Edge Davao 6 Issue 177

THE annual income of the Davao City government would

be more than P5.1 billion as estimated, if only tax-able business properties and activities in the city are properly assessed and taxed.

This was bared by Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, chairman of the Davao City Coun-cil committee on finance which is finalizing the city government’s budget for 2014.

Dayanghirang lauded the move of Mayor Rodri-go R. Duterte in launching a crackdown on fraudulent assessment and tax collec-tion by corrupt employees in the offices of the city assessor and the city trea-surer.

The 17th city council will start plenary discus-sion on the proposed budget for 2014 within the week, after the com-mittee on finance finished conducting hearings on the budget measure, ac-cording to Dayanghirang, who guested at yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao at Ecoland-Matina.

In essence, the com-mittee will favorably en-dorse the budget proposal of Mayor Duterte, Dayang-hirang said.

During the series of hearings it conducted, the committee uncovered certain deficiencies in the city’s collection of taxes, he bared.

He said the city could

P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.net

EDGE Serving a seamless society

DAVAOVOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

FCHEATING, 10

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

SANTA IS FOR KIDS. A Santa Claus-clad man entertains children from the communities around Lanang areas during the “Sparkles of Joy” Christmas launch at the SM Lanang Premier on Saturday. AJ Bravo

CHEATING IN TAXES BAREDCity’s income P5.1B plus if taxes are properly collected: Danny

TEACHING ‘EM HOW. A safety course instructor from the Philippine National Police (PNP) gives directions to trainees during the 8th day of the modified motorcycle riding course training at SM City Davao car park yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

AN alleged member of a drug syndicate was killed when he re-

portedly resisted arrest by a police team during a buy-bust operation at Calinan Park Saturday night.

Police identified the man as one Lowel Badad, 30, resident of Barangay 5, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, He was tagged as a courier of the Weng-Weng Bunawan group involved in big-time illegal drugs pushing.

P/Chief Inspector Aldrin Juaniza , station commander of the Calinan police station, said that Badad drew a gun and pointed it at a police poseur which prompted the police team to shoot him.

Badad had just sold P1,000 worth of shabu to the poseur when he realized that it was a buy-bust oper-ation. He was declared dead

by an attending physician at the Robillo hospital. He had succumbed to three gunshot wounds in the chest.

Juaniza said that the group is responsible for peddling illegal drugs in in Davao City and nearby ar-eas.

Police said it took them four months of surveillance before they caught Badad red-handed.

“We got the chance to capture him alive, but when he drew his gun police shot him first,” Juaniza said.

Police recovered a .38 caliber revolver, three rounds of ammunition, and shabu worth P4,000 from Badad’s possession.

The police are conduct-ing a manhunt for Badad’s common-law wife, one alias “Angging”who has been Ba-dad’s partner in crime.

AMNESTY Interna-tional, a non- gov-ernment organiza-

tion in partnership with the Regional Sub-Com-mittee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC 11) is spearheading the 24th Universal Children’s Day (UNCRC) on November 20, 2013 here.

It will start at Free-dom Park (in front of Red Cross building), at 1:00 - 2:00 in the afternoon for the Foot Parade towards the main venue at Almen-dras Gym.

Dubbed as “Child-friendly Philip-pines; A caring and pro-

tective society for, by and with the children”, Hope Fernandez, AI’s local staff in Mindanao said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at the SM City Annex yes-terday that about 700 children and other par-ticipants representing various sectors of the so-ciety will paticipate the multi-sectoral event.

It includes multi-sec-toral coalition of various government organiza-tions, NGOs, FBOs, Pos and children associations such as the Mindanao Coalition for Children’s Rights (MCCR), former-

2

FAMNESTY, 10

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

THE Davao City council has allotted P750 million for

peace and order opera-tions in 2014. The budget this year is the same for that of next year.

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said the budget is intended to be spent to maintain and en-hance security in the city.

He said that the bud-get will also finance trainings, food expenses,

transportation expenses, purchasing of fuel and new vehicles for the po-lice and Task Force Davao, maintenance of the Cen-tral 911, its equipments which are expensive.

The council also ap-proved P500 million for debt servicing of P113 million urgent needs of the barangay infrastruc-ture projects and so-cio-economic and envi-ronment projects. [EPC]

LIGHT MOMENT. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a light talk with Alaska Aces head coach Luigi Trillo and assistant coach Louie Alas

BODY OF THE CRIME. The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Intelligence Division recovers a bundle of marijuana weighing at least 1 kilo and the marked money worth P150 from suspected drug pushers Marvin Concon Balnaja and Dave Balnaja Barrios in a buy-bust operation in Sarphil, Agdao, Davao City over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

Amnesty International leads DC Children’s Day

Council allots P750Mfor peace and order

THE Davao City Coun-cil is amenable to the proposal of May-

or Rodrigo Duterte for the city government to allo-cate funds for the typhoon Yolanda survivors who are now in Davao City.

In a statement, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said that Davao City has the duty to help its fellow Filipinos in times of crisis.

“Yes we are amenable to it. Our brothers and sis-ters will surely find it hard to recover from the dev-astation brought by the typhoon. If bringing them here to Davao would ex-pedite their recovery and start their life anew, then we are more than willing to welcome them. Davao is blessed with opportunities

of employment and liveli-hood. We will share this to them to help them slowly pick up the pieces of their lives which were shattered by the tragedy. This past week we have sent help to them so they won’t feel that they are not alone. Now, if they need to come here to escape the nightmare, then we will show them that Life is Here,” VM Duterte said.

He added that the city’s coffers has more than enough to assist the ty-phoon victims.

“I’m sure we have enough money in our cof-fers to cover this humani-tarian endeavor of the city. Trust that the City Council, for as long as it can, will do whatever possible just to send the message across

that this is not the end of the road for them,” he said.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that typhoon victims from Leyte and Samar who wanted to relo-cate in Davao City are wel-come to do so.

Duterte said that with the massive destruction brought about by Typhoon Yolanda in Samar and Leyte, he expects residents there to relocate some-where else.

He said Davao City be-ing the land of promise is one of the most probable choices for relocation by the typhoon survivors.

Duterte said the city is willing to help the typhoon survivors rebuild their lives here.

He said the city govern-

ment is even willing to pro-vide financial assistance to the victims if the City Coun-cil would allow it.

It was learned that about 100 families have recently arrived in Davao City from Leyte.

Duterte assured the ty-phoon survivors that for as long as they are in Davao City, they will never go hungry again.

The City Government of Davao has earlier donat-ed P8 million in financial assistance to the two prov-inces of Leyte and in Taclo-ban City.

Davao also sent two teams of medical and search and rescue and re-trieval teams to Tacloban City last week along with relief goods. [PNA]

Council to allocate fundsfor typhoon evacuees

End of the crooked road

Drug syndicate manshot dead by policeBy EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

[email protected]


AN official of the Department of Sci-ence and Technol-

ogy in region 11 said stu-dents in various levels in the city are taking hike in the development of robot-ics and mechatronics.

DOST regional direc-tor Dr. Anthony Sales, in a media forum at Kapehan sa Dabaw, SM City An-nex, said that DOST-Tech-nology and Application and Promotion Institute (Tapi) is collaborating with schools in the region on various research and development initiatives.

“Sa high school, we are encouraging students to do research not only

on traditional areas but also in Information and Communication Technol-ogy (ICT), robotics and mechatronics,” Sales said, citing that the Philippine Science High school in Mintal is now into those fields.

On the tertiary level, Ateneo de Davao Univer-sity takes the initiative in the development of robot-ics and mechatronics and will hopefully grace the three-day 2013 Region-al Invention Contest and Exhibit(RICE) at SM City Davao Events Center, SM Annex.

Sales said that com-

BAYAN Muna Repre-sentatives Neri Col-menares and Carlos

Zarate today urged the Aquino administration to ask for debt moratoriums at the minimum or a debt write off at the maximum so that the country would be given ample funds and time to rehabilitate. For the year 2013 the total foreign borrowings is P2 trillion and the budget for debt servicing alone, is P333.9 billion.

“We should review the national budget and see if we can free more funds intended for debt servic-ing so that these can be rechanneled to the rehabil-itation of devastated areas. Cases in point are the debt

management fund which is P85.18 billion and the in-ternational commitments fund which is P4.8 billion. There should also be a re-view of the debts incurred from anomalous deals sim-ilar to the NBN-ZTE deal that was overpriced by US$ 200 Million. Debts such as the Public Law 480 and our scheduled payment for the loan from the ADB for agrarian reform beneficia-ries in the ARC II project both of which amounts to at least P5.492 Billion could come under this catego-ry. Adding the unjust and unreasonable P 30 Billion from the Risk Management Fund we will now have a total of P125 Billion so far that would go a long way in

the long term rehabilitation of areas affected by calam-ities including the victims of the Bohol earthquake and typhoon Pablo, ” said the senior deputy minority leader.

“We ask foreign and local banks to write off the interest payment of P333.9 billion for the year and to declare a moratorium on the principal payments. The international community should understand that we need all the funds we have to help our countrymen rise up as soon as possible and we hope that other coun-tries would support our call,” said the progressive solon.

As for his part, Rep. Zarate said that a rehabil-

itation fund proposed by leaders of the Senate is fine for as long as it would not become another source of pork barrel. The solon also said that at least P100 billion is needed for the re-habilitation of the disaster hit areas from Central and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, parts of South-ern Tagalog, parts of the Bicol region and even Zam-boanga City. Debt relief can definitely free funds for the rehabilitation of our devas-tated regions.

“Aside from the reha-bilitation of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and oth-er infrastructure this fund must also be used for hous-ing and livelihood projects

DAVAO Inventors are seeking assis-tance from govern-

ment for the financing of prototyping of inventions through the creation of a satellite office of the De-partment of Science and Technology- Technology Application and Promotion Office(Dost-Tapi), an offi-cial bared during Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the SM City Annex.

Virgilio Sangutan, exec-utive vice president of the Davao Inventors Associa-tion said that inventors in the region receive minimal

assistance from the gov-ernment because of the unavailability of Tapi in the city. He said that this inhibit inventors from applying for prototyping.

Sangutan said that there is a need to decentralize the operation of Tapi in Manila and bring it to the regional level.

“This will cut the ex-pense of application since inventors don’t need to go to Manila anymore,” he said.

He said that the agency has to assist inventors be-cause this will help the Phil-

3NEWS

THE number of wood processing plants in the region has

decreased due to the im-plementation of Executive Order (EO) 23 or “Moratori-um on the cutting and har-vesting of trees in the nat-ural and residual forests,” Department of Natural Re-sources (DENR 11) said.

Joselin Marcus E. Fraga-da, regional director, said in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex, that the region only has 46 wood processing plants left from 150.

Fragada said that the main intention is to make sure that the log supply of a wood processing plant in a

certain area is either plant-ed or imported.

He said that the remain-ing 46 were given contracts because the DENR was able to verify and validate their log supplies. Fragada add-ed that a wood processing plant should have five years of supply before they are given a contract.

Fragada said that if the contract expires can ask for a renewal and get a pne year extension for the first renewal. He said that after a year they will validate the supplies of the plant b be-fore it is given a three year extension for the second time if it passes the valida-tion.

SPECIAL GIFT. Masao Oishi presents to General Santos City Mayor Ronel Rivera a special gift – a photo of Mt. Fiji – from Shizuoka City Mayor Tanabe. Oishi is a friend of Mayor Tanabe and a resident of Shizuoka City, capital of Shizuoka prefecture, Japan.

CRASH. Task Force Davao operatives who are undergoing safety training under the modified motorcycle riding course fell from their motorcycle after crashing it in front of a Philippine National Police (PNP) instructor at SM City Davao car park yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Investors want TAPIfield office in R-11

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

Bayan Muna: Gov’t shouldask for foreign debt relief

Wood-processing plantsin Region 11 down to 46

From 150

Student inventors competing today

FINVESTORSS, 10

FBAYAN MUNA, 10FFROM 150, 10

FSTUDENT, 10



AN official of the Department of Sci-ence and Technol-

ogy in region 11 said stu-dents in various levels in the city are taking hike in the development of robot-ics and mechatronics.

DOST regional direc-tor Dr. Anthony Sales, in a media forum at Kapehan sa Dabaw, SM City An-nex, said that DOST-Tech-nology and Application and Promotion Institute (Tapi) is collaborating with schools in the region on various research and development initiatives.

“Sa high school, we are encouraging students to do research not only

on traditional areas but also in Information and Communication Technol-ogy (ICT), robotics and mechatronics,” Sales said, citing that the Philippine Science High school in Mintal is now into those fields.

On the tertiary level, Ateneo de Davao Univer-sity takes the initiative in the development of robot-ics and mechatronics and will hopefully grace the three-day 2013 Region-al Invention Contest and Exhibit(RICE) at SM City Davao Events Center, SM Annex.

Sales said that com-

BAYAN Muna Repre-sentatives Neri Col-menares and Carlos

Zarate today urged the Aquino administration to ask for debt moratoriums at the minimum or a debt write off at the maximum so that the country would be given ample funds and time to rehabilitate. For the year 2013 the total foreign borrowings is P2 trillion and the budget for debt servicing alone, is P333.9 billion.

“We should review the national budget and see if we can free more funds intended for debt servic-ing so that these can be rechanneled to the rehabil-itation of devastated areas. Cases in point are the debt

management fund which is P85.18 billion and the in-ternational commitments fund which is P4.8 billion. There should also be a re-view of the debts incurred from anomalous deals sim-ilar to the NBN-ZTE deal that was overpriced by US$ 200 Million. Debts such as the Public Law 480 and our scheduled payment for the loan from the ADB for agrarian reform beneficia-ries in the ARC II project both of which amounts to at least P5.492 Billion could come under this catego-ry. Adding the unjust and unreasonable P 30 Billion from the Risk Management Fund we will now have a total of P125 Billion so far that would go a long way in

the long term rehabilitation of areas affected by calam-ities including the victims of the Bohol earthquake and typhoon Pablo, ” said the senior deputy minority leader.

“We ask foreign and local banks to write off the interest payment of P333.9 billion for the year and to declare a moratorium on the principal payments. The international community should understand that we need all the funds we have to help our countrymen rise up as soon as possible and we hope that other coun-tries would support our call,” said the progressive solon.

As for his part, Rep. Zarate said that a rehabil-

itation fund proposed by leaders of the Senate is fine for as long as it would not become another source of pork barrel. The solon also said that at least P100 billion is needed for the re-habilitation of the disaster hit areas from Central and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, parts of South-ern Tagalog, parts of the Bicol region and even Zam-boanga City. Debt relief can definitely free funds for the rehabilitation of our devas-tated regions.

“Aside from the reha-bilitation of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and oth-er infrastructure this fund must also be used for hous-ing and livelihood projects

DAVAO Inventors are seeking assis-tance from govern-

ment for the financing of prototyping of inventions through the creation of a satellite office of the De-partment of Science and Technology- Technology Application and Promotion Office(Dost-Tapi), an offi-cial bared during Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the SM City Annex.

Virgilio Sangutan, exec-utive vice president of the Davao Inventors Associa-tion said that inventors in the region receive minimal

assistance from the gov-ernment because of the unavailability of Tapi in the city. He said that this inhibit inventors from applying for prototyping.

Sangutan said that there is a need to decentralize the operation of Tapi in Manila and bring it to the regional level.

“This will cut the ex-pense of application since inventors don’t need to go to Manila anymore,” he said.

He said that the agency has to assist inventors be-cause this will help the Phil-

3NEWS

THE number of wood processing plants in the region has

decreased due to the im-plementation of Executive Order (EO) 23 or “Moratori-um on the cutting and har-vesting of trees in the nat-ural and residual forests,” Department of Natural Re-sources (DENR 11) said.

Joselin Marcus E. Fraga-da, regional director, said in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex, that the region only has 46 wood processing plants left from 150.

Fragada said that the main intention is to make sure that the log supply of a wood processing plant in a

certain area is either plant-ed or imported.

He said that the remain-ing 46 were given contracts because the DENR was able to verify and validate their log supplies. Fragada add-ed that a wood processing plant should have five years of supply before they are given a contract.

Fragada said that if the contract expires can ask for a renewal and get a pne year extension for the first renewal. He said that after a year they will validate the supplies of the plant b be-fore it is given a three year extension for the second time if it passes the valida-tion.

SPECIAL GIFT. Masao Oishi presents to General Santos City Mayor Ronel Rivera a special gift – a photo of Mt. Fiji – from Shizuoka City Mayor Tanabe. Oishi is a friend of Mayor Tanabe and a resident of Shizuoka City, capital of Shizuoka prefecture, Japan.

CRASH. Task Force Davao operatives who are undergoing safety training under the modified motorcycle riding course fell from their motorcycle after crashing it in front of a Philippine National Police (PNP) instructor at SM City Davao car park yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Investors want TAPIfield office in R-11

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

Bayan Muna: Gov’t shouldask for foreign debt relief

Wood-processing plantsin Region 11 down to 46

From 150

Student inventors competing today

FINVESTORSS, 10

FBAYAN MUNA, 10FFROM 150, 10

FSTUDENT, 10



EVEN as Davao City is known as a typhoon-free

area, the city is not completely free from the occurrence of ex-treme weather events attributed to climate change such as flood-ing, sea level rise, strong winds, rain-in-duced landslides, monsoon waves and drought.

In a presentation during the opening yesterday of the two-day high-level consul-tation for local climate change actions, city planning and devel-opment coordinator Mario Luis J. Jacinto said that based on the Vulnerability and Ad-aptation Assessment (VAA) in Davao City, the city is most vul-nerable to flooding.

He said the oc-currence of flooding stemmed from the increase of rainfall volume, new develop-ments in previously undisturbed water-shed areas, the en-croachment of infor-mal settlers to river-banks and protected areas and the clogged and inadequate drain-age.

Another factor that exacerbates the city’s vulnerability to flood-ing is the occurrence of sea level rise.

“We have 60 ki-lometers of coastline and the vulnerability of these areas to flood-ing is practically high during heavy rains,” Jacinto said.

The VAA report said the rise in sea lev-els has been observed in Davao City as wa-

ter elevation in major storm drain outfalls to the Davao Gulf is now higher than the drain-age lines, usually caus-ing inundation in low lying areas particular-ly when heavy rains occur during high tide.

“Out of 16 major outfalls, 87.5 % or 14 of which are directed to Davao Gulf. The in-vert elevation of major storm drains outfalls to the gulf are at mean sea level or lower, thus, discharge capaci-ties depend on the tide level. This explains the high risk of coastal in-undation to almost 21 barangays in the Cen-tral Business District (CBD) with an esti-mated total of 2,370 families,” it said.

The VAA report also attributed the clogging of water channels and drainage systems to improper solid waste disposal with the informal set-tlement families being a major contributor.

The report said that the changing wa-ter course expands the width of rivers, creat-ing deltas, boulders and islets can lead to flooding in areas not flooded before.

“Flooding in ur-ban areas as a result of continuous heavy downpour and coastal inundation due to sea level rise poses a huge threat in the CBD,” it said.

According to the VAA report, around 550 hectares of low lying land area in the city’s CBD are usually affected by flooding after thirty minutes of heavy rain. “Inade- quate drainage system

associated with im-proper waste disposal has contributed to this impact,” it said.

Davao City has sev-en major rivers and six of which usually over-flow during or after three to five of heavy rains in the upland ar-eas.

“The rise in sea level and the frequent incidences of flooding in the CBD will result to disruption of urban mobility. About 198 kilometers of road are located in flood prone areas in 32 barangays. Flooded street leads to traffic congestion,

thus delivery of per-ishable goods and commodities as well as access to commer-cial establishments and other facilities are affected,” it said.

Aside from ensur-ing that all natural waterways are clear of obstruction, Jacinto said the city’s adapta-tion options include the implementation of climate change moni-toring program to en-hance our capacity to monitor sea-level in the city and the beach reforestation project to minimize saltwater intrusion.

“We will dissemi-

nate information and make our communi-ties aware of it, pro-vide them with live-lihoods and strictly enforce our laws. We make sure that there will be no obstruction in our waterways and construct drainage lines. We have to im-prove vegetation in watersheds to reduce siltation,” he said.

“Our adaptation initiatives will be a continuing effort. It will always be a work in progress as we con-tinue to improve in building sustainable communities,” Jacinto said.

4

Davao City most vulnerable to flooding

EDGEDAVAO

BIGGER PICTURE

[email protected]

By GREGORIO G. DELIGERO

COMING HOME. Members of the rescue and medical composite team sent by Davao City to Leyte to assist in the rescue operations there arrives safely at the Central 911 Compound yesterday morning. (City Information Office)

RETURNING VOLUNTEERS. 911 USAR and EMS personnel are welcomed and congratulated by their fellow rescuers as they arrive from Leyte yesterday after a week of assisting in the search, rescue and retrieval operations especially in Tacloban City. (City Information Office)

REFUGEES. A personnel of the City Social Services and Development Office talks to one of the refugees who arrived with the 911 Team when the latter arrived home yesterday from Tacloban City. (City Information Office)

VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013 5EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY

SECURITY Bank Cor-poration through its credit card subsidi-

ary, SB Cards Corporation, franchise owner of Diners Club Philippines, the first multi-purpose credit card in the world, has created a turbo-charged partnership with SEAOIL, the leading and largest independent fuel company in the Philip-pines, to offer motorists all over the Philippines a card that will help them blaze on the road with more perks.

The Diners Club-SEAOIL credit card features a whop-ping 7% promo gas rebate – the highest in the industry – in SEAOIL stations until March 12, 2014, and a year-round 4% gas rebate. The Diners Club-SEAOIL credit card also offers free Php500 worth of SEAOIL fuel for newly-activated cards, 10% discount on SEAOIL lubri-cants, 24-hour nationwide emergency road assistance,

and a host of exclusive and exciting auto-related tie-ups and promos, allowing customers to get as much as Php16,000 rebate in a year, depending on the card activation date.

All these perks simply catch up with the many other privileges of living in the fast lane of Diners Club Cardholders: internation-al acceptance, waived first year annual membership fee, ChargeLight Install-ment facility, Bills Assist Program, convenient pay-ment facilities, and 24/7 Customer Service Hotline.

Photo shows: SB Cards Chairman Belen Lim, Asia-Pacific Regional Man-aging Director for Diners Club International John McCann, SEAOIL President Glenn Yu, and SB Cards President Dave Sarmiento at the unveiling of the new Diners Club-SEAOIL credit card.

SEAOIL CARD. SB Cards Chairman Belen Lim, Asia-Pacific Regional Managing Director for Diners Club International John McCann, SEAOIL President Glenn Yu, and SB Cards President Dave Sarmiento at the unveiling of the new Diners Club-SEAOIL credit card.

Diners Club, SEAOILlaunch credit card


MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2012-April 2013)

Month 2013 2012 2011

Average 42.23 43.31December 41.01 43.64November 41.12 43.27October 41.45 43.45

September 41.75 43.02August 42.04 42.42

July 41.91 42.81June 42.78 43.37May 42.85 43.13April 42.70 43.24

March 42.86 43.52February 40.67 42.66 43.70January 40.73 43.62 44.17

Stat Watch7.1

1st Qtr 2013

7.8 1st Qtr 2013

USD 3,741 million

Feb 2013USD 4,708

million Feb 2013USD -967

million Feb 2013USD -640

millionDec 2012

P 4,964,560 million

Feb 2013

2.4 % Mar 2013P113,609

million Mar 2013

P 5,281 billion

Mar 2013

P 41.14 Apr 2013

6,847.5 Mar 2013

132.8 Apr 2013

2.6 Apr 2013

3.1 Apr 2013

418,108 Feb 2013

20.9% Jan 2013

7.1% Jan 2013

1. Gross National IncomeGrowth Rate(At Constant 2000 Prices)

2. Gross Domestic ProductGrowth Rate(At Constant 2000 Prices)

3. Exports 1/

4. Imports 1/

5. Trade Balance

6. Balance of Payments 2/

7. Broad Money Liabilities

8. Interest Rates 4/

9. National Government Revenues

10. National government outstanding debt

11. Peso per US $ 5/

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

16. Visitor Arrivals

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

Cebu Pacific Daily 5J961 / 5J962 5:45 Manila-Davao-Manila 6:15Zest Air Daily Z2390 / Z2390 5:45 Manila-Davao-Manila 6:25Cebu Pacific Daily 5J593 / 5J348 6:00 Cebu-Davao-Iloilo 6:30Philippine Airlines Daily PR809 / PR810 6:10 Manila-Davao-Manila 7:00Philippine Airlines Daily PR819 / PR820 7:50 Manila-Davao-Manila 8:50Cebu Pacific Daily 5J394 / 5J393 7:50 Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga 8:10Cebu Pacific Daily 5J599 / 5J594 8:00 Cebu-Davao-Cebu 8:30Cebu Pacific Daily 5J347 / 5J596 9:10 Iloilo-Davao-Cebu 9:40Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun 5J963 / 5J964 9:40 Manila-Davao-Manila 10:10Philippine Airlines Daily PR811 / PR812 11:30 Manila-Davao-Manila 12:20Cebu Pacific Daily 5J595 / 5J966 12:00 Cebu-Davao-Manila 12:30Cebu Pacific Thu 5J965 / 5J968 12:55 Manila-Davao-Manila 13:25

Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968 13:35 Manila-Davao-Manila 14:05Silk Air Mon/Sat MI588 / MI588 13:35 Davao-Singapore 18:55 Silk Air Wed/Sun MI566 / MI566 15:20 Davao-Singapore 18:55Silk Air Thurs MI551 / MI551 12:05 Davao-Singapore 15:45Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 Cebu-Davao-Cebu 15:30Philippine Airlines August 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50Zest Air Daily Z2524 / Z2525 16:05 Cebu-Davao-Cebu 16:45

as of May 2013

THE ECONOMY

MANILA (PNA) -– The Senate re-sumed its regu-

lar session as scheduled on Monday amid mas-sive relief operations in vast areas in the Visayas heavily damaged by su-pertyphoon “Yolanda” last Nov. 8.

With 20 senators present, Senate Pres-ident Franklin Drilon declared a quorum to proceed with the ses-sion and then convened a caucus to tackle the request of Senate Ma-jority Leader Alan Cay-etano for a one-week postponement of the re-sumption of the session.

After the almost two-hour caucus, the senators agreed to pro-ceed with the plenary deliberations on the proposed P2.268-tril-lion budget for next year beginning on Tuesday morning.

”Due to lack of time, we decided to proceed

with floor budget de-liberations from morn-ing until evening until Thursday every week,” Cayetano said in a media interview.

Last Friday, Cay-etano asked Drilon to postpone for a week the resumption of the first regular session of the 16th Congress to allow government leaders to focus on the relief and rehabilitation of the Yolanda-hit areas.

Cayetano said the budget of government agencies which are in-charge of the relief and rehabilitation efforts will be given enough time to focus first on helping typhoon “Yolan-da” survivors.

Sen. Francis Escude-ro, chairman of the Sen-ate Finance committee, stressed the need to im-mediately pass the pro-posed P2.268-trillion national budget before the year ends to avoid a

reenacted budget.Escudero said the

Senate is seeking to al-locate a P20- billion fund for the rehabili-tation and reconstruc-tion efforts of the areas damaged not only by “Yolanda” but by other calamities like typhoons “Santi” and “Labuyo,” the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol and the erstwhile conflict in Zamboanga City.

”This P20 billion is just initial rehabilita-tion and reconstruction fund. We have to im-mediately begin the re-habilitation if we want to help the survivors of these calamities,” Escu-dero said.

Escudero said he will submit for floor delib-erations the proposed P2.3-trillion spending package for 2014 that includes funds for re-construction and re-habilitation of areas devastated by disasters

and calamities.According to Es-

cudero, he wants to include in the budget proposal specific and distinct funding for the rehabilitation of the Vi-sayas on top of the ex-isting calamity fund to be sourced from items which can be post-poned in the 2014 na-tional budget.

Escudero said the committee report, will among others, pro-pose the creation and establishment of the P20-billion reconstruc-tion and rehabilitation fund for the areas dev-astated by Yolanda, the 7.2-magnitude earth-quake, typhoon “Santi” which ravaged Central Luzon, the Zamboanga City siege, and typhoon “Labuyo” which also lashed out Luzon.

He added that the fund will be broken down per program, ac-tivity, department and

implementing agency.“We will take the

appropriation from the Miscellaneous Per-sonnel Benefit Fund (MPBF) of each de-partment tapped. The primary implementing agencies for these are the DPWH, DSWD, DA, DOTC, National Hous-ing Authority and the local government units concerned,” Escudero said.

The committee re-port, Escudero said, will include stricter provisions on trans-parency, accountability and liability on the use of not only the calamity fund proposal but also on all funds appropri-ated.

The 2014 national budget proposal also includes funds for cli-mate change adapta-tion and disaster risk reduction programs and projects in the amount of P70 billion.

BANK resources further rise MANILA (PNA)

-- Liquidity situation in the Philippines continue to remain high as shown by among others, the resources of Philippine banks.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data show that total resourc-es of central bank-su-pervised financial insti-tutions reached P9.24 billion as of last Septem-ber.

This went up by P159.4 billion compared to the P9.28 billion in September 2013.

These resources are boosted by continued expansion of deposits, among others, which in turn will be used by the banks for lending activ-ities.

Year-on-year, the latest banking resourc-es of Philippine banks is higher by nearly P1.6 billion compared to the P7.87 trillion same peri-od in 2012.

Of the total banking resources, share of the universal and commer-cial banks (U/KBs) post-

ed the highest at P8.48 trillion.

This is higher than the US$ 8.32 trillion as of last August and year-ago’s P7.05 trillion.

Resources of the smaller thrift banks as of last September

reached P764.2 billion, also higher than month-ago’s P763.8 billion and year-ago’s P622.4 bil-lion.

On the other hand, re-sources of the rural banks remain at P190.1 billion, same as the previous

month and year-ago levels.Meanwhile, resources

of non-bank financial in-stitutions last September reached P2.26 trillion as of last September, same as the previous month’s level but higher than the P2.10 trillion same period last

year.This brought the total

resources of the country’s financial system to P11.69 trillion as of last Septem-ber, higher than month-ago’s P11.53 trillion and year-ago’s P9.97 trillion. (PNA)

Senate to tackle P2.268-trillion budget

Bank resources further rise

BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE. A vendor takes some time off from peddling mineral water and other beverages to get a glance of Sunday afternoon’s PBA basketball game between Rain or Shine and Alaska Aces at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Bo. Obrero, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.


COMMUNITY SENSE

IT’S that time of the year when kids are hyped for celebrations and re-

ceiving gifts most especially from the mysterious Santa Claus. But of course, there’s the usual condition—they better watch out, they better not cry, they better not pout, because they know why.

Alright, so Santa Claus visited SM Lanang Pre-mier on November 16, 2013 to give gifts. Never mind that he opted to keep his identity secret when interviewed.

The nameless Santa came to bring early presents to the children of Ubalde and San Antonio, Lanang. The gift-giving was made possible by SM Lanang Pre-mier through the event they called “Sparkles of Joy.”

“The CSSDO helped us choose a community near the mall because the goal of SM Group is to give joy and gifts to children we can find in our surroundings,” SM Public Relations manager Ann Catherine Puno said.

Along with the gift-giv-ing was the lighting up of the towering 57-foot sparkling holiday tree assembled in five days and nights at the atrium of the mall by a team of 15 decorators. The tree was stuffed with thousands of lights, loads of gold and white stars as well as silver and red embellishments.

Everyone was welcomed by a musical group and a bevy of Christmas fun activi-ties to boot. An exciting addi-tional attraction this year is the “Hello Kitty Around the World” by Parisian holiday set which includes a strik-ing Eiffel Tower installation and man-sized Hello Kitty stuffed toys for the delight of the kids and young at heart. SM Lanang Premier is one of the select malls to have Hel-lo Kitty installations around the world.

The event likewise en-couraged mallgoers to offer donations for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda through the Operation Tu-long Express booths that are located in all SM malls na-tionwide.

AS a response to the recent devastation caused by Typhoon

Yolanda in the Visayas Region, Seda Abree-za, together with other brand properties under AyalaLand Hotels & Re-sorts has spearheaded Alay 25 saVisayas, a fund – raising campaign to raise 25 million pesos as

donation to the homeless and the destitute.

In Davao City, Seda Abreeza launches “Pam-ahawugPagtabang”, a breakfast for a cause. For only Php 250 nett per per-son, guests and walk – in diners enjoy a full Filipino breakfast at the hotel’s plush Misto restaurant and help rebuild lives as

proceeds for this special project shall go directly to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Seda Abreeza’s special breakfast for a cause fund – raising proj-ect shallbe available on two Sundays, November 24, 2013 and December 1, 2013 from 6:00 in the morning to 10:00 in the morning.

In related develop-ments, Seda Abreeza shall also launch this week Christmas Hope Trees which shall be available in the lobby for Php 1,000 to Php 2,000 depending on size and height. Guests and those who wish to make donations simply purchase a Christmas Hope Tree and proceeds

also go to the calamity victims.

Seda Abreeza is con-veniently located at J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City. It is right beside Abreeza Ayala Mall and is in close proximity to nearby cor-porate and commercial establishments. For in-quiries and reservations please call 322-8888 or

244-3000.Visit Seda’s website atwww.sedaho-tels.com or email at [email protected]. Seda Abreeza is a joint venture between AyalaLand Hotels & Re-sorts Corporation and An-flo Management & Invest-ment Corporation. (30)

(with attached sup-porting photo)

Santa, towering tree and ‘Hello Kitty’By ATHENA JILLIAN F. BRAVO

Seda Abreeza spearheads ‘PamahawugPagtabang’

SM LANANG’S ‘SPARKLES OF JOY’


Going bananas

8 EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

OLIVIA D. VELASCOGeneral Manager

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

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Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • VIDA MIA VALVERDE • Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ • Lifestyle Columnists: BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO • MEGHANN STA. INES • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN

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GREGORIO G. DELIGEROAssociate Editor

RAMON M. MAXEYConsultant

RICHARD C. EBONAMarketing Supervisor

SOLANI D. MARATASFinance

AQUILES Z. ZONIOCorrespondent

EJ DOMINIC C. FERNANDEZ / EMILORD P. CASTROMAYORReporters

JOCELYN S. PANESDirector of Sales

KRISTINE D. BORJAMarketing Specialist

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JRCirculation

EDITORIAL

A STORY is told that when ageless PBA legend Robert “Sonny” Jaworski was asked what the secret was be-hind his staying power and longevity on the basket-

ball court, he replied, “two fingers of bananas, one eaten in the morning and the other taken in the evening.”

Jaworski, who ruled the rugged game for decades be-fore retiring his playing jersey for good after celebrating his 50th birthday, was not kidding about the bananas he loved to eat. And still does.

Indeed, banana is both good for the body and the brain of those who swear by its nutrients.

The nutritional values of bananas are accepted world-wide. It is remarkable in enhancing the brain development of school children.

A study conducted in a school in Twickenham, England, found that 200 students were helped in hurdling their examinations by eating bananas during breakfast, snack time and lunch. The study revealed potassium-rich fruits like bananas can assist learning by making students more alert.

A single banana finger has four times higher protein content, two times higher carbohydrates, three time high-er phosphorous, five times higher vitamin A, and also five times higher iron, facts that make banana preferable to apple.

These positive facts make banana a natural in the coun-try’s search for a formula to improve the brain develop-ment of school children, especially those coming the poor-est of the poor sector who drop out of school early or fail to hurdle achievement tests due to malnutrition or simply hunger.

Now comes an advocacy espoused by farmer leader and entrepreneur Ireneo “Rene” Dalayon urging the country’s authorities and the centurions of the Department of Edu-cation (Deped) to officially accept bananas as a main fare in supplemental feeding in schools.

No one can dispute the fact that bananas are much more nutritious than the overpriced instant noodles served by public schools until the practice was questioned and later stopped.

Dalayon, who was a finalist in the Ernst and Young En-trepreneur of the Year derby, also believes that the adop-tion of bananas in the supplemental feeding program will help banana farmers market their produce during the lean months, when the traditional importers of Philippine ba-nanas drastically reduce the volume they buy from the Philippines because of the over-supply or glut of fruits produced in their country or by adjacent fruit-producing nations.

WE say, Dalayon’s advocacy is worth trying.


AQUILES Z. ZONIOCorrespondent

VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAOA tale of two city mayors

(Conclusion)

BY GAIL ILAGAN

WAYWARD AND FANCIFUL

Building resistance

IN Baganga, I remember a soup kitchen ran by the 67th Infantry Battalion on the beachfront that

first week. I remember kids loitering down there, touring all those places where volunteers from out of town had set up to give away food. I asked some of them where their parents were. They said their elders were lin-ing up for tarpaulins and jerry cans and other stuff that humanitarian agencies were allowed to distribute.

I do not see these things happen-ing in Tacloban five days after Yolan-da. There is even lesser likelihood that these things are happening al-ready in the outskirts of Tacloban.

As early as the first day after Pab-lo struck, I felt safe to come down to the ground to deliver psychoso-cial support to affected populations. Five days now after Yolanda, and the communities hit are still not ready to sit down and talk about it, gain a measure of calm to be able to think a little more clearly about planning for tomorrow.

The desperation of the Yolanda survivors has intensified. In fact, it is like a wave of destructive energy that is building up. It would seek release in one big explosion, if the sporadic release through looting and crying jags do not allow the venting off of enough steam. And if the government insists on keeping everybody in that area, in that frustrating situation, there is only so much that the human mind can take.

Until the situation allows people to take back some measure of control to their lives, those storm-hit islands will drive people crazy.

I have two suggestions:First, allow those foreign medical

teams to set up. They are the least likely to be attacked. Symbiosis will come into play – survivors will pro-tect the healers so they can get treat-ment. When things are getting done as they should, when wounds are be-ing healed, it’s a good start at restor-ing order.

Second, keep the food flowing. There is enough stuck in the Taclo-ban airport. Get trucks into Tacloban, commit those trucks to stay in the area to ferry food where it is needed. Conscript those trucks, if we have to. Just, feed everybody, please. Keep the food coming. Never mind if the first few distributions would be disorder-ly. People will share what they get. Survivors still identify with each oth-er. They have yet to turn on each oth-er. Believe me that they will at this moment still help each other,

Keep the food coming and the sense of urgency from extended deprivation would abate. Survivors would be more orderly a week later because they trust that the supply won’t dry up. Under those condi-tions, natural leaders among the sur-vivors would emerge and assert. This is an emergency situation. Let’s stop waiting for the legitimate political authority to come in and take charge. Accept natural leaders because they are likely to have the people’s trust. Natural leaders would be able to help external supporters restore peace and order more swiftly than the local politicians who got to office by buy-ing votes.

(Gail Tan Ilagan, PhD, Director of the Center of Psychological Extension and Re-search Services at the Ateneo de Davao University, writes the column, “Wayward and Fanciful” for MindaViews, the opin-ion section of MindaNews.)

Take it from the expertsTHERE CAN BE NOTHING MORE

REPREHENSIBLE – Yes, there can be nothing more dismaying than

when we heard different critical groups and countless know-it-all individuals hurl-ing insults, name calling and condemnation while directing their sights on the govern-ment for its alleged failure to act with dis-patch to the immediate needs of the sever-al thousands of victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

Those are ill-meaning statements ignit-ing public anger and frustration even more and fueling a deep sense of dereliction caused by the unparalleled tragedy that are making headlines with no end in sight. Case in point: Some people who are supposed to be unknowledgeable about disaster pre-paredness, quick response and relief distri-bution in time of calamities have an inner urge to look for the right patsy upon whom to fix the blame. Their motives are beyond us.

Under the miserable circumstances, there are still conscienceless people who have the audacity to add more unruliness to the already withering condition in the calamity areas. As a result the more consid-erate and broad-minded denizens are tired and sick of the endless ranting by people who are far from the disaster-ravaged plac-es. Well, thousands of them are professing to be experts and offering unsolicited opin-ions. Yet what is their pure intention to un-dertake attempts that would only humiliate the government and its functionaries?

How does government handle such re-ally a depressing situation? Sure, the slow-pace respond of the national government provides a venue for mounting brickbats and criticism. And everybody wants to dip their fingers on the blame game. But it’s good enough some foreign experts who are old hand in disaster response and relief operations and have facilitated humanitar-ian mission across the world quickly made specific explanations about what causes the delay in sending aid to the victims. They say that confronting a destruction triggered

by a disaster of Yolanda’s magnitude is a daunting task. Nobody, not even the gov-ernment is sole-ly to be blamed. Let’s take it from the real experts.

M a k i n g comparisons, the foreign experts bared that Yolanda’s wrath and devastation are twice as much compared to the Haiti and Thailand tsu-nami disaster some years ago. Critics and detractors raised concern and alleged that a week after the disaster, government’s res-cue and relief operations are marred by in-terlocking problems – totally disorganized and lack of system without even consider-ing the obstacles delaying the delivery of relief goods and other essential necessities urgently needed by the typhoon victims.

Taking it from the experts, they told media that even with the collective efforts of the responding nations, it took them two weeks – take note know-it-all pretenders and severe critics – two weeks to put order and efficient system especially in the rescue effort and distribution of relief goods. With all the more reason, because the scale of the destruction of tsunami-stricken Haiti and Thailand combined altogether was half-less compared to Yolanda’s devastation.

And there’s one more startling but reliable information posted in a veteran foreign correspondent’s blog who worked for various prestigious newspapers. He was shocked to see that news stories for the past few days had been dominated by criticism of the rescue and relief effort. Relief and rescue effort will take time in a situation where about 95% of the city had been flattened by the tragedy, according to him. There is little left in the way of the lo-cal government and further added that to lambast how slow the national authorities

and international aid responded is to mis-understand how humanitarian and relief missions operate.

Of course, it is not nearly enough to help 600,000 or so people displaced by the di-saster across a dozen islands. But rescue and relief operations improved with the arrival of foreign assistance led by the U.S. government – planes and choppers ferried in supplies to the cities of Tacloban and Or-moc and nearby provinces. What’s more is that the least reported aspect of the whole crisis has been the impassiveness displayed by the victims where help come from ex-tended families. Relatives are looking for each other, pooling resources and sharing what little food they have. Those who have homes are taking in the homeless.

That’s precisely the reason why “he won’t be criticizing the government’s relief effort after Yolanda, because he had been there” and witnessed the turn of events. Sad to say, though, critics of all colors and stripes still have the nerves to lambast the President, key officials, police and military leadership, and concerned agencies for the alleged lapses in implementing quick disas-ter response. The irony is that these people are just observing from the distance, fold-ing their arms in self-aversion and doing nothing except to find fault.

Again, there can be nothing more shameful than to see and hear these peo-ple trying to impress the world that they truly care for the victims of Yolanda. What hypocrisy! Better still, these people, and thousands of them should start packing up their bags, roll up their sleeves and pants knee-high, share their penny’s worth and immediately heed to the disaster-wrecked areas and help in the rescue, retrieval and relief distribution efforts. Rabble-rousing will lead us nowhere and destructive criti-cism will only produce bunches of salivat-ing fools. This is the best time to help our less-fortunate countrymen and we are urging all the critics and detractors to help in the spirit of “bayanihan” - not to grand-stand.

IT’S IRONIC, but it seems our own Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte seems to care more about the devastation and death in

Tacloban City, than the mayor of Tacloban himself who fled to Makati after the super Typhoon Yolanda wiped out his city from the map.

Belonging to the wealthy Romualdez clan, this Tacloban mayor was seen in a GMA TV footage showing off his ruined mansion to the TV reporter, blown off by the typhoon and flooded earlier by the storm surge.

He was seen telling the reporter that his movie “bold-star” wife was carried away by the floods nearly a kilometer away, before he rescued her and fled to Makati to swap calamity stories with movie stars and other celebrities---leaving behind the dead on the streets and thousands of city residents hun-gry, thirsty and dying from their wounds.

In contrast, our own Mayor “Digong” who has nothing to do with Tacloban, or-ganized a special team of Davao’s 911 for rescue and recovery in that devastated city in the Visayas, then went there himself to survey the unbelievable damage wrought by Typhoon Yolanda. Later arriving at the Davao airport, the feisty mayor broke into tears while telling reporters that “God must

be somewhere else” as he de-scribed the dead and dev-astation of that city.

“We’ve got to help. We must help them now,” Digong said, tears well-ing in his eyes ---after which the city council released millions of pesos in two checks to help in the relief operations of Tacloban City.

It was easy for people to see how the heart of our Davao mayor seems to be bleeding more for the people of Tacloban ---- than this Tacloban mayor whose sur-name suggests he’s obviously related to the former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Mar-cos.

I’ve seen how the Romualdez clan live in Tacloban and Palo during my Asiaweek days in the early1990’s--- you won’t believe the clan’s life of opulence if you’ve seen the mansions and wealth over there. And to

think that all this wealth came from stolen people’s money during Marcos time.

What Digong saw on the streets of Ta-cloban that really broke his heart were the decaying bodies of hundreds who drowned from the sudden “storm surge” of Typhoon Yolanda which sucked the angry sea waters from the coast into the streets of the city, carrying away all kinds of debris and hu-man beings caught on the streets.

At the aftermath a few days later, our mayor was there watching relatives wailing over the dead bodies of their loved ones---wife, daughter, cousins, mother, father--- even catching the scent of decaying flesh as decomposition sets in.

If these scenes weren’t heart-wrench-ing for the Tacloban mayor, it was devastat-ing for our Davao mayor to see all this, even if he had already seen dead bodies of men, women and children after a bomb explo-sion in his own city several years ago.

How this man with the Romualdez sur-name won the election as the mayor of Ta-cloban, only the people of Tacloban knows. If the city of Tacloban has no functioning government, you know whom to blame.

(Comments? Email > [email protected] )


for the comprehensive effort to help our country-men,” said Rep. Zarate.

“The people must be vigilant though and we must ensure that the pro-posed rehabilitation fund should go straight to its intended purposes and so-lons would not have enti-tlement on these projects. The auditing for the fund should also be very strict. As for the fund sourcing, the aberrant P30 billion risk management fund as well as P70 billion debt management fund would be the best sources because these budget items are very

questionable and do not benefit the people,” said the progressive solon.

“The miscellaneous per-sonal benefits fund (MPBF) though a lump sum is not a good fund source because it will hit government em-ployees and many of them are victims as well. At any rate we must ensure that this proposal will not be used to make another form of pork barrel because many unscrupulous poli-ticians are now using the Yolanda disaster to justify and still retain the graft-rid-den pork barrel system,” Rep. Zarate ended.

10 EDGEDAVAONEWSInvestors...

Bayan Muna...

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DAVAO City police filed charges yes-terday before the

City Prosecution Office against a 32-year-old man for selling illegal drugs (shabu) during a police buy-bust operation Satur-day night at the Lanzona subdivision, Matina Apla-

ya. P/Supt. Julius Silagan

identified the suspect as one Ray Albert Caballe-ro, a.ka. “Pipo,” a resident of Garcia Heights, Bacaca Road and a native of Purok Tabing Dagat, Mabua, Tan-dag, Surigao del Sur.

Silagan said that a con-

fidential source reported that Caballero was en-gaged in peddling illegal drugs. SIlagan formed a team to conduct the oper-ation.

A poseur/buyer had contacted the suspect to buy P500 worth of sha-bu. Caballero received the

marked money from the poseur/buyer who sig-naled the police to arrest the suspect.

Police recovered from the possession of the sus-pect sachets of shabu, cellphones and a lighter which will serve as evi-dence in court. [EPC]

SURVIVOR. A typhoon Yolanda survivor reacts while receiving a tetanus toxoid shot from City Health Office (CHO) District Health nurse Maria Therese P. Somosierra at the Davao City Hall yesterday. Some 27 survivors from Leyte seeking refuge in Davao City arrived yesterday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

ippine economy by adding value to our products and by producing employment.

However, DOST 11 re-gional director Anthony Sales told reporters, in a separate interview, that this will not be possible unless Republic Act 7459 or the Inventors and Inventions Incentive Act of the Philip-pines is amended. The act provides incentives to Fili-pino inventors and expand-ing the functions of Tapi.

Sales said that the re-gional office of DOST can serve as a liaison office of Tapi in Manila adding that they can accept application from inventors and assess it through the criteria set by Tapi.

“We can assess the ap-plication whether it will be sent to Tapi or not, “he said.

However, he said that they have minimal appli-cation since 2009. He said

that possible reason is that inventors are afraid that their ideas or inventions will be copied but he clari-fied that that would be im-possible because it will be filed to the global patent library. This contains over 3 million patent files.

“We have the mech-anism to help them [in-ventors] in filing thru In-novation and Technology Support Office (Itso),”Sales added. Itso is anchored in the University of South-eastern Philippines. He said that Itso is specialized in file search to avoid du-plication.

It will also help in mak-ing the documents includ-ed in the application to be accurate. He said that there were inventors who can-not provide appropriate terminologies which are very crucial during the as-sessment.

President Benigno S. Aquino III issued E.O. 23 on February 1, 2011 ensuring the protection of remaining forest cov-er areas of the country, preserving biodiversity,

protecting threatened habitats and sanctuaries of endangered and rare species as well as allow-ing natural regeneration of residual forests, among others.

pared to robotics, mecha-tronics is a multidisci-plinary field of engineer-ing that includes the com-bination of mechanical, computer, electrical, and control engineering. It usually use in various in-dustries like manufactur-ing cars and equipments while robotics, though used in manufacturing, robots can be also used by hobbyists.

Dubbed Innovation and Invention: The Road to a Smarter Philippines, RICE 2013, will be joined by members of the Davao Inventors Association (DIA), students from var-ious levels, and academe.

DIA executive vice president Virgilio Sang-utan said that groups or individuals, profession-als and students with research projects, inven-tions, prototypes, indus-trial designs and software

applications related to science, technology, engi-neering, medicine, health and environments will showcase their works.

He said that this is an opportunity for the public to witness new ideas and development through re-searches from different schools.

A total of 200,000 pe-sos will be given away to winners. Categories are Outstanding Invention (Tuklas Award), Out-standing Utility model, Outstanding Industrial Design, Outstanding Cre-ative Research (Likha Award), Outstanding Student Creative Re-search for College and for Highschool (Sibol Award).

The winners will rep-resent the region in the 2014 National Invention Contentest and Exhibit (NICE 2014). [CRC]

ly Mindanao Chapter of the National Coalition Against Child Labor in Commercial Agricultural (NCACLCA).

Activities for this year’s event are foot pa-rade, short program, post-er-making contest, ad-vocacy material exhibit, musical presentation for

the children- which will be highlighted by the Rec-ognition of Child-friendly advocates and the launch-ing of the “We care! Child Friendly Movement.”

In relation to the cel-ebration, Iarha Mae Mali-pay, president of Tingog Kabataan- City Social Ser-vices and Development

Office(CSSDO) bared that by 2008, they recorded a total of 242 street chil-dren in the city but only more than 30 are actually homeless.

“Most of them aims to help their family,” the 13 year old Malipay said be-cause the parents of the streetchildren don’t earn

enough for the family.She said that the num-

ber of street children in the city is relatively de-creasing because of in-tense effort of CSSDO to remove them in the side-walks.

easily earn P6 million next year, if only the taxable properties used in the pur-suit of business and certain activities are properly as-sessed and taxed.

Dayanghirang also bared that imposition of taxes by the city treasurer’s is computed on an antiquat-ed assessment base formu-lated years ago.

Aside from unrealistic assessment base, there is really padding in tax as-sessment or deliberate un-der-valuation resulting in the city government’s being short-changed, he said.

As example, he charged that advertising agencies making a killing on the gi-ant tarpaulin signages are not paying taxes properly.

“Only about half of these guys are paying tax-es,” Dayanghirang that hios committee discovered that many advertising agencies have not renewed their permits to operate and yet

they are still allowed to do business.

This is aside from the fact that computation of those paying taxes is not on the basis of the size of the signboards but on fraudu-lent and grossly underval-ued figures, he said.

He said the fraudulent practices that shortchanged the city government in tax-es are allegedly committed by personnel of the city treasurer’s office, the city assessor’s office and the national building unit of the city engineer’s office.

He said Mayor Duterte has made the right in as-signing a new head of the city assessor’s office in the person of Jhopee Avance-na-Agustin, a lawyer, whos used to head the mayor’s business and licenses bu-reau.

Dayanghirang hopes the city council could ap-prove the P5.1-billion bud-get this week and submit

it to the office of the city mayor.

He said that a big chunk of the budget will go to social services assistance, infrastructures, water and electric consumption and other expenditures.

“Ang breakdown nito, for example sa infra na P 913 million; yung water system natin is seven per-cent which is P13 million plus. Yung drainage na 14% which is P 14 million,” he said, adding that out of the P 913 mil-lion budget, seven percent will go to the development fund and two percent for electrification.

Dayanghirang said that the committee al-loted a big amount for the calamity and disaster fund, and P65 million for the Central 911 which has the biggest share from the services.

“Meaning, sinisiguro natin yung security at

yung social amelioration ng ating mga tao,” he said.

“Karamihan ng bud-get natin mapunta sa debt servicing,” he said, adding that they allocated P500 million from the budget.”

He said that the city government is still paying for the heavy equipments they use for infrastruc-ture projects.

On the other hand, Dayanghirang said that col-lections from local taxes in-creased by 22 % based on their comparative studies.

“Yung calendar year this year is P 1.4 billion ang estimate, pero next year P1.7 billion,” he said.

He said that the collec-tions came from the real property tax, business tax, and professional tax.

Collections from licens-es and permits will also increase up to 18% from P135 million of 2013 to P158 million estimated for 2014.

Police file charge vs drug pusher


PROPERTY

DAMOSA Fairlane, one of Metro Davao’s top res-

idential enclaves to-day, will soon open its doors to families who are ready to move up to a better life. Exciting de-velopments are happen-ing as the first batch of homes is taking shape in this rising community.

Sixteen units of mas-

terfully-planned houses are on the way in Phase 1. These home units are t h o u g h t f u l l y - c r a f t e d with enhancements that will allow easy move-in for residents. A few of these include premi-um main door lock-set, complete cabinets and closets, and a multi-point heater-ready wa-ter system in the mas-

ter’s bedroom. Owners will find their units easy and ready for their per-sonalized furnishings upon move-in.

Ready with land-scaped garden, own-ers will also delight in tranquility outside their very unit that is sur-rounded with a perime-ter fence. Complement-ing this tranquil setting

is the airy ambience that the wide and spacious main and inner roads bring. Damosa Fairlane is committed to give this level of comfort to their future residents as it is also set to deliver reli-able assistance through-out their move-in.

To start drumbeating the future milestones such as the eventual

move-in of residents and to kick off the hol-iday season, as well, Damosa Fairlane will organize a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony this Saturday, October 16. A huge Christmas tree beaming with lights and embellished with colorful ornaments will take center stage in the night’s event. A feast

will be shared to ex-clusive invitees as they relish the night with cocktails, cheers, and surprise entertainment.

Enjoy all of these and experience Damosa Fairlane’s lifestyle. Con-tact Damosa Fairlane Sales Team at 234-2888 for inquiries and reser-vations or to schedule a trip at the site.

Premium Homes on the wayfor delivery at Damosa Fairlane

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GOVERNOR Rodolfo del Rosario urged his constituents to

heed emergency warn-ings and immediately take action to prevent loss of lives during calamities. The governor said the provincial disaster risk reduction management council (PDRRMC), along with the local DRRMCs in the province, have not failed in their avowed

duty to warn, inform and advise the public in times of emergencies.

It has also been a standard operating pro-cedure for the disaster councils to conduct pre-emptive evacuation in the onset of storm warnings and potential flooding, as part of the established early warning and pre-paredness system.

However, del Rosario

lamented that some peo-ple still continue to ig-nore the warnings, which resulted to the death of two persons in the after-math of Tropical Depres-sion Zoraida.

The bodies of 22-

year old Ben Banhaw from Tanglaw, B.E. Duja-li town and 20-year old Dowen Anito of Sampao, Kapalong, Davao del Norte were both found Friday morning after going missing for three

days. Apparently unmind-

ful of the warnings of TD Zoraida, Banhaw disap-peared while trying to salvage driftwoods float-ing in the raging Panaga River, while Anito van-

ished when he carelessly swam across the rampag-ing floods over the Sam-pao River.

“I hope our people will learn to heed the warnings,” del Rosario said.

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EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIARDR: Heed emergency warnings

MESAOY RELIEF. Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office personnel distribute relief goods to the flood victims of Mesaoy, New Corella, Davao del Norte, as augmentation assistance coming from the calamity funds of the provincial government. Ondoy Laquitao/davnor pio

VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 201314 EDGEDAVAOSPORTS

SECOND overall pick Ian Sangalang had barely six days of

practice with San Mig Coffee before the team plunged into action in the opening game of the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup on Sunday.

He had a quiet debut, finishing with eight points and four rebounds in 23 minutes. He scored just a single point in the second half, when the Gin Kings ran roughshod over the Mixers.

Sangalang admitted that the amount of time to practice had been so short that he has only picked up the basics of Mixers coach Tim Cone’s notoriously complicated triangle offense.

“Nasa simula pa lang kami, wala pa kami sa mga options ng triangle. Simula pa lang ito, marami pa kaming kailangang matutunan sa triangle,” Sangalang told InterAKTV.

“Minsan, one pass away, nawawala kami. First time ko naglaro sa triangle, kaya medyo naninibago ako.”

Star forward Marc Pingris, who has promised to take Sangalang under his wing, said its the responsibility of the veteran crew to fast-track the progress of their rookies.

“Kailangan nilang mag-adjust, pero kailangan rin naming mag-adjust. Kailangan namin silang tulungan,”

said Pingris. “Sa triangle kasi, mawala yung isa, mawawala na yung lahat. Kailangan naming silang alalayan sa practice. Hindi tama yung iaasa na lang namin kay Coach yung pagtuturo kasi kami yung magkakasama naglalaro.”

LACK OF FIREPOWER

Against Ginebra, the Mixers were severely lacking in firepower, with Joe Devance and Peter June Simon skipping the contest.

Simon is out because of a left Achilles tendon injury. “Mga four days na siguro ito,” Simon said. “Nagsimula ito nung tune up game namin against GlobalPort tapos inilaro ko pa rin.”

THE opening day of the PBA 2014 sea-son is off to a rous-

ing start, with more than 30,000 fans attending three games across three different cities in the Phil-ippines.

Some 20,298 fans were in attendance for the first match of the PLDT MyD-SL Philippine Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum that featured the popular Manila Clasico matchup

between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Mig Coffee.

The game between Talk ‘N Text and Meralco at the New Cebu City Coliseum drew an estimated 3,000 fans, while the match be-tween Rain or Shine and Alaska at the University of Southeastern Philippines were seen by around 7,000 fans at the venue.

“It means the PBA re-mains the country’s No.

1 spectator sport nation-wide, and it is Sports5′s job to continue growing it by bringing its games to as wide an audience as pos-sible,” said Sports5 head Chot Reyes.

Prior to the games, the league featured a unique opening program that fea-tured participation and interaction from players and teams from each of the three different venues. Apart from the tradition-

al parade with the muses, the PBA teams also offered a minute of silence before each of the three matches for the day.

The matches in Manila and Cebu had the same tipoff times, and the two PBA games were broad-cast over two different channels — TV5 for the Ginebra-San Mig Coffee clash and AksyonTV for the Talk ‘N Text-Meralco duel.

TOP overall pick Greg Slaughter may stand seven feet

tall, but he’s just like any other rookie in his big league debut.

“It’s my first PBA game, I was definitely nervous,” said Slaughter after helping Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to an 86-69 victory over San Mig Coffee to open the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup.

But once Slaughter and his teammates overcame their nerves, they were pretty formidable.

He combined with Japeth Aguilar and Jay-R Reyes to dominate the Mixers’ frontcourt. With the giant trio lording over the paint, Ginebra won the battle of the boards, 51-43.

Slaughter led the way with 13 rebounds, Reyes added nine, while Aguilar finished with eight. Aguilar also had five blocks while Slaughter had two.

The Gin Kings’ dominant showing is a sign of things to come, according to Slaughter.

“We have enough much time playing together. The more games we play together the better we will be,” said Slaughter.

“I think we have the pieces, we just need a little more time together.”

Slaughter promises that he will continue to try to do the dirty job for the squad.

“I’m concentrated on getting the rebound, score whenever there’s an opportunity,” he said.

CHINA’S Liang Wen-chong marked his re-

turn to the Philippines after more than five years by defeating Thailand’s Prom Meesawat in the first play-off hole to win the inaugural Resorts World Manila Masters on Sunday.

The Chinese third Asian Tour win was made even more significant as he decided to donate half of his total winnings to victims suffering from the aftermath of the devastat-ing Typhoon Haiyan.

Liang’s run at the Re-sorts World Manila Mas-ters was also remarkable as he had to play through the pain barrier and force his way into the play-off with Prom after closing with a three-under-par 69 at the Manila South-woods Golf and Country Club.

“Before coming over to the Philippines, I was really affected by what I saw of the damage and victims suffering from the aftermath of the Ty-

phoon on television. I’ve decided to donate 50% of my winnings to do my part and support the relief efforts,” said Li-ang, who took home the winner’s prize cheque of US$135,000.

Liang, who had tak-en the overnight lead, extended his advan-tage after two birdies on holes three and four during regulation play.

He dropped a shot on a par-three fifth but turned his game around following a double-bo-gey six on the ninth.

The Chinese decid-ed to drop his cautious approach and opted for an aggressive style of play instead.

His attack paid off handsomely as he fired four birdies on the holes 11th, 13th, 15th and the all-important 18th which would lead the contest into a play-off with Prom after compiling his four-day total of 16-under-par 272.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Kobe Bryant returned to practice

with the Los Angeles Lak-ers on Saturday for the first time since he tore his Achil-les tendon seven months ago.

Bryant went through several light drills with his teammates during a short practice at the Lakers’ training complex.

‘’He looked good and did a few moves I didn’t ex-pect him to do right away,’’ center Pau Gasol told the Lakers’ official website. ‘’I’m very happy for him and for us, and definitely looking forward to when he’ll play in a game.’’

Bryant has given no timetable for his return to the court, but had pre-viously said he’ll need significant practice time while getting into game shape for his 18th NBA season.

The fourth-leading scorer in NBA history hadn’t worked out with his teammates since get-ting hurt in April during a game against Golden State. He has been running on a treadmill for sever-al weeks, but had done few basketball work-outs while progress-ing to running on flat ground.

The Lakers held a brief practice after Fri-day’s home loss to Mem-phis dropped them to 4-7. Los Angeles hosts Detroit on Sunday night.

GENEROUS CHAMP

PBA sets opening day mark

EYES ON THE PRIZED ROOKIES

Sangalang still learning the ‘Triangle’ Slaughter: 13 rebounds in debut

Kobe practicesfor the first time

ALASKA ACES IN DAVAO. PBA team Alaska Aces led by head coach Luigi Tril-lo paiid a copurtesy call on Mayor Rodrigo Duterte before the Alaska Milk squared off with Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Davao City as part of the his-

toric three game slate in three major cities in the country that will highlight the opening of the PBA’s 39th season.

San Mig Coffee rookie Ian Sangalang is guarded by Eman Monfort.Greg Slaughter of Ginebra had 13 rebounds in his debut.

Liang gives back after win atResorts World Manila Masters

INdulge! VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

EDGEDAVAOEVENT

LYR Marketing corpo-ration, has been in the industry for 30 years, which started from man-ufacturing and selling home furniture,

has expanded into 18 exciting branches not to mention this Gensan branch that just opened this Nov. 18, 2013.

Rev. Fr. Ernesto O. Bendita officiated the blessing of the store. Among the guests are LYR’s business partners, suppliers, sales agents, branch managers and Mr. Joel Duterte, execu-

tive assistance to the City Mayor, attended in behalf of Mayor Ronel Rivera.

Gensan being a fast growing city in terms of business, tourism and infrastructure, the 15th of the most populous city in the entire archi-pelago, and also being the center of trade not only in SOCSARGEN but as well as in neighboring provinces such as North Cotabato and Maguin-danao, it has been one of LYR Group of Compa-nies CEO, Lorenzo Ysulat

Rubinos Sr.’s dreams to put up a grand show-room in Gensan.

Dreams do come true, spearheaded by their strength in after sales, lay-away or in-stallment plans which sets them apart from other companies, and their corporate philoso-phy, “We nurture cus-tomer’s loyalty for life”, LYR was able make that happen, their Gensan branch, being the big-gest and grandest show-room among their other

LYR opens in GensanBy KYRIE ELEISON BANOS

FLYR OPEN, A4

After the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas, more Filipinos nationwide are joining forces to extend sup-port to the victims in any way possible. But with the extent of damage that limits the delivery of aid and assistance, it becomes a challenge for many kababayan to help in relief operations. GCASH, the flagship mobile money service of G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the mobile commerce arm of Globe Telecom, is paving the way for Globe subscribers nationwide to extend financial support to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda at the speed of a text message. U s i n g GCASH as do-nation facility, concerned citi-zens can send money to sup-port the relief operations of different organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross, one of the most active organizations in the Philippines that conduct disaster relief operations. To send cash donations to the Philippine Red Cross via GCASH, Globe subscribers can text DONATE<space>AMOUNT<space>4-digit M-PIN<space>REDCROSS and send to 2882. Globe subscrib-ers who wish to donate to other government and non-gov-ernment partner-organizations of Globe may just dial *143# through their mobile phones and choose GCASH>Others Services>Donate>Amount>MPIN>Select Charity. “We encourage our subscribers to take part in help-ing thousands of Typhoon Yolanda-affected communities especially those in the Visayas and Mindanao regions in a way that’s easy, safe, and hassle-free. We hope that through GCASH, concerned citizens who may not be able to join relief operations can do their share in helping rebuild the nation. No amount is big or small, as these donations will surely go a long way and mean a lot to our kababayans in typhoon-stricken areas,” shared GXI President Paolo Baltao. The GCASH donation facility is part of the telco’s Bangon Pinoy program, an enterprise-wide disaster response initia-tive that aims to have a unified system for donations, relief efforts, and corporate social responsibility programs across products and services. To know more about Globe Bangon Pinoy, visit www.globe.com.ph/bangonpinoy.

PHILIPPINE mobile leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is releasing on Friday, November 15, its first batch of iPhone 5s, the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, and iPhone 5c, the most colorful iPhone yet. Company officials an-nounced that the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be will be released simultaneously in all Smart Stores across the coun-try, on the first day of its avail-ability. Approved applicants who registered online during the sign-up period may also get their units at their chosen pick-up points – whether at the Eastwood Mall Open Park in Quezon City or at the Jump Experience Center in SM City Cebu and SM Lanang Premier, Davao. “We have made it easier and more convenient for our sub-scribers to claim their iPhone of choice, at their venue of choice,” said Charles A. Lim, Smart’s ex-ecutive vice president and head of wireless consumer business. “With our simultaneous release

nationwide, more Filipinos will be able to easily and quickly get their dream device on the network it deserves.” The highly-anticipated iPhones will further boost Smart’s portfolio of smart-phones capable of ultrafast LTE wireless Internet. “We now have the most advanced smart-phones in our lineup, and we have been leading in establishing a future-proof net-work ready for the surge in uptake of such devices,” said Lim. “With our biggest network and the most extensive LTE coverage in the country, we are ready to give our subscribers the best iPhone user experience.”Widest selection of Plans Aside from its most number of iPhone distribution chan-nels yet on Day 1 of its launch, Smart is also offering the wid-est range of postpaid plans and offers that can be paired with the iPhone 5s or the iPhone 5c. The iPhone 5s (16GB, 32GB,

64GB) and iPhone 5c (16GB, 32GB) are available on Smart Postpaid’s Freedom Plan, All-In Plans 500, 800, 1200, 1800 and 2500; iPhone Plans 999 and 2499; UnliData Plans 1500, 2000 and 3000; and Smart Infinity Plans 3500, 5000 and 8000. “With the variety of postpaid plans available for the iPhone,

you can surely find one that’s perfect for your lifestyle and budget,” said Kathy Carag, head of Smart’s postpaid business group. “We offer a wide range of plans that fit your usage habits, which also come with easy and flexible cash-out options.” For instance, subscribers can get the iPhone 5c (16 GB) for only P1,499 a month with the iPhone Plan 999 (P999 monthly service fee plus P500 device amortization via credit card). iPhone Plan 999 already comes

with 40 free all-net call minutes, 100 free all-net SMS and unlim-ited LTE connection.Exclusive Offers Smart also unveiled iPhone packages that it will be offering for the first time. Subscribers who will be availing of the iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c on Freedom Plan

(Smart postpaid plan offering with no lock-out period and fixed monthly fees), will get free 250mb of data worth P300 every month for the entire first year of subscription. Premium offers also await Smart Infinity members. The iPhone 5s (16GB) for example is offered at Plan 5000 with bo-nus 2 VIP tickets to the Philip-pine staging of the hit musical Wicked or PhP14,000 worth of Rustan’s gift certificates. Plan 8000 subscribers meanwhile

get both the iPhone 5s (32GB) and iPhone 5C (16GB). For SMART Infinity Enterprise Plan 5000, subscribers have their choice of iPhone model and memory capacity, along with unlimited calls to all net-works, unlimited SMS to all networks, and unlimited data. Enterprise Plan 8000 gives sub-

scribers all the fea-tures of Plan 5000, plus the added feature of IDD and International SMS to all countries and all networks. On top of these

premium offers, only Smart In-finity offers VIP network access, customizable mobile numbers, 24/7 International Concierge Service and a dedicated Infinity Management Officer*iPhone upgrade for loyal sub-scribers Smart subscribers who wish to upgrade to the new iPhone offers but are currently within an active contract may choose to wipe out their existing con-tract for a discounted fee, with-out the need to surrender their

existing device. Up to 75% can be deducted from the appli-cable fee. Qualified subscribers who will avail of the Wipe Out pro-gram will also receive free one-year device insurance with Smart Gadget Shield which covers loss, theft and accidental damage. They are also entitled to discounts on iPhone acces-sories from partner establish-ments. To check if your current Smart Postpaid account is quali-fied for Wipeout, text WIPEOUT to 2928. For more details on the Wipe Out Program, go to www.smart.com.ph/wipeout. Select Smart stores also of-fer device trade-in deals where subscribers can swap their old phones with iPhone vouch-ers. This offer is available at the Smart Store in Rockwell, Robin-sons Magnolia, SM North EDSA, Festival Mall and Jump Mega-mall. For complete information on Smart’s complete suite of iPhone offers, please visit smart.com.ph/iPhone for Smart Post-paid and smart.com.ph/infinity for Smart Infinity.

A2 INdulge! VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013EDGEDAVAOUP AND ABOUT EVENT

Globe GCASH: Helping in your own little way at the speed of a text message

iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c finally in PH

Marco Polo Davao’s Fun Ride attracts 647 bikers

AS part of the 15th An-niversary series of events, the Marco Polo Davao held a Fun Ride on November 10 which attracted an im-pressive crowd of 647 par-ticipants. Families, friends, and Ride clubs converged at 6 AM at the front of the hotel for the much-awaited Fun Ride activity. Ride clubs such as May-or Rody Duterte Cycling Group, Kutas Bikers, Phil. Cycling Bikers Group, Davao Postal Bikers As-sociation, Bisikleta Bikers Group, Gin Rich Bikers Group, Team Diaz Bikers Group, ¾ Bikers Group of Toril, Shimuna Riders Group, and Terrain Cell were well-represented. All participants also got a tasty and filling breakfast and a chance to win in the lucky draw. Minor prizes such as Bicycle parts – hel-met, water bottles, water cage, handlebar, gloves, chain protector, cable lock and more were given away. Major prizes included Gift Certificates of Lunch and Dinner buffet for Two at Café Marco, Overnight Stay with Breakfast for two in a Superior room, and the much-coveted Stan-dard Mountain Bike.

INdulge! A3VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013EDGEDAVAOENTERTAINMENT

‘When a Man Falls in Love’ shows how a true man loves

Musikanovela Ikaw Ug Ako premieres via GMA Regional TV

ABS-CBN gives Asian-ovela fans a back-to-treat beginning Monday (Nov 18) as it premieres the top-caliber Korean dra-ma that will show how a real man truly loves a woman in “When a Man Falls in Love” and brings back the romantic com-edy about a common teenage girl bethroted to a crown prince in “Prin-cess Hours.” Song Seung-Heon, who was first loved by Filipinos as Ethan in “My Princess,” takes the lead in a differ-ent love story that will shed light on what love means to men every weeknights on Primetime Bida. Anthony is a man who never had a chance to fall in love because of his troubled past. He will live his life as a mean, cold-blooded gang-ster until one day, his heart beats for the very first time and meets the woman he will devote his life to, Mia (Shin Se-Kyung). But he is not the only man wanting to take Mia’s heart. What will Anthony do just to fight for Mia’s love? How will love change him? Meanwhile, the royal love story of Janelle (Yoon Eun-

Hye) and Gian (Ju Ji-hoon) that everyone loved is back to spread the love once more every afternoons in Kapamilya Gold. Relive the journey of Janelle, a common high school girl, who must marry her schoolmate and crown

prince, Gian, as stated on her grandfather’s will. She will resist the proposal but will be left with choice but to do so for the sake of her debt-ridden family. As she struggles to take on her new responsibilities as a princess, Janelle will get to know the real Gian more whom she hated so much in school. How will the two find love amidst their dif-ferences? What will happen when Gian’s cousin and sec-ond-in-line to the throne, Troy, steps in Janelle’s life?Bugoy Drilon and Liezel Garcia sang and revived the song “Pag-Ibig Na Kaya” to be used as the theme song of “Princess Hours.”

“WHY talk things over when you can sing about your feelings?” Last monday Monday, November 18, GMA Net-work launched Ikaw Ug Ako, its newest musical televi-sion series or musikanovela that will surely change the morning habits of Kapuso viewers. A program created in Venezuela originally entitled Somos Tu Y Yo, Ikaw Ug Ako caters to viewers in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos as it is trans-lated and dubbed in Bisaya. Ikaw Ug Ako’s story cen-ters on the lives of young couple Cheryl and Victor who share a mutual passion for music. It is set at the Mu-sic and Talent Academy, a high school for performing

arts, where their blossoming affections for each other will develop. But just like any other love story, Cheryl and Victor’s re-lationship has its ups and downs. Two other students, Rosmery and Aran, wish to end the pair’s romance and they team up to try to sepa-rate the couple. Will they succeed? Featured in its pilot epi-

sode are songs which are also translated and sung in Bisaya, including the series’ theme song—Ikaw Ug Ako. Fall in love with Cheryl and Victor as they create ro-mance and music in Ikaw Ug Ako, airing every Monday to Friday beginning November 18 from 9:55am, on GMA Network’s regional stations in Cebu, Davao, GenSan, and CDO.

R 18

GP

PG 13

R 16/

*R 1612:00 | 1:45 | 3:30 LFS / * 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

R-16

THOR: THE DARK WORLD 2D

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

NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2D/ *STATUS: IT'S COMPLICATED 2D

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

FREE BIRDS 2D

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman

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

THE COUNSELOR 2D

Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt

Shannon Elizabeth, Monica Keena / *Maja

Salvador, Jake Cuenca, Eugene Domingo

Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson

A4 INdulge! VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013EDGEDAVAOSTYLE

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

LYR Open...branches.

It wasn’t a surprise to see this huge crowd gathering outside the building as the doors were opened, costumers and sales agents rushed in and were ravished by the grand displays up for

purchase.The grand show-

room features appli-ances, home & office furniture, I.T products & computers, motor-cycles, and power prod-ucts. LYR also being an accredited dealer of

brands, Sharp, Haier, Sanyo, Sony, Skyworth, Honda, Yamaha, Ka-wasaki, Suzuki, GE, Eu-rotek, Ariston, Everest, LG, Hercules, Indesit, Camel, Asahi, Koppel, Samsung IT products, HP, Acer, Houseway fur-

niture, and Selya Mesa at Iba Pa.

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram, @kyriek-outre for more adven-tures in and around my wonderland that is Gen-san, Tuna Capital of the Philippines.

FFROM A1

VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013 15SPORTSEDGEDAVAO

SYDNEY—Half-Pi-noy golfer Jason Day of Australia

will play at the World Cup in Melbourne af-ter learning that eight family members lost their lives in the Phil-ippines typhoon, lo-cal media reported on Monday.

Day’s grandmother, uncle and six cousins were among the thou-sands of people killed by Typhoon Haiyan.

“I am deeply sad-dened to confirm that multiple members of my family lost their lives as the victims of Typhoon Haiyan,” Day said in a statement.

“My family and I are thankful for all who have reached out with their prayers and con-cern. We feel devas-tated for all who have been affected by this horrific tragedy.”

He said he under-stood media’s inter-est in the matter but hopes any coverage can spread awareness to assist with the relief efforts that continue in the Philippines.

“I hope that all will respect my family’s privacy during this dif-

ficult time. I will have no further public com-ments at this time,” he said.

“Please pray for all who have suffered loss.”

Golf Australia, the governing body of the sport of golf in Aus-tralia, has extended its sympathies to Day and his family.

Day is currently in Melbourne preparing for the World Cup tour-nament, where he will team up with U.S. Mas-ters champion Adam Scott to represent Aus-tralia.

Immediately after defending his Australian Masters title yesterday, Scott declared he and Day would win the tour-nament, which begins at Royal Melbourne on Thursday.

Day’s mother Dening, who migrated to Austra-lia from the Philippines about 30 years ago, told local media that she is confident that Day can remain focused.

“He’s a very strong boy, mentally he’s very strong,” she said.

“Hopefully he can fo-cus on what he is doing.” (PNA/Xinhua)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jordan Hill barely played for coach Mike

D’Antoni when they were together with the New York Knicks four years ago, and he started this season on D’Antoni’s bench again with the Los Angeles Lak-ers.

Hill has quickly made it impossible for D’Antoni to keep him off the court while the Lakers chase wins without Kobe Bryant.

Hill had career highs of 24 points and 17 rebounds, and Jodie Meeks and Nick Young scored 19 points apiece in the Lakers’ 114-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Steve Blake had nine points and 16 assists for the Lakers, who made a late surge for just their sec-ond victory in six games. Los Angeles scored 16 consecutive points in a ral-ly spanning the third and fourth quarters, holding Detroit without a field goal for more than five minutes.

Hill extended his im-pressive start to the season with another high-energy effort down low. Five days after moving into the start-ing lineup and promptly hitting his career high with 21 points against New Or-

leans, Hill surpassed that mark and his previous best rebounding game with re-lentless work against the Pistons’ imposing front line.

‘’I get more confi-dence every time I step on the floor,’’ said Hill, who washed out in New York and Houston before hitting his NBA stride with the Lakers over the past two seasons.

‘’We don’t have Steve Nash. We don’t have Kobe. We’ve got guys that we know have to step up. We’re banding together as a team.’’

Los Angeles scored the final 10 points of the third quarter, tak-ing a 79-71 lead into the fourth on consecutive 3-pointers by Young and a buzzer-beating turn-around jumper by Jordan Farmar. Strong playmak-ing by Blake and Farmar catalyzed the rally, which continued with the first six points of the fourth.

‘’It’s going to take that type of effort to win games,’’ said Pau Gasol, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and seven as-sists. ‘’We need every-body to chip in and play well.’’

WINNING DSA MEMBERS. Winners of the 37th Milo National Marathon Davao leg receive their prizes from Johanna Relacion of Milo on Saturday. This year’s winners for Media writing are Neilwin Joseph Bravo of Edge Davao(2nd from right), 1st prize; Marianne Saberon Abalayon of SunStar

Davao(2nd from left), second prize; photo contest 1st prize King Rodriguez of SunStar Davao (3rd from left); Lean Daval Jr. of Edge Davao (ext. right), 2nd prize; and Seth Delos Reyes of SunStar Superbalita (ext. left), 3rd prize. The Davao Sportswriters Association won all but one of the prizes at stake.

Day to play at World Cup afterlosing 8 relatives to ‘Yolanda’

Lakers pick up win

Detroit missed six field-goal attempts and three free throws during the Lakers’ rally. Los Angeles stretched its lead to 106-87 on Meeks’ 3-pointer with 3:26 to play, building a lead too big to be threatened by Brandon Jennings’ four consecutive 3-pointers late.

D’Antoni began the season with Shawne Wil-liams - another former New York forward - in the lineup alongside Gasol. Hill took over the starting spot,

but he also excels when the Lakers go small, using Hill in Gasol’s place as their nominal center.

‘’He’s playing as hard as he can play,’’ D’Antoni said. ‘’He’s got talent, and he’s getting better. ... I think he’s just more confident and more everything - and more minutes.’’

Jennings scored 23 points and Andre Drum-mond had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons, who have lost five of six.

FOILED. Alaska’s Cyrus Baguio is blocked on the way to the hoop by Paul Lee of Rain or Shine in the PBA opening day game at the USEP Gym. Lean Daval Jr.

HALF-PINOY Jason Day is grieving.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 177 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 201316EDGEDAVAOSportsEDGEDavao Davao Partners

CALL it the “Hunger Game.”Basketball fans turned up to fill the 5,000-seat University of

Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Gym to welcome back the return of the Phil-ippine Basketball Association to Davao City after a two-year absence.

The oven-hot gymnasium, filled to the brim by an animated crowd, inside the sprawling USEP campus in Obrero was one of three venues of the PBA’s unique tri-host opening day format of its 38th season on Sunday. Security had to refuse some of the fans who came hoping to get a ticket from either legit sources or scalpers.

“The PBA has been here for sever-al times but we played in Panabo and Digos. There is nothing like the Davao City crowd,” said one member of the PBA entourage. The last time the PBA played in Davao City was in 2011 at the Holy Cross of Davao College Gym.

The Davao City opening day game is one of three matches scheduled last Sunday to usher in the new season of Asia’s oldest play-for-play loop. Games were also played at the SMART-Arane-

ta Coliseum and at the New Cebu City Coliseum.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters capped the PBA 2014 season’s opening day triple slate with an 87-74 victory over the Alaska Aces as Jeff Chan scored 17 points on 4-of-8 three-point shoot-ing while Jervy Cruz added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Rain or Shine is hoping to return to the finals of the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup after a runner-up finish last season.

The Elasto Painters went off to a great start, taking a 49-34 advantage at halftime over the Aces inside the packed gymnasium.

Free throws by Rain or Shine rookie wingman Alex Nuyles gave the Elasto Painters a 53-35 bubble early in the third period. Alaska tried to make headway with a 13-4 run to cut its deficit to just nine points, 57-48.

Rain or Shine, however, respond-ed by scoring the next 11 points of the game to open up a 20-point lead, 68-48, just before the end of the third quarter.

The Elasto Painters were cruising

the rest of the before three straight three-pointers by Alaska — two from JVee Casio and one from Ryan Buenafe — took the Aces to within nine points with under a minute left in the game.

But it was too little, too late for Alaska, as Paul Lee sealed the win for Rain or Shine with two free throws and an alleyoop pass to Gabe Norwood.

GINEBRA WINSOver at the SMART-Araneta Col-

iseum Barangay Ginebra San Miguel served notice to the rest of the league with an impressive 86-69 win over the San Mig Coffee Mixers to open the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup.

The new twin tower combination of Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter helped the Gin Kings rule the paint. Aguilar had 18 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks, while top overall pick Slaughter added 10 points, 13 re-bounds, and two blocks for the Gin Kings, who they put the clamps down on the Mixers in the second half. Gine-bra outscored San Mig Coffee, 52-27, after the halftime break. (With AKTV report)

HOOP-HUNGRYPainters turn back Alaska 87-74By ATHENA JILLIAN F. BRAVO

NOT IN MY FACE. Alaska’s Calvin Abueva blocks Jervy Cruz of Rain or Shine as Sonny Thoss moves in for the rebound in the PBA opening day game at the USEP Gym. Lean Daval Jr.

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Edge Davao 6 Issue 177