” he said.

Balisacan added that the El Niño phenomenon, albe-it weak, brings risks and the

immediate effect will be felt in the agriculture and industrial sectors.

“The government could also fast track programs to counter the effects of extreme weather condition especially on the agricultural and indus-trial sectors, which are vul-nerable to such in the Philip-pines,” he said.


COMPETITIVE EDGE

GLOBE Telecom continues to lead the country’s digital revolution as it re-cently expanded its Direct Carrier

Billing (DCB) service to include customers on Microsoft Lumia smartphones running on the Windows operating system (OS).

With Globe being the first telco to bring the service to the Philippines, the new Win-dows Mobile Store direct carrier billing service gives Microsoft Lumia and Win-dows phone users an easy, convenient, and secure channel to download and purchase their choice of mobile applications and in-app content without the need for a credit card.

Rolling out starting June 18, 2015, the service will allow all Globe Postpaid, Pre-paid, and TM customers to charge their Windows Mobile Store purchases straight to their postpaid bill or prepaid load.

“This new innovation that will benefit our customers using handsets running on Windows OS is another testament to our thrust to bring the country to the global dig-ital landscape,” said Griselda Go, Vice Presi-dent for content at Globe.

“The expansion of our direct billing ser-vice to cater to purchases via the Windows Mobile Store now presents a truly has-sle-free and content-rich mobile experience to all our customers using Windows phone devices,” she added.

The Windows Mobile Store app comes pre-installed on all supported Windows phone devices with OS 7.5 and above, and is pinned to the Start screen within the App List. Premium content available for download and purchase includes games, in-game items and goods, virtual currency and points, virtual goods from social networks, subscriptions for granted access for games, and even E-books.

To access the Windows Mobile Store, users must first set up their device’s loca-tion to determine which Windows Mobile Store catalog and payment options will be made available on the device. The app will automatically recognize Globe as the mo-bile phone’s carrier and will determine it as one of the payment methods available.

Once phone setup is complete, users can login using a Microsoft account (for-merly Windows Live ID) and must accept the Windows Mobile Store Terms of Use and Privacy Agreement. Users can then open the Windows Mobile Store, select the app they wish to purchase, await purchase

THE Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) in partnership with ACES

Polytechnic Colleges will host a conversation on the Compet-itiveness of Agriculture and Agribusiness in Mindanao in the ASEAN Market on June 26, 2015. The lead discussant will be Dr. Francisco P. dela Peña Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of ACES Polytechnic Colleges and Chair of the ACES Natural Farming Institute.

“The Philippine agricul-ture sector is expected to benefit from the upcoming ASEAN economic community integration provided that the government and the agricul-ture sector players have suffi-cient preparations,” dela Peña said.

The country’s agricul-

ture sector is currently not competitive compared to the markets of Indonesia, Viet-nam and Thailand. Poor farm-to-market linkages, failure to modernize and specialize make the Philippines’ agricul-tural industry unable to cope with the ASEAN free market.

Under the ASEAN Eco-nomic Community (AEC), a single regional common mar-ket of ASEAN countries will be created by 2015. The regional integration’s objective is to create a competitive market of over 600 million people in ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Phil-ippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. There will be free flow of goods, services, investment capital and skilled

labor following this liberaliza-tion. It will include tariff re-ductions and streamlining of certain administrative proce-dures. Many businesses have begun preparing themselves three years ahead of time to meet the challenges and op-portunities of the ASEAN Eco-nomic Community (AEC).

This conversation will highlight the assessment on agriculture and the agribusi-ness sector in Mindanao from the point of view of a farm-er-educator and also sharing the initiative by his fami-ly-owned academic institution in supporting the government agricultural and agribusiness development including Or-ganic Agriculture programs to boost its competitiveness in the ASEAN Region.

Talking Points will in-clude: (a) A private sector assessment on the State of Readiness of local agriculture and agribusiness sector in Mindanao for ASEAN integra-tion; (b) Initiatives in support-ing government agricultural & agribusiness development programs; and (c) Potential of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming Technology Systems.

Interested participants may contact Uwe Panimdim of the ADDU Office of the President at 2212411 local 8201. We can only accom-modate 50 persons. The con-versation will be held in the Pakighinabi Room, 3rd Floor, Community Center of the First Companions at 3:40-5:40 PM, 26 June 2015, Friday.

SM Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Harbest Agribusiness Corpora-

tion, the Department of Agri-culture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the City Government of Tagum launched the Kabalikat sa Ka-buhayan Farmers’ training in Barangay Madaum, Tagum City, Davao del Norte last June 5.

The project is part of SM Foundation’s livelihood pro-grams. Over 100 local farmers and approximately 50 DSWD 4Ps recipients will participate in a 12-week training program where they will be taught modern farming techniques.

“The program started in 2008. The Madaum project will be the 92nd batch nation-wide and 10th in Mindanao. In Davao, we also had runs in Marilog, SM City Davao, Tigat-to and Monkayo. The Monkayo project was done in support of DSWD’s recovery program for communities affected by typhoon Pablo,” SMFI assistant vice president for livelihood and outreach Cristie Angeles shares. There are also success-

ful KSK programs in the cities of General Santos and Cagayan de Oro.

According to SM City Davao mall manager Lynette Lopez, the participants will be taught sustainable farming practices and will be planting high value crops in the new demo farm in Madaum. They will also be oriented with basic business accounting to equip them with enough business acumen to start an enterprise out of their farming activities. Some agriculture technical of-ficers of nearby barangays and municipalities will also partic-ipate so they can impart their learnings to their respective areas.

Also gracing the formal launch last Friday were DSWD Regional Director Priscilla Ra-zon, Department of Agricul-ture’s High Value Crop Devel-opment program Coordinator Melanie Provido and SM La-nang Premier mall manager Therese Manalo.

The program is expected to be concluded with a harvest festival and a graduation cere-mony early in September.

YELP Inc., the company that connects consum-ers with local business-

es, yesterday announced the launch of Yelp Philippines (http://www.yelp.com.ph).

People across the Philip-pines can now read reviews about great local businesses and create accounts on Yelp.com.ph to share their opinions.

Yelp’s free iPhone and An-droid apps will be available as well as its free suite of business owner tools: Yelp for Business Owners (http://biz.yelp.com.ph).

The Philippines is the 32nd international market to join the Yelp community. Yelp in the Philippines is available in both English and Filipino, the 18th language available on Yelp.

The Philippines is one of the most modern countries in Asia and the sixth largest English-speaking nation in the world, with English widely spoken as a second language. It is also culturally diverse and internet savvy, with Filipinos sending more than 1 billion text messages per day.

“Filipinos are so well-con-nected online and offline that we know they will love us-ing Yelp to find and connect with great local businesses,” says Miriam Warren, Yelp Vice President of New Markets. “We will be working hard to make sure Yelp is the most useful

and relevant local resource for every Pinoy.”

Yelp will kick off its com-munity building efforts in Ma-nila and soon bring together Yelpers online and offline to experience the best of Manila.

Yelp will also be available across the entire country, so everyone, everywhere in the Philippines with access to the Internet on a desktop com-puter or a smartphone, now has the ability to share their opinions on what is great (and not-so great) about local busi-nesses in the Philippines.

Consumers can find thou-sands of ways to stay cool by logging on to Yelp.com.ph or downloading Yelp’s mobile app to explore all the Philip-pines has to offer.

Business owners can get in on the action too at biz.yelp.com.ph by claiming their Yelp Business Page for free.

To learn more and see pictures of Yelp.com.ph and our iPhone and Android appli-cations, visit the Yelp Official Blog (http://officialblog.yelp.com).

Yelp was founded in San Francisco in July 2004. Since then, Yelp communities have taken root in major metro-politan areas across 32 inter-national markets. Yelp had a monthly average of approx-imately 142 million unique visitors in the first quarter of 2015.

Globe launches Direct Carrier Billingfor Windows Mobile Store in Phl

SM Foundation launchesfarmers’ training in Tagum

AdDU hosts forum on agriculturecompetitiveness in ASEAN Market

Yelp says Mabuhay!Launches in the Philippines to expand Asia Presence

verification, and confirm their mobile phone account or Globe account as their chosen method of payment.

Go pointed out that the Globe direct carrier billing service for the Windows Mobile Store forms part of the com-pany’s initiatives that will cater to the

country’s ever-growing digital land-scape. Other initiatives in the pipeline include the launch of Single Bill service which will expand direct carrier billing beyond mobile applications by allowing customers to purchase applications and in-app items for Desktop/PC and Xbox.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015EDGEDAVAO12

GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICEEDMUND P. RENDONMarketing SpecialistGeneral Santos CityMobile: (Sun) 0925-357-3460 (Smart) 0907-202-3844

DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICEJOCELYN S. PANESDirector of SalesDoor 14 ALCREJ Bldg.,Quirino Ave., Davao CityTel: (082) 224-1413Telefax: (082) 221-3601

MANILA MARKETINGOFFICEANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave.,Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

GO BOLD GO COLOUR• All text

• Telephone Number (bigger point size)

• Bold Header

• Background• Text

Price: 100.00 Price: 175.00 Price: 230.00

ADD-ON

• Pictures/Logos• Graphic Elements

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015 EDGEDAVAO 13NEWS

NOTICE OF LOSSNotice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS

CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 21014842 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 10162268-1 issued to TADURAN, MARY MAGDALENE A.

Reinstatement papers: 2401-52391, 2401-54421, 2401-68120, 2401-72907, 2401-73051-52, 2401-73063, 2401-95522, 2401-101193, 2401-106459, 2401-106462, 2401-106464 issued to TERESITA F.ERAMIS

were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.6/12/19/26

AUTONOMOUS Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mu-

jiv S. Hataman today called out Magdalo Rep. Gary Aleja-no who said that the P27-bil-lion proposed Bangsamoro block grant from the national government might be used instead to purchase arms.

Hataman said that the funds will go to the opera-tion and programs of the new Bangsamoro government similar to the funds received by the ARMM at present, con-trary to insinuations of that the P27-billion block grant will go to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Alejano, vice-chairman of the House national defense committee, alleged that the proposed annual block grant

for the Bangsamoro might be used by the MILF for purchas-ing firearms and weapons.

According to Hataman, the annual block grant will be used to provide better pub-lic services to the residents of the autonomous region. “Gagamitin iyan para sa pag-bili ng gamot para sa mga ospital, pagsasaayos ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan, pambayad sa ating mga guro, at iba pa. Kapalit lang ho iyan ng kasalukuyang budget ng ARMM na kinukuha mula sa GAA (That fund will be used to buy medicines for hos-pitals, to improve medical services, to pay the wages of teachers, and others. That is just a replacement of the cur-rent ARMM budget from the GAA).”

Stop deception, derailing peace efforts, Alejano told

Hataman also expressed dismay over the seemingly uninformed comments by the BBL critics. “Hindi po ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagbitiw ang isang kongre-sista ng maling impormasyon tungkol sa Bangsamoro. Sana ho kritikal at nagsusuri ang ating mga kasama sa gobyer-no, kung gusto talaga nila ng kaunlaran at kapayapaan dito sa rehiyon (This is not the first time that a congress-man misinformed the peo-ple about the Bangsamoro. I hope those in government will be more mindful of their statements and practice due diligence if they really want development and peace in the region).”

“Halimbawa, ngayon, sana ho inaalam kung para saan nga ba ang pera bago sila nagsasalita ng kung ano-ano, mali-mali naman at walang basehan (For example, in this case, I hope the critics tried to actually know how the mon-ey will be spent before they make any assumptions and try to pass them off as facts),” Hataman said.

“Hindi talaga namin maintindihan bakit pau-lit-ulit na lang ang issue na baka gamitin ang P27 bil-lion block grant para ibili ng MILF ng armas. Hindi naman ho iyan mapupunta sa MILF. Didiretso ang pera na yan sa

kaban ng Bangsamoro (We really cannot understand why they keep echoing the is-sue that the P27 Billion block grant will be used by the MILF to purchase weapons. That money will not go to the MILF. It will go directly to the coffers of the Bangsamoro),” explained Hataman.

“Saka paano ‘yan ma-pupunta sa MILF kung ‘di pa nga natin nasisiguro kung sila nga o ang kanilang parti-do ay mananalo sa eleksyon (Besides, how would that money go to the MILF, when we are not yet even sure if their political party will win in the election),” added Hat-aman.

Similar to other govern-ment agencies, the ARMM budget is included in the General Appropriations Act that needs to be defended annually. However, under the new Bangsamoro setup, the regional government will re-ceive an automatic allocation that is akin to the Internal Revenue Allocations (IRA) of local government units.

The formula for com-puting the annual block grant is 4% of the 60% of the total national revenue three fiscal years prior. For 2016, that amount would total P27 bil-lion. The ARMM’s budget for 2015 is just a little more than P25 billion.

THE Regional Develop-ment Council (RDC) of Region 12 is seeking

the national government’s intervention over the rising incidence of the human immu-nodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually-transmitted in-fections in the region.

In a resolution, the coun-cil’s Regional Social Devel-opment Committee (RSDC) specifically called for support and appropriate actions over the matter from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s So-cial Development Committee (SDC).

Arturo Valero, RDC-12 acting chairperson, said they elevated the matter to the NEDA Board to generate sup-port from various government agencies in addressing the problem.

He mainly cited the De-partment of Health (DOH), the Department of Budget and Management and other con-cerned agencies at the nation-al level.

“We’re raising this con-cern considering that prevent-ing the spread of HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is one of the Mil-lennium Development Goals that our country is hoping to achieve,” he said in a state-ment.

The NEDA Board’s SDC is one of its committees that meet semi-annually to delib-erate and address social devel-opment issues that need the support or action by national

line agencies and depart-ments.

In terms of the region’s HIV/AIDS situation, the coun-cil is specifically concerned with the increasing cases in South Cotabato province.

Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., South Cotabato Integrat-ed Provincial Health Office (IPHO) chief, said they already recorded a total of 254 HIV/AIDS cases in the area as of the first quarter of the year.

“Males having sex with other males is the predom-inant mode of transmission of the infections and a few are caused by needle sharing among injecting drug users,” he said.

He said the detection rate in the province has been increasing due to the rising awareness about the disease among local residents.

The official said it is im-portant for HIV/AIDS to be de-tected early to facilitate earlier treatments.

“As the IPHO continues in its detection drive or case finding, it is expected that the number of recorded cases in the province will increase in the next few months,” he said.

Aturdido said there’s a need for the DOH to establish a treatment hub in the region to facilitate the immediate treatment of confirmed HIV/AIDS cases.

HIV/AIDS patients in the region currently receive treat-ment at the DOH-run South-ern Philippines Medical Cen-ter in Davao City.

Region 12 RDC seekingintervention on HIV cases

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 201514PROPERTY

MOBILIZATION COMMENCED. Riezl Landcare & Construction has mobilized, board up the area of the bldg.

Preparing for the fabrication area of the pre-cast walls.

CONSTRUCTION of building 1 of the Mati-na Enclaves, the signa-

ture project of homegrown developer Escandor Devel-opment Corporation (Esdev-

co), is underway and moving ahead of schedule.

Matina Enclaves proj-ect manager Gerald Garces said the construction went full swing after the recent

EDGEDAVAO

Matina Enclaves building 1construction underway

awarding of the bidding for the construction of the said building. The first condo-minium building is part of the sprawling mixed use de-velopment of the property located in Quimpo Boule-vard, right next to the Davao City Golf Club.

Handling the construc-tion is Riezl Landcare and Construction company which won the bid for the building project.

Aside from the ongoing construction, Matina En-claves will also hold an Open House today. Last Monday, Esdevco held an Investors Night in Tagum City for in-terested provincial-based clients.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015 15SPORTSEDGEDAVAO

THIS is how consensus experts see the NBA Draft will go today. Of

course, this is just the experts’ mock draft. The real story of this year’s draft should be made by the teams who will be picking according to their needs and the available talent.

1. Minnesota Timber-wolves — Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C

Experts: 9 of 9School: KentuckyOther possibilities: NoneKey expert quote: Givony:

“The gap between Towns and Jahlil Okafor has widened sig-nificantly in recent months, to the point that it feels like a foregone conclusion that Towns will be going #1.”

2. Los Angeles Lakers — Jahlil Okafor, C

Experts: 9 of 9School: DukeOther possibilities: NoneKey expert quote: Bod-

ner: “In the end, the ability to run an offense through Okafor may be too much to pass up.”

3. Philadelphia 76ers — D’Angelo Russell, G

Experts: 7 of 9School: Ohio StateOther possibilities: Kri-

staps Porzingis (2)Key expert quote: Mannix:

“It’s hard to believe the Sixers would take Kristaps Porzingis, not with a gaping hole at point guard and Russell, who is well liked in the organization, on the board.”

4. New York Knicks — Kri-staps Porzingis, F

Experts: 4 of 9School: None (Latvia)

Other possibilities: D’Angelo Russell (2), Justise Winslow (2), Emmanuel Mu-diay (1)

Key expert quote: Givony: “With center Greg Monroe reportedly a top target of the Knicks in free agency, power forward could very well be the next position the team looks to fill with Triangle friendly play-ers, especially if D’Angelo Rus-sell (who is a lock to get picked here is available) is indeed off the board.”

5. Orlando Magic — Jus-tise Winslow, G/F

Experts: 5 of 9School: DukeOther possibilities: Kri-

staps Porzingis (3), Mario He-zonja (1)

Key expert quote: Parrish: “Label me intrigued by a 1-2-3

combination of Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo and Winslow in Orlando.”

6. Sacramento Kings — Emmanuel Mudiay, G

Experts: 7 of 9School: None (China)Other possibilities: Justise

Winslow (1), Mario Hezonja (1)

Key expert quote: Ford: “The Kings have needed an elite point guard for some time and I think if Mudiay is on the board, it’s going to be hard for them to pass.”

7. Denver Nuggets — Ma-rio Hezonja, G/F

Experts: 6 of 9School: None (Croatia)Other possibilities: Jus-

tise Winslow (1), Willie Cau-ley-Stein (1), Emmanuel Mu-diay (1)

Key expert quote: Mannix: “The Nuggets have done ex-tensive research on Hezonja, a flashy two-guard with a solid all-around offensive game.”

8. Detroit Pistons — Stan-ley Johnson, F

Experts: 5 of 9School: ArizonaOther possibilities: Ma-

rio Hezonja (1), Willie Cau-ley-Stein (1), Devin Booker (1), Sam Dekker (1)

Key expert quote: Harper: “If Stan Van Gundy believes Johnson can be a shooter at the NBA level, he’ll be the guy here and fit in perfectly.”

9. Charlotte Hornets — Devin Booker, G

Experts: 4 of 9School: KentuckyOther possibilities: Willie

Cauley-Stein (2), Myles Turner

(1), Stanley Johnson (1), Cam-eron Payne (1)

Key expert quote: Parrish: “Booker’s natural shooting ability was evident in one sea-son at Kentucky and will allow him to stick in the NBA for at least a decade (barring inju-ry).”

10. Miami Heat — Myles Turner, C

Experts: 4 of 9School: TexasOther possibilities: Frank

Kaminsky (2), Stanley John-son (1), Sam Dekker (1), Kelly Oubre (1)

Key expert quote: How-ard-Cooper: “Turner can play inside on offense or defense, with the potential to become an impact shot blocker, and a shooting touch on a jumper with range.”

10. Miami Heat — Myles Turner, C

9. Charlotte Hornets — Devin Booker, G

8. Detroit Pistons — Stanley Johnson, F

7. Denver Nuggets — Mario Hezonja, G/F

6. Sacramento Kings — Emmanuel Mudiay, G

5. Orlando Magic — Justise Winslow, G/F

4. New York Knicks — Kristaps Porzingis, F

3. Philadelphia 76ers — D’An-gelo Russell, G

2. Los Angeles Lakers — Jahlil Okafor, C

1. Minnesota Timberwolves — Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C

Experts’ pick: How the NBA Draft could go

NBA hopeful Ray Parks capped off his series of pre-draft

workouts this week with the Dal-las Mavericks and the Boston

Celtics.“Past few days,

I’ve been traveling like cra-zy but it is such a bless-

ing to

be able to have the opportunity to workout in front of these teams. Dallas is such a great organization, had a great workout, and a great city. Definitely one for the books,” Parks wrote in an Instagram post.

“Truly so much history that goes into the Boston Celtics fran-chise. Thank you for the opportu-nity,” he wrote in a separate post.

Parks earlier attended work-outs with the Utah Jazz and the Brooklyn Nets in the hope of im-pressing scouts and getting se-lected in the 2015 NBA Draft on

Thursday (Friday morning Philip-pine time).

But the 6’4″ Parks admitted in an interview that he will “com-pletely understand” if he goes undrafted as he is aware that his stock is not that high compared to other more-known prospects who spent college basketball in the United States.

This year marks his second attempt of giving his NBA dream a shot after getting denied last year due to eligibility issues.

Parks was once a highly re-

garded high school player from Memphis, committing to play for US NCAA Division One school Georgia Tech in 2011. But he de-cided to take his talents to the Philippines to be with his ailing father, PBA legendary import Bob-by Ray Sr., who died of cancer in 2012.

The younger Parks went on to play for the National University in the UAAP where he won two MVP awards and suit up for the nation-al team in a couple of international tournaments.

MOMENT OF TRUTHParks tries luck with NBA Draft today

ASPIRANT. Bobby Parks Jr. has attended the camps of Dallas, Boston and Utah and hopes to get drafted today. However, if he fails, he said he is ready to accept his fate.

KRISTAPS Porzingis has the height and shooting touch that makes NBA scouts

drool, and the slender Latvian is determined to show he has the passion and toughness to thrive in the world’s top league.

The 19-year-old Latvian, who has been playing profes-sionally in Spain, is expected to be one of the top picks in Thurs-day’s NBA Draft at Barclays Cen-ter in Brooklyn.

Porzingis has been brought along gradually by Cajasol Se-ville in Spain’s ACB, averaging

8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds over two and a half seasons with them.

The 7-foot-1 (2.16 m) for-ward said he hopes to shatter an NBA stereotype.

“I’m conscious that there’s a stereotype about white, Europe-an big men who are skilled,” the slender Porzingis told reporters during a roundtable session on Wednesday about a perception that they play too soft for the NBA.

“But the thing about me is the love I have for the game and

the passion. I can be in the gym three hours straight shooting by myself.

“I think that will help me in the long run as my career goes on. I’ll keep my mentality the same, my work ethic the same.”

Porzingis said his passion for the game came from a bas-ketball family where his father, mother and two brothers all played, and that he was not wor-ried about the physical demands of the NBA.

“I played with professionals for two and a half years,” he said.

“Definitely I’m skinny, but I can use my length as an advantage on defense.

“I need to put some weight on. I’ll be working in the weight room a lot. That’s definitely one of the things I have to work at, getting stronger. I think in the long run I won’t have a problem with that.”

Porzingis, who developed quickness and ball-handling skills playing guard as a young-ster, said there was a difference between being strong and being tough.

Highly touted Latvian Porzingis out to break stereotype

VOL. 8 ISSUE 61 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - 27, 2015

EYES ON WORLD TITLE16 EDGEDAVAOSports

Dapudong looks beyond fight against Garcia tonight

FORMER International Boxing Organization (IBO) world super fly-

weight champion Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong is eyeing another world title shot at

the 118-lb. division before considering moving up in weight at 122.

But first, Edrin has to get past a tough opponent in Richard Garcia tonight in the

main offering of Boxing Rev-olution III “No Guts No Glory” at the Davao City Recreation Center (Almendras Gym).

Dapudong will take on Garcia, the former Pan Asia

Boxing Association (PABA) flyweight king, before think-ing of a a rematch with Mex-ican Hernan Marquez, who beat him via a 3rd round knockout during their world

BOXING REVOLUTION III. Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong (third from left) strike a fighting pose with opponent Richard Garcia during yesterday’s weigh-in at the NCCC Mall. Flanking them are Sonshine Sports roundgirls Armina Paraiso, Laarnie Villanueva and Arnee Caminade. Lean Daval Jr.

[email protected]

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

title-fight for the WBA fly-weight crown last July 2, 2011 in Mexico.

Dapudong weighed 118 pounds in yesterday’s weigh in at the NCCC Mall super-vised by Games and Amuse-ments Board Davao field office through sports and games officer John Kenneth Improso. Garcia, who vowed to knockout Dapudong if he gets careless, was three pounds over the limit in his first attempt and was given two hours to make the limit.

Dapudong and Garcia will fight for 10 rounds at 115-pounds.

The 28-year old Dapud-ong has a record of 30 wins with 18 knockouts against six loses while Garcia, 31, has 25 wins (7 KOs), 21 defeats and one draw.

Also seeing action in the Boxing Revolution III on Fri-day night at the Almendras Gym are the other fighters from SSMI – former WBO Ori-ental featherweight Lorenzo “Thunderbolt” Villanueva, ex-WBO Oriental bantamweight title-holder Rolando “Smooth Operator” Magbanua, ex-WBO Oriental mini-flyweight

king Romel “Little Assa-sin” Asenjo and undefeated Roskie “Kapre” Cristobal.

The 29-year old Villanue-va (28 wins, 24 KOs, 1 loss) fights late replacement Hagi-bis Quiñones in 10 rounds for 130 lbs. while Magbanua (25 wins, 17 Kos, 2 loses) takes on ex-Philippine Boxing Fed-eration flyweight champion Rey Las Pinas at 125 lbs.

Asenjo (26 wins, 20 KOs, 4 loses) fights Michael “Mat-ibay” Rodriguez of Baguio in another tenner.

The undefeated Cristobal (10 wins, 8 Kos) will face vet-eran JR Mendoza of Cavite in an 8-rounder 135 lbs. match.

Also featured in the un-dercard are Jose Ocampo vs. Jaime Barcelona (8 rds.-130 lbs.); Vergil Deluma vs. Fre-den dela Cruz (6 rds.-118 lbs.); Arnold Garde vs. Rez Pa-drogane (6 rds.-130 lbs.); Al-vin Lagumbay vs. Joe Tesones (6 rds.-130 lbs.); Gerald Al-varez vs. Prince Canonero (4 rds.-105 lbs.).

Proceeds of the event dubbed as “No Guts, No Glo-ry” will be used for the schol-arship program of the Jose Maria College.

Edge Davao 8 Issue 61

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